Chapter Seven- Defeated
Man-At-Arms quickly entered his lab and locked the door. This was his chance to see if he could find a scientific cure and he needed to work fast. It would only be a matter of time before they discovered he was loose. He drew a blood sample and placed it under his microscope. He spent two hours analyzing it from every angle and came to a depressing conclusion: His human DNA and his wolf DNA were fused together and couldn't be separated; they were too intertwined. This is truly a curse. I'm stuck turning into a wolf every full moon and whenever Skeletor orders it. But wait. If a scientific cure isn't possible, maybe a magical one then. I'll go to Grayskull. I hope I get there and cured before nightfall.
Teela was the first one to spot him. "Master, I see him. He's leaving the palace."
Skeletor laughed. "Excellent. In a few hours, the sun will set and the moon will rise. I want the rest of you secured one hour before moonrise."
All four bowed and chorused, "Yes, Master."
Man-At-Arms grabbed a Sky Sled and flew to Grayskull as fast as he could. He approached the castle and drawbridge opened to admit him. He parked inside the bridge and headed to the Throne Room where the Sorceress sat, concern on her face.
"Man-At-Arms, what has been going on? I can no longer sense Teela and I can't contact you either."
"It has been a difficult month. Skeletor has taken over the palace. He had Adam attack the night after we talked. He killed everyone except the cooks, two guards, Teela, and me. The last four of us have been cursed as wolves too."
"Oh, no!" a shaking voice said.
Man-At-Arms blinked at a familiar green tiger sitting by the Window of Spirits. "Cringer! Is this where you've been all along?"
"Yes. I-I-I kept hear-hearing howling and I-,"
"Got scared." Cringer nodded. "I can't blame you for that, my friend."
"So, why are you here?" Sorceress asked.
"I've been locked up for weeks, but today they forgot to lock the door. I escaped and tried to find a scientific cure, but there isn't one. I came to ask if maybe there was a magical cure."
"I'm afraid your journey was in vain. After our last talk, I researched cursed wolves and no cure, magic or otherwise, can reverse it."
Man-At-Arms lowered his head. So, Adam was wrong: He wasn't unworthy of the sword, the curse was unbreakable. They were under Skeletor's control forever. But, I won't go back. I'll go to a remote mountain range and live there for the rest of my life. I will try to resist any telepathic order he sends to me.
"I am sorry, Man-At-Arms."
"It's all right, Sorceress. I intend to fight his attempts to control me. He may have Adam, the guards, and Teela, but he won't have me if I can help it. I should go now. I want to be in the mountains by moonrise."
"I understand. Good luck."
He returned to his vehicle and left Grayskull, hopes of returning to his former life dashed. I have my freedom, though. I intend to keep it by living a mountain life. It's important that I find a secluded spot where I can change without posing a threat to anyone.
He found the ideal location and after parking his vehicle, there was flash and a pyramid appeared nearby and one side opened to let someone out before disappearing again: Orko!
"Man-At-Arms, what are you doing here? Skeletor's taken over the palace!"
"I know. I escaped from the dungeons hours ago." He eyed the sky; the sun was going down and he needed to secure himself fast. "Listen, Orko. I need to be alone tonight. We can talk in the morning." He hurried past the wizard and clambered over some rocks to hunt for a good cave.
Orko stared after his friend. Man-At-Arms was acting strange. He knew Skeletor was in the palace, but wasn't going to fight or help the others escape? Something's going on with him. I'm going to follow him and find out what.
Man-At-Arms retreated to a deep cave. There was water in the form of a small pond and a hole in the roof was long and deep, but provided an excellent view of the sky overhead. He could definitely stay here as long as he blocked the entrance. A couple of explosives could bring the rocks down and in the morning, he could use a grappling line to get out and back in the following night before moonrise. He inhaled deeply and quickly exhaled. He had just caught the scent of someone approaching. No, not now, he thought in a panic.
Orko floated into view. "I know you said you wanted to be alone, but I want to know why you're acting strange."
"Orko, I promise to tell you tomorrow. Please, leave now."
"Why? What's going on?"
Man-At-Arms felt his stomach burning and knew the transformation was beginning. "Orko…run! I can't control…" his words trailed off into growls as he shifted to werewolf and his feral instincts surfaced. He heard a fearful sound and snapped his attention to a creature hovering above the ground. He advanced on the creature who seemed frozen with fear. He seized it with his hands before his claws pierced the flesh and effectively ripped the creature apart. He howled a bloodlust frenzied howl and bounded out of the unblocked cave to seek more prey to rip and kill.
He awoke to find himself lying in a house. How did he…oh, right. He didn't block the cave so he was able to run wild. He looked around and his stomach felt like a block of ice had settled in it. There were two dead bodies nearby. They had teeth and claw marks all over them. He stood and backed away from the sight before running outside to a scene of utter death and destruction. The entire village was dead and he knew he was responsible. I've killed a whole village…just like Adam killed almost everyone in the palace. He sighed; he might as well go home and swear loyalty to Skeletor. He had committed an act of evil and knew that his desire to do more evil would grow stronger and he wouldn't be able to fight it or even want to try.
He then heard Skeletor's voice. "Man-At-Arms, I command you to return to the palace at once." He immediately set out for the palace, unaware he was doing so and not interested in disobeying. He came to awareness when he focused on Skeletor and Evil-Lyn on their thrones with Adam standing next to his master.
"Welcome back, Man-At-Arms. Enjoy your time outside? Because you won't be getting out again!"
He was stunned. They left the door unlocked on purpose! So, it had all been a plan…to bring me to the conclusion that I should give in and that's just what I'll do.
"Well? What do you have to say?" Skeletor demanded.
Man-At-Arms fell to one knee and bowed his head. "I am ready to serve you…Master."
"Excellent. Now, I want to maintain our weapons and vehicles and of course you will also create new inventions as well. Now, see to maintaining our vehicles."
"Yes, Master." He rose and headed for the hanger to maintain the vehicles.
"Adam, follow him and keep an eye on him."
"Yes, Master." Adam left the Throne Room and headed to the hanger to find Man-At-Arms already checking the undercarriage of Attack Trak.
"I know why you're here, Adam," Man-At-Arms said without sliding out from under.
Adam didn't show surprise; being a werewolf meant increased strength and enhanced senses. Instead, he said, "And?"
"I meant what I said. I will serve Master Skeletor. My eyes were opened last night."
"How so?"
Man-At-Arms slid out from under Trak. "I killed, Adam. An entire village, gone. I know because I woke up in that village. I think I killed Orko first…I regret that one."
Adam nodded. "I know that feeling. I'll miss him. Have-have you seen Cringer?"
Man-At-Arms noticed that Adam's voice had been flat when mentioning that he would miss Orko, but it shook slightly when asking about Cringer; clearly he still cared about his pet. Therefore, he answered, "He's at Grayskull."
"Is that where you went when you left."
"Yes. I couldn't find a scientific cure so I went to ask the Sorceress for a magical cure. Alas, there is no cure at all. I had intended to live in the mountains, but I changed before I could block the cave entrance. I'm sure I killed Orko there. I remember warning him to get away and then I remember waking up in someone's house."
Adam listened with a mixture of shock and satisfaction. He was shock to hear that Orko was dead but wasn't too distressed over it. He was satisfied to hear that Duncan had finally give in to serving evil. He looked forward to seeing him in action on their next mission as he was with the other three. He hadn't seen them attack, fully aware of their actions.