#like what happened to you that made you think you were simultaneously invincible but worthy of nothing unless you lied

[banannabethchase]

*at the top of my lungs*

I AM GENTLE BECAUSE I CHOOSE TO BE.

I AM KIND BECAUSE I CHOOSE TO BE.

[empowermentisfree]

Dear leader,

I’m very glad that you’re here.

If you’re open to it, you will learn a lot, you will grow empathetically, you will earn respect, and you will fight your fair share of battles.

I’ve written for you, lessons I’ve learned from leading a team. Policies I created and beliefs to which I hold firm. Experiences I’ve had that left me to decide what was right and what was wrong in a group and often on my own. Decisions we make impact people, we’re the leader.

I’ve found that what I will share with you takes courage, vulnerability, directness, and gratitude. Take what works for you. Let’s begin.

You don’t know everything and you don’t need to.

How many times have we been told that the boss knows best? Have you ever thought that to be in charge, you must know the most? I may have thought this from time to time, in fact I’m sure I did. It wasn’t until I was thrust into a management role, tasked with caring for thirtyish people and an entire theatre that I realized the folly. Stricken with fear, I thought maybe I’d made a mistake. Did I lie? Did I trick them into believing in me? Do I believe in myself?

How did I get here? It’s important to know. I asked for a chance and then I told them to hire me. Seriously. I said “I am not afraid of this job. I can do this job.” Verbatim. They hired me. At twenty-three years old I was the leader of a team within a New York City institution.

Did I know how to run a theatre? The building itself? No.

Had I managed a team before? No.

Had I hired a team before? No.

Did I know everything? No.

Did I need to? No.

I know how and when to ask for help. I recognized that in order to be a leader you have to first be confident in your own ability to rise to the occasion. I did. I took the responsibility of caring for a theatre and for a team with a respect that, well, is unparalleled.

My team spoke Spanish. Some spoke broken English, only a few were fluent. I don’t speak Spanish. This was a large example of something I didn’t know. And yet I found myself in charge. Something to consider: when you feel fear as the leader, consider the amount of fear your team must feel and swallow both. I learned basic Spanish. I was insecure. But my job was to be their champion and in order to be someone’s champion you must be able to communicate. There is so much power in stepping out on fear and setting an example. In two years I’d won the respect of a Spanish speaking team because on day one I leveled the playing field and made it clear that this was going to be about us. Not about me, not about them, about us.

There were days I came up short. There is no shame in failing. There is certainly no shame in needing help and asking for it. There is shame in shaming others for their failure. If there’s never shortcoming, there is no life in what we do. Causing fear and shame does not a leader make.

Do I know everything now? Still no. Forever no. (If you find yourself answering yes to that question, my bet is you should’ve moved on from your position years ago.)

There’s a lesson of respect to be learned in everything.

How is this job going to help you reach your goals?

Well, everything I’ve done has taught me a lesson of respect. I assisted an incredibly brilliant costume designer once and whether or not I was good at it (I wasn’t) or even liked it (I didn’t) it taught me an invaluable lesson of respect for the work of a costume designer.

As a leader, you get to earn respect by giving it (notice I said “get” not “have” - this is intentional because it’s a privilege). It’s up to you to give it first. You have the first move. Why not make it respectful? By doing this, you’ll learn countless lessons of respect. I can’t tell you what they’ll be because it’s up to you to recognize them when they arise. Two of my favorite lessons are...

1. Without an operations team you can’t get in the building and then your work doesn’t happen. The operations team is the first in and the last out. They are also often the lowest paid and most disrespected. It didn’t take me long to recognize this and take it incredibly personally. When we opened and the only team not to receive a gift was mine, I made it my business to provide a gift for my team on the next opening as well as every other department. Nobody knew that it was at my personal expense or even that it came from me. That wasn’t the point. The point was bigger than me. On my last show, we received gifts for the first time (my last show was my ninth.)

2. Designers are often met with unsolicited opinions from everyone. I’ve found that the most brilliant of designers, when faced with said unsolicited opinions, remain level headed and dedicated to their craft. I once asked a designer “how do you experience these awful attitudes and still work endlessly to make them look brilliant?” His response was along the lines of he just brushes them away, focusses on his creation, and remembers each of the comments and from whom they came. To be so dedicated and humble, to not let the toxicity into the creativity, is something that I constantly work on ever since that day.

When I enter a room, I wear every lesson of respect I’ve learned through witnessing brilliance, or learning from my own mistakes, like a badge of honor.

Empowerment is the only key.

When you exhibit bravery, you’ll empower your team, and they too will be brave, and in their bravery everyone thrives.

Day one of leading my team at the theatre, I met my head assistant. He spoke broken English, originally from the Dominican Republic. I greeted him warmly and he smiled and then looked away, unwilling to speak to me. Slowly, we began to trust each other. The tide turned on a day where I was feeling particularly low. It was Friday and the week had been rough for me. There was one more project on my list (I had to organize the supply room that had no resemblance of any kind of order) and I didn’t know where to start, I certainly didn’t know how to direct my team to accomplish it. I decided to just begin working on it myself. When my head assistant saw me, he tried to stop me. My team didn’t enjoy seeing me do any work that they felt they should be doing because they would rather see me have a relaxing day sitting in an air conditioned office than sweat and get dirty. I was prepared for this. I looked at him and said slowly “No sir. We can do this together, but you’re not going to stop me because I don’t know how to do this, so let’s figure it out together.” He conceded, handed me a pair of latex gloves, and put on a pair himself. Together we organized the entire room. We began speaking. By example, with few words, I showed him he could trust me. I’m honored to say that two years later, at my going away party, he gave a speech honoring me half in English, half in Spanish, and he will now engage everyone who comes through the gate.

This wasn’t something I set out to accomplish, this wasn’t a specific goal. The goal was to show a team that is so often overlooked that they are seen and worthy. That what happens on stage is accomplished because of their work as much as that of the director.

Now, as a leader, you probably have someone above even you. If you’re lucky, you’ll have a boss that is empowering. Sometimes, you’ll have a boss who is unwilling and incapable of empowering you. Sometimes, you may simultaneously have one of each. This is when you have to be intrepid with your values and goals for yourself and your team. Whether you’re empowered or not, you still have a responsibility to speak for  those who don’t have your access.

Empowerment is simple. It is free. It takes nothing from you. You lose nothing but have a chance to gain everything. Imagine being able to buy your loved ones the most elaborate gifts, their dream car, an entire house, something that would make them feel invincible but didn’t cost you a dime. Empowerment is a gift that costs nothing but has the ability to make another human feel invincible.

If you lead with “no”, you’re wrong.

This one will be quick. If you’ve read up until this point you now know that you don’t know everything, that there is a lesson of respect in everything, and that empowerment is a gift. If your first response to an idea is “no”, you’ve just created a culture of shame and fear. You will not have a team that feels empowered and therefore you won’t really have a functional team. Even if the answer is, under garish light, “no”, use it as a moment to guide your team toward a better idea, say thank you and think about it, explain yourself and in doing so you may realize that you are in fact wrong or maybe in explaining your thought process, together you’ll reach the best idea! Leading with “no” is cowardice and lazy.

