Three years ago….

A squadron of Imperial soldiers crowd around Zepheron and Dremora. Zepheron steps in front of Dremora to guard her as the soldiers move closer and closer.

DREMORA

No…not now!!

ZEPHERON

How did they find us?!

There’s NO WAY the Emperor could have known we’d be here.

DREMORA

I don’t…I don’t know.

SOLDIER

Zepheron and Dremora….

…you are hereby ordered by the Emperor to surrender immediately.

You will be tried for treason.

ZEPHERON

(whispering) How did he know we were joining the rebellion…HOW?!?!

One of the soldiers steps forward and grabs Dremora’s arm.

SOLDIER

You’re coming with US!!

Turning around, Zepheron waves his hand, blasting the soldier with an intense blast of energy.

ZEPHERON

Don’t….TOUCH…her!!!

DREMORA
Zeph…please, don’t make this worse!!

The soldiers attack Zepheron en masse. He causes stone pillars to rise up around Dremora, protecting her from the blasts that the soldiers fire at them. Some of the blasts hit Zepheron dead-on, but he takes them and continues to attack the soldier.

DREMORA
Stop, Zeph!!

It’s not worth it!!

Ignoring her, Zepheron makes quick work of the soldiers and then takes off into the air.

ZEPHERON

I’m going to finish this…once and for all.

DREMORA

W-What do you mean?

ZEPHERON

If the Emperor knows we were planning to join the rebellion, that means there’s the possibility that he’ll have us executed.

DREMORA

…

ZEPHERON

You’re carrying my child, Dremora…

I won’t allow that to happen.

DREMORA

But…what do you plan to do!?!

ZEPHERON

I don’t know…

DREMORA
If you plan to do this, I’m coming with you!!

ZEPHERON

No…you won’t.

Dremora starts to move, but suddenly, a strange plant vine raises from the ground and starts to excrete a powerful gas. Dremora starts to feel weak and tired.

ZEPHERON

I’m sorry, Dremora…

I have to do this alone.

…but no matter what happens…

…remember that I love you.

DREMORA
….Z…Zeph….

Dremora falls unconscious.

Back in the present, Terran, struggling to hold back his emotions, holds the limp body of Genesis. Everyone looks on in silence, and the room is deathly quiet.

TERRAN

Gen….

I….I’m sorry…

I wasn’t able to stop him…

THUNDER

Gen…

Dammit….

Why…why did it have to be HER?!

JONATHAN

Look guys, I don’t want to sound cold or anything…

…but we can’t do anything else for her now.

However…what we CAN do…

…is beat the living crap out of THESE two.

Jonathan motions towards Myaga and Zepheron.

ZEPHERON

Heh.

And yet another person you failed, eh, bro?

This is starting to be a pattern for you.

Hahaha…

I’m starting to think that maybe I’m trying to hard.

Everyone who stays NEAR you seems to die ANYWAY, so maybe I should just sit back and let YOU do all the w—

There’s a loud "WHAM!" and before anyone knows what’s happened, they see Terran, his eyes closed, his expression grim, and his fist outstretched. Zepheron staggers backwards, with a huge bruise appearing on his face.

TERRAN

SHUT.

UP.

Zepheron, surprised at how quickly Terran had struck him, holds his face, seething in anger.

While everyone else is distracted, and while Terran is away, Myaga creeps near Genesis and lifts her body.

THUNDER
Hey! What do you think you’re doing!?!?

MYAGA

That’s none of your concern.

You’ve ruined most of my plans…but I still have ONE ace left.

Myaga takes Genesis’ body as a portal opens near her. Both disappear in an instant.

DREMORA

Stop!!

Where’s BELDEZ?!?

Dammit…she’s gone!

I still don’t know what she did to my daughter!

ZEPHERON

Oh, that’s right…I almost forgot…

Dremora turns towards Zepheron.

DREMORA
Forgot WHAT??!

ZEPHERON

Hehe…

DREMORA
You- You know where she IS, don’t you!?!?

Don’t f*ck with me, Zepheron!!!

Where IS SHE?!?!

ZEPHERON

Well, you see…

I was kinda hanging around while you guys were searching for her when you first came into the palace…you know, trying to kill some time before I made my move.

When Myaga took Beldez with her, I decided to follow her and see what happened.

It seems that she left her within this ship’s control room.

DREMORA
Where….where IS that?!

ZEPHERON

Now now…that’d be telling, wouldn’t it?!

Hahaha…

ZEPHERON

But I WILL tell you this….

It seems that I leaked a wee bit of poison gas into the room…

….gee, I don’t know how THAT happened….

Currently, I think the poor girl has maybe…oh…fifteen minutes left before the poison takes effect.

DREMORA

No….

ZEPHERON

Don’t get too upset now…

She’ll make a FULL recovery if you get there within that time.

Hehehe…IF you can find her, that is…

DREMORA
Why…??

Why are you doing this?!?!

She’s YOUR daughter, too!!

ZEPHERON

Ha. Like I give a damn about that little heffer.

Her life doesn’t mean a damn thing to me.

But, to YOU….hehe…

….I thought this might be a fun little game.

DREMORA
….

ZEPHERON

Are you still here?

Time’s running out, Dremora.

Hahaha…

HAHAHAHA!!

Terran rushes forward and slams Zepheron into the wall.

TERRAN

Go!! Find her!

I’ll take care of HIM!

DREMORA

O-Okay, thank you.

Dremora and the others get into a portal, disappearing and leaving Terran and Zepheron alone. Zepheron starts to get to his feet as Terran stands silently, waiting.

ZEPHERON

You and your damn cheap shots.

I thought you heroic types had some kind of code of honor about crap like that.

TERRAN

Yeah, well…you know what they say.

When you dance with the devil, expect to get your shoes dirty.

ZEPHERON

Oh, ho!! A comeback!!

My, my…look who grew a set of balls.

TERRAN

We obviously couldn’t be meaning YOU…

…so I’ll take that as a compliment.

ZEPHERON

You know, bro…maybe if you’d been this clever a few minutes ago…

…your girlfriend would still have a PULSE.

TERRAN

…

ZEPHERON

Oooo…did that strike a nerve?

What’re you waiting for? Aren’t you gonna go all ballistic?

Terran continues to stare right at Zepheron. Zepheron smiles, expecting Terran to become angrier. But, that’s not exactly what happens.

TERRAN

It’s done.

ZEPHERON

Huh?

What are you talking about?

TERRAN

While you’ve been here chattering up a storm, I’ve been making preparations.

ZEPHERON
"Preparations?" What KIND of preparations?

TERRAN

THIS kind.

A portal opens behind Zepheron. Surprised, Zepheron turns around.

TERRAN

I don’t have time to play around with you right now, Zeph.

This’ll keep you out of our hair for a while.

Before Zepheron can react, Terran puts both of his fists together and swings hard, knocking Zepheron into the portal…where it closes behind him.

On the other side of the portal, Zepheron finds himself in another room. Disoriented, he looks around, unaware of his surroundings.

ZEPHERON

Hmm…

Being merged with Xiratox must have taught him how to maneuver through this ship.

Heh….

Very clever, bro.

…But this won’t stop me for long.

Elsewhere, Dremora, Thunder, Jonathan and Gladius continue to search throughout the ship, looking for Beldez. Jonathan and Dremora are in one area while Thunder and Gladius are looking somewhere else.

JONATHAN

Dammit…

I can’t find anything.

DREMORA

We-We can’t give up!

She has to be around somewhere!!!

Just then, Gladius comes through a portal.

DREMORA

Any luck?

GLADIUS

Yeah, I’ve found her.

DREMORA

Where is she!!?

GLADIUS

Come on….I’ll take you to her.

Thunder’s there already.

Myaga stands in front of a huge metallic container that looks somewhat like a large cylinder. She presses panels and continues to make other actions on a console near it.

MYAGA

Hmm…

This is good. No permanent damage.

It can be fixed…

A portal opens inside the room, and Terran steps out.

TERRAN

Myaga, I presume?

MYAGA

Ah, hello, Terran.

You’re just in time.

TERRAN

For what?

Putting an end to your stupid plans once and for all?

Getting payback for Genesis?

Because those are the things that spring to mind.

MYAGA
(shakes her head)

It’s truly sad. Such a huge potential for intellect, and yet, you allow your emotions to cloud your judgement.

But, I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised.

Merlan did the same thing.

TERRAN

What? You mean she CARED about people?

She had FEELINGS?

In that case, you’re right.

MYAGA
"Feelings." "Emotions."

Such things are mere annoyances.

They cloud rational judgement and cause people to make impulsive errors.

You are a prime example.

How many times has your rage caused you to go out of control and behave wildly?

TERRAN

Maybe that’s true…

But life without emotion isn’t LIFE.

We’re not machines.

MYAGA

Don’t be foolish.

When Merlan came to Earth, she fell in love with a human.

When she did, it caused her to lose sight of our objectives.

Her mind became tainted and her motives were highly suspect.

I was forced to take matters into my own hands.

TERRAN

Did you even wait to see if Merlan’s NEW plans would work?

MYAGA

…

TERRAN

You were so worried about how "tainted" Merlan might have become, you never bothered to consider that people can possess different ideas and opinions.

Not everyone who disagrees with you is "wrong"!

MYAGA

Well, that’s a moot point now.

I now possess my sister’s memories as well as my own.

Just as how you or Zepheron will possess one another’s depending on who dies.

TERRAN

What the hell are you talking about?

MYAGA

(chuckles)

Well, I think you’ll find out soon enough.

TERRAN

Oh, the hell with this.

I’m putting an end to this NOW.

Terran prepares to rush towards Myaga.

MYAGA

So then, I take it that you’re not interested in what’s happened to Genesis?

TERRAN

(stops) What have you done with her?!

Myaga doesn’t answer. She merely presses her hand against the console. Afterwards, the metallic covering of the cylindrical canister opens. As it does, it displays Genesis inside a large glass tube, floating in a bluish liquid.

TERRAN

Gen!!

What have you DONE to her?!

MYAGA

I’m merely restoring her.

She WAS rather damaged.

TERRAN

You saved her?

Why?

That doesn’t make any sense.

MYAGA

I guess it doesn’t.

But, what do you say we see how she’s come along?

Myaga presses buttons on the console. After a few moments, the tube opens, the liquid spilling out and Genesis falling onto the ground. Terran rushes toward her, concerned. Genesis still isn’t moving…and totally silent.

TERRAN

Gen!

Are you okay?

Genesis begins to cough, and slowly starts to get to her feet.

TERRAN

Oh my God…

I’m…I’m so glad to see you’re okay, Gen.

Genesis is silent, and she starts to stand upright, her hair wet and falling over her face. Her head is held down, adding to keep her face hidden.

TERRAN

Gen…answer, me! Please!

GENESIS

TERRAN
Huh..!?

Genesis raises her head in Terran’s view. As he looks at her, Terran can see her eyes. As he looks at them, he notices that they have changed. Genesis’ gentle, optimistic expression has faded, replaced with a darker, more emotionless one. But, even more that, it’s the color that hits him most.

Both of Genesis’ eyes glow green.

MYAGA

Excellent…

It seems as though she’s back in working order.

TERRAN

What…!?

What are you talking about!?

Terran grabs Myaga’s collar threateningly.

TERRAN

What did you DO to her!?!

MYAGA

As I said, I simply restored her….

…to her TRUE self.

TERRAN

What…!?

Dremora, Gladius, Jonathan and Thunder all arrive in the control room of Myaga’s ship. Dremora desperately looks around, trying to find Beldez. She finally notices Thunder kneeling on the ground, and Beldez laying next to him.

DREMORA

Is she…is she…!?

THUNDER

She’s alive…

At least now she is.

I had to shock her a few times to get her heart beating again.

DREMORA
Oh, thank goodness…

THUNDER

…but I’m afraid we’re too late about the poison.

DREMORA
What…?

