Dark Crossroad

Attack of the Drones

by:

Stephen Garrett Jr.

 

 

Author's Note

 

     Yes, the title's a groaner and a blatant copy.  But it sounds better than the alternatives and should serve to remind everyone that this is, at it's heart, meant to be a fun story made in the same spirit as the games and movies it is based on.

 

     Closer and closer.....

     Reality began to buckle and shudder, as it sensed the approaching diversion of it's being.  The planes began to multiply and expand, in preparation for the moment of duplication.

     The decision point was growing closer.... and closer....

     And focusing on a single world....

 

 

 

     With a slight tremor the Lightrunner dropped out of hyperspace.  Sitting in the cockpit, Cid watched a planet loom outside the cockpit and turned toward the back.  "We're here!"

     Qui-Xi emerged first from the rear, followed by Schala and Silas.  "It seems to be a habitable planet," Qui-Xi noted, making out the seas and land with cloud cover.  "Schala?"

     "My world..."  She looked it over.  "That island, near the equator..."  She pointed toward the holotank on the right side of the cockpit, displaying the planet's landmasses.  "That looks like the Sun Keep."

     "Sun Keep?"

     "Yes.  A mystical place where the sun is always shining," Schala answered.

     "Do you recognize any of the other landmasses, Schala?"

     "No, no I don't...  Wait."  She pointed toward another location, west of a large continent and ringed with high mountains arching straight out of the sea save for a particular pass to the remainder of the ocean.  Within the area of water were several islands.  "That, it looks like the Sea of Eden.  But in my time, in the time of Zeal, there were no islands."

     "Curious," Qui-Xi said.  "Cid, locate for me a large capital city, a castle, complex, anything that would serve as a major center of government and population, and then land us as close as possible in a secluded place.  I do not wish to bring too much attention to ourselves."

     "And let's hope they don't have any radar systems," Silas commented.

     "Lightrunner would detect such active systems," Qui-Xi assured Silas.  "Apparently they have not progressed that far yet."

     "I think I've got us a landing spot..."  Cid pointed to the display, and one of the northern continents near the apparent mainland.  "Big castle, nicely-sized town, and some forest to land in."

     "Bring us down," Qui-Xi instructed him.  "I am hoping that this is where we can get the necessary information to begin our search."  He looked back at Schala.  "Can you sense them?"

     "Faintly," Schala answered.  "But, I cannot see where they have gone."

     "Clear your mind, Schala."  Qui-Xi nodded at Silas, who took his wife's hand and held it tenderly.  "Concentrate on the feeling."

     Schala closed her eyes and took in a deep breath.  "Janus is scared," she said.  "But, I cannot sense where he is.  It's as if I'm being blocked by something, such power...."

     Her mind was suddenly torn by something.  Images, a vast city with high technology, robotic wards such as the ones with Lavos.... and something more.  A dark presence, an aura, something trapped....

     "Schala, do not let yourself wander.  If you cannot feel Janus, look for Lavos."

     Schala nodded and drew in another breath to calm herself.  Lavos' presence was not being blocked, she could begin to sense him... sense the evil in his being, what he was planning on doing....

     "Lavos is not with Janus," she whispered.  "He and my Mother have gone elsewhere, they are planning something, they are going to strike...."  Her eyes widened.  "They're here.  This is their time!  That's what Lavos is after!"

     "What is it, Schala?  Who's time?"

     "This is Crono's time, this is the time he's from, he's here!  And Lavos, I can sense his desire for revenge, it is dark and burning.  He's got something in mind."

     "Do you know where, Schala?", Qui-Xi asked.

     A breath came from Schala as she concentrated.  Her hand moved over the display and toward the designated landing spot for the Lightrunner.  "Somewhere there," she said.

     "Well, that's convenient," Marlene remarked.

     "Cid, continue on your landing course."  Qui-Xi felt a tremor within himself as the ship raced toward the planet.  His view of the future became clouded, a familiar sensation to him from the time before the Clone Wars, but it was not the Dark Side that was the source of the clouding.  It was something else.  His mind went back to what KluYa said, about the choice that was coming.  The destruction of an entire world was at hand, if the wrong choice was made.

     "You are uncomfortable, Master," Silas said, having sensed his mentor's state of mind.  "Is something wrong?"

     "Silas, can you feel the future?"

     "I have not tried very recently."  Silas drew in a breath, and felt the same clouded sense that Qui-Xi had.  "There is something wrong, the future is clouded."

     "Yes.  I have felt this before, but the origin is not the same.  It is not the Dark Side clouding the future, but something else, I fear.  Something dark..."

     "An uncertainty," Aeris suddenly said.  Everyone turned to her and she looked down sheepishly.  "I'm... well, sorry for interrupting Master, but the cloudiness feels like it is because the future is uncertain.  As if there is not a likely outcome."

     "Very good, Aeris," Qui-Xi said.  "You have a point.  It is not that our view of the future is clouded, but that the future itself is uncertain.  Normally we could feel an outcome, the one most likely to happen, but this time, we cannot."

     "What does that mean, Master?", Marlene asked.

     "I am not yet certain."  Qui-Xi let go of a breath.  "I cannot say."

     "Then why worry?", Cid asked while easing the Lightrunner into orbit to prepare to land.  "We'll take things as they come.  Can't think so hard on the future that you forget the present."

     "Cid is correct," Qui-Xi stated.  "We cannot see the future, so we should concentrate on the present."

     There were nods from the others as Lightrunner made orbital entry.

 

 

     Across the clear blue sky over Truce and the Guardia castle, a small red streak appeared.  It was too small to be seen by the human eye, but for the telescope fixed through the bedroom window of Lucca Ashtear's apartment, it was a different matter entirely.  At first she considered it to be a meteorite, but that consideration changed upon seeing the streak made a radical course change, one that could only be done with guided flight.  "Well, that's strange," she murmured to herself.  Lucca's eyes darted over to a clock and she groaned.  "I don't have time for this!"

     She turned to the mirror   The occasion at hand required Lucca to wear something deemed respectable by her parents, a bright violet dress that was modest enough for her taste.  It left her arms and shoulders bare, something Lucca could have done without, but aside from that she was covered in the glittery purple material, all the way down to the heels.  She had dress shoes on to go with the rest of the outfit.  Lucca would have preferred something a bit heavier on, Marle was the one who liked light and showy clothing, an obvious result of her boisterous and outgoing personality.

     No, not Marle, Nadia!  N-A-D-I-A!  Lucca shook her head.  It was hard to imagine that despite four years of knowing Nadia, the Princess of Guardia and only child of the reigning King of Guardia, she still insisted on thinking of her as Marle, the honey-haired tomboy who had accidentally bumped into Crono on that fateful day.

     And now, after four years of courting demanded by Guardian custom, they would be marrying, in the Truce Chapel.  Crono was firmly set to be King Guardia XXXIV, something that had a few of the other nobles in the Kingdom a bit peeved but a situation liked by everyone else.  He was, after all, a hero of not just the Kingdom of Guardia, but of the entire world and all mankind.  The epitome of courage, the slayer of the devouring entity called Lavos.

     There was a time, before the fateful events of 1000 A.D., that Lucca had been considered a possible wife for Crono, or at least her parents had told her.  They had been friends since childhood, and it was not unheard of for such friends to develop attachments.  But Lucca preferred it this way, a friendship and nothing more.  Besides that, she enjoyed the humor that Marle brought to the trio, and since Crono had feelings for her as well as she did for him, it would be awkward and unfitting to get trapped in a love triangle with them.

     Beyond that, Lucca lacked Marle's cuteness factor.  The tomboy Princess of Guardia would see nothing beyond wearing the flashy dress Lucca had been coerced into wearing, but Lucca found it too revealing.  Too flattering, a surprise since it really wasn't as flattering as other formal dresses would be.  The fact was, Lucca was not a beauty queen.  She wasn't ugly, and had been told that she was attractive in the right light, but her personality made her unappreciative of those qualities and she cared little for them, thinking more of her work.  And indeed, there was a lot of work, she was a highly respected scientific mind now, hard at work on the fields of robotics and computers, with some dabbling in theoretical physics stemming from her experiences in time travel.  There was talk in the academic circles of the Kingdom of her being given a doctorate in a few years, after she had added to her studies with more material.

     Doctor Lucca Ashtear.  Had a nice ring to it.

     Stepping down from her bedroom, Lucca found her mother standing between the stairways to their respective rooms.  In her arms was the baby girl Lucca had found a few weeks before, and whom she had named "Kid" because, quite frankly, she had nothing else in mind.  She still wondered who had abandoned the child, and perhaps more importantly, why the child had the same Zealian pendant as Marle and Schala had possessed.  But for the moment, Lucca had more important concerns.  "Do I look okay?"

     "You look fine," Lara responded.  "Better than the Princess."

     "Mom, I don't need that kind of flattery."  Daughter embraced mother, and Lucca looked down at the sleeping Kid.  "I've been thinking, Mom, that there are other kids like her out there, without parents.  Maybe I could..."

     "No time for small talk.  The ceremony begins in thirty minutes, and if you haven't forgotten, you're the maid of honor!"

     "I haven't forgotten, Mom.  And, thanks for watching Kid."

     "You're welcome, Lucca.  Now, go on.  Your father's waiting for you."

     Lucca nodded to her mother and walked through to the main living room, cluttered with the various equipment she and her father used.  Seeing it made her remember the strange streak in the sky, looking like something entering the atmosphere but in a controlled flight, but a quick glance at the clock was all that was needed to jar her mind back to the important matter at hand.

 

 

     A lone, four seating helicopter came down on the Itagaki Field Heliport, where the Wutaian official in charge of the port was waiting with another figure.  The familiar dark grayish hair and dark clothing of the shape-shifting Vincent Valentine dominated the shorter frame of the Wutaian, wearing traditional Wutaian garb and in the necessary color to note his station in the strict Wutaian social structure.

     The helicopter door opened and Cloud stepped out, Mariya coming out behind him.  Vincent did not offer to shake his old comrade's hand, but he did nod to acknowledge his arrival.  "You have aged well," he remarked.

     "Thank you.  And you haven't aged at all."

     "I have aged, but not as quickly as I would hope.  I seem condemned to a long life."

     "Ah, that's the Vincent I missed, so cheery, so..."

