Demon Gate Chapter 4
Changing of the Guard
By Icy Brian
The End of Time
"How's the arm doing, Lucca?" Crono asked, kneeling beside her. Lucca mumbled something under her breath, not looking at him. "What was that?"
"Look at this." She shot at him, lifting up her arm that had been set in a cast. "How do you think I'm doing?"
"I assume there's no right answer to that question, is there?" Crono observed after being silent for a moment. Lucca growled a little. "Well, it could be worse."
"Oh shut up. You're not the one who's just been rendered obsolete."
"Don't say that." Marle said, sitting down beside her. "I'm sure there's some way you can still help out."
"Yeah, right. How?" Lucca demanded. Marle looked around for a moment, her eyes landing on Setzer's airship.
"That's it!" She exclaimed, jumping up. "The airship!" Hearing this, Setzer broke away from his conversation with Celes and Clive to listen to Marle.
"What about it?" He asked.
"Lucca, you can fix it up the same way you did with Robo! Allow it to travel through time!" Lucca's eyes brightened up a bit.
"Hold on there! I don't let just anyone mess around with my ship, especially people I hardly even know." Setzer stopped and looked over at his airship, sitting dormant at the docking bay. "But... I suppose working on it is better than letting it sit here without any use. But be careful! If anything happens to it, I'll..."
"Don't worry, I know what I'm doing." Lucca interrupted, already up and walking towards the ship. "Well, most likely, that is."
"What!?" Setzer shouted. "Uh, I think I'd better keep an eye on this." He hurried onto the ship after Lucca.
"Well, now that that's done, what do we do next?" Crono asked with a slight sigh.
"We wait." Gaspar responded, his eyes unwavering from the ground.
"For what?"
"You'll know it when you see it."
* * *
11,999 BC
"What's he doing here?" Omek growled as he paced back and forth inside the cave, his temper growing short. "What the hell is he doing here!"
"And for that matter, what am I doing here?" Kovac asked from the side. "Why did you pull me into that portal?"
"Yes, Dalton." Omek remarked. "I'd like to know that as well. And you'd better have a damned good reason."
"This man was fighting against Lucca's little brigade, my liege." Dalton responded. "I saw his talent and felt it would be a shame to let it go to waste."
"I see." Omek nodded and looked Kovac over. "You believe that he may be of use to us?"
"Another sword can never hurt."
"It can if it is inexperienced."
"Ah, but I can vouch for this one."
"What are you two talking about?" Kovac asked, mildly annoyed. "Be of use to you how?"
"In due time." Omek assured him. "Where are you from?"
"The Toran Republic, but what-"
"So you are an outsider, then?" Omek smiled. "All the better. How did you wind up here?"
"He pulled me into that portal!" Kovac shouted, pointing at Dalton.
"No, fool, how did you get here, to this world?"
"H...how do you know about that?" Kovac stammered.
"There are many things I know, many things I have seen, many things I have done that would surprise you. I'm going to be blunt with you, as I have other plans to move on with. What I am seeking is power. If it exists, I want it within my grasp. The sooner the better. That's where you come in. You see, I can obtain this power by myself, but I consider myself to be a generous man. So I am willing to offer you a spot in my hierarchy. Just know that you must obey my orders to the full, and if you ever turn your back on me, you die. Do we have a deal?" After thinking things over for a few moments, Kovac nodded. "Good. The plan is now set in motion." Omek placed his hand against a patch of ice along the wall of the cave and broke off a piece, turning it over in his hand. "What is the King's condition?"
"Worsening. His illness has forced him to appoint Chancellor Raddick as acting ruler of the Kingdom in his daughter's absence."
"Very good." Omek remarked. "We'll let nature take its course."
"How long do you expect that to take?"
"Not long." Omek smirked. "I'm a part of nature."
* * *
1001 AD
Chancellor Raddick sat at a desk in his chamber making the latest additions to the King's will as had been dictated to him minutes earlier. Finishing, he looked back up at the top. There, in the King's own handwriting, was the item that disgusted him the most. The bequeathment of the throne to his daughter, Nadia. After all his years of service, he would lose the throne to the bratty princess who had caused the King so much grief. The one who would leave in the middle of the night without warning, and wasn't even at her father's side as he lay on his deathbed. He wouldn't even get to rule in her stead for the few years until she came of age. The thought sickened him. Even as acting king, Raddick wanted more. Something more permanent.
