Julius visited Maui when he wasn't acting or modeling, but since the news of his son, he spent his vacations with Alex & Maya on Ninjeta. This was the first time,in a long time, since he visited. But Maui would be another home to Julius and a squad of his picking. Enrico, the teen he saved from Rio was the first recruit and his pupil.
In the Tsukazaki tower's personal outdoor Dojo, Julius & Enrico sat cross legged meditating. Focusing on the late night theme music of the outdoors. The insect creaking, the crashing waves, the rustling of the palms trees. Their connection to the world helping them disconnect from the world. Lulling them deeper into an freeing state. They sat here for over an hour and with the crash of another wave, Julius slowly opened his eyes. His body was lighter, his mind clearer and his spirit closer. Closer to his sanity and bringing him down to Earth.
"Enrico" Julius uttered.
Hearing Julius, Enrico dragged out an exhale while his eyelids lifted, revealing bright brown eyes. The Portuguese boy was catching on to Julius' habits and lifestyle quick. His gravity manipulation was growing to be innovative and making him dangerous. Julius bought him books on gravity and challenged him to apply his new knowledge of the subject to his powers. And he did, the other morning he almost landscaped the island's terrain when he turned into a human comet, raising his mass to over 20 tons. The kid had power he just needed control.
We'll discuss your experience at dinner, think it over on your walk back." Julius slowly stood on his bare feet and slid into his Gucci loafers.
Enrico bowed and walked down a stone path leading to the Tsukazaki Tower, named after Julius' ancient grandfather and Japanese Emperor, KotakuTzukazaki.
Julius peered out at the Pacific Ocean centered and a little high of meditation. The breeze blew the burning jasmine incense to his nostril and as he inhaled he thought of Maya which brought him to his son, Alex. So much danger was in his parents lives, Julius worried if Alex would ever be dragged into their lives. He thought about this often and every time his caught himself holding his breath. He sighed and hung the burning lantern against the wind, to flicker out naturally.
Walking down the stone path towards the tower he picked up a faint energy signature. He figured it was Enrico until he made it closer to the tower and picked up two signatures. "Sh!t" he uttered, taking off into a sprint for Enrico. If he was lucky Enrico was unbothered and unaware of the intruder on the island. Expecting the worse, Julius assumed the intruder slipped in the tower when Enrico went in.
Maui Wowie
Salami-Tech?
Absurd. He had almost laughed in the man's face.
A few hours ago, the Mercenary had been summoned by one of the richest men in the America, perhaps even the world. Donald Rump. Merc had been requested to arrive as discreetly as possible, the ever-present threat of the paparazzi a noose around Rump's plump neck. That had been a bit of a difficulty. What with the office situated at the very top of the sky-scraper company building, and the security helicopters orbiting it.
The 'copters were a nice touch. Merc respected that.
He had timed it perfectly, firing a single grappling hook through the Rump's office window and hooking a bodyguard around the neck, Mercenary had used the man's heavy build to attone for the wide gap between the lower rooftop and the enormous structure's CEO office. He had slipped in just as the a 'copter came round the corner, and he had come unnoticed.
The guard's neck and collarbone were shattered, but Rump didn't seem fazed at all, and ordered his other bodyguard to "dispose" of him.
Ah, cliches.
Rump had clearly been intimidated by the battle-hardened Mercenary, and he had stammered slightly in his hit-request. It didn't matter, Merc had understood it perfectly. An amazing amount of money awaited him if he completed this task, and even though he usually didn't take such pitiful hits, the week had been slow and he'd only made a few million euros so far.
Eliminate Winkie Jorgens.
Again, Mercenary had almost laughed. Who knew the names of the CEO's in the cold meat's business had such ridiculous names?
Rump's bodyguard had passed on Jorgens' island getaway mansion coordinates to the frightening Mercenary, and the soldier-of-fortune had disappeared moments after. Mercenary had done some research on the strange balony-selling billionaire on his way to the island, and had uncovered frankly boring information. The man had gone to law school, before having a short stint at KFC as a waiter, and had suddenly and quite mysteriously inherited the Balony Boys Company shares. Quite incredible. Mercenary had stored the data to memory and had prepared for the mission. If you had the audacity to call it that.
Four Mercers-Technologically adapted hanguns.
Two Rifles.
A few grenades, electrical, stun, frag, smoke, and a few other types.
His favoured katana.
And a compressible bo.
Along with his signature blue and orange-clad full body costume.
Light gear, for his liking, but apparently the mansion was guarded by second-rate ex-soldiers. Rookies, most of them.
He had taken his mini-jet, a toy purchased from his last job's reward. It had been sufficient, taking him to his destination successfully.
That had been the problem. The coordinates appeared to be incorrect, as although similiar, this island's building was no mansion, but a tower, and it resembled nothing of the images that had been seen of Jorgens' place. Mercenary would have pulled back, but his jet's power was running out, and an immediate turn-around would burn it all up. He would have to let the battery recharge. So he decided to land.
Big.Mistake.
The island seemed to have it's own bloody air-force, and he his radar had picked up oncoming heat-seeker missiles. He assumed they were the cause of auto-mated defence sytems, according to their launching signatures. Top of the Range, designed to pick up only heat emitted by humans. Merc had had to duck and dive, and swerve and curve, to avoid the damned things, and finally his jet had powered down. He needed to be careful though, as there would be no doubt that the explosion would alert other defences, and then it would all go to hell. But first, he needed to survive this, as even his mutated cells would be unable to regenerate from all-out obliteration.
