Hayze is in deep thought.
Hayze:
Alright, how about this: Why don’t each of you come with a suggestion we can vote on, and you can’t make it something that only benefits you. We’re trying to defeat Khaos to better all of us here.
Wrath scoffs.
Wrath:
You’re allowed to think just for yourself but not us? Right.
Hayze:
I’m not arguing with you right now, Wrath. We’ve wasted enough time. Speaking of which, Calm, how long has Khaos been in control.
Calm:
Not long enough for the time limit to be drawing near.
Hayze:
Damn…
Impulse:
Woah, Woah, Woah! I was in control two days ago, and I barely got two hours!
Hayze:
After my internship with Adrian, it became effortless for me to train and increase the time limit. I spent most of our winter break and the early part of this semester doing just that. I got it up to eight hours. You didn’t see all of that?
Impulse:
That doesn’t explain why I only got two!
Calm:
It’s because you weren’t used to being in control. When Khaos first took over the body, he only had about 15 minutes.
Gale:
Not to mention you were using your quirk like an idiot. I only use mine to crush my opponents, which is very easy for me.
Impulse:
Coming from the guy who has never been in control…
Gale:
Oh, would you look at that? The trash is talking trash. How poetic.
Impulse:
*fart noise*
Hayze:
Can you guys just work with me here?
Wrath, Impulse, and Gale look at Hayze.
Wrath:
To be completely rude, this is a waste of time.
Hayze:
What?
Impulse:
I hate to agree with him, but it’s true.
Hayze:
Don’t you guys want to stop Khaos!
Gale:
We’ve been through this plenty of times. Many arguments have ensued since you put the ring fragment around your neck. You’ve been wearing that thing for a little over a week now, right? Notice how nothing out of the ordinary ever happened?
Hayze doesn’t have a response.
Wrath:
There’s literally nothing for us to do in here other than coming to an agreement, and we haven’t, not once. Khaos being in charge now means nothing. I dislike you just as much as I hate him. I’m always looking out for #1. So, I refuse to agree to anything that doesn’t conform to my agenda.
Gale:
Ditto.
Impulse:
Remove a lot of the dislike stuff for me, but the same concept. I just want to have fun.
Hayze:
*frustrated grunt*
Hayze turns to Calm.
Hayze:
You’re my logic. What’s the most logical move here?
Calm:
Unfortunately, given everything I’ve heard and experienced, I would give up.
Hayze:
I was afraid you’d say that; fortunately, that’s not my style.
Calm:
And that’s why I don’t oppose you like the others. Your emotions and never give up attitude make you more suited to be in control of this vessel than I am. So I defer to you.
Wrath:
Just jerk him off already…
Hayze stares at Calm.
Hayze:
(Wait a second…)
Hayze turns to the other three personalities.
Hayze:
(That’s it… they’re each a piece of me… but they’re not me. They aren’t supposed to be in control because they’re missing things I have. This doesn’t just apply to Calm… it goes for all of them, but Calm is the most straightforward example. Pure logic is powerful, but it has its weaknesses. You’ll miss things that only someone with emotions could see. Calm would quit right now, and that’s why he’s not suited to be the dominant personality.)
Hayze looks at Wrath.
Hayze:
(Wrath is the opposite of Calm, he’s pure emotion, a.k.a. Anger. Pure emotion is weak because it means you’re going to make rash and, most of the time, stupid decisions. You’re never thinking through anything you say or do, which can get you into trouble.)
“
Wrath:
To be completely rude, this is a waste of time. “
Hayze:
(That’s exactly what someone who is thinking purely with emotion would say in this situation. Wrath couldn’t be the dominant personality because he’d never use his head.)
Hayze looks at Impulse.
Hayze:
(Impulse is excitement. While being impulsive means that you won’t waste time, you’ll act without thought. This could lead you to put yourself into worse situations because you didn’t take a second to see whether you’re making the right or wrong decision. His excitement attribute is good because it’s essential to have fun and be happy, but sometimes you have to be serious. Impulse wants to quit because the challenge of coming to an agreement is so daunting to him that his first impulse is to give up.)
