moonxxprincessxx18: yeah I was going to have her give birth to Rini but it has obviously been done so many times, plus with the way its going to end for the first part you never know…and Andrew will ultimately show the type of person he really is soon. And yeah it's a shame Darien was there for the births but hey at least he's got a mental picture of them… :/

mangamania: how could anyone kill off Darien, and NOT have him come back somehow? I'm not that cruel…

VAlvr04: hope you enjoy this one it's a twister for sure!

Pamela: I know you wanted to see Rini but as I mentioned above I wanted to try something different, hope you like this chapter.

Anon9348: I'm glad your hooked!

Moon Mage Goddess: Glad you like it! Cause I've done the same thing where I'll avoid a story if the plot line doesn't interest me until I get bored and say 'what the hell' and try it and love it! Keep reading cause there's going to be many twists and turns in this final chapter of this series.

Read and review please!

The Unconquered land ch. 22

The journey to Diamonds base of operations was a silent one. The only noises filling it were the engine, the sounds of the guns being loaded and Amara sharpening up the knives. Though I think that was mostly done for Andrews benefit, as he'd started to pout.

The scenery was of decimated buildings, so much so that there was still decomposing blood on the windows.

It was depressing to say the least…closing my eyes I reached inside my self and looked at the mental picture of our sons. They were too precious to not have both parents, and I was going to make that happen. Maybe I was being selfish in my endeavor here but I wanted Darien and the others back.

After what seemed like hours of driving we finally arrived about a block away from the place. We didn't want to be to close just in case there were snipers around the corner. Plus other than getting Andrew in to show me where his boss was I doubt he knew where every sniper was located.

I hauled Andrew out having already given him a dose halfway through the ride here. I would have handled him over to Amara I but I already knew something tragic would probably happen if I did…not that the little toad didn't deserve it…but he had a purpose here. Putting the plan into motion we went in.

Taking out the outer guards I handcuffed Andrew to a railing outside the place so he wouldn't run or get hurt while I did it. As computer smart as he was, he wasn't street smart enough to get out of cuffs. Having taken down a few I left it mostly to hand to hand combat for the smaller groups.

I was waiting to use my gifts as much as possible, for the main event. I was about to use their own radio's against them when I over heard Diamonds voice on it, "All units are to report in within the next five minutes. There may have been a compromise within the system. Head down to the first floor Delta team for further directions." I can use it to know where they are…

Changing my mind…for now…I un-cuffed Andrew and hauled him with me to follow the different teams around to avoid them and gain access to the upper floors. Thankfully I thought enough to drag the guards that I took out and hide them from preying eyes. Plus out in the open…not so good.

Avoiding several more teams along the way we slowly but surely made our way up the different floors. However, just as I was thinking ominously 'this is way too easy' I get halted by running nearly head first…well my head his stomach…into the biggest, ugliest and scariest of monster all.

There was no other way to describe it; he was at least 13 feet tall, had on a weird mask that looked somewhat like a potato sack. Not bulky but an overweight build, more than enough needed to swing that giant ass 'meat tenderizing axe'!

MEAT TENDERIZING AXE? I yelped out in shock as it swung its sharp meat weapon at me. Andrew and I just barely dodged it the first time as it slammed into the wall I was previously standing next to. The wall had a freaking hole the size of my…correction Andrew's torso in it.

Looking over I see his face looking just as worried. Freaking out at the size of this creature…the height alone is enough to double my own height, not to mention the weapon it's carrying… I examine it fast as possible. The creature itself is large, and has long nails, and when I say nails mean NAILS-HAMMERING NAILS poking out of it…ouch!

Plus the weapon of choice has that meat tenderizer on one end and an axe on the other, a sharp one too!

That weapon could kill either of us in one hit at either end! Too angered to care about keeping ourselves hidden I shout out, "ANDREW what the FUCK is that thing?" he finally gathers himself before replying back, "Diamond's most prized asset…next to you that is." That didn't answer anything!

Grabbing the lapels of his shirt I snarl at him, "Damn it Drew what is it?" I yell back.

Grabbing his arm I pull him out of harms way. Whether or not it's after me it doesn't seem to care about killing Andrew as well. After a few more dodges there's very little wall left and the main pipes it's hit are all broken.

The only good thing to come from it is the steam now coming out. Having trouble seeing us I notice the potato sack head doesn't seem to have cut outs for his eyes or even a mouth or nose. I shake Drew by his shirt and ask him, "One last time what is that thing?" seeing that I'm probably the only person that can stop it he answers back, "I'm sorry I didn't think Diamond would be so…so reckless and desperate!"

OOIII! Smacking him upside the head he finally relents, "Okay, okay…Diamond was angered that you refused to join us so he created him." He points to the large weapon wielding giant. Looking back I watch him look for us. Not wanting to be to deterred I turn back to his explanation, "He's Diamonds next biggest ambition."

So Diamond couldn't get me so he sent this thing to kill me and take my place. "Looks like we're in the same boat here!" I reply out. He looks uneasy to me. "That thing doesn't seem to care who it kills, it just wants to kill." Knowing I'm right we both pick ourselves up and decide on RUNNING!

I look to where I can find access to another stairwell so I can at least run into some guards. Hopefully take care of two birds with one stone by taking big gargantuan

I can't kill this thing alone and if I'm trying to keep Andrew alive I can't watch over him and fight at the same time.

He needs to get out of the way. I can't even try to get him to help me; the drug I dosed him with is still coursing through his veins so he can't do anything! Not that he would…I watch our backs every few seconds seeing as how it's keeping up with us and still swinging the giant meat grinding axe thing.

That weapon seems to be as long as my height! The only warning I'm getting from it is the sound of the air its cutting through. That and the backwards glances I'm giving it which I really shouldn't. We just barely dodge the swings, I watch as the walls to either side of us keep getting severely smashed in.
Without the support of the walls the floor above might cave in…could it?
With that structured thought I see the end of the hallway. "Drew you go down that one I'll go down the other!" he seems surprised that I'm letting him out of my sight. "Don't think anything of it! That thing wants us both dead and I cant keep my eye on you and fight him at the same time."

