Freelance Immortals

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Freelance Immortals

Chapter Three: Nest of Vipers

Twelve Destroids. Three supers. No problem, right?

Wrong.

"Nass!" Defender cursed, avoiding several blasts. "I _hate_ these things!" He concentrated ferociously, and a Destroid exploded. Three others crashed into him.

"You mind telling me what they are, boy scout?" Mercedes asked dryly, firing cascades of energy at her attackers.

"Destroids! They're Destroyer's cannon fodder--like HIT--Marks, only worse. A LOT worse!" Defender flew up, evading the Destroids for a moment. Then all three grew jets where their feet had been and followed. "They adapt, work in groups and grow stronger the longer they fight! They constantly absorb energy, you see. About their only saving grace is that there's no master computer collating the stored data like with Marvel-Earth Sentinels, so if you can take them all out, later Destroids aren't any deadlier."

"Thanks for the field report, kid," the Bastet who'd been in the corner a moment before said, a huge, curved, jagged blade tearing through a Destroid as if it were tinfoil. At Defender's quizzical gaze, he added, "You looked like you could use a hand."

Defender smiled. "Appreciated."

Moments later, the Balam and Solitaire are wiping their blades clean, and Defender and Quantum are slowly recharging their batteries.

"Love, we've been in each other's heads for months, and I don't remember seeing those things before. Where do you recognize them from?" Morgan asked.

"Atlantis," Roland replied, sitting heavily. "They were Destroyer's shock troops."

"Wait a minute! You sayin' there's a nutcase running around from _Atlantis,_ raising hell?" the Balam asked, incredulous.

Defender and Solitaire looked at each other. Defender merely nodded.

"Hmmph." The werecat pulled its Hakarr blade from the last Destroid. "I'd say you were nuts, except I've _never_ seen things like these before." He extended a hand/paw. "Name's Santiago, but my handle's Jaguar."

Quantum chuckled. "Oh, _that's_ original."

Jaguar's eyes narrowed. "Says the lady in the blue spandex."

"Defender," Roland said quickly, accepting the offered hand. "The lady in green is my love, Solitaire. The 'lady in blue spandex' is Quantum."

Jaguar bowed to Solitaire formally, and nodded slightly to Quantum. Morgan returned the bow; Mercedes smirked slightly but nodded.

"Tell you what. You help me evict some Pentex goons from my home, and I'll help you kick this 'Destroyer' from here to the Wyrm's maw," Jaguar offered.

Defender smiled. "This sounds like the beginning of a beautiful friendship. Or at least a team."

"Oh yeah, we're a regular bunch of champions," Quantum chuckled.

Jaguar stopped for a moment. "Hmm..."

"No." Defender smiled broadly as Quantum looked appalled. "OH, no you don't," she continued, shaking her head.

"That's it, he's gone," Solitaire chuckled, grinning bemusedly.

"The Champions. What was, will be again." Defender blinked, surprised. "Where did _that_ come from?"

"Who cares? I like it," Jaguar said. "Let's kick it." He shifted his hand, so it was below Defender's.

Defender nodded, placing his hand above Jaguar's. Smiling, Solitaire rested her green glove on her husband's hand, giving it a slight squeeze.

Quantum sighed. "You are all crazy," she said. But she put her hand atop the others as she said it.

Defender smiled. "Justice lives again."

* * *

Defender stumbled through the swirling vortex of energy, disoriented as he emerged from the Demise. "Whoa. That's some spirit-tech you've got there, Jag. Man I _hate_ Holistic Immersion gates," he said.

Jaguar shrugged. "Hey, if you've got it, you know? Besides, I want to meet someone before we head for my Den-Realm. War makes stranger bedfellows than politics," he added cryptically. "Just a second." The werecat sat and chanted for a few moments.

Quantum looked at Jaguar skeptically. "If he starts channeling Jimmy Hoffa, I'm leaving."

"Wait," was all Defender said.

A few moments later, a figure dressed in Edwardian garb, his skin sheathed in black, appeared holographically. "Santiago. What do you wish?"

"Hey, Obsidian. I'm heading for my Den. Got some help. Figured you'd want to give Pentex a black eye. What do you say?" Jaguar asked.

"Obsidian..." Defender whispered, blinking.

The ebon figure regarded the Bastet for a long moment. "There has been some sort of reorganization amongst the forces of the Tzimice. It is ironic that they, of all the Kindred, should keep the greatest part of their identity. Then again, perhaps not."

"Wait," Defender said suddenly. "I know you. Not just from Atlantis--" Obsidian gapes at Defender. "--but from this life! You were the Prince of London. You ordered an end to Kindred killing of mortals. You were a legend, even to Aeon. But I thought you were dead."

Obsidian regarded Defender for an even longer moment. "You must be 'Blaze,' in your new guise. I recognize the firebird that is your emblem." The Kindred looked into the distance. "I know that Aeon never approved of the Camarilla, but our society, when it held to its tenets, was...beautiful, in its own way. But now, most of our kind have either died the Final Death, or become your kind of immortal. The few who remain are hunted as we have never been hunted before. And the monstrous Tzimice have fallen to what Jaguar calls 'the Wyrm,' heart and soul. Do you fight this Wyrm, child of Light?"

Defender gazed at Obsidian for a moment. "With all I am, sir."

Obsidian nodded. "Then I would join your band, if you would have me."

