posted
"A sacrifice..." Lardy said, repeating Nura Nal's words. "I just lost my grandma, Nura. Isn't that sacrifice enough?"
"I am so sorry about Chione, Lard Lad," Nura replied with a bowed head. "But it isn't what I referred to."
"Look," Lardy shrugged, "I came here ready and willing to give my life if it's what it takes, so if that's it--"
Nura interrupted, "you may yet lose your life before this is over, but this is something more personal that you..." Nura paused and pointed to the other ethereal projection. "...and Tempest must choose to make together."
"No way!" Lardy exclaimed in anger. "I won't let her get hurt! I--!"
"Lardy...Anthony," Tempest intervened. "It's not like that."
"Then, what the fuck IS it like?!? Get to the point, Nura!"
Nura took a deep breath. "It's your future together, Lard Lad. You both must decide if you will give it up."
Lardy was incredulous. "Our future?!? What the fuck--?"
Nura nodded silently. Then, a series of images flashed for all of them to see.
They saw Lardy and Tempest joined together in holy matrimony in the biggest, most extravagant wedding any of them had ever imagined. They saw the two of them uniting Legion World and Avalon as an even greater force for good in the galaxy. They saw the couple's ecstacy as they learned of the impending birth of their first child. Then, Lardy, at long last, held a newborn child of his in his arms and shared the moment with his exhausted, but blissfully happy, wife.
Finally, years later, they saw the child, their daughter, being honored by every race imaginable as her heroic actions brought together the U.P., the Khunds, the Khanate of Sol Invictus and the Dominion for a lasting peace, as her doting parents looked on.
As the 'slideshow' concluded, Lardy was in tears. This was everything he'd ever wanted manifest. A family together and true, lasting love.
"I...I'm not giving that up," he stammered, overcome with emotion.
Cobalt was speechless. In many ways this was the kind of future he wanted as well. All he could manage was to pat his friend on the shoulder in support.
"It's sadistic, Anthony," Tempest added. "I told her so when she showed me the same thing a few days ago." Tears welled in her eyes. She wanted to hold her lover so badly at that moment.
"D-did you agree to it, Temp?" Lardy asked.
"No!" she asserted. "Never!"
"Well, there you have it, Nura!" Lardy said with new confidence. "Why would we ever give that up? What supposed benefit could we get from that?!?!"
Tempest spoke up. "Nura says the sacrifice will activate a degree of power within you that you could never access otherwise. Through a transference spell, you would receive the full inheritance of your birthright as the son of Pornis...at least for a short time."
"And would that be enough to defeat Pornis?" Cobalt asked.
Nura shrugged. "I have not foreseen whether it would be enough. But Chione said herself that the two of you would not be able to defeat them without her as you are now."
Lardy had a haunted look paint his face and said, "she said I had 'love' on my side."
"Lardy," Cobalt said, "that could mean a lot of things..."
"Yes," Lardy replied, "it could." The images he'd just seen ran through his mind. "But none of that could ever happen...if Pornis wins. Would it, Nura?"
"No," she answered definitively. "Pornis would destroy any future we would otherwise have if he is let loose on the universe."
Lardy slowly walked toward the image of his lover. "Temp..."
"No, Lardy! Don't you DARE!" Tempest screamed, and phantom tears rolled down her cheeks.
He stood right in front of her. He would hold her if he could. "You heard her, Temp....none of that could ever happen if my father wins today."
"Lardy...I have faith in you! You can do this without a boost! Don't you realize what this spell would DO?!? It would DELETE all of our love for each other! We wouldn't feel ANYTHING anymore of what we'd had--and we'd never get it back! We'd see each other and feel nothing but APATHY! We were meant to BE, Lardy!" The tears came fast and furious, now. "And I...I love you...so very much..."
"Gods, Temp...Theresa..." Lardy choked. "I love you, too...so much it hurts. But LISTEN! No matter what this spell does to us, I have absolute faith that what we have would eventually overpower whatever it does to us! We'll find each other again and have all of what we just saw! I have faith in us! You...you've got to, too..."
She looked into his eyes and was overcome by the love that burned in them for her. She knew at that moment that maybe...just maybe...he was right, against all logic from what she knew about the spell. She also knew that none of it would ever come to pass if they couldn't defeat Pornis.
"All right, Anthony. I...I agree."
"I love you so much, Theresa. Hold onto that...believe in it, and we'll be together again."
"I will, Anthony."
Then, the two leaned in for a kiss. And though each was a phantom to the other, they both felt it.
Then, Tempest stepped back and began to cast the spell which Nura's sister had prepared before her death. Tempest's resolve was firm, but she kept eye contact with her lover throughout the process, even as tears continued to cloud their vision. Both of them never felt so proud of the other, and their love never felt so strong.
As the incantation progressed, a white glow surrounded Lardy and Tempest. A blinding strand then withdrew from each of them and combined into an orb. Then, the orb shifted colors rapidly before charging right into Lardy. It knocked him backward to the floor, and he lay unconscious. An energy pattern swept over him alternating between red, purple and blue in color.
A moment later, the images of Nura and Temp vanished, and a humming echoed in Cobie's ears.
-OOM!
Shit! Cobalt thought with sudden realization. Time's back on track!
"Lardy!" he yelled. "Wake up!" Cobalt yelled and tried to rouse Lardy with smacks on his cheeks. Unfortunately, Lardy was out cold.
THOOOOOOM!
"Damnit! That was the strongest one yet! I've gotta--"
THOOOOOOM!
And all of a sudden, the barrier was shattered.
As the dust cleared, Cobalt saw a figure glowing red step through. He was about fifteen feet tall. His skin was a sickening red hue. His nails were long and razor-sharp on his fingers and toes. His head was dominated by a single eye that glowed a bright yellow. He was the most terrifying thing Cobalt Kid had ever seen, even moreso because he could see the resemblance to his best friend.
Cobie glanced back at Lardy.
All right, then. Gotta buy Lardy some time...
"Well, well, well," Pornis laughed, "it seems my son is down for a nap! This will be all too easy!"
"Not if I have anything to say about it!" Cobalt said defiantly, his hands glowing with power as he stood between Pornis and his son.
"A snack, then, before the main course!" Pornis snarled.
Then, all at once, Pornis charged!
-------------------- "Suck it, depressos!"--M. Lash
From: The Underbelly of Society | Registered: Jul 2003
| IP: Logged |
posted
Cobalt Kid, after years and years of seeing just about everything he could ever have imagined, found himself wide eyed at the sight of Pornis. Single-eyed, massive and reeking of pure evil, the deity smiled at the Legionnaire.
For a moment fear overtook him. And in that moment he was lost.
And then--something else. Acceptance, and the grim acknowledgement that he had a part to play. It was his duty. And if he were to die today, he would not do it afraid.
Here we go. At last.
"It has been too long since I've felt the sheer joy of choking out the final vestiges of life with my bare hands." He cackled as he spoke, the elation of his freedom in every breath.
"Yeah, well life is full of little disappointments," said Cobalt grimly. He took the air, where he was most dangerous and in an instant, he full full speed ahead.
Cobalt pulled every ounce of metal with him as he flew, hoping a direct hammer shot would do some damage. Have to keep him away from Lardy , he thought. Its our only shot.
The impact was deafening, as Cobalt's adrenaline made him pour every ounce of willpower he could into the crash.
As the dust settled, Cobalt looked for the figure and his heart sank as he saw Pornis looming over him. And then he heard the cackling again.
"Such bravado. Yet wasted, nonetheless."
And in a flash, he whipped his arm around in an arc, smashing down on Cobalt. It connected with a THOOM, and Cobalt was sent reeling.
