Only a few weeks had gone by since the last encounter with Cutter. However, much had occured since he had tried to throw Sha'uri into a portal, pelting her with shards of the Nether rays, launching her and Knite through a small adventure where they ended up on Zed. Cutter had been chased out of the Inn that day, but returned later to attack once again. He had put Tina to sleep and had almost had her for his purpose of using her as a key to a devistating weapon. The weapon was designed for the purpose of destroying Exodii. It had been the intervention of those present, which brought her back into safety.

When she'd been awoken back at the Ravensheart school, Tina had been changed into a humanoid of flesh and blood, spirit honed ... body and soul newly formed in the Awakening by the souls of Briarius Ravensheart and Sha'uri Arrowny. It had been their hope to change her to a real child so that she was no longer useful to Cutter and this weapon. That left Shati the only one that could be used for it. She had agreed to play as bait...

Preparations had been made. Even though they weren't sure how useful it would be, the fleet was put on alert and every military faction on the ground, in the air and in space were constantly on patrol, scanning beyond the horizons and preparing for the inevitable confrontations. War would soon be on the March.

With so much to be prepared, Sha'uri left Tina mainly in the care of Briari as there were many things she needed to do here in Exodii. Her visits to RhyDin were strictly for teaching classes. She knew the brundt of this war would take place in her part of space, the Exodii System. For whatever reason, Cutter seemed to have some vendetta against Exodii. It was known the weapon was designed specifically to destroy the beautiful place.

Alex had the bombs placed far under the the complex on Mardra via transporter beams and monitored constantly to assure they were still there. He had hoped his mother would give the order to just destroy the place, flushing out the mole so to speak and forcing Cutter into action. But she insisted to wait and let him take the bait.

Communication devices had been given to Briari, Triv, Bryce, Shati and even Lyndra, Melody and Tina, to ensure they could be contacted, or to contact, should Cutter rear his monstrous head. This would signal the game was on. Everything was ready and in place, just waiting on Cutter to take the bait.... Shati, who was somewhere in Exodii city, one of the logical places she might be setting up residence. And so it would seem...

It had only been about a week since the very small, very private wedding of Triv and Sha'uri had taken place. She was down in the practice room trying to run herself through a crash course, sparring an automated droid, in the attempt to hone her hand to hand combative skills; skills that used to be so easily performed. It had been too long and she was admittedly out of practice. She'd been successful the last three days without Triv knowing, sneaking down there after he'd fallen asleep. It was now exceptionally early in the morning....

Triv murmured softly in his sleep and rolled over to wrap an arm around Sha'uri. When his hand found nothing but the mattress something inside Triv told him to wake up. He forced his eyes open to see that his new wife was gone. Probably gone to the bathroom, he thought. He called out her name. No answer. Hmm...

In the mess hall, perhaps? She was eating for two now, after all. Triv rolled out of the bed and slid into his pants. A glass of milk would help him go back to sleep, anyway. He pulled a shirt over his head and grabbed the communicator off the nightstand before leaving the room. It occured to him that he could use the device to find out where Sha'uri had gone off to but he decided to leave it for emergencies. Despite all the turtoring he was getting, he didn't really trust technology just yet. He'd lived his whole life without 'replicators' or 'computers' and didn't see why he needed them now.

A group of guards had apparently decided to grab a bite to eat before heading off to their beds. Triv shot them a sort of salute/wave and poured himself a glass of milk. "Y'all seen Sha'uri?"

One of the guards smirked. "Lost your wife already, eh? You know, I could give you a few pointers if your having trouble keeping her...happy."

Triv scoffed. "If I needed pointers for you, Levine, I'd fall on my blade." He took a sip of milk. "But seriously, none of you have seen her?"

Another guard, Wallace, cleared his throat. "It's possible that maybe, just maybe, I saw her headed towards the practice room. But you didn't hear that from me."

Triv smiled and gulped down the rest of his milk before putting his glass with the rest of the dirty dishes. "Thanks, partner. I'll have to buy you a beer some time." What was she up to, he wondered as he made his way down the hall. He thought of the old days back in Dar Oma. All the times they had sparred. She had given him a run for his money back then and bested him more times than he cared to count.

A chuckle could be heard...and then the Headmaster of the Ravensheart School stepped out of the original droid as if he were possesing it.

