Chapter 22 Wait Until You See What We've Come Up With
Character Tom
"I'm bored," Xarle groaned as they sat around on the ship waiting for K to call them in. Tom, Xarle, Blood-Raven, John, Cortana, Arbiter, and the Leviathans were all cooped up on the ship with Doug.
"Well lets play the silent game," Tom said, "Who can be quite the longest."
"John would win that," Pyros said, "He just kinda sits there, waiting, not moving... Is he asleep?"
"Oh yeah," Cortana said, "He's been sleeping for the past eight hours."
"Lucky blarger," Raven quipped, "Seriously we need to do something."
"Hey Doug, you got beer on this ship," Scion asked, "Cause I'm thirsty."
"Several kinds," Doug replied, "Dark brews, light brews, spicy brews, also a large assortment of wine, vodka and other spirits."
"Really," Tom said, "Well that gives me an idea."
"Oh are you thinking about," Xarle said then they both shouted, "Drunk science!"
"Doug get us some light sipping beer we could be at this for a while," Raven said, "Nothing to strong, I don't want them to actually get drunk considering we are supposed to be ready to drop into a battlefield."
"Its on its way," Doug replied, "What sort of instruments are you going to need for the science part of this?"
"Anything and everything you've got," Tom said, "This day just got awesome."
Ten minutes later Doug had brought in a cooler full of drinks and many, many pieces of scientific equipment, so in a way it was Doug's fault for the creation that they crafted over the next hour. Or that was Tom's excuse and he was sticking to it.
"Now that is impressive," Elly said as they were all standing around a two foot tall, orange, living, marshmallow frog.
"Check this out," Tom said as he cut the frog in half. The two halves grew into two frogs.
"Oh dear," Scaron muttered, "What have we done?"
"Only created the greatest renewable source of sugary goodness ever," Saphira said.
"Doug I said to get a light beer," Raven accused, "I've got to be imagining this."
"Its not imaginary," Cortana said, "Those frogs are real, and very creepy, and kind of cute."
"Hey what did I miss, oh," John said as he walked over, "What the, am I still dreaming?"
"Unfortunately no," Arbiter replied.
"Guys leave the frogs here K just summoned us," Doug said as one of his crawler forms scurried past them.
"Yes," Alverion said, "I hate waiting."
"Doug take us in," Tom said, "Ain't nothing like a full on bombardment from a spacecraft."
"On course," Doug replied, "You all are going down there still. Everyone except K's group has gotten caught up in some sort of displacement field, you all are going to find the one creating that field and prevent it from interfering."
"Race you down," Tom called as they entered the atmosphere and he jumped out of the hanger. While he was in free fall Tom focused his energies and called forth an undead Roc that speed upwards and caught him. "Yeah, woo I wasn't sure that would work."
"Tom you're crazy," Xarle said from Scion's back, "But hey we like crazy."
A flock of Doug's flying forms caught up with them and guided them towards their destinations. Tom, Xarle, and Blood-Raven were going with Scion, Elly, Pyros and Kitara to help Eragon's group out, the others were heading towards Murtagh's group and Chief, Arbiter and Cortana were to assist Arya however they could. Since K and his ground based group were the only ones not in a temporal displacement he was going to continue on towards the heart of the forest. Doug's flock broke into three smaller coveys so he could facilitate communications between the groups.
"Tom you know how to fly that thing," Elly asked, "Cause we are going to go in hard, low, and fast, you'll have to keep up."
Tom threw the Roc into a steep dive, pulling up just above the tree line, and speed towards their destination. The Roc was faster and more agile than the Leviathans, so he met up with Eragon and Saphira before the others.
"Ho there," Tom called, "Are you lost?"
"No but K seems to be," Eragon replied as they hovered next to each other, "He and his team just vanished from under Arya's vision."
"Oh you've got the other way round," Tom said, "Someone threw everyone but K and his group into a temporal distortion. You all vanished from his sight."
"Then why can you interact with us," Saphira asked.
"Because we are also in the same distortion as you," Pyros replied as the others caught up to Tom.
"What the whole ship," Eragon asked as he saw Doug's flying forms.
"Yes," Doug replied, "You're from here know anyone who is powerful enough to do that?"
"Galbatorix," Eragon and Saphira answered.
