Memoirs of a RAFian

[Cloak]

Well, now. It looks like its time for a second chapter while my neighbor apparently does his Chimpanzee-With-A-Drum impersonation.

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN:
Mauled Demos

"Can I just --"

"Your pushing your luck, Demos." Ash warned.

"I just need to check --"

"It's not there." Cloak said, tonelessly and dully.

"You don't know that for a --" Demos began, before quelling at Cloak's glare. Cloak had Earthsighted the entire island, and the capsule wasn't there. But Demos had apparently remembered what he went there for.

"But it does bring up a rather pertinent question," Underseen said. "What if they were activated? We don't know how many there were in there. Could be like six hundred and twenty-five or something."

"If they're still viable." Demos muttered, very quietly. Cloak eyed him wearily, as the other two did not seem to notice.

"It could just as easily have been destroyed." Ash pointed out.

"When have we ever been so fortunate?" Underseen asked rhetorically.

"Which why we should turn back!" Demos declared.

"No," the Realm Walker interjected moodily, "you should have never made the Veil-forsaken things to begin with."

"Well, I --"

Demos never got to finish the thought. He was tackled from roughly 5 o'clock. He and his assailant rolled a fair distance further along the path. When they separated, Demos stood and his silk suit regenerated into being whole, flawless suit. Only this one was powder blue, which clashed a bit with his scarlet skin.

Demos brushed it off, saying haughtily, "Luckily, I had a spare suit. They aren't easy to come by -- I had to take . . .  well, never mind."

The assailant haunched close the ground in a very visceral, bestial way. It was Maul, but incredibly more filthy.

Maul attacked, but Demos easily repelled it. Thrice more did Maul try, but all were easily repelled by Demos.

"I . . . I will . . . k-kill . . ."

"You think you can kill me?" Demos said, with a callously raucous bark of laughter. "Fool. I purposely designed the monstrosities -- yourself included Maul," he sneered at the monstrosity's chosen name, "I designed them to be incapable of overpowering me."

Something shattered within the monstrosity. But he stammered, "L-lies! It has to be a lie!"

Demos laughed rather cruelly. Cloak scowled at it, but Demos was a demon, so such behavior was in his nature. Didn't mean Cloak had to like it.

"No, Maul," Demos said. "you were designed to be an assistant -- my 'Igor' if you will. You could not accomplish even that! You were a mista--"

"Demos! That is quite enough!" Cloak roared, tiger roar intermingling with his words. Cloak had stomached just about enough, though he still felt thoroughly ill. Cruelty may be natural for a demon, but Demos was a RAFian. Such cruelty was unacceptable.

Demos quelled, and Cloak felt shame for allowing it to go so far. Cloak didn't blame Maul from running off. He gazed after Maul, and felt pity for the creature. He hadn't chosen his lot in life, and he did not deserve it.

"Demos, we obviously need to have a talk," Cloak said, turning and roughly chevvying Demos away.

Underseen looked at Demos, and commented quietly, "And he's supposed to be a good guy."

[Underseen]

Wow, I don't like the way Demos treats Maul.

[Cloak]

Oh, Demos will get told off for it, Underseen. And its gonna come around and bite him in the butt. Anyway, here is the penultimate chapter of this book.

CHAPTER NINETEEN:
Caveats and Regrets

Maul blustered and ran, trying not to cry. Then he realized one of Demos's cruelties was not giving the monstrosity tear ducts, depriving him the ability to cry. He felt hollowed out, like a candleless jack-o'-lantern.

He ran and ran -- what else do find out that the sole purpose for your creation, for your life, was slavery? That your existence was nothing but a mistake? Kind of makes your sense self-worth go out the window.

"Considered my offer yet?" came the voice, gentle but powerful.

Maul looked up and said nothing. He was at rock-bottom, he had nothing. He almost wished for death than this cruelty of life. Blissful Yveltal over cruel, cruel Xerneas.

"Ah, you recieved some soul-shattering news, I take it?" Malice said, leaning lazily against a tree scratching Ravager's left ear.

Maul looked down, tripped, and laid sprawled on the ground. He tried to cry, but he could not.  He wanted death, he wanted the grim reaper's scythe to taste his blood . . . assuming Demos had denigned to give any!

"Death could be a swift or slow," Malice said, conversationally, examining her glove. "I see your pain upon your . . . your disfigurement."

Now he gets to be mocked! Wasn't it bad enough Death is continually standing him up? Wasn't it bad enough that his existence was pointless? Now he had to be here, in the mud, and mocked?

"There is another option you know." Malice said, conspiratorily. "You don't have to endure this pain. You can give your own existence purpose. That's for you to decide."

Maul, distraught and disillusioned, looked up at Malice. He dare not hope for such a thing.

