A Story of Kalathanon

by Kalathanon

The Second book in the Kalathanon Series that started with The Legend of Spyro: The Kalathanon Files. New faces include, David Web, RWBY, Ezio, some D3, Firefly, Borderlands, and more.

67. Chapter 67

Chapter 67 Everything is not Awesome

Character Roman Torchwick

"Great, just freaking great," Roman exclaimed. "Now our most powerful enemy has one of the most powerful aircraft in the world. At least we managed to get them running for now."

"It's not my fault that creature stole Air Force One," Jack said.

"It is better than it getting a hold of Bertha," Eragon added, "Dom and his team traveled in that plane correct?"

"They did," Jack said, "I can say I'm grateful that things turned out the way they did considering. I doubt that Dom's team could have handled the creature we faced."

"And we did," Roman said, "Not very well but we did so that means that I'm more powerful than the other me... good."

"Better yet we know that this creature can not use all of it's abilities at once," Varok said. "We can overload and over power it if we work together."

"We can assume it has retreated to heal from the injuries we did inflict on it," Murtagh said, "While it didn't display any pain in combat I know that since it bleed it is human and after stab wounds like that it won't be as functional."

"How fast can it heal though," Saphira asked.

"Off hand," Roman said as he looked up to see where the sound of aircraft engines were coming from. "I'd guess pretty fast." Roman then pointed to Air Force One falling out of the clouds towards them. Behind it was the falling form of the Meta.

"This guy doesn't give up easy does he," Thorn remarked, "Well that's fine I expect to pay him back for that grenade in my mouth."

"Guys think, if he is not on the plane then who will pull it up," Roman said as he pointed Melodic Cudgel at the falling jet, "Get up there and redirect that plane so it doesn't crash into the oil reserve!"

"That is what it wants us to do," Eragon said, "Instead let's just redirect it from down here."

"Right," Arya agreed, "Together?"

"We are as one," Murtagh said. The Three Riders raised their hands with the silver markings on them while the dragons raised their heads and all six were looking at the plane. Air Force One stopped in mid air and was thrown back towards the Meta. The Meta dodged the plane and continued it's fall. Meta started glowing with a red outline as it fell and Roman noticed the the Riders and their dragons seemed surprised at this.

"What now," Roman asked.

"He is able to absorb our magic," Eragon said, "Should we try the Name on him?"

"No that thing can use our magic to power itself," Arya said.

"Using the Name would probably give it almost unlimited energy," Thorn added.

"Well we are out of time to think about it," Jack said as the empty Air Force One crashed down off in the distance. "Meta has landed." The thud of the half ton Meta landing was followed by the sound of an explosion that knocked Roman back but didn't knock him down.

"Okay now that is just showing off," Roman said. "Jack we don't need to worry about fire out here do we?"

"Not at all," Jack replied.

"Well then let's see how it likes this," Roman said. He brought Melodic Cudgel up and then threw a fire dust crystal at the Meta. Meta caught the crystal and Roman shot it. The explosion threw the Meta back causing it to slide across the ground for a few feet. Roman sent it skidding across the ground even more with more rounds from Melodic Cudgel. Then Saphira landed behind the Meta and used her tail to smack it back towards Thorn. Thorn snapped the Meta up in his jaws but again the Meta's armor and strength kept it from to much harm as it was thrown to Varok who smashed it to the ground with a paw and pinned Meta there.

"How do you like us now," Murtagh asked Meta. Meta simply flickered and vanished.

"Wait what," Arya asked.

"Decoy," Eragon exclaimed, "Where is the real one?"

"Found him," Jack said softly. Roman didn't even turn around to look he just fired at where he knew Jack was standing. Turning around he saw he had been right, Jack was now laying on the ground with a few burns but nothing serious and Meta was picking it's brute shot up and heading for Roman.

"Arya tend to Jack, Saphira watch her back, Thorn Varok get in the air, Eragon, Murtagh get around behind this thing," Roman gave orders to each of the other members with him as he engaged Meta. Roman shot the grenades that Meta fired at him from the brute shot, causing them to explode in the air. The two then engaged in melee, sparks flew off of the two's weapons as they engaged. Roman deflected a strike from Meta and used the inertia to spin Melodic Cudgel around and strike Meta in the head. Meta spun with the hit and used the momentum to power a kick that sent Roman flying backwards. Roman picked himself up and saw the Meta was now engaging Murtagh and Eragon. Roman noted that Meta was having to use more of it's powers against the two now that the Riders could use their own powers. "Good, it will run out of power eventually," Roman thought as he returned to the fray.

Meta was using it's time distorting abilities and it's over shield to counter the two riders so when Roman rejoined the fray it was enough for the three to be able to force Meta back. Meta growled and then it's movements sped up even more. "Great it's got Carolina's speed enhancement," Roman thought as a realization hit him, "Oh this thing has all the Freelancer equipment, this is the Meta that was successful... it managed to kill all the Freelancers from it's dimension, probably all the reds and blues as well." Meta landed a hit on Eragon that knocked the Rider up into the air. Thorn caught him before he could fall and carried Eragon back to the ground.

"Get back," Varok bellowed as the gold dragon came in and let loose a swath of fiery breath as he flew over the Meta. When the fire cleared Meta stood up from a crouched position. It had in it's hands the brute shot and an energy sword.

"I guess it did kill everyone associated with the Freelances," Roman remarked, "But if that is Tucker's sword..."

Flash back to when Roman was asking Tucker why he only used the one energy sword a couple of weeks ago.

"It's part of some prophecy or something," Tucker said, "In any case it is more powerful than regular energy swords. This thing can take a lot more energy before it overloads than Chief or Arbiter's. If it actually over loaded it may even explode."

Flash back ends.

Roman smiled, that casual, cruel smile that he had perfected through years of being a nonchalant criminal mastermind. He now had an idea about how to beat this monster in front of him but he didn't want to do it while the Meta was still so close to the oil. After all Tucker never made any promises on how big the explosion could be and if the energy swords could power themselves up by absorbing incoming energy attacks it could be a very large explosion indeed. "Come on let's get out of here," Roman said as he fired at Meta and backed away from the entrance to the oil reserve.

"Are you crazy," Jack said as he and Arya joined Roman, "The oil is still over there."

"And guarded by automated turrets," Roman replied then he hissed in a whisper, "I'm trying to get it far enough away to blow up that sword it has, could make a really big explosion."

"Eragon, Murtagh, Saphira, Varok, Thorn back off," Arya said.

"I hope you thought to them the actual plan," Roman commented as he, Jack and the three Riders kept backing up, drawing the Meta with them. After several rounds of grenades from the brute shot were rendered ineffective by the Riders' magic, Meta let out a growl and charged the five.

"I hope you have a plan to protect us from this explosion," Jack said.

"Just follow my lead," Roman stated as he fired the hook on Melodic Cudgel and hooked it around Meta's hand that held the sword. "Murtagh get in there and keep it from freeing it's hand. Eragon get that sword, Arya get some spells ready that involve a lot of lightening." Roman pulled Meta in with the hook as he finished giving out the orders. Murtagh moved in and engaged Meta's free arm which was using the Brute Shot like a sword now. Eragon trapped The hand with the sword in position with magic which allowed Roman to recoil his hook.

