FCGS - Contra Arc - Chapter 5

brighteyes sat casting firefly lights out into her dark room. She wondered what on earth was going on. Getting up she went to the window and looked out to the starry sky. Behind her something fell. Looking back, she say that her tarot cards had fallen onto the ground. As she began to pick them up she noticed all but two were face down. Death and The Hanging Man. She was still learning to read the cards and wasn’t sure what those two mean exactly but she knew that it wasn’t a good sign.

Bells rang throughout the Headquarters and brighteyes got up and ran out of the door leaving her cards on the ground. Catching up to illusions who also was running out towards the main hall, she asked “What’s going on?”

“Contra’s attacking,” she said quickly as she strapped her jurs on. “Lack wants everyone to their positions now before Contra gets through the front door.”

~~~

“Everyone ready?” Lack yelled to the guild members. Chibi covered her ears as everyone roared in response. Contra broke part of the huge double doors down and stepped inside.

Furama and Tadakono were ready and began to cast Storm Gust pushing Contra back outside again. Chibi threw a her bombs to create a wall of fire across the door and then ran back behind Lack so she wouldn’t get killed with Sacrifice Ritual.

Contra laughed as his weapon broke and cried “You think your little attacks will hurt me?!” He cast Grand Cross catching both Furama and Tadakono in it and both of them went down. Then he threw his shield at Chibi’s stomach, knocking her down onto the ground hard.

Lack looked furious. And he began to throw his sphere’s fast. Kakaxi cast berserk on herself and began to wear down Contra’s armor with her jurs. Brighteyes, Trelawney. FerrariSin and illusions jumped in to also help break up Contra’s armor with their critical attacks.

Contra just continued to laugh. Blood dripped from him as he cast Endure. He walked towards Lack like as if the five assassins were just annoying flies.

“I can’t just watch this anymore!” cried Syoran and he ran in with Leafye to attack Contra. But even them using Spiral Pierce didn’t slow Contra down. Minna closed her eyes and turned into a Stalker. She looked towards Phenomenon who nodded and she ran to divest and Sightless Raid Contra.

Phenomenon healed Furama and Tadakono. Both wizards were furious at how Contra could brush them aside and ran after him casting Firebolt and Soul Strike. Contra was unstoppable. He continued to walk directly to Lack. Chibi sat up painfully to try and slow Contra down. Contra raised his sword and slashed Lack across the chest.

"No!!!!!" cried Siel and she ran to Lack's side and started to heal him. Contra pushed her aside and raised his sword. Lack looked up dazed for a second.

Down swung the sword...

Lack blinked and saw priest robes blocking his view of Contra. He could hear Chibi and the other guild members calling out the priest's name in horror.

"He's after you Lack," croaked Phenomenon as he held the sword tight. Lack got up slowly and saw the sword had gone straight through Phenomenon's stomach. "Run Lack. Get stronger so he can't kill you."

Contra barked a laugh and pushed the sword in deeper. Phenomenon cried out in agony before falling limp against Contra's blade. Lack looked at Phenomenon in horror. Looking up at Contra he growled "You're going to pay," Taking out his medallion he called BlackRose. Tossing some blue potions to Chibi he barked "Toss these at me when you can."

Chibi nodded and a cold gust of wind blew. BlackRose appeared behind Lack with Shadow and Novus. Lack looked back at BlackRose and nodded. BlackRose nodded back and looked at the two other Hidden Gods.

Novus darted to Contra's left, Shadow warped through the shadows in the room and came at Contra from behind, BlackRose darted to Contra's right, and Lack stood his ground in front of Contra.

Chibi stood and balanced herself with her saber. The ground shook as the three Hidden Gods and Lack cast fury.

"Asura Strike!"

Contra staggered. The Fight Club Guild members retreated as the three Hidden Gods and Lack prepared to Asura again. Chibi pitched Lack blue potions quickly restoring his magical strength.

Tadakono ran to Phenomenon's side and place a hand to his forehead. Closing his eyes, her began to pray quietly. Light glowed around him.

"Asura Strike!"

