Dark Crossroad

Children of the Moon

by:

Stephen Garrett Jr.

 

 

     "What in the Hell is that thing?!"

     Marlene Wallace was unsure of how to answer Kain Kaspen's exclaimation, as she herself was unsure as to what it was.  The comment was, of course, in reference to the massive sphere, complete with pincers and mouth, which had just appeared out of nowhere and was bearing down on the world below with the seeming intention of eating it.  "I have no idea."  Marlene swallowed as she realized there was nothing she could do to stop it.  Her left hand went up and touched the wound on her shoulder, reminding her of Riddel.  And she knew that the wound had been all for naught, that Riddel and everyone else on the planet below was doomed.

     She looked out through the cockpit window of the Bane, and tears rolled down her cheeks from her powerlessness.  She wanted so desperately to save them all...

 

 

     "How do we stop it?!"

     Lucca's shout filled the cockpit of the Lightrunner.  Everyone present was gripped by terror as the massive planet-devouring Unicron beared down on the world below.  "There's got to be something we can do!"

     "There is nothing.... it took all of the power that the people of Zeal had before to seal Unicron," Schala said.  "Our world is doomed."

     "No!"  Crono slammed a fist against the wall.  "We have to do something!"

     "Like what, kid?!  Ask that thing nicely, 'Please don't eat the world'," Cid barked.  "Do you have any bright ideas?!"

     Crono's fist balled up in frustration and rage.  A light suddenly appeared in Lucca's pendant, cutting him off before he could shout back at Cid.  Lucca looked down at the pendant even as Schala began to stand.  "That pendant.... Lucca, where did you get it?!"

     "I found it on a child," Lucca answered.  "A little girl I found alone in the forest a few weeks ago.  Hey!"  Lucca stumbled backward into Crono in surprise from how quickly Schala grabbed the pendant and pulled it off Lucca, causing the fasteners in the back to seperate and make the pendant come loose.  She ran into the back, where Marle lay on the table, and noticed that her pendant was also shining brightly.  Schala scooped it up quickly and returned to the cockpit.  "I think, we might just have a chance..."  She drew in a breath and closer her eyes, gripping a pendant in either hand.  Her mouth began to move in a silent chant.  A bright aura surrounded Schala, a similar aura now illuminating the planet even as Unicron inched closer to it.  The aura grew brighter and brighter, until...

     Schala fell limp to the floor, unconscious.  The aura disappeared around the planet.

     And Unicron moved in for the kill.

     Everyone in the cockpit was transfixed, horrified, to the sight.  The massive machine's great pincers tore into the crust of the world, tearing up the earth and portions of ocean as they dug deeply into the body of the world.  Crono and Lucca cried out to their relatives, as if across the great distance they could warn them of the danger and somehow save them.  But it was all for naught, a meaningless gesture.  Unicron thrust the planet into the giant maw of his mouth.  Bit by bit, the giant "teeth" around his mouth cavity ripped through the crust and mantle of the world.  All those on the Lightrunner and Bane could do was watch as Unicron began sucking the life out of the core, as if he were sucking the juice from a piece of fruit before finishing the shell.  The core barely had time to lose it's shape in the vaccum of space before Unicron used the gravitational field from his mouth to bring it in.  The last vestiges of their world disappeared in a matter of moments afterward.  The ring around Unicron lit up as the energy processed by the destruction of the planet was beginning to flow through him.

     Every pair of eyes in the cockpit of the Lightrunner was wet with tears.  Crono meekly walked into the middle room and collapsed to his knees beside Marle, using one hand to feel her forehead and hair while the other gripped her limp right hand.  "We.... I.... I failed...."  He did not watch as Lucca ran off into the back of the ship, weeping hysterically.

     Emerging from the cockpit, Silas brought Schala out and laid her out on some boxes.  He felt her forehead and her neck, seeing that there was still life in her.  But she was out cold, and did not respond to his gripping her hand and kissing her fingers.  "I failed you all," he said.  "I should have been able to save Janus, or at least stop Lavos."  He began, strangely, to regret not ending Janus's life.  At least, one portion of Silas's soul did.  The other portion, the paternal one, defended the decision vigorously.  After all, how could he have known?

     How could they have known?

     The Black Omen was gone.  It had disappeared while everyone was distracted by the monstrous Unicron.  And with it, Janus and Aeris had also disappeared.  Silas didn't know what they would tell Cloud and Tifa.  They had lost Aeris, and who knew what that evil maniac would do to her and Janus before his true plans were fulfilled?

     In the cockpit, Qui-Xi drew in a heavy sigh and switched on the communications gear.  He set it to a general frequency and spoke into it.  "Marlene, this is Qui-Xi.  Please respond."  A few moments passed and Qui-Xi repeated himself.

     A response suddenly came.  "Master... everyone on the planet..."

     "They are gone."  Nevertheless, Qui-Xi felt it strange that he had not felt the deaths of all those people in the Force.  He had anticipated such a horrible feeling.

     "Viper... Riddel... all of them."  There was a suppressed sob on the other end before Marlene came back over, having composed herself enough to ask, "What are your orders, Master?"

     "Have Kaspen set course for home, and engage the hyperdrive.  There should be enough fuel."

     "Yes, Master."

     After ten seconds passed, the Bane suddenly elongated and disappeared.  Qui-Xi patted Cid on the shoulder and did not need to say anything; Cid was already laying in the course and preparing to make the jump to hyperspace.  He walked to the rear and saw Silas and Crono hunched over their respective loved ones.  Schala was okay, he sensed, but Marle....

     "She's not going to make it," he heard a despairing Crono remark.  "The medication isn't doing anything for her."  He stroked Marle's forehead while the ship shuddered slightly, an indication it had made the jump to hyperspace.  "I've... I've lost everything."

     Qui-Xi reached into a nearby box and removed a Life Materia.  He brought the green orb over and lifted it over Marle.  With customary habit he pulled out the Materia's power and sent a light green energy over Marle's body.  "Neither is the Materia," Qui-Xi finally concluded.

     Marle suddenly coughed, and her eyes fluttered open.  "Cr... Cron... Crono," she murmured painfully.  "Where... whe..."

     "You are on the Lightrunner, Princess," Qui-Xi said matter-of-factly.  "You have been severely wounded."

     "Why... haven't we... home...", she continued to mutter, some of her words hard to discern or completely unintelligible.

     Qui-Xi looked down at Crono.  "We need to take you back to their world to get help for you," Crono lied.  "You need to rest.  You're hurt, very badly.  Even the potions aren't helping."

     Marle nodded, and weakly smiled toward Crono before slipping back into a light sleep.  Crono seemed concerned until Qui-Xi put a hand on his shoulder.  "She is merely sleeping.  The Materia may not have healed her as fully as it should, but it did regain some of her strength.  Let her rest."

     "I couldn't tell her the truth," he replied weakly.  "I... I can't lose her.  Finding out what happened, she'd give up and die."

     "I understand."  Qui-Xi hovered over her and reached down toward her wound.  He felt something there, something hideous and dark.  "I understand," he repeated.

     "Understand what, Master Qui-Xi?", Silas asked.

     "Marle's wound, it's why the potions aren't helping but the Materia did.  Lavos has mastered the Dark Side of the Force to the point that the wound he caused Marle has harmed her soul as well as her body.  The Dark Side grips her, and Lavos's hate will kill her if we cannot purge it."  Qui-Xi held the Life Materia closely.  "Green Materia are steeped in the Light Side.  If she survives enough for us to return to the Planet, the Materia will have a stronger effect as it will be closer to the Lifestream."

     "But we can use it on her now, can't we?", Crono asked.  "To keep her alive."

     "I dare not."  Qui-Xi gripped the Materia in his fist.  "I do not want the Dark Side wound to adapt to the Materia's power, it will hurt her that much more when we finally do get her home, and she may not survive the shock."  Qui-Xi knelt beside Crono and looked over at him.  "You should keep your spirits up, Crono.  You still have hope."

     "Hope?"  He frowned.  "My world was just devoured by a monster planet.  My mother is dead.  My father-in-law, Marle's father, is dead.  Lucca's parents, and her adopted sister, are dead.  All those people are dead.  Everything I loved, everything I fought for, is gone.  What hope do I have left?"

     "I am unsure," Qui-Xi admitted.  "But I can feel that something has happened in the Force, and perhaps things are not as bleak as they may seem.  We must wait, and see what the will of the Force is."

     "What Force?  What are you talking about?"

     Qui-Xi drew in a sigh, trying to find a way to explain it.  "You might consider it something like Magic, as you know it.  When you use Magic, you are exercising your power in the Force, and you do give off a strong presence.  If you were born in the Galactic Republic, as I was, you and your friends would have been identified early and given Jedi training."

     "Master, may I speak with you?"

     Hearing Silas's request, Qui-Xi stepped into the back with his old apprentice, staying away from where Lucca had ran off to.  "What is it?"

     "Have you felt it?  It seems like some of the uncertainty in the Force we felt earlier is gone."

     "Yes."

     "But, there is still something there."

     "It is not the same, Silas.  I recognize this cloud.  It is the shroud of the Dark Side."  Qui-Xi frowned deeply.  "His millennia of life in human form has corrupted Lavos to the point that he is fully immersed in the Dark Side.  Marle may yet die because of that, and Lavos's power is such that he, alone, is clouding our vision, although fortunately not diminishing our use of the Force.  Yet."  He turned to Silas and brightened his expression a little.  "You should hold hope too, Silas.  Janus and Aeris will be fine.  And we will get them back, one way or the other.  For now, we must return home to see how Cloud and Mariya have progressed and plan our next move."

