Chapter 17: Hero of Time

Larry tapped the computer console and lowered the force-field that kept the captured SeeD linguist in her cell. There were no guards on the door because people do not go into DreamLand to do dull things like guard a prison cell; they come in to have fun and usually only came in on the eve of some operation or battle.

As a result, the security in prison cells onboard the Pride had been upgraded making it pretty much impossible for the prisoner to escape unless she had someone to help her escape. Seeing that she was still sitting in the cell, she had clearly not escaped.

The former owners of the Pride, the Goa'uld, had not been too concerned over their prisoner's personal comfort and so the cell was simply a cubic box with one very hard steel bench coming out of the back wall. Since the Clan Hunters had not taken any prisoners so far the cells had not been used until now, and also unimproved.

Larry strode into the room with his arms behind his back and his mind reaching out into the Force to detect the captive SeeD's intentions.

She looked up at him, and brushed her blonde hair out of her face before scowling at him, "What do you want?" she asked.

Larry decided that honesty would be best, "For you to answer some questions," he said.

"Yeah, I thought that's what you wanted," she said, "Well I'll have you know that you'll get nothing out of me."

"How about your name?" Larry asked as he thought about using a mind trick. He hadn't used one yet, but he thought he knew how…

She paused for a moment before saying, "I'm Emma Varch."

"Alright Emma, I'm Harrod and a member of the Clan Hunters, but you must have known that last bit at least."

She nodded before stopping herself and she sat rigidly on the edge of the bench.

Larry went on, "I will not hurt you, but I do have to ask you a few questions. Firstly, why are you chasing us?"

She just stared at him silently.

"Alright, then how about something that won't jeopardize your operation. The man in the cowboy hat called our commander a traitor, why?"

Emma's mouth hung open in amazement, "You mean you didn't realize? That slime was a SeeD at one time, until he left us. He tried to kill us the last time we caught up with you Clan Hunters, at the battle on the ring. You remember?"

Larry nodded slowly, "When was Allied a SeeD?" he asked.

Emma frowned up at her captor, "Allied? Who's that? I'm talking about John Call, the former head of the disciplinary committee."

Larry stared. That didn't make any sense! John Call was not a program inside of DreamLand, he was a real person! She wasn't lying though, he was sure of that. Deciding he had gotten more then enough startling information, Larry excused himself and activated the cell's security before assembling his squad in one of the hangers.


With just over three game hours left on his time in DreamLand, Larry knew they would be arriving over the planet that had Hyrule, Labyrnna, Holodrum, and Termina on its surface shortly to search for one of the Ta'veren that Allied had mentioned before he died.

Fox, Tex, Section, and the two ODSTs that Larry had not met were already there standing near the shuttle that would drop them onto the planet. In addition to their squad, on lead by Biffy and another by Fate would be dropped onto different parts of Hyrule to look for this, "Hero of Time."

"You must be Leo and Red," Larry said as he came up.

"And you must be the squad leader," the said one of the ODSTs behind the helmet he wore. Taking his helmet off, he exposed a pale face with bright red hair, "I am Red," he said snapping to attention.

The other marine took of her helmet to reveal a head full of curly red hair and brown eyes. She smiled with full lips, "I'm Leo, short of Leopard."

Introductions were made with the rest of the squad, and the two ODSTs were checking out everyone's gear and equipment just to see what each member's specialty was. Both of the marines were armed with the BR55 rifle, commonly referred to as the battle rifle and side arms of M6D pistols which Fury always carried.

The nearly fell over laughing at Fox's outdated Springfield 03, while they shrugged at Tex's swords, but they had no idea what Section's MUT was or what it did. When they asked her, she explained, but the two marines just shook their heads, "There aren't any computers down there, so why would you need it?" they both asked.

She just shook her head and smiled.

Then Nikita came into the hanger and told them, "Alright, your squad has become most reliable at getting the job done, so we're dropping your team into Hyrule proper which is most likely where the Hero of Time should be.

"Three other teams are being inserted into the other major countries on the surface of this planet. I'll be setting up a small command post inside of the Lon Lon Ranch, which is inside of Hyrule proper about three miles outside of Hyrule's castle town, which is also the capital. You should begin searching for the Hero of Time there."

"How did we know to come here?" Section asked, "These Ta'veren could be anywhere in DreamLand, why here?"

Nikita nodded pushing the blonde hair out of her face with a casual flick of her hand, "The Hero of Time that Allied mentioned has always been associated with Hyrule. But Hyrule is a long way off the beaten path in DreamLand. In fact, most people don't know how to get there, but not for lack of trying. But when I joined DreamLand I arrived just outside Lake Hylia in the south of the Royal family's realm, so I knew where to find it."

"Anything else we need to know?" Larry asked suddenly trying to act like the responsible squad leader.

