AN: Hello everyone who was insane enough to make it to the end. Yes that's right this is the last chapter of A Story of Kalathanon and is the set up for the start of the Chronicles of Dragon Company the next book in the series. CODC will be a bit different as it will consist of more short story type narratives with a focus on certain DC members before concluding and moving to another set of our DC friends. I hope you've enjoyed and hope you continue to enjoy the adventures that DC gets into.
-K
Chapter 72 Hard Boiled
Character Cole
"One thousand thirty three, one thousand thirty four, one thousand," Cole counted his pull ups as Delta watched.
"Okay man enough we get it," Baird said, "You are super strong thanks to the Lambent-Necromorph growth. That doesn't make it healthy."
"Well it sure don't make me no freaking undead," Cole yelled.
"Look Cole I'm just telling you what you look like when I pulse you with my Paladin abilities," Fenix said, "If this change has made you vulnerable to my abilities then I can't heal you with them. Instead they would harm you. We just need to know so nothing unfortunate happens."
Cole dropped down off the pull up bar and looked a Fenix, "Why don't you just try and heal me then? That will show you I am fine."
"Cole," Fenix started.
"Do it," Cole said as he spread his arms.
"Just go easy on him for a test," Sam said, "Shouldn't be that bad right?" Fenix sighed and fired a blue ball of energy at Cole. Cole grunted and flinched but shook off the light burning sensation as he straightened up.
"See no big..." Cole started but the looks of surprise and horror on his friends' faces stopped him. He looked at his arms and saw that all the way to the shoulders they were composed of bulging, pulsating Lambent-Necromorph flesh. After a moment of being stunned Cole focused on his arms and they returned to his normal looking arms, even the spikes had seemingly disappeared even though he could still feel them waiting to be called out.
"Cole," Anya stated.
"He still seems like Cole," Throon said, "He just has a different body. It seems to be a shape changing biomass that he now controls. I'd bet he could look like just about anything or anyone he wanted if he could figure out how to fully control the cells." The six were silent for a few seconds before Cole spoke up.
"Huh you know that does sound kinda useful," Cole said. "But is it just my arms that is this freaky stuff or is it all of me?"
"One way to find out," Dom said as he looked at Fenix.
"No, I'm not hitting Cole with a higher power pulse," Fenix said.
"Fenix I need to know what I am," Cole said as he put a hand on Fenix's shoulder. "We need to know, for Serra's sake."
"Ah... shit," Fenix sighed, "This will probably hurt then."
"Cole train can take whatever you throw at me baby," Cole said. "Hit me." Fenix did just that. The bolt that hit Cole this time was three times the size of the last one and it sent Cole into the wall behind him. Cole got up with smoke coming off of him and feeling like he was on fire. A moment later however his entire body rippled with the Lambent-Necromorph cells and the pain went away.
"Oh my God," Baird remarked. "Cole you need to look in a mirror."
"What why," Cole asked, "I am not some freak am I?"
"No you look like you did back in your Thrash Ball days," Anya said, "It's like your entire body is regenerating."
"Not regenerating," Throon said, "We saw this with Lambent infected creatures from time to time. Cole is evolving, adapting, he is learning how to control the Lambent cells in his body and now those cells can control dead cells thanks to the adaption he got from absorbing those Necromorph spikes... We never really understood how it worked but somehow the spirit of whatever learned to control the cells seemed to live on through any one of those cells and it could regrow, regenerate and adapt to just about anything in it's way. A few of our scientists did harness parts of the genetic modification to infuse the generals like me and our pets with the enhancements that we have. My regeneration is adapted from the ability you just demonstrated to us."
"Can you say that again but in a way I understand it," Cole asked.
"Basically you are still Cole," Anya paraphrased, "but you can also manipulate your cells to appear like anything or adapt to any situation."
"Close enough," Throon said.
"So what you're saying is only Cole gets to look like he did when he was twenty," Sam said.
"Haha now you're speaking my language," Cole said, "I can handle this freaky blargness if it means I look good."
"Even with that we should see about getting someone sciency in DC to take a look at you," Fenix said, "If you do get hurt we won't know how to help you with this new whatever it is."
"Yeah okay but who would we get," Cole asked.
"K might know about this since he can shape shift and has regenerative powers," Dom said.
"Let's go find him then," Fenix said. With that Delta headed out of the gym on the Pestilence to search for K. It didn't take them long since Doug gave them directions.
"You know after thirty years you would think I'd get used to Doug being everywhere," Baird said.
"Only on this ship and the Ark," Doug said, "It is a privacy matter. People do not like being monitored every second of their lives... well except for Arizona."
"How do you two work anyway," Cole asked.
"A story for another time perhaps," Doug replied, "K is just outside getting the report from Jinx about your exploits on Tamriel."
"Ha that was something," Throon said, "At least Serra has an alliance with another planet now and we've got plenty of resources. I suppose that is partly why we are so interested in Cole's abilities. If they are harmful in the long run we want to keep it from our new ally."
"Very true," Doug said as the team was about to leave the Pestilence, "One more thing before you go. Cole, your biological composition is not Lambent or Necromorph or anything else I have ever come across. You are something... more."