The LMBer had been hit by Daxamites before; by vampires; by supermen. But never had he felt a blow like this. The armor he had stolen earlier shattered at the impact, and he felt bones breaking and skin ripping, as his body landed twenty feet away in a terrible bloody mess. Only his magnetism protected him, creating a force field of resistance. Any other man would be dead on impact.
There's something else, he thought strategically. He's weak from being imprisoned for so long. And from exerting his will against our friends. Their attack has left him vulnerable. But even now, I can tell he's getting stronger by the second.
"Rise," came the booming, evil voice. Every syllable oozed contempt. "You style yourself a warrior. Come meet your end, then."
Cobalt stood up, every inch of his body screaming. "My...pleasure..." he said through some effort.
Cobalt began to move in an arc, always trying to move the Dark Lord away from his son. Pornis had no doubt he could destroy them both, and gladly took the bait. At last, when he was up against the wall with nowhere to go, he was forced to move. He ran at Pornis again, flying high but then ducking low at the last minute to take out his legs. All the while, he used the old trick of pulling the metal support of the wall to crush Pornis with it.
Before he made contact, the plan had failed.
Erupting from his single evil eye, a searingly powerful blast ripped forward and nailed Cobalt full-on. In an instant, Cobalt felt tremendous pain throughout every fiber of his being. He felt his skin burning with red hot intensity. He felt his nervous system shutting down.
He fell forward right before Pornis. Struggling to get to his knees, Cobalt braced for the impact, as Pornis rained down one, and then two, and then THREE hammering blows. Each one was harder than the last--there's no doubt he's getting stronger.
Pornis let out a bellowing laugh. "If that is all this universe has to stand against me, then this will be easy!" And with those words, Pornis turned to Lard Lad once more.
Cobalt felt his body shattered. He felt exhaustion seap in as the adrenaline began to fade. He knew he had no chance of winning. He knew it was over for him.
And yet, in that knowledge came freedom. "I'm not afraid of you," he said softly--mostly to himself. "I'm not afraid to die, or to lose...I'm not afraid anymore."
Pornis heard the hero muttering, and turned back with curiosity. Perhaps he had misjudged the hero after all. "Stay down, fool. Die in silence."
Cobalt looked up and spit blood. He smiled a small, tired smile. And suddenly, he stood up, and rose to his feet.
He stood in defiance and felt no fear.
"Very well. Die smiling then," said Pornis and he walked across the chamber, fists razed, to end the Legionnaire once and for all.
"ENOUGH!"
Both Pornis and Cobalt turned to see Lard Lad standing once again. His words echoed with authority and his stance rippled with power.
"This ends now father!"
From: If you don't want my peaches, honey... | Registered: Sep 2003
| IP: Logged |
posted
Invisible Brainiac's mind was a dull haze. He had been fighting for so long that he no longer felt pains in his body, or the disgusting feeling of sweat and blood and grime, or the full-on exhaustion that soaked into his very being.
He was on automatic now. His body cried out that it wanted to rest, but his mind and soul knew that giving in would mean the absolute destruction of himself and of everything he loved.
He didn't even need to look around to know that those beside him felt the same thing. Blaze stood so close beside him, and IB took courage from his warmth and his scent. Any other day that scent would have driven him crazy, but now he had to keep focusing.
The surviving Allies had shifted their tactics under Power Boy's leadership. Those in the rear and at the sides covered attackers from behind and the sides and even above. Hrun led them in their desperate, furious stand to make sure those in the middle did not fall. Ghoul after ghoul after ghoul fell at their furious hands. Danger Damsel, Ameratsu, Lumborg Fox, Knightress; furious fighters all; they could have decimated entire armies elsewhere, but the foul unliving creatures here kept coming and coming.
Spellbinder and Crusader led those who could move the earth in protecting their allies from the churning, living ground. They could feel the Dark Lord manipulating the very ground beneath them, and they countered him with all their might. IB saw Kinetix, dress torn and auburn hair flowing behind her, deftly twisting the earth so it flew harmlessly around them. Angdar Fel hovered near her, his fighting skills and nth metal armor making him an effective human shield.
Then there were those in the middle. They hurled mighty blasts with all their might so they could break down the gates to the Dark Lord's castle. Everyone believed that was all that was keeping them from entrance, yet the wrought-iron gates seemed to absorb all force and energy aimed at them. Petty Officers Marvin and Bugs threw their explosives; mighty LMBers like Abin Quank, Harbinger and Myriad poured their energies out; newer members like Conjure Lass were fighting with an energy IB never knew they had; even Reboot was letting loose with the biggest mothersprocking gun IB had ever seen. Nothing.
Lolita was beside him, letting rip to the limit with her firearm. IB could tell she was worried about Shark Lad; but she had no choice but stay and fight. If the Dark Lord won, it wouldn't matter if Shark Lad was still alive elsewhere.
"Come on, we can do this!" Blaze yelled beside IB. "We're the LMB right? We're the good guys! We always win!"
"Yes, listen to Blaze!" Power Boy bellowed, voice like thunder. "Let justice strengthen our blows!"
"Yeah, we can't let the Dark Lord push us around!" IB cried! "We can't!"
"And we won't!" came Saturn Girl's voice in their heads. IB was shocked; he thought she had joined the evacuation. He turned to see Saturn Girl and Candlelight being lifted above the fray in a Dominator craft, courtesy of Cleome. She shrugged as he saw her. "Hey, I wouldn't have felt good running away you know? Besides, I worked hard to gain control of this Dominator tech, might as well use it!"
"Feel your strength, Allies!" came Candlelight's encouraging voice. "Feel your strength and let yourselves strengthen each other!"
Her morale powers settled into each surviving Ally, and they all felt their spirits grow. It was as if a healing spring had been poured on them. Their attacks grew stronger.
Power Boy rose to float above the gathering. He was more pumped up than ever; he looked like he'd just come back from a luxurious vacation. "As one, Allies! On my mark, we will burst into the Dark Lord's castle! Think of all that you hold dear, for we fight for them! Even if we fall, we will make the Dark Lord regret doing battle with us!"
As one, they roared and fired. Beams of energy and light in every imaginable color converged at the gates to the Dark Lord's castle. IB's heart caught in his throat as he saw them meet the beams... and bend! They bent!
"More, more!" Rockhopper Lad yelled. "We are succeeding!"
And they poured on more and more. IB saw that the attacks from ghouls in the area stopped; their combined energies were so strong that none coudl approach.
Suddenly, the light grew so much that even IB had to shield his eyes momentarily. He quickly used his powers to redirect it so the Allies could see. A thunderous noise erupted...
... and when the light cleared, the gates of the castle had fallen!
The Allies stood in stunned silence for but a second. Then Power Boy leaped forward with a roar.
And as one, the Allies charged forward.
IB's heart leaped. He couldn't believe it. They had managed to breach the Dark Lord's castle!
In their exhaustion, none stopped to think. How could it have been so easy, when they had barely kept from being overwhelmed by a fraction of the Dark Lord's strength at Weber's World?
In their haste, they didn't hear the warnings being cried by Saturn Girl or Floating Foxlike Creature. Somehow they sensed what was going on inside. Spellbinder and Crusader sent a desperate telepathic message to the crowd.
"Pornis is free!"
Had they known earlier, it still wouldn't have mattered. For as soon as Power Boy stepped on the castle's threshold...
The very world seemed to explode. Bodies flew through the air as pure energy seemed to come from castle. The Allies were battered by what IB could only describe as a pure wave of energy. He heard screams and smelled burning flesh as they were all thrown backwards; even the hastily thrown shields conjured by their mightiest could only barely dull the blast.
Invisible Brainiac had no idea how long he was out, but he slowly opened his eyes and heard only silence. He could barely move his neck, and saw all around him the barely-twitching bodies of his friends.
