Melissa: I need a new story, guys

Melissa: I need a new story, guys.

Psikaris: I don't mean to complain, but I rarely get important parts. I was pretty much a subplot in 'Cold Comfort', and I was only around for the first half of 'I Think, Therefore I Am'.

Melissa: You were important in 'Lunatac Mayhem'.

Psikaris: I don't even want to *talk* about 'Lunatac Mayhem'.

Melissa: Well, since 'Luna's Legacy' is supposed to happen two months after ''Till Death Do Us Part', I suppose there's time to slot you in.

Psikaris: Finally. So what's this one about?

Melissa: Remember 'Crystal Canyon'?..

The Key to the Keystone

"You've got ways to take hold of my thoughts

Overriding my senses.

Lock your sights dead in line with my heart.

Share your powers."

'Moonlight Desires', Lawrence Gowan

"Let the sun shine on me while I sing the last song.

I will give you even my body, Spiritwalker..."

'Spiritwalker', The Cult

* * *

I'm supposed to be a problem-solver...

::Don't do that to yourself.::

"Be quiet. It helps me focus."

* * *

"Well? Did you find him?"

Mystan nodded, slowly. He was still getting used to Luna's change after re-finding her grandmother's magic belt. "His jet-pack was destroyed, and I found him stranded on a cliffside." Alluro had gone Berbil-bashing, and long-range sensors picked up the Thunderstrike several minutes later. Luna had waited fifteen minutes, then sent Mystan to collect the hypnotist. Why risk any of her other people?

Lately the Lunatacs were suffering badly in the vehicle department. The Ice Runner still worked, and Skytomb itself preformed up to standard, but the Lunattacker had been recently trashed again. Alluro and Psikaris were able to put it back together almost from scratch once when the Sword of Omens destroyed it, but once again it lay in pieces on the hangar floor. And now one of the jet-packs was destroyed. All right, so only two of their vehicles were damaged. It's a lot when you've only got four. Luna sighed. "Get him back to work on the Lunattacker."

"With all due respect, he's in no condition to work," said Mystan. Luna glared. "I put him in his room. It's like he's delirious, but there's no fever. The only thing I've been able to get out of him is something about a crystal."

* * *

::I could heal you.::

"Shut up."

* * *

"How should I know what's wrong with him?" Chilla waved an arm for emphasis...

... "We shot down the Thunderstrike in the Crystal Canyon three days ago. That's all the 'crystal' I can tell you about."

Luna leaned her elbows on the table, fingers steepled under her nose. Tug-Mug and Psychro were still working on the Lunattacker. In theory, Psikaris was supposed to be in the hangar too, but she insisted on being at the meeting. Red-Eye was on watch-duty. Chilla, Knave, Mystan, and Amok made up the rest of the meeting. "But you were in the Canyon as well, Chilla, and you seem unaffected."

"Maybe 'Crystal' is someone's name. A girlfriend, perhaps?" snickered Knave, aiming a nasty grin at Psikaris. Skytomb held few secrets, and the hybrid woman's love for Alluro was well known. And while Knave and Psikaris otherwise got along, Knave couldn't stand Alluro.

Psikaris ignored him, instead asking Mystan, "How is he doing?"

The telekinetic shrugged. "Alluro seems to be running a fever, but his temperature is normal. It looks almost like withdrawal symptoms, but I don't know from what. And all I've been able to get out of him are his bizarre ravings about a powerful green crystal."

"But he was fine this morning?" asked Luna.

Chilla nodded. "I was on morning shift; I saw him leave."

"So whatever it was must have happened to him at the Berbil Village," said Knave. "A new Thundercat weapon?"

"Feverless fevers and weird delusions aren't the cats' style," said Luna. "Mumm-ra maybe, but he was nowhere around."

"Or he might actually be sick," Mystan added. "I can try a few tests, see if it's some new type of disease, but this is really Alluro's area."

