Chapter Fifteen: Sacrifice All You Believe In.
While Steve's team scrambled to figure out how to stop the plane of bombs, Diana, and Tom were face to face with the God of war himself, Ares. Trying to persuade them, Ares spoke on. "We could return this world to the paradise it was before them, forever." Offering his had, he smiled warmly. "Will you join me, Diana?"
Diana was thoughtful for a moment and shook her head. "I could never be apart of something like that."
Turning from her to Tom, he hoped to get al least on of them to assist him. "Tom, certainly you'd help. The humans will never except you among them. You will be scoffed at, outcast by them. But with me, you'll be revived as a the hero you've so longed to be."
Tom felt Diana squeezed his hand, looking at him with soft eyes. For a moment he imagined it, a life where he'd be the hero, cheered on, admired. Still, at what cost. "No, I may not approve of how humans treat each other, or the animals. But I will not slaughter them." Tom stood proudly by Diana.
The scene changed and they were back to standing in the wooden building. "My dears, I don't want to fight either of you. But if I must." Ares grabbed the lasso, and sent lighting volts from his hand. The shock lit up and flew at Diana, who was taken aback.
Leaping into action, Tom went to try and take attack, being sent flying into Diana. The pair found themselves flying through the air, rolling over, and over before hitting the black top, tumbling a few more times. Tom came to a stop, and lay there, feeling the effect of the blow. Slowly, Tom pushed himself up, watching Ares float gracefully in the air before them. He held his arms out, keeping balance as he flew. Tom jumped to his feet and ran forward, eyeing up the man. Ares lifted and raised large metal pillars, letting them fall over Tom. Throwing himself between them, Tom managed to avoid a direct hit. Then, he was struck by a fist and sent sprawling, smacking into the earth, watching as Diana took the God of war on next. Dizzy, Tom hoped she be able to hold out till he got his senses together.
On Steve's shoulder, Jerry saw Tom get his tail handed to him by a guy who looked to be Sir Patrick. "Tom?" Thought Jerry, hoping the cat would be okay.
From where she stood, Maru saw the three fight, looking to the men. "Get this thing out of here!" The men were scurrying about the black top, making sure the load was full, and ready to go.
Tom got up and saw Diana whip out the lass, trying to grab Ares. He somehow created a breeze, the wind made it impossible for her nab the God of war, who simply watched as the glowing whip fluttered about. "Oh my, you two have so much to learn." Ares saw Diana struggle to control the lasso in the wind, thus, she twirled it around, pulling a metal beam, aiming it at Ares. Ares flew up, and it hit a box of bombs, exploding in a sea of fire and smoke.
On his feet, Tom from behind ran at Ares and was determined to take him out. The feline saw as large pieces of the black top ripped up from the earth and tossed right at him. Paws out in front of him, Tom tried to block the wall of pavement. Unlike him, Diana burst through, flying high above it. Breaking through himself, Tom looked at Diana. "How the bloody cuss are we going to stop him?"
"Attack at the same time!" Diana moved forward.
Tom jumped to and tried to grab Ares, who moved and stomped Tom downward while he punched Diana clean across the face. Losing his temper, Tom spun, and managed to leap up once again. Though Ares was faster, and grabbed Tom's tail, spinning him round, and round, sending him into Diana, who flew back with the cat in her arms. The two slid, but got their footing, Diana releasing Tom and holding each other to keep their balance. Ares lifted a big chuck of ground that the pair stood on, bring if several feet off the ground.
From their spot, the men saw a chuck of earth hovering above the ground, knowing they were in real trouble now. "Oh my god!" exclaimed Sameer, kneeling on the road, watching with wide eyes.
"What are we going' to do!?" shouted Charlie.
"There's not much we can do. If that's who I think it is."
"If we could get on the radio, we could ask a flyin' crop to shoot 'er down."
"No, Charlie, if it crashes, it will wipe everyone out in a fifty square miles." Chief put in.
"He's right, We gotta ground it." Steve added.
Jerry though deeply on what they could do, signing to Steve. "We could take out the engine so it can't run. we could break the propellers."
