The Chosen

The following is a complete work of fiction.

Any resemblance between the characters and any real life person is completely coincidental. Please do not copy or distribute the story without the author's permission.

Disclaimer:

The following story may contain erotic situations. If it is illegal for you to read this please leave now. Also expect blood, gore, incredibly funny scenes and super-powered teenagers with a destiny to save the world. If you're not a fan of any of these plus strong cursing and violence than this is not your type of story.

Chapter 6

I chewed absently on a French fry lost in thought. It had been three days since the meeting with Early Dawn. My mind buzzed with questions that sought answers. Could we get the third Key before the Unrelenting? Could we stop them from ending the universe? I swept back my hair that fell on my face. Would I ever go and get a haircut?

An elbow jabbed into my rib and I glared at Kevin. "Can I help you?"

"Well for starters you can stop looking like your trying to do mental math, and try and pretend to be interested in what I'm saying."

I dropped my fry and turned fully to him, leaning forward intently. "Oh please, I'm all ears now. Enlighten my day, oh bestest friend."

Kevin looked me up and down. "Do I have to show you my pimp hand?" He tapped his finger against his chin thoughtfully. "You haven't gone out and made me my money in awhile, bitch."

I sighed tiredly. "Kevin. We've talked about this. You aren't a pimp and you have no ho's. Let. It. Go."

"You take all the spice out of life," Kevin pouted, staring sadly at his half eaten burger. "It's my birthday so you're supposed to be nice to me!"

I snorted. "I got you a nice gift, so that's the best you're going to get from me."

"You're such a bitch sometimes!" he said, laughingly. "I don't know why I put up with you. I swear as soon as the divorce is finalized I'm taking half of everything, and then from here on out it's going to be easy living."

"You're an idiot," I stated, gaping at his wistful expression.

He scoffed at my comment, and popped the collar of his polo. "Don't hate the playa, baby. Hate the game."

I blinked at him. "Sometimes I wonder how you could possibly be real."

"I'm just that awesome, huh?"

I rolled my eyes and muttered, "Yeah... awesome."

Kevin grinned brightly. "That's the respect I was looking for!" He hooked his arm around my shoulders. "I'm glad we get to hang out like this. It feels like its been forever since we've last chopped it up."

That damn guilty feeling came again. Surprisingly the feeling hadn't diminished with time, in fact it seemed to ache even worse than before. I wanted to tell him the truth so bad but I couldn't. He wasn't part of this world and I wanted to keep it that way. No matter how much I wished it otherwise, my destiny was to defend and protect. And most likely die doing it. I could never drag him into this part of my life with good conscious.

"I'm glad we get to do this too," I agreed, smiling. "Are you doing the usual dinner with your parents tonight?"

He nodded. "Yeah. We're going out to eat at my favorite restaurant-"

"The Sizzler," I interrupted, my face clearing showing my disgust. "I still don't see why that place is your favorite restaurant."

Kevin gasped staring at me horrified. "You cumbucket," he said in an accusing whisper. "It's the Sizzler! All you can eat, bro."

"And?" I asked, hoping there was more to it.

His eyes glazed over as he drifted into fantasy. "All that food. So delicious... You can eat all you want - get full, then just go back and get more... It's like heaven."

"Sounds like Jabba the Hutt's wet dream or you know, Kirstie Alley's day to day life," I said with a shrug.

He pulled a face and I gulped down the last of my water as the waitress came back to the table. She was dressed in a typical slutty outfit that was prevalent for girls that worked in a place that specialized in wings. I didn't want to go here but Kevin loved the Wingstar. I think it was a straight guy thing. I glanced at Kevin and he was ogling the girl's breast that was one seam away from bursting out of her shirt.

"You boys need anything else?" asked the waitress, batting her eyelashes and nibbling on the pen suggestively.

Kevin smiled slowly. I sighed. Here we go. She was just his type too. Big breast. Dark hair. Blue eyes. Kevin ran a hand through his hair and fixed her with a smoldering stare.

"I can do with your number for starters," said Kevin, smiling charmingly.

She giggled. "How old are you anyway?"

"Eighteen and ready for some action, baby—"

I cleared my throat and smiled sweetly at the waitress. "He's seventeen. Totally not legal and we would like the check," I read her nametag doodled with hot pink hearts. "Lacey."

Lacy's face suddenly brightened with surprise. "Oh! Let me guess," she said, giving us a knowing look. "You'll be on one check."

"Yes," I said, slowly. Didn't I just say that?

She nodded as if that confirmed some internal question. "You boys sure you wouldn't like any desert? It'll be on the house since it's your birthday. I can bring out two spoons and you can share."

Kevin's entire face brightened at the mention of free desert. "How did you know we wanted to share a desert?"

"You just look the type," she replied, smiling. "I'll have your check out in just a sec. You boys are too cute."

I blanched and I went into a sudden coughing fit, and Kevin frowned at me. I give him a meaningful look and I could see the mental wheels turning as the entire conversation went through his mind on rewind. Abruptly his eyes widened and his mouth dropped.

"It's sooo not like that!" Kevin denied hastily, waving his arms for emphasis. "We're just friends."

"Best friends," I added quickly.

Lacy's face fell and she tripped over her own words as she tried to apologize. It took her a couple of tries before she stammered off a heartfelt apology. We gave her a reassuring smile. She turned to leave and Kevin's smile suddenly froze and he cocked his head, staring at her curiously.

