“This is our collective.” A taller adolescence spoke: towering with a larger stature. A bright red bomber-jacket with the design of a crimson-gold spiral, red and black trousers & boots paired alongside his dark scruffy hair and almond coloured eyes— a healed scar cutting through his forehead. He was stationed inside a fortress— colossal, hidden; he was holding a cane— pointing to a map.

  The map was three large circles in a totem pole position, Floria at Top, then Ostra and then Invalia— at the very top and bottom were rectangles labelled Heaven and Hell respectively.

  “This is ignoring space— it’s below Heaven— but around us, this also ignores the possibility of aliens.” He nodded his head— the room looked like a classroom, seats and desks filled the rows— tens of people gathered listening, to the leader of the Rebellion— a static television sitting in the corner.

  A woman put her hand up— Saraline, “Due to us being hidden in Ostra right now— how will we cross worlds back to Invalia?— the others are there.”

  The man nodded his head once more, “They’re strong enough to cross on their own.”

  “Kanae.” A voice called from the steel door— it was: a taller man, muscular with dark blue hair, he had a red plain t-shirt with ripped sleeves and bandages on his forearms, cargo pants– his skin, medean. “Wrap the baby shit up— we have to talk about the important stuff.” Tagma scoffed, itching his bandages— pieces collapsing to the ground as he stomped on them.

  “Apologies.” Kanae nervously itched his head, “The Terrorist Organisation of Invalia right now is intending to go to war with the rest of the worlds— their objective is to directly destroy Ostra then move onto Floria which is currently safe.”

  “You know this how?” Dara fixed her glasses— her head tilting towards Kanae he nervously blushed.

  “She speaks on television— we know her direct head of operations but we can’t get through— if we are even struggling with people like… Teysu. How can we beat a God of Monsters.” Kanae struggled to say his name— itching the collar of his jacket.

  “That military that took him back then— it was Medean, so how’d he fall into her possession?” Tagma grimaced, “Why don’t we entertain the possibility that Medea and Samiel are in cahoots.”— he stared at Psylaiso, “You was in the Reprisal— you saw Medea, is he the type to end the world?”

  The slime paused for a moment— before speaking, “He’s eccentric— very, but he loves his people— just like Thidos. I don’t believe he’d go through something like this.”

  “Belief isn’t what is needed— belief is what got us in this situation, due to others believing it’s the correct thing to do.” Kanae batted his eye before sighing, “We got to kill Samiel— if we do that then I’m pretty sure that the others will drop.”

  “She’s a spiral— she was Melissa and Eliza— she’s them combined right, that’s what you said— you saw five years ago when she swallowed Jonah whole in the Reprisal— how can we beat that?” Saraline grit her teeth, cracks emerging, “We’ll need some crazy gear— not just that but luck.”

  “Why don’t we go free Miles and Amarze.” Dara’s voice chimed as she rested her feet on the desk, “They are powerful enough aren’t they.”

  “Not only do we not know where they are, but how to get there is a different story— Thidos always insisted that they weren’t dead so.” Psylaiso shook her head, “It’s crazy how most of those Reprisal pricks actually are working under the people they hated… like the Imp.”

  “You seriously thought that bastard hated Thidos? Prick probably only done it for the bloodlust— speaking of, there’s serial murders going on throughout the world— same culprit each time— it’s brutal like the Imp as well.” Dara looked at Psylaiso who was on the left side then Saraline who was on the right.

  “Sorry to be a party pooper, but you three really are throwing the topic off course.” A slippery voice came from the front— it was: a short slimy olive humanoid creature, pointy beaked mouth and a depression on their head, filled with water. He wore a large yellow shell on his back and a navy sleeveless shirt— pale underbelly showing whilst their khakis partially covered their webbed feet.

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  “Of course it’s this bloody Kappa interrupting.” A feminine voice came from beside: it was an attractive mature lady, jumping bleached snakes on her head as her sharp teeth fanged— she was wearing biker leather clothing— a pitch black helmet tied around her neck with a loose flimsy rope. “We get it Abriam— you scumbag, you hate women.”

  “I don’t! Keep saying shit like that Malzer and my girlfriend will dump me!” Abriam shook her head at the Gorgon who laughed.

  “Medusa and Kappa— always bickering, interrupting me— most important.” Kanae snapped his hands, the whole room went quiet.

