Spectrum Force Chapter Five

Still not mine.
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The Diadem

Part Three


For the fifth time within a minute, Spectra glanced at the chronometer, the digital display slowly incrementing. The Force had embarked on their first interstellar mission over eight hours ago.

She permitted a rueful smile. How much time did it take to thwart a power-mad Denebian monarch's scheme to steal the most powerful object in the universe? Surely more than eight hours.

Unfortunately, logic provided little comfort. They had spent hours in a hazardous, alien terrain, searching blindly for a gem whose power they could never hope to fathom, and a man whose face they'd never seen.

A man who had already been captured. And only the gods knew what kind of vicious tortures Phaedra's twisted mind would brew.

One time, Gaius had been a member of the notorious Denebian aristocracy. One time, he had been one of them… living for selfish pleasure, giving no care to the universe beyond the bounds of the expanding Empire.

He was another man, all those decades ago. It was almost impossible to imagine what kind of person he had been, for he had become one of the most dedicated, selfless warriors of the Light.

But Phaedra was a stubborn woman. She would never forget what he once was; what they once had together, before she was promised to the Heir, and he was approached by the Remnant.

On one occasion… before their falling out… Spectra's natural curiosity raised the issue. And on that one occasion, Gaius glanced down at the question lurking in her soft pink eyes, and spoke of his past.

"We were young, Spectra. Young, spoiled, fearless. Two children of nobles, both with great expectations hanging over our futures. We had lived in the moment, knowing a time would come when responsibility would chain us. What we had together was youthful fancy. Wild and reckless… we did what we wanted, when we wanted. But that all changed, when Emperor Lethe selected her to wed his son."

It was almost a romantic story… if one could picture the bloodthirsty, manic empress a tragic heroine, forced to marry for position rather than love.

Yet, the story awoke even more disturbing questions. Spectra knew enough of Gaius' past to know the circumstances of his Crossing. He was frustrated by Phaedra's wedding, to such an extent that his concerned father sent him off-world, to prevent him from interfering with the ceremony.

He had been miserable when Luminus found him, and introduced him to the mission of the Remnant… of living for something far greater than self-gratification. Would he have listened to Luminus had he been happy?

And did he still love her, after all those decades? When he built a family of his own, was he compromising his true feelings? Did he ever genuinely love his wife? And what of the daughter they'd brought into the world?

It didn't seem so, when he decided to leave Lumina City to protect the Diadem. When he decided to… leave them.

And then, the terrible battle for the planet Kryl.

Thirty years had passed, but the wound was forever fresh and bleeding in Spectra's heart. Phaedra's son killed Hemera. With his own two hands.

Had Gaius remained with the Remnant… had he remained with his family… perhaps Hemera wouldn't have died.

And even after she did, Gaius still didn't return. Not to say goodbye… not even to comfort Spectra.

She blinked, her focus forced to return on the project at hand. There was nothing to gain by mourning the past… of contemplating that heart-breaking betrayal.

"But… I'll be damned before I just leave him in Phaedra's hands."

Her conscience had nagged at her from the moment she sent the Force. He had summoned her. He had asked for her help. And she sent the Spectrum Force in her stead.

It truly was her fight. Yes, the entire universe was in jeopardy… but despite the overreaching implications, it was still a painfully personal matter.

She had a duty to protect her family. She also had a duty to her mission… to insure Earth was safe from Phaedra's Throneship. Gaius may have elected to sacrifice the former in behalf of the latter, but Spectra knew firsthand what that cost.

She would not make the same sacrifice.

* * *

Craig watched as the four small-statured beings held their position. They were so still, they almost seemed like mannequins; but the hard, observant stares that made his skin crawl proved otherwise.

The young man drew himself to his knees, slightly startled that he was taller than them even then. "Who are you?"

He gulped as one of the beings stepped closer.

It approached him slowly, reaching out one shrouded arm. A thin, wiry hand emerged from the heavy cloak, and Craig was quick to note only four fingers stretched from the furry hand.

The four fingers rose to remove the shadowy cowl. Craig found himself staring into two large, spherical eyes, with exaggerated pupils that were far out of proportion with the being's tiny body. A shock of thick black curls sprouted from its… her head, nestled between two long, pointed ears. A coat of fine, short fur covered the alien's skin, giving her a midnight black coloring to match her mane.

The being's fur and hair reminded Craig of a lion… but with the nose and lips of a human being. And the size of her head in relation to her body most resembled a child of six or seven.

*I am called Mashal. I brought you to our sanctuary.*

Craig blinked in surprise as the high-pitched voice registered. "You! You're the one who spoke to me in the fight!"

The girl nodded. *I apologize for distracting you. Warrior Gaius had assured us he would contact his allies, and I had searched you out.*

"You know Gaius?" Craig marveled. Spectra did say something about him having friends on Edenia somewhere.

*We are the Midjinari, sworn protectors of the great Diadem.*

The Blue Enforcer frowned. "Midget army?"

Well, if the shoe fits…

*Midjinari. Direct descendents of the First Ones, who fatefully tore a hole in the fabric of the universe and released the Opposed Forces. The Opposed ravaged our planet, circling the star of Deneb.*

His eyebrow rose. "You're Denebians?"

*We are not of the same planet as Gaius. Our planet was the nearest to the star, but was destroyed by the Opposed in the Before Time. Only a few escaped, and searched the universe for a way to balance the scales of Life and Death. Now, we protect the Diadem, which is the key to restoring interstellar peace.*

"Riiight." Craig couldn't help it; the girl's story sounded way too much like the prologue of Star Wars to be of any use to him. He changed the subject. "Why did you bring me here? Did you disrupt my powers?"

*Your power stone still works. We silenced your energies and hid you here, to protect you from the Shadows. They sense the Light, and douse it.*

Craig gaped. "Then… my friends!"

He leapt to his feet, eyebrows drawn.

*No!* she protested, *You cannot win alone! You must not use your powers… you must stay hidden! Only the Diadem can help you now!*

Craig clenched his fist, his frustration mounting. Without the armor, he was completely defenseless against whatever evils existed outside the small oasis. And without his powers, he had no way to contact his friends, find out if they… survived…

His heart sank to his feet. The Midjinari saved me, but the others are out there! Even if they haven't been captured yet, they've got to be using their powers! They're walking with targets painted on their backs, and they have no idea…

"Can you take me to the Diadem?"

The girl glanced back at her three silent companions. A few shrill words were exchanged, and then, she set her impossibly large amber eyes on Craig. *I will be your guide.*
* * *

"Dammit!" Keith suddenly hissed, kicking a rock in frustration, "I can't believe this!"

Rachel watched as the Red Enforcer's enhanced strength dislodged the heavy stone, sending it crashing into a thick tree trunk ahead. Her lips thinned angrily. "That's won't help."

"Well, it sure as hell won't hurt. We still have no idea what happened to Craig, and now, we… are… LOST! I didn't even think this planet was big enough for us to get lost in!"

Matt offered a feeble grin. "Keith, you get lost in your own neighborhood. Remember the time they closed off our exit on the Turnpike for construction? We circled the city for almost an hour until we found a street name you knew!"

Keith opened his mouth for a heated retort, but was distracted as fingers laced between his own. He glanced at Tamara, who gave his hand a gentle squeeze. Instead of yelling, he released a long, tense breath.

Jocelyn, who had lingered near Matthew during most of the arduous walk, took advantage of the momentary respite. She practically collapsed onto the soft ground, holding her heavy head with both palms.

Matt was instantly at her side. "What's wrong? Another dizzy spell?"

"I just feel… wrong," she groaned, rubbing her temples. "Off balance, weak, and now this stupid headache just won't quit."

"You're probably hungry," Keith suggested, mournfully patting his own stomach. "If I'd known we'd be pulling an interstellar field trip, I would've packed a Snickers or something."

"Where?" Tamara wondered, "These suits don't have pockets."

Keith frowned thoughtfully. "Remind me to talk to Spectra about that when we get back."

Rachel wandered over to the tree that had borne the brunt of Keith's outburst. The beach-ball-sized stone had fired like a bullet, embedding itself nearly halfway through the resilient wood. If the trunk hadn't been three meters thick, the ancient tree would've tumbled right on top of them.

She ran her fingers along the edge of the angry hole, shaking her head slightly. She was exhausted. They were all exhausted… roving for hours through an endless forest without any food, shelter, or even a clue. Somehow, they had to find the Diadem, Gaius, and Craig. And they had no idea where to begin looking.

Rachel stared up into the twilight. We've been wandering since that sun rose, she realized, How much longer can we-

She blinked in surprise when a faint flash cut across her vision.

"Guys, did you see that?"

Keith turned his head. "See what?"

"That… light."

She lifted off the ground, slowly rising above the tree line to get a better view. After exactly ten seconds, the light flashed again.

"There! It looks like it's coming from that cliff."

The rest of the Force followed, and stared at the cliff in question. The light flashed after the same interim.

"It's a beacon," Keith noted.

"Maybe its Craig?" Tamara proposed.

Rachel frowned. "The light is white, not blue. But, it could be Craig, if he found some kind of machine to send off that beacon."

"I… I don't see anything," Jocelyn confessed, squinting her eyes.

Matthew glanced at her, worry pinching his masked face. "Maybe you're too tired," he offered. He then turned to Rachel. "We have to check it out."

She nodded. It was, after all, the first sign of intelligence they'd found on the planet… beside the Shadows.

"Let's go on foot," she decided. "Just in case the Denebians are watching."

The team traded nods of agreement, and descended into the forest. They immediately continued their journey, though their pace was quickened by the hope that dawned through the dark shroud of failure that had smothered them.

Less than twenty minutes later, the Force found a small clearing, with the sharp incline of a rocky cliff reaching into the sky.

"The light's coming from the wall," Keith realized. "Right out of the rock."

"That's so weird," Tamara admitted, walking closer to the pulse. "Why would anyone give away their location if their planet was being invaded by the bad guys? Phaedra must've found this place already!"

"Unless… only we can see it?" Matt proposed. He felt the questioning gaze of his friends on him. "Lemme try something."

He stepped back a few feet, making room as he spread his arms apart. At his mute command, his green armor dissolved into a brilliant cloud of energy, swirling back into the Spectrum Stone like water into a drain.

He stared at the cliff with his own eyes. "I can't see anything now," he revealed. "The light's outside our visual spectrum."

"So it could mean the beacon is only visible to the good guys," Tamara hypothesized.

"Or… that it's only visible to species with better sight than humans," Rachel pointed out. "We can't be too careful here, guys."

"But we also can't ignore this," Tamara countered. She stepped closer still, reaching for the light. "It's the only clue we-"

Her words were cut off by a yelp as she sank into the wall.

"Tam!" Keith shouted, racing forward. The entire team immediately convened at his side, staring at the wall that had swallowed their friend.

After a few seconds delay, her excited voice proclaimed "Guys, I'm okay!" Everyone jumped back when her head suddenly emerged from the wall.

"A… hologram?" Matt murmured.

"A secret entrance," Tammy informed them. "Somebody lives here. You gotta see this place!"

Keith followed without hesitation, stepping through the false wall. The others soon followed, and all were struck speechless as they stood in the foyer of a large, spacious building.

"Incredible," Rachel awed, walking deeper into the room. Torches lined walls apparently composed of solid granite, casting flickering shadows everywhere. Yet, despite the creepy ambiance, there wasn't even a trace of malevolence.

