Welcome back to a new chapter of From the Remnants, I didn't want to leave this one too long after last chapter's little cliff hanger so let's not leave you too long enjoy puppers!
GOW
"Tribe Branwen! I have called this meeting for two announcements. First, the man who killed three of our tribe has accepted my invitation to join us and this same man has declared a challenge for child rights. Amni Ulimi and Marie Ereen, you have been challenged, step forward," Chieftain Branwen declared. After a few moments her 'mother' and 'father' appeared through the crowd.
The old fart was the tallest in the tribe, taller than Chieftain Branwen even. Navarro looked like a midget next to him. Something like 6'8? 6'10? Big bastard. He always shaved so he had no beard like most of the guys here and since he had no scars he looked alright, decent even. Standing next to most of the guys in the tribe he'd even be considered sexy, "hot by proxy" her 'mother' told her once. Flawless black skin, no scars, has this really annoying smile that never goes away, the smug prick, black hair speckled with white and teal eyes. Apparently ladies are crazy about them, according to the old man. She doesn't really see the appeal. She has teal eyes herself yet nobody's going crazy over her's, plus they don't really look that pretty.
The hag was, obviously, shorter than him, average in height with the rest of us, 5'8 to 5'11. Had make up covering her face, a mess of colors, purple, green, blue, pink that somehow made her prettier than ugly. She had dark skin, lighter than the old man, almost caramel, and her hair was brown, like her own. The second prettiest bitch in the whole tribe, number one being Chieftain Branwen. No one's going to say otherwise, they all prized their heads.
Vernal wasn't blind to the fact she could pass off as their daughter. They have enough similarities for it to work but if you bother to pay attention you'll see the bullshit a mile away. She doesn't have their nose, the old man's is large, almost bulbous and the hags is large and pointed while Vernal had a button nose. Her skin may be tan, maybe even dark at times, but that's mostly because of the sun not genetics. Her eyes may be the same color as the old man's but they are a different shade. Her's were brighter while his was darker and the hags brown hair was closer to tree bark than black like hers.
Plus, no matter how much she hated to admit it. Vernal's tits haven't come in while her 'mom's' came in a year younger than she is now, fucking saggy cow tits. It's nothing people would really know it just pisses her off.
To be totally honest, all the differences they all have gave her a small sense of satisfaction knowing no matter what they do she'll never be their kid.
"Jose Navarro, step forward." Chieftain Branwen called out. He wasn't really in the crowd, standing near the front, taking only a few steps to match her 'parents'. Navarro glared at them while they raised eyebrows in return.
"Same here, I got no idea why the fuck he's so mad at you for. I'm the one with the problem here." Vernal thought, as she watched Chieftain Branwan unsheath her sword, raising the tip towards the sky.
"Per our laws, my laws, challenges are neither accepted or rejected. I choose when a challenge is fulfilled and I declare this challenge to begin on my word." Branwen slashed downward, the dust mechanism in the blade activating releasing a slash of dust fire creating a gash on the ground.
"Per our laws, strength must be above all else. Due to this, this duel will be one of personal strength. No guns are allowed nor explosives. Melee weapons, aura's, and semblances only and as always this challenge is to the death. Navarro declared this challenge towards the both of you as such it will be two against one. If he is victorious then he has a claim over Vernal and all your belongings. If you are victorious then you have claim over all his belongings and all other property from those he has recently killed. Do you understand these terms?" Branwen finished, standing in between the two opposing sides. Her 'parents' having yet to pull out their weapons responded with a 'Yes, Chieftain' while Navarro paced lightly from side to side waiting on her word, his machete twitching in his grip, giving only a grunt in response.
"Sorry to see you go Navarro, you were a decent dud, I guess, but if semblences are allowed, your fucked." Vernal thought morbidly, as Chieftain Branwen walked back to her tent away from the designated fighting ground. She faced the combatants and after a few moments of stressful silence she shouted.
"Begin!"
Navarro charged in as fast he could, his machete at chest level aiming for her 'father'. The old man just stood there with that smirk on his face waiting, practically, till the last moment to activate his semblance.
"Now, hold it right there friend." The old man's voice came out smooth, calm, and deep, and very smug. The second the last word came out of his mouth Navarro froze. In mid-step, mid-swing, and in mid-rage, his face was trapped in a cold glare with gritted teeth.
Silver Tongue, that is the name of his semblance. With a few words he can 'sweet talk' his way in and out of everything. Command anyone and only anyone, it doesn't work with animals or Grimm, to do anything he wants. Doesn't matter how vague or cryptic the command was, it's his intent that matters.
