< - 2:3 Rage of the Winter | 3:2 Flames of Revenge - >

Symphony 3: Hell’s Requiem

1st Movement: Dawn of Victory

Piecis’s director fumbled with his coffee as he walked across the promenade.  The Space Station had been oddly unstable today, for reasons he didn’t yet know about.  It happened from time to time that the gravity generators might go out a little and people would trip over their own feet, but it hasn’t happened three times in one day before.  He made it a point in his mind to go and speak with Station Maintenance about it as soon as he was done filling papers on the Akron case.

“Akron,” he mumbled as he sat down at his desk and looked through the manila folder. Papers with various pictures of Akron’s known henchmen, including Shais and Raven, were paper-clipped to the typed pages in the Athenian common font, which looked something like romanji but a little more separated. He turned to the newest page in the report, which was a “death of agent” report filed by Piecis.  It was a sad thing that Zeth died.  He had worked so hard to find someone to work with the shy but skilled Piecis who wouldn’t just shiver in nervousness around the officer she assisted.  Zeth was an unlikely match, a little brash, but his cool headed method of handling his job was what made the pair work.  Now he’d have to find a new officer for Piecis, or find her a new job.

He flipped the page over to one back, where Zeth had turned in the “Temporary Mercenary Agent” paperwork on this “Sanguineous” fellow.  This is where the director thought the pair went wrong, trusting some unknown vampire who might have very well have been working for Akron all along.  If only Zeth’s communications equipment hadn’t failed during his final battle then the director could know for sure if he could trust Sanguineous.  

He continued filling out paperwork and taking a few calls until his lunch break.  As he walked towards the break room, still holding a few papers, it occurred to him that it’d been a full week since he sent Piecis and Sanguineous on mandatory R&R and they hadn’t heard anything of Akron since then.  Akron was always a bit of a coward and didn’t like being found after he killed agent, so its no wonder he’s hiding again, the director thought.  No sooner had this thought crossed his mind than did he looked from his papers and watched where he was going.

His coffee mug dropped on the promenade floor.  Its shattering sound drew the attention of all eyes in the area.

Akron/Raven stood before the director, a smug smile on his face.  “Athenian Order director,” the half-released entity of destruction said.  “I think it's time I did away with your pestering.”  The director watched in horror as Akron/Raven drew the Kurogatana and brought it down to bare on him.

*****



Piecis smiled peacefully as she walked back from the store.  She carried in her arms bags that contained the following week’s groceries, enough for her and her companion to live off of.  Normally, she’d require her roommate to pay for some of the things she had bought for them this trip, but normally her roommate knows their own last name, let alone have a penny to said name.

Her time off with Sanguineous was going better than she had thought.  When she first invited him she was expecting to have him over for a while and then send him on his way to find some other job incase the director fired him when they returned.  Yet, instead she found his company to be most enjoyable.  Despite his flirtatious advances, she had been able to trust him to keep his hands to himself all week. He’d been as much of a help as he could be, and he tried his best to drink his IV-containers of blood in secret so as not to scare her.  As the week wore on she didn’t really mind as much.  

The only thing that did bother her was that he always seemed to be half with her and half somewhere else.  She could tell something else than Zeth’s death was getting to him, and he refused to tell her what was going on.  It was not at all like Piecis to try and force anyone into anything away from work, but if this kept on she was going to have to figure out how to force and answer out of him.

It turned out to be easier than she thought.

“San-san?” she asked as she approached the place where they were staying.  For the first time since they arrived he was dressed in the same outfit he wore to battle with Zeth the day he died.  This raised concerns for obvious reasons.  “Is there something up?”

Sanguineous faced Piecis, a look of surprise and regret in his face... he’d missed his chance to get away before she saw him.  “Piecis, thank you very much for your generosity, but I really have to go.”

Strangely, Piecis felt a strong desire to stop him from going.  “Why?  What’s wrong?  Did I say something?”

He waved his hands in front of him.  “That’s not it at all.  I have something I have to take care of.”  

“With a sword at your side?” She asked, pointing with a free finger at Sanguineous’ Makei blade.  “You’re not going anywhere with a sword until you tell me what is going on.”  She was surprised and pleased with her own off-the-job forwardness.  Sighing, Sanguineous lead her back into the cabin and sat down with her, explaining last part of what happened, the threat Akron/Raven leveled at him.

Akron/Raven only laughed louder.  “How absolutely amazing!  I must give much more credit to my former servant Shais.  She really did a number on you if you’ve been reduced to this!”  

“Reduced to what?!” Sanguineous cried out in frustration.  “Tell me, who am I?!”

