Gladiia was looking at Skadi with her weapon drawn, Skadi however looked at Gladiia completely nonchalantly. The aegir didn't feel threatened that a weapon was being pointed at her. Gladiia wasn't showing it, but she felt fear looking at her comrade. The aegir leader hoped that this situation would never come to happen. Skadi, however, had finally been taken over by Ishar-Mla, Skadi had now become the God of the seaborn, and Gladiia doubted she could stand against that power, but she had to try. Gladiia had to try to stop Skadi from destroying all of Terra.
Skadi began to walk towards Gladiia, and the aegir leader had her weapon ready to attack. "Gladiia, I'm sure you know what you are up against. You and I both know you won't win. I don't want to have to kill you, so you had best lower your weapon before it comes to that. Let's talk instead, shall we?" The aegir tried to defuse the situation with her leader. "You and I have nothing to talk about, Ishar-Mla." Gladiia replied to Skadi.
The aegir simply laughed. The future Skadi knew that there was so much that Gladiia didn't know about the current situation, "Oh Gladiia, how little you know right now. You simply think that Ishar-Mla has taken over Skadi? Truth be told, I surrendered to Ishar-Mla a long time ago. It's because of him that I am here right now. The Skadi you know is no longer here. She is gone." The future aegir told Gladiia, which only confused her.
"What do you mean you abomination?! Explain yourself!" Gladiia shouted at her former comrade. Skadi was more than happy to oblige, "Very well, Gladiia. I'll tell you. I'm not the Skadi you know. I have taken over her body. I'm from the future, the same future that a certain parasite named Yua came from. The same Yua who's world was destroyed...that I destroyed. The same Yua that I killed." Skadi confessed everything to Gladiia.
Gladiia had suspected that Skadi killed Yua when the priest from the church of the deep told herself and the rest of Rhodes Island that she was killed by their god. Skadi only confirmed her suspicions. What shocked Gladiia, however, was the fact that the Skadi in front of her was from the future and that she had taken over the body of her comrade.
Gladiia had so many questions for the future Skadi standing in front of her, "Why Skadi? Why did you destroy the world? Why did you kill all of those people? Why did you kill Yua? And why are you here and have taken over Skadi's body? Why? Answer me!" Gladiia demanded the future aegir tell her why she committed those acts and why she was back in the past. "That's simple, Gladiia. It's because of the doctor... and that damned Ch'en Hui-Chieh. The doctor didn't see me as a monster. He wasn't afraid of approaching me. I tried to turn him away but he didn't listen. I wasn't a monster in his eyes, I was simply Skadi. We became friends, but I wanted more than that. I thought that it would happen, and we ended up becoming so close to each other. All of that changed when Ch'en got in the way! That damned lung stole him from me! She stole the future that belonged to me! I hate her! I hate her so much! And that spawn of hers! I hate them both so much! I will not lose the doctor to her again! He is mine! I will kill whoever gets in my way, just like I killed Yua! I'll kill you too, Gladiia, if you get in my way!" The future aegir ranted at Gladiia, Skadi also warned her not to get in her way.
Gladiia took in what Skadi said and realised the situation, "So that's why Skadi is here. She loves the doctor and wants him for herself. But Skadi...she's taken over the body of the Skadi I know. She's killed Yua... she killed all of those people... and she is going to kill Ch'en. I can't let that happen! This Skadi has to die for her crimes! She can not get away with this!" Gladiia knew what she had to do despite the odds being against her and potentially having to destroy the body of her friend. Gladiia got into a fighting stance and had her weapon at the ready, Skadi however didn't move. She simply had a look of discontent on her face.
Gladiia began to gather her power. She was ready to destroy her friends form no matter how difficult it was for her. When the aegir leaders power was at it's apex Gladiia leapt from her position and brought her weapon down on Skadi...
