11 - The King of Chaos

A/N; I'm sorry I haven't been active in so long guys. Unfortunately, the real world got in the way (mostly health stuff; much better now). Anyway, hope you enjoy

Thick gas flooded the chamber. Nate closed his eyes, inhaling a deep lungful of air. The doctor, having slid an industrial safety mask on, watched him curiously, wondering what he was going to try. Nate himself had no idea if it would work. He hadn't had the chance to try it before, not since Fara-Dein said it would be possible. He understood the science behind it, and theoretically it might work, but it was still a daunting prospect to try it out for the first time in such a dire situation. He pursed his lips together, and blew as hard as he could.

A gust of pressurised air rushed out, slamming into the glass like a cannon. The doctor leaped back, diving underneath the table. Shards of glass fell across the floor of the room. Nate felt a rush of clean air surging into his lungs. The gas dissipated, and he felt his strength return. Snapping the restraints, he floated over to the cowering doctor. He gently lifted the table, smiling amusedly down at the man. The doctor whimpered. Nate smirked. "What's up, doc?" The doctor leaped to his feet, staggering backwards. Nate rolled his eyes.

"I'm not going to hurt you. Just tell me where my.friend is". The doctor pointed straight up. Nate nodded. "Thanks," he told the other man. He wrapped an arm around the doctor, flying him to the nearest police station, and immediately returning to the facility. He flew through the roof, landing in a large central hall. Sure enough, Yuri was chained to a chair in the centre of the room. He made his way towards her slowly.

"Hey Sentinel, thanks for the rescue". Nate nodded. He stepped into the circle around her chair, only to drop to his hands and knees. The pentagram glowed a sickly yellow. He groaned, rolling around on the wooden floor. It felt as though every one of his nerves was seizing up all at once. The detective called his name, desperately asking if he was alright. Shingen Yashida entered through a side door, fixing the cuffs of his shirt as he grinned.

"Well," the older man was saying, smiling as though they were discussing the weather. He picked a steel rod off the floor, running it along the ground as he walked towards Yuri and Nate, still rolling on the floor. "It seems the chaos king was honest. Your race are weakened by magical effects. Powerful information to hold onto. He stood over Nate, who instinctively raised a hand to block his face. The metal rod collided with his chest. He felt the air ripped out of his lungs. The magic continued to burn his skin and drain his energy. The rod left sharp pains as it collided with his elbows, his face, chest, and knees. He could vaguely hear Yuri calling for help.

–AoS–

Yuri tugged against the cuffs binding her to the chair. She screamed for help, making as much noise as possible. Sentinel was still writhing on the ground. The old man was ignoring her as he continued to bash the hero. She gasped as a hand was wrapped around her mouth from behind. "Listen kid," a gruff voice hissed in her ear, "your friend over there's pretty banged up. The only way you'll get out of here is if you keep your trap shut and let me save him. Got it, bub?" She nodded, desperately trying to remain quiet and not draw attention. Yashida halted in his assault, standing over Sentinel and peering down at him.

"If you really think, my friend," the old man spat on the floor. She could hear the loathing in his voice. "That these fools can be saved, that they're worth anything more than collateral damage, you're a fool. A stupid, high minded idealist, who's living in a dream world!" Sentinel groaned and he pushed himself up onto his knees. He glared at yashida.

"Good," he spat, "I'd rather be a foolish dreamer than a twisted little man who thinks he's better than everyone else". Yashida howled, swinging the pipe at the hero's face. The strike never landed. A yellow and brown flash landed between sentinel and Yashida, and the pipe was severed in half. The Yellow and brown clad figure smirked at Yashida, the top half of his face covered by a mask with black fins protruding out of the top on either side. His gloves ended in three gleaming metal claws.

The newcomer snarled as he placed his blades up against Yashida's chin. The old man chuckled softly, though the sound was hollow. Sentinel rolled out of the circle. "I've been hunting you for a long time, bub" the newcomer snarled, digging his metal blades into the older man's throat. Sentinel staggered his way over to her, dragging the chair out of the pentagram, and snapping the handcuffs. He wrapped an arm around her back and one around her legs, sweeping her up bridal style. Yashida howled from behind them as the newcomer stabbed him in the shoulder. Sentinel shot up through the roof, flying her down the mountain and back across the Pacific to New York. They touched down in central park.

