1:5:9 Duel (Part 1)

Quiet. Since their declaration, not a single sound. The Paragon separated; they looked to their Reapers. Although they too had separated, their numbers had diminished. Eight Lores and Chars remained unaccounted for and those that remained were wreathed in the same purple light that they had watched create the nebula above them. Looking at it burned Lore’s scarred eye as though they had stared into an infinitely bright star. Images of both past and future flashed across their blackened vision. They were almost nonsensical but each vision appeared to be set on a version of Quatarr with a version of the nebula overhead. Lore turned back to the others. The First had made their way to the front of the pack.
“I think it’s Time.” They rested their hand on Lore’s shoulder reassuringly. “I’m so glad we made you.” The others nodded in agreement with the sentiment. The First smiled, their eyes twinkled in the purple light, it fell down their face in their tears. It seeped into their skin until it became them. The others followed suit, phasing between their solid state and one of purple energy. Their light amalgamated before venturing into the sky. As the planets aligned, the Tethers found themselves redirected, the beams piercing the nebula, feeding its energy. The purple glow joined the gold, climbing it as ivy climbs a tree, sapping the energy further. Once the rest of the energy had joined the nebula’s light, it widened; for a moment, they were afforded a view to the other side, a glance at a day yet to come. It snapped shut.
“I love a good light show and my my, does it set the stage well.” Crait slowly started walking towards them. They stopped, a smile stretched across their face. They burst into laughter. “I’m sorry, I cant.” Crait bounced excitedly on the spot. “My goodness, this is brilliant!” They let out a squeal of ecstasy. “This is all so new and I love it!” Crait looked behind Lore and Char. “Where have they gone? How did you do it? I guess this really is the end.” They paused. “Well, if we’re going to end things then I suppose…” Crait twirled on the spot, their jacket changed as they did; it grew from a cropped leather jacket to knee length. The colour faded from black to pristine white, the golden detailing polished to a shine before their eyes. They cast aside their chest plate, throwing it to Loren with a wink. “What do you think?”
Lore looked at them, unimpressed.
“No… Nothing…” Crait sighed. “You know, I worked so hard on picking these colours, I mean designing the transformation and the patterning alone took me near on a month to balance between too much and too little gold and that’s without the time it took to make sure it didn’t look too much like a wedding dress.” Their eyes widened in annoyed disbelief. “I know you’re not the same person and all but, at the very least, you could… I don’t know? React.” Crait shrugged.
“Why?” Char stared at them blankly.
Crait’s eyes widened. They found themselves speechless.
“You wanted a duel.” Lore looked at the clones. Reluctantly, they asked. “What are your terms then?”
Crait took a step back. “Simple. Two rules. Rule one: No guns. I know you never use one but still, can’t be too safe. It just ruins the fun.” They raised their trench coat and span around. “A show of faith. And now, rule two: This is the end of the cycle, you know it, I know it. So we fight until we drop.”
“Those your only rules?” Lore had only just realised that Crait had started moving in closer. They were nearly standing on Lore’s toes.
“Well, apart from the obvious: One on one, no interference. From either side.” Crait wrapped an arm around Lore. “Now… Let’s talk prizes.”
“Please could you take a step back?” Lore tried to back away at the same time.
“Fine. If I win, you take your place again at my side and together we undo the messes you’ve made and start properly preparing for The Omega Outcome.” Crait drew back in.
“And if I win?” Lore tried to square up but failed, creating a mildly and inappropriately homoerotic spectacle of themselves.
“If you win, you can do whatever you want.” Crait leaned in to the tension Lore had inadvertently created. “With whoever you want…” They smiled with a wink before pirouetting away.
“I do have one last question…” Lore started. “What happens to Loren in your grand scheme? If you win, what about him?”
“One’s fun but two, two’s a party.” Crait beckoned Loren over. “Unlike your council, I wouldn’t just abandon him if that’s what you’re worried about…” They gasped. “Oh, that’s just reminded me! Last little addendum to the rules, No doing whatever you did to get us here. I’m here to fight you and only you, not you and…” They chose their next word carefully. “Your Quatarrian friend.”
“That’s fine by me.” Lore made their way back to Char. “I’m going to honour the deal.”
“What?” She pulled them closer. “You do realise we’re basically gods or at the very least, a god’s favourite. Why would you do this?”
“Can you guarantee that we could save everyone?” Lore already knew the answer.
“Yes! Obviously! You could do it on your own. You can stop time!” Char’s eyes narrowed in confusion. “Seriously! You don’t have to do it.”
Lore’s eye started to glow blue. “I think I have to. It doesn’t make sense yet but I think it might one day.” They took Char’s hand and placed a kiss on her ring. A spark of static arced between their lips and her hand. She understood.
“Good luck.” Reluctantly, she let them go.