Heyyyy, first chapter of 2022! That's pretty good.
A few things; please leave some reviews under this chapter, and maybe some of the old ones. I dunno how well they hold up compared to the newer chapters and I'm worried about that.
Second, next chapter will have a Q&A on it! A few of the writers / artists will answer whatever questions you have!
Please leave a review~!
Revonnah was a stunning planet, with its rocky terrain bisected by pristine rivers and the endless canyons. The many midday suns shone down on the numerous fields that had been cut into the sides of mountains by the natives. While the Amber Ogia harvest season wouldn't come for some time, farmers were still tending to the fields in preparation, not to mention farming other crops. Every so often, some of the workers would grab their tools and use them to scare off the native pests, a species of giant armadillo-like rodents known as Muroids.
The Rook household was like any other on the rural planet, save for their connection to the Plumbers. Shim and Young One were helping their mother cook lunch for the family while Shar, Shi, and Da were working the fields.
Everything was fine. But there's always an 'until' in situations like these, isn't there?
Some of the farmers started murmuring and bowing in respect. Someone was walking through the paths laid out in the fields, their footsteps accompanied by a wooden thunk. The individual in question was an older Revonnahgander, clad in a red robe with black accents and only one sleeve on the left, and brown leather martial arts wraps on his legs and arms. He had an extra silver armlet on his uncovered arm and a large beaded necklace around his neck, like the type a monk from Earth would wear. The wooden thunks that echoed out through the fields was courtesy of his wooden spear tapping against the stone paths.
The older man walked up the path to the Rook family home and saw the family working.
"Rook Da," the man called out, one arm now behind his back. Rook Da looked up and turned. He set his tool against a rock and went up to the older alien.
"Master Kundo," Da greeted, bowing respectfully. "We are honored to receive you. To what do we owe this visit?"
"You visited a world called...Earth, recently, correct?"
"Yes...some time ago now, but it was a personal matter."
"A personal matter that concerned your son and my student, Blonko. How does he contact you?"
"I am...sorry?" Da asked, taken by surprise.
"I am unaccustomed to repeating myself. How does he contact you?" Kundo's voice became serious.
"Why do you wish to know?"
Kundo closed his eyes and sighed. "After his last visit, I thought it would be obvious. I wish for you to bring him home," he stated. By now, Shar and Shi had stopped their work and were watching the conversation from afar.
"Wherever he resides on this… 'Earth', it is clear that it has corrupted him. A corruption that has spread to his family. To stop it from spreading to ALL our kind, he must be punished. Made an example of," Kundo continued.
"...I do not know why you have formed these thoughts now," Da shot back, voice low and threatening, "but I have accepted his breaks from tradition."
"Ah, I see I am speaking to a stone wall," Kundo sighed pityingly.
"Then if we are done," Da said, turning back to his field.
"If you will not bring him here, I shall go to him," Kundo said, before the blunt end of his spear struck Da to the side of his head. The patriarch stumbled forward, his vision blurred and ears ringing. He tried shaking his head to clear his senses, but instead, Kundo simply slammed his staff's end into Da's chest, knocking him over.
"Father!" Shar and Shi shouted out simultaneously.
"Shi, get Mother, now!" Shar shouted before rushing over to Da. She threw a punch at Kundo, respect be damned! But the old master sidestepped the attack and thrust his weapon into Shar's gut, making her double over in pain. One more quick swipe from Kundo knocked Blonko's sister off her feet and onto her back.
"I did not wish to harm you, Rook Da, nor you Rook Shar. But now I must take direct action." The master moved over to Da and brought down the blunt end of his spear down onto his face. In an instant, his vision turned dark.
Several hours later, an off-world sheriff by the name of Watt-Sen had arrived at the scene, along with a medical ship. Rook Shar had received minor injuries from Kundo. Da, on the other hand...after being knocked out, Kundo didn't stop. He continued to attack Da while he was defenseless and already on the ground.
"Don't worry, Bralla," Watt-Sen said as Da was loaded onto the ship. "We'll take care of 'im."
"I am going with him," Shar declared. Bralla didn't even try to stop her. In the commotion, none of them had noticed that Young One had vanished as well.
But right before the ship was set to take off, Kundo, who had meditated until he heard the ship arrive, snuck onboard and hid in the cargo hold.
Now everything was set in motion.
Halfway across the galaxy, in the unpleasant and dank scenery of Mantle's sewer system, Rook Blonko and Yang Xiao Long were trudging through the underground, flashlights on and searching for something. They'd been walking through here for what felt like hours, even though it had only been half of one. Their target couldn't be allowed to get into the city proper.
"Still can't believe it decided to go down here," Yang said in disgust. "Gonna stay in the shower for an hour after we get back."
"I agree with you there. Hopefully the smell can be washed out of my armor," Blonko said, Proto-Tool in hand. The two kept wading through the vile water until they both got a call over their earpiece communicators.
"You guys good over there?" Ben asked, his voice tinny.
