Sovereign New Vindicators Ch. 10

[McGuffin]

So my poking had some effect? I really like your depiction of Otso, it really rings true to me. Also the evolution of his powers is an interesting idea I hadn't considered previously. I'll have to keep that one in mind.

[Horsenhero]

Yeah, sometimes you poke the bear, and sometimes the (were)bear pokes you.

To be honest, I thought maybe you and AE were plotting together given that your "reminders" arrived mere days apart.

I was going to go into depth on the event that caused the realization of his powers evolution, but, there will be time for that later. The story is "backstory explanation crazy" anyway, so one more flashback won't hurt.

[Horsenhero]

Ch. 7: Pillow talk-


Unlike most of the Presidential Residence. the halls surrounding the rooms of Jack Rexroth were empty. No domestic staff wandered, nor did any guards patrol. On most nights, these passages would be as busy as any others, but on this day, Jack's lover had come calling and that was enough for even the stalwart of the staff to find business elsewhere. It didn't help things that jack made them nervous to begin with. While all NS and Esper gifts caused some degree of trepidation, and Atavist and Niloticus' bestial forms could be frightening, Greystone was ever-changing. That constant fluidity, coupled with his, often savage, demeanor was cause enough for fear. Once the rumors started about the nature of the lush, sensual, bedouin princess who visited him, the bravest of the staff was all that would linger nearby. After the first night the pair had sex, even they fled. So when Jack heard footfalls in the hallway, followed by frantic pounding on his door, he knew there was serious trouble.

"Dammit." Jack swore, rolling off Siam. "This better be important."

Lounging indolently, her body covered in a fine sheen of sweat, his lover licked at the blood coating her hands. Her eyes sparkled with mischief as she watched him pull on his pants.

"You might wanna heal some o' them wounds baby." He growled, gesturing at the bruises and gashes marring her otherwise perfect flesh.

"I suppose." She said stretching, her body uncoiling like a waking lioness. "I'd forgotten how fearful these mere mortals are."

"Ya. I'm a mortal too babe."

"Mmm true, but there's nothing mere about you."

Jack chuckled as he tapped a cigarette out of the pack on the night stand and looked around for his lighter. It was nowhere to be seen. He figured it had gotten knocked onto the floor and scattered, along with his phone and the, now broken, lamp during this afternoons' exercises. Taking pity on him in his growing frustration, his bedmate focued on the tobacco filled cylinder, and with a quick red flare of her eyes, lit it.

"Thanks Siam, yer a peach." He said, trundling over to the door. He was awfully glad it was a solid door, otherwise the frantic pounding and repeated Mr. Jack's would quickly become tiresome. Opening the door, Jack glared balefully at the soldier pounding on it. "Whaddya want?"

The soldier gulped nervously, nearly quailing under the shapeshifters' heated gaze. Upon spotting the blood soaked beauty on the bed, his eyes went wide and he gulped twice more. His voice seemed to have deserted him.

"Well?" Jack prodded, his irritation obvious.

"It...It is de Prime Minister...he is in trouble!"

Jack practically snarled at that. The Prime Minister was what the baselines called Vlad, much to the other man's consternation.

"Gimme two minutes to get dressed." And he closed the door. "Dammit Vladislav, you dumb puke! I told him not to go without a full escort!"

Glancing over at Siam, he had to smile. She'd gone from naked repose to full belly dancer regalia in the wink of an eye.

"Thin you could help me out here babe?" Jack grumbled.

"Oh, yes master!" She giggled, doing her best Barbara Eden as Jeannie impression Folding one forearm over the other, the dusky woman gave an exaggerated blink and Greystone was in his work clothes. He was clean too. Even the sweat and blood from their...you couldn't really call it lovemaking, due to the violence...was gone.

Running a hand over his shaven, tattooed head, he grunted. "No more TV Land for you, and I've seriously got to learn that spell."

His companion grinned widely. "I don't cast spells lover. Magic is part of what I am, I just think of what I desire and it happens. Besides, you have all the magical aptitude of a trout. And what's wrong with TV Land Jack?"

He grunted again. "Call me Greystone when I'm in uniform."

Miles westward, two people dressed in green and gold crouched in the tall grass. Not three kilometers from their current location was the scene of a devastating ambush. Smoke rose from the destroyed vehicles and tortured ground of the battlefield. It had been two and a half days since the ambush, but both hunters and hunted remained close by.

