"Well, Exscuuuuuse me Herashio!". he was pokeing fun at the way Victer handled his shades. (If any one watches CSI Miami, thell get that joke).

Killrock seamed unphased by the teady talking... not to mutch things like that bothered the talking tin man any way. "Eheh, you have fun with Storm crow, I heard he uses Lightning, and my EMPDS wont hold up to all of that electricity, Id be completely useless againsed him....save for one good distraction".

"Speaking of wolf... where the hell is he?"

Wolf was sitting ontop of the sand sub, right beside the hatch incase the Sub was to dive into the sand. he admired how easily it mooved... almoast like a boat in the sea. "Ah, such a fine Machien".

 

---

Theres a hole in the world like a Great black pit and ists filled with people who are filled with ***!.

^Thanks to Eva ^__^ <3

-----1 WEEK AGO----

 

Gears turned and gas burned at Valhalla, Kabrakia’s most advanced continent. From the sky, you would think the whole place was a giant city but you would be wrong to say it was overpopulated, as most of the population is actually made up of androids. They do most of the ore mining, as it’s not a very safe job for humans. In a place like this, you need a lot of steel and oil to keep it running. The county is divided in half. The ore and oil mines on one side, where most of the robot’s reside, and the other half which had the people, and of course, all the factories and such to maintain everything.

 

        In the middle was the capital, where  president David lingonberry sat at his desk in a sort of throne room. Beside him sat his bodyguard, who he referred to as his “second in command”, because he ran everything past him. he had good reasons for trusting his second in command, as he was David’s friend in the last war that they had. ever since then, these kinds of conflicts where resolved with robots, as there less expensive to repair. “Billy Black.” lingonberry said to his comrade, in his usual, impassive tone. “how does it feel to sit beside the president?”

 

        Billy lazily shifted his gaze back to his old friend as if being stirred out of a deep trance.

 

 "about the same as it was to sit beside him as a fellow soldier", he said with a slight hint of a smile.

 

        "As expected, you haven't changed at all." The president signed off on another document and passed it to Billy so he may stuff it in an envelope. "Yea, I'm a bit surprised I'm getting a second term. anyone can shuffle around paper and make up rules."

 

        "Ah, but only you can do it with such style and flare!", Billy exclaimed sarcastically as he neatly folded the document and slipped it into an envelope.

 

        “But to tell you the truth.” The president said, scribbling on another document. “I think a lot of people like the fact that they won’t have to serve in  the war, should one start.” He was referring to his robot army that he constructed that replaced all the military personnel.

 

        Billy looked over at him and cocked his head to the side with an annoyed look on his face. "Hey, IF..IF, there is another war, people should have the balls to fight it themselves. maybe that way, one day humanity will learn how worthless it is".

 He reached over and snatched another document for express placement in an envelope.

 

        David just smiled and wrote his name once again. he had a tendency to butt heads with Billy on things like politics and philosophical debate. typically they would go on for hours, but they had things to do. Besides, off into the distance, beyond his desk, he could see  Erica, his girlfriend. She was talking to another woman. Erica was easy to spot with her crimson red uniform with a matching beret. They where both seated at the bottom of some steps, far enough away that you couldn’t quite make out what they where saying. “Ya know Billy, I often wonder if love really exists…”

 

        Black put his arms behind his head and leaned back in his comfortable chair, taking a big sigh in knowing what was about to come.

 

 "and please, el presidante, tell me why you ponder such things?"

 

        "Every day I wake up, I feel nothing. People tell me about how wonderful it is to wake up and know that someone out there loves you, but I don't feel such things. I think it's just an illusion people like to believe in. like hope." David intensified his stair, glaring at the back of Erica's head. "why does she always sit so far away from me, and talk to other people on those steps? does she think I can't hear her?"

