Gladius knocks on Genesis’ room door. On the other side, a tired Genesis, who just seems to be awakening, answers.

GENESIS
Who is it…?

GLADIUS
It’s me.

GENESIS

Oh, uh…just a minute.

GLADIUS

Don’t worry about it. I just came to tell you to get geared up and come to the ship in 20 minutes.

Genesis, still in her jammies, opens the door with a puzzled look on her face.

GENESIS

Huh…? What’s going on?

GLADIUS

You’ll see.

Gladius walks away, leaving Genesis just as puzzled as ever.

Back in Nevada, the members of the Kindred are continuing their cleanup routines of the base. Everyone is pitching in to help except for Indigo and Dremora. As Indigo stands off to the side, he looks over at Dremora, who seems to be off into her own world. Curious, Indigo goes over to her.

DREMORA

Why are you coming near me?

INDIGO

(surprised) H-Hey, wait…I’m just curious.

A pretty lady sitting off by herself…

…just doesn’t seem right, is all.

DREMORA

I believe that your culture has a certain saying about curiosity and what it did to a certain cat.

INDIGO

Man, you’re grumpy, aren’t you?

DREMORA

…

If you’re quite finished, could you please get away from me now?

INDIGO

Yeah, yeah, fine.

Geez, excuse ME for caring.

Indigo shrugs and walks away.

DREMORA

(sighs) Men are so stupid.

Indigo smirks to himself and talks under his breath.

INDIGO

I think I’m beginning to understand why Terran doesn’t like you.

Inside Merlan’s ship, Terran and Genesis arrive. When they do, they find Gladius and Merlan standing together with a rather serious look on their faces. In addition, Merlan is dressed in her battle uniform.

GENESIS

Um…what’s up?

Is there a mission or something?

GLADIUS

No. There’s no mission.

MERLAN

However, I’m afraid that this is where our generous hospitality reaches its end.

TERRAN

Hold on. What are you saying?

GLADIUS

No more "free rides", kiddo.

It’s time for you to earn your keep.

GENESIS

And exactly how do you figure I should do THAT?

By fighting you?

MERLAN

Yes.

You will fight Gladius in one last "spar".

TERRAN

You’re kidding me, right?

Why are you pulling this now?

MERLAN

This was our plan from the very beginning.

We took you in to get an understanding of how well you’ve progressed since you were a child.

We theorized back then that your powers would exceed our own.

Now, we want to test that theory.

TERRAN

Wait…you knew me when I was a child?

MERLAN
Yes.

TERRAN

Just who the hell ARE you?

MERLAN

….

GENESIS

Why are you doing this?

What does it MATTER how powerful Terran is?

Merlan and Gladius are silent.

GLADIUS

This is the deal:

If you can manage to beat me, we’ll tell you everything you want to know.

But if you lose, you leave and you’re own your own.

Is this understood?

TERRAN

….

Well, if I HAVE to do this, let’s get it over with.

GLADIUS

(chuckles) Good. That’s the spirit.

MERLAN

Very well.

Gladius, take us to the battlefield.

GLADIUS

Right.

Gladius uses his teleportation ability, and everyone disappears.

EarthNet Tower- Inside Zepheron’s secret room.

EMPEROR

What progress have you made since we last spoke, Zepheron?

For your sake, I hope it’s significant.

ZEPHERON

It won’t be much longer, My Lord.

The final phase of our plan is under way.

EMPEROR

Good.

It seems that perhaps you are not the useless trash I thought you were.

ZEPHERON

….

EMPEROR

What of the "other" part of the plan?

The one concerning that brother of yours.

ZEPHERON

I have the situation well under control, My Lord.

He and the rest of those insignificant pests will be disposed of.

It’s only a matter of time.

EMPEROR

That is good news as well.

But make NO mistake, Zepheron.

I will be watching you VERY closely.

If you don’t follow my orders EXACTLY as I have given them to you, I will have you BEGGING for me to end your suffering.

Is that understood?

ZEPHERON

….

Yes, My Lord.

EMPEROR
Good.

That is all.

The transmission ends and the Emperor’s image disappears.

ZEPHERON

You pompous sack of manure.

I’ll never beg you for anything. EVER again.

When I’m done with this idiotic brother of mine and his retarded companions, I’m coming after YOU next.

Hahahaha…

And THEN we’ll see who does the BEGGING.

Back in England, Genesis and Merlan watch as Terran and Gladius glare at each other, waiting for one another to make the first move. The scene is almost reminiscent of a wild-west showdown.

GLADIUS

I don’t think I need to tell you this, but I won’t hold back.

TERRAN

Don’t worry. I won’t either.

The scene becomes deafeningly quiet for a few moments.

GENESIS

Are you really okay with this?

TERRAN

What choice do I have?

These guys know something….and I want to find out what.

GENESIS

Well, okay, then, I guess….

Just be careful, okay?

TERRAN

I will. Don’t worry about me.

Terran turns towards Gladius.

TERRAN

Well, then…let’s get this over with.

Terran flies towards Gladius quickly. Gladius’ armor clanks and two energy blades appear outside his forearms. As Terran approaches, Gladius prepares to take a powerful slash. However, as he finally thrusts his blade forward, Terran dispurses like a puff of smoke. Gladius’ blade slices through nothing but air, and Terran reforms behind Gladius. Gladius quickly attempts to slash Terran again with a downwards thrust. One Terran’s fists, made of pure quarts and enlarged at least 30 times their own size, blocks the sword slash with one hand and then punches Gladius with the other, sending the metallic warrior staggering backwards. Genesis and Merlan are taken aback by this.

GLADIUS

Hm. Not bad.

Terran doesn’t answer. His hands go back to their ordinary size, and he merely waits. Gladius’ blades dissipate as well.

GLADIUS

But, I have to confess…

I haven’t been completely honest.

Terran, puzzled, continues to lie in wait.

GLADIUS

I told you I wouldn’t hold back.

The truth is…I’ve been holding back a great deal.

From Gladius’ perspective, we see a command display appear on his visor much in the way a computer displays its commands during its boot. The commands being displayed, read:

Strength output level: 60%

Gladius’ armor bulges slightly and alters into a slightly more menacing form. Genesis is shocked by this sight, but Merlan remains calm. Expressing neither glee nor disdain. Terran is a bit unnerved as well, but not nearly as much as Genesis.

GLADIUS

Well, then. Shall we continue?

TERRAN

I don’t know what you just did, but if you think this puffer-fish strategy scares me, you’re wrong.

GLADIUS

Oh, I’m not trying to scare you.

I plan on giving you the worst beating of your life.

TERRAN

Heh. We’ll see.

Gladius and Terran both get in fighting stances again. The next moment, the two of them rush toward one other, and draw back for a powerful punch. The two let loose, and their fists collide together. There’s a thunderous sound from the collision, and a shockwave that rattles Genesis and Merlan. As thing settle down, Terran flinches, making a quick dash backward, where he grunts and holds his hand.

TERRAN

Damn…that HURT.

GLADIUS

Come on. Stop acting like a little girl and give me a FIGHT.

TERRAN
Oh, so that’s how it is, huh?

Terran steps back and starts to flex his muscles, concentrating his will. A moment later, parts of his body – most notably his hands, elbows, knees, feet, chest, back, forehead, and shins, are covered with a crystalline substance. Forming a sort of "armor" over his most vital areas.

TERRAN

Alright. Let’s try this AGAIN.

Gladius charges Terran this time and Terran blocks a punch that Gladius attempts, dodges a kick, and attempts to counterattack with a punch…which itself is blocked by a thin energy shield Gladius generates from his forearms, using the same device that creates his energy blades. Gladius jabs the shield foreward, hitting Terran in the face, and then elbows Terran and gives him a knee thrust to the face.

The force of the blow causes Terran to fly back into a boulder, nearby, turning it into instant rubble. Terran groans for a moment and starts to get up, only to find Gladius right in his face. Terran dodges another punch from Gladius in time, but receives a kick to the midsection, and a two-handed palm thrust in his chest, sending Terran flying again.

GENESIS
Come on, Terran!!

Don’t give up!

Terran can barely hear Genesis as he gets to his feet. Before he knows it, Gladius is on him again. But this time, Terran turns his arm into a thick vine, wrapping around Gladius’ leg. Before Gladius can react, Terran whips Gladius into another stone boulder, shattering it. Then, Terran makes another quick movement with his vine-arm, tossing Gladius into the air. Immediately, Terran chases after Gladius.

TERRAN

Let’s see how strong you are without a solid FOOTING.

Terran zooms forward, hitting Gladius with his fist. Then, he zooms around again and hits Gladius again. As he comes forward a third time, Gladius grabs his arm and starts to twist it, making Terran wince in pain.

GLADIUS
Painful, isn’t it?

Lemuan or not, it’s hard to change shape when you can’t concentrate.

Terran continues to yell in pain. But then, a second later, there’s a bright flash and a bolt of lightning strikes both Terran and Gladius. Both of them fall to the ground and land with a huge impact.

TERRAN

Maybe. But I’m betting that a metal body can’t be good against a direct hit from a lightning bolt.

Terran coughs and gets to his feet. As he does, Gladius holds his palm out, and Terran is suddenly hit by a concentrated energy blast.

GLADIUS

I absorb 30% of any energy used against me…so I think I can live with it.

Terran stands once again, his knees a bit wobbly.

GLADIUS

Another little perk is that this armor not only protects me from ANY outside damage, but the armor easily compensates for my fatigue by stimulating my heart, respiratory systems and giving me a good dose of adrenaline.

Can you say the same?

Gladius reaches out and his metallic hand clenches itself around Terran’s throat. Terran starts to struggle as Gladius raises Terran into the air.

GLADIUS
I think this is just about over.

TERRAN

(struggling to speak)

Y-Yeah….I……think so…..

GLADIUS
Ha. Then you submit?

TERRAN

No…..

I meant….that I think you’ve just about lost.

GLADIUS

Oh really?

And how did you come to THAT preposterous conclusion?

TERRAN

While you were blabbing away, talking about how great your armor is, I started thinking.

You absorb energy attacks. Your armor repels physical blows. You’re completely shielded from just about anything I can attack you with. You’ve really done your best to defend yourself from all OUTSIDE forces.

GLADIUS

And you’re going WHERE with all of this?

TERRAN

(grins)

I was just wondering how it would feel…

Being crushed by your own suit.

GLADIUS
What are you talking ab—

Gladius’ words stop short as he starts to stagger back. He drops Terran to the ground, and starts to fall to his knees, groaning. His armor is rattling, and a faint creaking noise is heard.

TERRAN
(Koff) I’m using gravity waves (koff)

To decrease the amount of opposing pressure between your body and your suit.

In effect, your suit’s just become a metallic version of shrink wrap.

Gladius yells in pain. His suit begins to crackle…electricity surging out from him.

GLADIUS
Argh….you….can’t…..

DO THIS….

ARRRGH!!!!!

TERRAN

Hey, you told me not to hold back.

Gladius falls to his kneels, continuing to be squeezed tightly by his own armor.

GLADIUS
Okay…NGH!!!!

You….you win.

Dammit, I said "You win"!

Just….knock it off already!!

