Struggle Of Powers

[Jake the Sage]

Kallen was unable to hold back the attack any longer as the Mechanical Andrew's final foot landed right in front of her. Looking down the android bent down to sieze her in its clutches. "Dammit Everyone move!"

 

Hearing Kallen tell everyone to get back Todou immediately grabbed the radio-link and set it to his ear, "Nic! Come in Nic! Get back here ASAP! I'm recieving data that the arm is only a bit short of going critical and . . . well . . . Kallen is about to SHOOT!" he screamed the final part as the electrical sparks began to fly from the Radiant Wave Surger as Kallen attempted to hold on for a few more seconds. Yet all that came over the com link was static. With a final yell Kallen's temporarily upgraded Radiant Wave Surger fired a massive blast fully engulfing Andrew's beastly form, more powerful than anyone [even Todou] had expected.

 

As the blast raged over and inside the monstrosity its titanium alloy skin began to bubble from the energy and small explosions erupted over the entire frame. Everyone moved back behind Kallen as the beast wipped its arms around in blind agony. Akima was so exhausted that he had to lay on the ground nextto Yaming, fully expecting to be yelled at for over exerting himself again. Looking up at her eyes he could see the terror in them and then he heard her mutter a single name, "Nic . . ."

 

Yaming's fear for her commrade was not the only one as Natalie stood a few feet behind Kallen and started to cry. The last time she'd seen Cougar he was attacking Andrew, well within the range of the blast. Suddenly Cougar appeared behind Natalie and Kallen and dispersed his Alter. He started talking to Lora about Kallen, "You know she should really warn us before she does that, I was this close to getting blasted too." He held up his fingers showing less than an inch. Overjoyed Natalie embraced him in a hug as Yaming continued to stare at the emmitting blast from Kallen's weapon- the one that might end up killing their enemy and Nic . . .

 

In a final screech louder than any noise the enemy had emmitted before the entity exploded in a brilliant flash of radiant light. While the smoke billowed up not a soul could see the real Andrew making his escape from the back. As he flew away in the shape of a bird he turned his head and thought, "This isn't over . . . The Eastern Military WILL have your heads, ALL of you!"

 

Everyone looked in amazement while the smoke cleared to reveal the warped and shattered frame of the giant machine they had been fighting. Kallen looked down at her weapon, "Whoa . . . this is far stronger than I expected."

 

Sitting down Destined removed his hat and wipped his brow, "That's done . . . Andrew, was it?" What a monster he was." he said with a chuckle at the irony. As their boss spoke all Kyba and Darren could do from soiling themselves in awe was to sit down dumbfounded and jaws dropped.

 

"So . . . it's dead right?" one of the supers who had appeared with Destined asked. When he finished the android moved and everyone leaped to their feet. The beasts hand moved towards them and then it crashed to the ground, chest breaking apart and its head snapping away from the body- it was officially dead. Almost everyone gave a cheer and began to hug each other as the last bits of smoke floated out of the defeated android's eye shockets. With the smoke fading Catherine and Aya decided to move faster, heading directly for where the explosion had came from.

 

Kallen sat down and looked ove rto Lora with a big grin, "So what do you think?" Lora could do nothing but grin back and say she thought it was awesome and wanted to be strong enough to do something like that. As the two friends reacquant with each other Todou sat next to Yaming and Akima while pulling out his tools to remove the arm he gave to Nic as soon as possible. He turned to Yaming, "Can you take care of Akima quickly? I'm going to need your help to subdue Nic once the pain starts. He's going to start thrashing like mad and I'll need you to help him with the pain as I remove the arm."

 

Yaming only sat there with her eyes wide. Todou called to her again and again, on the fourth time she finally answered. "He . . . didn't make . . . it . . ." tears began to form in her eyes.

 

Akima was laying on his back with his shirt open, waiting on Yaming to stop the pain in his chest when he overheard her. He stood up and looked over as she held her hands over her face and began to gasp, fighting hard with all of her might not to cry.

 

Yaming held ehr tears back until she heard Natalie crying to Cougar and saying he should stop putting himself in danger. " . . . One of these days you're gonna get yourself hurt and then what will I do!" she cried while sitting on his chest- making it hard for him to breathe. Yaming couldn't contain herself anymore and began to wail out loud and pounded her hand on the ground, "Nic! Nic . . . No . . . You can't . . . leave me!"

