Resurrection Chapter 2
By Icy Brian
"What is this?" Cleo asked, clutching a golden staff in her hand. Her face reflected off the metal, and she stared down at the light which shone from it.
"Beats me." Pahn responded. "But if someone went to the effort of hiding it, then it must be valuable. Let's take it to Jabba and find out what it's worth."
"No, we have to put it back. I can sense that it's something we shouldn't meddle with." Cleo started to put it back into the tree, but Pahn took it from her hand before she had a chance.
"You worry too much. It's just a big, gold rod. Nothing else." He took a second to examine it. "I'm sure that we can get a few thousand bits for it. Come on, let's head to Gregminster. Jabba just set up his new shop there." Pahn grabbed Cleo by the arm and started to pull her towards the nation's capital. Hesitantly, she gave in and started to walk alongside him.
It was a warm day, but the cold wind made Cleo shiver. The wind swept through the tall grass, blowing the blades in all directions. As she walked, her eyes scanned over the field, looking for signs of any other living beings. Seeing none, she turned her attention back towards Pahn.
"I have a bad feeling." She said in a low voice. "It's much too quiet. These fields are usually full of wild boars. You can't see or hear anything for miles." Cleo stood a little closer to him, hoping to hear some sound come out of the surrounding field.
"It's probably nothing." Pahn replied assuredly. He listened to the soft sound of the wind as it whistled through the grass. To him, it sounded like the moaning of a ghost trying to break out of Limbo. He laughed quietly about his thoughts, but stopped when he saw Cleo's worried face. He could see that she was thinking the same thing.
"Do you think she's still alive?" She asked. Pahn looked at her questionably.
"Who?"
"Windy." She shivered at the sound of the name, remembering the pain and suffering that the witch had caused them. "It just seems as though she's still lurking in the shadows somewhere. I'm just not convinced that she died when the Emperor pulled her off of the palace room."
"Cleo, I saw her body burnt in the flames. There's no way that she could still be alive. I'm sure of it." Pahn put his arm around her shoulder and smiled. "Besides, I've never been wrong before!" He quipped arrogantly. Cleo sighed.
"That's what worries me." She mumbled under her breath. The two walked silently for several minutes, taking in the calm surroundings. The sound of someone running through the brush broke their concentration. Pahn stared in the direction from which the sound had come. He could make out three figures running towards them, one hobbling with a limp. The sun glared on their silhouettes, making it impossible for Pahn to identify them. He quickly ducked down into the grass, pulling Cleo down with him.
"Can you see who it is?" He asked. Cleo shook her head. "I'm going to go get a closer look." Pahn slunk through the grass like a panther to its prey, not making a sound. He was now less than twenty yards away, and the sun was starting to move its glare off of them. Seconds later, the sun had rotated off of their figures. Realizing who it was, Pahn stood up out of the grass. "Clive! Pesmerga! Eikei! Long time no see!"
"Pahn?" Clive exclaimed. "It's been a while. At least a year, right?"
"At least." Pahn responded. He waved his hand into the field behind him, and Cleo emerged from the brush. She rushed towards them, suddenly a bit more light-hearted.
"Good to see you again." She said, smiling. The smile faded when she saw Eikei's left leg. It was covered in blood, most of which came from a gash where a sharp stone had cut into his thigh. A large portion still jutted out, and Eikei winced as Cleo knelt down to take a look at it. "What happened? It looks like you fought a dragon and lost!"
"In all truth, a dragon would have been easier." Pesmerga cut in. "We had a run-in with Yuber and Vara. During the ensuing fight, Vara nearly toppled the cave, and most of the stones which fell landed on Eikei." He motioned his hand towards the martial artist, whom Clive was supporting.
"It looks to me like this stone went clear through the bone." Cleo said as she examined Eikei's leg, which was hanging limp at his side. "This is pretty serious. We'd better take you to Liukan. Hopefully he can take care of it. It isn't too far from here."
"Besides, we're heading there anyways." Pahn claimed. "We found a gold staff hidden in a tree. We're going to take it to Jabba to have it appraised." He reached into his pouch and pulled out the staff. Pesmerga gasped and took it from Pahn's hand. "Hey! What're you doing?!" Ignoring him, Pesmerga removed an identical staff from within his cape.
"Do you know what this is?" He asked, staring down at the two staffs which he held in his hands. Pahn snatched his back and held it tightly in his fist.
"Yeah." He replied. "It's my fortune. With two, we can get even more!"
"No you fool!" Pesmerga snapped back. "These are the Demon Staffs! If you sell them, you are selling life itself!" He drew his sword and pointed it at Pahn. "Give the staff to me, now!"
