Attack on the Scath
"So, this is the plan," I said. I had an overly of the blueprints for the town library lain out on a table with Shaun, Master Shinobi, Arella, and the Masked council standing around looking on. "Down here is the winding stair case. That is where I'm going to set up the preparation for the Flame Monster. To make it work, I need for the sky to be visible."
"How're you going to make that work?" Shaun asked.
"With you're help. Shaun, here is a tracking device." I said, handing him a small palm pilot. "It will tell you exactly were I am. You will be up behind the library and stand right above me, since I'll be underground. When you're right above me, Place the exploding device on the ground and stand back."
"What about us?" Arella asked, indicating herself and Master Shinobi.
"You will go into the bathrooms and use the rags and toilet paper to clog all the johns and sinks. Then flood the bathrooms. For the Water Dragon technique to work, I'm going to need a ton of water." I said.
"Then what?" Master Lee asked.
"Then I'm going to lead a direct attack on the Scath using both the Flame Monster and the Water Dragon." I explained. "Master Kinchi, Alexander, Brandon, Joseph, Lee. You will be the back up. If any Scath escape, it will be your job to take care of them."
"It's perfectly worked out. Slade, your engineering skills have grown considerably." Master Shinobi congratulated.
"I am not so sure that this plan will work." Master Lee said.
"It's our best plan so far." Master Kinchi said. "If everything is in place, the lets put this plan into play."
Two hours later…"I've got the stands in place. Shaun, are you at the target?" I asked through an ear microphone.
"I'm here, Slade. I've got you on the locater." He replied, his voice sliced and diced by static.
"Good." I said.
"How are you going to make a monster from fire?" He asked.
"First I set up the targets, then I light them all on fire, and lastly I throw the power disk into the sky and it gathers energy from nature. That energy brings the flame to life." I explained.
"How do you intend to light them on fire?"
"The last time I saw, the Old One threw fire from his fingers." I answered. "Hey!" I cried. "Could the Old One be the Fire Scath?"
"No. You said the Fire Scath was no older than you. So the Old One can't be him." Shaun replied.
"Good point." I said. "Well, they're going to be lit in about three seconds." I pulled three exploding disks out of my belt and threw them at the stick and leaf targets. Each disk hit three targets and the instant they hit, the targets were ablaze with fire. "Set the explosion." I turned a dial on the headset and switched the frequency. "Arella, Master Shinobi, is all going well?" I asked.
"I just got the water spilling over the top of the sink." Arella answered.
"I'm up to my ankles in water." Shinobi said.
"Excellent." I said. Just then, the ceiling of the staircase exploded and small chunks of rock and derbies fell away. A pillar of sunlight fell through the small hole in the ceiling. I pulled one of the energy disks I got from the Old One, then ones with the Chinese word for fire on it, from my belt and hurtled it up for the opening. It zipped through the opening and a few seconds later, a beam of red light came back through and connected with the flaming targets, connecting them together. A flash of blinding light filled the room and once it faded a humanoid creature with very long arms and a Jack-o-lantern face made of orange and black flames stood in its place.
"Slade, we're getting pretty flooded up here." Arella's voice came over the mike.
"Got it." I said back. I ran back up to the door way between the Scath room and the library. I saw the water was spilling into the main room. A frantic librarian ran from behind the desk and confronted Arella and Master Shinobi, both of who were no longer in the bathrooms.
"What is going on here?" The librarian cried franticly.
"Nothing." I said. "I'll take care of this water." I placed my hands together and started with the hand signs. "Uni, ita, erea, hiuy, tekia, ovak, sinture, lomdet, forteat, intu, queju, Torie." I said, as I made the last hand sign. "Water Style, Water Dragon!"
The big puddle of water started to bubble and grow. If formed into a swirling typhoon of water. From the sides sprouted two thin arms ending in five claws. The top of the typhoon became square and box-like, opening into a mouth full of teeth. A set of yellow eyes opened from its head and the dragon looked down at its surroundings.
The dragon lowered its head to the ground and I stepped up onto the creature's head. "Let's go, dragon." I commanded. The Water Dragon flew through the passageway and back into the spiral staircase where the Flame Monster was waiting. "Down." I said, and the dragon flew down the stairs with the Flame Monster close behind, swinging from its arms like a monkey.
We came to the same door with the Mark of Scath carved in it. I jumped up off the dragon's head and slammed my foot into the door; it came down with a thud. I ran, sprinting through the doorway and following the path laid before me. Both the Flame Monster and Water Dragon followed after me. I came to the four archways, and chose the one with the Mark of Scath above it.
Racing down this corridor we came to the second set of four archways, the ones that told the Cycle of the Gem. I looked at the symbol above each and saw first the dragon, then the raven, and the giant, and the fox. Since the next Gem in the cycle was the raven, I ran down this corridor with the fire and water behind me.
