Natural Selection?
Looking off across the water, the young woman couldn't believe what she was about to do. Who was this man, anyway, that she had to go swimming in the Dead Sea to find him? She could see the temple her Goddess spoke of and that was supposedly where this great warrior was. He'd been trapped in the collapse for almost three days now, certainly he wasn't even alive...
Despite her reservations, the woman readied herself for the swim. That water was going to be so nasty on her skin, how could she stand it? Oh well, it was what her Goddess ordered. As a Champion, she was bound by Her will. She slipped into the water and carefully made her way to the broken building.
Taking a deep breath, she dove under the surface and swam below the temple, looking for a way inside. The goggles she wore protected her sensitive eyes from the brine as she searched. Finding a hole, the woman swam to it and rose, hoping that she would get air soon. She could see the reflection above that told her the surface was close and she kicked harder, her lungs feeling like they were about to burst.
She came up in the center of the temple and threw her pack onto the stone floor before climbing out herself. Doing as she had been ordered, the young woman pulled her set of bracers out of the backpack and put them on her wrists and ankles. 'Now comes the hard part,' she thought and moved forward deeper into the building.
Out of nowhere in the next room, she heard a growl and immediately set herself to blocking the blows coming at her. Whoever this warrior was, he was fast and strong. The Goddess told her to let this one wear himself out, he would be easier to deal with that way. The young woman wasn't sure that she could handle this one, even while only blocking his punches and kicks. Champions were supposed to be some of the best fighters anywhere and this man was giving her more than a little trouble.
'Who's Champion is he,' she wondered as she blocked a series of three punch/kick combinations. 'He must be War God material, he's just too good...'
Finally, the man stopped and fell to his knees, exhausted from lack of food. Looking at him nervously, the young woman knelt and studied his face. Blue eyes, long blonde hair, strong build, nice features; very possibly a Champion. She pulled a can out of her pack and opened it quickly. It was placed in his hands, along with a spoon, and she smiled gently at him, "you'd better eat."
The man looked at her and took the offered food before shoveling it into his mouth. His eyes never left hers, however, and she wasn't sure what he was thinking. "The world outside is going to hell," she began softly, "a psychotic with both money and power is trying to conquer the whole damn planet." She turned and took up a bottle of water, "I was sent here to find you and get your help."
"What's his name," the man growled lowly. His voice was harsh and the woman barely heard any of what he said.
"Excuse me?"
"His name...what the hell is his name?"
She looked at him squarely, "Laucorn Gaudeamus."
Terry looked at the woman, hardly believing anything that she had just told him. Champions, gods and goddesses, avatars...she must have swallowed some of the water she'd been swimming in to get to him. "Listen, Kalani," he started, "I don't want to get involved."
The woman nodded, "I guessed as much. Oh, well... Looks like I'm on my own... again." She smiled genuinely, "that's okay... you'd probably just get in my way anyhow."
"I thought you said there were others. Why won't they help?"
"Most people don't know that they are Champions. Sometimes, the power skips a generation or two," Kalani explained. "I come from a long line of Champions. My lineage can be traced back all the way to Egypt. My ancestors served Ushanti-Bastet." She rose and took up her bags, "I'm the last of them. Worse yet, I still have to prove myself to Her.
"If I can defeat Ares' avatar," she added, "I'll be proven and allowed to carry on the line." Kalani opened the hotel room door, "Keep the room. You have it for another week. Maybe, if She wills it, we'll see each other again. Good bye, Terry."
"I thought you needed help? You can't tackle him alone," the fighter added quickly, "How can you hope to win?"
Kalani smiled again, "There's one other. He also doesn't know about his power. If I can convince him to help, things will be so much the better."
He stood and approached the door, "Where is he?"
"Japan," she answered, "Tomorrow he is attending a funeral. That's where I'm supposed to meet him."
Andy Bogard stood over the grave that had been prepared for his brother and mourned silently. After the incident at the temple, the trio had been unable to return to bring out Terry's body. He fumed inside, his brother died at the hands of a maniac and there had been nothing he could do. The younger brother silently vowed to get Laucorn Gaudeamus, make him pay for what he did. Not just for his brother, but for Sulia's memory.
Only a few feet away, Kalani watched the man but remained quiet. She would not interrupt his period of grief. 'He looks a little like that other Champion,' she thought to herself, 'I hope he's just as powerful.'
It was when Andy was walking away from the grave with two other people that she approached him, "Are you Andy?"
The blonde looked at her suspiciously, "Yes, who are you?" The woman on his arm tightened her grip. Andy understood why, he could feel the power radiating from this other woman.
"My name is Kalani Kai," she began, "and I need your help."
"Why should we help you," the red haired girl asked her sharply, "The last time we helped someone, Andy lost his brother. That won't happen again."
Kalani glared at the girl, "Excuse me, but I was not talking to you. I very seriously doubt that you have the power to help me anyway. I know he does."
"Mai has a point, Andy," the tall Japanese man said from behind him, "Do you want to end up like Terry?"
Never one for subtlety or patience, Kalani's nerves were fraying at the constant interruptions, "fine, I'll get this out my way, Her will or not. I need your help to find and kill Laucorn Gaudeamus, only with his death will the world be safe. Can I count on you?"
The blonde's head snapped up at the mention of Terry's killer, "you're going after Laucorn?"
"Yes," the Egyptian woman nodded, "if you will help me, I will explain why I am asking you."
"Don't do it, Andy," Mai pleaded, "I don't want you to end up like Terry." She was trying desparately to get his attention.
"Mai," he said lowly, "go home. I'll call you when I come back." Then, the younger Bogard turned to Kalani and nodded, "I'm with you."
"You are a Champion," the woman said to begin, "you come from a line of warriors who serve different Gods and Goddesses."
"How do you know this," Andy asked in disbelief, "my brother and I were orphans. There aren't any records of us until we were adopted."
"My Goddess told me. There used to be more of us, but time has taken its toll," she answered solemnly. "My line serves Ushanti-Bastet, but I am the last of that line. Not all of the Champions remember their purpose, but we always have the potential for great power."
"Do you know who I serve," he asked, trying to understand. This woman was too powerful not to be believed, and with the skills his brother had shown, Andy realized now how he had become so strong a fighter.
Kalani shook her head, "no. My Lady hasn't told me that. But, I think that you are a 'War' Champion. If not that, 'Vengeance' or 'Justice' material. Right now, all Champions are being called back into service," she said softly, "even those who don't know their lineage."
If you want to see more, you know what to do.
~Rei.