THUNDER

It’s too far into her system…there’s nothing we can do.

She’s sure to die again, anyway…and I won’t be able to revive her forever.

Dremora starts to cry. She starts to fall apart, unable to hold her emotions.

DREMORA

I….I….

Excuse me…!!

Dremora gets up and walks away, unwilling to let Thunder, Gladius and Jonathan see her.

JONATHAN
…

This is isn’t right…

She…she doesn’t deserve this.

NO ONE deserves this.

GLADIUS

Go to her.

JONATHAN
What?

GLADIUS
Dremora is beginning to crumble. She needs someone to be there for her.

I think you fit the bill more than anyone else.

JONATHAN

….

Okay…if you think that’ll help.

(turns to Thunder)

You get Beldez out of here.

Take her someplace safe.

THUNDER

Right.

I’ll…I’ll catch you later, then.

JONATHAN

Yeah. Sure thing.

Thunder picks up Beldez and starts to fly off. Jonathan turns towards Dremora, who stands off in the distance. As he walks towards her, he can hear her sobbing and crying.

JONATHAN

Dremora…?

DREMORA

….

JONATHAN

Are you gonna be okay?

DREMORA

Jonathan….

…kill me.

JONATHAN

What?!!

DREMORA
I…I don’t know if I can go on.

JONATHAN

What…?

DREMORA
All….All I’ve wanted all these years was to get my daughter back.

I-I would have walked through hell for her.

I didn’t care what I had to do…what I had to sacrifice to get her back.

And deep down, I felt I’d probably never see her again.

But…to see her…and then lose her anyway…

…it’s just too much for me to bear.

JONATHAN

No…you can’t think that way.

You can’t just give up!

DREMORA
Why?!

Everything I believed in has come crumbling down around me!!

My first love betrayed me…and then he killed our child.

The woman who’s been more of a mother to me than anyone else has turned her back on me….and told me that I’m nothing more than a clone.

What do I have to live for!?!?

Jonathan is silent for a moment. He thinks carefully about what to say next.

JONATHAN

I know how you must feel right now.

I felt the same way when I found out that my whole life was fake.

I didn’t care if I lived or died. I’d lost everything.

But…you know why I kept going?

DREMORA

…

JONATHAN

Because there were people all around me who had lost just as much…or more.

An entire nation of people.

The Narwese had lost their homes, their families…and yet, they continued to fight because they believed the world would benefit from it.

It wasn’t about their own lives…it was about what they could do for their people.

That was when I started to realize that my own life…my own feelings…

…they just seemed so petty.

DREMORA

…

JONATHAN

There’s still a lot left to do, Dremora.

But, the most important thing is that you’re not alone in this.

All of us are willing to stay with you until this whole thing is over.

We need you.

….

I need you.

DREMORA

…

Dremora turns around, looking into Jonathan’s eyes. She can feel the sincerity within them.

DREMORA

I…

….

Thank you, Jonathan.

JONATHAN

No, no…didn’t I tell you before?

It’s "Johnny".

DREMORA

Okay, then…"Johnny".

I promise I’ll see the rest of this through…

You once said that you admired MY strength…

…but now, I have to say that I admire yours.

JONATHAN

It’s nothing, Dremora.

DREMORA

And you said something else that I’d like to repeat, too.

Dremora walks up to Jonathan and puts her arms on his shoulder, bringing her face close to him.

DREMORA

I love you.

Dremora and Jonathan kiss. Jonathan is at first surprised, but that feeling quickly fades away. After a few moments, the two of them stop.

DREMORA

There’s only one thing left to do now.

JONATHAN
Yeah.

DREMORA

Let’s end this…once and for all!

JONATHAN

(nods) Lets.

TERRAN

What do you mean you restored Genesis to her "TRUE" self?!!

MYAGA

If it truly interests you that much, I suppose I could share the information.

Do you remember meeting Yagamo on Merlan’s ship?

TERRAN

Yes.

MYAGA

If you recall, Yagamo was an artificial intelligence that resided within the body of a white tiger.

You see, we Lemuans mastered the power to harness psychic power. Our artificial intelligence systems are all derived from that power. The power of the mind. Yagamo resides within a white tiger’s body because it is within a biological incarnation that psychic energy can be utilized. That’s also why Xiratox, after being transferred to my ship, required your or Zepheron’s body to be at his full efficiency…since Lemuan bodies are capable of housing large amounts of psychic energy.

TERRAN

Where are you going with this?

MYAGA

Years before arriving on Earth, I’d sought to create the "perfect" artificial intelligence. A being that could harness vast amounts of psychic power…enough to do nearly anything. Part of the reason I decided to come to this planet originally was because it’d give me the opportunity to study its inhabitants and the way their psychic abilities worked.

I created Dremora as an early prototype. I chose to make her female because women are naturally more intelligent than men…however, Elemenian women lack the aggressive nature that would allow them to manifest their psychic potential into physical force the way men do. However, Earthian women seemed to have NO trouble accessing their powers. Possibly due to Earthlings’ higher capacity for intelligence.

TERRAN

Wait…so are you telling me that Genesis is an AI!?

MYAGA

That is correct.

TERRAN

That can’t be….!!

She….she’s human!!

She has feelings and emotions!

There’s no WAY she could be an AI!!!

MYAGA

Does she…?

Take a good look at her.

Hesitantly, Terran looks at the newly reborn Genesis. She stands silently, staring right back at him. She doesn’t make a move at all, and her face still has that grim, emotionless expression.

MYAGA

Merlan first came to realize what Genesis was soon after she arrived on the Yagamo.

When Genesis was injured, Yagamo’s recovery program automatically kicked in to heal her.

When Merlan spoke to Genesis about her past, she "accidentally" spoke Lemuan poetry to see what would happen. And sure enough, Genesis was able to respond.

From then on, Merlan had no doubts.

TERRAN

But…why…why didn’t she SAY anything?

MYAGA

As I told you before…Merlan’s judgement was too rooted in emotion.

Merlan did not want to break the poor girl’s heart.

In fact, when Merlan realized why Genesis had found an unnatural attraction to you, she decided to cultivate that. Merlan worked to make the two of you a romantic couple. She foolishly believed that this would help the girl to slowly abandon her programming for more human emotion.

TERRAN

…

"Programming?"

MYAGA
Ah, yes…Genesis’ programming.

You have already become quite familiar with one aspect of it.

TERRAN

What are you talking about?

MYAGA

I had originally planned for Xiratox to take over Zepheron’s body sometime anyway. This assist me in rebuilding my race’s treasured dynasty.

As a result, I programmed her so that she would be loyal and obedient to both myself AND Zepheron.

TERRAN

!!

MYAGA

Six years ago, when Genesis’ programming had still not been completed, Xiratox discovered what I was doing. He was furious that I was making such a powerful weapon behind his back…and a woman at that. He demanded that I scrap the entire plan, make the new clone male, and allow HIM to take its body.

When I refused, he ordered his soldiers to attack me and to destroy the girl I had created. He said he "didn’t want another Dremora".

I was left with no other option but to get rid of her…and to send her to the one place Xiratox’s forces couldn’t find her….

…the Earth.

I escaped for a while, until I was capable of regaining entry to my ship without Xiratox’s knowledge. I then used my "trump card", as you could call it in order to have my ship take control of Xiratox’s persona…thus saving me from his wrath.

However, my creation had been lost to me…

…and I hadn’t the resources to create another one.

But when I received Merlan’s memories, that’s when I realized that Genesis could still be salvaged.

But first, I’d have to repair the "damage".

TERRAN

What "damage"?

MYAGA

Since Genesis’ development had been prematurely ended, she had not yet learned to fully control the psychic energy within her body. When she first arrived on Earth, she absorbed the minds of multitudes of people…overwriting her own memories and programming.

Genesis’ true persona…that of her programmed AI…was suppressed. She began to form a NEW personality from the scraps of memories she’s gathered…like a snowball that falls down a hill.

However, some aspects of her programming remained.

For example, when she met YOU, her programmed loyalty and devotion towards Zepheron came to the surface. However, in her malfunctioning state, Genesis was unable to tell the difference between yourself and your brother.

TERRAN

…

MYAGA

Genesis confused this desire to be devoted to you with human emotion and came to convince herself that she was "in love" with you.

Now that she’s back to normal, however, her pre-programmed state should be running at full efficiency once again.

None of that nonsense will obscure her true purpose any longer.

TERRAN

You…..!!!!

MYAGA

Go ahead and hit me.

I dare you.

TERRAN
Gladly!

Terran draws back and prepares to hit Myaga, but as he brings his hand forward, he feels something grab his arm. When he turns, he sees Genesis…the same cold, emotionless stare, holding his arm. And no matter how hard he tries, he can’t move it.

TERRAN
G-Gen…!?

GENESIS

Before Terran can move, Genesis puts her hand to his chest and fires a blast at point-blank range. The blast hits him dead-on, knocking him nearly 40 feet away, where he hits the wall with an explosive impact.

TERRAN

Ngh…G-Gen…

…Why?!

MYAGA

Yes…this is perfect!

She’s everything I ever hoped for!

With her once again under my command, I can now begin the recreation of the Lemuan Dynasty without any sort of opposition!

TERRAN

N-No…damn you!!

GEN!!!

Don’t…don’t let her do this to you.

Fight her!!

GENESIS

TERRAN

No…

MYAGA

There’s nothing you can do now.

Genesis is completely under my—

Suddenly, loud laughter starts to ring throughout the room.

MYAGA
What in the—

A thick smoke seeps into the room. After swirling around for a bit, it reforms into Zepheron, who stands right into the center of the room.

ZEPHERON

I swear…every time I sit back and let you guys talk to each other, I find out the most interesting things.

TERRAN

Zepheron…!!

ZEPHERON

So, then…this little buttercup is nothing more than a Macintosh with tits, huh?

Hahaha…

How about that bro?

You fell in love with a digital woman!!

Hahaha!!!

MYAGA

Genesis!!
Destroy him!!!

ZEPHERON

Not so fast there, ginger.

Apparently, you have to do what I say too, isn’t that right?

GENESIS

ZEPHERON

Good. Then, in that case, I hereby order you to obey ME only.

You will disregard any and ALL commands from ANYONE other than myself!

MYAGA

NO!!!!!!!!!

GENESIS

Orders acknowledged.

MYAGA

No…this…this can’t BE…!!!

ZEPHERON

Thank you so much, Myaga!

Now…what do you say we find out what this little beauty can do, huh?

End of Chapter Three

Three years ago…

Dremora, in a rush, blazes into the palace gates. Some of the guards attempt to stop her, but she ignores them and pushes her way through, desperate to follow after Zepheron. Grabbing one of the soldiers, she throws him against the wall and draws back her fist, which blazes threateningly.

DREMORA
Where is he?!?!

GUARD
W-Who….!?

DREMORA

Don’t SCREW with me. I’m in a VERY bad mood.

GUARD

H-He’s on the fifth floor.

Tossing the guard asside, Dremora makes her way to the main hall, and looks around desperately, quickly trying to figure out which way to go. She jumps into a pod-like elevator and rides it upwards. When she reaches this section, the guards are surprised, and once again try to stop her. Dremora easily bowls them right over and bursts through a nearby door. Once she has, Dremora hears a terrible screaming. Someone is in tremendous pain…and the voice she hears is hauntingly familiar.

Dremora continues her way past a long corridor, where she encounters two more guards. One of them attempts to blast her with a beam of energy, but Dremora deflects it with her own power and strikes the second guard. She then rams the guard head-on and lifts him up off his feet. Her body becomes surrounded with an aura of flame which perfectly reflects her own rage.

DREMORA
What’s going on here?!?!

Talk to me!!

I swear, if you don’t, I’ll find out what the melting point of your face is.

SOLDIER

The…the emperor’s slave…Zepheron, was brought here after he was caught attempting to attack His Highness.

They’re currently enacting his punishment.

