Darkstar Saga : Darkstar Legacy

[Your Amish Daddy]

The man who stands beneath a dark star.
Chapter 1: Stars amongst men.

"Grandfather, tell me a story." a small girl said to a man with grayed hair, but no wrinkles. He looked to her with a warm smile and pat her head gently. "Sure. I know just the one." He dug in his pocket, and pulled out a warn down Obsidian stone, and smiled at it as he handed it to his granddaughter. "I'll tell you the story about the Star amongst men." He laid back in the cool, recently cut grass. He raised his hand to the stars and begun regaling her. "Back in my time, when humans were abundant, during the Terran Wars, there was a man. Human. His name was William. He could see the fear in humanity about their impending doom. He knew what would happen. He saw it coming. He knew the end was coming, just not when." He pulled his hand down, and folded his arms behind his head. "He tried to tell a few of them; but none took him anything more than a raving lunatic. Eventually, he stopped caring..."

"God damn humans, I can't wait to see the shock that will encompass them all when it gets here." William said with hatred, as he worked on one of his inventions. William is a portly man, in his early twenties. He never shaves, never cuts his hair and is a general slob. But that belies his genius, which is his key strong point, having a Theoretical Physics bachelors degree. William still lives in the 80's in style, but his decor is more or less antiques, or just stuff that caught his eye. He fiddled with lenses, laser apertures, and wiring. "Regular mad scientist, I am..." he said slowly as he soldered wires to a circuit board. He reached over to his glass, which he had gotten at a local fish restaurant and took a large drink of soda, and sat it down with a sigh. He leaned back on his stool, his back popping loudly as he stretched, fatigue starting to wear on him. "Dammit, it's four-thirty in the morning. This still needs more work. Ah I'll take a walk to get my blood going again. I still need to work on the math." He said as he got up, grabbed his coat off of the hook by his door and stepped outside. His 'home' was a rebuilt 'Just Brakes' garage he'd bought for a song. He quickly put his coat on, even though he was a rather husky man. Mid December in Texas, the rain had been coming down in place of snow, making everything slick with almost quarter-inch ice. William had no problem negotiating the icy terrain, and could even handle his skateboard on the icy roads, which ruffled the feathers of his friends. He stared into the rainy night and put his hood on. "At least this winter is cold. God damn '05 winter was a joke. Fourty degrees..Pfft." He grabbed his skateboard, and dropped it on the frozen pavement, and went on, apparently deciding against walking. William had picked up decent speed as he had started down the gentle hill.

In the distance, the lights of an all-night drugstore shown brightly in the icy suburban setting. He was fast-approaching an intersection, and he knew he couldn't stop, so he vied for as much speed as he could by crouching on the skateboard, reducing his drag. A car drove slowly into the intersection, and he cuts in front of it like a brown streak. He throws open his coat like a parachute to slow down, as he leans back on the board, pressing the tail to the ground to cause friction. Slowing to a stop, he closes his coat quickly. "Woo! Now that's what I call a ride!" He grinned like a thief and picked up his board and walked into the drugstore. The store was bright and warm, and he opened his coat to let the warm air in. The lone clerk waved to him and he nodded. He walked quickly to the snacks and grabbed a small bottle of orange juice, and a bag of cheddar ranch chips, and walked up to the counter. The clerk, a lady in her late sixties and spent a lot of time with cigarettes. She spoke hoarsely; "What are you doing out at this time of the morning, hon? Don't you have school to tend?" He grinned and sat the items down. "I got out of school in '01. I spend my days working on stuff that'll prevent the death of humanity." he said jestfully, mocking his own en devours. "Well, don't get too cold out there, and drive safely." She said as she rung him up. He sat the money down, and told her he didn't need a bag as he shook up the orange juice, and stuffed the bag of chips in his pocket. He bursts out the door doing his coat closed quickly, having forgotten to do it in the store. "Jeeeeeeezzuuuus! It's ****ing cold out here." He said quickly, as he dropped the skateboard on the ice and started home, this time minding the intersection. "Dammit this uphill on ice stuff is for the birds." He muttered as he went uphill. Not very steep, but nearly insurmountable when coated in ice. Cars drive slowly past him as everyone wakes for the day, It already crawling up on five in the morning. He arrives home, and kicks his skateboard up his yard, and he opens his door, kicking it inside gently. It lands against his ark welder, propped up perfectly. He throws his coat to the hook, and it catches just right, to hang there for three seconds, and hit the ground. "Damned coat. Hell it's wet anyway, it needs to go in the dryer." He grabs it off the ground, the cold rain having soaked the outer lining, but not affecting the coat's effectiveness. After tossing it in the dryer, he walks back to his desk, forgetting the chips were in it; he rushes over to the dryer, and yanks the door open and grabs them out of the pocket, and kicks the door closed, the dryer starting back up.

He sits back down, and pops the top off of the bottle of orange juice, taking several large gulps from it, he sits it down and lets out a sign and leans over his contraption, looking in it to remember his place. "Oh yeah..Math time." he mutters as he turns to a disgusting keyboard. With a quick tap of the space bar, the once hidden monitor comes to life, KLANKORP flashes across it, and it displays a screen saver of random pornography. Hermaphrodites, Lesbians, and other assortments. "Oh no! Someone has put this filfth on my computer! Oh wait, it was me! Hahaha!" he laughs loudly, his dog stirring from his voice. The dog, named Cat, lifts his head, and sits it back down. "Lazy animal." he whispers to himself as he taps the space bar again. A messy KDE desktop is revealed from the tasteless screen saver. He fuddles around with the keys, having broken his mouse awhile back, and not cared enough to get another, he opens a terminal window with a few keys, and quickly types away at the number pad. "Let's see..If energy divided by distance and distortion is too low; I'll need to add another lens, or increase watt output. Either way, it means another trip to the crapshack." He grabs a serial cable, and plugs it into the circuit board's terminator, and adjusts his mirrors so the output of the device would go out his 'skylight'. After the adjustments, he reaches over and flips a switch and the skylight opens, letting the rain spatter to the floor. "Oops...Forgot it was raining. Ah well, **** it. For Science!" He hits enter on the keyboard, and presses two buttons on the device, and a large blue flash hits the mirrors, and flies out into the sky. He watches it with an evil grin. "Hell-yeah! That looked GREAT!" He checks the terminal window. Output is labeled as OPT, and it's value was 960,000KW/S. He mashed the switch down, the skylight closed. He unplugs the device, and slowly walks to the middle of the room, and does the moonwalk. "UNLEASH THE MOTHER****ING MOONWALK!!" He stops, grabbing his crotch with one hand, his other in the air. "Wooo!!" He flops down on his stool, and closes the housing on the device. He moonwalks over to the garage doors, and grabs his mop. "Hell yeah! That thing'd cut a tank in twain!" Laughing as he speaks, he walks over to the puddle and makes a futile attempt to dry it. He quickly throws the mop down, and picks up the device, which closed, looks like a gun from one of those Sci-Fi games.

He opens one of the garage doors, and turns to a sapling tree, holding the device at his waist, as he butchers Dirty Harry. "This here is a Bio-organic proton projection gun. It can cleave a tank in two...Theoretically. The most powerful weapon developed by man. You gotta ask yourself, do you feel lucky.." He throws the charging handle forward, two small pylons come out the bottom, one out of the top. "Well...Do ya?!" He pulls the trigger, and a large blue bolt rips out of the front of the gun, incinerating the sapling. Branches still burning crash to the icy ground. As they fall, a grin that would be the envy of any Mad Scientist across the world. He laughs loudly, his neighbors sticking their heads out their houses to see what the giant flash of light was, and what the commotion was about. Just as people begin to see him, he hits the close button, still laughing. "Hahahahaha!! This is ****ing great!" he says as he holds the gun in his arms, looking down at it in disbelief, that it actually works. "This thing will revolutionize warfare....If I give it to them!" He carries it over to his bed, which appears to have begun collecting dust. He sits it down on the neglected bed, and opens one of the drawers that make up part of the bed frame. He pulls out a cluster of junk, circuit boards, CMOS chips, wires and drops them to the floor. He then grabs the gun gently, and sits it in the drawer, and pushes it closed with a grin. He hops up, and hears sirens. "****, I forgot about the god damn fuzz. Ah, this'll be easy. I'll just say...What will I say..Ah hell, I'm an actor. I'll just ad lib." The sirens go past his house, and he opens his door, Ambulances. He thinks for a moment, shrugs, and sits at his desk. Still elated that he managed to get something to work properly, he grabs his mangled phone and punches numbers. Not two rings later, a friend of his, Morgan answers sleepily "Hello..?" William blurts out "Do you know what time it is?!" Morgan pauses, "Five-Fourty-Four. Did you set your clock on fire again?" William laughs and yells "NO! It's time to unleash the mother****ing Moonwalk! The BPPG Works! It's a success! I ****ing succeed!" He throws his free arm up into the air. Morgan pauses again, "Dude I'm on my way." Click. William tosses the phone to it's cradle, it landing flawlessly. "And that's why they call me Bender the Magnificent!" William yells. His dog, Cat stirring. He gets up and climbs on William's bed. He quickly walks over to the dog, and picks him up, and drops him to the concrete floor. "I bought you a bed. Now go lay in it. This one's mine even though I don't use it too often." The dog gets up and walks into the bathroom, and drinks from the toilet. "Stupid cat." he says as he lays down on his dusty bed. "Damn, I have forgotten what this feels like. I think I'll catch a few Z's while I wait on Morgan's dumb ass...Walking in the icy rain. Retard." William says as he gets comfortable. It's not long before he's asleep.

William wakes up to sirens outside. Out of instinct, he grabs his handgun off his headboard, and looks out his door's window. A police car parked outside in his driveway. He shrugs, and sits his gun down on his desk. Which looked like it had seen better days, made out of wood five times older than he was. He opened his door, standing out in the cold air, it had to be past noon. He walked out a bit, and looked in the police car. Empty. No footprints in the frozen grass, no evidence of any activity. Just the car. He checked the doors, which were unlocked. He turned off the siren, and shut the door. As he turned around, a man holding a bulldog walks up to him. "Hey kid, your cat got out." The man holds out William's dog, and he grabs him. "God damned cat keeps getting out..Thanks Grant, say, you couldn't tell me what's going on 'round here, could ya?" William says as he puts the dog in the house and shuts the door.Grant is a man in his early forties, going bald, so he always wears a ball cap. He is a good family friend of William, and he trusts Grant with a lot, and respects him as his father, but is more of a friend than anything. Grant is a homosexual, and his boyfriend is Lenard, who goes by Junior. Grant dusts the fur off his arms, and nods "Yeah, Some dumb-**** stole a tank from the reserve and is going ape **** up the street. The cops are parking cars here to warn everyone. Damn nuisance if you ask me." William grins as he hears the news. "Grant, you won't believe this..."He says as he walks in the door, he beckons Grant in. "I've got JUST the thing to deal with this." He walks over to his bed, and opens the drawer, and pulls out the large gun. Grant sees part of it and curiosity covers his face. William turns around and throws the charging handle forward, and the pylons pop out. "The Bio-Organic Proton Projection Gun." Grant keeps looking, fascinated. "What the hell is that, some rocket launcher?" Grant says puzzled. "Well, go get you truck, We'll deal with this." William pulls the charging handle back, and the pylons spark, and draw back in the housing.

Grant leaves and comes back a few minutes later with his truck and honks. William grabs his KLANKORP embroidered green leather jacket, and jumps in the back of Grant's Chevrolet Supercab, and Grant drives to Cobbs and New-Road, and stops just short of the police barricade. The Policemen stop the truck in short order. "This area is off limits, someone stole a tank and is driving it up New Road. Go back to your homes where it's safe." One of them says. William Gives them the finger, turns around and shows them the KLANKORP logo on the back of his jacket. "Y'all can go **** yourselves, with your saftey. I got something that'll diffuse this situation with minimal casualty. Just finished it this morning and it needs a field testing! And it appears you guys are doing jack to stop this guy anyway!" William says loudly. "Let us through! We'll stop this retard but good." The policemen not budging in their position on this; demand they go back. William picks up the BPPG and throws the charging handle forward. "Cmon guys! I just built this new toy! Lemme go test it!" The policemen stare in awe at it, as the air around the gun begins to spark. Out of fear they move the bobcats blocking the street, and let them through. William waves back to them as Grant drives slowly, so the tank can be spotted easily. William taps on the cowboy window and tells Grant his plan. "Okay, here's what we're gonna do! I want you to put this thing on the same street the tank's on. And I want you to get out of the truck, but put something on the gas petal to keep it down. Chances are he's gonna shoot at this truck, so if it's moving closer, he'll have to adjust the cannon! But whatever you put on that petal, has to have a string so I can pull it to move whatever it is out of the way! Got it?" Grant nods and grins while adjusting his ball cap. "Sure kid, but don't blow this truck up! Me and Junior are still paying for it!" William laughs and nods. "Let's get this show on the road!" Grant and William look out for the tank, and eventually find it running over cars on Bosque Boulevard. Grant gets ready to do what he was asked, and William says into the cowboy window "Hey, Just pull over. I'll walk up to him. He's not going that fast, and I don't wanna be too close to that thing if I hit the shell magazine." So Grant stops the truck, and William hops out. Walking down the street slowly, carrying his invention. He looks down at it, the pylons having been out for a good five minutes now, the charge would have to be more than devastating. He'd have to hit something Solid to prevent total penetration. He'd have to hit it from the side. The still icy roads made it a bit difficult to turn the tank quickly, meant that he'd have to position himself. They wouldn't do any of the work for him, he though as he glided down the ice, as if he had ice skates on.

William jumps up into the grass of the Subway shop, and picks up a rock, and throws it at the tank. He was about sixty feet from it, facing the left side. Perfect, since the magazine was on the left side of the Abrams tank, which sadly, he was up against. "Hey, Jackass! I'm over here!" He lifted the Proton Projector, took good aim, and clutched the trigger tightly. Nothing. He looked down at the gun, and noticed the pylons were dark! There was no charge! "****!" William closed the charging handle fast. The tank turret turned to face him, the tank had stopped. There were at least two people in it. Had to be. He runs closer to the tank, and reopens the charging handle. "If I can get within thirty feet, that cannon would do more damage to them than me." He thinks as he catches patches of ice, crouching as he slides across it, veering off in different directions, closing in on the tank. The turret kept turning with him, all-be it about seven seconds slower than him. The cannon fires, the shell striking the side of a small strip-mall, collapsing the wall in a large boom. William lifts up the gun and pulls the trigger. The gun fires true. The large blue bolt strikes the side of the tank, ripping a giant hole in the side, but not penetrating through. The metal stuck is white hot still, and is dripping to the street. He throws his hand out, pointing to the tank with his middle finger. "And that's why they call me Bender the Magnificent!" He dances to the best of his ability while carrying his heavy weapon. The metal cooling quickly as the cold air brushes against it. Three people wearing white hoods walk out of the giant hole, and William throws the charging handle back, then forward, aiming the gun at them. "And are you bastards gonna do something stupid so I can see what this does to people?" He says while grinning, cocking his head back slightly. The one in the middle goes down for a gun, and William fires. The bolt turns the man into a cloud of blood and smoke. "HOLY ****!!! Instagib rifle!!" William screams out loud as he re-cycles the gun. "Cmon boys. It's off to striped-sunlight for you." William motions with the gun to start walking. He walks them back to the police barricade, and leans the weapon over his shoulder. The police officers cuff the men and stuff them in their cars and drive off. The remaining officers approach William with hands extended in thanks.

He holds up his free hand, "You boys didn't see ****! I was never here, You hit the thing with a LAW. There were only two. Not three. There were really three, but the third guy thought he'd be a man, and he took a bolt to the chest. Ain't nothin' left of him, and I mean that." The officers looked at William, and one of them asked why, and William closed his eyes and sighed. "Look, If word gets out that there's a working Proton Projection gun, the military will take this from me. As I said earlier, I just made it." William closes the charging handle, and sits the gun in Grant's passenger seat. "I'm far from done with this. I didn't like how it performed today, but I am glad it worked. When I'm done with this; it'll see military application. This **** is top secret. And I mean that. I can destroy that as easily as I made it, and lie about its' existence." William shut the door to the truck slowly. "But I appreciate you guys letting me field test it like this, and even if you did tell someone, your superiors would find out, you'd go to jail. So would I. I don't want to live in striped sunlight, and I hope you don't want to either." William jumps in the back of the truck, and sits down in the front of the bed and waves to the police officers. "Remember boys, Mum's the word!" Grant slowly pulls off, and drives William back home.

As Grant drives up to William's house, Morgan's sitting outside on the porch, smoking a cigarette. He quickly gets up and puts it out on his heel. "I thought your dumb ass got arrested!" Morgan says in a joking tone. William jumps out of the bed of the truck, landing solid on the frozen grass, making a loud crunch. A police officer walks up to the car parked in William's Driveway, and apologizes for the inconvenience, and drives off in the squadcar. William opens the passenger door, and waves Morgan over. "There she is. The Bio-Organic Proton Projection Gun." William says as he gets it out. "Looks like the Gravity Gun." Morgan says looking at it. William carries it to the door, and opens it. As he opens the door, his dog gets out. "****ing cat..." William mutters as he walks in, sitting the gun on his desk. Grant drives up the street, parks his truck and walks back. By this time, William's already put up the gun, and woke his computer up. Morgan reaches into his pocket, and pulls out a mouse, and sits it on the desk. "Since you're too lazy to go get one, I brought one to you. Don't break it." Morgan says, trying to be smooth. William plugs it in, and he gets a kernel panic error, restarts his computer, and the mouse works. Grant walks in just in time to see his computer come on, which when it does, it defaults to the screen saver. "Oh, hey that's cute." Grant mouths off with, dripping with sarcasm. William knocks on the mouse like a door, and it goes to the desktop. He turns on his stool and points to the kitchen. "I got some beer left over in the fridge from your last barbecue, Drink it before I throw it out." Grant walks over to the icebox, and opens it. William's Ice-box looks like it came right out of the sixties. Grant grabbed one of the beers, circa that summer. "You really should get a new icebox. This thing's older than I am." Grant said as he closed the tie-dyed door. William turned in his stool, and looked at Grant with a cocked head. "Tch, you wouldn't know style if it shaved your head, old man." he said mockingly. Grant opened the beer bottle, discarding the cap on the floor. William didn't care. He never walked around barefoot.

