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【Vision of an Alternate Future】

Arc 2: Return of the Crystal Guardians

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【VAF】Chapter║: 44 ─ Memories 2

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Nato : “ So; It has begun!”

Casara : “ Lordship; you sensed the Psionic attack on my brother?”

Nato : “ That is why the Elders sent you here isn’t it?”

Naole : “ Yes your Lordship!”

Nato : “ Now the fate of the world hangs in the balance!”

Casara : “ It’s time to join forces; Children of Ralefa must stand with Children of Lesedi against the evil progeny of Lesedi.”

Naole : “ Or all will be lost.”

Nato : “ The High Council of the Hand of Destiny has consented to the alliance with Crystalorb. We’ve informed The Crystalorb Council of Elders of our decision! Let me see this new weapon that you offer us?”

Naole hands the Viceroy a Power Ring.

Naole : “ Lordship; Who so ever wears this Ring, If they be Deemed of a worthy Spirit, shall wield the powers of a Crystalan! This is the next generation in Crystalan weaponry. It’s a Tri-Crystal Energy Matrix designed to give the wielder the powers of a Red, Blue and Clear Crystalan. The Tri-Crystal Energy Matrix is being fitted on all Crystal Armour Chest Crystals, and we hope the Red energy will provide the first measure of defence against the Circleans.”

Nato : “ So they’ve Identified themselves as Circleans?”

Casara : “ Yes Lordship. The Power they wield is unprecedented, and we believe they’ll make a move on the HOD very soon.”

Nato : “ So; do you think I’m worthy of its power?”

Naole : “ Only the Ring can Judge.”

Nato : “ You mean only the Stone can Judge?” He sees that Naole is surprised “The Elders felt that it would be better to be open and honest about the implications of putting on this Ring.”

Nato’s chief advisor decides to give his input.

Advisor : “ Lordship; perhaps your son might be a valuable candidate?”

Nato : “ Not him?”

Advisor : “ He and his followers subscribe to the same sort of philosophy.”

Nato : “ This could create all sorts of political problems.”

Advisor : “ But it could be useful against the threat.”

Lord Nato turns to Casara.

Nato : “ My eldest son Bato is a bit of an embarrassment.”

Advisor : “ I’ll say!”

Nato : “ Send for him!”

Advisor : “ At once Lordship!”

Then Nato’s chief advisor instructs someone to summon Bato Ralefa.

Nato : “ My son is on a crusade to persuade Hodians to abandon Hodian energy in favour of what he intimates with a more harmonious lifestyle.”

Advisor : “ He’s a hippy!”

Casara : “ But is he strong enough?”

Nato : “ Physically Bato is one of the strongest Hodians around.”

Advisor : “ Bato could have been a worthy Heir.”

Nato : “ Unfortunately he’s rejected the Hodian ethos; choosing instead what he calls the Path to Enlightenment.”

Naole : “ He sounds like an exceptional individual.”

Casara : “ Of course you’d think so.” Casara looks at Nato’s chief advisor “Naole is also a bit of a hippy.”

Just then Bato arrives and greets everyone.

Bato : “ So; Pandora’s box has indeed been opened.”

Naole : “ I’m afraid so.”

Bato : “ Who would have thought that Crystalans could be capable of such evil?”

Casara : “ That’s the problem isn’t it? We never knew we could be so monstrous!”

Bato : “ Prolonged exposure to Negative Psionic Energy has given Hodians a measure of tolerance, but in Crystalans the destructive tendencies are raw.”

Naole : “ You know; I like this guy. He’s got good insights”

Casara : “ Ooh Please!”

Nato : “ Here!” Nato is Talking directly to Bato “Take the Power Ring!”

As Bato puts on the Power Ring it begins to emit light. Then Bato and the Crystalans hear a voice; it’s Nalen’s voice.

Nalen : “Love, Honour, Courage, Compassion; You are Worthy!”

Then Bato transforms to the Metallic Crystalline Form.

Bato : “ So this is what it’s like to be a Crystalan; you see the world so clearly.”

Casara : “ It’s called Crystalan Sight; you can now see through the Crystal. The Power Ring is a part of you now, and it will not work for anyone else as long as you live. The Power Ring draws on your deepest inner strengths and grants you the powers of a Crystalan.”

Bato : “ What sort of Powers?”