Contra fell to one knee and laughed mockingly. "Is this the best you can do? You can never kill me!"

Chibi pitched to Lack again and the four asura'd Contra one last time. Contra fell dead into a pool of his own blood. Balos walked up and poked Contra to see if he was still alive before encasing him in a crystal tomb.

"Contra," he said formally. "You will be forever bound within this tomb. You will never be reborn again in this world. Never again to harm another living soul." Shadow and Balos carried the crystal tomb and warped through the shadows to the castle.

BlackRose stayed behind and looked over to Lack. "This isn't over you know," she said quietly. "There are others in the Paladin order who may not be as strong as Contra but are smarter than him. And it looks like you're their target. Be very careful."

"Don't worry about me," Lack said with one eye watching Tadakono. "I worry about my guild members though."

"Don't worry too much," BlackRose said smiling. "You're about to see something that you never thought was possible." And with that she flew upwards disappearing through a window.

Something i think is impossible huh? Lack thought looking at Tadakono and Phenomenon. His eyes opened wide as Phenomenon slowly sat up. "How did you... When could you..." Lack began to try and say.

Tadakono smiled. "It's a rare ability i possess. Not something i wanted to boast about. I can resurrect people better than a priest can." Phenomenon was stretching his arms and legs and moved around like as if he was never hurt at all.

"He's right," he said finally getting up and walking around with ease. "I feel like as good as i was yesterday. Better even."

Lack sat heavily down in a chair in a mixture of shock and surprise. "Well..." he began. "It's good to know you possess this ability."

Tadakono nodded. "I agree..."

FCGS - Contra Arc - Chapter 4

Everyone gathered in the dining hall to be served for dinner. Chibi changed into cat form and ran under everyone's legs to get to her spot on Lack's left side. She was as hungry as everyone else after being drilled by Lack all day.

"Should we serve you cat food and milk or normal food today?" Lack asked when she leapt onto her seat. Chibi looked at him with bright blue eyes and turn back into her normal self.

"Human food obviously," she replied with a smile. "I'm not too fond of cat food... Though milk sounds nice."

Lack laughed and noticed that Trelawney was standing frozen near her seat. Her eyes were vacant and her lips were moving. Lack stood and yelled "SILENCE!"

Everyone froze and only Trelawney's voice could be heard in the room. Everyone looked at her and listened. "......foreshadows the land the people must rise. Deep within the earth the silence is coming. It looms over us all. Justice will be spread and the overpowered will be diminished. Only the dark messenger will rule in power. His sword will bring down his enemies with death at his command...." Trelawney blinked and looked at everyone. Her cheeks going bright red she asked "What?"

Lack sighed knowing that she wouldn't remember the first part of what she had said. "Well?" he asked everyone. "Get to you places! Before i find a way to eat you."

Everyone laughed and the noise began to resume in the dining room. Chibi watched Trelawney sit down and shake her head. "That was unexpected wasn't it?"

"Yes it was," Lack replied. He too was watching Trelawney. Reaching back he grabbed the skirt of a passing maid and said "Take some headache tablets to Trelawney. She's going to need some after that vision." The maid who was shocked and suprised resumed her composure and nodded. Lack watched her take a glass of water to Trelawney before looking back at Chibi. "Did you take it all down?" he asked when he saw her little notebook she carried around in her pouch.

"Yup! everything she said," Chibi replied. She began to tap the end of her pen to the top of the page. "I wish we got to hear the beginning bit."

"Me too..." Lack replied. Nothing more was said as the maid brought in the various dishes for each guild memeber. Chibi laughed in delight as the maid gave her a glass of milk, 2 small strawberry tarts and a plate of noodles and honey chicken.

Everyone in Fight Club got their favourite things to eat for meals. Lack believed that a happy guild performed better than a guild that was forced to eat and do things they didn't want to. Leaning across he nicked a piece of chicken from Chibi.