"Two things," Nikita said, "First, be on the look out for anything suspicious. If what Allied said is correct then this will probably not be a cake walk getting to the Hero of Time, much less convincing him to join us. Also be on watch for the dangers that already exist on this planet. If there's a Hero of Time, you can believe that there is a Villain of Time.

"The other thing is that the Pride and the Pillar of Spring will be on station above the planet and ready to assist you should you need it. That's all."

Larry snapped his heals together and saluted with his fist to his heart, which Nikita promptly returned, "When the rest of our squad shows up, we'll head down to the surface."

Nikita raised a questioning eyebrow at the exact moment that the tall shape of Beyond entered the hanger and strode across to their group.

Nikita's mouth twisted distastefully but then nodded curtly, "Alright you're all here now, so I'll see you on the surface."


Darkness, pain, and an overwhelming sense of drifting came to the man. He knew that he was alive, but he was sure that 'alive' was not the right word for him. More accurately, he was aware.

Then out of the darkness came light, light so strong he was blinded to the pain and even to his awareness. He knew nothing but the light and everything else became irreverent.

As with all things that are new and terrifying, the terror faded from his heart and he began to think again. Then he began to breathe and his surroundings came to him in a second.

Horns blared and the wind blew past his ears as he staggered to his feet, remembering how to stand and walk. Then memory came to him and he fell back to his knees as a groan escaped his parched throat, like the cry of a newborn.

Tears streamed down his face and sobs racked his body, "Oh God!" he cried, "Why doesn't it ever end? When will the dream end?"

He stayed like that for several minutes before he suppressed those feelings and began to check his surroundings. He was standing on gravel on top of a building. Vents and birds dotted the rooftop. Other buildings surrounded him, but there were no people.

Checking around quickly, he noticed that he was wearing a long cloak over a pair of sandals like some Old Testament prophet. Appropriate, he thought dryly.

Then his eye caught the thing he knew would be there. On the roof propped up against an intake sat Hyperion, the gunblade that was always with him.

"It never goes away. And now you've become a part of me…" he quoted with a smirk before walking over to pick up the gleaming piece of metal and checked his reflection in it.

Grimacing slightly at the face that looked back at him, he quickly began to concentrate on his own reflection. The face became broader with a darker complexion, then he added darkly trimmed hair and a matching goatee and mustache before giving himself brilliant blue eyes.

He still had some control over this place, it seemed.

He would need a new name too, one that would not give him away again.

Then it occurred to him: Carth Underhill, because the name seemed to fit his new appearance.

"So many miles to go before I rest…" Carth said as he wrapped his cloak around him and walked down the stairs of the building and out onto the street of the city, soon lost to in the crowds of DreamLand.


Larry raised his hand against the sun to lessen the glare as he looked up at the walls of Hyrule's capital city: Hyrule Castle Town. The wall was at least thirty feet high with battlements dotting the stone grey length of it.

Just in front of where Larry stood sat a moat that was fifteen feet across and about five deep with water that was running through the moat, which hinted that the moat was part of a natural river or stream. Directly across from Larry, a section of the wall was actually made of wood, but that was because it was the raised drawbridge.

On top of the wall, Larry could see bits of light reflecting off of the spear tips and golden armor of Hyrule's royal guard. They had not lowered the gate upon seeing the small squad of newcomers.

"Well now what d'ya reckon' we should do?" Fox asked, leaning on his rifle. All of the squad was dressed in the green uniforms that had just been issued to them.

"That bridge has to open sometime," Tex suggested, "Maybe they keep it shut during the night."

"Then why hasn't it opened?" Red asked angrily motioning to the sun that had crested the horizon.

Larry cupped his hands to his mouth and shouted up to the guards, "Oy! Hello! Why don't you open the gate?"

The guards looked down and considered the newcomers, "It's not time yet!"

"Not time?" Larry asked, "When will it be time?"

"Not for another three minutes!" the guard shouted back.

Larry rolled his eyes, "It looks like we wait," he said.

Turning away from the castle, Larry started in surprise to see a tall robust woman with gray hair and pointy ears standing just behind them. He had neither seen nor sensed her arrival, but there she stood with her arms crossed flexing her wrist smoothly.

"Hello?" Larry said cautiously.

The rest of the squad spun around to look at the tall woman, apparently none of them had noticed her approach either.

"I am Impa," the woman said, "I am the Princesses' bodyguard and head of security for Hyrule Castle. Why are you here?"

Larry opened his mouth to speak, but then he noticed her eyes. They were bright red. Suppressing a shiver, Larry answered quickly, "We're looking for someone."

Impa narrowed her eyes, making them almost seem to glow, "Who are you looking for?"

"That's none of your business," Tex snapped coming up to Larry's shoulder.

Impa's eyes locked onto Tex and onto the sword she was carrying before casually disregarding her. Then she returned her attention to Larry, "I see eight armed strangers wearing uniforms and seeking entry to the city of the King. It's every bit my business."

