NationStates Jolt Archive

Kurt and Quatre did just that.

The other soldiers were as tough a lot of people as a person could imagine. Right up until the Drill Sergeant walked out onto the field. The first thought that entered one's mind was to wonder where someone had found a uniform to fit him. The second thought would be wondering where he simply found clothes to fit him. And the third thought was that the last tank to try and run him over was probaly ripped apart. A nearly eight foot tall mass of muscle, Sergeant Conner stopped in front of the assembled troops.

The two teens just silently looked up at him.

"Ok, you all think you're the toughest, meanest, badass soldiers to ever pick up a gun, you can kill someone, blow up an entire base, and get home in time for dinner single handily. Well we're going to see just how much of that is true and how much is pure bullshit. The only thing you aren't going to suffer from is chickenshit regulations. Any questions?"
One of the soldiers called out. "Yeah, who put you in charge?"
The Sergeant hooked a thumb at Gabriel. "He did, and give me five hundred push ups. Any other questions?"

The two teens stayed quiet.

"We'll be starting with a twenty mile hike with full pack over rough terrain. You have exactly ninety minutes to reach the finish. Collect your packs and move!"

Kurt scowled, he began wishing he could strangle the drill sargent as he and Quatre went to collect their packs.

Gabriel grabbed a backpack and secured it. "I assume you two have noticed the electric shock prod the Sergeant is carrying? Just don't fall behind."

Kurt nodded, "Don't worry," he said.

The entire group moved out at a rapid run, the Sargeant occasionally moving from the front to the back of the group. After the first ten miles a few people began to straggle.

Both Kurt and Quatre made sure that they weren't those stragglers.

A few sharp yells were followed by the stragglers reappearing from behind.

"Someone is going to die for this," Kurt growled.

"You were the one who agreed to it," Quatre reminded him. Seeing the look on the princes face, he decided to put some distance in between them.

When the run finally ended the group collapsed to the ground. But their rest was short lived.
"Elite soldiers my ass, up, the lot of you up! It's time for firing practice get your guns out and line up."

"The sargent has a donkey?" Kurt quietly whispered to Quatre as they followed his orders.

Gabriel pulled the rifle from his pack, and with an ease of years slammed a clip into it and leveled it at the target, around him others were doing the same.

Kurt was beginning to get frustrated as he tried getting a clip into the rifle.

"I f*cking hate this," he cursed.

"It gets easier, today is just to weed out anyone who isn't willing to go the full length." Gabriel answered from next to Kurt.

"It better," Kurt growled, he wasn't having much luck with the clip. "I would so much rather be using the zat gun."

"Like this." Gabriel took the gun from Kurt and slipped the clip in. "You prefer energy weapons?"

"Yeah I do," Kurt replied, "These ones feel too primitive."

"Remind me to do something about that later tonight." Gabriel said.
"Shoulder guns! Sight your targets, Fire!" The Sergeant said.

"Ok," Kurt replied as he readied his gun to fire.

Gabriel proceeded to punch the center out of his target with short controlled bursts.

Kurt looked for his target, once sighted he fired. At the same time Quatre was doing the same, he had had a much easier time of inserting the clip and was finding the rifle easier to use the Kurt was.

"Hey Blue boy, where'd you learn to shoot? The school for crosseyed dyslexics?" One of the Soldiers next to Kurt said.

"F*ck you," Kurt swore at the soldier. "Just because you neanderthals are used to primitive weapons."

"Hold on a second soldier." Gabriel said as he leaned over. "There's something wrong with your gun."
"Huh, what? There's nothing wrong with my gun." The man replied.
Gabriel grabbed the gun barrel with one and, and with little apparent effort, bent the end of the barrel ninety degrees. "Your barrel seems to be bent."
The soldier was still looking between Gabriel and his gun when the Sergeant came over. "A problem Colonel?"
"No Sergeant, it appears that this man was issued a defective weapon."
The Sergeant clucked and shook his head. "Now that really is a shame. Son, go back to the base and get a replacement for that weapon. You have one hour to get back here, I suggest you get moving."
The man looked like he was about to protest, but looking at the Sergeant decided against it. Snapping off a rough salute, the man disappeared in the general direction of the base.
"Carry on Colonel."
"Of course Sergeant."

"Now if you tried doing that to a zat gun it would probably explode," Kurt mentioned with a sly grin. The strength Gabriel showed actually surprised him. "Thanks by the way."

"No problem, I doubt we'll be seeing him again. Now try letting out half a breath, holding it, then shoot, it will do wonders for your aim."

Kurt did as Gabriel had suggested fired once again, hoping that there wouldn't be another soldier making comments about his aim.

Gabriel emptied his last clip and then restored his gun. Up and down the firing line other did the same as they finished firing.