He furrows his brows before we both just barely duck under the next swing. I knew it was close I could feel the tethered ends of my long hair get an inch or so shorter. I fought against the urge to grab the ends and pull them to safety. It wouldn't make much sense to try and save my hair during such a critical moment.

Dodging to either end of the hallway, we both dive to opposite ends and see the big lug looks down each corridor were in. Maybe this is the chance it was waiting for? Maybe it just needed to get either of us alone? Maybe it was just sent here to recover Drew from me? Standing up I watched at it swung its axe up in his direction.

Landing I head Drew's cry of fright. Must have missed the first time…I load up the gun on my back remembering the reason why I so rarely used this one. First reason the ammo was hard as hell to find in any gun supply place and two the damage the shot made was hugely…magnified.

Pulling it off my back and forward I made sure to hold it right or else I knew I'd risked fracturing my own collar bone if I wasn't careful. Aiming the weapon I faltered for a second. I held my position…Drew was responsible for so much death…should I shot this thing and save him?

I watched the weapon aim back up again…but it was his boss that mostly deserved my wrath…and besides I needed Drew to get to him. Raising the gun I fire the first shot. Right through his back…though while before hand when shot you your target you could see right through the creature, him…

No…he just turned his head before he turned the rest of his body to me. I saw the copious amount of blood dripping down his body. He definitely took in the damage, but it wasn't enough. Maybe his own torso is too thick? Not enough time to reload from that one shot I decide to double back.

Turning around I see the blunder I put myself in…freaking window. Damn it I only had one shot to get out of this mess and I could only hope the ceiling was high enough not only for tall dude here but to swivel myself out of this to. Running towards it I used the ledge to flip up in the air.

Seeing the ceiling coming in awfully close I ducked myself into a ball before clearing the meat grinding axe man as he looked up and saw me. I couldn't help but smirk a little as I cleared him. His axe fell to the side as he decided on not killing the window. Figures…I mutter out.

Landing behind him I tried to throw a few punches and kicks at his back. It was like hitting a punching bag against a wall…no success. I saw its arm swing and figured I could stab it at least. Pulling out a blade I caught his arm and stabbed, only to be thrown by his arm back to where Andrew was.

Andrew helped me up and we watched as he pulled the blade out of his arm and just dropped it like a needle on the ground. I knew that I had only two shots left of the ammo in the gun, shoving Drew aside I told him, "I'm his opponent now so stay out of sight." He nodded his head as my giant ran towards me.

I ran the other way as I loaded up the gun with the one bullet. But before I could load the second in I felt the swipe of air by my head. Ducking I felt the rush of it as I knew I had been seconds away from being beheaded. Swallowing the need to yell out for Darien's help I avoided the second swing to my head.

Unfortunately during that I started to trip over my own two feet. Now is not the time to have a sporadic klutz attack! I scolded myself. The only way I was able to avoid it was to drop the awkward gun I'd been holding. Running past it I gained speed and rushed too far ahead of the swinging weapon man.

Gaining enough footing I saw that he had stopped. Apparently he grew tired of running for extended amounts of time. Good that means that I can out run him…without a giant gun of my own in my hands. However I wasn't about running, I was about fighting, fighting to protect what was mine.

I started to run towards him and he started to run as well. Just as he was getting ready to swing I swung my legs out from underneath myself, grabbed my gun back up and swung IT up and fired at his chest before he had a chance to make a move against me. Sliding out from under him, Drew came to my side and pulled me out of the fray.

Seemingly down for the count I couldn't see him well enough to gauge his wound but a close range shot like that is definitely a killer. "Thank you…especially since I didn't deserve it." Andrew said. Not wanting to give him any leeway with me right now I said, "It's like I said before Drew, I need you to get to Diamond."

He nodded and we started to walk. However sounds of movement prevented me from walking any further. We both turned back to see meat grinding axe man standing slowly back up. I loaded my last shot up and aimed at the suckers head. He started to run towards us.

I stood my ground aiming for his head. His weapon swung out in full force. I knew I had precious seconds before the weapon got within my firing range so I took the final and last shot of my gun. I heard the gun go off but once it did I saw the weapon leave his gloved fingers and come right at us.

Andrew took me by surprise and grappled me to the ground. I felt the air rush past me for the last time as the weapon of choice was swung so hard it took out a near six foot hole in the shape of itself where the window once was. We both came back up and saw the weapon had landed several hundred meters away from the window.

Looking back we saw half his head was gone and the potato sack on his head was slipping off revealing fractured teeth, a bloody eye, and a few nails sticking out of cheek. I mentally cringed at the sight. Mentally rubbing my own cheek I saw that he was making his way to us I went for another weapon only to have Andrew get in front of me. "Drew are stupid or do you have a death wish?" I asked.

"Neither." He stated simply. Raising his arm up I saw the force he blasted at the creature, effectively taking the rest of his head off and killing him…for good. "I had that…" I mumbled. "As long as half his brain was intact he had full function to carry out his kill orders." Andrew's calm exterior made me weary of him.

Then it hit me… "Hey wait a minute you should be able to use your abilities I dosed you!" he looked back to me and smiled, "What can I say, I became immune to the chemical used to suppress our abilities." I didn't know that was possible. Looking to him I see tell tales of the old Drew I used to know.

"See we can work together." His statement made me want to agree and laugh but past mistakes were still too fresh to do so with. Against my better judgment I say, "Listen Drew, despite everything that's gone down I'd like to think there's still something good within you." He looked to me weary now.

Clenching my fists together I swallow my pride and my gut a bit and finish off, "If there's any part of you that wants to redeem yourself with your past actions against my friends, myself, Darien and my never to be-born first baby, then I want you to help me…willingly." Please don't let my offer be a mistake.

