Home of New Beginnings and New Challenges

[Retane]

He stirred once again. Had he dreamt it all? No. There was no way he had.

The namekian shot upright, the sheet over him being nearly cast aside, from the swift movement. The namekian recognized the room and removed the rest of his cover with a kick of a leg. He stood up and headed towards the outline of the door. It slid open with ease and the Emerald Warrior took a moment to pause. His memories were fuzzy, but he was sure it had happened. He had no reason to remember this hallway if it hadn't been true.

The namek looked down, trying to take it all in. He had given birth to six eggs, after his father had given him the gift to do so. The renegade was a warrior. He was not suppose to have such a gift. Retane knew that it was wrong for him to have the ability. Gromp must've been desperate to have passed it on to him. How bad was his universe going to hell? All because Retane, the God Of Death, had been cursed. All of the chaos that was going on back where he was from. It was all because of him. His father couldn't even foresee this. How great was Gromp then, the green warrior had to wonder.

The Emerald Fiend looked to the spot where the eggs had been birthed. This wasn't actually the first time he had given birth though. He had given birth to another son, before. One that wasn't here. His name had been Resapwne.

"Maleficus Nova. I know that you were my first. You were my one and only legacy. You were Respawne, the New Evil. But for you to live, it seems I must show dominance here and try to get stronger. It seems that destiny has chosen for me to give you siblings. I don't know if this really means that I am getting stronger. Please understand, however, that I will do what I ever I have to so that I can see you once again.

The Emerald Warrior watched as a tear dropped from his eye, and let out a roar as he looked around, "WHERE ARE THEY?"

His voice was loud and echoed throughout the compound. There weren't many in Jade Reckoning, and the Emerald Warrior knew that someone would hear his call. A moment later, Jack Frost and Arith came around the corner of the hall in a jog, Jack actually tripping Arith as they nearly rounded the bend, sending the Dragon Warrior crashing into the wall. Jack flashed a grin when the clang of armor and concrete echoed through the haul. Jack skidded to a halt infront of Retane, who eyed the spectacle with slight amusement. Perhaps the Guardian hadn't lost truly lost his innocence, he pondered. The windows to the white-haired human's soul told a slightly different tale, still though. The namekian wondered how bad his friend had been affected. The icer was strong, but how strong, he wondered.

Arith stumbled up shaking his helm encased head, "Frost cheated!"

"Hah! You tried to trip be first! It's not my fault I retaliated. What's good for the goose is good for the gander, "Jack retorted.

"Where are the eggs", Retane asked calmly.

"They are in a safe place" The Champion of Lythia answered nonchalantly, as if it was obvious.

The Emerald Warrior looked back to the room he had come from and knew he would have seen them in there, so he turned back to Arith, "And where is that actually?"

Arith glanced at Jack who shrugged, "He doesn't know what a safe place is?"

Frost returned the glance, grinned and looked at Retane, "We are in Jade Reckoning. It's a safe place."

The namekian shook his head and closed his eyes as he rubbed at his temples, "I'll ask this one more time. Where the Hell ARE THEY!?!?"

As the Leader of the Horsemen's voice got loud, the Golden Warrior took a step back waving at his face, "Ugh, morning breath..."

"Calm down Ret," Frost put his arms out, palms towards the floor, "They are in the Vault. Like Arith said. They are in a safe place."

The namekian looked at the two, his visage turning from anger, to a stern look as he pushed passed them. He looked deep down inside, searching for guidance, trusting in his kindred senses to locate where the namekian offspring were. He didn't question it as he strode onward, feeling their presence almost calling out to him. Probitas, Naturae, Krosst, Dante, and Reatus. They were all there together in the Vault. But that didn't stop the Emerald Warrior from breaking into run. He could only sense five of the six. Triumpht was no where on his radar.

As the mercenary reached the vault, his hand slapped the palm reader hard and the door shot open. Sitting there on top of a table, were in fact a set of quintuplets where sextuplets should have rested on the comfortable blanket. In place of the crimson tinted egg, was a red note with black ink. The warrior strode a few steps and snatched it up, his eyes gazing over the words

Dear Summoner Of My Favorite Dance Partner,

Mi amigo! My friend! How's everything going? Hope all is well! I mean, you would think they would be right? A father and a mother of six should be right? That deserves a whole dozen congratulations right? Congratulations, twelve times!

Haha! Liked that one right?

But down to some serious business. I think it's time to make myself an unofficial, official Horsemen, since you guys are in the 'mercenary business'. I'm taking Triumpht, because I think it is deserved to me. It was born from your memories of getting far in Dante's Abyss. I was your first fight in Dante's Abyss. See the correction right? I helped you get there. Besides, we both know you have to kick the birds out of the nest so they can learn to fly right?