"It's like someone carved a house in the side of the mountain," Matt observed. Slowly, he rounded a corner, his ring casting a brilliant green glow to amplify the dim lighting. "Wow… this looks like something out of Star Trek!"

Curious, the rest of the team followed. They were all treated to a complex series of computer systems, lining the wall and creating a soothing humming sound. In the corner was a large cot, with metal bars on both sides and its own computer near the head.

Rachel ran her fingers over the cushion, eyeing the aqua blue lamp hanging over it. "This looks like the healing device Spectra uses."

Tamara smiled widely. "Then this must be Gaius' home!"

All eyes fell upon Keith, as a cloud of red energy burst around him, dissolving his armor. He sighed in relief. "And it's got air-conditioning!"

"We can't get too comfortable," Rachel chided, "Even if there's no threat in here, we have to find Craig and Gaius."

"Maybe Craig's already here," Tamara proposed, "Or even the Diadem!"

Rachel felt the hopeful gazes of her friends. "Well… we do have to investigate. And we could use a break…"

Keith pumped his fist excitedly.

"But, we have to stay on our guard," she continued. "Okay, Spectrum Force… we'll split up into two groups. At least one member of each group must be Synced at all times, to keep our telepathic rapport open in case of emergency. Jocelyn-"

Rachel swallowed her words when she noticed her young friend leaning against the wall, one arm hanging listless at her side.

Matthew noticed her lethargy as well. "I think Jocelyn should get some rest," he stated, "She can sleep right here, on this cot. I'll stay with her."

"That okay with you, Jocie?" Tamara asked gently, touching her shoulder.

The Orange Enforcer nodded. "If you guys don't mind."

Keith threw her his winning smile. "Of course not. Just try to relax." Then, he rubbed his palms together. "Now… point me to the kitchen!"

* * *
Phaedra opened her eyes, the faint orange light touching her skin fading at the breach of contact. "Weakling human," she seethed, "asleep again! How am I to learn anything with her constantly closing her eyes?"

Not that it mattered, anyway. The "Spectrum Force," as they called themselves, had stumbled upon Gaius' sanctuary. It would no doubt take them hours to search it exhaustively, which was a complete waste of time. Phaedra's soldiers already searched the granite stronghold after they had captured Gaius. Though, they weren't searching for the Diadem, as they had believed the pyramid they had obtained was the mythological gem. They searched high and low for any secrets Gaius could possess, such as the hidden location of the Remnant's base, to no avail.

Perhaps the humans would find something? They did mention the peculiar ability to see a signal of light guiding them. Could the Diadem be calling them? Could it detect the Soldiers of Light, and draw them to it?

There was no way for Phaedra to learn the actual abilities of the Diadem, short of finding it and seeing for herself. The only record of its abilities was the ancient myth of the First Ones that boasted "unlimited power" within the Diadem's core. For all she knew, it was a worthless rock that a few misguided idiots worshipped. Men did have a penchant for shiny objects…

A bold knock disrupted her flight of thought.

"Enter!" she growled, lifting her head to the doorway.

Mor'se entered the darkened chamber, bowing his head once when he made eye contact. "Empress, I have found something I'm certain you will find useful!"

An elegant eyebrow rose. "You found something useful?" she repeated, mockery tingeing her voice.

Mor'se managed to hide the outrage her naked scorn incited. He stopped when he stood directly before the makeshift throne, and prostrated himself. His arms reached forward, holding a gilded scroll.

"I was reviewing some of the potions and elixirs I have collected-"

"When you could have been doing something productive," Phaedra sneered, "Like find me the Diadem."

The aged Denebian frowned. It was clear the empress' fury was beyond satisfaction until the Diadem rested in her hands. Or was it something else that frustrated her? "Forgive your servant, Majesty. I have never been a soldier. I am a scholar. Research is my weapon... and I have a weapon that will surely give you an edge over that filthy traitor."

Mor'se won her full attention. "What?" she demanded, snatching the parchment.

"If your Majesty would open the scroll, you will see the particular tactic I have in mind."

Phaedra unrolled the woven page, her eyes skimming over the writing. "The… Blight?"

As a fuller understanding slowly dawned, her gaze shifted back to the beginning, and read in earnest. "A magically-enhanced disease, completely debilitating to most species, eventually lethal to all. And there is no cure… not magical, or medicinal."

"Indeed, Majesty," Mor'se urged, a sinister lilt in his voice, "Not even a panacea will ease his suffering. The first stage of the disease attacks the muscles and bones, resulting in unprecedented pain. The second includes a dulling of mental faculties, as the disease moves from musculature to the brain. And finally, death."

Phaedra continued reading, her throat going dry at the explicit detail outlined in the scroll. She had never personally seen the Blight in practice, though she did remember reading of it with her tutors. It was the life's work of Oril of the planet Uqar, circling the star Aldebaran. The masterful alchemist perfected a mutated virus that had been attempted for centuries, and developed just enough to assassinate the six members of the Governing Body, and initiate a political coup. He only managed to deliver three, before an accident in his laboratory left him mindless. Soon after, the Denebian Empire sent an attack fleet into the system, throwing the Uqarian political revolution into further chaos.

The Denebian Emperor Styx personally led a devastating force to conquer the planet; but when his most trusted general was stricken with the Blight, in horror the Denebian forces pulled back. Not until Acheron ascended to the throne did the Denebians return to Aldebaran to claim it.

That general lived in torment for months, writhing in endless agony until the Emperor finally ordered euthanasia. His hellish howls and fevered whimpers haunted the doctors who tended him years after his death.

Whosoever was exposed to the potion would suffer the worst possible death.

"How would you create this Blight?"

"My father was on the preliminary scouting mission to Uqar, and he acquired one dose of the Blight. It has been in our family since."

Phaedra's lips parted in surprise. "You have a dose of the most potent biochemical weapon ever developed?"

"My family has always served the Monarchy as trusted counselors and field researchers. My father instructed me to use it wisely... and no use could be wiser than to claim the Diadem for Denebia."

He saw the shock warring with doubt in her eyes, and continued. "I assure you there is no danger from the virus, Empress. It is inert until activated by a drop of blood. And once activated, it can only infect a single individual... it cannot be transmitted by any means."

Finally, the empress recovered her voice. "What would you advise me to do with this Blight? I had already threatened to terminate Spectra before his very eyes, but I don't actually have a captive to use against him! I doubt he even knows the humans, so he wouldn't risk the Diadem on their behalf."

Mor'se stared at the empress in surprise. "I… I had thought you would cast the Blight on the traitor himself."

The empress glared at him sharply, her eyes slivers of crimson ice. Mor'se stumbled on his words, so startled by her reaction he was. "S..surely the pain of Stage One alone will loosen his tongue-"

With a growl of disgusted anger, Phaedra threw the scroll to the ground. Mor'se watched it skid against the smooth floor, striking the distant wall.

"Why would Lord Gaius tell me anything after I sentence him to a torturous death whose pain has no equal?" she hissed, rising from her seat.

Mor'se blinked. Wasn't the answer plain as day? "Claim you will rescind the Blight if he capitulates. He will be so maddened with pain he would do anything to end it!"

"Why 'claim' to rescind the disease? Can it be done?"

The scholar frowned deeply. This conversation grew stranger after every word! "He would not know otherwise."

Sanguine smoke trickled from her eyes. Mor'se swallowed his fear… the temperature had risen to a highly uncomfortable level during the conversation. He had never seen the empress so upset.

Why did this traitor's fate plague her so? Of course, a select few of the Denebian court knew their empress had a close relationship with the nobleman over a century ago… but that was before he betrayed his home world. It was ancient history.

"You did not answer my question," she murmured dangerously.

What does it matter, so long as the fool believes it can? "It may be possible that he who casts the Blight has the power to retract it."

She gazed down at him disdainfully. Her breathing had calmed, but it was clear her anger had not dwindled. "Are you willing to stake your life on it?"

His eyes widened further. "No, Empress. I'm afraid I don't know just how to retract the toxin. Oril's research… it states something about the 'soul of the condemner,' but he never had the opportunity to refine his research before his death."

He stood in the face of the storm, frustrated by the empress' irrational behavior. "And even if the Blight could be retracted," he stated boldly, "it shouldn't be. That worm should die a thousand torturous deaths. Deaths of a cowardly traitor."

Before Mor'se could inhale, his body was suddenly catapulted into the air by the thunderous energy of the Denebian Empress. He flew through the open door, his right shoulder smashing against the pane, and crashed full-body into the wall opposite the entrance.

The two guards standing at either side of the door hurried to his side. Once he had recovered his bearings, the respected scholar pushed away their aid, desperate to maintain some semblance of dignity.

Yet, despite his humiliation, he allowed a breath of relief. At least my head is still attached to my shoulders…

"Are you all right, Lord Mor'se?"

He waved away the question. "If you can, I suggest you don't approach her for at least a few hours. The Empress is… emotional."

The two gulped visibly. All of the Empire knew of Phaedra's short temper. And they watched as Mor'se walked through the hall, one of the very few who could boast surviving such a fit of rage.

* * *

^Sphere Grid deployed.^

Spectra hurried away from the supply cabinet she was rummaging through, and fell into her seat at the main station of her ship. The large screen depicted the globe of the Earth, with a honeycomb-shaped pattern around the circumference.

"Finally," she breathed, a small smile brightening her face.

It had taken a great deal of time and effort, but she had succeeded in reprogramming the Sphere Grid Shield. It had been designed as an early-warning device, creating a barrier to pinpoint the exact time and location a Denebian ship crossed into protected space. She had used it less than a week ago, while she laid in wait for Phaedra's arrival.

Now she was using it as a shield to protect the Earth itself.

It was far more difficult creating a close-fitting shield, which would be necessary to protect the planet as she desired to.

At most she would need a day or two to aid her allies, but she couldn't take for granted that Phaedra's armies would do nothing during that time. Without herself or the Force available, it would only take a few platoons of well-armed Denebians to lay waste to a world power, and irrevocably throw the Earth's governments into chaos. Even if the Force were able to stay the invasion, the whole of the planet would learn the truth. The damage done to the world would be irreparable, as an entire species of volatile beings fought for their own survival.

It would be best to keep the war a secret from the world… for as long as possible.

Spectra had counted on the assumption that the energy field emitted by the spheres could be intensified if the spheres were moved closer together. Usually, a great deal of space hung between spheres in the Grid, enabling a small number of spheres to protect a large area. The energy field created was only a sensor shield… a ship could pass through without even knowing it. That was its purpose: a silent alarm to warn the protectors, without alerting the invaders.

With a few adjustments to the spheres, Spectra managed to create a more forceful barrier. It wouldn't be a physical wall, blocking invading ships from entrance. But the sheer energy would be enough to disrupt the navigational and weapons systems of a smaller ship. Just like the original design, the spheres were indiscernible from space debris, and the energy shield undetectable, unless a ship passed through.

There were serious drawbacks to consider. First of all, in order to protect Earth, the Sphere Grid would have to skirt close to the atmosphere, below the orbit of the Throneship. That created the possibility of manmade satellites coming in contact with the shield, and shorting out. It wasn't a terrible setback, as the vast majority of machines sent from Earth were unmanned, but it could alert the science organizations to a foreign presence.