Now, smart people, when they realize his power, ask how the fuck is the guy not the leader of the tribe? Easy, it may be a strong resemblance but it has hilarious weaknesses.
Earplugs are one.
You still need to hear the commands for it work. And it doesn't even have to be fully covered. If someone doesn't hear the full command they don't get to do shit.
Second, it needs to be a full sentence. He can't just yell 'stop' and have it work. It's why it's called silver tongue, not mind control. He has to be charismatic about it or some shit.
So, if he can't talk he can't use it, simple as that. With Branwen being the strongest and fastest in the tribe. He wouldn't and couldn't say a word the one time he tried to take over. With the whole tribe under his command.
She let him live because he had the balls to do it. He never tried again after that.
"I am sorry, my friend, but you were outmatched the moment you tried to challenge me. Not many can fight me and even fewer can get close to try and kill me. My dear, if you would please?" The Old man asked his wife, motioning to finish the job with her daggers.
"No." The witch answered bluntly.
"Pardon?" He responded in surprise.
"I said no, I just finished my nails last night and getting blood on it would ruin the coating. You do it." The bitch checked her nails as she said it too. The old man grunted in annoyance before looking at Navarro for a moment.
"Oh well, sorry friend but it looks like you're gonna have to do it yourself." Her 'father' told him with a smile. With his words Navarro's body unfroze and began to slowly raise the machete to his neck before stopping an inch away from it.
The old man frowned. Vernal blinked and the old hag looked away from her nails.
"What?" Was Vernals singular thought.
"Will you kindly kill yourself?" He asked again and the machete twitched closer before stopping.
"What the fuck?" Vernal could not believe it. The scarred bastard somehow fought off the command, twice! Vernal glanced at her Chieftain and noticed Branwen's widened eyes and large smirk.
"How are-? I'm impressed I've never met anyone that can resist my semblance even if it's only slightly. With that you truly deserve the honor of dying by my hand." The old man walked a few steps forward as he unsheathed his saber. With a swift motion he swung at Navarro's neck.
CLANG
It stopped as it neared his head for Navarro used the machete to parry it away. The old man couldn't hold back his gasp of surprise before growling and swinging again before being parried once more.
"Do not move!" He yelled, his eyes now glowing bright, his semblance, from what Vernal understood, now used in full power.
CLANG
"Do not defend yourself!"
CLANG
"Do not parry my attacks!"
CLANG
"LET ME KILL YOU!"
CLANG
"Holy fucking shit," Vernal could not believe it. He's fucking fighting him, while under his semblance! How!? It's obvious the semblance is still working, cause Navarro is still freezing at his commands but when he's about to get attacked he moves, blocks, and parries with his sword or dodges away.
CLANG
"Tell me how to kill you!" Her 'father' was screaming now, angry, confused, everything. Navarro's got the old man almost mind broken.
Especially the fact he stayed silent at his command!
"What is your name!"
"Jose Antonio Navarro." Navarro spoke monotony, the effect of the semblance still apparent.
"How old are you!"
"23 years old."
"What's your most embarrassing secret?
"I have to constantly take laxatives. With how much damages been done to my body I can't relieve myself regularly?"
Vernal cringed at that.
"That sucks dude."
"How! How are you resisting me! I can get any information out of you, even the most embarrassing possible for a man and yet you still defend yourself!" The old man was raving now. Vernal was honestly surprised, she has never seen him this angry before. Though, now thinking about it, it does make sense. The guy depends on his semblance in every fight he's been in. The moment he can't he runs, hides, or badly fights to get out. One of the strongest of the tribe but one of the worst fighters as well.
She's been beaten twice before for mentioning it, and once more when she had asked to be trained by someone else.
"I'm resisting you because I've fought your kind before." He spoke, seemingly answering her 'father's' question. The answer caught Vernals attention and her father.
"And what kind is that?" He asked, curious, having stopped his half-assed and badly performed swings.
"Cultists."
"What?" Her 'father's' face visibly became confused.
Vernal blinked at his words along with hearing confused whispers among the crowd.
"What the fuck are you talking about?"
"Your powers, like the shield of Branwen's, I had first thought it was a mutation considering you lot don't seem to carry any advanced tech but now I'm convinced otherwise. Only cultists can gain the power of mind control and I have fought, killed, and purged dozens of these cults, your dark gods won't save you from me as I've killed one of your precious gods before. It's actually how I gained resistance to your kind's mind control. Surviving getting mind fucked by a evil God has some benefits. That said, if I can't end it, then nothing will save you from the rest of us." The monotone matter of fact tone and him being mentally commanded made his words sound really crazy. He truly believes he's killed cultists, a dark god, and that aura and semblances are related to some dark magic.
