Stone cold key: "Talking" 'Jake's inner thoughts/communication between Jake and J'onn'

Scorpion Warrior

Chapter 12

Fate Averruncus, Chigusa Amagasaki, and Ryomen Sukuna

"Hey Jake," My dad called me over the phone a week after returning from 1914. "I have a conference I need to go to over in Kyoto." I was sitting on my couch doing nothing but watching TV when he called me. "Alright? And?" I asked him. "You're 20 years old now, so I can't tell you whether or not to come." He said. "I got nothing better to do right now. I'll come." I told him. "Alright. We leave in a few weeks." He told me. "Great, that gives me enough time to work on a new costume." I replied. "New costume?" He asked me in confusion. "What happened to the old one?" "Well, it's kind of complicated. Scorpion Warrior needs a new design. I'll tell you the rest when we meet."

After I hung up, I got to work on drawing out some prototypes for a new costume design. I had some designs on another piece of paper, but I forgot where I put it, so I used my x-ray vision to try looking for it. "Huh, under the fridge? Oh well." I lifted it up, grabbed the paper, and starting thinking out new designs. In keeping with the original design, I got rid of the fangs over the mask on the cowl, so it's all streamlined. 'Hmm… should I give Scorpion Warrior a cape?' It took me a few minutes to mull that over. 'I'll decide that later.' Red markings over the rib cage, red marks pointing down the legs, red rings around the forearms and biceps, and a red S smack in the center of the chest. 'Nah, I don't think I'll put a cape in.'

So I had to rebuy the materials. I got the same kind of material that I used to make the previous costume. "Going to a costume party?" Asked the lady at the cash register. "Yeah, something like that." I said. I got the materials and, when I got back to my apartment, I spent the next couple hours putting the costume together. 'Wow, this turned out better than I expected. I hope no one mistakes me for Superman.' The next few weeks flew by. I only had a couple classes, so that way no one would suspect my identity. I would go out and stop some crimes, help put out fires. But other than that, the rest of the time was pretty boring. Everyone loved my new costume.

So as I've said before, the weeks between getting the costume change and the trip to Japan went quickly. The plane was kind of boring, glad they had an in flight movie and a pretty good meal. About 13 hours later, we got to Kyoto, Japan. Before we left, Batman gave me a language translator. The next morning, I decided to explore Kyoto. Since this is my first time on the other side of the globe, I had absolutely no idea where I was going. Luckily, and probably more pitiful for an American superhero, a young girl probably about 14-15 saw me and she and what seems to be a friend from a small group of other kids came over. "Excuse me," said the chipper kid with a big smile. "You seem lost." "Konoka Ojou-sama, you don't just walk up to people and just blurt out like that." Said her friend. 'Ojou-sama?' "I'm sorry." She said with a bow. "Its alright. Actually, this is my first time in Kyoto and I was hoping someone could help me."

"We can help you." Said Konoka. "I'm Konoka, this is my friend and classmate Setsuna." She finished while her friend bowed. "Smith. Jake Smith." I said in the same manner that James Bond introduces himself. "Class huh? Middle school wasn't my favorite." I said with a little laugh. "We're on our way to visit my father right now, so we might be able to show you around." Said Konoka. "Really? I don't want to intrude." I said politely. "Oh please, I insist. We have plenty of room at my house." She said. "Well, if you say so. I guess I can." I said while looking back at the inn my dad and I are staying at. 'I am 20 after all.' I sent my dad a text message about where I'd be and joined Konoka's group. They all introduced themselves and I introduced myself too. A few hours later, we got to Konoka's house. Actually, "house" doesn't even begin to describe it.