"What do you mean, we `look the type'?" he asked.

She looked at me and opened her mouth to explain herself. I shrugged apologetically and Kevin just stared at her with that frozen smile, waiting on an explanation. Her face turned red and she screamed something about the food being on the house before she darted off.

"Whoa! That chick can move," I said, amazed.

Kevin shook off his curiosity and stood up. "Well if she says the meal is free, I for one want to vamanos before she changes her mind!"

I checked my watch. "We have to start heading back to school. We have about six minutes till lunch is over and fourth period starts."

I threw down a five for a tip for the waitress. Then I remembered that we did get all this food free and the poor girl almost died from embarrassment, so I threw down another five. We stood up and exited the nearly empty diner. Instantly heat smacked us in the face as we left the air conditioned confines of the restaurant.

"Kevin, why are you looking at me like that?" I asked, as we walked across the parking lot.

Those brown eyes were curious as they stared at me. "Why do you think she thought we were together? Do I look gay?"

"Yes," I answered, dryly. "You look real gay."

He sulked as we approached the Blazer. "I knew it. It's not the first time someone has thought we're a couple. I mean. Even if I was gay you are so not my type."

I didn't even know where to begin with this. "How do you even have a type? Something you want to tell me?" I looked at him shrewdly. "Now that I think about it there have been signs."

"There has been no signs!" he shot back, outraged. He climbed into the Blazer and glared at me. "I'm just saying if I was gay I would have guys lined up around the block waiting to tap this ass."

Nausea threatened to bring up my lunch. "Can we please stop talking about this? Thinking about you having sex is disturbing on so many levels."

"Hater," he sing songed loudly.

I punched him in the arm. "D bag."

"Bitch."

"Tool."

He fumbled in his pocket and then tossed a rolled up dollar bill at me. I let it bounce off my chest and I just stared at him. He crossed his arms and curled his lip up.

"There's a dollar. Now go buy yourself a haircut. You look like the fucking white version of Aladdin."

My hand flew to my hair and I gasped. "You are pure evil," I whispered with dawning realization.

Kevin blew on his nails and then buffed them against his shirt. "And you're so easy," he replied smugly.

I didn't justify that with a response. If I happened to turn the corner too fast when leaving the parking lot, causing Kevin's head to slam against the passenger window – it was clearly an accident. Clearly.

Why oh why did I register for Criminal Justice? I rolled my eyes. I knew the answer to that one. One too many CSI dramas had influenced that rash decision. Mr. Harrison was a great teacher, but his over enthusiasm for the course overshadowed anything great about the class. My eyes glazed over as he went into another tale from his youth about how he single handedly tracked down the Crossword Killer. A notorious murderer from ten years ago, who was basically a watered down version of that killer from the Jake Gyllenhaal movie Zodiac. I tuned back in as he concluded his walk down memory lane. Finally.

"And now before we depart I want you to break into pairs," instructed Mr. Harrison much to everyone's ritual groans. "I will ask that you do a report on a criminal case, and what methods were use to solve it. I want it to be at least six pages, and its due one week from today. Now break into pairs."

Immediately there was a swarm of activity as people migrated across the room to link up with their favorite person, or the person they thought would get them the best grade. I kept in my seat and looked around. I didn't really know anyone in this class. Since it was the last class of the day usually I zoned out and engaged the clock in a staring contest, willing it to go faster.

A grinning tanned face covered by glasses appeared in front of me. Martin Hernandez - second in our graduating class, and overall my biggest admirer, after my boyfriend of course. A spot that he was trying hard to earn back. His black hair was long and worn in tall gravity defying spikes, that didn't disguise the fact that he was short. He was cute but totally overeager.

I mustered up a small smile. "Hi, Martin."

"Hey, Chad. You need a partner?" he asked in one breath. "We can work at my house if you want. My parents are hardly home, and you can finally check out my room."

His room? Definitely has gotten bolder since the last time we've `talked'. "Uh, actually-" I said slowly, thinking quickly. "I already have a partner."

Smooth move, Chad. Could I lie any worse that that?

Martin licked his lips seductively. Or well tried. The effect was lost as his tongue produced too much saliva, leaving a trail of slob that drooled down this chin. Gross! I couldn't resist the shudder that shot through my body. Someone get this kid a paper towel.

"You, uh-" I stammered, pointing to this chin. "You got- something-"

Martin wiped at his chin with his finger, and brought the digit to his mouth licking the wet tip, as the sunlight shined through the windows and glinted off his braces. Not sexy. Not sexy. Not sexy! The mantra screamed in my mind. He winked at me and it took an act of God not to throw up in my mouth.

"So who's your mysterious partner?" asked Martin, breathing ragged like an asthmatic. I'm sure it was his flirty voice. "I didn't even see you move."

Panic surged through me and I twisted quickly in my seat, randomly pointing to the first person I saw. Martin's lips twisted in a sad frown as we both followed my finger. The finger that pointed to non-other than Isabella Graison, sister to Ian Graison, pain in my side, and all around jerkface. Someone up there really loved me. Yes, that was sarcastic.

"Ah, shit," I cursed under my breath.

Martin huffed and walked off when I gave him an apologetic shrug. The redhead glanced up and pinned me with those green penetrating eyes as I approached. Wondering how many of these was I going to have to use today, I stapled a fake grin on my face.