It’s about people. Always.

The squeaky wheel really does get the grease, but that wheel sometimes has to squeak for a LONG TIME.

Life is about people. We go through life in search of connection. As a leader, your job is to connect and take care of your people. Leading them to a larger goal. At the end of the day, their professional wellness is your responsibility. If someone threatens that, it is your responsibility to take care of it. Is it weighing on your heart? Good. Welcome.

I once raised a concern about a situation threatening the wellness of my team and a response I received was “well I don’t think this happens all the time” and whether that was true or not, it was happening then. I brought it all the way myself. I chose to carry the load. I was exhausted and my heart was hurting, but it was my honor. A profound responsibility that I chose and continue to choose to take personally.

Sometimes, oftentimes, you’re going to have to be uncomfortable in order to lead wholly. There’s no way around it.

Know when to move on.

You can’t do it forever. Nobody can. Have enough awareness to move on when you know you’ve given everything you can. Do what you can to help aid the transition. That’s what originally inspired this document. I was writing to my successor and then I decided to write to us. Leave the work strong, don’t undo it.

When you succeed, you’ll feel like you’re on your own. Remember to be grateful because you’ve earned this feeling. It’s a privilege to be respected and a privilege to be responsible. You’ll feel frustrated and you’ll want to quit like everyone else… Pause. There are people counting on you and if you look around, they’re still there, and you’re in fact, not on your own.

[duhragonball]

[FIC] Luffa: The Legendary Super Saiyan (89/?)

Disclaimer: This story features characters and concepts based on Dragon Ball, which is a trademark of Bird Studio/Shueisha and Toei Animation.   This is an unauthorized work, and no profit is being made on this work by me. This story is copyright of me. Download if you like, but please don’t archive it without my permission. Don’t be shy.

Continuity Note: About 1000 years before the events of Dragon Ball Z.

Previous chapters conveniently available here.

[25 May 234 Before Age.  Planet Pflaume.]

Luffa was trapped in Pflaume City.  The entire population had been evacuated before her arrival, taking every space-worthy vehicle with them.   Beyond the city's outer hull was the deadly atmosphere of the planet Pflaume, an ice giant incapable of supporting carbon-based life forms.   For the time being, it seemed the only safe way out of the city was a transpatial portal controlled by the Saiyan King Rehval, and he would not share that passage until Luffa heard him out.

To that end, King Rehval had created a mystic projection of himself, so that he could speak with Luffa directly while simultaneously hiding somewhere in the city.  With no other alternative, Luffa began walking through the parkland of Pflaume City's uppermost level.   The arcane image of Rehval floated alongside her as she moved, though Rehval himself remained seated upon a stone bench, accompanied by his attendant, Pozet.  

"You've gone to a lot of trouble to arrange all of this," Luffa said.   "First you created that twisted imitation of my wife, and sent her to murder our own people.  Then you convinced me to help you track down the killer, only you left the planet right before we were supposed to make our move.   I figured out you were trying to trick me, and followed you here, only to find it was a trap.  Only instead of killing me, you want me to listen to your speeches."

"Not a speech, Luffa," Rehval said.   "A parlay.   You consider me an enemy, and you have good reason not to trust me, but the Saiyan race depends upon a lasting peace between us."

"Then destroy this city," Luffa said.  "Even I can't survive out there, and you have the means to return to Planet Saiya.   There's your peace."

"I don't want to kill you, Luffa," Rehval said solemnly.  

"But you tried!" Luffa shot back.   "A couple of years ago, you sent a band of your soldiers to hunt me down.   When we first met, you tried to blame that on your father, but today you say that you were the one ruling from the shadows."

"I sent those warriors to take your measure," Rehval explained.  "When you first emerged as a Super Saiyan, I only had rumors and speculation to work with.   For a time, I was willing to wait and see, but then you founded the Federation, and by then the accounts of your powers were beginning to approach a consensus.  I ordered my soldiers to kill you, but in fact it was just a test to see if they could.  When none of them survived, I had my answer, and so I put my plan into motion."

"Think about it, Luffa," Pozet said with a cheerful smile.   "Those goons never stood a chance against you, so you can't really be that upset over it, can you?"

"That's not it at all," Rehval said to Pozet.   "What upsets Luffa is that I would send ten of my loyal warriors to die for nothing.  She's upset that I would create you as a living weapon to assassinate my own subjects."    

"Oh, right," Pozet said.   "The whole compassion thing.   She's so unlike the rest of you Saiyans, master.   I have to admit, it's very captivating."

"You talk a lot about the good of the Saiyan race, Rehval," Luffa said, ignoring Pozet completely.   "But all I ever see is Saiyans getting slaughtered like livestock to further your schemes.   I ran into your little 'Honor Guard' on Planet Saiya.   They're all dead now.  I don't know what you did to those poor bastards, but at least they're finally free of you."

"Means to an end, Luffa," Rehval said.   "Maybe you can afford to worry about individual Saiyans, but I have to consider the future of our entire species.  I used the Honor Guard to help me keep our people united."

"United as what?" Luffa demanded.   "Your mindless slaves?"

"If that's what it takes, then yes!" Rehval said.  My grandfather ruled with an iron fist, because he knew he had to do whatever it took to keep that first generation under control.   Their descendants would grow up in the kingdom he created, and each new generation would be more accepting of the monarchy."

"And you want me to help you control them," Luffa concluded.

"I want you to become my queen," Rehval replied.  

Luffa stopped dead in her tracks.  

"You've got to be kidding me," she said.  

"This is about more than a political alliance, Luffa," Rehval said.   "The alchemical arts have shown me ways to study the history of our race in ways you could hardly imagine.   To an extent, I can even chart our future.  I don't have all the answers, but I do know that our survival depends upon overcoming the Saiyan wanderlust.   Our population has to work together as a united people, or we can never move forward.   The Rehval dynasty works, Luffa.   It would have worked for other kings in the past, except for one thing.   One unavoidable refrain in Saiyan history: you."

"Me," Luffa said.  

"Once, I thought the stories of the old heroes were exaggerations at best.   But as I looked into my scrying pool, I learned that the strongest of them each made a profound impact on the course of history, and not always for the better.  Many of them overthrew whatever government the Saiyans happened to be ruled under at the time.   Some of the old heroes were liberators, some were tyrants, others were revolutionaries.   You've heard of Yamoshi, haven't you?"

"The God-Saiyan?" Luffa said.  "What about him?"

"He was the first," Rehval said.   "Or at least, the oldest of the line that I could find with my alchemy.   "From him, the lineage of the old heroes began.   Yamoshi tried to destroy the Saiyan order of his day.   He failed, but the boldness of his attempt reverberated throughout history.   Through Asparaj, through Darbock, then Chanisp, and now you."

