"Ahhh..." Meta let out, as if she understood it. Fact was, she didn't fully understand it, at least not the reason behind, but that wasn't even stated up to that point.

She looked at Tzhaar-Craf as he spoke. She gave him a somewhat angry look. "Talk about yourself." She let out, having taken whatever he had said as a bit of an insult.

(OOC: Lol! Great minds think alike, I guess. XD)


"...oh." Meta let out after a pause of silence, feeling slightly stupid because of that, but her pride prevented the feeling from lasting very long. She returned to look at Tzhaar-Cref, and bent the upper part of her body a little, as if making a slight bow. "My... apologies." The latter word came out in an enforced way. She didn't like apologizing, but at least there was good reason here, and the one she was apologizing to didn't seem like most... things, and beings she had met.

When she straightened her back again, she glanced at Sin for a moment. "I suppose you should explain that title system to me at a later date." She said with a bit of a grudging smile. "But continue speaking now, I must admit that I'm growing restless. We mustn't waste time when our task is important and the time is dire."

"Hm," Meta hummed as she listened to Sin explaining some things about the inhabitants of the world they were in at the moment, as they walked after Tzhaar-Craf. "So the members of this race are called the Tzhaar, I take it, and if they include Ket when addressing you, then they view you as being very strong, correct?" She guessed, after having listened, still walking behind Tzhaar-Craf. She wondered what "Craf" meant then.

She stopped behind Tzhaar-Craf as he, or perhaps rather, "it" told them to halt, as they appeared to have reached their destination.

"Oh god." Meta surpressed herself a groan as she laid her eyes upon the pool of black lava. "We're gonna go through the act with the bubbling tentacles again and then we're gonna show up somewhere else, aren't we?" She sighed some. "Well, let's do this then."

Meta shivered as the black tentacles of lava rose up around them for a second time. She hoped she didn't have to go through more of these experiences.

When the lava subsided and splashed back down, she stepped out of the black pool quickly and hurriedly. She looked back at the pool for a moment, and then turned her head away. She noted how two of the "Kets" of the native race of this realm walked up to them and set themselves down, each on one of their knees.

"Wow, seems you are quite the exalted person here." Meta noted, and she glanced at Sin with a peculiar look on her face.

Meta followed after the two humongous Tzhaars. When they reached the X-shaped hallway, and she heard them speak, she was shocked for a moment to hear their voices. She honestly had not expected them to possess the ability to communicate that way. Surprises seemed to keep popping up in this strange realm.

She walked after Sin into the room where the supposed head Tzhaar-Mej was seated upon his throne, holding an Obsidian Staff like the others of his kind, although this one seemed slightly different, and the air around this golem being was different as well.

Meta's eyebrows rose in amusement as she noted the head Tzhaar-Mej bowing towards her. She was pleasantly surprised to hear that they held her in high regards, apparantly. However, when Sin noted a strange purple figure lying on the floor some bit away, her expression, like Sin's after seeing his and realising the direness of the situation, grew graver. Her head turned towards the supposed head Tzhaar-mej.

"Who are you?!" She demanded loudly.

After many long moments, R.D. found the resolve to finish his story. He looked down and opened his hand; the rock he had picked up had been crushed into powder when he had clenched his fist in the moment before. He tilted his hand and let the tiny fragments slip off of his gloved hand and fall to the grass below. Slowly, Alasea loosened her grip on him and slipped her arms away from him.

"After the event in the canyon, we continued north while my body slowly recovered. The explosion that Lumiya had caused prior kept pretty much everything away," he said, "It was about a week before my body had completely recovered from the Cipher unlocking, and coincidentally, about a week before we found the next portal.

"That portal proved to be the last one of our trip," he said, and Alasea's eyes widened. They managed to get to--!?

"It was... the Sanctuary?" she asked quickly, hurriedly. R.D. nodded.

