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Crystal Guardian

Arc 3: Perversion of the Light

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Chapter 28: The Nature of Crystalan

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As Sarah leaves Mike’s office she runs into Linda Mathews; her colleague and close friend.

Linda : " How did it go?"

Sarah : “ 2 weeks R&R.”

Linda : " I could use a little of that."

Sarah : “ He’s worried.”

Linda : " We’re all scared; I never imagined they could be so deadly; ordinarily they are so gentle and peaceful."

Sarah : “ Right; Your one of the few people who‘s had genuine contact with them? Do you think they knew that I’m friends with you?”

Linda : " Without a doubt; that’s probably why you’re still alive. They have some sort of Telepathy or Technopathy; either way they share thoughts and feelings."

Sarah : “ Tell me about them?”

Linda : " I took 2 semesters at Crystal Valley University; they have the finest Medical School in the world you know. I was partnered with a Glazed Amazon; 6 feet tall, perfect skin and muscles everywhere. Now when I say muscles everywhere I don’t mean like bodybuilders, I mean more like an athlete; a lean muscular physique. Her name is Ridan Lesedi, and at the time she like me was studying to be a doctor, but the difference is she was also simultaneously studying to be a biochemist and a geneticist"

Sarah : “ She was that smart?”

Linda : " They’re all that smart Now."

Sarah : “ The University allowed her to take that many courses?”

Linda : " They own the University. Anyway; initially I thought she was a Hybrid like me, and for all intensive purposes she let me believe that she was a hybrid. But then I started to notice some things."

Sarah : “ What sort of things?”

Linda : " Hybrids trade on their Power; it’s sort of like our handle. Hi; I’m Linda; Telepath / Psionic! Ridan didn’t trade on her power; she seemed unimpressed by even the most impressive Hybrids. Crystal Valley is the hybrid Capital; a place where Hybrids use their Powers openly and publicly. Somehow Ridan didn’t fit in with other Hybrids; it was like she didn’t belong somehow."

Sarah : “ She didn’t belong even then?”

Linda begins to project her memories into Sarah’s mind. It is the moment when Linda first met Ridan.

Linda : " Hi; I’m Linda; Telepath/Psionic."

Ridan : “ Ridan Lesedi.”

Linda : " So Ridan; what do you do?"

Ridan : “ I study.”

Linda : " I mean what’s your Power?"

Ridan : “ I’m strong; amongst other things.”

Linda : " What sorts of things?” Linda tries to look inside Ridan’s mind but she’s rebuffed by extremely powerful Psionic Energy “Wow!"

Ridan : “ Don’t do that!”

Linda : " I’m sorry."

Ridan : “ I know Telepaths are curious, but Invading someone’s mind is extremely impolite.”

Linda : " I promise; it won’t happen again."

Ridan : “ Good; Telepaths are very rare; especially amongst Hybrids”

Linda : " As opposed to what? Crystalans and Hodians?"

Ridan : “ Well; Yeah!”

Linda : " Oh my God; you’re a Paragon aren’t you?"

Ridan : “ Paragon?”

Linda : " Like in the comic books; multiple Powers."

Ridan : “ I know what you mean; I suppose I am.”

Linda : " Crystalan or Hodian?"

Ridan : “ You shouldn’t ask such a question; they could throw you out.”

Linda : " Throw me out of the University for asking a simple question?"

Ridan : “ Throw you out of the University? No; the City. This place is crawling with spies from all over the world.”

Linda : " I see."

Ridan : “ You’re bold; I like you. I’ll teach you a few things; see how far your telepathy can extend.”

Linda : " What do you mean by extend?"

Ridan : “ On a scale of 1 to 10 your Telepathy is about a 2, but I come from a place where everyone is a 10.”

Memory projection pauses.

Sarah : “ All of them?”

Linda : " Yes; they practice their abilities from childhood well into their adulthood! Anyway; over the following three months she taught me powerful empathic Telepathic techniques that changed me into an Empathic Telepath. I could read people without entering their minds; merely reading the energy wake they leave behind. It was at that time that I got the first confirmation that Ridan was in fact a Crystalan."

