Ah, yes, the wonderful world of additive and subtractive colors.  Let's see if I can work my way out of this.

1) Additive colors, found in light, have three primary colors: red, green, and blue.

2) Contrary to what I or your art teacher may have told you, primary art colors are not red, yellow, and blue.  The subtractive primary colors are cyan, magenta, and yellow.  Check out the comics section if you don't believe me.  (Though in theory a perfect mix of the three would yield black, it doesn't work in practice.  Thus, black ink is the fourth pigment color.)

3) The secondary colors of additive and subtractive colors are the primary colors of subtractive and additive colors, respectively.  In other words, the secondary colors of light are cyan, magenta, and yellow, and the secondary colors of pigment are red, green, and blue.

4) Therefore, the primary colors of one set are the secondary colors of another.

5) The [Primaries] and [Secondaries] are represented by colors in hexadecimal, which appear on the computer monitor in the form of light.

6) EGC is heavily based on anime.  Animation comes in the form of cels, and so by extension the [Primaries] and [Secondaries] should be visually represented in artwork/cel form, using pigmential colors.

7) Our ideas of primary/secondary colors and true representation of a character having been jostled, the idea of whether the [Primaries] and [Secondaries] ought to be additive or subtractive colors has been raised, and I can now wriggle off of the hook I'm stuck on.

Betcha Cecil Adams couldn't've done better.

Actually, Joseph, most of the characters in the EGC are video game related.  While the majority of these video games are either anime-related or anime inspired, fact remains that video games utilize light for display.  (Which is why they're video games, really.)

Furthermore, EGC is in the Wired (or, in the internet, if you insist).  No matter hither the characters have come or thither they go, they are at the moment being represented in a form made up of, basically, light.  Neither a particle nor a wave ... light, the great paradox, as opposed to pigment, which is just plain .... solid junk ... Light, therefore, fits the spirit and medium of the EGC far better.  Beeeeeda! (*thbpt!*)

(*Sigh* And to think I was looking forward to there possibly being a story post today ... Post, people, Post! Or shall I be verily forced to write another novel? *evil grin*)

Aw, who cares about the colors, they're all dead. ;p

---

[Begin Flashback]

(The Roach Dimension.  A large group of roaches are gathered in peaceful demonstration, with the Roach Leader at its head.  At a distance, Chatty watches with detatched amusement.)

Chatty (arms crossed): And what's the meaning of this?

Roach Leader (with a megaphone in his hand): We protest your presence here! Roaches everywhere are starving because of you!

(The crowd mutters its acknowledgement.)

Chatty (amused): So you going to stand here and wave your little signs until I leave you alone?

Roach Leader (still serious): We have the right to peaceful assembly.  It says so in your own Constitution.

Chatty (amused): So it does.  (smirks evilly) But that's only for us humans.

(An enormous mechanized foot appears literally out of nowhere and lands in the midst of the roaches.  The once organized crowd turns into a mass of panicking, screaming, and fleeing roaches.)

Roach Leader (stunned): Wh-what?!?

Chatty (still smirking): That's what you get for not appreciating what you already have.

(The foot comes down again.  With a sickening thud-crunch, hundrends of thousands of roaches die.)

Roach Leader (now shaking with fury): Y-you...

(Blinded by grief, the Roach Leader charges Chatty.  She merely sidesteps and slams him into the ground using her AT field.)

Chatty (shaking a finger): Tsk, tsk...you should know better than that.

(The Roach Leader can only watch as the roach population gets decimated completely.)

[Pause Flashback]

(EGC Courtroom.  It is so quiet that one can almost hear the sound of the ice cubes in Miyuka's glass melting.)

Miyuka (quietly): And during all of this, what did the defendant do?

Roach (not looking up): She watched.

Vermin (shaking): And laughed.

Miyuka (quietly): No further questions, your honor.

(Miang gulps visibly as she gets up to cross examine.)

Good luck, Miang...this isn't going to be easy...

---

[Continuing Flashback]

(The Roach Dimension.  Chatty's EVA is massacring the peaceful protesters.  The seriously injured Roach leader watches, unable to move and unable to turn away.)

O.S. Voice (sarcastically): That's right, kill them all.  Kill them all and let God sort them out.

(The foot freezes in midair, as does Chatty.)

Chatty (angrily): Who's there?

O.S. Voice (sarcastically): Ah, ah, ah...you should never ask that question...it's a one-way ticket to a gruesome and bloody death.

(Adam leaps into view, as if he had jumped from some high ledge.  He flips three times before executing a perfect landing.)

Adam (sarcastically): Hi.  (poses dramatically) Don't you just love heroic entrances?

(Chatty's eyes grow saucer wide when she sees the sword Adam has drawn.)

Chatty (shocked): You actually found THAT?!?

Adam (smiling): Uh-huh.  Went through hell, but I finally got my hands on it.

(He takes an agressive stance.)

Adam (smirking now): Let's see how powerful this thing REALLY is, shall we?

Not here.

(Adam looks up, very annoyed, as does Chatty.)

Chatty (angrily): I knew it was you!

Adam (at the same time, the same): Oh, come on.

I said, not here.  Both of you know what could happen if you battle here.

(The tension in the air is thick enough to cut with a chainsaw.  But finally...)

Adam (unwillingly): Oh, fine.  (muttered) Fuddy-duddy.

Chatty (same): I guess it doesn't matter if I kill him here or somewhere else...

(The two vanish, as does the giant foot.  A cold wind blows over the field.)

"What you sow, so shall you reap." *chokes back a sob*

(A glowing figure appears over the Roach Leader.)

Roach Leader (still in shock): Wha...Who...?

*sadly* I cannot tell you who I am.  Not yet.

(The glowing envelops the Roach Leader and spreads to the few who are still alive.)

One day, you'll understand everything.  And on that day, I hope that you'll have the heart to forgive us.

Roach Leader (as above): F-forgive...

(The glow now also envelops the broken bodies of the roaches.)