 

        Billy stretched his arms out to his sides. "nope, she hates your guts and hopes you dies, that’s why she always tries to make you smile and hugs and kisses you so sweetly. yeah, guess you are right and I have always been wrong, you aren’t a schizophrenic delusional boyfriend." He set his hands down and looked at the president with a feign look of surprise. "no wait....scratch that…"

 

 “…Yes, I suppose your right.” This was David’s usual response when he didn’t wish to continue debating with Billy on silly subjects like love. It just wasn’t worth the effort.

 

         In the end of a debate, everyone just ended up looking at things there own way no matter what. The only ones who are ever truly enlightened are those who wish for it.

 

        “What’s up?”

 

        Staring David right in the face was his girlfriend, Erica. He looked at her in shock, as he could have sworn she was still sitting on the steps some ways away, but the gaze coming from her sapphire eyes and her slight smile showed that she was obviously there, standing beside his desk. “Are you still doing paper work? I think you need some motivation.”  “listen, I…” David was cut off when Erica rapped her arms around his neck and kissed him passionately on the lips. The more he tried to struggle free, the tighter she hugged him. “Mph!” David tapped Erica on the shoulder, and then motioned his hand towards Billy, which then brought it to the young woman’s attention that they weren’t alone. “Oh I’m sorry! I didn’t see you there.” “Yes… you should watch for things like that before you try to rape the president.” David smiled as he said this. “This is Billy , he was a buddy of mine in the last war, so I pulled some strings to get him here as a body guard.” “Oh, well I’m Erica,  and as you probably already know, David and I are very good friends.”

 

Black gave a quick nod and smile. "Yeah thanks I gathered that. actually we were just talking about you".

 

        "Oh really? what kind of thing? I hope it wasn't anything bad." "If I told people nothing but good things about you, everyone would want you!" David patted her on the back as he shot Black a brief glare that said " I'll kill you if you say another word". 

 

        "Well, I'm almost done here, so you can..."

 

        *wank *

 

        “Hey guys!”

 

        The president put his head in his hands with the appearance of the next individual. It was Lunarina, the last human super soldier ever made. Appearance wise, her fox ears atop her head made her extremely noticeable. The project was completed the day David took office. However, with the new android soldier policy, she was only really allowed to fight within the nation. Luckily the androids did a good job of keeping people away from the borders.

 

        Billy smiled and waved at his friend entering  the room. "Hello Lunarina, Having fun today I see?" Lunarina met his eyes and waved back. "yup yup, same as always" she exclaimed happily!

 

Unlike Black, David lamented Lunarina's presence. she had a tendency to break things, and her cheery disposition had a tendency to get on his nerves after a while. his only reply was placing his head in his hand. However, Erica was happy to see Billy's friend, and closed in on her quickly, dragging David along with her to meet the super soldier. “You know Billy?” “Yup yup.” The president tried to stay behind Erica to prevent himself from having to engage in the conversation with Lunarina.

 

        "So, what did you come to tell us today?" "I won a guitar competition!” “…excuse me?” Suddenly, David was very interested in what Lunarina was saying. “What do you play?” “Uh… Bass and rhythm usually, would you like to see my medal? It’s made of gold!” “Well, I guess it’s time I showed you all my little project. You still know how to play the drums, right Billy?” Black was holding two pencils and quickly hammered them onto the presidents desk at an incredible speed. "yeah, barely." he said with a chuckle. “Well, as long as you can play as well as I can play guitar, or as well as Erica can sing, we’ll be alright.

 

--------PRESENT-------

 

        Gail chewed on his candy bar as he looked around the control room. “wow, how dull, and noisy…hope David didn’t start the war yet, we may need him.” Akasuki had a smirk on, and was leaning against the door to the control room. after Gail noticed her, he tossed the rapper away and folded his arms together. “…so how did you persuade Killrock to join us again?” Akasuki didn’t move anything but her lips as she leaned confidently against the ship’s hull. “Killrock is more human than a normal robot is.” The half Demon turned his head as he tried to grasp what she was saying. “We hurt the ones we love the most, right Gail?”  He smiled as he ducked his head. “I guess if you put it that way, he is always trying to annoy us isn’t he?” The samurai’s smile faded as she stood up “I’m going to check up on Afonos, we should be there soon right?” “of course, just a few more minutes, I’d better go see how the others are doing.” With that, they both left the room together, Akasuki leaving for Afonos, and Gail was going to join up with the others.

