Chapter 4: Shattered Sanctuary

[Cell]

[Crehavos]
[Harsh Seas]

The sea was indeed a treacherous setting, gusts of the Northern Wind that's rage was unceasing. Waves threatining to swallow you up at every winking moment, crashing into the bow and sides of the ship; the threat of capsizing greatly increasing. The bleak darkness of the clouds and nightfall was much more hazardous when out on the open seas... because you never know what might be lurking in the ominous shadows... waiting to bring you down to your watery grave.

"Still no sign?" A monotone voice rang out in the impenitrable darkness.

A rather timid voice responded, "N-no sir... we can't seem to find any of them out here..."

A faint zapping of electrical current was heard, and seen whipping around a tightly clenched hand. He had searched and searched the massive SSS Headquarters for days on end immediately after destroying the Niluck Barrier, and couldn't find even one soul left. He left the headquarters in ruin, inside and out, as an example of the fallen SSS. The Dark Emperor had his men search the radius of the structure, yet still couldn't find the remnants.

Crehavos was baffled, he could not fathom how they escape in such a short time of the attack, and how he had not noticed!? He sent Imperial force on a scrutiny for them throughout the galaxy, even then... still nothing. The mighty demon was even scowering for them, forced to look on these dangerous waters. He was not afraid though, the water did not frighten him, but he was quite concerned about something; a thought that had been lurking in his mind...

This was getting out of hand, the SSS appeared to be able to avoid everything he tossed at them, whether it be monsters from the darkest corners of the universe, unyielding destruction and merciless torture, or even his own violent, yet fruitless efforts. It didn't make sense to him, and with this series of events occuring one after another... he worried that he too would fall victim to this maddening streak of "luck" the SSS seemed to carry.

He vowed to put an end to this meaningless charade, by means of exterminating every last one of them. The problem remaining: all of them had disappeared.

"Sire! We have spotted something!" A voice called.

Snapping back to reality, Crehavos rushed over to the side deck, and spotted below a shadowy figure floating on a piece of mere driftwood. Raising a hand, the demon telekinetically lifted the mysterious person onto the ship; dropping him rather roughly on the deck. This one was coughing out water that he had taken in while floating in the ocean, attempting to rise to his feet with no avail.

Bearing a scant flame in his palm, Crehavos shined the fiery light towards their guest, eyes widening upon his discovery.

It was Marth, one of the Smashers from the SSS; his cape, clothing, and indigo hair were all drenched. The prince only now regaining consiousness, spotted Crehavos; body freezing at the sight of him.

"Well princeling, it seems you are the first that I have uncovered out of your horde." Crehavos began, a deathly chill in the air. Marth couldn't help but whimper out of fear, he knew what awaited him.

"Now... you'll be the first... to perish."

"Damn you... Crehavos..." Marth managed to utter.

Crehavos frowned, holding up a widened hand towards the prince. With a illuminating gleam of blood red, the blast shot forth at the noble prince who's screams filled the demon's twisted lust.

There was a rattle of metal bouncing around on the hard wooden surface, ceasing after only a few moments. The trophy of Marth now standing tall on the deck.

"Store him," Crehavos uttered coldly to his men as he strode forth to the bow of the ship. "He's only one of many"

RP4: Shattered Sanctuary

[Angel]

[Arietta, Crehavos]
[Harsh Seas]

She smirked at the sight of what had just transipred. She walked out on the deck and clutched herself slightly. The winds were chilling, and somehow she knew that Crehavos' presence wasn't helping any. It was if the world itself bent to his will. Everything as of late seemed murky and violent. However she felt no actual worry. She would be kept safe as long as she bent to her superior's will.

"Well, sir. That's one down." she finally chimed in, trying to sound as friendly as she could. "I've been briefed on the members of the resistance to your all-mighty will and now know what we are looking for." she said softly, trying to gain a little approval. The rest of his army seemed annoyed at her ignorance and the teaching hadn't gone well. But she was ready to show her new master her worth to him.

