Part Twenty-One

Part Twenty-One



Misty: When do you think he'll come back?

Hanna: *Still pinning Ember to the ground* Who knows...

Ember: *Skin starts to heat up and steam can be seen*

Hanna: *immediately jumps off Ember* Ouch!

Ember: *Gets up* Finally, I thought you'd never get off!

Naomi: I still say we beat her up. There's, like seven of us and one of her. What's the worst that could happen?

Ember: All of you ganging up on me?! Hah! You just don't want to show everyone how weak you really are, you freak show!

Hanna: *Sigh* We're not getting anywhere with this...

Naomi: Freak show? I'll show you! *blast a giant beam of fire bigger than any EVER seen from her hands* How's that for weak?

Ace: Oh wait, lemme guess...it missed or something...

Zione: *reappears and grabs Ember by the throat* Don't move, weakling, or I shall crush your windpipe. You could scream all you want and no one would ever hear you again! Shall I try it?

Ember: No, loser!

Hanna: Is this necessary?

Zione: Then you shall cooperate with me. What have you done with the one called Hairam?

Ember: Hah, no way! If you do anything to me, Hairam's the one who's gonna get it!

Hanna: What do you mean?

Ember: She's got a bomb attached to her wrist and she doesn't even know it! Try anything and you can start calling her Stumpy!

Misty: What have you done with her?!

Ember: Contrary to popular belief, I have done nothing to her… except for that knockout gas back when we were fighting. Oh, and replacing her watch with a bomb.

Misty: *aggravated* What have you done with her!!?

Brady: There has to be a better way than this. Ember! *cocks phase gun behind his back, unbeknown to everyone else* Where's Hairam? You're the only one here who would know! What are you doing this for? What gain to you get from torturing us?

Zione: I could have you killed before you could possibly detonate that bomb. Now, tell me where she is!

Christina: *walking back toward group* Hey guys, I thought about it some more and decided to take that 3,000 Rupees you offered. *sees the situation Ember is in* Hahahaha!! You got caught!!!

Hanna: We're a little busy at the moment!

Christina: I can see that. I'll just wait over here then. *Pulls out crystal ball and looks into it* I see a girl with the most beautiful eyes! *bats eyelashes* OK, anyway....hmmm..... Now I see some sort of device falling to the ground and shattering. Strange how such a small device could cause such turmoil and pain... Now I see a girl walking into some town.... a path you've already crossed.... And now.... a watch, it's beeping though. An explosion.... much greater than anticipated...

and now I see....

I see...

I see how much time I've wasted telling fortunes. Are you going to pay me or not?!

Zione: *still holding Ember by throat* Who are you?

Hanna: Some crazy girl whose predictions turn out half right, probably by mistake, and wants us to pay her for it.

Christina: Helloooooo! I'm one of the most important people on Earth!!

Hanna: You mean Thorae?

Christina: I'm important here too?! Awesome!!

Zione: Tell you what: you do something worth paying for, and I'll pay you. Like getting this one here *gestures to Ember* to talk. Sound good?

Brady: *devious look* No problem, Zione.

*pulls out insanely advanced phase gun and points it at Ember*

Brady: One shot from this baby and you're gone. And I have a disturbingly accurate shot. Tell us where Hairam is, or I'll shoot....and I won't miss. *extremely dangerous-looking expression glued onto his face* Don't forget: you're an other...and thus, you don't really exist.

Ace: *surprised expression* uh!

Brady: *still pointing gun* All it took was the evil of one person to bring you to life... and all it takes is the evil of another to destroy it. If you don't think I have it in me to shoot a woman, you're sadly mistaken. I'll say it one more time...Where. Is. HAIRAM?!

Zione: Back down, young one. She is under my authority, not yours. Got that?

Ember: Now, now, boys, there's no need to fight over me.

Zione: *directs attention to Ember* You shut your mouth unless I'm actually talking to you. Don't make me do something you'll regret.

Brady: *eyes flash red* Hey, buddy, don't think we're exactly on friendly terms! One wrong move and I'll kill Ember and you in one shot. I don't have to listen to you! Or anybody else! *begins to shout and glow with a strange aura* I do what I want! Nobody orders me around! *starts to cool down a bit and begins glaring* Do you understand me?...

Naomi: *worried look* Brady...

Zione: Ha! And you think that your puny, old-fashioned weapon can actually harm me? You could kill the girl, yes. But it wouldn't hurt me in the slightest. Sorry to disappoint you.

Brady: *grins like a wolf grins at cornered prey* Somehow I doubt that! You know nothing about me... nothing of where I come from! If you think this a normal gun, then you’re terribly wrong! Why are you even trying to help us, anyway?