I know it won't be easy.  But please don't let yourself be consumed by hatred, because that was the mistake WE made.

(The glow is almost blinding.  Roach Leader has to shield his eyes from the radiant being.)

I'm so sorry...

(When the glow fades, the entire Roach Dimension is empty save for a diminutive authoress and a white flame.)

You're too nice for your own good.

*sighs, looks distant* I know.

[Pause Flashback]

---

I probably just poked about a million holes into EGC's continuity, but...nobody will notice if I go back and change history, right? ;p

"Catz!  Stop fussing about me!  I'm fine!"

No, you're not, sweetheart.  You've got bruises on your left arm, a split lip, and a hacking cough ...

"The cough is just seasonal phlegm."

The bruises?

The girl flushed.  "Ah ... that was ... hubris.  I got six targets in a row, so I got a little cocky on the seventh and forgot my safety training ..."

Six in a row?  How'd you manage that?

She grinned.  "Training was outside that day."

Oh ... so I suppose the WIND was to your BACK, HM?

"Hey, it was to everyone else's back, too ..."

How altruistic of you, pumpkin.  And the split lip?

"Ah," said the girl, "that's from sparring with ... dear ... old ... Lala ..."

You're downright suicidal sometimes, you know that?

"Hey, I didn't challenge her or anything!  I just so happen to have psychotically violent friends ... they're also quite perverse."  She giggled.

By the by, Dotserinny's done something rather rash in Venus ...

The girl suddenly turned serious.  "Show me what she's done."

Catz displayed Dot's work.  The girl read it solemnly, silently, uncertainly.

She remained quiet a long time.

Then she said: "Catz ... copy EG Cache, Heaven, Purgatory, and Hell to your Secondary Drive."

Alright.  Copying EG Cache, Heaven, Purgatory, Hell to Secondary Drive ...

The only sound to be heard for a while was mechanical background noise.  The girl did not even dare to breathe.

EG Cache, Heaven, Purgatory, Hell copied to Secondary Drive successfully.

She took a deep breath.  "Now connect into Venus and ... apply Dot's changes to EG Cache."

You're cruel.

"Chaotic would be more like it.  Or curious ... I ..." She paused, choked, and coughed up a little phlegm.  "Sorry.  I just want to see ... how the Laws would answer back such a good deed early on."

You've been the Laws.  You KNOW how they're going to react.

"Others have not had that experience.  Dot probably thinks this was a kind move on her part."  She smiled wistfully.  "We have backups, Catz.  Maybe I'm wrong, and she's forevermore made a Heaven of my Earth.  Apply Dot's changes to the History of EGC."

.... fine.  Applying changes ...

---

(*The EGC Bar -- outside the window, it's snowing ... and from the looks of the decorations inside the bar, it must be around Christmas.*)

(*A woman and a man walk in ... they're obviously tourists, at this point in time.*)

(*One is a woman with short purple hair wearing an expensive winter coat.  She seems a little ditzy, and rather annoying.   She's tugging the arms of the man right next to her ... with a flirtatious grin spread thickly across her face.*)

(*This is Miang.*)

Miang: Ooooh .... honey, I'm so glad you decided to take me on a vacation from that AWFUL guarding job duty.. Solaris is sooooooo BORING don't you agree?

(*The man, on the other hand, seems rather awkward.  He walks with a sort of noble strut and wears more casual clothing, but he seems a little more uncomfortable than would fit with merely being a shy person in a crowded bar.*)

(*This is Ramsus.*)

Ramsus:  Errr ... yes ... (*sweatdrops*)

Miang:  I'm so glad you listened to me when I said we should take a vacation!  Believe you me, we're going to have a marvelous ti--

(*There's a large crash, the crinkle of thunder rolling is heard ... then a demonic roar.   The wind slaps the bar windows open roughly.*)

Miang: (*jumps into Ramsus's arms*) EEPPPPP!!!!! WHAT WAS THAT!??!??!

(*The bartender -- a pregnant Akagi Ritsuko -- looks up from cleaning the bar counter.*)

Ritsuko:  Vacationers, I take it?

Ramsus:  Well, yes ...

Ritsuko: (*snorts*)  That's rather foolish.  Don't you know we're being invaded by Hell right now?

Miang:  Hell?!

Ritsuko: (*disinterestedly*) Yeah, Hell.  They've been at it for several years now ...

Miang:  YEARS?!

Ramsus:  When did it start?

Ritsuko:  Well, it happened like this ... prepare for a flashback ...

---

(* F L A S H B A C K *)

(*The Bar.*)

(*Sephiroth, Edge, and the rest of the old drinking crew are sitting at the counter.  Yuna v1.0 bounces in.  She still has the pogo legs ...*)

Yuna:  Konnichi wa, minna-san! Hai, it's me, Yuna!! I'm here all by myself. The Evil One is actually working today instead of goofing off. Nothing big, just squelching some cockroach uprising in ... um ... dammit, I always forget the name of that dimension. The one full of Giant, Friendly, Intelligent Cockroaches and Spiders with High-Pitched Voices.  Scary place. (*shudders*) Well, it could be worse. I've never had a Giant Spider hit on me yet. ^_^

Sephiroth: (*looking quite hung-over*) As if one would.

Yuna: (*glares at Sephiroth*) Well it's not my fault I look like this!! The stupid Evil One just happened to decide that the best material to a Mecha-Interface Cybernetic Android out of was scrap junk.

Sephiroth: Izzat why you have pogo sticks for legs?

Yuna: (*venomously*) HAI. Now get ...

(*Chatty runs into the bar.  She's a cute fifteen-year-old girl with short purple hair, and she wears a lavender EVA plugsuit.*)

Helllllo everyone!  I'm back. (*to Tifa*) Yuna didn't blabber anything while I was gone, did she?

Tifa:  Outside of some nonsense about Giant Spiders and Roaches, nope ...

Spiders and Roaches..? (*darkly*) Hum ...

