Athena pulled herself into the clocktower through the wooden hatch door before helping Elisa in. Elisa had a headset in her hand for Lexington. Goliath and Lexington walked down to meet them.
"You're in luck, Lexington. Matt just got the call," Elisa tossed the headset and Lexington catches it before putting it on.
"Are they testing it out?" Lexington asked, excited.
"That's right," Elisa nodded.
"Excellent!"
"Testing?" Goliath asked.
"It's called 'RECAP', father," Athena explained as she and Elisa placed earpieces in their ears, " 'Reconnaissance Emergency Cyber-Automated Probe'. It's just a machine we use for dealing with high-risk situations."
"'Just a machine"? Huh! Just the latest in robotics technology hooked to virtual reality," Lexington said.
"Virtual reality?" Goliath asked, confused by what Lexington said.
"The next best thing to being there. Come on," Elisa said before she and Athena went down the ladder through the wooden hatch.
Outside the Golden Cup building, police cruisers, ambulances, and other emergency vehicles gathered near the front entrance. Medics gathered up all the staff that the police managed to successfully evacuate, loading the injured into the back of the ambulances. Within minutes, everybody was evacuated. Athena, Elisa, and Matt, along with the rest of the Manhattan police force, stayed behind to finish their job.
Across from the Golden Cup building, Goliath and Lexington watched from atop the roof. Matt stood by one of the large police vans, taking a large remote control in his hands and placing the connected visor onto his face. Elisa and Athena watch him with a hint of worry in their eyes.
"Are you sure you know what you're doing?" Elisa asked.
"I didn't spend six months reading instruction manuals for nothing," Matt retorted playfully.
Matt began to maneuver the RECAP robot, that resembled a miniaturized Mars Rover.
"Besides, it's simple," Matt continued, "The virtual reality hookup transmits directly to this visor. I see everything RECAP does."
"I just hope you handle that vacuum cleaner better than a squad car," Athena teased him.
"How would you know? You never let me drive," Matt used the remote control to move RECAP out of the truck and up to the main door of the building. Athena quickly muttered a spell that would allow her to see what Matt is seeing through the visor.
Through RECAP's camera, Matt could see the deserted hallways, as well as the carnage wrought by the as-of-yet unseen intruder. He sent RECAP to the Server Room and saw Coldstone was attempting to escape from the building. Athena was in shock to see her uncle alive and not at the bottom of the Hudson River.
"THIS IS THE POLICE!" RECAP's loudspeaker broadcasted Matt's voice loudly, "STAY WHERE YOU ARE!"
Coldstone ignored RECAP's warning, advancing on the probe. Matt took this as a hostile force and had RECAP fire a tear gas grenade. It did little more than bounce off Coldstone's metal chest, and the gas didn't even faze the beast. It then caused Coldstone to become enraged and turn to RECAP furiously.
"Why did you bring me here only to attack me?!" Coldstone howled.
"Tear gas doesn't even slow it down!" Matt exclaimed.
Matt quickly realized that this situation was escalating too fast and quickly began trying to get RECAP out of there. Unfortunately, Coldstone was able to keep up with the robot, so Matt activated the tasers. These were much more effective than the tear gas.
Unfortunately, Coldstone activated his laser pistol, blasting RECAP into scrap metal. Matt howled in pain, tearing the visor off his face as if it was burning him. As he did this, the wall a couple of stories above the street exploded, and the wrecked remains of RECAP came flying out onto the street. As Matt, Athena, and Elisa went to see if the robot was salvageable, Coldstone approached the hole with only one thought in mind.
"FREEDOM!" He cried taking off into the night.
Athena looked up at the sky and watched her uncle fly away. Athena spoke into her comm piece, "Lexington, Coldstone is alive. Follow him."
"Already on it."
Athena turned to Elisa and whispered to her, "Coldstone is back. Goliath and Lexington are following him."
"Alright, let's try and keep a lid on things here," Elisa said.
Matt, Elisa, and Athena went back into the Golden Cup building with the police were to clean up the mess Coldstone had made. As they worked, Elisa, Athena, and Matt examined the large hole in the server room doors.
