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Subject: STORY: Darkworld Ch 6 (To kill a Demon Saint)
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Date: 8 Nov 1994 08:41:29 -0500
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                         TALES FROM THE DARKWORLD
                             By Tony Figueroa
                    Chapter Six: Ultimate Confrontaion
                       Copyright 1993 Tony Figueroa

    At Blackwood Base in the center of citystate Relo, Blackwood Agent Matt
Ceremya entered the empty computer room.  After sitting down at the
terminal, he reached for an interface plug for the cybernetic socket in his
neck.  The possessor then seized control after having had waited for this
moment for so long.  Matt's fingers dropped to the mainframe, and the
possessing demon accessed it through the psionic power of telemechanics.
Within minutes, the possessor found the data it'd come to find.
   "Operation Darkwood Forest / Champion 1 / Jake Phoenix "Jackhammer"  /
Race: Human 62.5% Zentraedi 25% Praxian 12.5% / Rank: Sergeant 1st Class /
Soldier Class: Monk / Body Alterations: C.H.U. Conversion / Education: High
School Diploma, Medical Doctor, USD Military War Training, Hand to Hand
Combat: Ultraviolent, Power Armor Combat / Age: 19 / Birthdate: 11-21-2380
/ Height: 6' / Weight: 175 lbs / Aura Type: Fourth Class / Sufferred
Fatalities: Two / Mental Evaluation: Stable / Champion 2 /" The datastream
flowed onward to the other ten champions in the accessed file.  Information
poured into the demon which memorized it all, knowing that failure could
mean death at the hands of its master.  After implanting a memory of Agent
Ceremya's work here being done, the possessor relinquished control while
continuing to alter his aura to prevent detection of a possession and
maintaining the mental block that dissallowed the Blackwood supercomputer
from telepathically keeping tabs on its agent.  Satisfied, the demon waited
for the moment when Ceremya would leave Relo, allowing for it to safely
escape from the citystate's confines.

                                  -----

    The eighteen-foot tall jotan giant slammed a massive foot into Jake's
chest, knocking him back thirty feet.  His back impacted and slid hard on
the dirt, and his legs almost flipped over his head which would have put
him face down.  Jake rose to his feet and charged, knowing that another hit
like that stood a good chance of killing him despite the fact that he'd
recently been given a CHU implant which, among other things, gave his flesh
the consistency of armor.  He'd also repeatedly been using his power to
heal during the arena battle.  On the other hand, the jotan had been
absorbing Jake's attacks for the past minute and still looked pretty good.
The arena crowd was loving it.  Jake avoided the jotan's fist and
jumpkicked into the giant's chin in a last ditch effort to take out his
opponent.  The attack gave out more force than Jake would have ever thought
possible.  Skin ripped along the front of the giant's neck as the skull
disconnected from his spine.  Jake nearly collapsed after landing on the
dead jotan's chest as the severed head landed forty feet away.  A pool of
blood spread out upon the dirt around the decapitated body.
    "Wasn't that amazing!" The announcer yelped. "You won't be seeing a
human doing that everyday!  Stay seated for the appearence of Bear Newman
fighting against Ted Woller, a man convicted in New Detroit of killing his
whole family and selling their blood to the ECS.!"

                                  -----

    Jake the Jackhammer opened the door to his new spacious quarters where
a red-garbed red-haired woman concentrated upon her psionic light show
which illuminated the room along with the early November afternoon
sunlight.  The Jackhammer approached.  Without saying a word, he kissed her
passionately.  After they were on the floor, Carla mananged to get some
words in.
    "You were accepted for Operation Darkwood." Tears gathered in her eyes.
    "Hey, don't worry.  I'm more powerful than I've ever been, and all the
USD is backing this mission up.  We know where and how to hit them or
anything they might send at us.  I'll be back."
    Carla kissed him to shut him up. "But you'll just be doing this sort of
thing again won't you?"
    "I doubt it.  I'm also going to be laying off the arena for awhile.  I
don't see any reason for me to be risking my life there anymore."
Uncertainty about the arena part crept into Jake's thoughts, but he put it
out of his mind, sure that it was true.
    "Thank you, you know how I hate being left behind." They reinforced
their embraced and kissed again.  After they'd done everything they could
possibly do to each other, Jake was left alone, sitting on the edge of the
bed reminiscing on how his life had changed so much in so little time.
There was a time when my only dream was to fight against the injustice in
this world.  Now I'm married, and almost an officer in the almost powerful
force this world's ever seen.  He hadn't come to them first though to
fullfil his dream.  Jake had gone to the mountain monasteries of the Tir
Monkhood.  He trained and sought guidance with the warrior monks for five
years but hadn't been able to except all their ideal in the end.  So, he'd
joined the army of his birthplace's nation.  And now eleven month's later,
he was about to fight for them in a battle whose outcome would affect the
whole country.  For Carla's sake, I almost wish I didn't have to go through
with this operation, but it's my mission in life to fight evil.  So sue me.

                                  -----

    Later, Jake descended the steps to the barrack's lounge where Shliff
was waiting for him. "Where's everyone else?" Jake asked.
    "Well, Raula's helping Krine's flying skills, Kum Lei's somewhere with
her darling Chris, and Razner's with Baran."
    "How is Baran anyway?  I really haven't seen much of him since his
return."
    "Shaken but recuperating.  Not bad considering his soul materialized in
the past before returning here.  He seemed to take it all in stride.  We'd
better get going.  The General should be expecting us by now.  He ought to
understand Lei's absence."
    Shadowkeep left the room follwed by the Jackhammer. "It must be tough
on Chris that he's not going on the Operaton with his wife.  It's hard
going through with this knowing that it'll make Carla feel that way."
    "Just don't make me have to ressurect you again."
    "Not this time you won't," Jake reassured Shliff and himself.
    I just hope I won't need one, Shadowkeep thought.

                                  -----

    In a large cavernous room underneath Darkwood Forest, Lord Soth fell to
the ground on his back, driven there by a terrible force.  Lord Baalek
stood fifty feet away, right hand outstretched from firing off his
anti-matter "Burning Death Attack!" "Do you yield," he growled over the
distance.
    "Yes, Lord," the undead plate-mailed Soth uttered.  Baalek grinned, his
sliced and battered body remaining strong.
    "Then this is the victory you asked for.  You have two options:
Promise me both your allegiance and loyalty or leave."  Among the three
amulets strung around the Demon Saint's neck, the Amulet of Atnare was
favored most.  Now it hung with the cover slightly slid off.  White light
shone brightly from within, illuminating the surfaces of the Demon Saint's
black and violet Cloth.
    "I swear to be your ally." Soth's voice was monotone and without
feeling.  Baalek knew that Soth lived by a knightly code and that his word
could be trusted.  If it were any other way, Baalek would have had him
destroyed.
    "I have your word?"
    "Yes."
    "Then I accept and look forward to your continued service.  Tommorow we
convene to discuss the USD's Treaty by War ultimatum.  Hail Lanta."  Baalek
crossed his left arm across his chest in his signal of departure.  With a
thought and a calculation, Demon Saint Baalek vanished and reappeared in a
better furnished underground chamber.  The delven Death Saint then entered.
Clad in bone-white Cloth armor and carrying its companion polearm which was
his namesake on his back, he'd prepared himself for the event of Soth's
victory and the bloodshed that might have followed such an outcome.
    "Congratulations Lord." Pike bowed. "How did it go?"
    "He is no longer a threat.  Has my spy returned yet?"
    "It should be here within the week or hopefully two days."
    Too long, Baalek thought to himself in the language of demons as he
seated himself upon the throne. "You may go now." Pike turned and left.  I
could dissappear never to be found again 'til I choose, but I don't want to
give up all I've worked for here.  Damn the USD!  They leave me no choice
but to fight.  My seven will crush their ten champions.  After I win, they
can't touch me.  If they break their pact, I'll cause them 400 more years
of suffering!
    Thirsting for fear, blood, and the rush of destroying, Baalek reached
behind him and brought forth the axe of his anger-forged Cloth.  A
teleportation later, the throne and its chamber were empty.

