Episode Seventeen

Answers

For centuries there have been legends and myths of people and beings known as Saint’s. People whom have heard the voice of God or been touched by an angel sent by God to do greatness. But what if the stories everyone has heard were only sugar coated with half truth like the tales of fairies, elves, mermaids and dragons? What if Saint’s were something else rather than instruments of a divine hand?

LD, Zero, Athame’, Ivory, Brandis and Jack Nightmare ride in various parts in the Death Bat heading fast to the Hidden City on the water banks of the Black Sea. There is an awkward silence among the group, quiet enough to almost hear thoughts.

Ivory talks to Brandis telepathically.

Ivory: I do not trust this man, LD, Brandis.

Brandis: Neither do I… there is something I cannot put my finger on about him… something I do not recognize… can you read anything from him?

Ivory: No, I can only project influence and relay thoughts telepathically… can not read his memories or mind would need some one with high telepathic capabilities to do that…

Taking a moment to himself, Brandis then begins moving toward Athame’.

Brandis: How are you doing?

Athame’ stands staring out a window of the Death Bat blankly.

Athame’: I’m fine… feeling kind of out of it after…

Brandis touches Athame’s forehead.

Brandis: You do look a tad discolored…

Asking with worry.

Brandis: Are you ok? You looking kinda flushed…

Athame’: I’m fine… just…

Out of Breath.

Brandis: Come on… taking you to lay down…

Brandis picks Athame’ up and carries her to the Barracks.

Brandis: Jack… I’m taking Athame’ to the barracks to lye down…

Nightmare: Alright man…

Zero sits next to Nightmare at the Navigation terminal. Continuously looking back at LD who sits staring out another side window.

Nightmare: Man, if you stare any hard at him your going to burn a hole in him…

Zero: I just don’t trust that guy at all…

Nightmare: Why not? He’s human…

Zero: Not sure if you know but some humans are worse than demons and monsters… scumbags… criminals… betrayers… their all the same…

Nightmare: You speak as if you know someone … someone close… or from experience…

Zero grows silent for a second.

Zero: More than you will ever know…

Meanwhile in the barracks Brandis applies a cold towel to Athame’s forehead.

Brandis: You know you showed great bravery back there… facing that guy… a maniac with an army behind him… takes great courage…

Slightly exhausted.

Athame’: Not my finest moment… but I learned it from you…

Nodding in modesty.

Brandis: I don’t really try to be brave… just try to do the right thing… the high thing…

Athame’ sits up close to Brandis.

Athame’: And you still manage to protect me… and the others

The two share a tender moment and inch close to kiss but are interrupted by Nightmare over the loud speaker and a large bump.

Nightmare: Alright let’s wrap it up! We are home!!

Nightmare docks the ship and is greeted by the workers at the docks. Everyone departs from the ship and out of the yard to the routine scanning system. One by one each goes through the system passing. There is a small issue with Ivory checking in because her mermaid aura detects cloudy which means she cold be trouble. But because she is with the group she is let in as long as she is not caught alone in the city. She is also vouched by Athame’. LD’s sword is scanned just as he is, and it is not detectable by the scanner as being a weapon, but something else unknown which causes the machine to short circuit.

Nightmare: What’s wrong?

Guard: I’m not sure sir… the machine just stopped working… like a short circuit or something.

Nightmare: Let me have a look at it… this might take a while you all go ahead and check with the head master… see if you get some answers… I will meet you all back at my Lab in a few hours…

Guard: Sir, if you do not mind we are going to have to hold your sword here until the machine is up and running…

Reluctant at first.

LD: …

Guard: We will return it with Mr. Nightmare when done…

LD: …Alright…

Zero: I’m going to head to your lab now… just in case the head master can not help I’m going to do some research on what we know right now.

Nightmare: Fare enough…

LD: Then we will reconcile in a few hours…

Athame’, LD, Ivory and Brandis jump into a courtesy cab not far from the city check it and head to the highest building located in the center of the city to visit the headmaster. Athame’ drives while LD sits passenger side and Brandis and Ivory in the back.

Athame’: So LD… what exactly is a Saint?

LD: Mortal beings like myself… ‘kept there faith is off the chart. There faith in a higher power gives them inhuman abilities… they can heal from fatal wounds, reverse fate, see the dead, control spirits and various others. It all depends on the individual. I even met one that could enhance their strength for few minutes at a time once… But all usually do not age…

Brandis: What do you mean reverse fate?

LD: Reverse fate…like say if you go to impale one they can reverse the fate from where the knife penetrates you rather them…

Ivory: So god like abilities…

Looking with slight disgust at Ivory because she projecting her thoughts into every ones head.

