The Hellhound's Secret

The Storm Before the Calm, Part I

"You said we need to talk, so talk."

Lothor laughed and, with a snap of his fingers, the Kelzaks disappeared. He then motioned for her to follow him and stepped through the opening to his left.

Kali hesitated before following him. She stepped through the opening, her eyes darting left and right, taking in everything that she could. There was no exit - why would there be, she was in a spaceship in the middle of the Solar System, of course there wasn't going to be an exit. There were also no windows - did Spaceships even have windows? She shook away the thought.

Lothor led Kali down a dark and twisting hallway. Her heart hammered in her chest, and she clenched and unclenched her fists - a nervous habit she had picked up as a kid. Something inside of her was telling her that this was a bad idea - scratch that, she knew it was a bad idea the minute Lothor suggested it, but she also felt the need to stay and find out what he wanted from her.

"Where are you taking me?" Kali asked, her voice loud in the silence.

"I said we needed to talk," said Lothor. "I didn't say we would be talking in the open." He stopped outside a basic black door and pushed it open. He then turned to Kali and motioned for her to go first.

Kali narrowed her eyes and stepped back. "It's your ship," she said. "You first."

Lothor shrugged and stepped through the door.

Satisfied that there was no traps surrounding the frame, Kali followed him through. A light flickered on and she saw that she was in a sort of office - a desk and chair sat in front of a bookcase which was lined with books, some of which were labelled Ninja Basics, Ninja History, Magical Spells and Enchantments - one that caught Kali's attention the most was a book on Magical Realm families. She furrowed her brow and crossed the room, stopping in front of the book and running her finger down the spine.

"I thought it may interest you," said Lothor, smiling.

"Why do you have that?" Kali asked. "You're not of the magical realm, you wouldn't be in there."

Lothor nodded. "Just like everything in this room, I borrowed it to ensure that my future turned out as I planned it," he said.

Kali scoffed. "Your future?" she asked. "Your future is dark and consists of nothing but defeat."

"Careful, Hellhound," Lothor warned. "I hold the power up here. I know, from intense research, that while you're away from your precious base Root Core, your powers aren't as strong."

"Doesn't mean I can't do damage," said Kali.

Lothor stared at her. He then walked past her towards the desk and opened the top drawer. "I asked you to stay so we could talk about this," he said, setting an old scroll on the desk. He unfurled it, showing Kali a timeline of events that had happened leading up to now - the attack on the Ninja Schools, recruiting aliens from throughout the galaxies, and at the bottom, opening the Abyss.

"Aren't you missing something?" Kali asked, her eyes drawn to the tear at the bottom of the scroll. "Where's the rest?"

Lothor let out a bark of laughter. "Once I complete my destiny, the last entry on the scroll won't matter," he said. "No one will stop me... not with you at my side."

Brow furrowed; Kali glanced up. "What are you talking about?" she asked.

"This is my conversation topic - the real reason I asked you to stay," said Lothor. "You know what I intend to do at the Abyss of Evil."

"Yes."

"Then, you have but one choice to make, Hellhound. Help me open the Abyss, and save as many people as you possibly can, or leave me do it alone, and watch thousands die."