Sarah : “ What happened?”

Linda : " Ridan’s brother Disan visited her while I was at her place. They’re all wealthy you know, and they live like it."

Sarah : “ What was he like?”

Linda : " Crystalan women are Glazed Amazons, but Crystalan men are perfectly beautiful; perfect skin, lean muscular physic and they ooze the feel good stuff!"

Sarah : “ What’s the feel good stuff?”

Linda : " Their energy is so potent you could climax from a simple hug!"

Memory projection continues. Disan steps into the room and Ridan rushes over and Hugs him for a full minute. As Brother and Sister embrace Linda detects a powerful energy exchange between them; in particular massive amounts of Psionic energy transferring from Disan to Ridan.

Ridan : “ You have no Idea how good it feels to see you little brother.”

Disan : “ I think I get the gist.”

Ridan : “ Oh; this is my friend Linda.”

Disan : “ I’d shake your hand but I’m not very good at containing my Aura, and telepaths can have a bad reaction to a Crystalan Touch.”

Ridan : “ Tell the whole world why don’t you?”

Disan : “ Oh she knows now; you just couldn’t wait to suck the life right out of me.”

Ridan : “ I’m sorry; I was just so hungry.”

Disan : “ Don’t I know it.”

Linda : " That’s why you like the sun so much; you feed on energy."

Ridan : “ As a Clear Crystalan I need Equal Amounts of Various forms of energy. I generate Psionic Energy, but away from home I use significant amounts to shield, cloak and protect me from prying eyes; so every now and then I need a top-up.”

Disan : “ Relatives or Intimate partners are useful in this regard! Which reminds me; Raneo is away on Crystalan business, and so he sent me to help you out.”

Linda : " Raneo?"

Disan : “ Her Boyfriend!”

Ridan : “ My Fiancé!”

Linda : " Congrats!"

Ridan : “ Thank you.”

Disan and Ridan leave for lunch, and a few hours later Ridan returns alone.

Linda : " Thanks for letting me stay; your place is so much nicer to study in."

Ridan : “ Oh I wish you could see Crystalorb; it’s feel good all the time.”

Linda : " Your brother is adorable."

Ridan : “ What ever you do, don’t fall for him.”

Linda : " Is he a player?"

Ridan : “ Crystalan men don’t do that; they’re far more dangerous to none Crystalans.”

Linda : " Dangerous; how?"

Ridan : “ He can’t see you Honey; not in the way you would want him to!” She opens her blouse to reveal her Clear Chest Crystal “90% of Crystalan Vision comes through the Chest Crystal; to Disan you have the Aura of an Infant. You can’t give him what he needs.”

Linda : " But it felt like he might be interested."

Ridan : “ It always feels like that Honey; Crystalan men can’t help being what they are. By normal standards you’re a very attractive woman, but Crystalan men are difficult to attract, and even more difficult to keep. Even if by some miracle you got together with him it would only break your heart. Women outside Crystalorb are not properly socialized to deal with Crystalan men.”

Memory projection pauses.

Sarah : “ Sounds like she didn’t think you were good enough for her brother?”

Linda : " She was right."

Sarah : “ Really?”

Linda : " Yeah; She once told me that Crystalan men are all expert lovers; something to do with their precise muscular control."

Sarah : “ I don’t get it?”

Linda : " They can vibrate their Penis."

Sarah : “ All of them?”

Linda : " All of them."

Memory projection continues.

Linda : " What do you mean by; properly socialized?"

Ridan : “ I’ve Had 20 sexual partners; about average for Crystalans.”

Linda : " 20?"

Ridan : “ You’d think Crystalan men would have a problem with that, but they don’t care how many partners you’ve had; they only care about how you treated the men who came before them.”

Linda : " What? They care about how you treated the men who came before them?"

Ridan : “ Strange Right?”

Linda : " Very Strange."

