The cyborg nodded and waved him off before he stood up and made his way over to the scuffle to break them apart.

A short while later, everyone was gathered at the Willard Company quarters.

"Hey guys," Alasea greeted as R.D., Ileyna, and Hugo walked in. "Have fun looking at the robots?"

"Great stuff," Hugo said, genuinely pleased. "When I get back to my dimension, I'll have to tell Dr. Light about their power cores, I think he'd want to make an energy source like those."

R.D. nodded. "At least this way, one product of the Essence will go towards a peaceful application," he said.

"So did those two get chewn out like they thought they were?" Alasea asked as a sleepy Ileyna walked past her and crawled into her bunk.

"Oh yeah," R.D. said with a chuckle. "They were pissed. Can't say I blame them, apparently they don't have the parts to completely fix their machines anymore because of all the fights, and half of both machines are just gone from the attack."

"I guess that's what happens when you fight dragons," Matt said, currently laying flat on a bed with his hands under his head.

"I guess," R.D. agreed, laying down on his own bunk. He yawned as the day's events began to catch up with him.

"We should get to sleep," Alasea said. "We'll need to be ready for tomorrow."

===Donovan's Throne===

As Donovan disappeared, Michael sighed and turned towards Zhatsuroth. "Well, that could've been a whole lot worse," he said conversationally. "Let's get the hell out of here while we still have the chance."

===Newport, Great Britain===

The Cyraeth vessel continued its slow trek over the ruined city of Newport, as if Donovan had not spoken at all. However, after a few minutes, a crystalline growth was unsheathed from a fleshy pouch at the base of its pale green belly, shining faintly beneath the shadow of the gargantuan creature.

Within seconds, a ray of orange light had been fired from the crystal, and it struck the human form of Donovan squarely in the chest. It expanded to cover his entire body, and he seemed to freeze as a grid of light covered his form, and piece by piece, Donovan's body disappeared.

===Mutant Cyraeth, Teleportation Chamber===

A crystal set into the top of a dark fleshy chamber began to glow, and shone an orange light down onto the floor, where a translucent material had molded itself above the fleshy lining of the chamber. As it did, light flashed repeatedly as the various components of Donovan's body were pieced together one by one in a rapid fashion.

Within moments, he had been completely reassembled, and the lord of the shadow creatures found himself in a round, circular chamber that looked eerily like a pulsating organ. Veins carrying strange fluids pulsed through the surfaces of the walls, and at the far end of the room, a thin membrane had closed itself off, acting as a kind of door. Above Donovan, the teleportation crystal retracted into the ceiling as light crystals were revealed, brightening up the chamber with pale blue light.

Within moments, the membrane door shuddered and opened up, revealing a hallway with crystalline structures set into its ceiling, providing more light within the creature. Marching down the chamber were a group of tall, ten-eyed imps, which quickly filed into the chamber.

"Come," one of them said in a raspy voice, motioning with its claw. "We shall bring you to Verzosa."

===Area K, Innerpeace===

However, in the time between the destruction of the clones and the dialogue that occurred at the crater of the volcano, Seril had begun to act. Her body was glowing as she dropped down into the lower lava tube that led to the ledge she and the Mother Unit were on, and as the three Pseudoroids raced down the tunnel, they came face to face with a fully grown blue-scaled dragon. Her bulk insured that they would be unable to get any farther without being assaulted by the dragon.

Seril's only answer to Hivolt's demands was a challenging roar. Wind blasted from behind her, buffeting at the Pseudoroids with a force that even they would be affected by, and she struck. Snapping her jaws forward, lightning blasted out in a wide spray from Seril's mouth.

Matt sat up and pulled off his jacket, tossing it over a nearby chair. As he took off his shoes, his thoughts returned to Helena. "...maybe one of us should go pick Helena up."

"Good idea," Hugo said. "I'd rather have her sleep with us."

"I'll go get her," Alasea said, getting up from her bunk. She quickly left the room, and the door shut behind her.

"...does she even know where they're training her at?" Matt asked R.D..

"Her dad is the General of the base," R.D. said, shrugging. "Its not like the soldiers can refuse her if she asks for directions.

