[b]Variks[/b]- I.... I see..... [i]The room was quiet.[/i] [b]Variks[/b]- Seeing as you all clearly broke the rules for taking on such an endeavor without a chaperone or a teacher to accompany you, I [i]would[/i] tell you of the necessary punishment. But considering the circumstances.... [i]Variks glanced at each of the students. Every single one of them was worn down, nearly ready to pass out.[/i] [b]Variks[/b]- ....I suppose it can wait. [i]The guardians immediately got up and left the room, one by one. Not one of them said a word as they left. Blades' chair squeaked as he stood up. The Hunter turned for the door, but was stopped by Variks' voice.[/i] [b]Variks[/b]- One more question. [b]Blades[/b]- Oh for god's sakes, just leave me alo– [b]Variks[/b]- Humor me. [i]Blades stopped at the door.[/i] [b]Variks[/b]- Dilemic.....what of him? [i]After a brief pause, Blades shrugged as he continued to walk out of the room.[/i] [b]Blades[/b]- No clue. [b]------------------------ 2 hours earlier ------------------------[/b] [i]The shuttle touched down at the final checkpoint of the raid. After landing at the edge of Oryx's arena, Blades stepped down onto the ground. The Hunter made his way back through, between the Daughter's pillars and to the door. He could hear the shuttle roaring as it flew away. They never saw the mysterious "Dilemic" at Oryx's checkpoint, yet Golgoroth said he saw him. Blades muttered to himself.[/i] [b]Blades[/b]- He must still be at the jumping puzzle.... [i]At the large archway, the Hunter then climbed down through the circular chamber inside. Within a half hour, he eventually made his way through the jumping puzzle too. About halfway, the Hunter leapt up to the ledge of a cavern on the opposite side, where an exotic chest would be waiting. At the end of the room, however, there was a man pacing around. He wore a black and blue cloak. The hooded figure muttered to himself as he quickly paced in circles, lit up by the green light of a nearby Hive lamp.[/i] [b]Dilemic[/b]- Time, we need more time. Maybe recalibrate the numbers.... No, it's something else. [i]Blades' footsteps echoed as he moved closer. Upon hearing him, Dilemic stopped short and turned to the Hunter, giving him an uneasy look.[/i] [b]Dilemic[/b]- Something.... Different.... [i]Blades awkwardly stared at the man, unsure of what to say.[/i] [b]Blades[/b]- Umm.... Hi? [b]Dilemic[/b]- ....Hello. [b]Blades[/b]- .......... [b]Dilemic[/b]- .......... [i]All of a sudden, the man leaped up dashed forward, blinking right past Blades and out the archway.[/i] [b]Blades[/b]- WAIT! [i]Blades sprinted after him, following him out of the chest room and across the series of platforms outside. Dilemic's boots lit up the floating platforms as he jumped across. Blades continued to pursue him all the way to the hillside of the jumping puzzle. The two of them landed on one of the platforms attached to it.[/i] [b]Blades[/b]- Wait, I don't understand! And why do you have my cloak?! [i]One of the traps activated, shooting out a large wall from the hillside, separating the two of them.[/i] [b]Blades[/b]- Who are you! [i]Blades double jumped over the wall and leapt up to the next ledge. In the distance, Dilemic was a few platforms up, making his way back to Oryx's arena.[/i] [b]Blades[/b] [i](mumbling)[/i]- Where the hell is he going.... [i]The Hunter double jumped again, using his Directional Control to propel him towards the end. Another wall slid outward in front of him. The Hunter grunted as he ran into the trap, mantling his way up and over. Upon leaping to the final landing, Blades saw Dilemic waiting for him at the doorway.[/i] [b]Dilemic[/b]- Directional Control? He doesn't even know how to blink yet.... [i]The man turned away from the Hunter and continued the path to the Oryx Checkpoint Blades pursued him after he pulled himself up and over the ledge.[/i] [b]Blades[/b]- Wait, what do you mean?! [i]The two continued to make their way onward. In the next room was the pillar which Blades had descended earlier. Dilemic blinked from landing to landing as he made his way to the top of the pillar, with the Hunter following behind once again. After pulling himself to the top, Blades ran after Dilemic, who now walked through Oryx's arena.[/i] [b]Dilemic[/b]- They beat the checkpoint, but how? He's certainly not ready. [i]The crimson-armored man walked between the two Deathsinger plates and made his way to the end of the path, still mumbling to himself.[/i] [b]Dilemic[/b]- And if he isn't, then neither are they.... [i]Dilemic suddenly stopped at the very edge of the arena, gazing out at the gases of Saturn which lay beyond. In the distance, Oryx's crystallized body was floating through space. Blades stopped behind the man, speaking in between gasps as he tried to catch his breath.[/i] [b]Blades[/b] [i](panting)[/i]- No where to run.... You wanna try answering me now?! [i]Dilemic smiled.[/i] [b]Dilemic[/b]- Fine.... What do you want to know? [i]Blades stood up straight.[/i] [b]Blades[/b]- I dunno, maybe why the [i]hell[/i] you have my cloak?! [b]Dilemic[/b]- Your cloak? No, my friend. This is [i]my[/i] cloak. [i]Blades clenched his teeth.[/i] [b]Blades[/b]- No, it ISN'T. That is [i]my[/i] cloak. The same one I was given 9 years ago by [i]my[/i] father.... Before he– [b]Dilemic[/b]- Died. 8 years and 11 months ago. Killed by a Fallen Pike while out on patrol. [i]Blades silently gazed at the man, who had his back turned to him.[/i] [b]Blades[/b]- ........Who. Are. You. [i]Dilemic quietly chuckled to himself.[/i] [i]In one aggressive motion, Blades snapped his knife out from its sheathe. Arclight sparked, spreading throughout his body as the knife galvanized itself into an Arcblade. The Hunter's voice roared throughout the air.[/i] [b]Blades[/b]- WHO ARE YOU?! [i]His words hung in the air as they echoed. Following a pause, Dilemic pulled back his hood and faced the Hunter. Blades' eyes widened. On the man in front of him, he saw what looked almost exactly like his own face.[/i] [b]Dilemic[/b]- My name is Blades. [i]Blades stood speechless as the man continued to smile.[/i] [b]Dilemic[/b]- ....I'm you.