"Here I thought he was sane, sort of." Vernal thought, because no man would be sane after all the fights he's been in.
"You're crazy. It's official, you're crazy and that insanity has somehow made you resistant to my semblance. Marie, fuck your nails, help me!" The old hag didn't even say anything as she took out her daggers.
"Do not move a muscle!" He ordered again as they flanked him, the bitch behind him while the old man was in front.
"At the same time," the old man said.
"Kay," she answered.
Her daggers were primed for a pincer motion attack while his saber was raised for an overhead slash. It looked like they finally had him, finally done messing around and taking it seriously.
Yet Vernal couldn't shake off the feeling she was missing something. Her gut was telling her that Navarro wasn't out just yet, instead she felt as though it was just getting started.
"GAAAH"
"Amni!"
Navarro moved. Not blocked or parried but actually moved. He grabbed the old man and pushed him forward to get stabbed by the hag. She realized then and there what she missed.
His eyes weren't glowing when he did his final command. He used up his aura on his semblance!
"That's fucking hilarious!" Vernal couldn't help but darkly chuckle at the sight.
With one powerful motion Navarro cut her 'father's' head clean off, which was lowered down enough in pain making it easier for the shorter man to reach.
"Your power fails you, warlock."
"Noooo!" His wife cried out quickly pulling the daggers out of her dead husband and screaming in rage as she charged.
Navarro evaded the best he could but her 'mother' is fast and her aura going into overdrive giving more speed and power.
First, his machete was sliced through by one of her daggers, making it scrap metal.
Then, he was slashed on his chest. Then stabbed in the shoulder and right side of his gut.
After two more cuts, one close to his neck and his cheek, he caught the daggers with his bare hands, cutting through skin and flesh easily but stopping at his bone. Blood falling freely from his hands and body.
With his grip tight he pulled her closer for a headbutt causing her aura to flash in response to the damage. Realizing her shit situation she let go her weapons and gave him a kick to the stomach. The force of the kick pushed him back allowing her to try and do a follow up kick but Navarro let go of the dagger and grabbed her leg mid swing. She threw her to the ground, rolling a few feet before stopping.
He was on top of her now, straddling her as he punched her again and again. Her aura glowing with each punch as her arms covered her face. She didn't feel any of it which gave her the ability to use her aura to give her enough strength to buck him off of her and switch places.
Her punches left damage with every blow, welts instantly formed, pieces of skin were scraped off and blood was now covering both of them, flying wildly into the air and onto the dirt covered ground.
It was here she realized the most insane part about all this.
"This fucker is holding his own without fucking aura!" Vernal could not truly believe her eyes as she watched him survive a fist fight against an aura user. Who wield superhuman strength, speed, durability, and endurance. Famed to be the toughest any human being can become, the pinnacle of humanity.
If Navarro wins and becomes her Dad she is going to ask him how he's doing this. This is, by far, the most badass thing she had ever seen in her entire life!
"Raaaah!" The old hag yelled out a roar as she tried to fight Navarro's grip. He managed to catch both her wrists and he's pushing her back! Slowly but definitely he rose from the ground pushing himself up forcing onto her back.
"Heh, it looks like they're having sex," a stray thought entered Vernal's mind. Her 'mother's' legs were now wrapped around Navarro's body trying to crush ribs while Navarro pushed through the pain forcing himself up with his leg then another before finally standing up.
Keeping hold of her wrists he locked her arms together and raised her above his head before slamming her to the ground.
This time she felt the attack as the amount of blunt force and gravity knocked the air out of her lungs giving Navarro the opportunity to throw all his weight on top of her. He flipped her around and got onto her back while grabbing her arms. He began to slowly push the arm out of its socket but her aura was pushing against him.
It was the most gruesome and awesome fucking thing she had ever seen. The glow of her aura getting dimmer and dimmer. Her breathing laboring before turning into coughing screams of pain, and then after what felt like minutes there was a noticeable pop in the air as her arm became broken, her aura shattered into pieces, and one final blood curdling scream.
Just one last scream before Navarro stomped her head. The first stomp shut her up along with the sound of something cracking. Then he followed it up with a second that popped her skull open shooting brain stuff everywhere.
Then there stood only Navarro. His body covered in blood, covered in gashes and stabs but still fucking kicking ass and taking bitches.