"Oh… wow." I said in surprise. "I've never seen a house this big." "I'm nostalgic. I haven't been here since I've been to Mahora academy." Said Konoka. 'Nostalgia eh? I'm feeling a little homesick myself.' We got inside and I didn't see a chair anywhere. 'Oh right, I learned about Japanese custom in high school.' I had a nervous look on my face. There were pillows scattered around the floor. I sat the same way everyone else was sitting. Another of Konoka's guests came down the stairs and Konoka was ecstatic to see him. The guest was her father. Konoka's 10-year-old teacher Negi Springfield gave her father a letter. "You're welcome to stay for the night. I'll send paper doubles to your hotel." While I was walking in the hallway, Negi caught up to me. "Hello Jacob. I sense a very strong aura about you. Very heroic." That caught me a little off guard. "Uh… thanks." That kind of distracted me from where I was walking and I ran into something jutting out of a room. It was a hand. "What the hell's that?" I opened the door to see that everyone was frozen. Standing in place. "What's that! Everybody's petrified!" I said in surprise. "Negi? You know what's going on?" I turned around to where I thought he was but he disappeared.

I ran back to the inn my dad and I are staying at to see a statue, of him! "DAD!" It looked like he was about to shoot his gun. "W-who did this!" To answer my question, I heard a voice from behind me. "Μικρή βασιλιάς, οκτώ πόδια σαύρας, πλοίαρχος του το κακό μάτι. Δίνει το δηλητήριο-ανάσα που κλέβει χρόνο: Ανάσα από πέτρα."

I turned around as soon as he finished that thing as saw weird smoke billowing out from the source of the voice. "Hey who're–" And that was all I could say before I got petrified and the weird boy disappeared. A few minutes later, I was able to bust myself out of that weird stone cause of my super strength, and Negi was at the door. "Hey… Negi." I said in surprise. "I followed that aura I sensed from you when it disappeared. I followed the trail back to here. How did you do that?" He asked me curiously. "Wow, for a 10-year-old teacher, you sure do ask more questions than you answer." I said. "You wouldn't know what's going on do you?" I asked him. "It's hard to explain." He replied. "Dammit! It was that kid! He's gonna pay!" I shouted. 'Jacob calm down, I'm sure things will be alright.' J'onn said to me.

"What is it?" I heard Negi say. I turned around but didn't see him anywhere. "What's going on?" I heard his voice coming from outside the door. "Konoka's missing!" That grabbed my interest. "I'll be right there!" 'Who was he talking to? And how?' He walked back in, "Jacob, would you be able to help me?" He asked me. "I might know somebody who can help. He'll meet you there." 'Dad… I will save you!' Negi gave me the address and left.

I changed into the Scorpion Warrior, went back to Konoka's mansion, and caught up to Negi and Setsuna. "What happened? Jake told me everything." Negi was staring at me. "Uhh… can I help you?" I asked him in confusion. "I'm not sure, but I sense a familiar aura about you." 'Oh no.' "Maybe I'm mistaken." He said. 'Oh good.' "From what I've seen, Jake's father was a victim of the same petrification spell that happened to the girls in that room we passed by earlier." He continued. "We need to stop that white haired kid so he doesn't petrify anymore people." I said commandingly. We heard a voice come from behind us. "Negi… Negi…" "Elder?" Asked Negi. "ELDER!" 'Oh no! Not again!' "Save Konoka, and… beware the white haired youth." Said Konoka's father before becoming fully petrified. "This is it! I'm putting a stop to this right now! Negi, you said you could see auras?" I asked him. "Yes, how did you know?" He asked me. "You said you sensed a familiar aura about me like 10 minutes ago. Can you track Konoka's aura?" I asked him. "I can try." He replied. A few minutes passed, so I started looking around to make sure there were no more victims. I passed a room with a bunch of other statues. "No! Not more victims!" Negi and Setsuna came running over. "Hey… uh…" Setsuna asked when they came to me. "Scorpion Warrior." I said, and then I looked inside the room I was in front of. Negi and Setsuna's faces turned into shock. "I found Konoka's aura," Said Negi. "I also called Asuna. She can help." He finished. "Asuna can… What? How? What can you guys do?" Negi was hesitant to answer. "Fine. Good thing I'm here. I'll take care of that kid. Just point me in the right direction." I told him.