Hayze looks at Gale.
Hayze:
(Gale is grandiose. He believes he can do anything, my feelings of grandiose are what founded my attitude to never give up, but Gale has done just that. While believing in yourself and having confidence is important, too much confidence can be fatal. You’re unwilling to accept or even acknowledge your failures. Gale believes he’s the only one of us that could come up with an idea we could all agree upon, but he hasn’t, and he’s unwilling to accept that fact, so he’s determined that it’s impossible to help cope with that failure. That’s why he’s given up.)
An image of Khaos flashes through Hayze’s mind.
Hayze:
(They all have a weakness created by the very personality trait they were born from. That’s why I’m the one in charge, and it’s my job to teach them that so that they’ll stop working against me and start working with me. Calm’s logical enough to have figured that fact out already. That’s why he’s being so helpful.)
Hayze smiles.
Hayze:
(I think I know how to beat Khaos once I get out of this situation. All I need to do is figure out how to do that. I’m the only one of us who won’t give up, which is why I’m the one who will make them all agree!)
Khaos is leaning against the door.
Khaos:
(There’s nothing I can do at this point, that bastard took away my only way out. I can travel to their shadows only if I have an unobstructed path to follow, and with a blast door and all the vents closed, no such path exists. That damn bitch used me, then put me in a cage as thank you. I’d say I’m impressed if I wasn’t pissed off. Either way, my only hope now is for some opportunity to come up where I can break this door down. Otherwise, I’ll rot in here until my energy runs out and that damn bastard takes back over!)
Khaos tightens his grip on his sword.
Khaos:
(Although, I’m more pissed that she’s all alone. She was going to be my ticket into taking permanent control over this body once and for all. If I don’t get out of here, she’ll just go right back under the finger of her “master.”)
Ivy wakes up in the classroom Khaos left her in.
Ivy:
Hm?
Ivy tries to sit up, but she feels a sharp pain in her abdomen.
Ivy:
AH! (What the hell? Where am I?)
Ivy looks around at her surroundings.
Ivy:
(Am I back at home base? This room looks familiar? No… Zaire would have had to extract me, and there’s no way he’d risk that…)
Ivy remembers seeing Khaos take out Saige.
Ivy:
(That’s right… Hayze saved me… but why? Why would he attempt to kill one of his allies? That doesn’t add up.)
Ivy is silent for a few moments.
Ivy:
(If it was him, then that means I must still be on the campus of U.A., but why would I be here? I have so many questions.)
A warp gate opens.
Ivy:
Huh?
Zaire steps out.
Zaire:
Good, you’re still here.
Ivy:
Zaire! So you’re the one who brought me here?
Zaire:
No, but that’s unimportant.
Ivy:
What?
Zaire:
Master is in the middle of the final battle. Your presence has been requested.
Ivy’s eyes light up.
Ivy:
What? He’s fighting Colossus now? Why didn’t you get me sooner?
Zaire stares at Ivy.
Ivy:
Why are you looking at me like that?
Zaire is looking at Ivy’s tattered clothes.
Zaire:
When I let you walk off to handle your own business, I didn’t expect you to end up like this.
Ivy looks down.
Ivy:
I… I lost to that bitch. The one that put me in the bubble back in the mall.
Zaire:
I am aware. Master informed me that he was going to lobotomize you.
Ivy’s eyes get watery.
Ivy:
He was in the middle of doing it… but he stopped. Why?
Zaire:
Because you were no longer compromised, there was no need to finish the process if you weren’t going to be captured.
Ivy:
I… I never thought he would do that to me. I thought he would try to-
Zaire:
Try to what? You know the rules. You’re not above them.
Ivy:
I- I know, I just-
Zaire:
Just what? Thought you were more deserving than the others who have suffered the same fate? That’s quite selfish, Ivy.
Ivy:
That’s not what I mean! I just never thought I would be in that situation!
Zaire:
Neither did Master… but now you’ve lost twice to opponents you should have been stronger than.
Ivy is taken aback.