Also, the Sphere Grid would be very limited in power. Spectra had to walk the line between keeping the energy invisible to detection, yet powerful enough to disrupt a ship. The balance she had reached did keep the energy invisible, but as a consequence the energy output was considerably low. It would be enough to disrupt a few scouter ships, but if the Throneship itself decided to descend into the atmosphere, or if numerous scouters passed through at once, then the Grid would shatter.

Finally, the Grid would only disrupt mechanical devices, meaning any magical invasion wouldn't be deterred. Granted, the vast majority of soldiers didn't have the ability to magically transport themselves, but a few of the onboard mages might.

Spectra had taken a considerable amount of time measuring the risks, and had deemed them acceptable. The chances were slim that the Denebians would take any action without Phaedra's presence, and if some lieutenant were brave enough to make a visit to Earth, there was an obstacle to hinder him.

Provided, of course, the Sphere Grid worked as planned. Which wasn't guaranteed, since it had never been tested.

"The more I delay, the less likely I'll be able to help at all," Spectra reasoned, rising from her seat. Her fingers flew across the keyboard, and the number ten appeared on the screen.

Ten minutes until the Sphere Grid activates… plenty of time for me to get into a Starglider 30, and get passed the atmosphere.

She hurried from the bridge of her main ship, and slid into the far smaller short-range vessel. It was designed as an escape pod, but fortunately it included a reinforced hull capable of handling a two-way trip through a Hyperspace Portal.

Please let me not be too late!

* * *

Gaius remained in the corner of the dark room. Before Phaedra's unexpected visit, he had been shrouded in a deathly, choking absence of light. Now, a bar of vibrant blue shed light throughout the small chamber, glowing steadily… as it shrank.

"Once the blackness engulfs the blue, your time is up. I suggest you spend the next few hours pondering just how devastating it would be to watch the only person you love die painfully right in front of you."

Even though he hadn't intended to, he found his mind wandering along very similar lines. He stared at the too-blue light, slowly swallowed by the blackness encroaching upon it. And as he watched, he thought of Hemera.

Hemera had such eyes. Radiant blue, bold and bright and wondrous. His own eyes were a cold, crystalline shade of the same color. Hemera's eyes were warm, with a touch of mischief, dazzling intelligence, and whole-souled devotion. His were cool, calculating, and dedicated. Not to a person, but to a cause.

A just cause, he knew. The worthiest cause. Save the universe. Save countless lives, both the living and yet unborn. Help restore order to the chaos the Denebian Empire had unleashed for the past six thousand years.

All it cost were the lives of the people he actually cared for.

It was wrong to weigh lives against each other. The value of one life… any life… was equivalent to the value of another. Despite the pull of his heart, he could not weigh one particular life above others.

Even if it were Spectra. Even if it were Hemera before her.

Of course, his reasoning didn't dull the sharp pain that stabbed his soul. Nor could it quiet the burn of his conscience. He could not surrender the Diadem, even for Spectra; though he knew he would be forever broken if he lost her.

Although… he had lost her love thirty years ago… as he lost Hemera.

That could not be helped. He simply couldn't have participated in the Krylian Wars. He was light years distant, and there were so many other great warriors at her side, he wasn’t needed. If he were, the High Father would have summoned him. On Edenia, he was desperately needed, by the remaining Midjinari, and by the Diadem itself. But for all Hemera loved him, she never needed him.

Had she needed him that day? Did she cry for him when the edge of the Prince's blade sank into her flesh, permanently severing soul and body?

Her death crushed him… but he had a glimmer of consolation. She had died, along with dozens of others in the climactic battle. But the Denebians were defeated. Kryl was saved, thanks to their efforts. Thanks to her effort.

Hemera donned her armor knowing her life was in jeopardy. She had chosen the life of a Warrior of Light, though her battlefield was slightly different than Gaius'. She had chosen to shed her blood for the lives at stake. He had chosen to shed his for the weapon that would eventually stop the bloodshed.

And though they were separated, he knew she was at rest. Her blood won life for the two billion inhabitants of Kryl, and all the planets their technology would have massacred in Denebian hands.

But he could not so easily reason Spectra's death.

If Phaedra were true to her word, Spectra would die because of him. He could not be blamed for protecting the Diadem… she would never hold that against him. But, he sent for her. He asked her to come to either help him, or carry out his mission in his stead.

I never should have summoned her, he mourned, his unblinking stare drinking in the radiant blue that rapidly dwindled. She hasn't even spoken to me for decades… yet she would come for me. And I have sacrificed her… for nothing.

Spectra would not die fighting. She would not die to save a planet, or a system. She would die because she was foolish enough to try and save him.

He didn't need to summon Spectra. He could have used the Ireli sphere to contact Luminus… perhaps he could have dispatched the Star Riders. The High Father knew the value of the Diadem, in a way most others could not.

Yet in his moment of need, he reached for Spectra. He wanted her to witness his sacrifice. He wanted her to understand how important the Diadem was. He didn't leave because he didn't love them… the Diadem was just that important.

He wanted… to say goodbye.

She never forgave him for Kryl. He couldn't depart this world knowing she still hated him.

"Poor Gaius, you look like you've just lost your best friend. Or... worse?"

Ice eyes slid from the gentle blue glow to the harsh red gaze that flashed with... something.

Was she jealous, perhaps, that he could love again? Or mirthful, for having caused him yet more pain. Or... perhaps... conflicted, for doling such pain.

He would like to think the latter; that Phaedra was incapable of being so unbearably cruel to feel no remorse for the damage she would do. But, he was no fool.

Ice eyes slid back to the comforting blue. "I believe I still have seventeen minutes left."

Unsurprisingly, the blue light vanished from existence, leaving only darkness, and the crimson eyes that burned his skin. "Your seventeen minutes are now up."

"I see you've grown impatient in your old age."

She glared at him. "And you've apparently grown suicidal."

He heard her heels tap against the floor... closer to him.

"The Diadem."

"We've already danced this dance," he reminded her.

"Would you let her die?"

Silence. Then: "Yes."

His tone was mournfully accepting, which threw gasoline on the fires of Phaedra’s frustration. Her patience was thinning into nonexistence.

"What is it that hurts you more, Empress? That I refuse to surrender the Diadem, or that I am refusing you?"

Her fists clenched... yet he could not see them. "You cannot hurt me at all, Traitor. But I can hurt you... hurt you beyond imagining and recovery."

"I can live with pain. And you... you will live with failure. Both for losing the Diadem, and losing any hold you ever had on me."

He heard the flight of fabric, and then a sharp sting drew moisture to his eyes. He rubbed his cheek instinctively, marveling at her outburst. She slapped me!
The act of a spurned lover... not an Empress punishing a traitor to the throne.

"This is your last chance," she warned, her voice a venomous hiss, "If you incur my wrath, there will be no end to your pain! You will suffer, lost in the throes of anguish, fever and hallucination, until you ultimately die! Tell me, Lord Gaius... do you recall the Blight?"

His breath caught in his throat. He did remember the infamous Uqarian disease from his studies on Denebia.

Why is she changing her threat? Could it mean Spectra is... safe?

His heart soared at the prospect, but he cautiously kept his tone neutral. "Yes, I recall. And your threats will not swerve me, Phaedra."

The way he spoke to her, with scorn and malevolence... the way he spat out her name, like it tasted bitter on his tongue... made her snap. With fury billowing in her soul like the heart of a star, she stormed out of his prison, and marched down the hall.

The guard positioned outside the call trembled when his gaze met the crimson rage of the Empress' eye.

"You," she growled, snatching the collar of his uniform, "Find Mor'se, and send him to my chamber with the Blight."

* * *

"Here it is, Empress."

Phaedra looked away from the window, and the perfect blue and green orb of Edenia. The planet that housed the Diadem... the object Gaius was willing- no, eager, to die for.

Perhaps... he longed for death? Then, he would be eternally out of her reach, mocking her from the Beyond with Hemera at his side.

She began seeing red. If he wanted death, she would give it to him. "Did you add the drop of blood yet?"

Mor'se shook his head. "I thought you might like to do the honors, Empress."

Phaedra's delicate hand rose to her crown, tearing the jewel-encrusted ornament from her woven forest hair. She stared at the pointed tip that sat at the center of her head.

She ran her palm over the jagged edge, drawing rich, ebony blood. "Give me the vial."

Mor'se did as she asked without question. She replaced her crown on her brow, and then snatched the vial. A single drop of the thick plasma slid down the glass edge, and touched the clear liquid.

Instantly, the blood mixed with the toxin, creating a bubbling reaction. Mor'se slipped a nonporous cap above the vial, trapping the invisible vapors the bubbles created. As both Denebians watched, the liquid boiled completely, making the vial appear invisible.

"Shatter the vial, and the vapor will infect the nearest person," he instructed. "Its magical enhancements insure that the virus will infect the target, through the skin or air. Stage One does not yet attack the mind, so he will be able to provide the information we seek."

"He won't," she decided, her eyes staring into the clear glass, "He refuses to give in… even if it means his life."

Mor'se frowned slightly. "Then, is there anything else I can do, Majesty?"

"No," she answered, without hesitation. "I will find that gods-damned Diadem, with or without his assistance. I still have the Orange Enforcer in my power. Perhaps I should hold her... a little tighter."

Her eyes slid closed, her breaths slowing as she consciously forced herself into calmness. "Leave me."

Mor'se bowed deeply, hiding his triumphant smile until he left the chamber.

The empress found herself leaning against the thick window, as her strength suddenly flowed out of her body.

It's his fault! she reminded herself, I offered him a choice… he refused my mercy. And now, I have no choice.

She couldn't back down now; she'd made a threat to his life. It was clear he wouldn't capitulate, not even to save his life. If she didn't carry out her own sentence, she would be humiliated, before the aristocracy, before her enemies… before the Emperor.

It was bad enough she had a history with the man before his Crossing… it would be unforgivable to show even the slightest compromise for his sake afterward.

She took a deep breath, and held her head high. Her face took on its most natural expression, that of mild disdain, and she stepped away from the window. At her silent command, her favorite flowing cape appeared on her shoulders, wrapping around her body and creating an even more imposing figure.

She glided out of her chambers, her heels echoing in the silent corridor. She moved quickly, her long cape dragging over a foot behind her along the floor. As she passed, guards and officers lined the wall and saluted her passage.

She was the Empress: fierce, volatile, powerful… uncompromising. And thus she would remain, whatever the consequences.

All too soon, her trek down the winding obsidian hallways ended at the heavy door of the prison. The lone guard stood at attention, carefully keeping his eyes lowered.

"Your presence is no longer needed here," she told him, her voice even, "Report to Mor'se for a new assignment."

The guard nodded once, and disappeared down the hallway.

Phaedra listened as his footsteps echoed into obscurity… and then, she turned her eyes to the door.

Should she give him yet another chance to cooperate? She knew every time she did so, she let him make a mockery of her. He seemed to have no fear of her… none whatsoever.

Perhaps his confidence was well founded. She could kill him, but she couldn't truly hurt him. He lived for something far greater than himself, or even his loved ones. The only way to truly hurt him would be to destroy his life's work… and take the Diadem.

And I will! she ordained, massaging her wounded pride, He will regret betraying the Empire.

He would regret betraying her.

Her arm emerged from beneath the heavy cloak, grasping the vial that marked Gaius' death.

She could open the door, and toss the vial inside without a word. She could make a grand entrance, laughing cruelly as she delivered Death in vapor form. She could… offer him a final chance. She could warn him of the properties of the Blight, in case he didn't realize just how much torture he would undergo.

