Chapter twenty-one: Stand-up be strong.
"I feel quite fearless protecting the people I love."-Palma Faith
"In a cruel and terrible time in which our generation has been condemned to live on this Earth. We must never make peace with evil. We must never become indifferent to others or undemanding ourselves." –Vasily Grossman
Eun-Kyung let go of Nicole's glaive since it has done its purpose. However, her opponents haven't picked up on it yet. This is good news for Eun-Kyung since her goal would be remind hidden until they show up. As for now, she must stand her ground until then. She knew she won't last long without using her full strength but it would her last and final option.
The scrawny young man glared at her as though she was filth. His intent was obvious to the trio but only Eun-Kyung didn't seem to care at all. She knew the truth of what really happen and he didn't seem to care. To him, she was the blame and he will carry out the justice she deserved.
"Takes some nerve to finally show up murderous bitch," he called to her. "I still don't get why you protect that non-mutants after committing that crime? Trying to save your immortal soul?!"
He sounded sarcastic with that last bit. His attitude towards her was angry and very bitter. Whatever the history between the two, he was the one who is carrying the grudge.
"So, it matters not that your brother provoked my unni," Eun-Kyung stated. "Your brother's actions make my unni look sane for once."
Eun-Kyung didn't regret what she said. Her own older sister developed a mental disorder around the same time of her emerging powers. There was the debate on which came first, her disorder or her powers. She wasn't fully immune to her powers which made matters worse.
She was an Omega-level illusionist. Couple with her psychosis made her a danger to anyone. Dr. MacTarggert and Professor were forced to keep her under lock and key. Her cell was made to keep her powers from affecting anyone who walks by.
"My brother was in love with your damn sister and you couldn't stand it," he retorted.
"And he tried to remove part of her psyche as a cure," Eun-Kyung plainly pointed it though there was some sharpness to it. "My unni didn't take that well nor to me threatening either."
"Well, well," he sadistically smiled at her. "Thanks to what happens you can't use your full strength. That's why my dear friend is here. I will take my revenge on you and your little friends. Afterwards, I would kill any non-mutant I see."
"This person disagrees," Eun-Kyung used her own sister's speech pattern.
This obviously freaked him out a bit. He knows full to well that Eun-Kyung would not use her full strength if it means it would allow HER to come out. She wouldn't risk it regardless of the outcome.
"You wouldn't dare you filthy little Chink," he screamed at her. "Kill her!"
The other was a much larger burly man. He seemed more animalistic than human. His tawny skin started to change color slightly and he became more monstrous. Eun-Kyung stood still but inside she felt fear. This has happened before when she forced to face things larger than herself. Yet she had pulled through and she would pull through this one. Eun-Kyung knew what to do even if it means losing herself in the process.
Nicole was obviously tried to fight them but lost. She was now on her knees, wide-eyed and unprepared. Even with her training with Eun-Kyung, she didn't use it to her full advantage. Now she would watch in horror the fight will start.
The larger man charge and Eun-Kyung instinctively put up a shield. This stops him momentary but he would come back with anger and hostility. Eun-Kyung would not back down to this threat. She had survived a fetal experience of trying to slow down a falling Hulk, she would survive this.
To Tirithion, he was pleased to see back up. Círdan and a small armed force had appeared to see what was going on. Though after what he had witnessed he begins to doubt that their presences would make any difference at all. It seemed that they needed stronger, powerful mutants than the two that they have.
Tirithion went up to them and explain everything. Noting what Eun-Kyung had done. Círdan had mentioned he saw the lightning going up and knew something was wrong. When he couldn't find Lady Yi and Raphael didn't know where she was, he knew something it was serious.
Círdan sensed something deeper was going on. He didn't know what but he got closer to add an emotional support for Lady Yi. It was something and he wanted to apologize to her about their argument.
"Brought some back up you little…."
"They're not back up Erebus," Eun-Kyung pointed out.