"I don't even know if the dragons told anyone where they were going," Matt said. He leaned back. "Ah, well. She's a Daughter of the Dawn, she'll figure it out."

"Well, its not like dragons are hard to spot at a place like this," R.D. stated. "Besides, probably a good idea to give those two as much time alone together as we can."

"While they're forcing her to use her dragon powers?" Matt said. "You saw how wiped out she was. Alasea'll be lucky if she gets a grunt."

R.D. shrugged. "I'm sure just being there for her would be enough," he said. "Now, come on. We need to sleep."

"Yeah."

Matt reached over to the nearby lamp and flicked it off, tossing the covers over his face and leaving his feet out in the open. If the enemy really was attacking tomorrow, then he had better be prepared.

The night passed, with Alasea and an absolutely wiped-out-looking Helena appearing shortly after everyone was asleep. The Daughter of Dawn quickly wove an enchantment into Helena, one to help her recovery as she slept, before they both turned in.

In the morning, once again they were rudely awakened as the base once again started up its operations.

Matt was up early like usual, having picked up some unidentifiable cereal for breakfast, and as he ate, he mused about how the day would unfold. Well, hopefully dying would be off that list, that'd be nice.

"No, seriously," R.D. said quietly, leaning over to Alasea, who was busy eating her own breakfast. "What'd you do to Helena?"

"What do you mean?" she asked after swallowing, looking a bit confused.

"There's no way she could be that chipper after the kind of training she got," R.D. continued in a quiet tone, glancing at Helena. "You had to have done something to get this kind of behavior from her this early in the morning."

Alasea simply giggled, but said nothing. Within moments, they were predictably joined by Razgriz Squadron.

"'morning, kids!" Rodeo greeted cheerfully, setting down across from Ileyna, who looked a bit nervous at the sudden gathering of people around her.

(OOC: Juno, double post is posted doubly. D:)

The imps quickly filed out of the room, bringing Donovan along with them, some of them ahead and some behind. Their claws made hollow sounds as they clacked against the translucent material of the floor. Within the mutated creature, hallways and the like seemed chaotic and random as they twisted and turned, the walls occasionally twitching and flexing and shuddering and pulsing in a creepy manner. Strange, unearthly sounds could be heard elsewhere within the makeshift vessel, like some sort of unholy work going on within its bowels.

Before long, however, the imps guiding Donovan found themselves in a wide room, where many demons and monsters had gathered around upraised stacks of muscle and bone, each of them pressing and prodding various nerve endings. Above and in front of them were a series of transparent screens showing the outside world; they had arrived at what served as the "bridge" of the Cyraeth.

At the back of the room, standing on an upraised pile of muscle and sinew, stood a massive creature, built much like a demonic centaur. Its bulk was held aloft by four powerful, taloned legs, and a thick tail lashed occasionally behind it. A humanoid upper torso rose up from the back, where thick arms were crossed over a broad chest, and spines ran down across the back and shoulders of the beast. A glaring, tusked face crowned the beast as it watched Donovan. Unfolding its arms, it made a motion with its hand, and the imps around Donovan scattered.

"Forgive me for the rude abduction, Donovan of the Seven," said the demon in a deep voice. "We are on a tight schedule and I cannot afford to stay in one place. I am Verzosa, the kael'thasth of this Cyraeth. What matter is it that brings you before me?"

===Area K, Innerpeace===

Seril bellowed as Hivolt's beams lanced out across her hide, but she shrugged off the pain and continued her assault. Once more her jaws opened up and fired lightning, which streaked down at the bomb and detonated it before it came within range of her. Fistleo's attack struck against her skull, but she had deflected most of the blow away using her horn. Retaliating, she swung her head to the side to dislodge the Pseudoroid, and her tail, its blade formed once more, darted out at him to counter.

"That may be difficult," Verzosa commented, folding his arms across his chest once more. "Shayol Ghul remains under siege from your comrade, Gouki. Though you are allies, I would imagine it would be... difficult... to explain an audience with my Master during such a period of time."

===Area K, Innerpeace===

Once more, Seril roared, causing winds to cut through the lava tube and buffet at the Pseudoroids. The bombs, being of lesser weight, were easily blown backwards at the Pseudoroids before they could explode against her. With the winds still blowing, the resulting smoke was quickly dissipated, but its cover had lasted long enough.