Larry felt Tex and the rest of his team stiffen, but he made a soothing gesture to his team, "We are looking for someone called the Hero of Time," he said.

Impa's face went from suspicion to shock, "Why are you looking for him?" she blurted.

Larry figured that since he had come this far, he might as well tell her the truth, "I don't know if I can really explain it, but all I know is that we need his help."

"The eight of you need his help? Or there are more of you?"

"You keep saying that," Beyond said in a deep rumble, "But there are only seven of us here."

The other Clan Hunters began to nod their heads, and Impa said, "No. There are eight of you."

She produced a small sphere from a pocket which reminded Larry of a walnut and threw it at a shrub that was just to the right of the drawbridge. With a loud crack the shrub shook and a body fell out of it, garbed in black.

Larry was beginning to get tired of learning that people were around him that he didn't know about. Drawing deeply on the Force Larry began to cast around with his mind to look for anything else that might surprise him.

He found nothing, so he walked over to the bush just as the fallen black-garbed person just as he was beginning to struggle to his feet. Larry was close enough to see the panic in the dark eyes as he neared, but he didn't see that long. That was when Larry realized that the person was garbed in the same black ninja clothing that he had seen while training with Delaine.

The ninja took off for the moat, the closest thing even close to cover that Larry could see. It amazed him that the ninja had managed to make it to the bush without being spotted. Angrily, Larry reached out in the Force and snagged the fleeing figure in a powerful force grip.

Pulling the struggling figure back toward him, Larry stripped away the mask with a casual and almost unconscious flick of his wrist, and the Force obeyed him. That surprised him, because it seemed he was mastering his powers in this world.

But what surprised him even more was the face that greeted him under the mask. His shock was so overwhelming that he nearly lost control of the Force altogether.

"You!" he cried, "What are you doing here?"

By this time, all of the rest of the squad had their weapons drawn and were pointing them at the previously unseen threat.

Not surprisingly, Delaine grimaced at him, "I'm supposed to be watching your back you blockhead."

"Well I'll be darned!" Fox shouted, "It's a girl!"

"Brilliant observation Einstein," Leo said sarcastically rolling her eyes.

"You know her?" Beyond asked with a deep rumble.

Larry nodded, "Yeah I know her," he turned to the still suspended Delaine, "Why are you following me?"

Delaine scowled at him, "Why else? To keep you out of trouble."

Larry gave her a flat look, "It's only a game. You have to be following me for some other reason then…"

Just as Larry was in the middle of his sentence, an axe blade went through Delaine's neck, seeming to come from no where. Blood blossomed out of her severed neck and her head rolled a few feet toward John, her face frozen in a mask of shock.

Larry immediately stepped back, shock painting his own face. Standing immediately in front of him stood a massive man nearly head and shoulders taller then him, and was holding two very large axes.

His head was bald and he was grinning at the blood spattered axe with glee, "She was following you because we paid her to follow you and keep you safe. She couldn't do it without being detected though, and so she failed."

All of the weapons came up again and Larry pulled his lightsaber off of his belt and ignited the purple blade. Rage boiled through him, and it took him time to remember that his friend was not truly dead, but the blood on the ground just kept making him more and more angry.

"You will die for that scum!" he shouted as he was about to step forward, but Beyond placed his large bulk between the two men.

The bald headed man seemed taken aback by the sudden appearance of the taller man, "Why are you here, Little Brother?" he asked, "Have you finally decided to join us?"

Beyond shook his head forcefully, "I was here because I chose to be here. Now why are you here?"

"I was sent here by our Sister to retrieve the Hero of Time, which it seems you too were sent here to do," the bald man said without hesitation.

"That is correct," Beyond said with a curt nod.

"The Hero of Time is not going anywhere," Impa said standing off to the side of the two extremely taller men with her arms crossed, "He will go with no one, because his task here is too important."

"Radio Nikita and inform her of the situation," Larry murmured softly under his breath to Section, who pulled out her MUT and began typing away at it quickly.

"Why do you want the Hero of Time?" Beyond asked.

"The same reason you do, Brother. To kill a God."

"So you still believe that our salvation lies in his death?"

"Of course Brother, all of the God Killers do."

Larry pushed forward, "WHY DID YOU KILL HER?"

The bald headed man looked at Larry then, tearing his gaze away from Beyond, "Because she failed, and the God Killers do not tolerate failure."

Larry snarled angrily and he tried to push forward past Beyond, but the big man held him in place. Leo and Red caught their squad leader's mood and they both moved to the bald headed man's sides covering him with their Battle Rifles, their visors and armor locked down and ready for combat. Tex drew her own sword and held it in front of her, while Section's eyes bulged as she typed into her MUT. Fox's face was a mask of concentration as he worked the bolt to load a round into the chamber, the hallow clack setting the mood of the Clan Hunters.