LD: Something like that… there faith is strong enough to do anything at moments notice…

Athame’: Moments notice? Wait what makes them different from evolved humans?

LD: Saint’s have to maintain there faith at all time to keep there ability going… evolved humans’ abilities are sketched into their genetic code. Always there and working, a Saint has to keep faith to keep there ability… the moment they lose it…

Brandis: So how would you kill one?

LD: Only two ways… a gulf of fire… or a pure blood demon- the blood of evil…

Brandis: Great…

Stopping and parking the car.

Athame’: Well here we are…

Brandis: Good… finally answers…

Meanwhile Zero sits at a terminal researching on the legend, but also looking up any information on the androids that attacked his people and tracking the citizens of New Babylon on his tracking system located on his belt. Nightmare continues to work on the systematic check in to figure out what went wrong with LD’s sword and discovers that it carries mystical attributes that are off the charts.

Back at the chambers of the Headmaster every one enters (let in by the Apprentice Darius Yunn) and waits for him to appear, which he does after an hour of waiting. (Note\*The chamber is filled with various things from mystics animals -like a phoenix sitting on a bird stand- and there are yellow neon orbs floating around the room circulating light through out the room. The ceiling is made to resembles the out side sky. In the center of the room lies a desk with a world globe as well as books and important papers. There are also maps and various tools of magic and science located around the room. A book shelf sits of into a corner.\*)

Headmaster: Greetings Athame’, I sensed you and your friends would be coming… but didn’t think would be so soon.

Athame’: Really? So you must know what we are here about then Headmaster?

Headmaster: Not at all, just saw you coming here but I am not sure what about.

Athame’: We have discovered something most disturbing Headmaster…

Headmaster: Sense that I do… Please, Sit everyone… tell me everything.

Athame’, and the others tell the headmaster everything they know about the Saint, and LD even tells of the legend he told everyone. Brandis also tells the headmaster of the vision he had of the catacombs. The headmaster is surprised about nothing everyone tells him (the headmaster is an ancient seer).

Headmaster: None of this surprises me at all… But I must say I was not expecting the- what do you call it- Saint to have magical abilities.

Brandis: Not only that Headmaster, but Jack Nightmare says that he had Hidden-Atlantian Technology.

Headmaster: Hmm so you expect he may be a citizen here?

LD: Either that or snuck in some how and stole some stuff…

Athame’: Do you have any ideas at all Headmaster?

Headmaster: Yes I do… but the legend, LD, it is actually not legendary at all its truth, and of course over time has taken shape and exaggerated over the countless centuries in many cultures.

Brandis: Wait its true?

Headmaster: Yes indeed…

Saying as he looks through a large book shelf field with thick and countless books along a wall in the corner. He removes a large book from the stack and sits back down with everyone else.

Ivory: Exactly how do you know it’s true?

Headmaster: Because this war you speak of, Brandis, the battle… I was in it.

This shocks everyone in the room.

Headmaster: Yes I am indeed older than you think. Let’s see… where I begin… Well first of all the battle was not against Heaven and Hell. But against Light and Dark… Good and Evil… Creator versus Creator…

Brandis: Wait, Creator versus Creator?

Headmaster: That my friend, is another story by it self. Let me see… Long time ago Good and Evil clashed in a century longed war. And split down the middle on both sides were what you know as demons, angels, elves, trolls, fairies, ogre’s, dragons, griffins, ghost, phantoms etc and also those capable and strong in mankind. Each side had its generals. On the side of good were the angels Gabriel and Michael. And on the side of Evil Lucifer and Lilith.

Ivory: Wait wasn’t Lilith the mother of demons?

Headmaster: …So the story goes… and Lucifer the lord of darkness… but those are also just stories all within themselves. As I was saying I served on the side of good along with many others representing mankind as a seer. My job, as many others, was simply to look forth, “see” into the battle and find ways to it ending. Well the battle raged on for a long while with neither side winning but finding a truce with each other to maintain balance in the world. But this was after several thousand casualties. In those deaths was the Angel Michael- one of the many beings- whose wing was lost in a battle with Lucifer. It’s said Lucifer ripped his wing off just before he plunged his sword into Michael’s heart. The wing then scattered into the wind like dust leaving behind one feather which blew in the direction of the wind. Gabriel did lose his sword but didn’t forge a new one to complete the battle- instead he took it from a deceased Lucifer after defeating him in the Battle of the Heaven’s. Anyways, When the battle was over the good of mankind was given advanced technology as there reward for which we Hidden-Atlantians used to form a great city of Atlantis. The evil of mankind was given something more primitive like forced to start from scratch one can say and created various primitive temples. Of course irony did rear its head on both sides if you know you history of Atlantis and the first temples of the Mesopotamians and Samarians.

Brandis: What about the other creatures? Like the demons and stuff?