     "Mister Strife," the Wutaian man interrupted impatiently, "I have been given the request for your journey by the Jedi Master Qui-Xi Lao, but I cannot let you go on until Lord Kisaragi gives me his personal assent to this trip.  The danger of such a flight into the valley, and the costs it might bring us if such a person of high rank as yourself..."

     "I was given assurances," Cloud insisted.  "We don't have time to wait for Kisaragi to rubber-stamp this."

     "Nevertheless, as his servant I am bound to..."

     Without a hint of impatience, Mariya stepped up beside the official.  Her right hand was slightly raised, and she passed it slowly across the man's field of vision.  "Our mission is urgent, we must be allowed to enter the valley as soon as possible."

     "Your mission is urgent, you must be allowed to enter the valley as soon as possible," the official responded in an almost hypnotic tone.

     "The risk will have to be taken," Mariya continued.

     "The risk will have to be taken."

     "We have your permission and you will arrange for our flight immediately."

     "You have my permission and I will arrange for your flight immediately."

     Mariya nodded and waved the man off, causing him to walk away absentmindedly.  She turned to her companions and gave a slight smile.  "Kisaragi's people have very little personal will," Mariya explained.  "He chooses them well for his own personal power, but they are vulnerable to us in the process."

     "We'll have to thank Kisaragi later," Cloud remarked.

     "I would suggest you make sure the copter is fully fueled," Mariya said.  "He will be returning soon and we will be on our way."

 

 

     With Lightrunner securely landed in the forests of Truce, the five Jedi aboard her had disembarked the transport and were now out and amongst the crowds.  Truce was a growing town, the center of power due to it's proximity to the majestic Castle of Guardia that could be seen to the northwest.  It was between that castle and the town, in a cleared area of the forest that included a large chapel structure, that many people were beginning to mill about.  "He's here, somewhere," Schala muttered to herself.

     "I am beginning to feel him too," Marlene said.  "I'm feeling both of them."

     "There's an awful lot of people going toward that chapel," Aeris added.  "Could today be a special occasion?  Perhaps that's why Lavos chose this time."

     "I am unsure," Schala answered.  "I have no knowledge of this time, only my own.  Master Qui-Xi, do you have any ideas?"

     The answer from Qui-Xi was a simple nod; with no sign of impatience or rush he stepped up toward a vendor along the street leading toward the chapel and castle.  "Sir, we are visitors, and we are interested in knowing what is occurring today."

     "You must be from way out if you didn't know," the vendor replied.  "The Princess's marriage is today.  She's marrying that kid she met back in the Millennial Fair, the one she ran off through time with.  You know, the one that they say destroyed that planet-killing thing?"

     "His name wouldn't happen to be Crono, would it?"

     "Yes."  The vendor snapped his fingers.  "I knew it was something like that.  Yes, his name is Crono.  They say he'll probably be the next King when Guardia XXXIII passes on."

     "Thank you, sir."  Qui-Xi nodded respectfully and stepped back toward the others.  "Lavos apparently chose this day well, Crono is being married today."

     "Quite dramatic of him," Silas remarked.  "Overly dramatic."

     "There was a girl with him," Schala said, recalling the past.  "She was very fond of him, maybe she is the one he is marrying?"

     "If so, it might be a symbolic gesture on Lavos's part.  The vendor said they met when Crono began time-traveling.  Killing them after they culminate the relationship created by that incident..."

     "No.  I'm not going to let him."  Schala's eyes glared on toward the chapel.  Her hand rested on her waist, where her lightsaber was placed.  "I'm going to destroy him, and get Janus back."

     "We all will," Silas corrected her.  "You can't take him alone."

     "I would suggest we get to the Chapel," Qui-Xi said.  "We must be ready for when Lavos makes his move."

 

 

     The Truce Chapel was bustling with activity as crowds gathered both in and outside the large building.  The crest of Guardia, with gold on the right and red on the left on which was a dragon emblem, hung from the ceiling in front of the altar.  The band struck up a regal musical piece and from the door to the outside of the Chapel, Crono and Marle appeared.  With a winged crown of gold and a white cape draped over an equally-white suit and blue vest, Crono held a respectful grin as the crowd applauded at their appearance.  To his left was his bride, Princess Nadia, or "Marle" as Crono and Lucca still tended to call her.  A pink-tinted dress covered her completely, topped with a veil of pink material held to her head by a crown of gold, the veil parted to show the sweet expression on her face.

     As they came down the aisle, taking the time to greet Melchior as they passed the stoutish Zealian Guru, Lucca followed.  She felt proud at her friends finally getting together, at the future they would be able to create.  A world at peace, where art and science could be furthered and the Guardian culture allowed to flourish, going together with prosperity to bring about a golden age.  Perhaps, it would be right here that the future of the world would be decided, that a more peaceful future could be made.  One in which Robo could be happy.

     Lucca still felt pain at Robo's departure to the future.  He was, to put it simply, a walking paradox.  Born from a future that was destroyed, yet having remained "alive", and still hailed as aiding the 600 A.D. environmentalist Fiona regrow the forest of Zenan.  There were multiple theories Lucca had envisioned, but none seemed to fit; it was almost as if the universe itself willed for Robo's existance to remain fixed.  Sometimes Lucca regreted the smashing of the Epoch into Lavos, with the ship destroyed and the Gates closed, she could not see her old friend any more.

     And then there were the others.  Ayla, Frog, Janus, all had departed to their own times.  They were forever out of contact, although knowing Janus, he might have a time warp spell up his sleeve here and there....

     Lucca returned her attention to the ceremony.  The royal priest was ending his traditional speech and had called upon the exchange of vows.  Crono and Marle exchanged nervous glances before doing so; it seemed a fundamental rule of the universe that no matter how steeled one's nerves were and what one had faced before, you were supposed to get anxious and nervous when getting hitched.

     As the priest finished the ceremony by announcing them husband and wife, clapping and applause broke out.  Lucca took a step toward them to begin congratulations when she felt something, an immaterial sense in the back of her mind that something was wrong.

     The chapel exploded.

     Well, to be precise, the portion behind the altar exploded.  It took a second for the gathered citizenry to react predictably by running out toward the other door, and as they did Crono leapt on Marle, driving both of them off the altar and presumably out of harm's way.  Behind the altar the wall crumbled down, allowing a handful of large robotic forms to stomp through.  They lifted their arms and white bolts of energy flew everywhere, striking the occasional bystander and scorching the chapel's walls.  Lucca got down beside Crono and Marle, both of them still overcoming the effects of being stunned.  "Any ideas?", she asked them.

     "Get up and run?", Marle suggested.

     "I'm afraid that won't be possible for you vermin..."

     Their heads pulled up at the voice, which they found to be familiar, and saw Queen Zeal and another figure, a male figure with Zeal-fashion clothing and hair, step through the rubble flanked by stilt-walking drones.  None of the three heroes could speak, it was pure surprise to see the dark-hearted queen again, whom they had thought had perished with the Black Omen.  "Zeal, they look positively surprised," the male figure said.

     "They would be, Almighty Lavos."

     Reaching into his cape, Crono's hand settled on the Rainbow blade, which he had been wearing out of ceremony.  Before he could draw it out Lavos' hand raised and an invisible force threw Crono against the nearest wall.  "No heroics."

     "How can you be Lavos?  He's been destroyed!"

     In response to Marle's question, Lavos turned and raised his hand, partially suspending Marle in mid-air.  "To an extent, you are correct, girl.  You and your little band of friends destroyed my primary form.  But you see, by then I knew you were coming after me, I had seen your thoughts in the Ocean Palace.  And I kept some insurance.  My primary form is gone but I remain, trapped in this body.  You have no idea how much that annoys me."  A surge of dark energy emerged from Lavo's left hand and enveloped Marle.  A scream erupted from her lungs for a moment.  "There was a time I could tear you apart with a mere thought, but in this human shell, this frail and weak form, I can only use a small fraction of the power I once held."

     "Put her down!"

     Ignoring Crono's demand, Lavos went on, causing Marle to squirm painfully in his telekinetic grip.  "I have had millennia to consider what I would do to you when the time came.  Prudence would demand I just kill you here and now, so that I am rid of you vermin, but there is no fun in that.  For ten thousand years I have been trapped in this form due to your meddling, I wish for you to suffer before you meet your doom."  Dark energy crackled from Lavos' eyes.  "You will endure torments unimagined by any of your kind while I force you to watch the destruction of this pitiful Kingdom of Guardia, and everything you hold dear.  But I am quite certain that when the true end comes, you will greet oblivion with relish, for it will mean an end to your suffering."  Lavos turned to his companion.  "My sweet Queen, I am at a loss of how to proceed.  Should I play it safe and remove them from the mortal coil, or have my fun with them?"

     "She is the intelligent one among them," Zeal replied, pointing to Lucca, who was still on the floor.  "Remove her and the other two are less of a threat."

     "Very well.  Drones, dispose of this one."

     Lavos' hand stretched out toward Lucca and a pair of the large and bulky ground drones raised their weapons.

     There was a blur beside Lavos a moment later, and with a flash of green the stretched out arm was severed at the elbow.  Lavos screeched and pulled the remnant of his arm back in, dropping Marle and Crono in the process, and jumped back just in time to miss another swipe taken at him by Qui-Xi Lao.  "You again?!"

     Without having new orders, the drones fired directly at Lucca.  The white bolts from their primary weapons raced toward her, only to be deflected away from the purple lightsaber wielded by Schala.  Lucca looked directly up at Schala, recognizing her instantly, but had little time to say anything before Schala said, "Get to safety, now," and continued deflecting the fire from the drones.

     Said fire ended a few moments later with a flash of green from the lightsaber of Silas, who carved the weapon-carrying limbs of the drones off without any effort.  From behind Silas, Aeris and Marlene entered through the front doors of the chapel with their weapons ignited and at the ready.  A pair of stilt-walking Gizmotoids fell to their attacks, with Marlene slashing her way through a low-flying Aeroguard with her momentum.  The distraction allowed Schala to move against her mother, her lightsaber making quick contact with the energy eminating from Queen Zeal.

     Lavos had, by this time, recovered slightly, and was beginning to regenerate a new arm.  Qui-Xi maintained his attack, and after being deflected a few times by Lavos' wild flailing from his left arm for self-defense, severed Lavos' right leg at the thigh.  With another inhuman screech the maniacal being collapsed and fell to his back.  Leveling his lightsaber toward Lavos' throat, Qui-Xi said in a low and slightly-threatening tone, "Tell us where Janus is."

