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Episode 5: White Wash

"The sea honestly hates me. Seriously, even if I just dip my toe in it, leaves salt in my fur! It's like it's trying to season me before it eats me!"

_ _

Jacques Marquis

Rillotian Comedian

What had started out as a simple attempt to make amends and take the mature road to a moment of infidelity, just got very strange.

Jacob honestly thought he was the only crazy one in the group but seeing Taylor speaking about someone he that was not there and then bolting through half of Angelsea to end up at the Triton Research Centre made him seriously question the cougar's sanity.

Dad... There's no such thing as ghosts, is there?

"Are you really asking me of all people?"

Touché.

He gripped Taylor's shoulder tightly this time to keep him from running off again. The cougar certainly looked like he was ready to bolt but this time in the opposite direction. His eyes were wide and his bottom lip was quivering. The ANVIL soldiers that were patrolling the front of the facility spotted them both and started to wander over.

"Is there something wrong here, guys?" asked one of them.

"Jacob Reaper," Jacob answered, hiking a thumb at his chest. "Taylor Yates. We've got a two o'clock appointment with Sierra."

The guard pressed the receiver in his left ear and nodded firmly. "This way please."

Taylor's paw seized his bicep, squeezing down tightly. "Jay... We can't go in there. We just can't."

Though the temptation was there to make some snarky comment about cat's hating water, Jacob saw the pure, unbridled horror in the cougar's eyes and thought better of it. He shifted his paw from around Taylor's shoulder to his upper arm, taking him in a sort of half-hug. "Hey, don't worry, okay? We're the freakin' Branded. Whatever comes our way, we'll find a way to stop it, crush it and then rape it until it starts liking it and begs us for more."

Sadly, it did not seem like his mini-pep talk improved Taylor's mood. Even as they headed towards the facility and strode through the massive, metal gates, the cougar's eyes were wide and apprehensive. It was a new look. Despite facing an insane Elemental Lord with the power to control the winds and a madman who used religion to control an entire city, Taylor never once looked truly afraid.

Then again, Jacob had never really paid that much attention.

With his eyes averted from a singular goal, he was finding himself capable of seeing things he had never seen before. And that look on Taylor's face... It was fear of the unknown. He had only seen that once briefly; when he had first branded the cougar. But back then, that fear was masked and quickly diluted by dreams of grandeur and an enormous cock.

Jacob felt that fear creeping into him as well.

Dad... I suddenly have the desire to drop a thermonuclear bomb down that elevator and leave in a hurry...

Spectre sighed heavily as his rested on his son's shoulder. "Trust you to deal with fear by dropping a bomb at it and giggling in glee as it bursts into flames."

I never said I'd be giggling in glee.

As they passed the guard, however, he reached out and seized Jacob's shoulder. Taylor slipped past Jacob's grip, moving towards the facility in a zombie-like state.

That's both amazing and very scary.

The guard gripped his shoulder, catching his attention. "Sir, Sergeant Canis wishes to have a word with you."

Frowning, Jacob let out a heavy sigh. "Is he seriously stalking me? Where is he?"

A cell phone was handed to him. Lifting it to his ear, he heard Canis' sarcastic snort. How he knew it was Canis just by the snort, he wasn't sure. He tried reasoning he was told the Alsatian was on the other side but somewhere in his head, he had heard that scoff so many times that he just knew it was that smarmy bastard.

"Took you long enough."

"Wasn't I clear the last time we spoke?" Jacob snarled.

"Well, did you break up with your boyfriend yet?"

Bristling slightly, he said, "No... I couldn't find him."

"Couldn't or didn't want to?"

"In case you didn't notice, the whole team and even Sierra is out searching for him." His ears perked when he caught sight of Max and Sierra approaching from a nearby street. The rest of the Branded and Rex came filtering in a few moments later. They milled about a few metres away. The absence of the big, hunky Tribal and a lot of head shaking told him they had not found Leo.

"You're a wolf of action, Jake."

He growled and flashed his fangs at the phone even if Canis couldn't hear him. "Don't call me that."

"Awww... Does that hurt? Something else that traumatised you in the past? Great, more ammunition for me."

"I swear, the next time I see you, I'm going to tear your bloody throat out."

"Before or after sex?"

Again he bristled and dropped his voice as the Branded began to approach. "What do you want?"

"Just what made you realise that you had no chance with Leo?"

Jacob took a moment to collect his thought, filtering through the anger. As much as he hated to say it, he said, "Sleeping with you and then getting caught by Tayl. I was lonely and having someone there unconditionally just made me feel like I wasn't alone anymore." His eyes drifted over to where Taylor stood in front of the titanic facility, eyes locked on the big monogram. "That's not love. That was desperation. I don't deserve Leo's love especially when I'm so willing to fuck anyone who so much as flicks their cock at me."

Rex happened to have passed him at that very moment, his half-brother's ears perked slightly and he flashed a lusty grin. Jacob flashed him a brief smile before turning away from the rest of the team, trying to keep his conversation as private as possible.

"And what happened to making it work with your boyfriend?"

"Can't build a bridge without a foundation. I don't love Leo. I want to but I'm not ready. I've got things to figure out."

"Are you going to give that whole, it's not you, it's me, spiel?"

Rolling his eyes, Jacob slowly followed Sierra and the others as they approached the elevator. There was a loud humming as the facility's doors began to open. "I have to go. Just remember, next time we see each other, you're dead for calling me 'Jake'."

"I'm not so sure about that."

"Oh yeah? Why?"

To answer his question, the doors sprang open and there stood Canis, phone in his paws held out wide while beside him... stood Leo. The little flashing symbol of a microphone on the phone's surface marked it as being on loudspeaker.

"You're going to downright murder me, rape me, bring me back to life and then do it all over again," Canis said, his grin so filled with evil and malice that he might have just grown horns and produced a pitchfork at that moment.

Jacob ignored the Alsatian but instead turned his gaze towards Leo, about ready to produce an apology. He was halfway to saying 'I'm' when he saw the expression on his mate - no, his friend's face. Leo wasn't heartbroken, crestfallen or any combination in between. The look on his face mirrored Taylor's expression of horror and true fear.

Okay... Not that I'm not grateful but this does not bode well...

"You do realise we're going into the research centre where the previous Elemental Lord of Water died, Taylor apparently seems obsessed about and your boyfriend just emerged from looking like he's seen a ghost."

We've dealt with worse.

Spectre nuzzled him very lightly. "And for that, I am sorry, Jacob."

He froze for a moment... Not sure if he should forgive his father or not but he found no time to reply as the group instantly brightened as they rushed over to Leo, exclaiming their relief at finding him. The moment, Leo's face instantly switched to one of gleeful innocence sparked a hint of suspicion in Jacob. For the first time, he realised that Leo wasn't quite as innocent as he seemed.

Slowly, he approached the welcoming committee. Leo hugged him tightly but it was an embrace of fear, one that screamed, 'I don't want to let you go'. When he whispered, "Please, can we not go back down there?" then he grew suspicious.

He did a quick scan of the others and the expression on their faces spoke of nothing but relief.

I should take them somewhere else... But first...

He suddenly let out - what he thought - was a convincing laugh and pushed away from Leo, running a paw over his washboard abs. "Geez, I actually felt that!" Leo just gave him a puzzled look. He glanced over at the others. "I'm going to take Leo over to grab something to eat. His stomach actually growled 'hungry' at me."

Sierra waved a paw dismissively. "There is plenty of food in the research centre. Come, you will have the opportunity to dine amongst the fish."

Isn't that a euphemism for 'die'?

"Um... Leo is pretty much better on ground than underwater..."

"Are you kidding?" laughed Joanna. There was a spark in her eyes telling him that she was still fairly hurt by his verbal assault earlier. "He was like a furry torpedo yesterday! Come on, there's no harm, right? Let's go. I want to see the research centre."

There goes my attempt to get Leo by himself...

Feigning a smile, he begrudgingly agreed and stepped into the elevator alongside the rest of the Branded and the two Elemental Lords. Even Canis was there, smiling brightly. As he stood next to Joanna, though, he threw her a foul look and she just narrowed her eyes at him.

Something vibrated softly in his paws and a quick glance down made him realise he was still holding the phone he had been given. He flicked it open and found the words, 'What? Not going to kill me?' on the screen.