Zaire:
When Master informed you that you would not be helping with today’s invasion, I thought he was making a mistake. I thought you were still a valuable asset that he was underestimating. That’s why I let you go instead of forcing you to return home. I believed you’d be successful in your efforts, but I was wrong.
Ivy’s eyes widen.
Zaire:
Now, look at you. You lost the fight, your sword, and your dignity. You’re lying on the floor, unable to stand because of the injury you sustained during your defeat.
Ivy:
W- what are you saying?
Zaire:
As I said before, Master has requested your presence.
Ivy:
Wait, Zaire!
A warp gate opens beneath Ivy. She falls through it, and it closes.
Zaire:
That’s one, and if he left her here, he couldn’t have gone far… I’ll canvas the building.
Zaire leaves the room.
Zaire:
(In some ways, I feel bad for Ivy, but then I realize she brought this upon herself.)
Recovery Girl is standing outside the doors of Dr. Moore’s lab.
Recovery Girl:
(I have no clue what Damien expects me to do if Khaos breaks free of this room. You might as well have a broom standing guard.)
Recovery Girl looks around the hallway.
Recovery Girl:
(I do wonder where Damien took Rachel. He can only open portals within his line of sight or into areas within close proximity that he can perfectly visualize. He must have had some intricate plan because he definitely didn’t take her inside the lab.)
Walker and Fatal are floating in a dark void, Walker’s pocket dimension. Fatal is completely frozen in time as Walker is still holding on to her.
Walker:
(I have to figure out what I’m going to do. I can only keep something in this dimension for an hour before it’s forced out. So I have to open the exit portal somewhere in the hallway, which won’t be good.)
A hole in front of Walker allows him to see what’s going on outside of the pocket dimension. He sees Recovery Girl standing guard in front of Moore’s lab.
Walker:
(Adrian is the only one who can talk her down once she gets like this, and if he isn’t around, I’m shit out of luck. It’s too bad I had to enter the portal with her while restraining her. There’s no way for me to leave this dimension without her. I could run off and release her somewhere safe if that was possible, but it isn’t. I don’t have many options, but I have time… time to think and plan.)
Recovery Girl hears footsteps.
Recovery Girl:
What’s this? Who could be coming this way?
Blair turns the corner and sees Recovery Girl.
Recovery Girl:
Blair? What are you doing out of my office?
Blair runs up to Recovery Girl.
Recovery Girl:
Furthermore… Why are you wearing bedsheets?
Blair:
That’s a long story… but we don’t have time. Do you know where Hayze is?
Recovery Girl doesn’t know how to respond.
Recovery Girl:
Well… I… uh… no, no, I don’t.
Blair:
Dammit…
Khaos can hear voices on the other side of the door. He puts his ear against it.
Khaos:
(Who is that talking? It sounds like…)
Khaos’ eyes light up.
Khaos:
(Jackpot!)
Recovery Girl points Blair back in the direction she came.
Recovery Girl:
Listen, you shouldn’t be running around… especially dressed like that. You need to head back to my office and wait there! There’s a catastrophe in Nashville, and it’s my job to keep you girls safe.
Blair:
I’m sorry, but I can’t do that. I-
Khaos:
*muffled* Blair? Is that you-
Blair’s eyes widen.
Recovery Girl:
(Oh no!)
Blair:
Hayze?
Walker looks concerned as he watches from his pocket dimension.
Walker:
(Shit! This isn’t good! Blair means well, but her crush on Hayze could be disastrous for us!)
Walker looks at Fatal.
Walker:
(And there’s nothing neither I nor Recovery Girl can do about it!)
Blair puts her ear against the door.
Blair:
Hayze? Are you in there?
Khaos:
*muffled* Yes, Blair! They trapped me in here! You’ve gotta help me out!
Recovery Girl:
Blair! Please step away from the-
Blair:
Saige told me that you were possessed by a villain! That’s not true, is it?
Khaos:
*muffled* Of course not! They’ve all been saying that, but I’ve been trying to tell them it isn’t true! You believe me, right?
Hayze is alarmed.
