Chapter CLXXXIII: On The Road Again…Finally(?) ~Multehx

C.R. heaved a sigh of boredom as he leaned against a rock. Multehx was running a buffing cloth over his sword, but glanced over at his companion at this sound.

“What’s the prob’?” the green-skinned demon asked.

“Nothing, just a tad bored with all this waiting.”

Multehx smirked. “Well, you shouldn’t be with that strange energy blast and all. That thing was INTENSE!” He looked up at the sky, frowning in thought. “Say, where did that shot go?”

“Well, by my calculations, it refracted off some multiversal stars, pierced the dimensional boundary, and near obliterated a once alien-inhabited homeworld, now the center for activity concerning the Wanderers.”

“....In English?”

“Oh, simply means that the blast was fired from the hole in the mountains over there, bankshot off some stars, hugged the rim of the multiverse and changed universes, Xel’Neh-mi, corner pocket.”

Multehx scratched the side of his head. “Oh...the Spectrum and the folks ok?”

The Rip Watcher nodded. “Pretty much. Only planetary destruction of a bit over half the planet’s original mass.”

“Oh...well, I suppose that’s OK then...long as no one was hurt.”

The two continued passing the time for a few moments. Multehx determinedly buffed a rather serious burn-mark out of the Rhyjulian and C.R. took out his pocket watch and began to try and set it to the exact time to within the fraction of a pico-second. Finally, the orange-skinned one looked over at his companion.

He frowned slightly, obviously having a question on his mind. “Say, Tehx, I’ve always wondered something...”

The agent looked over. “And what’s that?”

“Well, since that diamond prevents me reading your mind and just finding out, I have to ask, why are you so hardened a guy and defensive?”

Multehx blinked and thought for a moment. “Well, the job requires it.”

C.R. shook his head. “That’s a cop out answer. I want the real reason.”

Multehx frowned, folded his arms, and closed his eyes.

“...Hmm...well...I’m not too sure. But...I’d guess it’s-“

“Yes?”

“I guess I act tough...because...I want no one to really get that close to me.”

C.R. raised an eyebrow. “Why’s that??”

Multehx frowned and put the Rhyjulian in its place on his back. “First off, it’s the job; I don’t want anyone gettin’ close to me as they tend to do heroic things outta friendship...like sacrificing themselves for you, or just taking the shot for you.” He shook his head. “You know I’m not about that, C.R.. If I earned pain or it’s just meant for me, I prefer takin’ it as opposed to someone else. I can take it, no need to worry over my well being.”

The older of the two shook his head and smiled slightly. “Well, what else then?”

“Well...I...sorta....” Multehx trailed off, mumbling something.

C.R. quirked a brow. “I have good hearing, but didn’t get that. Mind saying it again, a bit louder?”

Multehx frowned and repeated what he said in an irritated tone: “I said, I don’t know who I am really!”

C.R. frowned in confusion. “I thought you learned all about that?”

“No, that’s not what I mean. I mean...yes, I know I am Tony Verdemere, I remember my years as him, but...I dunno...it’s like my whole life has been an illusion kept alive by a tough front these past few years. I mean...it finally makes sense to me now.”

“And what’s that?”

Multehx sighed. “It’s Rhyjulian. He’s why I’m near undefeatable. He’s keeping me totally fit and in good fighting spirits. He realizes the power of the diamond and doesn’t trust anyone but me with it, so he helps me put on the tough front to strengthen the illusion; my ‘identity’, my ‘self’.” He shook his head, frowning. “It truly is an endless series of fights to me. I don’t know what I want, or where I’m going in life, I don’t have any true goals, or any true dreams; I only have the desire to fight, keep the diamond safe, and kill Havering.”

C.R. slowly nodded, then asked, “Well, what about your recent fascination with that yoshi?”

Multehx went red in the face before replying. “I...don’t know...I just feel so...well…”

C.R. shook his head, smiling. “Never mind about it. I can estimate what you’d say.”

Multehx nodded and C.R. pocketed his watch. The Rip Watcher smirked and folded his arms across his chest.

“Tehx, take it as your goal: your goal on this ‘trek’ to find out a bit about yourself. Make it your goal, take notice of yourself, and fight like you always do, but this time so you can live longer to find out more.”

Multehx scratched his head. “Yeah, I guess so, but right now...for some reason...I’m getting a real bad feeling in my gut about something...”

-----

Havering adjusted his collar, still feeling Markior’s hands upon it. His eye twitched and they both narrowed in anger.

“Yes, quite, explanations are in order, but first–“

With that, Havering threw both of his arms up, bent at the wrists, throwing Markior’s hands off his neck. He glared coldly, his black pupils flashing with black fire.

“Don’t TOUCH me again,” he said in a threatening voice, walking towards the back of the train.

Markior was angry indeed, but Lich’s hand on his shoulder kept him from losing it. Havering grinned evilly as he paced.

“Well, all quite elementary, so even you should get it, Protoss lizard.”

Markior growled, but Havering continued. “After my demise to your wretched hands sped up, I made my own accommodations in one of the many ‘mid-dimensions’. In this time, consisting of approximately five years, a new threat did arise. The aptly named ‘Twilighter Council’; aptly named as they consist near entirely of Twilighters. One is a reconstruction of an Infect I created, now quite traitorous to me: NecronimusII he calls himself.”

Markior instantly recognized the name and growled in obvious rage.

Havering shrugged and continued walking towards the rear of the car. “No matter, he shall not stand long.”

Markior raised a spectral eye. What? You plan to kill him? Or the agent?

Havering frowned slightly. “There’s been no trace of the Agent for five years...and not me.” He glanced over his shoulder. He looked deathly serious. “There’s someone I know of who’s just as ruthless as I. Not as fearsome a foe, but still...ruthless enough.”

There was a lurching of the train and it could be felt moving once again. Havering turned and walked towards the bedrooms, brushing Markior aside.

“I’ll enlighten you to the rest later, if I feel like it. Or perhaps the orange lizard shall. Either way, I’ll be in my room. Knock and address yourself before entering....we won’t even discuss the consequences of not doing such...”

And with that, he stepped into a room and closed the door tight behind him.