An Ancient Evil! - Part III
She whispered in his ear as the elevator rose. Her voice was like a gentle breeze whisking past his ear on a cool autumn morning. The spirit's voice was so low that he couldn't comprehend what she was saying, but Storm Shadow knew she was trying to tell him something.
"What are you trying to tell me?" he asked it.
And again he heard more soft whispering in his ear.
The elevator reached the command level and he awoke from what felt like a daze, the whispering stopped, and he stepped out into an empty reception area, adjacent to the two metallic doors that lead to the command centre. He pushed them open and his eyes were immediately met with a bustle of activity from those Cobra Commander employed.
He immediately asked, "Where is Cobra Commander?" And several men in Viper uniform turned and looked at him as if they were stunned by his presence. None of them replied. So he asked the question again.
This time one Viper answered. "He's with Dr. Dread in the ruins, sir," the minion said. And then went on his way to deliver a report to who appeared to be his superior sitting at a computer station.
Storm Shadow quickly turned around and entered the elevator, pressing the button for sub-level three, where they were digging in the ancient ruins rumored to be the resting place of the Staff of Power.
He hoped he wasn't too late.
He felt flushed and anxious as the elevator moved at its regular speed and wished it would move faster. But he was only getting himself over worked and tried to calm himself before the doors opened onto the level. He found himself in an open area where a flight of stone steps lead down to the main excavation area. He ventured down them.
Storm Shadow eyed the dig site, a large subterranean cave where workers were chiseling stone and rock with pick-axes looking for any hint of what they were searching for. Viper guards stood watch over the work.
He breathed a sigh of relieve, because if they were still working at this slow steady pace then they hadn't found anything yet. This was good.
He had to inform Cobra Commander not to continue looking for the Staff of Power. There was something eerie about this place. And even before the visitation by this spirit, the moment he stepped onto the sand when he arrived by helicopter in the middle of the night two days ago, he felt a chill in his bones. Even then he felt this place was evil.
Suddenly there was a shout. And everyone looked over to where it came from. "It's here, it's here!" The same man shouted with excitement. He worked feverishly with a pick-axe to uncover more of what he had found.
Cobra Commander was one of the first to the scene as was the director and head archaeologist of the dig, Dr. Dread. The workers began to uncover a stone door and after a few minutes the enormity of it began to emerge. It was mammoth in size and it was made a what the doctor referred to as orichalcum stone, a very rare and difficult stone to cut.
And on the door as debris was lifted and carried away looked to be a series of hieroglyphics in some ancient language. The doctor examined them and determined the symbols were displayed in a very integral pattern and were very advanced for this post-ancient Egyptian culture.
"What do they say, doctor?" Cobra Commander said, but his tone seem to be more demanding than inquisitive. "Is this the entrance to the Hall of the Ancients where the Staff of Power is hidden?"
"I haven't deciphered them yet, Cobra Commander," Dr. Dread said. "Give me some time. This cruiform is unlike anything I've ever seen. This language is unique. It looks like an ancient form of Sumerian, but I can't be sure. There are also hints of post-Egyptian text, but with unusual strokes and strikes. My god!" He then took in the enormality of the discovery. "This could very well be the secret to understanding how the bases of civilization began on the planet. This is a remarkable find! This has to be studied for its historical significance and then everything must be categorized and preserved for study. If this is the entrance to the Hall of the Ancients, then we must proceed slowly. This is the greatest discovery in the history of the world, Commander."
"I'm not paying you to take your time," he said. "I want what's in there." He turned and then saw Storm Shadow standing next to the stone steps, watching the unveiling of the gigantic stone doorway. Cobra Commander appeared happy. He stepped over some debris and went over to him. "Storm Shadow, I'm glad you're here. Wondrous, isn't it? As Dr. Dread said, this could be the beginnings of civilization as we know it. But I'm not an archaeologist and nor do I care about this place. I want what's beyond that door. And you're going to open it for me."
"Me, Commander?" Storm Shadow looked at him perplexed. "I can't move that stone door? I may appear strong, but I'm not that strong."
Cobra Commander put an arm around Storm Shadow's shoulder in a friendly manner and lead him to the stone door. "I've come to notice that you ninja have mystic powers for which you can accomplish almost anything from great acts of feat to defeating death itself. I want you to use your powers to open it and grant me access beyond its stone enclosure."