~~~

Contra knelt before Hel. His eyes not looking at her as she placed Morgue’s still screaming head with the other ones she had collected. “You do quite well,” she said with a smile. Placing her living hand under his chin and lifting it up, she looked into his eyes. “I’m going to give you something in return. Something I have given no one else before.” She leaned forward and began to unbuckle his armor…

~~~

BlackRose arrived back at the castle to find Palidor still bound. “No luck?” she asked Shadow as walked to her room to get her feather brush.

Shadow shook her head. “We might need to call Eir or Forseti for help. But I don’t know if they’ll reply. Odin didn’t…” The indicated to Balos who was resting at her side. “Calling a god seems to take a lot of power and strength from him.”

“I wonder if Eir might hear us if we lend our strength to Balos,” BlackRose mused brushing her wings gently with her feather brush. “I wonder if the gods are even able to hear us loud enough if it was Balos alone who attempted to call them.”

Shadow shrugged and the two of them looked towards where Novus was still hovering around Palidor poking at him with weapons and magic and pretty much anything that came to mind in an attempt to unbind his powers.

“Where’s Kashy?” BlackRose called to him. “I thought he’d be here angry or something.”

“He got so angry that he left to prepare the change he has been creating for the world,” Novus replied and he poked Palidor in the side with a Bone Wand.

Palidor shifted and said “Face it. Nothing is going to work. You’ve been at this for 5 hours. Take a rest already.”

Novus sat and sighed “Then we’ll have to get Balos to attempt to call Eir. She’s the only one who can help now.”

~~~

Kashy stood in his room with his eyes close. Under his hands, the instruments moved fast and on their own. He began to prepare the change. A change that would shift the balance of power forever.

The instruments began to move faster and faster like a whirlwind until at last they laid to rest on the table leaving behind a small shimmering cloud. Kashy opened his eyes and smiled at his creation.

~~~

Contra lay in Hel’s bed. All over his body ached of the experience he just had. Closing his eyes, he remembered the most painful yet pleasurable, revolting yet lustful five minutes of his life. On the left side of his chest, a red mark stood out against his white skin. Hel’s brand. Getting up, he got dressed and began to plot how he was going to get Hel’s next head for her collection. He knew it wasn’t going to be easy.

She wants Lack’s head, he thought as he strode out of the room. Looking back in for a sec, he gave Morgue a pat then ruffled his hair. Morgue swore at him angrily. “This is to teach you to respect your elders, O Middle Seat of the Paladin Order.” He laughed and left the room. Now how am I going to get Lack’s head without causing all of Fight Club to come down on me.

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FCGS - Contra Arc - Chapter 3

Kashy paced as Novus and Balos examined Palidor's now bound self again. "How the hell did you get yourself bound?!" he yelled angrily at Palidor. "I thought you'd be able to handle Contra on your own!"

"I was sure i could also," Palidor replied calmly. "That was til i saw what was around Contra's neck." He looked at the two Mediators in turn. "You saw it too didn't you?"

Shadow and Balos shrugged. Both had been too busy occupying Contra's attention by attacking him to notice anything unusual. "BlackRose might know. But she was called by Lack for some reason."

"A medallion from Loki," he said with certainty. Everyone looked at him with shock. "I'm certain of it. I saw Loki's brand upon a medallion around his neck. He was able to bind me with the power Loki has granted him. It seems he can't do three at once or Shadow, Balos and BlackRose would be bound now too."

Silence filled the room...

~~~

"Theories?" asked BlackRose quietly. She had followed Lack to a building on the south side of the Headquarters.

"Contra somehow got power right?" Lack asked settling onto a beanbag. "What if he got it from a higher power?"