Kal'tsit was sitting at her desk currently reading a book from the library of Laterano. Kal'tsit had been looking around Laterano along with Amiya for any information regarding Mostima's whereabouts. Nobody currently knew where she was, Kal'tsit and Amiya had spoken to those who knew her, but none of them had any idea where she was. All they knew was that she and Fiammetta had disappeared some time ago to look for someone important but weren't given a name. The ancient feline had also asked Exusiai and Texas to ask Emperor if he had any idea where Mostima was. They got the same reply, the penguin had received no contact with Mostima and didn't know where she had vanished too. This worried Kal'tsit, she needed Mostima for her plan to build her own time machine to go back in time and save Theresa.
Despite not finding out anything about Mostima, Kal'tsit was glad she was able to find something about time travel along with Amiya. Speaking of Amiya, the health of the cautus looked to be improving since her sisters death. The doctor had stepped up to the plate and had been really looking out for her and made sure Amiya was taking care of herself. The man had told Amiya that she wouldn't be coming on his missions to fight the church of the deep.
The ancient feline could tell Amiya did want to fight, but the man wasn't going to let that happen. So Kal'tsit decided that she could help with gathering information about time travel, this could at least make Amiya feel she was doing something useful instead of stewing over the fact she wasn't fighting the church of the deep. Kal'tsit continued to read the book until the sound of an explosion was heard, and the entire landship shook from the impact.
"What on Terra is going on?" Kal'tsit thought to herself after the landship shook. The ancient feline was trying to figure out what was happening, but another explosion was heard, and the landship shook again. Kal'tsit believed they were now under attack, and the sounds of operators shouting at each other were heard from the hallway as alarms sounded. Kal'tsit put down her book and left her office to try to find out what was happening.
Many operators where running around everywhere trying to find out what was happening, Kal'tsit began to look for the doctor, if they were under attack no doubt the man would be getting all the operators ready to fight off who or what ever was attacking. It didn't take long to find the doctor. The man was heading up to the roof alongside Ch'en and Amiya. "Doctor!" Kal'tsit called out to the man. The doctor heard his name being called out and turned around to find Kal'tsit. "Kal'tsit!" he shouted back.
Kal'tsit ran up to the trio to ask what was going on, "What's going on, doctor? Are we under attack? Where are these explosions coming from?" Kal'tsit asked the man what she wanted to know. "I've asked PRTS to search the landship. The explosions came from the roof. PRTS looked through the security system and has said that Skadi and Gladiia are fighting each other. I'm heading up there now alongside Ch'en and Amiya to find out what's going on and put a stop to it before they tear the landship apart." The doctor calmly replied despite the situation.
Hearing that Skadi and Gladiia were fighting each other caused Kal'tsit to feel a chill down her spine, "No! Don't tell me..." Kal'tsit had a grim idea why they were fighting, and if it was true, she knew the whole of Terra was potentially in grave danger. "Doctor! I'm coming with you!" The ancient feline told the man. The doctor could sense fear in Kal'tsit's voice and had a feeling she knew what was going on. He didn't push. However, his main goal was to stop the two aegir from killing each other. He could ask afterwards when the situation had calmed down.
The group of four headed towards the roof of the landship. When they arrived at the roof, all four of them were speechless by the sight they saw. The roof looked like it had been hit by artillery. The roof had taken significant damage, holes had been put in the roof. Several features on the roof had been completely destroyed or damaged significantly, and a few small fires had broken out.
Amidst all this destruction, the group could see two figures, Gladiia and Skadi. The four ran towards the duo to attempt to calm the situation down and find out what was going on. Gladiia could hear rapid footsteps approaching her and Skadi. When she turned around to see who was approaching, she immediately called out to them, "All of you! Don't come any closer!" Gladiia warned the group behind her.
The doctor however didn't listen to Gladiia's warning. The man took several steps forward before speaking to Gladiia, "Why Gladiia? What's going on? Why are you two fighting?" he asked the aegir. "Doctor! For your own safety, you need to stay back! This abomination in front of me isn't Skadi! You have to get away from here! Both you and Madam Ch'en!" Gladiia warned the doctor again. Hearing her name Ch'en then stepped forward, "Why Gladiia? Why do I and the doctor have to get away from here? And what do you mean this isn't Skadi?" Ch'en asked, wanting to know what was going on.
