It's the chapter you've all been waiting for, with even more coming next chapter. ;) On another note, I somehow and stupidly forgot to make mention that Skipper Rowe, Tobias, and Illia were also present with the Redwallers, a couple chapters ago, so they just kind of suddenly turn up now, in this chapter. Just FYI. Now, enjoy the chapter. :)

Chapter 56

At first, Kani wasn't sure how to react to this. Prior to this meeting, he had always presumed that Gemini, judging from the descriptions of him provided by both the Redwallers and the Quorum of Warriors, was nothing more than a mere idea. There was no proof that he actually existed, and certainly no proof that he had any power over anything. It was this that Kani had used to his advantage in helping to get the Quorum of Warriors to switch sides. As he had understood it, Gemini did not exist, not in the physical world, nor in the metaphysical.

And yet, here he was, kneeling in a underground cavern in a maze of tunnels, having just heard Gemini speak to him.

It threw Kani's mind for a loop as it was bombarded with thoughts, inquiries, and doubts about the whole situation. If Gemini really was false, how was it that he was speaking to Kani? If Gemini, as a being, existed, even when disregarding the fact that he wouldn't be a deity, suddenly made Kani wonder if he was in his rights to do what had been planned to do.

At least one thing was certain, though. It was pretty clear how Gemini had managed to get such a strong following for so long now. Proof certainly existed that he existed in some shape or form.

But then Kani realized something that scared off all of the doubts that had been plaguing his mind. Evidence that proved that Gemini lacked the power his followers vainly testified that he had. Whoever and whatever Gemini was, he was not what he claimed to be, and Kani could prove it.

But first, he decided to not let Gemini realize that just yet. Just to see how Gemini would react.

As per Gemini's request, he arose, Melody following his example. Neither of their expressions revealed anything. With a nod, Kani addressed the glowing sapphire.

"Hallowed Gemini," he greeted, making this up at he went along, "We are here to announce to you the victorious return of the Quorum of Warriors."

"Victorious indeed, just as I had assured you." Gemini remarked, further confirming Kani's realization. Gemini didn't know the truth. "That wicked place known as Redwall will cause trouble no longer."

"You have my assurances of that, holy Gemini." Melody spoke up at this, bowing her head respectfully. "Redwall is naught but rubble now."

"Very good." Gemini praised them, "May this serve to further prove my almighty power. No wicked creature can nor will stand before me and my righteous plans. You are both blessed for your loyalty, as well as the quorums you serve."

"As I have been told by the commander, however, it was not without consequences." Kani spoke, interjecting.

Gemini was silent for a moment. "Explain yourself, teacher." he ordered sternly.

Kani, however, was only growing more confident. "Several died in the battle with Redwall." he explained. "Including a teacher of your order. With all due respect, Gemini, they died in the line of battle, even though they had been blessed by you to survive."

"They doubted my almighty word, distrusted my actions, and as a result, were punished, and were cast down." Gemini replied without hesitation.

"You are saying they were wicked, then." Kani remarked.

"Not necessarily, teacher. Just that they were not as righteous as they could have been."

"But you declared us all very righteous creatures just a moment ago."

"Only those that returned." Gemini was starting to sound slightly perplexed now, however. "There is little point in this line of questioning, however."

"Oh, but there is, hallowed Gemini." Kani persisted. "Because I am left wondering about your judgment."

This annoyed Gemini. "You dare question my words, teacher?" he barked.

"Oh aye, he dares." Melody remarked. "He has every reason to."

"You will not address your savior in that manner, commander!" Gemini barked, his voice echoing loudly in the room, making both creatures flinch.

"We will address you however we wish, Gemini!" Kani remarked once the echo had died down to tolerable levels. "We brought up an extremely logical point, and we wish you explain it!"

"No!" Gemini exclaimed. "I will not explain what is already obvious! If you creatures cannot see what I have plainly set before you already, that is not my concern. There is no reason for this line of questioning!"

At this, Kani finally laughed. "Oh, but we have every reason, Gemini!" he said, almost mockingly. "Because you really don't know what's going on here, do you?"

Gemini was silent for a moment, as if picking his next answer carefully. "What is going on here, then, teacher?" he finally asked, as if curious.

"Several things." Kani remarked with a snort. He was beginning to enjoy this. "But first off, I am not a teacher."


