by H D Forth
Gav breathed in sharply. Val continued, "After he attacked it, this Leric started to change. Right now it's still in the early stages, but he is definitely taller, and she said that his skin is starting to gray. If that's not Grave Pace, then I don't know who is."
“That would make some sense. We have been trying to find him for quite a while. He was never very good a hiding from us, yet he managed to escape our notice for almost 6 months now. The shard of Magra could explain such a transformation too.”
There was a moment of silence. Val could hear him working on the other side, more tapping on keyboards. Then he let out a hiss. Val had already called for a car.
"It doesn't seem like I'm able to reach any of the old guys," Gav replied. "Except for Visor, though he is always a go, he's not a fighter, so it's just me." He sounded, sad but he knew she couldn't risk pulling on her power.
“Probably not,” Val said, coldly.
"Tell your hero to pull out now," Galenor said. There was a rustling of cloth on the other end of the line. "It will take me a while to get there. If it really is Grave Pace, then there's no guarantee that it will be safe to be close, especially not for a rookie."
"I'll see to it that he won't get in the way," Val said, finally spotting the car. It was idly rolling down the street, like one of her most important people in the world wasn't in great danger right at that moment.
“Maeve…” Galenor said. “You cannot get too close. If Velenthri-”
“She won’t.”
“Doesn’t matter, you’re a criminal. If Visor spots you, then you won’t be able to throw him off without your powers. Then I won’t have a choice.”
Val slammed the door hard as she got into the car. “Just get there as fast as possible.”
Chapter One Hundred Forty-Seven
Val was awoken from her sleep, by the ringing of her phone. She slapped about for a moment, before remembering that she could just use voice commands and speakers.
“Who is it?” She asked, turning slightly towards the phone. Her voice was thick with sleep, but somehow the phone still recognized the words.
“Kani Masterson.” It replied.
“Answer.” She said. She fought her way into a sitting position, wrapping her blankets around herself as tightly as she could.
“Hey Val, its me.” Kani said, immediately. Her tone was clearly alarmed. Though she sounded tired, Val could quite clearly hear her working on something at her computer on the other side. “Vanys has been here.”
For a moment, Val thought he might have done something to Kani. Then the tone of voice that Kani was using finally registered fully on her. “What’s the situation?” She asked.
“I’m missing most of my bolt cutter, though signs show that he may have torn it in two. I am also missing the armored skin attachment I was making for him.” As Kani spoke, Val reluctantly threw off her covers, pulling on some pajamas.
“You think he’s readying for a fight.” Val asked.
“I know he is.” She said, quietly. “I can see him fighting right now.”
“Is he fighting Leric again?” Val asked. Val was already pulling on a pair of shoes and her jacket, as Kani was speaking.
“I don’t know.” Kani said, sounding worried. “I can’t get a proper signal, the picture’s keep fussing, but I think he might’ve taken some serious damage. Will Leric leave him alive again?”
Unlikely.” Val said, closing the door behind her. “If Leric gets angry enough or Vanys insults him enough then he might not have a choice. He will have to be strong in front of his gang or they will try to kill him.”
There was a loud roar on the other side of the phone. It send chills down Val’s spine. “Kani.” She said, her tone now urgent. “I thought Leric was human, that doesn’t sound like a human scream, what’s happening? Quickly Kani! Report!”
“Uhm… okay.” Kani said, obviously stumbling over her words. Her hesitation agitating Val, causing her to hit the elevator button to the ground floor too hard. It sounded out with a loud popping sound it hadn't ever made before. “Leric is… Vanys hit him in the green thing on his arm. I don't actually think it’s sick skin, there looks to be some sort of green metal underneath it.”
Green metal? It couldn’t be… Val thought, listening to description and desperately hoping she was wrong. If so then that could explain…
“After Vanys hit him there, Leric got really furious and strong. He also started changing.”
“Changing how?” Val asked, wanting to kick the elevator door open, though she knew it wouldn’t help. “Is he changing? Descriptions Kani! Quickly!”
“Sorta, I don't know.” She sounded even more nervous now, her voice shakier. “He’s a little bigger is all. Maybe a little grayer too.” Kani sounded scared now. “Val, what’s going on?”
“Thanks Kani, focus on helping Vanys as best you can.” Val said, as calmly as she could into the phone, before hanging up.
Val growled to herself. If this was what she thought it was, then there was no happy ending for Vanys now. She had to save him, she had to do something.
She paced up and down the street, she had to make a decision. All the while, the throbbing in her blood grew more intense. She could feel her Foundation pulsing as Velenthrix tried to escape.