"How long does this go on for," Kurt groaned.

"Five days." Gabriel answered.

"Ah shit," Kurt swore.

"Be grateful, the rest of these guys are here for five months, and then they begin the real training."

That wasn't really much comfort off him, five days was still a long time to him.

"I just hope is goes quickley then," he replied.

"It will, believe me."

Kurt nodded and looked up as the sound of flapping wings could be heard nearby. They sounded too large to be from a bird.

"What the hell?" One of the other soldiers said as he turned to look in the direction of the sound.

Kurt put down his rifle as the flapping sound grew nearer. Quatre had joined his side as they looed around, but so far nothing was seen.

"I'm hoping thats Angel," Kurt said, raising his hand to block the sun from his eyes. "Somehow I doubt he would come here unannounced."

"Yidrazil?" Quatre then asked.

Kurt just nodded.

"Kurt, if you know something about this, now's the time to tell me. Otherwise whatever is coming this way is going to get a very hot reception."

"I don't know," the prince admitted over the sound of flapping wings. "If it's Angel, thats good but if its Yidrazil then we're in alot of trouble he's immune to mortal weapons. Do you have any really large birds around here?"

"No." Gabriel answered. "Sergeant, I'm taking command, get these kids and these men out of here pronto. I'm entrusting them to your safety."
"Sir, yes sir! You heard the man, form up, move out, triple time, and if anything happens to these two kids is going to come out of your hides people! Now move!"
"Go with them you two, I'll take care of this, good or bad." Gabriel said.

Kurt and Quatre wasted no time in following the sergeant as they knew how bad Yidrazil was. The over head flapping had silenced, but there was a strange noise coming from the nearby forest.

As everyone disappeared into the forest in he opposite direction of the sound, Gabriel turned to face it. "Whoever, or whatever you are, show yourself."

Whatever was in the forest moved forward. Gabriel could feel the sense of being watched.

"I have a message for you Mr President," came a voice.

A large tree cast a shadow over the small clearing. Gabriel edged closer to it as he scanned the forest. "And what would that be? Why don't you come out where I can see you, it's impolite not to look someone in the eye during a conversation."

A red-skinned figure stepped from behind a tree. Behind him, large white wings could be seen neatly folded on his back. He was also wearing a patch over his left eye.

"Azazel is impressed by the way you are so willing to protect his grandson," he smirked. "But you will only fail, you can't protect him forever."

"Perhaps, perhaps not, but know that he is challenging something far, far more ancient and powerful than even he himself. And any who wish to harm the child will need to go not just through me, but it as well." Gabriel's tone was level, and his gazed unflinching. Suddenly out of the woods silently materialized a large pack of wolves, several dozen in number, but unlike most wolves, the eyes of these ones were buring, crackling red fire.
"Tell your master that so long as I live and breath, so long as this land lives and breaths, none shall harm the child. He is dealing with power beyond his comprehension and should he challenge it, it will be his end, and the end of any who aid him."

Yidrazil smirked. "Azazel always loves a good challenge," he replied. "I am sure this will be his most enjoyable yet."

"Shall we begin then?" Gabriel asked, the very picture of confidence.

"Oh I see you were hoping for a fight," he said, his grin broadening. "Sorry to disappoint you but I was only here to deliver a message."

This time it was Gabriel who grinned. It was a grin devoid of anything that might be called pleasent. "That is a shame, but you see, I don't play by the rules." As Gabriel spoke four of the wolves darted forward and grabbed hold of Yidrazil's wings. Now a shadow of darkness seemed to hover around each of the creatures, contrasting harshly with their flaming eyes, and even the sky seemed to darken. And somewhere behind Gabriel's own eyes, something that had been until now leashed grew up behind them as it's chains began to strain.

"Ah well just so you know, I'm still in that other dimension," he said as he faded from view.

Gabriel's grin grew larger as the creature snapped back into view with an audible pop. "Thank you Arthur." Gabriel said.
"No problem, my pleasure, it's been a while since I grabbed something from another dimension and hauled it here."
Gabriel's head turned to look back at the creature, a single eyebrow raised. "I'm afraid you're not leaving just yet, at least not without a fight. Arthur here was kind enough to track you down, bring you here, and lock this dimension down so you can't leave. But I'm a generous person, kill me and you can leave."

Gabriel's grin grew larger as the creature snapped back into view with an audible pop. "Thank you Arthur." Gabriel said.
"No problem, my pleasure, it's been a while since I grabbed something from another dimension and hauled it here."
Gabriel's head turned to look back at the creature, a single eyebrow raised. "I'm afraid you're not leaving just yet, at least not without a fight. Arthur here was kind enough to track you down, bring you here, and lock this dimension down so you can't leave. But I'm a generous person, kill me and you can leave."