William sat at his desk for a good hour, Morgan grabbed his handgun, and cycled the same magazine a few dozen times, put it up, grabbed a glass, filled it with soda, sat down, drank it, and basically made himself at home. William went to a dozen different forums and tech sites just posting one thing. 'Experiment 0013 Bio-Organic Proton Projector was a complete success. More information later'. William was rather pleased with himself. The first thing he did right in his field of science. Little did he know, this would beset things to come. The advent of such a weapon, always require an inveterate foe to use it on. This thought nagged him from the back of his mind. He knew something would happen soon. And never something good.

"So, how was that, child?" The gray-hared man said to the little girl, who was sleeping on her grandfather's chest. "Bit too long huh? Well, Off to bed for you." He picked her up gently, and took her inside.

[Your Amish Daddy]

The man who stands beneath a dark star.
Chapter 2: Rise ye who cannot stand, for I give you legs!

"Grandfather! Grandfather! Look! Master gave me a notice!" the small girl said as she ran into her Grandfather's run down bungalow. She stops in front of him and holds up the blue paper, as he turns from the sink full of dishes. "Well so you have!" he says with a smile as he pats her head with a damp hand. The little girl beams with pride, as she sits down at the kitchen table. "Grandfather...Master wanted to know why you don't go up there to see me practice." The old man stretches, and sits down across from her, and picks up a teapot, and pours a glass of tea, which by any standards was thick tea. He picks up his teacup gently, and looks into it. "Because I don't feel comfortable up there. The other elders give me the creeps. Sure, I'm probably older than they are; but they let themselves age." He sips slowly from the cup, and sits it down with a grimace. "They look like prunes, and always ask me questions. Distasteful people." His granddaughter nods, and looks down at her notice, which is a high achievement for someone her age, and in her field. The old man looks to a pot on the stove, and shrugs. "It'll be some time before dinner's ready. What do you want to do sweetheart?" He says with a slight depression. "Tell me more of that story about William! It's great!" she blurts out excitedly, her legs twitching with energy under the table. "I guess, where did I leave--oh yeah." He trails off.

Morgan paced around the poorly kept garage that William called a house, bored out of his mind. "Jesus man don't you have anything to do?" he groans out. William turns to the clock, already creeping on four in the afternoon. "Well, I guess my brother's probably loose running around. I figure we could get him over here and you could stomp him in chess. I haven't slept yet, so I plan on getting that out of the way pretty soon." William said as he got off of his stool slowly. Morgan walked over to William's fridge and rummaged around for something to eat. William picked up the unopened bag of chips he had bought that morning. "Help yourself." he said as he grabbed the Bio-Organic Proton Projection gun, and grinned, looking down at it. Morgan walked over to the desk and looked over at it. "So, what's it do?" he said with his common dullard tone. William grinned and turned around quickly, throwing the charging handle open. "I'm glad you asked, Tell him what it does, Johnny!" William said as he walked quickly to his back door, and threw it open. William steped out in the freezing mid-winter day, and Morgan followed. William pointed to a tree, which stood all by itself in the middle of the frozen grass. It wasn't but six years old, and not very big. "Mr.Tree, You're going down, fool!" he lift the gun, and pulled the trigger. A large blue bolt struck the tree's trunk, and several foot in both directions just burned away into ash in just a few seconds, and the rest of the tree fell to the ground and burned quickly, leaving charred dirt in the space it used to occupy. Morgan stood in awe. "Holy sheep **** batman. That thing is awesome."

Morgan found himself almost tripping over himself to look at the last few twigs and leaves burning on the ground. He turned around, and ran over to William. "What does that thing do to people?!" Morgan said with a lot of energy, looking down at the gun. William put it over his shoulder, and shrugged. "Well the one I hit with it just turned into a blood mist. But it cleaves holes in tanks, easy. You might hear about that later when I turn on the news later." He turned to walk inside, and Morgan stood in shock, but shook it off, and walked in, nearly tripping over the dog. "Dammit Will, you really need to do something about this cat." William sat the gun down on his desk, just in time for the phone to ring. He looks up to the phone, which was really just the circuit boards and wires taped together, and grabs the receiver and puts it to his ear. "Yo, Klankorp Wea--Yeah?" William interrupted himself, shaking his head. "Oh hey Cupcake." he said idly, and he sat down. "Finally made it home? That's good to hear." He nods and goes to say something and the line goes dead. He shrugs and puts the duct-tape phone on the duct-tape receiver, and shrugs. "Who was it?" Morgan asked, curious as usual. "Oh, it was just Laura. Got home finally." William said as he turns in his stool. He stops suddenly, as he hears desiel engines, on his street. "This isn't right." William said as he walked to his door, and looked out the window on it. Several desiel trucks that looked like they were from the nearby Army Reserve drive past, but didn't stop. William heaved a sign of relief, only to have someone knocking at his door seconds later.

"Anyone home?" said a voice through the door. "Who wants to know?" William said back with a horrible Italian accent, as he grabbed his gun from the other side of his desk. The voice sounded more stern. "Major Thomas Winters. I'm looking for William Bon--" William threw open the door, his handgun in his waist, and he pointed a rigid finger in the tall man's face. "Nary a man says my last name and keeps his teeth, Now what the hell do you want..." William barked out at the man, then leaned against the door frame. The Major was wearing a thick green coat, and a green hat. Olive drab clad in the cold day. "Uncle Sam wan--" William interrupts "Uncle Sam can want in one hand, and **** in the other and see which one fills up first." William said coldly to the Major. He then flipped him off, "When the Government stops jerking around and solves the problems it creates here, THEN You might get my interest." William straightened up and turned to step inside. "If you won't come willingly, we will have to take you." William turned around with a dark expression. "You want me? Only way you'll get me is by killing me." William slammed the door in the man's face and stormed over to his Proton Projector and threw the handle forward, then opened his door, holding it waist high. "Uncle Sam just wants another weapon to threaten the world with. If you want anything from me, other than nintey-six hundred-thousand kilowatts of energy, then I suggest you get out of here. You're barking up the wrong tree." The Major turned pale when the gun began sparking. "But--We can offer you opportunities, and a real lab to work in!" He stammered desperately. "This is my lab. My home. I can't work in your 'Labs' with people staring over my shoulder, wondering if I'll make their next doomsday weapon!" William closed the charging handle, and hefted the big gun over his shoulder. "The Military can take it's opportunities and shove it up it's ass. And if I were you, and you liked Oxygen, I'd get the **** out of here before you lost the ability to breathe." William slammed the door, and sat his invention on his desk.

"Grandfather, why did William not like his Government?" The girl asked quietly. Her grandfather nodded slowly. "Back then, their Government only looked out for themselves, and left those without, to die in the streets. They had no honor. No care for their people." He took the last sip of his tea, and refilled it, sitting the near-empty teapot down on the heavy oaken table. The girl grabbed the teapot, and walked over to the spigot, and pumped some water, refilling it. She then sat it on the stove with a spoon full of fresh ground tealeaves in the siv, and sat back down. "There! So you have more tea later." She said happily, and she sat back down. He smiled to her, and rest his head on his old, but not too worn out hands. "You're so thoughtful. I ill-deserve a child such as you." He said with a bright smile. He continued regaling her.

Within minutes of William sitting the PPG down, there was a loud knock at the door. Then the door burst open. Armed soldiers started rushing in. Just as the door burst open, William had grabbed his PPG and ran into the bathroom. "God dammit! I see how it's gonna be. You want me that bad? Then you're gonna take me dead!" He said as he threw the charging handle forward. A female voice spoke up, a foreign sound in his house. "William Bonn, You will come with us." He grabbed his mirror, and angled it just right, and got a look at her. Lutennant Colonel, he couldn't see her nameplate. "Alright, Lutennant Colonel, Only way you're gonna get me is in a body bag, and you won't be getting my invention!" He said as he looked at the squad. She wasn't armed, in casual military dress for her officer desk-piloting job. Six men, M4A1's, no body armor. Easy. Seven shots from his Sig. He sat the PPG on his toilet's tank, and pulled his handgun from his waist. Morgan, cowering in the corner of his bed. "Lady, let my friend go. He just came by here to get drunk." Morgan caught it, and staggered up and walked over to the garage door. "Lady, can I go?" He asked, feigning drunkenness. She looked him over, and bought it. "Yeah, get out of here. You didn't see anything." She moved so he could get out, and Morgan slinked out, and staggered far enough away to get running.

"Lutennant Colonel, You got a Mexican Standoff here, but the sad part is, I have a mirror, and I can calculate parabolic trajectories, reflection arcs and distortion waves in my head!" She shrugged. "And what do you have that can do that, a handgun?" She said while laughing. William grinned into the mirror, and picked up his PPG. "Third man on the right. Second rank. You're ****ed!" William fired into the mirror, the bolt reflected Perfectly into the man's chest, coating his friends in blood, his M4A1 exploded, sending the rounds everywhere, catching one of the men beside him in the shoulder. "Hoo-rah! And that's why they call me Bender the Magnificent! Hahaha!" He laughed manically, and re-charged the gun. As the rifleman exploded into his new existence as stains in clothing, the Lutennant Colonel shrieked, but tried to catch herself. She covered her mouth, and looked at the mirror, wich was tilted just right, so he could see her face, and vice verse. She saw him grinning menacingly. "You're next, Cupcake...Unless you wanna strike a deal." He could see the fear in her eyes as he said that. "W-What kind of deal, you...you Mad Scientist." William got a good laugh out of that as she said it. "You came here for my gun, right? I've already showed you that it makes short work of anyone or anything." She nodded, and he continued. "I'm not done with it though. If you want this, You have to do something for me!" She waved her men down, and they held their rifles down. "What do you want." She said calmly. William closed the charging handle. "I want to be left the **** alone. You military types tend to want to change how people think and live. I don't like that. If you want my work...You get this country fixed. There is no reason to have seven million homeless. No reason for poverty." She blinked as she heard the last part. "That's impossible! We can't change that!" William walked out of his bathroom, holding his weapon crossed his chest. "That's how it's gonna be. Now I'm letting you live, get your people out of here. I've never overcharged this thing, and I'd rather not." He said while pressing a red button right by the charging handle. The Lutennant Colonel nodded but she threw a finger out at him. "You may've got this one under your belt, but we'll be back, and you'll answer for your crime!" William looked sternly at her. "You came into my house brandishing weapons without announcing yourself. That's home invasion, brandishing and intent to do bodily harm. Wonder how well that'll look on your report..."He said with a growing grin.

"Wow Grandfather! He scared them off!" She said, with rapt attention. He nodded and sat his teacup down. "Let's just say that he started a chain reaction that he'll soon regret, if he has time." He then stands up, popping his back, turning to the stove. "Mm..Smells about ready, you hungry?" He says with a smile, looking down at his small granddaughter. She nods and gets dishes. Another day.

[Your Amish Daddy]

The man who stands beneath a dark star.
Chapter 3: The Onslaught of Time.

The sun rises up over the grassy hills, and a rooster calls out into the morning. The old man slowly wakes up, rubbing his eyes. The sun spreads it's warmth over the small bungalow. The thatch roof basking in the early morning sun. The old man stands up, reaching for the shutters on his window, pushing them open. He stands in the sunlight, smiling in the warmth. "You don't get this kind of morning every day." he said to himself, smiling into the new day. The old man walked over to a table that rest by his bed, his bed covered by animal pelts of all kind, of many color. He was obviously a hunter of some kind once in his life. He picked up a brush made out of bone, and ran it through his long gray hair. He stood looking to the window as he ran the brush through his hair. "It's gonna be another great day." he said to himself. He sat the brush down, and walked through the doorway into his kitchen, and picked up the teapot from the table. He took the lid off, and looked at the tea in the siv, and pulled the siv out, and knocked it against the sink, the old tea fell out in a clump in the base of the stone sink. And with a yawn, he pumped water to rinse out the teapot, and the sink. The cool and clean water rushed forward from the iron spigot, and splashed his bare chest, which was still tight with muscle. "Oh, that was not nice.." he said as he looked at the water running down his chest. He rinsed out the teapot, the sink, and refilled it in short order. He sat the teapot on the table, and grabbed a metal tin from the side of his stove, and scooped in a bit of the ground leaves, and put the lid on the teapot. The teapot sat on the table, as he walked into his bedroom, and grabbed a black and gray horizontal stripped dress from a rough-hewn wardrobe, and he stepped into it. The belt of the dress was a bit too big for him, but he was ready for this. "I'm still losing weight, this can't be good." He said as he grabbed a leather strap, and tied it around his waist, the belt of the dress hanging over the strap gently. The knot he tied was elegant, but it looked sloppy since he was using a simple leather strap. "Ah, that's more like it." He whispered as he walked back into the kitchen.

"Good morning, Grandfather!" the cute little girl said as she opened the big wooden door. "Good morning, yourself, young one." He said smiling, as he picked up the teapot, and sat it on the stove. "Would you be a good child and get me some wood from outside?" He said, opening the stove's lid. She nodded, and walked quickly outside. She grabbed two split logs, and carried them the best she could, as they were half her size. She walked back in slowly, and he met her, grabbing the split wood, and he chucked it in the back of the stove, and closed the lid. "Grandfather, you're not going to light it?" She asked, looking up to him. He smiled, and looked to her with a wink. "No need to light something that's already burning." As he said that, light begun to shine from the door of the stove. She looked on to the stove, and giggled. "Grandfather, you're hiding something from me, I know it." She said as she sat down at the table, which was a feat for her sometimes. "Does Nibiki know you're over here?" He asked sternly. She looked down at the table, and shook her head. "No, She doesn't. And I don't care! I do not like her. Father was a fool for marrying her." He closed his eyes, and tried to appear serious. "You shouldn't disobey your mother like that, even if she is ignorant." He said sternly, until the last part. His granddaughter smiled, and wiggled in the chair. "So what are you doing today, Grandfather?" She asked, hoping he would go to the market today. He nodded, "Well, I thought I'd sit here all day, and contemplate existence a little more, then go into town to harass the locals." He said, while scratching his ear. "Well Grandfather, can I go with you into town?" She asked, adjusting her training garb. He looked her over, and sighed. "Yeah, I guess. But you'd better not start any fights." He said, as he got up. "It'll be a long walk. Sure you're up to it?" "Yes, I am Grandfather. It's only two miles." She said, hopping out of the chair. "Good, Let's go." He grabbed his purse, and stuffed it in his pocket, and grabbed his jacket, which was no more than a gray shirt with buttons.

"When was the last time you went to town, Grandfather?" his granddaughter asked, as they set out. He stroked his chin, and looked up slightly. "Must've been a month or more." She nodded, and looked down. "Why don't you tell me more of that story? It'll make the trip faster." She asked, already bored of walking. He grinned, and nodded. "Sure, We've got plenty of time."

William stood firmly, as they fell back. He had beaten them. But they'd be back, he knew it. "Well, now I've done it. I've stirred the hornet's nest." He said, with a slight depression. He knew the next time they'd come back, they wouldn't be so easy to chase off. He'd better be ready. He sat the PPG on his desk, and opened the housing, and connected it to his computer. He opened a terminal window, and started up his little reader for the gun, and prepared everything. He opened the skylight, reset his mirrors, and grabbed his soldering iron. "I've gotta get a higher yield per-shot, or devise an auto charge system, and I have up to three hours to do it." He said, looking at the mess of circuitry. "And I don't know where to start, if it's possible." He ran it through the power up sequence, output peaked 1,009KW/S. Great numbers, but that was peak. Not average. He ran it through power cycle mode. Peak of 61KW/S. Not bad, but not good. The pattern was tight too, so there was no real loss, so it was efficient. He ran it through ion collection mode. 16 watts an inch. With three pylons, that meant the coil did most of the work. That meant rise time would change with longer use. A delay in combat would be costly. As he sat in his stool, looking over the mess, thinking of how he could decrease rise time with prolonged use, his stomach growled. It had been more than twelve hours since he last ate, if not longer. "Ah dammit, Science is a slavedriver." He said as he got out of his stool, walking over to his fridge. He knew there was little in his place to eat, but he always had ramen noodles, which he could never seem to get enough of. He grabbed a pot from the top of his fridge, dusted the bottom of it off, and filled it with water from his kitchen-area, which was just a sink, stove, and his icebox against the back wall of the second grease-pit. He filled the pot with water, and opened two packages of chicken-flavored ramen noodles. He pulled out the sauce packets, and dropped both noddle bricks in the water.

He stood, looking at the water. "I have to increase the efficiency of the pylons. The coil can't do all the work." He thought to himself. "More pylons, bad idea. More surface area of the gun, which means more of it to hit. The PPG wasn't much longer than a police shotgun, but was about five times around. Larger than he'd like, but it works too well for a redesign. A net system for the pylons? Maybe...But then that'd mean I couldn't use it in small places. A two-way air cycle system..To cycle air by the coil. That'd increase the efficiency of the coil, and keep it cool at the same time..That's it! I'll use an air cycle system." He ran over to his desk, grabbing his tools, and getting to work. Forgetting about his noodles. He built a small metal tube, that was curved, with a hole in the bottom so it would fit over the coil, without letting water through. He cut two holes in the left side of the housing, and bent the tube to fit. He fit in two 80mm computer case fans, the only thing he had available. "The pylons will power the fans, and drop whatever overhead they can into the coil, the coil will catch more ions with this fan system. Rise time will change, sure. It'll go down." He cuts wires, soldiers wires, and gets a small tube of silicone, and seals up the seams. "Water tight. And, if water gets on the coil, Water holds ions. Useful either way." He ran it through a two-stage power test. Averages were reaching 2,000KW/S, and the average rise time for both were nintey milliseconds. He grinned widely, and walked over to his stove, and turned off the boiling pot. The noodles were slightly over-done. He didn't care. "Screw this, I have more work to do." He poured the noodles up in his bowl quickly, and put a lid on the bowl. He sat the packets on top of the lid, and set the whole thing in his icebox. He could eat it later. He walked back over to his desk, and ran it through a power-up cycle. Peak output was 3913KW/S. He rubbed his eyes, he didn't believe it. "Habeeb it!" He yelled as he looked again.

