Mad Max: Road to Salvation
Episode 15: Warrior vs. Assassin
[Charles: thanks for the support of witch and the warrior man, and sorry but again not my wheelhouse.]
[SilentType1997: I did but he just writes and he did not point in the me in the right direction of any.]
[Clearwingyuta: 1. of course and 2. there may be a slight problem then.]
[Kaesar16: well thank you but well he won't change much, if anything merely tolerance is what is needed. Remember, that little girl is softening his heart a bit.]
[Guest 1: Thank you.]
[Guest 2: I see it too]
The next day, max and his cohorts, including the drunken huntsman who was along for the ride, set out for the jungles of mistral. The desert sun beat down on the Vacuo highway and off in the distance a nevermore could be seen minding its own business in the sky. So far, the convoy had yet to capture its attention, but Qrow had assured them when they had briefly stopped to stretch that they could take it if they happened to be spotted. So far everyone had just minded their own business in the vehicles, for once Daniel was riding in the interceptor with Max, Anya, Bruz and the dog.
He and Anya were playing games with each other to pass the time. Mari and Amy had actually asked for it so that Daniel would have someone his own age to play with. The young boy was still somewhat timid to his new friend Anya who was happy to have someone besides her surrogate brother Bruz to talk to. The manic wasteland mechanic only had one thing on his mind at the moment, the tournament. He had managed to keep up with and he relished the opportunity to have a good scrap against the defending champion, Pyrrha Nikos. If he was going to be forced to go to Beacon then he might as well get one chance to go all out before being put on a leash.
Bruz could see it now, he would be beating the snot out of his challengers all the way up to the invincible girl herself. He'd enjoy it, to say the least. He knew that with Max's help he might actually be the one to win since he'd actually gone head to head with some tough opponents already. Bruz knew if he wanted to gain the upper hand against his soon to be opponent, he'd have to ask Max for training. Meanwhile over in the armored car, Qrow and Krel were sitting in the back while Mari and Amy were up front. They enjoyed the fact that Bruz happened to have a trailer on hand for Mari's cycle so they didn't have to worry about lifting it into the back of the truck with them. The two men sat there in silence for quite a while. Qrow wasn't exactly comfortable with it but it didn't look like the big guy in front of him was eager to talk. Krel held a similar opinion and didn't say a word to the man opposite of him. Qrow finally got bored out of his skull and decided to break the eerie silence.
"You, big guy. What's your story?" Qrow asked the large and intimidating bears faunas.
"I'm Krel Bastion, the rest is none of your business." Krel said coolly while he worked on his gun-hammer (Rumbling Mountain).
"That's a little more than what the other guy said at first until he blew a gasket at me, which said a lot." Qrow mentioned his first chats with the road warrior and gestured to the black car behind them.
"He just likes his privacy and I have my reasons for not wanting to tell you. Let's just say I want to put my past behind me for a reason." Krel said stoically as he bore respect for the man even though they'd barely said a word to each other. The bear faunas then remembered his sketchy past and did not want the huntsman in front of him to attack him outright for who he used to be. He knew the reputation of the man and simply didn't want any trouble.
"If that's the way you want to play it fine by me." Qrow decided to back off since he knew he was going nowhere fast.
"You mind your business, I mind mine." Krel said as he went back to maintaining his weapon.
"This is just boring sitting here." Qrow sighed.
"Find a way to entertain yourself then, besides ticking me off." Krel said coolly.
"Oh, ha, ha." Qrow said sarcastically. After that the silence persisted, Qrow then remembered his whiskey and checked the flask. Luckily enough, there was still some alcohol left inside of it, enough to satisfy himself. Upfront with the two women, they were discussing their new dream jobs at beacon, Amy imagined herself as the new school nurse, while Mari liked the idea of being a teacher. There was also the added benefit of free room and board. They both had Cheshire grins at the idea of love between Anya and Daniel. The two little tykes had already become fast friends with each other. Mari remembered mentioning that around him, and the little guy went red in the face with embarrassment.
Nearby, a figure in a black and crimson striped trench coat was watching the two-vehicle convoy pass on the road below through the scope of a sniper rife that had been combined with a double-ended spear transformation. He was a 17-year-old who bore a crimson stripe in his hair, Doberman doggy ears, fingerless gloves, a black undershirt, black pants, and combat boots. This young man's name is Slice Harris, mercenary for hire. This was slice's latest in a long line of brutal contracts to date. The white fang had hired him to take out the who had faced down Raven Branwen and was rumored to have also beaten Winter Schnee. Slice grinned to himself at the thought of this, he enjoyed his work a bit too much. But none the less he rarely ever said a word, preferring to keep his thoughts to himself to the point where he seemed mute.
