Jade finished off the Malboro easily, and made her way back to Lindblum.

Jade: They went off without me. Too bad...

I am Tempest, Warrior of Trivadia and Defender of Life! All those who seek to destroy life will face my wrath!

(Zidane, Jason, and Mikoto descend quickly and reach part of Fossil Roo before the tunnel collapses.)

Zidane: You know the drill.

Jason: Uh-huh.

(They lure in a Gargent and hold on for the ride. Later, they reach the Mist Continent and head out to Quan's old dwelling near Treno. It's a long trek on foot, but they can handle it, no prob. On the way...)

Mikoto: What did you mean before about the Dark Power? What has it done that makes it worse than Chaos?

(Reluctantly, Jason tells his story.)

Jason: The Dark Power is a living energy of pure evil. It created several creatures to do its bidding and use its ultimate strength. But it became the one who was ruled by the self-styled Darkgod, Massacre. He mastered the Power and lorded over his Dark Brethren, spreading evil wherever he may.

(He stops talking for a minute, as if he were reflecting on all that he'd been speaking of. Then he continues.)

Jason: My father, Joe Hockner, was created by Massacre, as a half-human spirit called Deathwing. He started out human, but was changed later in his life. However, Massacre underestimated him. He rebeled against Massacre and became his enemy rather than ally. From there on, Massacre didn't give up in his quest to create more Dark Power users. He made a clone of my dad, a guy called Zero who acted like an anti-hero alot. Then, he got to me.

(They all stop walking for a minute. Zidane had already heard this tale, but it still had an impact.)

Mikoto: And these wings, that tail - it's all part of the transformation?

Jason: No, I've always had these. They're from my mother's side, mostly.

Zidane: I have to ask this. Why don't you ever look like Talon yourself? We've only seen him outside your body.

Jason: I rebeled against Massacre almost straight after the Dark Power was allowed to enter me. Talon was buried as a result, but he's getting stronger.

Mikoto: What about that anti-hero, Zero?

Jason: He's had the worst of all. He'd been working for Massacre, using the Dark Power to wreak revenge on alot of his enemies, but he had a small problem. His girlfriend was an arch-angel.

Zidane: Oh no... I think I get the picture. What happened?

Jason: After alot of struggling and suffering, they managed to escape. Even I don't know where to find them now. But one day, Massacre and his Dark Brethren will seek them out. And they'll come after me as well.

(Jason's face betrays a kind of sad anger when he speaks next.)

Jason: Once the Dark Power leaves its mark on you, it never lets go. And anyone who IS marked, is doomed to either fight with or against the cruelest form of evil ever known!

"We could kill anyone once."