Yidrazil laughed, "Fair game, but then I am expendable," he replied.

The wolves closed in on the creature. "In the end we all are." Gabriel said.

"Oh how true," he said, a sword was seen in his hand.

By now the entire sky had gone dark and the small clearing filled with shadows. A dim red glow filled the air as shadows swirled around Gabriel.
The pack closed in, growling and snarling, they lept at Yidrazil, black fangs glistening in the dim light.

Yidrazil readied his sword and swung at the nearest wolf, sending it flying across the clearing. He then readied himself for the next attack.

"Enough!" Gabriel's voice cut through the noise of battle like a thunderclap and the wolves shrank back towards the forest.
Gabriel cracked his knuckles. "Enough games Yidrazil, let's do this properly. I'm told you are immune to mortal weapons, let's see how you fair against a runed blade of the old days, forged in the deepest shadows and tempered in the blood of a slain demonlord. A blade I have not touched in over fifty years." As Gabriel spoke a blade spun out of the shadows and Gabriel caught it easily with one hand. No longer looking an old man, energy seemed to crackled around him, and one of the shadows behind him seemed to move in concert with him, but it's shape was anything but human.

"That will be a welcome change from these pathetic wolves of yours," he grinned.

"Hardly pathetic, for they are creatures of shadow, and one cannot kill a shadow. Now to the business at hand, do you wish to make the first move or should I?"

"Lets see what you got," he growled.

"Very well then." Gabriel said as he melded with the surrounding shadows, disappearing.

"Oh clever trick," he growled. "Why don't you fight like a man."

Gabriel sprang out of the shadows directly underneath Yidrazil. The sword glowing black, the runes on it brillently white. Gabriel ripped it up through Yidrazil's chest, from bottom to top. Finishing the stroke Gabriel landed a few feet away. When he spoke, his voice was as hard as vaccum and as cold as space. "I told you, I don;t play by any rules, I fight to win. Your pitiful attempts to belittle my way of fighting only serve to show your own weakness at being unable to counter it."

Yidrazil slumped to the ground, his skin started to bubble as the body began melting away, the strong smell of brimstone filled the air.

Gabriel took his sword and dropped it into a shadow, but rather than falling, it seemed as if it was pulled in by an unseen hand. Behind Gabriel the shadow laughed, before disappearing as light once again returned to the clearing. Gabriel collapsed to one knee, a bloodstain begining to stain the front of his shirt. With effort he managed to walk over to the bubbling corpse and retrieved Yidrazil's sword. Looking down at the corspe Gabriel spoke. "In the end, we are all merely pawns of a greater power, expendible."

Kurt was worried as he couldn't hear anything. He knew that that could only be bad.

The sound of helicopter blades slicing through the air reached Gabriel's ears. Like a giant bird of prey the aircraft swept over the clearing once, just clearing the trees before it came back. This time it went into a hover and set down nearby. Marea and Gabriel's other bodyguards burst out of the copter, only to stop as they realised the danger was over.
Gabriel walked over to them and their eyes widened as they saw the spreading bloodstain on the front of his shirt.
"It's nothing, don't worry, some nano foam and I'll be fine. Now get this rig back to the base, I have to catch up with the rest of the group."
Marea merely nodded once, realising the futility of arguging with Gabriel at the moment. Pulled a container of nano foam out of her pack and handed it to Gabriel who nodded his thanks. As Gabriel disappeared into the woods the chopter disappeared over the trees.

"You alright Kurt?" Quatre asked.

"I'd be alright if everyone wasn't keeping things from me," the prince replied.

Gabriel had spent a moment applying the foam to his chest, grimmacing at the damage before continuing to track the group down.

"I mean come on, you and I have both known for years that Azazel is my grandfather and everyone still denies that,"

Gabriel finally caught up with the group. "Sergeant, come here please." Gabriel said. When the Sergeant stood in front of him, at a loose semblence of attention Gabriel continued. "Sergeant, I know that your wife and children were on the spacestation that was destroyed." Gabriel took Yidrazil's sword and planted it in the ground between them. "Consider this a downpayment on justice. Collection of the debt starts in earnest at the end of the week."

Kurt and Quatre watched what was going on, they both recognised the sword.

Gabriel glance over at the pair. "Kurt, if these are the kind of guys your grandfather uses as mere messengers, I really don't want to meet anyone he considers a soldier."

"Well for a start he uses clones for messengers," Kurt said.

"Just wonderful, in that case, the sooner we deal with him the better I think."

Kurt nodded in agreement.

OOC: Going to kill this server

IC: Gabriel pulled the sword out of the ground. "Regardless, I think this will look good mounted just above the door to my office."

"I'm willing to bet you'll get more," Kurt remarked.