He kicked the hatch open and used his magnetic boots to stand firm on the dropping jet's hull. He had his gear on him, in a huge rucksack across his back. He calmly observed the oncoming missiles, and as they were metres away, he concentrated and in a puff of black almost smoke-like myst, he appeared on the rear of the missile, worryingly close to the boosters. He inched forward slowly, aware of the now oncoming other missile. The impact would blow him to shreds.
He looked for the hatch, and at the risk of leaning sideways, he wrenched it open. Slowly working through the wires, he eventually de-activated the missile and leapt away, letting the non-lethal weapon drop beside the jet into the deep ocean. Once more Mercenary teleported, and appeared on the rear of the other missile. This was the last one. He struggled to find the hatch, and finally realized it was on the under side. He would have to hold on with one-arm, whilst de-activating with the other. Risky. He got to work. Soon he had de-activated it successfully and it was en-route to the bottom of the ocean. He was about to jump away when he realized the rucksack had become hooked on a flap. Crap. He tugged as hard as he could, to no avail. He sighed theatrically as he, and the missile, pounded into the ocean's surface, hard as concrete at such speed.
He opened his eyes. Spluttering water, he struggled to clear his water-logged lungs. It took a while, but soon he was fine. He had been washed onto shore and his cells had healed him. Miraculously. With utter disappointedment he realized he had lost his rucksack, and with it, all his weapons. Luckily he had his sheathed katana across his back, and a Mercer in his single holster. A few grenades accompanied his utility belt.
He was screwed.
His only hope was to find some aircraft and get the hell away from this place. Easy, for A man of his experience.
He was sneaking through the dense jungle on one side of the island when he came across two heavily built men. They were standing smoking, almost secretly, near a palm tree. They hadn't seen him. Mercenary picked up a coconut from the floor and with master accuracy, he hit the upper leaves. An array of huge coconuts assailed the two men, and soon they were unconscious. Mercenary slit their throats, just to be sure.
He was making his way carefully across the island, desperately avoiding droids and security cameras, more than once he had been surprised by the intense technology, and had done anything possible to avoid detection, let alone destruction. What was this place? Geez. Things were looking bright when he suddenly came to a clearing, a single stone path leading to a huge tower. He was about to iniltrate the building when he caught sight of a well built tanned boy walking towards it. This was not a problem. Mercenary had no beef with killing a kid. He had no boundaries. He unsheathed the katana and with a sadistic grin, inched his way through the shrubbery, imminent death inches away...
What an amateur move getting stuck outside the tower. His DNA scans weren't working, simply because he forgot to verify his info in the supercomputer. So he waited for Julius to walk up and give him a funny look. Julius always teased him, it was harmless, but this was actually embarrassing to him. His anticipation for Julius' reaction to this all made him antsy. He paced beside one of many gardens of damask roses on the island. Julius taught him a trick that gave him a sixth sense and radar to his surroundings. He expelled a cloud of manipulated gravity to feel the mass in his near radius. Julius's range far exceeded Enrico's, but it came in handy. In the bushes behind the pink roses, someone or something was lurking.
"Step out." Enrico said back pedaling. His palms turned moist and small sweat beads formed on his forehead . Julius prepared him for things like these; whatever was hiding was going to kill him. Enrico thrives under pressure. Opening his palms he charged forward creating gravity vacuums. The beautiful pink rose garden was ripped from the root and fell to the ground as a sprinkle of brown, green and pink. At this point, Enrico was screaming in rage. He was pissed at the intruder hiding trying to take his life. He wasn't going to die here. And he didn't notice he was screaming until Julius grabbed him.
"Enrico. Stay calm. You'll be okay. Enrico." Julius shook him out of his rampage. The drone of his gravity vacuum hushed and he looked at Julius like he was a stranger.
"Someone's here..."
"I know. But you're okay and we can sort this out--come out %$&*!"
Julius was super protective over Enrico. He realized he was like his big brother. Maybe it was the separation from his family, but Julius to filled that empty space.
"I shouldn't've provoked him. It..."
"No. I'm here to do that" Dual glowing green katana flashed in Julius' hands and he cut through the bushes . Julius kicked off his Gucci loafers. "Take those inside for me, please." Enrico thought Julius was a pretty boy, but it was odd seeing how destructive and punchy he was. And from his experience with Asians they were usually mannered, not Julius.Spotted. A man crept in the Damascus garden. Juilus pointed his left katana blade at the man and sighed. "I don't know who the &%$# you are. But you you aren't supposed to be here." Julius dashed forward and leaped turned his body into a cosmic tornado. With his searing blades outstretched he attacked the intruder at over 100 miles per hour. Enrico could hear the blades slicing the air, he admired Julius' creativity with his powers. He wanted to fight like him one day, but better.
Holding Julius' Gucci loafers, he glanced back at the tower's entrance, knowing he couldn't get in. He scolded himself for not speaking up and telling Julius. Now all he could do was watch the fight and wait for his chance to strike.
The boy was pacing back and forth near the entrance of the tower, he seemed pissed. His brow was furrowed in concentration and Merc recognized the body language. The boy was having a monologue in his head. How amusing. The boy would still be deep in thought by the time Merc's cold steel cut across his tanned skin. Perfect.
He continued his discreet path toward his prey. Katana at the ready. His eyes darted back and forth, wary. He was careful of any twigs or branches that might give away his position. That would be unfortunate. Then suddenly the kid jerked his head toward him, seemingly angry, and raised his palms outward. His powers at work, Mercenary smirked to himself. Cute.
