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Description
--------------Chapter 3: New Things, New Time--------------------

Nina stared as the figure, once shrouded in darkness, came into the light. He was wearing a long red cape, tinged with black at the hem. The top of the garment wrapped around his neck like a scarf, clasped by three small buttons. A gleaming spiked shoulder pad jutted out from his shoulder, letting the rest of him come into view. A gray shirt with a zipper running diagonally across his chest adorned his torso, attached to a black belt adorned with spikes. grey boots with steel covering the toes and heels covered most of the black trousers he was wearing. But that wasn't what made Nina stare.

A familiar metal hand poked out of the cape, the sharp fingers shining in what little light there was in the throne room. As Nina's eyes traveled to the Chaotic Overlord's face, she saw the unfamiliar grin on the face, and then, the signature sunglasses and the spiky brown hair...

"MARKUS???" She finally spoke in amazement. She...she hadn't been expecting this.

"Surprised, my dear Nina?" Slash chuckled darkly before his eyes turned to Benjamin. "Leave us. Spread the word that this girl and this mask are not to be harmed in any manner. Understood?"

"Yes, my Overlord." Benjamin bowed quickly before zipping out of the room, the door shutting behind him.

"Boss? YOU rule the world? I was expecting Hanced, honestly." Hai-Kutt said, looking genuinely surprised.

"Things change in 10 years, my old friend." Slash responded, taking a step closer to Nina, who felt compelled to step back as the grin on his face turned slightly more feral. "So, how are you here? You've been dead for 10 years, exactly."

"Time travel." Was Nina's only response. Her eyes narrowed as she took another step back. This Slash was...creepy, to say the least.

"Really? Oh well...Doesn't matter." He took another step towards Nina and gave her a rather odd look. A look that she didn't want to be given. On instinct she snapped her fist forward, launching the metal hand at Markus, who looked unimpressed. With one swift movement, he caught the metal fist with his own and pulled, dragging Nina toward him.

"Agh!" Nina shouted as she fell forwards, but luckily, Hai-Kutt flew into her, setting her off balance in a whole new direction.

"Hai-Kutt..." Slash's voice suddenly got dangerously low in volume. "Why did you do that?" He snarled, his face taking on a fierce look. Hai-Kutt was unimpressed. He floated right into Slash's face and glared with unexpected ferocity.

"Because I was told to protect Nina from anyone who would harm her, and that includes YOU. I don't know what that look you were giving her really means, but I'm not going to let you do anything to Nina!" For the first time since Nina met the mask, she mentally thanked him.

"Hm...Well then..." He thought for a moment, the rather angry look still not leaving his face before he finally spoke. "I have business to conduct. ANDELINA!!" And that was when the second surprise of the day came in through the door. Andelina was much paler, probably from not spending enough time in the sun. She was dressed in a larger version of the outfit Nina had always seen her wear. The standard mustard yellow t-shirt and grey trousers hung off her body. Her eyes looked sunken in and her hair was more matted and coarse-looking.

"Yes, me Overlord?" She asked. Nina was glad that her broken speech was still intact.

"Take Nina and Hai-Kutt to room 619. They have full freedom to go anywhere they want to in the castle, but they may not leave. Do you understand?" Slash ordered.

"Yes, me Overlord. Come Nina, Hai-Kutt..." She then began to leave. Nina looked at Slash one more time before running off. Hai-Kutt was quick to follow, but just as he was exiting the door, he overheard his former boss say something.

"Good...Now I can get a progress report on the Cyber-Titan project..." Markus turned and walked back to his throne. Hai-Kut smirked and floated off, away from Nina and Andelina...
-------------------------------------

"Andy... Nina began, not quite sure what to say. "What happened?" She finally managed to get out. She looked around. Nothing but an almost incomprehensible path of red bricks, the only changes being dark brown doors with a series of 3 numbers on each one and an occasional torch to light the way.

"Lots of things...Bad things..." Was Andelina's response as they journeyed through the halls, the dark red walls illuminated only by the occasional glow of a constantly flickering torch making her response seem very...ominous. As if something horrible was about happen to her.

As if on cue, they approached a door different from the rest. It was made of cold grey metal, with nothing but a small open peephole. Instead of a set of numbers, there was writing, which stated "Cell of the Dead One". Nina raised an eyebrow as the pair passed the doors, spying a pair of grey eyes staring at them. As soon as the eyes caught sight of Nina, there was a large banging sound, like someone trying to tear down the door. A noise came from the door, like something trying to speak, but apparently, the entity behind that door had been screaming in words for so long that it's throat had rebelled and given out, and the only thing she could hear were loud grunts and the occasional louder scream.

