CRUSADES  
By Byron Lester 
Copyright 2002. 

In a galaxy not that far from our own, not that long ago. Two crusades were embarked upon. 
‘Some crusades are just, others are not.’

PROLOGUE
Draped in a weathered robe, the narrator sits upon the rock stool. In front of the narrator sits a gathering of children made up of many different species. There ages range from about nine to fourteen years of age. From in-between two sand structures, that surge upward hundreds of meters into the sky, adults dressed in all types of clothing walk past the small gathering of children, and along the narrow street. 
From beneath its hood, the narrator breathes deeply, and asks in a deep, resonate voice.
'What do you wish to hear?'
The flat, green, ulcerous nose of a ten year old child twitches as he says enthusiastically.
'A story. A great story...one with battles, villains and lots of action!'
The narrator looks down. He’s small, brown gloved hands grip the twisted stick, and he says wearily.
'Action? I've that I've seen plenty and villains. Many villains...too many.'
A humanoid looking child dressed in red tight fitting jumpsuit almost demands.
'Tells us!'
The narrator looks up briefly into the sky as if remembering what his eyes once gazed upon, and the words begin to flow.  

CHAPTER 1
CLUSTER OF BLACK HOLES
As if dancing in the freezing and deathly black expanse of space, the destructive mouths of the black holes like whirl pools caught in time, cluster around one another. A short distance from the cluster space tears open, and from the unnatural hole, the blur of a silver shuttle bursts forwards. Lie repairing an open wound, the tear pulls back together, as the lights on the shuttles side come alight revealing its smooth side emblazoned with a symbol made up of a circular blue line, a flaming torch, and three bright stars. It is the symbol of its home. The home to hundreds of species joined for mutual security, the Alliance. After a long expedition, the shuttle is on its way back to the central planet of the Alliance, Modesia. Like a pinprick before the mammoth cluster, the shuttle cautiously slows to stop. 

The walls of the small, futuristic bridge surround the five officers claustrophobically. Captain Destines black eyes look out upon the various black holes with caution. He’s eyes flicker. He turns to Commander Flux Feror.
'Increase our speed again, and maneuver us around the mouths of those black holes,' he commands. The short, female Commander nods and her long red hair that is tied up behind her head bobs up and down. She gestures to a junior officer stationed at the light colored pilot controls to take the shuttle forwards. 

A tongue of red thrust erupts from the shuttle rear, and it soars forwards. 

Like spider’s legs, the shuttles six landing legs extend, and its sits down with a small thud upon the dusty and rocky ground of the planet. It is the third planet of the star system, and the only one discovered within the black hole cluster with a breathable atmosphere. A star system that seemed to be shielded from the black holes destructive effects by mysterious gravitational forces that the shuttle’s senses were not able to effectively penetrate. 

With space suits worn in precaution of the germs, this strange planet may possess, and thick barreled rifles in their gloved hands, Captain Destine along with three of his officer’s walks across the rocky surface bathed in dim light.

Two hours past as Destine begins to feel the tinges of fatigue. They work there way around a mammoth rock, and see a blanket of thick mist in the distance. The closer they get to the mist, the thinner it appears to become, like a magician pulling a curtain slowly aside. Through holes in the mist, black spots can be made out like stars running upwards hundreds of meters. 

Standing at the mammoth door of one of the owners of the spots, a massive obelisk, the three crew members look like children. As if sensing their presence, the door slides open, and the three of them step back in reflex. After an apprehensive pause, and a few quick words from Destine, they walk inside. 

Through the light covering of ice upon his visor, Destine can see weird hieroglyphics that appear to have been chiseled into the walls of the inner chamber. The other officer’s look over the rough walls and floor of the triangular chamber whose far end is blanketed in a deathly black shadow. Destine looks at his wrist arm pad and nods at the other officers. They all take off their helmets. The air is so cold their breath solidifies as they breathe outward. 

The three officers suddenly feel compelled to look upon the shadow on the far side. A section in the center of it seems to twist slowly as if something is trying to escape from it. In the form of a wave, a part of the shadow bursts forwards, flashing flickers of gray, and a withered, pale face. As if hitting a shore line the wave of shadow crashes down, and spits forth a figure with steady eyes, and a domineering persona.

The skin on the officer’s faces tightens, and the muscles around the neck, and face begin to convulse violently. A look of helplessness flashes in their eyes as they feel all strength being yanked from their bodies. With every muscle in their bodies convulsing shooting incredible pain throughout their bodies, they fall down onto their knees. Such is the force of which their rifles are ripped from their hands that fingers snap and hang loosely off hands. 
With the chilly, and piercing eyes of a predator, the heavily withered woman stares into them. 

CHAPTER 2
TEMPLAR
Snow capped mountains like watch towers circle the flat grassy top of a smaller mountain littered with small, gray stone buildings. 
The leather dressed figures in loose fitting long sleeve tops, and thick belts tied around their pants walk across the grass with a purpose. 
Hidden and simple, this is the home of the samurai known as the Virtu. 
As the clouds hover far above like a blanket seemingly concealing these warrior’s from outside prying eyes, so have they lived, trained rigorously, and seeked to understand themselves while content to keep there swords holstered on their belts without outside interference like this for hundreds of years. 

His muscular frame is evident even from underneath his top, as Logan with his short, ruffled hair strides towards the double doors of one of the larger buildings. 

The doors open to reveal a thin strip of worn carpet that runs from the door, in-between the twelve Council Elders sitting upon cushions, to the rock slab at the far end upon which the Grand Master Magi sits. 
Hanging off the walls is pieces of intricate tapestry, which chronicle the centuries the Virtu Samurai's have spent on this relatively primitive world. 
Logan walks in-between the elders, before stopping in front of Magi. He bends down in front of the blue, samurai with an elephant shape nose. 
'They samurai in the Melange forest have finished their exercises,' Logan details respectively.
Magi gazes at him and nods simply. With a sublime gesture from his four fingered hand, the Grand Master instructs Logan to rise. 
'I will bring them before you when they return,' Logan tells him dutifully after rising to his feet.
Magi peers into him as if looking into his soul.
'You have had the dream again?' he questions in a resonate voice.
Logan nods, and tells him with eagerness. 
'It is getting clearer by the day.'
'The mysterious figure says the same thing?' Magi questions as he tilts his head ever so slightly.
Logan replies quickly, 'My quest is grand, join me. Is the galaxy calling upon us to intervene in its wars?' 
The black hair samurai has an urgent look in his eyes as if he has been eager to go into battle for sometime, but has been reluctantly forced against his will not to do so.
Magi can see the impatience. The need within Logan for the Grand Master to say yes, so the young warrior can rush off on what he considers a crusade the Virtu's should have embarked on long ago. 
'For now it is just an ambiguous dream. Be sure Logan, that when we are called, our ears will not fail to hear,' Magi declares.
Logan eyes flicker and for a few fleeting seconds Magi senses the samurai's heart deflate. However before Magi can speak again.
An explosion of light thunders to every corner of the room, like a lightning bolt striking, causing the samurai to close their eyes in reflex. Just as quickly, the light dissipates, and like a magnet, a crystal that seems to be made of pure light hovers in the center of the room pulling the samurai’s attention to it. 
The various samurai are similarly entranced, surprised, and curious, as the magnificent light the crystal radiates seems to penetrate every molecule of their bodies. Like a slight breeze catching the sail of a grand yacht, the crystal begins floating towards the front doors.
Time seems to stand still, as the samurai’s watch the crystal spin hypnotically. Like a light being snuffed out, the crystal vanishes in the blink of an eye. 
For a few seconds the samurai remain silent as if still caught in the crystals hypnotic grip. Their eyes dilate, they flex their hands, and Logan’s awed eyes fall upon Magi. 
'Master. What does that mean?' he questions with eternal hope in his voice.
Magi blinks before considering as he always does. All his decisions are always well thought, considered, and undertaken without the misleading influence of emotions. The moment or rushes of adrenaline rarely carry him away. One must always remain calm and balanced when forming a judgement, view, or decision he tells himself within his mind. He looks upon the other council members who have understanding in theirs eyes as if there is no question in their minds as to the nature of what they have just witnessed.
'The Visin crystal appears to have decided, its time to be found has come…and seek it out we will,' Magi declares with firmness.
Logan gives an involuntary smile, and feels a rush of exhilaration. 
He states quickly as if Magi will surely take him along on the crusade, as he is only one step away from becoming a council member himself at forty years of age. He has only to wait for a current member to vacant through old age, or forbid for himself or others, death in battle.
'I volunteer to go on the crusade.'
Magi shake's his head lightly, and details. 
'But ten will embark upon it, while you will remain here, for that call we spoke of …you must be ready to lead our brothers and sisters forth if need be.’
Logan is disappointed, however he hides it under his disciplined mind, and replies.
'I understand.' 
However he does not understand, and is mildly frustrated at being thwarted again.

The Virtu shuttle that gives an impression of fragility rather than robustness with its raggedy appearance leaves the blue of the atmosphere and soars into the black of space. 
With an ice cream shape bow, cylindrical mid-section and a circular stern that has two thin beams attached to it from either side. Space rips open and the shuttle disappears within a trans-space tunnel. 

The weeks past as like a sailing ship upon the open ocean without any sign of land, the Virtu shuttle soars along looking for any sign, or direction from the Visin crystal as to where to seek it. 
Lying upon a flat steel bed attached to the wall within the sparse quarters. His eyes shut and body still, Magi slips into a deep meditative state. 

Like a hunter who searches for, and eliminates his prey, within the jungle of his mind Magi is likewise hunting and clearing it of every thought and emotion. He is taking his mind to a point where it is an open landscape, in the hope that the Visin crystal will send him the vision he has been waiting for, thus leading him and his samurai to its hiding place. 

The first vision explodes like a grenade within Magi’s mind, sending the blurred sights and sounds of lush green, thick trunks, and squawking birds. 

In a forceful burst, a second vision hits. A young woman with long, orange, dirt covered hair lies motionless inside a large, steel, bird like cage. 

A third, vision hits causing his entire thin, blue body to shake violently. Murky brown water circles a stone castle who within its walls chains keep a robustly built, green armored male pinned to a wall. 

Single gulp runs down Magi’s crusty throat, and with a strong exhale of breath, his eyes snap open. 

The werewolf like face of Nakano looks down upon the worn looking, screen, as her light brown, bristled hair hands remain tightly clenched around the rough joystick controls. 

Beside her within the small, dull brown cockpit. Popol Vidu bends his 1.9 meter frame underneath the shallow roof panel to sit down into the co-pilots hair. His long snow white hair resembles a mane behind his long chinned head, and his purple eyes run quickly over the thin, screens running along the cockpit sides. With the power to heal injuries simply through touch, he is the only council member who is not a master. 

Magi’s silver eyes look out the window upon the gray lines of the trans-space tunnel, as he walks through the cockpit hatch. 
Nakano senses his presence, and turns around.
Magi, questions the council member.
'What is the closest inhabited planet?'
Nakano’s swings around to run her thick set fingers over the metallic switches and knobs. Magi moves closer to peer over Vidu’s shoulder as a planet wrapped in lush green appears on the thin screen. 
'Amoza. It’s quite sparse population wise, and mostly primitive,' Nakano details in an easy manner. 
Magi states quietly, but knowingly.
'Sparse, but not empty...that is the one, take us there.'
As Nakano smiles rows of jagged, bent teeth show, and she runs her hands over the control board setting a course for Amoza into the computer banks. 

CHAPTER 3
CARMRENO
A faint breeze wafted through the grassy filed upon which the Alliance shuttle sat as twilight began to fall over Templar. 
At the top of the ramp a woman with a kindly and good natured smile stands. Felonious had days earlier discarded her gray robe for shoulders to ankle length green garment, and now appeared relatively harmless. 

From the obelisks inner chamber, and onto the shuttle. Felonious quickly took control of the entire crew by suppressing her powerful personality, and power down upon their minds crushing them. Her mind wound around their minds like a bone crunching tentacle turning them into puppets. By the time she sat down into the Captains chair, there was no resistance as their minds were not there own any longer.

With the wind winding around their bodies and the mountain filled horizon behind them, the ten samurai stand led by Logan.

Felonious walks down the ramp slowly. She reaches the bottom and Logan asks with honest concern.
'We received your signal. Is anybody in need of attention?'
Felonious smiles, and tells him in a measured voice.
'No, no. We are quite all right, suffice for the damage caused by pirates. However, I am afraid we will not be able to leave until repairs are complete. The wonderful people inside tell me it will take sometime.'
Logan looks up into the hatch of the shuttle, and sees two, icy figures standing still, covered in gray robes. Logan is sure they were not there a second earlier before the old woman made her way down. Their crystal eyes peer stonily forwards from their blue faces unnerving him however slightly. 

One of the reasons Logan was instructed to remain behind by Magi, was that although he possessed a strong character filled with high ideals. He could be a little naïve at times. To eager to believe, and this was not a problem in normal circumstance. However, against a master manipulator he could be taken advantage off. The kind of manipulator that Felonious is. As the Ravan Mistress looks into Logan's eyes and delves into his mind, she senses this. 
'Pirates will dare not lay foot on this soil. You are safe here. We welcome you and your crew,' he tells her.
With a humbleness that is perfectly manufactured, as to not be detected by even the keenest eyes of Virtu's, Felonious tells him quickly.
'Oh! They are not my crew. They are the ones that rescued me from the dreadful planet that kept me prisoner.'
Felonious turns back to the ship and for a millisecond she looks into the eyes of the two, gray robe, figures. They are the trusted assistants that she has brought with her from the dark obelisk planet. Their commitment to her is beyond loyalty. They are her left and right arm, and the only ones she will ever trust. Like the pebble that is tossed into a still lake, disturbing the water, the eyes of the icy assistants come alive under her piercing gaze. Felonious turns back to Logan.  
'They would prefer to stay with their ship, however I would be honored to join you,' she tells him with sincerity. 
Logan averts his gaze onto the figures as their eyes fall back to a stony state. The hatch closes as they begin to turn, and the ramp retracts concealing them from view. 
Logan looks back at Felonious and gestures south, as he says.
'Visitors are rare, and it’s our pleasure to show you our world.'  
With the wind pushing up against their faces, ruffling their hair, they walk down the embankment. The other samurai silently follow. 
The sun has now all but disappeared behind the mountains, and deep shadows begin to appear upon the ground foreshadowing the fast approaching night. A quizzical look comes over Logan's face and he turns to Felonious.
'What's your name friend?' he asks.
She smiles lightly. 
'Carmreno.'

CHAPTER 4
AMOZA
The Virtu shuttle blasts around the red, heavily crated moon, and as it slows in orbit, through the clouds far below that cover Amoza, the bright green tinge of its forests can be seen. 

With its underneath thrusters slowing its descent, the shuttle sits down in-between the trees of the forest.

While three samurai's are left behind to guard the shuttle, Magi along with six other Virtu’s make their way through the thick, towering oaks of the forest. After two hours, they come across a small town. 
On the suggestion of the dark eyed, Ganyeka they had set down a great distance away from any town, in order to avoid undue attention or trouble.

They walk from the forest, and into the town. Nakano can see humanoids of species she cannot recognize standing behind stalls selling everything from food and clothing to weapons. There also appears to be many bars from which boisterous noise filters outward. The light tanned skinned Ganyeka looks over the many buildings of the town mostly constructed from wood, probably oak, the black hair samurai who is second only to Magi in power within the Virtu order surmises. 

The samurai's stop in the middle of the street, that is similar in appearance to a Wild West town, unsure of where to look for the mysterious girl. 
Ganyeka’s wide face crunches up mildly, and he questions aloud.
'What exactly are we looking for?'
Magi eyes squint as he assesses the various buildings. Almost as if looking through their walls, and into them.
'A girl, whose hair blazes orange,' he says simply.
Nakano’s werewolf like narrow eyes scans the street quickly, and she states.
'We need a guide.'
A female humanoid with a corkscrew head catches Ganyeka’s dark eyes, and he takes a few quick steps towards the dull, brown woman stopping her. Nakano watches as Ganyeka talks to the woman. The woman points behind herself, and carries on along the street in her low cut, red, cotton top, as Ganyeka turns back to the other samurai.
'There’s this creature called Tarqwa. He’s meant to be the best one to talk too,’ he tells them. Nakano’s fur bristles and she questions. 
'Where is this Tarqwa?'

