Oops, been a while, I've been...busy...life stuff. Sorry. So, here is the next chapter of the Dread Lord. Still toying with thoughts and charterers, back story and all that, but so far, what has formed, I like. Hopefully you will too.

{-} Ratchet and Clank: The Dread Lord {-} Chapter 2: Reborn {-}

{-}Entry 1{-}

Six months, six solid months of solitude, and just now, are they giving me access to writing materials. I've explained it to CR-3 at least then times, it doesn't matter that I was unconscious for five of those months. There is no reason to not let me have a pen and paper, with my old logbook destroyed with the Blue Fire...

God, the Fire, my ship, he destroyed MY ship, with a gun he held in his hands! We've never seen technology like that before. Brass almost didn't believe it when I told them what I remembered of the fight. It annoying you know, I remember perfectly, everything right up till the Dread Lord and I started fighting, but after that, its just a haze. Shock, says a doctor here, brain damage says another, neither of them have an answer for if I'll get the memories back. I have no idea why its so important, but I just feel like I was told something critical in that period of time, and it's driving me crazy that I can't remember.

It would help if I could at least do something, but I'm stuck here in this bed, to avoid straining my body from the mortal wound that, combined with the cold water that I was in for half an hour should have rightly killed me. They are mentioning starting Physical therapy in a week, because apparently I've forgotten how to walk. I still say I'm fine, but they keep me stuck in this bed, even threatening to belt me down if I don't cooperate, the only concession I've gotten was this new book and pen.

I just wish I had more to do, somebody to talk to, anything. CR-3 is here, but, he can't really talk much. Nobody knows about the modifications I gave him, and if somebody from Brass walked in on one of our debates, they would pull him from my ship, wipe him, and most likely demote me. The only good news out of this is for the past two weeks, my specialist who's been visiting me understands my point of view.

He doesn't come in and tell me how it will all be sunshine and rainbows, he tells me I'm lucky to be alive, and that I'll be lucky if I'm ever a hundred percent after this. Plus, hes a Cezar, and that counts for a lot with me. After Marcadia was destroyed by the pirates when they first came to Solona, most of the-my population was wiped out, so finding one here in Metropolis, its nice to talk to somebody who understands loss.

I need to wrap this up for now, my arm is starting to shake. I promise one thing to myself though: The Dread Lord will pay for this, it won't be now, and I know it won't be in the next month, possibly even the year, but at some point, I will find him, and I will kill him.

{-}Entry 2{-}

Its been a few weeks since I last actually had time to write in this new logbook, I guess somebody was listening to all my griping. I almost feel like myself now, Last week I was allowed to actually leave my room and walk the hospital grounds as much as I felt I could. I wasn't allowed to leave of course, in fact, I'm still trapped here as of now. But I can feel it, I'm getting back to myself, I'm going to see if I can have CR-3 sneak some cutlasses into the room for me to start practicing with.

Dr. Alrose on the other hand, he seems to be the only one who understands how fast I'm improving, he never has me repeat something once he see that I got it, he just throws me into the next exercise. Whenever one of our sessions end, my muscles are always burning from the exercise, and its one of the few times I don't feel completely lazy around here.

On a different note, CR-3 knows something about what will happen to me when I get discharged. He can't talk about it, some core override command that I didn't find when I modified him. He has tried on a few occasions to get the message, whatever it is, to me, but he always get cut off by the program. I've told him to just stop for now, I don't need Brass finding out about his modifications because he defied one of their orders. Still, I can't help by wonder what is so important that CR-3 feels the need to risk it. I guess I'll find out when I get out of here.

{-}Entry 3{-}

Eight months, eight lonely months, but I'm free. Well, almost, this is my last night here, CR-3 is coming by with my uniform tomorrow, then I'm going to report to Brass and find out whats going to happen to me for letting the Dread Lord get away from me. CR-3 managed to sneak a cutlass in every now and then, and when the hospital is quiet at night, we sneak down to the gym and practice with them. But I know I'm not up to my old level with those yet, and I'm almost scared to pick up a pistol, how far have my skills in those deteriorated? Will I still be able to hit a can off a fence from thirty yards?