"Hi, Isabella," I greeted, taking a seat next to her. "Do you want to be partners?"

She smiled shyly ducking her head, letting her silky hair curtain about her face. Wow. I hadn't seen anyone this shy since Sixteen Candles. She grabbed a pen and quickly jotted down a note in loopy letters.

I can't talk. I'm mute.

Oh. I flashbacked to the times I had seen her before and realized with a jolt that I indeed hadn't ever seen her talk. What might be a setback for others wasn't for me. As luck would have it. I knew sign language. I took ASL classes all through middle school. Admittedly for a purely selfish reason. And that reason was Zack Griffin, who was one of the hottest guys in school. He just happened to be deaf also. At least those classes weren't for naught. I scored my first date and a whirlwind, month long relationship with Zack.

/No problem - Do you still want to be partners?/ I said through sign language.

It came back like riding a bicycle. I was banking on the chance that because of her disability that she knew sign language. Sure enough my logic paid off, because a brilliant smile lit up her face before I finished the movement. She was beautiful. I was reminded strongly of her twin brother for a brief moment. Ian was just as gorgeous, that is, until he opened his mouth.

/I had no idea you could sign/ her hands moved rapidly reflecting the excitement she radiated. /I would love to work with you/

"Cool," I grinned. "So can I get your number and we can get in contact with each other later to discuss what we want to do?"

/Sure - I would like that a lot/ Isabella scribbled her number on a piece of paper. /Just text me later and we can go from there/

The bell rang signaling the end of school. I helped her gather her stuff and she waited on me as I did the same, and together we left the classroom. We joined the throng of people that swarmed the hallways. I caught sight of Ryan at the same time he saw me. He jogged over and unfortunately Killian was right beside him, as always.

"Hey, Chad," said Ryan, flicking his hair across his forehead. "Who's your friend?"

I motioned at the female who stood next to me wearing a polite smile. "Isabella. This is Ryan and Killian. Guys meet Isabella. She's actually Ian's sister."

"Oh," Killian said shortly, already not a fan.

He already didn't like her just by association alone. I must admit I didn't blame him. Killian was an ass to the both of us. I was all for holding a grudge too, but Isabella was always smiling, so it was hard to actively dislike her.

Isabella signed quickly much to the surprise of Ryan and Killian. "She says it's nice to meet you," I translated causing Ryan's eyebrows to almost shoot into his hairline.

"I didn't know you knew sign language," admitted Ryan, impressed.

Killian snorted, not at all surprised. "He learned all through middle school, and all for Zack Griffin. Chad pulled a Felicity, and signed up for the same classes as the dude just to get Zack to notice him."

Of course Killian knew that. A long time ago we had been friends once. Ryan chuckled at the story and I shrugged sheepishly. Hey. It worked. I landed my first date.

"Didn't I tell you to stay away from my sister?"

I spun around and sure enough there was Ian and beside him was Adam. What the hell? I gave him a look that said exactly that. In return I received an apologetic smile and shrug. I rolled my eyes. He was really too nice for his own good sometimes.

"So what level of hell do you teleport from that lets you appear every time I'm near your sister?" I asked, scathingly. "Cause I gotta tell you, lowjack has nothing on you."

Ian grabbed Isabella's hand and brought her to his side. "My sister is off limits to you. You don't speak, think, or look at her," Ian ordered, green eyes flashing with irritation.

I grabbed Adam's hand and yanked him to my side much to his alarm. "I could say the same to you," I hissed. "I told you my boyfriend was off limits, you Lohan family reject."

"I so don't like you," said Ian with pure loathing.

Killian made a noise in the back of his throat. "You speak as if we like you and your opinion matters."

"I forget your name. Aren't you the wannabe model?" asked Ian, harshly.

Killian cracked his knuckles, grinning savagely. "Oh, you are just begging for this ass whooping. As one of my idols always says, Auf Wiedersehen-"

He cocked back his fist and my anxious grin fell, as Ryan's hand flashed through the air and caught the fist that was about to make contact with Ian's face. Oh damn.

"I think we better go," said Adam, hastily.

A crowd began to form around us and I mimed to Isabella that I would call her. I grabbed Adam's hand and followed behind Killian, who was being dragged down the hall by the hand, courtesy of Ryan.

"This isn't over!" called out Ian to our departing backs.

I shot him the finger. "This isn't a Saturday morning cartoon, Megatron. Shut the hell up!"

Adam chuckled. "Nice one." He wrapped his arm around my waist and squeezed. "Did I ever tell you that you're sexy when you get jealous?"

I tried to hide the smile that formed. "Once or twice." I jabbed him in the ribs with my elbow. "Don't you let that fire crotch make a move on you, or I'll stop your heart. Not in a ha ha, funny, joking kind of way. I will seriously stop your heart."

Adam busted out laughing and kissed my cheek making my skin all tingly. He leaned in close so his breath ticked against my earlobe, and he whispered, "Oh baby, you talking all rough makes me all kinds of hot."

I stopped in my tracks. "Seriously?"

He nodded, eyes shining intensely. "Oh yeah."

Barely registering we had stepped outside I looked down and saw the front of his slacks looked a larger than normal. I swallowed heavily and promptly walked straight into a pole.