Gladiia knew she only had one way to get them to leave. She had to tell the pair everything, "This thing isn't Skadi! Or at least the Skadi I know! This monster is Ishar-Mla! She is from the future! Yua's future! She destroyed her world... and she is the one who killed her! She wants to kill you too, Madam Ch'en! You and the doctor need to get away from here! Now!" Gladiia explained everything the future Skadi told her and was practically begging the doctor and Ch'en to leave.
The doctor and Ch'en couldn't believe what they were both just told, the Skadi in front of them was from their daughters future...and she was her murderer. Kal'tsit and Amiya couldn't believe it either, especially Amiya. The cautus didn't want to believe it. However, Amiya could sense the emotions of those around her, and when she looked at the future aegir, she instinctively knew Gladiia was telling the truth.
Skadi had killed her sister...
Amiya fell to her knees and began to cry. This was confirmation to the doctor, Ch'en, and Kal'tsit that Skadi was responsible for Yua's death. Seeing that she couldn't hide it anymore, Skadi confessed her crime, "Yes...I did kill Yua. That spawn was getting in my way." Skadi then looked at the doctor, "She was getting in my way of you... doctor. She had no right to get in between us. I love you, doctor, more than anything else. Someone like Ch'en has no right to bask in your brilliance. Come with me, let us become one, doctor. You won't need anyone else, especially not Ch'en Hui-Chieh." Skadi confessed her crime and her love for the doctor.
When the doctor heard everything that the future aegir said the man wasn't just repulsed, he was angry. Skadi had murdered Yua in cold blood. His and Ch'en's daughter was dead because of Skadi. The man didn't care that Skadi loved him. He felt sick at the thought. In all his memory, which he would admit wasn't very long, he never felt this angry at someone before. He wanted to kill Skadi. He wanted to kill her with his own two hands...
Standing next to the doctor Ch'en was looking down. Nobody else could see it, but the blue-haired lung had a very dark look on her face and was thinking equally dark thoughts. Before her and the doctor stood Yua's killer. Ch'en had heard Skadi's confession of her murder and her twisted love for the doctor. Ch'en began to shake just thinking about it. The anger she was feeling was so primal and dark. The lung wanted to tear the aegir apart for what she had done.
Ch'en began to reach for her legendary sword; Chi-Xiao. As soon as the sword was in her hand, it began to glow brighter than it had ever glowed before, as if it was her rage made physical form. Everyone else around her had to shield their eyes from the swords brightness.
Ch'en began to walk very slowly, her eyes were locked on to the future aegir. Gladiia could see what the blue-haired lung was about to do, "Madam Ch'en! Stop! Don't do this! Skadi is too powerful for you to fight! You won't win! She will kill you! Please, Madam Ch'en you have to get away from here!" Gladiia tried to plead with the lung to escape. She knew the power difference between Ch'en and Skadi was too great. Kal'tsit and the doctor also tried to get Ch'en to leave. Even though the man wanted to kill Skadi himself, he knew that it was suicide to try to fight her. The doctor didn't want to lose the woman he had grown to love.
The blue-haired lung didn't listen to everyone's pleas. The only thought in her mind was killing the future Skadi for what she had done. Ch'en's eyes were still firmly on Skadi, and Ch'en could now see a smirk on the aegirs face as if she was daring her to attack. The blue-haired lung lost all sense of reasoning upon seeing the smirk on the aegirs face, Ch'en wanted to remove it permanently. The lung let out a bloodthirsty scream before charging towards Skadi, Gladiia tried to stop her, but she wasn't quick enough. Ch'en began closing down the distance between herself and the future aegir.
When the lung was close enough, with Chi-Xiao in both hands, Ch'en swung the legendary blade with all her strength at Skadi with the intention of cutting her clean in half. Skadi could see the blade coming and didn't bother to protect herself. The aegir knew that this attack wouldn't harm her in any way. The sword connected with Skadi, and a mighty explosion happened, and a dust cloud was kicked up from the attack. Nobody could see what had happened while the dust was everywhere.