DREMORA

"Punishment?"

Abruptly, the screaming stops. Dremora drops the soldier to the ground, bewildered.

DREMORA
W-What’s going on?

Before Dremora can do anything, a squadron of soldiers appear behind her, surrounding her and holding her forcefully.

SOLDIER 2

Do NOT move! You are being taken into custody under the authority of the Empire!

Dremora couldn’t move if she wanted to, as the guards are holding her securely. However, the next instant, there’s the sound of a loud explosion, and a quick, bone-chilling scream. Then, several more explosions occur…each one making the entire room shake.

SOLDIER

What’s going ON!?!

Almost as if to answer, the wall behind everyone explodes, sending the guards flying and knocking Dremora to the floor. Startled, everyone turns to find Zepheron, his clothing tattered, his breathing ragged, and his eyes blazing red. The look on his face is one of complete rage.

DREMORA

Z-Zeph….?

Zepheron doesn’t answer. The soldiers get to their feet and surround Zepheron.

SOLDIER

Zepheron!

Stand down! Get on your knees and don’t make any sudden moves.

Zepheron doesn’t move.

SOLDIER
I said get on your knees!!!

NOW!!!

Zepheron looks up at the soldiers. Then, a sly smirk crosses his face.

Before the guards know what’s happening, the metal floor below them suddenly begins to twist and contort. Almost jelly-like, it wraps around their arms and legs. Preventing them from moving.

SOLDIER

W-What’s going on!!?!

Zepheron’s eyes glow brighter and the metal suddenly begins to heat up. It starts to painfully burn and scald each of the soldiers, causing them to scream in pain. Their screams make Zepheron smile wider, as he makes the searing metal cover the men’s entire bodies, until they’re totally covered and cooked from the outside like steamed lobsters.

During the whole incident, Dremora has watched in utter disbelief.

DREMORA

Z-Zeph, what are you doing!?!?

Zepheron turns towards her. She recedes in fear, but suddenly, he holds his hand out to her to help her up. At first hesitating, Dremora takes his hand and he lifts her up.

DREMORA

Thank you, Ze—

Before Dremora can finish, Zepheron slams her against the wall and then pushes himself onto her, bringing his face extremely close to her own. He places his hands on her wrists hard, pinning her down.

ZEPHERON

Heh….I told you not to come, didn’t I, Dremora?

DREMORA
Z-Zeph…

Y-You’re hurting me…

ZEPHERON

I like that look on your face.

It’s so… alluring

Is it fear?

Are you afraid of me?

DREMORA
Zeph…

Please…

What’s WRONG with you?!?!

ZEPHERON

Hahaha…

You ARE afraid, aren’t you?

DREMORA
Zepheron…

Let me GO!!!!

Dremora’s powers flare up, and she pushes Zepheron back. She then stands up straight, holding out a flaming hand menacingly.

DREMORA
Zeph…

I-I don’t know what’s wrong with you…

But please…stop this!!

Please!!

ZEPHERON

Stop….?

Hehe…

I’m only just getting started.

DREMORA

What are you talking about?

ZEPHERON

For the first time…

I’m free.

TRULY free.

DREMORA

What…!?

ZEPHERON

Haha…

Oh, you’ll know soon enough, my Dear Dremora…

….you’ll know soon enough.

Back in the present, Zepheron grins evilly as he fondles Genesis. Genesis stares blankly forward like a soulless doll. Zepheron’s eyes are locked onto Terran’s…who is utter powerless to do anything. Myaga is present as well, as she stands silently, unsure what to do.

ZEPHERON

All this time, I’ve had my own personal female slave.

Heh…

I have to wonder, if I told her "blow me"…

…would she actually do it?

Haha…

What do you say we find out, bro?

TERRAN

Try it, and I’ll tear your head off.

ZEPHERON

Only if "Psycho-Power Barbie" here let you, bro.

Ain’t that right, dollface?

GENESIS

TERRAN

Gen…

MYAGA

….

ZEPHERON

Now, then…seriously, what should I do with her?

Hmm…

Should I have her kill both of you?

…

Nah…that’s too easy.

(just then, Zepheron’s face lights up)
Hey, bro…

TERRAN

What?

ZEPHERON

Do you remember that little chat we had on Earth?

Y’know, the one we had while I was busy putting my foot up your ass?

TERRAN

…

ZEPHERON

Well, then…let me refresh your memory.

I asked you to admit that the two of us were the same.

And you replied that we’re "opposites".

Don’t you remember that?

TERRAN

…..

………yeah.

ZEPHERON

Heh. Well, I just realized something.

Merlan had put her faith in you…so that YOU would be the one who became the "almighty savior of the universe"…and some gay crap like that.

Well, if you were born for the purpose of SAVING the world…

…and we’re opposites…

….what do you think THAT means?!!

TERRAN

!!

You wouldn’t…

ZEPHERON

Heh.

(turns to Genesis)

Oh, sweetie..?

TERRAN

No!! You can’t!!!!

Terran attempts to move, but as soon as he does, Genesis hits him with another energy blast, knocking him away.

GENESIS
Yes, Master Zepheron?

ZEPHERON

Destroy this planet…

…and take as MANY of the rodents here with it as you can!!!

Turn this entire spinning ball of dung into space dust!

GENESIS

Genesis starts to glow brightly. In a bright flash of light, she disappears from the room and teleports away. Terran gets to his feet and rushes forward.

TERRAN

No!! Dammit!!

Myaga!!!

MYAGA
What is it?!

TERRAN

Can she really do that?!?!

Does she have the power to destroy this planet?!!?

MYAGA

…

TERRAN

ANSWER ME!!!

MYAGA

If you gave her enough time…

…she could destroy this SOLAR SYSTEM.

TERRAN

Dammit…

I gotta stop her!!

Terran prepares to move, but before he can, Zepheron kicks him in his face, knocking him to the ground. Then, Zepheron causes a huge piston to form, crushing Terran beneath it.

ZEPHERON

Where do you think YOU’RE going, huh!?

You’re not thinking of ruining my FUN, are you?

From nowhere, a blast of fire comes and strikes Zepheron in his back, sending him flying forward and crashing through a wall. As he looks up, he sees Dremora, Gladius and Jonathan, all ready to continue their attack.

JONATHAN

Hey, Terran! You okay, man?

Terran quickly transforms into liquid and then slips out from under the piston. He quickly reforms, clear of any danger.

TERRAN

Yeah, I’m fine.

Thanks for the help.

GLADIUS

Wait…where’s Myaga?

Terran turns.

TERRAN

What the hell!?

She was just here a minute ago!

DREMORA

She’s escaped us again!!

TERRAN

If she’s run away, that means she knows how to escape.

JONATHAN

Huh? What are you talking about?

TERRAN

Listen to me!

Genesis is about to attempt to destroy the planet…

…and I’m not sure I can stop her.

JONATHAN
WHAT?!?!

Genesis….?!?

How? WHY?!?

TERRAN
I can’t explain it right now.

I just need you all to try and get off this planet as soon as possible…

…and warn as many people as you can!!

DREMORA

…I’m not leaving until I’ve confronted Myaga…

…and put an END to this!

JONATHAN

Me either.

That bitch’s ass has a date with my foot.

GLADIUS

Then you two go ahead and find Myaga.

I can contact Thunder and tell him to spread the word.

JONATHAN

Okay, then.

But what about YOU, Terran?

TERRAN

I’ll try everything I can to stop Genesis.

Now, go! We don’t have much time!!

High above the ground, miles above even the tower of the Imperial Palace, Genesis rises and finally comes to a stop. Looking down at the planet for a moment, she once again starts to build with power. The green aura around her begins to glow brighter and brighter as he power accumulates more and more. On the ground, people look up to see what appears to be a star, only brighter and much larger than most. Even others can see it, including Thunder, who is onboard a Sylenian cruiser with Beldez, headed back to Sylenia. He speaks with Gladius, who informs him of the situation.

THUNDER

Genesis is going to do WHAT?!?!

I don’t believe it!!

No, way!! That’s imp—

As the bright green light finally becomes overwhelming and impossible to ignore, Thunder looks up and gazes at the source of the familiar green hue.

THUNDER

G-Gen…?

Genesis finally finishes building her power, and a huge green mass, almost like huge green blob, surrounds her. Stretching both of her arms out, she causes her power to shoot forward into almost snake-like beams, which strike the ground with explosive results. As the beams strike the ground, they destroy anything in their path- buildings, ships, and people. The ground breaks apart when they strike, and they continue down past the surface, burrowing deep within the planet’s core. A few minutes after they disappear into the ground, lava shoots up from the ground where they entered, pouring out like a volcano. The entire planet begins to shake violently, and the ground cracks open, allowing even more lava to shoot out. From space, the planet appears to crack like a walnut, with reddish "veins" appearing from the surface.

Terran, having exited the ship, looks down at the chaos below, totally aghast. He then looks upwards and continues to fly towards Genesis. However, as he approaches, he rams head-on into a sort of force-barrier.

GENESIS

TERRAN

Gen!!

It’s me, Terran!!

Please, answer me!!

GENESIS

TERRAN
GEN!!!!

GENESIS

Genesis points her hand towards Terran. It begins to glow threateningly. Terran remains perfectly still, looking Genesis in her eyes. When her hand has fully charged, Genesis hesitates. She’s fully prepared to strike Terran down, but she does not.

TERRAN

Come on, Gen…

If you’re going to kill me, kill me.

Because I’m not going away.

I’m not abandoning you.

GENESIS

VOICE

No!!

Terran and Genesis turn to find Zepheron floating next to them. His arms folded and a grin on his face.

ZEPHERON

Only I am allowed to put an end to this pitiful dimwit’s life.

You are NOT to kill him yourself under MY command, understood?

GENESIS

TERRAN

You just made a mistake, Zepheron.

A BIG one.

ZEPHERON

Heh.

We’ll see, jackass.

You’ve never been able to beat me, brother.

And you never WILL.

I’ll ALWAYS be better than you…

…and you’ll always be a pitiful, weak little momma’s boy.

TERRAN

Heh….

Small dogs always bark the loudest, isn’t that right, bro?

You’re starting to bore me.

Are we going to start this, or what?

ZEPHERON

Heh.

Let’s.

Meanwhile, back on the surface, soldiers everywhere are fleeing the palace. Ordinary citizens are in a panic, trying futilely to escape. However, a few moments later, the ground bursts forth with more hot lava, consuming them. In front of the palace, Dremora and Jonathan look around, trying to determine what to do.

JONATHAN

Uh…

Maybe trying to find Myaga wasn’t such a good idea after all…

DREMORA

This…this is horrible!!

So much is being destroyed…so many people…

…and for what?!!?

JONATHAN

I don’t know…

…but if we don’t find Myaga FAST, we’ll have our OWN problems.

DREMORA

But, we have no idea where she’s gone.

She could be ANYWHERE!

Without warning, the ground shakes even more violently…but not in the chaotic way of the quakes. Looking around, Dremora and Jonathan see a large section of the palace break away, starting to transform into something that resembles a ship.

JONATHAN

I’ll give you ONE good guess where she is…

The battle between the rebels and the Imperials has come to a screeching halt. The imperial soldiers and the rebel soldiers, both confused, try to make sense of what’s going on around them. The ships have pulled back from the planet, trying to remain out of the range of the frequent lava spouts. On one ship, panicked Imperial officers turn to the admiral for support.

OFFICER

A-Admiral?!! Sir?!

What should we do?!

The Admiral is speechless, his eyes fixed on the anarchy happening on the surface.

OFFICER

Admiral!!!

ADMIRAL

Ah…uh….

All ships, pull back!!

Retreat into the atmosphere!!

Stay AWAY from the surface!!

OFFICER

But sir, what about the people below?!

Some of us have families, wives and children down there!

ADMIRAL

They’re probably dead already!!

There’s no WAY we can save them now!

