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**Chapter 12: Descent

Reprieve**

It was hard... The hardest thing Jason had ever done in his young life.

He tore himself away from the site of his mate's death, feeling a plethora of emotions flood him. Anger, hatred, frustration and endless, all-consuming sorrow.

Why...?

Jason tore his visor from his face and threw back his head, letting all that emotion erupt from his lips in an ear-splitting roar that died into terrible, heartbreaking sobs.

He was angry at Connor for sacrificing himself...

He hated Titanitus for making Connor sacrifice himself...

... Frustrated at the world for making him kill his own mate...

... and sad that now... he had to live in a world without Connor.

Every part of him wanted to charge into R3's throne room and demand Connor back. He could bend the laws of reality, break those laws. Maybe he could bring Connor back... He may not have the power now but if he kept at it, if he studied hard enough...

"Don't be stupid," Pessimist snarled. "Do you really want to make an enemy out of the No Ones? After all they've done for you?"

They're the ones that gave me the weapon that killed Connor!

"Mortal fate shall and always will be in mortal hands," Optimist told him. "Jason, you didn't have to do what you did but you knew it was the right thing to do. Connor told you to move on. He also wanted you to save the world for him.

"Don't let his sacrifice be in vain."

He was tempted just to let everyone die so that he could be with Connor again. Genesis was just sitting there... inviting him into oblivion. Slowly, Jason bent over and plucked it from the ground. There wasn't even a trace of blood on the blade.

It would be poetic that he would end his own life by the same blade that ended Connor's...

"Jase..." Dan asked softly, shuffling into view. "What are you thinking?"

"I want to be with Connor..." he whispered. "But Connor wanted the world to live..." He gripped Genesis tightly and stared at the tall, central tower. "Dad... I'll do what I can... but afterwards, I make no promises."

Dan sucked in air through his teeth. Whether it was from the agony of having half his flesh burned off or the fact that his son was seriously considering suicide was no apparent to Jason.

"Be careful, son. Remember, I'll always be proud of you."

Jason nodded grimly and stalked forward. He passed Robin who was using her sniper rifle as a crutch.

She gave him a single nod.

"There's still so much to live for," Optimist whispered, his head hung low. "There's Dan... Robin... even Brett. You were never a selfish person, Jason. Maybe a little neurotic but you lived for others. Remember what Brett said, 'Work for the benefit of all, love for the sake of others but live for yourself.'"

Jason nodded grimly.

I'll keep on living for the people I care for...

... I'll always love Connor...

... and I'll fight so that the world Connor died for will remain intact.

This was it... It was time to save the world.

For Connor.

"You two stay here," he said.

"Jason, be careful," Dan warned. "A Malefactor is the culmination of the darkest side of mortals. Each one is tied to a specific aspect of us. In theory, they cannot be destroyed unless you destroy all mortals. But, a Malefactor needs a host to act. Destroy the host and the Malefactor is weakened. Genesis should be able to destroy it once the host is destroyed."

Jason nodded firmly and stepped through the sliding doors of the central tower. Heavily recycled air almost burned his nostrils as he entered the tower. In the atrium, there was a single receptionist desk that currently lay abandoned. Behind the desk was a large elevator that travelled all the way up to the very top of the tower. He entered the elevator, hit the button for the top floor and waited grimly as the elevator's door shut.

Reprieve shuddered.

Negative X didn't have much time.

Maybe about another five minutes or so.

Five minutes to save Kevin, stop the Malefactor and get Negative X to the auxiliary life support system.

He was confident he could find that system.

He also had a feeling he knew who the Malefactor's host was.

There was only one person that he could think of that would keep Kevin alive, had access to Reprieve, had access to the resources to execute this raid and would go to such extreme lengths to stop Kevin's project.

A single lion who had constantly hovered by Kevin's shoulder time and time again.

Ding!

A lion who - while Kevin gave the orders - would ensure those orders were executed.

The elevator doors swung.

Jason froze.

Because lying face up right in front of him, a gaping hole in his chest, and with eyes staring blankly into the ceiling was...

"... Albert Denton... Then who -?"

His eyes flicked up further into the chamber at the top of the tower.

Negative X lay on the edge of a raised dais, gasping for breath and fighting to keep Reprieve floating in space as well as struggling to keep himself alive. Behind him, with hands clasped tightly behind him, staring into the big, blue and green expanse of Enria was...

...

Kevin Riley.

****

R3 the Writer of Reality stood encircled by troops from the Riley corporation.

"Right about now," he said softly, shifting his alien eyes around them. Brett was clutching his assault rifle. The Doberman showed no fear. Probably the only person on Enria who wasn't scared witless. "Jason will be confronting Kevin Riley."

"Kevin!?" Brett blurted.

Ominous clicks erupted from around them as the Riley soldiers readied to fire.

"Yes. Kevin Riley is the Fear Malefactor's Host. Kevin Riley is Bane Bloodbath."

****

Kevin turned, his irises glowing an evil red just like the Malefactor's. The smirk on his face did not fit his friend's face.

"You!?" Jason exclaimed, stepping out of the elevator. The entire chamber was the pinnacle of all that Reprieve stood for. An enormous platform placed at the very top of the tallest tower in the space station with a glass dome enclosing it. All of Reprieve was visible... and so was Enria.

"Yes, Jason," Kevin replied, stepping past Negative X. "Me."

Jason's mind was reeling.

"But... why?"

"Why not?" Kevin replied, grinning that same ridiculously wide grin that Bane wore. He lifted his hands into the air. "My father made footprints in the sand that I could never follow. He forged Enria in his image. He helped maintain the already flawed society where supers were either ostracized for their abilities or criticised for their actions. He nurtured that division.

"I will destroy that world he created by shattering the two symbols that make the pillar by which this society stands! I will send Reprieve crashing into New Hope City and in the ensuing chaos, my world will be built! I will wash the sands completely free of my father's footsteps and make my own mark on the world!"

"He's nuts!" Optimist cried.

"Geez... Should've known better than to trust a multibillion corporation into the hands of a teenager," Pessimist murmured.

"He killed Connor..." Horndog whispered.

"You planned all this!?" Jason accused, levelling Genesis at Kevin. "This was all your doing!?"

Kevin scoffed, closing his hands as if crushing Enria and lowered them so that he was staring straight at Jason. "The motivations of my associates were their own. I simply needed to destroy all resistance here on Reprieve so I could kill Negative X. What they did was because of them. I didn't order them to do anything beyond get me here."

And that was why Kevin was 'kidnapped'.

