Disclaimer: This stuff is owned by other people, except for the stuff that isn't. If you own the stuff I've used, please do not sue me. Chances are you already have one hell of a lot more money than I do. The Legacy of Kain - Chapter 14 (The Measure of a Man) There was a hiss and a clatter as the seal on the cryo-unit was broken, a cold wave of mist pouring from the cylinder. A pair of hands gripped the sides of the unit, pulling the owner into view. Nobyuki, blinking in confusion, levered himself upright. He tried to step forward, but his legs refused to obey him; he pitched forward, flinging out his arms in a desperate bid to regain his balance. He managed to catch hold of something. He squeezed experimentally. Soft. Hmm. Oh no. He looked up. His hands, as he'd surmised, had in fact landed on a pair of breasts. He cringed and froze as his gaze went up further, his eyes meeting an angry yellow stare. "Er...hello, my dear...heh heh..." ""Knock it off, wouldja?" snarled Ryoko, shoving him backwards. Nobyuki managed to grab the side of the unit, keeping himself upright until the feeling in his legs returned. Hmm, that was an awfully sedate reaction for Ryoko, he thought to himself...hope nothing's wrong... "Uh...what's going on? Where are we?" Ryoko simply looked at him, then jerked her head towards the rest of the group. It slowly dawned on Nobyuki where he was - Washu's lab. Or what was left of it. Debris, scraps of metal and shards of broken glass littered the once-spotless floor. The rows of equipment that had lain carefully placed against the walls or hidden behind access panels had been methodically destroyed - screens shattered, metal torn, mechanisms torn whole from their housings. Nobyuki whistled softly a the level of destruction. In the direction Ryoko had indicated, the family sat, acting as their natures dictated. Washu sat crosslegged on the floor, tapping at her holotop and hissing in frustration. Mihoshi, looking uncharacteristically grim, was checking and rechecking the action on her GP standard issue pistol (forgetting to take the clip out first, but fortunately Washu's AMP - AntiMihoshi Protocols - still seemed to be working, and the gun didn't go off). Kevin and Tenchi were engaged in an intense conversation, while Ayeka looked on, resolution writ on her tear-stained features. "Hey," said Nobyuki. "Where's Sasami?" The stern mask of Ryoko's features cracked for a second. She turned to him, opened her mouth, but got no further, for just then the mammoth veiwscreen hanging from the far wall spat and cracked into life. "Hello, Walker," said Hunter, his smirk firmly pasted on his story-high face. Kevin's head snapped up, the blood draining from his face. Slowly, slowly he turned to face the screen. "You," he whispered. "You. I prayed it wouldn't be you, Hunter. But I knew it had to be." He shook his head sadly. "This whole affair has your stink all over it." "Such venom," tsked Hunter. "Why waste it on me? Surely there's a lot to catch up on, hmm?" "I have nothing to say to you." Hunter's eyebrows shot up. "No? You must have done something worthwhile with your time all these decades. Unlike me. Rotting away on a backwater moon in this backwater system. Years that YOU stole from me." He leaned closer, his grin gone. "Have you anything to say about THAT?" A momentary irresolution crossed Kevin's face. "Hunter," he said, his tone strangely soft, "you and I have already said all there is to be said. What happened was the only way it could end." "Was it?" said Hunter, his face expressionless. "It's not too late. Even now." "Yes," sighed Kevin, "it really is. Where is Sasami?" Hunter sat back, staring at him. "Safe," he bit out. "For the moment." "Return her." "I think not." He shook his head in disbelief. "You really did it, didn't you. All this time. I dreamed of you. Hoped that it was the madness that had come upon you, hoping that you fled to the thrid planet to fulfill our mission and erase your shame. And now...I come to find that you have truly abandoned our people. You have betrayed us in your heart." "Kevin-" began Ryoko. "Shut up," hissed Hunter, his voice going cold. "Walker. You betrayed us once, and again, and you repeat that betrayal every time you fail to kill them, every time you stand in defense - in DEFENSE - of these Jurian scum. Please, Walker. Just tell me to kill her. Tell me to end it, and I will. We will. Together. Then we'll be free. Don't you understand that? We can be FREE!" Kevin looked at him, then turned, looking at each member of the household in turn. He turned back to the screen. "I can't," he said simply. "They are my friends." "THEY ARE THE ENEMY!" shrieked Hunter. A long moment ticked past in silence. "So be it," said Hunter in a dead voice. "You have become sick, Walker. Outside influences have make you weak and corrupted, and it is my duty to cleanse the Anajurai of your perversion. You will come to my ship. Alone. If I see, if I have the slightest suspicion that any member of your jolly little band are interfering, I'm afraid that little Sasami will be subject to a most brutal violation before she is allowed to die. Ayeka leapt to her feet, snarling. "If you harm her in any way, I shall -" "You shall do nothing, little girl," hissed Hunter. "I can't believe you'd do that," said Kevin. Hunter smiled humorlessly. "I, unlike you, remember the psychological tactics I learned on Father's knee. Don't keep me waiting, little brother." The screen winked out. All eyes in the room turned to stare at Kevin, still watching the screen, looking defeated. "Shit," he said. Ayeka glared at him. "Explain yourself." Kevin shrugged absently. "Family's always embarrassing, isn't it?" "I thought you were the last!" blurted Tenchi. "I was! I - I should have been...I..." He stopped, took a deep breath. "I sabotaged the Ark. Eighty years ago. Bought some explosives from some traders we encountered just outside Pluto orbit and mined the engines." He shook his head. "I just got out in time, and so did someone else...had a brief dogfight near Jupiter and shot him down. He should never have survived." He shook his head. "Always wondered who it was." "Kevin..." murmured Ryoko, putting a hand on his shoulder. He shook it off roughly, straightened himself. He turned to Ayeka. She took a step back, partially from the look on his face, partially because his unsettling change was coming upon him - shadows curled over his body, transforming him, his face nearly obscured by darkness. "Don't think to interfere, Princess," he said. "The words he spoke to me were Moch L'Dianon - the Renunciation. This is a matter of my people. My family." "I care nothing for you or your people," spat Ayeka. "All I care for is my sister. Should any harm befall her, I swear -" "Nothing at all will happen to her," replied Kevin sombrely. His voice was nearly unrecognizable now, his voice echoing from a blot of darkness in the white sterility of the lab. "She is kind and caring, and she accepted me for what I am, without fear or hate - an example you would do well to emulate. You have my word, she will be returned to you." "Your word means nothing to me, monster," said Ayeka cruelly. "Ayeka -" began Tenchi. "Forget it. As you will, Princess. Believe this, though, if nothing else. Hunter is quite capable of carrying out his threat. He's close to the Madness. He'll ENJOY it." He paused, letting that sink in. "Do. Not. Follow." With that, his shape twisted obscenely, curling in upon itself. It lurched upwards, a massive black bolt, streaking up towards and through the ceiling of the lab, and then he was gone. "Kevin!" yelled Ryoko. She phased, teleporting after him, and gaped at the face she rematerialized before. "Where ya going?" asked Washu innocently. "Dammit, Mom -" "Ryoko, think! Weren't you listening?" "Weren't YOU?" Ryoko shot back. "Your sister will be returned'...not 'I will return her'. He's not coming back, Mom, don't you see that? He's not coming back!" AUTHOR'S NOTE: Hitting the home stretch now...thanks for readin'. Please send any comments or criticisms you might have to kakapo101@hotmail.com. Thanks.