"Waist-deep in crap, thinking about burning my clothes, and lost in the sewer? We're doing great, Ben," Yang deadpanned. "It's like a damn maze down here."
"Is that not why it moved here?" Blonko asked, looking back to his temporary partner. The two stopped in their tracks when they heard a quick but low-pitched groan.
"We'll get back to you," Yang said quietly. She cut the call and readied her gauntlets. Blonko took aim with the Proto-Tool's rifle form. The two were thrown off when suddenly the ground started shaking, the water rippling with each thud.
"There's a Jurassic Park joke he-" Yang was saying when the wall next to them exploded.
They flew across the corridor and hit another wall, before dropping into the water with simultaneous splashes. Yang got up with hair soaked with sewer water, her eyes turning red, glaring daggers.
"Ohhhh you fucked up," she seethed, ready to destroy the attacker.
Easier said than done.
Stepping through the gaping hole in the wall was a massive Grimm. Standing at fifteen feet, its two curved horns reached up, almost scraping the ceiling. The creature was entirely covered in the recognizable bone plates that served as Grimm armor. It snorted, letting out a puff of black smoke from its nostrils as its six eyes locked onto them. The Minorox reared its head back and roared, beating its chest like a gorilla.
Yang and Blonko opened fire, yet their shots bounced off of the bone plating. Even as the Minorox raised one of its hands to protect its eyes, none of the bullets were getting through. Using it's free hand, the walking tank grabbed hold of a pipe and ripped it free of its bolts. The monster snorted again and threw the pipe at them. Yang and Blonko raced to the sides of the monster, dodging the makeshift weapon as it embedded itself into the stone behind them. Three eyes locked onto two as their shots stopped. The Grimm lowered its hand and took a step towards Yang, before doing a heel turn and charging towards Blonko, head lowered as it tried to gore him.
Blonko quickly shifted his weapon from rifle to shield mode. He brought it up just in time to block the two massive horns rushing his way, pushing him back. Cracks slowly started to form in the barrier as the Grimm exerted more force. Blonko was no match for the raw strength the Minorox had, so he was pushed back, slowly but surely. Before the cracks could spread further, Yang leapt into the air and brought her fists down on the monster's back, forcing it down into the sewage. She kept throwing punches before it threw her off.
The Minorox locked three of its eyes on her...and saw Yang smirking. Blonko dove for cover, knowing the shield wouldn't be able to withstand what was coming.
Yang clicked a button on one of her gauntlets and the Grimm heard a series of beeps getting faster. It turned around, eyeing several red sticky rounds on its back, flashing faster and faster. The rounds suddenly exploded, covering the entire torso of the monster in smoke and fire.
Yang was ready to make a one-liner in victory, but couldn't when the beast charged her. It brought its fist down to try and smash her, but she dodged out of the way, throwing her own punch into its arm. No effect; it didn't even flinch. The Minorox snorted and tried to backhand Yang, but the brawler ducked under the strike and the Grimm's fist met air.
"This thing's got tougher armor than a Goliath!" Yang yelled, dodging another strike. "Blonko! I got an idea!"
"And I believe I am thinking the same!" he called out.
Yang smirked and blasted herself into the air, landing on the monster's back and grabbing its horns. The Minorox snorted, roared, and thrashed around, trying to throw her off. Blonko took the chance and rushed in, putting the Proto-Tool away for the moment. He reared his fist back-
"Stonecutter!" he called out, slamming his fist into the Minorox's armored chest. Plates broke and splintered, and smoke rose up from the wound. It cried out in pain as it fell backwards. Yang felt it sway and leapt over the bull-like head, landing on the ground as the monster landed with a loud splash.
"Nice one," Yang said with a smirk.
"Thank you," Blonko said before the duo turned around, about to walk off. He quickly tapped his earpiece.
"Ben? This is Rook. Threat neutra-" he started before the Minorox rose back up from the water, smoke still rising from its broken chest. It roared as it tried to bring down its fists on the two...only to be met with a hail of bullets, all concentrated on the opening in its armor. The shots now tore through and shredded the monster and only when the red and yellow lights of its eyes faded did Yang and Blonko stop firing. It fell back, turning to smoke and ash before hitting the water.
"What was that?" Ben asked over the comm.
"Threat neutralized," Blonko answered coolly.
They eventually trudged out of the sewer and back to the rendezvous point, Ben and Ceres having beat them back there.
"Oh hey guys-" Ben started before the smell hit him. "Oh what the hell?!"
"The Minorox caught us by surprise," Blonko answered, eyes wishing for death. "I would prefer getting back to base quickly."
"I'll tell the pilot to step on it," Ceres gagged.
"Like I said. An hour at least," Yang sighed before heading to their transport. Ben and Ceres stayed far away from the two on the ride back.
Once they landed, Yang and Blonko made a beeline for the showers while Ben and Ceres made a report back to Ironwood.
"The Sabyrs were easy enough to deal with," Ben recalled, "but the big one was harder. It tried to lose us in the sewer system."
