[b]Sorry for the long wait. Here's the next chapter.[/b]

[center][b]Chapter 28: Triad Origin[/b][/center]

“Are you saying that Joey, Matt and Andy are behind this, Boss?” Nono asked.

Boss nodded. “Yeah, it looks like they haven’t forgotten what happened four years ago.”

Montblanc frowned. “You’re talking about the massacre. They kept rambling about how there was more to the massacre and you knew and didn’t do anything about it.”

“That’s because there was more to the massacre than we thought but I didn’t learn about it until it was too late.” Boss explained.

“What do you mean, Boss?” Nono asked. Boss leaned closer and whispered. “What I’m about to say can never leave this room, understood?”

Both moogles nodded and Boss continued. “Good. It all began that day.”

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[center][i]Four years earlier[/i][/center]

A younger Troix entered the room and was greeted by a younger Tres and Trio. He also saw Boss, Nono and Montblanc. “Hey, Leader. Sorry I’m late.”

“Where were you, Andy? Matt and me were worried you wouldn’t come.” Trio said as Matt grinned and replied. “Joey was having a heart attack worrying about you.”

“Hey!” Joey retorted and everyone laughed.

“Enough joking around, guys. We have an important mission.” Boss said after the moment of mirth passed. “Telary and his Dark Empire are launching an attack on the Great Maw in Radiant Garden.”

“Cain Co. isn’t getting involved?” Joey asked and Boss nodded. “Strange, I know but yes and neither is Sorin. Mjrn and the others will keep an eye on them while the six of us go there. Prepare your gear accordingly and meet back here in three hours.”

Andy saluted and was followed by Joey and Matt. “We won’t let you down, Leader.”

“I still say Boss sounds better.” Matt muttered and Joey rolled his eyes. “Please, Commander sounds better.”

“Can you guys have this discussion later?” Boss asked. The three siblings grinned sheepishly and left.

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Boss cursed as he dodged fire from a Jackal and shot at him with his Carbine rifle. “It was all a trap.” He then heard a yell and saw a Drone had just been shot by Nono and saw Montblanc use Firaga on a Dark Splicer. “Where are Joey, Andy and Matt?”

“We haven’t seen them around anywhere, Boss.” Nono replied.

Montblanc nodded. “We should search for them, Stat.”

“Nono, look for Andy. Montblanc, you got Matt. I’m getting Joey.” Boss ordered and the three left.

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Andy was clutching his chest, bleeding from a huge cut as Sorin walked slowly over to him. “You won’t win this.”

Sorin chuckled as he got closer. “I’m not the one who’s on the ground about to die.  You’ve fought valiantly but this is the end.” He was then shot at the shoulder and jumped back, dodging more shots.

Nono flew down, standing in between Andy and Sorin then threw a plasma grenade at him as he helped Andy get away. Sorin quickly left through a Dark Corridor as the grenade detonated.

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Matt just kept running away, stopping every few feet and shot back at Ron with his rifle who chuckled and shot back with his Magnum and Matt resumed running. “I thought you weren’t getting involved.”

“Can’t believe everything you hear.” Ron shrugged then sent a swarm of insects after Matt then fired a few shots. Just then, the insects were burnt by flames that appeared and Ron was shocked by lightning.

Montblanc flew down then used Blizzaga on Ron and quickly left with Matt. Ron growled then he warped away.

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Joey charged with his sword at Telary who effortlessly dodged the attack and kicked him away, falling to the ground. “I’ll stop you even if it cost me my life.”

“Too bad your life means nothing to me.” Telary said as Joey charged at him and he blocked the slash with his Moon sword and stabbed him in the chest with the Star sword. Joey slipped out of the blade and clutched his wound. Telary walked over to Joey, ready to kill him but he then saw a plasma grenade close to his foot and it detonated.

Boss appeared besides Joey then warped away with him. Telary shrugged as he saw Hawk and Flora nearby and left.

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“How could you have hid this from us?” Joey said, outraged. Matt and Andy were glancing at Joey as Boss just stood there. “You knew there was more to that attack and you kept it from us. We trusted you.”

“You don’t understand, Joey.” Boss was then interrupted by a furious Joey. “Oh, I understand perfectly. I understand if you would’ve been honest with us about the mission then me and my brother wouldn’t have been close to death and all those Interferences would’ve still been alive.”

“You’re stepping out of line, Joey.” Boss warned.

“I’ve had enough of you, Commander.” Joey spat then he left the room furiously, followed by his two brothers.

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“Since then, we haven’t seen neither hair nor hide of them.” Boss explained as Nono and Montblanc looked at Boss.

“But that still doesn’t explain how there was more to the attack.” Nono commented.

“Ron planned the attack. He knew Telary wouldn’t resist trying to finish off the Resistance and that the Resistance would try to ambush Telary there. He also knew Sorin couldn’t resist killing all those Interference. He used the attack to kill two birds with one stone except there were three.” Boss explained.

“But what do you think those three are planning?” Montblanc asked.

Boss shook his head. “I don’t know, Montblanc. I don’t know.”

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“Are you all right, big brother?” Tres asked as Trio was shook out of his thoughts. “Sorry, I was just remembering Joey.”

“I thought we abandoned those names.” Troix said.

Trio nodded. “We have. But enough of that. Our time will soon come. We will soon return to the past and rewrite history by erasing those three.”

Tres nodded. “The flies will be gathering in Radiant Garden. It will be there where Dark Sun will shine and we will gather enough energy to completely power the Chronos Pathway.”

“And we’ll use the One Winged Angel to generate that energy.” Troix finished.

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Ron frowned as his ship flew to Radiant Garden then he saw something black floating over the Great Maw. “General, change the ship’s trajectory to where that is.”

Alvior saluted and the ship changed direction.

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Telary’s ship however was already going in that direction. “What are the energy readings, Ridley?”

“They’re off the scales, master.” Ridley replied.

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Sorin walked out of a Dark Corridor to a cliff overlooking the Great maw then looked up and saw the Dark Sun. “So that’s what’s generating so much energy.”

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Hawk looked worried as he stared at the Dark Sun. "It feels like an omen. Mght as well gather everyone and go there. Never thought I'd have to return to the Great Maw."

[b]I hope you guys enjoy this chapter. We're getting close to the showdowns between the Dark Triad and the other characters.[/b]