School House Rumbles 3: Act 3. Warriors and Liberators.

[Cthulhu_of_R'yleh]

Well, he wad right; hearing that hurt. A lot.

Her smile slowly fades as the knowledge slowly sinks into her head.

He has a son. Not with her, which was their plan. but with that, that…

"I see," she says quietly.

Magnus Erik Endellion. That was supposed to be his name, if he came to exist. Now she knows that that little boy will be nothing more than a dead fantasy.

"Of course that scrubber would get pregnant. Serves her right." She laughs bitterly and bites her bottom lip. "How are you… how are you handling that? Damn sight better than I am, I hope."

All he seemed to do was cause pain wherever he went. 'Shouldn't have answered.. Again.'

He was quiet for a time, the weight of what had happened finally catching him. He had been gone so long coming back to find he had a son was the greatest thing he'd ever heard.. But now?

"I.. uh.. I'm..." He frowned, trailed off.

"I don't get to... feel any 'way' about it." He said finally. "I had exiled myself and hid like a coward in another dimension... When I came back, I found she'd had him and I hadn't been there..."
J
"I hadn't been there.." He repeated softer, "I hadn't even known she'd had him... known that I had a son.. until yesterday..."

"What does that say, about me?" He knew. It said he was a failure.

[Sub-Zero MKA]

All he seemed to do was cause pain wherever he went. 'Shouldn't have answered.. Again.'

He was quiet for a time, the weight of what had happened finally catching him. He had been gone so long coming back to find he had a son was the greatest thing he'd ever heard.. But now?

"I.. uh.. I'm..." He frowned, trailed off.

"I don't get to... feel any 'way' about it." He said finally. "I had exiled myself and hid like a coward in another dimension... When I came back, I found she'd had him and I hadn't been there..."

"I hadn't been there.." He repeated softer, "I hadn't even known she'd had him... known that I had a son.. until yesterday..."

"What does that say, about me?" He knew. It said he was a failure.

He's right. It's his and needs his father, whether he likes it or not.

She shrugs at his last question. "Nothing. Not like you would've known anyway. She was hidden away right? Told you not to find her, yeah? Doubt you would've even known she was up the duff until the little bugger was already born."

She shrugs again.

It also sounds like he's a twenty something year old with zero experience or knowledge on raising kids.

"Listen, I'm sure you'll go back her to raise your kid, as you should. But I doubt you all have much of anything so…if you ever need anything, you know where to find me."

[Tami]

Making her way to their bedroom, Rivia quietly enters and looks over her sleeping daughters. Picking uo an extra blanket, she carefully lays it over one then does the same for the other. As she leavesm she smiles.

Alexis 'Alex' Roux Matthews, the tomboy of the pair, her short Strawberry-blonde hair mussed, her cornflower blue eyes closed in deep sleep.

Her twin sister, Andrea 'Andi' Roux Matthews, lay in the other bed, her long auburn-red hair drapped around her head like a halo, her shamrock green eyes also closed in deep sleep.

Like their mother, both began manifesting powers by age three. By age nine they were already what was once defined as Class A level. Yet they were both far more fearless than their mother had ever been as a child.

Returning back to her room, Rivia found her husband Tom reading a book. Seening her come in, he puts down the book as she climbs into bed next to him, snuggling up close, enjoying each other's warmth that cold, Chicago evening.

[WickedElphaba]

And so it was, Skye and Cash returned home, with Casimir joining them to see where they lived. He stayed for a while, and then went away. He would visit frequently, with his visits lasting longer and longer over time. The more he stayed with Cash, the more of his humanity he recovered. One night during such a stay, Skye and Casimir fell together, more out of desire than love, and so became the routine. Eventually Casimir's stays were longer than his departures, and pretenses were dropped. A family can be made from many things: love, convenience, necessity, obligation. Sometimes it comes from a little of all of these things. But the next generation of the Heroes of Eden had his family, a loving family, and sometimes that's all that matters.

[Sub-Zero MKA]

After the success in Stockholm, the rest of the cities didn't take long at all to completely rebuild. Each city was unique in its design and each contained beautiful architecture that gave them a mesmorizing appeal. It was only another year before the rest of the county was restored, much to the surprise and joy of the almost million and a half Edenians who were looking forward to making the move.

Once the cities were peppered with citizens, organization and order began to be established. Joey and Hilda came to an agreement to have one large police task force on call to protect the country then dubbed New Sweden from any threats, and several smaller ones trained by smaller ones in each city. Equipped with suits similar to Maxana's, complete with Elemanti Compatibility Modules, they quickly proved able to protect the Swedish citizens.

Elections were held to established a Prime Minister, and mayors for each city, as well as a Supreme Court, and smaller courts. Capt. Chris Rogers, former Paragon and Police Captain and a dear friend of Joey's, was elected Prime Minister.

A few weeks later, Maxana and her family moved to the Lindström family manor in Stockholm, with the exception of Ramilia and Madelyn, who decided to stay in Eden for the time being.