"Most likely, though I hope the next one isn't quite as painful to collect as this one. Grandfather's sword always was double-edged."

"So what now?" the blue prince asked.

"First we get this lot back to base, then I get patched up by the medics, and then we go home to get some sleep and come back to train again tomorrow."

"Ok," Kurt said, he wasn't looking forward to more traing. Especially when it came to training with what he felt were primitive weapons.

After being patched up by the base medics the group returned to Gabriel's house.

After being patched up by the base medics the group returned to Gabriel's house.

Kurt was actually glad to be back at Gabriels place, it wasn't home but it would have to do as he knew they would never let him back home while Azazel was at large.

That night an odd laughing could be heard throughout the house, echoing off the walls, seemingly coming from everywhere as Gabriel leaned back in a chair in front of a roaring fire.

Kurt shivered, he was liking the place less and less. Quatre was also troubled by the laughing.

Gabriel got up and walked over to the pair's door. Knocking, he pushed it open slightly. "You two doing ok?"

"We're fine," Kurt lied.

"You'd probibly lie more convincingly if your teeth weren't clicking togeather like that." Gabriel rejoindered.

"Well how do you expect us to feel," he replied

"I would hope you would have enough confidence in me to know that if I thought there was any danger I would do something about it."

"I'm away from home, I never feel safe away from home," the prince told him.

Gabriel hesitated for a moment, and then nodded, a grimmace on his face. "That's enough! Cut it out, you're scaring my guests."
The laughter abruptly cut off. Shadows danced on the wall opposite the door, created by the fitfull light from the hallway. One of them however moved differently from the rest, and took the shape of the form that had stood behind Gabriel earlier that day.
"Why should they be scared, they have nothing to fear." The voice seemed to come from all around, and when it finished speaking laughed again.
"Regardless, you're scaring them, and it's begining to annoy even me. Now hush up, unlike your kind, we mere mortals need our sleep."
The laughter began again only to be cut off. "We mere mortals you say. But do you forget, I am but a part of yourself. Release me and this trouble will end fast, and there shall be peace."
Gabriel's teeth ground togeather so hard it could be heard clearly across the room. "You know as well as I why that cannot be. And we both know that events will likely force my hand soon anyway. You'll get your freedom, temporary though it may be in due time, now leave us, your presence is neither tolerible nor wanted."
"Very well, I'll go, but I'll be back." The laughter started again, only to slowly fade until it disappeared entirerly.

"Who was that?" Kurt asked.

"Not who Kurt, what." Gabriel answered grimly. "A being created out of ones most primal and dangerous urges, powerful, but dangerous when unleashed, as are all things of shadow. Perhaps now you have discerned part of the riddle of the runes? But it is late, go to sleep, and know that no harm shall come to any under this roof tonight, or any other night." And with that Gabriel left, closing the door behind him.

Looking across the room, Kurt saw that Quatre had already closed his eyes and gone to sleep. Knowing that there was nothing else to do, he lay his head against the pillow and closed his eyes.

After staring at the fire for a long while, Gabriel finally fell asleep in the chair.

Kurt soon fell into a dreamless sleep.

It was a gaunt eyed Gabriel who waited for the boys to wake up the next morning.

Kurt silently left the bedroom that morning, not even waiting for Quatre.

OOC: Damn this server. Twelve tries so far.

IC: "Well Kurt, are you ready to continue training with our so called antiquated weapons?"

OOC: Lost count how many times I've tried.

IC:

Kurt just nodded, he didn't say anything and only stayed silent.

"I assume you do realise that we build and use projectile weapons not because we can't build energy weapons, but because we've found that for our purposes these work better."

Kurt shrugged. "Whatever floats your boat," he said.

Kurt shrugged. "Whatever floats your boat," he said.

"Yes, speaking of which, we need to get you a weapon you're comfortible using."

"A zat gun would do nicely," Kurt remarked. "Or my sword."

Gabriel walked over to a large wall cabinet. "We don't have any zap guns, and your sword is in your room. But we do have these." As Gabriel finished, he threw open the cabinet revealing a bewildering array of weapons ranging from knives to what looked like a portible plasma cannon.

"Maybe we could sell you some then," Kurt remarked. Ignoring the knives as their blades were too small for his liking, his eyes turned to the portable plasma cannon, or what looked like one anyway. "Is that a plasma cannon?"

"Yeah, it weights a good seventy pounds, but it will blast through heavy armor like a knife through butter. Slow to reload, and prone to overheating. You sure you don't want one of the smaller blasters?"

"Are they quicker to reload?"

"Yes, they're also more accurate, longer ranged, and a lot less likely to detonate in your face."

"I'll go for that then," Kurt yawned.