"He's in no condition to complain if you use his stuff," finished Luna.

* * *

::All you have to do is let me.::

"Shut UP."

* * *

"You're always in the mood for a fight, Chilla," Psikaris drawled. "How would you like to play 'Cat Interrogation'?"

The ice Lunatac raised an eyebrow. "You still think what's happened to Alluro is a weapon?"

"No, but the cats might have seen something. Maybe we could pinpoint when this fever hit. Besides, you're the only one with a working craft, and you also know where this Crystal Canyon is."

Chilla shrugged and motioned Psikaris to follow her. She wasn't too fond of the man, but Alluro did have his uses.

* * *

::I know your thoughts, your hopes, your dreams. You could have them. Let me.::

"I'm not stupid."

::Neither were the others.::

* * *

"Tygra!"

The tiger looked up at the sound of his friend's voice. "Cheetara. Come to help me with my exciting hobby of bota..." A blast of cold caught him from behind, freezing his body, but oddly, leaving his head free. "Chilla!"

"Much as I'd like to kill you where you stand, threatening you would bring Lion-O and friends running," Chilla hissed. "Besides, we need you to answer a few questions."

"'We'?"

Psikaris stepped out of the forest. In her normal voice she said, "Green power crystals. Talk to me."

* * *

::I thought you wanted me to shut up?::

"I did. Get out of my mind!"

* * *

"This is ridiculous, Psikaris. He said the Keystone was destroyed. It got dropped and smashed. We won't find anything in the Canyon."

"Just follow the patterns on the cliff walls, like Tygra said," replied Psikaris from where she stood on the Ice Runner's wing. "Look, if the Keystone was destroyed, why would it still be affecting Alluro? Tygra had it for three days and he seemed fine today, mere hours after he lost it."

"Tygra got healed by the Sword of Omens," Chilla retorted, "And he said it was like an addiction, hence the withdrawal symptoms."

"There's the cave. You can wait out here if you like."

"It's not my quest."

The ice/psi hybrid hopped off the wing as the Ice Runner landed, and entered the cave.

* * *

::Let me help you. I want you to be happy.::

"You've already placed a death-sentence on me. Why should you care?"

::Just doing you a favour. Or would you rather die alone and miserable?::

"I don't want to die at all."

::That's what I like about you. Such hope, such desire!::

* * *

From Tygra's description, Psikaris expected to perhaps find some hieroglyphics that might be helpful. She did not expect to find the Keystone itself. It must have reformed back here, she thought, puzzled, But how? The crystal did have some writing on it, which Psikaris proceeded to copy into a notebook. Maybe it was instructions.

Carefully, she walked around the Keystone, deliberately avoiding any contact with it. According to Tygra, Alluro became the crystal's slave within minutes.

::I could help your friend.::

"Who said that?" Psikaris asked, looking around.

::I did.::

Suddenly realizing the voice spoke directly through her mind, Psikaris turned back to the crystal. "You're the Keystone?"

::Yes.::

"It was you who did this to him. Stop it now."

::For a price. I will switch my hold to you.::

"You're out of your mind."

::No, and I can read yours. And I know you would do anything to take his pain away. Your friend will waste away in about a week if I don't remove my hold from him. In fact, I could kill him now if I wanted to.::

"Damn you," Psikaris hissed, picking up the crystal. She nearly dropped it again when green light flowed from the Keystone and into her. Psikaris almost laughed; she had never felt so alive, so powerful before. How could she think it was evil?

Because it could have killed Alluro.

"Damn," she swore again, glaring at the Keystone and forcing herself to think clearly. What it did to her felt like an adrenalin rush. And Tygra had said almost the same thing. It didn't actually give you any power, just pushed your limits.

::Tygra is wrong. Tygra was jealous that Alluro took me away. I gave him power. I can give you power. I can give you anything.::

"What do you get in return?"

::Nothing. I'm nice like that.::

* * *

"Why do they call you the Keystone?"

