In a swift motion, I pulled my cape around my body using my one good hand, disappearing once again into the familiar darkness. For the short instant that I floated in that frozen abyss, the pointed fingers on my claw stretched outwards, sensing the battle ahead. I swore to myself I would do my best to deny them the bloodshed I knew they craved.

I reappeared back into the world directly behind the guard who was holding Robin, the only one who remained on the ground. I saw his helmed head begin to turn in my direction as soon as I appeared, but I did not give him long to react.

Using all the strength and built in momentum I had, I turned my body, sending a kick into the alien's exposed side. The impact was enough to send jolts of pain up and down my leg, but the guard barely seemed to react at all. Instead, he merely turned all the way around so that he was facing me, dropping the spear along the way. Strange, did my attack make him drop it?

Not wasting any time, I spun again, this time aiming another kick straight for his face. My foot hit solidly again but, as I tried to retract it, I found that it suddenly became impossible to move. Still at the awkward position of having my entire body stretched out horizontally from the kick, I turned my head just enough to see the large, purple armor-clad hand gripping my foot.

Uh oh.

I tried to pull my leg free, but the relaxed way the alien seemed to grip my foot might as well have been a steel bear trap. Before I could think of how to proceed next, the purple monster threw me in the air with a casual flick of his arm.

Random images flew through my vision as I hurtled towards the roof. I didn't even have enough time to tell what I was looking at or who was there before the image changed. I desperately grabbed for my cloak before I was to make a very solid impact with the top of this dungeon. Gripping what felt like one of the ends of my cape, I quickly pulled it over me, tucking in my legs and claw as I did so.

I vanished again into darkness. My claw again twitched. It wanted attention. It knew I couldn't do anything without it.

I gritted my fanged teeth. I refused to give it the satisfaction.

I reappeared in the air, still curled into a ball, only now it was right over the guard who had thrown me. I pulled myself toward, twirling rapidly in the air, aiming straight down at the guard. At the last instant, I kicked my leg out, letting the heel clip the top of his helmet before throwing it downwards as I landed.

I struck the ground and staggered to keep my balance. The blow was again solid and painful; I was forced to keep most of the pressure off my right foot as I attempted to stand again. The clatter of metal on stone rang in my ears as a purple helmet rolled along the floor. The alien guard was now hunched over. A less resistant Robin was still in his arm, looking shocked as his gaze switched from the alien to me. 

My eyes remained on the guard. He had leaned forward, but his feet hadn't left the spot since I first attacked him.

Slowly, the Tamaran guard rose back to his full height, the missing helmet revealing long, red hair and very bright, very angry, purple eyes. I noticed Robin trying to struggle again, his arms were pinned to his sides but it was his hands that seemed to be moving the most, fingers trying to extend towards the belt around with waist.

I could only look on for another moment before the guard suddenly raised his free hand, purple energy exploding from it. With no time to reach for my cape, I spun away from the bolts of energy as they shot out like cannon fire towards me. The Tameranians around us quickly moved aside to make room for the sudden show down. Faintly, I could hear Starfire calling my name. Actually, it sounded like a warning. 

I looked around as I dodged the energy only to see three more guards descending on me from above.

Oh, yeah. There were four.

I mentally slapped myself for how long this was taking. Robin should have been freed before I had to worry about the other guards.

My claw twitched again, sensing my stress.

Damn it, fine. I'll use you, but there won't be blood.

As I continued to dodge, I forced my clawed fingers to constrict and form a fist. They resisted, knowing my intentions, but it was the only way. I looked around one final time. It was only another second or two before the other guards reached me.

I stopped in place, quickly ducking over another succession of energy bolts before using my human hand to pull the cape over me. I pulled the claw back as I entered the darkness. I would need all the free time I could gather.

I appeared back into the world a second later right in front of the guard holding Robin, hoping my gamble paid off. Sure enough, he was busy looking behind him, preparing for another strike in the back.

Surprise.

Taking a rather loud step forward, I threw the demonic fist into the face of the alien as he tried to look back in my direction.

I expected the impact. I expected it to feel like hitting a brick wall. What I did not expect was the sudden, bone-white spikes to suddenly shoot out from the demonic hand right before it made contact with the alien's now fully exposed face.