Section grabbed Tex's shoulder and whispered something urgently in her ear, which the bald headed man took note of, "I think you should listen to her before you try anything rash," he said, brandishing his large axe over at Section.

Tex stood up and peered more intently at the bald headed man, her stance shifting slightly. She was on full alert now, and the rest of the Clan Hunters caught that mood, each stiffening up. Larry backed up, not turning his back on the large man as he tried to speak to Section.

"He's reading as though he would be a Non Playable Character," she whispered urgently, "He's actually a part of the system."

Larry blinked, "That's not possible, he's in a Clan and is clearly not from this world. How did he get here?"

"There's more," Section said, glancing at Beyond, who was the only one who was still casually leaning unconcerned, "Beyond's the same way, he's a part of the system, not a player."

"NPCs don't join clans!" Larry insisted, "It goes against their programming."

"It would appear that that is not the case," Section said flatly, a slight grimace on her face.

The sound of the drawbridge lowering drew everybody's eyes, until it lowered and settled into the ground with a loud thunk! About two dozen of the Hyrule Royal Guards filed out on the bridge with their lances on their shoulders. They quickly formed up around Impa before surrounding the Clan Hunters and the bald headed man.

"Now," Impa said, "You will all surrender and come with me."

Larry kept his saber ignited as he glanced at Section, "Anything else I should know?" he asked.

"Just that he's gone," Section said motioning to where the bald headed man was standing.

Indeed, the bald headed man had disappeared and Larry stood up as he deactivated his blade. Numbly, he glanced at the body of his friend before tossing his weapon to the ground in front of him.

Shocked, the rest of the Clan Hunters numbly began to unlimber their own weapons and put them to the ground. Beyond took a sip out of his hip flask, and only dropped his quarterstaff after half of the lances were pointed into his torso.

"What?" he asked when he saw their faces, "I was going to do it."


"And I'll tell you again!" Larry shouted through the bars of his prison, "We are looking for the Hero of Time because we believe he's…"

"Liar!" the royal guard said as he jabbed the long haft of his spear into the bars, which Larry narrowly avoided.

"Will you quit that?" Larry shouted as he jerked himself to the side to avoid another thrust made by the guard.

The Clan Hunters were in the bowels of Hyrule Castle, in a typical cell that was surrounded by very thick bricks on three sides, and a side of bars covering the fourth side, through which a very sweaty and angry royal guard was beginning to tire of hearing the same things out of the mouths of the Clan Hunters. Apparently the interrogator couldn't believe that a full platoon of soldiers had arrested seven people who were completely innocent.

Larry was tired of dealing with this character too, as it looked like the Clan Hunters would be wasting their time in this jail cell. Time which was not infinite.

The guard opened his mouth again, but cut off as the sound of a heavy reinforced door ground open. The hem of a white dress could be seen along with slipperier feet, but as the figure descended the stairs that were across from the cell door, Larry could discern pink slashes in the dress, and fancy embroidery on the sleeves. The image of three golden triangles linked by their corners surrounded by a pair of doves in flight sat in the center of the dress. Then the rest of the girl appeared, and the guard quickly retracted his spear and stood upright extremely stiffly.

"Princess Zelda, why are you here? This is no place for a.."

"I'll be fine guardsman, so long as you are here to guard me," the girl said and she looked directly into Larry's eyes with her own brilliant blue gaze. Her hair was cut short, and was covered by…a bonnet? Larry didn't know.

"Impa tells me you seek the Hero of Time," the girl said primly, "And I understand that you require his help."

Larry nodded, "That's right…your highness," he added on about a moment later, while making a leg. She was royalty after all.

The rest of the Clan Hunters made unsteady bows behind him, even the women which caused the princess to giggle slightly.

"He's not here just now," the girl said, "But I will tell you where he is and let you go after him."

"Your majesty?" the guard gasped, "But these people are criminals!"

"What crime have they committed jailer?" Princess Zelda asked patiently, "They were in the wrong place at the wrong time, and I'm ordering you to release them."

The guard was clearly not pleased, because he scowled and looked on the verge of shouting when the Princess began tapping her foot impatiently. The guard quickly reconsidered what he was going to say and fumbled for his keys.

As the guard was trying to open the door, the girl looked up at Larry with large eyes, wiggling her pointy ears, "I know that there was someone else looking for the Hero of Time," she said matter-of-factly, "And I know that he committed murder on Hyrule's soil. Do you know who he was?"

Larry considered the Princess for a moment, and then glanced at Beyond. When he saw that the big man remained silent, Larry shook his head, "I don't know who he was, your highness. I wish I did, because the person he killed was a friend of mine."

The Princess lowered her eyes for a moment, "I'm sorry."

Larry nodded slightly. He had not expected sympathy from a computer program.

