"Gouki was PISSED OFF!!!" -Dan Jordan (yes, like all chapters, this quote DOES have significance to the chapter.:P)

Synopsis Of What Has Come To Pass:

The Blue Star is populated and extremely segregated. Forcefields prevent communities from interacting and no one knows how to operate the teleporters which allow travel around The Blue Star. One student of Vane Academy, Zen the cold and mysterious Valedictorian of The Academy, has the ability to use the teleporters. The Dean of The Academy plans to use Zen to march his mages across the land to offer guidance and stability to the planet.

Christine, a quiet and selfish girl was accepted into Vane Academy due to her extremely high exam scores. Zen takes notice of Christine and seems to be the only student (next to her best friend Bap) that will treat Christine with any respect.

Trusting in Zen, Christine agrees to go on a dangerous mission for the Dean to prove to herself that she is competent in the ways of magic and to also impress Zen. However, the mission turns out to be a plot of the Dean�s to kill Christine via the use of Zen. Zen hesitates in his duty to the Dean, but attempts to kill Christine nonetheless.

Christine wakes with a strange beast kid over her and assumes that the young beastman saved her, but is not entirely convinced. The young beast boy is named Raff and is training to be like his ancient hero Lord Leo. Raff offers to go with Christine, but Christine refuses unsure of what has even happened to her. Walking back to the Academy she finds little meaning in returning to a place which has completely rejected her. Thus, Christine sneaks into The Academy and says her good-byes to Bap. Bap gives her one of her powder puff pets, Blue, to remember her by and Christine goes back home unaware that Zen sees her leave.

Zen can not understand why Christine is still alive and begins to wonder if Christine is the foretold Legacy that will save The Blue Star from a slow physical degradation by protecting the sister of Althena, The Prophecy, LeMae. Zen, who has little love for The Dean in the first place, leaves The Academy forever in order to find Christine and fulfill his own motivations to find LeMae.

Zen finds Christine living with an abusive father and begins to understand why Christine lacks self-confidence and skill. Zen poses as a villager and befriends Christine�s father in order to get into the house. Zen attempts to convince Christine that finding LeMae is extremely important because the planet will eventually reach a critical instability. Christine laughs at the idea of her being of any use and dismisses Zen. That night, Zen rescues Christine from her abusive father and takes her with him by force. Christine passes out and is unsure what Zen has done with her parents but is scared at the possibilities. Christine decides that going with Zen is perhaps better than living under her parents wishes for the rest of her life and decides not to think about what Zen might have done.

The two reach the village of Raculi and rest up. Christine, in order to save a young boy, releases powers she never knew she had, and is thrown in jail. Instead of a trial, Christine will be set free if the peasants� challenger can beat the elites� champion. The challenger turns out to be Raff, the young beast kid Christine met in the forest earlier and with help from Christine and Zen, is able to beat the champion. Christine is set free and Raff insists on joining the group in order to prove he is as just as his hero Lord Leo. The group now sets out through a teleporter to meet a friend of Zen�s in order to figure out where LeMae is now.

THE PRESENT:

Our 3 heroes have just exited the transporter and are heading through some lush greenery. While Christine enjoyed the scenery of the green fields, she noticed that Zen carried a steadfast single-minded look. Never diverting his eyes, Zen only thought of reaching his destination.

�Hey Zen, isn�t. . .�

�Silence is golden Christine. . .�, Zen interrupted.

�Why is he ALWAYS so somber?�, interjected Raff.

�As I recall, beastboy. Your company was not invited.�, said Zen still focused ahead.

�Well, we�re going to save the world right?�

�And much more. . .� answered Zen.

Christine couldn�t help herself. She had to ask. �Zen, why are you always so distant. I mean, if we�re going to save the world, we need to trust each other and act as a team, right?�

Zen remained silent.

�Well, I won�t help if you don�t tell me what I�m helping FOR!� Christine folded her arms.

�For justice, of course!� smiled Raff.

�I told you, we�re going to find LeMae and save the planet, that�s all.�

�Right, and I�m sure my parents are at home asleep in their. . .�

Zen stopped in his tracks.

�Look Christine. I�m sorry if I seem informal. I�m putting the mission above social grace. It�s THAT important. More important than watching birds or admiring the trees!�

�But why is it so important to you? That�s all I want to know. I just, don�t feel like I know anything about you and we�ve been through so much. It�s like we�re not even. . .friends.�

Raff threw an arm around Christine. �I�m your friend, Christine! Don�t worry about that sourpuss. I agree, this place is really spectacular! If the rest of the walk is this breezy, I won�t even break a sweat!�

The group walked and walked and suddenly the greenery started to turn into hard rock. The sky started hazing from blue to red. Suddenly, they found themselves in front of a large desert.