 

 

---

After speaking with Gail, Akasuki marched into the infirmary and noticed Afonos was awake. "So, you're concious now, eh?"

 

The young silvermyth's body trembled slightly as he turned his head to look at her.

 

-"Akasuki? Wha-what's going on?"-

" Alot of things, but all you need to know is Vega got you, D is dead, and you have seven days to live, max." The alchemist sat down on the bed beside Afonos. "He died saving you..."

 

Afonos's eyes widened in shock.

 

-"D..."- he murmured at the time his eyes shifted to the sheets over his lap -"That...can't be..."-

 

"Well, originally I wasn't interested on the mission, so I left the theatre along with most of the students. But once I discovered D was amongst the volunteers, I realized I had to keep a close eye on him. You know, so he doesn't get killed or anything like that."

 

Such words, his words, echoed through the depths of his mind like a nefarious accusation.

 

-"No, this...this is all a bad dream!"-

 

His hands reached for the top of his head, clenching some strands of brown hair tightly as he shouted in despair to the top of his lungs.

 

"... The past is a cruel mistress. It's something we all end up lamenting sooner or later."

 

This was all Akasuki could offer Afonos at the time.

 

"Think of the days you have left as a gift from D. I'm sure he'd rather you live them out in peace, than in sorrow and grief."

 

Moments later, Afonos calmed down and rested his arms at either side of his body.

 

Just then and with a swift motion,  Afonos took hold of Akasuki by grasping the collar of her kimono aggressively.

 

-"You're wrong if you think D would've wanted that. He wouldn't have liked me to live the days I have left conformed in a so called peace. What he would’ve have me do is live beyond the time hopelessness has given me...live as I wanted and not let any of it go to waste."-

 

A horrible cough interrupted Afonos's words as his grip on Akasuki loosened.

 

"Well, there is a cure, it's actually simple to make, but how hard it is to get is not measured by the distance one must travel, or the cost to get there..."

 

Afonos turned his stare slowly to meet up with hers.

 

-"What is it?"- he inquired weakly.

 

As if having lost intrest in the entire topic, Akasuki started to piece together her sword.

 

"Dragon blood."

 

The young silvermyth allowed himself to fall onto the cushioned pillow behind him.

 

-"Slaying a dragon...is what'll save me?"-

"I have never met a full grown dragon that was weaker than a demon. They are mighty opponents and are in short supply, so they are all very old and powerful."

 

Akasuki looked back over at Afonos.

 

"It's not likely we'll be able to slay one, even if we get more help from the guild, it's doubtful."

 

D's mag hovered around Akasuki's head in circles as she said this.

 

-"Well, even if we could..."- said the young silvermyth and gazed at her with strange impassiveness -"What kind of hypocrite would I be, if I went on living knowing that the death of another being was necessary to avoid my own? That is not the Silvermyth way. Too selfish.”-

 

Somehow, Afonos was surprised to find himself speaking like his father used to all those years ago.

 

"I said the blood of a dragon, not the life of one..."

 

Akasuki stood up, avoiding eye contact with Afonos.

 

"Most dragons are selfish creatures, they’re like demons. The bad ones outnumber the good ones by more than a fraction."

 

The samurai started to take her leave.

 

"Don't think about it too hard, dragons are up there with the black calamity. The only good thing about dragons is they aren't actively searching for things to pillage."

-"Akasuki..."- he called out for her as she approached the door.

 

She turned around.

 

"Yes Afonos?

-"I'm sorry for what I did to your kimono just now..."- he apologized before closing his eyes to rest.

 

Akasuki smiled faintly, but only for a second, before she entirely disappeared from sight.

 

 

---

YA~HA!

Basilisk jumped out of Natasha's arms and bowed down in front of Victor.