He flashed Canis a look who just beamed off into the distance as they were engulfed in darkness. Only the lights of his phone and Canis' illuminated the brief flash of black. Then, the shadows gave way to a surreal underwater scene. The ocean unfolded around them. At about a hundred metres wide, the circular elevator kept the waters of the ocean at bay with just thick glass. Bubbles streamed by the windows and fish bolted away in fear. A pod of whales sang their song not too far away and the coral city of Angelsea's underside danced in front of them.

The elevator began to hum amongst the awed gasps of the rest of the Branded.

"Don't worry, that's just the elevator depressurising your bodies so you are not in agonising pain when we hit the research centre," Sierra said, her tone becoming very lecture-like. "The Triton Research Centre was conceived by my mother to..."

The rest of her words were drowned out by another buzz in Jacob's paws.

'Come on. You want to. 8=>'

Jacob frowned and quickly texted back. 'Are we really doing this? And what the heck is '8=>''

He got a reply almost immediately. 'It's a sidewards penis, jackass.'

Jacob had to actually flip his phone sidewards to see it. 'I'm not letting you get to me. This ends now.'

Then he shut the phone and tucked it into his pocket.

Unfortunately, he couldn't focus on Sierra's words as the phone just continued to buzz in his pocket. After about the tenth time it buzzed, he growled and flicked it back out. A stream of, 'How about now?' passed before his eyes.

'What the heck do you want!?' Jacob texted back.

'For you to get it over and done with and break up with your boyfriend.'

'Why are you so invested in my relationships!?'

The moment he hit 'send', a stroke of inspiration hit him. He glanced over at Canis who was reading the text. There was a moment where his lips opened and closed.

Jacob quickly texted a question, 'Do you have a crush on me?'

No reply.

Canis looked like he had seen a ghost, just like Leo and Taylor.

'Oh my god... You're kidding me!'

No reply again.

'I thought we were going to be the friends that hate each other and tear each other a new one! Weren't you going to tear me down whenever I get all up in myself and th-'

He had to hit send as the text limit arrived.

'then help me up when I get all depressed!?'

"Jay," Rex asked, "who are you texting? And where'd you get that phone?"

"Busy right now. Sex later," he answered shortly. Rex's expression brightened and he quickly turned back to Sierra's lecture, muttering, 'Don't think about cock' over and over again.

His phone buzzed.

'Look, the longer you put off breaking up with Leo, the harder it will be later on.'

'You just want to sleep with me again.'

'You're acting like a common whore. Are you a common whore?'

Deciding to swallow his pride, he countered with, 'I've slept with basically every man on my team. What do you think?'

A pause as the elevator stopped to continue the depressurising process. Both of them paused as the noise died down a little and Sierra's lecture continued. When the elevator continued, the texting began again.

'You're more than that.'

'Of course I am. You've called me worse! Why are you doing this!?'

Canis' reply only confused him more_. 'Maybe it's to mess with you. Maybe it's because after we got up from bed and you told me you wanted to break up with Leo, I saw the person you could be and -'_

Damn text limits.

'... You know what? Never mind. It's stupid."

Jacob was on the verge of roar with rage and throwing the phone at Canis. He did not need another complication right now. Closing himself from all relationships until he was stable, getting a proper job aside from 'wanted criminal' and going through about a hundred therapy sessions was the plan. Having a relationship with an abusing, gutter-mouthed sociopath like James Canis was just asking for trouble.

Bristling with anger, Jacob texted back, 'Whatever you say, Jimmy.'

He got a snort from the Alsatian and another text. 'Nice try, Jake.'

'You are going to pay for that.'

'Will my heart do?'

He flashed the Alsatian a piercing look but he didn't even get a locked gaze. The smile on the canine's muzzle confused Jacob all the more. He wasn't sure if Canis was just messing with him or being honest. It frustrated him not knowing.

"Why do you want to know?" Spectre asked.

It's another thorn in my side. I don't want his love, Spectre. I need his friendship. I need him to bring me back down to earth.

"You know, your mother and I..."

Not now, dad... I know how it was between you two. Just... Not now.

Shaking the thoughts from his head, he turned to another personal problem.

Leo.

The Tribal was staring at his bare feet, lips pursed together tightly. He should have been amazed at the marvel of technology around them. But just like Taylor who stood not too far away, peering out the windows and being perfectly still, he looked horrified.

What are they afraid of...?

He put the thoughts of Canis' feeling away and tossed them - and the phone - into his pocket, leaving it to be forgotten. The elevator shuddered faintly as it approached Triton. A collection of domes connected by thin, glass hallways unfolded in front of him. Lights kept almost every aspect of the facility illuminated. It was massive. One gaze at the underside of Angelsea above them and it seemed like Triton was the city's hidden, darker, twin. Everything was so cold, geometric and metallic.

A chill ran down his spine just looking at it.

The elevator slipped into one of the bigger domes, replacing the dark underwater environs with the white, sterile innards of Triton. ANVIL soldiers milled about and stood out like sore thumbs. All the scientists almost blended completely with the white floors, roof and equipment. Compared to Angelsea's mess of artistically decorated plaster buildings with local flora crawling up the sides, Triton was a bit of a shock.

Leo gripping Jacob's arm tightly only sparked even more worry in the big wolf.

"And this is Triton," Sierra said, puffing out her chest proudly. "Years of work finally created the prime location for marine research. Here, we can observe local sea life in their natural environs. We can conduct tests in private and we have near limitless resources when it comes to power thanks to the geothermal vents the station is powered on."

"Green and educational," Joanna said, clearly impressed. "I love this place!"

When the elevator came to a halt and the doors sprang open, Manfred Oculus and Alexander Jenkins were waiting for them. Jenkins' eyes fell on Leo first and the frown on the orca's face set Leo's fur on edge. Jacob didn't miss that and he stepped protectively in front of his - no, of Leo - and met the admiral's stare.

"Welcome to Triton!" Oculus exclaimed, spreading his arms, his gauntlets flashing in the light. "I will be taking you on a tour of our wonderful facility. Please stay with the group, please do not touch anything and if you happen to pass out for unexpected reasons, we don't have the faintest idea why."

Everyone groaned, even Sierra. In fact, all the other people in the facility groaned at the same time.

The phone buzzed in Jacob's pocket but he ignored it.

"I will leave you in the hands of my lieutenants," Sierra said, nodding both to Jenkins and Oculus. "I have some business to attend to. Balthazar is due to arrive in a few days. I have many preparations not to mention a training regimen for all of you to plan."

She gave them a final wave before the elevator shut and took her back up to the surface.

Jacob felt a little wary without her along but pushed it aside. Canis accompanied them, whistling softly as he followed them on Oculus' direction, arms crossed behind his head. He wondered why the Alsatian would be taking his time off with them but then thought about their earlier conversation.

Does he really have a crush on me or is he really just messing with me...? What purpose does he have for messing with me?

"Who knows? He seems to be a lot like you, you know. Hot and cold, flicking on and off constantly."

Am I really that bipolar?

"You're asking me, your father who embodies the very manifestation of your Brand?"

Point.

Oculus led them towards one of the many glass tunnels that connected the various domes. "Triton was conceived by the previous Elemental Lord of Water as a means to give scientists the resources they need for their research and an environment where they can work in peace without being assaulted by protest groups and ethical conservatives."

"You get protestors?" Rex asked, puzzled.

"More often than you think," the reptile answered, flashing a grin. "Science is not without its sacrifices and many people believe that even the smallest sacrifice is too much."

"What do you research here anyway?" Joanna asked.

"Many things. One of them is Unsealed research."

On cue, they stepped through the metal doors into the next dome. Every one of the Branded and Rex froze. In the centre of the dome was an enormous cylindrical tank. Suspended inside, connected to various wires and metallic plates was what appeared to be an enormous equine with slick, blue flesh but where its legs should have been was the tail of a fish.

Leo gripped Jacob's arm even tighter, almost cutting off circulation entirely.

Is this what scared him...?

"What is that?" Max exclaimed.

"That is Leviathan," Jenkins answered. "Of the three giant Unsealed that plague us, we have only been able to control Leviathan." His eyes flicked towards the Branded. "No doubt you are aware that MODD has the capacity to manufacture Unsealed and then there are the Unsealed that occur naturally in the world."

"Most of the Unsealed we've faced we always assumed were manufactured by MODD... especially the bigger ones," Rex admitted. "The other Elemental Lords have their own 'guardian' Unsealed that's why I'm so surprised that Neptune attacked this place. I would have thought you would have turned your own guardians against them."