 

 

     They were all gone.

     Images of her parents perishing as they were ripped to pieces by Unicron filled Lucca's mind and brought her grief.  All they had done to save the world from Lavos, and he had destroyed it anyway.  And not in the future, but in the present, taking everything they had known and loved.

     Now, she and her friends were alone, and one... one may not live out the day.  Lucca's mind rebelled against the sudden turn of fortune, the change from anticipating a Golden Age to being left homeless and shattered.  All hope had fled, there was nothing for her anymore.

     Nothing.

     There was a beeping sound nearby, and Lucca turned her head to see, through her tears, a small can-shaped robot moving on treads through the bowel of the ship.  A panel was strewn on the floor and wires exposed, which it was dutifully repairing.  She got to her feet and went up to the small robot, kneeling beside it.  This prompted it's head to swivel, presenting her with what seemed to be a viewing scope for it's optics and a blueish light.  It warbled cheerfully at her.  "What are you doing here?", she asked.  It replied with more warbling.  "You seem rather friendly.  You remind me of an old friend."

     "He is R2-Z5."  Lucca looked up to see Qui-Xi approaching.  "He is an astromech droid, built and programmed to maintain spacecraft and other equipment."

     "So, he has artificial intelligence?"

     "Yes, he does."  Qui-Xi knelt beside them.  "Zeefive and I have been through a lot together.  Of course, he is not the only droid around.  There are billions of them just like him."

     "Billions?"

     "Yes.  Droids are quite common in the Republic.  Or, what was the Republic."  Qui-Xi placed a hand on Zeefive.  "Zeefive and I fled here many years ago to preserve the Jedi Order from those who would destroy it.  I brought with me what archives and data I could, and you will be free to look at it when we return home."

     "To your home.  I no longer have a home."  Lucca quickly went to examining one of Zeefive's panels, trying to distract herself from the pain within her.  "No family, and aside from Crono and Marle, no friends."

     "You musn't give in to despair, Lucca.  The will of the Force, of the universe if you will, will be revealed to us in good time."

     Lucca looked at him.  "We used to believe something like that.  That there was something out there, guiding our actions, ensuring we would come out of our battle with Lavos alive and victorious.  But here we are, our world gone, Marle dying, and Lavos on the loose.  I can't help but be skeptical."

     "I understand that."  Qui-Xi pulled himself to his full height.  "We are almost to our world.  I know you have lost your home, but I would hope you would accept our offer to call our world home now."

     Standing to her feet, Lucca sniffled before answering, "We really don't have a choice, do we?"

     "I wish you did."

 

 

     The sound of clattering footsteps echoed in Aeris's ear, and awoke her after what seemed to be hours of unconsciousness.  She looked around and found herself in a dark chamber, illuminated only by blue light from the floor, around statues of strange creatures.  She stood on wobbling feet turned in time to see a large

yellow creature toss Janus into the chamber with her.  A door slammed shut behind it.

     Aeris walked up to Janus, who laid on his stomach, unmoving.  She knelt beside him and turned him onto his back.  He looked at her through eyes hazy with pain and mumbled, "Aeris...  I'm sorry."

     "Janus, oh Janus..."  She placed a hand under his head, her hand in his bedraggled blond hair, and felt a tear come down her cheek as she felt the last vestiges of the suffering he had endured.  "What did they do to you?"

     He reached a hand up and touched her on the cheek.  "I'm sorry you're here," Janus said weakly.  "I don't know what Lavos will do to you."

     "I don't care.  At least you won't be alone," Aeris answered.  She smiled down at Janus and pulled him to a sitting position, allowing him to lean against her while he regained his strength.

     "I asked him to kill me, Aeris."  Janus drew in a pained breath.  "I asked my father to kill me.  All I could think about was the pain I was in.  Lavos has done something to me, bonded me to something, and when he hooks me up to that machine it... it sucks away a little bit of my life, I think."  He noticed Aeris's concerned expression and realized just how angelic she looked.  Just as Cloud had sometimes described her namesake.  "Aeris, please, kill me.  I... I don't want to suffer anymore.  And if I die, Lavos's plan will be thwarted."

     Aeris swallowed.  "Janus, I... I can't..."

     "You have to, Aeris.  It's the only way."  Janus's eyes widened with pleading.  "To save whoever he intends to hurt, I must die."

     With her hand on his forehead, Aeris shook her head.  "Janus, please, don't ask that.  I... I could never kill anyone.  Not you, not even Lavos."

     "Please, Aeris," Janus pleaded.  "It.. it hurts too much.  And he's going to use my pain to hurt others.  I don't want that to happen."

     "No, Janus, listen to me, Master Qui-Xi and your parents, our parents, will find a way to free us!"

     "They can't.  Lavos is too..."

     "Don't lose hope, Janus," Aeris said forcefully.  "When you lose hope, that's when you doom yourself!  We have to have faith.... listen, maybe we can find a way to escape..."

     "No, there won't be any of that."

     Aeris turned toward the door.  Lavos stood tall at the door, his purple eyes crackling with dark energy.  "I overheard every word you have said.  I'm afraid I can't let you kill Janus.  No, not yet.  Don't worry, he'll die, and you'll die, soon enough, but until then...."  Lavos reached forward and a crackle of dark energy erupted from his hand.  It slammmed into Aeris, causing her to scream as he lifted her into the air and pulled her toward him.  Holding her in mid-air, Lavos placed a hand on her chin, examining her.  "Very beautiful.  I do not see why Janus holds the other girl higher than he holds you, my sweet.  But you certainly love him, don't you?  You don't even doubt yourself.  You want to spent eternity with him.  Well, you shall, what's left of eternity anyway.  But first, I think it necessary to ensure you won't get bold and fulfill his desire to die before I have made my use of him."  Lavos kept Aeris in mid-air and went toward the door with her.  He turned back briefly to Janus.  "Don't worry, young man, we'll have her back soon.  The two of you can enjoy  each other's company until this is over.  Maybe even some brief moments of love."

     Janus tried to push himself to his feet, but he stumbled back to his knees and cried out, "Take me, Lavos!  Don't hurt her!  Please...."

     The door closed, obscuring all view of Aeris and Lavos.  And that was when Aeris began wailing, and Janus could only listen helplessly.

 

 

     A loud roar filled the corridor and prompted Cloud to flash his flashlight to the opposite direction of the T-shaped linkage they had just turned from.  Mariya grimaced as she realized she had foolishly forgotten to feel for other life forms, and like Vincent and Cloud barely jumped out of the way to avoid the cascade of green fire that erupted from the goat head mouth of a rather enraged Chimera.  It's triple heads screeched as it pressed forward.  "What in the hell is that?!"

     "A rather angry beast," a dour Mariya answered, igniting her lightsaber.  A plasma rifle appeared from under Vincent's cape.  "Vincent?"

     There was no response.  Vincent simply opened fire as Cloud dove out of the way of a swipe from the Chimera's right claw.  Green bursts of accelerated particles beat against the Chimera's tough hide and made it howl angrily.  Cloud drew from his hilt the Excalibur even as Mariya raced pasted and drove her lightsaber against the Chimera's surface flesh.  The Chimera smacked her to the side with it's tail, nearly knocking her unconscious.

     With a loud "Yaaah!", Cloud drove the Excalibur into the Chimera lion head's skull.  The hide gave way to the enchanted sword's sharp point, and the blade worked it's way through skull and brain tissue.  The other heads let out a cry as the beast began to tremble.  It retreated back into the darkness from which it came, stumbling along the way from the "death" of it's lion brain.  Cloud walked over to Mariya and helped her to a standing position.  "Nice local life.  I'd like to introduce some old friends to these beasts."

     "Which old friends?"

     "All of the anti-Shinra contacts Barret knew.  The ones who thought all animal life was sacred," Cloud sheathed Excalibur, "and that we didn't have the right to kill animals that attacked us on our journey."

     "Oh, those."  Mariya managed a smile.  "Yes, I have the feeling that being reminded of the harsh realities of nature would wake them up.  But you are talking about pampered urbanites from Midgar and Junon.  Remember that."  She took a few steps in one direction and suddenly stopped.

     "What, another one?", Cloud asked.

     "No," Mariya answered.  "I feel Master Qui-Xi again.  He's home."

     "Well, let's hope he's back with Janus, and will be any time calling you to come home so we can get out of here," Cloud muttered.

 

 

     The Lightrunner landed on the roof of the new Jedi temple in Nibelheim.  Although to be precise, it was more of a crash than a landing.  Warning lights filled the cockpit as the ship had neared the landing pad, and suddenly the engines cut out, forcing Cid to make a very rough crash-landing.  The Jedi on the roof raced toward the ramp even as it opened.  "Master Qui-Xi?!"

     Qui-Xi stepped down quickly, followed by Crono, who held Marle in his grip.  They stood over her dying body while Qui-Xi retrieved the Life Materia from his robe pocket.  He held it over Marle and closed his eyes, reaching through the Force into the Materia and spreading it's power over her.  Marle began crying out, causing Palton to bark, "Hold her down!", which he and Crono did.  "Why does the Life Materia hurt the girl, Master?!", one of the younger Jedi, a Knight named Ignato, asked from behind Palton.

     "Through her wound, the Dark Side has bound itself to her, and it is resisting the Materia's attempts to pull it out, and hurting her."  Qui-Xi swallowed and redoubled his efforts.  "I can only hope she remains strong, or the Dark Side will kill her before it is removed," he said over Marle's louder howls.