Naole : “ Energy Augmented Strength, Speed, Agility, Hypersonic Flight, Telepathy and a myriad of energy techniques. The Power Ring is also a sophisticated Networked Computer equipped with an operator’s manual.”

Bato : “ All that rapped up in a simple ring?”

Naole : “ Yes!” Naole uses his Chest Crystal to Scan the transformed Bato “There’s a deeper level to your power, but the ring hasn’t absorbed enough energy to bring it out. Casara; give him a little juice!”

Casara : “ Place the Ring on my Chest Crystal!” Casara senses a little hesitation “It’s okay.”

When Bato’s Power Ring connects with Casara’s Chest Crystal he’s instantly flooded with Energy triggering the transformation to the Metallic Golden Crystalline Form.

Bato : “ At long last; I’ve Ascended!”

Advisor : “ The Viceroy Form!”

Nato : “ I don’t believe it!”

Casara : “ Now this is what I’ve come to expect of Hodian Strength!”

Naole : “ Comparable to an Ascended Crystalan.”

Bato : “ Is it really Comparable to an Ascended Crystalan?”

Casara : “ Let’s find out!”

Naole : “ Oh no! I’ll test his strength. An Ascended Red Crystalan is far too powerful, and the red temperament isn’t really suited for expeditions.”

Advisor : “ Red temperament?”

Nasara : “ Red Crystalans can be Aggressive.”

Canala : “ We suffer from Red Rage.”

Bato : “ Let’s do it!”

Naole : “ Are you ready now; to witness a power not seen outside Crystalorb for Decades?” Bato takes a defensive fighting stance “Huh!”

As Naole begins his powerful transformation the Hodian Training Centre begins to shake and furniture and appliances fall to the ground in adjacent buildings.

Advisor : “ What Power!”

Nato : “ He’s gotten stronger.”

Advisor : “ A lot stronger!”

Nato : “ But is it enough to overpower the Ultimate Hodian Form?”

Tialo : “ I can’t believe this is happening!”

Canala : “ Now Dad!”

As Naole completes his transformation there’s a burst of Energy that compresses the air and sends a shockwave in every direction.

Bato : “ Now we will see!”

Naole : “ Are you ready?”

Bato : “ Yes!”

Naole : “ Alright then; Blue Flash!”

Naole starts things of by generating a blast, but Bato avoids it by taking to the air at high speed.

Advisor : “ I lost sight of them.”

Casara : “ They’re in the Air! It’s incredible; he’s actually keeping up with an Ascended Crystalan. They’re clocking Mach 15!”

Nato : “ What?”

Just then Bato crushed to the ground after an impact from an Electrolaser Lightning Bolt.

Naole : “Blue Wave!”

Bato : “ Gold Wave!”

The Gold Wave collides with Naole’s Blue Wave releasing an incredible amount of energy. In the aftermath of the explosion Naole hovers in the Air, and a smiling Bato is clearly unharmed.

Tialo : “ He withstood the assault of an Ascended Blue Crystalan!”

Nasara : “ That Gold Wave is truly something!”

Canala : “ How can a Hodian generate this much power?”

Advisor : “ They’ve expanded on the powers of a Viceroy!”

Bato focuses his energy; reaching unprecedented power levels for a Hodian, and by using Crystalan absorption he absorbs all the nearby available ambient energy he forms the energy into an attack.

Naole : “ That’s the way!”

Bato : “ Plasma Wave Attack!”

Casara : “ He’s going to try and take it head on?”

Naole : “ Lightning Fist!”

With a flash of lightning the fight was over. Naole had somehow used an Electrolaser Lightning Bolt rapped around his Energized body to propel him towards Bato at incredible speed while simultaneously deflecting the Plasma Wave Attack, therefore by the time his fist connected with Bato it carried with it an astounding amount of energy.

Advisor : “ What an Attack!”

An Escort Vanglead Revives Bato With Healing Light. Naole returns to his normal state and lands.

Nato : “ Are you alright son?”

Bato : “ I’m okay.”

Naole : “ That was very good Bato; Very good. You are now part of an Elite group of three; You join Casara and I at the pinnacle!”

Casara approaches.

Bato : “ Thank you!”

Casara : “ What the hell was that?”

Naole : “ What; the Lightning Fist? Ooh; it’s something new I cooked up!” Smiling “Do you like it?”

Casara : “ What else are you hiding from me brother?”

