Chereads / Guardian Force of the Galaxy Series I / Chapter 34 - 34: A Cruel And Ironic Fate.

Chapter 34 - 34: A Cruel And Ironic Fate.

Margarita and Mason faced each other. "Why…why did you do this? They are your friends." she asked with emotion.

"Friends? Pah. They're my enemies."

"Do you know what you're saying?"

"I know exactly what I'm saying!"

"What has Starburst done to you?"

"He hasn't done anything! He only helped recovered my memories."

"Memories?" She paused to think. "Listen to me Mason, Starburst has erased your real memories and inserted fake ones into your head. That's the truth."

"Why should I listen to you?"

"Because it's the truth. Do you know how worried we were looking for you?"

Zelfire: "Margarita, its hopeless talking to him...I tried."

Mason charged at her and assaulted with fists, while she went on defensive. He punched, she blocked with her elbow, and stepped back, and he stepped forward. She retreated until her back was against a tree.

"Mason stop!"

He used the Power Punch as she went to the side and he broke the tree. "I will kill you!" He fired the Energy Blast.

Her scouter beeped. It showed the energy's power at 90,000. She knew she couldn't block this one. She fired an Energy Bomb and it collided with his beam. The bomb was too weak against Mason's attack, and the beam blew it away and hit her.

Her scouter on her eye shattered and her combat suit had a crack on it. One of her shoulder pads fell off.

Mason: "How did you like that? Want some more?"

"Mason, why won't you listen to me?!"

He punched her really hard. POW! Then kicked her. WHACK! When she was on the ground, he blasted her. Now her suit was really messed up.

"Mason, stop!"

He blasted her again. Her combat suit was completely destroyed, revealing her white dress she wore underneath. Mason hesitated when he saw the dress. It looked really familiar. He pushed that thought away and walked towards her.

Margrit: "How could you do this?"

Zelfire: "Margrit! It's no use talking to him! He's not the Mason we knew. He doesn't recognize us anymore."

Margrit: "There has to be a way to get through to him."

Zelfire: "He's going to k-kill you. Either fight him or run away."

Margrit (to herself): "It's ironic, don't you think? I always wanted a fight with Mason, and now I got what I wanted."

He ran and aimed his fist at her, and she held it.

"Why are you doing this to me? Ever since your father died you've been keeping yourself away from us! From me! You won't even let me help you! And then all of a sudden you left! I was so worried! I spent day and night looking for you, and I really missed you! And now that I've finally found you this is what I get?!"

Mason: "Shut up!"

Margrit screamed madly and let go of his fist. She powered up everything she had.

Mason: "Ohhh, looks like you're not as bad as I thought."

Margrit: I'm sorry, Mason, but this is for your own good!"

She finally began to fight back against him. He made a punch, she blocked and counter attacked. She made a chop to the left, then right. He gave her a knee her in the stomach. She jabbed his face, then struck his chest violently.

"Energy Bomb!" She blasted him and he fell. She approached and kicked him the face. Doing that, she hurt herself more than she hurt him.

An image popped up in his head. It was the time when she challenged him to a duel, and he refused.

"Damn…" Mason said, getting up.

Margrit: "It's me, Margarita, remember?"

Mason: "Mar-grit?" He looked at her with innocent eyes.

"Yes, it's me! Mason..." She offered her hand.

Mason held her hand. He smiled.

Zelfire: "No, don't!"

Mason squeezed it firmly and elbowed her stomach. He threw her against a rock. Bruises appeared on her body. "You t-tricked me. What a dirty trick."

Mason walked towards her and looked at her with hatred in his eyes.

"Mason, don't look at me that way..."

"It's over." He grabbed her hair and pulled her head up to his face. "It's the end for you."

He put her head into the pond. "Drown! Drown!" He pressed her head down violently. She was running out of air. He pulled her head up.

"Mason..."

He put her head into the water again. Suddenly, another image appeared. It was the time when he saved her in the village.

He went inside and saw Margarita laying there under a pile of rocks and wood. She was injured and barely conscious. "Margarita? Are you ok? What happened?"

"Mason?... It's you?" she said in a weak voice.

"Who did this?"

"It was Kori, he's very strong. Get out of here...now..."

"No, I can't do that. He's not gonna get away with it, I promise!" He removed the rocks from her body.

"...You're helping me? You're willing to help me...even after all I've done?"

"Of course! That's what friends are for!" He held her hand. "Everything will be alright. I promise."

Margarita was touched by his courage and sincerity. Tears were rolling down her face. "Thank you...Mason. No one has been this nice to me before." Then she suddenly yelled: "Watch out! Behind you!"

