Stakes

Stakes is the eleventh episode of Ghostverse Adventures, premiering on December 16th, 2018 and the finale to the Zaxinian Lifts crossover arc. It deals with Kaiden venting to his new friend Silver about a major development in his life as an old foe prepares to strike.
==Plot==
The episode opens with a shot of Kaiden sparring with a Mallorian combat robot modified for training purposes as Silver stands by, "coaching" him. Kaiden seems to be locking blades with the robot's bladed arm, clenching his teeth. Elina and Pierce are also nearby, sitting on a bench.
Silver: Remember what I told you. Keep the mind calmed and the body focused.
Kaiden closes his eyes as he remains in the bladelock, gripping his swords tightly. He then swipes them both to the right, catching the robot off-guard, before kicking it onto the ground and pointing his blades down at it.
Robot: SIMULATION ENDED. NEAR-DEATH EXPERIENCE REACHED.
Kaiden: Sounds deep for a robot.
Silver walks over to Kaiden alongside Elina and Pierce, putting his arm on his shoulder and smirking.
Silver: That thing was modified by a guy called Nightshade. Good to see you have an aptitude for tearing 'em apart.
Kaiden: Machines are easy to exploit.
Silver: They sure are.
Elina: Really seems like you've learned a lot from this experience Kaiden.
Kaiden: I have, yeah. Never thought Silver would help me with the philosophical side of fighting rather than the physical side.
Silver: The mind is just as powerful as the sword.
Pierce: Indeed it is. Now I say we go grab some lunch.
The rest of the group nods as they head for the door. While everyone else departs, Elina is sort of standing before it as Kaiden holds it open, waiting for her. She seems tense and has her hand on her stomach.
Kaiden: Elina, what's wrong?
Elina: Water...broke...
Elina begins to wince in pain as Kaiden rushes to her side, Pierce and Silver nearby. He wraps his arm around her as he looks to the others with a nervous face.
Kaiden: I think Elina's going into labor! We need to move quickly!
Silver: I know where the nearest hospital is.
----
Within the hospital, Elina is sitting on the hospital bed breathing quickly as Kaiden holds her arm nearby, looking at her nervously.
Kaiden: This is it. We've waited nine months for this.
Elina: We're gonna be...parents-AAAAAH!
Elina is continuing to feel the pain of labor as Kaiden looks to her, continuing to grip her hand. Nearby, a Zaxinian Kittuman doctor is conducting the delivery process.
Doctor: Alright, I'm beginning to see a head!
Elina throws her head back onto the bed as she screams in pain, Kaiden continuing to worry. This was a big moment in both of their lives. Eventually, the sound of crying can be heard as Kaiden and Elina look towards the doctor, who's holding up an infant before them.
Doctor: It's a girl!
Kaiden and Elina look to each other, smiling, before Elina suddenly screams in pain again. Neither of them are unsure about what's happening.
Doctor: Looks like there's two of them. You two are gonna have twins!
The couple stare at each other again in surprise, though this moment is cut short by Elina screaming in labor again. Kaiden continues to hold her hand as he closes his eyes and clenches his other fist. After some time, the second baby comes out.
Doctor: And it's a boy!
The doctor hands the two babies to Elina as she looks at the two of them in her arms, before turning to Kaiden. The two of them look as happy as ever.
Kaiden: We're...we're finally parents...
Elina: On the... bright side... we can finally... fool around again.
Kaiden: You say that as if it's a bad thing to have kids.
Kaiden snickers slightly as he looks towards his two children. Despite feeling proud of the moment, he also felt oddly insecure. This was a big revelation.
----
Silver, in his "Raven" guise, knocks on the door of the hospital room as Kaiden opens it.
Silver: Congratulations you two.
Kaiden: Thank you Silver!
Kaiden motions for Silver to follow him as he heads over to Elina in the bed.
Silver: Twins eh?
Elina: Yep. We named the girl Nikari and the boy Tova.
Silver: Good names, good names.
Kaiden: I still can't believe we're parents now. If you asked me two years ago I would've probably said no.
Elina: Well I guess things change.
As the trio talk, Zomok can be seen watching them from a nearby rooftop alongside his two skeletons, using a pair of binoculars with Mallory's face stickered onto them.
Zomok: The miracle of childbirth has happened I see.
Skeleton 1: We gonna kill the babies too?
Zomok immediately slaps the skeleton as he falls apart, before reforming.
Zomok: Killing them is one thing. Killing an infant that can't even think? That's disgusting. Plus it's no fun.
