Chapter CXVI:
R&R No More ~Multehx
Havering reappeared and shook with rage. Rynn had not moved from the spot in near two hours. Didn't
these people know he was trying
to revive here?! What incompetent beings! It was a wonder they beat him back on
Zolott! He struck her with the back of his gloved
hand, seething with frustration. "WELL? We've established the fact that
the scenery here does not change, can we get with the moving already?! Or am I gonna have to take charge again?"
He groaned and vanished once more.
---
The council regathered in the main meeting chambers. Orson, leaning on his
mahogany crooked-cane hobbled up to the group. Malachai
looked around, then nodded, resting his gloved hand on
a sword hilt at his belt. "Gathered you all here to note an alteration in
the plans- We WILL be seeking to destroy the Creation's Weapons not ours, but
first, we must do something else. I've arranged for an 'encounter' with those
blasted heroes on Medghelica;
true, it's a wasteland, with rock, volcanoes, sparse grass, always night there,
but the terrain would give US the advantage I feel."
There was a murmur between the council members then several nods of affirmation.
Malachai grinned, twirling the end of his moustache
with thumb and index finger. "The revival is within our grasp- let us be victorious!!"
---
C.R. was alone in the inn room. Everyone else was off venturing in their homeworlds, and the ones who remained with him were down
stairs in the bar, getting some refreshment. It seemed placid enough, but just
the same, he froze in his tracks. He blinked in confusion before he fell to his
knees, grasping his head and groaning under intense strain.
Malachai appeared before him, snickering, arms
crossed over his chest. Through the pain, the Rip Watcher managed to look up
and get out, "D..da..mmit what do you want, y-you heartless old b..bast..rd?!"
Malachai chuckled and turned to the window, twisting
the end of his bushy moustache. "Why, sir, do you always assume I want something? Can't an old teacher
visit his students once and awhile?" C.R. wanted to respond, but the pain
got too intense and he fell to his front, still clenching his head. The aged
demon turned and smiled cruelly. "Hmm, getting weak are we? Not a strong young demon any more, are you?"
He watched C.R. writing in pain for a moment before chuckling and continuing.
"You know, my gang does so
badly wish to meet with yours; down on Medghelica,
little south of the 56th sector of the 19th universe? They wish to have a
little 'get-to-gether' with your recruits." He
hesitated and stopped smiling. "Besides, we know what you're hiding. It's
time to face the music dear boy. You shall hand him over."
"Grah! N..No!
Drezht rintae you old coot!!" C.R. growled as he still
grasped his head. Malachai closed his eyes.
"Just remember, don't keep us waiting, and bring us the boy." He
faded before hearing the rest of C.R.'s curses upon
him, his mother, and various members of his family tree. As
soon as the head councilman had left. C.R. breathed more calmly. He
released his head and slowly stood up. He went to the couch and fell down on
it, sitting. The only sound was his slow, shallow breaths.
That is, until the door opened. Ian walked in and took a seat on the other end.
C.R. looked over questioningly at him. Ian shrugged. "I didn't feel like
wasting any brain cells by getting plain wasted. Jaded and Ratch are still down
there in a drinkin’ contest. Scilas
left to go see the woods or something a bit ago. I just guess I decided to
return.
C.R. slowly nodded and neither of the two said a thing. Finally, Ian closed his
eyes, and abruptly said, "They were here, weren't they?"
"Yes," C.R. really replied. Ian looked over, just as serious as he
always was. "And they wanted me, didn't they?" Again, C.R. replied in
the affirmative. Ian groaned and leaned his head back. "@#%$ it all...it's
been this way for...how long has it been?" C.R. began to reply before the
young man shook his head and cut him off. "No, forget I asked. Sometimes,
you're better off not knowing the true length."
They sat, and for a time, not a word was said. Then, the boy looked over, and
said, just as seriously, "It's not going to last much longer with me
around, anyways." C.R. looked hurt in a way and sadly looked over.
"Why do you say that?" "'Cause," the human said, adjusting
his place on the couch, "The Hoshi is getting close, and we're going to
have someone rejoining us who'll know something's afoot instantly." C.R. quirked a brow.
"You don't mean-"
Ian nodded. "Yeah...I felt something change the other day. Was caused by a change in that place. He's still around, and
trying to find a way back." The Twilighter shook
his head and smiled slightly. "Stubborn aliens...they never learn."
Ian grinned slightly, propping his shoes up on a coffee table. "True
enough. If ya think about it hard
enough."
C.R. chuckled. "I see where you're heading." He slowly nodded,
smiling. "Yes...I'd have to agree." Ian grinned then frowned in
thought again. "You know, something bugs me.."
"What's that?" "Well...alien, natural being, nature, all we're
taught...kinda irrelevant when ya think of it. Best
way to learn is to go out and try stuff- if it works, it works. If it messes
up, hey, we know one thing not to try again. I don't think teaching makes one
much smarter. For each fact gained, one must be lost you know. What if we
didn't gain any, but tried to perfect the ones we had?"
C.R. smiled, folding his arms over his chest. "I think that's why there's
an after-existence." He smirked. "I don't wanna
say 'Afterlife', cause then it'd mean I was set in a religion. But I'm not, so
I won't. I just know, there's somethin’
after this all is done."
Ian looked over. "Hmm? Inside
scoop on that?" The Rip Watcher shook his head, smiling. "No,
I have proof enough in all that exists." He adjusted his place as well,
getting comfortable. "I mean, why do we have things? For
a purpose. Why do we have things as complex as living beings that think,
feel, ration, philosophise, love, hate, and much more? That stuff is darn
special; I've never in my career been able to even make a half-assed clone of
one of them! I figure, all that stuff is so special...it's not gonna be wasted. It's not just gonna
flicker and fade from eternity. There's gonna be
something after it's time has come where it lives on, doing...something."
Ian closed his eyes and nodded. "Pretty logical when you
think if it that way. Pity some folks are too busy hatin’
and destroyin’ to think of that." C.R. nodded.
"Yeah…it is."
---
In the span of a few moments, a message was gotten out to various spots in the Multiverse. Vector suddenly thought of C.R., and their main
mission, and had a terrible feeling something was awry with it all. Naaro's concern for the safety of his
wife lead him down the thought trail that perhaps C.R. would know some
answers to this. Kyanosa was getting a strange
feeling deep down that the book just cut off and ended after one sentence of
the record-
"And so, Jadea
and Vole were defeated for the time being. But one can hardly know the answers
of what's to come on one's own."
Mazzic felt a cold chill in his spine, and Kaye, an
overwhelming need to return to the group, as if something of critical
importance were happening and needed someone to attend to them immediately.
6400 felt his thoughts turn to the safety of Sapphire, and then to those that
threatened them- the Twilighter Council. Could they
be stopped? If so...who should he ask? Or did he know who?...
---
The machine's whirring slowly died down. The massive double doors slid open.
The professor held his breath in excitement. The robot next to him was taken
off guard. EVERY being that
came out those doors, including himself was insane
with power the first few moments! But...this new creation...it was walking out;
calmly and collected. As it stepped into one of the remaining lights that cast
a faint light on the room, it opened those eyes- eyes that would either be the
saviour, or executioner of all.