"Do you think Niloticus made it?" Fathia asked in a hoarse whisper. The Somali NS had been teetering on the brink of panic since the attack.

"Assuming he made it to the water, he escaped. If he escaped, he will send help." The stocky, dark haired man answered levelly.

"Why are we still here?" She asked again. Vlad was tiring of the repeat questions, but he had to remind himself, unlike Aziza, she'd seen little combat.

"They have Ikey. I will not leave her behind."

"Meaning?"

"Meaning we wait for reinforcements, then we take her back."

"What if there are no reinforcements?" Her voice cracked with emotion.

"Then," Vlads' green eyes sparkled maliciously. "we do this the fun way."

[Michuru81]

Something tells me the fun way won't be fun for certain individuals...

[Horsenhero]

Ch. 8- Answers add to the Confusion:


In an otherworldy fortress, a pair of men strode leisurely through the halls. Despite differences in height, demeanor and uniforms, the were not unalike. Both moved with the surety of the powerful. Both carried themselves like warriors. One was accoutred in gleaming green and gold armor, with a flowing forest green cloak. His companion was garbed in a sleeveless black body suit, with a white "V" that went from his navel to his shoulders. The V was depicted as twin lightning bolts. Where the armored man was completely covered, his companions arms and legs below mid-calf were bare. He even went barefoot. His face was well known, especially to the youth of the world. The man in emerald and gold on the other hand, was a mystery, or at least his true identity was. His armored countenance was well known and widely feared. The pair were the Abolitionist called Tyrant, alternatively known as Grave, and the sometimes Vindicator and rock and roll star known as Current.

"Shouldn't we be moving faster?" Lex Murphy, aka Current asked.

"Not necessarily." The technocrat mage responded, sounding almost bored.

"You wanna clue me in Jay? Not that I mind being torn away from playing catch up with Alina, but isn't this an emergency?"

From behind the armored mask came a dismissive snort. "Only somewhat."

"Somewhat? I hate it when people get all cryptic Jay. It's like being at the freakin' academy again. Do ya think you could, I don't know, give me a straight answer?"

"The straight answer is that Theoris Naa and Fathia Ali Hassan are in serious danger, but Vlad is not. Vlad is beyond the pirates' ability to destroy. Jack, Vlad, Siam and I took care of that concern nearly as soon as I allied myself with them."

Lex gave Jason a skeptical look. In school Jason has always been full of big plans. He followed very few of them through. Still, he spoke with an absolute certainty that made Lex suspicious. "You wanna be a little more clear about that Jay?"

Now, a hollow chuckle echoed from behind the armored mask. "Certainly Lex. It's this simple: Vlad is immortal."

"What? What do you mean immortal?"

"Immortal Lex. As in he can't be killed. Rather, he always comes back from the dead."

Lex facepalmed himself. "Exactly how did you make Vlad...Vlad the freakin' impaler, immortal?"

"Idunn's apples."

"Who's what?"

"Idunn's apples. You see Lex, in Norse mythology there was a maiden goddess named Idunn. She was the guardian of the Golden Apples that conferred immortality upon the Aesir, the norse gods. As it turns out, the Aesir are real, as are the apples. Eating one will make a mortal immortal. Vlad is the architect of this dream we Abolitionists fight for, he is too valuable, so we took it upon ourselves to achieve one of these apples so he could eat it."

Lex looked askance at his former classmate. "Uh huh. You...YOU...just handed over an apple that makes you immortal to Vlad. Jason, ever since I've known you, you've strived for and hoarded power. How is it you were suddenly able to hand over an awesome power to someone else? Let's not even talk about the fact you handed it over to Vlad, who has the morals of the Marquis de Sade."

"Once again Lex, the answer is simple; the apple wouldn't work on me."

"Come again?"

"The apples will make mortals immortal, while I am a Khadi, a heartless sorcerer. I'm undead. To me, the apple is simply an apple."

"You're...undead. Really? Care to explain that?"

"No I don't actually. We're wasting valuable time with your incessant questions."

Scowling, Lex changed tactics. "So these apples...what are they like?"

"Golden."

"Wow. See, that clears everything right up."

Jason shrugged. "They are large apples that appear to be solid gold. Rumor has it they taste indescribably good. Better than anything, aside from ambrosia."

"Ah." Was all Lex said, though his expression spoke volumes about his desire to say more.