 

As Yaming cried for Nic Destined, completely ignoring the young ladies cries, walked over and sat down next to Akima. "So answer me this. How come everytime I see you, you're flat on your back?" he asked with a sarcastic grin.

 

"Its a good thing he's not dead," Sky said as he floated down next to Destined and sighed, "then what would we do?"

 

"I think you mean, 'it's a good thing boss isn't in the mood to kill him.' Besides . . . he owes me . . . and l came to collect my payment. A simple proposition, really," Destined said, laying beside Akima, mocking him, "Wanna hear it?"

 

Hearing Destined talking was enough to distract Akima from getting up and walking over to Yamin as she continued to cry. He glared at Destined, waving off some supers who'd recognized him from the fight earlier, "To answer your question ti's because I'm still recovering and it's the best postition for healing. Also, what do you mean? I don't owe you anything."

 

"No one talks to the boss like that!"

"No one!" Kyba and Darren claimed as they pointed their fingers at Akima. Destined stretched, ignoring his minion's statements and continued to mock Akima' temporary immobility. "Refreshing . . . Anyway, of course you do! I didn't kill you in the mountain."

 

"That sounds like you owe Destined to me." Sky smiled sarcasticly. Kyba and Darren sulked off and sat down in shame. "I guess they don't need us right now."

"Nope . . ."

 

Akima scowled at Destined, "You really think I care? Go ahead, kill me now. I'm not gonna pay back a debt that doesn't exist." Akima suddenly smiled, "Actually if you not killing me in the mountain means I owe you... then Kallen beating that creature which you couldn't beat, and thus saving your hides, means that you owe her." He let that sink in, "So how about it, neither exists or both exist." Akima smiled at the position he'd trapped Destined in... and he'd only used words.

 

"Ah, you're a smart boy!" Destined smiled; he loved a challenge! He stood up and then bent down so his face was close to Akima's own face, "You got to the point fast . . . I knew you'd hate my guts . . . and that's why I'm going to force my ideals on you . . ." he said with an omionous smile.

 

Akima smirked, "Oh yeah... how's that?" Akima couldn't wait to hear this.

 

"I was hoping you'd ask. Lucifer?" Destined looked up at the hat as its mouth began to move and appeared to be chewing. With a large ammount of flem it spit something into Destined's hand. "LUCIFER!! A HUMAN FOOT!? CHEW YOUR FOOD!!!" He quickly threw the clammy foot to the side as Lucifer repeated the act and spit something else out. This round it was a glass orb, with swirling red mist inside. "This, is a torture orb, Akima . . . well, not really. It takes away your powers forever. But it's not an easy process . . . It's a feeling worse than death while it takes effect. Not to mention . . . It's a prototype." He surpressed a grin as Akima gazed at the glowing red orb.

 

When Zero and Technus walked over to the others they fisrt noticed the young lady crying her eyes out and yelling someone's name- best to avoid that. Zero then heard the one called Destined talk about an orb that oculd steal away someone's super power and walked over, "Is that really necessary?" he asked, looking from the orb into Destined's face.

 

"Is that any of your business!?" Destined said, annoyed at the newcomer.

 

"Perhaps not,however, it strikes me as a bit harsh, don't you think?" Zero gives Destined a serious look, "It might not be my business, but I am not one that is used to standing by and watching others get hurt for no good reason." Zero changed his element to wood style and started slowly regaining health, but was by no means in shape for battle, and so hoped to avoid a fight. With Shadow begining to reheal himself he gave a big grin, "Well, it dosen't look like you're in any position to stop me, now does it?"

 

"I can stop you if I have to. But I would like to avoid that . . . if possible." Zero kept his cool and looked at Destined completely serious, but underneath all of the bravado he was incredibly scared. "If I'm forced to use the forbidden elements here . . . I don't know if I'll survive through it . . . better be careful not to upset him enough that he attacks."

 

"If you're gonna stop me, why wait?" Destined said lazily, not even looking at the person. "Otherwise, shut the hell up before I kill you where you stand!"

 

"Yeah!"

"You tell him boss!" Kyba and Darren cheered from the "stands."

 

Kallen listened to Lora as she swore to train hard enough to be able tosuprass the Radiant Wave Surger's latest preformance, "Well maybe one day you will, if you train hard enough," she smiled and got up and extended her arm down to Lora and waited for her to take it, "Well... are you coming? I need to go see Todou, so that he can do some more work on my arm."

 

The young girl nodded and took her hand, letting Kallen lift her off the ground. "Alright. And I will train hard enough."

