Post by David Hunter on May 28, 2019 20:09:12 GMT -5
Son of a bitch, he’s done it again.
David Hunter, the dumb-ass, is going to find himself on a headline listed as ‘Florida Man’ one of these days, only it’ll be on an alien planet in a different dimension and nobody is going to know what a ‘Florida’ is, which will only bring more credence to the fact this ‘Florida Man’, David Hunter, is a fucking idiot.
Seriously, I’m fairly convinced that David’s semblance is actually bad luck, which is simplifying things, but holy shit if it isn’t wrong.
So hear me out while David goes through the motions of once again finding himself with his hands tied together and once again being dragged through the halls of a place he’s never been to.
David was sent on a mission with a guy by the name of Dark Ace. A real brooder. Not quite an edgelord, but certainly somebody the ladies would get drenched for. He and David have some sort of history, so finding Ace as a member of Noxorus’ gang of villains was somewhat of a shock. Not an unwelcome one considering how well either of them get along, but still, enough of one that it put David on edge.
That was probably for the best considering Noxorus sent David and Ace to this planet called Atmos. On this planet there is an empire called Cyclonis, ruled by its technical queen despite being labeled master and being a female, Master Cyclonis.
Ace made it clear that naming things has never been the empire’s forte.
What is their forte, however, is complete and total domination of the galaxy and any other form of crystals they can get their hands. Crystals are the source of power for the entire galaxy and are a very good thing for trade, both the legal and not so legal kind.
Considering the majority of the planet is full of darkness, the people dragging David along look like the henchman of Skeletor, the henchman not even worth names are all in black, the technical queen wears a black cape that looks like Maleficent went a little bit extra, and his comrade’s name is Dark Ace I probably don’t have to tell you which side of legality Atmos sits on.
The crystals are relevant though. David and Ace were sent here by Noxorus in order to retrieve a specific crystal. The crystal seated on a very specific scepter.
A scepter currently and usually forever held by the ruler of the Cyclonis Empire.
You…you can see where this is going, can’t ya?
Conveniently enough, the person holding the scepter is precisely where David is being dragged. Literally. Dude hasn’t lifted his feet in a while.
The two people lugging him down the corridor towards the end are none other than Snipe and Ravess.
Like I said, not quite edgelord but pretty damn close. The 2000’s were a weird decade.
Snipe is a hulk of a man who probably could lift David by himself if he didn’t have to remain by his older sister’s side.
Ravess is a fairly attractive woman counteracted entirely by her pink hair and all around ‘I will kill you if you look at me’ personality. At least Larxene will talk to you before throwing a knife in your direction, Ravess will just shoot you with the slightest of glances.
At least Snipe’s nice enough to say hello before killing you, even if the brain cell the two siblings share is often kept to the older sister.
Oh, we’re almost there to the throne room. Um, I guess David got a bit too close to the sun and was captured. Ace’s presence also tripped off the alarms of everybody considering he was ousted from their army five or so years back. It was a doomed mission from the start, but you know by now David won’t let something like a mission failure stand in his way.
Or…kneel in his way.
Or sit in his way.
Dude’s been captured a lot, I’m starting to think this is a fetish.
Once the three of them reach the entrance to the throne room, the door opens. Ravess looks over her shoulder towards Ace, who’s been following the trio all throughout the corridors.
“You can stay out here. The last thing Master Cyclonis needs to see is you,” she growls.
Oof. Tensions are truly high.
“Well that seems kind of pointless. We both know I’m the best bet of leaving this place alive,” Ace says.
“This is precisely why you shouldn’t see her. She wants to see him alone,” Ravess adds.
Well at least the growl is gone, replaced instead by absolute hatred.
Ace can’t help but chuckle at the situation.
“Oh Lark…always one to hold a grudge…” he mutters.
“Wait, her name is Lark?” David asks.
Snipe smacks him in the back of his head. The groan that follows is somewhat muted by the chuckles that linger the hall.
“If he makes a move towards the throne room, shoot him,” Snipe says towards a few of the guards littered around us.
“Cold,” Ace says.
“It’s the least we could do for a traitor like you,” Ravess says.
Oh great the growl is back. And with rhyme this time.
And now I'm doing it.
“Goddamn Ace, what’d you do?” David asks.
Another whack to the back of the head by Snipe.
“I’ll tell you later. Just try not to die. And watch your mouth! Don’t say anything—” Ace’s tries to warn David, his words fading away as they walk away from the door, which closes before he can finish his sentence.
“Stupid, yeah, I figured. Thanks for the vote of confidence there,” David says.
Still staying sacked by the Sinister Siblings, David has a chance to peak around the gigantic throne room.
It’s black.
Just a whole lot of black.
The moon shining through in the windows above is a nice touch, but it’s counteracted by the purple sky’s darkness. The light shines nicely in front of the throne, which is conveniently where Ravess and Snipe drop their captive.
I miss the 2000’s.
David lets out another groan, his hands wrapped together in front of him in his lap.
He leans back, an audible crack emitting from his back before doing the same to his neck.
Ravess leers down at him, contempt oozing off her.
Pretty sure Snipe is trying to avoid people seeing him pick his nose.
A yawn escapes David’s lips, earning him another smack to the back of the head, this time by both the brother and sister.
“Y’all’re rude, treating guests like this,” he says.
“I was unaware we had guests. I only know of two invaders who have sought fit to make their way onto my planet uninvited,” a voice rings out.
It’s smooth. Enough to send shivers down David’s spine. The owner of the voice steps forward off of the throne and into the moonlight.
Her cloak, as described, hangs ominously around her with spikes popping up around her neck. Its bottom flows around her like a cape, leaving way for the black jumpsuit lining her body. The body of…a woman, wait a minute.
“Wait, I thought Ace said you were like…15,” David can’t help himself but to say.
Snipe raises the hand of the successful nose picking for yet another head smacking, but the voice’s owner raises her left hand. Snipe lowers the contaminated hand, before picking up her scepter containing the crystal they need.
“Dark Ace hasn’t seen me in five or so years. I’d imagine what he remembers of me is different than how I am now,” she says.
“Yeah, no shit. He described jail bait, and here I am in front of a stone cold mistress. Oofta, if I’d’ve known I was going to be meeting a succubus I would’ve at least worked on my hair,” David says.
The three people surrounding David say nothing. Ravess can’t help but glare, Snipe is trying not to piss himself, and the dark lady, well…she just kinda stares down at David.
“Excuse me?” she says.
“Oh, was that too blatant? Shit, sorry, I kinda forgot I was in the presence of royalty. My apologies, my queen,” David says.
He bows his head slightly. A gesture done in supposed earnest comes across to the other three as mocking, if Ravess’ squawking is any indication.
