The Training Begins
Maddox nullified the attacks with a single glance. Cole was almost in denial that he returned. He looked so at ease and so aware of his powers that he could just whatever he asked.
He even looked slightly taller, his armor now was much lighter, almost a body shield with a large trench coat hanging down his slender body. His skin was so much paler than before, he looked almost human if it wasn't for his great height. Cole looked down at his palms--there was no sword in one which was a big change for such a brilliant swordsman as Maddox. Maybe it was still in Radix's other world.
Maddox looked at the sinking sun and then to Arodice.
"Good morning, ladies.", he spoke. His voice was still as powerful as ever. "I haven't seen you since you were left jobless--thanks to me, that is."
"Get over yourself you know-nothing has-been!", Aricia growled. "You are a failure who was better off dead!"
"Will you be doing something about that, Aricia?", he smirked. She cowered down slightly.
Juna grabbed her long blade and hurled it at Maddox. He smiled and grabbed it by the end with ease.
"Why thank you.", he added sarcastically. Maddox squeezed at the end tightly as the sword began to burst into dust. "I say somebody has horrid taste in swords, don't you think?"
Arodice glared in disgust. "You are a traitor. How dare you help these twits which you have spent your life trying to kill! You are a worthless disgrace who deserves death."
Maddox chuckled softly and turned to the boys. "Let's go men."
"Over my dead body!", Juna roared.
"Whatever makes you happy.", he said softly, sending a horrific blast at them from his finger. The entire Police Building collapsed over them.
Calmly he glanced into Cole's eyes and aimed his palm at his head. A bright spark pulsed out of his hands and everything went black.
As Cole awoke his eyes painfully adjusted to the bright lights that did not come from a source but rather just were. He felt a hang-over like feeling and on cue rested his palm on his warm forehead.
He glanced to his sides and to his relief there were his friends lying peacefully on their backs and breathing so innocently and quietly. He couldn't help but smile warmly at them. Slowly he reached for Matt to wake him up when he felt a presence on his shoulder.
He gasped silently and looked to his side. This new Maddox was behind him.
"I see you have woken, Cole," he said solemnly "It wasn't wise to take on those women, you know." Cole felt his heart sink, he had just put his new threats behind him and he liked the feeling. "They are much too powerful for you."
Cole stared into Maddox's eyes. Their violet color seemed to be the only familiar thing about Maddox, everything else was so different. How could someone like Maddox change so much in so little time? He felt so many questions coming up his throat, he had to ask Maddox something, he opened his mouth to speak.
"M-Maddox…how did--"
Maddox cut him off and rested his long fingers on his lips.
"I am afraid there are many questions that will never be answered," Cole frowned at his response. "And some will just require time and patience. Until then I am not ready to answer them quite yet. Just know you have helped me in more ways than you could possibly know," he lifted his fingers away from Cole.
Cole rushed his question before Maddox could cut him off. "I don't understand though"
"You will."
Cole looked at Maddox for a moment but a yawn broke the silence between them both. The others were beginning to wake.
Matt stretched his arms over his head and rubbed his eyes. He looked at Cole and Maddox and then down his body. "Why aren't we transformed anymore?"
Before Maddox could answer Andrew and Drake asked in unison, "Where are we?"
Cole impulsively laughed to himself when he felt pressure in his chest.
"What the hell are you doing here!?", David growled. Maddox frowned. "It wasn't enough that we saved your life, but now you are back to haunt us again! Take us back to the city, we have a fight to finish!"
Cole sighed. "Calm down, David. Maddox is good now."
"Good my ass!", David yelled. "Open your eyes, he wants us to think that so he can kill us while we have our backs turned. Just because he looks different and doesn't have that stupid sword doesn't prove a thing to me."
Andrew ignored David's outburst and just spoke. "So you really are Maddox?"
As Maddox began to open his mouth, David rudely interrupted. "Damn straight he is Maddox, just as slimy and ruthless as ever.", David grabbed his scepter. "VENUS STARLIGHT POWER!"
"David, stop it!", Cole yelled. But he was too late. A sphere of energy formed around David and Sailor Venus emerged angrily.
Aiming his scepter threateningly at Maddox ,Venus grinned slyly. "You want to take us on, you have to get through me first. I have learned a thing or two since we last met!"
Cole looked at Venus with reason. "Venus, just give him a second to ex-"
Maddox interrupted, "No Cole, David does not want to accept what is right in front of his eyes. I will take care of him."
Maddox rose and walked towards the center of the large, bright chamber.
"I will tell you once, boy, and this goes to all of you. I am here to train all of you to be hundreds of times stronger than you currently are. In this chamber you will learn new techniques and fighting skills that are unimaginably powerful, right now most of you are probably two percent of the power of I possess…so I urge you Sailor Venus, drop your scepter at once."
Venus laughed evilly. "You may have everyone else convinced, but I can see right through you, you are just as weak as ever, I can feel it." He walked towards Maddox in the center. "Say goodbye, Maddox"
Venus concentrated strongly and clenched both of his fists tightly. Power surged through him and his veins bulged out of his body. Maddox just stared calmly at him.
With harnessed fury Venus swing his free fist at Maddox with all of his might.
Maddox moved his own hand swiftly and grabbed a hold of Venus' hand before it came close to him. He gripped his fist tightly, showing no sign of struggle at all and then in one quick moment he flung Venus forcefully back many feet away.
Cole ran to Venus' aid and finally saw him laying tensely on the ground with his scepter several feet from his hands and his body back to its human state.
Cole offered his hand to David but rudely he shoved the offer away and struggled to get himself back up. He bent over painfully to grab his scepter and walked back to the others without a word to Cole.
Cole walked towards Maddox.
"You have become so much more powerful, Maddox.", Cole observed. "Please teach all of us everything you know and the entire world will be grateful."
Maddox glared angrily at David and then back to Cole with a slightly calmer expression. "My training will be grueling, painful, but will make you all powerful Soldiers worthy of facing all opponents. Without it you will surely die before you can get any further than you are now."
Cole looked to his friends for support but all he received was blank stares.
Drake hesitated but was the first to speak. "I'm all for it, Cole, anything to get rid of whoever is threatening the Earth."
"Well if you two are for it, how can I say no?", Matt smiled. "Let's go for it!"
"Yeah!", Andrew agreed.
Cole looked to David who nodded slightly in approval. "Then its unanimous."
He turned to Maddox.
"We are ready, Maddox.", Cole smiled.
The former bounty warrior loosed a slight sign of emotion. "Then let the training begin."
