https://kotos.backorder.gr/index.php?action=history&feed=atom&title=Thread%3AFleetCaptainT%2F%40comment-27324808-20170910225852 2026-07-05T22:59:46Z Revision history for this page on the wiki MediaWiki 1.42.3 https://kotos.backorder.gr/index.php?title=Thread:FleetCaptainT/@comment-27324808-20170910225852&diff=9490&oldid=prev 2017-09-10T22:58:52Z

<p>Created page with &quot; &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif&quot;&gt;Fifty-four&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-siz...&quot;</p> <p><b>New page</b></p><div><br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif&quot;&gt;Fifty-four&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;<br /> <br /> &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif&quot;&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;<br /> <br /> &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun:yes&quot;&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;&#039;&#039;Invaders in the hanger&#039;&#039;.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;<br /> <br /> &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun:yes&quot;&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;The statement roused Cyclone from hibernation and he turned to the barracks exit.&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun:yes&quot;&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;A barred gate lifted up into a crack between black stone, under which he strode forth.&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun:yes&quot;&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;As he walked his skin hardened with blood and Maelstrom energies into a tough biological armor of sorts, and spikes grew from his arms.&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun:yes&quot;&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;Other combat-armed Stromlings joined him, they all walked in the same direction to form a single unit headed directly to the hangers, where the attackers were.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;<br /> <br /> &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun:yes&quot;&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;&#039;&#039;The Nexus Force&#039;&#039;.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;<br /> <br /> &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun:yes&quot;&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;Something stirred in Cyclone as he comprehended the name of their opponent. &lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun:yes&quot;&gt; &lt;/span&gt;Nexus Forcers must be smashed and Imagination must be corrupted, that was the Maelstrom’s mission.&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun:yes&quot;&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;He had been Nexus Force, he and others with him, and he had no loyalty to them…&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;<br /> <br /> &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun:yes&quot;&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;&#039;&#039;Go&#039;&#039;.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;<br /> <br /> &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun:yes&quot;&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;&#039;&#039;Smash&#039;&#039;.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;<br /> <br /> &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun:yes&quot;&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;The others.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;<br /> <br /> &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun:yes&quot;&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;&#039;&#039;Smash the others&#039;&#039;.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;<br /> <br /> &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun:yes&quot;&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;…not anymore.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;<br /> <br /> &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun:yes&quot;&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;The state of his mind could not be described as alert.&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun:yes&quot;&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;As a drone-type of Stromling, his mind was activated, enough to move, fight, answer questions, and follow orders.&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun:yes&quot;&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;But he wasn’t like Demonstrait or Spakybob.&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun:yes&quot;&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;Not yet, at least.&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun:yes&quot;&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;He could also aspire.&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun:yes&quot;&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;Every Stromling could aspire to be more powerful, to get closer to the Darkitect.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;<br /> <br /> &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun:yes&quot;&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;To become a Darkitect.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;<br /> <br /> &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun:yes&quot;&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;He was also aware of the abilities he held.&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun:yes&quot;&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;As a former Nexus Figure-turned-Stromling, Cyclone had powers no other Stromling did.&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun:yes&quot;&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;He retained his indefatigable creative spark that could manipulate so much Imagination.&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun:yes&quot;&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;Like the Imagination Temple’s Nexus on Crux, the one found by the Four Explorers, it too could be corrupted.&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun:yes&quot;&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;It had been.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;<br /> <br /> &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun:yes&quot;&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;Then something clicked in his brain.&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun:yes&quot;&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;Comprehension.&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun:yes&quot;&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;In front of Cyclone was a steel-plated door. &lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun:yes&quot;&gt; &lt;/span&gt;He had reached the end of the line.&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun:yes&quot;&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;The combat zone.&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun:yes&quot;&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;He was no longer a mindless drone.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;<br /> <br /> &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun:yes&quot;&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;Dark forces had appointed him mission commander.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;<br /> <br /> &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun:yes&quot;&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;The door rose and smoke billowed into the hall.