Hey der y'all.
I threw this little thing together over my X-mas break, all 7 days of it.
C&C would be greatly appreciated. I am already looking at doing a rewrite on
content but C&C on style would be greatly appreciated. Suggestions would
also be helpful.
Characters are owned by their respective companies.
WARNING: This is almost a gratuitous insertion 'fic. You have been warned.
Well, on with the show.
Prologue
S44 made his way to the Eifrig mechanical room east entrance.
Having seen a great deal of water there on his round, he decided to grab
a long handled squeegee and push the water down to the nearest sump
pump.
Looking at the increased amount of water, he sighingly began to
push the collected water down a short stairwell to the sump pump.
"Dispatch to S44 for a radio check." erupted the radio in his back
pocket.
Setting the squeegee aside, he pulled out the radio, hitting the
'broadcast' button. "S44 clear."
"Good to hear you still alive, Jason. WQE 482 clear."
'So I missed one radio check due to a low battery. Gabby is gonna
have fun with this.' Jason thought, shaking his head.
Returning to the water before him, he grabbed the squeegee once
again and set to getting it out of the tunnel.
What Jason didn't see, a water puddle just inside the east door to
the mechanical room started to ripple and glow slightly.
Whistling a small tune, Jason felt a tapping on his shoulder.
Turning around, Jason took an involuntary step backwards at the sight
before him. Standing at just under 5', the young lady had long, raven
colored hair, bright flowing robes, and a mallet strapped to her back.
Her most distinguishing were the markings on her forehead.
"I am looking for one Jason Jensen." the young lady said
impatiently.
"Wh...Who are you? How did you get in here?" asked Jason, since
you usually need a key to get into any of the mechanical rooms on
campus.
"My names`s Skuld, and I'm a goddess." she said, sizing him up.
"Now, can you point to Jason, he has earned a wish."
"A w..wish...." Jason said, his voice trailing off.
"Hmmmph. Fine, I'll find him myself." Skuld said impatiently.
"Wait." Jason said, his mind rebooting. "I'm Jason."
"Okay, what's your wish?"
Looking at her impatience, Jason asked "Why are you in an all fire
hurry?"
"I have to get back to the temple to make sure nothing happens."
"Like what?" Jason asked curiously.
"That Keiichi doesn't try anything with my sister."
"Who's Keiichi?"
"A mortal who wished my sister would stay with him forever."
"Is he really that bad?"
"YES!!"
"Skuld, don't you think..." Jason broke off, seeing Skuld reaching
for her mallet.
"Jason no baka!!" Skuld yelled, bringing her mallet around in a
wide arch. Expecting him to run, Skuld had taken a step into the swing
for more airspeed on the mallet head. But Jason had done something she
didn't expect, he sank to his knees, on a dry spot of course.
Stopping in mid-swing, Skuld looked at Jason strangely. Not
feeling the hammer fall, Jason looked up into her eyes. "Fine, if
you're gonna mallet me, go right ahead, even though you didn't allow me
to finish what I wanted to say."
Not having anyone submit themselves willingly to her mallet, Skuld
said "So finish."
"What I was saying, don't you think it is their choice to stay
together. In love, no matter how pure, someone is always hurt. It
sounds to me like you are the one getting hurt because you...ayi-yi-yi."
paused Jason, not really wanting to get malleted. Sighing he continued,
"want to keep your sister to yourself. Possibly, by letting this
Keiichi love your sister purely, you might reap more love though not as
much attention for your sister." Jason closed his eyes tightly,
expecting the blow to come quickly.
"Do you really think so?" asked Skuld softly after a few moments of
silence.
Getting up, Jason said hesitantly "I...I don't know for sure. But
I am willing to guess so."
After a few more moments of silence, Jason inquired "So, what is
this about a wish?"
Skuld brightened up slightly. "Yeah, I'm here on a job. Like I
said, you have earned a wish."
"Okay...what are the limitations?" asked Jason, remembering a
certain movie with a blue genie.
"No limits..."
"Okay, what about parts?"
"Parts??"
"Lets see, how to explain... Okay, let's say I would use this wish
for a) to travel to realms I have never traveled before b) learning
things I have always wanted to learn c) and developing powers slightly
above those of mortal men and..." Jason continued hesitantly. "d)
possibly find...a love interest?"
"I...I don't know." said Skuld unknowingly. "Let me check."
Skuld suddenly glowed a bright blue as a narrow beam of light went
through the ceiling of the tunnel, not doing any damage. As fast as the
glowing started, it stopped. Skuld looked towards Jason, saying "It's a
slight bend to the rules but they should allow it."
"Okay, that's my wish then."
"Jason, state it in the form of a formal wish." replied Skuld
shaking her head.
"Okay, sorry. I wish to A) travel to different realms where I will
B) learn new and interesting things, C) developing new powers beyond
those of normal men, and D) find someone who is truly right for me."
Skuld began to glow once again, rising from the floor of the
tunnel. Once again the beam of light went through the ceiling But as
the glow around Skuld began to diminish, the glow around Jason increased
as a portal opened beneath his feet.
Falling through, Jason screamed at the lack of ground beneath his
feet and the feeling the energy was changing him.
Falling...falling...falling, Jason managed to catch a glimpse of light
beneath him. Swallowing his scream, Jason fall into...
Jason bounced twice, once awake and once out of his bed. Usually,
Jason, like a lot of people, sometimes likes to wake up gradually. But
at certain times, he can wake up at a moments notice. Unfortunately
this was neither of those times.
Taking a quick huff of his inhaler, Jason first got his breathing
under control. Getting up off the floor, Jason shook his head, as if
trying to shake the rest of the dream, almost nightmare from his head.
Thinking back over the dream, he thought, almost chuckling, "That's what
I get from watching all five OMG OVA's at once and reading Oh My God
shortly there after."
Jason grabbed his hygiene bucket and opened the door from his room.
Before he could step out, he heard a voice, almost young adultish but
definitely female, say 'You have but to wish for it for real...'
Looking around, he didn't see anyone. Vowing never to drink
Marriott, campus food service, coffee again, he went to the bathroom to
get cleaned up for the day.
Anime Traveler
A self-insertion fic
by Jason "Jazz" Jensen
Chapter 1 Dreams Can Come True
"Dispatch to S44 for a radio check" The call rang throughout the
tunnel.
Retrieving the radio from his back pocket, `S44` responded "S44
clear."
"10-4. Thank you. WQE 482."
[Aahhh, Steph is working. Gonna have to stop by and talk wit'
her.] thought `S44`, returning the radio to his back pocket. Turning to
his left, `S44` hit the light switch and continued on with his `round`,
having just completed the North half at the time of radio check.
Twenty minutes later, `S44` emerged out the door to main level
Addison hall. [Cool air....yes...] he thought, wiping the sweat from
his brow.
Taking in a lung full of cool air, he proceeded around the corner,
towards the dispatch center. "Hey Steph, what up?"