Akron/Raven ceased his laughter and placed a more serious look to his face.  “You have very little time to find out young one.” He answered.  “I’m going to be fair to you,” he said as he threw a watch onto the ground.  The pocket watch had a few extra buttons on it, specifically a red one and a green one on the side.  “I will give you a few days to try and figure out who are, and reconsider your allegiance.  When you are ready to face me again, as friend of foe, just press that green button down for 10 seconds.” Akron/Raven then pulled the
Kurogatana, which looked closer to a daikatana now than a claymore, and sliced a dimensional jump in the air.  “Don’t take too long though, Sanguineous.  I may not be able to contain my desire to destroy everything you care for and love for too long...” and with that remark, he stepped through, leaving Sanguineous alone in on the snowy cliff, with the dead Zeth at his side.

“That,” Sangunious replied with a sigh, “is why I have to go.  I fear I’ve already wasted too much time.” He started to stand up as if to leave, but Piecis reached out with her arm and grabbed his hand, a look of determination in her eyes.

“You’re not going alone,” She said.  “You can’t take him alone, San-san!”

“I don’t have a choice,” Sanguineous started to protest, but Piecis interrupted him again.

“Then at least let me help you,” she said, her voice on the edge of pleading.  “I’m a skilled operator and assistant, San-san, it will help to have me around to monitor the way the dimensional barriers are flowing.”

“Don’t you need a bunch of fancy equipment for that?” Sanguineous asked.

“Nothing I can’t take home if I go in for it after hours,” Piecis replied,  She could tell Sanguineous was about to protest, so she shushed him.  “I don’t care about the consequences; I just don’t want you rushing out after Akron without proper support.” She wanted to say she didn’t want him to end up dead like Zeth, but the words didn’t come out.

Giving up, Sanguineous sighed.  “Very well, we’ll hop on the next shuttle leaving for the Space Station, get your stuff, then I’ll go, deal?”

“Deal,” Piecis smiled victoriously.

*****

Meanwhile, at FavuTech HQ, the first FavuTech General Council meeting was called since Vergil’s disappearance.  Many of the allied armies that relied on Favutech for weapons and tactical support, not to mention defense from the other R&Ds, had heard concerning rumors about the company’s most successful leader being MIA.  Most of them were generally outraged to find Crystal sitting in Vergil’s seat at the head of the table when the meeting began.

Luckily for Crystal, Favmar and Favdee ran the meeting.  The purpose of it was to reassure them that FavuTech was fully stable and still operating even though Vergil was missing.  They also wished to reassure their allies that all efforts possible were being taken into discovering Vergil’s whereabouts. Eve was not at the meeting.  She had gone home just the other night on the grounds that she wasn’t needed anymore.   Crystal was fine with that.  Eve’s presence only served to make her more nervous.

“Then what about my people’s plight?” a Tau Ethereal stood up from his seat.  “Ever since Vergil’s disappearance, The Dominion has been taking planet after planet from us!  It won’t be too long before we’re cut off from FavuTech all together!” A similar concern swept over most of the table and order was broken at the meeting.  Some forces under Ner’zul started talking about signing up with the Khorneate R&D before Favutech gets gobbled up.

“Order, order!” Favmar cried from his perch on the table itself.  “I will not have such talks of treason!  Our leader is alive and well, I assure you; it is simply a matter of him being found!”

“Will there be a Favutech when we DO find him though?!”  an Allied General complained.  A couple of Brotherhood of Nod delegates stood up, one of them speaking.

“We were wrong to blindly join this cause if we will only obliterated by such impure life forms as B’harroth’s daemons!” the one cried,  “We should still be calling out Kane’s name!”

Crystal sat with her head down and her arms folded at the front of the table.  She wore the “battle angel” outfit she had on when she fought with Void on the count of the outfit she wore yesterday was gone.  The girl favu reassured her that there was plenty more where that came from and to worry her pretty little head about staying alive not keeping her clothes in good shape.  

It was hardly the damage to a new wardrobe that had her down however.  Over the last week reports trickled down of Khornate forces abusing FavuTech men on the front lines against Void and The Dominion.  Word that the other two R&Ds were thinking about working together to move B’harroth’s men away from their posts had been leaked and even Favmar seemed a little edgy at the idea.  To make matters worse, even if she was becoming more powerful of a fighter, Crystal’s tactical mind left much to be desired.  She remembered some of the calamities the vampire hunter armies faced against Shais, a few of them under her leadership on a count of her distant relation to the Belmonts.  There was no way she could lead people in a battle of modern warfare.

Favdee watched her intently as shadow crept further across her face, hiding her desire to cry.  The High Favu shook his head in pity at the sight of the meeting and the poor girl who came home instead of Vergil.