He crawled over to Blaze's side and collapsed, an arm around Blaze's chest. He barely had enough time to register that Blaze was still breathing, before he slipped mercifully back into unconsciousness.
His last thought was that they had failed their friends. Lard Lad and Cobalt Kid were in there alone without them.
posted
SharkLad continued to barrel through level after level of the castle. It seemed to go on forever. After several grueling minutes, he paused to take a breath in a large antechamber, so large it was able to contain his massive 100 feet tall frame. There were no windows – impossible as it seemed, he must still be underground. Somewhere above were his colleagues, engaged in a battle he longed to join. But, he could hear nothing. SharkLad began to wonder if he had fallen into some kind of trap. The more he thought about it, he harder he found it to believe that he could have been allowed to enter the castle so easily.
Despite his growing doubts, SharkLad reared back and prepared to resume his climb. Before he could take action, he sensed movement around him – all around him. The walls began to drip with a foul-smelling black oil. Seemingly alive, the walls began to close in on him. Unsheathing his talons, SharkLad swiped futilely at the coming darkness. Despite his best efforts, soon SharkLad found himself completely engulfed. He tried to open his mouth to unleash a barrage of teeth, but his massive jaws remained firmly closed. He found it impossible to take a breath. Is this how he would meet his end?
SharkLad thought of Lolita – did she yet live? He thought of his teammates and the last time they had actually shared a moment of levity. It was in the untamed wilderness of Antioch, swapping stories around the campfire. It was then that a drunken Invisible Brainiac had asked SharkLad a question in front of Lolita that nearly got him a tooth between his eyes –
“So, Sharky… is it true what they say about sharks? You guys, you know, like, actually take a leak through your skin?”
Not one to embarrass easily, SharkLad nonetheless had fumed over IB’s lack of tact in front of his ladylove. But, now, with his very life on the line, SharkLad thought back to the “new trick” he had used in the caverns against the ghouls – maybe he had another one in him. Desperate times called for desperate measures, and with that, SharkLad let nature take its course. Suddenly, SharkLad was able to move ever so slightly. Disgusting, yes, but it was working – the ghouls he had consumed giving an extra kick to his “trick.” Soon, the darkness completely retreated, and a victorious, albeit urine-smelling, SharkLad gave a cry of triumph.
Again, SharkLad reared back – and found himself slammed to the ground as a wave of pure energy emanated from above. His flesh burned – SharkLad roared in anger, but found himself unable to move otherwise. A mighty battle must rage above. As he fought to remain conscious, SharkLad’s final thought was of two of his teammates.
‘Cobie and Lard won’t let it end like this.’
-------------------- Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water...
From: The waters off eastern Long Island | Registered: Jul 2003
| IP: Logged |
posted
The first thing Lardy felt as he slowly emerged into consciousness was an emptiness deep inside him. He struggled for a moment to remember what had happened. He remembered most of what happened with Nura and Temp, but there was a strange...detachment...about his recollection. And what exactly had Nura shown them all that he could no longer recall at all? And why had Temp seemed so important to him at the time?
Lardy quickly shrugged himself out of his malaise as he was snapped out by the sounds of a fierce battle. He looked around and quickly saw Cobie fighting for his life against some red abomination.
Oh my gods, he thought as realization and horror dawned on him. That's him! That's Pornis!
Then, all at once, he saw his friend rising shakily to his feet. Lardy could see it was all Des could do. He saw his father raise his fists to deal what would surely be a killing blow.
"ENOUGH!" Lardy shouted as he rose to his feet. "This ends now, father!"
Pornis turned and looked down toward his son. Pornis saw that his son was more powerful than expected as he watched blue energy crackle around him.
"So," Pornis finally said, "you've somehow accessed more of your gifts. Perhaps this shall be a bit of sport for me, after all!"
Pornis turned from Cobalt and walked towards Lardy. As he turned, Cobie's legs gave out on him, and he crumbled to the ground. He was hurt very badly, but he wouldn't let himself lose consciousness. He wouldn't die asleep, should it happen, and if there was anything he could do to help Lardy, he'd do his best to be ready for it.
Lardy noted his friend's fall but knew there was nothing he could do for him at the moment. He made a silent prayer that Cobie's self-healing would kick in and be enough.
He watched as his father approach almost cautiously. Lardy realized that Pornis was trying to guage his son's power level. Lardy thought fast, trying to figure out what he could do. He noted Pornis' height advantage of about nine feet. Could he--?
Lardy concentrated, and suddenly, he grew to Pornis' height. It hurt like hell, though, as his bones and organs distended.
"More of a fair fight, now, dad?" Lardy taunted, even as he grimaced from the pain.
This seemed to amuse Pornis. "Impressive, young one! You learn quickly. But it will not save you!" Pornis laughed deeply. "Long have I watched you, son. Watched as you struggled with your inheritance. Watched as you punished yourself for taking the life of my whore..." Pornis pointed toward the bound form of Mordra, whose eyes looked upon the scene with utter ecstacy. "Any son of mine who inherited my gifts should be a conqueror--not some hand-wringing, second-guessing weakling! You are an utter disappointment!"
Lardy smiled. "That's the nicest thing you could've ever said to me, pops!"
Pornis snarled and charged Lardy. Lardy was knocked down but flipped right back up to his feet.
Pornis then threw a powerful right hook, which Lardy managed to block with in his left hand. Lardy felt something give in his hand and heard a crack. Nevertheless, Lardy took his father's hands in his and struggled to control them and keep them in his grip.
Suddenly, Pornis' eye glowed brightly and blasted Lardy full-on. Lardy flirted with unconsciousness as he fell to the ground, but he fought it off.
Pornis howled. "Not a good idea to grapple with me, my son! I cheat!"
Lardy focused and energized his body for a powerful retaliating blast. It hit Pornis square in his red chest. He stumbled for a moment but did not fall.
Gods, Lardy thought. I'm barely doing anything with more power than I ever had! If I hadn't had that power-up, I'd be dead already. it still may not be enough...
Suddenly, he thought of that kiss he shared with Tempest moments ago. Why couldn't he feel it anymore?
Sensing his son's distraction, Pornis jumped on him. Lardy was on his back, and Pornis had all the leverage.
Pornis drooled and reached his clawed hands toward Lardy's face. Lardy grabbed Pornis' wrists and fought back with all the might he could muster. But he was losing the battle.
To Lardy, it seemed as if that one horrifying eye was growing ever-larger as Pornis leaned over for a closer look at his son's face.
"Hm. I can see some resemblance, for sure. I'm surprised, frankly, that anything could grow in the withered womb of that frigid mother of yours. Definitely, the worst lay I ever had!" Again came the horrible laughter.
The eye bent down further and almost pressed against either of Lardy's own eyes, alternately.
"Your face could do with a bit of cosmetic surgery, though, to make our relationship a little more obvious...."
Suddenly, Pornis broke Lardy's right, robotic wrist. With a cry in pain, Lardy let his right arm fall momentarily limp. Pornis used his advantage to break his right arm free and pin Lardy's left arm to the ground with his right hand.
Wth a terrible swiftness, Pornis took his left thumb and dug his nail into Lardy's right eye socket. With a sickening squish, Pornis pulled out Lardy's right eyeball, impaled on Pornis's thumbnail.
"AAAAAAIIIIIIIIEEEEEEEEE!!!!" Lardy wailed, even as blood oozed out of his empty eye socket.
Pornis laughed. "Ah, yes! Much better...though we could do with the other eye being centered. Well, we'll be satisfied with what we can improvise!"
Pornis licked the eyeball off his thumb, chewed it up and spit the remains on Lardy's face.
"Enough of this revelrie," he taunted. "Time to finish this--I have a universe to rape!"