Flame Runner brought Kevin to the central tower...

"But what about Descent?"

"Do you remember what I told you about Descent?" Kevin replied. "I told you that I would bring the superheroes down to our level. Why do you think it's called 'Descent', Jason? It's because I aim to bring this throne to all my father built descending upon the land which my father so cherished!"

"But the serum..."

There, Kevin's grin grew even broader. "I spoke truthfully when I said I wanted to give everyone powers, Jason. I want that division to be gone, that division fostered by my father. When Reprieve crashes down upon New Hope City, the tanks of the serum hidden within this facility as well as the ones on New Hope City will ignite. A cloud of the serum will spread all over Enria and each and every person will be infected!"

Kevin's eyes went wide, insane. "Think about it, Jason. Total anarchy! Absolute chaos! The two cornerstones of order shattered in one blow while every person comes to their powers! A new world order will be built forged solely on power and power alone! No child will ever have to follow the footsteps of their parents! No mortal will ever have to follow the masses on their way to the same end!"

Kevin was insane!

He wanted to destroy society on Enria to reforge it based solely on power and power alone.

All that those things he said before, about leaving his father's shadow, it had all been alluding to this!

"There's more to life than power!" Jason shouted. "It doesn't matter if you're a super or not! People are strong because they have friends and family that support them!"

He thought about everything he and Connor had been through...

Connor, Robin, Dan and Brett... All of them helped make him the person he was today...

Without them... he would be completely lost.

Even the No Ones were there...

Rage built in him knowing that Kevin wanted to destroy all that!

"When we fall," he announced, "they're always there to help us up. That's what the superheroes were. They were that pillar that supported us when the odds were against us! And we were their pillars! The reason they kept fighting! They fought for us and we fought for them!"

Kevin snorted and pulled a gold-plated handgun from within his suit coat, levelling it directly at Negative X.

"Petty words for one who has a loving father, a mate and friends who would willingly die for you."

"I would've died for you!" Jason shouted. "Hell, that's why I'm here! I thought you were in danger and I came to rescue you!" He lowered his voice, the disappointment dripping from every word. "And now... I find out you were behind this the entire time..."

"All in the name of equality, Jason," Kevin said, priming the hammer of his handgun. "This was the issue when the war between supers and civilians so many years ago when Reprieve was first founded. Society was built on foundations that were based on prejudice and hatred. No matter how much we build on those foundations and how we try to forget they are there, we still live by those foundations.

"I will shatter them and build my own foundation. And from it... My new world will be born. A world even my father could never dream of creating!"

"NO!"

BANG!

****

Brett growled.

This was all Kevin's fault... Now it made sense why it was Kevin's army that was out to get them... He wondered why though... Why would Kevin want to destroy Reprieve and New Hope City...?

But he couldn't think of that yet.

He and R3 had to get to the Force Cannon and activate it.

Jason was still up at the space station.

"Brett," R3 said softly. "Do what you must to activate the Force Cannon. I will keep these people at bay."

Brett nodded grimly.

"On the count of three... One..."

He clutched the assault rifle tightly as multiple red dots appeared on his chest.

"...Two..."

Brett held his breath.

"Three!"

He ducked just as R3 threw his two blades in opposite directions. Both weapons were encased in dazzling energies, the white blade in glimmering, angelic light and the black blade in seething, consuming darkness. Two canine figures erupted from the energies, the white blade transforming into a brilliant, white-winged creature that sliced through Kevin's army with a mighty sword and the black blade erupting into a ferocious, web-winged creature that ripped everyone in its path to shreds with blood-stained claws.

Brett spun and charged straight past the carnage.

"Ashfire," he heard R3 say casually. A tongue of flame erupted from R3's right hand, forming a massive, flame-red claymore. The No One thrust the blade forward and the weapon exploded into the titanic figure of a flaming phoenix, surging through the ranks of Kevin's soldiers with ease.

Brett bolted through the clearing R3 made and jumped into the elevator that would lead him up to the Force Cannon. As the doors shut, he saw R3 utter, 'Shiverthorn', summoning a long, blue and gold spear from the ground.

He hit the button for the top floor and released the breath he was holding.

Whatever was waiting for him up there he had to face alone.

But he would do anything to make sure Jason, Connor, Dan and Robin were safe.

****

Jason blinked.

The last thing he remembered, he was throwing himself over Negative X and hearing the sound of Kevin's firearm going off. There was blinding pain... following by hideous laughter.

Then all went black...

Through that darkness, he could make out a pair, of burning red eyes.

Now... He sat on a crystal chair in some large, white room lined with countless shelves of books. The shelves themselves stretched infinitely upwards and downwards. It was like he was floating in endless white but as he tentatively reached out with his feet, his sneakers tapped against something solid. Like he and the chair were on an invisible barrier of sorts.

Directly in front of him was a crystal white desk.

Sitting on the opposite side of the desk was R3 the Writer of Reality, scribbling something on that white and gold book of his.

"Um... Where am I...?" he asked.

"You're in my home reality, Naught."

"Naught...?"

Panic set in.

"Am I - Did I -?"

"No. You're alive. Just thought I'd take this time to talk." R3 looked up, wearing his armour, helm and starry cloak again. The No One leaned forward, rubbing his chin beneath the helm. "Did you want him back?"

It took a second for Jason to realise who R3 was talking about. "Of course! Are you going to...?"

"Unfortunately, that's not within my power."

What!?

How can it not be!?

"You're the goddamn Writer of Reality!" Jason roared, feeling all his rage and frustration pour out in one, red-hot waterfall. "You can do anything!"

"Only within the jurisdiction of the realities that I control." R3 returned to his writing. "Connor is not within my jurisdiction."

"Well why not!?"

"Because mortal fate shall and always be in mortal hands. Reality is not the air you breathe or the land you stand on. It is your perception of existence."

"What the hell does that mean!?" Jason shot to his feet, slamming his palms against the desk with a loud bang.

R3 didn't seem perturbed.

"Connor is within your reality, Jason."

"My reality!? My reality is Enria! A reality under your control! What's the point of being able to alter the rules of reality when you can't do anything about it!?"

"Nothing," R3 answered dismissively, looking back at Jason without lifting his pen off the page. "But, like I said, I don't have jurisdiction over your reality. And for the record, Enria isn't your reality."

Jason's head was starting to hurt. "Then what is!?"

"Try the book you keep around with you all the time."

For a second, Jason repeated those words over and over in his head.