Gabriel reached in and pulled out a blaster pistol that was about a foot long with an attached scope along with it's holster. "Here you go, the scope has a X3 magnification as well as a lowlight scope."

"Ok," Kurt said, taking a closer look at the pistol. "So it still needs to be reloaded?"

"That particular powerpack holds about a hundred shots, and I'll see if I can find you a couple of spares."

The prince nodded. "Shame it doesn't recharge itself," he remarked.

"It's an old model from when we were experimenting with energy weapons. On the other hand, it packs enough of a punch to stop anything less than an armored vehicle. Speakng of which, I wouldn't use it at anything under fifteen feet."

Kurt raised an eyebrow, "That experimental huh?" he said, just as Quatre came out to join them.

"No, that would be because of the blast radius the shot creates."

"Right," Kurt replied.

Quatre yawned, "I hate all this training bollocks," he remarked.

At that moment Marea walked in and handed Gabriel a computer padd. "Sir, we have a message incoming from Draconis Nightcrawlis, it's addressed to both you and the Prince. They've located Azazel."

Reading the message, a fire lit behind Gabriel's eyes as he wordlessly passed it to Kurt.

"Lets get the bastard," Kurt growled.

"He's a dead man walking." Gabriel hissed between clenched teeth.

"Dead mutant walking," Kurt corrected.

"We don't make those kinds of distinctions here Kurt, everyone is equal." Marea said.

"Well that's what he is," he replied.

"Regardless, whatever he is, he's as good as dead, we're leaving, right now." Gabriel's voice was a growl when he spoke.

"Right," Kurt said looking over at Quatre.

A rumbling shook the house. "I guessed as much and had a shuttle sent down." Marea said.

"That was quick," Kurt remarked.

A couple of hours later the group had borded and the Lynx was racing out of the system.

Kurt and Quatre settled down for the journey.

Gabriel walked into where the two boys were waiting. "Kurt, Quatre, we're going in hot and heavy, those five divisions I have in orbit in case a rebellion had broken out will be going in with us to provide support in addition to our starship. I want to make it clear that we're not taking prisoners on this run."

"Ok," Kurt said almost nervously.

The Lynx pulled into orbit with the other ships, a quick conference was held, a plan was laid out and the assault was begun. The three transports headed for the surface, escorted by a pair of the warships. F-28 Raptors were launched as the ships got lower in the atmosphere, with a slight bump the Lynx landed.
"Let's go, it's payback time people." Gabriel said as he led the group down the ramp.

Kurt and Quatre followed him down the ramp. Everything was clear, in fact it looked as if no one was living on the island.

The jungle outside the area that had been blasted to create a landing zone was silent, the animals scared off for the moment. Gabriel took the time to set up a proper defensive position as the ships lifted off, their cavernous bays now empty. Ditches were being dug or blasted as needed, bunkers were already under construction as armored vehicles rolled into defiled positions.

Double Post :x

Kurts eyes narrowed as he looked around, he used his better hearing to listen for anything out of place. Unfortunatly for him, they were making to much noise and no doubt his grandfather would hear that. Either he would attack them straight away or wait to make a plan, so far the latter was proberly more likely.

"What do you think Quatre?" Kurt asked.

"I don't like it Kurt," his friend replied. "All this is over kill."

"But you know my grandfather," the prince then stated.

Quatre nodded. "He'll stay holed up in that dimension of his," he replied. "Only through him would anyone be able to get there."

Gabriel glanced over at hearing that. "That would probably be true if it weren't for Arthur, he's attempting a trace as we speak, and then he's going to open a portal right in your grandfather's lap big enough for this entire for to go through."

"They tried that last time," Kurt warned. "The person who tried opening the portal ceased to exist. We have to bring him here."

Gabriel rubbed his chin in thought for a moment before responding. "Then how do you feel like playing the role of bait Kurt?"

"Thats what I was planning to do anyway," he replied.

"Good, oh, Quatre, I almost forgot, here, take this." Gabriel handed Quatre a metal cylinder.

"What is it?" Quatre asked.

Gabriel tapped a button on the cylinder and a beam of energy shot out the end, forming a glowing blade that hummed in the damp jungle air. "I never found out what it was called, but it belonged to an assasin that killed a good friend of mine. It will cut through just about anything. I've kept it as a reminder of my friend. But given the enemies we're likely to be facing, I think you can put it to good use." A double tap on the button and the beam disappeared.

Quatre smiled. "Thats a light sabre," he said.

"Is that what they're called? Well keep it in good trust. Between the sword that Gabriel gave Kurt, that 'light saber', and my grandfather's blade, I suspect someone is in for a very rude awakening."

Quatre looked over at Kurt who had a somewhat forced grin on his face.

"I suppose you already have a plan don't you Kurt?" the blond teen asked.