Naole : “ Well; there’s one more attack. I call it the Lightning wave, but I can’t demonstrate it near populated areas, and it drains most of my power.”

Advisor : “ So the rumours of the capabilities of Ascended Crystalans are true?”

Nato : “ You Crystalans really have surpassed Hodians in Physical capabilities.”

Bato : “ Can you Imagine what they can do in Guardian Armour?”

Naole : “ You know; it was Lord Tsela who gave my Father the Idea of Ascendance! Until we saw the Grandlords transform Crystalans had no Idea about the Crystalline Form, but it was Lord Tsela’s Transformation to the Metallic Golden Crystalline Form that put the Idea of Ascendance in my Father’s mind.”

Casara : “ Bato; with a modified Hodian Manacle you’ll be capable of comparable abilities.”

Nato : “ Comparable? Hardly! Are there more Ascended Crystalans?”

Naole : “ No! The path to Ascendance is difficult.”

Casara : “ That’s putting it lightly.”

Naole : “ Few Crystalans have the stomach for the process.”

Casara : “ But now we need the powers of Ascended Crystalans, and they have no choice but to make the gruelling journey to Ascendance.”

Advisor : “ Can every Hodian who wears the power ring achieve the Golden form?”

Naole : “ Yes; at least in theory!”

Casara : “ Provided they come from a bloodline of sufficient strength!”

Nato : “ They can’t sustain it as long as the Viceroys of the past can they?”

Naole : “ No! However the numbers should make up for any shortfall. The Power Ring won’t reject a person based on previous exposure to Negative Psionic Energy; so there should be plenty of worthy candidates.”

Bato : “What kind of power could threaten a Power that would allow one to reach the surface of the sun?”

Naole : “You know about that?”

Bato : “The ring has a detailed account of the kind of power and control necessary to survive a visit to the surface of the sun.”

Nato : “The Circleans know what we know; that there is only one way to kill an Ascended Crystalan.”

Bato : “How do you kill something virtually indestructible?”

Nato : “Unless I’m mistaken; an Ascended Crystalan’s Power is his or her Life Force. Therefore the only way to defeat an Ascended Crystalan is to force them to deplete their energy; only then are they vulnerable. This is easier said than done given their enhanced absorption capabilities. The Circleans will use potent forms of Negative Psionic energy.”

Naole : “An Ascended Crystalan can be overpowered; provided the enemy has sufficient numbers. This is why this Alliance is so important.”

Bato : “ You want us to protect the world while Crystalans withdraw and attempt to produce more Ascended Crystalans?”

Nato : “ So you don’t think even Hundreds of Golden Hodians will be enough?”

Naole : “ Everything depends on what the Circleans do; if they decide to feed on humanity they’ll become far too powerful.”

Nato : “ Then Hodians and Hybrids will protect the world together, and when Crystalans are ready we’ll jointly rid the world of this mounting evil.”

Then there’s another blinding white light, and Savan, Peo, Hilan and Aurora find themselves a day ahead and this time they’re in a private dining room in a London restaurant; Naole and Canala were having dinner with Canala’s brother Jinalo and his girlfriend Carol.

Canala : “ It’s time for you to come back home brother.”

Jinalo : “ Why? I like it here; I’m free to live my life.”

Naole : “ Dam-it boy; you’re the grandson of an Elder! The eldest Elder; it risks far too many Crystalan lives to protect you!”

Carol : “ Elder? What’s a Crystalan?”

Canala : “ You haven’t told her?”

Jinalo : “ It just never seemed like the right time.”

Canala : “ You’ve been with her for 2 years.”

Jinalo : “ I know; I should have told her.”

Canala : “ We’re on the brink of war and you’re acting a fool!”

Carol : “ War? What war?”

Jinalo : “ I’ll explain later.”

Canala : “ You’ve spent far too much time with these humans; you’ve begun to behave like them!”

Jinalo : “ Don’t talk about them like that.”

Canala : “ You’re coming home brother; even if I have to drag you there myself!”

Carol : “ Are you talking about the fact that you’re all Hybrids; he told me about that.”

Naole : “ Is that what he told you?”

Jinalo : “ It’s true; in a way. We are a type of Hybrid.”

Naole : “ You are an embarrassment Jinalo! Your father was a great man; a favoured student of my father! You dishonour his name by behaving like this!”

Canala : “ Father; No!”