After waiting for long moments for more questions, the armored man finally gestured toward the hall before them. "If you're ready, the transport chamber is this way."

Before either man could so much as take a step, a silent figure walked into the hallway ahead. Lex felt a shiver run up his spine as the dead form of Eve Robbins turned and fixed them with a malevolent glare.

"On second thought," Jason said with forced casualness. "let's go this way."

Spinning on his heel, he strode purposefully down a side hall. Lex stared at Eve standing there motionless for several seconds, trying to make sense of this brief event, before trotting after Jason. "What was that about?" The Rockstar superhero asked.

"What was what about?" Jason returned.

Lex glared at his one-time comrade in arms with suspicion bright in his eyes, but said nothing. He was aware of his own reputation from when he and Jason attended the academy together. Now, years later with real world experience under his belt, he wasn't about to let the other man get under his skin. "You purposely avoided Eve and she was giving you the serious stink eye."

The sorcerer merely grunted in response. "Ancient business which, with her being deceased, cannot be rectified."

Lex was about to press the issue when the pair rounded a corner and nearly bowled over a gorgeous woman in a leather bikini, with matching cuff around her wrists and ankles and a silver collar around her throat. Luxurious blonde hair, fangs and batlike wings adorning her incredibly fit body made her appear as a geeks' sex demon, fantasy girl. "Master!" She squeaked, dropping to her knees in front of Grave, eyes focused on the floor.

"Master?" Lex questioned, his stare once more burning into the lord of this strange castle.

"Hmmph." Jason grunted again. "I don't have time for games my pet. We have a guest. You remember Alexander Murphy, don't you?"

The woman scrambled to her feet. "My apologies Ma...ummm...Lord Grave. It's...good to see you again Mr. Murphy." She said, blushing furiously. Before Current could even respond, she darted past the men and disappeared down the hall.

"Ms. Catargi?" the Vindicator gasped in shock. Now he was truly confused and suspicious. Rumors of an attempted rape of Iulia Catargi floated around the New Vindicators Academy Europe since Current and Grave's first year as students. Those rumors centered around Jason Lamperouge. The cold, strained relationship between student and instructor lent credence to those rumors. With that history, it seemed unblievable to Lex the woman would have anything to do with the technomagus. "I don't suppose you want to explain that either?" He asked archly.

"It's nothing. Iulia and I reconciled and discovered we shared some mutual fantasies in regard to personal relationships."

"Riiiight." Was the sarcastic rejoinder.

"That's right Lex, you caught me." Jason growled in annoyance. "I kidnapped Iulia and forced her to be my sex slave for defying me in high school. Oh, but that's not all. I also abducted Kirstie and enslaved her, making her act as the footstool in front of my throne. In fact, I sacrificed Eve Robbins for dark purposes, which is why she haunts me. Cut her heart out on a stone altar as part of the ritual that made me immortal. Shall I twirl my moustache Lex? Shall I howl with peals of maniacal, evil laughter?"

Lex's face twisted in a sour expression. He hated to be mocked, made fun of as if he was stupid, but Jason had a point. Why would he bring Lex here if his crimes were so publicly displayed? Even Jay's arrogance had limits, and despite his lust for power, Eve had been his fiance'. Even a necromancer had to prefer a loving, living wife to a pissed off, undead stalker. "Let's just get to the transport room, so we can save the women that candy coated, douche bag endangered."

When Lex and Jason finally stepped through the heavy, gray fog onto the parade grounds in front of the Free Somali Presidential Residence, they were met with looks of exasperation and impatience. Seeing Jack gazing curiously at the pair, Jason just shook his head and shrugged. "I really don't want to talk about it Jack. Let's just concentrate on Vlad shall we?"

"Right. Let's make a plan."

[Shock]

Our heroes are such great people. Are we sure the world isn't better off with Laputa winning?

[Michuru81]

Our heroes are such great people. Are we sure the world isn't better off with Laputa winning?

Yes.

So, when does Lex find Kirstie serving as a footstool in Jay's humble abode? Here's to hoping we don't have to wait months--plural--to find out.

[Horsenhero]

Our heroes are such great people. Are we sure the world isn't better off with Laputa winning?

Yes.

So, when does Lex find Kirstie serving as a footstool in Jay's humble abode? Here's to hoping we don't have to wait months--plural--to find out.