CLAP CLAP
Chieftain Branwen was clapping, not that dramatic slow clap from those Scroll Vids but the freakily happy type of clapping.
"Yes. YES! You are the very pinnacle of what our tribe strives to become. To be strong above them all. " She screamed to everyone as she walked towards him.
"You all have borne witness to a man who bears no aura, no armor, and, in all intents and purposes, held no weapons. Killing two of our best. Winning in not only strength of body but of strength of mind as well." She spoke to the crowd who payed rapt attention, quickly coming to the same realization.
"You have more than earned your place in our tribe. From henceforth Vernal is yours from now you will-might I ask what you're doing?"
"What the fuck is he doing!?" Vernal screamed into her mind.
Navarro was holding her former dad's saber to her neck. Chieftain Branwen didn't look mad at all; she actually looked kinda curious.
"Did you not hear me? I said I've killed hundreds of you cultists before that doesn't mean I'm stopping even when I'm wounded. " Navarro took one step forward pressing the tip of the blade onto Chieftain Branwen's neck, her aura lightly glowing, stopping it from touching her skin directly.
Branwen grew a weird look, a cross between impressed and annoyed. She glanced around her then back to Navarro
"Clan Branwen take their bodies then return to your duties." She ordered plainly.
"But Chieftain-" One member tried to argue.
"Did I give you permission to question me? No? I thought not. Now do it and leave. I wish to teach Navarro his place in private. Wouldn't want you to get even more blood on your cloths." Her reprimand was clear and so the clan grabbed the bodies of Anmi and Marie before leaving to do whatever they needed to do.
"Vernal, stay." Navarro ordered, staring at Branwen in challenge. Vernal looked to her new father then back to her Chieftain. Branwen nodded allowing her to stay.
After a few moments the area was clear and they were alone.
"I did hear you, when you went on about your massacres. I had wanted to discuss this in my tent or at least away from prying eyes and ears nor mention it in front of the entire clan but it looks like you're not one for subtly.
Navarro simply stared, Vernal swore he was giving her a deadpan gaze.
"Anyway, these cults of yours and those…evil gods. Explain them in more detail." Brawnwen crossed her arms, allowing the saber to stay on her neck.
Vernal blinked at her question. Does Chieftain Branwen actually believe him?
"Like what? Tell you their names? I'm not stupid enough to summon them. I know names have power and whoever states them catches their eye, cults included." Branwen blinked, her eyes widening slightly at his words. She even looked momentarily worried.
"Oh…shit. When you mean name you mean full name? Like first and last or just there first?"
"What the fuck is going on today?!" Vernal can clearly and plainly see Chieftain Branwen, the strongest of the tribe, the dictator and tyrant, the number one bitch.
Look afraid.
"Doesn't matter. First or last or even both. Mention either and you'll catch their attention. The only way I know to be able to speak of them is with an alias'. Like the King of the Deep or the Yellow Death. You…you really didn't know about that?" Navarro's stern face momentarily broke and saber relaxed slightly.
"Fuck. Fuck! No wonder they could always find me. I kept saying her fucking name. Tell me everything you know about dark gods and their cults. Now!" Branwen pushed the saber away and walked closer, to Vernal she seemed desperate.
Navarro could only stare, blinking, and lightly shaking his thoughts before finally.
"Alright, I will. In your tent this time." Brawnen literally grabbed his arm and dragged him with her.
"We'll patch you up while in there, can't have you die on me. Vernal what are you doing, come!" Branwen had turned to her, noticing she wasn't following.
Vernal followed after them reminiscing on how fucked today had been. Her 'parents' were killed before she could do it herself but, to be honest, she didn't think she could absolutely destroy them like Navarro had. Then Navarro went on about cults and dark gods. Then Chieftain Branwen not only believed him but was actually afraid of all that shit?
She wished she had more sleep. What Navarro did to his armor had it make these weird beeping noises set in a rhythm. Kept her awake almost all night. Navarro said it was a massage to his people so he didn't turn it off.
What the fuck is all that beeping supposed to mean, anyway?
GOW
Running Raven Rock turned out to be smoother than Cornagi had expected. Since the initial attack on the bunker the defensive teams haven't had any problems setting up the defenses around the mountain and the constant radio chatter from the scout teams proved that any mutants still trying to get to the mountain were being cut down well before they amassed anywhere near their home.
"Ma'am, one of our scout teams is trying to make contact. They're requesting Merlin or one of the generals, says it's a high priority," one of her radio operators called.