He froze. A muscled asian man had appeared out-of-nowhere beside the kid. Merc cursed. He shrunk backwards slowly, the muscled man could only be that pretty-boy actor, Julian or something. Mercenary was not threatened, and decided to continue his path forward. The actor was targeted now, too.
Then the brat had the audacity to call him out, swear him even. That had made Mercenary's blood boil. Nobody , Spoke to him that way. Mercenay hastened his approach, katana clenched firmly. He took a moment to make sure his Mercer was within reaching distance, and satisfied, looked back up.
He ducked low as a green mass of energy flew at him, emerald katana's outstretched, it missed his head by inches and he rolled away instinctively, coming up in a steady battle-stance. He didn't have time to be shocked, this was life or death.
Brilliant.
He suppressed a chuckle as he leapt backwards, using a nearby palm tree as a pedestal, he rebounded off of it and flew through the air at his opponent, his fearsome katana a barely visible flash of silver, aimed straight at the center of the jade hurricane...
That was a impulsive first attack. He missed the stupid intruder; and still spinning, he finally planted himself on the ground like a spinning top. His speed picked up loose grass and leaves around him. His feet drilled into the Earth and as he stabilized, the stowaway sailed through the air to attack wielding a single katana.
Julius' life was random, but there was no logical reason to this guy hanging around the tower. It was a private island; a hidden island. He wasn't welcome here and apparently he came for trouble. To kill from his first impression. Julius wouldn't let that happen.
The man's katana cut down for Julius' face, but he stopped it with his dual blades. He created a cosmic bubble that burst and released a gust of wind; Julius jumped in the air and drifted with the current pushing him back. "My face." he murmured as he landed on his bare feet. His appearance was 98% of his career the acting was only 2%. A green halo surrounded his body; and from it, flashed an emerald phantom of glowing samurai armor. Not only did the cosmic armor protect his Chanel model face, it increased his durability and strength. The downside was the more energy he exerted from this enhancement the more his raw energy was drained. But he knew this fight wouldn't take long.
He poked his right emerald katana at the moist soil and deviously smirked at his opponent. "What are you? Another Merc sent to slice me up for a high price?" He planted the emerald katana in the ground and swaggered forward as another katana flashed in his hand."They always fail." He leaped ten feet into the air to perform a cosmic shockwave aimed at the assumed Merc. His landing spot was set on the Merc, but he was sure he would evade the smash. That was fine. When Julius crashed to the ground the impact would send a cosmic radial wave in the close range.
Mercury.
So that's who the pretty-boy actually was. Mercenary berated himself for not noticing sooner. He could have been able to avoid the man completely, even if it meant missing out on his little bloodshed. And that meant a lot.
Mercenary's katana had been millimetres from ruining the model's face, but the hero had blocked it with surprising speed, those dual blades proving their worth nicely. Mercenary had instantly retreated a few steps, wary of the sudden display of skill. Mercury had an amazing green silhoutte around his frame, and the distincive image of samurai armour. Mercenary's mind flashed back to his days as a young samurai prodigy, the cream of the crop. A cream that slowly turned sour, and carelessly murdered every single student and sensei. Ah, the good days.
Mercenary immediately upped his game, this wasn't going to be as easy as expected.
"Actually, I'm just passing through. Nice place you have here.The security is a bit shoddy though, could be better."
He used the taunt as a distraction, discreetly inching his hand toward his belt, he carefully plucked a grenade from it. He had timed it perfectly, as Mercury leapt into the air like an agile tiger, releasing a powerful blast of cosmic energy at the blue-clad figure. Instead of evading it, he decided to go straight through it, with raw strength.
He gripped the hilt of his katana firmly as he sliced at the oncoming shockwave, his single muscular arm making up for the loss of a second hand, currently holding the grenade.
His breath was knocked from his lungs and he was driven back through the undergrowth as his blade cut cleanly through the blast, and the remains of the shockwave slammed into him.
It tore pieces of his costume to shreds, his arms were exposed completely now, his gloves ashes on the ground. He smelt the stench of burning skin and clenched his jaw in frustration at his seared skin. He let his cells regenerate. His mask was unscathed. He smirked despite his situation. Life had become so lame, being hired by some chump to go and needlessly kill some other chump. That drove him INSANE! But this... This was good. No longer caring about transportation or concealment, Mercenary felt that fimiliar spark of unrefined killer joy, that only he felt.
His watchful eyes observed the airborne Mercury, and as he began his rapid descent toward the Mercenary, he pulled the clip from the grenade and back-pedalling quickly, he waited till the man was about a metre from the ground before throwing the grenade at the exact spot that he would have to land on, his course now inevitably set toward it. As the grenade left his fingertips, Mercenary's eyes slipped to the young boy, watching with morbid fascination. Mercenary saw a bit of himself in the kid, and he decided not to kill him after all.
His attention returning to the oncoming explosion, he lifted his arms to cover his head and most of his torso, ready for the impact. There was no use running, Merc's grenade's were designed for huge blast distances. Any second now...
As Julius descended to exert cosmic destruction, his high speed created a whizzing sound against the tropical air. His shockwave would damage the Merc one way or another; he just had to touch ground. His feet slammed to the ground; and along with the quake of his cosmic wave, a grenade explosion set off. The emerald plasma and absorbed the torrential fire's explosion. The merge intensified Julius' knockback. Nestled in the emerald armor, a ear rattling vibration moved throughout the exterior. Julius pressed his palms over his ears and he slid across the dirt on his back.