Kurt nodded, "We go on ahead and make it look as if we're alone," he said.

"Before you go, we'd best bug the both of you so we can keep track of what's happening."

"Good idea," Kurt agreed.

The bugs placed, Gabriel watched the two disappear into the jungle where they quickly vanished among the heavy foliage.
"Keep an eye on things for me will you?" Gabriel said to Marea as he stepped into the shadow of a nearby tank and disappeared.

The two teens quietly walked through jungle, neither wanted anyone or anything to hear them. After a short while they broke the silence.

"How much do you honestly know about this place?" Quatre asked.

"About the same as you, just from pictures and that map," the prince replied. "I still know its ruins we're looking for."

Back at the site the men and vehicles began to preapre for a rapid response once something happened.

"So do you know what the ruins are from?" Quatre then asked.

Kurt shook his head, "I don't think anyone knows," he aditted, "Some ancient long lost civilisation I guess."

Marea shivered internally. She had seen Gabriel angry on many occasions, but never before had she seen quite that look in his eyes, it was almost as if someone, or something else had been looking out of those eyes for the briefest of seconds.

After walking for several more minutes, Kurt was becoming frustrated as they had yet to find the ruins.

"I'm sure ruins are around here," he said.

"Is this it?" Qautre asked as they came up to a large stone pillar.

"Could be,"

Darkness swirled around him, broken only by the occasional portal of light, at the edges of his vision he kept seeing things move, but for the moment they stayed clear of him. Tracking someone with only occasional glances through the portals would have been nearly impossible if not for the thin pale glowing outline of a narrow path leading onwards, extending before him, and disappearing only a few feet behind him.

Through another clearing they found the ruins of a temple. Kurt brushed aside his hair as a strange cold wind blew through the jungle.

"Azazel?" Quatre wondered.

"No, something more ancient then him," kurt said, sking his head.

"Do we go in?" his friend then asked.

But the prince stood silently.

The voice continued to whisper in the back of his mind, muted for the moment, little more than an annoyence. An annoyence a mere thought could end, but for the moment it was neeeded.

The cold wind continued to swirl around them as the young prince continued to ignore his friend. With no prior warning, Kurt teleported away.

"Kurt!" Quatre yelled.

A soldier walked over to Marea. "Ma'am, we've lost contact with the Prince's bugs."
"What happened."
"We don't know, they just cut off without any warning, the other one is aparently as confused as we are about what happened, as best we can tell, he simply disappeared."
"Continue to moniter, if anything happens, alert me at once."
"Yes Ma'am."

"Shit!" Quatre swore. "He... he just disappeared. No smoke, no brimstone."

The blond teen just couldn't believe what he had just seen.

Suddenly one of the portals he'd been following rushed away without any warning, diving he managed to grab onto the edge of it and hold on as it raced along.

Quatre stood there in disbelief. To anyone watching him, he would have appeared to disappear just like Kurt had.

The path had been left far behind and it was all he could do to hold onto his objective.

"Ma'am, there goes the second one!"
Marea could only stare at the soldier for a few seconds before she conquered her shock. "Dispatch division one to the site immediately."
"Ma'am!"

With a roar, tanks in the lead breaking trail, one of the five divisons tore into the jungle, racing to the last spot the signal had been recieved from.

In the area, all the soldiers found was an old long abandoned temple and no sign that anyone had been there recently.

Kurt hit the ground hard and rolled over. Slightly disoriented, all he could see was redrock.

"Ma'am, the team reports nothing in the area."
"Order them to continnue searching." Marea responded even as she knew it was most likely a hopeless cause. She just hoped that Gabriel had somehow managed to stay with them when whatever happened happened.

When the portal finally stopped racing along he looked around. The path was gone and there was no way to find it again. He would have to wait for it to find him if he wished to return the way he had come.

As Kurt gathered himself to his feet, he heard Something hit the ground behind him. Turning around he saw that it was Quatre.

"I guess this is Azazel's dimention," the prince said, rubbing the back of his head.

Something was different, things didn't feel quite the way they should have. As if to underscore his concerns, dark figures began to move toward him.

Kurt looked around, this was definitly not a friendly place and the prince wanted to get away from it as soon as possible. Looking down at the ground, he noticed heavy footprints that led off in one direction.

"This way," he told his friend.

Fighting the figures while at the same time following the two portals was close to impossible, but somehow he managed to stay close to them despite everything.

Things weren't looking too good as the pair continued their walk across the barren wasteland.

His side ached where one of the figures had managed to get past his armor, but they had begun to back off, the destruction of several of their fellows begining to deter them.

"I hate this place," Kurt growled as they continued walking.

"So do I," came a familiar voice.

