Evil: The next Generation
Prologue: 15 years in the future, the planet Stregna
is still a victim of cruel and unjust rule. After Cyann's death, her daughter
Vulca assumed command. She never had full control, because she was only
a child. For years she has wanted revenge for her mother's death, and was
held back only by Ecliptor. He could see her hatred was being misplaced.
He also knew that he could not control her forever. One day, she would
act on her own. And no one may be able to stop her.
Ecliptor stood on the balcony of his
late wife's palace thinking. Ecliptor: "If only I could have saved you
that day. Stopped Olympius, we could still be together. How could I just
stand by and let it happen?" Vulca walked into the room in a long blue
dress. Vulca: "You wanted to see me?" Ecliptor turned to face her. She
could see he was struggling with something. Vulca: "Dad, what's wrong?"
Ecliptor: "I am afraid I cannot guide you any further, my princess." Vulca:
"What?" Ecliptor: "I have been called away.... on business. I have no choice
in the matter." Vulca: "How can you do this?" Ecliptor: "I know this is
hard..." Vulca: "I thought I could count on you. Since I was little, you
promised you'd never leave me. And now, all of a sudden that's changed?"
Ecliptor: "Believe me, I wish there was some other way." Vulca: "I can't
do this without you." Ecliptor: "Yes you can. I have raised you to be a
powerful warrior. Your future is limitless, with or without me." He walked
over and hugged her. Ecliptor: "I will return as soon as I can. That is
a promise I won't break." He kissed he cheak and disappeared. A woman in
a in a classy, silver outfit stood behind Vulca. Vulca: "What do you want,
Cerina?" Cerina: "What's wrong, my queen? You seem upset." Vulca: "Didn't
you hear any of that?" Cerina: "Yeah. Your dad's gone, big deal." Vulca:
"You don't understand. I have no family left. My mom was killed years ago
and now dad left. Who's left to trust?" Cerina: "You don't need your parents.
Just like Ecliptor said, you are a strong warrior. You'll be fine." Vulca
rested her head in her hand. Cerina, not wanting to overstep her boundaries,
walked slowly out of the room.
Later, up on a mountain, a woman hid
behind a rock. Four black robot soldiers walked by her. She watched them
continue to walk. Then breathed a sigh of relief. Suddenly, she felt a
hand on her shoulder. She looked up quickly to see a robot staring back
at her. She punched it in the face, causing it to let go of her. Then flipped
over the rock she was hiding behind. Soldier: "Kill the rebel!" Woman:
"Da*nit." She kicked one backwards into another. She started to run. She
turned and began to run backwards. She pulled a high-tech blaster off her
leg and began to fire. She hit two of them chasing her. Another shot her
in the leg, causing her to trip. Two more grabbed her. She struggled to
get free, but they only tightened their grip. The woman's face turned to
an angry scowl when she saw Cerina walking towards them. Cerina: "Some
slaves never learn." She leaned over and slapped the woman hard across
her face. Cerina: "Don't cause me any more trouble." The robots let her
go. Before walking away, the woman flipped Cerina off. Cerina spun her
around and kicked her in the stomach. She hit the ground instantly. Cerina:
"Disobedient bi*ch." She walked into the distance with the robots following
her.
A man came running toward her after
Cerina was gone. He held out his hand to help her up. She took it and climbed
to her feet. Woman: "Thanks." Then she looked into his eyes and smiled.
She could tell he hadn't been given very much. His expression reflected
a hard, unforgiving life. She also felt a strange attraction, but didn't
know what to make of it. Man: "I'm Rick. You?" Woman: "Kari." They shook
hands. After a moment of accord silence, Rick: "She could have killed you."
Kari rolled her eyes. Kari: "I know. I've been fighting Vulca's empire
for years. Not that its ever got me anything but grief." Rick: "You're
a rebel, aren't you?" Kari: "Yeah. One of the few still alive." Rick: "For
what its worth, I really respect what you guys are doing out there." Kari:
"Cool. How come I've never seen you before?" Rick: "I can't afford to socialize
much." After a minute, Rick began to walk away. Kari: "Hey, what's your
hurry?" Rick: "Do you need something else?" Kari: "Well... no. But I thought
you might hang around for a while." He stood, deep in thought for a long
time. Rick: "Ok." The two of the stood there together, looking off the
mountain into the distance.
Cerina walked back into the throne
room to find Vulca sitting on the throne with an old picture of her mother.
Cerina: "We encountered a minor problem with a rebel, but it was taken
care of." Vulca, without looking up: "Fine." Cerina: "Come on, you're in
control of the entire planet. Enjoy it." Vulca: "Just mind your own business,
ok." Cerina shook her head and walked back into another room. When she
entered, a little girl ran up and hugged her. Cerina lifted her into her
arms. Cerina: "Hey." The girl pointed to the table. Girl: "Mom, I drew
you something while you were gone." Cerina smiled and walked over to the
table. On the paper, she saw drawing of herself with a sword. There was
something else in it, but she couldn't tell what it was. Cerina: "What's
that below me?" Girl: "A man you beat up for Vulca." Cerina rolled her
eyes. Cerina: "I knew I shouldn't have told you what I do for a living."
The two of them sat down in a chair on one side of the small room. Cerina's
face turned serious as she looked over in the corner. She looked at her
daughter. Cerina: "Niki, what happened to that vase?" Niki: "Vulca threw
it. She was mad about Ecliptor leaving." Cerina got up quickly from the
chair. Cerina: "Wait here." She stormed angrily out of the room.
Kari and Rick walked along the beach
talking. Kari: "I wish there was some way we could get back at the queen
for all this." Rick: "There isn't. Her family has ruled this planet for
over fifty years." Kari: "I know. Don't you think its time we get somebody
on the throne that actually gives a da*n about the planet?" Rick: "Yeah.