::It seemed appropriate. And stop doing that to yourself.::

"No."

* * *

Compulsion put the Keystone in the pocket of Psikaris' vest and told Chilla that she found nothing. She told herself that it was because one of the others would take it from her and get addicted. Better her than one of her friends.

By the time the Ice Runner returned to Skytomb, Alluro was better. Psikaris agreed with the general consensus that he had picked up a particularly weird and strong flu. Crystals were forgotten.

* * *

::That was four days ago. You might last five more. Might.::

"Shut up. Let me think."

::Why think? Thinking won't help you. I can help you. I can make you happy.::

"If I use you, it will shorten my life that much more."

::Ah, but would you rather have five days of fruitless, hopeless, lonely misery, or four in Alluro's arms?::

"Leave me alone."

"'Karis?"

The knock on her door scattered her thoughts. Psikaris slipped the Keystone into her vest pocket and blew out the candle on her desk. She opened the door, carefully keeping her right arm behind it, and looked up at her brother. "What is it, Psychro?"

"You've been locked in your room all day. I thought you might be hungry. Come on, Chilla did the cooking at lunch and she's surprisingly good."

Psikaris shook her head and started to close the door. "I'm not hungry. Thank you."

Psychro stopped the door with his left hand while the right cupped his twin's face. "You okay, 'Karis? You look pretty bad."

"I... haven't been sleeping well." Or at all. The Keystone kept her awake. It also took away her need to eat. In fact, last time she tried, she became violently ill.

"Do you think you might have what Alluro had?"

"I didn't even see him the day he was sick. Now go. I'll be fine."

"If you're sure... what?" Psychro's nose twitched as he caught an acrid smell. "What have you been burning in here, 'Karis?" he asked, pushing his way past her. "It..." Then he caught sight of her arm. "Great Yerith, what have you done to yourself?"

She turned slightly, tucking her burnt arm behind her protectively. "None of your business! It helps me think."

"I don't know what's come over you, but we're at least going to get that arm treated." When Psikaris tried to protest, he cut her off. "Now are you going to come down to the medlab quietly, or do I have to carry you?"

Since she knew Psychro could carry out his threat, Psikaris started to follow him. However, she fought back when he offered to use his icy breath to numb her arm. "Look, it will hurt a lot less if I do this."

"You don't understand!" Psikaris snapped, twisting away from him. "I need the pain. I can't explain it to you. I'm not crazy, I don't like it, but this is something I need to deal with myself." With that, she ducked back into her room and slammed the door.

Psychro shook his head sadly. "I'll be by to check on you later."

* * *

::Heh heh heh.::

"Now what?"

::Someone at the door. Better answer it.::

Psikaris was about to tell it to shut up again when someone knocked. "I'm fine, Psychro. Leave me alone."

"I'm not Psychro, though he sent me," replied the mildly insulted, accented voice. "Will you open this door of your own will or of mine?"

"I'll plug my ears."

"I was speaking of the door-override in the secondary engine room."

Psikaris let out a hiss of annoyance. Psychro deliberately set Alluro on her, hoping he would be able to reason with her. She stopped that thought, confused. Why would she suspect her brother of that? Alluro was the closest thing to a medic in the Skytomb, and Psychro probably told him about her arm. Why was she coming up with conspiracy theories?

::Just relaying the message.::

"I don't need you."

"Psikaris?"

Damn. "Nothing." But the threat about the door override was real. Might as well deal with him now. She put the Keystone in a drawer, got up and opened the door. "What?"

Alluro looked annoyed, but it wasn't directed at her. "Your ever-charismatic brother says I am to bind your arm or things will go ill for me."

"That's it?"

"He also wants me to find out what's wrong with you, but I figure that if you won't tell him, you won't tell me. I intend on binding your arm, at least."

She peered up at him suspiciously. "I'll go if you don't try to numb the area or use painkillers or anything." Alluro raised an eyebrow at that, shrugged, and headed down to the medlab.