Off to the side, Genesis lets out a cheer. Terran gasps and lets go of Gladius before he falls on one knee himself. Genesis rushes over to him, giving him a congratulatory hug.

GENESIS

You did it!!

TERRAN
Ow! Don’t…don’t squeeze too tight, okay? I ache all over.

GENESIS
Oops, sorry.

(giggles)
Hehe…that was great! Turning his own suit against him.

TERRAN
I had to do something desperate. He pretty much beat the living snot out of me physically.

Hell, if he hadn’t given up when he had, I probably would have gave in before he did.

GENESIS

Yeah, well…you won, didn’t you?

Merlan walks up to Terran, clapping.

MERLAN

Well done.

A remarkable exhibition of merging your physio-kinetic abilities with your poly-morphic ones.

GENESIS
Eh?

We speaking Spanish now?

MERLAN

I merely said that Terran used both his ability to control nature and his morphing abilities coherently. I must say that I am rather impressed.

Terran stands, walking in front of Merlan.

TERRAN

Well, that’s good and all. But now, it’s time for you to keep your word.

I won. So tell me what you know.

MERLAN

(nods) Of course. I have no intention of hiding anything from you any further.

Merlan goes over to Gladius and helps him up. Then, the two of them start to walk away.

MERLAN

After you have healed and gotten ample recuperation, come and see me on my ship.

There, I will reveal EVERYTHING.

Merlan and Gladius continue walking away, leaving Terran and Genesis.

GENESIS
"Reveal everything"?

Boy, if Indigo were here, I’m sure he’d have a field day with that.

(turns to Terran)

But first, let’s get you inside. I’ll use my power to heal you.

TERRAN

No…I…I can do it on my own.

GENESIS

But…

TERRAN

I can handle it, Gen. Don’t worry.

I’m not even thinking about that right now.

Ever since we first met, those two have been revealing personal things about my life. Things that I have never told ANYONE before.

I want to know just who the hell they are.

And it’s about time I got some damn answers.

End of Chapter One

In England, Terran and Genesis enter Merlan’s ship.

TERRAN
Hello? We’re here.

Merlan? Hello?

In front of them, a circular portal appears and Merlan’s voice is heard.

MERLAN

Ah….Terran, would you be so kind as to step through the portal?

GENESIS

What about ME?

MERLAN
I’m sorry, Genesis. I’ll need you to wait elsewhere.

What lies ahead is for Terran only.

GENESIS

Um…okay….

(under her breath)…I guess…

Terran turns to Genesis.

TERRAN
Wait here. I’ll be right back.

GENESIS

Yeah, okay.

The two kiss.

GENESIS

But I still think she’s a little TOO interested in you.

If she tries to seduce you or something, smack her for me, okay?

TERRAN

(laughs) Don’t worry.

I will.

GENESIS

Alright, then.

Good luck.

TERRAN

Thanks.

Terran walks away and into the portal. He emerges in a room that appears to be a grassy meadow. Except the flowers are unlike any he’s ever seen and little firefly-like lights float all around Merlan. In the middle of it, Merlan stands silently, her hair and cloak flapping gently in a light breeze.

MERLAN
Welcome, Terran.

TERRAN
Uh, thanks.

Where are we, exactly?

MERLAN
This is the sensory immersement chamber.

Essentially, it uses your memories to immerse you in a state where will go wherever your memories take you.

TERRAN

I see…

So, where have we "immersed" to?

MERLAN
This is the Planet Lemua…

….the way it used to be…

TERRAN
Lemua?

You mean…your homeworld?

Um..OUR homeworld?

MERLAN
Correct.

It all began here…

(she pauses, deeply enthralled with her current surroundings)

I’m going to begin my story, now, Terran. If at any time, you would like to interrupt to make a comment or question, please, don’t hesitate to do so.

TERRAN

Alright.

Just then, the scene changes to reveal a highly-advanced civilization. A utopia beyond Terran’s wildest imagination.

MERLAN

(takes a deep breath)

We, the Lemu, were a race that possessed an intellect unlike any other in the known universe. Without sounding conceited, it is quite easy to say that we were light-years ahead of other races in terms of science, intellect, and technology.

However, with our powerful intellects, our bodies grew frail and weak. That is the nature of evolution. When the mind develops, the body becomes weak and vice-versa.

Though we could have- and should have- been satisfied with compensating for our physical weakness with our science and technology, we longed for a perfect union of both mind and body. A physical dexterity that was on par with our intellects. Eventually, we gained the opportunity to physically "evolve" ourselves through artificial means. We jumped at the chance without hesitation, without considering the consequences.

At first, our new bodies were like a godsend. Through concentration and will, we Lemu could copy or assimilate with almost any known substance on an atomic level. We could do almost anything that we imagined. At last, we were free of our wretchedly frail frames.

But soon, we learned the price for our spontaneous "evolution".

The scene changes to show Lemuans doing something odd to a foreign planet. They are surrounded with a strange aura, and the area around them looks dead and lifeless.

MERLAN

All physical flesh requires sustenance. And we "evolved" Lemuans were no different. Only, we could not survive through ordinary means. We required vast amounts of planetary energy in order to survive. In essence, we could only survive by devouring the very energy planets themselves survive on.

The scene changes again, to show thousands, perhaps hundreds of thousands, of Lemuan craft leaving their homeworld.

MERLAN

It soon became clear that our civilization could not survive if we remained gathered in one place. We had to spread to other planets in order to minimize the amount of planetary energy that was consumed at one time. In exchange for allowing us to do this, we made it our purpose to help guide other races in making significant advances in their science, technology, societal structure, or anything else.

However, not everyone appreciated our "help". There were races that were suspicious of us because we seemed too good to be true. With our technology and resources, why not simply conquer them and take their planets that way? We could have, easily in fact, but what was the point? All we wanted was to live.

Our race formed a magnificent "Dynasty" at the top of the universal hierarchy. Though we never actually RULED anyone, many races saw us as a beacon and an inspiration. And so, the Lemu remained on the highest class of the universal structure. That is, until some of the planets we were gathered on began to suddenly die out approximately 100 years ago. Though we suspected foul play, most of the races were already quick to blame us.

Over the course of the next few years, we Lemuans were hunted down and killed in retaliation for our suspected planet-devouring. We could not prove otherwise, and by this time, we had advanced the other races too far and there were far too many of them. We could not defend ourselves against the entire universe. In the end, there were only two survivors: myself, and my sister, Myaga.

TERRAN

Your sister…?

MERLAN

Yes.

TERRAN

Myaga…I’ve heard that name before.

She’s the one that Elemenian woman spoke of.

MERLAN
That’s correct.

When we were forced to retreat, my sister and I decided to come to two remote planets that only the Lemuans had known about. I chose to come here, to Earth, while Myaga went to Elemen.

TERRAN

So that’s why…!

When I read the dossier on the Elemenian race, it stated that Elemenians weren’t technologically advanced. And yet, their technology has shown to be more advanced than OURS!

MERLAN

Yes, it is all due to my sister, Myaga.

When I came to Earth, I decided it would be best if I kept my existence hidden. Through observation, we had sfound that Earthlings were fearful of extraterrestrial races. On the other hand, Myaga had decided to make her contact with the Elemenians very public. I remained on Earth secretly for years, gathering information. Eventually, I met a young man named Jesse Hayes, and fell in love with him. I told him everything about my origins and my life, and he promised to help me any way he could.

It wasn’t long after this that I began to notice scouts being sent from Elemen to the planet Earth. Through investigation, we discovered that Myaga had aligned herself with a power-hungry man named Xiratox…who was seeking to unify the planet Elemen and become its Emperor. A terrible civil war was raging on their planet, and Xiratox was gaining the upper hand. With his empire nearly won on Elemen, it seemed that Xiratox wanted the Earth next.

I attempted to contact my sister and hopefully prevent what was going to happen, but she ignored me. I realized that if I didn’t do something SOON, the Earth wouldn’t stand a chance against the Elemenians and the advancements Myaga had bestowed upon them. However, at this time, there was another problem: Earth was in a severe state of geological disaster. Many of the planet’s resources, such as oil, wood, coal, and other forms of combustible energy had been almost completely depleted. To make matters worse, mankind’s raping of the planet was also destroying its ecological balance. In short, the planet was slowly starting to die. And if the planet died, so would I.

That’s when I decided that it was necessary to find a way of making an entity that would govern and regulate environmental affairs. Earthlings only seemed to be interested in things like business and finance, so I decided to align myself with a young entrepreneur named Hans Beck and from behind the scenes, I helped him create EarthNet Inc.

TERRAN
Wait a minute…YOU created EarthNet?

MERLAN
Yes.

But first, I needed a reason for EarthNet to be created. That’s when Jesse and I made contact with a few Elemenians that were in the losing side of the war against Xiratox. I told them that this was a planet where they could live in relative peace and without fear of the totalitarianism that Xiratox would bring. Obviously, this wasn’t completely true, but it was necessary in order to get them to come to the planet.

TERRAN

Ah, I understand. When the Elemenians came, the Earth was forced to realize that there were other civilizations, even more advanced than itself. The UN was forced to become a world government.

MERLAN
That’s right.

And with a new government being created, this was the perfect opportunity to throw EarthNet into the mix. I had amassed a fortune during my stay on the planet through financial investing and other means. A unified government requires huge amounts of funding. And with EarthNet, with Hans Beck as my figurehead, I was able to do just that in exchange for new environmental laws and practices.

TERRAN

I see…

Of course, the UN officials jumped at this chance. You have a corporation willing to dump funds onto them and only asking for a few "measly" environmental laws in return. It seemed like a doozy of a good deal.

MERLAN

That’s about the size of it.

Also, through EarthNet, I gradually leaked new advances in technology and science. I wanted to make sure Earth would be ready when the invasion finally occurred. However, during this time, Jesse and I had a child. A daughter named Karen.

TERRAN
Karen…?!?

MERLAN

We realized that the war with Elemen wasn’t far off, and we did not want Karen to be unprepared. And so, we decided to train her. Jesse was more of a warrior than I was, having once served in one of Earth’s military units. Jesse trained Karen everything he knew about the art of combat while I taught Karen scholarly studies. However, Karen was a….stubborn…..and rebellious child. Concerned for her well-being, we tried to tighten the noose around her and be more strict. However, this only made matters worse. By the time Karen entered her late teens, she completely separated herself from us and went off on her own.

When the war with Elemen eventually broke out, the Elemenians found Karen and made her a primary target because of her Lemuan heritage. They sent several assassins to kill her, including an Earthian soldier that had joined with the Empire named Kryos. But Karen saw something in Kryos that no one else did. The two of them entered a forbidden romance and eventually grew to detest fighting…no matter the side. Despite the objections of Jesse and myself, she and Kryos ran away together.

TERRAN

…

MERLAN

Eventually, the war entered a stalemate, and Karen and Kryos (now calling themselves Karen and Nathaniel Stanz), could raise a family in relative peace. Eventually, Karen became pregnant.

Despite our troubled pasts, Jesse and I approached our daughter and son-in-law in order to meet the new addition to our family ourselves. Upon arriving, I realized that if a child possessed, powers of Elemenians, Lemuans AND Earthlings, it would be a huge asset in the war. But, I knew that Karen would never consent to a child of hers being used for fighting. So I…I….