She closed her eyes, and held her hand out, palm up. In a blink, the vial vanished.

She didn't need to deliver some final threat or mockery. It would bring her no joy whatsoever… and she knew it.

She listened intently, and heard the glass shatter behind the door.

And as she walked away, she felt something else shatter… within.

* * *

With a deep yawn, Jocelyn slowly drifted back from slumber. She shifted to her left side, her hand blindly feeling for the soft comforter that somehow fell off her body.

Instead, her hand touched cool metal, inducing full consciousness.

She wasn't in her bed. She wasn't in her room. She wasn't even on Earth.

She was sleeping on the medical cot of an alien's stronghold, thousands of light years from home.

"Hey Rip Van Winkle… ready to join the land of the living?"

She pouted. "Rip Van Winkle? Couldn't you call me 'Sleeping Beauty' or something?"

The Green Enforcer shrugged. "You've obviously never looked in a mirror when you first wake up."

Her threatening grimace made her friend chuckle. "So, how do you feel?"

She stretched her arms out, and released another yawn. "Actually… pretty good." Her face pinched, "Though, a snack would be nice. Did Keith find anything edible?"

He shook his head. "We frankly couldn't tell. Keith, Tammy and Rachel found a room with plants that looked like a greenhouse, with some fruits and vegetables growing there. But it's impossible to tell if they're poisonous to humans. We never bothered to ask Spectra what she eats, so we have no idea if Denebian food is healthy for humans."

He began chuckling anew. "Rachel and Tamara had to actually wrestle an apple-looking fruit from Keith. He was practically salivating."

Jocelyn giggled at the mental image. Leave it to Keith to poison himself on some alien fruit. Though, if they remained on Edenia a few more hours, even she would be hard-pressed to choose to err on the side of caution.

She frowned pensively. "How long was I asleep?"

Matt instinctively glanced at his wrist, only to realize his watch wasn't there. "Well, unless I un-Sync, I can't tell you exactly. I'd say about an hour and a half."

She gasped. "Why didn't you wake me up or something??"

"Relax, Joce, it's fine. The others are still exploring. This place is absolutely huge, and so far we haven't found anything at all that could help us find Craig, Gaius, or the Diadem."

"And what have you been doing all this time?"

He gestured to the computer station sitting against the far wall. "Trying to figure out how this thing works. I think maybe there's some information on the Diadem on the system." He tapped his opaque blue visor. "You know this mask can actually translate written language?"

"Really?" she awed, swinging her legs off the cot, "How?"

"Well, I don't know how, exactly. But you see this screen?"

Jocelyn nodded, staring at the bizarre alien symbols she could only assume was text.

"When I Synced and looked at it, my visor creates an overlay of English text. It's incredible!"

He stood up from his seat. "Actually, if you feel up to it, maybe you can help me browse? You're a lot better with computers than me."

She smiled playfully. "Was that a compliment? Trying to make up for that 'mirror' crack, huh?"

He folded his arms. "Hey, you walked right into that one!"

She sighed theatrically before hopping off the cot completely. She took a few steps back, making some room as she held her ring above her head.

"Spectrum Sync!"

Glowing smoke poured from the gemstone, wrapping her in a cocoon of pure energy that covered her body with molded armor of various shades of orange.

Once the energy released by the transformation died down, the Orange Enforcer took a seat at the computer, and stared at the data through her blue visor.

"Wow, you're right!" she gasped, wonder lighting up her face, "It all makes sense!"

Green leaned over her shoulder, his gloved finger tracing some text in the far left. "This is the menu bar I've been navigating with. The system started up with a surveillance progr-"

Matthew's words were lost as suddenly, Jocelyn's slim fingers clenched around his throat… tightly. Not quite tight enough to substantially hurt, but enough to get his attention.

Matt blinked in confusion as Jocelyn rose to her feet, and brought him with her. "I..is this about that 'mirror' crack?" he rasped.

Suddenly, he found himself flying through the air, his body crashing full-force into the cot Jocelyn had rested on just minutes ago.

He groaned loudly, rubbing his shoulder that came in contact with the now-shattered cot. "Jeez, Joce, that's not…"

He bit his tongue when he noticed her standing above him, orange aura burning over her entire body.

* * *

"I don't know, Ray," Tamara sighed, her dark eyes following the Purple Enforcer as she hovered near the ceiling, "Do you really think there'll be a secret door somewhere?"

The leader of the Spectrum Force shrugged. "Why not? There was a secret door to get in, right?"

"Yeah, but that's to stop uninvited guests from finding the place. The only way anyone could find the door is to see the light, so only good guys can get in, right?"

"Maybe this Gaius guy is paranoid?" Keith offered, discreetly digging into his pocket. He slowly drew his hand out, his fist clenched tightly.

"My God, Keith, I can't believe you!" Tamara fumed, grabbing his wrist and shaking it wildly. To Keith's dismay, his grip gave way, letting two dozen small green spheres roll along the granite floor.

Rachel floated lower, her arms folded. "Do you have a death wish?"

He frowned. "They're peas! They look like peas, they smell like peas… they even grow in those little pods! What are the chances they're poisonous?"

"Whatever they are, they're not worth taking!!" Tamara shouted.

"Come on!" Keith retorted petulantly, "At worst case, maybe I'll get a little queasy… but it's better than starving!"

A smirk touched Rachel's lip. "Maybe he's right," she contributed, her boots touching the ground.

Tamara stared at her roommate, aghast. "What?"

"What's the big deal about a little nausea?" She picked up one of the "peas" with two fingers. "Sure, it'll be uncomfortable, but when we get back, Spectra can probably cure him."

Keith grinned. "Yeah!"

The Purple Enforcer then walked to Keith, and dropped the "pea" in his hand. "Of course, before Spectra can do anything, we'd have to get back home… through the Hyperspace Portal. Spinning and rolling through Hyperspace, a thousand times faster than light speed…"

Both girls watched as Keith's triumphant grin gradually collapsed into a grimace. His blue eyes slid toward the tiny green sphere in his palm; tempting just a moment ago.

"I think I lost my appetite."

Tamara snatched the "pea" before her boyfriend could change his mind.

*Guys!*

Rachel winced, hands instinctively flying to her temples as Matthew's urgent cry rang between her ears.

Keith and Tamara stared at their friend in concern. "What?" they both demanded in unison.

"It's Matt. Something's wrong with Jocelyn."

She lifted off the ground, her aura burning an angry purple instantly. "Sync and follow me downstairs," she ordered, before vanishing in a flash of light.

Tamara and Keith traded urgent looks, before holding their rings to the sky. "Spectrum Sync!"

In less than a second, the Purple, Yellow, and Red Enforcers streaked down the stairs, and came to a sudden halt right outside the medical ward.

All stared in astonishment as Green crashed through the wall, filling the room with dust and small chunks of rock.

They were even more shocked to see the Orange Enforcer step through the hole after him, calmly brushing the gray dust from her sleeves.

"Jocelyn! What the hell do you think you're doing?" Red demanded. He landed about a foot in front of her, his hands falling to her shoulders.

Her head inclined, apparently gazing at him for a moment. She then cocked her head, and watched as Yellow rushed to aid Green.

"I was wondering how long it would take him to call for reinforcements," she admitted. The voice was Jocelyn's… but there was a tone of vicious scorn Keith had never heard in his friend's speech.

She then turned back to Keith, her body going rigid. "Let go."

Keith grunted as a wave of orange energy leapt from her chest; throwing him into the far wall with such overwhelming force, he crashed right through the meter thick granite.

He collapsed into a boneless heap amidst the heavy debris and the green grass of the surrounding forest.

Orange moved to follow, until a wall of vibrant purple blocked her way.

She sneered beneath her mask, pivoting to see the Purple Enforcer hovering behind her, silently manipulating energy into a spherical shell to encase her.

Purple hung stiffly in the air. "Who are you?"

Rather than answer, Orange flexed her arms. The faint orange aura around her body began flashing with increased energy, and then flowed from her, clinging to the inner wall of the purple sphere.

The energy then focused directly above Orange's head, and forced a hole in the top of the bubble. "Someone who obviously has far more experience with the power of Light, Human."

Rachel quickly leapt backwards, barely dodging a cannonball of energy. Stupid, stupid, stupid! How could I forget our shields merge when they touch? But… how did she know that?

It was clear it wasn't Jocelyn they were fighting. True, it was Jocelyn's body, and even her powers; but it definitely wasn't her mind that decided to pulverize her friends. Somebody else was in there…

*We've gotta get her out of here, Ray!* Matthew's mind-voice shouted urgently. *Its way too tight, and we're doing some major damage to Gaius' equipment!*

*I'll distract her, you grab her!* Rachel commanded. She threw her body backward to avoid another sphere of powerful energy, and planted her feet against the wall. Pushing with all her might, she leapt forward like a spring, folding her arms over her head. Her forearms became a battering ram that connected solidly with Orange's stomach, sending the younger girl crashing to the floor.

Sorry about that, Joce…

The instant Orange skidded to a halt, her body was locked within the tight grasp of Green. Wasting no time, he zipped through the hole created by Keith, flying over the Red Enforcer as well as Yellow, who was urging him to his feet.

"Jocelyn!" Matthew shouted, his voice rising above the sound of the wind, "Can you hear me? Answer me!"

"She can't," Orange replied, her power igniting around her, "I speak through her mouth. I see through her eyes. And I strike through her hands!"

The energy leapt forward, tearing a tree out from its roots. Matthew gaped in astonishment as the enormous plant sped toward him at breakneck speed.

His distraction was enough for Orange to slip out of his grip. Fortunately, he was able to dodge just as the tree streaked passed him, dissolving into splinters as it smashed into the mountain.

Matthew breathed deeply, recovering his bearings from the near miss. Slowly, he floated backwards, to where Rachel, Tamara, and Keith had gathered.

"So," Keith muttered, absently rubbing his sore head, "what's Plan B?"

* * *

*Your mind swims in doubts, Warrior.*

Craig quirked an eyebrow. His gaze followed the Midjinari girl, watching as she nimbly slipped between trees, upraised roots, and foliage.

What makes you say that? he thought. They had long since decided to keep verbal conversation to a minimum, to reduce the likelihood of being spotted by any wandering Shadows during their exhausting hike through the Edenian forest.

*Doubt tenses your muscles. Furrows your brow. And to match these visual cues, there are even more potent mental cues.*

Craig frowned, tapping his sweat-damp temple. You're not poking around up here, are you?

She slowed down, and gazed at him quizzically. Craig found himself uncomfortable under the scrutiny of those wide, cat-like eyes.

*I apologize,* she finally offered. *I did not mean to intrude. Midjinari communicate freely telepathically. We speak when we can, but there is a constant mental connection between us. There are… so few of us left.*

How many of you are there, anyway? Craig wondered.

*We as a people have been scattered throughout the universe, fulfilling our duty to slow the onslaught of Death. My tribe has watched the Diadem for generations, and you have seen us all.*

The Blue Enforcer blinked. You mean, the four of you??

She nodded solemnly.

I'm… sorry, Mashal.

*It is the sacrifice we make. The Diadem must be protected at all costs. Edenia is ideal, with the vast amount of sunshine brightening the entire sphere… yet the environment is detrimental to us. We remain enclosed as much as possible.*

Craig silently processed that information. An entire species of people, dedicated to protect the Diadem. Who knew how many of Mashal's tribe had died? How much did they sacrifice, for what seemed to be an impossible mission?

