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Part 4 [quote] Echo sat glumly, staring at the small fireplace in his group's headquarters. The chipped sign at the front of the house read "Membership Denied," and seemed to reflect the grizzled features of Echo's face. "I've seen enough." He muttered. "The Flood is dead to me." "You find your only solace here." Came a voice from behind. The woman's hands began rubbing his shoulders. Echo smiled, "Yes, Dragon...this is the last place in Bungie where I can be at peace." Suddenly, a knock came at the door. "Open up!" Came a shout from outside. Echo groaned, "It's Toast. Send him away." Dragon Eyes went to the door and said loudly, "Sorry, but the sign says 'Membership Denied' for a reason." "I'm not here to join." Toast said snidely, "I'm here to inform you that your group is being destroyed." "What?" Echo asked incredulously. "Why?" "Because, it serves no purpose." Echo shrugged, "Wouldn't be the first group that had that problem." Toast grunted, "Indeed. And those groups will be taken care of. But as of today, we are starting an expansion program that will effectively stop all spam." "And what's that?" "It's classified. Now get out, or we will force you out and then you'll have a nice trip to ban-land." Echo looked at Dragon and then said firmly, "I won't lose this place to the likes of him." Dragon shook her head and muttered, "We can't fight them." Echo looked at the door for a long moment and then said quietly, "Alright. Let him in." ------------------------ Halifax looked frantically for a trail of the assassin, but found nothing on the cobbled road. He heard shouts from behind and turned to see who was coming. Zandax stood there with a group of people behind him and shrieked, "There he is! That's the man who killed Achronos. Get him!" Halifax knew it would be useless to try and explain anything to these people so he turned and ran. After running for several minutes, Halifax heard shouting up ahead and realized they had cut him off. He stopped and looked around, both ends of the street were cut off by New Mombasians. They started to close in, all of them pointing their weapons menacingly at Halifax. Suddenly, several shots rang out and the attackers started dropping. They all scrambled away in surprise, but none could escape the hail of bullets. Halifax stood stock still. He knew he wouldn't be hit. He looked up and around to see several people standing on the buildings. He was being set up. Zandax came running up the street and stopped in his tracks when he saw the bodies lying on the pavement. "You killed them." He said loudly. "Murderer!" Halifax was surprised to see Recon appear behind Zandax. The Mod stared at the bodies and said quietly, "Halifax...come with me." Halifax shook his head, "I can't do that Recon." Recon looked at him pleadingly, "Don't make this any harder than it has to be." "I didn't kill those people. And I didn't kill Achronos. I'm going to find out who did." Recon sighed, "Fine. But we need to prove your innocence first, then you and I can find the killers together." Again Halifax shook his head, "It will take too long." He looked at the bodies around him with pity and then said, "I'm sorry Recon." "Don't do this, Halifax." Halifax bent down and scooped up a gun. He fired off several shots that went way off the mark, but sent both Recon and Zandax scrambling for cover. Halifax took one last look at the bodies and then ran down the alley, knowing that if he didn't find out who killed Achronos, the New Mombasians would kill him, whether or not he was innocent. [/quote]

Part 3 [quote] Halifax stepped out into the space port and gave a long sigh when he looked at the people around him. The faces were all strange to him. He didn't know this place and for the first time, he was afraid. "Watch it, bub!" A man shouted as he rudely shoved Halifax aside. "Hey, what's your problem?" Halifax yelled in irritation. He didn't like this place at all. The man turned slowly, "What did you say?" "You heard me." Halifax said, glaring at the young man. "You got a problem with me?" The man asked, stepping closer to Halifax. Halifax laughed, "You? No. You aren't worth my time." The man came closer, his face turning red with anger. "Do you know who I am?' Halifax sneered, "No, and I don't care. If you aren't willing to show me respect, I don't want to bother with names." Suddenly the man had a gun out and pressed the weapon against Halifax's temple. "Say it again, I dare you." Halifax was about to open his mouth when someone grabbed him by the shoulder. "Back off, Zandax. This kid's new." Halifax resented being called a kid, but he realized that this man may have just saved his life so he kept his