Part 59: To Understand My Convictions
Jericho and Venus, in their civilian guises of Joey Wilson and Eri Takada walked through the park in Steel City. It was quiet and peaceful and with the lamps shining was a beautiful place. With Titans East protecting the city, crime had gone down and after the Brotherhood of Evil had been locked up they'd had very little super villain trouble.
But that was before Copycat and Slade had gone and released them. The villains were back and plotting revenged, but what she'd heard about Copycat had shocked her. Copycat had killed two men, guards, without any sort of mercy. She couldn't believe how much her friend had changed. When she'd first met Kat all those years ago she had been a very good friend. They would hang out together and have fun…but that was before Kat became a Zodiac Knight and the Knight of the Cats no doubt. The one left behind in the Chinese Zodiac…the one whom felt betrayed.
Eri, as the Knight of Virgo, prayed that her old friend was still in that armor, but after also hearing about how Copycat was collecting Zodiac Powers, she feared the worst. She looked up at Joey's face who smiled down at her.
He had regained his Zodiac Deck and could transform into Zodiac Knights Scizzors again. She was glad, but then that feeling faded when she realized what that would mean. It meant Joey would have to fight and since she was a Knight as well, she was an enemy too.
She could sense it, how the tournament was drawing near. With each Knight that has fallen, there would be less competition and it would soon reach the point where they had to choose to either fight or give up their desires.
Eri desired, so much, just to revive their mother. Her brother, Yoshiyuki, felt the same way and as such they made a vow that if they were to meet each other in final combat, one of them would have to yield. Eri decided that she would be the one to do it. She hated fighting. It just wasn't in her.
She felt Joey's hand squeeze hers and looked up to his face. She could see it in his eyes. They were filled with concern for her. He spoke in her mind, 'Are you alright?'
She shook her head and said, "I'm fine."
He gestured towards a bench and they sat down. He took hold of the guitar he'd carried all night with him and played a song for her. Music had been one of the ways he could communicate, aside from his telepathy and sign language. He could only speak in his armor but that could only be because what he was thinking was being transmitted through his helmet. It was a good thing that he'd learnt how to think quietly when he was Scizzors or else they would have been a lot of embarrassing moments.
He remembered the day Slade had called him and his brother and sister. He wanted them to all meet someone. When they'd met Kat, she seemed quite violent but then they grew to trust her and they became friends. When she gave them the decks, they were curious about what they would do and she told them that the decks were the keys to their greatest desires.
Joey hadn't known what Grant and Rose's desires were, but he knew his. He touched his throat, the scar still there where he'd been slashed when he was a little boy. Slade, his father, had tried to save him but he'd been wounded and lost his ability to speak. He did, however, discover his latent talent of telepathy as well as his ability to possess people through eye contact, making him a perfect tool in Slade's plans. He would possess someone and use them to gain classified information on whatever it is Slade wanted before someone was sent to retrieve the item Slade desired. When he became Scizzors, he found himself useful in battle as he could now melt his body into a liquid metal form, changing his limbs into sharp weapons he could use in battle.
He met Eri one day and when he discovered she was a Zodiac Knight…he had to make a choice. Only when he met Ekelo had he decided his new path. Nobody questioned him, not even his father, but Grant was a bit upset with him…well, he was more than upset. He'd called him a traitor and a deserter but Kat had smacked him upside the head because of that. Joey thanked her for that but then gave him a warning that if they were to meet on the battle field she wouldn't be merciful. She would treat him as an enemy. Rose had said nothing but he could see it in her eye. He'd made his stand and left Slade and Team Tartarus, deciding to make a new name for himself, to use his powers for good…as Jericho.
It was by a sheer miracle that nobody knew about his past. Well, almost nobody. Eri and Ekelo knew but neither of them was going to tell any one about it. It wasn't their place.
As Eri enjoyed the song while she rested her head on his shoulder, her communicator beeped. She did remember telling the others that she didn't want to be disturbed tonight. Grumbling, she took out her communicator, flipped it open and said, "What? What is it?"
The response she got chilled her to the bone as she got up in shock. She took out her Zodiac Deck and Joey knew that there was trouble.
ARMS admired the wreckage he had caused with a gleeful smirk under his helmet. The building as well as the area around it was now a smoldering pile of hot slag after he'd been done with it using his End of the World Final Vent. He loved destruction with a passion but having two Knights inside of it made it all the sweeter. No one could survive an explosion like that, especially unprepared.