"Hey Jason. Not much here. You?"
"Naa. Just doing my round. Still got ELS and DJ to do yet." Jason
replied.
"Cool."
"Oh yeah, what's going between you and Nate?"
"Oh, we're goin' out. We have been for a while." Stephanie
replied, non-chalantly
"That's what I thought but didn't know for sure. Thought I'd check
to be sure."
"No problem. Jen has been having fun with this."
"Cotter? I bet she has. Now what is she doing now?"
"Still some of the usual. Callin' Nate late at night, needing to
talk."
"Ayi-yi-yi...Can't she let go? I remember you had been telling me
before about some of the crap she has been pulling to keep you two
apart. In my humble opinion, you two make a good couple." Jason
replied.
"Why, thank you."
Blushing slightly, Jason said "So...anything new with you?"
"Not really, other than the crap with Jen. It's just that lately,
I haven't been sleeping well."
"Any idea why?" Jason asked, slightly concerned. He didn't like
having a friend going through tough times.
"Well..."
"Steph," Jason said, looking at her seriously through the top part
of his glasses, "you don't have to talk about it if you don't want to."
"Well, it just reminded me of something I saw once with some
friends." Steph broke into a story of how once she and some her friends
had been out drinking and had stopped beneath a bridge near her
hometown. She had been the most sober person at the time. Together all
four of them had seen a figure wearing black robes, doing some weird
gestures. They had watched the figure for a few minutes to see what he
was doing. When they looked back at each other confusedly and turned
back to look at the guy, he had disappeared suddenly. "One moment he
was there, the next he wasn't."
"Weird. Any idea what he was doing?"
"None, but..."
"But?" asked Jason, arching his left brow.
"Three of us went back the next day, and we found a pentagram on
the ground."
"Oh boy..."
"Well, my dream reminded me of that incident."
"How so?" Jason inquired.
"Well, it was similar to that night we saw the guy at the bridge.
But this time, there was up to a dozen guys, all dressed in similar
black robes. They were all doing some sort of chant that just didn't
feel right to me. I just got this sudden sense of dread just before I
would wake up." said Steph, slightly hesitant.
"Ayi-yi-yi..."
"It's repeated a few times, but the most recent has been almost too
vivid."
"I know how that can be..."
"How so?" It was Steph's turn to inquire.
"Well, a few nights ago, I had this dream. You know how I am
involved with Japanese Animation?"
"Yeah. I think you might have leant Nate one or two and I saw them
then."
"Okay, well, my dream kinda dealt with one I didn't give to Nate."
Jason promptly launched into the story behind Oh! My Goddess, mentioning
several of the people involved. "Well, recently, I read a story by a
guy named Brett titled 'Oh My God'. He looked at it from the angle that
Urd granted him a wish and all the havoc that ensued. Well, my dream
kinda went along the same lines."
"How so?"
"Well, Skuld, the youngest of the three Goddesses staying with
Keiichi, actually came to me saying that I had earned a wish."
"So, what did you wish for?" asked Steph. wanting to know.
"That's the funny part. I woke up before the wish had come true."
replied Jason.
"Bummer. So, what did you wish for?" asked Steph.
"Well, I wished for, at least I think I did, to travel, to learn,
and for something special in my life."
"What was that something special you wanted?"
"Something a part of me wants, I can't have just yet. First, I
would need a girlfriend. Secondly, we would have to be married first.
But I would just settle for the first part." Jason said with a sigh.
Having been brought up in a strong LCMS Lutheran background, he had
adopted a lot of the values of Lutheranism. "But a part of my dream
still bothers me."
"What's that?"
"Right before I woke up fully, I swear I heard the words 'You have
but to wish for it for real.' I am still trying to figure out the
meaning to them."
"hmm..."
Glancing at his watch, Jason picked up his clipboard, saying "Gotta
get back to the round and get this thing over with."
"Well, see ya later."
"Count on it. bye." Jason waved, moving towards the ELS center to
take his temperature reading.
Several weeks had passed and the switch from cooling to heating had
taken place at the Physical Plant. Modifying his 'round', Jason got
started on it at his usually time of 1 A.M.
Getting to the east door of the Eifrig mechanical room, Jason
noticed a large puddle of water on the ground. "Gonna have to get the
squeegee over here before I leave this morning." he thought sighing.
The shift so far, which had started at 9:30 P.M., had been a bear.
Between two fuse calls, three plugged toilets, and a lack of heat in
another room, Jason barely managed to get his usually shift stuff done
before his round.
Noting it on his clip board, Jason continued on thinking about what
had happened online during his break. A habit he started during the
first part of summer, Jason would log on line to a MUCK during his
break. Currently his interest had turned to a MUCK based on Japanese
Animation called AnimeMUCK. Lately he had met a young `lady' named
Fel-chan. He knew to be careful because this aren`t always as they seem
online. Guys portraying girls and girls portraying guys. Just thinking
about it gave him a headache.
It seemed that Fel-chan was going through a lot of the same crises
he was in real life. Thinking about 'her', it also reminded him of
Thai, another female friend online. This one he knew was female because
they had written back and forth and talked on the phone in real life.
Just thinking about gave Jason a slight headache. Here, on a
campus with a guy to girl ratio of 1-2.5, he had trouble asking a young
lady out. But online, he didn't have as much trouble. Standing at just
over 6' and weighing about 260 pounds dressed casually, he knew he
wasn't much to look at. But those who had delved deeper found a young
man with desires like any other man but tempered with kindness and
generousity. Jason always tried to act like a gentleman not matter what
but they also knew he had a fuse.
He had several girl-friends but never a girlfriend. Those who he
made friends with, knew they had someone who would bend over backwards
to help them. A few of the ladies he was friends with found that he had
some skill in the massage arts.
Chuckling softly, Jason returned his mind to the task at hand,
namely the round of campus. Finding nothing majorly wrong in the
mechanical rooms, except for a few small water drips, he got back out to
the Physical Plant in record time.
Heading into the office, he retrieved a couple sets of vehicle keys
deciding a few looked they could use a good cleaning. As part of his
shift, Jason has to get through half of the Concordia fleet, roughly
seven vehicles, per week cleaning the windows, vacuuming the interiors,
and washing the exteriors. As he was about to head outside to get the
first car, the lights flickered.
"This a Group One Page Code 6, we had just suffered a power bump.
All units please respond. This is a Group One Page Code 6, we have just
suffered a power bump. All units please respond. WQE 482 clear."
erupted the radio in Jason's back pocket.
Before the dispatcher at the time, Mindy Timmons, could repeat the
page, Jason spewed a short string of explicitives, put the keys he was
carrying on a short counter, and ran into the boiler room. Making sure
the circulation pumps and boiler were still up thankfully, he dove back
down into the tunnel between the Service Building and Eifrig. before he
had taken ten steps, he knew the Eifrig air handlers were down.