"If you're so worried about me screwing up your precious plans, then why am I still alive?" Luffa asked.

"You're not listening to me," Rehval said.  "Yamoshi's enemies killed him.   A thousand years later, another invincible Saiyan arose.   Perhaps he agreed with Yamoshi's philosophies, perhaps not.  But he was influenced by Yamoshi's life, one way or another.  Yamoshi wasn't simply a powerful being.  He was a legend.   Killing him didn't prevent him from changing the course of history.  Yamoshi's enemies may have solved their immediate problems by killing him, but my agenda deals in centuries, not years.   With you, I have to be very careful."

"Then it's the next Super Saiyan you're really worried about," Luffa said.  "No matter what you do to deal with me, the next Super Saiyan might still upset all your dumb plans."

"Once, I had hoped that if the old heroes weren't a myth, that I might have been one of them," Rehval admitted.  "When I discovered the pattern, I dared to hope that the only living Saiyan powerful enough to alter destiny was me.  The timing was about right-- it's been about one thousand years since Chanisp's era-- and no one else seemed to fit.   But when you emerged, I realized how badly I had miscalculated.  I never dreamed that there was a sudden transformation, but in hindsight, it makes a lot of sense."

He stood up, and approached Luffa, until he would have been close enough to touch her, if he had truly been there.  Luffa could hear his breath, but couldn't feel it, even though his lips were only inches away from her own.  

"This has been the fundamental conflict that defines Saiyan history, Luffa," he said as he pointed to her and back to himself.   "There are Saiyans like you, who have greatness thrust upon them, and then there are Saiyans like me, who strive to achieve greatness.   The Rehvals of history, we gather power and influence any way we can.   Our goals and agendas may vary, but we've all tried to build something out of the Saiyan people.  And then, out of nowhere, you Luffas spring up to threaten it all."

He suddenly clapped his hands together and gripped them tightly with his fingers.   "The conflict is inevitable.  We're Saiyans, after all.  And we can't help but be natural rivals.  You resent my 'honorless' rise to power, and I see you as an outsider beyond my control.  So we do battle, like all the other Rehvals and Luffas before us, and Saiyan civilization is decimated in the struggle.  The survivors spend the next millennia rebuilding from the chaos, and then another Rehval and Luffa emerge, and it all crashes down again."

"You make it sound so inevitable," Luffa said.  "Like we don't have a choice."

"But we do!" Rehval exclaimed.  He turned away from Luffa and began waving his hands excitedly as he paced around.   "We've always had a choice, but we never knew the consequences of our decision.   Throughout history, you and I have always chosen to be enemies out of instinct and pride!  Never considering what our battle would do to the future.  Your mother told you the story of Yamoshi, Luffa, but it doesn't mention what happened after the final battle, does it?   If it had, then maybe the next Super Saiyan would have tread more carefully."

"So I become your queen," Luffa said.   "What does that solve?"

"Everything," Rehval said.  "By working together, we can accomplish things our ancestors never would have imagined.  You'd be more than just an enforcer, Luffa.  In time, the people would see you as a symbol of the state."

"The 'people' hate me," Luffa said.   She pointed at her bright yellow hair with one hand and her glowing green eyes with the other.  She hadn't powered down from her Super Saiyan form since she arrived in the city.   This was enemy territory, after all.   "I've been reading their minds, Rehval.  Not that I needed to, but they're terrified of what I am."

"I can change that!" Rehval insisted.  "They only fear what they don't understand.  The Super Saiyans of Legend were forgotten because history is written by the victors, and in the end, it's the Rehvals of history who overcome.   We don't have to defeat you Super Saiyans; we just have to outlast you.  With you by my side, I can incorporate the Super Saiyan into the state culture.   Luffa can be Saiya's hero, just like you're the hero to your alien Federation."

He approached her again, and reached for her hair, though the image of his hand could only pass through the thick shocks of gold.  

"Give yourself to me," he said, "and I can make the people worship you as you deserve to be worshiped."

Luffa gasped and then bit her lower lip.  Rehval smiled at this.  

"That's what you want, isn't it?" he said.  "To be acknowledged and appreciated.  That's why you returned my kiss, with interest, back on Planet Saiya.   You talk about pride, Luffa.   Let me indulge that pride.  When I'm finished, the first story every Saiyan child will learn from their mothers will be yours."

"You... you can do that?" Luffa asked.  

"It would take some time, but with your cooperation, it would be a simple matter to tie your public relations to my own," Rehval assured her.   "Your power will legitimize my rule, and my rule will legitimize your power.  One day, Saiyan women will dye their hair gold and wear green contact lenses as a fashion statement."

"And all I have to do is marry you."

"We would have to keep up the appearances of a loving couple, but from what I've seen, that wouldn't be a problem for you," Rehval said.

"That was before I found out you'd been lying to me," Luffa said.  "I know about your past marriages, the consorts, and a few other women you keep secret.  Not to mention the aliens.   I'm not sure your public would approve of them."

"Ah," Rehval said.

"Ah," Luffa replied.  

"You've probably already guessed that I altered my own memories to fool your telepathic powers," Rehval said.  "You read my mind, and saw only what I wanted you to see.   That I was trustworthy, completely innocent of any action taken against you, and that I had fallen hopelessly in love with you at first sight."

"And a bachelor," Luffa added.  

"I literally removed all of my memories to the contrary before you arrived on Saiya," Rehval explained.   "It's an alchemical technique.   So I believed everything you saw in my mind just as much as you did.   In a sense, that edited version of me really is a bachelor, one deeply infatuated with you.   And I could become that man again, if you liked."

"You've got to be kidding me," Luffa said.  

"Not at all," Rehval said.   He pointed to his head and smiled.   "When I came to Pflaume City, I restored my memories to normal, but I enjoy customizing them from time to time.  You and I don't have to be lovers, but from time to time, I could make myself into someone who doesn't remember deceiving you, someone better suited to your romantic tastes.  You look skeptical, but it's really a simple procedure now that I've--"

"No, I believe you could do it," Luffa said.   "I just can't believe that you would."

"It's a very liberating experience," Rehval said.   "If you're interested, I could do the same for you.  I'd need some time to prepare, though.   It took fifteen months for me to prepare the potions for myself, and every brain is different.  But I could use an excuse to spend more time in my laboratory, and--"

"Is nothing sacred to you?" Luffa asked.  "You'd really mold yourself into anything I want?"

Rehval chuckled.  "Is that such a surprise, woman?  I've already told you what lengths I'd go to for the Saiyan race.   Is it so hard to believe I might stoop to the same levels for you?"

"But your attraction to me was fake," Luffa said.  