Ridan : “ What you must understand is that they’re all very Good; Attentive, Considerate, Polite, Passionate, Honest, Loyal and Faithful!”

Linda : " All of them?"

Ridan : “ All of them!”

Linda : " You Crystalan women have it made."

Ridan : “ You’d think that! My first Boyfriend was a total sweetheart; one problem; I was sort of interested in this other guy, and so when he finds out that I sort of like this other guy he panics and bails on me. After a few Tries I manage to get together with my second Boyfriend a year later at 17 years old, but when he finds out what happened with my first Boyfriend he freaks out and runs for the hills. The Third Boyfriend also leaves because of what I supposedly did to the first Guy. The Fourth Boyfriend can make peace with what I did to the first guy, but he can’t be with me because I was with the second Boyfriend and they don’t get along. The Fifth Boyfriend tries to get past the issue with the first guy, but eventually decides that it’s too much for him. The Sixth Boyfriend managed to get passed all the issues, and we were together for 2 years, but when he finds out that I slept with some random guy he doesn’t like the whole thing falls apart. After that I decided to be alone, partnering casually with women for the next 3 years until I made a friend in Raneo. Events conspired to bring Raneo and me together, but as much as he loved me even he wavered about staying with me, thankfully he decided I was worth the risk, and believed me when I told him that I loved him.”

Linda : " My God; They are infuriating!"

Ridan : “ There is a price to pay for all that Honour.”

Linda : " I can’t Imagine what it’s like to be a Crystalan woman."

Ridan : “ This is why you have to be properly prepared. Crystalan men aren’t like the sex obsessed Neanderthals that populate the world; they are much more evolved. Crystalan men only ask once. Women around the world have men practically beg them for a date, but Crystalan men don't beg. Ooh no; that would violate their sense of honour! Crystalan men can be Unforgiving! If you say no to a Crystalan man you have to understand that your decision is final. He won't ever ask again; And that door may be closed forever! Many Crystalan women have lived to regret their choices. Crystalan men may look indestructible, but they are in a lot of ways the most vulnerable men in the world. They are required as a question of honour to wear their hearts on their sleeves, unable to hide away, unable to shield themselves from Crystalan women. They are in some ways defenceless against the women they love. Crystalan women must therefore always be gentle with them; careful with their feelings. Any Crystalan woman who shows even the slightest tendency to disregard a Crystalan man’s feelings will have an extremely difficult time trying to find a husband.”

Linda : " Crystalan men sort of trust each others judgement don’t they?"

Ridan : “ We are a warrior culture; we are so highly trained that we learn to trust the judgements of others. On the battlefield we fight as one; mind, body and soul.”

Linda : " Even you? A doctor to be?"

Ridan : “ We are all warriors! Fighting is one of the first things we learn to do; a requirement of Crystalan Adulthood.”

Linda : " Amazing! So that’s why you’re so well toned."

Ridan : “ Actually that’s all genetics. We are warrior born all of us; and the oldest are the strongest!”

Memory projection Ends.

Sarah : “ If we had Known about their warrior culture perhaps we wouldn’t have taken sides.”

Linda : " Are you kidding me? They knew that the Crystalans were extremely powerful but they joined with the Hodians anyway! The average Crystalans Adult is 1.8 metres tall, over 850 Pounds in weight; that tells you something about their Physiological Density and the possible extent of their Powers. All our so called leaders could see was what the Hodians were offering, and they weren’t interested in the potential consequences of such an alliance"

Sarah : “ And look where we are now! Do you think Ridan survived the attack?”

Linda : " God I hope she’s still alive! It’s people like her who can help calm things down."

Sarah : “ Maybe we should reach out to them? Can you contact her?”

Linda : " We tried; But it’s too late now; they don’t trust anything that comes out of our mouths now."

Sarah : “ I can’t really blame them; They are such fascinating creatures.”

Linda : " You have no Idea; Crystalan men actually help to breastfeed their Children!"

Sarah : “ What? Crystalan men have lactating breasts?”