OFFICER

But…

ADMIRAL
That was a direct order!!!

Pull back!

The Imperial ships start to leave the planet, heading upwards into the atmosphere. However, before they can get very far, green beams of energy come from nowhere, striking down a half-dozen ships at once, not allowing them to escape.

ADMIRAL
What the hell..!?

OFFICER

Sir! That came from the source of the high energy-buildup!!

ADMIRAL

Whoever’s doing this…

…it looks like he won’t let us leave!!

OFFICER

What do we do, sir?!

ADMIRAL

All Imperial ships, break formation!

Attack the source of the energy now!!

Dozens of Imperial ships start to break off of their current course and turn towards Genesis. They all start to fire towards Genesis, with several shots barely missing Terran and Zepheron as well.

ZEPHERON

Annoying gnats, aren’t they?

Swat them, for me.

GENESIS

TERRAN

Dammit, not again…!!

Terran once again tries to stop Genesis, but Zepheron flies in front of him like a sentry. His arms are folded and a sinister grin is on his face.

ZEPHERON

Now, now, brother.

I don’t appreciate you trying to play with my new toy.

Get your own.

Having nowhere else to go, Terran punches Zepheron square in the jaw, knocking him back slightly. However, after a few moments, Zepheron quickly rights himself and straightens out.

ZEPHERON

Ah, now THAT’S more like it!

Zepheron returns Terran’s blow with a blast that sends Terran hurtling towards the surface.

Meanwhile, the Imperial ships continue to fire on Genesis. However, using her telekinesis, Genesis ensures that each shot never comes anywhere near her. Genesis’ eyes start to glow even more brightly, and after a moment, the ships stop firing altogether.

ADMIRAL

What’s going on!!?

I never told you to stop firing!

OFFICER

I-It’s not US, sir!!

The ship won’t respond!

ADMIRAL
What!??! Impossible!!!

OFFICER

It’s no use, sir!!

We’re not in control of this ship!!

ADMIRAL

Well, if you’re NOT, who is?!?!

Genesis moves her hands through the air, as if she’s a puppeteer controlling the strings of a marionette. The Imperial ships begin to turn around, and slowly face one another. Their weapons begin to charge up again, ready for one climactic, all-powerful blast…

ADMIRAL
No….

Genesis drops her hand rapidly, and the ships all fire upon one another, destroying themselves. There’s a large explosion as the entire Elemenian fleet explodes in a gigantic ball of flame.

Elsewhere, Myaga sits inside of a small, cramped space inside of a huge machine…a remnant from the palace. On several monitors, she watches everything that unfolds around her.

MYAGA

Xiratox. Initiate Journal log.

XIRATOX

Yes, Madam.

You may being recording.

MYAGA

My last hope slipped through my fingers, unfortunately.

My plans have been ruined.

This has been less-than-satisfying…

But, invaluable in experience.

I will now abandon this defective world and use the data gained to try again at a much later period.

Within another century, I should be able to rectify the mistakes that—

Without warning, the entire ship is rattled by an explosion.

MYAGA
What in the world….!?!!

Flying outside the ship, Dremora circles around, her body surrounded by flames, as she punches the outside of the ship using her powers to augment her strength. Each blow rattles the ship, but fails to make even a dent in the outside.

DREMORA
Come out, "Panma"!!

You think you’ll get away THAT easily after what you did to me….

…to my daughter…

…and to my PEOPLE!?!?!

Dremora punches the ship again.

DREMORA
Stop hiding!!!

What do you have to fear from an "inferior" race, huh?!?

A hologram of Myaga appears next to Dremora.

MYAGA

Stop this nonsense at once, Dremora.

You don’t realize what you’re doing.

DREMORA
Oh, I realize EXACTLY what I’m doing.

A rodent can always be found trying to escape a sinking ship…ready to go and spread more filth and disease to OTHER people.

I’m not going to allow that to happen.

You’ve corrupted ENOUGH worlds already!!!

MYAGA
Don’t be foolish.

I didn’t do anything.

I gave your father and all the other fools here an option.

They all CHOSE to pursue their own means.

THEY built the weapons and technology that eventually exhausted their planets resources.

I merely capitalized off of the situation.

DREMORA

Enough crap!!

YOU were the one who gave told them HOW to make the weapons!

YOU never told them what the consequences would be!!

YOU lied and told them that conquering the Earth could SAVE this planet!

MYAGA

You aren’t getting it, Dremora.

If a parent teaches a child to use a sword, can he be held responsible when the child attacks others with it?

DREMORA

You led them in that direction!!

Don’t act as if you had nothing to do with it!!

MYAGA

(sighs) I’m done wasting my breath on you.

You are obviously defective…and a clear waste of my time.

I should have scrapped you a long time ago.

Dremora growls in anger and blasts Myaga’s hologram.

MYAGA

Pitiful.

Xiratox!!

XIRATOX

Yes, Milady.

MYAGA

Dispose of them!!

A panel on Myaga’s ship opens up and a cannon-like contraption appears. Seeing it, Dremora dodges out of the way of a blast, but suddenly, lots more appear. Dremora knows that she can’t dodge them all, and that she’s in big trouble.

However, the next instant, the cannons all begin to cover with ice. As they fire, they explode, being destroyed in the process. Dremora looks down and sees Jonathan, who waves at her and then, he’s forced to step away from the machine. The ship is finally ready to take off, and the thrusters are coming online. The entire base of the ship begins to heat up.

MYAGA
This is your last chance, Dremora.

DREMORA

What?

MYAGA

Let’s face it, the races on these two planets will eventually destroy each other.

Maybe you’ll get lucky and survive this…

But, it’s a moot point. Somewhere down the line, the people of both worlds will only destroy themselves. It’s inevitable.

However, I’m willing to take good care of your daughter, Dremora.

If you tell me where she is, I can rescue her…

…and she’ll live a very exemplary life under my care.

DREMORA

You’ll lay a hand on my daughter again over my dead body!!

MYAGA

….

That’s rather doubtful.

When this planet goes, there most likely won’t be anything left of you to be considered a "body".

But, that’s truly unfortuanate.

As a mother, I thought you’d be able to put your what’s best for your daughter ahead of your own personal feelings.

Hmph.

…And you think you can raise her?

DREMORA

(growls)

When I get my hands on you, I’ll—

MYAGA

Don’t get your hopes up, my dear!

This ship is reinforced with the strongest metal found on Elemen.

It’s extremely inflexible and tough to dent.

DREMORA

Damn you!!

There has got to be a way to—

JONATHAN

Heat it up!!!

DREMORA

Huh!?!

Dremora looks down to see Jonathan calling out to her.

JONATHAN

Dremora, blast the ship as much as you can!!!

Give it everything you’ve got!!

DREMORA

What good will THAT do!?!

JONATHAN

Just do it! Please!!

Trust me on this!!!

Though she’s confused, Dremora turns towards Myaga’s ship and lays her hands on the outside of it. Letting out a loud yell, she proceeds to blast the ship with everything she has. A huge ball of pure heat surrounds the entire ship, increasing the temperature outside to unfathomable amounts. It becomes SO hot, the ground around the ship starts to melt. The ship starts to sink into the melted ground and slowly teeters over. Eventually, it falls onto its side. After that’s done, Dremora stops and lands on the ground, exhausted.

DREMORA
Wow!!

That…(huff, puff)…that actually worked!!

That was ingenious, Jonathan!!

JONATHAN

Er….Actually, as much as I’d like to say it was….that wasn’t my plan.

DREMORA

Huh?

JONATHAN

THIS was!!

Jonathan starts to build his power, drawing in huge amounts of energy. He grits his teeth and continues drawing in power. Sweat pours from his head, and though he’s in considerable pain, he ignores it, continuing to build his power.

DREMORA
W-What are you doing!?!?

JONATHAN
We have the chance to stop them. BOTH of them.

I’m going to take it.

As you said, there’s no way we can let them do this to ANOTHER world.

While the ship’s heated, it’s also expanded.

If I cool it off rapidly, the entire thing should shatter.

DREMORA

But…your condition…!!

JONATHAN

What ABOUT my condition!?!

DREMORA

Don’t be an idiot!!

You know damn well that this could KILL you!!!

JONATHAN

….I’m waiting for you to get to a point, Dremora.

DREMORA

You moron!!!
If you’re doing this to impress me, forget it!!

This is just crazy!!

JONATHAN

Remember what I told you before?

About wanting to make sure I did some good before I died?

DREMORA

…

JONATHAN

If I don’t do this…I’d never be able to live with myself. EVER.

I’d have this hanging over my head for the rest of my life.

Would you want that to happen?

DREMORA

…

But…but…

JONATHAN

Look, not matter what happens…

…just remember that….

…that I loved you, okay?

Whatever you do with your life from now on…

…make yourself happy.

DREMORA
…

Jonathan, please!!!

Dremora attempts to come forward, but by this time, Jonathan’s already built up a huge portion of concentrated cold. Dremora becomes frostbitten just sticking her hand forward.

JONATHAN
I guess there’s nothing left to say here except…

…I hope heaven has a lot of porn!!

Jonathan releases all of his power onto Myaga’s ship. The huge amount of cold overtakes it, counteracting Dremora’s heat. The ship contracts, and the cold causes the entire thing to crack and shatter. A series of small explosions happen all over the ship, causing it to power down. Xiratox’s AI program flickers barely until it finally fizzles out, going to nothing.

Meanwhile, Jonathan convulses and falls to his knees. He coughs up blood and then falls to the ground.

Dremora, in a panic, rushes over to him.

DREMORA
Jonathan!!!

DREMORA

Dammit, Jonathan!!

Don’t you leave me!!

JONATHAN!!!!

Dremora shakes Jonathan lightly, and after a moment, he coughs a bit, but is barely able to speak.

JONATHAN

N…n….need….

Mo…to…..uth….

DREMORA

What?

What did you say?

Just…relax. Say it slowly.

JONATHAN

(cough)…I….I said…

"Need…mouth-to-mouth…"

Dremora is taken aback for a moment…but then, she starts to laugh.

DREMORA

You…you pervert…

JONATHAN

Heh…

Now…ngh…get out of here.

Just…leave me…

DREMORA

No chance in HELL, pal.

Let me tell you something:

In all my time in the military, I never ONCE failed a mission.

As of right now, my mission is getting YOU someplace safe.

And I sure as hell ain’t gonna fail.

JONATHAN

…

(cough) Haha…"Ain’t gonna?" (cough)

Heh…you sound more like me everyday.

Dremora stands up and puts Jonathan on her back, getting ready to move.

DREMORA
Okay, let’s go.

VOICE

Not so FAST…

Dremora turns and sees Myaga, a gun in her hand, walking towards them.

DREMORA

You’re…ALIVE?

MYAGA

I admit, it was a close call….

But I did manage to transform into a liquid to minimize any damage to myself.

DREMORA
Heh. So what now?

Your almighty plans are finished. You’re stuck here like the rest of us.

MYAGA
That’s true…

…but I can still make ONE final accomplishment before my life ends.

I never DID get around to discarding YOU even after I had no other use for you.

I’ll let rectifying that mistake by my final act.

Myaga points her gun at Dremora, and a grin crosses her face.

DREMORA
I thought you didn’t believe in emotions.

MYAGA

In this case, I’ll make an exception.

I’ll enjoy ending your life.

Which is fitting…since I created it.

Myaga prepares to fire at Dremora, and Dremora looks her right in the eye, not flinching and ready to take what’s coming. However, just as Myaga fires, a cable comes from nowhere and grabs her arm, yanking it to the side. Myaga and Dremora turn to find Gladius.

GLADIUS

You’ve destroyed ENOUGH lives!!

Now, it’s time that you reaped what you’ve sown!!

Gladius powers up his energy blades and rushes towards Myaga. As he does, Myaga stands perfectly still and upright. Gladius comes in close and rams his blade into Myaga’s abdomen. However, he’s more than a little puzzled.