A small rustle of wind broke Raddick from his thoughts. He looked to the window, but saw it was closed. Turning back to his work, Raddick saw the outline of a dark figure standing in the corner of the room. Raddick jumped out of his chair and backed up, desperately searching his robes for a weapon of some sort. "W...Who are you?" He demanded in a wavering voice, failing horribly to sound intimidating. "How did you get in here?"
"Do not be alarmed. I'm here on business." The man stepped out of the shadows and into the candle light. His glass eye shined in the glow, startling the Chancellor. "My name is Omek."
"Omek... Why does that sound familiar?"
"I wouldn't worry about that if I were you." Omek told him. "It seems you have bigger things on your mind right now."
"I beg your pardon?" Raddick asked suspiciously.
"Suppose the King were to die before contact can be made with his daughter. Would you not become King of Guardia?"
"Is this nothing more than idle conversation?" Raddick asked, a slow sweat starting to trickle down his brow. "Otherwise, what you speak of is treason."
"No, no, of course not." Omek said with a smile. "I am just wondering... Suppose you were to remove the guards from the King's quarters and take them for a walk. After that... who knows what could happen?"
"Sir, I won't hear of this! Please leave immediately!"
"Are you saying that you would rather have a sniveling brat as the ruler of Guardia?" Omek inquired. The Chancellor's face changed briefly in a moment of realization. Omek laughed. "That's what I thought. After the King's death, you become king only until Nadia returns, at which point you relinquish all power to her."
"But what good would it do if--"
"I can see to it that Nadia doesn't return." Omek shot, cutting him off. "Or at least, not in the manner that her father wishes her to." The Chancellor's lips broke into an almost sickening smile.
"When?" He asked eagerly.
"Tomorrow night at midnight. Remove all the guards except for the one directly outside his door and I'll take care of the rest."
"Very well. But why leave that one guard?"
"I need a witness." Omek replied simply. Raddick became visibly disturbed.
"What!? But if you get caught, I'll be ruined! My future as king is at stake here!"
"I know what I'm doing." Omek growled. He turned to the window and looked out at the moon rising above the clouds. "There's no such thing as the future. There's only the present."
* * *
The End of Time
"Hand me a double socket wrench." Lucca asked of the newcomer who had since arrived and was assisting her with the modifications on Setzer's airship.
"Quarter inch or half inch?" Mustadio asked. A few hours earlier, Robo had brought him to the End of Time along with Pahn and Cleo. Introductions were made, and, despite the irregularities of the situation, very few questions were asked. Most everyone had gotten used to the fact that a great deal of strange occurances were happening as of late.
"Quarter." Lucca responded with a quick glance at the bolts. A few feet away, Setzer sat on the edge of the ship. He hopped down to peer over Lucca's shoulder.
"Are you sure you know what you're doing?" He asked worriedly. Lucca rolled her eyes and dropped the wrench on the ground.
"That's the fifth time you've asked me in the last fifteen minutes." She noted in an exasperated tone, standing up to look him in the eye. "Yes, I know what I'm doing, and no, I don't need you constantly nagging me about it!"
"Just checking." Setzer said, throwing his hands up in a bode of innocence. He turned and walked over to Meliadoul, who was half-asleep and leaning against the fence. "Is she always like this?"
"I wouldn't know." Meliadoul replied. "We just met."
"Oh, right." Setzer stood up and shook his head. "Why does this have to be so damned confusing?" He said to no one particular.
"Because otherwise it would be too easy." Pahn muttered to himself.
"Oh come on, it's not that bad." Cleo said to him. She placed a hand on his shoulder to try and ease him, but he just shrugged it off.
"Not that bad!?" He exclaimed. "They're out there someplace, and all we're doing is sitting on our butts in some room floating in the middle of nowhere! Who knows what Kovac could be up to!" He jumped up to stand in front of Gaspar. "So what are we waiting for, old man? For Yuber and Vara to go on a killing spree with their vampire friend? For Arek to burn down a village? Or maybe for Kovac to come up here and kick your sorry ass! I'm sick of waiting! I'm going to go someplace where I can actually make a difference." He stormed over to the fence and looked over. Sheepishly, he turned back to face the others, all of whom were on their feet and staring at him. "Um, as soon as you tell me how to get out of here, that is."
