Chapter 57
"Interesting."
The witch clad in her usual gothic crimson gown levitated slowly about the stone slab, her glowing cat-like eyes taking him in, her cowl laden head at a curious tilt. She stopped.
"I am impressed. You have resisted me for three full days." Her head cocked to the other side. "You have an unusually high tolerance for pain," she hissed, "Much like your sister."
Clad in only black boxer-briefs and sprawled on his back with his wrists and ankles tied to the stone, weakened, Adam silently glared at her.
"When I hit you with three hundred volts, you barely noticed; just a simple tremor." She leaned over palming the table, her mysterious orbs boring into his. "But at five hundred and twenty, it seemed to have caused a significant reaction," she gloated.
Adam watched her, his legs and arms displaying the results of the multiple high voltage electric shocks.
His body had sustained significant damage; the scorch marks, the branching redness travelling through the veins of his face and extremities and creeping over his chest, the effects of the electric currents glaring. She pulled back folding her arms.
"I am attempting to alter your brain waves, My Prince," she cooed. "I need a willing participant in our sexual Power Transfer."
He said nothing.
Sensing something she watched him, her shrouded features eerie. "Power emanates from every cell of your being," she observed unfolding her arms. "Such power…like none I have ever come across on any planet. I sense it…along with your delicious blistering rage."
His eyelids slowly fluttering in apathy, Adam's gaze turned away from her to fix on the sterile gray ceiling.
"You detest me, do you not?" she asked curiously.
His blue gaze darted back to her.
"Yesss…yes you do, young man." Catching something, her attention suddenly went to his legs.
His body began to heal itself right before her eyes, the branching ever so slowly beginning to fade. Shocked, she turned to him.
"What is this? How—?"
Adam stared at her, his gaze narrowing.
"No answer?" she taunted. "Fine, My Prince. You will eventually submit to me. Why don't we try…six hundred volts?"
At that she raised a glowing crimson palm over him causing Adam to clench his jaw in pain, his eyes squeezing shut as the searing hot currents invaded his body coursing through every corpuscle, every layer of tissue, his muscles involuntarily contracting as the unbearable burning knifed viciously through him.
As the electrical currents raged, his hips lifting off the table in agony he grunted in pain, a low miserable guttural groan building in his throat before finally letting out an extended tortured scream.
Pleased, Shadow Weaver watched with delight as she steadily increased the voltage, his body beginning to convulse with each new devastating level of excruciating pain.
His mind and body under siege, Adam struggled to hold on to his sanity, the sorcerous currents zipping through his brain with antithetical instructions to misfire; instructions to lose hope…instructions to surrender…ethereal voices demanding he obey Death.
"NO!" he ground out in raging defiance, his body now in full epileptic seizure.
Impressed Weaver ceased the onslaught, her evaluating gaze locked on his features as Adam's body went limp, his eyes still closed, his breathing labored, his body soaked in sweat. Silence as she studied him.
"Who are you?"
Trembling from the aftershock, his body spasmd violently, he blinking heavily fighting to stay conscious. Winning the battle his body calmed. His eyes opening the Prince slowly turned to her, his gaze narrowing in pure rage.
"When I…get off…this table. I am. Going. To. Fucking KILL you," he threatened through labored gasps.
Weaver cackled with delight. "I would enjoy seeing you try," she hissed. "I admire your spirit."
Reaching out she lifted the waistband of his trunks and gazed underneath, appreciating the generous endowment. She gave a nod of approval.
"Nice. Very nice," she whispered. "I look forward to our coupling with much anticipation, young man."
Catching his breath and utterly furious, Adam glared at her.
"And now it is my turn."
Levitating, she straddled him. Reaching up, she grasped her hooded cowl and lifted it over her head, the entire gown suddenly distorting and dropping around her shapely waist.
His sapphire gaze went wide.
"You two…can read each other's minds?" Duncan asked astonished.