Unable to take anymore of the shenanigans, a Protoss warrior stood up and bellowed loud enough to silence all the others.  “Fools!  Is this the kind of cowardice FavuTech’s allies carry?  My faction did not agree to work with Vergil because he was weak or not a proud warrior!  Vergil fights with honor and pride that we have rarely seen matched in our own race, let alone some of the cowardice races in this room!”  He turned his head and faced Crystal.  “Favmar and Favdee are wise in their ways, and if they have chosen this girl to fill in for Vergil while he is detained, then she must be of some merit.”  Crystal looked up at the Protoss warrior, a tear running down her left cheek.  “Stand tall, human!” The Protoss warrior cried.  “This is your hour!  Show us that you might one day shine with the light of a warrior the way Vergil has proven he has.”

All eyes turned to Crystal as she wiped the sole tear from her face.  “I...” she stuttered for a moment as she thought of what to say, but then stood up, standing tall as the Protoss warrior had suggested.  “I am not Vergil,” she stated.  “I am in no way a replacement for him.  I know so little about all of your worlds, all of your cultures that I can’t begin to fathom how he did this job.”  As the council was about to break into murmurs, she raised her voice.  “However!  I am not some prissy little country girl to be ignored.  I am a Graves, connected to bloodline of the famous Belmont Clan of vampire hunters.  I have seen battle with not one, but two R&D masters and I live to tell you about it today.  And I am not alone!  So long as B’harroth fights along side us, we can count away one of our enemies, and if we continue to display the pride of our Protoss friend here, it is less likely B’harroth will try anything on it us!  We may suffer set backs now, but when Vergil does return, and I promise you it will be soon, they will pay for all the crimes they have committed against your people!”

“Hear hear!” the Tau Ethereal nodded.  “For the greater good of us all!”  The council proceeded to nod amongst each other for several minutes until finally a Protoss Judicator stood up.

“We have decided that we will hold our current positions and resist the other R&Ds as best we can,” the Protoss stated, his eyes glowing several colors as he spoke.  “We do this to buy you time here to find Vergil as best you can.  When he returns, we will all be eagerly awaiting his orders.”

Crystal smiled as the council nodded amongst themselves again.  She could tell that her speech had taken heart in some more so than others, but the reassurance that they weren’t going to bail on her was enough of a victory for today.  

Crystal was unawares, however, of a figure looking at Favutech headquarters from about a mile away.  Akron/Raven smiled, larger amount of his hair black than when he had last seen San-san.  “He’s late,” he said to himself smiling. “I will strike tonight. That Sanguineous character is going to regret playing the coward.”

*****


“Alright, are you ready?” Piecis asked raising her fist above her outstretched palm.  Sanguineous held his hands in a similar position.  “Rock,” Piecis and San-san both said at the same time, beating their fist against their hand.  “Paper, Scissors.”  Piecis laid her hand flat on top of her other one indicating paper, while San-san left his fist the same, indicating rock, or so Piecis thought.

“Do I change to what I want to call now?” He asked.

“Oh, you are so hopeless!” Piecis laughed, wiggling in the shuttle seat next to him.  She took to explaining it to him again even though the shuttle was nearly to the space station and she didn’t have much time left to explain.

Suddenly, the space craft came to a halt.  Sanguineous and Piecis looked around curiously for some sign of something having gone wrong.  “This is the captain speaking,” the shuttle’s pilot spoke.  “We’ll continue our in flight movie, 'Kirby the Movie 23: Creampuff Turns Into a Pancake Part 17,' in a moment.  We, uh, seem to have come to destination, but there isn’t much of it left.  We would like to remain in your seats and calm while...”

“What?!” Sanguineous cried, fearing the worse.  Leaping out of his seat he took a look out the window on the other side of the shuttle, the seats near it unoccupied.  What he saw disturbed him.

The Space Station that was the Headquarters for the Athenian Order’s Dimensional Enforcers was in shambles.   The thing looked as if someone had taken a giant blade and cut the thing in two and leaking from the two halves were people.  Holes the size of wreaking balls had been made as if the station was beer can used for target practice.  Signs of fire could be seen in what was visible on the inside of the station, fire that probably died when the station was cut in half and oxygen lost.  Piecis came up behind him and made a gasp of shock at the sight.

“We’re too late,” Sanguineous said,  “Akron’s begun...”

Piecis fell back on the empty seat and placed her head in her hands.  Sanguineous felt his body grow warm, like it did when Akron/Raven killed Zeth before his eyes.    “I can’t wait any longer.  I must face him now before he kills anything else.”