Does he mean... '_Legacy'...?_

"Yes, Jason," R3 said. "Legacy is your reality. Remember, to me, every reality is a book. I gave you your book."

No way...

Jason yanked Legacy up and flipped it open, searching for Connor's entry. He shifted through the pages. There was Jen's entry... Warren's... Kevin's... but no Connor...

Where's Connor!?

I could swear I had him sign it!

"What's going on!?"

"You destroyed Connor."

"I know I did! He's part of my reality so I can just rewrite him, right!?"

R3 shook his head sadly. "Let me explain it to you nice and slow, Jason. When we discovered you could see us, it was evident that unlike the other people in Enria, you had already accepted that you needn't be dependent on our influence. You seized destiny and fate. It is by this same lesson that I bestowed the other No Ones their realities. I gave you Legacy because you understood this lesson more so than anyone else. Sometimes, even more than the No Ones.

"However, because you were also bound by your ties to Enria, I could not make you a No One. Not until you die. That said, I gave you Chronicle so that you could write your reality into that book. In essence, I allowed you to make yourself as you needed. You could've been Supreme Overlord of all Space and Time within the Enria universe if you wanted. All the No Ones, even your father, were prepared to stop you should that happen.

"Then, you did the strangest thing."

Jason shook his head. "What...?"

"You started filling in your book with other people. You convinced others to tie their reality with yours, their destinies with yours. When people sign Legacy, they become bound to you, their futures intertwining with yours. It was a fascinating phenomenon, one that aggravated a lot of the No Ones because they saw it you absorbing other realities and making yourself more powerful.

"But that wasn't the case. You were building bridges. I saw that. You altered their reality as much as they altered yours. However, you were still the master architect. The one who controlled it all. Remember what I said when I handed you Genesis?"

He did.

'Jason, this is Genesis_. Let it be the pen by which you write your new story.'_

"Yeah... I do..." he responded, nodding slowly.

"Genesis is your power to alter your reality as you see fit. That 'void' that breaks my rules is because you already have your own reality within your grasp. It's the same with the other No Ones. They are masters in their own realms."

"But my dad said you can destroy our realities if you see fit. I thought I broke your rules..."

"That's true," R3 allowed, nodding. "However, you have to understand those statements do not count for the fact that I or anyone else can steal your book from you and destroy it. Anyone can do it, Jason. It just so happens that I could very well be the most capable for the simple fact that I gave you your book in the first place."

"Oh..."

"But back to Connor," R3 said, leaning forward. "Do you understand why I can't bring him back?"

Jason did... and it hurt like hell.

He had tied Connor's fate with his own... And because of that, Connor's life practically rested in his hands. Genesis was the weapon he was supposed to use to carve his path into the future... and with that weapon, he destroyed Connor.

Thus... Connor's entry was missing from Legacy...

"Does your head hurt yet?" R3 asked lightly.

"Yeah... A little," Jason answered.

"Let it out."

"Let what out?"

"Whatever it is that you're holding back."

Jason was reminded of a similar conversation he had with Kevin at Vale Riley's funeral. The tears came unbidden... and he wept openly, collapsing back into the chair and mourning the total loss of his mate.

He couldn't blame anyone either...

It was his fault...

"If I had known..." he croaked.

"Jason, if you had known you would've been destroyed," R3 said grimly. "Remember how D8 unleashed the Malefactors in the first place because of your existence. I gave you Legacy to protect Enria and you. By giving you control over your own reality and keeping you completely unaware of the power you held in your hands, I was giving Enria one last chance to show the No Ones that it is worth preserving.

"You did that, Jason. You showed everyone, even the No Ones, that your world is one capable of being filled with love, joy and honour. If you had known, you would've screwed up something or another and ended up being destroyed by the No Ones."

"So you used me in your game," Jason laughed. He wasn't angry or sad. Just... relieved that he knew the truth. Didn't make the pain go away but it made him feel... less empty.

"I know it sounds cruel but it was either use you... or lose the world."

Jason straightened and regarded R3 curiously, tears still streaming from his eyes. "You really care about the world, don't you?"

"I believe everyone, even bad guys, deserve a happy ending, Jason. That is why I adjusted my perception of reality to allow for each individual the ability to seize their own destinies. Sometimes, I'll do a little editing" - he waved the pen in his hand - "but other times, I trust their fate into their hands."

"Mortal fate shall and always will be in mortal hands," Jason sighed.

"Exactly."

They sat in silence for a moment, Jason digesting the information he had just been given. R3 couldn't bring Connor back because Connor was not his to return. Jason had taken Connor away.

"I don't suppose there's some way I can rewrite Connor, is there?"

"There is but will he be Connor or your Connor?"

"Huh?"

"There's a difference between a person who grew up by themselves and then bound themselves to you as opposed to a person you created yourself from your memories or your desires. Another reason why I let people rule their own lives. I don't want my opinions or my stances to alter their destinies. Again, I made edits here and there but that is only when it is necessary... like the entire universe collapsing onto itself because some jackass decided it was a brilliant idea to bind all mortal existence to a single symbol."

Jason shook his head. "What?"

"Don't worry," R3 said, tapping the book on his desk. "Another reality I've had to interfere in quite a bit. But you understand why it wouldn't be that smart to bring Connor back, right? You can but... he just won't be Connor."

He did understand.

How could he ever write someone as complex as Connor? Would he even get the template right? He was sure Connor had several secrets left and Jason wasn't sure if he could fill in the gaps by himself.

"If you want, I reconstruct him."

Jason snapped back towards R3. "But I thought -"

"Not right now, no." R3 held out his hand. "However, if you give me back Legacy, I'm sure I can piece him back together. The only problem is, by giving me back Legacy, you are forfeiting your power to alter your reality and the reality of others tied to you as you see fit."

"What about my other powers...?"

R3 bobbed his head from side to side. "I think I'll let you keep Genesis. It won't have the same powers it did before. Maybe I'll reforge it so it'll still vanquish people in showers of stars and feathers, explain it as some form of 'magical disintegration' or something. You'll still be able to see the No Ones, of course. We're always there and that's an innate power of yours. And the breaking of my rules, that'll be gone too.

"But for the part about altering reality... well... I'm starting to think you'd rather not have that ability, huh?"

Jason chuckled and pulled Legacy off from his hip, handing it to R3. "I didn't know I had that power up until now and I've survived without it this far. I'm good." He reached for Chronicle around his neck.

"Keep it," R3 said, taking Legacy. "As a reminder of your experiences."

"Thanks... So can you really pull Connor back together?"