"I know I'm more baby," Cole said as he stepped out of the ship and onto Remnant where K was waiting for them and Jinx was washing her ears.
"Ah now that is new," K remarked as soon as he saw Cole. "I knew about the Lambent and Necromorph, 'upgrades' but, you are now something truly interesting. A single consciousness controlling a body of infinitely programmable matter..."
"K slow down what are you talking about," Anya asked.
"Cole of course," K said, "Don't worry he is still him but with a body that might have more abilities than mine."
"What," Cole asked, "What do you mean?"
"I mean you are only in that form because you choose to be in it," K said, "It looks like the Lambent and Necromorph cells have merged and grown throughout your entire body to the point that you exist within a fully programmable frame that is controlled by your thoughts and the amount of other bio-mass you add to yourself."
"K while we are glad you are not the Doctor right now I don't think any of us understood that," Baird said.
"No he's right we didn't," Sam added.
"Maybe it will be easier to show you," K said. With a growl K seemed to split into two halves which both became a 'human' version of K. One of the forms grabbed Cole's arm while the other one spoke. "Absorb me."
"K I think you've finally lost it," Dom said.
"I lost it long before this universe was made but that is another conversation entirely," K replied, "Right now Cole needs to consume that extra body."
"How," Cole asked.
"Same way you integrated those spikes into your body," K replied, "Don't think about it just let it happen."
"Won't that hurt you," Cole asked.
"Oh sure for the few seconds that it will take to eat that form," K said. "I've been through way worse, now go on."
Cole looked to his squad. Baird shrugged Fenix nodded and the rest looked apprehensive. Cole sighed and a moment later the spike arms were back and the K form that was holding onto Cole was briefly covered with the Lambent-Necromorph looking cells before is dissolved into Cole. While Cole didn't look any bigger he could feel that he had gotten denser as he reformed his arms again.
"See that wasn't so hard," K said, "And now you have twice the mass you previously did. With it being programmable I'd bet you could alter it to become just about anything, try an arm blade or something."
"Like your soul blades," Cole asked.
"Well more physical than that but yes," K said.
Cole shrugged and made a fist. While his hand didn't sprout a sword it did get much bigger and became as hard as steel. Cole jumped into the air to do a ground pound but found that he had jumped almost sixty feet into the air. "What the... ah screw it stick to the plan," Cole thought as he plummeted back to the ground. With a shout he preformed the ground pound without taking even the slightest strain on his body. It was as if his body became whatever it needed to be for the situation it was in. The ground underneath Cole was cracked and depressed where his fist had impacted it.
"See extra mass," K said, "I'd bet you could probably absorb just about anything organic. That said until you figure out exactly what triggers you to consume something I'd be hesitant about touching your friends."
"Oh I think I've got that one figured out," Cole said, "For now though I need to experiment with this body. Like if I can focus the extra mass can I also extend it?" Cole flung his arm towards a roof and it extended out towards the roof. Cole was able to reach out about twenty feet from him with the extended arm but it quickly returned to him once it reached out as far as it could go.
"Incredible," Throon remarked, "If my kind had figured out this side of Lambent we may have won the war."
"It doesn't seem to be something that Lambent does," K said, "Neither does it seem to be a Necromorph trait. It is something to do with those two genetic codes being brought together inside Cole like they were... It actually looks like Cole is the only one of you all who could have discovered this as his genes are still the dominant ones in his body. Were any of you to have replicated his feat the Necromorph flesh would have been rejected."
"So what I am hearing is that Cole is a one of a kind then," Fenix said, "Cole how about a Thrashball game to test this new you?"
"Oh ho you're on," Cole said.
"As much fun as I'm sure you would have beating your squad mates I doubt that it would really test your abilities," K said, "I would recommend a sparing match."
"Against who," Cole asked, "I could really hurt someone with these." Cole raised his massive fist as an example.
"Me," K said he then vanished in a cloud of vapor and appeared as three different Ks that were surrounding Cole.
"K," Fenix shouted. Cole raised his arms to block K's strikes and was surprised when two large, spiky, shields formed from his arms. Cole pushed the three Ks back and then struck back at him. Cole's arms changed into the bulging Lambent-Necromorph limbs with the spikes on them and this time Cole discovered he could shoot the spikes out on his arms like he had done when trying to reach the top of the building across the street.
"There you go," K said, "Improvise." K then resumed his attack. It was more like a systematic testing of how Cole's body could react to new threats and opportunities but Cole still felt like getting hit by K would really hurt so he stayed out of the Leviathan's way as much as he could and used the shield arms when he couldn't. Over the next fifteen minutes Cole discovered he could also use blade arms, massive claws, he could detach sections of himself to cause an explosion of tendrils that would reach out of a host and pull anything and everything around him towards the host. Cole also discovered he was almost completely bullet proof was seemingly immune to damage from falling could glide through the air for a brief period of time and that he was much stronger than before.
"Okay I think we've covered most everything," K said after Cole finished bisecting another of K's clones.
"I'm not even sweating," Cole remarked.
"That is bloody amazing," Sam stated. Delta had watched the entire fight and all of them looked impressed.
