Old story, Old Memories.

A long time ago I belonged to a great group of people on MSN's fledgling community system. We loved our group so much that we even wrote our own "fan fics" for the place..using our own myriad of ID's and characters. This was the begining (and longest) contribution to the fan fics.
It's a few years old and dated and I was tempted to go through and change a lot of this before posting it, but I figured 'what the hell' and posted it with only a minimum of corrections.
I present My story with no real plot (there was one..a really complex one too!) but some decent fight scenes.
The one thing that was to be constant through out the entre story was a series of running battles with SilverRaven. For some reason I had always wanted to kick her ass ;)

BETWEEN REALMS

There are creatures in the night forest that can move quietly and unnoticed. They can kill without being detected and carry off their prey to feast in relative obscurity. No creature exists, however, that is as silent or as deadly as a vampire on the hunt for blood....

SilverRaven enjoyed the fact that no matter how hard or how fast she ran, her footsteps made no sound. Her stealth was really unnecessary, for her prey was still a good five kilometers off and already knew that the Vampire was coming for her...but Raven loved the quiet, the only sound being the wind rushing by, and she loved pouncing on a victim when they least expected an attack.

The only thing that soured this hunt was the fact that it was more of an assignment. It was not for the thrill of the chase or the exhilaration of feasting on the girl’s warm blood as her life was drained away, but a simple mission for The Kingdom.

After another kilometer, the girl’s scent started to become fresher as Raven closed in. Raven gave up a little of her stealth in order to move faster. Better to get this over with and find someone worthy of the hunt, she figured.

It was then that she stopped short, surprised to see a cloaked figure step into her path. It had been centuries since anyone had gotten the drop on her, and she had thought that she was just too well experienced for it to happen again. Guess I was wrong, she thought.

The figure stepped forward, but not out of the darkness, "Hello Raven, it’s been a while."

Did she know this man? Even with the enhanced sight of a Vampire, she could not pierce the darkness to see him. "Out of my way stranger, I am hunting"

"I know" was his simple answer

Raven went to walk around him when he again stepped onto her path "You are close to angering me and losing your life stranger."

"You don’t recognize me? Even by the sound of my voice?" he chuckled quietly "I hadn’t thought that I had been away that long"

A look of genuine surprise flashed across her face when she did recognized him. "Nass!? Is that you?"

He chuckled again, and the shroud of darkness seemed to lift from him and she was finally able to see his face. "Now that’s better" he said.

"Nass I’d really love to stay and chat my friend, but you really have interrupted something important here."

The smile faded from his face and was replaced by a look of sadness in his eyes. "I know Raven, that’s why I’m here. You can’t kill this girl."

"Excuse me?" another surprise. She hoped this wasn’t going to become a habit with the Jedi.

"You cannot kill the girl."

"Nass, the fate of Nexus depends upon this girl. I must kill her" again she tried to go around him and again he moved to block her path.

"The fate of the universes also depends on this girl. I cannot allow you to pass." the look of sadness deepened.

"You cannot...." she started

"I will not"

There it was, the challenge. He dropped his cloak to the ground but made no move other than that. He was his usual black Jedi Tunic and trousers, but there was one significant difference, his lightsabre was nowhere to be seen. Instead he had a long dagger shoved into his belt. Most unsettling was the simple and unmistakable wooden stake on the opposite side.

"So you have come here to kill me." she said.

"No, only to stop you." he replied, a look of total sadness in on his face. Whatever reason he was doing this, it was obvious that he took no pleasure in it.

"Then.....You will have no choice but to try to kill me Nass the Jedi. I cannot abandon this." She stood ready to defend against the Jedi, yet he made no move towards her, nor did he move out of her way.

"It would be best if you did not provoke me SilverRaven." His voice was suddenly cold and emotionless. "I don’t think that I still have the capabilities to control my anger." The only motion he made was to imitate Raven’s defensive posture.

It was SilverRaven that was trying to control her anger at that moment. Nass had been away from the Nexus for the past six months, there was no way that he could possibly know what he was interfering with. Or did he? His words and actions stated that he did know-something-at least. Had he turned? Fallen to the "Dark Side" that these Jedi fear so much?. She tossed those thoughts aside in an instant. He was in her way. That’s all that mattered. She didn’t want to kill him, but if he would not move.....

"I do not know what your problem is Nass, but this problem is beyond any friendship we may have. If you do not get out of my way I will have to kill you." He didn’t move, not a muscle. "So be it then...you have decided your fate" She leapt at him with the speed that only a Vampire could achieve, her hands in front of her and aimed at his throat. Once again he surprised her by unexpectedly moving out her way. He had moved faster than she had thought a Jedi could and without making barely a sound. Maybe he’d been holding back in his mock battles with War and Ghost, she thought.

She turned around just in time to catch a kick to the side of her head that had been meant for the base of her skull. The force of the blow actually spun her around. Before she regained her balance, she felt a slight impact on her chest accompanied by a soft "whump" sound. She looked down to see the wooden stake buried deep into her chest, just centimeters from her heart. Another surprise. Nass seemed to be full of them tonight. "You missed" she coughed.

He backed away from her a step and shrugged, "I know. My Jedi instinct got in the way".