________________

Another year passed by and Maxana's life seemed to be working itself out for the better. Ramilia and Madelyn, now in the fifth year of their marriage, introduced their first child to the world, Maxwell Jeffry Orikagi. They not only named him, in a sense, after Maxana, but named her his godmother, whatever that means.

In the six years since Kha'lud's death, Maxana had grown into a completely different person. To her family and close personal friends, which only consisted of the four people who live in her house that she wasn't related to, she seemed to be more mature and level-headed, but also an empty and broken shell of her former self.

To those outside those walls, she appeared friendly, if not cold and somewhat cynical about love. Such was the result when she had had her heart broken one too many times. She also became judicious with who she gave her complete trust to, again, no one outside the walls of Lindström Manor.

All were precautions, so that she would never be hurt by anyone again. Her family would never hurt her; neither would her true friends. If she never let anyone, including the very people she once saved two worlds with, completely behind those walls, then when they left or tried to betray her, it wouldn't hurt as much.

And if the pain of losing more not-quite-as-close friends didn't hurt, then she could live her life with some semblance of happiness. Even if a day in the last six years hadn't gone by when she hadn't missed him in one form or another.

But she wouldn't give Skye the satisfaction of knowing how deeply her actions cut her. When, not if, she saw her again, she would hold her head up high, address her curtly in the most dignified manner she could muster, and walk off. Because she wasn't worthy of the honor have getting any other type of reaction.

Because no one needed to know that behind her confident exterior, she was broken. Broken and lonely, because the man she loved and wanted to spend the rest of her life with was gone. Gone and likely was never coming back.

"Max, I need a favor."

Four years and that word favor still brought her to the brink of tears. One favor, and her life as she knew it was over and her future, her fairy tale future, was undone. She took a moment to ensure that her mask, one of a friendly smile was in place before looking up. "You came all the way to Sweden just to ask me for something? What do you need, Ramilia?"

She couldn't fool her oldest friend. She noticed the remorseful frown before it went away, and chided herself mentally for letting herself slip. "I need you to change this diaper for me." She held up baby Max and slapped on her sweetest smile.

"Have you quite literally lost your mind? I am not changing that poo filled diaper," Maxana said. There were a few things that didn't change, like her being a pampered princess at home.

"Pleeeease," she begged.

It wasn't everyday when the then ten time martial arts champion and feared bodyguard begged anyone for anything. Anyone that wasn't Madelyn, anyway. Strangely, it was just the boost she needed that day. She grinned and nodded. "Oh alright. I supposed I can change my godson's diaper just one time."

Ramilia grinned and handed the smelly baby over, along with a fresh diaper. Maxana recoiled as soon as the smell hit her. But looking down at the smiling and laughing baby in her arms, it felt…natural to hold it. And that only made her feel worse, because she wanted so badly to have a family, only to realize that she would probably never have one.

"Stop being so melodramatic, Big Max. You will find someone. You're young, beautiful and rich; the right guy will come along. Just you wait."

Maxana knew she was right, not that she was going to her have that one. She smiled again and followed her friend out. "Don't call me that. And keep your insight to yourself, please."

____________________

It took another six years before Ramilia's insight actually came true. Earlier that year, Joey signed over Lindcorp to Maxana and she succeeded him as President and CEO of Lindcorp International. While she couldn't possibly improve on anything he did, him being a genius with brilliant foresight and her not being on that level, the company still grew in revenue and profits.

Being the CEO of Lindcorp afforded her several privileges that she had never had the opportunity to enjoy in the past. Down in the lowest labs in Lindcorp Tower were the projects that she heard Mikaela talking about all those years ago. The time machine, fully operational, tested rigorously and ready for use; the dimensional gateway, also tested and ready for use. And those were just two of over a dozen that she was briefed on.

It was during those briefing that she realized that the scientists had more in mind than just briefing her. They, the men, that is, were for the most part good looking. Chisled good looks, nice bodies, charming personalities. She paid them no mind. She learned her lesson im regards to charming men with dashing good looks. And while she had slept with a few men over the years, mostly to knock the dust out, she was in no mood to be used again. She was no one's plaything, to be used up and then thrown away when their fill was had.

Oh yes, many of them asked her out. Apparently, being a female CEO gave them the courage to not only flirt with their boss, but ask her out; which wasn't against the rules, per se. When she put them in their place, they did as told like good little lab rats.

Exceot one, who didn't need to be put down because he never tried. Dr. Matthew Richards, head of the science division. He was a shy man with a sharp fashion sense and messy blonde hair, and that intrigued her. He wasn't as handsome and certainly wasn't charming like the rest if the scientists. He was good looking, but more boyishly cute and couldn't talk to her about anything other than work without stumbling over his words. And that…amused her and endeared her toward him. She enjoyed flirting with him, just to make him sweat and nearly jumped for joy when he eventually asked her out.