I don't think you will be able to handle and raise half a dozen eggs, so maybe branching them out could be better for you, seeing as you are a constantly busy man. They can become cultured and seasoned!

Plus, there are no laws of your kind not being able to make their choices before birth. Triumpht has already chosen me. How else do you think I got in?

Trust me, I'll make sure he is in my hands and I'll teach him the ways of life and not life.

Love,
Deadpool and Chimichangas

PS: Should probably separate those eggs. What if one cracks and knocks the other over before their time?

The Emerald Warrior let out a low growl as he finished reading the note. Jack Frost and Arith had made their way into the vault and stood quietly near the entrance. The namekian turned back and looked at the two and handed it over to the two, "So much for your safe place?"

The two looked the letter over as Retane turned back, placing his hands, one by one, on each egg, slowly feeling their heartbeat and their emotions. He felt a connection with them, each one different, yet the same. The Leader of the Horsemen was searching silently, looking for answers to questions. Questions that weren't quite clear. Neither were the answers he received. Retane finished with the last egg and let out a a long, low, sigh and looked them over one last time with a nod.

The mercenary turned back to the entrance where his two comrades stood, looking up from the parchment. Neither had words to say and Jack's face seemed slightly etched with fear. What the Dragon Warrior's visage looked like at the moment could be anyone's guess, but for once he was silent without any quip or retort. The namekian walked through the gap the two as the stepped aside, possibly fearing a volatile explosion from the Emerald Feind. As Retane reached the door, he paused looking down at the concrete floor, "Jack, come with me. Arith, put some space between the eggs and join us in the Control Room."

The namek walked off in the direction he had planned, sensing where Sasha and Grix were at. It was easy enough to figure out the lay of his base, or at least his destinations, using his namekian senses. The Guardian trailed behind him quietly, though his bare feet smacked lowly on the concrete, giving him away. A purple bandanna formed on Retane's left arm as he entered the control room. The brother and sister were there as well as Inirtias. He met eyes with them before looking to the scrren as he moved to the center of the room.

"Jade, how many outside of this compound have access to enter it?" The namek asked.

"Only one, your son, Triumpht." The feminine computer answered. "The egg itself just up and vanished earlier in place of the note. Almost as if they traded places. I have been scanning my systems to figure out what happened, but no one has came in or out of any of the entrances."

The namekian nodded, pausing for a few moments as he thought his next thoughts through. "What does anyone here know about Ambrosia?"

Sasha spoke up, "Intel shows that it is a city in the Tangled Green's lead by Guu. She's the one that banished herself from Dante's Abyss with a Mercy Circle for some reason. It's rumored that all that violence wasn't her style."

Retane looked back as Arith showed up and then to Jack Frost. The Guardian would have never banished himself or showed himself mercy. He would have put his life on the line no matter what. Naturae was not going to be meant for him. No, she would go to Guu and the Ambrosia. He had heard rumors that they strove for good. He would call Naturae an Ambassador of goodwill towards the city. He certainly didn't know how to raise a daughter. Jade looked like she might, but she was artificial intelligence. So it was decided, "Naturae will be sent to Ambrosia as an Ambassador of peace. She can grow there. I am sure"

The mercenary took a breath as he rolled through his thoughts, "Jack will get-"

"Krosst right?" Jack Frost had interrupted eager to get his new friend given to him.

The Emerald Warrior looked back at the Guardian with his outburst. He was going to give him his innocence back, let it live side by side anb grow with him. Perhaps it would work, but Jack wanted Krosst. How did the icer know the name? Perhaps it was meant to be? Would Retane be willing to give Frost, the namekian spawned from the memory of his first kill? "Why do you want Krosst? How do you know his name?"

"I touched it and is spoke to me. I felt a connection to it." Jack Frost answered. " Plus its bluish. I thought it was self explanatory."

The namekian didn't want to do it, but went against his better judgment and made it so, "Then Jack Frost will receive Krosst. I hope that you realize, he is your responsibility. And may be bigger then you expect. Good luck and teach him well. Remember he isn't immortal like me and you."

"I will. I promise you, I will take care of him!" Jack had a grin on his face, and the namek had to wonder what would happen if the ice-weilder, Arith, and Krosst started playing tricks on each other. It seemed nearly bothersome.

The Leader of the Horsemen paused for a few moments and thought about the other three. Probitas, Reatus, and Dante. He would offer one to the ninja village, but it would not be Reatus. After a few moment's thought, he decided he was send his youngest. He would be a good Ambassador, and perhaps they would get to know him like they should. The ninja wouldn't let harm come to him, and perhaps they'd get use to seeing green humanoids in their place, "We will offer Probitas to the Ninja VIllage as a liaison and a sign of friendship. Perhaps he can learn skills there and remove the prejudice of Namekian kind there. Maybe he can show them that we are not orcs or goblins."