Julius stood on his feet tapping his hands against his ears. All he could hear was ringing. Then, pissing him off, he saw Enrico standing there watching. "GET IN THE HOUSE!" he yelled extremely loud. He was trying to hear him self. But he only heard ringing. "DAMMIT, GO!"Finally Enrico took off with Julius' Gucci loafers. That ringing in his ear was driving him mad.
His muscles were getting tense and he made note to get a massage from Maya when she brought Alex over. But for now he rubbed his sore joints as he prepared for another attack. "This idiot."he growled, digging both his glowing green katana's in the soggy soil. Now three battle charms glowed emerald in the ground, unaffected. They would be used in the near future if needed for a sneaky attack.
Lifting his left leg, his cooling green plasma armor boot lifted also. He slammed it down and a green phantom flashed in front of him. He followed with his right leg and the green phantom lingered this second time. He clapped his palms together and green phantom turned into a raging green King Cobra snake that lit up the generously shaded area. It measured near the height of the Tyrannosaurus Rex. It hissed then quickly slithered towards the Merc throwing grass, dirt or anything in it's path into the air. Julius became the snake, his eyes glowing a fierce green. Closer, the King cobra reared it's upper body back then lunged at the Merc for a shocking bite over a billion watts. If the snake missed the first time it would continue thrashing to pierce the Merc's flesh.
The energy Julius exerted from this attack weakened his armor, decreasing his previously enhanced durability and strength. It didn't matter to him though. The grenade trick surprised him, but he was high and confident, sure he'd walk out alive.
"What makes you unique, Merc?"
The Mercenary sat hunched, his breathing ragged, his body bruised and battered, his lungs exerting a craving pang for oxygen. He couldn't move, he had never in his life felt this much pain. And with each cut that healed, another was sliced open. He could barely keep conscious, let alone talk.
"I said, what makes you so special, that you can recklessly take lives. Without a care for the implications."
Mercenary's tired brain searched for a suitable answer, but under the circumstances, he was unable to reply.
"Nothing. Nothing makes you special?"
Mercenary attempted to slow his shallow breathing.
"That's what I thought. So get off you're bloody high-horse you worthless piece of crap. "
Mercenary coughed and his stomach retched, but due to no blood coursing through his veins, he sucked in air. His head lolled slightly as he looked up defiantly at the man.
He muttered something incoherent and the man craned forward to hear, he crouched low and listened intently.
"You...Wanna... Know what... Makes... Me unique? Special?" He coughed again.
Staring carefully into the man's deep eyes, Mercenary lowered his voice, and spoke clearly,
"Before every battle... I pause in a moment of fear ."
The man smirked at the fallen assassin, relishing this moment of weakness.
"Not for myself..."
The man recoiled, confusion puzzling his features.
"But for those I am about to face.
That makes me different. That Is why I am the best. That
Is the Mercenary."
NOW
His body ached. He hadn't expected the explosion to be amplified, he thought it would rather have diminished, but it seemed Mercury's power was of another kind. He noted this. He waited for his cells to regenerate.
Sitting up, he squinted through the dirt and dust. He could make out an emerald samurai lifting himself out of the dirt. Mercenary's eyesight returned shortly, and he could see the model/hero inserting another katana blade into the ground, along with a few others. Merc's own katana was lying in the shrubbery a few metres away. He stood slowly, being careful to open any wounds. They needed to heal first, then he could do his thing. He pushed his shoulder back into it's socket and listened to the satisfying click. He started to make his way to his fallen weapon when a disturbing hiss filled the air around him, at first he recognized it as maybe a gas canister with a unreliable leak, but then it grew louder and he was forced to take another glimpse at his opponent.
Holy Shit.
A huge jade energy construct cobra slithered nimbly toward him, it's jaw dislocated, readying to strike. Mercenary didn't think his chances of surviving a nibble from THAT were too great. He snatched his katana from the floor and as the cobra's mouth closed over him he deftly slapped it away with the side of his blade. Although saving him a few seconds, it did nothing to stop the creature. He turned and tore swiftly through the undergrowth, the cobra gaining on him ever-so-slowly. Mercenary took evasion manouveres, dodging, ducking, rolling, leaping, side-stepping, but it did nothing to put the reptile off, he was nipped at and one a few occasions he had chunks torn out of him. Merc had expected this, and had not just been uselessly retreating.
The Mercenary always had a plan.
He had been running in a circle, making sure that he would eventually wind-up facing the direction that he had run from. He was now sprinting all-out, straight at that pretty-boy samurai, his katana trailing behind him in his left hand, Mercenary quickened his pace.
He could almost feel the cobra's fork-tongue slipping across his spine, and he feinted a path left, driving the snake directly into a hard palm tree. It snapped underneath the cobra's vicious attack. Merc allowed himself a little smile.
"I'm not just another lackey assassin, Mercury. I am the Mercenary, and even though I didn't come here to kill you. I might just have to!"
He swung his katana down straight at the model's forehead, but it was a feint and he instead vaulted over the hero, landing behind him, he utilized the few seconds he had at his advantage and brought his arm around, holding his katana to the model's perfect neck. He also had his Mercer resting against Mercury's lower back, cocked and ready to fire.
"Or you could surrender, save yourself the humiliation. Or won't you're ego be able to survive a kick to the 'nads like that?"
The cosmic King Cobra attacked, but it wasn't enough to end the Merc's life. Julius saw it bite him pretty good a few times and the man kept moving. Oh well. Julius had more tricks up his sleeve. Even with a gun and blade against his waning cosmic armor.