He hopped onto his personal assault bike that had been modified for a balance between desert sand and street. He Pulled up a crimson face wrap and lowered his goggles over his eyes and kicked started the engine, taking off down the hill to follow his target. He'd been looking forward to this for quite some time now, since this man would be the challenger he felt he deserved to face. He pulled to the far side of the vehicles and came to another hill where he stood a chance of dropping on to the roof of the armored car. He revved the motor and took the jump, landing on the roof of the heavy vehicle. He was quick to tie his ride down to the roof, and then the two warriors inside the rear took notice.
Krel began firing his armor piercing rounds through the roof and shooting at the assassin as he leapt onto the hood of the interceptor. Max was fast with his pointing of the sawed-off at the assassin with an apparent death wish. Slice hopped up and grabbed the roof as Max fire, barely avoiding the ball of fire that erupted from the barrels of Max's gun. Slice hung on to the roof as he transformed his weapon into spear mode and began trying to stab through the roof. Max caught on to his strategy and began swerving to prevent this. It made Bruz nauseous and his face turned slightly green from it. The Dingo faunus ignored his sickness when he saw the spear jab at the little ones who held each other tightly. He gritted his teeth and grabbed the spear with all his might.
Dinki-di jumped in and began biting down and assisting his comrade in their struggle. Slice was losing patience and transformed his weapon into its rifle mode. He fired the weapon and barely missed Bruz's shoulder with the shot. The angry Dingo faunas had enough of this and yanked the gun-spear with enough force to drag in the assassin and headbutt him. Bruz then began to wrestle with the hired killer in the confined space of the interceptor's backseat. The two of them struggled while the kids watched in fear. Max focused on the road ahead and knew exactly what to do since he and the rest of his passengers were strapped except for the hitchhiker. He stomped on the brakes and Slice was ejected from the car at freeway speed.
He tumbled on the hard pavement for a few meters before stopping and picking himself up. Max punched the gas and drove head on at the assassin only to barely miss as he rolled to the side. Max pulled a 180 and hopped out of the car while Bruz unstrapped and took the wheel. The armored car had stopped and the other members of max's crew piled out to join the fight. Until Max shouted at them to stay out of it. Qrow wasn't exactly happy with that one bit but Krel stood in his way as well as the girls. Max began duking it out with his opponent to settle this himself before it could drag out any further. He ran at the trench coat killer with his machete in hand and they clashed. Max's machete clanged hard against the transformable weapon and he felt the machete shake in his hands as his opponent recovered and they went at it again.
Max grabbed the weapon and kneed Slice in the gut at full force before driving his elbow down the hired killer's back. The road warrior tried to finish the combo with a stomp, but it was narrowly avoided by his enemy rolling out of the way. Slice jumped to his feet and charged at the road warrior bayonet style. The ex-cop sidestepped the incoming attack and fired his pipe shotgun. Slice's aura took a massive hit and he was sent tumbling across the sand. He recovered and tried a jumping attack with a downward slash. Max raised his shotgun in defense and two struggled for control of the tide of battle. The veteran wasteland war-fighter gave a mighty shove and then door kicked his opponent in the chest. Slice had the wind thoroughly knocked out of him in an instant.
Max then clotheslined him with an outstretched arm and knocked him to the ground. Max then grabbed him by the throat and started punching him in the face repeatedly. Slice got tired of being a punching bag and struggled to get free as Max continued brutalizing him. He managed to put his boot to max's torso and the road warrior was flung back to the ground. Max caught his breath and dashed towards his aggressor as he stood up. The two of them had resorted to fist fighting at last and Max tried to levy a haymaker as Slice ducked. He retaliated against max with a roundhouse kick knocking him to the side but not down. Slice then ran in close to max and used his semblance to avoid a devastating punch to the throat and nearly managing to hit Max's back. The road warrior managed to see through the illusion and elbowed his opponent in the face.
"Go boss go! Show that bastard who's the real boss!" Bruz cheered on his rampaging boss from the circle that had formed.
"Keep it up tough guy!" Mari shouted gleefully as max kicked slice's ass.
Max held his ground and they went at it again with both of them colliding fists. Slice tried to throw another jab but Max grabbed his arm and threw his opponent over shoulder and slammed him down on the ground. Both of them were getting tired but neither of them was willing to back down. Max gritted his teeth and ran at Slice while the assassin did the same. Max went low and uppercut his opponent knocking him into the air before yanking him out of the air and planting his foot squarely on slice's torso. Slice tried to get up but Max had him pinned good. The road warrior then bashed his pipe shotgun against slice's head, breaking his aura and knocking him out. Max rose up and sat down again to rest, he took a swig from his canteen and breathed. Mari grabbed a rope from inside the armored car and tied the assassin's hands.
"That was a bloody good show boss!" Bruz shouted happily as he helped up the road warrior to his feet.
"Nice job road boy, now we just have to figure out who this guy is." Qrow said with a slight slur. Max only grunted in response.