"Veruxius Garrisque Basilisk, or simply Basilisk." the stuffed animal introduced himself, as he extends his cotton hand at the dhampir. "I think the four of us will get along pretty well in this adventure; and yes, together we could defeat the demon."

Whilst the teddy bear was talking Natasha sensed something wandering around somewhere near the sub. She swiftly draws out what seemed to be a portable version of a black ouija board. On the board there are letters engraved in silver and gold; well-decorated and adorned with some pieces of valuable stones. There is an empty space in the middle of the board, on which she was drawing some beautiful circles and writings - which actually is a spell circle.

Grabbing hold of Basilisk's head (which shocked him), there is a black aura that seeps from the teddy into Natasha, and almost abruptly her eyes turned jet-black. Her sight is now unlimited, and with that she examines the sub, and beyond.

"Basilisk."she whispered.

"Yes Tasha?"

Releasing the chokehold she had on Basilisk, she returned to normal, and she gave the dhampir and the hucast a smile.

"Sorry for that. Just some unnecessary 'safety precautions'." she said, but there is a subtle hint of fear in her voice. Trying to force out her calmness, she suddenly clinged on Victor.

"Do they have waffles here?" she said, looking into Victor's eyes, praying that he would not see her true feelings inside.

---

If one man slay another of set purpose,he himself may rightfully be slain. -Sun Tzu,'The Art of War'

Killrock could see right threw Natashas "mask" so to speak, but was going to let the half meat bag Victer take care of it...it was more of a way to test the Dahmpir... "I... could make some". the lights in his eyes Shifted from left to right, breaking the uncomftorable Silence... wich was one thing the Hucast couldent stand... was silence.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Well il be damned". a stranger lowered his bonoculers, now seeing the Sand sub moove along. "Looks like we finally found him, Rotten devil he is!" a hearty man to his left bellowed. there were three peopel watching, all on Steeds. the center man, the leader, or head hancho sat on a white Stalion, wich on its head was a long Velvit brimed hat (hope I used that term correctly) with a large white feather stuck threw it, the horses ears popped out the top of the hat aswell, its master, haveing the same hat on, though wore a bright blue feather instead.

His outfit was some what bizar. a Brestplate was wore over a blue, purble, and yellow vest. with tranguler designes by the shoulders. a purple coat over lapped this and covered the Fencer like blade that was afixed to his belt, Leather boots came up to his knees, and buckled just below them. "Vaughn". the woman to his right called and his eyes shifted a bit, thouhg didnt turn to meet her gaze. his facial exspression was hidden beneath a blue mask that was losely draped over his moulth and nose. "Yes, I will request to hunt him alone" his eyes went back to his target. "We'll follow from afar, and out of sight, Untill I can get that wolf alone". he turned his steed around, and his two comrades followed after him. Vaughn gave a glance over his sholder, to the un-suspecting Wolf. That girl and her Grandmother will be avenged

---

Theres a hole in the world like a Great black pit and ists filled with people who are filled with ***!.

^Thanks to Eva ^__^ <3

"I wouldn't know," Victor responded, stiffening slightly as Natasha began clinging to him like a child to her favourite teddy. "You'll have to check out the galley."

What an odd girl...

The dhampir glanced up at Killrock - being careful not to let Tasha knock him off-balance - and regarded the Hucast, who seemed to be wearing an odd expression on his face, as if wary of Tasha...

[ I would put some more flesh on the bones of this post, but my oh-so-stubborn brother is forcing me off the computer. ] 

---

Which side of the divide do you stand on? Find out in this Harry Potter/Star Wars crossover, Divided Worlds

Wow. I've been here for over a year. :]

Gail moseyed out of the control room and looked around the sub for the others. He could see Akasuki leaving the infirmary, where Afonos likely rested. Kiyo seemed to be talking to a crate, or was it his ring? Weirdo. Midori was across the hall from Kiyo, and by the smell, she had found the fine spirits and ale.

 

Continuing to walk threw the hall, he could see a beam of light coming down from the ceiling. The half demon looked up, and he could see a wagging tail from the hatch. What was Wolf doing up there? Epsilon seemed to be reading a book further down the corridor. It was comical to see a man reading a mystery novel on a crate beside a bookshelf full of naughty magazines.

