Summary: Jael makes his first play in the Game and the outcome isn't pretty. Part two of my Game series.
Rated M for profanity, violence and some sexual content. There will be some slash content but not X-men on X.
Disclaimer : I do not own the X-men or any of their associated villains, but the Siskans, the Dognan, Jael and the Outkasts are mine. Please do not use them without my permission. Thanks. :)
Updated 10-24-13 to add (break)s as needed.
(One)
I can already hear you scoff as you read my last words – "Right then, Dreamer. How do you know your silly little dreams will come true?"
Well, it's a fair question and as much as I dislike to be criticized, here is your answer – I've been doing this a very long time. Oh yes, there are dreams and then there are dreams. These special dreams have always begun the same way – I simply wake to find myself standing in front of a simple wooden door. I could stand here and argue that I have always had a choice about whether or not to go through that door but we both know, you and I, that my curious and rebellious nature has me opening that door each and every time.
At first it wasn't so bad. I would step through the door, allowing it to come closed behind me. The light from the outside would wink out and I would find myself standing in a great black nothing. At first it was very frightening and disconcerting, I am a tad claustrophobic, but then – when I was finally still enough to listen – I began to hear voices.
"You will have a new Master," I would hear them whisper. "One who will never harm you as the others have done."
Of course I did not believe it. Anyone who has ever owned me has torn my soul apart, including the very one who made me.
A funny thing though, a few days later it came true.
He was there, this Dognan King, looking down on me with nothing but the purest love. Not for me personally, he hardly knew me at that moment, but for what I was. He was a lover of Siskans, this one. An admirer of our quality. While I resisted his advances at first, I couldn't deny the kindness of his heart. Those whispering voices had told me the truth.
So then I began to listen more carefully to the whispers in the black. There were many voices, not all of them were the same. Some spoke of simple things, others of some far off future. And then, after some time had passed, I heard her for the first time. Her voice was soft and yet the loveliest I have ever heard. She has only ever said one thing to me, but it is a command I know I will obey – "Catch me, Aiden! Catch me!"
(break)
One bright morning, a month after the breaking of a poor Cajun thief, a terrorist was preparing for battle. Jael had received word from Sheba, the next competitor in the Game, that she was ready to fight him any time he desired. He sent his reply naming the time and the place, it would be this morning in Central Park. Neither of them could care less about the people who might be there, fights amongst mutants here were common and no one would interfere, certainly not the pathetic humans who lived in the area. They hadn't done much to stick up for themselves so far and Jael failed to see why they would do so now. Sheba was quick to accept, saying she would be there in an hour. Now Jael couldn't sit still for all the excitement.
He was pacing excitedly as he put on his body armor. He'd had the suit made of Adamantium chest plates and leg shields. The indestructible metal was a perk for moving to this planet, the metal was found nowhere else in this galaxy and was considered priceless. He was preparing for war, a battle he was anticipating greedily.
He knew that the battle would be one of ritual swordplay, that had been decided long ago when the Game had first been planned. The sword he kept by his throne was not just for show, he was well trained in its use and he was confident he would win. He was also aware that whatever might happen to a player on the way to the battle was fair game and beyond anyone's control. Accidents were known to happen, some of them not so accidently.
Jael had a cloaked ship prepared for his trip out to the park and was ready. His ship was more than just a simple transportation, it had been equipped with laser cannons and plasma guns. If Sheba were to have an accidental crash on the way to the meeting place, well, that was all the better for him. Even so, Jael knew Sheba wasn't that strong and that he would undoubtedly win the fight whether it took place in the sky or on the ground.
He couldn't wait to get at her harem of Siskans. Sheba supposedly had thirty Courtesans, one of them allegedly a Rogue. He couldn't wait to see him. The Rogue 'grams preferred to be male and were often strong and beautiful, powerful creatures lovely to behold.
"Is my ship prepared for launch?" he asked Razel who was standing ready in the doorway.
"Yes, my Lord. You can leave any time."
"Tell them I am ready. I'll be there in a moment."
Razel nodded and left, teleporting away in a flash of light. He knew this was a big day for them all. If Jael fell, he had every intention of taking over the organization. He was in truth Jael's Second in Command and most of the alphas would play along. Just the same, he hoped it wouldn't come to that. He was more comfortable as Jael's right hand man than as an actual leader himself. While Jael was at times brutal, he always shared with those he trusted. Razel didn't fear a betrayal from his Master.
Razel arrived at the ship that was waiting and told them it was time to depart. Jael's ships were all Dognan in design, sleek and lovely, and not all that different than Fallen's Lucky Dragon. They were silver and crescent shaped, smooth and efficient weapons of choice. The main reason Jael had never been caught was that he usually flew in to his target, shot the crap out of it, and zipped out faster than any Earthly ship could hope to travel. SHIELD had nothing as fast. The ship Jael had chosen for today's battle was manned by several mutants from his army and two of his best pilots. All moved into position and were ready when Jael finally arrived.