"Neptune was never an Unsealed created by MODD," answered the orca grimly. "We don't know where it came from. Hydra is just as much a mystery. Leviathan appeared out of nowhere as well but we were able to capture it. We have been conducting research on it ever since." A dark smile crossed the orca's face. "In fact, most of more modern Unsealed creation processes comes from Triton. Before, we just used to infect people but now, we can manufacture them."

"And what of those other Unsealed that accompany Neptune? Were they created by MODD too?"

Oculus answered as he led them around the tank and around the facility. Just like in Gale's tower, there were various tanks where Unsealed were suspended in fluids. "Yes. We created them but only to fight off Neptune and Hydra. Unfortunately, it seems that both creatures have the innate capability to control lesser Unsealed.

"You see, we've discerned that Unsealed, depending on their age and level of development, actually develop intelligence. The smaller, more pesky Tainted Unsealed are little more than animals, following their instincts. However, the bigger, more powerful Scion Unsealed have almost our level of intelligence."

Jacob remembered his encounter with the Puritan Unsealed back at Graesham and shuddered from the memory. The power he had sensed from them... It was just unreal.

"Hang on," he said. "I remember hearing that Scion Unsealed are created from intense emotions from Seal-Bearers. Leviathan, Hydra and Neptune look like Scions. Someone must have created them."

Oculus flashed him a very broad, toothy grin. "I hope you do not expect that MODD keeps tabs on where every Seal goes."

I would have thought they did.

"Seals are a common tool, a commodity that almost everyone has. Seals can be stolen. They can be abused and we will be none the wiser. Though I understand your concern." The crocodile turned towards Leviathan and nodded sagely. "Only Seals of great power would have been able to create such powerful Scions and they must bear a great hatred for Angelsea to constantly strike at it."

Gesturing for them to follow, they were led around the rest of the room towards another connecting tunnel. "However, off to less grim news. We also research marine life here."

Jacob was only partially listening as he noticed Taylor and Kerry hanging near the back of the group. He noticed their eyes were cast elsewhere and as the door to the previous dome shut, they paused and let it cut them off.

"Leo, stay with the group," he instructed and quickly spun back around.

"Jay?" Rex asked. "Where are you going?"

"Tayl and Kerry aren't with us."

He let that shock settle in before he stepped back through into the previous dome. A flicker of red and blue and Taylor's musky scent in the air led him to another connecting tunnel. Without waiting for the others, he bolted after them, pushing through several scientists who gave a cry of shock. Hitting the tunnel in a run, he caught sight of the two about halfway down the tunnel.

"Taylor! Kerry!"

Tayl froze and turned around, eyes wide in surprise. Kerry said something and he turned back towards whatever they were chasing. He gave Jacob an apologetic look before following suit. Jacob shook his head and hurried after them. Since they were much more nimble than him, they were able to rush forward faster he could. For once, he was cursing his bulky frame and nearly lost them when they hit the next dome. He was a little surprised to find this area to be a cafeteria of sorts with a birthday party going on. Even in the white, sterile environment of Triton, the scientists were still very much mortal.

Through the shouts of 'happy birthday' and confetti, he spotted them bolting into the kitchen. He shot past the birthday cake, taking a slice for himself before entering the kitchen.

There, he found the two Branded leaping into the freezer. When the door locked behind them, his heart leapt to his throat and he quickly rushed to their aid. He pulled the lock and flung it open.

Inside, Taylor and Kerry were both staring at something between them... even though there was nothing there.

"What's gotten into both of you?" he demanded, holding the door open.

They didn't reply at first but then Taylor turned those wide eyes towards him and said, "Can't you see him?"

Jacob just shook his head. The fact that Kerry was apparently staring at the same thing threw out the possibility of Taylor just being crazy or having some sort of mental breakdown. Unless they were both sharing the same psychotic break.

"There's a child in front of us," Kerry whispered, her voice sounding distance and scared. "His eyes are bright blue and he is dripping wet. He's asking us to help him."

"Uh-huh..." Jacob answered, unsure what to make of his friend's sudden bout of insanity. "Guys... I know I'm usually not the one to say this but... Have you considered seeing someone?"

"We're not crazy!" Kerry shouted, shaking the icicles in the freezer with her voice. She winced and rubbed her forehead with the base of her palms. "That's the first sign we are crazy, isn't it?"

"Yeah, it kind of is."

She shook her head again and fixed her eyes on him. "Jacob, you said you've turned a new leaf. I know this is asking a lot but can you trust me on this?"

He glanced from her to Taylor and replied with his own shake of his head. "Sorry, no." He paused for effect then offered them a wry smile. "I'll trust both of you." After the relief washed over their faces, he said, "I don't think both of you hallucinating the same thing is coincidence." A chill ran down his spine as he said, "Something about this place gives me the creeps and the fact that Leo looks just as horrified as you..."

Then he remembered...

Leo!

Alarms suddenly began blaring and there was a faint boom in the distance.

"What was that!?" demanded Taylor.

"Nothing good."

The field of white was suddenly turned red, bathing their environment in what might as well been blood. Jacob gasped faintly as his Brand began to burn; a sure fire indication that Unsealed were nearby. He whirled around and flexed his fingers. Twin blades of scintillating light erupted from the small discs on his palms, bringing out his two swords, Radiance and Requiem.

Sparks erupted from the floors, bolts of electricity lashing out violently to the screams of the party goes in the nearby room. Flat, eel-shaped Unsealed erupted from the tiles, sending ceramic in all directions and letting out an ear-splitting scream. They shot straight for the civilians. Jacob bolted after them, swinging his swords at them. The moment Radiance struck one of the creatures, a powerful electrical shock shot down his arm and threw him back, sending him crashing against a the kitchen counter.

Stars flashed before his eyes and control over his limbs was lost. Strangely, he still felt like he was gripping his two blades though his arms were twitching violently.

"Jacob! Are you alright!?" Kerry came rushing to his aid, hesitant to touch him.

He tried to speak but what came out was a mumbled gurgle. He couldn't even utter a warning as a dark, tentacle-like growth slowly emerged from the ceiling and sprouted a single, red eye. It peered straight at the back of her head, seemingly narrowing in glee. Dark spikes slowly began to bubble across its slippery length, levelled directly at her neck.

Kerry!

A fiery ring came streaming out from nowhere, slicing right through the Unsealed. An ear-splitting scream cut through the air as it fell to the ground, twitching before it dissipated into a swarm of blue, arcane runes just like other Unsealed. Kerry spun around just in time to see Taylor hold his chakram in the air, the twin rings of fire hovering in his paws.

Jacob found his verbal faculties return. "Where'd you learn to do that?"

"Sierra," the cougar answered with a shrug.

Damn... she teaches fast.

Finally able to regain motor control, Jacob sprang to his feet and spun his swords in his paws. The eel-like Unsealed swept through the kitchen, driving everyone else out while the doors locked behind them. More of those dark, tentacle-like Unsealed sprang up from the ground, ceiling and walls. Black spikes came shooting out of their lashing masses.

Jacob ducked behind a nearby, overturned table, wincing when the spikes burst through by a whole inch.

His phone buzzed again. Rolling his eyes, he dropped Radiance and pulled it to his ear.

"What!?" he growled.

Then he realised it was a text message.

'Hydra is here! Where the fuck are you!?'

"Hydra..." he whispered softly. Thinking quickly, he slipped on the sunglasses he had obtained from Bill Williamson back at Graesham. A quick peek over to table and he identified the black tentacle-like Unsealed as 'Kelp' and the electric eels as 'Currents'.

How appropriate.

Both specialised in keeping their foes at a range and had measures for those who drew far too close.

He swiped the glasses off his eyes and placed them back into the pocket of his coat. Another wave of black spikes came streaming at him and he ducked behind the table, Kerry and Taylor following suit.

"What's the plan?"

While he had been asked multiple times for a plan, he even surprised himself when he started thinking of one. Before, he would have simply said 'find the bad guy and make him regret ever messing with us'. But now, being trapped miles beneath the ocean's surface, a crazy Scion Unsealed attacking the facility and multiple other smaller Tainted Unsealed swarming them from all directions, he couldn't just blow everything up and hope for the best.

No... He needed a real plan.

Suggestions?