 

Finally, Gail had made his way over to the glass door to the TV room. peering inside, he could see Killrock, staring blankly at his comrades. Gail couldn’t blame the android for his strange look, as it would appear Natasha was getting rather friendly with Victor. Gail just shrugged as he entered the room. “Boy, time flies when your having fun. we made it, we’re in Valhalla!”

 

After Gail told everyone the good news,  The TV fizzed as a live feed was being delivered. it was airing over all the channels, so it had to be a message from the president. When the static cleared, there was a skinny man in a business suit tapping a mic that sat atop a podium. “Testing, Testing, 1-2-3 Testing. looks like it’s all ready for you sir.” As the man stepped out of view, David stepped in. his wavy blond hair and eye patch where unmistakable, that and his vestments, which where red with long, skinny yellow dragons on them. “Salutations citizens. as you probably know we’ve been thinking about going into war with the Yggdrasillians for some time now. They continue to sneak into our lands and steal our precious iron, and today I can say that we are going to declare war with them.”

 

Gail’s face sunk as he continued to hear the dreadful news.

 

“We’ve already calculated there forces, and this war should be short lived if we can force them into an early surrender. I’d like all of our citizens to refrain from going out into the Dessert between our lands, as our troops are already marching threw there to clash with the Yggdrasillians. Let us hope they are smart enough to surrender early on. that is all.”

 

Gail Turned of the TV and looked over towards his allies.

 

“…We’re in the dessert…”

 

It was then everyone could hear the earth shake as David’s war machine strode threw the dessert. Wolf could see the armies for himself. The army wasn’t that big, maybe 50 troops to be exact. But they where all made of steel, and they looked like maids! They where all robots that looked like woman wearing steel aprons. They had emotionless eyes that glowed a bright neon green. The same color outlined there “apparel”. This would have been almost comical if it wasn’t for the heavy assault rifles they where carrying. He quickly dove back into the sub to avoid detection.

 

“Gail” Akasuki shouted. “You gotta move the sub.” “But if I do that, They may spot us and decide to attack.” Gail pointed out. “We’ll hold up a lot better against them when there close and not so far away.”

 

“Yea, unless they decide to drop a few grenades down the hatch…”

 

The androids approached the hatch and looked at it. “HEY! -WHAT -DO  -YOU --THINK -THIS -IS?” Another android kicked it. “IT –WOULD -APPEAR -TO -BE     -SOME -KIND -OF -HATCH! -I -DON’T -THINK -IT’S -A -FOE!” A third robot, one with yellow neon instead of green, approached the hatch. “It’s none of our concern. The metallurgy doesn’t match that of our enemies. However, this isn’t ours either.” This robot seemed to have a much less robotic voice then her other sisters. It turned to address the huge fold in the back of the sand sub. “How strange. It would appear this thing drifts threw the sand like a submarine.” Finally, The robot addressed a wide plank of wood that rested just behind the tank. “Hmm, it’s bowed, perhaps the sub was carrying something on it?” She turned to address her comrades.

 

“We can’t leave this here, and I don’t have the authority to open it. let’s drag it back to base. The raid will have to wait till later.”

 

With that, a long hook with a chain attached to it pierced the droids chest and exited the other side. It then quickly returned, ripping the droid apart and burying itself in the sand again, under the plank. The remaining robots took fire on the wood plank. It quickly went from a good piece of lumber to a slice of Swiss cheese to sawdust. Once there where no obstructions, the firing stopped, nothing was there.

 

“GRAW!”

 

Storm crow pulled himself out of the sand with one mighty push and charged the robots. Before they could lift up there weapons for a second shot, the monster had made contact with them, and fried there circuitry by releasing a nova of electricity. He noted how it bounced off the sub. “Ahh, marauders insulated sand sub. I suppose now is not the time to attack the Silvermyths just yet.” The demon snatched up a belt of grenades that was on one of the robots and opened the hatch. “I’ll see you all later… When you’re in hell!” After tugging a pin on one of the grenades, he dropped the whole belt into the sub and took of.