He seems to be in deep thought about it before saying, "It goes against my better judgment but…in the end…no matter what I want…when I look into your eyes…" he looks to my hope filled eyes, hoping that he wont betray me…that he wont turn his back on me…that he wont kill me…

"I still want to protect you…to help you…to love you…even if now you don't return the sentiment…" I saw his pain on that one. Maybe being held captive by us gave him a chance to reorganize his thoughts? Realize that I can't be taken by force…that I no longer love him…

Taking his hand I say, "I may not return that sentiment but it doesn't mean that if you help me I won't someday be able to care for you again…no promises." he seems to understand that his decisions have made huge impacting consequences on my life as well as the lives of everybody else.

"I guess at the end of the day no matter how hard I try to be someone else you always bring me back to what I used to be." Seeing that he's agreeing to help-willingly-he helps direct me around and get to his boss faster. Why do big boss men always have to have their office areas and everyone I care about on the top floor?

Sprinting towards the top floors I made sure to check every stairwell and hallway before going in them. I would have loved to have used the elevator but you needed a clearance card to get into it to begin with. Andrew didn't have his and I didn't want there to be any suspicion raised as to why he was back here…with ME!

So we took the stairs…every last one of them. I was starting to grumble a little bit asking myself 'how many stories' this place had. Reaching another one Andrew stopped to what I presumed, gained some breathe before pointing forward and indicating upwards. I looked up.
He said a little breathlessly, "We're almost there! Diamond's office and the area where they're more than likely to keep your friends is only one more story up." I looked up only seeing two more stairwells. Feeling a bit on edge but ready to take Diamond on I made a move to keep running.

Andrew stood in my way. "What's wrong Drew?" I asked, a bit apprehensive that he was choosing to stop me now. Standing closer to me he said in lower tones, "I'm sorry Serena but there's only one way you'll be able to get in." I felt very worried now…did he just betray me?

I looked around really quickly and sure enough out of nowhere too many guards for me to count ran inside the stairwell access where we were. I was completely surrounded and pissed as hell that once again I put my trust in the wrong person. Andrew smirked evilly at me and I felt my gut twist.

You might as well have stabbed me…he spoke to the head guard there, "Tell Diamond I have brought Serena in. He'll want to see her." The guard nodded before signaling his men to bring me in. "Andrew you traitor!" I yelled out before I was tasered out of consciousness.

Opening my eyes later on I found myself hung from my wrists…bound wrists. I looked down and around at my surroundings. There was one chair in the room and its occupant was Andrew. Looking to me he walked closer. I wanted to kill him…getting closer to me he whispered in my ear.

"The only way to get close enough is to be his prisoner. I'm sorry I didn't tell you Serena, but I had to make it look real." He leaned back before winking at me just as the door opened revealing his evilness. "What a pleasant surprise…so how's my 'pet project' today?" he asked. I hated the way he looked at me.

I'm not some dessert you ass! "Like I'm shocked to hear you say that Diamond." I remarked as casually as my voice would allow at the moment. Looking around I noticed I was being held up by chains attached to a hook in the ceiling. You know if I had enough momentum…I knew I couldn't stare at it for too long…lest he sees what I'm thinking and my eyes betray me.

I force my eyes to him and see he's moved from his place by the door. Standing in front of me he grips my chin tightly in his hand, "I've waited so long for you to fall into my grasp." Oh come on… "Seriously, that's the best you got?" I asked, mouthy. His expression changes, but not by much.

Leaning in closer I can feel his breath on my cheek as I struggle against the grip he has on my face. With my hands bound I can feel the light binding of my feet to the floor with chains as well. If I can knock off my boots I may be able to slip my feet out of them… "You have no idea what's in store for you...my Serena."

I looked to him fiercely on that one, "I'm not your ANYTHING so don't delude yourself with any thoughts pertaining to me." he simply smiles to me before remarking, "I always knew you had a killer instinct Serena. How else would you have killed your biggest opponent?" I had to smile on that one.

"What says that thing was my biggest opponent?" he squints his eyes at me before laughing it off and exiting the room, but not before giving Andrew a rather rough speech and telling him to 'babysit me'…the nerve of that man. Walking out he throws one last remark my way, "See you in 15 minutes, my Serena."

I want to yell at him but I know that it would be a waste. The other groups are still in here and making their way up as well. I only got here so soon because of Andrew. I take a look at my surroundings figuring out a game plan before Diamond comes back in. I test the strength of my chains making sure I wasn't dosed with anything.

Glad I wasn't I watch Diamond walk back in with a heavy smirk on his face, "What's got you all smirky?" I ask sarcastically. "I've got the best warriors possible for the final stage of my plan, why not be happy?" I roll my eyes at this. Shifting his face he asks me, "Don't you understand how much I want you? Your importance here is, how do I say…" I scoff at this.

"What, did you feed Andrew the same lines? Cause he said something similar to that not to long ago." Ha, he was going to feed me the same lines he'd feed Andrew, "How unoriginal." This time I had the smirk on my face. One of the guards next to him walked up and backhanded me.

"Enough!" Diamond all but yelped. The guard looked wearily at him before replying, "Sir she was-" he silenced him with a hand up in the air, "SHE happens to be the one person I'm counting on to lead everything...she is the key!" WHAT? Seeing my befuddled expression he smiles.

"You're going to be magnificent." His happiness was starting to scare me, "With my help just imagine what you'll be able to achieve." Gathering my whit's I asked, "What about Darien? My friends? Those infected mutations?" before they were infected they were innocents…I assume.

His smile falters slightly, "For your friends and Darien they will be similar to you, only with less will to operate on, so we can command them easier…once we turn you to our side that is." No! "And what's makes you think I'll be so willing to turn and become something so mindless?" that is so NOT going to happen.