His eye began to glow a brighter, more terrible yellow than ever before.
posted
Suddenly, even as he winced in agony from the trauma to his eye socket and prepared for a killing blow, Lard Lad felt a surge build in him. And all at once, a powerful blast of blue energy blazed through his remaining eye and hit Pornis full-on. Pornis, caught completely offguard, went flying hard against the far wall and was momentarily stunned.
Lardy's head hurt like hell when the blast subsided, but he was happy to be alive. Shakily, he climbed to his feet and wiped the blood and gore from his face. He braced himself and used some energy from hs left hand to cauterize the eyesocket. His mind racing, he somehow remembered to reattach his robotic hand and let its self-repair systems do the rest. He assessed his human left hand and figured it was functional enough. Whatever bone was broken in it either wasn't all that major or else the adrenaline he must have been running on was compensating.
Pornis snarled, and his eye began to glow a bright yellow. An instant later, he fired a massive power beam toward Lardy.
But for Lardy, it was almost as if the beam fired in slow motion. He dodged it rather easily, and the energy hammered the wall behind him instead.
Pornis was incensed. "How is this possible?!? I had you beaten!!!"
A stray thought occurred to Lardy that maybe it was the fact that he now only had the one eye that allowed him to access more of the power. He wasn't about to give Pornis that insight however.
Instead, Lardy responded by firing another powerful blast of blue energy. Still somehow too surprised to be ready for it, Pornis again found himself slammed against the wall.
This time, Lardy's head felt like it would explode.
I can't keep doing that. I'll burn myself out!Gotta keep it physical for a while...
Lardy then leapt all the way across the room intending to land feet first on Pornis while he was down. Unfortunately, Pornis reacted in time, grabbed Lardy's legs and threw him hard into the near wall.
"It still won't be enough, whelp!" Pornis taunted.
Stars dancing in his eyes from the blow, Lardy knew his father was correct. Even as the thought went through his mind, Pornis sucker punched him on the back of the head.
Reeling, Lardy first thought he needed to teleport somewhere across the room, but he forgot that power didn't work in this prison. The power-up apparently made no difference. That moment cost him a blow to the mid-section and, from the feel of it, at least two cracked ribs.
Lardy knew another blow was coming, so on instinct, he withdrew his sword from its scabbard and swiped blindly. He felt it cut throught something.
"AAAAAAARRRRRGGGGGGGHHHHH!!!!!" Pornis screamed, as he held the stump where his left hand had just been lopped off. It oozed yellow blood.
Lardy gasped and managed a weak grin when he yelled, "I can cheat, too, you bastard!
Pornis howled and slashed at him with his right claw in response. Now, in swordsman mode, Lardy dodged the blow with a small jump backwards and held up the sword, the one that was bequeathed to him by Sir Roy, in front in a defensive position.
He sized his father's movements up, looking for some tell to show what his next move would be.
"You want a sword fight boy?" The sound of his laughter was deafening. "I'll use my 'sword' on your corpse when I'm done with you! But otherwise..."
Pornis raised his stump, and Lardy watched in horror as the red clawed hand suddenly grew back. Then, Pornis stepped toward him. Lardy swiped at the hand again, and this time it didn't even draw blood. He tried to stab Pornis in the chest, but it didn't go in. He then went to gouge Pornis' eye, but it was undamaged.
Pornis laughed and swatted the sword so hard that it broke into four pieces which landed several feet away.
"You took me by surprise, boy, but no weapon from your universe can harm me for more than a moment!"
SHIT! Lardy thought. But his eye showed only defiance as he launched himself at Pornis, and they started trading blows. The hard way, then.
posted
Meanwhile, Cobalt was still fighting unconsciousness. His healing power was working overtime to mend all of his wounds, but it had its work cut out for it.
He marveled at his friend's valiant struggle against the unimaginably monstrous evil that was Pornis. More than once, though, the flying bodies nearly landed on him. He could tell, though, that Lardy was doing his best to steer the fight elsewhere. But there were a lot of close calls, any of which might have put an end to him had they found him.
Cobie struggled to move. Damn! I feel so helpless! He glanced back over at the melee. And Lardy's weakening. He won't be able to keep this up much longer. If I could buy him some time...
He lifted up his hands and tried to manipulate some metal pieces. Some bits rose for a moment...then promptly fell back down.
Shit! He then tried to concentrate enough to shut down his automatic healing response, so that he could redirect it towards his magnetism. But he just couldn't muster the kind of concentration that required.
Then, suddenly, he saw an eerie white glow out of the corner of his eye. His first thought was: No, damnit! I can't die NOW! I'm not done here yet!
The light drew nearer, and he realized it surrounded a person. His heart skipped a beat at first because he thought it was Mordra.
He realized it wasn't her as he looked and saw Mordra was still lying bound across the room.
He looked at the apparition again,and felt a wave of warmth that seemed to flow from her.
"M-mother?" he whispered as his eyes filled with tears.
But when his eyes adjusted, he realized the woman's face belonged to another familiar person.
"Ch-chione?" he confirmed weakly. "A-are you here to take me w-with you? P-please....n-not yet. Lardy...I gotta..."
The ghost smiled gently and shook her head. Silently, she pointed to her left.
Cobie followed her finger and saw that she seemed to be pointing toward her own corpse.
"I...don't understand..."
She pointed there again, and Cobie forced himself to look harder. It was difficult for him because he felt he had failed both her and Lardy by not being able to heal her wound.
His eyes lingered on the wound a moment until suddenly he realized what she was trying to get him to focus on.
Chione's ghost saw the light go on in his eyes and smiled. She then lay her intangible hands on Cobie's chest and kissed him on the forehead. Then, her form dissipated.
As she faded, Cobie realized her phantom touch had momentarily engulfed him in a white glow. When it faded, he felt a boost to his system. It wasn't much, but it would definitely help.
He used his power to reach out to the thing he needed to get. No effect.
Gotta do this the hard way...
And with an extreme effort, Cobie rose to his feet and slowly, excruciatingly started ambling over to Chione's corpse.
-------------------- "Suck it, depressos!"--M. Lash
From: The Underbelly of Society | Registered: Jul 2003
| IP: Logged |
posted
Lardy wasn't doing so hot. Trading blows with Pornis was only weakening him while Pornis didn't seem to be losing any steam at all.
As hard as Lardy tried to hide it, Pornis was noticing the difference.
"Save yourself some pain and FALL, boy!"
"NEVER!" Lardy screamed defiantly. Then, he put his fists together and knocked Pornis back a few steps.
Pornis wiped some yellow blood off his chin and grinned evilly. "Yield now, and I will spare your children, my son."
Lardy involuntarily let his thoughts drift toward little Hugh and Helena. They were the most precious things in the universe to him. He remembered the time he spent with them before starting this whole quest. He'd do anything for them....
Lardy shook his head. "You're a fucking liar, Pornis! You won't let anything in this universe live if you have your way!"
Somehow, Pornis's grin grew even more sinister. "You're wrong. Your lot has cost me my most loyal servant. Titus is no more. What better replacement for him than my two young grandchildren..." He paused to guage Lardy's reactions with amusement. "So innocent...so impressionable. They will be lost without their father....and their mother, after I've had my way with her...."
Lardy screamed something unintelligible and fired away with the blue beam from his eye.
Pornis grinned and let loose with his yellow beam.
The two beams met and reached a momentary standoff as yellow and blue tried to push past the other.
Lardy's forehead sweated profusely as he tried to push his power to overcome the other. His eardrums echoed the swift beating of his heart. His eye, ears and nose started bleeding profusely the harder he pushed himself.
For Pornis' part, he seemed to only get stronger and stronger as he sustained the beam. His grin became more pronounced and ghoulish. Drool dripped from his prominent fangs as he felt Lardy's exertion.
