Part 2

18 hours after Keyoko's storm

The area that used to be Velfor's upper class distract, had been completely devastated by a sudden storm. As Krissy flew over the area in her Optimo flight suit, she couldn't help but be reminded of the past, of a time, when she'd seen such devastation before. She knew who could have done this and couldn't help but wondered why. Was this the day she had been waiting for, had Urel finally returned? Would she be ready this time...

It had been nearly eighteen hours, since the news had been bombarded with reports of a strange storm that had wiped out several city blocks of one of Urutha's most populated cities. Immediate action plans were put into play, the entire area was quickly shut down and quarantined. Various branches of the military and climatologists met as intel was gathered. Once the cause was deemed to be unnatural, the government began looking into other possibilities. Some believed, this was some sort of new weapon, perhaps it had been a test, a show of power or an intentional attack.

Video footage that had been captured was carefully analyses, using the latest and best military tech, some of which Krissy had developed herself. Several people, were spotted moving about within in center of the storm. When one of them appeared to possess abilities, Krissy was brought. It had been almost three years since the last event. Like before, she was shown video footage and at once she knew who was behind this. She was assigned a small team and ordered to investigate the matter further. As she flew about now, taking in all the devastation, she really hoped she was wrong.

Keyoko was suppose to be able to manipulate the wind but she was also suppose to be an ally, unlike...Bayon. Yet, with this amount of devastation, things didn't look good. Whether Keyoko had done this on accident or on purpose, she would no doubt be considered a threat. Krissy didn't want to have to lock another down, especially an ally but if it came to that, she would do what was necessary.

She took a deep breath, wishing she could undo this, but knew she didn't possess enough power, to reverse time on such a large area. She location the center of the storm, where the Varagata Gardens, residential building had once been. There was almost nothing left of it. She did several quick pass overs, mapping the area with her suit.

A large hole in the ground caught her attention and she flew in close. She carefully examining it, from what she could tell, it appeared to be a sink hole. She shined several lights into the hole but it seemed to be quite deep, she was only able to see so far down. She took several pictures and made note of it, for later investigating.

She continued on, running another life scan of the area, so far nothing had come up. By now she should have gotten dozens if not hundreds of life signatures. Yet there didn't seem to be any survivors. She examined a few of the bodies, she'd run across, those that hadn't been thrown or crushed, seemed to have internally exploded, from the sheer air pressure.

Several alarms suddenly went off, Krissy's sensors detected something a few feet away, a heat signature...a heartbeat. "A survivor."

She honed in on their location and moved in quickly. She found a naked woman laying flat on her back. She looked unharmed and almost appeared to be sleeping. Krissy landed a few feet away from the woman and readied her weapons, just in case this was some sort of trap. She moved in slowly until she could freeze the woman in time. When she got close enough that she was standing over her, Krissy saw that her body had been slowly healing.

Krissy allowed time to pass slowly so she could record the woman's healing process. She zoomed in on various injuries, watching as they were repaired. She froze when she saw what was on the woman's chest. Between the woman's breasts was a small white almost clear stone. Krissy knew this type of stone well, she herself had one, only it was teal.

She swallowed, realizing this woman was Keyoko. This was indeed another event! For a moment Krissy just stood there. Once again she recalled how things had gone with Bayon...She was happy she'd insisted on exploring the area with drones, she didn't want anyone else to get hurt. She quickly alerted the drone to possible attack. They armed themselves and quickly re-scanned the area for any other signs of life but there wasn't anyone else.

Krissy crouched down next to Keyoko, she could feel a sense of familiarity wash over her. She began to recall memories of her, from past lives they had shared. Krissy reached out her hand, wanting to wake Keyoko. She wanted to find out just what had happened here but pulled back after a moment, realizing this wasn't the time nor the place.

Whether she liked it or not, she needed to follow procedures. Krissy nodded to herself and focused on the task at hand. She zoomed in on Keyoko's face, taking several pictures from different angles. She uploaded them to the advanced facial network and began running a search. As she waited for results, she carefully turned Keyoko on her side. She sought out the infinity mark on her lower back. She took several pictures of it before gently setting her back down.

After a moment, Krissy stood, she ran several more life scans of the area. If there were others here and they'd had been injured like Keyoko, they could come back to life at any moment. Keyoko's identity in this life came up, her name was Genoa Nova Weller, twenty two. Krissy browsed her citizens report before finally contacting the people in charge of the area "This is Survayant Krissy Rogers. I have determined this is a Cursed Event! My team will be handling things from this point out."