Impulse:
Uh oh… Wrath’s girlfriend showed up… that’s not good.
Wrath:
Shut your fucking mouth.
Hayze:
No! Blair!
Calm:
Her lava could melt that door in an instant. If Khaos plays his cards right, he could parlay this into freedom.
Hayze:
Come on, Blair, don’t fall for it!
Blair smiles.
Blair:
Of course I do!
Hayze is dumbfounded.
Impulse:
Man, Wrath, your taste in women sucks.
Wrath:
At least she’s loyal, unlike your bimbo bitch.
Hayze:
Blair! Don’t!
Khaos has a sinister smile on his face.
Khaos:
Thank you! I always knew I could count on you! Just use your quirk and melt a hole in this door!
Blair:
*muffled* Could you do just one thing for me?
Khaos looks confused.
Khaos:
Uh… sure! What is it?
Blair:
*muffled* I need to make sure you’re actually Hayze, so tell me what you said after I got embarrassed during the Hive Five exercise back at the beginning of the year.
This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
Khaos grins.
Khaos:
(Ha! She thinks I’m a villain in control of his body, so she’s asking me to recall something only Hayze would know! Unfortunately for her, I share all of my memories with him!) I said: “You wanna go beat up Alden?”
Blair smiles.
Blair:
I knew it was you!
Recovery Girl:
Blair! That’s an imposter in there! Please don’t listen to a word he says!
Blair:
That has to be Hayze! How could a villain controlling him know something like that?
Recovery Girl:
I… uh… (Oh no! There’s nothing I could say now outside of revealing the secret of Hayze’s quirk that could convince her otherwise.)
Blair returns to talking with Khaos.
Blair:
You were so kind to me that day… but I never got to ask you why mind telling me?
Khaos is frustrated.
Khaos:
(Damn this girl and her persistent questioning! I’ll just butter her up to see if that speeds this along.) Why wouldn’t I be nice to a cute girl? I cared about you and wanted to make sure you were okay.
Blair steps away from the wall.
Blair:
You’re not Hayze.
Khaos is shocked.
Khaos:
(Wh- what did I do!)
Blair points at the door.
Blair:
Hayze has no idea how to flirt! There’s no way you could be him!
Khaos:
(SHIT! That’s right! God, I hate that dense bastard!)
Blair winks.
Blair:
1st rule of strategy: the first move is always a fake! I asked the first question to make you think I was checking to see if you were Hayze or not, but I knew there was a chance you could access Hayze’s memories, so I asked the follow-up question as a test, and you failed!
Walker smiles.
Walker:
(I guess I should have had more faith in her.)
Hayze blushes.
Hayze:
That was kind of hot.
Wrath:
Yeah… it was.
Impulse:
I thought it was just your eyes that were red, Wrath! It looks like your face is too!
Wrath punches Impulse.
Impulse:
Worth it!
Blair puts her ear against the doorway again.
Blair:
Hayze… I don’t know if you can hear me, but… I want you to know I believe in you. I know you can beat this guy because you never let any challenge stop you.
Saige turns the corner.
Saige:
Blair! You’ve gotta-
Recovery Girl signals to Saige that everything is okay.
Blair:
You beat Silver, Sydney, Aaron, and nearly defeated my brother. I don’t know what it is about you, but you always seem to figure out a way to win no matter what the odds are. I know “always” is a bit of an exaggeration, but you know what I mean. I told you to give up and not fight Sydney because I was worried about seeing you nearly die the same way I did. Being in that water was traumatic for me, and I just… I didn’t know how you could win, but you found a way. You beat her with an element you’d never used before because… because you’re you. That’s what I admire most about you… you never let the pressure of the situation get the better of you. You obsessively search for a way to win because you know one exists.
Hayze is moved by Blair’s words.
Calm:
I changed my answer. She’s the logical choice.
Impulse:
Boooooo.
Wrath:
Eat shit, lightbulb!
Gale:
Again, I don’t see why you should have to choose.
Saige walks up to Recovery Girl.
Saige:
Is “he” in there?