On a odd note, Dr. Alrose seems almost sad to find out that I'll be discharged tomorrow. I had my last session with him today, and he pushed me harder then ever before. My arms and legs felt like jelly when I got back to my room. As we walked back to my room he talked about how much he was going to miss having a patient who actually wanted to do Physical Therapy. Nobody else hes worked with, improved at the rate I did, or threw themselves in with such vigor.

After all this, I have one thought on my mind right now, I wish the nanites were working. When Marcadia was destroyed, something happened to the nanites we used for healing and for weapon crafting, they just went inert, stopped working, stopped healing, stopped upgrading. I know people have been working on it since it happened, but nobody has been able to figure out how to get the little things back on again. I never really regretted their loss until now, all the time that I could have been out chasing the Dread Lord, lost to this hospital,and to letting my body heal on its own. But tomorrow...I'll be free.

"Captain."

Sasha looked up from her logbook and smiled softly at the person in her doorway. "Dr. Alrose, what has you here so late?" she asked as she closed her logbook and tucked it away on the nightstand.

"You're release papers actually." he said with a small chuckle as he walked into the room and sat down in the chair across from Sasha with a small sigh. Dr. Alrose was a little short for a Cezar, with a small frame, but his fur was a dark ash gray with small brown streaks running through his ears, and black streaks running through his tail. He was dressed in slacks and a polo, with a doctors coat hanging loosely on his frame, his ID badge clipped to the front. He had a small scar that ran over his left ear that faded where the ear joined the skull, and his crystal blue eyes were always smiling in tandem with his mouth. "I need to sign off on your improvements before the hospital will let you back into the active service for the SAN." his deep voice always swept over whatever he was saying and grabbed the attention of those around him.

Sasha nodded "Of course, I trust you signed them."

Dr. Alrose gave a big theatrical sigh. "Yes, despite my best efforts to keep you here, you have progressed significantly faster then expected and as long as you avoid future sword wounds through the chest, you'll be fine."

Sasha chuckled softly along side with Dr. Alrose, after a moment the silence stretched on for a moment too long and Sasha asked. "So, what do you do outside of the hospital Doctor?"

Dr. Alrose raised a hand a waved it lazily. "A little of this and a little of that, and please, I'm not on the clock right now, so call me Raymon."

Sasha raised an eyearch at him "Raymon?"

Raymon smiled and stood up, giving a short bow in Sasha's direction. "Dr. Raymon Eli Alrose, at your service."

Sasha shook her head as Raymon stood up from his bow and stretched, a small twitch on his face giving away some of his discomfort. Sasha spotted it and pointed a finger at him. "Looks like you need some PT of your own Raymon."

Raymon stopped his stretching and grinned toothily at Sasha. "You may be right, sadly, I'm the only doctor like me around these parts."

Sasha glanced at the rising moon outside. "What kind of doctor is that?"

Raymon locked eyes with her for a moment. "A Cezar."

Sasha looked away from his heavy gaze. "Why does that matter?"

Raymon shrugged and sat down in the chair again. "As far as I can tell, the pain in my back is something specific to Cezars. It never stops me mind you, its just something to deal with every now and then."

Sasha nodded. "Ah." she waited a few moments more before she inhaled. "Where were you when it happened?"

Raymon stopped moving for a moment. "Marcadia?" he asked softly. Sasha was mute when she nodded.

This time it was Raymons turn to inhale sharply. "Veldin, studying medicine there, you?"

Sasha waved a hand to the window. "The Academy, here."

Raymon nodded. "Eight years ago, you were nineteen right?"

"Twenty. I heard about it with in minutes of it happening. Some stunned corporal came in to deliver the news." Sasha looked at the wall, her eyes unfocused as she delved into his memories. "I can still remember his face, he just had this blank look, and he kept blinking and looking around the room, like he wasn't really seeing us, or as if he was in a dream of some sort." Sasha blinked and turned her gaze back to Raymon. "You know, its funny, before that day, my only thought was on finishing my tour so the military would pay for my schooling. But after, I went into the recruitment office and got my service changed to life, and I joined the Hunter program as soon as it was proposed. Since then, my only goal is to make sure as many Pirates die by my hand as possible."

Raymon nodded "I understand your anger at them of course, but is it healthy that your one drive is just to kill as many of possible? I've seen many the action movie where that leads to bad things in the end."

Sasha shrugged "Those are movies, this is life."