"Good now have Thorn come in over head," Roman said, "He will carry us out of here."

"Spell is ready," Arya said.

"Hit the sword with it then," Roman exclaimed, "we aren't holding this guy down for the fun of it you know!" As he said that Meta threw Murtagh off balance and then flung him into Eragon. Arya's spell then slammed into the sword with such force that it knocked the Meta backwards.

"Thorn is over head," Murtagh said as he picked himself up. Roman looked up, caught the glint of Thorn's scales and fired the hook up for the dragon to catch.

"Grab on," Roman said as he extended his hand. The riders and Jack all grabbed onto him and Melodic Cudgel as they were yanked off the ground as Thorn gained altitude. They were soon shaken by the shock wave of an explosion signaling that the sword had exploded. Roman got a glimpse of the after glow of the explosion as he swirled around under Thorn.

"Did we kill it," Jack yelled over the wind.

"Hard to tell," Roman answered, "Riders?"

"It didn't have life signs to begin with so no way to tell," Arya said as they joined up with Saphira and Varok and headed back to D.C. Several hours later the eight were back at the White House and were calling to check up on Dom.

"Dom,... how's my favorite despot doing," Roman asked.

"Better than you all you thieving dog," Domingo replied, "We've repulsed the other Roman's attacks and now we are just waiting to see what the next move would be. Do you have any ideas on that note?"

"I would indeed," Roman said, "Normally when an op goes bad Cinder would give us a chance to fix it, that is the nice Cinder would. I don't think this Cinder is that forgiving. If the OR can't get the oil at the source or the reserves then he will consolidate his forces and hit only one."

"OR," Eragon asked.

"Other Roman," Roman clarified, "I am not going to say other me every time I need to talk about our enemy."

"Okay so back to the original question," Jack said, "Which target is the most likely."

"Neither of our previous places," Roman said, "Now the plan will be advanced to try and take out the producers of the oil that goes to the refineries and the reserves."

"OPEC, Russia and America are the three largest producers," Dom said.

"Which on is the biggest purchaser," Roman asked.

"China," Jack said, "Followed by the U.S."

"Then the Chinese leadership is in trouble," Roman said, "Because they will be on OR's hit list now."

"I just refuse to call him OR," Varok commented.

"Right, anyway if I can continue," Roman asked.

"Sorry," Varok said.

"As I was saying the Chinese are going to be the next target because if you can't take out the production of a resource you make producing that resource unprofitable," Roman said. "If you take out the largest purchasers of oil then oil production becomes to costly and the producers shut down on their own."

"I should point out that we are still getting reports of OR's forces attacking the various refineries and reserves across the planet," Jack said.

"I suspect those will drop off in the next couple of days," Roman said, "They will be consolidated for the attack. There is no sense in hiding now, the world knows that OR is making war against it so everyone is looking for him and his men but if he really does have something large enough to make entire ships disappear then we can expect that hiding his army will not be a problem for him."

"Terrific," Thorn said, "A coward is the worst kind of enemy."

"And this coward is both cunning and powerful," Roman said, "I also don't think that this Meta is a coward, I also doubt that little explosion back at the reserve was enough to kill it, just weaken it's systems so it has to retreat."

"And how are we to beat it when it shows up next then," Arya asked.

"Without the extra power of that special sword I don't think Meta can run as many of it's systems as it was when we first fought it," Roman said, "It should be almost human again."

"How close is almost human," Eragon asked.

"Close enough that we can kill it the next time it shows up," Roman answered.

"That is terribly comforting," Jack said, "Considering that last time when we did hit it it took a sword through it's shoulder and across it's chest without so much as slowing down."

"Not to mention that it is strong enough to hold my mouth open while I'm trying to bite down on it," Thorn added. "Those Spartan suits are not to be messed with casually."

"I think the bigger problem may be the AI fragments in it's head," Saphira stated. "Each one was created to function as a singular unit if all of these functional fragments have been compiled into one frame work and with a human mind added to them... we could be looking at a creature on the level of Legion."

"Legion," Dom asked.

"An AI construct in DC," Murtagh said, "It is millions of AI programs all running in one body. They are an incredibly intelligent and extremely effective operative."

"He was there when Cinder was freed from that Magog," Roman said, "I saw him standing over watch from up on that amphitheater. Creepy looking thing I'll give him that."

"Creepy but kind," Varok said, "This Meta is both creepy and dangerous, What I wonder though is this. Dom, how were you and your team able to beat back OR?"

"Well my team's leader is still in D.C. I'll have him give you a call, give me a second," Dom said. "Hey Dallas get Bain to call the White House the President and his friends want to know how you guys were able to push Roman back."

"You're kidding right," a male voice said from somewhere in the background. "Okay, don't expect him to call them though."

"Dom," Jack asked, "Who is your team?"

"Well," Dom said after a few moments, "Ever heard of the Payday Gang?"

"Now that is a name I can get behind," Roman said, "I like these guys already."

"You would," Jack said with a sigh, "The Payday Gang is the most successful group of heisters in Washington D.C. history. They have boosted billions of dollars and word is they have cleared out many other gangs operating in the area. They have never killed an innocent though and almost never trip an alarm. When they do by the time we get there they are long gone. They once jacked a bank holding documents important to the U.S. Government, enough so that the Army got involved, when they got there all that was there were tied up civilians and echoes."

"Wow these guys sound like they could teach me a thing or two," Roman remarked, "Maybe that is exactly what they are doing that make them so effective, I can't wait to talk to this Bain."

Character Emerald Sustrai (Cleo)

After the initial introductions were over Emerald, Jeyne and Saetan returned to looking over the maps of the kingdom of Ehb. They had determined that the most likely place for Magog to go to was the castle Ehb. From there it could also get to the temple ruins that Jeyne had told them was a place of great power, a place which she had unwittingly corrupted many years ago. Now the group was just deciding on how to go about entering the castle. Getting there was not going to be a problem, thanks to Janell but there would most certainly be a good amount of guards that were probably not going to be very friendly.

"They know our faces," Luciver said, "We can't just walk up to the gates and slip in, we will have to be invisible."

"Which is easy enough for us to do," Janell replied, "But that Spartan, Locust, he was invisible too so they probably know what to look for regarding invisible people."

"You are correct," The measured, deep, voice of Locust said. Emerald spun around to see if she could find the merc but he was nowhere to be seen. "My employer want's you all to not interfere and is paying me a great deal to ensure that doesn't happen. I see the Archon lived... unfortunate. This will complicate things."

"I have a fix on him," Janell whispered.

"I wouldn't try moving," Locust said, "or that teleport ability you have, if you move your friend dies." Locust uncloaked at the end of the hall in the throne room of Stone-bridge. A weapon with a laser sight was pointing at Emerald.

"Binary rifle," Luciver remarked, "High power laser based sniper rifle, it dissolves the atomic bonds of the target it hits. Well any organic target at least."

"How do you know about every weapon we come across," Emerald asked.

"It's a hobby," Luciver replied. "Also Kris has one of those."

"Enough," Locust commanded, "As I said, my employer doesn't want you to interfere. You all showed that you can beat my employer and I respect that level of skill so I will give you this one chance to leave. If you choose not to the next time we meet I will kill you."