Recovery Girl:
Yes… yes, he is. Blair tricked him into revealing he isn’t actually Hayze, and now she’s trying to help the real Hayze break free.
Saige looks at Blair.
Saige:
(I underestimated her… I thought she’d blindly run into danger for him, but she actually had a plan and everything. Blair’s changed a lot… hasn’t she…)
Hayze smiles.
Hayze:
(Blair…)
Khaos bangs against the door.
Khaos:
HE’S A FUCKING WEAKLING, YOU KNOW THAT! HE’S A PEST! I’ll KILL HIM AND TAKE CONTROL OF THIS BODY FOREVER! HE WILL NEVER DEFEAT ME!
Blair:
*muffled* I don’t know what you’re like, but you were able to defeat Saige, so I’m going to assume you’re pretty tough, but as I’ve already established, the odds don’t matter to Hayze.
“
Dr. Moore:
If there’s one thing Hayze has taught me, strength is overrated. “
— Chapter 98
Khaos:
*yells* WHY IS IT THAT YOU BITCHES KEEP SAYING THAT! STRENGTH IS ALL THAT MATTERS!
Blair:
*muffled* If you fought Hayze one on one, you’d lose, I know it!
Hayze’s eyes widen.
Hayze:
(Wait…)
Khaos laughs.
Khaos:
Are you kidding me! I’d love to take that idiot on! I could kill him and be the permanent host of this body!
Blair:
*muffled* That’s pretty arrogant.
Khaos:
WHAT DID YOU SAY! I swear to god, if I get out of here, the first thing I’m doing is-
Blair, Recovery Girl, Saige, and Walker are confused as Khaos suddenly stops talking.
Blair:
Wh- what? What are you going to do?
No response.
Blair:
Hello? Are you there?
No response.
Saige:
I bet he’s doing the whole “pretend the cage is empty” trick, don’t fall for it.
Inside the lab, Khaos is transfixed by something behind him.
Khaos:
Who the hell are you?
Zaire is standing there.
Zaire:
Master Iota has requested your presence.
Khaos smiles.
Khaos:
Does that mean you’ll let me out of here?
Zaire:
Yes, yes, it does.
Blair is concerned.
Recovery Girl:
Is something wrong, Blair?
Blair:
I uh… I hear another voice… faintly.
Saige:
What!
Recovery Girl:
Tell me you’re joking!
Walker’s eyes widen.
Walker:
(Someone else is in there! No way! I have to stop them! But…)
Walker looks at Fatal.
Walker:
(Dammit!)
Khaos looks skeptical.
Khaos:
What’s the catch?
Zaire:
There is no catch.
Khaos:
Really? You expect me to believe that?
Zaire:
Well, I did say Master Iota has requested your presence, so you’ll have to talk to him if you count that as a catch.
Khaos:
You’re really giving me a free ride out of here, huh?
Zaire:
Indeed.
Zaire opens a warp gate.
Zaire:
Shall we?
Khaos:
Gladly.
Ash turns the corner into the hallway.
Ash:
There you guys are! I’m sorry, I know you told me not to leave, but I got worried… oh, you found Recovery Girl!
Saige:
Oh, it’s okay, Ash. Everything was fine with Blair.
Ash notices Blair and Recovery Girl look panicked.
Ash:
Uh… is something wrong?
Saige:
No, no, everything is fine!
Walker sees Ash.
Walker:
That’s it!
A portal opens, and Walker and Fatal fall out. Fatal begins struggling to escape Walker’s hold.
Fatal:
AHHH!
Saige and Ash:
Mr. Walker?
Walker:
Ash! Use your quirk and take over Ms. Fatal’s body right now!
Ash:
Wh- what? What do you-
Walker:
I SAID NOW!
Ash keels over, and suddenly, Fatal stops struggling.
Fatal (Ash):
Uh… okay… I did it, now wh-
Walker opens a portal.
Walker:
Whatever you do! Don’t release your control!
Walker charges through the portal.
Fatal (Ash):
What just happened?
Inside the lab, Khaos approaches Zaire’s warp gate.
