Title: "Good and Evil" (Part 1 of 2)
Author: Captain Stephen Maruu
Stardate: 2460260
Earthdate: April 5, 1999
Location: USS Virgo

"Where am I?"

~You could call it Hell. An Inferno. That's what many of your people call it. You and your husband, however, often call it the Fire Caves. The home of the evil gods. That's where you are. And that is where you will remain. Your soul belongs to me.~

Dana looked around and saw only darkness. Nothingness. "Why is there no fire, then?"

~Fire is only a metaphor for evil. An evil that lies within us all. Hatred, anger, vengeance, the will to destroy, they are all often depicted as fire. This place reflects what comes after the fire. Emptiness. Lonely ashes withering away in an untended fireplace. Darkness. Despair.~

Dana jumped as she saw an explosion in the distance. She heard a shriek. "Is this my part of the bargain? The deal I made with the Prophets to save K'Lara's and her son's lives?"

~Yes. Only your offering was not with the Prophets. They cannot hear you. They are blind. They are little children scurrying see the fireworks on a hot, summer day. They are fools. No. Your bargain was made with the Lorean gods.~

"The Loreans? Who are they?"

~The Borials and their gods did not tell you? They were once the rulers of these lands. Then, the people began to claim injustices and rebelled. They created the Borial nation. After the Loreans were defeated, Xenon III fell into an era of peace and prosperity.~

"I take you did not like that?"

~No. Because as the people rebelled, the gods did as well. And the Loreans lost in heaven as well as on earth. Thus, the Loreans were scattered and their gods were cast down into the nether regions. But, now, because of your love for those two Virgos, your soul will feed me and bring glory once again to the Loreans! I, Pharox, will once again rule the heavens and the earth!~

A luminous, majestic, angelic figure suddenly appeared. He light up the darkness and pushed the emptiness away. It was Kalmar. ~Come, Dana. Pharox will not have you.~

The darkness condensed and became embodied in one dark being. He had horrible horns and his hair burned with black fire. It was Pharox. ~She is mine. You will not take her from me!~

~Come, Dana. I will take you back. You can return. Your love should not be indebted. Come back to the light. Touch my hand.~

Dana was about to grab Kalmar's extended hand when a darkness enveloped Dana.

~She is MINE!~

~Let her go!~

The light and darkness seemed to bounce around in some sort of paranormal battle. Dana began struggling from the grasp of darkness until she was finally free. She immediate ran to the light.

Kalmar once again extended his hand. ~Grab it, child!~

Dana grabbed his hand, and a flash of light illuminated the "Hell".

Pharox, in his disgusting, semi-humanoid form, began to laugh.

Kalmar was surprised by that momentary and unexpected euphoria. ~You have lost. Dana is once again a child of the light.~

Pharox only laughed harder. ~You see, my dear Kalmar, Dana was only a plan B of sorts. My real victory was in the death of a pure spirit. A soul that had never before felt the Fires of Hell. Today, Stephen, this young girl's husband, has hated for the first time. He has been soiled with the impurities of evil. This I will use to my advantage.~

There was another flash, and the room faded away.
_______________________________________________

Dana coughed and woke up. She surprised the people surrounding her, who had believed her dead.

Neklus's wife, Milla, came up to her. "You are alive. But how?"

"Kalmar saved me. Pharox tried to take my soul." She immediately got up and approached the chanting Kaltanthrop. Dana punched him in the face and sent the old priest to the ground. "You bastard."

Milla knelt in front of Dana. "Please, do not hurt him. He is our..."

"Yeah, yeah, I know." Dana picked up the small man and shoved him against the wall with renewed strength that seemed unnatural. "You tried to screw me, you son of a bitch."

Kaltanthrop laughed and licked the blood from his teeth. "You know the truth, then?"

Milla was awed. "What truth?"

Dana looked at Milla. "Are you blind? Kaltanthrop is a Lorean. He has been all his life. He tried to get my soul for Pharox so he could escape the nether regions and wreak havoc on this entire planet."

Kaltanthrop burst into laughter. He lifted his arm and sent Dana flying across the room. "You fool! Pharox is the true God of the Lorean and Borial peoples. He will unite us an lead us to glory!" Kaltanthrop's eyes glowed red.

Dana got up. She suddenly felt a force bathe her with power. Her eyes began to glow white. "Let's do this, old man."