Headmaster: Each was given its own “realm” to reside and control in multiple realities co-existening in the same world. On different planes of existence but all on one planet. As I was saying… The legend of bringing forth these elements is very true. The sword, the feather and Along with the Spear of Destiny- which is the Spear that was used to kill the very first Saint and martyr… the savior- it can all unmake the existence. The power from each would cause a catastrophic power surge which would ripple through all reality unraveling it into nothingness. Blackness… Non-existence.

LD: So where did the sword go?

Headmaster: The battle raged North and South… so it would be in one of those directions casting with the strongest wind.

LD: Great there is only so much of North and South…

Ivory: Needle in a hay stack…

Headmaster: Not actually. I believe your answer would be found among you all. But you must find out who this Saint is and retrieve the artifact.

LD: What’s that mean?

Athame’: Jack!

Brandis: Nightmare? What can he do?

Athame’: Maybe he can find the sword some how?

Ivory: How?

Athame’: I’m sure he has something that can read heat or something…

LD: It’s worth a shot… better than nothing.

Everyone leaves the room. Athame’ bows to the Headmaster as she leaves.

Stopping before leaving the room.

Brandis: Just curious sir… what ever happen to the Angel’s that did survive?

Headmaster: They are indeed watching over us dear friend…

Brandis then leaves the room with everyone else.

Headmaster: Good luck my friends… Need it you will…

Everyone ventures back to Nightmare’s Lab.

Meanwhile the Stranger in White looks at an advanced map (it looks like a hologram). He then begins to set sail North.

Back at the Hidden City everyone meets up with Zero and Nightmare who have been researching the legend.

Athame’: So have you all found anything?

Zero: Yea actually the story our young friend here told us is not totally accurate…

Nightmare: Yes apparently there is more to it than…

Brandis: Yea we already know…

Ivory: Heard the story already… good versus evil blah blah blah…

LD: What we need is to find the sword now… get to it before the Saint does…

Zero: And how do you suppose we do that Mr. Wizard?

Handing LD back his sword.

Nightmare: Nice sword…So how do you really expect us to find a sword anywhere in the world.

LD: I don’t know…

Brandis: Could you detect like a special heat signature or something?

Nightmare: It’s metal man it doesn’t omit a heat signature…

Athame’: What about a mystical signature?

Zero: What do you mean?

Athame’: Well the sword belonged to the Angel Gabriel… a being of good… it must have some sort of mystical properties to it right?

Brandis: That’s very true…

Nightmare: But there are a lot of mystical energies out there…

Ivory: I’m sure the sword would dispense a high energy from it because of its age… and if not just see which ones are far north or south and we can take it from there.

Brandis: Worth a shot…

Nightmare: Give me a minute…

Nightmare types in a command on his computer. (Nightmare’s computer is a 4 foot screen projected like a hologram)

Nightmare: Alright here we go… as I thought there are a lot of mystical energy signatures… but there are three mystical signatures that stand out among the rest. Two stand still while one is moving North at 30 miles an hour.

Zero: I bet that’s our friend in white…

Brandis Points at the screen.

Brandis: I think you’re right Zero… the moving one is stronger than the other two… the Saint has two of the artifacts together, the Spear and the Feather, they would make a large mystical signature… this one is north standing still it must be the sword….

LD: Then what would the third be?

Nightmare: Not sure but its pulling in energy from all directions…

Zero: Have to have to investigate that later…what’s important is we get to the sword before the Saint does…

LD: Agreed…

Brandis: We need a plan…

Zero: What plan? We all go and get the sword before the Saint does… that’s the plan.

Brandis: But what do we do if we encounter this guy again? I mean our last encounter didn’t go over so well.

Nightmare: He is right… we need a plan…

Brandis: LD… you said in order to beat this guy we need someone with evil blood or fire?

LD: Pure demon blood… Correct but there no way you will be able to find anyone like that…anyone that evil will care not of anyone or anything else…

Brandis: Perhaps…but doesn’t hurt to try… ok… (pointing at the map) Zero, Nightmare, and Athame’- your going to go here; Ivory, LD and I will head this way to head off our friend in white.

Zero: Are you fucking kidding why are we going there…

Ivory: I think I know what he is getting at… good idea… have a trump card in our strategy…

Zero: Yea but why can’t I go and cut off the guy the Saint…

Brandis: Because my senses are higher than yours, a better tracker- I’d be able to hear any danger from miles away… we can get in and out before he even gets there… plus its Antarctica… the metal in your arm won’t be able to take the pressure…

Nightmare: He’s right man… your new arm would freeze up in moments… and shut down from critical cold pressure.

LD: Then why am I going with you?