When the Quorum of Warriors had been dismissed after meeting with the three priests, it had been to the priests understanding that they were going to their quarters to quickly pray and give thanks to Gemini before going to be disarmed and have their armor removed. However, the Quorum of Warriors knew the orders they had been given by Melody before they left. They knew what they had to do.

They did not head for their quarters. But at first, they made like they were going to, all breaking apart and heading off in the right directions. Later, groups of them met back up and certain places all throughout the sanctuary. Then, still armed and dangerous, they went to remove the sanctuary's tactical advantage over the awaiting Redwallers outside still.

First, a couple of the groups went to the smattering of armories that the sanctuary housed, usually kept secured under lock and key, and by guard under times of danger, but there were no guards, and being members of the Quorum of Warriors, the groups knew how to easily infiltrate these armories and capture them. Being already armed, they had no need for more weapons, but that was not the idea. The idea was to keep everyone else out of the armories as well.

Then, other groups silently went all throughout the sanctuary and discreetly and quietly disabled, overpowered, or in the extreme case of one where there was little other choice, slay the creatures that had been stationed in strategic places in the building to defend the building should it ever come under attack. This included a large number of snipers, a smattering of fighters that weren't already among the ranks of the Quorum of Warriors, and a couple creatures that were perpetually standing on watch for trouble. With the exception of the one creature that was regrettably slain, this was all done quickly, effortlessly, and above all, quietly, raising the alarm to no one save the creatures they disabled as painlessly as possible.

Next, most of the Quorum of Warriors stationed themselves in strategic locations all throughout the building, placing themselves wherever a large among of creatures presently resided, and wherever a ruckus and/or fight was expected to arise once things got going. They stood there either secretly or in plain sight, paws on their weapons. They would not react until the signal was given, or something in the plan went terribly wrong, and they had no choice but react. But they did not expect anything to go wrong. And thus far, nothing had.

Finally, all who was left of the quorum regrouped in the entry hall of the sanctuary, back where they had first arrived. Except for them, the hall was all but empty save for a smattering of creatures who were passing, some of them stopping to watch the quorum's odd behavior, some starting to wonder if they should be concerned.

This latter thought was confirmed when two of the quorum stepped forward and opened the front doors leading in and out of the sanctuary, permitting any creature outside to enter unobstructed...


Outside, where the Redwallers were watching and waiting patiently under the cover the large rocks, couldn't help but see the doors opening.

"There's our cue!" Charles exclaimed, quickly moving into position.

Skipper Rowe, who had taken command since Kani and Melody had gone inside with the Quorum of Warriors, pointed a claw at the open doors. "Right, mates, this is it!" he exclaimed. "No matter wot happens next, this'll end it!"

"For Redwall!" Tobias exclaimed loudly, raising his sword into the air.

The others quickly picked up on the war cry.

"Redwaaaall!"

The Redwallers charged into the sanctuary, unhindered, their weapons drawn and raised, and ready to do battle. They quickly joined the Quorum of Warriors, and took up defensive positions while the onlooking Followers of Gemini reacted accordingly. Then, all throughout the sanctuary, the battle to seize control of the building began...


Gemini fell silent for some time after Kani's revelation about who the fox was, or rather, was not. Kani and Melody silently awaited the so-called deity's response, staring at the large, glowing sapphire. They waited for quite awhile, and weren't quite sure what to make of it.

"Well, at least he hasn't struck us down for making such comments yet." Melody remarked, looking on the bright side. "That proves he doesn't have the power to."

"If he had the power he claimed to have, he would have struck us down long before we ever entered the sanctuary." Kani pointed out.

A few moments later, Gemini finally spoke.

"If you are not a teacher, then who are you, fox?" he asked, sounding calm again.

"Kani Fennix." Kani replied, rubbing the false tattoos off his face, then added, "You mean you didn't know?"

Gemini was silent for another moment. "Of course I did." he replied. "I am all knowing."

"Then why did you not react sooner?" Melody challenged. "Why did you act like you thought otherwise?"

"I do not need to explain my great purposes to you, commander." Gemini retorted, shirking the question. "Assuming that you are still the commander of the Quorum of Warriors, and not some intruder."

"Oh, she is." Kani said, tossing Melody the staff he had been carrying and using both paws to work at unfastening the robes he was wearing. "Which leads me to something else you don't know." he gave the sapphire that was apparently Gemini a sly grin. "The Quorum of Warriors in just about it's entirety are no longer on your side, but mine."