Storm Shadow chuckled, and then it bellowed out into a full blow laugh.
"What's so funny?" Cobra Commander said, taking his arm from around Storm Shadow's shoulder, and took a step back from him.
"You really are insane, aren't you?" Storm Shadow continued to laugh. "You honestly believe I can move this stone door?" He laughed more.
"Stop laughing."
"Even if I could perform Telekinesis or Psychokinesis, I wouldn't help you. You're dealing with powers you don't understand and I won't be party to this. The Staff of Power should remain where it is."
Cobra Commander took out his laser and pistol wiped the ninja across the back of his head and he dropped to one knee, the laughter stopped. "You disappoint me, Storm Shadow," he said. "I thought I could count on you. But I was anticipating this response from your previous stubbornness and insubordination for which I gave you sentry duty, so I decided to call in a favor with Zartan and had someone brought here that would be perfect for the task. A big man for a little job." Cobra Commander pointed at a Viper who was guarding a service elevator and said, "Tell Road Pig to come down. I'm in need of his services."
The Viper made a call on a walkie-talkie.
Storm Shadow felt the back his head and stood up. "You can't be serious, Commander," he said, unaware that Road Pig was here. "He's a maniac, unstable, and with that big sledge hammer of his, he'll cause a cave in and destroy this entire cavern."
"Your fears are unsound. I've reinforced this cavern with titanium steel on the off-chance we'd need Road Pig if you refused to participate. I see my initial sentiments of you were right. You're nothing but a coward, Storm Shadow."
"I'm cautious, Commander, not a coward. I know when things are dangerous and to stay away from them whenever possible."
"Get out of here, you're no use to me," Cobra Commander said, directing a hand towards the flight of stone steps that lead back to the main elevator. He then turned around and went back to the excavation.
More rock and debris had been dug away since he last saw it and more of the stone door had been revealed with even more crucform writing. Dr. Dread began to translate the writing as soon as it became readable.
Storm Shadow knew this was a mistake, but with a man like Cobra Commander, telling him he was wrong was like committing suicide. He'd have to convince him some other way that the Staff of Power should be left alone. And yet no other spirits other than that woman in his room revealed themselves to say this was a dangerous place.
Could the spirit of that woman be the only one haunting this place? But the question arose why? Why would that woman's spirit be here if she wasn't protecting something? Perhaps she just died here and her spirit was awaken by this site being disturbed? Or maybe he was making too much out of his fears and he was being paranoid for nothing. Other than a private visitation, nothing sinister has happened.
He headed back to the main elevator when he heard the service elevator doors open. Turning, he saw the massive, muscular looking Road Pig exit.
His real name was Donald DeLuca and he was at least 6'3 and had a mass like a body builder but with muscle on top of muscle. He was born in Michigan, and moved around a lot as a kid. Very little was known about the man, but what was known could fill a computer database with nothing to spare. He had a "rap" sheet for pretty much everything criminal. And when he heard about an opening in the Dreadnoks he jumped at the chance to join. Though his attitude was something to be desired, but the rest of the Dreadnoks tolerated him because he was good at what he does. But Storm Shadow didn't like him. Just by looking at him he got bad vibes. Road Pig carried his customary sledge hammer made of titanium steel.
"What are you looking at?" he said in his gruff tone. He noticed Storm Shadow looking at him from the stone steps that lead up to the main elevator. "I knew you wouldn't help us," he said, "and so did Cobra Commander, so he requested me. I'll do the job you can't, you pathetic ninja."
"You don't know what you're doing, Road Pig," Storm Shadow said. "If you attempt to break through that stone door you'll create a cave in. I for one will not be here to get crushed by falling debris."
"Coward," Road Pig said.
"Think what you wish."
Storm Shadow ventured up the stone steps without hesitation but without haste and pressed the button for the elevator. Road Pig watched him. He snorted a chuckle and then went over to the others near the ruins.
"Stop him, please. . ." Storm Shadow heard a voice and he turned around to see the transparent form of the woman that attacked him in his quarters standing before him. Mentally he took a step back because he thought perhaps she was here to attack him, but when she didn't he relaxed. "They mustn't open the door, he's waiting for them in there."
"Who is waiting?" Storm Shadow asked.
"The master," she replied softly.
"Your master?"
"Yes."
"Who are you?"