Finally, Lardy's beam sputtered out, and he was hurled hard into the near wall. More than the force, Lardy was stricken by the sheer agony that the energy caused its victim to feel. From the hole in the wall the impact had made, Lardy fell limply to the floor, face first.
Pornis licked his cracked lips and leisurely strode toward his son for the kill.
Cobalt came within a few steps of his goal when suddenly he felt a hand grasp his ankle.
"No, I won't let you!" Mordra cried. She was crawling on bloody knees. She had freed her hands and removed the gag, but her legs were still bound.
Cobalt barely had any strength to walk, so her grasp was a huge hindrance. He struggled to shake her grip.
"Enough, you bitch!" he yelled. "I owe you one for all the shit you put Lardy thru...and another one for making me stab a good friend all those years ago!"
Cobalt then fell on his back and kicked Mordra hard in the face twice with his free foot. Her eyes rolled and she fell unconscious.
While he felt a certain satisfaction, the exertion he spent threw away some of his energy boost. He struggled to get back on his feet. When he couldn't manage, he crawled the last few feet and grasped the object he needed.
He was startled by a loud thud and looked around in time to see Lardy fall on his face, unmoving. He was horrified to see Pornis, unharmed, moving casually in for the kill.
"LARDY!" Cobie shouted with as much voice as he could muster.
Lardy's eye opened at the sound of his friend's voice. With great effort, he rose to his knees.
"CATCH!" Cobie yelled as he saw Lardy rise. Then, with all the strength he could manage, Cobalt hurled the slender object as he had hurled many spears in the course of his life. He was the best known sentient in that skill and this would be the throw that counted the most.
A look of horror painted Pornis' face as he instantly recognized the object. He tried to stop its trajectory with a blast of power from his eye, but the energy passed harmlessly around it.
Lardy managed a leap and caught the object. It was off to his left four feet, but it was close enough.
Lardy took a moment to examine his prize and instantly realized its significance. It was the dagger that had been fashioned out of the tooth of XXXauron. Mordra had used it to slay Chione. If it could kill her....
Lardy grinned. then, he grasped the dagger and charged Pornis with renewed energy.
Pornis tried to dodge his son, but Lardy's speed was too much.
Lardy pointed the dagger forward. Pornis tried to shield himself with his hands, but the dagger cut right through them. Yellow blood spewed from the hands, and splurted all over Lardy.
Pornis stepped back, but Lardy kept on slashing at him with the weapon. He stabbed him in the chest three times, and Pornis sprawled to the ground on his back.
"M-mercy, my son...I beg of you...."
Tears flowed from Lardy's eye. He really didn't want to kill again, but... If I don't, there's no other way to contain him--
Suddenly, Pornis' bleeding claws dug into Lardy's throat.
"WEAKLING!"
Lardy managed to keep hold of the dagger and buried it right into Pornis' eye just as it was firing up for another blast.
"AAAAAAAAIIIIIIIIEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!"
Pornis's grip loosened, and Lardy staggered backward. He fell to the ground and watched as Pornis grew a brighter and brighter yellow, and his scream grew louder and louder.
Moments later, Pornis' body grew cracks all over it and yellow light bled through each crack. The whole prison began to crumble and shake.
He's dying...and going to critical mass! I've got to get us out of here!
Lardy rushed over to where Cobalt lay. He paused very quickly to gather up the pieces of Sir Roy's sword in a pouch and then went to Cobalt's side to help him up. Lardy struggled with his friend's dead weight, suddenly realizing that he himself had shrunk back to his normal height.
"C'mon, Des, help me out here!"
"You...you get 'im, Lardy?" Cobalt said weakly.
"Yeah, Des...we did it...now, we gotta live through it!"
That seemed to give Cobalt a boost, and he staggered to his feet, supported by Lardy.
Lardy headed for the tunnel, then turned to Mordra. She was weeping uncontrollably.
"Can't carry both of ya," Lardy said to her. "Save yourself." Then, he cut the bonds on her feet.
Freed, she simply shrieked and ran toward where her Dark Lord was expiring. Lardy watched her get as close as ten feet before the heat of his death throes reduced her to ashes.
Lardy shook his head. Then, he proceeded up the tunnel with Cobie's arm around his shoulder.
"Shit!" he cursed. "Forgot it was collapsed!"
He looked back as the globe of destruction spread outwards.
"Well, hope I can 'port out of here now...and if so, that I have enough energy left to make it happen! If not...well, it's been fun..."
A moment later, the prison of the Dark Lord was atomized.
Out in the realm itself, ghouls and all manner of fell creature suddenly dissolved into black dust.
Volcanoes emerged and erupted with immeasurable violence all over the dark, barren world. Earthquakes more powerful than any the Richter Scale had ever measured tore everything apart.
Rockhopper Lad observed all of this and the destruction of the fortress from above on his winged steed.
"The Dark Lord has fallen, LMB!" he cried. "Lardy and Cobie did it!"
A great victorious roar rose from the survivors.
"But this realm is destroying itself! Retreat to the ships at once! That's an ORDER!!!"
And as he gave the order, Rocky knew that there would be no time to attempt a search and rescue for the valiant destroyers of Pornis if they even survived that horrific explosion. Even the fastest among them wouldn't be able to find them in time, especially haggard as they were from this endless battle.
He prayed to Dywh that they had an escape plan. He prayed to Dywh for their souls.
posted
“Back to the cruisers!” yelled Rockhopper Lad. As he spoke, another volcano erupted in the distance. “We don’t have much time!” His voice echoed over the chaos, booming with the authority of leadership.
The Legionnaires responded in kind; all save one. “Cobie! Lardy! We can’t just leave them!” said Invisible Brainiac. He suddenly flew up in the air.
“Don’t you dare!” yelled Blaze to him.
The words broke Invisible Brainiac’s heart because he knew he’d already made the choice. “I’ll see you in orbit,” he said with a smile. And suddenly he was off.
“We won’t abandon them,” said a voice falling in beside him. It was confident and it was filled with grandeur. “For the fellowship,” said Power Boy.
Invisible Brainiac smiled. He heard another rustle and saw two others would join them in this last desperate search party. Angdar Fel, silent and grim, but determined to do his duty.
And Engine Joe. The legendary hero took the lead. “We must have hope,” he said.
**********************
They ported onto a large rock and before they could get their bearings, the rock shifted, causing them to fall. A large BOOM followed as the rock was ripped out of the landscape and swept into a river of lava. Ash and a blast of lava reigned down around them.
The rock was barely big enough to hold two men, yet it did. Lard Lad and Cobalt Kid were there, coughing through the ash, and on the cusp of death…but still holding on. The lava gnawed at the rock, slowly burning it until it would be eventually reduced to nothing.
Cobalt rolled over to his back, coughing. He tried to muster some amount of energy or power…but he was spent. His magnetism was not functioning, nor was his healing. He had given everything, and even now, with certain death approaching, he had nothing left.
He turned towards Lard Lad, who now mustered every bit of effort to sit himself upright. Lard Lad had found the strength for one final ‘port and Cobalt knew he was trying to find the strength for one more—but he was failing. Lard Lad concentrated but exhaustion was setting in.
The adrenaline of the battle had worn off.
“Nothing?” said Cobalt.
“Nothing,” replied Lardy.
“Me neither.”
Cobalt forced himself to sit up. All around them was ash, lava and explosions. Yet, a sense of calm overtook him. He could see Lard Lad felt the same.
A tremendous weight had been lifted off the two of them.
“We did it,” said Cobalt with a smile.
Lard Lad—bloody and with just one eye—smiled back. “We did it. All that hard work…and sacrifice…the universe is safe.” Lardy wiped the blood and sweat off his forehead. “I just wish we could see it one last time.”