"Who was in there?" She asked her sullen-looking tour guide.

"The Dead One. He hided from The Overlord when comitted he the most dangerous crime...He in cell for life. Overlord likes to torture by letting him see others." Was Andelina's answer as they approach a door labeled "619." "We here. You stay with one other person. Now, Hai-Kutt...Where him go?" Nina looked behind her and pinched the bridge of her nose between two fingers.

"That idiot. He's not going to be easy to find..." She sighed as she turned to the door. "He'll show up eventually. He can't leave the castle, and he's not going to get hurt under the Overlord's orders." Inside, she wondered what the heck that mask was up to. If he got in trouble...

Well, I should stop worrying. Nina thought as Andelina pulled a key out of her pocket and began unlocking the door. I just hope he's not off annoying Thorn or something. If anyone's annoying enough to make any person in this castle disobey Slash's orders, it'd be Hai-Kutt. Her train of thought ended when Andy finally managed to open the door and peeked inside. After a moment, she opened it the rest of the way and allowed Nina in.

There wasn't much to the room, really. The same dreary red walls she had seen outside of the room, only illuminated by a ceiling light with fan instead of torches. A bunk bed set sat in a corner of the room, and in the opposite corner, was the only thing that was out of the ordinary.

It was an elaborate table, complete with large vanity mirror. It was colored mostly black with trims of blue and red, several of Slash's Skull-X markings were set into the wood on various spots. But what was surprising, was the person sitting on the plain chair occompanying it.

The person, as it turned out, was a girl. Nina had a few inches on her, and looked to be slightly younger, with a pale, but still rather tan complexion. She wore a white dress with black and blue as accompanying colors. around her waist she wore a belt with a blue skull with a lowercase "n" as the buckle. The dress was apparently designed more for mobility than elegance, as the sleeves ended a bit before the elbows, and the hem of the dress stopped just barely after her knees, which lead to a pair of simple blue shoes.

The young woman had black, spiky hair that eerily remind Nina of Slash. She could see a glimpse of bright blue eyes, and what looked like a red "n" on her forehead. Nina's eyes bulged out as she recognized the features. Oh, my god...where in the heck did SHE come from?

"Mistress Nicolette." Andy began, bowing. "This is Nina Cortex. She will be staying with you for a time."

"There is no need to bow to me, Ms. Andelina. Please, call me Nicolette only, if you must." She said in a light, but serious voice. She stood and turned toward Nina before curtsying politely.

"Hello, Nina. I am Nicolette Kaine. If you like, you may call me Nic." Nina was vaguely aware of Andelina leaving the room, but it didn't quite measure in her mind.

"Who...But...how...?" She spluttered blindly.

"The story of my life is long and tiring. You must be tired. Sleep in the bottom bunk, please." Nina blindly followed as Nicolette guided her to the bed and drew the blankets from her. Her mind was still buzzing with thoughts and theories as she fell asleep.
-------------------------The Hallways (hitherto referred to as "The Labyrinth")----------------------------

Hai-Kutt swore to himself mentally as he floated along the dreary hallways. He had been looking for a laboratory for only a few minutes when he had found someone in what seemed like a labcoat version of Benjamin's uniform or Slash's regal outfit, and began to tail him. Unfortunately, this one had apparently been rather paranoid, and had turned to look behind him multiple times, and multiple times, Hai-Kutt had had to float to the ceiling to avoid being seen.

Luckily his patience was paying off, as the scientistic-looking fellow had just gone down a flight of steps that Hai-Kutt hadn't seen before. Quickly following the man, Hai-Kutt was surprised to find nothing but total blackness. He made sure to stay rather far behind, lest the person he was tailing suddenly stop and they bump heads.

After slowly floating along for a few moments, Hai-Kutt saw a small square of light, which was most likely a door, off in the relative distance. Seeing the man go through, he quickly followed before it closed and floated to the ceiling.

As luck would have it, the person Hai-Kutt was following was indeed a scientist of some sort, and the place he was going was indeed a laboratory. It was an absolutely MASSIVE area, Large tables, presumably used to hold specimens in place, could be seen all across the complex. Smaller tables were lined with surgical tools and various chemicals kept safe in beakers and vials. Of course, Hai-Kutt's eyes widened as he caught sight of the labbie he was tailing conversing with a man in a long dark coat that covered half of his face, green goggles and...a bone arm?

IGMA? What the heck is he doing here, giving people horrible, necromantic handicaps? He thought to himself as he slowly floated closer, in order to hear their conversation.

"...How is the project coming?" Was the sound of the labbie. "Have any of them really...lived?"