Way smooth, Summers. An echoing noise that was part ring and part buzz filled my head. I pouted at Adam who was trying and failing not to laugh. He helped me up and the persistent noise that I thought was just in my head wasn't. It was coming from my back pocket. I flipped open the phone that Nathaniel had given me.

It was a text message that said only two words:

Found it.

I looked up and the others had stopped where they stood in the parking lot, each had their own phones open reading the same message I received. I met Adam's eyes. This was it.

My phone closed with a snap. "We're on. Let's go."

We rushed to the Ruiz Estate, and broke so many traffic laws that I probably would have to pay my weight in fines if a cop stopped us. When the bad guys currently were winning in the race, and the prize was a weapon that causes the destruction of the universe, speed limit be damned. The doors to Operations opened with a quiet noise and we stepped into the room and instantly halted in our steps. Side by side at the sensor console was Nathaniel and Celeste. And the wizard and the angel were so caught up in each other that they didn't notice our presence.

"I bet it takes them another four minutes till they notice we're here," muttered Killian, non-too quietly.

Nathaniel jumped as he turned around, but Celeste only smiled slightly. "You arrived quicker than we thought," she noted.

Ryan chuckled. "These three drove like bats out of hell."

"End of the world or speeding ticket..." Adam compared, raising an eyebrow. "So what did you guys find out?"

"Please tell me its good news," I interjected, as we crowded around the monitor along the wall.

Nathaniel beamed, green eyes twinkling happily. "It's very good news. I think we've actually found the Key of Power. From what Early Dawn told us we know it was last on Mars."

I nodded. "Yeah, but if I remember right the Khanite Mars was destroyed. That whole colony is nothing but dust just like the rest of the planet."

"I thought the same, but what if not all of it was destroyed?" Nathaniel posed forth, grinning excitedly.

Killian shook his head. "But wouldn't NASA have found something by now if it was there?"

Ryan pushed his glasses up with one finger. "Not necessarily. They've only been sending probes and rovers to land on Mars for a relatively short period of time."

Celeste pressed a button on the console. "After scanning the planet with the long range sensors this was discovered."

The monitor displayed a rough digital image of Mars. The planet rotated on its axis till it stopped, showing an unusual anomaly that was obviously unnatural. It was a dome or a bubble, a perfect half sphere that was giving off energy readings.

"What is that?" I asked, pointing at the display. "It looks like a forcefield, but its way too small to fit the entire colony in there."

Nathaniel clapped his hands together, smiling. "I think that when the Lords in Shadow attacked the city the shields of course failed, but for some reason this portion of the colony has since remained shielded."

"The energy requirements to sustain a shield this long are enormous," deduced Ryan. "But with the right source it can be done."

Adam followed this train of thought. "That source could easily be the Key of Power if it's tied into the shield grid."

"Okay, cool," I said, crossing my arms and leaning back against the table. "But how are we going to get there? I doubt that Killian's Sun Rise technique can transport us all the way to Mars."

That sure threw a wrench in their plans. Silence reigned for all of a second before theories and suggestions exploded forth from everyone at once. Well except for Celeste who watched the proceedings with a calm smile. It's not like she was allowed to actively help. Passive help was what her bosses, our bosses actually, had tasked of her. Sort of how Gandalf and the wizards in Middle Earth were sent by the powers to help the free-peoples, not by engaging Sauron with their power, but through rousing men and inspiring in them great courage. Great books and good movies, that could have been better if Orlando Blood had gotten shirtless at some point...

"Do you have any suggestions, Chad?" asked Celeste, drawing the others attention on me.

No pressure.

I shrugged. "I don't know. Are there any Star Dancers left? We could fly there."

"The systems would have long ago automatically detected any ships on Earth capable of sublight speed," answered Nathaniel. He paused for a long moment as he looked at me considerately. "However... You yourself are another story."

I blinked. "Come again?"

"You've used spells more than once that are capable of manipulating the natural energies of space and time. Like your Giga Annihilation Program or the Justice Apocalypse. Surely, you could utilize a spell that can get you to Mars."

My mouth opened and then closed ready to deny that I couldn't do it. But he had a point. In the past I had used spells to manipulate space and time to create power the likes no one had ever seen. This was different. This wasn't about taking power and channeling it to destroy or undo. I was going to have to play with space to bridge two points, which required greater finesse than the brute force that I usually employed when slinging magic.

"Can you do it?" asked Nathaniel.

"Hold on, I'm thinking," I replied, distantly. "I-I think so. Give me a minute. This is going to involve some thinking."

And that was putting it lightly.

I sat down at the table and willed the Videum Crystallus to appear. It materialized before me and I instantly flipped to the page on what humans would call quantum physics. Atlanteans used base eight math as opposed to base ten that humans commonly used, which if they did, then they would find a revolutionary way calculating distance between points. I conjured a pen and paper and instantly began scribbling away, tuning out the world around me as my thoughts processed with a speed that was inhumanly possible.

Equations filled the page that would make little sense to even a rocket scientist. I actually didn't have a spell already crafted for teleportation or transportation of any kind over such a long distance. There was never a need. Not with the space ships the Atlanteans had. So I had to start from scratch.

All of our mass combined to travel from this point to 186 light-seconds away, the distance form Earth to Mars, would require approximately 21,475 solar watts. The energy demand was small, but it would require teleporting. Statistically, the risks were greater to teleport than opening a portal. All it would take is one fatal mistake, and our molecules could be scattered all across the Horsehead Nebula.