"That fits. Minorox lairs are surprisingly complex," the general said, having brought up a file on the Grimm in question. "Now, where is Rook?"
"Showers. He and Yang had to take a few dives when they were fighting it," Ceres said with a grimace.
"When he's free, send him to me."
"Why?"
"A message came in while you were on mission, one he needs to hear."
Ben and Ceres shared a concerned look. That didn't sound ominous at all.
It was at least an hour before Blonko and Yang left the showers with a fresh change of clothes- or armor. Yang checked her scroll as she left the locker room.
"Hey, Rook?" she piped up.
"Yes?"
"Um...Ben says the general wants to see you. Got a message for you."
Blonko blinked. "For me?"
"Yeah. Apparently it's urgent."
He nodded and made the trip to Ironwood's office. The doors slid open when he got there, the general behind his desk and going over a resource report.
"General Ironwood?" Blonko asked. "You wanted to see me?"
"Rook," Ironwood said, closing the reports. "I just received a message from the Plumbers. Your father and sister will be arriving on Earth in a few days."
"That is...unexpected, but not unwelco-"
"In a hospital ship."
Blonko's heart immediately sank.
"What...what happened? Are they-" he began, his voice panicked.
"Your sister is ok. Minor injuries from what I've been told. Your father however...he's still unconscious. Someone went out his way to hurt him. Broken bones, minor head trauma.." Ironwood listed off.
"Sir, permission to-"
"Already granted. They'll be here in a day or so."
"Thank you." Blonko let out a sigh he didn't even know he was holding. He had to see what had happened.
The next day, the hospital ship entered Earth airspace, heading towards a Plumber-designated medical post in the city. It landed as a flight crew came out and began their work. Shar hadn't left the ship, even when it became safe to leave, until Plumber doctors arrived and moved her father into the Atlas base. She was told to wait outside in the hallways as they operated on her father. The doctors reassured her that they would have him fixed as quickly as possible.
Shar was still worried.
It was around this time, without anyone seeing him, that Kundo snuck off of the hospital ship and into Atlas. The most advanced Huntsman community in the world inspired people with its innovations, be they medical, technological, or in the fields of Dust. But to Kundo? All of this was...disgusting. Impure. How could these people LIVE like this?!
"Who let YOU up here?!" Kundo heard someone shout at him.
"I beg your pardon?" The master Revonnahgander turned to see an average Atlesian citizen, dressed in casual clothes.
"Thought those ears of yours were supposed to give you better hic hearing!" the man continued, staggering towards Kundo. When he was close enough, Kundo reeled back from the stench of alcohol.
"...I have no time for this," Kundo sighed, snapping his spear into three segments. He wrapped one around the drunkard's legs and pulled them out from under him. He fell to the floor hard, shouting expletives at the alien as he walked off.
"Imbecile," Kundo muttered.
Blonko made his way to the hospital room, Ceres and Lev accompanying him.
"Room 23," Lev told him before they reached the outpost. The outpost was a moderate size, positioned on the east end of the city and hidden away from public access. Plumbers were busying themselves monitoring off-world requests for aid or moving supplies.
As the trio moved through the base, they eventually found Shar in a waiting room, a cup of tea in her hands. The trio could see, even from that far away, that she was worried beyond belief.
And then Blonko's eyes went wide as he saw who was sitting next to Shar, looking just as worried.
"Young One?!"
"Brother!" the little boy answered, rushing up to him. Rook knelt down and hugged him tight.
"Why are you even he-" Blonko began to ask.
"I um, I snuck aboard the ship to follow Sister and Father," Young One admitted.
"Does...does Mother know?"
"Um...n-no. It was impulsive, I know." Young One's head and tail drooped in shame.
Blonko's gaze softened. "I...I cannot be mad, Young One. While it was impulsive, I believe I would have done the same."
That cheered his little brother up, just a little.
"Um...I don't mean to pry…" Lev began, sounding less than confident.
"You wish to know what happened," Shar stated, having walked over to the group by now.
"Shar…" Blonko said, standing back up to his full height and hugging his sister. He let go so she could speak.
"What...what happened?"
"Kundo," Shar answered, eyes narrowing at the name.
"Kund-...what? Why would he- but that does not- I mean-" Blonko spluttered, desperate for it all to make sense.
"Kundo...wait, didn't you mention him before?" Ceres asked, eyebrows furrowing.
"My father did. During his first visit. He was trying to get Young One to train under him." Rook held his chin in thought. "Kundo is a well-respected elder among my people. He is a master of Revonnah Kai, and was my teacher. Everything I know about the art came from him."
"And he...is not pleased with you," Shar added anxiously. "When he arrived yesterday, he wanted Da to contact you. Da refused...and then…"
Lev bared his teeth. "So he was the coward who attacked your father."
"Quite," Shar said approvingly. Her gaze turned more melancholy. "Master Kundo...is...how would you put it…"
"Fucking insane?" Ceres deadpanned.