TERRAN

You what?!

MERLAN

…..

…I’m not proud of what I did…but, I won’t falsify the event. I…kidnapped my own flesh and blood.

TERRAN

…WHAT?!?

MERLAN

But, mind you, I never intended it to last forever. I only needed to do it long enough to execute a plan…

TERRAN

What "plan"?

MERLAN
…..I intended to find a way to bring out the full inherent strength within the boys. So that one day, they would be capable of surpassing anyone in power and ability. They would be our "aces-in-the-hole", so to speak. With them, we would surely be capable of winning the war.

TERRAN
…

MERLAN
But then, something went terribly wrong.

Karen and Kryos, furious for what we had done, came and confronted us before I could complete the procedure. We struck up a heated conflict over the fates of the boys. I was so caught up in bringing my plan to fruition, that I wasn’t thinking about anything else.

Nor…did any of us notice the Elemenian spies that had picked up on our location.

Before we knew it, we had a squadron of Elemenian soldiers attacking us. After an intense struggle, they managed to take one of the children. Of course, this was horrifying. It was the worst thing to happen to us in our entire lives. Ashamed, we gave the second child back to Karen, and Karen swore that if we ever came near her child again, she’d consider us as much a threat as the Empire themselves…

Jesse and I struggled to find a way to find and return that missing child for years…but there was nothing we could do. He was lost to us forever. That boy eventually became who we now call Zepheron.

Jesse and I were too ashamed to approach our daughter or her husband again. It wasn’t until well after their deaths that we realized that we had no other alternative but to find you and bring you here. But we couldn’t tell you any of this until we were absolutely sure you were committed to our cause.

Terran is silent…absolutely speechless. Merlan drops down to her knees, tears in her eyes.

MERLAN

I-I’m truly sorry….what I did to you, your parents, and your brother…I-I’m no worse than the Elemenians I fight against.

Karen used to always tell me, "Mother, you tend to believe that the ends justify the means….but you get so wrapped up with the means, you forget what the ends were."

And, after that event, I finally realized she was right.

That’s why Jesse and I never let on our relation to you. We didn’t deserve for you to call us your….grandparents.

TERRAN

….

MERLAN

I lost my daughter.

Even before she died, I’d already lost her…in large part due to my own arrogance.

Now, you’re all I have left of her.

Jeffrey…I’m so…SO sorry….can you…ever…..EVER….forgive me?

As if to answer, Terran puts his hand on Merlan’s shoulder. She looks up at him, and he kneels in front of her, hugging her.

TERRAN

You know…

If I’d found this out only weeks ago, I’d probably be pissed off.

But…now, I’m not.

Because for the first time, my world makes SENSE.

If finally understand just what I am and where I came from.

I can’t bear a grudge for what you did…

If I did, I’d be a hypocrite. This war, and the people behind it, have forced us to do things that we will all regret for the rest of our lives…

But that doesn’t matter anymore….

It doesn’t matter what happened in the past…

The important thing is that we’re together now…

…and that we stay together as a family….

…..Grandma.

A look of joy washes over Terran face, and she hugs him tightly, letting a cascade of tears fall from a face that had once been as strong as steel.

End of Chapter Two

Two months have passed since Terran finally learned the truth about Merlan and his origins. Ever since, Terran has felt more devoted to Merlan’s cause than ever. At Merlan’s request, he has not told Genesis most of what he discovered…but has assured Genesis that he will tell her everything when the war is over. Normally, saying such a thing would have the same meaning as "when pigs fly", but after recent events, the end of the seeming unending war seems closer than ever.

Meanwhile, in New Chicago, Caroline Christi prepares to do her biggest concert of the season. Tickets are sold out as people all over the country gather to take part. In addition, Dominic Calabrese, the president of the United Nations, has decided to announce something to the world that will change the war forever. Everyone all over the world knows that this will be one heck of a day.

Inside Merlan’s ship, she, Terran, Genesis and Gladius watch news reports on her monitor.

MERLAN

This is it….

The time has come…

TERRAN

Huh?
What do you mean?

MERLAN

…

TERRAN

Come on, Merlan. Be straight with me.

MERLAN

…

The Helixes. They’re going to activate the Helixes.

GENESIS

The what?

GLADIUS

Remember those HUNTERs we fought a while back?

TERRAN

Yeah?

GLADIUS
Well, you’re talking about some new, improved versions of them.

Stronger, more powerful, and completely unmanned.

TERRAN

WHAT?!

GENESIS

But…they can’t be THAT bad, right?

TERRAN

Unless…there’s something you’re not telling us.

MERLAN

….

TERRAN

(looking sternly)

Merlan…I thought you were going to be straight with me from now on.

MERLAN

….

(sighs)

The Helixes…were MY creations…

GENESIS

What?!

MERLAN

Terran….do you recall when I told you that I came to this planet and it was in a dire situation?

TERRAN
Yeah…

MERLAN

Earthlings were sucking the life from this planet. They’d sucked almost bone dry of oil, forests were severely depleted and…

TERRAN
Yes, yes…I know this part.

What about the Helixes?

MERLAN

…

Even though I created EarthNet, I knew it wasn’t enough.

Through EarthNet, I could create as many environmental protection laws as I wanted, but they wouldn’t solve the REAL problem…

TERRAN
Which was?

MERLAN

Overpopulation.

TERRAN

You were going to "solve" overpopulation?
Just how did you plan to….

….

…………….no.

MERLAN

Yes. Through EarthNet, I established connections within the UN.

I introduced the HUNTER technology to them and designed the program that they run from. However, within the program is a coded "bug" that would allow me to override control over them and…

GENESIS

…and what?!?

TERRAN

And kill off a whole lot of people.

Is that right, Merlan?

MERLAN

….

GENESIS

Then that IS true?

MERLAN
I’m sorry…

TERRAN

…..

I can’t TELL you how disgusted I feel.

MERLAN

I know. And you have every right to be.

GENESIS
But…if this was your plan, why don’t you stop it?

MERLAN

I thought I had. Years ago.

I…I couldn’t go through with it. I had grown to love the Earth and its people too much. I’d have been a hypocrite if I committed mass genocide for the sake of "protecting" the planet. However, on the other hand, I knew that overpopulation, especially with the Elemenians’ arrival, was still a very real threat.

I entrusted the plans for the Helixes and left them with my associate, Hans Beck. I coded them in Lemuan so that even HE couldn’t use them without my knowledge. But…then, Hans betrayed me.

I don’t know how or why, but he allied himself with Emperor Xiratox. Xiratox later had Hans killed and placed someone in charge of EarthNet who would be able to decode the Helixes and be able to see that they were used to the Emperor’s specifications.

TERRAN

Zepheron…

MERLAN

Exactly.

GENESIS

Who…?

Who’s Zepheron?

TERRAN

….

Nobody.

GENESIS

…

MERLAN

I was alerted when Zepheron decoded the Helix specs, but before I could do anything about it, he locked me out and confiscated the specs. It’s obvious he plans to use the Helixes to assist the Empire, and I’ve spent the last two years trying to find out where they’re being built…and I haven’t even gotten close.

TERRAN

(whispers) Damn you, Chris….

GENESIS

So…just how MANY of these things are there supposed to be?

100? 200?

MERLAN

About 500….

GENESIS

Oh. Well, that’s still not bad…

MERLAN

….thousand.

TERRAN and GENESIS
WHAT?!?!?!?!?!?

TERRAN
You mean a half-million of those damn things are gonna be on the loose soon?

MERLAN

That’s correct.

Merlan starts to walk away.

TERRAN

How the HELL are we supposed to beat that many?

MERLAN

With our combined powers, some skill, and a LOT of luck.

TERRAN

So, THIS is why you were so desperate to see how far my powers could develop.

GLADIUS

Yeah. Life sucks, don’t it?

Terran remains silent. Genesis looks at him with concern.

TERRAN

You didn’t say a word about it.

MERLAN

We had no other choice. Believe me.

We needed you to be prepared.

TERRAN
…

MERLAN

There are things I must take care of at the moment.

We’ll need to devise a strategy later.

Terran grits his teeth, trying to suppress his feelings. Merlan then walks through a portal, leaving while Gladius follows behind her.

GLADIUS

Do you think we shouldn’t have told him?

MERLAN

No…I’m tired of lying to him.

I still haven’t even told him the complete truth, but bit by bit, I want to reveal the whole facts.

GLADIUS

Alright…but you know how he gets.

He could walk out on us.

MERLAN

That won’t happen. I have faith in him.

Back inside the command room, Terran is still silent. Genesis moves over to him.

GENESIS

Terran? Are you okay?

TERRAN

Not really…no.

GENESIS

What…did you and Merlan talk about that day, anyway?

You still haven’t told me.

TERRAN

….

I’m sorry, Gen…I still can’t tell you just yet.

GENESIS

(lets out a deep breath) You know, I’ve been more than a little patient with you, Terran.

Since I’ve met you, I’ve borne my entire soul to you. I’ve been totally forthcoming with everything. My feelings, my past…and…..other things.

But you haven’t told me almost anything about yourself. I know that your parents were murdered by Eles, that you used to work for EarthNet, and that you’re a Lemu…whatever the hell that is.

Come on, Terran. Talk to me.

TERRAN

….

I’m sorry…I…I just can’t.

There are things that….

….that I have to keep to myself right now.

Look, after all this is over…I promise, I’ll tell you everything, okay?

Right now, I just need some time to think.

Terran starts to walk towards the portal, leaving the room. Genesis watches as he goes into it and disappears. Just then, the images on the monitor change from the news cast to coverage of Caroline’s concert.

ANNOUNCER

Ladies and gentlemen! Tonight, before the major announcement from the UN President, we will bring to you a special performance by pop sensation Caroline Christi! The concert will begin in just a few hours, but for now, let’s get a word from the lovely Ms. Christi ourselves, shall we?

The camera changes to inside Caroline’s dressing room, where a reporter interviews her.

REPORTER
Ms. Christi…why are you doing a big concert like this so early in the season?

CAROLINE

This a thank you to all the fans that have supported me over the years. I felt that with the big announcement later today, it’d be the perfect time gather the world together with my musi—

Genesis’ eyes widen.

GENESIS

Wait a second….it’s her!!!

At EarthNet Tower, Zepheron, Vaness and Calabrese sit around in a conference room, preparing for the big event later. Zepheron sits laid-back in the chair while Calabrese fidgets around anxiously. Vanessa pours Zepheron a glass of iced tea as he sits.

ZEPHERON

Nervous, Calabrese?

You shouldn’t be.

CALABRESE

It’s not nerves, Beck.

It’s anticipation.

ZEPHERON

Yeah, well, calm down, Cowboy. We still have few hours left.

Take a load off.

CALABRESE

Why are YOU so calm about this, Beck?

You have as much riding on this plan as I do?

ZEPHERON

Well, Mr. President, let’s just say that I’ve got total faith in the outcome of this evening.

Much later, at New Chicago, bodyguards stand outside of Caroline’s door. Someone starts to approach her door, and the guards reach for their weapons. However, almost immediately, they enter a trance-like state, totally oblivious to their surroundings.

Inside the room, Caroline continues dressing herself, getting ready for the concert. Suddenly, her door opens.