They both knew it was over. Neither had the strength to carry on a long conversation, let alone anything else. For these longtime heroes, death was fast approaching.
They were in tatters. Emaciated. Bloody and injured. They clutched on small items that meant more to than their own bodies. For Lardy, the bag of remnants from Roy’s sword; for Cobalt, a common pipe given to him as a gift on Antioch.
Cobalt reached out his hand and put it around Lard Lad’s one good one. “I’m glad to be here with you, Lardy, at the End of All Things.”
And the two of them hugged, embracing like brothers. Tears ran down their cheeks; not out of sadness for their final moments, but out of happiness. For the support in helping each other find themselves again. For the brotherhood.
Too tired to speak further, they simply leaned back against the rock, watching the ash pass by like snow and feeling the heat inch ever closer as a molten death loomed.
Cobalt felt himself drifting into unconsciousness. Suddenly he heard wings flapping. An angel? Is that what…?
“Is that a dragon?” he said suddenly as a large winged shape took form in the ashy mist.
“Yeah,” said Lard Lad with a grin. “It sure is.”
**********************
Zee, the dragon, was a creature full of secrets. For instance: among her various abilities and talents was a trick that allowed her to shrink down to incredibly small size for special stealth purposes. It was exactly this trick she employed while on Naltor that allowed her to enter the Dark Realm of Pornis via the portal of Lard Lad and Cobalt Kid.
Her entrance was mere moments later, yet that small yet important delay caused her to be shifted across space and time to elsewhere in the Dark Realm. For weeks she stealthily, and often viciously, battled the Dark Lord’s legions and in the last two days she battled bravely alongside the Allied Forces against the Dark Lord’s ghouls.
At long last, she sensed Lard Lad’s presence as he ‘ported out of Pornis’ castle. And at long last, she could save him.
**********************
“It’s no use,” said Angdar Fel. He was not one to mince words and spoke truth. “We’ll never see them through all this ash and fire. Even more eyesight cannot pierce the veil too far.”
“We can’t give up!” yelled Invisible Brainiac. The realization was setting in that two of his brothers were not going to be coming back with him.
Power Boy looked at Engine Joe. His senses and abilities could find no trace of their friends. But perhaps this legendary hero might have a trick up his sleeve. “What do you think?” he said at last.
Engine Joe looked forward into the ashy storm and remained emotionless. Then, a curious look. Then a frown. And at last, a smile.
“Is that a dragon?”
From: If you don't want my peaches, honey... | Registered: Sep 2003
| IP: Logged |
posted
The Dark Oval In Orbit, near the former Dark Realm
For months the volcanic explosions and carnage would ravage the Dark Realm, cleansing it of its evil. Eventually, it would settle into a quiet period of restoration, as life crept back into the once barren landscape. And on the spot where Chionne fell would be a spring. Water would flow outwards from it, replenishing the land around it so that a beautiful paradise would one day exist.
**************************************
The Legionnaire known as Kid Prime, a Legion World founder and beloved member, was unique in that he could expand and grow his massive techno-frame at will. He transformed himself into a massive space craft when needed, called by the other Legion World Founders as Prime. It was here that the majority of the Allies vast armada was housed, as they recovered from the Greatest of All Battles.
Within the sick recovered; the injured were healed; the exhausted found rest. But the mood never once ventured towards the negative. For the universe was saved and the future began now. There was cheering and there was singing. There was dancing and there was laughing. Sentients hugged each other and kissed each other; they drank and they ate. They were merry. The truly celebrated life.
A smaller few stayed close to one another. They felt the bounds that only those who have experienced great hardship and tremendous reliance on one another felt. They were the Fellowship. They gathered now, near the sickbay: Invisible Brainaic, Helena Handbasket, Power Boy, Juj, Ameratsu, Lolita, Timberwolf, Kalla Hykros, Time Teller Lad, Rockhopper Lad and Hyvvie the Wonder Beagle. They were stationed in the sickbay, outside of two rooms where their Fellows lingered on the brink of either death or life.
Suddenly a rugged, brash voice could be heard as thundering footsteps hammered the floor. Shark Lad was coming down the hallway.
Lolita ran to him at full speed and wrapped her arms around him. “Oh, I was so worried,” she said. He picked her up and held her tight.
“You’ll never guess what new powers I’ve developed…” he said, though Lolita wasn’t paying attention.
“Easy fishlips,” said Timberwolf, coming over to greet his cousin. “Don’t ruin the moment.” Timberwolf had been on edge the entire time. Some of them knew he was still reeling after Dev Em’s death. They wondered how badly he blamed Cobalt.
Nearby, Princess Crujectra with her brother Crusader, stood outside Cobalt Kid’s room. She looked prepared to walk over to the Fellowship but her brother put his hand on her arm. “Don’t, sister,” he said calmly. “At this point, I don’t think any others are welcome”.
Finally, Nurse Tina, who had become close friends with Invisible Brainiac during the Battle of Weber’s World, opened up the door to Lard Lad’s room. She smiled at the assembled fellowship, who looked on earnestly. “He’s awake,” she said finally.
**************************************
Within, Lard Lad was dazed for a moment—not believing he had somehow survived the ordeal in Pornis Castle. Not believing he was alive. And then, a feeling beyond description overtook him. A sense of victory; of relief; of safety. He couldn’t help himself and started to laugh.
As he laughed, they came in, one by one. They met his laughter with their own. They hugged him, one by one, welcoming him back into the fold. Rockhopper Lad sat down on the bed of the man he once loved and the two looked at each other with a loving, caring smile, and hugged each other deeply.
When they let go of the embrace, Lard Lad saw Kalla Hykros, and she was smiling. He surprised himself when he realized he was smiling back.
And then in the doorway was one more of the Fellowship: Cobalt Kid. Healing himself, he had struggled to his feet when he heard the commotion. And the first place he went to was to check on his comrades. Juj walked over and gave him a tight hug, and Cobalt just looked at Lardy and smiled, and Lardy smiled back.
**************************************
Outside in the hallways, they were all clapping. And as the elation died down, one by one, they began to move back to their responsibilities, confident they would see each other soon enough on this long journey home. “Let him heal, now!” said Nurse Tina, though she was laughing as well. “And you, Cobalt Kid, back to your room. And you too, Tim!” she added to Time Teller Lad, who blushed.
Cobalt was still too tired and in too much pain to have any real meaningful conversation right now. He wanted to talk to them all at length: Lolita, Lon, Rocky…everyone. But he only got out of his bed to see them all again. As he walked back to his room, he saw Princess Crujectra waiting for him outside the room. She walked over, and gave him a deep, tight hug. Beside her, Crusader smiled.
Cobalt hugged her back. It felt so familiar and so warm…yet so different. Their telepathic link had been shattered by Titus was gone, perhaps forever. And while he knew Crujeckie was incredibly relieved he was safe, he felt something a little colder about the huge. More formal. He knew she was still incredibly distressed by the Khunds. Perhaps she’d never forgive him for it. Or perhaps it was that during this journey, Cobalt had changed too much.
“There’s to be a party tonight,” she said after a moment, smiling and looking him in the eyes. “You need to get your rest as I believe you’re a guest of honor”.
Cobalt’s stomach growled at the thought of food. “Food. Booze. A shower. Brushed teeth.” He closed his eyes and smiled. “I never thought I’d experience any of those things again.” He started to walk back into his hospital room and laid down on his bed. His eyes began to immediately close from exhaustion.
“Come on, sister,” said Crusader. “Let him rest.”
From: If you don't want my peaches, honey... | Registered: Sep 2003
| IP: Logged |
posted
Amidst the bustling on Prime, a loud voice could be heard shouting, "I AM SO MAD AT YOU RIGHT NOW!"
