The Glitch IV - Inversion (Ch. 1)

[LadyTevar]

"Quickly, this way!" he shouted, moving ahead, though motioning for Thog and company to stay back.

He had gotten halfway down the hall when the figure appeared at the doorway on the farside. Dressed in black, the hood concealing his face, through the swords he wore telling exactly who the person was.

Darek held his sword and axe in a ready position, but by that time, the man had closed the distance, and punched Darek in the chest, the armor crumpling slightly, and he flew back into Thog.

"Darek! Thog!" Leah exclaimed, running over to make sure both of them were ok. Darek was already starting to rise to his feet, staring at the cloaked figure with an unreadable expression. Thog had been knocked down by the impact, so Leah braced herself to give him a hand up.

"Is that you, Cloud? It's me, Yuffie? I'm so glad your here!"

Leah looked over to Yuffie, babbling happily ... and cried out as Cloud ruthlessly, callously, and brutally killed her. "no... oh no, no..." she moaned, unable to look away from the sight, clutching at Thog's arm.

[Charon]

Matthew had followed Yuffie to the forefront. Just as equally pleased to see Cloud as she was. But he caught that something wasn't right as she was running towards Cloud. "Yuffie! Wait! Something's not right!"

He was too slow. All he could do was stare in abject horror.

"Yuffie?"

Matthew took a step forward.

"Yuffie?!"

Matthew broke out into a run, brushing by his other compatriots he knelt down beside her, sliding her head into his lap. "Yuffie, hon, come on now. You're gonna be alright. We've got a lot of things to do once we get out of here." Matthew gently held her one hand that was not almost torn off from the attacks. "I've got to meet your dad, you've got to see the real me. Come on, please stay with me." Tears began to pour down Matthew's face as he spoke, dripping down to splash onto Yuffie's face.

[SirNitram]

"Darek..." Thog rumbled, his two blades being lifted. "....Get dem out. Le-dra need you." The half-giant had his eyes locked on Cloud. Fury rose up in him like a volcano. There was, he realized, no way he'd win against such a foe. There was a slim chance he'd survive. But with no one else having their power, and Darek the only one who knew the way.

The Half-Giant and the Grad Student were perfectly in-sync. Thog prepared for one, last, battle.

[Comrade Tortoise]

"Ted. Can you do the last rites on a body that we are far away from or at least part of them, on a body we are not in proximity to... because it couldnt hurt" Justin said as he hefted the piece of wood he was using as a club and prepared to either fight, or run for his life.

[Rukia]

Rory looked sick. She had seen dead people before, but had never seen someone be so brutally beaten. Then to see Matthew the was he was, it was just to much. Then Justin said something about last rights, and Thog looked like he was going to fight Cloud. She was shaking as she broke free from Ted, walking over to Leah and Derek. "Leah, talk some sense into him, there's no way in hell he'll make it...Derek? You two know him better, make this stop!"

She turned suddenly and walked toward Cloud. "What the fuck do you want with us? It can't be a fight, that'd be insulting to you. Do you really need all of us you or can you...." She was putting her head on the chopping block, "Can you use just one willing sacrifice? I have nothing to go back to...These people have lives, families, people that care for them... Not that you care." She took another step foreward, "Do you really need all of them?"

She had gone numb, her eyes were dull and her voice low and monotone. If anything the beating she was about to get would be enough of a distraction for the others to leave.

[Shark Bait]

Ted looked intently at the girl’s body she was still breathing but bairly “She’s not dead yet,â€

[LadyTevar]

Leah stared at Thog as he ordered Darek to get her to safety, then she looked around as the rest of the party faced down Cloud. Rory's plea nearly broke her heart... becuase she knew it'd not be good enough. OneWinged Angel didn't listen to anything but his own dreams...

"dammit... one summon,, one spell.. anything..." she muttered, just loud enough for Darek and thog to hear. "... hell... Bahumet would be nice right now... anything to get us out of here...."

[Comrade Tortoise]

Justin prepared to spring on Matt and pull him away from attacking Cloud, he had no cance against him. None of them did.

[Devonie]

The small goblin witch stood in the doorway, tears in her eyes. She'd only known the teen girl for a few minutes, but that was a horrible way to die!