This rendered Gemini silent again for a long moment. Kani sensed that the deity, or whatever he was, was trying very hard to keep his reactions calm.

"And just who side are you on, Kani Fennix?" Gemini asked at the end of this pause.

"What? You don't know?" Kani was having fun pointing this out.

"I was under the impression that you had began to believe that." Gemini replied carefully, starting to get his act together again.

Kani ruined that all again, however. "I'm siding with the Redwallers."

Gemini was silent for yet another moment, but not as long this time. "The Redwallers are dead." he remarked confidently.

"No, actually, we lied." Kani corrected. "Redwall Abbey, and it's populace, still stand intact." his grin grew bigger still. "Gotcha."

Gemini again fell silent. Kani wondered what would happened next in the argument, and whether or not Gemini was going to give up. It was clear that he wasn't who he claimed to be, otherwise he would have done something to stop this already.

"Kani!" Melody suddenly exclaimed, ducking into one corner of the room and motioning to the door with the jerk of her head.

Kani twisted one ear to the door, heard pawsteps coming their way, and quickly moved into the corner opposite of Melody. Both were hidden from immediate sight from whoever was approaching, but were close enough to the door to react quickly if need be. Gemini made no comment on any of this, and continued to remain silent.

The pawsteps came ever more closer, until the mouse teacher stepped into the chamber, not suspecting anything, although he did notice that the sapphire Gemini apparently communicated through was already lit. He did not see Kani and Melody until he was in the room.

"Watch yourself, teacher!" Gemini exclaimed in warning, but it came too late.

Melody reacted first by striking at the mouse with the staff Kani had handed her, catching the teacher off guard and doubling him over. Kani relieved the mouse of his own staff, then planted a kick to the creature's back and sent him sprawling onto the floor of the chamber. He started to protest this treatment, but Kani hauled him up to his knees, and moved the unfastened robes he still wore to show the sword of Martin fastened at his belt.

"Not a word." Kani told him, shedding the cloak finally. "And don't try anything."

"What is this?" the mouse protested angrily. "Who are you?"

"Wicked creatures, and they are trying my patience." Gemini replied hotly.

"Well, that's good to know." Kani said, grabbing the mouse teacher and moving him to the middle of the room, drawing his sword and holding it at the teacher's neck before rounding onto Gemini. "You must be extremely patient, though, Gemini. If I were you, I would have done something by now."

"I do not strike creatures down on the slightest whim, fox." Gemini remarked.

"Then why do you automatically have creature killed when they refuse to believe in you?" Melody asked.

Gemini fell silent for a moment, not having an immediate response again.

"You have no right to question Gemini's methods." the mouse teacher responded for his supposed deity. "Gemini is all knowing, and knows of things none of us on this earth could begin to comprehend! Things simply work differently for him! Simply because you cannot comprehend it does not give you the right to question it!"

"A distinct possibility." Kani agreed. "However, there is one small problem with that statement."

"Gemini is not all knowing." Melody explained.

"We already proved it, too." Kani added. "You missed it. Gemini will probably deny it now. But, we managed to get in here and tell him lies to his face and he believed every word of it."

"Impossible." the mouse teacher responded. "Gemini is simply toying with you. He will stop you, and strike you down."

"If he could really do that, then why hasn't he?" Kani asked rhetorically.

"Do not tempt me, fox." Gemini said suddenly. "I have the power."

"Then use it." Kani snapped. "Prove to me that you have it! If you can really stop me, then stop me! I demand you stop me, Gemini! I'll even make it easy and just stand here and do nothing!" he held his paws out defensively. "Go ahead and stop me!"

A long moment of silence while everyone waited for Gemini's response. Nothing happened, nor did Gemini speak.

Kani nodded to himself, and lowered his paws. "I thought as much." he said aloud. "Gemini may exist, but he can't do half the things he claims he can do, can you Gemini?"

Gemini said nothing.

"Blasphemy, there must be an explanation!" the mouse teacher argued lamely, starting to get up and advancing up Kani. "Gemini must have a reason! Perhaps he wishes to spare your miserable life fox to teach you a lesson, not that you would deserve it at this point, you flea-bitten..."

Kani stopped the mouse by raising his sword to touch the mouse's neck. "Try it, and I'll slay you." he vowed.

"You cannot kill me." the mouse teacher said confidently.

"Yes, well, I've already tested the truthfulness of that statement with messy results." Kani replied.