Then Raven received her final surprise of the night. As Nass stepped back, he moved directly into moonlight that had penetrated the thick upper layers of the forest canopy. The dim light illuminated two distinct marks on his neck...."My god Nass," she breathed, "what have you done?"

He quickly turned away. "I did what was needed to win this battle Raven. Much rested on me being able to defeat you this night."

Everything about him made sense now, and for the first time in centuries, Raven’s felt the beginnings of fear creep into her soul. At the same time, she felt anger and an exhilaration of a challenge flow into her as she realized that this was a battle that she could easily lose. She could not let that happen. With a feral yell she leaped at him again. This time he made no attempt to move away as she assaulted him with a flurry of punches and kicks. At first he slowly fell back, blocking most of her attacks with a speed that no mortal had yet mastered. Then he counterattacked with a ferocity that matched Raven’s own. Neither made any attempt to reach for the daggers they both kept at their sides. This was a contest of skill not of weaponry as they traded blows and ground back and forth. Finally, a lucky roundhouse that connected with Nass’ jaw caused the Jedi to stumble over an exposed tree root and onto the ground. Raven followed close behind him as he rolled away to right himself on one knee. His arm shot out from his side as he came up and she remembered too late about his mastery of the Force. Sharp pain shot through her chest followed by a more intense explosion of pain as he used the force to push the wooden stake still embedded there even deeper before ripping back out of his chest to fly into his waiting hand.

He leapt in front of her again before she could completely recover. Using his free hand he grabbed her by the hair and yanked her head back. "I’m so sorry." was all he said as he stabbed the stake into her chest again. She wanted to fall to the ground, but he quickly move behind her and held her up. She felt no pain this time as his hand grabbed her chin and pulled her head around to the sound of snapping vertebrae.

Only now did he let her limb body fall slowly to the ground as another person emerged from the darkness. "That was most impressive Jedi. I never thought anyone could defeat her" The figure stopped with a bemused look on his face "You’re not crying are you?"

"Surely you know something of personal betrayal Nigel Eternity. What I have done goes against everything I have ever learned as a Jedi...and....She was my friend" He wiped the tears from his eyes and turned away from the Vampire hunter. "There is a cave about three kilometers east of here. Take her there and wait for me."

"You’re not coming? It will be daylight soon."

"I know Eternity, but I have other matters to attend to this night. I will return when I am done."

Nigel Eternity shrugged and reached down to heft Raven’s body onto his shoulder. By the time he stood and turned around, Nass was already long gone.
*****
It wasn’t the first time that he had to care for someone else and play bodyguard, but it was probably the only time that Ghost had ever done it with out the thought of getting anything in return. He dropped another log onto the camp fire as he sat down close to it to warm his hands. He that there wasn’t much time left before one of the Nexus search parties would find them. He just couldn’t move as fast as he wanted to in this weather, and with his charge in such a condition.

He glanced over at his companion whom he was protecting. So this is what it takes to get me to play the good Samaritan huh? At least it’s worth it.......for once.

"If you keep looking at me like that Ghost, I’ll start to think you have a crush on me."

He chuckled and rubbed his hands near the fire. "Maybe I do Rogue, maybe I do."

Rogue stood from her position on the opposite side of the fire from Ghost and gathered her blankets around her as she moved to sit next to him. "I would hope that you do, it’s the only way to explain why you followed me all the way out here." She laid her head on his shoulder and closed her eyes. Normally he may have shied away from such a personal gesture, but not this time...and not her. He put his arm around her and felt her shivering from the cold. She already had a thick wool jacket and both of their blankets on her, but they just didn’t seem to be enough. He didn’t say so, but he knew it wasn’t just a cold going through her system, though he suspected that she already knew that.

He moved only to slip his own jacket off of his shoulders and drape it over hers. She started to protest, but she was simply to weak to argue. They stayed like that for almost an hour until he was sure that she was asleep. Then he gently laid her down, taking a spare shirt out of his pack to use as a makeshift pillow for her head. It’s a good thing nobody can see me now. It would just ruin my image for anyone to think of me as "sensitive" He stood and stretched his tired muscles. For two days they had been on the run. He didn’t even know why, he just knew that the Hosts had been the ones to order execution, and they were afraid of something that she might do, or say, or something. Not for the first time in the past few days he thought of Nass, one of the few Hosts that had ever supported him and his crazy ideas, and wishing he was around right now. If only I had someone to make fun of.....Nass would be a perfect target right now....

"Well I’m glad somebody misses me....even if it is only you"

Ghost spun around to face that voice before it was finished speaking. Both of his short swords lay at his feet. Within reach but not close enough for him to grabbed them without taking some damage or just being killed. It all depended on his mood. Instead he began to focus energy in the palm of his hand as he turned to face this threat. Even as he did, he knew this was no threat...still best to be prepared...."Dammit Nass! You trying to get yourself killed?" He said forcefully but quietly, so he wouldn’t wake up Rogue

Nass stepped out of the shadows with a big grin on his face. The tears in his tunic and cuts on his arms were curious, but Ghost thought it might be best if he didn’t ask.....yet.

"How is she?" the Jedi asked, nodding towards Rogue.

