"Get away from that kid!"
Thorium's faced turned from mild amusement to instant irritation as he jumped to his feet; his hat on the grass with a smoking hole through it. Not too far away was Cherri: one gun pointed at him, the other at the Paladin. His eyes shut closed, Thorium could only feel the smoking barrel of the female Gunslinger pointed at him, unable to see the steady glare she had on him.
"Good. I got your attention." With a sudden snap of her head, Cherri flipped her hair out of the way of her eye, keeping it trained on Thorium unblocked. "Now call of your little pet."
"What an ugly creature." Thorium remarked softly, clearly irking the girl. "You're not allowed to step anywhere closer to me understand?"
"Maybe I wasn't clear the first time? Get that snake off Kallistei or the only thing close to you will be a bullet!" Cheri barked, preparing to fire until Praseodymium suddenly flung his spear at her blind spot. Not expecting it, Cheri wasn't prepared as the spear slashed her across the back, buckling her knees and leaving her open for a quick, enormous punch to the stomach.
"How foolish of you to show your opponent such an obvious weakness. I guess something as hideous as you wouldn't know any better." Thorium grinned as Cherri tried to pick herself up from her doubled over position. Even if she managed to focus her aim, she'd never get a decent shot with Praseodymium so close. Finally, he could focus on the more fitting Hunter."As for you-"
"Spell Breaker."
Thorium barely heard the words but felt them as his illusion gave off a horrible shriek; howling into the air as it recoiled away from the prone body of Kallistei. The pink Scholar watched in shock as its prized beast hit the ground; writhing. All eyes turned to directly in front of them as Omri slowly made his way back into the fray, his cloak fluttering off his shoulder as his narrow eyes locked in directly on Thorium.
"Miss Gunslinger!"
Cherri turned to see the Assassin nearby, barely holding onto something she usually kept nearby: a Gatling gun. He looked barely together; his face masked with blood he lost from repeated shots to the head. Nevertheless he was standing and after some effort tossed the gun to the Gunslinger.
"Dante remind me later I owe ya a drink!" Cherri smirked, catching the gun, Praseodymium scowled and reared his hand back; hoping to squash the smaller girl before she could fire off a shot. A blur somewhere near his feet distracted the Paladin, keeping him from looking at the Assassin as he kicked his way up the breastplate so that he was hanging eye-to-eye with the giant Experiment; his ice pick gleaming in the moonlight before he took a swipe at the Paladin's exposed forehead. He disappeared again as a splatter of blood burst from Praseodymium's face and blinded him, sending him stumbling backwards as Cherri unleashed a wave of bullets onto him. "Not so big and bad now huh?"
"What an interesting group of fools." Thorium muttered, watching Praseodymium pushed back against the hail of gunfire. Ignoring Cherri's whooping, he instead turned to his 'Father'. He usually appeared agitated around him or deathly solemn. I can't put my finger on it...but you're much less boring like this Usoa. "Do you really want this fight?"
"Me? No." Omri scowled, looking upward. "He might though."
Thorium grinned for a moment, before his face dropped and he barely avoided several arrows landing into the ground in front of him. Adonis swiftly landed in front of Omri and charged, his Luna Bow leading the way as he slid to a stop just in front of the shocked Thorium and Arrow Charged the Scholar across the field; watching as he crashed back first into a tree.
"So much for a safe spot huh?" The Sniper quipped, aiming another arrow at Thorium. After that insanity with Dysprosium, he was more than ready to continue what was started inside. Thorium however look like he swallowed something that didn't agree with him. It was one thing to agree to what he agreed to; quite another to actually get his precious hands dirty fighting someone like this. In the corner of his eye he saw the other Scholar watching; no longer positioned to attack. It was as good a sign as any to end this little charade.
"...Very well then. So be it" Thorium sighed, closing his eyes as a mist began to rise around him. Adonis saw it and aimed, ready to take his shot but already the mist had begun to absorb him as well. Soon everything in front of his violet eyes was painted in the same thick gray. "Farewell Sniper. I'm sure we'll be seeing each other again soon."
"Hey! "You coward!" The Sniper shouted, trying to fire but not hearing or seeing the shot land. The gunfire from the Gatling gun also came to an end, prompting concerns. "Cherri?"
"Ado?" The Gunslinger shouted back in the fog. "I can't see a damn thing!"
"Everyone relax." Omri said calmly, shutting them up for a moment. "Just wait."
The field stood still, a heavy quiet holding them all in place as they waited until finally the fog disappeared. Getting back his sight, Adonis lowered his bow to see Omri, Cherri and Dante all still standing but the two monsters they had found themselves against completely gone. Outside of the damage to their hideaway and their own bodies, it was as if they had never been there. The frustration gave way to simple calm as Adonis put battle mode behind him.
"Kallistei? Kallistei!"