Walking closer to me he continues on, "Also for the more mutated ones…evolution has its dead ends. Now then if you do this willingly it can be much less painful for you. I can even make the ending much more…" his mouth comes closer to my ear, "Pleasurable for you." A negative laugh radiates off of him as he walks off.

"I won't do it." I say loudly. He turns back to me, "Such a disappointment, so many possibilities but no will…" he turns to leave so I stop him in his tracks, "Oh I have will to use my gifts. I'm going to use them to kill you." He turns back to me in slight disbelief before he smiles in disbelief and leaves.

The guards follow suit and walk out to guard the door…I rattle my chains only a little…I have to try and find a weak spot. I hope that the other groups lay out the charges we have from the building. I hope we had enough for the last minute diversion I forgot to tell everyone…did I?

I will have one last chat with Diamond…right after I free Darien and my friends. I open my communications line to him telling him help is coming in fast. Thanks Serena…please be safe…I look around. Well safe isn't that exact words I'd use but I'm not in any pain so I'll take it.

Andrew looks to me before looking around strangely, "What the-" the room shifts slightly almost like a huge vibration just went through it…like…an earthquake? No the explosions! They must have set off the explosions throughout the building. If any of them got any higher within the ductwork…

I look up to see a crack forming in the ceiling. Andrew sees it too and nods his head in understanding. I indicate my boots and he helps them off my feet before jumping back into place as I slip my feet through the cuffs attached to the chains off of them. I know I have precious seconds before Andrew must alert the guards.

I swing my feet up until I hit the ceiling and use the chain to pull themselves out of their place. "GUARDS she's getting loose!" he yells out. I yank only hard enough to get them out so I don't pull a muscle or pull so hard I'll crash head first into the ground below. I watch them come in and let myself back down safely.

Gathering the chains around my wrists I use them to take the guards out. Andrew smiles before saying, "Make it look good Serena." I nod my head before crashing the remaining chains into him letting them leave my wrists and dislocating my thumbs in the process. I look down at Andrew unconscious.

If I hadn't been so high on adrenaline I probably would have felt more pain from the action.

Silently thanking him I push my throbbing thumbs back into place before slipping my boots back on running out. I have no weapons on me now which sucks but with luck I ended up running by it. The scientists in there see me and go to hit the alert button; stopping them I smash their heads into their own tables.

Grabbing my garb I put it back on before running back on and using my senses to open every door on the top floor, disable the cameras, and send a mental SOS sign to Amara to get her and everyone else up here…something I would have done earlier had Andrew alerted me to his plan on getting up here.

I take out guards left and right throwing them into lab equipment as I feel the girls and their men nearby. I just know Darien is in Diamond's office area so unfortunately he'll be the last. Reaching the girls was easier than I thought due to few guards that were actually on this floor.

Either Diamond is too stupid to NOT keep that many up here or his ego is too big to think no one can get up here. Either way it's my opening. Getting into the lab area holding them I feel disgust as I see their prisons. They're fighting their way out but can't due to the restrictions of their own powers.

Seeing the lab people I set look around to see if I can't get as many people off this floor as possible without running into them. Granted I can take them out but I'm saving my energy for Diamond. I'll need all I can get. So I use an old trick of mine…the fire alarm. I had to laugh a tiny bit at the one.

Hearing it go off I hope to hell it works and what do you know…VIOLA! They start walking out and as they leave I see the lab people from other areas doing the same as well. Hopefully they take a different path that the rescue teams coming up in. I look back to see the girls…its humorous that they can fight people off and away but can't get out…how ironic.

Ray sees me and shouts out in shock, "SERENA?" the rest of the girls follow suit. I shout out happy to see all of them, "To the rescue!" I already know their energy in powers is completely dwindled down at this point. Running to their cells I look at their locks before Ray tells me, "The computers Serena!"

I run over to them, finding the right switch was hard considering there was about five key boards full of them! I finally find it, Rays complaining was getting on my nerves, "Seriously Serena you couldn't have come sooner-" not in the mood after everything I just went through.

"If you can tackle on giving birth to twins, then sneaking into a high profile base as a prisoner with Andrew and take on a 13 foot meat grinding axe man then you can complain! NOT until then!" Ray seemed stunned before looking down to my stomach same as the rest of the girls did.

All of them looked up then down, up then down, up then down until- "Serena YOU gave birth!" it almost sounded like a question coming from Lita's mouth. Lita gave me a great big hug while Ray just stood there pole-axed. "Come on we've gotta move, I've got an extraction team waiting out there." Lita and Ray moved with me.

Right up until another two hallways later…they ran down a different one. "Hey wait where are you going?" I asked. Lita pointed, "This is where they took our guys. Knowing I needed to get to Darien I took a walkie talkie from my side and threw it to Ray, "Call me when you ALL are clear." She nodded her head and ran with Lita.

Remembering the outside area from Diamond's office I saw the I used my momentum to jump onto the wall, bounced off it then off another one, shocking them before I slammed my feet into their chests effectively slamming the doors wide open revealing Diamond himself…and Darien.

Darien looked surprised to see me but a little angered as well. "Oh suck it up you should have seen this coming." I grouched out. He hung his head before saying, "I should have- the boys?" he asked. Smiling I said, "They're safe and sound at home, which is where were going…" I look to Diamond.

"AFTER I kill you." He sharpens his eyes at me before saying, "I have to give you credit I didn't think I'd be seeing you in here…yet. And so willingly too." Oh for the love of… "Diamond the only thing I'm willing to do is kill you-NOTHING more!" how dense is he? He started to light up with his powers when the unexpected happened.

A shot came out of behind me and hit him square in the chest. He faltered before getting out, "Sapphire you traitor…" I looked behind me to see Sapphire holding his weapon. He looked to me before saying, "You've got a five minute window max to pull the plug on his operation. It's how long it'll take his systems defenses to combat the serum inside of him." I take it and run to Darien.