Tifa:  Where'd you suppose she got that idea from, anyway?

Heck if I know. (*false cheeriness*) It must be her bug!

Yuna:  I do not have a bug!

Sure you don't ... say, Yuna, mind stepping outside a bit? (*deviously*) I have something to show you ...

Yuna:   Really?  Do tell ... (*hentai grin*)

(*They walk out of the bar.*)

Sephiroth:  I bet 5 rims Yuna gets smashed over the head with the Big Friggin' Mallet.

Edge:  You're on. (*hic*)

(*Everyone turns to stare at the entrance.  Time passes, and Chatty re-enters the bar ... alone.*)

Tifa:  That took a while ... where's Yuna?

Oh, she had to run an errand.  She'll be back shortly. (*puts something on a barstool*)  You seen Jen and Jay lately?

Tifa:  Yes, they went --

Jen:  Konnichi wa, minna-san!  Have returned tired and bored, so I decided to go here!

Never mind, they're here. (*grins*)

Jay:  Hey, Chatty!  Long time so see ... where've you been?

Nowhere important.  Say, Jay-san, Jen-chan ... could you two do me a slight favor?

Jen:  No problem.  What's the favor?

Could you go find Linaly and Shinobi for me and bring them to the street right outside the bar?  I'll find Hugh myself ... I've got something really important to tell the lot of you, insert to insert, no cameos allowed! (*beams*)

Jay:  Wai!  Sure thing, Chatty-chan! (*SD salute*)

(*Elated at having something to do -- yes, they were THAT bored -- Jen and Jay skip outside to find Linaly and Shinobi ...*)

(*to herself*) Jen-chan ... you were such a good friend.  And Jay-san ... you too ...

(*She turns and heads towards ... the Shito-tachi's Booth.  It's comfy, it's cushy, it's occupied by Kaworu, Aoi, Tenkei, Rei and Hugh!  The Shito-tachi booth!*)

Hugh:  Hey, Chats, you're back!  Where were you?

Ah ... sore wa, himitsu desu. ^_-

Hugh:  Secretive today, eh?  Well, I suppose you're entitled to a few ...

I see you and Rei-san are getting all cuddly again. (*grin*)

Rei:  Ah, leave 'im alone. (*grins, cuddles*)

Hugh: (*blushes*)

(*suddenly solemn*)  You know, Voids, I wish I could envy your honor.

Hugh:  My what? (*piku piku*)

Your honor. (*grins*) You always fight quite honorably in battle, so I've heard, even though you're a demon.

Hugh:  It's half-demon, damn it ... half-demon.

Well, matter isn't the point.  The point is that you're supposed to be quite honorable ... assuming that honor exists, of course.

Aoi:  You mean you don't believe in honor?

(*shrugs*) I believe in means to an end.

Rei: (*raises an eyebrow*)

Say, Hugh-san, mind coming out in front of the bar?  All the inserts are gathering out there, and I'm going to make an announcement ...

Hugh:  Sounds fine to me.

Rei:  An announcement?  What announcement?

A special announcement not to be heard by cameos.

Hugh:  Sorry, Rei, you'll have to stay here.

Rei:  Mou ...

Hugh:  I'll be back soon enough, ne?

Rei:  Hai, of course.

(*Insert a mushy goodbye here.*)

Aoi: (*clicks a camera, and shoves it behind her back*)

Kaworu: !

Rei:  AOI!

Aoi: (*innocently*) Who, me?

Tenkei:  (*babble babble babble*)

Aoi:  But they make for such interesting Valentine's Day cards..!

Hugh: (*sigh*)

No time to wait!  I have to make my announcement soon ...

Hugh:  Well, then, let's go ...

(*Hugh and Chats leave the bar.*)

Tifa:  Well, that's that ...

Sephiroth:  What was that thing she put on the seat?

Edge:  That? (*hic*) Well, it's a ... (*picks it up -- and freezes ...*)

(*... it's a shorn, bent half of a pogo stick.*)

Tifa:  My God ... she ...

Sephiroth:  Yuna didn't deserve that ...

Edge: (*hic*) Holy schlamoly ...

(*And at that moment, the front of the EGC Bar explodes inwards, as if several bombs had been placed in the streets and set off in tandem ...*)

Tifa:  (*ducks behind the bar*) What the Hell?

Sephiroth:  Ugh ... (*wipes the blood from his lip*)  It ... it's her ...

Tifa:  What?

Sephiroth:  An RL ... has betrayed ...

(*Through the dust thrown up by the property destruction, one can see occasional glimpses of the battle raging on ...*)
 
(*... Linaly brandishes her staff, and is blown away by a blast of green fire ...*)

(*... Shinobi transforms into his armor, and is shortcircuited by a blast of green lightning.  He draws a lightsword and strikes a blow against his opponent ...*)

(*... Jay and Jen fight in tandem, striking and striking and striking with their katanas until the enemy falls to the ground.  Then, unexpectedly, the 'comatose' enemy leaps up and blasts the two with a green blight.  Jay falls, Jen flies into a rage ...*)

(*... Shinobi swings at his opponent, trying to get the enemy into a "let's have a dramatic discussion on what's happening" situation ... but instead of blocking and obliging the cliche, the enemy dodges, and the swing nicks Hugh ...*)

(*... Jen explodes ...*)

(*... the enemy draws a glowing dagger, bolts behind Shinobi and stabs him in the back.  He falls ...*)

(*... and in the end, when the dust clears the most, there are two fighters left standing:  Voidstar Hugh, in his full demonic form, and Chatty, wielding Shinobi's lightsword and grinning in a most disturbing fashion.*)

Chatty:  (*eyes glowing bright yellow*)  Impressive!  You've outlasted the others ... perhaps there is something to this charm called 'honor' ...

Demon VoidStar:  Chatty, why are you doing this?!

Chatty: (*shrugs*)  I want the city.  I've always wanted the city ... I did tell you that I was a villain, no? (*laughs bitterly*) What fools you were for trusting me!