"N-no. He is...quite sane."
"Could've fooled me."
"No, he is...a traditionalist. To a strict degree."
Lev crossed his arms. "I think you mean he's a zealot."
Shar nodded. "That works as well. From what I heard, Kundo believes you have dishonored us, your people, and the art of Revonnah Kai," she told her brother.
"What gave him that idea?" Ceres asked incredulously.
Shar closed her eyes. "If there is one thing that Master Kundo believes in more than the sacred nature of Revonnah Kai...it is his utter hatred of technology."
Lev and Ceres shared an disbelieving look. "I get that Revonnahganders prefer rural life, but you guys don't outright hate technology. All of your arguments against using it are logically sound and well thought out!" Lev protested.
"Kundo's hatred stems from a more spiritual mindset. He believes modern technology is inherently corrupt," Shar tried to explain. "Where most of my kind would see it as...a crutch? Yes, that works. Whereas most of my kind would see it as a crutch, Master Kundo sees it as a cancer."
"Where is this asshole? Back on your homeworld?" Ceres asked, curling her fingers into a fist. Lev shifted in place, his prosthetic legs already in battle mode.
"He should be, yes," Shar said.
"Um, sister? I-I do not think that is true," Young One piped up, suddenly nervous.
"What? Young One, what are you talking about?"
He swallowed heavily."I stowed away in the cargo hold of the ship. I was not alone."
"...Kundo is on Earth," Blonko muttered in horror. Two thoughts had taken up residence in his mind. The first, but less prevalent at the moment, were his father's words from his first visit.
The second was a growing rage that Blonko had never felt before. He had felt rage and hate before, towards Salem, Zs'Skayr, their actions, and those of their underlings.
But this? This was different. This was greater.
This was family.
Kundo was wandering the streets of Atlas as...well, I would say as discreetly as possible, but that would be a lie. Kundo walked around Atlas with a clear purpose, searching for some sign, some hint of where he would find his lost student. The more he walked, the more sense it made that his student had gained such a radical mindset.
Everywhere he looked he saw it, that hated technologic influence. People were holding small electronic tablets in their hands to speak with others. There were others in loud vehicles driving the streets. He had to restrain himself from smashing one of them when he heard it make an abominable rumbling sound (in truth just the engine revving up).
He continued to wander until he found a restaurant where he noticed two particular individuals. He recognized them from what he heard Blonko mention off-handedly.
Blake Belladonna and Yang Xiao Long.
The two of them were just having a normal lunch together. Perhaps they would be more forthcoming with the information.
"Still feel like I need to burn those clothes," Yang huffed, having finished retelling the story of her and Blonko's fight with the Minorox.
"I'm sure you won't have to," Blake chuckled, taking a sip of her drink.
"Yeah we-" Yang was about to say before she took notice of the actual alien walking towards them. "Oh that's not good."
"What's-" Blake turned around to see Kundo approaching them. The elder Revonnahgander put on a more friendly guise and bowed to them.
"You would not happen to be Yang Xiao Long and Blake Belladonna, would you?" Kundo asked.
"And you are?" Yang said, a little suspicious.
"Ah, I see he has neglected to inform you. I am Master Kundo, his mentor in the art of Revonnah Kai."
"Oh. He didn't tell us you'd be coming."
"He does not know. I wish t-" Kundo was interrupted when he heard a buzzing sound.
"Sorry," Blake said sheepishly. "Just a text."
"Ah yes," Kundo drawled.
Blake and Yang then remembered how Rook's dad was rather...adverse to technology. Subtly, Blake took out her Scroll and quickly read Lev's text.
If you find someone named Kundo, call back ASAP.
Blake's eyes darted back to Kundo before going to Yang.
"Well, it was nice talking to you, Master Kundo," Blake quickly said, staying calm and bowing to him, "but we have to go."
"Ironwood called us in?" Yang asked curiously.
"Yeah, something about a cell of White Fang."
Yang was immediately on guard now. Blake never threw that name around casually.
"Well, duty calls," Yang said, immediately getting up.
"Before you go-" Kundo slammed his spear against the ground- "do you know where Rook Blonko is?"
"Uh, nope. Haven't seen 'im all day. No one has." Yang immediately regretted adding that last part. He'd never believe that.
"I find that hard to believe." Kundo narrowed his eyes dangerously. "I do not wish to harm you," he said slowly, "but I WILL find Rook Blonko before I leave this...city." Kundo wanted to say something worse, but he felt it best to keep his disguise up.
"...what do you want with him?" Blake asked, slowly going into a defensive stance.
"I wish for him to return home and face punishment."
"What for?" Yang's eyes turned red.
"You would not understand, that is clear to me. Your technology has already made you blind to what I wish t-" Kundo didn't finish as Yang suddenly threw a punch...that the elder Revonnahgander easily caught with his free hand. He then snapped his spear into segments and wrapped them around her arm.