She waited for her information to be relayed. A few minutes later, it was approved and she was given full authority over the area. Krissy looked back at Keyoko and then pulled up her second in commands information. A picture of Argent Dave Bruge showed up. After all these years, they were working together again. She didn't like it but knew the system had assigned him because he was the only one alive, who'd had experience with such events.

She swallowed hoping things could remain professional between the two but knowing him and their past it was likely to get messy. She took another moment and then turned on his radio."Argent Bruge, this is Survayant Rogers, I have determined this is a Cursed Event. I have located the possible cause. I want you to send the transport team to my location, then widen the quarantine perimeter, put up disrupters every few feet. I don't want any information getting out! Once that is done, set up a team to do a full grid search. I want to be notified immediately of any other survivors, be prepared to put them in full lock down."

She held her breath waiting for him to respond. There was a long pause and she wondered if he'd received her transmission. Finally he responded, "You think there is more then one, this time?"

Her chest ached, it was hard hearing his voice, harder then she thought it would be. She responded calmly, "As of now I'm not ruling out the possibility."

"Man, you've got to be kidding me, just one of those bastards was hard enough."

"Argent Bruge!" said Krissy, "Adjust your behavior! From this point on, all eyes will be on us. I want you at your best!"

She could hear Burger sigh before he said "Yes Mam, sorry mam, I'll get right on it."

The mic cut off, Krissy let out a heavy sign and looked around the area yet again. She had a strong feeling, there would be more of them this time. She wasn't sure if that was a good or very, very bad thing, either way, this time she would be ready for anything.

He'd been patient! He'd been patient! His day, his time had finally come and that IDIOT had ruined everything! Donovan tightened his grip on Octavia's wrist as he yanked her up the tower steps. His other hand clutched the wound on his side. He felt like his insides were falling out but he kept moving. He knew he couldn't afford to stop. When they finally reached the top of the tower, he forced Octavia to the floor. She scampered away from him and he finally took a moment to look over his injury.

He knew the Prince's blade had cut deep, he expected some blood but not this much. After a few seconds, it was clear to Donovan that this would be the end of him. He...he was not long for this world! His hands trembled not with fear but rage. He had worked so hard...was so close to getting everything he had ever wanted DESERVED!

Octavia sobbed on the floor, she attempted to cover herself, with what little there was left of her torn dress. After a few seconds she struggle to her feet, then dared to try and run passed him. Donovan might have been dying but he wasn't dead yet. He grasped hold of her and laid into her, expending some of his remaining strength.

She tried to put up a fight but even dying, he was still stronger then her...at least for now. He threw her back down to the floor and she look up at him, her red eyes blotted with tears and anger. Such hate, she had for him, when he had tried to give her the world. FINE! FINE! SHE COULD HATE HIM!

He stumbled forward and kicked her. She let out a painful whimper as he nearly lost his balance. For a moment, he swayed realizing he'd all but forgotten about his injuries. He looked down at his wound again and toiled once more with his end. He desperately considered if there was anything he could do but he knew there wasn't. He was going to die, it was only a matter of minutes now.

His gaze flickered to the sky, to the setting sun, he supposed he'd take his last breath before it fully set. His eyes flickered back to Octavia, she nursed her wounds now, they were nothing compared to his. She'd live…She'd live...She'd probably wait until he was too weak to stop her and then escape from him.

His mind began to race, decisions...decisions needed to be made. How did he want to go out? What did he want to leave behind or more as what did he not. His gaze narrowed on Octavia...his Octavia! He decided how he would spend his final moments. He decided she would not escape him. HE WOULD NOT LET HER GO! NOT NOW! NOT EVER! Even in death he would have her. He smiled as his ice blue eyes glistened with madness.

He staggered towards her, she recoiled back until she hit the tower wall. He fell to his knees before her and she finally took notice of all the blood. "You're dying!" she choked.

"Yes," he rasped.

"Good," she said with delight. She flashed him a vengeful smile and then said it once again, with more confidense, "GOOD!"

His smile widened and she furrowed her brow, in confusion. She hadn't yet grasped what this meant for her, if he was dying, then they were dying. He looked at her for a moment, admiring her as she was now. How many years had he admired her from the shadows, longed to touch her, to hold her, to consume every part of her until she was his and his alone. She would be his...forever. He swallowed and then struck his hand out like a venomous snake. He grasped hold of her throat and began to squeeze.

