Careful Not To Break Reality

'Please don't knock me out! Just hear me out!'

Dolon gave Dan a death stare and raised her arm with the Lightning Rod imbedded, pressing it against Dan's c.h.e.s.t. He immediately let's go and cried to get her to calm down.

'Right, give me a reason not to knock you out and strip you. You have five seconds.' Dolon didn't move his arm, but concentrated on what Dan's going to say.

'I already got one.' Dan explained, 'first of all, I plan to help you, but where this goes is up to you.'

Things are going well so far, as Dolon didn't electrocute Dan on the spot. 'I am listening.'

'So from my point to view, you have really gathered a remarkable group of people here, with all of them possessing the artifacts of reality altering or physics breaking powers, yes?' Dan asked for confirmation from Dolon, but all he got in return is the Aquarian blank stare, 'anyhow, since my damn clothes gave away the location, your initial plan was simply to take my clothes and run away on that speeder as far away from the ship as possible, correct?'

Dolon didn't say a word, but the pressure coming from the tip of the Lightning Rod felt a bit lighter.

'As for what happens next, seeing how strong you are, it makes total sense for you to rely on your strength, and possibly take down as many of the forces as possible. But eventually blood will be spilled, and you think it might either be theirs, or yours. But this is where I come in.'

'You don't know what Absolute Being is going to do with the artifacts, correct?'

'Hold up.' Dolon put up two of her hands, 'Absolute Being, is that what you call yourselves?'

'When I joined the organization, the boss promised that the sole purpose of this organization is to offer a chance for us to become the absolute most powerful versions of ourselves. We will find our genetic limits, and we will break it. Nothing will stand in our way.'

'Sounds inspirational.' Dolon remarked sarcastically.

'It was. That's why all of us were here. All of this sounded like a cult, a religion, or just a gathering of likeminded people. After the usual self-improvement group things, we then started to learn about the artifacts, and all of us want it. The very essence of enhancing one's body and spirit to the levels that can surpass the very laws of physics within this universe is what we try to do. And this is why we have started to look for these artifacts, and items of the legends. But as you know, there are individuals that have already had their hands on the artifacts, and the peaceful extractions of the artifacts from be bodies has proved extremely difficult, meaning that when we find the owners of the artifacts, the first step will be to convince them to join our course. Ok?'

'And what exactly is THE course?'

'Using the artifacts to lead the three civilizations into a new dawn of technology. That's what the master believes in. And with the help of all twenty, we can do it.' Dan explained, 'all of this sounds great, and is what I believed in, but it seemed everything started going off track when they started working on the specifics here. We make weapons, we destroy places to get what we want, and that's not something I want to be a part of, and that's why I want to help you. You get me?'

'That's your motivation, but' Dolon put the Lightning Rod back and put two of her lower arms on her hip region, 'what are you going to do now, to help me?'

'This is your choice.' Dan raised both arms and faced her hands towards the sky, 'if you plan on fighting off the enemy as much as you can until you die, then I can show you where the best place around here is. If you plan to live, however, I can bargain you a deal, and this deal will allow both of us to survive. You hear me?'

'Yes, and stop with the rhetorical questions.' Dolon waved her arms to let him continue.

'Since the very aim of the organization is to get their hands on the artifact as much as possible, and convince whoever that owns the artifact to join their cause, or at least not be in the way, they will have to have a conversation with you. But if you put the conversation in a very specific way, that will put you in the best position possible. I will tell you on the way since we have already wasted quite a lot of time. Let's go, ok?'

Dolon really couldn't believe where she is at this moment, as of ten minutes ago, she just struck a deal with someone she has just met, and yet there seemed to be no other way in front of her, as of right now, the single biggest issue that she has to deal with is with the pursuing forces from the moving home base ship of the Absolute Being. As Dan and Dolon hopped onto the land vehicle and drove off, the forces also deviated slightly and split into three different strands with the aim of complete encirclement, and the race is on.

Given Dan's identity as one of the more worthy candidates to inherit an artifact, he was also one of the first people to get given the so-called pseudo-artifacts by the organization. With this recognized power, he is also given a lot more freedom compared to the others and that's why he went around the areas in the base during his free time and found a series of caves and giant underground openings. This is where they are heading, as once one enters the cave, their movements will be limited to ground and forced to enter in small batches, at least in the beginning.

'So you are saying Absolute Being had already obtained all the equipment's they need to replicate the artifacts?' Dolon charged straight forward as she pilots the bike on the path set by Dan.