As I was unlocking Darien Sapphire said, "My brother and I need to have a little chat for a minute." That's some brotherly love…having unlocked Darien from his bindings I helped him out and down the long hallway…you might as well call it a corridor now, looks like one…

Seeing a big room I knew it was the one we were looking for. Something big enough to hold the machinery in it. Seeing this massively sized thing I wondered how the hell it was suppose to work let alone how I was suppose to destroy it. Grabbing the back pack off my back I pull out some extra explosives.

"You think it'll be enough?" I ask. Darien looks pained to me. I go to him and hug him as gently as possible, "I love you so much Darien. You're not allowed to leave me like that again." it was a crappy pout and a bad attempt at saying 'I missed you' but still…I kissed him with all I was worth.

And despite his injuries, despite his level of pain he kissed me back just as fiercely. "I missed you to Serena…and I love all of you." I knew he meant the boys as well. "You're going to love them Darien, I can already tell their going to look like carbon copies of you." He laughed as I did.

"But we wont get to see that if we-I don't destroy this mechanism." Running up to it I saw the big opening inside the thing and placed the explosives in the right places all around it. I just hope I grabbed enough…I mean this plan was meant to take the whole building down.

I thanked whoever was out there that the extra crews were out and about placing all the rest of the explosives on and in the building. With any luck this place was going to get so blown it was going to leave behind a giant hole! I just finished the placement when I heard a loud cry of pain.

Looking backwards I saw Sapphire get his bloody body thrown through the doors and near Darien. He was so bloody you could barely tell it was him. How could someone do that to their own flesh and blood? I was tempted to run over to him but knew I couldn't let Diamond near here to disable the charges.

But then again I doubt he knew how to…so I ran over to them. Sapphire was literally about to die. "Tell Prisma I love her…" he barely got it out before his eyes closed. His heart stopped and all I could do was ask myself…why? Standing up I saw Diamond not at the charges but at the computer terminal.

The one place I forgot to set charges at. "Witness the beginning in the end Serena. Today I'm taking you back to the day everything changed. I'm going back and making the future mine. This little 'release' was a huge testing success and now I have the mechanics to implement the results." This asshole is a mad man!

The initial release was a 'test? WHAT THE FUCK? "You're one crazy MO-FO! Can't you see all this destruction you've caused?" I look around. He doesn't seem amused and continues to type in data. I run up to him only to be blocked by a shield of his own, "Look around you, this isn't a future, this is a disaster. If anything this should teach you that the disease should be destroyed!" He looks harshly to me.

"Your opinion." He stated simply. I literally shouted out, "ARE YOU COMPLETELY INSANE?" he walked on as if it was merely routine to do this…then again for all I knew it was. Looking back inside the big metal thing and saw the electric charges going on inside and around it.

Then I saw Andrew down in there. I looked up momentarily and saw Diamond looking at me. Looking back down I watched Andrew drop the vial and shut the door before it could hit anything else and lock him inside the building. Andrew did it…this whole time the slip, the 'accident' was Andrew.

I have to admit it was weird to see the past in this form, looking down on it I for a moment thought 'this must be what the Greek Gods saw when they looked down upon the earth.

"He was a good little worker, recruited you, got a sample of your blood without your knowledge which allowed us to figure a few things out about you. And he did everything we asked him to…" I felt sick to my stomach, Andrew was given the order? He started this…? No Diamond did this, he GAVE the order!

But Andrew could have refused the order as well…Diamond brought me back to the real world with his next words, "Especially this…well once we told him you and him would be side by side as partners for life, even though the moment I knew when we'd get you I'd have you lead everything along my side."

Not wanting to give myself a heart attack I said simply, "Your stupidity in what you're doing and have done astounds me." he, a taken aback asks, "Explain?" hands on hips I reply, "Think about it you ordered Drew to release a deadly disease that's killed 70% of the worlds population…"

He quirked an eyebrow not impressed, "And you want to use your little-big time machine to go back in time and do it all over again? Where the hell is the sense in that?" he only smiles as if I'm the slow one here, "My, my Serena. Don't you get it? When I go back in time I already know what's going to happen."

I thought we already covered that? I had half a mind to scratch the top of my head in wonderment, "I know the exact effects it will have so I can now completely control it." Okay so he is an idiot, "You haven't learned anything have you?" I asked. He frowns at my statement.

"You're an idiot! If anything everything that has happened should have told you the disease CANT BE CONTROLLED and that it needs to be DESTROYED!" he looks on in slight outrage that I insulted him, "Once I go back in time I will control the disease and go on with my plan." My head drops.

I feel as if there's a sweat drop hanging from the back of it… "You just don't get it do you? And what's this big master plan of yours?" he happily answers back, "My big master plan is to take the world as my own and have my lovely warrioress in my bed as well as on the battlefield." Again sweat drop.

Idiot…I think to myself. I see him getting ready to take a literal swan dive into the big metal vat. Oh no you don't! I run up to the thing and just as he jumps I dive after him making us both narrowly miss the vat, hitting its side and bouncing off the thing, hitting the ground beneath us.

He seems angered beyond reason that I stopped him, "You're not going to stop this. You were supposed to help me…once you were under control!" I circled him as he circled me, "Sorry I just don't jump through hoops on command." I told him in a 'sorry, can't happen' voice.

Clenching his fists he swings out a power shockwave at me. And I'm not fully aware of his powers so the first hit actually hits me. Standing up and I hear the door opening, "Serena! The building's clear we came to get you guys!" Amara's voice runs through the place. I can't let this battle go.

If I do then everything we just did today and the past year or so will be for nothing, "Got it!" Looking back at her helped Darien out…he looks even more badly damaged than I thought. I felt so bad; here I am fighting off Diamond when my hearts screaming at me to make sure Darien's okay.

Gritting my teeth together I bellow out, "Amara get him and the other survivors out of here. I've got a mad scientist that needs to be capped off…for good!" she seems shocked and Darien is trying to fight her off of him so he can help, "Serena you can't fight him by yourself!" he yelps out.