                                  -----

    An alliance doesn't mean total subservience, Baalek, Lord Soth
contemplated.  You can't control me, but this means you won't die by my
doing.  I look forward to seeing what you'll do.  You may be strong, but
you're no Takhisis.
    Soth's banshees drifting about the chamber sang their songs of misery.
Nobody came near that night except one.  When one of Baalek's healer's
finally arrived, the undead lord's minions brought him by force.  The dark
cleric skilled in healing the dead never left.

                                  -----

    Carla and Jake roamed the streets of Naga with their friends.  The
festivities were all over the USD.  It wasn't the first time that victory
in battle had given birth to a celebration.  Reconstruction of Relo was
practically finished, and the clear November day was perfect for
celebrating.
    The group was in civilian clothing and fit in perfectly with the rest
of the crowd even considering that their group contained a four-armed
bat-winged girl from another dimension and a Saint with red irises.  Jake,
Carla, Razner, Baran, Shliff, Krine, Raula, Kum Lei, and her husband, Chris
Mendosa, were all present, but that still didn't account for everyone in
the 51st TDS.  They planned to meet with them later along with other
friends.  Although unimpressed by the festival, their company made it
enjoyable.
    To their left, they noticed police in battle armor pour into an
inactive complex after kicking the door open.  The four police staggered
out within seconds.  Shots were visibly being exchanged, and the crowd
cleared the streets. One officer fell dead from gunfire, another seemed to
explode inside his EBA, the third simply dropped, and the fourth was blown
back, his enviromental armor busted and bloody.  Then the barrage ceased,
and all was quiet.
    Having run towards the scene from the moment he saw the police, Jake
dragged the wounded officer from the doorway's view, and applied his
healing touch. "Sergeant Jake at your service," he said.  Jake then lifted
two rifles from the dead officers and peered into the open doorway.  Beyond
was a delf in robes, six armed and armored men, a haggard looking old man,
and a body slumped against the wall.  The Jackhammer stepped into view and
sprayed all present with both energy rifles.  Dodging their counterfire and
not taking time to see how many he'd taken out, Jake moved into range with
one man armed with a rifle and attacked so that his opponent shielded him
from the others that had survived.
    Kum Lei, Razner with the summoned Rose Cloth, and Carla draped in
psionically created armor rushed inside.  The others, excluding Krine and
Raula, hesitated becuase they didn't have the armor or endurance to face
heavily armed foes and survive.  Jake was suspended in midair above a
maimed and dead soldier.  Writhing in agony, the monk was helpless as a
rifleman fired upon him.  Spotting the mage among the enemy, Carla's fury
caused the robed delf to explode into a pillar of nuclear flame.  Razner
screamed, "Thorn Slash Fist!" The man firing upon Jake was hit by a red and
black vortex and driven backward.  Kum Lei dispatched another with her four
bare hands right before Carla lit up the thorn-embedded armor of Razner's
target with lethal electricity.  The final armed opponent reloaded and
fired a spray.  Flame shot through his armor without burning it but killing
the man inside.  Shadowkeep covered in the called down protective Robes of
Rigormortis was noticed in the open doorway as the necromantic fire died
from his outstretched palm.
    Carla rushed to where Jake had fallen and tried to help him, but all
Jake could do was grimace until the paralyzing pain wore off.  "Something's
not right with this guy," Shliff said, referring to the old man who now up
close looked more like a zombie.  Immediately following, the subject
charged Shliff who flipped him onto his back and held him down.  Jake
finally managed to stand and applied his healing touch to Razner and Kum's
minor gunshot wounds.
    "Are we sure all three of those police are dead?" Jake asked.
    "What about this guy!" Shliff shouted with much emphasis.
    An armored transport pulled up to the doorway without warning.  The
door opened and Krine stepped out just as the surviving policeman got up.
"Looks like we're too late," Raula said from behind Krine.  The Cruzes then
advanced into the building.
    "I can't hold him down much longer," the necromancer said as Jake
approached.
    "I've got him," said the monk, attempting to put the captive in a full
nelson.  Before the transaction could take place, the aged-looking prisoner
bit Shliff in the hand with viscious edged-teeth.  The necromancer screamed
as blue energy was absorbed from him into the man's fangs.  Aghast, Jake
grasped the lower and upperjaw of the fanged mouth and pried them off
Shadowkeep's bleeding hand.
    Krine moved in fast with an ornate single-bladed axe and made a long
horizontal attack at the man who grimaced as the demonslaying blade did far
more damage than normal.
    "Allow me," Kum Lei said, grabbing the monstrous person's four limbs
with her four arms.
    "Wait, don't kill it yet,"  Shadowkeep spoke with alarm in his voice.
"That's not a normal wraith.  It's got a double lifeforce, one empty and
one not human.  An exorcism might set one free, but I don't know what it'll
do once freed."
    "His aura doesn't show any side of possession," Krine, Raula, Jake,
Kum, and Razner spoke simultaneously.  They looked at each other amazed.
    "But the aura might be altered, so that's not definite.  I know because
I can alter mine," Razner said.  "I can do an exorcism here if you think
we're prepared.  You're the highest rank here, Krine.  What do you think?"
    "Since when have you been able to do that?" Jake asked, taken off
guard.
    "It's just a natural gift.  I was born with it."
    "Are we prepared to fight it if the spirit attacks?" Krine tried to get
the coversation back on track. "I have no experience in fighting
insubstantial foes."
    "My gravitons are in the 200.  Consider them gotten," Jake said,
running into the armored Jeep 200 transport.
    "Has anyone checked on him?" Krine asked, referring to the body slumped
against the back wall to the right of the door leading into the rest of the
building.  Aside from the two opposing doors, the bleak room had no other
openings.  A few tables and dressers were all that normally occupied its
dusty space.
    "He's very dead," Shliff said before Chris Mendosa could reach the dead
man.
    "Take a look at this," Chris said over by the table nearest the body.
Holding up an empty syringe and examining the dried coating on the inside,
he said, "Flow.  My guess is that one or both of these guys OD'd." Although
originally from Earth, the power armor pilot was quite aware of the Empire
and what it was connected with.  Such was required learning for the USD
Military.
    Pointing at the dead man who was now visibly dressed in an uncared for
USD uniform, "Blackwood Agent Max Ceremya," Krine said as Jake walked in
armored in his hardsuit and gripping paired gravitions. "Vaaxe just
informed me through my link.  He dissapeared three days ago."
    After a moment of consideration, Krine spoke. "Well, if everyone's
prepared, let's proceed."
    Razner approached the restrained wraith. "I'll need you to hold him
there for the duration of this, Kum, if that's alright with you."
    "Go ahead.  I can hold him." Someone in the room snickered, finding
funny the idea that she couldn't hold the wraith.
    And so, the Rose Saint began the ritual.  Twenty minutes into the
thirty minute ceremony, the possessor attacked.  The psionic assault came
from the wraith's dull eyes into those of the Saint.  Razner resisted, won,
and continued.  Another attack came.  It too was fought off.  The entity
was desperate.  It only had enough power for one more attempt.  The third
time, Razner arched his back as a muffled scream escaped his gritted teeth.
Staggering backwards, Razner attempted saying something.
    "Jake..." Krine commanded.
    Aiming both gravitons at the wraith, the Jackhammer said, "Let him go
Kum." The Craxxian complied, and the wraith almost made it a step forward.
"Let's try my kind of exorcism." Both gravitons emptied their clips into
the wraith's upper torso.  The blue gravitic pulses lanced into it,
exploding it like an ammo dump.  From the falling carcass emerged a blue
entity.  Its upper portion was demonic while the lower part was but an
azure wisp.  At this, Krine launched himself, axe in hand.
    The armor pilot's axe sliced through the ethereal entity, but failed to
impress it.  A blue claw of long coldfire razors was backhanded at Krine,
sending him backwards with a jagged slash through his chest.  The echo of
two clicks was in the air as the armor pilot staggered back, and the entity
made a run for it.
    Two more full clip graviton streams slammed into the possessor,
shredding its spirit into wisps that dissapated as if it never existed.
Before it fininshed dying, Jake was at Razner's side.
    "Man this hurts," the Saint muttered from his position on the ground.
"Don't worry, guys, it'll pass."