But that can't happen. Every time a ruler dies, their offspring takes over.
It happened with Shou and Cyann." They walked a little further. The wind
began to pick up. Kari ran her hand through her hair. Kari: "Ya know, Vulca
doesn't have any children. If we found a way to take her out now, the whole
empire would crumble." Rick: "Lady I'll give you credit, you don't give
up easy. But we can't take her. She was trained by some of the most leathel
warriors ever known." Kari: "Well of course we won't beat her if you think
like that." Rick: "I'm not being negative. I'm being realistic."
Ecliptor stood on an old stone platform
on top of a mountain. There were torches everywhere. Kitana walked out
of the darkness. Kitana: "What are you doing here?" Ecliptor threw his
sword to the ground. Ecliptor: "I left Vulca." Kitana's mouth dropped open.
Kitana: "What for?" Ecliptor: "I just couldn't do it anymore. The only
reason I stayed all these years is my responsibility to her. She's 22 years
old. Its time she went out on her own." Kitana: "You could still help her
like you did that other girl... uh... Astronema." Ecliptor: "Back when
I had Astronema, I still possessed a certain amount of love in my heart.
But that love died along with Cyann." Kitana: "Ecliptor..." Ecliptor: "I
just can't keep acting like everything is all right. Ever since she died,
I never had a chance to grieve. I wanted to be strong... for Vulca's sake."
Kitana: "I guess you deserve time to yourself." She walked closer to him.
Kitana: "Think you'll ever go back?" Ecliptor: "I'm not sure. But in the
mean time... I need your help." Kitana: "I knew it. What is it this time?"
Ecliptor: "I want you to look after her. At least for a little while."
Kitana: "What? She's got Cerina." Ecliptor: "Cerina has her own life. Her
own child to deal with. I can't ask her to do this." Kitana: "And I don't
have a life?" Ecliptor: "You don't have commitments or anything. You can
still come and go as you please." Kitana: "Yeah and I've kinda gotten used
to that freedom." Ecliptor: "I know I've asked a lot of you over the years.
This will be the last time." Kitana: "You don't know what you're asking.
I've never had to worry about anybody but myself! Do you know how hard
this will be on me?" Ecliptor: "I know what an inconvenience this is. But
I can't just leave her." Kitana let out a frustrated growl. Kitana: "Fine!
I'll go!" Ecliptor: "Thank you. I owe you one." Kitana: "One? Ha! You passed
up one a long time ago, buddy boy." Ecliptor sighed and walked away. Kitana
noticed that she had said the wrong thing. He clearly wasn't in a joking
mood.
Cerina walked into the throne room,
her heals clanking loudly on the stone floor. Cerina: "You threw a vase
at my daughter?" Vulca: "Do you really want to start this now?" Cerina
walked quickly over to her and snatched the picture of Cyann from her hand.
She threw it to the ground, shattering it. Cerina: "Who the he*l do you
think you are?" Vulca: "I didn't throw it at her. It was just in her direction."
Cerina: "She could have gotten seriously hurt!" Vulca: "I told you when
you came to work for me, that girl isn't my problem." Cerina: "So what,
you think you can just do anything you want?" Vulca: "Basically yes." Cerina:
"Why would you even do it?" Vulca: "I was upset. I lost control." Cerina:
"I can't have you endangering her." Vulca: "Listen, you are my warrior.
You are in no position to be threatening me." Cerina walked towards her
with her fist up. Vulca stood up and punched her down. She hit her head
on the floor and passed out. Vulca: "I suggest you watch your mouth next
time." She walked out into the hallway and into her room, leaving Cerina
be.
On Earth, Ransik had asked Frax to
report to him. Ransik: "Done anything useful? Or just sat on your lazy
a*s all week?" Frax: "Actually master, I have a very interesting invention
for you." Nadira: "Interesting. Give me a break." Frax shook his fist at
her. Frax: "Quiet!" She just laughed at him. Frax: "It is a device that
will open gateways to other worlds." Nadira: "Big yawn!" Ransik: "How will
this help us against the Time Force?" Frax: "You can use this to retrieve
monsters. Possibly as strong as those in the X-Vault." Ransik: "Really?
I'm intrigued." Frax: "I will go and see if...." Ransik: "No! I won't let
you screw this mission up too. I'll go." Frax: "But sir" Ransik: "Open
the portal!" He pushed a button on his new machine and the portal appeared
on the wall. Nadira: "Daddy, I want to go too!" Ransik: "I'm afraid you
can't. I don't know what's on the other side of the wall. It could be dangerous."
Nadira: "I don't care! I've done dangerous stuff before." Ransik: "I'll
be back. Don't worry. You just stay here and keep dumb a*s in line." Nadira:
"Frax or Gluto?" Ransik: "Which ever." He laughed and walked through the
portal."
Cerina got up hours later and looked
around. The room was empty. Totally silent. She knew right away what she
had to do. She ran back into her room and found Niki asleep on her bed.
She went over and gently shook her. As she woke up, Cerina put her hand
over her mouth to stop her from speaking loudly. Cerina: "Shhh." Then removed
her hand. She opened the window and signaled for Niki to follow her out.
Once outside, they ran into the trees. Niki: "What's going on? Were are
we going?" Cerina: "I'll explain later. All that's important now is getting
away from this place... and Vulca." Cerina's mind was racing a mile a minute.
She didn't know where to go or how to avoid the queen. But she had to stay
strong in front of her daughter. Niki was cold and confused. A million
questions ran through her head as she followed her mother away from their
home. The only place she had ever known.
1
To Be Continued.....