Ganyeka lifts his muscular arm and points to a small wooden stall a short distance away. The eyes of the lightly furred creature standing behind it dart side to side in a beady fashion. Nakano watches the Kangaroo face creature says something to a customer who steps forward angrily to it. 
'He’s run that store where he dispenses information for cash. However, he is apparently far from trustworthy,' he details as the other samurai's look at the creature. 
Nakano gives a wry smile and says, 'If our money turns his nose, into his mind I’ll delve. He’ll tell us what we want to know.' 
The obese frame of Tarqwa moves back to the stall as the angry customer walks away. The sight of the seven, leather dressed figures walking towards him instantly catches his beady eyes. 
His mind is already running through the various ways that he can trick them. As with their strange clothing he knows that they are certainly off-worlders.
He whispers to himself. 
'Suck, suck, suckers.'
The samurai's stop in front of the hastily erected stall, and Nakano states in a friendly tone.
'Tarqwa isn't it? We are told you know many things.'
Tarqwa replies quickly, 'The sky does, full of nifty info. You just have to know how to listen, but to hear, you’ve gotta pay.’
Ganyeka cuts in quickly wanting to get the truth out of this furry creature as quickly as possible, so they can get on with finding the girl. 
'We are looking for a young female with orange flaming hair,' he details firmly.
At 2.5 meters in height, Tarqwa looks down at the warriors as he tells them, 'I’ve seen perhaps a three hundred of them in the last year.’ 
Nakano can see Ganyeka's annoyance rising.
She cuts in, 'This one’s special, If you’ve seen her, you know whom we speak of.’
Tarqwa's oval shape pupils blink in confusion. 
'Terrible thing, memory problems. It’s comes and goes...you understand,' Tarqwa says in a simple tone.
Ganyeka reaches into his pants pocket and pulls out a small pad. He hands it to Tarqwa who looks over its screen before slapping it onto the back of his own pad. Electronically, money is transferred from Ganyeka's pad to Tarqwa's. He extends his clawed hand giving Ganyeka’s his pad back.  
'Does your memory return?' Ganyeka questions shortly.
Tarqwa nods a few times enthusiastically, and tells them quickly.
'Shortly…that is Meena you seek. Nopac has her as his guest, his caged guest that is. Don’t like your chance of freeing her.'
Nakano furrows her brow and asks curiously.
'Where is this...Nopac?'
Tarqwa notices, the metallic swords hanging off the warrior’s belts. As if in recognition of whom they are, he tells them quickly, and energetically.
'Funny how confusing these streets can be. I’ll take you there.’
Ganyeka looks away as if not wanting to endure him any longer, and retorts.
'That won't be necessary. Just tells us the way.'
Tarqwa looks at Magi and Nakano as he says in a helpful tone.
'No, I’ll come, and talk for you. Nopac and I good friends. After all, I live to help.’ 
Before they can respond Tarqwa bounces out from behind the stall, and begins running down the street, his bulging gut bouncing up and down. He reaches the end of the street, stops, and turns to see the samurai following him.
'To slow. Faster...faster...this is the way,' Tarqwa whispers devilishly.

Ganyeka frowns at the sight of the obese creature at the end of the street, and questions Nakano. 
'What did he tell you?'
Nakano frowns uncharacteristically in frustration and replies.
'Not much. He’s a slippery one.’
Magi smile's at hearing this, and says aloud in a humorous tone.
'The slippery mind leads us.'

As the Virtu's get closer a devious gleam flashes in Tarqwa's eyes, and he whispers to himself.
'Suck, suck, suckers.'
The samurai's reach him, and he says in a friendly tone.
'I like you...very smart. I’ll be your friend.’
Ganyeka senses the lack of sincerity, and says with a mixture of impatience and annoyance. 
'Fine. Hurry up.'

CHAPTER 5
YOU ARE MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS?
Upon the cushions of the Virtu council chamber, Logan and Carmreno sit along with two council members, and six masters. 

Carmreno’s blue eyes look at the empty cushion upon the rock slab left absent by Magi. With the use of Alliance technology, she has inserted sophisticated contact lenses over her eyes in order to alter their color from black to blue. Every change made in her physical appearance from what it was on the planet in the cluster. Has been made to engender a sense of honesty, humility, and compassion within her to whoever she encounters. With a smooth turn of her head, she looks at Logan who is seated on the cushion directly facing her. 
'Your leader is absent?' Carmreno questions in a soft, and curious voice.
Logan nods subtly and replies.
'He is on a crusade.'
A look of surprise appears in Carmreno's eyes.
'Crusade? I am on a crusade also,' 
Logan's eyebrows rise in response. 
'Really! Of what nature?' he asks with interest.
'To unify the galaxy under a banner of peace and justice,' Carmreno tells him with purpose in her voice. 
Logan nods in respect, and admiration.
' A noble crusade. How will you achieve this massive feat? Forgive my bluntness, but you are but one,' he questions while subtly fishing for information.
Carmreno sees she has sparked his interest, and touched upon something within him, which she may be able to use in order to manipulate him.
'I am the twentieth in line of an ancestry of special warriors,' she details looking into his psyche for any emotional reaction to her words. Within him, she senses slight exhilaration that he hides behind a disciplined face. 
When wanting to know a persons thoughts or feelings Felonious will ask a question while ignoring their words, or face of the person. Instead peering into their mind where she will find their basic honest reaction, as in the recesses of a persons mind they can never lie despite their words or actions.
'Warriors? Special? How so!?' Logan asks quickly.
' I am able to sense the thoughts of others, see the future, and manipulate the movement of objects,' she answers with humbleness, as if she does not realize the special talent she possesses, and sees herself simply as an ordinary woman.
Before Logan can respond she lifts her left arm, and twirls her hand around so her palm faces upward. A small, wooden bowl in front of her slowly lifts off the floor and rises to the level of her head, before holding in a hover. 

With surprise, Logan looks at the other Masters and council members. They have similar looks of surprise in their eyes. 
The fingers of Carmreno flick subtly and the bowl slowly drifts to the floor, with a look on her face as if she has achieved nothing special.
The disciplined facade evaporates from Logan's face as excitement appears upon it. Through this act and her words of bringing unity and peace to the galaxy. Logan believes has found someone special. Someone who can be a great ally and teacher. The person he wished Magi was, who had the power, but appeared to lack the purpose.
Felonious senses these thoughts within Logan, and knows she has found the pawn she needs in order to trick other samurai’s into following her. She has felt from the moment she arrived, that Logan is admired and respected by many. All she has to do is convince him to follow her, and a few hundred of the many thousands of samurai's on this planet will surely follow behind him. He is the key, and she will employ every ounce of intelligence in turning that key. 

'How great are your abilities?' Logan asks already having a firm idea what they are.
With simplicity in her voice she answers, 'I can levitate a 500 ton rock if well rested, however the effort fatigues me for days.'  
Logan breathes deeply, as she confirms the level of power he has sensed every since she lifted the bowl minutes before.
He asks, 'What do you know of your past?'
‘My ancestors were on a great crusade to unite the galaxy when they where ambushed by a small fleet pirates…they forced my great, great, grandfather to fly into a black hole cluster. His ship damaged, and engines failing, crashed on a planet within the cluster. The planet was primitive and without the means to repair their interstellar engines, they were stranded. After loosing hope many years ago, a few days ago, I saw the flash of a strange light in the sky. It was a ship. It was divine salvation. I have been blessed with a rescue, and must now finish the crusade my ancestors began centuries before,' she details as she looks around at the others serenely.
Logan looks around at the other samurai with realization in his eyes, and the looks they return show they are thinking the same things as him. 
He looks at Carmreno who is seemingly puzzled by their reactions, and he tells her with controlled excitement.
'That was not your only blessing. The power you use is called the Way, and your ancestors were most certainly Virtu’s, like us…you are home.'

He looks into her eyes for her reaction, and after a curious pause she slowly smiles. With relief in her voice, as if she no longer believes she is alone.
'Virtu? What do you mean?'
Logan lifts his hand, flips it around like she had, and her bowl flies up and spins around to her shocked eyes. He releases his grip and it falls to the floor, Carmreno's eyes following its flight as if not believing what she is seeing.
'The bowl...powers, like mine. You are my brothers and sisters,' she exclaims.
Logan nods, and tells her compassionately.  
'You will never be alone again.'
Logan pauses before continuing, ‘Your powers, only one of us possesses powers of the like…he leads a crusade for the Visin Crystal. You could teach us so much…will you teach us?’
'Until the ship that brought me here is fixed it would be my honor to teach you, however you must also teach me of your...our ways,' Carmreno says.
'What we know is yours to know,' Logan replies. 
The other samurai nod in acknowledgement. Logan places his hands on his thighs, and begins in an even voice. 
'The galaxy is a majestic tapestry bound and intertwined together by the threads of the Way. Whose currents of energy run through, feeding every living thing while the Visin crystal acts as the conduit between our world and the metaphysical one.' 
Carmreno, who has been listening with fascinated eyes, tells him in response.
'My ancestors spoke of a similar crystal. However, this one focussed and amplified the Quanla, as my father described the energy you call the Way.'
Logan states.
'Amplifies. We should search for this crystal!'
Inwardly Carmreno smiles knowing Logan is doing exactly as she deemed he would. She has assessed his psyche, carefully used her words, and led him to a point where he will soon pledge loyalty to her. She will exploit his idealism and naivete to oppress billions. 
'In time....we will,' she says with quiet firmness. 

CHAPTER 6
YOU HAVE BROUGHT ME SOME NEW MEAT!
Tarqwa stops in front of the building doors. Upon the cracked wooden door, that has a hatchet like symbol painted in blood that has since dried. A sudden burst of shouting erupts from the bar behind and Tarqwa pushes the door open. A red flash of wild motion thunders out, and the sumo size drunken patron slams head first onto the street. Tarqwa bends down to poke the 300 kilogram figure to see if it is dead, then points his clawed hand in through the door as the samurai stop on the other side of the red, snoring figure.
'I will talk to Nopac…your couldn’t be in better hands,’ he says with a smile.
Ganyeka quickly quips with sarcasm.
'Great.'
Magi nods at both Ganyeka, and Nakano. The other samurai know what that means. They are to wait outside while Magi, Ganyeka, and Nakano follow Tarqwa inside. 

At the far, end of the long room, on a handmade wooden chair that resembles a nineteenth century Hawaiian chieftain’s chair. Nopac the gangster lord sits. A simple black tattoo covers every inch of his head except for his brown, messy hair. His pink, dreadlocks hair, female assistant walks to his side in a skimpy yellow top and skin tight black short to wipe a mangled piece of meat off the bulging stomach that sticks out from underneath the Lords leather sleeveless top. 
Tarqwa walk forwards towards the gangster Lord and Jen Zumer’s gold eyes turn onto him. Her deep, purple lips whisper an obscenity to him. 

Magi, Ganyeka, and Nakano stop just in front of a five meter deep dirt pit. The dry splattering of blood can be seen on the steel grate that covers the pit used to satisfy the gangster’s sadistic desire for bloody battles. 

Slurring in speech, and relaxed in posture humanoids from varying species mingle around the pit waiting for next spectacle from Nopac’s depraved court.
Ganyeka looks upon the large, rusty cage hanging by a thick steel cable from the roof. Within the steel bars, the physically fit body of a fifteen year old girl dressed in a short, Amazonian style skirt and top lies unconscious. Her dirt matted, long orange hair hanging over her face.
Tarqwa points at the caged woman, and states.
'In the cage, that’s Meena…you’ll have to fight for her.’
Ganyeka gives him a sharp look, and berates him quietly so the fat lip Nopac cannot hear.
'You didn't say anything about fighting.'
Tarqwa gives a confused look, and tells him with a small smile.
'How I curse my terrible memory, I remember now. The Roatnim waits for you below. Brutal violent it is.’
Nopac strokes Zumer's soft hand and states strongly.
‘Tarqwa! You have brought me some lovely new meat! How nice of you!'
Anger flashes in Ganyeka's eyes. He looks at Tarqwa, and questions strongly.
'Meat!?'
Tarqwa steps backward a little, and replies quickly.
'A joke between friends, he’s a cracker when you get to know him…we’re cool. Trust me.’
Ganyeka gives a skeptical look, as Tarqwa looks up to Nopac and announces.
'From beyond the rim these warriors seek to challenge the Roatnim.’
Nopac smiles revealing his crooked, and moldy teeth. Ganyeka takes one little step forward to the very edge of the steel grated cover, and states firmly.
'We will only fight for the girl. No girl, no fight.'
Nopac looks Ganyeka in the eyes, and then moves his gaze to the silent Magi sensing he is the leader. He tilts his head toward Zumer in consultation, as Ganyeka waits for his response. 
Nopac nods in response to something Zumer has said, and looks at Ganyeka. 
'I can live with that. Dump your weapons, you’re fighting the Roatnim with your bear hands,' he instructs bluntly.
Magi whispers to Nakano. 
'Summon Nimbu.’
She nods her shaggy face as if knowing what he is planning, turns, and walks briskly back towards the front doors.
Ganyeka states with strength to Nopac.  
'We agree to your terms.'
As Ganyeka makes the statement Tarqwa slinks away to some humanoids on the left hand side of the pit, and begins talking fast to them. 
The front doors behind open and Nakano with Baga Nimbu, a medium in height Master with long brown hair, no discernable pupils, and a muscled frame enter. They reach Ganyeka and Magi. Nakano takes both Nimbu's and Ganyeka's swords from them. 

Leaving behind the humanoids on the side of the pit, Tarqwa makes his way back over and points to a tunnel. With a series of dirt steps leading downward, the tunnel leads off from the side off the court room. 
'That tunnel leads down into the pit, A Roatnim history, it’s killed every warrior its laid eyes on. Good luck,' Tarqwa tells them.

Zumer’s shiny, gold eyes watch Ganyeka and Nimbu closely as they walk into the tunnel, and down the stairs. 

From the pitch black tunnel and into the dimly lit pit the samurai walk. With narrow walls and a heavy grate above their heads, it has a claustrophobic atmosphere. 

Ganyeka looks up at the grated roof and sees Magi looking down with confidence, and a lack of apprehension in his eyes. He is assured his two samurai can handle whatever waits. 
Nakano across looks at Tarqwa who has moved over to the humanoids again. She can see him talking quickly, while different figure hand various pads to him.
She hears Nopac's coarse voice boom.
'The fight begins! All bets are off!' 
Tarqwa looks across with a frustrated look. 
'Aaaaah!!' he blurts.
Nopac repeats in a warning tone. 
' Don’t make me explain the rules to you again Tarqwa!!'
Nakano shakes her head and looks at Magi with a frown. 
'We have been led right into this Nopac's clutches,' she says sourly.
Magi give's a wry smile, and tells her quietly. 
'Actually he’s pretty efficient in leading us straight to Meena.’

Both samurai see the large blur of action as a three meter tall creature rushes down the opposite hallway towards them. The scattered beams of light hit the dark brown face of the Roatnim that is peeling off in places as its bursts into the pit. Ganyeka and Nimbu step back in reflex as it steams forwards, its Loin like jaw wide open. 
Narrowly missing either of its heavily muscle arms that look like twisted tree trunks, both samurai step to the pits walls. The Roatnim passes in-between them, and lifts one of its thick legs to stop itself slamming into the far wall. 
As it drops its leg in mild shock, its swings its head around to bore its gray eyes into them. It is clear it the creature has not been fed for some days as saliva coats its wide teeth. The anger flashes in the Roatnim’s eyes and it charges Nimbu. 

The muscled frame of Nimbu steps backward into a shadow shortly concealing him from the creatures sight. Ganyeka’s wide mouth opens wide as he screams pulling the peeling face creatures attention. 
The Roatnim lunges at Ganyeka. The fist of Nimbu explodes from the shadow digging into the side torso of the creature. 
The scattered light beams run over the contorted face of the Roatnim, and it wildly flings its rough skin paw at Nimbu. 
Nimbu hears the whoosh of wind as the paw flies over his bent over head. His long brown hair flicks around along with his head to see the paw slam into wall, dislodging a number of rocks. 

As if springing off a trampoline, Ganyeka sails into the air, and flicks his entire body around, landing his boot into the side of the Roatnim’s head. 

Through the openings in the grate the eyes of the drunken crowd peer down excitedly, like eyes through peep holes. The Roatnim ferociously shakes its head. Its tree trunk arm snaps out and its paw grabs Ganyeka’s neck in suffocating choke hold. He can feel his neck being compressed like a bar of steel is being tightened around it. 
Nimbus feet move quickly, as in a blur of motion he runs forwards, bends down, and his leg sweeps over the dirt ground hitting the Roatnim in the ankles. There is a gasp of surprise from above, as the creature releases its grip and slams its muscled butt onto the ground with a hollow thud. 
The saliva spits from its mouth as it roars in anger. Ganyeka rubs his neck that has a red mark around it, as the Roatnim thunders to its thick, stubby feet. The Roatnim’s eyes fix upon Ganyeka, and Nimbu swings his arm around thumping it into the back of its peeling head. 
The crowd above sees the creature put up its paws as if it has shortly lost its sight, and is desperately trying to find where the samurai are.
Nakano sees in the shadows below two figures on either side of the Roatnim rise upward and hold for a millisecond.
Their bodies twist and theirs legs snap around slamming into either of the creatures shoulder blades sending it flying into the wall. 

Zumer's closes her gold eyes as she hears the sickening crack. Magi’s elephant nose twitches slightly as he sees the huge creature below slide down the wall, and onto the ground in a crumpled heap. 

Ganyeka’s robust frame hits the ground quickly, and he places hie hand quickly over the back of the beast’s neck. Nimbu looks on with concerned eyes, and then the armored chest of the creature rises like a small heaving mountain. They both sigh in relief that they have not killed it.

