This puppy has practically been completed finally.
Enjoy.
C&C welcomed. Private email please.
Jazz
"But I want the Federation back....I wanna serve root beer."
Disclaimer: Bastard is owned by Jump Comics and others. I opted
to write this of my own free will. So, in other words, please
don't sue me.
[...] indicate thoughts.
Prologue
"Twice upon a time..."
Victor Borge
"In the beginning, there was darkness..."
"That's a little too far back..."
PCHammer and Lord Fahrfugnugen-Hammertime #1
S44 made his way to the Eifrig mechanical room east
entrance. Having seen a great deal of water there earlier 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're 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 light tapping on his
shoulder. Turning around quickly, Jason took an involuntary step
backwards at the sight before him. Standing at just over 5',
the young lady of about 15-16 years had long, raven colored hair,
bright flowing robes, and a mallet strapped to her back. Her
most distinguishing were the markings on her forehead.
"Wh...Who are you? How did you get in here?" asked Jason,
since a person usually needs a key to get into any of the
mechanical rooms on campus.
"I am looking for one Jason Jensen." the young lady said
impatiently.
[Why me?] he thought.
"My names's Skuld, and I'm a goddess." she said, sizing him
up. "Now, can you point out Jason, he has earned a wish."
"A w..wish...." Jason said, his voice trailing off and his
brow furrowing up.
"Hmmmph. Fine, I'll find him myself." Skuld said
impatiently, turning to go.
"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? And what do you mean wish?"
"I have to get back to the temple to make sure nothing
happens."
"Like what?" Jason asked curiously, raising an eyebrow.
"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 just before impact, Skuld looked at Jason
strangely. Not feeling the hammer land, 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 and wholely, 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 bet on it."
After a few more moments of silence, Jason inquired "So,
what is this about a wish?"
Skuld brightened up slightly. "Oh yeah, I'm here on a job.
Like I said, you have earned a wish. Now, I think I might know
why."
"Okay...what are the limitations?" asked Jason, blushing
slightly while remembering a certain movie with a blue genie.
"No limits..."
"Okay, what about parts or sections?"
"Parts?"
"Let's 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 slowly. "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 to Jason's amazement. 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, you have to state it in the form of a formal wish."
replied Skuld shaking her head this time and smiling.
"Okay, sorry. I wish to A) travel to different realms where
I will B) learn new and interesting things and gain skills, C)
developing new powers beyond those of normal men, and D) possibly
find someone who is truly right for me."
Skuld began to glow once again, rising a few inches 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 in and around him,
changing him. Falling...falling...falling, Jason managed to
catch a glimpse of light beneath him. Swallowing his scream,
Jason fell into...
...his bed(1st bounce), then out of bed(2nd bounce), hitting
the floor. Usually, Jason, like a lot of people, prefers to wake
up gradually. But at certain times, he can wake up at a moments
notice. Unfortunately this was neither of those times.
Getting up off the floor, Jason shook his head, as if trying
to shake the rest of the dream, almost nightmare from his head.
Taking a puff of his inhaler, he got his breathing under control.
Damn! First for a dream to give me an asthma attack.' he
thought with slight wonder. 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, very
mature and definitely female, say [You have but to wish for it
for real...]
Looking around, he didn't see anyone, especially since it
was after 12 noon and females were allowed on the floor. Vowing
never to drink Marriott, campus food service, brand coffee again,
he went to the bathroom to get cleaned up for the day.
Anime Traveler #1 The Adventure Begins...
A self-insertion fanfic
by Jason Jensen crf_jensenja@crf.cuis.edu
C&C appreciated, asbestos underwear is on
a Bastard: God of Destruction based fanfic
(with more planned in the near future[hopefully])
See end for Credits, Thanks, and Other assorted fun stuff.
Chapter 1 Dreams Can Come True
"Working late by moonlight, Sleeping late by daylight, Never
late for his shift at night, he's the one called Service Man."
Jason Jensen-After having seen too much Sailor Moon.
"I think I'm living a fanfic."
Phillip Moyer-Serendipity
"Dispatch to S44 for a radio check." The call rang
throughout the tunnel.
Retrieving the radio from his backpocket, "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 backpocket.