"Wait you mean the old king you overthrew," Kitara said, "I... how could he be back?"
"Let us land and Hawk can explain," Saphira said, "In any case we should still head towards the center of the forest. That way when this shift is undone we will be where we need to."
"Hmm... the demons did not get shifted," Raven said, "I can not feel them here."
"So there is nothing between us and the center," Tom asked.
"I wouldn't be so sure," Beast said as they glided past his head, "There is a presence here, old, insane and powerful. His energy is delicious to me."
"Ah our ship bound companions join us," Saetan greeted as they landed, "Only seven of you, let me guess, K didn't need any help."
"Got it in one," Tom said, "We are here to help take out whatever is creating the displacement that your experiencing."
"Blarg," Spyro stated, "I guess I owe you a fifty."
"Hah, I'll be happy with the satisfaction of being correct for a change," Diablo replied.
"Wait you bet on whether it was us or K that got zapped," Doug said, "and you bet against K?"
"Serve's him right I say," Malafor added.
"Enough you all," Fisher yelled, "Look we have to find this Galbatorix and fast, sitting around here isn't going to do that."
"Eragon," Hawk continued, "Tell the others to keep pushing towards the center of the forest, have Arya and whoever got sent to help her head over to Murtagh and cull the demons while we follow Eragon's directions towards this mad king."
"Right then get on you two," Geyser said, "Hawk with me."
Tom guided his Roc into the sky as the rest of the team got airborne, except Beast who could keep up with them on the ground. Once in the sky Eragon led them towards the north-east, the opposite direction that they needed to go to be at the forest's heart. Regardless the Rider and Dragon led a true and straight course to a lonely tower that was at the edge of the Dark-Wood, or perhaps the forest was at the edge of the tower.
"He is here," Eragon said, "I don't know what to expect but it is going to be the hardest fight we've encountered in a long time."
"Just get us close," Fisher said, "We will finish this abomination."
"How do you plan on doing that," Daemon asked, "This guy is powerful enough to hold back our combined power."
"That may be but is he powerful enough to not get distracted," Tom asked as he tossed an undead mine turtle into the air and caught it.
"Necromancy," Saphira said, "Of course he wouldn't expect that, it is not a natural magic in this world. Galbatorix would have no experience with it."
"Then we have a plan," Hawk said, "Tom your with us, Zar as well, everyone else go and beat that tower so hard it topples."
"So we go in and make him go boom," Tom asked.
"Yeah but only after he is concentrating on keeping his tower together," Fisher said, "Geyser, Krista you two good enough to drop us in through the window on the forth floor?"
"Of course," Krista replied, "Father we will wait until you give us the all clear."
"We're on it," Spyro replied as the rest of their group followed Beast to the tower where they promptly started to beat it with whatever spells and physical prowess they had. The tower lit up a bright black, which was weird since black doesn't glow, and absorbed the attacks with almost no visual suffering for the abuse that DC was giving it.
"Kris, Now," Spyro called and they were off.
Kris and Geyser were agile but not quite as agile as the Roc allowing Tom to beat Hawk and Fisher through the window. As Tom jumped through the opening he dispelled the Roc which crumbled back into the bone dust from which it was made. Hawk and Fisher landed behind him a few seconds later. The inside of the tower was not much to look at they were on a spiral stair case that was crafted out of the same granite that the rest of the tower was made up of. There were no torches in the tower since it was lighted by the windows, but the scones for them were scattered about the walls for when night came across the land.
"I guess we go up," Tom said.
"Great I hate stairs," Hawk complained.
"Quiet you two," Fisher whispered, "This guy probably has enhanced hearing, you know since he is part demon."
"Like I could forget him," Hawk replied.
Tom headed up the first several stairs so he could look around the curve of the tower before motioning for the bickering couple to move up. Fisher headed up and just out of sight before waving for Hawk to move up. They continued like this all the way to the top of the stairs where they were greeted by a massive door, on that would not normally be movable by the three of them, due to it being made out of stone.
"Go back down the stairs," Tom said, "stand against the outer wall two turns down. I'll join you after I set some presents for our host."
Hawk and Fisher gave him their distinctive, troublesome grins before heading down the stairs and out of the blast zone. Tom planted four mine turtles around the door and was about to leave when he heard a faint, childish voice say, "You are but one man and unschooled in the language of magic what hope do you have against me?"