"Yes. We—" Teela stopped and frowned, her gaze dropping, her hand going to her temple. Something's wrong…," she stated absently. "Something—," she gasped, her eyes full of fear going to her father. "Adam's been captured!"
Jumping from her bed and leaning anxiously forward, Duncan furrowed his brow. "What's happening?" he demanded.
Confused, Teela blinked as her gaze went distant, her eyes welling with tears. "Pain. Enormous pain," she replied, her voice tremulous with apprehension.
"Emotional?"
She turned to him. "Physical."
Worried, her father stared at her.
"He's being tortured, Daddy," she added with a sob.
The Leaders sat in the Command tent as her men knocked on the pole.
"Enter!"
They filed in.
"Still no sign of his return, Commander," the lead soldier reported.
Glimmer nodded. "Thank you, Karmyn. Please take your men and continue the perimeter search of the Woods."
Saluting, they hurried out.
"What Shakra said a few days ago," Hawk mused aloud.
Bow and Glimmer looked at him.
"What do you suppose that means?"
Shrugging, Bow replied, "She's making the point that that miserable Horde Swine is no match for His Grace."
"I've never heard of any human ever defeating him," Hawk replied curious. "I mean, the guy can shape-shift." He frowned. "He didn't take his Greyskull friend along with him, did he?"
"He didn't mention him. Just took off on that horse."
Glimmer glanced about. "Wait—it's been days. Where is that bobcat of his?"
Silence as they all exchanged worried glances.
"He went with him too, I suppose?"
"I doubt it, Hawk. He's probably in their tent awaiting His Grace's return," Bow answered. He looked at Glimmer. "Why do you want him? It's not like he can tell you what the Prince is thinking."
"No," she replied, "But maybe Castaspella can help."
She darted out of the tent, the other two following.
The bars noisily clattered open.
Adam's unconscious body was roughly shoved through hitting the floor with a thud, the bars slamming closed behind him.
"Brother!" Adora shouted pained as she sprung to her feet and reached for him, dropping to her knees.
Her eyes welled with tears. He had been gone for three days, his agonizing screams she will never forget as long as she lived.
Crumpled on the floor he lay in a fetal position struggling for consciousness, Adora examining him for injuries as, filled with alarm, her eyes fell on the angry red burns and branching crimson streaks on his face, chest, arms, and legs.
Dealing with a massive migraine, not to mention every nerve ending on fire, moaning in pain he slowly shook his head, his eyes fluttering open to meet hers.
"What did they do to you?" she asked, her voice tremulous.
"Extra…crispy," he rasped, struggling to an elbow.
She frowned in confusion. "What?"
Baubling a bit, Adam managed to sit up, one hand palming the floor, his right arm paralyzed and folded over his stomach, the hand frozen in a fist. He looked at her, his eyes bloodshot.
"Th—the Rebellion Camp...," he rasped weakly.
Thinking for a moment, she finally nodded.
"The sq—…the squirrel they served you…for breakfast…," he trailed off.
Adora's brow furrowed in recollection. "Yes."
"That," he explained, "Cooked me. W—well done."
Her mouth flew open. "You mean—?"
"Yes," he winced in pain. "Elec—electrocution."
"Hera," her hand went to her mouth, a tear tumbling over her cheek.
Her features suddenly settling in determination she touched him. "Lie back down, Adam."
"Hu-huh?"
"Lie down," she insisted. "You need water and you must remain immobile."
He smirked. "This…isn't…an infirmary."
She placed a hand to the back of his head for support as she guided him back down, the cold floor hitting his bare and bruised back as he winced and grunted in pain. Worried, she assessed him.
"You need medical attention. Now."
"From…whom?" He waved a dismissive hand. "It's fine. Sex h—has healing qu—qualities…so…," he joked with a shrug.
She frowned down at him. "This is not a joke, Adam." Swiping at her tears she looked around. "We must get you out of here," she stated jumping to her feet and lunging toward the bars. She wrapped a hand around the iron, her eyes desperately moving about the dungeons.
"Adora. Come…here."