CAROLINE
(turning around angrily) What the hell--?! Can’t you kno—

Caroline turns and sees Genesis.

CAROLINE

YOU?!?

How- How the hell did you get in here?

GENESIS

Nevermind that.

We’re going have a little chat.

In the new Narwese HQ, Indigo is helping some of the Earthian soldiers continue to move debris from one of the last unfinished areas of the base. As he does, he keeps an eye on Dremora, who stands nearby talking with Thunder.

SOLDIER
Hey, kid.

Indigo doesn’t answer.

SOLDIER
KID!! (whistles)

INDIGO

Oh. Huh!?

SOLDIER
Could you use your ice powers to prop this up while I move some of the other debris out of the way?

The soldier motions towards a big stone pillar.

INDIGO
Oh yeah, sure.

Indigo goes over to the pillar and rubs his hands together, getting ready to use his powers. He motions his hand, and a small bit of ice starts to form from the ground, rising up along the pillar. It doesn’t get much bigger before it stops completely.

SOLDIER
Hey! What’re you doing? We’ll need a lot more ice than—

The soldier turns and sees Indigo on his knees, holding his arm in pain. He’s trembling, and gritting his teeth heavily.

INDIGO

No….not…..again………

SOLDIER
Hey, are you okay?

INDIGO

I-I’m fine…..just…just leave me alo—

ARGH!!!!!!!

Indigo yells in pain as his arm continues to shake radically.

SOLDIER
Hey, I need some help with this guy!

INDIGO

No…leave me…alone…

Thunder, Dremora, and a whole group of other soldiers start to come close around Indigo.

THUNDER

What’s going on?

You okay, Indigo?

INDIGO

Get…away….

THUNDER

Huh?!

INDIGO
GET AWAY!!!!

Indigo spasms, and suddenly, a burst of frost shoots out from his body uncontrollably. Thunder and Dremora move out of the way, but a few of the Earthian soldiers are hit by it and parts of their bodies that are caught in the frost are frozen immediately.

THUNDER

What the hell…?!

Indigo starts to vomit.

THUNDER
Get all these guys medical attention immediately! Including him!

Come on, let’s go!!

Several soldiers come in to help the frozen soldiers and Indigo. As Indigo gets to his feet, he realizes that this must be part of the "flaw" Merlan was talking about.

Back in New Chicago, Terran (disguised as a normal person) walks up to CC’s dressing room. When he gets there, he’s surprised to find the guards in a dream-like trance. Thinking something may be wrong, he quickly opens the door, finding Caroline inside….with Genesis.

TERRAN
G-Gen?

CAROLINE
Jeff….? Is that you?

Terran, upon hearing his real name, becomes agitated.

TERRAN
Gen, what are you doing here?

GENESIS
Oh, nothing….."Jeff".

Just having a little conversation with your…..wife.

TERRAN

…Gen, look, I—

Before Terran can say anything, Genesis walks right up to him and slaps him hard across the face. The sound of the blow resonates throughout the room.

GENESIS
You…you BASTARD!!!!

How could you do this?! HOW?!?!

TERRAN

I—

GENESIS
I see now. Why you were being so damned secretive.

Why you didn’t want me to know anything.

It’s because you were a good-for-nothing cheating husband.

TERRAN
…

GENESIS
I knew you were too good to be true.

So, was it worth it, "Jeff"?

Did you get a kick out of this?

Did bedding a virgin make you feel like a big man?

Huh? Was that it?

Terran puts his hand on Genesis’ shoulder.

TERRAN
Gen, listen to me…

Genesis flares up her powers and nudges Terran back.

GENESIS
Don’t touch me.

(Genesis turns her back on Terran)

You want to explain this, Terran? Fine.

Just tell me that she’s lying and that you’re NOT her husband.

Then, I’ll listen to you all you want.

TERRAN

…

GENESIS

As I thought.

Genesis walks past Terran and starts to charge go towards the exit.

TERRAN

Genesis, wait!!

GENESIS
Get away from me!!

I hate you!!!

I wish you’d shrivel up and DIE!!!

Genesis runs out of the door.

TERRAN
GEN!!!!!!!!!!

…

What the hell? I told her that I was separated from CC…

….why didn’t she hear me?

CAROLINE

Because I blocked the sound.

Terran turns towards CC angrily.

TERRAN
You..!

Why!?

Why did you do that!?!?

CAROLINE

Because whether YOU like it or not, you ARE my husband, Jeff.

TERRAN
Listen to me for the last time, you stupid bitch….

My name is TERRAN.

I am NOT Jeffrey.

CAROLINE
Are you going to turn your back on me?! On US?!?! On everything?!!?

TERRAN
Yes.

Terran literally turns his back to CC and starts towards the door.

TERRAN
I only came to warn you about something…

…but nevermind now. I hope you get what’s coming to you.

I’m going to try and find her and undo the damage you’ve caused.

CAROLINE

No…I’m afraid you won’t, Jeff.

Terran turns around just in time to see Caroline put a metallic device on his chest. An instant later, Terran groans in pain as a large amount of electricity courses through his body. He then falls to the ground, unconscious. Caroline then goes over to her phone and dials a number.

Back inside EarthNet Tower, Zepheron’s watch/pager starts beeping. Zepheron looks at it and grins, and then stands up.

ZEPHERON
If you’ll excuse me for a while, there’s some business I have to attend to.

CALABRESE

Now?!

ZEPHERON
Don’t worry, I’ll be back.

Zepheron leaves the room and heads over to his office with Vanessa behind him.

TERRAN
Vanessa, put me through to Rodom.

VANESSA
Yes, Lord Zepheron.

On Zepheron’s desk, his monitor flickers to life and shows one of the Trai Digan soldiers.

ZEPHERON
Rodom…is everything ready?

RODOM

Yes. We’ve traced the girl as you asked.

ZEPHERON
Good. And the location she went to?

RODOM
Indeed. That’s it. That’s where the Yagamo is.

There’s no doubt.

ZEPHERON

Good.

Are the Helixes ready?

RODOM

Yes, sir.

ZEPHERON
Alright, then. Let’s get this show on the road.

(grins) Let’s make with the fireworks, gentlemen.

End of Chapter Three

On the Yagamo, alarms begin to blare loudly. Merlan rushes to her command room, desperately trying to find out what’s the matter. Soon afterwards, Gladius follows her.

GLADIUS
What’s going on?!

MERLAN
The city…it’s under attack!

The monitors come online, showing the British city where Merlan is located being overrun by Helixes and Elemenian soldiers. The streets are nearly lifeless, and yet sprawling with the mangled and singed bodies of the people. Destruction is everywhere, and the Helixes continue their single-minded missions to destroy.

MERLAN
No….NO!!!

GLADIUS

Dear God…this is horrible!

MERLAN
How…how did they find us?!

GLADIUS
Terran and Genesis left a while ago. Genesis just got back recently.

I don’t know where she went, but they probably followed her or bugged her.

MERLAN
Dammit…

Wait…where is Terran?
Why isn’t he back yet?

In the British Manor, Genesis sits in a ball in her room, tears flowing from her eyes. She continues drowning in her sorrows, completely oblivious to what’s been going on or her role in it. However, just that instant, Genesis feels a strange sensation. She just senses something amiss psychically. It’s almost like being in the middle of an airport full of people, and hearing their voices and the general noise of a busy area….and then suddenly hearing silence. Except, she wasn’t hearing this "silence" with her ears…but with her mind.

Her curiosity starting to overwhelm her sorrow, she gets up and goes outside to check. Outside, everything SEEMS normal. The area around her doesn’t seem to have a thing out of place. It’s when she looks over towards the city that she sees what the problem is.

And the "problem" is a huge smoke cloud looming over the city…and the burning wreckage that spawned it.

GENESIS

Oh my God…

Genesis starts to go towards the city, but before she can, a Helix lands right next to her, knocking her off balance. As Genesis starts to get up, she looks up to see the huge contraption bearing down on her. She fires a blast of telekinetic energy at it, but it blocks the blast with two fins on its sides. It then fires back at Genesis, who barely manages to get a shield up in time. However, even with the shield, the blast sends her flying, knocking her into the air. Genesis lands with a thud and groans. She’s helpless as the mechanical monster resumes its attack on her.

But, an instant later, a powerful blast of energy comes and strikes the Helix. Genesis looks up to see Terran come flying in. The Helix fires at Terran, but he dodges the blasts and punches one of the Helix’s legs out from beneath it. While it’s off-balance, Terran then puts his hands together and creates a circular saw-blade-type energy disc. The blade shoots out and goes straight through the Helix, cutting it in half. The Helix malfunctions and goes kaput. With that out of the way, Terran goes to check on Genesis.

TERRAN

…You okay?!

GENESIS

Yes…thanks to you.

Terran…I’m…I’m sorry.

For everything I said.

I was just so upset and….

TERRAN

Look, we don’t have time for this, okay?

The rest of those things are gonna be on us any minute!

We gotta find Merlan and Gladius and come up with a plan or something.

GENESIS

Okay. Let’s go.

TERRAN

You go on ahead, okay? I’ll just lag behind and watch our backs.

GENESIS
Right.

Genesis and Terran start to run off.

Back at EarthNet HQ, President Calabrese and the rest of his staff are ready to begin the announcement.

CALABRESE

Blasted Beck. Where is he??!

STAFF

I say we should just start without him.

CALABRESE

He assured me he’d be back before it was time.

Vanessa walks into the room.

VANESSA
Gentlemen, Mr. Beck regretfully announces that he will not be able to make it in time. However, he urges you to start without him.

CALABRESES
Damn him. Putting ME on the spot. But, I guess we have no choice.

Let’s go, gentlemen.

Back in England, Genesis and Terran enter Merlan’s ship. Once there, Gladius immediately comes to meet them.

GLADIUS
Where the hell have you two been!

We’ve got an emergency here!!

GENESIS

I know!!

We’re under attack!

GLADIUS

Yeah, and you led them here!

GENESIS
What?!?!?!

Gladius walks over to Genesis and touches her shoulder. He then holds out his finger and shows her a small device.

TERRAN

You were tagged.

GENESIS
No….!!

How can that be…?!

GLADIUS

I don’t know and I don’t care.

We need to hold off these things for a while until Merlan can figure something out.

GENESIS

Okay.

TERRAN

Where IS Merlan, anyway?

GLADIUS

She’s in the command room.

TERRAN

I wanna speak to her real quick.

GLADIUS

Didn’t you hear me? I said we gotta move!

TERRAN

I said I have to speak with her!!

GENESIS

Terran…

TERRAN
Shut up!!

I want to speak with her NOW!!

Startled, Genesis senses something wrong. Her right eye glows for a moment.

GENESIS
Wait a—

You’re not Terran!!

TERRAN

…

GLADIUS
What the….

What are you talking about!?

GENESIS
This isn’t Terran!

I-I can’t explain it…but it’s just not him!!

Who ARE you!?!?

"Terran" looks at Genesis sternly. His eyes glow a reddish color.

"TERRAN"

….

You stupid bitch.

GENESIS

Wha?!?!

Before Genesis can move, she’s hit with a powerful invisible force. She goes flying off several feet and hits the wall hard. Meanwhile, Gladius powers up his energy blades and gets into a ready stance.