All I could do was let out a silent gasp as the blow made contact. The sound of crunching bone and torn flesh was all I could hear for a splint instant before the Tamaran was sent off his feet and sailing through the air, dropping the Titan somewhere along the way before finally smacking into the wall some distance away. I watched the guard sink to the ground and waited for him to get up as Robin landed smoothly somewhere beside me.

He did not get up.

"What...was that?!" the Titan's leader called out, shaking me from my stupor. I looked down at the demon hand before turning my body so that I was standing between it and him. The strange spikes were gone, but it was definitely coated in blood now.

I didn't answer as the Titan quickly began to approach me. This was the moment. Would he choose to fight me here and now? Or would he go after his friends?

The now extended clawed fingers twitched. It was pretty clear what it wanted.

Robin got close enough to be able to touch me by simply extending his hand before he spoke again. "Hey! I said-!" His mask seemed to catch something beside us and, before I could react, the Titan suddenly slammed into me.

So, that's his answer then.

The claw was already preparing for its next meal.

However, as he shoved into me, I  took notice of the spear that  cut through the air where I had just been standing.

Oh...

I forced the claw back into a fist as the Titan and I stumbled backwards, trying to keep our balance. While the first guard had missed, the other two were now flying rapidly in our direction, spears pointed forward and ready to pierce our heads. Being in the more favorable position, I gripped the Titan's shoulders and shoved him aside, helping him to avoid the spear that nearly split through his head before ducking to avoid the one sent into my own.

Both spears retracted immediately, already prepared to assault again. I leapt backwards and took quick note of Robin quickly attempting to side step his opponent as the two guards split off to chase us both down. The third guard merely stood where he first missed us, clearly looking for an opening.

I wouldn't make it easy for him.

I pulled my cape over myself again as the guard gunning for me tried to gut me through the middle. In the darkness, I held the demon fist above my head and tucked in my legs, preparing for the fall.

The fall that came a split second later as I reappeared in the air over the guard who had not moved. I fell down towards him, fist ready to smash down on his unsuspecting head. Unsuspecting, until he suddenly looked right up at me. Without a moment's hesitation, he switched his spear to one hand, the now free one aimed right up towards me, before firing a series of energy bolts.

I didn't have time to react. In that split second, I remembered the claw resisting the power of Starfire's eye beams. Maybe...

I brought down the fist from above my head and simply began swinging it wildly in the air as I continued to fall down. I watched almost in awe as the first of the bolts of energy was simply battered away...and then another...and another... As it swatted away the energy as if they were no more than pesky flies, I felt my claw begin to move again on its own, removing the threat of the blasts with more precision and skill. I no longer felt as if I was the one moving it any longer. The fear that produced was too little too late, however, as the claw suddenly reached out for the helmed guard's face when I had fallen close enough. 

The guard thankfully reacted quickly enough to avoid it as I landed, but before I could even gain my footing the claw suddenly lurched forward, nearly taking me off my feet.

More than likely surprised at my sudden onslaught, the guard swung wildly at my side. The claw reacted quicker than I could, reaching down to interrupt the swing and gripped the pole of the spear, right below the bladed end, stopping it in its tracks. Even wearing his helmet, I could tell the guard was just as shocked as I was. He attempted to pull the pole from the demon claw's grip, but to no avail. I felt something focus on the back of my head and, turning my head slightly, I could see the guard who was previously attacking me before I had vanished already sailing towards me again, spear extended and looking to pierce me in the back.

But before either of us could do anything, the claw acted on its own again. With a shocking amount of strength, it pulled the spear it was gripping and thrust it over and around my shoulder, forcing me to turn around in order to keep my balance while the hapless guard was sent flying off his spear. I did not have the time to focus on where that guard was sent before the claw suddenly stop.

It was still gripped firmly on the pole of the spear, but the blade itself was missing. No, not missing. It was hiding. Hiding somewhere deep inside the chest of the guard who had attempted to attack me from behind.

The guard in question dropped his own spear with a final clatter as he gazed down at the wound in his chest. I looked down at it too. Deep crimson blood dripping was from it like some squished juice box. I could feel the claw bathing in it all like it was some lavish bath. The Tamaran looked back up at me, gripping the wrist of my more normal arm. I looked into his glowing purple eyes, and kept looking even after the glow had faded and the grip had left my arm.

