His frail body lay still, cold. Max had never seen anything so chilling, so frighteningly numbing.

He felt to blame. And he was to blame. The heaviness of death suddenly weighing upon him. It was his own personal loss; the complete burden fell squarely on his shoulders; even if they managed to overcome all of the obstacles and live, Max did not know how he could live with the consequences of his choices.

"Go, Max," Andaria spoke gravely. "My daughter needs you now the most."

Max did not know what to say. He did not have the words to say farewell to the son he never had the chance to know. Swallowing hard, he stared blankly at the crown resting between his fingers. It glowed brilliantly in his hand. What good does a crown do me when I cannot save my own son?

He raised the crown above his son and rested it above the thin tuft of hair that burnished his son's head. "This belongs to you, Zander," he whispered. "Even before I could see, you saw where the path lay ahead of us. You should have been the ruler of our people. Not me."

Not me.

The evening sky was beginning to break; upon the brooding horizon hope and despair waged their war. As the crimson waves of the dawn extended its' reach, the thin line between love and hate intermingled, creating a thick wall of contention. Heaven above, as well as the earth below, bellied loudly with harsh rumblings of death and its' eventual silence. It was as if the universe waited with bated breath for destiny's final outcome.

"How long do you believe you can continue on, Rath?" Khivar hissed, pressing forward, arms outstretched. Without much effort, he pressed his attack.

They had anticipated his every move - they thwarted his attacks, diverting and misdirecting them. But it would not last. He could see the strain upon their faces. A team effort one could say. Once one began to weaken, another took over. Insipid rachis. They had no idea what kind of power he now yielded. Not only did his architect's machinations render the Kedrans, as well as anyone within its' pervasive grasp, helpless; the brilliance of it all was in Pilan's subtle, yet devastating touch. They still did not understand what he had taken from the people. Not just Kedrans this time. He could not possibly put his universal plans into motion without more...

In the end, the whole of Antar would have been a part of his scheme to rule the whole system. He was certainly not done finished with them, hardly.

The light show had been impressive to say the least. Michael did not expect such power, except he did. As he held the line while Isabel rested, Michael was receiving first-hand experience of what it felt like to be in Khivar's grip. He could not imagine how his people hung on so long. Under such scrutiny and attack, the strongest of warriors would have fallen. Yet they remained. He glanced over his shoulder at Fadilia, who was ministering to Isabel; she was the reason why their people survived. Fadilia had given her people hope.

"I will hold on as long as it takes to see you in your grave," he sneered, glaring back at the arrogant dictator. "You have held the throne hostage for as long as you're going to."

"You are a fool," Khivar chided. "You are not powerful enough to defeat me. I have the strength of a thousand men...or more so."

Why it was, Michael didn't know, but the insinuation that lurked beneath the surface of his statements sent chills down his spine. The Iturian had much more confidence than an average madman. No, Khivar had done something to merit such an overabundance of confidence. Glancing down at the unconscious bodies of Esmond, Yasu, and Siothrun. There is more than meets the eye to his powers.

Khivar pulled back his arms, bending his arms and parting his hands in front of him, expanding the width of his blast. You've been at peace for the whole of your life, Rath," he said slowly, choosing his words, as he shifted his position to his left. "I have been at war since the day I decided your fate those many years ago. I will not be defeated."

"So what's your plan?" Michael grunted, feeling the sudden onset of newly applied pressure. His training prior to this meeting had been needed, but he knew he was nowhere near ready for this confrontation alone. Deep down, he knew his only chance stood in distracting Khivar with words, in the hopes that Isabel would have recovered enough and Max and Tess would return quickly. But if not, he would fight to the very end.

"You have no idea the possibilities that are configuring themselves - it is as such that my stars are aligning in my favor. Pilan promised much and has delivered, as I expected," he said forebodingly. "So whether your hapless leader returns or not, nothing will stop me."

"You are such an arrogant bastard," Isabel growled, coming up along side Michael. She acknowledged Michael's brief glance over at her, knowing he was worried about her. "You think that you've got the perfect plan. But let me tell you something, Khivar...Plans change."