"Bad news it's on a timer and I could deactivate it." Sameer gave Jerry a sorrowful expression. "If we ground it here, it's the same thing."
They had a real dilemma on their hands. If they crashed, people would die. If they kept it where it was, people would die. There seemed to be no alternative that any could think of. All but Steve that was. "Is it flammable, Chief?"
"Yes, you said it's hydrogen. It's flammable." Assured Chief.
Steve loaded his hand gun. "I need you guys to clear me a path to that plane." Steve got to his feet before anyone could stop him. The others called for him to stay, to not go, but Steve knew what needed to be done.
"Come on!" shouted Chief, knowing they had to get ready to give Steve, and Jerry cover to reach the aircraft.
All the while the three Gods fought on, Ares sending the two flying through the air, where they landed near a pile of bombs. Diana, and Tom picked up the wooden boxes, and chucked them at Ares, who removed the bombs from each of the crates, aiming the bombs back at them. He sent them forward at great speed, and Diana quickly reacted, by getting another crate and throwing it at the bombs. Unfortunately, it only worsened the situation. For all the bombs went off, exploding in an enormous cloud of fire, and smoke, sending a powerful wave out. Tom did his best to block Diana, though they were airborne, flying back several feet. The jolt to his body hurt, Tom finding himself on the ground as the pavement broke under his body form the impact. His world was ringing, eyes blurry from the sock. Struggling to see clearly, Tom managed to make out a shape, it was Steve going to where Diana was, helping her up and talking with her.
Over by the aircraft the motors started, forcing the propellers to spin, showing it was ready to go. Sameer, Charlie, and Chief knocked out the few Germans who stood in the way, clearing a path for Steve and Jerry. "Come on, this way Steve, Jerry!" yelled Sameer, keeping the Germans to the ground with his rifle.
Tom wasn't sure what was happening, then felt a nudge to his side, looking down to see Jerry. "Jerry?" Jerry gestured something and took Tom's paw, placing something in it before leaning over to kiss him on the muzzle. Sadly the kiss ended, and he felt Jerry's small lips pull away. The cat opened his eyes, coming face to face with Jerry's eyes. "I-I'm sorry, Jerry. For what I said-" Running his tiny paw to Tom's cheek, Jerry smiled, and with and scampered down Tom's chest, running after Steve and leaving the cat alone with a surprised expression on his face. "Jerry!" Tom saw Steve made his way down the runway, leaping and climbing aboard the aircraft, taking off to who knew where.
"Steve!" Diana shouted.
After leaving Tom, Jerry hung onto Steve's shoulder, being moved about as Steve ran. Able to get onto the plane, Steve peered at his side. "Jerry, you good?" Jerry gave Steve a thumbs up, showing he had Steve's back. "Great, I couldn't do this without you, little buddy." With that Steve heard his friends encourage him to go for it. Steve pulled himself up, making his way to the door. Opening it, he grabbed and the out the guy who blocked the entrance, seeing him fall off the wing and rolling along the ground.
The pair turned from the air plane and their gaze went to Ares, who walked out of the sea of fire. Pieces of metal flew about, and attached itself to Ares, Patrick vanishing, transforming into the powerful God of War. He was taller, and raised his hand to pull away eye holes along his helmet so he could see. There was only blackness behind the mask, with glowing red eyes, orbs that were fixed on the pair.
"Let us see what kind of gods you two really are." Ares spoke in a deep voice, far different from the British accent he had before. Two sword appeared in his grasp, and he hurtled them at the pair, who ran in opposite directions, leaping through the air. Once Tom got his footing, he drew his weapon, holding it to protect himself. Each blade struck one, and sent Tom back to the ground. With a mighty heave, Tom was able to knock the blade from Ares' hand. Diana too managed to leave him weaponless. Ares flew at them, creating two new blades, swing at the pair effortlessly. "You should've joined me, there is no need for us to fight."
They leaped out of the way, but knew the battle was far from over. Diana frowned, showing no sign of backing down. "I-I. I could never be apart of something like that."
"My dearies I don't want to fight either of you. But if I must." Ares intensified the lighting volts from his hand, forcing them to stay back.