"I can recreate you. I can give you power." Malice said. "But do not think of betraying me. I had someone try that and I dealt with him the same way that I will with you, should you choose treachery over loyalty."

Maul hesitated for only a second, before he said, "I will do what you ask of me. I pledge my loyalty."

"You had better be sure," Malice standing, and walking toward Maul. "There is no backing out."

This time, there was no hesitation.

"I understand. And I accept those terms."

***

"You were completely out of line!" Cloak roared.

"I am a demon!" Demos countered, albeit less loudly. "It is my nature."

"That does not mean that it is right!" Cloak countered. "There was no need to take it that far! I understand cruelty is one of the most basic instincts of demons, Demos. But you crossed the line today, and I was under the impression you were workingnto curb those tendacies."

Demos sighed, showing legitimate remorse. "Look, I know. I know it was wrong, but I couldn't stop myself."

Then he looked up, "Of all people, you should know what it's like."

That took Cloak off-guard. That was a feat in and of itself -- Cloak was always so guarded.

"Cloak, I know about your struggles to keep your powers under control," Demos said, earnestly. "You know you're not the only one with such a struggle to reconcile? Granted, mine isn't as extreme as yours, but it does not lessen it's legitimacy."

Cloak waited a couple of beats.

"You had better not be trying to play me, Demos." Cloak warned.

[Cloak]

Well, Saffa, does this make up for missing -- whatever it was that you missed?

Last chapter of Book #50.

CHAPTER TWENTY:
Reminisce and Remade

After the Demos debacle, Cloak retired to his thread. He was irresistably reminded of his first days in RAF . . . of finding people like himself, although different species. . . .

Cloak reminisced in song about his first days, first weeks, as a RAFian.

Whatever you do, I'll do it too.
Show me everything, tell me how.
It all means something,
Yet nothing to me.
I can see there's so much to learn.
It's all so close and yet so far.
I see myself as she sees me.
Oh, I knew that there was something
More out here!

Then the chorus sounded.

I wanna know! Can you show me?
I wanna know about these
People like me.
Tell me more, please show me!
Something's familiar with these
People like me?

Then another verse.

Ooo, these emotions I never knew
Of some other realm far beyond that place.
Beyond the "me, me, mes", above the bows.

The chorus sounded twice more. Cloak sighed. It has been a long five years, half a Nexus year. So much has happened within that time frame.

***

Malice was in full mad scientist mode. She was glancing upwards. She pulled a long lever, which lowered a table.

"Don't fret, my little Ravager," she said affectionally. "He survived the process."

The table turned to an angle revealing the creature looked nothing like Maul. He had four limbs -- two arms, two legs. His arm resembled the photographic negative of a Chesnaught. He possessed a shield on his back similar to BlackWarGreymon, only completely blank. His legs and torso resembled a cross between Zero and Mega Man. His head was encapsulated in a helmet like Samus's from "Metroid". A groan emitted from the bulky creature.

"See, little Ravager," Malice smiled, "he lives."

"Wha . . ." said the creature woozily. "Did it work, Milady?"

"Yes," Malice said. "You're so much more than Maul now."

Malice stood with her hands behind her back.

"So, rise, my minion." Malice announced withnringing tones. "Arise, Mega Maul!"

[redtailedsaffa]

It certainly did - jeez, you shouldn't have. Wow, those last chapters were really strong. Love the character defilement.

Not sure if that's Mega-Maul or Frankenmaul.

EDIT: And here's the PDF!

[Cloak]

Character defilement? Saffa, you make it sound so . . . dirty.

BOOK LI:
THE ERISED ORBS
CHAPTER ONE:
New Toys, Old Wounds

Parker was wrestling with what appeared to be an oily individual, whose mask slipped revealling him to be an Akrennian wearing an "MIB"-standard human suit. Parker knew there was a black market for such disguises.

"Stop resisting, Akrennian!" Parker snarled as he handcuffed and subdued the alien. "You're under arrest for Panunsian trafficking."

This had become somewhat of a problem. Panunsians were being captured and exported to the animal black market. From there, they either functioned as guard dogs (even though they weren't remotely canine), but mostly they were sold for so-called canned "hunting" -- that is shooting an animal in a cage, and acting as it that is some big accomplishment. It is a despicable, deplorable act. It doesn't help that Panunsians are quite rare or that they have a corporeal fission ability like their Splixson prey.

Turns out that this Akrennian was planning to use this to force a Splixson family to do his bidding as his slaves. Only he hadn't expected Parker to have catch him smuggling in the illegal animal. . . . Which escaped and Saffa, Noelle, and Abby were forced to find.

It split into three to take the morphers by surprise. The three had to acquire the Panunsians to calm them down -- as well as add a powerful morph to their arsenal.