Tom ignored the voice and walked down the stairs to where Hawk and Fisher were waiting, then he detonated the mines. Shrapnel from the door bounced off the wall beside them and rolled down the stairs.
"Good call," Hawk said, "Shall we?"
Tom motioned for them to remain behind him and out of sight until he could distract Galbatorix, allowing them to get in without being seen and hopefully end this Dark Prince once and for all. Tom rounded the last corner and strolled into the room. It was large and square with a throne at one end upon which rested a twisted form that watched him with cunning black orbs.
"So you are responsible for the dragons trying to beat down my tower," the figure replied, "It is useless you know, I can not die."
"So you must be Galbatorix," Tom said, "I'd thought you would be taller." Then he threw a Mine turtle at the demonic form in the throne. Galbatorix moved faster than he thought possible with the mutations and deformities that riddled his body. Some how crippled legs morphed into strong limbs and carried the king out of harms way, but also turned his back closer to the door.
It dawned on Tom that Galbatorix may not even know that Hawk and Fisher were in the structure, since he probably used his magic to sense his foes. Tom threw another three mines causing Galbatorix to be between him and the door.
"Enough," Galbatorix said and Tom was thrown against the wall above the throne, "Now I'll crush you and then I'll chain all your dragons outside to my will and rule this miserable world."
Tom couldn't breath the pressure against him was getting heavier with every second, then Fisher dashed through the door and planted her sword into the demon-man's back. Galbatorix howled and dropped Tom to slam Fisher against the back wall. The thud of her hitting the wall was followed by the wet thump of an ax embedding itself into a skull. Fisher fell off the wall only to be caught by Hawk who had come through the doorway.
"Can't be killed huh," Hawk said as he retrieved his ax and cut off the head that it had been stuck in.
The tower rocked, probably from their friends continuing to hammer it.
"We need to get out of here," Fisher said, "That window over there."
"Come on," Tom called as he ran to the window, "I'll keep us from hitting the ground."
With a smile the other two ran with him out the window. As they fell, Tom summoned the Roc again which caught them with ease.
"Ok now time to see what is really behind this invasion," Tom said.
"Nice catch," Rayon remarked as he flew past, "Just in time too."
Looking behind him, Tom saw the tower collapse. Then he was fighting for his life against three flaming specters, they had shifted back into the real world. He banished one specter, Hawk and Fisher killed another and Rayon lightning-infernoed the last one.
"You've been hanging out with D again," Hawk asked.
"Yeah, something like that," Ray replied.
Tom surveyed the area and saw that they had appeared in the middle of the demon army. They weren't alone however, Murtagh and Thorn swooped by overhead and shouted a greeting to them and K materialized beside them. It was however a few hundred, powerful as they are, against several hundred thousand. Doug started raining down fire from the Pestilence, creating a ring of death around the three groups. Beast bellowed and charged in to intercept a demon that was almost as big as he was. The SaDiablos were ripping demons to shreds with their laser-like energy beams. Spyro and clan were dispensing pain on a major level as were the Primes. The Riders were keeping the skies clear, while their Spartan friends mounted a full scale invasion of the forest's heart.
All in all Tom felt a little useless, but he had an idea that he hoped would change that. "K," He called, "When I yell down, throw a shield around us all." K nodded and went back to mechanically killing everything in his path. Tom started channeling the necromantic energies, searching through the either for the parts he was going to use. He noticed as Blood-Raven and Xarle fell back to guard him, they knew him better than any of the others so figured out he was up to something. He continued to gather energy and assemble his creation, shouts echoed around him, arrows and spells zipped by but he continued to focus on his goal. DC had fallen back to his position by now and even K was looking pained from injuries. Then it was ready.
"Down," Tom yelled. K threw up a shield without a second though as a huge turtle head plowed up through the ground followed by two legs and a shell. The demons turned to regards this new development with interest but were unconcerned then the turtle was out of the ground and ready to detonate. Tom smiled as he figuratively pressed the detonator and the 500K megaton bomb exploded. It must have been slightly more powerful than Tom had thought because even through the shield they were knocked down by the shock wave.
"Tom," RuGaard shouted or Tom assumed he shouted everything sounded muted, "A little warning would have been nice."