"It was merely to make certain you were ready for...surprises. I am certain Cutter has many up his sleeves."

Although not originally an elf, the Headmaster's elven look of aloofness seemed to be perfect. He stood there with a look that said 'I'm sorry about your troubles.' and 'I am above such petty things' all at the same time.

"I see...regardless of where anyone is sleeping tonight, I would imagine that we don't have much more time before we have to make our strike."

The Headmaster moved in and one of the droids took notice and advanced. As the droid advanced, Briarius just stood there. The droid attacked and with elven grace he dodged every attack. It simply looked as if the Headmaster was just going to dodge all day when he dodged into the droid's area of attack and placed a finger upon the droid's head. A black aura surrounded his hand and then the droid seemed to be electricuted and fell over, completely shorted out.

As Sha'uri made contact she could feel the fleeting of magick as if being quickly dispelled.

"No...if I were surprised, you may be lying in a heap on the floor."

The Headmaster calmly replied.

"It wasn't a threat. It was a mere statement of fact. Understand that I keep several wards around me active. If I did not dismiss them, they would affect any who touched me."

He looked at Triv.

"You must be Lord Trivial. I am Briarius Ravensheart, Headmaster of the Ravensheart School for the Gifted."

Triv chuckled. "I assure you, Briarius, I've never been 'Lord' of anything." He ignored the mix up with his name. Triv had come to terms with his past a long time ago and the headmaster couldn't have known, anyway. "But it's good to meet you."

He smiled down at Sha'uri. "You're right. It's probably best to be prepared." Triv didn't like sitting around waiting on Cutter to suddenly show up and start dealing out merry hell. It had been his experience that when it came down to it, the aggressor made the rules. "But if he does show up here with an attitude I don't want you to take any unnecessary risks. Let me and Bryce handle it if at all possible, okay? It's what we're good at. You're a strong woman, I should know but I don't want anything to happen to you."

"Very well"

The Headmaster stepped back while the two were talking only to step forward again now.

"From what I have gathered about this 'Cutter' is that he uses powerful necromancy in conjunction with technology. Typically, the arts of magick and the arts of the arcane, or even divine, rarely mesh well. In this case however, it seems that Cutter has found powerful forces of death within the Nether, which some call the Deadlands, the Afterlife, the Grayworld, etc etc ad infinitum... Regardless, he has consumed the powers of these powerful forces, probably demons who were banished from the Abyss or even angels banished from Celestia. So, in this case, the necromancy has essentially bonded with the technology in a way that only a True Necromancer could possibly fathom. He uses souls to posses objects and empower said objects. He uses his necromancy to subjugate the spirits within. This is why, by my theories, he wishes to cause death on a grand scale...to empower more technology.

Why he chooses Exodii is beyond me..."

He pauses to see if everyone seems to be comprhending.

Triv blinked at Sha'uri. Lord of the citadel? The way he saw it, 'Lord' was a term of respect and he hadn't done anything to earn that. Having everyone call him 'Lord Triv' would just make him feel like an impostor. Any one of the guards had more of right to that title than he had. "If it's all the same, I'd rather you just call me Triv."

He listened as Briarius explained. Technology and magic? Great. The two things Triv knew next to nothing about. "I hate necromancers," he muttered. He wondered if he could defeat Cutter with sheer anger. Of course, there was something to be said for keeping a cool head on the battlefield but Triv knew a lot of fights came down to who was more pissed off.

"I wonder what he stands to gain from attacking Exodii. If he's from here, like you said, and it's personal then he's all the more dangerous. Have the guards been told what to expect?"

Triv cocked an eyebrow. "And why would you assume I don't know any better?"

She listened to the two and tears just started welling in her eyes. The two men she loved the most were nit picking between them, perhaps even hated each other already.. Nothing else mattered. She walked away, though, preventing herself from just grabbing the two and knocking their heads together. She was her mother's daughter and had that urge yet she was her father's daughter too... and just walked away, quietly not saying anything as she resumed knocking the snot out of the practice dummy with a new fervor, beheading it even, taking out her frustration on the souless thing rather then the ones she loved.