                                   -----

    Next morning, Carla expressed her dissapointment that she couldn't
escape yesterday without a violent incident.  "But I had a good time, Jake,
despite that we missed lunch.  How about next time you don't enter any
strength contests.  I wanted to use that money!"
    "I had no idea that junk was so damn expensive," Jake said wistfully
while looking into the sunrise with wonder.
    "You must be really bored."
    "Yep."
    "Get dressed and do something," Carla demanded, doing so herself into
her favorite red suit.  Jake looked at her confused, thinking that they
didn't have to get dressed to do something. "And tell your friends I don't
think they should enter into any strength contests either!"
    The Jackhammer left his penthouse quarters to be greeted by Baran the
Blade who had a blonde girl latched onto him.  Even though Baran was
nineteen, she still looked too young for him.  The long blonde hip-length
pigtails swayed back and forth from the jeweled buns on her head as she
giggled.  "Jake, meet Usagi Tsukino."
    In her sailor suit style dress, she leaped at and hugged the
Jackhammer, squealing, "Hellooo!"  Jake was quite taken aback and said
hello in return.  Even though he thought she looked ridiculous, he had to
admit she was cute.  Too cute to live, he actually thought.
    At that moment, Carla came out into the hall, and before she'd closed
the door, her psionic strength surged within her, tempting her to blast
Usagi to little microns with nuclear blasts.  "There, There," peeped a
small blue elf, vanishing as suddenly as he'd appeared.
    Seeing Carla's eyes narrow, Baran yanked his girlfriend back to him.
    "So when'd you two meet?" Jake inquired worriedly.
    "Oh, yesterday," Baran said.
    "My last boyfriend died when his birthday cake exploded," she
cheerfully informed Jake.  He was then afraid to learn any further.
    "Well, we really need to go," Jake said, moving over to the fuming
Carla. "I'll see you tonight, Baran.  Bye!" He moved his red-headed wife
out of there quickly.
    A figure draped in a black cloak approached just before he reached the
exit with Carla on the ground level. "Hi, Jake...Carla" Shliff greeted.
    "Hello."
    "I was just informed on the incident yesterday.  I thought you might be
interested.  That entity was in possession of Blackwood Agent Matt Ceremya
for more than a couple a days.  Matt had access to and used the Blackwood
files on Operation Darkwood during that time."
    Jake was taken aback again. "Good thing we got it then."
    "Yeah, the Agents are stepping up security on all levels now.  Whatever
got through is scaring the shit out of 'em.  Nothing's ever gotten through
security like that before, ever.  At least that's what they think."
    Jake cursed.

                                   -----

    "Our agent is dead," uttered Pike, entering the darkened immense
chamber of the Demon Saint.
    "WHAT!?!" Lord Baalek roared, frightening the Death Saint while rising
from his grotesquely carved throne.
    "He was killed in Naga yesterday.  Apparently their police found out,
and some soldiers were there to help them."
    "The Luciferians will be sent to make them pay!" Baalek seethed. "But
how will the value of that information be regained?!"
    "There is not enough time to send another, Lord."
    "I didn't ask what couldn't be done!  The USD must pay." Black waves of
energy rose around the enraged Demon Saint as his anger grew. "Destroy
their pride!  Defile their security.  Use the Empire!  Strike a blow
they'll remember!  Kill as many as you can!  Now GO!"
    "I'll begin immediately, Lord!" Pike dashed back into the gloomy
tunnels.