She quickly moved her hands to his but he didn't let go. She dug her nails into his flesh, ripping and tearing at him but still he did not budge. He just kept squeezing her neck, he would be her end, he would destroy her with every last fiber of his being. She choked now and he could see it in her big beautiful eyes, she understood what was happening now. She looked at him and his chest ached...if...if only he had the strength, he'd take her again but he needed to be certain of her demise...certain that she took her last breath before him.

He watched her eyes gloss over, it wasn't long now. He made it clear to her. "I WONT EVER LET YOU GO! I WONT EVER LET YOU GO! YOU ARE MINE...MINE…MINE!"

He repeated it madly, even after she had gone from this world. Drawing close to his own demise, he eventually let his hands drop from her neck. He moved himself to sit against the tower wall. The sky was beginning to darken but he would see no stars...no matter…no matter. He needn't the stars…

He pulled Octavia's lifeless body to lay on him. He positioned her as if she were asleep on his lap and closed her eyes with his bloody fingers, leaving a trail on her face. Growing light headed, he tangled his fingers in her hair, knowing she liked that. He recalled how she had cooed to the Prince's touch. His chest grew tight with anger thinking of them together but he smiled on, knowing the idiot..the Prince would never have her. NO, she was his...his…she was always going to be his.

Donovan's eyes grew heavy, at least they would be together, he thought…forever together. He let his eyes drifted down to her, one last time. She would be the last thing he saw...no, he needn't the stars, not when he had her. He could still recall the first time he'd seen her. She'd glowed brighter then any star...she was his...his...His eyes opened and shut as he drifted in and out of consciousness. He could hear his heart beating in his ears... until... he couldn't.

Jesep couldn't hear a thing... He couldn't hear a thing, his ears had long since gone with the air pressure but he saw her. He saw her glowing brighter then ever! He called out to her in awe, asking wanting...needing to know more then anything, "WHAT ARE YOU! WHAT ARE YOU!"

Recognition washed over him as she looked down at him. He found he already knew the answer to his question...had always known. Yes, she was...was...his beloved, his Keyoko...his. SHE WAS HIS! He watched her mouth move as she responded cursed... cursed...cursed….cursed. She had said cursed, even though he couldn't hear, Jesep had taught himself to read lips. It had come in rather handy on more then one occasion in his line of work. Frankly it was an important skill to have, he liked to acquire in all his lives when he could…information was key…key…KEYOKO!

Jesep seized, suddenly conscious once more, he opened his eyes, vaguely aware of his current situation. There was darkness...such darkness but he was not alone. He heard voices arguing in the distance.

A charismatic voice called out:"Brilliant! Just fucking brilliant! You are useless!"

A strange whisper hissed:"I'm NOT USELESS! I FOUND HER! I watched over her ALL THESE YEARS!"

The charismatic voice snapped:"Yes and you also just WATCHED her take us down! WE COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED!"

The whisper cried:"I...I….TRIED TO WARN! But He...HE DIDN'T UNDERSTAND!"

The charismatic voice shouted:"SHE! SHE should have understood the CONSEQUENCES! YOU! YOU HAD ALL THIS TIME WITH HER! DID YOU TEACH HER NOTHING!"

The Whisper whimperd.

Another voice, deep...dark, calmly said "She will understand soon enough. She will pay for this."

Jesep swallowed, his throat was bone dry and he could feel something sticking to it, little bits of something. He wasn't sure what it was...he wasn't sure of anything right now. He found himself annoyed, it was hard to think with all these people talking. He groaned and said, "Quiet"

The voices all grew quiet for a moment as if they suddenly took notice of him. Jesep smiled having some peace but it didn't last long.

The charismatic voice called out:"At last!"

The whisper hissed with glee "Finally!"

The deep voice shouted:"WAKE THE FUCK UP!"

Jesep gasped, waking in the darkness once more...only this time it was different. He could feel something all around him. He was confused...he...he must have fallen asleep, he'd been dreaming yes but what had he been- His face itched, he went to scratch it but found he couldn't raise his hands, they seemed trapped. He quickly realized it wasn't just his hands but his whole body was trapped. He tried to move, he heard a strange sound and then felt something cold fall on his face. It took him a second to identify it was dirt.