The doctor, Kal'tsit, Amiya, Gladiia, and Ch'en all waited with anticipation to see the result. No one was sure if that attack was enough to kill the future aegir. Ch'en wanted to see Skadi dead when the dust was settled. However, when the dust was gone, everyone had their hearts in their throats and had a look of shock on their faces. Skadi was still standing completely unharmed by Ch'en's attack.
Seeing the look of shock on everyone's faces, the future Skadi began to laugh, "You really think that would stop me Ch'en?! You tried something like this just like in the future. And you failed. I am a god! Nothing you will do can hurt me! Now get ready to die Ch'en Hui-Chieh! You will be joining your disgusting spawn soon enough!" Skadi drew her own sword and began to attack Ch'en when the aegir finished her speech. She wanted to kill the blue-haired lung just as she did before.
Ch'en brought Chi-Xiao up to protect herself when the aegir began to attack, seeing that Skadi survived her attack unharmed the lung now knew what she was up against. Ch'en however was going to do whatever it took to take down Skadi whether she was a god or not. The aegir had killed Yua, Ch'en was going to avenge her fallen daughter or die trying...
Everyone else could see the battle happening and were about to intervene and give Ch'en all their help. However, before any of them could give aid to the blue-haired lung, everyone could see balls of water appear all over the roof of the landship. When the balls of water settled, in their places stood men in robes and various sea creatures. Gladiia could tell who these people and sea creatures were, "It's the church of the deep and the seaborn!" the aegir shouted to everyone around her. This alerted everyone.
Nobody knew how they got here, but the doctor theorised that Skadi must have used her power to bring them here. He didn't want to think about that now. However, he had to drive them off. The doctor ordered Kal'tsit to summon Mon3tr and Gladiia to fight the seaborn. The doctor then ordered Amiya to get reinforcements as quickly as she could and bring them to the roof of the landship. Help was needed as soon as possible. Amiya didn't argue and left the roof to find who she could as quickly as possible.
Kal'tsit hated to be ordered around by the doctor but listened to the man's order. Now wasn't the time or situation to disregard what he had said. The ancient feline did as the man asked. Kal'tsit called forward the beast that slumbered inside of her, "Mon3tr." She simply said. A green flash occurred, and then a huge monstrosity formed from Kal'tsit's very spine. When the beast had formed, it let out a horrific roar that signalled everyone of it presence.
Kal'tsit ordered Mon3tr to attack the seaborn and the church of the deep cultists that had appeared on the roof of the landship. Mon3tr was more than happy to carry out it's masters order. The beast lunged into the fray and began tearing apart anything that was unfortunate enough to be an obstacle in its path of destruction.
Just like Mon3tr, Gladiia began to attack any cultist or seaborn that was in her path. The aegir could see Ch'en and Skadi clashing with each other, Ch'en was putting up an incredible fight against the future aegir but Gladiia knew she had to get to her as soon as possible. Ch'en wouldn't be able to last long against a god. The aegir leader cut down any cultist or seaborn in her path, but more and more kept arriving and continued to block her destination. Gladiia knew help was needed and fast. She just hoped more operators would arrive soon and help turn the tide of this battle.
The doctor could see all of the carnage happening in front of him. The man felt helpless. He wanted to help Ch'en but she was too far away battling Skadi. Their clash was starting to turn in the aegirs favour. Ch'en was beginning to lose stamina. Her guard was getting sloppy, she was losing speed, and Skadi didn't seem to be tiring. The doctor began to fear for the blue-haired lungs life. The doctor could see Gladiia was doing all she could to reach Ch'en but the church of the deep and the seaborn kept impeding her.
The man truly began to lose hope until a voice called out behind him, "Doctor!" it shouted. Turning around, the doctor could see that Amiya had returned with more operators, and some had injuries on their bodies. "Amiya! What's happened?! Why are some people already injured?!" The man enquired to the cautus. One of the operators stepped forward and explained that strange people and monsters had appeared all over the landship, and many operators were currently fighting them.