"Or you could surrender, save yourself the humiliation. Or won't your ego be able to survive a kick to the 'nads like that?" the Merc said, trying to play a weak psychology game. Julius' ego in battlefield was out the window. He thought an ego was hindering, but he did have one nonetheless-just not on the battlefield.
Julius snickered and remained still. "If you didn’t come here to kill me, then why are you here?” His voice was monotone.
Julius was in perfectly bad position, but the Merc couldn't see his face. He acted the surrendering role. The role the Merc wanted him to take. His glowing green armor faded and he lifted his hands, leveling them at his head. Vulnerable and unguarded. His eyes scanned the three glowing blades planted in the soil. He had to do this right. One misstep and he had a bullet in his back and perhaps a blood gushing throat. His eyes glowed green and the plan was initiated.
He combusted into a green fire with a solid green silhouette of his body. His Cosmic form. The form that he used to be so afraid of. In this form he was the avatar of raw energy. And now he embraced it. The Merc's gun edge singed against Julius' incinerating flesh. Julius turned to the Merc, with bright flashing green eyes. "Nobody's dying here tonight." The glowing katana's rose from the ground and circled the Mercenary. Ready to strike the Merc if he didn't drop his gun and sword. Unless he used magic or harnessed magnetic energy, taking Julius down would be difficult at this point.
He saw a hint of jade glimmer across the model's body, like a placid ripple of disturbed water. Mercenary smelt danger tinge the air, and he pulled away as fast as he could, his blade inches from slicing the hero's throat to shreds, and the trigger on his Mercer being tugged.
None of his weapons succeed in their endeavours. Instead, he feels his Mercer melt in his gloved hand, and sear through the fortified fabric, his disfigured skin beneath screaming out in excruciating pain. He drops both weapons and rolls away, clenching his damaged hand to his chest, letting his cells get to work.
"Nobody's dying here tonight."
A flaming emerald figure floated before him, the leaves of the palm trees burning away slowly. Mercenary's exquisite eyes peered at the alight Mercury, entranced by this amazing display of powers. He observed it carefully, taking note of all the details. He noticed the shrubbery around the two men melting away with increasing haste. Mercenary didn't feel affected by the cosmic form, not at all. He flexed his wounded hand, making sure it was healed. He smirked beneath his mask. It seemed there was more to this man then formerly assumed. He was pulling tricks out of his sleeves never witnessed by the battle-hardened Merc. This was becoming Fun.
Then came the swords.
Mercenary hadn't noticed before, but three glowing green katana's were surrounding him from all sides, gliding dangerously through the tense atmosphere. He cursed to himself and stretched his hands out placatingly.
"Now now... Easy bub. If you want me to leave you be, then just borrow me a ride outta here. Mine was tanked by your infernal toys. Second-Rate, by-the-by."
He watched Mercury's facial reactions as he spoke, making a show of moving his hands around slowly. His sentence complete, he dropped his arms again, and in an astounding streak of movement, he tore his utility belt from his waist and threw it at the ground, his flash grenades mixing with his smoke grenades, and ultimately causing a huge flurry of activity. The small area of forestry was concealed in stomach-churning smoke and numerous vicious flashes, blinding Mercury momentarily.
Merc dropped to the ground and took deep breaths, clearing his lungs. He was wary of coughing, as that would compromise his position. He Craddled his katana and inspected it for any damages. None. He let out a sigh of relief, his favorite weapon unaffected by the model/hero's sudden green blaze.
Peering cautiously from the side of the palm tree he watched the hero, still floating above the cloud of toxic smoke. It had been just as he had expected, the green blades were directed by the will of Mercury, and as long as he was distracted, so were the lethal weapons. Mercenary belittled himself for allowing such a risky moment, he should have ended the man when he had had the chance. Not taunt the pitiful pretty-boy. He allowed himself a brief battle cry,
"YOU WANNA BET, LITTLE GIRL?!"
His ego bruised, the infamous Mercenary stood sturdily and wiped the dust from his shoulders. He stepped from behind the cover of the plam tree and in a single fluid motion, he launched the vibranium katana straight at the airborne figure of the famed hero, Mercury...
"YOU WANNA BET, LITTLE GIRL?!" The Merc yelled wildly at Julius, who raised an eyebrow. Something set the guy off again; something Julius did or said, but whatever the case he lunged at him. Green energy outlined Julius' body to protect his skin from cuts and scrapes. This huy wasn’t making any sense to him. "I thought you wanted to leave?" Julius said dodging the Merc's impulsive onslaught. The Merc continued attacking. Ducking, dodging, jumping was the only response Julius made to the attacks. "This was all a mistake." Julius flew into the air and perched on a palm tree.
The Merc leaped up into the night sky and aimed his katana at Julius. "Calm down." Julius sighed, trapping the Merc in a green bubble. He poked his blade at the bubble to no avail. "Looks like it'll pop, huh?" Julius rested on a flat green construct cross-legged, resting his chin in his palm. ”So who sent you here?" Julius watched the trapped man, smirking, curious to what brought him to his private island. Before the Merc spoke he tuned his cosmic communicator to the Hawaiian Monarch regional channel. In five minutes a Monarch squad would surround the island to apprehend Julius’ oblivious new friend.
He decided to cease the useless assualt on the interior of the jade bubble, and instead sheathed his katana, and spread himself out across the flat surface. He made himself comfortable, all-the-while eyeing the arrogant little swine, Mercury. He did not even know who the Mercenary was? What a fool. A sad, sad little man, indeed.