Khaos:
I must say, I expected my exit to be much more difficult.
Zaire:
Master Iota has commanded me to retrieve you. So you can thank him for this.
Khaos:
Neh, I think I’ll kill him instead.
Zaire:
I don’t laugh, but that nearly made me do so.
Khaos stares at Zaire for a moment.
Khaos:
I like you. I might spare you.
Zaire:
Just walk through the gate.
Khaos steps one foot into the gate. A portal opens.
Walker:
STOP!
Walker bursts out of the portal. However, Khaos has already walked through the warp gate.
Zaire:
Too late.
Zaire follows Khaos and closes the gate behind them. Walker comes to a stop.
Walker:
DAMMIT!
Walker slams his fist against one of Dr. Moore’s desks.
Walker:
I’ve failed again…
Back on the coliseum planet, Colossus eyes Iota.
Colossus:
(What does he mean by “phase two”? He sent his henchman that warped us here somewhere, does that mean he’s gathering reinforcements to fight me?)
Iota:
I’m glad you’re patiently waiting for Zaire to finish the arrangements.
Colossus:
You revealed yourself of your own free will, which means you have more ways of avoiding my attacks than just your mirage strategy. So my guess is attacking you would be a waste of our time.
Iota:
You’re a lot smarter than you let on, you know that Colossus?
Colossus:
This isn’t intelligence. It’s experience. I’ve dealt with the mastermind type before, you have your plans, and you will see them to completion. If you have multiple phases, you definitely thought ahead to how you will make sure they’re reached. If I’m going to defeat you, it will be during the final phase, whether I like it or not.
Iota smiles.
Iota:
Well, unfortunately for you, this is the final phase. Our battle is over.
Colossus:
What do you mean?
Iota:
You’ll see soon enough.
A warp gate opens next to Iota.
Iota:
Speak of the devil.
Zaire steps out of the warp gate.
Zaire:
Both of them are ready.
Iota:
Good, put “him” over there, away from Colossus and me, and put her right in front of me.
Zaire:
Yes, Master.
Two warp gates open.
Colossus:
(What’s going on?)
Ivy falls out of the warp gate and lands at Iota’s feet. Khaos steps out of the warp gate, standing by himself.
Khaos:
What the hell is going on here?
Ivy looks up at Iota.
Ivy:
Master?
Iota:
Ivy, I must apologize. I didn’t realize you would end up being this useful today. It was my mistake to ever consider not including you.
Ivy’s eyes light up.
Ivy:
Useful?
The students in the fallout shelter (now including Kevin, Aster, Alec, and Adrian) are surprised to see “Hayze” in the arena.
Jace:
What the hell?
Zach:
How did Hayze get there?
Alexis:
More importantly: why is he there?
Alec:
That bastard looks completely fine! Did he even fight!
Aster:
Oh, trust me… he did… I just don’t know how he’s like that. I hit him with everything I had.
Adrian looks terrified.
Adrian:
(Why is Ivan including Khaos in all of this!)
Wes, Verity, and Lilith have gathered around, watching from Lilith’s phone.
Wes:
It’s that chick that kicked me in the nuts a bunch of times too.
Lilith:
Yeah, she hit me pretty hard that day as well.
Verity:
I didn’t know you had so many run-ins with her.
Wes:
Yeah… let’s just say none were particularly pleasant.
Verity:
You said you were kicked in the penis multiple times. I assumed that wasn’t pleasant. Unless that’s something, you’re into.
Wes:
Don’t be weird right now!
Saige, Recovery Girl, Fatal (Ash), Blair, and Walker are watching the TV in the teacher’s lounge.
Recovery Girl:
So that’s where he was taken.
Blair:
What’s that bastard doing with Hayze!
Fatal (Ash):
This doesn’t look good…
Saige:
(That bitch Ivy is there, and she looks like she’s in the same shape I left her.)
Walker clenches his fist.
Walker:
(I could have stopped this…)
Khaos spots Ivy.
Khaos:
What the hell! Why is she here!
Iota:
Zaire, head back to the control room, but be ready.