"You may not be tired," K said, "But I am a little tired of being sliced, diced and exploded. Each of those copies is me and I feel everything that happens to them."
"What, oh, oh man, blag K why didn't you say something," Cole exclaimed, "I wouldn't have ripped your head off or done several of the more violent executions on those clones had I known that!"
"Which is why I didn't tell you," K said, "We needed to see what you could do. Don't beat yourself up over it, it's part of my job."
"What is your job exactly," Throon asked.
"Protect Dragon Company," K replied, "Lead you all and teach you as best I can..."
"Well we're all still here so you've done good a good job so far," Baird said, "I can't complain."
"Are you kidding," Cole said, "All you do is complain."
"I do not," Baird said.
"This is broken, that is broken fix this Baird, why can't Fenix be a paladin of mechanical issues," Cole said as he impersonated his friend.
"Hey those are legitimate," Baird said, "And it would be nice if I could just shoot a bolt of energy at something and it would be fixed."
"That would be nice," K said.
"Wait isn't that how you fix things," Dom asked.
"I still have to know how the thing I am fixing goes together, otherwise I am just throwing mass around," K said. "You know the Freelancers are heading out to Avalar soon with one of the teams that Roman and the Riders picked up on their away mission. You all should join us, we are getting Charolite back and possibly fighting the Magog-Cinder so..."
"We're in," Fenix said, "Just tell us where to meet."
"The Invention," K said, "I'll call you and let you know when the other team arrives."
"Okay we will see you there," Anya said.
"Now that will be a good test," Cole said as his arms reforged into their normal state. "I'm betting I can take down a Magog, maybe even absorb it."
"Maybe you can out eat Grif now," Dom remarked causing Delta to laugh as they headed towards the Invention.
Character Juliet Starling
The ski resort was the first sign of habitation that Juliet and Nick had seen since arriving on this Dead Earth. How the two ended up where they were was anyone's guess as neither of the two teenage lovers could explain how they could be in Juliet's kitchen with her mother one minute and the next minute be in a field and surrounded by zombies. Not the fun kind of zombies either these were just plain old slow zombies. The encounter was no problem for the two zombie hunters neither was the second or the seventeenth but by now Juliet and Nick were starting to get a little worried as their phones were not working and there was no one around to give them directions or even just tell them where they were.
"Hey we should probably put our weapons away in case these people are you know not zombies," Nick said.
"Well if they are not zombies then we can just talk to them," Juliet reasoned, "besides where am I going to hid my chainsaw? My cheerleader outfit doesn't really have room for it you know."
"Yeah good point," Nick said as the two stood on the porch of the resort.
"I mean it's not like I have a slick jacket with pistols, knives and electrified nightsticks like you," Juliet continued, "Which by the way looks totally hot on your new body. Not that your old body wasn't hot just saying that this one is too."
"Ahem," A voice interrupted the two. "Hello can I help you?" Juliet and Nick turned to see a girl standing in the door way. She seemed normal enough, except for the ghost arm and the skeletons that were following her. "A chainsaw? You know noise draws the walkers to you right?"
Juliet and Nick looked between each other then back to the girl. "Oh yeah totally know that," Juliet said, "it makes them easier to hunt if they come to us. I'm Juliet and this is Nick. We are maybe kinda sorta lost so do you know where we are?"
"I don't," the girl replied, "But the others might know. Come on in, I'm Charolite. Please don't mind the arm, I won't be turning into a zombie anytime soon."
"Trust me your arm is one of the less strange things I've seen in the past six months," Nick said, "It ranks about twelve in the list right now."
"In that case you have my sympathy," Char said as she led the two into the resort and up the stairs to the main floor, "Whatever you two have been through must have been pretty hellish. You've also caught us at an interesting time. My group just got here last night and we've already been attacked. We are questioning a couple of hostages from the attack right now. That is where most of the others are. It's just me and Clem here at the resort right now so feel free to take a seat and we've got food and water if you want any."
"Do you have any lollipops," Juliet asked.
"Lollipops," another girl asked.
"Clementine this is Juliet and Nick," Char said as she introduced the three. "They are lost."
"Where are you looking to get to," Clem asked.
"Well we live in California for starters," Nick said.
"Oh um, you are more than a little lost then," Clementine said, "you are in north east Kentucky."
"Kentucky," Juliet thought, "I've always wanted to go there, mostly for the horses though."
"Kentucky," Nick stated, "Juliet are you sure we are on a different Earth, maybe we could get home and..."
"Wait you two are from another Earth," Clem asked.
"Yeah the zombies on our Earth are much more interesting," Juliet said, "Not that I want these ones to be more challenging or anything but they don't even talk. What is the point of zombies if they can't make witty one liners when I chop their heads off?"
"I'm from a different Earth too," Char said. "I got pulled here by a rift portal. I assume the same happened to you two?"
"That would explain a lot," Nick stated.
"No actually it doesn't," Char said, "We have no idea why the portals are opening or when they are opening... I was pulled in here a couple of years ago."
"A couple of years..." Juliet thought, "Okay okay don't freak out just yet we are not entirely sure we are going to be stuck here for that long... Stay positive!" "Oh wow that must be terrible for you. So does anyone know you are here?"