"No." Igma responded. He hadn't seemed to have changed one bit. "The process of integrating cybernetics with their bodies kills them. Luckily, I've been able to ressurect their bodies before decomposition sets in, so the Overlord won't notice...Hopefully, we'll have the process perfected before the still moving bodies begin to rot. Now get back to work on that Spike. I want to be there before the cybernetics are applied to the body."

"Yes, sir." The labbie saluted before running off. Hai-Kutt decided to tail the former Ancient Magic teacher now. Perhaps he could find out something intereting.

"I don't see why that egotistical brat makes me work on this alone. The least he could do is let Hanced out so he could help me with the cybernetics. I'm a necromancer, not a mechanic, for Valthar's sake!" He ranted. Hai-Kutt raised an eyebrow. Hanced is here too? He thought. Great Crepes, who ISN'T here? He then spotted something that took his mind off Igma.

Titans. A lot of them. Each one in various states. He looked one way, and saw a Ratcicle missing a leg, with half of it's face covered in metal. He looked another, and there was a Goar. At least...he thought it was. Four large metal tusks were the only thing seen. The rest was covered by a large white sheet. Hai-Kutt shuddered at what his former boss was doing to these Titans. Then he saw something else that caught his eye; A Battler. He grinned and floated over to it, examining the creature lying on the table.

"This should do nicely..." He whispered. He looked around, making sure that Igma and the assistant were gone before attaching himself to the face of the creature. A few moments later, the red eyes of the mask, usually ever glowing, faded. The mask itself fell off the Battler's face a moment later. "Niiiice." Hai-Kutt's voice whispered as two huge clawed feet gently touched down on the ground.
---------------------------------------------------------------------

Wow...This was originally the longest chapter ever written, even bigger than any chapter in SHIW, at 23 KB. But then I figured out that I didn't have any idea what to draw for the picture, and thus, I decided to cut it up into two seperate chapters. This one rates in at 13 KB, so it's still a pretty nice length for the chapter.

So, did you guys like it? Comment in and give me your opinions!

Story, Slash, Hai-Kutt, Hanced (C) me
Benjamin Thorn (C)
Igma (C)
Andelina (C)
Nina Cortex (C) Activision-Radical, I think? Clarification on this is much appreciated. The next chapter will be up very soon!

Description
--------------Chapter 3: New Things, New Time--------------------

Nina stared as the figure, once shrouded in darkness, came into the light. He was wearing a long red cape, tinged with black at the hem. The top of the garment wrapped around his neck like a scarf, clasped by three small buttons. A gleaming spiked shoulder pad jutted out from his shoulder, letting the rest of him come into view. A gray shirt with a zipper running diagonally across his chest adorned his torso, attached to a black belt adorned with spikes. grey boots with steel covering the toes and heels covered most of the black trousers he was wearing. But that wasn't what made Nina stare.

A familiar metal hand poked out of the cape, the sharp fingers shining in what little light there was in the throne room. As Nina's eyes traveled to the Chaotic Overlord's face, she saw the unfamiliar grin on the face, and then, the signature sunglasses and the spiky brown hair...

"MARKUS???" She finally spoke in amazement. She...she hadn't been expecting this.

"Surprised, my dear Nina?" Slash chuckled darkly before his eyes turned to Benjamin. "Leave us. Spread the word that this girl and this mask are not to be harmed in any manner. Understood?"

"Yes, my Overlord." Benjamin bowed quickly before zipping out of the room, the door shutting behind him.

"Boss? YOU rule the world? I was expecting Hanced, honestly." Hai-Kutt said, looking genuinely surprised.

"Things change in 10 years, my old friend." Slash responded, taking a step closer to Nina, who felt compelled to step back as the grin on his face turned slightly more feral. "So, how are you here? You've been dead for 10 years, exactly."

"Time travel." Was Nina's only response. Her eyes narrowed as she took another step back. This Slash was...creepy, to say the least.

"Really? Oh well...Doesn't matter." He took another step towards Nina and gave her a rather odd look. A look that she didn't want to be given. On instinct she snapped her fist forward, launching the metal hand at Markus, who looked unimpressed. With one swift movement, he caught the metal fist with his own and pulled, dragging Nina toward him.

"Agh!" Nina shouted as she fell forwards, but luckily, Hai-Kutt flew into her, setting her off balance in a whole new direction.

"Hai-Kutt..." Slash's voice suddenly got dangerously low in volume. "Why did you do that?" He snarled, his face taking on a fierce look. Hai-Kutt was unimpressed. He floated right into Slash's face and glared with unexpected ferocity.