“What else is there?” Piecis asked, her voice strained.  “You don’t remember anything about your past!”

“But he seems to know who I am,” Sanguineous answered,  “And should I remember who I am, I don’t want to wake up to find everything I once cared about destroyed.  I must go now.”

Piecis opened her mouth in a stutter.  “But, but...”

“I also have you to lose,” Sanguineous continued,  “And if you weren’t with me on that vacation you’d be with those people, falling eternally into the void.”  He then turned to Piecis, placing his hands on her trembling shoulders.  This was really getting to be too much for her.  “Please, take the shuttle back to your cabin and stay there.  Hide.  I’ll come back for you once all of this is done.  I promise.”

Piecis shook her head but Sanguineous insisted.  Finally, Piecis looked up at him, tears running down her face.  “If you have to leave, then hold me?  Please?”  She reached up to him, both arms outstretched.  

Sanguineous smiled affectionately and took Piecis into her arms and she cried.  The two remained there standing in by the seats, oblivious to the rest of the shuttle for several minutes.  Then, at last, Sanguineous pushed himself away and walked out of the Shuttle section towards the far back.  He looked down at the watch Akron had given him and found the green button.  Steeling himself for the worst, he pressed down on it for ten seconds before what appeared to be a whirlwind appeared above him, breaking his body apart like glass and shifting the pieces into its eye.

*****



“Are they Khornate troops?” Favmar asked Favdee from across the room.  Red warning klaxons were flashing around that a Favutech forward command base not too far from HQ was under attack by forces that its defenses were not enough to handle.

“The System doesn’t think so,” Favdee replied.  “According to the combat data so far the attacker is one person, and they are using an energy type we don’t know much about.”  Favdee looked over the data again.  “In fact, I’d say before we forged alliances with Ner’zul, we would have never seen anything like this before.”

“Undead energy?” Favmar asked as he walked across the control room, hopping over Vergil’s command chair with what looked like a common a desktop computer in front of it.  If Vergil was here, the moment would have given him a chance to reprimand for putting the “Anime Babes 3 Screen Saver” on a FavuTech office computer and leaving it on all the time.  Instead, the sight of female Ranma, Shampoo, and Ukyou standing on a beach in bikinis filled him with regret and longing for his young master.  Favmar normally would turn off the monitor at this point, but instead, he left it on, and even found himself staring off at the picture, thinking of what silly arguments Vergil would be making with him right now.

“Favmar!” Favdee yelled for the third time.  “Yo, Earth to Favmar?”  The other favu snapped to attention and walked over to Favdee.  “Geez, did you get your antenna tied in a knot?”

“Oh, shut up,” Favmar replied looking at the monitor.  He watched a satellite playback of the base’s destruction.  “This isn’t good,” he muttered.  “If Obelisks of Light can’t shoot down this one man, then we’ve got something pretty unique after us.”

“Do you think its one of the other R&D masters?” Favdee asked, baring a look of concern.

Favmar thought for a moment and watched the satellite playback closely. “No,” he replied finally.  “None of the R&D masters would wander this close to Favutech HQ alone, even with Vergil away.  They would have brought at least an eight man elite force with them.”

“Then what do you think it is?” Favdee asked.  At that moment, Crystal walked into the control room.  She had on a dark blue t-shirt that was big on her and went down almost as far as the pajama shorts she had on.  She wore a pair of gorilla slippers that no one bothered telling her were Vergil’s. Crystal yawned and looked dreary eyed at Favmar as she entered.

“There was this voice that talked at me while I was trying to sleep. So what apocalypse are we dodging now?” Crystal asked, rubbing her eyes.

Favmar started to answer before he looked at her, but stopped as he noticed her standing there in pajamas... certainly not suitable attire for such a place as FavuTech’s military control room.  Sometimes the parallels between her and Vergil scare me he thought before starting his answer over.  “Nothing you need to worry about at this hour, go back to bed.”

Yawning, Crystal walked up behind Favmar and Favdee and looked at the playback.  “Oooo,” she chimed,  “Little black and white buildings are going boom.”

Favdee and Favmar each other sideways glances at Crystal’s comment.  “Look, we have defenders standing by at all times waiting for this kind of thing.” Favdee said to the sleepy looking girl.  “You need your rest if you’re going to effective, so please go back to bed.”

Crystal hung there, staring at the screen for about 20 seconds before she moved.  “No no no no no...” she mumbled, standing up at last and walking away from the pair of Favus. “Things are going boom, and I’m supposed to do something about it...” she said as she stumbled a little and then yawned.  “I’ll just go shower and throw on that silly body suit outfit... oh wait, that’s in the washer.”  Favmar and Favdee turned to her and watched and she stood there, shoulders slumped forward, an expression of blank thought on her face.  “I guess I’ll find something,” she mused.  “Can’t go fight evil in my PJs now can I...”