He hesitated. "Fine, I'll find them myself." I scolded him then took off. A few minutes later, he, Asuna, and Setsuna caught up to me, flying. "What's going on?" I asked in confusion. "He's kind of a mage." Said Asuna. "Asuna, don't tell him that! Other humans aren't supposed to know about magic, remember?" He said. 'Other humans? Oh crap, he doesn't know who I am does he?' "Oh relax would ya Negi? He's wearing a mask. I'm sure he doesn't want us knowing what's under it." Said Asuna. 'Wow, she's smart. She nailed it. I'm impressed.' "Wait, so Negi, you know magic? You could've saved Jake's dad!" I said. "Tell him I'm sorry next time you see him. I don't know any petrification reversing spells, so I can't save his father." 'Dammit!' I thought while trying to keep the anger on my face inside. "The only thing I can think to do is stop the boy that did all this. It may, or may not, reverse the spell." 'It'll sure make me feel better!' "Anyway," Negi continued. "You're going the wrong way. I sensed Konoka's aura the other way." "Then lets go!" I said.

After a few minutes of flying, we caught up to them in a field. A giant monkey was holding Konoka. "What's with the giant monkey?" I asked. "That's Chigusa Amagasaki." Said Setsuna. "We need to be careful around her. She's bad news." Said Asuna. She must've noticed us in the air because she called out to us. I landed and demanded she give back Konoka. "No can do. I have a secret agenda to complete that involves her." She said in a mocking voice. "What is it?" I asked. "Why should I tell you my secret when you've gone to so much trouble to hide yours?" She replied. "I think my little friends would like to come out and play. Kiri kiri vajara unhatta." She chanted some kind of weird language that I've never heard before and Konoka looked like she was in pain.. A little later, the earth started shaking and a whole bunch of hands came shooting up out of the ground. I was backing up out of nervousness but one of the hands grabbed me and started crushing me. "Adeat!" I heard Asuna call out. She came falling down with a giant folded fan and with one hit of the fan, the demon that was holding me disappeared. Then a little later a big tornado developed around me and Asuna. Setsuna and Negi then landed inside almost after. "What's this?" I asked. "This is a protective barrier surrounding us. The demons outside can't touch it, or else they'll get hurt." Negi explained to me. "Well we don't have for this. Isn't Konoka in trouble?" I asked them. "Yes, but this is so we can come up with a strategy." Said Negi. "What else can we do bro? You need to form a pactio with Setsuna." Said a voice coming from what looks to be Negi's shoulder. "What was that?" When I asked that, an ermine appeared from Negi's shoulder and jumped to the ground, creating a weird looking circle. "That, my friend, would be me, Albert Chamomille. More commonly known as Chamo." Said the talking ermine. "A talking ermine… I know a green alien that can shapeshift, so why am I surprised by a talking animal?" I asked in weird shock. "Join the club Scorpion Warrior." Said Asuna. "What is that anyway, an alchemy circle?" I asked. "Alchemy? Yeah you wish, this ain't alchemy kid, that's science. This," When he finished the circle around Negi and Setsuna's feet, a big light started shining. "Is magic." He finished. "What's that?" I asked again. "This is a pactio circle. A magister magi steps inside this circle and, in order to make a partnership, the magi and the potential Minister Magi have to kiss." Said Chamo. That made Negi and Setsuna blush.

"If its for the good of Konoka…" Muttered Setsuna, then she kissed Negi. That made me, and Asuna probably, feel a little awkward. "PACTIO!" Called Chamo. The bright light disappeared too. Just in time, the big tornado shield was about to die too. We took fighting stances and, after the tornado died, we engaged the demons in combat. I didn't want to reveal too many of my powers, for fear of leaving witnesses to go back to their boss. After a few minutes though, we were getting over-powered. One of the demons grabbed Asuna's wrist so she could hit anyone with her harisen.

I tried helping, but one of the demons grabbed me again. They were stronger than what my super strength granted, so he was crushing me faster than I could push out of there. I almost started screaming in pain until I heard a shot come from a gun and the demon's hand let me go. I fell to the ground and passed out.

