Chapter 10
Adam reclined on his throne, the last audience of the day finally over. He thought back to the previous day's events, about Duncan's death. He covered it up by telling the people that Duncan had been killed by an intruder while perusing the palace library. Although he was surprised that no one questioned the lack of guards protecting him, he was glad it hadn't come up. And now that the ugly business of reclaiming his throne was finished, he could concentrate on the business of ruling the kingdom.
As he prepared to retire to the dining hall for dinner, he sensed a strange presence in the throne room. He gazed around the room, but saw nothing but empty space. He turned to leave, but the feeling returned, prompting him to turn again. This time, there was someone there.
Zodac, the cosmic enforcer, stared at him with a strangely calm expression, yet his eyes burned fiercely. Adam had a feeling that he was there to talk about what had happened over the last few days.
"So," Zodac said, "you've finally taken out Skeletor. You must be pretty proud of yourself."
"I suppose I am, yes."
"You don't care that your victory came at such a heavy price?"
"In every war there are casualties, Zodac. Surely you know that. Besides, his cronies had it coming."
"I'm not referring to his men."
Adam's eyes narrowed. "Then who, precisely, are you talking about?"
"I think you know full well who I mean."
"You are talking about Duncan, Teela, and the Sorceress, aren't you?"
"I am."
"Then we have nothing to discuss. Their deaths were tragic, but they're gone now, and that's that."
"I don't see how you can talk so casually about their murder, considering that you were responsible for two of their deaths."
"As I said, it's over with, they're dead. Regardless of how they died, it's in the past now. And I don't wish to discuss the matter any longer. You've said enough, now please take your leave."
"I'm afraid I can't do that."
Adam was outraged. "YOU DARE DEFY THE KING OF ETERNIA?!!"
"Yes. You may be king, but that doesn't put you above the law. As cosmic enforcer, it is my sworn duty to put a stop to your actions, before you use Greyskull's power to do any more harm."
"SO BE IT!!!"
Raising the Power Sword over his head, Adam shouted:
"BY THE POWER OF GREYSKULL!!!"
He-Man faced Zodac, fury etched on his face. With lightning speed he dashed toward his opponent, hitting him in the jaw with his shoulder. The snapping of bone was heard as Zodac stumbled backward, determined to stay standing. He raised his staff, swinging it at He-Man as hard as he possibly could.
He-Man grinned and grabbed the staff mid-swing, pulling it out of Zodac's grasp with one swift motion. His eyes turned a fiery red, and the staff disintegrated in a burst of flame. Zodac, in an attempt to turn the tide, fired a blast of energy from his palm. It merely bounced off He-Man's chest, much to the enforcer's bewilderment.
He-Man threw a punch to Zodac's already shattered jaw, but the warrior ducked, causing the blow to strike his temple instead. His helmet flew from his head and across the room, coming to rest at the foot of the throne.
Zodac, knocked to the floor by the impact of the blow, started to regain his balance. Before he could recover, He-Man grabbed him by the throat and punched him repeatedly with his other hand. Bones shattered, blood flowed, and Zodac began to fall into unconciousness.
Finally bored with pummeling the injured warrior, He-Man hurled him against the wall. Zodac, stunned that his cosmic powers hadn't been much help in containing his opponent, simply stayed on the floor where he landed. Too weak to continue the fight, he simply gathered his remaining strength as He- Man approached, sneering.
"You were a fool to try and stop me, Zodac. Greyskull's power makes me far too strong for you."
Zodac managed a weak grin. "Perhaps, but I have one last trump card to play..."
The energy he was storing exploded outward. Zodac passed out, the effort of releasing it proving too much for his battered form. He-Man watched as the throne room dissolved into nothing and was replaced with the throne room of Castle Greyskull.
And upon the throne was the shimmering, ghostly form of the Sorceress.
For the first time since taking Greyskull's power, He-Man began to feel somewhat uneasy...
TO BE CONTINUED...
