Chapter Twenty-Four: A Clockwork Rat

Part I: Out of the Woodwork

Gatoris looked at his assembled family. He felt blessed to have this many angels in his family. He then watched as Jessica came in the room, her wings revealed. Gatoris figured that Queen Comet told her when she was younger, so he didn’t bother to ask how she knew. Even with all of his angels gathered, he felt that someone was missing, besides Goku. As he raked his mind to figure out who it was, Akane felt something come over her. "We’re missing one…" she muttered. Gatoris nodded. He then thought harder. It finally came to him. "Cory…" he muttered. Everyone looked at him. "My older sister from that life. We’re missing her." He sighed. To Garret, the puzzle was nearly complete. His family was almost fully reunited.

Meanwhile in Tokyo, no one noticed as a woman slipped away form a building. No one paid attention to the trail of blood leaving the building, either. There was a monster running loose in the city, killing defenseless people. No one cared about one woman roaming the streets. She was not a threat to them…

Gatoris sat in a chair next to Aerith and Angelise. After many hours of debating with the hospital staff, he was allowed to stay with them through the night. He refused to leave his angels’ side. At about midnight, he finally nodded off. And of course, he had a vision.

Garret was sitting under a tree in a peaceful rural setting. Judging by the way his back felt, he knew who would be in his vision. Garret stood up and walked to a nearby house. Before he went to knock on the door, he noticed it was already ajar. Garret entered the house, and felt a chill go up his spine. For the first time in over 2100 years, Garret Bradford was home. He then immediately ran to the living room. "Welcome home, Garret!" Catherine said in jubilation. Garret did not share his mother’s enthusiasm. "...I shouldn’t be the first one back home..." he sighed. "It’s okay son. We know Akane is okay." Noah replied. "I know, but what about Cory?" Garret moaned. "She had been with us until twenty or so years ago..." Catherine began. Garret began to smile. "She’s alive again? I need to find her!" Noah looked down. "It’s not that easy. Edwin took her soul away from us..." Garret began to fill with rage. "Cory Kathleen Bradford... I swear on my soul that I will reunite you with your family, one way or another..." he vowed. His father looked at him. "Garret, please don’t... this time it’s hopeless. Edwin controls her soul. She wouldn’t remember you. Plus, you have your own angel to take care of, remember?" "...all the more reason for me to dispose of Edwin." Garret replied to his father. "I’ll show him not to mess with the Bradford family. I will show him that love overcomes all obstacles, including time and space." Garret’s eyes begin to glimmer in a different light. If he didn’t either calm down soon or kill Edwin, he would go Psycho Angel again. Garret then hugged his mother. "I bet that all the other angels are jealous of your beauty, mother." he remarked. Catherine blushed. "I’m nothing compared to your daughters, Garret..." The two kept hugging. "Please, Garret. Don’t go after Edwin. I’m afraid that he may sacrifice Cory so he can haunt us again." she sighed. Garret looked into his mother’s eyes. "I will get Cory back. I promise her blood will not be shed. I protected Akane to my fullest, and I will save Cory." he said with purpose. Catherine’s brown eyes sparkled as she smiled. She knew she could not talk her son out of this. He was stubborn, like his father. She then kissed him on the cheek. "Good luck, son." she whispered to him. He then looked at his father, who was holding a sword. "This is the family’s sword. I want you to use it to defeat Edwin." Noah said. Garret looked it over: it was his Masamune! "We will always be watching you, Garret..." Catherine echoed as they disappeared.

Gatoris woke up and looked at his angels. Angelise was still asleep in her mother’s arms. Aerith smiled at Gatoris. "I see they let you stay..." she pointed out. "I prefer to protect my family." Gatoris smiled. Aerith kept smiling, then looked at Angelise. "I hope she has the same devotion to her family." she said. Gatoris then thought back to his dream. Aerith knew by the look on his face what was going to happen next. "You’re going to find Cory, aren’t you?" she asked worriedly. Gatoris sighed. "My spirit will be with you, though." he muttered. He then held his fist near his heart and recited a spell. When he opened it, there was a green crystal in Gatoris’ hand. "This will protect you, even when I am not around..." he said as he handed it to Aerith. She looked at it, then looked at her husband. "I shall return, with my sister." he uttered as he left.

As he left the room, Akane and Jessica were waiting. "I just received a call from Minako, brother." Akane spoke. "Apparently, there is someone or something on a killing spree in Tokyo. Me and Jessica need to check on it." Gatoris closed his eyes for a moment. He could picture what was happening. Then, one face popped in his mind. "Edwin’s part of this..." he muttered. "He has Cory’s soul. I must get it back." "...maybe that’s why one of the Negaverse’s generals demanded to speak with you..." Jessica muttered. So, he’s a general... Gatoris thought. "...I’ll meet you two there. I have to get my sword." Gatoris spoke. The two Senshi left for Usagi’s dimension while Gatoris returned to his castle.

Gatoris grabbed the Masamune from his mantle and sheathed it. He also changed his clothes. When he was done, he was wearing another pair of pants and his Deadwood High School jacket. He then made a quick stop in the garden. Aerith’s hunch had been right. The rose had bloomed. But instead of being aquamarine colored, it was now blue. There was a connection. Gatoris had little time to ponder this, however. He knew he had to save his sister from this sadistic bastard.