"That is certainly one way to get rid of them," Moroni remarked.
"Tom," Doug said, "You need to get back to the ship and get your experiment under control."
"What the frog," Tom asked.
"Frogs," Doug replied, "there are about a thousand of them now."
"Frogs," AuRon asked, "are they tasty?"
"Oh wait until you see them," Tom replied as his ears popped and his hearing returned to normal, "They are delicious."
Character Kalathanon
"So I leave you alone up here for a few hours and you fill the ship with mallow frogs," K commented as he watched the sugary creatures hop across the hall and into one of the hangars.
"Basically," Tom replied, "Why?"
"Oh just curious as to why you thought it would be a good idea to make a living marshmallow in the shape of a frog," K replied, "Doug think we can get some of these guys to the ships with non-flood crew, I'm sure they would love the treat."
"Your joking right," Doug replied, "No? I'll see what I can do."
"You know when I first heard that you were out to fight The Lucifer, I figured you for a crazy one," Tom remarked, "Glad to see I was right."
"About that. How do you know of Lucifer," K asked.
"Old tomes, older probably than Sanctuary itself," Tom replied with a look of profound, scholarly admiration, "Tomes that it is said are from before time itself, scattered across the universes to reveal the will of the Great Creator to all his creation. Or that's the story anyways."
"God's hand at work again it seems," K responded.
"Indeed," Tom added, "Your a strange one you know. I can feel that you believe in God but not out of a conviction or faith, you have more of a knowledge about you."
"I can see why you are a necromancer Tom," K said as he led the way down a less frog infested hall, "Your astuteness does you credit."
"K have you seen Terrador," Ace asked as the blood dragon walked across their path.
"No but Doug can lead us to him," K replied, "How do you like the accommodations?"
"They suit me I think," Ace answered, "The starkness of this ship reflects my own situation, I'm a clean slate, if you will."
"I understand that feeling," Tom said, "K you find out where Terrador is yet?"
"He is in the forth floor sparring room, with Blitz and Wistala," Doug answered, "It's like a green frenzy, you might want to get down there before DharSii laughs himself to death watching them.
"Sounds interesting," Tom said, "But I'm more interested in you Kalathanon. Kalathanon, Kala-than-on. There is something about your name, like an echo to it. A reminder of what once was?"
"You wish to know my past," K said, "Understandable, but know this once I tell you what your are asking for there is no going back."
"I have nothing to go back to," Ace said.
"The only two people that I ever cared about are here," Tom added, "Get on with your story, besides the forth floor is a long way down."
"Very well," K agreed, "All I ask is you do not repeat this unless I approve it." They nodded and K continued. "Before time, or eternity even, there was God. He chose to be good because it was his right to do so. In His goodness He created the heavens, eternity, and beings to be his servants and friends. Fourteen of those many beings were the Leviathans, the original Leviathans, one of which I am. The fourteen of us were Scaron, Elantra, Pyros, Kitara, Scion, Elly, Alverion, Saphira, Lucifer, Mammon, Celantra, and myself."
"Whoa wait," Ace interrupted, "Lucifer is a Leviathan?"
"Yes," K answered, "And my twin brother. At the time my name was Kal, Justice. When Lucifer, Mammon, Moroni, Baal, Ashera, Moloch and I fell I became Kalthan, Condemnation. Now I am Kalathanon, Judgment. I don't know how long I was Kalthan, but one day when we had thought our victory assured, as the Son of God lay dead with the sins of the world bearing Him away from God... He won. Jesus, that is his name, and he brushed aside our army, pushed open our gates and offered us, us The Enemy redemption. At the time I think I was the only one dark enough to see what the others could not, I caught the tiniest glimpse of what could have been, of what God could have done had he chose another path, and for the first time ever I was afraid. I accepted his redemption and emerged as the King of the Leviathans, a title I still command. United with C again we ruled our empire, waged war against the Giants, watched as our race died and universes came and went, C was taken from me for her own good, and I... I was death to many a universe before I found this one, one where I found a life worth living again, but that brings us to your destination, and I am interested as to why you want to talk with Terrador, he is not one for conversations."
"Zora wanted me to say hello to him for her," Ace replied.
"Zora, I've heard him mention her before but never got to ask him who she is," K said as he pushed open the hangar door, "Should be interesting."