&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun:yes&quot;&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;It cleared enough to reveal the base’s hanger in a state of war.&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun:yes&quot;&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;Fog from flames of the fiery type filled the hanger’s massive airspace.&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun:yes&quot;&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;Fuel containers were ignited and damaged spacecraft were in various states of disrepair all across the hanger.&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun:yes&quot;&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;Laser fire from all angles formed a haphazard no-man’s-land between it all, and Cyclone ran into it.&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun:yes&quot;&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;The Stromlings from the hallway followed suit.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;<br /> <br /> &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun:yes&quot;&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;Their orders were to find the Nexus Force and smash them.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;<br /> <br /> &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun:yes&quot;&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;The massive reflective face of a spaceship appeared out of the smoke in an arcing descent.&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun:yes&quot;&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;With a metallic screech it struck the ground to Cyclone’s left and crushed ten Stromlings while sliding into a pile of fuel canisters.&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun:yes&quot;&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;The impact ignited the combustible product and the subsequent explosion sent Stromlings flying all around Cyclone, but he maintained his footing.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;<br /> <br /> &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun:yes&quot;&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;The shockwave pushed the smoke aside and he spotted a Nexus Forcer.&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun:yes&quot;&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;The Sentinel soldier stood atop the tilted hull of another spaceship.&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun:yes&quot;&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;With a Knight’s sword in his right hand he cut down Stromling after Stromling as they climbed the ship’s curved hull and attacked, one by one, from various directions.&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun:yes&quot;&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;&#039;&#039;Uncoordinated&#039;&#039;, Cyclone thought, and he directed a telepathic order to the Stromlings in that arbitrarily defined area to standby.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;<br /> <br /> &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun:yes&quot;&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;A rocket, small, single-seat, flew out from the smoke on a descending course like the spaceship.&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun:yes&quot;&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;Cyclone put all his attention on the rocket.&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun:yes&quot;&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;It was spinning end over end, so quickly that he could barely see its details.&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun:yes&quot;&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;He only caught a smidgen of its cockpit section with each tumbling rotation.&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun:yes&quot;&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;A little more, a little more, and he kept getting closer to the ground.&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun:yes&quot;&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;It crashed and skidded into a wall, taking out a row of Mechs, but by that time Cyclone had already turned his attention back to the Sentinel.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;<br /> <br /> &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun:yes&quot;&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;As he suspected, the rocket was unmanned.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;<br /> <br /> &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun:yes&quot;&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;Someone was throwing rockets.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;<br /> <br /> &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun:yes&quot;&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;He thought back to spaceship that had crushed ten Stromlings and sent flying many others. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;<br /> <br /> &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun:yes&quot;&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;Someone was throwing rockets to smash the Maelstrom forces.&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun:yes&quot;&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;Obviously it was a Nexus Forcer’s doing, and it was a good idea, apparently.&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun:yes&quot;&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;Cyclone could use it too.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;<br /> <br /> &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun:yes&quot;&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;Coils of Maelstrom energy began to expand from his arms when he raised them, reaching out like the chains of the Blades of Chaos for the first spaceship that had crashed down after his entrance to the hanger.&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun:yes&quot;&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;The flaming mass was lifted into the air behind Cyclone, and he pointed it right at the lone Sentinel atop the other ship in front of him.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;<br /> <br /> &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;&#039;&#039;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun:yes&quot;&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;Suave Able Cat.&lt;/span&gt;&#039;&#039;&lt;/p&gt;<br /> <br /> &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun:yes&quot;&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;Cyclone remembered the Sentinel’s name just after the thrust the mass of flaming carbon and steel on an arc through the air that would crush the Sentinel to oblivion.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;<br /> <br /> &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun:yes&quot;&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;He knew he was a high ranking officer in the Nexus Force, and that smashing him would demoralize the Nexus Force invaders.&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun:yes&quot;&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;Time was running out for Suave in his dangerous position, vulnerable to falling spaceships.&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun:yes&quot;&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;If he did not jump out of the way soon, he would surely be crushed, Cyclone predicted.&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun:yes&quot;&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;Crucial seconds passed before the Sentinel noticed the shadow growing around him, and the flaming spaceship.