However she looked as the Prince was being stored in cargo. Realizing the power this man had at his disposal even more. She didn't want to imagine how it would be to so completely under control by someone. That state, unmoving, it was almost like not-existing. She could be trapped forever..

"That will not be your fate, as long as you do not defy me.." Crehavos spoke with his usual emotionless tone. Obviously sensing her thoughts.

She gulped and nodded slightly. She believed it.

[Big Boss]

{Kin, Geo, Samus}

The Clouds were thick and Dark as the rain poured heavily on the gunship of the legendary bounty hunter. "I would hold on tight guys!" samus said as she gripped her hands on the controls. "Were gonna be in for a bumpy-CLASH!!!! before she could say anything lightning had struck the ship, and a huge gap was now in the ship. "oh crap!" Kin said as he started to slip as the current had pushed him out of the ship! " KIN!: Geo yelled as Kin had fallen out. Geo was to weak to turn into his devesian state, he lost alot of energy. "We cant get him now!, It would be too dangerous!" Samus stated. "Geo punched the wall next to him as he watched the clouds get darker and darker. "damnit" he said.

"AHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" Kin screamed, falling through the sky at high speeds, every raindrop felt like a sting on his face. he thought in his mind..."ok what to do..what to do...theres a lake underme, but that will hurt badly..but its better than solid ground...damnit i dont know what to do! Im done for!! Im sorry SSS, looks like im done for. He closed his eyes and braced himself for impact.

he is going to live.....
www.youtube.com/watch?v=wV0wPBYDQ6Y

A Bright light shot down from the sky, down from the heavens Mvpguy quickly cought Kin and slowly levitated down to the ground, and set him down, before kin could open his eyes he was gone."wha..what?...im alive!? But How!?" he said as he got up from the wet ground.

{Kin}
[SSS Ruins]
www.youtube.com/watch?v=sbnx_wdD06A

As our loyal SSS member walked up the infamous hill his eyes widened as he dropped on his knees tears flowing from his left eye. He could not beleive what he had seen. THE ENTIRE SSS HQ WAS IN RUINS!

"No...no....NO!" kin tightened his fist and slammed them on the ground repeatadly. "I am to late.....there all gone!" he yelled as he looked up into the sky crying. "WHY!!!!!!! CREHAVOS!?!?!? WHYYYYYYYY!!!!??" he Screamed at the top of his loungs "NOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!...why?..My only family..gone..my only home..ruined....why must I live in a shatterd life...why must I go through all of this!?...Crehavos." He Stood up on his feet. "Crehavos....Im comming for you, and when I find you, im going to kill an immortal.

{Evil Kin, Maia}

The Two lovers lay in the Bed holding each other, talking about there lives and other random things. "Maia" the silver serphant Stated, "I have finnaly found my life, its you, for a thousand years i have been searching for something, and I could not quite put my finger on it..but i finnaly have found it, you, I love You Maia"

{Snake, Snicket}

As Snicket had been laying in his bed sleeping, Snake has been keeping him company. It Seems that just like Kin and Veronica, He has finnaly warmed up to Snicket as well."Hmmm?" snake said as he noticed a book on the corner of snickets bed. "what could this be"
OOC: Snicket, you have control of snake also!

[sasukess]

[Hidden Forest,Lightning Wolf Tribe land]
Voltage was getting bored,there was nothing to do."Might as well go explore..."

[Forest outside SSS HQ]
Voltage had been tree-jumping for awhile.He landed onto the ground trying to figure out where he was.Suddenly he noticed someone coming."He sure is loud...sounds like he has a lot of swords."Voltage ambushed this person and made short work of him.He walked over his prey and said:"Too weak"He walked away and noticed his enemy getting up(without looking back)"So the runt is going to follow me, hmm?Whatever."He and his follower came to a small cliff.Voltage noticed a figure outside some ruins.He jumped down and went to the person."What happened here?"

[lloydexphere]

[Forest outside SSS HQ]
PLAY THIS SONG: www.youtube.com/watch?v=GI-C5ntdbeQ&feature=related
Kaemon was sent to this strange place by someone he knows, "says there is suppose to be something here i need" Kaemon said to himself as he noticed someone.