 

Natalie, oblivious to Yaming's wails, was still sitting on top of Cougar and ignoring requests for her to get off, "No, I won't until you get some good sense of survival." Cougar was almost ready to give up when, through Natalie's cries, he heard Yaming and pointed over to her. Natalie looked over to see Yaming in full blown tears and blood starting for form on her knuckles from pounding on the ground. Next to the grief stricken Yaming was a completly hysterical Todou as he tried to calm her down.

 

With all of the commotion Catherine and Aya were able to get close enough to listen in on the many conversations. Catherine stopped, motioning to Aya to "damage" their clothing and belongings so that it would seem that they'd been wandering for weeks. Catherine planned to use their appearance, a meek attitude, and her ability to hear others thoughts to appeal to the supers and to get them to accept them as their own.

 

Kallen and Lora heard Yaming before they saw her and were suprised to see her in a hysteria as she begged for Nic to come back to her. Both rushed over to consolt her and for once everyone finally, and all at once, realized she was crying.

 

[Tempest Dahlia]

umm... WHEW.

 

Destined held the orb close to Akima's face. "Well? Will your strong desire to protect everyone prevail over your stupid attempt to act smart? It's a real simple task, you know, dumbed down for your shriveled brain..." He grinned. "Or, if you'd like, l can cause trouble for your precious friends, while you watch, helplessly... Would you like that?"

 

Gotta go to bed

[Shadow Zero]

Zero sees that Akima is about to go through what nobody should ever have to, and all rational is suddenly lost upon him. He had seen this sort of thing happen before...he was not willing to let it happen again. Not when there was something he could do to stop it. "I've tried to be patient with you, but it has now reached its end!" Suddenly, a bright light starts to descend upon Zero...a light that suddenly goes deeper then darkness, mirroring his own rage and hatred as memories of a war fought long ago race through his mind once more. The darkness falls upon Zero and a voice of darkness speaks through him with his own voice echoing its words. "Prepare to meet your demise." the 2 voices say in unison as Zero reappears from the darkness, the deity of corruption within him, his armor mirroring the darkness that he brought forth....

 

[Tempest Dahlia]

"Shut the hell up!" Destined said, crossing over to Yaming, roughly lifting her by the collar with one hand.

"He's gone, you idiot! You can scream and cry and give me a migrane, but it's only going to make me kill you much faster!" Destined shook her. "He's in hell now. If you really want to visit him again, i'll be glad to send you there..."

When he aknowledged Zero's rant, he yawned. "You use you full power on someone you just met? Strange... And foolish."

[Shadow Zero]

"I was hoping to avoid it, but you left me with no choice." Suddenly, Zero seems to grow darker and lose his solid form, turning into a black puddle on the ground tinged with red, sinking into it and out of sight. It seemed to all as if the power he summoned was to much to handle, causing him to literally melt away. Seeing this Destined scoffed, but then suddenly realized that something was pulling at his feet and causing his clothing to slowly disintegrate. Zero then retakes his solid form and fires his Dark Arm Cannon at Destined at point blank range. "It's over." he says, his voice still echoing the deity that resided within.

 

[-Genesis-]

Natalie and Cougar heard Destined's words and immediately realized that what they were fighting about was exactly why Yaming was crying. Without any second thoughts they moved and in a single moment Destined was blasted back by a burst of air thrown by Natalie, and Cougar appeared where Destined had been standing and caught Yaming as she fell. He put her down and whispered to her, "Please try to heal Akima, we may need his help. Also I'm sorry for your loss and if it's any consolation, both Natalie and I know how you feel... we fear exactly what just happened to you and Nic will happen to us.. as well as the fact that we've bothwathched our families die." Cougar turned away from her with w stern face, he faced Destined's men as Natalie came over and stood next to him.

 

 

Kallen and Lora arrived just in time to see Destined pick up Yaming and to see Natalie and Cougar's attack. Kallen ran up to Todou and asked him how much longer the temporary upgrade would last. "Well after that attack earlier I venture to guess you have about 20 minutes." Kallen nodded and took up a fighting stance next to Natalie and Cougar.

 

 

Akima smiled and sat up to try and comfort Yaming only to grasp his chest in pain, but fighting through the pain he was able to crawl over to her and put a hand on her shoulder.

 

 

Catherine and Aya were in the brush nearby and could see everything that was going on. Catherine focused her ability on Destined and his followers watching their thoughts for an evil intent, but the only one she felt it from was Destined, the others each just simply waited to do as he commanded.