"Precisely my point. I was hoping that you or Master Bryce would stay on the planet to help the defenders. I would see that the proper enchantments are laid upon you. Rest assured that though I share the title of necromancer with many villainous beings, my magicks stem from the The Great Wheel. You are born, you live, and you die...only to be born again. Nothing is to remove you from The Great Wheel unnaturally. I do not bind the unliving, nor do I use necromancy as an excuse to practice fell magicks."

:: They would hear a laugh from within the shadows as slowly he walked into the light his head slowly shaking in amusment his eyes looking to them filled with the green nether energies of the Underworld..it was there Briarius would know what Cutter was doing... he was using the Nether itself as an energy source not just the souls..his hands rising he shot green bolts into the three dummy's the forms slowly rising and changing into metalic undead hounds...slowly he pets one of the metalic monstrosities before moving infront of them::

So.... you honestly dont know who I am...the name Cutter was given to me long ago ..I had a different name once

:: A laugh as he slwoly voiced his words into a transmitter::

Activate the Angel of Death

:: SHa'uri would feel it then..the core of the moon his base was on suddenly being sucked in and pieces of the moon being shaken off as the devistating weapon of destruction was revieled to Exodii in a terrible fastion::

:: He grinned and simply waves away the holy magic his form slowly walking forwards:: Did you honestly think Shati was able to tell you all....goddess...come come now...that moon was changed and made ready for this day...and to prove it I'll demostrate the full capabilities of my Project...after all...when was the last time you saw the pour girl hmmm...four five hours ago:: he laughs a bit then:: Maybe you should have never let her leave for the inn Tday Sha'uri...for now even if you destroy the Battle Station and me...my cannon will still fire apon Exodii so I can finally extract my revenge

: He laughs and while the explosives of the moon were going off more and more of the station was revieled..those seeing it woul see a massive shield of nether energy...so thats what all of that power was for...the Station looked very much intact after all said and done....slowly the would see a Mech cannon being extended towards exodii...the size of the cannon itself ooked near two miles in length..on each corner was an amplifier the thing charging both nether energy and soul energy into a massive force..something technology could not protect against::

So go ahead and kill me SHa'uri...I died long ago remember...my heart died my soul devoured the day your kind took her away from me!...amd now you will pay with the very planet she so wanted to leave

:: He sneered in return his anger being prevoked caused his face to take on a more serious appeal his eyes changing from the ominous green to an orange as he slowly walked forward his hands whispering softly until she could hear what he was saying...no spell...no arcane words...he spoke something though:: Maya....Maya Shitori.....she wanted so badly to leave Exodii..to leave everyhting behind..her family that treated her like scum...her job that had enslaved her life...but when she did leave..or try to:: His voice roared with malice and hatred:: She was shot down!...and why you ask..why..I'll tell you because she got into the middle of a crossfire from Exodii forces and a band of rogues..but instead of helping her..saving her..they blew her up with the rest of them...nothing left for me to restore her....no way to save her...and all they said was......SHe should have not been there!!!!:: They would feel the tremors as the abomination started to disconnect from the Moon the shockwaves felt from space as his eyes just grew more and more hateful:: I will destroy what she hated most as our revenge...I will use the power of the sun and death as hand to destroy Exodii!!!...

:: He riased his hand up and then slowly set it down:: So go ahead and kill me..send me into the nether..it matters not to me anymore. oNce she died so did I Sha'uri...ohhh goddess who saves the innocents..tell me why not my Maya!:: He just walked towards her then neither weapon nor spell being chanted his eyes going from rage to utter sadness and sorrow. The waves of these feelings spreading out..now they knew it wasn't the souls who had been tormented...what they had cleansed that day aboard those ships was Cutters very feelings his pains seed that had slowly taken route in one spot..and now the source was infront of them begging to die::

The Headmaster, taking in all that he needed to understand, finally moved into action. He assumed Wraithform and teleported to the Moon. He began undoing the enchantments that held the dark energy in place.