A portal was safer but it would require an energy demand of 39,292 solar watts per second. Safer all around but the power input was greater and more costly. I definitely couldn't hold the portal open for long. That was a given. The universe wouldn't like an artificial hole in it for very long. It would put a strain on me the likes of which I couldn't guess, and when I couldn't stand the force, the laws of quantum psychics would come into play and crush me with unforgiving efficiency.

I scribbled out an equation and wrote an infinity signal over the equals sign. I looked over the figures with a critical eye. Spellwork wasn't all waving my hand and willing something to happen. When it came to messing with the very fabric of space then caution had to be ensued. Especially when it was my ass was on the line.

A humming sound kept popping in my mind. I snapped out of my trance as I realized that Adam sat next to me, softly trailing his fingers down my forearm with soft touches. The sound was his absentminded humming as he stared far off, lost in thought. I glanced around and saw everyone else engaged in their own private conversations. How long had I been working? I glanced at my watch. It had been half an hour. Damn. I grabbed Adam's hand during one of his fleeting passes, startling him out of his thoughts.

"What are you humming, loverboy?" I asked, curious. "It's pretty."

Adam blinked bringing the world back into focus. "Oh, hey," he said, smiling guiltily. "I don't really know. It's just a song that my mom used to sing to me when I was little to put me to sleep."

"So does it have any words?"

He grinned and jostled his shoulder against mine. "Always trying to hear me sing, huh babe?"

"You got me," I admitted with a shrug. "So what's it called? I definitely want you to sing it. I love your voice."

Adam thought for a moment. "I think it's called Descent of Entropy." Slowly, he licked his lips and took a breath and sang, "Here beneath the light. Save me from the creature's blight. Stars are fading but hope prevails. Chase back this endless dark and despair," He kissed my fingertips and whispered the last bit in a melody, "protect us from the descent of entropy."

I smiled and looked away as he tangled his fingers with mine. I felt eyes watching us. Not us. Celeste blue eyed stare wasn't on me at all. Her eyes were trained on Adam and him only.

"Celeste, are you okay?" Nathaniel asked concerned, touching her shoulder.

Her expression was one of utter calm but her eyes were dark and unreadable. "Sorry, I apologize but I must leave. I shall return later."

She disappeared in a flash of gold light leaving a frowning Nathaniel staring at the space she once occupied. I shrugged and went back to the equations. Everything appeared to check out.

"I did it," I announced.

They scrambled over to me. I leaned back and waited for the questions, as Nathaniel and Ryan went over my calculations.

"So you plan to open a portal?" Ryan asked, studying the formula hard.

I nodded. "It will take more energy than a teleport, but it would be ninety percent safer then teleporting."

"I don't understand," voiced Killian with a confused frown. "You've opened portals to the Ever After before. Why is this one different?"

"The walls between our universe and the pocket universe that is the Ever After were thin and easy to cross through, especially since we created the barrier in the first place. Basically I had the backdoor password." I explained, patiently. "To open the barrier I basically punched a hole in reality between our two universes. This isn't the same thing."

"I get it. Because you're not folding space, but funneling through it," said Killian, surprising us all. "You're traveling through subspace, like a wormhole." He smirked at us. "What? I pay attention sometimes."

Kudos to him. The less I had to explain the better. "So everything savvy?" I asked.

Nathaniel smiled proudly. "Excellent work, Chad. I'm really impressed."

"I aim to please," I smiled, oddly touched that he was proud. "So let's get this show on the road. I want to get this Key before the bad guys huff and puff and blow our house down."

Adam groaned. "Nice metaphor for the universe going boom, baby."

We stood up in one fluid motion, and our clothes faded into our Chosen uniforms before we completed the movement. Ryan and Killian transformed within the blink of an eye, leaving Solaris and the Executioner in their stead.

"Do you stuff, Warlock," said the Executioner.

I stepped away from them and closed my eyes. Exhaling slowly I centered myself. I raised my arms and poured power from my fingertips into the air before me. The air shuddered in my touch as I willed it to part. It resisted but eventually bowed under the power that I bled out, followed by a megaton pulse that jumped from my palms.

The pulse interacted with the exotic power I flooded the space with. The air began to twist shining with a violet radiance that bathed the room, as subspace visibly distorted under my efforts. Concentrating on the points in space for our destination, I twisted my fingers and willed the distortion to stabilize as I anchored it off on both sides.

I dropped my hands and looked the portal over with a critical eye. The violet light looked like a cylindrical whirlpool that lay on its side. I could feel it as a dim echo in the back of my mind, feeding me coordinates and power emissions.

"It's ready," I declared, waving at the portal triumphantly. "Dah dah!"

"Nice work, Chad. I'll stay here and watch for any activity on the Unrelenting," said Nathaniel. "Good luck, boys."

I smiled grimly and nodded. Together as one we stepped through the portal. Violet and sea green light met in a clash of color that eclipsed my vision. It last for a long moment till it vanished and my boot clad feet sunk into lifeless, red dirt.

We made it. I closed the portal with a thought and felt its connection vanish from my mind. Silently we looked around the lifeless planet. Derelict ruins surrounded us. They were still intact but had gone to seed after all these years of neglect. The forceshield may have protected this portion of the Khanite Mars, the rest of the colony hadn't fared as well.