"So your employer is not paying you that much then if you would offer us such a trade," Saetan said, "Perhaps we could offer more for your services?"

"Perhaps you could," Locust said, "But I have a contract and I will fulfill that contract. It is an interesting proposition however. If we all manage to survive the operation on this planet I might consider it... You have this one chance to not interfere, do with it what you will." With that Locust vanished again and Janell sighed.

"Lost the lock I take it," Emerald asked as she rubbed her chest where the laser sight had been.

"You are not seriously considering recruiting him," Jeyne exclaimed.

"We have recruited many who are worse than him," Sureal said, "At least this merc seems to respect those who are strong and skilled, we've got many in our group who would loved to have just shot us all from the shadows if they were in that man's position."

"We can worry about him later," Daemon said, "Locust did give us a valuable piece of information, the Magog-Emerald is his direct employer, we defeat her and we could get Locust to join us."

"You really are serious about getting him to join you," Jeyne said, "I... Well I probably killed just as many innocents as he has and Anjali let me join her Legionnaires. Okay then Castle Ehb, we go there we take on the Magog and when she is defeated we rout her forces and get Locust to join us."

"That's a great plan but we've been talking in circles," Graysfang said, "The only thing that has changed is we now want to recruit the merc. We still don't have a plan to actually attack the castle with."

"He is right," Saetan said, "Brute force will not work, since the Magog can just possess any and all of the people under it's service. Stealth will be difficult since our enemies know what we are capable of. So that leaves us with surprise."

"Well we've used our energy beam attack and I've used my poison so they know about those attacks," Daemon said, "We have plenty of other options when it comes to fighting though."

"Getting in won't be a problem," Janell said, "I can teleport us right into the castle with Jeyne's directions."

"Once we're there I can find where the Magog is," Emerald said, "It seems like there is still some of me left in it from our last encounter so I can assume it will want to be in the same places I would want to be."

"We will want two teams," Saetan said, "One to go with Emerald and one to keep the Magog's soldiers at bay so it can't jump into any of them."

"I'll go with Emerald," Jeyne said, "If you really want to have Locust join us maybe me forgiving him will help him join our cause."

"I will also go," Saetan said, "After all I am the best orator here and I think we will need that to talk Locust into joining us."

"Graysfang and I will help keep the guards busy then," Sureal said as she stroked the Wolf's head.

"I'm up for some of that action," Luciver said.

"I'll go with Emerald," Janell said. "Daemon go with Luciver, Sureal and Graysfang, that way I can warp you all to us if I need to."

"Of course, just be careful," Daemon said.

"Okay then," Emerald said, "Let's go. The sooner we stop this creature the less cities will end up like this one."

"Okay Jeyne when I warp us you will have to show me where to go based on the energy lines of this word, do you know how to read them," Janell asked.

"Of course," Jeyne said as she morphed into her Archon form. She appeared like Anjali but instead of yellowish-orange fire and runes Jeyne had white. "Shall we... oh"

Janell had already shifted the group into her energy plane and was waiting for Jeyne to indicate where they needed to go. Emerald looked around from this other version of the world they were on and she was surprised at how empty a plane of pure energy was. There was so much black space and only a few shining lines that indicated the primary threads of power that were holding the planet together.

"I had thought there was more to here from the glimpses I got when we've warped through here before," Emerald remarked.

"There is child," Saetan said, "We are just so far down into the energy planes that only the strongest and fastest energy flows through here."

"Here," Jeyne said after a few moments of studying her surroundings. Then the group was back in the physical world, they happened to have appeared in a dungeon cell somewhere under the castle proper. Across from them was Locust as he was throwing a prisoner into another cell.

"How fitting," Locust said as he locked the door to the other cell and turned around, "You place yourselves in a cage for us." Janell smirked and used her power to make the bars of the prison move out of the group's way. "So you choose to fight then... unfortunate."

"Why you don't think you can beat us," Saetan asked, "Then why not join us?"

"No it is unfortunate because if you had survived this I might would have considered joining you, Immortality is nothing to be taken lightly," Locust said as he raised his SAW machine gun at the group, "But now I have to kill you all to keep you from interfering with my employer's work."

"No you don't," Emerald said, "You're a soldier not a mercenary. Why are you letting this vile creature that stands for everything that soldiers fight against use you because of a contract?"

Locust stopped in the corridor that he was walking down towards the group before saying, "A soldier does not hold to his own standards but to those of the one he serves, I happen to serve those who have made a contract with me and my associates and so hold their standards." Locust punctuated this statement by going invisible and firing at the group. Janell threw up a shield around them but then she was knocked into one of the stone walls by a kick from Locust. Locust then vanished again as Luciver swung his ax at where the man had been. Emerald was scanning the area to see if she could find any sign of Locust but she didn't even see any dust being disturbed.

"Janell are you okay," Daemon asked as he picked her up.

"Winded is all," Janell said, "Ah, also maybe a couple of broken ribs but nothing I can't heal."

"Locust has gone to inform the Magog," Emerald said as she caught the slightest sign of footstep shaped disturbances on the stairs leading out. "We should be able to follow him right to it."

"You all go on ahead then," Janell said as she leaned against Daemon, "We will catch up."

"Of course," Saetan said before any further comments could be made. "We follow the same plan, Luciver, Sureal and Graysfang will keep the guards busy, Daemon you will funnel what power you can spare to them. Janell if you can funnel power to me when you can that would be appreciated. Emerald, Jeyne let's kill our wayward soldier's employer."

"Well looks like our plans didn't really help we're back to pitting our strength against theirs," Emerald said as she drew her twin chain, comma, pistols. "Not that I'm complaining about that." They followed the footprints up to a more traveled part of the castle. That is where Luciver, Sureal and Graysfang broke off to start distracting the guards. The foot step trail was now lost but Emerald had a good idea where her other would be at. She led Saetan and Jeyne through the halls until she came to the bedrooms of the castle. "Should be in one of these room, I always liked comfy beds."

"Really," Jeyne asked, "That seems..."

"And here you are," Locust said as he and Magog-Emerald walked out of one of the rooms in front of the three. "The others are making trouble for my men I assume."

"Do not worry about your men," Emerald said, "Once we kill your employer your men will become our men and they won't be in danger anymore." With that Emerald lashed out at her other and dodged around Locust's shotgun fire. This time Emerald didn't use her chain extensions while the Magog did. Emerald was able to get the Magog's weapons caught on her own and pull them away from it. The sound of gunshots and fire echoed off the walls as Locust engaged Saetan and Jeyne. Emerald back-flipped out of the way of a stream of fire that the Magog-Emerald threw at her. Emerald followed up with a stream of bullets that was accompanied by two slashes from her commas. Magog gasped as the commas struck home, embedding themselves into her chest. Emerald smirked as she pulled the commas free opening up two massive wound channels that were dripping with a dark gooey fluid that was the Magog's blood. Emerald was then forcefully thrown through a door and smashed her back and head against the bed that was inside the room. Looking up Magog was standing in the door way it's face had morphed from Emerald's face to that of a gaping fanged mouth with eyes on two stalks. One of it's hands was formed into a giant hammer, the object that had knocked Emerald through the door, and the other hand was a jagged spike.