He unplugged it, and closed the housing. He stood over the weapon, and looked at the metal housing. It was drab and color-less. His stomach growled again, and he grabbed the bowl he had just put in the icebox. The noodles were still hot, so he emptied the packets into the noodles and the water, and mixed it around well with a fork he had gotten out of his silverware drawer. He mixed it well, and looked over at the gun. He twisted a bit of noodles over the fork, and stuffed it into his mouth hungrily. "It needs color...But what colors?" He though as he ate quickly. He reached over to his stove, and grabbed a bottle of Worcestershire sauce, that had the drip lid taken out, and he took a drink of it. "Klan green. That's what it needs, and a lot of it." He finished his noodles, and tossed the bowl in the sink. He dug around under his desk, and pulled out a paint can with no label, but KLANKORP GREEN written on it. He opened the paint can. The pool of dark green paint had a slight tint of purple in it. It was beautiful. He grabbed a small brush, and started painting the rough metal housing slowly, blowing on each stroke to get it to dry evenly. He took painstaking care in painting the entire gun, even the caps of the pylons. He let it dry, then looked at it. "Now that's loads better." He turned to look at his broken door. and just pushed it to, and latched the chain. "Good enough for me." He stood facing his desk, the door at his back. He heard a diesel engine again, and he turned to face the door. He reached for his PPG, and before he grabbed it, the door flew open, two men in black suits carrying a battering ram. William just begins to lift it, as the one on the left shoots him with a taser, hitting him in the chest. William drops the ppg back on his desk and collapses to the ground. The men tie him up, and throw a black bag over his head. "****." is all he can say before they knock him out.

"What happened next, Grandfather?" She asked. "Well, William was interrogated by the men in the suits." He said. "Look, there's the gate, we made it." She said as he finished his sentence. They walked up to the gate, and the old man called out to the guards on the towers. "Hey! Can we get in the city? I have my identification, if you don't remember who I am. One of the guards, dressed in ragged chain mail looked over the wall, and looked down into the old man's face. He blinked and almost tripped over himself to stand up. "Yes, yes! Come in!" He quickly had the gate opened, and the old man smiled. The gate opened to reveal a bustling town, filled with people. They spent most of the day in town, having fun. His granddaughter noticed many things about her grandfather that day. People treated him with great respect. Even most of the elders in town. Those who didn't called him a traitor under their breath. Almost all of the shops they went to charged him far less than the rest of the people, but no one said anything. Grandfather always paid a bit more than they asked for, and they tried to give it back. "Apparently Grandfather is someone of importance." She thought to herself.

[Your Amish Daddy]

The man who stands beneath a dark star.
Chapter 4: The end of things to be, and the beginning of Ages.

They both left town, since it was fairly late in the evening. "Grandfather...Who are you?" she asked him, wondering if he really was her grandfather, since her own father was a coward and a false man. He looked down to her and smiled. "I'm just an old man that everyone likes, that's all." He said, as he pat her hair gently. She looked forward, and worried about those who did not like him. "Who where those people who called you a traitor...?" She asked, with a hint of worry in her voice. He looked up, sighed and turned to her, crouching and placing his hands on her shoulders. "They're people who fear the past, they fear change. Who I am is no one's business but mine. Your father doesn't even know who I am anymore." He said, staring into her eyes. "Remember, you're only who you make yourself." He stood up slowly, and started walking. She shook her head and walked quickly to catch up. "Do you want me to keep telling that story?" He asked smugly. She nodded. "Yes! It was just getting good."

William was drug and thrown around like a sack of potatoes. He came to in a room, cuffed to a chair. Bright light was shown in his face, incandescent. He laughed to himself. "Looks like you got me right where you want me." He barked out to someone who thought he couldn't be seen. William smirked. "I see you. Just fine, too." The man walked over and went to punch William, and he grinned, and threw his head forward, making the man miss by a hair. "Hmm. Not average, I see." The man said. William looked him over. Even with the bright light, he could see he was wearing a blue suit, with a red shirt and black tie. Not normal wear for anyone in the world. He took a look up at the man's face. An Englishman. Bad teeth, centered eyes and horrible hair. "Can I have some tea, I think it's Teatime." William said mockingly. "How can you see me, huh fatass?" the man said while grinning. William laughed. "What do you want, anyway limey? The feds didn't go to that much trouble to bring me here for my charming personality." The man in the suit got up, and opened a box that was on the table behind him. He lifted out the PPG, and William saw it. "Ah. You want my work, or atleast...Some of it." He said and shook his head. "Lemme guess. You can't figure it out?" The Englishman holding it had somehow caused the safety system to engage. It looked like a long metal cylinder with a small protrusion where the grip was. "No, We want you to call Santa Clause." He shook his head. "So you teabags can do sarcasm, it's about time!" William said, and looked down. Someone walked in the room and whispered to the man in the suit. He nodded and turned around. William lifted his head. "Lemme guess. 'Did you get anywhere with him? The General wants to know as soon as you do.' Haha, Sounds like you're under the thumb." The Englishman sat the gun down on the table, turned to swing at William again. William ducked, but he changed his angle, catching William in the jaw. "Not so slick, eh? Just co-operate, and you'll live."

William looked up at him, and grinned. A little blood on his teeth. "Oh sure, I'll live until they want me to stop. You can't figure that out, and if I die..." William spit out some blood, hitting the man's polished black shoes. The man quickly pulled out a 1911, and pressed it against William's head. "I'll blow your ****ing head off now, if I have to." William laughed manically. "Do it! C'mon sissy, I'm not scared of you. You won't pull that trigger, because you need what's In my head!" William laughed again, and the man pointed the gun at his left shoulder, and fired. The bullet ripped right through William's shoulder blade, and all he did was wince a bit, and grin. "Woo. Big man feels good about shooting someone stuck in a chair! I bet your pants are getting tighter." William jabbed at him with words, since that's all he had. The green shirt that William wore all the time, now staining brown with blood. The man looked at him, watching his expression. William still possessed the smugness he always had. He knew he wasn't in any real danger. Not as long as the shield was down on his gun. "Tell you what, sparky. Don't mind if I call you that? Or how about Spot? Ah it doesn't matter. You're not gonna get anywhere with me. Why not get someone in here with some skill." William looked at his shoulder, and nodded to the door. "And I could really use a band-aid or two." William knew he was getting to him. The man left the room and slammed the door. William sighed with relief, and did the only thing he could do. Think. Think. William checked the cuffs. Tight on his wrists, tight on the chair. The chair was made of metal, so he wasn't going to manage to break it to get free. "Nice kettle of fish I'm in." He thought to himself. The door opened, and William lifted his head slowly. It was the Lutennant Colonel from earlier. Before she could say anything, William started talking. "Lutennant Colonel Pitcher. Hiya cupcake. Looks like the tables are turned, eh?" William said quietly, trying to judge her mind-state. She sighed and nodded. "Looks like you can see fine with this light on, so it's not needed...Let me turn it off." She reached over to the lamp, and turned it off. William finally got a good look at her. About five foot tall, dark hair, and rather shapely. William whistled. "Damn, if I knew you were this good looking, I wouldn'tve tried to turn my gun on you." He said smugly, and she sat down at the table. "Yeah, yeah. Shut up. Tell us how it works." Right to the point. "Well, what if I don't want to. You can't get to it right now anyway. And if I keep bleeding like this, that information will die with me." She caught what he wanted. She got up and opened the door, and spoke to someone. In short order, someone came in with some medical supplies.

"Hey, just close it up. I doubt I'll live to see the end of this day anyway." William said grimly, staring coldly at his new interrogator. She looked at him coldly in return. "I believe one of our other officers asked you to come with him, and you denied it. You knew this would happen." She said, trying to scold him. "Well, I don't care which way it ends, to tell you the truth. The numbers are starting to get too high. A cascade is bound to happen the next time it's fired." William said while sighing, the medic ripped his shirt open, and begun treating him the best he could. "And if you did get it to fire without creating a cascade scenario..Whatever you hit would create it. It's gonna happen." She looked at him with a questioning expression. "What's a Cascade?" William nodded to the gun. "It's when too much excited protons fuse. It destabilizes and area." The medic stood up and walked out and shut the door. She looked to the gun. "So, is there any way to prevent it from happening?" William nodded. "Yeah, I can disassemble that thing. I shouldn'tve made it anyway. Because, For every action, there is an equal and opposing reaction. The birth of that weapon, will create a need for it." She sighed and opened a folder that was on the table. "You're right. And that's why we want your weapon." William laughed. "You WANT something from me? I told you what I wanted. That's how the world you created works. Nothing's free." William scowled at her. "That's impossible and you know it. We're prepared to offer y--" William spit on the table. "You want to offer me **** I don't want. I don't want your money, your time, or your ****ing name." She sighed again, and picked up the folder, and walked over to him. "We've lost six satellites. The one we recovered, was burned by something. When we were told about the tank you destroyed, it fit the profile of the damage to our satellites. We also have these.." She showed him pictures of what could be a ship of some kind. "So we know you didn't do it, whatever they are, did it." She walked back to the table. "This is a matter of world safety. Don't you wanna save billions of people?" She turned around and looked at him, trying to find some humanity in him. William lowered his head. "No." He raised his head, and looked at her. "I tried to warn people about this. I knew this would happen. My mental record, is bull****. I knew this was going to happen. I knew it would." He sighed, and pulled at the cuffs. "Uncuff me." She shook her head. "Not unless you're gonna show us how this works. "Fine. I'll show you how to destroy yourselves. Hell, I'll even do it for you." She knocked on the door, and someone came in. "He's agreed, Let him go." He walked over to William, and unlocked the handcuffs. William snatched his arms forward, even his left one which caused him to wince. "I need both arms." She nodded. "We'll get you medical treatment. But we need to know how to use this now." William walked over and knocked twice on the metal shield, and it retracted. "All you had to do was knock. It would've let you in." William grinned, and pressed the red button by the charging handle.

"It was that easy?" She stood aghast. William looked at her over his shoulder. "The simplest answers are often the right ones." The man who unlocked the cuffs led him out of the room. William stopped, and turned back to the room. "What ever you do. Do not fire it." He then turned around and nodded to the man, and he was taken to where he would know as his last bed. He was taken to get medical treatment. After surgery, a day later, Someone walks into the room where William is recovering. "Excuse me, are you awake?" The voice said. William opened his eyes slowly, and looked to the door. A blond kid, just barely 18 was standing there. "What do you want." William said coarsely. The kid straightened up. "Are you well enough to walk? You're wanted in the meeting room." William sat up, and turned. Only left in his green khaki pants. "Sure, if you can find me a shirt." The kid walked over to a chair that was by a window, and picked up a green shirt, but it didn't match William's green. and handed it to him. "Here you are sir." William put on the shirt like normal. Bit sore, but he was alright. "My green is a dark green with royal purple mixed in. Remember it, now let's go." The kid led him down halls and corridors. The place was a maze. The kid stopped, and stood at a doorway. "They're waiting for you inside." William nodded, and walked in. The room was desolate, just a table, a monitor, and seven chairs. Four people stood over the table, looking down at something. William walked up to them silently, and tapped one of them on the shoulder, which startled all four of them. He smiled. "What do you goons want from me?" The all turned around and jut their chests out, and one of them spoke up. "We're Generals. Not Goons. I--" William poked one of them in the chest, and glared at him. "You're all goons. Get over it. Now what do you Goons want, because I doubt you need my reassurance that you're all idiots." He said as he looked them over. Big guys, probably in their early fifties. They took care of themselves when they were younger, so they stayed in good shape. William looked past them and saw his invention, and another one that looked like it. "Ah, I see you were gawking at my Proton Projector, and it also appears you made a cheap copy. You mind? "He pushes past them and picks up the copy. "This..Doesn't feel right. It's missing something." One of the younger generals nodded. "Yeah, it doesn't work. We want to know why yours does, and this exact copy doesn't." William tapped the housing. "I can't get it open. I need some tools." He said, fascinated to how they screwed up. The same man barked back to the doorway. "Get some tools!" William opened his PPG, and looked in it. Nothing had been moved, the silicone was still in place. "How'd you copy mine without taking mine apart?" He looked over his shoulder at them. "We did take yours apart." William looked again, and saw a hair in the silicone. It wasn't his. "Yeah, I see that now, and I question that it was reassembled properly." The kid came in with a box, and handed it to one of the generals, who sat it down on the table. "Here's your tools. Now make ours work." William glared at the man, and grabbed the box and opened it. Not quite what he was used to, but it'll do. He disassembled theirs, and laid each piece out, in order that he built his. He point to an empty space just above the coil. "Ok. Do you see this space right here?" The generals looked at the table. And one of them nodded. "Watch this." William took his appart, and in the same space on his, he put a small, face-cut obsidian stone. It shown in the light brightly. "That, is what you're missing. A refraction device." He picked up the stone and begun rebuilding his PPG. "You need a refraction device. I used obsidian because it was available. Anything should work if you're in a rush." The middle general put his hand on William's shoulder. "Put that in ours." He said forcefully. William quickly grabbed the mans arm, and folded it behind his back, and kicked him to the ground. "You will make one for your own god damn gun, you ****head." William turned back around and finished assembling his gun, and closed the housing. He turned to the army's cheap copy, and put it back together. They didn't like his attitude, but knew they needed his help.

"Gentlemen. Behold. I give you death!!" William said as he picked up his PPG, and threw the charging handle forward. The men stood up and went for their guns. Just as fast as their arms went down, William pulled the trigger. The bolt that came out, wasn't blue anymore. It was black. The bolt seem to slow down before it hit them. As it contacted them, a wave of force flew out in all directions. William grinned, and yelled "Welcome to the end of the universe!!" He laughed manically, as waves continued to pour forth from the space where he fired. The building started shaking, and in an instant, a wave of blackness engulfed the whole area. William stood frozen in the darkness. He couldn't move, but he could think. "What have I done?" He thought slowly. "Oh, I know. I've just destroyed the entire universe! Good for me!" His thoughts seemed to echo on forever. "Well it looks li--Huh?" The darkness seemed to start fading. "Wait, what happened..?" He could start to feel cold, but not freezing. He could see dark blurs of things. Sounds of wind played back at extremely slow speeds reached his ears. "No way..Did I just create an antimatter depression?" Things starting clearing up faster. He could make out shapes, he was...Upside down? He looked up, and saw dirt. He felt a strange sensation, and tried to throw his legs out so he could land flat on his feet. He fell to his chest, and the PPG fell beside him. "Owwie..!" He groaned, and he pushed himself up to his knees and looked around. Patches of dirt, and grass. Beautiful green grass. A few rocks sticking up out of the ground, but a beautiful view. "Antimatter depressions...Distort time, in theory..." He said to himself as he stood up, and picked up his PPG. As he picked it up, something rattled in it. He looked down at it in fear, and shook it gently. It was metallic. It could be the tube, the coil could've broken loose, both easy fixes. He ran over to a semi-flat rock, and opened it. The metal tube was bent, and he removed it. The coil was broken in two. That, he couldn't fix without tools. "This is just what I need. I have no idea where or when I am, and now I'm unarmed. Beautiful." He closed the PPG, and left it there as he turned around to survey his position.

"And what happened next?" The little girl asked. The old man stopped, and looked ahead. "Look. Your father and mother are here." She looked ahead, and saw her parents sitting outside Grandfather's house. "Aww man. I don't wanna go home." She sighed and walked up to them, her grandfather behind her. "Where have you been?!" Nibiki shrieked, as she ran up to her daughter. "And you! I bet you put her up to this!" She yelled to her own father-by-marriage. He walked up to her, and struck her in the face, and glared into her eyes. "Now Dad, there is no reason for this." His son said. "Son. I have put up with this wicked woman for your sake. She will not badmouth me. And you will not defend her. Leena came here of her own free will." He reached to his granddaughter, and pat her head gently. "And it's a good thing for her to visit her grandfather, since his own children will not." He said calmly. "I also say she can stay out here tonight if she wants to. What have you for that?" He smirked and pat his granddaughter's head more. "I don't have a problem with that." His son said, trying not to backpedal. "Well then I will see you this time tomorrow, when you come and get her, Son." He then lead his granddaughter into the bungalow, and shut the door.

[Your Amish Daddy]

The man who stands beneath a dark star.
Chapter 5: Faster than the speed of existence.

They both sit at the table, and look at each other for a moment, and start laughing. "Grandfather, you are mean to them!" Leena says, giggling. Her grandfather leans back in his chair, and laughs a bit more. "And the sad part is, I treat them like that all the time." He leans his head back, and sighs. "You know they're gonna scold you for how I acted." He closes his eyes and yawns. "But they act more like children than I do!" She says sternly. The old man looks over to the stove, the teapot still on the stove, the fire long gone out. "Wow, I forgot about that. Oh well, I'm too tired to care." He stretches and gets up. "I'm going to bed. When you're ready, come on in unless you mind sharing a bed with your grandfather." He walked into the room and flopped down on his soft bed and went right to sleep.

He dreamed of his past, and woke up before the sun. His eyes opened slowly, and he could still hear the voice. He shook his head, and it drifted away. "I'm too old for this." He mumbles as he gets up, sitting on the edge of the bed. Leena was sprawled across the other half of his bed. He sat there for several minutes, looking out the window into the darkness. Stars speckled the sky densely, a red nebula visible in the lower part of the sky. He gets up and walks to the kitchen. "I'm really too old for this." He said to himself, as he walked to the door. He opened it, and stepped into the cool early morning air. He rubbed his face with his large hands, and looked out blankly. He stood there for what felt like an age, before the sky started to light up for the sunrise. "Can't sleep anymore?" A voice called out. "No. These bouts of sleeplessness track me to this day." He said quietly. The voice spoke, seemingly coming from everywhere, and nowhere. "Anyway, It's about time you knocked some sense into that woman. Serves her right, now if you could just get that son of yours to open his eyes." He nodded slowly. "But that'll never happen, Castus will never open his eyes." He leaned against the door frame, and closed his eyes. "By the way, Address 8000DF01 corrupted yesterday. I saved most of it; but I lost the combination to your iron box." He nodded. "Don't worry. it's written on the lock." "Alright. But, that's the sixty-fifth address to go this cycle. I think it's time to replace the crystal. Especially before you forget your past, Omega." He nodded. "Yeah, but where am I going to get one...It's not like there's any alchemists here." He stood up and walked out into the grass. "Stop calling me that. That's not my name." He said as he stopped and sat down in the crisp grass. "Well, When you remember your name, I'll call you that." He sighed and leaned back. "Sometimes Omega, I wished you weren't who you are. You make it too easy to get comfortable." He yawned and closed his eyes. "Not my fault I'm so cool about things."

Leena woke up to the rising sun, and an empty bed. She looked around, and got off the bed. "Grandfather..?" She looked in the kitchen, and saw the door open. She walked outside quickly, and saw him laying in the grass. She was walking up to him and stopped to listen. "It's not like I asked for this. Some people are born into greatness. Others are built into it." He said, as he sat up. "Grandfather, who are you talking to?" Leena asked quietly, thinking her grandfather had lost his mind. He turned around and smiled. "I'm just talking to ghosts of past cycles. Come, sit by me." She nodded and sat beside him. "What did you mean by what you said, Grandfather?" She asked, looking up to him. "It's nothing. You'll find out soon enough. Do you want me to continue that story, or do you want some breakfast?" He said as he looked down to her. "It's too early for breakfast, Grandfather." He nodded. "Alright."