     Before Lavos could answer, a pair of the large bulky Combots opened fire on Qui-Xi, their default targeting system and engaging the "unknown contact".  Qui-Xi's attention was diverted to deflecting their strikes.  One of the Combots fired a missile that detonated against the lightsaber, throwing the Jedi Master onto his back near Lucca.  Lavos used the opening to regenerate his leg and finish regenerating his arm.

     A flash of rainbow color sliced through one of the Combots attacking Qui-Xi, and as it fell the image of a Rainbow katana-wielding and very angry Crono could be seen from behind the fallen drone.  There was no pause as Crono's blade ripped through the other Combot, the magically-enhanced steel of the Rainbow blade severing it with even greater ease than the lightsabers used by the others.  With rage in his heart the hero of Guardia stomped toward Lavos, who was just now finished regenerating.  Lavos' hand stretched out toward Crono and telekinetic force struck out at him, but now fully collected, Crono's own supranatural abilities blocked the clumsy and panicked attack.  Lavos stumbled backward at the sight of his nemesis.  "No, I cannot be so weak as to be defeated by vermin such as you!"

     "We must withdraw for now, Almighty One," Queen Zeal suggested, facing off against her enraged daughter.  "You will have your vengeance soon enough!"

     "Give me back my son!", Schala shouted as her lightsaber crashed down on the Queen's right arm, encountering the field the Queen was projecting to protect herself.

     "You have greater things to worry about," Lavos hissed as he continued backing away from Crono.  A pair of Aeroguards swooped in toward Crono, having just strafed at Marlene and Aeris, and fired missiles, forcing him to jump out of the way long enough for Lavos to gather himself.  Crono went toward Lavos again, this time with Qui-Xi to his right, and both came within centimeters of striking Lavos before the being could create his own protective field.  With a howl Lavos pushed forward with his mind and shoved back Crono and Qui-Xi, knocking both to the floor.  Noticing Silas coming at him from the left, Lavos reached out and projected dark energy from the hand, mimicing a lightsaber and using it to "duel" with Silas for a moment.  Lavos reached into his robe with his right hand and removed an object, a controller of some kind.  Pressing down on a button, he cackled, "Let's see where your priorities lie."

     A fierce explosion blew out the few remaining windows of the chapel, as well as the entire front portion of the building.  The blast knocked Aeris down, nearly leaving her unconscious and forcing Schala to move to the aid of her apprentice.  Marlene also noticed the explosion and turned away from the last Gizmotoid, now in two pieces on the floor.  "No!"

     "This entire building is going to collapse!", Lucca shouted as she finally scrambled to her feet.  It was then that she noticed a nearby building, a school to be exact, had also been effected and was beginning to crumble.  "The school!"

     "You can continue to fight us," Lavos rasped as he and Zeal approached the rear end of the chapel, stepping over rubble, "or you can save the innocent children.  Make your choice, heroes!"

     For a moment, Schala and Silas both moved toward Lavos and Zeal, before Qui-Xi called out, "No!  Leave them for now!"

     "Enjoy your return home, daughter," Queen Zeal hissed, "for as long as it will last, anyway."  With that, both Lavos and Zeal disappeared in a field of dark energy.  Schala howled angrily and jumped to where they had been.

     "Get out!  Get out now!", Lucca cried out, pointing toward the entrance.  She helped a bystander wounded by the drones' fire to her feet and went toward the door.

     "It's not going to stand up much longer," Aeris agreed.

     Crono sheathed his sword and lifted Marle, unconscious, into his arms.  The others each picked up as many as they could while the building began to collapse.  Qui-Xi alone remained still.  Focusing his will through the Force, he reached up and strained to hold the roof together.  "Get everyone out and help the children!"

     With nods, the others responded to Qui-Xi's order.  When this was done, the elder Jedi Master raced out of the chapel before the roof came down over their heads.

 

 

     "Damn them!"  Lavos' fist crashed into the strong steel wall of one of the halls within the facility known as "Chronopolis".  "So close, so close!"

     Stepping beside him, Zeal's hand went for his shoulder.  "Almighty Lavos, you must not..."

     "Get out of my sight!", Lavos shouted as they reached the entry chamber at the core of the facility.  A scanning light ran over Lavos and permitted him entry.  Within, the massive orb that made up the core of the FATE supercomputer glistened with golden light, within it being a familiar energy to Lavos.

     Nearby, imprisoned in a cube of energy, was Janus.  He looked up at his captors and frowned.  Lavos frowned back, only the reminder of why the boy was needed keeping him from killing Janus as he desired to do.

     "You have failed, progenitor.  I am disappointed," a feminine computer voice remarked.

     "It was a minor setback," Lavos insisted.  "We have the boy.  You can bind him to the Flame without fear of losing your power over it, and draw out the implant for deletion."

     "And so I shall.  But I tire of giving you my army for you to lose in battle with these 'Jedi'.  They are obviously more powerful than you anticipated."

     "You have the means to make more", Lavos shot back, "so do not complain to me about losses!"

     A black form of energy struck out and ensnared Lavos, causing him to shriek from a momentary pain.  "Do not speak to me in that tone!," FATE snapped.  "I am your Master, remember that Lavos!  You do as I say!"

     A low groan came from Lavos.  "I... I apologize, Master..."

     "We will not have this conversation again.  You will prepare yourself in case these Jedi try and attack here," FATE ordered.

     "Yes...."  Lavos looked over at Janus, who seemed to be staring into face.  His eyes narrowed and suddenly the boy cried out with pain and slumped to his knees.  "Just because I can't kill you yet doesn't mean I'll let you get away with treachery.  You don't think I can sense you trying to reach out to your mother, do you Janus?  I know you are, I can feel it."  Lavos approached the cube and placed a hand on the yellowish surface of the solid energy.  "Your mother and I go back a long time, Janus.  A very long time indeed.  She hasn't told you about me, has she?"  The look on Janus' face confirmed Lavos' statement.  "I knew that, you see.  Now, tell me about these toys you Jedi carry around.  The blades of energy.  I am... curious."

     "I will never."

     Lavos clicked his tongue against his teeth.  "I don't recall giving you a choice in the matter, boy."  A surge of energy erupted from his eyes and enveloped Janus through the cube, causing the young man to howl.  "You have been trained well, but you aren't that strong," Lavos remarked to his victim.  "I can push into your mind, see your deepest thoughts.  This girl... Marlene, you care for her?  Interesting.  Oh, and a little room for Aeris, whomever she is... oh yes, the blond-haired girl.  I remember.  And... ahh.... you have been taught to make these 'lightsabers'.  Oh, very interesting... and the technology needed is so simple... I thank you, young man."  The connection between them stopped, and a weakened Janus collapsed onto the floor, on the verge of unconsciousness.  "You have been such a help."  He turned away from the cube.

     A low moan came from Janus as he moved slowly on the floor.  Almost as an afterthought, Lavos turned back around and pointed his right hand at Janus.  A bolt of dark lightning came from his palm and enveloped Janus.  A short scream was followed by silence as Janus fell unconscious to the ground.  "Now you won't be causing me any trouble.  I'm already quite familiar with the things moral-minded teenagers can do if given the opportunity."

     The dark being walked away from his fallen captive.  Who, quietly, began to stir, and reach out feebly with his mind toward the one thing that could give him solace...

 

 

     There was an ominous mood present in the throne room of Guardia as the quintet of Jedi entered behind the other heroes.  Some festive decorations gave the appearance of a celebrative air, and certainly were intended for a ceremony to declare Crono the heir to the throne; now they were merely reminders that what had begun a joyous day was now filled with uncertainty and dread.

     The children from the school had been saved easily enough.  The realization that their old foe had returned had seemingly failed to sink in for Crono and his friends, or at least had not done so completely.  And who could blame them?  Lavos was supposed to be dead, destroyed in his very lair by them three years ago.  Now they were to report to Marle's father that not only was the evil being back, albeit in mortal form, but he apparently had some new tricks up his sleeve.

     Sitting on his throne, Guardia XXXIII was a tired aged man.  He had already been in his forties when his daughter had been born, and keeping up with her for twenty years in addition to his duties of state, and the repairs to the government needed after the successor Yakra's infiltration, had taken it's toll.  His face had grown heavily wrinkled and his shoulders hunched, testament to the great burden they held.  His expression warmed to his daughter's approach, flanked as she was by his son-in-law and their friend.  "Nadia, you are unhurt?"

     "Yes, Daddy," came the response.  And it made the elder King reflect on just how much he enjoyed hearing it.  For years it had been the formal "Father", filled with some degree of contempt borne out of Marle's will for independence.  "Daddy", while sounding childish, warmed his heart.  He couldn't quite explain why, either.

     "What has happened here?", the King asked.  He already knew certain specifics of the attack, but not everything.  "Who are these people?"

     Crono and Lucca parted and permitted Qui-Xi to approach.  He bowed respectfully to the King.  "King Guardia, I am Master Qui-Xi Lao of the Jedi Order.  We come to you from a nearby planet."

     "Another planet?"

     "Yes, Your Majesty."  Qui-Xi lifted his right hand toward Silas and Marlene.  "These people are from this other world."

     "And her?"

     The King nodded toward Schala, who stepped forward.  "She is Princess Schala of Zeal, Your Majesty," Lucca said.  "We met her in the past."

     Schala shook her head.  "I am now Schala Torson.  My life as the Princess of Zeal was a past one, and one I do not care for anymore."

     From behind Qui-Xi, Silas reached over and took her left hand.  "We came here to get back our son," Silas said to them.  "Lavos kidnapped our son Janus."

     "As well as several other people, in addition to stealing our planet's new hyperdrive ship," Marlene added.

     "This is all very strange," the King remarked, bewildered.  "I... I need time to think this all over."

     "There isn't time, Your Majesty," Qui-Xi said.  "Lavos has something planned, that we sensed in him earlier.  That is why he took Janus and why he tried to attack here.  We must hunt him down."

     "But, we don't even know where to begin," Marle complained.  "He could be anywhere."

     "If we can find the hypership, we could possibly find them," Silas said.  "Do you people have any flying technology?  Airplanes, helicopters, the like?"

