Another Dimension: Demonic Tempest

[Shadow Dragon]

"Pain?" asked Luke.

"You were the only one who kept your lively hood a secret until that stranger more or less spoke for you," said Tikal to Luke, "Is your life prior to this really that painful?"

"You've seen it, right?!" hissed the young man, "Earlier when...that guy, was interrogating me?" Luke pauses for a bit, "I guess it doesn't give the full story though, does it? No wonder you're still questioning me. I get it."

"A while back, we've more or less agreed that no secrets will be kept from the teams, and right now, you're breaking that agreement."

Luke turns to Tikal on that note, then sighs, "Yeah...you're right...I'm sorry."

Armstrong sighs, "Then enough time wasting. You want to see your folks, right? Then you'd better get moving before something else catches up to us."

[ganondorf2]

"Thats enough," I said, "Not all secrets must be talked about...remember? Jade? That agreement has been on hold for a while."

"I think we won't be interrupted again," Ganondorf said, "Unless that threat wants to be shot by one of my monsters bow."

[Shadow Dragon]

Luke shook his head, "No, it's OK, really. I've kept it a secret long enough, and it's no big deal anyway. It just had no bearing on what was going on...until HE got involved," of course, he was talking about the opponent that attacked him and the other clone, "I just want to wait until that other replica is with us before I talk about it, that's all. Is it too early to see him?"

"So you don't want to see your parents first?" asked Armstrong.

[ganondorf2]

"The other is with Neutron. We don't know if he's awake or not. That is a lot of blood he lost..." Kira said.

"I can tell that hurt him more than the clone..." Nova said, "I mean he lost his eye and what's to say it hasn't been done the same way?"

"Oh...that's right, he mentioned that..." I remember.

"If you wish to see him, I see no problem but it's a bit of a walk back," Ganondorf said.

"Not for me," Dell said, "Just give me a few moments to get my tools."

"I have plenty with me if you need it," Ivo said.

"Much apricated. Only for a few moments mind you."

[Shadow Dragon]

Luke nods, "Yeah, my...parents can wait a bit longer. I need to have a serious talk with the replica anyway."

"I'm coming with you," said Tikal.

[The Melee Master]

"If you're going to see the replica, Luke," Jade stepped in, "I'd like to tag along, if you don't mind."

"Mind adding one more?" asked Alvis to both Jade and Luke.

"I don't see why not."

[ganondorf2]

"Just give me a moment," Dell said and started to work on something. Nova was curious to see how he works, but stays back to give space however it didn't take long before we hear, "Teleporter coming up!"

He placed a large tool box on the ground, before it folded out into a pad of sorts and turning on and he said, "The exit is near where Neutron headed to. Go on."

"You are ahead of your time, sir," Nova said.

"Ah shucks, that's nothing. My father made a machine called the 'life extender'. Before you ask, I rather not talk too much about it. This is one secret that won't be told, even in my death bed."

[Shadow Dragon]

Luke hesitated for a moment, however, "I-"

"Stop wasting time," said Tikal, walking over, "you said you want to come, right?"

"Right," he nods, following Tikal to the portal.

[ganondorf2]

We follow soon after

---------------------------

Neutron was keeping an eye on the clone during this and said to himself, "At least I cleaned him up and is stable...how stable I don't know...When I find that boy...I want to know why."

[Shadow Dragon]

The clone's eye slowly cracked open as his mind went in and out of conciousness. His body felt too weak for him to even lift an arm, at least for the moment. Forcing himself to move his hand to his face, he braced himself and carrassed it, to feel the texture of gauze and tape over his left eye. An oxygen mask was over his mouth and nose. He then let his arm drop to the side, suddenly feeling dizzy, as well as tight bandages and gauzes around his body from where he had been attacked.

Slowly turning his head, he sees Neutron in the room. Did he and his group go through the effort to mend his wounds and save his life?

