Episode Fifteen

Dawn of the End part 1

In the world of Setonas, nothing is ever what it truly seems, and evil lurks beyond the shadows of shadows. Hours have passed while Zero, Nightmare, Brandis and Athame' row gracefully in the Black Sea. Ivory has taken upon herself to swim ahead to meet the others by the Death Bat Craft. A small silence has come up on the group. Nightmare runs diagnostic scans with his MDM from the skiff. Zero begins to sleep. Athame' sits away from the group in her own silence- with out her aura sight and conjuring powers, feeling vulnerable (being on the pirate ship in the detention cuffs have temporarily taking her powers away- leaving her blind). Brandis can only help but wonder what’s going through her mind, and the horror she faced on the ship. It flashes through her head like bright flashes of strobe. He tries to console her but she just pushes him away and cuddles up to herself. This leaves Brandis no choice but to sit alone until they reach land. They soon reach the Death Bat, which does not have a mark on it and still cloaked in stealth. They enter and things still run the same as they were. Nightmare begins to look around at everything with Zero. Athame' leaves to the barracks and lays down. Ignoring the others. Still in her lone silence.

Nightmare: Awesome... we just need the parts we need and we can get out of here...

Zero: ... and to New Babylon...

Sitting down in the pilot chair.

Brandis: She hates me...

Nightmare and still working on the ship and Zero on the other side of ship with Brandis in between both.

Nightmare: No way man... I mean you saved her life, at the risk of your own... She's... I don't know... just a little distraught... she should be alright.

Brandis: Can you like read her mind or something?

Nightmare: Nah... I'm just guessing... but I have a good feeling...

Zero: Some genius....

A knocking begins to rattle and everyone stops and wonders what it is.

Zero: What is that?

Brandis: An attack?

Nightmare: No... Sounds more like a knock than a bang...

Knocking continues.

Zero: It's out side...

The three open the lift and head outside to find nothing and are startled briefly by the presence of Ivory.

Zero: Shit... scared us...

Nightmare: How'd you find us?

They all begin to walk back into the Craft.

Ivory: I followed all your thoughts...

Nightmare: Man that's hot...

Zero: At ease... let's get back to work... we can't get to New Babylon 'til this ship is up and enabled.

Ivory: Wait did you say... New Babylon?

Everyone stops what they are doing to the ship and Brandis turns around from the pilot seat.

Zero: Yea... what about it...

A small silence.

Zero: What is it?

Ivory: Just that... rumor floating around down there (at the bottom of the black sea is what she means) about a city being in flames... a human city...

Shocked.

Nightmare: No...

Distraught and panicking.

Zero: Babylon... Nightmare... we gotta get this heap running... now.

Nightmare: I can't… not with out the electro rods... the ship won't power.

Zero: Fuck... FUCK! What now?!?! I thought you were a genius?!?!

Saying as he throws his tools down and grabs Nightmare.

Nightmare: Well didn't say I know everything!!

Brandis gets up and gets involved.

Brandis: Calm down Zero... lets just think... Nightmare... these Electro rods... how do they work?

Zero beings to let him go.

Nightmare: Well basically in short term they channel an electronic power surge to the engines, recycling it and channeling it over and over so the ship stays a running. With out the rods this ship will never leave the ground... We need those rods...

Brandis: Electricity… wait so just a current? Or a power surge into the engines?

Nightmare: Yea… about 120000 watts… but only thing that can generate that kinda surge is a bolt of lightening... and of course with the weather outside in this world we never know when its going to strike or where... and my MDM... (looks at it) yea… nothing... just wind storms...

Brandis: Unless we can get someone who can channel the elements around them...

Zero gets a surprised looks on his face because he knows what Brandis is talking about.

Nightmare: But where are we going to find someone that can...

It then clicks in Nightmare's head who Brandis is talking about.

Zero: That could work... she's channeled wind before... and picked us both up into the air…

Nightmare: But that was wind… its everywhere… this is electricity.