:: Her eyes slowly opened while inside the machine...Sha'uri had given her enough time to see everyhting around her..and it was long enough for her to bring up a picture of Maya on the screen...inside that machine she was everywhere and nowhereher mind able to see through time and space itself...when the picture was brought up so was the long term history of the woman...she had met cutter...or as known here Jack Davidson..at one of the local clubs..they had gone out for many months until Jack had proposed to her and she accepted..on the day of their departure the military went to try out a new weapon on several known rebels and rogues near their area...and when she had came out into the open she was immediately shot down because she did not get the notice to evacuate the area.....Soul Collector...was the name of the weapon to collect the souls of the individual so that when they were killed they could be immediately ressurected in the prison cells..providing easier capture...however what went wrong was instead of collecting the souls..each was shattered into many pieces..its no wonder he couldn't ressurect her..he did not have the power::

Sha'uri..I cant stop the countdown..even if the system is damaged beyond..he will try and destroy the moon using its natural forces on Exodii...the only one that can stop this now is Cutter...I'm sorry

:: Quickkly however she gets out of the machine somehow with strong concentration she keeps ahold of her soul long enough to get over to SHa'uri so they can escape::

The Headmaster manages to undo the wards that surround the base and flies directly to the gate within. He collapses the gate with a fair amount of work. His scrying ward he left behind, relays to him what has transpired at the Citadel. He flies back to the surface calling to his spirits. They all come to him bearing a small white orb. Briarius teleports back to the Citadel.

"You have risked millions of lives in exchange for one! Although distastefult o me, I will not abide by it! If getting your Maya back will save this world, then so be it. Mistress Sha'uri, after this madman deactivates the device, allow him the death that will rejoin him with what I am about to give him...

...and tell Tina her daddy loves her...always."

The small white orbs fly around Briarius as he begins to intone a spell that most people thought was only legend. The Headmaster's soul rises from his body and seems to be transferring energy to the orbs which are coalescing into the soul of Maya. In one final burst, Maya's soul is restored, but the Headmaster's soul has been shattered and is gone. The spirit of Maya stands where the Headmaster's once was and his body falls dead to the ground.

:: His eyes go wide to th image before him his head slowly bowing dow in tears as the woman speaks::

Love what are you doing to Exodii....you know this is not the way

Then what is love..I dont understand why the gods would do this to us...why would they forsaken us in such a way?

They did not forsake love..you turned your back on them...you know what you have done is not the way....if you fix this I shall forgive you..but if you do not..i'm sorry my love but they are right..one life should not mean the sacrifice of millions...and a little girl love...you would do all that on a little girl

:: the figure begins to tear up as she shakes her head in sadness...Cutter all he can do is weep to her words the harsh truth hurting more than the lie he had built...but slowly he rises::

I will fix this...I shall..but the moon is ablout to implode without my say..the system wont stop the countdown...:: he sighs and then looks to the fallen headmaster..then back to his love they both nod...and soon the figure vanishes when he closes his eyes::

Thirteen I have taken into my form I call apon you all for one more summon...Shi, Doi ,Matic, Cil. Vras, Omic, Oni, Sinda, Sul,Wil,Qui,pouni,and lastly Shetia demoness of the Gate..open these gates once more I command thee and give my the power of Sacrifice!

:: One by one as each demons name is called and each angel is heard they appear around him in a circle...each granting him the power..each being destroyed as they did so before his body suddenly explodes in a burst of white light rushing forth to the moon..one beam however helped gather together the headmaster to bring him back to his body before joining the team of white as it engulfs the moon::

Now my thirteen..restore what we have destroyed!::

:: Soon the moon was being restored his monstrous contraption being disentegrated before their very eyes until it shot off envelopeing far away tina and Shati slowly erasing what horrid memories they held until Cutter once more reappeared infront of them::

I...accept my fate...

The form fizzled into view as it was teleported in by the door, the look of worry and surprise on his face. He's watched the schoolmaster collapse and could do nothing to stop his mother. She was what held him frozen by the door with terror. He'd never, ever seen that look on her face, marring her beautiful features with hatred and blood lust. It unnerved him but not enough to keep him from action.

"Mother! No!"

He quickly pulled out the phaser and did the only thing he could think of. Shoot his mother in the back... with the setting on high stun.

Triv nodded at Bryce and moved towards Sha'uri. He took his time getting to her. Better to let her get it out of her system, he figured. He caught sight of Alex pointing the phaser, however, and his sword clattered to the floor. Triv lunged, reaching Sha'uri just in time to catch her after she was struck with the beam from the phaser. "Are you mad?!" The words came out as more of growl.

