The scene wasn't pretty. A circle of fire enclosed the field where, mere seconds ago, battle had raged. Now, however, it had calmed. Parts of Cattion mechs seemed to lay everywhere; there had been over a hundred at the battle's start, but now every last one existed only in pieces.

Seven individuals stood tall amid the destruction; after all, they had been the cause. Five stood to one side of the field, two to the other. One of the two was the first to break the eerie silence.

"There, we repaid our debt. Are you happy now?" the youth was about seventeen years old and in short stature. His hair was dark, and covered his eyes. A crimson cape covered the rest of his body.
"I can't thank you enough, Rook," said the Subterranean leading the team of five. "I thought we were never going to get out of there."

"Well, like I said, I was just repaying our debt. We'll be leaving now." His voice was cold, almost indifferent.

"Are you sure you don't want to come with us?" Another Subterranean chimed in as he picked up a Cattion torso that looked salvageable. "We could use your help when we reach the Citadel, especially if we have to face Phantom again."

The short man laughed lightly. The red-haired woman next to him grabbed onto his arm. "We'll return to help you in time, Riley. First, though, Marr and I have something to attend to. Something we should have done a long time ago. Adeiu." The girl smiled at the team of five as the short man snapped his fingers. There was a crack like lightning, and they were gone.

_____

A few minutes later, the battlefield was mostly clean. The Subter called Riley approached Ty. "I sent the parts to the holding tank," he said, putting a book back in his bag. "If we keep this up, I should have enough to build the gate harness in a few weeks."

"Good," Ty replied, looking over the scorched earth. Something didn't feel right. Not at all. Suddenly, a large weight landed on his shoulder.

"Whatcha lookin' at?" Tal Keaton had wandered over, and started looking into the distance for whatever Ty was trying to see.
"I'm not sure," Ty said absentmindedly. "Something doesn't feel right."
A wide grin spread over Tal's face. "No, no it doesn't. This is going to be interesting."

"What are you talking about?" Ty questioned, but before he could get an answer, he was pulled to the side. "Hey, babe..." Ty's fiance, Jean, was a Cattion herself, though not of the Cyborg nature. "I missed you." She went up on her toes to kiss him. "I missed you too."

The moment didn't last long, as before they had time to savor it, a low rumble erupted over the field. Suddenly, out of the trees, a dark green pickup truck emerged, sputtering and spitting as it rambled over the grass.

"Odd..." Riley muttered. "There shouldn't be vehicles of that kind here..."

Tal's grin widened. "That's 'cause it's not FROM here."

Anna approached Tal's side and grabbed his hand. She normally kept fairly quiet, but this truck disconcerted her. "What do you know about this truck?"

"You'll see, love."

_________

The truck pulled over, and a dark figure emerged. Tal began to walk toward the truck. Anna pulled him back and shook her head. Leaning over, he planted a kiss on her forehead. "It's okay. I know what I'm doing." Pulling free, he approached the figure.

"Hey, death. Long time no see."

Riley looked over at Ty, who returned his gaze with a similar look of shock.

Tal and Death's conversation continued quietly. Jean stood on tiptoe again, this time to whisper in Ty's ear. "Should you go help him?"
"I don't know," he whispered back, but as he did, Tal turned around and beckoned for Ty. "I'll be back," he said as he cautiously moved forward.

"So." Tal said matter-of-factly when Ty reached the truck. "This is Death. Death, Tyrel of Subterranea."

The shadowy figure let out a grin. "Ah. I should have known. You were one of the other few to survive a trip to my realm. I bet I know who you are looking for."

Ty turned to Tal. "What's he talking about?"

"He's running this tournament, see," Tal began to explain. "You basically risk your life in combat to free one soul from the underworld and return them to life."

"And I want him specifically," Death pointed to the young human. "He escaped me once on a technicality. I won't let him escape a second time."

"Oh, pipe down," Tal began to argue. He turned his focus back to Ty. "I figure, we're gonna take on Attican soon, we may as well take a chance on getting some backup, right?"

Ty stared hard at Death for a few seconds. "What happens if we lose?"

"Oh, you die," Death stated calmly. "But certainly such 'seasoned warriors' as yourselves wouldn't have any trouble with a little tournament?"

Ty still wasn't sold. "The soul we can bring back. Any restrictions?"

Death kept his casual tone. "Eh, you can't get anyone from Exile directly. You know I can't do anything with that."

Ty and Tal looked at each other, both thinking the same thing. "Your father," Tal finally said.

Death laughed. "I told you I thought I knew." He pulled up his hat to reveal his eyes. Before Ty and Tal's eyes, the scene played through just as Ty had been told; James stood at the Mirror, the Bow Gracious in hand, finishing the seal. A spectral Attican raged on the other side of the mirror as the shards went into place. Behind James, Chazz and Ray called out, but their cries couldn't be heard. The Mirror Chamber was collapsing. Finally, in a burst of Light, James finished the final seal on the Mirror. He bent over, exhausted, and as he did, the ceiling finally gave. Ty jumped back in surprise. Death pulled the hat back down.

"Now, are you in or out?"

"In!" Tal stated almost immediately. Ty shot him a look of disapproval. "Give me a minute," he said.
"Alright," Death said. "But don't go spreading the nature of this deal. It's for your ears only."

Ty returned to Jean. "What is it?" she asked. He kissed her softly. "I have to go for a while. What he's offering could turn this battle around for us. I will be back." He turned away and started back toward the truck.

"But.. Ty! TYREL!"

He stopped in his tracks. "I love you," he said, his back still to her. Returning to Death, he stared up at him. "I'm in."

"Then let's go! Into the truck with you."

Ty climbed into the passenger side door and pulled it shut. He couldn't bear to look back up. Tal opened one of the rear cab doors. "Love ya, Anna!" he shouted back, blowing her a kiss. She looked shocked. "I'll be back. Don't worry a bit!" He pulled the door shut and the truck pulled away.

Anna, Jean, and Riley stood in the battlefield, mystified as to what had just happened.

Riley broke the silence. "So... now what?"