"Let's launch!" he barked and stepped up the ramp. He paused and looked back at Razel. "You will look after them, won't you, my friend?" he asked, meaning his group of mutants, his organization. He had been grooming Razel for just that ever since he had been freed from jail. Even though they had been separated during Razel's incarceration, Jael hadn't forgotten his dear friend. Jael knew this wasn't going to be his only battle in the Game and he had to be sure that things would go well while he was away.
"Yes, my Lord," Razel replied, emotion showing in his voice for the first time. He'd had an uneasy childhood and his mutation had gotten him into a lot of trouble. His parents soon washed their hands of him and he spiraled down into a rash of violent acts, eventually becoming imprisoned while still a teenager. Jael had rescued him from that SHIELD prison and raised him as his own. Jael had long made a practice of collecting the finest of mutants for his little army and a teleporter was most prized. Since then Razel had been a loyal follower, never questioning orders and offering only the best advice. He was quick to obey and was always out doing something for his Master. In truth, Razel owed this man everything and it was clear on his face and the wetness of his eyes. Razel had this to say, "But it won't come to that, Master. You will return and we'll celebrate your victory. I've got big plans for you."
Jael smiled, appreciating this fine alpha. There were few here he truly trusted and Razel was certainly one of them. Never had this one given him any reason to fear or let him down. Always Razel had been faithful in his duties and showed true devotion. Jael's eyes crinkled with amusement as he said, "Well, then. I'll leave you to it. Don't tell me your plans, I want to be surprised."
"Yes, my Lord," Razel replied with a smile. He had recognized the gleam in Jael's eye and knew his future with this soon to be King was solid. It thrilled him beyond measure. He knew Jael would win this day and together they would rule this planet. He would have power beyond his reckoning, the only thing he desired.
Jael nodded and went up the ramp, trying to contain his excitement. This was only his second battle of the Game. The first was decades ago and had happened while he was making his way to this planet after he left Cerise and the Clan for good. His first opponent had been weak, another female Dognan like Sheba. It hadn't been a real contest but he had gained four Siskans from it to add to his already small collection, establishing his place in the Game. Now, if he defeated Sheba and took her Rogue, he would be in a much stronger position for later battles.
He entered the ship and took his place in the captain's chair. It was a large seat located just behind his two pilots. Like all pilots, they were standing on the power sticks that were centrally located in the Main Room. These pilots were good Ristle producers and obedient, but they were not as fully sentient as Fallen was. These were little more than well trained dogs, they flapped their tiny wings and chirped happily at their Master as he approached, eager to fly. Like all good racing animals, they were happy to fly ships and use their power. They didn't get out as often as they liked and were always thrilled to be used.
"Pilots! Launch!" Jael barked in Dognan and they were quick to obey. Blue electrical flames left their tiny wrists and were absorbed into the sticks. They were living batteries, these small white pilots. Their energy was fuel and their telekinetic power the steering for this vessel. It wouldn't be able to fly without them.
The ship powered up and began to rise, hovering over the hanger floor. On a large viewing screen in front of them, Jael could see Razel retreating to a secure area and activating the shield doors. They began to open over the craft and immediately, the hanger around them began to fill with water from the harbor above them. The doors were camouflaged and the water a gradual release. Ships in the harbor wouldn't know what was going on unless they were directly above the bay when the ship launched. Jael waited a minute for the pressure around them to equalize and then they were launching, rising up through the harbor and then out into the open air. The ship was fully cloaked and silent, the humans around them had no idea that this alien craft was among them, though Jael's co-captain was monitoring the big airliners coming into the big airport nearby. It wouldn't do to get this far only to collide with any incoming aircraft that couldn't see them.
This Dognan craft was swift and sure, flying in between the tall skyscrapers of Manhattan with silent ease. It only took them five minutes to reach the outskirts of Central Park and Jael was just giving the orders to land in one of the big open areas when the ship was suddenly struck with a large plasma blast, enough to send anyone who hadn't been strapped in flying about the cabin.
"What the hell was that!" Jael howled in anger.
"My Lord!" the co-pilot gasped. "We've been hit!"
"Sheba, you bitch!" Jael snarled. His female opponent in the Game was cheating and attacking him prematurely, hoping to dispatch him early instead of the one on one fight he had proposed earlier. Of course, he had planned to do the same thing himself, he was just upset that she had gotten the first shot in instead of the other way around. Fine, his pilots and crew were excellent, he had prepared for every possibility. "Shields at maximum! Man the guns!"
Jael's crew scrambled to comply. They moved to their appointed places quickly, while his pilots maneuvered the ship swiftly into a better position. Both pilots were battle trained and not the least bit frightened by this change of events. This ship was armed with plasma cannons but also had two large guns loaded with the best armor piercing rounds Earthly money could buy. Jael had had those guns modified to be more powerful and had the crew enlarged to man them. He wouldn't be taken down easily.