Skeleton 2: If anything, we could capture the babies instead and have Tobura raise 'em.
Zomok: You know, that's not a bad idea.
The camera pans back over to the hospital room, where Silver is holding both of the children in his arms, looking at them while smirking.
Silver: Crymsia and I talked a bit about having kids ourselves.
Kaiden: We didn't plan for it really, but just rolled with it once Elina found out she was pregnant.
Elina: Plus it's honestly exhilarating to know that the two of us made these two together. And now we'll be raising them.
Kaiden: Yeah...yeah...
Kaiden smiles, though he admittedly feels tense inside. Parenting...was a big responsibility, one he was unsure about.
----
Later on that night, Kaiden and Silver are getting a drink together within Oyster's Inn & Bar in the Rose Manor. Kaiden seems distraught for some reason as he drinks, with Silver nearby.
Silver: You okay? I know today was a big day for you.
Kaiden: I know, but it's also thrust on a lot of responsibility I guess. I never thought I'd ever have kids.
Silver: Parenting is tough. But knowing you, you'll get through it.
Kaiden: Maybe I will. I just hope I do a good job.
Silver: That's the spirit! You've really changed from when I first met you Kaiden.
Kaiden: I mean, you've shown that protecting those you care for is the most important thing of all. What you told me about Crymsia has made me more alert than ever.
Silver: Alertness is important. Now let's get out of here. I'm tired anyways.
----
Kaiden and Elina are now getting into bed, with a small crib nearby. Kaiden smirks as he looks at it.
Kaiden: Still can't believe this day arrived.
Elina: It's amazing. Just think, soon you'll be able to teach the kids to fight in the same way your dad taught you.
Kaiden: And you'd be able to teach them magic too.
Elina: Yeah...
The couple begins to sleep, cuddling each other in bed. This moment of tranquility is cut short by the sound of a baby crying however, with both Kaiden and Elina having their eyes wide open.
Elina: Go check what's going on...
Kaiden: Fiiiine.
Kaiden heads over to the crib, noticing that Nikari is crying. Seeing that she's spat out her pacifier, he puts it back in her mouth as he smiles.
Kaiden: That's better.
As Kaiden stares at his kids in the crib, he feels an odd sense of pride. These were his children, and he sure as hell was going to take care of them.
Kaiden (to himself): They sleep so peacefully. Guess I was worrying for nothing.
Kaiden walks over to bed, but before he can, he hears yet another sound of crying. Rolling his eyes, he walks back to the crib.
This was going to be a long night.
----
Kaiden is at the breakfast hall of the Rose Manor, bags under his eyes as if he barely slept. In particular, he looks quite groggy and exhausted as he throws bacon onto his plate and sits down, before laying his head on the table in exhaustion. Silver then walks into the room with a glass of water alongside Pierce, the two of them looking on at Kaiden in pity.
Silver: Rough night?
Kaiden: No shit. The kids kept me up all night. I have no clue how Elina managed to sleep.
Pierce: I mean, she deserves the sleep considering how she must've slept while pregnant.
Kaiden: ...fair point.
Silver and Pierce sit down at the table next to Kaiden as the latter eats his breakfast, still looking stressed and exhausted.
Pierce: You know, I'd be more than willing to look after the kids and let the two of you spend the day in the city together.
Kaiden: That's...awfully nice of you Pierce.
Pierce: I mean, I'm not doing anything today so I might as well help a friend out.
Silver: If it's okay with you, I'd like to come along as well. I need to get some fresh air.
Kaiden: Heck yeah. We can go get Chain-Link Donuts again too. You really liked those last time.
Silver: So good...
Kaiden and Silver leave the room in a hurry as Pierce looks at the plate, before looking back at the two of them.
Pierce: Kaiden! You didn't finish your food!
The door closes as Pierce looks back at the food. Muttering to himself "Don't mind if I do", he begins to eat Kaiden's food.
----
Within the same alley as before, Zomok and his two skeleton lieutenants are speaking with Tobura via a hologram.
Tobura: Children eh? That'll make their deaths even more tragic.
Zomok: Mhm. Plus we could indoctrinate them into our cause.
Tobura: I like that line of thinking Zomok. Now get to work. And if you fail...
Zomok: If I fail, what?
Tobura: Let's just say I have a plan of my own to enact.
Zomok gulps as the conversation ends. He then turns to his skeletons.
Zomok: They should be coming by this alley. Play the recording.
One of the skeletons nods as a sound begins to play from his camera. It sounds like someone struggling due to a confrontation.
Zomok: Knowing the swordboy's penchant for justice, this'll lure him right to us.