His thoughts were an open book to the telepath. *The sacrifice is great, and the road we tread is difficult. All who fight Death travel that same path… including you and your allies.*

Craig winced. Only recently he'd begun to consider the sacrifices he was making… the sacrifices he would have to make in the future. And whenever he did, his spirits sank.

Can I do this?

He didn't mean to transmit his thoughts, but he did.

*You must have faith in yourself,* Mashal noted, repeating her advice from their first encounter. *You must believe that you are able to complete the mission entrusted to you. You would not have been chosen if you were unworthy.*

He sighed. That wasn't very comforting. Mashal, I wasn't chosen by the Light, the Diadem, or whatever other powers are out there. My friend picked me.

Despite his somber mood, a small smile touched his lip at Rachel's words. "There's no one else I'd rather have serve by my side as the Blue Enforcer…"

She'd really meant it. She didn't just say it, to persuade him to take the ring. And she didn't just pick him because he was her friend.

She picked him because she trusted him. And Rachel Castaneda wasn't the type of person to depend on others… so her vote of confidence spoke volumes.

*You do not appreciate the depth of being Chosen,* Mashal informed him. *You were chosen by your friend, but from where did she get the power to choose?*

Spectra, a member of the Denebian Remnant, gave her the Spectrum Stones.

*And Spectra must have been given the Spectrum Stones by Luminus, the High Father and founder of the Remnant.*

Craig blinked. He sounds important.

*He is. He was chosen by the Light. He touched the Diadem. His wisdom guides the Warriors of Light. He would not choose Spectra unless she were worthy of choosing proper warriors. Spectra would not have chosen your friend unless she found that one equally worthy. And your friend chose you. So you have been chosen by the Light.*

That's… an interesting point of view, Craig confessed. It had never occurred to him to give his fate that much thought. Was it possible he truly was chosen by something great? Was he chosen to be something great?

*If you still doubt, the Diadem will light your path.*

What does that mean?

*The Diadem and your ring are the same. Your ring binds you to the Diadem, in a manner I am not. That is why Warrior Gaius had to summon aid. Midjinari cannot wield the power of the Diadem… but you can.*

Craig quirked an eyebrow. I don't know about that…

Suddenly, Mashal grabbed his hand urgently. Craig startled.

*I sense Death…*

Her revelation came just before a loud crash in the forest ahead.

Craig's eyes widened. What's going on?

The two hurried forward, taking extra care to remain silent and hidden within the dense verdure. Soon, they reached a cliff face, and a startling battle waged before their eyes.

That's the Spectrum Force! Craig revealed. He narrowed his eyes, watching the Green and Orange Enforcers tousle in the air above. What the hell are they doing??

His jaw dropped as Jocelyn's energy yanked a nearby tree, and hurled it at Matthew.

*Your friend has been gripped by Death.*

"Wh-"

Mashal quickly smothered his mouth with her hand. *No words Warrior… lest we be discovered. Your Orange friend has been gripped by the Empire.*

I don't understand… how do you know that?

*Close your eyes, and come here.*

Mashal beckoned with her finger. Puzzled, Craig slid onto his knees, bringing him within reach to the Midjinari.

She placed her fingers on his forehead. *Now, look.*

Craig slowly opened his eyes, and gasped as suddenly, the rich green of the surrounding forest was replaced by drab gray. The grass, the trees, the mountain… everything blended into one another, creating a flat background.

However, the people present were far from drab. Each of the Force shone with incredible, vibrant energy, bathing their bodies in such radiance it hurt to look at them directly.

Except for Jocelyn. Where she floated, all Craig could see was a black silhouette. Though oddly, outlining the obscurity was a nimbus of orange light.

What is this?

*This is how Midjinari see,* Mashal revealed. *Our eyes see into the realm of energy. The Warriors of Light shine gloriously, yet the forces of evil swallow light with an unending hunger. Your friend has been corrupted, so she fights her allies.*

Craig moved forward, his face folding.

*You cannot help them if you fight with them. You must find the Diadem.*

He chewed his lip. But… they need help!

*If you transform, your exact location will be discernible by the Empire. And then, no one can safely seek the Diadem without being watched!*

Craig huffed his frustration.

Mashal pointed to the cliff with her free hand. *The Diadem is within.*

He followed her gesture, and noticed a rectangular hole in what had appeared to be a solid cliff. Just large enough to be a door…

*I am certain it called to your friends, but the presence of evil silenced it. If the one had not been tainted, surely your friends would have found the Diadem. Now you must enter. So long as evil does not pass through the entrance, the Diadem will call you. Enter the invisible door, and you will be guarded from evil eyes. You can wield your powers without fear, and the Diadem will guide you.*

Craig's gaze slid back to his friends. Rachel, Matthew, Keith, and Tamara seemed to have regrouped, with Jocelyn hovering high in the air. They're right by the wall, Mashal. If I go now, they'll all see me.

*That can be prevented.*

Craig turned, and watched the Midjinari girl pull off her heavy cloak. Beneath it, her green robe matched perfectly with the surrounding forest. *The cloak can hide you from sight and sense. Cover your skin, and join the edges together to activate its magic.*

Will you be okay out here without it?

She smiled. *The Midjinari have traveled the universe for centuries of centuries without being detected by enemies. We have our ways.*

He smiled in return. Then, I guess it's up to me.

He donned the heavy material, feeling it weigh down his body. He approached the tree line, preparing to step into the open, when he saw his four friends take to the air, surrounding Jocelyn.

I wish I could do something. Wait… maybe I can!

He smirked fiercely as a thought occurred to him. He dodged back into the bushes for cover, and pulled the Ireli sphere from his pocket.

This definitely qualifies as an emergency.

To Be Continued...

Spectrum Force Chapter Four

Not mine yet!

______________________________________________
The Diadem

Part Two





The tapping of heels against cold marble echoed in the spacious chamber.

The empress circled the obsidian podium, hands clasped thoughtfully behind her back. Ruby eyes stared into the opaque pyramid that sat boldly on the raised surface, a self-derisive smirk on her lips.

When she finally broke the silence, her voice dripped with mockery. "Oh great Diadem... gateway into a universe of primal energies... why isn't there anything in you?"

She stepped away from the object of analysis, arms folding. I always knew that stupid fairy tale had no base in reality. It still astounds me that both Gaius and Acheron are so willing to chase myths and legends to the end of the cosmos. She huffed disdainfully. "Men."

If the legends had been true, her hours of intense examination would have wielded something... some kind of sensation that the stone housed infinite elemental power for her to tap.

Snorting with annoyance, she marched away from the podium. "I'll make that peon suffer for dragging me here..!" she growled.

Just as she approached the exit, a chime indicated someone wished to be granted entrance. "Enter!"

The door slowly slid open, and just outside the chamber stood an officer wearing the deep green tunic of the Sciences. "What?" she hissed.

The man swallowed, his every effort forcing his body to maintain his attentive stance as he prepared to relay the message.

"My Empress, our ship has detected the use of the Hyperspace Portal in this system," he related, "but we could not detect a ship. We believe the Star Riders have come."

The empress stared at the scientist for a few moments, her eyes narrowing. "No...I doubt the Riders could be spared from their current mission, even to save Lord Gaius. But Spectra..."

Her face collapsed into a bitter snarl. The messenger stepped back, making room between himself and his queen. "Spectra no doubt sent those six humans that somehow managed to destroy my Phlegnin."

Phaedra forgot about the messenger completely, her eyes closing as she withdrew into contemplation. "There must be something here," she reasoned, "Something worth keeping Gaius from the front of the war. Something worth sending backup... even at the risk of leaving Earth undefended." Her eyes slid open, piercing gaze falling upon the "Diadem" that, come to think of it, Lord Gaius didn't protect with quite the fire Phaedra knew him to possess. "Something... something still on the planet..."

Phaedra's face lit up into a cold grin of anticipation. Very sneaky, Gaius, she admitted, A deception truly worthy of a Denebian Lord. But you forget that the Monarchy have mastered the art of foul play.

She then addressed the scientist who still lingered in the room, awaiting his instructions. "Can you still detect the humans?"

"Our energy sensors are attuned to the Star Riders unique wavelengths, but only when those energies are in use. These... 'humans' with the Star Riders' powers descended toward the planet, and then disappeared from our sensors. We conclude that they have stopped using their powers."

The empress huffed. "No wonder it took this squadron decades to find Gaius! You are ill equipped to handle much of anything, aren't you?"

The officer bit his tongue.

"Get out of here," Phaedra hissed, "Summon Mor'se. Tell him I will deal with this latest development."

* * *

"This is so funky!" the Blue Enforcer declared, staring at the horizon, "This planet's got two suns!"

The Spectrum Force stood together in the dense foliage of the planetoid, covering the terrain on foot as they searched for any signs of sentient life. After several hours of diligent marching, all they had uncovered was the peculiar trek of the suns through the sky.

"This binary system is so incredible," Jocelyn breathed as she gazed into the cloudless, rich blue sky, "The suns are in such perfect synchrony that when one sets, the other rises. The darkest it gets is twilight!"

"That's good," Tamara decided, "Then we won't have to deal with prolonged darkness. So no worries about draining our stored power, or of Phaedra launching an all-out attack."

"We'd better not assume that," Matt noted grimly, "If Phaedra came here to find the Diadem, then she probably knew about the binary suns. She must have figured out a way to compensate for it."

Craig suddenly frowned. "Matt's right. If Phaedra was able to take down that Gaius guy, she must have developed some kind of attack strategy... a damn good one."

"We... definitely need... a plan," Keith panted, heavily sitting on a fallen tree trunk. He cradled his head between his hands, his shoulders heaving as he sucked in gulps of air.

"Oh, poor baby," Tammy cooed, only half-mocking. She sat beside him, her arm draped around his shoulder, "Still nauseous?"

Matt couldn't help a wry grin. "Keith Maloy, Fearless Speed Demon and Terror of the Turnpike, is the only one of us who got sick in that portal!"

Keith grimaced. "Dude, I don't wanna know how fast we were going! And that Hyperspace Portal thing bent space-time... ugh... just thinking about it makes my insides flip..."

The Green Enforcer began to snicker mercilessly. "Just be sure to take your mask off before you hurl, or things'll get sticky in there!"

Craig frowned curiously, his hand reaching to his neck. He gingerly slid his fingers along the molded armor, from the side of his face all the way down his opposite arm. "I don't think this armor has any seams. If Keith has to toss his lunch, he'll have to un-Sync."

Keith whimpered pathetically, resting his head on Tamara's offered shoulder.

Jocelyn giggled. "Un-Sync? Is that the official term?"

"Definitely not. Sounds too much like a boy-band."

That comment won the Purple Enforcer the surprised stares of her entire team.

"Whoa, did I hear Rachel Castaneda crack a joke on a mission?" Keith muttered, "Guys, I think the heat finally got to her."

The team fell into laughter... until a sudden, faint quaking shook the ground on which they stood. Immediately, the six youths gathered into a tight circle, muscles tensed and senses alert.

"Something's coming," Jocelyn whispered unnecessarily.

"Spectra told us the planet was uninhabited," Matthew recalled, "So Phaedra must have sent us a sun-resistant welcoming committee."

Keith inclined his head toward the clear sky. "I'm gonna get a better look around."