Raymon nodded "Fair enough, I myself was twenty-one. I was out helping a family, it took a few weeks, so I didn't know about it until I returned to the school I was at. There everybody greeted me with sad looks and most of them muttered 'sorry' as they passed me in the halls. I was the only Cezar enrolled in the school, so the dean himself called me into his office to tell me of Marcadia's fate. His face was very sympathetic as he told me what happened, but all I can really recall feeling is this aching sense of loss that sat just above my heart. I knew a lot of people on Marcadia, and from what I was being told, there hadn't been a lot of time for people to get off the planet. I just kept seeing their faces in my head, rolling through like a slide show." Raymon paused. "It was almost opposite for me, I entertained the thought of vengeance for a moment, but then I decided that there had been enough lost lives for now, and I focused on my studies."

Sasha nodded slowly. "I can respect that. If you don't mind me asking, I've noticed the scar on your ear, what was that from?"

Raymon reached up and ran a finger over his damaged ear. "Like I said, a moment."

Sasha nodded again. "I see."

Raymon fell silent for a minute. "If you don't mind me asking, what were you going to go to school for before Marcadia?"

Sasha laughed softly "A mechanic if you believe it. Before all of this, I was quite handy with a wrench. Built a lot of things while I was in the academy."

Raymon opened his mouth to ask a question but they both froze when they heard the rumble in the background. Raymon glanced at the window before he started speaking again. "That's odd, there was no mention of a thunder storm today." He turned his gaze back to Sasha to see her standing next to the bed and pulling the last of the medical leads off her body. "Sasha?"

Sasha glanced at him as she worked on pulling the bar off the side of the hospital bed. "That wasn't a thunder storm. That, was an explosion, close by too. I felt the slight shake from the blast."

Raymon stood up and walked over, placing a hand on the bar. "Now, I'm sure you're imagining things."

Another rumble sounded through the air, this time some dust fell from the ceiling tiles. Sasha raised an eyearch at him as he removed his hand. "Right, I'll watch the hallway while you get that bar off." Raymon moved to the door while Sasha continued working the bar loose.

"Who do you think it is?" Raymon asked as he glanced down the hallway.

Sasha grunted as one end of the thick bar came free from its housing. "Safe bet? Pirates."

Raymon glanced over his shoulder at her. "Pirates, here? Please, they wouldn't risk something in Metropolis."

Sasha finished pulling the bar free, she was pleased to see that one end of the bar had never been smoothed down and bore a sharp edge. She hoped the metal was strong enough to piece a space pirate as she gave it a few practice swings to test its weight. "You have no idea how many pirates would love to see me dead. If any of them heard about me recovering here, they would gladly risk the wrath of the SAN main fleet to try and strike me down for good."

Raymon was still watching the hallway. "It must-" Raymon cut off suddenly. "Nope, Pirates you were right, and they're heading straight for this room."

Sasha finished her practice swings and pointed to the small bathroom. "In there, Quickly." Sasha pulled Raymon away from the door, then the two Cezars managed to squeeze into the small room, and Sasha held her bar at the ready. A few moments later they heard a crash as the door to her room was busted open.

"She ain't here!"

"She's got to be! Check the bathroom!"

Sasha took a breath to center herself, as soon as the door started to open, she gave a yell and rammed her shoulder into the door, throwing the space pirate on the other side into the wall. She came around the door swinging, and the first blow with the dull end of the bar got the second pirate right on the side of his head, sending him stumbling. Sasha brought the jagged end up in a two handed grip, using the small bar like a staff and scraped a line across the pirates middle, which caused him to fall back out of the room in shock.

Before she could push her advantage though the other pirate charged at her from the side, swinging his sword at her middle. Sasha twisted away from the sharp steel the first time and caught the second swipe on her bar, she moved her hands together and started fighting with the pirate in earnest. The sword strikes clanged against her bar repeatedly, but never once did his blade find her flesh. The second pirate came back into the room, holding a pistol in his hand.

His first shot grazed her shoulder and Sasha cried out at the heat, as she tried to block the next swing from the first pirate, he caught her bar with a heavy blow that ripped it out of her fingers. She backed away as he stalked forward with his sword raised, while the second pirate leveled his pistol at her head. Sasha gulped as she felt herself backed into the corner.

The second pirate by the door groaned and fell into two halves as the ringing sound of a sword cleaning through his metal body sounded through the room. Before the second pirate could even turn around, CR-3 rolled into the room and came up in a stand with his arm cannon ready, the pirate had a moment to see the glow of energy before his head was blown clean off his body. The limp sack of metal falling to the ground with a crash.