Emerald tried to pick herself up but she could feel that her ribs were broken, one of her shoulders was dislocated and one of her legs was completely numb. Seeing as she couldn't get up and walk Emerald resorted to the next best thing, rolling out of the way of the hammer hand that was coming down on her. Emerald rolled and picked up one of her commas in the process with her good arm. She then squeezed her eyes shut from the pain and involuntarily screamed 'ahh' as the roll caused the true extent of her injuries to be felt. Still she brought up the pistol and fired the remaining rounds into the Magog. The last round was empowered with ice dust and this happened to freeze the Magog solid as it brought it's spike down onto Emerald. Emerald sighed as the spike stopped just inches away from her heart. A shotgun blast sounded out and the Magog shattered revealing Locust standing in the doorway. He chambered the weapon and move towards Emerald. She tried to back away but couldn't move due to the pain.

"I thought.. soldiers... were supposed to, help people," Emerald stated from between gritted teeth. Locust stopped in front of her and Emerald forced herself to look the Spartan in the eyes, or where she thought his eyes were behind his helmet. Locust swung his shotgun at her and Emerald braced for the end butt the barrel stopped before it connected with her already bruised head.

"We do," Locust said, "We help our employers. It just so happens that you are now my employer. You are stronger than I thought at first, good I do not work with those who are weak."

Emerald reached up and took hold of the shotgun with her good arm and Locust used it to help her to her feet. The motion caused Emerald a great deal of pain and dizziness but, she clinched down on the shotgun barrel in her hand and fought through the pain to stand in front of Locust before saying with much effort on her part due to the pain and shortness of breath. "That's... because I'm... alive! That, thing, you... were working for, it doesn't even... count as... alive." Emerald then pushed the shotgun back at Locust and gripped the elbow of her other arm. "This is going to hurt," She thought as Emerald shoved her shoulder back into place. She screamed as the joint went back into place which caused her ribs to flare with pain. Emerald doubled over in pain and almost fell to the floor but she was caught by the strong arms of Jeyne. The Archon helped Emerald up and out to the SaDiablos. Locust was standing passively beside Saetan and Janell seemed to be in the same state that Emerald was in with her ribs.

"He do the same to you," Janell asked as Emerald joined them.

"No the Magog did," Emerald said, "You all really trust him just like that?"

"Not at all," Locust replied, "They would be foolish to do so and I do not work with fools any more than I do those who are weak. I am tolerated for now, I am accustom to it. As our arrangement progresses you will learn to trust me at least as far as the contract binds me."

"Not a, ah, ringing endorsement," Emerald replied.

"It is not meant to be," Saetan said, "He is simply telling us how he operates. Locust is very systematic, it is how I arranged the contract between him and us."

"What is the contract," Daemon asked as both he and Luciver glared at the stoic Locust.

"He helps us undo what Magog-Emerald did on this planet then we take him and his associates to K," Saetan said, "The first set of terms are from Jeyne, recompense for her bullet wounds and the city of dead friends Locust left in his wake."

"I still can't believe that you feel nothing for murdering all those people," Jeyne remarked.

"Should I," Locust asked, "It will not bring them back, It will only hinder me from completing my contract with you all."

"That seems a bit unnerving," Sureal said, "Even for me."

"So, what is our plan now then," Janell asked.

"The Magog and I set up three power funnel structures," Locust said, "They draw power from this world and funnel it to another. It was the only purpose for us coming here. We decommission those towers and my contract will be fulfilled. First though Emerald is low on Aura and Janell is also weakened from similar injuries."

"Caused by you," Luciver snapped.

Locust continued on as if the comment had never been made, "Allowing them time to rest here at the castle for tonight would allow me to inform my men remaining on the planet of the change of leadership and get word out to my associates of the completion of the contract with Magog-Emerald. I can also inform them of the new contract with you all, though I will not mention your names or affiliation yet as I do not know if they have finished their contracts."

"And their contracts are with the other Magogs aren't they," Emerald asked.

"Correct," Locust answered, "I know one of them very well, he will join up with us if the price is right and he won't care if his contract is finished. The other one is as inhuman as the Magogs are, it will remain with them as long as they provide it with targets to kill."

"We have plenty of targets that it could kill," Saetan said before more comments could be made, "We may be able to convince this other associate of yours to join us as well."

"We will see," Locust said as he left the group to make some calls.

"He's different," Emerald remarked after a few moments.

"He has a cold regimented mind," Graysfang said. "But it makes him lethal and extremely effective."

"Why isn't he dead," Luciver hissed.

"Because I am not dead," Jeyne said, "I did the same thing to the Legion that Locust did to Stone-bridge. Anjali forgave me now I am showing him that same mercy."

"He almost killed you," Sureal remarked.

"And I almost killed Anjali and Katarina," Jeyne countered. "I've embrace my second chance so I have to give others the chance to do the same."

Emerald was about to disagree when gunfire erupted in the room Locust had entered. One of Locust's men was thrown from the room as Locust barreled out of the room carrying another two men into a wall where he blasted them with his shot gun before pulling out his pistol and putting a bullet in the head of the man he had thrown onto the ground a few moments before.

"Locust," Saetan stated, using the merc's name as a question.

"This is unfortunate," Locust replied, "It seems my men are all demon possessed and we will have to fight through them to both get out of this building and get to the power funnels. Luciver correct?" Luciver simply nodded. "Good and the wolf, Graysfang?" Graysfang also nodded. "Come with me we are clearing this castle. Emerald take this radio so I can keep in touch with you." With that Locust handed Emerald an earpiece that was a short range radio, turned invisible, and left the room.

"He is serious," Luciver asked.

"Seems like it," Daemon said, "Go if you need help to kill him should he turn on you we will be here." Luciver and Graysfang shared a troubled and angry look before they followed their new associate. Emerald put the earpiece in and called Locust to see if it worked.

"Locust... you there," Emerald asked being careful with her breathing so as not to disturb her ribs.

"Affirmative," Locust replied, "We are beginning to clear this floor, I will contact you when we are done."

"One question," Emerald said, "Why did, you give the... girl with the broken ribs... the radio?"

"You do not have the mind speech that the SaDiablos and friends have," Locust replied, "You however have Aura which they do not. I am a professional and I do my homework. Dragon Company was my home work for my most recent job."

Emerald was silent for a few seconds as she processed this information. "He knows a great deal about us... he probably could have killed us several times by now if he knows our strengths and weaknesses." Emerald then simply said, "Oh right." She then shut down the call and leaned back to rest against Mercury. She almost slipped off the chair she was in when she realized that Mercury was not with her. "Crap how did I forget that Mercury isn't here," Emerald thought as she sat back up again. "Maybe this knock to my head did more damage than I thought." She reached up and gently touched her head where it had hit the bed. Emerald felt matted blood in her hair and winced as even her gentle touch sparked a flare of pain. The buzz of the radio called her from her medical examination as Locust dutifully reported that the floor they were on was clear and that he, Luciver and Graysfang were heading down to the floor below them. "Okay great," Emerald replied to Locust's information.

"How are you feeling," Sureal asked as she sat down on a bench across from Emerald.

"I've felt better," Emerald replied, "Mostly wishing Mercury was here."

"After you take a beating like this you're worried about your boyfriend," Sureal asked.