William stood in a patch of dirt, thinking. "I'm somewhere where I wasn't, without anything. I am royally screwed." All he could see was grass, or stones. "Well, at least I know where, and when I am, there's no industry. I don't see any smog, and this ground isn't polluted." He said to himself as he sat down on a small rock. "Well, I have to do something. Because this sitting here **** isn't doing me any good." He said slowly, looking around again. He decided to look over his PPG again, so he got up and walked over to it. He looked inside, and re-assessed the damage. Wasn't too bad, either way, but the coil was broken. No coil meant no power, But, there were two ends still soldered to the board. Maybe, a shorter coil would be enough to defend himself with. He didn't know, and he didn't care. Somethings better than nothing. He salvaged the most of the coil cable, but not the rod. He looked about for something that wouldn't conduct electricity, and found a stone fragment just short enough to work. He wrapped the wire around it tightly, and twisted the ends to the pieces on the board. "This'll work fine! I'll have my PPG after all.." He replaced the metal tube, which almost didn't fit, but it was enough. He closed the housing, and threw the charging handle forward, and the gun came to life. "**** yeah! Now, I need to fix the output, so I don't have that same....problem." He closed the charging handle, and took the housing back off, and removed the tube, and unwired the fans. He threw the charging handle forward and fired. The damage to the gun was enough to decrease the output. The bolt was blue, and it flew into the sky. "Hoo-rah!" He locked the housing down, and threw the metal tube on the ground. "Now to pick a direction, and start bookin'." He spins in a circle, and stops. "Alright, let's go." He lays the gun crossed his shoulder and started walking.

William walked slowly, thinking about where he was. Starting to wonder if he'd be alright. The terrain looked placid enough, but he had no idea of what creatures' back yard he was in. He walked on anyway. He was armed with the most powerful weapon he could imagine, so he felt bulletproof. He walked for hours. The bowl of noodles he had at least a day before had worn off. He was getting hungry, but it didn't bother him much. All he could see were rocks and grass, so there's nothing he could do about it. The sun, which he had noticed was a bit further away, or colder than the sun he knew, so he ruled that he was elsewhere, not on earth. Couldn't be. Stars don't get cold, they go boom. So, wherever he was, this had to be their summer. It felt about seventy, as the sun starting going down. That meant the nights would be around sixty or fifty. No problem. "The only problem I have right now.." He paused as he stepped over a rock. "Is finding a place to rest, and maybe something to eat." He said as he spotted a small thicket to his left. It was still a distance away, but it was still a goal. He walked a little faster, wishing he had a skateboard, and that the grass was concrete. It didn't matter anyway. As he walked, he felt a little lighter. He moved a little faster. So he jumped. Almost two feet in the air, and considering his weight, that was nice. He landed easily, and kept walking. "Gravity's lower. Excellent, this place is shaping up to be a great change." His recent discoveries made him feel much better about being wherever he was. The evening had started into night when he reached the thicket.

He held his PPG in the ready position, not knowing what to expect. He walked into the thicket, looking in all directions, for anything that might be a threat. Something broke a small branch, and as soon as he heard it, he crouched, and looked around through the 'sights' he made for the gun, which was nothing more than the ghost-rings from an airsoft gun he broke to make the coil, which were taped on, but now that it had been painted, it wasn't noticeable. He looked around, then down at his feet. It was him. "Jesus. I need to relax a bit." He said as he got up, and held the gun with one arm, against his shoulder. He took a few more steps and heard something else. A voice. He crouched, and moved forward slowly, trying to hear it. It was a voice. "What language is that..?" He moved a little closer, and tried to hear more. It was a voice, but he couldn't understand it, much less catch whole sounds. It sounded like it was behind something, so he moved closer, trees and bushes gave him cover. The voice became clearer. "English?" He moved closer, crouching behind a bush. He dared not move further. He could only still hear bits and pieces of whole sounds. He wasn't too sure. "I've gotta get closer..." He whispered. The voice stopped, and William froze. He looked up to see someone looking over at him. "And what do we have here, A spy?" the woman said. He was right. it was English. He had to still be on earth, there was no way English could spread that far.

William stood up and shook his head. "No, I'm just a bit lost." He said kinda shocked. She looked him over, and he did the same to her.She stood about 5'4, very pretty face with bright blond hair and Amethyst tear earrings. She was wearing Half-plate, but it appeared to be made of Amethyst, since it was translucent and purple. "Such fine armor." William whispered to himself. She noted that he was wearing clothing that she'd never seen before. "Where are you from? Your clothing doesn't seem to be from around here." She said elegantly as she looked to what he had in his hand. "And what is that?" She questioned him, pointing at it. He looked down at it, and looked back up. "Oh, this. It's a Proton Projector." She blinked, and nodded. "You must be from Eden's tower. What do you here..?" She folded her arms, her figure wasn't of any warrior he'd dreamed up. "I told you I was a bit lost." He shrugged. "I don't have a clue where I am, much less, when." He looked down to the gun, and lifted it slightly. "I had a bit of an accedent with this, and here I am...Well not Here, I was actually back a distance." He pointed back. She nodded and turned around. "I don't care where you came from, what you are, or what you're doing here. The fact is, you're here and you shouldn't be." She begun to walk off. "So if I were you, I'd leave before you got hurt..." William shrugged. "I got no other place to be. So if you won't help me, to hell with you." He lifted the gun and threw the charging handle forward. She turned around just in time to have a blue bolt wizz by her. The force and heat threw her to the ground. He looked down at her, and re-cycled the gun, and aimed down at her. "You're cute and all, but you don't threaten me." He lift it again and she lifted her hand in surrender. "Don't hurt me! I'm just trying to do my job!" She stammered in terror. "What, you not so willing to threaten me?" He lowered the gun, and closed the charging handle. "I didn't know who you were! I apologize Master!" She got to her knees, and folded her hands at her chest and lowered her head. "I'm not who you think I am, but if you're sorry, apologize with some information." She stood up quickly, and bowed her head. "Yes Sir!" She straighted up. William leaned the gun over his shoulder. "Where am I?" She bowed. "The county of Hyur, Rual Circle." William nodded. "Okay, Now, When am I?" She bowed again. "I don't understand." He scratched his head, and looked down. "What year is it?" He asked again, hoping to make headway. "I don't know, but I know it's Cycle 96, if that's any help." Cycle. Time was never measured like that, that he'd ever heard of. "Alright. I know where and when. He walked up to her and pat her shoulder. She looked at him with a little fear in her eyes. "Thanks for your help. Now I have one last question to ask. Who are you?" She stepped back, bowed again. "Sir Charlotte Misk, Royal Knight of His Eminence Illuom Tassudar. Long Live Emperor Tassudar!"

An empire? "How long has he ruled?" She adjusted her carapace, and took a deep breath and bowed. "For about sixty cycles, now. You really aren't from here, are you." She looked at him. "Yeah, isn't that obvious? I have something your 'Master' threatens people with, and you said I dress strangely. Figured that'd be enough of a hint." He shook his head. "What is this job you were set to do, that I interrupted?" He looked around, and only saw a small hovel. He assumed it was draft for a war, or taxation. "I am here looking for his lost son. He disappeared a cycle ago, and the search goes on to this day. You know, he looks like you, in a way, except he isn't as portly as you are, if you will excuse the insult, Sir." She bowed again. "That bowing **** is getting old. Stop that." She stood up straight. "I apologize Sir. I was always told to respect tradition and power." William shrugged. "I'm not powerful, I just have a big gun." He looked at her sword. "By the way, you wouldn't happen to have anything I could use as a strap, would you? This thing is heavy." He asked, holding the PPG over his shoulder. She shook her head. "No Sir, but I can carry it for you, if you wish." She said, almost bowing again. He raised his hand some. "Nah, that's alright. I don't want to inconvenience you." The gears were turning in his head. He's gotta find a way to at least find someplace for tonight. "Where's your camp, if you're camping?" He looked at her, and she didn't have any gear with her, so she had to be near something. "I am camped about an hour east." She bowed again. "Mind if I camp with you tonight, since I don't have anything other than this?" She shook her head. "It would be my pleasure, Sir." She bowed again, and started walking east, He followed her, carrying his PPG in both hands, kind of lifting it. "Medieval world, Only the strong survive" He thought. "I have to get stronger, physically." He lifted the gun over his head, and took long steps. Charlotte stopped and looked at him. "Sir, Are you alright?" She asked watching him. "Yeah, I'm fine. I need to get stronger. This place isn't like where I came from." She looked on, and walked quickly to catch up. "You know it is still some distance until we get to my camp, right?" She asked, looking at William like he wasn't all there. "Yeah, and I'm taking advantage of this distance. I'm a little soft, if you catch my drift. This will be a good time to work up what I need to wear heavy armor, or whatever I have to do to survive." The idea of survival in a medieval world was not a pleasant one, but he didn't care. He couldn't rely on his PPG. It was too cumbersome, and could fail at any time.

William's arms ached as he pressed on. Charlotte watched him, and saw how determined he was to do this. "Sir, We are still a ways out. You should slow down." William pressed on, and nodded forward. "That your camp up there?" He said, panting. His arms felt like they were on fire, his legs felt no better. Charlotte looked ahead, and blinked. "Yes, it is. How did we get here so fast?" She asked, not understanding. William grunted and grit his teeth. "You had to move faster to keep up with me. We covered more ground, faster." She was amazed. Apparently logical thought hadn't made its' way into this society yet. "That is amazing, how'd you do that?" He looked down and stopped. "Easy." he wheezed, as he doubled over, panting heavily. "When I started taking longer steps, you took faster ones to keep up." He said between breaths. "You didn't notice it, because you were too busy watching me." He straightened up. "What is your fascination with me, after I shot at you...And why are you calling me Sir?" She bowed, yet again. "I do not know your name, Sir. And the reason for my bowing, is because you have defeated me. I am yours." She said seriously. Like he would agree to that. "Well, my name is William Bonn. What do you mean by 'I am yours'?" He looked at her quizzically, his legs arguing about keeping him standing, so he started walking, the camp nearing with each step. "I mean, that in our world, when a Woman is beaten by a Man, she is his." She said as she walked behind him. She is his, like a possession? That's not right, he thought. "I don't understand. Why would a sane woman, just after being bested by a fat man with a gun, say that she's his, just because...That makes no sense." He thought aloud. He kept walking, the camp close enough to see people moving around it. Charlotte's camp seemed to be a campsite, of other Knights. William stopped. "You said I looked like the Emperor's son, right?" He said, turning around to her. She nodded, "But not too much." William scratched his head. "People don't stay the same over time. They change to suit their environment. They adapt. I wanna see something. Wait here." William walked to the camp, and Charlotte waited obediently, which unnerved him slightly. He walked into the camp, and the first person who saw him blinked, and ran to him. "Master Victus!" A tall man said loudly as he ran to William. "You've returned?!"

"Grandfather...Victus was the second Emperor's son. That means, he was here!" Leena said excitedly, as the sun had come high in the sky already. The old man nodded, and looked forward. "That's right. The Last Human was here on Eden, but in his day, it was known as Rv'Alendred." She looked into the sky. "Grandfather, I'm hungry." She said, leaning against her grandfather, thinking about the things that she knew of. Tassudar, Eden's Tower, which was an alchemist lab. These things unnerved her. Because that meant he really could've existed, and that may not be a story. She knew her grandfather was prone to playing jokes on people, but this bothered her for a few weeks. Her Master even noticed it, and spoke to her about it. "Child. I have to speak to you." Her Master said. "Yes, Master Genma?" She said, nodding to him. He sat down on the wooden floor of the old building that he used as his school. "There is something on your mind, young one. You seem to be affixed to something. Do you wish to share it with me?" He asked in a old, but welcoming voice as his wrinkled, worn hands clung to a gnarled wooden staff he used as a tool to walk with, and to point with. Leena nodded, and looked down. "My Grandfather told me a story, about someone who existed a long time ago. Grandfather's stories are always so hard to believe, usually." She said, as she studied the floor. She raised her head slowly, and looked into the old man's eyes. "I believe this one. I don't know why." She looked uneasily at Master Genma, and sighed. "I'm sorry, Master. It just seems like this William really could've existed here, but I can't accept that. A Human, on Eden?" Genma nodded. "Indeed there was a human here, some hundred cycles ago. He is long dead, but his presence here changed how we live. You are allowed to take my training, instead of being protected, and prepared for wedlock." Leena jolted as she heard that. "So it's true? He was here?" She clutched the fabric of her training clothing, and leaned forward. Genma nodded. "You should ask Master Bonn yourself. He will tell you more." Genma said with a toothless smile.

[Your Amish Daddy]

The man who stands beneath a dark star.
Chapter 6: The man with no name.

Leena walked home slowly. The words Genma told her ravaging her mind. He was real. This story of fantasy was true. It couldn't be. Master Genma was just teasing her. And who is 'Master Bonn', The man who shared the clan name as the human. She walked to her Father's home in the south part of the Blue Forrest, which was a small community called Pale. She walked into her father's house, and sat down on one of the finely carved wooden chairs he made. She sat there for some time, before her father came inside, and saw her. She sat, thinking so deeply, he thought he was being pulled into her mind. "Leena, Are you alright?" Her father asked, crouching in front of her. She shook her head and smiled, which no matter how much she smiled, it seemed empty. "I'm just thinking of things, Father." She said, and looked up to him. Her smile faded, and she looked down. "Who is Master Bonn?" She asked coldly. Her father froze for a second, and took a deep breath. "I'm not sure how you heard that name, but the person it belongs to doesn't remember it himself." He rest a hand on her shoulder. He was a good parent in his own, and a providing man. "But, If you really must know. Go ask your grandfather." He said with a deep sigh. He knew this day would come. He stood up, and looked down at his daughter, caught in her own confusion. "I'll have Grandfather come by tomorrow. I have to speak to him, too." Her father walked into the den, and grabbed his coat. "Nibiki, I'm going to see Dad. I'll be back later." She ran out of the kitchen, holding a spoon. "Oh you will not be leaving this house to see that traitor, Castus!" She said, waiving that spoon like it were a weapon. "...Nibiki. Shut up." He said, as he walked out of the door with a smile.

Castus walked out of Pale, and walked east to his father's house. He walked for about an hour with a fast pace. He reached his father's house, walking up the grassy hill that he chose to place his home on. "Hey Dad, are you here?" He asked, as he knocked on the door. The door opened, and he saw his father sitting at his table, staring over a glass of tea, his eyes dark in thought. Castus sat down at the other side of the table, and looked at his dad. "Dad." His father's eyes clear up, and he looks to his son. "Oh...Yeah, Sorry. Thinking about something. What can I do for you son?" He said calmly, looking down into his empty teacup. Castus sighs, and looks at the table. "Why did you tell her that story?" He asked his father with a judging tone. "Because I'm tired." He stood up and turned around, grabbing his teapot, and sat it on the table. "Do you want some tea, son?" He asked, and looked to his son, who was still having a hard time understanding his father's logic. "Yeah, sure." He said with a sigh, and rest his head in his hands. His father grabbed the other teacup from a hook by the window of his kitchen, and sat it in front of his son, and poured some warm tea into it. Castus picked up the cup, and his father sat the teapot down. Castus looked at the black tea. "Dammit dad. This is bullshit." His son spoke coarsely to him. He sat down, and looked to his son. He stared coldly at him, as the cup his son held broke into pieces, falling to the table gently. Castus jolted and looked at his father. His eyes dark. "Son. I have tolerated you until now." Castus knew what was going on. He knew who his father was, but didn't like it. "Dad, I'm not saying you shouldn't. She deserves to know. I just wished you'dve waited until she was a little older." He shook his head. "You became Dark Amarant because of your power. You achieved a lot. She'll do great things too, I know it. But you should've told her this yet." He said to his father, sounding somewhat proud. "It doesn't matter what I became for what reason, and it doesn't matter what I did." He looked to the broken cup, and sighed. The pieces begun floating into the air, and he twirled his finger about in the air, each piece moving as his finger did, reassembling the cup. "Now look what you made me do." He said, as the cup float down, reassembled. "See, that's why Nibiki hates you. You betrayed the Ages and it doesn't bother you." Castus said, looking at his father. "I did what needed to be done. They toyed with people, had fun with others' lives, letting people live lies. You would've done the same thing, had you common sense." Castus rubbed his face. "Then finish what you started. Strike them down, or the'll seek revenge for this." He said, ignoring the traitorous tone. His father smiled. "If I do that, what reason do I have to live? Let them regain some vestige of power. I'll defeat them again, and show them that their lives are futile." He sipped his tea. "Son, I think you forget how old I am. It's been years...Cycles..." He said, correcting himself. "I want you to come home with me. It's time you finished your story. She needs to know, and there's no reason to leave her in the dark, especially if you left her at a cliffhanger." Castus smiled, having been told that story before. "But, I want you to wear your armor, father. She deserves to see you for who you are, not for what you choose to be. You're the last of your ilk. Be proud of it."