"Weak, to say the least." He balled his fists by his sides. "She’s dying Nass"

"Don’t worry Fiend, I won’t let that happen" He bent over and gently lifted Rogue in his arms before turning back to Ghost "Put out that fire and grab your gear, I’ve got a safe warm place for you to bed down tonight."

* * * * * * * * * *

SilverRaven couldn’t remember the last time she had ever had such a pounding headache. She felt a firm grip on her shoulder when she tried to move.

"Easy Raven, your neck may not have healed all the way yet."

"Nass....." she hissed his name through clenched teeth, all the anger of the previous night threatened to boil to the top again. She knew that she could not fight him in this condition and even hope to come out the victor.

"I’m letting you go Raven. You lost this time. Ghost and Rogue are long gone...." he stated matter-of-factly. There was no humor in his voice, but then, no sadness either.

She didn’t push him away when he helped her to her feet, and they both said nothing as she moved to the mouth of the cave and peered out into the darkness.

"Nexus is only a couple of miles due west of here Raven. If you leave now you can make it before dawn."

She gestured towards Nigel Eternity who was leaning against the wall and staring daggers into the Vampire, as if his looks alone could kill her. "What about him?"

Nass glanced back at Eternity then turned back to Raven. "He won’t harm you...tonight."

She believed him. The fact that they both were still alive meant that it somehow benefited the Vampire hunter to take orders from Nass.

She turned back to the cave’s opening and stopped before going outside. She didn’t turn around when she spoke, "You should have killed me when you had the chance. You will never have that chance again....Jedi" With that she ran out into the darkness, straight for her home.

"Don’t be so sure Raven" he said to himself as he watched her go. As soon as she was out of sight the Jedi turned to Nigel. "Follow her, make sure she goes straight to Nexus. If she looks like she might try to come back here or resume her hunt for Rogue, kill her."

"I thought you told her that I wouldn’t harm her." Eternity replied, confused by Nass’ sudden change of heart.

"Forget what I said....And do what I am saying. Follow her." Without another word Nigel Eternity ran out into the darkness.

* * * * * * * * * *

Two Nights later

"Are you sure about this Sorce?" Shell asked nervously, not really wanting to hear the answer.

The former host shook his head so emphatically that it looked as though it might just roll off of his shoulders if he went to far. "Quite sure. In addition to Rogue living up to her name and becoming a true "rogue" as well as Ghost living up to our expectations and once again playing the bad guy. There will be one other Nexian that will stand against us with the power to destroy the Nexus. But this time through pure violence. The Rogue girl has no idea how she will destroy us, it probably won’t even be intentional, but it will happen. But whoever this other figure is, he or she can and will knowingly destroy Nexus if they must, provided Rogue doesn’t get to us first.

Mongo leaned forward, "Do you know who this Traitor is?"

"Not yet...The translation of the scrolls is slow work, and this person has only been referred to as the ‘Herald of Light and Darkness’ so far.

"I can tell you who this traitor is" called Raven from the doorway. "Nass has betrayed us."

Wildcat chuckled softly. "Nass the Jedi? I can’t see that happening anytime soon."

Raven gave the Host a cold stare. "He is no longer a Jedi and he has caused me to fail my mission"

The startled hosts started conversing with each other for a few moments. Everyone but Sorce and Raven appeared to be extremely distressed over this new information. When the commotion started to die down, all eyes turned to Raven, who now stood in the center of the room. Mongo again leaned over the half circle table at which all the hosts sat. "Please Raven, tell us what happened."

The looks of worry and distress at the table increased as she told of the battle and her defeat and her release from the cave to return home.

"I can’t believe Nass has turned against us." Shell said as she slouched back into her seat. "and a Vampire now too!"

"Who could we send to stop him?" asked Corran from the corner of the table.

"I would have thought the answer to that would be simple to figure out" Raven answered, rather tersely. "Warhammer must go. He is the only one here who has sufficient experience in battling both Vampires and Nass himself."

"Will you go with him Raven?" Mongo asked.

She shook her head. "No. I must rest until tomorrow night. Then I will resume my hunt for Ghost and Rogue. I will find them, and I will kill them both. And this time no one will stand in my way"

**********
Is there a Good reason why we must walk at night?" Ghost asked again for the millionth time.

Nass didn’t bother to reply this time, his mind was on more important matters. Since nightfall, they had hiked north along the foot of the mountains with Nass leading the way, Rogue in the middle, and Ghost and Eternity bringing up the rear. Snow was starting to fall, and even though they had been provided with warmer attire and blankets, the coldness was starting to get through.

Rogue actually seemed to be feeling a little better tonight. The color had returned to her cheeks and the cold didn’t seem to affect her as badly, but he still worried about her. "It’s getting colder Nass"

"Wuss" came the muttered reply of the Vampire hunter beside him. It was one of the hardest things he had ever done, but Ghost managed to fight his anger down and ignore him. Instead, he moved to walk beside Rogue. After a few moments of worried staring as they trudged along, he finally asked her how she was doing.

"I’m tired Ghostie, but I’m better. Nass used some of his healing techniques last night....they seem to have helped a bit." They moved on in silence for a while longer before she spoke again. "He’s not the same anymore Ghost. I can’t put my finger on it, but Nass is not the same person we knew."