Bryce quickly moved to stand between his parents and Cutter. "One step, Cutter, and I'll show you a whole new world of pain the likes of which you can't even imagine." The air seemed to coalesce around his free hand and a sword took shape. The blade seemed to be made of heavy mist and blue sparks danced up the length of the weapon. He was taking no chances. He spoke over his shoulder, keeping his eyes on the necromancer. "Easy, Father. She might have torn you apart had you got between her and Cutter."

Searing hot pain shot through her whole nervous system as she was shot in the one of the few places along her spine that could've made her paralyzed. Alex was a good shot, even in his terrified state, knowing of those few points to target. He hit one dead on and she was down instantly.

Though she couldn't move for several long minutes, she was fully aware of what was going on around her. Most people would've lost consciousness being hit anywhere on the body by that phaser. STill, she couldn't move though she felt Triv catch her and pull her close in his arms. She could feel his anger towards... a lot of things.

Her breathing was labored, raspy as if she were still struggling in that beserked state. In fact, she was for a few moments until the peace she usually felt in Triv's arms finally seeped in and calmed the rage inside of her. It helped, too, that she heard Briari's voice from somewhere.

After all that anger, followed by such peace... it drew tears to her eyes, the only part of her that could still function normally. It would be a few more minutes before she could even speak, a few more before she would be able to move, though her thoughts were quite open to Triv and Brairi.

~Triv... Love....Alex did right. I spoke of forgiveness with Tina ... to forgive Cutter and I was not following through. Alex had every right to stop me, for there is a level of darkness that I would not be able to turn from. I just can't let that happen...He knew this.~

She closed her eyes tightly to force the tears from them, restoring her vision as she blinked them open.

~Briari this is wrong... Close the portal into Limbo. If Tina is to have any closure with this, she and Shati must come face to face with him. I think we should put his fate into their hands. Where have you hidden Tina?~

******

Sha'uri number two had taken Shati up into the heavens until they came to calm pool of water where she used it to scry down upon those in the Citadel. Seeing things calm down, she pointed to the images.

"looks like the fight's over. You ready to go there?"

*********

Sha'uri number three remained where she was at next to Corellon and watched the scene.

~Thanks, Briari.~

Sha'uri number one finally began to move a little, shifting her head to gaze at Briari's still form on the floor. She finally began to understand what Bri had done, sensing a sliver of his soul still around there. His sword began to warm slightly as a halo of light illuminated it softly, giving the pieces of his soul a stronger beacon to be drawn to. It was all she could do for the moment to help him pull all those scattered pieces of himself back together.

*******

Sha'uri number three managed to collect what portions of Briari's soul that she could and flung them back down towards his body.

*******

Likewise, as Sha'uri number two came to the citadel, (with or without Shati), she gathered other portions of Briari's soul and brought them with her. Kneeling down by Briari's body, she put her hand upon his sword and the other over the amulet and there she began to chant softly, calling all the pieces of Briari's soul to her and to the thing they were drawn to.... putting them into the amulet...

As the medical team approached, Sha'uri assured Triv.

"It's okay.. They know what to do."

Sure enough, the team injected her with an adrenaline mix and her full arsenal of movement came back almost immediately. As the team moved away, Sha'uri sat up and gave Triv a kiss on the cheek. Then with his help, she stood up. Gazing over to Tina, she held her arms out to her daughter, whom she could only imagine was not only bewildered but perhaps even a bit scared.

"Tina.. come here. He's not going hurt you and your father will be all right in a little bit. You and Shati can decide Cutter's fate if you want. I was going to dump him in Limbo, a place where nothing happens, no sound, no light, nothing of substance to feel... it's a total and complete nothing, but those cast there are fully aware of it all. In some respects, it's worse then hell. However, it's only right that it's up to you and Shati ... unless you just want to forgive him."

She let that last part trail pointedly, as if forgiveness was the hardest thing but the right thing to do.

Can...you help me...I'm not sure...if I can do it alone..please

Sha'uri kissed Tina's forehead, eyes sparkling with love returned.
"You bet. I'll be with you. One step at a time. I won't let go of you."

Her gaze shifted round to others, pausing on Cutter with a billion thoughts running through her head....

"We all have our Demons, don't we, Jack Davidson ....

As the fragments of his soul were absorbed by the amulet, it glowed with a more red hue. Eventually when it was a very deep red, the Headmaster stood.