Part II: Welcome to the Machine

Gatoris arrived in Usagi’s dimension, ready to kill Edwin. The Senshi were waiting for Gatoris to show up. Except for Usagi, Akane and Jessica, this was the first time for them to meet Gatoris. "So this is your brother, Hikari..." Minako said. Ami and Rei said nothing. (They were drooling over his looks. Gatoris let that slide.) Then, Makoto began to speak. "He looks a lot like..." Gatoris gave her a death glare. "You say it, and I’ll give you a haircut, Mako-chan." he grumbled. She sweatdropped and shut up. After a moment of nail-biting silence, Gatoris spoke. "Where’s this general that wanted to kill me?"

As if on cue, the man Gatoris was referring to showed up. "That’s a nice greeting, Gatoris. Do you use it for all your friends?" the general said sarcastically. Gatoris looked him over. "Only to those who have killed me before, Edwin." Gatoris had been right. "I have no clue what you mean, Gatoris. I, the great General Edwinite, wanted you to meet my wife." Gatoris’ face became full of rage. "First, you enslaved my sister’s spirit. Second, You know damn good and well that you killed me. I still bear the scars!" Gatoris yelled as he took off his jacket. He showed the scar over his heart where he had been stabbed. His wings were also present. Edwin showed no fear. "The master did tell me that you were around, Garret... I just didn’t realize you had grown so much weaker." Gatoris was furious. "Let me guess... the great Negaforce is none other than..." he began before a cretin yellow cretin showed his ugly head. "...of course it’s you. It HAD to be you, Pikachu." Gatoris mumbled. "How’d you get out?" he suddenly became puzzled. "Simple. My love saved me." Pikachu uttered. She then came into view.

Of course Jigglypuff had to be a two-timing whorehound, Gatoris thought. As Pikachu and Jigglypuff kissed, and morphed into humanoid forms. Pikachu again looked like Gatoris’ evil twin, and Jigglypuff turned into a woman resembling Angelise. She was dressed similar to Rini during her Wicked Lady days. "Like what you see, father?" she said, chuckling. "This is a lie! My angel would never even go near you!" Gatoris screamed. He then cried. He could not begin to believe his daughter would marry Pikachu... "Stop! He’s lying, uncle!" Celece came from nowhere. "That is not your angel! It’s just another of his illusions. He wants you to give up, so he is fooling you with this crap!" she screamed. "Search in your heart for the truth, father." Jessica said. Gatoris had already done that. "Give me back Cory!" Gatoris yelled again.

Again, as if on cue, Cory showed up. With black hair and blood red eyes, Cory was almost unrecognizable to Gatoris. He then looked at her hands. Cory had been the person doing the killing. "I’m a sporting devil, Gatoris..." Pikachu spoke. "If you can defeat Edwin, I’ll give her back. If you lose, I take your soul as well. Do we have a deal?" Akane and Jessica fainted when Gatoris agreed to the consequences. "No one will own my soul, or those of my family..." Gatoris said before the fight began. "...and one more thing. No one can interfere." Pikachu added. Gatoris and Edwin squared off with their swords. They matched each other evenly for about five hours. Then Edwin got a lucky shot and aimed for Gatoris’ heart once again...

Aerith could sense her husband was in trouble. She closed her eyes and saw what was about to happen. Only a miracle could save him now...

...and a what a miracle it was. The sword broke as soon as it punctured Gatoris’ flesh. "Cheap piece of crap..." Edwin muttered. Instead of taking advantage, Gatoris let Edwin get another sword. Everyone present sweatdropped and slapped their forehead at that stupid mistake. Edwin and Gatoris kept going for another eight hours.

Aerith slapped her head when she sensed what her husband did. She then began to ponder if, like Garret, she retained her supernatural powers. She then closed her eyes and prayed...

Cory’s eyes began to lose their redness. She began to remember things. She then suddenly screamed out Garret’s name. This distracted Edwin for a moment. This time, Gatoris took advantage and ran Edwin through. Instead of dying like a normal person, he faded away, claiming he would return. "Too bad... you lose, Gatoris." Pikachu muttered. "I get to keep both of your souls now." "Not so fast. Cory’s soul is no longer yours anyway. The deal is voided, baka." Gatoris argued. "You want a piece of me?" Pikachu shot back. "Do you even have to ask?" Gatoris retorted mockingly. As he lunged at Pikachu, the evil one vanished. "Not this day, Garret... but when the day comes, no one can save you..." he echoed. The fake Angelise then turned into dust, in the tradition of Negaverse monsters. Gatoris then rushed over to Cory, who was clutching her head.

"Garret…" she moaned. Gatoris looked at his sister and hugged her. "It’s okay, Cory. It’s all gonna be fine." She looked up with her now-hazel eyes." No it isn’t… I have done things I regret… I deserve to die…" Gatoris looked at her. His eyes began to have a warm glow. "I promised our mother I would save you. I would never go back on my word." he spoke gently. Cory smiled a little. "I cannot be forgiven for those I have killed…" "That wasn’t the real you, sis. You wouldn’t have done that if you had control." Cory’s smile grew. "Thank you, Garret. You’re just as I remembered you." Gatoris smiled. "And you still look like mom…" he sighed.

Gatoris returned to the hospital and walked into Aerith’s room. She was smiling. "Thank you, Aerith." Gatoris said. She smiled wider. "You could tell, couldn’t you?" she asked. Cory then walked into the room. "Thanks for saving my soul, Aerith." She said, with her head down. "You should have saved those I killed…" Gatoris looked at his sister again. "Cory… It wasn’t your fault! Pikachu had control of you. You couldn’t help it!" He then hugged her again. "Cheer up. Your niece needs her happy aunt." Cory smiled. "Thank you, Garret. You always had a big heart." Gatoris smirked. "I got it from mom."