The Dark Lady slams her scepter against the floor, silencing Ravess and David.
“My name is Master Cyclonis. I am the leader of the Cyclonis Empire and ruler of all of Atmos. I am not to be disrespected in my own court,” she says.
“Which reminds me, who named you Cyclonis when your empire itself was named Cyclonis? Was that a conscious decision or does the empire’s name change to whomever rules it? Ace mentioned something about a grandmother but I didn’t really pay attention on account that it was mixed with so much disgust,” David says
“Disgust? Are you telling me that that traitor despises me so?” Cyclonis asks.
“No, pretty sure he just hates the concept of your existence. I’m sure if he sees you as you are now he’d totally realize how wrong he is,” David.
“What are you talking about?” Cyclonis.
“Wow, never thought I’d have to be blunt about this, but you’re hot! Attractive! A siren! A beauty! I never saw you when Ace did, but if this is any indication my 16 year old self would’ve been a fuckin disaster trying to control myself. Lucky for me now, I don’t have that problem,” David.
The silence that fills the room is just…wow. It’s bad. Ravess and Snipe glance at each other, trying to figure out the tone, or maybe figuring out how to clean up David’s corpse from all the body parts that’ll be spread.
“Mostly because I don’t bother controlling myself,” David adds in for good measure.
Ravess smacks her hand against her face, letting out a groan. Snipe just cringes, unsure himself of how to react to somebody like David.
Pretty sure they’ve never met anybody like David.
Pretty sure nobody’s met anybody like David.
Cyclonis, for her part, just stares at David. For the longest time, the two of them just lock eyes. The former’s face remains passive, showing no emotion, while the latter prefers a big ol’ smirk.
She breaks first, glancing up at her two subordinates.
“Is he always this arrogant?” she asks.
“Yes,” Ravess and Snipe answer in unison.
David, to his credit, just kind of shakes his head. He doesn’t lose the smirk though.
Cyclonis nods once.
She then grabs her scepter and points it at David’s face, crystal first.
“Tell me then, why have you and Dark Ace sought fit to set foot in my hallowed halls?” she asks.
“For that,” David says.
“For what?” Cyclonis asks.
Once again, her raises eyebrow indicates her composure being caught off guard.
“This,” David once again indicates.
“My scepter?” Cyclonis.
“I mean, I’d take it, it looks like a mean scepter, but no. I’m referring to the crystal,” David.
“So let me get this straight: you, an outsider, bring one of my empire’s biggest traitors back onto this planet, invade my home, and get captured by my soldiers, all for the sole purpose of obtaining the crystal powering my scepter, a crystal that has been passed down for generations within my dynasty, and that which I hold most precious to me?” Cyclonis.
David has the gall to look sheepish, despite the situation.
“To be fair, it’s a really nice crystal. I’m sure there’s a reason I’m supposed to get it. Unknown knows I’m still figuring out why I needed that damn hat…” he says.
Hey, I miss that hat.
The crystal is edged closer towards David’s face, placed right in between his eyes. He crosses them to get a shot at the rock.
“I will stomp you to dust. I will blast your body a thousand times with this crystal until long after you are a corpse—no, until long after you are merely a speck—no, a part of my throne room, a part that will never be cleaned or tailored to or erased, so that every day I walk towards and away from my throne, I will have the pleasure of stepping on your remains. If the time comes where my castle is to be renovated, I will assure that that spot specifically does not get changed, for the sole purpose that your life remains a part of this castle, so that every day you spend in the afterlife will be a reminder of the disrespect you have shown me and my empire. By the time you are forgotten to time, your spirit will have remembered nothing but the patter of my boots upon your section of the floor. Then, and only then, long after my death, will I allow that section of the floor to be erased from history, just like every pathetic part of your meaningless existence.”
Finally, her tangent done, she blinks.
By the time the crystal has etched a portion of itself into David’s forehead, the man in question just kind of stares up at Cyclonis. His eyes seem brighter, somehow.
His cheeks, however, are flushed.
“Um…wow,” he says.
“What?” Cyclonis asks.
“This is…wow. I…I had no idea. This is…certainly eye opening,” David says.
“What?” she again asks.
She removes the crystal, placing the scepter back upright.
Snipe looks down on him, both in the literal sense and metaphorical sense.
Oh no…
“Dude…” he says.
“I’m sorry! I didn’t expect it to just…happen like that,” David pleads.
“You’re disgusting,” Ravess says.
“What is happening?” Cyclonis asks.
For the third time in one day, David has managed to make Cyclonis lose her composure.
I guess I was right, this is a fetish for him.
David’s cheeks manage to somehow get redder.
“I’m sorry, I normally don’t get like this. This usually doesn’t happen. Wow, I am just…I never thought it would do it with that,” he says.
“Really? Of all things?” Snipe asks.
“You make me sick,” Ravess says.
I gotta agree with Ravess here.
She is now glancing away from David, trying to avoid his eyesight while a flush of her own crosses her face.
Somebody on the side of the throne room speaks up, the mask blocking their face.
“For the record, I can understand it,” he says.
Somebody else on the opposite side, a female, also in a mask, puts her word in.
“I get it, but come on, of all things…” she says.
“Ravess, explain to me what’s going on,” Cyclonis says.
Ravess’ blush somehow gets worse. She does not meet her Master’s eyes.
“With all due respect Master Cyclonis…I’d rather not,” she says.
“Fine. Snipe. Explain,” Cyclonis says through gritted teeth.
“Master Cyclonis, it appears that your speech has…excited…David,” Snipe says.
“Excited? How?” Cyclonis asks.
That's a fairly liberal usage of the term, even if it is technically correct.
“Holy shit, your innocence isn’t helping…” David whispers.
This time, Snipe, Ravess, me, and the two onlookers can’t help but groan, each sharing their own discontent with the situation David has found himself in.
“My…innocence?” Cyclonis asks.
“Permission to speak freely and as bluntly as possible, Master Cyclonis?” Ravess asks, her blush not disappearing.
“Granted.”
“The prisoner has received an erection from your very intense and specific threat.”
Oh God, if David had a camera.
Cyclonis' face…it doesn’t cringe, it almost looks affronted that such a thing would ever occur in her presence. Between all the red that now covers her face, it’s hard to tell if it’s the anger or the embarrassment.
It almost reminds David of another young heiress whose authority, when challenged, breaks down in a stuttering mess of words and adorable confusion.
All you really have to do is switch out all the black for the a whole lot of white and boom badda boom you have her.
But to David, the black only makes the situation worse.
Or…better, I guess, for him. Why are you like this David…?
David’s smiles a bit, trying to hide his nervousness and the glaring red across his own face.
He is not succeeding.
“Sorry, my sweet singing Lark…”
The next thing he feels is a scratch across his face and a raging Master trying to make due on her threat to hide her own flustered mess of a face.