Eventually, they managed to relocate the Panunsian to a reserve. The Akrennian was dealt with severely.

***

Cloak was clinging to the side of a sheer cliff, unable to get up, and certain oblivion below. He dug his claws into the side of the rocky cliff, sliding slightly downward.

In his panic, Cloak noticed a figure in the darkness. He realized that he . . . he recognized her.

"Ursa!" he cried out, sliding down a fraction of an inch. He swallowed, then pleaded, "Mother! Help me!"

She hesitated for a moment, remaining in the shadows. Then she launched herself forward, digging her ursine claws into the flesh of Cloak's hands. Cloak let out a roar of pain.

Then she said coldly, "Long live the RAFian."

Cloak's eyes widened. His own mother said those words, and he suddenly knew what would happen. She pulled her hands from the rock, pulling Cloak's hands, his claws, free. Then she withdrew her claws from his hands . . . and Cloak fell. Down, down, down . . .

This jerked Cloak awake, sitting up. He felt hollow as he usually did after the dream.

This was not the first time he's had it. And he knew the meaning of it full well.

When he needed help, his mother would never acquiesce assistance. He had to do it on his own -- yet she would claim credit if anything good came of it, though she deserved none.

Cloak kicked his feet over the edge of his bed. He put his head in his hands. He had thought he had moved past this. Why was his mind constantly dwelling on such unhappy things? Why couldn't he reconcile his past?

[redtailedsaffa]

LOL. You know what I mean. Besides, that's what makes the story. Now if only someone would inform a certain Steven Moffat of that fact...

Anyway, I went back to the list and saw which one was next, and ooh, I'm excited.

[Cloak]

Ah, well, look up (or down as the case may be). The first chapter's in my last post.

Sleepy right now, I will try to post another chapter later.

[redtailedsaffa]

Oh.

I hate it when the edit thing doesn't mark the thread as "new".

[Cloak]

That's why I have my sig.

'Kay. See if I've enough energy to post another chapter. I may have spent it all last night on those last four chapters.

CHAPTER TWO:
Dangerous Discoveries

Malice, Ravager, and Mega Maul were in an ancient part of the Nexus known as the Forest of the Forgotten. No one dared go into that cursed place, for the tales rumored that if one goes in, they will never leave.

Malice dismissed these stories and myths and legends as old wives' tales. Ravager and Mega Man were ignorant of them, but they did not raise any objection.

"Forward," was Malice's constant refrain. Her pet and her bodyguard were silent, and blindly trudged through the dense wood with her.

"Stop! Go no further," Malice said. The two complied without the slightest hesitation. But Mega Maul could completely hide his curiosity -- which amused Malice, but even she herself did not understand the emotion she felt. She decided to ignore it.

"The items we seek must be nearby." Malice said, with a crisp, clipped, business-like tone. "This is the deepest, darkest part of the Forest of the Forgotten."

Then they peered pass the trees that looked irresistibly like lifeless Trevenants.

"Yes," Malice said, apparently seeing something that the other two could not. "That must be the carcass of the last Black Mercy* plant."

Then Malice used her energy to encapsulate several orbs in an energy sphere. She pulled them to her, but did not touch them.

"The seeds of the Black Mercy," she said, relishing the moment. "The fabled Erised Orbs."

***

Cloak sat on a stumpy boulder that had a flat top. There he tried to meditate, to reconcile the feelings of betrayal, and lovelessness he felt.

He could not just continue to dwell on his bad fortune in early life -- born of an alcoholic and a narcissist. Of all the verbal and emotional abuse he had suffered at the hands of his mother -- someone he was supposed to be able to trust unconditionally.

No, Faith had always fulfilled the role of confidente, his grandfather as mentor, his aunt and friends as advisers and guides.

It was not like his life was without positives. His elements training with his late grandfather . . . becoming a RAFian . . .and most of all, possibly the most positive experience of his life -- when Shadow came forth from her Life-Light Egg.

Then he saw sudden movement, and soon all was black. . . .

---
*You might see where this is going from this clue -- if you're a Justice League Unlimited expert.

[Underseen]

Leaving us on a cliff at the end of this chapter.

[Cloak]

You mean cliffhanger, right, Underseen?

Hmmm. . . . Unless I'm mistaken there are more "Memoir" books then there are Super Bowls -- 50 > 48. Meh.

Remember, a "~" means the chapter is unfinished, incomplete.

CHAPTER THREE:
A Senseless, Confusing World

He was in the Nexus. He had no memory of ever leaving. Nothing was as it should be, but Cloak himself remained oblivious to it.

In this new world, there were realms, but they were more like vacation spots. No unscripted dangers or troubles.

Cloak's parents were together and supportive. His father was not brutish, and never overindulged in the drink. His mother was caring and selfless, able to put aside her own desires to allow her children to grow into who they were. He was able to get along with Dagger, without any sense of competition.

