(Sorry for the late update guys. I go back to college in over a week, so I'm not sure how it will work out, sorry. Here's the next chapter.)
Noble Six: Thanks.
Chapter 9: Proper Introductions
(Adirondack Park, the next day)
Connell crawled out of his small tent. He stretched as he picked himself off the ground and yawned. He hadn't got much sleep, Humphrey's murder still fresh in his mind. He didn't know his friend was a mutant, but that didn't change anything. Despite not agreeing on what to do, Connell respected his friend's beliefs. But with his friend's last words, he promised himself that he would avenge him. After S.H.I.E.L.D.'s attack left part of the building from smashing on top of him, he had to leave. His folks would disown his actions and him for what he has done. They never knew of his political views; he had kept them quiet. He loved his folks, he admired and respected some of their values, but not all of them. Now he was alone.
"This hopefully will be a safe area." Connell sighed to himself.
'It is, lad. You're deep in this forest.' One of the voice said.
'I know, farther than anyone has. You all have told me to come here. I've lost a friend, killed by the government's intelligence agency. I've made a vow to bring them down, to avenge all they've slaughtered and oppressed.' Connell replied.
'We are glad to here it, boy. You must prepare for battle.' Another voice said.
'How? I don't have any powers, no super strength, speed, elemental abilities, healing factor, enhanced senses, no weapons, no advanced technology, magic…how? How will I bring them down? I made the vow, yes, but I'm unsure of how to keep it.' Connell responded.
'Tonight, young man. You shall learn how.' Another voice replied.
'Who are you all? You've never told me. How can you all help me? How?' Connell asked.
'You shall learn, boy. You shall learn.' One of the voices answered.
'Don't worry, lad. You will learn soon enough.' Another voice added.
Connell grumbled under his breath, but sighed as he nodded in acceptance, begrudgingly. Hours later, when it was in the dead of night, Connell followed the voices' guiding to another part of the forest. He stood before a cliffside, overlooking another heavily wooded part of the forest. The early fall winds blew through the air. His gray eyes stared at the full moon, its luminous silver light glowing in the night sky.
"Ok, what am I doing here?" Connell sighed.
He heard something, the wind began to swirl with a stronger current. His eyes glanced around, his vision catching the trees and the fallen leaves flying around. The hairs on the back of his neck stood up, the air around him turned cold, colder than before. He heard whispers, the voices sounded like those of the ones he'd been hearing. But this was different, this sound more collective in nature rather than individuals' voices at one another, many voices spoke together constantly.
'Ok, the voices I got kind of use to…it was…unsettling, but it was something he adapted to…sort of.' Connell gasped to himself.
This was different, different than the usual different.
"What's going on?" Connell grunted.
"It is time you learned the truth." One of the voice said.
Connell's eyes widened in surprise. The voices were heard in his head, like his thoughts. But the voice that spoke to him was like that of someone in front of him. More whispers and voices could be heard as the wind began rising and swirling around him. Connell began turning as he saw the winds rise, suddenly appearing in a ghastly green color instead of it being invisible to the eye. As his eyes widened in shock at the sight, he froze. Then he felt the wind move faster and looked up to a shocking sight: before him stood what appeared to be humanoid, hidden by what appeared to be by hooded cloaks formed by the ghastly green wind.
"W-What?" Connell gasped.
"Connell Lewis, you have been chosen." One of the figures said.
"What? What are you talking about? Chosen?" Connell grunted, his voice thick with confusion.
"Your honorable heart, keen mind, and determined will was seen as exceptional. But what was the deciding factor: was your belief that a time of injustice must end and its victims to be avenged. A different kind individual is needed to vanquish this foe, a warrior such as you." Another of the figures added.
"Me? I'm nothing! I'm no one!" Connell dismissed, scoffing at the figures' statements.
The figures turned to one another, Connell watching intently. It was hard to tell what they were saying, their whispers silent as the now calmed wind.
"You're quiet lad, and we're supposed to be the ghosts." Another of the voices chuckled.
"Ghosts? You're ghosts?" Connell asked, his surprise evident in his voice.
He didn't know who the voices belonged to. Part of him believed he was having symptoms of a schizophrenic. But this…this didn't feel like a mental disorder.
"Who…Who are you all?" Connell asked, his voice a cautious whisper.
The figures nodded to one another and took of their hoods. Connell stared in curiosity and surprise at the many faces he saw. Despite their figures being formed by ghastly green winds, he could see the distinct facial features, garments, etc.
"Long ago an amulet was forged with the purpose to allow a specific individual the chance to face a great threat that needed a warrior to vanquish it. The Warrior's Amulet, the talisman that has links the spirits of great warriors to it, to teach the chosen the ways of combat." One of the spirits said.
"I'm no warrior. I told you: I'm nothing, I'm weak. I want to fight, but I won't be able to do much…if anything." Connell replied, his voice filled with despair as his eyes dropped to the ground.
"You will be in time. We will see to it." Another figure replied.
"What?" Connell grunted, his voice thick with confusion.
"We shall be your teachers, young man. You shall learn to fight from us." One of the figures said.
"Perhaps we should introduce ourselves?" One of the figures stated.
The spirits nodded to one another. Connell looked at each of them, the multiple figures are of individuals of various ethnic descents, with unique and diverse outfits. Moving forward as a figure floated over the ground. Connell studied him: he appears to be of Japanese descent, has a stoic face and a strong posture to him, with long hair with part of it in a thick ponytail and apparent facial hair.
"I am Miyamoto Musashi, samurai and ronin of Japan." The spirit said.
"You speak English? I never knew you learned-" Connell started to say.
"The amulet allows us to communicate together, a clear verbal understanding." The spirit interjected.
"Oh, that's useful." The young man replied.
"Indeed lad." Another figure said.
He is of European descent, sporting a goatee, long wild hair, a charming smile.
"I'm sure you're well aware of me: I am the outlaw of Sherwood forest, I-" The figure chuckled.
"Robin Hood, you're a legend." Connell interjected, surprise in his voice.
"Thanks lad." The spirit laughed.
A taller spirit moved forward, a head full of shaggy hair and thick beard. His face is hard and stern yet apparently soft at the same time. Beside him came a shorter yet rougher looking figure, apparently with seemingly short hair and facial hair, scars patch marking parts of his face.
"Well lad, are you ready for a rebellion?" The taller spirit asked, a slight chuckle in his voice with a thick Scottish accent.
"This will be a hard fight, best be ready for it." The shorter spirit added.
"Who are you two?" Connell asked.
"William Wallace, Son of Scotland." The taller spirit answered.
"Spartacus." The shorter spirit answered.
Connell's eyes widened in surprise.
"There are more of us, lad. Each you'll come to know and learn from." Robin Hood said.
"To face this threat in your time, it demands to be fought to the end. A warrior must be ready for what is to come." Musashi added.
"You mean…?" Connell gasped.
"Indeed, young man. Your training begins now." Musashi stated.
To be continued…