* * *

Psikaris winced as Alluro dabbed an anti-septic salve onto her burns. "Before you ask, no," she said. "If I wanted to make it hurt less, I could have breathed on my arm. How are the repairs on the Lunattacker coming?"

"Slowly," he replied. "I'm not sure if it can be salvaged this time. When the Sword of Omens destroyed it, it merely fell apart. This time it was wreaked in a firefight. And then that moron Knave crashed it into a tree." Then, "Everyone is worried about you. Do you mind if I run some tests?"

"You won't find anything."

Alluro decided against asking why she sounded so sure. He figured she was in the middle of a new project. Any little interruption could block the creative flow for hours. But even Alluro thought Psikaris was being even more obsessive than usual and her health wasn't worth creative flow. A few minutes later, he finished wrapping the bandage around her forearm. "There. Please try not to hurt yourself any more."

"I won't," she said, fully intending on removing the bandage and getting back to doing whatever she wanted as soon as her door was locked behind her. She got up and headed for her room. To her annoyance, Alluro followed.

"I should go to the hangar," said Alluro, "But I'll need something to tell your brother. We're all worried about you, but the way Psychro carries on you'd think this was my fault."

::In a way, it was.::

"No one asked you."

"What?" asked Alluro, surprised. He'd never known Psikaris to be rude before. By now, they were standing outside her room. "If you feel that strongly about it, I'll let you alone."

"I... I didn't mean you, Alluro," Psikaris stammered, looking... frightened?

"Then what?.."

::Don't tell him!::

"Great Yerith, I need to talk to someone..."

::I forbid it!::

"You're already killing me, don't try to control me, too."

"Psikaris, who are you talking to?"

::On second thought, fine. Tell him.::

Psikaris narrowed her eyes. Why would it have changed its mind so quickly? It probably figures that it has me anyway, she thought, and I can't harm it or ruin it's plans by talking. Psikaris opened the door and stepped into her room.

"What's wrong?"

She shook her head as if to clear it, and shut the door. "I need to talk. I need help. I... I don't know what to do. Alluro, please hold me." He looked a bit surprised at the request, but complied. Psikaris gratefully leaned against him.

::Enjoy it while it lasts, Psikaris.::

She caught herself before she answered out loud, instead just thought, shut up.

::He's going to want answers, you know. You'd like to collect your thoughts, but you can't.:: Psikaris ignored it. ::But you're going to have to let go eventually. And then you'll talk, and then he'll leave. And in your self-imposed exile, you'll never see him again, let alone hold him. I don't blame you for savouring the moment.::

Get out of my head you perverted... whatever you are.

::Oh, hush. You want him and you know it. If you let me, I can make him love you. Care for a demonstration? It's free.::

No. Don't you dare do anything to h... Psikaris' thoughts and protest was cut off when Alluro kissed her. And although she knew she should just push him away, for both their sakes, she found herself returning it with equal intensity.

After a moment he pulled away to look down at her with a wondering, half-dreamy smile. "'Karis?.."

::See how easy it is? He's putty in your hands. If you let me, you'll never have to let him go...::

Mine, Psikaris thought happily, cuddling against him. All mine. Mine to love and hold and cherish and... NO! She shoved him away and reached for the door. "Please, Alluro, just leave now and don't ask questions. Go!" With that, she pushed him out the door, locked it, then sank to the floor, tucking her knees to her chest. She glared through tears at the drawer that held the Keystone. "Why did you do that?"

::I want you happy.::

"You want me distracted. I'll kill you yet, monster."

::I doubt that.::

"What if I shatter the crystal?"

::It did shatter, when Tygra knocked it out of Alluro's hand. I allowed it to shatter.::

"Why?"

::Enough questions.::

Psikaris pulled herself to her feet and staggered over to her desk. Yanking open the drawer she snarled, "You're using me! I have a right to know what for. What are you?"