Sheba's ship was cloaked against any human spies, but she was visible to Jael once he discovered the frequency she had been using. She had gotten in the first shot, but he was determined to see she didn't get the last. She was there on his screen and his crew was firing right back at her, too well trained to even need his order to fight. They were doing him proud, spraying plasma bolts in a steady stream and taking mere seconds to find the target.
Outside the ship, the gentle spring stillness of New York City came to an abrupt and crashing halt. There were bright red flashes from out of the sky, seemingly from nowhere. These were followed by loud explosions, and then suddenly, the buildings all around the far side of Central Park were falling. Those plasma shots that had missed Sheba's ship had traveled on freely, impacting into the nearby office structures and destroying them on impact. Unlike 9/11 where there had been some smoke and fire before the fall, these buildings groaned and collapsed immediately, spraying debris and shrapnel everywhere. Some toppled onto the buildings next to them like falling dominoes, causing even more damage. The cascade effect was beyond devastating. These were office buildings loaded with people just trying to make a simple living and those poor souls never had a chance. They were now hurtling to their deaths in a cloud of smoke and ash.
Down on the street, more tiny humans fled in fear. Scrambling in all directions, some of them made it, but most of them didn't. Those that were too slow were crushed by the falling concrete and glass. Others were choked as huge plumes of dust and smoke rose up into the air. Cars in the streets were crushed instantly while still others veered wildly, causing further accidents and confusion. Explosions and fire from these traffic accidents added to the wild scene. Escape routes were cut off, trapping people and keeping them penned while death rained down from above. Blood and screaming filled the air.
"Damnit!" Jael complained. He cared nothing about the buildings or the damage but the smoke from the collapsed buildings was hampering his vision. "Smog filters on!" he barked to his pilots, relaxing only as the screen in front of him changed to red and he could see again.
The ship was jolted by another plasma blast, but the outside shields were still holding. Jael was no fool, he had learned much from his team of alphas and used their knowledge to enhance his own capabilities, blending human and Dognan technology together to make him more powerful against his Dognan foe.
"Bank right! Return fire, use the bullet guns!"
Adding insult to the earlier destruction, the air was now filled with a fine spray of bullets, shattering glass and trees as Jael's ship now spun in circles, chasing his prey. Humans were screaming in terror below him, scrambling all about, but all Jael did was smile then howl in glee as Sheba's ship swerved wildly as it was ripped to shreds and crashed to the ground, exploding in fire and smoke.
"Bring us down!"
Jael's pilots obeyed quickly and Jael's ship landed in the middle of the mayhem, still cloaked. He was grateful that Sheba at least had the decency to crash in an open area, there was still plenty of room to fight. The ramp was lowered from his ship and he exited quickly, trotting closer to where Sheba's ship now lay in ruins. Jael stepped closer, ready for anything with his sword in hand. From the wreckage, a figure rose, covered in smoke and ash. Dognan men were known for their resilience and their females were no different. Sheba rose and came towards him, her own sword raised.
She was quite a sight. Unlike Jael, she was a member of the Dognan elite and had the large brown wings and the crooked cat like legs to prove it. She would have been breathtakingly beautiful if she hadn't been so wrecked. She was clearly injured, blood poured from her side and she was limping. Her breath was coming in short ragged pants. Still, she raised her sword, ready for battle.
Jael just snorted at her in their native Dongnan tongue. "Sheba, darling. Just turn over your Siskans and leave. I won't kill you if I don't have to."
"You Dognan half breed pig!" she snarled, blood dripping from her mouth. "I'll never surrender to a piece of Clan trash like you!"
Jael bristled at the mention of his unconventional birth. Always his illegitimacy had been held against him. It had kept him from leading the Clan and it had kept him marginalized from the true Dognan society. They tolerated his existence because of his father's great lineage, but he would never be accepted among them for real. He had hoped that proving himself in the Game would increase his status, but that didn't seem to be the case. Well, that was okay. He would show them. He would show them all!
"You pathetic Dognan whore!" Jael howled and launched himself, sword ready.
Sheba was ready for him and they clashed with a loud clang of metal. For all of her bravado, it wasn't much as a fight. She was badly wounded from the crash and it cost her. Three stokes and she was down on her knees, panting for breath. Jael didn't waste time on any more pleasantries, he simply beheaded her with one cruel stroke, her death giving him an intense satisfaction he didn't bother to hide.
From behind him one of his crew began to shout, "My Lord! The authorities are coming!"
Of course, with all of the destruction they had caused that morning, the authorities would be alerted to their battle. Jael cared not. He nodded at his co-pilot and stooped down over Sheba's body. He removed a brooch from her armor and clicked it. It would activate a beacon to her command ship that she had lost. The rules of the Game were quite rigid and her people would comply. He would send a message telling them where her Siskans were to be delivered. He grinned and walked back to his own craft, ready to depart and claim his winnings.