A small part of her wanted him right then; the larger, more influential part wouldn't allow it. Not after what Casimir put her through. So she took it slow. For the first time in her life, she took her time, making Matthew earn her trust a little bit at a time, and allowing herself to finally get over Casimir and their lost future.

It was a slow process; earning Maxana's trust and love had become an arduous trial. But one of the many things she grew to love about him was that he was patient. He understood what she had been through, not just with Casimir, but with the twelve relationships that preceeded him. It took another year and a half after they had first met before he broke through and got her to open up.

From there, after everything they went through to get to that point, the road leading to their eventual wedding was a cake walk. Maxana Lindström became Maxana Richards, and soon after, twins Matthew II and Abigail Ramilia (Maxana felt compelled to return the favor in some way) came along. And the love Maxana and Matthew shared for each other and their children grew as they embarked on their journey as a family.

Maxana couldn't help but chuckle as that last statement ran through her head while she was checking on little Matthew and Abigail when she got home from another long day at work. Sounded sappy and quite lame, but looking down at those two little angels, she realized that she wouldn't trade it in for anything in this world, or any other.

And when her husband returned home later that night, she snuggled up next to him in front of the fire place like she always did every night during that cold Swedish winter. He would often ask, just for fun, if she was satisfied with the life they have together. And she'd always answer the same way, "Of course I am. I always get what I want."

[Eternal Torment]

Sloane Epilogue (1/2)

With Rose's departure and the scattering of his classmates across the world, Sloane was left wondering what to do about his life. It took him several years of soul searching, but eventually he figured out what he could do for the people of Eden. He joined the expansion project under Duncan Vargreaves, spending his time exploring the wilderness and helping the workers conquer the frontiers of the untamed world.

It was a rewarding experience, though perilous at times. Even with Kha'lud and the Dreadnaughts gone, there were still plenty of ancient abominations out there. And given Sloane's atrocious luck, it was inevitable that he'd be the one to stumble across each and every single one of those magical monsters.

Whenever he faced them alone, he managed to beat them by the skin of his teeth. Those days of vicious fighting had only a few respites for him, but he had finally found his place in the world. Somebody had to clean up the trash left behind by the Old World, no matter how dangerous it was to dispose of. This time, it was purely his choice to do so.

It was a hard life, indeed. Though he never did find love again, he did come back to see his old classmates back in Eden every once in a while. Not just to remember the good times that they shared, but to reaffirm the bonds he had formed with them. They had gone their separate paths and had found their own happiness, but they would never forget each other as long as they lived. Even with some of his friends going through hard times or through cosmic travel, he still managed to see them out before they inevitably left again. Such was his daily routine, with constant change and strife colouring every day. And yet he wouldn't give it up for anything in the world.

One thing never did change, though. Like clockwork, those two showed up whenever he got too lonely. Granted, their interaction mostly consisted of a friendly chat and attempted murder, in either order. But they never failed to show up to take his mind off his troubles, with words and bullets to raise his spirit and occasionally lower the amount of blood in his body.

Even though they confronted him many times over the years, the vigilantes occasionally helped him take down one of those old monsters before they left to administer their own brand of justice elsewhere in the world. He never did find them when they were out adventuring, though they always had some good tales to tell him whenever they met. Though they fought many times and would continue to do so even to the day Sloane died, they were no longer enemies. The vendetta was over, once and for all.

[Sub-Zero MKA]

January 19, 1016 RE

Something had been bothering Maxana for years after the defeat of Kha'lud all those many years ago. No, not the unraveling of her life; that pretty much went without saying.

She remembered frequently her dealings with her ancestors. First Mälvaös, then Maximus, and finally Mikaela all impressed their fingerprints in her life in one way or another.

She wanted to do something to commemorate them and remind the city of just how important the Lindström family is to rhe city. So she spoke to the mayor and successfully lobbied for an area of the city's largest graveyard to be sectioned off specifically for the family. Made sense, said the mayor. Then, she had the best sculptor in the world craft beautiful statues for each of them to serve ad grave markers for their graves, as well as an eternal pyre provided for herself that she made sure would never snuff out, no matter how much rain, snow, sleet, or cold winds tried to do so.

With that done, one more task to be completed. History said that Mälvaös' sword, the one he used so skillfully during their fight on the Astral Plane, was never found when he was eventually killed. So there she was, inside the chrome and white pod connected to her company's time machine, dressed in the standard blue and white Lindcorp jumpsuit.

Her destination, Skandinavia, the year 867 AD. Her husband, Dr. Matt Richards, stood behind the control console with an understandably worried look on his face. "All systems are go. Time jump is to commence in ten seconds. Please be careful, Max."

"When am I ever not careful," she replied with a unseen cheeky grin, though he could tell it was there. He pressed the start up button and watched as a bright light engulfed the pod his wife occupied. The light faded quickly, and the pod was gone.

"Now, we wait."