"Calm yourself." Gaspar said, not moving from the lamppost. "If you really feel so inclined to go somewhere, you may accompany Crono to 601 AD." Crono got a puzzled look on his face.
"601 AD? Why am I going there?"
"To get your friends Glenn and Tata." Gaspar responded. "Take Robo, Pahn, and Jenah with you."
"Alright." Crono nodded as the other three approached him. "Is Magus there as well?" Gaspar made no response. "I see. Okay, let's go."
* * *
601 AD
"Our best bet would be to check Glenn's hut first." Crono said to the others as they stood beside the gate Robo had opened in Guardia Forest. "Ten to one, that's where they went."
"I don't get it." Jenah said to Crono as they walked through the trees. "Why would he send four of us on a simple reconnaisaince mission?"
"Well," Crono began, glancing over his shoulder at Pahn, "I think he was just trying to get that guy out of his hair." Jenah gave a small laugh.
"I don't blame him." She turned around to give him another look. "Hold on. Where'd the robot go?"
"Huh?" Crono stopped in his tracks and spun around. Upon seeing him do so, Pahn stopped as well. "Pahn, where'd Robo go?"
"He's right--" Pahn began, gesturing to his left. His arm stopped short. He started to turn his head from side to side, confused. "That's funny. He was here a second ago." Crono sighed and called out Robo's name. A few moments later he was greeted with a series of beeps.
"Quiet." Robo responded in a hushed voice as he emerged from the trees. "I believe that you should see this." The other three diverted from their course to follow Robo as he left the trail and headed in to the woods. As they neared a clearing, Robo hunched over and pointed straight ahead.
"This can't be good..." Crono muttered. There in the distance, walking towards the Cathedral, were Ozzie, Flea, and Slash.
"What? What is it?" Pahn asked.
"You see those three?" Crono inquired, not really expecting an answer. "That's Ozzie, Flea, and Slash. We've had some run-ins with them in the past. I wonder what they're up to now..."
"Think we should check it out?" Jenah asked.
"Probably wouldn't be a bad idea." Crono admitted. "Robo, take Pahn with you and go ahead to Glenn's hut. Get the others and take them to the End of Time. Jenah and I will look into this and meet up with you there." Crono saw that Pahn was about to object, and he cut him off. "Look, I know you came here looking for a fight, but right now I think it would be best if we just avoided any sort of conflict until we know what's going on. Jenah and I are just going to scout things out, not bust in there and start cracking heads as you would most likely want. So, what do you say?" Reluctantly, Pahn nodded in agreement. "Good. Let's get moving."
"All we're going to do is observe?" Jenah asked after Robo and Pahn had started on their way to the south. "No fighting? Where's the fun in that?"
"I want to keep a low profile." Crono said with a sigh. "The two of us aren't going to accomplish anything by starting a brawl." He kept himself low to the ground to avoid detection as he made his way through the trees with Jenah by his side. As they neared the Cathedral, Crono spoke again. "There's a small window along the side wall. We should be able to push it open a crack to listen in." At the edge of the forest, Crono looked around him in all directions before darting towards the Cathedral. Jenah rolled her eyes and nonchalantly followed him.
"Honestly, you make everything seem so intense." She said.
"God forbid I take things seriously every now and then." Crono mumbled. Jenah shrugged and looked in the window.
"Who's that?" She asked, moving aside. Crono raised himself up a bit to glance through the window. Inside the Cathedral, Ozzie, Flea, and Slash knelt between the first row of pews, and standing before them...
"Omek..." Crono muttered. "Perfect..."
"So that's Omek, huh?" Jenah questioned, giving him a look. "What do you want to do about it?"
"Just listen in. Stay down so they don't see you." The window was open a crack, allowing them to hear the conversation taking place inside. Omek's voice echoed within the Cathedral as he spoke.
"Consider yourselves lucky that I have given you the opportunity to meet with me. After all, you have done little to impress me thus far, so pray that you aren't wasting my time."
"Of course not, my liege." Ozzie replied. "We simply come to make you an offer."
"That being?" Omek asked with a feigned yawn.
"Why, the services of three humble followers."
"What makes you think I would want your help?" Omek asked. "The three of you have only proven yourselves as failures to me. Tell me, when was the last time any of you actually won a battle against a competent adversary?" Ozzie, Flea, and Slash looked at each other tentatively. "My thoughts exactly."