&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun:yes&quot;&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;Lethal seconds.&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun:yes&quot;&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;Cyclone knew it was too late for him.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;<br /> <br /> &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun:yes&quot;&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;The spaceship suddenly stopped in midair and its velocity shifted from a forward arc to a straight-down descent.&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun:yes&quot;&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;It fell with a crash well clear of Suave Able Cat’s perch, to crush one the group of Stromlings Cyclone had ordered to standby.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;<br /> <br /> &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun:yes&quot;&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;Apparently Cyclone hadn’t been the only one to notice Suave’s otherwise imminent demise.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;<br /> <br /> &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun:yes&quot;&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;Another Sentinel had her hands extended forwards at the aflame spaceship now shattered on the ground.&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun:yes&quot;&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;Her arms dropped and came back up with a glowing katana and a drawn bow held in hand.&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun:yes&quot;&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;The latter was pointed at Cyclone, but only for a second.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;<br /> <br /> &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun:yes&quot;&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;He watched as she tilted the weapon downward, no longer at his heart.&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun:yes&quot;&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;Not that it mattered, he could have deflected it in an instant.&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun:yes&quot;&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;Not that &#039;&#039;that&#039;&#039; mattered, since Kate would never kill Cyclone.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;<br /> <br /> &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun:yes&quot;&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;Or would she?&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;<br /> <br /> &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun:yes&quot;&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;A stray piece of information entered Cyclone’s consciousness from the Maelstrom hive mind.&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun:yes&quot;&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;Important information directly concerning him, or rather his survival, based on the fate of... another Cyclone.&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun:yes&quot;&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;A version of Cyclone from another dimension had successfully been turned.&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun:yes&quot;&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;He had battled this same group of Nexus Forcers on a third dimension’s Avant Gardens, and they had killed him.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;<br /> <br /> &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun:yes&quot;&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;The data was more specific.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;<br /> <br /> &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun:yes&quot;&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;Kate had killed him.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;<br /> <br /> &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun:yes&quot;&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;She could kill &#039;&#039;him&#039;&#039;.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;<br /> <br /> &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun:yes&quot;&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;And Cyclone was gripped with fear.&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun:yes&quot;&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;He recalled all his energies, the coils of Maelstrom, around his body.&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun:yes&quot;&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;A shield.&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun:yes&quot;&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;They could be enough to protect him from-&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;<br /> <br /> &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun:yes&quot;&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;Kate’s voice rang out.&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun:yes&quot;&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;“I won’t kill you, Cyclone!”&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;<br /> <br /> &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun:yes&quot;&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;Cyclone blinked and looked out from his shield.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;<br /> <br /> &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun:yes&quot;&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;Kate’s bow was set on her back.&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun:yes&quot;&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;Her sword was still held protectively before her, but above her left hand, upturned, glowed a surging quasar of volatile Imagination energy.&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun:yes&quot;&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;The same energy that had killed the other Cyclone, he noted through narrowed eyes.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;<br /> <br /> &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun:yes&quot;&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;“You can be disinfected.” Kate said.&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun:yes&quot;&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;“Think about who you are!”&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;<br /> <br /> &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun:yes&quot;&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;Cyclone did think.&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun:yes&quot;&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;His infection had been complete.&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun:yes&quot;&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;During the process, an Imagination clone of his had almost been created, but it had been smashed immediately.&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun:yes&quot;&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;The link that had sustained his connection to Imagination in the time when he had first been infected, three years prior, did not exist now.