"The Hero of Time is important to us, but he has already sealed Gannondorf in the Sacred Realm, and I believe what you say to be true," She said as the Clan Hunters filed out of their roomy prison cell, "But I don't like the other man's intention, and I want you to find him before he does."

"Where is he?" Larry asked anxiously, "Do you know?"

"He is not in Hyrule any more," she said, "He left, and the last I heard he was in Termina, a nation which is our neighbor."

The princess' mouth tightened in worry, "if…when you find him…give him this," she said handing Larry a folded piece of paper. Turning it over, Larry noted a large lump of green wax with the image of the three triangles that the Princess wore on her dress.

Seeing his interest, she said, "That is the Triforce. A symbol of the actual Triforce, which is held in the Sacred Realm."

Larry nodded before making another bow, "Thank you, your highness," he said.


The team leader's name was Ozzie and he was very wet. Moving at the head of a five man squad, he was wading through knee deep swamp water. His team had received a tip that the Hero of Time was in this swamp, south of Clock Town.

Only thing was, it was a very wet swamp. They had managed to catch a boat ride from some creepy looking hag about half way into the swamp, but now they were walking the rest of the way into the swamp.

"I don't understand how he could have gotten in this far," Spacer said peering over his sunglasses into the rain around them. He pulled his hat down over his ears a little farther, "I mean, this swamp is poisonous, has plants that eat you, and appears to have insects the size of airplanes that sting. I mean, I know he's the Hero of Time…"

"Stow it," Ozzie said as he flipped his long black hair out of his eyes, "You're a Clan Hunter remember? We gotta show those ODSTs that we're not as wimpy as they think we are."

Finally coming to the end of the pond, Ozzie lead his team up onto dry land near the entrance of a forest that was very dark and thick.

"If it's not one thing…" Spacer growled rolling his eyes at the thick underbrush.

"There's a trail right here," one of the new Clan Hunters, a blonde haired woman named Starbright said.

"Well then I suppose that we should head down it," Ozzie said grinning. He grinned wider when he noticed a pair of footprints in the mud.

When he pointed them out, someone else pointed out, "Those are small boots. I thought the Hero of Time was supposed to be a full grown adult."

Ozzie frowned at that too, and stroked a pale finger along his chin.

"Well find out if it's the Hero of Time or not when we get inside," he said finally.

"I don't think you'll be going anywhere," boomed a voice from behind a tree as a tall bald headed man stepped out from behind a tree.

Instantly, the weary Clan Hunters trained their weapons on him when they saw the huge axes he carried in either hand.

"Who are you?" Ozzie shouted as he readied a few destructive spells incase this went downhill.

"I am Number One," the bald headed man said, "And this is the end of your search for the Hero of Time."

With that, he easily flung one of his axes into the Spacer's chest, who gasped as the air rushed out of his now punctured lungs. The grenade launcher he loved so much fell to the muddy swamp and he vanished from DreamLand.

The other five remaining members of the Clan Hunters opened up with whatever weapons they carried, which was an assortment of firearms except for Ozzie. The large man sidestepped behind a tree and rushed Ozzie just as he threw a powerful fireball at the man's previous cover.

Unable to react quickly enough, he Ozzie fell to the mud as the axe went into his leg, severing it at the knee. Pain shot up through Ozzie's body and his concentration slipped: a deadly thing for a mage.

Unable to concentrate, but still conscious he rolled to the side to watch as Number One systematically killed each and every one of the Clan Hunters. Bullets seemed to dissolve when they approached him, and those that didn't he somehow managed to bat away with the spinning axe blades.

Starbright was the last one to die, because she tried to run, but the big man simply reached out and grabbed her by her long blonde hair, and kept pulling. The horrified screams Starbright even overrode the sound of Ozzie's heart pumping in his head.

Finally, the only sound was that of the falling rain on the water of the swamp. Not even the birds called. Ozzie lay there, looking up into the sky with his breath coming in ragged breaths.

Numbly he noticed that the big man was standing over him now cleaning his axe blades with a cloth, which Ozzie realized was the tattered remains of Spacer's shirt.

The big man was saying something now, and Ozzie struggled to hear it, "…Can you hope to overcome him if you can't even overcome me?"

With one last great mustering of effort, Ozzie raised his head and spat on the big man's muddy boot.

Number One's face became a snarl and he raised his boot and brought it down on Ozzie's windpipe, crushing it and Ozzie faded from DreamLand.

Turning away from the swamp, Number One looked down to see a boy of about eleven or twelve standing there staring at him, dressed in green. A bright yellow fairy bobbed around the boy's head.

Number One smiled wickedly.


"They still haven't reported in," Nikita said as she stepped off of the horse she had been riding around the Lon Lon Ranch.

Larry grabbed the horse's bridle as the woman came off of her horse, but from the looks of her dismount she didn't need the help.