It wasn't a long wait, only ten minutes before the bright flash of light blinded everyone, even with their protective goggles on. It faded, and the pod faded back into existence.

Once again, a time travel success. Maxana jumped out, grinning like a mad woman and drenched from head to toe in crimson blood, as if she had just bathed in the stuff. Before anyone could question her, she reached into the pod and pulled something out. A large sword, almost a long as she was tall, gleaming with blood and enscribed with strange markings. "History said Mälvaös' blade was never found. That is because I took it."

A replica of the sword was crafted and displayed in the National History Museum, while the real one was kept in her home. She often caught herself staring at it at strange moments, as if she could feel the power coursing through the metal. She was proud of herself for finding it, and she knew that he was, as well. It laid waste to countless enemies in the forefather's time, and when the time came, it would taste blood once more.

[Cthulhu_of_R'yleh]

After his final goodbyes to Max, Casimir departed Eden with Skye and his son, and didn't bother to look back.

The city wasn't his anymore, really it never had been in the first place, and he understood that now. And while he did go back to visit over the years, he never spent more than a day or two within its borders.

His first few weeks after coming back from exile were spent with Skye and Cash. She showed him where she'd lived for the years since her disappearance, and he helped her make it better. It was the least he could do. But, after a few weeks he was drawn away, and after a promise to return he left to settle some unfinished business.

He found Ramilla first, nearer to 'home' than he'd have ever imagined. Be attempted to talk with her.. and she tore his head off. He didn't bother fighting it. And as his body reformed, his mind and soul drifted to the Astral Plane, a home for Ether Lords not content to pass from the world quietly.. And he found Max's ancestors there, among others, and they were not kind.

Eventually he reformed, and the long process repeated itself. But he managed, finally, to get through to Ramilla long enough to state his intentions. They talked briefly, he spoke honestly, didn't make excuses, and she let him walk away in tact.

... It was a start.

----
A far off world in another dimension:

After he'd talked with Ramilla, Casimir had returned back to the dimension he'd rebuilt with Mnemosyne to think. And while he hadn't been gone more than a few months, centuries had passed. And in that time he'd found more work that needed to be done... He'd heard once before that the three Old Gods he'd met were not the last, and he'd meant to find them.

He remembered reforging the sword and setting out, making a promise to himself for the first time since he'd broken his last. And now, with only one thing standing between him and...

A blow to the face breaks his train of thought, as well as his jaw, and he curses himself for drifting off. He attempts to deflect the next blow with Tenebrous, and is knocked into the mountainside for his effort.

As many battles as he'd fought in the past century, this had never gotten any easier.

He pushes himself upright and waits.

The beast appears, and grins at him, it's appearance putting its heritage in the same category as Mnemosyne and his own. The last of the dark breed sired by Arnvusiil no less.

He launches himself forward and swings at it, fist crackling with lightning, it connects. The mountain he was standing on exploded from the force of the blow. But he knew it wasn't over, and to prove his point the beast howls. In pain or satisfaction he's not sure. But it doesn't matter.

He presses the attack... It would all be over soon.
----

Six months had passed when he finally returned to Skye, and it was immediately obvious something had changed. Each time he departed, his trips were shorter and shorter until finally, one night, he laid with her again... And that became routine. Eventually, he stopped leaving altogether. He had a family that he cared about, wanted to be there for. A woman and child he loved more than anything...

He'd found his happiness again. And that was more than enough.

[Eternal Torment]

Sloane Epilogue (2/2)

It had been a long day for Sloane. Yet again, Eisen had been fussing over the hook-hand and the eyepatch. He sighed once again as he entered his rather ramshackle cabin. He was far from the borders of Eden by now, but her concern was still fresh in his mind. It was a reminder, he had assured her. That said, when her kids commented on it, he had to play that usual role. Pirate uncle Sloane was a hit with them, but it made Bell's graduation really awkward.

He chuckled once as he sat down on a roughly carved wooden chair, beginning to relax when the familiar tingling started up in his arm and head.

"Aw, for fuck's sake. Are you collecting?" He called out.

In one window, he could see something rise. A jet black dragon with a pearl white eye. A pearl white dragon with a jet black eye.

The two patterns consumed each other's tails, forming an unbroken circle around the brim of a golden ten-gallon hat.

"Fuck no! Ya ain't losin' no parts this time." The shadow poked her head up, grinning widely as she pulled a bottle of something out of her poncho. "Come on out. Once in a lifetime, Sloane. We'll get ya tomorrow! Tonight, we're gonna have some drinks."

He scoffed. Fine, if they wanted to play it that way, he'd come out and let them get the first move off. With a grumble, he opened the cabin's door only to find that they weren't joking around. They even had some comfy looking chairs and everything.

"Welcome. Take a seat, if you please. Tonight is a time of peace." Milia's calm voice was a welcome relief from the brash roughness of her partner's yells.