[Shadow Zero]

"Looks like i'm not the only one that your fighting now." Zero says as the others rush past him, each ready to fight Destined if he tries something else. "I usually wouldn't say this, but given the circumstances, it would be wise to let this one go. You may find that difficult to do, as i can see that you are a very proud fighter, but i don't that as you are now, you would be able to win this one." Even having said that though, Zero struggles to remain control over his element, knowing that it could go out of control at any moment and wondering if he should just release it now to decrease the possibility of a catastrophic event from taking place.

 

[Tempest Dahlia]

NO

 

Destined clapped his hands. "Bravo! What a splendid performance from each of you. l knew you all were too much of a coward to take me on. Luckily, l came prepared this time!"

Destined began to glow a bright red, the ground beneath everyone's feet shaking. Rocks began to levitate. The area began to warp as fissures began to rip the air apart.

"I bet none of you has ever seen such power!" He said excitedly, as Lucifer grinned ominously...

"EVERYONE, CELEBRATE! YOUR DAY OF RECKONING IS BEFORE YOU! PRAY!!"

[Shadow Zero]

Technus sees the power that Destined is capable of dealing out and wonders where it all comes from. He hadn't seen a single person wield that much power for a very long time, and he wondered if there was any way that Destined, who was apparently powerful on a demonic scale, could be defeated by anyone.

 

Zero looks up at destined and realizes that he can't defeat him, even with wielding a forbidden element, he was just far to spent, even with its help. having realized this, he decides to let the element fade away, grateful that it at least hadn't gone out of control. However, the moment he lets it go, he collapses to the ground, almost on the verge of passing out. "Zero! are you all right?!" Technus runs over to where Zero is and sees him on the verge of passing out. He hadn't seen Zero this badly beat up for a long time, and just hoped that he would be able to survive.

[Tempest Dahlia]

"What's the matter!? Where's all that tough guy talk now!?" Destined said, slowly crossing over to Zero.

"For being so insolent, i'll kill you first, then i'll move on to Yaming..." At the flick of his wrist, a wavy sword appeared in his hand, with a black hilt and a crimson edge...

"Goodbye, scum!" He said as he moved the sword in an upward motion with one hand...

 

...And i'll stop there.

[Shadow Zero]

Technus strikes out at destined, slamming him back a few feet just before he could strike and standing between him and Zero. "You really think that i am going to stand there and let you kill my brother? YEAH RIGHT!!! tapping into newfound sources of power born of his rage at Destined, Technus dashes at Destined with his hand drawn back, a one edged blade growing out of his armor. Technus moves his left hand over to his right where the blade is and swings it at Destined with a slight upward angle so as to slash through his middle.

 

[-Genesis-]

In one instant The two of them are about to strike one another and in the next they are both lying on their backs with Cougar standing calmly inbetween them with his Altar Legs and with his hands in his pockets, "Natalie would you mind?" Natalie used her power and made Lucifer float off of Destined's head and into her hands. Then she looked down at it's face, "Now what, may I ask, are you?"

 

 

Kallen still stood ready for a fight and decided that waiting would only waste the time she had for the upgrade. So she walked forward and stood before Destined, on the ground, and pointed the radiant wave surger at his face, "Now it's your move."

 

 

Akima was sitting next to Todou and both of them were between the fight and Yaming. "So now what are we gonna do?" "I was thinking we just watch, seeing as you can't go anywhere and I'm only human."

[Tempest Dahlia]

The hat didn't reply. He just grinned at the girl holding him, baring his sharp teeth...

 

Destined was a bit shocked. "How DARE you touch him!?"

He looked at Kalled and smiled. "Go ahead, shoot. But at this distance, we'll all die. l won't mind being killed if l could just see that desperate look on your face one more time."

[Shadow Zero]

"That so?" Technus says. With that, he casts a shield spell around destined and says to Kallen, "Place the radiant wave surger on the shield spell and use it. The blast will be contained in that area, so we don't have to worry about getting hurt."

 

[-Genesis-]

Kallen smiled and stepped forward and leaned over toward him, "At what distance," Then she grabbed his face in the RWS's claw, "At this range the only one who's going ot get hurt is you. Also what desperate look were you talking about? I really think you should have one on your face right now."

 

 

Natalie examined Lucifer, "Hmm, I can't seem to understand you little one. What is it? Why don't you just speak?" She started to giggle, she found the face Lucifer was making at her, "You know you're actually quite entertaining."