Kurt looked around and saw a large man with tattos seemingly covering his face walking toward him. "Uncle Kiwi!" he yelled, launching himself at the man and threw his arms around him.

"I take you visited that temple on La Isla des Demonas too," Kiwi Black said.

Kurt just nodded.

A third portal had joined the first two, with interested eyes he watched the scene play out before him.

"Conned into going there," Kiwi told them, "I am sure we are not the only ones."

"Not going to be a nice family reunion then," Kurt remarked.

"I always liked family reunions." Came from behind the group.

The trio looked behind them.

"This one you won't," Kurt replied.

Gabriel fully stepped out of Kurt's shadow, black ichor dripped from a combat knife in one hand and his armor was also stained as well as scratched, dented, and torn as if my razor sharp claws. A small cut above his right eye still bled slightly. "Oh no, in this case if it allows me to get close enough to Azazel to put a blade through his chest or a bullet in his brain, I think I'll enjoy it very much."

"We'll have to see what happens," Kurt said, his voice sounding cold.

Gabriel half collapsed, half sat down. "Forgive me if I rest for a moment. Traveling the inbetween for extended periods of time is rather exhausting, not to mention dangerous. More so when one is following a portal that moves. It is draining on both the mind and body."

"We should all rest," Kiwi suggested. "Knowing my father, this will be tough."

Gabriel wiped his blade clean on a rag he pulled out of his pack. "I also brought some help." He said as he hit a button on his ever-present wrist comp. "How was the trip Arthur?"
"Cramped, even with my modifications there's next to no space in here. But there's computers nearby so I'll be fine in a moment. And another thing, that is one screwed up place you traveled through."
"Yeah, tell me about it, my head still hurts from trying to comprehend it for such a long time."

"There are computers here?" Kurt asked in surprise. "All Azazel's tech was left behind when he got trapped here."

"Yeah, but there's a nice little planet a few lightyears over with a decent tech base. It's not much overall, but it's a good start, give me a few hours and I'll be at nearly full capacity." Arthur said.
"Good, then you can lock Azazel in place while we finish him. Or better yet, drag my forces here."

Kiwi looked around, "We should get moving," he said.

Gabriel levered himself up off the ground and stood. "Kurt never mentioned he had an Uncle."

"You never asked," Kurt replied.

Gabriel grinned in response. "I did have a few other things on my mind at the time Kurt. Now I think the sooner we find your grandfather the better, preferibly before he can move against us."

Kiwi and Quatre had already began to move off, Kurt nodded and ran up to join them.

Gabriel moved up next to Kiwi. "So can you tell us anything useful about this dimension that we may be able to use against Azazel?"

Kiwi eyed him up, "First I want to know who you are," he said.

"President Jewell of Grimdale, but you may call me Gabriel. At the moment I'm keeping an eye on Kurt and Quatre ever since Kurt's father was killed." Gabriel expression became hard. "One of Azazel's minions killed over six thousand of my people when it blew up a space station, and then he teleported another directly into my office. Which turned this merely from a distasteful business into something personal."

"My brother is not dead," Kiwi replied raising an eyebrow. "Nils and I met up with him when we went to La Isla des Demonas. We got separated when we were transfered here."

At the mention of his father not being dead, Kurts eyes lit up.

"I'm glad to hear that, but it still doesn't change the fact that six thousand of my people are dead. I'm going to find the bastard and nail him to the wall." Something suddenly occured to Gabriel.
"Arthur, how long until you could transport a total of five people out of here back home?"
"Roughly three hours."
Gabriel turned back to Kiwi. "Sir, I'm going to get you and your family out of here in that case before I deal with Azazel. How long will it take to round up everyone?"

"He is my father, I am going to deal with him," Kiwi replied.

"So am I," Kurt said coldly.

Gabriel stopped and surveyed the pair for a moment. "Very well then, just leave a piece of him for me."

Kiwi and Kurt just looked at each other.

"Knowing my father, there will be several pieces," Kiwi told him.

Kiwi and Kurt just looked at each other.

"Knowing my father, there will be several pieces," Kiwi told him.

"I get the feeling there isn't going to be enough of him to go around."

"Never underestimate him," Kiwi warned, he stopped walking and looked around.

The landscape was still the same barran redrock, there was nothing to see in any direction. Still Kiwi placed his hand on his club.

Gabriel cut his eyes to one side, scanning the area. "I was a soldier long before I was a politician, I never underestimate my enemy."

"He'll be stronger then anything you will have come up against," Kiwi replied. He was satisfied that the way was clear and began walking again.

"Oh, I don't know about that. I've run into some very nasty stuff in my time. And I'm not exactly human either, so I'm not overly worried."

"We are just lucky to have experiance in dealing with him," Kiwi replied, swinging a large club over his shoulder.