     "No, not at all," Lucca replied.  "We have none of that.  And we lost the Epoch crashing into Lavos."

     "Then it seems that Lightrunner is our only alternative, doesn't it?", Qui-Xi remarked.  "But we still need to find where Lavos went.  And as he has been able to hide himself from the Force..."

     Without any warning, Schala gasped and fell to a knee.  Silas came right to her side, with Aeris at the other.  "I feel him," she said.  "He's reaching out to me."

     The image of the throne room dissolved from Schala's sight.  Her field of vision became elongated, as if she were traveling through a tunnel.  Through the space she could feel something weak reaching for her.  It was faint, but she managed to grab and hold it.  The space between her and what she had taken contracted.  She breathed sharply when she felt her son's mind.  He was weak, more than that, in physical pain.  He had been hurt, his mind forced open by something, no, by Lavos.  Maternal rage built within Schala as she felt her son weakly reach toward her.  Mother... they're blocking me....  about to feel...  Without saying anything else, Janus sent a swift image to Schala.

     With great fury a powerful force slammed into the connection, breaking Schala from her son.  Suddenly she was back in the throne room, crouched over, Silas and Aeris at each side.  "Janus.... I.... I think I know where he is..."

     "What did you see, Schala?", Qui-Xi asked her, kneeling beside her.

     "Islands.  An ocean, with several islands, and one sealed away in a ring of coral mountains."  Schala put a hand on her face.  "The Sea of Eden...  That's what it looked like."

     "Amazing," the King gasped.  "What power is this?"

     "The power of the Force," Qui-Xi answered as he stood, allowing Silas to help his wife to her feet.  "We Jedi have tapped this power, and we use it in the interests of maintaining peace and justice."

     "If only Zeal had done that," Lucca remarked sullenly, "then we might not have this problem.  Well, she said the Sea of Eden, so we might as well give it a try.  That's in El Nido."

     "That might not be advisable," King Guardia said.

     "Why?"

     "We have had... problems," Guardia replied to his son-in-law.  "Lord Viper and the Governor of Porre have been arguing over islands between the El Nido Archipelago.  I have tried to remain neutral, but Porre's demands are growing more and more vicious as the days pass, and Viper has grown more disenchanted with the Kingdom.  I fear that I cannot guarantee your safety in El Nido, either from the Acacian Dragoons or from Porre."

     "Since when have we had much to worry about Porre?", Crono asked.  "They gripe occasionally, but they're no threat.  No city would dare move against the Kingdom."

     Guardia shook his head.  "Ten years ago, I would have agreed, but not today.  Things have changed, Crono, and perhaps not for the better."

     "I understand your concern for your political situation, Your Majesty," Qui-Xi said, "but surely defeating Lavos is of greater import.  And my Jedi are quite neutral in your affairs, being newcomers, and I fail to see how we could somehow be construed as acting on your behalf."

     "You have obviously never dealt with Porre," Marle remarked.  "Sometimes I think they see anything as an insult."

     "We can be very subtle," Silas assured them.  "We need only speak with this Lord Viper and see if he knews of anything unusual lately."

     "You'll have to get by the Acacian Dragoons first," Crono said.  "They're not that easy to get by.  The Acacians pride themselves for their fighting skills."

     "We have other ways to get by than fighting," Qui-Xi remarked.  "I promise to be discreet, Your Majesty."

     "I hope you do, Master Lao," King Guardia answered.

     "I'll go with them," Lucca offered.

     "That will be unnecessary," Qui-Xi replied.

     "No."  The King shook his head.  "My soldiers cannot protect you if you stay here," he said to his daughter and her friends.  "These Jedi can offer you greater protection, and Porre cannot fault me for that.  Go with them.  Give them what aid you can without jeopardizing the Kingdom's security."  King Guardia looked to Qui-Xi.  "Will you please grant my request to protect my daughter and my heir, Master Lao?"

     Qui-Xi drew in a sigh.   "Very well, we will bring them with us.  I shall do everything in my power to protect them."

     The Jedi gave a simultaneous bow, and walked out.  Marle turned to her father.  "Daddy, who will protect you?"

     Guardia rested a hand on Marle's shoulder, prompting her to give him a hug.  "All that matters is that you keep yourself and your friends safe, Nadia.  I will be fine.  Go on."

     "First things first," Lucca suddenly said.  "We need to get out of these," she indicated their torn and dirtied dress clothes, "and into something more fitting."

 

 

     Outside of the castle, Qui-Xi and the others waited.  "I do not think this is wise," he finally said.  "It will be hard enough fighting Lavos without having to guarantee their safety."

     "You underestimate them, Master," Schala said.  "I have seen them fight.  They are powerful in their own right."

     "And you saw Crono's weapon.  It's enchanted," Silas added.  "They all probably have such things."

     "And we can always use more help," Marlene said in agreement.

     "Nevertheless, I feel... disconcerted."

     Aeris turned from where she had been facing the door.  "I think we're all uneased because we can't see the future.  But Master, are you sure it just isn't the Dark Side clouding our vision?"

     "Quite sure," Qui-Xi remarked.  "I have dealt with the shroud of the Dark Side before.  This is not it.  It is something more."

     The castle doors opened at that moment and prompted the five to turn.  At the door stood Crono, Marle, and Lucca, and in garb Schala was more familiar with.  She recognized immediately Crono's white headband, orange neckband, and teal jerkin over a dark green shirt.  Light brown trousers ended below his knees, where the dark green socks continued to cover his lower legs to his dark brown boots.  Lucca had her familiar helmet, with yellow neckband, orange vest, dark green suit, and darkish brown shorts that ended just above her knees, with the same socks and boots as Crono's.  Marle wore a one-piece suit which began at her ankles and covered her up to below her arms, leaving her arms, neck, and shoulders bare.  Gold bands were on her wrists, and another gave her the familiar pony-tail in her honey-colored hair.  A gold waist-band acted to keep her suit fit.  Her feet were covered by golden sandles, each with a similar green gem, that exposed her toes from above.  Both Marle and Lucca were wearing the same kind of pendant, and Schala recognized it immediately, but said nothing, preferring to keep that particular mystery to discern later.

     "So," Lucca asked, "ready to go?"

     "Follow us."  Qui-Xi led the eight onto the steps leading to the green grass of the earth before the castle.

 

 

     Fog surrounded the Wutaian helicopter on all sides as it gently lowered into the mountains.  "Satellite images show the entrance to the tower is here," Cloud said to the pilot.

     "I can't see in this fog," the pilot protested.  "I can't make a landing!"

     "Then let me."  Mariya moved into the co-pilot seat.  "I can bring us down."

     "Wait, do you know how to fly?!"  The pilot felt the aircraft lurch as Mariya brought it down into the thicker fog.  "Wait!"  He reached for his own flight stick.

     "If you fight me, we could crash," Mariya warned him.  She closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

     At seeing this, the pilot turned pale.  "How... how can she fly with her eyes closed?!  This is madness!"

     "Trust her," Vincent replied.

     The pilot clenched his teeth and closed his eyes, having accepted what he felt would be his death.  When there was a jostle he grimaced and took in a deep breath.  The motor turned off, and the rotor overhead quit turning.  Slowly he opened one eye, and saw Mariya staring at him, amused.   "We.... we landed?"

     "Of course," she replied.  "You should have trusted me.  It would have saved you all that anxiety, and kept your pants dry."

     Red-faced, the pilot looked down to see just what she was referring to, and realized he had inadvertantly squirted from his fear.  "I... I..."  He now noticed that the fog was gone, and a field of green was present around the helicopter, which had settled on grass-covered earth.

     "Stay here," Cloud instructed the pilot.  "We'll be back."  He stepped out of the helicopter with a pack slung over his back.  Excalibur was secure in it's scabbard, which he had again placed around his back.

     There were no clouds overhead, all was obscured by the thick fog they had come through just moments before.  "This place has been well-hidden," Mariya observed, "and for good reason."

     "The question is, where to begin?"  Vincent pulled a knapsack over his shoulders and under his cloak.  "This valley is quite large."

     "Follow me."  Mariya took steps to the west.  "I can sense power in this direction.  I believe it is what we seek."

     "And I thought Jedi were supposed to be cryptic," Vincent remarked as he followed her.

     "Only when we wish to be."

 

 

     A loud scream echoed in the inner chamber of FATE.  With a dismissive shake of his hand, Lavos removed the dark energies that had enveloped Janus and allowed the teenage boy to fall to the floor, again half unconscious and wracked with pain.  Steam rose from where Janus's sweat had been turned to vapor, and to a neutral observer would serve as a testament to just how much the previous twenty seconds had hurt.  Weakly Janus lifted his head, a pained but defiant expression on his face.  "Stupid boy!", Lavos raged.  "Did you think you would get away with that little trick?!"

     Janus weakly pullsed himself up to all fours.  "It... was worth... aaagh!"

     Another burst of dark energy emerged from Lavos' fingertips and enveloped Janus.  His howl lasted a full three seconds and he collapsed back to the floor again.

     "Lavos, that is enough," FATE ordered.  "His life signs are wavering, any more and you might do irrepairable damage.  He has received enough punishment for now."

     At the computer's order, Lavos pulled his hand back and allowed Janus reprieve.  With large gasps Janus sucked air back into his lungs, deprived of the oxygen they desired from the pain that had earlier wracked him.  "He got through to his mother," Lavos said sullenly.  "The Jedi will be here any time."

     "I severed their link before she could determine our exact location," FATE responded.  "And I have my best units watching the entrance.  They shall not interrupt us."

     A low moan came from within the cube of energy.  Lavos looked over and took a step in that direction, watching Janus begin to stir again.  "You seem to be learning boy," he remarked, sensing that Janus was not trying to reach out to his mother again.  "You be a good little Zeal Prince, and do as you're told, and maybe I'll spare you."

     A trickle of blood had started to come down Janus's mouth, from where he had bit down on his tongue from the earlier pain.  He reached a trembling left hand up and wiped the red trickle from his chin.  "You will get... your's," he rasped.  "Mother will get you."

     "Oh, I have something in store for your mother.  A surprise, for this entire world."  Lavos pulled his royal purple cape around him and walked away.  "Try to remember the rules this time."

     He departed and left Janus to his misery.