"I already know," BlackRose said interrupting him. "Contra owns a medallion with Loki's brand on it. It was dangling out of his armor when Shadow, Balos and i went to free Palidor."

"Loki..." Lack said not showing much reaction to this news. "God of Mischief? What would he want with Contra? Contra's more of an overpowered pain in the ass. He isn't much of a mischief maker."

"I don't know," BlackRose replied. She looked up at the Fight Club Headquarters and blinked once. "Wanted to ask... How is she?"

"She?" Lack asked puzzled for a moment. "Oh! Your half sister? She's ok... Most of the time. Did you want to talk to her?"

"No. I'd rather keep this a secret from her," BlackRose replied. "She's already has a shadowed form of Balos' power. I don't want her to get hurt by Contra if he finds her a threat because we're half sisters."

"As you wish," Lack replied. "Now how would you say we could go about killing Loki..."

~~~

Inside her room, illusions sneezed. Someone's talking about me. she thought automatically. She could tell sometimes when someone was talking about her when she sneezed for no reason.

"Illu," called Chibi from her door. "Going to come down to the pool with Brighteyes, Kakaxi and i?"

"Coming!" Illusions called and grabbed her towel. She shook her head to get rid of the thought that someone was talking about her somewhere and ran out after Chibi, Kakaxi and Brighteyes.

~~~

Morgue stood staring at Contra. "You're an pathetic you know that? A stupid pathetic wreck. You can't even stand straight after being scolded by Loki!"

"But she was there," whimpered Contra. He felt icky all over his body. "Hel was there. And i looked at her. So beautiful..." He savoured the image of one half of Hel's body for a moment before becoming completely repulsed. "Yet she scares me so much."

Morgue shook his head. He didn't look at Hel because he had been exactly like Contra is now. Hel was half rotting corpse half fullbodied luscious woman. It was burned into his memory of the maggots that crawled over the dead half of her face. He could feel the sickening yet lustful feeling he got when he saw her for the first time.

Forcing himself not to shiver in digust, he pulled Contra up and barked. "Are you a man or a wimpy female? Because i don't need females with me on our mission."

Contra stared at Morgue full of anger. "I'm not female." he said standing up straight. "And you better start to respect my authority as the High Seat of the Paladin Order."

"Or what?" Morgue sneered. "You going to hit me with your toy sword?" Contra's eyes flashed angrily at this. He raised his sword and positioned himself into attack mode.

"I'll teach you respect!" Contra spat and leapt at Morgue. Morgue merely stepped aside and laughed. His sword still in it's sheath.

Contra snorted like an angry bull and charged again. Morgue whipped out his sword and blocked Contra's attack. Throwing his shield at Contra as a distraction he cast reflect around himself.

Contra growled. "Sacrifice Ritual!" He screamed and aimed it at Morgue, casting it over and over again. Before he knew what had happened the attack was coming back to him. Falling to his knees, he began to cast heal.

"No you don't," Morgue said giving him a kick in the stomach. "This is my respect O High Seat of the Paladin Order." Morgue laughed and kicked Contra again. Contra laid on the floor motionless. Blood oozed slowly out from under him. Morgue tilted his head and waited a few seconds before spitting on Contra. "Good riddance," he said turning to walk away. "I did say to him i didn't want girls with me on our mission. Such a pathetic weak Paladin. How could he have gotten...."

Morgue fell forwards. He coughed and blood splattered the ground. Looking back at Contra, he saw him up on his feet. Blood dripping off him like raindrops.

"Impossible," Morgue croaked. "You should be dead. Dead!" Contra began to walk towards him. "How can you still move?!"

Contra continued to walk towards Morgue. "This is why i am the High Seat and not you." Raising his sword, he swung down neatly cut off Morgue's head. It rolled along the floor leaving a trail of blood until it hit the wall, where it sat upright facing him. Morgue's expression frozen in pure horror.

Contra smiled and wiped his sword on Morgue's cape. "You need to respect your elders." He said to Morgue's headless body. Looking up he saw a beautiful woman standing behind a pillar.