He looked at the two hesitantly, then sat down in one of the chairs. Damn, it was pretty good.

A question came to mind, one that he hadn't a chance to ask until now.

"Yo, how is he, anyways? I visited your house a few times, but he was never around when I showed up. Is he doing okay?"

The shadow just laughed.

"Yep, he's doin' just fine. Shame ya missed his wedding, man. The big crybaby even mentioned yer name. He misses ya, wants ya ta know he never blamed ya fer what happened. Them days when tha two o' yous were kids, it ain't weighin' heavy on him. Don't go weepin' now, tonight's not gonna be one of those hug-it-outs, ya sack o' shit. Come by n' actually meet him again, ya hear?"

He only nodded at that. He would do that when he had the chance. Milia broke the brief silence with an abrupt declaration.

"I will spare you the effort of remembering what tonight is. It is an anniversary, Sloane. Decades ago, we first met as enemies. We settled things conclusively since then, but we never formally acknowledged it. Partake in the wine. We shall drink to the end of our hostilities, like we should have long ago."

The man stifled a laugh. Yeah, end of hostilities. Right. At this rate, they could keep it up until he died. Unlike them, he had aged. Those two hadn't changed at all since the fight to save Eden. Not for the better or the worse. Well, not outwardly, at least. They had grown stronger, just like he had. Enough to scar them like he had them.

Heh. Fair was fair, he guessed.

"Can you at least tell me why we're fightin' all the time? I've been asking you two for years, and I never got an answer."

That answer was met with a derisive laugh from the shadow.

"Well, it ain't fuckin' quantum mechanics! We just wanna keep ya on yer toes, that's all. With yer hobby, goin' soft would be a death sentence! And we don't hate ya that much, not these days." Her grin was vicious, yet casual. Sort of like the expression of a relaxed wolf.

Milia had a similar look on her face, though it was free of violence. It was a big change from the blindy he once knew and feared.

"Heh. Things aren't the same anymore, are they?" He snorted. Once upon a time, this never would've occurred to him. Peace with his two worst enemies. Well, not his enemies any longer. More like overly enthusiastic sparring partners.

"Time heals, Sloane. The only scars we carry are on the outside now." Milia took off her sunglasses, her ruined eyes blinking slowly and painfully in the red light of the setting sun. "What is left is to live our lives as best we can. We all follow that lesson, but we forget it time to time. This is our reminder. A pact, of sorts."

Sloane just nodded, like the shadow did. It seemed like all three of them could agree on that point. They raised their filled glasses, clinked them softly and drank deeply. It was a fragrant, sweet wine, a breath of life that wiped away their troubles.

"Hmm." Sloane leaned back in his chair. Already, that crystal clear moment was fading. He supposed that was just how things were. As Eden expanded, his most recent cabin would be demolished and replaced with more urban infrastructure. Yet again, he would be uprooted and forced to move to accomodate a place he couldn't really call home.

His life was ever-transient. Eventually, even those few stable points he had would disappear. Who knew what the future had in store for him or his friends?

"Maybe someday, there'll be an Eden without need for Snowblowers." He muttered idly.

Milia picked up on that, swirling her glass as she responded. "Nor an Eden that needs Executioners."

"Or an Eden that ne- Wait, what the fuck am I sayin'? Every city needs a person like me!" The shadow laughed.

Sloane rolled his eyes.

"What, a crazed vigilante? One's enough, thank you very much." He said dryly.

"I'll have ya know that Lawbringers like me are in high demand! It's a new age! People are better than ever, but they ain't gonna police themselves. Come on, I'm totally right here!" She declared with arms held up high.

Milia and Sloane snorted at that statement.

"I suppose the world could use one more Marisa. Or two." Milia conceded, smiling at her best friend. "But since we have given up our nicknames, I suppose you have to come up with something new, Sloane. Anything that comes to mind?"

The man did have one already.

"Yeah. From now on, I'm Sloane the Trailblazer!" He said proudly. "People are gonna need others to lead the way to a better future, right? Might as well set out ahead and give 'em a good route to follow. The mistakes we've made won't be done again, I'll make sure of it!"

To her credit, Marisa lasted a minute before she broke out into laughter again. Milia was much more polite, as she could hold hers in without signs of distress.

"Laaaame. So lame." The cowgirl shook her head with a fierce grin. "But the sentiment's good. Good enough ta drink ta, even."

She raised her glass, as did the others. For once, all three of them knew exactly what they should say.

"To a better future, and to the Trailblazer!"

[Tami]

Making her way to their bedroom, Rivia quietly enters and looks over her sleeping daughters. Picking uo an extra blanket, she carefully lays it over one then does the same for the other. As she leaves, she smiles.

Alexis 'Alex' Roux Matthews, the tomboy of the pair, her short Strawberry-blonde hair mussed, her cornflower blue eyes closed in deep sleep.

Her twin sister, Andrea 'Andi' Roux Matthews, lay in the other bed, her long auburn-red hair drapped around her head like a halo, her shamrock green eyes also closed in deep sleep.