CR-3 glanced around the room, briefly aiming his arm cannon at Raymon before he turned to Sasha and saluted. "Greetings Captain." he said as he reached for a sack across his shoulder and threw it at her. Sasha caught it with a grunt and dropped it on the ground, unzipping the sack to find her armor inside. "What kept you CR-3? Not that I'm not grateful of course."

CR-3 gestured at the bag, "Took me a little longer then I thought to get your gear. You welcome of course, that's two in a row right?"

Sasha nodded with a grin as she pulled out her armor and started pulling it on. "Sounds about right, maybe they'll give you a punch card if this keeps up. Save me three more times and get an upgrade."

CR-3 turned back to the door, his hands still collapsed for his sword and arm cannon. "Hey, that sounds like a plan. Maybe I can get one of those cool Lancer Mk III pistols instead of this single shot cannon."

Sasha shook her head as Raymon watched the byplay between them. "You're Ranger acts odd." he said out loud as Sasha finished pulling on her boots.

Sasha shrugged "Came that way, I'm not complaining." She glanced down at her outfit, taking in the changes for the first time. Her black boots were of a thicker grade leather with a metal plate running along the inside to help aboard blows, the leather of the boots stretched up to create armor for her kneecaps, after that the thick dark purple under suit covered her body until it met up with the chest armor she had starting at her waist. The chest armor was also colored black and on her chest was s symbol that Sasha didn't recognize. It looked like the Hunters badge she usually wore, but different somehow. Her gloves stretched up to cover her elbows and were colored black like her boots, reinforced with the same type of metal plates. A thin but tough belt ran across her chest to hold up her sheathes for her blades. The last thing she pulled out of the bag was her captains hat, which she spun gently in between her two fingers before she held it loosely in one hand as she quickly pulled her hair into a pony tail then tucked it over her head before pulling the hat down.

She drew one of her swords with a flourish and CR-3 turned around for a moment. "There's the captain I know."

Sasha grinned and walked over to CR-3, watching the other side of the hallway for him. "Want to tell me what happened?"

"A small fleet of pirate ships appeared, claimed to be the Dread Lord coming to destroy the might SAN. After they were beat back, a good deal of the fleet went after them to chase them down. That was when the majority of the pirate fleet showed up and occupied what remained of the SAN's. A few ships came down her to Metropolis, and when I saw them heading for the hospital, I grabbed your gear and ran over here quick as I could. They used their cannons to blow the gates apart then opened the front doors for a group of pirates to enter."

"How many?" Sasha asked as she glanced at Raymon who moved closer to the pair.

"At least five more inside, and ten each, at least on the ships outside."

Sasha grinned. "Great, what an awesome way to leave the hospital, doing what I do best." Sasha stepped out into the hallway. "Come on, we're make our way to the lobby and then see what we can do about those ships outside.

Sasha and CR-3, led Raymon through several hallways heading for the stairway to get down from the fifth floor. As they reached the stairway door, they came across three more of the pirates guarding the entrance. CR-3 dropped one with his arm cannon, then followed Sasha as she charged forward with her sword. The two of them locked blade with the pirates, Sasha quickly rending her foe in half with a strong hit while dodging his blade while CR-3 just kicked his opponent into the wall then stabbed him while he recovered.

Sasha had just relaxed her stance when she felt a pressure at her hip. She glanced down to see a furry hand on her second sword. She turned around as the sword was drawn out just in time to see Raymon dart forward with her sword, cutting one pirate across legs while dashing past him and cutting the second pirate across his middle before spinning around and bringing the blade down in a lethal swing on the first pirate, cleaving him in half from his shoulder before bringing the blade back up and removing the second pirates head with the same amount of lethal force and precision.

In the few seconds it took Sasha to finish turning around and raise her sword, the two pirates who had been sneaking up behind them laid in four pieces and Raymon was holding her sword with a practiced hand. Sasha blinked before she spoke up. "Just how long was this moment of yours Raymon?"

Raymon glanced over his shoulder at her. "About four months." he said softly as he relaxed his stance.