The Emerald Warrior paused for a moment, thinking, "Dante and Reatus, will remain in, either my care, or the care of those within Jade Reckoning. We are the Horsemen and we must expand. I think these are wise choices. Is their anyone that disagrees?"

The namekian closed his eyes and as no one answered, he focused on the armband that was tied on his arm. He felt a cool air surround the room and heard the casual welcome, "Been a while Stranga'. What can I do you fer today?"

Retane opened his eyes and was staring at a thick fog right in front of him. The mist dissipated quickly and the cloaked merchant, his face hidden beneath another purple bandanna, appeared behind a wooden table with items sprawled out against.

"I need to do some business I think. I need something that will allow me to keep in touch and possibly keep track of some people that won't be nearby. Got anything like that?" Retane stared the stranger in the eyes as he asked the question.

"Certainly." With the wave of a hand, a mist rolled over the table and a slew of communication devices appeared on the table.

The namekian caught sight of an interesting gadget and pointed at it. It shined and glimmered and was a small squared shape about the size of a computer chip with six small prongs as legs, "What is that?"

"Ah that's one of my latest models. It is a communicator and Dataverse Device combo. You press it into your skin and think about how you want it represented, and the nano byte technology it was designed from will instantly form the devices as you see fit. It's really nifty and no one really knows about it yet. Only specific clientele know about it" The Stranger winked.

"Do you have multiple's of this?" The Horsemen asked.

"How many are you wanting?" The merchant asked, intrigued.

The namekian knew the number already, "A dozen, plus I need seven of those bandanas."

The merchant nodded and with a wave of the hand, twelve communicator chips appeared six of them sitting on the purple handkerchiefs.

The namekian opened his hand and the merchant accepted it, ominilium draining from him as he accepted the deal. "The one there is especially for you", the merchant mentioned as he pointed to the closest one to the Emerald Warrior. "It'll help you keep up with them. Till next time, Stranga', and remember, always a pleasure doing business with you."

The Emerald Fiend nodded and almost in a flash of a purple flare, the merchant was gone. The smoke disappeared, and only the wooden table remained. Retane grabbed the chip meant for him and slid it in a pocket. "Jack come get one with a bandanna. You other four, come grab your chips. THe other six with the bandanna's will be for my children.

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A small group of ninja were waiting outside, they had been summoned as escorts. Retane took a long look at the other other five eggs, separated slightly upon his command to Arith. All of them looked so peaceful. They would soon know the world, and he had ensured that each one would be able to reach out to him no matter where he was or where they were. Not to mention, they would be using nano technology, like their big brother, Maleficus Nova. It was as if he would be there watching over them as well and for this, the namekian was pleased.

He had already vowed none would crack prematurely, and become an 'Imperfect Namek'. There was only one, and that title only belonged to Respawne, the New Evil. The Imperfect Namekian had shown that even jade could be as bright and shiny as emerald.

Retane grabbed Naturae and handed her over to Inirtias. Jack Frost received Krosst, and Retane himself carried Probitas. The Emerald Warrior concentrated on all three eggs, and they glowed for a moment in a green hue. As the glue dissipated, the eggs rested in back strap pounches with a single pocket on the side, specifically for the bandanna and the communicator chip. The namekian turned and headed out, followed by the other two, in the direction of the entrance from the vault. Reatus and Dante would be safe and didn't need to make an unneeded trip. The green warrior would be back for them, but for now, they could rest easy.

The trio exited the entrance of the crimson leafed tree, the same one he had first entered Jade Reckoning from before. Alaina and Airyonna stood there at the head of the group. Arith was leaned against a tree, looking up at the sky, as if oblivious to everything going on around him. Retane looked to Inirtias, and the elf handed the pouch covered egg of Naturae to Alaina. Retane knew that Airyonna was the leader of the team, but he also knew her wrecklessness. He wasn't going to entrust her with the security of the egg. The green warrior knew the konouchi would kill anyone that tried to go after the egg, but there were two different sides to defending and saving.

"Your destination with Naturae is Ambosia. You don't want to speak to anyone but Guu. Tell her that Retane of the Horsemen has sent her a true gift, and ask her to raise her with the kindness she has in her heart. It is something I may not be able to do."

The head ninja nodded with her black and blonde hair but didn't speak.

"I'm trusting you guys. Don't let her get hurt, please." Retane was calm, almost begging. He wanted to go with his daughter, but knew he had other things to attend to. Everything was happening so fast, and he wanted to hit the pause button, or at least have a slow down option. However, this was his destiny, and fate had chosen a cruel path for him. He would strive on and so would his kin. The ninja nodded and vanished without a word.

Retane felt Naturae make distance fast and looked to the others, "Let's go!"