 

 

     A light rain was drizzling down upon the tropical isles of El Nido when the Lightrunner came over the northern coral mountains and descended toward the central isle.  Inside the ship, everyone was gathered in the ship's center, near the off-ramp.  "People on El Nido haven't stayed up with the times as well as people on the mainland," Lucca explained to the others.  "They stay to themselves usually.  They're ruled by the head of the Viper family, and protected by their own army, the Acacian Dragoons."

     "I thought Guardia had united your world?"

     "Guardia has kept humanity under one flag for over a thousand years, but the other nations still maintain some degree of independence.  El Nido more than others."

     "I take it that Guardia has difficulty projecting it's power in this region?", Qui-Xi asked.

     "Yes, we do," Crono answered.

     "Then, this would be the perfect place for Lavos to hide and plan."  Qui-Xi stepped out of the room and up to the cockpit, in time to see a large manor looming below.  "Land us in the trees near the manor, Cid.  We will be going on foot."

     Upon Qui-Xi's return to the room, Marle said, "You don't think you can just walk up to his front door and ask to get in, do you?"

     "That is precisely what we will be doing," Qui-Xi answered.  "I don't want any harm to come to Lord Viper's men."

     The ship shook lightly and a thump could be heard through the floor.  The ramp to the side opened and the sound of limbs being pushed down could be heard.  Aeris stepped out first, followed by Schala and Marle.  "Ewww... it's soaking wet," Marle complained while Crono followed Qui-Xi down the ramp.

     "A little water never hurt anyone," Marlene said from behind Silas.  Lucca took up the rear.

     Qui-Xi led them through the jungle and to an open path.  Turning to his left, Qui-Xi indicated to the others the gates to Viper Manor, a mere six hundred yards away.  On the open path, the ground was soggy beneath them.  The Jedi, Crono, and Lucca had the fortune of wearing boots, while Marle now had to contend with the uncomfortable feeling of mud getting on her toes from where her feet sunk too far into the ground.  She visibly blanched as each step added to the effect.  "Couldn't they have paved this path?"  Her only answer was an amused grunt from Marlene.

     The Acacian Dragoons watching the gate were in bright gold-colored armor.  Swords hung from their waist in scabbards with each standing at firm attention, ever vigilant of intruders.  Their legs were covered in a dress-like chain mail that flowed down to their ankles.  At seeing the eight figures approaching them through the rain, the Acacians pulled out their swords and one barked, "Who are you?  What business have you here."

     Qui-Xi lifted a hand and moved it across their field of vision.  Subtlely, he reached into their minds.  While apparently possessing of decent will power, the gate guards' will power had been sapped by a long shift in the rain on what was a miserable summer day.  This did not prove a problem usually, but then again, usually they didn't have a Jedi Master trying to influence them.  "We are here to speak with Lord Viper."

     Obediently, the soldiers sheathed their swords.  "You are here to speak with Lord Viper."

     "It is important that we get in immediately."

     The soldiers turned and opened the gate, giving Qui-Xi and the others entry.  Walking up the main path to the door of the manor took little time.  The soldiers at the door pulled their weapons.  "Who gave you entry?!"

     And like their compatriots, the weather had sapped their willpower, and within ten seconds they had opened the door and allowed entry.  The central room to the Manor was smaller than had been expected, with grate-doors to either side opening the way to the wings of the Manor.  Guards were on duty at the central door, which led upstairs.  A balding man in white armor stood flanked by two armored Dragoons, with silver armor opposed to the gold of the earlier ones.  He drew his sword at Qui-Xi's approach, prompting the others to do the same.  "Who goes there?!"

     Qui-Xi lifted his hand.  "It is urgent we speak to Lord Viper."

     The soldiers seemed to acquiese for a moment, but the bald man snapped them out of it by snarling, "I do not know what sorcery you are using to control the minds of my men, but it shall have no effect on me!"  He brought the sword up toward Qui-Xi threateningly.  "Go and get the others," he instructed the guards.  They ran off into each wing.

     "We did not come here to fight you," Qui-Xi said, trying to re-assure the strong-willed man before him.  He noted how this new adversary did not seem to flinch while holding the heavy broadsword steady.  "But we need to speak to Lord Viper.  We need information on these lands."

     "You will have to get through me and the other Devas first."

     As if on cue, two more men emerged from the east wing.  One, a tanned man with a recently-lost eye, stood in similar silver armor to the man before Qui-Xi, holding a large battle-axe.  The other was a larger man with a heavy suit of armor and a large blade in his hands.  "Radius?!", the larger man shouted.

     "Zappa, Garai, I do not know who these people are, but they're trying to break in to get at Lord Viper."  Radius pulled the sword closer to Qui-Xi and added, "And they are using some mind control trick, it's how they got past the others."

     The other two men brought their weapons to the ready, and were joined from the west wing by a phalanx of armed Dragoons.  Marlene pulled back with Lucca and Silas to face the two men on the eastern side while Crono and Marle flanked Schala to face the west, Aeris placing her back to Qui-Xi.  "I do not wish to use force," the Jedi Master said, even as he prepared to knock his opponent out of the way.

     "We have you surrounded, surrender yourselves and you will not be harmed," came the reply from Radius.

     Qui-Xi drew in a deep sigh, and within an eyeblink his lightsaber flashed to life.  The green blade sliced cleanly through Radius's sword.  Before the surprised Dragoon could respond, Qui-Xi threw him to the side with the Force and opened the door.  "Go!  Now!"

     The Dragoons charged the eight, and were immediately thrown back by the four other Jedi with telekinesis.  Qui-Xi stormed up the stairs, followed by Crono, Lucca, and Marle, and the others in the rear.  At the top of the stairs he threw open another door and ran onto a polished checkered floor.  Guards flanking the chair platform pulled their swords and rushed forward.  Qui-Xi made a sweeping cut that severed both swords at the mid-point, and threw the Dragoons back to the wall, rendering them unconscious but not dead.

     The others followed him and took up positions on the floor.  Not very far behind them, Garai led the Dragoons from the lower levels up onto the floor and sought battle with Silas.  Before he could reach his intended opponent, Marlene stepped in the way and placed her lightsaber in the path of Garai's weapon.  The cyan blade met the steel of the Einlanzer and a loud buzz sounded, but Einlanzer did not break as Marlene thought it would.  "His sword!  What's it made out of?!", Marlene yelled in surprise.

     "It's probably enchanted," she heard Crono yell back before he found battle with a couple of Dragoons.  Garai brought his blade back and now changed his attention to Marlene.  She responded quickly and blocked his first and second attacks, then made a thrust of her own that was blocked by Garai.

     "Do not harm them!", Qui-Xi shouted.

     By this time Lucca and Marle had pulled out their respective gun and crossbow, and were at a loss as to how to follow Qui-Xi's instruction.  Crono had taken to trading blows with the larger Zappa while the assorted Jedi kept knocking the Dragoons back.  Marlene was almost single-mindedly drawn to continuing her duel with Garai, who seemed to be holding his own despite Marlene's superior speed and precognition.

     Movement came out of the corner of Marlene's eye, and she noticed a small figure darting between pillars.  A little head peaked from around a pillar and Marlene maneuvered so that she could get a brief glimpse while fighting Garai.  A dark-haired girl, no older than four, was staring intently at the battle.

     A soldier came up wielding a crossbow, and opened fire on them.  Aeris was the intended target, and she turned from the two Dragoons she had just knocked over and wildly blocked the crossbolt fired at her.  Marlene sensed the direction that the bolt was going to take before Aeris deflected it and moved to get between it and the little girl.  As her back turned a swipe from Garai tore fabric and flesh along her upper back, drawing no sound from Marlene as she raced toward the girl.  She arrived a brief moment before the bolt did, and made only a gutteral sound as the bolt dug into her upper right chest, just below the shoulder blade.  The girl stared at Marlene wide-eyed as Marlene fell to her knees, the bolt sticking out prominently.  Blood poured from both the wound along her back and the flesh that the bolt had torn.

     Garai came toward Marlene.  She belatedly raised her lightsaber in defense, having shifted it to her left hand now that her right arm dangled from her side, almost useless from the pain shooting through her shoulder from the crossbolt.  They looked at each other, and Garai lowered his sword a little, enough to show he did not intend on attacking her.  Marlene de-activated the lightsaber and dropped it to the floor, putting her hand on the bolt lodged in her.  With a sharp cry she pulled it out of her flesh, causing the bleeding to grow worse as it tore more flesh on it's way out.

     "Stop!"

     A loud bass voice boomed over the battlefield, and the Dragoons that had been strewn about looked up toward the upper floor, as did Qui-Xi and the others.  Standing tall and proud, the balding Lord Viper appraised the battle raging on his floor.  He stepped in front of his chair and flipped a switch on the arm.  The platform on which the chair was placed lowered to the floor.  Viper stepped off of the platform.  He looked around for a moment and then focused on Marlene, who was removing her bloodstained upper robes.  "Get a corpsman up here immediately to tend to the young woman's wound."

     "Yes Lord Viper!"  One of the Dragoons bowed respectfully and ran to the back.

     Viper stepped toward Qui-Xi.  As he did so, the little girl ran up to him and gripped his right leg.  "I have seen you and your people fight.  My troops fight to kill when the security of the manor is at stake, yet you went painfully out of your way to spare them."

     "It is not our way to kill, Lord Viper," Qui-Xi answered.  "We came to speak with you on a matter of utmost urgency, and I did not wish for it to come to this.  I apologize for the misunderstanding.  My name is Qui-Xi Lao, and I am a Master of the Jedi Order."

     "I trust you have at least given my men needed practice.  Might I ask where your weapons come from?"  Viper looked down at Qui-Xi's extinguished lightsaber, now returned to his belt.  "I have never seen anything like that."

     "They are lightsabers, and to explain where we got them is a long story in of itself, Lord Viper, and one we do not have time for."

     "On what matter do you wish to speak, Master Lao?"

     "Lavos has returned, Lord Viper."

     Some surprise flickered in Viper's eyes, but not the kind that Qui-Xi had expected.  "Lavos?  So he truly exists?"

     "Why would you doubt he does?", Marle asked.

     For the first time, Viper noticed the presence of the others.  "Surely your mission must be important if King Guardia sent his daughter Nadia and his heir-apparent," Viper said.  "But, I thought you were getting married today, Princess Nadia?"

     "Lavos interrupted," Lucca answered.  "We don't know how, but he's still alive.  And he's here."