She began to mutter, mostly out of habit; not believing it would work, but half-praying that it would, "Vas Flam, Vas Flam, Vas Flam...."

[Dark Silver]

Cloud's moves where quick, precise, and deadly. Before Darek could get back to his feet properly, the girl was slain. Thog said something to him, the entire party was preparing for a fight against Cloud.

They'd never survive.

Darek looked down the hall, a quick glance, and say Auron. He nodded to the man, as he looked to Leah, brought a cold gauntleted hand to her cheek, and carressed it lightly.

"I'm sorry beautiful....but none of you have a prayer against Him."

He said the words softly, as he leaned forward, and kissed her lips tenderly. Gone was the man who cold bloodedly slaughtered his two former friends, gone was the warrior who delighted in spilling his enemies blood.

Darek walked ahead of each of them, moved to Matthew, and looked down as Yuffie gave her last, shuddering breath, the death rattle deep in her throat. He set his hand gently upon Matthew's shoulder, saw what the man intended to do, and brought his fist squarely against the man's jaw.

Auron and Vash, by this time, had made thier way across the hall, Vash's eyes glowed with power as he hefted his gun, and Darek put Matthew in Auron's care.

"No." he said, grabbing two of Cloud's fallen swords, "Get them out of here. There's Nullcron on the loose..."

The angry face of the Humanoid Typhoon looked upon the Dark Warrior, then rushed out.

"Thog, listen to Auron, get them out of here!" With that, Darek leapt towards the hole in the ceiling, swinging both swords for Cloud.....


------- ------- ------- -------

The Pariah had dodged the bits of metal as Magneto flung them. "Pathetic human....we know who you are. Our Lord has told us all.....we will crush you....rend you...and convert you. Nothing can withstand the might of the Nullcron!"

The thrown Warrior had stood again, and the Flayed Ones had removed the shields from thier heads. Slowly, they were stalking Magneto, from all directions, the look of predators.

Finally, a Flayed One saw Magneto, clearly from his hiding spot. The ravenous beast leapt at Magneto's back, it's high pitched laugh filling the courtyard in murderous glee.

The Flayed one was nearly upon Magneto, when the gunshot rang out, drowning the laughter, and throwing the Nullcron against the far wall, a massive hole in it's head, dripping black ichor.

------ ------ -------

Auron picked up Matthew cradling the unconcious man gently. He looked against at the body of the young ninja girl, then looked back to Thog and company.

"Half giant! Grab the Goblin and Cleric! The rest of you, follow me, NOW!"

Auron stared up again at the battle, The initial blow was just now reverating through the hall, Cloud's sword blocking Darek's initial blows. Both combatants where in mid-air, they looked like they were flying, bouncing off each other, neither able to break the defenses yet.

Auron looked back to Leandra, and saw the axe and the sword near her feet, "Grab those!" he said, as he bent down, and for once, used his right arm, and scooped Yuffie up.

He could help the Dark Warrior in his battle, but he knew it would be for naught. Only if they survived would things be set right.

The samuri turned, and began to move down the empty hall.

--------------------

GM Note: Darek and CLoud aren't fighting a few feet from you, thier fighting ABOVE you! Above the stone ceiling going at each other, you can see them through the hole in the ceiling Cloud made when he slaughtered (glee!) Yuffie.

[Comrade Tortoise]

Justin didnt waste any time, and bolted after the Samurai without a word

[Rukia]

Derek blew past her, barely causing a breeze. She just blinked, -what the hell is going on?- She saw people yelling but didn't hear anything. Derek and Cloud were fighting only a few feet from her but she still felt numb, in the back of her mind she wished that a stray blade would get her. She dropped to her knees, tears running down her cheeks.

[LadyTevar]

Darek looked down the hall, a quick glance, and say Auron. He nodded to the man, as he looked to Leah, brought a cold gauntleted hand to her cheek, and carressed it lightly.

"I'm sorry beautiful....but none of you have a prayer against Him."

He said the words softly, as he leaned forward, and kissed her lips tenderly. Gone was the man who cold bloodedly slaughtered his two former friends, gone was the warrior who delighted in spilling his enemies blood.

He's mad. Even like he is, there's no way. He's going to die. Leah thought, staring as Darek calmly punched Matthew unconscious to prevent him from doing the same thing.