"Yidrazil was not a great problem, if anything I overreacted, no, Azazel will not get away this time. Arthur will see to it he can't escape, like the rat he is, he'll be cornered."

"That was a clone, it wasn't the real Yidrazil," Kurt reminded him.

"Doesn't matter, I got a good enough gauge off of it's shadow aura to be confident of handling the real thing. Grandfather's sword was overkill for a mere clone, it should do the job nicely against the real thing. And if it really comes down to it, all I really need to do is draw blood."

"It won't be that easy if he is using clones," Kiwi warned him. "I wouldn't put it past my father to have a huge army of clones."

"Don't think I haven't considered that. I have my own army I can call upon in addition to the men I have waiting back in the other dimension."

Kiwi just nodded, he had heard stuff like that before. Only the foolish could think that sheer number against sheer number would work.

"Sometimes a small group is better," he said.

"I would prefer however to bypass that problem entirerly and cut the head off this snake."

Kiwi said nothing, he instead carried on walking. The sooner he found his father, the sooner he could fight and defeat him.

Meanwhile, back home...

A soldier came up to Marea. "Ma'am, we've gotten a message from that AI, the two children have been taken to another dimension and the President followed, they've found help on the other side and are going after Azazel. It will be at least a day before he can get us over there."

"Stand everyone down then until tomorrow. If we can't do anything until then we should rest."
"Yes Ma'am." The soldier replied before running off.

After walking for what felt like an eternity, they came across the ruins of what had once been a town. Looking right down through the centre of the ruined town they could see a castle.

"That is Azazel's castle, keep a watch out there will be traps," Kiwi warned.

"Hold up a minute, I'll find us a way through."
Gabriel walked over to the shadow of a large boulder, looked at it for a moment, then glanced over the town until his eyes fell upon what he was looking for.
"OK, each of you grab onto me and don't let go for any reason, I'll get us right next to that castle."

Kiwi raised an eyebrow, he slung his club over his shoulder and began to head into the ruins.

"Do you wish to fight your way through those ruins, or appear directly next to the castle walls?"

"Easier this way then to fight a wall of shadows," Kiwi replied, not stopping.

"Your choice then." Gabriel said, unslinging a submachine gun and following.

"Covering all bases," Kurt realised. "A wall of shadow imprisoning souls. I'm with my uncle on this one."

"Me too," Quatre agreed.

The two teens then went to catch up with Kiwi.

Gabriel took position behind the rest of the group, his eyes constantly scanning the ruins.

Kiwi walked just ahead of the two teens. He came to a halt and held up his arm.

"Careful, tripwire," he said. Calmly he stepped over it. "He'll start out small then they'll get more dangerous," he added as Kurt stepped over the tripwire with Quatre following soon after.

Gabriel stepped over the tripwire and then reached out and yanked Kiwi back violently. "Watch out."
Gabriel closed his eyes and muttered for a moment, and suddenly a pit filled with spikes appeared where Kiwi had been about to step.
"The power of shadows requires the manipulation of both the light and darkness. No mere illusion spell will cloud my eyes."

Kiwi Black sighed, how could he have missed that. Looking around the pit he saw one way had another tripwire, the opposite side was clear.

"Follow me," he said slowly walking around the side with the tripwire.

Gabriel followed, now devoting more of his effort to scanning ahead of the group for further traps.

The next block was clear, save for the scortched ground where someone or something had previously set off a trap. Still Kiwi and the others treaded carefully. Kiwi stopped walking by the time they arrived at what was once a library.

"Hold up," he said, scouting the area ahead.

Gabriel stopped as well. "There was much death violent here, and pain, a great pain."

"Yes there was," Kiwi said, "It happened long before my father found the place."

"What happened exactly?"

"In this dimension, the atomic bomb wiped out not just Hiroshima but the entire world," Kiwi said coldly. "Where you are standing now is what was once known as Cardiff."

Gabriel slowly nodded in recognition and pain crossed his face as old memories surfaced, staggering he went to one knee tears in his eyes. It was no longer old ruins he saw, but raging flames, and creatures hardly recognisible as human approaching, flesh sloughing off them, wailing in pain, their blind eyes beggin for mercy. A mercy that only death could bring.
When he spoke his voice was heavy with pain. "I know all too well the horrors of such a conflict, I lost my wife, my parents, and my country of birth to such a conflict, and I was on the teams assigned to search for survivors."

"I understand what you are feeling," Kiwi told him. "Perhaps you wish to rest for a moment."

With a visible effort Gabriel fought back the memories and pushed hiimself upright. "No, time is of the essence. There will be time later for me to remember, for now we must press onward."

Kiwi nodded, readying his sword he began to move off again. "There is a crossroad up ahead," he warned. "Be ready for anything."