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 on 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 recall some of the crap
she's been pulling to keep you two apart you told me about. 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 lent 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, how did your wish turn out?" 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, but 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
Lutheran Church Missouri Synod(LCMS)background, he had adopted a
lot of the values of Lutheranism. (For those who are slightly
clueless about LCMS. Take German Lutheranism at it's prime and
bring it to America. Very rigid, very traditional, ultra, ULTRA
conservative. -author) "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 season
to the heating season had taken place at the Physical Plant and
all over campus. Modifying his "round", Jason got started on it
at his usual 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 usual 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
(anime.muck.com 2035 Check it out). Lately he had met a young
"lady" named Felicia, or Feli-chan. He knew to be careful
because things 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 Feli-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 generosity. Jason always tried
to act like a gentleman not matter what, but his friends 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 art of massage.
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 ever present 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, Mindy Timmons this time, 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 the valves labeled 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...aahhh...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,
flashlight, and other security paraphernalia swinging on his
belted 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, panic encroaching.
"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, by the way, all the campus elevators have been
checked already and are working fine."
"Thanks." Jason replied thankfully.
"Well, gotta check in 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 nine
buildings 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 two
vehicles 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 the 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, an adventure always 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. Grabbing instinctfully for the VCR remote,
he pushed the play button. His mind registered the beginnings of
a Medieval based melody. Listening intently to the narrator,
Jason heard "Several hundred years after the fall of human
civilization, it was a lawless period, a time without
order...only blood, flesh, bone, and iron. It was also a time of
sorcery. Having been terrorized by demonic creatures their
entire lives, human beings were miserably inadequate, forced to
subsist in a barren, bastille environment." [Ah, Darschu.] his
mind realized.
Looking up, he watched the opening sequences intently. His
arms suddenly giving out and collapsing back onto the bed,
Jason's mind wandered as he said "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. [Like Metallicana...] he
finished in his mind.
"...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.
[To live in interesting times.] his mind concluded, thinking
on the Chinese proverb, or curse, depending on how you looked at
it.
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 through, 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 Visitors
"I don't think we're in Kansas anymore, Toto."
-Dorothy-Wizard of Oz
"I arrived in a McDonalds."
-Chris Mako' Meadows-Universe According to Chris 1
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. Off in the distance he saw a
bright red streak rise from the ground followed by a rising cloud
of dust.
[This almost looks like...] he thought to himself in partial
disbelief. Reaching up to adjust his glasses, he found they
weren't on his face. Looking around frantically, Jason depended
on them with his life. Being very nearsighted by nature, Jason
often times forgot he had his glasses on. When he didn't, he had
been known to go into a near panic attack.
"You!!" he heard behind him, interrupting the search that
had started.
Looking behind him and finding that everything was in focus,
Jason asked "ME?!?"
"Yeah you, pick up your sword and defend yourself. The
enemy is coming this way."
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, weaponless, and wearing strange clothing.
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, his chest heaving with each breath. Pulling out
his inhaler, Jason breathed in the medicine as deeply as he
could. His mind also raced as to why everything was crystal
clear without his glasses. He looked up to see the armored lady
he had met earlier approaching carrying a mess of armor pieces.
"My father isn't here now. 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
closer." 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 on when a female scream echoed through the forge.
[FELICIA!!!] yelled Jason's mind. Striping off most of the
armor except for gauntlets, forearm bracers, shin guards, and
chest plate, Jason ran to the nearest weapon wall, searching for
a weapon he could use. Not having been trained with a sword
before, he grabbed to twin hammer-like weapons, thankful for his
theatre tech training, and ran towards the door. Jason failed to
notice two things. The first being the iron plaque above the
holder for the two warhammers. The second being a brief and
somewhat dull flash of light centered on the warhammers.
<Holding Out For A Hero-Bonnie Tyler>
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 glanced down to see with slight
horror that the sword had cut through the chest plate and drawn
blood. Looking up, Jason saw scaly hand just as he was hefted up
by his head. "So the human thinks it can defeat us?" sneered the
orc holding Jason.
"Yes..." mumbled Jason through the orc's hand. Bringing the
hammers around, Jason flew backwards several yards before he
could connect. Jason's ire rose as he fought it to stay in
control and not let his anger take over completely.
Jason staggered 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 liquid dripping from his fingertips into
his palm. Jason's head jerked upright towards Felicia when she
screamed once again as the orcs forcefully removed the armor from
her body.
Suddenly the fire of anger in his eyes died, replaced by a
cold, lifeless, calculating stare.
Mentally, a war between his conscious and sub-conscious
raged. At Felicia's first scream, Jason's conscious mind
slipped, allowing 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
several of them repeatedly.
Picking up sections of her armor, Felicia did a quick repair
to it 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 into the ranks of the orcs.
Calling up the magic she knew, Felicia joined the young man
in battling the orcs. Casting a fireball at one orc while
disemboweling another, she watched in amazement as the young man
did moves she didn't think were possible. Especially with the
way he started out in the fight.
