at long last, a new chapter is up. now that my tests our over, i can get back to our little story. here is chapter nine...
Chapter 9
Ignorant creation
Xando did not tell Colette about what he had found, though she could tell by his face that he had found something disturbing.
“Why wont you tell me?” she asked him.
“Because…” he began but couldn’t find the answer. Why didn’t he want to tell her? He didn’t even know himself.
“Get some sleep,” he said, and then walked out of the bedroom.
Colette, off course, would not be able to sleep for a while, pondering just what Xando was hiding from her.
“I’m going out,” he said to Max, “keep an eye on Colette.”
“Where are you going?”
“ARK.”
Three letters that held so much meaning. ARK was the research facility where Project: ENDLESS had taken place, though a more accurate word was prison. Without another word, Xando walked out into the night. It was midnight by the time he got to the ruins of ARK. Nearly all of the facility had burned to the ground in the fire some years ago, but bits of the structure still held together. Xando wandered the ruin until he found what he was searching for. In what appeared to have once been a hallway, he found a sign that said; prisoner hold, left.
He followed until he came to another hallway ruin, this one with gaps in the base of the wall that likely once held doors. Next to each archway was an inscription, most still readable. He walked down until he came to the archway with the number 5 on it. Searching on the ground, he found just what he had been hoping for, a small plaque with the name of the rooms occupant listed. There was one word, just one word, on the plaque. Zentra.
“Just as I thought,” Xando muttered under his breath, “you were here once.”
And suddenly a new voice spoke, “you figured it out, huh Xando?”
Xando turned to see Zentra standing at the corner, sword in hand. His mask was missing, and his scarred face was visible. Looking into his eyes, Xando saw the telltale signs of madness.
“Why did you burn it?” he asked, “why did you burn down ARK?”
“BECAUSE THEY DID THIS TO ME!” Zentra screamed at the top of his lungs, gesturing to his face, “DURING ONE OF THEIR TESTS, THEY SCARRED MY FACE!”
He then quickly regained his composure, and then spoke in a more level tone, “but let us not speak about the past, Xando. Besides, I’m sure you wouldn’t like what all I have to say.”
“What do you mean?”
Zentra pretended to ponder the question, “gee, I don’t know. I so hate spoilers. But haven’t you wondered, Xando? How did the empire find out where you were?”
It suddenly dawned on Xando just how mad Zentra was, “you. You told them, didn’t you? You led the empire to the HQ of the Resistance.”
“Bingo. I had hoped you would die right along with the rest of them. But I was mistaken, apparently. No matter, I won’t make that mistake again.”
Then he charged at Xando, a blood-curling scream on his lips. Xando easily dodged the attack and swung at Zentra’s back, but Zentra dived into a roll and dodged the attack. Using the momentum from his swing, Xando did a flip and landed right in front of Zentra, who was just getting to his feet.
“Impressive,” he admitted before locking swords with Xando again, “I should have expected nothing less from you.”
“What do you mean?” Xando asked while dislodging his sword from Zentra’s.
“Merely this,” Zentra said, while avoiding another swing, “I am not the only surviving experiment of Project: ENDLESS.”
He’s talking about Colette, Xando thought, but something in the back of his mind nudged at him. Some far off memory. Xando noticed that Zentra was staring straight at him, and guessed the horrible truth.
“Me?”
Zentra laughed, “yes, you, Xando. You are one of the byproducts of Project: ENDLESS, as am I. we’re practically brothers.”
The notion of that sickened Xando to the stomach.
“But, then everything I know, everything I am…”
“All lies. Lies, lies, lies, LIES!” Zentra yelled, “You are just as real as I. But you are weak, brother. You are weak because of just what you really are. Because of what the basis for your creation was. You are a fake. But enough chat. It’s time to die. Good night, sham!”
And with that, Zentra charged at Xando, his blade aimed at his head. Xando was in no condition to defend himself; the shock of the truth left him stupefied. Zentra charged in, nothing could stop his attack. He raised his weapon, and began to swing…
And then a fireball hit him in the back of the head. It was weak, causing no real damage, but it was enough to distract him from his target.
“WHO DARES?!” he screeched, and turned to face his new attacker. Some 30 feet away stood Colette, smoke emitting from her hands.
“You!” breathed Zentra, “the other little toy.”
Zentra smiled, and slowly walked towards the unarmed girl. Casting the spell had taken a lot out of her, and she could barely stand, let alone run away. Xando suddenly regained his senses and, seeing Zentra slowly moving towards Colette, flung a lightning spell at Zentra. The bolt, laced with fire as well, struck Zentra dead on. He turned and was about to say something, but Xando charged and, before Zentra could react, sheathed his sword into Zentra’s chest. Without a word, Zentra died.
“I can’t believe it…” Colette muttered, “Zentra, all this time…”
Xando said nothing. Zentra’s words still rung in his ears.
Neither of them saw a third being entering the area via dark corridor. Smiling, always the sadist, Valzog pulled his hand back silently.
*******
and now a word from the author: okay. with that done, Prince of Shadows nears its conclusion. however, this is just the begining of the tale. but i would like ideas to include for the future.
point is: what other works would you all like me to include in the future as other worlds in KHD? it can be anything. Disney movies, popular video games, whatever. just post your suggestions for what "worlds" you want to see (i prefer not PM, as i rarely ever even notice i have any PM's). i will try to incorporate as many ideas as i can into actual worlds, though some that lack the appropriate plot (i mean movies or whatever that dont have struggle in it, no villain basicly) i wont be able to fit.
likewise, things that take place over seveal years (Star Wars is the best example) probably wont be able to fit, though we'll see. anyways, give me what suggestions you want to see, and i will see what i can do about it.
here are a few i have thought of so far:
Great Mouse detective (Disney movie)
Get Smart (TV show)
Treasure Planet (Disney movie based off Treasure island book)
Sword in the Stone (Disney movie)
so let me know what you want to see appear...
EDIT: add the following to that list
Pirates of the Carribean two and three
with all due respect,
Merlin326