"Oh, there have been several unforseen events; but things are falling into line," Khivar chuckled, casually glancing over at Vilandra. "Because even on my worst day, I am strong enough to defeat you, hybrids. Your previous selves worried me more than you do."

"And that's a mistake you will pay for," warned a foreboding voice.

Michael and Isabel were startled by the chilling voice that came from behind them. But before they were able to glance back, the energy blast which Khivar had been pressuring them with came to a halt. They watched as he flew backwards - a high-pitched shriek filled the air.

"Tess!" Isabel gasped, as her gaze darted between the petite blonde and the fallen enemy. "You made it."

Michael could see something was wrong. Her face was ashen; her eyes were cold, devoid of any emotion. She strode past them without so much as a look. "Tess..."

"You killed me once," she spoke, her voice almost mechanical. "I was brought back to stop you, at least that's what Nasedo said. But instead of being happy to be alive, I lived in misery, shunned by those who should have taken me in."

Michael watched as she stood there talking to Khivar as if he were her psychiatrist or counsellor. Her demeanor was calm and so out of touch with reality.

"Because I was one of them, didn't I merit some acceptance?"

Isabel felt her blood freeze at her words. She did not understand why she was acting this way. Her gaze drifted to the turret, suddenly feeling an unnatural coolness in the air. It was as if something had...had left. Her eyes snapped to Tess, who stood hovering above the stooped figure crumpled beneath the shadows, and she knew. Isabel understood where her biting words came from. Oh god, what happened to Zander?

"You are the reason for everything. You had a hand in everything that was taken from me. YOU!" Her voice suddenly crescendoed. She kept seeing images of her son's smiling face flash in front of her, the way his fingers squeezed around hers tightly and how his laugh stirred her awake every morning. "You, Khivar, are never going to hurt another person again," she whispered. "I will stop you. I will put an end to all of this misery."

Closing her eyes, Tess focused upon an image of Khivar. He stood alone, centered in her mind. A flicker of a flame ignited behind him and suddenly a mixture of red, orange, and yellow filled her mind. Burning flames lapped at the tormented image in her mind. She heard screams in her head, until they became a reality.

Michael wasn't sure what she was doing. He didn't think anyone really knew what ran through her mind as she toyed with her enemy, and at times reaped a harvest of pain and torment. It was something he never wanted to be on the receiving end of, as was apparent by Khivar's convulsing body, which had suddenly begun to shake and seize in front of his eyes.

"What is happening?" Isabel said apprehensively.

"She is doing what has to be done," Fadilia said stoically.

"Is this how it's going to be?" she asked softly, staring at the writhing body in front of her. Isabel had no objections, but part of her, that sense of human decency, arose unexpectedly. "His mind will dissapate without a word. It seems too simple,"

Michael was apprehensive as well. This seemed much too easy. He had felt the power within Khivar and he knew the crazed ruler would not go down so easily. However, what was happening before his eyes, spoke to the contrary. "Just be on your guard," he said cautiously.

"And what happened to Max," Isabel asked concernedly, glancing over her shoulder. "Why isn't he right behind her?"

Without saying another word, Max appeared through the balcony entrance way, out of breath. "Tess," he breathed, looking at them as if that were a question in itself.

Before Isabel or Michael were able to utter a word, a sudden burst of energy filled the sky and blinded them all.

He had seen it before Khivar had moved. "Tess!" Max shouted, running towards her as he saw Khivar make his move. Before he knew what was happening, the blast sent him reeling as he saw the small petite figure fly through the air. He managed to raise a sub-par energy field to deflect the blast, but it wasn't enough to keep him from hitting the floor.

However his attention was elsewhere; he could not prevent Tess from Khivar's attack, but before her body could hit the ground, he diverted his energy to save her and cushioning her fall, enfolding her in an energy field of his own making.

"Quick, but not quick enough," Khivar laughed maniacally, as he watched her body slump to the ground. "Did you think I would be that easy to defeat? Again, you underestimate me."

Max let the energy field disperse, as he turned his attention to Khivar. She had been knocked out from the blast. "And I think you underestimate all of us," he said in a low growl. "Because we will not go down quietly. It is your time, Khivar."