                                   -----

    "Leader, DEMON!"
    "Where, Agent?"
    "East Sub-Corridor One.  This level."
    "Agents, go!"
    The band of Blackwood Agents in their jet black enviormental armor
suits ran through the subterranean halls of Blackwood HQ.  Armed with BWAM
(Blackwood Anti-Matter) Rifles the three agents followed their leader.
Their graviton guns bouncing in their hip holsters.
    They rounded the bend to E.S.C. One and proceeded to advance down the
apparently empty hall.  A tentacle shot out of the left wall and wrapped
around the leader's neck.  Drawing the agent closer at lightning speed, it
emerged from the wall and aimed a piercing limb at its victims chest plate.
It was a tall and thin creature whose black flesh looked like it'd been
drawn taut over its bony frame.  Words of spell flew from the agent
leader's lips as the Luciferian pierced into his armor, breaking the taelon
plate but failing to kill him.  An explosion later and the demon was flung
back into the wall it'd passed so easilty through before, creating a
crater.  Anti-Matter beams carressed the Luciferian harmlessly. "Saint!"
Screamed the rear agent.  Another agent spun around, and together they
pulled their gravitons and fired at the Saint in the red Cloth stalking
them from the Astral Plane where their CHUs allowed them to see.
    "Acbayinkynmytynsilverinfinity!" Announced the leader, his glowing arms
outstretched at the demon, trying to ward off its razor tentacle which sunk
into his chest.  A blinding light and swirl zoomed into existance, erasing
the Luciferian as he died.
    "Ahhh!" Screamed a rear agent, dropping to his knees with eyes as empty
as void.  Forward in the ranks, an agent convulsed as another Luciferian
aimed its stalk-mounted red eyes at him.  He fired his gravition back at
it, blowing chunks of its matter onto the ground with a splatter.
    Firing into the Astral Saint, the rear agent emptied his graviton into
him, sending his blood out his Cloth's back.  A tentacle loomed overhead
the agent, and then its bladed end arced down upon the BW Agent's back as
the Saint slammed his fist into the agent's chest.  His deathcry echoed
through the corridors.  The other agent continued staring into nothing.
    Coming out of his convulsions after finishing off the stalk-eyed demon,
he turned around to be hit with a one-two from the bladed-tendril demon and
the Nightmare Saint.  On his knees, the last living agent remained locked
in a dream as he was consumed by the bladed Luciferian.  One moment later,
the passage was swarming with troops, and the murderers were nowhere to be
found.
    That enemy wave was the lucky one.  The next few were promptly blasted
by strategically placed magical wards that decimated some while
incapacitating others.  Proving yet again the near improbable odds of a
successful assault upon Blackwood HQ.  Survivors were quicky taken care of
by the BW Agents now swarming throughout the compound.  They put their
heart into their work, avenging their fallen brethren.  The Agents were a
shaken lot, having had their belief in the impregnability of their base
disproved.

                                   -----

    An Emperialist officer bent over his desk writing up reports when there
was a knock at the door to the dark and cramped office.  "Come in," he
said.  Clad in white Cloth, Death Saint Pike entered.
    "I need a garrison of men," Pike stated flatly in the delven language.
His dark skin made him look almost completely black in the poorly lit room,
and his pointed delven ears made him look completely inhuman.
    "I'm sorry, but I'm not familiar with you.  W-"
    "I am too," the delf interrupted him.
    "What's your name and rank please."
    "General Pike."
    "You have proof?"
    Pike looked down at the middle-aged officer who suddenly began to
convulse.  Flailing around, his face wrenched into hideous convulsions yet
no sound came forth.  Pike lifted from his back the Death Cloth's Scorpion
polearm.  Aiming the jagged bladed weapon at the officer's forehead, the
delf pronounced, "Scream for help and die.  Just help me, and you shall
live." The delf smiled.  He then released the officer from his torture.
    "What do you want?"
    "How many men are at this base?"
    "Twenty."
    "I'll need 120 brave men.  Write me papers for their command now."
The man began to write. "If this doesn't work out, I'll be back... with
friends."
    "There you go.  Those are papers for Captain Erto's command."
    "Where is he now?"
    "His command's building's office.  Out the main exit of here and to the
left."
    "Thank you." With a backhanded left swipe, Pike's scorpion sunk into
the officer's neck, flinging his head into the wall.  The head rolled along
the floor as blood dripped from the splatter where it'd hit.

    "Captain Erto?"
    "Come in, the door's open."

                                   -----

    In the lobby of the 51st TDS, a large assembly were there for that hour
of the night.  November 21 was the date. "Happy Birthday, Jake," Carla said
putting the large cake down before him. "Blow out all twenty candles and
make a wish!" He then blew, and the candles went out.  A fraction of a
second later, the top of the cake flew off, and out bounced a cute nude
girl with flowing purple hair and a pair of bells around each purple lock
that hung over her shoulders.  A few seconds later, the rest of her stopped
bouncing too.
    "That was my idea," Baran whispered, leaning over to Shadowkeep.
    "You shouldn't have," Chris said slapping him on the back.
    "Why her? What's the matter, Baran?  I wasn't good enough for you?"
Inquired Kum Lei.
    "Yes, you shouldn't have, Baran," Carla agreed in a different way with
a twisted smile.  Kum Lei was cracking her knuckles with what Baran hoped
was a joking expression.
    Well, it doesn't look like he minds, Shliff observed to himself about
the Jackhammer who had lifted her out and was cutting her a piece of cake.
    "Ahem, on behalf of all of us, I'd like to present you with what we
thought you'd like best," said Krine who actually really didn't
know the guy very much to tell the truth.
    Razner pulled it out of the dark and carted it over to the reciever who
then unveiled it.
    "The latest hardsuit with the attachments and configuration you've been
wanting," Carla announced just in case Jake couldn't tell for himself.
    Jake was happy.  Partying continued late in to the night.  Some more of
Baran's ideas popped up, and someone brought over a copy of the latest hit
movie, Iczer-Nine Hundred.

                                   -----

    The next afternoon in the USD town of Endymion, all was peaceful.
Situated between the city states of Larade and Metrol, it was passed
through by the same ley line*.  (* invisible planetary magic energy ripple
where magic is amplified) The town was relatively safe, but it was still
right on the east border of the USD.
    The pedestrian commercial center was busy on the overcast day, too busy
to notice the tingling sensation of danger approaching.  A shadow in the
center of the street suddenly became three-dimensional, and a streamlined
humanoid black mecha rose upward, scattering terrified citizens as it
unleashed its ion cannon into the nearest shoppe.  More and more of the
nineteen-foot tall horrors arose, indiscriminately leveling anything
standing with their right arm-mounted ion blasters.  Running in terror
while being vaporized by blasts, the civilians made way for waves of ECS
troops being teleported in by their sorceror companions.  As another arose
from the ground, a delf leaped onto its right shoulder and warped on the
Death Cloth.  Pike observed contentedly as a volley of shredder missiles
tore holes into the people and structures of a broad area.  He raised a
communicator to his mouth and spoke in delven, "Remember, let not a single
thing be left untouched." Anyone incapable of understanding the language
was spoken to again by a language translator.  Not a single being among the
ranks understood the purpose or strategy behind the assault completely, but
they obeyed their superior nonetheless.
    Not all the inhabitants were docile cannon fodder.  Three ECS TDs
(Tactical Divisioners) cornered against the side of a store a man with
long-black hair and a partial suit of blue scale mail.  The TDs burst from
their EBAs into the forms of hideous monstrosities.  One charged with razor
claws.  Another breathed forth fiery breath as the third lit up its fanged
mouth causing a spherical region near the structure to implode.  Before
their attacks hit, the man was invisible and dodging from the lethal
assaults.  A spoken word later and seven fireballs converged upon them,
crippling the implosion breather.  A jet of flame shot from its companion,
aiming for the source of the fire balls.  It hit but washed over the
pyromancer without consequence.  Blue freezing fire exploded around
Shirken's assailants, scorching them with subzero pain.  The invisible
Shirken raised an invisibe burning sword, prepared to help defend the town.
    Despite the few citizens and privately owned mecha fighting back, the
Death Saint's plan went well.  Smoke filled the skies.  "This is a day to
remember!" Pike yelled over the airwaves.
    "I'm picking up incoming airborne units, General!"
    "After fighting off the first wave, we fall back!" Pike commanded.
    His order was confirmed and the fight was on.  Leaping off the ECS
Shadowmech, he warped off his Cloth and made a run for the border.  USD
low-altitude Morningstars approached side by side with Fanner Fighters and
assorted flying mecha.  Missiles streaked from the skies, blowing apart
Shadowmechs like fragile eggs.  USD 79th Ground Division cut down Empire
infantry while trying to protect the citizens.  The Empire put up a fight.
It wasn't enough.
    In cave not far from town, the Death Saint approached a pair of
dampires.  Pike laughed as the three of them disappeared in a flash.