 

 

Cougar still stood with his hands in his pockets, his attention focused on Destined's followers. He was waiting for them to make a move. He was just itching for a good reason to attack them because if he attacked them without any sign of hostility towards himself or his new friends Natalie would get mad at him again.

 

[Freeman The Master]

ooc Man have I missed a lot.

 

Eden and Lee came out from behind Todou and Akima. "Well thats what we been doing for a long time now." Eden shouted out. "But other then that we seen the hire thin diveding line between life and death. So we going to stay here and sit back." He paused for a second. "Hopefully. So whos the new bad guy?" He said pointing to Destined ((Note Eden and Lee never seen him before.))

 

Meanwhile after getting the living daylights beat out of her Tarr starts to regain he self once again.

[Shadow Zero]

Zero slowly sits up and holds his head in one hand, barely holding onto consciousness. knowing that he only had seconds before he blacked out, he made a huge effort and was able to switch back over to wood style. it would be difficult for the next minute or 2, but he knew that if he could hold it past that point, he would be well enough to hold this element without to much trouble.

 

[-Genesis-]

 

Kallen smiled and stepped forward and leaned over toward him, "At what distance," Then she grabbed his face in the RWS's claw, "At this range the only one who's going ot get hurt is you. Also what desperate look were you talking about? I really think you should have one on your face right now."

 

 

Natalie examined Lucifer, "Hmm, I can't seem to understand you little one. What is it? Why don't you just speak?" She started to giggle, she found the face Lucifer was making at her, "You know you're actually quite entertaining."

 

 

Cougar still stood with his hands in his pockets, his attention focused on Destined's followers. He was waiting for them to make a move. He was just itching for a good reason to attack them because if he attacked them without any sign of hostility towards himself or his new friends Natalie would get mad at him again.

 

 

Akima turned to Eden and Lee, "Don't interfere this guy's the one who I fought on the mountain. But right now Kallen and the two new people have him under control."

 

 

[Tempest Dahlia]

Lucifer licked Natalie's face with a violet tongue. "Put me on your head... I'm freezing down here..." He started to shiver... An odd thing for a hat.

 

Destined just laid on the ground as Kallen readied the RWS for another blast... Oh well.

[-Genesis-]

Natalie shook her head, "Sorry but I can't. I don't know what would happen, but I can do this." The air around Lucifer warmed, "I can't actually change the temperature so I just pulled warm air and had it stay around you. Is that better?"

 

 

Kallen still held Destined's face in the RWS's claw, "Well don't you have any good reason for me not to kill you?" She looked down on him with a distainful look as she remembered everything that he'd done. Then she wondered if he'd ever done anything good.

[Shadow Zero]

"Personally, i'd like to avoid killing if possible." Zero said, feeling well enough to pay attention to what was happening now. "Anyway, a close range attack, huh? No escaping that Destined. if you have anything that you wish to say, now might be a good time to do so."

[Tempest Dahlia]

Lucifer continued to shiver.

"Warmth... Warmth..." Was all the hat said. He was starting to turn cold.

 

Destined laughed. "Do it. You're so cold, correct? You have no heart. You killed millions of people like this before, right? Who am l but another villan on Death Row?"

He didn't move a muscle. He was completely calm. If Kallen was as weak-minded as he thought...

[Freeman The Master]

Eden looked at Akima, and nodded. "Good, Lets watch the fireworks shall we then?" He said as he started to look at the fight. But as he did Lee gave out a slight grunt of disapproval.

[ThatPhantomGuy]

OOC: Missed a lot... 820-san, could you update me please? X'D

[-Genesis-]

Kallen scowled, "Actually I haven't killed that many people at all, not compared to you that is. I can guarantee that. But either way all the ones I did kill were attacking me or my friends." She'd heard Lee's grunt and thought that he was disapproving of her killing Destined, "Now, I think that instead of killing you we can negotiate." Kallen released Destined and sat down, knowing that she was faster than him and that if necessary she could, and would, kill him.

 

 

Natalie's smile fell, she couldn't do much more for Lucifer to keep him warm so she hugged him closely instead, "I'm so sorry, but I can't put you on my head, and I can't put you on Destined's head. What would you like me to do for you?"

 

 

Akima turned to Eden, "Do you think that we could get Destined to switch sides? I mean he's always fighting for himself and I don't think he's ever helped anyone before, without getting something in return."