Ghost stared ahead at the cloaked figure leading the way for them. It had been obvious from the start that something had changed in his friend. It was unsettling, to say the least. "I’ve noticed it as well. If he wants to tell us, he’ll do it when he’s ready."

"I think he wants to tell us Ghosite, but he’s afraid to."

"Heh! Nass afraid? He’s one of the most cautious fighters in Nexus Rogue, but I’ve never seen him afraid of anything."

"I hope so Ghost. The force tells me that his fears could cost him his life very soon." At this, they both grew silent again.

By the time they stopped for the night, the snowfall had increased. The surrounding area was already covered in a crystalized blanket of white. Camp was made in a small hollow in the side the mountain sheltered from the freezing wind. The fire Ghost made wasn’t big, but it was warm enough. Once again, he let his tough demeanor fall away as Rogue settled beside him. Most of the night, they remain close to the fire while, curiously, Eternity and Nass seemed to stay at a considerable distance from the warmth. The Jedi only came near to check on Rogue during the night and to give her some kind of tea when she had a coughing fit. Before he moved away again he turned to Ghost who was fighting to stay awake. "Sleep friend, you have protection enough for the night." Nass passed a hand over his eyes and he finally fell into a short but restful sleep.

* * * * * * * * * *

A cold breeze and lightly falling snow woke him late the next day. The sun was almost directly overhead already. Great, I slept until noon. This trip is gonna ruin my reputation in Nexus forever. The smell of cooked meat directed his attention to where Rogue was preparing some kind of animal over the fire.

"It’s rabbit" Rogue said as she cut a piece off and handed it to him. "They left it for us early this morning."

Ghost bounced the meat from one hand to the other until it was cool enough for him to hold. "They?"

"Nass and Eternity. They left before dawn."

"Hmmm." was all he said. He finally took a bite of the rabbit meat and smiled. "Well how ‘bout that....It tastes like chicken."

"Everything is packed up and ready to go." she added. She lifted a small pot from near the fire and poured some kind of tea into a tin cup before handing it to him. "We should leave camp as soon as you’re done eating."

Just how long has she been up? "Uh......ok. Shouldn’t we wait for Nass? I mean he is the one who knows where we are going after all."

Rogue looked at him as if he had just said the dumbest thing in his life "I know where we are going." She laid a finger against her head "Telepathy Ghost. Nass told me a lot last night."

Telepathy, the most annoying weapon in a Jedi’s arsenal. Sometimes the Jedi would sit and talk in each other’s heads for hours on end and it would drive Ghost nuts not being in on the conversation. Usually, Nass’ ability in telepathy was extremely weak, so he preferred speak like normal human beings do. Though he whispers an awful lot. thought Ghost. It was unusual for him to speak with a non-Jedi using that technique. "So why didn’t anyone tell me where we were going?"

There was that look again. "You didn’t ask....Now hurry up and eat. We have a long day ahead of us."

* * * * * * * * * *

Warhammer had stopped actually looking for tracks by midday. It had become increasingly apparent that Nass and his three companions had dispensed with stealth in favor of speed and the direction in which they were going grew more obvious with every passing mile. The snow capped Alasian Mountains, where the tracks of the fleeing party headed, was shrouded in heavy clouds. "Might have a storm brewing, that could slow them down a bit." He muttered to himself. On the other hand, he might get caught in that storm as well. Luckily, he had come prepared for just such an emergency. Raven would catch up with him after nightfall and they would track their quarry together for a while. With any luck, He and Raven would have them before the end of the week. His thoughts drifted to Raven. Her desire to finish her mission was a little strange. War understood why she would want to get to Rogue just to spite Nass for preventing it the first time, but there was something more to it than that. There was a hunger in her eyes when she had spoke of the hunt, something that went beyond a normal Vampyre bloodlust.

A raucous cry from above interrupted his thoughts and he looked up into the afternoon sky. A large black bird circled high overhead. Keeping an eye on me Raven? he chuckled to himself. Turning his attention back to the mountains, he frowned and spurred his horse forward again to his imminent encounter and inevitable battle with Nass the Jedi

* * * * * * * * * *

When they had started out around noon amid an ever growing snowfall, Rogue had led the way, shouldering the heaviest of packs and leading them on a narrow path up from the base of the mountains to higher ground. By the time evening came around, she had grown incredibly weak again, and ghost had taken both packs onto his shoulders to give her a rest. Whatever Nass had given her the night before seemed to have suddenly and unexpectedly worn off, leaving her sickness (or whatever it was that ailed her) to take hold again. Despite that, she insisted that they continue on, and that Nass and Nigel Eternity would soon be back.

Almost two hours after nightfall They did indeed return. No one spoke as Nigel took both packs off of Ghost and Nass picked up the exhausted Rogue in his arms. They moved on in silence for the next five hours before stopping. Eternity went about setting up camp as Rogue and Ghost collapsed on the rocky ground, completely spent and unable to move any further.

Once a they had a fire going, Nass spoke for the first time that night and called Ghost over to him.