GLADIUS
Zepheron, I presume?!!

"Terran" starts to change shape….revealing the truth.

ZEPHERON

Ah, so we finally meet….."Grandpa".

GLADIUS

What did you do with Terran!??

ZEPHERON

Heh.

Zepheron starts to build with power.

ZEPHERON

Why don’t you try and force it out of me, Old Man?

GLADIUS
Gladly.

Gladius comes at Zepheron with his blades blazing. Zepheron’s hands start to glow with energy as well. Gladius attacks Zepheron with rapid slashes, but Zepheron easily blocks every one of them with his charged-up fists. Gladius attempts another slash and Zepheron grabs his arm. Bring down Gladius’ should on his knee, there’s both the sound of metal being bent and the snapping of bone as Gladius yells in pain.

Zepheron laughs as he then punches Gladius in the chest so hard, there’s a huge dent in his armor.

ZEPHERON

Let’s see…your heart should be stopping in about….

5….4……3…….2……..now.

Gladius slouches over to the ground, attempting to stay on his feet, but he soon falls over and stops moving.

GENESIS

NOOOOOOOO!!!!!

Zepheron turns and sees Genesis flying at him. Genesis punches Zepheron in the jaw, making his head whip backwards from the impact. Genesis lands on her feet and prepares to follow up, but Zepheron’s hand shoots out and grabs her throat, squeezing hard. Genesis gasps for breath and struggles to get free as Zepheron brings his head forward again, leaning in close to Genesis.

ZEPHERON

So…you’re the little one that’s got CC so upset.

GENESIS
Gak….hurk.

Zepheron takes in a deep whiff, smelling Genesis. He then licks her across her face.

ZEPHERON

I wonder…was my brother man enough for you?

(Zepheron starts to rub his hand down her thigh)

Maybe I should have a little fun with you…hehehe….

Zepheron and Genesis both start to lift off of the ground quickly. Genesis’ telekinesis causing them to levitate. Zepheron is taken off-guard by this, but doesn’t have time to react before Genesis forces them to drop fast.

ZEPHERON

Oh, please.

Do I look as stupid as you?

As the two hit the ground, Genesis hits with full force while Zepheron transforms into liquid and plops to the ground relatively harmlessly, his arm still around Genesis’ throat. As Zepheron starts to reform to his original state, Genesis can feel herself blacking out. Her head starts spinning and after a while, her body starts to go limp

ZEPHERON

Hey, don’t you go dying on me.

I haven’t even had my fun yet.

Zepheron suddenly feels a blast of electricity behind him, coursing through his body and forcing him to release Genesis.

MERLAN
Yagamo!! Go into stasis mode!

Engage Program Z-450!

YAGAMO

Right away, Mistress Merlan.

Yagamo begins to go into a "sleep" mode, shutting down all of its major activity.

Meanwhile…

Terran starts to awaken and holds his head, groaning.

VOICE
Jeff…?

TERRAN

Gen…?

CAROLINE

It’s me, Jeff…CC.

TERRAN
CC?!?!

Terran comes to his senses and sees CC next to him.

TERRAN
CC, where are we?!?

CAROLINE

I don’t know.

TERRAN

What?!?!

CAROLINE
After I…..

…knocked you out…

Chris and a bunch of Elemenian soldiers brought us here. We’re in some sort of…."box" or something. I could feel us taking off in a ship, though….After a while, the ship stopped and dropped us off here, but I have no way of knowing where we are.

TERRAN

I have an urge to kick the crap out of you right now, CC.

CAROLINE

I know….

TERRAN

But I don’t have time for this.

If Chris did this to us, there must be some reason behind it.

Terran walks over to the side of the "box", studying it.

CAROLINE

What are you doing!?

TERRAN

Looking for a weak spot.

Drawing back, Terran punches the side of the box hard, causing it break open.

TERRAN
That was a little TOO easy….

Terran looks around at his surroundings.

TERRAN
Wait….this is….the area outside Merlan’s city.

CAROLINE

What?!?

TERRAN
If we’re here, then…..oh, no….

MERLAN

Come on, Zepheron. Leave her out of this.

It’s ME you want.

ZEPHERON
Hahaha…don’t flatter yourself, my dear Grandmother.

I want to see all of you dead fairly equally.

Merlan nervously begins to gather energy into her hands.

ZEPHERON

Oh, you’re going to fight me?

Okay. Go ahead. I’ll wait til you’re done.

Merlan continues to gather energy. She gets ready to release it, but at the last minute…

MERLAN

Yagamo!! NOW!!

Merlan releases a blast of energy at Zepheron, and from another direction, another blast comes at him. The two blasts collide in a direct hit. Merlan braces herself as the backlash of the energy washes over the room. After it has passed, she looks on to see what the result of the blast was. However, as she does, she feels a tap on her shoulder.

ZEPHERON

(whispering) Psst….you missed.

Merlan turns, but it’s far too late. Zepheron grabs her throat with both hands and lifts her up from the ground.

MERLAN
Gkk….You…won’t….win…….urk…..Zepheron.

ZEPHERON

Haha. You have about 10 seconds to live, and that was the best you could think of for last words? Hahaha. I thought you were supposed to be the "smartest being alive".

Oh well….guess I better just end this before you say anything incredibly stupid.

Zepheron places his hands firmly on Merlan’s head and quickly twists her neck. There’s a loud snap and Merlan drops to the floor dead. Zepheron stretches his hands above his head and yawns.

ZEPHERON

Man, that was easy.

Thought there’d be….I dunno…a challenge here.

Suddenly, Merlan’s body begins to glow.

ZEPHERON

What the hell…?

In a flash of light, Merlan disappears without a trace.

ZEPHERON

Hmm…
I see….

I bet Myaga was behind this.

Ah, well. As long as she’s dead.

It’s just about time for me to finish up here.

Charging energy in his hands, Zepheron begins firing at everything on the ship. He laughs sadistically as he destroys everything in sight.

End of Chapter Four

Terran flies towards Merlan’s manor, moving as quickly as he can. As he gets closer, the entire manor explodes, going up in a huge fireball. Terran stops and looks at the sight in horror.

TERRAN

Oh my God…

VOICE

Brother!!!!

Terran looks through the smoke and sees Zepheron floating in the middle of it, his arms folded and a wide smile on his face.

TERRAN
You…!!!

ZEPHERON

(chuckles) I thought the place could use a bit of remodeling.

What do you think?!?!

TERRAN
You bastard!!

Where are they!?!?

ZEPHERON

"They?"

TERRAN
Don’t screw with me!! Where ARE they!!?

ZEPHERON

Oh…oh, right…you mean those friends of yours.

Heh. Wouldn’t YOU like to know?

Meanwhile, inside of Yagamo, the interior of the ship has been completely destroyed, and everything is either on fire or sparking. Amidst all the wreckage, Genesis begins to awaken.

TERRAN
…you son of a bitch….

ZEPHERON

Heh. Now why are you gonna go and talk about mom like that?

Terran fires a blast of energy at Zepheron, but Zepheron easily avoids it. Terran swoops in and starts to attack Zepheron head-to-head, and the two remain in mid-air for a while, trading blows. But then, three helpless as of the other soldiers from the Trai Digan suddenly appear, surrounding Terran. They all start to attack him simultaneously, not letting Terran anywhere near Zepheron.

TERRAN
Dammit!!

You coward!!

ZEPHERON

Pfft. You loser.

Does anyone call a spider a coward because he traps a fly instead of hunting it?

Boy, I bet you could use your friends’ help right about now, couldn’t you?

Too bad they’re all corpses, huh?

HAHAHA!!!

Terran punches Ragan Glor, the light-user in the gut and then gives a knee to the face, knocking him away. However, as soon as he’s done this, Vanessa, the woman who doubles as Zepheron’s secretary, fires a blast of wind at him, knocking him off balance until Rodom Grant flies in with his gravity powers and headbutts Terran, crushing him between a wall.

ZEPHERON

Well, you children play nice.

Daddy’s got something to do for a few minutes.

In EarthNet Tower…

CALABRESE

…and with our new Helix models, I am sure that we will be able to put an end to the Elemenian invasion of our planet once and for all!

There is an enormous round of applause and Calabrese concludes his press conference. He stands and smiles wide, maintaining a positive image in front of the public eye. People all over the world watch the conference (including Earth-born Elemenians and Earthians, who are understandably less enthusiastic about the situation) and take part in this major event in the history of planet Earth.

In the Nevada base, Thunder, Dremora, Goddess, and the rest of the Kindred (minus Indigo) watch the event.

THUNDER

That bastard is so full of crap.

GODDESS

Yeah, but he’s got about four billion people eating his every word.

THUNDER

This sort of thing pisses me off. The bastard’s acting as if he’s using these things in the best interest of the public when everyone here knows better.

Just then, Indigo wanders into the room.

INDIGO

Hey…what’re guys all doing in here watching TV?

Somebody bring a porn tape or something?

THUNDER

So, you finally showed up, huh?

How are you doing?

INDIGO

Doc gave me a clean bill of health.

THUNDER
What the hell WAS that, anyway?

INDIGO

It was…well…um…

GODDESS
Shhh…Calabrese’s about to say something else.

Calabrese holds up his hand, indicating that he would like to continue. The room quiets, and he starts to resume his speech.

CALABRESE

Of course, this is all a temporary measure until our team of engineers and researchers have perfected our own version on the hyperspace drive. While it will still be quite a while before this occurs, we are making progress every day and it’s only a matter of time before we can take the fight to the Elemenians themselves and…grewere…..flukett……..koweegs…..

Everyone in the conference looks around, confused. The people at home are also concerned about the seeming "glitch" within the sound of Calabrese’s speech.

CALABRESE

(clears throat) Ahem.

It seems that one of our technical guys has fallen asleep at the job. Heh heh heh..

Anyway, as I was saying, once we have possession of warp-capable ships, we will mfllluck….greeeeeworrr…

Everyone is once again alarmed by the distortion of the room’s audio. Calabrese leans over to one the sound technicians on the stage.

CALABRESE

What the hell’s going on here?

TECHNICIAN
I don’t know, Sir.

CALABRESE
Well, you better find out! And fix it! Or I’ll have you FIRED!!

TECHNICIAN
Y-Yes, sir!!

The room continues to murmur and talk in excited tones. Calabrese attempts to shout loudly over the voices.

CALABRESE

People, people…

No need to be alarmed! Our sound staff has everything under control!

If you’ll bear with us for a moment…

VOICE
(chuckles) Hehe…you really like to hear yourself talk, eh, Mr. President?

Of course, these fools are more than ready to eat up every word of your tripe.

Everyone stops talking and looks around. Calabrese himself is alarmed.

CALABRESE

What the--?! Who are you!?!?

A screen lowers behind Calabrese in the auditorium. Zepheron (in his Christian Beck form) appears on it. In the technical room, the technicians are baffled, not understanding why they can’t resolve the situation.

CALABRESE

Beck!!! What are you doing!?!?

ZEPHERON

What does it look like, you moron?

I’m taking control of this little "proganda fest" of yours.

CALABRESE
What?!?

ZEPHERON

First of all, I must thank you for all the help you’ve provided me over the last couple of years.

Truly, I couldn’t ask for a better puppet.