Nopac face contorts making his fat lips enlarge as he sees the figures of the two samurai move backward from the unconscious beast. Zumer gives a pitiful glance to Nakano that they are showing the Roatnim mercy. 
'Kill the beast. Take your victory!' Nopac demands through the grate.
Magi, subtly waves his stick to gain the attention of the fat stomached gangster. Nopac looks across it him with enraged eyes.
Magi’s voice is firm but clam. 
'The beast is at our mercy, so mercy is what we show it.'
Magi’s thin lips remained pursed, as Nopac lightly taps the end of his chieftain like chair for what seems an ordinate amount of time. 
The hair of Nakano’s hand bristles as she slowly reaches for her sword.
A small silver object with a sharp end can be seen mildly concealed in Zumer’s hand by the werewolf face council member. The tension appears to go unnoticed by the drunken crowd who are still staring into the pit below wondering with confused glances why the samurai are walking from the pit while the Roatnim is still alive. 
Nopac’s arrogant voice finally cuts through the air. 
'You may live, but I keep the girl.'
Although there is apparent strength of will in the gangster’s eyes, Magi can sense the fear in the gangster’s mind. The fear of what the strange warriors will do if he refuses. He does want to loose face, however he is wary of the prowess his has just witnessed in the pit below.
Magi seeking to provide the obese male with a way out, questions rhetorically.
'Is a caged girl worth more than 50,000 Lecats in your hands?'
Zumer leans over and whispers something into Nopac's ear. He nods solidly and says forcefully to Magi.
'Fifty thousands Lecats? I must see the money!'
Nakano reaches into her pants pocket, pulls out a pad, and walks around the outside of the pit. Zumer steps down from the elevated section and walks around to meet the samurai. Zumer holds out her blue hand, and feels the hairy hand of Nakano as she passes the pad. 

Zumer’s purple lips smile cryptically, and she runs back to Nopac’s chair with a gymnasts agility. She eagerly hands Nopac the pad. His dark eyes scan across the pad and a smug expression forms across his tattooed face. 
'55,000 Lecats and you can have the girl, smell, and all.'
Magi nods and Nakano states, 'Agreed.'
Nopac’s fat hand lifts to the cage, as Zumer’s blue frame skirts around the back of his chair. From her belt, she pulls off the rusty large key, and with both of her jagged ringed hands, she inserts in into the bulbous bronze lock. The lock emits a creaking sound and the cage doors snaps open. Zumer pulls herself awkwardly through the narrow opening and grabs the long orange hair girl around the stomach. With a monkey like leap from the cage, Zumer then dances around the pit edge to Nakano who has been waiting. 
Nakano deliberately does not look into Zumer's eyes as her hairy hands take the young girl and turns away quickly. 
From the shadow of the side tunnel, Ganyeka and Nimbu appear. 
Nopac sees the two samurai, and the indignation that they have defeated his Roatnim rises like a storm in his dark eyes. He shouts abruptly.
' Your smell is getting unbearable. Leave!!'
Before the gangster has even finished his words, the samurai have already turned and with Meena are moving fluidly towards the front doors.
Tarqwa’s lips quiver subtly as he takes the last of his winnings from the drunken humanoids, and he looks up to see the samurai gone. Surprised at the speed of their exit, mere seconds, he gives a desperate glance and hurries towards the doors. Zumer’s blue hand stroking Nopac’s bulge stomach seductively behind him. 

A gust of wind blows the hair on Nakano’s arms up as she kneels upon the dirt road. With the hair partly covering the dirty face of the young girl, she softly places her down on the ground. Vidu quickly makes his way over.
Magi brush the hair away from Meena’s face and looks up into Vidu’s purple eyes.  
'Touch her mind...so as to reawaken her from her slumber,’ he instructs.
The look in Vidu’s eyes deepens, like looking into an eternally deep well, and his hand softly rests on Meena’s forid. 
Every thought and emotion within Vidu’s knife focuses onto a knife edge. 
Gently Vidu’s fingers move on Meena’s forid as the door of Nopac’s den behind bursts open. The furry frame of Tarqwa bounces out.

Vidu’s consciousness surges from his mind, and races along his arm, into his hand. Like water through a crack in a dam, he pierces through her forid, and into her mind. 
Vidu’s consciousness holds in a hover within a black abyss as the thoughts and emotions of Meena, looking like ghosts fly around the inside of her mind in a drunken manner. 

Ganyeka turns to see the silly grin on the face of Tarqwa’s kangaroo shape face, as he walks towards them. 
'It's that creature again.'
Ganyeka whispers to Magi as Tarqwa stops behind Nakano’s hairy back, and his eye twitch curious as to what Vidu is doing with Meena.
'I was hedging my bets without your swords, but wooeee, can you guy’s fight. The odds and cash were on my favor,' Tarqwa says impressed.
An offended look comes over Ganyeka’s wide face. 
'Glad you are happy that I risked a limb while made some money off me,' he says strongly.
Tarqwa nods as if nothing is wrong with it, and says.
'Happy is an understatement, it’s gonna take a while to count it all.’
Ganyeka looks away as he reigns in his anger.
' I bet. We don’t need you now. Get outta here,' he mutters.
Tarqwa looks away from Vidu and says quickly.
He says quickly, 'No, you don’t want to stroll into that forest. Lucky you have a class guide in front of you, I’ll even do it for free, see it as a reward for helping me out in Nopac’s hole.’
Ganyeka’s face contorts, and he turns to say something to Tarqwa. However Nakano lifts her hand to stop him, and tells Tarqwa in an easy tone. 
'Our journey is a dangerous one, and we do not require your services any longer.'

Vidu’s fingers lift off from Meena’s forid, and his eyes open. 
The weariness of his effort reveals itself as he says.
'She will be fine, but will not regain consciousness for two hours.'
Ganyeka gives a quick grunt, and exclaims, 'We don't have time to wait...the green samurai cannot be that far.' 
Tarqwa's eyes light up as if hearing magic words. 
'The green samurai, yeah, I know him, he’s a few hours hike from here actually,' he informs them, and Ganyeka gives him a curious look.
'Where!?' he questions,  and Tarqwa lifts his right hand moving his longest finger side to side in a no gesture.
'No, no, no. I said I’d help you, but not everyone’s as trustworthy as I am. I’ll guide you. I tell you know, and you might decide not to pay, its smart business.'
Ganyeka takes an impatient step forward, 'Listen you,' he begins to say. Magi's measured voice cuts him off.
'You may guide us...without the tricks,' he tells Tarqwa who gives an innocent look.  
'The castles this way,' he tells them, as he gestures south into the forest.
'Castle?' Ganyeka questions.
'With warriors,' Tarqwa adds.
'Warriors! What kind?' Nakano questions suspiciously.
As if there is nothing to worry about, Tarqwa waves his hand nonchalantly.
'They call themselves Amozio. Imagine. Their females, hate of men, and have declared war on the male species, very vicious. Lucky I’m guiding you, you’ll be safe now,' he says. His furry legs walk towards the thick forest before they can respond. Magi follows Tarqwa signaling that all the Virtu are to follow the weird creature. Ganyeka shakes his head, while Nakano gives a wry smile, and Vidu’s picks Meena up off the ground with his strong arms. In-between the dark brown trees that like sky scrappers tower upwards hundreds of meters, Tarqwa like a wayward tourist looks around casually seemingly without a care in the world. Ganyeka’s dark eyes look away from Tarqwa and onto Magi.
'My patience is getting short with it.'

There is little reaction in the Grand Masters silvers eyes, as he replies with subtle lacing of humor upon his words. 
'Strange to think such a repulsive, creature with such a questionable character is proving so useful. While the young girl sleeps, he will lead us through the strange forest and away from danger.’ 
Ganyeka looks behind at the unconscious, long orange hair girl in Vidu’s arms, and nods reluctantly accepting the elder Masters judgement. They have little other choice.

CHAPTER 7
I MUST LEAVE
The two figures of Carmreno and Logan are faintly illuminated by light piercing through the council room’s window. It is a somber atmosphere, as they stand just alone just inside the doors. 
'The ship has been repaired. It is time for me to leave,' Carmreno says.
Logan's eyes widen and an impassioned look fills them, 'If you can wait until Master Magi returns, you will have thousands of Virtu joining you.'
A sad and weary frown comes across Carmreno, and she tells him sincerely. 
'My bones are growing more brittle by the day. I am racing time...I must leave now, however I do not have to go alone. Listen to the words of your heart...it will never lead you astray.'
She can feel the struggle within Logan’s mind. The desire to follow her on what he believes is a holy crusade, weighed heavily against his sense of honor in promising Magi to remain until the Grand Masters return. 
He can follow his heart or break his word to one which he has pledge his life too. A few wrinkles seem to evaporate from Carmreno’s face as Logan announces. 
'Your words have spoken to my heart. You have won a companion, many companions,' he tells her.
She returns a broad, relieved smile.  
'We are taking the sublime taste of liberty to those who have only felt the darkness,' she says. Her words manipulate Logan’s heart much like a talented artist’s finger manipulates a harps string. 
'It is our destiny,' the black hair samurai replies feeling as if she is the woman he has been waiting a decade for. He has never felt as sure about anything than he does at this time. 

With the sun all but set only the outlines of the samurai’s can been as they walk in the hundreds up the shuttles ramp. An hour later with darkness covering the landscape the shuttle lifts off the ground, its legs retract, and it disappears through the cloud cover above.  

CHAPTER 8
THE CASTLE
It was an hour earlier when Meena’s eye lids opened to reveal her dazed pupils. Vidu’s special touch soon sharpened those eyes. Ganyeka had only to say, “a warrior, who is covered in green armor,” for recognition to bubble in Meena’s eyes. She told them he was a samurai, she knew to be held in an Amozio castle. From that moment, on foot, she led the samurais deep into the forest, keen to repay them for saving her.

For hours, Meena charted a path through the forest, while eagerly learning of their origins. What intrigued her most about them, was how they made their swords giving them such incredible strength.
Even after Ganyeka told her of how the blood of the Virtu’s contained properties that gave them special powers, and of how they added this blood to their swords. 

FLASH BACK
The steam filled the room almost concealing the young, teenage Ganyeka. He stood over the still soft steel of the sword, newly made by the long, smooth arms of the blacksmith. He pulled out a small dagger. Carefully he held it over his arm, and ran the blade along his skin. The trickle of blood came forth, and he turned the cut onto the sword. The blood dropped down onto the sword, and mixed within it.  

Giving the swords greater strength, Meena still didn’t quite believe him.

Bent down behind thick brush, Ganyeka, Nakano, and Tarqwa look behind. Meena runs forwards to Ganyeka’s side.  
'Is this it?' he questions.
She nods, and replies. 
'Just beyond the brush.'
Ganyeka tanned hands grab the brush and pull it side. Nakano’s wary eyes look out upon the small moat lining the gray, stone thirteenth century style castle. 
Ganyeka's robust body waddles forward and he pokes his head through the opening in the brush. One hundred meters to the right he can see a worn looking wooden draw bridge that has two physically fit, amazon clothed woman who are carrying steel tipped poles standing like sentinels upon it. 
Ganyeka’s dark eyes look around to Magi. 
'There is a moat surrounding the castle and a draw bridge about one hundred meters further down that is heavily guarded,’ he details.
Meena’s energetic voice cuts in.
'Just underneath the waterline...on the castle wall, there's a sewer tunnel,' she details.
Magi’s trunk twitches subtly and he instructs simply.
'Ganyeka, Nakano, and Nimbu. Follow Meena. We will wait here.'

The four break through the brush, and Ganyeka’s eye snaps onto the drawbridge ensuring the Amozio warriors are not looking in their direction. 
Meena’s long orange hair whisks side to side, as she runs across the soft grass and dives strongly into the murky waters of the moat. Swords bouncing off their leather sides, the samurai’s sprint silently across, leap off the grass and vanish through the waters surface leaving only slightly stirring water behind.

The samurai can see the hazy figure of Meena as she swims downward. A little distance ahead the mangled, grate hangs off the bottom of the submerged tunnel opening. 

The narrow tunnel is only just wide enough for the warriors to swim downward, as the bright orange hair of Meena out front shows the way for ten meters. Although they are able to hold their breath for extended periods of time, that Meena is holding her breath for such a period is surprising Ganyeka. She is clearly more than a simple young girl.

Meena’s head breaks through the surface of the inner chamber first, and she gasps heavily for breath. The air is cold, and water icy with sunlight unable to reach this subterranean chamber built, as a way of escape through underwater tunnels should the castle ever be over run. The samurai’s heads break the surface, and without hesitation they swim towards the stone path, that Meena is pulling herself up onto by the chamber side.
 She brushes her hair back, and peers around the corner of the corridor that leads off from the gray, dimly lit chamber.
Her eyes turn onto the samurai whose hands barely touch the path side, as their bodies’ rocket effortlessly upwards. Their boots land softly onto the path hardly making a sound to Meena’s surprised expression. Immediately she gestures into the corridor signaling this is the way, and whisks around into it. Ganyeka leading the other samurai’s follows her into the corridor. As they move down two separate tunnels, the sounds of Amozio’s voices can be heard bouncing down the corridor walls. 
With every turn down another corridor, a look of suspicion rises in Ganyeka’s eyes towards this young woman who seems to know exactly where to go.

The samurai’s pull their swords off their belts, as Meena peers around the corridor side that leads into the royal chamber.

Ganyeka can see two Amozio warriors standing just inside the chamber, looking in the opposite direction. The two female warriors, one with short black hair, and the other with long, yellow dreadlocks both carry steel tipped poles.  
Meena looks back and tells them.
'This is the royal chamber. They have the green samurai chained to a wall on the other side.'
A flash of what looks like fire flashes in Nakano’s eyes as she tightens her grip around the sword whose unnatural strength is derived from the blood added during the forging process. Each samurai cuts his or her hand slightly and allows the blood to drip into the melting plot. As the supernatural properties within a Virtu’s blood imbue them with great power. When the sword, blood included is forged, that same blood imbues the metal with supernatural strength. Ganyeka and Nimbu pull off their swords likewise as the tension and sense of danger in the air seems to multiply. 
'I’ll distract the Queen while you grab the green samurai,' Meena instructs quickly. Ganyeka returns a severe look. 
'Unacceptable,' he says.
'Trust...I know exactly how the Amozio's, and especially there queen thinks,' Meena says with a daring smile.
'How!?' Nimbu questions suspiciously.
'I'm a chip off the old block,' Meena quips. She spins around the corner and into the chamber before the meaning of her words hits them. 

Within a few steps Meena is surrounded by four Amozio warriors, steel tip poles directed at her neck.
The Amozio with long red hair hanging behind a smooth gorgeous face steps forwards and jabs the tip of her pole into Meena’s neck. A trickle of blood runs down Meena’s neck, as the model build Jessa who possesses blue eyes says with both disgust, and sadistic anticipation. 
'You shouldn't have returned. You’re going to die for denying our ways. ' 
Meena smiles broadly, lifts her hands, and knocks her pole down with an arrogant look in her eyes.
'I have come to realize my foolishness. The female is the superior species, and all men deserve the cold embrace of death,' she announces. 
From beside the short, green hair samurai, Gem Nic whose light, green armored body is chained to the wall, Queen Majest’s angry and bitter eyes watch Meena. 

Within the sparsely furnished, stone chamber which has a large window situated behind Majest's simply wooden throne, the forty five year old woman with long orange hair, and a remarkably muscular build sits. 
She purses her thick lips and berates Meena.
'Empty words of self preservation.’

Audaciously Meena takes a step forwards in-between the Amozio warriors that surround her, their steel tip poles inches from her neck. Jessa looks over Meena as if she is germ.
'No! Action! Three warriors are waiting around the far corner for me to create a diversion,' Meena details aloud. She swivels around and points strongly towards the corner of the corridor where the samurai are hiding. 
Majest's muscular hands tighten around her pole and she aggressively jabs it forwards in the direction of the corner. 
'Kill them!' she screams with brutal force.
The Amozio rush forwards, the tips of their poles piercing through the air, as Ganyeka runs out, and brings his sword down snapping two poles clean in halves. Nimbu and Nimbu rush forwards, their bodies moving at such a speed that the Amozio females can only swing at the blurs. The snapping sound of poles sounds like popcorn cracking as the samurai under the overwhelming numbers move backward towards the rear of the royal chamber. 

Apart from the four Amozio’s around her and two guards standing dutifully by Majest's side, the rest the Amozio’s are behind Meena giving battle to the samurai.
Meena watches Jessa’s eyes fall away from her and towards the battle raging behind for a mere second. The orange hair woman snaps her hands grabbing Jessa’s pole around the center. The blue eye Amozio’s eyes look back upon Meena in surprise. Meena yanks backward powerful causing the pole to snap clear of Jessa’s hands. 
Meena slams the blunt end of the pole into Jessa’s torso, and runs forwards as the Amozio bends over in pain. Meena elbows her hard into the back of the neck. 
Jessa fall stunned onto the floor as the other Amozio sluggishly react. Meena skids to a stop as Majest’s two guards jump down. She slams the steel tip of Jessa’s pole into the stone floor in front of the Queens throne.
Meena throws her toned arms up feigning surrender to the Queens guards who are charging forwards with the tips of their poles directed at Meena’s head. 
The stop warily in front of her, as Majest averts her gaze from the battle behind where the samurai are pinned against the far wall. 
She looks down at the pole with perplexed eyes, and then looks up at Meena.  
'I challenge for the leadership of the Amozio's. As is my right according to the code of succession, and as sole blood heir to the crown,' Meena shouts with a force that shocks Majest. However the realization of what is happening hits the Queen and anger sparks in her pupils. 
'You tricked me! You used those dirty warriors to get close enough...so you could challenge me. Have you no shame!?' Majest berates.

