Roundtable Rival
Quintin Fortune
Roundtable Rival
Quintin Fortune
Copyright 2016 Quintin Fortune
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TWO YEARS AGO
A man awoke in a rundown motel room. He looked around. Rubbing his eyes, he felt as if his mind was full of concrete. He noticed he wore a simple black t-shirt, black jeans, black boots and fingerless fighting gloves. A black trench coat and a black baseball cap laid across a ratty chair near the window of the room.
He rolled out of bed. His body felt like it had just ran a marathon while boxing with a bear. He stumbled into the bathroom. There, he finally got a look at himself in the mirror. Or at least what he assumed was himself.
“What now,” he complained to his reflection.
NOW
The Professional Heroes stood in Averson Park, looking up at a man hovering above them. The trees and grass moved as if affected by some phantom breeze. Deadguy appeared as if he was visibly holding back some great pain.
“Zionus,” he growled.
“You remember me, Corpse,” the man asked.
The other Heroes turned to Deadguy. “You know him,” Jill questioned.
“I don't know,” he answered. “All I know is the name 'Zionus' is ripping my brain in two right now.” He pointed an accusative finger up at the man. “What the fuck did you do to me?”
“This conversation does not involve you,” the main said. He waved his hand, and Our Hero suddenly collapsed to the ground. Kiri rushed to his side.
“What did you do to him,” she yelled.
“Rebooted the system, as mortals say,” he answered, no hint of emotion in his voice. “He will be fine in ten minutes.” He landed on the ground and started towards Jill Nemo. Valkadaidan stepped in front of him, but was flung aside as the man made a motion of someone swatting away a fly.
Jill summoned all her courage. “If you are the leader of Venatores Mali-” She suddenly found herself unable to speak as the man held up his index finger.
“You will listen,” he said. “Yes, I am the leader of Venatores Mali. I am Zionus. We were not responsible for the death of those officers.”
“Yeah. You're doing a swell job of convincing us of that,” Kiri remarked under her breath.
Zionus turned his head a millimeter in her direction, then turned his attention back to Jill. “You, as the leader of the Professional Heroes, will call this manhunt off.”
Jill shook her head, her face clenched in bitter determination.
“You refuse?”
She nodded slowly.
He reached out to her forehead. “ Then, I regret that I must resort to this...” He stopped as Hopebringer slammed onto his arm. It didn't draw blood, but did cause a backlash of power that knocked Valkadaidan off his feet. He looked over as the Dragon-Blooded jumped to his feet. “I am a god,” Zionus declared. “What hope do you have of stopping me?”
“For a god, you're a real idiot,” Deadguy remarked, shaking off whatever effect Zionus had caused. “We're Heroes. We live on hope, and powered by justice.”
“How-” he started, but was cut short as Deadguy charged him. He barely dodged the attack from him as Valkadaidan struck from behind. A sword materialized in his hand. It was the same size and shape as Hopebringer, but with a demon's head for a hilt and bloodied horns as a cross-guard. He swung back and blocked Valk's blade. He opened his hand and sent Deadguy flying back with a blast of energy.
Kiri zipped back and caught Our Hero just before he slammed into an oak tree. “Need a lift,” she asked cheerfully.
“Yeah, I need to go up to Smack-A-Bitch Lane,” he answered.
“You got it,” she replied. She flew back with his in her arms. He held Masamune forward like a battering ram.
The two Heroes came within mere millimeters before Zionus turned and slammed them both to the ground with his elbow. Shots were fired, and he swatted away the bullets. Still fighting off Valkadaidan, he reached out with his mind and ripped a great elm tree out of the ground and hurled it at Jill. She rolled out of the way just in time, and the tree was sent crashing into the forest at the edge of the battlefield.
Zionus turned his attention back to Valkadaidan. The two crossed blades a few more times, then with the wave of his free hand, he sent the Supreme Warrior flying away. He felt something slam into his back. The attack caused him to take a step forward in order to regain his balance. He slowly turned to face Deadguy, Masamune in hand. He looked as if he was stopped in mid-swing.
He looked as if he had just made a huge mistake. “Um...love tap,” he suggested.
Zionus' face remained stoic, but Our Hero could feel the leader's eyes burning with anger. He flung his hand out and sent Deadguy flying backwards once again. He tumbled a few meters before collapsing in a heap at the edge of the forest.
“You have made a grave mistake,” Zionus boomed. Then, in the blink of an eye, he was gone. The professional Heroes stood looking as each other.
“Did...did we win,” Kiri asked, her helmet sliding open.
“We're alive,” Our Hero stated, brushing himself off. “I'd say that's a win.”
“The battle, maybe,” Valkadaidan said. “but not the war.”
“If Zionus want's a war, he'll get one,” Jill declared.