As the scene between Zepheron and Calabrese continues live on the air, the camera crews continue rolling.

CALABRESE

I—I have no idea what you’re talking about.

ZEPHERON

Oh, come now. We both know that it was through a joint effort between the two of us that we orchestrated the assassination of President Suzukara, allowing YOU to become the new commander-in-chief.

The crowd starts to talk excitedly amongst itself. Calabrese looks around, nervously. Meanwhile, Thunder and the others are in complete disbelief.

THUNDER

Ha!! I don’t believe it!!

Christian Beck’s revealing that snake as the piece of trash he is!!

Oh, MAN I am loving this.

DREMORA

I wouldn’t get too excited.

THUNDER

Huh?

GODDESS

She’s right. Did you notice how Beck implicated HIMSELF in that statement as well?

He’s admitting that he’s just as guilty as Calabrese and doesn’t seem to care.

He’s up to something…

Back at EarthNet…

CALABRESE
What are you SAYING, you idiot!?!?

(whispers) Have you lost your MIND, Beck?

ZEPHERON

I’m sorry, I couldn’t hear you.

Must have been drowned out by the sound of your presidency being flushed down the crapper.

CALABRESE

You--!!

ZEPHERON

Alright, alright…enough fun and games.

I have to get down to business.

Basically, I have a little secret to share with you, Mr. "Soon-to-be-EX-President."

CALABRESE

What…what are you doing, Beck?

Zepheron transforms into his second form, which is identical to Terran but retaining the clothing of Zepheron.

ZEPHERON

Ta-da!!

All over the world, people gasp.

INDIGO
What the hell…!?! TERRAN!?!

DREMORA

No…

INDIGO

Huh?!

DREMORA
That’s not Terran.

INDIGO
Bullsh*t it isn’t, I’m looking right at him!

DREMORA

Don’t be a moron. I’m telling you that’s NOT Terran.

That’s his brother, Zepheron.

INDIGO

His….brother…?!

Zepheron smiles as the people all over the world are utter shocked by this transformation.

ZEPHERON

In case you’re all wondering, no, I’m not Terran.

Sorry. My brother couldn’t make it today. He’s a little preoccupied.

CALABRESE

Who….who are you!??

ZEPHERON

You can call me…Zepheron….or Lord Zepheron….

…or hell, even "God", if you want.

CALABRESE
Like hell, you freak!! You’re one of the Elemenians aren’t you?

ZEPHERON

Well, "Mr. President", that subject is far too complicated to explain to your feeble little mind, but to cut to the chase, I AM with the Elemenian Empire.

….which, by the way, brings me to my NEXT topic.

For a visual aid, you all might want to look out the window right about now.

Everyone in the room looks out the window and the cameras pan to do so as well.

Outside the window, a squadron of Helixes are gathered towards the building, facing the people inside.

CALABRESE

W-What?! What are THEY doing here!?!

ZEPHERON

Well, Mr. President, as you well know, the technology used to create the HUNTERs came from EarthNet.

What you DIDN’T know was that I included a little bit of a…."bug"…in the motherboard that provided a teensy-weensy change.

As of right now, the Helixes will ONLY listen to commands given to them through the channels of the Elemenian Empire. They are, now, OUR property.

CALABRESE

WHAT?!?!?

ZEPHERON

I also want you to know that in a matter of moments, I will give the command for these things to exterminate each and every one of your worthless lives. I recommend that you might want to start running away, screaming in terror. If it doesn’t help you survive, it’ll at least provide me some interesting entertainment.

Hahaha…

HAHAHA!!!!!

CALABRESE

You son of a…..

ZEPHERON

Have a nice life, kiddies.

What’s left of it.

Zepheron closes his communications and the HUNTERs activate. Everyone in the building looks on with terror as one of the robots’ fists bursts through the side of the building, crushing it. Calabrese, meanwhile, starts to make a dash for the exit.

Back inside the Yagamo, Genesis gets to her feet, feeling a bit woozy. After getting her balance, she looks around and sees the destruction around the ship. She then turns and sees Gladius laying on the ground, unmoving.

GENESIS
Oh my God! Gladius…Gladius!

Are you alright?!

Gladius doesn’t answer. In fact, he isn’t even breathing. Trying to calm herself, Genesis takes a deep breath and gets on her knees. Turning Gladius on his back, she starts to charge her power. She then lays her hands on Gladius and begins to heal him…

Elsewhere, Terran is still being taken apart by the Trai Digan soldiers. He hits one of them with an energy blast, only to have a miniature cyclone open beneath him and twirl him off-balance before the huge gravity-powered Rodom falls on him from above and crashes into the ground, hitting with tremendous impact.

In the middle of a large crater, Rodom starts to get up, but beneath him, a huge build of energy increases. Before Rodom can react, Terran explodes with power, forcing Rodom off of him. Terran barely can capitalize off of this before he’s hit with a blast of light from Ragan Glor. Stunned, he sees Ragan about to fire another blast. Terran quickly puts his hand in front of himself and forms it into a concave, mirror-like structure. The light bounces off the mirror and strikes Vanessa, knocking her back.

While Ragan is surprised by what he’d just done, he looks down in time to see that stone hands have risen from the ground and clutched his ankles and arms, holding them in place. He then looks up just as Terran punches him square in the face, sending him flying.

Terran, at this point, is pretty beat-up, and his clothes are worn. His shirt has just about been totally torn away, leaving him just about bare-chested while his gloves and pants are torn in patches.

TERRAN
Have you guys had enough yet?

Or should I beat on you some more?

RODOM

Heh. It seems we underestimated you.

But now, it’s time to get serious.

Ragan fires at Terran, but Terran nimbly dodges out of the way. However, as soon as he does, he lands in a trap set by Vanessa. She surrounds him with a pillar of blade-like wind that slices through the ground around him and towers high above, keeping Terran trapped. Terran looks around, knowing he’s trapped, and sees nowhere to go but up. Terran zooms skyward, but as soon as he’s clear of the cyclone tower, Rodom is right there waiting.

Before Terran can react, Rodom hits Terran with a gravity wave. Terran struggles against it, but finds himself overwhelmed as the force of gravity pulls him down to the ground and holds him in place. While he’s trapped, the three soldiers crowd around him, grinning. They all then start to take turns kicking and punching the helpless Terran.

The soldiers continue to beat on Terran until suddenly, there’s a loud sonic scream. The soldiers cover their ears, thrown off by the sound. Taking the opportunity, Terran increases his power, forcing them off of him. As he finally gets some breathing room, Caroline shows up.

CAROLINE

Run, Jeff!! I’ll cover you!!

TERRAN
C….C!?!?

The rest of the soldiers start to regain their senses.

CAROLINE

Come on, Jeff!! Go!!!

TERRAN
Why…why are you helping me?!?

Caroline creates a wall of sonic energy in front of her and Terran, blocking off the Trai Digan trio.

CAROLINE

…ngh…Even though I…ugh…was forced to marry you because of your brother…

I…ngh…fell in love with you on my own.

Terran gasps, stunned.

CAROLINE

I did what I did…guh…because I wanted us to be together…nnh!

Because I…I love you…Jeff…

TERRAN
CC….

Before Terran can say anything, a blast of energy suddenly appears and goes straight through Caroline’s chest. Caroline’s blood splatters from the wound, and both she and Terran get horrified looks on their faces. In the distance, Zepheron floats high in the air, holding out a glowing hand, with a grin on his face.

CAROLINE

J…

J…e….f…..f…………

Caroline falls, and Terran rushes forward, catching her in his arms. Her eyes closed, her body lifeless.

TERRAN
CC!!

CC!!!!!!

No….

The three Trai Digan soldiers get ready to attack, but Zepheron stops them.

ZEPHERON

Leave him to me.

RODOM
Yes, Lord Zepheron.

ZEPHERON

You all go to the town and search for survivors.

There ought to be a place where women and children would go for safety.

Find it and bury it. And exterminate the rats inside.

RODOM

Yes, sir.

The trio flies off, to carry out Zepheron’s order. Meanwhile, Terran sets the dead Caroline aside, turning his attention to Zepheron.

Back in the Yagamo, Genesis helps Gladius get to his feet. Gladius groans and staggers a bit, but Genesis holds him up.

GENESIS
Are you alright?

GLADIUS

I feel numb.

GENESIS
You were pretty much dead. That’s natural.

GLADIUS

Ugh….Wh-Where’s Merlan?

GENESIS

I don’t know…I can’t find her anywhere.

GLADIUS
And Zepheron?

GENESIS

It looks like he’s gone, too.

GLADIUS

Dammit…he must have killed her.

GENESIS
What…!? Then, where’s her body?

GLADIUS

……

We have to get out of here.

GENESIS
Wait…you haven’t answered my…

GLADIUS
That can wait.

We have to find a way out of here. We have to find Terran.

Back outside, Terran and Zepheron stare at each other, both person’s eyes blazing with hatred.

ZEPHERON

So, it’s come down to THIS, now, has it?

TERRAN
You murdering psychopath…

You’ll pay for this…I swear.

ZEPHERON

Do all of you "heroic" types read from the same script or something?

Can’t any of you come up with some original dialogue?

TERRAN
Shut up…you crazy bastard!

ZEPHERON

You know, your father made a face just like that…

…before I killed him.

TERRAN
!!

ZEPHERON

Haha! Yeah…and that was how your mother looked after I did it, too!

Hahaha!!

TERRAN
YOU….killed them?!

ZEPHERON
Is that so hard to believe?

Of course, the only person you ever saw there was Dremora…so you blamed her for it.

But the truth is, the person who beat your father to death…

…and jabbed a sword through your mother’s throat…

…was Yours Truly.

TERRAN

How…how COULD YOU!?!?

You keep saying "your parents", but they were YOUR parents, too!!

How could you kill them!?!?

ZEPHERON

Oh, please. I don’t have parents. I have a sperm and egg donor.

You grew up in the kind, loving, all-American household.

I grew up in a nightmare.

Every single day, I was forced to fight for my right to live…to survive.

You and your sissy parents were living cozy lives in a dream world.

Well, all dreams have to come to an end, don’t they…?

TERRAN

…

ZEPHERON

What’s the matter, speechless?

TERRAN
No…I’m just visualizing how long I should beat you before I give you the same treatment that you gave my parents.

ZEPHERON
Hahaha!!! Come on and try, you pathetic weakling.

I’ve waited for this moment my whole life.

Tell me, do you know what it feels like to wake up everyday and see the face of the person you hate most?

TERRAN
I’m getting the notion.

ZEPHERON
Heh.

Oh, and by the way….

TERRAN
?

ZEPHERON

If you’re hoping those friends of yours will show up and help you save the day, you can pretty much give up THAT little pipe dream.

TERRAN
What!?!

What are you talking about?

Zepheron grins.

ZEPHERON

Yeah, it was the darnedest thing. You see, I hit that metal guy so hard, his heart just sorta…stopped working.

And I was trying to give our Grandmother a little hug…and I’ll be damned…her head just kinda twisted around backwards….

(Zepheron grins)….Oh, and that girl…

Terran’s eyes open wide.

ZEPHERON

Hehehe….

Well, she was such a fragile little thing…

She broke so easily…

TERRAN

No…..