"But it's not our fault." Ozzie quickly tried to explain in a sweaty panic. "We just--"
"Silence!" Omek boomed. "You're pathetic. Putting the blame on others for your own inadequacies. You're just not enough of a man to admit when it's your own fault. However..." Omek's voice trailed off.
"However...?" Ozzie repeated, some hope in his voice.
"However, the two of you have promise." Omek declared in reference to Flea and Slash. "It is under his guidance that you have gone astray. It is under his miserable leadership that the two of you have failed." Omek muttered something under his breath, opening a gate. "Come with me. I will show you the true meaning of power." Slash and Flea stepped out from behind the shocked Ozzie and approached Omek.
"You can't do this to me!" Ozzie croaked. "After everything I've done for you, you can't just leave me here like this!" Omek shrugged.
"Normally, I'd just tell them to kill you. But that would be such a waste, wouldn't it?" Omek looked at the disgusting creature thoughtfully. "Yes, yes... I think I may have a place for you after all." Ozzie jumped up, a smile over his gruesome face. "From now on, Ozzie, you can consider yourself to be their bitch. Now let's go." Ozzie's smile faded, and he slowly followed Flea and Slash into the portal. A few seconds later, the gate was closed, and the room went silent.
"So that's what they're up to." Crono muttered as he rose to his feet.
"Where to now?" Jenah asked.
"Back to the End of Time, I suppose. With any luck, Robo and the others should be there by now." Crono reached into his bag and pulled out the Gate Key. "Let's go."
"Not so fast!" A voice called from the edge of the woods. Crono and Jenah turned around to see four men step out of the trees towards them. Crono's eyes went wide as he saw who it was.
"Magus!" Crono said excitedly as he walked over to meet them. Jenah walked beside him, keeping a wary eye on the man to Magus' left. Noticing her as well, Kanyon responded with a wink in her direction. Jenah restrained from snapping out at him. "It's good to see you again, Magus. Judging by your company, I'd say you've got a pretty good idea of what's going on. I guess we'd better--"
"Give me the Gate Key, Crono." Magus ordered.
"What?" Crono was taken aback.
"I'm tired of your games. Give me the Gate Key." Crono hesitated. Magus shook his head and sighed. "There's four of us and only two of you, and you know that I could kill you in a heartbeat. There's really nothing for you to think about. Now hand over the Gate Key." With great reluctance, Crono handed Magus the Gate Key.
"Whose side are you on, Magus?" Crono asked as the mage opened up a gate. The other three stepped in, and Magus turned back to look at Crono.
"My side." With that, Magus stepped into the gate and let it close behind him. Crono stood silent for a few seconds before sitting down.
"What the hell are you doing!?" Jenah screamed at him, shoving him over. "How do you expect us to get back now?"
"Relax," Crono said, sitting back up. "It's not like this has never happened before. When we're not back, they'll send someone here to get us." Jenah still looked unsure. "Trust me."
"I think that may have been my mistake in the first place..." She muttered as she sat down to wait for help to arrive.
* * *
1001 AD
A muffled scream broke the silence in Guardia Castle. The lone guard stationed outside the king's room jumped up with a start and threw open the door to the king's chambers. Upon doing so, a person cloaked in black robes ran from the king's bedside towards the window. Before they could exit, the guard yanked off the assassin's robes to get a look at their face. Giving one last look back, the assailant jumped out the window, crashing to the ground below. The guard looked down to see the assassin get up and start running into the forest. Still shaken and startled, the guard hurried to the bed, where the King of Guardia lay dead. The sheets were stained red with the blood that exited from his wounds. Rushing down the stairs, the guard found the Knight Captain having a drink in the kitchen.
"Sir!" The guard shouted, bursting into the room. "The King is dead!"
"So, it finally overca--"
"No, sir. He was assassinated." The Knight Captain dropped his mug, spilling the ale on the table.
"What!? Did you catch the assassin?" The guard shook his head. "Did you get a good look at him?"
"Y...yes, sir. I did."
"Do you know who it was?" The guard nodded. "Well, who was it?" The guard gave him the name, and the Knight Captain stood shocked for a moment before he hurried to the barracks. "Men! Get up immediately!" Groggily, the soldiers got out of their barracks.
"What is the meaning of this?" Chancellor Raddick asked, walking in the door behind the Knight Captain.
"The King has been assassinated." The Knight Captain said in a somber tone. "And I'm issuing a warrant for the arrest of Princess Nadia."