     Ten seconds passed and Marle grew quieter as the wound disappeared.  Qui-Xi pulled the Materia back and sighed deeply.  "It is done.  Take the girl to the hospital immediately."

     "Yes Master."

     Qui-Xi drew in a breath and stepped back toward the ship, briefly noticing something strange about the moon light...

 

 

     Nothingness became a bright white-green void.  Schala opened her eyes, or so she thought, until she saw the void and wondered.

     "Fear not, Schala of Zeal.  For this is the Lifestream, and you are safe here."

     The soft voice caused Schala to turn her head to the left.  A figure coalasced in the void and became a young woman.   "Aeris?"

     "Yes."  The red and pink-clad Aeris looked exactly as she did in the handful of pictures Cloud had shown Schala in the past.  "You are back home now, Schala."

     Feeling disorientated, Schala shook her head.  "What, am I dead?"

     "No.  Your mind and body are still whole, but we have brought you here to tell you of what it is you face."

     And then Aeris said something completely unexpected.

     "Sister."

     Schala blinked rapidly and looked at Aeris in surprise.  "Sister?!"

     "You could say that.  We are sisters, Schala of Zeal.  Born of the same line, an ancient line steeped in the power of the universe, a race of great power."  Aeris took Schala's hand.  "We are Children of the Moon."

     "The Moon?"

     "Yes.  My Cetra and your Zeal heritage come from the same source: the Moon.  And not the one here, and now, but one that orbited a long time ago.  One that served as the home of our common ancestry."

     Aeris waved her free hand and a ripple appeared in the void.  A reddish moon hung in the vision, pulling out of orbit over the world.  "This is our ancestral home, Schala.  For the people of Zeal, and the Cetra, both came from the Lunarian race."

     "Lunarians."  Schala's eyes lowered.  "The legend of Unicron spoke of people from the stars.  But, it never said that they were our progenitors."

     "They were.  Lavos removed the memory from the first people of Zeal, creating only the myth that they were of special birth to justify their oppression of the natural humans of that world."  Aeris created another ripple.  "Come, Schala, I have something to show you."

     "What is it?"

     "The key to everything.  The key to saving the universe itself from the machinations of Lavos."

     Without hesitation, Schala followed Aeris in the ripple....

 

 

     The sound of the door sliding open prompted Janus to look up from where he was sitting.  The same creature that had carried him earlier now brought Aeris in, slung over it's shoulder like a sack.  It dropped her limply to the floor and immediately turned and left.  Janus went straight to Aeris when the door slammed shut and put a hand on her sweat-covered neck.  Her breathing was erratic and her limbs stiff.  She slowly opened her eyes and groaned.  Janus felt tears come to his face as he realized that she had probably suffered more than he had.  "Aeris, you should never have tried to rescue me," he said, beginning to sob softly at the sight of his friend in such pain.  He held her head up as Aeris began mumbling incoherently.  With an arm under her head, covered in her own blond hair, he touched her cheek with his free right hand, feeling the clammyness of her paled skin.  "I'm so sorry.  I should have been the one he hurt."

     "Not.... give in..."  Aeris wheezed, painfully drawing breath from what Janus felt to be a cramped diaphragm.  "Can't.... give up....  hold out," she continued to mumble, some of her words slurred beyond recognition from the weakness in her voice.

     Janus cradled her head, the remaining stiffness from his own ordeal pushed out of his mind by his concern.  He could sense Aeris wasn't giving up hope, she was still believing Qui-Xi would come for them.  Would save them from the horrible monster that had taken them.  Janus could not sense anything in their future, whether they would live or die, whether Lavos would be stopped or not.  It was vexing.  It was terrifying.

     And yet, despite that, Aeris still had hope.  In her pain she had not yet given in to despair.  Janus found that noble and completely beyond what he had to this point felt.  But he knew that Aeris was right, and despair was just as much their enemy as Lavos was.

     And he resolved that he should have hope too.

 

 

     A bright light penetrated Marle's vision.  Her belly still ached from the memory of her wound and her mouth was parched dry.  She slowly opened her eyes and found herself staring up at a bright light.  A distant voice said something.  And that was when Crono's face appeared in her vision.  She gave her usual response that that sight by smiling.

     From the other side, Qui-Xi stepped up.  "It looks like she will make a full recovery."

     "I hope so," Marle muttered.  As she sat up, she noticed Lucca standing at the foot of the bed.  Crono sat down beside her and put an arm around her back, and the two kissed.  She looked down and saw she was wearing some kind of light green gown instead of her normal suit.  "Where are we?"

     "Welcome to the Nibelheim Medical Center," Qui-Xi stated.  "You are on our world."

     "So, what happened?  Did we get 'em?"

     "No, we didn't," Crono said dejectedly.  "We had to flee.  Lavos has Aeris and Janus now, and he's restored the Black Omen."

     "Then, what happened?"

     Lucca and Crono exchanged glances with each other, clearly debating what to tell her.  "Marle, we don't know how you're going to take this," Lucca began to say.

     "What?  What's wrong?"

     "Lavos summoned... something with the Black Omen.  And, well, come here, let's go talk out on this balcony."  Crono helped Marle to her feet.  Having regained some of her strength, she took weak steps alongside him until they had stepped out on a small private balcony.  "Look into the sky, that way," he said, pointing to the west."

     Marle did so, and gasped.

     Hanging in the night sky was their homeworld, glittering like a beautiful jewel in their sight.  The continent of Zenan was clearly visible even from this distance.  "Lavos summoned some form of monster planet, and it attacked our world," Crono explained.  "But somehow, with your pendant and Kid's pendant, Schala moved our world here and left a ghost world for it to devour."

     "We came this entire way thinking our world was gone, and it was here waiting for us," Lucca said cheerfully.

     "So, we can go home now?"

     "Whenever you desire," Qui-Xi said from inside the door.  "The Bane is ready whenever you desire to go back."

     "And the Lightrunner?"

     Qui-Xi shook his head.  "Out of fuel.  And we do not have the means to produce more.  My ship will, sadly, no longer be anything but a curiosity."  He lowered his hand and touched the dome of the warbling Zeefive.  "Fortunately, my droid should have other uses."  Qui-Xi walked closer to Marle.  "You have a great fortitude, Princess.  Lavos has grown far more powerful than he should have with a human body.  He has been immersed in the power of the Dark Side, and that is how he nearly killed you."

     "Where is Lavos?"

     "We are unsure of where the Black Omen went," Qui-Xi answered.  "But we are confident that his plans are not yet over, and when he realizes that his plan to destroy your world failed, I think he shall come back to finish what he started.  And that is when we shall make our next attempt to free Janus and Aeris."

 

 

 

     "The universe is in danger."

     The voice echoed through Schala's consciousness, surrounded by the green light of the Lifestream.  It flowed around her, reacting with her, bringing her into contact with the remaining souls of those who had passed before.

     Some of the souls appeared in front of Schala, besides Aeris.  She recognized from years before Rosa of Baron, resplendent in the white garb of a white wizard.  Another figure, an aged man with robes, she had seen in pictures; Bugenhagen.  And there was a pair of others... an older man in wizard robes and a woman with light green hair clad in a red suit.  "Worry not, Schala of Zeal, for you are still among the living.  But we required a word with you," Bugenhagen said.  "To fight Lavos, you must know all."

     "I recognize you, Master Bugenhagen, and I also know Rosa, but who are these others?"

     "These are other souls of the Lifestream," Aeris answered for Bugenhagen.  "The Elder of Mysidia from the time of the Heroes of Light, and this," she stood beside the green-haired woman, "is Terra."

     "As you know," Rosa began, "the Lifestream is the accumulated whole of the souls of those who have passed beyond.  We contribute our energy to the making of new life.  It is from the Lifestream that Materia gets it's potency, and with that ensures that those who still live are capable of using magic.  Your Jedi Order considers the Lifestream a powerful nexus in the Force, the energy field of the universe.  And, it is correct, in it's own way."

     "Here, the knowledge of this universe gathers," Terra continued for Rosa.  "We see the souls of those who passed on in other places, other worlds, even other galaxies."

     "We know all that there is to know."  Bugenhagen now took up speaking again.  "We know, for instance, of the galaxy where the Jedi originated, where Emperor Palpatine even now faces a rebellion to unseat him and restore the Republic of old."

     "We know of the First Ones of the cosmos, with names like 'Shadows' and 'Vorlons'," the Mysidian Elder added.

     "We know of the Dark Lord Sauron and his Ring," Rosa said.

     "We have seen the Darkness, those called 'Heartless', and the machinations of Ansem and Maleficent," Terra continued.

     "That is of no consequence to you.  Yet."  Aeris's eyes lowered.  "We also know of Lavos, and of Unicron."

     "The story begins in another time, another plane of reality."  Now it was back to Terra.  "Unicron, a restless spirit of hunger, acquired a physical form from an ancient inventor called Brimacron.  He rebelled against Brimacron, and went his own way, devouring planets as he went.  During his rampage, he found a break in the fabric of reality.  Seeking new worlds to consume, he entered, and soon, Unicron happened upon a world that had been drained of it's resources, and left lifeless, by creatures that had infested it eons ago.  He found a spawn that had been ejected into space, and captured it.  Unicron sensed that the creature, if given the right advancement, could make for him a rich planet that, in several eons, would make a delicious meal.  He augmented the creature, giving it sentience, and imbued it with hunger similar to his own so that it would produce a world he could enjoy devouring."

     "Lavos," Schala whispered.