“Too far, got it,” he says.
--------------------------------------------------------
One kicking to the ass later and a throw out by the Sinister Siblings, a now free David’s left arm is being dragged off its limb by Dark Ace.
“I can’t believe it,” Ace says.
Ditto.
“I know right? I never would’ve though that of all things would get me randy,” David says.
“Not that you idiot! The fact that Lark was so embarrassed she just…let you go!” Ace shouts.
“Oh, right…that.”
But also the other thing.
Ace grumbles, letting David’s arm go. The two continue their walk, side-by-side, approaching the exit.
“So on the downside, we don’t have the crystal—” David begins.
“I’ll get the crystal,” Ace says.
“—on the upside, I managed to get Lark flustered enough that she’ll never forget me,” David finishes.
“And I’m sure to you that constitutes as a win,” Ace states much more than he asks.
“Well of course. Any girl who never forgets you means you’re always on their mind,” David.
“I know a crystal gem pirate who’d agree and a gem commander who’d be affronted,” Ace.
“Which is convenient, because that’s our next stop,” David.
“Please, do not try and spin this into a positive. I’ve heard enough of your spins that the last thing I need is Atmos on my ass. Again.”
“Oh please, you escaped them once, what’s the big deal?”
“I escaped them through sheer luck and a lot more bullshit. I am lucky to be alive after being ousted from the army.”
“What, for wanting a piece of that? For the record, it is very rude to give the false impression of a woman before a man such as myself is to see them.”
“She was 15 when I last saw her, what do you expect?”
“You were like…17, when you were kicked out? Come on man, do the math.”
Ace merely glares at David. Par for the course at this point really.
It is only what he deserves.
“You are truly incorrigible,” Ace says.
“I’ve heard worse,” David retorts.
The two finally make their way to the docking zone. They reach their airship, the entrance already open. Dark Ace stops with David following suit.
“Get on the ship,” Ace says.
“What about the crystal?” David asks.
“I’ll get it,” Ace says.
“Okay, but what about Lark? You know her better than anybody, right?”
Ace narrows his eyes before responding.
“I have seen more of Lark than anybody in the entire universe, both mine and yours,” he says.
“That’s great! So…what’s she packing under all that dark doom and gloom? She’s gotta be looking as good without all the fluff on as she does with it…” David says.
“Of all of the—!” Ace shouts.
Wow, David is on a role. He’s getting everybody off-kilter today.
“I’m just asking, do I have a chance?”
“Get on the ship!”
“Alright, alright!”
-----------------------------------------------------
So there they were, on the airship, leaving Atmos with one crystal in hand.
“So…how’d you do it?” David asks.
“I’d rather not say,” Ace says.
“It took you a while. I was waiting here for a long time and they did not look happy,” David says.
“I’d prefer if you left this alone,” Ace says.
“You tried to use your charms, failed, as per the usual with you and females, then incapacitated her long enough to replace the crystals so nobody would notice.”
Ace does not respond. David cannot see the glare he is leveling as the vastness of space in front of them.
Ace clicks a few buttons on a keyboard in front of him, seemingly to get the airship going in auto-pilot as his hands fold together behind him.
“No offense dude, but you’re pretty easy to read,” David says.
“Only to the two of you. Speaking of which, mind telling me what the hell Argit did now?” Ace asks.
“Oh, we got into some shit in Augusta that was…technically illegal, but I managed to get away scot free. He was not so lucky and found himself under the Council’s watch.”
“Par for the course, I suppose. Bastard was always difficult to retreat with. What was his punishment?”
“Eh, he’s working for Mr. Silver. A slap on the wrist if you ask me, but I’ve never worked with him past threats or favors. Oh, that reminds me, did you know Argit’s technically a porcupine alien?”
Ace looks towards David, an eyebrow raises.
“No bullshit. He has the quills and everything,” David says.
“Wow. Why the hell did we think he was a opossum?” Ace asks.
“Maybe it was easier. Plus given his all-around seedy nature it was a pretty easy assumption.”
“Fair enough.”
More silence.
This is always the thing with Dark Ace. You could get him talking on something, but if there’s no active conversation, he’s never the one to start it.
“So…mind if I ask you for advice?” David asks.
“Go ahead,” Ace says, an edge added to his tone.
“It’s nothing like that, just some legitimate advice I’m curious on, especially from your unique point of view.”
This earns David a raised eyebrow, something that he matches.
“From Death or Desire? Really? What kind of empire builds an army off that one rule? ‘Eternal dedication, only broken through death or desire.’ You were just lucky to nail the latter. Or...not nail it considering how that ended.”
“What’s your question, David?” Ace asks.
Clearly that is still a touchy subject even five years later.
“Right…so…I’m going to face this guy. He’s pretty big. I’ve faced big guys before, that’s not the issue. It’s that I’ve never really fought him one-on-one before and I’m fairly scared that I won’t walk away the winner.”
"Is this one of your wrestling things?”
“I don’t know what you’re—wait, how do you know about a wrestling thing?” David asks.
“Just because we haven’t seen each other in a while doesn’t mean I don’t follow your exploits. I make it a habit to know what my friends are up to,” Ace says.
“Huh. Duly noted. And yeah, it’s a wrestling thing.”
“You know that stuff’s fake right?”
“Really? So putting my body on the line every month, putting myself through hell, trying to prove I’m the best, letting people know how awesome I am, and insulting a bunch of assholes is fake?”
“Honestly, that sounds like a normal week for you. No wonder you like it,” Ace says, a smile creeping through his otherwise stoic exterior.
“Finally! Somebody who gets it!”
“Anyway. What’s the issue here? Afraid you’re going to lose?” Ace asks, getting back on topic like the champ he is.
“What? No! Of course not! I’m afraid there’s a chance, but there’s no way I’m actually going to lose! I’ve faced bigger bads than this guy and walked out feeling like a new car. My only worry is that I’ve never faced him one-on-one like this. Got any words for me?”
“Well, for starters, your arrogance, despite how aggravating it is, could be considered a positive. You know you can beat him. I’m sure this guy’s thinking the same thing, but I don’t think anybody understands the level of know you know. Following me?”
“Yeah, I’m awesome, it’s hard for people to fathom how awesome I am. What else?”
“Either that level of arrogance is going to piss him off, which is more than likely, or just irritate him. Either way, you can use it to your advantage. You’re smaller and younger, yes?”
David makes a small hum of confirmation.
“This guy’s been doing it for a while, I’m assuming, so he’s got a lot of tricks up his sleeves that I’m sure you’ve never dealt with before. The thing that nobody ever seems to get—barring maybe Argit—is that you do things nobody expects. Not because you’re smart, no offense…”
Ace looks over his left shoulder, seeing a David who just shrugs in response.