Jaguar smiled. "I knew it. Welcome to the Champions, El Cid."

Obsidian sighed. "Do not call me that, Santiago."

Quantum groaned. "That's weak, cat-boy."

^Definitely not up to the standard we're used to,^ Morgan added privately.

^Supers are more used to the action movie one-liner than the true stinker, love,^ Roland replied. "It's an honor, Obsidian."

"For me, as well." Obsidian paused. "But I am _not_ wearing one of those ridiculous American spandex costumes."

"See?" Quantum immediately agreed.

Defender just chuckled. "Quantum, he _is_ a costume."

"Basic black is always in style," Solitaire agreed.

Quantum just shook her head. "I can't win..."

* * *

The five comrades appeared in deep jungle.

Jaguar's whiskers twitched.

"No.

"NOOOOO!" Jaguar cried, shifting unconsciously to Crinos (half-man, half-cat) form and dropping to his knees.

"What?" Quantum asked, looking at the Bastet as if he were about to go mad. Defender clutched his head.

"The land...hurts," Defender says in a curt, raw voice.

"Pentex has been here," Obsidian said softly.

Solitaire groaned. "I haven't felt anything this...foul...since Jadis' corrupt magick-twisting," she said, her hand moving to her stomach.

"My people." Jaguar shifted to feline form. "My PEOPLE!" He took off at top speed.

"Nass, he's fast," Defender said. "We'd better follow him." Matching deeds to words, he flew after the Balam. The others followed.

They found Santiago in the hollow of a great gnarled tree, shifted to human form and cradling the broken body of what was once a magnificent jaguar. "They're dead. They're all dead." He repeated the words constantly, a litany of shock.

"Light have mercy," Defender whispered.

Then all hell broke loose.

Dozens of men, clad in sickly-green scale-mail adorned in a serpentine motif, emerged from the jungle wielding blasters, flying what looked like carved out beetles with hoverfans welded on, and/or riding airboats that leaked oil into the swamp. "HAIL VIPER!" They shouted as one as they attacked.

The heroes stared for a moment, then flew into action as a unit, as if they'd practiced together all their lives.

Quantum dropped the beetle-things out of the sky, landing them next to Jaguar, who tore into them with heart-sick abandon. Obsidian leaped, and crashed into the lead airboat. After making _very_ short work of the crew, he rammed into another airboat that had been slowed by the vines lashing into its engine. Solitaire, the source of the plant life's sudden aggression, concentrated as the jungle itself erupted to battle those who had defiled it. And Defender simply and efficiently sent into unconsciousness anyone who looked like they might get near one of his allies.

In moments, the battle was over.

"Savages. Butchers." Jaguar grabbed the Viper commander by the collar and hoisted him into the air. "WHY? WHY?!"

"You...were in...the way..." the commander gasped.

"So are you," Jaguar growled, his paw leaning back to strike.

"NO!" Defender shouted. "Jaguar, I don't like killing at _all,_ but in a fight you may have to! That man is defenseless!"

Jaguar paused for a long moment, staring with pure rage at the twisted commander. Then with a broken snarl, he tossed the man aside and fell to his knees, sobbing.

Defender put his hand on the Balam's shoulder. "We'll find others of your kind, Jaguar. Somehow. Some day."

Jaguar just sat there for several minutes, staring at the swamp. Finally, his paw went to Defender's gauntlet. "You are my pride, now."

Defender nodded.

* * *

Solitaire looked at Jaguar sympathetically. "Are you ready, Jaguar?" Jaguar nodded. looking to where they had buried the few bodies they could find. Morgan had fallen back on her priestess training, helping the last survivor through his mourning as best she could. It seemed to be working, though it was too early to tell. [At least he's grieving,] Morgan thought sadly. [That's a good sign.]

Then the two began to sing.

The others, their prisoners held a respectful (and safe) distance away, watched in awe as the poisoned land began to purge itself. Mottled trees glistened with new health. Once-tainted water shone with crystal clarity. Wounded spirits rejoiced as their torn forms sealed over.

Solitaire's Power Ring glowed as the poisons the Viper agents had sown were transformed into natural fertilizers.

Finally, the aching beauty of the song faded away. Jaguar shifted forms a few times, finally settling into his near-human (Glabro) form. "Thank you, Morgan. This means more to me than I can say. You, and the Champions, will forever be welcome in my Realm."

Morgan bowed in the style Jaguar had used upon first meeting her. "You are welcome, Santiago. It was an honor to be a part of so beautiful a healing."

Jaguar nodded silently, bowing in return as a few tears escaped him. Then the two rejoined the others. Jaguar and Defender exchanged looks, and the armored Champion stood aside. "And now, fomor, you are going to tell me _all_ about this Viper..."

* * *

"Light help us. The Wyrm's own terrorist army." Defender shook his head in astonishment. "Is there _any_ way to disarm those monsters?"

"A month ago," Jaguar said quietly, "the Wyrm had all but won. Its enemies were tearing at each other, and they danced on our bodies as we rolled in the mud. Now, at least, they can hide no more. We will find them, and we will drive them into the Void they worship."

Obsidian stared at his ally for a moment. "Champions, indeed." He turned to Defender. "So, what is your plan?"

"We are going to find out everything we can about this 'Viper,' and try to help Jaguar's people. But first...but first...we need to find two others, and then we have to find Destroyer before he finds us. Because if he does...Light help us all."

TBC . . . .

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