     "Yes.  This creature became Lavos.  Unicron left his new spawn and returned to the place he had come from to continue devouring.  Eons passed as Lavos developed his meal and he continued to feed, destroying any who tried to stop him."

     Terra looked to the Elder, who continued for her, "But he was defeated when he tried to eat the native world of a race of sentient robots, the Cybertronians.  They destroyed his physical form, and left him to wander their universe without means of sating his hunger.  Unicron became desperate.  Using what power he had left, he reached back in time and replicated the body he had taken before.  But the Cybertronians could defeat him again, and make his death permanent, so Unicron decided to return here."

     "Upon his return," Bugenhagen began, "he came across this planet, and decided to devour it.  But the Lunarians encountered him first, and refused to let the planet be devoured.  A fierce battle raged between Unicron and the Lunarians.  But even with the powers of the Monster Lord Bahamut and the Sages FuSoYa and Golbez, it was impossible to fight Unicron off alone."

     "But by this time, Lavos had achieved full awareness.  He realized that if Unicron remained alive, he would return one day and take the feast that Lavos had richly prepared.  Lavos desired it for himself, and so he betrayed his maker.  Unicron was brought close, and Lavos added his power to that of the Lunarians and the Crystals of the Moon to seal away Unicron."

     Bugenhagen in turn turned to Rosa.  "The Lunarians were wary of Lavos' intentions.  They decided to leave some of their number on the planet, to keep watch on him and protect the humans of the world.  But Lavos was too powerful for them.  Without the support of the Crystals of the Moon and the Lunarian Sages, the people of this colony succumbed to Lavos' manipulation and forgot their origin, creating a false myth around it to justify their treatment of the local humans."

     "And that is how Zeal was formed," Schala finished for Rosa.  "A colony of Lunarians, tricked by Lavos."

     "Yes."  Aeris gave a short grin.  "That is how we are sisters."

     "But, the Cetra?  How are they Lunarians?"

     "Thousands of years ago, three wizards of Mysidia became so powerful with their magic that they became demi-goddesses," the Elder explained.  "They enslaved humans to use as weapons against each other.  These humans became Espers.  The Espers eventually broke their masters' hold on them, and the goddess-wizards chose to petrify themselves and entrust the Espers with their care.  But the Espers themselves ended up at war with humans, who took their powers to use as their own.  The War of the Magi devastated the world, and set mankind back over a millennia in advancement."

     "The war ended when the Espers retreated to their own artificial world, on another plane of reality, and the Mage Knights who had opposed them went into hiding.  A thousand years passed, civilization rebuilt itself, and was promptly sent into another abyss due to a megalomaniac ruler named Gestahl.  Gestahl tried to build an Empire of his own with warriors wielding magic extracted from Espers.  At the eve of his triumph, the acquisition of the Goddess Statues, Gestahl was killed by his lieutenant, Kefka, who in turn unleashed the power of the Statues and devastated the world."

     The Elder looked on to Terra.  "With my comrades, we rallied against Kefka, and destroyed the Statues.  As a result, magic disappeared from the world.  For a time."

     "The damage that Kefka did attracted the Lunarians, who sent a mission to this planet to aid it," the Elder remarked.  "Those who came stayed, aiding the rebuilding of civilization and the restoration of peace.  It was then that Materia began appearing.  Consolidated material in the Lifestream, the one last way through which the people could utilize the magic powers wielded by the men and women of the past."

     "I see."  Schala looked to Aeris.  "And Lavos?  Why did he take Janus?"

     "Lavos has remained alive in the body of your father for millennia, being aided by FATE, which he pulled from a future time strata.  FATE wanted power for herself, and quickly usurped him.  Lavos was forced to serve her instead of her serving him.  And like all the other things that had befallen him, it has enraged Lavos.  Over the millennia, he has grown more hateful and through it stronger in the dark energies of the universe."

     "FATE's power is predicated on it's possession and control of the Frozen Flame, a piece from Lavos' original form that fell off and gained sentience on it's own.  But the Flame was constantly seeking to escape, and Lavos knew of hidden programming in FATE left by her creators that would lock her systems if the Flame ever came out of her control.  He tricked FATE into believing that by having your son bonded to the Frozen Flame, she could root out this rogue programming and delete it.  But he really wanted your son bonded with the Flame so that he might use Janus for his own ends."

     "Lavos has restored the Black Omen and the Mammon Machine," Terra said solemnly.  "And with them, he intends to destroy everything.  The entire universe, annihilated in a flash."

     Schala's mouth hung open for a moment from surprise.  She finally managed to ask, "But, why?  He would die too."

     "It is what he desires," Bugenhagen answered.  "Lavos is stuck in your father's body.  He can never regain that which was once his.  He no longer cares for his future, only in taking with him all other things.  The history and knowledge of millions of sentient species, destroyed in a moment.  It is destruction unparalleled.  And he has freed Unicron to fulfill it."

     "Unicron approaches here, even now," the Elder said.  "He seeks to have the feast he was prevented from enjoying millennia ago, believing the Lifestream will enhance his power.  But when he latches on to this planet, the Lifestream will act as it must to repel him, and between the Lifestream and Unicron, a powerful energy reaction will occur.  Lavos intends to use that reaction to trigger with the Mammon Machine and the Frozen Flame, bound to your son, the annihilation of the universe."

     "Then, how do I stop him?"

    "The Crystals," Rosa said.  "KluYa has already set Qui-Xi on that path.  With the Crystals, you can seal Unicron again."

     "And if you are to regain your son, you must be present on the Black Omen," Aeris added.  "It rests now beyond the eighth planet in this system, awaiting the final destruction Lavos craves.  If you are not there, both Janus and Aeris will perish after Unicron fails.  And their deaths will not be pleasant, nor will they be the only ones, for Lavos will do everything in his power to slaughter as many lives as he can before perishing."

     "We will watch and observe."  Terra took Schala's hand as numerous individuals appeared around them.  Some Schala recognized as the other Heroes of Light, or as Barret Wallace and Nanaki, and Yuffie, others she did not.  "We, the Heroes of the Past, pass on to your our legacy, and our trust that you will not allow that which we suffered to have been suffered in vain."

     "Go, Schala of Zeal," the Mysidian Elder intoned.  "Go and defeat Lavos.  Or all is lost."

     Everything disappeared from around Schala.  Darkness came to her vision and she sensed that she was back in the physical world.  Slowly she opened her eyes, partially blinded by a light from above.  She reached out with her right hand, and felt the clasped hands of Silas.  Turning her head, she saw him looking at her, relief in his face.  "You're okay?"

     "I am."  Schala swallowed as she stood.  She had been changed into a hospital gown.  "We are in Nibelheim?"

     "Yes."  Silas knelt close and gave her a short kiss on the lips.  "You did it.  Crono's world is safe."

     "And it was transported here," Schala said before he could.  "The force within the pendants told me that would happen."  She put her left hand on Silas's cheek.  "You've been crying."

     "I feel Janus, and I know he's hurting, and Aeris is too," Silas said sullenly.  "He... he asked me to kill him, Schala.  When we were in the Omen.  He asked me to end his life to stop Lavos, and to make the pain stop."

     That brought a bowed head from Schala.  "But you didn't."

     "I couldn't."  Silas drew in a sharp breath, almost a sniffle.  "He's our son.  I... I couldn't bring myself to do it.  Even if it would save millions, and save him from Lavos, I couldn't harm him."

     "Don't worry.  I know what needs to be done."  Schala took his hands within her own and held them together.  "We're going to save Janus, Silas.  You and I, together.  Lavos will see justice done for what he's done to our boy, and to everyone else.  Where is Master Qui-Xi?"

     "He went back to Crono's world with Chancellor Reeves.  Marlene is with him.  We have been asked to go after Cloud and Mariya."

     "And we have transport?"

     Silas nodded.  "Cid has brought us the Aeris.  He will take us into the valley."  He held onto Schala as she struggled to get up.  "Are you sure you're ready?"

     "I am."  Schala looked over to a fresh set of robes on a chair.  Silas went toward the door to close it as she began removing the life sign monitors from her neck and over her heart.

 

 

     A flash of blue severed a screeching Lamia in half before it could set it's teeth into the back of Cloud's neck.  He scrambled to his feet and brought the Excalibur up, and just in time to send it into the tail of another Lamia.

     As he did so, Mariya lifted her hand and sent an approaching panther back against the wall.  It hissed angrily, and plunged toward her.  She swiftly moved out of the way and brought up her saber.  In one swift blow she decapitated the cat.

     The final Lamia was in an uproar over it's tail.  It slashed at Cloud and raked it's nails across his bare arm.  He toppled backward in surprise and nearly lost his weapon.  The Lamia rushed in to attack him again until a shot from Vincent's weapon struck it in the head and quieted it permanently.  Mariya reached her hand down and helped Cloud to his feet.  "I am getting too old for this," he mumbled.

     "We should almost be there," Mariya said.  She took out a small green Cure Materia.  The green beam it emitted in her hand went over Cloud's wound and swiftly healed it.  "I will take point again."

 

 

     Qui-Xi stood behind Reeves as he reached his hand out and took the hand of Guardia XXXIII.  The two statesmen shook hands while Qui-Xi looked on with Crono and Marle.  "King Guardia, allow me to extend greetings on behalf of the Republic."

     "And I greet you on behalf of the Kingdom of Guardia," the elder man replied.  "My people are still very shaken about the recent events."

     "They seem to be handling it quite well.  My own world was quite surprised to look into the sky and see another planet appear nearby," Reeves said.  "You have met Master Qui-Xi?"