Demon VoidStar:  Chats, snap out of it!

Chatty:  Das Spiel ist aus, Hugh! (*swings, missing him*) Stop acting like I was your friend!  I've never been a friend to any of you!  Look at the other inserts ... I killed them all, cut them off from contacting this city ... their honor and good hearts didn't save them, did it?  Will your honor save you? (*very bitter laugh*) Hit me with your best shot, hero!

Demon VoidStar: ....... I'm going to hate this, but you asked for it ...

(*He flies straight upwards, shooting tendrils of black-colored energy from his palms.  It's a direct hit ... .... .... with absolutely no effect ...*)

Chatty: (*mock yawn*) That's your best?
 
(*A vaguely familiar sphere of green flame explodes around VoidStar, hurling him back to the ground.*)

Demon VoidStar: (*wincing*) Damn....I hate magic....

(*VoidStar presses the attack again, hurling a wider wave of shadow energy at Chatty, fazing her a bit this time.*)

Chatty: (*scowls*) You're actually getting annoying, Hugh-san. Well.... (*dark smile*) I suppose it's time to join your friends, isn't it?  I'll bet they miss you ...

(*An even more familiar looking aura of mystical, emerald-colored fire burns around Chatty, building up a charged wall of destructive, green magic ...*)

Rei:  HUGH!!

Chatty:  Rrrrrgh!  No time for Angels!

(*She lets loose the wall -- a bit early, from the looks of it -- and it blasts into Voidstar, knocking him down to the ground ...*)

Aoi, Kaworu: (*running out of the bar*) Hugh-san!

Tenkei: (*BABBLE BABBLE!!*)

Rei:  HUGH!! (*dashes to Hugh's side and shakes him*) Hugh!!

(*Hugh remains still ... lying there, not moving ...*)

Rei: Hugh ... (*bows her head*)

(*Chatty grins, and lets out the bitterest, loudest, most echoing cackle of all.*)

Chatty:  Idiots!  The last insert has fallen!  The city is mine, and soon you all will know the invincible power that is ... MIYU ...

(*With a flourish and a smirk, she dissappears.*)

Aoi: (*seething*) Traitor ... I swear, I'll kill you for this!

Kaworu:  Aoi, not now ...

Rei:  (*bending over Hugh*) Hugh..!  Don't die, Hugh ... not now ... please ...

(*There is a moment of silence.  The dust from the fight settles ...*)

(*... and Voidstar Hugh's eyelids flutter open.*)

Hugh:  I..te-eeeeeeee ...

Rei: (*relieved*) Hugh-chan ...

(* K C A B H S A L F *)

---

(*Back in the Bar*)

Ritsuko:  Voidstar Hugh Davis was the only one to survive ... the rest are buried up in what's left of the Religious Sector.  Jay, Jen, Linaly, Shinobi ... they're all gone.  The life of only one insert determines whether or not this city falls into the hands of Miyu ... whatever that is.

Miang:  What about the demons?

Ritsuko: (*dark scowl*)  Ah, those ... this Miyu is an impatient sort.  When assassinations didn't work out, she turned to massive destruction.  And I'm supposing that since she didn't have any angels to attack him with, she used what she had.

Ramsus: ... which was Hell?

Ritsuko:  (*nods*)  There's been an attack at least twice a month for the past couple of years ...... lots of areas have been decimated, quite a few people have died.  Billy, Yuffie, Cid, Tolone ... it's a long list.  One attack was on the Shinra Headquarters ... President Rufus was possessed, and he slaughtered most of the building's occupants before Sephiroth managed to kill him.

Miang:  Sephiroth?  Wasn't he a hotdog vendor?

Ritsuko: (*wistfully*)  It's too dangerous to travel the streets casually like that anymore ... he had to quit.  (*points*)  Look at him now.

(*Miang and Ramsus turn to look ... and away in the corner of the bar, at another table, sits Sephiroth.  His silver hair is crumpled, rustled, and sloppy braided in the back, and his black uniform is tattered beyond belief.  Masamune's edge has gained quite a few nicks, and the curve is bent somewhat askew.  Seph also seems to have replaced the black overcoat of his uniform with a brown raggy bum's coat.*)

(*To put it another way, the son of Hojo is a hobo ...*)

Ritsuko:  The Demon Invasion crushed his dream.  He wanted so much to have a day job that didn't involve killing ... and Fate spat in his eye ...

(*A familiar middle-aged woman with long purple hair runs over to Seph's table with a cup of hot chocolate and a slice of pie.  She promptly proceeds to more or less fuss over him like a mother.  Seph looks highly embarrassed.*)

Ritsuko:  ... but then again, a mere spit in the eye isn't enough to break a person if they have dreams.  Jenova's been there for him, encouraging him, keeping his hopes up ... like the mother he never had, I guess.  I don't figure it'd be very healthy in normal circumstances, but in a living hell like this, an overprotective mother is a blessing ...

Miang:  Huh.

Ritsuko:  And then there's the sad story of Aerith Gainsborough ...

Miang:  What's that?

Ritsuko:  Ah ... well, I already told you that this bar was once owned by a woman named Tifa Lockheart.  Aerith Gainsborough was her ... partner, in a sense.  Tifa died in a battle against demons invading the bar, and Aerith went quite mad, absorbing a lot of power in her quest to get her back.  In her desperation, she turned to Miyu for aid ... and Miyu fulfilled her wish, bringing Tifa back to life ... at the cost of Aerith's consciousness and soul.  So Aerith became a mindless puppet of Miyu, and Tifa was alive as well ... but also without consciousness or soul.  The two are virtually zombies now, mindless killing machines ...

Ramsus:  My God ...

Miang:  That's so tragic!

Ritsuko:  So many others have died or lost their dignity in this war ... my Maya-chan .. died in one battle ... stupid Misato sacrificed herself for me .... Kaji was taken prisoner ... and I ...... I ... (*bows her head and lays a hand on her bulging belly*)

Miang:  What's wrong?