Blake tried to intervene,aiming a roundhouse kick on Kundo, but he just caught it and threw her onto her back. Yang tried to break free of the staff, but before she could she felt Kundo rapidly strike her chest three times.
"Revonnah Kai Petrification," Kundo muttered. And Yang froze. She was stuck. Her eyes darted around but she couldn't move; it was like she was still trying to break free of Kundo's spear. He unwravelled the segments and snapped them back together.
"Yang! The hell did you do t-" Blake started before Kundo rushed over and struck Blake three times, paralyzing her as well.
"You will both live," Kundo answered. "The paralysis lasts for a few minutes." His eyes locked onto Blake's scroll as it buzzed again. He knelt down and picked it up, but from the way he was holding it, you'd think he was handling something toxic.
He looked at the screen and saw that Rook was heading back to inform the general of this. A lead. It came from technology but a lead nonetheless. With that, he took his spear and sliced through Blake's Scroll before walking off.
"General, we have a problem," Blonko said, entering Ironwood's office. The general didn't even get a chance to ask before Rook explained.
"There is a member of my race who has made his way to Earth to return me to my homeworld. He decided the best way to start this plan was to brutalize my father and attack my sister. If we do not find him, I do not know what he will do next to find me."
Ironwood blinked. It had been a few hours since Rook left to see his family and now he was coming back, teeth bared in a snarl and stance ready for battle.
But the alien at least had the decency to look apologetic. "I apologize, General, I-"
"No, no, it's okay," Ironwood quickly said, waving a hand. "Just… start over. This time, without sounding like you're about to commit homicide."
Blonko took a deep breath. "A member of my people, Master Kundo, has come to Earth to return me to my homeworld. He wishes to see HIS version of justice done to me for my crime of 'disgracing' my family, my home, and his teachings. He thought the best way to do this was to engineer a way for him to get to Earth...so he used my father as the victim."
"How dangerous is this...Kundo?" Ironwood asked, the name odd rolling off his tongue.
"Are you aware of my Revonnah Kai techniques?"
"Stonecutter, primarily, but yes."
"Kundo is the one who taught them to me. Who taught me how to fight."
The general's eyes widened. "And if he taught you, he'd have greater control over them."
"If I can use Stonecutter to breach the armor of a Minorox…" Rook began.
"Then what can someone like Kundo do…" Ironwood's face fell.
The door to the general's office slid open again, and this time Ruby stepped through.
"Uh, Blonko?"
"Ruby? What is wrong?"
"Um, Ceres and Lev told us about what happened and… uh…"
Blonko's gaze softened minutely. "If you are asking for permission to help, you do not need to."
"No, not that. I mean, of course we're gonna help," Ruby added sincerely. "But what other moves can you do with Revonnah Kai?"
"You mean in the art itself?"
"Yeah."
Blonko thought for a moment. "Well, you all know of Stonecutter. There is also Stone Wings, which grants incredible speed. Stone Cross grants a boost to one's defenses…"
"Anything to paralyze people?"
"...actually, yes. Why?"
"Yang and Blake just called. They met our new 'friend' and he paralyzed them."
Blonko sighed and rubbed at his face. " are lucky. Petrification typically only lasts for a few minutes, but knowing Kundo they may be stuck for hours."
"So in other words, we gotta find this guy before he finds you?"
"No," Blonko declared. "We must let him find me."
"We're not actually letting him do this alone, are we?" Kevin asked incredulously. The group had gathered in the hangar, making plans on how to help Blonko.
"Of course not," Weiss scoffed. "Kundo wants Blonko, and, if he's figured out where Blonko is, he'll try to get in here. That means he has two options," she explained. "The first is the SDC. Rook mentioned he stowed away on a ship once, he could do so again on one of the transport ships."
"And the second?" Min asked, sitting on top of a crate.
"The second, but less likely option, is that he'll try a military convoy. From what Ceres told us he hates technology, but if there's absolutely no alternative he'll at least hitch a ride."
"So what? We watch supply convoys and SDC routes all day?" Yang asked, raising an eyebrow.
"No, I thought it over," Weiss went on, "and if he's as methodical as Rook says, he'll either try one of these two spots." She tapped her Scroll and sent them all marked Atlesian locations that would give him the best entrance to the military HQ.
"So we have to split up," Ben said, looking at his screen.
"Unfortunately, yes," Weiss sighed.
"Great, love that trope," Ruby huffed.
"Half of us take the convoy checkpoint, the rest to the SDC shipping yard," Ceres declared. "So who goes where?"
The group started to organize who was going to which spot. Meanwhile, Rook was getting his own plan together. He should be out there with the others...but there was a problem. He was checking ammo for the Proto-Tool when he heard the door to his room slide open.
"Hey," Lev said as he walked in, his footsteps soft.
"Hey," Rook answered, not even looking.
"The uh...the others are in the hangar making a plan."
He briefly stopped what he was doing. "Part of me wonders if that's a good idea, now."
"Having doubts?"
"...in a sense."
