by Eden Redd
Unzipping his fly, he stood and relieved himself in a urinal. The nagging thoughts washed away as he slowly began to feel better.
The door to the bathroom opened, a shadow sliding in and closing it behind them. A figure approached Jon, eyes taking in his form as music thumped from outside.
Six
Jon’s mind wandered as he stood at the urinal. His ears picked up that someone came in, but didn’t give it a second thought as his bladder emptied. Instead, mental pictures of Cora and the others floated along with happy smiles.
I don’t know why I was so worked up over coming here. They're having fun.
Jon’s thoughts shifted to his parents and a sickly dread pulled on his spirit.
I could have gone my entire life without knowing my parents were swingers, but Dad was right. I shouldn’t judge because I do have four elf girlfriends. Am I just like them? Am I some sexual deviant?
Jon smiled at his own thought. There was no revulsion. It felt natural and the disgust he thought he would have, was simply not there. The weirdness of their relationships was far from weird, considering his parents had super powers and his girlfriends were from another dimension. Jon wanted to laugh, but stayed to task. Once he was finished, he would return to his lovers and family and have an amazing night.
A shadow appeared over Jon’s shoulder as he stood.
“Plenty of other urinals,” Jon sighed.
“It has been a long time, Jonathan Song,” came the voice from behind.
The tone and inflection of the voice sent a cold chill down’s Jon’s spine. It haunted his nightmares for years, the words cutting away at his soul as a gun was held to his head. There was no mistaking it. Eyes wide, Jon finished relieving himself, put his manhood back in his pants and turned around.
A man stood before him. The face was different and not how he remembered. It was almost like a completely different person was here, but the voice rattled his very senses. The man had chiseled features and a short buzz cut black hair. Eyes were nearly thin slits as blue eyes stared back. His chin was broad and strong, like his very jaw could crack walnuts. The man’s body had a medium build. All he wore was a tight black shirt and black jeans. Veins ran down strong arms but the stranger stood, relaxed and observing with unblinking eyes.
“Skorp?” Jon whispered.
The man smirked. “Different face, but you remember the voice. I thought your psyche would have buried everything about me. I’m pleased and quite happy you remember me.”
Jon backed up a step, his legs an inch from the urinal. “What is this, some kind of revenge?”
The man simply stood, eyes drinking in every drop of Jon’s reactions.
“Your ability inhibits or manipulates probabilities. The aura of influence has an unknown radius, but close enough to ensure it affects you and those around you. Much like any system, it must remain in balance for it to be effective,” the man spoke like he was talking to himself.
“Skorp, you're free now. Petty revenge will only send you back to prison,” Jon reasoned.
The man smiled. “You surprised me when you were younger. I thought if I threatened your life, your parents and your family would leave me and my designs alone. Instead, they goaded me to kill you, knowing full well your ability would protect you. It was a miscalculation on my part. You hadn’t hit puberty so your power was dormant. The mere act of pulling the trigger activated it. That was a mistake I will not do again.”
“Skorp, I’m not a hero. I’m not following my parent’s ways. You have nothing to worry about from me. You served your time. Our paths will never have to cross again, I promise.”
Skorp’s fingers twitched. “You know it has never felt the same, my eye. The doctors managed to save it, but it has always felt different since that night. Almost like my eye shouldn’t have been saved. Almost like your cruel ability saved it so I would always remember that night.”
Jon fought back a fearful shiver, steeling his nerves. “You kidnapped me and you tried to put a bullet through my skull. You should fucking remember that night. I spent years scared of your very name.”
Skorp gave a small nod. “It makes me happy, knowing you suffered as much as I did.”
Jon glanced around, looking for anything he could use as a weapon. Something to fight him off long enough to make it back into the club.
“Plotting your escape? I would assume as much. I saw your parents and the elves in the club. Everyone looks so happy. It’s a shame, but a price must be paid. Don’t concern yourself with your life. I’m going to spare it, but I do have to hurt you. Afterwards, I have to hurt your parents.”