Seril was rearing her head back, while a sphere of energy gathered before her open jaws. It grew brighter and brighter as more particles of energy gathered into it. She ignored the stinging pain as Hivolt's beams lanced across her hide, and then snapped her head forward, firing the Mega Flare down the tunnel at her three enemies.

"Very well," Verzosa said. He suddenly barked out orders in a tongue much too alien for any human form to replicate. Turning, several of the demons aboard the Cryaeth listened for a moment, then complied with the instructions.

One of the imps came back over to Donovan. "Return him to the teleportation chamber," Verzosa commanded of the imp. It made a noise and motioned for Donovan to follow.

===Area K, Innerpeace===

Seril snarled violently as the enhanced Pseudoroid threw her out of the way, slamming her against the wall and pinning one of her wings between it and her body. Her eyes narrowed dangerously, and she started to growl.

Wind blew through the tunnel again as she opened herself up to her power of nature once more, and with a cry, she thrust her neck forward and blew out, causing freezing mist to blast out from her jaws and across the ground, coating it in ice despite the heat of the lava tube. It raged across the ground and dispersed the energized tornado, streaking towards Hivolt and angling upwards through the air.

Forcing herself up off the wall, Seril roared in fury and turned her assault on Puprill. Powerful muscles coiled up in her legs, and she lunged forward with surprising speed at the Pseudoroid. Her head darted in like a snake striking, jaws flashing out in an intent to tear Puprill to shreds.

"Hi," Helena said, with a smile.

"Well, hey there," Matt said, smirking at Helena. "Someone's feeling better."

"I guess a good night's sleep really helps, huh?"

"So, you kids still want to see the Ultimate Nine-Ball?" Leon asked as he started eating.

===Mutant Cyraeth, over Newport===

~Do not mistake our generosity for stupidity, Donovan. For anyone else, we would have ignored or destroyed. But it would be... foolish, to try such a feat against one of the Dark Beasts,~ came the voice of Verzosa over the Dark-Link. ~Nevertheless, you pose no threat to our Master, and for that, your request shall be granted. You will be taken to the Cyraeth nearest to Shayol Ghul. I will inform the kael'thasth there of your intentions.~

It was not long before the imp guiding Donovan was returned to the teleportation chamber. This time, a green-colored crystal had been revealed in the ceiling of the organ. When Donovan had placed himself in the center of the chamber, a ray of light shone down on him and lined him within a grid, and took him piece-by-piece to his destination.

===Mutant Cyraeth, near Shayol Ghul===

Awaiting the Dark Beast in an identical teleportation were a pair of hulking Hell Knights, which waited on either side of the exit to the room. Once Donovan had appeared, one of the two motioned for it to follow, as they were unable to speak in any known language.

===Area K, Innerpeace===

Seril roared as the bomb exploded against her, forcing her to retreat slightly. As she did, she saw Fistleo escape with Gatz in tow, and Hivolt following shortly after. Growling, she decided that she'd at least take a piece of the remaining enemy with her before he too escaped.

As the wrecking ball came in, Seril acted. Light enveloped her form, and within moments, Puprill passed through empty air. Seril, once again in human form with the extra of her wings growing from her back, shot forward to the opposite wall at twice the speed the Pseudoroid moved at.

Bouncing off the wall, she pumped with her wings and shot through the air opposite the direction she came, right at the Pseudoroid. The Dragonblade held in her fist began to glow, the etched markings in its blade glowing white-hot. With a roar, she swung at Puprill's surrounding arms.

"I thought that was in lockdown," Hugo said, keeping an eye on Helena.

Edited by The Helldragon on July 25, 2009 at 21:45:26.

"It should have been opened up by now," Leon said with a shrug. "We need to head that way anyway and you guys did say you wanted to see it."

"Sure, I guess we'll go," R.D. said. "If Hugo was impressed with your Nine-Breakers, I can only imagine his reaction to seeing the Ultimate Nine-Ball."

"Your Nine-Breakers are nice pieces of work," Hugo said. "I can't wait to see the Ultimate in action."