Linda : " Apparently the breasts of a Crystalan man produce a highly nutritious nectar necessary for Crystalan child development. It turns out that Crystalan Children breastfeed from both parents for 3 to 4 years."

Sarah : “ I can’t quite imagine a Crystal Guardian breastfeeding an Infant!”

Linda : " Those who’ve been to Crystalorb say that in their Natural environment Crystalans are somewhat docile!"

Sarah : “ That’s hard to believe.”

Linda : " The Hodians have confirmed this; We can only hope to see that side of them one day."

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Director Mike Trotman briefs President Randall and heads of all security agencies on the Crystalan Threat. General Parker of the NSA was not particularly impressed with Director Mike Trotman’s recommendations, and Admiral Daniels of the Joint Chiefs of Staff agreed with General Parker’s views.

The intelligence services on the other hand understood that Crystalorb was perhaps the most dangerous adversary the United States had ever faced.

Director John Mulligan of the CIA and Director Ben Bruner of the FBI had both been briefed by the Hodians on the possible capabilities of Crystalorb.

Mike : " Mr President; the Crystalans have sent us a message!"

President Randall : " I read that in the report Director; We must be very careful when dealing with them, and any further mistakes could be disastrous!"

Mike : " The Crystalans seem interested in having wider relations with the rest of humanity, but for now they’ve allied themselves with the South Africans, and that should be our starting point."

President Randall : " The United States does not have any significant Ideological difference of opinion with South Africa. By normalizing our relations with the South Africans we could end any possible hostilities with the Crystalans. But we must never relinquish control of the destiny of the world to this shadowy organization."

Mike : " Mr President; we cannot oppose Crystalorb openly; And with the Hodians making peace with Crystalorb we may soon find ourselves alone against an enemy of incomparable power."

President Randall : " We’re not alone; India and China are also weary of Crystalorb and the advanced technology transferred to Africans."

Mike : " The Islamic world has unfortunately been thrust into the middle of things."

President Randall : " That’s unfortunate, but as long as the Africans have squabbles with the Islamic world they won’t be positioning themselves against ATO."

Gen Parker : " So the director of The NSC wants to just give up?"

Mike : " That’s not what I’m saying."

Dir Bruner : " The NSC is right to be cautious."

Dir Mulligan : " We’ve seen what these Crystalans are capable of, and our assessment is inline with that of the NSC."

Admr Daniels : " Backing down from a challenge is simply un-American!"

Dir Mulligan : " This Crystalorb or their Crystalans pose the most significant threat; they are extremely dangerous. We are not talking about NAZI Germany or Soviet Russia? The Crystalans are on a whole new level! Their Technology is so advanced we cannot hope to close the gap in a hundred years."

Mike : " I don’t know if we can ever close the Technological chasm."

Gen Parker : " Unlike you I have faith in American ingenuity."

Mike : " This isn’t a question of faith."

Gen Parker : " Faith is at the heart of everything!"

Mike : " Let me show you something."

A display of a Hodian facility in Northern Canada appears on the screens.

Gen Parker : " What are we looking at?"

Mike : " Video from two weeks ago; This was a Hodian facility in Northern Canada; supposedly one of their secure manufacturing sites. We deployed Titan and Omega to protect the Grandlord stationed there; empowered Hybrids."

On the screens two Armoured Crystal Guardians appear at the Hodian facility. Almost immediately they tear into the Hodian contingent; ripping them apart. It is obvious that Nasan and Thato are Guardians by the ease with which they demolish Hodian lines; tossing aside enforcers like they are insects. Then the Grandlord Boyd and the empowered Hybrids Titan and Omega join the fight; that’s when Vanguard Teams arrived to assist the Guardians with the enforcers.

Thato : " I’ll take the Grandlord; you get the Hybrids."

Nasan : " I wanted the Grandlord!"

Thato : " Called dibs!"

Thato faces of against Grandlord Boyd as Titan and Omega move to challenge Nasan.

Titan : " They don’t look so tough."

Omega : " I’m going to squish her like a bug."