Craters from the bombs explosions covered a majority of the Martian surface. The mighty city had lasted for weeks against the siege but the strength of numbers overwhelmed their mighty defenses. All that was last of the once great colony was a few scattered structures that existed within this forceshield.

I had visited the Khanite Mars once. I knew that over that crest of hill was the great canyon Valles Marineris, more impressive than even the Grand Canyon. Even from here I could see the huge, ice capped peaks of Olympus Mons, the now dormant volcano, which once provided the geothermal energy that powered the city. Visions of crystal lakes and bustling streets danced across my memory.

"Warlock?"

I blinked and it was gone.

"Yeah," I said turning to Omega.

He grabbed my hand and squeezed it once before letting go. "You okay?"

"I will be," I answered truthfully, turning to the building that once was the city council. "If I remember right there was at least three weapon lockers underground through here. They should still be intact. The engineers would have built them at least eight miles deep."

"I think that'll be the best place to start," agreed the Executioner. "If the Key of Power is in one of those vaults then there is no way that I would be able to detect it up by a scan."

The Executioner had to do a manual bypass on the door's sensor since it was shot to shit, but it didn't delay us any longer than three minutes. The inside didn't get much better. It was gloomy and barely lit as the environmental systems operated at minimum efficiency to conserve power.

Luckily the transports were still functional. We found the lift that led down to the lower chambers that was miles beneath the Martian surface. The doors opened and we stepped into a circular room occupied by boxes and crates.

"This must have been a bomb shelter," Omega assumed, going through the stacked boxes.

The Executioner went to a nearby door. In his hand was his phone, that like all ours housed a computer system more advanced than anything on Earth at the moment and for thousands of years yet.

"I've linked up with the network of the building and pulled up its schematics," he said, keying open the door. It opened with a hiss and he jerked a thumb. "This way."

The corridor was anonymous and dimly lit as the rest building above us. Nothing jumped out from the corners and it was quiet except for our quiet chatter. We turned right at a junction and then found the way blocked by a collapsed ceiling. Twisted mess of steel and rock cut off further crossing. We stopped and frowned at the sight.

"I guess we should have made a left," Solaris deadpanned.

The Executioner chuckled. "Nice deduction."

We backtracked and then made a left at the junction this time. The hallways were in good shape considering the circumstances. There was only minor structural damage and little debris that got knocked loose during the nuking of the surface. Twenty minutes of walking and we finally came to our destination. In front of us was a huge hunk of shiny Tritium, a metal that was stronger than steel and made Adamantium look like aluminum foil. The slab of metal was held closed by six diesel sized bolts. This vault could withstand direct fire well into the triple digit megaton range of explosives.

The trick was the metallurgists worked the metal so that it was able to absorb all vibrations and kinetic energy directed at it. The energy was then stored within the bonds that made up the substance, resulting in the metal becoming tougher with the more energy it absorbed. It had only been recently developed before the Fall, as the metal came from a planet beyond the Sol System.

"I recognize this," muttered the Executioner. He sighed and shook his head. "There's no way we're breaking down this door."

We had come too far to be stopped by a freaking door. No matter how big and tough. "What do we have to do to open this thing?" I asked, stepping closer toward the vault.

A black panel on the Tritium door flared with undulating Atlantean script. "Stat-e des-gnation... input- authoritttion."

The disembodied voice stuttered and cut off.

"Malfunction?" Omega reasoned, frowning at the door.

"Damn it!" I snapped. "This is unfuckingbelievable!" I turned to the Executioner. "Can you fix it?"

The Executioner already had his phone out and was tapping away at the keys. "There is no way I could fix it. The AI's data is corrupted and without it online and fully functional, then there is no way we can get into the vault."

I rubbed my chin, thinking. An idea was forming. It was there but just out of my reach. I focused on the fogged thought and it cleared with a abrupt clarity.

"Executioner, link up with the database back on Earth," I ordered, going with my gut. "The Atlantis network is trashed, the core is long gone. However the database should still hold the memory of the core from its last system data save."

The Executioner eyes lit up, as he rapidly typed away. "I think I know where you're going with this."

"I don't," admitted Solaris, frowning. "If you're thinking about sending the database AI against this defense AI, then you're high. The defense AI, raggedy as it is, its defensive protocols would rip through the database AI and fry that phone."

I grinned. "That's why I'm not sending the database AI against the Vault AI." The Executioner looked up and sent me a quick nod. "I'm sending the Atantis Core AI against this piece of shit."

"Accessing command core protocols from backup within the database," the Executioner said, keying in a command sequence. "Core AI is isolated. Kernel coming online... now."

Light fell from the ceiling in a flickering beam of meandering script and code. It wavered and twisted, taking shape into the shape of a man dressed in long elaborate robes of a priest of They Above All. He had long hair tied back, and his transparent body wavered slightly before resolving itself. His emotionless face looked up from the ground.

"Atlantis Command Core, online," the data-hologram announced. "Unfolding higher logic command core... Done. Polling memory core... Error. Rerouting from Terra Outpost Sigma-Seven-Gamma... Done. Updating system events-" the man stopped, looking up with equal concern and confusion. "This is disconcerting."

I shared a glance with the other Chosen at his last sentence. He must have come across the gap in his event logs. The man studied us one by one.

"I have analyzed your magical field and life force," said the man, training a pensive stare on us. "Am I correct to state that you are the Chosen? Yet, you all are much younger than you are to be."