"Because I was told to protect Nina from anyone who would harm her, and that includes YOU. I don't know what that look you were giving her really means, but I'm not going to let you do anything to Nina!" For the first time since Nina met the mask, she mentally thanked him.

"Hm...Well then..." He thought for a moment, the rather angry look still not leaving his face before he finally spoke. "I have business to conduct. ANDELINA!!" And that was when the second surprise of the day came in through the door. Andelina was much paler, probably from not spending enough time in the sun. She was dressed in a larger version of the outfit Nina had always seen her wear. The standard mustard yellow t-shirt and grey trousers hung off her body. Her eyes looked sunken in and her hair was more matted and coarse-looking.

"Yes, me Overlord?" She asked. Nina was glad that her broken speech was still intact.

"Take Nina and Hai-Kutt to room 619. They have full freedom to go anywhere they want to in the castle, but they may not leave. Do you understand?" Slash ordered.

"Yes, me Overlord. Come Nina, Hai-Kutt..." She then began to leave. Nina looked at Slash one more time before running off. Hai-Kutt was quick to follow, but just as he was exiting the door, he overheard his former boss say something.

"Good...Now I can get a progress report on the Cyber-Titan project..." Markus turned and walked back to his throne. Hai-Kut smirked and floated off, away from Nina and Andelina...
-------------------------------------

"Andy... Nina began, not quite sure what to say. "What happened?" She finally managed to get out. She looked around. Nothing but an almost incomprehensible path of red bricks, the only changes being dark brown doors with a series of 3 numbers on each one and an occasional torch to light the way.

"Lots of things...Bad things..." Was Andelina's response as they journeyed through the halls, the dark red walls illuminated only by the occasional glow of a constantly flickering torch making her response seem very...ominous. As if something horrible was about happen to her.

As if on cue, they approached a door different from the rest. It was made of cold grey metal, with nothing but a small open peephole. Instead of a set of numbers, there was writing, which stated "Cell of the Dead One". Nina raised an eyebrow as the pair passed the doors, spying a pair of grey eyes staring at them. As soon as the eyes caught sight of Nina, there was a large banging sound, like someone trying to tear down the door. A noise came from the door, like something trying to speak, but apparently, the entity behind that door had been screaming in words for so long that it's throat had rebelled and given out, and the only thing she could hear were loud grunts and the occasional louder scream.

"Who was in there?" She asked her sullen-looking tour guide.

"The Dead One. He hided from The Overlord when comitted he the most dangerous crime...He in cell for life. Overlord likes to torture by letting him see others." Was Andelina's answer as they approach a door labeled "619." "We here. You stay with one other person. Now, Hai-Kutt...Where him go?" Nina looked behind her and pinched the bridge of her nose between two fingers.

"That idiot. He's not going to be easy to find..." She sighed as she turned to the door. "He'll show up eventually. He can't leave the castle, and he's not going to get hurt under the Overlord's orders." Inside, she wondered what the heck that mask was up to. If he got in trouble...

Well, I should stop worrying. Nina thought as Andelina pulled a key out of her pocket and began unlocking the door. I just hope he's not off annoying Thorn or something. If anyone's annoying enough to make any person in this castle disobey Slash's orders, it'd be Hai-Kutt. Her train of thought ended when Andy finally managed to open the door and peeked inside. After a moment, she opened it the rest of the way and allowed Nina in.

There wasn't much to the room, really. The same dreary red walls she had seen outside of the room, only illuminated by a ceiling light with fan instead of torches. A bunk bed set sat in a corner of the room, and in the opposite corner, was the only thing that was out of the ordinary.

It was an elaborate table, complete with large vanity mirror. It was colored mostly black with trims of blue and red, several of Slash's Skull-X markings were set into the wood on various spots. But what was surprising, was the person sitting on the plain chair occompanying it.

The person, as it turned out, was a girl. Nina had a few inches on her, and looked to be slightly younger, with a pale, but still rather tan complexion. She wore a white dress with black and blue as accompanying colors. around her waist she wore a belt with a blue skull with a lowercase "n" as the buckle. The dress was apparently designed more for mobility than elegance, as the sleeves ended a bit before the elbows, and the hem of the dress stopped just barely after her knees, which lead to a pair of simple blue shoes.

The young woman had black, spiky hair that eerily remind Nina of Slash. She could see a glimpse of bright blue eyes, and what looked like a red "n" on her forehead. Nina's eyes bulged out as she recognized the features. Oh, my god...where in the heck did SHE come from?

"Mistress Nicolette." Andy began, bowing. "This is Nina Cortex. She will be staying with you for a time."