----
Kaiden, Elina, and Silver are walking down the street of Naxaz, eating donuts. Elina in particular is resting her head on Kaiden's shoulder, and Silver is in his "Raven" guise.
Elina: Wow, you weren't lying when you said these were good.
Kaiden: I know, right? You must be happy that you can eat whatever you want now that you aren't pregnant anymore.
Elina: A bit, yeah. I'm a bit picky with what I like to eat though, so I assume things won't change much.
Silver: My current weight should give you guys a sign as to how much I eat.
Kaiden: Wow, you must be starving all the time.
Silver: Eh.
Elina: So anyways Kaiden, when are we planning to head back home? It's been a week or so.
Kaiden: I was thinking soon actually. I do like the Lifts quite a bit, but I've been a bit homesick.
Silver: I have to visit Ascerth some time myself. It's quite-
Suddenly, a struggling sound can be heard from a nearby alley. Kaiden, gripping his fists, peers into the alley. A shadow can be seen moving in the barely lit area.
Kaiden: Someone's struggling over there.
Kaiden is about to pull his swords out, but Elina stops him. He then turns to her to see that she has a visible face of concern.
Elina: Kaiden, there's a time and a place for everything.
Silver: I mean, it's unlikely that the police will try and stop whatever's going on considering the government's corrupt.
Elina: Fair point. Let's help this person out.
Kaiden brandishes his swords as he walks through the alley. After passing a garbage can, Zomok's two skeletons begin to follow, albeit the trio fails to notice.
Kaiden: This is creepy. What's around that corner?
Elina: Only one way to find out.
The trio turns around the corner, noticing Zomok sitting on a dumpster, smirking. Clearly shocked, they try to turn back, but are stopped by the skeletons. Zomok then leaps from the dumpster, cracking his knuckles and leaning down at them.
Zomok: At long last, we meet again. You escaped our last confrontation quite easily, didn't you?
Elina: Well, yes, but I was actually pregnant during that time, so I wasn't able to fight as efficiently.
Zomok: Oh, I'm well aware. In fact, once I'm done with the two of you, your children are mine for the taking. The Mistress demands them.
Kaiden: You've talked about taking our kids?!?! That's awful!
Zomok: Is it now? I feel like I can raise them to help with our goal of creating a strong, unified force capable of defending our galaxy. One that has no need for food, water, or sleep.
Elina: A lot of this is sounding familiar, right Kaiden?
Kaiden: A bit, yeah.
Zomok: Either way, your time has come. Take their friend away boneboys.
Skeleton 1: You've...never called us boneboys before sir.
Zomok: I SAID TAKE HIM AWAY! He has no place being here.
The two skeletons nod as they escort Silver aside, the latter simply complying as he smirks. He seemed like he had a plan for how to get out of his situation.
Meanwhile, Zomok let loose a thunderous roar as he charged at Kaiden and Elina. Kaiden responded in earnest by leaping to the side, causing him to collide with a dumpster. Pulling a banana peel off of his head, he snarled before breathing a spray of ice forward, which froze Kaiden's legs in place. He then let loose a slash from his claw as it knocked Kaiden into the other dumpster. Elina, watching this happen, let loose a barrage of fireballs at Zomok, briefly stunning him before drawing his attention. The Rundak responded in earnest by forming a ball of ice in his hand, before tossing it at Elina. As she tried to knock it back with a fireball, he charged forward and punched it with his fist, sending icicles all around the alley. Elina put up a magical shield to block them and Kaiden used his swords, before charging at Zomok's leg and stabbing it from behind. Zomok howled in pain, but simply kicked Kaiden away, his swords still planted in his leg. He then pulled them out before looking to them, grinning intently.
Zomok: Let's see how you fight...without a weapon.
At that moment, Zomok breathed frost onto Kaiden's swords, freezing them, before throwing them at the wall. They shattered on contact, with Kaiden expressing a face of mere shock. Those weapons had been gifted to him when he visited the superweapon beneath Ascerth, and had been with him for a good two years. And now...they were no more.
Zomok: What's the matter? Those swords mean a lot to you?
Kaiden stared at Zomok with a face of mere anger, clenching his fists. As he runs at the Rundak, attempting to land a punch, he's stopped by Zomok's hand, continually running against it.
Zomok: Pitiful. The greatest swordsman known to our galaxy is useless without his weapons.
Elina: You forgot about someone here though.
At that moment, Elina fires off a fireball at Zomok's head, knocking him into a wall and loosening his grip on Kaiden. She then forms a pillar of rock from the ground as she jumps onto it, before letting loose a blast of lightning forward. It singes Zomok's skin, forming a scar as he snarls.