"With pleasure." Kaltanthrop shed his entire skin. Out came a horrid monster with broken bat wings and a long hooked tail like a scorpions. His feet and hands were clawed, and his skin shone dark red. The color of blood. "Time to die, Dana! For the glory of Pharox!" he yelled in a demonic voice.

Dana's female voice shone like the song of a thousand angels. "Get out of here, Milla! Take the servants with you!" She then looked at the demon. "Come on, you Pagh'wriath wanna-be!"

They charged at each other.
_______________________________________________

Stephen was killing Horde by the second. His hatred showed in his fiery eyes. He hated the Horde for attacking them and killing his people. He would not allow one more death.

Suddenly, a darkness enveloped him. ~Stephen, you have become dark. You have allowed me to come to you. And to kiss you.~

"Who are you?"

~I am but an image of power. The embodiment of what you have become. But still, your good blocks the way to ultimate power. The good must be destroyed. Stephen must be split.~

Immediately, a horrible pain moved throughout Stephen's body. He yelled out in terror. He was being torn apart by the darkness. Then, the pain receded. Stephen was in shock.

After what seemed like minutes laying on the floor. Someone pulled Stephen up by the hair. "Hmm. Handsome," the person said.

Stephen looked at the person picking him up by the hair while he grunted in pain. It was Stephen! Two Stephens!

Before the Stephen being pulled up by the hair could say anything, the other Stephen punched Stephen in the face, knocking him out.
 

Title: "Duck!"
Author: Lieutenant Benton
Stardate: 2460260
Earthdate: April 5, 2383
Location: Xenon III: Just outside of Noran

Benton was walking across a flat piece of land near the base of the cliff on which the city of Noran perched. Because of his wilderness skills, he had been among those chosen to reconnoiter the nearby area for signs of the Horde. Sitto Lan was somewhere nearby, but was keeping himself concealed in the thin woods at the field's edge.

Francesca was also here. Benton wondered where Thudd was. If Francesca was here, that must mean Thudd was off on some important errand where she couldn't follow. But Benton didn't really mind, Francesca could be
pleasant company, even though she tended to talk too much sometimes.

Benton bent over and picked up a suspiciously flattened piece of earth. He tasted it but couldn't detect any Horde in it. He tossed the dirt clod back to the ground and continued his patrol. He was trying to divide his attention between detecting signs of the enemy and listening to Francesca. She was saying, "...oh, and the colors! You should have seen them, Benton. They were unbelievable, colors from one end of the rainbow to the other! And the variety! I could have died..."

Actually, Benton had no idea what she was talking about, but that didn't seem to matter. She was happy, and he smiled, even as other parts of his mind were busy analyzing what his eyes, nose, and ears were picking up around him. He noticed the forest at the far end of the field seemed suddenly very quiet, as if all the animals had been frightened away. He decided to investigate, and so altered his direction slightly.

Francesca dutifully followed, still talking, "...I was in heaven. The next time I go to *Shoes-'R'-Us* at Starbase 317, I'm bringing you with me!"

Benton was becoming a little distracted by her unrelenting verbal assault and was about to ask her maybe talk a *little* less, when suddenly she froze in her tracks. She grabbed Benton's arm and yelled, "Duck!"

Benton reflexively dove into a nearby ditch and covered his head, expecting photon grenades to start detonating all around him. Seconds pregnant with expectation passed, but nothing happened. Finally, he lifted his head to see Francesca standing over him with her hands on her hips. She was looking at him like he was crazy.

"What are you doing?!" she said, completely bewildered.

"You yelled 'Duck'!" exclaimed Benton, as he picked himself up off the ground.

"SO?!" yelled Francesca. "There's some ducks over there!" she said, pointing to a small pond.

Benton looked. For a second he was speechless, then said matter-of-factly, "Ah. So there are. My mistake."

Suddenly, Sitto was at their side from out of nowhere. He said, "Hey! What's up? I heard shouting."

"Oh, hello, Sitto. It was nothing," said Benton as he subtly pointed at Francesca and nodded his head in her direction.

"Oh. Gotcha," said Sitto. "Hi, Franny."

"Hi, Sitto."

"Well, I guess I'll go back to where I was and leave you two alone," winked Sitto.