Fear sank down as fury began to rise. Jon’s wide eyes narrowed as his heart beat like an engine in his chest.
Skorp’s eyes refocused and his smirk grew larger. “There it is, fear turning into rage. Good. This will make it a little more fun. I should tell you, all that time I spent in prison, I discovered the weakness to your ability. I’m sure you don’t even know it and I’m happy to tell you. Do you want to know?”
Jon’s hands tightened into fists. Something in his spirit flickered and grew stronger. A screech only he could hear filled his soul as reality sharpened into pristine focus.
“I’ll tell you. Luck relies heavily on exploiting things beyond our normal comprehension and senses. It causes a small crack in the hammer of a gun to grow wider, causing it to jam or misfire. It causes loose wires to swing in one direction instead of another. It causes lapses in judgement during a fight, a fist missing its target or a foot slipping on water that was always there but ignored. Luck teases reality to its own benefit or to the benefit of the universe.
“What luck cannot counter is overwhelming force. You can have all the luck in the world, but if our sun went supernova and there is no space travel, luck, much like you and everyone else, would die. If you stood on a mile radius of explosives, your first thought would be that the explosives would simply not light and therefore, not explode. If you had a single fuse, yes, I believe luck would come into play, but if each explosive had its own, separate detonator, I doubt luck would save you. I doubt it has the power to bend reality with such an overwhelming force.
“Luck can be countered. Your ability can be nullified. I just have to apply enough force for you to bend and eventually, break.”
Jon’s pulse roared in his ears as the last shred of fear bled away. “You talked this much when you held that gun to my head. I don’t know what your fucking problem is with me and my family, but you lost your chance to keep your freedom.”
Skorp blinked. “I hope you don’t do anything foolish. I would hate to cut open those four beautiful elves just to see how they tick.”
A match was lit and Jon burst forward, fist raised. Skorp made no movement as Jon’s fist connected. Pain roared, but Jon ignored it. Knee up, he crashed into Skorp’s midsection and brought his heel down on a knee. Skorp made no sound as the force of the strike caused him to take one step back. Jon drove his palm into Skorp’s throat. On contact, his hand shifted and coiled around Skorp’s neck. Muscles bulged as he pulled Skorp’s head down and Jon rammed his knee into his face.
Pain flared along Jon’s knee as he jumped up. One leg struck the wall and the other slammed into Skorp’s rising chest. The force of the blow was strong enough for Skorp to stumble back a few steps and drive his back into a toilet stall door.
Jon landed on his feet and bolted for the bathroom door. He made it three steps before a hand grabbed him by his shirt and pulled. Jon was off his feet. Eyes wide, he was hurtled backwards until his back slammed into the wall on the opposite side of the bathroom entrance. Tiles cracked and Jon grunted as he fell to his feet and wobbled slightly.
Skorp stood in the center of the long bathroom. He turned and faced Jon, his form cool, calm and collected.
I don’t care how strong he is, I should have at least broken his nose. There’s no blood. No bruises. Nothing.
Skorp smiled. “Your parents showed you how to fight an
d defend yourself. Bravo. If I was standing in the flesh, I would be hurting.”
Skorp took a step forward, “But I’m not standing in the flesh, as it were. How foolish would I be if I was really here?”
Jon lifted his fists. “Robot body?”
“An android body to be precise,” Skorp leered.
“Fucking supervillains. Always the plans within plans. You should have channeled that bravado into acting. You would have been a star.”
“Who says I never did a little acting in my day,” Skorp said as he slowly stepped closer.
Jon glanced around again and came up empty. He was blocked in and no escape routes in sight.
“Out, damned spot! Out I say!” Skorp grinned.
If I push my luck, I might be able to get past him.
Jon took a deep breath and kept his focus. “Lady Macbeth? Yea, you are crazy!”
