Daan crouched, waiting for the moment to strike. He had been
practicing for weeks on the booming voice. The flying kick had only
been perfected in the past days. Now all that was needed was a
suitable victim. All of the other citizens of Zozo were much
stronger then he; Daan dared not risk his life on a single fighting
technique.

 He mentally went over the series of moves required for his attack.
A few hours ago, the Hades Gigas had sighted a group of men.
Perfect opponents. A chocobo had been darting around in the bushes,
not that a single bird could withstand a teenage Gigas.

 "Hurry up," he whispered. A human face peered around a corner.
Soon after, the group marched single file into view. "Almost
time..." Now Daan gathered inner strength. Breathing in, he leapt
from his high point to the ground below.

 *BOOM*

 The crash echoed through the canyon. "WHO DARES ENTER MY DOMAIN?"
the youth shouted, mixing in the proper amount of boom to create an
aura of strength and greatness. "I GAVE NO PERMISSION TO MORTALS."

 Cinder dropped to one knee instinctively. He relayed no fear. "No
one told us of your rule of the area. We have all right to enter."
A silent signal was given. The two men flanking him, Argon and
Dell, drew daggers and backed a step. Bromis pulled an arrow to his
bow.

 Daan was surprised at this answer, although not losing his pose
for a moment. "I USE SUPERB FIGHTING SKILLS TO TAKE DOWN HUMANS BY
THE DOZEN. LEAVE NOW, OR RISK TERMINATION." As if to emphasize, the
Hades Gigas chopped the air with an open palm.

 "It's all talk, I'm sure."

 "YOU QUESTION MY POWERS?" This was what he was eagerly awaiting.

 "I'm not questioning your powers. Just leave us alone, or we'll
cut your throat. Do else as you will, without interfering in our
plans." Cinder knew that it was a show of will, and that he would
win. He always won.

 Not as Daan would have wanted, but it could be taken as an insult.
"YOU NEED CONVINCING. OBSERVE." He threw himself against a wall,
kicking a intricate pattern in the air. The wall seemed to
disappear. Bricks and dust remained. A single thief that had been
searching through a bag of money, attempting to steal it, screamed
and fainted. "THE SAME WILL RESULT IN YOUR HEAD. LEAVE NOW."

 Dell swallowed nervously. Cinder wasn't impressed. "Whatever," the
man sneered. "You're obviously a threat to our peaceful existance.
Bromis, take 'im down." The bulky second-in-command complied by
cocking his bow level to Daan's shoulder. A sharp twang sounded,
announcing the deliverance. An arrow embedded itself deep within
the Gigas' tunic, and into the flesh.

 He screamed in pain. Blood flowed openly. Now Daan called deep
within to create a small earthquake. The effect was devastating.
Cinder was severely hurt from falling debris. Dell fell into one of
the numerous chasms, never heard from or seen again. Bromis was
buried under falling boulders. Argon received a crushing blow by
the enraged creature, killed instantly. Koro, who had been hiding
behind a bench the whole time, ran to take shelter beneath the
remains of the building Daan had attacked.

 Cinder tore his shirt into strips and wrapped them around his
wound. Then he took caution to get out of the Hades Gigas' way.
"All he needs is a single arrow to the throat," he muttered.
"Just... has to hold still."

 The sharp projectile was let loose. It sunk into Daan's chest. The
youth toppled over abruptly. Bromis moved a particularly heavy rock
before joining his leader. The three remaining humans grouped
together beyond the immediate view of the injured creature.

 "Ugh..." Daan groaned. With some last reservoir of energy he
started crawling across the ground. Shrubs and grass gave way to
his bulky frame. Cinder kept a distance between them, while still
keeping him in sight.

 "Where's he going?" The reply was only a shrug.

 On and on Daan went, always appearing tired and ready to give in
the dull sensations of death. But he kept on going, a painfully
slow pace. A few other creatures passed by, although either
completely ignoring him or giving a gruff nod of acknowledgment.