"There is no need to bow to me, Ms. Andelina. Please, call me Nicolette only, if you must." She said in a light, but serious voice. She stood and turned toward Nina before curtsying politely.

"Hello, Nina. I am Nicolette Kaine. If you like, you may call me Nic." Nina was vaguely aware of Andelina leaving the room, but it didn't quite measure in her mind.

"Who...But...how...?" She spluttered blindly.

"The story of my life is long and tiring. You must be tired. Sleep in the bottom bunk, please." Nina blindly followed as Nicolette guided her to the bed and drew the blankets from her. Her mind was still buzzing with thoughts and theories as she fell asleep.
-------------------------The Hallways (hitherto referred to as "The Labyrinth")----------------------------

Hai-Kutt swore to himself mentally as he floated along the dreary hallways. He had been looking for a laboratory for only a few minutes when he had found someone in what seemed like a labcoat version of Benjamin's uniform or Slash's regal outfit, and began to tail him. Unfortunately, this one had apparently been rather paranoid, and had turned to look behind him multiple times, and multiple times, Hai-Kutt had had to float to the ceiling to avoid being seen.

Luckily his patience was paying off, as the scientistic-looking fellow had just gone down a flight of steps that Hai-Kutt hadn't seen before. Quickly following the man, Hai-Kutt was surprised to find nothing but total blackness. He made sure to stay rather far behind, lest the person he was tailing suddenly stop and they bump heads.

After slowly floating along for a few moments, Hai-Kutt saw a small square of light, which was most likely a door, off in the relative distance. Seeing the man go through, he quickly followed before it closed and floated to the ceiling.

As luck would have it, the person Hai-Kutt was following was indeed a scientist of some sort, and the place he was going was indeed a laboratory. It was an absolutely MASSIVE area, Large tables, presumably used to hold specimens in place, could be seen all across the complex. Smaller tables were lined with surgical tools and various chemicals kept safe in beakers and vials. Of course, Hai-Kutt's eyes widened as he caught sight of the labbie he was tailing conversing with a man in a long dark coat that covered half of his face, green goggles and...a bone arm?

IGMA? What the heck is he doing here, giving people horrible, necromantic handicaps? He thought to himself as he slowly floated closer, in order to hear their conversation.

"...How is the project coming?" Was the sound of the labbie. "Have any of them really...lived?"

"No." Igma responded. He hadn't seemed to have changed one bit. "The process of integrating cybernetics with their bodies kills them. Luckily, I've been able to ressurect their bodies before decomposition sets in, so the Overlord won't notice...Hopefully, we'll have the process perfected before the still moving bodies begin to rot. Now get back to work on that Spike. I want to be there before the cybernetics are applied to the body."

"Yes, sir." The labbie saluted before running off. Hai-Kutt decided to tail the former Ancient Magic teacher now. Perhaps he could find out something intereting.

"I don't see why that egotistical brat makes me work on this alone. The least he could do is let Hanced out so he could help me with the cybernetics. I'm a necromancer, not a mechanic, for Valthar's sake!" He ranted. Hai-Kutt raised an eyebrow. Hanced is here too? He thought. Great Crepes, who ISN'T here? He then spotted something that took his mind off Igma.

Titans. A lot of them. Each one in various states. He looked one way, and saw a Ratcicle missing a leg, with half of it's face covered in metal. He looked another, and there was a Goar. At least...he thought it was. Four large metal tusks were the only thing seen. The rest was covered by a large white sheet. Hai-Kutt shuddered at what his former boss was doing to these Titans. Then he saw something else that caught his eye; A Battler. He grinned and floated over to it, examining the creature lying on the table.

"This should do nicely..." He whispered. He looked around, making sure that Igma and the assistant were gone before attaching himself to the face of the creature. A few moments later, the red eyes of the mask, usually ever glowing, faded. The mask itself fell off the Battler's face a moment later. "Niiiice." Hai-Kutt's voice whispered as two huge clawed feet gently touched down on the ground.
---------------------------------------------------------------------

Wow...This was originally the longest chapter ever written, even bigger than any chapter in SHIW, at 23 KB. But then I figured out that I didn't have any idea what to draw for the picture, and thus, I decided to cut it up into two seperate chapters. This one rates in at 13 KB, so it's still a pretty nice length for the chapter.

So, did you guys like it? Comment in and give me your opinions!

Story, Slash, Hai-Kutt, Hanced (C) me
Benjamin Thorn (C)
Igma (C)
Andelina (C)
Nina Cortex (C) Activision-Radical, I think? Clarification on this is much appreciated. The next chapter will be up very soon!