Going to the control boxes, Jason followed the listed directions,
shutting the air handlers off, waited ten seconds, and then re-initiated
power, bringing them back to life. Exiting the mechanical room into
Eifrig proper, Jason headed out the east exit to the gym to get to the
pool.
Taking the longest stairwell on campus, Jason came around the
corner to find that the pool was draining moderately fast. Cursing
slightly, he looked at the directions for shutdown painted on the wall.
Closing valves one and two, Jason killed the power to the pump. Not
having done this before, his mind boggled why he still heard water
draining from the pump area. Checking the pump and valves against the
directions, Jason found he had done everything correctly.
Pawing out his radio, he broadcast "S44 to Dispatch!!"
"Go ahead."
"10-4, please page Linda code...now!!" Jason said not knowing what
code to use.
"10-4, Dispatch clear."
"S44 clear."
By this time, Jason's ears picked up someone else was coming down
the stairs. Nate Greunwald came into view, his patrol set and
flashlight swinging on his waist.
"Jason, what's up?"
"I can't get the water to stop flowing!"
Nate looked at the directions and the necessary valves and pump,
finding them properly shutdown.
"Dispatch to S44. I have Linda on the phone, what's your
extension."
"10-4 Dispatch, extension 2314, 2314."
"10-4, Dispatch clear."
The pool mechanical room phone rang. Picking it up, Jason heard
"yeah?"
"Linda, we just had a power bump. The boiler and the circ. pumps
are fine. The pool started to drain. I shut down the valves and turned
off the pump as written on the wall. But there is still water coming
out." replied Jason, his voice rising at the end.
"You are sure you shut down the right things?"
"yes, and Nate from security double checked it for me."
"Okay, which pipe is the water coming out of?" she asked since
there was three.
Looking back quickly, Jason responded "The one running down into
the drain hole itself."
"Okay, how fast is it coming out?"
"Not as fast as when I got down here. I would have to say close to
what it usually does naturally."
"Okay. Don't touch anything else. Is the water in the holding
tank cloudy?"
"One moment." Jason said, peering into the holding tank. "The
water's cloudy."
"Okay, at 5:30, I want you to call Corwin and tell him what
happened. The pool is fine. Jason, breathe!"
"Okay, sorry...first time this happened to me."
"Jason, anything else go down?"
"I need to check the rest of campus, but the Eifrig air handler was
down."
"Okay, proceed on and check the rest of what you are suppose to.
Tell the morning service man what happened and to take a closer look
during his round in the morning."
"Okay."
"Anything else?"
"No..."
"Okay, bye." with that Linda hung up.
Jason hung up the phone. "So, what did she say?" asked Nate, sweat
showing on his brow.
"The pool is suppose to do that. I panicked once again." Jason
sighed, mentally kicking himself.
"This was the first the pool went down for you?" inquired Nate.
"Yeah, but I should have known..."
"You didn't and did the only thing you could, you paged your
supervisor."
"Yeah, waking her up at 3:20 A.M. for something I should have
known."
"Jason..."
"Nate, I'll be fine, got other things to check yet."
"Okay, all the campus elevators have been checked already and are
working fine."
"Thanks." Jason replied thankfully.
"Well, gotta check with switchboard."
"Okay, Physical Plant and Security, the fun is never ending." said
Jason sarcastically.
"Yup...oh yeah, we'll be doing a Sleven run probably in a little
while. Want anything?"
"Not right now, check with me when you go."
"Okay, later." Nate waved and headed back up the stairs.
"DAMN!!" yelled Jason, punching the nearest wall. 'I had this
problem when I was security. I have got to get my panic under control.
I'm better than what I was but still not good enough. At least I knew
to call Linda for assistance.' Jason thought, his eyes closed.
Sighing, he headed back up the stairs to do a modified round of
campus to check on the air handlers in each of the seven building that
have them. 'Sometimes being the only maintenance guy on at night
sucks.' he thought, reaching the top of the stairs.
But Jason's night was far from over. He managed to get vehicle
done but not before there was another power bump. This one didn't knock
out any of the major functions on campus, just sent him scurrying all
over campus once again.
After the power bump, Jason received a couple of more calls about
tripped fuses around campus. By the end of shift, Jason was about to
implode from tension. Seeing that it was Sam coming in to relieve him,
Jason sighed in relief upon seeing him. Relaying all that had happened
during his shift, Sam replied "So, you had to page your girlfriend?"
"Sam, don't go there." said Jason, looking at the diminutive
engineer over the top of his glasses. "Right now, I just want to leave,
get something to drink and then go to bed."
"Okay, see you later." said Sam, smiling and chuckling slightly.
"Okay..." Jason replied handing the radio and keys to him. Walking
out the door, Jason's mind replayed all that had happened. "Physical
Plant, adventure waiting to happen." Jason said to no one in particular.
Thankful that he had moved back on-campus, Jason replayed what had
caused him to do that. He had gotten tired of being used by his two
roommates, especially financially. Banning those thoughts from his
mind, Jason slowly made his way up to his room, which unfortunately, was
on the third floor.
Taking off his coat and backpack, Jason collapsed onto his bed, his
eyes closed. "I wish..." He didn't see the energy begin to build
around him.
"...I could go places I have seen in anime..." The energy building
in strength and brightness.
"...learn something new and have powers beyond..." The brightness
beginning to show through his eyes lids.
"...and possibly find a love interest that doesn't scare me..." he
whispered, thinking about Thai, who had recently told him that she hoped
for something a little more intimate with him the previous night.
Opening his eyes, Jason saw the light and 'felt' the energy build
around him. 'Your wish is granted.' Jason heard in his mind just as the
bed beneath him disappeared to be replaced by a swirling portal.
Screaming, Jason fell threw, falling towards a light. Swallowing
his scream, Jason willed himself to remain calm. Hoping the landing
would be cushioned, Jason breathed slowly, not wanting an asthma attack
at that moment.
Jason suddenly emerged into a bright light....
Chapter 2
The city was in shambles around him. Looking left and right, Jason
saw broken brick, no, his mind corrected him, stone buildings. All
around him on the horizon, he could see flames and smoke rising high
into the air.
"You!!" he heard behind him.
Looking behind him, Jason asked "ME?!?"
"Yeah you, pick up your sword and defend yourself. the enemy is
coming quickly."
Getting up off the ground, Jason turned to towards the voice. "I
don't have..." he started stopping upon seeing who had yelled at him.
Standing at roughly 5'6", Jason took in her long, flowing blue
hair, and form fitting armor with white racing pin strips.
Seeing the man in front of her fall silent, Felicia ran up to him,
grabbing him by the arm. "Come with me. You can help defend the
forge."
"Okay...but I will need a weapon..."
Looking back at the figure she had in tow, Felicia noticed that he
was unarmored and weaponless. Shaking her head at the insanity, she
rebuked him "Why don't you have your armor on? Where's your weapons?