"Do you really believe that, Zan?" He glanced briefly up at the opening into the imposing tower looming over them - all was dark. "Or are you still in denial? Does the death of your son tell you nothing?" Disdain filled his voice. "Teach you nothing? You should have listened to me. You should have taken me up on my offer."

"You killed my son," Max spat. "And there will be justice for that tonight."

"Did I not offer you his life in simple exchange for your surrender?"

It should have made him cringe. It should have sent him running, but he knew everything out of Khivar's mouth was tainted. He could believe nothing. "I've learned over the years that bargaining with madmen eventually ends in death," he scoffed, disgusted that Khivar had the gall to use his son's death to taunt him. It only gave him more resolve. There will be justice on Antar tonight.

"But eventually is not now, is it?" Khivar smirked, enjoying the torment he saw in Zan's eyes. "And in those few moments, you could have possibly met and bonded with your son."

"At what price?"

"Oh, he was a delightful child," Khivar grinned evilly, ignoring the soon-to-be dead heir. "He could almost walk by the time his mother left his side. I cannot tell you how his laughter could just light up a room."

The syrupy sweetness of feigned delighted churned Max's stomach. Dwelling on every malicious word that came out of Khivar's mouth, her anger and resentment only gew until she could not control it any longer. "You bastard!" Isabel cried out, releasing an invisible force unlike she'd ever produced before. Her thoughts were on the child who had touched her life for a mere moment, changing it forever. She may have never met her nephew, but she had felt a love for the unborn child, as much as she had felt it the night she felt his torment in her dreams. And now she would never truly know him.

Michael followed suit, joining his former betrothed and adding to her powers, in a frontal attack on the delusional Iturian.

"Do you know how pathetic you seem?" Khivar tossed his head back in laughter, as he easily deflected their attack, not bothering to deny the power he now wielded. "This is only the beginning. Do you not see?!?" he shrieked maniacally. Raising his hands above his head, as if gathering the powers of the stars, a blood red flame formed above his head, crackling with white sparks as the energy hummed in the air. "I AM! NO ONE CAN STOP ME!"

Releasing the now lunar-sized energy ball, Max, Michael, Isabel, and Fadilia could only brace themselves. Max surrounded those he loved in the thin flickering shield. "You're insane!" he cried, fighting to keep his focus on the only thing that was keeping them from being incinerated. "You will kill us all!"

"I think that is the point!" Khivar laughed. He glanced down at the ground and with hands raised, his whole body was lifted from the balcony's edge.

As the energy blast connected with his shield, there was a loud crack and peel. something akin to thunder, before a white flash blinded them. The mixture of marble and stone underneath them gave way. But there was nothing Max could do. It took everything in him to keep their only margin of defense in tact. God, don't let it end like this.

Michael felt the ground give beneath them, everyone stumbling back, as they no longer were standing on solid ground. He waited for the inevitable drop. It was a good hundred feet to the ground below. Damn it, he doesn't play fair.

He didn't want it to end like this. It wasn't fair. Michael wanted to make good on his promise to decimator of his race.

Isabel felt herself begin to freefall. Was this it? "Oh God please..." It was otherworldly as she could hear herself scream as she fell, even though it seemed to come from somewhere else.

"Not again," Fadilia spoke calmly.

Her words seemed to hold power over the fear of the inevitable. Suddenly, where their surroundings seemed to blur around them, Michael was able to see clearly. It was as if time stopped, slowed to an almost complete halt. They were still falling, but their descent had slowed to something that felt like an elevator ride. All that was missing was the elevator music.

"I have you." That was all Isabel heard as she felt a hand slip into hers. Turning around, she was met by Fadilia's determined yet gentle eyes. Her mother seemed to glow before her. There was a radiance that she hadn't seen before. And it permeated every pore of Fadilia's being.