As she started to walk out of the room, Favmar and Favdee huddled.  “Our future is in her hands,” Favmar commented cynically to Favdee.  “Perhaps we shouldn’t let her go?”

“Nah, let her go,” Favdee replied.  “We’ll just send some Golem Troopers or Nod Cyborgs or something to protect her and carry her back in case she falls asleep out there.”

Favmar sighed reluctantly.  “Alright, but I want someone to plant a Chrono-receiver on her so we can shift her out of there if things get really hairy.”

Suddenly Crystal giggled.  “Favmar,” she laughed.  “Is this your computer with the almost naked cartoon girls on it?  Shame on you,”

Favmar sighed to himself.  “When Vergil comes back, he owes me a raise.”

*****



“Fall back!  Fall back!”  The cries could be heard between Terran Marine squads and GDI Trooper squads alike as they fell back from the advancing terror.  

“Private!” one of the Marines yelled out to another.  “What’s the ETA on those reinforcements?”

“I think it's way too long, sir!” the Marine replied as he looked over his Sergeant’s shoulder at the advancing man.  Akron/Raven stood in the middle of the ruined base, pulling his sword free from another warrior.  A group of Marines leaped out from behind cover and opened fire at him, but a wave of black appeared around Akron/Raven and the bullets were evaporated before they could hit.  The Marines looked on in terror and then ran for their lives.  They only made it a few feet before Akron/Raven teleported in front of them, and cut them both down where they stood.

The villain made an amused chuckle to himself and looked around the base and the blazing fires of whatever buildings were still standing.  Suddenly the sky came alive with the sound of aircraft approaching, and spot lights in the dark night shone down on his figure.  A smug expression on his face, Akron/Raven raised a hand to block out the light said, “I think it is time to finish off this waste of space.”  He placed the Kurogatana pointing vertically upward, holding it against his chest.  Then, he shut his eyes and screamed “Hell’s Release!”  Suddenly an aura of light grew out from his form, and in the aura was the image of faces wailing in pain.  The aircraft prepared to open fire and drop reinforcements down when the aura broke off in the form of transparent ghosts with wailing faces.  The ghosts then flew out in every direction, on tracking one survivor of Akron/Raven’s attack.  As the ghosts passed through the FavuTech warriors they were drained of life, and, after a few passes, fell to the ground lifeless.  Akron/Raven stood, his sword pointed high in the air and his eyes closed as the aircraft came crashing down around him, many exploding on impact and somehow none of the debris hitting him.  When the smoke cleared, the ghosts returned to Akron/Raven, and the Aura disappeared.  His hair became even shorter still, and just a little more of it became black instead of Raven’s hair color.  Akron/Raven smiled to himself as he started walking out of the base.

Meanwhile, Crystal, clad in a pair of blue jeans, a light green shirt and the coat she wore with the black body suit, felt the Protoss Shuttle she rode in shake from something.  Her body suddenly grew warm and she felt a little sick.  The hairs on the back of her neck stood up.  There it is again... she thought.  I think my mitochondria are trying to warn me of something.  Drawing forth a danger induced adrenaline rush, Crystal found herself considerably more awake now then when she was when she was in the control room earlier.  The Protoss Zealots in the shuttle with her also took note of her change and nodded to each other that they need not worry about her.

Crystal stood up and approached the control console for the robotic shuttle.  “Please change course, we’d like to be dropped off here.  We’ll walk the rest of the way.”  The Protoss Zealots nodded as the shuttle came to a halt and opened its grav-bay to allow the warriors to dismount.

Akron/Raven had just cleared the base when he heard a strange noise about ten feet behind him.  A noise that sounded as a lot like when a tornado tears through a building was coming from behind him despite the cloudless night sky.  He turned his head slightly over his shoulder as the spout that was formed when Sanguineous jumped dimensions appeared and spat the half-vampire out on the dark ground behind Akron/Raven.  The dark lord of the abyss smiled and turned his head away as if an event of no consequence had taken place.

“Sanguineous,” he said making the first move since San-san was still getting over his disorienting trip and picking himself off the ground.  “I trust you found the Athenian Space Station.  I can’t imagine there’d be any other reason for you to stop playing chicken and come out after me.”

Sanguineous stood up and smiled back at his foe.  With their vampire eyes they could see each other clearly in the dark night.  “If that was an attempt to kill me, you must be regretful that you failed.”