Spectre closed his eyes briefly. "If we can rendezvous with the others, we'll stand a better chance and won't risk cutting them off if we destroy a part that they need access to in order to escape."

Good idea.

Jacob hit the 'call' button on his phone and brought it up to his ears. It rang for a few moments and when Kerry gave him a puzzled look, he mouthed 'trust me' and she fell silent. Taylor sprang up from behind the table and threw his chakrams. From the high-pitched screeching, Jacob guessed he struck something.

"Not a good time, Reaper!" Canis barked through the roar of gunfire.

"Where are you? We'll meet you there so we can get out of this place in one peace."

There was a few shouts from the other end. "We're back at the Unsealed laboratory. Oculus and Jenkins are trying to release Leviathan to combat Hydra but we're getting swamped!"

"We're on our way!"

Jacob tucked the phone back and gave Kerry a nod. "Help me with this thing." He dismissed Radiance and Requiem before seizing the table by the underside.

They both hoisted the table up in front of them to make a makeshift battering ram. A shout ripped from both their throats and the charged through the kitchen. Their charge did not last long as one of the Kelps struck the table, its blade-like ridges slicing the through the metal perfectly down the middle. Kerry was surprised by the strike but Jacob was more prepared. He seized one of the table's legs and swung it like a bat, smashing the Kelp and its surrounding comrades. The red eyes rolled back into their pupils, looking dazed.

He conjured two light blades in his paws, swinging them at the Unsealed. The Kelp screamed as they were severed from their roots and dissipated in a shower of blue runes. Jacob flung both his light swords at two Currents that came shooting towards him. The blades sliced through them with ease but shattered a moment later as the Unsealeds' electrical bodies disrupted the swords' forms.

Realising he couldn't just keep throwing full-blown swords, Jacob summoned two smaller daggers of light and threw them. Quicker and lighter, the daggers flew through the air at high speeds and gave the Currents pause. Kerry drew her twin spears and swept them in front of her. The air immediately froze in front of her, forming a wall of solid ice, encasing the Kelp that stood in front of her. One jab with her spear and they shattered like glass.

Their path relatively clear, they charged towards the door.

It refused to open for them.

"Shit, it must be in lockdown," Jacob muttered. He glanced from Kerry to Taylor. "Kerry, can you freeze the door and shatter it? Tayl, you're with me on covering fire."

Taylor spun his chakrams in his paws and nodded as they stood beside one another. Kerry instantly began jabbing her spears at the doors behind them, ice quickly spreading from the points of impact and spreading all over the metal. A gale kicked up around them, carrying the daggers that Jacob threw to form a vortex of blades. Fire licked between each band of wind, adding scorching flames to each slash.

A Current surged through the barrier, hissing loudly with its fangs flashing. Jacob sidestepped the creature and sent a thunderous blast of sound in its direction. It was hurled straight back into the barrier, torn to shreds in seconds.

The sound of ice shattering made them both turn.

"I'm through!" Kerry shouted.

Jacob and Taylor exchanged glances. Sweeping his paws in front of him, Jacob summoned a wall of light blades, all levelled at the cafeteria. Flames lunged out of Taylor's paws and infused themselves with the manifested swords. Their voices joined in a thunderous roar as they both send their combined powers into the cafeteria. Where the swords struck, there was a fiery explosion and a burst of smaller daggers of light.

Satisfied with their work, Jacob turned and hurried down the glass tunnel back to the Unsealed laboratory. The alarms grew even louder as they ran. There was flares of light deep in the ocean and he guessed that Triton's defences were desperately trying to beat back the Hydra's forces.

Where is Hydra though...?

As if to answer his question, a deep, rumbling call shook the tunnel. The three Branded paused for a moment and stared into the deep ocean. Five pairs of red eyes emerged from the murky waters. Huge, armoured, reptilian heads hissed loudly. Curling, serpentine necks merged with a single, streamlined body that possessed large flippers big enough to crush entire building beneath its weight.

Hydra opened one of its massive muzzles. Light coalesced within its jaws and came shooting out in a blistering beam that bit right through a nearby dome of Triton. Water instantly went rushing through the breach. Jacob could almost hear the screams of the people in that facility.

"If that thing tears through the dome where the elevator is located, we're all screwed!"

But we can't fight it from where we are... There's only one person who can!

Another deep rumble filled the tunnel. This time, it came from behind them. Turning, Jacob broke into a grin with the enormous form of Behemoth came surging out of the dark ocean. Hydra caught sight of it immediately and powered up another powerful beam. Joanna's titanic Animus was faster however and seized the neck with one, powerful claw. It geared the beam towards its other necks and with a painful screech, the blast sliced through three of its heads. Jacob bit back a cheer when the wounds rapidly began to heal and the heads regenerated at a lightning-fast pace.

"Come on," he urged, heading back towards the Unsealed laboratory. "Leave Hydra to Behemoth. Let's get out of here."

They reached the connecting door just as Behemoth and crashed against the seabed, Hydra lying on top of him.

Jacob banged on the door. "Hey! It's us! Let us in!"

The door sprang open, Canis standing there with a gun in his paws.

"For fuck's sake!" the Alsatian shouted. "Why the hell did you run off like that?"

Jacob hiked a thumb at Kerry. "They saw a ghost mouse that was apparently dripping wet and led them here."

Canis lowered his gun, looking puzzled but he directed that gaze at Kerry. "You did? Did he lead you here?"

Seriously, am I the only one not seeing this guy?

"To be fair, you already do have your own ghost."

Fair enough...

The facility shook as Currents and Kelps came streaming out of the floors and walls.

"This place won't hold!" Canis shouted, taking Jacob's wrist and pulling him into the facility. "Doctor! Admiral! Leave Leviathan and let's evacuate! Joanna already has Behemoth facing Hydra!"

Manfred Oculus was feverishly typing away at a console at the base of Leviathan's tank. Behind him were the rest of the Branded and Rex, fighting off countless Unsealed that just continued to pour in from air vents and burst in through several openings in the floors. Water began streaming in from the holes made by the Unsealed. Jenkins had his trident drawn and bore a grimace on his face as the crackling lightning from his weapon was of little effect against the Currents.

"No!" Oculus shouted, looking up at the slumbering Leviathan. "If we lose Leviathan, we might just have another Scion unleashed against us. We cannot afford that!" He went back to work, grimacing as sparks flew out from his left. "I am just a few moments away from success!"

Canis shook his head and stormed towards the exit to the elevator. "Forget him! Everyone else, we're going to the elevator! Move out!"

The Branded exchanged glances. Jenkins just shouted for them to go and they ushered the remaining scientists towards the exit. Jacob begrudgingly admitted to some degree of respect for the two Lieutenants as they fought bravely against the swarm of Unsealed despite overwhelming odds.

"They're soldiers!" Canis shouted, taking his shoulder. "Let them go!"

"Wait!"

They both turned to Taylor who was staring at the opposite end of the circular facility, towards the door where they had initially moved towards before he and Kerry had run off. "The kid is there again."

Jacob glanced Kerry and then at Canis. All three of them shared the same expression, that look of seeing a ghost. When he traced their gazes, he only saw sparks flying and the red eyes of the Unsealed.

"I'm going," Canis suddenly announced. "You all head on ahead!"

Then he was gone, dodging and weaving through the Unsealed.

Okay... I guess this is the moment of truth, huh?

"Trust your teammates or go in alone just like you always have."

A Current suddenly slapped against Canis' right flank, sending a bolt of electricity that threw the Alsatian to the ground.

Jacob's answer was all too simple.

I've been alone for far too long...

The Current and several others came swarming in on the canine. Canis tried reaching for his dropped rifle but it was too far away. Before the eels could seize him and send thousands of volts of electricity through his body, blades of light came shooting out from nowhere and slicing through their bodies with ease. The Alsatian found strong paws seizing his arms and hoisting to his feet. His rifle was shoved back into his paw.

"You're useless without a gun," Jacob told him, grinning slightly. "What was it you said? You're a heavy weapons specialist. You unleash hell for a minute but then you need a breather." He summoned more swords around him, forming a ring of bladed death that spun around them, ripping any of dared to get close. "Let the guys with more stamina take it from here."

"I need to figure out what that kid wants," Canis protested.

Jacob gave a mental order to the swords and sent them flying outwards on a similar vein to his previous attack with Tayl. Where they struck, smaller daggers erupted and filled the laboratory with light blade.