"I am--or was--one of the master's concubines."
"So that would explain why you preyed on me sexually."
"I was only doing what came natural and what I did in my life. I am sorry for the trouble I caused and how I reacted in your room."
"It is I who should apologize to you for trapping you in that spiritual barrier. I only wanted to talk, but I scared you."
"You mustn't allow your friends to break the seal. Thousands of years ago a priest erected a seal to keep the spirit of my master trapped here. He was so evil that his spirit would not rest. So the priest erected a spiritual barrier much like yours to keep him here. But if your friends break it down my master will be free again. Stop them."
Storm Shadow nodded and ran down the stone steps. Road Pig was at the stone door and he held his hammer at the ready to strike the first blow. He shouted, "Stop!" But it was too late as Road Pig struck the stone door with such power that he immediately made a hole.
"Oh no!" the spirit said. She stood beside Storm Shadow. "My master. . . You must leave this place while you still can."
Cobra Commander crouched down and looked through the hole. "It's completely dark, I can't see anything. Give me a flashlight." He said.
One of the Vipers in the ruins handed him one and he shined it into the hole, but at first it looked like an empty room. Then he noticed what appeared to be human skulls constructed within the stone walls on either side. And that was as far as he could see with the flashlight.
"Break the rest down, there's something in there," Cobra Commander said, "and I want to know what. I haven't come this far to fail."
"No, Cobra Commander," Storm Shadow said. "You must stop now."
Cobra Commander looked at him. "I thought I told you to leave," he said.
Suddenly the lights that illuminated the ruins flickered and there was a strange, eerie coldness. The temperature dropped rapidly and Storm Shadow could see his breath in the air. Then he began to sense another presence other than the spirit that stood beside him. This presence had an evil aura and he felt a little frightened by it. He had never felt anything so intense or heavy that he felt from this other spirit.
"Leave now," the woman spirit told him adamantly.
Storm Shadow took a step backwards. He'd faced demonic spirits before, he even faced his own hidden demons, but what he felt from this spirit was nothing like he felt before. He couldn't explain how he felt, but what he felt made him afraid of this spirit.
"Cobra Commander, we must leave now," he said.
It was then he noticed something strange. Road Pig wasn't moving, but he gripped his sledge hammer tightly in his hands. Road Pig looked down at Cobra Commander and grinned almost sinisterly. "Commander!" Storm Shadow shouted and ran over to him. Road Pig raised his hammer. Storm Shadow leapt and pushed Cobra Commander out of the way as Road Pig brought it down upon the spot where Cobra Commander once was, pulverizing a stone to dust, and narrowly missing Storm Shadow's left leg in the process.
"What the hell are you doing, Storm Shadow?" Cobra Commander demanded.
He then noticed Road Pig wield his hammer above his head and brought it down towards them. Storm Shadow rolled them both out of the way.
"Road Pig. What are you doing? You almost killed me." Cobra Commander said. Road Pig brought his hammer to bear again and Storm Shadow pushed Cobra Commander to the right as he rolled to the left to avoid the enormous force of Road Pig's attack. "Viper's, subdue Road Pig."
Road Pig swung his sledge hammer and struck a Viper in the mask. The impact was so strong that the force decapitated him. His head flew off his shoulders and dropped into Cobra Commander's lap. The Viper's body dropped like a stone to the ground. Blood oozed out from the neck.
Cobra Commander threw the head away in a manner as if it disgusted him.
"Road Pig is possessed, Commander," Storm Shadow insisted.
Cobra Vipers attacked Road Pig with their bare hands, but without their weapons it was a futile battle. Road Pig attacked them with his hammer and one-by-one they all fell to his might. They were either killed by the swing of his hammer or ripped apart by his massive hands. One of the Vipers even had his arm ripped off as Road Pig pulled him apart like a Stretch Armstrong doll and then shoved it through his chest. The Viper convulsed and dropped to the ground still alive. But he soon died.
At the end, there was no one left alive but Cobra Commander and Storm Shadow. They were on the floor, cornered next to the stone door.
"Now do you believe me, Commander?" Storm Shadow said.
But Cobra Commander was speechless.
Covered in human remains and blood, Road Pig stood over them like a god would his worshippers, gripping his hammer. But he wasn't there to be praised for his deeds, he was there to murder them.
To Be Continued. . .
MUA HAHAHAHA!