The bolts flew at Diana, who reached for her shield. In a quick move, Tom rushed and tried to block the blow, using his body as a human shield. In a explosion of light, Tom was sent into Diana, the pair flying in the air. Diana did her best to keep a tight hold on Tom, trying gain control over her spinning body. They hit the ground, tumbling till they came to a stop, Tom feeling his eyes roll around in their sockets.
Slowly they sat up, watching Ares float gracefully in the air before them. Diana pushed Tom off and jumped to her feet, running forward with her fist raised. Ares lifted an arm, and raised large metal pillars, letting them fly at her, keeping her at bay. She swept low and dodged it, leaping just out the way of the bombs. Tom gasp, realizing Ares wasn't aiming for Diana, but the boxes of explosives. He got up and went for Diana, trying to get her attention. But it was too late, sparks flew as it hit the ground, igniting the chargers. She held her arms up, protecting her faces from the light.
Quickly, Tom leaped at Ares, flying over to him with his fist out. Ares only flew up, letting Tom soar right under him, and to the ground. Coming into contact with the earth, Tom lay there, rubbing his nose, feeling droplets of blood fall. Suddenly, great large metal rollers from the tanks came at him, Tom unable to block them. Hit harshly, he was held in a death grip, feeling the air knocked from his lungs. While Tom was out for the count, Diana was able to deliver a good knock across the face. When she saw Tom in distress, she turned from Ares to rescue her brother.
"Tom!"
Tom shook his head at her, unable to sign. Diana gasped and was hit, becoming tangled in metal like himself. Ares chuckled and looked down at his work, seeing the pair were unable to escape. "I thought you were gods, yet you're both weak." Making his fist tighter, Tom felt his the pressure didn't stop, his bones would snap. All he could do was look to the sky, seeing the plane Jerry was on, wondering what the mouse was up to.
In the plane, Steve knocked the pilot out and threw him out. Jerry ran up the pant leg of another, who leaped about, slapping himself, and falling out the door, Jerry leaping off to join Steve in the cockpit. Steve was glancing over the many leavers, buttons, and handles, trying to figure out which one stopped it. "Shoot, there has to be a switch, something to stop the bomb from going off."
"I don't see anything in the manual." Jerry added, reading over the book, tossing it when it was clear the manual was useless. "I got nothing."
Steve in a desperate attempt held a light while Jerry tried to reach the wiring, which happened to be placed in the center of many bombs. Not to mention, it was kept in a metal box. "Anything, buddy?" Seeing Jerry exit and shake his head, Steve nodded. "Let's go through out options. We can't land it, otherwise it kill people. We can't let it go to London. There's no way to stop the timer, so, either way, we're screwed." Steve took a seat, sighing with defeat. Jerry sat by him and shook his head, not knowing what to do. "Well Jerry, guess we have no choice, do we?"
Drawing a gun from his side, Jerry saw Steve's eyes grow moist, knowing they had no other choice. Jerry nodded and signed. "Fly or die. One last ride." Placing his small paw on the gun, Jerry went to sit on Steve's shoulder.
"One last ride." Steve turned and aimed the gun behind them, tugging back to force the plane skyward. Up, and up they went, higher through the air. Jerry trembled, yet knew it had to be done. They had to save the lives of all who were marked on the map, no matter the cost. The engine roared, the propellers forced to work harder as they made their descent. Past the cloud, the ground got smaller and smaller, the light looked light bugs. With a small laugh, Steve's finger hugged the trigger, giving it a squeeze. Knowing time was up, Jerry held tight to Steve, and shut his eyes, picturing one face before the end, thinking of Tom.
While the large plane could be seen from above, below on the ground, Tom was held fast by the treading of a tank wheel. He was set by Diana, the pair held in place as Ares laughed. "Fools, give up. Surrender and help me."
"Never, I will never give up!" Diana shouted, Tom nodding in agreement.
"Oh, really? Look, you precious Steve has left you, along with the rodent."