Benton was about to protest, but was cut off when Francesca grabbed his arm again and shouted, "Duck!" But this time she actually threw him into the ditch.

Benton landed, rolled, and spit out a mouthful of dirt. This time it did taste like the Horde had been here recently. Then he heard the sound of primitive projectiles whizzing by overhead. A few four-foot-long arrows stuck in the ground where they had been standing only moments before.

By this time, Sitto had joined Benton and Francesca in the ditch. He said, "We're sitting ducks here, Benny!"

"Please, Sitto. Don't mention 'ducks' for a while," grimaced Benton. He peaked over the top of the ditch. There was no enemy immediately visible, but arrows continued to fly from somewhere beyond the trees. There must be another clearing there. Way off to the right, he could see clouds of dust that might indicate a cavalry unit, or a large army on the march.

He slipped back into the ditch and said to the others, "We're about to be overrun here. We need to move. Now!"

"We'll never make it!" cried Francesca. "The trees are too far."

"Don't worry, Francesca." Benton gave her a reassuring pat on the shoulder. "When I say 'run', run!"

"You're not even armed!" said Francesca.

Benton looked slightly embarrassed. Normally, he hated carrying a weapon, but these were exceptional circumstances. He was in fact wearing a miniature crossbow on each wrist. So small that Francesca had failed to notice. Each launcher fired miniature crossbow bolts from a strange reinforced metal and fiber bow. They were small, but they carried a powerful kick, and were extremely accurate. He showed them to Francesca.

"Pretty cool, huh?" said Sitto. "I've got one too." He showed her his. Francesca didn't look the least bit reassured.

"Ready?" said Benton. He looked at the other two, peeked over the lip of the ditch again, and yelled, "RUN!"

The three sprang from the ditch and bolted for the tree line. It seemed a mile away. Arrows rained down all around them and got progressively closer as the Horde archers zeroed in on their range.

"We're not gonna make it," panted Sitto.

"Keep running," called Benton as he hauled Francesca along after him.

Just then, a Horde arrow found its mark and Benton plowed into the ground face down. Francesca tumbled after him. "Benton!" she cried.

Sitto skidded to a halt and went back for his friends. Benton was face down on the ground, not moving, and Franny was kneeling at his side trying to shake him awake. "Benton!" she cried again.

Sitto grabbed her by the arm and hauled her to her feet. "Come on, Franny!" he shouted frantically. "We have to get under cover!"

Francesca resisted, and Sitto yelled, "There's nothing more we can do for him!" With a final, tearful look back, Francesca let herself be dragged towards the forest by Sitto.

But just then, a familiar golden shape flashed across the battlefield. He dodged the falling arrows that he could, and those he couldn't avoid bounced ineffectually off his large golden shield. Thudd ran to where Benton had fallen and tossed him over his shoulder. Powerful muscles knotted under his burden, but Thudd ran as though unencumbered to where Sitto and Francesca were watching dumbfounded, and then the four of them ducked into the forest, safe for the moment from the Horde's missile barrage.

Thudd set down his burden against the trunk of a huge tree, and Francesca hurried to Benton's side. He was still breathing. There was a deep dent in one of the metal plates on his chest, apparently the arrow had merely bounced off and knocked the wind out of him. Francesca slapped him. "Wake up!" she shouted.

Benton stirred. There was something annoying familiar about this situation.

"Ow," he said.

"Thank goodness you're okay," said a relieved Francesca. Immediately, her attention shifted from Benton to Thudd. She said, "What are you doing here?" A small involuntary smile tugged at the corners of her mouth.

"I could not let harm come to you or your friends, milady," said Thudd.

"But..."

"Now, we must go and fight. You stay here where it is safe." Thudd indicated that Sitto and Benton should accompany him. They stood, loaded their crossbows, and Sitto drew his sword. They followed Thudd into the woods, ready to fight to the death against the Horde.

Francesca watched Thudd until his golden shape was lost amid the trees. Suddenly everything was very quiet around her. She looked about nervously, then made up her mind. "There's no *way* I'm staying here!" She got up and ran after the men.
 

Title: "Ghostland"
Author: First Lieutenant Johnny Chee
Stardate: 2460260
Earthdate: April 5, 2383
Location: Xenon III: Noran

The rest of the day had passed fitfully for Johnny. He vaguely remembered being debriefed by Jenara about the Horde weaponry, so much stronger and more advanced than what the Borials used. He remembered
waking up being towed behind a glap'ta on a travois, as the column moved into Noran. Of the city itself he remembered little.