"Not quite," Rehval said.  He gestured to Pozet, who now sat beside him and took his hands in her own.  "When I constructed my homunculus, Pozet, I used tissue samples from your wife to give her a resemblance to her.  I modified this, of course.  Pozet is like a Dorlun, only she has no life of her own, which gives her an unusual perspective on the Dorlun survival ethic.  But her love for you is based upon the emotions Zatte possessed when the samples were collected.   I used this as a template for the emotions I planted in my own mind."

Involuntarily, Luffa took a step backward.   The image of Rehval and Pozet moved toward her to maintain their distance.

"I created Pozet to understand you better, Luffa," Rehval said.  "And since she was madly in love with you, I decided to experience that love for myself.  When I restored my memories to normal, I found that some of that attraction remained.   Again, we don't need to be lovers to reign as king and queen, Luffa.   But we can be, and I think we would both enjoy that."  

Luffa pointed at Pozet, who was now nibbling Rehval's earlobe.   "And what about that?" Luffa asked.  "You seem to have your hands full in the romance department."

"Pozet?  Well, you could consider her something of a gift," Rehval said.  "I wasn't sure your wife would accept your decision, and I wasn't sure you'd have any romantic interest in me, so I thought Pozet would make an acceptable consort for you.   A copy of Zatte devoted to you, but safely loyal to me."

"You don't need her anyway," Pozet said as she batted her eyes at Luffa.   "My master and I can satisfy you in ways she could never imagine."

"Is that right?" Luffa asked in a low voice.  

"Think about it!" Pozet said.   She pointed at her chest proudly as she spoke.   "I'm not alive, so I can't be killed!  Dorluns are such fragile creatures, and so preoccupied with their own safety.  It must be so... frustrating for you in the bedroom."

"That's enough, Pozet," Rehval said gently.  

"No," Luffa said.   "I want to hear this.   You said she was a gift to me, right?"

Rehval nodded and made a gesture for Pozet to continue.  

"I knew it," Pozet said as she stood up from the bench.  "You're just like the master.   Underneath all that savage nobility is a total freak, huh?   You must have all kinds of wild fantasies, all bottled up inside, because you don't want to play too rough.  Well, take a look at this..."

She opened her silken robes and let them drop to her ankles, revealing a sheer negligee that left very little to the imagination.   Satisfied that the two Saiyans were paying attention, Pozet turned around in a full circle to give both of them a complete view of her outfit.  

"Just like you wife's body, down to the smallest detail," Pozet said.  "Except for the skin and hair color, of course."

"I can't argue with that," Luffa said.  

"Now, imagine you've got all this, and no limits," Pozet said.  "I'll do whatever you tell me, and if you manage to break this body, my master can just make another one for you.  Or two, or three..."

"And if I get bored with you?" Luffa asked.

"Then you can stuff me in a crate until you're ready to play with me again," Pozet said with a laugh.   "But I'll be thinking about you the entire time..."

"What a vulgar little monster," Luffa muttered.   "No wonder you evacuated the city, Rehval.  I wouldn't want to be anywhere near this thing in a public setting."

"She's a work in progress," Rehval said.   "I've been... training her... in various techniques.   All for your benefit, of course, but I won't pretend that it hasn't been stimulating."

"It sounds like you've worked out all the details, Rehval," Luffa said.   "Except that I'm already married."

"I leave that matter up to you," Rehval said.  "If you can convince her to join our little family, I'll let you keep Zatte as a courtesan.  You'll have to divorce her first, naturally, but if you prefer her company to mine, you're welcome to her, so long as you keep it private."

"Oh, I doubt she'd buy into what you're selling," Luffa said.   "She's very jealous of our marriage.   I don't think she'd approve of sharing me.  Besides, the whole evil clone thing would bother her."

"I suspected as much," Rehval said.   "Which is why I sent one of my Pozets to stow away on your ship when she left Planet Saiya."

"You mentioned that earlier," Luffa said.  "Why did you do that?"

"Because Zatte could make trouble for us," Pozet said.   "She was on her way here, to find me, and we didn't want her getting in the way while Master made his proposal to you."

"I don't want to press the issue, Luffa," Rehval said, "but you are trapped in this city, and you will be unless you accept my offer and join me.   The three of us can consummate our new alliance in a scenic part of the city, or you can refuse, and I'll leave you imprisoned here until you change your mind.   But Zatte will not be coming to pick you up, I've already seen to that."

"I see," Luffa said.  

"I realize this must be humiliating for you," Rehval said.   "But I urge you to understand that I'm only doing this for the sake of our species.   The best thing you can do for everyone involved is to yield to the circumstances."  

"All right, just give me a minute to think about this," Luffa said.   She turned away from them, but the image  simply shifted around as she moved.  Luffa rubbed her chin thoughtfully and closed her eyes.  

"What's to think about?" Pozet asked impatiently.  

"You couldn't understand, my dear," Rehval said.   "Luffa's a proud Saiyan woman, and I've cornered her.   No matter how much she might want to accept my terms, a surrender is still a surrender."

"I should have worn the latex outfit," Pozet grumbled.  "She wouldn't hesitate if she saw me in that."

"You can really make your subjects love me," Luffa finally asked.  She pointed to her hair again and added: "Even when I'm like this?"

"Our subjects, Luffa," Rehval assured her.   "And yes."

"Can you alter my memories so I won't have to remember what the Tikosi did to me?" she asked.  

"That would take time," Rehval said.   "But I can do that for you, certainly."

"And you're sure your homunculus can stop Zatte from causing any problems."

"Don't worry about that, sexy," Pozet said with a smile.  "There's a good chance she's dead already."

Luffa smiled back.   "You're sure about that, are you?" Luffa asked.  

"Positive," Pozet replied.  

Luffa began to laugh.    

As she did, Rehval and Pozet looked at each other and smiled.  

Luffa continued laughing.  

"Is something wr--?" Rehval started to ask, but Luffa started laughing louder to cut him off.  

Rehval and Pozet looked at each other again.   This time they were not pleased.

"You're a fool," Luffa finally said.  "You actually think you have the advantage here."

"I take it you disagree," Rehval said.  

She pointed at Pozet, and her face twisted with revulsion.  "How many of those things did you sneak aboard my ship, Rehval?" she asked.  

"Just one," he said.   "But--"

Luffa laughed again, but not as long this time.  "And it's no different from this one that I'm looking at right now.   You actually think this cheap copy stands a chance!"

"Posturing won't change the situation, Luffa," Rehval said.  "We can speculate all day about whether your wife can defeat a Pozet, but the fact remains--"

"Vengeance Cannon," Luffa suddenly said.   Before the others could react, she touched her fingers to her forehead and swung her arm to a spot on the deck just beneath her feet.  There was a flash of crimson from her fingertips, and a beam of light ripped through the ground, and down into the lower levels of the city.  

"What are you doing?" Rehval asked.   "If you fire blindly through the deck like that you could rupture the hull, and--!"

"I'm not firing blindly, Rehval," Luffa said.   "I was aiming at a spot six levels down.  I just wanted to show you that I could hit it without damaging anything else.  Now that I've located you, I don't want you thinking you can slip away before I get to you."