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.
<Captain Planet Ending Theme-Captain Planet Cartoon>
"EARTH!!!!" The man glowed green. The land beneath the
orcs began to shake, knocking them to their knees. Spirals of
hard rock jetted from the ground to pierce several orcs, pinning
them to the ground and killing them.
"FIRE!!!!" The man's glow took a blaze orange glow as fire
erupted from the ground, causing several orcs to scream in agony.
"WIND!!!!" The glow took on a more pale blue color as a
gale of wind crushed some of the orcs to the ground while others
were picked up and tosses into stone walls.
"WATER!!!!!" A torrent of water gushed from all around the
young man to wash the remaining orcs away.
Felicia soon found herself under the glowing, lifeless 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 like a gentle caress.
Felicia felt a wave 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 the blank expression
on his face deepen as he fell forward into the dirt. Rushing to
his side, Felicia rolled him over to see the multitude of gashes,
cuts, and bruises on his face, arms, legs, and chest.
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 approached the pair and
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 war is 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 seems that two people held off a legion of orcs,
who were trying to get into the city and under our defenses." the
soldier said, saluting. The healer had a look of 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 how 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 equipped.
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 and 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, Yohko 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? Before, he had the residue of high
magic about him...yet now he doesn't. Could he be a spy?" 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.
Several hours passed, Felicia gazed at the man often 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 tall
dark elven 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 Hello Nurse!
"You never get a second chance to make a first impression."
-TV ad.
"Oh, and ICZER-2, bite me."
-Zoner-Undocumented Features #4
...screamed, clearing the bed by at least three feet just as
the door to the guest chamber opened. 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 broad shoulder armor, a young woman wearing
what his mind registered as a short medieval 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, turning around to face the mythical group behind him.
"Okay..." Turning back towards the princess, Jason said,
looking about in uncertainty and shrugging, "Princess Sheila,
hmmm...how's life?"
Sheila took a step backwards as Gara and Darschu stepped in
front of her, shocked that the young man had actually called her
by name. Seeing this, Jason said "I am unarmed as Geo probably
knows and don't have the power to hurt anyone, let alone want to.
Hmm...my name is Jason by the way. That is if you want to
address me..."
"That's not what we felt the other day." mumbled the peasant
dressed woman.
Turning towards her, Jason said "Tia, what are you talking
about? The only powerful magic users in this room are Darschu
and A...Arshes...Nei." Jason looked back towards the bed, to see
Arshes Nei finally extract herself from the blankets. Jason
couldn't help but tilt his head to one side slightly, sighing
softly.
"He may not be threatening but he sure is a restless
sleeper."
Jason looked downwards immediately, his cheeks turning a
bright red. "I...I have always been that way. I thought it had
stopped but I guess not."
Jason glanced up in time to see Tia smack Darschu upside his
head for a comment he probably made. 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'm in Metallicana. Arshes, Gara, Darschu
are in the same room, not wanting to kill anyone, so I take it
that is after the cyclops incident." started Jazz, trying to
mentally and vocally figure things out.
"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 magic?" 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, shaking it, "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, I christened that move 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, making the connection
to a cartoon with a sumo wrestler who was a part of a team of
street fighting individuals.
"Finally, you called upon nature to wipe out the orc." said
Felicia, barely containing her excitement at recounting the tale.
"What were the words I used?" asked Jason, dreading the
answer he practically knew was coming.
"You said "Earth", "Fire", "Wind", and "Water", and the
orcs, that were still alive, fled." said Felicia, with a grin.
Sighing, Jason mumbled, thinking of a certain Hero for the
Earth, "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,
shaking his head. Looking back up and towards Sheila, Jason
inquired "Now, what is to be done with me?"
"It is still to be decided, but for now you remain our
guest." said Sheila, royally.
"Aye, m'lady." replied Jason, bowing. "Where are my clothes
that I might get freshened up? Also, where's the...the
lavatory?" as the call of nature rang through.
"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 Sheila with a
smile.
"I'll help." volunteered Felicia.
"Okay." replied as Sheila exited the room, pulling Felicia
behind her.
"Ahhh...the things I had in my pant's pockets. Where is it
all, please?"
Pointing to a chest acting as small table by the bed, Geo
replied "All that you had on you is in that chest."
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 presence.
"That was the first time someone reacted to my presence the
way you did." Arshes replied with a slight grin.
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..." he replied, thinking she was referring to his
usual talents.