"We were told that the Hero of Time is not in Hyrule," Larry repeated. The rest of his team was currently lounging against the side of the stable near the entrance of the Lon Lon ranch. A red haired girl who's name was Malon was bouncing back and forward between the two teams of Clan Hunters who had taken up camp at the Lon Lon ranch asking them all sorts of questions. She was apparently the Ranch owner's daughter, but no one really seemed to mind her.

Fox and Red were having fun picking up the chickens and throwing them back and forward between each other until the Ranch owner came running out of the stable shouting. Fox put the chicken down with a lopsided grin while Red and some of the other members of Larry's squad began laughing.

"Then that is most likely where this bald headed man went," Nikita said, "If he is looking for the Hero of Time as well. That also means that the team will not expect anyone else to be looking for him. How much time do you have left?"

Larry flipped out his PDA and checked the time, "Two hours twelve minutes," he said simply, "And the rest of my team is about the same."

Nikita patted down the sides of the horse, her blond hair held together by a bandanna, "And do you know anything more about who Beyond is?"

Larry paused for a moment, "No."

"Or what his connection is to this group? The God Killers?"

"…no."

"Then I suggest that you find out before any course of action is taken. Biffy is flying one of the UH-60's back from a scouting mission and will take you to Termina if you can get a straight explanation out of Beyond. Otherwise I'm going to ground all of you and send you back to the Pride. We accepted him on your word, remember?"

Larry's mouth twisted but he nodded. If he brought bad company into the Clan Hunters, it would be his fault.

"I'll see what I can do," he said and after snapping to attention and saluting with a fist to his chest, he walked over to where Beyond stood leaning against the corner of the stable, watching Fox attempt to catch another chicken.

As Larry approached, the big man looked down at his squad leader with a blank expression, "I know what you're going to ask," he said, "and I owe you an explanation."

Larry looked up into Beyond's eyes and crossed his arms, waiting for a reply.

Beyond sighed and uncrossed his arms to dig out his hip flask, he drained a healthy gulp before starting.

"I'm not really a user in the system. But I'm not really a program here either. You see, I've been trapped into this position by an organization named the 'God Killers.' They took me and fused me with the network, but something went wrong. Now the God Killers are stuck inside of DreamLand permanently. And that's what happened to me."

Larry waited for Beyond to say something else, but when he remained silent Larry asked, "Why are they interested in the Hero of Time?"

Beyond shrugged, "If I had to guess? Probably the same reason we are."

Larry thought that over for a moment, "Okay, that guy said something about killing a god? What did he mean?"

Beyond grimaced, "My brothers and sisters believe that the only way for us to escape this world is to destroy the one who made it."

Larry was shocked, "John Call? Destroy the Administrator? That's crazy!"

Beyond nodded his head sadly, "But they feel that there is no other way."

Larry considered what he was going to say next, "How does the Hero of Time relate to destroying John Call?"

Beyond shrugged his massive shoulders, "I don't know. The first I had heard of this was when that team leader mentioned gathering together all of the Ta'veren at Nar Shaddaa."

Then something in Larry's brain clicked, "What if Allied wanted us to destroy John Call? What if Call was the one that Allied was being chased by?"

Beyond looked down at his squad leader impassively, but said nothing.

The more Larry thought about it, the more sense it made. After all, who else would be powerful enough to give Allied such fear?

"I need to go report this," Larry said, "Because this changes everything."

Beyond shook his head, "Not really. The only thing that is different is that now you need to figure out why the administrator deserves to be removed from DreamLand."

Larry frowned, "What? Do you know why Allied throught he should be destroyed?"

Beyond shook his head slowly, almost mournfully, "No. I don't. But a thing as powerful as DreamLand should not be kept in the hands of any man. The power it gives over the mind is extraordinary; just look at me and the God Killers. We are held here against our will."


The helicopter roared over the treetops of the swamp as the two ODSTs trained their battle rifles over the broad forest. This was the swamp lands to the south of Termina's capital city of Clock Town, and the last reported position of Ozzie's squad.

Section sat inside the UH 60's troop compartment as she held her MUT on her knees and typed into the keyboard while looking intently at the screen.

The bodies of both playable characters and non-playable characters did not remain in DreamLand that long, so there were almost no bodies when the helicopter found the spot were Ozzie's team had been butchered. Only the team leaders body was left, which told what had happened to the rest of his team.

Now Section was trying to search for any signals inside of the coding of DreamLand itself to find either the bald headed man with the axe, or the strong signal of a ta'veren.

Larry had his arms crossed and was glaring out at the setting sun with a look of grim determination. Fox sat sipping out of his flask while he kept adding bullets to his Springfield, and taking them back out. Tex had her legs crossed and her eyes closed, as though getting ready for an intense sport match.

But Beyond sat in the very back of the helicopter, staring blankly into the polished staff he always carried. He removed one of his hip flasks, and drank deeply before carefully screwing the cap back on. The man not only looked sad, but his mood was infecting the others.