I turn back to see the man I've come to love more than anything, "I'm not alone I have your love…NOW RUN!" as I felt my heart bleed out on the first part I knew he had to leave or else this was for nothing. I couldn't let Diamond go into that time machine of his, or change the course of the past to his own design.

I was going to take him out before setting off the explosives and prevent him from doing anymore damage. But first I had to take him down…easier said than done. As I saw him charge up again I put up my shield this time and sent out my own shock wave. Once they hit we both went flying backwards.

Standing up I thought to myself…if it's going to be like this then how will either of us gain any ground? He had a similar look to his own face. "So how's this going to go down? It seems as if we're evenly matched." I remark. For some of our powers yes but what about the rest?

I jump up and use the wall next to me as leverage as I run it down and body slam Diamond full force. I put a power shield into it to put more force into the hit effectively making him go down…hard. However the faultiness in my plan here was that at the last minute he saw it coming.

I didn't notice till seconds literally before impact so I knew the results I just couldn't stop it. Not that he minded, body slamming with extra force may hurt but it won't be something to take down a person for good. I thought for sure I had rolled off initially but the words that came out next confirmed I hadn't.

"I always knew you'd fall for me eventually." He remarked. I looked up and realized I was three inches from his smiling face. Took me a second to realize that I was still on top of him and he didn't seem to have any objections to our placements. I rolled over and jumping off as if I just got bitten.

I walked around him and tried to survey my best option. Then it hit me, hello, shoot the bastard! Pulling my gun out I took a shot. Only I forgot that he has that speed piece to him…he bent my arm out of place before knocking the gun out of my hands. I swallowed the urge to yelp out in pain.

Thankfully I had another gun. Pulling that one out I aimed to fire at him as well but thanks to his speed he grappled it out of my grip and threw it into the metal machine. "You won't be needing that right now." He said. I caught the sight in his eyes and he looked down in shame at me.

Asshole…I shot my foot up to kick him. He caught it and sent me flying into the wall with an added power hit. Getting back up I went to kick him in the side. He defended himself by grabbing my leg again and throwing me against the machine. I got up again but felt the pain of being slammed into metal…OUCH that hurt!

Not one to be deterred I looked around and decided to gain enough ground between us. I swung myself back up and punched him once in the gut; and on each side of his chest…twice. But still it was as if it did no damage at all and like before hand he just simply threw me down.

"Come on Serena you can do better than that. I've seen the level of power that you're capable of." Walking forward he swung his leg and smashed his foot into my gut effectively sending me into a wall. Thank god I was no longer pregnant! Getting back up he grabbed me around my neck and hauls me up the side of the wall.

"Serena this would all be easier if you would just give up." he sounded like I was the one in a bad place; well technically I guess I was. "I'm not…going to…let you kill millions…of people. You…deserve what ever pain…you have coming to you…" by the way it's hard to talk and breathe when someone's choking you.

I tried to keep whatever breath was left in me but after expelling those words I felt even worse. Not a good time to have tried a speech. Oxygen was leaving my brain so fast. I watched as Diamond was talking but the words were beyond my comprehension, I couldn't think or breathe and I didn't have any connective strength to even use my mental powers on him.

Was this my end? I even felt my head getting so light I even thought I saw Darien rush back in through the doors. My mind was playing tricks on me. All of a sudden I heard a pain filled groan before I fell down and into warm arms. "Serena! Serena? Are you okay?" Darien's voice filtered through my foggy head.

Looking up I gasped gulps of air into my lungs as I coughed in fits of pain. My neck was sore as hell and now that I had my full breath and air in my lungs I was pissed. Standing up…with Darien's help…I heard him shout out, "For the longest time I though you were the future!" I looked stumped for a second.

"I was wrong I AM the FUTURE!" at that despite my anger I started to laugh, though I probably made me look a bit hysterical, "No…your not…" he looked to me befuddled now. Looking to him I stated with confidence, "Your just another DICK, and your going to die in here." He looks enraged but I continue.

"All your big talk about needing me and whatever and all this time you were going to kill me no matter what!" I felt so pissed off, my anger started to rise. The ass that 'needed me' had just tried to choke me to death. I used my powers to create a mental cage around him so he couldn't move or use his own powers.

The only problem with that is I have to keep a steady concentration on it or risk it faltering and him getting out. Much like a force field for myself or anyone I choose only here it's in reverse. I only had a limited amount of time before the force he put into his attacks would dwindle down on the energy I was putting into it.

Going up to the device that he was at earlier I saw the moment in time where it was now 'frozen' of Andrew dropping the vial. However someone female behind me spoke up, "Hello." I turned around sharply and Darien came up and saw the young woman. It was an image of a young girl.

"Please go on this is for the best." She was aiding us? Perplexed I asked, "Who are you suppose to be?" she replies back, "I am an artif-" Darien interrupted her, "She knows what you are, who are you representing?" looking to him to confirm it I look back to her, "What he said."

Looking to me she responds, "I am modeled after the late Hotaru Tomoe, one of the head scientist's daughter. She passed away when the disease failed to bring her back to life. She wasn't given the disease in the proper dosage and it speed up the process of her death." Poor thing…

I remember a rumor about her around the office just before all hell broke loose. Her father was obsessed with trying to find a way to help her. Apparently she was the only thing he had left in this world once his wife died. But when she became ill he tried anything to keep her alive. I guess in the end he…anyways… "Why are you popping up now?" I asked her.

It was strange to see this 3d figure of a 12 year old dark haired child. She looked so sweet and innocent it made you want to listen to her. Probably why she was picked as the image for the projection…smart man. "Mr.-sorry Diamond as you know him has become increasingly infected with the disease and has mutated far beyond what his body can take." Okay suspicious.

