Chapter 7: Starcain's Method

"No! He's been shot!" King cried out. Jin stood up and said "I don't know who did it, he just came and shot him!" King grabbed Peter and asked Jin worriedly "Where did he get shot!"

Jin looked down and said "The man shot him right in the head." Julia whimpered out loud as Christie knelt down to Peter. "Uh, where's the bullet wound?" Everybody stopped mourning and looked at Peter. They too saw no bullet wounds. After feeling for a pulse, King yelled out "He's still alive!" This came as a shock to everybody else.

"Well, come on, let's get him to the infirmary!" Christie yelled. King picked Peter up and ran with the others as fast as he could to the infirmary. The place was pretty much empty as they ran in. "Help, please! We think he's been shot!"

An Hour Later…

A doctor wearing a white coat walked out of a small room and approached the group. "Well, there were no bullet wounds found. However, we detected that there was a strong mental blow delivered to him. We're not sure what caused it, but-" suddenly King cut him off. "You're a DOCTOR! You're SUPPOSED to know!" Julia motioned for him to calm down. The doctor continued "I'm sorry sir, we have never seen anything like it. Are you the boy's father?" King nodded while looking at the ground.

"Well, that's good. He was just asking for you." The doctor said. King looked up and said "Wait you mean he's fine now!". The doctor smiled and nodded. Then, he moved to the side as King nearly ran him over. Everybody laughed upon seeing the doctor's shocked expression. Julia explained "Don't think of him negatively, they've been through a lot together."

Inside the room, Peter sat in bed staring out the window. "Pete, thank God you're okay!" King called out as he walked over to his bedside and sat down. Peter could not smile as King was. "King, I'm sorry that I attacked you. I was honestly trying to stop." He said. King looked at him and said "Julia told me everything. Why didn't you tell me that you had a portion of Ogre in you? Did you think I'd be afraid of you?"

Peter looked back and said "I didn't want you to have to worry about something like that. And I honestly thought that I was going to be able to control him. But something's different…I don't feel him anymore." King sighed with relief and said "Do you remember being shot? Jin said that a man shot you in the head." Peter grabbed his head and replied "Well, that would explain my splitting headache. But no, I don't remember that. The only thing I remember was training with Julia, then telling her that I wanted to get some air on the roof. After that, Ogre took over and I don't really remember what happened. But I remember you almost dislocating my arm!"

King looked down and said "Yeah, sorry about that." Peter smiled and said "No, don't worry, that's what probably saved my life." King looked up and said "So, I guess you'll be quitting the tournament? It starts the day after tomorrow." Peter looked up and said "No, I'll be there. This won't stop me." Suddenly, Peter looked out of the window and slightly went wide eyed. Then he turned back to King and said "Well, I'm tired. They're gonna keep me here till tomorrow morning. So, I'll see you then?" King got the hint. "Sure buddy, see you tomorrow." With that, King left the room and returned to see only Julia.

"Christie and Jin went to go rest after hearing that Peter was fine. You okay?" She asked. King nodded and said "It's just that I feel like I'm doing everything all wrong for him. I don't know what he thinks of me anymore." Julia stood up to him and said "King, he searched TWO YEARS to find you. I can't even TELL you how happy he was to find you again. Every night during those two years, he sat there and cried himself to sleep. And you're his step-father on top of that! Believe me, you're the best thing that ever happened to him. Never doubt that." King smiled at Julia as she finished speaking. "Well, I guess when you say it like that…" then he started laughing.

"So, is he still awake?" Julia asked. "Oh no, he just went to sleep as I left. But don't worry, he's dreaming of you." Julia smiled and said "He better be. Well, let's go eat something, it's been a long day for all of us." King nodded and left the hallway following her. Just as she opened the door, King looked back towards Peter's room and looked puzzled. 'Probably nothing.' He thought as he exited the building.

Back in Peter's room, he flicked off the lights and opened his window. Starcain jumped down into the room and greeted him. "Hey, do you remember what happened?" Peter shook his head and said "No, but I had a feeling that it was you who saved my ass this time." Starcain laughed and replied "Sorry about the head shot. It was the only way to get rid of Ogre once and for all." Peter smiled and said "So, he's gone?"

Starcain nodded and said "Well you see, Ogre murdered my father. But before he did, my father came up with this cartridge that would kill all of Ogre's brain cells. He never got to use it, but I helped him make it myself. So I used it on you and he's completely dead now. The cartridge used not a bullet, but a field of electric currents that completely destroyed the brain cells that they were programmed to kill. You're safe now."

"Well thanks for saving my life, even you almost killed me." Peter said tauntingly, but in a playful manner. Starcain looked at him and said "You, or should I say Ogre really pissed me off. You stabbed me with my sword and basically almost killed me. Luckily, I have a healing factor in my blood. You mentioned how my father fought better and how he died the same way. It's true, he died on Razi." Peter looked at Starcain in confusion. "Razi?"

Starcain reached behind his back and unsheathed his sword. "Razi. It's the sword that my father used in combat. It's special in that it's like no other sword in the world. He fought with Ogre using Razi, but Ogre grabbed it and killed him with it. Ever since then, it's been my way of remembering my father." Peter looked down and said "Starcain, I know what it's like to lose someone. Ogre killed my whole family to get to me." Starcain already knew this from the mind probe that he used on him earlier. He looked at Peter and said "Well, I'm glad you're feeling better and no one stabs please?" he said in a joking tone. Peter laughed and nodded.

Starcain chose not to tell Peter what had happened earlier with Marduk because he didn't want him to have to worry about it. It was done and over with and Peter didn't have to think about it. "Well, I have to go check up on Marduk and make sure he's not up to anything. See you around." Starcain said. Peter nodded and as Starcain jumped out of the window, he said "Thanks for watching over us Starcain…"