It took a tremendous amount of effort, but I forced the claw to release its grip on the spear, letting it and the body it was still attached to fall to the ground. 

Seemingly thousands of Tameranians were still gathered, some now looking on at me with a mixture of fear and horror, but still more had their eyes glued to the contest between Number 26 and See-More that still raged somewhere across the room. Others were now discreetly being ushered out of the room, being led by a very frightened looking Starfire who was attempting to get her people out of this quickly turning massacre.

At least Fixit was right about that.

I tried to take a deep breath to settle my nerves, forcing my eyes away from the bloody mess beside me. It was nothing I hadn't seen before. I didn't have time to think about it. About anything besides helping See-More...On helping...

"Gah!" Robin cried out and I watched him skid across the now much more spacious ground as more and more Tamarans began exiting the ground. He looked positively thrashed compared to the calm and composed Tamaran that was slowly making his way towards the Titan leader. Guess he hasn't seen how his other comrades have been faring.

I had to hand it to the Titan, he was at least a decent distraction. I made to head towards the two, but the sound of someone landing on their feet forced me to spin back around in place. This, unfortunately, met seeing the dead guard again, though a not so dead guard stood over him now. Judging from his undamaged face, I quickly discerned that it wasn't the one that got hit in the face. He bent down, whispering something unintelligible to his dead comrade, before standing up again and removing the spear from the other guard's chest.

The guard then removed his own helmet and, letting it clatter to the floor, he held up his spear, pointed end dripping in blood as he pointed it towards me. The purple eyes glowed viciously under red hair that was cropped much shorter than the one I had punched, revealing every detail of his anger as he glared at me.

"Don sta, mach ran!" the guard hissed. While I could not understand what he said, it was easy to tell it meant nothing good.

The claw's fingers flexed, sensing the challenge, but I couldn't let it attack again...

But what can I do without the claw?

The claw opened and closed its fingers. The blood it had drunk was not enough. Not nearly enough.

But it will kill again...Can I let it kill again?

The Tamaran lowered his spear, only slightly, as he began to walk towards me.

But, without the claw, he will kill me for sure...

I found myself having to force the claw from rising on its own.

But, if I keep this up, I might lose myself again.

Would that be such a bad thing?

A voice inside my head, different from mine, different from Fixit's. It was a voice that dripped with malice. A voice that send instant chills throughout my entire body.

Just let go. Give in to your desire. Isn't that what we really want, in the end?

It was a cold voice. Colder than ice. Just as cold as the darkness I always slipped into.

Who are you?

I backed away subconsciously, though I couldn't help but continue to notice the guard's unstoppable advance towards me, glowing eyes still filled with the intent to kill.

Laughter filled my head. It was not a happy laugh, or an uncontrolled one. It was an amused chuckle, a noise that nearly sent me to my knees.

We both know who we are.

The claw then raised itself fully, clawed finger tips pointed directly at the approaching alien, and no amount of my willpower or effort could force it down, even when I tried to grip the arm with my other hand.

That's because we aren't trying to stop it.

I felt my foot take a step forwards. The guard, almost instantly, stopped his approach. I saw something in his exposed face. The anger had faded slightly and had become replaced with...fear.

Fear of us, fear of what we will do.

I smile crept up on my face. It wasn't my smile and it was my smile. I took another step with a foot that wasn't my foot and was my foot. As the Tamaran took a step back, the claw that wasn't my claw and was my claw suddenly reached forwards.

I could smell the blood.

Soon, I will taste the blood.

Just a little closer and I will taste the--

"Hang on, Kyd, I got ya!" a voice suddenly cut through the stillness I had found myself in. A second later, the guard  vanished from my field of vision as a red laser beam suddenly struck him from the side, sending him far down the room. He had been seconds away from the claw gripping his face.

The claw...The claw! Quickly gaining control, I forced the claw into a fist and pinned it to my side. The voice in my head seemed like a bad dream when I turned to see See-More's beaming face standing only a few feet away, hands on his hips and breathing heavy.

"Fixit said...you...couldn't...help me...but he never...said...I couldn't...help...you!" my friend said between deep breaths. I could only look back at him in amazement. A small smile flitted over my face as I tried to think on how to ask him how he dealt with Number 26.