Zione: Well, go ahead and try if you don't believe me. Kill the girl, by all means. It won't harm me. And then I'll kill you. As to why I'm helping you, that is my own concern, not yours. Can you handle that, angry one?

Hanna: Stop this!! All of you!!!

Christina: Yo, Brady, mysterious items for only 99 Rupees!

Hanna: *Directs attention to Christina* Cut it out!!

Chrstina: Alright, alright.... *whispers* 89 Rupees.

Hanna: Stop, Brady! One of pure intentions would not do this. If he wanted to help, he would not do this!!!

Brady: I can handle anything. Go ahead! Try it! Try and kill me. If you succeed, then this party is yours to direct as you wish. But if you, in fact, do not kill me, then you have do as I say with Ember. Sound fair? *Drops gun and raises hands as if he surrenders* Go ahead...do you hesitate?

Zione: I do not attack defenseless, pathetic little people without reasonable cause. And you have not given it to me, so I have not. Remember, I'm not from your world.

Brady: You hesitate...pathetic... You really don't have the relentless spirit to attack a defenseless person? Okay. Here's a reason: Do it because I told you to. I have a mission to complete. Would I really do this if I didn't have 100% confidence that I will not die?

Hanna: Don't do this. Either of you! Brady, stop this!

Brady: You don't trust me either? Go ahead Zione...unless you feel fear that you will not succeed?

Zione: Why would a powerful being, such as myself, act on your whim?

Christina: *Whispers* Psst... Zione... I'll sell stuff to you for 49 Rupees.

Brady: *now frustrated* C'mon! What're you waiting for?

Zione: *ignores Christina* I do not wish to kill you...yet. You have not given me a reason to attack you, besides your over-confidence in yourself. Which I do not count, as I believe that you are incapable of rational thought anyway.

Brady: I do not think, I know. I know everything I need to know. You have no idea of anything do you?

Ace: Brady, are you sure you want to do this?

Brady: You too? I cannot be killed by whatever Zione possesses. Believe it.

Zione: You are definitely over-confident in yourself, Brady. *turns attention to Ace* Do not get involved in this. It does not concern you. I will say it for the last time, stand down Brady! I would rather not use force on an ally...can you comprehend that?

Ember: *Ever so slowly starts pulling out a small device. While pulling out, however, she drops it and it falls to the ground and shatters* .......oops.....

Zione: NO! *uses pressure point technique to render Ember unconscious*

Christina: Wow, cool move Zione! I'll pay you 40 Rupees if you teach me how to do that!!

Brady: I can comprehend far more than you.

*hears a voice in his head* Brady! You have put on a far convincing enough performance! You are wasting time!

Chief! *talks telepathically back* Yes sir. I will execute it as soon as you send me the coordinates. It's the only data I lack. Oh well. If you are too under confident in yourself that you cannot simply stab me, that doesn't mean I'm over-confident. I've had enough, though...

*hears voice again* I've sent you the data you need, Brady. Command, set: execute.

*replies* Executing. *Picks up gun. Begins to point it at Ember once more.* One needs to simply say the word. I'll shoot Ember...shall I? Now that she is unconscious it will be even easier.

Zione: Shoot her, by all means. It concerns me not, it would seem. You wish for me to stab you?

Brady: If it would prove my point, then yes. In fact, why don't you cut my right arm off? That would be better.

Zione: I sense that this has been a large waste of time on both of our parts. But, if it will shut you up, I shall cut your arm off. However, to protect your well-being, I shall not use the weapons of my homeland. *creates Earth-made sword out of thin air and cuts off Brady's arm* There, now you may as well show me what power you have.

Hanna: *Stares in shock*

Ace & Naomi: *gasps!*

Brady: Thank you, my friend!

*strangely, there is no blood*

Brady: *arm regenerates.* There. You see? Was that so hard? *stabs himself and removes his blade* Heh, nothing doing. Now. Enough of this dawdle. Just wanted to demonstrate that little work of art for you. Anyway, go ahead and leave Ember unconscious. *Creates a cage of pure electricity around her* When she wakes up, she's not going anywhere. I know where Hairam is. We don't have to waste our time with her. Follow me. Zione. Are you, perchance, coming with us?

Zione: Not surprising. I have known that power for quite some time as well. However, I had considered driving right through you and leaving you stuck to a tree or something. But the past is behind us. We have wasted far too much time here, let us continue.

Brady: *thinks* I wonder how long I'm going to have to keep this secret, Chief?

