A race which has no end....

The Celestial Divide....

*Our scene is set....well, it's difficult to describe, really.  Strictly speaking, one could say that it takes place in the mysterious underground ruins known as the City of God....but due to a large amount of space/time distortion, the true location of the scene is a bit "removed" from the dimension in which the EGC and the City of God reside....*

*In fact, the scenery of the City of God is visible only as a dim, hazy apparition here, a sort of backdrop.  Over this eerie background appears a circle of brightly illuminated objects with vaguely elliptical shapes--but if one looks closely, it is evident that those shapes are just auras which surround beings of somewhat humanoid shape.  There are 16 such beings, 15 of which appear to be of roughly human size, but one of which towers over the rest....*

Adam (the big one, of course): At long last, our hunt draws close to an end....

Sachiel: But we are incomplete.

Shamshel: It matters not.

Ramiel: Indeed.

Gaghiel: No, no, Sachiel's point is valid....how are we to perform our mission in our fragmented state?

Israfel: The hunt is key to completing the mission!

Gaghiel: I am not referring to the hunt for Lilith's key.

Sandalphon: Ah, the traitors....the other traitors, that is.

Matariel: Tabris, Malachi, Uriel, Sariel....what shall be done with them?

Sahaqiel: I would recommend destroying them.

Ireul: Of course _you_ would.  I say they can be redeemed.

Leliel: I agree.  Sahaqiel, your opinion is biased and cannot be trusted.

Sahaqiel: How dare you question my judgement--

Bardiel: Do not be arrogant, Sahaqiel! This is not your decision to make.

Adam: Silence.

*The squabbling Angels are quited instantly by their leader and creator's command.*

Adam: Petty bickering will get us nowhere.  Besides, it is out of place here.  This objective is critical.  Lilith's actions are inexcusable.  Despite her claims, she no longer serves the purposes of the Sephiroth.

Zeruel: But this is simply the Key....the Key is autonomous.

Adam: You do not understand the nature of the Key, Zeruel.  She is Lilith's consciousness, her sentience.  Lilith cannot act without the Key--in effect, Lilith _is_ the Key.

Arael: What shall be done?

Adam: This matter must be handled delicately....

Almisael: Hai.  The Key is dangerous.  We must regain the support of her allies.

Sahaqiel: And what if it cannot be done?! I say they have fallen too far....

Rogziel: Sahaqiel, your foolish prejudices are only counterproductive in the end....but even still, you raise a good point.

Sahaqiel: Indeed....their human forms have corrupted them.  They are _her_ allies now.

Zeruel: So, Adam-sama....how shall we proceed?

Adam: If Tabris, Malachi, Uriel, and Sariel do not return on their own volition, they will have to be destroyed. They are unnecessary to the overall plan--their original purpose was infiltrating the strongholds of the Lilim, which is no longer an important goal for us.

Rogziel: Shall we descend unto the earthly plane once more?

Adam: No....it is too dangerous now.

Ramiel: They have the Trinity....

Israfel: And the Son has a Companion now.

Adam: Quite.  The situation has gone beyond mere "danger." They have the Trinity, and the other artificial ones, particularly my duplicate.  And there are other factors.

Sandalphon: The Fallen?

Adam: Hai.  Her...._consort_....and the others.  Ravenal and her ilk.  They must be dealt with at some point.

Sahaqiel: But that would merely be aiding the traitors! Ravenal and the other Fallen oppose them as well!

Bardiel: Not if the traitors return to the fold.

Adam: All of this is immaterial.  Our primary objective is Lilith.  She must be captured and bound as quickly as possible.  Her consort and her offspring are to be destroyed immediately.

Shito: Hai, Adam-sama.  It shall be done.

Adam: We shall make this City of God our headquarters....the strike shall begin soon.  Rogziel, Zeruel, and Ireul will be the first wave of the attack.  If necessary I shall use Barakiel, Neriah, Oriel, and Iadiel as backup.

Rogziel: The False Ones? They are unnecessary!

Adam: They will be cannon fodder, nothing more.  Now then....your instructions shall come soon.  Dismissed.

Shito: Hai, Adam-sama.  For the glory of the Sephiroth.

*Again, the plot thickens....conflict is afoot! ^_-*

End communication.

Roll call!

Johnny: Johnny The Man, best-armed cyborg around and really needin´ to kick some fins!

Roach: Roach here, an Uzi in each of my four hands and ready to sweep the stage!

