The blood dripped from John Decker’s fist as he stood up once again. Three swords were through his body, two in his back and one completely through his stomach. Blood began to pour out of the man’s mouth sticking to the gray stubble on his chin.

A moment later he was standing in a pool of his own blood. His wounds were deep beyond the three swords that were through him. Though his blood was quickly regenerating he could feel the coldness of death coming to him but still stood his ground.

It’s not over… he growled to himself as he stared at the three clones of himself smirking at his disposition struggling to stay conscious.

He tried to pull his leg up but found he didn’t have the strength too. The great Zarganther warrior known for his great strength and victorious battles now stood too weak to move.

No strength left… he cringed at himself as he spewed a bit of blood from his mouth.

“Well! He is quite durable. He’s still standing!” Genthos, wearing all red, laughed as he watched John’s fight for life.

“He doesn’t have much longer. Then the original will be gone forever.” laughed the man wearing all blue called Nephtus.

“Yes. And we’ll be free to do as we wish.” Jerdon, wearing white and leading the three, announced solemnly.

I can’t let them go free! he shouted at myself. Kai! Rachel! The other’s! I can’t let these guys go!

Using all the strength he had John raised his right arm and took hold of the sword that was through his stomach and slowly pulled it from him. The three clones of him stood in awe of their original, seeming not to expect this sort of will power from a man who hadn’t been tampered with.

Finally with one quick jerk the blade was out, but remained in John’s hand as he looked up into the sky with dark blue eyes.

How strange… To think of a song at a time like this… But… The sky… he thought to himself as he watched a cloud begin to dissipate as it drifted. The sky is truly over…

The tune came to him as a shock as he felt some strength return to him. He could hear it ever so well as though his son was singing the old song right beside him. It had been one of the few songs that he and his son had sang together after Raiden taught them the song.

Raiden had told them that this song was truly something unique from his world from a great band with vision. Though John could never remember the name of the band.

Everybody knows,
Everybody knows,
That you cradle the sun, sun
Living in remorse,
Sky is over,

With a leap of new found strength John charged at the three clones, his long silver, yellow, and red hair flowing behind him in the wind as he ran at them. This caught them by surprise, but before they could react he had reached them and had stuck the blade through Nephtus’ heart.

“Nephtus!” Jerdon exclaimed as Genthos and himself jumped away to find that he had struck his mark.

With a quick spin John tore the blade through Nephtus then brought the blade down slicing him in half. John had never been a swordsman in the past and had always fought with his fist over a weapon at any time, but he was willing to make an exception today.

“I’ll Kill you!” Genthos roared, transforming into the half fox half human Zarganther form.

“Wait!” Jerdon roared but it was already too late.

Don't you want to hold me baby,
Disappointed, going crazy,

I’m sorry Rachel… he thought to himself as Genthos’ fangs dug into John’s shoulder and began an attempt at ripping his arm off.

John quickly brought the tip of the blade up to Genthos’ head and stabbed upward through his throat and through his skull killing him instantly. Genthos’ fur disappeared and he reverted back to his human form as John pulled the blade from his own shoulder and ripped it out.

With one final swing he swung about again slicing Genthos from shoulder to shoulder before turning to where Jerdon once was.

There was a sudden agonizing pain from the last sword that was in his body as it was ripped out and the foot that collided with it.

John roared in pain before turning and facing Jerdon who now held the sword in his hand.

“You have done the unforgivable! Why won’t you just give up and die!?!” he roared taking a stance and also transforming as Genthos had before.

Even though we can't afford
The sky is over,
Even though we can't afford
The sky is over,
I don't want to see you go,
The sky is over
Even though we can't afford
The sky is over,

John smiled at his enemy having a quick flash of images through his head of his wife and son. “You should know… I have family and friends to protect…” he replied weakly as the swords in each of his hands hung limply in his hands but still remained in his grip.

“Well! If that’s the case I will take special care to kill your son and that wretched Zengarther filth you call a wife. What was her name again? Rachel? Oh I will have fun with her for the trouble you’ve caused!” Jerdon growled deeply, baring his fangs.
At any other time than this John would have been blind with anger but something had set him at peace. He knew what the outcome would be and he know he was going to die.

“Well then… Lets see if you can get through an older version of yourself.” John chuckled, summoning up the last bit of his strength to also transform into his Zarganther form.

“SO BE IT!” Jerdon roared as he jumped off and glided to where John stood with murderous intent in his animalistic eyes.

John remained where he stood and awaited him, ready for one final blow to decide this battle.

Behind closes eyes lie
The minds ready to awaken you,
Are you at war with land
And all of it's creatures,
Your not-so-gentle persuasion
Has been known to wreck economies
Of countries, of empires, the sky is over,

The attack began and ended almost instantly as Jerdon landed close behind where John stood.

An eerie silence was over the land as the turnout was not clear. Soon the silence ended with a clank of two swords hitting the ground and shattering.

John remained standing and didn’t even wince in pain as his left arm fell to the ground. Jerdon soon also fell falling into four pieces on the ground.

John returned to his original form and walked forward, dropping the other sword and grabbing hold of the nub that was left of his arm.

How odd… I don’t even feel anything now… John thought looking down at his missing arm in surprise as he continued to walk forward.

Don't you want to hold me baby,
Disappointed, going crazy,

I’m so sorry Rachel… He thought sadly with a smile as he continued to walk forward to where his fighter was.

The black ship radiated with heat as John hoisted himself up and opened the canopy. He smiled softly seeing a picture of himself standing behind his wife and son.
“Sorry son… Your going to be singing solo at the next benefit concert.” he whispered as though he were talking to him there.

After a moment of looking at the image and leaving a pool of blood he pressed a button to send his ship’s distress signal back to the base. He heaved a wheezing sigh as more blood poured from his mouth and he fell backwards, landing flat on his back and looking up at the sun in the blue sky.

“No-not… Even… from the sun…” he whispered trying to sing the words but gave up and decided to continue listening within his mind. Sounds better that way… he thought.

Not even from the sun,
Not even from the sun
Not even from the sun,
Don't you want me to run,

He could feel himself slipping away quickly and thought back to his Zarganther traditions he had learned about. He forced himself up once again facing the bodies of his fallen enemies and summoned up the strength he had left before he began to chant a dieing warrior’s last battle cry.

“TO MY FOES! I AM NEAR TO DRAWING MY LAST BREATH! ANY SOUL THAT BE LEFT STANDING COME AT ME NOW AND KNOW THE POWER OF MY CLAW AND FANG! I WILL KILL AND BE KILLED A WARRIOR OF ZANGARA! I WILL MEET YOU AT THE DOOR OF DEATH AND OPEN IT FOR YOU WHERE WE WILL FIGHT FOR ALL ETERNITY!” he cried out at the top of his lungs, gurgling on his own blood as he spoke to the dead before letting off one more howl and looked about.

He was already dead, yet he never fell to the ground again…

Even though you can't afford
The sky is over,
Even though we can't afford
The sky is over,
I don't want to see you go,
The sky is over
Even though we can't afford
The sky is over,
I don't want to see you go,
The sky is over
Even though we can't afford
The sky is over,
I don't want to see you go,
The sky is over
Even though we can't afford
The sky is over,
The sky is over us...