The samurai see the Amozio poles lower and the female warrior’s step back. Ganyeka and Nimbu have a puzzled look in their eyes. Nakano’s wolf eyes look past the Amozio to see Meena standing defiantly before Majest. The Amozio’s keep them surrounded while not attacking as if in reverence of some act about to occur.

Meena catches her breath and questions defiantly.
'Do you submit and succeed the crown to me Mother?'
Majest hold out her arm that has deep scars running along it. They are the scars of battle. The spear with its jagged tip pointing directing at Meena’s neck is so tightly clenched in the Queens hand that it is turning red. 
'It is never that easy child. Find a pole,' she spits coldly.

Majest rises from her wooden throne as the sunlight in a wave stream in from behind. Her powerful body is illuminated against the light, making it appear even larger than before. She steps down from the stone slab, and the Amozio guards step aside. 
Meena keeps her gaze locked upon Majest’s as an Amozio passes a pole into her sweaty hands. 
Majest walks forwards into the circle that has been carved into the rock floor. Meena steps into the circle, as other Amozio's surround the circle ensuring there is no escape for either combatant. While they are both within the circle, there is no Queen. Whoever walks from the circle will be queen. 

Like Lions, mother and daughter circle each other. This is a battle for more than simply than crown. It is a daughters battle to vanquish a terrible mother who inflicted deep mental scars upon her from an early age, and a mothers battle to punish a daughter she believes betrayed her by turning her back on her. 

Majest moves to the left with only one hand on her spear, tempting Meena who has both hands tightly wrapped around her pole. 
Majest suddenly strikes like a panther, and Meena only narrowly raises her pole to block.
Before Meena can lower her pole, Majest bends down and sweeps her spear over the floor seeking to cut Meena’s right ankle in halves. Meena awkwardly jumps the pole in reflex, and lands off balance. Majest steps upward as Meena falls backward and the back of her head slams onto the stone floor shaking her internally.
 There is a murmur from the Amozio’s, as Majest rushes forwards, with her spear above her long orange hair head. She slams the tip of the spear down towards Meena’s dazed face. 
Through her hazy vision, Meena thrusts her pole up, and the spear hits it and slides sideways. The tip jams into the floor beside Meena’s right ear.
With all her strength Meena, kicks upward into Majest's groin making her fall backward.
Angrily at having, her groin kicked Majest in a pained, wild attack aggressively swings at Meena’s head.
Meena ducks her head, and feels the steel tip slice through her hair, as it flicks up. Some lines of hair fall down the ground, as Meena steps back still feeling the effects of smacking her head. 
Her mother’s greater skill, strength, and experience are overwhelming her. She knows she just has to hold on until she tires. Her young age and greater stamina are her only assets. 

Meena can feel the eyes of the Amozio’s boring into her, and she lunges forwards desperate to launch any kind of attack upon her mother. 
Majest skillfully deflects the pole away, and they get on close enough to exchange a series of quick fire strikes a blocks. While Meena hands are shuddering under every block, the first line of sweat runs down Majest’s cheek.  
Meena feels a second wind at seeing the line of sweat and ruthlessly jabs her pole forwards. For the first time fatigue shows in Majest’s large, muscular arms as she blocks awkwardly. 
Pushing every muscle of her body to absolute limit in a sustained ferocious attack designed to make her mother buckle under exhaustion. 
Meena slams her pole down with every millimeter of power she can muster. The pole slams into Majest’s spear knocking her backward. With a scream, Meena swings her pole around. The steel tip slashes Majest's bare torso. With a shout of pain, a large flow of blood runs down her torso, and her left leg.
Majest glances in shock at the blood running from her torso, and throws in body forwards like a catapult in a vengeful filled slash. 
Meena side steps the spear’s tip, and closes her eyes as she slashes downward. The steel tip cuts deep along Majest’s cheek. The large woman falls onto the stone floor to the shocked looks of the Amozio. Majest rolls her body over onto its back as a pool of blood covers her cheek and leg. 
With sweat lining her face, Meena steps weakly forwards and sticks the tip of her pole forwards into Majest’s face just stopping short of piercing its skin.
An entire life time of torment, pain, and brutality flashes swirls in Meena’s eyes as she decides whether to take the life of she who inflicted it. The swirl slows and steadies, such as a lake whose waters after being disturbed reverts back its still state.
Meena flexes her grip on the pole, and then slowly pulls it away. 
'No, I will not kill you Mother. However, I hereby bring into Amozio law that you are forever banished from our land, and will be killed if you ever return,' Meena declares in a tired and relieved voice. Words she has waited a decade to utter under the fear perhaps she never would.
Majest bloodied face contorts, and the words of revenge spit out. 
'You will pay for your betrayal.'
Meena steps backward, and tells her with words springing straight from her heart. 
'Being your daughter has been a sentence in itself. As of this day, I declare the war with the male species over!'
Majest wipes the blood from her face, as she watches with eyes that promise a bloody revenge as Meena lifts her pole up above her head. 
Meena lifts the pole and points it at the Virtu's, and says aloud with a tone that just expects to be obeyed. 
'They are friends. Lower your poles, and free the prisoner,' she says aloud in a voice that simply expects to be obeyed. 
It is the voice of a Queen. 
The Amozio's look at each other as if questioning whether to obey.
Ganyeka sees a single Amozio move backward in acceptance and obedience of the new Queen. In a domino fashion, the other Amozio’s follow suit. 
The disbelief on Jessa's face is obvious, as two Amozio's move across to Gem Nic. They drop their poles, unlock his chains, and lift him down onto the floor. Jessa's walks across to the Amozio closest to her and snaps the pole from her hands.
Nimbu slips his sword onto his belt, and walks in-between the Amozio towards Gem. 
Jessa steps forwards towards Meena aggressively. 
'You can't do this! We won't follow you!' she declares looking around at the other Amozio's. Her blue eyes are calling upon them to raise their poles upward in revolution.
'Who of you has the courage to raise their poles, and to follow me!?' Jessa questions desperately. She does not want to believe they will allow Meena, a traitor in her eyes to become their new Queen. 
As she looks around at her fellow warriors, one by one, they lower their poles.
Meena smiles lightly, and announces.
'I am the Queen by right of blood, and the defeat of my Mother. Jessa is banished for her treasonist words, and if their be another challenge. Let it be laid now.' 

Jessa who does not have the courage to face Meena alone with her samurai friends waits for somebody to join her. After a pause three Amozio warriors lift their poles and surround her. Four others do the same to the bloodied Majest. 
The tips of the Amozio poles jab into Majest’s torso, which has stopped bleeding somewhat. 
Jessa mutters with a disgusted voice, as she too like Majest is jabbed in the back, and forced to walk towards the side exit. 
'You have all betrayed our way. I will be waiting in the shadows to skin you all.’
After they leave Meena sighs in relief that after years of dreaming, and preparing her mothers evil domination is at an end. 
She turns to Jelina. Her thinly built friend who has extremely short black hair, and round soft cheeks. She is one of her firmest friends and an ally from within her Mothers court since they were ten. 
Meena says aloud for the others while looking into Jelina's eyes.
'I must leave, but I will return to reassume the crown I now temporarily hand to Jelina.'
The various heads of the Amozio bow in respect. Jelina takes Meena’s hand softly and whispers something. She moves past Meena and takes her place on the throne. 
The Amozio bow down onto one knee paying their respects to Jelina as Meena steps down from the stone slab and walks in-between the Amozio’s towards Ganyeka. The dark eye samurai has a look of admiration in his eyes. The last few minutes have revealed the true nature of Meena. 
She stops in front of him, and says with a purpose and maturity that belies her young years. 
'You have served me in fulfilling my personal crusade, and now I serve you in fulfilling yours.'
Ganyeka sees the Amozio's stand back up. He looks into Meena's eyes. He delves like a diving eagle into her mind, and sees the sincerity backed by a driving sense of justice. 
'Are you sure?' he asks hoping she will say yes. He has taken a liking to her warrior’s heart. 
She gives him a cheeky smile.
'Always.'

CHAPTER 9
MODESIA
The silver shuttle glides effortlessly over the planet of deep gorges, winding mountains, and small oceans. The landscape slides quietly underneath as the sight of a million lights dotted tightly together upon a thin continent comes into view. It is the only city upon Modesia, Jitsuce. 

Carmreno looks through the shuttle cockpit window. Her eyes are devoid of emotion; concealing whatever thoughts, she may possess. Logan stands beside her with hopeful eyes. 
She looks at Logan and tells him. 
'Together we will add another stitch to the tapestry of history.'
Logan smiles, and then a cautious look appears in his eyes.
'Only if the Alliance does not mistrust our motives, or fear our power,' he says in a cautionary tone. Carmreno places her left hand on his shoulder. 
She looks back down upon Modesia, towards the vast structure that runs for kilometers and contains living quarters for the various worlds Diplomats, Ambassadors, and Senators. 
A massive, horse shoe shapes cruiser that has battle scars along its blue hull catches Logan’s eyes. It thunders upwards past the shuttle causing it to shake slightly. 
Logan’s eyes fall down upon the city and the parliamentary building that is situated a short distance away from the diplomatic complex. Carmreno says quietly but firmly in response.
'Then we must convince them of the sincerity of our words, and the humble nature of our kind.'

CHAPTER 10
BAK 
The water falls down behind the black hair teenager whose muscular body is covered in a one piece, leather suit. The shallow water of the pond at the base of the small fall washes around his black boots, as he stands defiantly. 

They had been walking for three hours before coming across this teenager second before. Standing at the top of the small embankment along with the samurai and Tarqwa, Meena eyes the teenager as if she recognizes him. 
Gem assesses the boy warily. He can feel the boy has been waiting for them for some time. He says quietly to Magi. 
'I will determine the boys intentions.'
Magi nods subtly in agreement. 

Through the past three hours since regaining consciousness Gem had learned of the Virtu’s crusade, of how they were guided to him by a vision, and most importantly from Magi, of how he reminded of the Grand Master of a man who once left their own world many years ago. A man called Lon. These words served to trigger a flood of stories from Gem’s memories that his father told him when he was a boy. Stories of how as a young man his father left his people, an honorable population of warriors. He looked into Magi’s silver eyes and knew that those warriors he’s father spoke now surrounded him. With Gem’s words, Magi embraced the green hair samurai as a long lost brother. That Gem would embark with them on their crusade was never questioned within his mind.
Gem’s first act in repaying his brothers and sisters for saving him would be in facing this boy. As Gem wades through the water, the whirl of power, like a Virtu’s except rawer, winds around the pond. It is coming from the black hair teenager.
Gem yells out to the boy. 
'For what reason do you halt our passage!?'
Bak Rai answers quickly and strongly. 
'To find a worthy Master, to learn from as an apprentice. Whoever can best me in a non lethal battle of strength and skill wins the honor.'
Ganyeka shakes his head at hearing these, and mutters to Magi. 
'We don't have time for this.'
Magi raises his left four fingered blue hand slowly. He says with words that reveal he knows more than he is letting on.  
'Fate knows not of time...let it unfold as it may.'
As Gem approaches the boy, he can feel a personality fueled by ego surging forwards from him. Gem immediately feels that this ego must be tempered so the boy with his power, and attitude does not become a lethal weapon. He is already considering training the boy, but first he will have to make the boy respect him by playing his game. By showing him, he is a superior swordsman and warrior. Gem stops one meter from the boy, and tells him in firm tone as if he is the teacher talking to the student.
'Your talents may struggle to match your words.'
Like a small hand grenade exploding, there is a flash of excitement in the young man’s eyes. 
Much like a predator gets before launching upon its prey. This irks Gem and he whips off his steel sword. Bak pulls out his sword in a showy movement, almost as if he is putting on a show more rather than preparing for battle. Though this is a battle of strength and skill, rather than a lethal battle to the death, Gem frowns on the young man’s actions.  
Without any cautiousness, Bak lunges forwards blade out in front. Gem steps to the side with ease, and kicks Bak in the torso. The muscular boy caught of guard by Gem’s move falls forwards. The older samurai’s move was a deflective one, and not an attacking one, which Bak believed a warrior, must always take. 
Bak swings around aggressively. He is angered and cuts downward towards Gem's thigh. Yet again with deft moves of his feet, Gem side steps it. He drives forwards towards Bak's head seeing the young man’s mind caught up in his anger. In clumsy reflex, Bak throws his blade up only just blocking Gem's blade. 
The older samurai’s blade is so close to Bak’s the sharp edge of the blade lightly cuts his left cheek. Gem quickly steps back, as Bak brings his sword down. He is in mild shock from actually being cut. His arrogance would not allow him to believe that his defenses could be pierced.
The lines of sweat have yet to reveal themselves upon Gem’s cheek, while he has assessed the young man’s psyche, style of attack, and cut his cheek through a mixture of control, patience and experienced moves. 
Bak lunges using his entire body as a weapon. Again, Gem sees the young warrior is acting without any respect to what he’s opponent will do next. Gem spins like a corkscrew being twirled into the air. Bak rockets underneath him. The difference in Gem’s gracefulness and Bak’s clumsy attack is plain to see.
Gem’s lands in the shallow pool of water. Like a rattle snake, Bak snaps around swinging his sword with all the power he can muster. Gem meets his sword with a classic block, his body perfectly balanced. However, the power of Bak’s strike causes the older samurai’s hands to shake around the handle of his sword. Gem looks up into Bak’s eyes with surprise at the sheer power exerted by a young man of seemingly little training. 
Bak pulls his sword back and bends down to sweep. Gem jabs his blade straight down into the water. Bak's sword slams into Gem’s in a crunching sound. 
Gem lifts his leg, and kicks Bak in the side of the head just hard enough to send the young man off balance. Bak falls backward into the water. Before Gem can follow up with another strike, Bak flips onto his feet. His leather clothing is now drenched and sticking to his muscular body. With the way, Gem looks at the water. A wide spray of water shoots upward, and into Bak’s face. The water gets into Bak's eyes clouding his vision. Gem moves forward and brings his sword up above his head. Magi breathes deeply thinking that the battle is now over. The young warrior is blinded and Gem’s sword is slicing through the air towards his head. Instinctively, Bak steps backward, twist his leather drenched body, and eyes still closed throws his sword up. Gem’s blade slams off it, Ganyeka’s eyes flash excitedly, and Gem gives an involuntary wry smile. The Virtu knows. The young warrior had been able to see Gem within his mind. The sign of a warrior possessed of more than average ability. 
Gem steps back, and with his vision returning Bak swings wildly. With a skillfully upper slice, Gem knocks the younger warrior’s sword from his hands. As the sword spins through the air, Gem looks at Bak's chest. Summoning he power of the Way, he knocks him Bak backward clumsily into the pool of water.
Bak's sword falls back down into the water, and as quickly, it flies from the clear water, into Gem’s free hand. 
On his back in the water, with eyes open wide in disbelief, Bak looks up at Gem. Both swords are firmly clenched in his strong hands. Gem causally throws Bak's sword back towards him. With a twitch of his wet hand, Bak pulls the sword psychically into his hand. Gem keeps his eyes locked onto Bak’s. Gem has been testing the boy's powers as well as his attitude, and is impressed by the boy, although he believes needs a lot of training. Training Gem has determined to give him. Bak blinks in private recognition that Gem is the superior warrior. He lowers his sword, and pushes himself onto his feet, as the others watch in interest. 
Bak slips his sword into its long black leather hostler, and kneels down onto one before Gem. Magi smiles slightly, as Ganyeka gives a solid nod of approval. The young warrior has accepted his defeat and shown the proper respect to Gem.
'I offer my mind, body, and heart to you, so you can mould me into the great warrior I am destined to become,' Bak says aloud.
Gem smiles at hearing those words, and remarks with a touch of humor.
'Well...your confidence certainly needs no nurturing.'

The air was still, and the suns descent slow on the horizon as Gem on the trek back to the Virtu’s shuttle probed the young man. Keen to learn everything he could about his parents, his past, and his inner most desires. Gem was keen to acquire as thorough understanding as possible in such a small amount of time. Similarly, the questions came like bullets from Bak’s mouth as he eagerly leant of the Virtu’s crusade, their rescue of Gem, and the girl he had taken an instant physical attraction too.

One after the other the leather dressed warriors proceed ups the shuttle ramp. Tarqwa tries to slink away unnoticed; keen to leave the warriors after their talk of a dangerous crusade, however Ganyeka grabs his arm tightly. The kangaroo face creature gives him a weird look, points his clawed left hand into the sky, and says with a friendly smile.
'Here, we parts ways.’
Ganyeka smirks and tells him. 
'I don't think so furry. You led us into trouble and profited from it. You owe us.'
With frightened eyes, Tarqwa shakes his head violently, and says.
'As a guide on this planet, yes, but up there, space is as a mystery as it is large to me. I can suggest other guides.’ Ganyeka gives him a suspicious look.
'My keen eyes unveil your lies. You do know this region well enough to guide us, don't you!?' 
Tarqwa looks down confused and worried. 
He tells Ganyeka while shaking his head. 
'You don’t need me, this region is particular safe, you’ll be fine…time for me to go.’
Ganyeka smiles knowing he has caught Tarqwa out. 
'So you do know this region!' he states.
Tarqwa looks down even more worried, as he realizes what he has just said. Shaking his head, he says while mustering the most confused expression, and honest voice he has. 
'Tarqwa make mistake.'
Ganyeka asks with doubtful look on his face.
'Memory problems?'
As if a weight has been lifted off his shoulders, Tarqwa replies with a happy nod.
'Yes. Yes. You know me so well, goodbye.’
He turns to walk away, but Ganyeka grabs his arm even more tightly and says sarcastically.
'And miss the joy of your sparkling personality.' 
Tarqwa replies, ‘I’m terrible company.’
Ganyeka begins pulling the reluctant Tarqwa, his clawed feet dragging along behind him up the ramp.  
'Now how could that be so?' Ganyeka quips wryly. 