Adam reclined on his throne, the last audience of the day finally over. He thought back to the previous day's events, about Duncan's death. He covered it up by telling the people that Duncan had been killed by an intruder while perusing the palace library. Although he was surprised that no one questioned the lack of guards protecting him, he was glad it hadn't come up. And now that the ugly business of reclaiming his throne was finished, he could concentrate on the business of ruling the kingdom.
As he prepared to retire to the dining hall for dinner, he sensed a strange presence in the throne room. He gazed around the room, but saw nothing but empty space. He turned to leave, but the feeling returned, prompting him to turn again. This time, there was someone there.
Zodac, the cosmic enforcer, stared at him with a strangely calm expression, yet his eyes burned fiercely. Adam had a feeling that he was there to talk about what had happened over the last few days.
"So," Zodac said, "you've finally taken out Skeletor. You must be pretty proud of yourself."
"I suppose I am, yes."
"You don't care that your victory came at such a heavy price?"
"In every war there are casualties, Zodac. Surely you know that. Besides, his cronies had it coming."
"I'm not referring to his men."
Adam's eyes narrowed. "Then who, precisely, are you talking about?"
"I think you know full well who I mean."
"You are talking about Duncan, Teela, and the Sorceress, aren't you?"
"I am."
"Then we have nothing to discuss. Their deaths were tragic, but they're gone now, and that's that."
"I don't see how you can talk so casually about their murder, considering that you were responsible for two of their deaths."
"As I said, it's over with, they're dead. Regardless of how they died, it's in the past now. And I don't wish to discuss the matter any longer. You've said enough, now please take your leave."
"I'm afraid I can't do that."
Adam was outraged. "YOU DARE DEFY THE KING OF ETERNIA?!!"
"Yes. You may be king, but that doesn't put you above the law. As cosmic enforcer, it is my sworn duty to put a stop to your actions, before you use Greyskull's power to do any more harm."
"SO BE IT!!!"
Raising the Power Sword over his head, Adam shouted:
"BY THE POWER OF GREYSKULL!!!"
He-Man faced Zodac, fury etched on his face. With lightning speed he dashed toward his opponent, hitting him in the jaw with his shoulder. The snapping of bone was heard as Zodac stumbled backward, determined to stay standing. He raised his staff, swinging it at He-Man as hard as he possibly could.
He-Man grinned and grabbed the staff mid-swing, pulling it out of Zodac's grasp with one swift motion. His eyes turned a fiery red, and the staff disintegrated in a burst of flame. Zodac, in an attempt to turn the tide, fired a blast of energy from his palm. It merely bounced off He-Man's chest, much to the enforcer's bewilderment.
He-Man threw a punch to Zodac's already shattered jaw, but the warrior ducked, causing the blow to strike his temple instead. His helmet flew from his head and across the room, coming to rest at the foot of the throne.
Zodac, knocked to the floor by the impact of the blow, started to regain his balance. Before he could recover, He-Man grabbed him by the throat and punched him repeatedly with his other hand. Bones shattered, blood flowed, and Zodac began to fall into unconciousness.
Finally bored with pummeling the injured warrior, He-Man hurled him against the wall. Zodac, stunned that his cosmic powers hadn't been much help in containing his opponent, simply stayed on the floor where he landed. Too weak to continue the fight, he simply gathered his remaining strength as He- Man approached, sneering.
"You were a fool to try and stop me, Zodac. Greyskull's power makes me far too strong for you."
Zodac managed a weak grin. "Perhaps, but I have one last trump card to play..."
The energy he was storing exploded outward. Zodac passed out, the effort of releasing it proving too much for his battered form. He-Man watched as the throne room dissolved into nothing and was replaced with the throne room of Castle Greyskull.
And upon the throne was the shimmering, ghostly form of the Sorceress.
For the first time since taking Greyskull's power, He-Man began to feel somewhat uneasy...
TO BE CONTINUED...