[ganondorf2]

"I see you're awake," Neutron said, "I know this is a bad time to ask, but how are you fairing? I had to mend a few things...but I'm going to have to give you a new eye. The others are tracking down that stranger, but I wouldn't be surprised they are returning to check on your status." then thought "I wonder about the device that was nearby. Did that Dell person place it there?"

[Shadow Dragon]

"You saved me?" the clone asked, "Why?"

That's when he hears the door opening and in walks his team.

"Oh good, you're alive after all," said Armstrong in a half-joking matter.

The clone didn't say anything, eye turning to Luke, "Why are you here?"

"Just coming to see how you're doing," he replied.

Tikal crossed his arms, "Well, isn't this an interesting sight?"

"Excuse me?" the clone growled.

"The need to find your own identity made you lose one of your eyes in exchange,"

The clone closed his eye, replying weakly, "Here to make fun of me?"

"Tell me, clone, was your inflated ego and self-discovery power trip truly worth the loss of your left eye?"

The clone didn't answer as he turns away from Tikal.

"Well, I admit you've proven one thing to me: you're even more reckless than Zephon was. It's truly amazing how you even managed to survive at all."

"If you don't shut your godd**n mouth, I'll kick you out of here like a godd**n football," Armstrong warned Tikal, but the mage wasn't phased.

"Are you done?" the clone's voice was surprisingly calm, wanting to talk to Tikal himself.

[ganondorf2]

"Neutron is giving you a stink eye as well..." Nova said to Tikal, looking away not wanting a fight.

"And you are giving me a good excuse for me to infect you with the C virus, so keep talking like that and you'll get your chance. This is no time. This event gave him time to think. I expected this, but not like the stunt that fellow pulled. Like or not, time is a virtue and you sure know how to speed it up in the worst way. I said I was going to give a new eye anyway"

[Shadow Dragon]

"But first," the clone told Neutron, then to Tikal, "now I have to say something that I've been holding in: I know you're just using me as a punching bag to take your regrets out on for not being able to save 'him' when you had the chance, because you have a hard time moving on from your regrets."

"'Him'?" questioned Luke.

"This Zephon guy or whatever," answered Armstrong to Luke, "Try and keep up, kid,"

Tikal froze at that, which told everyone that it was true.

"And are you just now figuring that out?" asked Armstrong to the clone.

Tikal then hissed, "Why you...!"

"Let me finish," the clone sharply turns to Tikal, "I'm putting an end to this right here, right now, while I have witnesses: I've long accepted the fact that you're never going to accept me! That's fine: I wasn't created to please you or the others, but I won't accept you making comparisons between myself and the one I was cloned from, and I won't accept you always putting me down!"

"It's your fault for letting my criticism get to you,"

"Sorry, you deranged mage, but that gaslighting technique isn't going to work on me! Don't you dare talk to me as if I'm an ignorant son of a b*tch who knows nothing of the world!" the clone stops to regain his composure, "I may only be a few months old...but I know enough of what's going on at this very moment! And for now, that's enough for me!"

Tikal didn't say anything, not having it in him to argue anymore, and knowing the clone wasn't done speaking.

[ganondorf2]

Neutron smirked a little to this as we stood by.

[Shadow Dragon]

"Right now, all I need to know is the situation at hand...what we need to do to stop it...and as for who I am and what my purpose is in this world...I'll figure that and the rest out later, AFTER we deal with this and get a moment's peace," continued the clone, "If Neutron and you guys still have need of me, then I'll continue to prove myself useful, and provide as much help as I can."

"You've had months to figure yourself out, boy," said Tikal, "but I guess I understand. Finding yourself doesn't happen overnight, after all, but your overconfidence is what's going to end your life one day."

Luke slightly lowered his head, "He and I are a lot alike...and if I could change...then maybe he can, too."

"So...have you figured it out?"

The clone looks at Tikal.

"About what you want us to call you?"

"Is a reason for a name choice necessary to have one?" he questioned, "or could it be to show that I'm my own person and not have some kind of deep meaning to said name? Actions in a person speak louder than the simplicity of a name, so there's no use complicating it."