 

Gail heard the heavy thud of the grenades hitting the floor. He already knew what Storm Crow had done. “Guys, GET OUT OF THE WAY!” The half demon snatched Akasuki and dove as far away from the glass door that the grenades comfortably rested against.

 

 

 

---

She knew this would happen.

 Snatching Basilisk, Natasha arranges the weird letters into the void space on her ouija board. Purplish-black aura surrounds her, sprouting out of her back like a pair of dark wings.

"O SPIRITS OF THE DAMNED SOULS, RISE AND BOW DOWN TO MY COMMANDS! SEVARIUS MATILES VINKHA!" She shouted out loud as she stormed out towards the grenade.

Three jet-black entities swarmed the grenade belt, dissolving it in split seconds.

"NEXT TIME, GET A SCOUTING HAWK!!" she yelled at everyone, who seemed to be caught off-guard.

She examines her surroundings, her hands busy assembling letters and words on the ouija board; it goes clicking and clacking furiously as she tries to think of a stratergy. Ray was right, there is no way she could defeat that evil demon on her own - but that doesn't mean that with little Silvermyth on her side could as well. Anyways, nobody would listen to her either, she is just a plain girl.

"But then again, if we do not prepare, things worse than this would happen.." Basilisk commented as if reading her mind,and turned around. Natasha dropped to her knees, breathing hard. The amount of spells she used was overwhelming - Basilisk knew she could not chant more than two spells in a row.

 "I think you should go to sleep or something, Tasha."

She placed the last letter, and the ouija board shone for a brief moment. It transformed into a pair of oversized gauntlets with claws of what seemed to be like big pieces of sharp mirror shards.

"Now I can go to sleep."

---

If one man slay another of set purpose,he himself may rightfully be slain. -Sun Tzu,'The Art of War'

As Wolf stared at Lingebury's army in the distance, he suddenly felt a tug on his tail before being pulled back into the interior of the sub.

 

-"Where are you when I need you, you lunk?"- inquired Midori with apathy, staring at him as he hung upside down.

 

"YYYYOWCH!" Wolf spun aronud, grabbed his tail, and kicked Midori's hand. "That’s not a freaking leash!!!".

 

Taking him by the collar of the shirt, Midori slammed Wolf down onto the floor and dragged him away through the corridor.

 

-"How dare you bite the hand that feeds you..."- she replied somberly.

 

“How dare you slap the mouth that bit the hand that supposedly feeds me!" he tore away from her grip, and standing on his feet, followed after her. "Would it kill ya to be polite?"

 

In an instant, Midori had stopped dead on her tracks and turned around slowly to face Wolf. There was a scary kind of warm and affable expression upon her semblant.

 

-"Yeah, I guess you're right."- she spoke in a sweet tone of voice, patting the top of his head like she would a dog's. But before Wolf could even know what was going on, Midori was already strangling him under her armpit with a malicious noogie -"I guess I can be polite enough to let Akasuki know how you were stowing away in Gail’s boat, stealing the apples and god knows what other goods!"-

"Well, I doubt you have any proof of that now!" he squeezed his head out from her grip. "Now, what did you want!"

-"Well...it's kinda lonely around here. So, I was wondering, maybe, you know...wanna hang out?"-

 

Her stare was fixed aside from his as she scratched her cheekbone gently with her index finger.

 

His eyes narrowed. "I highly doubt that..." he almost scoffed, and crossed his arms.

 

-"Oh well, guess I'll go spend this ridiculously huge amount of money with someone else..."- she remarked, fakely disappointed, as she dangled a bag of gold while walking away casually, the clinking of the coins resounding throughout the hallway.

 

"... I’m not all about money!" he howled, whining that she knew his weakness.

 

Midori gazed up at him a bit taken aback.

 

-"Wolf..."-

 

There was a brief moment of silence as both remained standing there, unmoving and quiet.