"Yes, the company I was with when I found the rift knows," Char said, "In fact someone who is working with them is already here and is with the rest of the group right now."
"Well that is good," Nick remarked.
"She also said that our worst enemy is hunting us down on this planet," Clem added, "And it is a demon lord."
"Demon lord huh," Juliet asked, "Well we may know a thing or two about fighting those. Back home we stopped an undead demon invasion about six months ago. That was a fun birthday!"
"You are a... very positive person considering what you've just found yourself in," Clem said.
"Yeah she does that," Nick said, "I'm more like a realist but her upbeat spirit is infectious."
"We could use some of that," Char said. The door opening behind the four cut off the conversation as the rest of Char and Clem's group got back. The rest of the group was an odd assortment of people but the one that drew Juliet's attention was the woman in red with the large bone mask headdress thing.
"More guests I see," a balding man said as he walked up to the four. "I'm Walter, this is our lodge."
"It's quite a nice place," Nick said. "I take it you found it like this?"
"Mostly yes," Walter said, "Me and Matthews over there had to get the power running but this place was relatively intact when we found it."
"That was fortunate," Juliet said as her eyes followed the masked woman. "She looks more like a warrior than any of you here. Is she the one from your company?"
"Dragon Company you mean," the woman said as she diverted from her path to a chair to the group, "I am affiliated with them yes. You two also look ready for battle I assume you found yourselves here on accident much like Charolite?"
"Yes Ma'am," Nick said.
"How long ago," the woman asked.
"Raven what does it matter they need our help," Clem said.
"It matters because if the rift was recent then DC could lock onto the main rift and stabilize it," Raven said, "Then we could move back and forth through it without an issue. Of course then the Magog could use it as well."
"That is the demon you guys are fighting isn't it," Juliet asked as she hefted her chainsaw onto her shoulder. "Nick and I have killed plenty of demons that thought they were unkillable. I'll bet we can take this one too."
"Okay can someone please explain what is going on here," a man with a brown mop of hair asked.
"Right sorry Luke," Char said, "Let me start from the beginning. Almost four years ago I was warped here by a rift across space and time. I was on a space station, the Ark, with a group called Dragon Company. Raven here is..."
"I have relatives in DC," Raven interjected.
"Right so she is helping to keep us safe until DC can come get me and that can only be through a rift like the one I came through. If Juliet and Nick came here through a rift then that means it is open and DC can stabilize it for travel."
"This DC could actually show up sometime soon," a man with a big beard asked. "You know even after we got separated I still remembered your stories of DC... how do you know they haven't given up?"
"Because for them it has only been a few weeks since I disappeared," Char said.
"Char, I can go too right," Clem asked.
"Of course you can," Char said.
"I still do not understand the talk about a demon, what demon," the man that Char called Luke asked.
Juliet looked out the window as Nick tugged on her shoulder and pointed. A woman in a black and red dress, long, black hair and burning eyes was approaching the resort. Behind her an army of the undead was flowing out of the trees and her feet lit the ground ablaze as she moved.
"Probably that one," Juliet said as she pointed to the front of the lodge.
"Everyone out the back now," Raven ordered.
"Nah," Juliet replied as she fired up her chainsaw, "You said that thing can go through the rift if your DC comes through it right?"
"Yes but we need them to," Raven started.
"Bored," Juliet said, "It's a demon, if it bleeds I can kill it."
"It bleeds lava," Raven hissed.
"Key word there is bleed not blood," Nick said, "I think we're fighting it."
"We can't fight that thing," Luke said, "You all might be able to but the rest of us need to get out now."
"I'm staying," Char said.
"Me too," Clem added.
"Matthews take them down the back path you use to scout the area," Walter said, "Kenny..."
"If Char and Clem are staying I am staying," Kenny said as he picked up a rifle.
"Kenny please," an Indian woman said.
"I'll be fine Sarita," Kenny said, "Go with the others. Walter and I will come find you once we are done here."
"Hurry," Nick said, "the demon looks like it is planning on burning the resort down."
"She won't," Char said, "Not while I am inside. She needs me alive to lure DC into this world."
"Carlos get everyone else out of here," Luke said, "Nick, Pete, will you help me defend Char and Clem?"
"I'm right here," Nick said.
"Of course I will," a man in a red cap said.
"Oh there are two Nicks," Juliet remarked, "How cool and maybe a little confusing."
"That could be a problem," the man that must have been Pete said as he and the other Nick came to stand with Walter, Kenny, Luke, Raven, Char, Clem, Nick and Juliet.
"We can just call you hat Nick," Juliet said to the other Nick.
"This is foolishness," Raven said, "Taking on a full Magog without any sort of backup is stupid."
"We weren't here a few minutes ago," Juliet said, "We are your back up, now it's time for a great plan. Step one, distract the target, that will be me and my Nick. Step two, clear out it's minions, that can be you guys with the guns, just don't shoot us. Step three get in close and cut off the demon's head as many times as we need to, to kill it."
"How many times will that be," Raven asked.