He crouched down beside his friend as the Jedi removed the small tin coffee pot from one of the packs and filled it halfway with water from one of the canteens. Once he set the pot into the white coals of the fire (Ghost noticed how carefully he moved near the fire) He reached into his cloak and produced a small cloth bag. "Listen closely Ghost. You will have to do this tomorrow during the day and you will have to do this right." he drew three small dried leaves from the bag. "These are L’lenga leaves Ghost, they have certain healing powers. If you can administer these to Rogue daily and correctly then she will be able to make it through this leg of our journey until we can fully help her." He took the pot from the fire and crushed the leaves into fine pieces in his hand before dropping them into the boiling water. A sweet scent drifted up from the pot and almost immediately Ghost felt some of his energy return to him as he inhaled the aroma. Nass smiled "You see how powerful they are?" Ghost nodded "Good. Now, you must take three leaves and grind them up over boiling water twice a day. Once around noon, and again after midnight. Only use three leaves Ghost. More would certainly help her, but these are extremely rare, and you do not have that many. Got it?" Too tired to mention that Nass was treating him like a child and a CafeBot with the brain of a coffee machine could get it right, Ghost merely nodded again.

Nass poured the brew into a tin cup and handed it to Ghost. "Take this to Rogue. Take a few sips yourself, but give her most of it." As Ghost walked away, Nigel Eternity moved in to take his place next to Nass.

"He’s been quieter than usual." he said as he knelt down beside the Jedi "I’m used to him talking so much that I just want to put a bullet through his thick skull."

Nass watched Ghost as he gave the tea to Rogue. "he’s out of his element for the first time in a long time. He has no idea what is happening or why. He just jumped in to save Rogues life, and this is where it’s got him."

"Why did he do that? Save her I mean. His so-called code of honor?"

Nass nodded, "And because he cares about her. He’ll fulfill his part of the prophecy nicely....." his voice trailed off and he stood to look off at the direction they had come.

"What is it" Eternity asked his hand strayed to the gun he kept by his side. Ghost, also noting the change came to stand close with a sword in hand.

The cawing of a large bird was heard coming from deeper in the forest. "Is that a Crow? way out here?" Ghost asked.

"It’s a raven....and he’s mine." he held up a hand to cut off Ghost’s next question. "I’m being hunted.....Warhammer is coming." He turned to Eternity. "Take them as far as the cabin at the pass. Help is waiting there. Move fast, SilverRaven is not far off."

"What about you?"

"I’ll be fine...meet me at Dragoon in two weeks. Ghost...Keep Rogue safe at all costs."

"No problem." he glanced back at the sleeping young woman. "No problem at all."

Without another word, Nass disappeared into the cold winter night, to find and battle a great Warrior he called "friend".


**********

Sunlight to a Vampyre is like a flame to dry grass. It does not kill immediately, but prolonged exposure will destroy any Vampyre unfortunate enough to caught in the sun’s rays. Fortunately for her, Raven was no longer an ordinary Vampyre. Sometime ago, on her birthday, Warhammer had given her a magical pendant that gave Raven the ability to withstand the sunlight. The only drawback was that her powers were considerably weaker during her time in the sun, but she was able to hunt her prey continuously through night and day. She had been running and fast since she had come across the fresh scent of her prey two hours earlier. Now she knew she was only a few minutes away from her ultimate goal and, even in her weakened state, she knew that there was nothing that they could do to prevent her from catching them both and killing them. Nightfall was still a good five hours away, and they were alone and without the protection of the Vampyre hunter until then. Her anticipation was so great, she could almost taste Rogue's blood on her lips.

In the two days since Nass had left the small company, Rogue and Ghost (and Nigel Eternity during the night) had quickly made their way through the wind and snow towards a gap in the mountains called Goeza’s pass. Eternity had explained that there was a cabin at the entrance to the pass, and there they would find more help. They Raven wouldn’t be foolish enough to try to fight when she would be so greatly outnumbered.

Stopping every day to make a small fire for Rogue’s "medicine" was time consuming, but seemed worth it. Ghost noticed a surge of energy and strength in her every time she drank the tea, but it’s effect seemed to wear off faster each day. Today as she finished the last of the brew, she noticed Ghost’s focused attention on the land behind and below them.

She moved beside him at the edge of the small outcropping of rock that was sheltering the from the wind and sat down. "What is it?"

He pointed below. "Someone is down there, at the edge of the treeline. Following us."

Her gaze followed the direction his finger was pointing and, sure enough, a distant figure was moving rapidly up the side of the mountain along the same trail that they had used. "who could it be?"

"Easy.....it’s SilverRaven."

She gave him a skeptical look. "Raven’s a Vampyre Ghost. It’s still daytime and..."

Ghost shook his head and interrupted her "I don’t know how she’s doing it, but I guarantee that that’s Raven down there."

He got up and hurried to the fire and kicked it out before slinging his pack over his shoulder, "we need to move now and we need to move fast. If we can’t make it to the pass by nightfall, we’ll be in for the fight of our lives." He waited until Rogue had her pack before heading up the trail and hoping that whoever was up there would be enough to repel the demon below.