Can't you see there is a war going on?"
"Weapons are at home. I don't have any armor."
"Fine. My father will equip you at the forge. Now hurry." she
said breaking into a dead run. Willing all reserves, Jason followed her
as best he could.
By the time he got to the forge, Jason battled a moderate asthma
attack. Pulling out his inhaler, Jason breathed in the medicine as
deeply as he could. He looked up to see the armored lady he had met
earlier approaching carrying a mess of armor pieces.
"Put this on and then get a weapon. We have to defend this forge."
she ordered.
"Yes ma'am. What is your name, please? I don't want to keep
calling you 'ma'am' all the time."
"My name is Felicia. Now hurry!! The enemy is getting close."
said Felicia, running to the doorway, drawing her twin short swords.
Jason promptly got to work donning the armor. Pulling back all the
facts about medieval armor he could, Jason had about half of the armor
when a female scream echoed through the forge.
'FELICIA!!!' yelled Jason's mind. Striping off most of the armor
except for gauntlets, bracers, shin guards, and chest plate, Jason ran
to the nearest weapon wall, searching for a weapon he could use. Not
having used a sword before, he grabbed to twin hammer-like weapons and
ran towards the door.
He came face to face with a legion of hideously deformed humanoids,
that his mind registered as orcs. The scream echoed once again.
Looking towards it's location, Jason saw three orcs where about to have
their way with Felicia. Screaming ferally, Jason launched at the
nearest orc, hammers held high. He didn't even made it halfway when an
orc caught him in the chest with a swing of his long sword.
Falling to the ground, Jason was picked up by his head. "So the
human thinks it can defeat us?" sneered the orc holding Jason.
"Yes..." mumbled Jason through the orcs hand. Bringing the hammers
around, Jason flew backwards several yards before he could connect.
Jason's ire was rising as he fought it to stay in control and not go
berserk.
Jason attempted to get to his feet, much to the surprise of the
orcs. Putting a shaking hand to his head, he pulled it away seeing a
bright crimson dripping from his fingertips. Jason's head jerked
upright towards Felicia when she screamed once again as the orcs removed
forcefully the armor from his body.
Suddenly his eyes went blank for a brief second with an intense
fire returning thereafter.
Mentally, a war between his conscious and sub-conscious minds
raged. At Felicia's first scream, Jason's conscious mind allowed the
sub-conscious to take slight control.
Seeing the armor ripped from her body, his conscious mind made a
decision. It let the sub-conscious mind take full control as it went
out for a pizza.
Felicia expected her death to quickly follow as the armor was torn
from her body. Clamping her eyes shut, she felt the rough hands of the
orcs probing her suddenly stop and withdraw. Expecting the death blow,
her mind raced when one didn't happen.
Opening her eyes experimentally, she took in that the orcs that
held her no longer existed. The clangs of battle echoed off the walls
to her left. Looking, she saw the young man fighting the orcs by
himself. She saw him leap into the air, spinning, one leg out, one leg
down, and his arms in a fighting stance.
The orcs couldn't back away fast enough as his leg caught them
repeatedly.
Picking up her swords, Felicia did a quick repair to her armor and
joined the fray. She didn't take three steps when she almost tripped
into one of several two foot wide troughs that extended several yards.
Calling up the magic she knew, Felicia joined the young man in
battling the orcs. She looked on in amazement as the young man did
moves she didn't think were possible.
When it looked like the orcs were about to regroup and attack, she
saw the man begin to glow brightly in different colors with each word he
said.
"EARTH!!!!" The man glowed green. The land beneath the orcs began
to shake, knocking them to their knees. Spires of rock jetted from the
ground impaling several orcs.
"FIRE!!!!" The man's glow took a blaze orange glow as fire erupted
from the ground, causing the orcs to scream in agony at it's touch.
"WIND!!!!" The glow took on a more pale blue color as a gale of
wind crushed the orcs to the ground.
"WATER!!!!!" A torrent of water gushed from all around the young
man to wash the orcs away.
Felicia soon found herself under the glowing gaze of the young man.
Backing away hesitantly, she saw his glow change from a deep blue to a
light red almost pink.
She flinched as he gestured towards her smartly, the word "Heart."
reached her ears, sounding almost said lovingly. Felicia felt energy
wash over her, making her feel warm both inside and out. Soon the
energy aura faded, revealing that her wounds had been healed.
Turning to face the young man, she saw a blank expression on his
face as he fell forward into the dirt. Rushing to his side, Felicia
rolled him over to see the multitude of gashes, cuts, and bruises.
Looking up, she saw her father, fully armored, approaching slowly.
"Father!!! Get a healer, he's hurt...bad I think."
Grunting softly, Felicia 's father asked "Can he be moved?"
"I..I think so..." replied Felicia, panic edging into her voice.
Picking him up gently, Felicia's father carried the young man on
his back to the healer's camp.
Meanwhile, on a parapet in the castle above the battle, two
figures, a hunched over old woman and a middle-aged, wall of a man,
watched the battle come to a close as the golem was utterly destroyed.
"Geo, the battle is done...but the wars far from over." rasped the old
woman.
"Yes." replied Geo, watching his daughter running towards the white
haired destroyer of the golem.
Suddenly both figures felt the energy of high magic wash over their
senses. Turning towards the source of the magic, they felt the powers
of earth, fire, wind, and water be called on. "What is happening?"
asked the crone not sure of the significance.
"I don't know." Gesturing a nearby soldier, Geo sent him over to
the area of the magic to find out what was going on.
Looking back to the battlefield, Geo hoped the combined might of
Dark Schneider, Gara, and Arshes Nei would be enough to win the war.
Moving towards the healer's camp, Geo knew his duty as high priest
came into play, healing or sending those beyond healing to a final
blessed resting place.
As Geo worked on his fourth soldier, one of Gara's ninjas, the
solider he sent earlier and one of his healer priests approached.
"Sir, it seemed that two people tried to hold off a legion of orcs
from getting into the city and under our defenses." the soldier said,
saluting. The healer had a look of utter worry etched into his brow.
Nodding, Geo turned towards the healer, saying "Yes?"
"A soldier isn't responding to the usual healing spells. Please
take a look." begged the healer.
"Alright." replied Geo smartly, casting one last healing spell on
the ninja.
Approaching the place, Geo recognized Talon, the blacksmith, and
his daughter Felicia. "Talon, what's wrong?"
Looking up and recognizing Geo, Talon said "This young man,"
gesturing to the prone figure on the table, "and my daughter faced off
against a legion of orcs without realizing what they had gotten
themselves into."
Geo's eyes widened. "You two were the two??"
Felicia looked up at Geo, nodding weakly. Geo could see the tear
streaks on her cheeks. Turning towards the figure on the bed, his gaze
landed on a young man dressed in outlandish clothes under the armor.
"Which legion is he with?" asked Geo, hoping to identify him.