Zomok: Enough of the...MAGIC!
At that moment, Zomok turns around and smashes the stone pillar with his fist. Elina slips and falls, with Zomok pinning her down. As Kaiden rushes over to save her, he laughs again before grabbing him by the head and holding him up.
Zomok: Motivated by your dick I see?
Kaiden: Shut up. It's the heart. Something you lack.
Zomok: Bold words for someone in freezing range.
Zomok grins as he holds the couple up by their heads as Silver watches from a distance, near the two skeletons. Clenching his fists, he stretches his arms out as a wave of shadow energy emerges from him, vaporizing the two skeletons instantly. He then walks over to Zomok, forms a spear of electricity in his hands, and tosses it right at Zomok. The impact sends him flying into a wall and releases Kaiden and Elina from his grasp. Silver turns to them immediately.
Silver: Stay back. I can handle this.
Kaiden: You never told us you were this powerful.
Silver: Well you'll get to see the true extent of my powers now.
Silver turns back towards Zomok, who has emerged from the wall. He attempts to fire off a spray of frost from his mouth, but Silver puts up a barrier of fire which melts the frost and leaves behind water. He then tosses a ball of dark energy towards Zomok, which hits him quite hard and causes him to kneel in pain. He then pulls Zomok into the air with his powers, walking over to him with a grim expression.
Silver: You've crossed the line by attacking MY friends. Do you have any idea who I am?
Zomok: S...Silver Zin?
Silver: Mhm. As a literal god, I can snap off your ability to breathe in a mere instant. Give me one good reason why I shouldn't do it right now.
Zomok: You like to...hold back...
Silver: It's because I don't want to be the one to finish you. These two deserve to.
Zomok: I...will murder them...as soon as possible...
Silver: LEAVE THE LIFTS, AND NEVER RETURN.
Silver's voice booms across the whole alley, intimidating Zomok, Kaiden, and Elina. Silver then throws Zomok into the wall with his powers, arms folded. The Rundak looks back to him, before nodding.
Zomok: Mallory's gonna kick my ass anyway so I better get out of here.
Zomok, using magic, teleports out of the alley as Silver turns back to Kaiden and Elina. Their jaws are agape due to what they just witnessed.
Kaiden: You're...you're a literal god?
Silver: I am, yes.
Elina: Why didn't you say anything?
Silver: I chose to conceal the true extent of my powers due to how weary I was of you initially. After that, it just wasn't relevant.
Kaiden: Wow...
Kaiden kneels before Silver, bowing. Elina is chuckling as she stares at him, with Silver rolling his eyes.
Silver: We...don't do that here. I'm still a person y'know. I eat, I sleep, I have friends.
Kaiden: Fair point. But...
Kaiden runs over to Silver, hugging him tightly. Silver responds in earnest with his own hug, feeling Kaiden's heart beating. He also seems to be tearing up.
Kaiden: Th...thank you. I have no clue what we would have done if it wasn't for you.
Silver: Don't worry. We're friends after all.
Elina: Indeed we are.
----
Kaiden and Elina are at the exit of the Rose Manor, with Silver and Pierce by the door. Elina has the kids with her, and Kaiden seems 
Silver: Got our numbers?
Kaiden: You bet. I'll call you guys up any time I need to.
Pierce: Sounds good. What's your first order of business when you get back home?
Kaiden: Getting myself some new swords.
Silver: Good luck with that. But before you go...
Silver walks over to Kaiden, his hand out as if he's about to shake it.
Silver: Thank you Kaiden. If we need your help, we'll call for you.
Kaiden shakes hands with Silver, smirking.
Kaiden: You're welcome Silver. Good luck stopping Mallory.
Silver: And good luck stopping...whatever his name is.
Kaiden nods before walking off alongside Elina. The screen fades to black as the credits roll, but that isn't the end of the episode...
----
After the credits, the camera is simply showing Kaiden sleeping, before zooming in on his head. It then cuts to a shot of Kaiden standing in a dark area, with a figure before him, their identity concealed.
Tobura: Looks like you survived today due to that...friend of yours.
Kaiden: That voice...is it...
Tobura turns around, grinning maniacally.
Tobura: Yep, it's me bitch. Back from the dead.
Kaiden: I killed you.
Tobura: I'm a necromancer, what did you expect. And besides, this won't be the last time you'll see me.
Kaiden: But when that last time comes...I'll be ready.
Category:Episodes
Category:Ghostverse Adventures