Probabilities
For a long moment, no one moved. No one seemed to be breathing as Kate Bishop slowly raised her bow and took aim at the being who had caused this whole mess. Then Lorinos flashed with golden power, but so did the Inquisitor and his energy vanished. He was apparently going nowhere.
"Feel free to try that again." The Inquisitor said with a growl. The smile that graced her face had nothing at all to do with mirth."Next time it will hurt. You are going to come with me or I am going to hurt you and then you are going to come with me. These are your options. Choose."
"You dare to dictate to me. Here?" Lorinos sneered at the woman. "At the scene of my triumph?"
"You really think you won?" Ric spoke up and his tone held bottomless scorn.
"Of course he does." Kate snarked from where she stood, an arrow nocked but her bow down and not drawn yet. "Like I said. He is a fool."
"You keep insulting me, Kate Bishop and-." Lorinos started, but he was cut off by Ric!
"And nothing." Ric said flatly. "Elizabeth was bad, no question. You are just as bad. You are going with the Inquisitor. The only question is how much it hurts you." His tone turned flat. "Personally? Since you are directly responsible for this entire mess? I want you to resist. Please." He all but begged.
"Now, now." Inquisitor Jane Talona, for her part, was ice cold. "This whole thing has been a mess from the very first moment you stepped into Kate Bishop's reality, heretic. But here it ends." Again, calm, cold, merciless.
"You really think the three of you, here, can best me." Lorinos sneered. "You have tricks, woman. I have power and many copies of myself across the realities."
"Four." The Inquisitor countered and evil golden being paused. "Not counting yourself, there are four copies of your energy left. Soon to be none." Again, the expression she gave him might have been called a smile by a shark. The only good thing about her expression was that it vanished as quickly as it appeared. "Did you really think that all the powers that try and maintain balance in the multiverse were just going to let you do this?" She shook her head slowly, but her raised hand didn't move. The other was on her holstered pistol. "You were already a problem before you tried to enslave Elizabeth and failed so badly. Now? I understand a being named Darkseid wants you to come to a tourist spot called Apokolips for a visit. You might find being a foolish immortal there an education." Kate actually winced at that, but neither of the others moved. "He would try to use you in his schemes. Then you would get stupid and get squashed over and over and over again." Again, that cold, terrifying smile graced her face for a moment. "He is actually not the worst who wants to talk to you." Kate shook her head and Jane relented just a little. "It took some time, but all of us who your madness impacted reached a satisfactory compromise. We need to know all of what you did and you are going to tell us."
"Really?" Lorinos seemed bored now. "And why would I do that?"
"Oh, no reason at all except that the Inquisition can hold you and if you prove stubborn, make your life a literal living hell." Jane seemed just as bored as Lorinos now, but it was an act. Her hand was clenching on her pistol. "We can and have done such to people worse than you. You are quite powerful, but you angered a lot of people in a lot of places. Choose, heretic. Now."
"I choose to see how you are in bed, slave!" Lorinos snapped and golden power flared again, but then the world shifted and the group stood on a barren landscape.
"Bad answer." Kate said weakly as Ric moved. In a flash, the Vauban had the Magos and Cecelia in his arms and laid them at Kate's feet. The Inquisitor didn't move and neither did Kate as Lorinos flared with power again. Ric shook his head and started examining his wife and the Magos who dared not move as the golden monster glared at the pair of women.
"You think I didn't plan for this?" Lorinos scoffed as a truly awful looking form heaved its way out of the ground a kilometers or so away. A huge reptilian form that was vaguely familiar. Kate jerked as she sort of recognized the mass. Godzilla? No! This one head three heads! Ghidorah! Oh dear. That monster have given even the King of the Kaiju Godzilla a run for his money on occasion.
"I am sure you tried." Jane replied and shrugged as Lorinos glared at her. "You were so out of your league when you faced Elizabeth that is simply wasn't funny. Power, planning, imagination… You fell way behind in all of it and probably never even realized."
"I think I planned well." Lorinos smiled coldly as the three headed kaiju screamed defiance.
"Yes." The Inquisitor said mildly after the noise had stopped. "You think you do." Now, she spoke into thin air. "Deploy."
Two things fell into view from above halfway between the still rising monster and the group. They hit the ground with thunderous clangs and when the dust settled from the impacts Kate drew in a deep breath. The two walking sort of humpbacked human shaped robot things were huge and magnificent. One was red, the other gray. The red one had two guns for arms. The gray had a gun and a huge, chainsaw sword on the other arm. The gray one also had a boxy thing on its domed back.
"Behold the might of the Crimson Wanderer!" Came a male voice from nowhere as the humongous machines turned to face the three headed monster.
"Sir Ambrose, shut up and fight!" Came an irate female voice the same way!
"As you wish, Lady Olivia." Was he mocking her? Who the hell were these people?