Ritsuko: (*glances up fiercely*)  Ma'am, have you ever read Rosemary's Baby?

Miang:  No ...

Ritsuko:  Screw you, then.

(*Suddenly, a gust of wind blows through the bar ...*)

Miyu: (*from the surrounding air*)
Quinta Essentia ...
Latin, the Fifth Element.
Preparation, Sublimation, Purification, Obliteration ...
It is the process by which I, who created the universes, shall return humanity to it's original state.
Humanity shall be one in its regression ...
One in me.

Miang:  Wh..what?

Miyu:  Preparation ... the gathering of strength ...

Miang:  Ramsus, what is that?!

Ramsus: (*confused*) What's what?

Miyu:  Sublimation ... the repression of weakness ...

Miang:  That voice!  Can't you hear it?!

Ramsus:  What voice?

Miyu:  Purification ... the purging of the weak ...

Miang:  THAT VOICE!

Ramsus:  I don't hear any voice!

Miyu:  Obliteration ... the solidification of the position of the strong.  Together, as one.

Miang: (*bloody furious*) Whaddya mean, you don't hear any --

Miyu:  System Hawwa.

Miang: (*blink*) Uh?

Miyu:  System Hawwa, you are invited to be a witness of the End of Time.

Miang:  A witness to what?

Miyu:  A witness to this.

(*The gust of wind travels through the bar ...*)

Ritsuko: (*gasps and falls to the floor, dead*)

Jenova: (*gasps, dies*)

Sephiroth: (*gasps, dies*)

Ramsus:  (*gasps, dies*)

Miang:  NOOOO!  What are you doing?!

Miyu:  Purification.  The weak must die, and the strong must shed the weakness of the flesh.

(*Customers in the bar continue to gasp their last breaths all around Miang.*)

Miang:  This is crazy!

Miyu:  Come, System Hawwa, join me and watch the lives go by ...

Miang: (*running out of the bar*)  Get away from me!

Miyu:  Do look out for Evangelion Unit A, System Hawwa.

Miang:  Look out for what?

(*STOMP*)

Miang:  Aaaaaaah!! (*runs into an alley*)

Miyu:  You aren't going to watch the fight?  How disappointing ...

Miang: (*peering around the corner*) All right, fine, I'll -- VIERGE?!

(*Yes, it is a pink Xenogear vs. a purple Evangelion.  As to be expected, Vierge is getting pummeled.*)

Miyu:  Elhaym insists on fighting to the very end.  She thinks that the possession of Chatty is reversable, and that she can still save the lives of those not dying yet.  What an admirable fool ...

(*And with one swift upward slice of the Prog. Shuriken, Eva A splits Vierge in half.  The two halves of Vierge fall to the ground, and Eva A stomps on them.*)

Miyu:  What an admirable fool she was ...

Miang:  What ... what ...

Miyu:  Look up.

(*Miang, not knowing what else to do, looks up.  Something falls into the city, and --*)

(* F L A S H *)

---

  I am Miyu. Miyu is everything. Now you all reside in me ... Everything is Miyu. Miyu ...  

---

EGC Program Production fault, at roughly the point that the Second Roach War should have been ... EG Cache, Heaven, Purgatory, Hell corrupted, fused, and merged into miyusama.exe ...

The girl sighed.  "I hate being right."

Well, at least now you can be certain you were on the right track, honeypie ... necessary evils and all that ...

"How will I explain this to Dot?"

Tell Dotsy-poo that you can have the power to change the distant past, but you can never have the all-seeing eye of God necessary to see what you looked over in your haste.

"I don't know about that," she said. "That's a bit hypocritical coming from me, isn't it?"

You have a better idea, sugar?

"No," she admitted.  "I just disapprove of drastic distant changes like that ... because ... because I did one myself when I restored this EGC, and it's never quite the same.  You can change the past, but the RLs will remember.  Sometimes, that's a greater difference than can ...... than ... I'm rambling, aren't I?"

You are, darlin'.

"And I have a major examination tomorrow, don't I?"

Yes, you do, sweetums.

She sighed.  "Take me home, Catz.  I'm exhausted."

No sooner said than done.  Deactivating prose ...

(Alternate Universe #A00FF, where the Roach Wars were prevented outright, resulting in Miyu's hostile takeover of EGC.  Two figures sit atop the wreckage of the bar.)

So this was why you didn't go all out against Chatty.

Adam (sarcastically): It's one of the few advantages of weilding this sword.

...... *sighs* I guess I should really stop expecting everyone to think like me.

Adam (sarcastically): How could they when you're so damn inconsistent?

True, true...(mimicking Adam) The Voice of Reason speaks once again.

Adam (bowing): You're welcome.

*sighs again* Let's get of this depressing place.

Adam: For once, I agree with you.

(They vanish.)

---

[Continue Flashback.]

(Subspace.  This particular one looks like it was taken out of one of Dali's paintings.  At least, until an enormous wave of energy explodes onto the ground and destroys everything.  As the dust settles, Adam floats over the crater and clicks his tongue.)

Adam (sarcastically): Impressive.

(Adam dodges another blast effortlessly.  Chatty descends into view, her AT field taking the form of lances as she shoots them towards Adam.)

Chatty (angrily): Leave me alone!

(Adam blocks Chatty's AT field with his sword, deflecting it away and sending it to make another crater.)

Adam: I'd be glad to, as soon as you stop insisting on misinterpreting the Collorary the way you do.

(Sparks fly as the two clash, and the force of the blows throw them apart again.)

Chatty (defiantly): Never.

Adam (slightly annoyed): That's the problem with you RLs.  You're so damn stubborn.

(Adam bats another lance away and attacks; Chatty strains to keep her AT field up.)

Chatty: You're the one to talk! You've sided with HER!

Adam: Of couse I would.  Have you ever heard her idealistic nonesense? If someone isn't there to give her a reality check every once in a while, could you imagine what would happen?