She whirled around, their eyes meeting.
Adam gestured weakly to her.
"Come here."
xxx
Appearing before a seated Hordak, levitating, the witch folded her arms.
"I have…underestimated him," she confessed begrudgingly.
Hordak frowned. "Will you be able to enable the transfer? Or not?" he demanded.
"Yes. I am capable," she replied annoyed. "It will take more time than I had planned but I will ultimately prevail in breaking him down, My Lord."
"You had better. I require their submission in order for this to work," he barked. "My brother Horde Prime is distracted by the Inter-Dimensional Wars so now is the time for my betrayal," he growled.
He leaned forward. "The prophecy has withstood thousands of years and is finally coming to pass. The Twins are extremely powerful and key to my successful campaign. With them leading my troops, no one will be able to stop me," he gave a fanged grin. "And I will finally wed Adora."
Weaver watched him as his crimson eye sockets bore down on her.
"I will not tolerate failure," he snorted angrily.
Sitting on his throne he abruptly stood and descended the steps coming to a stop before her.
"I do not fail. Are we clear?" he growled.
"Yes, My Lord," she hissed resentfully.
xxx
Cringer's worried golden gaze darted from person to person, his body cowering in the corner of the Prince's tent. The Commander squatted to one knee and reached out a hand.
"It's okay, boy," she said softly, "It's me: Glimmer."
Queen Castaspella stood with arms folded. "He's afraid, Glimmer."
*am not
"He's pretty big," Hawk remarked. "If anything, we should be afraid of him."
"Yeah," Bow agreed.
"He knows a secret," the Princess insisted, "And I'm determined to discover it."
Nervous, the cat suddenly yelped.
"Come on, leave him alone," Bow said.
Frustrated, Glimmer dropped her hand and glanced over her shoulder at the Queen. "Can you read his thoughts? Is he even capable of having any thoughts?"
Offended, the cat suddenly hissed, baring his fangs.
"Uh oh," Hawk breathed.
Cringer bowed his head low and began to growl, the fur on his neck and back standing on end. Bow bit his lip.
"Umm…maybe we should leave—"
The green and gold Eternian tiger suddenly let out a ferocious roar knocking Glimmer to her butt in surprise, everyone except Casta jumping backward in fear.
Empathetic, Casta locked eyes with the feline.
"He is very intelligent," she sensed, approaching the hissing animal and kneeling down. "You offended him."
Glimmer made a face. "It wasn't my intention."
Closing his jaw, Cringer's gaze narrowed in suspicion at the Princess.
"May I?" the Queen asked him.
Apprehensive, the cat blinked at her.
Slowly she raised a palm and placed it against his jaw, stroking his fur, the cat snorting a breath in gentle warning. Closing her eyes she took a deep breath. A moment passed as she opened them.
"He is not a bobcat," she said, her eyes locked with his. "His breed is Tiger."
"Tiger?" they all replied confused.
"Isn't He-Man's partner a tiger, too?" Bow asked.
Silence.
Glimmer's gaze narrowed.
"Reach…reach behind my back," he whispered.
Adora craned her neck. "There's nothing there, Brother."
"Yes—" he gave a raspy cough "–yes there is. Just…place your hand to…the back of my sho-shoulder."
Fighting to remain conscious he was weakening…growing worse by the minute.
"This is a waste of time," she insisted impatient.
"Just…do…it."
Worried, shaking her head in frustration she pursed her lips as he rolled slightly left, lifting his right shoulder off of the cold and damp stone floor, her eyes going to a small scar. Dismissing it, she reached out her left hand suddenly grabbing the hilt of cold hard steel.
She took a sharp intake of air, her eyes darting to his.
"Got…it?" he asked over his shoulder.
"Y-yes."
"Take…it…out," Adam coughed.
Slowly pulling it towards her, she heard the high-pitched sound of metal against metal as inch by inch, a shimmering broad blade Sword slowly materialized before her.
"By The First Ones," she whispered in awe completely confused at what she was witnessing.