"I'm telling you, it was the same creature that attacked Times Square last winter," Matt insisted, "City's crawling with 'em."
"Elisa! Athena! It's me Lex," Lexington said through the earpieces.
"Listen, Matt. Elisa and I will clean up here. You finish taking statements so we can call it a night," Athena suggested.
"Sounds like a plan," Matt said with a smile before walking away.
"What's up with Coldstone, Lex?" Elisa asked.
"We're not sure," He replied, "Do you know what he was doing there?"
"The witnesses say he tried to steal data from these files," She answered.
"But he picked the wrong computer to tap into. It was full of government defense specs for top-secret weapons, so they protected it with a powerful new computer virus capable of wiping out any unfamiliar program it infects," Athena added.
Elisa and Athena could hear a quiet gasp of horror from Lexington.
"That explains a lot. Listen, Elisa, Athena, I'm gonna need a favor," Lexington said.
"What kind of favor?" Elisa questioned.
"I need to borrow some parts of RECAP to help Coldstone, but you will get them back."
"Alright, go ahead, Lex," Athena told him, "But try not to damage anything."
"Got it."
Outside, Lexington landed on the truck holding the remains of RECAP. He went in and took RECAP's Visor and VR hook-up before leaving with Brooklyn and Broadway.
After they were done in the Golden Cup building, Matt, Elisa, and Athena went back to the RECAP van for Matt to make sure that everything was there, but he soon discovered that the Visor and VR hook up. Matt was practically tearing RECAP's van apart in frantic motions. Elisa and Athena watch him search.
"Is something wrong?" Athena asked, already knowing the answer.
"RECAP's visor and VR hook up are missing!" Matt exclaimed.
"Maybe someone took them back to the station," Elisa suggested, hoping he'd buy it.
"Without telling me first?" Matt scoffed, "I don't think so. But not to worry. RECAP comes complete with a homing beacon. And I personally wouldn't be surprised if it leads us right to our creature."
As Matt activated the tracker, Athena grew worried about her family. Knowing that she had to help her family, Athena quickly made up a lie that she was heading back to the station to fill out the reports of the Golden Cup break-in. Matt believed it and Elisa knew what she was going to do.
After driving to the station in her car, Athena went up to the clocktower to get away from any prying eyes. Now alone, Athena contacts Lexington.
"Lex, it's me, Athena. Where are you guys?" She asked.
"We're at Ellis Island," He replied, "We hooked up the visor and VR to Goliath and he is in Coldstone's mind helping him."
"I'm coming over there," Athena said before casting a spell, "Dea Pro Mihi, Audite Meus Dico... Patepacio Prodigium Pro Nos Totus!"
When the spell was cast, dark blue smoke consumed Athena and when the smoke faded, she was gone.
On Ellis Island, the gargoyles' attention was on their leader and rookery brother, but they looked away when they saw dark blue appearing near them. The gargoyles readied themselves for a battle but stood down when the smoke faded away to reveal Athena.
"Lass! What are you doing here?" Hudson asked.
"I'm here to help," Athena replied, "Matt noticed the visor and VR hook-up was missing. He's using the homing beacon and It won't be long before he finds you. I'm going into Coldstone's mind to help my father."
Athena walked over to her father, who was covered in a halo of energy same as Coldstone.
"Be careful, lass. This is dark sorcery," Hudson warned her.
"Don't worry, I'll be safe. And besides, I have you guys here," Athena smiled before kneeling in front of her father. She placed her hands on her father's head and touched foreheads with him.
Athena's eyes glowed blue and her consciousness was transported into Coldstone's mind.
Athena opened her eyes and saw that she was standing in a twilight-colored place that seemed to go on for miles. She stood in front of a bridge and under it is a gaping, orange wormhole with long, almost mechanical appendages protruding from it. In the distance, Athena could see Castle Wyvern.
Athena rushed across the bridge, dodging the mechanical tendrils trying to grab her. As she got closer to the Castle, Athena saw her father and Xanatos talking to each other. She could also see atop the main tower of the castle, three gargoyles in their stone form, which she immediately recognized as Coldstone, his mate, and brother. Athena had remembered that Coldstone's brother wanted his mate for himself and would try to get her by any means.