Khivar was in disbelief. Though it would have been a less than satisfying ending, to see them die would have been one less thing on his mind. But these clingy 'royals' would just not give him what he wanted. Hovering above them, he had watched gleefully as they were plummenting to their death, when the 'woman' begin to glow. Khivar had heard about her powers as a child. He had never witnessed them as Zan had kept his mother tucked safely away. But now as the conscious and unconscious alike were suspended mid-air by the sheer determination of one decrepid 'has been', Khivar could see how many spoke of her with almost a grovelling reverance.

It was as if something was balking him at every turn. Nevertheless, it was time to dispense with the games. He was growing tired of all of this. Closing his eyes, Khivar took a deep breath, as he concentrated upon the universal energy that flowed around them. It crackled in the air. He could feel it calling to him, welcoming him. And he embraced it. It was his destiny. He would be ruler of this galaxy. It was written in the stars.

Once he was sure that he wasn't going to fall to his death, that Fadilia had managed to prevent an untimely end, Michael refocused on Khivar. He was hovering above them - a glowing red platform seemingly keeping him afloat. Fadilia pulled them to safety, drawing them back to the crumbling ledge of what was left of the balcony. And as his feet hit the ground, Khivar suddenly shot up into the sky, out of sight. It was as if the sky had swallowed him up.

"Max!" Isabel screamed, as she watched her brother drop to his knees.

Michael turned to his left to see Max wavering back and forth, as if drained of his powers. He had seen him like this once before. It had been Christmas Eve. Part of him had balked at the foolishness of it all. There had been no way Max should have risked his life - exposing himself - for all of those children. But Michael had watched him do it. And as hard as he tried to drag Max away, the harder he fought to save all of those children. It was one of those kind of moments Michael didn't think he'd ever forget. "Max," he ran to his side, his gaze still ever mindful of Khivar's disappearance, "are you okay?"

"I'll live," he croaked, falling forward and resting his head against the cold floor. "I just n-need a minute."

"I don't think we have a minute," Isabel whispered, glancing anxiously into the orange tinged sky. "Daybreak is coming and I don't think Khivar's going to play anymore games. He needs the coronation to happen now."

"Well, he's going to have to go through us to get that crown," Michael noted. "At least that's one for our side. He can't just sneak off and crown himself king."

"The coronation will solidify his reign on Antar," Fadilia nodded. "And it is imperative that we keep Cian's crown from Khivar's grasp."

"I know," Max said raspily. His mind was all jumbled up. He couldn't think straight. All of the strain, it seemed to be wearing on him. The unlimited powers he thought he had seemed to be waning.

"Good, we're all agreed," Michael breathed. "So where's the crown?"

"It's where it belongs," he coughed, struggling to his feet.

"What does that mean, Max?" Isabel frowned, glancing around to see where he could have hid it.

"It's with the heir to my throne. It is with the one to whom it would have belonged," Max said solemnly, lifting his eyes up towards the black tower. "It is with my son."

"What?" Isabel could not believe Max would leave it so unguarded. Flashes of the power that came along with the one who possessed it flooded over her. Images of Alaric healing whole villages and destroying whole armies came to mind. "What were you thinking, Max! All Khivar has to do is take it from that tower."

"He doesn't know it's there."

"But he could quickly find out," Michael hedged, glancing up into the sky again. Khivar's disappearance was beginning to make him restless. What was the bastard up to?

"It belonged with him," Max stated firmly, turning to face his family of sorts. "It was right."

Isabel glanced at Michael and shrugged. There wasn't anything they could do about it. Max seemed to be in a place where he could hear no one. It worried her. "Max, are you sure you're okay?" she asked worriedly. "Because we've got to have it together when Khivar shows up again."

"If he shows up again," Michael said drolly, keeping his eyes out for their enemy. "Maybe he took off somewhere."

"No," Max said darkly. "He will be back."

Isabel and Michael turned and met Max's stony gaze. "He'll be back to finish us off."

"And he just might at this rate," Michael growled, glancing at their unconscious contingent. "We've got four left standing and he nearly blew us out of the water. This isn't looking good."

Max glared at him.

"I'm stating the truth, Maxwell. If we don't get a Christmas miracle or some kind of intervention, our fate is sealed."

"You're talking as if we're already dead in the water, Michael," Isabel hissed. "And that's just real helpful."