This person had black hair.
Kaemon wanted to go up to the man and ask him if he knows this place, but when he was going to, Volt was not there.
"Huh?" Kaemon said standing strait up,"strange... I could of sworn that man was standing there just a second ago *scratches head*"

Just then he was hit with something unnoticable to him.
...
Kaemon slowly got up,"what the? Who-" He saw the man walking away,"Wait up!"

(follows Voltage)

[Big Boss]

{Kin, Voltage, Kaemon}
[SSSHQ Ruins]

The rain got stronger as it beat down on Kins long Silver hair. All of a sudden a figure jumped down near Kin, "what Happened here?" the figure asked. Kin still looked at the ruins of the aftermath of crehavos, he knew that the figure was there a while ago. "Well a place close to my heart was destroyed" Kin said as he started to walk around the ruins

[Rorschach]

[plains entering forest outside SSS HQ]

Sour continued to walk until he noticed a forest just ahead. He didnt know where he was anymore, he was hungry and he was exhausted from the long voyage.

As Sour walked into the forest things grew darker. There was a shaky crackling of tree branches and the sound of owls and beasts echoed through the tall trees. It seemed the more that Sour walked, the more the entrance of the forest closed. It was as if the tree branches were moving.

Sour: Damnet, I can't see much.

Sours vision was not only blurry but quite grey, his starvation was taking over his body and he was quickly losing consiousness.

Sour then saw a pile of deku nuts. The aroma of them was quite bitter but this was enough to set Sour into a rampage of lust for them. Sour sprinted to the nuts but it seemed that the nuts werent getting closer. All of the sudden everything got black in Sours eyes.

Soon he awoke to find that he was hanging upside down from a tree branch wrapped around his ankle. His staff was hanging on the other side of the tree and Sour had no real upper body strength. Suddenly, the tree opened its mouth and the branch began moving Sour in a swinging motion.

Sour: Awww man, what did I get myself into now?

[lloydexphere]

Kaemon watched as this other person wallked around these ruins that he seemed to have loved so much.
The person said,"Well a place close to my heart was destroyed."
PLAY THIS SONG: www.youtube.com/watch?v=3kp17qRXdPY
There was a shout from the forest and Kaemon looked back,"Uh oh! I think someone back in there needs some help!" He looked at the two strange people,"I'll be back."

[Forest outside SSS HQ]
Kaemon ran back into the forest dodging branches and running through leaves as he suddenly came to a stop.
There in front of him was a tree attempting to eat someone.
This someone has black robe with a hood on, with black track pants under. Kaemon took out his normal sword saying,"dont worry buddy! I'll get you out of there!"
He ran towards the tree and sliced its branch off saving this person. Kaemon caught him and placed him down,"What happen?"

The tree looked mad and grew out more sharp branches.

"Uh oh! Let's talk later! This monster looks mad." Kaemon said as he gripped his sword.

[Rorschach]

Sour fell to the floor...his track pants were stained and his face had a bruise under his left eye. He turned to the tree ready to fight until he noticed his staff was still on the other side of the tree.

Sour: well Im sorry dude but I cant really fight. I need my staff. Can you provide a distraction for me please?

The man nodded and they both charged at the tree. Most of the branches were attacking the man but he had strong slashes which cut them with each slash. He seemed like a good swordsman. Suddenly, The tree threw up on him.

Sour: AWW CMON U LOSE SOME BRANCHES AND YOU THROW UP ON ME RIGHT?

Sour(who is now covered in green slime) ran to the back of the tree to find his staff hanging from a branch. Sour hopped and hopped but he couldnt jump high enough.

Sour: IM 24 YEARS OLD AND IM BARELY 6 FEET. I BET DONIN COULD REACH THIS BRANCH!!!

Suddenly Sour remembered Donin and why he had left in the first place. It was time to be serious. Sour took many steps back and leaped onto the tree, graciously jumping off the wall grabbing the staff. Some of the wood on the staff was falling off and the staff felt more chipped than smooth. the branches tight hold on the staff has made the wood dented from all sides except for the metal rings on the top and bottom of the staff.