R3 flipped through the pages and nodded. "He tied his reality with yours and you shattered him. I won't be rewriting him, just finding his pieces and putting them back together. Once I find its pieces, I should be able to reconstruct him. It'll take time, of course."

"You're the Writer of Reality. Can't you just bend Time and Space or something?"

R3 gave him what appeared to be a sarcastic stare and gestured around him, indicating the infinite library. "Jason, eternity isn't enough to sort through all this. I'll take as much shortcuts as I can to get Connor back to you as soon as possible but it could take years. All you can do is be patient, move on and keep hoping." R3 nodded. "Yes, keep hoping. That's the key."

Jason smiled.

Yeah... there is hope after all...

Besides... I think Connor would've wanted me to move on anyway...

"May I ask you something?"

"Sure."

"Will Connor want us to get back together when he gets back?"

R3 stared at Jason for a long time. "I honestly cannot tell you that, Jason. Your future is still in your hands even without Legacy. Everyone's is. However, I can tell you that he would be happy for you no matter your choice. I think he'd be equal parts disappointed and glad either way. If you moved on and found someone else, he'll be slightly disappointed that he can't be with you again but more happy if he was the best man at the wedding. If you didn't move on, he'll be disappointed that you couldn't move on without him but happy that you waited.

"It's entirely up to you."

Jason winced. "I hate it when it's up to me."

"Yeah, me too."

He laughed. It just seemed funny that the most powerful No One would be hesitant to make decisions.

"What about Kevin?" Jason asked. "He signed Legacy."

"Did you want me to unbind him?"

He thought about that... It was possible he could rewrite Kevin's perceptions of the world, make him believe that he didn't need to destroy Reprieve and New Hope City just to make his mark on the world. But then... he'd be doing the same thing if he were to bring back Connor himself.

"Yeah... And Jen and Warren too..."

"Very well. Consider it done."

"But... Can you tell me how I can stop him? How can I stop him from being the Malefactor's host?"

R3 set down Legacy and shook his head sadly. "The sad thing is, you can't. Kevin has become bound to the Fear Malefactor for too long that they are almost one. There is but one sliver of freewill left in Kevin and that is the drive to see Descent achieved. He hasn't even considered that he too will die should he succeed."

Jason hadn't thought about that...

It was a suicide run...

"Bane Bloodbath is the Fear Malefactor, a creature that feeds of fear. Kevin is consumed by the greatest fear of them all: the fear of being a future that he cannot alter. He is afraid that his path is carved out for him by the expectations of those around him and that his destiny is inescapable. Because his father is dead, he knows those expectations are set and immovable.

"The greatest fear any man can suffer is the fear of losing one's freewill."

R3 leaned back and shut the big, white book on his table. "It is interesting to note that all this started with Vale's dying words."

Jason remembered those words.

It hurt even him when Kevin uttered them.

'I didn't want you.'

"I know... How could he say that to his own son?"

"How Kevin interpreted it and what Vale meant are totally different things," R3 said. "Vale meant that he didn't want Kevin to be like him. He didn't want the 'you' that Kevin was becoming which was a mirror image of himself. If he actually didn't ever want to have a son, he would've said something along the lines of, 'I don't want you' or 'I never wanted you'. His dying words suggest that, at one point or another Vale was actually proud of his son... until his son changed and his opinion changed."

"Don't you think that's reading too deeply into four words...?"

"I'm not just a Writer, Jason. I'm an avid reader as well. It's the words between the words that make the story." R3 ran a hand across the white and gold book. "You will be hard pressed to pull Kevin out of the dark recesses of his fear. However, should you succeed, the Fear Malefactor will be severely weakened. You'll still have to defeat it, though."

"Any hints at that?"

"Strike at the heart."

****

Ding!

The elevator doors swung open and Brett charged into the control centre for the Force Cannon. Strangely, none of Riley's troops were there.

He was starting to sense that it was way too good to be true.

Slowly, he crept towards the control panel -

WHACK!

And was hit from behind, sprawling onto the ground. He spun around.

The Blue Wolf hovered above him, large, black wings flapping and that golden briefcase in his hand.

"What the -?" Brett began. "What are you doing!?"

"Following Bane's orders," the Blue Wolf replied ominously.

That golden briefcase changed shape, transforming into a large bazooka. Brett let out a loud yelp and dove away just as -

BOOM!

Sharp shards of shrapnel embedded themselves into his back, bringing a roar of pain tearing through his lips. His assault rifle was far out of reach. The Blue Wolf landed in front of him, the briefcase transforming into a sharp blade.

"Damn you..." Brett snarled.

Suddenly, the Blue Wolf grunted and clutched his head with one hand. "B - B - Brett...? Urgh..."

What was going on?

"Brett!" the Blue Wolf shouted. "Get to the control panel! I can't hold him off for much longer!"

"Hold who off?"

"Bane! He's - He's in my head! Activate the Force Cannon!"

Brett got an idea.

"In your head, huh?"

"Yes! Go!"

The Rottweiler stood. He snatched up his assault rifle and stood in front of the struggling Blue Wolf as the superhero fought within himself.

"Just checking," Brett said. "Bane's in your head, right?"

"For the last time, yes!" the Blue Wolf snarled. "I - I can barely hold him off."

"Okay."

CLANG!

The Blue Wolf collapsed to the ground, completely unconscious. The assault rifle in Brett's hand was bent at a right angle and he tossed the useless weapon aside. It made for a great club though.

"You're so out of your mind."

****

Jason's eyes fluttered open. Pain rocketed up his left shoulder.

Kevin stood over him, scowling the barrel of his handgun still smoking. It seemed not even a second had passed since Jason had his conversation with R3. Negative X was barely holding on and all of Reprieve was shaking ferociously.

Damn... I've got about a minute...

"You're just too stubborn to die, aren't you?" Kevin sneered. He pulled the -

"Your father would be very disappointed," Jason muttered.

...

Kevin froze, a hideous frown crossing his features. Darkness began seeping out from around him, forming a dark aura that took the shape of a jet-black lion with red eyes hovering over his shoulder.

"You know nothing about my father!" Kevin spat. "He hated me! No matter what I did to become like him, I could never please him! I could never be what he wanted!"

"Maybe that's because you were trying to be him."

"Why do you think I'm doing all of this!?" Kevin roared. "For the last time, I am trying to wipe his legacy from Enria and make my own!"

Jason found that funny. He wasn't sure why. It was just that knowing how events could have turned out, knowing that all this was caused by a simple misunderstanding just made it all sound funny. Staggering to his feet, he clutched Genesis in his hand and gave Kevin a cocky smirk. His friend still had that handgun levelled at him but didn't fire.