"I'm being a realist."

"You cannot speak as such," Fadilia frowned. "The Four will rise above and save our people."

"Your Highness, as much as I want to believe," Michael shook his head, "I hate to remind you that the game's been fixed. Whatever that Project Pilan was supposed to have done...Well, let's just say it's done wonders for his endurance. It's like we can't touch him."

"There has to be something," Max said, his gaze drifting to where is son lay. "This isn't how it was supposed to be."

"You're talking like a believer, Max." Michael never thought he'd see the day. His childhood friend had always fought tooth and nail to be a chooser of his own destiny.

"Well, I've seen and done a lot of things since we last saw each other, Michael." So many unexplainable things had passed his way. Voices and visions he had seen that had brought him to this very moment. As hard as he had tried, there was no fighting it. It was his destiny. Now it was time for destiny to make its' final move. If his people would be saved from the likes of Khivar, it would have to be some miracle. Now's a good time, God. If that's what I am to call you. Now's a good time to work your magic.

As if his prayers had been heard, the rising dawn was cut with surgical precision. A white light enveloped the rays of the dawn and shattered the remaining night, as if to announce its' presence with the clarity of a trumpeter's blare. He had never seen anything like it. The pure, raw power that filled the skies captured every seeing eye.

The sweet slow caress of a gentle hand awoke her from her unwanted slumber. Her mind flashed with images of her motionless son and she was once again turned to stone. No longer did her heart beat. It was a state of living death. Everything in her wished that last attempt by Khivar had killed her. Then she would no longer have to endure...endure a life without her son. Her head was throbbing and she smelled the musty scent of rubble and dust. Craddling her head, Tess managed to push herself up into a sitting position; but what she saw or to be more exact, could not see left her speechless.

It was blinding. She could not even lay eyes upon the unexplanable phenomenon that seemed to be stretching itself across the entire width and breadth of the horizon. All Tess could do was peer timidly from under the length of her lashes, her head slightly turned away from the sight. "What is happening?" she whispered out loud. Had Khivar already won?

Isabel felt her body involuntarily shudder, as if it knew far better than she what she was witnessing. "What is going on?" she whispered to Michael, who grasped her hand. "Is this the end? Is this Khivar's last move?"

"No," Max breathed, as he stepped forward. His weary body seemed refreshed within the phenomenon's passing shadow. "This thing isn't 'evil'. Can't you feel it? There is no evil that could make something so beautiful." He couldn't describe it. It was as if all that was good and pure had manifest itself before them, enveloping them, reaching out to them in a display of hope.

Michael did not know what to say. He could feel something. But he was not sure whether it was good or bad. His instincts told him to be wary, to be ready for anything that Khivar might do to distract them from his real plan. "Max, get a grip." Before he could say another word, he felt a sudden squeeze of his hand. Glancing over at Isabel, he could see she was intranced. There was a radiance about her face, he didn't think he'd ever see again.

"Michael, he's right."

What was it? Why is everyone standing there in awe? Tess rose to her feet, forcing herself to endure the nausea and flights of dizziness that seemed to come in waves. They were here to finish a war, not stand and admire pretty lights...

"Don't be mad, Mama."

Suddenly Tess froze. That voice. She closed her eyes, shaking her head. She was imagining things. It couldn't be Zander. She felt her war-torn mind caressed tenderly - there was a familiarity that came with that touch. Oh god, is it Zander?

Max felt himself forcefully pushed aside, as a small figure clawed her way to the crumbling balcony ledge - her expression was frantic and desperate. He reached out to stop her forward motion, as she did not seem aware of the unstable ground they stood upon; but something inside gave him pause. She stood as if hypnotized, unaware of her surroundings - even himself.

'Don't you see everything is all right? Everything will be as it should be,'

"Zander, you're alive?" Hope filled her voice. It was as if he stood in front of her, a grown man, robed in garments that belonged only to a king. The crown of Cian was mounted on his head, quashing his curly golden locks. "Is this real?" she whispered, her hand extending out to him. "Please let this be real."