     "Yes, we have met."  Guardia XXXIII looked to Qui-Xi.  "This was Lavos's doing?"

     "No, it was a measure taken to prevent the destruction of this world," Qui-Xi answered.  "Lavos is still alive, unfortunately, and he has another hostage.  But we will find out what he is seeking to do and thwart him, I promise you."

     "Until then, King Guardia, might I suggest we begin the process of opening full relations and upgrading your world's infrastructure?," Reeves asked.  "My world has had interplanetary ships for some time, and I am sure I can convince the Senate and Governance Council to accelerate production of these ships to move advisors and material to your world."

     "We would be most pleased if you would do so."

     As Reeves and King Guardia continued their discussion, Crono turned to Qui-Xi.  "Where is Marlene?  I thought she would be here?"

     Qui-Xi looked back.  "Marlene is elsewhere.  I decided to let her return to El Nido and see Viper and his people.  She seems quite fond of them."

     "So, when do we go after Lavos?"

     "Soon, Princess.  Very soon."  Qui-Xi looked upward sullenly.  "But I don't think it will be necessary to go after him.  He will come to us."

 

 

     Marlene waited patiently in the courtyard of the Manor, to the side and behind the main entrance, observing Garai teaching sword techniques to Dragoon recruits with hilted wooden poles.  The heat of El Nido had convinced her to shed her Jedi robes, and she was again in the sleeveless jerkin provided her by Lord Viper, with a light knee-length mail skirt.  She had begun to sweat a little below the tropical sun.

     Returning to El Nido had been something she desired to do.  Even though she had been to the Manor only briefly before, Marlene appreciated the people here.  It seemed to be a society more courteous and decent than the one she remembered, with Lord Viper in charge and no Governance Council and Senate to impair decision-making for their own political gain.  No scheming Lord Kisaragi, nor a weak and indecisive Dio.  Viper struck her as an honorable leader, and his people adored him for his strict and fair rule.  He had greeted her warmly upon her return, and Riddel had come to embrace Marlene, seeming much like any other four year old child Marlene could remember in her life.

     As the instruction finished, Garai ordered the recruits back into their lines, and looked over them closely.  "You all have potential," Garai told them.  "Now, I think we shall have someone step forward and duel with me, so that the rest of you may observe.  Any volunteers?"

     When a moment passed and no recruit had dared to step forward to face the Grandmaster, Marlene walked up to the side of the line and raised her hand.  "Grandmaster Garai, I would volunteer."

     Garai looked over to her.  A small smile crossed his face.  "Ah, Marlene."  He saw the recruits look over at her, recognizing her from the earlier incident in the Manor.  Garai picked up a second wooden pole and tossed it over to Marlene, who caught it easily.  "Everyone observe closely."  He adopted a ready stance opposite Marlene, who set her feet, and raised the weapon to a ready position.  "En guarde," Garai said, starting the duel.

     Marlene immediately advanced and made several swift thrusts and swipes.  Garai blocked each, remaining on the defensive against the swifter young woman.  Their swords locked together and Marlene pushed against him, flipped backwards.  Garai came at her this time, and the sound of wood clanging against wood resumed as each blocked the other's strikes.  Marlene rolled to the side and swung the pole at Garai's legs.  Garai side-stepped the swing and made a swipe at Marlene's neck.  She blocked it and stood to her height.  Their weapons seperated and came together again as Marlene uttered a brief battle cry and lunged at him.  Garai deflected her first few blows.  When she swung high, he ducked and with his leg swept her feet out from under her.  Marlene had been caught off-balance, so when she landed flat on her back she did not make an attempt to jump back up before Garai put the tip of the pole to her neck.  "You have skill, but are too impatient, Marlene Wallace," he said.  "You let yourself be caught off-balance.  That was a mistake."  After helping Marlene to her feet, Garai looked to the recruits.  "Remember, even superior strength and courage does not win the day.  In a duel, you must be patient, and never let your balance be compromised."  Garai looked back at Marlene.  "I understand that you may have special abilities, but you must remember these things as well, Marlene.  All of the abilities and skill in the world cannot save you against an enemy willing to wear you down and exploit any weakness you present."

     "I understand."

     Garai nodded.  "I think we should call it a day.  Grandmaster Radius is awaiting you in the Manor to begin your tactical instruction.  Recruits, you are dismissed."

     The recruits saluted as one and marched away under the leadership of their senior cadet.  Garai watched them go and turned back to Marlene.  "I surprised you, didn't I?"

     "Yes, you did."  Marlene pushed disheveled strands of her dark hair away from her eyes.  "You are right, I have special abilities.  Jedi are trained to use the Force to move faster and stronger than any human.  We have enhanced reflexes and even limited precognition."

     "And yet, had we been enemies, I would have been able to kill you," Garai noted.  "Your training in the use of the sword seems complete, but you have not yet learned the proper discipline to apply that training.  This should be rectified."  Garai offered Marlene his hand.  "I offer you the hospitality of my home in Termina.  We can practice there, and see about honing your skills."

     "It isn't..."  Marlene almost said 'necessary', but thought better of it.  Garai had defeated her quite easily, after all.  And she still felt a measure of guilt over not being able to bring Lavos down at Chronopolis, causing Aeris to be taken along with Janus.  "I'll follow you, Grandmaster."

     "Please, you may call me Garai."

     "Very well.  Garai."

 

 

     Janus's arms and legs had begun to lose the cramp they had kept since his experience with the Mammon Machine, something he considered fortunate.  He looked around the room quietly, seeing if there was anywhere to escape.  He distinctly wished he had a lightsaber with him, and remembered Qui-Xi's repeated admonitions about keeping it at all times.

     Aeris had fully woken up, and was sprawled out on the floor, trying to regain her strength.  After viewing another section of wall, Janus walked back to her and knelt beside her.  Some of the color had returned to her face, and her breathing was back to normal.  "Aeris?  How are you feeling?"

     "Terrible."  Aeris shifted slightly.  "He is insane.  Lavos is insane with power.  I could feel it, the darkness within him, like a terrible storm."

     "That should have been me," Janus said.

     "No, you have suffered enough."  Aeris sat up beside him.  "I do not mind taking some of your burden away."

     Janus took her hand and looked down at it.  He could feel Aeris's gentle touch in the hand.  Looking back up at her, he said, "You have always been the most noble and gentle of us, Aeris.  Seeing him torture you, hearing your cries, it was like he was sticking a dagger through my heart.  You deserve so much better."

     Aeris grinned sheepishly.  She clasped her hands around Janus's right hand and said, "Thank you for that, Janus.  And it hurts me too, to know you're being used by him, hurt by him, for whatever mad scheme he has in store for us."  Aeris lowered her eyes, and after a pause, she asked softly, "Why do you adore Marlene?  Why do you desire her?"

     Janus swallowed hard.  He could feel his desire for Marlene throb in his heart, a lustful wish that he knew he would probably never have fulfilled.  "Because, I think, I've always looked up to her.  She's so strong, so independent.  She's brave, and noble, and I have heard Master Qui-Xi say she will become the best swordsman in the Order when she reaches her peak.  I admire her."

     "I can agree with that," Aeris replied.  "I can.  But you know she doesn't want a relationship with anyone.  She tried that during her year away from the Order.  It didn't work for her."

     "I know, I know," Janus sighed.  "But I still can't help but look at her and think how wonderful a person, a woman, she is."

     There was a nod, and Aeris swallowed.  Her heart beat rapidly in anticipation as she asked, "And what do you think of me?"

     "Of you?"  The question seemed to catch Janus by surprise a little.  "Well, um, you're beautiful.  In body and soul.  And you make people cheerful.  Ever since we were children you had this way of brightening the day for everyone.  And I know the younglings back home love you.  You're so playful and gentle, even Master Mariya liked watching you play with them."  He saw Aeris blushing.  "You should stop blushing when you're praised.  But... I think I like it.  I told you before that you had to be more willful, but you should never stop being humble."  Janus touched her cheek, still a light red from her blush, and felt her skin there.  "I haven't been completely fair to you, have I?  I've always paid so much attention to Marlene, when you deserved some as well."

     "No, Janus, don't worry about that.  You have feelings for Marlene, and it's perfectly okay with me," Aeris said despite the lump in her throat.  "Janus, in your heart, I feel you are as brave as your father and mother are.  I'm happy being here, just to know you're not alone to face this."

     "And I wish I were, because you don't deserve all this."

     "How touching."

     By this time, both Janus and Aeris were aware that Lavos was quite capable of entering without either of them noticing.  But it still surprised them to see him standing at the door.  "Ah, the two young friends, sharing their thoughts about each other.  Trying desperately to get their minds off their fate.  Pathetic."  His hand reached out and he lifted Aeris off the floor again.  Dark energy crackled around her and she screamed from the pain it caused.  "Do you still want to be here, little girl?  To know what it is to feel the darkness grip your soul, and set fire to your body from within?  Does your devotion to the boy somehow ease the pain of torture?"

     Mustering what strength she could, Aeris replied in a gasp, "You are pathetic."

     Her words had a startling effect on Lavos.  His face twisted in an angry snarl and with a loud growl he threw her against the wall with his power.  More energy poured into her, causing Aeris to raise her head as she screamed to try and get breath.  "Pathetic?!  I am the one who is pathetic?!  You stupid fool, I have power beyond anything your pitiful Jedi could dare contemplate!  I am Lavos, the devourer of worlds!  The universe is my table, and it's worlds are my meals!  I can cause you such pain that you will never know anything else!"

     "Pathetic," Aeris rasped.  "Weak...."