The last memory he had was waking up later that evening, someone (Jenara?) feeding him some sort of watery gruel. It tasted terrible, but he was hungry, and it seemed at least edible.

Then the Dream came.

Johnny found himself back in the homeland, at the Singing which sent him off to Basic Training eight years earlier: one of the biggest traditional singings in many years, as few of the People ever left Earth, much less joined Starfleet! Suddenly, that scene disappeared, to be replaced by another...

...a year later, on a Maquis world occupied by the Cardassians, Johnny was just a PFC then, led along with his platoon by an officer who was at once officious and incompetent. They'd practically walked into a Cardassian ambush. Johnny saw the battle again as if he were outside it, watching himself return phaser fire, take cover, drag one of his mates out of the line of fire...

...six months after that, as he slit a Cardassian guard's throat with a flaked stone knife. They hadn't counted on the Old Ways, the Cardassians. Once Johnny could get the guard's rifle, however, the Old Ways ceased to be important as he released a torrent of phaser energy against the remaining guards. He and the five survivors of his platoon made a run for it. Johnny didn't look back. Not once. He never saw the other four men again...

...another Singing, this one for his departure for Starfleet Academy. Johnny was only the twentieth Navajo to enter the Academy: mainly due to lack of interest as opposed to lack of ability. But still it was an honor his clan was more than happy to recognize: once Johnny had made up his mind on what he wanted to do, he went as far as he could...

...a few months ago, aboard the *Ilion*. Johnny was a newly-minted second lieutenant leading his first platoon. It was a routine mission guarding potentially dangerous prisoners: something Starfleet security was more than capable of handling, but which the brass had decided the Marines must handle. It turned out that the prisoners were the least of their worries as the Kelvans boarded the *Ilion*. Captain Neil had fought the company bravely, but the Kelvans were just too advanced. Johnny was among the survivors who were reduced to crystalline
dodecahedra...

...early yesterday morning, in the pass north of the Borial encampment. First Farouk, then Zimasa and Krag. Johnny had led his platoon back just in time to join the column headed for Noran when they were set upon once again by the Horde. Horenn, Zog, the Holy People only knew who else...

...and his descent was complete. He was at the gates of Ghostland. All the fallen warriors, friend and foe, stood there to greet him. Among them was a tall Cardassian soldier: the guard whose throat Johnny had slit. The first sentient Johnny had ever killed hand-to-hand.

"Welcome to the afterlife," the Cardassian announced. "Do not worry, Human; we are all equal in the land of the ghosts!"

Ghosts!!! For a Navajo a ghost represented the most corrupt part of the spirit remaining in the world of the Earth Surface People to avenge a wrong against his person. *Is this it?* Johnny thought. *All the people whom I have killed, or whose deaths are on my hands, have come to avenge themselves upon me?*

Milling about the wraithlike procession was a large number of Horde warriors. *I didn't properly bury the bodies!* Johnny thought with horror.

"Do not worry," another, more familiar voice, announced. Johnny saw Sergeant Zimasa approach him. "We have only come to deliver this message: those whom you serve are not as they seem."

"If we had desired to avenge ourselves upon you you would have felt it long ago, Human," the Cardassian told him. "But we are all warriors, and take the risks of warriors. You will not be poisoned, but you must first take care of the matters at hand. Defeat the Horde and the deceivers, and sing the Enemy Way."

"Be warned, though: your path will not be easy," Zimasa continued. "You cannot do what you have to do alone. There is one who can help you, one who would be willing. You have seen her."

With that, Zimasa and the Cardassian vanished. Replacing the two was another warrior, a Klingon Johnny had never met.

"I am Grak, son of Krang," the Klingon annnounced. "I died on this world long before you were born. It is my bat'leth you have used with honor, Human; Sto'Vo'Kor will always have a place for you. Tell my house what became of me, that my sons may know their father. And heed what you have been told: ghosts can be vengeful things."
______________________________________________

Johnny woke up. Jenara was standing over him. "I was told to watch you carefully: the only thing that saved you was the concussion you got from being thrown from  your mount before the Horde decided to bash
your brains in. You fainted just as he swung at you; he'd have killed you for sure!"