"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 trailing 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 looked for any sign
of a wound. Finding none, he dove into the sunken bath. Ten
minutes later, he rinsed off and toweled dried.
A knock at the door drew his attention away from looking
around the ornate room. Opening it after he had wrapped a towel
about his waist, 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, nervously.
"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 war hammer hanging from my belt.] he
thought with a chuckle. Not finding any pockets, Jason looked
around for a small pouch or something. Looking back at the
counter, he noticed a belt pouch, which was quickly donned. Soon
his wallet, inhaler, and keys took up residence there in.
Wondering why he still hung onto his keys, Jason shrugged it off,
reaching for the door handle.
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, wearing a
chainmail two piece."
"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 generosity, m'lady." Felicia also joined Jason in bowing
before the princess. Since she had heard that he wasn't from
here, Sheila had set herself up to deal with any possible
response he might give. [He does know some court etiquette.
How?] her mind boggled.
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 throat and
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 gobletful, Jason looked up at Gara to see a large grin on
the ninja master's face, causing him in turn to fume slightly.
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
by a few of the servers. "Princess, how is it 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 that 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. Swallowing the lump in his throat and
taking a deep breath, Jason continued "Sir Crodyn, you did not
let me finish. I agree that I feel that I should not 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 whispered 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 any innocent bystanders
getting hurt."
"Fine. Weapons?"
"Whatever you want to use." replied Jason without a thought
and then remembering he had choice of weapons. As the grin
spread across Sir Crodyn's face, Jason's stomach dropped out of
his body, as his mind kicked itself repeatedly.
"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 chest plate,
please."
Nodding, Felicia scampered to her father's forge, retrieving
what Jason has asked for.
Sighing softly, Jason mumbled, shaking his head, "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.] his honor side responded.
[I'll loose a lot more than my face now.]
[Oh well. You wished to be here.] Jason shrugged mentally,
heading out into the courtyard. Coming out into the daylight,
Jason found Felicia waiting 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 adoned her armor.
"Fel-chan, what are you doing in your armor?"
Flexing her now armored and 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, smiling and 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 towards one of the many balconies, 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 "That
armor's pretty good but you telegraph like Western Union." Sir
Crodyn paused momentarily, not understanding reference, which
Jason had hoped. Rushing the armor, Jason swung and connected
with the hammer in his right hand. Not believing what his eyes
told him as he barely scratched the paint job, Jason went flying,
completely lifted off his feet by a massive uppercut from the
left arm extension claws of Crodyn's armor.
Landing hard on his back, he looked up to see the armor
approaching him steadily, it's feet sending shockwaves into the
ground with each step. 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 as the cleaver ripped out.
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
blood soaked left 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, his blood
pressure rising significantly.
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 anyway to make sure
you fight." sneered Crodyn, drawing back his right arm.
Jason's mind reeled as alarms went off. Jazz's conscious
mind decided that at this moment something a lot more feral
should be in control and opted to go for Chinese.
"NNNOOOOOO!!!!" clawed it's way from Jazz's throat as an energy
aura enveloped him completely.
Up on the balcony, Geo watched with great concern, seeing
that Jason fought a loosing battle. Suddenly he, Darschu, and
Arshes reeled back as magical energy flooded the courtyard,
focused on and around the young man.
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 force of the
blows raining down on the walking armor.
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 upon on all of his anger, images
of Felicia at the hands of the orcs. "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
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.
At those two words, Jason's conscious mind took over full
force, rather than allowing the subconscious to wreck continued
vengeance on the knight.
"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 steely. [Yeah, don't mess
with the serviceman.] he added mentally.
Crodyn stood up and stalked away. Turning back to Felicia,
Jason took two steps and then faltered on the third. Felicia ran
to his side to support him. She heard him mumble "I have got to
stop over doing it...what happened? Did I win?" after he looked
at the downed armor that Sir Crodyn used to pilot.
Geo suddenly appeared before the two, ordering two servants
to get him back upstairs into his bedroom.
High above, Princess Sheila nodded. Metallicana now had
another defender.
Darschu commented "He must learn control, but I do have to
admit one thing: He definitely has style."
Hearing this, Tia responded "Good, you've just been drafted
to help teach him."
Looking at Tia slightly surprised, Gara clamped a hand on
the newly drafted teacher's shoulder, laughing. "You aren't the
only one whose been drafted, Darschu."
Arshes Nei gazed down at the figure practically being
carried back up to the guest room. [Jason...no, Jazz, I hope you
are ready to face what this world will throw at you.] remembering
about the images she had seen from his head.