 

-"Ever since we got on this ship, you’ve been behaving strangely. Tell me, is something wrong?"-

"Eheh... what do you mean?" he scratched the back of his head nervously, but put on a convincing toothly grin.

 

The conversation suddenly interrupted by a metallic click and clack. Midori and Wolf both looked around to try and find what was making the noise... and then, taking their attention beneath at their feet, they saw it; not five inches tall, a oval shaped sheet of steel with long dagger-like legs stood. It’s red light looked between the two of them, fixing its sight on Wolf.

 

*beep........beep....BEEP*

 

*BOOM*

 

---

YA~HA!

"So mutch for waffles" Killrock buzzed disapointedly, and then.

*BOOM*

His head spun onehundred and eigthy degreas, to look behind him. "What the hell was that!". his body turned insinc with his head and without waiting, Killrock went to see what the Boom was, un-aware a Spider mine had maneged to sneak inside while Storm crow had opend it. he didnt know that it crawled in in an attempt to assasinate some one.

"Did one of thoes ghosts miss a Grenade?"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

the three horsemen stopped, the stocky fellow slipping somthing back into his pouch, the head horseman Vaughn slowly turning his head. "Brox..." his eyes set on his comrads, as if pierceing threw to stair into his mind to see what he was thinking. "What was that noise just now" it was the twich in his body and ever so slight hesitation that gave himself away. "N-nothin, I dont know".

"Lier..." he turned his horse around, leaning falwards and resting his arms on the horses neck, wich it didnt seam to mind. "one of your Spider mines are missing". Vaughn stated flatly, "and I told you I was going to hunt him alone, did I not?"

"Bah!, yer always huntin alone!, Ya never let any of us have any fun!, yer always obsessed with it bein yer duty!" Brox crossed his arms, and made an attempt to stair down Vaughn... but to no effect.

"act?... it is my Duty". he turned his horse around. and with a wave of his hand, the discussion was silenced, and the three continued falwards.

---

Theres a hole in the world like a Great black pit and ists filled with people who are filled with ***!.

^Thanks to Eva ^__^ <3

    He had to get out. What was with these people anyway. They seemed to live for cramped claustrophobic spaces, or flying in ridiculous contraptions which desperately clawed the air.

    While his fellow passengers were occupied with other matters Epsilon seamlessly passed out of the sandsub and entered the hot arid air.  The bright sun-maxed images overloaded his visual circuits and blinded him temporarily.  Slowly he was able to distinguish the city of Van Hala off on the horizon.  What struck Epsilon more than anything was the absolute desolation around him.  There was nothing outside the great city.


     He abruptly drew in the super heated air into his lungs.  Shading his eyes and wiping the perspiration from his brow. Epsilon thought he saw a whisper of an image ,shimmering in the heat waves far off in the distance. He trained his eyes in that direction and waited patiently.

    A figure.  Yes a figure coming this way.  Epsilon wandered further away from the sub and slowly paced towards the oncoming figure.  Slowly he began to make out the impossible vision of a man clothed in a long overcoat (did they call them dusters?) riding chaps and a badly worn sweat soaked Stetson, upon his head.  Curiosity having gained the upper hand, Epsilon quickened his pace until he came face to face with this strange apparition.

    Neither man spoke.

    Epsilon shuffled his feet and cleared his dry, aching throat. Something deep inside told Epsilon that to start this conversation may be a mistake.

     Finally the man drew back his duster and rested his hand on some kind of revolver deeply set in a well-oiled holster.
    “Hello…They call me …Gunslinger.”  Was all the man said.

    Epsilon stifled a grin.  He raised his eyes to meet Gunslinger’s gaze.  “Epsilon, I’m sure.” He proposed.  The words seem to fall flat on the desert floor.

    Without any warning Gunslinger made a motion with his right hand  and at the end of a blurred arc Epsilon was staring down the barrel of the revolver.  The barrel looked like something you could drive through. “ Colt peacemaker” Gunslinger began. “Upped up to 50 cal. Take a man’s head clear off.  Extra large primer and a few extra grains of powder.”  Gunslinger winked. He easily flipped the gun around and offered it to Epsilon, butt first.