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;<br /> <br /> &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun:yes&quot;&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;So when he thought about himself, he saw himself as a Stromling&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;<br /> <br /> &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun:yes&quot;&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun:yes&quot;&gt; &lt;/span&gt;A minion of the Maelstrom.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;<br /> <br /> &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun:yes&quot;&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;A commissioner of chaos.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;<br /> <br /> &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun:yes&quot;&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;A Servant of Darkness.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;<br /> <br /> &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun:yes&quot;&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;“Do you think that lowly of me?!” Cyclone heard a Stromling’s voice shout out.&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun:yes&quot;&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;He experienced a moment of disassociation, as the voice was low in pitch but clear unlike other the voice of other Stromlings.&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun:yes&quot;&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;He’d never heard it before and it resonated with power.&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun:yes&quot;&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;He realized it was &#039;&#039;his &#039;&#039;voice.&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun:yes&quot;&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;It was the voice of a Darkitect.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;<br /> <br /> &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun:yes&quot;&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;He was like a Darkitect.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;<br /> <br /> &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun:yes&quot;&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;He &#039;&#039;was&#039;&#039; a Darkitect.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;<br /> <br /> &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun:yes&quot;&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;“I am a Darkitect.”&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;<br /> <br /> &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun:yes&quot;&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;“No,” Kate shook her head.&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun:yes&quot;&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;“You’re Gallant Strong Cyclone.&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun:yes&quot;&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;You’re my friend and I owe you everything to save you!”&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;<br /> <br /> &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun:yes&quot;&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;“You don’t owe me anything!” Cyclone roared in anger.&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun:yes&quot;&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;“Only… your death!”&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun:yes&quot;&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;And he directed all his stored Maelstrom energy toward Kate.&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun:yes&quot;&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;It engulfed the air around her.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;<br /> <br /> &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun:yes&quot;&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;Then he felt a searing pain in his back and Cyclone screamed.&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun:yes&quot;&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;The spikes in his shoulders extended two feet and he wanted to whirl around and kill his attacker, but his legs were suddenly disconnected at his knees, first his right then his left, and he fell to the ground.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;<br /> <br /> &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun:yes&quot;&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;His arms were dislocated next.&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun:yes&quot;&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;It wasn’t like Cyclone needed them to direct his Maelstrom energies, since he controlled them telepathically.&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun:yes&quot;&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;But then the back of his neck was pricked and all feeling below his jaw was lost, including his connection to his infected creative spark.&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun:yes&quot;&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;Even a bag was thrown over his head for good measure.&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun:yes&quot;&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;He knew it must have had even more stunning properties.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;<br /> <br /> &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun:yes&quot;&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;He was completely immobilized, as good as dead as a fish out of water, but he wasn’t dead.&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun:yes&quot;&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;Whoever had done this to him had acted with the specific purpose of keeping Cyclone alive.&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun:yes&quot;&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;They wanted to ‘disinfect’ him, they wanted to ‘save’ him.&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun:yes&quot;&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;It was insulting! &lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun:yes&quot;&gt; &lt;/span&gt;He could not let that happen.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;<br /> <br /> &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun:yes&quot;&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;He urged his body to work.&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun:yes&quot;&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;His spinal cord hadn’t been severed… only his nerves were temporarily numbed. &lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun:yes&quot;&gt; &lt;/span&gt;He found his vocal cords and began to scream.&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun:yes&quot;&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;A little farther down his torso, pulsing with the beat of his heart, he felt his corrupted creative spark… he called on his Maelstrom energy-&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;<br /> <br /> &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun:yes&quot;&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;A boot smashed into his head and Cyclone was knocked unconscious.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;<br /> <br /> &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif&quot;&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;<br /> <br /> &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif&quot;&gt;…&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;ac_metadata title=&quot;Song of the Swans Chapter 54&quot;&gt; &lt;/ac_metadata&gt;</div>

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