"I think I know." Krel interjected.
"Let me guess, part of that past you didn't want to talk about?" Qrow made an educated guess.
"More than you know." Krel replied stoically for the most part, with a slight hint of shame.
"No shit." Qrow crossed his elbows.
"His name's Slice Harris, he's a top notch merc, but he prefers to be called an assassin. I've worked with him before and he's just as ruthless as he is honorable." Krel gave the crew the rundown on their unwanted guest.
"Which means he's probably here to take out old maxxy here, and explains why they butted heads so much." Qrow surmised.
"Most likely considering how Max was the one he made the most effort to go after." Krel confirmed Qrow suspicions.
"Well then let's make him talk." Qrow said calmly as he walked toward the assassin for hire.
"How genius? He's knocked the fugg out, and even then, he's almost a mute anyway!" Krel said as he followed Qrow to the incapacitated enemy.
"Keyword 'almost' bear boy." Qrow shot back.
"Interrogation isn't your strong suit 'buddy', not to mention the fact that your morals would keep you from getting any info at all." Krel stated flatly.
"Who asked you? But, I guess you're right I'd never stoop that low." Qrow had to give him that much.
"But I think I know someone who might." Krel's gaze drifted over to Max.
"You mean Max, don't you?" Qrow deadpanned.
"Who else is there besides him or me?" Krel gestured to the surrounding area.
"While that may be true, doesn't mean I like it, we are better than that, at least that's what my nieces believe." Qrow remembered his nieces and their innocent belief in him.
"We either find out who sent him or this could just keep happening." Krel growled.
"It can go either way at this point really." Qrow shrugged.
"Well… it looks like he's already started." Krel said as the two of them looked at Max who started walking over to Slice and glaring him in the eye. Slice just stared back blankly and tilted his head at the man who stood before him. Max's eyes narrowed as the staring contest continued, he was losing patience. But then something unexpected happened, the prisoner talked.
"Your fighting was honorable warrior. I commend your skills in battle, and for that I may have some information you want to hear. While I may be assassin for hire who likes his work, that doesn't mean I always respect the clients I work for. So, I'm willing to trade you some information for my freedom as well as perhaps an opportunity to travel with you. Your skills are exactly the challenge I crave and you have bested me, which very few ever have." Slice said truthfully.
"The information." Max quietly demanded with ire in his tone, he hadn't forgotten the young man's attempt to skewer the children.
"Right, I was sent by the white fang, Adam Taurus specifically. He said it was at the request of his superior Sienna Khan, but I had my doubts. I was not one to openly refuse my customers but, he had raised some suspicion. I normally don't speak this much, it's quite refreshing." He said without a hint of deception in his tone.
"Then tell me what else you know about them." Max said in a more reasonable tone.
"That's all the information I have I'm afraid. But I assure you what I have said is the truth. As I said, you have earned my respect and I have no qualms with you since this was business. I have no reason to try and kill you anymore, I failed the contract so it is null and void." Slice spoke in his usual calm demeanor.
"Fine, I won't hesitate to kill at the first thought of betrayal." Max laid out the terms and his instincts were good enough to trust a temporary alliance.
"Are ya mad boss?! He just tried to murder the piss out of us, including the ankle biters!"
"He's a resource, and there are more than enough of us if he is not trustworthy, I am not blind to his actions Bruz." Max said stoically.
"I know him and he's the real deal. Slice isn't lying, it's part of his code." Krel stepped forward and vouched for slice.
"Hello old friend, it has been quite some time." Slice remembered his ex-associate Krel.
"The last time we saw each other, didn't go so well." Krel said with his eyes narrowed.
"I apologize for my actions so long ago, but we were at odds with each other. That is neither here nor there, time heals all wounds does it not?" Slice said in a friendly manner.
"I vouched for you again, don't make me regret it twice." Krel growled.
"Then let us get under way." Slice grinned under his face wrap.
"Not so fast, this asshole nearly killed the two of us once!" Mari snapped as she pointed her twin pistols at him.
"Yeah, and he nearly hurt my baby twice now!" Amy agreed as she aimed her smg.
"Mom!" Cried an embarrassed little Daniel.
"Notice how I have not tried again, there is no bad blood on my end. I put the past behind me, you must learn to let go as I have. If I fail a contract I rarely ever pursue failed endeavors, they are simply not worth the effort. If the business is personal then that is another story." Slice said coolly.
"We are watching you." The girls said simultaneously as they walked away.
"The eerie way they said that reminds me of two twins I knew once, haven't seen them in a long time either. I wonder how those two little beauties are doing?" Bruz said fondly, and at that point in vale both the Malachite twins sneezed. Everyone else piled into the vehicles again and they were off once more, bound for the destination of the mistral arena.
-END CHAPTER-