Johnny grimaced. "Thanks for the blow-by-blow. Where are we?"

"We're in Noran. There's a large enemy force setting up camp around the city; they may lay siege, or they may storm the place and kill us all. Lieutenant Wallace is helping to set up the city's defenses; when you're well enough, you'll want to get with him. I'm sure he could use some help."

"I'm well enough now. Where's my weapon?"

Jenara held him down, gently but firmly. "Wait a minute, grunt! You're not going anywhere until I'm assured you're all right!"

*Was she the one my dream spoke of?* Johnny asked. Even with all that was happening, the dreaming was still at the forefront of his consciousness. "And how do I give you this assurance?"

"What's your name, rank, and number?"

"Chee, Johnny. Salt Clan, born for Bitter-Water. First Lieutenant, Starfleet Marine Corps. 549526582."

"Where are we now?"

"The city of Noran, on Xenon III."

"What is my name and posting?"

"Lieutanant Junior Grade Jenara Tomme, Chief Science Officer."

Satisfied that Johnny was back to full awareness, Jenara let him up. "Okay, I suppose you're in good enough shape to try and get yourself killed again. One thing though: I'm going with you!"

"But you..."

"But I what? Listen, we may be the same rank, but I'm about five times older than you are. And one thing you *don't* tell a Tanzaran is what to do! I was told to stay with you and that's exactly what I'm going to do!" Jenara found her belt with two short swords strapped to it and put it on. "Oh, the town smithy worked on this for you, got it cleaned up really nice!" She grabbed Johnny's salvaged bat'leth and tossed it to him. The metal had polished up nicely, but Johnny noticed that the rotted targ hide which had covered the handles had been replaced with
cured glap'ta hide. The markings on the bat'leth indicated that its owner had belonged to the house of Krang.

*This gets more interesting by the minute,* Johnny thought. Just then his thoughts were broken:

"The Horde are attacking! Full-scale attack!!!" the town crier had announced in the square outside.

"Do you know where Lieutenant Wallace is?" Johnny asked Jenara. She nodded. "Take me to him. Let's go kick some Horde butt!!!"
 

Title: "A Bad Situation"
Author: Lieutenant Benton
Stardate: 2460260
EarthDate: April 5, 2383
Location: Xenon III: Just outside Noran

By the time Francesca caught up with Benton and Sitto, Thudd was gone. "Where's Thudd?" she asked. Her disappointment was evident in her voice.

"Oh give it a rest, will you, Franny!" said Sitto. He and Benton were crouched in a small depression behind a pile of boulders at the edge of the forest. As Francesca ran up, Benton dragged her down and out of sight.

As the three Virgos looked out from their hiding place across the field back toward the cliff and the Borial city of Noran, their hearts sank. The field between their position and the bottom of the cliff was black with Horde Warriors. Their big ears flopped in the air and their blades flashed in the bright sunshine. Strange, inhuman battle cries issued from ten thousand inhuman mouths. High above the massing Horde, poking above the city's ancient battlements were the heads of the Virgo and Borial defenders. They seemed hopelessly outnumbered.

Benton sank down and leaned his back against the boulder. He pondered the situation silently to himself as Sitto and Francesca looked on in exasperation. Finally, Sitto couldn't stand it any longer. He said, "WELL? What does that brilliant Kelvan brain make of our situation?"

Benton looked up and raised his eyebrows in surprise at Sitto's question. He said, "As I see it, we don't stand any chance at all in this situation."

"Oh no!" gasped Francesca.

"I could've told you that," grunted Sitto.

"Therefore," continued Benton undeterred, "we have to *change* the situation."

"How?"

Benton looked at his partner. "I have no idea, Sitto."

"Oh."

"Obviously we need to rejoin the rest of our forces, but there's a thousand Horde in the way, and all we have are these crossbows."

Francesca perked up. "So we need better weapons!"

"Yes."

"Leave that to me," she said with an evil look in her eye.

"I'll come with you," said Sitto.

"No way. You make too much noise."

Benton would have asked her what she was talking about, but she snapped one of his crossbows from his wrist and was gone in a flash, disappearing into the forest like a wisp of smoke.