Stopping at an old campsite near the bottom of the mountains, Warhammer dismounted his horse and bent down near the earth to study the various markings and tell-tale signs of passage. "At least three days old. I’ll be lucky if a I catch up to him before next month." He muttered to himself, frowning. He was so intent on searching the ground for more recent markings that it was a good three minutes until he realized that he was not alone. Standing abruptly and reaching for his blade, he whirled to face the newcomer. The words "One more step and I’ll cleave you in two!" never were uttered when he saw who that person was.

Nass stood at the edge of the small clearing, not leaving the treeline. It’s was still daylight, and Warhammer could not make out any signs of jewelry or other talisman’s similar to the pendant he had given to Raven. If Nass was truly a Vampyre, he shouldn’t be able to be outside during the daytime. Even though he had known the Jedi for quite a while, this recent turn of events had surprised him. He wanted to believe Raven’s description of what happened, but at the same time, he couldn’t believe that Nass would do such a thing. He had to see for himself just what his old friend was up to, and if Raven was right, he would have to kill him.

They stood there for a moment, staring at each other and evaluating ech other as that had done many times in the past before their sparring matches. It was Warhammer who first broke the silence. "Raven told me that you’ve become a Vampyre."

"She has told you the truth" there was a strange look on the Jedi’s face.

"If that’s so, how are you able to be outside in the sunlight?"

Nass stepped out of the trees and the shade they provided and into the brighter light of the clearing. Warhammer noticed his sharp intake of breath and the slight, almost imperceptable wince as the sunlight fell on his face. However he’s managed this, the sunlight still effects him.....that is .....useful.

"It’s a long story Warhammer.....and we don’t have time." He gestured to War’s sword. "You came here for a fight.....do you plan on proceding?"

"Do you plan on interfering with Raven’s hunt?"

A cold smile creeped onto Nass’ face that chilled Warhammer to the bone. "Oh....most definitely... and I will stop anyone else that may follow afterwards." Then the smile disappeared to be replaced by a sad frown. "I don’t want to kill you my friend. There are things that are happening that will effect not just our world, but space and time itself. The Nexus will be just a small pebble in the avalanche that awaits. I would rather you fight by my side than against me."

"I would never betray Nexus Nass...not even for Raven."

"Not even to save millions of lives?" The Jedi/Vamp asked.

Warhammer shook his head. "I would need proof Nass...and somehow I doubt that you have any."

"I’m sorry War. I don’t...not with me, at any rate. I just ask that you trust me."

"I....I can’t....not this time." The air itself seemed heavy as War said those words.

The cold look returned to Nass’ face. "So be it." He reached to the hilt of the sword he kept by his side and drew it out of its scabbard. It seemed to be made of a dark blue crystal instead of steel and a dim light glowed from within the opaque blade. "From this point on there is no turning back....Our friendship will be over."

War unsheathed his blade as well, holding before him in a defensive posture. "Then..." he sighed "..our friendship is over."

Nass wasted no more time to talk. He leapt high into air, swinging his blade down in a massive arc aimed at War’s head. War stepped to his left and parried the blow as the Jedi landed. He turned back just in time to block another cut as Nass pressed the attack. Launching into a flurry of quick cuts and slashes, he proceeded to push Warhammer across the clearing. The big knight was just barely blocking each swing and a few actually grazed the light armor he was wearing.

When War finally ducked under a cut meant to catch him at the neck Nass staggered forward having put to much force behind the swing. War quickly rose up and brought the pommel of his sword down on the back of the Jedi’s head. Nass dropped his sword and fell to the ground but managed to roll away just as War tried to stab down. The knight yanked his sword out of the earth as a dazed Nass stuggled to stand a few feet away.

"You have the Force....and you may be some kind of Vampyre, but I have almost a hundred years of experience and I have killed more Vampyres than you could ever imagine." He said, using the moment to try and catch his breath.

Nass glanced at his sword at War’s feet and then at the knight. "I’ll not make this easy for you."

"Nor I for you." Warhammer replied.



Without another word Nass leaped at War, his hand outstretched and using the force to call his weapon to him. The mighty Warhammer met the attack head on with his own sword and the battle began again.

**********


Ghost and Rogue were running as fast as they could possibly run. The winding mountain trail, deep snow, and heavy packs slowed them down considerably. "Faster!" Ghost yelled to Rogue who was running ahead of him, "Faster! She’s gaining!" SilverRaven was unburdened by anything other than her clothing and seemingly running on top of the snow. She had quickly closed the gap between herself and the two Nexus "fugitives" in the ten minutes since she had spotted them running from the cover of the small rock outcropping. Now she laughed out loud as she watched them scurrying away like mice from a cat. "Run mice, Run!" she laughed again as they picked up their pace, trying to push faster through the snow. She was almost upon them now, and she gathered her self for one final leap.

Rogue never had a chance. Raven landed just behind her, her razor sharp claws ripped through the tough fabric of rogue’s jacket and cut deep into her back. Raven twisted her hand out in such a way that Rogue spun around to face her even as she fell into the snow. The scent of hot blood kept the Vampyre’s attention so focused on Rogue that she forgot about Ghost until he stabbed one of his swords through her chest. She howled in rage and backhanded him away so hard that he went sprawling back down the mountain side in a rolling cascade of snow and rocks. Leaping down after him and landing in a spray of snow, she kicked him in the chest as he struggled to stand.