(Chatty's aura brightens, and lances explode onto Adam from all sides.)

Chatty: I can.  Which is why I'm doing this now.

(As Adam raises his sword to block, it suddenly glows in the colors of the rainbow.)

Adam (eyes widening): !!

(The sword falls from his hand and imbeds itself in the ground below.  Chatty's AT field tears Adam apart, leaving nothing but shards of clothing to flutter in the wind.)

Chatty: Hmph.  Some "ultimate weapon of destruction".

(She vanishes.  Moments later...)

Adam (in a lot of pain): Ugh...

(Adam pushes himself to a half-sitting position and slumps against his sword.)

Adam (as above): Dammit, there's got to be an easier way to throw a fight...she's gonna be mad at me now, too... (looks very annoyed) Why do I always get the hard jobs?

---

(A dimension very close to the Roaches' original homeworld.  The roaches are tending to the wounded and erecting temporary shelters.)

Roach Leader (helping with the raising of a particularly large tent): Heave, ho! You can do it, men! Together!

Chatty (appearing over the tent, sarcastically): How touching.

(The nightmare repeats itself.)

[End Flashback.]

---

Gah...sorry about the misunderstanding, but I hadn't meant to change history THAT much.  I was just securing some witnesses who'd testify in my favor later on. ;)

*This post written while listening to Queen's "Who Wants To Live Forever."*

~/o There's no time for us
There's no place for us
What is this thing that fills our dreams,
Yet slips away from us?
Who wants to live forever?
Who wants to live forever? o\~

*In the grim reality known as Alternate #A00FF, the inhabitants are locked in a seemingly endless battle with the forces of Hell, who are under orders from Chatty--or, rather, Miyu--to slay the final Insert, VoidStar.*

Rei: Hugh-chan, careful! *Blasts a demon back from Hugh with her AT Field*

Thanks....! *Finishes it off with a dark blast*

*In Uptown EGC, Hugh and Rei are engaged in repelling one such assault.  Their Evas destroyed long ago, the two rely on the powers granted to them by blood to fight back against Hell's invasion.  A ragtag group of cameos supports them, the few survivors: Dominia, Seraphita, Emeralda, Kaworu, Bart, Alberto, and Kenji.  The rest of the Shito Sentai--as well as most of the Xenogears and Giant Robo cameos--are long dead.*

Dominia: I think we're beating them back! *Slashes through a pair of demons*

Finally....*Blasts down another one*

*Dominia's optimistic appraisal, however, came a second too soon.  An orb of green flame streaks down out of the sky and explodes under her feet, burning the Elemental beyond all recognition.*

Seraphita: *Horrified* D-Dominia-sama....!! *Looks to the sky*

*And there hovers Chatty, surrounded as always by the burning aura of emerald energy that is Miyu's trademark.*

Chatty: Looking for someone, my dear little seraph?

Seraphita: Y-You....*Tears well up in her eyes* You're the one who....took Tolo-neechan from me....

Chatty: *Smiles mockingly, putting a hand to her heart* Oh, you poor thing.  You miss her? Then join her.  *Chatty points at Seraphita, and the fire elemental is utterly consumed in a pillar of magic*

CHATTY!!

Chatty: Hmmm? It's not your turn yet, boy.

*Chatty points at Bart, and the Prince of Aveh seizes up, wracked by agony from within--and as his mouth opens in a silent scream, green energy bursts forth, revealing that Chatty has attacked him from the inside....after a moment more, he simply explodes.  She turns to Emeralda next, hurling a crescent blade of mystic force that cleaves her nanomachine body in two; the halves are burned to useless ash before they can reform.  Finally, a circular portal opens beneath Alberto and Kenji, hurling the Espers into the bowels of EGC Hell.*

Chatty: *Chuckles* Tanoshii da.  Now, who next....?

Kaworu: You....MURDERER!!

*To the horror of Rei and Hugh, Kaworu takes to the air, charging Chatty head-on with his AT Field spread, an expression that is beyond fury on his face*

Kaworu: *Slams into a protective barrier a few inches away from Chatty, the shimmering orange of his AT Field warring with the blazing green of Miyu's power* DAMN YOU! My sister....Lyn....Asuka....Tenkei....and Shinji-kun....! GIVE THEM BACK!!!

Chatty: (Bored) Foolish little boy.  *Snaps her fingers and Kaworu's AT Field shatters, sending the Angel reeling back* You are nothing before me!

*Sweeping her arms out, Chatty fires a beam of molten green light from her chest as tall as she is, which washes over Kaworu and leaves nothing behind.*

Rei: *Choked voice* Kaworu....

Chatty: Well, then....we meet again, demon.

*Scowls* Spare me.  We're going to fight again, aren't we?

Chatty: Hmmm? ^_^ Oh, no, actually we're not.  Your honor really makes you far too stupid for your own good, you know.

*Rei suddenly freezes, her eyes widening in shock and fear.*

Rei: Hugh-chan....

Eh?

Rei: *Says nothing else, but looks up to the sky*

*Hugh peers up as well--just as a single, brilliant spot of light comes into visibility.*

Are wa....

Chatty: *Gleefully manic laugh* It's exactly what you think it is.  And, yes, before you ask, I know you both have the power to stop it.  *Raises her hand and fires a slim lance of emerald magic that stabs dead-center through VoidStar's chest* Ooops.  Not anymore.

*With that, Chatty and the remaining denizens of EGC Hell disappear.*

*Slumps to the ground, clutching at his wound*

Rei: *Screams* HUGH-CHAN!!! *Kneels by his side, slipping an arm under his shoulders to lift him a little* Hugh-chan! Say something! Onegai....Hugh-chan....

*Opens his eyes slowly, and draws a slow, rattling breath* Ugh....

Rei: *Smiles, tears slipping down her face* Thank God....

*Weakly shakes his head* Iie....'S'not worth anything.  We can't stop her....