Mason: "Huh?"

He turned around but it was too late to react. A beam hit him and pushed him out of the house.

Margarita: "Nooooooo!"

Kori walked in. "Ha ha ha ha ha! Idiot. He didn't even know what hit him! Don't tell me he's part of your colony. He should learn to be more alert."

"Ahhh! What was that?" He let go of her. What was that image he saw? Is Margarita truly is ally? Is Kori his enemy?

She coughed and breathed hard. Her face was wet. "Why did you stop, huh? Why didn't you finish me off? Is it because you can't?"

"Can't? There's nothing I can't do!" He slapped her. He grabbed her neck and strangled her.

Her hands held his arm firmly, trying to push them off. His grip was getting tighter, and she was choking.

Suddenly, for an unknown reason, he let go. She was unconscious. He backed away. Another image flashed. It was his first kiss with Margarita. "Ahhhh! What are those images in my head? It's fake! It's all fake!"

("Oh really? Can't you tell what's fake and what's real?")

"Huh? Who's there?"

("What, you don't even recognize the voice of your father? Is this what I sacrificed my life for?")

"Who...what? Where are you?"

("You can't find me. I'm dead, remember? I'm only existent in your mind.")

"What kind of a trick is this?"

("Trick? This is no trick. I am your father!")

"I have no father. Now leave me alone!"

("Did you forget already? After my death, you wanted revenge so bad, you left the colony to get Starburst, leaving your friends worried sick. Then he somehow captured you and brainwashed you.")

"No, none of this is true! Go away!" He waited. Burdok didn't respond. Mason was glad that voice was gone.

Margrit was conscious again, lying on the ground. "Don't you love me anymore?"

"You're lucky today. Your life is spared. But don't let me see you again." He flew into the Battalion.

Inside the ship, Mason got a huge headache. "Uhhh, my head! What's going on?" He saw another vision.

Zorton removed his mask, and Mason saw his face for the first time.

Mason: (Zorton is old. I had no idea.)

Zorton's face was definitely not what Mason imagined him to be. He was wrinkled, with black spots on his forward. His face was one that contained years of struggle and agony, and sleepless nights.

"Mason, I am your father..."

"What?! You're kidding me, right?"

"No, it is the truth. My real name is Burdok, I am a sayan like you."

"Nooooo!"

"Please listen, I didn't mean to hide it from you..."

("Mason, do you understand now?")

"You again?" Mason said, a bit startled.

("Don't you remember? I'm your father, Burdok.")

"You did this to me. You put those illusions in my mind!"

("Do you know what you are doing?")

"I know exactly what I'm doing and I don't need your advice!"

("You are hurting your friends. And the one you love.)

"Stop it! Stop it!"

("You have been brainwashed, my child. You must remember who loves you the most, remember Margarita...and your father…")

"Get out of my head!! Ahhhhhhhhhhhh!" He breathed painfully. Burdock's voice was gone. He was relieved. "He's gone at last..."

Starburst: "Why is Mason back in the ship?"

Kori: "Maybe his job is done..."

"I doubt that very much. No way can he do it in such a short time."

Kori checked his scouter. "Hmmm, the four of them are still alive. Mason isn't done."

"He must be having some trouble. I thought those memories are completely gone! The machine was supposed to be effective!"

"Do you remember there's a slight chance he can recover his old memories?"

"Yes, it's 0.05 percent. It's so small, it's almost zero!"

"But it's not zero."

Margrit entered the control room where Mason was. "Huh? It's you. Idiot. I told you if I ever saw you again, I'd-"

"No matter what, I have to get the old you back. I have to...Because you're the one I love..."

"Quiet, you! Coming here will be your biggest mistake! I gave you chance to live, but you still came back..."

Margrit: "You could've killed me...but you didn't. Why? Why didn't you do it?" "My memories don't lie! You're my enemy!"

"You still didn't answer my question...why didn't you kill me?"

"I don't have to answer anything!"

He attacked her viciously, but this time she didn't resist. "What's wrong? Why are you not fighting back?"

"Because I don't want to."

He knocked her into the computer screen and it broke. The control pad was releasing electricity.

Margrit got up, but she didn't fight back. She just looked at Mason, wondering why the one she loves would hurt her.

"Stop looking at me like that!" He blasted her shoulder.

"Uhhhh!" She walked closer to him.

"Get back!" He blasted her again, but she ignored the pain and continued to walk towards him. "I said stay back!" He blasted her again, and it was the final blow. "Mason..." She collapsed in front of him.