It didn't take long before I found the main meeting room. The high ceiling with the circular hole in the top, beaming a pillar of light right down into the palm of the statue of Trigon's arm. Along the walls were the statues of people in the black robes. On the floor all around Trigon's arm sat the Scath themselves, and standing in Trigon's palm was the Fire Scath himself.
I held up a hand to the Flame Monster and the Water Dragon, signaling them to stop. I pulled the steel rod from my belt and stepped out of the corridor into the main room. "Fire Scath!"
He looked down at me from his high point and laughed. "Slade. Why did you come back? You already said you didn't want my offer. You must be ready to die."
"I'm here to defeat you all." I said.
"You? Alone? Even you are not that good. Where are all your Masked friends?"
"Not here. It's just you and me."
"If you wish." He said. "Scath, attack!"
All of the Scath rose to their feet, holding up scythes, ninja swords, throwing-stars, knifes, and all sorts of hand-to-hand weapons. They raced for me, a flood of death wanting only to destroy all in their path. I held up my own weapon, a steel rod, and charged at the oncoming army.
Even as I ran, I signaled for my creatures to come out of hiding. The great Flame Monster came first, flying out of the corridor in a flash of fire and descending on the oncoming Scath. Its jack-o-lantern face smiled and it swept its arms into the multitude, throwing a dozen Scath with each arm swing.
Second, the Water Dragon came out into the battle; flying through the air like a serpent. It dove down into the Scath, pushing through them and throwing them aside. The dragon slammed its tail back and forth; knocking Scath through the air. It even took a few in its mouth.
The army of Scath wasn't so sure about winning any more. Some threw their weapons at the creatures, some tried to run for dear life, and a few just stood motionless. No matter what they tried the outcome was still the same, either burned to death by the fire or drowned in the water.
I ran through the battlefield, dodging the attacks Scath still brought on me. I got to the base of Trigon's arm and, with a little help from the dragon's flicking tail, leapt up to the palm and confronted the Fire Scath.
"Bravo, Slade. I must admit, I had expected the dragon. Not the fire thing." The Fire Scath said.
"Shut up and die!" I cried. I swung the rod in a great arch at his head; he grabbed it in his hand and the metal melted off.
"Have you learned nothing yet? Your pathetic weapons can't touch me." He punched me in the face with his flaming fist. I staggered back and fell to the ground.
As my head hit the palm of the arm statue, I heard the rush of water through the pipes. Of coarse, Arella and Master Shinobi hadn't turned off the water. It was still flowing, but it was too far for me to use the water out of the faucet. Maybe I wouldn't have to. That water comes from pipes running under the ground, and one of those pipes was very close.
Laying on the edge of Trigon's statue, I reached my arm over the edge and strained for the ground. I heard a groaning and creaking under the stone and a broken pipe snapped through the floor; water spraying out of the end. I concentrated on the rushing water, straining with my hand, and molding it into a steady stream. With a swift jerk, I pulled my arm around and hit the Fire Scath directly in the face. He fell back, drenched in water.
"I got it now." I said. "You use fire to fight. So I'll just use water." I grabbed the water as it came by and, like a whip, swung it at him. He held up his hand as the water whip came at him and a ball of fire flew from his hand, evaporating the flames.
I charged, and just as the steam cleared I delivered a powerful blow to his face. "Rough move, Slade." He glared.
"Who are you!" I yelled.
"You know who I am."
"The Old One?"
"Pathetic. I'm no older than you are, Slade. How can I be some old guy I don't even know?" He asked. "No answer? Oh, well. You'll figure it out soon enough." His right hand was ablaze with fire. He jumped to his feet and swung his flaming fist at me.
I caught his wrist in my hand before it could touch me. Then I saw in his left hand he was holding a large pocketknife. He thrust the knife for my heart, I caught his wrist but I couldn't stop the knife. I did, however, change its direction. As I caught the knife, he pushed upward and the sharp blade first cut the flesh at my cheekbone, then continued up and slashed into my right eye.
"Aaaahhh!" I yelled. I shoved him away and clutched at my eye. Blood oozed from the wound and seeped between my fingers. I opened my left eye and saw that he was gone.
I scanned the area with my good eye and saw that the only moving things in the room where me, and my two creatures. I reached with my left hand for the Water Dragon (my right hand was still held to my eye,) and the dragon charged for the Flame Monster. The two giants clashed together and destroyed each other in a flash of steam.
I staggered back up from the Scath room up to the main library room. Arella, Master Shinobi, and Shaun were all waiting for me. "Slade!" Arella cried. She ran to my side and gasped. "He's hurt!"
"We have to get him back to HQ. Hurry!" Master Shinobi said.