No, I don’t believe you!!!!

ZEPHERON
Yeah, well, that’s too bad.

Because they ARE very dead.

(chuckles)

Some "hero" you turned out to be, huh?

Couldn’t even protect the people you care about.

Terran is absolutely crushed by this….he feels all of the anger rushing of his body, filled by a feeling of total anguish.

TERRAN
N-No…

They can’t be…

ZEPHERON
Look, I could stand around and watch you suffer a nervous breakdown all day, but I have places to be.

When you’re ready to actually fight me, let me know.

Until then, toodles.

Zepheron takes off into the air, leaving a devastated Terran behind. Terran falls to his knees, tears welling up in his eyes…

TERRAN
They….They’re dead….

I-I…I failed them….

I failed them….again….

Memories start to rush into Terran’s mind. He visualizes his mother…as she looked at him…and then was stabbed through the throat by her brother.

He remembers Narwal’s destruction…and the part his brother played in it…

The faces of Gladius and Merlan appear to him, before quickly fading away.

Terran relives Caroline’s death from moments ago…a death Zepheron once agin caused with his bare hands.

And finally, Terran remembers Genesis…and what she told him…"I hate you! I wish you’d shrivel up and die!!"

TERRAN

My parents…

My planet….

My friends….

I’ve failed you all….

Terran’s anger begins to rise again as he visualizes Zepheron.

(memory)

ZEPHERON

Some "hero" you turned out to be, huh?

Couldn’t even protect the people you care about.

(/memory)

TERRAN

…you bastard…

you…

you won’t get away with this…

I won’t let you….

Terran’s hands curl into fists and begin trembling. Around him, the debris from the battles starts to stir up. After a few moments, the ground begins to shake. Terran’s eyes turn blazing red.

TERRAN
You’ll never get away with this…

..never…

The ground begins to shake more fiercely…trees begin blowing, cars start to move, and the vastly-empty city begins to rumble.

TERRAN
I’ll stop you…

I’ll kill you….

Terran lets out a loud roar in anger and his power explodes.

TERRAN

Terran lets out a loud roar in anger and his power explodes. A massive earthquake occurs, and the ground beneath him cracks open and separates into gorges miles deep. Lava shoots out from underneath them, towering high into the air. Overhead, clouds form and thunder begins to rumble, and a gale-force wind kicks up, blowing everything in its path away.

The quake, the result of Terran’s wrath is so powerful, people thousands of miles away can feel it. Even Genesis and Gladius as they remain on Yagamo at the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean.

GENESIS
What’s happening now?!?

GLADIUS

An Earthquake?

(Gladius’ sensors come online.)

No…this isn’t a natural quake…it’s a backlash of energy.

GENESIS
Huh? What could make this much energy?

GLADIUS

Not what….WHO.

Terran, feeling nothing but pure rage, takes off in the direction that Zepheron went. His powers surging to the max, and surrounding him with a large crimson aura. Terran takes off with so much force, the buildings nearby shatter from his power. As he travels over the ocean, the water actually splits apart and forms a trench behind him. Terran blazes forward, with a single-minded obsession.

GLADIUS

Terran’s the only person with the power to do something like this…

…besides his brother, Zepheron.

GENESIS

Then how do you know that it was Terran?

GLADIUS

This sort of power was generated by a force of pure rage…a welling of emotion so great, it caused the person to overload.

When Zepheron fought us, he looked calm, relaxed and focused…

Terran, on the other hand, has had a lot of trouble controlling his rage.

Being raised in a sheltered life, Terran’s never experienced a lot of trauma or tragedy in his childhood.

When he’s faced with something or someone that upsets him, he doesn’t know how to cope with it. His only reaction is to let loose with pure rage.

GENESIS

But…But what does that mean?!?

Did something happen to him?

GLADIUS
I think I know what’s going on.

GENESIS
Huh?

GLADIUS

Zepheron, Terran’s brother, knows that Terran can’t deal with emotional stress.

When he’s calm and rational, Terran’s a formidable opponent. If you remember when you and he fought the HUNTERs in Nevada, Terran was able to use his powers to the best of his ability. He was at the top of his game.

That was because the situation he was in didn’t directly affect him. The HUNTERs were after Indigo and the Kindred, not him. Terran wasn’t backed into a corner like all the other times.

GENESIS

But, when Terran gets angry…

GLADIUS

Right. Terran loses his edge. He makes rash mistakes and hasty decisions.

Zepheron knew this.

Zepheron knew that if he fought Terran head-to-head while Terran had a clear head, the fight could go either way. But now, Terran’s completely lost it. Zepheron’s pushed Terran WAAAY over the edge.

GENESIS

Oh, no…

GLADIUS

There’s just about NO chance of Terran beating Zepheron now, and to make matters worse….when he’s THIS angry, Terran’s even MORE dangerous than Zepheron himself.

End of Chapter Five

In Nevada, Thunder and the rest of the Kindred continue watching news broadcasts, constantly flipping channels. The images onscreen show the Helixes as they rampage across North America, Europe, and Southeast Asia, destroying everything in their paths.

REPORTER

…absolutely horrible…

The loss of life has climbed well into the hundreds in this city alone…if not the thousands…

REPORTER

…government claims to be undergoing some sort of systems failure, which is preventing any possible counterattack against the rampaging machines…

REPORTER

…citizens are in a mass-panic as the machines systematically target the most populated major cities, and follow the survivors as they flee…

REPORTER

….destruction as far as the eye can see….nary a building left standing as the machines…

…oh God…one’s heading this way…

We have to—GAAH!!!

Tired of watching this, Indigo stands up and punches the wall.

INDIGO

Come on!! What the hell are we all sitting around here for!??!

We gotta help these people!!

THUNDER

And what do you think we should do? Have our depleted and injured soldiers face those things?

INDIGO

I…I don’t know…

But…there oughta be something we can do!!

Help people escape….SOMETHING!!!

GODDESS

I agree with the boy.

THUNDER

What?! Look, these people are the same ones who were so damned ready to sic those things on US, remember?

As far as I’m concerned, this is poetic justice.

INDIGO
Who the hell do you think you are!?

Who made it your job to judge who could live and who died?!

THUNDER

I did.

(Thunder’s hands crackle with electric energy.)

You got a problem with it?

Indigo’s hands start to gather frost.

INDIGO

Come on, Static Boy.

I dare you…no…DOUBLE dare you to start something.

GODDESS
****BOTH of you, SHUT UP!!!!****

Both Indigo and Thunder stop.

GODDESS

We need to think rationally, okay?

This is not the time to be fighting amongst ourselves.

Dremora, you’re our expert on Elemenian affairs…you mean you didn’t know about any of this?

DREMORA

No. Zepheron was put in charge of the Earth’s covert tactics.

My job was to provide him support and to remain a constant menace to the Earth’s defense forces.

THUNDER

Why didn’t you TELL us about Zepheron?

DREMORA

…

I have my reasons.

INDIGO

That right?

Is there anything else you’ve "conveniently" forgotten to tell us?

DREMORA

If there is, I can’t tell you, now can I?

INDIGO

….

Just then, an Earthian soldier runs into the room.

SOLDIER
SIR!!!

THUNDER

What?!

SOLDIER

We’ve picked up an incoming signal!

We’ve got about 500 Helixes bearing down on us from the Northeast!!

THUNDER

What?!?!

Back on the Yagamo, Gladius and Genesis make their way to a hatch.

GLADIUS
Yagamo!! Yagamo, can you read me!?!

Just then, a hologram of Yagamo’s tiger-form appears.

YAGAMO

Yes, Sir Gladius, I am here.

GLADIUS

Where are you?

YAGAMO

My biological form was severely injured during the previous attack. I am currently running on a backup program. Because this, my functions are severely limited.

GLADIUS

Can you open the warp hatch?

YAGAMO
I will try.

There’s a humming sound and the hatch starts to slowly open. Gladius and Genesis both go on opposite ends of the two sliding doors and start to push them to help them open faster. After the hatch has opened, Genesis and Gladius step into a large sphere.

YAGAMO

What destination would you like?

GENESIS

Should we try to catch up with Terran?

GLADIUS

The way my sensors calculated it, Terran was flying at well over the speed of sound to a location that we don't know yet. Even if we teleport to where he is, he’d leave us in a cloud of dust.

GENESIS

Dammit…

…

Wait…what about the Nevada base!?!

Where Indigo and the Kindred are!??

GLADIUS

Hmm…It may be a bit too far for Yagamo to handle in its weakened state.

YAGAMO

I believe I may have just enough power to do it, sir…but it’ll cause me to go offline.

GENESIS

You mean it’ll…..die?

GLADIUS

Yes.

Are you okay with that, Yagamo?

YAGAMO

Of course, Sir. I am here to assist you in any way I can.

GLADIUS

Alright, then.

Thank you, old friend. I guess after 50 years, this is goodbye, huh?

YAGAMO

Don’t worry about such a thing, sir. Just make sure that this won’t be in vain.

Oh, and Lady Genesis?

GENESIS

Yes?

YAGAMO
Take care of Master Terran for me, will you?

GENESIS

…

I will, Yagamo.

YAGAMO
Thank you.

Teleporting………now.

Gladius and Genesis disappear in a bright flash, and Yagamo powers down…going offline.

Elsewhere, Terran, full of rage, continues to fly across the Atlantic Ocean, his anger pushing him forward at a blazing speed. In the distance, Zepheron floats above the water, his arms folded.

ZEPHERON

Ah….here he comes.

Right on cue.

Come on, bro…let’s have a little fun.

Zepheron instantly shoots off into the distance, moving at a speed rivaling Terran’s. Terran sees him and gives chase, increasing his speed even more. Zepheron curves into a mountain range, and Terran follows closely behind. Zepheron carefully maneuvers his way through the mountains, but Terran, overcome with his rage, plows right through them. Terran bursts straight through the mountains, causing the peaks to crumble.

Zepheron and Terran make their way to an African city which is still untouched by the Helixes. Zepheron flies through the downtown area, flying between the skyscrapers and maneuvering around the buildings. Just like the mountains, Terran doesn’t even bother flying AROUND the buildings. He simply bulldozes through them. As he goes through one building, debris breaks away, falling to the ground below and narrowly missing some of the civilians.

Back in Nevada, the Earthians find themselves in a similar situation to one that they were in merely months ago. A group of soldiers leads some civilians through one corridor of the base, trying to escape before the Helixes attack them. However, this proves futile as two Helixes break through the wall, cutting off their escape. Before they can react, the Helixes fire a powerful blast, incinerating them.

In another part of the base, more people are running for their lives, trying to stay ahead of a HUNTER which can’t reach them because of the narrow area of the room they’re in. However, the Helix’s struggling causes the walls and ceiling to crack and crumble. It begins to fall, and the people cringe. But moments later, and ice dome appears, protecting them.

INDIGO
Q-Quick…..run….

I…can’t hold this thing forever.

The people quickly run through an opening within the dome and escape. Indigo lets the dome go, and the debris crashes to the ground. However, at this time, the Helix has broken free and moves towards Indigo. He turns and makes a spear out of his ice, hurling it at the machine. The spear bounces off and breaks.

INDIGO

No way!!

How tough ARE these things!?