“On the contrary,” Akron/Raven replied.  “I am glad that I didn’t destroy you.  If you would remember correctly my threat was to destroy everything you loved first, and with you failing to show up, you would never know what you had lost since you’re still ignorant to whom you are.”  He let a little chuckle escape his lips.  “In fact, you’ve done me a favor, Sanguineous.”

Trying not to sound angered Sanguineous released an amused ‘feh’ under his breath.  “Well, I’m here now, so what are we going to do, watch a slide show together?”

“I’ve quite considering killing you now,” Akron/Raven commented, his back still turned to Sanguineous.  “It really would be better for me in the short run, but in the long run I think I’ll have more fun leaving you in suspense.”  He then pointed with his thumb over his shoulder the ruins he had just made.  “I just destroyed a small military outpost,” he commented as if he had just tied his shoe.  “I probably killed a good 75 to 125 armed men, and probably a hundred technicians.  Any of them could have been your father, your mother, maybe even your siblings.”

“Were they?” Sanguineous asked, now having difficulties containing his anger.  

Akron/Raven laughed.  “What is that little voice inside your head telling you, San-san? Were they?”

“How am I supposed to know,” Sanguineous said, drawing his blade.  “But actions speak louder than words.  Tell me now who I am or I’ll make little napkins out of your cape.”

A cold stare returned the comment.  He was considering drawing his dark sword and cutting down Sanguineous right then and there when suddenly he smelled blood... live blood... a different sent than the humans he had just killed.  Gazing over his shoulder he could tell Sanguineous smelled it too.  Sure enough, 3 gold armored warriors leaped out from behind some of the debris, glowing blue blades of energy attached to their arms. The pair of vampires readied their weapons and defended themselves from their attackers, both of them bothered when their swords knocked against barriers of energy instead of contacting their enemy’s flesh.  As the Protoss Zealots rushed forward, Sanguineous and Akron/Raven both took to the air, and landed behind their enemies.  Then, as if they were synchronized swimmers, they moved just faster than the Protoss’ eyes could track and scored enough repeated sword hits on the warrior’s shields to disable them.  By the time the warriors had realized what had happened, Akron/Raven made his killing Kurogatana swipe to slice two Zealots in two and Sanguineous beheaded the other.  

As the protoss warriors disappeared into burning blue flames, a woman’s voice cried out from behind both vampires.  They turned in sync and saw Crystal pointing Vergil’s Caster Gun at them.  Akron/Raven wore a look of fear for the first time since he’d taken Zeth’s soul.  “That’s....”  

“A Caster Gun,” Crystal replied in a very matter of fact tone.  “I recommend you two undead-looking gentlemen stand still before I reduce both of you into dust in one shot.”

Sanguineous didn’t move because his villainous counterpart didn’t.  If he’s afraid of this thing... he thought.  Then it’s got to be powerful!  Maybe I can talk my way out of this one.

“Say now, hold on a second,” Sanguineous said in a smooth tone.  “What reason would we have to want to hurt a pretty little thing like you?”

“Shut up.”

Okay that didn’t work.

Crystal took a step forward and eyed her enemies.  “Who are you with?” She asked motioning with her gun.  “B’harroth?  The Dominion?  Are you that energy-cross-throwing punk’s guys?”

“We have no idea what you’re talking about...” Sanguineous started to say, but Akron/Raven interrupted him. He had gained a better look at Crystal’s face when she advanced and couldn’t help but burst out laughing.  Crystal made a face and pointed the gun between Akron/Raven’s eyes.

“What is so darn funny, Mr...” Then Crystal saw the familiar look to his face.  She stepped back, her eyes wide and almost dropped the Caster Gun.  “It can’t be.... Raven?!”

“Crystal Graves,” Akron/Raven laughed, crossing his arms in front of his chest.  “I should have figured you’d become Vergil’s lap dog after he killed Shais.  Tell me, have you seen our favorite glasses-wearing baboon?”

“What did you call me!?” Crystal stammered, pointing the Caster Gun at Akron/Raven.  “Let’s get something straight, I am no one’s ‘lap dog’ and if you call me that again, you’re going to be on your knees before Lucifer in Hell!”

Sanguineous stepped forward.  “Um... have you two met or something?”  Crystal and Akron/Raven gave Sanguineous sideways glances and ignored the comment. Then Akron/Raven smiled at an idea that just struck him and answered Sanguineous.

“Yes, actually,” he replied,  “And so have you two.  Tell me Crystal, don’t you recognize Vergil in that goofball right there?”