The shuttle rises from the dirt ground, and soars above the tree tops that are now swaying side to side in the wind. Its spider like leg's pull back into the hull and its rickety looking nose pivots upward. The red flames spew from the rear rockets and the Virtu shuttle powers towards the thick cloud cover above. 

The green of the planet retreats quickly, as the blackness of space encompasses the speeding shuttle.

While in his private quarters, Vidu with his healing touch attends to the injuries that Meena and Bak suffered in their respective battles. Magi, Ganyeka, and Gem converse intently in the cockpit.

'The boy?' Magi questions simply. 
'Unusually strong for one his age,' Ganyeka replies.
A quizzical look comes over Magi's face. 
'What is his age?' he questions.
Gem replies.
'Fifteen.'
Magi frowns a little, his blue nose twitches, and he says, 'Not much time for formal training.' He is already concerned with Bak’s mixture of ego, and great raw power. With compassion, flowing from the talk he and Bak had on the way to the shuttle, Gem tells them. 'He told me he’s father died years earlier. He has had no formal training whatsoever.'
Ganyeka states shortly feeling the same apprehension as Magi. 
'It would unwise to teach him our ways then. He has lived long enough to become prideful and defiant.' 
These words remind Magi of something, and he gives Ganyeka a wry smile.
' Like a young man, who once injured himself greatly in training, trying to impress,' he offers. Ganyeka smiles thinly at having an old memory triggered. 
‘I seem to remember a cranky old master taking his sword,’ he offers with a smirk.

FLASH BACK TEMPLAR
The air is cold, and the faint moonlight that penetrates the clouds, shines off the fifteen year old Ganyeka’s face. The mixture of moonlight and light covering of dirt on his face makes it appear as if he is wearing a ghostly mask. Ferocious sounds slice through air from the dense forest around him. The young Ganyeka’s dirt covered face contorts up a little extra with every aggressive grunt, or roar from the darkness. 

‘Quite unfairly of course, and then sending him into a creature filled forest.' Ganyeka says. Magi chuckle’s much to Gem's curiosity. 
‘I seem to remember that young man running, dirty and ragged from the forest a few days' details Magi.
Ganyeka nods in understanding of what the cunning old Master is getting at. 
‘He did not like, and was quite angry with you actually. However, his arrogance was dealt a great lesson in that defeat could befall even the most powerful. This boy will take time to change, and his power must progress in time with his wisdom,' Ganyeka says. 
Magi nod subtly seeing Ganyeka has understood the message. The silver eyes of Magi turn like the laser sights of a rifle onto Gem. He says with great respect and compassion. 
'A good man your father was. For these years his fate was unknown to us, and we express our sorrow.'
A look of sadness comes over Gem's face. 
'My father spoke of the Virtu often...especially you Master Magi,' he tells Magi. Magi pauses for a few seconds, as he considers whether to broach a sensitive subject. He asks quietly.
'May I ask how he died?'
Magi and Ganyeka listen with silent sympathy as Gem recounts. 
‘Trying to rally a fearful male tribe called the Madang’s against the Amozio’s. With their refusal to give battle through fear, my father chose to fight the Amozio’s alone, knowing against such mighty numbers his death would surely follow. Although it was not his intention….he became a martyr. His courage served to shame the Madang elders into rallying against the Amozio’s. You helped me to end his quest, and I am in your debt.'
Magi tells him sincerely, 'There is no debt to us.'
Gem straightens his bearing in order to emphasis the importance of what he is about to request, as for him it is a matter of honor. 
'I wish to take full responsibility for the boy and his training.'
Magi shake his head mildly. 
'Wisdom does not accompany your words,' he says to Gem. The tone in the Grand Masters voice is one of subtly admonishing Gem for even requesting such a thing. Magi, knows without words that Gem also comprehends the dangers of such an undertaking. He is displeased that Gem feels so strongly towards a course of action, which is risky, and potentially in time an explosive one.
Gem continues with genuine compassionate. 
'I wish to do for Bak what my father did for me.'
Magi mutters quickly. He is uncomfortable with the situation.
'Dangerous,' as Ganyeka listens quietly.
Gem's becomes more adamant and eager as he looks at Ganyeka.
'As Ganyeka said, the boy shows signs of pride and stubbornness. Your intervention in his training may only increase these volatile qualities.' 
Ganyeka nods in agreement, as if only now forming his conclusions on the boy after listening and considering quietly.
'He is right. The boy may rebel,' he tells Magi.
The thin, blue master huffs under his breath, and looks deeply into Gem's eyes. 
Magi, knows the distractions this boy may cause within his mind when the crusade for the Visin crystal should be the only thing concerning him. He can sees the deep desire in Gem to teach Bak.
‘I am unsure as to who is more stubborn, you, or the boy. I will grant your request, however you must handle him carefully and consult us if trouble arises. Now this dream you spoke of?' he says. Gem's expression is one of relief and honor, that Magi has granted his request. 
'I saw a planet of oceans where strange creatures were being besieged,' Gem replies looking at Magi. The frustrating vision of a place he has never been has plagued him for months, and he is hoping that Magi can reveal the nature and meaning of it. 
'Where is this planet?' Magi questions.
Gem shrugs and replies.
'I no relocation of the planet whatsoever, however Tarqwa is quite an experienced traveler.'
Magi's eye brow rise at the mention of Tarqwa. On the planet, he had accepted they required Tarqwa's help in order to find their way to the castle when Meena was unconscious. However, Ganyeka’s decision to bring him along when departing the planet had displeased him. Especially when he sensed Ganyeka forced Tarqwa along out of anger deriving from Tarqwa’s acts in cheating them and placing them in danger on the planet with Nopac.
'You should not have brought a creature of proven untrustworthiness onboard when we are in the midst of a dangerous crusade,' Magi berates lightly. 
Ganyeka responds with an honesty that reveals his real reason was a practical, and not a personal one.
'That we are on a dangerous crusade is the perfect reason to bring him onboard. He will lead us away from danger, if only to save himself. It is in his interests to show us the right way.' 
Magi, smirks at Ganyeka's, forward thinking. It had never occurred to him that Tarqwa could help them in charting their way through unknown space. 
'He will lead us away from danger, if only out of self preservation, very well,' Magi, says in agreement. 

CHAPTER 11
ATTRACTION
On the edge on the steel bed within the sparse quarter Bak sits. He lifts his arm and swings it around, marveling at Vidu had so effectively repaired his injuries. He feels the eyes upon him, and knows it is the girl from the planet. Flowing side to side on the way back to shuttle, her long orange her had been intoxicating. His heart lifts a little. If she has been watching him silently, perhaps she also feels an attraction to him. His dark eyes fall upon her, and she walks slowly into the room. Bak can see that cuts and bruises had seen on her arms and legs on the planet had disappeared, more of Vidu’s handy work. Her eyes are as crystal blue as the waters he grew up near. 
'I remember you from the surface...right? I'm Bak,' he asks under the pretense of opening up a conversation. He had sufficiently pumped Gem for information on the surface about her. 
The sides of Meena’s lips twitch, as she cuts him off. 
'Rai.'
Bak is surprised, as the girl looks at him, as though she knows him. 
'Have we met before?' Bak asks curiously. Meena tosses her hair back, and sits down on the steel bed beside him. The dirt from her face has since been wiped clear, revealing a face of luminous beauty. Slightly intimidated by her beauty, Bak shifts ever so nervously on the bed. 
'No, but I heard of your battle with the Amozio warrior Winna in the Lenage canyon,' Meena says in a mixture of cheekiness and admiration. 
'Was that her name? She wasn't to keen on pleasantries,' Bak replies quickly with a thin smile. 
Meena looks straight into his eyes, and his pupils dilate.
'That's probably because she was after the bounty, my Mother put on your head,' she tells him.  
Regaining himself somewhat, Bak’s smiles roguishly and says, 'A large bounty I hope.’ He gives her a sly look.
'Which the new Queen has lifted right!?' he questions in a playful way. She gives him a cheeky smile.
'Maybe...' she says, and Bak’s smile opens a little wider. 
'She must have been the only one to take the bounty, because I didn't have the pleasure of chatting with any others,' he offers nonchalantly. 
'We're chatting now...' Meena quips.
Bak gives her a curious look.
'I went after you for your help,' she tells him seeing his confusion.
'Help?' he asks. He cannot grasp why, she a warrior princes would need his help. Surely, she had an abundance of Amozio friends to call upon. 
Meena’s eyes deeper, and darken it seems to Bak, and the smile vanishes from her face. The intense expression of an Amozio warrior has reappeared again.
'Before my Mother became the Queen, males and Amozio's enjoyed harmony. This was ripped apart through her unfathomable hatred of men due to my father’s abandonment of her. After she had the crown placed upon her head, her declaration of men as the inferior species came quickly, and so did the wars. Only I could challenge her, being her daughter. However I was thirteen at the time, and needed help. So I took the bounty to seek you out.'
Bak not only feels an attraction, but also admiration for the young girl at her courage. He can feel she is attracted to him likewise and lightly reaches out his hand to touch her cheek. He knows he could look like a fool, but he cannot stop himself. The back of his hand ever so lightly touches Meena’s cheek and she does not move her cheek away. 'Was that your only reason for seeking me out?' he asks hoping for a verbal sign of her attraction. 
Meena gives him a firm stare.
'I was curious to meet the tall, dark warrior.'
Bak asks softly.
'So what do you think?'
Meena gives a quick smile, 'I'm not sure yet. I'II have to wait and see...'

CHAPTER 12
PRESIDENT HOWARD
The slightly overweight body of Joseph Luke Howard, President of the Alliance, tucks comfortably behind the polished, desk with six twisted legs. Standing upon the elaborately designed blue carpet that has the symbol of a flaming torch emblazoned across it. However, the sight of gold brown, and gray sky scrappers with shuttles zooming around them like bees, stretching upward as if trying to touch the heavens pulls Logan’s attention through the wrap around glass window. 

Throughout the day, the Virtu's have been displaying their remarkable talents with various demonstrations. The most impressive of which, being the levitation of a warship the dimensions of a Corvette over the presidential landing pad, courtesy of one hundred samurai. While other demonstrations served to display their amazing strength, speed, and power to the various Senators.  
 
Howard’s formal voice only just manages to conceal his excitement towards Carmreno and the Virtu's, as he states.
'Your remarkable talents have astounded many species, and if it was up to me you would be brought in as a justice arm of the Alliance immediately. Unfortunately, the decision is not mine. The Senate will vote on the proposal tomorrow.'

While Howard had watched in amazement at the demonstrations,
Felonious under the guise of Carmreno had seeped into his mind like a worm. His memory like a book flew open, as she saw he had been inaugurated President for a mere five years before. How the Alliance had been under violent and constant siege during this time by various warrior species. How the pressure to resolve the assaults had been growing with every senate meeting. She could feel he was worn down, ready to hand over the reigns. He cried out silently within his mind for help. Her arrival had given him hope, from despair. She could take the form of the person he had been waiting for, like she had for Logan. They were open to trust her, to follow her, and open to be manipulated. 

The long silk robe of brilliant blue hangs easily on Carmreno. Respectively, and humbly she says. 
'We are honored that you have given us this opportunity Mr. President. We only wish to serve.'
Howard tells her, 'There are those who doubt your intentions. They are afraid of your power and suspicious of your motives. The Fianni are wary and will take some convincing.' 
Logan speaks up in curiosity. 
'Fianni? Who are they Mr. President?'
Howard’s wide face takes on a sterner look, and he details.
'A race of warriors who base their society on honor, and as such their word carries much weight with the other species. If you fail to convince them, the proposal will fail.' 
Logan subtly looks over to Carmreno. Her expression does not change. Her eyes remain steady, revealing little sign of doubt. This reassures Logan, as if Carmreno holds no fear of convincing the Fianni, why should he.  

CHAPTER 13
GRENWOLF
A crystal blue ball sitting on the jet black carpet of space. The ocean planet of Grenwolf beckons the raggedy Virtu shuttle on towards it. 

The wind whisks over the shuttle that spears downward like an eagle through the wispy clouds.

Like two waves climbing upward to meet one another, in a massive line, the water is thrown upward by the shock wave of the shuttle rocketing over it.

Like thousands of lanterns, the lights of the wooden discs can be seen further below, as the shuttle pulls ever closer through the ocean depths. 

Ganyeka looks through the window. The crusty shells of the creatures swim past, their large flippers seemingly waving, as the discs tower over the shuttle. Through the window of the wooden disc, Nakano’s wolf like eyes can see the large eyes, and long green necks of the creatures peering out. 

The rays of lights stream over the shuttle, as it pierces through the invisible shield surrounding the discs that prevents water from entering the wooden city. It glides to a stop by one of the larger discs, and into the light from the dark ocean, hundred’s of green belly Kurma’s descend. Their large eyes blinking, and their flippers swaying backwards and forwards. Ganyeka can sees the dents and scratches over the creature’s dull brown shells. Sensing their apparently peaceful nature, his suspicions of where those dents and even deep gashes is form are aroused. These are clearly the creatures from Gem’s dreams. Bak moves in-between Nakano and Ganyeka to stare out. He can see laser scars upon the discs sides. He looks around to Gem. ‘Someone has been waging war on this fishy things.’
Gem gestures Bak backward, thinking he has gone to far in pushing his way to window beside the council elders, and blocking Magi’s path.

The leader of the benevolent Kurma, King Turt greets the samurai at the docking entrance, and presents the visitors with wreathes of joy. It is apparent the Kurma do not enjoy the luxury of visitors very often, and Ganyeka suspicions of why this is so, causes he’s anger to rise. He can sense an enemy somewhere outside within the ocean depths, and his skin is edging. 

The long necks and round heads of the Kurma elders surround the group, as their wooden egg like chairs run along the wooden disc walls. Standing behind Magi, Ganyeka, and Nakano, Bak can see the Kurma’s through the windows looking quite strange, as they grasp laser spears in their soft flippers. The silver eyes of the thin, blue grand master seem to transfix the Kurma King Turt, as Magi details.  
'We were led here by the vision of your people under siege by an underwater enemy.' 
The voice of Turt is low and deliberate as he explains. 
'They are the Sharkla's who have laid siege to our city for the past three years…preventing us from reaching our ships upon the ocean floor…we cannot escape.' 
Ganyeka disposition changes and he questions.  
'Where do these Sharkla's come from?'
King Turt's large black eyes blink. Bak can see vulnerability within them. They are not warriors, he thinks to himself. Gem eyes dart sideways to Bak. His master could not have heard his thoughts could he? Gem looks forwards again.
'They covet the darkness of the oceans depths, and attack on Jilars which move faster than we can combat.' 
The King’s four fingered webbed had lifts up to one of the windows, indicating the direction the Sharkla’s come from.
In a low, curious voice Nakano questions. 
'Jilars?'
Bak notices a long scar on the underside of the Kurma’s flipper closest to him. 
'They are creatures bred by for war by the Sharkla's,' Turt details with a weary voice. Magi blinks deeply in compassion. He can see the King has endured and suffered for too long. 
Bak can feel his hand’s tensing up with anger over what the Kurma’s have been made to endure. 
'If these Sharkla's are so powerful, why haven't they destroyed you?' Gem questions.
Turt exchanges a look with Queen, Marin who sits beside him. Her dry lips give a reassuring smile. He looks at Magi and tells him with a pained frown. 
'They cannot kill us as we are their source of their food, and that is why they attack. With their savagery, they have not the patience for farming.'
Bak lip twitches and his spits forth. ‘They’re not only killing you at their leisure, but they’ve brutalized you into a slave force!?’ He cannot contain his disgust any longer.
They Virtu elders are silent, as Gem hopes Bak’s blunt assessment has not offended the Kurma’s too much. He can see they are a gentle species not accustomed to such bluntness, and are ashamed at being unable defend themselves. Magi had been attempting to garner what situation the Kurma where in, without making them feel anymore impotent than what they already were.
Turt drops his head, and nods in sad acknowledgement. 
'They are led by their Queen, Taimet…if she were to fall, so would they.’
'The attacks will last as long as it takes to vanquish their Queen!?' Ganyeka states. He can feel the inevitable battle, and the juices are fuelling him. Turt nods simply.
‘However, none that have faced her have returned...she has proved invincible.'
Bak’s ego driven voice cuts through the air, 'only because they were not true warriors.' The hair of Nakano’s head bristles as she looks around, her normally calm eyes boring into him. She looks away just as quickly. 
Gem is simmering as his apprentice has gone to far, he has insulted the Kurma who have suffered enough without being lectured by a boy. A number of lessons had quickly built up for him to impart to Bak about, time, place, and interspecies interactions for later when they were alone. He could not embarrass the boy in front of those he respected. 
Turt appears not to have heard Bak, although the Virtu’s know he clearly did, as he asks Magi. 
'Then you will help us?'
Magi’s trunk flips up as he details. 
'What we are will be employed in ridding you of this enemy. However, promises cannot be made when an enemy is as mysterious to us as this one is.’
Ganyeka voice is quick and sharp, 'We need you to provoke an attack.'
'I will send some of my people into the core to draw them out…they are ruthless, I hope you are great warriors you appear to be,’ the King says hopefully. 