Ivory: Who are you all talking about?

Brandis: An element is an element... she can do it... I believe in her... I just do…

Brandis says as he begins to walk away and the others follow him.

Nightmare: But her magic powers are temporarily out of commission who knows when they will return...

Zero: We have to try man...

Ivory: Excuse me! Who are you talking about?

All three look at Ivory and at the same time say.

Nightmare, Zero, Brandis: Athame'...

Athame' still lays down in the barracks as the others enter. With her back facing them.

Athame': I won't do it... I can't...

Brandis decides to talk to her one more time and calmly walks over to her and sits down.

Brandis: Yes you can... I believe in you... you are strong… always have been...

Reluctantly replying.

Athame': My powers are gone Brandis... I can't even see...

Brandis: It's all in you mind... you're scared... I know... you have been through a great ordeal.. Can’t change that… but if we don't get to Babylon... a lot of people can loose their life... if they haven't yet. Trust me... I gave my word... I won't let anything happen to you...will be right there the whole time... I promise…

She turns over in his direction and Brandis puts his hands out. With small tears in her eyes.

Athame': I just can’t…

Brandis: Yes you can… can do anything… I have seen it…

Athame’: Even if I could get my powers back... I can't channel the element for too long...

Nightmare: No problem... if we can get the craft over the water... the water can channel the electricity to and from the engines...acting as a primitive electro rod… should be okay until we can get back home and get new rods…

Brandis then looks at Athame' with hope as she sits up, and take his hands. Everyone then begins to proceed outside, Brandis guides Athame’ outside. Nightmare grabs some tools and all leave the ship.

Zero: So what do we do?

Nightmare: Well first we need to get the ship into the water. Once we have taken care of that then will need your help Zero to maintain the flow of the current to the engines from the Brigg. Then its smooth sailing…

Brandis: Alright then lets get started.

Brandis, Ivory, and Nightmare (who uses his MDM to hulk out) gently push the ship into the water. Once the ship is in the water Nightmare and Zero head back inside to the brig with Ivory. Brandis stands on top of the ship with Athame’ and holding her hand (Athame’s powers still have not yet returned). Everyone has communicator ear pieces in there ears to talk to each other over the distances of the ship.

Brandis: Alright Jack, just let me know when you ready. (Brandis says as he holds both of Athame’s hands and stands in front of her).

Nightmare: Alright we just about ready. Zero, I want you to jump start the engines 3 folds when on my signal.

Zero: English boy genius!

Nightmare: On my signal pull that lever 3 times as fast you can.

Zero: Ok easy…

Nightmare: Lovely lady going to need you to help me manage the navigation systems the moment they come online…

Ivory: Excuse me what did you call me?

Nightmare: I’m sorry… Lady Ivory…

Ivory: Just Ivory…

Nightmare: Alright Bran, are you ready?

Brandis: Yes… come on Athame’… you can do this… not leave you will be right here…

He says as he touches her cheek, her powers still have not returned and she is blind still.

Athame’ closes her eyes to concentrate and nothing happens. She tries again and once again nothing. She pauses then looks in Brandis direction, closes her eyes and her aura sense return.

Brandis: Your doing it… come on… keep it up…

Zero: Any time man!!

Brandis: Be patient, Zero!!

Athame’s eyes begging to glow as the wind begins to pick up and electricity starts to form in the sky. Brandis looks up.

Brandis: SHE’S DOING IT!! EVERYONE BE READY!! NNNNNNNNNNNNOOOOW!!!!

The energy channels down to Athame’s body and into her hands as she starts to chant softly to herself but Brandis is caught in the middle of the energy and struck simultaneously. Athame’ is in a trance so she does not know the electric current is passing through Brandis as well. Doing all Nightmare says everyone channels the electricity into the ship getting it to move through the water.

Zero: YES!

Everyone else cheers as the ship moves through the water and they begin to set off to New Babylon. Athame’ stops channeling, and becomes alert to see Brandis unconscious in front of her.