Between the occasional sob, Felicia explained who she had found him in
an alley without arms or armor with the enemy on her heel. She dragged
him into the forge and got him equiped.
Taking one of Felicia's hands in his own, Geo asked softly
"Felicia, was he the one who cast those spells?"
Nodding, Felicia said "yes, to save me from the orcs."
Turning towards the healer and soldier who had followed him, Geo
ordered "I want this man moved into the castle. I want him under
careful watch. I will see to his healing personally."
In a matter of minutes, the young man had been moved into one of
the guest quarters. As Geo was about to enter the room, his daughter,
Tia, walked up. "Dad, can I talk with you?"
"Yes, Tia."
"What was with that magic you cast before?"
"Magic before??"
"It had an elemental feel to it and strength was unbelievable.
When did you learn elemental magic? I thought you were limited to
cleric arts? Or is there another mage here that no one knows about?"
"Tia, I wasn't the one. The young man in this room I believe was
the one who cast those spells."
Tia tried to look in the room. "Dear, he's hurt badly. Please
don't." Geo said, motioning his daughter aside. "Tell Darschu and
Arshes Nei that I may need their help."
Nodding, Tia turned to go, almost running into a girl with long
blue hair. "Geo?" asked the teenage woman.
Turning to the new arrival, Geo said "Yes, Felicia."
"Any change?"
"None."
"Okay..." sighed Felicia, disappointedly.
Seeing her disappointment, Geo said "Fel, I won't be able to watch
him all the time. I will need help."
Fel brightened up considerably. "I will be glad to help." Fel
scampered back down the hallway, back to the forge, to tell her father
the news.
"Tia, he saved her life. She is the only one he might recognize if
he were to wake up when I'm not here. I'd rather not have a rampaging
mage on my hands right now." replied Geo before Tia could say anything.
Nodding, Tia went off to find Darschu with a slight huff. Shaking
his head, Geo entered the room where the young man had started to twist
and turn in his sleep.
Casting a quick calm spell, the young man's gyrations slowed, then
stopped. Lifting the blanket, Geo resigned to get to work on the man.
But what Geo saw caused his eyes to go wide. The wounds he had seen
earlier on the man had started to heal on their own. Changing the
dressings, Geo knew time would tell the story behind the man. After
changing the dressings, Geo's mind finally registered that this young
man didn't have much magic potential or power about him. "Odd. If he
did cast that magic, where did he get the power?" he asked himself.
After several hours, Geo started out of a light doze by sound
coming from the bed.
"...arshes...no...I won't...let you...Fel-chan..." murmured the
young man.
'How does he know Arshes?' thought Geo, just as a knock
reverberated on the door.
Opening the door, Geo found Felicia waiting on the other side.
Motioning her inside, Geo said "Good to see you. If anything changes,
send a guard to get me. He should be waking up soon."
Nodding, Felicia closed the door behind him and took a seat in the
chair by the bed. Lifting up the sheet, she noticed that Geo had just
changed the dressings.
A couple of hours passed, Felicia constantly gazed at him as she
wandered around the room. She was abruptly brought out of her
examinations by a knock on the door.
Moving quickly to the door, she opened it to reveal a taller dark
elf female with raven colored hair being escorted by Geo.
"Any changes?" asked Geo quietly.
"None." replied Felicia as she bowed and exited the room.
Geo motioned Arshes over to the sleeping figure. "Arshes, do you
recognize him?"
"No. Why, Geo?" asked Arshes, returning her gaze to the man.
"Well, he murmured your name in his sleep as well as that girl's
name who met us at the door."
"Curious. Can I try something?" asked Arshes looking up at Geo.
"Okay..." replied Geo hesitantly.
Chanting a few short words and a hand gesture, Arshes opened up the
young man's mind to hers. Arshes reeled back at the bombardment of
imagery.
"His name is....Jason, but he likes to be called...Jazz." she said,
sorting through the clutter.
"At least we know his name now." muttered Geo.
"He's watching...this box...it has images on it...images of
me...Tia...you...Darschu. It's showing the last battle." Arshes said,
breaking the link. Looking at Geo, she asked "How is that possible?"
"Well, that just about confirms it. He isn't from around here as
hard as it is to believe." stated Geo.
"Where is he from then?" asked Arshes.
"I...I don't know. Maybe he can tell us when he wakes up." said
Geo. "Arshes, could you keep an eye on him for a little bit, there are
a few things I must attend to."
Nodding, Geo excused himself from the room as Arshes took a seat by
the bed. Gazing at the prone figure, she asked quietly "Who or what are
you? How did you get here?"
A few hours pass and Arshes is pulled from her thoughts by a
rustling coming from the bed. Standing up from the chair and moving to
the side of the bed, Arshes saw the figure had started to move in his
sleep.
Laying a hand on his arm, Arshes noticed that he seemed to settle
down a little. The young man suddenly flipped over, snagging her arm
and pulling her with him. Arshes let out a small shriek as she landed
on the bed next to him.
The shriek seemed to stop him completely. Shaking his head
slightly, Jason blinked several times to find a set of lovely dark brown
eyes gazing back into his. Blinking again, Jason found a definitely
female face framed by long, raven colored tresses.
Then Jason's mind caught up with his head. Being the person he
was, his mind made a list of the situation.
A) He was in a bed.
B) He was barely clothed.
C) There was a beautiful woman looking back at him.
D) She seemed to be wearing little clothing, at least that he could
see.
E) She had a look of slight fright in her eyes.
Then his mind had a list of viable options on how to deal with the
situation.
A) Remain calm.
B) PANIC!!!!
Blinking twice, Jason...
Chapter 3
...screamed, clearing the bed by at least three feet just as the
door to the guest chamber. Landing hard on the stone floor, Jason
bounced up and backed towards a wall, upon seeing a large man in white
robes accompanied several other people.
"W...where...am I?" he asked experimentally seeing an even large
man wearing large shoulder armor, a young woman wearing what his mind
registered as a short medievil outfit, and the young woman he recognized
as Felicia.
"You are," the crowd parted to reveal a young woman dressed in
royal garb, "in the city of Metallicana."
"M...metallicana...h..how?" asked Jason, looking about confused.
As the royal garbed woman was about to respond, Jason held up his hand,
his index finger up.
Turning around, Jason did the thing he usually does to clear his
mind, his cranial mass impacted with the immovable object that had been
behind him. As his head hit the wall, Jason mumbled "reboot."
Breathing deeply, Jason set his nerves to calm and turned around to face
the mythical group behind him.
"Okay." Looking back at the princess, Jason said, shrugging,
"Princess Sheila, hmmm...how's life?"
Shiela took a step backwards as Gara and Darschu stepped in front
of her. Seeing this, Jason said "I am unarmed as Geo probably knows and
don't have the power to hurt anyone, let alone want to. My name is
Jason."
"Not what we felt over a day ago." said the peasant dressed woman.
Turning towards her, Jason said "Tia, what are you taking about?