CHAPTER 14
SENATE
Circled by extensively decorated gardens, the gray senate building towers upward like a mammoth ice cone that has been upturned onto a beautiful garden. The striking departure in architecture from the rest of the city makes it stand it, as is its purpose. 

Balconies run up the side up the side of the inside of one side of the main chamber, while on the other side behind President Howard’s single extended balcony, a one hundred meter tall glass window opens up onto the impressive city vista. 

Dominating the senate chamber is a pan cake like gray, holographic disc that hovers in the center, covering thirty meters in diameter. 

The sounds of hundreds of assistants conversing with their Ambassadors lowers, as the one fifty meter tall hologram of Howard towers over the disc. From the speakers upon the disc sides, Howard’s voice booms forth. 
'The Senate will hear the Virtu's proposal.'
With the sun low in the sky, a wide ray of light pierces through the tinted window, and covers the balconies like a blanket, while Howard’s silver balcony with its back to it, is bathed in shadows.
As if being sucked up, Howard’s hologram disappears back into the disc, and the regal garb of Carmreno with her hair tied back behind her white attire shoots up in its place. 

With sincerity and purpose, that could beguile even the most hardened heart. Carmreno spoke, infusing her words with a hope and energy seldom heard within the senates walls.
'Honorable representatives of the Alliance. It is in the humblest of circumstances that I am before you. I hope today will go down in galactic history as the birth of justice, and that in time the Alliance will become known as the cradle of peace. Three months ago an expedition landed on a previously thought uninhabited planet. A planet on which I was unable to leave, and watched in the greatest pain for many years, as the galaxy was made to endure incredible suffering. Then your brave men and woman came, and risked their lives to save me, an old woman. Like those brave souls, I extend my hand in the act of faith, that you hold freedom as dear as I do. I have a vision, a glorious vision that one day the Alliance will reach out it's hand to every corner of the galaxy, and bring the light of compassion to extinguish the pains of darkness. Now is the time to end the violence. Now is the time to free those who cannot free themselves. Now is the time to raise the Alliance from a target of mindless violence, to a symbol of justice. It is better to dare greatly, to triumph gloriously although checked by sacrifices and loss of life, than to submit the existence of those who neither triumph, nor suffer greatly. I offer to you honorable representatives that there is either suffering or happiness. The darkness, or the light. Allow us to help you carry you into the light, so no dark corner may ever escape your reach again.'

Logan looks round the chamber. The silence of the senate conceals their reaction to Carmreno’s speech. He soars out with the Way. His mind soars around the balconies like an eagle around a mountain peak. He sees it. They are waiting for something before firming their judgements.
The holographic mouth of Howard opens wide and his voice booms forth from the disc.
'The Ambassador from the Fianni government now requests to speak.’
Logan breathes deeply. That is what they have been waiting for. From round head, to square feet, the red and black armor cover’s Fambasso Kolof, as his hologram powerfully towers upon the disc.
The Fianni’s presence is more than physical. It is tangible. The various Ambassadors hushed reactions make his presence magnetic. This goes far from unnoticed by Carmreno. Her eyes though steady as they are, are running over very each of the warrior. 
'We had our doubts over the motives of the Virtu, however their speech has shown the depths of their passion towards honor. Although we still, have small doubts. We will honor the proposal put forward in the hope the glorious vision spoken of can be brought into reality.’ 
Kolof’s voice is, strong while being focussed and determined in tone and pitch. His voice perfectly reflects the personality of himself and his people.
The silence evaporates, as does the Fianni Ambassadors hologram into the disc. Howard’s takes its place, and the difference in respect held is shown by the difference in noise volume within the chamber. 
'The Senate will now vote on the passing into law of the Virtu, as an additional justice arm of the military,' the blond hair, holographic face of Howard announces.
The ambient noise rises even higher as the various Ambassadors converse.
Logan looks to Carmreno. Silently her icy face assistants have moved up behind the both of them. 
'Surely the support of the Fianni is enough,' he states in hope.
'We can only hope, but if they chose otherwise we will reluctantly respect their decision,' Carmreno’s measured voice tells him without moving her vision onto him.

Like car lights flashing, the red and green bars upon the front of the balconies flash giving a rainbow like appearance as they run up the wall.
President Howard gazes down onto his balcony screen and after a few moments’ looks back up. He announces with pleasure. 
'The Senate has voted. Two hundred and thirty four, for. Two hundred, against. The proposal has been passed.' 
There is a mixture of cheers and silence from the balconies. 
Ever so slightly, the sides of Carmreno’s mouth turn upward, as a little over halve the senate cheers. Unlike the Fianni who cheer for justice, Howard who smiles out of relief, and Logan whose face reveals enthusiasm and anticipation towards the crusade he believes they are upon. Carmreno’s smile is for the victory that only she knows she has achieved. Through the Virtu, she has weeded herself into the Alliance, and manipulated it into its first step towards its downfall, and ultimate destruction. As she hears the senate cheer, she hears them cheering for the pain, oppression, and death that are yet to come. They cheer she, the apparent savior, unaware that they have given birth to a nightmare. 

CHAPTER 15
NARRATOR
The crowd of kids had increased around the tired narrator, sealing him in a wide, circular wall of young eager faces. With its hood dropped in silence, the narrator has slipped into sleep. The single eye ball of the leather skinned boy enlarges like the lens of a camera, and he questions impatiently.
'When do we get to the battles?'
The hood twitches sharply, and a chuckle emanates from it. 
'So keen. Okay little ones.…the Kurma swam into the core, seeking to draw out the Sharkla's, and draw out they did, as the beasts surged out in huge numbers. The battle raged for hours with no side willing to give an inch, as Bak and Gem displayed their remarkable talents in spectacular fashion. While, Magi watched from the confines of the royal disc.’

CHAPTER 16
SHARKLA'S
With the hundreds of lantern like likes from the city, a kilometer behind, the clear oxygen masked samurai hover, looking ghosts sitting against the backdrop of heaven facing hell. While hundreds of thick shells that are, the Kurma army surround them. 

The ocean deaths appeared to have come alive with hundreds of jagged, rotten teeth. As the teeth powered closer, alarmingly fast, large, muscular backs could be seen. The spears of the Kurma fell forwards more in terror than defiance, as the Sharkla’s came into the light surrounding the city. Like bulls with no legs, the white Jilars with seaweed reigns over their mouths ploughed their master’s forwards. 
The Kurma hold where they are, as the glint of the steel samurai swords surge forwards towards to meet the rock, chiseled poles, and black mouths of the Sharkla’s that open savagely wide like Great Whites. The Kurma pull up their crusty, hand held shields in their flipper hands.
The rock jousting like poles of the Sharkla’s slam through the soft necks of the Kurma, sending decapitating heads floating through the water. While the tails of the Jilar’s slam into the Kurma stomachs breaking rib cages with sickening ease.
However, the streams of red blood winding through the water show a small number of the Sharkla’s have succumbed to the desperate swipes of the Kurma’s spears.

Ganyeka can see the pole exploding forwards towards his forehead, with the sharp flipper feet of the Sharkla kicking the Jilar, forcing it to flips its tail even harder. The robust samurai like a matador waits for the last second before flying to the side. The sword swishes down splitting the pole in halves. The Sharkla pulls hard on the reigns halting the Jilar, and its bulbous head falls off with the spewing of gray blood. Not yet finished his last strike, Ganyeka’s body swings around taking the sharp end of his sword through the thick neck of the Sharkla.

In a lattice of dead body parts the Sharkla legs, arms, and heads float. The skill and instinctive actions of the Virtu's like a razor sharp symphony of death. With increased vigor, the Kurma’s throw themselves with adrenaline fueled reckless abandon upon the large shark like enemy

Gem’s yanks his sword from the white Sharkla stomach, and with red blood lacing his sword, he ducks the swing of the Jilar tail. 
Gem’s eyes narrow and he Way pushes the fin away, and around into the back of another Sharkla snapping its spine. 

Bak feels the rush of water over his head, and brings his blade upward, slicing the rock pole in halves. He drops his sword, as the Sharkla swings towards him, and slams a Way, powered punch into its chest. The Kurma drives its sword into the crippled creature’s back, and Bak ferociously slices its gray leg off. Two other Kurma’s, rush forwards driving their spears into it from either side like skewers killing it. 

With the tide of battle seeming to turn in the Virtu led Kurma favor, as the Sharkla’s begin retreating ever so slightly amongst their own red blood. From the largest window of the royal disc, in silence King Turt and Magi keenly watch.

Bak sees it, approximately thirty meters from him. It is larger than the other Sharkla’s, and is sending Kurma bodies parts flying over its heavily muscled shoulders, as it moves forward. 

Sensing something behind him, he pivots around aggressively, and drives the tip of his blade through the Sharkla’s neck. Before it falls, Bak swings back around to look upon the mammoth Sharkla again. He begins swimming forwards towards the one he believes to be their Queen. The one King Turt called Taimet. 

The shells of the Kurma crack, spitting forth the crippled bodies of the dead turtle like creatures, as Taimet slams into one after the other, using her Jilar as a heavy, speeding, battering ram. Out of the corner of her slit eye, she catches the sight of one of the strange, sword wielding figures. The Jilar lets out a pained groan, as Taimet strongly pulls on the reigns bringing it around to face Bak. She throws her jaw open showing her fleshy, gums stained with Kurma blood. Her large finned feet kick into the sides of the Jilar’s torso, and it yanks her forwards.
Pulling to a stop, Bak tauntingly hold out his sword. The enraged Taimet pulls her Jilar over a Kurma, and forces her pole out for a killing blow. Bak flies backward and slices his sword downward in front of the Jilar’s face causing it to panic. The Jilar jolts sideways and almost throws the Queen clear.
Like a car skidding to a stop, the Jilar slams into a Sharkla’s back sending it spiraling forward into two Kurma spears. The jaw of the Jilar cracks, as Taimet brutally pulls it around to face the samurai.
The angered expression on the Sharkla face changes to surprise, as the silver of the sword flashes by her nose. Taimet swims backward frantically. She looks up to see Bak bring his sword rigid. With a downward jab, his sword slices through the top of the Jilar’s head until the tip is visible on the underside of its jaw.
Her gray, muscled hand snatches the floating rock pole and Taimet powers forward with a hard flip of her body. The pieces of rock fly past her large head, as the pole is snapped into pieces. Bak brings his sword down and throws up his hand to Way push Taimet backward. The Sharkla’s head flings back as she feels the invisible force strike it. In her dazed state, Bak flicks his wrist, and his sword cuts right through the Sharkla’s leg. 

The desperation of Taimet’s lunge for the broken piece of her pole is met by Bak’s unmerciful decapitation of her arm. Like a cyclone made of fore the lust of battle is raging in Bak’s eye. Taimet pulls her body backward trying to hide in the cloud of her blood from the young warrior. The sword rams through the blood cloud, and into her chest ripping it apart. Taimet looks down fearfully to see her rib cage hanging from her body. The eye goes dull, the jaw droops, and with one last, Kurma spear lanced into her head, she spins downward. 
The battle field was murky with green, gray, and red blood as Bak reached forward to grab the handle of his sword. In weary triumph he pulls it out of the falling Sharkla carcass and raises it in triumph. 
The poles of the remaining Sharkla’s pull back, their hands tighten on the seaweed reigns of their Jilars. With their Queen carcass floating mangled, they ride away from the lights, and blood surrounding Kurma City. Their gray backs disappearing into the ocean depths. Even through the water, Bak can hear the cheers of the Kurma. The Kurma pulls together in a circle around Bak. 
In the midst of reveling in it, Bak’s eyes open wide as a realization hits him. Indeed, it hits every Virtu. 

Turt rises from his egg chair, as Bak stands in front of Tarqwa, Meena, Gem, Magi, and Ganyeka. Turt stops before him, and Bak bows his head. The Kurma elders are sitting around them within the royal disc. The Kurma King places the seaweed band around Bak’s neck. The boy looks down to see the green lined medallion with a small gold spear emblazoned in its center. 
'You have defeated Queen Taimet. We bestow upon you the rank of Prince, and will forever remember you as our savior,' Turt states in a regal tone.
Bak smiles lightly. Turt steps backward, and stops as he sees the look in Bak’s eyes. It is look of concern.
'Thank you King, for this honor, however the danger is not over.'
Turt looks at the other Virtu's confused.  
'Not over? You vanquished their Queen,' Turt states with disbelief.
'We vanquished the daughter of the Queen, not she herself,' Ganyeka details sharply. 
The Kurma elder’s look at their leader with great apprehension, as Turt looks down dismayed. 
'Are you sure?' he questions in a quiet voice.
Turt eyes look up and fall into Magi’s piercing silver glare. The Grand Master moves forwards past Bak. 
'There is no doubt, however the Sharkla’s appear stunned, you should be able to leave before they garner the courage for another assault.’
Bak’s eyes quickly fix onto the back of Magi’s head with intense annoyance. He cannot believe Magi, is telling the Kurma to run from the Sharkla’s. When do warriors ever run?
Dejection laces Turt’s voice as he whispers, ‘Leave our home forever..'
Ganyeka moves ahead of Bak to Magi’s side. He is keen to dispel any thoughts in the Kings mind of remaining in the midst of such future danger.
'Her lair would be difficult to find your highness. Their are many other worlds upon which you could live peacefully.' 
Bak could feel himself, taking second stage to someone else again. 
Audaciously, he steps forwards in front of the elders, and spits forth.
'I killed her daughter, and I can kill her too.’ 
Magi’s, withered blue face frowns, and he gives a subtle look back to Gem. 
'Now is not the time to provoke a battle, you must leave your highness,’ Magi says sternly. He pauses and glances subtly at Bak, ‘only those who are foolish seek to give battle after the enemy has retreated from the battle field.’
Turt looks at his fellows Kurma’s. They have fear in their eyes. He can see that they do not wish to endure another battle with the Sharkla’s. Turt nods in agreement.
'Master Magi is right. We can build a home elsewhere.’ 
Bak's jaw, clenches.
'The Sharkla's are on the run!' he proclaims angrily. 
Gem grips his left arm from behind. 
In a soft teaching tone, seeking to calm Bak, he tells him, 'Your anger will neither help them, nor keep them safe.’
Bak angrily shakes Gem's arm off, and storms through the door, leaving Meena to look after him worriedly. Magi and Ganyeka remain silent, as Gem quickly follows the Bak.

Bak can feel Gem following him, however he does not stop. Gem says aloud, 'The Kurma are free. There is no need for this.'
Without turning, Bak retorts, 'What is served by giving your home to an enemy that is at your mercy!?' 
Gem can see Bak about to disappear around the far corner and shouts out, 'This is not the way to prove yourself!'

Gem seeing emotions boiling over in Bak, can feel the futility of talking sense to him right now. He leans against the wall. Magi slowly walks from the royal chamber, as Gem sighs in exasperation. 
Magi had been waiting for the exchange to finish. He knows Gem’s words failed to reign in the boy. Despite his urgency to intervene in the boy’s training, that responsibility was given to Gem. He must have faith in Gem as likewise, Gem must have faith in Bak. Gem looks at the trunk face Grand Master and says with frustration, 'He is defiant. He has trouble listening.'
Magi looks at the wooden floor. He tells Gem subtly, without having the younger samurai feel his judgement is being questioned.
'The territory of stubbornness goes with the lack of his years. Nethertheless he respects you...so you must persevere with the patience of your greater years.'
Gem says quickly, 'He's going after the Queen.'
Magi frowns. He already knows this. In a small revelation of his past frustrations with other Virtu's, Magi details.
'Even with the vastness of my experiences, and wisdom. I am still caged by the limitations of suggestions, while people themselves must make their own decisions, and choose their own path. You can only show him the path of illumination, and hope to steer him away from the path of ignorance.'

CHAPTER 17
DO NOT BE AFRAID
The caves could be seen as black spots upon the mountain’s side, as the blanket of snow washed over the icy peaks. 