"You're bluffing, Luffa," Rehval said with a sigh.   "My ki is completely hidden from you.   It would be pointless to--"

"Oh, shut up, Rehval," Luffa said.   "Did you actually think I followed you all the way here just to stand around and listen to your stupid plans and philosophies?"

"Honestly, I was somewhat surprised," Rehval said.  "But if you had something else in mind, I haven't noticed."

"Then you really weren't paying attention, Rehval," Luffa said.  "Back on Planet Saiya, I was trying to show you how to how to help me use my technique, remember?"  

She held up her hand and yellow sparkles suddenly appeared over her palm.    They floated across the fabric of her gloves and spilled between her fingers, vanishing before they could reach her boots.

"Golden Duster," she said.  "You remember how it works, right?  I suffuse an area with tiny particles of my own ki, then use it to sense gaps large enough to be people hiding their own ki energy."

"Enough," Rehval said.  "You yourself admitted that your technique was useless on a planetary scale, not without someone as strong as me to help you--"

"Yeah, that's true," Luffa said.  "If you'd stayed on Planet Saiya, I probably never would have been able to find you on my own.   But this is floating city we're on isn't anywhere near as big as a planet, is it?  I just needed time to spread the energy.  Had to do it slowly so you wouldn't notice me doing it.   Fortunately, you're so in love with the sound of your own voice that you gave me all the time I needed, and you never even noticed what I was doing."

"You're lying, Luffa," Rehval said.  "You taught me all about the Golden Duster.  You couldn't have found me so quickly.  Not even you have that kind of skill."

Luffa laughed again.  "You want to bet?" she asked.  

She held up her index and middle finger of her left hand and smiled as a crimson light appeared on her fingertips.  "I'll call my shots.  Try not to move around too much.  You're so close to the outer hull that I might breach it if I miss."

"Wait, what are you--?!"

She pointed her hand at the floor.  "Vengeance Cannon," she said.  As she spoke, a beam of red light lanced out from her fingers and tore through the deck, and the deck below that, and the deck below that...

"Down, master!" Pozet cried.  She shoved him away, just as the beam of crimson light entered whatever room they were in.  The holo-image before Luffa showed her attack striking the floor at Pozet's feet, only to fizzle out before it could penetrate the deck.

"That was a rotten trick, Luffa!" Pozet said.  "I'll make sure Zatte suffers for this."

"You think that sort of talk is going to piss me off?" Luffa asked.  "Make me reckless enough to throw me off my game?  Let's find out.  Vengeance Cannon."

She fired again, and this time Pozet looked up at the ceiling, apparently sensing the trajectory of the next attack.

"Pozet, don't bother," Rehval said.  "She's found us.  All we can do now is--"

Before he could finish, the ceiling above them exploded, causing tons of debris to rain down on their heads.  Pozet leaped atop her master's body to protect him, but he shrugged her away and used his own powers to repel anything that might have harmed him.

"She missed?" Pozet asked.  "How could she miss?  Her first shot was almost perfect!"

Rehval might have explained Luffa's strategy to her, but there was no time.  The clouds of dust kicked up by the explosion had obscured their holographic view of Luffa's position.  They never noticed that she had moved away from that location, or that she had begun smashing her way down the path her first attack had made through the deckplates.  To Rehval's credit, he managed to see Luffa coming, but only as a blurry shadow in the dust.  Before he could even say her name, she had landed on the deck less than twenty yards away from them.

"Stay away from him!" Pozet cried.  She positioned herself between Luffa and Rehval.  "I won't let you--"

Luffa stalked towards them, her eyes wide with fury.  "Was this abomination supposed to win me over, Rehval?  Did you really think I'd accept it as some sort of consort?  It only shows how little you really know about me."

"Bravado's cute and all," Pozet said, "but don't forget who you're dealing with.  I have all of Zattie's abilities, Luffa!  And I have the poison I used to kill dozens of Saiyans!"

Luffa continued to walk towards them.

"My body's riddled with the stuff.  If you so much as touch me, you'll keel over.  It doesn't matter how strong you are!"

Luffa didn't stop.

"Master, what do I do?" Pozet asked.   "You said she would love me.   I wasn't prepared for this!   I never expected--!"

Luffa threw a roundhouse kick at Pozet's neck.   In a fraction of a second, the homunculus's head was torn away from its body, which collapsed to the floor.   The head was engulfed in a yellow flame, and Luffa ignited the decapitated body with a similar flame by stomping on it.  

"And that's why I'm not bluffing about my wife," Luffa said.  "A true Dorlun would never die so easily, but your puppet doesn't care one way or the other, so it's unprepared to deal with setbacks."

"I see your point," Rehval admitted.  "But Pozet doesn't need to kill Zatte to stop her.   She can disable your ship's engines.  Zatte isn't my enemy in all of this.   If she's the survivalist you say she is, she'll assess the situation and save herself."

"That...that's up to her," Luffa said.  "I don't need her help to defeat you."

"But you want it, don't you?" Rehval asked.   "You want her to be here, if only to share in your victory, but she's not coming this time, Luffa.  And you know exactly why that is."

"I betrayed her," Luffa said.  "All those nights I was with you, when I should have been with her.  If she doesn't know already, your little doll will tell her, isn't that right?"

"It's not too late to accept my offer," Rehval said.  "Pozet offends you.   I can see that now.   But we can convince Zatte to see things our way.  We can--"

"You really don't get it, do you?" Luffa shouted.  "All you care about is bending and flexing the situation around until it fits your agenda.  You don't accept the consequences of your actions, you just look for a loophole.  Well it ends here, Your Majesty.  Today you and I are going to stand up straight and take everything that's coming to us.   If it costs me my marriage, then that's what I deserve.   But I promise you, the price you're going to pay will be much higher."

As she stepped towards him, he raised his arms to defend himself, and this was as far as King Rehval could go.   From his perspective, he could only see Luffa vanish before his eyes, and in the next moment she was behind him, shoving him to the ground and wrapping her left leg around his.  Before he knew what was happening, she had him caught in a leg slicer hold, and she was pulling his heel towards his thigh, with her shin caught in the backside of his knee.  

"Here's my counteroffer, Rehval," Luffa said as he cried out in pain.   "First, I'm going to pull your knee apart.   Then I do the other knee.  Quit squirming."

He tried to raise his hand to attack her, and when she noticed this, she fired a burst of energy from her mouth which left the flesh on his arm pink and blistered.   Rehval's squeal of agony was unlike anything she would have expected to hear from him.   It was music to her ears.

"See that was a bad move," Luffa said.   "I was going to get to that arm eventually, but now you've just accelerated my timetable.   So I guess I skip ahead to your other arm, unless you need it to open the portal out of this city."

Rehval could only scream.  