The Helix continues to come for Indigo, but before it can get close, a powerful bolt of lightning comes and knocks it back.

THUNDER

Dammit…I was trying to destroy it with that blast!

INDIGO

Well, well…

Your head isn’t shoved quite so far up your ass NOW, is it?

Not when this is YOUR problem, too.

THUNDER

…

If you’re going to lecture me, how about throwing in an idea for how to beat this thing?

INDIGO

Sorry, I’m fresh out.

The Helix fires a blast at Thunder. Thunder can’t dodge it in time, but another blast comes in and stops it. Dremora lands next to the two and joins the fight.

THUNDER

Thanks for the assist.

DREMORA

We still haven’t completed our objectives yet.

I can’t let you die before that happens.

INDIGO
Huh?! Objectives?

THUNDER

None of your damn business.

Thunder flies around the side of the Helix and fires another blast of electricity. The blast barely phases it.

THUNDER

Dammit! This thing MUST have a weak spot SOMEWHERE!!

VOICE

Let ME give it a try.

Everyone turns and sees Gladius rushing towards the machine. He goes right up to it and slashes off one of its cannons before it can fire with his energy blades. He then leaps to the top of the machine and gets on its back. It starts to attempt to shake him off, and Gladius has a hard time getting a footing.

GLADIUS

Can someone hold this thing!?!

INDIGO

I’ve got it!!

VOICE

Me, too!!

Genesis uses her telekinesis to hold the creature in place while Indigo’s ice freezes it. While it’s stopped, Gladius uses his energy blades to slice off the machine’s head…and then cut open its torso to insure that it stopped moving.

THUNDER

Finally!!

But…wait…where did you guys come from?!

INDIGO
Yeah, and where’s Terran, and Merlan…?

GENESIS

(lowers her head)

Well, um…

GLADIUS

It’s a long story. We’ll fill you in as we get the hell out of here.

INDIGO

That sounds good to me.

THUNDER

We arranged to rendezvous with the others at the front of the building.

Let’s go.

Back in Africa, Terran punches a Helix with so much force, it hits the wall of a building and shatters. Then, he blasts a hole straight through a second one. Looking around, Terran doesn’t see Zepheron anywhere.

TERRAN
WHERE ARE YOU, ZEPHERON!!!?

There is silence.

TERRAN

Just then, a huge ball of energy comes flying at Terran. Terran can barely react in time, but he manages to deflect it away with an energy shield. However, no sooner has he done this than Zepheron bursts from the ground behind Terran. Terran turns to face Zepheron, but cannot react quick enough before Zepheron punches Terran hard in the gut. Stunned, Terran is helpless as Zepheron clenches his fists together and swats Terran to the ground.

Terran skids along the ground for a while before he starts to get up. As he does, Zepheron lands on the ground right in front of him, grinning. Zepheron puts his hand out and blasts Terran with a huge amount of energy, the blast causing a huge explosion on the ground, and leaving behind a smoking crater. Zepheron lowers his hand, with a pleased look on his face.

ZEPHERON

Come on, you made all that fuss and now you’re just going to let me beat your ass?

Give me a little more fight that THAT, bro.

Terran (singed and burned) leaps from the crater and punches Zepheron hard.

While Zepheron topples from the blow, Terran turns his hand into quarts, and punches Zepheron again. However, this time, the blow sinks into Zepheron’s gut and then bounces right out like some sort of gelatin.

ZEPHERON

No, no, no…

Not like that…

…like THIS!!

Zepheron reaches out and grabs Terran’s face with his hand. He then releases an explosive blast right in Terran’s face. Terran is knocked back from the blow, and Zepheron transforms his arm into tentacle, grabbing Terran’s leg, lifting him high into the air and slamming back down to the ground. Before Terran can move, Zepheron blasts him again.

ZEPHERON

You’ll absorb the damage if you make yourself LESS dense instead of HARDENING your body. And you might want to work on making your punches faster…they’re a bit predictable.

TERRAN
(rising to his feet) Shut…up…!!!

ZEPHERON

(shakes head)

Tsk…People these days….

Don’t know how to accept help…

Terran makes the ground shake underneath Zepheron, and it begins to split apart, knocking him off-balance. While this happens, Terran attempts to punch Zepheron again, but Zepheron dodges the punch easily and transforms his arm into an energy blade. He then cuts off Terran’s arm, puts his hand to Terran’s chest and blasts him. Terran flies back along the ground, creating a huge trench. He slams into a rock and slides to the ground, groaning.

Terran attempts to get to his feet again, but his vision starts to go blurry and his breathing is ragged.

ZEPHERON

What’s the matter, bro?

Waste all that energy in a meaningless chase?

Or did the fight with my comrades tucker you out?

TERRAN

Shut…up…..

Beat you…
I’ll…..beat you….

Zepheron chuckles.

ZEPHERON

Hahaha…

This is damn pitiful.

Time to finish this.

Zepheron stretches out his arms and merges his hands into a huge spiked ball. He rushes towards Terran and hits him unbelievably hard with the spiked ball, knocking Terran over a mile away from the impact. Terran hits the ground hard, and despite his efforts to move, he finds that he’s no longer able to do so. But, he doesn’t even get the option before Zepheron swoops in out of the sky and lands on Terran’s stomach with sharp metallic blades protruding from the bottom of his feet. As the blades sink into Terran’s flesh, he yells out in pain.

ZEPHERON
Haha!!!

That’s it!! Scream!!!

Let me hear the wonderful sound of you wailing in agony!!

Come on, louder!! I can’t hear you!!!!

Zepheron increases his gravity, causing the blades to sink in deeper. Terran yells out louder.

ZEPHERON

Now, I want you to do something for me, bro.

I want you to admit that we’re the same. You’re no hero…you’re no better than I am.

You’re exactly like me…

TERRAN

Gek….I’d….guh…NEVER…say anything like that…

I-I’m NOTHING like you.

You kill people…nng…for your own selfish reasons…

ZEPHERON

Oh, spare me the self-righteousness.

When you were chasing me, did you stop to think that by bursting through those buildings to catch up with me that you might be endangering people’s lives?

How about that huge earthquake and eruption you caused?

I wonder if anyone was killed by THAT.

Face it…your hatred for me got so deep….so overwhelming, that you didn’t care one wit about these insignificant pieces of trash, did you? All you wanted was to see me dead.

Am I right?

TERRAN
…

ZEPHERON

Heh. Now YOU know what it’s like.

Like I said, we’re no different…you’re just like me.

TERRAN

I may hate YOU, Zepheron….

I’d never….koff…hurt anyone else intentionally for the pure hell of it.

Greh…We’re NOT alike…

…if anything…we’re OPPOSITES.

ZEPHERON

…

Alright….fine. How’s this for opposites?

I’ll continue breathing while you take a dirt nap.

Zepheron takes off into the air, his blades ripping themselves out of Terran’s body. Zepheron points a hand at Terran, smiling. Energy begins to build.

ZEPHERON
So long, brother…

…it was nice knowing you.

Ha.

Well, not really…

Zepheron fires the blast and everything goes dark.

Meanwhile, back in Narwal, Indigo, Genesis, Dremora, Gladius and the Kindred are making their getaway. Indigo, Thunder and Goddess are the first to make it out, followed by Genesis and Gladius and finally, Dremora. As they get outside, Genesis stops.

GLADIUS
What’s wrong…?

GENESIS

It’s Terran…

Oh my God…I can’t sense him anymore…

GLADIUS

What!?

What does that mean?!

Is he unconscious?

GENESIS

(shakes her head) I-I can sense people even when they’re unconscious. They emit sleep waves.

But…I don’t sense ANYTHING from Terran anymore…

GLADIUS

….

THUNDER

Alright, we’re out in the open…so let’s high-tail it out of…

INDIGO

Wait…where’s the rest of the team?

GENESIS

I don’t know…they were right behind me.

INDIGO

Dammit, they must not have made it out yet.

DREMORA

We can’t wait. We’ll have to go.

INDIGO
Screw that! We can’t leave them!

THUNDER

They can take care of themselves

INDIGO

Man, what is your PROBLEM!?!?

Don’t you care about anyone other than yourself?!

THUNDER

You little punk…who do you think you’re talking to!?!?

INDIGO

A piece of sh*t, no good asshole, that’s who!!

THUNDER

Okay, that’s it!! I’m not going ANYWHERE else with this guy!

Not unless we settle this once and for all!!

I will NOT have him dishonor the name of the Zennon royal family!!!

GODDESS
Danny, stop!!

THUNDER

Why should I!?!?

GODDESS

…

Because he’s your BROTHER.

Everyone who hears this stunned, including Indigo, who already knew.

THUNDER

W-Wha…?

INDIGO

You knew?!

GODDESS

Of course, I was around when you were created. I knew what steps they took to clone you from the Zennon royal family.

DREMORA

Unbelievable…

THUNDER

T-This isn’t possible!!!

This…pitiful retard is my brother?!

INDIGO

Retard!? Look who’s talking, slack-jaw.

How many times did you sniff glue as a kid, huh?

GLADIUS

Would you all shut up!!?!

We have to get out of here before we’re dis…

ELEMENIAN SOLDIERS
FREEZE!!!!!!!!

GLADIUS

…covered….

Dammit!

Everyone turns as a sea of soldiers pours in, surrounding the base. Hovercraft and starships also pull in, all of which have weapons pointed at the group.

INDIGO

Sh*t!!!!

ELEMENIAN SOLDIER

You are now all captives of the Elemenian Empire.

You are all to put your hands on your heads and get your knees RIGHT NOW.

Everyone reluctantly does as their told…kneeling and putting their hands on their heads.

Everyone except Dremora.

INDIGO

What are you doing!??

DREMORA

Shut up.

Dremora turns to the soldiers.

DREMORA

Good work, soldiers…

You got my message.

You’ve served the Empire well.

SOLDIERS

Thank you, Commander.

THUNDER

Dremora!! What are you doing!?

DREMORA

Be quiet, all of you!!

THUNDER

You traitorous bitch!!!

Dremora walks over Thunder and slaps him.

GODDESS

I can’t believe she’s betrayed us…

INDIGO

…

GODDESS
Aren’t you going to say something?

INDIGO

No…

Something’s just not right, is all…

I can’t put my finger on it…

SOLDIER

Silence, terrans!!

You will not talk unless addressed!!

INDIGO

You’re a bunch of fruits.

You have to send out machines to do your dirty work and then swoop in like vultures.

The soldier strikes Indigo with the butt of his gun, knocking him down.

SOLDIER

Talk like that again, boy, and I’ll blow your head off.

Indigo growns in pain, his mouth bleeding. He gets up from the ground and puts his hands back behind his head and gets on his knees.

SOLDIER

Oh, and since you Terrans have so much spunk, I have little something to show you.

One of the soldiers brings forth a monitor. The monitor displays the President as he addresses the world

CALABRESE
…have no choice but to throw in the towel and except the inevitable…

To repeat, as of right now, as the highest-ranking official in the United Nations, I hereby order all UN forces to stand down and surrender to the Elemenian Empire.

EVERYONE

WHAT??!!

GENESIS

This…this can’t be happening.

SOLDIER

Oh, but I’m afraid it is.

Hehehe…

This is OUR world now.

End of Act 6