     "I see.  Master Qui-Xi, I would speak with you in my office.  But first..."  Viper walked over to Marlene.  She was now down to a sleeveless undershirt that bared her shoulders, and made the gory sight of the bolt wound all the easier to see.  Blood had also accumulated on her back from Garai's one successful strike.  Viper knelt down beside her.  "Your name is?"

     "My name is Marlene," she answered.

     "Marlene, you saved my daughter Riddel from harm."  Viper settled a hand on the little girl's shoulder, engulfing it and a portion of her arm and neck.  "I cannot thank you enough for what you did.  I owe you a great debt."

     "Help us, and I will consider your debt paid," Marlene replied.

     "I will do what I can," Viper responded, enough of a statesman to not commit himself brazenly.  He looked up to Garai.  "Grandmaster Garai, I trust you with the care of our guests.  As you are aware, we have Guardian royalty here," he looked over to Marle and Crono, "and they must be treated accordingly."

     "Yes, my Lord."

     Viper turned back to Qui-Xi.  "Come, Master Qui-Xi.  This way."

 

 

    Lord Viper generally considered himself open-minded.  But the story Qui-Xi had laid out tried the limits of what he could accept.  Nevertheless, he had the proof before him, as the plainly-dressed Qui-Xi and his Jedi had outfought his Dragoons in their own headquarters, and the only thing that had kept them from slaughtering the Acacian Dragoons was their own desire to not cause bloodshed.  The only blood shed had been their own.  Touching his daughter's little head and feeling her hair reminded Viper of what he would have lost if not for Marlene Wallace.  "I had always believed that the entire story of Lavos was a lie," Viper admitted.  "A fabrication by King Guardia to justify letting Crono court and marry his daughter.  Such an outrageous story would, after all, be accepted because it was simply so outrageous that nobody would believe the government would actually concoct such a story."

     "I assure you, he is quite real," Qui-Xi commented.  "He has spent millennia trapped in a human body, and it has done great damage to his mind.  He is violently psychotic now, that much I sensed in him."

     "And he has taken this boy, Janus, for what reason?"

     "We are unsure.  Schala is certain, however, that Lavos is hiding in your archipelago."

     Viper nodded.  "El Nido has many islands.  It would take a while to search them all."

     "Time is of the essence, so we need to narrow down our list of places to search.  Can you think of anywhere that Lavos could go and be assured that he would not be detected?

     Thoughtfully, Viper walked over to his bookshelf and retrieved a rolled up map.  He pulled it open on his desk and revealed a map of El Nido.  He pointed to the eastern portion, and an inner ocean surrounded on all sides by coral mountains.  "This is the Sea of Eden," Viper said.  "Nobody has ever ventured there and returned, so we are not sure what lies within."

     Qui-Xi placed his hand on the map.  For a moment he concentrated, reaching out to see if he could discern what lied within.  But just as soon as he felt something, a powerful force slammed him back.  He stepped backward from the desk, momentarily disorientated.  Viper looked at him quizzingly while Qui-Xi regained his bearings.  "There is something there, and it does not want to be found.  I believe we have found what we are looking for."

 

 

     Marlene uttered a hiss when the corpsman touched a cloth laced with medicine to her back wound.  It stung terribly and she almost reached to push the man away.  Her robes were laying in a corner, stained with blood, and she was holding a sheet over her chest while the corpsman did his work, the shoulder wound already cleaned and covered.  The parlor on the first floor of the manor's west wing was where she had been taken.  Silas and Garai stood nearby and observed as Marlene's wounds were tended to.  "She is quite the swordswoman," Garai said to Silas.  "She has been trained well."

     "Sometimes not enough, I fear," Silas remarked.  "Marlene is my apprentice.  And while she has learned the Jedi arts well, I'm afraid I have not taught her proper patience.  There were other ways to deflect that bolt than to jump in it's path."

     Garai laughed loudly.  "You are too critical, I think.  She is young, she will be impatient, and it must be accounted for in her training.  I know, I have trained many her age.  Patience will come to her with age."

     "Unfortunately, her impatience has caused us trouble before."

     The door opened and Qui-Xi entered.  "We will be leaving shortly."  He looked at Marlene.  "Is she ready?"

     The corpsman put the washing cloth down and placed a second, clean cloth over the wound.  "I have tended to her wounds as best I can, it is up to her on whether she can come."

     "I am ready, Master Qui-Xi," Marlene answered.  She reached for the sleeveless leather jerkin that she had been given by one of the others.  A golden Viper family insignia was prominent on the left breast, the only marking on the brown garment that she pulled over the last piece of upper clothing she had been wearing, a simple harness.  "You have found Janus?"

     "I am quite certain it is where he would be, yes," Qui-Xi said.  "Come along."

 

 

     It was a dead end.

     Facing up against a slab of solid rock, Cloud lightly rapped his fist on it.  "Damn.  Are you sure this is the way?"

     "I can feel it, behind this rock," Mariya replied, walking up and placing her hand flatly on the palm.  "It is here."

     "Could there be a switch?  Or some form of trick?"  Vincent pulled his cape over his shoulders.  "Or are your senses just mis-leading you?"

     "No, I am right.  It is behind here," Mariya said, not giving Vincent a response for questioning her judgement.  "I think this was placed her to further protect the way."

     "So, what do we do now?  Go back to Wutai and ask Kisaragi for a howitzer?"

     Mariya chuckled.  "No, I do not think that will be necessary."  She pulled out her lightsaber and brought it to life.  She thrust it into the rock face, causing the rock to turn red and begin melting.  "This could take a while," she said to them.  "You may wish to rest."

     "We should have brought one of those Fire Materia we used to keep around," Cloud mumbled.  "This would go quicker."

     "Actually, it would probably get us roasted," Mariya replied.  "I sense that the rock is enchanted.  Any attempt to use magic on it would be sent back against the caster."  She slowly moved the lightsaber through the rock, stopping after about a quarter of an inch to let it melt more rock.  "This is probably the only way."

 

 

     Lightrunner soared over the mountains and down toward the Sea of Eden.  Thick cloud cover obscured the window for a few moments before the ship broke through and the view was clear.  Four islands became visible, and it was the central one that drew everyone's attention.  "What is that?", a bewildered Lucca asked from behind Qui-Xi as Cid brought the Lightrunner closer to the central island.

     On the central island, a massive facility was visible.  They drew closer and could see lights from within.  "Think this is the place?", Cid asked.

     "This is it."  Qui-Xi stood from the chair he had occupied in the cockpit.  "Land the ship at the entrance Cid, and stay here.  We will handle this."

     The ship lowered to the surface and settled on it's landing struts.  The exit ramp opened and Qui-Xi stepped out, followed by the others.  The rain had let up for the most part and it was a dry walk up to the open entrance.  They stepped through and looked out at what seemed to be a lobby.  A statue stood before them.  Lucca stepped up to it and read the inscription.  "This place is called Chronopolis," she said to the others.  "And it's from fourteen hundred years in the future.  How can that be?"

     "Oh, it is very simple."

     In the entryway ahead of them, a figure appeared.  It moved toward them and was revealed to be Lavos.  "I'm quite surprised you found this place," he rasped.  "I suppose I have young Janus to thank for that.  Although I think the suffering I've put him through has already sufficed."

     "We've come for our son," Silas said angrily.  He pulled out his lightsaber and activated the green blade.  The others followed his lead.

     "Oh, but I have so much more to do with him," Lavos replied.  He snapped his fingers, and from above a large drone descended.  "Say hello to the Polis Guard.  He'll be sure to keep you busy."

     A cannon slid into position on the massive robot and a flurry of missiles erupted from it.  Everyone leapt out of the way as the missiles made impact, partially damaging the statue.  From either side, aerodrones and the bulky Combots moved into position and opened fire.  Everyone took cover behind railings while Silas and Schala, in an exposed position trying to run the bridge, worked feverishly to turn the drones' blasts against them.  "We must get through!", Crono shouted at Qui-Xi.

     "They will destroy us if we all go," Qui-Xi countered.  He turned to the section where Marlene and Aeris had hidden with Marle.  "Marlene!  Aeris!  We will give you cover!  You two go on!  Find Janus!"

     "But they're no match for Lavos," Crono protested.  "They'll need our help!"

     Qui-Xi bit into his lip in thought.  "You and Marle, go with them."

     After they nodded, Qui-Xi leapt out from behind the railing and brought his lightsaber up.  With deft precision he deflected every attempted blast sent his way.  Between Lucca's gun and the three elder Jedi working to deflect the attacks sent by the drones, Marlene and Aeris took off with Crono and Marle close behind.  Marlene and Aeris each sliced through an aerodrone before landing on the lower section of the lobby and jumping back up to the main level toward the door.  Crono cut his way through a Combot and led Marle right beside the large Polis Guard drone.  It turned to track them and was about to acquire them into it's targeting system when Silas deflected a blast from one of the aerodrones into it's side.  The large drone turned back and fired a missile in retaliation, which Silas jumped to the side to dodge.  The explosion tore into the floor and created a small crater, baking Silas and Qui-Xi in momentary heat.  "Master Qui-Xi, do you think it was wise to send them on?  I have a bad feeling about all this."

     "They must get to Janus, that is what matters.  We need only survive here."

 

 

     "I am nearly ready," FATE said to Lavos as he re-entered.  "I will soon lower my barrier so that the Flame will bond with the boy."

     "Excellent.  The drones should be capable of dealing with the Jedi and Crono."  Lavos walked to the center of the chamber and looked over at Janus.  Miserable and in pain, Janus was sitting with his legs curled up, staring intently at Lavos.  "You should be honored, boy.  By being bound to the Frozen Flame, you will be given a great potential."

     "One that you will exploit for evil," Janus retorted.

     "Well, we shall have to see what FATE desires of you," Lavos responded.

     "Lavos, might I ask where the Queen of Zeal has gone off to?", FATE suddenly asked.  "She never leaves your side."

     "Oh, Zeal?  She is overseeing the increased drone production.  We knew that the others would come to rescue the boy, and she was needed to man the production center."

     There was a short silence, after which FATE said, "Very well, I accept your answer.  Now, I will lower the field..."