"Well the most I've had to do so far is maybe seven," Juliet said, "It is really annoying when they can just keep regrowing their heads. Okay everyone got it, good let's go!" Before anyone else had time to argue Juliet ran down the stairs and busted through the front door and charged at the demon and it's undead minions. Juliet's chainsaw met with the Magog-Cinder's hands and the two started fighting for dominance while Nick used his electrified batons to dispatch the zombies that were coming towards Juliet. Raven dashed in and upset the demon's balance giving Juliet the upper hand in their duel. Using her new found leverage, Juliet managed to knock the Magog back and land a glancing blow across it's back. A bullet from one of the men on the rifles caught the Magog in the shoulder as it was recovering which knocked it back into Juliet's range. She revved her chainsaw and delivered a massive blow across the Magog-Cinder's chest but the demon managed to block in time to only be thrown back instead of bisected. A stunning hit from Nick's batons as he continued to keep the zombies off of Juliet threw the Magog into Char who punched her spectral hand into the Magog's chest.
"You're mine now," Char stated before an explosion of molten blood gushed out of the Magog's body and Char had it's heart in her spectral hand. The Magog-Cinder screeched as waves of fire started pouring off of it. Juliet easily jumped over the fire as did Nick, Char was being protected from the waves thanks to a shield she had around her and Clem, Raven would duck into a portal whenever a wave would pass her and the guys on the guns simply retreated out of the range of the wire waves.
"Ha, ha ha ha," Magog laughed, "I no longer need that prison of a body anymore. Behold the true nature of sin!" In an explosion that knocked Juliet and the rest to the ground the Magog transformed into a massive, twisted creature of metal skin, spiky tentacles, clawed limbs and wings, a massive head filled with teeth and a tail that looked more like a spiked roller, even resting on the ground as it was the tail was making holes in the earth. Juliet pushed herself off of the ground and back flipped out of the way of the Magog's massive hand crashing down on her. She landed next to Nick who had also dodged a strike from the demon's wing.
"Nick, give me a boost," Juliet said.
"Got it," Nick answered as he lowered himself so Juliet could stand on his hands. Nick heaved her into the air and Juliet used his extra force to jump onto the arm of the Magog.
"Insolent bitch," Magog roared as it brought it's other hand over to squash Juliet. Juliet slid under the hand and cut it in half as she passed below it and continued on to the head. The Magog roared as it's hand was reformed in a burst of fire. It was about to attack Juliet again when the ring of gun fire resumed, indicating that their friends on the ground were back in the action. Juliet caught a glimpse of Raven as the mysterious woman climbed up the Magog's back. The two of them met at the head of the Magog.
"I'll admit I'm impressed you made it up here," Raven said as the two met and ducked around the Magog's head to avoid a fist that was three times the size of them.
"I was going to say the same," Juliet said with a smile, "Now let's kill this thing."
Raven looked at Juliet with a mixed set of emotions on her face before mirroring Juliet's smile and saying, "Okay, how?"
"Well your sword is nice and long," Juliet said as she eyed the massive sword, "How much force would you need to be able to cut through this thing's neck?"
"Whatever this thing's skin is made of deflects my blade relatively efficiently," Raven said as the two ducked under another strike from the Magog. "It would have to be a lot of force. Your chainsaw seemed to go through this demon's armor just fine."
"That is one nice thing about a chainsaw," Juliet remarked, "I could use a longer edge on it though, this thing's neck is thick and once we start cutting it won't let up on trying to turn us into pancakes with those fists."
"I might not be able to cut it but I can deflect it's attacks," Raven said as she readied her sword and demonstrated her words on an incoming fist.
Juliet watched as the strike the Magog had directed at them was redirected into it's jaw by Raven. With a smile Juliet revved up her chainsaw and plunged it into the Magog's neck. The Magog bucked and reared in it's attempts to throw the two off of it but this was where it's size was not helping it. It was so large that the two always had something to hold onto when it was trying to throw them off and Raven was able to keep it's fists off of Juliet as she worked to cut through the demon's neck.
"Wow this thing is a pain to cut off, it's just so thick," Juliet thought as she finished her first cut and realized she would have to make another cut to remove the head. "Better do this quick before that fire busts out and repairs it." Juliet went in again with the chainsaw and worked her way around and down the other side of the Magog's neck, finally severing the head from the body. The head fell to the ground where it roared and snapped at everything it was close to while the body started to dissolve as it fell.
"This isn't over," Magog hissed as Juliet and Raven walked over to the head once they got back down to the ground.
"What is it with you and severed heads," Nick asked.
"It's kind of my thing," Juliet replied, "It worked out alright for you."
"I will kill you all," Magog thundered as it's neck slowly started regrowing it's body.
"I don't think so," Clem said as she walked right up to the Magog and put a bullet into one of it's eyes. "Your anger is hot but my rage is cold and enduring. I quench yours in mine and you become mine." The Magog head started sputtering and little jets of fire started to shoot out from it's eye where the bullet went in as Clem walked away. A moment later and the head was engulfed in flames then it exploded in a cascade of snow and ice.
"That looked awesome," Juliet said, "I give it a ten."
"I... uh thanks," Clem said as she sat on the steps to the resort. "Char is it dead?"
"As much as I would like to say it is," Char started.
"It has to be dead," Kenny interrupted, "We just saw it dissolve."