Yes...he realized he was not in his bed, he was...was...there was dirt everywhere. It would seem he'd been buried alive. Any normal person would have panicked but he knew better, it would do him no good. Somehow he was still alive, there must have been just enough space, enough air for him to exist. If he flailed about now, there was a chance wherever he was, would fully collapse and he'd die. If he wanted to live, wanted to survive, he needed to focus and move carefully.

He held himself very still and assessed what he could, from his current position. His eyes looked about carefully until they honed in on a sliver of light in the distance. His possible entry and now exit. Somehow he needed to get to the light...the darkness grew lighter around him as he found himself able to see more and more. Very carefully he began to move, he managed to get his hands free and began to climb, he found himself weak and so very tired but he pushed himself.

He would get out of here. HE WOULD GET OUT OF HERE! He moved clinging to the dirt and rock around him, keeping his eyes focused on the light. His mind vaguely wandered as he wondered just how he had gotten down here? Had he been kidnapped? Was this an attempt on his life...no...no, the last thing he could remember was...was...paint. His eyes shifted from side to side, he froze recalling what had happened now.

She…she had done this to him. Yes...she Genoa…Keyoko his…he saw the events play out in his mind. The moment of his release, the struggle with Harold, the sudden rise in air pressure and then an all out storm, her rising up, realizing just who she was to him. She was his...his…his mind festered on the thought and his movements became uneasy...before he knew it, the area around him completely collapsed. Dirty filled his lungs and he struggled...drowning… suffocating. He fell unconscious once more.

When he awoke again he could feel the dirt within his lungs. He realized he'd drowned. Annoyed he began climbing once more. Drowning in dirt sucked, it was one of his least favorite ways to die. When you drowned in water, it was easy enough to expel the liquid from your lungs but dirt...dirt would fill your lungs completely and cling. It would come up for days, weeks even months after. In most cases it was better to just replace the lungs all together.

He continued to climb toward the light, only vaguely aware of the strange thoughts he was having. After a while it occurred to him something else was down here with him...had to be...when he'd collapsed earlier he'd been completely buried yet upon waking his face and path had been cleared. Someone had to have removed the dirt but who…what?

The charismatic voice called out:"KEEP MOVING! We don't have much time!

The whisper called:"THEY FOUND HER! THEY FOUND HER! THEY ARE TAKING HER AWAY!"

No he thought, his chest ached as their words sunk in. Somehow he understood what the whisper was taking about. Someone had found his Keyoko and were taking her away. He continued to climb, dragging himself up as much as he could. After a minute or two, it suddenly occurred to him, he wasn't hearing voices...no...the voices weren't outside him but within.

He called out "Wait! What! Who are you and how did you get in my head,"

The charismatic voice sighed "Heh...this one isn't very bright!"

The dark voice boomed:"Give him time,"

Jesep groaned, not liking other thoughts...others, wandering in his head. He wondered if it was some sort of transmission. He'd seen inventions for mental suggestion but that was years away and this was different. Had...he snapped? He needed time to think, needed to understand what was happening to him.

The charismatic voice almost felt like it was on top of him as it said:"There is no time for that just keep climbing"

He continued to climb but didn't like putting things off, he wanted answers and now. He moved a bit faster then he should have, the area became unstable once more and he was quickly buried.

The charismatic voice groaned:"We don't have time for this...expel some fucking energy and get us out of her, already!"

The whisper cried:"But…but I…he didn't tell me to."

The charismatic voice hissed "Well in his absent mindedness, I'm taking charge and I SAY MOVE OUR ASS NOW!" There was some mumbling and then quiet.

Jesep vaguely felt the area around him shift as he was pulled up and up.

"Wait! Hold on, there are others just outside..listen." said the charismatic voice.

Jesep concentrated hearing more voices. He could tell these ones were outside his head.

"Seriously what do you think could have done this?" asked a man.

"We're not suppose to be talking, while on guard." said a woman's voice.

"Come on we've been out here for hours and nothings happened." groaned the man

Jesep opened his eyes, he shifted his gaze seeing the light was closer. How had he gotten so close? And the voices, the people they were just outside beyond the light. He lifted his hand wanting to reach out to them.

The charismatic voice hissed:"We should hold off until we can escape...we need to recover!"

The whisper cried:"BUT THEY TOOK HER! THEY TOOK HER!"

The charismatic voice hissed yet again:"Yes and they'll take us, if were not careful...can't you feel it, there is another here."