Chief: By all means tell them. I care not.

Brady: Nah, not yet. But Hanna deserves to know, I think. Zione. Can I ask you something?

Zione: What is it, young one?

*A giant explosion is heard*

Zione: Are we too late? Hanna?

Hanna: *Eyes widen* H-hairam…?

Brady: Well, looks like THAT still happened. We have to hurry to the plateau. We are behind schedule. Where do you come from Zione?

*EO and DJ come running back to re-join the group*

DJ: What happened????

EO: Who's the big guy?

Zione: *ignores EO* I hail from the land of Tellius.

Hanna: *Slumps to the ground in disbelief* She's.......she's dead.....?

Brady: Glances at his watch. Not yet! The bomb she used is not known to kill instantly! We have about 6 minutes! Hurry!

Christina: ...No...she wasn't where the bomb went off.

Brady: *shakes head* I've failed! How could I let this happen? Failure is not an option! *stares at watch* Ember must have woken up...let's try this again! *presses a button on watch*

*all appear at the place where Ember was*

Ace: Did we just go back...in time?!

Brady: This time I won't give you a chance to put that bomb into action!!

*points gun* There's no room for error! I'm gonna shoot you! *pulls trigger*

*Black screen*

….


….


….


*An unknown quantity of time before these curious events*

Hairam: *Wakes up* Oww... What happened? *gets up* The last thing I remember... Ember!
How long have I been here? *checks watch* Huh? That's weird. My watch is usually on my right wrist.... Why is it on my left? This thing looks broken anyway. *Takes off watch and places it on a nearby rock and walks off* Hey, here's one of my arrows! *pulls an arrow out of a tree* I wonder how that got there. Ember probably fooled everyone into thinking she was me. That can't last very long though. I mean, Hanna would've figured it out....

*Enters a small town* This must be the place they were talking about before Ember showed up. Knowing Ember, she will probably wait until Hanna's most vulnerable to reveal herself. I wonder why she always does that. Doesn't she know that she can get herself killed that way?!

*Stops as she realizes something* I have to contact Christina!
Christina?

Christina: Yo! What's up?


….

….






*scene on Hanna's party*

Brady: We did it... Hairam must be alive somewhere.

Ace: It's for the best.

Naomi: Do we go on or look for Hairam?

Misty: I think we should go look for Hairam and make sure she's ok. What do you think, Hanna?

Hanna: I can go look for her myself. You should continue. We've wasted enough time as it is. I'll catch up.

Brady: N-no! I can't let you do that! Do you want to get me d--- killed?

Hanna: What are you talking about? The last thing you need is for me to continue slowing you down.

Ace: She's right, Brady. We have a mission to complete. Brady: You stay out of this! You have no idea! None of you do...You're not slowing us down...either you come with us or I come with you. We can let the others press on...But I can't leave you...I can NOT let anything bad happen to you. Do you understand? NOTHING.

Misty: *blink, blink* What's going on? How come?

Hanna: ...um...I have no idea.... *Turns to Brady* …sure. You can come with me then.

Brady: Thank you. I'll explain my situation while we travel if you wish...It's a little complex. Shall I?

Hanna: Fine by me. Let's go

*Hanna and Brady leave the main group*

Misty: Umm... ok then. Ace, ready?

Ace: Ready...I had no idea SHE was the one... Shall we go to the Plateau, then?

*Ace, Naomi, and Misty resume walking*


DJ: Hey EO, what happened to everyone else?

EO: I don't know...we seem to have been separated from them.

DJ: This isn't good...

EO: Don't worry...I know where we are...sort of.

DJ: But what about the others?

Christina: *Turns to DJ* Well, it depends upon who you are looking for. If you're looking for catlady, the card, and the girl with my bird, I can tell you where they went. I can also tell you where Romeo and goth girl went.......for a price! By the way, what happened to all the evil that was Ember, do you know? It's very important that I know.

Brave, mid-pitched voice: Ember? What do you mean was Ember?

Christina: My other came here to find a friend of ours. Ember tried to escape Thorae and then Romeo shot her! And I need to know what happened to all that evil. Wait, who are you? Oooooh, you want to buy some mystical items from me?

Isaac: Hey, yeah! Whatcha got? I'm Isaac, by the way. Nice to meet ya! ^_^

Christina: Nice to meet you too, Isaac! I've got this book of magic stuff, a dragon egg, and this gizmo I found. Some potion that can be used to spy on people. Here's a tracker for my others, hey, I've been looking for that! How do you know Ember?