Benton and Sitto looked at each other.
______________________________________________

Francesca crept through the woods as quietly as she could. Her soft boots didn't make much noise, and her outfit was dark enough that it tended to blend into the shrubbery. She was on the lookout for a small Horde scouting patrol, and it didn't take her long to find one.

There were three of them. They were on foot, and they seemed to be taking a rest break. Each was armed with a large steel version of the Borial idej. They had their backs to her so she was able to approach to within twenty paces. Apparently, the Horde wasn't expecting their enemy to be behind their lines, or else they would have kept stricter watch.

The ground was littered with tree trunks and boulders, and Francesca used these for cover as she crept ever nearer to the Horde. A plan of attack was forming in her mind. She was sure she could take out two of them without any fuss at all, but the third would be a problem.

By now she was crouching behind the same big boulder that the nearest Horde was leaning on. She took a big breath and moved into action. She popped up quietly and quickly behind the Horde. Her daggers flashed
brightly in the speckled sunlight, and came back dripping red. The Horde slumped to the ground without ever knowing what hit him.

Francesca leaned forward across the boulder and steadied the arm the crossbow was strapped to. She pointed at the second Horde and squeezed off the shot. The Horde's clawed hands scrambled for its throat as it too fell to the ground dead, never even having seen its attacker. As it fell, its weapons clanked loudly against the surrounding rocks.

Francesca cringed! The third Horde was alerted by the ruckus and spotted her behind the boulder. That's exactly what she had been afraid of. Now, how could she dispatch the last enemy before he raised the alarm alerting the whole Horde army?

She dashed around her boulder and snatched up the first Horde's idej. It was heavy. She swung it slowly around until its tip was pointing at the advancing Horde. The Horde snarled and drew back its lips showing
rows of razor sharp teeth in its snout. It spat, "Morrcha brractai poo!"

Francesca didn't need a translator. The Horde swung its idej in a propeller motion before it and tore Francesca's idej from her grip with such force it felt like every bone in her wrists and hands was shattered. The Horde followed up its first maneuver with a vicious iron-gloved backhand that sent Francesca flying through the air to
land near the second dead Horde.

Francesca was dazed and disoriented from the blow. Her jaw ached like nothing had ever ached before and her head was spinning, but she was able to make out the hulking shape of the third Horde advancing for the kill.

The Horde stopped just short of her and raised its burly arms skyward in triumph. This was Francesca's only chance. Quick as lightening, a dagger flashed in the space between Francesca's hip and the Horde's forehead. The Horde's victory bellow caught in its throat. There was an expression of disbelief on its face as it toppled backwards with a mighty crash.

Francesca could only lie in the dirt and gasp lungfulls of air for a few minutes. She couldn't believe she was still alive! As she slowly struggled back to her feet, her head pounded, but she knew she would live. She quickly retrieved her dagger, gathered up the three Horde idej and began her stealthy trip back to the waiting Benton and Sitto.
______________________________________________

"We should go look for her. It's been over an hour!" said Sitto.

Benton said, "You're right. Let's go."

A woman's voice startled both men. "Forget it. I'm back. You think you strong men can come help me with these things? They weigh a ton!" puffed Francesca as she lugged her prize toward their hiding place.

"Francesca! You're back! Here, let me help you with those," said Benton as he took Francesca's burden from her arms. He tossed one idej to Sitto, and lay the other two on the ground. Then he noticed Francesca's swollen face.

"What happened to you? I was worried."

"It's nothing. You were? How sweet!" said Francesca.

Benton was instantly uncomfortable again. "Well... I mean... *We* were worried about you," he stammered.

Sitto interjected, "Franny, leave Benny alone. We still have to get out of here."

Benton picked up the two idej and together the three of them returned to their vantage point behind the boulders. Benton said, "Since you've been gone Francesca, there have been new developments." He pointed.
The Horde had erected impossibly tall siege engines and were busy beginning their assault on Noran. "From what we can tell, the Borials and Virgos are not simply going to defend the city from within the walls. They appear to be preparing a counter assault against the Horde down on the battlefield."

"Why would they do that, I wonder?" said Sitto.

"Well, there must be a reason. And we have to help them," said Benton. "The Horde is not expecting an attack from their rear. We could do considerable damage to their war machines before... uh..." He looked at Francesca.

"Before we get killed," she finished for him. After a moment of quiet, she said, "Give me your sword, Sitto. These Horde things are too heavy for me." Sitto obliged her.