                                   -----

    The moon brightened the rocky outcropping of the mountain
protruding from the forest on the east coast of Zinx.  Not yet had the
female delf climbing it broken from the forest canopy.  Moonlight
brightened the chainmail she wore underneath her cloak and tinged her long
dark hair and gold tinted skin with a faint shimmering.  Aclipsa had been
traveling for an hour but failed to show fatigue, since she was mounted on
a midnight black steed.  They reached a cave.
    "You'll have to dismount, dear," Nightmare, the steed, spoke from its
speaker in a subdued tone that still boomed.
    "I know," she said.  Together they entered the cave, neither hampered
by the darkness which they saw through with ease.  It went on for a hundred
feet, curved left, and then curved right.  Moments later, they passed
through another curve and reached their final destination.  The glowing
vertical vortex was near the rear of the small room.  Its glow illuminated
the room faintly, allowing neither nightvision nor normal vision to work
perfectly. "Spotlight, please," Aclipsa demanded.  Bright light filled the
small cavern from a spot on Nightmare's forehead. "Looks clear." Because
the ceiling allowed it and for fear of getting separated, she prepared to
mount him before entering the Zinx Gateway.  It was one of five gateways on
the planet that mystically connected each continent.  However, before she
could mount, the vortex opened to allow one who was not a traveller.
    The nine-foot humanoid eagle demon glared at the pair.  Their light
reflected sharply from the golden and slivery metallic sheen of its
feathers.  A thought entered her mind that she should leave the place for
it was forbidden.  Knowing the idea was ludicrous, she knew the thought had
come from who she saw as the intruder.  She unsheathed her sword and
suddenly felt afraid.  She knew the fear was not her own yet it still
impaired her prowess.  Leaping at the monster and yelling a battlecry, she
came downward from the air upon the demon, sword chopping down with a
mighty force.
    The Xhian Matat was hit, and the sword drove into its shoulder.  With a
clawed backhand, it sent her reeling in reverse.  Only her armor's magical
endurance saved her from dying against the attack's power.  Raising her
left hand, she chanted the ancient power words, releasing a swirling purple
energy stream to envelope the demon.  Convulsing as the spell drained its
lifeforce, it advanced and kicked forward with a taloned leg.  Aclipsa
attempted a parry but failed and was knocked off her feet onto her back.
The demon drew back its right claw and punched at its foe who rolled to the
side.  Rock floor crumbled under the strength of its blow.
    Nightmare aimed his open fanged mouth at the beast. "Don't use that
cannon in here!  You'll kill us all!" Aclipsa screamed as she evaded a
slashing claw.  Chanting another set of words, she placed her hand upon the
demon who resisted the magic and struck back with a blow that Aclipsa
blocked with her blade.  She moved back, giving Nightmare an opening to
kick with two flaming rear legs.  It went back and was slashed across the
chest by the gold delf's sword.  As it recovered, she repeated her spell
and blocked its next blow with her empty left hand.  Demonic will broke
under the force of the necromancy, and the Xhian Matat's life drained from
its body into the hand of the delven sorceress.
    Steed and lady next entered the Zinx Gateway.  Bound for Arck, Aclipsa
made sure to bring the head of the monster with them.  Such a rare creature
was sure to bring a high price if she was lucky.  She hoped to herself for
more than one reason that they were indeed rare.
    Days later in a town within the Pentad Nexus, Aclipsa prepared to
travel to the USD.  Having found someone she wanted as an adventuring
partner, she was determined that he would be her companion.  Being but
nineteen, she was used to having her way.  She'd never been pampered by her
parents because she'd never known them.  However, when she wanted something
she took it, and God help whoever would stand in her way.  After picking up
some maps and a copy of the latest Stephen King book, she rode her hoverjet
equipped steed towards the USD to seek out the one called Shliff
Shadowkeep.

                                   -----

    Baalek sat on his throne, toying with a severed head.  It snarled at
the Demon Saint who held it up by the hair.  Baalek waved two fingers in
front of it and poked it in the eyes, and then began jabbing a finger
toward its mouth and pulling it back before the head could bite him.  It
howled in frustration, and Baalek laughed.
    "Master!" The armored warrior dragged beaten man into Baalek's throne
room. "This man was caught snooping about.  What would you like done with
him."
    "Bring him here," Baalek said, dropping the head out of sight to the
floor beside his throne.  It growled at it hit with a thunk.
    "You killed my wife you bastard!" The prisoner screamed as he was
dragged before the Demon Saint.
    "He had this master," the guard brought out a hand blaster.  Baalek's
cackling laughter filled the room.
    "Give him back his weapon and send him forward," Baalek commanded.
    The guard put the gun in the prisoner's hand and moved back.  The
prisoner thrust the weapon forward and squeezed his finger on the trigger.
    Baalek thrust out his right hand. "Malne Iln!" The prisoner's body
jerked as if struck, and his finger never fully pulled the trigger.  He
screamed and fell back dead.  The guard stood watching.  Baalek's hands
moved in motion. "Nethera Lor!" The corpse brought itself back on its feet.
Its sunken eyes betrayed a deep sadness and anger. "Take him outside and
kill him again," Baalek commanded.
    The guard dragged the man from the room to his doom.  Baalek rose from
his throne and stomped on the animated head, squashing it.  Endymion had
fallen.  That should teach the USD a lesson as well as the insolent Empire
whose troops had been sacrificed for his glory.  With the upcoming fight,
he'd show the USD just how powerless they were against him.