"This is what you wanted?" He asked as she stepped out and began to walk towards him. His stomach churned as she gave him a kiss. Her rotting hand caressed his face.

"Yes," she whispered into his ear. He could feel the loose pieces of dead flesh brushing against it. "Exactly what i wanted." She walked over and picked up Morgue's head. "You will do well for my collection." Casting a spell, she brought the head back to life. Morgue looked at her and screamed. "My you'll do very nicely." She hugged him to her chest and walked off.

Contra shuddered and picked a maggot out of his hair. He hated Hel dispite her allowing him to fulfil his wildest and violent fantasies with her in exchange for certain deaths to add to her collection. 

FCGS - Contra Arc - Chapter 2

Everyone was sprawled asleep on the floor, worn out from the party the night before. Lack stepped over everyone and woke Tadakono, Syao, Chibi and Phenomenon and quietly led them down to the old meeting rooms for a private chat.

Tadakono sat down onto a couch and dust flew into the air causing the five of them to sneeze. "I didn't know that would happen," he said quickly using his cape to shield his nose and mouth from the dust.

Chibi waves her hand furiously around trying to clear the dust away. Lack sighed watching her and Syao laughed. "You're just spreading it..." Phenomenon said looking at Tadakono he continued. "Why not just use Water Ball to damped the dust."

"And dampen everything else too?" Tadakono asked getting up.

Phenomenon shook his head. "Just use Water Ball and target a spot on the wall from a distance. The water will go through the air collecting dust."

"I see..." Tadakono replied and got up. He cast three quick Water Ball's and the dust considerably lessened in the room. He sat back down on the left side of the couch. Chibi scrunched her nose looking like she was going to sneeze before she settled into the corner on the right side of the couch; Lack chose a comfortable chair and rested his legs on a stool near it; Syao lounged on the floor resting on a very fat beanbag; and Phenomenon found a rather weird looking pillow chair to sit in.

Lack waited a little while before beginning. "They wanted to know about Contra," he said not looking directly at any of them. "They said he's somehow captured and bound Palidor. They're unsure how though." He looked up and saw a faint outline of someone in the corner. The light from the window only lit up three quarters of the room. "Shadow might be willing to tell you more."

Chibi turned into a cat in suprise. "She's here?" she mewed and returned to normal when Shadow stepped into the light. Syao and Phenomenon placed a hand on their weapons.

Shadow settled on the floor near Lack, pulling her wings around her so she wouldn't slap him with them. "I'm not here to take anyone away. I figured that you'd be telling them what happened." She eyed the medallion and smiled. "BlackRose wasn't told to give you that. It's rare that we do since people have abused it in the past."

Lack shrugged. "Want to explain to them or should i?" he asked giving her a curious stare. "Because i was about to when you popped in."

Phenomenon, who seemed to be the only one who registered what Lack has said before Shadow arrived, interrupted the talk. "Where did Contra get the power to bind a Hidden God?"

Tadakono and Syao looked at him puzzled. Chibi's eyes were on Shadow. Shadow stared back at her just as wondering as Chibi's. "Are the Gods helping Contra?" she asked suddenly not taking her eyes off Shadow.

Shadow shrugged. "If they are then it's either Loki, Hel or Tyr's work. They seem to like breaking Forseti's balance in justice." Shadow looked away and sighed. "But if it is the God's there isn't much we can do. Unless Odin actually decides to dispense some justice on his own, Contra will just become too powerful."