'Mama, you have to be on your guard. Khivar is coming and with a blazing vengence. He seeks power and notoriety," Zander warned gravely. "You cannot let this be. Our people must be freed from his yoke of slavery. Our people must be whole again.'

Max watched in fascination and concern. He did not know if she was hallucinating or if she indeed was speaking to their son. A year ago or even three weeks ago, he would have called her deluded and insane - he had seen their son die - but now there was hope. Is he alive? Max glanced up hopefully at the turret from which came the source of the power - the light.

"I don't know what you expect me to do," Tess said, confused and disillusioned. "Everything isn't the way I imagined. I tried to seek revenge for your death and that was even a forsaken plan. Are you even real? Are you just a figment of my imagination? Are you a ghost? Or have I just gone insane?" She laughed hysterically, nearly on the verge of tears.

Michael had never seen her like this. She was really losing it. The strongest woman he knew stood alone, talking to her dead son, that she was imagining was floating in the light that filled the sky. Damn him. Damn you, Khivar.

"Tess." Max spoke softly, not wanting to jar her awake from her trance. He reached out to her, his hand hovering above her shoulder, hesitant to wake her from this seemingly all to real dream. "Tess," he repeated again, "are you all right?" There was no response. She kept moving closer to the edge and there was nothing else he could do but grab her. What happened next was unexpected to say the least. Of course this whole night had been anything but planned, so what was one more surprise?

He felt himself lurch forward, the light that filled the sky now surrounding him, as if in some dreamscape. Max found himself standing alongside Tess, and shockingly seeing what she was seeing. It was as if the whole world had fallen away. There was his son, a man - a king.

'Don't be angry, please,' Zander cooed. 'You will see He does not want us in pain. This is why this must be.'

"What must be?" Max asked, wrapping his arms around Tess, who seemed unable to understand this vision. "What are you talking about, Zander?"

'Just trust, as He has already asked you to. He is watching over you, just as He promised.'

"We trusted Him and He let you die!" Max protested. He knew he was to blame for not obeying - not fulfilling his destiny when it called. But once he did, this God he was supposed to trust failed him.

'You must see that His timing is perfect,' Zander said soothingly. 'His will is perfect.'

Michael, Isabel and Fadilia waited on pins and needles, unsure of what to do. The moment Max touched Tess his demeanor changed. It was like he was dragged into the same fantasy world. He began 'talking' to Zander as well. "This can't be good, can it?" he muttered to himself.

"I don't know, Michael," Isabel breathed, anxious for the stillness to pass. She hated this more than anything. It was as if time had ceased to exist and they were just waiting for the ax to drop. Glancing up to the sky, where signs of night had all been swallowed up by this consuming light, Isabel could not shake this ominous feeling that the end was near. Wringing her hands, she moved forward wanting to shake them awake , wanting for their night to end. "C'mon Max," she whispered. "C'mon Tess, snap out of it!"

Max and Tess suddenly felt a rush of cold air fill their lungs as they were released from their trance. The light glowed intensely, almost pulsing as dawn approached. Max jerked back pulling Tess with him as he saw how close they were to the lengthy drop down to jagged rock and marble. "Zander."

Tess felt herself jarred back into reality. She did not know what that ethereal vision was, but she knew he spoke the truth. Their people were still in danger and they seemed to be the only ones conscious enough to free them. "We need to regroup," she said without a thought. "Before Khivar finishes us off like he planned."

"What happened?" Isabel asked, rushing to Tess and Max's side. "You were fixated on the light. I thought you were going to jump right off the ledge."

"There's no time for explanations now," Tess turned and cut Isabel's curiosity at the head. "You better believe Khivar's coming back full force." She paused for a moment, leaning over to take a breath. It hurt to breathe. "How long have we been out of it?"

"Are you all right?" Michael frowned. He knew that she must be hurting physically as she experienced the full blast of Khivar's fury.

"No." Tess pushed Michael's hand away, forcing herself upright. "But what am I going to do? Pout about it?" she grimaced. "Max can fix me up enough so that I'm not useless."

He locked gazes with her as he was drawn in by her words. They had been through so much. Most of it apart, but still singularly united in a sense of loss and hope.