"Who sent me here?" Mercenary said it with a tinge of bemusement. What sort of hero was this kid?
"'Fraid that is none of you're business, pretty boy. I mean, if you don't even know who I am, then how can you possibly comprehend my reasons for ANYTHING. My identity is my essence. My name is my greatest weapon. It strikes fear into the heart of the most putrid soul. I am the Mercenary.
Be afraid, Be very, afraid."
He smirked at the model. His mask hid it though, so it was not in danger of being wiped away. He had noticed Mercury stealing a quick fleeting glance at the sky, no doubt he had requested a security squad of some sort to come and apprehend the Mercenary. Predictable, to say the least. Perhaps it was his ego, but Mercenary felt infuriated at the fact that this kid was underestimating him.
The reinforcements would be dealt with quickly. They might even offer the opportunity for an escape vehicle or a few spare weapons that Merc could use to blast this snide hero to shreds.
Mercenary decided that the next few minutes of this conversation would depict whether or not the Mercenary would decimate Mercury. It was all up to the kid, now.
NEW CHALLENGER!
The helicopter wings whistled through the Hawaiian air. That was Julius' cue. He snickered and back flipped off the palm tree. His arms were crossed over his chest when he brought the Merc down to ground, still trapped in the green bubble. "You already committed felonies. This isn't the Wild West. " His leering blue-brown eyes locked on the Merc's. "You can't just invade private property looking to kill somebody and feel justified." Julius didn't have the patience for loose-cannons anymore. He had a son.
A gust of wind, blade whooping and helicopter lights flashed down on Julius and the Mercenary. The back-up arrived. Julius wiped dirt off his bare feet, released the Merc from his bubble and gave him a smirking salute. "Let the games begin." He stepped over the calf high shrubbery and left to let Enrico in the tower. Julius knew the intruder would give the MONARCH back-up a challenge, but they would give him one also.
Two more helicopter arrived and the squad members landed in the front yard. Julius pointed over his back and they ran towards the Mercenary. Their overall was to fight at a distance; firing sub machines; shooting high-tech stun guns -- whatever it took. The hand-to-hand skill of the MONARCH soldiers varied, but they were all trained individually under a martial art. If all else failed they always had a juggernaut on the squad, usually a mutant.
"Il regarde le sondage." (He looks boring.) A heavily armored women commented on the Mercenary as she slammed to the ground. The earth quaked when her feet kissed the ground. Her code name was Finesse. The slender French women was their juggernaut. Their mutant. She was blessed with invulnerability, super strength and adoptive muscle memory. Years of watching the best at what they do, she learned martial arts, acrobats, parkour, shooting guns, sword-fighting. Whatever she could lay her eyes on she learned it. And now, she would showcase her skills on the Mercenary.
Her metallic boots dug through the soil as she charged at the Mercenary. She immediately thrust her boot heel for his stomach. She continued the combo regardless of the success of her first strike. She swung her metal armored forearm for his jaw. After, she leaped above him to perform a colossal hammer smash to his skull. Finesse had no plans of fighting for long. Contain him and fly him to their underground headquarters to interrogate him.
Cute.
Mercenary got to his feet and watched a few huge 'copters come into the island's airspace, hovering close enough to the ground so that the troops could land. Merc let them, and counted them as they dropped down. Over twenty proffesionals.
How unfair.
He'd have to go easy on these chumps, as he could see a few trigger-happy moron's grinning morosely at their fellow squad members. Newbies? Nah, he could make out the heavy battle scars on their bodies. This would make up for the loss of Mercury's battle. At least, he hoped so.
Sheathing his katana into the saya across his back, he picked up a ready battlle-stance, prepared to bash any bastard within five metres. Personal space was a big issue, after all.
A sudden thump alerted him to a much more dangerous foe.
A female, with a perfect hour-glass shaped body, and long dark locks of hair flowing freely over her delicate shoulders.
A fine woman, if there ever was.
He smirked at her comment. Boring? Hardly. He would have to show this lady just who she had come to play with. This wasn't tennis. This was football. He turned his full-attention to her and instantly noticed the finer details. She had light pulsing veins across her slender arms, and dark, intruding eyes. He almost felt challenged.
Then she charged.
Her speed was incredible and he stepped back once before being confronted by a heavy metal boot, aimed for his abdomen. Arcing his spine, he managed some space for himself whilst he used both hands to swat her foot away. He was astounded by her strength and if it had not been for his own strength enhancements, he would have broken both his hands.
His temporary lapse in concentration allowed her sturdy forearm to smash into his jaw and send his head swerving to the side. His body remained unaffected, and he belittled himself for the uncharacteristic loss of focus. His jaw instantly got back to repairing itself, and he once more set his sights on his current target.
But she was gone.
A rush of air above him and he arced his back once more, this time towards the ground, and slapped both hands toward the woman.
He caught her firm fists, moments from smashing his head in, and spread both his arms, leaving her chest open for an attack, he released her hands and thrust upwards with his own fists, at her collarbone .
All in the space of a second or two.
He then rolled forward and as he came up he unleashed a ruthless roundhouse to the other side of her collarbone...
Finesse dropped from the sky and aimed her interlocked fist for his skull. Close, the Merc grabbed her hands and broke them apart. She his strength matched hers and prepared herself the best she could for what came next. This all occurred in slow motion for her. The Merc thrust upward with his fist and the punch connected with her collarbone. No bones cracked, but her body trembled as she was knocked higher into the air. She recovered quickly and crossed her arms over her chest in the from of an 'X'.