Carol : “ Father? How can he be your father? He looks younger than you! Unless his some sort of immortal.”

Naole : “ And what made you say that?”

Carol : “ What?”

Naole : “ What made you choose that word?”

Carol : “ What word? Immortal?”

Naole : “ That’s the word?”

Carol : “ I don’t know? It just seemed like the logical conclusion!”

Naole : “ Logical is it? Hybrids live longer than Humans; why not jump to that conclusion?”

Carol : “ It just came to me.”

Naole : “ Did it now? What else just comes to you?”

Naole, Canala and Jinalo are now focused on Carol.

Carol : “ Well?”

Naole : “ Go on!”

Carol : “ I did notice when I first met Canala that she had an extremely powerful presence. I could almost sense her coming, and a few times I could swear I felt her presence, but there was no one there.”

Naole : “ Interesting! Had you felt this presence before or since?”

Carol : “ Well?” She looks Naole in the eyes “You sir; have a similar presence, but yours is somewhat different, and it feels a lot … stronger.”

Naole : “ Did it now?”

Carol : “ I’ve been around Hybrids before, but they don’t feel like you three. You’re a different type of hybrid.”

Naole : “ Interesting; Very Interesting!”

Then Naole grabs Carol by the neck.

Carol : “ Let me go!”

Naole : “ What are you? You are far too perceptive to be a normal human!”

Canala : “ Father; let her go!”

Carol : “ I’m a normal English girl!”

Naole : “ Are you now? Let’s find out!”

Canala : “ Stop it Father!”

Jinalo : “ Naole please!”

Carol : “ Help!”

Naole : “ I’m going to give you a little squeeze.”

At this point Canala and Jinalo are desperately trying to remove Naole’s hand from Carol’s neck, but Naole is too strong. Carol begins to loose consciousness.

Jinalo : “ You’re killing her!”

Naole : “ No; you two are blind!”

Then Naole throws the unconscious Carol against the wall and a cabinet falls on top of her. Jinalo tries to go to Carol but Naole grabs him by the hand.

Canala : “ How can you do this Father?”

Jinalo : “ Why?”

Naole : “ I’m trying to help her.”

Then Carol awakens in a rage; shuttering the cabinet on top of her in the process. Then she notices that she feels different.

Carol : “ How dare you?”

Canala : “ What?”

Jinalo : “ How did you …?”

Naole : “ You see!”

Carol : “ What did you do to me?” feeling an awakening deep within her “What have you done to me?”

Naole : “ Casara calls it a Crystalan Touch.”

Carol : “ Touch?”

Naole : “ It empowers you; In your case it awakens the Crystalan in you.”

Carol : “ What do you mean the Crystalan in me?”

Naole : “ During the first world war we sent 4 female agents to Europe on a mission to observe the activities of our Hodian brethren. Three of the agents returned home to Crystalorb, but the forth disappeared under mysterious circumstances. From your DNA it looks like she fell for a local, and had a little girl.”

Carol : “ How could you possibly know any of this?”

Canala : “ Father has an accurate database of all Crystalan DNA.”

Jinalo : “ How could I have missed it?”

Naole : “ Pathetic! You’ve forgotten your training.” Naole looks at the corner of the room “Vanglead; step forth!” a Vanglead appears to Carol’s shock “Pack up everyone in her bloodline with Crystalan DNA and ship them off to Crystalorb.”

Vanglead : “ On your Command!”

Jinalo : “ You can’t do this they have rights!”

Naole : “ I’ve had just about enough of you! Vanglead; Take him and the girl too! These orders come directly from Lord Cyris!”

Vanglead : “ On your Command!”

Naole : “ Come Canala; we have a meeting with the Prime Minister!”

Naole and Canala leave.

Carol : “ What just happened?”

Jinalo : “ It turns out you’re one of us.”

Carol : “ That Crystalan thing?”

Jinalo : “ Funny; I ran away from Crystalorb only to find myself shacked up with a latent Crystalan.”

Carol : “ Who is this Naole?”

Jinalo : “ Yeah! Naole isn’t just Canala’s father; he’s a high ranking Crystalan. In fact all the members of my family are high ranking Crystalans; my mother, my grandfather, my uncle, aunts.”

Carol : “ They’re not taking me anywhere!”

Jinalo : “ Don’t resist; otherwise they’ll put you to sleep!”

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