'Yes, and the weapon that I was using and that you kept in your ship was a minature version of Sir Deva's mass projector. As you probably know, the artifact seemed to have been designed, or at least work in a way that uses one's body as it's limiter when it comes to power output, but at this stage, the instruments itself is extremely brittle and weak, and we have just cracked the b.a.r.e minimum of physics. We just went lucky with a bunch of black box experiments to get what we got. That makes you an incredible asset.'

'I see.' Dolon nodded, now she remembered a similar conversation she, Ol and Dan had back on the ship, relaying similar amount of information. As far as Dan knows, there are two more artifacts that's up in the air with who is going to get it while Sir Deva, Lady Lily openly owning one each and the master rumored to have own one too.

'So, tell me what to do once we get there?' Dolon asked as the cave started to come within range as the slope of the ground they are driving on steadily increases to a mountain top. From the look of things, the sh.i.p.s chasing after them are only a few minutes from catching up to them, but they are basically here.

'You will catch me as a hostage, and your reasoning will be to learn as much information from me as possible, which is true. You will take me into the cave and towards the what I call the 'arena' which is just a massive open area big and tall enough with opaque glass liking crystals at the top, allowing for natural light to go through certain areas of the place. We will phrase this as a trial, to see if any of the forces are strong enough, and only when you have had enough fun, then are you interested to talk.'

'What?' Dolon braked sharply and almost choked on her breath, 'what do you think I am, an Aquarian cage fighter?'

'I thought that's exactly who you are. Am I wrong?' Dan ernestly answered with a sincerity that even Dolon can't fault. To be fair, he ain't wrong.

'By the way, if anyone within our organization wants an express one to get their hands on an artifact, instead of following orders, getting stronger and earning it, it would be to challenge the owner of the artifact to a fight for it. We have found that there is a specific time frame after the death of the previous owner's of the artifact that another can take possession of it. If you wait too long, the artifact will be reset and we have to go through the whole trouble of finding it in the galaxy again. But it's only happened a few times as only the strongest of us gets it.'

'And I am just supposed to wait there and fight constantly?'

'Maybe for a little while.' Dan admitted, 'but just enough for you to show how strong you are, and the stronger you are, the better bargain you will be able to make. I can see you just being a owner of the artifact in the organization and do nothing else, as the master's plan is still quite a few years off, the most they will do is to keep you around somewhere and only have a few people come challenge you for the artifacts once in a while, and that's the deal that both of us will try to strike. I will be of value as long as you can vouch for me, and you will be remain free as long as I work the deal. The only thing you will have to do is to beat up whoever comes to you... you do seem like the kind that beats up people you, right?'

All of this sound solid, if Dolon is being honest. The most important thing right now is to make sure all attention is focused on her, and despite how wacky Dan's plan may sound like, it will work as long as Dan does what he says he will do.

'I will take the deal, but if you betray me, you will get a hell of more than a burn.' Dolon signed and agreed to the plan.

'Ha, don't worry. Making wicked plans is how I get to this point in my life. Let's be honest, it's not that bad a plan, right?' Dan chuckles nervously as the two got off the vehicle, hid it underneath a bunch of rocks and dust and ran into the cave. Utilizing the very foundation of the organization that's trying to chase after them against themselves is really a genius move, despite how much of Lady Lily's End justifies Means method is going to take place, she cannot break the few foundamental laws in this organization. Had Zel agreed to join the organization but refuse to take on any actual roles, but rather be available for anyone to challenge him, Lady Lily wouldn't have been allowed to touch him, as individual owners/bearers of the artifact are highly respected by everyone and the master himself.

As someone as strong as Dolon, getting to that position will be quite easy, as long as she really put on a show and let them know her business. It's like a expedition game, nonetheless.

Hell, she might even be able to continue streaming no matter which planet they decide to put her on. Money will keep coming in as long as she kept streaming as well as producing great results. This might not be such a bad deal after all.

On the other side, Dolon is also quite excited to just fight some strong opponents, as Rydel's cheeky move set and battle tactics are simply too annoying to fight against. A full on proper battle is what she longed for, so maybe today is the day. Not to die in vain, but to take the opportunity to have as much fun as she can. Seems like Zapping the crew isn't that bad an idea after all. WIthout Ol and the GBI forces whispering in her ears, telling the superior combatant what to do, she can finally let it all out.

Dolon couldn't help but shiver.

'Right, I am going to set up a hologram message at the entrance here, as long as you declare this a challenge for the artifact owner ship, Lady Lily will not be able to treat this as anything else and stick her hands in this. With enough contestants and a ticking clock, the advantage will be in your hands.' Dan dropped down a mini-recorder and projector combination on to the ground and knelt beside Dolon, putting both hands behind his back, 'now do you best threatening move, just say what I told you.'