"Do remember Master Davidson, even if my little Tina and Mistress Shati do forgive you, the road to atonement will be a difficult one. I am prepared to cast any appropriate spell they ask....and I am certain you are aware of what a Necromancer can do with magick."

Alex motioned for the teams to stand behind him and wait. Like his brother, he was still a little wary of the whole situation. He kept his phaser handy, though he made no threatening motions. He merely watched and kept alert.

::She weakly smiled up to her mother then after the hug and slowly she walked forward for what to probably everyone in the room seemed like an eternity. Her eyes slooked up to Cutters....no to Jack's and she held his gaze. Minutes passed as she watched him with those eyes...she took a step closer withing Jack's reach her eyes still looking up to his as she did not see the menevolent force that was once around the man.....anotehr step as she was jut a foot away..he had no stench..no rotting stench to him his skin pale seemed...healthier::

cu...Mr...Mr. Jack I may..I may not understand like everyone else of what happened..but in a strange way I should thank you...you brought me to life, and Shati too.....not many can say that...so..as cutter..as cutter I hated you and I will never forgive that monster.....but if you promise to be Jack:: a smile up to the man:: I will forgive you

:: Little Tina..the littlest angel smiling up to this man and slowly getting slightly out of Sha'uri's reach she hugs him in a little Tina hug::



(Sorry about the delay wanted to give time..and then well I got busy...anyways I wait a few before I post Cutters and tina's posts again so type away :) ))

Triv smirked at Mick as he entered. "Bout time you guys showed up," he whispered when Mick was next to him. "I don't think he has any fight left in him. As near as I can tell he showed up here just so we could kill him...or something."

Bryce smiled when Tina hugged Cutter. That was certainly unexpected. He'd come down here expecting bloodshed and carnage and instead there were apologies and forgiveness. Ah well. At least it didn't look like anyone was going to be seriously hurt. He certainly would've liked to square off with Cutter, though. Perhaps it wouldn't really accomplish anything but it'd definitely make him feel better about the whole ordeal. He couldn't imagine what kind of man would do things like that to a child.

:: His eyes darted around him as the soldiers entered...his mbody tense and actually very much afriad at what Shati and Tina could do right now...Limbo....a shiver went down his spine at the thought. Then thats when Shati surprised him with her speech...his eyes just widened to her words...he didn't deserve them...but the touch him farther than anyone could have...why could he not have been like her..forgiving and kind..they hated him and they forgave him.::

Thank..you..

:: that is about all he got out of his mouth before he saw little Tina approach..his eyes try to dart away from hers..shift move to anything just to avoid that green gaze of the girl....and then he flet it...small smal arms wrapping around his..shocked his eyes looked to Tina and slowly out of just human impulse he hugs the girl only to start crying to Sha'uri's hand:

I'm sorry.....so sorry...gods...what have I done to you both...ohh gods

:: harsh whispers to himself not nearly looking like the man they had encountered..no he looked frail..frightened and filled with sorrow::

:: HIs head shakes as he backs away form them a bit releasing Tina as he actually asks for something::

Dont..revive her for my sake....revive her so...so she has a chance..please..thats all I want..you can do with me as you will...eexperiments....Limbo...please I just want Maya back

:: he cries curling up a bit as he rocks back and forth:: all..all I wanted was Maya back...I dont now..why I wanted to destroy..it was not our way..it wasn't

:: He heard her words...he felt her words...his tears were running down his cheeks as he listened..and slowly he nodded a bit..and then nodded a bit more his voice sounding almost quiet but a twing of hope::

i..I understand.....I..I can use...use my knowledge to help...to help:: he was rocking a bit more his mind was going mad.....only he knew why..but he would dp anything..attonement....punishment..anything to get her back..or at least show he is trying to do better. HI shead bows slightly and softly he speaks::I...will become...a..a doctor...a..a healer....how I was before..before she died...

:: He nods a bit listening to her..feeling a bit more..whole now he carefully takes her hand and rises up..he seemed older...more frail than the tyrant they had faced::

Rest..yes..rest is nice....so long since...:: a small smile and nods to the idea before looking down to Tina...a soft sad smile given before he would let himself be lead away from the girl and anyone else that may be left behind..a cell...a room..it didn't matter...he was finally back on the right track::