"I never said we weren't going to find out. Now since I'm not traumatised enough to see the kid, lead the way."

There was a flash of acknowledgement in Canis' cold eyes and then he was off bolting down the chamber.

Jacob summoned a sword of light. "Jenkins!" He threw the sword towards the orca who caught it and offered his thanks. With the blade in his hands, Jenkins folded his trident away and lashed out the Unsealed with more efficiency.

Nodding in satisfaction, Jacob hurried after Canis. Kelp barred their path but Canis gunned them down with deadly precision. Even with a weapon designed to lay down suppressing fire like a rifle, Canis was able to pin down every red eye on the Kelp with a couple of shots. Jacob was impressed.

They hit the tunnel to the roar of Behemoth and Hydra.

Jacob's eyes widened when he saw the two caught in a deadly melee and rushing straight towards them!

"Move!" he roared and bolted forward.

Canis saw it too and ran as fast as his feet could take them. Unfortunately, both of them were bulky fighters and their legs were not nearly as fast as they had hoped!

In ten seconds, the two titanic beasts would shatter the glass tunnel and plunge them to a water grave.

Ten...

Unless...

"Spectre!"

Jacob seized his brand, seizing the light that emanated from it. He leapt into the air, spun and threw it behind him. Spectre erupted from a flash of light, charging straight at them. The winged wolf seized them both, snatching Jacob in mid-air while bowling over Canis. Jacob seized Canis' paw to keep him from behind left behind.

Nine... Eight...

Using all his strength, Jacob hauled Canis onto Spectre's saddle, pulling the canine in front of him. Canis lifted his rifle and picked off Kelp and Currents that tried to hinder their path.

Seven...

Behemoth roared and lashed out at Hydra. The multi-headed Unsealed unleashed a beam from its many heads, tearing into another dome.

Six... Five...

Spectre unleashed a powerful bark. The shockwave from the blast knocked back the Unsealed in their path, stunning them long enough for Canis to either shoot them or for Spectre to bolt past.

Four... three...

"Hurry!" Jacob cried.

Two...

One...

CRASH!

Hydra smashed right through the glass tunnel. Sea water instantly came rushing in, surging towards them like a thousand hungry, watery hands eager for their lives. Spectre let out a thunderous roar and threw himself through the rapidly closing doorway. The doors slammed shut just as they cleared it. A burst of water exploded out from between the cracks.

The trio hit the ground in a pile, crashing against tables and precious scientific equipment.

Jacob hit his head hard on the ceramic floor, stars flashing before his eyes. He blinked a couple of times...

... just in time to see something big and black come crashing towards his head.

"Oh -!"

*****

The inky black waters of Sierra's Seal world lapped at his ankles. The grey sands beckoned him as did that one black and gold coffin that stood at the centre of the lone island. Jacob suddenly felt very cold and he marched up to the shore, hugging himself to keep himself warm.

"Dad?" he shouted. "Where are you?"

He glanced around, looking for signs of his father. When his gaze came around full circle, he jumped. A pair of icy blue eyes met him.

A little mouse stood in front of him, dripping wet and looking up at him with a puzzled expression.

"So this is how we can speak with you," the mouse said. Jacob took a step back, a little scared that the voice that came from the mouse's muzzle was not just one voice but seemingly from thousands of others.

"Are you the kid that's been haunting Tayl and the others?"

The child nodded grimly. "We are the Drowned."

"That's certainly better than 'creepy, blue-eyed, wet children'. What do you want?"

"Release."

Yeah... I'm talking to a ghost.

"You're not planning on possessing my body are you?" he asked warily. "Let me tell you now, I don't have life insurance so any damage you do comes out of your own pocket. And even if I did have insurance, I doubt they will cover 'ghostly possession'."

The child gave him a wry smile. "We do not wish your body. We simply wish our souls to be released."

Jacob blinked a couple of times. "Are you sayings that Sierra is using your souls for some sort of weird experiment?" He placed a paw against his forehead. "It's Graesham all over again... except with kids!"

"No. Sierra has no hand in this."

"Then what?"

The child turned around, facing the coffin. "Angelsea has many secrets. We do not know who pulls the strings but the truth is simple: that accident that took place years ago that took the life of the previous Elemental Lord of Water was not an accident. It was contrived. The city is a great wonder but there must be a cost for all of its productivity." The child turned a dark, icy stare at him. "Seals are used and as you know, Seals require the sacrifice of something personal to be of any use. MODD has the monopoly on Seals. Angelsea is a MODD-based city."

It did not take long for him to piece together what was meant by those words.

"Your souls are the price for keeping Angelsea afloat?"

"And for the great project known as the Seagate. Unaware of the true source of power for the Seagate, Sierra blissfully continues to enforce it in the hopes of leaving a legacy for the city. However, we the Drowned, are what truly keeps Angelsea afloat. We are the wayward children that are brought to the city with promises of food and shelter from around the world. The healthiest amongst us are harvested for our souls and used to fuel the city's expansion and defences."

Jacob's left eye twitched. "And you don't know who is behind this?"

"Our suspicions vary but we know it is not Sierra Seasinger." The child lowered his head. "Over the years, through our own powers, we were able to band together and form a sort of central consciousness and we have since been able to project ourselves to those who have felt the touch of betrayal."

"Why only those who have been betrayed?"

Of course, Jacob didn't dare ask how Kerry, Taylor or even Canis had been betrayed.

"Because we too were betrayed. We were led here and then killed in cold blood. Their emotions are like beacons to us and we can manifest ourselves in front of them in the hopes that they will free us." The child turned to Jacob. "But you are different. You, too, were betrayed. We felt it the moment you entered the city but you were so clouded by vengeance that your heart was locked to us. Then, it was all gone."

The child inclined his head to the side. "How could one be so consumed by betrayal and vengeance and then let go at a moment's notice?"

A strong paw rested on Jacob's shoulder. Isaac Reaper stood beside him in his angelic wolf's form.

They shared a smile and Isaac turned towards the child. "Because my son is growing up and he's come to understand that vengeance will solve nothing. Time heals all wounds and even the pain of betrayal will heal one day."

The child only looked puzzled. "Angelsea has existed for decades and we only know that feeling of betrayal. We do not seek vengeance that is why we could not trace you completely. We knew you were there but we could not find you as we could not associate with you entirely. However, we cannot simply relinquish that feeling. We wish to no longer feel the sting of betrayal and for that, we ask your help."

Jacob shook his head solemnly. "You want us to free you. But in doing so, we're going to destroy Angelsea. You realise you're going to kill thousands of people, right?"

"Like they had us killed for their decadence and pleasure?" the child answered, showing the first signs of anger. "Where is the justice in that?"

At a loss for an answer, Jacob and even Isaac remained silent.

The Drowned, satisfied with their silence turned towards them and said, "At the centre of Triton is an enormous Seal. It is the 'master Seal' which regulates and controls our combined abilities. Our host sits there. It is she who binds the rest of us and it is by her will that we must keep Angelsea afloat. Kill her. Destroy her. Free us."

"Say please?" Jacob mocked.

Without a reply, the Drowned turned its back toward them and gazed at the dark coffin. "Angelsea's beauty comes at a price. As all beauty must. It is the rule of the world. All people ever see of the city is its surface but not the blood and sweat that must be shed to forge it." The Drowned's cold eyes was reflected in the black surface of the coffin, seemingly staring straight at the two wolves. "What purpose does creating a piece of art have when you know nothing about the effort that goes behind it?"

For that, Jacob had an answer.

"It's not just about telling our story. It's about getting people to listen to it. They can take what they want from it but that's part of their tale. We can tell our tale but we have no right to tell others how to live theirs."

Thank you Joanna...

The Drowned laughed bitterly. "Then the stories will go on diluted and warped. What do you think people will take from our tale?"

"What do you think they'll take from you extracting vengeance and killing everyone just to be free? It's just going to be a ghost story in the end. A warning not a lesson."

The cold child spun around, eyes flaring at them with rage. "You do not understand what we have gone through!?"

Isaac stepped forward, eyes narrowed. "Oh no? I gave up my one and only son to save the world. I left my wife and child to keep a deranged prophecy from coming true." His voice was rising and through his white fur, Jacob could see his father's face growing bright red. He tried to take Isaac's paw but his father brushed him aside. "I left my world and entered a completely alien one that was harsh, cruel and used people like they were just resources! I've given up everything for this world! Tell me that I do not understand sacrifice!"