"Heh yeah don't get me wrong he can be a total jerk but, we've always been there for each other and he took the brunt of Cinder's Magog side so that I could get out from that, it's odd without him."

Character Noire

Noire woke up slowly. The first sensation that came into her groggy mind was that of Tucker's arms wrapped around her mid rift. Noire didn't bother to open her eyes, preferring simply to enjoy the embrace of her sleeping love. She reviewed the events of the previous day, the fight with the demon, meeting Shade and Yishi and the RVB crew. Getting the actual story of how Jr. and Tucker became a family. Getting settled in their rooms on the Hemorrhage, where they were now, and getting under way to collect Requiem. Noire smiled as she remembered last night.

Flash back:

"Cool we get our own rooms," Jr. said as he went into his room. "I'll see you two later."

"Alright see you when we get there," Tucker said as he started to go to his room.

"I don't think so," Noire said as she pulled him into her room.

"Oh ho bow-chicka-bow-wow," Tucker said as Noire threw him onto the bed.

Flash back ends:

"I guess some dreams do come true," Noire thought.

"Hey baby," Tucker said as he started to wake up. Then he jerked to awareness and threw Noire off the bed as he jumped back and exclaimed. "It wasn't me, I wasn't even in town that weekend, it's not mine!"

Noire picked herself up and just stared at Tucker as he took a few deep breaths and calmed down. "Tucker," Noire asked flatly, "What. The hell, was that?"

"Ah crap, I'm really sorry about that but after years of drilling those responses into my head it was just a reaction," Tucker said.

"But I thought you were a virgin like me," Noire stated.

"Oh I am, or well was now I guess," Tucker said, "I just drilled those into my head in case someone ever woke me as a prank I had to be ready. I mean you know the guys I work with right."

The two were standing across from each other in the room, Noire was looking angry since she had been pushed off of her own bed and Tucker was actually looking sorry for having shoved her. That's when Jr.'s cough at their door drew their attention. "So I guess last night didn't work out as you had hoped?"

Noire threw a sheet over Jr. and shoved him out of the room shouting, "Knock next time!" "I guess sometimes you also get more than you expected when dreams come true... oh well."

"Wow you can be really high strung you know," Tucker said. "Do you need a back massage?"

"You can give back massages," Noire asked as she turned to Tucker.

"Oh yeah," Tucker said, "I had a lot of time practicing on Caboose after he listened to Sarge's advice on how to lift... I really don't see how that old man is still alive, well apart from all of us being immortal and all."

"Wait you gave Caboose back massages," Noire asked, "I though he hated you?"

"Oh yeah he does, but only because he is envious of my awesome body massages, back, feet, legs, chest, neck, arms you name it I know how to release the stress in it."

"Chest massage," Noire asked again getting more and more skeptical of Tucker's claim, "Are you sure you're not just trying to play with my boobs?"

"Oh I'd love to but, seriously you're tense as blarg," Tucker said as he drew close to Noire. "Your shoulders are all hunched in and your legs are tense and this one vein on your neck is sticking out." Tucker ran a finger along the vein to indicate his point.

Noire sighed as she gave in, while yes she was with Tucker and couldn't be happier about it, well she was in a totally foreign universe as a part of a group she didn't really know that much about fighting creatures that she was pretty sure she may have helped to create with some of her actions over the years. "Yeah okay I'm tense," Noire said, "wouldn't you be if you left everyone one you knew to start an unpredictable relationship with a self proclaimed love doctor in the middle of a war against demons?"

"Yeah I guess I would be," Tucker agreed, "Now that you mention it I am actually more worried than usual now that you are here. I've never met a girl who actually liked me before, I wouldn't want anything to happen to you."

"Aw that's so sweet," Noire said as she hugged Tucker, "I think I'll take that massage."

"Crew get ready to disembark," Yishi's voice echoed over the comms, "We arrive in thirty minutes at Requiem."

"Oh crap," Tucker said, "It will take me that long to get my armor back on."

"I'll help you it won't take that long," Noire said as she let go of Tucker, "I'll take a rain check on that massage."

"It will be worth it," Tucker said, "When we get back I promise it will feel so good you'll ask me to ravish you when it's over."

"I'd do that anyway," Noire said, "So that doesn't actually give any suggestion to how good you are a massages. Now where is your sword? Meow-chicka-meow-meow."

"Bow-chicka-bow-wow," Tucker said as Noire said her catch phrase. "Oh we are so synchronized." The two high-fived and went to get dressed. Even with Noire's help it took almost thirty minutes to get Tucker's armor back on. Fortunately Tucker had arranged for Sarge to bring his new helmet to the hangar where the teams would deploy, thus saving the two some time. Even with this they got to the drop ship just before it was time to depart to go out to Requiem.

"Well look who decided to show up," Wyoming remarked.

"Oh up yours Wyoming I killed you, like fifty times," Tucker said.

"Hmm... yes I see your point," Wyoming said, "Still we were on time."

"Actually you were early," Noire pointed out, "We got here at exactly eleven ten, which is when we were supposed to leave."

"And because of that you missed the briefing," Yishi stated as she entered the drop ship. "You better hope one of your team will fill you in or..."

"Meow-chicka-meow-meow," Noire interrupted. She was instantly slammed into the wall and held there by a force grip as Yishi walked over and lowered her hood. Yishi's face was just like Blake's but with about thirty years added to the lines in her features and a bout a hundred added to her burning amber eyes.

"Noire," Yishi said as she pulled out her lightsaber and activated it, "You do that one more time and I'll..."

"You'll do what bitch," Tucker said as his sword was placed at Yishi's throat. "Go ahead try to use that force bullshit with me 'cause my ass is immune to it. Yeah I figured that out on Sangheilos, the sword is special it makes me immune to things, like Wyoming's time distortion, your force powers, you get the idea. So you leave my girl alone!"

Noire saw Yishi's eyes flick to the side and look at Tucker, it was hard to see anything due to the helmet but it was obvious that he was mad and he meant what he said. Yishi's eyes then flicked back to Noire, as if they were measuring her, before they softened just a little. Yishi turned her lightsaber off and replaced it, her calm still entirely intact. "Relax Tucker," Yishi said, "You know Falion did the same thing for me once, got between me and a superior Sith when we were still working our way up in the rankings. It was the start of how he ended up where he is today." Tucker put his sword back on his belt and went to stand beside Noire. "Pilot get us underway, you two come with me," Yishi continued, "I'll get you caught up on what we are doing."

"Ah come on no cat fight between Noire and Yishi," Church asked, "man Tucker you must really have a thing for her if you intervened in that set up."

"Eh it wasn't worth it," Tucker said.

"Besides there are no mud pits around here," Noire added as they passed their team and followed Yishi into the front of the ship. "Oh hey Flowers," Noire said as she greeted the familiar pilot.

"And a good day to you too Noire," Flowers said, "I hope that encounter a few moments ago has not put everyone on edge.

"It's fine Florida," Yishi said, "Have you adjusted to the controls of the Imperial Troop Transport?

"I most certainly have," Flowers said, "They are very similar to the Pelican's after all."