She dove deep into herself. Bringing up a small wooden cottage in a forest inside her mind. There was no electricity, no power. The stove was heated with wood fire. There was a nice thick homespun carpet covering the living room. A rocking chair by the hearth, the fire blazing happily. In the other end of the room was a door that led to her parents bedroom, she wasn't allowed to go in there. Not after the accidentally catching attempting to give her a brother.
She almost let out a giggle, if not for the sudden pulse that bulged all the walls in the room. Another light made itself clear in the little house. A trap door was hiding in one corner. If not for the vibrant purple glow that splashed out of it, casting the everything in the room with eerie light, it would’ve almost been unnoticeable.
She could go over there, dip in and take the power. The rest would be a cake walk. In an instant she could be over there, take care of Grave Pace and save Vanys. Then they would all be hers, she would be able to have whatever she wanted. It was hers for the taking, just beyond the trap door. Power beyond what any hero would ever see in their life time. At. Her. Fingertips.
No.
She pulled away from the trapdoor, strengthened the walls, the floor, and especially the trapdoor with her will before she left. She couldn't do it. Letting such power out onto the world would spell out disaster. No one would willingly hand a child nuclear device, especially not her.
There was only one other option. And she didn’t like what she was realizing. She pulled out her phone again. She hesitated for a moment, before entering a number memorized long ago.
“Yes.” The manly baritone on the other side, deliberately pitched to sound soothing, and relaxing.
“Gav,” She said. “This is Maeve.”
There was a beat of silence. Then in a barely controlled voice, “Why are you calling?”
“I think I might’ve found Grave Pace.”
“Grave Pace?” He asked, now he sounded more confident, in his comfort zone. How do you know?”
“Do you know the new hero in Ëndib Tower?” Val asked.
“The one who was following me the other day?” He asked.
“Probably.” She said, letting out a sigh. “I don't keep absolute track of him. He’s been going after a gang leader. The Tenners. His name is Leric. I just got good intel that he has a green piece of metal in his arm.”
Gav breathed in sharply. Val continued, “After he attacked it, this Leric started to change. Right now it’s still in the early stages, but he is definitely taller and she said that his skin is starting to gray. If that’s not Grave Pace, then I don’t know who is.”
“That would make some sense. We have been trying to find him for quite a while. He was never very
good a hiding from us, yet he managed to escape our notice for almost 6 months now. The shard of Magra could explain such a transformation too.”
There was a moment of silence. Val could hear him working on the other side, more tapping on keyboards. Then he let out a hiss. Val had already called for a car.
“I doesn't seem like I’m able to reach any of the old guys.” Gav replied. “Except for Visor, though he is always a go, but he’s not a fighter, so it’s just me.” He sounded, sad but he knew she couldn’t risk pulling on her power.
“Probably not,” Val said, coldly.
“Tell your hero to pull out now.” Galenor said. There was a rustling of cloth on the other end of the line. “It will take me a while to get there. If it really is Grave Pace, then there’s no guarantee that it will be safe to be close, especially not for rookie.”
“I’ll see to it that he won’t get in the way.” Val said, finally spotting the car. It was idly rolling down the street, like one of her most important people in the world wasn't in great danger right at that moment.
“Maeve…” Galenor said. “You cannot get too close. If Velenthri-”
“She won’t.”
“Doesn’t matter, you’re a criminal. If Visor spots you, then you won’t be able to throw him off without your powers. Then I won’t have a choice.”
Val slammed the door hard as she got into the car. “Just get there as fast as possible.”
Chapter One Hundred Forty-Eight
I pulled the wrench from my leg holster, tearing a hole in my pants to get at it. The wrench wasn't as big or long as my other weapons were, but the blow to Leric's arm seemed to have taken something out of him.
"Right," I replied to Kani. This is not a good time to be embarrassed, he thought to himself. Didn't stop him though.
Even as he approached, he was less energetic and more doom and gloom.
I growled and pushed myself forward to meet him. He clearly hadn't become any weaker than he was before, just maybe not physically exhausted, but mentally?
I had a sinking feeling I knew where this was going. I picked up a metallic piece of recliner chair, with my barely functioning hand, as I approached Leric.
"Oh no! Your throne?" I threw the piece at him as hard as I could. The throw almost took me off my feet, as I lost my balance trying to throw something while standing on the toes of my bad leg.
To no one's surprise, the shot went wide. He didn't even react.
He let out a growl that was more beast than man and leapt towards me, jumping high into the air. I kicked the Power Core into high gear despite my low power. Heat rolled off me as the vents started blowing again.
Power suffused me as Leric descended toward me. He was bigger than me, on any normal day of the week he would have more reach than me. But on this day of the week, I was holding a wrench that was almost a foot long. I swung.