Athame’: Oh no Brandis!? Brandis wake up!!

Athame’ says as she shakes him.

Brandis’ eyes open slightly and then close again.

Athame’: You never let go… just as you promised…

Athame’ touches his cheek softly, and then takes the ear communicator from Brandis and contacts the others to come help her get Brandis off the top. Ivory and Zero come to the top because Nightmare is driving the ship to give Athame’ a hand.

Hours pass, and Brandis wakes up from a three hour slumber, with Athame’ next to him in the infirmary on Nightmare’s ship, holding his hand and damping away cold sweat from Brandis’ forehead.

Slightly dizzy and week.

Brandis: What happened?

Athame’: You passed out from. You have been unconscious for over 3 hours…

Brandis: Are you ok… I mean last thing I remember was…

Cutting him off.

Athame’: I’m fine… much thanks to you…

Touching his cheek.

Brandis: Good… Never been electrocuted before… by anything…

Athame’: Really… so you didn’t know if you would survive or not…

Brandis: Well I have had almost every injury… but no didn’t know... just wanted to be sure you were ok…

A tender moment between the two comes up but is interrupted.

Nightmare: Guys!!! We’re here…

Every one heads to the bridge to find a horrible sight in front of them.

Ivory: Is that?

Nightmare: I think so…

In anger.

Zero: New Babylon…

The City lies in ruins. Smoke and debris fill the air, and the blood and corpses of humans after a huge battle fill the streets.

Nightmare Docks the ship on shore and everyone leaves the ship and runs to the city and nothing is a pretty sight. A siren blares as they run to the city then fades out as they get closer to the city.

Nightmare: What happen here?

Brandis: A battle… a huge one…

Athame’: Are you okay?

Zero: No... This should not have happen… I … I gotta get to the command center… there may be clues to that did this…

Athame’: Where is that?

Zero begins to run and everyone follows. Suddenly everyone is stop in there tracks by skilled and mysterious figure with a sword, masked by a hooded coat; ready to fight the figure stops.

Mysterious Figure: I was wondering when I would run into you all again.

Taking off his hood the mysterious man reveals himself to be LD.

Athame’: LD!!

Athame’ yells in excitement as she gives LD a hug.

LD: Good to see you too Athame’… where’s your friend?

Athame’: Inferno? Oh well he had to take care of…

Being cut off Zero attacks LD and slams him to the ground.

Zero: You did this!!!

LD defends himself kicking Zero away from him.

Zero: That’s why you were so eager to lead my people here!!!

The others try to stop Zero by yelling him then intervene to struggle pull him off LD as Zero attempts to kill him.

LD: Think what you will soldier but it was not me..

Zero: Liar!

LD: Think… if I had done this could, and knew where this city and all the other cities were… wouldn’t I have done it long time ago!!

Athame’; Think Zero, he’s telling the truth if he was lying you would be able to tell.

Zero uses his special Eye to see if LD is lying and he sees that he is not. So Zero leaves him alone for answers.

Brandis: So what happen here?

LD quickly draws his sword and points it at Brandis and Ivory Brandis stands between Ivory and the tip of the blade.

LD: You two sure do know how to pick your company… working with demons now?

Athame’: Their not demons… they are good…

LD: Is that what they told you? You actually believed a demon? They do lie you know that right?

LD continues to circle Ivory and Brandis with his sword pointed at both.

LD: I can smell evil on you… you both stink of blood of the innocent. Probably in league with the guy who did this.

Nightmare: Impossible they were with us the whole time…

Athame’: …Pulled us out of some to hard positions.

Zero: …

LD: Seems like Zero has a different opinion…

Nightmare: …

Athame’: Zero, you couldn’t possibly think…

Zero: I’m not sayin’ anything but they haven’t been in our sights every minute… I mean Ivory did scout a head to some here and some how knew the city was in trouble.

Brandis and Ivory keep trading looks at Zero and LD.