"Why didn't you say this before?" Lack asked looking at her. "Or was that something you wanted to keep hidden?" A Desert Wolf howled in the distance and Shadow got up. "Balos is calling me. I must leave you now." She stepped into the shadows and disappeared.

~~~

Contra sat at the door to Palidor's cell. "Not so tough you Hidden Gods are," Contra said smugly. "You was easy to capture." He drew his sword and held it in guard position. "So easy to kill too. Like a baby lamb." Palidor flinched as the sword begun it's downward arc towards his head.

A clang of steel against steel rang out. Palidor looked up and saw black feathery wings. BlackRose held two daggers crossed against Contra's blade.

"Another helpless lamb," Contra said with a laugh and threw his shield at BlackRose's waist. She fell backwards hard. Palidor looked at her with a pained expression and realised Balos and Shadow were hiding in the darkness behind her. Jurs met armor as Shadow leapt out of the darkness at Contra. Balos summoned Werewolves to his aid and leapt out at Contra with two bare daggers.

BlackRose sat up and slit Palidor's bonds and leaned in close to whisper to him while Shadow and Balos kept Contra busy. "This is from Kashy," she said handing him a silvery potion. "It temporary gives you your powers back so we can get you back to the castle. He had trouble making it considering you don't leave anything with your DNA behind."

Palidor smiled slightly at her tone that suggested he was a neat freak. Taking the potion he drank it and his bright white wings appeared. Contra yelled in fright at the sight of now four of the Hidden Gods were there to kill him. He ran out of the cell in fright.

Shadow and Balos sat down laughing hard. It was a while before they were calm again. "Lets get Palidor back to the castle," Shadow said wiping away tears. The three of them took a hold of Palidor and Shadow created a portal through the darkness to the castle.

~~~

"And that's what they told me," Lack said finally after speaking for so long. He leaned back in his chair and stared at the ceiling. "I'm beginning to wonder if Contra was to come and raid our headquarters. Would we be able to stand up to them?"

"Better arrange a defensive drill incase that happens," Syao said punching the beanbag. "How can he get so much damn power?! It's insane!"

"Yeah," Lack said. He took out a pen and paper from his pocket and began to plan the defensive lines.

~~~

Contra knelt before a large figure. "Forgive me master," he pleaded. "Please forgive me! I didn't know the three were going to rescue him! I would of killed Palidor sooner had i known! Please forgive me!"

"There are others more useful then you Contra," The voice boomed. It's intensity pressed on Contra's head making his eyes water. "MORGUE!" The voice yelled. Contra cowered on his knees afraid.

Morgue stepped out and knelt before the figure. "You called master?" He loked sidelong at Contra. Shaking his head, he whispered "You're a pitiful wreck Contra."

"Go with Contra and destroy the Hidden Gods," The voice boomed. "And when you're done. We'll conquer Midgard!" Insane laughing broke out from the voice and it filled Contra's and Morgue's heads. "Go!"

~~~

Lack stood outside in the cold night. Pulling out the medallion he pressed his thumb to it. Nothing happened for a few seconds then a strong cold breeze blew past him.

"You wanted to see me?" BlackRose asked. Her eyes and unsheathed daggers the only parts visible on her in the dark.

"Yes," Lack said calmly. "I have a few theories..."

FCGS - Contra Arc - Chapter 1

"This is it isn't it?" Tadakono asked standing next to Lack, Syao and Chibi. "Fight Club will become active again?"

"We hope so..." Chibi replied as Lack stepped up to the locked doors of the Headquarters. "Everyone's been doubting our return." Lack gently removed his shirt to reveal the Fight Club logo tattooed onto his left arm. Waving it once across the front of the doors, he activated them to open slowly. The ground shook as the doors dragged themselves open. Syao held onto Tadakono's shoulder for balance.

"Is this even wise to do?" Syao yelled over the noise. "It feels like the whole wall is going to cave in!"

"It won't," Lack replied calmly. He stood his ground near the doors. "It's like us. It won't crumble under the strain of being awoken."

The doors gave way to a courtyard filled with roses and violets. Chibi ran past Lack giggling. "They're still alive!" she cried. "All the flowers that were put here are still alive."