"Thog, listen to Auron, get them out of here!" With that, Darek leapt towards the hole in the ceiling, swinging both swords for Cloud.....

"No... " Leah whispered, watching the battle as people moved around her, her heart in her mouth as Darek and Cloud clashed overhead, one-winged angel and dark-clad warrior. Both were nearly too fast to follow, attacking in midair with a clash of swords that rang through the air.

Auron looked back to Leandra, and saw the axe and the sword near her feet, "Grab those!" he said, as he bent down, and for once, used his right arm, and scooped Yuffie up.

She blinked, actually seeing Auron now, then dropped her eyes to her feet. Darek's weapons. Axe & Sword. Still covered with the ichor from the last monster he'd slain. As if dreaming she picked them up. Her eyes rose, looking to Darek and Cloud, still slashing at each other. She wasn't sure either had taken damage ... yet.

Darek was swinging the twin swords in that deadly defensive circle she'd seen so many times before... the one that she had triggered her recognition of him as the Dark Rider. He was trying to protect her. He was giving them time to run. He wasn't going to look at her... because that would mean taking his eyes off Cloud.

Rory was on her knees. Thog had picked up the Goblin sorcercess, Auron had Matthew and Yuffie... what was left of her. "THOG! Vald! Grab Svi, let's get out of here!" Leah cried, turning and shoving Derek's sword into Elwyn's hands, keeping the axe for herself. It couldn't be much different from using a mace... right? "Run for it! Follow Auron!"

And as tears started to fall from her eyes, she followed in Auron's wake, not looking back at the battle, trying to ignore the clanging of weapons that counted the seconds they would have to escape. "...... I love you, Darek. If you survive, I will find you." she whispered the promise, clutching his axe tightly. "Give him hell...."

And she left, as Darek wanted, running for the freedom that he was buying for them all. The next bitError that got in her way was fuckin' toast.

[SirNitram]

"You bloody stew-pid!" Thog yelled after Darek as he took flight, but he followed Auron's orders. He snagged up the goblin and the paralyzed Sivri, starting to run like hell. The swords he had held onto a moment ago were tucked into his belt for now, as he ran like a half-giant possessed. While often a slowpoke, longer legs helped alot.

[Devonie]

While being picked up by a half-giant like a doll is humiliating in most situations, Jules realized Thog could move faster than she could. Her eyes on Cloud as long as she could, she continued in her attempts to cast Fireball. Sooner or later the spell-block had to end....

[frigidmagi]

The Pariah had dodged the bits of metal as Magneto flung them. "Pathetic human....we know who you are. Our Lord has told us all.....we will crush you....rend you...and convert you. Nothing can withstand the might of the Nullcron!"

The Flayed one was nearly upon Magneto, when the gunshot rang out, drowning the laughter, and throwing the Nullcron against the far wall, a massive hole in it's head, dripping black ichor.

Magneto grinned at Vash as a silent thanks, as he continued to throw everything he could life (barring Vash's equipment) at the monsterous beast. If he could kill the Pariah, nothing in the courtyard could hope to stand against his power. He backed away trying to get out of the damn thing's field.

"It is a joy to have compentent allies." He said to Vash and turned to the monster.

"Magneto can be defeated, he can be injuried, he may even be slain. But I will never serve your masters. I am Magneto, I will not be enslaved." He said with a snarl and threw a sharped edged piece of metal at it's head.

[Rukia]

"Thog you can put me down, my legs still work." Rory said to the half-giant. -Even if nothing else I have does-

[Shark Bait]

Ted ran behind the rest of the group panting a voice in his head happily told him "He who fights and runs away, lives to run another day"

[Dark Silver]

They were nearly there, soon they'd be out of the fortress, and he'd be able to get his charges to safety. He only hoped Magneto and Vash were alright. and Yuffie...

Auron looked down at the young girl's body held in his arms, she was far to young, and to be killed by her former friend. Auron had met Cloud before, he had admired the man's quiet ways, and his prowess with his sword.

But none of them had ever expected him to fall. This was new, he didn't know if he could bear to tell the others. Of course, he had to tell them..they would want to know who killed Yuffie...

"What I would not give for a Pheonix Down.." he muttered, glancing back to his charges.