::I am the Keystone.::

"No, no, that's not right. That doesn't feel right." She picked up the crystal and glared at it. "This link, it can work both ways. You're... something else. Something in the Keystone." Setting it down again she said, "Knave can see Amok's memories. Maybe he can see through the link."

::You know Knave. He'll take me and use me. He would appreciate my power.::

"But you don't want him." Psikaris stopped halfway to the door and looked back at the Keystone. "There's something about me, something you need..."

::Stop thinking!::

Green light surged through her, taking away her fatigue and rejuvenating her. Psikaris took off the bandage and was not surprised to see the burns on her arm had healed.

::You see what I can do for you. You feel my power. Let me help you.::

It was true. She felt good, alive. Not quite as good as when she was cuddled up to Alluro, but she could get him back so easily.

All she had to do was let the Keystone help her.

Psikaris bit back a scream as she deliberately scraped her arm along the corner of her metal desk. Purple blood welled from the deep gash. She gathered up the bandages and pressed them against her wound.

::Stop doing that!::

"Two-way link, creature. You feel my pain and it distracts you, weakens your hold on me. You can't use my strength unless I let you, so to heal me, you have to use your own." She gave the crystal a feral grin. "I may be weakened, but you're not doing so well yourself. Now, what is it you need from me? What couldn't you get from Tygra and Alluro?"

There was only sullen silence from the crystal. "What do we have in common? Tygra is what? An architect. Luna says he designs stuff for the cats and Panthro builds it. Alluro is a scientist, specializing in chemistry and physics. I'm an engineer, a rocket scientist. High intelligence and creativity seem to be important. Am I right?"

Silence.

"Tygra said that with the Keystone, he felt confident. So he's usually a shy type. Alluro comes across as having an ego the size of the First Moon, but I read the report on the Egora Talisman. Why would he need an artifact to increase his self-confidence if he's as self-confident as he seems? And me... hmm, my self-esteem is pretty good. Maybe that's why I can resist you."

Silence.

"But there's something else, isn't there? Something I'm missing. Tygra said it gave him power. I know Alluro would like to be more powerful. But I don't give a damn about power. And that's why I can resist you as much as I do. All you have to offer is power and I don't want it."

::I can give you Alluro.::

Psikaris laughed shortly at that. "You can make him love me, but what good is that? You don't understand love. I want him to love me of his own free will or not at all."

::He cares for you.::

"Of course he does. He's my friend. I can get the same caring from Knave, or Tug-Mug, or even Amok." She walked back to her desk and looked down on the Keystone. "But you haven't yet said why you need me."

::Figure it out yourself.::

"You wanted me specifically. Tygra apparently wasn't enough. That's why you let Alluro take you. Maybe he would have been enough. You must have learned of me from Alluro's mind. He wanted your power; he would never just give you up. So you shattered but kept your hold on Alluro, guessing that I would come looking for you."

Silence.

"And you need me to use you. You've become more and more desperate. If I don't use you, you can't drain me. Even though I can't eat or sleep, I don't ask you to sustain me. You do that yourself. You don't want me to die like that. There is no time limit on my life."

::Do you want to live like this? Forever?::

"Of course not. I intend to beat you. You can't let me die. You need to drain me. You need me to use you. Why?"

Silence.

Psikaris dug her claws into the back of her right arm, digging four short gashes. Teeth gritted against the pain she hissed, "Why?"

::You have cama. Now stop doing that!::

"Cama?" She dug her nails in a little deeper.

::There is no translation. You feel deeply. You have hope. You believe strongly. You have desire. I need desire.::

"Did you whisper to Alluro that you could give him Chilla?"

::Yes. Now stop that.::

She took her claws out of her arm. The creature seemed docile enough now. "But he doesn't feel as strongly for Chilla as I do for him. And as far as I know, Tygra has no interest in anyone. You could feed off their strength, but it couldn't get you what you want. Why do you need desire?"