“…but because they’re so asinine or stupid that nobody would ever think to do them. Somebody expects a shot up high, you dive head first into their crotch. Somebody tries to throw you, you take the impact just to get the pain out of the way faster. Somebody tries to choke you, you give them a kiss on the lips.”
“Ah yeah, that gig we did for Lex Luthor. Can still feel the bruises when Batman threw me down the stairs…”
“Exactly. People don’t expect some of the stuff you can pull out. They expect a young lion with no upstart who’s just a cocky shit. You surprise them…for better or for worse…”
“Okay, so I’m unpredictable in the face of danger. Anything else?”
“You’ve changed.”
“Well yeah, it’s been a decade since this whole shit started, of course I’ve changed.”
Ace shakes his head, getting himself back into the conversation.
“Okay, yes, it helps. You’re not as safe as you used to be and you’re more exposed. People have an idea of how David Hunter works now. It’s a positive and a detriment. Use that. But I didn’t mean in wrestling. I meant as a person.”
Ace turns around, staring at David, who has folded his arms across his chest, sharing a look with his comrade.
“Five years ago I was kicked out of the Cylonian Army for trying to go after the woman I loved. Along the way I met an apparent porcupine alien renegade trying to survive and a young boy who, not unlike myself, just got free from a woman who was destroying his very being every day they were together,” Ace says.
“Yeah, I met Argit not too long before then and got freed from Wuya about a year before,” David confirms.
“That boy was still learning his way in the world, but by the cosmos if this boy hadn’t been through shit. Molestation at such a young age, learning how to kill, killing. The shit you’ve seen is not something I’d welcome on my worst enemy, and trust me, I hate that son of a bitch. You had something good going for you, but all it took was one woman to take it all away and make you think this is the right path. By the end of it you barely recognized yourself, let alone understand what drove you to join with her in the first place. Why do you think the two of us always got along despite our differences?”
“Okay, so Wuya fucked me up. I could’ve told you that,” David says.
“The three of us were brothers, David. We did everything together. From the pettiest thievery to the richest destruction. What we were hired to do, we did it, and we did it well. Everything was going so well…” Ace puts a pause on his discussion.
David lets out a sigh, looking down towards the metal floor below them.
“Until we got caught," David says. "We got too cocky and the Peacekeepers got us first."
“They broke us apart. They trained us to be better, but it cost us our brotherhood. Argit got out first, that lucky bastard. You weren’t too far after, but you had your father—I know, I’m sorry, but I have to bring it up,” Ace says, noticing the sudden clenching of my fists.
“Yeah, yeah…sorry…”
David breathes in and out, trying not to lose his temper. Trying not to crack his neck.
He…doesn’t understand that thought process but still does all he can to refrain from that.
“It’s true though. Your dad helped you out of the Peacekeepers and shipped you to Beacon. You lasted about six months before they kicked you out,” Ace says.
“Pretty sure Glynda was shooting for four but my dad convinced her otherwise. Fucker…” David mutters.
“Once both of you left, I didn’t have anybody. I served my sentence, but once I was out I didn’t know where to go. So…I went back to what I know best: killing, destroying lives, being a bodyguard, being a soldier,” Ace says. “In the end, I still wound up back with a big bad, only this one’s worse than Lark. And honestly? I’m okay with that. But you…you got out. You changed. Something happened to you that caused you to be such a disaster. You got caught. Again! And suddenly you left everything for this…wrestling gig. What’s this really about David?”
Ace looks at David, whose eyes remain posted on the floor. David shakes his head, trying so hard not to crack his neck.
Why? Why is that a big deal? Why can’t he do it?
What if he just—
He cracks his neck.
David meets Ace’s eyes.
There’s not a smile on this man’s face anymore, nor any hint of one.
“That’s it! That’s the change!” Ace exclaims. “You never took anything at face value. Everything was a joke to you. I used to hate it, but eventually it became infectious. It made us good at our job. The one time you treated it seriously we got caught. Now, everything’s so serious to you. This issue with your father. This wrestling thing. Serving Noxorus as a freelancer and making sure you get what you want. Five years ago this would’ve all been a joke to you. But now? Now it feels like, at certain times, it’s something you have to do…like something you…need to do.”
“Kind of like you need to be with Lark?”
“I don’t know, how are you and Angelica working out?”
David’s eyes narrow.
Ace’s eyes narrow right on back.
“That was low. I know it was,” he says. “But if you’re half as serious about this as I know you are, than it struck the right nerve. I’m sorry I’m being the asshole here, but something is wrong with you. I don’t know what it is for sure, but you’re only half the David I used to know. That’s fine with me…but only because I know the full David.”
David blinks his eyes a few times. His eyes widen with every blink. A few tears start to form on the sides, but David catches them before they can fall.
“There he is. Welcome back,” Ace says.
“Right…sorry about that. Hey, we’re on our way back to Prime right? Than Beach City?” David asks.
“Those are our orders,” Ace says.
“Cool. I’m gonna…I’m gonna get some rest. Don’t crash the ship. Again.”
David waves Ace off, walking away from him. As he reaches a door at the end of the bridge that opens upon his arrival, Ace responds.
“It was one time. And it was an accident! And it worked!”
The door closes just as Ace finishes.
“Prick.”
He says with a smile on his face.
Ace turns around, clicking a few buttons on the keyboard again. Before too long, a face appears on the screen.
It’s Dragon Master Monk Raimundo, garbed in full-on red and black robes. He’s standing in front of the gates to his temple.
To his right is Argit, who has a very noticeable frown on his face.
“Did you get all that?” Ace asks.
“Yeah…” Raimundo says.
“Unfortunately…” Argit adds-on.
“Good. Do you see the issue Argit?” Ace asks.
“Yeah. It’s worse than I thought,” Argit answers.
“I think we found a reason. Apparently the David Hunter you both know is still in there, but his spirit, his essence, his…chi, it’s being shared with somebody else's,” Raimundo.
“Which means…?” Argit.
“That somehow, David Hunter isn’t just David Hunter. He has somebody else inside his body, his mind, and the reason he seems different to you is because he has somebody else controlling him at random parts. We don't know for sure who, but his aura isn't like a normal human's. There's something…more to him.” Raimundo.
“Shit!” Argit.
“Mr. Pedrosa, thank you for sharing this with us. If you would please keep this quiet, that would be fantastic.” Ace.
“Duly noted, but this is…unlike anything I’ve ever seen before. Tread lightly guys. I’m not sure how much longer David can maintain control of this…other entity.” Raimundo.
“If there’s anything we know about David is that he won’t lay down for any asshole who wants something of his he really cares about.” Argit.
“At the very least, he’ll piss them off enough to want to leave.” Ace.