The Sniper turned to see Omri hovering over his nephew, trying to shake him awake. A low grunt came from behind as Dante lost his strength, falling forward and being caught from underneath by the Gunslinger. Adonis stood by, not knowing what else to do but to trust that Kallistei's Uncle would fix what had happened to him.
"Kallistei!" Omri snapped, the air quaking from the quick backhand he delivered to the Hunter's face. The shock forced his chest to rise, then steadily fall, bring a look of relief onto both Adonis' and Omri's faces. "He's breathing...We need to get him inside."
xxx
When was a lie truth?
To anyone outside this motley crew, it must have been a terrifying sight. A young man, shaking and asleep, with a dark tall figure looming over him quietly: slightly less intimidating without his cloak and hood but still dark. Neither had a reason to care for the other. Kallistei and Omri's relationship was strictly one of convenience. Whatever happened from that was just apart of the bigger lie; the only thing tying them together...the Scholar thought so anyway.
The Hunter was turning feverish; a side effect of the mind attack that Thorium unleashed on him. He had seen it before, all too many times. It was practically the little psycho's trademark. But, this time seeing its after-effects pulled on Omri's stomach; putting him on the edge of retching. It was necessary for someone to suffer tonight. Allowing Thorium to 'play' was the only way I could have gotten Dysprosium out of here without anyone dying. Most importantly, this lie is as strong as ever. I suppose that means I should count this as a victory, shouldn't I?
"Heh. Stop being such a baby." Cherri grinned, kneeling next to a whimpering Dante on the far side of the room. Now everyone resembled Adonis somewhat; with bandages on some part of their body after the evening's battle. Dante had taken the worst of it, but at least wasn't unconscious anymore.
"Why do you have to tie it so tightly?" The Assassin whined slightly, wincing as the Gunslinger finished wrapping the tape around his head. Watching all of this from his perch against the wall, Adonis seemed a bit less preoccupied; burdened. Even staring now at Omri and Kallistei, clearly concerned, it didn't feel as wrenching as it did before.
"It isn't my fault that you got the worst of that monster tonight." Cherri slapped Dante on the shoulder playfully, knocking him sideways. "Speaking of which, what happened out there? Usoa said you got lost...was that when you were attacked?"
"I..." Dante's crimson eyes strained, trying to recollect the well where Praseodymium knocked him out in order to rendezvous with the Scholar, who didn't either bother to turn around. Finally he simply shook his head. "I'm sorry. I can't remember it. I don't know what happened. I just remember waking up and seeing those guys attacking us."
"Why us? What in the hell did they come after us for?"
"Probably somethin' to do with that Stalker." The Sniper murmured, scratching the back of his neck. "No other reason to bother with us. I'd reckon they were scared we'd find out somethin' about 'im if they didn'."
"Bastards." Cherri muttered, getting to her feet slowly. "Strikin' and runnin' off like that. Bunch of cowards."
"Do you think they'll be back Mr. Uncle?" Dante's question hung in the air for a long time. Omri usually ignored the jabbering of that one, but this time seemed too absorbed in watching of Kallistei. With a heavy sigh the Sniper turned, taking the Scholar's question for him.
"I dunno. Guess they got what they wanted...shouldn' hafta worry 'bout 'em followin' us. Guess we should keep watchin' though." Adonis grinned, wearily but much of his bravado had come back which was comforting to Cherri and Dante. Quickly he made his way across the room after slapping the risen Assassin on the back and again knocking him over to the bed where the Stalker once was. "How is he?"
"...I don't know." Omri sighed, pressing a damp towel to the Hunter's forehead. "Everything seems normal enough. But we won't have any idea how his mind is until he wakes up."
"He was pretty brave out there huh? I woulda never expected him to rush off inna fight like that."
"Neither would I. Surviving this, he'll be stronger." The Scholar's golden eyes shutting as the Sniper patted him on the shoulder. It would've been easy to place the Hunter's condition on him; after all his actions were something right out of Adonis' playbook. But, of course, it all happened to his own advantage and he wasn't about to blame himself. "Did you find the answers you were looking for Caskay?"
"...Nah. Just a buncha stuff I didn' need." Adonis' grin faded as he sat on the edge of the bed, listening to the Scholar's dry chuckle as he did. "I dunno. I thought that guy could help me with findin' this friend I had growin' up. But, I dunno. More an' more I try an' look for 'im; more and more I think I'll never find 'im."
"That is how it is in this world." Omri stated simply, combing his hair out of his eyes with a wave of his hand. "Have you grown tired of asking?"
"Mebbe. But this one, I dunno, I gotta know. I gotta know if Orion's out there somewhere. I guess that's kinda selfish though huh?"
"Yes it is. But it's also human nature." Omri sighed, even though he seemed more sympathetic than, well, ever. "There's nothing wrong with wanting answers; especially to something so close to you."
"Wow Uncle. That actually made sense."