    “Here.”  I hint of pride in Gunslingers voice. “Check the balance.”

    Epsilon nearly emptied his bowels.  Quickly, he recovered. And gently, with both hands took the weapon.
“Yes…yes a fine weapon.”  Epsilon hoisted the pistol and looked down the sight, careful not to aim the weapon in gunslinger’s direction. He noticed that gunslinger had shifted his weight, his left hand now rested on an identical revolver.  
    

Now Epsilon grinned outwardly at gunslinger. He spun the gun around his index finger and casually tossed it back, up in the air. In the briefest instant Gunslinger’s attention was focused on the gun, a look of shock and consternation on his grizzled face. He reached out to grab his prized piece. In the stillness of the desert air gunslinger felt the barest whisper of a breeze…or did he? There was however no mistaking the sharp implement that Epsilon now held to the man’s throat.  Somehow Epsilon had positioned himself behind the man, a move quicker and smoother than gunslinger’s fastest draw.

    The pistol fell to the desert floor.

    “Well.” Said Gunslinger.
    
    Epsilon spoke. “Inside you, my friend, rages a terrible battle between two wolves.  One represents belligerence, despair, hate, ignorance, fear, anger, inferiority, self pity, superiority, and ego.”  Gunslinger felt the point of the object slightly stirring at his throat, now comfortably resting on his jugular.
    
    Epsilon continued. “The other wolf stands for joy, hope, love, humility, kindness, generosity, truth, compassion, honesty, and faith.”


    Gunslinger blinked the sweat out of his eyes.  He fought the temptation to remain silent, but he had to know…had to know…finally he spoke, unable to see Epsilon’s face, not wanting to move against the pressure of the blade. “Which wolf will win?”


    Epsilon moved his lips closer to gunslinger’s ear.  He felt the mans fear. In the barest whisper. “The one you feed.”

    Another breath of wind and Epsilon now stood before Gunslinger. In his hand was neither knife or stiletto nor any kind of weapon.  “ Choose wisely, my friend.” And with that he tossed the pink flute up between the two of them.  The gunslinger caught it with ease.  His gaze fell to the desert floor.  There lay his colt.  He knelt, and picked up his gun with the other hand.

    Epsilon had turned on his heel and headed back to the ship. Gunslinger watched as he faded from view, the heat taking his image and blurring it. He looked at his colt, and then to the flute, and finally back at the receding figure.  “The one you feed” was all he could think to say.

Attiring himself in a black suit, lustered shoes, and a white button shirt, all that was left for Afonos to do was fix the red tie placed neatly around his neck. Such tidiness had become a habit for him ever since that day, the day of his father’s memorial ceremony back at the academy. He knew people tried to look their best in such occassions and so he thought he should always look his best if he was to honor his father’s name and their family’s pride. Strangely enough, Afonos found himself unable to finish fixing the noose that hung loosely over his chest. He then looked at the somber image reflected upon the mirror’s surface; a pale young man stared back at him with obscure bags of tiredness lodged under the lower rim of his eyes. It was obvious then that the degradation inflicted by Vega’s curse would only worsen with every passing moment. The medicine and treatment given to him by Midori had only prolonged his life by a small margin of just a few days.

 

-“Dammit...”-

 

His fist rested upon his mirror self’s own as the word left his mouth like a soft whisper. Afonos then lowered his sights to the ground, strands of his cheek-long brown hair hanging lankly over his shadowed expression. He then pulled the red tie off the collar of his shirt with his only free hand and undid the three topmost buttons.

 

*BOOM*

 

The room rumbled violently as a powerful explosion shook the sand-sub whole, driving Afonos away from his line of thought.

 

-“It appears there’s still some business to take care of...”- murmured the young silvermyth with a slackened tone of voice as he pulled away from the mirror and headed for the door.

 

-“How bothersome...”-

 

 

---

YA~HA!