As an omnipotent narrator with very little communication with the actual characters within.
I agree.
David Hunter, the dumb-ass, is going to find himself on a headline listed as ‘Florida Man’ one of these days, only it’ll be on an alien planet in a different dimension and nobody is going to know what a ‘Florida’ is, which will only bring more credence to the fact this ‘Florida Man’, David Hunter, is a fucking idiot.
Seriously, I’m fairly convinced that David’s semblance is actually bad luck, which is simplifying things, but holy shit if it isn’t wrong.
So hear me out while David goes through the motions of once again finding himself with his hands tied together and once again being dragged through the halls of a place he’s never been to.
David was sent on a mission with a guy by the name of Dark Ace. A real brooder. Not quite an edgelord, but certainly somebody the ladies would get drenched for. He and David have some sort of history, so finding Ace as a member of Noxorus’ gang of villains was somewhat of a shock. Not an unwelcome one considering how well either of them get along, but still, enough of one that it put David on edge.
That was probably for the best considering Noxorus sent David and Ace to this planet called Atmos. On this planet there is an empire called Cyclonis, ruled by its technical queen despite being labeled master and being a female, Master Cyclonis.
Ace made it clear that naming things has never been the empire’s forte.
What is their forte, however, is complete and total domination of the galaxy and any other form of crystals they can get their hands. Crystals are the source of power for the entire galaxy and are a very good thing for trade, both the legal and not so legal kind.
Considering the majority of the planet is full of darkness, the people dragging David along look like the henchman of Skeletor, the henchman not even worth names are all in black, the technical queen wears a black cape that looks like Maleficent went a little bit extra, and his comrade’s name is Dark Ace I probably don’t have to tell you which side of legality Atmos sits on.
The crystals are relevant though. David and Ace were sent here by Noxorus in order to retrieve a specific crystal. The crystal seated on a very specific scepter.
A scepter currently and usually forever held by the ruler of the Cyclonis Empire.
You…you can see where this is going, can’t ya?
Conveniently enough, the person holding the scepter is precisely where David is being dragged. Literally. Dude hasn’t lifted his feet in a while.
The two people lugging him down the corridor towards the end are none other than Snipe and Ravess.
Like I said, not quite edgelord but pretty damn close. The 2000’s were a weird decade.
Snipe is a hulk of a man who probably could lift David by himself if he didn’t have to remain by his older sister’s side.
Ravess is a fairly attractive woman counteracted entirely by her pink hair and all around ‘I will kill you if you look at me’ personality. At least Larxene will talk to you before throwing a knife in your direction, Ravess will just shoot you with the slightest of glances.
At least Snipe’s nice enough to say hello before killing you, even if the brain cell the two siblings share is often kept to the older sister.
Oh, we’re almost there to the throne room. Um, I guess David got a bit too close to the sun and was captured. Ace’s presence also tripped off the alarms of everybody considering he was ousted from their army five or so years back. It was a doomed mission from the start, but you know by now David won’t let something like a mission failure stand in his way.
Or…kneel in his way.
Or sit in his way.
Dude’s been captured a lot, I’m starting to think this is a fetish.
Once the three of them reach the entrance to the throne room, the door opens. Ravess looks over her shoulder towards Ace, who’s been following the trio all throughout the corridors.
“You can stay out here. The last thing Master Cyclonis needs to see is you,” she growls.
Oof. Tensions are truly high.
“Well that seems kind of pointless. We both know I’m the best bet of leaving this place alive,” Ace says.
“This is precisely why you shouldn’t see her. She wants to see him alone,” Ravess adds.
Well at least the growl is gone, replaced instead by absolute hatred.
Ace can’t help but chuckle at the situation.
“Oh Lark…always one to hold a grudge…” he mutters.
“Wait, her name is Lark?” David asks.
Snipe smacks him in the back of his head. The groan that follows is somewhat muted by the chuckles that linger the hall.
“If he makes a move towards the throne room, shoot him,” Snipe says towards a few of the guards littered around us.
“Cold,” Ace says.
“It’s the least we could do for a traitor like you,” Ravess says.
Oh great the growl is back. And with rhyme this time.
And now I'm doing it.
“Goddamn Ace, what’d you do?” David asks.
Another whack to the back of the head by Snipe.
“I’ll tell you later. Just try not to die. And watch your mouth! Don’t say anything—” Ace’s tries to warn David, his words fading away as they walk away from the door, which closes before he can finish his sentence.
“Stupid, yeah, I figured. Thanks for the vote of confidence there,” David says.
Still staying sacked by the Sinister Siblings, David has a chance to peak around the gigantic throne room.
It’s black.
Just a whole lot of black.
The moon shining through in the windows above is a nice touch, but it’s counteracted by the purple sky’s darkness. The light shines nicely in front of the throne, which is conveniently where Ravess and Snipe drop their captive.
I miss the 2000’s.
David lets out another groan, his hands wrapped together in front of him in his lap.
He leans back, an audible crack emitting from his back before doing the same to his neck.
Ravess leers down at him, contempt oozing off her.
Pretty sure Snipe is trying to avoid people seeing him pick his nose.
A yawn escapes David’s lips, earning him another smack to the back of the head, this time by both the brother and sister.
“Y’all’re rude, treating guests like this,” he says.
“I was unaware we had guests. I only know of two invaders who have sought fit to make their way onto my planet uninvited,” a voice rings out.
It’s smooth. Enough to send shivers down David’s spine. The owner of the voice steps forward off of the throne and into the moonlight.
Her cloak, as described, hangs ominously around her with spikes popping up around her neck. Its bottom flows around her like a cape, leaving way for the black jumpsuit lining her body. The body of…a woman, wait a minute.
“Wait, I thought Ace said you were like…15,” David can’t help himself but to say.
Snipe raises the hand of the successful nose picking for yet another head smacking, but the voice’s owner raises her left hand. Snipe lowers the contaminated hand, before picking up her scepter containing the crystal they need.
“Dark Ace hasn’t seen me in five or so years. I’d imagine what he remembers of me is different than how I am now,” she says.
“Yeah, no shit. He described jail bait, and here I am in front of a stone cold mistress. Oofta, if I’d’ve known I was going to be meeting a succubus I would’ve at least worked on my hair,” David says.
The three people surrounding David say nothing. Ravess can’t help but glare, Snipe is trying not to piss himself, and the dark lady, well…she just kinda stares down at David.
“Excuse me?” she says.
“Oh, was that too blatant? Shit, sorry, I kinda forgot I was in the presence of royalty. My apologies, my queen,” David says.
He bows his head slightly. A gesture done in supposed earnest comes across to the other three as mocking, if Ravess’ squawking is any indication.
The Dark Lady slams her scepter against the floor, silencing Ravess and David.