Suddenly Sour ran back to the front of the tree to see branches continued to grow back and attack the man. Sour whacked off many branches but it wasnt enough. He would have to go into the heart of the tree.

Sour: DUDE, DISTRACT THE BRANCHES LONG ENOUGH SO I CAN GET INTO THE TREE AND DESTROY THE INSIDE.

The man again nodded with a slight smirk on his face. Sour then found a deku nut lying on the ground. Sour whipped it and the tree opened its mouth. This was his only chance. Sour Sprinted and jumped inside the tree!

Sour

[lloydexphere]

PLAY THIS SONG: www.youtube.com/watch?v=3kp17qRXdPY
Kaemon had sliced the last branch but then a random one came up from under where he was standing knocking him to the floor.
He rolled to the left as large root spikes shot out of the floor.

Eventually all the spikes surrounded him and made it so he could not escape. "Damn." He said as he took out on of his large swords on his back,"It's time to do some tricks."
He shanked it open as a large razor opened out of it.

Nonstop whip like branches flew at him in this small arena the spikes made. He cut them all up as he swung around with the razor and dodged a few. The Spikes turned hard solid and did not cut. In fact the floor started to open, like a mouth!

Kaemon threw out one of his swords upwards as he stuck both his large swords right into the mouth below. he then put his hands on the swords next to the triggers. the mouth slowly started to devour the area.

Kaemon closed his eyes,"Let's hope these gained enough power." a bundle of whips started coming at him with extreme speed.

He pressed the triggers, the sword he threw upwards cam back like a boomarang, and cut all the whips in front of him, as he blasted upwards high.
He flew pass the trees, and looked down. Some branches were still following him, growing. He put his swords equiped back on, as he started to fall.

Right before the branches struck him, he opened up his long whips to swing around the branches back to the forest floor, where he then looked at the tree.

Kaemon stared saying,"Come on, guy... You can do this. Kill that damn thing..."

Hoping his new buddy he saved finishes off the tree from inside, Kaemon continued to fight off more, then noticing the other guy with black hair just standing there,"Why dont you help me out!?"

He just stood there,"Your doing fine, Im just here to watch."

[Rorschach]

[Forest outside SSS HQ, inside tree beast]

Sour was inside the tree monster. everywhere was green, carnivorous plants were growing inside it. But everything was getting smaller and smaller. Sour was in the beasts stomach.

Sour ran and ran and ran but things were getting tighter. Suddenly, Sour stopped and carved a circle inside the beasts body and climbed upword carving more and more lungs and intestines. Soon, Sour reached an area where there was a huge ball of wood...and there it was! the branches were coming from all directions reaching out of the tree. This was the heart.

Sour noticed the branches began attacking him. There were too many of them for him to attack so he defended.Suddenly, the branches had to retract and they continued flying out of the tree. This was his chance. Suddenly Sour whipped the staff threw the ball of wood. The ball exploded.

Suddenly while the man was fighting on the outside, He saw Sours staff go flying out of the tree flying into another tree.

Sour: Yeah, Its over!

[outside of tree beast]

Suddenly The man with the sword stopped fighting as the tree beast began wobbling. Soon, It just fell to the floor and exploded. All of the sudden, Sour went flying into the air. The man trried ran around in a circle looking for where Sour was going to drop. Suddenly, He dove and ended up catching Sour.

Sour: Nice catch.

Suddenly, Sour noticed another man clapping. He had beat like claws and fangs.

Man with fangs: pretty good.

[ManOfSteele]

[Steele]
[Thick Jungle]

www.youtube.com/watch?v=GI6vIfxkEYM

Steele flew through the thick brances and leaves of the jungle at about 40 miles per hour. Out of the corner of his eye he could see a blue flash. "I've got you!" Steele swerved through the trees and under branches. "Take this!" Steele fired lightning in front of him. The blue bluur was hit by the blast and stopped.