Lack touched her shoulder then pointed upwards. "Of course they'd be alive. They aren't inside the main building are they?" Chibi made a face at him and together the four of them walked up to the main building. Behind them the doors closed again slowly with a lot less shaking than before.

~~~

Deep within the ground, a meeting had begun. The Paladins of Midgard. Each seeking to take back what they believed should be theirs. Contra sat at the head of the long table and watched his companions. Each one had their strengths with Sacrifice Ritual and all have strong Healing capabilities. But he wondered how many he could trust at this time of need.

Fight Club had reawoken and many other guilds were surging against them. 'To wipe out the Paladin class forever...' That he believed. He also feared the wrath of Midgard's hidden gods. The ones who took away people for seemingly no apparent reason.

"Must kill them too," he murmured to himself. "No one takes me. For any reason."

~~~

A meeting of another sort, and with a less serious tone, was also taking place. Fight Club members filled the halls of the previously locked Headquarters, partying and moving back into their old room. Phenomenon backed into brighteyes and both sprawled onto the floor.

Phenomenon laughed. "Haven't seen you around before," he said. "New member?"

"Yes you could say that," brighteyes replied. Her eyes twinkling just like her name implied. "Didn't know Fight Club could get so lively!"

"It's been a long while since we've been all back together," he said reaching up to grab 2 drinks from a passing maid. Handing one to brighteyes he added "Even Chibi is back from her brief stay in Velvet Touch of Enishi."

"That's good then isn't it?" brighteyes replied looking into her drink. "Everyone being back i mean."

"Yeah," Phenomenon replied. Looking up at the shadow that was now leaning over them.

"You two tired already?" Lack asked surprised. "I thought you'd have a lot more energy than this! The party's only just started!" Without waiting for a response, he disappeared into he crowd looking for Siel.

A silence began to spread from the near the entrance of the main hall. Lack, who had found Siel, looked up wondering what was going on. Chibi ran to his side with her pouch bouncing on her belt. She was carrying both Lack's and Siel's Mjolnir's.

"What's going on?" he asked her taking his mjolnir and holding it firmly in his hand. "Something happen?"

"Three of the Hidden Gods are here," she said out of breath. "I don't know what they want but it might be to take someone away."

"Over my dead body," growled Lack and he began to stalk off to the entrance with Siel and Chibi running after him. Phenomenon and brighteyes got up off the ground when they saw Lack stalk past.

At the entrance to the main hall, Shadow shook herself. "It's so wet out there! How's your feathers BlackRose?" BlackRose flapped her black feathered wings once and drops flew everywhere.

"Glad we have bat wings," muttered Balos as he got showered with drops. "The rain just rolls off." Looking up he noticed Lack coming towards them and added "Looks like we've irritated Lack."

"Looks like..." replied Shadow. The three watched as Lack stalked up to them.

"You've come to take one of my guild members away?" Lack asked his calm touched slightly with anger. "None have done anything to warrant being taken."

"Actually," BlackRose said softly straightening some of her feathers that had gone awry. "We've come to take you in fact. We need to ask you a few questions..."

Lack didn't like the sound of that and asked more pressingly "What sort of questions?"

Shadow placed a hand on his shoulder. "Don't you worry pumpkin. We'll bring you back in one piece. We just need to ask you something."

And without further ado the three Mediators grabbed a hold of Lack and flew off out the front door with Lack struggled against their grip. Siel and brighteyes ran to the door and yelled at them to bring him back.

Chibi stood watching. Deep in thought about what just happened she didn't notice Phenomenon poke her in the side. Lightly at first when a bit harder. "Huh?" she asked a little dazed. "What's wrong?"