In that short time, the Merc attacked again. He performed an air whistling high roundhouse kick and Finesse grabbed his ankle as his leg with both hands. His leg was only an inch away from hitting her. She pushed off his him to distance herself and touched ground. She detached a metal cylinder from her waist and flicked her wrist. An electric charged light flashed from it and Finesse ran across the inappropriate battlefiled. The weapon she drew was a shock saber. The saber sent powerful electrical charges to whatever it made contact with.
"Fire!" She commanded and the MONARCH soldiers shot their stun guns at the Mercenary. Blue lights from the guns electricity lit the dark yard. They reflected off the palm tress, flowers, soldiers and Finesse, who drew back her saber to strike. "You're under arrest and digging yourself a deeper hole the longer you resist!" Finesse swung her arm and the saber swiped at the Merc's side. Progressing her attack, she dropped to her knees sliced at his ankles. Finesse learned quickly that the Merc was strong, swift and skilled with weapons like herself. To lower her chances of being hit she finished her onslaught with one last move. She pushed off the ground with her legs. As she launched back, she held her shock saber straight to slice up his upper body as she retreated back.
Landing a distance ahead of the Merc she pointed her saber at him. "Keep firing!" The MONARCH soldiers followed her orders and continued firing their stun bolts at him.
Heh.
That'd shown her. The Mercenary was NOT t'be underestimated. His roundhouse had almost taken her head off, but her immense fighting skill had come up for her and she'd deftly evaded it. He commended that. He respected that. Finally, a worthy opponent.
Then she pulled out that damn shock saber and ordered her squad to fire. That was just dirty. It was time to even-up the odds. Mercenary wasn't too bothered about the squad. His experience in the field was more than each of these men put together. And then some. He kept his eyes firmly on the large woman as she swiftly sprinted her way towards him. The gunfire would distract him. He would be unable to keep his full attention on his battle with her. She would slice him in half.
Or at least, that's what she thought.
He unsheathed his katana with inhuman speed and as bullets started to bounce around him, he brought it up and deflected a few more. Soon more and more bullets came nearer, but it made no difference to the fearless Mercenary, he slowly walked towards the oncoming missile that was Finesse, his katana a blur as it spun around his body deflecting bullets. His arms could keep this up all-day. Soon, the bullets became white-noise. They were tuned out by the Merc as he made his way towards her. Deflecting those projectiles was like second-nature to him, and he was barely aware of his burly arms working feverishly to protect his body.
Then the huge woman sneered at him and threatened him with arrest. How quaint.
She brought the saber straight down to his side and he had to swerve away and readjust his posture. A few bullets had torn through his body as he had been distracted. He cursed and almost didn't notice her slicing at his ankles. He instantly split his legs and the saber swiped harmlessly by. This time he was focused and no bullets affected him. His katana's speed matched the bullets, and they ricocheted everywhere. He observed Finesse's body language and realized too late that she was about to slice him in-half. She leaped away, to make it look as though she was retreating, but then at the same time she brought her saber up straight in front of her as she went up. The Mercenary's chest was sliced open and he was launched across the ground, slamming straight into a palm tree. He grunted softly as he sat up against the tree and steadied his breathing. The squad was disorientated and had not seen his sudden but short flight. They searched for him.
Merc realized he was clenching his katana's hilt a bit too hard and let go. This pain was quite admirable. Nothing like petty bullets or energy blasts. No, one of his greatest weaknesses was electricity. It temporarily nullified his healing factor. This was the best of both worlds, as not only had his chest been sliced open, but a strong electrical discharge had coursed through his system.
He was in a spot of trouble.
He tried to ignore the pain and got slowly to his feet, more grunts emitting from his throat. The pain was overwhelming. He took up his katana in both ready hands and stepped towards the searching figure of Finesse. It seemed even she had not seen him fly through the air. Instantly the squad pulled back on their triggers. Realizing they had the upperhand now, they focused entirely on him, and their aim was impeccable. The Mercenary smirked.
Perfect.
He brought his katana round and twirled it swiftly above his head before bringing it down and deflecting more bullets. He twirled faster and faster until the katana was no longer visible and neither were his hands. The bullets were almost as surprised as the soldiers as they did not penetrate through, once.
But it seemed there was more to it. The Mercenary was slowly turning towards Finesse. His jaw was clenched in pure pain, and his chest still had a gaping wound. He would not have been able to fight her directly. So he had devised a plan.
Ricocheted the bullets at her.
The sudden change in the line of fire was instantly noticeable, but the squad could barely see past their barrels. They were intent on firing as many bullets as possible. This worked to Merc's advantage, as the bullets came into contact with his swirling katana, they fired straight and double as fast at the shocked Finesse.
He had turned the tables.
This was a tug of war fight for Finesse. She gave the Merc a merciless beating only for him to supernaturally regenerate, nullifying her attacks. If there was one thing Finesse needed it was regeneration. Recounting all the Mercenaries she fought, regeneration was a common ability in their motley community. Luckily, Finesse had the ability to leech memories and abilities, including super powers. Leeching the Mercenary's regeneration would even out the battle; but first, Finesse needed to touch him.
The Mercenary deflected the MONARCH soldiers bullets and they rained down on Finesse. She could admit it was a crafty move. The bullets came in like fragmented showers of rain. His katana ringing against the gunspray gave Finesse an easy indication when to dodge the bullets. The first wave. She listened for the blade ringing and leaped out the raining bullets path. The second wave, the bullets rained down longer and harder. Finesse transitioned into a succession of agile backflips that would easily win her an Olympic Gold Medal.