"Yes. The Eternal Sanctuary, home of the Omega Core. Before it, things got creepy. The portal was nestled between a couple places for us to restock, and things got weird as we got close to the portal. The sky dimmed, we felt afraid, we felt cold... and when we entered, we wondered why we experienced such apprehension, because the Sanctuary was... beautiful, I guess. Peaceful, in a way. Hugo said that the place suited Matt perfectly, because it was large and overly excessive."

Alasea giggled. That certainly sounds like Matt, she thought with a smile.

R.D., on the other hand, looked off to the side, clasping his hands together. He looked bitter, Alasea saw. "If we had known what would happen there, I don't think any of us would've stepped into the portal," he muttered, looking angry. Alasea immediately gave him a concerned look, but he just went on. "We got to the final room, called the Infinite Chamber. Matt said that it was where the Core was to go, but he had no idea how to remove it from himself. I suggested he touch the pedestal in the center of the room, after all, everything else in the temple had reacted to him."

R.D. sighed. "That's when everything spiraled into hell. When Matt touched the pedestal, he became trapped. The rest of us had to run, and when we just got outside, the place exploded. The entire temple had been destroyed in a massive pillar of light. And when it cleared, something else was in its place. A giant crystal sphere filled with mist, held up by giant golden wings."

Alasea was listening raptly and fearfully, afraid to hear what was to come but unable to tear herself away. She had to hear this, she had to know what happened to her friends. R.D. continued. "It called itself Core Genesis, and said that it was the Omega Core. That it had given Matt power he could use, so that they could judge the Multiverse. In the end, it had decided that the Multiverse had to be created anew. It was going to destroy everything."

"What?" Alasea asked, shocked. "After all that hard work...?"

"Yeah," R.D. said with a harsh laugh, "That's what I said. Core Genesis showed us what happened to Matt: the thing had him trapped within itself. So we decided to fight. We weren't going to lay down and die for it. We would fight, even without Matt. He would've wanted me to take up the mantle if something happened to him, after all."

R.D. sighed. "Core Genesis changed its form and we fought. That... that monster was invincible. Anything we did to it didn't work. Our attacks were useless against it as the thing repeatedly smashed us into the ground. After a bit, it grew tired of the battle, and decided to put an end to us, starting with me.

"Helena saved my life that day," he said, leaning back and looking up into the stars, "She saved my life. And as retribution, Core Genesis killed her."

A horrified gasp escaped Alasea, her hands shooting up to cover her mouth. Tears started to form in her eyes, and R.D. nodded sadly. The tears slipped down her face, and hastily R.D. pulled her close, hugging her as she cried. It was many long moments before he spoke again, instead concentrating on comforting his friend as the moon shined down on them. Eventually, she motioned for him to go on with the story.

R.D. sighed, his eyes turning back towards the heavens. "I tried to save her before it happened, but it wasn't enough. Core Genesis killed her, and that act... Matt broke free because of that act. He was so furious. He unleashed attacks without the use of the Core, used attacks that hurt Core Genesis. With that monster distracted, Matt made his way over to Helena and... he just snapped. Flames burst up around him, and when they cleared, Matt was gone. In his place was Dragon Drive FINAL."

"Dragon Drive... FINAL?" Alasea choked out, pulling her face up out of his shoulder. Her eyes were red and puffy. R.D. nodded, still looking up at the stars.

"Dragon Drive FINAL, the ultimate, complete version of Matt's Dragon Drive," he said, "As Dragon Drive FINAL, he attacked Core Genesis and tore it apart like it was nothing. No matter how hard it tried, Core Genesis couldn't stand before FINAL, and was destroyed by the power of Hell and Heaven.

"We thought it was over then, but we were wrong. Dragon Drive FINAL started using its power to create a dimensional rift of its own. It was then that I realized what it was doing," he said, "I knew that if this kept up, Dragon Drive FINAL would continue where Core Genesis left off. The only difference was that once it was done, there'd be no renewal. Only a single zero world in which only Dragon Drive FINAL could exist.