The mouse glowered for a moment. "If Gemini will not stop you, the other followers of this sanctuary will for the wicked acts you have done."

"Oh, we're not worried about the others." Melody said.

"The Quorum of Warriors and the Redwallers are probably taking care of them by now." Kani remarked confidently.

The mouse teacher blanked out for a moment. "The Redwallers are dead, I was assured of this just before..."

"We lied." Melody interrupted. "The report the warriors and I gave upon our arrival was a lie. The Redwallers still live, their abbey still stands."

"Better still, a party of Redwallers were hiding outside undetected when we came in." Kani continued. "Now, both them and the warriors are working to take this sanctuary from the inside out, and have a good chance of succeeding." he took the mouse's staff that he had confiscated and approached the mouse, who suddenly seemed lost. "We planned this from the start, and Gemini didn't see it coming. Gemini is not what he claims to be. His commandments are being given for no real reason other than his enjoyment and to take advantage of your gullibility. Your faith in him is in vain. Everything you believe in is false."

The mouse looked shocked, and collapsed to his knees. "No." he murmured. "It cannot be. Gemini exists."

"Oh, sure he does." Kani said with confidence. He jabbed a claw back at the massive sapphire. "The big glowing rock proves it. He just doesn't have any power over anything, not me, not you, and certainly not anything else in this world. He's just a disembodied voice giving you orders to kill creatures who stand in his way. Take away all of his followers and his ruse, and he wouldn't stand a chance." he glanced back at the glowing sapphire. "Isn't that right, Gemini?"

Gemini said nothing. He had become unnaturally silent.

"No, it cannot be." the mouse teacher protested still. His eyes narrowed. "This must all be some sort of trick! What you are telling me now is the true lies! The Redwallers probably really are dead!"

"No, they aren't, and are probably taking this building as we speak." Melody said.

"Face it, mouse, we're snapping your so-called faith like a twig." Kani spat.

And to further visualize the analogy, the fox took the mouse's staff and broke it in two over his knee. Then, taking the two remaining pieces, he threw them carelessly aside at the large sapphire. They bounced off it with dull thuds and clattered to the floor. Gemini finally spoke again by releasing a half-withheld yelp when the pieces of the staff struck the crystal. Slightly surprised at this, the three creatures turned to look at the glowing crystal. Then, realizing something else, Kani stepped over to the sapphire and picked up the bejeweled top of the broken staff, and used it to rap against the large sapphire.

The sound it produced was quite hollow. There was empty space on the other side of the sapphire.

Kani made an astonished grin. "So that's how you've done it..." he remarked aloud to himself.


The Followers of Gemini were not expecting an attack at all, and were completely disorganized when the Redwallers and the Quorum of Warriors attacked. They didn't stand and chance and were quickly overwhelmed. A large number of them, either having no combat training at all, or realizing they had no hope of fighting back, promptly and willingly surrendered themselves. They were all taken captive and escorted back to the entry hall to be guarded and watched.

Some of the more serious followers, however, such as teachers, were willing to fight to the bitter end, fighting viciously and without restraint. They caused a great deal of damage, but the attacks were reckless, and were either quickly knocked unconscious, or so it was for more than half of the teachers, slain.

Mathoni realized this quickly when the group he had been following in the fairly bloodless fight they had doing thus far with Illia, Charles, and Rowe when they suddenly stumbled upon two teachers restraining and dragging away another follower, a female otter around Mathoni's own age, who was struggling and trying to escape. Upon seeing the attackers coming their way, the teachers tried to sped up their progress, going on the defensive. The ottermaid was only slowing them down, but they weren't about to let her go.

The Redwallers were upon them in moments, and a battle quickly broke loose. The two teachers fought tooth and claw, and when it became clear that they would threaten the ottermaid's own life and not give up, their attackers switched gears to attack more seriously. The first one was killed when dueling with Illia, and Illia getting lucky by slapping aside the teacher's last attack then driving him through in an act of self-preservation. The other was dispatched more quickly by Charles, taking an arrow to the neck and being killed almost instantly.

Once it was all over, Mathoni stared at the dead bodies of the two creatures, seeing the blood pooling around them, and realized for the first time what Rowe had meant by there being more to war than the glory, and why Charles had reacted the way he had to his exposure to war. Mathoni now stood at the sight of his real first taste of war, and understood what it really meant to be a warrior.