Ivory: Why would I return to tell you to come to the city if it was in smoke…

Nightmare: She has a good point…

Athame’: A very good one… if the city was already in smoke and she wanted us destroyed she could have made sure we didn’t get to the city alive…

LD: Look at it how you want… she’s still a demon…

Ivory: …

Brandis: Demon or not… she’s under my protection… you want her you’re going to have a pretty tough fight on your hands, boy…

The look of jealousy passes Athame’s face.

LD: Boy?... You have more blood on your hands than she does… so what does that say about you? You may be a warrior… but your eyes and sent of blood on you does not…

Zero: Enough… LD… I demand to know who did this… from the sounds of it you saw someone.

LD whispers to Brandis.

LD: I’m watching you…

LD turns to Zero.

LD: You ever here of the statues of the Chang Dynasty?

Zero looks confused and clueless of what LD is talking about.

Athame’: You mean the 1000 plus warrior statues made and buried in the tomb of their Emperor in china over a millennium ago?

LD: One in the same… I take it you know about them…

Athame’: Just their history… says the statues were created to protect the emperor in death from evil spirits. I heard the army was massive.

Nightmare: Was?

LD: The tomb was lost and buried away from society when reality collapsed under a series of earthquakes and tsunami’s in China.

Zero: So you’re saying a bunch of primitive statues destroyed my city!

LD: Sounds impossible right?

Zero: IT SOUNDS MAD!! THE TRUTH NOW!!!

Zero gets upset and charges at LD.

LD: LOOK!

LD points at rubble not far from where everyone stands.

LD: Some of them were destroyed… your people are quite brave… I helped as much as I could… but getting them out was more important…

Zero: Wait… their alive?

LD: Very…

Zero: The catacombs… their there? Lets go…

Everyone begins to head into the mountains of the city.

LD: Was the only safe spot for them… but I have reason to believe that who ever was controlling the statues will be back…

Nightmare: Wait… who? Failed to mention someone was controlling them…

LD: Apologize…

Zero: So who was it?

LD: A man in white…

Brandis: That’s all? Didn’t get a name or face?

LD gives Brandis a dirty look.

LD: Couldn’t see his face at all… wore a hood the entire time…

Ivory: What was he looking for… I mean why was he here?

Zero: Isn’t it obvious… to destroy us…

LD: I don’t think so… he actually refused to fight at first for some reason… said how he came to save us… but needed something only the city had.

Nightmare: That’s weird… why come here not looking for a battle… if had to been looking for something…

Brandis: Then what provoked the battle?

LD: He was looking for something... no one knew of where it was in the city… so..

Zero: …He figured everyone was lying and looked for it himself…

Ivory: Thus destroying most the city…

Everyone reaches the catacombs and enters not realizing they are being watched from the top of one of the destroyed buildings of the city.

Everyone enters the catacombs and soon run into the survivors of the city.

Soldier: HALT!!! HANDS UP!!

Everyone stops in there tracks.

Zero: Stand down soldier, their with me.

The soldiers immediately stands at attention.

Soldier: Sir!

Zero: At ease… Report.

Soldier: Sir, we 3 hundred hours ago, a battle of unexpectance insured, we engaged the enemy bravely sir, but were left to retreat due to the increased numbers of the enemies soldiers sir.

Zero: How many survivors?

Soldier: I am not sure sir… but our numbers aren’t looking to well..

Zero: That’s not of you to say soldier.

Soldier: Yes Sir.

Zero: What’s the twenty of General Graves?

Soldier: He lies deep within the caves sir, awaiting your arrival.

Zero: Get out on century duty; report in immediately if anything changes in the area.

Soldier: Sir, yes sir.

The soldier then runs toward the exit of the catacombs.

Athame’: A little hard on him don’t you think?