ARMS had suggested to just ambush all the Knights so that they could take their powers but she'd flat out refused to listen. To her, it was better to challenge each and everyone one of them to honorable combat. ARMS had told her it was a waste of time and the answer he got was her claws in his face.
As ARMS waited for the familiar rush when he would receive new powers from the defeat of two Knights, the crystal in his deck began to glow. He knew why. There were Knights approaching. He got out his gun again and surveyed the area for his 'prey'.
He then saw who were approaching as he turned towards the direction of two roaring engines. Knightriders, two of them, were approaching the area. One was snow white while the other one was a dirty golden color. ARMS eyes narrowed. He recognized that color anywhere. Only one Knight he knew wore that color…
The deserter and the betrayer…
Oh, this was going to be fun.
He entered his own Knightrider. The canopy came down over his body to cover him as he took the controls are started the engine before roaring towards the two others, wanting to officially 'welcome' them.
Scizzors and Venus saw the familiar Knightrider belonging to ARMS speed into view. It swerved before cutting them off, making them stop. All thee Knightriders opened, letting their occupants out.
"Hello, traitor!" ARMS snorted as he held a hand near his gun.
"Hello again, Grant," Scizzors hissed as he prepared for an assault.
"Get out of the way ARMS," Venus hissed dangerously. "We're only here for Shadowcobra and Moon."
"Well, ain't that a shame," ARMS chuckled. "'Cause I just used my End of the World to blow them both sky high! In fact, I should be getting their power any minute."
"No!" Venus cried. "You lie!"
"He always does," Scizzors spoke up. "Tell me this Grant. If you did blast them then why don't you have their power now? The absorption is instant. Since you don't have their powers I can guess that they are still alive."
"Shut your mouth!" ARMS snapped. "It doesn't matter! Once I take out you two then I'm going to finish them off!"
"Not if I stop you first," Scizzors frowned as he reached to his cards. "Venus, go find Shadowcobra and Moon. I'll deal with my 'brother'."
"Are you sure?" Venus asked.
"Very sure," Scizzors nodded.
"Okay," Venus nodded. "But you had better come back to me or else you are dead." Venus went to look for the Knights of the Rabbit and Snake.
ARMS immediately drew his gun on her, "Not so fast!" Suddenly, there was swishing sound as Scizzors' shears were found near his throat.
"Your opponent is me now, Grant," Scizzors told him, coldly. He slid his card into his shears. "Strike Vent!" Immediately, his other forearm was encased in a gauntlet resembling a large crab's claw.
"I was hoping you'd say that," ARMS said before he spun around and shot Scizzors point blank in the chest, sending the Cancer Knight staggering. "I'm so going to enjoy this!" He then charged at Scizzors, pelting him with bullets.
Venus heard the gunshots but had to focus on her goal: finding Shadowcobra and Moon. Ekelo had told her that Shadowcobra had challenged Moon to a fight. She wondered why? How could Shadow challenge his own sister to a fight that would most likely strip one of them of their powers as Zodiac Knights. She was confused but right now she had to find them. They had to be under all that rubble somewhere.
Scizzors morphed his body into liquid metal and twisted around to avoid the shots before solidifying and slashing ARMS across the chest with his claws. He then swung his leg and kicked ARMS in the side. The Knight of Taurus drew a gun and then slid it into his gun. "Shoot Vent!" he called as a cannon pack equipped itself to his back with the large twin cannons on his shoulders pointed at Scizzors. Scizzors reacted quickly as he banished his claw and drew a card before immediately sliding it into his shears.
"Guard Vent!" Scizzors called and the shield came, just in time to receive and block a twin blast of energy from the cannons. ARMS kept on firing on him, not giving Scizzors a chance to fight back. He wasn't going to allow this deserter to leave alive. As ARMS continued to fire, he advanced on Scizzors, one step at a time.
Venus began to dig through the rubble. She couldn't see any sign of them. Could they have vaporized? The atmosphere of the Mirror World was deadly and their armor only provided them with limited protection before disintegration. Without it they would cease to exist. "Come on…come on, guys," she pleaded. "Where are you?"
ARMS had his hand wrapped around Scizzors' throat as his other hand was holding the gun. The barrel was aimed straight into Scizzors' faceplate. "Say goodbye," ARMS said as he prepared to pull the trigger and end his brother's life.