                                   -----

    "I see it." The Air Control man reached for the communications system
just as his associate was about to inform him about the black horse jetting
itself through the sky with its rider.  Failing to identify themselves was
a criminal offense as far as the ACD (Air Control Department) was
concerned.  Fortunately, it didn't apply to travellers with transportation
so small.  Unfortunately, ACD scanners showed it to be a heavily armed
unit.
    "This is USD Air Control.  We cannot allow you further into this
airspace without identification."
    Nightmare relayed the communique to Aclipsa who was thoroughly shocked.
"What kind of identification do you need?" She questioned in a bothered
tone.  She'd travelled for nearly a week to reach her destination.  I don't
have time for this, she thought which was a questionable asumption
considering the fact that those of elven descent sometimes lived a millenia
before dying of old age.
    "Your full name please."
    "Aclipsa Fatala Lethala"
    The computer checked for it and came up blank.  It took over the
questioning. "Do not progress any farther in this airspace! Please divulge
either your agent or citizen authorization code, or you must land at this
Air Control Outpost to enter this nation."
    Thinking quickly, she searched for and found the military ID she'd
happened to have obtained.  The gold delf read it into the commwave.  Since
the computer confirmed that Shliff Shadowkeep was still alive, it decided
to allow the gryntif (official term for gold delf) passage.  Such codes
were kept secret and nearly anyone who knew one was considered acceptable.
Not just anyone could bring a heavily armed weapons platform, horse or not,
within the USD's boundaries.
    "Welcome to the USD." Aclipsa soon learned that entering a city state
was far harder.  Nightmare was forced to remain outside.  Resistance was
futile.  The Relo Guard had far more firepower than needed to deal with
them, and the pair could tell.
    Entering through the walls of Relo was astounding.  The 1500' high
mesonite wall encircled the city state.  Equally thick, they had never
suffered severe damage since their construction over two centuries ago.
Aclipsa consented to relinquish her weapons and armor within the walls.  No
sane guard could have let her keep them after reading her aura although it
wasn't bad enough to immediately take her into custody for it.
    Aclipsa was counting on the USD's reputation for her most cherished
possessions to be returned.  Armed with determination, she began a hunt for
the only one she'd ever known who shared her art.

                                   -----

    Shadowkeep walked a dark path.  However, he could easily find his way
for the moon lit it well, and the streetlights did so even better.
Unfortunately, he was being stalked, and he hadn't any suspicion.  His life
force having been recognized, there was nothing he could do to prevent what
would happen.  The night was cold.  Even with a black cloak wrapped around
his civvies, Shliff was chilled to the bone.  That was the way he liked it.
    The gryntif leaning against the wall ahead was unaffected by the cold.
Even with her dark cloak not creeping over her shoulders to cover her night
colored mini-skirted outfit.  She was prepared to strike.
    Stepping forward, she spoke softly, "Shliff."
    "Who might you be?"
    "Your prayers have been answered.  We meet again." He'd stopped moving
forward, but she advanced menacingly. "This time you'll have me.  Won't
you?" She said, smiling as she came within arms reach.
    "Yes," he said, closing distance.  With that, he kissed her.  Neither
parted soon.  When they did, Aclipsa spoke confidently, "And now I have
you."
    The walk to the 51st TDS building was filled with the obvious
questions.  How did you get here?  Where have you been?  Where are you
going?  She wanted to know more of the events on the eve upon which they
met weeks ago.  Revealed to her was the Bow of Armageddon, however, much
more was revealed that night than mere stories and objects of power.