The deep voice bellowed "YES...I sense them as well, Jeza"

"Jeza...of course, of all the ones, to run into at a time like this," complained the charismatic voixw.

"Huh you made a pun," the whispered laughing to itself.

"Unintentional, stay focused," The charismatic voice hissed said "Clearly we can't leave now, we'll be spotted and she'll know who we are and what were capable of."

"SHUT UP! SHUT UP! SHUT UP!" Yelled Jesep. He couldn't take them talking. "SHUT UP AND LET ME THINK!

"Did you hear that?" asked the man.

"Hear what?" asked the woman.

"I thought I heard someone shouting?"

"YES," Jesep choked, calling out. "I'M HERE...I'm here!"

He just wanted out of this hole, more then anything he just wanted out of this fucking hole.

The charismatic voiced sighed "If that is what you so desire FINE. We'll let them take us."

The whisper cried out with glee, "to her...TO HER!"

"I'M HERE!" gasped Jesep his voice scratchy. He tried to ignore the voices, he tried to crawl out more. HE JUST WANTED OUT OF THIS FUCKING HOLE! He needed them to see him but he had no idea how deep he was or how far away they were.

The whisper cried out, "I HELP!"

Jesep groaned but kept trying to get out.

"SHIT!" shouted the man.

"What," said the woman

"Did you see that!" shouted the man.

"See what!" shouted the woman

"What...I...I thought I saw something… a shadow moving." said the man

"A shadow." said the woman. She was clearly annoyed.

"Yes it moved over by the hole." The man walked over to it.

Jesep could see a figure above him now casting a shadow down on him.

"Here...I'm down here! "Jesep managed to sputtered out before coughing madly, dirt sprayed everywhere..

"SHIT! I THINK SOMEONE IS DOWN THERE," shouted the man.

"What no way!" said the woman.

A moment later flash lights shined into the hole and fell on Jesep's face. When the light hit his

eyes it was blinding. His eyes began to burn and he raised up his hands to cover them.

"A man," gasped the woman.

"ARE YOU OKAY DOWN THERE!" called out the man.

It took everything for Jesep not to snap and snarl "WHAT THE FUCK DO YOU THINK!" Instead he held his tongue and simply hissed "Nooo"

"I'll notify the recovery team!" said the woman, "Let's get him out of here."

"If we can?" said the man.

"Just keep him talking!" said the woman before she began to radio it in.

The man continued to stare into the hole, keeping his flashlight trained on Jesep. "Hey buddy, how did you get down there?"

Jesep groaned, thinking WHAT WAS THIS TWENTY QUESTION RESCUE! He heard the other voices snicker in his head, they were just as annoyed as him. For a moment he felt connected to them, it felt good...really good. Like, he'd been missing something, this whole time. He shuttered and then broke into another coughing fit, more dirt came up, his chest felt tight his lungs burned. The man took his flashlight away from the hole and move to the woman, "He doesn't sound so good down there."

"The recovery team is on their way." said the woman.

The charismatic voice groaned. "I really don't like this."

The whisper called out, "What choice do we have? We wont be separated from her, not again."

The charismatic voice said, "I suppose your right..."

The dark voice bellowed, "The stone!"

The charismatic voice responded, "Right hide it,"

The whisper cried out, "Yes, hide it so they wont know it's us,"

"The mark…can't hide that," said the charismatic voice.

"We'll think of something," said the deep voice. "Just hide the stone,"

Jesep felt torn, the voices had annoyed him a moment ago but when they'd synced up if only for a second or two, he'd felt something more. He found himself more willing to listen now, "What stone?" he called out.

"Use your thoughts," said the charismatic voice. "Don't let others hear you converse."

'What stone?' Jesep thought

"There is a small stone around your neck, take hold of it with your hand, press it into your chest until it goes inside," said the charasmatic voice.

It was a bit of a struggle but Jesep manage to moved his hand to his chest. He pulled at his shirt and indeed there was a stone. He pressed his palm against it and felt it press into him until it was gone.

"Good" the three said in unison.

Jesep smiled knowing he'd done something important. They...they wouldn't be able to tell who he was now, at least not right away. His eyes grew heavy...he had exhausted a lot of energy, pulling himself up to the surface. He needed to rest, to finish healing. He broke into another coughing fit and the dirt in his lung rattled about painfully. He wheezed, vaguely registering a rope drop into the hole before he passed out.