mouth shut. Zandax stared at them for a moment and then shrugged and holstered his weapon. "Alright, Sir Brilliant, I'll let him go this time. But if that punk crosses me one more time..." He let it hang there. Halifax walked off with Sir Brilliant and let out a low sigh. "Thanks he muttered." Brilliant grunted, "Don't mention it...now what on earth did you think you were doing?" Halifax shrugged, "I'm used to a bit more politeness than that." Brilliant laughed, "You better get used to being pushed around here. Until people learn to stay out of your way, you won't get much respect." He peered closely at Halifax and asked, "Where are you from?" "The Flood...I was banished." Brilliant's eyebrows rose but he just nodded and didn't ask questions. "Where are we going?" Halifax asked. Brilliant shrugged, "I'm going home. You can go wherever you want." Suddenly trumpets began to sound and a loud voice rang out over the meaningless chatter that littered the streets. "All Hail the Overlord of Bungie!" Halifax's head jerked up, "Achronos is here?" Brilliant was equally surprised and both of them looked around frantically, in search of the Overlord. At the end of the road, near the space port, they saw him. He gave a stern look at the people who stood, staring at him. Many dropped to their knees when he passed. "You are worthless." The Overlord said, acid dripping from his voice. "I sent you to control Zanzibar, and instead you destroyed it!" "But--" One person started to say when Achronos cut him off. "It seems you have forgotten what the word of the Overlord means. I'm here to remind you." He paused and then said, "Zandax, step forward." Zandax slowly stepped out of the crowd, his hands shaking. "Yes, great Overlord?" Achronos looked at him with disgust, "Is this the mettle of your planet? Is this the standard to which you live?" "No sir!" Came a resounding reply from all within earshot. Achronos smiled slightly and then shouted, "Then why did no one stop him from pulling a gun on a new comer." Halifax's eyes widened and he turned to Sir Brilliant. "How did he--" "Sir Brilliant," Achronos' shouted before Halifax could finish his question, "Come forward." Sir Brilliant walked tentatively forward and knelt in front of the Overlord. "Rise." Achronos said kindly, "You are the only one who bothered to help Halifax, and so, you do not need to bow to anyone." Suddenly, a shot rang out and Achronos jerked, then fell to the ground. Halifax looked up and managed to see a fleeting figure jump off a nearby rooftop. He took off running before most of the people assembled had even bothered to look up from their kneeling positions. Sir Brilliant pulled Achronos up, revealing a pool of blood beneath the Overlord's head. "Who did this?" Zandax had noticed Halifax's departure and shouted, "Halifax took off running the minute Achronos was shot, he must have been part of it! We must catch him." Suddenly the entire street was filled with noise as people started to argue as to whether or not Halifax had actually played a part in this and others immediately took off running. ------------------------------ [/quote]

Part 2 [quote]Achronos couldn't believe what had happened. He turned to Recon who was waiting patiently at the door and motioned the Mod in. "How could they do this?" He asked once Recon had seated himself. Recon shrugged, "New Mombasa has never been known to be friendly...or rational." "I ordered them to take control of Zanzibar, not destroy it completely!" Recon nodded, "I know. But you must admit, they took care of a fairly large problem for you." "Now they're a large problem!" Achronos shouted, his face livid. Recon looked at him slyly, "Would you like me to send the Septagon to take care of them?" Achronos turned stone faced, "Don't mock me, Recon. I'm no tyrant." "Of course, Overlord." Recon replied with a smooth bow. "I didn't mean to insult you." Achronos rubbed his eyes wearily, "What am I going to do now? People will start asking questions and I don't have the answers. Soon they will demand retribution--" "Why?" Recon asked suddenly. At Achronos' questioning glance he continued, "They have no reason to demand justice because, in their minds, justice has been served. Everyone knew that Zanzibar had it coming. No one would question your judgment." Achronos sighed, "But what about New Mombasa?" Recon shrugged, "Leave them be. They can't do any harm without your permission." "I'm not so sure." Recon looked at Achronos sternly, "Be sure. You cannot let them overpower you." Achronos looked up at Recon slowly, "What do you mean?" Recon leaned in closer, "You're the Overlord. Make sure they understand that. Show them who you are." ------------------------------------- [/quote]