They were following, but the Dark Warrior had told him to get the others out. To get them to safety. Eventually, he would have to find them a way home....

Then it hit him.

They were being drawn her, Darek told them to come here, that must have meant there was a way to send them home somewhere in the fortress.

But where?

Besides, the Nullcron where outside, Magneto and Vash were fighting for thier lives, to secure thier escape..

Where would Darek have the item....

He stopped in his tracks, suddenly, and spinned onto the group, looking at Leandra, "You, Cleric, tell me, where would your Dark Warrior hid things of great import? Quickly now!"

------- ------ ------

Beams of green death intercepted the metal Magneto had thrown at the Pariah, a plasma pistol held in his hand. Another burst of green energy destroyed Magneto's cover, and the mutant found himself surronded.

The Warriors were moving in on Magneto again, their staff weapons opening as they proceeded along. The remaining Flayed One scrambled up the wall, towards Vash, nimbly dodging the bullets he fired.

"You...." the Pariah spoke slowly, the face Nullcron face opening up for a moment, revealing the face of a man Magneto had known seemingly years ago, a former friend from a former life.

"You..are not Magneto....Christopher, it's time you died....."


------ ------ ------ ------

Above the fotress, Cloud and Darek continued thier deadly, mid-air ballet.

Swords clashed with a mighty cacophony of sound, the strength of each blow starting to echo the surronding countryside. The impact of swords started to sound like thunderclaps, as each tried to get the upper hand.

Cloud had the upper ground, his sword glowing with a faint blue gleam as he brought the blade down at the Warrior. Darek's sword barely managed to deflect the blow, as he began to plummet back to the stone walkway.

His entire body hurt, his chest was tight, his limbs felt weighted with lead. But he couldn't give in,they weren't clear yet. Every precious moment he bought them, the better.

Darek's hard landing on the stone set the entire fortress, already partially weakened by Magneto's influence earlier, shaking again.

He was slow to get to his feet, the One Winged Demon already upon him as he got to his feet. Three slashes of the sword scared his armor, throwing him against the north tower.

He flew through the heavy stone, peircing the tower, flying straight through and into open air. Cloud appeared directly behind him, The sword was held out, as Darek impacted on the blade.

His eyed opened wide blood spurting from his mouthas he looked down at the blade extending from his stomach. He screamed in pain, the sound loud, blood freezing, and echoing, as the sword twisted in his stomach, and the blade was brought upward, traced in the blue glow.

Cloud's smile was one of victory, as he preformed his climhazzard, and the look turned to one of outrage.

Darek's head had lulled back, a look of triumph on his lips, even as blood flowed freely from his mouth and stomach. "You lost...." Darek said, as his body disappeared in swirling darkness.

Cloud screamed his rage, as the scenery about him changed, and he disappeared from Zion.

[LadyTevar]

He stopped in his tracks, suddenly, and spinned onto the group, looking at Leandra, "You, Cleric, tell me, where would your Dark Warrior hid things of great import? Quickly now!"

Leah blinked, taken aback by the sudden question. "Darek.. umm...." she had to think, wondering why Auron would ask that now...

Oh.

OH! Darek was going to get them out of here! Whatever he'd use, he'd have made sure they could get it!

"With our weapons and armor, probably," she answered. "It would just make sense that way. Possibly in something of mine." She looked around the fortress, which was the normal Zion build thus far even if she'd not been inside this particular one. "Umm.. the Armory? In the central tower, on the third ....."

Her reply was drowned out by collapsing masonry as Darek was thrown through the tower's walls. His scream jerked Leah's head skyward, and Darek's axe drooped in her hand as she watched Cloud bisect Darek with one vicious upswing.

"Darek......... no.... DAREK!!!!!!!!!" she screamed, watching helplessly as Darek's bloody body seemed to fade into a swirl of black nothingness. "Darrrr-ek!!!" Tears streamed down her face, blinding her, as she slid to her knees, her lover's axe clanging to the ground as she dropped it to weep.

[frigidmagi]

"You...." the Pariah spoke slowly, the face Nullcron face opening up for a moment, revealing the face of a man Magneto had known seemingly years ago, a former friend from a former life.

"You..are not Magneto....Christopher, it's time you died....."

The face mirrored Magneto's, white hair, pale eyes, strong features. It stared down like a demanding king upon him, weighing him and finding him wanting...