"I decided that I had to stop Matt then. Hugo tried to convince me not to. I can't blame him, we both saw what happened to Core Genesis," he said, sighing once more. "It didn't stop me though, and I challenged Matt. All those wounds... given to me by Dragon Drive FINAL. Especially this one," he muttered, pulling down the collar of his black shirt to show Alasea the five large circular scars where Dragon Drive FINAL had thrust its claw through him. "I tried to reason with Matt the best I could, but it didn't really work. Just made him angry, and he tried to use Hell and Heaven on me. I countered, but..."

"But what?"

Meta twisted her body into a pirouetter and shaped a fiery sphere within her hands as she did. When she came to face Jihad again at the end of her spin, she through forth the dark fireball, and the sphere of Gouka collided with the Obsidian magma energy ball, making the Gouka ball split into many small fireballs in a black explosion. Through that, Meta could not see what became of the Obsidian energy ball, but she didn't brace for it, she merely leapt to the side to make sure she wouldn't be hit by it if it still was there, and then she dashed forward through the black smoke that had filled the air before her, her blade ready, and when she thought herself to be close enough to her enemy, she swung the blade through the smoke in the hopes of getting Jihad in the neck or gut.

Meta got hit in the gut with the claws of Jihad's gauntleted hand. A groan came out of her mouth, and it didn't take very long for drips of blood to spill from her lips. Meta heaved up her sword, trying to ignore the inflicted wounds, and stabbed it at Jihad's chest, in an attempt to punctuate heart or lung.

"When I countered Dragon Drive FINAL's attack," R.D. said, "Matt used the two attacks to establish a mental link between me and Dragon Drive FINAL, allowing us to talk one last time. He said that after he destroyed Core Genesis, Dragon Drive FINAL and he split, as if it were a separate entity. He said he'd reign in its defenses as much as possible, and allow me to deliver the final blow. He said I'd have to kill him."

Alasea remained silent. She didn't like where this was going. She hoped that was she feared hadn't come to pass. "I didn't like it, but if it was necessary, I'd do it. The link broke, and I pressed through FINAL's defenses and defeated it. My attack sent it into the very rift it had created, and in the end, the Eternal Sanctuary started to break apart. Some old man in a black and white robe appeared before me and Hugo and sent us back home, saying he'd close the rift. Hugo and I bid each other farewell, and I entered the portal that was created, and found myself back here, on Earth. I made my way home, met the Hartnetts, and defeated a rebuilt, returned Xazax in battle. Then Lee attacked me, and I used Chaos Control to take us to Japan. You know the rest."

His tale was finished, and the two of them spent some time, looking up at the stars. He wasn't sure how long it was before he finally spoke again. "I don't know what happened to him," he said, referring to his friend, "But I don't think he's dead. Matt was just... way too stubborn to die so easily. He's out there, somewhere in the sea of stars. I'm sure of it."

Alasea smiled, and nodded. "Maybe we'll meet him again one day," she said, "We'd be a team again."

R.D. smiled at her words, nodding with her. "Yeah. A team again. Team Awesome."

After a few minutes, Alasea stood up, drawing the shawl around her tightly to ward off the night chill. Clutching the two ends together with one hand, she held her other hand down to R.D., who took and helped himself up. "You should go to bed," Alasea said, "You've been up too late. Worry about Malvettix later."

R.D. nodded reluctantly. Despite having to relive his tale, he had rather enjoyed Alasea's company, and didn't want to go just yet. But, it wouldn't do any good if they were too tired to do anything in the morning. The two bid each other good night, and went back to their rooms in the house to sleep.

Bryant awoke early when he heard several doors close. It was RD and Alasea going to bed. He slowly sat up, finding a clock on his left. It was still rather early, the clock confirmed this, reading 3:30am. Bryant sighed and fell back on the bed. He thought about the past days events and about how he needed something earlier. His scouter. A part of him missed that devise, despite the fact it was from some of his darker days. Bryant looked at the clock again: 3:32am. He sat up again, got dressed, and sneaked across the room. Veronica was sleeping in the same bed as him that night, and she was rather heavy sleeper. He slowly made his way to her pouch finding the cube holding the tank. Placing it in a pocket, Bryant made his way outside and back into the darkness.