Only Faith and Shadow and his beloved aunt remained unchanged.

It was a secret desire of his, and everything felt artificial, but he chose to ignore it. He could delude himself into believing that it was real.

He found himself falling in love with a serval-form Realm Walker named Athena, after spending several weeks with her. Then he berated himself for it.

"If there's a price for rotten judgement,
I guess I already paid that.
No woman is worth the aggravation.
That's ancient history.
Been there. Done that."

Then came a chorus from which Cloak himself could not see. They sounded like Horse, Fairie, Underseen, Saffa, and Abby, though.

"Who do ya think you're kidding?
She's the earth and heaven to ya.
Try to keep it hidden.
Honey, we can see right through ya!"

Cloak sang, "Oh no!" as the chorus continued.

"You can't conceal it,
We know how you're feeling.
Who you're thinking off."

Cloak continued.

"Oh! No chance! No way!
I won't say it. No, no!"

"You swoon, you sigh.
Why deny it?
Uh oh!"

"It's too cliche.
I won't say I'm in love!
I thought my heart had learned its lesson.
It's so hard to start out.
My head is screaming, 'Get a grip, Cloak!
Unless your willing to rip your heart out.'

Oh-oh!"

"When ya gonna face it like a grown-up?
When ya gonna own up
That you got, got, got it bad?"

"Oh, no chance! No way!
I won't say it. No, no!"

"Give up! Give in!
Check the grin, you're in love!"

"This scene won't play.
I won't say that i'm in love!
You're way off base!
I won't say it!
GET OFF MY CASE!
I won't say it!"

"Boy, don't be proud,
It's okay.
You're in love!"

"Oh, at least out loud,
I won't say I'm in love . . . "

Cloak sighed, and pictured Athena. Unaware that she was doing the same.

[redtailedsaffa]

Oh, boy.

[Cloak]

I'm not sure if it was clear, but she was picturing me, and I was picturing her.

Still tired for work and there's terrible weather in the forecast tomorrow. *sigh*

CHAPTER FOUR:
He's In Love

As Athena and Cloak became closer, this couldn't help but be noticed by others. His sisters easily took notice.

"Who?" Dagger asked her elder sister.

"I'm talking about Cloak, that's who." Faith replied, in such a way that recalled Shadow.

"What about him?"

"He sure is acting fishy lately. Spinning in circles, chasing his tail."

"That boy is up to his hood in sumthin," Dagger agreed.

Then the obligatory music began.

"He's dizzy and he's dreamy."

"Polishing all that chrome."

"Eyes gone all bleary,
It's like there's no one home!"

Then sung together in a duet.

"He floats away for days,
Gazing at the coastal shelf."

Then Faith sang:

"You ask him where he's goin',
He blushes like a fool."

"He never has time to duel."

"It's more than just a phase!"

"Face it, he's just not himself!"

"Is he ill or insane?"

"Is it water on the brain?"

Then they sung together:

"What has got him bothered so?"

Then they brainstormed:

"It's the bends?"

"It's the flu?"

"I wish we had a clue."

Then they snapped their fingers.

"Oh, wait! Oh, dear!
Good grief! It's clear!
He's in love!
He's in love!
He's in love!
He's in love!
Glory be!
One of us!
Gotta be!
He's in love!"

Then Shadow came up, after some sport she was playing ended with her team the victors.

"Hey, Shadow," Faith said, "do you know anything weird with your uncle?"

"Oh, you mean Uncle Cloaky? I'll say!"

"He acts like he doesn't see me*.
Doesn't even speak.
He treats me like shashmi
Leftover from last week.*
You see him late at night,
Tossing in his ample bed.
He's going out on a limb.
He's oblivious as rocks.
You walk right up and tap him,
He lays there like a lox!
As sure as the doggish bite,
Somethin' made him lose his head!
And he sighs and he swoons,
And he's humming little tunes."

Then Cloak's sisters sang:

"Even has a sorta glow!"

"Itsnotreal . . ."

"What in the Nexus could it be?"

Then Cloak's sisters sang:

"Anyone can see.
That sigh, that mope, that swoon --"

"Oh, no!

He's in love!
He's in love!
He's in love!
He's in love!
See him blush,
See him grin.
Got to be love he's in!
Uncle and someone,
Sitting in a tree,
K-I-S-S-I-N-G!
It's clear as H₂O!"

"You know I can hear you, right?" Cloak said, poking his head into the room.

"Itsnotreal . . ."

"Huh?" Cloak looked confused, but no one else seemed to hear it. Or care.

---
*This should be a clue that not all is as it seems.

[redtailedsaffa]

Avoiding Shadow?

Sounds more like the orbs are creating a world of Malice's desire rather than yours.