Like their mother, both began manifesting powers by age three. By age nine they were already what was once defined as Class A level. Yet they were both far more fearless than their mother had ever been as a child.

Returning back to her room, Rivia found her husband Tom reading a book. Seeing her come in, he puts down the book as she climbs into bed next to him, snuggling up close, enjoying each others warmth that cold, Chicago evening.

As the city's population grew, Rivia and her family made it their home. However, their ties to Eden remained strong. Traveling back often to visit family and friends, keep up with where everyone was and what was occurring in their lives as best she could. She continued to paint and her art was often displayed in the Museums and galleries of the ever expanding world. Rivia also found herself with a new role, ambassador between the Humans and the non-humans who wished to live peacefully alongside the human cities.

[Hazard]

The Middle Of Nowhere ??? Years Into the Future

"You know, I have really looked forward to this," a man said to his two listeners, all while sporting an all to familiar grin.

He had gained a few inches, though he will never be called tall. His features had lost their youthful boyishness and gained sharpness. However, the aura brimming with confidence and cheer was unmistakable. He was Robert Dalts, a man that would win any election in Eden by a landslide if he bothered to compete.

"You said it!" said... Robert. It wasn't a trick of light. There was another Robert in the field.

In a flash of light WBX Robert and Cast Off Robert stood facing each other.

"Think you can get past my durability?"

"I could have kicked your ass 2435 times in the time it took you two say that."

Both Robert sported wide grins as they got ready, not that one could tell in WBX's case.

"And we're the ones supposed to guide Eden. I'm embarrassed to even be related to the two of you," the third person finally spoke up.



The looks were different. The tone and voice were different, but the confidence radiating from the man was unmistakable. This too was Robert Dalts. This too was Eden's Number One.

Far from being annoyed the two other Robert just chuckled, not bothering to hide it at all.

"Really, look what this guy is saying."

"Yeah, he tries hard to pretend, and goes on and on about duty but he's us in the end."

"Nah, don't get confused. At the end that sword of his is just for show," Robert taunted.

The dark haired Robert's eyebrow twitched ever so slightly.

"What did you just say?" The words were calm and measured, but both listeners knew themselves a too well to buy the act.

"That sword won't reach me."

"It won't make a dent in me."

"There is nothing my sword can't cut." As the dark haired man settle into a fighting stance the other two grinned. The look on his face may be fierce. The aura that brimmed with enthusiasm and joy at the prospect of fighting told a different story entirely.

Joyful laughter run through the field.

"Let's find out then!"

"Which one of us is stronger!"

[KingofPie]

Boss Epilogue Part 2

Parts Unknown...

Boss awoke to nothing but a swirling cloud of mist in a large, cold dark room. He was not alone however. He could hear hem. He could see them oo, bu barely. Many shapes. Many tiny shapes. Skittering in the darkness, crawling all around him. And that wasn't all. Two larger figures. One sitting alarmingly close to him, making noises. Sounded suspisciously like..typing? Weird. The other figure was much larger. Both were humanoid in shape. The larger one appeared to be slouching in slighly.

"Where..." Boss began, pausing at how his voice seemed to echo everywhere across the room in some kind of otherworldy wail. "Am I dead...?"

"No. You stopped being anywhere near death once you arrived here, son," a booming voice that Boss assumed had belonged to the larger figure spoke.


"Here? Where is here? Who are you...? Some kinda god or something like that. Hw did I ge here?" Boss asked, his tone, sounding winded and confused. Everything seemed so surreal as if this whole hing were an odd dream come to life.

"A god? Yes...Something like that..." the voice answered, sneering slightly. "You must've tampered with the leylines, boy. You tampered with something you couldn't completely control and paid a dear price for it...You've slingshotted around the cosmos. You became a celestial pinball between parrallel universes. and then somehow managed to find your way into my realm. You're quite lucky."

Boss wasn't sure what worried him more, the ramifications of his being so driven to find answers to the Omega Key and the dangers that would soon be plagueing Eden or the fact that this possible celestial entitiy was out here making pinball analogies. "I...don' suppose there's any way you can send me back, is there?"

"None that wouldn't result in your imminent death, no. the voice answered. "That said, I want you outta here. So...go on. Scram. Vamoose."

"...Vamoose?" Boss questioned. "Seriously? I just got here. I've got...I've got...I've gotta get home," Boss began, pacing the room. "But I have to figure out how. Perhaps...hey, do you have any tech lying around here?"

"None that'd be of any use to you, no."

"Great..." Boss muered, staring off into the distance, thinking. Looking to his left, he seemed to make out the other humanoid shape to be some kind of very tall woman. She briefly stared at him before concentrating once more on her typing. Boss sighed and asked, "What is this place anyway? You said it was your realm?"