"Good then get us moving," Yishi said as she sat down in the co-pilot's chair, leaving Noire and Tucker standing. "Now then you two, I'll have to make clear that demonstrations like the one we just had can not happen. Not around my Sith at least as I will have to crush you both should that be the case. That said I appreciate the strength you demonstrated back there, many of my Sith would not be so bold. Now moving on our goal is to get to the controls for Requiem and then drive it back to Remnant, my Remnant that is. Kris, Allen and Lona are our POIs for this mission so keep them safe. They know how to interface with the systems of Requiem so we will need them to drive the planet."

"Wait that is the big briefing," Tucker asked, "What the blarg?"

"No that is you two's briefing," Yishi said, "Since you were not here for the full one and I don't have time to go over it you two get to be guards for Kris, Allen and Lona."

"Is that a good thing or a bad thing," Noire asked.

"Depends on how much you like fighting creatures that shoot weapons which can atomize you," Yishi said, "You five are going into the heart of the planet."

"So bad then," Tucker and Noire said, "Blarg." Noire then continued with, "I'll need that massage after this for sure."

"Me too," Tucker agreed, "hey you wouldn't happen to..."

"Of course I can," Noire said, "I'd give them to my RWBY team after stressful missions all the time."

"Lucky them," Yishi said, "I don't recall ever getting a good massage."

"That's too bad," Flowers said, "They are very therapeutic. We have professional massage therapists on the Invention. Church thought it was a good idea seeing as the last time we were all on the ship together we might have set in motion the events that led to us killing each other."

"Yeah you know I had been wondering about that," Tucker said, "You guys were really blarged up back then."

"Yishi if you make sure we survive this I'll give you a massage like I used to give Blake," Noire said.

"Deal," Yishi replied, "I'll be going with you five then."

"Okay we're setting down," Flowers said, "Everyone get ready to disembark." The transport was the first of three to touch down on Requiem. Noire caught sight of the three Prometheans as they got off the ship.

"Kris over here," Noire called, "We're your three's body guards for this mission."

"Yishi, I didn't know you were going to be joining us," Kris said as he, Allen and Lona approached the three.

"And why wouldn't I be," Yishi replied, "After all we are doing this for my home."

"It will be interesting fighting beside you," Lona remarked, "We've not gotten to fight alongside to many from DC yet."

"Yeah from what I hear you three prefer to work on your own right," Tucker asked.

"We do," Allen said, "It is not surprising considering ..." He waved at himself and the other two battle wagons to make his point.

"What is your three's story," Noire asked as they started heading out from the dropships and towards a cylindrical tower of some sort.

"Basically the same as Jensen's," Kris said, "We were human once but now we are robots or people's minds inside a robot at least."

"But you have some connection to this planet," Noire asked.

"The Didact that was imprisoned here built the Composer system," Kris explained as he activated the door to the tower and led them inside, "It was this system that sealed us into these bodies. Since this same system covers Requiem we can interact with it and drive the planet as the Didact used to."

"So why do we need all the security," Tucker asked.

"Because once we start to take control Requiem's systems will mark us as a threat and send whatever forces are still under it's control to remove us," Lona said.

"That is why we are here," Yishi said, "The other teams will try to intercept these forces but they will not be able to get all of them. We will take care of those that slip the net."

"Here, you three take the elevator," Kris said, "We will use Requiem's systems to meet you down below." With that the three Prometheans seemingly melted into pillars of light and disappeared.

"That is a cool ability," Tucker remarked as the three fleshy members of the group rode the elevator. Near the end of the ride Noire picked up sounds of gunfire, she could tell Yishi did to by how both of their Fanus ears were twitching.

"You two hear something," Tucker asked as he noticed their ears swiveling.

"Gun fire," Noire said.

"I would assume our friends integration with the systems has set off some alarms," Yishi said as she activated her lightsaber, "Be ready for anything." Noire drew Cat's Tail and charged it with fire dust. Tucker had his sword out and was in a fighting stance. So when the doors opened to reveal a room with just Kris, Allen and Lona in it the three were somewhat confused.

"Okay I thought you heard gunfire," Tucker said.

"You did," Allen said, "The other constructs like us dissolve when killed, otherwise there would be about twenty dead bodies laying around here."

"Hmm... no blood," Yishi remarked, "Nothing to clutter the floor. That is good then we will not get bogged down as the fighting continues."

"Did you three know that traveling through Requiem's systems would set off alarms," Noire asked.

"We had our suspicions but we needed to test them," Kris replied, "This was an effective test."

"Let's keep moving," Yishi said with a hint of anger, "If you can keep the risk to yourselves at a minimum that would be appreciated. Where do we need to be to give you control of the planet?"

"We need to go deeper," Kris answered as he pointed down the dim gray and blue hall before them.

"Bow/meow-chicka-bow/meow-wow/meow," Tucker and Noire said.

"You two are disgusting," Lona commented.

"No we are not," Tucker countered, "We took a shower this morning."

The other four members of the party sighed, which was impressive coming from the Prometheans considering they had no lungs or facial expressions to convey their sense of disdain. As the team neared the control center for the planet Yishi received the report that the other teams were in position. Most of the teams consisted of Yishi's Sith but the DC members were stationed at key points around the central hub that Noire and her team were in.

"So what will happen once you take control," Noire asked.

"The other Prometheans that are attacking us will stop attacking us," Allen answered, "You three will probably want to play more defensive than offensive."

"Huh well that will work," Noire said as she cued up a play-list on her aura generator, "I've got just the right assortment of songs for this." "Thank you Jeff and Casey Williams for being awesome and writing this song. I May Fall will do nicely."

"Songs really," Yishi asked as Kris, Allen and Lona went to start the process of taking over Requiem.

"Don't be like that," Noire said, "Besides I think you'll like this one."

"Okay get ready we're in so we should see targets any second," Kris advised. A few moments later and the large,circular room that the six had entered was filled with Prometheans. Some were the dog shaped version with their weaponized heads, others were the flying versions that acted like gunships and could revive fallen Prometheans but the bulk were the battle wagons with their high caliber weapons and shields. Noire smirked as she held Cat's Tail towards the attacking Prometheans and pressed play.

There's a day when all hearts will be broken
when a shadow will cast out the light
and our eyes cry a million tears
help wont arrive

The Prometheans screeched in a high metallic voice before they charged the group. Noire, Tucker and Yishi yelled their own challenge to the oncoming hoard and braced for the battle. With Kris, Allen and Lona occupied within Requiem's systems the three Battle Wagons were vulnerable leaving the fleshy half of the team to fight the oncoming wall of metal and energy projectiles.

There's a day when all courage collapses
and our friends turn and leave us behind
Creatures of darkness will triumph
the sun won't rise

Noire struck out with Cat's Tail at some of the dog Prometheans that got to close, the fire dust in the weapon causing an explosion as it connected with the aggressors. Tucker then dove in front of Noire and caught the disintegrating beams from two binary rifles on his sword, charging it up with the energy it absorbed. Yishi's lightsaber went flying past the pair as it carved into several of the battle wagons. Simultaneously several of the flying Prometheans were hit with freezing bullets from Gambol Shroud. Yishi had apparently kept her signature weapon even with the fall of Remnant.