     "Do you want weakness?  I will show you weakness!"  Lavos increased the energies and pressed Aeris's wrists and ankles against the wall.  She tremored violently and stopped screaming, her lungs unable to take in breath.  "How does it feel, girl?!  How does Hell feel?!"

     "Stop it!", Janus shouted.  "Stop hurting her!"  Lavos did not respond.  He simply lowered the intensity enough so that Aeris could breath, and thus scream.  Janus saw how it brought delight to Lavos and he felt anger in his soul.  A righteous anger over how Lavos was torturing Aeris, something that Qui-Xi had told him to be careful with but not to fear like other angers.

     Janus stood to his feet, drew in a breath, and pushed his hands forward.  Lavos never saw the attack coming and was thrown to the wall.  The energy around Aeris disappeared and she collapsed to the floor, barely conscious.  Janus approached Lavos and a bright bolt of light emerged from his hand, slamming into Lavos as he tried to stand and knocking him back down.  "I said stop hurting her!"

     Lavos howled in rage and jumped to his feet.  Now prepared, he deflected Janus's next attack and went straight up to him, wrapping his hands around Janus's throat.  He squeezed, cutting off Janus's windpipe, and lifted him off his feet.  "YOU DARE TO STRIKE ME, WRETCHED MORTAL?!", Lavos thundered.

     Janus tried to answer, but all that came out was a harsh cough and wheeze.  His lungs ached, demanding oxygen.  His throat was growing sore from the pressure of Lavos's hands pressed against his throat.  Lavos realized he was killing the one thing he needed, and let go, allowing Janus to drop to the floor.  He let Janus recover before lifting him again, this time with his mental power.  He sent a few jolts of energy through the boy, causin Janus to yelp.  "Do that again," Lavos rasped, "and I will tie you to the Machine and make you watch as I kill the girl.  And her demise will be slow and oh so very painful."  He dropped Janus to the ground and stomped out.

     Weakened but still coherent, Janus crawled over to Aeris.  He lifted her into his arms and felt her chest heave as her lungs sucked in air.  She moaned and her eyes slowly opened.  "Pathetic," she said hoarsely.

     "Why did you do that?", Janus asked.  "You knew he wouldn't take it well."

     "I.... replace.... Crono...."  Aeris tried to lift an arm but couldn't; she was too weak from pain.  "He.... can torment me.... freely.... like he.... would.... them...."

     Janus felt hot tears flowing down his face.  "Aeris, please don't do that again."

     "He's.... so.... pathetic.... so weak....  can't.... even.... control.... himself...."  Aeris lapsed into unconsciousness.

     Janus wiped one of the tears off his cheek and put the hand he used on her's.  He wanted to say something, but he couldn't.  So he remained silent.

 

 

     "Good, good!"  Garai nodded with approval at Marlene's control as she deflected another test parry made by him.  The two were standing in a grass yard, near the water of the Acacian city of Termina.  Nearby were the homes of both Garai and of Zappa, a fellow Deva of the Dragoons.  In the distance, the setting sun was visible, little different in color and brightness from the one their world had originally orbited.  Garai deflected a few attacks by Marlene, who took care to not overextend herself.  "Keep your feet balanced.  You are doing well."

     "Garai, might I ask, that sword you were using when we fought, what is it?"

     "It is the Einlanzer.  A sword forged millennia ago by Dragonians, a Dragon race that used to live in El Nido," Garai answered.  "It is traditionally given to the best swordsman of the Dragoons."

     "It has some kind of enchantment, as the metal itself should not have resisted the blade of a lightsaber."

     "Yes, it does have magical properties."  Garai absentmindedly pivoted on the wrong foot, momentarily losing his balance.  Marlene placed her hand toward him and pushed him onto his back.  With a sly grin she put her weapon's tip toward him.  "I deserved that," he said.  "I stopped paying attention."

     "And I took advantage of it."  Marlene helped him up.  "But if it is any consolation, I could only do so because of those special talents I have."

     Garai dusted himself off for a moment.  During this time the door to Zappa's home opened.  In the doorway was his wife, Zippa, in a modest apron and house suit.  "Supper's ready!"

     Looking to Marlene, Garai asked, "Are you hungry?  I think Zappa would not mind if I offered you a place at his table."

     It took only a moment for Marlene to consider it.  "I would be honored."

 

 

     In the basement meeting room, Reeves and Qui-Xi stepped aside for a moment as Reeves' subordinates continued speaking with Guardia.  "You are on edge," Qui-Xi said.

     "Why shouldn't I be?  In the space of one day, our first hyperspace ship gets stolen and an entirely new planet pops up nearby,"  Reeves replied.  "And you say that this maniac Lavos is still out there, and has released something that eats planets?"

     "I understand your discomfort, Chancellor, but until Cloud and the others return with the Crystals, we have nothing to do but to establish the Republic on this world.  Guardia's hold on the peace grows more tenuous with each passing day.  The Republic, and the Jedi, can ensure that the peace is not lost to the likes of Porre."

     "And what will I tell Kisaragi?"

     Qui-Xi drew in an exasperated breath.  "Surely Lord Kisaragi will see the wisdom in establishing what could be a very lucrative economic market on this world."

     "You know he will do anything to split the Republic."

     "Not split it, he merely desires an ascendant Wutai, Republic or no Republic," Qui-Xi pointed out.  "We shall have to see how things progress.  For the moment, it would be wise to continue these discussions."

     There was a beep from within Qui-Xi's robes, and he pulled out a small comm device.  "Yes?"

     On the other end, the pilot of the Bane stated, "Master Qui-Xi, we have gotten a signal from home.  The Aeris has departed for the valley."

     "Good.  Then Schala has awakened?"

     "Yes.  According to their message, Schala knows where to find the Black Omen."

     Qui-Xi looked to Reeves.  "Chancellor, I must be returning now.  I shall have the pilot of the Bane return here when he has dropped me off at Nibelheim."

     "Let's hope you're right about these Crystals, Qui-Xi, or I fear greatly for the future."

     "I wish I could reassure you, Chancellor, but as it stands now, I cannot."  Qui-Xi walked toward the exit.  "I shall see if Crono and Marle wish to join me."

 

 

     There were two royal bedrooms in the Castle of Guardia, and each had large windows pointing to the outside world.  Marle was looking outside one of the windows, admiring the night sky.  The stars, even if they were arranged differently, still twinkled beautifully.  And she could see the other planet from here, albeit not the entire portion she had viewed from the nightsky of the other world.

     Everything had changed, it seemed.  Downstairs, her father and the Chancellor were still discussing with Reeves just what could be done to bring Guardia up to the standard of the Republic.  Joining the Republic might take a while, but the two planets would be friends, not enemies.  And the things this other world had, aircraft that dwarfed even the Zealian Blackbird that Marle remembered from the past, underwater vehicles, radios and televisions, cars, she had heard all of these things discussed.  One could only wonder what the future would hold.

     She felt an arm move around her stomach and turned to face Crono.  He seemed tired, having only slept on the trip between the planets.  "You look tired."

     "I am tired.  And they're still going at it."

     "You should get some sleep."

     He took her hands and put them together.  "I'd rather spend some more time with you.  I almost lost you today.  All because of him."

     Marle smiled at him.  "We're going to get him again.  Lavos is going to be finished off.  We won't let him get away."

     "That should have been me," Crono said to her.

     "I couldn't let him hurt you.  Remember," she drew closer to Crono, "I love you.  I've loved you since the first time I laid eyes on you."

     "I agree with that."  Crono put a hand along the side of her neck and bare shoulder.  "Just, try not to get run through again."

     He was answered by a giggle.  "I'll try not," Marle promised.  Their lips joined together in a kiss and they edged toward the waiting bed.

     Before it could become anything more, there was a knock at the door.  Seeming a little disappointed, Crono went to the locked door and opened it.  Qui-Xi stood at the entrance, and bowed respectfully to them.  "I was coming to see if either of you would like to return to my world with me."

     Crono looked back at Marle, who stood up.  "Is there anything going on?"

     "Silas and Schala are on their way to see how the others are doing in their pursuit of the Crystals," Qui-Xi answered.  "And Schala knows where Lavos is.  Once they return, we will likely be making our attack."

     They looked at each other for a brief moment.  "What are we waiting for?", came the final answer from Marle.

 

 

 

     A healthy aroma lifted from the table of Zappa's kitchen.  Marlene had chosen to sit on Garai's side of the table, on his right.  To her right Garai had sat one of his sons, Glenn.  The younger boy had to be repeatedly scolded for not eating his food as he sought to play with a trinket he had picked up.  Finally, to Glenn's right was the head of the table, where Zappa had taken up the customary position.

     On the other side of the table sat Zippa, beside her husband, and then her son Karsh across from Marlene and Garai's other son Dario aside from his father.  Dario and Karsh were more behaved, and friends from what Marlene saw.  On the table was a roasted meat, Marlene was not sure what animal it had been cooked from, a variety of vegetables, and finally, a bowl of squid gut pasta, which Garai assured Marlene was a beloved delicacy of Termina.

     "Everything got bright, and when the brightness relented, we noticed the new world in our sky," Garai said, continuing the conversation.

     "'Twas a sight, tae."

     Marlene finished chewing and swallowing and continued with her own side of the story.  "There was a world left there, but it seemed to be a ghost world.  We feel when people die, but I felt nothing when the planet was eaten.  At the time I thought the monster planet had blocked the feeling, but when we got back, we realized what had happened."

     "Is the monster planet going to come back?", Dario asked in a fearful tone.