"There!" Section cried suddenly as she stabbed a finger into her MUT, "Down in that swamp!"

"Which one?" Fox asked, "There are a lot of swamps down there."

Section spared him a glance, "The one with the purple water at the head of the waterfall. It seems to be coming from inside the swamp itself."

"Inside?" Fox asked as he pointed to the water, "I ain't going in that!"

Larry poked his head out of the open door, "I don't think you'll have to," he said, "There's a platform down there."

Biffy circled the large swamp one more time before dropping the team off on a wooden platform near the center of the lily pad covered water.

Ducking to avoid the spinning blades, all seven of the team kept their heads down until they gave Biffy the thumbs up, and then he took off to circle the swamp again. Once the helicopter was out of sight, the silence of the swamp was only broken up by the occasional croaking of a frog or caw of some bird. There were no bugs in DreamLand.

"So now what?" Red asked as he stood up and removed his helmet, "I don't see anything around here."

"You wouldn't say that if you knew what I knew, hoot!" came a shrill voice from behind the group.

Everybody spun to look up at an extremely large owl, who was sitting on a bit of string that had been strung between the posts of the platform.

After a moment, Larry asked, "Did that bird just say something?"

The owl cocked its head and gave a loud hoot, "I am no mere bird, stranger. My name is Kaepora Gaebora." Larry's jaw dropped, "It did talk!" "Are you really that surprised?" the owl asked. Larry was about to say that he was, but then thought better of it. He had seen stranger in DreamLand.

Section stepped forward in the pause as Leo and Red went back to looking around the swamp for movement, "You said you knew something, sage owl?" she asked politely.

The owl twisted nearly upside-down, "Now see, I like her. She doesn't get excited by a talking owl and she even called me wise!" he ruffled his feathers in satisfaction.

"There is a temple below this swamp," the owl said again, "But you can only get inside of it by playing a certain song."

"A song?" Beyond asked, a loud rumble.

"Anyone got an instrument?" Larry asked.

When everyone shook their heads, Section produced her MUT, "I think I can play notes with this…" she said.

Larry breathed easily, "Good."

"But do you know the song?" Kaepora Gaebora asked in a sing song voice. "Where would we get this song…wise owl?" Larry asked, adding the title on a moment too late. "Oh, so 'wise owl' now is it? Alright, I'll tell you." Section sat cross legged in the center of the platform and waited for the owl to start. A few moments later, the large owl started singing out notes in a song. Section listened and then played around with the computer until she finally said, "I got it!" Everyone waited for Section to turn up the volume on her MUT before the notes began to belt out in an exact echo of Kaepora Gaebora's song. She let it play through the song once, and then cut off the music. For a long moment nothing happened, but then the water around the swamp began to shake and ripple. Suddenly the top of a large building came into view, and then more and more of the building as it rose out of the swamp.

It looked like it was carved out of rock, but it had a tree growing on the top of it. A square doorway was in the center of the building, like a gaping mouth looking for flies to eat.

"Right," Larry said, "I guess we go in."


"I don't care what he says!" The President of the United States screamed into the phone, "Tell him this exactly: 'If he does not stop trying to gain international spotlight like this, then he may attract the wrong kind of attention.' Yeah I know it sounds like a threat, because it is one! I'm tired of dancing around with niceties, now good day Mr. Ambassador."

The Presidential Secretary stuck her head into the door of the Oval Office the moment he was off the line, "Mr. President, your next appointment is here."

"Thank you Dana, could you send him in straight away?"

The gray haired secretary bobbed her head and ducked out of the doorway, and John Call walked into the Oval Office, dressed in a gray suit with some minor pinstripes. The President stood up and walked in front of his desk where he shook John's hand.

"Mr. Call, thank you for coming on such short notice."

"It is my pleasure, Mr. President. It is not everyday that the leader of the free world requests that you come to see him."

The President shrugged, "Events around the world have sparked up and require the immediate attention. As a result, all of the leaders of most of the nation want to meet in a secure location, but we need to meet quickly. Can this be done in your DreamLand?"

John pretended to look surprised at this request, "With ease Mr. President. All they have to do is contact me and let me know the time and place of the meeting and I will make it as secure as necessary."

"Are there any risks involved with this system?" The President asked after a pause.

"No sir. It's completely safe with no threat of harm to a person's body or mind. I built in safeguards into the system to avoid such abuse."

"Good. I will be in touch with you about this meeting which is supposed to take place in five days time. We want this to be very secure and secret, do you understand? No one is to know about it."

"My lips are sealed, Mr. President," John Call said seriously, "I'll get to work on a secure location right away."


Larry stepped into the large circular room with his lightsaber held in his hand. It was extremely dark, but he resisted the urge to ignite the purple blade to cast its illumination around the spacious room.

