(Pre-Show) The Lobby

[Retane]

"It's been a long time brother", the Konat stated.

"Can you hear me yet?"

Retane stood there, looking in the eyes of his old comrade, confused, not understanding it all. Tapion wasn't here. He couldn't be. He was just a memory long gone. Dead. Was he dead? Retane had been the cause of his death at least once, and had watched him die another time. He knew this much, but how was the Konat here? This wasn't even their universe.

The Emerald Warrior dropped the crimson haired Horsemen as soon as he realized he still held him inches off the ground. The namekian took a step back, trying to make sense of it all. What was going on here? Was someone playing a joke on him? He glanced around, many people were watching the scene unfold including the three Lythians, the Guardian, and even the wolf. The wolf, was standing, his eyes locked on the Emerald warrior.

I've been waiting for you. I have longed for you. Are you ready to embrace me? Can you here me yet? I've been calling out for you.

The voice in his head again, was it the wolf? What was up with the large animal anyways? Why did it seem so familiar? No, the voice wasn't the wolf, he was sure of it. But the voice was familiar, was even stronger then before. What was it? Who did it belong to?

The Emerald Warrior clenched his fists trying to contain himself. He wanted to grab at his head, but he would not show weakness here. Not in front of everyone. He tried to calm himself. The voice that had started calling out to him; Enroshia, Tapion and the wolf, and all at the start of Dante's Abyss. Was this confusion the dark side everyone was so afraid of? No Retane knew he had something deep within him that was more chaotic then simple confusion. Still why were the all here? Here and now of all the times. Surely this wasn't coincidence? The odds were not in the favor.

Retane focused back onto Tapion, who removed the cloak, and sheathed his sword. Retane knew the sword. He remembered it now. It was Brave Sword, a gift from the Konat's God's. Tapion, and his younger brother, Minoshia both had one, though Minoshia never really used his. It was light weight and while a two-handed blade was easily controllable with a single hand. It was the trademark of Tapion, and a symbol of his people. Why had the namekian not noticed the blade before hand? Had he noticed it and just didn't care?

The nostalgia was getting to be too much. The renegade namekian wanted to pull his hood back over his head and try to escapade from it all, but he knew that wasn't an option. Everything was happening at once, and he needed to handle things one at a time. Tapion was here, right in front of him, so he would have to handle that one first, "A long time? I guess so. I'm not sure time is the relevant word. Explain to me how you are here? How do you remember me?'

The Namekian remembered that the reason he was in the Omniverse waexplained to him because he was cast into limbo, it was as if he had never been in his universe, so how had Tapion remembered him? What was the trick? Tapion shrugged his shoulder's, and pointed towards Enroshia. "He helped me get here. I sought him out and he sought me out. As for how I could remember you? You forgot where we have been? What we have done? How close we use to be?"

Retane paused for a moment and looked deep in the eyes of his old friend.

"We had some good times old friend, but I think I'm ready to go." Tapion struggled to breath and choked out the words as he was laying on the battlefield, bleeding from his chest. The Bio-Armor had been torn to shreds, his rib flesh exposed his ribcage, as well as his lungs and beating heart. The heart was pumping fast The lungs pumped slowly, as if struggling. There was nothing the Reaper could do at thi point to save his closest friend. A tear feel from the namekian's eye.

"It's okay my friend", The Konat choked as he remained defiant. "We knew this day would come. It's just like you told me before. This is your life, in the end you kill or get killed. This isn't Dante's Abyss this time, though. And you are the God of Death, not the God of Life. The only thing you can really do is make my journey there peaceful, right? Does it hurt? You've died before right? Does it really hurt?"

The Emerald Fiend watched another tear drop as he cradled the mohekian in his arms. He wanted to have the ability to heal, like some of his kin had had, but he was aa Warrior. He was in fact, the God of Death. All he ever did was kill. It was his job. The only life he gave was the ones he allowed to live. "This was always my game and my life, my friend. I never really wanted you to play it. But yes, I can usher you into the afterlife with peace, and no, it won't hurt."

"I like the sound of that. I think I really am ready to retire. I has been a good run." By now Tapion's attempts to talk had his entire face covered in blood, and much of the namek's as well.

Retane closed his eyes for a moment, calling forth his inner soul. As he opened them, he watched the wolf come from his own body. It was large and a bluish silver. The direwolf moved to lick at the wounds of the near dead comrade. It was the Soul of Retane, a majestic wolf that was a part of the Dark Hunter. It was a companion when he needed one. The Wolf's name was Lone, because without each other, they would be alone, and to represent their style of handling things.

"Lone will take you there. He will keep you company so that I will always know you are safe and happy in the afterlife." Retane met eyes with the wolf the two saw each other.

"That will weaken you permanently, you will never be strong again. I can't allow it" Tapion tried to sit up in annoyance but the pain wouldn't let him.

"I'm fine with it. It seems I have gotten to strong in my life. Too Arrogant even, and this is where it has lead." The namekian watched another tear drop onto the blood soaked face of his closest friend.

"Stubborn as always." Tapion smiled weakly, "If you are going to do that then, let me give you Brave Sword. It wont do me any good where I am going. At least i know it went to good hands."

The mercenary shook his head, "No, my friend, that will die with you. I am not worthy of such a thing. And with it will be the death of the Horsemen. I wont allow this to go on anymore. You helped me reform them, and I want the Brave Sword to be a signature of what being a Horsemen truly was."

"So because I am dying, you are killing off the Horsemen?" Tapion's breath and defiance was getting shorter. His heart was slowing as well. "That's unlike you."

"I did this. I had you help me recreate the Horsemen. Because of this, this is happening." The namkeian let another tear splash on the blood soaked face of the Konat.

"Its ok. Again, I it was a good run. I had fun. But I think it's time for me to go...." Tapion smiled as he took his last breaths. Lone looked up to the sky and let out a long howl. The sound of the howl represented the sadness of the Namekian. Lone and Tapion glowed in a red aura then, and soon vanished from sight. Lone had took Tapion to the afterlife, where the Konat would now be free of pain.

The mercenary looked to the skies, angry. He was in pain and sad. He had failed his closest friend and had just given a part of himself to keep Tapion company, and not alone. But again, Retane felt the sadness of being alone. He heard a long howl off in the distance, and he matched it with his own roar. His yell nearly shook the entire planet he was on. His strength increased, far greater then it had ever been.

Retane for the first time in a long time, was truly alone. And he was angry and demanded the deaths of everyone that had lead to this moment. This war was not over, and all would soon know that The Reaper; The God of Death; The Former Horsemen, had come.