'What?' Dolon looked down to see Dan so closed to her and kicked him away with the force of a morning tidal wave, throwing him onto the side walls.

'Ouch ouch ouch...' Dan g.r.o.a.n.e.d in pain and rolled around on the floor, '(Just say come challenge me for the artifact and get it if you are strong enough or something... ouch my face...)'

'(Oh, right! Sorry!)' Dolon whispered back, 'right, losers. If you really want my artifact, come get it from me. This is one of those formal challenge things you run in your weird organization, so do it properly, weaklings! (How was that?)'

'(Good...)' Dan answered, still struggling to move. Dolon went towards him, and picked him up with the back side of two of her swords and flicked him onto her shoulders.

'If you are truly striving for real strength, then allow me to open your turbby eyes!' Dolon said so, and turned to walk into the cave.

'Damn, you are quite good at this kind of trash talking, aren't you?' Dan rubbed his forehead as the overwhelming pain began to ring around, 'just don't kick your strategist around next time, please?'

'That remains to be seen.' Dolon laughed, 'You might be my third favourite human if you plan worked, or you will be dead.'

'Report! Have you locked on the location of that traitor?' Lady Lily asked the fellow officers in her command bridge as well as the ones leading the pursuit, 'nobody cares about him, just make sure you get the pseudo-artifact back!'

'Yes ma'am! He is heading towards the underground cave areas and it might be a bit of an issue to pursuit, but we will keep tracking him!' An officer on the bridge reported, while another rushed into the bridge.

'Ma'am! Gold was severely injured in the laboratory area and the perpetrators seemed to have escaped!' The officer reported nervously.

Lady Lily turned sharply around in a whoosh and looked at him straight in the eye, 'and where is our guest?'

'He appeared to have broken out!' The officers said.

'Ma'am, everything is packed and ready to leave.' Another officer reported.

'Does nine out of ten seemed ready to you?' Lady Lily shot back, 'how many hours until the GBI forces arrive?'

'Roughly five hours as of now.' The communications officer replied.

'Should I send out forces for Zel?' The officers that rushed into the bridge asked.

'There is no use...If anyone can disappear from the face of the earth, it will be him.' Lady Lily slammed the table in front of her, 'at this stage in the game, we will get back what we can before we lose even more!'

'Ma'am! We have found where Dan had gone! It's in one of the caves and there is a message left by some Aquarian...' A couple of minutes later, one of the officers from the front line finally reached where Dan and Dolon once was and saw the hologram message, 'there had been some unexpected developments...'

'What is it?!' Lady Lily asked hurriedly, and Dolon's hologram message is displayed to everyone in the bridge. Nobody said a word after watching Dolon's message, as none of them really expected to encounter another owner of the artifact on this lonely planet. It would really seem like Zel did know someone else with the artifacts... But for him to formulate such an escape plan, only to leave someone else behind, it seems like destiny haven't abandoned Lady Lily completely after all!

'Move in! Get both Dan and the Aquarian out of there in four hours! If you killed the Aquarian, the artifact is yours! And if you get Dan, the pseudo-artifact is also yours!' Lady Lily announced in the fleet wide communications channel to the exciting cheers of the front line soldiers. That artifact user is foolish to have gotten themselves

This is their moment to claim an artifact of their own! This is a direct challenge!

'Well, it seemed like they have finally arrived, don't you think?' Dan said casually as he lied down beside a giant rock in the corner of the underground opening, which is now being called the 'arena' by Dolon.

'If they have decided to collapse the whole structure, then I will kill you before the rocks does.' Dolon threatened Dan once again, as that has become her favorite pass time.

'Don't worry. All of us went through the basic training so we all know if a certain time has passed after the previous owner's death, the artifact will disappear and be 'reset' in another location.' Dan replied casually, 'plus both of us will worth more when we are still alive, and helping you guys might just be the best shot at my own survival.'

'You also don't want to get involved with the GBI, do you?' Dolon said, 'that's why you insisted in coming with me.'

'Yeah I am not a big fan of their work, let's just put it like that.' Dan cracked his knuckles and got up as he looked at the sensors he laid through the entrance into the underground arena, 'we have our first contestants. Just follow my lead.'

The first small group of four people appeared through one of the corridors linking into the arena, and they cautiously approached the area towards Dolon who's sitting on a circular rock in the center.

'Welcome!' Dan raised both of his arms overhead proudly, 'welcome to Dolon's arena! Here is where you may challenge her for the artifact, you already know how it is, so go for it! By the way, please leave me out of this, or she will kill you first!'

'I don't kill.' Dolon threw a rock at Dan, who dodges it, 'but I do give out a hell of a bruise.'