"Dad..." Jacob whispered.

Taking a step back, Isaac shook his head and scowled at the confused and shocked Drowned. "Jake... Let's get the hell out of here."

*****

When Jacob awoke, he smelled the familiar scent of freshly cut, spring grass in the air. He instantly knew who it was and allowed himself to be lost in the moment of having his mate in his arms for a moment before he returned to reality and realising he could not be with Leo.

Slowly, he opened his eyes and found Leo sitting across a small alcove from him.

It spoke volumes that it was Canis who lay beside him, cleaning his gun but still beside him, and Leo was across the room.

Does he already know? Did Canis spill the beans while I was out?

"What hit me...?" he asked softly.

"Your boyfriend," Canis muttered briefly. "Looks like your lovestruck pup decided to follow us and in doing so, he did his weird lightning teleporty thing and appeared over you."

Jacob blinked several times at Leo who looked sad for the first time since they had known each other. The Tribal was dripping wet and he could only assume that Leo had swam through the waters to get to them. How he managed that in the intense pressure of the outside ocean, he couldn't fathom.

"How'd you...?"

"I made small jumps to get here," Leo said softly, his voice dripping with depression. "I needed to tell you something very important."

Trying to rise, Jacob gasped when he banged his head on a low wall. It took him a moment to realise that the alcove they were sitting in was actually a small gap in debris. It looked like the dome had collapsed around them and, somehow, they had managed to get lucky and lay in a small pocket of air.

"Yeah... I need to tell you something important too," he said.

Canis' ears perked up and he turned his eyes towards the two, very interested now.

"May I go first?" Leo begged.

"Actually, I'd like to go first," Jacob said, taking advantage of what time he had now while he was still Leo's alpha. "Leo... This is about us."

The Tribal shook his head feverishly. "No, please... Jacob, I cannot bear this... We cannot be together!"

"I -" His voice got caught in his throat. "Wait... What?"

Canis leaned forward as well. "Yeah... What?"

Leo pursed his lips and looked like he was about ready to cry. "I am not worth of your love... I... I am a stupid Tribal with no understanding of your world. I imposed myself upon you without thinking and I have just dragged you down. I cannot let this continue on... not when I am holding you back. I was stupid, stupid, stupid!"

Leo began banging his head with his fists. Jacob lunged forward and seized his wrists, pulling them away before the Tribal inflicted more self-harm.

"I don't understand," he said. "What brought this on?"

The Tribal shook his head. "I am sorry... I made a promise... I cannot say."

Jacob wasn't sure if he should laugh or just cry. He was relieved that the breakup was so easy but he was also disappointed that he wasn't the one to break up with Leo. It was bittersweet. He was about to just leave it at that when there was a buzzing in his pocket again. He shot a piercing glare at Canis who tucked the phone away, the Alsatian giving him a pointed look and hiking his chin at Leo.

Fine, you bossy bastard...

"Leo... The funny thing is, I was going to break it off as well." Leo's eyes looked like they were about to erupt into fountains of tears. "It's not because you aren't worthy of being with me. It's the other way around." He sat back, pressing a paw against his chest. "Right now, I don't know what I want. For the first time, I'm able to look back at my actions objectively and I've realised that most of what I've done is for stupid reasons.

"I raced halfway across the country on a route of vengeance on little more than a whim. Worse, I pulled you into a polygamous relationship with my half-brother. That doesn't scream love. That's just loneliness. I was alone for so long that it felt good to have someone beside me who wanted to be there."

He lowered his paw, hesitant to bring it across the gap between himself and the Tribal. "I need to figure out what I want out of the world first before I start making any committed relationships."

"You do not want me?" Leo asked, looking so much like an overgrown, muscular puppy with his eyes wide and watery and his ears folded back.

"My body says 'yes' but honestly, my mind is just confused and my heart wants to say 'yes' too but only because out of pity. You don't want that, do you?"

The Tribal closed his eyes, a single tear running down his cheek. "I would take what I could even if it was just out of pity so long as I could be with you... if I thought myself worthy... But I am not worthy."

Jacob smiled at his former-mate and said, "Hey, how about this? If, after all this is done, you think you can muster up the courage to try again, look me up. Maybe by then, I'll be all grown up and ready to say 'yes' with every fibre of my being."

Leo smiled back and nodded. "That sounds acceptable."

Jacob held out his paw. Leo leaned forward to sniff it but he quickly turned his paw into a pointed poke. "Ah... This is how we do things in Rillotia. We shake paws. That is a sign that we've come to an agreement and a good way to greet one another."

"Shake... paws..." Leo said, bemused. They grasped one another's paws, giving each other the first contact they had as true friends. It seemed like an eternity that they held each other's paws like that. Jacob was hesitant to let go but eventually, he had to let go.

"What the fuck?"

He turned towards Canis who looked both pissed and pleased at the same time.

"I was expecting broken hearts, tears, tempers flaring and maybe some hot, make-up sex afterwards! Why all the lovey-dovey stuff?" He pointed at Jacob. "And you. I know I broke you and you built yourself up quickly, but how the hell did you do that!? Most of the time, I have to sleep with the person five times before they grow a pair of balls again!"

Jacob turned to Leo's confused expression. "Yeah, I slept with him. He sort of raped me."

Leo's fangs were suddenly bared and his hackles rose. "Bad dog..."

Canis was unperturbed and just rolled his eyes. "So spill, Reaper. What got you up on your big, smelly feet again?"

Despite knowing he was in an alcove made of debris by himself, Jacob still looked around and confirmed no one else could hear them. "You want to know how I got back so quickly?"

"Hell yeah! Just so I can make sure the other guys I beat to a pulp and then semi-rape don't do the same!" Canis flashed him a grin. "And if that fails, I can always hypnotise them."

"You know hypnotism?"

"Not really. My psychologist wouldn't teach me. Told me I'd only use it for evil."

Somehow, I don't doubt that.

Spectre appeared on his shoulder, invisible to the others again. "Are you ready to tell them?"

I feel like I'm about to burst if I don't. Besides, I had to tell them eventually.

"Even Canis?"

Funny thing is... I feel like he's the only person I want to tell.

He seated himself so that he could see both Canis and Leo. "Here's my big secret." Taking a deep breath, he began his tale...

*****

This was it.

The day when their research would finally come to fruition.

Inter-Dimensional travel. Who would have thought it possible? Isaac Reaper stood quietly beside the rest of his team, watching as they began the final tests to ensure that their little portal into an alternate world would not cause any problems. As symbolic as it was, the portal in front of them was shaped like an enormous, white door hooked up to countless wires and pipes.

It would be the greatest achievement in Mortaelian history. Proof that other worlds existed beyond their own and perhaps even proof of the existence of a controlling deity... or lack thereof. Isaac felt giddy but as always, he was never one to truly show his emotions. One glance over his shoulder and he spied Rebecca, his girlfriend, standing amidst the other team who had volunteered to take the brave step into the new world.

She was a logical choice, of course. Being a superhero meant she had incredible powers and her chances of survival over a mere scientist like himself were much higher. Still, it was a grave risk. They had sent probes to the other end and had come across a world that was green, verdant and seemed so much like their own but so very different. They saw what appeared to be a moon that had glass tubes running into the surface of the planet. Cities that defied everything they knew about architecture and people who looked so much like their own but were dressed differently and definitely held themselves differently.

He took a deep breath and rolled the small velvet case he had tucked in his pocket. Never one to truly show his emotions even under the most stressful of situations, Isaac knew it would be a surprise for his girlfriend to step back through that gate to find him bent down on one knee with a diamond ring in one paw.

He just wished her safe passage.

"Hey, Zack."

He jumped and turned towards her, jaw sealed shut even though inwardly, he wondered if mind reading was one of her powers. The much taller, wolf with reddish-brown fur and the brightest, green eyes smile down at him and placed a paw on her shoulder.

"Don't I get a kiss goodbye?" she asked.

Isaac wanted to stand on the tips of his toes and kiss her cheek but his pride got in the way. "This is not goodbye. More like... see you later."

The disappointment in her eyes killed him but he promised himself and her spectre that he would make it up to her once she passed through the door.

"Okay then," she answered, smiling brightly. "See you later."

He grunted softly as she and the team strode towards the door.