Isaac: She came across me in the desert and attacked me for no reason! I didn't fight her very well, of course, but we fought...Wait, wait, wait, who's Romeo?

Christina: Some dude with weird powers. Someone chopped off his arm and it grew back! I call him Romeo cause he thinks a friend of mine is "The One," whatever that means. Are you going to buy something or not?!

Isaac: Geez, I don't know if I want to now. You sure are being rude. Didn't your parents ever teach you any manners?

Christina: Well, excuuuuuse me! It's my cover, but nobody's supposed to know. *Whispers* pretty cool, huh?

Isaac: Oh I get it! Haha! So what parts are you from?

Christina: Earth. Where are you from?

Isaac: I'm from Hala! The most advanced city in Thorae! Can't you tell? Oh, wait I forgot you're from Earth, of course you can't...Well, what you guys doing near Jinn Plateau?

Christina: Well, I'M here because Hairam didn't want Ember to do anything irrational, I guess it's a little late for that. The others are here to save Lui, who is now stuck in a portal. What are YOU doing here?

EO: This conversation has been quite interesting...but shouldn't we be moving again?

DJ: Yeah, I think we've been talking too long...we're wasting time.

EO: Wow...you actually agree with me?

DJ: Yeah, scary isn't it?

Christina: You never answered my question. What happened to the evil?!

EO: Huh? What about evil? Who said I'm evil?

Christina: Not you, even if you are evil. I was talking about Ember!

Isaac: You guys don't seem like the type to be rescuing someone. And I have no idea about Ember. I didn't even know she was killed. So which portal is he in? If he's in the east gate you're headed the wrong way...

Christina: I'm not sure. We were separated from the main group. Does this “getting stuck in a portal” thing happen very often?

Isaac: Nah. It's just recently been all over the news. *Begins to walk so the others will follow* So have you guys ever heard of the Clockwork Syndicate?

Christina: I think I overheard something about it.... Mind telling me more about it?

Isaac: Well, sadly, I don't know much about them myself. All of a sudden they just started popping up out of nowhere like crazy, planning some kind of hostile take over...they have their HQ in the northwest corner of Thorae, but I wouldn't recommend going there, even if you know you need to. Uh-oh. I think hear some military Humvees! Those must be those Clockwork guys! What are we gonna do?

Christina: Run? Hide?



*Scene Switch*

Brady: Where do you think Hairam went? I know where Ember put her...so maybe I can calculate using information on where she would most likely go that only you would know, where she might have went...So have any ideas?

Hanna: She would probably continue to our destination, despite the few directions we had before she battled Ember. I can't believe Ember had me fooled for so long! If I had realized it earlier, we wouldn't be here now. Do you think Hairam's all right?

Brady: Yes. It's a fact. Really. I can sense her life signs around here...she was here not too long ago.

Clockwork soldier: Hold it right there! We have you rebels under arrest! Put down your weapons!

Brady: I think we should do as he says...Don't you think?

Hanna: *Whispers* Depends.... how many of them do you think there are?

Brady: *turns* *whispers* More than you think... *drops sword and gun* That's all I have, officer.

Soldier: You're coming with us.

Brady: Do we to ride in your van?

Soldier: What?

Brady: We're going to HQ, right? I said do we get to ride in your van?

Soldier: Err...yeah, but this ain't no joy ride!

Brady: Cool. *whispers* I know what I'm doing. Follow my lead...Okay?

Soldier: Come on, you two, in you go!

Hanna: *Gives up sword* *Glares at Brady, clearly disgusted with the situation and whispers* Fine.

Brady: Calm down...you'll see... *both get shoved into car*

Soldier: *on com-link* I've captured two rebels....What sex?...*glances at Brady and Hanna* One male one female.....Alright, I'll bring 'em in.

Soldier 2: We're gonna torture you till you tell us where your pals are. Sound nice? Heheheh

Hanna: *In a highly annoyed voice* Perfect, peachy keen even.

Brady: *silent*

Soldier 2: I love your reactions. Shame we gotta kill you. hahah!

Soldier: Kuheheheh! *drives for a while in silence*

Brady: You boys mind holding this for me?

Soldier 2: huh? *looks back*

Brady: *throws thunder ball in soldier 2's face* Eat that!

Soldier: What?! Brady: You too, pal! *shocks driver* *quickly disengages engine* Help me out here, will ya? *tosses driver out the door*

Hanna: Sure. *Punches a soldier with fist covered in thick ice and knocks him unconscious* *Throws him out of the car* And stay down you pathetic excuse for a soldier! Brady! Never do that again, understand me?!