He stood up, and the voice in his head spoke up. "Well, I guess it's time to dust that crap off, isn't it?" He nodded, and walked to his bedroom. Castus stood up, and thought about how Nibiki would react, only for a second. He didn't care anymore. "It's been so long since I've seen you in that armor, I've forgotten what it looks like." Castus said, as he walked to the doorway to his father's bedroom. The voice spoke aloud, using his father's power to be herd. "Hello Castus, it's been a long time since I last spoke to you." Castus blinked and smiled. "Oh, Hello to you too, Zero." He said with a chirp of happiness, since the return of Zero meant the rebirth of Omega. The Master of Ages. Omega pulled an iron box from under his bed, and flipped the lock over, read the numbers, and put them in. Ten, Fourteen, Eight, Four. The lock popped open, and he lift the lid slowly, revealing a small, Face cut Obsidian Star, no bigger than the palm of his hand. He picked it up and it disappeared immediately in his hand. He stood up, and stretched his arms forward, and in a bright black flash, he was covered in a suit of strange material, that appeared to be a type of cloth, but glittered in a deep purple light. His gray hair had been replaced with short, full-bodied glowing blond hair that drooped gently over his forehead. He was tight-bodied, and very fit. The material clung to him tightly, showing off his physique. A worn, tan cape wrapped around his neck, and fell to the floor, covering his entire body. His boots, gauntlets and helmet sat before him in the air. He stepped into the boots, which clamped tightly to his calves and feet. The boots themselves were made of Obsidian, but with gold borders. The gauntlets were no different, except, there were no hands, just dark discs on the end. They float up as Omega lift his arms from under the cape. He was missing both of his hands. Both gauntlets clasped to his forearms, and the discs sparked as they came to life, as purple claws, thick and heavy formed. After a few seconds, they matched the density of the material, and became real. His helmet, which he took into his new claw-like hands, he tossed into the air behind him, which vanished just as quickly as it came. "I was never a fan of that thing..." He said in a new bolder, semi-evil sounding voice. Omega had returned. He stood at attention and saluted his son. "Unit Zero-Eight active." He grinned at his son walked past him. "Let us be off then." Castus walked quickly behind his father, smiling to see him as he remembered him. The man who stopped time. Omega stood outside in the now setting sun. Castus walked up behind him slowly, and watched as he saw his father's cape blow gently in the wind, his hair shifting gently as he threw a hand out into the sky. His fingers flat to the ground. Castus' eyes grew wider. "I am the Master of Ages. I have returned. So shall you, Return to me, servant of Ages!" As he said this, his hand slowly turned over, and he thrust two fingers into the air. Seconds later, a few feet in front of his father, the skull of a worg ripped out of the ground. The skull was as large as a man's torso, and almost twice as wide. A large, bony paw ripped from the ground,much more than the size of a man's head. It slammed into the ground as the rest of the skeleton clawed its' way from the grip of death. As it stood in the setting sun, the skeleton howled, and in a bright flash of purple light, it was reborn. The large worg was covered in fur darker than night, and gazed about with eyes brighter than the moon, and redder than any ruby. It walked up to its' master, and lied down. Omega jumped on the creature's back, and offered a hand to his son. "Come. The night is just beginning."

Castus took his hand, and his father pulled him up on the worg's back. As Castus got situated, A harness and reigns appeared on the animal's face. Omega quickly grabbed the reins, and cracked them. "To Pale!" He called into the night, which seemed to echo from the hills. The worg clawed the ground, and took off with a bolt, seemingly knowing where to go. Castus looked at his father. The wind in his hair, his cape flowing. All he needed was his greatsword...As the worg rode through the hills, it swung closely by a large rock. Omega reached his hand out to the rock, and appeared to grab for nothing but air, but as he closed his hand, the rock exploded! He drew his hand up and in the clutches of the gauntlet, was his Greatsword. The Sword of Elder Souls. Forged of the same Obsidian his armor was, infused with the souls of the past Ages, the sword glew a strange pattern. From white, to black. The sword itself was a foot across, six long. In the center of the sword, was a green stripe that stopped at the beginning of the head of the sword, which was larger than the rest of the sword. The stripe had some type of writing in it, but he couldn't read it. They cut through the distance between Pale and his home in a matter of minutes. As they neared Pale, the worg slowed, and Omega lifted the sword back, and it floated from his hand, and a scabbard formed on his back, formed of a dark green leather and Obsidian. They entered the Blue Forrest, and came a pon pale. Those still out in the early night saw Omega astride the worg and bowed. None had dared forget who he was. He spoke one word, and they obeyed. "Stand." He looked to them with a smile. "You are not under my control. You are free, do not forget that. Do not bow to me. I do not want it. I just want you to be happy." Nibiki heard this, and ran outside. She saw him dismounting the worg. She quickly darted back inside, and stood against a wall. She shook nervously, then fell to the ground, sliding against the wall slowly. She burst into tears, and sobbed heavily. Leena, who was in the nearby stream, bathing, was finishing, and preparing to head back. Omega walked to his son's home, leading his son on the worg. "It has been awhile since I have been here son. You have done well for yourself." He said proudly. Castus dismounted the worg, and he looked to his father. "She's probably inside, dad." Several people were still staring at them, a few gasped as they heard how familiar he was with the master of Ages. One of the community's children ran up to Omega, and looked up at him. "Who're you, mister? Are you from the Tower to kill someone? Huh? Huh?" The child said, looking up at him. He looked down into the child's eyes and shook his head. "No, I am not a Knight. I am the master of Ages. I have come to visit my son. Why are you not indoors with your family eating supper?" He asked in a friendly tone. The boy's mother ran up to him and grabbed him quickly and tried to apologize. "I'm sorry Master! Do not hurt him!" Omega smiled to her. "I wouldn't hurt someone who had done nothing wrong." He placed his hand on the woman's shoulder. "I am your friend. Not your enemy." He said calmly. She nodded nervously, and ran the boy home. "Be safe, ma'am, and be well." He waved to her, and she wanted to cry. Leena walked into the center of the community and saw someone in armor, with a big sword, and her father. She paniced, and hid behind a house on the corner.

"Leena!" Her father called out, looking for her in the house. Omega looked around outside and waved to people, trying to to be intimidating, but failing miserably. Omega walked inside, and saw Castus standing over his wife, who was still crying hysterically on the ground. "Come on, Nibiki, it's just Dad..." She stuttered and stammered, unable to speak through the tears. Omega crouched to her, and she cowered lower to the ground. "Nibiki. If you don't stop this nonsense, I'm going to give you something to cry about." He said joking as he touched her arm, moving it gently. "You are not too old to be taken over my knee." He held her arm gently, and she stopped crying suddenly, and jumped into him, holding him tight, sobbing. "I-I-I'm sorry!" Omega looked to his son, and shook his head, as he pat her back. Leena heard one of the onlookers talking about the man in the armor. "--I heard he was the second knight to ever see the Ages and live!" Another spoke, "I heard that he was the Ages Knight himself!" More rumors spread, and Leena looked to the worg, sitting like a dog outside the house, which was only slightly taller than he was. The worg saw her, and barked like a dog. "Woof!" It was louder than any dog she had ever heard. She shook in fear behind the wall she was behind. The worg got up and walked over to her, wagging his tail. She stuck her head out and saw him coming to her. She screamed and started running, dropping her toiletries. The worg loped along, and caught up with her in short order. She screamed and tripped, falling hard on her side. She looked up to the giant dog with semi-closed eyes. He leaned in closer, and she raised her arm to guard herself. He got closer, and stuck his tongue out and licked her with such force it moved her against the ground. He knew who she was, even though he had been dead for so long. He sat down and wagged his tail in the middle of the street, stirring up dirt. She looked up at the worg, and blinked. It was just a dog, nothing more. She sat up, and reached up to it, and it licked her again, pushing her right back to the ground. She got back up and started walking to her house, forgetting that the man in the armor was in there. She walked as calmly as she could with such a big dog following her. She got to her door, which was open, and saw her father standing over Omega, with her mother holding him, crying.

Castus turned around and saw his daughter. "Leena, it's about time you got home. I want you to meet someone." He said over his crying wife, who was still apologizing to her father-in-law. Omega let her go, and held her away from him. "It's okay. Words mean nothing to someone who loves you. I just wished you wern't so ignorant about everything." He stood up and turned around, his cape drying instantly. He looked to his granddaughter, their eyes meeting. She saw something familiar in his eyes. "You're..My grandfather.." She shook her head. "No. You're Master Bonn...A human. A worthless human." She said, yelling. He crouched before her, and looked at her eyes, which were welling up with tears. "No. I am not Master Bonn. And he is not a human." He said, shaking his head. "Master Bonn died some time ago. I should know, I was the last thing he saw." He closed his eyes, and sat down on the floor, folding his legs. "I think you deserve to hear the rest of that story." He said with a sign. "No! It's not true!" She screamed, and shook free of his grip. "You are a human!" She yelled as she ran off into the night. Omega had heard the rumors about Humans when he was young. He remembered all too well the ridicule he received from knowing one, and he's glad that nothing more was found out. "Well, this could've went better." Castus said, stroking his hair back. Castus was a man shorter than most. His hair was black as pitch, nothing like his father's. "Well, I haven't a clue where she'd go, this late in the night." He said, looking down. Omega stood up, Leaving Nibiki on the floor. Her tears had slowed and she started becoming coherent. "Father, I'm sorry I spoke so harshly of you." She said quietly. He turned around and looked over his shoulder at her. "Let it just be a lesson, that people aren't always what they appear to be." He said with a friendly tone, and walked outside. He saw his worg, holding his granddaughter by the shirt in the air. "Let me down you, you...Dog!" Omega reached up to her, and she saw him. and stopped struggling. The worg let go, and he caught her in his arms. "Leena. I am not a human. My proof is this.." He reached up with one hand, and grabbed her hand, and put it on his cheek. "Grandfather...You're..Cold." She said slowly. He nodded and let her hand go, she didn't move it. "Yes, because I'm not human, nor am I you." She blinked, and looked at his eyes, which were red. She hadn't noticed before. "Your eyes are red. You are a construct..." He shook his head. "No, that is not what I am. I am Holcross. A mechanical man. But your scathing words to my creator are not nice, as neither were the words your mother spewed to me." Leena was shaken by his words. Her grandfather wasn't a human, nor was he a Child of Eden. He was a machine. "But then, how did you have children?" She asked boldly. With a smile, he held her tight. "The same way your mother and father made you." He sat her on the ground and looked at her. "I still have alot of that story to tell you, if you really want to understand." He said, looking into her eyes. She nodded slowly, not understanding who her Grandfather really was.

[Your Amish Daddy]

The man who stands beneath a dark star.
Chapter 7: You are who you need to be.
*The story will not return to the present until it has caught up.

William looked to the man, who had placed his arms on his shoulders. "This is heard news! The son of the Emperor has returned!" The entire camp burst to life as he yelled with such joy and energy. William rest his PPG against his leg, and grabbed the man's hands, moving them from his shoulders. "I am not your Emperor's Son. I'm just a weird guy who got lost." He said, and he picked up his gun. "One of your fellows, Charlotte lead me here because she wanted to help me." Charlotte heard her name, and started walking into the camp. People gathered around the two, The man who had spoke first stood in Ruby armor, and looked at William carefully. "Ah, you jest! You must be Victus. You have his face and eyes!" William shook his head. "No. I'm William, I come from somewhere...Much different than this place." People in the circle surrounding them looked at the weapon William had. "..William, as you call yourself; What is that you hold in your hand?" One of the others asked, pointing. He looked to the PPG, and looked at the questioner. "It's a Bio-Organic Proton Projection Gun." He said camly, as he lift it. "Wanna see how it works?" He said snidely, knowing the reaction he would get. A few of them nodded, and he push past them. The camp itself was a few large tents, and nearly a dozen smaller ones. Four trees were within the camp's boundary, one of them somewhat familiar to him. "Watch that tree." He pointed to the tree closest to him, which looked like a Willow tree. He threw the charging handle forward, and the pylons ejected into the air. Many people jumped back at the sound and motion from an inanimate object. He pulled the trigger, and a blue bolt flew out with a crack, striking the tree's trunk. Apon impact, most of the tree burned to ash in an instant. The rest of the tree, which was just a few charred branches, fell to the ground. He closed the charging handle, as many of the onlookers, wearing a various slew of armors such as Charlotte's, cowered away from the tree, and William. "He's a Sorcerer!" a few said, but one, in Quartz armor stood up. A giant of a man, As tall as a corn-field and just as husky. He walked over to William, who had hefted the large gun over his shoulder. "No. He is indeed our Emperor's son. For he possesses the power of light." The man took to one knee, bowing. "You have returned to us." William couldn't believe this. He was no emperor's son. But the thought of being able to hide in a world was not ready for was an inviting idea. He milled this over as many of the Knights gathered around him again, and Charlotte walked into camp. They led him into a large tent, and sat him in a chair. Charlotte ran into camp, and into the tent, almost losing her footing as she turned. "He's mine!" She screamed in, as she looked, after she spoke. Everyone looked to her stupidly. "Um. Excuse me. But I found him!" She said, trying to regain her composure.

The man in the Quartz full-plate looked to Charlotte, then to William. "Is this true, Master Victus?" He said, looking questioningly to him. William nodded. "Yeah. She did. Even led me here." The man smiled brightly to William, then to Charlotte. "By the Seven, this is a good sign! Charlotte. I thought you to be a failure in the service of his Eminence!" He said as he walked over to her quickly. She smiled and nodded. "But, she was quite rude to me." William said, shaking his head. "But, everyone makes mistakes." He said coarsely, trying to take as much of a foothold of fear he could. Fear was a powerful weapon. "She even challenged me, and lost." As he said that, she fell to her knees. The man in the Quartz armor looked down to her. "And you spared her, Why? She is weak." He reached for his sword, which appeared to be a cutlass, or saber. "I spared her, because she is beautiful. And, it was an honest mistake, the light was against her. She didn't know who I was." William said calmly. He had taken the role of Victus as his own, having little choice. He was always told that one needed to do whatever they could to survive. This was the best he could do, not that it wasn't easy, or dangerous. "Then she is spared, and is yours." The man said, turning back to William. "So, It is late! Would you like to head for The Tower now, or at first light?" William looked at him, and shook his head. "I haven't eaten in at least a day, I'm hungry, and tired." The man clapped his hands together, rubbing them slightly. "That can be taken care of!" He walked out of the tent quickly, but the rest stayed in, standing tightly behind William. He looked over his shoulder, then jumped forward a bit. "Jesus! When did you guys get there?" The stood at attention, left arm folded at their chest. "We are here to protect you, Master!" They said, in unison. He looked at them strangely. "I'm fine. You guys go get some rest, or whatever..." He said as he stroked his hair back. His hair was down, so he raked it through his fingers. Charlotte stood up and walked over to William. "So you are Master Victus." William looked down slowly. "I guess..I have to be." He said, pulling his hand off of his hair. Charlotte nodded. "Well, It is true, and I am yours. What have you of me?" She asked softly, stepping closer to him. Her hands were folded together in front of her, resting against her waist, her arms around the Amethyst Chestplate. She didn't dare look into his eyes. "Well. I'm soaking with sweat still. I could use a hot shower. I am also starving, and my arms and legs are so sore, I wouldn't wish them on my worst enemy." He sighed and looked over to her, who was just a foot away. "But most of all. I'm sorry." He said to her, as he sat down on a wooden chair which he found at the large table he had failed to notice as he was carted in. Charlotte looked to him as he sat down, and she rest on her knees beside him, sitting on her feet. He rest his head on his hand, which he had popped up on the table. "Charlotte..." He said, looking blankly across the table. She looked up to him and spoke quietly. "Yes, Master?" He turned his eyes to her direction, not turning his head. He was too tired. "I need your help." She heard that and sat up. "Yes, I will do whatever I can to help you, Master, just say it!" She said energetically, but it sounded hollow. "I want you to be my friend, not my possession. I don't need..Things, now. I need help. I don't know anything about this place..." He said as he thought about what he knew of temporal distortion. He knew that it was possible to jump into another Nexus with enough energy, but he didn't know anything more than theories. He was William Bonn, but everyone said he was Victus Tassudar. The son of Illuom Tassudar. He was not this person. But he couldn't help feeling that he was, in some way.

Charlotte nodded. "I will do the best I can do with this body to serve you, even if it means death." Her voice was a little shaky for the last part, but who's wouldn't be. Everything she trained to be, was just discarded. "Master. Am I still a Knight?" She asked, quietly. "Well, Do you still want to be?" William said as he turned his head to her. "You are my personal Knight, and my friend." He said reassuringly. She smiled, comfortable with her life now. The large man came back shortly, with a large plate loaded with meats and breads. "We do not have much as for variety or quality, Master. I hope it is to your liking." He said as he sat the plate before William, and sat a knife down beside the plate. No fork. Adapt, Improvise and Overcome. William's motto. He looked to the large man and nodded. "Thank you. This will do nicely. You lose taste for the finer things when you realize the basics are all you need." He grabbed the knife, and cut at some red meat that had the contingency of beef. He stabbed the piece of meat, and stuffed it in his mouth. It was heaven. Juicy, tender and flavorful. But it wasn't beef. He chewed slowly and thought of the flavor. Nothing came close. It may have just been the hunger that had set in, but it was the best meat he had ever tasted, until he had some of the white-meat. It was a little dry, but it was just as delicious. "Mm! Now this is a meal!" He said as he ate hungrily. Charlotte watched him, with a slight smile. The large man looked to her, and shook his head. "You were always a weird one. I bet you even like your new position..." She looked up at him with the same smile. "I serve the Master in a greater way now, than I ever would have as a normal Knight." She said confidently. She sat there, breaming with pride. William tore into the meat, then turned to the bread. A small bun, sliced in two. He took a bite of one slice, and closed his eyes. He tasted the sweet bread. He tasted honey. The sugar was welcomed, almost more than the meat. William chewed quickly, and swallowed hard. "What do I have to do to get a drink around here?" He tried not to laugh as he said that. He felt good. Better than he had ever felt in his life, He felt alive. Yes, he was living a lie as someone else, but it felt right as he ate. Charlotte stood up and dusted off her knees. "I shall bring you something to drink, Master." She walked out quickly and the man in the Quartz armor sat down beside William. "Master..The way you eat, it is as you have not eaten in a long time." He spoke quietly, looking to him. "Well, It's been about a day. I've been a bit busy trying to understand some things for awhile....It's a long story. One best told elsewhere." The man nodded, and stood up. "I will be outside, if you need anything, Master." He said as he saluted, or what they called a salute. His eating had slowed down some, as he started to feel...Different. Things that ran through his mind were no longer the ravings he used to have. It all made sense. He looked to the entrance to the tent. Something told him to. Charlotte stood at the entrance, just as he felt the urge to say her name. "Master, I have returned--" She saw him looking at her. "I knew you were coming.."He said, his face somewhat pale. She sat a large wooden cup by his plate, and sat back down on her knees. He looked at the cup. A word came to him. "Streap." She touched his shoulder. "Is that not suitable? I can get someth--" He shook his head. "No...It's fine." His voice was flat. He grabbed the cup, and took a drink. It was ale, but it tasted better. He sat the cup down, and looked to the plate. He touched the dark, beef-like meat with his knife, and a word came to him. Beast. This was the meat of some type of beast, or an animal just called Beast. He looked to the white meat. It resembled turkey. Another word came to him. Margan. It was the name of a bird, that was larger than a turkey. Much larger. He could see it. The bun, was just a bun. Nothing came to him about it. He sat the knife against the plate, and sat back.

