The Last Warrior

Chapter 4: Zenyu's Attack

Eve's eyes opened to gray morning light. She hadn't slept very well, her thoughts kept moving towards the young man that had recently saved her life. Who was he? What was his reason for trying to kill Kane? How could he be so strong? The questions still swirled about her head, as if they were waiting for her to awaken. They were driven out however by strange noises. Eve quickly dressed herself and went out of her room. The place looked very cold and empty with no people walking around. Eve walked down the metal and stone hallway to a door with a red O painted on it. This door led outside to a lake behind the base, hidden by the high canyon walls. The sounds were definitely coming from behind this door. Eve wondered who could be out this early. Opening the door, she walked out into the chilly morning air, her breath coming out it small clouds. Moving closer to the edge of the lake, she saw the source of the noise. A person, moving extremely fast, seemed to be fighting some kind of invisible enemy at the water's edge. Eve had to strain her eyes to keep track of the person's movements, as they kept disappearing and reappearing. Finally, the person stopped to catch a breath, and Eve could tell, even from behind, who it was.

"Slade?" She said.

Slade jumped slightly and turned around.

"Oh, Eve." he said, smiling at her. "Sorry, did I wake you up?"

"Yeah, don't worry about it. I wasn't sleeping too much anyway." said Eve. She then noticed that her new houseguest was practicing bare-chested, and found herself blushing looking at him.

"Uh...you ok?" Slade said, jogging her out of her temporary delirium.

"Oh...yeah...fine." Said Eve, thinking how stupid she must sound. Though looking up at Slade, she could swear she saw a bit of red in his cheeks. If Slade knew, he didn't show it. He kicked at the air and asked,

"So what's up?"

"Well, I've been thinking Slade." said Eve. "I think you should join us."

"Join?" Slade said, a bit surprised, but not missing a beat in his practicing.

"Yeah, we both want the same thing, Kane's downfall. We could be able to help each other."

Slade looked at her for a few minutes, and then turned away.

"I'm sorry, I can't" he said, sounding very sincere.

"But why?" Eve pressed.

"I can't get you involved in my vengeance." Slade said, "It's something I just have to do alone."

"Vengeance?" asked Eve.

Slade sighed deeply, his eyes turned towards the sun that was now spraying its light over the surface of the lake.

"Kane, and his men, killed my entire family. Him and...Zenyu."

Eve looked at Slade's clenched hands, they were shaking.

"General Zenyu...Kane's top military officer?" She said, her voice quivering a bit.

Slade nodded. They were both silent for a long time, until Eve spoke up.

"My town was attacked by Kane's men during the war. My parents told me to run, and I did. I ran until my legs gave out. I just remember looking back to where my home was and only seeing a pillar of smoke. I went back later, when I knew it was safe. My parents were lying there..." Tears formed in her eyes. "I was only 9."

Slade looked back at her. He then went over to wear he hand lain his shirt, armor, coat and sword. He put them on quickly.

"I have to go." he said, not looking at her. He then jumped into the sky and flew off. Eve watched him, wiped the tears from her eyes and ran off.

"Gotta get to the hanger." She said to herself. She ran as fast as she could, speeding past everyone else who was just waking up. Just as she reached the door to the hanger, she ran right into a huge muscled chest.

"Where are you going in such a hurry?" Aiden said, picking her off the ground.

"I need the ship for a minute." She said, trying to get around him.

"I don't know why you're going after him. He said he didn't want to join us." said Aiden.

Eve looked up at him.

"How do you know about that?" she said angrily.

"My watch was just ending when you and him were talking." he said. "I just flipped on the com...oof!" Aiden doubled over, with Eve's fist buried in his stomach.

"That'll teach you to eavesdrop." She said with a huff, her face a little red.

"Oww. C'mon, you know I'm just trying to look out for you." Aiden said.

"Fine, then help me go after him." said Eve.

"What? Why should I?"

"Because I'm going after him one way or the other. If you really wanna make sure I'm safe, then you should drive me." said Eve, smiling a bit at seeing Aiden's resolve start to melt.

"Fine fine. I'll drive, let's go get this guy." Aiden said, opening the door to the hanger. Eve patted him on the head.

"Good boy." she laughed.

"You know, I think the punch was humiliating enough." Aiden said with a bit of a smile.

Slade landed after a few minutes and began walking to the next town. His path soon found him in a deep canyon with high cliffs. Slade walked on for a bit, before stopping suddenly. He sensed hostility in the air. No sooner than thinking this, an energy beam shot out at his head. Slade dodged it with a slight bend of his neck.

"Whoever shot that has worse aim than that Aiden guy." Slade thought. At that moment, fifteen Kane soldiers sprung out from the rocks and attacked Slade. Slade grabbed his sword and 3 seconds later, they were all lying at his feet, in pieces. Slade sheathed his sword as he heard a laugh and a voice he remembered well. One that filled him with anger.