"Not going to happen," Scizzors told him before morphing his body into liquid metal, flowing out of ARMS grip before covering up the green armored Knight. ARMS became frantic as the liquid metal that was Scizzors began to engulf his entire body, save for his head.
"GET OFF ME!" ARMS demanded as he tried to pull the substance off but Scizzors was slippery.
"Make me!" Scizzors retorted. "I can crush you easily right now!"
"You don't have the guts!" ARMS shouted defiantly.
"Don't I?" Scizzors said. ARMS was trying to call his bluff. Scizzors couldn't possess ARMS since the visor was covering his eyes but he could at least constrict his body.
ARMS hand reached down to his belt, struggling with Scizzors constricting his entire body. He then drew a card and slammed it into the slot of his card reader/gun.
"Add Vent!" ARMS called. Scizzors knew what that meant. Gigataurus rose up from a portal with its gun arms aimed at both ARMS and Scizzors. "BLAST HIM OFF ME!" ARMS ordered and the mechanical minotaur did as told and opened fire. The blasts hit and shredded the liquid metal off ARMS. ARMS was protected thanks to his thick armor but Scizzors was not so lucky. He began to painfully reform his body as ARMS got ready with another card.
"Shoot Vent!" ARMS' Giga Launcher landed in his hands and he swung the long barrel around to meet with Scizzor's face, sending him sprawling to the ground. When Scizzors looked up, his eyes were staring down the barrel of ARMS' rocket launcher. At that close range, the missile would break his entire body.
Acting quickly, Scizzors pulled out another card before slamming it into his reader.
"Add Vent!" was called before Volcancer appeared onto the battle with an angry hiss. It tackled ARMS, forcing him to drop the launcher in an attempt to fight the monster off.
Scizzors groaned as he managed to get back to his feet again. Volcancer's presence evened the odds, but Gigantaurus was a living armory and much stronger than Volcancer. Thankfully the mechanical monster was slow so ARMS was practically alone until his contract monster could line up for another shot.
"This ends today," Scizzors frowned underneath his helmet before charging at ARMS with his weapon raised.
ARMS himself was having a bit of trouble dealing with Volcancer. The crustacean was quick and its armor was too tough for his basic weapons to harm. Not to mention that it wasn't shy in using its claws to try and strike him down.
Out of the corner of his eye, ARMS saw Scizzors recovering from the last attack and coming back for more.
"I don't think so!" ARMS roared before he summoned up the Zodiac Power of the Pig. Backing away from Volcancer, ARMS fired at both the monster and the contract holder with his eyebeams.
Both Scizzors and Volcancer cried out in pain as the beams hit them. Both went crashing to the ground. They hadn't been expecting that. ARMS watched them writhing in pain with only the deepest amusement and satisfaction.
"It's over for you, you little traitor," ARMS said as he aimed. His visor blinked a couple of times as he locked onto his targets. "Sayonara…" He prepared to fire another beam.
"Final Vent! GENOCIDE CRASH!" was suddenly called as a purple figure came crashing down into ARMS, its legs kicking him back and sending him crashing to the ground. ARMS looked up to see who had attacked him and his eyes widened in shock.
"NO! I DESTROYED YOU!" ARMS yelled out.
Shadowcobra was standing before him, perfectly alive.
"News of my demise have been greatly exaggerated," Shadowcobra told him before diverting his gaze towards Scizzors. "Are you alright?"
"I'll live," Scizzors said as he struggled to his feet. Shadowcobra turned to narrow his visored eyes on ARMS.
"You ambushed us," Shadowcobra hissed. "Not a good idea."
"It's how I fight," ARMS retorted, recovering from his shock and getting back up. The last attack had caused some damage to his armor but he was still able to survive the attack. "At least I got your sister."
"Think again," Moon smirked as she zipped over. Venus floated down as well. Moon's armor was not in good shape. One of her rabbit ears was bent and there were some cracks on her torso armor, but at least she was alive.
ARMS looked at the assembled Knights before him. All 4 of them were united against him. The odds were not good for him. He backed away a bit but then bumped into something. Turning his head slightly over his shoulder, his eyes widened as his lips broke into a grin.
"Copycat!" he yelled out, "I'm so glad to see you! Now we can waste these losers together!" Copycat was silent and kept a stoic stance as ARMS confidently faced the four other Knights. Copycat sighed and tapped a finger on his shoulder. He turned and then Copycat's fist smashed into his faceplate and sent him sprawling to the ground in a heap. Venus and Moon were shocked by this, but Scizzors wasn't and neither was Shadowcobra.