     "We don't know, but Master Qui-Xi will find a solution.  He always does."  Marlene took another bite.

     "Ye said ye'd feel our deaths, what dae ye mean by that?"

      Looking over to Zappa, Marlene answered, "Through the Force, we would feel it."

     "The Force?"

     "It's an energy that exists in the universe, going through all things.  We Jedi have learned to use the Force for various things.  To make us faster, to make it where we can communicate across vast distances and with our minds, and to move and manipulate objects with our minds."

     "Sorcery!", Zippa exclaimed.  "We've seen nothin' like that since the Magus was defeated!"

     "Call it what you like," Marlene answered, somewhat surprised at the vehemence in Zippa's voice.  "We use our abilities to keep the peace of our world, and to ensure justice is done."

     "So, you can move things with your mind?"

     To answer Karsh, Marlene pulled a hand up.  The fork at his side moved into the air and levitated.  After a few seconds, she lowered it again.  The children stared in amazement.  "Wow!"

     "We normally aren't allowed to use the Force for such trivial matters," Marlene admitted.  "We are only supposed to use it if we need to."

     A beam came from within Marlene's pocket.  She reached down and pulled out a small device from her hip pocket.  "Yes Master Qui-Xi?"

     "We are returning to the Planet, Marlene.  Schala has awoken and she knows where to find Lavos."

     Marlene's expression hardened.  "Yes, Master.  I am in Termina, near the shore.  I will be waiting for you."

     "We will arrive shortly."

     Returning the small communicator back to her trousers, Marlene stood from the table.  "I apologize, Grandmaster Zappa, but I must be going now.  I shall speak to you all later."  She turned and went to the door.

     Garai exchanged a look with Zappa, and then said, "Please, watch my children until I return."

     "Ye're goin'?", Zappa asked.

     "Yes."  Garai's jaw clenched.  "Whatever this dark force is, they will need help in destroying it."  He stood from the table and bowed to Zippa.  "Lady Zippa, as always you make a fine meal.  I trust you with my sons."  He stepped toward the door after Marlene, taking the time to take Einlanzer off of the mount he had set it on, on Zappa's wall.

     Marlene was looking at the night sky when Garai stepped out behind her.  "I'm going with you," he announced.

     "I couldn't ask you do, Garai," Marlene replied.  "I don't know what's going to happen.  You have two young boys who need you, now that their mother is gone."

     "I know.  But my children could perish if this threat is not destroyed," Garai responded.  "And I feel myself honorbound to work toward that goal."

     Marlene lowered her eyes.  "Okay, then.  Master Qui-Xi should be here shortly."  She drew in a breath as Garai drew closer.  "There is something you should know, Garai."

     "Yes?"

     "We Jedi can sense others who are strong in the Force, even if they have no training."  Marlene swallowed.  "And I sensed such a presence just now, in the dining room with the others."

     "And who is it?", Garai asked.

     "Dario."  Marlene shook her head.  "I didn't think it proper to say it at the table, but Dario is strong in the Force.  He could be trained as a Jedi, like I was."

     Garai drew in a breath and gave a short nod.  "Perhaps.  But we should leave that up to Dario."

     "I know.  I just thought you should know."

     Overhead, a low rumble could be heard.  From the distance, the sleek Bane drew closer until it hovered directly overhead.  The side door opened and a rope ladder was thrown down.  Garai gestured upward and said, "Ladies first."

     Marlene showed a sly grin before jumping onto the ladder and climbing up.  Garai followed behind.

 

 

     Lights broke through the darkness around Cloud when Mariya finished cutting away a broken door.  "What?  Someone managed to keep the lights going this long?", Cloud asked rhetorically while following Mariya through.

     "Something has taken great pains to maintain this place," Mariya commented.  She held her inactive lightsaber close while Vincent came through.  "The Crystals are close, that I can sense."

     "Right... you are... hee hee hee..."

     The strange, high-pitched voice prompted Cloud to pull out Excalibur and Mariya to flip on her lightsaber.  "Who's there?!", Cloud shouted.

     "I... am Lugae!  So long... hee hee... so long since I had someone for one of my experiments...  Come!  I require subjects!"

     Ahead of them, a slurping green mass seeped together from the ground and began forming into a lump.  "What is that?"

     "Silly heroes thought they killed me... hee hee hee!  But I was smarter than I thought!  I had this form to fall back on!  Hee hee hee!"

     "I can barely understand the gibberish in his mind."  Mariya lifted her saber above her head as the shape turned into a puddle and moved toward them.  "He's been here for millennia, living off of the nocturnal monsters."

     "Come to me, my sweet... hee hee hee..."  Lugae slurped toward Mariya.  She swiped her lightsaber along the floor, scorching and destroying some of the biomass of Lugae while stepping back.  More mass replaced it and began to wrap around her foot.  The entire mess coalesced into a single humanoid form and lifted Mariya up with it's new arms.  Lugae threw her toward the nearest wall.  Mariya turned her feet to the wall and jumped off of it, hitting the floor on her side and rolling to a crouched position.

     Cloud drove his sword through the back of the biomass.  Lugae screeched and mass came out of his back to slam Cloud backward.  Lugae re-organized his mass to "turn" to face Cloud.

     Vincent howled and began morphing into his Chaos beast form.  Taking flight, he began peppering Lugae with shots from his rifle.  The energy bolts blew bits and pieces of Lugae's mass away, destroying them.  A solid mass punched out toward Vincent from Lugae's right shoulder.  He nimbly dodged as it raced by him.  The rest of Lugae's mass followed as soon as the first parts touched the wall behind Vincent.  Lugae reformed himself into a wide mass and propelled himself toward Vincent, too large for Vincent to avoid.  Lugae knocked him out of the air and to the ground, making a slurping sound as he reached solid ground.  "Oooh.... I am enjoying this."

     Mariya looked toward the door at the far-end of the chamber.  "Cloud!  The Crystals!  Get one!"

     "Why?!"

     "Trust me!"  Mariya swung her lightsaber through Lugae as he surged toward her again.  Parts of Lugae's mass were burned away, angering him further.  He plowed into Mariya and pushed her against the wall, pummelling her with his mass.  Before he could continue his attack, Vincent flew straight into him and knocked enough of Lugae's mass away that he had to reform again.

     Cloud had broken into a run for the door, cursing his age and the slow speed he was making.  As the door opened Lugae swept in front of him and blockaded the door.  "No!  You must not have my Crystals!"

     "Out of my way."  Cloud thrust the sword into Lugae again.  The holy power of the Excalibur burned Lugae to his core, causing him to disassemble with an agonized screech and giving Cloud entry to the crystal room.  Within display stands of solid crystal and glass, the eight Crystals glistened with light and dark energies.  Cloud went to the nearest Light Crystal and snatched it up as Lugae moved toward him again.  The Crystal seemed to bond with Excalibur for a moment, and a tongue of fire erupted from the tip of the holy sword, enveloping Lugae.  He fell back, disorientated and coming apart from the heat.

     From the other room, Mariya shouted, "Cloud!  The Water Crystal!  Use it with your Ice Materia!"

     While Lugae started reforming, Cloud jumped over to the next Light Crystal, which had been opposite the Fire Crystal.  "Hmm, let's see..."  Cloud pulled the Ice Materia from his pocket and pushed it against the Crystal.

     "Do not touch my Crystals!"  Lugae didn't evne bother reforming completely, he just rushed toward Cloud like a tidal wave.

     A bluish field appeared around both the crystal and the Ice Materia and a geyser of water erupted from it.  The water struck Lugae straight on, turning his mass to ice as they collided.  Lugae cried, "No!  No!" as every portion of his mass became a block of ice.  Cloud sighed and pocketed the Materia.  He pulled out a sac and put the Water and Fire Crystals in it.  "Let's get the Crystals, and get them now."

     As they spoke, a rumble was felt overhead.  "I think we set off something," Vincent remarked.

     "A trap mechanism!", Mariya shouted.  "To ensure nobody could take the Crystals!  Quickly!"  Mariya reached out with the Force and began grabbing Crystals that Vincent and Cloud did not reach.  When all were collected, they took the time only to throw them in the sack with the other two before sprinting away as quickly as possible.  Behind them, the buried tower began to crumble and fall.

     Vincent pulled out a Time Materia and a reddish mist covered Cloud, hasting him and allowing him to keep up with the swifter Mariya.  He could feel the cave crumbling above him as Vincent did the same to himself, and narrowly missed being crushed.  Close to each other, the trio raced across the distance at a sprint, being pushed by survival instinct with the cave crumbling behind them.  Only a few monsters actually tried to get in the way, and all were avoided and perished under the falling debris.

     When the entrance came into sight, they began to slow a bit, having outrun the destruction somewhat.

     Suddenly a roar came from in front of them.  The threesome stopped to see the Chimera from before obstructing the exit.  While it's lion-head dangled uselessly, the other heads were still as threatening as ever, and the creature advanced to attack them.  Cloud looked back and saw the cave behind them beginning to crumble.  "We should've killed that damn thing before!"

     From the other side, there was the sound of lightsabers igniting.  A familiar purple and green blur sliced through the Chimera's rear.  It's heads howled before being severed by the lightsabers of Schala and Silas.  "Quickly!", Silas yelled.

     Each took off in a sprint for the yawning exit.  Silas and Schala exited first.  Mariya came next.  Cloud and Vincent closely followed her, Vincent shifting back to his normal form just as he emerged from the exit.  The reddish mist around Cloud disappeared as he picked himself up off the ground.  "I'm getting... too old... for this," he panted.