Freeing it, the sharp end of the weighty Weapon suddenly hit the floor with an echoing crash, Adora miscalculating the sheer weight of the thing. With a gasp she quickly reached out with the other hand pulling it to rest heavily over her lap, the Sword's blade pulsating with ethereal power over the tops of her thighs, the vibrations tickling her skin.
"For God's sake don't fuckin' crack the thing," Adam said sharply.
Staring at the Sword she blinked, her irritated gaze darting to his. "You sound stronger at least," came the dig.
"I am," he replied feeling the beginning effects of Greyskull's healing power gently caressing his body. He slowly sat up and turned to her, their eyes meeting. "Hand it to me, please."
She complied.
Shocked, she watched the angry red streaks in his body begin to flicker after he grasped the hilt, her eyes going to what appeared to be a Crimson Cross etched at the handle. With great difficulty, Adam slowly leaned over and heavily stood to his feet, Adora helping him.
With a grateful nod he took two steps backward and silently hoisted the Sword above him. A flash of blinding light enveloped their cell accompanied by a sonic boom, Adora turning away, her arms shielding from the brightness. She glanced back, her eyes going round.
Adam was fully clothed in what he had arrived in; jeans and a black v-neck T-shirt, his body strong and standing erect, the red streaks gone from his face, neck and arms. His eyes clear, lowering his Sword and closing his eyes he took a deep cleansing breath before easily sheathing the Weapon behind him, the hilt peeking behind his right shoulder before dematerializing. Adora stared.
"So that is how you blocked Hordak's cannon shot," she marveled.
Adam nodded.
"Invisible," she pondered, "That's why I couldn't see anything when it ricocheted off of you." She squinted at him. "Is there something you would like to inform me of, Brother?"
He gave a crooked smile. "Later. For now, we're getting the hell out of here."
"Can you sense him?"
Angry, she frowned.
"What is it, Daughter?"
"I'm yelling at him."
Straightening, he quirked a brow. "Why are you verbally assaulting The Crown Prince, Captain?" he asked sternly, his royal sensibilities offended.
Blinking, she turned to her father. "I chewed him out for blocking the fact that he was captured," she explained sharply. "He was trapped and tortured for three whole days and completely hid it from me. It was only when his strength was nearly gone and he was nearly dead that he was unable to sustain the mind-block!" she fussed, her arms flailing wildly before folding again.
Concerned, Duncan pursed his lips.
"Bastard!" she spat.
"Where is he now? Are you tracking him?"
"Yes," Teela replied with a relieved sigh, her eyes staring straight ahead. "He…he's got the Princess." She furrowed her brow. "But they're still at the Fright Zone."
The two locked gazes.
"I'll brief Their Majesties," he said before turning on his heel and moving to the door. "Stay here," he threw over his shoulder.
"Daddy!" she huffed in disappointment.
"Teela…"
She suddenly shifted into extreme focus.
"Yes, Adam..."
"Get back on it," Hordak commanded. "Drink in his power. Then present it to me."
Weaver lowered her head, opening The Sight to the dungeons. "They are discussing something," she stated surprised. "He is somehow healed!" she gasped, her head snapping up to him.
"Go!" Hordak commanded.
The witch vanished—
Appearing with a flash beyond the bars, startled, the twins suddenly whirled when a blinding light came down like a waterfall, separating them from their captor.
The witch turned away, her arms shielding her as she cursed in frustration. Bearing down, waving her palms she conjured a black sphere of energy, the blinding light before her growing in strength, Weaver surprised at finding herself struggling against the enigmatic power.
Reinforcing herself, black energy burst forth destroying the Light as it dissipated, shattering into millions of reflective orbs before disappearing. She glared at the two who now seemed rattled.
"Nice try," she hissed. "You will pay for that."
Strangely, the Prince grew a contemptuous grin.
xx
-Over here-, Adam motioned with hand signals.