::I will take your cama and add it to my own. Where I am, belief is the true magic. Through your desire, I will escape my prison.::

"You aren't the Keystone. You're... behind it."

::They named it 'Keystone' for a reason. It is a key, the key to my prison. Set me free. Your cama is strong enough that I need not drain you to death.::

"It's too late to try a sympathy plea." One claw slashed a line up her arm. Psikaris winced, but smiled again. "Pain distracts you. When you hurt I see what you for what you are, monster. And I will continue to hurt myself, continue to exhaust you until you die."

::You could die.::

"I'll take that chance. I'd rather die than let a creature such as you escape."

::I can give you your heart's desire.::

"You tried that. You failed."

::So narrowly you think, Psikaris. I only offered Alluro, when what you truly want is to be loved. I am learning. I cannot force another to love.::

"Get to the point."

::I could love you.::

"You're a monster working a sympathy plea."

::I've lost track of how long I've been here. Hundreds, perhaps thousands of years. Years of exile have turned this monster into a lonely, lost soul. My name is Maroth. We need one another, Psikaris. Set me free and I will love you.::

"Why don't I believe you?" She relit her candle.

::We got off to a bad start, Psikaris. I was desperate; that's why I lashed out at Tygra and Alluro. Please help me.::

Psikaris held her right arm with all its gashes over the candle. It was a tiny flame, but she was half ice Lunatac. It hurt more than enough.

::I hate to see you in pain. I want to help.::

"You hate... to be... in pain. I can take it... Can you?"

::Please, Psikaris...::

"Which... one of us... will break... first?"

Without warning, Maroth's green energy surged through Psikaris, startling her away from the flame and healing her wounds. When his voice returned, it was much weaker. ::Psikaris, please. I want to understand. I want to love.::

In answer, she thrust her hand back into the flame. "Pretty words... but words... alone."

Maroth screamed inside her mind, and was quiet.

Numbly, Psikaris pulled away from the candle and blew it out. Quiet.

Except for the pounding on the door.

As if in a dream, she stumbled to the door and opened it. "Knave? What?.."

She staggered slightly and he caught her shoulders. "Are you okay? My sixth sense shot off the scale for a second there..."

"Do you sense anything else? Is he still alive?" The demand in Psikaris' voice caught Knave off guard. She twisted away from the ice cheetah, snatched up the Keystone, and waved it under his nose. "Are you sensing anything from this?"

"N-no," he said, still stunned. "What is that thi... Moons of Plundarr, what did you do to your arm?"

But Psikaris ignored the question. She tucked the now-inert Keystone into her vest pocket. "He's dead, then," she laughed, catching up Knave's hands and sort of dancing around him. "He's dead; I've won!" Now in the hall, she pulled back, then seemed to notice her arm for the first time. "Great Yerith, I should get this treated." She practically skipped away.

Psychro caught up to Knave a few seconds later. "Where is she?"

Still confused, Knave only pointed down the hall. "Thataway."

* * *

"Let me help with that."

Psikaris looked up at her twin. "Thanks. It's kind of hard to put the bandages on myself."

"You're not going to act weird or yell at me, right?"

"No. I'm fine now. Really. Is there anything left from lunch?"

Psychro smiled. "Unless Tug-Mug wanted a snack there should be."

"Feed me and I'll try to explain my behaviour. And drag Alluro along. He'll probably want to know this."

* * *

"It's inert?" Alluro had gingerly picked up the Keystone, remembering what had happened to him four days ago.

"I don't know," Psikaris said. She had finished a late lunch and now had Psychro and Alluro as an audience. "But the thing it was key to is dead."

"What is it, anyway?" Psychro felt he was a bit behind on news, which annoyed him.

"This crystal," said Psikaris, "Is called the Keystone. It is - well, was - a source of energy and power. Tygra had found it in the Crystal Canyon last week..."

"And then I took it from him," said Alluro, setting it down on the table. He shuddered. "But it was shattered. How is it here?"