"You would be correct," said Omega.

The hologram folded his hands before him. "Logic states that a reincarnation event must have occurred." He looked at me and I nodded. "Your Highness, my event logs appear to be... out of date."

"About 15,000 years or so," I muttered.

The hologram nodded. "It would appear to be so. I cannot seem to access the Atlantis network. All ports to the city appear to be offline. My capabilities in the current system are rather limited than my normal functionality. May I enquire as to the current state of affairs?"

"The Executioner can fill you in," I replied, gesturing to the taller figure.

The AI bowed his head and holographic script flashed into existence around his body in a circular track, as the event logs from the Executioner's phone link wrote themselves into his faster than light data banks. Four minutes later, the script faded away and he looked up.

"The situation is much more distressing than I first perceived," said the hologram softly. "I am sorry for your loss, your Highness. Your father and brother were a pleasure and a light among your people. How can I be of service, your Eminence?"

I smiled sadly, feeling a pang in my chest. "Thank you. You can do the biggest favor by opening this vault."

The hologram turned and looked intently at the door. "Mars special weapons locker 11X0, high level encryption, with a triple lockout password. The defense AI's entire mainframe is corrupted. It will take approximately 12 minutes to work around the systems defensive protocols lest it perceives me a threat, and turns its defenses onto you."

"And we definitely don't want that," Solaris agreed wholeheartedly.

The digital man faced the door to the vault and pointed his arm at the unmovable slab of metal. Winding script circled his hand and he held that pose.

Omega slipped his hand into mine, staring at me amazed. "You're really stepping up today. I'm proud of you."

"I used to be surprised by it, but I'm starting to get used to leading. Maybe that's the trick," I murmured, softly. "With the more confidence I gain, the more my instincts of being leader come out."

"You might be on to something," Omega agreed, placing a soft kiss against my forehead.

It was a tiny kiss but it made me tingle and shiver all over. I loved this boy. I looked up at him and his hazel eyes stared into mine, silently communicating his feelings. I tried to pore all my emotions into my gaze, hoping that he could see even half of what I saw in his eyes.

I guess it worked, because he smiled brilliantly and quietly whispered, "I love you."

"That's funny," I whispered back, teasingly. "Cause I love you back."

Solaris cleared his throat. "I hope you two don't think this about to turn into a make out party... if so then you got another thing coming to you."

I turned a scowl on him. "And we were doing so good today too. We almost made it through the whole day without insulting each other. Do you want to have a go?"

"Please not now," sighed the Executioner.

"Why not?" whined Solaris, or it sounded like a whine to my ears. "He's practically begging for it."

I wasn't begging for anything! "Listen up, nightlight. This is how it's going to down-"

Omega slammed his lips against mine, kissing me with a sudden intensity. He weaved his fingers into my hair. Automatically, my arms tightened around him possessively, squeezing him so close I'm sure he could barely breathe. Warmth flooded through me and my heart threatened to burst from elation.

When Omega broke away, he let out a shaky breath and slid his arms around my shoulders. He rested his forehead against mine, slowly regaining his composure before he smugly said, "I knew that would shut you up."

"I won't hold it against you," I replied dazed, and all sorts of giddy.

"That was kind of hot," said the Executioner faintly, surprising us all. Solaris made a face and slapped him on the arm. "What? It was."

Solaris shook his head, crossing his arms with a sulking frown. "Traitor."

"Not hotter than you of course," conceded the champion of soul, poking Solaris in the side.

A warm smile spread across Solaris' face. "I knew I kept you around for a reason."

"Are you two trying to steal our cute couple moment?" I asked, glaring at them.

Omega chuckled. "Remember, baby, sharing is caring."

Pouting, I mumbled, "I remember."

I straightened suddenly as noise cut the air in a whirl of sound. The outer ring of the gigantic vault door began to widen while other sections simultaneously pulled away into the armored wall around it. We faced the unlocking door, waiting with eagerness as the last of the vault either fell into the wall or swung away from us. It was finally time. There was one more final click, and the blast door opened revealing the inner contents.

"Operation complete." The digital man reported, dropping his extended pose. "I have successfully neutralized the defensive AI. One moment while I retrieve a manifest of the vault contents." He stared far off for a long moment. "Done. I have determined there are two hundred and twenty one cataloged items on file; Items of substance, twelve Jacketed Nano- Antimatter Gauss Cannons, forty five G60 Neutrino Ion warheads, fifteen..."

"We get the drift," I said weakly, cutting off the AI.

The hologram tapered off his report and bowed. "As you wish, prince."

We gazed around the massive vault, taking in the enormity of it all with wide eyed wonder. Lined against the walls were racks of weapons the likes I've never seen, except for on the Sci Fi Channel.

"Why didn't they use any of this stuff?" Solaris questioned, running a finger over a deadly looking gun/rifle.

The Executioner shook his head sadly. "They didn't have time. The Lords in Shadow attacked them as quickly as they lay siege to Atlantis."

I turned to the digital man who stood patiently at my side. "Is there any chance we can upgrade ourselves offensively as well as defensively while we're here?"

"Your defensive abilities can be upgraded simply, if the data is correct," stated the hologram, striding forward.

His holographic robes swished with his movement. He closed his eyes and from the floor raised a pedestal.