Lev took a breath. "Look, if this is cause of Kundo targeting y-"
Blonko whirled around. "It is NOT because Kundo is targeting me. It is because Kundo targeted my family." The harshness in his gaze collapsed into something more vulnerable. "As soon as I heard Shar explain it, I remembered how worried they were during their first visit. I remember how they were worried that I had enemies...enemies that might come for them. And that was a completely valid fear! I just...was not thinking that they would come from my own world."
Lev let out a breath. "Kundo sounds like the type of guy who just needed an excuse. Now he has one, even if the only one who believes it is himself. He's doing this because he wants everyone to fit his narrow worldview. Your people don't like tech? Fine. That's their belief. But when your father came here for the first time, did he try to force us to believe the same thing? No. But Kundo sounds like the type of person who would."
"You...are not wrong. But part of me still-"
Lev gave a rare genuine smile. "Hey man, don't worry. The doubt you're feeling right now? Totally normal." His smile turned into a stern frown. "But no matter what, this is still all on Kundo."
Blonko suddenly felt Lev's hand on his shoulder, and he smiled shakily at the shorter teen. He quickly loaded in a fresh clip for the Proto-Tool's rifle form.
"I think I should attend that meeting now," Blonko said.
Lev smirked as they walked out of the room. "Want me to come with you?"
Rook smiled crookedly. "I thought you preferred fighting digitally?"
"Just cause I'm more of a hacker, doesn't mean I can't kick someone's teeth in. You've seen me fight!"
"An excellent point," Blonko chuckled.
Two Atlesian Knights, painted in pale blue with the SDC snowflake emblazoned on their chests and a light blue faceplate to match, clattered to the ground after both lost their heads. Sparks leapt from the stumps as Kundo stepped over them. He sliced through an iron fence and stepped inside; he was breaking into an SDC shipping yard, meant for easy transport to the military bases via airship. If Blonko was in that base, this would be the perfect way to get to him. Night was falling as well, giving him that extra element of stealth he needed.
He walked through the maze of shipping crates until he heard a loud metallic knocking.
"So, you're Kundo," Ceres drawled, stepping out from behind the crates and sauntering into view.
"I am. And you must be one of the Archimedeans my student knows," Kundo said, "Unless you are here to return him to me, step aside."
"She is not returning me to you," Rook said, standing right beside his team leader. "Quite frankly, I am not going anywhere with you."
"You have little choice in the matter. I will take you, your father, and your siblings back to Revonnah," Kundo declared with absolute certainty.
"Not if we have anything to say about it." Ben stepped out from the shadows along with Ruby and Rex.
"Ah. Your loyalty is...commendable. But I will not be deterred. How much injury you suffer is your choice."
Almost in perfect sync, Ruby shifted Crescent Rose into its scythe form, Rex brought out the Smack Hands, Ceres ignited a fireball, and Ben slammed down the Omnitrix.
In a flash of green light, Kickin Hawk took up a fighting stance.
"So be it," Kundo sighed. He snapped his staff into segments and muttered, "Revonnah Kai: Stone Wings," before dashing past them all.
They were all taken back by that, save for Rook. He shifted the Proto-Tool into its staff mode and struck out at Kundo, but the Revonnah Kai master simply weaved out of the way and landed a few blows on Rex and Ruby. The two stumbled forward, Rex actually falling while Ruby used Crescent Rose to stop herself.
Ben rushed in and kicked at Kundo, but he simply wrapped the segmented staff around Ben's leg and threw him aside. Ceres darted in with a barrage of fire-infused punches while Kundo just crossed his arms.
"Revonnah Kai: Stone Cross!" he shouted. Ceres' fists slammed into Kundo's arms and...nothing happened. His robe's sleeve was a little torn but he was fine.
Ceres kept the attack up, letting Ruby rush in from behind. She tried to sweep the legs out from under him, but Kundo simply jumped over Ruby and vaulted over Ceres, pushing the Archimedian into Ruby. He landed gracefully and snapped his spear back into its solid form. A concrete projectile was launched at him and he reared back his fist, energy gathering as punched the sphere to pieces.
Rex rapidly fired the Slam Cannon, tearing up the concrete and firing the spheres one after another. Either with his bare fist or his spear, Kundo destroyed each and every projectile. At the very end, he planted his spear and glared at Rex.
"Ah fuck," the teen muttered.
"Of course you resort to vulgarities," Kundo sighed before using Stone Wings again. He rushed up to Rex and roundhouse kicked him in the face. Ben then managed to blindside Kundo, throwing a punch and hitting him in the back. Kundo quickly spun around and jabbed the blunt end of his spear into Ben's gut hard, followed by a barrage of blunt strikes, ending with one aimed at Ben's chin, knocking him off his feet.
Ceres threw a barrage of fire blasts, creating small explosions around Kundo, creating a smoke screen around him. He searched through the smoke to try and find one of his opponents. He muttered something under his breath, and just in time. A large blade suddenly hooked around his spear as Ruby tried to disarm him.