Boyd : " Whatever you do; don’t let her separate you."

Guardian Thato begins to casually walk towards Boyd.

Thato : " You will pay for your Crimes Hodian!"

Boyd : " Easier said than done Crystalan!"

Thato and Boyd begin their colossal battle. Titan flies towards Nasan and then blasts her with energy generated from His hands; while she’s distracted Omega punches her and that sends her flying through the air and crushing into buildings hundreds of meters away. The blow from the 4.6m tall 〘15 feet〙 behemoth was enough to move even an Armoured Guardian.

Titan : " I didn’t think she’d go down that easily."

Omega : " I’m Omega; they always go down."

Then Titan and Omega hear rumble then a sonic boom and in a flash Nasan is standing right in front of them.

Nasan : " Empowered Hybrids right? They drain a hundred Hybrids to make one of you; they could drain a thousand Hybrids and it wouldn’t make a difference."

Titan : " Why is that?"

Nasan : " Because you lack the Fundamental tools to confront a Crystal Guardian."

Impatient; Omega attacks and tries to once again punch Nasan, but Nasan’s spinning shields causes the punches to veer to the side. Titan tries an energy blast but it meets the same result as Omega’s attacks. Then Nasan generates a Lightning Plasma Ball that sends Titan Flying several kilometres away, then She attaches a spherical energy field around Omega; locking him in a sphere hovering 2m above the ground.

Omega : " You can’t contain me."

Nasan : " I don’t need to!" the sphere containing Omega begins to rotate at high speed while also tilting in the other axis “The energy within you is evil; it has no place in this world.”

Omega could not regain his footing, and without leverage his strength was useless, but more importantly the sphere was draining the energy out of Omega and into the atmosphere. Very quickly Omega was depleted, and an ElectroLaser from Nasan Vaporized him.

Titan returns to the battlefield to find that Omega has been destroyed.

Titan : " You killed him?"

Nasan : " I thought that was the Idea."

Titan : " Well I won’t be despatched so easily; I’m Super-Fast, Super-Strong and Invulnerable. Not even a Crystalan can Destroy me!"

Nasan : " Is that what they told you? Yeah! You really have no idea what you’re up against; Were energy Elementals"

Titan : " You threats hold no meaning for me!"

Nasan : " I am sick of Empowered Hybrids claiming that they’re somehow the equal of a Crystalan! I’m going to settle this once and for all" she opens her face cover and lowers her shields “The last thing we ever wanted to be was killers of Hybrids; we never wanted this for you, for any of you. I will give you three free hits; all you have to do is make me bleed. If you make me bleed I’ll let you live; you can walk away from this.”

Titan : " As you wish!"

And so Titan attacks punching Nasan on the face with his maximum power punch; However Titan’s attack seems to have little or no effect.

Nasan : " Not good enough."

Titan : " What?"

Now Titan tries his maximum power energy blast aimed at Nasan’s face, but that too has no effect.

Nasan : " You’re going to need a lot more power than that!"

This time Titan combines his maximum power energy blast with his maximum power punch aimed at Nasan’s face, and this time the attack has the effect of Knocking Nasan to the ground.

Titan : " That should do it."

But as Nasan stands up it is clear that while the attack had the force to knock her down, it did not have sufficient power to injure her.

Nasan : " The figure you’re looking for is ten thousand."

Titan : " Ten thousand what?"

The confused Titan could now see ass Nasan Transformed to her Crystalline form, and there is a massive increase in the energy she’s generating.

Nasan : " An Empowered Hybrid with the power of ten thousand Hybrids would give you a fighting chance against a Crystal Guardian, but in your current state you’re all but insignificant; you’d barely require the attention of our Junior Vanguards."

Titan : " I’m still Invulnerable!"

Guardian Nasan charges her Crystal Lance.

Nasan : " Invulnerability is relative. Lightning Flash!"

Titan : " Ah!"

Before Titan could react Nasan plunged the Crystal Lance into His Chest and then proceeded to cut Titan into two pieces; slicing him from the head through to the pelvis.