Crystal’s heart skipped a beat.  “Wh.. what?”  She stammered as she turned her head and looked at Sanguineous’ eyes.  Sanguineous wore a confused but hopeful expression, praying in the back of his head that this woman might know who he is.  In a heartbeat those prayers were smashed, when Crystal’s expression changed from one of hope to one of rage.  “What are you talking about, you moron?!  Vergil’s eyes are purple, his are...”

She was cut off as the Kurogatana knocked the Caster Gun right out of her hands, splitting it in two when it hit the ground behind her.  Regaining her composure, she drew a new sword that looked like the one the vampire hunter Blade uses from its sheath on her back and Sanguineous readied his weapon.  Akron/Raven however, had already readied a tear in time and space to enter.  

As he turned to go through, he looked over his shoulder at Sanguineous.  “If you can handle this @#$%!, then maybe I’ll think about letting you join me.  Come after me when you’re done with her!”  

“Hey, coward, come back!” Sanguineous cried, but Akron/Raven leaped through and the tear closed behind him.  “Damn it!” Sanguineous replaced his sword in his sheath and started to move for his watch when Crystal’s blade came dangerously close to his neck.  “Excuse me, lady, but what is the big idea?”

“What’s your name?” she asked, her voice stern and full of violent intent.

“I don’t know my name,” he replied, truthfully,  “The only name I have is Sanguineous.”

“What does the name ‘Vergil’ mean to you?”

“A Roman author who wrote a horrible book?”

Crystal’s blade went closer to his neck.  “You better not be lying.”

“I’m not lying,” Sanguineous replied, his voice becoming more stern.  “Look, lady, I’d love to spend time with you sometime, you can point sharp objects for as long as you want, but I really have to go after the obvious villain here.”

“We can get Raven later,” she replied,  “As for you, I’m taking you back with me and finding out what you know.”

Sanguineous turned his head slightly so he could look at Crystal’s face in the corner of his eye.  “I know what happened to Vergil,” he lied.  Crystal’s form immediately slackened, her expression changing to one of shock.  That was San-san’s cue to grab her arm, twist around her back to disarm the weapon and keep her in an arm lock. They struggled for a few moments, but Sanguineous was eventually able to force her onto her knees.  “Now as much fun as you might think I’m having right now, it’s time for me to go now.  I know nothing of your precious Vergil, and I’m sorry I can’t help you.”  

“I said you’re coming back with me!” Crystal protested as a wave of green Parasite Energy erupted out from her body and sent Sanguineous off her and on his back.  Quickly, Crystal ran for her sword as San-san leaped back onto his feet and drew his. As Crystal turned to face charge at San-san, he had already readied himself to fight her.

-| Cue: Rhapsody – Dawn of Victory - Dawn of Victory |-

Crystal made the first attack, making a wide and clumsy swing wither her blade that San-san blocked easily.  After their blades met, he twisted his wrist to turn his down-turned sword towards her and charge forward. Much to Sanguineous’ surprise, Crystal moved her arm fast enough to cross her blade before her and block his on coming attack.  She then was able to put her left arm on the flat part of her blade and push against him, actually making him lose his footing.  Sanguineous stumbled back wards as Crystal made another sideways swing.  This time when Sanguineous parried it, another swing came after it, forcing him to continue to back up.  With each blow, Sanguineous found it just a little bit harder to deflect her attacks until her last one sent his arm sideways, leaving his face open for a symbolic cheek wound.  They paused while he reached up and touched the wound, it closing slowly after getting a little blood on his fingers.  He gazed at Crystal who wore a proud and smug expression on her face.  

“I do so hate fighting women,” Sanguineous said as he swung at Crystal.  

Fire is raging on the battlefield
while Arwald is fighting the war of the kings
The army of Dargor, the thunder, the storm...
so people are calling the brave and his sword
No time left to save the wise throne!


She was able to meet each of his blows with her own parry, but it was still apparent to her that he was much stronger and faster than she still. Eventually, the blows faster than she could actually track, and glowing after-images were trailing behind Sanguineous.  It was all Crystal could do to guess in what direction his hits were coming from when he finally hit hard enough to knock her arm aside and leave her open to get cut across the torso.  The duo paused as she leaped back, touching the wound as her body began to glow with blue light briefly.  The wound closed and she stood straight and pointed her sword at Sanguineous.

Shades of a past not so far to forget...
the rise of the demons from their bloody Hell!
So come mighty warrior to light the lost hope
for Tharos the dragon and your cosmic soul...
Now handle your emerald sword!


San-san answered the challenge and raised his arms as if to strike for her head.  Declaring his attack was a mistake and, using a quick flick of her wrist, Crystal parried the swing and then lowered the blade to cut across Sanguineous’ torso.  She then spun around elbowed him in the back and started bring her sword around for a head hit when Sanguineous rolled onto the ground and stopped facing her.