     There was commotion outside of the door, the sound of Combots firing and a familiar feminine battle cry, followed by the rapid slashing sound of a lightsaber slicing through armor.  "It seems that we will have company," Lavos remarked as the drones in the chamber moved closer to the door.  He leapt up to a secondary level and above the door just before it flew down.  Immediately a phalanx of Combots opened fire, and their energy pulses were sent right back at them, Marlene and Aeris entering the chamber at full speed and twirling their cyan and pink blades as they blocked the attacks and slashed their way toward the combats.  From above, Crono leapt over them and brought his blade down through one of the Combots.  Removing the blade, he left a long gash that sparked as the drone fell to the ground.  "I'll get Janus!", Aeris shouted.  "Use this!"  She threw her lightsaber to Marlene, who grabbed it in mid-air and held both blades out, a tornado of pink and cyan light around her as she cut through two Combots at once with a spin on her left foot.

     Aeris sprinted over to the yellow field that surrounded Janus and jumped over it.  Janus looked up at her and began to stand while Aeris landed.  "Come on!  Let's go!"

     "I cannot allow you to leave, not now that the process has begun," the spectral voice of FATE echoed.  A bolt of energy reached out from the central sphere and enveloped Aeris.  She screamed and fell unconscious to the floor.  As this happened, Janus grasped his head and groaned.  Something was taking him, entering into him, binding itself to his mind and soul and refusing to stop.

     Marle saw this happen and brought up her bow to fire at the sphere.  The enchanted bolts from the Valkyrie struck against the core of FATE and bounced right off.  Cursing silently, she turned to fire at the drone Crono was about to attack.

     Something set her senses off and made Marle run toward Crono.  She soon realize what it was when she looked up and saw Lavos, situated on the second level of the chamber, activate a dark violet lightsaber.  Dark energies crackled around it's energy blade as Lavos silently leapt down and brought the blade up.  "Crono!!!  Look out!"

     His back turned, Crono had no inkling of what was coming toward him, and Marlene was similarly occupied with the Combots.  Marle instinctively ran into Crono and pushed him out of the way.  As he fell stunned, Lavos landed and his lightsaber plunged into Marle's belly.  She screamed as the dark energy flowed through and around her body.  Lavos sneered and pulled the blade out of her, allowing Marle to fall to the floor.  Crono stared wide-eyed and a feral growl erupted from him as he lunged forward.  Lavos side-stepped him and nicked him in the rear left leg, causing him to collapse to the floor.  He walked up behind Crono and put the blade over him.  "And so it is, my old foe, that I, not you, am in the end triumphant.  You should have listened to yourself and never bothered coming after me, then you could have enjoyed a full life..."  He brought the lightsaber down in a killing blow.

     A flash of cyan came down and met the dark violet blade as it neared Crono's chest.  Lavos barely had time to register the familiar sound of two lightsabers clashing before Marlene Force-pushed him against the wall, allowing Crono to rush to Marle's side.  Twirling a lightsaber in each hand, Marlene lunged toward Lavos.  He barely brought up his blade in time to deflect a blow from the pink blade in her left hand, after which he quickly pulled the blade in the other direction to deflect her own cyan weapon in her right hand.  Marlene twirled around and brought the pink one back over his shoulder, scorching the flesh there and making Lavos growl angrily.  He ducked and barely avoided the cyan blade in what would have been a decapitation blow.  Marlene aimed low and a swiped at his feet was evaded with his own blade.  Lavos swiped back and the pink blade caught his own dark one.  Marlene swiftly brought the other saber up toward his chest and caught a bit of his side before his lightsaber pulled back to confront it.  Being able to hold his weapon with two hands proved a small advantage as he swiftly moved it between blows with each of the lightsabers in Marlene's hands.  He backed away from the Jedi apprentice and fended another high swipe with her pink saber.  Her right arm whipped around low and forced Lavos to make a short leap to avoid the strike at his knees.

     As he came down he brought his saber toward Marlene's head.  She raised her left arm, crooked at the elbow, and knocked away the blow with the pink saber.  With her right hand she brought the cyan blade up, slicing Lavos across the chest.  Although not fatal, it hurt and stunned him.  Marlene pushed against him and with the Force shoved him against the far wall.  Lavos recovered and brought his blade up as Marlene made a hurricane spin, catching first the cyan saber and then the pink one with his dark saber.  He moved to the side and tried to sneak a blow in at Marlene's knees.  She suddenly vaulted into the air and somersaulted over top of him.  Her blades came toward toward his shoulders, and he would have lost both arms if not for his decision to roll forward.  He turned with his role and brought himself back up to his feet as Marlene came forward again with both sabers.  She crossed both arms and made a broad outward-sweeping cut which Lavos had to duck to avoid.  Before he could try and plunge his saber into Marlene's exposed belly, her right leg kicked out and her foot crashed into his jaw.  Lavos tumbled backward and brought up his saber just in time to stop a downward swipe from Marlene's pink saber.  She followed with a broad right-to-left slash from her right-hand saber, and a flash of cyan passed with centimeters of Lavos's eyes as he backed up.  He twirled away and swung low, prompted Marlene to make a short hop to avoid losing her feet.  When she landed she brought her sabers down.  Lavos slipped a little to the side and righted his saber horizontally, blocking both of Marlene's saber.  She pulled back as he did and came in again.  He deflected the right hand saber this time, but before he could bring it over her pink saber sliced through a portion of his right arm.  He screeched and nearly dropped the saber.  He reached out with his uninjured arm and pushed Marlene back toward the wall with a powerful telekinetic shove.  She landed on her back and used her momentum to swing her legs up and twirl into a standing position again.  Lavos's arm regenerated, and he came toward her swiftly with his saber raised.  Marlene had no time to do anything but cross her sabers and use them to block his strong downward swipe.  The sabers clashed and the two pushed against each other, their faces illuminated by the dark violet, cyan, and pink colors of their lightsabers.  "Good," Lavos rasped.  "You are far better than what I gave you credit for.  Janus underplayed your strengths."

     Marlene did nothing but push back harder.  She brought her knee up just as Lavos did, and they crashed together, causing both to flinch at the damage to their kneecaps.  Lavos reacted before Marlene could and pushed her back.  Marlene barely maintained her footing and kept her sabers at the ready, but instead of attacking, Lavos looked to FATE.  "Is it done?!"

     "The boy has merged with the Frozen Flame.  I am now hunting down the rogue program."

     Lavos nodded, and suddenly ran over to Janus.  He reached a hand out and touched the cube.  "What are you doing, Lavos?!  Don't do that!  No!"  FATE could do nothing but screech as Lavos and the cube disappeared, with Janus and Aeris inside.  His last words echoed in the room.  "I call no one Master, FATE!  Enjoy my final gift to you!"

     Marlene brought her lightsaber down on the position Lavos had been a moment earlier, barely missing what would have been a killing blow.  "No!", she screamed.  "Dammit!"

     But her shout of frustration did not compare with the scream that came from FATE.  "NOOOOO!  THE FLAME!!!  STOP... STOP...."

     Energy crackled from FATE and Marlene could see the inner yellow portion of the sphere grow dull.  Sparks began flying around the room.  "Uh oh," she mouthed.  She turned to Crono, who was trying to convince a badly-wounded Marle to drink from a bottle of medicine.  "We don't have time for this!  The whole place is going to blow!"

     "I've got to give her this potion," Crono snapped back.  "Her life depends on it!"

     "The potion's not going to do a bit of good if we all get blown up while you're giving it!"  Marlene snatched the bottle out of Crono's hand.  "Give it to her later!  We have to go!"

     An explosion from behind them proved just as convincing.  Crono lifted Marle and took over over his shoulder, and ran out beside Marlene.

 

 

     "I'm going after them!"

     Schala did not bother to wait for Silas or Qui-Xi to protest.  She leapt up over the Polis Guard and skipped off of it, racing toward the door.

     Before she could get to it, an explosion ripped overhead and threw debris downward.  Qui-Xi realized the danger he had been ignoring and shouted, "The entire place is wired to explode!  Fall back!"

     "What about Crono and the others?!"

     "They'll be right behind us!"  Qui-Xi deflected a particle burst from the Polis Guard into the last aerodrone.  "I sense them coming!"

     "But, I do not sense Janus..."

     "Neither do I sense Aeris.  And Lavos is gone too."  That was all they had to know; now both Janus and Aeris were in the hands of the enemy.

     From the door, Marlene sprinted out with Crono behind her, carrying Marle in his arms.  Marlene switched on the twin lightsabers and jumped in the air.  She cried out as she thrust the sabers through the Polis Guard's exposed back.  The massive drone sparked and twitched, stumbling to the side where Lucca put a shot in it's center of mass and knocked it over to the lower platform.  It promptly exploded.

     "Master, I sense that Kaspen's ship is nearby!", Marlene shouted.  "Should I go and free him?"

     "Yes!"  Qui-Xi noticed for the first time the wounded Marle.  He placed a hand on her forehead and felt sweat, and could see in her pale face the damage done.  "Get her to the ship, swiftly!  Everyone, out!"

     While the others ran out the entrance, Marlene went west to the dock.  As she had expected, the Bane was tethered on the dock, it's lower curved hull giving it the appearance of a boat.  She raced up onto the entry ramp, opening the door with the Force and jumping inside.  Kaspan was at the controls, bound and gagged.  With a flash of her lightsaber Marlene freed him, and he pulled the gag off immediately.  "About God damned time you Jedi showed up!"

     "Spare me your complaints," Marlene grumbled.  "Get us airborne, I'll go help the rest of the crew."

     Kaspen did not reply.  He simply turned and flipped on the engines. 

 

 

     Once everyone had boarded the the Lightrunner Cid flipped on the engines and the craft took off.  As it raced upward, Cid pointed to the scanners and the new contact.  "The Bane is behind us."

     "Then Marlene completed her mission," Qui-Xi stated, having found a seat.  Behind him, Lucca and Schala stepped into the cockpit and watched as they zoomed into space.  "We must find where Lavos has gone.  Schala?"

     "There!"  She pointed toward the window.  "Look!"

     A ripple of energy crackled through space.  Slowly a massive object wavered into view, black with a multitude of apertures and shining lights on it's surface, giving it a terrible appearance.  "The Black Omen," Lucca whispered.  "They brought it back."

     "The Ocean Palace?", Schala asked Lucca.

     "Yes."