Brady: What's the matter? Now we have a free vehicle! You have to agree this will get where we need to go in a mere fraction of the time!....1/16th the time, to be exact!

Hanna: I just hate vulnerability... Sorry. So, we're getting closer to Hairam, right?

Brady: Yes. She's somehow across the desert. I have no idea how Ember got her over there so quickly, but that's the way we need to go, anyway. Hopefully we'll meet up with the others there. What was that? *glances at mirror* Great! We got some company. More CS soldiers on our tail. I hope you're as good a sniper as you are a swordsman. Here. *tosses Hanna an assault rifle* I'll get us at a better range. *Swerves sharply* You got a clean shot yet?

Hanna: *Takes aim* .... almost... *shoots a few times* Three down... *Aims again and shoots just as the car hits a bump* Gah! Missed! Watch your driving!

Brady: Stop nagging, woman!... Woah, did I just say that? Gah, they're trying to run us into the ditch! Shoot the motor! Don't worry about the soldiers! Woah! Was that a machine gun?!

Hanna: All right, all right! *Shoots the tires of the surrounding vehicles*

Zione: *appears again* What's up, friends?

Alzymus: *appears* Ha! I found you, you evil rogue!

Zione: Alzymus???? How did you find me? *attacks Alzymus with shadow sword*

Alzymus: Ha! One of your compatriots turned you in for the reward. *defends self with golden sword*

Brady: Zione? What? *scowls* Grrrr stay outta my way! Why are you here?

Zione: I was hired to help, was I not?

Alzymus: You hired him???????

*Zione and Alzymus still fight*

Brady: I sure didn't! I don't like that punk! So if you're gonna be here be quiet and sit down! You got that? No one asked you to come along. In fact, you were hired for the sole purpose of rescuing LUI!

Zione: If my memory serves, the terms of my unwritten contract had nothing to do with this Lui, but instead Ember. My tasks now are yet to be determined...what else do you need done?

Alzymus: Zione, you're nothing but a tag-along mercenary-wannabe!

Zione: Ha! And you're any better?

Brady: Okay, okay I can't take this. If you wanna be useful then go and sabotage the pursuing enemy vehicles, alright? Sheesh.

Zione: Me, or the arrogant bounty hunter over there?

Alzymus: Who are you calling arrogant????

Zione: Enough! Why don't you just go help some of the others?

Brady: Here we go. Were getting into the dunes. Brace yourselves for a bumpy ride. Everyone okay?

Alzymus: I'm good. And I'm not letting you out of my sight, Zione.

Zione: Fine. Be a tag-along, if that's what you want. So, how large are these dunes anyway?

Brady: Pretty big. We'll definitely have some trouble getting through there. Why do you ask?

Zione: Just curious. Are you sure you will have the energy to make it all the way across?
Alzymus: ...

Brady: I will but I don't know about the car. It was only on half a tank of gas when I got it... Did you see a gas station anywhere?

Hanna: Gas station? In the middle of nowhere?!! We have bigger issues on our hands!

Brady: I was just wondering, sheesh. *car engine sputters* Great. There it goes. Well, we walk from here on in. And whatever you do, do NOT split up from the pack at night. We will have no hope of finding Hairam after that. Okay?

Hanna: *Nonchalantly* Yeah, sure. Whatever.

Brady: *narrows eyes* I'd be more careful If I were you. *shades eyes* This heat is blistering. I trust you all brought water?

Zione: Water? Ha, you seriously underestimate me...

Alzymus: My, you're quite the boastful one, aren't you?

Zione: Perhaps, but it's true, isn't it? We don't require the use of water.

Brady: ...Then I guess the only ones we need to worry about are Hanna and I...*thinks to himself* Man, I really hate these guys. They think they're so much better than everyone else. Nothing fazes these guys...I guess that's what I hate the most. They don't even act like people... at least I TRY to. Hey! Feel free to wander off, Zione, okay? Heheh

Hanna: Hah, as if he'd really just leave and stop bothering us. *Shields eyes from the blistering sun and looks up at the sky* I'll be... just fine. How far do we have to go?

Brady: All the way through. Good thing it's shorter width-wise. Otherwise, there's no yo-- we could make it out alive... believe me. The reason I say not to separate is because at night a dense fog covers these dunes. In the day, the dunes are blazing hot, but at night it's ice cold... anyway, the reason this fog is bad is because you can't see anything...not even your hand in front of you face. That's when a dragon-wraith seizes the opportunity to capture you and proceeds to eat you alive, after a painful incantation, that is. Sound fun? If not, stay close. If so, feel free to go get yourself killed...that is...not you, Hanna...