"Says the clone who lost an eye trying to 'find a name for himself', whether figuratively or literally, I have no idea what you were thinking with that."

"Yeah yeah, it's stupid, I know,"

"No, it's just that, there are better ways of accomplishing goals rather than to rush head-on, and what you did was reckless and almost got you killed!"

The clone sighed, sinking back into the bed, "Since when do you care? You've held a vendetta against me since we've met. I didn't choose to be here, you know."

"No, but I can tell you're dodging the question because you haven't found yourself yet. Well, I'm sorry I brought it up. I was expecting a simple answer, not a philosophy lesson."

[ganondorf2]

"Neutron..." Nova warned.

"I'm not going to do anything. Tikal needed a wake up call too, just as I thought."

"Tikal...have you not realized something yourself?" Ganondorf asked.

[Shadow Dragon]

"I'm just taking this one step at a time," the clone tiredly explained, "which is what I should've done a long time ago," he sighed, "but with all this chaos going on, I didn't get a chance. Maybe if I did, I wouldn't be in this situation. I'm sorry if I worried you all."

"I'm sorry it took the loss of an eye and a damaged ego to make you question your worth," said Tikal, "but when we first met, your arrogance was mostly the reason why I hated you so much."

"Oh, so it didn't have anything to do with you still having guilt for failing to save the one I was cloned from?" asked the clone, "You're not as hard to read as you think, Tikal."

That made Tikal clinch his fist in response, but quickly pushed it aside, "And now the seriousness of the situation, and the reality of being a nameless dog that follows his master everywhere, finally caught up and bit you in the neck. Or have you finally realized how things work in this world and decided to pull your own weight?"

Despite the seriousness in Tikal's question, the clone didn't feel like fighting him over the matter, and kept quiet, knowing that such bickering wasn't getting anyone anywhere.

Luke and Armstrong just stood by for now. Tikal turns to Ganondorf in response to his question.


{Didn't realize it was late. I'll see you later.}

[ganondorf2]

{Later. We were into it hard lol}

"You have two clones of me..." he said, "Granted they were named differently, but would you act the same if say Nova was killed then made again and you expect him to be like the original?"

"Actually...I should say something on that..." I said, "I acted like that...I still remember..."

"G2..." Nova started.

"Let her speak," Ganondorf said.

"The name alone, gave me nightmares...Even when called different, in my mind many years ago, he looks the same and is the same, clone or not...I figured he would act it too. Don't you see? It's the same thing. You expect the same thing from a copy, don't you? You want to protect him because you don't want a repeat of what happened. To prove you're not a failure at saving him unlike last time. Just as he said. Are we right or not?"

"This is getting good," Peac0ck said.

"I AGREE," Tricky said.

"Shut up you two," Jotaro said.

"It's making me wonder if I should do that old trick again. I still have the samples..." Neutron thought a loud on purpose.

[Shadow Dragon]

That made Tikal freeze at what, but it was enough evidence to support Ganondorf2's assumption.

"OK, now it's my turn to speak!" Luke chimed in.

Tikal silently stepped away from the bed to allow Luke to speak.

"Why?" asked the clone, "Are you going to make fun of me, too?"

"No! I...just hear me out, all right?" Luke sighs, "besides, it's MY fault you wound up this way!"

"It wasn't your fault, Luke," he admitted, "What that guy said just really pissed me off."

"No, this time, it really IS my fault!" Luke clinches his fists, "You never would've ended up like this if it wasn't for me!"

The clone continued to listen.

[ganondorf2]

{I thought I said that, but that's ok. I think too fast }

We listen as well

[Shadow Dragon]

"Asch tracked me into this world!" Luke replied, "He tracked me and you wound up fighting him! You never should've gotten involved!"

The three men were silent.

"Him and I are connected. He probably tracked me down using hyperresonance."

"And now you've lost me, kid," said Armstrong.

"Asch, huh?" the clone said, determined to memorize it, "So what are you saying? And what does this have to do with me? I've never met the guy before, and yet he was after my blood!"