Brother and Sister had quietly climbed the inner walls of the Fright Zone, safely out of sight away from the dungeons; and away from the conversation a clueless Shadow Weaver was holding with their holograms, thanks to Greyskull.
-Here's the opening- Adora signaled back.
Having climbed nine levels, Brother and Sister reached LEVEL 1, the floor containing the Officers' quarters. Memories flooded her mind, her features suddenly falling.
Sensing the sorrow, Adam frowned. "Focus, Adora," he whispered.
Blinking out of it, she nodded.
They reached the hangar, the starry night peeking through the windows just beyond them. They climbed out of the ventilating grate.
"Halt, Intruder!" a robotic voice called out.
Adam whirled as several robot guards immediately squeezed off a series of laser shots, the Prince whipping out his Sword and batting them away effortlessly, the ammunition heading straight back and blowing each of them to pieces, circuits flying everywhere.
Adora's mouth fell open, her gaze fixed on the Weapon.
"Where can I get one of those?"
Quickly sheathing it, he grinned. "I'll show you later."
xxx
"Weaver! The twins are in the hangar!" Hordak's panicked voice bellowed over the loudspeaker from his Throne Room.
The witch whirled at the sound behind her before quickly snapping her head to the cell.
The illusion melted away revealing iron bars sliced clean-through lying strewn about the floor.
Horrified, Shadow Weaver's glowing eyes met Adora's rueful smile, the twins' likeness suddenly distorting and dissipating, the cell empty.
Furious, the woman raised her arms, quickly teleporting to the Control Room.
"They're getting away!" Hordak shouted, storming in to meet her. Pushing past a stunned Weaver, stopping at the control panel he pounded a fist onto the communique.
"All units to the hangars!" he commanded shrill, his panic echoing across the Zone. "Get them! NOW!"
xxx
The two Blondes slipped quietly through the adjoining hangar when an ear-splitting alarm shrieked incessantly, the two stopping, exchanging looks.
They broke into full sprints, the sound of hundreds of boots behind them as guards, both robotic and human poured into the space, weapons drawn.
Hordak and a brooding Weaver watched on closed-circuit as the pursuit began, lasers wildly missing the two, the Commander incensed. He slammed a hand on the panel.
"Don't kill them you idiots!" he screamed, "I need them ALIVE!"
Joined by Captain Catra and her team, upon hearing the directive over the intercom the soldiers quickly holstered their weapons and continued pursuit, brother and sister increasing the gap as Hordak's troops struggled to close in.
The flight continued through the barren streets of the nearby village, citizens who refused to evacuate with the others peeking through windows and opening doors curious at the commotion, Adam and Adora exchanging quick worried glances, concerned over the people's safety.
The two ducked into an alleyway, the soldiers slowing up in confusion, whipping their heads about in search of them.
"Take the people hostage!" Hordak commanded harshly through their helmets. "Hold them for ransom! Kill them if need be! They'll see and give themselves up!"
Telepathically connected to Teela and able to pick up the directive, Adam held Adora's hand as they darted from alley to alley.
"Teela. I need you—"
No sooner did the thought leave his mind when a blast of emerald-sapphire energy descended from the night sky and plowed into the dirt road like a tornado, rocking the village with the force of a sonic boom and blowing the soldiers backward like bowling pins. Additional meteors rained down upon them as frightened citizens slammed the doors shut to shelter from the onslaught, the troops scattering and running for cover.
"Idiots! Boobs! Nincompoops! After them!" Hordak continued to howl.
"Thank you…," Adam sent with a smile.
"You owe me," came the reply.
"Now wait a second—"
"I expect endless hours of hot sweaty sex, Your Highness," Teela's stern voice commanded.
"As you wish, Captain," an amused Adam replied aloud causing Adora to furrow her brow in confusion.
"What?"
"Umm. Nevermind."
Amidst the commotion, the two slipped out of the village and into the open meadows under cover of darkness.
A/N: Can anyone guess as to why Adam didn't rescue Adora as He-Man? ;)