"I'd urge you to think about this carefully, Rehval.   It's for the good of the Saiyan race.   Well, maybe not, but to hell with them.   If I were you, I'd start worrying about my own skin.  But take your time in deciding.   I'll be working over your legs for a few minutes at least.

"You really had me fooled for a while there, didn't you?" she went on.  "Yeah, it was a really clever plan.  You're a smart guy, Rehval.   Bet you feel really smart.   And handsome?  Oh yeah, you're gonna be the best looking man I ever killed.  I--!"

Suddenly, she sensed something.   It was a ki signature, and a very strong one, stronger than Rehval had ever been able to produce.  But it wasn't the intensity of the power that shocked her.   Nor was it the mere presence of another person in Pflaume City.   That was a mystery in itself, since Luffa had surveyed the entire structure only minutes earlier and found no one else on board.  What shook her to her very core was how familiar the ki was, and how impossible it was that she could ever sense it again.

Still, Luffa's warrior instincts prevailed, even in a moment of uncertainty like this.  She released her hold on Rehval, and shifted to a chin lock as she pulled him to a standing position and turned her back to the nearest wall that would allow her to face the newcomer.  

"Another trick?" Luffa asked Rehval, who was gasping and coughing in her arms.  "This one is low, even for you."

"Y-you... sense him... then!"  Rehval said.  "No... not a trick.  A precaution.   When you destroyed Pozet, that was his signal to come out and save me."

"Save you?!" Luffa asked.  "Why should he...?"

Even as she asked the question, she began to consider the possible answers, and while she couldn't guess the whole story, she knew enough to realize just how terrible the truth would be.  She could sense him getting closer, smashing through bulkheads as he approached the section of the city they were in, and then he came into view.

"Stand away from him, woman!" he shouted.   He was a Saiyan adolescent.   A boy of fifteen years at most, but as he converged on Luffa's position, he carried himself with all the confidence and swagger of a grown man.

She released her grip on Rehval and allowed him to collapse to the floor, but it had nothing to do with the boy's command.   So great was her shock that she barely heard the words as he spoke.  Indeed he continued speaking, raving about the glory of the Saiyan crown and how this base assault on his sovereign would not go unavenged.  

Luffa heard none of this.  She was too astonished by what she saw: Her unborn son, alive and nearly grown.  

And he was loyal to her worst enemy.  

NEXT: Sins of the Fathers

[sanity-is-overratedxp]

Quite A Nightmare (Part two)

A\N: Hello my Lovelies! It’s time for part two and time for ANGST OUT THE WAZOO. I warn you I almost cried writing this. 

Summary:  

Pairings: None yet. Future Hiccup x Adara. (Zada gets somebody too!)

Warnings: ANGST OKAY PEOPLE. It gets really sad Mk? Bit of cussing. Death and Betrayal. 

Word Count: 2583 DAMN BRAIN WHERE WAS THIS YESTERDAY?

Quite A Nightmare 

Chapter One

I was headed home, my final journey completed and Nightmare on my shoulder, the light hitting her scales was a truly beautiful sight. I was looking forward to showing my dad my dragon. It had been two days since the egg had hatched and I had bonded with Nightmare. When her egg had hatched I had been struck with a shard from it and it had somehow simultaneously cut my skin and cauterized the wound. I now had a finger length scar on the side of my face that went over my eye and down my cheek. It was still new so it was a bit red and swollen. I was nervous about how my father would react to it, he had always said a truly great warrior never gets cut bad enough to leave a scar. I knew it wasn’t my fault but all I had ever wanted was to please him and make him proud of me. I knew father had always wanted a son to carry on his legacy, so I tried to be better than all the men in our tribe combined. My mother had died when I was young so I had barely known her. My father said she named me though. My name is Neila, in the language of my people it means “female champion”. Fitting for the one who leads the bloodiest of the tribes I guess.

As I crested the hill that would bring my within sight of our village I grew worried, I had a feeling in my gut that I just couldn’t shake that something really bad was about to happen. The last time this happened was when our neighboring village had been attacked and my childhood friend had been killed. I rushed back eager to dispel my concerns that something terrible had happened to my father. I ran past everyone towards the main hall, my concerns grew as no one greeted me and those that looked at me did so with pity. As I neared the hall my closest friend since childhood came out. She was a fierce warrior and was revered by our people. When I came of age and took over from my father I planned on making her my right hand. She was one year my senior and had already completed her quest though she had not found a dragon.  She turned and saw me, there were tear lines down her face and it was then that I knew. 

Something had happened to my father. I didn’t know what yet but I knew that whoever had hurt him would pay with their lives. I walked up to her and though I couldn’t find the strength to open my mouth she still knew. “It happened three days ago. We got wind of a man from across the ocean taking dragons in the area. Using them for his own private army. We went to go find and destroy him. Your father thought that we could take him… when we got there he was alone, wearing a cloak that looked like dragon skin. Your father went up to him to try to get him to surrender, then all of a sudden the man started shouting and swinging his spear around. I thought it was just a battle tactic but all of a sudden the sea began to boil and from it rose a behemoth worthy of the gods. It seemed to obey the man, and then from the mist came men and dragons to numerous to count. We were outnumbered. We tried to flee but our dragons turned against us, your fathers Inferno flew to the man and he let him ride him. In the moment none of us noticed that your father had been struck till the man called out… I will never forget his voice when he said. “People of this land. I do not know you nor do I have reason to hate you as I do the people of my land. I have come from across the ocean to gather dragons for my army, I only wish you had not chosen to attack me. If you look below me you will see that I have struck down your chief. He still lives but only so he may die at home as a warning. I will let you leave here and return home on one condition. That when I come through your land you will show me no resistance and will tell the other people that I mean them no harm. I only wish to rid the world of uncontrolled dragons. Though I warn you… if you resist. I will kill you all. So please, take your Chief and return home. My people will not harm you. Though your dragons will remain here with me. I only ask that you spread the word that I, Drago Bludvist wish you no harm. Now go in peace!” we left after that. We got home this morning and your uncle when he heard sent runners to the rest of the tribes under a flag of peace with the message.” 

“That is not his decision. I am next in line so all missives go through me if my father is not capable to send them.” My father’s younger brother had always sought out the power that wasn’t his. He had always been a sneaky man with shifty eyes. “And even if I wasn’t present he should’ve waited till I returned to ask my permission.”

“That is another thing you needed to hear. He is attempting to turn the elders against you. He says the gods have punished us in your absence. That by taking so long on your quest you doomed your father to his death and as such you do not deserve to be Chief.”

“That bastard!” you always knew one day he’d try something but you never thought it would be this. “Slandering my name when I am not here to defend myself! That is low.” I was determined to defend my good name and my birthright from this snake in our midst. 