"How do you mean?" I ask looking back at him. "He has become obsessed with his finalized plans of taking over when his own mutation took hold of his mental state. He's no longer completely human." I knew the feeling there were some days that I felt that way myself.

"I know the feeling…" I grunted out. She seemed to differ in her opinion, "Not at all Serena, you still have you basic right and wrong impulses. The mutation with in you went as far as it'll go which are just enhancements. You're still at the very least 80% human, where as he is none."

Well that sounds more of a relief than I thought it would be. "I'm still waiting the day for him to take on the last form of his mutation." Okay that stumped me. Looking to her more sternly I ask, "Last form?" he seems more aggravated now and it's becoming increasingly harder to keep him contained.

His powers were pushing at me more and more. "Yes he has one last form to take on physically before he is no longer human in the completed sense. Right now he has mental knowledge of who he is and physical appearance but soon he won't even have that. I've been waiting for it so I can lock him up." she wants this to end as badly as we do.

Good to know… "Why can't you lock him up now?" Darien asked looking over to his ever increasing rage. "Because he still has complete knowledge of over riding terminal systems. He can override my commands; I am after all only a computer. The only reason I'm not shut down is because I hold all of his scientific findings." She looks over to him and I'm beginning to see what she means.

The more he's locked up the more he dips into his mutated powers and becomes less human, and he's at the point where if he uses to much he'll loose himself to the disease as a whole. "Will I ever be like that?" I ask slight panic in my voice. "No Serena, your mutation is in its final stage." Sounds helpful…sorta.

"There's nothing more that I have been able to predict that your body as a whole will do." Whoa predict? "What is it that as a computer you're made to do?" I ask. "I am made to hold all of his findings and generate new thesis' from his own and see every possible out come." Wow…

"Cool." I look back only to feel a dripping motion from my nose. I wipe it away to reveal blood. His powers are intensifying now. It's getting so hard to keep him holed up that it's effecting me physically. Darien's concern is etched into his face as he touches mine. "We need to get you out of here." He says.

I turn back to the image of Hotaru, "With all the charges I have set will it prevent that machine from working? Will all the explosives set here bring this place down?" I need to know that my plan will work. "From the explosives I saw earlier and the ones here it will level the building to an extent." Wait to an extent?

"What do you mean? It won't do it?" she looks to be in deliberation, "It will work to an extent but to fully destroy this facility, no it won't. The facility can still be rebuilt." No! I, NO! Can't let him be able to rebuild this place and who knows when he'll turn. "Can you detect when he'll turn?" she shook her head at this. "Unfortunately his final stage is deeply rooted in the amount of power the disease gave him."

What the hell? "Basically with his metal state it could be anywhere between a few minutes to a few hours or longer." I can't work with that. "Then what will do it?" I ask her. "If this machine were running in activation it could generate the power needed to make the rest of the facility explode while sending a person back in time." I look to her with surprise etched on my face.

"Yes Serena if you were to go in there you could stop all of this from having happened and prevent the survivors of this world from total world devastation." Kill two birds with one stone…I had wondered about that before. "Wait a minute if Serena jumps in there and prevents this doesn't that mean…" the words were left unsaid.

"I have correctly deduced that if the bio-hazard were destroyed before the initial leak happened then the world will remain safe and unharmed. However I was never able to convince the doctor to do such a thing. His mind was already to far gone for that possibility." She seemed lost on that one.

Darien seemed to be in serious debate, "I don't know how to process this…" Darien admitted aloud. I looked over to him, "What do you mean I could end this even before it all began." It's a huge possibility. He looks to me in slight anger and knowledge of what can be done.

"Serena you do know what will happen if you go back." He almost asks. I nod my head, "Of course this will have never have happened, so many lives lost…innocent people…" he seemed angered but I already knew why, "And us…" he looks up to me with some tears in his eyes and sees the same look in my own.

"I asked myself something at one point that's coming to light now." He looks in wonder at what I could have asked myself. Looking to him I ask, "If you had a choice to save one sibling or five strangers in a burning build, who would you, choose?" he realizes the predicament I've been placed in here.

"I understand the options here but for the betterment of mankind Serena-" I hold up my hand, "Yeah I got it, I already knew then what I was going to choose. Now all I have to do is implement it." It hurt to say it to leave but I can't be selfish. I turned to Darien one last time.

I grabbed him down for a kiss that I knew was probably going to be my last one ever with him. He knew what I was going to do and was conflicted on what HE wanted to do. "I love you so much…please don't ever forget that." I barely whispered. Tears strolled down my face as he kissed them then my lips once again.

I didn't want to leave him, my boys, my friends…it wasn't fair that I was to loose everything that I helped build. I didn't realize how hard I fell in love with Darien until just then. The overwhelming urge to stay there and have him hold me was strong, but not as strong as my need to fix the future.

I painfully made myself back up away from Darien just a little bit. To much would have hurt me more so than what I could handle emotionally right now.

I felt the power of Diamond weighing down on my psyche, I needed to do this. Placing the device to detonate the explosives in Darien's hand I said, "When you're clear of the building detonate. I've got business with Diamond to finish off here." He refused to let me go as soon as I tried to leave though.

I looked up to see his angry tears, "You can't leave me…what about our boys?" I loved them so much already and DIDN'T want to leave them. But how selfish was I to let millions of people die just so I could have Darien and my boys? I cried at what I was about to loose.

Darien pulled me into his arms and held me tightly, as if he was afraid to let go of me, and quiet frankly I was scared to let go of him as well. I didn't want to leave him, my boys, my new friends…I loved them all. But looking over at Diamond I knew what had to be done.

I painfully separated myself from him as he looked to me with pain filled eyes. "I'm sorry I won't be there to help raise the boys. Take care of them…" I hugged him once more as I muttered out between sobs, "Don't let them forget me…" his arms tightened around me as he sobbed out.