"Ha!" She smirked and pulled, yanking out...nothing. "What the fuck?"
"Revonnah Kai: Solid Grip. It makes it impossible to disarm the user when used properly," Kundo explained casually.
"That is both really useful...and really fucking cheap."
Kundo merely sighed and threw a punch at Ruby, the hooded Huntress bringing up her scythe just in time to block. The master Revonnahgander then sweeped Ruby's legs out from under her and thrust the blunt end of his staff into Ruby's gut, sending her flying into the metal fence.
Ceres blasted herself forward, pulling a page from Yang's book, and reared her fist back...only to find Kundo's segmented spear wrapped around her arm. Kundo used all of Ceres' momentum against her, throwing her into a nearby shipping container.
Kundo slammed his spear into the ground and cleared away the smokescreen. It was now him and Rook. Blonko rushed in, striking at Kundo with his staff, only for the elder to reform his own staff and counter. Every strike Blonko made was perfectly countered by his teacher. Even when the Proto-Tool changed forms into its blade form, Kundo was able to block and counter it.
The elder ducked under Blonko's latest strike and pushed his arm up with the spear, slamming his student in the face and making an opening.
"Revonnah Kai- STONECUTTER!" Kundo yelled, hitting Blonko square in the chest and sending him flying into a storage warehouse. The Revonnahgander master simply followed behind him.
Kundo and Rook were nowhere in sight. Lev, armed with an assault rifle, rushed into the shipping yard. Groans of pain filled the air as he checked on everyone. They'd live but Kundo definitely did a number on them- good thing Ari was on standby.
"Lev?" Ceres coughed, slowly sitting up.
"Surprise~" Lev trilled annoyingly.
His sister in all but blood just stared at him. "I thought you were sitting this out."
"Yeah, no, I'm not doing that," he scoffed. His gaze softened. "But seriously, you good?"
Ceres rolled her eyes fondly. "Gonna be sore tomorrow but I'll live. Where's-?"
"Let me deal with 'em. If you can stand, help the others." With that, Lev ran off to help Rook.
Blonko was thrown back from Kundo's latest attack, slamming into the wall hard. Shards of the Proto-Armor fell and littered the ground. He coughed and wheezed, struggling to get air back into his lungs.
"Disgraceful," Kundo hissed, snapping his spear back into place. "All my lessons, all your training, sullied by this mechanical corruption. I had truly hoped you were an outlier in your family, Rook Blonko. But it seems that today I will be dragging three impudent children back where they belong."
A shot rang out, and Kundo barely managed to duck the bullet about to hit his shoulder.
"Think again, shitheel!" a voice rang out. The Revonnahgander master turned to see Lev with a rifle, aiming right at his heart.
"The Archimedean," Kundo snarled, snapping his spear into its segmented form.
"Lev...do not…" Rook struggled to say, still trying to free himself.
"For once, I agree with my 'student.' This will not-"
There was another shot, and Kundo barely brought out a shield in time.
"End well for me, etcetera etcetera. Has anyone ever told you you're a walking movie villain cliche?" Lev said snidely.
Kundo took a deep breath and rushed in, slamming the lower segment of his weapon into Lev's rifle and breaking it in half. A quick roundhouse kick to the jaw sent Lev staggering back.
Lev's eyes narrowed as he threw away his broken gun. Not wasting any time, he rushed back in, sending out a series of kicks at the elder, but Kundo was able to lean out of the way and dodge gracefully.
"You seem to forget who I am," Kundo taunted, going for an opening.
But the attack didn't land. Lev managed to dance out of the way just in time and landed a roundhouse of his own straight to Kundo's head. The Revonnahgander actually staggered back, a hand placed to his aching temple.
Lev smirked. "And you seem to think I'm an amateur."
"...you're right, I did. Considering your reliance on your precious machines," Kundo spat before going back on the offensive. He spun the top segment of his staff, turning each hit into a series of strikes. Lev dodged out of the way, sparks flying as the blade struck stone. Kund lashed out with another spinning strike which Lev ducked under. Only problem was that Kundo was ready for that, using the end segment of the staff to slam into Lev's chin. He was knocked off his feet, but managed to land perfectly. Kundo tried to go in for a jab after snapping his spear back to a solid form. Lev sidestepped the attack, taking a hold of the weapon himself and pulling Kundo forward to meet with Lev's knee.
Rook's former teacher barely had time to react before Lev landed a series of jabs in Kundo's chest, finishing up with one last kick. The elder fell back, but in a moment's notice, he snapped the spear back into segments and wrapped the upper one around Lev's leg. Kundo pulled and threw him to the side, sending sliding across the ground. Before the Archimedean could get up, Kundo leapt into the air and drove his spear into one of Lev's legs. Sparks flew from the impact point, accompanied by the sound of a metal shell being torn.
"What? You...you do not bleed. You have become ONE with these foul machines?!" Kundo reeled back in disgust.
"Dude, I was born without legs! You expect me to NOT want to walk?!" Lev shot back.