Keith floated upward slowly, casting his deep blue gaze around the greenery warily. In the distance, he saw the cool blue of waterfall tumbling down the mountains to the north. And when he turned slightly, following the stampeding sound, his jaw slackened at the sight before him.

"A... black sea?" he marveled, eyes wide. Somehow, a black, tar-like ocean on planet that so reminded him of an Earth rainforest didn't fit right.

"Guys!" he shouted, "It's coming from that way... fast!"

The remaining Force all looked in the direction Red indicated, but they had little time to do anything to prepare. All they could do was react when the wave of murky blackness crashed through the surrounding greenery, blanketing the lush forest.

"Holy sh-!"

"Matt!" Jocelyn screamed, grabbing the awestruck Green Enforcer by the forearm and pulling him heavenward. But they couldn't get far enough away, for out of the encroaching sea came a pair of muscled arms, black and sleek as an oil spill. Mighty fingers encircled Green's ankles, and with a startled yelp, Matthew sank toward the darkness.

"MATT!" she repeated in panic, diving toward him. Without a second thought, she began slashing at the elongated arms in a desperate attempt to free her friend. Then, without warning, three humanoid forms leapt from the black depths towards her, one pinning her arms to her sides from behind her back while the second wrapped around her flailing legs.

Her eyes wide with alarm, she stared as the third offender emerged from the blackness just below her. The man-like form began to spread, distinct limbs fading into each other as it became a flat, amorphous sheet of inky blackness.

And then, it struck.

Jocelyn was instantly overwhelmed as her world became a silvery-black void. He tried desperately to scream, but her throat was dry and raw, and her lungs simply had no oxygen to offer.

He felt her chest constrict, her muscles becoming taunt and insanely heavy. She couldn't move, she couldn't breathe... she couldn't even tell if her eyes were open or closed.

She was being smothered to death!

Or... was it more than that? She felt an encroaching cold, building from her limbs inward. And from the center of her being, she felt a surreal sense of... leaking.

Almost as if she were bleeding...

Oh God oh God oh God oh God...

* * *

"Hang on, Jocie!" Matthew screamed frantically. He managed to claw out of the murky tar that had clung to him, but more appeared. Only this time, instead of dragging him downward, they seemed to be pushing him away from the pool.

His breath came in ragged gasps, panic rising when he realized that Jocelyn was no longer fighting. Instead, the inky black cocoon that outlined her body grew terrifyingly still, and began a slow decent to the bobbing blackness below.

That thing can't suffocate her... can it? he wondered, his heart racing, "Joce! Can you hear me?!"

He wanted desperately to reach her, to dig her out with his bare hands if need be. But how could he even get close??

His muscles tensed as he slowly, painstakingly drew all his appendages inward. He pulled against all the arms pushing him away, collapsing his body into a tight ball. Then, a ball of energy flared to life around him, glowing brilliantly and pushing away the torrent of evil with its radiance.

He turned downward, his aura blazing brilliantly as he dove toward the murkiness below. But, to his surprise, the blackness reoriented itself, and a wave of viscous night crashed toward him.

With a yelp of surprise, Matt angled upward, narrowly missing the substance while catapulting to a safer level. As he streaked, he felt the chill of the creatures beneath moving closer.

I can't...I can't get to her! *Jocelyn? Please...answer me!* he called desperately.

There was no response.

* * *

"Matt! Jocelyn!"

Rachel swore under her breath as she frantically scanned the army beneath her for her youngest friends.

And it was indeed an army... for the sea of black seemed to be formed of countless humanoid shapes. It almost seemed as if the Denebians had stolen every Olympic sprinter on the planet, shaved their heads, and dunked them in a vat of crude oil. For all the creatures were lean-muscled, and obscenely fast. And there were definitely molded to human form... at least, until they began "oozing," spreading into the flattened goopy substance that had swallowed the Orange Enforcer before Rachel's very eyes.

Purple shook off her distraction to assess her own situation. As soon as Matthew screamed his distress, Rachel hurried to help her friends- only to be blindsided by one of the man-like creatures. It struck her with physical force, catching the base of her neck with its elbow. She had been surprised by the assault, but also vaguely relieved; hand-to-hand combat was much more familiar territory.

Rachel precariously took another glance around. Matthew had managed to pull away, but Jocelyn was nowhere in sight. Keith and Tamara fought their battle back to back a few hundred feet away, while Craig had meandered above her, his aura flaring an angry blue as he viciously fought back the waves of creatures that rocketed up to meet him.

Her distraction was rewarded by three more creatures that grabbed for different appendages with such precision, they almost seemed to be of one mind.

"Oh no you don't!" she hissed, pulling one arm in. She managed to lurch forward, crashing her forehead against that of one creature. She stunned it enough to wrestle her hand free, which immediately began to glow vibrantly.

She gasped in surprise when she realized the others were already beginning to melt, slowly coating her other arm and legs.

Wasting no time, she fired a tight beam of energy at her other arm, focusing the blast on the back of the creature, that had yet to make contact with her uniform. A high pitched shriek greeted her; music to her ears.

"I guess raw energy isn't quite as tasty as my arm, huh?"

* * *

"Keith?"

"Yeah?"

"I have a question."

"Shoot."

"When we blast one of those... thingies... do they die?"

Keith frowned deeply, his aura intensifying momentarily as a sphere of hot red coalesced between his palms. "I hope so."

Tamara nodded as she tossed her own ring of glowing light. Right on target, it sliced through one of the manlike shapes, cutting it cleanly in half.

It wailed in some kind of pain, and plummeted to the thick inky blackness beneath them.

"I sure hope so too!" she acknowledged, her dark eyes following the creature's freefall. However, just as she suspected, two more came to take its place. "But it's a bit hard to tell. We're not gaining any ground!"

She backed closer to Keith, their auras mixing into a rich orange where they touched. "Any bright ideas?"

He bit his lip, considering. "Well, I've got something..."

He hurled his energy sphere, watching in satisfaction as it blew two creatures to pieces. Then he turned around, extending his hands.

"Tam, give me your hands."

Yellow regarded him quizzically for a moment before doing so.

"Now what?"

"Now focus your energies into your hands, like you were creating that ring of yours," he instructed, "I'll create my Supreme Fireball Attack."

Despite the gravity of the situation, Tamara couldn't contain a small giggle.

"What can possibly be funny?" he demanded.

"Supreme Fireball Attack?" she repeated, "You... you named your attack?"

He huffed peevishly, dropping his gaze to the orange-hued energy they were creating. "For your information, all great fighters name their techniques! Like the Kamehameha in Dragon Ball, or Chun-Li's Spinning Bird Kick!"

"Right... and Superman's Flying Mega Power Punch! And Batman's Ultra-Fast Batarang Throw!"

He scowled at her, but his expression was lost underneath his mask. He chose to drop the subject. "Okay... I think our powers are sorta bleeding together. Keep them distinct!"

"I get it... I'll ring my Impossibly Strong Golden Hula-hoop around your Way Too Furious Fireball Attack!"

"Supreme Fireball Attack," he grumbled, "That attack's goin' into the history books, Babe!"

She struggled against her giggles, chewing her lip as she forced her energies to separate from Keith's. After nearly a full minute of concentration, the attack was generated: a glowing ball of red flame surrounded by a golden ring of light.

The two heroes floated away from the ball quietly.

"So... what do we call this one?"

"Isn't it obvious? The Supreme Fireball Impossibly Strong Golden Hula-hoop Attack!"

Yellow cocked an eyebrow. She couldn't tell whether her boyfriend was serious or not. "What does it do, then?"

He smirked, reaching his palm beneath the floating energy. "Let's see."

* * *

"There they are..."

Phaedra's eyes slowly opened, the view of her private chamber replacing the magical vision of brilliant energy her most recent spell had created.

She smiled, leaning smugly into her throne.

Of course, her incantation had worked. Her Shadows were undefeatable… a magical collective of foot-soldiers that melted into an amorphous pool, able to rejoin the group and restore their strength, and quickly return to battle.

The pool was able to quickly scan the entire planet, their unique magical properties allowing them to maintain their strength even in direct sunlight. Considering the small circumference of Edenia, it was only a matter of time before a platoon stumbled upon the humans. And by creating minor earthquakes by pounding against the planet's surface, the Shadows were able to trumpet their approach. Predictably, the humans in turn prepared for the assault, igniting their energies and in effect declaring their precise location. The signal became strong enough for even the scientists to register, and strong enough for the Shadows to home in on.

The plan fell seamlessly into place. The Shadows had literally smothered the humans.

Still, while the Shadow fleet was certainly powerful enough to overwhelm the new heroes, Phaedra would be no closer to discovering the truth about the Diadem.

So they followed instruction: swallow one human, and inject the Seed into it.

Phaedra began chuckling, the tickle of burning embers on her skin. She gazed at her hands, watching the faint orange climb her arms.

"The Seed has been planted," she whispered, grinning wickedly, "Once she awakens, the eyes of Orange are as my own."

If these new heroes were anything like the overly-compassionate Spectra, they would never abandon one of their members, even though she may be injured. They would surely see the outer effects of hosting a Seed, but they wouldn't recognize what it meant.

If anything, the outward appearance of Orange would only make the rest more protective, rather than suspicious. And through Orange's eyes, Phaedra would determine exactly what their intentions were on the planet.

Perhaps they'd even discover the secret of the Diadem for her.

Then she would kill them.

* * *

"Why the hell aren't you dead yet?!"

Craig could tell he was panicking; he was quickly running out of ideas.

In truth, he didn't really have time to plan any. When the danger first registered, Blue sensibly rocketed toward the sky, anxious to make as much room as possible between himself and the aggressor. He wanted to buy enough time to come up with some logical strategy of attack.

Unfortunately, no matter how high he flew, the creatures followed him.

Without a plan, he was forced to improvise, falling into an intricate pattern of ducking and dodging while throwing around powerful bolts of energy. Any of his basketball teammates would've recognized the offensive pattern, only played with energy spheres instead of basketballs.

However, Craig quickly discovered how little he accomplished by dodging and firing, and he began slowing down.

What else can I do?

Suddenly, a flash of red grasped his attention. His jaw hung slack as he witnessed a fierce red ball, encircled by a swirling golden ring, collide with the wall of creatures that had begun rising from the ochre.

A wry smile pulled his face as he watched Yellow wrap her arms around Red exuberantly. Maybe, if I had put as much into those practices as the others, I'd be able to make a contribution here...

Instead, he'd only been giving half-hearted effort to the Force. And only half-hearted effort to basketball.

It just wasn't humanly possible to give both all he had. And both demanded exactly that.

A chill crept through his entire body when a thought formed. I... I just can't do this. I'm letting everyone down...

*Confidence is one of your greatest weapons!*

Craig jumped in surprise, leaving him wide open for one of the creatures to land a swing. Craig toppled, rubbing his jaw painfully. But his attention was nowhere near the fight at hand.

*Who's there? Ray?*

It didn't sound like Rachel... unless she'd been sucking on a helium balloon.

*You are a Soldier of Light!* the voice continued, its tone growing anxious, *You must believe in yourself, or no one else will believe in you!*

This sounds like one of those cheesy after-school flicks...

*You cannot save the Diadem like this!* the voice pleaded, *You must follow me!*

*And where are you?* he demanded.

He was answered by a surprising sight. A thin figure, less than four feet in height and cloaked in heavy rags, appeared in front of him. Craig startled.

* * *

"Wow guys... what was that?"