"I think...I understand." He said, as information flowed into his mind. It startled him. Where was this coming from? Why was he getting it, all-be-it welcomed information? He looked down to Charlotte. "I understand now." Dreams that kept him up at night, before all this. They made sense. The things that they called him Mad, they were true. "Charlotte..." He said as stood up. "I need to get some sleep." She stood up with him. "If you do not mind sharing a bed. You may sleep with me." She said, and shook her head. "But if that is not acceptable, I can wait for you outside." William shook his head. "I don't mind sleeping next to a woman. It will be a welcomed change from sleeping alone." He scratched his head. "And I haven't been in the same room as a woman alone in some time." She nodded and bowed. "Then please Master, Follow me." She said with a bow, and they left for her tent. She led him to a small tent, and opened it for him. It was just small enough for a bedroll, a desk with a chair, and an armor rack. She stepped inside, and stood by her armor rack. "This is the best I can offer, Master." William smiled. "This is more than I expected." William sat down at the desk and stretched. "Well, Let's get to bed." He said, unsure of what to do. She looked so on-edge that a gentle breeze could throw her into a state of shock. William blinked and stood up. "I think I'll wait outside, until you are...Ready for bed?" He said, standing up. "No!" Charlotte blurted out. I--Uh..I mean. It's okay." She said, blushing deeply. William shook his head. "No, it's alright. You seem to need a minute to collect yourself, and I still need to figure some things out. Is it alright If I borrow this chair to sit outside?" He looked around idly as he spoke, trying to say the right thing to keep her calm. She nodded, and he picked up the chair, which was a little more than he was ready for, as he was still sore. "And I'm not exactly ready to sleep." He said as he stepped outside of the tent, and sat the chair down. William looked through the camp. Many people where stirring. Excitement filled the air. He sat down in the chair, as a breeze blew past. It felt good. He sat there, folding thoughts over each other, trying to summarize the whole event. He had created an Antimatter Depression, or something with a similar effect. Which could be totally wrong. All he knew is that he had distorted spacetime, and managed to survive it. That in itself was nearly impossible to believe. "Gordon would have hell explaining this." He thought, thinking of a character from a game who survived similar. He did know, he created a Cascade. Maybe. It was just like Gordon's scenario. Except no man in a suit. "But, if it was a Resonance Cascade..Where the hell did I end up, and what are the odds of them speaking English?" Understandably, these were the least of his worries. William was approached by the man in the Quartz armor, but didn't notice him. "Master Victus...?" He said, reaching out to touch his shoulder. William shook his head, and looked to the tall man. "Oh. Sorry, I was...Elsewhere. What can I do for you?" The man nodded. "Well, I am sure you wish to get to sleep, But I must know something." He crouched, and studied William's face. "Why did you leave?" William had no answer, but he did his best. "I needed to." Images flooded into his head. Images of injustice, and oppression. Just like in his world. He saw pictures of someone who looked like him, treating people like garbage, and getting everything he wanted. "I was spoiled. I didn't know anything of the world I lived in." William said, lost in thought, doing his best to keep up, and not get buried. "I had everything one could want, except...Myself." He looked at the man, and the expression he took was frightful. "But...Why leave without telling anyone?" William shook his head. "Because had I, it would have been put to a stop." More information than he was ready for flooded in. "I've learned so much. I've seen how things are supposed to be." The man stood up. "Little do you know, but this day will not be forgotten. Nor will the actions it will set into motion." He shook his head as he spoke and stood up. "I have a feeling my return will do nothing but spark discord. But you are only doing your job. And I thank you for your service." He smiled, and walked inside. Charlotte, which was placing her chestplate on the rack, had just turned around. She almost screamed. "Master!" She said, covering her body. William grabbed the chair, and sat it back at the desk. He faced her, but his eyes were closed. "Don't worry. I can't see." He said, and sat down in the chair. Charlotte slowly removed her hands. "It's okay...to look." She said, her voice shaky. "I've just never been nude before a man." William held up a hand, and shook his head. "I will respect you. Please, do what you need to do.” William didn’t realize what that meant to her, until he felt her hand take his.

“Yes, Master.” She took his hand and placed it on her chest. He pulled it free, and shook his head. “That’s not exactly what I meant..”He said with his head cocked to the side. He opened his eyes slowly and saw her sitting on her knees right in front of him. She was a beautiful fair skinned woman under that heavy half-plate. She was blushing so much, her face gave off heat. She looked into his eyes. “You said I was beautiful. Do you not want me?” She said, a squeak in her voice. William stroked her cheek. “You are beautiful.” But he shook his head. “But I want you as a friend, not a toy.” He said to her, closing his eyes. “Tomorrow is going to be a long day. You should get some rest.” She nodded, and crawled into the bedroll, and laid down, covering herself. “I am sorry if I offended you, Master.” William stood up and laid over her, looking down at her. “You didn’t offend me. I thought it was a beautiful act.” He kissed her forehead, and laid beside her. She clutched the thin blanket tightly and watched him. He laid beside her, facing the other direction, and in short order, he had fallen asleep. She waited a moment, and leaned up some, looking over his shoulder. She smiled, having become close to him in a short time. She lifted the thin blanket, and laid it over him, and she curled up at his back. As William slept, he dreamed. He opened his eyes, and saw nothing but darkness. A red face appeared before him, and spoke in a booming voice. “You. You have the soul of Darkness.” William didn’t understand what he ment. “What do you mean, soul of Darkness?” He went to raise his fist, but could not move. “I did not take advantage of her! I am not Evil!” He yelled, trying to fight whatever was holding him. The face closed its’ eyes. “I did not claim you to be Evil, dark one. I doubt you will understand so early. You have learned much in less than one day in my world, have you not?” The face opened its’ eyes. “The knowledge you have gained, and the tomes you are to gain, are because of your need to be here.” He stopped fighting as the face continued. “What do you mean, by that.” William tried to move again, but couldn’t. “You are here because your world no longer exists. You should not exist anymore, but you are the last one with your...Special power.” William laughed. “Right, My special power is rare here. Common sense must be too muc--” The voice boomed “Enough of your mockery. You are here, because this world needs a hero. And you are it.” William sighed. “I know next to nothing of this place, and you just want me to be some hero-guy and save the day? I don’t even know the problem.” He said to the face. “You will be told all things in time. When you wake up, You will be just as they are, but you will not lose who you are. You will transcend humanity, but you are not immortal.” His eyes shifted downward. “If you ever lose yourself. I will seek you out. I am Gilgonderan. Ages of Fire. The others will seek you out as well, in time. You will find your power. Act as you will, for you are indeed Victus. You existence here meant his removal.” William grinned. “Talk about perfect cover. Well, Gilgonderan. I appreciate your...Aid, I guess. But, I have one question.” Gilgonderan looked to him. “And that is?” “Why do they speak English?” Gilgonderan looked seriously at William. “Because you speak it.”

William woke up slowly, Charlotte leaning over him, still nude. “Good morning, Master.” She said with a smile. He rubbed his eyes, looking up at her. “Good morning to you, Miss Charlotte.” He said as he sat up. The world came into focus. Things appeared smaller. He went to stand up, and felt a cool draft in places that he shouldn’t feel it and he sat back down quickly. “Um..Charlotte, dear. Where are my clothes?” He asked, covering himself. She stood up, and walked over to the desk, apparently having lost her inhibition. She picked up his clothes, and handed them to him. They were not what he was wearing. It was a green dress, with a green shirt. His green. “Impossible.” He said, smiling. “These aren’t mine. But someone got my green right.” He said, standing up. He didn’t care about what she saw. She turned around quickly as he stood up, blushing. She cleared her throat and walked over to her armor rack, and grabbed her skirt, which was only a skirt in shape, as it was made of Amethyst plates linked together by metal studs. William put on the dress. He’d seen these before in a movie, and always wanted one. He tied the string at the waist tightly and he looked down at his body. It was taller. He was taller than the man in the Quartz armor. His eyes caught a glimpse of his hair. His ratty black hair, wasn’t so ratty anymore. He had also slimmed down some. “Gilgonderan wasn’t joking.” He thought as he grabbed the shirt, and threw it on. Charlotte had stopped to watch him dress. He move with grace she had never seen. She watched him throw the shirt over his shoulders, and he threw his arms down both sleeves, and the shirt slowly drift down his back, and he grabbed the front of the shirt, and closed it, tucking it into his dress. “Master...You move with such grace.” He didn’t think as he replied. “It’s rather easy to when you’re as awesome as I am.” Charlotte cocked her head to the side. “What does..Awesome mean?” William turned around and grinned. “It means...Something is very good. Much better than good, or great.” She nodded slowly. “Okay.” He hugged her tightly. As he did, she dropped her skirt and blushed. “Master, I am undressed...” He let her go and smiled. “So? Doesn’t mean you’re not who you are. Now let’s get ready to go.” She nodded, and he walked outside. He stood in the chilly morning air. His dress blew in the wind, and he grinned into the sun. He had lost his entire life, but he was happy about it. A new start to be someone who could make a difference. That’s all he knew, and it was enough. The man in the Quartz armor walked past him, and William stopped him. “I didn’t get your name, yesterday. I’d like to know who helped me.” He said, looking to him. The man bowed, his armor shuffled. “Sir Arthas Virgil. Capitan of the Royal Knights.” He stood up and saluted. “Well, Arthas. Did you see what I did with my weapon? I don’t seem to remember what I did with it.” William asked him, scratching his soft hair. Arthas nodded. “Yes, Master. You left it in the main tent. I shall fetch it for you.” William shook his head. “Nah, I’ll go get it. Last question, When do we leave?” Arthas looked at the camp, and sighed. “It will be at least two hours before we are ready to move, Master.” He said, sounding friendly. He caught himself and bowed. “I apologize, Master.” William waved his hand at the idea. “It’s no problem. I don’t want you to be scared of me or anything. You are a friend, atleast I hope you are. You can knock off that bowing stuff. I’m not too big on it anyway.” William said as he started walking off.

He stepped into the main tent, and looked on the floor. Under a chair that was still out some, was his PPG, and something else. He walked behind the chair, and pushed it forward with his foot. The PPG was on top of a piece of paper. He picked up the weapon, and sat it on the table, and collected the note in his hand. It was written on a weird paper. It read “This is your Birthright.” And as he finished reading it, it burned in his hand, and a necklace was left. “Weird.” He put it on, not caring. He then looked at it. It was a silver chain, with a small gemstone that shone many colors in the light that was inset in the eye of some creature, which was also silver. He tucked it into his shirt, and grabbed his weapon, threw it over his shoulder, and walked outside. The camp had come alive, people were moving things, packing other things into bags and boxes, getting ready to leave. He stood there for a moment, and thought on what Gilgonderan said to him. He would not need his weapon anymore. That doesn’t mean he should discard it. He sighed as he thought. He looked around and saw people wearing swords. Everyone wore a sword. Maybe that’s what he meant. But he couldn’t just discard his Proton Projection gun. Swords he saw. No spears, pikes, whips, daggers, or axes. An Axe. That’s what he wanted. Two of the lightly armored knights walked up to him, seeing him in deep thought. “Master, is everything well?” They said in unison. He looked to them slowly. “No..I don’t have a weapon...” He said looking to them. They were twins. Both male, and both the size of a 15-year old boy. Both had bright blond hair, but both of them had an eye patch. A double string white patch covering one eye. The one on the left, his right eye was covered, and the one on the right, his left. “Master, you may have our swords.” They said as they went to un-sash them. “No. I don’t want a sword, and I wouldn’t dare take yours. I cannot leave you unarmed.” He looked around. “I see nothing but swords. Are there any other weapons available?” He asked distantly. “Knights carry swords, Master. Only barbarians use other weapons.” They said and bowed. He thought about that for a moment, and they walked off. An Axe, barbaric? Well, I guess a sword was more elegant, but nothing was more elegant than a Halberd. “What I wouldn’t give for a regular gun right now..” He heaved a sigh. Something he was familiar with. He started walking out of the camp, and stopped. “Why don’t I just make one..?” He thought. He knew how to make gunpowder. Fifteen parts Carbon, Three parts Sulfur, Two parts Potassium Nitrate. All he really needed was a barrel, a place to put the rounds, and a means to fire it. It could be simple, like a single shot rifle. Or a revolver, if he can find a way to make the drum. But, how would he ignite the rounds? He didn’t know how to make the percussion caps. He knew it had something to do with mercury. He thought for awhile, and it came to him. Fulminate of Mercury, Chlorate of Potash. Where the hell was he going to get that stuff?

[Your Amish Daddy]

The man who stands beneath a dark star.
Chapter 8: Who Am I, Really?

William watched the people scurry about the camp, packing things, moving things, and making noise. He slowly walked ot the center of the camp, where the willow tree used to be. He watched tents come down, get rolled up, and packed into crates he never saw. William felt like sitting, but had no chair. He stands, losing himself in Gilgonderan's words. "This world needs a hero." What does that mean, Like Frank Castle, or like Superman? Would he get to choose? Moreover, what was he now? He didn't even know what the people here were called. Was he still who he was, or was he this Victus? Would he die here, and would he really matter? These things muddled themselves into a pile as he looked out blankly. "Well, it doesn't matter if I die here, It's not like I have a choice." He said quietly to himself. What was Gilgonderan's underlying meaning? William understood what he said, but felt there was more. William became uncomfortable with the thoughts that ran through his mind. Seconds flew into minutes, as he slowly started piecing things together. Gilgonderan said this world needed a Hero. That means, that the world is, or is going to be under threat by something. Even though he had been here only a short time, he liked the place. "And nobody gonna **** up my new lot..." He thought with a grin. He had blinked, and noticed the camp had been all but taken down. Everything was stacked neatly in a pile and many of the Knights were just sitting, waiting. William shook off his thoughts, and walked to them. Arthas saw him, and so did the twins. "Master! Come sit with us." He called out, and the twins nodded. William walked over to the crate and bag pile. The twins jumped off of the crates they were sitting on, and grabbed William's wrists, pulling him closer. "Master, Sit, Sit!" They said in unison. William smiled and let them drag him about. They were literally, just children. Children in a fighting unit. There was alot he didn't understand. He sat down on a large crate, and the twins sat on both sides of him. Arthas scolded them as they sat down. "Simon, Trevor, You shouldn't drag the Master around like that. Ask him before you assume he wants to do something!" William raised his hands up some. "It's alright. I'm not going to begrudge their friendliness. There's no harm in them wanting me to sit down." He pat their heads, sitting his PPG in his lap. William wondered what they were waiting for, but he knew a question would be futile, and jeopardize his situation, even though Gilgonderan said he literally 'was' Victus. All things revealed in time. He sat there, holding the twins under his arms, and they smiled happily. Several minutes past, as idle chatting started to build. Arthas looked nervously to the north. William looked northward too. Something was supposed to be coming, and it wasn't. Arthas turned to the group after a few minutes. "I'm going to go find our caravan." William jumped down off the crate, and sat his PPG between the twins. "I'll come with you." He said as he turned around to face Arthas. "No, Master. This place is still rife with beast and bandit." He said, looking out north. He turned his head to William. "It is best if you stay here where you are safe." He rest his hand on his sword, and started walking. William jogged up to him. "I don't care what you think. I'm going with you." Arthas heaved a heavy sigh and kept walking. "As you wish, Master." William left his PPG behind. He took on faith what Gilgonderan said, but he doubted he knew his reckless nature.

William walked quickly to keep up with Arthas. The dress William was wearing moved easily. He untucked the shirt, and opened it. The breeze felt wonderful. A few trees came into view in the distance. Smoke wisped into the air behind the small pocket of trees. Arthas stopped and looked at the smoke. "And I do hope that is not our caravan." William saw the trees, about seven in a semi-straight line. Oak. Old oak trees, at least two-hundred years old. The smoke that loomed up past them wasn't very thick. Maybe enough for a large campfire, not much else. The way Arthas looked to the fire gave him the idea that it wasn't something good. William held his hand out to stop Arthas. "I'll go check it out..." He said quietly. "Master! You're unarmed, and unprotected!" William nodded. "Yeah, and that's why I should go. Nothing to make noise, nothing to betray my position. Arthas thought for a second, and against his better judgment, he nodded. "As you will, Master. But call to me if you need help." He said seriously, placing his hand on William's shoulder. William jogged off to the short line of trees, making sure to be lined up with one as he moved, so if anything on the other side looked past the trees, he could use it's size to hide him. He slowed to a stop as he came up to a small bush, and he leaned down into a crouch, and snuck around the bush, and he looked past a tree, to the source of the smoke.