Rei: *Gently clasps his hand, still smiling* I know....that's not what I meant.  Can you sit up?

I-I think so....*Wincing in pain at the effort, Hugh pulls himself out of Rei's arms and sits up, folding his wings to his back*

Rei: *Puts an arm around his shoulders* (Softly) It won't be long now....

Hai....I can feel it.  *Looks up into the sky* And it's starting to become more visible....*Hugh suddenly breaks into a fit of violent coughing as the internal damage caused by Chatty's strike makes its effects known.  When his hand comes away from his mouth, it is stained crimson.*

Rei: *Embraces him* Shhh....don't over-exert yourself, Hugh-chan....

Arigatou, Rei-chan....*Leans his head against her chest*

Rei: *Closes her eyes, smiling sadly* You're welcome.

*Weakest of laughs* I-It's happening again, Rei-chan....

Rei: I know....*Sniffles* Hugh-chan, I'm sorry....I'm so sorry....

Don't be....I think I'm kinda used to it by now....

Rei: Yes, but....Hugh-chan, I-I'm....

I know.  He shall have his chance....but not today.

Rei: Ne....next time....do you think we'll be able to see them again? Aoi, Kaworu, Tenkei, Lyn, Shinji, Asuka....will they be there?

*Lifts his head and gazes into Rei's eyes* I hope they are....I want them to see our son.

Rei: Hai....but still, this has been the best of the places we've gone to....I don't know if I can leave it behind....

*Voice weakening* Th-that's....the way....*Slumps back limply, but Rei catches him just in time, cradling him in her arms* The way it is....

Rei: Hugh-chan....? What's wrong?!

S-She....Chatty....hurt me worse than I thought....*Raises his hand from his wound, where fresh blood continues to spread across the dark skin of his demon form*

Rei: !!! Hugh-chan!

Aishiteru yo, Rei-chan....

Rei: *Bends down, kissing him gently on the lips* Mou aishiteru yo, Hugh-chan....

*The instant those words pass Rei's lips, Hugh's body goes slack, his eyes slipping shut, the bleeding of his wound slowing gradually as his heartbeat slackens off....*

*....And in a moment's time, his breathing halts entirely.  Hugh Davis, the last insert, is dead.*

Rei: *Clutches his lifeless form to herself, sobbing* Why....why....?

Hugh's Voice: Because, Rei-chan....it has always been this way for us.  We had a chance to end it here, but we failed....

Rei: *Sobs abate slowly* H-Hai....

Hugh's Voice: It's time to move on, Rei-chan.  I'll see you next time.

By now, the proximity of the incoming strike has increased to the point where its glow rivals that of the sun.  As it approaches ever closer, Rei lifts her eyes to stare directly into its blinding luminescence--and a strangely jubilant smile touches her lips.*

Rei: *Thinking* See you next time, Hugh-chan.

*She is still smiling when it lands, as the eye-searing flash engulfs all of EGC in divine fire.*

~/o There's no chance for us
It's all decided for us
This world has only one sweet moment
Set aside for us....
Who wants to live forever?
Who wants to live forever? o\~

End Communi--

Lain: *Watching from several miles above EGC* *Sighs irritably* "Oh, what fools these mortals be." *Vanishes*

Umph.  *Jelynne falls to her knees breathing hard*

Anya: Jelynne? Are you okay? What's going on?

*Jelynne shakes her head, and sits back on her heels* Something wierd, that's what.  Someone has been doing something to the continuity.

Anya: I really hate it when you get all myterious like this! Tell me what's going on!

Hold on, I need to check something.  *Jelynne stands up, and opens a door that isn't there, revealing a neat little room.  There is a row of shelves along one wall, with round stone-like objects placed on them.*

Anya: What... is this place?

Every non-cameo who comes here puts a seal of sort on their powers when they enter.  These are the metaphorical representations of those seals.

Anya: So?

Look.  *she points.  There are shards of the seal-stone all over the floor* See? The seals have been shattering.

Anya: That's not good, is it?

No it is not good. *Jelynne goes over to the shelves.* See the empty spaces? Dot, and Sikaran, for the moment.  *she frowns at the one labeled 'Chatty'* Don't even ask me what this one's doing.  And mine...

Anya: There's a giant crack right down the middle! *even as she watches, a flake of the 'stone' peels off the seal and falls to the floor*

Authors can't go running around here at full power.  It would most likely pull the dimension apart at the seams.

Anya: o.O That is definately not good!

The problem is, I have no idea how to stop it from happening. *another flake peels away from Jelynne's seal*

Yes, more flashbacks, because I've been too obtuse about everything.  Now it's time to hit people over the head what I'm doing. :)

---

[Flashback.]

(The Subspace known as Venus, which at this point is not quite yet the new home for EGC City.  All the files are there, ready to run, except for one small problem...)

Chatty: NOT NOT NOT!

TOO TOO TOO!

(There's nobody at the controls.)

SOUND FX: Massive explosions.

(In retrospect, it's probably better that things haven't started up yet, because if these explosions were really occurring in the City proper, there wouldn't be much of anything left.)

Chatty: EAT THIS!

SOUND FX: Nuclear warhead going off.

HAH! You missed!

SOUND FX: Lightsabers clashing.

(To call what's going a battle would be hardly to it justice.  And it's not really in the physical sense anyway--much of it is in the mind and the spirit--but an observer would see something like this...)

Chatty (wiping cut on cheek, sarcastically): Ooh, you hurt me! I'm *so* scared!

(Chatty Arisu.  An androgenous-looking person with short brown hair.  Weapons of preference: Progressive Knife, AT field, EVA Unit A.  Currently weidling a chimneysweep's roundish shaped brush.)

*taking the classic defensive pose* You're gonna get a lot more hurt than that by the time I'm done with you.

(Dot Warner.  Looks almost exactly like the Animaniacs character, except she's fully clothed and wears a pair of glasses--miraculously still intact--on her nose.  Weapons of preference: Anvil, Mallet, Okonomiyaki Spatula.  Currently weilding an enormous inflatable alligator.)