Bryant tossed the cube out allowing the tank to form after a flash of light. Bryant was rather nervous this may have woken somebody, but he continued in anyway. The tank was as good as new now and Bryant had hoped maybe he could find something else. He stepped in and searched about the tank, finding no devise of such. However, Bryant looked at the radar and computers it was made of. He took a rather long look.

Veronica woke up finally at 10:30am. She yawned and sat up, looking for Bryant. She blinked when she saw him working at a desk. Some sparks flew from the desk as Bryant was melding some wires together. Veronica stood, now in a nightgown. She walked slowly to Bryant who was working on the parts.

"What are you doing?" Veronica asked her husband. He looked up, his eyes a bit blood shot.

"Did I wake you?" He asked, Veronica shook her head, he nodded, "Just making another scouter..." He finally said, and placed a piece of metal on the devise and melded it. He then lifted the newly built scouter and placed it over his left eye. The green glass was a lined perfectly over his eye and covered his ear. It worked. He pressed some newly made buttons, yellow numbers and circles coming up followed by an arrow. It pointed to Veronica. It gave him some measurements, and other data about what was analyzed quickly, such as blood type.

"Looks like I made a new one." Bryant said, standing. There was then a knock at the door.

"Come in." Bryant responded and in stepped Brandon.

"Good morning." He greeted, they responded alike, "Seems RD and Alasea are awake, best we go down and join them." Brandon suggested and Bryant placed his newly made scouter in a pouch and walked out.

"I'll be down in a minute." Veronica said, as she closed the door to get dressed. Bryant nodded and walked downstairs followed by Brandon and into the dining room where Bryant and Alasea talked before.

Edited by Blazen on October 28, 2007 at 0:00:30.

Alasea had gotten up a bit late, but R.D., his body still adjusted to getting up early due to his adventure with Matt, had gotten up much earlier. Granted, he had not needed much sleep this time around, having slept most of yesterday night before his encounter with Malvettix.

R.D. was at the table in the dining room, reading a book while Alasea cooked up a late breakfast. As Bryant came in, she gave him a smile and said, "I heard you working all last night. You know, if you needed something, you could've just asked. I could've made it in an instant or so."

"And pigs can fly." Bryant said responded with a slight chuckle. Though it was slightly rude on his part, he was tired. Though even if her words were true, he would have rather made it himself. He would want it exactly as he wanted it, and he couldn't describe such a thing. There would be something he would forget no doubt. Veronica came down the stairs as Bryant finished talking, fully dressed.

At Bryant's retort, R.D. looked up from his book and raised an eyebrow. "She can do it, you know," he said, sounding completely serious, "I've seen her repair a car just by snapping her fingers."

"And if I wanted to," Alasea said, turning back to her cooking, "I can make pigs fly. That'd be a simple matter."

"Then I wouldn't want it." Bryant said quickly, "I would rather make it myself, you understand." Bryant then added, not trying to be too rude, but again, he was damn tired. But it was true, he would have taken it reluctantly, be it better or worse than of his own creation.

R.D. merely shrugged at Bryant's words, then looked slightly at Mercy as the boy sat down next to him. "Mornin'," he greeted the child. He had heard the story for Alasea earlier that morning. It was disturbing, but the kid seemed nice enough. The resemblance to NightShade was a bit off-putting.

Alasea took no offense to Bryant's statement, despite how rude it was. She'd heard worse before. Instead, the girl simply adjusted her bathrobe and served breakfast. "So what're you planning to do today, R.D.?" she asked.

"I don't know," he said, "Rest up, I guess. This is the first reprieve in fighting I've had in a long time. But after that, I don't know. I'll have to find out where the other Chronoscepter pieces are. Bahamut assigned the mission to these three," he said, motioning to the three Hartnetts, "But I kinda owe it to Bahamut to help them."

"I... have no idea," R.D. answered, after thinking a bit. The King of Dragons had known, apparently, as had the denizens of the Isle. They'd know, but he had no way of contacting them.

"I could probably find out by asking the other Daughters," Alasea said helpfully, "I'm sure at least one of them may know."