Athena had once told a friend of their tale and he was inspired to write Othello, the Moor of Venice. He had written Coldstone's mate as Desdemona and his brother as Iago.
"Father!" Athena called.
Goliath turned in the direction of his daughter's voice in time to see one of the tendrils grab her. But before the tendril could, Athena appeared next to her father.
"Your both welcome," Xanatos said with a smirk.
Goliath glared at Xanatos before asking Athena, "Daughter, what are you doing here?"
"To help you," She replied, "Lexington didn't know that RECAP had a homing beacon and Matt is using it to track the equipment. It will only be a matter of time before he reaches the clan in the real world."
"Isn't that touching," Xanatos said with a mocking tone, "I find it so sweet when family helps one another."
Angered by the Xanatos program, Goliath launched at it, only to watch it vanish without a trace. As Goliath once more got to his feet, he and Athena hear the sound of cracking stone. They looked up and see the three gargoyles shedding their stone skin, awakening once more. Upon waking, Coldstone almost promptly collapsed, most likely from the strain of the war waging within him. His bother went to his side, playing an act of being concerned while his mate flew down to Goliath and Athena.
"Goliath! Athena!" She called before landing in front of them.
"Rookery sister," Goliath hugged her with joy before asking, "How can this be?"
Desdemona pulled away from Goliath and explains, "Coldstone was created from pieces of different gargoyles. Now all of our souls are trapped inside."
As Desdemona and Goliath spoke, Iago whispered more of his lies into Coldstone's ear.
"See how he steals your love away from you?" Iago coaxed. "It was the same a thousand years ago."
The Xanatos program materialized next to Coldstone, adding his fuel to the flames.
"And now, once again they betray your trust," Xanatos added.
"No!" Coldstone yelled with anger and jealousy coursing through him.
He jumped off the tower, diving towards Goliath and Desdemona. Goliath saw him coming and pushed both Desdemona and his daughter to safety. Seconds later, Coldstone pushed Goliath off the edge of the castle and into the waiting embrace of the virus.
Goliath quickly dug his claws into the stone wall, trying to climb back to solid ground, but the virus' mechanical tentacle wrapped around his leg, attempting to drag him down. He struggled to keep his grip on the wall as more and more tentacles wrapped around him, slowly but surely dragging him to his doom.
Goliath pulled against the virus' fatal grasp, fighting as for every inch he climbed up the castle. His efforts were paying off, for he could see the top of the tower. As he reached it, Coldstone suddenly launched at him and sent him back down into the virus' grasp. Desdemona leaped after him and Athena, standing at the top of the tower, watched in horror. Desdemona grabs ahold of Goliath's arm, as well as the castle's main gate to stop them both from plummeting into the vortex of the virus.
Desdemona struggles to keep her grip on Goliath as well as the gate. She looks around for a way to safety but is unable to because the virus is slowly eaten the castle away. Soon more of the virus' tendrils began to wrap out Goliath and Desdemona, Coldstone landed on the gate above them, his voice dripping in malice and jealousy.
"Do you think me blind?" He snapped, "I know why you come to his defense."
Desdemona met his gaze evenly, "My love for you is eternal, and Goliath is not your enemy, but your brother and true friend."
She then pointed up to Iago, who watched the scene unfold from the safety of the tower with a wicked smile on his face.
"It is he who is the betrayer," She insisted, "He who sought to turn you against Goliath, and against me. He is doing exactly what he tried to do a thousand years ago."
"Uncle, try to remember. Please," Athena begged.
Coldstone clutched his forehead as he tried to remember, "My memories... They're clouded. Why should I just you?"
Desdemona glared at her mate, then her gaze softened.
"If you can't trust me, then trust your heart," She told him.
More tendrils grabbed at Goliath and Desdemona's grip on his arm was slipping as they both held on for dear life. But soon, she could hold on no longer, and Goliath slipped from her hand.