When we've lost all hope
and succumb to fear
as the skies rain blood
and the end draws near

Tucker struck out with his supercharged sword bisecting five battle-wagons and three of the dogs that lept at him. Noire had switched to ice dust and was using it to build barricades around Kris, Allen and Lona. Yishi was in the middle of the fray, using her force powers to deflect harm as well as her semblance to keep the Prometheans confused as to where she actually was.

I may fall
but not like this-it won't be by your hand
I may fall
not this place, not today
I may fall
bring it all-it's not enough to take me down
I may fall

Noire spun and back flipped out of the way of an energy ax that one of the battle-wagons swung at her. She countered by slicing the arm that the ax was attached to off of the Promethean, causing it to disintegrate. A spin carried her out of the way of a blast from a scatter-shot energy shotgun. Noire responded by impaling the battle-wagon that tried to shoot her before throwing the still disintegrating body at a dog that was lunging at Tucker. What was left of the body collided with the dog and knocked it out of the air where Tucker finished it off.

There's a place where we'll stand outnumbered
where the wolves and the soul-less will rise
in the time of our final moments
every dream dies

Even with the three's much superior combat prowess compared to the Prometheans the almost unlimited supply of Prometheans was starting to push them back closer and closer to Kris, Allen and Lona. Noire was having to use her semblance quite a bit at this point to avoid all the attacks that were being made against her. Tucker was sparking as his energy shield was getting lower from the hits it was absorbing but each time he absorbed a hit with his sword the shield would flash with renewed energy. Yishi was still engaging the Prometheans with as much savagery as they were engaging her. In fact it was Yishi's efforts that were keeping the circle as open as it was, with Noire and Tucker hanging back to keep the hits off of their Promethean friends.

There's a place where our shields will lay shattered
and the fear's all that's left in our hearts
strength and our courage have run out
we fall apart

An electric dust charged strike from Cat's Tail dropped a half dozen of the flying Prometheans. Noire turned the aerial attack into a ground strike as she landed using fire dust again to create a shock wave that knocked back the Prometheans' advance. Tucker followed up by running past Noire and striking down the first eight Prometheans he came across. Yishi added to the carnage as she arced electricity from Gambol Shroud into the Prometheans.

When we lose our faith
and forsake our friends
When the moon is gone
and we reach our end

Noire brought Cat's Tail up and deflected a dog Promethean that lunged at her. She then encased herself in ice to deflect the spikes that it fired at her. She detonated the ice shield sending spikes flying out at the offending Prometheans. Noire was then smashed to the ground by a very large battle-wagon. With an audible click Noire heard her Aura generator get knocked off of her shoulder and bounce across the floor. It was still on however so Noire hopped that it would still give her the protection that she used it for. The battle-wagon stopped it's attack to construct another flying Promethean thus allowing Noire to pick herself up and quickly get her bearings. Kris, Allen and Lona were still fine as Yishi had fallen back to protect them better. Tucker was hanging off of one of the flying Prometheans and slashing at the ones under him as the flier struggled to keep itself in the air with Tucker's added weight. Noire also caught a glimpse of her Aura generator laying about twenty feet away.

There's a moment that changes a life when
we do something that no one else can
and the path that we've taken will lead us
one final stand

The battle wagon had finished constructing it's flying friend and it roared at Noire. She took a step back as the metallic 'head' of the creature opened to reveal a glowing human-shaped skull and part of a spine inside the armor. "Dear God," Noire thought as she copied Yishi's semblance and made a clone to take the shot from the battle-wagon's binary rifle. "These poor creatures... forced into insanity by being computerized."

"We may need to think of an exit strategy," Kris said, "We've made a miscalculation. The other Prometheans control Requiem now that the Didact is dead." Noire was still engaged with the larger battle-wagon but between blocks and dodges an idea was forming in her head. It was based on her observation of Tucker and his flying Promethean. Now Tucker was actually standing on top of the creature and it seemed to be helping him. Kris, Allen and Lona were now entering the fight as it was not going to be possible for the three of them to wrest control for Requiem from the other Prometheans.

There's a moment we make a decision
not to cower and crash to the ground
the moment we face our worst demons
our courage found

Noire consider their rapidly deteriorating situation. The Prometheans could keep rebuilding themselves and all the exits were blocked. Noire mentally sighed while she made her decision and thought, "Ruby, my Ruby, if by any means you can help me now... help me with this." Noire then used her Aura to faze through a strike from the battle-wagon she touched it's back as it went through her shadowy form. To Noire's relief a black rose symbol appeared on the Promethean. "Rose break level three," Noire said then the robotic shell of the battle-wagon exploded into black rose petals leaving the screaming orange-yellow energy bones of the creature standing without it's armor.

When we stand with friends
and we won't retreat
as we stare down death
then the taste is sweet

Noire grabbed it from behind in a hug, which sent electric shocks all through her body but Noire had plenty of experience with dealing with electric shocks. "All the time with that stupid shock collar is finally paying off...," she thought as she felt the battle wagon slowly stop it's struggles against her. Noire let go of the Promethean as it settled down and stopped the high pitched screaming wail it had been giving out. Slowly the other Prometheans started to take notice of their freed brother and they began to stop fighting.

I may fall
but not like this -it won't be by your hand
I may fall
not this place, not today
I may fall
bring it all-it's not enough to take me down
I may fall!

Noire walked over and picked up her Aura generator as the song finished up and the battle died down. Tucker was flown over to her by the flying Promethean he had been riding before it went over to the freed Promethean. Noire put her generator back on it's spot on her shoulder before turning to Tucker with a massive smirk on her face.

"That was amazing," Tucker said, "How did you do that thing with the armor?"

"An old trick I picked up from a very special friend," Noire said.

"Black rose petals," Yishi remarked as she floated one of them to her hand with the force, "Your Ruby's doing?"

"Partly," Noire said.

"You," a powerful female voice that was slightly tinged with a robotic hint said. The freed battle-wagon walked up to Noire and touched her on the nose, giving her just a little bit of a zap. "How did you remove the bindings?"

"Bindings," Noire asked as she rubbed her nose to get the shocking feeling out of it, "You mean the armor?"

"Yes she does," Lona said, "The armor is what holds the programming that keeps the composed in a state of retardation, we can only think what the programming allows us to think. John changed what our armor's programming allows but you've gone a step further by removing the shackles altogether."

"It's an old trick I learned from a friend, the ability to remove any sort of covering from someone," Noire said, "Normally it's used on cloths... and occasionally armor. It's also not my ability it is borrowed."

"Why do you have a skill that can make people's cloths become black roses," Kris asked.

"Eh eye candy," Noire replied, "and like I said it is borrowed. So who are you?" Noire asked the freed Promethean.

"I am Zelen," the Promethean replied, "What about you three, my fellow Prometheans I already know."

"I'm Tucker, this is Noire and over there is Yishi," Tucker said. He pointed to Yishi who had moved away to make some calls to the other teams.

"You were trying to take control of this planet," Zelen said, "Why?"

"Yishi's planet has been overrun by demons," Noire said, "we wanted to use any composer technology on Requiem to shackle them."

"You want to use this technology on yet more creatures," Zelen asked with anger in her voice.

"We want to use it on demons," Yishi said as she came back over to the group, "creatures of evil and hate, of destruction. They are ravaging my planet but your technology, Promethean technology can stop them if you will help us. This technology can save my planet."