Zero: There is no room for kindness in war… you learn that you been fightin’ long as I have…

As everyone moves through the caves they see various civilians catering to each other and helping one another. Soldiers help the civilians as they venture past and solute Zero as he walks by. Everyone eventually comes to the catacombs, they look as a large ancient city would look underground (think Zion from the matrix movies)

Brandis: So I take it they found nothing if they left…

LD: or they found exactly what they wanted and that’s why they left…

Zero: Who cares long as they are gone…

Athame’: How long has this place been here?

Nightmare: From the looks of it I say would say thousands of years…

Everyone eventually meets up with the General. Everyone in the room stops and solutes Zero and the general walks over to talk to Zero.

General Graves: Colonel Zero, you’re alive…

Zero: Expect something less?

General Graves: No sir, it’s good to see you are alive…

Zero: So what happened here?

General Graves: I would rather tell you in private sir if possible.

Zero nods at Graves and walks away with him gesturing to the others to wait in the room. He and graves soon come to a point where they can see the entire cave and people of the city below.

Graves: We are not sure what exactly happen… our camera’s and danger sensors never went alert. So we figured the enemy was human… but we were wrong.

Zero: How many did we lose?

Graves: Lost about 3 dozen sir… 8 injured… 6 in critical condition… all our medics are working over time…

Small disappointment and sadness comes up on Zero’s face.

Meanwhile Athame’ and the others venture to the civilians and injured to help mend wounds and attend to the weak. Marking on the walls catch Athame’s eyes and she begins to examine it.

Brandis: What is it?

Athame’: Something familiar about these markings… Nightmare can you see this?

Nightmare: Yes... old… my MDM is tracking its origin… but keeps whoa!!!

Everyone finishes what they are doing gathers around Nightmare and his MDM.

Brandis: What is it?

Nightmare: The writing on the wall… its Aramaic…

Ivory: Aramaic? Wait that’s like centuries old and dead language… no one has spoken it or written in it for 1000’s of years.

Brandis: Are you sure?

Nightmare: I’m very sure…

Athame’: Well what does it say?

Nightmare: I don’t know… deciphering it now…

Brandis gets curious and makes way to touch the writing on the wall.

LD: NO!!! DON”T TOUCH IT!!!

A flash ensues to Brandis direction and he goes into a brief catatonic state as if he was seeing something play out right in from of him (a premonition of the past). Scenes of an epic war and battle of good and evil, warriors on both sides clashing sword and fighting; He sees a sword falling to earth as well as a two foot long feather, which falls to the surface and caught by a human. He then sees the same feather being placed on an alter and buried deep in the earth in a temple like fortress, dark and secluded.

Brandis falls over as if he was drained and is caught by Athame’ and Ivory.

Ivory: What happen?

Athame’: What’s wrong?

Nightmare: What’s going on man?

Brandis is slightly disoriented and speaking staggering words.

Brandis: I saw… I saw something… we got… we gotta get these people out of here now…

Distant gun fire and the reports of soldiers stagger over the radio.

Soldier: S… ir… we ha….. intrude….r… need…. Re.. serves… I … repeat (Static)

The distant and ambient screams of the people begin to fills the catacombs.

Zero: Graves, get these people out of here!!!

Graves: But sir!!

Zero: Take a platoon of men and Take them to the shore, dock the ships, and wait for orders. If I’m not there in 0100 hours you sail off with everyone!! That’s an order!!

Graves: YES SIR!

Graves heads off and begins to grab people and other soldiers to retreat. Zero runs to gather with the others.

Zero: We are getting outta here pull out!!

LD: There people won’t make it we have to by them some time to retreat!!

Zero: What do you suggest us against a whole army!?

Nightmare: Not like up against a buncha pirates!!

Brandis runs toward the entrance to the catacombs and everyone follows him one after the other. Even LD who thinks first then follows. They run past retreating people and out side to see a large army marching toward the entrance.

Brandis: We can’t let them get inside…

Zero: No shit...

The stone warrior army makes its way marching to the entrance causing small tremors as they move. Leading them in front is the figure in white, face hidden by a hood.