Angdar Fel quietly whispered to Kinetix as they watched Blaze stalk back and forth. "I am so glad you didn't react that way." Kinetix sssheed him.
"I can't believe you put yourself in danger AGAIN!" Blaze yelled as his hair involuntarily flamed up. "I told you not to go!" Blaze said as the flames spread to his eyes and he began snorting smoke.
Invisible Brainiac sheepishly scratched the back of his neck. "I'm sorry, hon..."
"And didn't you tell me your Earth-4 self was DEAD? What if the same thing had happened to you?!!"
"Oh baby, I'm so sorry..." IB gave Blaze his best cute look. "I brought you a gift..." IB indicated Zee the dragon, who looked hungrily at Blaze's flame. Blaze just glared at IB. "You THINK sorry is ENOUGH? Don't you dare use your cute look on me!"
The corners of IB's mouth drooped downwards and he hung his head. "Oh... now you're mad... Now I'm sad for making you mad."
"Oh... you... you... you... Oh, just shut up and kiss me," Blaze said as he pulled IB in tight.
Petty Officer Marvin chuckled. "I am so going to miss that if I leave the LMB."
Kairos smirked. "So don't. We can stay and kick butt together."
Marvin raised an eyebrow. "Ralph let you stay?"
Kairos shrugged. "He did say the LMB's been having a positive impact on me. You know, me volunteering to take care of the wounded and all that. Really selfless, he said."
"Hey, hey, hey! Don't you all just stand there! Aren't you going to get ready for the party?" Spelling Bee yelled as she zipped past. "It's time to gooooooooooo!"
Officer Bugs leaned over, as if to whisper, but his voice was clearly heard by all. "Help me get her drunk fast. I think it's the only way to shut her up!"
Spelling Bee rounded on him, mechanical bees whirling in a frenzy. "Oh YEAH?! At least I have a melodious voice, unlike YOU! You sound like an oversize rat on helium!"
Bugs' eyes widened as he stretched to his full height and towered over Spelling Bee. "You know, of course, that this mean war!"
Despite herself, Danger Damsel laughed as the two bickered. "This is all mightily entertaining, but after nearly facing certain death I think I'd like to really enjoy the party. See you all there," she said as she turned around.
One by one, the others left as well. IB hugged Blaze tight. "I can't wait to finally introduce you to the rest. You're gonna love them."
posted
Kar Em Walked the Prime's halls. He knew that the kids were planning a big party. He knew why, but he just did not feel like celebrating.
He almost ran right into several of the LMB because he was not really paying attention to where he was going.
"Sorry about that."
"No problem," the young man said as he passed by.
Kar Em smiled a little bit despite himself. [I]So young and full of life.[I/]
He heard someone say something to him and he turned his head to see Gear, his other universe grandson, standing there.
"Hello Jon. How are you feeling?"
"Well, pretty good all things considered. I got my limbs back, and thanks to Kid Prime, they're massively upgraded. But..."
Kar nodded. "I know. We have a lot to do when we get back. It won't be easy for you to see them all again, will it?"
"No, but I feel that I have to do this. To meet them. I can be just another long lost relative that got involved in the fight...if it's all the same to you. I'm not sure I could handle them knowing the truth."
"That's fine by me, but you'll be amazed at how perceptive they are."
"I'll handle that if it happens. I'll be honest if pressed...but to start with, I think it's best if they do not know who I am and where I came from. Especially considering..."
Kar looked at the young man, who honestly was in his early thirties, even though he was only around the age of five here in this universe. Something about coming back in time to help prevent a horrific event. "What is it? You seem uncomfortable about something else besides the funeral and meeting your family again as well."
"Well, I hope you don't mind...but I have decided to stay here in this universe, permanently. I also am going to change my name, as there is already a Jon Em running around here."
"That would be entirely up to you...why would I mind?"
"I'm going to take the name of your father. Zor Em."
Kar Em laughed for the first time in days. "That would be a splendid thing, as you will no doubt honor his memory."
Gear looked at the man he called grandfather questioningly. "Honor him, I don't understand? My grandfather hated his father."
"Another universe lad. My father and I got along famously...got into a lot of trouble over the years until his untimely passing."
Kar walked next to Gear and put his arm around his shoulder. "Now tell me, who is this young lady I hear you've been spending time with..."
From: Turn around... | Registered: Jul 2003
| IP: Logged |
posted
Cobalt Kid laid there in his hospital bed, finishing his fifth meal and catching up on the month of news he'd missed; he looked tired and frail but he was healing. He was so wrapped up in his own thoughts that he didn't notice her.
Lolita stood there in the doorway to his room and watched him, and the full impact of his being alive set in. Relief.
And yet, all the other pain and doubt she felt about other things now came rushing back because she was running out of distractions.
He noticed her at last. She was worried he'd never forgive her. For slapping him. For parting ways like that--making him feel awful when he already had the weight of the world on his shoulders. She realized she should never have doubted his forgiveness for a second.
"Hey," he said, a big smile spread across his lips.
"Hey," she said softly, smiling back.
And moments later, she was sitting on his hospital bed on his lap, holding her arms tightly around him with her face planted in his chest. He held her equally as tight. She fought back the tears but still the came. And she was shocked to feel his own tears coming as well.
"I missed you."
*********************
Since leaving the Dark Realm she had been a bundle of neves. Zhiya helped her focus: get rest, eat, get new clothes. And finally Sharky had come back. She was so glad to see him, so happy to be with her boyfriend.
But now all the trauma began to set in. She had killed Belissarius. The war was over and there were no more distractions.
And while Sharky and Zhiya lent her strength there was only one person she could talk to this understood living with tough decisions. He was her best friend in the world, and for so many years she'd wished it was more. But now after everything she just needed him to help her.
*********************
Cobalt sat back in his bed, and Lolita laid next to him. "Your beard. The long hair," she said, taking in his appearance. "You look so different."
He laughed. "I need a shower." Cobalt had felt relief when he knew Lolita had forgiven him. But it didn't take him long to see something was wrong.
"Yeah, you do," she said sarcastically.
The attempts at levity were too forced. "Lolita, what's wrong? What's happened?"
He looked deeply into her eyes and in that moment it was clear his sole motivation was concern for his friend.
So she told him. And as she explained it, she found herself dealing with it for the first time. She cried and she accepted that it happened.
"I wish I could tell you it'll get easier," said Cobalt. "But it doesn't. It'll just come and go...often when you least expect it."
She nodded and wiped away her tears. She was quiet for a moment and then said "I brought your jacket. You can have it back."
"No, it's yours," replied Cobalt. "I don't think I have any use for it anymore."
She nodded and considered the ramifications of the comment. She had not told him about her conversations with Timberwolf or what might lay ahead with Mirenna. "Do you mind if I hang here, while you shower and stuff?"
Cobalt spent some time showering, brushing his teeth and feeling clean for the first time. Lolita stayed nearby. She knew she should be spending time with Shark Lad, and she wanted to check on everyone else. But once she left again, she'd have to face reality.
Finally, Cobalt emerged in normal clothes. "No uniform?"
"Not yet," he said. She didn't question it. "C'mon Lolita," he said. "It's time to face the world."
She nodded and stood up. She could hide for so long. A thought occurred to her suddenly. "Wait until you meet Zhiya!"
From: Right by Cobie's Side | Registered: Jul 2003
| IP: Logged |
posted
Lolita felt better after spending some time with Cobie, and walked through the hallway with confidence. She was in a stylish blue cocktail dress with the black trenchcoat she often wore on top of it. As she approached her friend, she felt a tang of guilt; she had spent so much time with Cobalt Kid that not only was she basically ignoring Shark Lad, she was ignoring her newfound best friend Zhiya, and the two did not have much longer together before Zhiya returned back to her proper universe. This caused her to pick up her pace and she essentially barged into Zhiya’s room.