                                 -----

    Days later beneath the surface of Darkwood Forest, ten soldiers of the
USD were assembled.  The date was November 26th.  On the other side of the
cavernous 240x240x240' chamber stood seven denizens of this darkness.  In
but seconds, the battle would begin while being monitored heavily by both
sides' forces along with being telecast live.  The ten were assembled to
preserve the good of the realm.  If they should win, Baalek and his six top
aides would be dead.  If the USD's champions should lose, they would be
dead, and the USD wouldn't be able to bother Darkwood Forest again.
Forever.  War could have been declared, but the Demon Saint would just have
escaped.  And so, the ancient tradition of Treaty by War had been chosen.
This war, however, was more similar to a stand off.  The winner of the
"war" got the best deal in the treaty.
    One on one with General Cochise and Lord Baalek wouldn't be allowed by
Vaaxe, so the Blackwood supercomputer had taken volunteers.  The best were
chosen.  Baalek chose himself and his six aides.  And so, the terms were
set.
    Jake Jackhammer, Kum Lei, Razner, and the golden dragon, Goldwynd were
all present.  Shliff Shadowkeep had come after defiantly telling Aclipsa,
"I will return!" Aragorn and Shliff Shirken stood ready.  The elven
palladin in red plate mail and the elemental fire mage in blue scale mail
under robes had come from a far away dimension from which they'd fled.
Flamestrike, the cynical fire dragon, towered above all but Goldwynd who
was ten feet longer than his fifty.  Finally, a pair of Saints stood ready.
Tornado Saint Shawn in white Cloth had his fists prepared while Dragon
Saint Nexus in shining silver Cloth held two psi-swords at ready.  His
green eyes, although partially obscured by his long blonde hair, flared
ready for battle.  A voice from a control room spoke, "BEGIN!"
    Lord Baalek made the first move.  Leaping backwards into the air, he
merged with the Astral Plane, not completely invisible but now a ghostly
image for he had to remain in contact with the material to retain the four
non-astral amulets he wore.  The remaining Saints warped themselves astral.
Death Pike and Nightmare Mare punched through as did Rose Razner, Tornado
Shawn, and Dragon Nexus.  Jake thrust forward and emptied his left graviton
upon Baalek who parried with his left forearm shield which cracked.
Recognizing him, Pike aimed his Cloth scorpion polearm glowing with a black
aura at Jake.  Aragorn, the elven palladin, recognized the knight symbols
and charged at Soth with whom he clashed swords.  Remembering the battle of
Relo, Goldwynd raised herself into the air and unleashed fire breath upon
the flying gargoyle lord, Garanc, who fired back with the blaster mounted
on his right forearm.  Flames singed his slivery bladed plate half-suit.
Flamestrike swooped down into the fray when a short armored warrior with
forearm blades lept up from the ground to strike him in the side with his
bare hand.  Flamestrike struck him with a pair of dragon-sized swords,
sending him back to the ground.  Then the fire dragon winced in pain at the
bleeding wound in his scaled flesh.  Shadowkeep's eyes darted to the seven
foot giant charging him with a pair of chainsaws who looked amply armored
too.  A right chainsaw arced down upon the necromancer who failed to block
it with his shield but succeded in firing off his Sapphire SMG.  Fred
parried the blue lasers with his other saw while Shadowkeep was knocked
back in his magically robed Blackmail.  Batwinged, armored, and armed with
a battlecry and a four-handed sword, Kum Lei divebombed the short dark elf
warrior who'd just hit the ground.  The four-handed sword sliced into the
rocky ground as Handyman (as he was ludicrously nicknamed) dodged.  Red-
robed Shirken, reciting practiced power words, fired seven fireballs that
slammed into Fred's molecularly-bonded EBA.
    Raising his chainsaw, Fred smashed Shadowkeep back again whose Sapphire
SMG this time blasted through his parrying left chainsaw, digging molten
pits in his armor.  A roar echoed as seven more fireballs blasted Fred's
armor off, blazing around him but failing to burn his flesh.  In his
forehead, a third eye opened, raging with energy while the flaming brutan
formed a titanic fireball in his left hand.  An eruption of blood sprayed
across Shadowkeep as Flamestrike landed on Fred with his hindlegs and took
off after Lord Soth.  Kum Lei swung her blade at Handyman who staggered as
it hit his armor's side.  Recovering, he flung four taelon shurikens from
each hand, rending the armor off the four-armed Craxxian.  Dodging the next
swipe, the dark elf reached out and struck her with a single finger.  Her
lower left arm paralyzed, she was forced to drop the seven foot sword upon
the cavern floor.  Assuming a fighting stance, a glowing hand grasped his
shoulder from behind as he struck Kum Lei again.  A blue flash ran up
Shadowkeep's arm as Handyman dropped to his knees and fell over dead from
Shliff draining his lifeforce away.  "Sting of Death!" Pike's scorpion
rocketed towards the Jackhammer who, with his CHU unit, was able to see the
invisible Astral Saints.  He raised his shield but not soon enough.  It
embedded in his hardsuit, spreading cracks throughout its chest.  Spinning
away, the polearm returned to Pike's grasp.  A bolt of fire then left
Baalek, seeking Jake who it hit.  Jake stood unmoving as he reloaded the
graviton.  A sudden movement caused Pike's eyes to avert from Jake.
Engulfed in battle lust, Nexus drove his psi-swords across Pike, sending
him backwards as blood and Cloth floated away in the opposite direction.
Noting the red dragon headed towards him, Soth encased Flamestrike in a
blue sphere with a wave of his right hand.  Coldfire raged within the
globe, and Flamestrike's anger grew as frost coated his scales.  A mighty
hack landed into Soth's undead body.  Aragorn brought back his two-handed
rune sword for another blow.  Soth pointed his burning orange sockets
towards the palladin.  Nightmare Mare zoomed in astral form towards Shawn
who shielded himself from the delven Saint's attack.  Shawn's resistance
broke, and his eyes blanked.  His mind hurtled away into insidious
oblivion.
    "Rose Razor Attaaack!" Razner's storm of red energy shurikens bit into
Mare who turned to face him.
    "Burning Death Attack!" Jake raised his vibroshield to block the rush
of the fiery anti-matter wave.  Buckling under the force of Lord Baalek's
assault, he took a step back.
    Goldwynd took aim and fired flame from her sceptre at Garnac who
dodged.  The dragon-emblemed medallion glowed for an instant.  Seven
fireballs hit him from below, but the gargoyle lord was now impervious to
such an attack.  Gathering the most powerful magic energies around her,
Goldwynd sent forth a spell. "I wish you to Pandemonium!" The crackling
cloud to send him to the other plane stopped at the medallion which began
glowing and redirected the magic at great speed to the ground where it
exploded.  Rising from the dissipating cloud was an attractive female with
glowing red pinpoints in her eyes.  Shirken cursed as he recognized the
demon as a pandemonium.
    Soth felt himself yanked backwards, his arms held behind his body.
With both arms of her top pair still left functioning, Kum Lei restrained
the death knight and lifted him off the ground.  Aragorn hesitated to
attack such a defenseless opponent until he heard the words, "I summon the
torrential hellfire to be unleashed!" A column of fire shot upward from the
Knight of the Black Rose and descended upon Kum Lei who released him in
time to dodge the attack.  Kum Lei estimated the narrow hole created in the
rock floor to be at least forty feet deep, probably more.  Aragorn's sword
cut across Soth, wounding him.  His rune flamberge cheered him on.
    Teleporting out of the blue fire sphere, Flamestrike made for Garanc
above him.  Aragorn slashed Soth again.  A black cone fired towards Razner
from Mare.  Rose Razner resisted the nightmarish psionic onslaught.
    "Thorn Slash Fiist!" Razner fired back.  The red and black twisted
together to slam into Mare who grimaced as blood shot out from underneath
where the thorns had punctured his already red Cloth.  Dragon Nexus brought
both swords upon Pike once more, but this time Pike parried one with his
scorpion and the other with his psi-shield.  Graviton slugs flew from
Jake's weapon into Baalek's body.  Rage built within the Demon Saint as the
pain from the bloody wound spread.  Leveling a gravtion at the death
knight, Shadowkeep fired, hitting him through the helm's slit right between
his undead eyes.  His head whipped back, and his arm with the previously
summoned psi-shield thrust forward uselessly.
    Three identical images of Baalek swarmed into existance around the
Demon Saint.  Paired strikes from Flamestrike's swords and Kum Lei's fists
hit Garnac in the back and in the side.  Red liquid oozed from the
gargoyle's stony complextion.  The Craxxian had decided that Aragorn could
handle himself.  The fifteen foot tall reptile was bigger anyway.  Shirken
aimed his hand and fired seven flaming spheres at the pandemonium whose
stare he managed to fight off.  Dismissing his psi-shield to the side, Soth
pointed a finger at Shadowkeep and pronounced, "Die."
    Black light pierced the necromancer who fell over backward, screaming,
"AcbaErvaNetosaYinAgu!" with his last dying breath.
    Using his CHU's aurasight, Jake identified the real image and emptied
his second graviton's full clip into Baalek from whom blood flew.  With
paired psi-swords, Nexus sliced into Pike who raised his blackly glowing
scorpion above his head, screaming, "Sting of Death!" With a mighty force,
he thrust it downward into Nexus's chest.  Dragon Nexus cried out in agony.
Pulling the Rose Mace back, Razner landed a great smack across Mare's face
who flailed.  Intaking large volumes of air, Goldwynd unleashed an acidic
chlorine breath attack onto Garnac who fired back with laser pulses in her
face.  Aragorn's sword halted as Soth's blade interposed itself between
them.
    "Baal Fang Fist!" The fanged energy blast slammed into Jake's shield
with such force that the hardsuit's feet dug grooves in the rock floor as
the monk was slid backwards.  In an instant, Jake reloaded his first
gravition and emptied its clip into Baalek whose body it riddled with
wounds.  Yanking out the scorpion, Pike shoved it into the Dragon Saint for
a second time.  Eyes looking for a weakness, the pandemonium gazed upon
Shirken who refused to give in to the evil stare.  Making another run,
Flamestrike ran his swords across Garnac who retaliated to Goldwynd's bite
by punching her in the face.
    Uttering arcane syllables, Baalek's life force dampening magic struck
Jake who, in weakened state, fought to maintain his compusure.  Reloading
both gravitons, Jake fired.  Parrying with his shield in the nick of time,
Baalek was horrified to see it shatter to pieces letting a few gravitic
bolts pierce his upper torso.  Reloading, Jake aimed his shotgun, Hammer,
at Garnac and squeezed off a burst that pummeled the gargoyle lord
brutally.
    "Buurning Death Attack!" Jake dropped Hammer and raised his shield to
defend against Baalek's black wave.  He was too late.  Anti-matter fire
tore his hardsuit to pieces, hurling him to the ground.  The impact threw
up rock and dust, scattering his weapons in random directions.  Blood
sprayed from a severed artery.  Summoning a black psi-sword to his left arm
already possessing the psi-shield, Pike punched out with his right.
    "Reaper Fist!" The dark beam hit Nexus in the forehead, draining life
essence from him.  Refusing to die yet, Nexus, screaming a battlecry, drove
both psi-swords downward into Pike's chest.  Two psi-sword energy tips
burst from the Death Saint's back as he emitted a wailing deathcry.  Rising
from the crater while using his healing power to its full extent, Jake
gripped a graviton in one hand and a vibroshield in the other.  Razner,
stricken with despair and burning pain from the attack Mare was sending
out, charged himself with all the strength he could muster, glowing with an
intense rose-colored aura.  Bringing down the Sword of the Darklord, Soth
smashed Aragorn to his knees.  Goldwynd slammed Garnac with her body and
just as Kum Lei laid a double-fisted hit into him, Garnac grabbed the upper
roof of Goldwynd's mouth with his left and fired his blaster's grenade
launcher down her throat.  Explosions threw scales and dark fluid
everywhere.  In a cascade of dragon blood, Goldwynd's body slammed into the
ground, increasing to its full length of over 200 feet.  Flamestrike's
sword tips suddenly thrusted out of Garnac's chest.  Realizing the moment
of his death, he slid from the swords and impacted face first onto the rock
floor one hundred feet below.  Muttering words tapping the element of fire,
Shirken brought down a river of lava upon the pandemonium with whose eyes
he met as it was enveloped.  The connection brought Shirken to his knees,
crying out in soul-searing torment.
    Consumed with rage, Baalek glowed with his dark aura and aimed his
fists at the Jackhammer when he noticed the silver speck that was the
Dragon Saint approaching him.  "Burning Death Attack!" The wave blasted
across Nexus, rending Cloth and flesh.
    "Marish Mauling!" Cried out the Nightmare Saint, blasting Razner with
swarms of hideous creatures that gnawed away at him while frying him with
ice.  Razner counterattacked with all his will.
    "Rose Razor Attack!" The hurricane of rose razors impacted with Mare,
tearing him to pieces as his expression changed to fear an instant before
death.  Tornado Shawn's sanity reformed at the instant of Mare's demise,
disorientating him greatly.  Shifting to the side, Baalek glared at Jake
while avoiding the volley of gravitons.  A blinding flash of light
vaporized the prone Garnac and his armor.  From the crater where he fell
rose an ancient looking human male.
    Staggering forward while bleeding from two slits in his chest and
gripping the Disc of Dragons, he mummbled, "Thank you," before falling down
for the final time.  The dragon emblem medallion dissapeared in a swirl of
light.
    Soth's blade knocked Aragorn to the ground with a powerful armor
shattering blow from his longsword held two-handed.  Possessing CHU units
as well, Flamestrike and Kum Lei witnessed the Astral Saints battle,
however, Baalek was still clearly visible to all since he remained in
contact with his pendants and amulets which weren't astral.  The Craxxian
and fire dragon opened fire on the Demon Saint with gravitons they pulled
from behind their backs.  Flamestrike morphed to twelve feet tall to
accomodate the small sub-machineguns.  Baalek barely dodged them.
    Attacking again with paired psi-swords, Nexus was dodged by the Demon
Saint.  Nexus doubled over in agony from his wounds, blood dripping from
his mouth.  Leaping upward through the Astral Plane, Razner brought the
Rose Mace down upon Baalek whose right shoulder was smashed by it.  The
black aura of Baalek increased tenfold with his rage.  Gripping Razner by
the hair and Cloth helm with his right, Baalek drew back his left and
called out, "Baal Fang Fiist!" The blast hit Razner point blank in the
face, sending him shooting down like a missile.  Shards of Rose Cloth spun
around Baalek.  Entering the material plane, Razner slammed into the cavern
floor with an explosion that sent rocks four feet wide flying.  Graviton
slugs pounded Baalek from Jake, Kum Lei, and Flamestrike.  Grimacing in
pain, Baalek counted himself lucky for being able to dodge some of the
attack.
    Striking Soth again, Aragorn attempted to rise only to be struck down
by Soth another time.  Raising the Sword of the Darklord to strike the
final blow, Soth heard a click behind him.  Forty gravition slugs pierced
his back, exploding out his front.  At the end of the emptied graviton was
Shadowkeep, reanimated by his necromantic spell that'd managed to kill him
before Soth's.  Soth staggered forward to drive his blade down, but Aragorn
thrust Cleaver up into him before the death knight could kill him.  The
rune sword felt the chill of the Knight of the Black Rose.  Jets of mist
burst forth from Soth's armor and combined upward in a banshee whirlwind
that hammered both palladin and necromancer back.  As the column of mist
grew thin, it could be seen that all that was left was the black-violet
sword driven into the rocky floor.  Stepping forward, Shadowkeep gripped
the hilt and yanked it out.  Shocked, he was barely able to tame the
maleficient forces that lurked within.  It was an obviously evil weapon,
but it would serve him for now.  However, Shadowkeep needed weapons other
than swords now, he decided and then reloaded.
    Baalek's expression changed from one of confidence to anger to horror.
He was alone, and seven gravitons were trained on him as well as a,
"Whirling Tornado Punch." They fired.  He was gone.  Nexus reentred the
material plane, dripping blood.  After taking two steps, he fell forward, a
red pool forming beneath his face.
    "Noo! Damnit!" Jake yelled, hurling a gravition to the ground.