“Neila wait!” I turned at the sound of our healer calling me, “I know you wish to defend yourself but I advise that first, you go speak with your father. He’s awake but I don’t think he has much longer.” the words cut me to my core. I rushed to the healer’s hut, I prayed I wasn’t too late. As I cleared the doorway to the hut I saw him in the back, he looked weaker than I had ever seen him. His skin was pale and shallow as if he was already joining the dead. I couldn’t believe it. He had always seemed so strong and invincible. But here before me was the proof he wasn’t, and that scared me. There was a genuine chance that I could lose him today and I couldn’t believe it. I walked into his line of sight and for a second I could see the light in them again, but just as soon as it was there it was gone. “Neila… dearest daughter. You’ve returned.” it seemed like he had used all his strength to say just that. 

“Yes, father… I’m home! And I have my dragon… the gods blessed me with a new breed. It’s a girl.” he looked for her but she had made a home in my pack. “Nightmare come out. Meet my father!” she crawled out of my pack and down my arm. She went over to my father and sniffed at him. Then she did something unexpected, she smiled and her teeth were missing. “Nightmare where did your teeth go?” she looked at me and suddenly they were back. “Well, I guess I should expect the unexpected with you huh?” I laughed and so did my father. But there was no humor in the situation.

“She reminds me of you. Sly, Bright, Cunning and Deadly. She will help you greatly in the days to come.” I had to tell him about his brother. “About that father…” I started to say but he stopped me. “I know what your uncle has been doing. The healers have kept me informed. Unfortunately once I am gone he will most likely turn them all against you. Even if I say anything he will say I was not in my right mind because I am near death. My only request dearest is that you don’t fight him. This land is doomed. That man will burn through in a month’s time. Take the few who will follow you and run. Run north and over the sea. Remember our cove not more than a day’s run from here where I hid a few boats? They are still in good repair and will take you far. Go as far as you can. I heard once from a trader of a village that treats the dragons as we do. It was called Berk I believe, seek refuge there and plan for the day that it is targeted by him. Do not seek revenge, please I do not wish to have you lose your life to such a petty thing. Live happy and free from such a burden away from our lands. You were meant for bigger things than this village and its people could give you.” By now the tears were flowing freely down my face. I had long since sat down beside him to hold his hand. 

“I promise father. I will do as you say. But if I ever get the chance to destroy the man who did this to you I can’t promise I won’t.” I gritted my teeth. The thought of killing this, Drago filled my mind and for a moment I saw red. “I would expect no less from you.” my father chuckled, “Just remember everything I taught you and that it is okay to do a tactical retreat if you are outnumbered.” you are not to join me in the afterlife until you are old and grey.” the light was slowly fading from his eyes and his words were getting quieter. You knew he didn’t have much longer. “I love you, my dear. Stay strong and draw strength from your bond with Nightmare. Now go… go and don’t look back.” 

“I love you too father… I’ll see you again in the afterlife.” at that moment you saw the life leave his eyes and his hand went limp in yours. You let out a cry of anguish, the last link you had to this land leaving with the light in his eyes. Nightmare let out a noise you would liken to a keen, seeming to be just as upset as you. You covered his face and walked out with Nightmare on your shoulder and tear stains on your face. His last wish was for you to leave… you couldn’t betray your promise to him. So you walked back to your home and gathered your things as quickly as you could. Your belongings gathered you went to your best friend Zada. She lived on the outskirts of the village near the forest alone. Her family had died years before from plague. When she opened the door and saw you with your pack on she wore a look of confusion on her face. In response to her unasked question, you said, “The last wish of my father was for me to run. He said this land was doomed and that I should take what I can and who would follow, and flee for safer ground. He told me of a village across the sea that we could seek refuge in.” she looked at me, “We?” I nodded. “We. I want you to come with me. No one else will choose me over my uncle. So, you and Nightmare are the only ones I care to save.”

She nodded at me. “I’m in. Just give me a minute to pack… also, Nightmare? Really? That’s what you went with?” I smiled, “Considering that is exactly what she’ll be to my enemies… yes.” A smirk grew on her face that matched my own. “Now hurry, no telling how fast word gets to my uncle that I’m home. We need to be out of here before then.” she nodded and went back inside while I kept watching. Ten minutes later she came back out. We nodded and ran to the forest men calling out behind us. We shared a look of panic, I hadn’t expected them this soon. “Run in the trees!” I hissed. “We know these woods better than they do. We can lose them.” she nodded and we fell into a well-oiled routine. We had known these trees since childhood, no one could contest us in them. 

Slowly the shouts and cries grew farther and farther away. When we were sure that we were safe we found a small cave to rest in for a moment, the cove father had spoken of was a secret between him and me. My mother had found it long ago on one of her quests and had shown it to my father who had then shown it to me. We had always gone there as a way to commune with mother I guess. It had been a few years though since I went so dad had apparently hidden a boat there.  As soon as we had caught our breath we started again. As warriors we were trained to run for days with minimal rest, we also had been trained in seafaring ways so I knew we could handle the boat. We ran until we reached the cove, at that moment it hit me… I was leaving my home and people. Everything I had ever known… my father was dead. I was heartbroken… but at the same time, I was excited because I was venturing into the unknown somewhere my people had never been. 

I saw the boat, it was a small one with a single sail that had an Inferno as the fore piece. My father’s crest was on the sail and his flag flew at the top of the mast. Me and Zada shared a look and in silence prepped the boat for departure. Between the two of us, it was ready in a couple minutes. As we boarded I turned to Zada, “Zada are you certain this is what you wish? You could go back… find another home. With me, there is no certainty of safety.” I wanted to be certain this was what she wanted. She looked at me, “Neila, there is no other place I’d rather be. Safety is overrated anyway.” We both smirked. But it hit me. I was no longer the same person I was before… I had been through terrible trials and I had changed. I was no longer Neila, Pride of her People. I needed a new name. “Zada, don’t call me Neila anymore… That was the old me, call me Adara.” her face went blank for a second and that worried me. “Adara? Born of fire huh? Fitting.” with that we both boarded and set our sails for a new horizon. As we cleared the cove and made it to deeper water Nightmare came up to my shoulder. Her scales glittering in the sun and eyes clear as the water below us she stared at the horizon line with mischief in her eyes she seemed to be saying,  

“Look out Berk, here we come.”

Tagging: @sebastianshoe @firebrand647 Just ask me if you wanna be tagged!

[casparwatchingfilm]

Split (2017)

THOUGHTS:

So when I first left the theatre I was pretty whelmed about Split but the more and more I thought about what transpired over the course of two hours the more and more I disliked this film. I found the real only saving grace was James McAvoy’s performance. It was 100% believable and executed and I felt gave true light into what DID is actually like. The rest of the film I found was extremely exploitive of both mental illness and child molestation. I didn’t mention Casey being molested by her uncle in the synopsis below because that’s basically how Shyamalan treated it; not important. His use of Casey’s trauma was cheapened by the fact that nothing was resolved in any way and Casey had to return her abuser after going through these events with “Dennis”, “Patricia” and “The Beast”.