�My friend, Ramus, lives beyond this desert. He is a technological genius and will certainly be able to locate LeMae.�

Christine looked confused. �I thought the Ramus�s were business minded.�

�Ah, you know your history. This Ramus is an exception. Let�s go.�

�Nice chatting with you too. . .� mumbled Christine under her breath.

The desert seemed to go on for miles. Raff was having trouble keeping up so Christine gave him her staff to lean on. Bat struggled to fly calmly and consistently not to disappoint his master while Blue sat on Christine�s shoulder looking miserable.

Please click on the image to view the full-size picture.

�How can you look so cool in that long black getup?!� Raff panted.

�I keep my mind focused on the task. What, too hot for you beastboy? I thought the rest of this trip was going to be �breezy�?�

�He�s right, Zen. Is it much farther? I don�t think I can keep this up.�

�Never fear. We are almost there. See. Look!�

The desert seemed to drop off and the path became dark and foreboding. The sky changed from red and orange to a cloudy purple. Mounds and mounds of metallic junk were scattered in piles which grew in size the further the group moved forward.

�Wonderful. Instead of desert. It�s the Twilight Zone. Nothing bad�s going to happen here!� mumbled Raff.

�You know, Raff. I don�t think Lord Leo complained half as much as you.� spoke Zen.

�And, on the other hand, I bet Ghaleon is rolling over in his grave for you!� chuckled Raff.

Zen spun around and grabbed Raff by the throat. �DO NOT speak of Ghaleon in such a tone, or I will crush your throat like a bamboo rod.�

Christine grabbed Zen�s arm and tried to pull him off. �ZEN! STOP IT! This is what I mean by teamwork. We have to work together or we�ll never find LeMae!�

Zen loosened. �Agreed.� Zen turned back to the path. �I knew bringing him was a bad idea.�

Raff coughed. �What�s. . .his. . .problem?�

Christine helped Raff along. �Forgive him Raff. He can be. . .cold sometimes.�

�Sometimes?! Next time he tries that, I�m gonna Screw Blow my knee right in his face!�

The group continued to walk silently. . .aimlessly. . .continuously.

�Zen.� Christine whispered. �I have a bad feeling. In my stomach.�

�Danger? I don�t sense anything.�

�Maybe it�s nothing, but I think we�re being watched.�

*Click to view.*

�It�s okay. I�m prepared for whatever jumps out at us.�

Suddenly a loud bang shattered through the silence and Zen suddenly grasped at his chest, falling back against Christine. Christine looked at his hands. They were covered with blood.

�It�s an ambush!!!� yelled Christine.

�WHERE?!! I don�t see anyone!!� yelled Raff.

Christine slumped to her knees under Zen�s weight. She laid his head on her lap. �Are you alright, Zen?�

�Yeah. . .stings like hell though. . .�

�Uh, guys!� interrupted Raff. �This is no time to play doctor!� Zen sniffed the air. �Smoke. . .it�s coming from this way.� Raff spun around and came face to face with a masked cloaked figure with a long gun.

The figure spoke, �Well, THAT was disappointing, Zen. Obviously The Academy isn�t keeping your skills up.�

Bat sat quietly and looked up at the figure. �Hello Mr. Ramus.�

�WHAT?!!!!� yelled both Christine and Raff.

The figure took off his goggles and grinned down at Zen. He extended a hand. Blue growled thinking he was going to hurt Christine. �Need help getting up, Zen?�

*Click to view.*

�Thanks. . .� Zen smiled back. Christine was aghast. It was rare to see Zen smile, much less smile at someone causing him physical harm!

Raff simply dropped his jaw and pointed back and forth in disbelief. �This. . .is your FRIEND?�

Ramus helped Christine pick up Zen and carry him to a metallic door in a huge pile of junk. �Come. You all must have traveled far, so I must show my hospitality.�

Raff growled and covered his chest. �You just keep your hospitality to yourself, you hear?!�

Ramus smiled back at Raff. �Oh don�t worry. I only shoot bullets into Zen here. Keeps him on his toes.�

Raff grinned back. �Didn�t work this time.� Raff followed the three through the door and into a metallic corridor. �WOW. This whole place is made of shiny stuff!� Being too absorbed by his surroundings, Raff ran into a wall. �Owww. . .hard shiny stuff.�

Ramus pointed to a door. �Here, Christine. Help me take him in here.� They all entered the room and laid Zen on a metallic table.