Zaire:
Yes, Master.
Zaire warps away.
Khaos:
That didn’t answer my question!
Iota uses the Iota Ring to rip Khaos’ sword from his hand and take it into his possession.
Khaos:
What the?
Iota:
Welcome, my new apprentice.
Everyone is shocked.
Ivy:
New… apprentice?
Khaos scoffs.
Khaos:
Apprentice? Do you think I’d work for you?
Iota places Khaos’ sword against Ivy’s neck.
Iota:
Yes.
The crowd of the coliseum goes nuts.
Julio:
Behead that chick!
Yusuf:
Screw her! She’s finally getting what she deserves!
Mara:
That’s what you get, bitch!
Jagger watches as his comrades berate Ivy.
Jagger:
(The day has come, Ivy.)
Khaos attempts to will the blade back to him, but the Iota Ring’s telekinesis is too strong.
Khaos:
Dammit!
Ivy looks at Iota with a look of betrayal.
Ivy:
M- Master?
Iota:
Sorry, Ivy, but you’re too weak, which means you need to be replaced.
Ivy’s eyes fill with tears.
Iota:
*to Khaos* You seem to have taken a liking to my former apprentice. I spared her from being lobotomized because of this. I knew I could use her to convince you to join my side.
Khaos:
You wouldn’t kill her! You don’t have the guts! You’ve known her since she was a child-
Iota digs the blade very slightly into Ivy’s neck, drawing blood.
Iota:
What was that?
Khaos doesn’t know what to do.
Khaos:
I hate you.
Iota:
I know, but that’s what makes you strong.
Colossus examines Iota.
Colossus:
(He’s wide open! I could take him out right now!)
Colossus takes a step forward.
Iota:
If Colossus takes another step forward! She dies!
Colossus:
She’s your henchmen! Why would I-
Colossus suddenly can’t move.
Colossus:
(What? What’s th-)
Khaos used shadow paralysis on Colossus.
Khaos:
Don’t.
Colossus:
I can use the Omega Ring to break free of this!
Khaos wraps Colossus with every single shadow he can find.
Colossus:
That’s a lot of… constriction.
Iota smiles.
Iota:
Good, you’re already listening like the good dog you are!
Khaos:
*frustrated grunt* What the hell do you want?
Iota:
Funny, I was about to ask you the same thing.
Khaos is confused.
Khaos:
What the hell are you talking about?
Iota:
You want to permanently control Hayze’s body, right?
Khaos stares at Iota.
Iota:
I can give you that.
Khaos:
How?
Iota points at the Iota Ring.
Iota:
All I need to do is place this against your forehead, then I will mark you. This mark will allow me to give you ultimate power, enough power to never lose control of YOUR body again.
Khaos:
To what extent is ultimate?
Iota:
The reason you’re so powerful is that you’re forged from the built-up hatred of a boy whose dream was taken away from him because of bad luck, a boy whose parents died when he was young, who had no friends because of his weak ability, and bullied incessantly. That pent-up hatred was bottled inside of Hayze for so long that when he was injected with the serum, it created a powerful monster that could defeat A-Rank heroes without breaking a sweat! So… ultimate power means that you will be as strong as a ring wielder!
This piques Khaos’ interest.
Khaos:
What’s the catch? You’re willing to make me as strong as you? That doesn’t make a lot of sense.
Iota:
I’ve already said what the catch is, if you’d call it that. You’d be my apprentice! You’d work under my guidance and enforce my rule. Just the way little miss Ivy once did.
Khaos:
Yeah, and that worked out well for her.
Iota:
That’s because she’s weak… are you saying you’re weak?
Khaos:
Fat chance.
Iota:
Then submit to my request! Become my apprentice and kill Colossus!
Khaos stares at Iota.
Khaos:
(I can finally be in control of this body, the way I’ve always wanted. I want to be my own person that kills anything and everything that I hate, not what Hayze hates. He’ll also make me one of the most powerful people on Earth, as strong as the number one hero himself. It’s a pretty sweet deal.)
