Chapter 10
Jake sat there for hours with a goofy set of devices glued to his body. 
"Okay, Mac, what the heck are you doing with all of this stuff? I would like 
to transform back into my normal form. I'm not sure how long I can maintain 
Chosen One form before my body gives out. It's been a day already, when I 
was like this for just three days I couldn't move for weeks." Mac sat beside 
a computer bank and studied readout after readout. "Mac? Are you there," 
Jake asked as he got up and tapped Mac on the shoulder a few times, "Tell 
me, what are you doing?" Mac acted as if he had been hit. "Oh, sorry Jake, I 
was lost in thought. What were you saying?" Jake rolled his eyes, "I asked 
what are you doing? I'm about to give out. I don't know how long I sustain 
this form!" Mac stared up at him, "Oh, okay. I have what I need, change back 
if it'll make you feel better. But, one last thing, power up would you?" 
Jake looked at Mac like he was crazy, "What is 'flower up?" Mac shook his 
head, "'Power up', increase your inherent power." Jake shrugged and did so, 
causing the entire base to shake.
Frag was lying in bed as he felt the shaking of his base. "Humph," He 
thought to himself, "Mac never runs tests on me when I unlock the Ultimate 
Force, what's this kid got that I ain't got?" Frag sat up in his bed, and 
let his hair fall around him, "I know exactly what it is. That kid's better 
than I am. It's always the case, I'm never as good as I want to be. Here I 
am, the great Fragraham Lincon, Prince Fudo of the largest Empire in my 
reality. But that means nothing here. The only thing that matters here is 
money and power. And right now I'm in debt of both of them." Frag lay back 
on his bed and turned up the music in his room, shutting out the universe he 
so hated.
In Nexus Central Command, all was not well with the Supreme Guardians. 
After Jake's rescue from the prisons of NCC, Guardians Michaels fell ill 
from his worry over the boy. He knew that the vengeful Council would suspect 
him immediately for Gabriel's escape. His illness progressed to fast to be 
stopped, and Michaels was soon on his deathbed. Later it would be speculated 
as to how he died, either from the illness, the grief, had he given up, or 
was it more sinister. The answers would never be known, but there was now an 
empty seat in the Supreme Guardian Council, and it needed to be filled.
"Welcome Guardian Fireclaw, do you know why you are here?" Sean Fireclaw 
stood at attention, grinning stupidly, on the inside anyway. This was his 
big chance. He knew he would show those two upstarts Aruva and Gabriels. 
Sean knew it was he that should have been named Guardian. His musings were 
interrupted by the Supreme Guardian Council member who was speaking, "You 
are here to be given one final test before being named a Supreme Guardian, 
but before we get to that, let us commend you for your excellent work in the 
Academy. Ranked third in your class is very good when you have two 
over-achievers like the now-gone Aruva and missing Gabriels. Your knowledge 
of the base computers, as well as a few hacking incidents you didn't think 
we would notice, have proven your skill and willingness to get the job done. 
Now, for your assignment, give me your computer." Sean did as told, handing 
over the watch-shaped computer, "I am now downloading the necessary dossiers 
into your databanks. You are also being given the last known locations of 
three of the most wanted criminals in the Vortex. They were last seen 
together, they are Fragraham Lincon, JT MacLeod, and Jacob Gabriels.
Back in Fragraham's base, Jake was staring at the ceiling, letting his 
thoughts wonder. "I know they have sent someone for me, I just know they 
have. I am to big a liability alive and free, but too tasty a treat to be 
dead. The Supreme Guardians won't come themselves, they are to scarred of my 
power. So it must be a newly named Guardian, probably suckered into this job 
by a promise of Supreme Guardianship. I just wish I could do something..." 
He stood up quickly and opened up the weapon's cache on his wall. Mac and 
Frag rushed in, since they were alerted to the weapons being accessed. "What 
are you doing?" Jake turned, he was wearing his Chosen One armor and it was 
covered with guns in every available spot he could fit them. His sword 
extended well past his frame as it hung at an angle from his back. "Easy," 
He said as he ratcheted a round into GUN's chamber, "I'm sick of letting the 
Supreme Guardians get first move, we're taking the initiative here." Frag 
smiled seeing the boy armed to teeth, ready for whatever combat was ahead. 
Mac looked puzzled, "What do you mean 'We're taking the initiative?" Jake 
bent his gun-arm at his elbow, pointing at the ceiling. "It's quite simple," 
he said through a wicked grin, "We're retaking Nexus Central Command."

TO BE CONTINUED