GLADIUS

….Why…didn’t you move..!?

Gladius steps back a bit and looks at Myaga’s face. As he does, a familiar smile greets him.

MYAGA

….T…Thank you…….

J…….Jesse…….

GLADIUS

M-Merlan…?

MYAGA

….Thank …….you…………..

Myaga falls over, dead. And for a while, everything is completely silent.

DREMORA

I’m…I’m sorry if this is a bad time…

…but we really need to find a way to…

GLADIUS

There’s a ship nearby. The rebels told me where to find it, and I brought it here to pick you guys up.

DREMORA

Great! Let’s use it and get the hell out of here.

GLADIUS

Couldn’t have said it better myself.

End of Chapter Four

Across most of the planet Elemen, the entire world has a silence devoid of life. All over the world, entire cities, villages, and other places have totally collapsed- whether from the massive earthquakes now plaguing the planet or from other means. Nearly 90% of the planet’s population is dead, including animals and planet life. Some were killed by the collapsing landscape, others were caught in the raging floods of magma flowing across the planet. However, the vast majority were simply killed because of the massive heat that the magma has generated. The heat, ranging well into the thousands, is simply too much any form of life to bear.

However, those that remain are those that are either within ships that are maintaining distance from the planet or three particular beings that are almost more god-like than human…

ZEPHERON

Don’t give up, brother!!

Hahaha…who knows?
If you keep at this, you might actually HIT me.

Zepheron taunts Terran from high in the air. Down below is a huge crater filled with an abundance of devastation. After a moment, there’s a loud explosion as a powerful force knocks away a large pile of rubble. In the center of it, Terran gets to his feet, preparing to continue the fight.

TERRAN

Oh, I’ll do MORE than HIT you…you sadistic bastard.

ZEPHERON

Heh.

You must mean that what your idea of a "fight" might make me die laughing.

TERRAN

We’ll see.

Terran causes a bolt of lightning to shoot from the clouds above and strike Zepheron. While Zepheron staggers from it, Terran rams into him at superspeed, knocking Zepheron back into a large metal tower. Zepheron hits the tower hard, causing it to break at the point of impact. However, the top, broken half of the tower doesn’t fall. It stops in the air and suddenly rushes straight at Terran, hitting him dead-on.

Using his powers to push the broken tower back, Terran leaves himself open as Zepheron having created a huge piston beneath his feet, comes from above and smashes Terran into the ground. Zepheron quickly leaps off of Terran and moves to the side. Terran sits up, trying to regain himself, and the next moment, he feels a blade come through his shoulder, pinning him to the ground. Zepheron stands over him, wriggling the blade around, causing Terran to groan in pain.

ZEPHERON
You know, I’m actually glad that you and Xiratox separated.

Killing both of you certainly would have been great on its own…

…but now I can take satisfaction in fighting you at your best…

…and showing you that it’s absolutely NOTHING compared to ME!!

Zepheron begins to laugh, but the next instant, he looks up to see Terran’s palm in front of his face, his hand glowing brightly.

TERRAN

You know something?

You talk too damn much.

Terran fires an intense blast of energy directly into Zepheron’s face. Zepheron yells out and gets staggered back, his face completely singed. Taking the opportunity, Terran’s arms change to cables, grabbing Zepheron, and quickly tossing him away. After taking another moment to heal the wound on his chest, Terran moves forward to continue the assault.

Elsewhere on the planet, Thunder and the rest of the Kindred are inside Sylenia. The barrier around the city protects it from the extremely harsh environment outside, but the barrier is beginning to flicker due to the constant strain.

THUNDER

We have GOT to find a way out of here.

GODDESS

We’ve asked around the entire city, but all of the ships that could have been used for evacuation were used during the assault.

And none of them can get close because of the barrier.

SHADOW

We can’t just die like this!

There has to be SOMETHING we can do!!

THUNDER

Keep calm.

We need to think. Something will come up.

Just then, a shadow approaches.

GLADIUS

Why are you all standing around like this?

We got work to do.

THUNDER
YOU!! You’re alive!!

GLADIUS

Yeah, and I wanna stay that way.

We gotta leave this planet ASAP

THUNDER

And how do we do THAT?

GLADIUS

Have you forgotten how we got here?

THUNDER

Oh yeah…the Yagamo!

But…can you fly it?

GLADIUS

(smirks)

I think that it can be arranged.

Elsewhere on the planet, Terran searches for Zepheron using his strength to knock aside a fallen building. He continues to search for Zepheron, but he’s nowhere to be found.

TERRAN

Come on out, Zepheron!!

Stop hiding, you coward!!

As Terran continues looking for his brother, Zepheron suddenly flies up behind Terran and shoots a fireball behind his back. Terran sees it and turns around to deflect the shot upwards. He then fires a return shot at Zepheron. The blast strikes Zepheron head on, but Zepheron’s body merely turns into smoke, dissipating at the impact. Zepheron reforms a second later, grinning.

ZEPHERON

Good, bro…

Zepheron rushes forward, and rams Terran with his shoulder, staggering him. Zepheron then punches Terran three times before delivering a powerful roundhouse kick that sends him flying. Terran crashes through three buildings, collapsing them with the impact.

Terran finally skids along the ground, digging a huge trench into the dirt. He gradually comes to a stop from the friction, and starts to get up, groaning heavily. He looks up to see Zepheron attempting to come down on him with spikes under his feet as he had done before. Terran reaches up and grabs Zepheron’s foot, twists it, and slams Zepheron to the ground hard. The ground beneath Terran then starts to rumble, and a stone fist shoots out of it, hitting Terran in the face.

Zepheron takes advantage of the moment and punches Terran in the face, and Terran immediately retaliates with a punch of his own. Terran and Zepheron start to trade blows, with the entire surrounding area shaking from impact. From a slight distance, Genesis remains still…watching.

Back in Sylenia, Gladius, Thunder and the Kindred enter the Yagamo.

GLADIUS

Hey!! Yagamo!!

Wake your ass up!!

We gotta move!!

Just then, the ship’s facilities begin to power up.

YAGAMO

You don’t have to yell.

My auditory sensors are functioning normally.

THUNDER

Yeah, yeah…

Look, we have to go, okay?

But first, I wanna ask you something.

Exactly how many people can you hold?

YAGAMO

My facilities can accommodate up to 200 people.

THUNDER
Damn…! That’s not nearly enough…!!

GLADIUS

What are you trying to do?

THUNDER

The people in this city will die if we don’t do something to save them.

These are our people. Try to understand.

GLADIUS

Yeah, I know.

But, I don’t see how.

YAGAMO

Excuse me…but if it’s the city you want to save, I can simply bring it with me.

EVERYONE

WHAT?!!

YAGAMO

The "Sylenia" was originally a colony ship. One half was designed to carry an entire civilization of people while the other half, the "Yagamo", was used for terraforming. Myaga and Merlan split the ship into two when they left for Earth and Elemen.

THUNDER
What? But I thought that the Palace was the ship Myaga came here in.

YAGAMO

It was the central command center, yes. After Xiratox came to power, he demanded that it be broken away from the rest of the city. The city soon came to come into rebel hands. That’s why I was able to dock with this city so easily.

GLADIUS

Look, I’m sure we all can appreciate the history lesson later, Yagamo.

But right now…

YAGAMO

Oh, sorry, sorry!

We’re lifting off…now!

While the Yagamo takes off and takes the entire city of Sylenia, the planet is now reaching critical mass. The planet actually begins to split down the middle, and nearly all of its land mass has begun to be disintegrated. Out in space, Dremora and a fleet of rebel ships watch. Laying down next to her, with lots of medical equipment next to him, Jonathan tries to speak.

JONATHAN

W-What’s…(cough)…

…going on…?

DREMORA

It’s almost over.

The planet’s going to blow any minute.

JONATHAN

Well then, we…(cough)… should go into hyperspace before that happens, don’t you think?

DREMORA

Well, yes, but the ship hasn’t finished tracking the stellar patterns and…

JONATHAN

(cough) Dremora.

It’ll be okay.

DREMORA

But…

JONATHAN

What have we got lose?

DREMORA

…

JONATHAN
You can’t play it safe forever, Dremora.

Life without…(cough cough) taking chances isn’t life.

That’s true with everything…even…(cough)…even love.

DREMORA

…

Okay, then.

Hold on tight. We’re heading for Earth!

JONATHAN

Thatagirl.

Dremora and Indigo’s ship bursts forth into hyperspeed, leaving Elemen behind. Soon afterwards, the fleet follows, and soon after clearing the atmosphere, the Yagamo follows as well. At this point, there only remains three people alive on the planet. Terran, Genesis, and Zepheron. Terran and Zepheron continue to trade blows fiercely, but Genesis is growing concerned about the planet’s situation.

GENESIS
Master…

Zepheron, too absorbed in his fight with Terran, ignores Genesis and continues the battle.

GENESIS

Zepheron still doesn’t answer. Genesis looks around as the violent explosions begin to occur all around her. Having no other choice, she raises her hands to her chest and brings her hands close together. A small orb of light appears between them, growing brighter and brighter. She closes her eyes and continues building her power. After a moment or so, Zepheron’s body gains an emerald aura around it. Both Terran and Zepheron are taken aback by this.

Terran looks over at Genesis, who is building up enough power for a teleport.

Her body is glowing brightly as well with the same emerald hue.

Terran grabs hold of Zepheron and soon afterwards, Genesis and Zepheron teleport away, but since Terran is holding onto Zepheron, he is dragged along with them.

Time passes. No one knows exactly how much, because time in hyperspace is difficult to measure. However, after what has to have been an hour or two, the Yagamo and Dremora and Jonathan’s ship emerge from hyperspace.

THUNDER

I….I don’t believe it.

We made it back to Earth.

We’re ALIVE!!!

GLADIUS

Yeah, but don’t get your panties in a bunch.

We’ve got company.

Everyone looks up to see a squadron of Imperial ships heading towards them.

THUNDER

Oh, crap…

I forgot about them!!

GODDESS

There’s too many of them!

There’s no way we can fight them all.

TIBURON

They’re moving closer…

METALM

What do we do, boss-man?

THUNDER
(gritting his teeth)

Dammit…I…I don’t know…

Just then, there’s a bright flash as the rebel fleet appears from hyperspace.

THUNDER

Hey, alright!!

They survived!!

SHADOW

Yeah, now we’ve got some support!!

Just then, an Imperial transmission is intercepted.

IMPERIAL SOLDIER

You!!

What’s going on?!

Why can’t we raise any of the homeworld units!?

THUNDER

I’m afraid it’s because there ARE no more homeworld units.

IMP. SOLDIER

WHAT?!?!

THUNDER

There is no planet Elemen any more.

It’s been destroyed.

IMP. SOLDIER

What!?!?

LIES!!!

THUNDER

I’m afraid not.

What you’re looking at is all that remains.

IMP. SOLDIER

Grrrrr…!!!

You rebel dogs!!

We’ll have your heads for this!!!

THUNDER

Just try it, punk!

The imperial ships and the rebel ships begin to fire at each other heavily, pounding away on each others’ shields. The battle goes on for quite a long time before suddenly, a single ship comes forward, firing at both sides.

THUNDER

Who the hell…!?

An image of a very upset Dremora appears.

DREMORA

What are you DOING!?!?

THUNDER

Huh?! What does it look like?!

We’re fighting a war!!

DREMORA

WHAT war?!!?

Who are you FIGHTING for!?!

IMP. SOLDIER

Commander Dremora!? What are you doing!?

We’re fighting these rebels in the name of the Elemenian Empire.

DREMORA

Listen to me.

There IS no more "empire". The Emperor is dead.

The planet Elemen is gone.

This war is OVER.

THUNDER

….

IMP. SOLDIER

But, then….what are we supposed to do?

DREMORA

Technically, I am now the highest-ranking member of the military. Therefore, that means that I am in charge.