"What did he say?" Fadilia asked. Though her words were soft, they could have been amplified by a mega-phone to the Royal Four. They all turned their attention to their Antarian Queen. "Will there be help?"

Max glanced at Tess, who seemed at a loss at what to say. "I...I don't know," he said uncertainly. "He spoke about trusting Him. And that His timing is perfect. He didn't seem to say more than that."

Fadilia's expression remained soft, yet somber.

"Khivar's been M.I.A for a while," Michael reminded the remaining contingent. "And I don't like the sounds of that. He's got an ace up his sleeves guys, and we've got to beat him to the punch."

"There is nothing else we can do except to prepare," Isabel said darkly. "He always did like melodrama."

They all stood there for a moment, staring at each other uneasily. It was the calm before the storm. And it was going to be apocalyptic if Khivar had anything to say about it.

"Maxwell," Fadilia gestured to him, "why don't we try to heal as many of our people as we can. If they're conscious, maybe there's some chance that they can find some others."

He glanced down at the small group of men, boys really, that lay there deathly still. These were the faces of the people he had come to lead and save. So much for that.

"While he's doing that, we've got to find a way to stop him," Michael declared. "We cannot let him walk all over us."

"As big of a front as I've tried to put on Michael," Isabel said wearily. "From what I've seen, Khivar's growing even strong by the moment. We're not wearing him down. He's playing with us like toys."

"But how?" Tess exclaimed angrily. "It's not because we're hybrids. We've retained all of our powers. Hell, I think it might have saved us from whatever Project Pilan was supposed to do." She glanced over at Yasu and Siothrun - the loyal contingent who had gone into the fire and were now trying to survive it.

"But I think it does," Michael growled. He could hear Khivar's taunting voice in his head. '....I have the strength of a thousand men...or more so... "I've got a feeling Pilan is exactly where Khivar is getting his confidence from."

"But it's over," Isabel exclaimed, throwing her hands in the air. "It's done with. He's already activated it. So whatever it was supposed to do, has happened, hasn't it?" She looked down upon the silent voices that once cheered loudly from the grassy courtyard below. Maybe never to raise their voices again.

"That it has, Vilandra," Khivar spoke with foreboding doom. "That it has."

It was beautiful. It transcended the making of all things. Creation itself could not have been more spectacular as he felt the sheer power and energy coursing through his veins. Everything was new. The day had come for a new kingdom to arise from the ashes, with him at its' helm.

All he needed was a crown.

Max rose to his feet and joined the others. Khivar had returned. His appearance had changed. The thin gauntness still remained, but bright crimson veins scarred his face. For whatever powers he had gained through the black contraption that had killed his son, Khivar was now in full command of the powers he yielded; and he intended to devastate. "Mother take the boys inside, and try to find the General and his men and get them out of here," he ordered. She hesitated, her face expressing her desire to fight with them, unlike the last battle. He understood. She did not wish to lose them again. But there was no time. "Go!" With that she fled with the dazed and confused soldiers he had managed to rouse from their deathly sleep.

"Michael, Isabel, Tess, take your positions. I don't know how this is going to end, but we'll take every piece of him we can."

It was something out of a bad sci-fi or horror flick. Isabel had never seen someone so transformed by the power they wielded. She did not even recognize the man Vilandra once sacrificed everything for. Her heart was racing fueled by adrenaline, Isabel knew the time had come.

"We can't do this alone," Tess spoke, as she fell into line with the others, the Royal Four together again. "The only way we can defeat him is if we pool our powers together."

Michael felt the rush of being backed into a wall. It was the excitment of battle, mixed with the adrenaline of fear and near death. He hadn't felt this in years. And it was something he finally realized was missing on Earth - not the killing, but putting everything on the line to win the prize. The prize: the entire population of Antar.

"Are we ready?" Max did not know why he asked. It seemed like a foolish question now, facing their greatest enemy.

Tess and Isabel shared furtive glances, as they squared themselves with the madman bent on killing them.

"As we'll ever be," Michael replied ominously. "God help us all."

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