A Ballad of Balances continues, as Macaia’s Daughter looks for a chance to test her new gear… but gets an unexpected situation to contend with. Overlays with the Seething Shadows main storyline.
*****
ROSA
Rosa was delighted to be on the surveillance mission - as soon as she heard the name 'World Corps', her excitement shot through the roof.
"I don't think the odds of finding this arch-nemesis of yours would be particularly high," suggested one of her teammates, Winter's Night.
"Doesn't matter. Finding and knocking down anyone affiliated with World Corps is satisfaction enough," Rosa confidently replied. Her new accessories were tightened around her forearms and she looked forward to trying them out, even if it was unlikely to be against Torfield... initially.
---
An hour later, the thrill had significantly waned. The team had fanned out across several kilometres of terrain only to observe an average amount of civilians performing the typical activities of residents - catching buses and trains, going to schools and shopping malls, huddling around the instant-bet screens to wager on who's winning the local Fight Club event.
With frustration, Rosa thrust her left hand against an oak tree. It splintered immediately, causing Rosa to jump back. "Sorry," she whispered sheepishly. She made a mental note to find out the contact info for the local Parks department to reimburse for the damages.
A buzz in her comm unit startlet her.
"Shadow Krampus in New Amsterdam alert!" beeped a voice. "Heroes requested on scene, immediately!"
"I'm the closest of our team, I'm on the way! Copy, H.L.H.?" cried out Rosa.
"Ten-four, we're right behind you," came the voice of Hard Left Hook.
Rosa activated her Super Sonic Surfer and dashed towards the city.
A few minutes later, she encountered another hero, flying fast on a dragon. "Wizard," she muttered.
"It's 'The' Wizard, technically," replied the man clad in his mystic garb, the dragon not slowing down. "You up for a teamup?"
"I thought WMD wasn't really about allying with norms," replied Rosa, not glancing at the Wizard.
"It's never safe to assume, milady. In any event, it's just the of us for the time being... so let's try and make it work, yes?"
Relaxing slightly, Rosa nodded.
As they neared the bridge leading to the financial district and the more populated part of the city, The Wizard's comm buzz. He pulled his dragon to a stop, and motioned Rosa to join him. "It's Nova," he said as he clicked a button. An image of the Director appeared in front of the pair.
“Sir, we are on our way,” The Wizard said immediately.
“Do not join this battle. That Krampus is still too strong, it’s going toe to toe with an enhanced Midgard.”
The Wizard chuckled, “Don’t tell me the big snake took Viagra.”
Macaia’s Daughter laughed, “Don’t ever say that in front of him, or your pet dragon will be his next meal.”
“What are you doing?” Nova interrupted their joking.
“We are going to help protect the city and keep an eye on this.”
“Good. Just don’t get yourselves killed.” Nova commanded.
The screen vanished. "Well, this took a wild turn," said The Wizard.
"Can the Serpent take him on solo? I mean, if anyone can, it's probably him... but from all reports these Krampus behemoths have always required a team effort," asked Rosa.
The Wizard was already running towards the sounds of the battle. "We'll just have to find out," he gasped. Rosa was already back on her Super Sonic Surfer, trying to get an aerial view. She soon found the combatants and motioned her new ally to follow. She landed on a rooftop of one of the taller apartment buildings, about two blocks away from where Midgard and the Shadow Krampus were exchanging blows, their height dwarfing the surrounding structures. Rosa took a second to gaze across the surrounding area, gauging the situation.
“Midgard is really pulling out all the stops. I’ve never seen him show any respect for property when he is in the middle of a good fight.” The Wizard said.
“He’s doing okay. But, it won’t last long. Look, they’re heading for the Brownstone district near the bridge.” Rosa pointed out. “Ah, rats. There’s a wreck and three buses are stopped.
The Wizard jumped up, “I got em, just make sure those apartments aren’t leveled.”
The two heroes parted at top speed.
Rosa zoomed so close to the battle that she had to duck a backswing and then dodged a flailing tail. Midgard had Krampus by his shadowy neck and was just about to plow him into an old brownstone apartment building.
"Let's do this," she thought, and mental energy flowed into her armlets.
“Not today!” Macaia’s Daughter hit the building with his hands and a shimmering shield of psycho-kinetic energy spread out. Krampus bounced off the barrier, leaving the building intact.
Krampus dislodged the hands around his neck and then kicked Midgard in the gut, throwing him toward a large public parking garage filled with cars.
“WOAH!” Macaia’s Daughter focused all her powers and caught Midgard mid-fall and forced him back up. Midgard used the newfound rebound and slammed Krampus in the face.
Krampus twisted around and just about plowed into three buildings. Macaia’s Daughter thrust both hands up and a wave of energy hit Krampus and threw him over, landing him in the street, which only crushed half a dozen cars.
Spending a moment catching her breath, Rosa said, “This is insane. It’s like refereeing a Godzilla boxing match.”
Just then she saw Midgard go to pummel Krampus with a double fist pound while the shadow enemy was down. Rosa dropped to ground and put her hands on the pavement, sending out her strongest psycho-kinetic barrier. The slam hit, Krampus wheezed under the pressure and Macaia’s Daughter nearly blacked out, keeping the road system from being wrecked beyond repair.
Rosa groaned as she looked at her aching hands. “This is crazy.”
Krampus exploded into a cloud of dark mist and reformed, standing upright. He swung to punch Midgard. Macaia’s Daughter prepared herself for the next object she would protect. However, Midgard strategically dodged the first swing, then the second, and then caught the arm of the third. He twisted his body around. Macaia’s Daughter created a barrier to protect the building across the street. Midgard’s considerable tail crashed into her barrier and didn’t smash the buildings. While she did this, Midgard swung Krampus around like a giant shot-put and released him with an enormous roar. Krampus sailed over New Amsterdam Bay and just before he crashed into the water, a blast of energy from Midgard’s mouth obliterated the villain in a violent explosion of the black smoke. This time, it didn’t congeal, but fell apart, evaporating on the wind as a slight echo of a scream rolled across the city.
Rosa looked on. She couldn't believe what she witnessed.
"He... he did it..."
The Wizard flew by, giving Rosa a thumbs-up sign. Rosa returned the gesture, then looked at her hands. She thought of what she had done in the heat of battle.
"I too,... did it."
ID 10890
0 Comments