"Let me guess," he seemed more unstable now. "You will protect them. How pathetic. Why in the world do you protect those who wish you dead? It doesn't matter you are the hero or which world you're in. The people would try to kill, crush, or destroy you regardless. So why protect these pathetic excuses."
"More reason to protect them. There is nothing in this world but isn't that lovely. We can make something out of it and even create our fate. Even if they wish to kill me, I am trained to protect them with my life. Even if I lose myself."
Erebus looked at her as though she lost her mind. Even if she did "kill" his brother, they were pretty much on the same side of sorts. They both knew that people hated and fear them but that is about it. While Eun-Kyung embraces in trying to protect others, Erebus decided to take his anger on them.
"You little murderous wrench…."
"Do not speak that way to this person," Eun-Kyung again pretend to be her sister. She knew Erebus feared her sister more than anything. "This person does not like it when others try to harm this one's sister."
"You wouldn't dare release your sister Eun-Kyung! You know she is highly dangerous and unstable."
The large man tried to attack again but fell to his knees. Eun-Kyung used a psionic blast. However, his mouth became more snout-like and he became a large inhuman creature of unknown origin. Eun-Kyung quickly switches to attacks and quickly break his snout with telekinesis and return with a more powerful psionic blast. This rendered him comatose for the meantime.
"Why do you think your brother, Lucius, died in the first place? He threatened to kill me in front of her. Her reaction was normal. "
"Normal how? Your sister is fucking insane! She was an abomination with her own power and tried to kill off Kim Jong-Ill months after he died."
Eun-Kyung gave him a look. Like he was forgetting that she tried to conquer Russia for sending hitmen to kill Eun-Kyung. Or that she thought that penguins were raising an army to help her to defeat an alien race.
"You fail to understand. If you try to kill me, who will take over my body? Have you forgotten who I'm being the jailer to? I still have part of her psyche in my head. If I die then she will take over. She would have access to my powers."
The young man, now Erebus, seemed to be slightly shaken by this. Erebus did make an off-handed remark about Eun-Kyung in front of her. Now he shudders at the thought. Fighting the Hulk was preferred to fighting her.
Erebus must change gears. He came for his revenge even if it means facing that monster. His main defender now laying on the ground comatose. Unlike Eun-Kyung, he wasn't well-trained or as powerful. He knew he was screwed big time.
"You never finish your training," Eun-Kyung stated. "You left for the Brotherhood before fleeing from that group. As I recall you have good control over your telekinesis but lack refinement and skills."
"Bullshit and you do?" he was calling her out.
"You only left because you couldn't put in the necessary work. Erebus, do you really think you could defeat me in my current state?"
Before he could answer Eun-Kyung telekinetically lift up Nicole's glaive again and swung it. Erebus barely had time to dodge the sharpen blade. However, he didn't have time to dodge it when she swung it again striking above his Achilles tendon. He was about to fall when Eun-Kyung went up to him.
Erebus tried to hit her with some nearby rocks with his telekinesis but his actions were in vain. She batted them off before they even reach her. Erebus knew that this won't end well for him. Even if he outlasted her during this state she will still be able to defeat him in one way or another.
He was the first to attack but Eun-Kyung simply enacted a psionic barrier. Now both of them were close for unarmed combat. Erebus knew he won't be able to fight her He rather fights mid to long distances compares to Eun-Kyung preferred short to mid-range.
Eun-Kyung did a strong roundhouse kick which knocked out all the air from his lungs. Not only that but he was thrown a few feet away from her. Eun-Kyung didn't waste time to proceed with a dropkick which Erebus got away in time. He realized she created a small crater. He cursed himself that Eun-Kyung like doing hand-to-hand though she hadn't seriously trained in any major martial arts in years.
Erebus knew he had no way out other than to fight his way out. Yet he tried the whole rock thing but failed before he could try. Eun-Kyung telekinetically pushed him before going up to him. It was an unfair fight. She was too agile and strong for the poor man. A series of psionically enhanced kicks and strikes came afterward. She produced a strong side thrusting kick that it knocked him several feet this time. The kick, however, was aimed at his stomach.