"Wasn't there a time when he was proud of you, though?" Jason replied. "A time when you weren't trying to be like him? To be yourself? Wasn't he proud of you then?"

I hope you're right, R3...

Kevin wavered slightly. "There... There was... I... I remember a time when... I was playing with a kite... He and I were playing with the kite... We designed our own kites that day. Mine didn't get anywhere near as high as his but he still told me that he was proud of me..." He suddenly cried out and clutched the side of his head.

"He is playing mind games with you," Bane whispered. "Hrmmm... It is what superheroes do when they are at a disadvantage... Hrmmm... Kill him now.... Hrmmm..."

And that is a villain's desperation showing, Jason thought grimly.

"What happened, Kev?" Jason asked softly. "Why'd you change? Why'd you suddenly decide to follow in his footsteps?"

"It... It seemed the logical thing to do..." Kevin muttered, sweat dripping off his forehead. "I was... I was his son..."

"But you weren't him. Maybe you shouldn't have walked in his footsteps or wash his footsteps away. Maybe you should start walking beside him instead."

Slowly, Kevin turned his eyes towards Jason, the anger and frustration fading. "Beside...? ARGH!"

"Don't listen to him!" Bane roared. "You are so close! Time to put your fears at ease.... Hrmmmm! Time to forget about your father and reforge the world as you see fit... Hrmmm!"

"Think about who your father built Enria up for, Kevin," Jason pressed, hoping his words would win his friend over. "He loved you more than anything. He helped make Enria a better world for you."

"Lies! He told you he didn't want you! How can he build a world for someone he didn't want!?"

"If he wished you weren't born, he wouldn't told you, Kev. But he said he didn't want you... the you that was standing by his deathbed. The you that was a shadow of him. You became so obsessed with becoming him that you became consumed by the notion that everyone wanted you to be him. You hated him because you can never fit his shoes, frustrated that you couldn't fit that mould and now you want to destroy that mould, destroy your father. You keep telling yourself you want to be independent, to be someone separate from your parents but here you are, living your life still under the influence of your father!

"Every action you've taken is still because of your father whether you want to be like him or to destroy him."

"Your father must be destroyed first before you can start anew!"

"QUIET!" Kevin shouted, sweeping his gun around. "Let me think!"

"There is no time to think! Kill him now! End him!"

"SHUT UP!"

Bane's eyes flashed. "Bah! Weakling mortal!" He pulled free of Kevin and unleashed a backhand that sent Kevin hurtling to the ground.

"Kevin!" Jason cried, making for his friend.

The Fear Malefactor appeared in front of him. "The No Ones were fools to send a child to do their dirty work... Hrmmmm. While I cannot infect you, I can still stop you from saving this wretched planet!"

"I'd like to see you try!" Jason roared, swiping at Bane with Genesis. The shadowy figure of the Malefactor erupted into shadows and swooped in around Jason, brushing all over him and wrapping him in utter darkness.

"Embrace your fears, boy."

...

...

"What!?" Bane exclaimed, utterly startled. "Where is your fear!? How can a mortal not fear!?"

Jason grinned grimly. "I am afraid. But it's not a fear you understand!" He lashed out, slicing into the sheer darkness like cutting through a thick, black curtain. Bane wailed in agony and reformed a few yards away. "I'm afraid for everyone else. I'm afraid of what will happen when people suffer. You just understand selfish fear. Fear for one's self. I'm not afraid of what'll happen to me because my world, my reality, is built around the people I care about!

"The people I love and the people I'm willing to die to protect!"

Bane scowled at him. "Insolent pup. You will die!"

"STOP!"

Both of them turned.

Kevin was back on his feet...

... with the handgun to his temple.

Kevin!

"You're right, Jase..." Kevin whispered softly, tears running down his face. "I screwed up... I was so afraid of my own future that I didn't see how I was affecting others... I am so sorry..."

"Kevin... wait..."

"Fool! What are you doing!?"

"Jason... Do me a favour?"

Jason wanted to move... wanted to run to his friend and tell him to stop. But there was no other way to stop the Fear Malefactor.

Kevin had to die...

Does everyone I care about have to die to save the world!?

Then his own words filled his mind.

"My world, my reality, is built around the people I care about.'

The people I love...

... and the people I'm willing to die to protect...

... and that includes Kevin.

"Yeah?"

"Bury me next to my dad... So I can finally tell him what I should've told him at his funeral."

"You hate him?" Jason asked, recalling their earlier conversation.

Kevin shook his head, priming the gun. "No... 'I'm sorry'."

BANG!

****

Three things happened at the same time.

On New Hope City, R3 the Writer of Reality sat on an icy precipice created by one of his Advocates. The entire city was frozen, completely encased in towering spikes of ice. He turned his gaze from his work and towards the sky. The air rippled around him and he was joined by L4 the Liaison of Life, H2 the Harbinger of Havoc, T13 the Traveller of Time and S-Zero the Saviour of Space.

All five of them watched the skies.

At the Force Cannon, Brett feverishly tried to figure out how to work the controls. The machinery was alien to him. Something even his genius-level intelligence would take time to figure out. As he rapidly tapped on the keyboard, a shadowy figure emerged from over his shoulder. He sensed the impending doom and flung around -

Sssshing!

He roared in pain.

On Reprieve, Kevin Riley fell.

And Negative X died.

****

"Kevin!"

"NO!" Bane cried. The dark lion threw his head back and roared in agony, clutching the sides of his head. "Fool!" He staggered back as the shadows across his chest began to peel away, dissolving into the air. A big, red, glowing orb was revealed pulsing like a heart.

Strike at the heart...

Jason clutched Genesis tightly.

"Hey Bane."

The Malefactor glared at him.

"You scared yet?"

He charged, a roar ripping through his lips as he swung Genesis, aiming straight for that pulsing heart. Bane snarled, his arms twisting in the shadows and transforming into twin blades.

CLANG!

The instant their weapons collided, shadows began pouring out of Bane and transforming into those angelic, blue-white stars and feathers. The lion howled in agony and pulled away. Desperation was evident in his red eyes.

Jason ducked as Bane swung at him, sending a crescent-shaped blade of darkness in his direction. Surging forward, Jason collided with Bane, sending the Malefactor sprawling to the ground. He felt pain on his left cheek as Bane sliced at him but he ignored it, holding Genesis over his head, levelled directly at Bane's heart.