In one of the the middle of her backflips, she prepared to push off the ground and a shock bullet grazed her wrist. The shot broke her acrobatic grace. Her entire right arm paralyzed and she crashed to the ground. The weight of the fall dislocated her wrist.
Now Finesse really needed that regeneration. "Surround him" she murmured into her com-link, removing her metal gloves. The MONARCH soldiers aimed their stun guns at the Mercenary and circled him. As they closed in, Finesse was already charging at him. She moved her dislocated wrist as natural as possible, dealing with the pain that came with it to hide her injury. She leaped over the ring of MONARCH soldiers and locked her gaze on the Mercenary.
Before she touched ground she began her attack by dishing out a knock out punch. She learned early on he didn't go down easy, but that didn't mean she shouldn't go hard. Regardless of her punches success, she continued her onslaught. She pulled her left arm back to strike him in the face, aiming for his nose. Continuing her combo, she dished out a swift elbow to his mouth and would finish with an uppercut that would launch him into the air. If any of these attacks were successful the Mercenary would feel a temporary drop in his energy; along with, Finesse borrowing his regeneration to heal her dislocated wrist.
FAIL
He had let the bullets ricochet painstakingly straight at the woman. His arms worked feverishly, flexing and contorting as they allowed the katana to zip across his body. Maybe once or twice a stray projectile would find it's mark and penetrate Merc's formidable defense, but the damage was substantial, meaningless. It was easy now. He didn't need to focus, he had her on the back-foot. His wounds were healed almost completely and he was feeling fresh, the pleasant adrenaline coursing through his heartless body. He watched her flip backwards continuously perfectly avoiding the rapid fire of deflected bullets.
Until she miscalculated and fell flat on her face.
He suppressed laughter. That would be childish, and unheard of for a man with over 300 years experience. Instead he capitalized on the opportunity and redirected the fire at the squad agents attacking him. He released one hand from the hilt and tapped his ear. A small device embedded into his ear allowed him to speak directly to a D.E.A.T.H operative that he had assigned recently.
"Rodent, I need information."
He listened to the incessantly irritating typing on the other end of the communicator. Rodent was useful. He'd been in love with technology from childhood, and had once been a government techie. Until some illegal escapades that criminalized him, and ultimately brought him to Merc. A few more agents fell, lifeless.
"I don't know her real name, but she goes by Finesse. She is some sort of agent, and a meta, too. And what a meta she is. Super strength Invulnerability, Super speed-"
"I already know all that, give me something useful!"
"- and mimicry."
The Mercenary deflected a few more bullets. This was an interesting development. Mimicry was a special sort of ability. He hadn't met many who possessed it. He wouldn't mind adding it to his array of special tricks.
"Okay, initiate auto-supply, package 45. Coordinates 52,4 E, 58,6N. Commanding radio-silence."
'Copy that."
Suddenly the fire ceased. He was instantly alert, and brought his katana up, clenching it with both gloved hands. He watched the squad agents slowly circle him, making their way towards him. He almost didn't notice Finesse charging at him. He switched his posture, ready for attacks from all directions, he doubted he would be able to deflect any projectiles now, he needed all the focus for the oncoming onslaught. Something was up with her though. She seemed uncomfortable.
She was meters away from him when he realized it. One of her gloves were off. Images of her failed back-flip flooded his mind, a bullet had struck that wrist particularly hard.
She was up to something.
He stuck his katana into the earth and back tracked, running straight into the surrounding agents. Still she came, a leap and she was coming straight at him. Without a single moment of hesitation, she attacked. A knock-out punch was first. Merc grabbed the nearest agent and swung him into her path, shielding himself. The agents head was taken off. Blood spattered everywhere. Merc backtracked more, avoiding her completely. Not fast enough. A left arm came straight at his face, and he was forced to arch his spine, with both his hands and feet placed on the ground, he brought his legs over, landing a few feet away from her. And still it continued. Upon pure instinct he reached out for another agent, bringing him around to receive a straight deadly elbow to the neck, he was killed instantly. Merc grabbed two more agents, but was too late.
He grunted as her rock-hard fist smashed into his chin and he stumbled backwards. He felt a strangely draining sensation that didn't go away, and he felt his chin limp. No efforts were made for regeneration.
Great. She'd stolen his powers from him.
Moments later his chin started healing and he was assured that it was not permanent.
Doesn't mean it doesn't hurt like hell...
He realized he still had the agents in his grasp and he smashed them together. They fell, unconscious.
"Oh oh oh... Sneaky, sneaky Finesse. Didn't your mommy ever teach you not to steal? It's very impolite."The Mercenary knew the agents wouldn't fire now, not when there was a circle and one of their most important operatives was standing in the middle of it. Merc ceased the opportunity.
He kicked a agent in the gut, easily blending the move into a roundhouse to the agent behind him, which flowed into a throat-thrust to the agent beside him. The agents were disorientated, the sudden flurry of activity had been unforeseen.
Merc set his sights on their trump card, Finesse. He leaped sideways, both legs coming down at her from above, uncaring of the result, he continued his attack, landing squarely on the ground, he swung round to sweep her legs from under her. Wether it worked or not, he carried on, coming up instantly to deliver a double-fisted smash into the small of her back. From there he back-flipped over the agents surrounding them and tore his katana from the ground, swinging around and launching it straight at her forehead...
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