"Not bad kid." said the owner of the voice. A tall, purple-skinned man with a bulbous head that jutted out two black horns.

"Zenyu." Said Slade, unhooking his sword and placing it down, "And here I was wondering when you and Kane would start taking me seriously."

"Indeed." Zenyu sneered. "You've been really proving yourself a nuisance. Kane's asked me to deal with you."

"You'll find that's easier said then done you murderer!" Slade yelled as his aura flashed and his power began to grow.

"The kid's gotten better." said Zenyu as his scouter read 500000.

"Let's go." said Slade as he blurred out of sight and reappeared in front of his adversary. Zenyu disappeared this time as Slade aimed a punch at his head. Slade was then met by a knee to the stomach and a punch to his jaw. Zenyu then went to kick him in the back, but Slade regained control of his momentum, and ducked under the blow. He then fired his own foot into Zenyu's nose. The commander of Kane's army back flipped and flew straight back at Slade. Slade barely had time to register Zenyu's blinding speed as he was pummeled with storm of punches and kicks. The young fighter fell to the ground and was hit with another kick to this stomach. He flew straight into the air. Zenyu flew up past him and knocked him back to earth with both fists. Slade hit the ground with a massive crash. A small crater was formed from the impact. Slade feebly tried to get up, but found himself unable to. Zenyu floated back down and stood on the edge of the crater. He laughed as he grabbed Slade's shirt and brought him to his face. Blood dribbled down the fighter's chin and face. The sight made Zenyu laugh again.

"Now you'll see your family again boy." he said mockingly, raising his fist. But then, a voice came from the commander's scouter.

"Zenyu, stop." said the voice. Slade could barely hear anymore, but knew who was on the other end.

"Lord Kane." Zenyu said, no smile on his face.

"I told you I didn't want you to kill him." said Kane's voice, with a deadly sort of calm. "That pleasure is reserved only for me."

"But..but sire!" Zenyu began to protest.

"Your orders were to make contact with the boy and make sure he knows I haven't forgotten him. His time will come soon."

Zenyu looked angry, his raised fist shaking.

"Now...return Zenyu." said Kane's voice, his tone so final that Zenyu quickly dropped Slade and took off, without even a snarl of disappointment. Slade watched him go. His wounds felt to him as if he were dying. He stared up in the sky.

"I guess I wasn't strong enough. Aaron...I'm sorry." thought Slade. He couldn't move, and unless he found a doctor or something soon, he would surely die. He struggled to get up, but every wound screamed when he did, and he always ended up falling back to the ground.

"So this is it huh?" he thought, "I wonder what'll happen to Zenyu when Kane finds out he really did kill me." The thought made Slade laugh, even though it hurt. The wounded fighter then turned his head and saw what looked like a ship coming down near him. His vision had started to become blurry and it was growing darker. He saw two dark shapes coming towards him; one seeming like it was running at full speed. Then it was all black.

Slade found himself running through a dark tunnel. There was a bright light at the end, a light he needed. He desired the light, and ran towards it as fast as he could. As he got closer and closer to the light, he saw there was a person there. Running faster and faster, he could see who it was. His brother.

"Aaron!" Slade called out. "It's me!"

Aaron turned around and then fell down dead. Slade stopped in his tracks, and saw that standing over his dead brother was a hysterically laughing Zenyu. He then disappeared and Slade saw his burning home, his parents lying dead on the ground. In the smoke he saw a pair of red eyes, and heard Kane's laugh.

"NO! Mom! Dad! AARON!" Slade yelled as he woke up. He then felt a hand on his shoulder.

"Slade, it's ok. You're safe now." said a sweet and familiar voice.

Slade turned his head quickly, and found himself looking right into a pair of blue eyes.

"Eve? What happened?" Slade said, his voice coming in short bursts.

"I found you in a canyon about a hundred miles from here. You sure are fast." She said, forcing a smile, "Someone beat you up pretty bad."

Slade slumped back onto the bed, putting his hand up to his forehead, feeling it was all bandaged up.

"It was Zenyu."

"Zenyu? Wow, he usually doesn't leave anyone alive." said Eve.

"Don't I feel special." Slade said sarcastically.

"Ha ha, very funny." Eve said, a note of anger in her voice. Slade looked at her, and noted the edges of her eyes were slightly wet.

"I'm sorry." he said, then he looked up towards the ceiling. "I think I've changed my mind, about joining you."

"Really!" Eve said excitedly. "That's great! Maybe know you could tell me more about yourself."

"OW!" Slade said, clutching his side.

"Oh, maybe some other time." Said Eve. "You need some rest."

"Yeah, maybe." Slade said, shutting his eyes. His sleep now was untroubled and soothing.