A wet coughing was heard from Erebus. Blood was coming out of his mouth due to multiple hits to his thoracic cavity but he began to throw up a bit. This wasn't normal vomit but what appears to be wet coffee grounds. Yet again he cursed since he forgot how strong Eun-Kyung's kicks were and how much she used them in fights.
"I guess I hit you too hard in the stomach," Eun-Kyung seemed apologetic about the fact.
"Apology is for the weak," Erebus looked peeved.
Eun-Kyung walked up to him forming a psychic construct. He took a good look on the psychic blade and knew something was wrong. It isn't uncommon for Eun-Kyung to produced psychic constructed blades but they tend to be bad news.
"Then I am weak," Eun-Kyung thrust the blade into his spine to disturb and overwhelm the nervous system. "That I am unable to fight two different battles. Your friend over there is waking up and I must focus on him.
"What the hell do you mean?" he tried to get on his feet but can't. It seems that the lower half is dead while the upper half is okay.
"He is a berserker," she pointed out. "His powers are similar to the Hulk. The more agitated he gets the more power he has. The downside is that he loses his humanity in the process."
"How the fuck you know that?" Nicole finally was feeling slightly better and ready to go.
"Let's say we have a friend here but needs rest before coming into battle," Eun-Kyung thought about Kurt. She wasn't sure if he is fully recovered yet and won't be a wise decision to bring him into the battle right away. She needed him to be rested and fully recovered to be any use. "As for now, you will be protecting the others."
"Why the fu-"
"You have seen what he could do. If we both fail then he will get to them," Eun-Kyung looked over at them through her thoughts were on Círdan. Despite their disagreement on her right to tell him the truth she still has her crush on him. "If I were to fail than it would be up to you to defend them. That is one reason to be on a team. Some will to fight while others defend. If something happens there will always be somebody ready to fight back."
Nicole silently agreed to her assigned post even if she feels like she's ready to fight again. A small voice told her that a hero isn't the one always fighting the enemy but at times defending and guarding something that was worthwhile. In this case the lives of their elven friends. The small voice also chimed in saying that if both did fight than who will defend them if they fail. It would only make sense if one stays back and the most experience one needs to be the one to fight.
The berserker woke up and change form slightly. He was more beastly than before, almost monstrous. Looking around he spotted Eun-Kyung and roared out. He begins to charge at her at incredible speed. Eun-Kyung had prepared for this and erected a powerful psychic shield. When he was in ranged she sent out a powerful psionic blast which only stuns him for a brief moment.
It was painful for him but it didn't matter. The pain was quickly suppressed and he continues with his charge. When he was close he started to hear things but he didn't understand. He started to bat things around his face as though he got into a swarm of hornets. Eun-Kyung had successfully gotten into his mind but it cost her a lot for it. The only thing she could do is to stall until Psylocke, Danielle and Vivian show up.
"Lady Yi," Círdan noted Eun-Kyung's weaken state.
"I'll be alright," she didn't seem to be bothered despite her weak voice. "I've been through worst."
The berserker quickly snapped out of it and looked more peeved. His jaw was still broken but it seemed to be a tiny bug bite than anything. His giant paw swapped at Eun-Kyung's psychic shield which caused her mental pain and she let out a painful moan.
"Lady Yi," he cried out for her and tried to get to her.
"Lord Círdan," Nicole quickly stopped him. "What good would do if you get killed?"
His concern was not on himself but Eun-Kyung. She is such a small thing and almost like a small fragile bunny. True she had proven herself on the battlefield but this was different somehow. He couldn't explain it but he knew she needed help. Now he knew about her being a jailer to her insane sister. If she was telling the truth than her sister would be taking over her body.