Everyone, even Lorinos, ducked as raw power sang from both robots to slam into the three headed monster. Whatever those beams were, they were powerful. They bit deep into the unnatural hide and the monster screamed. Ghidorah was not a lightweight opponent however and shrugged off the hits as inconsequential. Its wings flapped and it rose into the air, hovering for a moment before hurling itself towards the ones who had dared attack it. Even as far away as the group was, the shock of impact was felt though the bones of everyone as the flying thing blasted everything around the robots with beams of energy for each of its three maws. But when the dust cleared, both robots still stood even as Ghidorah arced around for another pass.
Then a whoosh sounded and multiple smoke trails came from the box on the back of the gray robot! They were not just aimed at the monster! They were going everywhere! Some towards the-
"COVER!" The Inquisitor called as she hit the dirt! Kate was a bare moment behind her, careful not to jar her belly. Ric threw himself over the other hurt women as many resounding explosions sounded, some far too close at hand. "Lady Olivia!" The Inquisitor said with a distinct aura of threat. "Watch your fire or you will draw mine."
"Pardon, Inquisitor." The other replied, not at all fazed by the threat. "My machine spirit saw you as a threat."
"I can see that, but if it happens again, I will let Sir Ambrose deal with you as he would prefer." The Inquisitor rose, here eyes on her enemy. Lorinos had been all but buried ion dust and dirt himself. From the looks of it? His shields had taken a pounding from whatever had hit the group. A sigh came from the male speaker but nothing else s the pair of robots opened fire again on the now bleeding flying monster. Before anyone else could speak, Jane did again. "Don't start! Just kill that thing."
"Gladly." Came from both the others and massive clangs sounded as the robots charged the three headed beast. Kate slowly relaxed, just a little. Ric didn't move.
Whatever these robot things were, they were clearly a match for the flying kaiju. Precise shots hit each wing even as Ghidorah tried to retreat, breaking bones and flesh that was far thinner and thus, far more fragile than its main hide.
Then it all changed!
"STOP!" Came a shout from one of the beast's mouths as it flew down to the ground and bared all three of its maws at the two robots. "What do you think you are doing?" Came from another mouth!
"They are getting your attention." The Inquisitor said flatly as she rose, her pistol in hand now and aimed at Lorinos. "Do we have it?"
"Who the hell are you?" Came from the third mouth!
"Can we be calm about this?" Jane asked. "I know you are angry. I don't know why, but we may be able to fix whatever happened. My name is Jane Talona. I am an agent of the Imperil Inquisition. You likely do not know what that is."
"Of course I know what the Inquisition is!" The clearly much smarter than thought kaiju said with a snort that blew smoke form all three sets of nostrils. "I play Astra Militarium!"
"You do." The stunned words came from Jane, Ric and Kate!
"Well, yeah." The monster seemed to settle a bit. "And yes, I know I have no chance against two Freeblade Knights." A huge sigh came from the other and when it spoke again, it sounded aggrieved. "At least they are not Rodan's Riptides or Stormsurges." Was that relief?
"Okay…" Jane was trying to get back on an even keel and was trying to keep her focus on Lorinos who seemed just as a stunned as everyone else was! "You have been pulled into an extra-reality conflict."
"Wouldn't that be 'inter' reality?" The other inquired from one of its mouths and Jane actually grimaced. The massive kaiju actually looked sheepish! "Sorry, Inquisitor. I am… I am stressed."
"What did he do to you?" Kate asked as she rose to her feet, her bow aimed at Lorinos again whose mouth was working, but no sound was coming out. She shook her head a Jane snarled at her. "He had to have done something to make you that angry."
"He stole Mothra's collection." Ghidorah replied. "She spent decades making and painting that army and he just took it!"
"What army?" Jane seemed almost punch drunk now.
"Um…" Was Ghidorah embarrassed? "Maybe I shouldn't say that in front of an agent of the Imperial Inquisition. You will likely take offense."
"I may." The Inquisitor allowed. "But seeing as how you are not from my reality and I am probably a fictional character in yours… I will try to remain calm. What army?"
"Um… Mothra collected and painted 5000 points worth of Alpha Legion." Ghidorah said weakly. The Inquisitor jerked and the monster was quick to continue. "In my, our, reality, it is a game! It isn't real!"
"I… I can accept that." The Inquisitor sounded as if she was pulling teeth to say that, but she did say it. "After all the other messes he has caused, I am not even surprised he stooped to theft."
"Are you dealing with him, Inquisitor?" Ghidorah asked, its three gazes fixed on the Inquisitor.
"That is the plan." Jane replied.
"Good." Ghidorah snapped and then sank back on its haunches. "If you can, please find out where he took Mothra's army? She is a mess at the moment and the big guy is being a pain about losing his best opponent."
"I… don't want to know…" Jane muttered and Kate shook her head in agreement. "Just so we are on the same page; toy soldiers?"
"Yes." Ghidorah's glare alone should have immolated Lorinos on the spot. "It is more fun that picking rubble out of our teeth or trying to clean scales that have rebar stuck in them. Or worse, plastic! Add to that? Painting them helps us stay calm."
