...Kain, hired by a merchant to protect his caravan managed to fight off a group of thieves who were attempting to
raid the wagon train. During the following pursuit of a surviving thug, Kain was caught up in a rock-slide. Broken
and bloody, Kain and his adversary lay prone at the bottom of a ravine...

Dragoon Kain
Part 2


The thief slowly got up, he wounds healing fast. As his body healed itself, it began to transform into the form of a half cat, half
man. The ManCat reached down and pulled the lance from his side. He could sense the power emanating from the
weapon."At least it wasn't silver." the lycanthrope scoffed. "Thanks for the weapon, human." He said, kicking the prone Kain
in the ribs. Kain made no reaction. "Probably already dead. The master may have use for you though." the ManCat grinned as
he hoisted the limp body on his shoulder. Silently, the creature loped into the night.


Kain woke to find himself chained to a cold stone wall. Scattered around the cell were the bones of countless other prisoners.
In the far corner, hidden in the shadows, something moved. "Welcome, Kain." the shadow spoke, his voice almost inhuman.

"Wh-who said that...?" Kain whispered hoarsely.

"You don't remember me, do you?" the shadow moved into the light. Standing before Kain was the fiend of fire; Rubicant. He
seemed much weaker, now... mortal. "I, of course, remember you." he spoke with an acid tone. "You betrayed our master and
helped to cause his downfall. And in doing so, we all lost our power!" Rubicant's eyes glowed with that last word. Rubicant sat
down again, his rage spent. Silently he mused for several moments. "We are in the same position, now.
Prisoners...powerless..." Rubicant looked at his red hand. "...so cold" he whispered. "I need you to help me escape. I need fire
to survive..."

"Why should I? What's in for me?" Kain growled.

Rubicant sent his fist crashing into the wall next to Kain's head, splintering the rock. Kain could feel the heat from the fiend's
skin. "Your bargaining posture is highly dubious...but very well. Once I am returned to the volcano and regain my power, I will
grant you unmatched strength and magic. You will become the ultimate warrior...something you have always wanted."

"How do I know you will keep your word?" Kain asked, his eyes squinted into slits.

"The way I see it, you simply have no other alternative. You can hang there and die, or you can help me escape." Rubicant
pressed his face close to Kain's. "What will it be?"

"Agreed." Kain sighed. "Where the hell are we anyway? Who chained me here?"

"A new fiend calling himself Lord Garland has been amassing an army here. It seems that he was sucked into a portal and
dropped into this world. He brought several of his minions with him." Rubicant explained as he broke the chains. "He has been
seeking a way back to his own world, because his powers are weaker here."

"That's great, that's nice but how do I fit in?" Kain snapped.

"It seems that the caravan you were guarding was secretly carrying some sort of Orb which could help him in his efforts."
Rubicant retorted.

"You seem to know quite a bit. How do you know that I was guarding a caravan?" Kain asked suspiciously.

Rubicant chuckled. "Not all of my powers were stripped when Zeromus died. I am aware of a great many things. Past and
present."

Kain still didn't trust his old enemy, but he didn't any alternatives. "So how am I supposed to help?"


The guard unlocked the door and stepped in. "Here's your dinner. Have fun sharing it with the rats!" the big man laughed as he
tossed the plates to the floor. "Watch it Flame-boy. I still have this Ice-wand. You remember what happened last time?"
Rubicant fumed slightly, remembering the freezing blast he received the last time he tried to escape.

"Hey baldie. C'mere." Kain grinned. With the prisoner stilled chained, the guard didn't see why not.

"What do YOU want?" the guard growled, grabbing Kain by the neck.

"Surprise!" Kain shouted, clapping his hands together, striking the guard on either sides of his head. The guard stumbled back,
holding his temples. Kain's hand bolted down and grabbed the wand from the guard's belt.

"Shoot him! Kill him!!" Rubicant growled.

Kain gave an wicked grin. "With pleasure. Suck on this, baldie!" An arc of blue energy shot forth from the wand blasting the
guard straight in the face. The poor man reached up and felt the frozen mass that was once his face. Before the guard could
react, Kain kicked out, shattering the frozen-solid visage of the big man. The faceless thing dropped to the floor, writhing in
agony.

"Let me finish this." Rubicant said, taking the wand from Kain. He pointed it at what was left of the man's head, freezing it
solid. He then brought his foot crashing down, shattering the remains of the man's skull. "I still like your style, Kain." Rubicant
grinned.

The two escapees looked out of the cell and into the hall. "Nothing." Kain stated. "This is almost too easy..."