Benton looked at his friends. They all smiled at each other. "Let's do it."
 

Title: "Good and Evil" (Part 2 of 2)
Author: Captain Stephen Maruu
Stardate: 2460260
Earthdate: April 5, 2383
Location: Xenon III: Noran

"Ayayayayaya!" Dana yelled as she flipped in the air and performed a bicycle kick on the Kaltanthrop demon. She was slowly pushing him against the wall with unnatural power.

The demon blew a powerful fireball that caused Dana to fly across the room. The demon opened his hands and directed two energy blasts at Dana. Dana quickly backflipped, evading the fireballs which exploded on the marble floor. She bounced off the wall and safely returned to the ground. Dana found an idej close to the bull altar and grabbed it. She planted blow after blow on the demon's body. The demon, however blocked most of them. He hit Dana on the face and sent her fying against the floor. Then, the demon threw a fireball at the base of the bull statue. It fell to the floor, Dana under it.

Kaltanthrop laughed and said in his demonic voice, "Goodbye, Dana."

Dana used her own power to blow a whole through the bull whence she escaped. "I'm not done with you yet!"

The monster growled and hurled itself at Dana. She grabbed her idej and projected a white phaser-like energy blast that blew Kaltanthrop through the roof. Dana used the idej as a method of propulsion and boosted herself out the same hole. She landed outside the back side of the palace which was a cliff that led to the crashing waves below.

*Where did he go?* Dana thought.

Suddenly, the demon flew up from the water and laughed. "You can't defeat me, mortal!"

"Watch me!"

Dana and Kaltanthrop fired a thick, powerful energy beam at each other. Kaltanthrop's beam was dark red. Dana's was pure white.

For what seemed like minutes, the two fought it out in this manner. Then Kaltanthrop made an announcement. "It seems we've won. We have Stephen. You lose."

"No. I win!" She suddenly flashed in a luminescent white light that threw Kaltanthrop off guard. She forced her energy beam more than ever and overwhelmed Kaltanthrop. The demon shrieked in horror and its horrid form exploded in an immense flash of white light. Small twinkles of light fell into the ocean, and the waves washed them away.

Dana felt the power leave her body. She began to gasp and realized she had just been through a lot. Then, she remembered Kaltanthrop's last words. "Stephen!" She ran back to the palace.
__________________________________________

The darkness enveloped a Horde who, by his dress, one could tell was a commander. Immediately, he directed his attention at another Horde. "Ekto larrhinta mofrrikin."

The other Horde nodded. He rode on his glap'ta across the battlefield. He saw a Borial and decapitated him with his axe. Then, he grabbed the glap'ta. The Horde rode to a Virgo who was dragging another Virgo across the battlefield. The Horde approached the Virgo and noticed that both, the one standing and the one being dragged, looked exactly the same.

The Horde directed his attention at the one standing. "Virgo kiarma larrhinta duem?"

"Yes, I am their leader," responded Stephen.

The Horde patted the stolen glap'ta's back. "Larrhinta wormek ist."

"Okay. Okay. Don't have a cow." Stephen lifted his twin onto the glap'ta and then pulled himself on. He rode off with the glap'ta.

Jonathan was going to confer something with Stephen when he saw his CO moving across the field with a Horde and an unconscious Virgo behind him. *Oh my god,* Jonathan thought. *We're in trouble.*

Dana ran to Jonathan's side. "Stephen." She gasped. "Where is he?"

Jonathan was gloomy. "I think he just switched sides."
__________________________________________

Another Horde noticed a fellow man dressed in awkward clothing. He rode to him. "Sorterik lem toirrhen?"

Dweezle stuttered. "Me? Um...I'm...I'm...trying to escape! Yeah! Oh yeah! The Borials...bad Borials...they captured me. Oh! It was horrible, just horrible!"

The Horde nodded in sympathy. Then, he showed determination in his voice. "Porwel tankatmi larren!"

"No! No! I don't need saving! I like it here!" Dweezle was carried off by the Horde. "No wait! The dungeons here! I love them! Oh! The screaming and the yelling and the rats! I love the rats! Nothing can be more luxurious!"

The Horde ignored him and repeated himself. "Porwel tankatmi larren!" Then, he punched Dweezle, knocking him out. The Horde held on to Dweezle's clothes and rode off.