Self-Insert Sikaryan, bored to death over lack of roach sightings in the past three minutes! *Sikaryan turns around to his cameos and grins boyishly* Awwwwwright! We´re two roachbusters and one actual roach, all armed to the teeth and eager on offing some vermin!

Johnny: Yeeehaw!

Roach: Hear, hear!

Right boys, ´s what I wanted to hear. Okee then! Let´s split up and search some roaches!

(*And since no-one has any objections against that suggestion, the trio splits up in order to get picked off more efficiently...*)

Roach: Umh... pardon me, RL-sama... but... isn´t that a bad thing? Oo;

(*Umh... erh... gomen ne! ^^; What I meant was: "in order to search the surroundings faster" -- and now bugger off and let me rebuild the Fourth Wall!*)

Roach: Yeah yeah... ¬_¬

(*Characters these days... tst! Oh well.. back to the action!*)

Good. I´ll take a quick look at that storage hall over there, Johnny, you´ll go this way, and Roach´ll go that way. If all goes well, we´ll meet again in the bar at 0800 hours. Let´s go!

(*The trio splits up and heads off into different directions.*)

Roach Leader: Drat and double drat! One entire batallion of the MRA blasted to bits! And not only that, somebody managed to infect my precious Gregor with the CIH Virus! Aaaarrrrr!!!!!

Dr. Gerbil: *shrug* That´s war for you... you win some, you lose some...

Roach Leader: Some!? We lost more than a thousand good soldiers in that bombing assault!

Dr. Gerbil: Oh, please, you need see things positively! Think of it as an unfortunate temporal setback that gives you the time you need to re-organize the invasion.

Roach Leader: Unfortunate setback, eh? Hm. I might even warm to that-- huh?

(*There are explosions outside the CC. Alarms go off and gun volleys echo to and fro.*)

Roach Leader: What the hell is going on there? *turns to Random Roach Soldier* Soldier, go and have a look at whatever´s going on there.

Random Roach Soldier: Yes Sir! *activates Com screen* Station One, report in! Station One! Can you hear me!? Sir, I get no reply!

Roach Leader: Try number two.

RRS: Yes Sir, of course Sir! Station #2, come in Two! Do you copy? Hello? Hello! No response either!

Roach Leader: What the hell is going on down there?

RRS: I don´t know Sir! But, Sir, I´ll go and have a look, Sir, if you want, Sir. Roach Leader: Do that.

(*The roach salutes and turns and is just about to leave when a bullet slams into his head and, according to the fact that no two objects can occupy the same space at the same time, convinces his brain to spread itself over the floor instead. A certain well-known Self-Insert appears in the doorframe, a sly smile on his face.*)

Helloooooooo there... the vermin bigwig, I presume? Guess who´s come for a visit!

Roach Leader: You! You are the one, the Self-Insert who made one of my soldiers switch sides! You´ll pay for that!

Whoo... do I feel anger? Should I be afraid? Stop babbling and bring it on, gaichu! *Just when he is about to put an end to the Roach Leader´s existance, someone is beamed into the room, directly in front of him. Sikaryan takes a surprised step back.* Nani kuso..!!

Dr. Gerbil: Allow me to introduce the last Anti-Insert: Nayrakis. Unfortunatelly the original Anti-Avatar I created fell through one of those plotholes Rebopp left lying around, so I had to use a clone instead. *mumbles to self* Although everyone knows using clones never leads to success... I better get out of here really fast! *draws out control pad, pushes a button, and vanishes in a beam of light*

Nayrakis: Stand back, sir! We can´t risk losing you this short before our triumph. I´ll take care of everything.

Roach Leader: Uh-huh, whatever, just get rid of that Self-Insert!

Nayrakis: It´ll be my pleasure, Sir.

Roach Leader: I´m outta here! *pushes a button on a computer console and disappeares through the secret door that opens in result. Not two seconds after he is away, the CC´s door slams shut. Sikaryan and his antagonist are now trapped inside the room.*

Okubyo na! >.< *throws gun to the ground when he sees his victim escaping* Come back here and let me finish you off for good!

Nayrakis: The only one who´ll be finished off is you, avatar. I was created to crush you. There is no way you can defeat me!

Mimashou yo. Show me if you can do more than just talking in platitudes. *flings away his trenchcoat and falls into Battle Stance* Ikuzo!

Announcer: Round One! Fight! (*Street Fighter theme music begins to play on cue*)

Nayrakis: Flame Geysir!!! *A roaring flame breaks through the floor and engulfes Sikaryan*

*Runs in circles around Nayrakis and throws hands up.* Waaaah!!! My hair is on fire! My hair is on fire! My hair is on fire!