Ghost tried to crawl away from the Vampyre but she again kicked him in the side of the chest, rolling him farther down the mountain trail. Confident that he was no longer a threat, Raven turned around and lightly sprinted back up the trail to where her prey lay helpless.

Warhammer ducked as Nass’ crystal sword hissed by overhead. The Jedi had learned from his last mistake and didn’t put all his weight into the swing. Instead he twisted around and swung the sword low at War’s legs. The large knight blocked that blow and Nass hopped back a step before stabbing in quickly and retreating again.

War stepped in quickly to close the gap and pressed the attack. Nass was an aggressive fighter, but usually faltered when it came to counter attacks and defense. This time however, it looked as though the two warriors were evenly matched due to Nass’ new vampyre speed and coordination. Despite that, War was confident that he would win as he had won all of their sparring matches in the past.

"I don’t want to kill you!" he shouted as he thrust his sword at Nass’ chest.

The Jedi easily knocked the sword aside but didn’t counter attack. Instead, he slipped into a defensive posture to parry the next blow. "You think that I want to kill you....or risk being killed myself?" he yelled back above the clanging of the swords. "I met you here for a reason Warhammer." Before the knight could respond a wave of force-energy slammed into him and knocked him to the ground. Bright light burst in his sight as his head hit the earth hard. As he struggled to remain conscious, he heard the Jedi’s voice in his mind "I have something to show you.....my friend. Let me explain who, what, and where...... we are."

Rogue had managed to turn over onto her back. The cold snow did nothing to alleviate the burning pain along her spine. By the time Raven had reached her again she had managed to stop most of the bleeding with a simple spell, but not before a pool of blood had melted the snow under and around her. The smell was intoxicating to the Vampyre, and once again she forgot about Ghost as she concentrated on the young girl at her feet.

"You reek of fear Rogue." Raven kneeled down beside her and scooped up a handfull of bloody snow. "Do you fear me?"

Rogue tried to crawl back away from Raven, but was too weak to move more than a few inches "I fear nothing...especially you vampyre." she answered quietly, hoping she sounded braver than she felt. "You can’t hurt me." She tried to sit up but Raven placed a hand on her shoulder and easily pushed her back down into the snow.

She chuckled dryly as she leaned in close to rogue’s face "You’ve been around Ghost far too long girl...you’ve even picked up some of his worst lines" She smiled, and bared her fangs for the first time. "and yes child....I can ...and will... hurt you" Raven grabbed Rogue’s neck and roughly pulled her up as she opened her mouth and prepared to feed.

Rogue closed her eyes as Raven leaned into her neck. Just as she felt Raven’s breath on her skin, a flash of blue light and crackle of electric energy caused her to open her eyes in time to see Raven lifted of of her and knocked down the mountain side by a bolt of blue/white mage lightning.

SolarMage prepared to attack again as Raven stood and dusted the snow off of her body. "they say lightning never strikes in the same place twice" he called down to Raven as he moved to stand by Rogue. "Care to test that theory SilverRaven?"

The lightning had struck at Raven’s right shoulder and had traveled down her arm leaving her skin blackened and blistered. Amazingly enough she moved the arm freely as if she felt no pain or didn’t even realize the damage that had been done. Her eyes flashed a fiery red and she glared at SolarMage. "You should not mettle in affairs that do not concern you...." She began walking back up the path "Now you will be the next to die." She easily dodged the next bolt, leaping to the side of the path as the blue energy melted a large patch of snow behind her. She leaped again as another hit at her feet. She landed only a few feet from Rogue and SolarMage. A slight movement directed her attention to her right where Gabby the Warrior Bard stood quietly.

Her presence made Raven stop and think. Killing Rogue and Ghost was easy. She might even get away with killing the husband of a Host. But killing those three and a host? She hesitated for a moment, but the smell of blood and the power that she felt coming from Rogue was irresistible, and she took another step forward.

"Don’t Raven" said Gabby. "we don’t want to hurt you."

"Oh yes we do....." a voice rasped from behind the Vampyre.

Ghost...thought Raven. The only thing worse than a mortal is a stubborn mortal. She turned slightly to see him. He stood about three meters away. Although he tried his best not to show it, she knew she had hurt him. She knew that her last kick had broken several of his ribs and that at least one of them had punctured a lung from the bright red blood that dribbled from his mouth and the way he held his side. Raven smiled, but it quickly turned to a frown as she analyzed her situation. Though she had never fought against SolarMage or Gabby, she knew that they were a formidable pair....and even an injured Ghost could almost be as dangerous as Warhammer if he had reason to fight. The odds were against her....and she smiled again...this time at the thought of such a challenge.

**********


A million memories flooded through the mighty Warhammer’s mind, memories that he knew were not his own but at the same time he knew that they were his. They were of a place he had never known, but it was the place of his birth and life. Some were of the places of his brushes with death and some of his death itself. Through it all he felt the presence of Nass, the Jedi turned vampyre, guiding him and helping him sort through the memories of his life that he had forgoten.

Then, after what seemed like an eternity, he understood everything. As all the pieces fell into place he felt as if he were bathed in a bright light, and all of the secrets of this universe were revealed to him. In the next instant as the connection was abruptly broken and Nass was torn away, Warhammer plunged into darkness and pain, the likes of which he had never experienced before.