"We saw a body that it was using dissolve, yes," Char said, "That Magog is not something that can be killed only driven back. It will move to another host and come after us again."
"Bring it on," hat Nick said, "we can take it."
"Let's not push our luck," Pete said.
"You said it could move to another host," Juliet said, "How does that work?"
"From what I understand if there is a person that is either evil enough or easily persuaded the Magog can join forces with them and regenerate itself. Cinder was the last one to have joined forces with it and it seemed she did so as a joint venture."
"And you would be correct," the Magog's voice said as it walked back up to the group from the direction of the team that went away from the resort. Everyone turned to see a man in a leather jacket come strolling up to them.
"One of the raiders," Raven stated, "Of course. I take it you already killed the others then?"
"Don't be foolish, any one of them would make a perfect host for us," Magog replied, "After all Cinder and I are on a schedule and we intend to keep it. To that end you all must." A shotgun firing cut the Magog off as it's face was obliterated. Juliet looked over at Kenny who had fired the gun.
"We need to get to the others now," Kenny stated as he started moving after the other group. "Are you two coming with us or what?"
"We don't have anywhere else to go and we don't know anyone else here," Nick said, "I think we will stay with you all."
"We are glad to have you," Walter said, "Especially now that a demon is after us."
"Happy to help," Juliet said with a smile. A few minutes later and the two groups had rejoined and were now following the remaining survivor of some raid attempt on the resort back to his main base.
Character Moroni
"Roman, it's good to have you back," M said as the leader of RAIM came in with his new friends.
"M, you all missed out on the fun," Roman said, "Neo!"
"Hi Roman," Neo stated as she looked up from where she was sitting at the space port in Atlas.
"I take it you know each other," a scarred man said as he and a crew of about eleven moved out past Roman.
"Yeah Hox we do," Roman replied, "You all go on and find K. We will catch up."
"Right," Hox said as the group moved out.
"So are we partners or enemies today," Neo asked bluntly.
"We are acquaintances," Roman said after a pause, "I thought Raven got you?"
"She did," Neo stated, "Fortunately she and her family are quite forgiving it seems."
"Ah so this is Remnant," a man that looked a lot like a punk version of K said.
"Yes Knarf this is Remnant," Arya said as she and the Riders disembarked from the ship that brought them in from the Ark. "Max come on tell us what you think." A young lady and what looked to be her three friends followed the Riders out and looked around.
"I see you picked up quite a lot of people," Adam said as he and Imhotep came over.
"We did," Roman said, "But they all have potential. Some of them already have... abilities. Like rewinding segments of time."
"Wow," Max remarked as she looked around the open space port. "It's such a blend of technology and nature." She then quickly got out a camera and started taking pictures.
"Interesting talent," Imhotep remarked.
"I'm sure we can get to know them later," Moroni said, "Roman, we have a shot at the Magog-Cinder are you coming?"
"Of course and Rewind Inc there is coming with us," Roman said as he indicated the four young adults.
"Oh the one with the blue hair looks like fun," Neo remarked. "M can you try out blue hair?"
"Why would I want to do that," Moroni asked.
"Because it might look good on you," Neo replied, "Maybe some blue on the wings too..."
"You are not giving me a make over," Moroni said with a laugh.
"Laughter... from you," Roman asked as he looked between Neo and Moroni.
"Someone likes the little lady," Knarf remarked. "You all are Roman's friends then?"
"We are his team," Adam said, "Friends might be pushing it a little far."
"Hello I'm Rachel," one of the new girls said as she walked over and extended her hand to the group.
"Neo," Neo said as she took the offered hand, "I take it you are with the other three there?"
"And with Knarf but yes, Chloe, Max and Warren are all part of Rewind Inc with me," Rachel said, "So what have we gotten into? We did fight a massive demon back home so I figure there will be more where that came from."
"That there will be," Moroni said, "And it seems Roman has volunteered you and your friends to come with us to take out one of the biggest demons of them all."
"Sounds problematic," Rachel remarked, "Why bring all of us, I'm sure that other than Max our skills won't be of any use against this demon."
"One I don't even know what your skills are," Roman said, "So this will be like a test run. Two if you all are there then that will give Max more motivation. I'll admit it's a nasty trick but it's one that works."
"Us being in danger does seem to get Max to actually start wrecking shop," Rachel said after a moment, "I understand, just don't tell the others because they will not take kindly to that attitude."
"Hey Rachel do these guys know where we need to go around here," the girl with the blue hair said.
"You four are with us," Roman said, "We can all just wait here for the trip to the Invention. That will be the ship that takes us to our target. Speaking of that when will we be leaving?"
"In an hour now that you are are here," Moroni said, "K is finishing up some arrangement with his brother to trap this Magog-Cinder for good."
"Well then we can go look around for a bit," Rachel said, "Anyone want to give us a tour?"
"Follow me," Adam said as he and Imhotep started to move off towards the main part of Atlas.
"M, let us know when we need to get back here," Roman said, "I've got my scroll you can contact me on that."
"I will," Moroni said as he and Neo waved to the departing group.