The doctor didn't like hearing this, "Dammit! Skadi has probably summoned them all over the landship! I bet the whole landship is a war zone! But I can't be in two places at once. We need to somehow drive off Skadi first! Ch'en is going to die soon if she doesn't get help! I hate having to abandon everyone on the landship! I just hope they can last long enough until we have gotten rid of Skadi! That's if we can get rid of her in the first place..." The doctor bitterly thought of the situation. He didn't want to abandon everyone else on the landship to their fates but knew that he had to remove the future aegir before he could do anything else.
The doctor hoped that everyone would be able to hold on until Skadi had been driven off. "Everyone! We have to defeat Skadi! I know some of you want an explanation for what's going on, but I don't have time for that! Just know she is the enemy, and we need to defeat her! Gladiia and Ch'en need help! I want you to help them in defeating the church of the deep and the seaborn! Do as I say, and I promise we will make it out of this alive!" the doctor told everyone around him.
In truth, the man didn't know if they would survive, but he was going to do everything in his power to give them a chance. The doctor began ordering everyone what he wanted them to do. Once everyone had received his orders, all the operators jumped into the fray and began helping fight off the enemy that had invaded Rhodes Island.
Amiya began searching the battlefield. There was one person who she was looking for, "There you are! I'll kill you for what you have done!" Amiya thought to herself when she found who she was looking for. Skadi and Ch'en were fighting each other. When the cautus saw Skadi, she felt nothing but anger. The future aegir had killed her sister, and Amiya wanted revenge.
The cautus took off one of her rings. When she did a red sword that was not too different from Ch'en's own blade formed in her hand. With a battle cry, Amiya began cutting down who or whatever was in her way and made her way towards Ch'en and Skadi...
Ch'en was beginning to feel exhausted. No matter what she did, nothing could hurt the future aegir in front of her. Skadi had a smile on her face, "What's the matter Ch'en Hui-Chieh? Are you feeling tired? At least you are giving me a better fight than you did in the future. And a better fight than your spawn. You should have seen the look of terror on Yua's face before I killed her. It was so satisfying. The only thing more satisfying than that will be reuniting you with her in the afterlife." Skadi was taunting Ch'en with her daughters death.
The future aegirs taunting caused Ch'en to charge at Skadi again despite her fatigue, "Don't you ever say her name!" the blue-haired lung screamed in Skadi's face when their blades made contact. Mentioning Yua had caused Ch'en to lose her temper, and this is what the future Skadi wanted. The lung had made a critical error. Due to how tired Ch'en was, Skadi began to overpower her very easily as their swords were locked. Ch'en's blade was sent flying, and the lung was defenceless. Skadi brought down her sword in a horizontal direction and slashed Ch'en across the chest.
The attack didn't kill Ch'en but it brought her to the floor. Ch'en was on one knee and holding her chest that was bleeding. The lung looked up and could see Skadi smiling again, the aegir proud of what she had done. The future aegir raised her sword and was about to end Ch'en's life. Ch'en closed her eyes and waited for the inevitable. She could feel the attack about to hit. A clash of metal was then heard, and Ch'en opened her eyes.
Standing before her was Amiya with her own sword in hand and blocking the strike from the aegir. Ch'en couldn't believe that Amiya had risked her life to save her. Amiya gave a quick look behind her and spoke to the injured lung, "Ch'en! You have to run! You are in no condition to fight! Get out of here!" the cautus told her. Ch'en didn't want to leave, but she knew she was in condition to fight any longer. Skadi would certainly kill her. Ch'en thanked Amiya for saving her. She rose up to her feet and quickly picked up Chi-Xiao before heading back to the doctors location.
Skadi was infuriated with Amiya saving the life of the blue-haired lung. She was so close to ending the life of her most hated enemy. Skadi was going to take out her frustration on the cautus. The future aegir quickly overpowered Amiya and began attacking her. Amiya did what she could to fight back, but Skadi was simply too strong for her. The cautus however, didn't want to give up. No matter what Skadi threw at her, Amiya didn't give up. She wanted to avenge her sister.