“My name is Master Cyclonis. I am the leader of the Cyclonis Empire and ruler of all of Atmos. I am not to be disrespected in my own court,” she says.
“Which reminds me, who named you Cyclonis when your empire itself was named Cyclonis? Was that a conscious decision or does the empire’s name change to whomever rules it? Ace mentioned something about a grandmother but I didn’t really pay attention on account that it was mixed with so much disgust,” David says
“Disgust? Are you telling me that that traitor despises me so?” Cyclonis asks.
“No, pretty sure he just hates the concept of your existence. I’m sure if he sees you as you are now he’d totally realize how wrong he is,” David.
“What are you talking about?” Cyclonis.
“Wow, never thought I’d have to be blunt about this, but you’re hot! Attractive! A siren! A beauty! I never saw you when Ace did, but if this is any indication my 16 year old self would’ve been a fuckin disaster trying to control myself. Lucky for me now, I don’t have that problem,” David.
The silence that fills the room is just…wow. It’s bad. Ravess and Snipe glance at each other, trying to figure out the tone, or maybe figuring out how to clean up David’s corpse from all the body parts that’ll be spread.
“Mostly because I don’t bother controlling myself,” David adds in for good measure.
Ravess smacks her hand against her face, letting out a groan. Snipe just cringes, unsure himself of how to react to somebody like David.
Pretty sure they’ve never met anybody like David.
Pretty sure nobody’s met anybody like David.
Cyclonis, for her part, just stares at David. For the longest time, the two of them just lock eyes. The former’s face remains passive, showing no emotion, while the latter prefers a big ol’ smirk.
She breaks first, glancing up at her two subordinates.
“Is he always this arrogant?” she asks.
“Yes,” Ravess and Snipe answer in unison.
David, to his credit, just kind of shakes his head. He doesn’t lose the smirk though.
Cyclonis nods once.
She then grabs her scepter and points it at David’s face, crystal first.
“Tell me then, why have you and Dark Ace sought fit to set foot in my hallowed halls?” she asks.
“For that,” David says.
“For what?” Cyclonis asks.
Once again, her raises eyebrow indicates her composure being caught off guard.
“This,” David once again indicates.
“My scepter?” Cyclonis.
“I mean, I’d take it, it looks like a mean scepter, but no. I’m referring to the crystal,” David.
“So let me get this straight: you, an outsider, bring one of my empire’s biggest traitors back onto this planet, invade my home, and get captured by my soldiers, all for the sole purpose of obtaining the crystal powering my scepter, a crystal that has been passed down for generations within my dynasty, and that which I hold most precious to me?” Cyclonis.
David has the gall to look sheepish, despite the situation.
“To be fair, it’s a really nice crystal. I’m sure there’s a reason I’m supposed to get it. Unknown knows I’m still figuring out why I needed that damn hat…” he says.
Hey, I miss that hat.
The crystal is edged closer towards David’s face, placed right in between his eyes. He crosses them to get a shot at the rock.
“I will stomp you to dust. I will blast your body a thousand times with this crystal until long after you are a corpse—no, until long after you are merely a speck—no, a part of my throne room, a part that will never be cleaned or tailored to or erased, so that every day I walk towards and away from my throne, I will have the pleasure of stepping on your remains. If the time comes where my castle is to be renovated, I will assure that that spot specifically does not get changed, for the sole purpose that your life remains a part of this castle, so that every day you spend in the afterlife will be a reminder of the disrespect you have shown me and my empire. By the time you are forgotten to time, your spirit will have remembered nothing but the patter of my boots upon your section of the floor. Then, and only then, long after my death, will I allow that section of the floor to be erased from history, just like every pathetic part of your meaningless existence.”
Finally, her tangent done, she blinks.
By the time the crystal has etched a portion of itself into David’s forehead, the man in question just kind of stares up at Cyclonis. His eyes seem brighter, somehow.
His cheeks, however, are flushed.
“Um…wow,” he says.
“What?” Cyclonis asks.
“This is…wow. I…I had no idea. This is…certainly eye opening,” David says.
“What?” she again asks.
She removes the crystal, placing the scepter back upright.
Snipe looks down on him, both in the literal sense and metaphorical sense.
Oh no…
“Dude…” he says.
“I’m sorry! I didn’t expect it to just…happen like that,” David pleads.
“You’re disgusting,” Ravess says.
“What is happening?” Cyclonis asks.
For the third time in one day, David has managed to make Cyclonis lose her composure.
I guess I was right, this is a fetish for him.
David’s cheeks manage to somehow get redder.
“I’m sorry, I normally don’t get like this. This usually doesn’t happen. Wow, I am just…I never thought it would do it with that,” he says.
“Really? Of all things?” Snipe asks.
“You make me sick,” Ravess says.
I gotta agree with Ravess here.
She is now glancing away from David, trying to avoid his eyesight while a flush of her own crosses her face.
Somebody on the side of the throne room speaks up, the mask blocking their face.
“For the record, I can understand it,” he says.
Somebody else on the opposite side, a female, also in a mask, puts her word in.
“I get it, but come on, of all things…” she says.
“Ravess, explain to me what’s going on,” Cyclonis says.
Ravess’ blush somehow gets worse. She does not meet her Master’s eyes.
“With all due respect Master Cyclonis…I’d rather not,” she says.
“Fine. Snipe. Explain,” Cyclonis says through gritted teeth.
“Master Cyclonis, it appears that your speech has…excited…David,” Snipe says.
“Excited? How?” Cyclonis asks.
That's a fairly liberal usage of the term, even if it is technically correct.
“Holy shit, your innocence isn’t helping…” David whispers.
This time, Snipe, Ravess, me, and the two onlookers can’t help but groan, each sharing their own discontent with the situation David has found himself in.
“My…innocence?” Cyclonis asks.
“Permission to speak freely and as bluntly as possible, Master Cyclonis?” Ravess asks, her blush not disappearing.
“Granted.”
“The prisoner has received an erection from your very intense and specific threat.”
Oh God, if David had a camera.
Cyclonis' face…it doesn’t cringe, it almost looks affronted that such a thing would ever occur in her presence. Between all the red that now covers her face, it’s hard to tell if it’s the anger or the embarrassment.
It almost reminds David of another young heiress whose authority, when challenged, breaks down in a stuttering mess of words and adorable confusion.
All you really have to do is switch out all the black for the a whole lot of white and boom badda boom you have her.
But to David, the black only makes the situation worse.
Or…better, I guess, for him. Why are you like this David…?
David’s smiles a bit, trying to hide his nervousness and the glaring red across his own face.
He is not succeeding.
“Sorry, my sweet singing Lark…”
The next thing he feels is a scratch across his face and a raging Master trying to make due on her threat to hide her own flustered mess of a face.