And I am hereby ordering a complete and utter cease-fire amongst the Elemenian soldiers.

IMP. SOLDIER

What?!?

DREMORA

The time for bloodshed is LONG over.

The Earth’s government has been dissolved, the Empire has been destroyed, and we’ve lost our homeworld.

What more reason do we have to fight?

IMP. SOLDIER

…

DREMORA

Whether we like it or not, from this moment forward, we are all Earthlings. We all have no choice but to make due with what we have.

But I promise you, if we don’t end the senseless battles once and for all, we’ll eventually destroy ourselves.

IMP. SOLDIER

…

Very well then, Commander.

I will honor your orders.

From this day forward, the Imperial soldiers will proclaim a cease-fire on any terran or rebel soldiers.

DREMORA

Good.

And I trust that the rebels can do the same?

THUNDER

As one of the two last surviving members of the Zennon royal family, I am also ordering for all rebel force to honor this decree as well.

From now on, this war is over.

But, no sooner than those words are spoken than another bright flash of light occurs. The next instance, a huge green-colored fireball comes out of hyperspace and darts through the cluster of ships, heading straight towards the Earth.

THUNDER

What the hell was THAT?!?!

GLADIUS

It seemed to be….

Genesis. And possibly Terran and Zepheron as well.

THUNDER

They’re gonna hit the planet!

Down on the Earth, the night sky begins to glow bright green as the strange "comet" approaches. It hits the ground with a huge impact, creating a crater the size of ten football fields. Down in the center of the crater, two figures lay on the ground while a third hovers above them.

TERRAN

Ugh…my head….

ZEPHERON

….Dammit…

The two brothers rise to their feet, too disoriented to even realize how much they hate each other. They look around for a moment, trying to get their bearings.

TERRAN

We-We’re on Earth?

ZEPHERON

What the hell…?

Zepheron turns to Genesis.

ZEPHERON

Okay, you crazy glowing broad.

Explain.

GENESIS

ZEPHERON

I thought I told you NOT to interrupt this fight.

GENESIS

ZEPHERON

I do NOT need help from synthetic bimbos!

GENESIS

TERRAN

Stop calling her that, dammit!!

ZEPHERON

Oh, shut up, moron.

I’ll get to YOU in a minute.

Hahaha….

But first, I’d like to finish what I started.

TERRAN

What are you talking about?

ZEPHERON

Heh…

(turns to Genesis)

I want you to repeat what you did on Elemen.

Hahaha!!!

Demolish THIS planet as well!!

GENESIS

ZEPHERON

But, what?

GENESIS

ZEPHERON

Do whatever it takes.

And this time, don’t make it TAKE so long.

Don’t give ANYONE a chance to escape.

Hahaha!!

GENESIS

Yes, sir.

TERRAN
Genesis, listen to me!

Stop this!

You don’t have to do this!!

GENESIS

TERRAN

Forget about the damn programming!!

You know you don’t WANT to do this!!

GENESIS

TERRAN

Gen…

GENESIS

ZEPHERON

No need to worry about that, sweet thing.

Heh…

I’ll take care of him.

GENESIS

ZEPHERON

Oh, and one last thing:

After this fight is over…

…no matter WHAT happens, you will finish your orders.

No matter what is said and no matter what is done.

You will wipe out this entire planet!

Is that clear?!

GENESIS

ZEPHERON

Then get to work.

GENESIS

Terran watches as Genesis flies up into the air the same way she did on Elemen. However, this time, he knows that chasing after her will not do any good. He knows that in order to stop her, there’s only one thing he can do:

Defeat Zepheron first.

ZEPHERON

Well, then, bro.

It seems it’s time.

Zepheron flexes, doing a quick healing of the bruises and wounds on his body.

ZEPHERON

Hahaha…

In a few moments, this entire planet will be gone

And all of the clueless, idiotic morons of this world will go WITH IT!

Hahaha!!

Terran looks straight ahead towards Zepheron. However, the next instant, he does something that takes Zepheron off-guard.

He smiles.

TERRAN

Heh.

ZEPHERON

What the hell’s so funny?

TERRAN

Well, it’s funny that after all your speeches about superiority and how much better than me you are…

After all the people you’ve killed, and everything you’ve done…

You’ve now ensured my victory.

Heh…there’s no way you can beat me now.

ZEPHERON

What?

What kind of bullsh*t are you pulling?

TERRAN

(grins)

You’ll see.

For a moment, Zepheron looks rattled. Terran’s sudden level of confidence throws him off. But Zepheron immediately goes back to his own confident expression as well. The two brothers stare at one another for a few minutes.

TERRAN

Before this starts, I just want to know…

…what does killing all these people do for you?

What could it POSSIBLY achieve?

ZEPHERON

If you really want to know…

…it’s because I came to a conclusion a little while ago.

After I’d killed the Emperor and gotten my revenge, I wasn’t sure what I was going to do. Should I take his throne and become the NEW Emperor?

But then, I started to realize that being a ruler isn’t what I really want. You see, in order for me to "rule" anyone, I’d have to actually give a damn about them.

TERRAN

But why this?!

What do you get out of killing EVERYONE?!

ZEPHERON

It’s to prove a point?

TERRAN

Point? What "point"?

ZEPHERON

That life is meaningless.

TERRAN

What!?

ZEPHERON

For years, Xiratox used to tell me how meaningless my life was. How useless I was.

It was all I heard for years. Over and over again.

For years, I tortured myself, wondering…"Am I really useless? Is my life really meaningless?"

But eventually, something happened that changed me.

It made me see the real truth.

TERRAN

What "truth"?

ZEPHERON

That ALL life is meaningless.

TERRAN

You’re nuts.

ZEPHERON

Heh. Am I?

Think about it:

The only things living beings do are breed and die. Breed and die. Over and over again…it’s an unending pattern.

What purpose is there to that? Why do living beings exist? Simply to continue their stupid, monotonous existence? Is that all life is? Spitting out kids and then turning into dust?

The fact is, life is only filled with suffering, pain and loss…and then you have a kid so that the process can be repeated. Nothing changes. Look at the Lemuans. Supposedly the most "advanced" race in the universe, and all the two surviving members could think about was how to ensure the survival of their species. They didn’t care who or what they hurt in the process.

Even Earthlings and Elemenians nearly destroyed BOTH of their own worlds simply trying to make sure they remained the dominant race.

The fact is, THIS is the best that "life" has to offer…

…proving that life is, in fact, meaningless.

TERRAN

You do realize that when you say this, you’re speaking about your OWN life, too, right?

ZEPHERON

Perhaps, but it doesn’t matter.

My only desire is to prove just how meaningless all of YOUR lives are.

All of you struggling to protect your lives and continue your monotonous existence.

It’s enough to make me sick.

TERRAN

Oh, enough of this.

I’ve wasted enough time on you.

Let’s just get this over with.

The sooner I kick your ass, the sooner Genesis and I can go home.

ZEPHERON

Heh…we’ll see about that.

And I’m ready when YOU are…

…brother.

TERRAN

Then give me your best shot.

Zepheron grunts loudly, building up his power. Terran does the same, and a moment later, the two brothers are once again in close combat with one another. After trading blows for a while on the ground, the two take off to the air. Zepheron zooms up slightly higher than Terran, and as Terran attempts to chase after him, a bolt of lightning comes from above and goes straight through his body. Terran is stunned for a moment, which is all the time Zepheron needs to hit him with a powerful punch that sends him flying miles away.

Terran lands within a city- one that had been decimated by the rampaging hunters only a few days ago. Terran’s impact causes several of the weakened buildings and structures nearby to collapse, and a series of explosions occur due to broken gas lines. Zepheron flies above the area, once again charging his powers. He begins to form an energy ball, preparing to release its destructive force.

ZEPHERON

Haha!!

Where’s all that confidence of yours NOW, brother!?!

Hahaha!

Here, have some of THIS!!

Blasting all of his power towards the area where Terran hit the ground, a huge explosion occurs, with the blast affecting everything within a quarter of a mile. Zepheron grins, pleased by the advantage he’d established early into this decisive battle However, his comfortable demeanor turns out to be unwarranted as Terran suddenly bursts from a building and tackles Zepheron, ramming him into the wall of another building. Terran goes into a defensive stance and waits.

ZEPHERON

Heh. Not a bad shot, bro.

Maybe this will be somewhat of a fight, afterall…

Hehe…

Zepheron fires two blasts at Terran. Terran deflects them away from himself, but it distracts him long enough for Zepheron to deliver a knee-thrust to Terran’s chest, knocking him back. Zepheron next uses an elbow strike, knocking Terran into another wall.

ZEPHERON

But unfortunately for you, time is on MY side.

You see, while we’re screwing around HERE, your girl is getting ready to blow up this dustball.

HAHA!!!

Zepheron continues to pummel Terran with punches, and Terran staggers from each blow. However, after a moment or two, Zepheron begins to tire. His punches and attacks become slower and pack less of a punch. Zepheron, confused, backs away.

ZEPHERON

What….the hell’s going on!?!

TERRAN

Heh.

ZEPHERON

"Heh"!?

What do you mean, "heh"?

Come on, you pencil-neck geek.

Spit it!

Zepheron tries to punch Terran again, but Terran easily moves out of the way and connects with a right hook to Zepheron’s jaw. Before Zepheron can react, Terran delivers a powerful kick to to his chest. Zepheron tries to hit Terran again, but Terran ducks under the attack and uppercuts him.

TERRAN

You want to know WHY you can’t hit me?!

You want to know WHY you’re feeling so heavy and sluggish?

Well, I’ll tell you.

I used my powers to gradually increase the gravity affecting you.

Every move you make is being weighed down by the increasing effect of gravity.

Terran punches Zepheron three more times, causing him to stagger backwards.

ZEPHERON

Well, well…

It seems your brain might have another purpose besides being my punching bag.

But this crappy little game of yours is over.

All I need to do is fix the gravity around me and—

Before Zepheron can react, Terran forms his hands into a giant metallic ball and hammers Zepheron with it, knocking him high into the air.

TERRAN

…and allow my punches to hit you even HARDER.

Zepheron straightens himself out in the air, gritting his teeth in anger.

ZEPHERON

Alright, that’s IT!!!

The ground around Terran begins to shake. Large segments of it break apart and rise into the air, surrounding Terran. They then suddenly start to fly towards Terran quickly. Terran attempts to deflect them away from himself, but there’s far too many. As he manages to knock one away, two more come and hit him. Then another, and another, and another. Eventually, the multitude of hits causes Terran to lose his bearings and fall to the ground. Zepheron then comes down hard on Terran, ramming him into the pavement.

ZEPHERON

You see!?!

You can be as clever as you want, but you’re still no match for me!

Hahaha!!

Well, come on, college boy….aren’t you going to say something?

Or are you too busy choking on the dirt?

Outside of the planet’s atmosphere, Genesis continues building her power. She tries to consolidate all of her potential together so that she can destroy the entire planet in one blast as Zepheron requested. The gathering of energy makes a large green spectacle in the sky, reminiscent of a large green star. From onboard their ships, the former rebel and Imperial forces watch.

THUNDER

Shouldn’t we get down there and do something!?

GLADIUS

Don’t you get it!?

We can see the damage Terran and Zepheron are doing from up HERE!

Those two are fighting each other with so much power and rage, they can even stay in one place long enough for the ships to aim at them.

And without the ships, we wouldn’t get very far on our own power.

THUNDER

So, what?!! We just sit here and do NOTHING!?!?

GLADIUS

No…we put faith in Terran.

THUNDER

And if he fails?

GLADIUS

He won’t.

THUNDER

Okay, whatever.

But what about HER…!?

We should try to do something about Genesis.

GODDESSS

Like what?

The last time a group of ships tried to stop her, she made them destroy each other.

THUNDER

I-I don’t know…but I’m going CRAZY here!!!

YAGAMO

Er…excuse me….

GLADIUS

Yagamo?