"I can see that." The Inquisitor nodded. She took a deep breath and then blew it out. "Knights, ward!" That was a command. The robot things moved to flank the now still Ghidorah who was just watching. "I bet he has more tricks."
"If he does, count me in to counter them. He cheated in the one game we let him in on." The three headed kaiju snapped, but its ire was directed at Lorinos who was gaping at this sudden change. "Pro player, my ass."
"He does seem better able to talk than to do." Kate agreed and one of the monster's heads eyed her. No, her belly!
"Did he do that to you?" Was the kaiju suddenly kind?
"No." Kate reassured the other. "It is a long story, but no." Then Kate blanched. "He experimented on your kind?"
"Not my kind." Now, the kaiju was reassuring Kate. "But he did do some horrors among-st the people to look to us for protection. We were investigating that when Mothra called us in tears. I sniffed him out and wound up here."
"Even more crimes to lay at your feet, heretic." Jane's tone said she was done being interrupted. Kate and Ghidorah both looked an apology at the Inquisitor. "It wasn't enough to be a heretic in your universe, you had to do it everywhere." She shook her head. "He is going to be stupid. It is what he does."
"You are all of you beneath me! I am a-" Lorinos started, but several people interrupted him!
"Don't say it!" Came from Jane, Kate, Ric, Cecelia and the Magos! Ghidorah looked decidedly amused as Lorinos gaped at them.
"You are no god." Came from Ghidorah! "Be very careful when you try to impersonate one. If half the stories I have had read to me are true, real deities tend to take offense at that."
"They do." Came from Ric and the Inquisitor.
"I should leave." Ghidorah said after a moment. "I am not totally in control of my anger, no matter Mothra's lessons. I don't want to make a mess in another reality."
"You are far wiser than most who have the power to travel such." Kate fought the bitterness in her tone, but it sang through anyway. She went utterly still as all three heads turned to scrutinize her.
"You seem well on your way to such wisdom too, young one. Good luck." The massive three headed beast said and then vanished.
"Well?" Kate asked Lorinos who was still shocked at this sudden turn. "What else have you got? Come on, asshole. We don't have all day!"
"Nothing." The Inquisitor said quietly as Lorinos glowed golden. Said glow faded and the Inquisitor smiled her Death's Head grin again. "All of his copies have been neutralized. Three have become wardens of reality, two became Bladeborn and the rest died. That leaves him."
"You have no idea how many I made." Lorinos growled that in a tone that was meant to be dangerous. Facing the Inquisitor, it was kind of like a terrier threatening a fully grown lioness. Comical.
"Eight thousand, seven hundred and four." The Inquisitor replied in an offhand tone. Lorinos gawked at her and she smiled again. Not counting the copies they made to confuse the issue. It is actually kind of humorous. You did the utterly impossible. You actually made the wardens and Bladeborn hate you more than each other. I salute your monumental stupidity in that."
"I… Um… I can help save the Imperium!" Lorinos finally woke to his peril. Far too late.
"No. I am not that stupid and neither is anyone I work for or with." The Inquisitor turned to look at Kate. "Your peril began this. Do you wish to end it, Kate Bishop?"
"Will it kill him?" Kate asked as she raised her bow. On it was the same arrow she had nearly shot Elizabeth with a day or so and many lifetimes in the past. The Fulgurite tip gleamed ready to slay an immortal.
"No." Jane replied. "It will hurt him and make it far easier for us to hold him. We would do our best anyway. It will be much easier now, since he angered so many in our reality that for the first time in millennia, no one will interfere in the Holy Ordos' work." She made a face. "With him anyway."
"Okay." Kate drew and loosed in one, swift movement. Lorinos gasped as the arrow tore right through his weakened shield like a hot knife through butter and then he was clutching it as it stood out in his thigh. The Inquisitor looked at him and then at Kate whose smile was cold, if not quite at the Inquisitor's level of malice. "He will find it harder to run."
"That he will." The Inquisitor smiled and for the first time, there was no malice in it. Just understanding. Then the symbol in her hand flashed and Lorinos disappeared. From his sudden panicked face, not by his choice. "Fare thee well, Kate Bishop and I hope I never see you again." Kate nodded, unsure of her tongue. "Magos?"
"I am functional." The Magos rose, her white and red robes in tatters. "I... Inquisitor... I…"
"We will talk." The Inquisitor said quietly and paused as Kate stepped to the Magos. The black garbed woman shook her head, but did not interfere.
"Thank you for your care and counsel, Magos Biologis Metrodora Thelema." Kate said with a small bow. "I am a fool. I know that. But I can do no other."
"We are all fools in our own ways." The Magos reached out to touch Kate's cheek with a gentle hand. "You do need rest but this time? You will wake at home without a baby. Fare thee well."
"Fare thee well." Kate was falling, or floating, or flying. But she wasn't afraid. Not now. Not when the truly scary ones had come to her aid and been so kind.