Shaking the ugly thoughts from his mind, however, he turned away from the blood and gore and focused his attention on the ottermaid, who had fallen to the floor during the fight, but seeming unhurt.

"Ye all right, mate?" he asked, offering a paw to help the ottermaid up with.

"Yes, I'm all right." the ottermaid replied breathlessly, accepting the help back up. "Who are you?"

"Mathoni of Redwall."

"Redwall. Then Terra was right, Redwall did survive, and came to help us!"

"That's right, miss." Rowe said, stepping over. "We did, but we ain't 'ere t' just do that. We're 'ere t' get 'un of our own."

"Of course, Alexander." the ottermaid said.

"That's right!" Linus suddenly exclaimed from in the middle of the group, and forced his way to the ottermaid. "You know him? Where is he?"

"I don't know, he could be anywhere in the sanctuary by now." the ottermaid confessed. She quickly related to them about the rebellion, the followers discovering them, and what was happening to the rebels when the attack began. "I was one of the lucky ones, and managed to avoid capture, at first. Those two had just caught up with me when you started attacking." she looked at the fallen bodies of the two teachers. "You may have just saved my life." she looked back at her rescuers. "Thank you."

"You're welcome, miss..." Charles began, trailing off to prompt for a name.

"Sarias." the ottermaid replied.

"But what about Alexander?" Linus asked, the squirrel getting anxious. "Where is he?"

"I don't know." Sarias confessed. "He could be anywhere. If he escaped capture, then he's probably at the hidden cave. If not...then he could be anywhere."

"Can ye guess?" Illia prompted.

Sarias thought for a moment, then shrugged. "If he was caught, he was probably taken to his dormitory. The dormitories are all on the top floor in the front of the sanctuary, above the main gates. I cannot tell you which room would be Alexander's however."

"We'll check them all, if we must!" Linus proclaimed.

"But you heard her, he might not even be there." Charles pointed out.

"We'll spilt up." Rowe reasoned. "Me, Linus, Charles, will go an' check out 'em dormitories. Mathoni and Illia, have Sarias lead ye t' this hidden cave an' check it out. Everyone else, spilt in half, an' half of ye go with. Either of ye find anythin' come an' tell us. Oh, an' keep an' eye out for Kani and Melody! Ain't seen any trace o' either o' 'em at all since th' battle began. I'm startin' t' worry 'bout 'em..."


Grinning victoriously still, Kani silently started to examine the glowing sapphire that Gemini had seemingly been using to communicate through.

"What are you doing?" the mouse teacher asked after a few moments, growing annoyed again.

"Yes, what are you doing, Kani?" Melody asked, curious herself.

"This is glass." Kani suddenly announced, taking a step back from the sapphire.

"Say what now?"

"The sapphire. It's really made of glass."

"Your eyes deceive you, that is a sapphire, one of Gemini's holy jewels." the mouse spat. "It is the biggest in the catacombs, and specially selected by Gemini to converse with his followers."

"Really?" Kani asked, glancing back at the captive while taking the top of the broken staff, gripping it tightly in one paw. "Then explain why I can do this."

Without warning, he suddenly spun around again and struck the surface of the glowing sapphire hard with the top of the broken staff. A spiderweb of cracks spread out from where the staff and struck, weakening the blue crystal. The mouse teacher blinked in surprise, not at all expecting this.

"If this were a real sapphire," Kani explained, throwing the staff head aside and pulling out Martin's sword again, "then I wouldn't have been able to do that so easily. It's really glass. And therefore more breakable." he readied the blade to swing again at the crystal. "And behind it, I'm convinced, is the answer to everything."

The mouse teacher was finally at a loss for words, but now Gemini found his voice again.

"Stop fox, or else!" he warned loudly.

Kani ignored him, and lined up the blade to stab at the sapphire's weakened spot.

"I am warning you, Kani Fennix! You will not break this sapphire! You WILL listen to me, you WILL obey me!"

Kani still ignored the indignant entity. Lining up the sword, he thrust the sword forward at the sapphire with all his strength.

"No! Stop!"

The sword struck the sapphire and shot through it, halfway up it's blade, with a resounding crack. The fake jewel shattered, cracks now covering every inch of it. It held together for a split second, then simply fell apart, the shards of blue glass spilling down and out of the wall it was embedded in, flooding the floor around it with it's remains. Kani quickly backed away from the falling glass, joining the others.

Then, silence fell, as the three got their first real look at the true Gemini...