The movie would’ve been exponentially better had Shyamalan let “The Beast” die when Casey shot him and had Casey develop DID as a coping mechanism just as Kevin initial had due to his childhood trauma from his mother beating him. I would’ve left the theatre amazed and able to rate this movie higher than I am. DID does have astounding affects on the human body depending on the identities inhabiting it but it does not make you invincible to close range shot gun bullets. I found a lot of what was tied together toward the end was loosely done so. In typical M. Night fashion he has a lot of good build up only to let it fall short. This movie had a lot of potential had he not set it up as a sequel to a future three part series for ‘Unbreakable’. For him to have obviously done extensive research about DID and framed his characters in ways that accurately portrayed  it only to squander all of it in the last 15 minutes of the film made it flop for me.

GRADE: C-

SYNOPSIS:

Split is a horror/thriller film directed and written by M. Night Shyamalan starring James McAvoy and Anya Taylor-Joy with support from Betty Buckley, Haley Lu Richardson, and Jessica Sula.

Shyamalan starts us off at the tail end of a birthday party, introducing us to Casey (Taylor-Joy), Claire (Richardson) and Marcia (Sula). The three high school students are leaving when “Dennis” (McAvoy) drugs and kidnaps them while Claire’s father is out of sight. The three girls awake in a windowless room with “Dennis” watching them closely. “Dennis” takes Marcia from the room and we hear screaming from the other side of the locked door for a short while before she is returned to them. After this incident we and the girls hear a woman’s voice on the other side of the locked door talking to “Dennis”. The two argue before the woman enters the room and it is revealed to be “Patricia” (McAvoy). She calms the girls and reassures them “Dennis” won’t be touching them anymore before locking them in once again.

We are then jumped to another location where Dr. Karen Fletcher (Buckley) awaits her patient “Barry”’s (McAvoy) arrival. The two talk about his urgent email late in the night needing to speak with her but he remains cryptic and says that everything is alright and she has nothing to be concerned about. This is where we learn Dr. Fletcher specializes in Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) and has had “Barry’s” host Kevin as a patient for a long time. We also learn the terminology that the different personalities inside of Kevin use whenever one of them is inhabiting Kevin; coming into the light. The interaction is short, though, and we are jumped back to Casey, Marcia and Claire’s cell. They are awoken again by a the voice of a young boy “Hedwig” (McAvoy). Through this interaction between him and the girls we become firmly aware that all persons are different but within the same body. “Hedwig” tells them that they are to be sacrificed to “The Beast” but gives no solid indication of what that means or who that is. They plead for “Hedwig” to help them but he refuses until Casey tricks him into revealing a secret way out in the ceiling that Claire then uses before she is inevitably caught and locked away by herself.

“Barry” meets with Dr. Fletcher again after another urgent email being sent late at night. Dr. Fletcher sees that something is very off about these sudden meetings being called and the way “Barry” is behaving. Dr. Fletcher believes “Dennis” or “Patricia” are in the light even though Kevin and his other personalities have discouraged it previously because of their strong beliefs and unconventional ways. “Barry” leaves after insisting he is who he says he is even though Dr. Fletcher is still unconvinced. We’re jumped back to Casey being awoken by “Patricia”. “Patricia” offers to let the girls come into the kitchen and eat which they take. While “Patricia” is talking to them about the habits of lions Marcia tries to escape. “Dennis” chases and finds her before locking her back up separately, leaving Casey alone in the original cell.

The last outside encounter between Dr. Fletcher and “Barry” happens once again after a slew of urgent emails sent late in the night by another personality within Kevin. This time, however, Dr. Fletcher convinces “Dennis” to come forth with his deceiving and tell Dr. Fletcher why he’s come to the light. He confides in her that “Patricia” and himself are awaiting the arrival of the 24th personality which they call “The Beast”. He is rumored to be inhuman and have abilities that are beyond what a human should be able to accomplish. He cites her studies of DID and what people with the disorder are capable of to prove “The Beast”’s existence. Dr. Fletch assures “Dennis” that “The Beast” is simply a manifestation of Kevin’s father who left him with his abusive mother and that none of the other identities have ever seen “The Beast”.

That same night Dr. Fletcher arrives where the girls are locked up just as “Dennis” is leaving to meet someone. He, however, shows Dr. Fletcher inside and they chat about “The Beast” and Dr. Fletcher claims that she believes everything he is saying and truly wants to study what “The Beast” is capable of. After a short lived stay she asks to use the restroom and purposefully stumbles on the locked room of Claire before “Dennis” drugs her and lays her in the living room. “Dennis” then leaves and makes his way to the train station where he allows “The Beast” to come into the light. While this is happening Marcia is trying to escape by unlocking her door with a coat hanger from the inside and Casey has successfully escaped from her cell but finds herself stuck in the second room just outside of it. On a desk against the wall is a computer that she finds video logs of all Kevin’s identities. She watches a few and finds that Barry keeps a spare set of keys under his hat on the coat hanger on the opposite wall. Casey unlocks the door and runs into the hallway only to find the cells Claire and Marcia were in opened and their half-eaten bodies laid on the floor. Casey runs into the living room, trying to find a way out, and finds the crushed body of Dr. Fletcher laying lifeless on the floor. Not far from the doctor, on a desk, is a scribbled note stating ‘Say his name, Kevin Wendell Crumb’. 

“The Beast” then storms into the room where Casey stands but is quickly taken back when Casey says Kevin’s full name. Everything calms and standing before Casey is a stunned and confused Kevin. He is shocked by what has happened to Dr. Fletcher and asks Casey to shoot him with a gun he’s hidden nearby. Before she gets a chance Kevin’s other identities begin to take over and try and convince Casey not to and they all have “Dennis” and “Patricia” under control. Things quickly spiral and “The Beast” once again is released into the light and beings to chase Casey through the bowels of this underground system. Casey reaches a dead end and quickly locks herself into cage, shotgun in hand. “The Beast” lunges at her and is shot twice with her last bullets but doesn’t fall. As “The Beast” is prying open the bars of the cage he’s monologues about the only people in society worth living are those who have experience pain and suffering. He continues with stating that those who have not suffered aren’t worthy and have experienced nothing and shall be exterminated. Just as we think “The Beast” is going to make it through the only safety Casey has he sees scars and burn marks on Casey’s stomach through tears in her shirt. It stuns him and he sees that she too has suffered greatly. This causes him to run off and leave Casey to be rescued by police officers.

The last scenes are “Dennis”, “Patricia”, and “Hedwig” in an abandoned building looking at themselves in a mirror and reveling in “The Beast”’s power. They have successfully subdued Kevin and the other identities so that “The Beast” can remain in the light when they chose. Simultaneously in a diner somewhere else in the city the news is broadcasting about the events that have been reported going on for the past few days and watching from a nearby booth is Bruce Willis’ character, David Dunn, from Unbreakable, relating this account of what the media is calling “The Horde” to Mr. Glass, a terrorist who used a wheelchair 15 year previously.