A cry mixed with sorrow, triumph, anger and relief spilled from Jason as he thrust Genesis downwards.

Bane screamed, a blood-curdling scream. The shadows all over his body erupted from his body, shooting out in all directions and mixing with his horrifying wail. Gales of darkness burst through the glass windows of the central tower, sending shards of glass as big as trucks crashing down upon them. Jason dove out of the way and rushed to Negative X.

He danced right to left, dodging the falling glass, feet pounding and ears filled with Bane's final cries.

A loud, mechanical voice echoed through all of Reprieve.

"Warning: Gravitational Stability Deactivated. Re-Entry in ten minutes. Please evacuate the space station."

Even before he reached the greatest superhero in the world, Jason knew Negative X was dead. He had no time to be overwhelmed by fear and loss as all of Reprieve shuddered and began plunging towards Enria.

Dan... Robin...!

If he was going to die here, he was going to die in the arms of those he cared about.

"Warning: Gravitational Stability Deactivated. Re-Entry in eight minutes. Please evacuate the space station."

Jason bolted back towards the elevator, yanking Genesis from the dying Bane's chest as the Malefactor fully exploded into a burst of those angelic feathers. He leapt into the elevator, hitting the 'down' button and held on for dear life. Shaking and loud rumbling filled the hollow container of the elevator as the entire space station hit Enria's atmosphere.

He grit his teeth, tears flowing down his cheeks.

I'm sorry, Connor...

I couldn't save the world for you...

... but maybe you can save it when you get back...

The entire elevator lurched to the right and Jason was hurled against the wall, a loud crack filling his ears as his left elbow shattered.

"Warning: Gravitational Stability Deactivated. Re-Entry in four minutes. Please evacuate the space station."

DING!

Jason ignored the pain and staggered out.

Dan and Robin were waiting for him. There was a whole horde of injured superheroes behind them. Among them was Warhorse.

"I'm sorry!" he shouted. "I couldn't save him..."

Dan and Robin staggered over, wrapping him in their arms. Even Robin pushed aside her disgust of him and wept openly on his shoulder.

"It's alright, son," Dan whispered, kissing his forehead. "You did your best." He was crying. Jason could see that.

"Can't believe this is the end..." Jason laughed slightly. "Sorry you couldn't watch me grow old, dad..."

"Warning: Gravitational Stability Deactivated. Re-Entry in two minutes. Please evacuate the space station."

"It's alright, son... Who knows? R3 might be nice enough to let you stay with me."

"I thought..."

"The thing about having the ability to write the rules is that he can break them to."

Thinking about how R3 promised to bring back Connor, Jason realised that was true. R3 was bending the laws of death itself to bring back Connor... He was taking a long route to ensure he didn't totally break those rules but Jason realised that was probably for the best.

"Warning: Gravitational Stability Deactivated. Re-Entry in sixty seconds. Please evacuate the space station."

"I love you, dad."

"I love you too, Jason."

He turned to Robin, grinning sheepishly. "And Robin..."

"Don't say it, dog," she snapped, shutting her eyes and pressing head against him.

"Re-Entry in thirty seconds."

Warhorse stood proudly as the entire station began shaking wildly. The glass dome that held all of Reprieve began shattering and massive cracks tore through the pristine streets. The central tower crumbled around them but all of them stood proudly in its confines.

"We tried our best," Warhorse announced. He was crying too. "In the end, we could not save Enria..."

"Re-Entry in twenty seconds."

"... but let our legacy be the hope that, one day, the world will recover from our mistake... We wanted to bring everyone to our level..."

"Re-Entry in ten seconds."

"... Power is not everything."

"Nine..."

Jason shut his eyes.

"Eight..."

"We all live under Enria's sky..."

"Seven..."

It was getting hot. Really hot. Jason could just imagine the entire station burning red as it tore through the atmosphere of Enria. The people down below at New Hope City must be in a panic, clutching their loved ones just as he was holding onto Dan and Robin.... just waiting for the end to come.

"Six..."

"... we all share the one sun..."

"Five..."

"And we are all mortal."

"Four..."

"It's been one hell of a ride, big wolf," Optimist said, holding him tightly.

"Three..."

"Been an honour, champ," Pessimist added.

"Two..."

"I love you, man!" Horndog cried.

"One..."

****

The people of New Hope City - now evacuated out of the icy confines of the city itself - screamed and held each other just as Jason imagined as Reprieve came hurtling down towards them.

Mothers held their children.

Husbands clutched their wives.

Siblings hugged each other one last time.

And lovers shared their last kiss before the end.

...

Without warning...

... Reprieve suddenly stopped.

The massive space station hovered just a second from impact, encased in an eerie, green orb of energy originating from a single point... the Force Cannon.

Inside the Force Cannon itself, Brett sighed in relief as he watched the Cannon slowly lower the space station down into the icy city. The ice cooled the metallic structure of Reprieve and he couldn't help but wonder if that was exactly why R3 had encased the entire urban area in ice.

With a shudder, he collapsed, the shock of having lost his left hand to the Blue Wolf's surprise attack finally setting in. The Blue Wolf - now no longer in the Malefactor's control - caught him.

"Damnit!" the Blue Wolf cried. "Hold on kid! Just hold on!"

****

"Re-Entry complete. Orbital descent accomplished. Have a nice day."

Jason wondered if that was some sick joke. One last laugh to brighten everyone's mood before they all died.

Then... his senses started kicking in again.

The world wasn't shaking...

... the heat was dying.

And that ominous rumbling had faded.

Slowly... He opened his eyes just a little...

Everyone around him was still clutching one another...

"What...?" he began softly.

Are we... Are we all dead...?

Slowly, he prised himself from Dan and Robin, the two realising something was wrong. Death appeared a lot like the real world.

Maybe Reprieve crossed over to the other side with us...

Jason made his way out of the central tower, the other superheroes around him slowly realising all was now as it seemed. Brilliant light was spilling in from the other side of the sliding doors. As soon as they slid open for Jason, he winced as the sun's warm rays temporarily blinded him.

The sun...?

He breathed in fresh air...

Tall, glass and steel skyscrapers rose from beyond Reprieve's borders. The glass dome had shattered, littering the streets with delicate, glistening crystals. But beyond Reprieve, Jason could see the pristine blue sky marked by a few clouds and the tell-tale towers of an Enrian city...

"Wha...?"

Dazed, he let his feet carry him to the edge of Reprieve, his heart pounding in his chest. As he ran, he saw the devastation caused by Flame Runner, Rex Cumulus, Titanitus and Bane. All of Reprieve was in ruins. The space station's mini-city in tatters. The emerald garden that had surrounded it was burned to a crisp.