"I promise." I knew they would have a semblance of remembering me, if this place would even still exist in some frame of time... "Serena I really hate to cut this short but the mind field you have around Diamond is wearing thin. It won't hold up forever." I knew she was right and once again separated myself from Darien.

When I go back I can prevent this from happening, I can save my family, Darien's family…his wife…I stopped in my tracks for a moment. I was giving him back up to his wife in the end. I almost fell down with how ill I suddenly became. Forcing the bile back down my throat I walked on.

I came up to the point where one jump and that was it I would be down there back to the point of origin. I looked back at Darien with tears in my eyes as his were filled with his own angst filled tears. I looked at the push button in his hands and yelled out, "Please don't hesitate to use it!" I begged.

He gripped it fiercely…determined he shouted back, "I promise I will!" looking to Diamond I knew that once I was down in the machine long enough Darien would set the charges off and the unit would explode. Letting Diamond go from the mental force I had him under I took a running leap into the machine.

Diamond missed his charge at me and slammed into the opposing wall. Far enough down I heard Darien's voice shout something before I heard the explosions go off behind me. I shut my eyes together hearing the sounds of the rumbling explosion getting closer and closer to me.

Part of me wanted to look back once I opened my eyes. Seeing the area around me was surreal, I felt like I was looking into a Sci-Fi time warp. However, I didn't dare look back, too scared of the sight behind me.

However if I had I would have been surprised. Landing I didn't automatically land in the lab it was where my body was at the time it happened, at my desk. Once in control of my body I jumped up I ran like a bat out of hell to the lab. I knew I had only mere minutes before the vial would drop and Andrew would set everything off.

I ignored my co-workers as well as everybody else in the place who thought I'd lost my mind. Security came up to try and stop me but with my skills I was great. I took them down with a few fast hits and completed my run. Getting there I ran in seeing Andrew casually toss it before seeing me.

"Serena what-" I shoved him forcefully out of the way and dove for the falling vial. It was seconds to impact and all I could think was…please let this not be for nothing! Please let us not repeat everything over again! Not the pain again, not the blood shed…PLEASE!

Landing I realized I had the vial in my hand. I grasped it tight and made sure there were no cracks in it. Security came in and looked ready to take me down. Andrew walked up to them and said, "Easy boys I'm sure Serena has a logical reason for-SERENA!" he said in panic watched my moves.

I dropped the vial and the rest of the vials and main jars containing the disease into the acid tones that could burn anything I was told about…thank you Prisma…looking around I read the different labels before gathering all the chemicals needed to make it and tossed them all into the vat of acid as well.

Andrew ran over and yelled out, "Are you FUCKING NUTS?" he knew it was destroyed beyond repair. "You have any idea what that was or how long it'll take to get those chemicals again? Not to mention the right amounts only a few people in existence know its exact amounts."

I stood simply there as I watched the disease and what could make it burn into nothingness. I let out a, "Thank god…" as I was escorted out of the lab and into the security office. I didn't care that I was probably going to get fired; all that mattered was that everybody was fine and safe.

After an extendedly long conversation I was placed on probation with the company. I told them an excuse of reading an article and blah, blah it won't ever happen again. Lucky it was my first offense so probation was light compared to what it could have been. I drove home and found myself apprehensive about seeing my family again.

The last mental images I had were of them all dead or infected. Walking in I heard Mom doing the dishes, Dad working on his papers and Shingo…oh Shingo…

He was playing his video games while the puppy that we had was curled up next to him soundly happy. I was so over come with emotions that I couldn't face them just yet. I tried to get myself under control before seeing them again. I thought briefly to go upstairs to my room but couldn't.

Then as if mother's intuition yelled to my own, my mother came out and saw me by the door. "Serena what are you doing home so late?" I couldn't stop myself I let my purse drop from my shoulder and briefcase fall from my hand before enveloping her into an explosive hug.

My father saw this and asked, "What's wrong? Everything go okay at work today?" oh if he only knew what I had seen, gone through and given up…seeing him I ran and hugged him as he wrapped his arms around me, "Sweetheart are you okay?" he asked concern lacing his voice.

Even Shingo was concerned for me. Wiping the tears from my eyes I hugged him to, "Sis? What's wrong?" I let him go as I said, "What can't a girl be happy to see her family?"

I walked into the rest of the house and spent the night taking everything in with my family. I even sat through dad complaining about work. Normally I'd have made an excuse to leave but this was different. I missed it to much to care right now. Once everybody was settled down I went up to my room.

Once in my room I striped down to nothing before putting my robe on and going to the bathroom for a shower. I felt the hot spray hit me and started to just recall what had happened with my family just now. I had them all back, they were alive and safe and happy…we all were.

Once done I went to my room to get ready for bed only putting on a simple night shirt that barely went past my bum and some fresh boy shorts. Hair still wet I towel dried it as I walked to the window and looked out it and at the moonlight. Many a times I had done this while in t he room Darien and I shared together.

The towel dropped from my hands and landed in a heap on the floor…Darien…thinking back on him I felt tears well up within my eyes…here in this time he was happily married to Daniel…and he didn't know I even existed. Tears came forth to my eyes as I relished in memories that only I would have now.

That was almost the worst to know that I have them and he won't. He wouldn't know of the love we would share, the memories we would make, the friends we would have, the sons we would have together. Because right now, they didn't exist, none of it did. I erased it when I prevented Diamond's plan from going through.

I erased our sons.

Our sons…I gave up my sons and the love of my life for this…all of a sudden I felt hugely, emotionally drained. The weight of everything I had fully given up and let go of impacted me hard. Looking at the clock a few times it read 12, 1:45, and 3:15 a.m. before I just simply cried into the night.

I stifled my sobs so no one would hear me. Eventually my tears put me to sleep that night, as they would for the next several nights…probably, completely unaware that I wasn't the only person to jump through the time machine only hours before…

THE END…for now!

I'll start the new series soon but for now review and let me know what you think! And ask yourself who else made it through? And one last thing…what do you think?