"My realm. My home. My sanctuary. My dojo," the voice spoke, shifting slighly in what Boss now saw as a sort of throne. "The place where I gain power, gather knowledge, and prepare..."

This piqued Boss' interest. "Prepare? He asked. Prepare for what?"

"Devastation. Decimation. All around uncool termination," the voice sighed. "A danger to all worlds. All universes. I'm trying to prevent it to the best of my ability..."

"Man, I know the feeling..." Boss laughed grimly, shaking his head. "I don't suppose your looking for the Omega Key too?"

Boss suddely felt a glare shot at him. A strange one, as if many eyes were now looking down upon him. Around six of them. No...four? Maybe eight? Regardless, the glare ceased after a second and the voice conversed again, "Maybe. Looking into i is on my priority list. But I gotta know...where'd you hear about that...?"

"A...'friend' told me. Searching for it is how I ended up here in the first place. Was searching for info on it all across the multiverse before, my, uh...accident happened," Boss answered simply, inciting a long pause before the voice's laughter echoed and rang throughout the room.

"All right, kid. Tell you what. You've come all this way, took the wrong turn and can't find your way back. But here's how this is gonna go, see...I'll help you. Bu you gotta do an errand for me."

"An errand...?" Boss asked. "And I'm supposed to trust this sudden change of heart?"

"Long time ago, even I would've said ypu shouldn't trust me. But this ain't a long time ago, and I have nothing to lose from this."

Boss paused for a moment. "...Alright. What's your plan? I'll listen to it at least..."

"So, here's how this'll go; I grant you the ability to travel through space and to slip through pan-dimensional leylines. You'll be able to travel between universes without trouble...Only two things you gotta do in return...Deliver this package, to this address, on this planet in this universe," he began, handing Boss a small gift-wrapped present-looking box with the appropritate address written on. "And I need you to forward any info you have on the Omega key to me. And that's my bright idea. Now..." the voice said, sitting up in his throne as he drew his hand out for Boss to shake. "Can you dig it?"

***

Two Years Later...Two galaxies away from an Earth...

There was a world beyond Eden. Beyond the dome. Just as there were many planets beyond Earth, and beyond those planets, many more, and so forth. Boss just wanted to explore as much as he could. To study these planets, to study space. To meet cultures he'd never met before and invent bigass monsers to impress them with. But there'd be time for that later. Right now, he had a mission. A purpose. And as he stood on the surface of an alien moon, removing his helmet to breathe in that fresh moon atmosphere, his new form now seemingly made of a solid leylanic mist, he thought abou his goals and promised to stick to them and see them through to he end.

To hunt for the Omega Key or any information surrounding it and to slow the progress of evil to a halt. To give his all in trying to prevent San'Uld and this Alice person from causing even the smallest fraction of damage and pain that Khal'Ud did. And of course...showing off his genius intellect and heroism to he multiverse didn't sound so bad either. Boss smirked to himself as he placed his helmet back on. He turned around and hopped atop a massive dreadnought, a giant wasp-like creature.

"Let's go then," Boss smirked, cracking his knuckles as he and the wasp dreadnought began to fade between the leylines like a dissipating mist. "To the vanquishing of the bad guys. To glory...Let's kick evil's ass...And show it who's Boss," Boss grinned as he faded away. On to the next universe. The next enemy. The next adventure. It's gonna be a fun ride.

[Sub-Zero MKA]

A trendy melody rings out throughtout the park as a breaking newscast suddenly appears on a jumbotron on the side of a skyscraper. A pair of newscasters, male and female, then appear on the screen. "Good afternoon, Stockholm. I'm Jorge Manaya with News Media 12."

"And I'm Tabitha Ross. Well, it's been a very busy decade for Lindcorp International. They've been one of the three companies spearheading the restoration of the rest of the planet after the fall of the dome all those many years ago. We've also seen the changing of the captain of the ship from the venerable Joey Lindström to his daughter Maxana Richards. And now, comes a moment that both Lindcorp International and Xanatos Inc. have joined forced in a joint effort to bring to fruition."

"That's right, Tabitha. In just a few minutes, CEO Maxana Richards will be introducing the first results of their joint efforts to expand humanity's domain to beyond the borders of the planet Earth. And now, we will switch to our on site reporter, Trisha Takanawa, to see what the atmosphere around Lindström Tower is. Trisha?"

The camera switches over to a young woman of Asian descent standing in front of a loudly clammering crowd in front of Lindström Tower. "Thank you, Jorge, Tabitha. I'm standing here in front of the Lindström Tower, and the mood of the sizable crowd here can only be described as anxiously excited. For years, we have beem anxiously waiting for the moon colony to be introduced and ready for habitation, ever since the joint press conference between Xaric Raveneye and Joey Lindström.

"Now, today is the day that the complete Lindcorp moon colonly will be introduced. And I believe that…yes, Maxana Richards is approaching the podium and will begin speaking."