"Pesmerga, calm down!" Clive yelled, shoving the sword out of his hand. He turned towards Pahn, who had a perplexed look on his face. "Don't mind him. It's been a long day for us all." Pesmerga picked up his sword and put it back in its sheathe.
"Maybe you had better just tell me what's going on." Pahn told Clive. He momentarily glanced over at Pesmerga. "I don't appreciate threats from the likes of him." Pesmerga scowled at this, but held his tongue.
"Tell us on the way." Cleo said as she stood up. "Eikei's losing a lot of blood. He needs to be taken to a doctor immediately."
"Fine." Clive remarked. "Give me a hand with him." He and Pahn each took one of Eikei's arms and lifted him off the ground. Cleo walked beside Pahn, while Pesmerga lingered a few feet behind them.
"So," Cleo began. "What's the deal with those staffs?"
"I don't really know the details. All I know is that there are three of them, and combined they contain immense power." Clive motioned for Pesmerga to come closer. "Pesmerga here knows more than I do. He should be the one telling you, not me." Pesmerga sighed and began to speak.
"Many years ago, the three Demon Staffs were forged by an old wizard. His intentions were so that he could live forever. On the night when he was casting the spell to make him immortal, he was confronted by two knights. The three battled, and in the end both the wizard and one of the knights were killed." He stopped momentarily and raised his head into the wind. "That knight was my father, second-in-command of the Knights of the Dragon's Den."
"Before he died, he asked that his companion hide the staffs where they would never be found. Sir Joshua did as he was asked, though he thought it wiser to destroy them." He kicked over a small tree which stood in his path. "Joshua should have followed his instinct rather than his heart. Perhaps then we wouldn't be in this ordeal now."
"So your father was a Dragon Knight." Cleo said, more to herself than to him.
"Yes. He gave them his life, and died with honor." Though she could not see his face, and his voice was no indication, Cleo could tell that he was proud of his heritage.
"Hold on a second." Pahn broke in. "Are you saying that Yuber and Vara plan to make themselves immortal?"
"It's possible." Pesmerga replied. "Theoretically, the staffs can give you whatever your heart desires, be it immortality, wealth, or ultimate power. Who knows what it is that Yuber wishes to attain. The only thing which is certain is that no good can possibly come of this."
"What are we worrying about?" Pahn laughed. "They don't even have the staffs. We have two of them. The most they can possibly have is one. We have the upper-hand, not them!"
"For the moment, yes." Pesmerga scowled. "But that moment won't last for long. I know Yuber, and he won't stop until he gets what he wants. Stay on your guard. One false move and you may find yourself dead... or envying those who are." His voice showed no signs of emotion, save for a hint of bitterness.
"Pretty damned optimistic." Pahn mumbled under his breath. A sharp sensation ran through his leg as Cleo kicked him in the shin. Blocking out the pain, Pahn continued walking. "There's the city wall up ahead. It'll only be a couple more minutes." They remained silent during the remainder of the trip, taking in the sights and sounds of the open field. "Gregminster's open gates greeted them upon their arrival, and they walked inside. Straight ahead they could see the city's beautiful fountains, and to their sides the houses of the great generals of the war. To their right stood a medium-sized building with smoke emitting from the chimney. A sign next to the door read 'Liukan.' Pushing the door open, the five entered the room.
"Liukan?" Cleo called. "Are you here?" A few seconds later, one of the doors at the top of a set of stairs opened up. An old man walked out, drying his hands in a towel.
"Yes, what is it?" He asked gruffly. His eyes moved upwards, and he saw the people who stood in the doorway. "Oh, welcome. I didn't see it was you. How can I help you?"
"Eikei's leg is busted." Pahn replied, helping Eikei to the front. Liukan hobbled down the stairs, using his cane for support. At the bottom he took a closer look at Eikei's leg and sighed.
"Take him to that room over there." He said, pointing to a small room to the right of the stairs. Pahn and Cleo walked Eikei into the room and set him down on a large cot which was set up in the middle of the room. The two walked back out and started for the door.
"We had better be on our way." Cleo said. "Thank you Liukan." The old man smiled.
"Not quite yet." He responded. "There's somebody upstairs who is expecting you. Go up and speak with him." Clive looked quizzically at Pahn, who just shrugged. They walked up the stairs and into the room which Liukan had left minutes ago, with Cleo and Pesmerga behind them. In the room, Fukien lay in the bed. He smiled when he saw them at the door.
"Come in, come in." He insisted. His arm was in a cast, and was tied up in a sling. "Vara destroyed most of Qlon Temple a few days ago. She was looking for one of the Demon Staffs, which I didn't have." Pahn pulled the staff out and handed it to him.