"When I say 'No Ambushes' I mean NO AMBUSHES!" she snapped angrily at the downed Knight. She then turned to the four Knights in front of her. "Sorry about that. The punk thinks he can get away with anything."
"Lackeys get like that," Shadowcobra said stiffly. "I do hope you came to claim him and not fight us."
"Retrieval was the only thing on my mind tonight," Copycat replied. "Besides, the odds are against me here. Even if I use an honorable challenge, there will be no way I can get out unscathed."
"Glad to see you still have good sense," Venus spoke softly as she stepped forward. "Kat…"
"Don't start, Eri," Copycat said, her voice growing darker. "We aren't friends. Not anymore."
"But-!" Eri tried to speak.
"No!" Copycat hissed. "As long as this war continues then we are enemies! The sooner you get that in your head then the better your chances of winning are!"
Not even waiting for a reply, Copycat grabbed ARMS and dragged him away. No one followed her.
"Brutal as ever," Scizzors sighed.
"Oh, Kat," Eri spoke sadly. "Isn't there anything of my friend left?"
"There is," Moon spoke, trying to comfort her. "We'll get her back."
"The only way to do that is by ejecting her from the battle," Shadowcobra remarked coldly. "She won't go down without a fight."
"Speaking of ejecting," Venus began as she stepped towards Shadowcobra. "What's the big deal, Shadow? Why did you try to eliminate Moon? She's your sister!"
Shadowcobra was about to answer when he felt a tingling sensation. He stared down on his hand and saw that the edges of his gauntlet were fizzling. Moon's armor was also fizzling, sending small particles floating into the air.
"Let's talk about this later," Shadowcobra told Venus. "For now, let's just get out of here."
Both Moon and Shadowcobra leapt out of the Mirror Portal and back into Titans East Tower. Their armor shattered away and vanished. Moon nearly collapsed before Shadowcobra grabbed her and supported her by the waist. "Thanks," she said to him. She had some bruises and was exhausted from fighting her brother.
Shadow gave her a nod as the other Titans approached them. Shadow gave Moon over to Ekelo. "Take her to the infirmary. She needs to be treated for her wounds and also put to bed to rest."
Ekelo narrowed his eyes but nodded nonetheless before lifting Moon up in his arms and carrying her to the infirmary. She had her arms slung around his neck and her head to his chest, just mumbling sleepily.
Shadowcobra turned away and said, "I'll leave. I know where I'm not wanted. Don't worry, she still has her Zodiac Power." Bumblebee wasn't going to let him go easily, none of them was. Mas and Menos zipped up in front of his path, arms crossed and eyes narrowed angrily, Speedy's fingers were twitching as he held his bow and Aqualad had his hands on his hips. Liz and Dilia were upset with him too.
"Not so fast, Shadow," Bumblebee said as he placed a hand to his shoulder and forced him to face her. "We want answers."
Shadow rolled his eyes, "What more do you people want? She's safe, isn't she?"
"It's more about the fact that you were trying to take away her powers," Speedy accused.
"Not her powers," Shadow corrected, "Just her status as a Knight."
"But why her?" Aqualad asked.
Shadow explained it to them, "The Zodiac War is a dangerous fight between every single Knight in this world. Good and evil, friendships, familial bonds are no longer relevant as we seek to defeat one another. It's every Knight for themselves." He finished, "I thought Moon and Venus explained this all to you, or did they forget to mention that they were meant to fight each other too?" He received no answer, "Thought so. They neglected to tell you everything about the Zodiac Knights. Then again, I'm not so surprised. Both of them don't have the drive to do what has to be done."
"Oh, and you do?" Speedy snorted, eyes narrowed at the Vampangel. 'Just give me a reason to use an arrow on you.'
Shadow heard his thoughts and replied, "You'd be down on the ground kissing the floor before you can even grab an arrow." He narrowed his eyes at the archer threateningly.
"Still doesn't make what you did okay," Bumblebee told him.
"Doesn't matter now. Moon's in no condition to fight," Shadow held up a pink Zodiac Deck case. "Plus, I have this." Liz gasped.
"That's Moon's!" Liz shouted out.
"It is," Shadow nodded. "I can easily destroy it now and claim her powers as well as eliminate her from the Zodiac War. Two birds, one stone." Mas and Menos attempted to make a grab for it but Shadow anticipated them and created a barrier around himself to block their attempts. Speedy had his arrow aimed at Shadow.