"He probably thought you were going to make the same mistake I did..." Luke replied.

"You mean destroying a mining town?" asked Tikal.

Luke slightly lowered his head in response.

"Look kid, I really don't know why I was created other than to strike at the other team where it hurt the most," the clone was referring to the loss of one of their own, "but to destroy an entire city? What reason could he possibly have for that?"

"Well, uh-"

"Either way, how the hell does he know anything about me at all, anyway?"

"I told you," Luke replied, "he tracked me, and probably saw exactly what I was seeing at the time, including who I was traveling with."

"A mind reader?" asked Tikal.

"No. Hyperresonance, I said!"

"No one knows what the hell you're saying, kid!" said Armstrong.

"Must be more of a thing in his world than it is ours," Tikal replied.

"Stop stalling!" the clone had enough, then flinched due to the pain in his wounds.

[ganondorf2]

"Take it easy," Neutron said.

"How does Hyperresonance work, if you don't mind me asking?" Nova asked.

"This might be a bad time to ask that..." I said.

"Better I ask as I might suddenly learn it, " he sighed, know his body well.

"Oh right you learn just by either watching or being in contact with someone..."

[Shadow Dragon]

"Sometimes, Asch can see what I see," said Luke, "it's not easy to explain." then to the clone, "It's no wonder why he was after you either; your attitude was starting to piss me off, too!"

"What?!" questioned the clone.

"Even Neutron admitted that you're worth more than you think you are! I was once like you: I didn't know the meaning of my existence either, so I created a meaning myself! You may be a replica, but you're still a living person with thoughts and feelings!! And Neutron cares for his own men more than everyone might think," said Luke, "he saved your life, right?"

"Until they double cross him," the clone remembered what happened to Dark Sans after he destroyed Gaster at one point.

"And you obey Neutron because you don't know any other way of existing, do you?"

"Stop talking as if you know me!" the clone hissed.

"But it's true, isn't it?"

"Wait a minute..." Armstrong realized, "so what that guy said about you...?"

"Yeah," Luke lowered his head, "I'm Asch's replica."

[ganondorf2]

"Interesting...there's one thing that fellow should know, however," Neutron said before turning to the clone, "Granted, he said you're not ready, but here's the thing. I placed something else in you that might be confusing him...it's a matter of time until it wakes."

"You put a virus in him?!" Karson asked.

"I would never do that! No, it's to improve his skills. It hasn't woken yet, as I said," he continued before turning to Luke, "And I hope he heard that too."

"Now I like how you think," Ganondorf said.

Next thing Nova had both hands on his head and I said, "Um...don't tell me."

"Sorry, I can't help it..." Nova said afterward.

[Shadow Dragon]

"So...you really are another clone...?" questioned the swordsman clone, "Why did you keep your livelihood a secret?"

"In the universe Jade and I come from, we're known as 'replicas'," replied Luke, "Asch's real name is Luke, but because I was born to be his replacement, he changed his name to Asch; remnants of the sacred flame,"

"Asch..." the clone muttered, determined to remember that name as he clinched his fist with the desire for revenge against him.

"I've spent the last 7 years after I was created, locked up in the manor, learning how to walk, write, everything after believing I was kidnapped and had my memories erased." A sad chuckle was heard from him, "Fact of the matter is, it was Asch who was kidnapped, and then I was created. That's why I don't have a past or memories; I never had any to begin with."

The clone said nothing, but looked at Luke with astonishment.

"I was much like you at the time; arrogant and ignorant of the world around me, and doing what everyone tells me to do...until an incident happened that forced me to change my ways... You've seen it in a vision; the fall of a mining city, only because I refused to acknowledge my mistake and accept the blame. Since then, I vowed to change, and with THAT said, if you go around living ignorance and listening to what everyone tells you, it'll backfire on you!"