Fox fell to the ground, stunned by the attack. Steele stopped and swooped down to the ground. "Can't let you do that Srat Fox! You won't get away that easilly!" Fox hopped up and dashed away. "Interesting..."

Steele flew after him, using his wings to glide along the ground. "Super Explosive Dome!" A dome of lightning jetted out of Steele, surrounding him as he glided. As he flew, Fox entered the dome. Lightning shot out from the dome at Fox, shocking him.

"Raaahhhh!!!!" Fox cried in pain.

Steele fired a beam of energy at Fox, which hit him dead on. The rattle of metal rang out, when his trophy hit a root in the ground. Steele put down his dome, and walked over to the trophy of Fox.

He picked him up and flung it over his shoulder. He tried to establish a mind connection to Crehavos. Sire, I've found Fox and turned him into a trophy. I'll return to hell to drop him off.

He found this to be a harder task than he expected, he thought getting Fox would be a walk in the park. Hhmmm.. Perhaps I'll find Karocka, he might be able to help me out...". Steele opened up a portal to Hell and departed.

[artistic]

{Harsh Seas}
[Nindo, Arietta, Crehavos]

Nindo lay in his bunk with his hands over his head, eyes closed though he was not sleeping. His dark red energy illuminating the air all around him. He opened his eyes and sat up to glanced out of the circular window. He stared out, but could only see gloom and hear the unforgiving waves crashing up against the side of the boat. The motion of the boats repetitive rocking was slowly shaking his cot. He stood up stretched and watched towards the door.

Nindo slowly dragged his feet out of his room. He stooped and look out upon the horizon. He could see miles and miles of untamed waters. "What are we doing out here" he thought. Before he could ponder this, two guards came rushing past nearly knocking him over. and dropping what appeared to be a trophy. "You worthless guards.. he mumbled. Nindo suddenly glowed dark red and growled between his gritted teeth. The guards quickly picked up the trophy and ran around another corner. He didn't want to get all bloody anyway.

Nindo began to walk in the opposite direction of the clumsy guards. He quickly came upon a large deck covered with more guards. He could see Crehavos and Arietta at the front of the pack. He walked though the guards pushing and shoving his way through not even acknowledging them. Nindo had finally made it to them. "Ahh...Nindo...glad you could join us..." Crehavos said blankly without turning around. "Yeah. yeah..." he said and spat into the ocean. Arietta turned around and stared at him intently as if she was studying him. He glared at irritated and she frowned and turned back around. "Alright enough with this stalling," Nindo growled "What exactly are we doing out here? Where are we going?"

[ness11]

[LGN, Peram, Alex, Alice, everyone else in Samus' Gunship]
{During Kin's 'down'fall, inside his fighter}

(OOC: After Dobs becomes normal, LGN did not abandon them, but I simply wanted to get my crew rolling again)

The crew of the futuristic fighter gasped in horror as their comrade Kin slipped from Samus' Gunship and was sent on a turbulent journey to the floor below. Alice sweared under her breath, and LGN could not believe what he was seeing, muttering disbelief and shock, but knowing his friend he would naturally be okay.

LGN attempted to calm everyone down, even though it was just as much himself that needed to cool it then his friends. "Oh man, alright everyone, don't panic!" LGN shouted over the uproarious echo of the thunder, "We'll make it through this, and the HQ is almost in sight, I'll land in approximation of where Kin should come to a rest;" he told, "no one gets left behind!"

LGN opened up a communications link quickly to his fellow SSS pilot and briefly explained his plan of action, Samus agreed. The two spaceships gradually slowed and descended for the desolate, dark, and annihilated home they hope to see, but not like this.

Cautiously like a blind squirrel, the fighter pushed forward past the decrepit trees and shrubs, contacting the ground the ground, bouncing over the terrain, and coming to a shaky stop facing sideways. Needless to say, it shoke the group up, but they trudged out onto the muddle spackled and soggy ground that used to be much a desert before this monstrous storm came. Meanwhile, Samus had successfully landed nearby, herself and Geo filing out.

