Chapter V.

Febbre Alta (High Fever)

"I'll admit," The creature began in a raspy, quiet, gravelly voice. Ace and Nova sat upon makeshift benches within the sizable hovel. It seemed as though the resident of the far-side was quite the survivalist. It had managed to find enough usable resources; however, it would seem that the long-term effects of this place were rather negative. This creature, slowly lumbering about the cavern, was human at one point.

It was tall, and wide, with a hairy, oily, blackened body. Its arms hung down on the ground, like an ape, tough its hands were twisted and clawed. It was covered in pulsing, glowing boils that radiated with a dull, bluish-green glow. It was a massive thing, but its body hunched over as though it had severe back trauma. But despite this creature's twisted appearance, and its upside-down skull, one thing did appear completely human. Its face was normal, with tanned skin, a stern but handsome face, and blonde hair that hung in a mass on its head. Unfortunately, this beast was once human, and he was once famous on Atmos.

"I never thought I'd be happy to see a Cyclonian," It wheezed as it sat down opposite them as the sizable fire between them gently hummed and crackled, "But your presence tells me that there may actually be a way out of this place…"

"For us maybe," Ace replied, crossing his arms as he gently leaned back, "But for you…not so much."

"Domiwick…" Nova began, leaning over her knees as she looked at the creature. Yes this poor twisted soul was once the great I. J. Domiwick, the legendary Atmosian explorer. It was evident that he was paying for his exemplary behavior back on Atmos, "We need to know a few things, and we think you might be able to help us-"

"You want to know about the portis…" Domiwick wheezed, rising to his feet as he walked to the entrance of the cave, "And the keys…"

"Is that what these are?" Ace inquired, rising to his feet as he strode towards Domiwick, the three coins in his hands. Domiwick craned his long neck around to look at the items in Ace's hand, and simply nodded.

"They unlock access to the Portis," Domiwick continued, "And access to the worlds…"

"So it's true," Nova began, rising to her feet as she followed behind them, "You were the first human on Atmos to visit the far-side."

"Yes…" He replied in a hoarse voice, "After I entered the submerged cavern on Terra Aquanos, I swam for days before reaching any kind of surface. What I found was the cavern within the wastelands, or the Portis' hiding place…I can't tell you the order because the keys were already in place…all I needed to do was approach…it…the next thing I remember is a flash if white light, and seeing the door…the next thing I remember is waking up on the shore of this lake…it's been so long…I don't even remember how long it's been…or what Atmos proper even looks like…"

"It's been fifty-four years…" Ace stated, looking out onto the glassy grey surface of the lake, "To be exact…Domiwick…" He continued. The human-beast looked to the Valkyr and raised an eyebrow expectantly, "You know enough about the far-side…I can't think of anyone who has spent more time here than you-"

"I won't go back," Domiwick replied, sounding sad and defeated, as he lumbered back into the cave and slowly sat down in front of the fire. Ace and Nova exchanged looks as they turned to him, "I am a monster…the people were never except me-"

"Do you even have any clue as to what's going on in Atmos Proper!?" Nova exclaimed, sounding disgusted and irritated, "There's a war and-"

"It's none of my concern…" Domiwick replied flatly.

"None of-" Nova scoffed in disbelief, "None of your concern!? I swear-" She growled, raising her fist as Ace took strong hold of her wrist. Their eyes locked as Nova let out a growl as Ace silently commanded her to stand down.

"If you want to die here," Ace began slyly, as he looked down, picking at his fingernails, "Than that's fine…but you know that the energies of the far-side won't allow death?" Domiwick didn't move, nor did he respond. He already knew this. It was why his face had stayed so young for so long, "I'm offering you a second chance…tell us everything you've learned about the far-side and I promise-"

"That Cyclonis will give me everything I could ever want…" He scoffed, turning away from the pair.

"No…" Ace replied, kneeling down next to him, "I don't work for Cyclonia anymore…I answer to a higher power…" He replied, as a set of bright, silvery white wings burst into reality as a few glistening feathers gently floated around them. Domiwick's blue eyes grew wide as Ace rose to his feet, Nova with her grey wings flittering behind her as well, walking up behind him.

"So they do exist…" Domiwick asked, looking them both over as he stood, "Then again, nothing surprises me anymore…But I won't go back…there's nothing that can be done for me…"

"We can't reverse the effects," Nova began, placing her hands on her hips as she smiled at Ace, "But what if we can get you a new body…"

"Impossible…" Domiwick replied, walking past them.

"Not necessarily…" Ace replied, nodding to Nova in understanding, "A lot has changed since you've been gone. The empire that currently controls the Atmos…one of their generals is a crystal necromancer. She knows how to reanimate corpses and bind them to her will…she also has mastered the art of placing souls into new bodies…"

"…what do you want from me?" Domiwick asked after several long, silent moments.

"We need everything you know about the far-side, its resources, and its inhabitance," Nova began, "In exchange, we'll bring you back to Atmos-"

"And give you your body back…" Ace continued.