                                   -----

    Thousands of miles southwest past the Arck Mountains and within the
thousand mile wide super nexus point known as "The Star", Baalek reappeared
in the Astral Plane.  Catching his breath for a moment, he didn't notice
the golden stairway appearing behind him.  A blurred shape stepped forth
from the portal at the top and descended the steps.  Its face was
monstrous, like a horrible lizard.  Its flesh was black, spiny, and scaled.
The shimmering blue and spiked Cloth it wore was like a dragon suit.  The
drackor had no wings, but the Cloth did.  They were operational too.
Baalek's senses alerted him to this new presence.  Turning around with axe
in hand, he faced Mara who stood nearly a foot taller than he.  The drackor
raised his hands above his head. "Who are YOU!" Baalek demanded.
    "Nightshade!" Mara swung his double-claw fist at Baalek, unleashing a
spinning vertical wheel of anti-matter.  Baalek tried to act, but it was
too late.  The wheel shattered his Cloth and twisted Baalek apart.  Black
rain began to fall over the land of the Star Nexus.  The droplets splashed
against the shattered remains of Baalek's armor, and then dark fire
erupted, immoliating what little remained of the corpse.
    "I am the new beginning," hissed the Celestial Demon Saint. "You're
history." Hollow laughter echoed across the continent.


                             THE END, FOR NOW

Credits: I would like to thank TSR for the character of Lord Soth from
their Dragonlance and Ravenloft games.  I would like to acredit the same
source I listed in Chapter 2 for the original Saint concept (mine is quite
different although the Saints still look the same.)  I wish to thank
Palladium Books for creating the Warlock Character Class and power words.
I would like to thank the following for their character designs: Scott
Reinhart for Kum Lei, Chris, and Shawn; Louis Auletta for Flamestrike and
Goldwynd; and Mike Deckerd for Nexus.  Zentraedi and Praxian are two races
from Robotech, property of Harmony Gold.