Nayrakis: Will cut out these OCRs and fight for real! >_<

Gee... you´re no fun. ¬.¬ But okee, you want a fight, you get one. Sen Den Kyaku!!! *Sikaryan dashes forward and delivers a series of quick, forceful kicks to Nayrakis´s chest, finishing with a somersault kick to his chin. Nayrakis is thrown backwards and slammed into a console.*

Nayrakis: *Ermerging from the console, wiping some blood from the corner of his mouth* That´s better. But not good enough! Kyaaaaaahhh!!! *The anti-avatar rushes forward and rams his left fist into Sikaryan´s guts.*

Nngh! *Topples backwards, but he manages to remain upright. He pants heavily, but also grins broadly.* Naruhodo. You really want to make me angry, huh?

Nayrakis: No. I really want to see you dead.

I won´t make it that easy for you. Denkaken!!! *Sikaryan´s aura bursts into an enourmous blast of energy, at the same time fizzling with electricity and roaring with licking flames. It expands rapidly. Nayrakis jumps back and crosses his arms in front of his face.*

Nayrakis: Aura Shield! *A faint blue glow surrounds him instantly, just a second before the burst of energy reaches him. The energy finally dies away and reveals a totally unharmed Nayrakis* I´m getting tired of this piffling fight. Power Surge! *Nayrakis raises his right fist and channels his Qi into it, surrounding it with an aura of enormous power.* Any last wishes?

Only a question.

Nayrakis: Who am I to refuse my delinquent´s last wish? Go ahead.

Okee, here´s the question: you´re 100% like me?

Nayrakis: I´m a clone, dumbass. Of course I´m 100% like you!

Very good. *A sly smile spreads on his lips* Mizukyuu! *A small ball of water appears just above Nayrakis´s head and explodes, showering the Anti-Avatar with water.*

Nayrakis: I don´t... Hey, what the--?! *With a loud POOF!, Nayrakis turns into a white and, to say the least, mildly bewildered Chocobo*

You forgot one teeny weeny little thing: my Jusenkyo Curse of the Drowned Chocobo. Didn´t they tell you about that unpleasant side effect of me losing all my powers when I change, and that since you´re exactly like me, you do, too? Oohhh, I´m so sorry! Too bad for you, ne?

Nayrakis: "(O> !!!

*Grins evilly* Sayonara, Mr. Anti-Insert Clone! Kuuchuuken! *The helpless Chocobo is shreddered to bits* I hope I don´t get trouble with the guys from WWF for killing helpless animals just for fun... ^^; *looks around* How do I get out of here? ;_;

(*In the Sewers, a certain traitor holds his nose ...*)

Roach:  Peeyoo .... why the heck did I follow those targets down here?

Voice:  Will of an RL.  The little twerps are like that.

Roach: (*spins around*) You..!

Roach Leader:  What, you wouldn't shoot your honorable leader, would you?

Roach:  Um ... considering those new toys of yours, I think not.

Roach Leader:  Attaboy.

Roach:  (*whimper*)

Roach Leader:  Oh, come come, I haven't shot you yet ... and everyone knows I'm not the sort to waste time ...

Roach:  What about the Spider Chronicles?

Roach Leader:  Shut up.

Roach:  What do you want, anyway?  Go away and leave me alone!

Roach Leader:  Oh, my, what a wit.  You must take after your mother.

Roach:  Uh ... and what's that supposed to mean?

Roach Leader: (*smirking*) What do you think?

Roach:  My mother's not a roach?

Roach Leader: Nope.

Roach:  I don't have a mother?

Roach Leader: Two wrong, smarty.

Roach:  You've been eating liverwurst?

Roach Leader: No, you dumbass ... I am your father!

Roach:  Aaaaaaa!!  It's a Star War-sy plot twist!

Roach Leader: Oh, don't act so shocked.  Roaches are very prolific.

Roach:  Err ........ and this means, whatnot, you're going to invite me back?

Roach Leader: No, I'm going to blast you with much glee now, but it'll be a real lightshow 'cause you're my progeny!  Guahaha!  Armor Extra 3ac Square!

(*clink clink clash clink ching ching clink ka-CHING*)

Roach:  Um ... crap, definately CRAP! (*runs, followed by the Roach Leader in his behemothic armor*)

Um ... no problems, right Sikaryan-sama? ^^;;;;;;;;