"Syao and Tadakono want to talk to you," Phenomenon said pointing to them. Chibi smiled and walked towards Syao and Tadakono still deep in thought.

~~~

"Let me go!" Lack growled. BlackRose gave him a little smile and replied "Soon..."

"After you answer our questions," added Balos. They flew to a castle in the clouds that Lack had never seen before. Standing there were two other hidden gods. Kashy stood there with a presence that radiated power and Novus' white feathery wings reflected light blindingly. The four set down and Kashy immediately opened his hand. Golden coils snaked around Lack and bound him more tightly than the three Mediators had done.

"What do you want?" Lack growled now sitting on the ground. The five arranged themselves in a half ring in front of him. "Why am i here?"

"We need answers on a certain individual that we know you've come into contact with on numerous occasions," Novus began. "It is clear that he plans to attempt to kill us."

Lack looks slightly stunned. "Aren't you immortal? And what individual are we talking about?"

"The lazy asses you call 'Gods' created us to do their work," replied Kashy. "We're only mortal with extremely strong life forces. And the individual in question is Contra."

"You're joking," Lack said with a short laugh. "People fear you and yet you're mortal?!" He blinked and registered the name Kashy had said "I've fought Contra many times. He always is bringing harm to my guild members. What has he done to upset you and why can't you just take him away like you do to other people?"

"Perhaps," BlackRose spoke up again softly. Kashy and Novus turned their heads to look at her surprised. She rarely spoke or said anything to anyone. Giving a small smile she continued "Perhaps we should unbind him? He isn't hostile. And it might help to explain to him in detail. He is one of the High Seat's after all."

Kashy shrugged and released Lack from his bindings. Lack sat there rubbing his arms to get feeling back into them. "So what's this about?" Lack asked again.

"Contra has taken Palidor," Balos said quietly. "Palidor was sent to take Contra to the holding cells but instead Contra somehow captured Palidor. When he didn't return here we went in search. It was Shadow who found him somehow bound and powerless in a cell deep within the Paladin Meeting House. She wasn't able to get him out because he would die if she moved him by shadows without his power."

Lack looks visibly stunned. "How was Contra able to bind Palidor's power? I didn't know he could do that."

"Neither did we," replied Shadow stretching her bat wings back. "Which is why we have brought you here to ask you about him."

"Syao, Tadakono and Chibi would also know about Contra though i suppose you thought i knew more than them about him," Lack said sitting relaxed. BlackRose and Shadow nodded. "Well i guess that's true since Chibi tells me almost everything that happens to her. Syao and Tadakono are also one who leave messages for me on the message board in our meeting room."

"There's nothing you can tell us at all that might help us find out how he was able to bind Palidor?" Novus asked. Lack shook his head "I know as much about Contra as you do now."

They all stood and they shook hands with Lack thanking him for his time. BlackRose wrapped her arms around him to fly him back to the Headquarters.

~~~

At the Headquarters, Siel sat on the steps outside waiting for Lack to return. Chibi, Syao, Phenomenon and Tadakono stood just inside watching her carefully worried about her.

"She's been sitting there for such a long time now," Tadakono said worriedly. "She hasn't come in to eat or anything."

A gust of wind blew in through the door and BlackRose appeared with Lack. Siel ran and began to attempt to angrily Holy Light her. "I do not wish to kill you," BlackRose said softly and cast Stone Curse on Siel to immobilize her. Turning to Lack, she added "Please let us know if you find out more." Closing her hand a second, a light shone brightly around it. Opening her hand she revealed a small medallion in the shape of the Fight Club symbol. "Wear this always. It will call us to you if you ever have more information. Use it wisely." Flapping her wings, she flew off into the darkness.

Lack tapped Siel and broke the Stone Curse. Siel looked at him puzzled. "You're not hurt are you?" She said probing him with her magic to see if he was hurt in any way.

"None..." Looking up he saw Chibi, Phenomenon, Syao and Tadakono watching from the door. "Let's go inside," he added as he carefully put the medallion around his neck. Siel followed him and waited when he paused to talk to the four. "I need to speak to you later tonight about what just happened." Tadakono nodded and they closed the doors. Inside the party began to heat up again with Lack's arrival and assurances that he wasn't harmed.