"Pietro, my son? No, you're Nathan, what happen? I saw you fall! You died, they told me you died! This... What? Who are you?Where am I, what's going on!" Magneto groaned and fell to his knees clutching at his head with both hands.

"Magneto? Magneto!" Vash called and grunted. Great, now was not the time for this! He ducked a strike from the Flayer, they had to end this now. His left arm transformed into an small cannon and fired, blowing the Flayer apart. His right kept ahold of his pistol and with it he took down warriors who got into his field of fire. He twisted and fired the arm cannon at the Pariah/Quicksilver blowing his head clean off.

"Magneto! Come on pull yourself togather man, we're counting on you!" Vash called shooting another Flayer as he was surrounded.

"I... am my name is Chris, I am not! I... No." Magneto groaned pushing himself up gritting his teeth sucking in air. Nullcron gathered close around him, a second Pariah crept closer it's field reaching out for him. His bloodshot, confused eyes looked up and saw a stone above tittering on it's rest. With all the power left to him he reached and pulled.

With a groaning tear the stone fell and impacted, turning the second Pariah into paste. Magneto stood upright, gasping for breath.

"I am not Magneto, I am Chris NO, I AM NO CRIPPLED HUMAN CHILD, I AM HOMO SUPERIOR, I AM MUTANT, I AM MAGNETO" Magneto screamed at the top of his lungs, his shield snapped back into place as he soared into the air bellowing in rage. He tore the gate house off it's foundations and was torn apart in midair, used as ammo to slam the Nullcron against the walls of the castle. Once again the castle shook under impact.

"I am Magneto... aren't I?" he whispered as he witnessed the desturction he wrought.

[SirNitram]

Thog couldn't cope with it anymore. His friend had just died horribly, at the hands of a guy with a sword Thog wouldn't be able to wield. Le-dra, who he cared for deeply, was stricken with grief. Their reinforcements was being gripped by a horrible crisis. Thog couldn't handle it. The only response he had was smashing, but smashing wasn't working!

Albert couldn't cope with it anymore. He was in a game. It had to be a dream, but he dared not find out. Leah was in grief. Darek's player, a friend of his, was possibly.. Gone. And now someone else, someone who had come to save them, was falling apart. He had vanished behind Thog, because here, Thog knew how to act.

Albert won out, cresting to the surface. He placed Sivri and the goblin down, casting about. "I've had just about enough of this." He whispered. "Rory. Try and protect Leah. We're out of time here." He glanced at Auron. "I'll head for the Armoury. You have a ship, you said? Then we need to fall back before more of them show up."

Without waiting for a reply, the Half-giant sprinted towards what he hoped would be the armoury, hoping silently he'd know what the hell Auron was looking for when he saw it.

[Devonie]

yThe tiny Goblin strode to Leandra and put her arms around her. "Leandra?" She said softly, hesitantly. "Leah, honey... it's time to go... He wouldn't thank you for getting yourself caught...you *know* this. C'mon..." She tugged at the limp hand that had dropped the axe and looked at Auron questioningly...

[Charon]

Matthew openned an eye slowly, still feeling a strong pain in his jaw. His vision was bouncing with movement, the walls were passing by. What had happened? Memory returned in a flash of pain. Yuffie smiling and laughing, then falling, then blood, and death, then the connecting of a fist to his jaw.

His eyes focused on the clothing of who was carrying him, Auron. In his other arm was Yuffie. Yuffie. Her eyes were closed, there was a small amount of piece there now. But...

Weakly Matthew began to move, trying to reach out an arm to hold onto Yuffie.

[LadyTevar]

Leah looked up to the goblin, her eyes raw and red. Slowly, she started to nod, then suddenly she was nodding so hard her head seemed about to fall off. She couldn't speak, just took the sorceress's hand and squeezed it, then let go to pick up the axe.

Her hand hesitated, hovering over Darek's axe.. his axe.. before picking it up firmly. "You... really need to tell me your name..." she whispered to the goblin as she stood up. "... can't call you 'the gobliness' the rest of the day...."

As a joke, it fell flat, but it got her going. "The armory. Whatever Dar..." she stumbled over the name. "... Darek left... it's in my pouches or with Thog's stuff."