The only powerful magic users in this room are Darschu and
A...Arshes...Nei." Jason looked over towards the bed, to see Arshes Nei
finally extract herself from the blankets.
Jason couldn't help but tilt his head sidewise slightly, sighing
softly. "He may not be threatening but he sure is a restless sleeper."
Jason looked downwards, his cheeks turning a bright red. "I...I
have always been that way. I thought it had stopped but I guess not."
Jason saw Tia smack Darschu upside his head for a comment he
probably said. Chuckling softly, Jason shook his head, mumbling "Never
changes."
"What never changes?" asked Geo, inquisitively.
"Oh, Darschu's perverted tendencies." stated Jason non-chalantly.
Seeing they were under everyone's gaze, Tia whispered to Darschu
"We'll talk later."
"I take it that I am in Metallicana. Arshes and Gara are in the
same room, not wanting to tell anyone, so I take it that is after the
cyclops incident."
"How do you know about the cyclops incident?" asked Gara, gazing at
Jason intently.
"Okay, you won't believe this but it is the truth. Where i come
from, you folks are nothing but a bunch of celluloid images in a
Japanese Animation called Bastard: God of Destruction." explained Jason.
"The last episode I saw dealt with the cyclops released by Abigail.
Supposedly, Darschu's power attack that wiped out the cyclops also
destroyed Abigail. But with me here, Abigail might not have been
destroyed."
"Jason, how did you manage to heal so quickly? You were hurt badly
when my father and I brought you to the healer." said Felicia, finally
getting the nerve to ask something with all the high ranking people
around her.
"I guess it might be part of the wish I was granted?"
"Wish?" asked Darschu.
"I don't want to go into a full explanation, but simply said, a
Goddess granted a wish I had. Tia, what did you mean before when you
said 'not what we felt'?"
"How much of the battle with the orcs do you remember?" asked Geo,
going on a hunch.
"Not much. I came running when I heard Fel-chan scream the first
time. I attempted to attack but was sorely beaten. Then Fel-chan
screamed again as the orcs tore the armor from her bo...person. Then
things are a blank till I awoke here w...with A...arshes n...next to
me." Jason finished with a whisper, blushing once again.
"Then you don't remember doing those moves and calling on nature?"
asked Felicia, not believing her ears.
"No. What did I do?" asked Jason confusedly.
Looking at Geo for permission and getting a nod, Felicia said "One
move you did was this while spinning in mid-air." as she rose up on one
leg, with the other out thrust, her hands in a fighting stance.
Recognizing it instantly, Jason said bowing his head slightly "I
should not have been able to do a 'Hurricane Kick'. What else did I
do?"
"The next one looked like a stomp and then you slapped your chest
armor. Then your hands moved incredibly fast as you walked through the
orcs." said Felicia, stomping each foot, her legs wide apart. She
started to move her hands rapidly as she moved forward, reminding Jason
of an old style locomotive moving down the tracks.
"Okay, that is a move I saw on an animation with a sumo wrestler.
Did I leave groves in the stone?"
"Yes."
"Okay, that move I christened the 'Bulldozer' because it combined a
earth trembling stomp with a 100-hand slap. I should not have been able
to do either maneuver. A person needs chi or magic to pull that off."
explained Jason.
"Finally, you called upon nature to wipe out the orc." said
Felicia, barely containing her excitement at recounting the tail.
"What were the words I used?" asked Jason, dreading the answer he
knew was coming.
"You said 'Earth', 'Fire', 'Wind', and 'Water', and the orcs fled."
said Felicia.
Sighing, Jason mumbled "At least I didn't say 'heart'."
"But you did." said Felicia quietly.
"W...what was the result?" asked Jason, dread renewing itself
exponentially.
"You...you healed me just before you went unconscious." replied
Fel-chan, receiving looks from those present.
"Oh brother, to many cartoons..." mumbled Jason quietly. Looking
back towards Shiela, Jason inquired "Now, what is to be done with me?"
"It is still to be decided, but for now you remain our guest."
said Shiela, royally.
"Aye, m'lady." replied Jason, bowing. "Where are my clothes that I
might get freshened up? Also, where's the...the lavatory?"
"Lavatory?" asked Tia.
Motioning Geo, Jason whispered his rephrased question in his ear.
"Down the hall, third door on the right." stated Geo as everyone else
caught on finally.
"Okay, about my clothes..." started Jason.
"They had to be cut off to wrap on your bandages." said Felicia.
Looking at the Princess, she continued with a slight bow "Princess,
would there be anything in storage for him in his size?"
"I will have a servant look shortly." said Shiela with a smile.
"I'll help." volunteered Felicia.
"Okay." replied as Shiela exited the room, pulling Felicia behind
her.
After a few moments of silence, Tia said "We better go so you can
get cleaned up."
Nodding his thanks, Jason said "It would be greatly appreciated."
Tia, with Darschu in tow, exited the room, followed by Gara, shaking his
head. As Arshes came to the doorway, Jason tried "Arshes...a moment..."
Stopping, Arshes turned back towards him asking "Yes?"
"I...I want to apologize..."tried Jason, redness once again coming
to his cheeks.
"For what?" she asked, stepping closer to Jason.
"F...for my reaction to your presence." stated Jason, the blush
confirming it's pressence.
"That was the first time someone reacted to my pressence the way
you did."
Bowing his head, Jason mumbled "But screaming and jumping clear of
the bed is not good...manners."
"Many men would have given their lives to be where you were."
Arshes said, with a smile and mischievousness playing in her eyes.
"Arshes, please don't. I feel embarrassed enough as is, that it
happened." said Jason, begging slightly.
"Jason, relax." said Arshes softly, lifting up his downcast gaze.
"You do have great power about you but you inhibit yourself too much to
let it come out."
"I know..."
"Best get ready, the meal will be ready soon."
At the sound of food, Jason's stomach growled deeply. Chuckling
softly, Arshes said, walking towards the door, "Sounds like a part of
you is functioning properly. I wonder what other parts.."
"ARSHES!!" yelled Jason, racing to the bed. Picking up a pillow,
Jason set it tailing after her.
Finding the lavatory, Jason set to work getting cleaned up. In the
corner, he found that a bath had been drawn for him. Unwinding the
bandages and undressing, Jason dove into the sunken bath. Ten minutes
later, he rinsed off and toweled dried.
A knock at the door drew his attention. Opening it, he found
Felicia standing there holding a set of clothes. Motioning her inside,
he said "could you please set those on the counter." Fel did so and
waited, gazing at the man before her.
"Fel-chan, could you please leave? I kinda like to get dressed
without someone watching me." said Jason, gently.
"Alright." replied Fel, exiting the lavatory, grinning
mischievously. "Hurry, the evening meal will be served soon."