Sasha nodded. "Makes sense. I'll want the sword back when we get out of here." Sasha turned around as Raymon rubbed the back of his head before following the two hunters into the stairwell. When they reached the ground floor and entered the lobby, the saw the light of dancing flames splashing across the walls. Sasha moved to the edge of the hole and peaked outside before she snorted softly and stepped out into the light. "Well, isn't that a bit anticlimactic, go through all that and I don't even get to fight the pirates on one of their own ships."

Outside, the two pirates ships laid on the ground, burning and fractured while the SAN ships that had brought them down ran lights along the ground to look for any survivors, it wasn't long before a light found the trio and Sasha gave them a wave before turning back to Raymon and holding out her hand. Raymon blinked once before he handed her the sword he had taken earlier. "Thank you, for covering us in there."

Raymon nodded before he gave a quick bow. "It was not a problem Captain." Raymon glanced up at the ravaged hospital. "Although it looks like I'll need to find a new place of employment."

CR-3 jerked a thumb over his shoulder at the floating ships. "The SAN is always looking for doctors of any kind, add to that fact that you already know how to fight, I'm sure they'll sign you on in a heartbeat."

Sasha nodded "There ya go, join the SAN."

Raymon stared at the ships and rubbed his chin in thought. "Maybe."

{-}Three Weeks Later{-}

Sasha walked out of her cabin and onto the upper deck and glanced out at her ship.

"So, have you decided what you're going to call it yet?"

Sasha turned around and leaned back on the railing behind her, she smiled at CR-3. "I have actually."

CR-3 waited a moment. "Well?"

Sasha shook her head. "I'll tell you if you tell me what the new Hunter icon on all my gear means."

CR-3 paused for a moment before he reached behind him and threw a small silver badge at her. Sasha caught it and stared at it for a moment before running her fingers across the engraved metal. The silver depicted a ship rising out of the water with its cannons out and aimed at the edges of the badge. Sasha flipped the badge over and read the words on the back. "Sasha Phyronix, Leader of the Dread Hunters."

She felt an eyearch tick up as she read the new title attached to her name, she glanced up at CR-3. "Dread Hunters?" she asked softly.

CR-3 nodded. "Apparently, The SAN Brass has declared the Dread Lord such a threat the the best Hunters from the program were brought together to from a unit dedicated to hunting him down."

Sasha held the badge up to the sunlight. "They put me in charge of them?"

CR-3 stepped closer and tapped the badge. "They did at that. You are still the best after all."

Sasha grinned as she turned around and leaned on the railing at the various workers swarming over the ship below her. "The Dread Lord has no idea whats coming after him."

CR-3 laughed. "No he doesn't." he watched the workers for a moment before glancing at Sasha. "So, about that name?"

Sasha let the corner of her mouth tick up into a grin. "You know, I think the water on the badge almost looks like flames, like a ship being born in fire."

CR-3 stared at her. "I don't get it."

Sasha laughed gently. "This ship has been born out of the loss of the Blue Fire. Just like the bird rising out of the ashes of its old form. The Phoenix will be the ship of our rebirth as the Dread Hunters."

CR-3 nodded. "That's deep Captain, I like it."

Sasha stood up from the railing and stretched. "Glad you like it, because I already told Brass to register the name." she glanced at CR-3 "Tonight we launch after the Dread Lord."

CR-3 saluted "Of course Captain. Shall we go meet your new crew?"

Sasha nodded and CR-3 led the way toward the steps down, as they worked their way down to the main deck Sasha had a thought run through her head. "Hey, CR-3, what do you know about Lombaxs?"

Time to hop right into Guest Reviews!

Tends to: Well, here you go, the story continues, sorry it took so long, but there ya go. Hopefully I'll keep you interested all the way to the end.

Blade: I'm glad you thought the first chapter was awesome, I hope that you enjoy this chapter as well.

So, I was talking to another reviewer and they mentioned an interesting point. So, as of this upload, the old poll on my profile page has been removed, and I got a lot of interesting views on that. Right now its got a question for you readers, and those who read Earth Bound. If you care enough to see the Earth Bound Saga continue through its sequels, or if you want me to try and cover more stuff from Earth Bound itself. More of Sky and Stella growing up, other conflicts and such like that. So, go there, and vote, because that poll will decided what gets done.

On this story, remember, review! No Reviews, No Updates, then after your done with that, go vote on my poll. I'm giving you the power to choose what happens.

With that...

Peace,

- Emile