DreamWorld
Elsewhere-Tower-Top Floor
Tobias and Ian stand side by side as Xander comes and stands a few feet from them, the three not saying a word as Valencia watched as the intensity was thick and heavy as Winston just watched as his concubines even seemed scared but he just snapped his fingers at one and made them feed him grapes. As Xander eyes Winston and snickers.
Xander: Even faced with the possibility of his own demise he still acts as if I'm inconsequential. As if the outcome for him hadn't already been predestined.
Ian: Son…
Xander: Do not….do not!
Ian: Son.
Xander shakes as Tobias can see Ian slowly moving towards him.
Ian: I don't deserve to call you that but you are my son…
Xander: Is that what I am to you now? not merely an abstract construct composed of nothing but random meaningless code...your own word mind you...the day you decided to turn on me…
Ian: You were becoming out of control! You and Artur could not be reigned in...you knew not what you were and I had to bear the burden of your gift...and of the curse it became…
Xander: It matters not. Tobias. It's good to see you.
Tobias: I wish I could say the same.
Xander: Let us not resine you to the same fate. I told you when we first met that you were special. That you had a part to play in this all. That time is now. That part is here. To join me. To stop them. To change the world for the better. To allow everyone to live in harmony in a world where their dreams are their reality and their reality exists within every dream. Where Echo's...where people like me...and her…
Tobias looks at Valencia.
Xander: We'll be real. Not some construct of one's mind. Flesh, blood, bone, code. All of it will be one and we will be one. You must see that my way is the way...the only way…
Tobias and Valencia lock eyes as she nods at him as Tobias smiles and nods back as he looks at Xander.
Tobias:(sighing) You're not wrong...and I know that. A lot of us do. I'm sure that's why you got Mario to turn on everyone...how you got the others to follow you too. I don't blame them. I understand them. I understand you. You're right. What you want...what you inspire for...that's change...that's fair.
Ian eyes Tobias as Xander grins.
Tobias: But the world isn't fair...the real world that is. If everyone gets what they want... nobody can aspire to be more.. the dreams the A.N.N allows are meant to be that escape, because the world is cold and dark and hard. And it's unfair. And cruel. But we rise up when we have too. Doesn't matter who we're up against. So I'm sorry, Xander. I really am. But I can't let you do this.
Xander: Them enemies we shall be.
Xander charges Tobias as Tobias stands ready as Xander watched as Ian throws a counter punch as Tobias and Ian begin to trade attacks aimed Xander but Xander blocks and dodged their attacks with ease as Xander eventually blocks Ian and delivers a well timed kick they knocks Tobias down as he quickly rolls himself up and tackles Xander from behind as he tries to hold him but Xander breaks the hold and turns and elbows Tobias across the bridge of his nose as he blocks Ian but Ian expects the counter punch and turns it into a judo throw as he tosses Xander down and then delivers a quick knee strike that knocks Xander back as Xander rolls over and jumps up as he strays off a few more errant attacks from Ian and delivers a spinning elbow that hits Ian in the chest as Tobias hops over Ian and delivers a superman punch that sends Xander careening to the side as he almost lost his balance as Ian goes and stands by the fallen Agents as Xander looks at his father with disgust.
Xander: Go ahead. Show them what your awakened power is.
Tobias looks at Ian as Ian nods.
Ian: I'm ashamed you'll have to see this, Tobias. But there's no other choice.
Ian touches a fallen agent and Tobias watches as suddenly the digital code shoots into Ian's hand and through his body as the Fallen Agent suddenly dissipates.
Tobias: What did you do?!
Ian: It's called code restoration. Or amplification. I can use the essence of a dead or near death person to regenerate myself or to add double my strength and dexterity…
Xander tries to quick underhanded attack but Ian's reflexes were so sharp that he easily dodged the attack.
Xander: Hmph. All these years and you're still so powerful. A true wonder you are.
Ian: I am your father.
Xander and Ian begin to trade blocked blows as Tobias only joins in when he had an opening delivering a spinning kick as Xander goes sailing back as Ian runs and kicks his son's legs out from under him as as he then let's Tobias deliver a running punt still kick to under Xander's jaw as Xander spit out blood and a tooth as Xander reels, Ian grabbing his son as Xander blocked the next strike and tosses his father down before he slaps his palm to the floor and let's a white light streak out all over as he watched ad Tobias and Ian suddenly stops moving as Xander stands rubs his jaw.
Xander: That kick actually really hurt.
Xander punches Tobias's immobilized face three times and Tobias falls over as he grabs his face and groans as he feels every hard impact as Ian gets his finger to move as he is breaking through the temporary freeze.
Xander: When I absorbed the second source code it granted me a pretty broad control over the digital makeup of any person. It doesn't have the widespread power I thought…
Xander turns as Ian throws a punch but couldn't move as fast as he was before, Xander blocking and then swiftly delivers a kick so devastating that it sends Ian slamming into a wall where his body left an imprint as Ian didn't move.
Xander: As I was saying. It didn't have the widespread power I was hoping for. Only because I realized all too late that the code itself...the essence that it is the A.N.N has its own will. It's own inherent life force. It fights me at every step. I can feel it trying to restrain my control. To fight me…
Tobias moves but in doing so Xander kicks Tobias violently in the chest as Valencia shudders at the sight as Xander paces around Tobias.
Xander: Don't you understand? The A.N.N is alive... it's fighting me. And the only way I'll be able to exert my will... is to get that final code.
Xander steps over Tobias and heads towards Winston as Tobias reaches out desperately and grabs Xander's left ankle as Xander looks down as Tobias coughs up blood as he tries to stand.
Tobias: Xander... please…
Xander uppercuts Tobias so hard that Tobias falls back in a crumpled heap as Xander shakes his head.
Xander: Pathetic...and here I thought you would have served me as an equal. You were nothing but a hindrance it seems.
Xander turns and stops as he sees Valencia standing in his way.
Xander: It's time to step aside. You don't need to do this.
Valencia: I will not let you do this.
Xander: You can't stop me.
Valencia: I will if you force me too.
Tobias: Valencia...no…
Xander grins as he holds his left arm to the side and Valencia watches as he suddenly begins to materialize a long beautiful elegant gold hilted sword.
Xander: Durandel. The sword of swords.
Xander holds it up, tip pointed at her.
Xander: I have only raised this sword a few times. I do not wish to use it against you. Stand aside. And let me do what must be done.
Valencia looks at Ian who hasn't moved as Tobias was reeling trying to get up as Xander held his sword affixed and ready as Valencia nods and tosses her arm to the side as she materializes her Chain Sword.
Valencia: I already told you...I will stop you.
Xander grins but the from slowly begins to fade when he sees the gold and white hue emitting from her body as suddenly golden wings made of light appear from out of the back of her shoulder blades as Xander seems a bit taken aback by the sight as Valencia raises her Chain Sword.
Valencia: Shall we begin?
Xander sneers as he doesn't seem to like the one confident and cocky grin that has come over Valencia's face.
End of chapter.