“Too far, got it,” he says.
--------------------------------------------------------
One kicking to the ass later and a throw out by the Sinister Siblings, a now free David’s left arm is being dragged off its limb by Dark Ace.
“I can’t believe it,” Ace says.
Ditto.
“I know right? I never would’ve though that of all things would get me randy,” David says.
“Not that you idiot! The fact that Lark was so embarrassed she just…let you go!” Ace shouts.
“Oh, right…that.”
But also the other thing.
Ace grumbles, letting David’s arm go. The two continue their walk, side-by-side, approaching the exit.
“So on the downside, we don’t have the crystal—” David begins.
“I’ll get the crystal,” Ace says.
“—on the upside, I managed to get Lark flustered enough that she’ll never forget me,” David finishes.
“And I’m sure to you that constitutes as a win,” Ace states much more than he asks.
“Well of course. Any girl who never forgets you means you’re always on their mind,” David.
“I know a crystal gem pirate who’d agree and a gem commander who’d be affronted,” Ace.
“Which is convenient, because that’s our next stop,” David.
“Please, do not try and spin this into a positive. I’ve heard enough of your spins that the last thing I need is Atmos on my ass. Again.”
“Oh please, you escaped them once, what’s the big deal?”
“I escaped them through sheer luck and a lot more bullshit. I am lucky to be alive after being ousted from the army.”
“What, for wanting a piece of that? For the record, it is very rude to give the false impression of a woman before a man such as myself is to see them.”
“She was 15 when I last saw her, what do you expect?”
“You were like…17, when you were kicked out? Come on man, do the math.”
Ace merely glares at David. Par for the course at this point really.
It is only what he deserves.
“You are truly incorrigible,” Ace says.
“I’ve heard worse,” David retorts.
The two finally make their way to the docking zone. They reach their airship, the entrance already open. Dark Ace stops with David following suit.
“Get on the ship,” Ace says.
“What about the crystal?” David asks.
“I’ll get it,” Ace says.
“Okay, but what about Lark? You know her better than anybody, right?”
Ace narrows his eyes before responding.
“I have seen more of Lark than anybody in the entire universe, both mine and yours,” he says.
“That’s great! So…what’s she packing under all that dark doom and gloom? She’s gotta be looking as good without all the fluff on as she does with it…” David says.
“Of all of the—!” Ace shouts.
Wow, David is on a role. He’s getting everybody off-kilter today.
“I’m just asking, do I have a chance?”
“Get on the ship!”
“Alright, alright!”
-----------------------------------------------------
So there they were, on the airship, leaving Atmos with one crystal in hand.
“So…how’d you do it?” David asks.
“I’d rather not say,” Ace says.
“It took you a while. I was waiting here for a long time and they did not look happy,” David says.
“I’d prefer if you left this alone,” Ace says.
“You tried to use your charms, failed, as per the usual with you and females, then incapacitated her long enough to replace the crystals so nobody would notice.”
Ace does not respond. David cannot see the glare he is leveling as the vastness of space in front of them.
Ace clicks a few buttons on a keyboard in front of him, seemingly to get the airship going in auto-pilot as his hands fold together behind him.
“No offense dude, but you’re pretty easy to read,” David says.
“Only to the two of you. Speaking of which, mind telling me what the hell Argit did now?” Ace asks.
“Oh, we got into some shit in Augusta that was…technically illegal, but I managed to get away scot free. He was not so lucky and found himself under the Council’s watch.”
“Par for the course, I suppose. Bastard was always difficult to retreat with. What was his punishment?”
“Eh, he’s working for Mr. Silver. A slap on the wrist if you ask me, but I’ve never worked with him past threats or favors. Oh, that reminds me, did you know Argit’s technically a porcupine alien?”
Ace looks towards David, an eyebrow raises.
“No bullshit. He has the quills and everything,” David says.
“Wow. Why the hell did we think he was a opossum?” Ace asks.
“Maybe it was easier. Plus given his all-around seedy nature it was a pretty easy assumption.”
“Fair enough.”
More silence.
This is always the thing with Dark Ace. You could get him talking on something, but if there’s no active conversation, he’s never the one to start it.
“So…mind if I ask you for advice?” David asks.
“Go ahead,” Ace says, an edge added to his tone.
“It’s nothing like that, just some legitimate advice I’m curious on, especially from your unique point of view.”
This earns David a raised eyebrow, something that he matches.
“From Death or Desire? Really? What kind of empire builds an army off that one rule? ‘Eternal dedication, only broken through death or desire.’ You were just lucky to nail the latter. Or...not nail it considering how that ended.”
“What’s your question, David?” Ace asks.
Clearly that is still a touchy subject even five years later.
“Right…so…I’m going to face this guy. He’s pretty big. I’ve faced big guys before, that’s not the issue. It’s that I’ve never really fought him one-on-one before and I’m fairly scared that I won’t walk away the winner.”
"Is this one of your wrestling things?”
“I don’t know what you’re—wait, how do you know about a wrestling thing?” David asks.
“Just because we haven’t seen each other in a while doesn’t mean I don’t follow your exploits. I make it a habit to know what my friends are up to,” Ace says.
“Huh. Duly noted. And yeah, it’s a wrestling thing.”
“You know that stuff’s fake right?”
“Really? So putting my body on the line every month, putting myself through hell, trying to prove I’m the best, letting people know how awesome I am, and insulting a bunch of assholes is fake?”
“Honestly, that sounds like a normal week for you. No wonder you like it,” Ace says, a smile creeping through his otherwise stoic exterior.
“Finally! Somebody who gets it!”
“Anyway. What’s the issue here? Afraid you’re going to lose?” Ace asks, getting back on topic like the champ he is.
“What? No! Of course not! I’m afraid there’s a chance, but there’s no way I’m actually going to lose! I’ve faced bigger bads than this guy and walked out feeling like a new car. My only worry is that I’ve never faced him one-on-one like this. Got any words for me?”
“Well, for starters, your arrogance, despite how aggravating it is, could be considered a positive. You know you can beat him. I’m sure this guy’s thinking the same thing, but I don’t think anybody understands the level of know you know. Following me?”
“Yeah, I’m awesome, it’s hard for people to fathom how awesome I am. What else?”
“Either that level of arrogance is going to piss him off, which is more than likely, or just irritate him. Either way, you can use it to your advantage. You’re smaller and younger, yes?”
David makes a small hum of confirmation.
“This guy’s been doing it for a while, I’m assuming, so he’s got a lot of tricks up his sleeves that I’m sure you’ve never dealt with before. The thing that nobody ever seems to get—barring maybe Argit—is that you do things nobody expects. Not because you’re smart, no offense…”
Ace looks over his left shoulder, seeing a David who just shrugs in response.