The rest of his team filed into the room behind him and spread out looking off into the darkness. When Section brought up the rear and entered the room, a heavy stone door slammed down behind them and torches all around the room lit up, blinding the Clan Hunters momentarily.

In the center of the room stood the bald headed man with the two axes, and on the ground next to him sat a small boy bound, blindfolded, and gagged with rope and cords.

"I knew you'd come," he said, "Have you changed your mind, brother?" the bald headed man said to Beyond.

Beyond stepped forward with his staff grasped in his hand, "No, Number One. I will not join you."

Number One shook his head in pity, "Then you have to die. I you are not with us, then you are against us."

The big man took off running toward the Clan Hunters, but the two ODSTs were ready for him and already started firing a steady stream of bullets while pulling an accurate lead on his movement. Fox brought up his own Springfield and stared down the scope after dropping into the prone position near the back of the room.

Tex drew her sword and Larry ignited his saber just as Number One closed the distance between them. Blocking the first strike Larry let his mind go and let the Force control his movements, which was becoming more and more easier every time he did it. He ducked and dodged the two blades with some effort before Tex came to his side and she began throwing her own sword into the big man.

Both of the ODSTs began to move out to the sides of the swordsmen to get a better shot when the tip of an axe blade caught Tex across the jaw, sending her stepping backwards. Larry stepped in and stuck with his lightsaber, but took the back of one of the axes in his face, sending him backwards.

Sparkles filled Larry's gaze, and Tex snarled at the cut across her face but both moved forward. Beyond finally came in behind the large man, but hesitantly with the staff held at the ready. Number One sensed Beyond coming and threw himself backward with alarming speed. Beyond barley blocked the attacks before he would have gotten his head taken off, but the taller man fought back with more power then the baldheaded man had thought.

"You've gotten stronger, brother," Number One said grinning, "But you're still not strong enough!" he said as he planted a boot in Beyond's chest.

Tex and Larry came at him again, lashing out with their weapons and managed to get a few nicks on the arms of the large bald man, but he shrugged them off as though he did not even notice them.

Beyond came back and the three had him hemmed in, but then Tex blocked one sword only to get a strong kick to the knee, which caused her to gasp and fall to the floor, writhing in pain. Anger flashed from Larry and he threw his hand out, drawing deeply on the Force, which sent the big man sprawling up against the far wall.

Section dashed by the fighters as she made for the bundle that was next to where the big man had started.

Larry drew deeply on the Force again and leapt across the room in pursuit of the big man, who had recovered from the Force throw.

"You are a strong one!" Number One called as he jumped backward out of Larry's range, "if you live, you may be strong enough to challenge him."

"Shut up!" Larry screamed, and he lashed out again, this time sending the large man sprawling across the room to slam against another far wall, which he quickly jumped after.

Now Number One was looking very angry and not toying around, his concentration increased as he tried to fend off the enraged Larry's attacks. Unconcerned, Larry stuck out with his saber again and again taking nicks of his own but managing to land several powerful hits.

Tex and Beyond finally caught up from across the room, and the now anxious looking Number One was already flailing around uneasily. Larry's rage did not subside and he lashed out one more time and managed to plant his saber firmly in the man's throat.

Number One's eyes were one of shock as he surveyed Larry's cold eyes before he fell forward, dead.

Tex and Beyond were looking at Larry with a shocked expression and then Larry began to breathe again. He looked down at the big man in surprise, "I didn't know I could do that," he said, "I had no idea,"

"Neither did we," Beyond said simply.

The three moved away from Number One's body as it began to fade away and made off towards the center of the spacious room where Section, Fox, Leo, and Red were standing around a boy of about thirteen or fourteen.

Looking up, Section said, "Sir, may I present to you the Hero of Time."

"Oh don't mention me or anything," came a sarcastic voice from a small hovering ball of light that flew around the boy's head.

"And this is Tatl," Leo said putting her finger out for the small fairy to land on, "She was with the Hero."

"I do have a name, you know," the Hero of Time said, "And it's Link."

Larry nodded as he clipped his lightsaber onto his belt, "Leo, Red, can you two see to Tex? That gash on her face is pretty nasty."

"On my face?" Tex asked angrily, "You should see yourself!"

Larry grimaced, "In a moment, I want to talk to Link first."

Larry rocked back onto his heels and looked up at Link, "You're not hurt, are you?"

"No."

Larry nodded, "Good. I have come to find you, because I need your help, Link," Larry began and he began to explain their reasons for being there.

"You mean I'd have to leave Hyrule…forever?" Link asked after Larry had finished.

"No, not forever," Larry assured him, "But just for a little while. All of us are at risk, and we hope you can see that."

Link nodded, "Yeah, I know. I'm not called the Hero of Time for nothing you know…"

"Do you want time to think about it?" Larry asked.

Link nodded his head, "yes, but can we get out of here first?"

"Yeah, of course," Larry said grinning, "You heard the man, let's get out of here!"