  “As I was saying— we’ll need to kill Samiel, and I’ll ask Ostra’s forces for support.” He grinned, “Hey Saraline— you are acquaintances with people from there— go help us out instead of interrupting important meetings.” Kanae raised his finger at the door as Saraline, Psylaiso and Dara left the room.

  Tagma moved out the way— snickering before turning to look at Kanae, “Most of you should leave— except Lucius, Abriam and Anubis.”— as soon as he stopped speaking, tens of people left the room, Tagma wasn’t even touched— I mean who’s going to barge into First in Command.

  Kanae stared at those in the room— the seats were 5x6, Lucius was near the back similar to Anubis whilst Abriam was at the front.

  “Stay seated.” The Leader of the Cassettes spoke, “Lucius Guildford— see when I heard you joined the revolutionaries— I was surprised because it means we have a Balaternian on our side— it’s rare, thought you’d be evil like your brother or sister.”

  Lucius was: quite tall stature— no where near the others though, he had fair skin and golden luscious hair, hazel eyes and a halo above his head. Wings sprouted from his back, organically as he was only dressed in a fine linen, a white robe which encompassed his body.

  “I can enchant— it’s the power system for Florians— you see how Invalians use their mythological supernatural hi jinks and Medeans use other means…. like intelligence or strength— I stick out though, my enchants are even more than the typical Balaternian.”

  “We know this— why’d you say it— you speaking to someone who doesn’t know.” Tagma flicked his hands around— a knife magically appearing in hands as he flung it across the room.

  Squelch.

  Blood appeared from air as a boy became visible— he had: beady black eyes and fair skin— his hair was short, a buzz cut and black and his clothes were pitch.

  “Jude— funny how Lucius and Jude try one up us.” Kanae tilted his head at Tagma who chuckled, “Feels like the old world doesn’t it.”

  “We want to know more about it.” Lucius spat, “Tell us now.”

  “Such pride— sin of pride.” Tagma grinned as Lucius began to hover from his chair, “Relax— I’m joking.”

  The man flew back down to his seat, tapping the floor as veins began to sprout on his forehead.

  “You speak allot of shit— why am I kept back for.” A voice emerged from the back: an extremely tall man with light brown skin, Medean— he was dressed in clothes from the old world, royal regalia across his body and his clothing was linen— similar; to Lucius but more human, he had ornate jewellery: rings, bracelets, necklaces even golden grills. His hair was covered by a Nemes as parts of his linen clothing showcased leopard prints— his muscles bulging through his clothing as his grills grit. “I don’t care for your position Kanae Shota but you better understand what I mean— you relic of the past.”

  “Ironic— you are a pharaoh, Anubis— your name is derived from the past, if you want to know about it so much then fine— be my guest.” Kanae signalled for Tagma to shut the door as he turned on the television.

  Static.

  “The past— it was destroyed from war— that part is true but how? Many years ago the world was destroyed by—”

  “What the fuck why’d it pause!” Lucius scorned, his face turning crimson as his eyes glowed ruby.

  “Because we don’t know either— this is just a disembodied voice from a television, it could say whatever and we wouldn’t know if it’s true! We didn’t even find the recording— it was just there when we built this damn fortress! Why would we know— I called you three here because I knew you three… hell I mean four are the only ones most desperate to know— I’m just the leader of Revolutionaries— why would I know the business of the past, I barely even know myself! Am I caricature as you said? Or am I my own person— it’s hell for me as well! My name doesn’t even sound fucking real— I’m not even a real person am I? Why would I know about the past— why would Tagma know either? So leave the room now— stop bugging me and Tagma about it— go ask the Gods, they may give a better answer.” Kanae slammed the map— it tearing into three parts as the others sat in silence.

  One by One they left the room leaving Tagma and Kanae alone.

  The two just stood still— opposite sides, staring at each other.

  “Days like this make me miss the others.” Tagma scratched his neck, “Damn Teysu had to kill most of em.”

  “Kia at least became a Television Anchor or something— that’s good on him, we should reunite the true Cassettes back, not this ragtag group of villains.” Kanae quietly snickered.

  “Villains? That Samiel is the villian— we ain’t do shit wrong.”

  “I guess so— wanna go to the dorms, I’m tired of acting as leader for today.” Kanae walked toward the door— leaving it open for Tagma to follow.

  “Sure thing, boss.”