"Oh thank God Roman wasn't mad at me," Neo sighed as she leaned into Moroni's side. "I was sure he would be pissed off about our last mission, since we failed it and all."
"He probably doesn't know how to feel about you being back just yet," M replied as he placed one of his large hands on Neo's head and patted her. "After all he thought you were dead."
"True that may be a benefit from being captured by Raven," Neo said. "She really wasn't that bad to me. We even became friends after a while... I hope she is okay wherever she is."
"I'm sure she is fine, from your description of her Raven is more than capable of handling herself," M said, "Come on now Neo cheer up. You know I hate to see you moping like this. Is there anything I can do to help?"
"You already are," Neo said as she relaxed against Moroni's side. "M... have you ever, loved someone?"
"In what way," Moroni asked, "In a spouse sort of way or a friendship type of love?"
"I, I don't know," Neo said, "I just know I don't want to be without you. Ever since we met you've been kind and supportive and caring … all the things that the other people in my life never were."
"She does love me," Moroni though, "I... this is. Well I suppose I should have seen this possibility. The question now is do I return that love? Is Neo the one?"
"M are you even listening anymore," Neo asked as she looked up at him. Moroni caught the shining of tears in her eyes. Despite this she couldn't help but smile as she said. "Oh you were lost in thought again weren't you?"
"Why do you cry," Moroni asked.
"Because I don't know what to feel anymore," Neo replied. That response was Moroni's answer.
"I do," Moroni said, "I know what you are feeling and why. You've never had anyone in your life that cared for you because of you. Not until Raven at least. She was the first one to show you some kindness wasn't she. Then she gave you to us and I carried on that kindness. Neo I can promise you here and now that I will never stop caring for you and as long as we live I will do what I can to continue showing you the same kindness that I have been shown. Will you do the same for me?"
"M...," Neo whispered. "I don't really know if you are proposing marriage or a body guard service. Whatever it is though, I'd be a fool not to say yes."
"Well then," Moroni said as he knelt down put his hands on Neo's shoulders, "You and me, together, let's take on the universe."
"I like the sound of that," Neo said as she rested her arms across the crook in M's elbows.
"Meow chicka, meow-chicka-meow-meow," Noire said as she and Tucker came up to the two.
"Looks like love is in the air," Tucker added, "Or it will be with those sick wings right M? So it's Neo right?"
"Yeah," Neo said with a sigh as she and Moroni turned to face the other couple. "And you are Tucker and Noire if I remember correctly."
"You do," Noire confirmed with a smile, "So other than confessing your undying love for each other what are you doing out here?"
"Waiting on the call to head out," Moroni said. He made it a point not to dismiss Noire's quip about the undying love. A decision that Neo apparently picked up on.
"Hold it," Neo said as she waved her hand at Tucker cutting him off. "You didn't dispute the undying love bit, M. Is that what you were trying to do with that monologue?"
"I... was trying to comfort you," Moroni started.
"Oh you," Neo interrupted, "That was the least romantic way possible to say I love you. Just when I thought you and I couldn't be more alike."
"You two are quite cute together," Noire commented.
"All DC members please report to the nearest space transit platform," K's voice echoed through the communication systems across Remnant.
"Wow, that is loud," Neo remarked, "K may be the only person to have had his voice broadcast across the planet like that."
"That had to be Arie's doing," Tucker said, "I doubt that the Councils would let K have that sort of control over the communication systems."
"We're back," Knarf said as the rest of RAIM and Rewind Inc returned, "Come on let's go kill another demon and save your friend."
"Knowing Charolite like I do," Moroni said as the groups entered the Invention, "I'd be surprised if she hasn't already gotten a team together and was fighting the Magog right now."
"She's your student right," Neo said.
"Something like that," Moroni replied, "We didn't have the best relationship at first you know... How long will it take to get to her?"
"K is going to be using the Doctor's TARDIS and Storm to warp us all to Avalar," Adam said, "We should..." The Invention rattling and shaking like it was a drink mixer interrupted everyone as they simply tried to stay upright. When the shaking stopped a minute later the Doctor's voice echoed across the communication systems.
"Ha ha, DC welcome back to Avalar," The Doctor exclaimed, "To your left you will see a magnificent portal that will take us to one of our own and our worst enemy. Doug, after you."
"K must really have brought everyone," Imhotep remarked.
"Once we are on the other side of that rift I will be able to lock onto Charolite's location," Moroni said.
"Commencing rift travel in three," Church said though the ship's comms.
"This is crazy," Chloe stated.
"Welcome to DC," Roman said.
"We are through," Moroni announced as he felt Charolite's soul echo from the planet below them. It was different though, augmented, necromantic? "Hmm I know I didn't teach Char any necromancy, so why does she have that ability?"
"You can teach people to be necromancers," Neo asked, "Neo the Necro... I like the sound of that."
"Ha your set of talents do not line up with those of a necromancer," Moroni said as the Invention shifted it's course and brought them in for a fly over above the planet. "We should get to some Pelicans so we can get to the surface without having the Invention land. Outside the window the Unity, piloted by Coco, flew past them while doing a front flip.
"So please say we never have to get on that ship," Warren remarked.
"Ever," Knarf added as the group headed for the Pelican bays.