We gathered around it as the AI motioned toward the devices on top of the pedestal. "Here you will find Occisor Bracelets. By will and motion the device activates a shield that will protect a user up to a minute and a half. They exhaust a lot of power and are unchargarable. These particular models have a one time use."

They all took one except for me. I only raised my eyebrow. "Please. I've been casting shield spells since I was first chosen."

"Affirmative," nodded the AI, agreeing with me. "Your celestial abilities far exceed most of the capabilities of the weaponry contained here, and some are insufficient for brief engagements. However... there are some weapons that fit the criteria. One dual bladed, Black Iron axe. Two tachyon-pulse cannons. Three Coldfire adamant blades..."

The Executioner grinned like a kid at a candy store. I guess weapons turned him on. "I think this Black Iron axe is just what papa was looking for. If I remember right, this baby can easily cut through anything made of iron. And it absorbs bioelectrical energy from its wielder, and when it stores enough in its buffer it unleashes it in a blast."

"Are you going to marry it now?" I said laughing as he picked up the sleek axe, waving it around in a fancy martial arts move that was right out of an anime.

The Executioner twirled it around, smirking. "Maybe?"

"I had to go and fall in love with the weapons happy one," sighed Solaris, slapping on a silver Occisor Bracelet.

This was all well and good, but we did come here for something. I looked around the room and found a door. The keypad on it was slagged, but that didn't mean much when I had the command core AI of Atlantis at my side.

"Lan," I said, tapering off. Lan. Where did that come from? Then came to me like a stroke of lightning. "Lan? That's your name right?"

The AI nodded, pleased. "That is correct, your Highness. I take it the reincarnation affected your memories?"

"Everything is coming back to us slowly," explained Omega. "Sometimes an event can trigger a memory. Like when he called you Lan, Now I remember you and all the times you were there for us in the past."

"I am glad that your memories are not permanently damaged, Chosen Omega," said the digital hologram.

I pointed to the door before me. "Can you open the door, Lan?"

Lan closed his eyes and when he opened them the doors opened with a soft hiss. I had to give it to him. He was damn good. Of course it was expected. He was the holographic manifestation of the entire Atlantis network. I stepped into the room and immediately lights turned on as it sensed my presence. It was a gigantic circular room with teal walls, and a brown console rested in the center.

"This room must have been shielded," commented the Executioner, studying the readings on his phone. "Now I'm suddenly picking up insanely high energy readings."

"Definitely the Key of Power I would guess," said Solaris, stepping into the room.

"You are attempting to gather the three Keys?" Lan asked, staring at us dismayed. "Has the vile forces of darkness become so strong?"

My head snapped around. "You know what Heaven's Trumpet is?"

"Affirmative," confirmed the holographic man. "Heaven's Trumpet is the most powerful weapon known in existence. It was created after the Last Great War. When the three Keys are brought together Heaven's Trumpet is summoned and the universe will thus end."

"That's so dumb!" snapped Solaris, glowering at Lan. "Who and why would create something so fucking dangerous."

"Heaven's Trumpet was created by They Above All," reported the AI, causing us to gasp in surprise.

I shook my head. "That's impossible! Why would they create something so horrible?"

Lan's face was solemn as he answered, "When the suffering of all sentient life by the forces of evil is so great, so unbearable, that there is no hope, or rescue, then Heaven's Trumpet is to be used."

"Mutually assured destruction," Omega whispered, clutching tightly to my hand.

Looking around at their grim faces, I dropped Omega's hand and stepped forward. "Well humanity will not suffer on my watch. I'm taking the Key of Power and we're getting the hell out of here."

I briskly walked to the console and keyed in the royal override code on the keypad. The top of the console retracted, and from its inside ascended a beautiful diamond the size of a baseball. I reached for the blood red gem.

"I'll be taking that."

The unfamiliar voice startled us, and we instinctively moved into defensive stances. In the doorway and the room beyond was over a dozen men, and standing before the gray garbed individuals was a smirking man with pitch black hair. His skin was deathly pale, and his hell red eyes were slitted like a feline. He grinned showing fanged teeth that gleamed in the light. He swore a scarlet robe with a black mantle with symbols stitched in gold.

"Oh, I suppose a show of force is needed," said the figure, as if it were second thought.

He thrust out his hand and an invisible pulse thrummed through the air and caught Solaris head on. He flew back and slammed against the wall, letting out a pained cry.

The being laughed. "Now, as I was saying. I will be taking the Key."

My hair moved in a sudden breeze as I charged up my magic. I glared at the laughing man. "If you want it, you bastard. Then you'll have to come and get it."

He shrugged. "My pleasure."

There was a deafening boom.

Everything turned white.

• • • • • • • • • • • • • ** * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * I want to tip my hat to Ozzallos for all technical bits. Shout out to the people who encouraged me to hurry and get this chapter out. That's pretty much everyone over at the Chosen Board. People who stand out in mind would be assasinsith and Mordain. Thanks guys! My wonderful editor Bass didn't go over this chapter, so all mistakes are mine. I really wanted to get this posted before I get super busy, and plus I've been promising to update since forever and a day ago, so thanks for waiting everyone.

If any of you wonderful readers want to contact me, you can do it at Batmanhater@aol.com or drop a line over at the discussion board here: http://www.quicktopic.com/39/H/fXmyJ3NcYt7Z. You can just say hi, chat, or talk about the story.