"It won't be my body…" Domiwick stated, sounding somewhat ashamed, "But anything to be rid myself of this prison…" He stated, placing a clawed hand on his repulsive chest.

"Then let's go…" Ace began looking out into the murky horizon of the far-side.

Meno let out a silent shriek as she collapsed, falling to the cold ground of the throne room. Anaxagoras was hovering above her, looking wild with anger. Meno coughed and sputtered, trying to peel herself off of the floor. Anaxagoras delivered a swift kick to her side as she let out another quiet yell and fell once again.

"Anaxagoras enough…" His strange and mysterious friend sighed, sitting upon Cypress' throne, "She's not going to speak…"

"I'll pry it out of her…" He began, crouching down next to Meno.

"No…" The mysterious young man sighed, walking beside him, and pushing him out of the way, "My dear…" He began quietly, with an eerily sweet smile, "Would you be so kind as to open your mouth."

Meno looked at him with fear and confusion, but obliged. Anaxagoras raised his eyebrow as he noticed the strange black circle burned into Meno's tongue. The strange man smiled as he gently stroked Meno's hair, and gently pushed her jaw upward. She closed her mouth as she gently backed away from him. He then rose to his feet and turned to Anaxagoras, shaking his head.

"She won't speak," He sighed, "Because she can't speak. I'm sure you know about runes…she's been silenced you twat…"

"Now what…" Anaxagoras hissed, kicking Meno in the side once again. The strange man scoffed and rolled his eyes at him. Anaxagoras strode from the throne room, leaving Meno alone with the strange man, "If she can't give me anything…than kill her…" Anaxagoras stated, just before leaving the chamber. The heavy obsidian doors slammed shut, and the echo of the stone crashing together resounded throughout the room.

Meno's heart raced as she tried scrambling to her feet, though she had been beaten severely, and moving was difficult. Her clawed hands gripped her bruised sides and she attempted to run away, but fell to the grounds, her legs crumbling from weakness. She let out a wail as the mysterious man headed slowly towards her as the malformed woman tried to crawl away.

However, instead of obeying Anaxagoras' orders, he placed his hands on Meno's shoulders and gently sat her up to face him. Meno was shaking violently as her pupils dilated. He smiled at her, and tussled her hair once again as her golden eyes locked with his two-toned. Something about his presence set her at ease.

"I won't let him harm you," He stated, placing a gloved hand on the ashy skin of her cheek, "I don't obey the command of that mewling little worm. But you already know that…" He smiled, as Meno nodded. He gently lifted the woman off of the ground and she curled up in his arms, almost like a child, "I'm going to take you away…" He then said quietly. Meno looked up at him, and for a brief moment, they finally understood one another. He gave her a weak smile as his darkened wings unfurled. He stepped out on to the balcony of the throne room, the streets of Atmosia crumbled and smoking from the heated rebellion, and he leapt into the hazy air, flying off with the far-child in his arms.

Meanwhile, Anaxagoras had moved through the towering corridors of the obsidian sanctum. He was heading towards the observation deck when he turned to the sentries standing before the door.

"Find Noah," Anaxagoras commanded of them, forgetting about the state of Atmos for a few hours. He was so blinded by his need to place Cypress back in his midst that he forgot about the twilight knights, the war, and maintaining the empire, "Lock her away…do whatever you need to do to make sure she does not leave the premises."

"Sir," One of the Sentries wheezed through the metal mask on its face, "Lady Noah left the terra several hours ago…"

"WHAT!?" Anaxagoras shouted, as his voice echoed throughout the sanctum. He rushed into the observation deck, and noticed that every figure in the room was silent. He looked furious as he seized the microphone of the fortress' intercom, looking down on to the figures, staring up at him with petrified violet eyes, "All mobile units!" He shouted into the intercom, "I want Noah brought back to me within the hour! I want all active flyers patrolling the Atmos! You are not to stop for anything unless you've found her! That's an order!" He growled, slamming the microphone down on the intercom box with a screech. All the creatures stood still, fearful that Anaxagoras had completely gone off the deep end, "GO! NOW!" He then shrieked as the darkened figures of the room scattered and scrambled.

"You're a fool," Anaximander began. He turned around to notice that he and his emotionless little brother were now standing, alone, within the observation deck. However, for the first time in their life, Anaxagoras swore he saw a twinge of anger, annoyance, and fury in his younger brother's watery blue eyes.

"…get out…" Anaxagoras snapped, shooing his brother away. But he never left. He turned to his watery twin and repeated his command, "I said get…out…"

However, before he could make the command a third time, Anaxagoras found himself falling to the ground, plastered against the grated catwalk. He coughed and sputtered as the wall of water dissolved and Anaxagoras could rise to his feet. He coughed and choked, spitting up water as he gasped for air, only to be thrown back against the railing by another frigid rush of water, stinging his skin like hundreds of cold needles.

"What…" Anaxagoras coughed, stumbling to his feet, "What…are you…doing!?"

"Noah is right," Anaximander stated quietly, slowly striding towards his brother, "The empire is falling fast with you in command. I think it's safe to say," He continued with a chilling and blank expression, thrusting another blast of heavy water towards his older brother, "That we've worked too hard to throw it all away." He continued as Anaxagoras felt himself being seized by two of the bulky sentries.