He didn't fall very far before Coldstone grabbed him, meeting his eyes for the first time not with hatred, but acceptance. With one mighty pull, he ripped Goliath free of the virus' deadly grip, and the two brothers climbed up the gate to safety. The two climbed up the gate and rejoined Desdemona.
"Our enemies are working together for control over this mind," Goliath explained. "We must hurry."
What remained of the castle began to quake as Iago's voice echoed through the sky.
"Too late."
The castle began to morph and bend, the very gate they clung to transforming into a large hand, which grabbed ahold of Desdemona. Athena teleported herself off of the tower and to what remained of the ground. Coldstone and Goliath let go of the remains of the gate and could only watch in horror as the castle remains transformed themselves into a large form of Iago. He merged with the Xanatos Program, and with a maniacal grin, beckoned the two gargoyles with his captive prize.
Without hesitation, both Coldstone and Goliath went to attack the large Iago, only to be taken down in a single blow. Iago scooped up the fallen gargoyles, along with Athena, preparing to crush them in his hand.
"Merge yourself with me, sister. Then we can finally be together, as I always knew we should be," He told Desdemona, "Why do you still resist me, my love? We are destined to be together for all eternity!"
"I will choose who I love!" Desdemona declared before sinking her fangs into Iago's hand.
Iago howled in pain, unintentionally releasing not only Desdemona, but Goliath, Athena, and Coldstone as well. Now free, the three gargoyles, with Athena on Goliath's back, flew in circles around the desperate Iago, who could claw at them, catching only the air. As he struggled to recapture his prey, the virus' tendrils began wrapping around Iago's legs and slowly traveling up to his stomach.
The gargoyles took notice of the virus and continued their flight patterns, distracting Iago up until the tendrils reached his shoulders. By then, it was too late for him.
"NO!" Iago snarled in rage, trying his best to pull away from the virus, "This body is mine! You cannot take it from me!"
It pulled him off the large slab of rock, some of the only remaining solid ground in this virtual world, and into the swirling and orange abyss below. Now safe from Iago's attacks, the three gargoyles and Athena made their way to the bridge. Landing on the end of it, the four of them could see the virus continuing its campaign of destruction.
"You must return to your body, brother! Niece!" Coldstone declared, "Before the vortex consumes everything!"
"But what about you?" Goliath shouted over the noise.
"We are finally together," Desdemona replied, "That is all that matters."
"If we cannot defeat the virus, then so be it," Coldstone decided, taking Desdemona's hand, "Even if we fail, we will still be together for all time."
The four of them quickly dodged a virus tendril, which snapped the bridge in half, almost completely cutting off Goliath and Athena's way back. With no other choice, Goliath and Athena ran for a light in the swirling purple clouds. With one last look towards Coldstone and Desdemona, Goliath and Athena dove through the portal, returning to reality.
In the real world, the electrical halo died around Coldstone and Goliath. Athena's eyes returned to normal and she removed the visor from her father's face. As Goliath rubbed his eyes and got his bearings once more, the other gargoyles landed next to them.
"We can't hold them off any longer!" Brooklyn declared frantically, scooping up Willow to escape.
"Then let us leave this place quickly," Goliath ordered.
Lexington yanked the VR hook-up out of Coldstone, allowing for Goliath to gather up the still form of his brother. Leaving the equipment behind, the gargoyles and Athena took their leave of Ellis island just minutes before Matt and his SWAT units converged.
"We're right on top of it!" Matt cried out, a crazed note to his voice, "Now we'll see what this thing looks like up close."
Shining his flashlight across the ground, he found the hook-up, which was being sniffed by a small brown rat.
"Looks like a rat to me," Elisa commented, trying not to laugh and show relief.
Matt practically screamed in outrage at the thought of missing his monster again as Elisa leaned against a wall.
At the Clock Tower, Goliath gently leaned Coldstone's still form against the wall as the other gargoyles and Athena gathered around.
"Someday, I trust, you will find your way back, my brother, my sister, and when you do, I want you to be among friends," Goliath said, softly.
Inside Coldstone's mind, Coldstone and Desdemona flew hand in hand through the purple sky. The virus's tendrils swirled around them, but neither of them cared. They were now, and forever, together.