LGN made his way back to his fighter and awhile later he exited with a set of flashlights. By now Geo and Samus had come over to examine the magnitude of LGN's crash, but everyone, physically, was alright. They all grabbed a flashlight and naturally turned them on.

"Fan out, go in pairs, we could be upon Kin right now and not even know it," Geo said. "Move out!"

They split off, but it didn't take them long to discover that Kin was gone. Moments into their search, Eiron had found some footprints going toward the HQ. The party followed, squishing and squashing around in the murky soil.

"Should be just up ahead now," Geo said, "Man, haven't seen the place in years, is it still the same?" he asked.

LGN wasn't sure, "As of now, your guess is as good as mine," he stated.

"Well I just want to get inside," Alex added, "plus, this place is beyond creepy at night, let alone the ominous thunder and lightning." Unfortunately for Alex, he would still have to put up with the thunder and lightning, and the comfort of being inside will evade him for the time being.

As they entered where the barrier should have been, Peram shinned his light upon the SSS HQ, or at least if it was the SSS HQ. To the naked eye at night it could have been any pile of rubble from any headquarters, but amongst the wreckage was LGN's statue, and oddly enough remained untouched. Maybe Crehavos honored the death of the SSS’s past despite never knowing them, maybe he likes good sculpting, either way that was the only thing he had missed.

While the whole building hadn't come crashing down, the fact that the headquarters was still upright was magical, if not fate's part, the HQ's exterior was razed, and lying crumbled up on the ground. The party was speechless, and all they could do for a moment was to stare at their safe haven now gave them a downtrodden and dreadful feeling.

Finally, Alice, being her witty self, spoke, "What the...?" But that was all she could muster up to speak.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
[Karocka]
{Harsh Seas, Neighboring Ship to Crehavos}

As Karocka stood on the deck of the ark, he thought over being third fiddle. Sure, there are plenty of beneficial rewards to working for Crehavos and not getting all the scrutinizing about how he operates, but why should he care? He owns there souls. Nevertheless Karocka missed the days where he was the figurehead, but that time will come soon enough he thought.

He spotted off the starboard side (that’s the right you land lovers) of the ark that Crehavos had hauled over a shadowy figure. Puzzled as to who it was Karocka called over to his commander to ask what the entire hubbub was about telepathically.

My lord, Karocka thought, entering Crehavos’ mental realm.

Yes Karocka? Crehavos responded mentally.

May I ask what you have found? He asked.

A prince from the SSS, but that info is non of your concern for this type of conversation. Next time you want to talk to me, speak to me face to face.

And like that he closed off his mind from Karocka. “Spoiled sport,” Karocka mumbled. Before he could think it over, Karocka heard a loud screech from the Harsh Sea. Bad news he thought. “All hands man your stations!” he shouted, “All Hands! Drat, this would be a great time for Steele to show up," he spat out as if his partner would appear out of the blue.

[bobsnicket]

[SSS Ruins]

Kin stopped pacing as a large piece of destroyed wall began heaving and shaking. A circular glow of red in the center of the section grew brighter and brighter, until finallly, a hole was burned through by the red lasers shooting up from below. Alarmed, the SSS veteran got in a defensive stance as two figures climbed out of the hole in the rubble.

Both were blackened considerably by ash, but as R.O.B. and Professor E. Gadd climbed out of the hole, it was evident that they were satisfactorily unharmed. The diminutive scientist held several objects close to him and his lab coat pockets were bulging; he took off his glasses and wiped the ash off of them with his coat, then replaced them over his eyes, blinking rapidly. He looked around, looking appalled and dismayed by the destruction of their great headquarters, but upon sighting Kin, grinned toothily in the way only E. Gadd could, delighted.

"Master Kin! I am so glad to see you back, and alive! We've long thought you, Dobs, and Geo to be hopelessly lost to us...but your return will kindle hope within our numbers once more." He turned to his robot creation. "ROB, I thank you with all my heart for protecting us both from destruction in that attack...I just...couldn't leave these things behind, and..."

ROB nodded, rolling his electronic eyes. "Yes, I know, creator. Your inventions are more valuable than your own life. It's in your encrypted profile."