Ramus took off his gloves and washed his hands. He then proceeded to grab a device resembling small pliers and rip Zen�s shirt off. He stopped for a second and looked at Christine and Raff. �Umm. . .this might not be pretty. Why don�t you two take your blue . . .um . . .thing and Bat here and go down the hall second door on the right. That�s the dining room. I�ll have something prepared for you.�

Raff grinned. �Oh, I can�t stay and watch? I�m enjoying this.�

Zen choked some blood. �OUT BEASTBOY!!�

Christine put a hand on Zen�s forehead. �Will you be okay?�

�Fine. Please go.�

Raff and Christine left the room taking Blue and Bat with them. Ramus turned back to his patient. �Well, what did you think of that? I calibrated a bullet so that it carries a magic resistance. You couldn�t detect it, could you?�

�Christine. . .did.�

�Impossible. It was foolproof. Anyway, if I can create the other substance, you should have a backup in case things with LeMae don�t work out.�

�I don�t anticipate any problems. I swore an oath, and I intend to uphold it.�

�Sometimes you overestimate your strength my friend.� Ramus grinned holding up the blood soaked bullet. �It took me less than a second to take you out.�

Zen grinned. �You always were my only worthy rival. Um, can I have a bandage? The others will get suspicious if I don�t have one.�

�Oh? Haven�t told them much, have you? Alright. Can�t raise undue suspicion.� Ramus wrapped a bandage around Zen and tied it behind his back. �There. Let�s go eat.�

The dinner room was decorated with plaques of guns and little else. It was clear Ramus had a hobby. At the dinner table, Bat and Blue quickly ate their fill and went to sleep. Raff filled his plate 4 times over and said little except, �Yum.� Christine would not take any food and sat looking distrustful at the man who shot Zen. Ramus and Zen sat and talked away while a female servant carried more food into the room.

*Click to view.*

�Ahh, let me introduce, Althena-Bot. She is a robot I designed to serve my needs. . . a person made of mechanical parts if you will.�

�I find it slightly in bad taste.� spoke Christine.

Ramus chuckled and acknowledged Christine. �Well, I am a bit of an atheist. You see, Christine. Science and technology are my life�s work. These things can be used to better mankind. Any normal man shot with a bullet like the one I used on Zen would be dead on the spot. However, technology gives me the power to save the man from the bullet. Is that not useful?�

�I notice it also gives you the device to hurt Zen.� spoke Christine.

�Forgive her, Ramus. She tends to get a bit melodramatic.�

�Oh, no. No! Zen! She is countering my argument with truth. There is nothing wrong with that. She has a point. Technology can be dangerous, but so can fire. And we use that quite often, do we not?�

�Yes.� Christine sighed. �I suppose we do.�

�Cheer up, Christine.� Ramus ordered Althena-Bot to serve Christine some food. �I understand your feelings. Here I am talking with Zen quite casually and you can�t get two words out of him, right?�

�Well, sort of. I don�t understand why you attacked Zen if he is your friend.�

Raff tried to chew and talk at the same time. �And...hmpp..why you didn�t. . .gulp. . .finish him off!�

Ramus grinned. �Zen and I share a long history. Zen prides himself on his superiority, so I pride myself on knocking him down a few inches now and then.�

�I have no sense of superiority.� Zen solemnly drank from his glass.

�Don�t feel bad Christine. I�m sure Zen likes you. After all, he came after you when you left The Academy, right?�

�How did you know that? And when we first met you knew my name as well!� asked Christine.

�I keep tabs on him from time to time. I like to know he�s still in one piece.� Ramus nudged Zen. �Until the day Falcon cuts you a new one that is.�

�Falcon is NO threat.� Zen sipped his drink.

�But, my parents. . .� Christine looked down.

�Oh, that? He killed mine too. It�s like. . .a sign of affection.� Just kidding, of course.� In time, you�ll know whether or not he actually did that yourself, Christine.�

Zen eyed Ramus. �Lest we forget, my friend, I am sitting right here. You talk about me as if I were some sort of Albino Ape.�

�What I mean, Christine, is whatever happened to your parents, Zen did it because he cared about your situation.�

�I think I�m finished. I�m going to bed.� Zen excused himself from the table.

Raff looked up. �Wow, it sleeps. . .�

�Knock it off, beastboy.� Zen left the room.

�You should go to sleep too, Christine. Finding LeMae is the EASY part.� Ramus started to organize the dinner dishes for Althena-Bot.

�But. . .I know so little about Zen. Can�t we talk a little more?�

�I�m afraid I have too many things to attend to my dear. Maybe some other time. Good night.