I'm intentionally going to leave some loose ends with this story. For all you know Jason or Lex or both could be dead by the end. Because I promise, there will be deaths. There will be heroes that rise and villains revealed.

And I'm going to try to get it done before NaNoWriMo.

[McGuffin]

The chapter's title is spot on since I think it raised more questions than it answered. Then again I like a lot of the questions raised so I'm not really complaining. I also dig one of the running themes of the story being that characters are more 'shades of grey' rather than simple black and white. It's an interesting change of pace.

[Horsenhero]

I'm glad I'm keeping your interest McGuffin. I'm working on the next chapter now, and adjusting for some changes in plot that kind of happened on the fly. I'm pleased you liked this chapter and its confusing revelations about everyones favorite super-genius/inventor/necromancer. I'm honestly having a lot of fun with these interpretations of the various characters...though I'm trying not to go too far afield with any of them. Next chapter will bring a little insight into the twisted world of Kas and Emily...as well as propelling the plot forward.

[Horsenhero]

This was supposed to be the Chapter titled "Love & Gravity", but a funny thing happened and that chapter has been delayed, so I could shoehorn this one in.

Ch. 9: A Quick Quarrel. A Spurious Spat. A Fight.-

At the first signs of dawn, a lightening sky and a fiery line of gold on the horizon, Vlad frowned. Niloticus should have made it back to Baki long before now. A rescue party led by Jack or Otso or Randy should have arrived on the scene. What could have delayed them? The Romanian freedom fighter puzzled over the question even as he sought to find better concealment for him and his fellow diplomat. If he had known the answer, he would have snorted in disgust at the predictability of it all.

"Let's concentrate on Vlad shall we?" Was all Jason had the chance to say before all hell broke loose.

"Tyrant!" Roustabout bellowed before slamming a thunderous blow into Jason's chest. The punch hurled the NS criminal across the parade grounds where he landed with a crash.

"Jack," Martin spun on the metamorph, his eyes narrowed in suspicion. "You failed to mention you cooperated wiz terrorists. You alzo failed to mention zat zee terrorist Tyrant, eez Jason Lamperouge."

"Christ on a crutch!" Jack groaned as the Vindicators surged forward. This could be a problem.

The Abolitionists were somewhat at a disadvantage, despite being on their home turf. Only two of their number were unknown quantities to the United Nations strikeforce. Aziza Awaale Samatar, codenamed Gorrax and the mystic Ifrit, Siam had never been students at any of the New Vindicator Academies. While that counted for something, it also meant they didn't get the formalized combat training the Vindicators received. Sure Vlad made certain everyone practiced, but access to the Wreck Room provided certain advantages. Despite all their best efforts, the Abolitionists never had the wealth to finance building an equivalent facility. Even Jason couldn't McGuyver together anything suitable. In the end, when it came to training facilities, wealth mattered, and sufficient wealth, the freedom fighters simply did not have. Combine that with the presence of Roustabout, Shinobi and Roan, all unknown quantities and Jack was left feeling uncertain of his team's chances.

Rapidfire flares of brilliant light yanked Jack's attention back to the burgeoning melee. Roan, morphed into her centaur form, was pelting the armored genius with shimmering arrows loosed from a silvery bow. Roustabout was hurtling through the air, a ghostly image, in pursuit of the man he'd just hit. Shinobi was nowhere to be seen, but Jack expected as much. The American ex-patriate was by no means fluent in Japanese language or culture, but he'd watched enough anime' to know what a Shinobi was. It wasn't just the newbies Greystone was worried about though. Viktor bolted into the sky, gaining speed as he went. Ellen caught Beatrice with a spinning back kick, sending her sprawling. Lex powered up, lightning dancing over his muscular physique. Emily lashed out telekinetically, bowling over Aziza and Siam. Curiously, Martin froze, his body bubbling and warping, yet locked in some sort of indecision.

The more experienced of the combat hardened SPB's of Free Somalia did not fail to react though. Otso charged across the field, his body shifting into his Werelion form. With a deafening roar, the monstrous beast slammed into Roan, lifting her massive, equine frame into the air and slamming her into the turf. Meanwhile Randy completed his own transformation into a massive, humanoid Oak tree. A sweeping blow sent Maze and Catalyst tumbling. Despite intellectually knowing he should try to restore order, Jack changed into a combat ready form. Covered in armored hide, with thick, cloven hooved legs, a Rhino-like horn and massive fists, he could practically taste the blood he was going to spill. Before he could take two steps Roustabout was upon Jason again.