Brandis: Because you know how the sword looks… and I just don’t wanna let you out of my sight…

Nightmare: We going to need an extra vehicle for this mission… I have something that will get you all to Antarctica fast.

Nightmare takes everyone to his hanger where he introduces everyone to the Sinister Jet.

Nightmare: The Sinister jet… can get up to over 300 miles an hour, equipped with armed arsenal, navigational system, and six leather seats and of course… a music player. (he says Proudly. The jet is similar to the Black bird in X Men)

Athame’: Nightmare… sometimes I think you are too smart for your own good.

Nightmare: Yea… I am brilliant…

Brandis: Good machine… but I can’t fly.

Ivory: Neither can I…

LD: I do… don’t worry…

Nightmare: Good. I will punch up the star Map into the jet computer system it will guide you there. We will take the Death Bat… we will all meet up back here…

Each group leaves to board their vehicle. Brandis and Athame’ stop to talk to each other.

Brandis: You know… you will be ok with them… the mission is…

Athame’: I know… you don’t want anything happening to me…

Brandis: I made a promise alright…Look… I’ll be back… that’s a promise… search… and recover that’s all… we encounter the guy in white we will run fast the opposite way.

Athame’: Long as you promise… I believe you…

The two begin to inch closer to each other to kiss but are stopped by Nightmare.

Nightmare: Come on lets go!!

Smiling shy like at each other and chuckling.

Brandis: I’m sure Jack will look after you… so you will be ok.

Athame’: You just be careful…

Athame’ Hugs Brandis and then boards the Death Bat. The Death Bat leaves the hanger docks and the Sinister jet leaves the air hanger.

LD, Ivory and Brandis venture north through the air toward Antarctica to retrieve the sword from some where on the iced island. Brandis sits Navigating next to LD while Ivory sits behind both.

LD: Well this is great…

Brandis: What is?

LD: Never thought I’d be riding in a jet with… never mind…

Ivory: Demons? That is what you going to say right.

LD stays silent. About 2 hours passes and the three arrive to the cold island. LD puts on a thermal suit (similar to the suit Wolverine wear in the movies) and Brandis puts his cloak on with the hood up. Ivory puts on a nothing for her scales on her skin protect her from the cold. Everyone one exits the jet and looks around at an iced surface with large snow covered mountains and are surrounded by cold water.

Ivory: I’ve gotta bad feeling about this…

LD: It’s probably the cold… the reader ( a device small enough to fit in the hand that reads mystical and thermal signatures- about the size of a game boy) says the mystic signal is just over that mountain range… nothing animal or creature like at all on the island… we should be ok… just watch for thin ice and various potential avalanche sites…

Brandis: Alright let’s head out…

Ivory: I’m going to scout ahead… check the area make sure there are no surprises…

Brandis: …good idea…

Ivory jumps into the water near by and sits with head out of water.

Ivory: If I see anything or come across it will let you all know… if I can’t take it alone…

Brandis: Just be careful…

Ivory then dives under further.

Brandis and LD set off into the mountains.

LD: Looks like it’s just me and you Demon…

Brandis passes a dirty look on to LD.

The two begin scaling the mountains, while arguing at the same time. LD soon slips and falls and catches himself by jamming his sword into the side of mountain. Brandis goes to save LD. Even though reluctant LD takes Brandis hand for help.

Brandis: So I guess you now owe this “demon” one…

LD: Think again…

Brandis: What is your problem?

LD: Nothing you will never understand it… (saying as he pull his sword out the mountain is then interrupted by a large growl)

Brandis: Did you hear that?

LD: What the hell was that?

Brandis: If I knew would I ask?

LD then jams his sword into the mountain again and pulls it out and the growl gets louder.

Brandis: I think this mountain is alive…

LD: Impossible…

LD then jams his sword in and out again which cause the mountain to shake and the growl to grow louder. The mountain begins to move and LD and Brandis begin running along side to get off.

LD: It’s an ice monster!!! MOVE GO!!

The tremors grow louder and larger as they move. The two then find them self moving upward.

Brandis: I think the island is separating!!

LD: GO MOVE!

The two continue to run top speed but the mountain is too much soon the two find them self sliding the opposite way of the island. Large pieces of ice fall and break apart. Cold debris feels the air as the island breaks around itself. LD then jams his sword into a sheet of ice on the island that had not moved and grabs Brandis hand to keep him from falling.

LD: Hold on!!!

LD then lunges Brandis across to a sheet of ice that had broke away from the island. LD then lunges himself over to another sheet of ice. When the two settle they look up to find large and small sheets of ice around (the Sinister Jet is on a sheet of ice alone) where the island was, only to look up and see a 2300 foot ice giant in front of them, where the island and mountains was.

LD: Oh… Shit…

Brandis: I second that…