The answer came an instant later.

"Don't think you can ignore me, SEE-MORE!" a voice built with fury declared.

I could only look on in horror as Number 26 then appeared, floating behind See-More. My friend did not even have the time to turn before she sent a kick against the side of his head.

I cried out in my head as loud as it could go as See-More's body sailed helplessly through the air before slamming against the wall. I watched him slide down into the ground. Waited on stone cold feet for him to get up.

He didn't get up.

See-More...

I tried to move, but I couldn't feel my legs anymore.

See-More...!

I tried to take a step, but ended up falling to my knees instead.

SEE-MORE!

Number 26 looked at where he lied motionless on the ground before nodding, satisfied. She then turned to look down at me, a proud smile gracing her disgustingly beautiful face. "The contest is over. It is time to eliminate the rest."

It was an order given in an almost hushed tone, but it was apparently loud enough for the owners of the strong hands that suddenly gripped my arms and held them apart, taking care to avoid the claw that was now freely trying to grasp at anything around it. I looked to either side, expecting more purple armored guards, only to see regular dressed male Tamarans. Apparently, Starfire didn't manage to get all of her people to safety. Despite them not wearing armor, the alien's strength was still more than enough to keep me from moving. Not that I had much willpower left to do anything.

I looked from Robin who was himself pinned to the ground by one of the remaining guards, to the two Titans who remained chained up, to the quiet body of my more than likely dead friend.

Guess that's it, then.

I let my head sink downwards. Even the claw stopped in its trashing. I could hear footsteps approach me.

Guess the plan failed, Fixit.

"It was a valiant effort, I must admit," Number 26's mocking echoed into nothingness in my head. "But it is time to clean up this mess."

Guess it failed...because of me.

Do not be so hard on yourself.

A voice in my head said this. Fixit's voice.

Fixit?

Have hope, Kyd Wykkyd. See-More still lives, and this is not over.

But...how?

Because we still have Plan X.

Plan--

"No..." Number 26 breathed, her voice quickly regaining its anger. "How did you find--?"

"Best thief in the world, remember?"

A new presence was behind me when there was previously no one there. I looked to my sides to see my captors had noticed it as well. But, before they could react, a black gloved hand suddenly gripped itself on both of their faces. An instant later, red binding wrapped themselves around the alien's faces. The two quickly released their grip on me to try and pull at their new bindings, though it seemed to do little good even with their strength.

With my new freedom, I could only remain on my knees and turn my head to see the almost angelic figure of Red-X. Standing in all his glory as he eyed Number 26 through his skull-masked eyes.

"No! That's impossible!" Number 26 continued to cry, fists glowing purple. "How did you find-?!"

She was cut off when a red x shaped object  flew through the air, smacking her face and wrapping around her mouth, effectively cutting off her words.

"You know, I've been meaning to say, babe, you're a lot prettier with that mouth closed," Red-X taunted, earning a death-like glare from Number 26 before she extended her hands, sending energy bolts at him. I watched as Red-X vanished-- Wait, vanished?!

Like he wasn't even there, Red-X was gone, the bolts of energy flying harmlessly through the air space he was just in. I thought maybe I had imagined the entire thing for an instant before Red-reappeared, standing in between Number 26 and I.

"Uh uh uh, didn't your daddy ever teach you any manners?"

This earned a particularly furious yet muffled cry from Number 26 before she attempted to send a fist straight for Red-X's head. The master thief easily ducked from the blow and retaliated with a palm against Blackfire's stomach.

"Now, I'm gonna warn you, this will sting a bit."

Red electricity surged through Number 26, her muffled cries drowned out by the crackling energy. The alien princess collapsed to her knees after Red-X had removed his hand, all fight seemingly drained out of her.

"Now, you just sit there and think about what you did," Red-X scolded before turning around so that he was facing me. I looked from the very recently defeated Blackfire to the masked thief who was looking down at me.

"Hey there, Kydo, need a hand?"

He extended his gloved hand towards me. Almost intrinsically, I reached out with the claw, earning an awkward cough from the thief.

"Ah, other hand, please. I'm deathly allergic to demon."

Bowing my head slightly in apology, I reached with the other hand and gripped Red-X's, allowing him to pull me to my feet. I felt as if I would fall as soon as I stood, but the thief quickly gripped my shoulder, hand still clenched in mine.

