Jessa had finished stitching up Jason when the team made it back. His mental state was a different matter. Jason was rocking back and forth in his seat.
“Jason what’s wrong?” Christie asked walking over to him.
“I can still hear it,” he said shaking. “I can still feel the demon inside. The darkness calls out to me and I don’t know how long I can keep fighting it.”
“He came from Purgadum,” Ashley started. “From what Ross has told me it’s a place for the dammed. Jason was banished there 10 years ago. The sword he had kept the demon at bay.”
“And without that blade I don’t know how much longer I can fight it.” Jason said in tears.
“No,” said Christie , “you are a Common Misfit just like the rest of us. You are going to find your place in the world just like us. And you will keep fighting to save this world. What would your madams say?”
“Astrid would understand on some level. Darius would be pissed because of what I’ve been through and that I’m still surviving. As for Elania, she would never forgive me if I just gave up.” Jason said.
“Then fight for them. Fight with us. Keep moving forward. Work hard against this trial. We all go through a crucible and this one is yours. Fight to keep going and see them again.” Christie said almost sounding authoritarian.
“Yes your right. It’s just so damn hard.”
“We have another problem,” said Carrie staring at the map. “The rest of the soldiers are converging on our location. I guess word got out on where we were and how much a formidable opponent we are...”
“In that case we get ready,” Son said walking in.
“And where the hell have you been,” barked Carrie.
“Ever since the incident, I’ve been consulting with my father about the timeline and everything that is about to transpire.” Son started. “If we don’t hold our ground and get the rest of the team back together, there won’t be an earth for those to call home. There’s a battle coming that he is having a problem seeing, but that is what he was able to give me.”
“Then buy time we must,” said Replicor. “While everyone else gets ready I need Carrie.”
“Why,” Carrie asked looking over at him.
“With our bond, I’m close to getting Harptheon back. I just need to bond with you for the given time we are allowed.” Replicor stated.
“I can temporarily put this place into a state of time flux, but it won’t hold for long,” said Son.
“Please do,” Carrie said sitting down. “Okay Replicor let’s do this.”
Son put the facility in the time flux. The rest of the team started planning as Replicor bonded with Carrie. He searched within her and finally caught his bind with the necklace. He fused himself with it and was taken to a room. Inside the room stood the winged guardian herself; in front of him stood Harptheon.
“Welcome to the hole,” She said. “You are one of Carrie’s friends correct?”
“More like acquaintances but close enough,” Replicor replied.
“You shouldn’t be here, and you should leave me here now.”
“What happened to you?”
“There was a reality shift a while ago. It’s hard to tell time in here. The time I’ve spent feels like ages. When my team got stuck in spatial limbo, there was a hole in the fabric of reality. I never told Carrie of this, but it was the Matron that pulled me out. For years I fought for her just to have the possibility of seeing my friends again. I wanted so badly to have them out of there and to see them again. Finally, after realizing I wouldn’t I began fighting back. The Matron imprisoned me in the necklace and shot me off to Earth. What she didn’t expect was for Carrie to find me. After the Matron was freed she spent a brief moment on earth surveying how it was and to plan her attack she was working on. I sensed it. While Carrie was sleeping at the Kelsa mansion, I took over to confront her. What Carrie remembers is us waking up several miles away, but what she didn’t know is that the Matron found a way to banish me here. So I live now in my own personal hell not being able to escape.”
“So it was her powers of her bending reality that put you here?”
“I would think so. During the final minutes of the fight, she bent reality itself to distract me as she imprisoned me.”
“Then I may be your one key to getting out.”
“How can you do that?”
“I was created using the Zen Particle. The particle itself bends in and out of reality so I may be able to cancel out what has happened.”
“I may be able to go home.”
“Let’s make that dream, for lack of a better term, a reality.”
Harptheon touched Replicor’s hand. Back in the Facility there was a bang, Replicor shot off Carrie and she changed into Harptheon.
“What the hell is that?” Christie asked looking around to see her look of surprise was mirrored by everyone else’s.
“I am Carrie’s other half. My name is Harptheon.”
“Welcome back to the fold darling.” Son said with a chuckle.
“Never call me that,” she said scowling at him.
“Like it or not you two are wonderful beings that I’m glad to have known.” He said with a smile. Then TADRA beeped loudly. “And you’re just in time my flux is breaking. “
“Are you ready for this?” Christie asked Jason.
“For my madams,” he replied.
“Then let’s do this thing.” The Zen soldiers came running at the facility. Another Anti-particle squad took their place. The team shifted outside. Christie looked at the situation with a smile. “I’ve always wanted to announce this,” she said almost giddy. “The runners take their mark,” The Soldiers stopped in their places. Son held out TADRA, Ashley gathered fire, Jason produced his claws, Harptheon extended her wings, Kathleen produced her ribbons, Christie held out her hands, Replicor produced blades where the bangle would have been and the Troops gathered on either side. “The starting gun is fired.” Sparks appeared in between the armies. “And we are off to the races folks.”
Christie shifted ahead of everyone as Son sped up time around her. She focused on the soldiers and shifted them into the sparks that exploded. Ashley took to the air and let of a fireball which exploded at the Anti-particle squad killing two and sending the rest flying. Kathleen broke off pieces of the research facility and chucked them. Harptheon and Jason met the rest of the Zen soldiers in the middle. Jason sent his claws into one’s chest. Harptheon hit three of them back at the squad. The rest of the soldiers produced blades. Christie shifted 2 of them into each other and caused them to stab one another in the side. Sparks emerged in front of Jason and Harptheon. Son sent a blast from TADRA and slowed time around the sparks as Christie shifted them towards her. The troops ran around and fired at the Anti-particle squad. Christie didn’t have time to react before sparks appeared and blasted them back. Ashley gathered fire and sent more fireballs at the Anti-particle squad.
“Everyone get down!’ Kathleen yelled out. She ripped of part of the facilities wall and chucked it like a Frisbee.
Everyone got down except for Harptheon who took to the sky. Half of the remaining Zen soldiers were taken out. Harptheon landed, caught the wall, and hurled it at the Anti-particle squad killing the rest of them.
“Christie round them up,” yelled Ashley gathering a large fireball.
Christie shifted the rest of the Zen soldiers together. Ashley threw her fireball, there was an explosion and they all died.
Carrie took over afterwards.
“Well done everyone,” Carrie said with a golf clap. “What’s the next move Son?”
“We wait on the Matron and the final fight begins.” Son concluded.