His fears were justified. The more berserker hit the psychic shield the more mental pain he caused her. More pain means less likely she would be able to keep her sister in. However, Eun-Kyung knew she had no choice to but use her full strength. She just needs to drive him back in a short span before hoarding her powers again to keep her sister in her jail.
Eun-Kyung forced herself to focus and slowly release her powers. Lucky for her, her sister was still groggy and surprisingly in a sane mood. Eun-Kyung felt her full power for once in nearly two years. She made sure she was at the height of her psionic condition before doing anything.
The berserker swiped his paw once more but was stopped by a kick. Eun-Kyung used his own strength and momentum to knock him over. Looking at her made him want to kill her. She felt the killing intent but didn't let it bother.
The fight becomes something like a dance. Eun-Kyung was using his own strength and momentum against him, something she did with Nicole a good deal of the time. Though she knew this won't last long before her sister becomes fully awake.
At one point in time, Eun-Kyung had lost her jeogori during the fight. The first- and second-degree burns showed brightly and painfully on her back. They were even to appear to weep liquid due to her movement and not getting medical attention on a timely matter.
The fight lasted for another three minutes of kicks and swapping of paws. Eun-Kyung was heavily fatigued and was too weak to continue but with no options, she must not quit. Now her sister was mostly awake and started on her descend to madness and wrath.
Eun-Kyung could hear her and momentary stop to try to quite her. Of course, this left her open to the berserker which he took. However, her sister took some control and focus Eun-Kyung's power into a reddish protective shroud.
"Fuck," Erebus said. "Eun-Kyung, you have to fight your sister. Don't let that crazy bitch take over."
The berserker swapped at it but was thrown off guard when he felt an intense pain. His entire arm was crushed by the shroud and was nearly torn asunder by it. Even with little to no intelligence, he knew something was wrong. Eun-Kyung's normal grey-eyes were amber with a yellowish tint.
Her movements were quick and precise. Kicks that broke bones and caused the berserker to fall back a bit. It seemed the tables have been turned against the berserker.
"Lady Yi," Círdan knew she was serious trouble. "Fight it! I know you. You can fight this."
He was scared for her and her safety but felt powerless to help. He prayed that what he said didn't go on deaf ears and they were answered.
"Unni," Eun-Kyung pulled on her sister's sleeve. "You're hurting me."
Her older sister backed off. But much like a lioness, she would be ready to protect her cub whatever the cost. The shroud was gone but so was Eun-Kyung's protection.
However, she felt chilly and started to see her breathe in the air. She knew Danielle was close by but where. Even the Berserker took note of the sudden change in temperature. He seemed dazed and trying to figure out why.
"Not her," Erebus said in a very shaky voice. "Anything but the Snow Queen herself."
"It won't help your cause since you harmed her baby sister," Eun-Kyung told him.
"Kill me now woman! Damn it all woman, I don't want to face the queen herself in this state."
"Do you honestly think I have the strength to go over there? Besides I can't leave unless I want my friends to be maul to death."
Snow began to appear on the ground at first. A pile grew into a pillar and harden to ice-like. Snow even appeared around Eun-Kyung's feet and the dry cold air felt nice on her back. Compare to the hot and muggy temperature, this change felt nice for once.
Out of the ice-like snow, pillar emerged a young dark-skin woman with stark white hair and icy-blue eyes. She appeared to be the same height as Nicole but had a bigger bust than her. The strangest thing was that she wore a heavy long white coat with white wispy feather-like trim and cuffs. The feathers were fake but she didn't seem to care. A whitish-blue shirt and black leather pants and matching riding boots.
"Dan..Danielle," Nicole was surprised to see her older sister.
"It seems you're doing well Nicolette," her tone was frigid.
The berserker didn't care and started to charge at this new person. This was a mistake since Danielle was ready for a fight. Unlike Nicole or Eun-Kyung, she was well rested and at full power. She absorbed the hot, humid air into herself and create snow and sleet. Danielle let it snow from around her and the berserker. She hardened it and made it slick like ice. This made the berserker lose traction.