Zhiya, with her enhanced senses, heard her coming a mile away. The blind Asian woman smiled at her friend’s entrance, glad to see her. As she looked up to greet her, however, a familiar scent could be found lingering on Lolita. It caused her a momentary shock, but Zhiya was a true poker player with her emotions and hid it well. Lolita still noticed and knew immediately what Zhiya smelled: Cobalt Kid.
“You’ve been busy,” said Zhiya matter-of-factly. “But judging from your abrupt entry and choice of clothes, you’re certainly in higher spirits.”
“I do feel a little better,” replied Lolita with a smile. She looked Zhiya over and saw she was wearing her typical black shirt and pants, still looking very ninga-like. “You’re not going like that, are you?” she said with a laugh.
“Going where?” replied Zhiya also laughing.
“To the party, of course!” replied Lolita. “I may not be Kinetix but I’m told I’m very fashion-forward,” she said, suddenly looking through the closet of the guest room for something for Zhiya to wear.
“I had considered not going,” said Zhiya suddenly. “I’m still very tired from the injuries,” she lied.
Lolita dismissed the obvious lie. “Nonsense,” she said, still looking for clothes. “We don’t have much time left together. You know, I’m really going to miss you, Zhiya. We have to figure out a way for the two of us to stay in contact. I’m sure the Dardens can help.”
“That would be nice,” replied the one they called “Lady Daredevil.”. “To be honest, I have no idea what I’m doing to do now when I get home. I’m not quite cut out for the Society of Message Board Posters.” Zhiya watched with her enhanced senses as Lolita went through the closet. Lolita seemed upbeat but Zhiya could feel some of it was forced. Her posture gave it away. “Lolita, in the short time that I’ve known you, I’ve seen you do some very amazing things,” said Zhiya. “You’ve truly stepped up and taken the world head on. You’ve matured.”
Lolita turned around, eyebrow raised, surprised at this change in conversation. “Thank you,” she said, unsure where this was going.
“And now that Cobalt Kid is home, you’ve suddenly settled back into an old role of staying behind the scenes and avoiding the pure truths of what has occurred. That is a step backwards, and you know it.”
The words hit Lolita like a bucket of cold water. Instantly, she was furious. And then minutes later, she knew it was true. In the time she’d known Zhiya, she knew her friend to be blunt and honest. “I…I guess I kept thinking when Cobie came home I wouldn’t have to face the…ugliness of what I’ve become a part of. I…” she started to say and then stopped. “You’re right,” she finished. “It took an awful lot to get to where I am. And I like myself much better now than I did before.”
Zhiya smiled. “When you walk down the hallway, people take notice,” said Zhiya. “You are a Legionnaire. A great hero. You’ve experienced the most terrible sacrifice and the most wonderful victory. You are not that scared girl anymore. Remember that.”
“I will,” said Lolita smiling, and she leaned forward and hugged Zhiya tightly. Zhiya’s words reiterated what Lolita already knew: she’d found a best friend and it meant the world to her.
*********************
At the party that evening, Lolita arrived with Shark Lad to much celebration. She felt confident and strong; she felt sexy. She drew looks from numerous party-goers and it felt great having Sharky by her side, and greeting all of her friends. She was so happy to see Invisible Brainiac and Blaze, and they quickly made plans for a triple date, which would also include Andgar Fel and Kinetix, two heroes she did not know.
Eventually, Shark Lad drifted off to join some of the rowdier heroes like his counterpart from Earth-4. Lolita looked for Zhiya but did not see her friend in attendance. Eventually, she spotted Cobalt Kid arrive, however, and quickly joined him. He was dressed in plain clothes, and remained unshavened and with long hair. He looked as handsome as ever with his steel blue eyes piercing through, but he still looked very frail and thin. Physically he looked weak, but mentally, she could see another story. He looked vibrant. She wondered how he was able to deal with all the trauma that he went through when she was having such trouble but she could tell by his mannerisms that he was not really in the mood to celebrate.
She could see that so many of their Legionnaire brethren were distant to Lard Lad and Cobalt Kid. Wary of them, almost. As if interactions with the two should be done very cautiously. He did not admit it, but Lolita knew it hurt him.
Suddenly, she saw Zhiya across the room. “Wait here, Cobie!” she said, and ran across to Zhiya. “I didn’t think I would see you here!” she said to her friend. “And you look beautiful, too,” she added. Zhiya looked majestic: she was in a sleek, fitting black dress with a luxurious shawl over it. Her hair was tied in a blue ribbon, set along the side, and she wore little make-up—she did not need it.
“I thought I would at least enjoy the toast to our victories, and to our fallen friends,” she said with a smile.
“Don’t move!” said Lolita, anxious to make the introduction. “I can’t wait for you to meet our Cobie!”
Lolita suddenly ran back to Cobalt Kid and grabbed him by the arm. She dragged him through the crowd, causing Rockhopper Lad and Time Teller Lad—who he was talking to—to start laughing. At last she came back to Zhiya was…but she was gone. “Zhiya?” she asked aloud. “Has anyone seen Zhiya? I was sure she would be right here.”
Lolita was confused at first but it began to dawn on her what had happened. Cobalt seemed to instantly understand. Evidently he had taken the time to learn who Zhiya was too. “Maybe this wasn’t a good idea, Lolita,” he said softly to her.
“Oh no…” she said.
*********************
Lolita found her not far away, sitting by herself in a darkened stairwell. She was in the shadows, and huddled by herself. She was crying.
“I’m sorry, Zhiya,” said Lolita. “I should have thought…I’m so stupid…”
“No, it’s okay,” said Zhiya, looking up, as Lolita hugged her. “I thought I could see him. He’s not even my Cobie, after all. Why should I be so upset? But…but I can’t face him. I…I-I miss him so much…” she said.
And Zhiya cried into Lolita’s shoulder. Zhiya, who was the toughest woman Lolita had ever known, cried as she mourned her dead husband.
From: Right by Cobie's Side | Registered: Jul 2003
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posted
SharkLad watched as Lolita dragged Cobalt Kid through the crowded party. He felt his pulse quicken.
“What the sprock?” SharkLad mumbled.
“What’s that?” asked his counterpart from Earth-4.
“Nothing,” SharkLad answered, as he turned his eyes away from Lolita. “It’s nothing.”
“So, c’mon, you were telling us about the castle.”
“There ain’t sprockin’ nothing else to tell.”
“What do you mean there’s nothing else to tell? How the sprock did you get out of there?” asked the persistent E-4 SharkLad.
But, SharkLad wasn’t paying attention. He was staring at Cobalt Kid. Lolita had abruptly left his side. SharkLad wondered what the legendary hero was thinking. Did Cobalt Kid truly desire Lolita the way SharkLad did or was she just another conquest to be had?
“I need to get the sprock out of here,” SharkLad growled.
“Hey! Where you going?”
SharkLad didn’t answer. Instead, he pushed his way through the crowd, passing by Cobalt Kid. They locked eyes for a moment, and it looked like Cobalt Kid was about to speak, but SharkLad didn’t give him the chance.
Out in the corridor, SharkLad took a deep breath. From a distance, he heard the faint sound of crying. Following the sound, he spotted Lolita cradling a woman in a black dress. This was just getting weirder and weirder, he thought.
SharkLad watched Lolita for a few moments. He felt his pulse quicken again, but not from anger this time. Watching Lolita now, SharkLad realized how truly, hopelessly in love with her he was. Even those who knew him well would be surprised by the depth of his feelings. Still, he had questions about her relationship with Cobalt Kid, but now was clearly not the time.
SharkLad turned and headed back towards the party.
-------------------- Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water...
From: The waters off eastern Long Island | Registered: Jul 2003
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