Tom saw the plan, heading higher into the starry sky. Watching it for a moment, he saw it exploded suddenly. A sea of flamed, smoke, filled the night. Tom felt his heart sink, his stomach note for he knew Jerry, and Steve were killed instantly by the irruption. While Diana cried out for Steve, Tom felt a tightness in his throat, feeling something deep within snap. Unable to hold in all the anger, the pain, he let loose. "N-No!" Tom yelled, never knowing he could speak. "Y-you!"
Diana was the first to break free, going toward Ares. Tom burst from the metal, leaping upward. "You see, human are weak. They deserved to burn." They flew at Ares together, both throwing punches, and kick, working together to attack the God of War. Ares knocked them off, pointing behind them. "I am not the one who did this. They, the humans did this. If not for them, your friends would still be here."
With that, Diana turned her anger toward the unfortunate soldiers who stood before her. Letting out a primal hiss, Tom sent his wrath upon the Germans. Tom was on a rampage, lifting, and throwing men aside as though they were rag dolls. Any who were within a few feet of him, were punched, kicked, attacked by the grieving feline, who shouted and yelled out in anguish.
"Yes, that's it, kill them for their sins!" Ares watched over, reaching out to grab a car that tried to flee the scene. Dragging it across the blacktop, it spun out of control, the door opening up. From within, Maru came tumbling to the ground, landing before the pair. She let out a yelp and tried to crawl away, only to be drug back by Ares force.
"Y-You." Tom raised his blade, bringing it down to pin her coat. She looked from Tom to Diana, shivering with fear. All around was destruction, fires blazed out of control, bodies were scattered all around. Why it was very heelish that one would assumed they'd been dammed to farthest reaches of hell, doomed to a live of misery, and pain.
The famous Doctor Poison lay on the blacktop, and was at the mercy of Diana and Tom. To her side, Diana went to the tank, and with ease lifted it off the ground, bringing it up over her head. Tom folded his arms, and stared darkly at Maru, knowing she should suffer as the people she killed. "Destroy her, you know she deserves it. They all deserve it. " Ares encouraged.
Diana stood, holding the tank up, wanting to crush her like a bug, watching her cower, and shake.
"You humans. You took everything from us. The world, our freedom, our dignity." Tom gave a chuckle. "Now, you're the one who's helpless."
Tom saw Maru's mask flew off, revealing a frightening sight. Her left bottom jaw was gone, revealing her disfigurement. For a moment, Tom wondered if that wasn't the reason Maru hurt others, because perhaps deep down, she was hurting too. He looked at Diana, who slowly tossed the tank, clearly unable to deliver the final blow. She let out a sigh, gazing at Tom.
"Feh, weak, just like your human love." Ares scoffed. Then, he looked at Tom. "Tom, do it. Accomplish what Diana was unable to. Maru's a scientist, like the ones who brought suffering to the mouse. She does not deserve your pity, your kindness, your time. She deserves death, suffering at your paws."
While angry, Tom breathed steadily, and for once tried to keep his cool. He thought it over, and in that moment, Tom thought back to his last time with Jerry. Tom closed his eyes, and saw what Jerry signed. While Steve said his goodbyes to Diana, Jerry took the time to make peace with the feline. "Jerry?" Tom recalled asking.
"Tom, I have to go with Steve. I stayed by his side this long, and won't leave to fight on his own. I should've told you more, more about my past, and about myself. I would've loved to have been your mate, and traveled the world with you, heck, even settle and have a ranch or something corny like that. Remember, with this, you'll always have a piece of me by your side," Jerry took Tom's paw, handing him a folded piece of paper. Tears welled up, and Jerry let a few fall as he gazed at Tom's face. "I love you, Thomas Jasper Cat, and I will always love you! Don't a forget a hero is not measured by his physical attributes, but rather the strength of his heart!"
That's what Jerry told him, was Jerry's final words of wisdom. Tom felt tears burn in his eyes, opening them to see Maru, her eyes filled with fear, scared of him. Did he really want humans to see him as a monster, someone to be feared. He brought his paw down, but instead of delivering a fatal blow, he pulled the sword from her coat. "Go, we won't stop you." Offering her his paw, she slapped it away, and took off, running into the night.