While this was going on Vivian appeared. She quickly glomped onto her baby sister and held her tight. This didn't go well with Nicole who struggled to get away from Vivian's vice-like grip. She nearly grabbed Tirithion's robe in hopes to pull herself out.
"But Lil' Nicolette~," Vivan said in a sing-song voice. "I've missed you baby sister. Oh, much I miss you. It seems you lost a lot of weight since you stop playing all those unseemly sports."
Vivian was completely different than from either of her two sisters. She seemed to be more proportional than the other two. Her attire was less the pleasing and wasn't meant for battle. Her corset-type halter top with low riding skinny jeans. On top of that, she wore a black leather short-waist jacket and thigh high boots.
"Vivian," Danielle was getting tired of it. "Enough. Pay attention to what's going on. Take Eun-Kyung's position and let her rest."
"Ahh," she pouted as she whined. "I want to spend time with Lil' Nicolette a bit more. Don't be such a meanie Dani. Fighting is ugly."
A cold look from the second oldest sibling quite her whining for now. Vivian huffed as she got close to Eun-Kyung and she smiled at her. It has been a long time since she seen the cute petite Korean.
"Well it isn't the sweet mon petit fleur," Vivian flirtatiously grin. "Lil' Eunni. Though I still think I should change it to petit. Don't you agree Lil' Eunni, no?"
"Rest Eun-Kyung, we will need you ready to go when we weaken him," Danielle took control. "Vivian, you know what needs to be done."
Eun-Kyung didn't argue and was more than pleased to leave. She moved closer to Nicole and their elven friends. She would be between them and the berserker if all else fails however unlikely. Now it is up with Danielle and Vivian. The elves weren't sure if both could defeat this monster.
"Dani," Vivian pouted.
Danielle didn't say anything but stared down her younger sister. She wasn't in the mood to deal with Vivian and all of her pouting and whining. She was there to defeat this berserker and to smack some sense in Nicole.
The berserker looked over at Vivian. He believed she was physically weak and easily defeated. He failed to notice that she is a very talented and trained empath. She knew she couldn't remove all that anger without help but she can remove just enough to weaken him. Or use it against him.
Before he could charge at him he felt heavy and cold. His own anger seemed to leave him slowly and he didn't feel like killing and destroy. He couldn't understand and became confused on why he can't get angry.
Vivian was able to use some of his anger against him. She transformed it to weights around his joints and used emotional aura. Using her favorite, compassion, which for some reason made the berserker confuse. Her aura barely touched him but it was just as effective. Vivian, of course, got closer and she knew her sister would protect her.
Berserker was trying to figure out what was going on. His mind didn't come up with anything. Anger flared but it was taken away for some reason. He didn't know what was going on and he became very confused and even scared thus weaken him to the point where he is very open.
Danielle attack with using snow to further drain him of energy. He felt tried thanks to this and very sluggish to say at least. Now it was time for Eun-Kyung but she was still tired and unable to do much. However, this won't be a problem since help just popped in. Kurt teleported Psylocke to their area.
"Come Eun-Kyung," Psylocke informed her student. "We can do this together."
Psylocke could do this on her own without any issue. But it wouldn't hurt if two telepaths attack at once. It won't let the berserker time to adapt to one. That and it would do the job a lot quicker since he is still mentally strong despite lacking logic and intelligence.
Both telepaths attack at once which made the berserker go into a coma. He became human again and was no longer a threat to anyone. Psylocke did a quick scan to make sure he remained that way for the time being.
"Seonsaeng-nim," Eun-Kyung turned to Psylocke.
"Kurt," Psylocke looked at him. "Grab her."
Eun-Kyung's psionic armor disperse and she coughs up some blood. It didn't take long before she passed out in Kurt's arms.
"You've done well," Psylocke told her. "We're done here. Let's go home."
TBC
A/N: Wait for it.