They got in a Pelican and were planet side in just under ten minutes. Moroni was able to guide them right to Charolite so they exited to see Charolite and surprisingly Raven along with a fair amount of other people.
"Charolite," Moroni greeted.
"M," Charolite replied as she a brown skinned girl, Raven, a man with a large beard and a young man with brown hair stepped forward from the group of about twenty people that were gathered around a large gate to a warehouse. "You did come."
"Char is this Dragon Company," the brown skinned girl asked.
"Yes Clem, yes they are," Char said.
The sound a chainsaw revving up and someone yelling 'boo-yeah' interrupted the reunion. Moroni turned towards the noise to see a tall, teenage girl with blond hair and a shorter teenage boy come jumping over the fence and sprinting towards the group.
"Guys get to cover that demon is back," The boy yelled as the two slid behind a wall and a fireball erupted against it.
"Magog," Moroni stated.
"Yes," Raven acknowledged, "You all showed up just in time it seems. Unless K has some way to trap this thing though..."
"We've got connections," Moroni said, "We just need to weaken this thing. Rewind Inc and Knarf stay here and protect the people. RAIM, Neo, with me. Char do you want to..."
"Ready," Char said as a red orb appeared in her hand.
"Same," the girl that Char had called Clem added as she leveled a pistol. "I feel like putting another bullet into that thing's head anyway."
"Luke, Kenny get everyone inside," Char said, "Wait for us to signal before you come back out."
"Will do," the bearded man and the young man both said before they moved with Rewind Inc to get everyone else inside the warehouse.
"Imhotep," Roman said, "Take us over these walls." Imhotep smiled as he raised his hands into the air, using his powers to lift the team up over the wall so they could see the Magog-Cinder.
"Welcome DC," Magog-Cinder started but a bullet from Clem shut the demon up.
"Neo, defense," Roman said as the leader of RAIM started taking charge. Neo used her parasol to deflect the incoming fireballs. "Adam, M, move in and start cutting this thing into manageable chunks.
"Not without me," Charolite said as she climbed on Moroni's back. "Okay let's kill it." Roman added fireballs of his own to the mix as Moroni and Adam jumped down to engage the Magog-Cinder. Clem was still firing her pistol at opportune times and her shots seemed to slow the Magog down. Char's attacks with the destruction orbs also staggered the Magog-Cinder. All of this allowed Moroni and Adam to get in close and land several crushing blows with their weapons which disrupted the Magog's constant stream of fire that it was directing towards where the two teens had taken refuge behind the wall.
"Juliet, Nice come on out and have a go at the Magog now," Char yelled as the Magog was knocked across the parking lot that was out front of the fortified warehouse.
"Ah, enough," Magog-Cinder exclaimed as it got up, "Rise my minions!" From the ground rise an army of undead and many more were starting to wander in from the forest that was across the street.
"We've got these," Juliet said as she and Nick came out from behind the wall and plowed a path through the zombies to the Magog-Cinder.
Magog-Cinder launched a point blank range fire ball at the approaching group but Neo dropped down and deflected it with her parasol before knocking the Magog off of it's feet and then pinning it to the ground with her sword.
"Now M," Neo yelled over the roar of Juliet's chainsaw.
"Already on it," Moroni replied while he sent a mental message to K, C, Lucifer, Mamon, Asteroth, Moloch, and Baal to let them know to come get the Magog. Lucifer's response was almost instantaneous. His massive hand reached up out of the earth and enveloped the Magog before both it and the demon disappeared.
"Locked away," Lucifer thought back a few moments later, "Good work, good work indeed. There are more where that came from though and I and mine will keep you all updated on their appearances. God Bless."
"And to you old partner," Moroni thought back before he returned to the present and was hugged by Neo.
"Ha wow that didn't take much," Neo remarked.
"We had been wearing that Magog down for a while," Roman clarified, "Char and her team just seemed to have been the last straw and we got here just in time."
"Apparently I missed quite a bit," Char said, "Since when did you hug anyone M?"
"Since I found Neo," Moroni said. "I suppose it is over for now."
"That it is," K said as M's oldest friend appeared beside him, "A lot of DC is now clearing out the undead on this world, I'm thinking you and I could stay here for a bit and heal the planet. If you are up to that."
"Healing a planet sounds amazing," Neo remarked, "M?"
"Okay," Moroni said, "Let's do this."
Character Kalathanon
"So," Lucifer asked K as the two locked away the Magog-Cinder in the depths of Hell. "You have the entire company together again and you have a planet that accepts you as their own. What will you do now?"
"Continue leading DC of course," K replied, "There will be other Magogs and we know now that even a small team of DC members can take one out as long as you and the other Wardens are able to capture it when it is weak. I assume we will probably work more like a main hub of various operational units, Delta, Halo Company, Bad Co, RWBY, the crew of the Executioner etc. etc."
"That seems practical," Lucifer remarked, "Each group that goes out will be able to choose their partners to best suit their situations. What of you though?"
"Well I'm sure I won't just be sitting back in a meeting room all the time," K said, "But the story is now about Dragon Company not me. I may have been the catalyst but they are the real heroes. It's their story as much as mine or yours... and their story is just beginning."