"LET ME GO!" Anaxagoras screamed, kicking and thrashing as he attempted to break free, "I WON'T STAND FOR THIS!"

"You don't have to…" Anaximander stated quietly as the sentries began dragging his older brother out of the observatory, "Once Noah returns from her scouting, she'll remove your crystal core, and you'll be stripped of your title within the empire-"

"NO!" Anaxagoras screamed, "I won't let you-"

"Take him away…" Anaximander stated flatly and coldly, "And throw him in a bright room…don't want him escaping anytime soon."

"You'll burn for this brother!" Anaxagoras screamed as his voice trailed down the corridor, "YOU'LL BURN!"

"Have you lost your mind!?" Harrier exclaimed indignantly within the crumbling stadium on terra Rex. Starling, Aru and Leto, along with the struggling residence of the terra, were gathered within the safe-haven as all resistance volunteers of the terra were issuing what little supplies they had to the elderly, injured, and children, "We won't last another day unless-"

"I know what you're about to ask for," Starling interrupted, sounding thoroughly fed-up with the entire situation, "And we can not siphon resources from other terras just because the people of Rex are a little hungry! We need to pull together Harrier!"

"Starling is right," Aru nodded, mediating the situation, "We can't let any terras take preference over another…there are people all over the Atmos suffering right now-"

"I didn't ask for your opinion!" Harrier snapped.

"What you be sayin' to my Aru?" Leto growled, looming over the pompous knight.

"Enough!" Starling exclaimed, as Leto and Harrier exchanged poisonous glances and backed down, "The last thing I need right now is for-" She snapped, just before being interrupted by the ring of her communicator, "Ugh…hold on…" She growled, pulling out the small grey device, "Starling here…come in."

"Hey beautiful…" Ace's voice crackled from the other side. Aru couldn't help but giggle as Starling shot her a sharp look and gestured the trio to go help the volunteers with the disaster efforts.

"Anteres…" Starling stated, seemingly trying to keep the conversation private, "You're back! I mean…It's good to hear from you…I know we haven't had much of a chance to talk but…I-"

"Listen," Ace began from the other end, "I can't right now…Nova and I are in the middle of something…but Aerrow wanted a status report from Rex."

"Other than the adamant protests from Harrier about the treatment in regards to his homeland," Starling stated with a sigh, "Things seem to be going rather well on the resurgence…Though I definitely need to stay. I have a feeling that there would be some negative repercussions if I left Leto here to oversee the operation."

"Oh come on…" Ace laughed quietly from the other end, "Have some faith-"

"Oh I have complete faith in Leto," Starling replied, "Harrier…not so much."

"Alright well…" Ace began, his voice trailing off a bit, "Good…I'll let him know…oh and Starling…"

"Yes?" She replied quietly, sounding hopeful.

"…I do want to see you sometime soon," He replied.

"I'd like that," She replied, just before the line went dead. She let out a sigh as she closed the communicator and turned back to the arena. She jumped slightly, noticing that Aru had been standing right behind her the entire time, "How long have you been standing there?" Starling demanded, shaking her head.

"Just long enough," Aru replied with an airy smile, "…If you'd like to go…I am sure that I can keep Let reined in long enough until terra Rex gets back on its feet."

"That's not your job Aru," Starling sighed, as she returned the warm gesture and smiled back, "And my relationship with Anteres is also none of your concern…"

"I never said anything about that," Aru replied playfully, shaking her head, "But as long as you mentioned it-"

"The two of us have more important things to worry about than matters of the heart," Starling continued.

"Don't…" Aru replied, shaking her head as her expression saddened, "You need something to hold on to during these times Miss Starling…" She continued, "I am sure that he needs you as much as you need him-"

"I don't need anyone," Starling replied, placing her hand on Aru's shoulder and walking past her, "Now come on…we have a lot of work to do…"

"Whatever you say…" Aru replied, looking down at the ground. She was just hoping that the other terras were doing better than they were.

[Message from KC]: I am still frigging alive... and I swear to god I will finish this story if it kills me...

EXCUSE TIME! So I feel like I need to explain why I haven't updated in almost 2 months...

first off, Hurricane Sandy really f-ed up everything where I live. I mean she completely fried my laptop so...yeah I had to take care of that...

Secondly, National Novel Writing Month (basically write a book in 30 days) was in November. I completed the contest and did write a book (my own story, characters, etc...in other words my own original work) and because I spent all of November working on that...yeah it kinda took preference over this...

Third...ly...School...I do that. Yeah while writing a book for national novel writing month, I was doing the college thing, with the papers, and the tests, and assignments and jazz...And yeah today was the last day of finals, hence why I was able to put out this chapter :D

shitty chapter I'm sorry guys...

TL;DR I am full of excuses! But I will and should be updating more frequently now! There's a lot yet to go in volume III so we should be seeing a frigging ton of updates in the near future :3

Happy Wednesday Everypony...and It's frigging great to be back :D