"Man, these guys really did a number on yall, huh?" Red-X asked me. I could almost see the playful smile behind his mask. "Good thing I decided to stop by and check on you kids."

I didn't know what to say, even if I could say anything. My eyes drifted from the masked face to the teen who risked his life for me, still lying face down on the ground, the mechanical man ever fighting for victory inside of him.

How can they all be so strong? How could I be so weak, compared to them?

This all started because I wanted to be strong and save my old teammates. How did things get so screwed up to where I was the one who needed saving? 

I clenched my fists.

"Ow, hey, man, take it easy! I only got four fingers there!" Red-X muttered, releasing our perpetual handshake. 

I wanted to hug him, though I quickly took a step away to prevent that from happening. Red-X folded his arms, sizing me up, before looking over to where See-More still lay. "You guys really look like crap. Where's Fixit? Dead?"

I looked at See-More as well before turning back to Red-X. I wanted to shake my head, but that wasn't a very good explanation. I raised my good hand and, keeping it horizontal, I tilted it from side to side, trying to say 'eh, kinda'. Red-X's cocked head clearly showed that I should have stuck to shaking my head.

"This...only...delays the inevitable..." Number 26 spoke up, fire still in her words.

"My, my, speaking again already?" Red-X commented as he turned to face her. "I guess that electricity got rid of my binding. A pity."

"You will regret using such a tone with me!" Number 26 spat, slowly attempting to rise to her feet. "You stand in the halls of Tamaran's palace! You will find no mercy and no compassion here! Only slow and painful death!"

"I guess I should really read the brochure next time I plan a vacation," Red-X quipped, taking a defensive stance. I gripped my cape, my eyes dancing from See-More to Robin to the remaining Titans. Though, as I did, a sea of angry orange faces filled my vision.

The plan was not over, not by a long shot, but we still had a long way to go.

"My people!" Number 26 cried, finally rising to her feet and back into the air. "Today is where we make our stand! This is the moment where the enemy tastes its first defeat! Squash the insects that dare attempt to usurp us from our homes! Bring death upon those that would bring destruction upon our home and families! My people! It is time-!"

Number 26 was interrupted in her speech as the noise of a horrible avalanche echoed loudly throughout the entire expanse of the dungeon. The air itself shook and pieces of stone from the ceiling and walls broke off relentlessly. Hundreds of Tamaran's cried in terror and fled towards the exit as larger debris began to fall around us.

"What is happening?!" Number 26 cried out to one of the guards. The one who wasn't holding Robin flew over to her, some hologram glowing from his wrist.

"An unidentified spacecraft my queen!" the guard answered, his heavily accented voice filled with panic. "It has crashed right through the palace walls, it appears to be-!"

But the guard's shouts were cut off as well when an even louder noise interrupted as something exploded through the roof. What Tamarans that still hadn't escaped the room flew off in random directions as the very large object slowly sunk further through the roof, sending dust and debris in every direction. Red-X and I were forced to cover our faces with our cloaks as the dust flew out like a storm towards us.

It took several long seconds for it to finally clear, but nothing prepared me for what appeared when the horribly loud noises quieted down and the roof and walls stopped caving in.

A spaceship, or what was left of it, stuck out from the ceiling of the very large dungeon room. Fire and pieces of metal and stone seemed to take up what still remained of the ship, but one thing clearly stood out.

The cockpit, made out of apparently impenetrable glass, rested a few inches above the ground, and only a few meters from where Red-X and I stood. In it, I could just make out a figure, but it was enough to make my entire body freeze over.

Very slowly, those that still remained in the room watched as the cockpit's large, indestructible window opened, and from the still clearing dust stepped out a girl, no older than 17 or 18, with dark purple and black clothes and bright pink hair.

She landed on the ground with a cat-like grace before looking around the room at everyone who could only stare back at her in awe. She only stopped when her bright pink eyes found me. I felt my insides freeze over as she squinted at me. Maybe she wouldn't recognize--

"Hey, Kyd," she greeted with a sheepish smile and an awkward wave. 

The only thing I could possibly think to do was raise my own hand in greeting. 

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Red-X lean slightly towards me. "Damn, why couldn't I get an entrance like that?"