"Hand it over," Speedy demanded, "Now, or else."
"Better do as he says," Aqualad added in agreement, fingers curled into fists. "He means it."
"And so do I," Shadow coldly replied, eyed clutching the deck tightly. He then sighed, "But, no. I won't do it like that. Even if it is to protect her, I won't dishonor myself to defeat her this way." He handed the deck over to Bumblebee. The Titans East all blinked when they saw him give it up. They definitely weren't expecting him to hand it over just like that. "Give it to her when she wakes up." Shadow than covered himself with his cloak and walked away. He added, "And tell her to train harder. She'll need it." He then vanished into the shadows. Mas and Menos shivered as the temperature in the room seemed to drop.
"Are you really going to let him leave like that?" Speedy asked as Bumblebee held the deck in her hand.
Bumblebee sighed and answered, "He's not our problem now. I told Robin."
Speedy blinked for a second before he got a small grin on his face. The Boy Wonder was sure to give Shadow a piece of his mind.
Grant yelled as Kat hurled him across the room and into the wall. He shouted at her, "What was that for!? We could've taken them!"
Kat narrowed her cold eyes at him, "I don't remember ever giving you permission to go after them or to ambush them."
Grant stood up and justified his actions, "It was the perfect opportunity. I could've taken them both out at once and-"
"Taken their powers," she finished, "for yourself."
Grant did not answer. He knew she could read his thoughts and what was going on in his head.
"Let me explain things to you, Grant," Kat spoke to him, seriously, "You follow my orders. I don't care if you are Slade-sama's son. You are to follow what I say and nothing else. If you are going to do anything, you tell me. Don't think for one second that I'm going to let you go off on your own to collect those powers. The only reason you are even a Zodiac Knight at all is because of me." Grant growled at her in response. "To go behind my back like that, I should just kill you right now." She turned around to leave, "I don't want a loose cannon like you ruining my plans."
"Bitch," Grant muttered and before he knew it he was shoved against the wall by Kat. She had done it so fast that he didn't even have time to blink.
"What was that?" she hissed. Grant grew fearful and lost some of his defiance.
"N-nothing," he stuttered as sweat began to bead on his face.
"It better be nothing," Kat said. "Remember, I gave you your powers and I can easily take them away." She let him go. "Goodnight, Grant." She then left him behind as she exited the room. The door closed behind her as Grant crumpled onto the ground. Staring into those cold eyes was not very comforting. He could feel her killing intent. She had the eyes of a killer and he knew that if he ever got out of line again, she would kill him. The only reason he was alive right now was because he was useful to her. He punched his fist onto the floor, his teeth gritted angrily.
Kat ignored Grant's temper as she walked through the hallway. She had her fill of idiots for the night and she just wanted to cuddle up with Rose, have girl talk with Cathy, just relax and get the thoughts of idiots out of her head.
"Quite the impressive performance, my dear," an accented female voice spoke from the darkness. Kat immediately stiffened.
"No need to be hostile," the voice continued. "I only wish to talk."
"So come out and start talking then," Kat frowned.
Out from the shadows came a woman who had confidence in her actions and looked like she had the attitude to back it up. Kat didn't let her guard down for a second even if she did recognize her. It was the sole surviving member of the fallen Brotherhood of Evil. Kat identified her, "Madame Rouge."
"I must say you were impressive in punishing your lackey."
"You were spying on me?" Kat asked suspiciously.
"I just heard a commotion and decided to see what was going on," Madame Rouge shrugged.
"What do you want?" Kat asked impatiently.
"Oh, just came to talk," Madame Rouge answered.
"Then talk."
"You are a very powerful young woman. That is something to be proud of as well. Still, there is something holding you back."
"Holding me back?" Kat snickered. "What would that be?"
"Just something that you have been holding onto in your fights," Madame Rouge answered. "If you got rid of it, you would have won your little Zodiac War a long time ago."
"Oh yeah?" Kat frowned. "What would that be?"
"Now where's the fun if I just tell you?" Madame Rouge smirked. "You're Slade's apprentice. Figure it out yourself." Madame Rouge then walked away, leaving Kat to think of her words.
To Be Continued…
Another chap, and so soon!? Heck, I'm on a roll. Tell me what you think. Ten Faced Paladin and Shadow Element 13 helped me with this and the previous one if I forgot to mention. Enjoy!
Also, the slogan for this fic: "You Must Fight in Order to Survive!"