Nasan : " So much for Invulnerable!"

The screens in the briefing room go dark but nothing could remove the look of sheer horror now plastered on the faces of everyone in the room.

Admr Daniels : " Titan was the Strongest there is!"

Dir Mulligan : " Clearly not the Strongest!"

Dir Bruner : " Titan was the Strongest we had!"

Gen Parker : " She vaporized Omega?"

Dir Mulligan : " And she’s not even the strongest they have."

Dir Bruner : " They could kill us all!"

Mike : " Not if we don’t provoke them."

Gen Parker : " That’s your great plan? Don’t piss-off the ten thousand pound gorilla in the room?"

Dir Mulligan : " I don’t see that we have any other choice. We need to tread very carefully with these guys."

Admr Daniels : " America does not lie down for anyone!"

Mike : " But we will lie down for these guys; one way or the other."

President Randall : " Let’s hear from the Hodian liaison."

A Video link is established and Seleta Ralefa the designated Hodian liaison comes on the screens.

Seleta : " The Hodian High Council has gone through your report on the interactions with Crystalans; we therefore recommend that you heed Crystalorb’s warning. Do nothing to antagonize them or you will pay a terrible price! Crystalorb doesn’t make empty threats, and they are in no mood to be forgiving."

Dir Bruner : " Is there no other way?"

Seleta : " Hodians have access to technology you can’t even begin to Imagine; However we are still forced to capitulate to Crystalan demands."

Admr Daniels : " You have to have some sort of contingency plans."

Seleta : " We do; But it’s a terrible prospect. We’ve lost the power of the Viceroy; we don’t have anything that can stop a Red Guardian. The HOD came close to defeating the Crystalans forever, but our inability to complete their destruction has left us with an enormous predicament. Crystalans have gone insane and unless we find a way to make peace with them they will continue their rampage of destruction. Some Hodian analysts believe that we stand at the twilight of the human race. They believe that the only way to save the world is for the HOD to surrender to Crystalorb."

Gen Parker : " Is that what it’s come to? Are these Crystal Guardians really that powerful? And why do you Fear this Red Guardian?"

Seleta : " There are only 2 known ways of killing a Red Guardian; the first is the Golden Metallic form of a Viceroy and the second way is with a 3 Megaton Nuclear Warhead. We’re not even sure that a 3 Megaton Nuclear Warhead will be enough because this particular Red Guardian is quite possibly an Ascended Crystal Guardian. And an ascended Crystal Guardian is supposedly several times stronger and faster than a Normal Crystal Guardian; Crystalorb has been investigating Ascendance for decades now. Some believe that the ascended Crystal Guardian would be fast enough to be able to escape a Nuclear Blast."

Admr Daniels : " What? Are you saying that this woman is the most powerful being in the world?"

Seleta : " Without a doubt! The Crystal Guardians are going through some sort of Guardian rage, and some Hodians believe that the absence of the Spirit Stone has left Crystalans unbalanced; resulting in them unable to control their negative emotions. The Crystalans are intrinsically connected to their Spirit Stone, and without it they are more dangerous than any of us expected. We think that it’s only a matter of time before the Crystalans conclude that the rest of the humans are nothing more than a nuisance that must be extinguished."

Mike : " Genocide?"

Gen Parker : " There are over 7 Billion people on this planet; how would they complete such a task?"

Seleta : " It would be surprisingly easy. Their Chest Crystals allow them to absorb the energy of plants; they could destroy the world’s crops within months."

Gen Parker : " They are monstrous!"

Seleta : " With their Spirit Stone in their possession they become benevolent and understanding, but without it they will inevitably destroy the world as we know it. Hodians understand that we created this crisis, and we’ve accepted that we bare the responsibility to bring this to a peaceful resolution. We must make the necessary sacrifices to guarantee the survival of the normal humans."

President Randall : " We will heed your warning! It’s up to you then!"

The meeting continues, and they move on to other security concerns

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