But beyond the devastation...

... he found New Hope City.

"Whoa..."

A large crowd of people were slowly making their way from the outer parts of the city over to the space station. It would take a while for them to arrive yet and that gave Jason to take in the massive, ice-covered sky scrapers and the flooded streets. His eyes rose to where the Force Cannon towered...

... and he understood.

"What happened?" Warhorse asked, utterly confused and coming to stand beside him.

Jason nodded slowly, smiling. "We were saved... and the people that did it didn't need superpowers..."

"Huh... Imagine that..."

As the crowd approached, Jason could see all their awestruck faces... and the relief in their eyes.

Warhorse put a hand on his shoulder.

"Well, go on, kid. You're the hero here."

"What!?" he exclaimed. "Me!?"

"You are the one that went up there and defeated the Malefactor," Robin answered, breaking her icy demeanour and grinning broadly for once. "While you did not stop Reprieve from descending from the sky, you did save us from that creature."

"Go on, Jason," Dan said, nodding towards him. "You're a superhero." Dan held out something in his hand.

It was Jason's visor.

Slowly, Jason took it and was halfway to putting it over his eyes when he stopped...

... and remembered Kevin's words.

'I dream of a world where we are all equal, Jason. Where, it doesn't matter if you were born the son of a common whore or the daughter of a multimillionaire because you can make it on your own with the gifts that are granted to you.'

He lowered the visor, staring at it and almost seeing Kevin's face on the reflective glass.

'That is what Project Descent is about... No one has to be shaped into a mould because you can forge yourself the way you want to... No one has to ever be afraid of becoming something they're not.'

With a smile, he tossed aside the visor, bringing a look of shock on everyone's face.

He turned towards the crowd and strode proudly towards them.

Even without looking, he could tell that each of the superheroes behind him - one by one - were pulling their masks from their faces.

"Jason...?" Dan asked.

"I'm no superhero dad," he said, grinning over his shoulder. "I'm just a guy who gets things done."

'Superheroes don't have to wear masks anymore...'

The crowd was silent at first as Jason stepped into their midst, using an overturned shuttle as a bridge down to the surface. They all just stared at him... stared at all the superheroes who no longer hid their identities behind masks. Who no longer had to be someone that they weren't because of the gifts given to them. No longer having to live by anyone else's expectations.

Because in the end...

'We'll all be one, under the same sky and living on the sample planet.'

**Epilogue: New Roads

Paramdu National Cemetery, Private Lot**

"I got into Skyscape."

Jason chuckled, smiling.

"Yeah, yeah, I know. I get to spend more time with Brett and you never thought I'd be a Triad guy. But my grades picked up a lot. I guess being the guy that saved the world has it's perks."

He glanced around the private lot before turning his eyes back to the grave.

"But it's been three years since then and I think a lot of people have forgotten about it. The aftermath of Descent was pretty crazy. The Descen_t serum was destroyed. Governments fought over that decision a lot. I had to make a _lot of speeches. They eventually got rid of the stuff.

"Oh, and all the superheroes are going back to their normal lives. Some still do a bit of superhero-ing here and there but they don't have to hide themselves anymore. Sure they put their families and such in danger but it's just the same level as a cop going out and doing his job. They make enemies but that's part of the territory. We get the occasional supervillain here and there but you'll be surprised how less and less the attacks have gotten over the years.

"I guess when people are being accepting for their abilities while knowing anyone else can achieve the same, ambitions to enslave the entire planet sort of die out."

Jason's smile died slightly as he stared at the grave. "It's just the world you wanted, Kevin..." His eyes drifted to the grave beside Kevin's... Vale Riley's grave. "I'm sure your father would be proud."

He absently reached into his pocket and pulled out a pair of dog tags, tossing them into the air.

"You're curious about my love life, huh? Don't blame yourself. I loved Connor and he loved me back. I know, one day, he'll be back. R3 promised as much and I trust him more than any of the other No Ones. Hell, he was the one that froze all of New Hope City so that Reprieve could land safely without burning a hole through the planet. And he was the one that led Brett to the Force Cannon so he could activate it and save us.

"And Brett? Yeah, he and I are getting pretty serious. Since we're going to the same college and all, we kind moved in together. We really didn't have any choice." Jason grinned. "While we were fretting over Brett's lost hand and Dan was fixing it with his powers, the Blue Wolf - his real name is Chris Azul by the way - kept visiting and apologising. Chris kept bringing in all these flowers!" Jason rolled his eyes, laughing. "Oh, and Chris and Dan are dating again! I think I hear wedding bells in the distance."

Jason regarded the dog tags. "It's been a while... I know Connor would've wanted me to move on... and I have. I know I'll see him again one day, on this side or the next. But I know I've got to make the most of what I have now or I'll regret it. That's the one thing I've learned the most during the whole Descent Incident."

Jason glanced towards the horizon. The sun was rapidly setting.

"Well, I better get going. I've got classes tomorrow."

He turned and headed out of the lot to where Brett's sky-blue pickup truck was waiting. The big Rottweiler was smiling at him as he entered. There was a mischievous edge to that smile just like that day Connor and Dan had flown him all the way from Newroads to New Hope City to thrown Jason a 'bachelor party'.

"What?" Jason asked, suspicious.

"Nothing," Brett answered as Jason hopped into the passenger seat.

"Now I know something is up."

"Nothing is up!" Brett insisted but his grin only grew broader. "So, you alright?"

"Practically bubbling," Jason said, rolling his eyes as Brett started the truck and drove out of the cemetery. "You?"

"Alright. Apprehensive."

"Right. You've got that psychology exam in a few days. Work placement soon, right?"

"Yep."

They drove in silence as Jason just watched the scenery of Newroads pull away. He couldn't believe how much had changed and in such little time. Politics were a nightmare and he had dropped out of that scene after the first few months. He let the politicians deal with politics. He just wanted to go to Skyscape, get his biomedicine degree, find a job and then buy a house. Maybe with Brett.

They were starting to get pretty serious and Jason was starting to get the inkling feeling Brett was going to propose soon. The Rottweiler had started looking at honeymoon locations recently.

He was giddy at the thought of a proposal but he didn't want to push his luck.

A lot can happen between proposal and marriage as he knew all too well.

R3 kept him up to date on his progress with Connor. It was slow. R3 governed an infinite number of realities and Jason understood if bringing Connor back wasn't his only priority. It kind of freaked him out when he realised that R3 had been on Reprieve and at New Hope City about the same time.