"Thanks for the lift," Yuri told him as she kissed his cheek. "I feel like I owe you my number". The hero blushed slightly.

"Maybe next time". He shot into the sky, air gusting around her and blowing her coat back slightly as he took off back in the direction they had come.

–AoS–

Nate slammed through the roof, landing once more in the room they'd kept Yuri in. His saviour was hacking away at Yashida. The old man snarled, shooting the newcomer in the head twice. The other man staggered backwards. Nate rushed forwards to catch him, stunned to find him unharmed. Yashida's body twitched and convulsed, yellow smoke escaping his mouth. The two heroes stared at one another, both stunned. The smoke engulfed the room, blocking Nate's x-ray vision. "Something smells rank," the other man beside him stated. Nate nodded.

Yashida stepped through the smoke. His eyes were pure white, glowing faintly. Black and yellow energy wafted off his entire body. When he spoke, his voice was a deep rumble. "Fine. When you want someone killed, do it yourself". He lazily flicked his hand, and the

other man screamed as he gripped his head, falling to his knees. His prone form caught fire, and Yashida turned his gaze to stare at Nate. "It has been many a century since I saw one of your kind, Harridanite. Why have you interfered on this planet?"

"I'm a human" nate stated, taking a cautious step towards the screaming stranger, still burning. Yashida watched him, like a hooded cobra, bobbing and weaving. He let out a gust of wind like the one he'd used to destroy the glass, putting out the fire. The stranger let out a soft groan. Yashida shrugged, still watching him.

"The book of fate foretold the coming of a great champion of earth," the man rasped, tilting his head. "One with the strength of ten men and the ability to shoot fire from his eyes. I wonder; could it be you?" Nate shrugged.

"No idea. I don't think I can shoot fire though. Who are you supposed to be anyway? You're not Yashida". The thing wearing the old man smiled approvingly.

"Good. You noticed that, did you? I have had many names and titles down through the centuries. Nil Star. Ama-No-Kagaso. The August star of Heaven. King Chaos. Lord of Darkness and Chaos. Though, if you must, I suppose you may call me Amatsu-Mikaboshi".

"And what do you want?"

"Nothing, really. It gets boring in my dimension. When those humans found their way to me, they provided amusement. They told such fascinating tales about you, Sentinel. In return for their aid in entering this world, I recreated Adamantium for their bullets. One of the few things on this rock that will harm your kind. I enjoy this dimension, you see. Your people are so interesting. The way you scurry about, pretending you want to make a better world. It amuses me. The struggle is such a joy". Nate glared at the thing, leaping forward, fist cocked back.

He snapped his fist forwards towards Yashida's face. He passed through the other man as though he were made of smoke. The chaos king laughed, the sound high and mocking. Nate snarled, shooting a gust of wind at the creature. It raised a hand, dissipating the wind before it reached it. He lifted a chunk from the floor, swinging it at the other man from overhead. He casually dodged each strike, laughing the entire time. Nate snarled, taking another punch. The creature snapped a finger, and he screamed as every bone in his arm broke. He dropped to his knees.

"Well," the creature was saying, "this has been fun. I hope to have you entertain me again, Sentinel. For now, farewell, guardian of Earth". Yashida's body was engulfed in a burst of yellow fire. Nate raised his good hand to shield his eyes. He slowly picked himself up, making his way over to the other man.

–AoS–

They stood on the top of the skyscraper, looking out over Tokyo. Nate's cape billowed in the wind behind him. Wolverine stood beside him, cowl pulled down. The old man was smoking

a cigar, smoke puffing out into the air. The smell assaulted his enhanced senses. The mutant removed the cigar, stuffing it out with his boot. He turned to Nate.

"Thanks for the help back there, kid. With a bit of training, you'd be unstoppable."

"Thanks to you too. You really saved my neck back there". He extended a hand. Wolverine took it. They shook hands.