The snow sits on the shoulders of the robe, as its trails along the icy floor of the tunnel. A line of amber light runs along the roof, and heavy fur covers the thin, rangy frames of the Ralop's, as Felonious walks past the various ice openings leading into subterranean chambers. The eye sockets that hang five center-meters from the Ralop’s faces quickly retract back into their white sockets, as Felonious's stony stare runs over them. The crackle from the cables along the walls is the only noise that can be heard, as Felonious stops by an opening in the tunnel wall. A Ralop, slowly scurries away on the floor. 
The three meter tall frame of the Modong’s head almost touches the room’s rocky roof. It hears the footsteps and its shaggy face peers around to see the old woman standing inside his doorway. The woolly clothing draped over Gib Nam conceals his large frame. It was strange for a Modong, which eked out a life through brutalizing others into becoming slaves, in order to free their time for personal pleasure activities, not to invoke fear. However, as he smells Felonious with his pudgy nose, he smells no fear. 
Felonious looks away casually to a dirty girl chained to the wall by her neck. Nam looks over to the ten year old girl whose long, black hair is matted with dirt. Her eyes have slits running across them. The result of someone cutting her eyes with a blade so she could not see, so she could not run away. She can hear Felonious breathing, and curls up like a frightened dog that has been beaten regularly, against the wall. The greater part of the old woman’s hood is preventing Nam from seeing her entire face. He questions with a tone that promises he is about to rip her head off. 
'What do you want old......?' 
He stops mid sentence as she throws off her hood. He is revolted by her gray, peeling face, and dry, coarse eyes. He turns up his pudgy nose in disgust.
'What the hell are you!?' 
Nam sees the long fingers extend from the arm of the robe. The skin on the fingers has almost rotted off, and pieces of bone are visible. Felonious lifts her arm slowly, while clenching her fingers into a fist. Nam’s eye balls turn inside out and like dead weight, he falls onto the icy floor with a dull thud. 
Like a spider retreating into its lair, Felonious’s hands disappear into her robe, and her eyes fall back upon the girl. 
The girl cowers up against the wall, as if trying to frantically get away from a beating. 
'There is nothing to fear, as the others will grow to fear you,' Felonious informs the girl. 
The girl suddenly lunges like a wild dog and as the chain cuts into her neck pulling her back, she screams showing a mouth filled with rotting teeth. Felonious watches the blood from the cut neck trickle down the girl’s front and wicked smile forms on her peeling face. 
'And that is why I chose you.’
With a glance from her coarse eye ball, the chain snaps. The girl scrambles along the wall, away from Felonious, frightened of her power. 

CHAPTER 18
QUEEN TEMKA
The labyrinth of dark tunnels had left the oxygen masked, and infra-red glassed face of Bak swimming for hours through the bowels of the planet. Through the mask, the fatigued face senses something. Bak kicks his legs in a scissors movement taking him through the opening, and into the medium size cavern. Bak is flung sideways, like he has just stepped into the path of freight train. He’s entire body is rendered numb for a second, as his back slams into the rocky wall. 
His fingers weakly fall away from the sword handle, and it falls towards the floor. Bak feels his chest painfully compress. He looks down to see two large finned hands upon his chest. He looks up into mouth of the Sharkla. It’s teeth so close they graze his cheeks as the creature about a quarter of the size larger than Taimet, pushes every massive muscle of itself onto him. More out of instinct to stop the pain, the Sharkla is inflicting upon his chest. He kicks his left leg, throwing the power of Way behind it.
Temka jolts backward, as if hit by lightning, and her heavily muscled chest convulses. 
The Sharkla Queen’s hollow eyes have a stunned look within them. Her massive gray fin upon her back almost touches the cavernous roof. 
Bak dives underneath her finned feet, and powers towards his fallen sword, lying between rocks upon the floor. 
Temka’s eyes roll, as a Great White’s does before an explosive attack, and she whisks around. She cuts through the water after the black leather dressed figure.
Sensing, the sword still being out of reach before the force of the Sharkla’s hits from behind. With a hard twirl of his body, Bak swings around, and snaps his hands around the Queen’s gray wrist. 
He pulls backward and around, using the Sharkla’s forward momentum to propel the beast into the cavernous wall. The force of collision is so great that Temka's powerfully built frame digs into the wall partially. The rocks fall off her muscular back, and shoulders. 

Bak’s swims in desperation towards the steel sword, as he fears the power of the Sharkla. He is fatigued, is alone in her cavernous lair, and can feel broken ribs within his chest. 

It seems as if his fingers are growing longer, as he reaches for the sword in-between the rocks. The large arms wrapped around his chest like a vice. He feels two broken bones grind against each other within his chest. There is no word for the pain. Hopelessly, Temka pulls him up and away from his sword. Bak cannot think straight under the pain. He sees the whirl of the cavern walls, as like a discuss thrower Temka swings him around. 
She pulls her arms aside, and Bak plunges backward into the wall. A jagged piece of rock drives into his back and his closes his eyes, as he comes perilously close to unconsciousness under the pain. 

His eye focus to see the black, razor toothed mouth of Temka bursting towards him. The Sharkla is moving with the kind of force that sends spinal columns bursting out of backs. 

He closes his eyes and calls on the Way. Within his mind, the galaxy like falling water washes over him. He feels the entire galaxy flitter away, until all that is left in his mind, are Temka, his sword, and his hand reaching out to it. 

Bak’s fingers are outstretched, as the sword like a bullet, slices through the water.
Temka’s battering ram of a body is mere center meters away, as the sword slices underneath her white belly, and into Bak’s rough hands. His eyes snap open, and his fingers instantly tighten around the handle as if trying to strangle it. He looks up to see Temka’s jaw filling his vision. He jabs the sword up in front of him. 
The Sharkla plunges straight into it and the sharp end of the sword peels its chest open. The dead head of a Kurma spits out, and bounces off Bak’s head. He closes his eyes as the red blood spews forth.
Temka tries to pull away, however the tip of the sword digs hard into her blue heart. Her eyes go dull and her body stiff. Bak yanks his sword from her stomach, and opens his eyes to see her listing in front of his eyes. A layer of red blood coats Bak’s entire body making him look as if he has just been dipped into hell. The expression on his face shows that he is stunned to be alive.

CHAPTER 19
THE RESCUE
In the green, flipper hands of the Kurma, the lantern lights glided down the tunnel, with the four masks trailing behind. 
Gem had received the emergency signal from Bak hours earlier, and quickly informed Magi. Turt quickly assembled a rescue team to venture into the core, accompanied by Magi, Ganyeka, Nakano, and Gem for protection against the Sharkla’s. The thoughts that swarmed, and plagued Gem over the hours were as dark as he had ever experienced. He had allowed his apprentice to leave in that corridor by the royal chamber, and now the very thought of what may of come of Bak, shamed him. He would never make the mistake of allowing him to run away when in such a ragefull state again.

Gem sees the lights of the Kurma lanterns, like fire flies stop just inside the cavern. Beyond it, he sees it. The faint yellow glow of the lanterns against the red, blood covered figure, curled up on the floor.
He sees the mask of figure look up, and reach out its hand. Gem swims past Magi, Nakano, and Ganyeka. The Kurma part to allow the green hair samurai to dive down towards Bak. Magi gazes down to look upon the large Sharkla’s carcass, as do the Kurma with amazement. Gem reaches the floor, and grabs Bak by either blood coated shoulder. He had never felt so regretful as he looked into the boy’s eyes.

CHAPTER 20
I KILLED HER
It taken Vidu halve the day to repair both of Bak’s broken ribs, and had fatigued him greatly, after Gem carried the young samurai into the healer’s quarter on the Virtu shuttle.

Gem had left them alone during this time, and when he met Bak again in the Kurma City, the boy’s anger had seemed to dull considerably. The encounter with the Sharkla Queen had shaken him. The other positive side Gem could find was that the ego of Bak was not fueled by the celebrations of the Kurma, which were lauding him as a legend. Through the healing and his seemingly detached mind, he was unaware of these celebrations in his honor. 
 
They stop by a window, and gaze out upon the peaceful vista. The Kurma’s were no longer swimming with spears in their hands. They were carrying farming tools in its place.
Gem sees the moment to impart something that was weighing on his mind. 
'Bak, you may have killed this Sharkla Queen, however the next opponent you seek may be more powerful.’ 
He seeked to impart stronger words, however berating his apprentice in his current state may cause a backfire, sparking resentment in Bak. 
Bak gives a surprised look. 
'More powerful than a Virtu?' he asks. 
Gem turns to look at him, locking his eyes with Bak’s
'There are forces beyond even us.'
Bak looks back upon the ocean, and silently considers his master’s words. He has a troubled look on his face.
'Do you ever have dreams?'
Gem studies him for a second. Curious as to why he has asked such a strange question.
'Dreams...why yes. We all do,' Gem replies quickly.
Bak shakes his head, 'No, not normal dreams. The ones where you can smell the air, feel your muscles screaming, and they stay with you even after you wake, hanging over you like a foreshadow of destiny.'
Gem eyes give a look of recognition. He has an idea of what is troubling his apprentice now.
'I have never felt that before...although some Virtu's have been known to glimpse their future. Like shadows that they have yet to cast, but they hang over them like clouds of fortune or doom Nethertheless,' he tells him. 
'Is it possible to alter your destiny?' Bak asks with hopeful eyes. It is almost as if Bak is afraid of something.
'The rivers of fate and time can be redirected sometimes. However, the raging rivers are often beyond us. How clear are these dreams?' Gem details, while fishing for information. 
A look of frustration and helplessness fills Bak’s eyes, and he recounts. 'They are like shadows in the mist. They swirl and when I try to grasp them, vanish. I wake with a terrible feeling that I have lost something important...almost like I regret something I have yet to do.' 
Gem looks out upon the Kurma who are tending their aqua culture farms. They appear so care free now.
'As you navigate the murky waters, I will always be by your side. Whatever awaits you. You will not have to face it alone,' Gem says in a reassuring tone. 
Bak gives a small smile. He is comforted to have someone who genuinely cares for him. Someone with whom he can share his inner most thoughts and feelings. 
Gem sees the reflection of the blue trunk Grand Master in the glass. He turns around to see Turt, his large eyes blinking by Magi’s side. 
'We have a new friend on our crusade,’ Magi announces.
Bak looks around to see Turt lift his flipper hand. 
'By your side, we can bring freedom to others,’ the Kurma King states. 

CHAPTER 21
MEENA
Bak pulls up his leather top. Meena lightly rubs the cream on it. Bak grimaces slightly. His ribs were repaired, however his torso was still bruised from Temka’s attack.
‘Of course its going to hurt, but it doesn’t have too you know?’
Bak looks at his waist. She finishes rubbing and he pulls his top down.
'Better me than the Kurma,' he offers quietly.
Meena gives him a stern look. 
'You do know you had a group of samurai to choose from!? Why did you have to rush off like a hero?’ 
The pride show’s on Bak’s face, as he states.
'Because the Great's don't need help.'
Meena says in a concerned whisper, 'Fighting is not the only way to be great you know..? And it usually keeps you alive too.'
Bak looks straight into her blue eyes.
'You were worried about me,' he says. He can feel her concern for him. 
Meena look down. ‘If you keep on like this, they’ll be no you left to tender too.’ 
Bak reaches down, and softly touches her right hand. 
'All my parts are intact for now,' he tells her.
Meena puts her other hand over his, and looks up into his black eyes. She frowns slightly.
'For now but...' she whispers as her voice trials off.  
Bak tells her confidently.
'I’ll be fine. I have to fight so others do not. You understand...you fought your Mother.'
Meena rubs his hand lightly, and smiles thinly.
'Just promise me, you'll take it easy when we reach this holy planet,' she says. 
'I'II try,' he replies. He lifts his hand to lightly touch her cheek. He strokes it.
'Do all Amozio's eyes sparkle?' he asks her honestly. She blushes slightly.
'Amozio's have more important things to concern themselves with than looks,' she says in a slightly embarrassed voice, while averting her gaze from his.
Bak places his other hand under her chin, and softly lifts her head until her eyes meet his again.
'Then you probably don't realize how beautiful you are......' he tells her softly. She closes her eyes and turns her head into his hand. He continues to lightly stroke her cheek.

CHAPTER 22
NARRATOR
The narrators hood slumps, and the kids yell out.
'You're falling asleep. We want to hear more. Wake up!'
The hood shakes, and the narrators straightens its robe with its gloved hands. 
'The passage of time makes young bones old, and sleep comes easily,' he tells them. They return blanks stares. They have no idea what he is talking about.
The one piece red jump suit wraps around the child’s body like glad wrap, as he demands. 
'You promised us a space battle. We want a space battle.’
The narrator chuckles. It is a croaky laugh.
The narrator’s glove rises slowly and stiffly points at the child. 'Battles will come. To many,...you'll see. It starts slow...few villains, but soon out of the wood work, they come. Evil androids the first...the first of many.'
The kid fall silent, as the narrators hood begins to slump again. It is clear he is severely fatigued. The kids say in unison.  
'Promise not to fall asleep.'
The narrator looks up quickly. 
'Sleep is what I am now, so very old, however if it comes, you can wake me. I won't bite you. Not tasty enough,' he tells them. Shock expressions are returned.
'No danger, I am to old to chase,' the narrator tells them. The bald head kid with silky smooth skin, states excitedly.
'Evil androids!' 
The narrator nods.
'Yes. Yes. The Kurma tell Virtu of rumors. Rumors of strange androids that have a planet surrounded, looking for a legendary power said to be on surface. Rare legend...seldom heard of.'

CHAPTER 23
TOLEMAC
Their bow’s look like they have thick beards hanging from them, and the wide beam that runs backward from it, has war like paint running along it. They are Resulka warships. They soar over the planet whose mountains and lakes wind through thick forests. It is a plane infused with life, befitting a planet that is known as the origin of creation, the holy planet Tolemac.
Looking like two, massive turtle shells slapped onto one another, the Kurma ships glide into the light and into view of the Resulka warships. 

Magi’s silver eyes look out upon not the Resulka fleet, but the planet below from the window of the Virtu shuttle. 
While Ganyeka keeps the shuttle within the cordon of the Kurma ships, Nakano warily casts her wolf eyes upon the strange, green warships. She cannot sense any emotion emanating from the warships, and this confirms the Kurma’s rumor of androids that have a planet surrounded. After telling the Kurma of his latest vision involving a cloud of unusual warships, hanging over a planet, and hearing their rumor, the Grand Master was quick to identify it as the holy planet, Tolemac. Ganyeka, and Nakano were not quite so sure, and even after seeing the strange ships that match Magi’s vision, they are still doubtful, that this is Tolemac.
Ganyeka smiles wryly, and says with pleasure.
'The Kurma will keep the Resulka dancing while we see if the legends are lies.'
'The Resulka will not follow?' Gem questions cautiously.
Tarqwa cuts in, 'They can’t, blown into smithereens if they try, very weird it is.’
Ganyeka looks at Tarqwa suspiciously. 'How do you know this?' he questions suspiciously.
Tarqwa replies, 'Years ago. I helped a raggedy fellow. I helped him with some liquor, and drunk he began to mumble, quite unforeseen really, about bearded ships, mechanical people, and a planet with weird power. I have good ears.’
Magi states with unquestionable conviction. 
'The crystal must be down there. A bastion of life it is. The androids are mechanical, and akin to dead, and no machine can ever control the destiny of life.' 

CHAPTER 24
THE BATTLE
The green, Resulka torpedoes moves forward in a swarm, before separating, and winding towards the separate Kurma ships like heat seeking missiles. Working in-between the green torpedoes, the walnut like Kurma torpedoes whisk towards the Resulka warships.
The small sections rip from the Kurma’s ship along with hundreds of green flashes as the torpedoes hit. 
The walnut torpedoes strike the Resulka hulls and bounce off as if using them as trampolines. The walnut torpedoes snap in halves and explode in flashes of dark brown, ripping small holes in the green ships with two bridge windows that look like narrow eyes upon their bows. 

Meanwhile, hundreds of kilometers below, the Virtu shuttle descends in-between the trees. Its legs extend out like spider’s legs, and sits down softly upon lush grassy ground within the thick, dewy, rain forest. 

The Kurma ships, slam against the Resulka warships, as both combatant fleets move incredibly close. The hundred’s of green and brown torpedoes create a lattice of death between the opposing fleets. Ships from either side are exploding in brilliant flashes of light in a brutal fire works display.