A few minutes later, I woke up, but I was still dizzy and weak from nearly being crushed to death. I was flying on Negi's staff. I came to my senses and started flying on my own. "Wh-what's going on?" I asked. "Some of the people from my class who can actually hold their own in a fight came to help. They also know about my magic. Asuna and Setsuna stayed back to help fight." Negi told me. "Some teacher you are, letting your students risk their lives. Of course, Asuna's harisen, from what I saw of it in action, could do pretty good." I said. "Bro, can you feel that magic?" Chamo called out. "They've started already." "I know!" Said Negi. "Scorpion Warrior, I'm going on ahead. I've been working on a delayed spell which I can only hold for a good fifteen to twenty seconds. Catch up when you can. Accelerat!" He said, then sped off faster that I can fly. I just sat there, hovering, in awe of that speed. 'Why can't I fly that fast?' "Okay, to go back and help Asuna and Setsuna, or to go and help Negi rescue Konoka and finish off the kid that turned my dad and the others to stone. Okay, that's easy." I said, then flew off as fast as I can towards the direction that Negi flew off in. Moments later, while I was still flying, I saw a large column of light.

Asuna and Setsuna somehow caught up too. I saw a big demon flying above the water, so I flew down and helped Negi. Just as the demon was about to strike with his sword, Negi somehow sped up and flew through the demon like a bullet zooming through a human body. I could barely seen anything through the mist. Is what I would've said, had I not had x-ray vision. I saw Negi jump off his staff as soon as the boy held his hand up. That must've thrown the boy off, because I saw a slight change of look in it. Negi landed on the podium behind the boy and tried punching him with a supercharged push off the podium, but no dice. The boy stopped the punch almost immediately. Now that's good enough to even impress me.

I was hovering closer when I heard Negi say, "Sagitta Magica Binding Arrows of Air!" 'That must've been the delayed spell he mentioned earlier.' I looked over at the table but no one was there. "Negi, she's gone." The beam started to subside, leaving in its wake an even bigger demon than the ones we've faced earlier. "W-w-what the hell is that thing!" I yelled in shock. "Surprised?" Asked Chigusa in a mocking voice. "Say hello to Ryomen Sukuna. A demon so powerful, so unstoppable, it took a master mage to seal!" She continued. "So your saying he's also uncontrollable!" I yelled to her. "Not with Konoka here. With her power, I can control this massive beast!" She said. "That… that thing… is the biggest thing I've ever seen in my entire superhero career." I almost fainted. "There's no way I can stop that." Behind us, the boy who petrified my dad broke free of Negi's apparent prison. "Can this get any worse?" I turned around. "You on the other hand, you will pay for what you did to that man." "Oh, you mean that American police officer? He threatened me with a gun. I only reacted in self defense. You can't blame me for that now, can you?" That sent me over the edge. "I'LL KILL YOU!" I came at him with all I had. Every punch, every blow I threw at him, no matter how fast I was, he dodged every one of them. Eventually, I was tired out. "Hmph, you bore me. Vish tal li shutal vangate! Μικρή βασιλιάς, οκτώ πόδια σαύρας, πλοίαρχος του το κακό μάτι. Δίνει το δηλητήριο-ανάσα που κλέβει χρόνο: Ανάσα από πέτρα."

'NO!' It was the same thing he said right before my previous petrification. Almost as quickly as the first time, I was petrified where I stand. "Well, that was… a little… entertaining, to say the least," He grabbed my wrist and threw me into the water surrounding the place that Chigusa forced Konoka to summon the giant demon. 'This is it. Is this my final battle? There's no way I can win against a demon that size, let alone someone who can petrify anyone and anything by breathing on them?' I reached the bottom of the lake. 'This is it. This exact spot is where I spend my final days. I'm going to die here. Dad, I'm sorry I couldn't save you.' A few minutes later, 'All is not lost Jacob.'

[To be continued…]