Skorp didn’t slow down as he was about ten feet from Jon. Confidence flashed as Jon bolted forward. Fist raised, he readied to push his luck. When Jon was close, Skorp’s fist blurred forward, striking Jon directly in the middle of the chest. The force of the blow threw Jon back and he crashed into the tiled wall, cracking it further. Coughing up blood, Jon fell to his hands and knees, breathing heavy as pain stormed along his entire body. Lights flashed in his gaze as he fought through the ocean of torment crawling along every nerve.
Skorp stood over Jon, his shadow covering the younger man. “If I used just a little more power, your ribcage would have collapsed and you would be dying from internal injuries. Take comfort in that because the lesson is not over.”
Jon looked up, blood running down his chin. “Revenge never heals.”
“No. But it will make me feel better,” Skorp said with a manic grin.
The door to the bathroom opened slightly. Skorp lifted his head and turned when an explosion blasted his senses. Turning around, he watched as William was already to him, a fist cocked back and white swirling air around William’s entire body.
Skorp’s hand flashed up, catching the incoming fist. William’s other fist curled under and crashed into Skorp’s side. The power in the blow bent Skorp’s body as he crashed into the metal stalls of the toilets. The sound of crashing and bending metal echoed through the bathroom as William hovered a foot above the floor and white wisps of air circling his arms and waist.
“Get your mother!” William commanded Jon before Skorp launched up from the destruction
Thick arms grabbed Skorp, but both men went crashing into the porcelain sinks. Water sprayed from broken pipes. William’s fist crashed down on Skorp three times before the android took hold of William’s waist. William’s body crashed into the mirror above the sinks, shattered glass flying into the air.
Jon grabbed a piece of broken sink and stood up. William’s fist slammed into Skorp like a hammer on an anvil. The android gave no expression as he took the beating before lifting his leg and kicking out. William was knocked back into the wall. Skorp launched and rammed his knee into Williams stomach. Jon’s father grunted in pain before Skorp grabbed him by the neck and began to squeeze.
“Death to the abominations!” Skorp shouted.
Jon was to his feet. He lifted the sink in his hands and brought it down on Skorp’s head. The sink shattered on impact. Skorp’s head turned and glared at Jon.
“Run… Jon,” William choked before putting his hand several inches from Skorp’s head.
The very air in the bathroom swirled before white bolts of air slammed into Skorp’s head at point blank range. The brutal onslaught caused Skorp’s head to bounce around like a flag in the wind. He let go of William’s neck and tried to right himself. The barrage was so intense, Skorp’s head twisted and his entire body was up and crashing into a wall.
William fell to his feet, gasping for air. Jon was at his side, trying to keep him steady.
“I said… run,” William coughed before he took control of the air.
Jon’s eyes bulged in his head as the air around him picked him up and he flew toward the bathroom entrance. Jon turned to see Skorp getting back up, his head at an odd angle and then shifting back into place.
“Get… your… mother,” William heaved as he lifted his fists again.
Jon turned to the door and crossed his arms. Crashing through, the door slammed open and Jon went crashing onto the floor.
Time slowed down as Lilly, Sandra, Cora, Zelda, and Syndra turned. Eyes widened as they saw Jon trying to rise, blood covering his face and white shirt. Bodies broke into a charge, hearts beating as one. When they had nearly reached him, the bathroom door exploded into shards of wood as William was hurtled through. William groaned as he landed on the floor, blood dripping from his nose.
The music stopped and everyone in the club turned in their direction.
Sandra glanced at Lilly, “Protect my son.”
The elf watched as energy bled off Jon’s mother, her eyes glowing a pale blue. Lilly grabbed Jon as Zelda took hold of William. Syndra’s body fell into a battle stance, arcane words falling from her lips. Cora turned and ran.
Skorp stalked out of the bathroom entrance, his gaze falling on Sandra.
“Blue Claws, ready to dance again?” Skorp chuckled.
Blue energy claws extended from Sandra’s fingertips before she pointed them. Energy spiked and lightning blasted out, cutting through the air and striking Skorp. Lilly pulled as Jon was to his feet. William groaned as he too was on his feet, Zelda pulling him away.