The smoke was coming from something burning, obviously. But he couldn't tell what it was. He looked around the burning thing, and saw four men and two women in fur garments, which looked like it was fashioned into some type of armor. All armed with both hand-axes and flanged maces. Both would hurt equally bad. William shook his head. Maybe there were more out there, he couldn't tell. He took a deep breath, and went to stand up when something pulled at his dress. He looked down quickly and saw a wounded man wearing an outfit similar to his. He was bleeding from the nose, and ears. William looked down the man, and saw a sword sticking out of his back. The man clung to him and wheezed, trying to form words, but couldn't. The sword was unique. It looked like something a Viking would carry. A broad blade that was about a yard long, met five inches from the hilt by an ornate twisting of metal which was very thick that went into the hilt, just as it was on the blade, and the grip was wrapped in leather until the pommel, which was just a circle of metal, with three silver rings in it. William looked down to the man, and whispered. "This is the best I can do for you." He looked to the sword and pulled it out of him, and the man stopped breathing. "May you rest after I avenge you." He said, standing up. The sword was a bastard-sword. It didn't require two hands, but it was easier to control with two. The thickness of the hilt and the pieces that met the blade gave him the inclination that the sword could block heavy blows from just about anything at that point. It was a Viking Broadsword, No doubt about it. He lift it slowly, and swung it down to get some of the dripping blood off of it. He looked down to the man, and saw the scabbard for the sword tied to his waist. He was killed by his own sword. William loosened the scabbard belt, and threw it over his shoulder, but he set the scabbard level with his waist. He was taking a heavy battle sword, and he was going to use it in Batojutsu. He offset the scabbard's mouth just a bit, and tied it tight. He slid the sword into the scabbard, and walked out from behind the tree. Arthas watched him walk from behind the cover of the trees, and he started running to the line. He had to know what was going on. William walked slowly in the grass, each blade that passed between his toes, colder than the last. He felt so alive as he changed his stance from normal walking, to a slightly offset step. He walked with his torso twisted slightly, the grip of the sword further away from his front. Three of the bandits, he assumed, were facing the burning wreckage. "--Still, We ought not burned it." The one on the left said. The middle one shook her head. "It's Alwrite, we'll jus' tell leader dat we 'ad to!" She spoke with slurs. The one on the right turned some, and saw William. "****! One'em still alive!" He yelled out as he pulled his mace from the loop on his belt. William was just outside striking distance, but he took two extra steps, drew the sword, and in the same motion, struck the woman horizontally in the torso. The blade sunk half-way through her body, and she dropped her axe, and he yanked backward on the sword in the same arc he had made with the swing, to draw her closer. The man on the left took a step back. "Holy hell!" He screamed as William turned his eyes to him. He yanked back on the sword, pulling it free of the woman's body, and he spun around quickly, lifting the sword high. Her body fell on the man on her right, which made him stumble back, dropping his mace. The man on the left only got half-way down to his axe as the sword came down to his shoulder, driving diagonally to his chest, the heavy sword jammed half-way through his ribcage. The last man had already been met with reinforcements, the rest of his mob had come around. Only ten seconds had passed as William spun around again, yanking the sword in the opposite angle as he went in to recover the blade. The bandits watched as he slid the sword into the scabbard quickly, and stopped. "Two down. One, two three four five..Six, seven to go!" There were nine total. He didn't get as many as he wanted before he was discovered, but he knew how many there were in turn. He placed his hand on the sword again, and crouched in slightly. They were starting to circle him, which was to his advantage. He could swing once more, and take at least two down if they were close. Arthas had reached the trees just in time to see them circle William. He ran past the trees, and drew his greatsword, charging and yelling. "Face me you scum!" As he charged to the circle, two of them fell, as William burst past them, a proverbial swathe of blood hung in the air for a second as he landed on the grass and slid a few inches. Two of the remaining five jumped at William, and the others heard Arthas' scream. William crouched and rolled to the bandits, throwing the sword back into the scabbard. His arm ached already. The sword was too heavy for this, but he didn't know what else to do, because he only studied Batojutsu passingly, and preferred more of a distant form of combat, that commonly involved guns or grenades. One of the bandits stopped, and William threw a punch into her midsection which doubled her over. He rolled back out and stood up quickly, The one that didn't stop turned and swung down with his mace. William leaned to the left, immediatly throwing his palm in the man's face, which changed his direction of momentum, and the mace struck the ground hard. William wrapped his legs around the man's arm, And rolled over his back, which pulled the man to his. The man flipped over, and William grabbed the man's wrist, and turned his body, both knees at the man's shoulder, his legs over his chest. William yanked back and a soft crack came from the man's shoulder, which caused him to scream out. Arthas held his greatsword above his head, and swung it down, crushing one of the three that approached him beneath the huge blade, splitting him in two. The huge sword hit the ground, and sunk in. William pulled out the axe of the bandit he had at his mercy, and threw it at the two bandits charging Arthas. He missed the closest one, but caught the furthest in the side of the head, the blade of the axe sinking into his skull. He fell to the ground in a slump, but the other had already drawn his axe and lift it high. The axe flew out of his hand as Arthas put his fist in the bandit's face, crushing his skull under the weight of his Quartz gauntlet. William sat up on the chest of his foe, and drove his hand into the man's neck, killing him by breaking one of the vertibre in the mans' neck. Arthas pulled his sword free from the bloody mess and ground, William stood up, and walked over to the still wheezing woman he had delt a blow. She looked up to him and went for her weapons. William kicked her in the chest, which threw her to the ground. Arthas walked over to her and prepared to lift his sword. "Excuse me Master." William lift his hand. "No. Watch." He said as he sat down on her midsection, and held her hands in the grass. Her face was a little dirty, but she had fine features. "Now. What did I interrupt, that so lead you to attack me?" He said, looking down at her. She wore an angry expression, and spit up at him. "Non'e yor business, mate." She barked out at him. "William looked to Arthas and nodded to the trees. "Head back, I can handle this." Arthas nodded and saluted. "Yes, Master." Her eyes widened as she heard what he called William. "M-m-Master?! You're...The Emperor?!" She screamed. "No. I'm his son." William said cooly, not really believing it. She closed her eyes. "Alwright, kill me. I knows you're gonna." She said, accepting her self-imposed fate. William crawled down her some, and pulled her hands under his knees, and put his hands on her cheeks. "Why did you attack this caravan?" William said as he stared into her eyes. She looked up into his. "Becuz weer bandits!" She looked to the burning wreckage. "Caravans have lotsa gold an' shard! You'd attack it too if ye were poor!" William let go of her face, and something made him slap her with great force. "That doesn't mean you kill innocent people in the process, you bitch." He pulled a small knife from her belt, and put it to her neck. "How would you like it if someone came to where you lived and killed your family?" He said, pushing the blade against her slender neck. She tilt her head back slowly, trying to get away from it. "I should cut you open as you lie here." He said, as he trailed the knife over her neck, as she shivered beneath the blade. "But, that won't do it for me." He trailed the knife down her fur armor, and started cutting it open. As he begun cutting into it, the pressure of her chest under it tore it slightly. He continued to cut, but stopped after passing her breasts. The fur clung to her chest, leaving only clevage. He drug the knife over her skin slowly, looking down into her eyes. "I bet you're a little more than scared right now. You should be." Her eyes flickered with fear as he spoke coldly. "You ain't scarin' me, lad!" She said as big as she could, voice shaking with fear. He leaned his head down just over hers, and grinned. "You say so, but your eyes say differently." He stood up, turning around and threw the knife in the ground beside her. She leaned up quickly and covered her chest. "I'll getcah for this!" She said and reached for the knife. William spun around quickly and delivered a roundhouse to the side of her head, knocking her out. "Killing you won't bring them back. But at least, you don't have to worry about me doing it. I'm sure there are hungry animals out there." He said coldly, but distantly. He started walking off and Arthas stepped out from behind a tree. "You show mercy to females. But they are as able as men in combat, and posess wiles that could sway even the strongest men." He said, looking to his master, worridly. William shook his head. "You gotta have a heart to love, you have to have a brain to want something." He tapped his chest, then his head. "I don't have either. I showed her no mercy. She'll be out for some time before she would come to, but I doubt she'll live that long." He said, walking past Arthas. "That was our ride, apparently. We need to get back to camp, and set back up." William point to the sky, and Arthas started behind him. "It may be mid-day now, but by the time another caravan can be ready, it will be tomorrow, right?" Arthas thought for a moment and shook his head. "We could have one come under darkness." William shook his head. "No good. No reason to put people in danger. I'm not that important." That was the last words they exchanged before they returned to the site.

Simon saw William from his vantage point atop his brother's shoulders, who stood on the tallest stack of crates. "They're back!" He yelled, his hands cupped over his mouth. Arthas thought about how his master fought. He had never seen that much aggressiveness in combat, ever. He had also never seen someone move as he did. He must have become a great fighter, surviving alone, he thought. William jogged over to the crates, and Simon dismounted his brother, which threw him off balance, and Trevor fell to the ground. Simon ran to William, but Trevor jumped on his back, and held him down. "You fool! I could've been hurt!" Trevor said, grabbing his brothers arms behind his back. Simon wiggled, trying to get free. "I surrender! I surrender!" He said to his brother, who jumped up and ran over to William. The Knights gathered around William and Arthas, who was still deep in thought. "When's the Caravan coming?" Charlotte asked, bowing to William. He sighed and looked down. "It's not. Bandits got it." Arthas said, sighing. Trevor saw the sword William had recovered from the fallen man. "Oh! It's an Element Broadsword!" He said as he pointed to it. Simon looked up to William. "What element is it?" William looked at it, and drew it slowly. He hadn't noticed the green stone in the center of the hilt. "I can tell you, but why don't you tell me?" He said smugly to the child, trying to find out for himself. Simon held his chin, and Trevor pushed him. "It's Wind, you bafoon!" Simon pushed his brother back. "I know that! I was about to say it before you interrupted me you Lummox!" William put his hands on both of their shoulders. "Now, that is no way to treat each other. You are siblings, and twins! Two parts of the same whole. You're not two people, you're one person. Live together, not appart." He pat their shoulders, and Arthas looked at the campsite. "We need to set back up. I don't want to risk another caravan today. I will call another tomorrow, mid-day. That way they can see enough to protect themselves." William heard him, and realized he didn't think strategically. "Good decision, Arthas." He paid him the compliment, even though it was his idea. William looked to Charlotte, who glad to see him alive after hearing about the bandits. "Charlotte, how long would it take us by foot?" She blinked, and thought for a second. "At least two days by foot." Too long. He might as well wait. "We should set camp back up for tonight, but only what we need." Arthas barked out orders, and William walked off some, and drew the sword, looking at it. He stared into the green gemstone, which he couldn't identify. It wasn't jade, because it was too bright. He kept staring into it, and he felt strange. A voice came to him, and spoke inside his head. "The Element Wind. When matched with a suitable user, it can make weapons cleave air. A weapon with a Wind stone is lighter and easier to wield if the user can make themselves one with the element." The voice was light, friendly. "What the--Who's there?" William thought, seemingly only able to speak into his mind. "You've already met Gilgonderan. I am Densk. Ages of Wind. I will aid you in using this element, since you are destined to use them all." William felt a weird surge overcome him, and he felt lighter. Lighter than before after his first arrival. "Since you are Dark, I will teach you how to blend elements!" Densk said loudly. "To blend elements, either use two stones, or will both elements to fuse. Each element can be fused with a Natural, which is Dark, Or Light. Wind fused with Darkness is Plague. Plague can be applied to people directly, or to a weapon or whatever, really." William saw pictures of trees, water, people, fields, animals, and buildings. "Anything will work. If you something is Plagued, it will suffer until it dies. If something inanimate is Plagued, things that come in direct contact with it will suffer the same fate. It's rather deadly. Remember my words, Dark one! They will be more than nessisary in your life." And the voice faded. William shook his head, and looked around. "Nothing.." He said, as he sheathed the sword, and drew it back out. It moved agily in his hand, as if it weighted nothing. He swung it once slowly, and it felt like it accelerated in his hand. He took both hands and swung the sword again, and the sound of thunder rang out. He had caused thunder by swinging a sword. He grinned. "Most Choice." He slid the sword into it's scabbard, and turned around to see Charlotte standing behind him.

"Master, you were glowing green. Are you a Wind Master?" She asked, her head cocked to the side slightly. William shook his head with a smile. "Let's just say I know what I'm doing." He said, not really knowing what he was doing. She nodded and looked at him, noticing a bit of blood on his sleeve. "Master, Were you fighting?" She asked loudly. William nodded. "Yeah, I was." Charlotte looked him in the face. "With no armor?!" William nodded. "Your armor would only slow me down and be too bulky for me to fight how I do." He pushed down on the pommel of the sword. "This sword is already enough impedance, but I am not ungrateful of having it." Charlotte stood in awe. She was always led to believe the reasons Knights always wore armor, is because if you did, you couldn't die in combat. "How many were there?" She asked, folding her hands over her chest. "Nine in total. Arthas helped me deal with them." She sighed. "That's good. Did you at least kill one?" She asked, recovering. "Yeah, Arthas got two. Split one in half, and broke the other's skull." She looked at William in shock, then shook her head. "Oh Master, you're joking!" She said and started giggling. "No. I had to keep one from getting inside Arthas' guard." He said, looking her in the face. "That armor you wear is more of a hinderance than you understand. And his Greatsword is no weapon for man to man combat." He said, pointing to Arthas, who had his back turned to them. "Arthas! Come over here for a moment, would you?" William yelled. Arthas turned around and walked over to the two. "Yes, Master?" William pointed to Arthas' Greatsword. "I need to tell you now, that your sword will get you killed. It's too slow." William also pointed to Charlotte. "And she doesn't believe I killed six of them and left the other to die." Arthas looked to his sword, and up to William. "This sword is My sword, Master. I chose it because it was the best sword I saw. And yes, that is true, even though I do not believe you fought with such skill with no training." Arthas said, trying not to overstep his bounds. Charlotte stood speechless. "That's all I wanted Arthas. Sorry for disturbing you." Arthas bowed slightly. "As you will, Master." He turned and walked off. He didn't like Arthas. Something was off about him. "You are right to think that, Dark one. You will hear me now, but no longer after I say this." It was Gilgonderan, in his head. "He will be an ally, or a foe. The choice, is yours." And his voice faded. Would that be the last Gilgonderan would speak to him, or was it all he had to say? This world was strange. William ajusted the sword, and idly walked around the camp, speaking to everyone, trying to learn everyone's names. He couldn't remember some of the odder names, but the ones he could remember easily, he knew already. He helped where he could, but something bothered him. These people seemed to lack common sense. He thought how easy it must be to dominate them. The actual act of taking control wouldn't be hard, it would be the foreign weapons. But if he had a gun...Why was he thinking of this, he meant them no harm. Or did he?

[Your Amish Daddy]

The man who stands beneath a dark star.
Chapter 9: Learning who your friends are.

Day became night in slow progression. Lunch, and dinner past, noise and thought beheld. William looked out into the night sky. Their day wasn't twenty-four hours, because it was nearly mid-night, and he wasn't tired, even though his day was full. He had picked at his meals, and Charlotte had noticed it. She approached him from behind, and reached out to him but drew her hand back. "Master, are you well?" She asked, letting her hand rest at her side. William seemed detached, lost in thought again. She spoke again, except louder. "Master, are you well?" William jolted lightly and turned to her. "Oh, hello Charlotte. I'm sorry, I was thinking again." She nodded and smiled. "It is alright. Arthas has sent for another caravan, it should be here by early afternoon." She said, minding her words. William nodded, the bandits crossed his mind, especially the one he spared. Something in his mind said it was a bad idea, but something else said it was good to show mercy. Charlotte looked down. "Well, if that will be all you need of me, I will be retiring. You may sleep with me again, if you wish. The thought of her from that morning flashed in his head. The same thing that scolded him for leaving that bandit alive said he should join her, and take her for his own. The other, said that he should not, even if she was willing. It was not right to take advantage of others. William sighed, and paced slowly. He had finally been given a body he could use to his full power, but he felt bad about it. All those books he read about fighting with his hands and melee weapons, but he didn't think using a gun was any better, now that he had lost himself in combat. He was proud that he was coherent enough to spare someone, but what he did before letting her go didn't sit well with him. He was no demon, but he was also no saint. He could've done more. He almost wanted to. She wasn't as beautiful as Charlotte, but it would've been free, with no guilt. This dark side of his mind seemingly spoke louder than the other half. The light side said that it was good he did not do such aberrant acts, but it did not smile on his actions. His mania, seemed to have worsened here. Simon saw William pacing, and grabbed his brother, both were getting ready for sleep. They walked up to him slowly, Trevor rubbing his eyes and yawning. "Master..." Simon started, "Are you well?" Trevor finished. They sounded so much alike. He looked down to them. They were standing in the chill of the night air, wearing nothing. Nudity was apparently nothing big to these people, It never really bothered William either, but it was a bit too cold for them to be out like that. "What are you two still doing up, and out in this chill wind? You will catch your death of cold." William said, trying to be their friend and their father at the same time. "We were going to bed, but we saw you." Trevor said, as he yawned. Simon yawned shortly after his brother. "You look sad. Do you want us to cheer you up?" Simon said after yawning. William shook his head, and pat theirs. "I'm not sad, but I'm not happy with how I acted today. I guess I'm just not as cool as I think I am." He said, looking at their small faces. They both nodded and yawned in unison, which caused William to yawn, and he wasn't tired. "Now you two go to bed. Tomorrow, we have to pack all this back up again, and it's going to be a long day, I fear." They said their goodnights and walked off to their tent. He sighed and walked to Charlotte's tent slowly. He should heed his own advice, he thought as he rubbed his forehead. Maybe some sleep would set him straight.

He entered Charlotte's tent, and she was sitting at her desk, writing. She quickly closed the book as William walked in. "I was waiting on you, Master." She said as she stood up and bowed. "You really didn't have to." He said as he untied his sword. The sword he recovered had been part of the things that didn't sit well with him. And Densk. This was starting to be too much for him. They didn't speak much as William took off his shirt, but Charlotte broke the silence. "Arthas told me about the bandit girl you spared." She said quietly. "He said she was a fair woman." William nodded. "Yeah, she was okay...Is that Jealousy I hear?" He said, grinning. Charlotte blushed and turned her head from him, putting it in her hands. "No! It's just that women can be just as dangerous as men too!" She said almost squealing. William nodded. "That's not true." Charlotte turned around, ready to strike him. "Women are more dangerous than any man could ever be." As he said that he looked down, turning his head to the side slightly. "Women can be just as strong and wily, yes. But a woman with a fine body can control the minds of men." He said coldly. Charlotte bowed her head slightly. "I'm sorry Master." William took her into his arms and stroked her hair. "I know you're just worrying about me" He said jokingly. "And I appreciate that. But I'm a big boy, and I doubt she'll be any trouble. She's probably dead already." Charlotte pushed away from him. "What did you do to her?" She looked him in the face. "I did nothing to her she didn't bring on herself. As I tried to leave, she pulled a knife on me, and I knocked her out." Charlotte sighed gently, and sat down on the bedroll. William untied the dress, and threw it on top of the shirt and laid beside her. "Charlotte. Why did you bring this up?" He asked, resting a hand on his chest. Charlotte laid back, and turned away from him. "Because I thought you didn't like me." William sat up, looking puzzled. "What does that mean?" he said, and she turned her head. "If you would've taken her, and not me..." William tilted his head back. "Oh I see. Just simple jealousy." He said with a grin and laid back down. These people were very strange, but also no less human than he used to be. He closed his eyes, and felt a hand on his chest. Charlotte had turned over, and rest her hand on his chest. "You do like me, Master?" William nodded. "Yes, I like you. You are a bit naive, but you are still nice." She smiled and nesled her head on his arm. Yes, these people were surely strange. He lay there for awhile, thinking. Still thinking of things he had done, and what had come to pass. He drifted into sleep with thoughts of the bandit girl on his mind. He felt strange, like his first night here. The red face returned, but beside it, A green face that wore a friendly expression. Gilgonderan and Densk. William tried to move, but couldn't. "Great. Is this going to become an every-day thing, or is this just selective?" William heaved, having a bad feeling about this. "Silence boy. You seem to be adapting well. You are a very vicious fighter, but you were not in your previous life." Gilgonderan spoke, booming his words like before. "I don't know Gilgonderan, He may have not fought with weapons, but he did seem to be fighting in his mind." Densk spoke coolly. "The woman you spared will be paying you a visit tonight. Weather you slay her, or not. That is up to you. She is a pawn." William thought of chess. "Is this some kind of game?" William barked out, struggling to move. "No, it's not." Densk's expression changed. "This is serious. No doubt Gilgonderan's told you of your task here. This is no game. But you are the only one that was right for this, as if we had a choice." "Your spirit didn't belong where it was. Weather you did what you did or not, we would have brought you here eventually. At least this way, you had a reason to be." Gilgonderan interrupted. "Then let me ask you something. What do I have to do? What is my goal?" William asked, looking to both of them. "Your goal is whatever you want to do. You do not have to join the fight. You could live as anyone you wanted after this is over. But for now, you are who you need to be." Densk said, shaking his head. "You will meet the others, and yourself." Gilgonderan said. "When the need arises, we will return to you. You are charged with mastery of the Elements. You will find others, but if you do not find yourself, whichever you choose, you will not succeed." The faces drift off, and William sat up.