SOUND FX: Batman-esque fighting sounds with the occasional "oof", "ow", and "eep".

(Imagine two kids fighting.  Now imagine that these two kids have the power to start another Impact with each blow they give.  That's still not quite at the level of what's going on here, but it's pretty close.)

SOUND FX: Explosions, things falling, glass breaking, and the occasional bike horn tooting.

Chatty (really ticked off now): Okay, that does it!

MASTER OVERRIDE KEY ACTIVATION SEQUENCE INITIATED
PASSWORD: NEWTON'S THIRD LAW

*same* Two can play at that game!

MASTER OVERRIDE KEY ACTIVATION SEQUENCE INITIATED
PASSWORD: ERAU QSSI DRLO WEHT

(It's beyond the comprehension of the human brain exactly what happens happens next, but the very space of "reality" upon which the two Authoresses are battling becomes warped and puckered, including the laws which governs this space.  Even the framework of Venus itself is shaken to its very foundations.  This probably would have gone on ad infinitum if not for the two new figures who appear.)

Lain: CHATTY! DOT!

(Lain.  Looks like a teenaged Japanese girl with short hair, wearing a T-shirt that as the words "STATUS QUO" on the back.  Weapon of choice: the Wired.  Currently unarmed.)

Adam: STOP THIS NONESENSE RIGHT NOW!

(Adam.  Man of indeterminant age, although he's definitely at least 25, wearing all black leather.  Weapon of choice: the Sword of Sorrows, otherwise known as the Shadow of the Key.  Currently wearing the sword in a sheath on his back in a fashion almost reminiscent of the horizontal beam of the cross.)

Chatty (sotto): Uh-oh.

*sotto* UH-oh.

(Chatty and Dot freeze like deer caught in headlights.  All too soon, though, they recover.)

Chatty (pointing to Dot): She started it!

*pointing to Chatty, overlapping* SHE/HE started it!

Lain (coldly): You're BOTH wrong.

Adam (coldly): Look at yourselves.  You're acting like stubborn, spoiled brats.  (beat) Both of you.

Chatty: But she wants to--

*overlapping* But she/he wants to--

Lain (coldly): QUIET! (silence) Don't you think we don't know what's going on?

Adam (coldly): You two could have woken the dead with your fighting.

Chatty (looking down): I was just trying to--

*petulantly, overlapping* I was just trying to--

(This time, Lain merely holds up her hand, and once again silence reigns.)

Lain: Dot, Chatty is right.  You can't erase evil from EGC City because then you take away free will.

Adam (continuing, not letting Chatty gloat): Chatty, Dot is right.  Everybody's tired of having to deal with the consequences evil brings, and deserves a break.

Lain: The two of you are seeing two sides of the same coin.

Adam: Neither side can stand on its own without the other.

Lain: Which is why I propose a compromise.

Adam: A combination of Dot's Law and Chatty's Corollary.

Lain: If you two have an OUNCE of maturity in you, you'll accept this and go on.

Adam: We're not saying you can't agree, just not so violently.

(Silence.)

Chatty (reluctantly): I accept.

*reluctantly* I accept.

(The two Authoresses deactivate their Master Override Keys, but it takes another full five minutes for Venus to stabize itself.)

Lain: Much better.  (to Venus) Venus, run egc.exe, continuous play.

Verbal order acknowledged.  Processing...

EGC City Version 2.01
This program is freeware and may be distributed without charge

(And, of course, the rest is history.  But the flashback isn't quite over yet...)

---

(Dot's Concept Space.  Dot is sulking in the corner playing with a prism.)

*incoherente muttering*

Adam (appearing over her, sarcastically): Done feeling sorry for yourself yet?

*crossly* Shut up.  I'm still mad at you for interfering.

Adam (sarcastically): Better than you being mad at me for NOT interfering.  (beat) You were wrong, you know.

*angrily* I WAS NOT! *takes a breath, crossly* What's so wrong with wanting a world without evil?

Adam (sarcastically): Hello? Didn't you learn anything from your epidemics class?

*crossly* What do diseases have anything to do with the EGC?

Adam (as if speaking to a small child): Plenty.  What you were proposing is equivalent to saying that you should get rid of a person's immune system and internal bacteria because they make him sick.

*switching into bookish mode* But most symptoms mean that your body is working properly, and without those microscopic organisms you'd be overrun by...

(Dot's eyes widen as the analogy dawns on her.)

*sheepish* Oh.

Adam (sarcastically): You're idea works GREAT if everyone were as naive as you are.  The problem is--

*sadly, finishing for Adam* Very few people are.

Adam (sarcastically): Bingo.

(Dot sighs, then goes back to playing with her prism.)

Adam (getting a bit annoyed): After all that, you're still going to sit here and sulk?

*petulantly* I can still disagree, can't I? It's my form of protest.

Adam (throws his arms up): Fine, do what you want.  I'm outta here.

(He vanishes, leaving Dot to play with the prism.)

*softly, to herself* o/ Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo and Violet... o/ *cocks her head* Oh, wait...that secondary color for light should be Cyan, shouldn't it... *shrugs* Ah, well...

Time passed...
some people changed...
some remained the same...
the past was forgotten, or at least locked away in some closet somewhere.

And when we don't learn from our mistakes, we are bound to repeat them.

[End Flashback]

---

Confused yet? ;p

Waaaaaaaah... ;_; What a sad (but brilliantly-written) scene, Voidstar-san! <sniff-sniff>

*Arigatou, Atsuko-san.  ;.; I really wanted to do something with the alternate continuity....but just so everyone knows, that's _all_ it was, a little "side-story" based on what would've happened if the Roach Wars hadn't taken place.  o.o;;; In the "real" EGC Continuity, Hugh and Rei are not dead.  Technically, that whole post was a flashback, since it took place before Kyuusaisha was born.  o.O*

End communication.