Now Mason's eyes have completely changed. Now he finally realized what he's done and screamed like a mad man. "Margrit! NOOOOOO!" In a mighty rage, he destroyed the Battalion in one blow. Kaboom!

Starburst: "My ship! My precious Battalion!"

"Oh well, too bad. You win some, you lose some." Kori said as the debris slowly settled on the ground.

Piper: "Hey, isn't that the Battalion? Margrit and Mason are inside!"

Zelfire: "No! They couldn't have...they must have escaped."

"What if they didn't?"

Zelfire: "How can this be...?"

Leila: "Are you guys saying...no! I refuse to believe such a thing!"

Piper: "They must have escaped..."

Zelfire: "I can't sense them. I'm sorry. They're gone."

"Noooooo!" Piper screamed madly. Hot tears rolled down his cheeks, and they kept coming. He realized he wasn't the only one with tears. Leila was sobbing and Zelfire was crying silently.

Leila: "What a cruel fate. This didn't deserve this...they loved each other so much!"

Zelfire: "So it's true then…"

Piper: "What does it matter now…"

Zelfire: "At least…at least they were together when they died.

Just when things seemed the darkest, when they thought all hope was gone, Leila silently made a wish. A bright star slowly descended on the ground. It sparkled as Leila looked at it.

At the sight, her tears of sadness instantly turned to tears joy. "Look!" she screamed.

As the star got bigger, they recognized it as Mason, with energy all around him.

He was holding Margrit in both hands, head facing down. Once his feet touched the ground his energy faded instantly, and he fell on his knees, still holding his lover.

They quickly rushed to join Mason. "You're alive! We thought you were gone for sure."

"I...did this to her...it's all my fault..." he said in a regretful voice. He had done the most awful thing in the universe at the moment.

Piper: "Now's no the time to blame yourself!" Piper checked her heartbeat. "She's still alive, but barely."

Zelfire: "We have to get her back to the colony now!"

So they hurried back to the colony to save Margrit. Once inside, they rushed to the Medical Room.

"Doctor, will she be okay?" Piper asked nervously.

"It's hard to tell. She suffered many serious injuries. There's no telling when she might wake up." the doctor replied.

Jerrell: "Margrit! What happened?"

Mason: "I'm sorry....I did it...it's my fault..."

"You did this to her!" Jerrell said in an angry and accusing voice. No, he wasn't just angry. He was beyond pissed off.

"I'm truly sorry..." Mason said, and these words came out of his heart.

Jerrell punched Mason in the face. He didn't even flinch, despite the pain. He felt like he deserved a hundred times worse than that.

[Split screen - 3] - [Kane, Zelfire, Leila.]

Kane: "What are you doing?"

Kane and Zelfire grabbed Jerrell to protect Mason.

Jerrell: "Let me go! Let me go! I'll make him pay for hurting my sister!"

Mason: "You have every reason to be mad at me. I didn't mean to hurt her...I don't expect you to forgive me..."

Piper: "Look, it's not entire Mason's fault. Starburst and Kori are responsible!"

Jerrell: "You've gone too far this time! I told you take good care of her, now look! She tried to help you, and now she has to suffer for your mistakes!"

Mason looked down at the floor.

"I can't believe this! Margrit was injured once because of you, this time its worse!"

"So you know about the first time…"

Jerrell: "Of course. She blocked the hit for you. Why would she be so dumb to do that? I still don't understand. You've done enough, Mason. Get out of my colony."

Everyone was shocked. They all stared at Jerrell, then Mason.

Kane: "Jerrell, you're not serious!"

"Get out, before I use violence."

A fight between allies was the last thing anyone of them needed.

"I understand. I'll leave immediately." Mason said, and flew off.

Jerrell left the room, slamming the door on the way out.

Outside on a cliff, Mason's friends went to see him."

"I don't expect to be forgiven." Mason said.

Kane: "Mason, no! Jerrell is angry now. But he might change his mind later, when he is calmer."

Mason: "He cares about his sister too much. It is my fault. If I didn't run away by myself, this wouldn't have happened. I don't deserve any forgiveness..."

They didn't know what to say to him. Mason broke the silence.

"Thank you all for your concern. I will be off now."

Zelfire: "Where will you go?"

Mason: "I'm getting revenge for Margrit! And my father!"

Piper: "By yourself? You're kidding!"

Mason: "No. This is my battle. I don't want any of your help, got it?"

Leila went to see the unconscious Margrit in the healing chamber. "This is the price of love..."