“…but because they’re so asinine or stupid that nobody would ever think to do them. Somebody expects a shot up high, you dive head first into their crotch. Somebody tries to throw you, you take the impact just to get the pain out of the way faster. Somebody tries to choke you, you give them a kiss on the lips.”
“Ah yeah, that gig we did for Lex Luthor. Can still feel the bruises when Batman threw me down the stairs…”
“Exactly. People don’t expect some of the stuff you can pull out. They expect a young lion with no upstart who’s just a cocky shit. You surprise them…for better or for worse…”
“Okay, so I’m unpredictable in the face of danger. Anything else?”
“You’ve changed.”
“Well yeah, it’s been a decade since this whole shit started, of course I’ve changed.”
Ace shakes his head, getting himself back into the conversation.
“Okay, yes, it helps. You’re not as safe as you used to be and you’re more exposed. People have an idea of how David Hunter works now. It’s a positive and a detriment. Use that. But I didn’t mean in wrestling. I meant as a person.”
Ace turns around, staring at David, who has folded his arms across his chest, sharing a look with his comrade.
“Five years ago I was kicked out of the Cylonian Army for trying to go after the woman I loved. Along the way I met an apparent porcupine alien renegade trying to survive and a young boy who, not unlike myself, just got free from a woman who was destroying his very being every day they were together,” Ace says.
“Yeah, I met Argit not too long before then and got freed from Wuya about a year before,” David confirms.
“That boy was still learning his way in the world, but by the cosmos if this boy hadn’t been through shit. Molestation at such a young age, learning how to kill, killing. The shit you’ve seen is not something I’d welcome on my worst enemy, and trust me, I hate that son of a bitch. You had something good going for you, but all it took was one woman to take it all away and make you think this is the right path. By the end of it you barely recognized yourself, let alone understand what drove you to join with her in the first place. Why do you think the two of us always got along despite our differences?”
“Okay, so Wuya fucked me up. I could’ve told you that,” David says.
“The three of us were brothers, David. We did everything together. From the pettiest thievery to the richest destruction. What we were hired to do, we did it, and we did it well. Everything was going so well…” Ace puts a pause on his discussion.
David lets out a sigh, looking down towards the metal floor below them.
“Until we got caught," David says. "We got too cocky and the Peacekeepers got us first."
“They broke us apart. They trained us to be better, but it cost us our brotherhood. Argit got out first, that lucky bastard. You weren’t too far after, but you had your father—I know, I’m sorry, but I have to bring it up,” Ace says, noticing the sudden clenching of my fists.
“Yeah, yeah…sorry…”
David breathes in and out, trying not to lose his temper. Trying not to crack his neck.
He…doesn’t understand that thought process but still does all he can to refrain from that.
“It’s true though. Your dad helped you out of the Peacekeepers and shipped you to Beacon. You lasted about six months before they kicked you out,” Ace says.
“Pretty sure Glynda was shooting for four but my dad convinced her otherwise. Fucker…” David mutters.
“Once both of you left, I didn’t have anybody. I served my sentence, but once I was out I didn’t know where to go. So…I went back to what I know best: killing, destroying lives, being a bodyguard, being a soldier,” Ace says. “In the end, I still wound up back with a big bad, only this one’s worse than Lark. And honestly? I’m okay with that. But you…you got out. You changed. Something happened to you that caused you to be such a disaster. You got caught. Again! And suddenly you left everything for this…wrestling gig. What’s this really about David?”
Ace looks at David, whose eyes remain posted on the floor. David shakes his head, trying so hard not to crack his neck.
Why? Why is that a big deal? Why can’t he do it?
What if he just—
He cracks his neck.
David meets Ace’s eyes.
There’s not a smile on this man’s face anymore, nor any hint of one.
“That’s it! That’s the change!” Ace exclaims. “You never took anything at face value. Everything was a joke to you. I used to hate it, but eventually it became infectious. It made us good at our job. The one time you treated it seriously we got caught. Now, everything’s so serious to you. This issue with your father. This wrestling thing. Serving Noxorus as a freelancer and making sure you get what you want. Five years ago this would’ve all been a joke to you. But now? Now it feels like, at certain times, it’s something you have to do…like something you…need to do.”
“Kind of like you need to be with Lark?”
“I don’t know, how are you and Angelica working out?”
David’s eyes narrow.
Ace’s eyes narrow right on back.
“That was low. I know it was,” he says. “But if you’re half as serious about this as I know you are, than it struck the right nerve. I’m sorry I’m being the asshole here, but something is wrong with you. I don’t know what it is for sure, but you’re only half the David I used to know. That’s fine with me…but only because I know the full David.”
David blinks his eyes a few times. His eyes widen with every blink. A few tears start to form on the sides, but David catches them before they can fall.
“There he is. Welcome back,” Ace says.
“Right…sorry about that. Hey, we’re on our way back to Prime right? Than Beach City?” David asks.
“Those are our orders,” Ace says.
“Cool. I’m gonna…I’m gonna get some rest. Don’t crash the ship. Again.”
David waves Ace off, walking away from him. As he reaches a door at the end of the bridge that opens upon his arrival, Ace responds.
“It was one time. And it was an accident! And it worked!”
The door closes just as Ace finishes.
“Prick.”
He says with a smile on his face.
Ace turns around, clicking a few buttons on the keyboard again. Before too long, a face appears on the screen.
It’s Dragon Master Monk Raimundo, garbed in full-on red and black robes. He’s standing in front of the gates to his temple.
To his right is Argit, who has a very noticeable frown on his face.
“Did you get all that?” Ace asks.
“Yeah…” Raimundo says.
“Unfortunately…” Argit adds-on.
“Good. Do you see the issue Argit?” Ace asks.
“Yeah. It’s worse than I thought,” Argit answers.
“I think we found a reason. Apparently the David Hunter you both know is still in there, but his spirit, his essence, his…chi, it’s being shared with somebody else's,” Raimundo.
“Which means…?” Argit.
“That somehow, David Hunter isn’t just David Hunter. He has somebody else inside his body, his mind, and the reason he seems different to you is because he has somebody else controlling him at random parts. We don't know for sure who, but his aura isn't like a normal human's. There's something…more to him.” Raimundo.
“Shit!” Argit.
“Mr. Pedrosa, thank you for sharing this with us. If you would please keep this quiet, that would be fantastic.” Ace.
“Duly noted, but this is…unlike anything I’ve ever seen before. Tread lightly guys. I’m not sure how much longer David can maintain control of this…other entity.” Raimundo.
“If there’s anything we know about David is that he won’t lay down for any asshole who wants something of his he really cares about.” Argit.
“At the very least, he’ll piss them off enough to want to leave.” Ace.
As an omnipotent narrator with very little communication with the actual characters within.
I agree.