The shallow river running underneath a foot bridge meets, Magi, Ganyeka, Gem, Nakano, Bak, Meena, and Tarqwa as they walk from the forest after a one hour hike. The sheer cliff face races upward for hundreds of meters upon the other side of the bridge. 
Ganyeka’s dark eyes follow the rough cliff face up to its peak. 
'This cathedral must at the peak,' he mutters with a tone that is clearing not enjoying the prospect of climbing it.
Magi looks around the rain drenched forest behind, into the slowly flowing river, and over the wooden, weathered foot bridge. 
'I do not think any being of intelligence graces this land,’ he offers.
The grumpy voice that comes from under the foot bridge floors him. 'Can you shout any louder. I don’t think the ground’s awake yet!?'
The mischievous eyes look out from underneath the bridge. The creature grabs the bridge with his three fingered hand, and pulls his diminutive body up the small embankment. Magi is puzzled. He does not know why he couldn’t sense this crusty skin creature when it was so close.
'Who are you!?' Ganyeka questions bluntly, just as surprised by its presence as Magi. 
Alvis looks up at Ganyeka, and steps backward startled by his size.
'Big, very big. Which tree trunk did they carve you from,' he grumbles, and turns his eyes onto Magi. 
'Your not. You’re a Nimbum. A keeper of peace,' he asserts in a coarse voice. 
'How do you know this?' Magi replies curiously.
Alvis pretends not to hear the Grand Master and gazes up into the sky. He’s gray, narrow slit eyes flicker, and his crooked nose twitches. 
'Weird friends in orbit. That’s a big battle.'
The creature’s evasiveness, causes Ganyeka’s temper to flare. 
'What do you want troll!?' he questions angrily.
Alvis looks at the face of the tanned skinned man, which is contorting. In a deliberate taunt, he questions.
'Which axe hit you trunk man?'
Before Ganyeka can respond, Bak blurts out, 'We're here for the crystal!'
The sharp toes of Alvis dig into Bak’s ankle.
'The crystal is not for you!' Alvis berates the boy.
His stubby finger points at Gem, while Bak clenches his fists. 
'He will climb the cliff face. The rest must stay here. There are rules to be followed, and the punishments are not fun. But how I enjoy seeing them,' Alvis states. 
Genuine concern comes over Ganyeka’s face.
'Punishments?'
Alvis lips quiver, and the sides of his mouth turns up in a devilish smile.
'Ice block, stone statue, or a tree trunk you will be for a millenium. The ice blocks my favorite,' he tells them. The creature lets loose a hoarse laugh.
Ganyeka gives Magi a quizzical look. He is looking for confirmation, as to whether Magi senses this creature has access to the power he warns of.
Magi face is clam, as if he now knows why he could not sense Alvis before. He looks sure, and composed, as he says aloud, 'We will wait here for Gem. If trouble arises, our help will not be far away.' 
Gem nods simply in acknowledgement. Alvis looks as though he is growing tired of their presence as he stares into the forest.
'I’ll be company, but after three hundred years of sleep, expect grumpy company.'
Bak looks from the creature to Magi. He says desperately.
'He cannot go alone. How can we trust this troll!? I must go with Gem!' 
Alvis kicks him in the shin again, however this time even harder. Gem gives Bak a cautionary glance not to retaliate. 
'You’re made out of rock. You gave me a sore foot, very impatient, pity you’ll betray your friends,' Alvis mutters quickly.
Shortly stunned, Bak demands with force.
'What? How!?'
'Alvis’s mouth has a funny way of not working after insults,' Alvis rebuts with a mischievous smile. He is clearly gaining entertainment from teasing the Virtu. 
The silver eyes of Magi have been following Alvis’s every move, like a predator. He can feel now that Alvis is simply a messenger. The deliverer of a force more powerful than the Virtu’s, and that is why Magi could not sense him. He is protected. That is also how he can administer punishments. 
Gem places his hand on Bak's shoulder. He seeks to calm and ease his apprentice’s fears. He can feel Bak has lost someone in the past, and fears that he will loose Gem.
'I have to do this alone,' Gem tells him in a fatherly tone.
‘Our place is down here. Gem will return,' Magi reaffirms. 
Alvis gives a quick smirk. 
'Aaah. So sure you are, don't be so. Who brought the food?' he berates the blue master.
Ganyeka opens his mouth, as if about to question Alvis, as the creature looks into one of Nakano’s leather pockets.
'We don’t have any food for you,' Nakano says in an annoyed tone.
Alvis turns up his crooked noise as if he has been insulted. 'I bet the androids would have fed me. I wake up for this,’ he grumbles to himself. In a flash of movement quicker than Ganyeka’s eyes can follow, Alvis zooms up his leg, and around onto his back. With his stubby fingers gripping Ganyeka’s hair, he says cheekily.
'You look tasty.'

Gem gives Bak a small smile, and jogs over the weather palings of the foot bridge. He reaches the other side, and looks up to the peak hundreds of meters above. He lets out a sigh, and pulls himself up onto the face to begin his ascent.  

The further he climbs, the craggier the wall becomes. With a light covering of sweat upon his face, he is finding it harder to find foot holes. Midway he pauses for a rest. Hearing the squawks from behind, he turns to see the red backs, and yellow bellies of the large birds gliding over the tree tops. 

With a deep breath, Gem continues his ascent. His muscles are becoming tighter, the longer he climbs. Eventually he reaches the peak. He grasps the edge, and pushes down hard with his hands. With the Way he propels his body up and over. He feels his feet land on thick grass. He looks up to see the large oak wooden doors that dominate the front of the gray cathedral thirty meters further ahead. Gem breathes deeply as if cleansing his soul and walks towards it.

Luminous light streams through the stain glass windows and in-between the rock pillars on either side of Gem. Running forwards, the pillars almost run into the far wall upon which an elevated rock slab extends out from. Gem hardly noticed the writing chiseled into the pillars and pictograph’s as he’s eye transfixed onto the crystal sitting upon the cup like top of the rock holder on the slab. 

Slowly, as if walking on sacred ground, Gem walks beams of light. There is absolute silence, and Gem’s lips are dry, as he reaches the slab. He looks over the slab, wondering whether he is allowed to step upon it. Before that crystal whose light seems to penetrate every molecule of his body, he felt like a child.
Cautiously he places his left boot onto the slab, and pauses, waiting for something to happen. The silence remains, and his pushes his body onto it. 
The fingers of Gem extend, and slowly he reaches out to lay his hand upon it. The tip of his longest finger touches the crystals tip, and darkness plunges around him. Gem looks around, however he cannot see a thing. 
A subtle covering of light, like a blanket falling from the sky, lowers upon Gem. Apprehension is the first look that appears in his eyes, as in the dim light, he can see what is around him. It is not the cathedral.

Grimacing under each drop of acid rain that falls upon him, eating holes into his pants, and top. Gem can see the jet, black water. It rushes down like a water fall, creating a wall that extends around himself and the grotesque rock statues. While at his feet, a shallow pool of blood encompasses the small chamber.

Gem feels it. Like a cancer infecting his body from behind. A presence that makes him sick to the stomach. 
He turns around see the figure with a ripped and bloodied robe. It is similar in height and build to himself. Even through the dim light, its black skin, the tears on its hands, and the mangled nature of its face stand out. Gem feels terror as he looks into its face that has hollow holes where its eye balls should have been. 
The blood rushes from the grotesque mouths of the statues, as Dark Soul strides forwards towards Gem, kicking up the blood with its boots.

Gem’s tense hands grip the handle of his sword, and he pulls it out. 
Waves of brutality flow off the figure, and as Gem brings his sword straight up in front his face. He can sense it not only wants to kill him, but also rip him apart, and feast on his bones. 
Gem lunges forwards throwing Way infused power behind his strike. The sword hits the flesh torn arm of Dark Soul, and bounces off. The figure shakes its arm and continues walking forward. Gem’s eyes flash with fear, and he twirls his sword around quickly. He drives the tip of it into the pool of blood, closes his eyes, and leaps into the air holding himself vertical above the sword. The blood electrifies, and with a convulsed shake, Dark Soul’s body comes alight in flames. 
Gem’s eyes open, and he swings his body around. His boot slams into Dark Soul’s fiery chest sending him flying backward. His back slams against the black jet water, and he slams into the pool of blood. The electricity dies in the blood, and Gem lands.
Without hesitating, he somersaults through the air, his silver sword a blur of motion. He lands in front of the black skin warrior whose face has jet black water running over its flesh mangled face. Dark Soul appears stunned, as Gem powerfully lifts up his sword above its head. Summoning every morsel of strength he has, he jams the sword down towards Dark Soul’s head. The holes on the dark warrior’s face look up, instinctively both of his torn hands snap up. They clasp around either side of the sword tip, stopping it millimeters from his head. 
With a surprised expression, Gem tries to yank the sword from Dark Soul's grip. However, he holds it in place. In an awesome pull, Gem feels the handle of his sword alarmingly ripped from his hands. He stumbles back in reflex.
Desperately, he watches the bloodied robe figure step to its feet. Its legs are horribly burned from the electrified blood, however it seems to have no affect, as it brings Gem’s sword up in front of its face. 
The torn hands tighten around the sword and it begins to bend. Gem steps back again, furthering the distance between the hellish warrior and himself. He sees the splinters of silver, like confetti eject up from the sword, along with a sharp snapping sound. Both ends of the sword fall into the blood pool with two small splashes. 

The flesh bounces up and torn upon Dark Soul’s face as it charges. Gem grabs its right arm, and tries to twist it. Dark Soul slams his boot into Gem’s left knee cap, as if anticipating the move. 
Feeling the pain shooting through him, he releases his grip on Dark Soul’s arm. As he bends down, trying to take in the leg pain, Gem slams his right fist into Dark Soul's torso. 
There is only the slightest flinch from Dark Soul. Dark Soul clamps his hands onto either side of Gem’s head. He slams the samurai’s head into the front of the grotesque statue. The blood runs over Gem’s face, which is contorted in pain. 
With the bloodied and pained look on his face, he looked like Bak did, lying on that cavernous floor on Kurma, after battling Temka.
Gem looks up to see the long, crooked hands of the statue. He grabs them in a vice like grip, and throws his body up. Both his legs like rockets kick into Dark Soul’s face. The dark warrior falls backward into the blood pool.
Gem takes one gasping breath, and spits some blood from his mouth. He hears the splashing sound, and looks around to see 
Dark Soul standing, staring at him. Gem begins to feel he is fighting a creature from the bowels of hell. He is beginning to feel that his battle for survival, may be nothing more than his slow torturous punishment for touching the forbidden Visin crystal.
Dark Soul walks forward, and Gem grabs the front of its ripped robe. He pulls flips backward with, Way, generated power, pulling the Dark Warrior into the air, and around him. 
Gem lands, and with both hands holding the dark warrior above his head, ferociously slams it down into the pool of blood. 
The samurai looks down with eyes that hope beyond all hope that the dark warrior slumped stiffly in the blood pool is dead. 
He sees the mangled cheek of Dark Soul twitch and he throws himself onto its chest. He sends his fists slamming down upon the warrior’s face like meteorites. Dark Soul face is knocked side to side with every punch for a minute, before its flesh torn hands snap up. They grab the front of Gem’s top, and pull the samurai. The head butt shakes Gem internally. The blood trickles from Gem’s forehead, as he steps up, and stumbles backward in a drunken stagger. With blurred vision, Gem sees the outline of the dark warrior stand up. He sees the black object flying towards him and his body jolts backward into the statue. The sound of the crack, as Gem’s back slams into the statue is sickening, and he falls shortly paralyzed into the blood pool.  
No sooner has Gem looked up to see where the dark warrior is, than it grabs his robe, and pulls him into the air. 
Dark Soul swings Gem across the chamber, and into another statue. This time, Gem’s face crashes into the statue’s face, and again he plunges into the blood. 
Like a vulture, arms outstretched, Dark Soul flies through the air, and slams his boots into Gem’s already fragile back. The samurai scream is primordial. Dark Soul grabs Gem’s head, and unmercifully pushes it into the pool of blood.
He cannot breath or hear, as the blood runs up his nose, into his ears, and even forces him to swallow some as it rushes into his mouth. Gem can feel himself beginning to suffocate. 
Despite his frantic struggle, he cannot break free of the dark warrior’s grip. 
The hand of Gem explodes from the water beside Dark Soul’s head. Gem on his last few seconds of life, closes his eyes. He generates every semblance of power in the Way into his hand, and lets out a desperate call.
Like a small torpedo streaming towards a warship. The ripples in the water speed toward Dark Soul. 
Dark Soul drives his hands down a little harder throwing his entire weight behind pushing the samurai’s head down. The ripple slams into Gem’s hand and the silver of one half of his broken sword flies up into it. The fingers of Gem wind around it like an anaconda giving a death grip. Gem’s hand swings around, and drives the tip of the blade into the blood pool. The water boils, and sparks fly off it, as it electrifies. The Way powered act, sends Dark Soul body shaking, and flying clear as if hit by lightning. Gem’s entire body is covered in burned flesh, as he stands up. On his knees, Dark Soul turns around to look at Gem. 
The face upon Dark Soul’s now has eyes, green hair, and a smooth skin. It is the face of Gem looking back upon him. 
After being slightly confused shortly, Gem eyes fill with understanding. He now knows why he hellish warrior possesses such strength, and why it can anticipate him at times. He feels it at the heart of his halve soul. A soul cut in halves. He is looking at the dark side of his own soul. 
'You're me...or what I could be..' he whispers realizing this figure is the dark side of his soul. He is being tested and failure will be the extinction of his soul utterly. 
He looks at halve end of his blade. He knows that only he can destroy the dark side of himself. The metallic sword will not. He releases his grip, and does not even look at falls into the blood. 
Beyond the broken bones and pain from burned flesh, he knows the light outweighs the dark in his soul. Victory will be his. The eyes firm, as Dark Soul explodes like being shot from a cannon toward him.
Dark Soul’s leg extends readying to kick Gem in the head. Gem ducks his head, and wraps his hands around that leg. 
Gem pulls backward and pulls Dark Soul helplessly into the statue’s side. Gem rushes over and slams his fist into Dark Soul’s dirt covered teeth shattering them like shards.
The dark warrior drives his knee into Gem’s groin, and pushes the shortly winded samurai off him. 
Like spinning tops they both spin into the air, and pound their fists into each other heads, with dull thumps. 
The blood splashes up as their bodies fall into the pool, and it splashes down onto both of them. 
They step up quickly, and charge each other like bulls. Dark Soul throws his leg powerfully forwards, and jolts his head backward in pain, as Gem slams his elbow down upon it. 
The dark warrior is hurting now, and this empowers Gem who brutally punches Dark Soul’s chest. He hears the sound of cracking ribs. Gem can feel the Way flowing through every vein. Dark Soul drives his boot down onto Gem's right ankle. However, Gem takes the pain, and grabs the dark warrior by either ear. He flips Dark Soul over his head into the statues jagged back. The dark warrior look dazes, as he falls into the blood by its base. Gem rushes towards him, and steps onto his face, as he leaps up onto the statues back, holding onto the jagged edges upon its back. 
Dark Soul looks up hazily to see the fire spew downward from the samurai’s finger tips. The blood around him comes alight in flames.
Gem throws his arms up around his head, as the entire chamber turns into a furnace. Gem closes his eyes and retreat into his mind. He sees the ice forming around his body. 
The ice runs from Gem’s finger tips, and surges over his arms, and legs before running up his entire frame.
Dark Soul tries to stand up, however his mangled face is full of flames. Pieces of flesh are turning into charcoal while others fall off. Overcome by the searing heat Dark Soul collapses into the pool of blood. 

Gem feels the flames descend around him. The ice disappears from his face, and he opens his eyes. He looks down to see the stiff, charcoal body of Dark Soul underneath. He is dead. Gem shakes his body and the ice split’s. It falls over off him, and he breathes with relief. His grimaces under the pain from his flesh burned body as he jumps down from the statue. 
The chamber goes deathly dark as he falls, and Gem feels his boots land on solid ground, not blood. The light sparks up around him, and he sees he is standing in the cathedral again. 
He looks up to the rock holding, however sees no Visin crystal. 
The light reflects off his eyes. He looks up to see it spinning majestically above his head. 
Gem realizes he feels no loner feels any pain. He holds up his hands, and they are no longer burned. He feels his face, and smiles as it is no longer burned either. 
He looks up upon the crystal with increased fascination, as it slowly hovers upward.
'You have proved yourself worthy. You will not destroy the darkness, but will make its destruction possible,' it details with a soothing and soft voice. It encompasses every being of Gem's soul with hope, compassion, and purpose. 
Like an unseen hand has snuffed it out, it disappears. 
Gem eyes are filled with humbleness. The most holy of Virtu objects has chosen him worthy.

CHAPTER 25
NARRATOR
The narrator falls silent, as the kids, eyes full of awe wait for him to continue. The exciting telling of the battle between Gem and Dark Soul has them anxious for more.
With their eyes fixed on the narrator, the respectful nod of the Fianni warriors goes unnoticed. 
‘The crystal was never seen again. The Kurma fought off the Resulka with their greater force and the Virtu left Tolemac unsure of why the crystal had called them. While across the other side of the galaxy, Felonious under the guise of Carmreno began her first step in leading the Alliance in destroying the warrior races. On one side of the galaxy a crusade for justice was ending, while on the other side, another crusade of domination and brutality was only just beginning,' the narrator says with sadness in his voice. He begins to slump.

FLASH BACK
The sound of fire is deafening in the air, and the sounds of tanks rumbling forwards can be heard, as silver, futuristic jet’s blast past through the hazel sky overhead. Upon the planet of Grissa, under the guidance of Felonious who was acting under the guise of Carmreno, the first of the brutal warrior races that had sieged the Alliance, the Batrul, were being assaulted. For the first time, the Virtu’s were going into battle for the Alliance. Over the snowy hill, draped in wooly clothing, the samurai appear. The snow blows up in front of them in a cloud, as an enemy tank blast hits close. 
With the silver swords out by their sides, they walk from the cloud. 
From afar, the stout, brown, Batrul can be seen charging forwards towards the Virtu. Their rifles in there leather hands, and energy bullets exploding forwards.

Afraid that he is going to fall asleep again, the kids yell out. 
'You're falling asleep again! You promised!'
The narrator looks up. The voice is weary as it comes from under the hood. 
'The first part of the story is finished. The rest is quite tiring to tell, so much activity, hard to keep track. I just need to sleep a little. The story is far from finished.'
A kid with a gray, cone like head, looks up with his one eye, and states excitedly.
'More battles!?'
In a simple tone the narrator tells them, 'Many more...too many to tell.'
END