"You mean this?" He asked.
"Yes. Where did you- never mind, it doesn't matter." He let off a sigh of relief. "At least they don't have all the staffs. You must keep it that way! They don't know what kind of power they are meddling with. If they activate the staffs, the results could be catastrophic. Even I don't know the full power of the staffs. What I do know, however, is that they will get more than they bargained for if they get all the staffs."
"We're doing what we can." Clive replied.
"Good, now go. You must find a way to stop them." Fukien motioned for them to leave. "Good luck."
Once outside, the four remaining warriors prepared to head out once more. They had reached the gates when they heard a shout from behind them. Turning around, they saw Lepant running towards them, carrying his sword, Kirinji, by his side.
"Good day to you!" He called cheerfully. "What brings you to the city?"
"We just had to make a quick stop at Liukan's." Clive responded. "But now we really must be going. It is a matter of extreme urgency."
"Then perhaps I could lend you a hand. Where is it that you are headed?"
"Back to the Qlon Temple Cave in search of Yuber and Vara." Pesmerga answered.
"Then I will be glad to be of service. Sheena and Eileen are helping to rebuild Rockland right now. I had just come in to Gregminster to find more people to help. Now that I have done that, I see no reason why not to join you."
"Glad to have you." Cleo said. "We must hurry if we wish to get there by sundown." With this, the five left town and headed towards Qlon.
* * *
Shadows crept throughout Kovac's fortress. Despite his wealth, he had a liking for the dark and sinister. Candelabras in the shapes of demons lined the many walls of his fortress, threatening to jump at anyone who may intrude. The halls were silent, save for the drops of water which trickled down the damp walls and landed on the floor, causing a quiet, eerie noise. Past the halls was the throne room, which now had three figures inside talking.
"So you're saying that in exchange for the staff you will give me the ability to control Lightning?" Kovac brushed a strand of blonde hair out of his eyes as he asked this. He was a young man of about twenty-five years. His hair fell to his shoulders, and his blue eyes reflected in the candle light. He wore red and black, and carried a large sword.
"Yes, but not just any control." Vara told him. "You will be able to conquer it! Your power will be limited by nothing, and you will have the ultimate knowledge of the element, knowing both its strengths and weaknesses.
"Do we have a deal?" Yuber asked.
"I am a businessman." Kovac told him. "I make no deal until you tell me what it is that you want the staff for." Yuber frowned and looked at Vara. She nodded and answered.
"We wish to bring back someone who died in the war. That is all that you need to know." She smiled slyly.
"Very well, but I will not give you the staff until I have my power. I am not a fool. I don't trust you one bit."
"It is yours." Vara said. She raised her hand and the room was flooded with a white light. Two streaks of electricity flew through the air and hit Kovac in the chest. He laughed demonically as he felt the energy surge through his body. His eyes turned bright yellow, and electricity coursed through his veins. The light died down, and Kovac knelt on the ground, smoke emitting from his body. He stood, and shot a bolt of lightning into a suit of armor. The metal turned bright red, and then exploded into thousands of shards.
"And now to keep my end of the bargain." Kovac walked up to his throne and pressed a button hidden beneath the armrest. A small tray shot out from beneath the seat, and from it Kovac pulled a golden staff. He tossed it to Yuber. "You have what you came for. Now, if you will be on your-"
"One moment." Vara cut-in. "We have one more task for you." Kovac looked at the two from his throne with a raised eyebrow.
"This task being what?" He inquired.
"We want you to steal the second staff from Pesmerga." Yuber told him. He saw the look of distrust on Kovac's face. "I promise, it will be worth your while."
"How so?" Kovac asked. "What could you offer to entice me to take it?"
"Perhaps this." Yuber reached into his cape and pulled out a sword. Its hilt was made of solid gold, with several rubies embedded into it. A green emerald stood in its handle. The blade itself was made of a metal which Kovac had never before seen, and it shone brighter than silver.
"This must be worth a fortune!" Kovac whispered in awe, taking the sword from Yuber. "The staff will be yours. However, I first have a small piece of business to take care of. Where shall I bring the staff once I have it?"
"We will be waiting at the top of Neclord's Castle. That one room contains the additional magic I will need to cast the spell." Vara turned on her heel to leave, Yuber by her side.
"I will be there shortly." Kovac hollered to them, watching as they exited his throne room. "But first..." Kovac said to himself as he turned the blade in his hand. "I must finish my business with Arek." He laughed maniacally, and paid no heed to the shadowy figure which crept quietly out of the fortress.