Tamara and Keith disentangled themselves, the former beaming excitedly at her roommate. "Why, that was the Supreme Fireball Impossibly Strong Golden Hula-hoop Attack!"

Rachel stared at Tamara incredulously.

The green form that rapidly flew toward them was equally astonished. "Huh?"

"It was Keith's idea," Tamara accused.

Matthew shook his head to cast off the confusion. "We've got to save Jocelyn!" he declared, "That... tar stuff swallowed her whole! And when I tried to get closer, it seemed to try to swat me away!"

Tamara gasped. "What do we do?"

"So far, the Super Fireball- whatever is the only attack that did any apparently long-lasting damage," Rachel noted, "Whenever I fried one, another took over. But now, they've seemed to slow down... almost retreat a little."

"Then we'll do it again!" Keith decided, "The five of us." He began to pull away towards Blue, who seemed to be frozen in the air. "Craig! Yo CRAIG!"

Matthew frowned slightly. "Maybe we shouldn't include him yet. Remember Jocelyn's somewhere in that goop. If we up the power too much, we might hurt her."

Keith nodded, floating back towards them. "Okay then, me and Tammy will do it again. Then Ray can join in, and if we think that's still not enough, we'll add Matt's power."

"Matt, where exactly did Jocelyn disappear?" Tamara asked.

"Over there, by the tree line."

"Then let's make sure not to directly hit that area," Rachel decided, "but hit close enough to jostle it. Hopefully, we'll get an idea of how powerful the attack is by the damage it does on impact."

Her three teammates nodded, and Yellow and Red rejoined hands, an orange aura building between them.

* * *

Blue paid absolutely no heed to the burning energy that built a few dozen yards away. He also completely ignored the Shadows that had mysteriously begun to recede.

All he could see was the cloaked figure hovering before him.

"Wh... what are you?"

He reached toward the faintly glowing apparition, and shivered as his hand passed through.

"Whoa..."

*Astral projection... only you can see me. Death cannot find me if only Light can see me.*

Craig puzzled over the strange reply. "Don't worry... I won't let those black things hurt you. We're the Spectrum Force!"

*No... not 'death.' Death, the living servants of eternal darkness that seek to devour our reality!*

Does she mean the Empire? "I don't und-"

Before he could finish his comment, a powerful burst of energy exploded behind him, sending him catapulting helplessly with the updraft into the dense Edenian forest.

* * *

"That was… unexpected," Tamara exhaled, her eyes sliding open. She stared in numb awe at the long blades of grass before her, her mind swimming.

How did that happen? She and Keith had constructed their signature attack just as before, and Rachel had deposited her own energy, in the form of an additional spinning ring. The team had decided to try that attack, and Keith had launched the double-ringed sphere toward the oddly calm ochre coating the knoll.

The subsequent explosion threw the entire unprepared Force nearly into orbit.

Yellow closed her eyes, and slowly began to take measure of her injuries. She started by moving her right elbow.

Check.

Left elbow, shoulders, ankles, knees, neck, back, and everything in between.

Everything responded with minimal pain. Astonishingly, she was only slightly sore.

Relieved, Tamara carefully rose to her feet, and began pulling the leaves and grass from her tangled ebony hair.

I'm not hurt at all, she realized, Not a bit. And I was caught completely off-guard. Which must mean that blast wasn't meant to hurt me. But... if it wasn't retaliation from that black goop, was it really just our attack?

That didn't make sense. The one-ringed sphere didn't come anywhere near the destructive power the double-ringed sphere wrought. Either the Force's energies exponentially increase when merged, or Rachel was incredibly more powerful than herself and Keith.

Or... maybe something else was going on.

*Hello?* she called, pivoting in the deathly quiet jungle. *Anybody?*

She shivered in the terrifying mental silence, until finally, someone responded.

*Tam? You okay?*

*Keith!* She beamed ecstatically. *Where are you?*

*Hanging from a tree branch. But otherwise okay.*

*Rachel here,* a new mind-voice indicated, *I'm in one piece, but there's no one in eyeshot.*

*The blast knocked us all in different directions,* Keith realized. *That was... weird.*

*Craig? Matt? Jocelyn?* Rachel broadcast. Tamara could feel her friend's worry escalate. *I... I can feel Matt... but I can't feel Craig at all! Or Jocie...*

Then, a new mind-voice interrupted. Tamara felt herself shiver anew. *I found Jocelyn.*

* * *

Green's glassy gaze returned to the physical plane, as he withdrew his consciousness from the rest of the Force. Then, he lifted his index finger, and fired a single, continuous beam of bright green energy into the heavens.

The others would see the beacon, and arrive shortly.

Satisfied that the others would think of something, his dark green eyes returned to the cold burden lying on his lap.

As he predicted, three flaming auras answered his call. Yellow, Red, and Purple all fell to the ground in front of him.

All were struck silent.

Matthew huddled over Jocelyn. Her body was no longer protected by the magical armor of the transformation. Her eyes were squeezed tightly closed, her arms hung limply at her sides. Her skin, usually glowing with a faint tan, was oddly pale and gray.

Her hands clenching to hold back the trembling, Rachel stepped forward, and knelt in front of Matt. Forcing her eyes away from the sickening sight of her youngest friend, she laid her hand on Green's shoulder tightly.

"What happened?" she asked gently.

"I came to about a minute ago," he answered quietly, "and I realized that I was in the same field. The black stuff was gone without a trace. Then I saw her lying right where the goop sucked her in. I un-Synced her with the belt buttons to check on her... and I saw her like this."

Rachel stared at Matt, recognizing he was in some form of shock. She then rose to her feet, and looked squarely at Keith.

"Remember any of that lifeguard training from two summers ago?"

He nodded mutely.

"Good. See if there's anything you can do to bring her around. Tamara and I will look for Craig."

With that, Rachel grabbed Tamara's arm, and pulled the distracted girl into the air.

Once they departed, Keith slowly kneeled beside Matthew. After staring at him for a moment, he leaned over Jocelyn. After touching his fingers to her neck, he slid back again.

"Her heart's beating, but I can't tell if she's breathing with the armor on."

Matthew didn't respond to Keith's explanation, nor to the flash of light that accompanied Keith's transformation.

"Jeez!" Keith suddenly hissed, "It's hotter than Hell out here!"

He felt the sweat beading on his forehead after only seconds of direct exposure to the planet's blazing sun. Keith swallowed fiercely, fighting the resurgent nausea sparked by the intense heat that all but punched him in the face.

After a few seconds, Keith managed to compose himself enough to turn his attention to Jocelyn.

"Matt, I'm definitely gonna need your help," Keith said, his tone the forced calm of a frustrated parent, "You're the med student... not me."

He slipped his arms beneath Jocelyn, and lifted the prone girl off the Green Enforcer's lap. He then carried her out of the small clearing, and set her down again beneath the shade of a large, full-foliaged tree.

"That helps," he sighed, wiping the sweat before it dripped into his eye. He then touched Jocelyn's pulse with his bare hand.

His fingers retracted instinctively. "I don't get it... why is she so cold? It's a friggin' oven out here! And I know she's... still alive..."

Keith sighed heavily, rising to his feet. He stared at the large, fan-shaped leaves of the tree above him.

"I wonder..." he whispered, holding his clenched fist above him. He closed his eyes, focusing inward just as he practiced during the training sessions.

His perseverance was rewarded when he felt his toes lift off the ground.

So we can manifest powers without fully transforming, he mused, staring at the bright energy aura wrapping his body, That's pretty useful... though it takes more concentration to fly like this.

He levitated to the lowest branches of the tree, pulling off the enormous leaves one at a time and blanketing them over his arm.

Once he collected a satisfying number, he returned to the ground, and began rolling the leaves around his forearm into a soft sleeve.

He pulled the sheath from his arm, and then carefully lifted Jocelyn's neck, sliding the makeshift pillow to support her listless head.

He then marched toward Matthew, his face unusually stern as he psychologically adopted the forceful "Big Brother" persona.

The Green Enforcer still sat on his legs, head bowed as if staring at the grass beneath him.

"Matt, you have to snap out of this," Keith demanded.

"She was trying to help me," Matthew murmured, his hands rising to cradle his head, "The monsters were after me first, and then Jocelyn got between us... I just... froze..."

Okay, Matt here clearly doesn't know how to handle high-stress environments... Keith noted grimly. He'd better adapt, 'cause if we can't count on him, we're all screwed. But yelling at him won't help any...

The Red Enforcer decided on a different approach.

"Dude, Jocelyn's gonna be fine," he assured him.

Matthew blinked beneath his mask. He lifted his head, gazing up at Keith hopefully.

Finally... a response!

"But I need help making sure we make her as comfortable as possible. So here's the deal... you help me out, and I give you the keys to the Beemer for the weekend."

It almost physically hurt him making the offer... but at least it won a reaction.

"Huh?"

"You heard me. Forty-eight hours, unlimited mileage... but if I see even a smudge of bird-crap on my baby, well... you can start writing your last will and testament."

After several more seconds of confused silence, Matthew uttered a sound.

A chuckle.

Keith grinned broadly. Yes! That sounds more like the Matt O'Conner I know!

"I stand behind my former analysis," Matthew said, rising to his feet and quickly brushing the grass from his uniform, "You're absolutely nuts."

Keith's grin widened into a toothy, almost snarling smile. "Absolutely."

His grin then relaxed into his natural, easy-going expression. "Listen up, Kiddo... Jocelyn's still unconscious, but she's breathing fine, and her heart sounds good. I've got her in the shade, but the weather out here is more unbearable than mid-August in Houston. We need to collect some water."

"Okay, from where?"

Keith stared up at the treetops. "There's a waterfall around here somewhere... I'll go find it. Meanwhile, you stay here and keep her cozy. Ray and the others should be back soon, so stay around here so they can find you. By the time they get back, I'm sure Jocie will be wide awake."

Green nodded mutely, watching as Keith stepped back. Red smoke wrapped his body, covering him in the protective flexible-metal of the Red Enforcer uniform, and he instantly leapt into the sky, a burning comet's tail trailing him.

Matt then turned to Jocelyn, his spirits sinking to his heels. "Please be right, Keith..."

* * *

Although she tried her utmost to hide it, Rachel was really starting to worry.

Just relax...Craig's bound to turn up eventually. Maybe he fell asleep somewhere? He's been really tired the past few days... it could've caught up with him.

She tried not to consider the unlikelihood of Craig Gillis falling asleep in the middle of a huge explosion.

*Dammit Craig... if this is one of your stupid jokes, I'll wring your neck!*

Yet again, there was no response to her telepathic outburst.

What did that mean? She was slowly getting used to being able to "feel" her teammates on some peripheral level, even without actually communicating with them. It was a little unsettling to feel Keith flash out of touch for a few minutes, only to flash back.

He probably un-Synced, she realized, I can only feel them when they're Enforcers. Spectra did say our telepathic abilities only work when we're transformed...

That was the most feasible explanation... Craig had un-Synced as well.

But why? The only possible reason to sacrifice the power and protection of the armor would be to hide. But why hide when your friends were a mere few yards away?

Unless, someone was hiding him.

Could that black goop have swallowed him as well? Once Jocelyn disappeared into the viscous waves, Rachel couldn't sense her at all. Perhaps he'd been kidnapped, while the others were too focused on helping Orange to even notice?