"Okay, I'll try." replied Jason, looking over the garments. He
found a loose, billowy creme-colored blouse and a pair of dark tan/brown
shorts. On the floor, he found a broad leather belt and a pair of calf
length, leather boots. 'Man, this reminds me of the renaissance garb I
bought up at Bristol this past summer.' he thought. 'Earth tones must
suit me.'
Dressing quickly, Jason looked at his reflection in a mirror,
nodding approvingly. 'All I am missing now are a set of forearm bracers
and a warhammer hanging from my belt.' he thought with a chuckle.
Exiting the lavatory, he found Fel waiting. Giving him an
appraising glance, she said "You look good, especially for someone who
doesn't come from around here."
Giving her an appraising glance, Jason said "You also look lovely
as usual. That white frock you are wearing really compliments your
tanned skin and blue hair. Especially considering that yesterday you
were fighting orcs."
"True." she replied, giggling softly.
Offering his arm, Felicia slipped hers into his and they proceeded
to the dining hall under Felicia`s guidance.
Entering the main doors, Jason took one step inside and stopped.
"Why is everyone standing and looking at us?" he whispered quickly to
Felicia.
"Not us, you. I guess the story spread of what you did against the
orcs yesterday." whispered Felicia back. "Let's continue walking."
"Okay..." whispered Jason, swallowing a lump that appeared in his
throat. Taking a hesitant step, the couple proceeded forward. "Where
are we suppose to sit?" he asked quietly.
"See those two empty places at the main table?" replied Felicia
quietly.
"Yeah..." Jason replied, as his mind made the connection. "We
can't...those are reserved for special guests...not someone like me..."
"Jason, yes. Now come on." Felicia responded with a tug towards
the main table where Darschu, Geo, Princess Sheila, Tia, Gara, and
Arshes Nei were seated. Darschu, Geo, and Gara had bemused expressions
on their faces. Sheila wore a look of formality upon her face.
As the two passed a table, Jason noticed that three armored
soldiers traded back and forth almost heated words. Trying to put it
out of his mind, he concentrated on remaining conscious.
As they closed on the table, Sheila stood and said loudly
"Greetings, Sir Jason and Lady Felicia, it is good to see that you could
join us?"
Blushing brightly, Jason bowed, saying "Thank you for your kind
generousity, m'lady." Felicia also joined Jason in bowing before the
princess.
Taking a seat next to Gara, Jason gazed about wide eyed, taking in
all the scenery. He noted that each legion of soldiers had a specific
color scheme and trademark creature. Maroon and gold were associated
with a panther-like cat. Red and white had a dragon, while the bear
legion had adopted blue and silver as their colors.
Soon, the meal was served. Getting a nudge from Gara, Jason took a
scoop of vegetables that looked like a cross between a carrot and a
cauliflower and passed it down the table. As the meat platter passed
him, Jason grabbed several slices of moist, thin sliced beef looking
hunks. Grabbing a piece of bread as it passed him, Jason sopped up the
juices from the meat.
Taking a drink from goblet before him, Jason found a very potent
wine. Wheezing slightly as the drink hit his stomach, Felicia leaned
over and asked "What's wrong?"
Grasping for a breath, Jason replied softly "Too strong...need
water." To his left, Jason heard Gara chuckle deeply, but softly.
Motioning a servant over, Felicia managed to get him a goblet of
water, which he drank down immediately. Getting another goblet full,
Jason looked up at Gara to see a large grin on his face.
The meal proceeded along without too many more interruptions until
just before dessert. Several soldiers at the Falcon, black and gold,
table became boisterous.
Suddenly a soldier stood up after being asked to quiet down.
"Princess, who is that a commoner can eat with you while a hero sits
with the regular soldiers?" the soldier asked, looking from Jason to
Sheila.
"What do you mean, sir...?" asked Sheila, rising to her feet.
"I am Sir Crodyn, of the Falcons. What I mean is this. I do not
believe that he," pointing to Jason, "fought the way I heard. I,
myself, bested eight orcs and two giants. Yet, I sit with the rest of
the soldiers." the soldier replied.
"Your accomplishments are recognized and greatly appreciated,
but..." started Sheila.
"Princess, would you really believe a story about a man not being
from here? I heard that the woman with him now was either unconscious
the entire time or the one actually doing the magic responsible." Crodyn
interrupted.
"Sir Crodyn..." started Sheila once again to be interrupted again
but not by Crodyn but by a voice from the end of the table.
"Sir Crodyn.," said Jason, "I know how you feel. I myself feel
that I don't belong up here..."
"See! He agrees with me." interrupted Crodyn, to all around him.
Glancing to his left, Jason saw that everyone at the head table was
looking at him. "Sir Crodyn, you did not let me finish. I agree that I
feel that I should be the one honored this day but circumstances have
proved otherwise."
Approaching the head table, Crodyn stood before Jason. "Then sir,"
he sneered, "I challenge you to single combat to see if you truly are
worthy to sit where you do."
"Sir Crodyn, you are..." started Sheila.
"Princess, please." Jason said, looking at Sheila. She could see a
pained look in his eyes.
"Jason, why do you do this?" Jason heard from his right.
"Fel-chan, this something I must do for myself."
Looking back at Sir Crodyn, "Okay, I accept. When and where?"
"Here and now."
Gulping quietly, Jason asked "Would it be too much to ask that we
move it outside? I don't want to hurt any innocent bystanders."
"Fine. Weapons?"
"Whatever you want to use." replied Jason without a thought. As
the grin spread across Sir Crodyn's face, Jason's stomach dropped out of
his body.
"Central courtyard, ten minutes." said Crodyn, exiting the hall to
get his weapons and armor.
"Jason, why? You just healed." ordered Geo, moving behind him.
Breathing deeply once, Jason turned to the people at the head table
and said "He challenged my honor. Usually, I let it slide, but not this
time."
Turning to Felicia, Jason asked "Fel-chan, could you fetch those
hammers from your father's forge that I used battling those orcs? I'd
rather use something I am somewhat familiar with."
"Armor?"
"Ah...forearm bracers, gloves, shin guards, and chestplate,
please."
Nodding, Felicia scampered to her father's forge, retrieving what
Jason has asked for.
Sighing softly, Jason mumbled "Time to deal with what fate has
dealt me."
"Jason, do you think you can handle him?" asked Sheila, concerned.
"No." replied Jason matter-of-factly. "Geo, be ready with your
healing spells. I don't think I will be walking away this time."
'This time??' thought several of those present.
Standing up, Jason walked like a man condemned towards the main
doorway and out of the hall. Suddenly Jason lashed out at the wall with
his fist. 'Why? Why do I do this to myself?' he mentally screamed at
himself.
'Because you like it. That and you didn't want to loose face
before these people.' he replied
'I'll loose a lot more than my face now.'
'Oh well.' Jason replied mentally, heading out into the courtyard.
Coming out into the daylight, Felicia met him at the doorway. Donning
the armor, Jason picked up the hammers like grasping the hand of a good
friend, doing several practice swings. Then reality hit him once again.