     "And I can feel it," Qui-Xi muttered darkly.  "I can feel it's ebb and flow.  It has a strong presence in the Force, a nexus of the Dark Side."  He turned to Cid.  "Bring us near the top.  I sense atmosphere there."  He jumped out of his chair and went toward the back.  Crono had laid Marle out on one of the couches, and was again giving her something to try and keep her alive.  Silas looked at his master as Qui-Xi went toward the door.  "Master?"

     "We have one more shot to rescue Janus and Aeris before Lavos fulfills his plans," Qui-Xi said.  "Silas, come with me."

     Silas followed obediently.  Schala came up behind them.  "I'm coming!"

     "No," Qui-Xi said.  "You must remain here and help tend to Marle."

     "But..."

     "Schala, if something happens, someone must still be here," Qui-Xi quickly snapped.  "And you still have a daughter to think of!  Silas and I can handle this."

     "We're in the atmosphere," Cid's voice crackled through the ship intercom.

     Qui-Xi immediately punched a control to open the ramp.  As he stepped out on it, Silas took Schala with one arm and said, "I'll be back with our son.  I promise."  He gave her a swift kiss and followed Qui-Xi out onto the top of the Black Omen."  They turned on their lightsabers and carved open a hole in the top, slipping down into the top structure.  A webwork of support beams was visible around them, which they sliced through to work their way down.

 

 

     Night had begun to fall over the valley and the melting rock now provided a light for Cloud and Vincent as they watched Mariya finish the opening.  The rock face had been about fifty centimeters thick, and the molten material had gathered around the base of the opening, making a wide step necessary when they would enter.  Sweat glistened on Mariya's face, even if she did not let her exertion show.  "Almost there."

     "Isn't that thing going to run out of power soon?", Vincent asked.

     "Likely not," Mariya answered him.  She finished carving through a section of the rock and stepped back, taking in a lungful of cool air in the process.  "There.  I believe it is wide enough to pass through now.  Give the rock ten minutes to cool down and we can go in."

     "What do you think we will find down there?"

     "For one thing, the Crystals."  Mariya looked back at Cloud and a sly grin showed on her face.  "Plus monsters.  Probably many of them.  And they will all want to kill us, devour us, and tear us into small pieces so they can fight over our bloody remains."

     "I think I am growing to like you, Jedi," Vincent remarked, drawing a frown from Cloud.  "And when we find these Crystals?"

     "Then we bring them back to Nibelheim, and await Master Qui-Xi's return."  Mariya suddenly frowned.  "I hope he is doing okay.  I feel some strange darkness in the Force."

     Shaking his head, Cloud muttered, "Why do I get such a bad feeling when I hear that?"

 

 

     On the upper level of the Black Omen, the roof glowed white hot, and then gave way, revealing a square hole of about a meter and a half on each side.  Qui-Xi dropped down, followed by Silas.  The corridor was darkly-lit, revealing only a portion of the level.  Ahead of them, the Mammon Machine had been placed at the end of a path.  Janus was shackled to it, his arms spread in a spread-eagle fashion.  False bodies of Crono and his friends were arrayed to either side of the pathway, floating in transluscent energy, devoid of life and with the appearance of having been broken and battered in combat.  Qui-Xi turned to Silas and indicated he would come in from the side.  As he disappeared behind a pillar, moving on to one of the fields of energy, Silas walked straight on cautiously, looking from side to side.  As he got near Janus, a sharp laugh broke out.  From behind him, Lavos and Zeal emerged to either side.  "So, you come for your son.  I believed you would."  Lavos placed his hands together.  "I must thank you, Silas, for fathering such a strong child with Schala.  He will fulfill my plan well."

     "You were, in fact, who we were waiting for," Zeal said.  "We wanted Schala, wherever she ended up, to find a strong man to mate with and bear children for.  Because only a new Prince of Zeal could fulfill the Almighty Lavos' desires."

     "There's nothing you can do to stop us," Lavos said.

     "Dad...", Janus said weakly, causing Silas to turn and see just how bad his son looked.  He seemed weak, and Silas felt rage grow in his heart when he realized that his son had been hurt by the monsters behind him.  He brought his lightsaber up and pointed it toward Lavos.  "What have you done to him?"

     "Your son doesn't know how to obey very well.  We've had to... discipline him."  Lavos pulled his own saber out and flipped it on.  "And, on top of that, I should point out that the Mammon Machine is using your son as a battery.  Your son, now bonded to the Frozen Flame, will power it to do my will.  Which, I might add, will begin with this world's destruction."

     "No."  Silas pulled his lightsaber back in readiness.  "You've already used my wife for your plots.  You won't use my son."  To his side, he noticed Qui-Xi moving into position, realizing that he would make his move soon.

     "The only way to stop us, Silas Torson, is to kill Janus," Lavos replied wickedly.  When he sensed Silas's repulsion, he continued, "You heard me.  Kill him.  Take the life of your own son.  Go on, he's suffering.  In fact..."  Lavos reached forward and sent a wave of dark energy through Janus, who cried out from it.  "Don't you feel your son's agony?  That's all he has to look forward to.  Pain and death.  Go ahead, end it now."  Lavos's eyes flashed evilly.  "I dare you.  You're in the perfect position to.  We can't stop you.  Go and drive your lightsaber into your son's heart!"

     Do it, Dad, he could hear his son say weakly, by telepathy.  Lavos has done nothing but torture me and use me, and you can't beat him alone.  I'd rather die than let him win.  Just, please save Aeris....

     Surprisingly, Silas the Jedi Knight wanted to accept.  Janus was obviously in pain.  The future was still in doubt, and the opposition was enough that he was not confident they could win.  An entire world versus the life of one boy, who wanted his suffering ended.

     Silas Torson, the father, could not bring himself to kill his only son.

     As these two halves fought with each other, Qui-Xi moved into position and signaled his readiness.  Something flashed in Lavos's eyes, and Silas realized that Lavos knew.  He could see Lavos prepare himself to strike to the side.  If Qui-Xi saw it in time, maybe Silas could use the distraction to get Janus free....

     But was it worth the risk?

     Lavos' evil grin grew as Janus's cries of pain grew.  Qui-Xi leapt.  Silas made his decision.

     And the universe broke in twain.

 

.

     Probability tore through the fabric of reality with terrifying speed.  The perfect probability of fifty-fifty had come, and reality tore itself asunder to allow for both outcomes to exist.  The planes finished their duplication and one universe became two.

     In one universe, Lavos was thwarted, and his plan averted at the decision point.

     But our concern is with the other universe....

 

 

     Lavos' lightsaber flashed to the side to impale Qui-Xi, but as the Jedi Master flew uncontrollably to his doom, Silas leapt upward and smashed into his Master's body.  The two of them twirled in mid-air and landed on the other side of Zeal and Lavos.  "Fools!", Lavos crowed.  "Bask in you mistake!"

     The Mammon Machine began glowing with unholy energies, Janus falling unconscious and still shackled to the machine.  A large beam from it slammed into Qui-Xi and Silas, knocked them backward.  A field of dark energies appeared around the Machine.  Silas jumped back to his feet and rushed toward the field.  His lightsaber impacted on it and did nothing to break through.  "Too late!  The Machine is operational, and you cannot interfere with it's operation any longer!"  Lavos lashed out with a bolt of dark energy, which Silas deflected with his saber.  "Stay and perish."

     "Come, Silas!"  Qui-Xi grabbed his protegè's arm.  "We have to get back to the Lightrunner!"

     "I'm not leaving Janus!", Silas shouted.

     "You don't have a choice!  We cannot break that field alone!  Lavos has won this round, we must flee so that we might have another shot later!  Or would you rather die here?!"

     Silas knew his Master was right in his heart.  And he followed Qui-Xi out through the ceiling.  Even as he did so, he wondered if perhaps he should have put his son out of his misery.  He could hear Janus wailing, his life force being wracked with evil energy and drawn from him to fuel the Mammon Machine.

     But there was nothing that could be done.

 

 

     Marlene watched from the cockpit of the Bane while the Lightrunner remained near the massive black object hovering in space.  "What are we waiting for," Kaspen growled, "let's go home!"

     "Not until I know they're following us," Marlene answered.

     "To hell with what you want, little girl!"  Kaspen reached for the hyperdrive accelerator.  "I don't have to follow.... whaa?!"  Kaspen found his hand only a few centimeters away from being burned by Marlene's cyan lightsaber.

     "We.  Are.  Staying.  Here.  Do I make myself clear?", she hissed.

     A frowning Kaspen nodded sullenly.

 

    

     Once on the roof, Qui-Xi and Silas leapt onto the Lightrunner ramp.  They scrambled inside and Qui-Xi closed the ramp immediately, ensuring it had sealed itself before running for the cockpit.  Schala saw them and shouted, "What happened?!  Where's Janus?!"

     Silas went to her and took her wrists.  His eyes welled up with tears as he said, "Forgive me, we couldn't get him back."

     "No!  I can't leave him with Lavos!"

     "What the hell is going on out there?!"

     Cid's shout drew everyone to the cockpit, even Crono.  Qui-Xi slid into the second seat and watched with the others as the Black Omen began glowing with dark energy.  The energy surged from it's top and reached out into space.  A massive sphere of energy grew through space, glowing with great luminance.  "Something's coming through," Lucca whispered.

     "No...  that's.... that's what he meant for Janus...."  Schala's face paled as realized dawned on her.  "He's opened the seal!  Lavos opened the seal!"

     "Seal for what?!", Crono asked.

     Two massive point-ends appeared from the sphere.  As more was revealed, they seemed to be pincers of some kind.  Soon a spherical shape took form, of orange and gray color, and a rim of dimmed lights.  There was what appeared to be a maw at one end, the end pointing toward the planet.  The pincers widened as the massive object moved forward, reaching for Crono's world.  Schala collapsed to her knees and was gripped by despair.  "He unleashed that thing again.  I... I thought it was only a nightmare story... made up for children..."

     "Well, what the hell is it?"

     Before Schala could answer Cid's question, a loud rumbling voice echoed through each of their minds, sounded as if were being spoken right there in the cockpit.  At long last, I am free!  Free of the seal placed upon me, preventing me from feeding!, it shouted in jubilation.  I have starved for millennia, and now, I see that I have a meal waiting for me.

     "It's..."

     Schala swallowed and finally uttered the one word that filled her very soul with terror, a far greater terror than Lavos could ever cause.

     "Unicron."

 

 

 

To be Continued....