It was early morning, Charlotte was still asleep. He sat up slowly and rubbed his eyes. "This is getting old, really fast." He got up slowly, having an urge he hadn't had since he arrived. He needed to pee. He stuck his head out of the tent and looked around. No one was out there. But he grabbed his clothes and put them on anyway to hide himself. Since his change into whatever the indigenous people were, he had grown, everywhere, and he wasn't too proud of it. He walked quietly to a tree that wasn't far away, and he stopped beside it and looked around before he did his business. The breeze was crisp and cool. The temperature reminded him of Mid-November. It felt weird to him to be out there. William finished up and looked out into the still dark sky. "I don't even know what I am." He said quietly as he turned around. He walked back to Charlotte's tent, and sat down at her desk, resting his head in his hands. He looked at the canvas tent, losing focus on it. "Vikings.." He said slowly. They reminded him of Vikings. The sword he had recovered was definitely a Viking sword, no doubt. William milled over what he knew of Norse history. Vikings were aggressive raiders, but very civil amongst themselves. He thought more on his findings, milling it around. "Vikings...With heavy armor?" He stroked his chin as he thought. He lowered his head as he ran his fingers through his hair. "This is some horrible game. The hell with what those talking masks said." William said as he stood up quickly and grabbed his sword, and threw the flap on the tent open, and stormed out into the chilly night. "This is like some crappy video game." He tied the sword to himself as he had earlier. He walked past the large tent slowly, wishing he had some soda. He kept walking. Past Trevor and Simon's tent, past Arthas' tent. He though of lines from movies, Lyrics from songs, anything he could to reconstruct his sanity. Before long, he was singing. "I'm a heartbreak beat...yeah, all night long. And no body don't dance on the edge of the dark, we've got the radio on. And it feels like love, but don't mean alot. And it feels like love, and it's all that we've got.." He jumped gently down a slope, and landed softly. "There's a heartbreak beat, playing all night long down on my street, and it feels like love, got the radio on, and it's all that we need. There's a heartbreak beat and it feels like love. There's a heartbreak beat, and it feels like love.." He'd picked up some speed, the Psychedelic Furs one of his favorite bands of the eighties. He kept singing as he reached the site of the fallen caravan. He slowed to a stop, looking at the fallen. Their bodies had been disturbed, and the strewn weapons they left were all gone. Maybe that bandit girl took them he thought. He also thought of other bandits, looting the dead. Detestable. He turned in a circle slowly, his hands at his waist. "Such waste." He looked to the damaged caravan. It wasn't too bad off, considering bandits trouncing it. He decided to search it. He stuck his bare foot into a rung on a broken wheel and he lift himself over the side rail, and looked at the floor. Nothing worth taking. Few empty bags, broken handle of something. Junk. He hopped off the back of the first wagon and walked to the second. Dead horses were still strung to the second wagon. He walked past them, and stepped up on the second one. He looked into the back and saw a crate that had missed the bandit's eyes. He felt like it was Christmas, and he opened it quickly, using his sword as a prybar. The wooden lid popped off with one good push, A pair of plain black leather mid-lace boots, and a pair of black finger gloves. The boots were welcomed, even though he did enjoy the feel of the cold grass. He put them on, they were just a bit bigger than his feet, but they fit good. The gloves fit his hands rather well, and as he pulled them tight, a bit of the fabric went with his fingers, and he pulled it more. They went up about four inches on his forearm. A lot better than he had expected. The gloves would reduce the impact he felt when using the sword, and may even help him from dropping it. "Excellent. Now all I need is some useless trinkets, and this would be straight out of any average Role-Playing game." He hopped off the back of the second wagon, and his necklace came free and smacked him in the face. "Wow, I forgot about this." He tucked it back in, and shook his head. "Disgraceful." He went to the third and last wagon, which had a dead man laying across the bench. He stepped up to the bench, trying not to disturb the man, and he looked in the back. Nothing. "Oh well.." He thought "What I fould was better than nothing." He hopped down, and started back to camp. He had begun feeling better, and decided against going out on his own, which was his original plan. By the time he made it back to the camp, the sun had started rising. He had gotten a bit tired from his little trek, not having slept long. He was yawning as he walked past the large tent. He walked into Charlotte's tent. She was still sleeping. He untied his sword, and laid it on the desk. He then slowly laid down on the bedroll, and closed his eyes, not even thinking of getting undressed. Charlotte woke up just as he got comfortable. She rubbed her eyes, and he put his arm around her, and fell asleep.

William woke up to the sounds of combat. Charlotte had already gotten up, and he could hear her voice amongst the caterwauling outside. He got up and grabbed his sword quickly, darting outside. Bandits. Bandits had the balls to raid their camp. He tied the sword to his waist quickly, setting the mouth of the scabbard level with his waist. But before he could draw it and join combat, he was beset apon by a bandit. He thought quickly, and a picture of a blond man with a green circlet popped into his head. "Mudada!" He screamed, as he started delivering blow after blow to the man's chest and face. Each one stronger, and faster than the last. The bandit seemingly hung in the air as William threw punch after punch, palm after palm. After about five seconds of blows, the man's face begun to tear, and his ribs started cracking. William dealt one final heavy fist, and drew his sword. The man stumbled back, and William jumped to him, spinning. In a picturesque moment, he had cleaved the head of the bandit into the air. He landed on the ground, his boots making him slide a bit. He threw the sword in the scabbard in one deft spin, and the bandit fell to the ground, headless. William stood up straight and turned to face the body of the combat. He saw Bandit and Knight fall. He charged into the fury. He jumped up, sucking his knees to his body, and landed on the back of a bandit, throwing his legs out. The bandit girl slammed into the ground with great force, his weight crushing her chest. He turned to the closest bandit, grabbing him by the neck, William threw him down, and delivered a swift stomp to the man's head. He could do so much more damage now that he had shoes. He fought on, many bandits dying, many knights dying. He took hold of a bandit's weapon arm, and drew his sword upward, removing the arm of the would-be attacker. He moved with grace through the cluster of people. He saw Simon bend down to pick up his shortsword, and William sprung off his back, which put him on the ground, just saving his head from a mace. William grabbed the bandit that had attempted Simon's life between his legs, and took the man down. He lift his fist, and threw it down in a beautiful ark, cracking the bandit on the head. He caught himself just in time to roll forward, letting a bandit with a broadaxe drop it at his friend's neck, in an attempt to strike William down. He stood up, and grabbed the axe-wielding bandit's neck under his arm, and spun him around. He picked the rather large man up by the waist, and suplexed the bastard down on his own axe. William rolled back, and saw that they were breaking off. He was breathing heavily, as he could now see Arthas standing, his Quartz armor severely damaged, his left Paulderon broken off, just the hook remained, and his chest plate appeared to have been run over by a four ton truck. Many of the large group that he had met only two days ago, had fallen. William stood up slowly, dusting himself off. His green outfit had only seen dirt, and no blood. He looked about the fallen, Seeing only Simon, and a few others who he couldn't remember their names. Simon was kneeling by his brother. William walked over to him, and knelt down beside him, looking to Trevor. He was hit in the neck with an axe, and by his expression, he was alive long enough to know he was going to die. William shook his head, and put an arm around Simon. "He saved me..." He whispered, on the verge of tears. Arthas walked over slowly, and William stood up. "Master Victus! You were fighting?!" William nodded. "Yeah, that's the reason you few are still alive. I don't see Charlotte among the standing." He said, distantly. Arthas shook his head. "She was one of the first." William nodded. Poor girl, he thought. He shook his head. "Well. It doesn't matter if the Caravan comes or not. It would be full of the dead." He said, trying not to let the dead consume him. He looked to Arthas, trying to keep control. "Where is she?" He asked quietly. He pointed to the east side of the camp, by the tree he visited this morning. He walked over to the tree, and saw her lying on her sword. Her beautiful blond hair caked in dried blood. Her Amethyst armor, stained in it. He knelt down and rolled her over gently. Her face had been caved in by a mace. He cringed as he saw it. He looked away, wincing. Arthas walked over to him slowly, Simon behind him. William removed one of Charlotte's Amethyst Tear earrings, and he pushed the hook through his ear. A bit of blood dripped down the stone, and onto his shoulder. He didn't feel it. He screwed the stop on, and stood up. He turned around just to see one of the bandits getting up. He quickly took off in a start to it, and kicked it in the back. It was a girl. The same one he spared. She groaned and rolled on the ground, stopping on her back. She opened her eyes slowly, and she saw his sword, an inch from her nose, some of the blood of her fallen friends run down it slowly. She looked up to him, and jolted in fear. "Oh...God..." is all she got out before her face was invaded by his sword. He yanked it through her skull, the sword send out a shockwave of sound, driving fragments of it, and her brain in a line on the ground.

"What do we do now, Master?" Arthas spoke grimly, he himself unsure. William rubbed his face gently. He didn't know what to do. He wanted to continue slashing the bandits up, but that wouldn't do him any good. He lift his head up slowly and looked at the sun, and sheathed his sword.

--And that's as far as I am, because I can't decide how I want the next part to go.

[Jengo]

good writing man! keep up the good work!

[Your Amish Daddy]

The man who stands beneath a dark star.
Chapter 10: A brand new pair of walking shoes.

"We walk. Lord knows that we have few options even with our foes dead." William said with a sigh. He silently mourned the loss of Charlotte, the only friend he had in this strange new world. Arthas motioned to Simon to prepare some food for travel, he then picked up a fallen knight, and dropped it in the center of camp, where the tree used to be. William caught on and did the same, until all were in the pyre. Arthas then went into his tent, and brought out his lantern and threw it on the pile after lighting it. "They served well, and died with honor." William nodded, only wishing he had woken up sooner, so that many more would have lived. "Okay, I got some food." Simon said listlessly. Arthas nodded and pointed east. "We are leaving now, Master Victus." William nodded and followed them as they walked, lost in thought. Many things poured over even more, making a nice mess in his head. What made the bandits attack the ca mp? Was it his mercy that led them to attack out of revenge, or were they that destitute to be willing to throw their lives away for a few 'shard'? Shard must be the currency here, but is it like the name implies, that is a shard, or fragment of something, like maybe a gemstone, and why would that be, since the armor he's seen the knights wear is made of gemstone? His mind had become a whirling torrent of transient nodes of thought careening down in a cascade of more crap than he was ready to digest. It was already midday when Arthas broke the peaceful quiet, along with William train of thought. "We've got roughly twenty kilometers to travel, and we need to do it fast." William nodded, but had to disagree about a point. "We really don't have a timescale since we're on foot." William sighed, staring down at the grass as he walked, counting his steps to keep his mind occupied. The conversation died down as the sun started to sink into the horizon. William hadn't noticed the transition of the day, he was too deep in thought, until he walked into a tree limb. Simon couldn't help but laugh, and all William could do was smile. He turned around and rubbed the bits of bark out of his face. "Why didn't someone tell me that was there?" He said in a light tone. Arthas looked up from the bag he had just sat down under a tree opposite the one William was under. "I said we would camp here, Master Victus, but you kept walking. Guess you were occupied elsewhere."

William collected his wits and looked around a bit. They had stopped in a small grove of scattered trees. A few oak trees and a handfull of bushes surrounded a meager pond. A few larger birch and larch trees could be seen within a stone's throw. Arthas untied the bag, and rationed out the food, which by appearances favored William. He sat down to the meal, and looked down at it. "Well, I see who you favor, but sadly I am not hungry. You two should eat. You need your strength to protect me." Arthas sighed and nodded. "Do as you will, Master." Simon and Arthas ate hungrily, as they had not had breakfast as well. William stood up and walked to a tall oak tree away from the others and slumped down next to it. More tired than anything. The day has worn heavily on him, both mentally and physically. "Son of a bitch..." He said quietly, angry at himself. "I left my PPG at the camp..." He muttered under his breath, but then he recalled Gilgonderan's words and sighed as he closed his eyes, sleep gripping him. He woke up a few hours later to something with small feet walking up to him, and he opened his eyes slowly. "Hello." William said quietly, and as his eyes focused on the creature. It was a furry creature, that looked like a bipedal mouse, but had a humanoid posture, but stood only roughly two feet tall. "Oh, you're alive. That's good, I guess." It spoke quietly, looking over it's shoulder to the grove where William left the others. "I take it those are your friends over there?" William shook his head. "Not my friends, just acquaintances." The creature took a thoughtful pose, and looked into William's eyes. "Odd that the Royal Knights would be out here in the Rual Circle." William nodded. "It's even more odd that a seemingly dignified creature has not introduced himself to me." He spoke smugly, with a grin. The creature nodded. "I am Lost. My pack lives in these trees." He extended his hand, and William shook it. "I'm Victus Tassudar." The creature pulled it's hand back quickly. "I see. The lost son. Well I guess it is good you are alive. It will keep the Royal Knights from killing more of my kin." William nodded, trying to gain favor with the creature, since he was in his dominion. "Yes, Life is hard enough without persecution from those who do not know their world." Lost looked around quickly. "So, I take it you are not like your father, since I am still drawing breath." William nodded, going along with it. "Then do us a favor. Get those knights out of here. You can stay with us if you need to, but I don't want my pack seeing them here. It will panic them." William sighed. "Persecuting those who persecuted you? Two wrongs do not make right." William folded his legs and sat up. "But, we will be gone when the sun rises. I will see to it." Lost nodded. "That's fine by me, and if it will expedite your leave of us, I shall prepare some food for you." Lost walked up to the tree William had been leaning against, and climbed up it quickly. He heard conversation between Lost and someone else, and quiet. Then he saw another creature run down the side of the tree, and into another one closer to the grove. William adjusted his gloves, and ran his fingers through his hair. The cool air felt good on his scalp. A few moments later, more of the creatures walked up to the tree William was under, all of them carrying bags or little boxes. Lost climbed down the tree, with a bag of his own. "Lucky for you, our harvest was bountiful and there is much to spare. Take what you need, and eat hearty. You can give some to your friends in the morning as long as you are gone by mid-day. No later." William nodded. "I thank you for your generosity, but I have a question, friend Lost." Lost blinked and nodded. "And what might that be?" Lost said cautiously. "Forgive my lack of education, but what are you people?" He said as he started laughing. Lost looked at him for a second, and smiled, trying not to laugh too. "We're Imps. At least that's what the Empire calls us. We call ourselves Medans." William nodded. "Thank you. And pray tell me when daybreak will be?" Lost pointed to the north. "It's just about now. And if you'll excuse us, we'd best get out of sight, We'll leave what we brought here. May your travels always be quick, and safe." William nodded. "And may your children grow to be strong and noble." William said as Lost climbed up the tree, and the rest of the Medans returned to their homes.

William stood up slowly and picked up a few of the small bags at random, and walked over to where he left Arthas and Simon. Simon was already stirring, and Arthas couldn't be snoring any louder. William grinned and picked up one of Simon's boots, and he pointed to the other and Simon got the idea. They both went over to the pond, and filled both of them with water, and crept back over to Arthas quickly and on the count of three, they poured the contents of the boots on Arthas who awoke with a start and a clamor. Simon and William couldn't contain their laughter and both collapsed to the ground watching Arthas scramble about trying to collect his wits. He stared at the two rolling in the grass, laughing like the dickens, and scowled. "Ha ha. Very funny children." Arthas wiped his eyes and stood up and saw the small bags. "What are those?" William collected himself and sat up. "They're breakfast, if you want to stay and eat, but we have a long distance to go, so let us eat on foot." Arthas agreed, and they left before the end of sunup. Shortly after leaving the grove, Lost ran up behind William quickly, and put a piece of paper in his pocket and ran back to his tree. Arthas almost noticed it, but due to his position and distance from William, Lost got away by using William as cover. They kept walking, and snacking from the berries, nuts, fruits and small bits of jerky from the bags the Medans brought to William. The day passed quickly, but by the beginning of evening, they had reached a road Arthas appeared to be happy to reach. "Looks like we're in the home stretch. Now that we've found this road, we can follow it to the city!" William traced the road up in the direction Arthas was facing, and he saw a huge monument. An Obelisk cast against the bright orange clouds. It gave him a shiver, but he didn't hesitate. They marched for about two more hours, which put them in eyeshot of the city gate. A huge, menacing Obsidian and stone gate pierced the landscape, along with it's stone curtain of a wall. Arthas started into a lope to the gate, followed by Simon. William didn't think it was any reason to increase his pace, as he was already tired. When William reached the gate, the door had already been opened, and many soldiers had poured out, cheering the return of Victus Tassudar. William didn't understand the hype, but he didn't really care. All he wanted was a tall glass of iced tea, and a soft bed. His feet were killing him.

A carriage met them at the gate as they passed through. Arthas opened the door, and kicked down the steps. "Please board, Master. We need to get you back to the Palace as fast as possible. Your father eagerly awaits your return." William sighed. The images of the past had given him a very healthy distaste for his 'father'. "So be it." William said coolly as he boarded. Arthas boarded after him, and Simon grabbed onto the side and with that, the carriage took off with a start. Drawn by giant dogs, which really didn't bother William since dogs were very loyal. They traversed the large city in a flash. It only felt like minutes since he boarded, that he was disembarking. He stood infront of the main gate to the Palace, which looked dark and evil. William grinned and whispered, "My kind of place." The doors were cast open quickly, and he was marched up stairs, down stairs through hallways, anyone who saw him screamed "Hail the return of the Emperor's son!" It was a god awful noise in those closed spaces. It was nearly midnight when he reached the throne room, where he saw the evil visage from his instant history lesson. His Father, Illuom Tassudar. He knew he had to play smooth, he had to be cool, he had to be believable. His father stood from his chair, a gray man. Not the tyrant he had expected. "Son...You have returned to me!" He left his chair, still very agile and embraced William, who did the same to keep appearances. "Indeed. I have returned." Illuom held William at arm's length and looked him over. "Ah son, you have grown! A fit man stands before me! I see this is why you left, to make a man out of yourself." He pat William's shoulders. "Welcome home son. I know you are tired, retire for the day, we shall celebrate tomorrow!" William smiled at the thought of a bed and a real meal. "Yes, that is best. But before I retire. I require a bath. It has been some time, and many battles since I have had my last." Illuom nodded and motioned to a maid. "Prepare my son a bath, and re-educate him the palace. He has been gone a long time."