The camera zooms in on Maxana as she begins to speak. "Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. As you know by now, today is an exciting day for not only us at Lindcorp International, but also Xanatos Inc. and, of course, the world.

"When my father told me about his and Xaric's plan to retake the moon and give humanity a home there, I naturally was excited and confident. Not only because I knew that those two trailblazers could accomplish this rather hefty goal, but I also knew that this was the first step toward stretching humanity's influence outward, amongst the stars.

"And now, nine years after the announcement was made, the first step has been firmly established. Without further adieu, I give you Alpha Centauri."

A holographic image of the moon base fades into view above her head.



The crowd oohs and awes before erupting into exuberant applause. Maxana stands back, a proud grin across her face. The camera pans back out and focuses on the reporter again. "And there you have it. Alpha Centauri is said to be fully operational and ready to receive its first inhabitants starting next week. Now, I'm sure she will explain the dimensions and operations of the colony, but for now, we'll turn away and cut to quick commercial break."

'Do you like money? Of course you do! Here at CDD Technological Institute, we'll help you make money, get bitches, and live the good life! For more information, call 1-800…'

[Cleric of Hell's Brigade]

Bonus Epilogue:


Selma St. Johns smiled and watched her family as they played out in the yard. It had been years after Khal'ud's defeat, but Selma was still a country girl at heart. Once things had calmed down, she'd adventured a bit, but had quickly become home sick. After only two years, she'd come back and hadn't left since.

The St. Johns farm had grown over the years, and under Selma's guidance, it had become the largest farm Eden had, having absorbed and assimilated pretty much all the other smaller ones. Once she had set her family up, she had gone about just living her life in comfort and peace. She sometimes regretted not getting to know weather or not Eisen would ever return her feelings, but that was in the past now.

Instead, she had new things that competed for her heart.

She laughed as her five adopted children ran around the yard. Three girls and two boys, between the ages of 13 and seven. Orphans all their lives, she had taken them in one after the other, and she'd never been happier. As they played outside, tussling around and fighting, she grinned. She summoned up some of her blue energy into a faint ball and threw it at the, It smacked into the oldest boy and sent him tumbling back wit ha small shock. He yelped and fell over, the rest pausing in surprise before they all looked at their mother, who was grinning mischievously, balls of faint blue energy humming around her.

They shrieked and bolted away, Selma in hot pursuit as the game of laser tag started, laughter filling the air.

She'd never been happier.

____________________________________

Iriesia Cramoisie peered out he window of her high-rise office, observing the view cityscape of Eden with a curious eye. Years had passed, and after her and Takeshi faded from each other's hearts and minds, Irie had spent most of her time working with her family.

The Pangaean Project had evolved and become beyond essential to helping produce energy for the various cities, and now there was a Cramoisie Pangaea Generator in nearly every city on earth. The family had become wealthy and even more prosperous, but having done so, their enemies had also grown.

Not that any dared face them in open daylight. That would have been foolish. No, instead they hid behind legal loopholes, contracts, and subtle political maneuvers. Not that it really availed them anything. Still, she needed a watchful eye anyways.

As she continued to gaze out over Eden, she couldn't help but feel she had managed to accomplish only half her goals. Her family was beyond prosperous, her position as CEO beyond reproach, and her celebrity status garnered her a seat in almost any council she needed to be on.

And yet there was always something nagging in the back of her mind. Like she was missing something.

Or like something was coming.

Irie was a paranoid soul, and she had ever believed in preparing oneself.

And that was why, for years, she had been storing up water. Storing, charging it with her power, and then shelving it as she started the process again. She had entire lakes of the stuff by now, and yet she continued to gather more.

As she watches over the city, a grim smile pulls at her face. Whatever comes, she pitied it. The power she'd unleash on it when it showed its face would make the enemy tremble in fear.

And she was alright with that.

__________

Marko watched as the trainee Knights sparred against each other. After Khal'ud fell, he no longer wished to become a police officer. Instead, he had researched, with Tabia's and Hunter Snow's help, the complete history of the Knights of the Blue Cross. What they had stood for, where their bases had been, and where any of their old tech might still reside. Once he had accomplished that, he spent two years wandering the earth, digging through old ruins until every scrap that was left was found.

And then with his own hands, he created a training college far outside of Eden, and he restored his order. Then he started recruiting.

That was ten years ago, and the Knights numbers had swelled to over 150. Each year they gained for recruits, and each year more were Knighted and sent off to help the world. He smiled as he watched the future protectors of mankind. They would protect the world like the Knights of old did, against inhuman and human aggressors. Their main task at the moment was protecting starting families and cities from rogue bandits and marauders, which as Eden expanded and new settlements cropped up, became more problematic than before.

But nothing his Knights couldn't handle.

As he watches them spar, Marko smiles. Whatever comes, he was just glad he knew the world would be in good hands once he and his allies faded back into history. He pitied San'ald, if he ever did attack.

He wouldn't know what hit him.
___________

There, felt they deserved an Epilogue too. :)