YAGAMO

Yes, sir.

I believe I can help…

GLADIUS

How?

YAGAMO

Mistress Merlan knew something like this might one day happen.

So, she took steps with me to try and find a way to prevent it.

THUNDER

What sort of steps?

YAGAMO

Just give me a moment and I will explain…

Zepheron continues to laugh, but suddenly, a large number of thick vines shoot out from the ground around Terran. The vines quickly wrap around Zepheron like tentacles, lifting him up off of Terran. Terran, free from Zepheron takes a moment to catch his breath.

ZEPHERON

Oh, please.

VINES?!?!

What is this, Jumanji?

Like I can’t break these things off.

TERRAN

Go ahead and try.

Plants are some of the strongest lifeforms in existence.

Ever see a single weed break down a concrete sidewalk to grow?

Now, imagine that same kind of power multiplied…

…and crushing every bone in your body.

The vines continue to squeeze Zepheron, and he groans in pain for a bit. However, this does not affect him for long, and soon, he starts to chuckle loudly.

ZEPHERON

Hehehe…

HAHA!!

You think some killer weeds are going to beat ME!?!

You’re a fool!!

Zepheron starts to glow.

ZEPHERON

Let’s see if they’re as easy to burn as every other thing on this planet.

TERRAN

I wouldn’t do that if I were you.

Ignoring him, Zepheron flares up his powers. However, the second he does, a powerful explosion occurs. Terran leaps back out of the way of the blast, but Zepheron is caught right in the middle of it. Terran looks on, and a charred, rattled Zepheron staggers his way from the cloud of dust.

ZEPHERON
What….happened..!?!?

Zepheron looks up just in time to see Terran, his hands turned to quartz, start punching him again.

TERRAN
Surprise!!!

Do you know what ELSE plants do, bro?!

They generate nearly all of the oxygen found on the Earth.

Another reason I made the plant that size was because I could increase the amount of oxygen released from it.

And you know what happens when you spark a flame where there’s a lot of oxygen, don’t you?

….Well, you do NOW, anyway.

Terran punches Zepheron again, knocking him straight through an overturned bus. As he hits the ground, Zepheron grows angry and gets to his feet. He begins to prepare a counterattack, but before can act, the ground around him suddenly becomes softer- similar to quicksand. Zepheron finds himself sinking deep into it as Terran rips a lampost from the ground.

TERRAN

Ever since our last fight, bro, I’ve been thinking.

I now realize that even though these powers are a great equalizer in battle with ordinary Elemenian soldiers, that means diddly squat when I’m dealing with people on YOUR level.

You’ve been using your powers for years, so you have a much better idea of how to fight with them than I do. You know how to do tricks that I couldn’t HOPE to pull off.

But, there had to be SOMETHING that I had…

Some sort of advantage that could give me an edge over you.

That’s when it hit me.

Terran hits Zepheron with the lampost, knocking him into the air again.

TERRAN

Elemenians’ biggest flaw is that with their powers, they’ve grown accustomed to using them to get out of tight spots. You don’t have to learn to trap an animal when all you need to do is blast it with a fire ray.

However, Earthlings have never had things that easy. Earthlings had to learn strategy, critical thinking, and survival techniques.

So, what I’m saying is…

Even though you do know more about using your powers to FIGHT than me…

…you don’t know ANYTHING about how they apply to NATURE, do you?

Zepheron, having recovered from Terran’s attacks, shoots another blast at Terran. Terran dodges it, but the impact the blast has on he ground causes Terran to stumble forward, giving Zepheron enough time to continue and attack. Zepheron punches Terran twice in the midsection and then kicks him into another wall.

ZEPHERON

Do you think I care about that crap!?

None of that means ANYTHING to me!!

Zepheron picks up a steel bar from the ground and hits Terran in the head with it, knocking him to the ground. He then hits Terran with another blast of energy.

THUNDER

This is the dumbest idea I’ve ever heard!

GLADIUS

You have a better one!?!?

THUNDER

(sighs) Okay, run this by me again so that I can get it straight?

You want to REPLAY Genesis’ memories inside of her head!?

YAGAMO

In a sense, yes.

Both Genesis and I are psychic beings. Merlan knew that someday, Genesis’ programming might be reawakened…

…so Merlan took measures to have me record her memories and feelings.

She believed that helping her to remember the things she cared about would bring back her old persona.

Everyone is silent for a moment.

GODDESS

Are you sure this’ll work?

YAGAMO

It actually has a 45% chance for success.

THUNDER
What?!

That’s less than HALF!!

GLADIUS

Odds don’t mean a damn thing.

What matters are results.

I say go for it, Yagamo.

THUNDER

….

I’m with you.

What’ve we got to lose, right?

YAGAMO

Very well, then.

But there is ONE slight catch.

GLADIUS

What’s that?

YAGAMO

To do this, I will need to have my psychic essence enter Genesis’ mind. Once I do, there will be no coming back.

I…will perish.

For GOOD, this time.

GLADIUS

I see…

THUNDER

But, if you die, who’ll control the ship?

YAGAMO

All of my core functions will still work until the ship has been deactivated after a successful landing on Earth.

After that happens, without my program to guide it, it’ll never start again.

GLADIUS

(sighs) Why do I have a feeling of déjà vu?

YAGAMO

We’ve already said goodbye once, Sir.

I don’t think I could stand another long farewell.

GLADIUS

(chuckles)

Alright, then. Do your thing, pal.

And thank you.

YAGAMO

As I said before…I’m happy to do this…for friends.

Good-bye.

A hatch on the side of the ship opens and Yagamo’s white tiger form exits the ship, surrounded by a bluish energy similar to Genesis’. It flies out into space and goes towards Genesis. Genesis sees it and turns around. She attempts to use her own power to make a barrier to keep Yagamo away. However, Yagamo snarls and increases the amount of power it generates itself. After a moment, it weakens that one spot of the barrier enough to burst through. Once clear of the barrier, Yagamo’s eyes begin to glow blue. The bluish aura surrounding him exits his body and travels straight to Genesis. Genesis yells out as the blue aura enters her mind.

ZEPHERON

I don’t care about this queer third-grade Mr. Wizard crap.

What matters is who’s got the power!!

And it isn’t YOU!!!

Zepheron grabs Terran leg and throws him into a building. Terran goes through the entire building and winds up on the other side. Zepheron zooms around to the other side and punches Terran again, knocking through the building a second time.

ZEPHERON
I’ve been waiting for this moment my entire life.

I’ve always hated you…

…Even when I still cared about that bitch Dremora.

A part of me was always waiting for the time I could meet you and beat the life out of you and everything your life stands for.

I want you to SUFFER.

Zepheron goes back to the other side of the building and grabs Terran by the throat, knocking him against the wall of the building. He punches Terran in the stomach, and then rams his head into the wall of the building.

ZEPHERON

And I’ll tell you something else…

When I’m done with you, and that little girlfriend of yours destroys this planet…

…we’ll go out into space and I’ll exterminate the life on every OTHER planet I come across.

Hahaha!!!

I’ll use that little skank to destroy EVERYTHING!!

All life only lives to die anyway, so why not help them along with it?!!

And that’s not all.

Every time I wipe out a planet…and make another race extinct…

…I’ll take that girlfriend of yours and screw her like the little whore that she is.

And you know what the best part is…?!

Your consciousness will be trapped inside ME…

And you won’t able to do a damn thing about it except WATCH!!

HAHAHA!!!!

Driven by Zepheron’s words, Terran overpowers Zepheron and changes their positions. Terran throws Zepheron against the wall of the building and builds up his energy. Terran releases a mighty blast from his hands, but Zepheron narrowly moves out of the way, allowing the shot to hit the building.

ZEPHERON
Ha!!! You missed, moron!!

TERRAN

(smirks)

Oh, did I?

Zepheron hears a loud rumbling noise. As he turns around, he sees the building behind him begin to crumble. Terran then shoots another, weaker blast at him, knocking him into the building.

TERRAN

I guess "missing’ would assume that I DIDN’T want a few thousand pounds of steel and concrete to fall on your head.

After the building finishes collapsing, Terran uses a gust of wind to clear away the nearby debris. He starts to try and look around…knowing that Zepheron isn’t dead. However, all he’s met with is an eerie silence.

TERRAN
Where are you!?

Come on…!! Show yourself!

But again, Terran is met with silence. Terran becomes uneasy…a feeling that’s justified when Zepheron, having increased his body mass, bursts from the rubble, his body pulsating with power.

ZEPHERON
That is F*CKING IT!!!
I am TIRED of playing you, you BASTARD!!!

I’m fed up with this crap!!!!
I’m going to finish both you AND this planet once and for all!!!!

Zepheron continues to draw in more power. In fact, he’s calling on more power than he should even have left within his body.

TERRAN
Wait…what are you….!?!

ZEPHERON

Hahaha!!!
That’s right…!!!

I’m sure you already know that we Lemu can absorb planetary energy and make it our own!

I’m going to suck this planet dry and use the very power of the Earth itself to destroy you!!

HAHAHA!!!

Ironic, isn’t it!?

Zepheron increases the amount of power that he draws from the planet, and the large ball of energy he gathers between his hands becomes larger and larger. The ground starts to shake violently….cracks and ridges forming along the earth around Zepheron.

TERRAN
Stop it!!!!

You’re going to rip this whole planet apart!!

ZEPHERON
Hahaha!!

That’s the idea, you dumbass!!!

Screw that girl!!! This is what I really wanted anyway!!!

To tear you and this entire planet apart with my own hands!!!!

Terran grits his teeth, not knowing what to do.

TERRAN

Dammit….I’ve got no other choice….

Terran starts to mimick Zepheron’s movements, building his own energy. The ground starts to shake even more.

TERRAN
I can’t let you do this!!!

I’ll stop you!!!

No matter what!!!

ZEPHERON

Hahaha!!!

Do you really think you can build up enough energy in time, brother!?!?

Come on…let’s find out!!

Zepheron unleashes his powers at Terran, creating a huge, 10-foot energy beam. The blast travels towards Terran, who barely manages to use the energy he’d gathered to make a shield. Terran groans under the pressure of the blast, as he tries his hardest to keep it from overtaking him.

ZEPHERON

Haha!

What’s wrong, brother?!!

Not enough juice?!

You’ll never stop me with a pitiful shield like that!

In fact, if your shield slips….even for an INSTANT, you can kiss your ass goodbye.

Hahahaha!!

Terran continues to struggles against the blast. Both he and Zepheron continue to siphon energy from the Earth and into their own energy output. The backlash of the energy combined with the rate of the siphoning causes even further damage to the surrounding environment as the ground becomes even more unstable.

ZEPHERON
So what’s it gonna BE, bro?!

You gonna do this all day until the planet breaks under the pressure!?

Or are you going to let my blast just kill you quick and easy!?

Terran growls, unsure of what to do.

ZEPHERON

Heh…time’s a wastin’ brother.

Terran’s heart sinks. He realizes that for everything he’s accomplished, all the effort he’s put out in this fight, Zepheron’s still on the verge of pulling out a cheap victory. Terran knows that if he keeps this up, the combined rates at which he and Zepheron are drawing energy from the planet will cause them to rip it apart. But, if he stops, his shield will lose power and Zepheron’s beam will surely kill him.

Terran closes his eyes, because he knows there’s only one logical decision to make. Continuing what he’s doing now will lead to the planet’s ASSURED destruction. However, if he lets Zepheron simply destroy him, at least there’s a small chance that the others might survive.

Having made his decision, Terran speaks softly to the wind.

TERRAN

Mom…Dad…Merlan…

Genesis…

I’ve failed you again…

I’m sorry….

Terran is a moment away from ceasing his energy siphoning when suddenly, a powerful green blast comes from above, striking Zepheron head-on. The beam pierces Zepheron’s body, leaving a gaping hole in his chest. His energy siphon and beam cease. Surprised, he and Terran look up to see Genesis, her body crackling with power uncontrollably, as she struggles to get a hold of herself.