Colossus:
Hayze, my boy! Don’t do this-
Khaos:
Buzz off, old man! I’m not Hayze! The name is Khaos, and that’s permanent!
Iota smiles.
Iota:
So that means your answer is yes?
Khaos points at Iota.
Khaos:
Your deal is pretty tempting, but there’s one big problem. The whole reason I want to oust Hayze is so that I can finally be in control! If I let you mark me, I’ll just be your puppet! I don’t need your help if it means I’ll still be under someone else’s thumb! I’m going to take control of this body all by myself to finally live the life I want to live! I am hate, I kill what I hate, and I hate you! So prepare to die!
Iota:
Speaking of dying…
Iota digs the blade a little deeper into Ivy’s neck.
Khaos:
(Shit!)
Iota:
You see, Khaos, you never really had much of a choice here. Well, I guess you do. So let me read you your options: Join me, or Ivy dies.
The crowd cheers.
Crowd:
Join us! Join us! Join us!
Khaos looks pissed.
Khaos:
Damn you!
Iota:
You say you’re hate, but hate isn’t real. It’s just love wearing a mask, and you love this girl, don’t you?
Khaos:
I’ll kill you!
Iota:
No, you won’t.
Iota laughs maniacally.
Iota:
You’ll join me!
Crowd:
Join us! Join us! Join us!
Khaos is conflicted.
Khaos:
(Dammit, I hate that he’s right… I hate that I) *pukes a little in mouth* (L- I can’t say it. I don’t want her to die. The truth is that Hayze doesn’t hate this guy, so I can’t kill him, even if he kills her. The only way I can finally kill things that I hate is by becoming the controlling personality… and that’s what I want more than anything. So is it worth letting her die when he’s offering probably around 90% control… when in a couple of hours I’ll have 0?)
Colossus tries to break free of Khaos’ bind, but he can’t.
Colossus:
(How is he restraining me? I can’t seem to-)
Colossus notices that Khaos’ shadows have removed the Omega Ring from his finger.
Colossus:
(Dammit! That’s how!)
The crowd continues cheering.
Crowd:
Join us! Join us! Join us!
Iota:
(Once Khaos becomes my mind slave, Colossus will never stand a chance against our combined power! I’ll use him to kill Colossus and add the Omega Ring to my collection! Then I’ll kill Khaos and Hayze by extension! Love and Hate are the emotions of passion, and nobody denies passion!)
Khaos yells, and the crowd goes silent.
Iota:
Well?
Khaos:
Fine… I’ll join you.
The crowd celebrates.
Iota:
Good answer.
Adrian is terrified.
Adrian:
(NO! Colossus can’t stand up against the power of the Iota Ring and a supercharged Khaos! This is bad!)
Walker is pissed.
Walker:
(That’s it… another one lost to my negligence.)
Ewing stoically watches.
Ewing:
(If Ivan claims both the Omega Ring and Khaos… the age of heroes might be over.)
Khaos walks towards Iota.
Iota:
Once you’ve been marked, I’ll remove the blade from her neck, I swear.
Khaos:
Good.
Colossus struggles to break free.
Colossus:
(I have to stop this! Someway, somehow! I am the number one hero! I have to protect Earth! I have to!)
A tear falls from Iota’s eye.
Khaos:
Why the hell are you crying?
Iota:
Because my victory is all but assured.
Khaos:
You’re that confident, huh?
Iota:
Today is the day I win. Today is the day we win. I’ve worked my entire life to be better than Colossus. This has been decades in the making.
Khaos looks down.
Khaos:
Can’t say I’ve wanted what I’ve wanted for that long. Hell, I’ve technically only been alive for a year. All I’ve wanted is to finally be in control of this body, once and for all, and I finally have it. I’ve finally won.
Suddenly the ring fragment beneath Khaos’ shirt glows. Khaos’ right eye reverts to Hayze’s normal eye color.
Then, out of nowhere, Hayze shoots out of the ring fragment and lands on the ground in front of Khaos. His left eye is standard, while his right eye is Khaos’.
Hayze:
Says who!