     Silas helped his old friend up to his feet.  "How did it go?"

     Mariya opened the sack of Crystals, and everyone could see that eight were inside them.  "We've got them."

     Silas and Schala exchanged relieved glances.  Cloud saw the Aeris and asked, "What about our chopper?"

     Schala bowed her head.  "He apparently tried to take off some time ago, when you didn't return.  But the fog was too thick, and he had no Force training.  We spotted the debris as we landed."

     "Fool," Vincent muttered.  "Stupid fool."

     From above, an object pierced the clouds and drew closer.  It was recognized as the Bane before it landed on it's triple struts.  The door opened on the side and permitted Qui-Xi to exit, with the others behind him.  Upon Marlene stepped off the ramp, it pulled off and the Bane took off again.  "Cloud, may I introduce Crono, Marle, and Garai," Qui-Xi stated.  "This is Cloud and Vincent," he introduced to the others.  "And one of my Jedi, Mariya."

     "Nice haircut," Cloud remarked as he and Crono shook hands.  "Looks like something I had when I was your age."

     "Master, we have the Crystals."  Mariya handed Qui-Xi the sack.  "It took some doing, but they're all there."

     Qui-Xi took one of the Light Crystals out and looked it over.  "Then, we have a chance."

     "Yes, we do," Schala agreed.  "Let's go back to Nibelheim, and plan to get Janus and Aeris back."

     Cloud's head turned sharply to face Qui-Xi.  "What happened?"

     Qui-Xi frowned.  "It is a long story, Cloud.  But, now that we have the Crystals, I feel we can remedy the situation."

     And from half a light year away, Unicron howled with rage....

 

 

     Aeris's breathing had returned to normal by the time she stirred.  Janus had sat her against the wall with him, and had put her head beside his shoulder.  Her eyes opened slowly, which Janus noticed.  "Aeris, are you okay?"

     "I hurt all over," she replied.  "But other than that, I'm fine.  Has he been back?"

     "No."  Janus lowered his head.  "And I feel he is angry.  Something has developed that he does not like."

     "I see."

     Janus wrapped an arm around Aeris's back to pull her closer.  "I've taken this time to think, Aeris.  To think about Marlene... about me... and about you."

     Aeris let Janus take and hold one of her hands, the other hand over his shoulders and behind his neck.  "What is it?"

     "Oh, I thought very hard about things."  Janus drew in a breath.  "I always felt like I wanted Marlene, but I don't anymore.  I realize that I was never meant for her, nor her for me.  We're just not compatible.  We'll be nothing more than friends, no matter what I would want."

     "And?", Aeris said in anticipation.

     "I've come to realize that there's been someone closer to me than Marlene ever was.  Someone who, from the time we were children, was always there to encourage me, to help me and give me advice.  Someone whom I could count on."  Janus grinned at her.  "And someone who was always been far too humble to see just how beautiful she could be, and how much she could inspire me to love."

     Aeris smiled back.  "Just like I've always felt there was a boy, a young man, who I could always depend on, who would give me help when I needed it, or advice, and who would encourage me."  She swallowed.  "Someone I could love."

     "So, Aeris, I apologize for being so blind."  Janus pulled his hand from her's and pressed it to her cheek.  "No matter what happens, know that I truly am sorry for not recognizing what we could be together until it was too late."

     "I should have let you known about how I felt earlier, Janus, then you might have realized this sooner."  Aeris put a hand on Janus's shoulder.  "And don't give up.  We might yet get out of this."

     "I hope we do.  There is so much for us to do now."

     A very uncharacteristic twinkle appeared in Aeris's eye.  "And how will Marlene feel that she has lost her most loyal suitor?"

     This brought a brief laugh from Janus.  "I think she will understand," he replied.  "And that she will not be disappointed."

     There was nothing more to be said beside the obvious.

     "Janus, I love you."

     "Aeris, I love you."

     Their revelations to each other shared, their lips drew together and they kissed warmly.

 

 

     One of the many rooms within the Jedi Order's headquarters in Nibelheim was now occupied by the various worlds' heroes, now aware of the threat thanks to Schala's explaination.

     Although, considering Cloud's expression, he seemed to have a problem believing it.  "Okay," he began, "you're saying that this planet-eating thing has been released by another thing, the thing trying to devour Schala's world, and that this thing wants to use the planet-eating thing trying to eat this world to destroy all existance?"

     "Not all existance, simply this universe," Schala answered.  "But other than that, yes."

     "Ah."  Cloud smirked.  "And here I thought that the situation was bad."

     "I think it's clear that both have to be stopped.  The Crystals may be able to stop Unicron, but some of you must be on the Omen to thwart Lavos directly.  He is, I must say, the greater threat."

     "And what if we defeat Lavos but Unicron wins?", Marlene asked.

     "Then our world dies, perhaps Crono's world too..."  Qui-Xi folded his arms.  "But our universe is preserved."

     "So, how do we get to the Omen?  Lavos will see it coming," Lucca said.  "And he'll try and stop us."

     "The Bane won't do in this situation.  We need something that can face whatever Lavos can throw at it, a ship of power..."  Qui-Xi's eyebrows raised.  "Of course."

     "Of course what?"

     Qui-Xi looked to Silas.  "Silas, you are supposedly the last descendant of Cecil of Baron.  Perhaps you, with the power of the Crystals and Excalibur, could call up the Big Whale from the ocean."

     "The Big Whale?"

     "Yes, an ancient ship built by a Lunarian engineer, KluYa.  It was capable of interplanetary travel.  And according to legend, it was returned to the sea after Cecil used it in case it would be needed in the future."

     "Master Qui-Xi, do you know where we could call up the Whale?"

     "That, I am not sure of," Qui-Xi commented.  "It may simply be a matter of performing the prayer with the power of the Crystals, and it will appear where it is needed."

     Before any others could speak, Qui-Xi felt a strong ripple of darkness appearing in the Force.  Overcoming Lavos' dark energies quickly, it was of terrifying power, and the familiarity of it made Qui-Xi gasp.

     The other Jedi had sensed it.  "Master?"  Marlene clutched her head, a little dazed from the power of the ripple.

     "No, not him.  How...."  Qui-Xi stood to his full height, fighting off the effects of the ripple on his mind.  "We have no time to waste.  We must begin now."

     "Then, Master, allow us to go to the Omen," Schala asked.  "Silas and I will bring Janus and Aeris home."

     "We'll go too," Crono offered, standing with his friends.

     "And me!"  Marlene jumped to her feet.

     "No," Qui-Xi said.  "Marlene, you must stay here, and with me.  We will journey for the Chamber of Light immediately after the Big Whale is called."

     Her jaw dropped open.  "But... Master Qui-Xi!"

     "Marlene, I will need you by my side to aid me.  Cloud, would you mind going along as well?"

     "Of course not," Cloud answered.

     Marlene's expression was one of anger and hurt pride.  But she grudgingly nodded.  "Yes, Master Qui-Xi, I will remain with you," she said sullenly.

     "Master Qui-Xi, I will accompany you as well, if you desire," Garai offered.

     "I would be most appreciative, Grandmaster Garai," the elder Jedi Master answered.  "We begin immediately.  Come."

 

 

     Time and space bent before the massive creature known and feared as Unicron.  A pocket of oxygen appeared and in it, a single figure, having been ripped from what he had been occupied in doing and placed before Unicron.  He seemed so insignificant to the monster planet creature, so frail and easily crushed...

     But he was needed.

     "What?", the figure said in a raspy tone.  "What is this?!  What are you?!"

     "I am Unicron, your new Master.  I have need of your services."

     "I already have a Master," the being retorted.

     "But he is not here, I am.  Your continued existance is at my mercy, not his."

     There was a moment of silence.  "What is it you require?"

     "This is my command to you, Dark One.  You will go to the nearby planet and destroy the Crystals that are there.  They are the one thing that could stop me from my feeding."

     "Why do you fear these Crystals?"

     "They are immensely powerful, and in the hands of the Jedi, a threat to my existance."

     "The Jedi?!  The Jedi are extinct," the figure scoffed.  "They have already been obliterated."

     "You are incorrect, Dark One.  The Jedi continue, on the nearly planet.  Qui-Xi Lao survived the purge of Palpatine, and has begun a new Order.  You must assure that they pose no obstacle to my devouring of their world."

     "More Jedi?  That will be difficult.  What is in this for me?"

     "I shall provide you with a ship to make your journey, and my hunters, the Sweeps."

     This did not seem to convince the being before Unicron.  "And what else?  Surely I deserve more than just that."

     "You try my patience, Dark One.  Fortunately for you, I am in a generous mood," Unicron responded angrily.  "If you succeed, I will restore your body to it's full health, and give to you power you have not yet comprehended.  The one you have served will serve you in turn, or will be destroyed."

     Now this seemed to work.  "Very well, I shall do as you ask."

     "Very good."

     Unicron used his power to forge the ship in question, and to give form to his hunters.  As a last act, he transported his new servant to the control deck of the small ship.  There, he was greeted by one of the robotic hunters.  "I am Scourge," the robot pronounced.  "I am at your command, Lord."

     "Set course for the nearest star system."  The being felt a particular presence on one of the worlds in the system, and knew it was his target.  He pointed it out on a screen.  "Take us to this world."

     "Immediately, my Lord."

     The ship fired it'e engines and raced away from Unicron.  As it did so, Unicron bellowed his orders again.

     "Go forth, Darth Vader, destroy Qui-Xi and the Crystals..."

 

 

To be Continued....