Giorgi Dyemenov, the Vindicator called Roustabout was a mass controller. He could manipulate his personal density to shift from ghostly to denser than Osmium and all points inbetween with a thought. Having glided across the parade grounds in pursuit of the armored villain in an ephemeral state, he pushed his mass to near maximum, landing next to Jason Lamperouge with an earth shaking thump. The landing plunged him knee deep into the soil. Without hesitation, he swung a hammer blow at his target, only to have his arm caught. Alex Murphy, the rockstar, the lightning wielder, the super fast Neo-Sapien had halted his strike. The Russian powerhouses' eyes grew saucer wide. Nothing in Murphy's file indicated this level of physical power. he didn't even have time to gasp before an explosive punch slammed into his chin and hurled him backward, tearing up earth and sod as he ripped free of the ground.

Before anyone else could act, an electronically amplified voice boomed; "Enough!"

A massive gravity well slammed all the combatants to the hard ground. Most just collapsed, but Viktor, caught airborne, hit the firmament like a meteor. Floating above, black cloak fluttering, magnitude snarled at the two groups of super-humans. "You have no authority here Vindicators, except that which we afford you. You will not be permitted to commit violence on our soil. Abolitionists, you have far more important duties than mindless violence. This battle ends now! Understood?"

During Kasimir's speech, Jack, Giorgi, Lex and Siam all fought their way to their feet. Fighting the pull of gravity was all they could do though. Given the struggle merely to remain standing, all four acquiesced.

"Thank you Magnitude, I appreciate the intervention." Jason said, clamboring to his feet, after the gravity field was dispelled.

"I would say my pleasure, but honestly, I found the entire display ridiculous."

"Oh come on Kas," Lex snickered. "don't you know that mindless violence is one of the staples of super-heroing?"

The German Neo-Sapien harrumphed in response, obviously not finding the same humor in the situation Lex did.

"Zpeaking of mindless violenze," Martin said, eyeing Lex speculatively. "Exactly 'ow did you manage to ztop Giorgi from crusheeng Jason? You 'ave nevair demonstrated zat degree of physical powair before."

Lex shrugged. "I'm not sure when the ability to supercharge my physique developed. I DO know, it rocks."

"Oui, zat eet does, zough I am no longer zertain zee codename Current properly expresses your level of formidability."

"Well I've been thinking of changing it. Until today I was considering changing it to Thor, but now I don't think that's cool. I mean, it turns out, Thor was real, and since Thor was real that's goota mean the giants of Jotunheim were real. I'm not sure I wanna be sporting the name of a guy freakin' giants want to kill! Assuming there are any of the bastards still alive."

"That's fascinating Lex." Kasimir deadpanned. "Still, as it turns out, surprisingly your codename isn't a top priority. Vlad, Fathia and Theoris are the top priority."

With a gesture, the blind man lifted Catalyst into the air. "Emily and I will locate Vlad and the others. We'll radio back with the location."

The Esper glared at her countryman, but didn't voice any objection. "I can fly myself." Was all she said.

Kas nodded, releasing her from the grip of his power. Free, she used her own psychokinetic prowess to remain aloft.

"Come on then." Magnitude said, and the pair rocketed westward.

[Shock]

Short as it was, that fight made my head spin. That was a lot of action!

[flynnarrel]

I recommend 'Amperage' or, if that is too close to Lamperouge, just 'Amp'.

[Horsenhero]

I like Amperage. To tell the truth, up to this point I hadn't decided what Lex's name change was going to be. Given that it's Lex, I toyed with him calling himself "Rockstar" or something else that has nothing to do with his powerset, but as I mentioned, I haven't made any firm decision.

As for this short, frenetic, fight chapter, it came about as an accident really. It occured to me as I was writing the rest of the story, that Jason, whose armored alter ego, I had already established was a known supervillain walks into the midst of his enemies and everyone sort of rolls with it. That didn't seem right, so I had to go back and do a little rewriting. This chapter was the result.

[flynnarrel]

"Rockstar" is the name of an energy drink. It could still work for Lex assuming he buys the company so there's no copyright infringement. http://www.rockstar69.com/

It's be like if a short, stocky, superfast flier called themselves 'RedBull'.