Mavre Ash’la, the Dragon Knight, had two faults. First, he was young and reckless, and was always jumping into a situation that he did not fully understand. Second, he practically worshiped his hero...Warhammer. It was his hero worship that caused him to track Warhammer into the mountains when he had heard that the Knight had gone hunting a new vampyre. His recklessness was what caused him, upon finding a shadowed form leaning over War, to go charging into the clearing against a foe he knew nothing about.

The execution of the attack was perfect and fast and without sound. The enemy was so distracted with whatever it was doing that it never heard the cursed blade Anaxnia slide from it’s scabbard. The enemy never knew Mavre was there until the blade was driven into its back and slid through its ribs to expose itself at the base of the enemy’s chest.

SilverRaven wished for the first time that she had brought more than just her small dagger along for the hunt. Ghost had been the first to attack. Even in his weakened state he still moved with surpirising speed and agility and had actually managed to drive Raven back quite a distance during his first attacks. Still she had managed to block or parry every cut with only her dagger. She was patient, his lungs were filling up with blood and fluid and he was losing strength and concentration rapidly. Then at the right moment, she struck out with her hand and raked her claws through his chest and sent him down onto the ground. Before she could finish him off, Gabby jumped into the fight with a storm of quick blows from her quarter staff. Raven actually heard the bones snap as a lucky blow connected with her wrist. Not feeling any pain, she used that very hand to punch Gabby in the stomach before backhanding her to the ground. A bolt of SolarMage’s blue/white lighting exploded nearby, knocking her off her feet as Ghost rushed in again with his one remaining sword held as if he planned to stake her to the ground. She rolled away, but not before he stabbed down on her hand and removed two of her fingers. Raven quickly got to her feet and looked at both of her hands. She roared.....more in anger then in pain. The fight was not going as she expected, but at least she would still win.

Ghost leaned heavily on his sword and smiled. A steady stream of blood trickled from his mouth and nose and he was coughing up more with every breath. "I hope......that it doesn’t...hurt....too much......"

The fire in Ravens eyes flashed red again and she moved closer to Ghost. "you are a worthy opponent Ghost.....for a mere mortal. You have just one problem......you refuse to die."

"Oh I’ll die.....soon....enough vamp....", he choked out the words..."after....I’ve killed you"

The Vampyre laughed out loud at that. She laughed even harder when he yanked his sword out of the ground and stood ready to attack her again. He could barely stand and was beginning to lose consciousness but still held his ground. "You are a brave man ghost, and Rogue was fortunate to have a warrior of such skill and blind loyalty by her side." She moved close to him. His eyes were unfocused, and she was sure he could barely even see her as she grabbed his shoulders. "I am giving you an honor no mortal has ever recieved from me....I am going to give you a quick and relatively painless death." Her hands went to his neck "to put you out of your misery......and mine."

SolarMage jumped onto her back and wrapped his arms around her neck. "Gotcha!". Currents of mage energy surged from his hands into her body and she pushed Ghost away to land limp in the snow. She raked her claws along Solar’s arms but still he held on and still he poured raw energy into her. She screamed as she felt her flesh begin to heat up and blister. Her whole body seemed as if it would burst into flames. Out of the corner of her eye she saw Gabby charging at her, ready to rejoin the battle and help her husband. As the Warrior Bard swung her staff, Raven twisted around with a tremendous speed that sent Solar’s legs flailing outward into Gabby’s head. Then he finally lost his grip and went flying off of Raven’s back.

Raven had lost all control now, in the past week she had suffered the embarassment and humiliation of being beaten by a mere novice warrior Jedi and now had almost been defeated by three even worse warriors...one of which had been half dead. "I HAVE HAD ENOUGH!" she screamed as loud as she could. Her entire body seemed to take on a nightmarish feral state as she let loose all of her fury and anger. "YOU WILL ALL DIE NOW! I WILL FEED ON YOUR BLOOD AND I........." Suddenly she stopped mid sentence andher whole body trembled as she fell to her knees.......

"Warhammer..........no......" she breathed........In an instant she was up and running at full tilt back down the mountainside, hoping that she wasn’t too late.

**********

Anaxnia. The Dragon’s Bane. Forged with enchanted steel and the scales of the hated Black Dragons it was an evil weapon with the ability to instantly cut through the thick hide of Dragons and enchanted to keep them from being able to heal their wounds even with the help of magic. A wound caused by Anaxnia on any other creature would simple begin to rot instantly without any hope of recovery. The creature that now had Anaxnia sticking out of it’s back did not move even as the wound festered around the sword. Mavre left the blade there, holding it firmly in place, hoping that the wound would grow to encompass the entire body.

His confidence was quickly shattered when the enemy stirred, then stood straight, with the blade still sticking through it’s chest.

"Have you ever known fear?" It asked. It still faced away from Mavre, looking down at the still form of Warhammer. It reached around and grabbed the blade of the sword just above where it entered it’s back and pulled it out as if he felt no pain.

"If fear nothing." The young knight replied.

Nass the Vampyre turned around to face the young man. "In the last few remaining moments of your life you will know fear.