I hit him just behind the ear. I put all my weight and all the strength the core would give me behind the strike. Leric veered off to the side, crashing into the hard concrete of the floor instead of onto me.
I too was flung by my lack of proper stance to the opposite side that Leric went. We fell no more than a few feet, but enough that we were out of reach from each other.
23% power left. The wrench was bent almost fifty degrees out of order, not to mention my arm had also started bowing oddly. It would only be good for one more strike. I only had power left for one more hit. This was the last chance, I was left with no choice. The realization started to make my hand shake.
Leric is a bad person, he’s killed people. Murdered fathers and mothers. I tried to tell myself. He’s a bad man that has been spreading his influence on this Level for too long.
"Oh god," Kani whispered as she realized what I had only moments ago.
I watched as Leric stumbled to his feet. He was too tough for me to knock out. He recovered too quickly from head trauma for me to take him, prisoner. He only had a small window of weakness after a direct head blow.
A small window where I could kill him.
Chapter One Hundred Forty-Nine
I pulled the wrench from my leg holster, tearing a hole in my pants to get at it. The wrench wasn’t as big or long as my other weapons were, but the blow to his arm seemed to really have taken something out of Leric.
“Right.” I replied to Kani. This is not a good time to be embarrassed, he thought to himself. Didn't stop him though.
Even as he approached, he was less energetic and more doom and gloom.
I growled and pushed myself forwards to meet him. He clearly hadn't become any weaker than he was before, just maybe not physically exhausted, but mentally?
I had a sinking feeling I knew where this was going. I picked up metallic piece of recliner chair, with my barely functioning hand, as I approached him. “Oh no! Your throne?” I threw the piece at him as hard as I could. The throw almost took me off my feet as I lost my balance trying to throw something while standing on my toes.
To no one’s surprise the shot went wide. He didn't even react.
He let out a growl that was more beats than mana and launched himself in a terribly jump towards me. I kicked the Power Core into high gear despite my low power. Heat rolled off me as the vents started blowing again.
Power suffused me as Leric descended toward me. He was bigger than me, on any normal day of the week he would have more reach than me. But on this day of the week, I was holding a wrench that was almost a foot long. I swung.
I hit him just behind the ear. I put all my weight and all the strength the core would give me behind the strike. Leric veered off to the side, crashing into the hard concrete of the floor instead of onto me. I too was flung by my lack of proper stance to the opposite side that Leric went. We fell no more than a few feet, but enough that we were out of reach from each other.
23% power left. The wrench was bend almost fifty degrees out of order, not to mention my arm had also started bowing oddly. It would only be good for one more strike. I only had power left for one more strike. This was the last chance. I was left with no choice. My hand started shaking.
Leric is a bad person, he’s killed people. Murdered fathers and mothers. I tried to tell myself. He’s a bad man that has been spreading his influence on this Level for too long.
“Oh god.” Kani whispered as she realized what I had only moments ago.
I watched as Leric stumbled to his feet. He was too tough for me to knock out. He recovered too quickly from head trauma for me to take him prisoner. He only had a small window of weakness after a direct head blow.
A small window where I could kill him.
Chapter One Hundred Fifty
I had to kill him. There was no other way, my options were to flee and let him go or kill him outright…
I tried to swallow, either something was very wrong with my body, my frame, or it was just simulating how very nervous I was because I couldn't even swallow.
I took in a few deep breaths as I watched Leric's movements as he rose to his feet. It was inexorable, like the loose rock that tumbled free at the top of the mountain, only to knock loose another slightly bigger stone, until the boulder the size of your house is headed for you.
My ‘lightly' used hand twitched as I readied myself for his charge. My foot was cooked, so I was unable to take the initiative, I would have to let him come to me, instead of coming for him. Sparks flew from my hands as it twitched again, and liquids dribbled down my fingers until flames suddenly sparked onto it.
Dammit, I thought, trying to bash my arm against myself and stop the flames. It wasn’t working. Why couldn't I just have picked some chemicals that were bad for the eyes, why did I have to pick something flammable. I don’t even have anything to light it on fire with!
While my mind was sidetracked, Leric had gotten to his feet. He looked grotesque and misshapen before he had been a bulbous cloud-like man, with too many muscles or at least they had been too big. Now his body wasn't even proportionate.
Leric let out something between a feral snarl and an angry growl as his eyes latched onto me. One bloodshot with slight green highlights, the other's sclera was completely red, and his eye was just dead gray.
He seemed to move faster than ever before as he lunged towards me. There were maybe ten meters between us, but his first lunge cleared half that in a matter of seconds. He still was significantly slower than me, than I’d been. I would be unable to dodge, I realized as I hefted my half broken wrench.
