Chapter 22

BASH!

Bane just avoided another strike from the Neo Heroes.

He was smiling through his mask as he stared down the latest group trying to take him out. "Not bad, could just a little more conviction in your strike though…" He said and snickered.

"Who the hell does this guy think he is?!" one hissed in anger.

"Stand down!"

The Neo heroes paused as an executive made their way to the front line. Bane paused as he peered down a teenager of all people, he approached him with a lollypop in his mouth as the two had an odd stand off. "Let me guess, Child Emperor, now known as Emp. Neo Hero executive…" Bane said in a matter of fact tone.

Emp didn't say a word. He merely glared at him oddly before he turned to the Neo Heroes who were being attacked. "You are no longer needed here." He stated.

"Emp, he's too powerful…"

"Dismissed!" he ordered.

They were reluctant to back down, but slowly, they did so. As the Neo Heroes left, Bane stared down Emp but was smiling once more behind his mask. "I was wondering when I would encounter you…"

"Let's cut to the chase here… Are you Metal Bat?" he demanded. "Did Alley reprogram you or something, updated your appearance and altered your robotic state?"

Bane snickered. "She doesn't have the tech for that,"

Instantly, Emp paused. "Wait, I was certain you're Metal Bat… or Bad, as we called him… Are you?" he asked.

"Yes… and no,"

The kid instantly became confused. "Yes and no?" he muttered. "What the hell do you mean by that? Yes and no!"

Bane snickered. "I don't think I need to explain myself, quite frankly. I am in the middle of hunting Neo Heroes, but you don't appear to be that big of a threat to me… so, how about you call your little lackies back and let me give them a good beating… also, you can tell your higher ups. I won't be stopping until the Neo Heroes are put down for good!"

"What do you have against the Neo Heroes?" Emp asked.

"Everything," Bane replied. "Now, stand out of my way kid, and I suggest you don't run into me again…"

Bane walked by him, Emp tried to call out, demanding once more why he said he was Bad and wasn't. But he didn't answer back. Instead. Bane made certain to put some distance between him and Emp. Alley had asked of him not to harm him or another hero by the name of Darkshine.

He will keep his word for the time being, however he knows he can't favor them for the sake of a promise, too much suspicion would be casted upon Emp, if he has a plan of his own for the Neo Heroes, he has to be certain that the Neo Heroes can still 'trust' him.

#

Tempest was at home, he enjoyed a good meal once more made by Misty who has really improved her skills. "To think, you keep improving… I got to admit, this has to be my favorite so far out of all the new dishes," he explained.

Misty was smiling. "So… your brother Yuki told me that you got hit on by some serpent ladies…"

"Nothing happened." He insisted.

"Oh I know, I trust you Tempest, but still. Where did they come from?"

He explained that Boros returned a short while ago. That much she knew, after all, she got a chance to catch up with Gene and Jason. It was the first time the three of them hung out together as siblings like the old days. "They came from another planet called Medusa. Apparently their males were hunted and killed. There were no males for the women there. Boros cloned them using samples from our world. So, most of the heroes working under Alley got cloned. Apparently some are very prolific breeders!" he snickered.

"Wow, to think, Boros saved a race from dying out huh?"

He nodded. "He wants to make more clones, but is awaiting approval from the other heroes he has yet to clone into serpents. He even asked me if I wouldn't mind being cloned for this… I am conflicted…"

Misty paused. "Conflicted huh?"

"I want to help them out, I mean they were going to die out. But at the same time, I can't help but think I would be cheating on you if I allow it."

Misty giggled. "You are so funny Tempest!" she said and snickered. "I don't mind, just as long as I keep the original," she said with a grin. "Besides, I know you wouldn't leave me for another world…"

"Who said anything about that!"

She paused and sighed. "Jason is considering going with Gene next time they leave." She explained. "I… don't want him to go, but at the same time, if he does. He would be happier. Many would just see him as an alien and not someone out of place…"

"Shit, if he leaves, that means Eclipsa will go too won't she? Luna is really thinking about it since she and Boros had kids… somehow," he muttered the last part. "But knowing my sister Luna, she wants more kids…"

Misty merely nodded. "We would both be losing siblings huh?"

"Sounds about right…"

They fell silent to each other. Misty just finished putting away the dishes when she sighed aloud. "So, what do you think you are going to do next?" she asked. "I know about your offers by the way."

He paused. Tempest hasn't even told his own family yet about the offers he got from the super sumo league. Word got out about his run in with Raiden from a while back, they became curious and wanted him to try out for the league. "I am not sure yet. I would be starting all over again from the bottom and work my way up. But this time I will really have to work for it if that's the case. I also don't know if the other sumo league is going to take me back yet. There are petition going around to bring me back… and there are some banning me completely from the sport itself."

"I say go for the super sumo league. You have nothing more to prove with the other right? The super sumo may actually offer you a challenge. Then again, if Raiden was undefeated there, perhaps you would just steamroll over everyone again."

"They are without a Yokozuna right now too…" He just heard recently the last one just retired. There were tournaments being held to crown the next one, but he wouldn't get in on time to be part of it, let alone at proper rank to even consider himself eligible.

"Try out anyway Tempest, you got nothing to lose right?" she asked. "Besides, I think you need this."

He nodded meekly. Looking about their home he sighed aloud. They paid for it all themselves in cash, yet the moment he lost his title, he feared he would lose the house they worked hard to get.

"Okay, I'll call the super sumo league and see if their offer is still standing."

Misty smiled. "Go get em tiger!"