Gadd couldn't disagree, so he didn't argue that point. The professor turned to Kin again, looking more serious. "So, you see we've suffered a heavy blow. But don't despair; all of us are still alive. They escaped on Zel's ship and are encamped within a nearby forest, according to ROB's radar. I know this may be hardly the time, but..." Gadd hesitated. "Where have you been all these years?"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

[Greenhell's Forest]

www.youtube.com/watch?v=nvsMEeDSn_Q

All was blurred before Snicket's eyes. Misshapen figures, colors, and shapes shimmered around him. Soft, whispering sounds were mixed with the penetrating blare of voices, as well as that of beeping and whirring of machines. As things gradually grew sharper, the scene around him came into view.

He was in a medical center of some sort, complete with technology almost as advanced as Gadd's, all stark-white or silver. There were people in the room looking at him with concerned expressions as he sat up: Snake, Veronica, Zel, Yoshi. He was sitting on a long, metal surgical table, and as he moved, he winced at a sharp pain coming from his stomach. Looking down, he saw bandaging wrapped thickly around his wound; his fingers had also been bandaged heavily, although they were not hurting nearly as much as he might have expected.

"Take it easy, Bob," Yoshi advised soothingly. "You've been through a rough few days."

Snicket nodded, then, upon looking down at himself, was amazed: his clothes were clean, his gloves were white, his bones intact, including his fingers.

"I was able to heal you with magic," Zel explained, as if in answer to Bob's thoughts. "But unfortunately, that sword Dark Link stabbed you with was no ordinary blade. I couldn't remove the...well, see for yourself."

Unwrapping his bandages, Snicket's eyes widened as he saw in the dead center of his torso, while there was no blood or torn skin, an extremely unnatural black spot stood out. It seemed to ripple slightly, as if it were unstable. Pulling his shirt back down, Bob accepted this mark as the price of reuniting the SSS. But...

Looking around, he could clearly tell they were definitely not in the HQ. So where were they?

Snake then explained to him in detail how after Bob had returned, Crehavos himself had come with the power to blast through the Niluck Stone's barrier and had destroyed their beloved base completely. Zel had ushered everyone onto his ship, and they had been going to journey to a distant planet, but a problem with the craft caused them to land somewhere else near the HQ where they would be safe from searching eyes.

Snicket looked over as Veronica went and opened the shutters concealing a window that overlooked the land outside the ship. He saw that beyond their temporary sanctuary was a dark, thickly grown forest. Moss and shrubbery and close-growing trees made it extremely difficult to walk through. Not a single animal sound brightened the scene.

"This is Greenhell's Forest," Veronica told him. "The trees are so thick that Crehavos would not be likely to search here; it's hard just to get inside this place."

Snicket pondered the heavy, burdensome implications of all his fellow members had said. Finding his hammer, commonplace notebook, cloak, and Switch Hook resting on a counter beside him, he surprised them by placing his feet on the ground and standing up, picking up the tools of his trade, and wrapping his inherited cloak around his shoulders. He really felt quite fine except for that black spot...

"Did everyone make it out?" Snicket asked the most important question first.

"Well..." Zel hesitated. "Samus is still out there somewhere with LGN, IOwnedYou, and Peram. Ganondorf and Bowser, well, you know what their situation is. Link is, as we now know, deep below in the dungeons of Fallen Angel Castle. Ness was traveling with Zero when Crehavos arrived. But other than that...no one else was reported missing, I think."

"Marth," Yoshi added. "Marth is not among us. I haven't seen Fox; I think he's missing too. Neither are..." The green dinosaur looked in Bob's eyes with meaning and sad sympathy. "...the professor or R.O.B."

That hit Snicket hard, but he did his best not to show it. "So...now what?"

"I think we were hoping you could tell us that, kid," Snake said gruffly. He still sounded older.

"Well..." Bob thought. "First things first. Zel, let's get everyone together in the main bay of this ship, if you have one. Crehavos has stricken us hard this time. I think it's about time we crawl out of our shell and find a way to strike back. Where it hurts."