If there was a wedding, however, Jason hoped Connor would be there, either as a groom or as the best man.

He straightened slightly as the truck hit an incline and forests surrounded them.

"Erm... Brett, this isn't the way back to the apartment."

"I know."

Jason groaned. "Okay, mister, where are you taking me?"

"You should know it. We went here once before."

He couldn't remember. Brett took him lots of places. Lots if awesome places. He usually rewarded Brett in his own way.

Suddenly, Brett stopped the truck and got out.

Jason vaguely remembered this location and as he removed himself from the truck, he recalled coming here on that day he and Connor had fought. Brett had been so insistent on pushing him back to Connor.

Wait... Is Connor back already?

Is Brett going to surprise me!?

He hurried after Brett as they reached that same ledge that overlooked Newroads. Again, his breath was stolen from him upon seeing the magnificent, glistening, glass and steel city that was splashed with the colours of the sunset.

"Remember when I first took you here?" Brett asked.

Jason didn't tear his eyes away from the scene as he remembered that day. "Yeah... You kept pushing me back to Connor. You told me the cheesiest way to get him back. Geez, signs at a football game..."

"It worked, didn't it?"

He didn't want to look at Brett... He wasn't sure if he wanted to see Connor right now. His feeling for Brett had evolved... They had gone way past the point of saying 'I love you' and pushing the boundaries of 'will you marry me'.

"It did. Then he died. Brett," he said, turning to the Rottweiler, "what is this about?"

Brett's hands were in his pockets and he was shifting uncomfortably from one foot to the other.

"I just want you to be happy, Jason. I know Connor left a hole in your heart that can never be filled with another man."

"Or woman," Jason added.

"Dear god, I hope so..."

They shared a small laugh.

Then Brett continued.

"Anyway... I know I can't fill that gap either, Jason... But the least I can do is hold you tight so that I won't hurt anymore. I guess what I'm saying is..."

Jason's eyes boggled as Brett suddenly bent down on one knee...

... pulled a small, velvet case from his pocket...

... offered it to Jason and pulled open the box.

Inside was a glistening, gold ring.

"Will you marry me?"

****

WHAM!

R3 the Writer of Reality sighed but didn't stop writing on the book he had on his desk, Legacy. It was hard looking for Connor. Piecing someone together who had been erased completely required him to travel to every alternate dimension possible, find all the pieces of Connor and copy and paste the bits of Connor that corresponded with the reality that Jason lived in.

Since every choice made creates an alternate reality, that was a lot of choices.

... and a lot of realities.

Especially since it wasn't just Connor or Jason's choices that created alternate realities.

If there were six billion people in Enria alone and each of them had to make a choice, the possibilities were ridiculous in number.

And yet, R3 was confident he could piece back Connor in four or five years. Three if he wasn't interrupted...

... like he was being interrupted now.

"Can I help you, D8?"

"Why are you still stalling!?" D8 bellowed, slamming his fists on the table again.

"Please don't damage the table. It's made from a certain reality's version of Yggdrasil. It's very expensive."

"You saw what the people of that world are capable of! You saw just how close they came to destroying one another! They deserve to be wiped clean! I don't care if you save that melodramatic pup, Jason Wolfe, but I wan Enria destroyed."

"We all want something, D8," R3 answered, closing Legacy and regarding D8 benignly. "The difference between a child and an adult is that a child wants something while an adult wants something and does something about it."

D8 straightened. "Then are you giving me permission to destroy Enria?"

"No. I'm telling you that if you want to show me that Enria deserves to be destroyed, you'll do something about it instead of talking my ears off."

"How can you not see that Enria is corrupt and consumed with evil!?"

"Well, mostly because you put that evil in there."

D8 froze.

"Oh yes, Derrick. I know," R3 said, dropping his voice nice and low. "I know you were, in fact, Albert Denton, and you found a nice little loophole in Jason's ability to see us even in our Avatars. Well, except me, of course but that's something else entirely. You noticed that he can't see you if you're seen through a different medium. Say... a television or a newspaper article. That's why you killed yourself on at the Reprieve's central tower. You didn't want him knowing that it was in fact you who created and planted the Fear Malefactor in Kevin Riley."

"If you knew, why didn't you do something about it?"

"What is there to do?" R3 replied, leaning back and smiling. "I didn't stop you because I knew you'd fail. Life isn't just about light and dark, Derrick. It's infinite grey. However, when you start pulling people to the polar opposites, sifting through the grey to define light and dark, who do you think will win between the two?"

"Darkness. Darkness is every mortal's true nature."

"True. Where there is light, darkness is always looming in the corner. However, where there is light, darkness has no choice but to succumb. Light will always win. That is why Kevin Riley ultimately took his own life to end the Fear Malefactor."

D8 scowled. "Because he had some spark of light in him that banished the darkness?"

"No. Because there was a light so much greater than even the Fear Malefactor that ignited the light in Kevin, causing that light to grow and banish the darkness."

"What light?"

R3 just smiled.

...

D8 sneered. "You... You didn't!"

R3 threw his head back and laughed. "I'm surprised you didn't figure it out earlier, Derrick!"

"Then the Blue Wolf -!"

"The reason he wasn't fully under the control of the Fear Malefactor can be described in a simple analogy," R3 said, grinning broadly. "You cannot paint a black wall any darker."

D8 spun around angrily. "I will show you, R3. I will show you that your precious 'light' will not be enough to save that crumbling world. One of these days, I will ensure that the No Ones will move to destroy Enria!"

R3 opened Legacy again. "Good luck with that. I'm rooting for you."

The No One governing Energy froze.

R3 could just see the questions floating around the Derelict's head.

If he, R3 the Writer of Reality, was striving to protect Enria so much...

... why would he encourage D8 to destroy it...?

A soft ding filled their ears.

"Jacob, your guest is here," L4 said, her voice echoing through the white emptiness of Naught.

"Good, send him in."

A door appeared in front of D8 and when it swung open, the Derelict didn't take pains to hide his shock.

"That's not fair, R3!" he bellowed. "He was mine!"

"True," R3 said with a shrug, "but you discarded him as soon as you were done. Besides, I called him."

D8 let out a frustrated cry and stormed out, his body erupting into a flurry of energies.

Once he was gone, R3 gestured at the chair in front of him. "Have a seat."

His guest sat down.

R3, still grinning, leaned forward.

"Hello Kevin. How'd you like to be my Advocate?"

The End