"We agree with this," Allen added, "We've fought the demons and they deserve these shackles." Zelen looked first shocked, as the lighting of her skeletal body flashed a lighter yellow, but then returned to her normal orange-yellow as she nodded.

"I understand," Zelen said, "While we can not give over control of Requiem to you we can take it and you to wherever you need us to go."

"My ship the Hemorrhage is in orbit," Yishi said, "If you can follow us back to my planet and take care of the demons we would be in your debt."

"You would be in the Prometheans' debt," Zelen corrected, "I am simply speaking for all of the Prometheans on Requiem. Very well, we agree. Yishi since this seems to be your mission if you would stay here to assist us in following your ship and so we may work out the terms of this arrangement that would raise our esteem of you greatly."

"Noire, you owe me that massage when I get back," Yishi said as she nodded to Zelen and followed the Promethean to the controls for Requiem.

"Well I guess you two are finished here," Kris said, "We will stick around in case things get heated."

"Okay cool, we'll go meet with Jr. then and see how things went with the others," Tucker said, "Coming Noire?"

"Yeah just a moment," Noire said, "Hey Zelen, if you get some free time you can always come hang out with us."

The Promethean turned it's energy skull Noire's way and replied after a moment, "I may consider that offer." Noire smiled and left the room with Tucker as Zelen went back to work with Yishi and Kris. They went to the big elevator and took it back up to the surface.

"So do we know if Jr. is going to be up here," Noire asked.

"Yeah I don't know we missed the briefing remember," Tucker said.

"Great," Noire remarked as they got out of the elevator and left the structure to see no one around for miles. "Why don't you just call him and see where he is?"

"Oh right, duh," Tucker said as Noire rolled her eyes at him. "Hey Jr. where are you guys? Oh okay cool we'll just wait for you then. They are going to be coming over this way in the transport ship to pick us up."

"Well that saves us from having to walk," Noire said as she stretched.

"Bow-chicka-bow-...wow," Tucker said admiringly.

"Like what you see," Noire asked teasingly.

"You know I do," Tucker said as he wrapped his arms around her. "That's why I have to say this. I know that what you did back there worked and you freed the Prometheans but how did you survive that shock that you took?"

"Ah ha ha funny story that, see back on my Remnant I had a shock collar for a while and Blake, who... let's just say she and I did not get along at first, she got to control it," Noire said. "You become resistant to shocking pretty quickly when you have to deal with being shocked for long periods of time for making innuendos that the team disagreed with."

"What she would do that to you," Tucker exclaimed, "These must be very different from the RWBY team we know."

"Probably," Noire said, "The sad part is I trusted Blake with the remote more than Ruby."

"Okay well either way don't put yourself in danger like that unless you have to," Tucker said, "I mean it when I say I don't want to loose you."

"Same to you," Noire said, "Tucker I love you. I've always loved you from the first time I saw you, when I thought you were just a fantasy a story. Now your here and real and I love you."

"So can you use that rose thing on me sometime," Tucker asked as Noire realized she had only thought the last bit of what she had wanted to say.

"I can try it when we get back but I can't be sure it will work again," Noire said with a sigh, "Like I said it is a borrowed ability." The transport touching down cut off any further conversation between the two as Jr. came out and immediately started asking questions about the encounter with the Prometheans. It took the whole trip back to the Hemorrhage to explain everything so when Tucker and Noire were able to duck into his room and get away from the questions all that the two wanted to do was relax. That is when Tucker said six fateful words.

"So who gets the massage first," Tucker asked.

"Well that will be based on whoever can get undressed the fastest," Noire said with a smirk. She knew it would take Tucker longer to get out of his armor than it would for her to get out of her cloths. "We will first need a good table to use for the massages."

"Hey first not fair about the cloths thing," Tucker said, "and two... you're right about the table the bed is to soft. What can we use instead?"

The two looked around the room. It was not a big room due to the constraints of the spaceship. The bed folded up into the gray wall and when it was up the room had about twenty-five square feet of floor space. Off to the side was a little recessed alcove with a workbench for fixing equipment but it was mounted to the wall.

"What about the underside of the bed," Noire asked.

"That could work," Tucker replied, "If we could get it flipped around so that side is up when the bed is folded out.

"We have a work bench," Noire said as she pointed to said bench, "we might as well use the tools for something."

"That's great but I'm a lover not a tooler," Tucker said.

"You can be my tooler anytime," Noire said.

"Bow-chicka-bow-wow... I just agreed to flip the bed for you didn't I," Tucker said. Noire just threw him a socket wrench and smirked. "Aw blarg nuggets." Fifteen minutes and some swearing at inanimate objects later and the bed was now sitting face down with the hard side up so it could function as a massage table. "Okay cool. That worked and I only broke three of the wrenches."

"I... I'm speechless," Noire said as she surveyed the carnage. There were bolt's nuts, wires and various pieces of metal scattered all around Tucker as he got up. "Here let me help you clean this up, I don't want to step on any of this stuff without my shoes on."

"Same," Tucker agreed. The two spent another five minutes just putting all the stuff from the project into drawers in the desk. "There everything is out of stepping range. Now are you going to help me out of this armor?"

"Yeah I've got an idea about that," Noire said, "Assuming this power will still work, that is." She reached up and placed a hand on Tuckers chest. Her hand glowed a soft purple for a moment and when she removed it a black rose with stem and thorns and slightly flaming was etched into the right side of the chest piece. "Rose Shift," Noire said and Tucker's armor faded out from view. Noire's rose emblem was tattooed on his chest in the same spot it was on the armor.

"That... is really blarging awesome," Tucker said, "so I'm naked first I get the first massage."

"Oh you..." Noire started but then she pressed up against Tucker and got close to his ear before whispering, "I'll think of a good way to get you back for this."

"I know you will," Tucker said, "Hey will it involve ropes?"

"Meow-chicka-meow-meow," Noire replied as she pushed Tucker onto the table/bed. "Now stay still the sooner I finish with you, the sooner you can do me." Noire soon noticed that either Tucker was incredibly pain tolerant or was used deep tissue massages, or both as he would simply grunt and sigh whenever she would find and work on a muscle bundle that was locked up. "Wow you really did need this," Noire said forty minutes later as she finished the massage. "I can't believe I didn't even get one little yelp out of you."

"What you aren't a screamer are you," Tucker asked as he swapped places with Noire.

"Have you seen me fight," Noire asked, "What do you think?"

"Well you took that shocking from Zelen with out so much as a hiss so I'll guess not," Tucker said. "You're a moaner then?"

"Get to work and find out," Noire said as she lay down on the table. Noire was neither of Tucker's accusations, when it came to massages, Noire was a sleeper. As soon as Tuckers hands went to work on her back Noire was fast asleep. She woke up about an hour later to look up at the ceiling. "Huh I guess he managed to flip me over to finish the massage without waking me up, how thoughtful," Noire thought as she got up, "Now where is he?" A note on the door gave her the answer, it read:

"Noire, I finished your massage, but Yishi is back and she wants her massage, I'm heading over to her room to fill in for you, if you are reading this between 4 and 5 pm come on over and help out.

-Tucker

"Well I know what I'm doing," Noire stated as she checked the time. It was 4:05pm.