 Finally, the Hades Gigas youth reached his apparent destination.
First thin layer of dirt was removed by a giant hand. Then, he
dragged himself into the hole below. Daan vanished from sight.
Bromis cried out in shock. The remaining thieves, along with Koro,
searched the site.

 "Where'd he go? I saw a hole, but now there ain't any." His
remarks appeared true. Any opening that had previously existed was
gone. "Must be hiding in it now, drinkin' healing potions. Might
come back later to pummel us." Cinder gave a short laugh.

 "Well, it has t' be well concealed. That Gigas seemed to know
exactly where he was headed. Maybe his private inhabitance... ?"

 Koro felt the ground. "The dirt... doesn't feel right. Artificial,
or something."

 "He's gone," Cinder concluded. "I say that we go on back. He won't
bother us any more-" Without warning, the ground beneath the heavy
man gave way. A deep pit enveloped the man. Bromis leapt down with
him soon after, Koro trailing close behind.

                              *  *  *

 "Complete darkness," the boy muttered. Their method of travelling
farther into the tunnel was to simply feel the earthen wall along
the way. It was a cavern when compared to the humans' height, but
just right for the average Hades Gigas. It was crudely dug
nevertheless.

 Finally, Bromis pulled out his bow. He managed to produce a weak
fire from rubbing the oak handle against a metal shard. Vision was
drastically improved. "Wait a minute. Did you hear something,
Cinder?"

 The leader cupped an ear. "He went... that way! Hurry, before he
gets away! Arrow to the string. What's left of it, anyway," he
added hastily, remembering what was producing the flames. "Koro,
next to me. When I give a signal, start waving that dagger 'fer all
you're worth!"

 "ARRRGGHH!"

 Rocks fell everywhere. The passage out was effectively blocked.
Bromis was hit by a hurtling object. He struck against the wall,
unconscious. Cinder snarled and darted into the shadows. It wasn't
that hard, since the light had gone out.

 It was Daan, head-butting his way through to the surface. "GET
OUTTA MY WAY, MORTAL CREATURES! FEAR... MY... WRATH!" Light burst
in all directions. A familiar rain sprinkled on Koro's face. "WHOO
HOO..."

 And he was gone.

"I can't believe it. My best guys are dead, my men here were killed
by Imperials, an' to top it all off, I'm stuck with a whiny brat
like you."

 "You don't know... that the Empire did it," Koro ventured.

 The man waved his hands irritably. "Oh, of course they did. And
even if they didn't, someone else did. Gotta get vengeance, that's
for sure. 'Don't get mad, get angry', I always say."

 "Uh, don't you mean 'don't get mad, get even'?"

 "Whatever." He stumbled over the wreckage of a warehouse. Chairs
and stained banners littered the floor. Crates had been torn apart,
the contents spilling out. "Crime just doesn't appeal to me
anymore. Maybe go into accounting, or law. Can't be as bad as
this."

 Koro chanced upon a letter. He read it aloud.

	"To whom it may concern - namely all you thugs:

	    This residence has been identified as an organization
	of thievery, burglary, and theft, and is hereby labeled as a
	threat to all society in general. The Center for the
	Advancement of Civilization, namely the Security Guard, has
	shut this operation down. Do not attempt to form another 	
	of the aforementioned groups, as we _will_ return.

	    If you wish to reply, send a letter via pigeon with a 	
	SASE to:

	Center for the Advancement of Civilization
	1234 Genji Avenue, Jidoor		

	Sincerely,

	    I. Shurem Strict of the CAC"

 Cinder buried his face in his hands. "I knew it would come to
this. Caught by a group of rich people that want to pay others to
slaughter the entire Zozoan community. Seems like anyone could get
away from them." He was soaking in self-pity.

 Koro gulped. This was the perfect opportunity to escape. The thief
hadn't actually done that much to him, but freedom was freedom.
Just step around the corner...

 "I'm freeeeee!" he whispered.