"Yes, because it would have been preferable to this!" Kundo gestured to Lev's prosthetics., "But I should offer my thanks."
"For what?"
Kundo yanked the spear out of Lev's leg. He had trouble moving it- the blade must've cut central wiring.
"It has become clear to me that it is people like you who have reinforced this- this addiction to technology in Blonko. Were it not for individuals such as you, Blonko would have been a perfect practitioner of Revonnah Kai. Instead, he is this."
Rook had recovered by now, finally free of the wall.
"It is clear to me now...I should not be mad at him. I should direct all of my fury towards you," Kundo said, slowly and maliciously. He jabbed the spear back into Lev's leg, going all the way through this time, pinning him in place.
"Revonnah Kai: Stonecutter." Kundo pulled his fist back.
Lev closed his eyes and braced himself… only the hit never came. Instead, Kundo was sent staggering back, rubbing his jaw. Lev looked up to see Rook, free of the crater he was thrown into, and having just punched Kundo right in the face.
"You will not touch him," Rook snarled.
"And YOU are going to stop me?" Kundo scoffed. "Did you forget, Rook Blonko? I taught you everything I know."
"You did...but you did not teach me everything I know."
Kundo raised an eyebrow, flourished his staff, and rushed in. The elder thrust the weapon out, only for Rook to sidestep and move behind him. Blonko grabbed Kundo by the waist and suplexed him into the ground.
"...did he just pull a Rath?" Lev muttered in disbelief.
Rook let go and took up a fighting stance. His former teacher growled and rose to his feet, dusting his robes off. Rook ran in, jumping over a wide swing from Kundo's spear and kicking him in the jaw.
"You seem to have forgotten something. My life here has not been peaceful," Rook stated. Kundo thrust out the spear again, but Blonko grabbed hold of the weapon and wound up. He threw Kundo aside, slamming him into a large shipping container, denting it. Rook snapped the spear over his knee, breaking it to pieces.
"I have faced numerous foes, from Ectonurites and Grimm, to psychopaths and power-hungry madmen, and some of them wielded what can only be described as magic," Rook continued.
Kundo growled and ran at him, throwing a flurry of strikes, all of which Blonko managed to deflect. Rook then kicked Kundo in the gut, making the elder double over.
"And I have learned far more than you could ever teach me," Rook declared.
The zealot righted himself and coughed, beforeing rearing his fist pack. "Revonnah Kai…"
In a split second, Rook brought out the Proto-Tool and shifted it into the shield form.
"STONECUTTER!" Kundo yelled. And he made contact with the hardlight shield of the Proto-Tool.
The kickback was enough to send Kundo flying back to that shipping container he dented earlier. Rook smirked in triumph...but then he saw the contents of the container.
"Kundo," Rook began, putting away the Proto-Tool. "Do. Not Move."
Kundo shook his head to clear his vision and realized he was surrounded by vials of red powder and equally red crystals. Several of the vials had broken on impact and coated Kundo's robe with their contents. Kundo didn't care, he simply growled and tried to get up.
Lev readjusted his glasses in time to realize what was happening. His eyes wide, he shouted, "No, don't-!"
Kundo's hand was on top of an agitated and cracked Dust crystal. With just a little pressure-
CRACK.
Kundo and the shipping container were engulfed in a fireball, the explosion knocking Rook back and throwing him across the floor. Lev curled up into a ball and let the heat waves pass over him. When the Dust stopped reacting, Rook coughed and slowly got up, watching the flames dance.
Kundo could not have survived that.
Lev looked up. "Hell of a way to go out," he muttered.
Two days had passed since the Kundo incident. With the help of Plumber doctors, Da would make a full recovery- though he would still be in the hospital for some time. Ironwood once again gave Rook some time off to spend time with family.
Rook had sent a message back to Revonnah to his mother about Young One hiding away on the hospital ship. She had, naturally, sent back a promise of punishment as soon as her wayward child came home. Young One was dismayed, but Ari, who was spending some time with her friends after helping to heal Rook Da, merely laughed.
Afterward, Shar managed to find her big brother alone.
"Blonko?" Shar said, uncharastically anxious. "I was wondering about something."
Rook looked away from the beauty of the tundra. "What is on your mind?"
His sister got right to the point. "I wish to attend Plumbers Academy." She took a deep breath. "Father does not know yet...but after this? Someone needs to-"
"Shar, this is not a decision to be made lightly," Rook interjected gently.
"I know. I thought about it on the flight here, as well. Seeing Kundo beat Father and being unable to do anything? It…"
"...it hurt," Rook finished for her. "Let us hear what Father thinks. Then, if he agrees, I shall help you prepare."
"You will?"
Rook beamed. "Of course. What sort of brother would I be if I did not?"
"I must thank you once again, Breach," the Forever Knight said, looking at his new specimen. If all went according to plan, this one would serve as an excellent test run.
Strapped down to a dissection table somewhere in Evernight, the burned form of Master Kundo lay motionless. Burned...but alive.
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