Guilt sat in the pit of her stomach. What kind of a leader was she... what kind of a friend was she to not even notice his abduction?

And in all honesty, abduction was the best-case scenario. For there were other explanations to his silence...

She shook off the chilling thought.

"Any luck, Ray?"

Purple opened her eyes, and watched Yellow fall into her field of vision.

"I just can't sense him," Rachel sighed. She pushed off the high tree branch she had nestled on during her telepathic search. "Any sign of him on your end?"

Tamara shook her head. "Nothing physical. No sign of him anywhere... not even broken trees to show a struggle. He just seemed to vanish. Unless..."

"Unless that black stuff took him with it."

"But he was so far away from it when we saw him last," Tamara remembered, "He was even higher up than we were!"

Rachel scowled. "It doesn't make any sense. There's no way that blast could've knocked him that far away."

She chewed her lip, her fingers tracing the smooth surface of the Ireli sphere. "Maybe I should let Spectra know. She might be able to help."

"Only if she comes after us," Tamara pointed out, "We can't talk to her with that sphere, only transmit images and sensations. She can't give us any instructions unless she follows us through the Hyperspace Portal, and then Earth will be up for grabs."

Rachel's fingers released the sphere, but hovered near it. Can I risk it? What are the chances the Denebians will attack Earth once Spectra leaves?

Spectra had advised them that Phaedra kept a tight rein on her soldiers. It wasn't likely they'd launch an attack without her blessing.

But what if Phaedra simply returned to Earth through the Hyperspace Portal? She must have known of the Force's arrival, since someone had to dispatch the black goop to fight them. If she saw Spectra arrive, she might see a golden opportunity to finish what she started.

Maybe a better question is... what are the chances Spectra's presence will help? She can't find Craig if we can't... at least not telepathically. She might be more familiar with the planet... though I don't know that for sure...

The Purple Enforcer folded her arms. "Let's regroup with the others. Then we'll make some decisions."

* * *

Gaius sat in the darkness of his cell. After years of living on a planet saturated with sunlight, it was most unsettling to sit in absolute blackness... so thick and dense he couldn't make out a hand hovering inches from his face.

He stretched out on the bed (or at least, what felt like a flat stone table), focusing his thoughts on his situation.

The darkness was more than merely physical. It was a magical barrier. It had to be, for he couldn't remember such overwhelming silence. He couldn't even detect the faint voices of the Midjinari that always hummed in the background.

While sometimes distracting, their constant communication was also a comfort; that he wasn't alone, though so often it seemed that he had lost everyone and everything that ever meant anything to him.

The sacrifices he made in the name of duty... very few of his allies could truly understand how he could turn his back to so much. The Midjinari were of that small number, as only they understood how precious the Diadem was. How vital it was to hide it from all evil, until the Bright One returned to claim it, and unleash the raw power of the Inner Sphere.

Only the Midjinari understood. They, and the High Father Luminus, who in all his wisdom and foresight allowed Gaius to embark on a mission to find the truth behind the ancient legend.

Though it seemed his presence was more of a curse than a blessing to the Midjinari... would the Denebians have even blinked an eye at Edenia if they didn't find him there? Certainly, Phaedra wouldn't have wasted her time if he weren't involved...

Suddenly, the invisible doorway slid open, allowing the faint light of the hall to illuminate the engulfing blackness. To Gaius, the sudden light was almost blinding.

And standing against that light, her entire form an eerily backlit silhouette, was the empress in question, the crimson glow of her eye the only discernible color on her person.

It hadn't been all that long when her eyes were lit with a mischievous, passionate fire... a fire that ignited his heart and soul. But now, all Gaius could do was brace himself, quelling the growing fear at the ferocity behind those eyes.

She was truly a member of the Denebian Monarchy now, and as such she was capable of anything.

As for Phaedra, when she peered into the darkness of the cell, all she could see was the disturbingly blue eyes of the man that symbolized her every youthful fancy. Was it really over a century ago that his eyes burned with the flames of a true Denebian Lord, mighty and willful and proud?

When his eyes burned... only for her?

"Is there something you want?" Gaius asked flatly.

Phaedra forced her mind back to the present. All in the past... it means nothing to me. She exhaled slowly, arming herself with the mocking smirk that had become her signature. "The Diadem."

"But you already have it, Empress," was his answer.

Her lips stretched as if answering a challenge, and she crept further into the chamber. "Don't play me for a fool, Lord Gaius... I am well aware that thing is not the true Diadem. If it were... why would my forces have found your own dear Spectra sneaking around your palace?"

Gaius' back went ramrod straight.

"I don't know how you managed to send her a distress call," the Empress continued as she swept across the room to sit beside him. "Mor'se needed to physically send a messenger through the Hyperspace Portal to reach me in the Sol system. So imagine my surprise when our mutual friend dropped in through the Portal. I'm actually quite impressed... I thought you two were on bad terms of late. I didn't think she'd fly to your rescue so quickly."

Gaius scowled, trying his best not to give hint of the icy fear that had just grasped him. "You seem to be well informed of my family situation," he noted, "Quite shocking that the empress doesn't have better things to occupy her time with than spitefully striking against her former lover."

That little comment won him a taste of mind-numbing pain. Gaius gasped as suddenly, his entire body froze in place. Only it didn't feel like a typical stillness spell... for every muscle was pulled beyond taut. It felt like his body was trying to tear itself to pieces.

"Funny how weak you are in this room," Phaedra hissed, crimson smoke leaking from her eyes as she maintained her hold, "In here, your pathetic powers are completely nullified."

She huffed, ceasing the incantation. Gaius tumbled gracelessly to the unyielding floor. "Now it is not only your life on the line," she informed him, rising to her feet. She hovered above him, arms folded smugly beneath her chest. "You may not care for your own life... or you may be betting that I would not do you permanent harm. But even you are perfectly aware of how glad I would be to rend Spectra to pieces." That chilling smirk returned to her blood red lips. "If I do not have the whereabouts of the true Diadem in three hours' time, I shall do exactly that... right before your very eyes."

"One death or a thousand," Gaius huffed, struggling to hold up his head, "I will never give you the Diadem."

Phaedra snarled wordlessly, lifting her forefinger and tracing a foot-long line in the air. An energy grid appeared, the light solid blue. "Once the blackness engulfs the blue, your time is up. I suggest you spend the next few hours pondering just how devastating it would be to watch the only person you love die painfully right in front of you."

The ultimatum delivered, the empress stomped out of the chamber, huffing her frustration.

Did he catch her bluff? She was certain the appearance of the six humans could only mean one thing: Gaius had summoned Spectra. So it would be conceivable for him to believe Spectra had come in person, and had fallen into enemy hands.

But the will of that man... he would truly refuse to save her, without even thinking about it? Even Phaedra herself would give pause if faced with the same predicament...

Gaius always did seem to have the ability to search into her very soul. Perhaps that had not changed, despite everything that had changed since their last face-to-face encounter.

She shivered. How disturbing it was, to think that he still could read her like a book, while his motivations were a complete puzzle to her!

Her shiver became a full-fledged tremble, as confusion and frustration made way for blinding rage.

"You will not triumph over me," she swore, "Not again!"

Her anger quickly faded when a new sensation came over her. A sensation she had been awaiting.

Her vision grew faintly clouded, as if an orange lens were descending over her eyes.

Finally! Now, maybe I can get some useful information...

* * *

"...ridiculous. He's gotta be somewhere around here!"

"But we've looked everywhere around here, Matt. There's no trace of him."

"Tamara and I have decided it's best to look around together. Our splitting up is exactly what brought us to this situation: we have absolutely no idea what happened to him."

Consciousness slowly returned. First, it felt like she was reaching out for sensation, desperate to replace that inky, cold feeling that bathed her for what felt like days. Slowly, the numbness in her limbs gave way to a tingle, and the voices that at first echoed from a great distance grew closer.

"We definitely shouldn't split up," a fourth voice said. This voice seemed to emanate from all around her, vibrating through the unyielding, molded material that pressed against her temple. "I think the best thing to do right now is keep looking for Gaius' allies. Maybe they'll know how to look for Craig."

Her brow wrinkled with curiosity. She inhaled slowly, trying to muster the strength to voice her thoughts, when a quiet rumble issued from beside her hip.

She suppressed a giggle. "Keith, your stomach's growling."

Her faint whisper was apparently loud enough, for the Red Enforcer stopped dead in his tracks. "Joce! You're awake!"

Jocelyn slowly opened her eyes, and stared up at Keith's masked face. Above him, she noted the large green leaf that served as a canopy, held by the diligent arm of the Green Enforcer. Yellow and Purple were at either side, the former bubbling with excitement and the latter exhaling with relief.

"Thank God!" Tamara gushed, tightly wrapping her arms around Jocelyn's neck.

"How do you feel, Joce?" Rachel inquired.

"Can you walk?" Keith wanted to know. "No offense, Kid, but that Freshman Fifteen has definitely taken its toll."

"Hey!" Jocelyn grumbled, jamming her elbow into his stomach. Of course, the armor dulled whatever injury she was capable of doling. She glared up at Keith, who snickered as he settled her on her own feet.

"I'm teasing!" he insisted raising one hand in surrender, "Just wanted to see if your strength's back."

She sneered at him. He kept his arm on her shoulders for a few moments, making sure she retained her balance, before stepping away.

As soon as there was room, Matt descended on her, one hand dutifully holding up the leaf while the other touched her chin. "You're still so pale..." he murmured.

Jocelyn blinked. She'd never heard Matt talk like that. He seemed... worried.

She stared into his visor, as if trying to meet his gaze. Then, her glance dropped, noting her pallor with growing concern. "What... happened to me?"

"What do you remember?" Rachel asked.

Jocelyn rubbed her forehead as if trying to stir the memory. She grimaced, pulling her hand away and staring at the sweat that had gathered on her fingertips. "It was cold... and black," she reported, shivering at the memory. "And heavy. I felt so heavy, I couldn't move. Couldn't breathe..."

She squeezed her eyes shut, sucking in a cleansing breath. "That's all I remember after the black stuff swallowed me."

Matt squeezed her shoulder tighter. She looked at him again, staring into the reflective blue visor questioningly. But before she could voice her confusion over his anxious concern, a more pressing matter sprang to mind.

"Guys, what happened to Craig?"

* * *

"Ooooh," Craig groaned, squeezing his eyes tightly to combat the pain. Instinctively his hand lanced to his head, from where the most stabbing pain pulsed.

Wearily, he opened his eyes... only to abruptly close them when faced with a blinding white light hovering above him.

His legs squirmed, long blades of grass tickling his bare legs...

Wha?! I'm in my basketball shorts! What happened to my armor?!

He opened his eyes again, this time shielding his sensitive vision with his hand. He slowly sat up, frowning in confusion at the sight.

Tiny huts... each no more than five feet in height, clustered near each other on either side of a small creek. Grass that nearly reached a foot high stood upright, untouched by any breeze at all. Surrounding the huts were walls of stone, and judging from their ragged surfaces, they appeared to be natural formations.

And finally, hovering directly overhead, a sphere glowed brilliantly.

He rose to his knees. "Hello?"

In answer, four forms seemed to materialize out of nowhere. Short beings, cloaked in heavy rags that would suggest they were in the Arctic.

One stepped forward, nodding its head to Craig. Then, a strange, shrill sound pierced Craig's ears.

Craig stared unabashed at the form in front of him. Damn... I really must have hit my head hard!