"I am nothing like you-"

"Take it from the replica who destroyed an entire city and killed everyone in it because his master forced his hand!!" his voice trembled, obviously upset, making Luke pause to regain his composure, "I lost everyone's trust and was almost abandoned! It was then I decided to change! I made a promise to everyone that I would change! I've kept that promise! I may be born to be Asch's replica, but I consider myself to be a different person! And...whether or not you're a clone of your original, you can be a different person too if you just try! If it wasn't too late for me, then it's not too late for you, either!"

The clone just looked at him, not sure whether to believe him or not, but then after hearing Neutron, "What, you don't believe I can improve on my own?"

"I'm not finished with you yet, dammit!" Luke hissed at the clone.

[ganondorf2]

"That you can, but I gave you a boost when you learn it," Neutron said.

"You can blame Neutron then for all this..." I said with a sigh.

[Shadow Dragon]

The clone didn't know what to say about that, "You did?"

"Besides, wasn't it you who said 'you'll come up with your own purpose and find a name for yourself'?" Luke continued in spite of it, "So what's stopping you now? An exchange of words that have no meaning to you as a person?! You may be a replica, but...you're alive with your own thoughts and feelings, and have the ability to make your own path!"

Again, nothing was said back.

"By following the orders of your creator, or living for your own purpose, you can choose to live how you want! Even Neutron stated that, for Yulia's sake!! Just don't let others define who you are or take advantage of you for being a replica!"

The clone continued to sit in silence for a few minutes to take in Luke's words, before slowly sitting up and looking at him, "Why are you telling me this?"

"Because I don't want to see another replica get hurt or lose everything over a stupid mistake," Luke then finished.

The clone sighs to this, leaning back.

"And don't worry about Asche," said Luke, "he might not be on our side, but he's not really an enemy either, unless he really is working for Elfilis. That's something I want to confirm with him anyway."

"You're going to seek him out?" asked Tikal.

"I'd focus on our objective first, kid," said Armstrong, "and we'll worry about that guy later."

"Speak for yourself, Steven..." muttered the clone.

"What?"

"I don't care if he's not as bad as you claim, Luke, I want revenge... Tch, choose how I want to live, huh?" the clone then directs to Neutron, "Then why was I created in the first place? And I'd like the truth, if you don't mind."

[ganondorf2]

"At first, one my soldiers, but then I didn't want that..." Neutron starts before looking away, "I didn't want you to have the same nightmare I had when I was created. Yes, I'm a clone too, but the story was far different. I had to fight to survive from my wicked creators...and save others from them. That's what I wanted. All of my follow clones to be free from them and be able to fight back. Trust me when I say that the destruction of mining city is only a drop with the Death Dragons. They killed anything that moves, pollute waters, burn everything to dust, and soon the very planet I was born on, was about to be wiped out too."

"Good grief," I said, remembering.

"You were created to help but not just me, but others too, but I gave you freedom to choose, be it right or wrong. So far you have done that with that month ago and still are despite this hiccup." he sighed, "I guess you can blame me for getting you all...what's the term? Puffed up?"

I look to Nova to see if his dark twin was telling the truth, to see a look showing that it was true. He would have said something if it wasn't.

[Shadow Dragon]

"Fair enough," said the clone.

"Created to help you while hurting us in return..." muttered Tikal, "don't think I don't see right through you."

"Fine, then I've made my decision," said the clone, "I'll continue to serve and fight at your side, Neutron-"

Luke was astonished, "What? Now hold on-"

"But first I need some time to myself. Tikal is right; if I don't learn to work on myself a bit, then what good am I to you all?"

"Changed your mind about working on it later, hm?" Tikal said, "well I guess that's one step with 'thinking for yourself', but you still have yourself on Neutron's leash!"

"And going AWOL isn't going to help me anymore than it would help deal with this crud. I won't abandon Neutron or the rest of the clones, but if I don't take care of my personal conflicts, it might interfere with my ability to help later."

"Asch's words really got to you, haven't they?" Luke asked.

The clone sighs, "But you have to admit, he does have a point. Though I can't do anything right now," he looks at his body which was still wrapped in gauzes, "I'll catch up once I'm given the go-ahead."


{I'm out. Kind of stayed later than I planned. }