For Ancelot:
the ancient cross of war!
For the holy town of gods!
Gloria, gloria perpetua
in this dawn of victory


As she charged towards him, he leapt into the air as if he was trying to do a Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu: Ryutsusen attack and came plunging down towards Crystal.  Crystal responded by leaping up into the air after him.  The two blades clashed in mid air and then both bodies landed, Sanguineous holding a stab in his chest and Crystal holding a slice on her shoulder.

The ride of the dead and their practice of pain
is pounding in him as a terrific quake
You're closer and closer now follow their smell
with your holy armour the steel in your hand
Fly angel of bloody revenge!


Sanguineous spun as he stood back up, but Crystal was faster on the draw.  In three swipes, she struck his blade, knocking it loose of his grip, then his wrist to make him let go of it, then across his chest to knock him over.  Crystal raised her weapon to drive finishing blow when she noticed that her opponent’s face had changed... his eyes were glowing a bright purple.

She paused.

For Ancelot:

That was all Sanguineous needed.

The ancient cross of war!
For the holy town of gods!
Gloria, gloria perpetua
In this dawn of victory


Lunging forward, he grabbed the arm Crystal was holding the sword with and forced it into the air, clawing at her wrist as he did so that she dropped the weapon.  He then ran his head into her face and let go of her arm.  She fell over from the attack and Sanguineous went for her sword.  By the time he had picked it up, however, Crystal was moving in a blur to his eye, and had kneed him in the face.

Tragic and furious the clash of the steel of the gods
and so magic the power, the sword in his valorous hands
Oceans of fire are blasting the throne of the demons
and from distant red skies the thunders are calling his name
the name of the master of pain!


She grabbed the fur of his coat and lifted him to her height so she could beat her fist into the side of his face.  San-san’s head turned at the blow, it leaving a mark on the cheek it hit, but as if he was un-phased he nailed Crystal in the gut with his knee, grabbed onto her coat and used it to throw her over his back.  

For Ancelot,
the ancient cross of war!
For the holy town of gods!
Gloria, gloria perpetua,
in this dawn of victor-...


Much to his dismay, she was able to flip over in mid air and land on her feet, leaving a trail of dust as she slid backwards.  Sanguineous reached down and grabbed her sword seeing as she landed no where near a weapon and prepared to attack when he noticed Crystal hadn’t moved.  She was standing there, holding onto her head as she hunched over.  

Gloria, gloria perpetua
in this dawn of victory!


Suddenly, she threw her head back and screamed as bright light erupted from her body.  The Liberation form was even more impressive looking under the blanket of night than in the day.  What felt to him like five seconds later, Sanguineous landed on his head and slid backwards for a few hundred feet, leaving an imprint on the ground as he slid.  It felt like his ribs were broken, his right arm was limp, and he had to be bleeding internally.

Crystal reverted back to her normal form, falling onto her knees as she did.  Both warriors struggled to get back onto their feet, Crystal getting over using the powerful Liberation attack and Sanguineous waiting for his vampiric body to mend itself.  Just as he managed to get himself up on both feet, bright lights from above shone down on him.  He glanced up in the sky to see a Terran Battle Cruiser blocking his view of the stars, its flood lights focusing on him.  He could hear the sound of more men rushing towards him, wearing full metal armor.  There was no weapon close to him, and Crystal was already back on her feet.  She looked exhausted, but Sanguineous didn’t doubt she was in better shape than him.  

“Well, girl,” he sighed,  “I guess you’ve got me in check mate.”  He put his hands behind his head as if to indicate surrender.

“Wait!” Crystal cried, putting out her hand.  “Are you sure you know nothing about Vergil?”  She focused intently on his purple eyes.

“Even if I was this Vergil,” Sanguineous replied,  “I have no memory of his being.  He might as well be dead for all I care.”  Letting Crystal stew over that one, he bit his lip and started running as fast as he could for his sword.  Crystal was too tired to do anything more but yell at him as he brought his hands before him and held down the watch button.  As he reached the last second he dove for the sword, but one of the laser batteries from the Battle Cruiser shot down at him.  The blast missed, but it did throw the weakened Sanguineous off his footing and into the ground. He cried out in pain as he landed and rolled too far away from his sword to catch it.  By the time he picked his head off the ground, he was surrounded by Terran Marines who happily pointed their Gauss Rifles at him.

“Damn you.... Akron...” he muttered under his breath as the Marines picked him up and dragged him away.  “Damn you...”

Crystal watched as he was placed inside a Terran drop ship.  His struggling body no longer had purple eyes.

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