"Everyone clear the area!" a voice exploded out from the speakers. Dave was always so formal but his excitement could be barely contained as he ushered everyone who was not the 'Jump Team' out of the area. Isaac found himself being pushed past some very thick doors, eyes lingering on Rebecca's strong back as they stood in front of the door. There was a sudden buzzing from his pants and he knew it was his phone. He didn't have time to look at the message at the moment.

"Alright everyone, this is it," Dave shouted. "Heat sinks check. Power source check. Integrity readings are all green. Synchronising with dimensional barriers now..."

A loud, rising wailing began to rise through the air. Isaac held his breath as he peered through the windows of the blast doors. The enormous door began to emit a glow from behind it. Even though there was nothing back there, the light still came out from the gaps in the heavy, metal barriers.

"Synchronisation rate at 40%... 50%... 65%... 75%..."

He rolled the ring one more time in his paws before nodding to himself.

Definitely once she gets back. They'd get married. No doubt about it. Screw what her parents said. He loved her, damnit!

"85... 95... Synchronisation rate at maximum!"

The breath got caught in his chest, his eyes widening as he tried to take in everything about this particular scene.

"Opening the door now..."

Slowly, the dual doors began to swing outwards. There was a blistering light that cascaded out of the portal beyond. Isaac could barely keep focus on it. He just kept his eyes on the silhouette of his fiancé-to-be.

"Wait... Something's wrong..."

He found his breath again, only this time it was rapid and fearful.

"Synch rate rising beyond maximum... What? 110%... 135%... This is impossible! It's rising too fast!"

"Rebecca!" Isaac shouted. Strong paws pulled him back as he pounded on the foot-thick doors. Somehow, he found the strength to shout out her name and keep pounding away even as the light grew more and more intense.

"Shit! It's going critical! Get out of there!"

Then there was a high-pitched keeling like the world itself was screaming...

... followed by a thunderous boom and Isaac Reaper knew no more...

...

For about a couple of seconds.

He blinked several times and found those strong paws that had once held him were gone. Rapidly spinning around, he found himself floating in a space of endless white. There was nothing around him. Just... white.

"Rebecca!" he shouted. "Rebecca! Where are you!?"

This was not meant to happen.

They had sent probes through and they went fine. Man sized probes too. They even ran tests with the same amount of power required to send the whole team! This shouldn't have happened! How did the door reach critical mass!? Why would its synchronisation rate go beyond full!?

"Doors open both ways."

He jumped and spun around.

Standing not too far away from him was a man. He was dressed in white and gold armour with a cloak cascading down his back that looked like the fabric was panning through the entire cosmos. Even his head was concealed by a thick help with only sapphire-blue eyes peering through the 'T' shaped visor. Those pupils were so alien... Instead of the circular orbs most mortals had, these ones were shaped like eight-pointed stars.

"Who are you?" Isaac stammered.

"Me?" the man asked, chuckling softly. "Hmmm... Good question. People call me a lot of things. Depends on where they come from, really. But I guess you can call me the 'Sixth Chaos Lord'."

Isaac inclined his head to the side but shook the thoughts from his mind. "I don't care who you are. What happened? Where am I?"

"You are in my world. I call it 'Naught'."

"Naught..." Isaac repeated. "Is this... Is this Heaven?"

"Hardly," the Chaos Lord chuckled. "Just my little pocket of the universe that I call my own. Now you asked why your little experiment went awry, right?"

He nodded feverishly. "Yes and what happened to Rebecca?"

"She is fine. So is most of your team. You weren't brought here because of your experiment. You were brought here because of your counterpart's experiment."

Isaac blinked several times. "My what?"

The Sixth took a step aside and Isaac was horrified when he found himself looking at... himself. Only this version of him was slimmer and looked much more the bookish type than he did. Isaac preferred to work out often out of jealousy of his girlfriend's powerful physique. Though he could never rise to her build, he was still much fitter than the wolf that stood in front of him.

"Who are you!?" they exclaimed at the same time.

The Sixth laughed softly. "You are both Isaac Reaper," he answered, eyes showing endless mirth. "Both Isaac Reapers for two different instances of Mortaelis."

"The Doors at Hox led to an alternate Mortaelis?" the other Isaac exclaimed.

"Well Isaac -"

"I'm Isaac!"

"What!? No you're not! I am!"

"Okay, okay..." the Sixth said, holding up his hands. "Let's call the Isaac that led a research team to build an artificial inter-dimensional doorway 'Zack', shall we? That is your nickname, is it not?" The Sixth gave Isaac a pointed stare.

Isaac nodded. "Yeah..."

"Okay then, and you..." The Sixth pointed at the other wolf. "Just be plain old 'Isaac', 'kay?"

"Alright," the other begrudgingly muttered.

"Now let me explain," the Sixth said. "Mortaelis is the name given by the Chaos Lords to a big science project to create what is perhaps known as the greatest weapon, the greatest resource and the greatest power in all the universe. Realmbreaker."

Just the sound of that word sent shivers down Zack's spine. He didn't know what 'Realmbreaker' was but it just sounded... powerful.

"I've heard of that before," Isaac said. "It's what Balthazar and I were hoping to uncover when he opened that door in the Graveyard of Doors in Hox."

That all sounded familiar except for 'Hox'. There was a continent on his Mortaelis called 'Hox' but it was a barren desert. No one lived there. There certainly wasn't a place called the 'Graveyard of Doors' there.

"Why don't you tell us about what you know, Isaac?" the Sixth asked.

"'One Key and Five Locks will find and bind the Eternal to seek out and reforge the Ultimate," recited Isaac. "A bridge built to cross Time and Space opens the door to the Connector's Throne. Two keys in one opens the Doors to the Throne that sits empty since the dawn of existence. Two halves of a Heart forges the Crown.'

"'Cast away Destruction in one hand, throw Creation aside with the other. Sever the strings of Manipulative Fate and destroy the Altered Roads of the Future. Stand defiant with Key in one hand, Heart in the other and Realmbreaker in the third. Stand and defy Destiny.'"

"Excellent!" the Sixth said. "Suffice it to say that the five other Chaos Lords hope to create Realmbreaker. If you're asking what it is, think of it as a 'paradox' given form." The Sixth raised his hands, demanding silence before either Isaac could interrupt. "Look at it this way, you two are different forms of the same being, Isaac Reaper. If, however, you were both completely opposite, what do you think would happen if you two touched? Think of what happens when something with a negative charge touches something with a positive charge."

"They are attracted to one another by nature," answered Zack. "And generally, when they make contact, they emit a charge."

"Only if that charge is strong enough," countered Isaac. "Are we talking about static charge or magnetic here?"

The Sixth waved his hands dismissively. "It does not matter. The fact is, think about what would happen if two people of opposite charges were to touch. Rub a balloon enough in your fur and hold it up against something metallic and you get a spark. Now, imagine what would happen if we take that extremely simple analogy to not only the charge of a person but to dimensional properties."

Both Reapers came to the same conclusion at the same time.

"Exactly," the Sixth said. "They would emit a charge of catastrophic proportions that would not only rip both entities apart but also through the fabric of all creation. That is Realmbreaker. A paradox. A cataclysm brought together by the union of two opposite entities from different worlds."

Zack instinctively took a step away from Isaac, making the Sixth laugh.

"Oh don't worry, you two. You're actually a lot alike so you're incompatible to make Realmbreaker. But both your worlds hold the key to the creation of Realmbreaker. Both worlds have two of the Chaos Lords inhabiting it each and my greatest warning to you both is this: They will do anything to create Realmbreaker and they will destroy the world for it."

All Zack could think of was Rebecca. "How do we stop them?"

The Sixth pointed at each of them then switched his fingers. "By swapping you two."

"What!?" they exclaimed in unison.

"Both of you hold knowledge that the other world can benefit from." The Sixth turned to Isaac. "You are a master at the creation of Seals and it will be your expertise in this field that will help balance out the eventual rise of Seals in his world." He hiked a thumb at Zack before turning to him. "You come from a world without Seals and have a new, fresh perspective. With you expertise in other fields, you will likewise be able to form a countermeasure against them. By bringing your knowledge to each world, you will be able to find a way to defeat the threat that would reduce everything you know and love to ash."

Isaac shook his head feverishly. "I can't do that! My wife is expecting a son!"

"You're married?" Zack asked, bewildered.

"Knocked up, actually," Isaac answered, blushing slightly. "I was planning to propose but I haven't had the time to buy a ring yet."