Screams and shouts filled the club as patrons ran for the exits.
Skorp took a step back and then another as energy ripped through his skin. Metal shined from underneath as Sandra’s power forced him back. When he was nearly back in the bathroom, the lightning died, Sandra heaving.
Skorp stood up with a knowing smile. “You could never sustain such power for long.”
The wounds along his body began to close and seal shut.
“Activate protection protocols,” Skorp sneered.
A white aura appeared around Skorp’s body.
William pulled away from Zelda and reached into his jacket. “Thank you, Zelda but everyone should clear out.”
Zelda watched as William put on a white bandana with eye holes. It covered his head and fell into place as he tied it tight. Air swirled as William took a stance, his power growing.
“I will not leave your side,” Zelda said as her body shifted, arms and legs growing longer. Claws lengthened from fingertips and rows of teeth filled her mouth.
“Mom!” Jon said as he stumbled forward.
“Honey, you know what you have to do. Save the people while your father and I go to work,” Blue Claws said without breaking her gaze on Skorp.
“Yes, save the degenerates of this place,” Skorp chuckled.
Blue Claws took in a sharp breath before leaping high into the air and releasing two more streams of lightning.
Skorp stood his ground as the energy crashed into his aura and swirled away into nothing.
“Thanks for the boost,” Skorp laughed as he pointed a hand and energy blasted forth.
Blue Claws dodged to the side as energy struck the ceiling, a boom rocking the club.
Syndra spoke a word of power. Alcohol and water surged into long spears in midair. With a flick of her finger, they launched. Skorp turned to the incoming spears. He crossed his arms as they struck the energy barrier and were flung aside, turning back to liquids.
“Energy shield,” Skorp mentioned before he began walking forward.
“Energy?” Syndra whispered before she began another incantation.
Jon’s mother dove down, claws at her sides. Skorp lifted his hand and aimed when air bolts struck him from the side. William advanced, a barrage of white air bolts firing from his hand like a machine gun. The force of the blows was enough to knock Skorp off balance when Blue Claws was on him. Claws flashed, striking the shield and causing it to flare. Jon’s mother turned into a hurricane of attacks, striking again and again unt
il she ducked down and leapt into the air.
“I have to…” Jon began as Lilly grabbed him.
“You can’t help them now!” Lilly shouted.
Jon pulled away from Lilly’s grasp. “Yes, I can!”
William and Zelda charged Skorp and when they were on him, fists and claws hammered at the shield. Skorp sighed before lifting his arms and spinning like a top. Arms whipping around, they slammed into William and Zelda, sending them flying to the floor.
“I thought you were smarter than that, Thunder Scales,” Skorp sneered.
William and Zelda were back onto the feet.
“We have to keep attacking to drain the shield,” Thunder Scales shouted.
Skorp laughed. “I’ve learned from our encounters before. I have redundant systems and powerpacks. There is no way you can outlast me in a fight. Tonight, my revenge will be complete!”
Jon ran toward Skorp, his body low and picking up a chair. William and Zelda joined him, the three of them rushing in. Blue Claws floated high among the flashing lights before she unleashed two more streams of lightning. Skorp readied himself as everything came toward him.
Syndra uttered a word of power and held up her hands.
Skorp’s eyes widened as the energy of his shield began to bend and flow toward the dark-skinned elf. Power drained as he watched Syndra staring back with pure focus.
“No!” Skorp shouted before lightning crashed into him.
Stumbling back, he righted himself up as Zelda and William drove claws and fists into him. The field flicked as Skorp tried to block the attacks. Jon let out a shout as he leapt into the air. The lightning died and Jon brought the chair in his hands down, crashing into the shield. The field blinked and William drove his fist into Skorp’s cheek.
Skorp stumbled a few steps before lifting his hand. An energy bolt blasted out blindly. Jon’s mother dove down and crashed into her son, the two of them sprawling to the floor. Zelda backed up as Thunder Scales unleashed a volley of air bolts.