Inside DharSii was practically paralyzed trying to hold in his amusement at the outcome of Terrador, Blitz, and Wistala's sparring match. Terrador and Blitz were both pinned under Wistala's forelegs while she relaxed on top of them.
"K a great sight is it not," DharSii remarked as he noted their entrance.
"K not a word to Spyro about this," Terrador said flatly.
"You two know that Tala is heavier than any of you Avalar dragons, her scales are made of pure metal, Yours are a composite growth that allows for lighter weight flying but is not as good in an arm wrestle," Tom said, "Tala might I say your looking fine today."
"See this is why I like you," Ace said, "Always a ladies man."
"Yeah well that's my lady your talking about," DharSii commented.
Tala laughed as she let Blitz and Terrador up. "You know out of all of us siblings you're definitely the most unique," she said to Ace.
"Thanks sis," Ace replied, "Terrador, you know a Zora?"
"Zora," Terrador whispered, "She's my mate."
"Oh well she says hi and wanted to let you know that she will be joining up with us soon."
"She what," Terrador shouted.
"What he means to say is that Zora has been dead for a long time," Blitz added.
"Well so was I," Ace replied, "Nice person, your mate. Thanks to Zora I can talk, reason, and am proficient in fighting, and basically everything else I can do I learned from her."
"Joining us," K asked, "How?"
"Middle Earth," Ace answered, "We are heading there to pick up this Qui-gon fellow right? She is there waiting for us."
"Well then we had better get underway," Terrador said, "Last time I was late for something she arranged I got the evil eye for years."
"Hey guys your going to want to see this," Doug said, "Grif just challenged Xarle to a mallow frog eating contest. We are taking bets on it too."
"Ten bucks on Grif," Tala remarked, "Come on Terrador we wouldn't want you to get all weepy on us."
"Doug get us underway," K said, "I'll go see about taking care of our infestation problem."
They followed Doug's directions to the dinning hall where Doug had set up tables for the competition. Grif was at one, Xarle at the other and lines of the toasted, sugary, frogs provided by Flame and Ember. K settled in for a good show as both Grif and Xarle could put sugar away at record speeds. As the competition got underway K felt the Pestilence enter warp drive and speed towards their next destination.
"He is lucky to be part demon," Diablo said as he sat down next to K, "He won't gain weight from this, but he will be miserable if he eats to many."
"He also doesn't know Grif very well since he accepted the challenge," Tyreal added from K's right.
"Actually I talked them both into it," Tom said, "I'm hoping that between them I can control the frogs."
The four of them continued bantering for the duration of the contest, which lasted for a surprising amount of time, a good ten minutes until Xarle threw in the towel.
"That's three for Xarle," Ignitus said, "Grif is on five."
"How do you do that," Xarle asked.
Grif didn't say anything just moved on to the sixth frog. K got the impression that they were nearing Middle Earth and was reading to call the contest when a red, spastic, portal opened up before Tyreal.
"Its Cain," Tyreal said, "He needs help."
"Go," K said, "Take who you need."
"We are in," Tom said, "Diablo you and yours coming too?"
"Hmm help someone who stopped our plans," Diablo growled, "Well we are doing that a lot these days. Yeah why not?"
"That's the spirit," Tom said, "I'll go get the rest, K good luck with... well just come back and get us after you're done with this planet your heading to."
As Tom ran off K stood beside Tyreal and Diablo, "Never thought I'd see the day when you are both going out of your own accord to accomplish the same goal. Be careful that portal is unstable there might be others that get sucked in to it."
"Well then they will be in fine company," Blood-Raven said as she and the others followed Tom over to the Portal where everyone had gathered, except Grif who was on his eleventh frog.
"Will Deckard be able to cast the portal again," K asked before his friends went through.
"Not likely," Malafor said, "It seems to be loosely tied to Tyreal and is unstable at best."
K handed Diablo a scale from his hide, "When you all are done you know how to reach me. Good luck and God speed."
Diablo took the scale nodded to K and walked through the portal followed by the other seven, Baal, Mephisto, Malafor, Tyreal, Raven, Xarle, and Tom.
"K," Celantra said, "We are here."
K looked over at her as the portal closed, "So we are, Grif leave off on the frogs for now, everyone else lets get planet side."