Reaching for his pocket, Zack pulled out the velvet box he was hoping to give to his Rebecca. Turning towards the Sixth, he said, "Why would the Chaos Lords want Realmbreaker anyway?"

"Various reasons. One wants to use it to destroy everything so that he can just recreate it all over again. Another wants to just hold the ultimate power in her hands. I think a third actually doesn't want the Realmbreaker found and is trying to sabotage the others and the fourth hopes to destroy everything and everyone just because she can."

"And what about the fifth?" asked Isaac. "What about you?"

The Sixth chuckled softly. "The fifth wants use Realmbreaker to destroy the Ultimate Seal, the Seal that binds all of existence together. Not just your Mortaelis but all versions of your world. Everything from the most miniscule bacteria to the biggest planet in your known universe, the fluffiest bunnies to the most unwelcoming landscapes is bound to the Ultimate Sesal. It is the very heart of all that is, was and will be."

"Why would they want that?"

"To find out what lies beyond."

The answer was so simple that Zack was a little startled by it.

"And you?" Isaac demanded. "What do you want?"

"Me?"

"Why do you want Realmbreaker?"

The Sixth chuckled and raised his hand in front of him. Energies crackled in his palms and a scintillating blade of pure energy erupted from his fingertips, forming a geyser of light and lightning. "I already have Realmbreaker. I don't want it but I know the price that has to be paid for it."

Isaac fell back falling onto his rear with his eyes wide. "So you're the expert on this, huh?"

"One could say, yes."

"And if we don't stop them?"

"Then either you're all obliterated, oppressed under an unstoppable god or all existence is erased. Your choice."

Isaac brought his knees up to his chin, curling up into a ball and rocking back and forth. "I can't believe I'm being asked to make this choice... Shit... I just wanted to find out what was on the other side of the doors!"

"I did too," Zack murmured, opening the box in his paws and staring at the diamond inside. He saw his reflection and saw Rebecca's too in the multiple facets. "But... Life is a lot more complex than that, isn't it?" He snapped the box shut and walked over to his counterpart. "We're both scientists. We sought out knowledge for the betterment of our people. Well, we got it. Now we have to act on it."

He held out his paw. "These bastards are tearing our worlds from the inside out, trying to make this goddamn weapon. We've got to stop them. What do you say?"

Isaac shook his head, weeping openly now. "What about Rebecca?"

"Take care of her," Zack instructed, throwing the velvet box at his counterpart. "You'll love her. She's a superhero. And hell, she's always told me I needed to be more emotional. You're a perfect fit."

Isaac laughed softly as he regarded the ring inside. "My Rebecca hates me for being too emotional."

Zack turned towards the Sixth. "Can we ever go back?"

The Chaos Lord shrugged. "If you want it enough and act on that knowledge, then yes. One day, you will return. However, it's always a question of whether or not you want to."

Lowering his gaze, Zack regarded his paws. With a determined clench of his fists, he nodded and said, "I'm in."

He sensed Isaac rise too. "I guess I am too..." He wiped the tears from his eyes, managing a shaky smile. "Hey... Anything I should know about your life before I take over it?"

"You'll figure it out."

"Hope my world isn't much of a culture shock either."

They shook paws. Zack half-expected the world to scream again and rip itself apart. Thankfully nothing happened. There was a loud gong-like noise however and they both turned towards the Sixth who was holding a miniature gong.

"Sorry," the Sixth said, tucking the gong away. "My 'ominous noise machine' is on the fritz." He swept his arms to the sides. Behind him two doors sprang up. Both were white but one Zack easily recognised with all the tubes and wires attached to it while the other looked like it was broken and shattered, aged and abandoned. "Your doors await."

Turning towards the ruined door, he was held back when he felt his paw get held back.

"Take care of my kid, okay?" Isaac said.

"Yeah... And you take care of my girl." Zack managed a shaky smile, breaking his usual impassive façade. A thought entered his mind and he reached into his pocket, fishing out his phone. When he flicked it open, he laughed softly. "And my kid too..."

He turned the phone towards Isaac, showing him the words, 'I'm pregnant.'

"So much alike yet so different," Isaac laughed softly, finally letting go of his paw. Isaac paused when he looked at his own paw and saw the velvety box there.

"You better make it special," Zack said. "I'll cross the dimensions and haunt you if you don't."

*****

"No way," Canis blurted, his eyes wide in shock. "Your dad did not swap with his inter-dimensional counterpart. You're just making that up!"

"I told you they wouldn't believe it," Spectre sighed.

I didn't the first time you told me... It was a lot to dump on me on that time at the pier when we actually started connection... but then you told me this one thing...

"Realmbreaker," Jacob said shortly. "A weapon made from when opposites merge together and cause a catastrophic cataclysm. Obviously from what the Sixth showed, it can be controlled. How that controlled one was formed, I don't know but look at it this way..." He leaned forward, almost nose to nose with Canis. "Of the Elemental Lords, there are only two that are truly opposite. Can you guess which?"

Canis blinked a couple of times... then his eyes went wide again.

"The Lords of Light and Dark..."

Leaning back, Jacob said, "Right. I don't care whether or not you believe me but I know my dad. I know what I believe. And my gut feeling is that Balthazar is going to try and merge the Lords of Light and Dark together, making Realmbreaker. He might not be just the Head of ExIT."

Leo chimed in, his voice low and dangerous. "He could be a Chaos Lord..."

Jacob reached for his shoulder where his Brand lay. "My dad... I know he wasn't my original dad but he is still more of a father to me than my other one. He gave his life to make the Brands possible. He was thrown into an alien world he barely knew a lick about and he still used all his knowledge to create the Brands. I'm not going to let that go to waste.

"From what he told me, during his time creating the Brands, he had help from the Sixth and updates on his son. In the other Mortaelis, they're training my counterpart to be a big target for the Chaos Lords. They're getting him to go around destroying Seals like I am but he's got a higher profile than anyone else. Apparently, he's famous or something."

Canis snorted, leaning back and folding his arms. "Not sure who's better off. The guy that's rich and famous but has a big fat target on his back or you, who is notorious and universally hated but can sneak under the radar."

Jacob nodded grimly. "I don't envy him. But he's being trained to defeat the Chaos Lords on his side just as I am to stop the ones here. Then, in the end, my dad hoped that I could wield Realmbreaker while... While..."

He closed his eyes and forced himself to say the words. "They want my counterpart to become Realmbreaker somehow... and I am meant to wield him just like the Sixth."

The Alsatian in front of him frowned. "You realise, of course, that makes you no better than the Chaos Lords you're actually hoping to stop."

"I know. That's why I'm drawing the line there. I'm going to stop them but I am not going to turn someone into a weapon just so I can rule."

"And for that decision, I am proud of you, Jacob," Spectre said softly. "I had wished that we could put at least one of you on the Empty Throne but it's still your choice."

I know dad... I know.

"Aren't you just jumping onto another person's crusade again just like you did with Gale?" countered Canis. "Are you even sure you have all the facts?"

"No. That's why I still need time. I had a bit of time to think about this. After the wakeup call you gave me, I really had to take things into stock." He offered Canis a shaky grin. "This isn't just the fate of a single country or a megacorporation. This is our whole existence and at least another one to boot. That's pretty heavy."

Canis begrudgingly bobbed his head from side to side. "Okay... Fair point."

"I put aside my petty revenge because of this. I can't keep getting led blindly into one hatred to another. The world is much bigger than I first thought. Much bigger." He took a breath, nodding to himself to confirm his convictions. "That's why I'm still breaking up with Leo and why I'm putting relationships on hold. I need to figure out what this whole mess is about before I commit to anything. But if I see an injustice, I'm putting a stop to it but I'm done just charging in when the consequences could ruin the lives of so many." He cast his gaze towards Leo. "I hope you understand."

The Tribal nodded but the look in his eyes said that he too knew something.

"Leo... What's wrong?"

The Tribal's lips quivered and he said, "I know you are telling the truth, Jacob. I met him."

Jacob's brow furrowed. "Who...?"

"The Sixth Chaos Lord... I met him. He had Realmbreaker and he was the one that guided me here to Triton. That is how I was caught here."

I wondered how he got here in the first place... No one mentioned it.

Suddenly very interested, both Jacob and Canis turned towards the Tribal.

"Tell us everything you know," Canis insisted.