"Patch it through," Cornagi said, she waited a moment for the static hum indicating a swap in the lines. "You're on with General Cornagi, state your business."
"General, this is Sir Kay of Knight Squadron radioing in that we have a distress signal close to our location," He said, his voice gruff but holding a sense of excitement, perhaps even joy.
"I hear you loud and clear Sir Kay, sit tight for just a minute." Cornagi said, not wasting a second she fiddled with the board in front of her, time in the vertibirds having taught her plenty about radio ops.
"Generals, I'm certain I have something important, more than likely involving Navarro." Cornagi said.
"That's great! What is it?" Autumn said, his voice filled with joy in his voice.
"Sir Kay of the Knight squadron just made contact with a signal, patching through now," Cornagi said while flicking switches.
"You're on with Enclave High Command, what's the status on the signal?" Razz said.
"It's on the designated Enclave Emergency Frequency transmitting in morse code messaging out an SOS NCA. Repeat it is a morse code message on the Enclave Emergency Frequency sending out a Sierra Oscar Sierra and a November Charlie Alpha. Requesting permission to investigate." Sir Kay's request held a sense of urgency to it.
"That could be Navarro, what visuals do you have in the area?" Colwell asked.
"Not much, Lady Percival did a brief scouting of the area and it looks like we have a raider settlement within range of the signal. Current information implies that the signal is being transmitted from inside," Kay explained.
"Copy that Sir Kay, and you're positive about the NCA?" Bruja asked.
"Yes ma'am, we can confirm the NCA is being broadcast." Sir Kay replied.
"Hold position, secure a landing spot and we'll send reinforcements and a CO to assist you and lead the recovery mission. Stand by for further orders," Autumn called out.
"Copy that, I'll keep my ear on the signal and leave a line free for further communications. Sir Kay signing off," he said before the external line went dead.
"I'm going to the hangar now, I'll have Cerberus lead the exploratory team deeper into the bunker." Colwell stated, marching back to the central lab away from one of the newly discovered corridors.
"You're supposed to be leading that team, Colwell." Razz accused, as Colwell passed him.
"I'll allow it, technically house arrest is over for you and Lucy has level 4 clearance, so she should be fine." Autumn said, conveniently leaving out the fact that he knew she had Colwell's login if her own failed to work. Which is against regulation but it was less of a headache to feign ignorance than argue about it.
"I've informed the gate guard and have been told Merlin is going as well. We don't have the fuel to over extend this mission, no more than three Vertibirds are allowed to leave the base," Cornagi explained.
"Understood, we shouldn't need more than two vertibirds for this," Colwell stated, marching out of the room.
"Don't forget he called in an NCA Colwell, we don't know the situation and I'd rather you not turn a simple extraction into a new war." Autumn warned.
"Yea, yea, I know what a non-combat approach is.I just don't like them much." Colwell responded annoyed at the concept.
"Good, make sure to bring Navarro home without too many new scars. He's been on such a good streak so far." Bruja joked, with an unseen smirk.
"I'll do my best but knowing him he's already got a couple."
Autumn sighed at Colwell's response.
"It goes without saying retrieving Navarro is your primary objective, but if he really is in a raider camp I want some live bodies brought back here for interrogation. We still don't know how the population of this world differs from ours."
"We do have some scout teams radioing in that they can see some small towns on their routes, they're holding off on making contact until we give the signal," Cornagi remarked, lifting up a piece of paper.
"Acknowledged, that establishes a secondary objective on securing raiders, no point in a hostile approach with the locals if we can help it." Autumn ordered with a pointed tone.
"I hear you, we'll take my vertibird with an enhancer to give us a better map of the area. Once the situation is stable we can send some prisoner transports out. We might not even need that many depending on how many there are," Colwell confirmed.
"Good, bring him home. Cornagi, I want you to brief Merlin just to be sure my orders are followed." Autumn said before letting the radio go silent, his eyes gazing back to the screen in front of him.
The acronym S.H.I.E.L.D shining across the screen.
GOW
Wait, what? Old gods? Prosedure violations? Raven scared? Well that one at least makes sense. but it looks like that's a wrap for now, General Navarro's distress beacon has been found and reinforcements are on the way! Time to listen to fortunate son while working on the next chapter… as always if you enjoyed give me a fave/kudos if you want to keep reading a bookmark/follow would be nice, and if you want to comment, I love reading those, as mentioned I have a discord which I love seeing people in to talk about this story or any of my other ones or just talking in general. See you all next time or on the server: 5B4kC2qSG3