Felicia had also adorned her armor.
"Fel-chan, what are you doing in your armor?"
Flexing her enlarged clawed hands, she said "I thought you could
use some help."
"Thank you, but please stay out of this. I...I don't want you to
get hurt on my account." Jason replied.
"Don't worry so much. I can take care of myself, remember." Fel
replied, laying an armor hand of the side of Jason's face gently.
Putting his hand over hers and closing his eyes, Jason whispered "I
know. I just..."
"Jason, relax. Everything will be fine. If anything goes wrong,
you just use the moves you used before." she said with a grin.
"That's just it, I don't know how I did those moves." he responded
quietly.
"I'm sure you'll figure it out." she said, giving him a peck on the
cheek. Felicia couldn't help But giggle softly as Jason's expression
became blissful as his head tipped slightly to one side.
Shaking his head to allow reality back in, Jason practiced with the
hammers a little more. In the middle of a move, Jason stopped at the
sound of a rhythmic pounding in the ground.
Jason's eyes went wide, so did Felicia's, when Sir Crodyn came
around the corner into the courtyard. It wasn't so much Sir Crodyn, but
the armor he had on. Standing at just under 12' in height, the armor
extended from Sir Crodyn, making him stronger and better armed while
protecting him in an armored shell.
"Now we know how he defeated those giants and orcs that he had."
whispered Jason to Felicia. Felicia only nodded absentmindedly in
response.
Looking upwards, Jason saw that the assembled people were taken
aback by the armor. Waving and smiling weakly to Princess Sheila, who
waved back hesitantly, Jason turned back to the armor, shaking his head.
Laughing maniacly, Sir Crodyn asked "Ready to die?"
Holding up one hand with his index finger extended, Jason replied
"Aaannncht, define 'die'. I thought this was a personal challenge to
see who was better, not mortal combat."
"Only one will walk away." Crodyn sneered, taking a swing at
Jason's head with the cleaver mounted at the end of the right arm.
Ducking and rolling away, Jason looked up and said "The armor's
good but you telegraph like Western Union." Rushing the armor, Jason
swung and connected with the hammer in his right hand. Not believing
that his eyes told him he barely scratched the paint job, Jason was
lifted off his feet by a massive uppercut from the left arm extension
claws.
Landing hard on his back, he looked up to see the armor approaching
him steadily. Dreading his decision to fight, Jason regained his feet,
backing away, wishing absently for either a Hardsuit or a power loader.
"Trying to run? I thought as much. You never fought those orcs, did
you?" sneered Crodyn.
Jason dodged to the right as the left hand claws struck the ground
where he would have been. Unfortunately, he ran into the right hand
cleaver as it took a slash at him. Blood began to flow from the gouge
in his right bicep. Screaming in anguish, Jason backed away, holding
his right arm as his blood flowed through his fingers.
Sinking to his knees, Jason offered up "You are a better fighter
than me, Crodyn. I surrender."
Playing back his right arm, Crodyn replied "There is no surrender,
only your death ends this match."
As Crodyn unloaded, a force hit his armor from behind, throwing off
his death blow. Turning towards his new opponent, Crodyn saw Felicia
taking up a battle stance. "This was a match to see who was better.
You have shown it, now leave." she spat.
Seeing Felicia fighting for him, Jason held out his hand, saying
"Fel, don't..."
Seeing this, an idea formed in Crodyn's head. "Maybe you just need
the proper incentive to fight." he sneered as he swung at Felicia with
his cleaver.
"No, don't..." tried Jason, attempting to stand.
Felicia rolled away from the cleaver, only to be hit, hard, with
the claws. Picking up her unconscious form, Crodyn turned back towards
Jason, saying "Fight or she dies."
"Okay, I'll fight you." replied Jason, sighing heavily while
attempting to get into a fighting stance.
"Alright, I'll go ahead and kill her anyways to make sure you
fight." sneered Crodyn, drawing back his right arm.
Jason's mind said as the alarms went off. "Sub-conscious, take
the helm. I'm going out for Chinese. Want anything?" as he roared
"NNNOOOOOO!!!!", an energy aura enveloping him completely.
Holding the hammers out by their lacings, Jason began to spin,
gaining speed, beginning to rise from the ground. Flying towards
Crodyn's armor, Jason bashed through the left arm to release Felicia.
Crodyn stumbled backwards from the bashing he received.
Stopping at her side, Jason gently lifted her and placed her out of
the way. As he turned to go back, Jason felt a hand grab his. Looking
back, his eyes met Felicia's, which held a great deal of concern.
"Fel-chan, rest. I'll be back as soon as I deal with upstart." Jason
said with a grin. Felicia's concern doubled upon seeing the almost
lifeless gaze he had given her, the spark of sanity almost gone.
Turning to face the advancing Crodyn, Jason yelled "Crodyn, I give
you this one opportunity to cease and leave in one piece."
"Ha, you can't defeat me!" sneered Crodyn, with a little fear
keeping into his voice.
"Fine." said Jason, drawing on all of his anger, images of Felicia
at the hands of the orcs entering his mind. "Cry havoc and let slip the
dogs of war!!!"
Ducking the cleaver swing, Jason reared back both hammers and
struck at the knee joint of the armor. Upon contact, the energy Jason
focused into the hammers released, destroying the knee joint. Not
knowing anything else to yell at the strike, Jason bellowed " It's
Hammertime!!!"
"You'll pay for that." yelled Crodyn, attempting a claw strike.
Rolling out of the way, Jason went up into a spinning hand stand.
Extending his legs in different directions, the people watched in
amazement as he lifted off the ground. Flying towards Crodyn like a
crazy top, Jason hit the armor enough times to knock it off it's already
precarious balance. Touching the ground, Jason summoned up bands of
solid stone to entrap the monstrous armor.
Managing to get free of the armor, Crodyn fell to his knees before
Jason. "Finish me." he stated dejectedly.
Mentally, Jason's conscious mind took over, after letting the
subconscious have a little fun.
"Sir Crodyn, no. Princess Sheila does things for a reason,
especially things we might not agree with. I hope this has taught you a
lesson." replied Jason.
Crodyn stood up and stalked away. Turning back to Felicia, Jason
took two steps and faltered on the third. Felicia ran to his side to
support him. She heard him mumble "I have got to stop over doing it."
Geo suddenly appeared before the two, ordering to get him back
upstairs into bedroom.
High above, Princess Sheila nodded, knowing that Metallicana now
had another defender.
Darschu commented "He must learn control, but I like his style."
Hearing this, Tia responded "Good, you've been drafted to help
teach him."
Looking at Tia slightly surprised, Gara clamped a hand on Darschu's
shoulder, saying "You aren't the only one whose been drafted."
Arshes Nei gazed down at the figure practically being carried up to
the guest room. 'Jason...no, Jazz, I hope you are ready to face what
this world can throw at you.' she thought, thinking about the images she
pulled from his head.