GENESIS

T-Terran….

N-Now’s your c-chance…..

Finish him!!

NOW…!!!!!

Terran, coming back to his senses, realizing that he’s still absorbing energy. Zepheron, on the other hand, is completely defenseless.

ZEPHERON

No…!!

TERRAN

This is it!!

Goodbye……Brother!!

Terran fires a final blast of energy, putting everything he’s got into it. The blast easily overtakes Zepheron. Zepheron lets out a loud yell as his body is ripped apart by the force of the energy. His body mass dissolves like a sugar cube in water. Zepheron slowly fades into nothing, and his body disappears.

However, the energy that destroyed him begins to change. It starts to sparkle brightly and seems to take on a life of its own. After a moment, it quickly flows straight into Terran, overtaking him. Terran groans for a moment, struggling with it. The sensation is overwhelming. The entire process lasts for a few minutes before Terran falls to his knees.

After a moment, Terran opens his eyes. His facial expression is radically different. His wide, young-to-the-world eyes are now gone, replaced by something else. His features are all there, but yet, nothing is the same.

Terran looks up into the air and sees Genesis, still struggling to fight for who she is.

TERRAN

Gen!!

Hold on…I’m coming!

Terran takes off into the air and flies up towards Genesis. However, before he can approach, she moves away.

GENESIS
S-Stay BACK!!!

TERRAN

Gen…?

GENESIS

I-I can’t fight this forever, Terran….

I’m…I’m beginning to lose control again…

Please…stay away from me!

TERRAN

Let me try to help you…!!

GENESIS
There’s….nothing you can do now…

There’s only one way to end this…

…and that’s to end my life.

TERRAN

What are you saying…?

GENESIS

I’m going to self-destruct.

I’ll go out into space where I can’t cause anyone anymore harm…

…and I’ll kill myself.

I just…I just don’t want anyone else to die because of ME.

TERRAN

But if YOU die, that’s supposed to be OKAY!?!

GENESIS

Don’t you get it?!!?

Don’t you understand….!?!

I’m a freak…a monster!!!

I destroyed an entire planet full of innocent people…

…millions…BILLIONS…GONE.

How could you expect me to live with that…!?

HOW?!?!

TERRAN

No…that wasn’t your fault.

You were used.

Just like all of us.

Every last one of us have been used at some point during this ordeal.

The soldiers who fought believing in their races, the innocent people who were tricked to believe the lies about the aliens…

Indigo was used to kill people. Dremora was tricked into being loyal to Myaga. I was tricked into helping the Empire achieve THEIR goals.

There isn’t a single one of us that wasn’t used to some degree.

GENESIS

But…

I’m not even HUMAN…

TERRAN
That’s BS.

Out of ANYONE I’ve ever met, you’re the MOST human person I know.

It doesn’t matter how you were born or why you are what you are. All that matters is the kind of person you are.

GENESIS
…

TERRAN

Look at yourself.

After all that’s happened, you’re still concerned with other people more than you are with yourself.

Maybe it’s because you really DON’T feel that you’re human.

But I can assure you that your own life…your own dreams…are just as important as everyone else’s.

You don’t have to throw your life away because of what’s happened.

There was a time when I asked you to just let ME die.

Do you remember what you said?

"Screw you pal! I don’t sit around and let people die!"

Well, guess what?

It’s YOUR turn, now.

GENESIS

Terran…

TERRAN
Genesis…

…I love you…

Nothing will ever change that.

And if you plan to die…you can count on ME going with you.

Genesis’ eyes widen.

TERRAN
…Well…?

GENESIS

Terran, I….

I…

I love you, too…

Terran caresses Genesis’ face and leans in close to her. The two kiss, surrounded by the combined auras of their powers. The two kiss for what seems like forever, until finally, Terran stops and looks at her face.

TERRAN

Your eyes have changed…

…but they’re still beautiful.

GENESIS
(smiles)

So have yours.

And so are they.

Terran and Genesis embrace each other and continue to float in the air, oblivious to everything around them…

SIX MONTHS LATER

VOICE

Your Highness?

Your Highness?

A young man stands out in a courtyard, calling out to a regally-dressed woman standing further away from him. The woman’s back is turned, as she plays with a small child…a young girl.

YOUNG MAN

Queen Dremora?

Dremora turns around, facing the young man.

DREMORA

What is it, Oran?

ORAN
I believe you instructed me to inform you of when you were supposed to—

DREMORA

Oh! That’s right!!

Dremora starts to try and move quickly, but finds it difficult to do so. As she moves, we can see that her stomach has grown out quite a bit since we saw her last.

ORAN

Your highness, please.

Your condition.

DREMORA
I’m alright.

But, I don’t want to be late.

ORAN

Don’t worry.

I’ll get us there quickly.

DREMORA

Good. Even so, the quicker the better.

ORAN

Yes, ma’am.

This way, please.

Dremora steps onto a scooter-like platform and sits on one of the seats. Oran sits next to her, and the platform begins to hover.

DREMORA

Be good, Belle.

BELDEZ

Okay.

DREMORA
(to Beldez’s nannies)

Take care of her while I’m gone.

NANNIES

Yes, ma’am.

The platform flies off, leaving the area. Soon, we see them hovering through Sylenia…the entire city has been converted for life on the planet Earth. They soon leave the outskirts of the city, heading out into a rural area, where we can see Elemenians and Earthlings working alongside one another to help rebuild the damage done. They’re also getting a huge assist from the reprogrammed HUNTERs, which are now used as tools for building instead of destruction.

They finally make it to a secluded ridge, far away from other people. All people that is, except a few. As they come to a stop, a familiar face comes to greet them.

JONATHAN
There you are.

I can’t believe that YOU of all people are late.

DREMORA

Oh shut up, you nincompoop.

Just give me a kiss already.

Jonathan and Dremora give each other a quick kiss.

DREMORA

So, where are they?

JONATHAN

Right this way…

Jonathan and Dremora walk a little bit further, finding Gladius (with no armor), Terran, and Genesis standing in a clearing in front of a moderately-sized ship.

DREMORA

Hey, hey!!

I’m here!!

GENESIS

It’s about time!

We were starting to think you didn’t like us anymore.

DREMORA

Oh hush…

I’m sorry already.

TERRAN

Nice to see you, too, Dremora.

Long time no see.

DREMORA
Hello, Terran.

You two have REALLY done a job restoring the planet’s beauty over this past half-year.

TERRAN
Well, all we did was get the ball rolling.

The actual rebuilding is still left to the people.

GLADIUS

And that’ll give them another outlet for their energies instead of trying to kill one another.

JONATHAN

Yeah…I guess you’re right.

…

(coughs)

So…um….

….you guys really leavin’?

TERRAN

Yeah.

Yeah, I’m afraid we are.

DREMORA

We’re…going to miss you…

…but if you think this is for the best…

GENESIS

Yeah…

Unfortunately, lots of people still haven’t quite gotten over their prejudices and insecurities. Sure, it’s going along well, but it’s pretty obvious that Terran and I are looked at negatively by a few substantial groups of people.

TERRAN

Everyone knows that Zepheron was my brother. No one except a few people know that Zepheron and I are now the same person. It’s only natural that some of the more irrational people would eventually transfer their anger from HIM to ME.

It’s for that reason that we also can’t let anyone know that Beldez is Zepheron’s daughter either.

Until the time comes to do otherwise, we should just claim that "TERRAN" is her daughter

GLADIUS

…which is technically the truth.

JONATHAN

You know, I still can’t believe that you’re both Terran AND Zepheron.

TERRAN

Heh. What do you want me to do, give you a slide rule to figure it out?

JONATHAN

…

Yep. He’s both of them, alright.

So, I guess we should start calling you….um….

"Zepherran", huh? Or maybe "Tepheron?"

TERRAN

You do, and you lose some teeth.

DREMORA

Now, now, boys…

Be good.

Or Genesis and I will kick BOTH of your asses.

GLADIUS

Terrifying, isn’t it?

GENESIS

(chuckles)

So, how are things with YOU, Johnny?

JONATHAN

Oh, I’m doing okay.

Thanks to YOU.

GENESIS
Oh, it’s nothing, really.

Just remember…the treatment I gave you will only SLOW DOWN your decomposition…not stop it.

The best I can promise you is about five years at the most…and that’s only if you don’t use your powers.

I’m sorry…it was the best I can do.

JONATHAN

"Sorry"? Are you kidding!?

If it weren’t for YOU, I’d be dead already.

At least now I can live long enough to see my kids be born.

TERRAN

Oh yes…how ARE the twins coming along?

DREMORA
Wonderful.

Since Elemenians give birth within seven months instead of nine, they should be born within the next month. There’s been no signs of complications at all.

TERRAN

Good. We’ll have to come back and see them sometime.

JONATHAN

We even settled on names.

GENESIS

Oh? And they are?

DREMORA

We’re naming the girl "Alita".

The Elemenian word for river.

JONATHAN

And we’re going to name the boy Draco…

The Latin word for "Dragon".

(whispers) I came up with that one myself.

DREMORA

(narrows eyes)

Hmm…what was that!?

JONATHAN

Uh…nothing, dear.

(grins)

Hehe…

Everyone laughs.

TERRAN
Well, I guess we’d better get going.

JONATHAN
Dang.

GENESIS
Sorry.

JONATHAN

So, where are you guys headed, anyway?

TERRAN
We’re heading to the Nars System.

The star charts programmed into Genesis’ mind tell us that it’s the closest alien star system to the Earth.

GENESIS

We want to establish friendly relations with as many alien worlds as we can to prevent anything like what happened here on Earth from being repeated.

GLADIUS

Good idea.

…but not foolproof.

TERRAN

(shrugs) Gotta try, right?

All we want to do is try to establish a unified society between as many races as we can.

GLADIUS
Yeah…Merlan would have liked that.

You know…I’d go with you…

…But I’m too damn old for this now.

After that last romp we had, I was aching in places I haven’t felt since the Olympics.

JONATHAN

The WHAT?!

GLADIUS

The Olympics.

A bunch of international games held every four years to determine Earth’s best athletes.

Way before your time.

TERRAN

Yeah…

They became obsolete after the Elemenians came, though, didn’t they?

GLADIUS

Yeah…which is just fine.

I had enough gold medals anyway.

JONATHAN

Uh…

I think you guys better go before Gladius’ geezer ego grows any bigger.

TERRAN

Well then, I guess that’s it then.

GENESIS

Take care of yourselves, okay?

DREMORA

We will.

JONATHAN
Yeah, and you do the same.

TERRAN

We will.

Dremora and Genesis kiss Terran and Gladius on the cheek. And then, Terran and Indigo shake hands and pat each other on their backs. Genesis and Dremora hug each other. And finally, Terran and Gladius huge each other.

GENESIS
Well, so long.

DREMORA

Bye.

GLADIUS

See you.

Genesis and Terran enter their ship, the door closing behind them.

GENESIS
Yagamo…?

YAGAMO 2.0

Yes, Madam?

GENESIS
Let’s go.

YAGAMO 2.0

As you wish, ma’am.

The ship starts to power up. Jonathan and Dremora watch as the ship takes off into the sky, raising out of the planet’s atmosphere.

DREMORA
Johnny…

JONATHAN

Yeah…?

DREMORA

Do you think this will last?

JONATHAN

What do you mean?

DREMORA

I mean…

…this peace….

It came at a terrible price…

…but do you think that price was enough?

Was Myaga right?

Will this only result in us eventually destroying each other?

JONATHAN

…

Jonathan reaches around and puts his arm across Dremora shoulders. He then pulls her closer to him and she leans her head on his shoulder.

JONATHAN

Worrying about the future is useless.

Let’s just focus on what we have NOW.

The future will come soon enough.

And when it does…

…we’ll be ready for it.

End of Terra Fortuna