As their fight carried on Skadi was getting more and more angry with the cautus, she wouldn't stay down no matter what she did. The aegir decided to step up her brutality. When Amiya had been knocked down again, the aegir began to kick Amiya while she was on the floor. Every single kick caused Amiya to scream in pain. The kicks kept coming until one kick caused Amiya's ribs to break, and she let out a huge scream of pain.
This scream drew the attention of the doctor. He could see the injured Ch'en coming towards him, but behind her, he could see Skadi hurting Amiya, "Oh gods No! Not Amiya too! Get away from her!" the doctor thought as he began sprinting past Ch'en and towards Skadi and Amiya. Ch'en looked at the situation behind her and also began to fear the worst, Skadi was going to kill Amiya. The lung wanted to fight, but she could feel herself going light headed, she was losing too much blood. Ch'en could only watch as the doctor got closer and closer to the pair as to what was going to happen...
Skadi was satisfied that Amiya had been thoroughly beaten. Amiya had curled up into a ball from all the pain she had received at her hands. The future Skadi decided it was best to kill the cautus right now, then she could move onto the blue-haired lung. Skadi raised her sword, ready to kill Amiya. Just as she was about to bring it down, a familiar voice told her to stop, "Skadi! Stop! Please, I beg you! Not Amiya as well!" Skadi looked at who spoke to her and could see it was the doctor.
The aegir could see a look of fear on the man's face, "Please stop this, Skadi! I'll do whatever you say! By the gods, I beg of you don't kill Amiya as well! Please!" The doctor was begging her not to kill his other daughter. This gave Skadi satisfaction, "Anything you say, doctor?" the future aegir asked the defeated man. The man simply nodded. He didn't care what he had to do for Yua's murderer, no matter how bitter it was. He just didn't want Skadi to kill Amiya. The future aegir had only one thought in mind, "Then become mine, doctor. Become mine, and no one else has to die. You will only ever need me. I will make you forget about everyone else, I promise." The aegir told the man what she wanted.
This request sickened the doctor to his stomach. He wanted nothing to do with the one responsible for killing Yua. He had no choice. If he refused, Amiya would die right now. He wasn't going to let his other daughter die, "Very well, Skadi. Only if you promise not to hurt anyone else, I agree." The doctor nearly felt himself throw up when he accepted Skadi's offer. The doctor didn't want to be Skadi's. He was going to find a way to escape the situation and get his revenge.
For now, however, to save Amiya, he would agree to be hers, but he would find a way to make the future aegir pay when the opportunity presented itself. Skadi then stretched out her hand, and the doctor grabbed it, a ball of water then appeared around the two. When the ball of water disappeared, both the doctor and Skadi disappeared along with it...
Ch'en couldn't believe what she had just seen, "The doctor...has gone with that monster. Why...doctor? Why? Was it to save Amiya? Why? Can someone tell me why!" The lung was beside herself. She couldn't believe that the man had left with their daughters murderer. Ch'en was hurt, not just because of her injury. But also because the man she loved had left with that monster.
Tears began to roll down Ch'en's face. She was truly hurting. The sounds of battle began to quite down as Ch'en's cries of pain began to increase in volume. Several people had arrived and surrounded the lung to ask what had happened, but she didn't answer. All she could think about was the doctor leaving with Skadi...
"Everything will be okay, doctor. I promise." is what the future Skadi was telling the man who was currently asleep on an alter. Skadi had brought the doctor to one of the ancient temples built for Ishar-Mla by the ancient followers of the church of the deep. Skadi had sung the man to sleep as soon as they arrived. The aegir was happy she finally had the doctor in her grasp. The future aegir had achieved what she wanted.
The doctor was finally hers...
Skadi knew that the doctor only agreed to this to save Amiya. He would still more than likely want revenge for killing Yua. Skadi would change that, however. The future aegir knew that the doctors mind was incredible, but she would find a way to manipulate it. She could alter his mind to only think about her, manipulate his memories so he would only have memories of her.
Ch'en, Yua, and everyone else would have never knew this would be a difficult task, but she was prepared to do it if it meant the doctor would be hers alone. Killing Ch'en could wait. For now, Skadi was enjoying her victory. The doctor was hers, and she was planning on making sure it stayed that way...forever...