"Gee thanks." Omri muttered, shrugging Cherri's arm off his shoulder. The Gunslinger didn't seem aware of the conversation or otherwise didn't care. Instead she took Omri's place looking over Adonis.
"Next time we pick a stranger off the side of the road, I'm gonna make sure he's knocked out myself." Cherri smiled, pounding her fist into her palm. "We put up a hell of a fight though didn' we? I betcha they're still tryin' to figure out what hit 'em!"
Yeah The Sniper thought to himself, his violet gaze spanning from Cherri to Omri and Dante. They were an odd group indeed: connected by the idea that Adonis Caskay knew what he was doing. That, of course, was a lie. All the Sniper ever wanted was to stretch his legs beyond Hugel. Somehow, somewhere they had all begun to follow him. He never asked for it: not once. But then, at the same time, Adonis couldn't imagine sitting in this place by himself.
"You guys get some rest. I'm going to keep watch for a while: just to be sure." The Scholar stated suddenly, turning and marching out of the room to Adonis' surprise.
"Hey man, what about Kallistei? He's gonna wanna see you when he wakes up!"
"No he won't."
"What? Why you think that?"
"Because I'm not his hero." Omri said quietly, not bothering to turn around and face Adonis; instead continuing his solemn march out of the room.
xxx
"Be careful!"
"Well hold still." Thorium sighed, the needle in his hand barely making a dent in Dysprosium's shoulder. Not long after their disappearing trick, the three Experiments managed to find each other far to the East from that house. As banged up as they looked, with the exception of the Stalker, they really had no serious injuries.
"There. See? All of that whining for nothing." The Scholar grinned softly, watching as the syringe pumped the clear painkiller into Dysprosium's body. Treating him like a child, as a dependent, always brought a frown to the Stalker's face. Dysprosium knew Thorium long enough regret every time he allowed that one close enough to his drugs or his body. However, he was in too much pain to care now. His fight with Adonis only made his injuries worse and, at least for a few moments, he wanted to be able to think without pain.
"Can't believe you two actually didn't finish 'em off." Dysprosium grunted, listening as the Paladin shifted about in his bullet dented armor. Thorium, withdrawing the syringe, could only sigh and try and ignore the question.
"So what? You should be more worried about thanking me for helping you rather than a bunch of brats."
"Thanking you?" The Stalker spat, trying to push himself to his feet before giving up. "If I could feel my arm, I'd knock you on your ass."
Thorium laughed, playing with a few loose strands of Dysprosium's wild hair. "You wouldn't dare little mutt. Remember, you only touch me when I let you."
"That's enough you two." A familiar voice called out to them. Thorium's smile faded as Omri Usoa joined them. "Praseodymium, I appreciate you leaving a trail. Although those dented trees aren't the most subtle trail I've seen..."
The Paladin nodded, not caring for the criticism as long as it got the job done. Thorium, however, flicked his hair over his shoulder in a vain attempt to avoid talking to Omri. It didn't help that Omri was staring at Thorium with murderous intent; a subconscious desire to strangle him held back by his steely resolve.
"So, are you happy?" The pink Scholar said haughtily. "Everything happened just like you wanted."
"You sound upset Thorium. I would've thought you'd be feeling better by now. That Sniper didn't throw you around that much after all."
Thorium huffed loudly as he finally glare back at Omri; his red eyes soaked with complete contempt. "That one had a lot of nerve...and so did you. I'm not one of your pawns to be used as you please Father. Do not expect me to do something like that ever again. So can we go back now?"
"Yes. I have a feeling we'd be heading in the same direction otherwise and its too soon for any of us to get into another fight. I'm sure back at HQ Auda Bergstrom will heal and keep an eye on you, until you're called on once again."
"Fine." Thorium turned, putting more distance between himself and the other Scholar. "I wouldn't mind being around someone who appreciates my work anyway."
Omri chuckled, passing by the upset Experiment with a slight grin on his face and stopped in front of the Stalker. His hand pulled a long chain from his pocket that he found lying on the main floor of that house. He had seen them hanging around Dysprosium's neck long enough to know exactly who they belonged to. Using both hands, he return the dogtags to his neck. "You forget this."
The Stalker flinched a little, the cold of the metal on his dark skin making the past few hours seem more tangible. His hand gripped the tag as his hand trailed along the raised dots spelling out Adonis' name. He was alive. Incredibly that boy from Hugel, someone he used to call a friend and he left for dead years ago, was somehow still alive. Adonis had grown up without him; but then he had also grown up without Adonis.
"You're not Orion!"
You're right. I'm not Orion. Orion was weak. Orion needed you. I never have and never will...ever. "...I'm sorry."
"For what?"
"I shoulda killed that Sniper." The Stalker stared upward at nothing in particular, his resolution growing as the drugs erased the aches and agony his fight had brought him. "I won't fail next time."
"..." Slowly, the dark Scholar nodded in agreement; turning his gaze to the endless night above them. "I wouldn't expect anything less from you...Dysprosium."
