The end of the Arc
Gam finished reviewing the message from Archangel.
"Belthor, huh?" He said scratching his chin, "Well, it's about time we get his ass out of my city."
"How do you t'ink we gonna do that, mon ami?" Ripper asked.
"I've got a plan."
"Then we're gonna kick some ass!" Velis said.
"Velis," Grig began while he bandaged a wound on his hand, "maybe you don't remember som of Gam's other plans."
Gam spun around and looked at Grig, with a little bit of a crazy look in his eyes, "I aim to get rid of this demon once and for all! You with me?"
Grig finished bandaging his wound, cracked his neck, and said, "Hell what else am I gonna do tonight?"
"Oh it's on tonight!" Paladin shouted, and then, with a little less enthusiasm, said, "So, how are you gonna take him out? Archangel said that he couldn't be killed?"
Gam stood up and went to a supply closet and shouted over his shoulder, "Ripper, you still pack blessed bullets?"
"Oui, mon ami."
"Good. Liadan, you up to full strength?"
"Aye."
"Good. Velis, how much impact webbing do you have?"
"About five capsules, maybe."
"That'll do."
Gam tossed a metal briefcase over his shoulder, and Grig caught it, asking, "What's this?"
Gam, still rummaging through the closet shouted back, "It's thermex napalm. Burns five times as hot and only twice as fast. Also expands upon ignition. It's cased in sealed packets with a remote ignitor that I'll hook into my belt. Now Paladin, do you have Excalibur?"
"Of course I do Gam."
Gambit turned around and tossed Paladin what looked like an overstuffed backpack.
"You'll need this too."
Paladin examined the bag, with all of it's straps, and asked, "What's this?"
Gam smiled and said, "It's a parachute. You guys ready to hear this plan?"
* * * * *
A few hours later, about an hour before dawn, the door to the bunker was thrown open, and Gam emerged. Behind him, all of his friends stepped out, armed to the teeth. Gam walked down the center of the road, with his friends a few paces behind him. Demonic spawn began to turn towards them, and stalk them slowly. Gam stopped and turned to his friends.
"Remember, timing is everything. You have to be at the agreed location at the agreed time, or none of this works. Liadan, you're up."
Liadan nodded and then a gust of wind picked her up into the air.
"Alright everyone," Gam yelled through the wind, "Let's kick some demon ass!"
He walked over to Paladin, as hundreds of demon spawn started to close in and prepared to strike, and he asked him, "You ready?"
Paladin stomped out his cigarette and said, "No."
Gam smiled and said, "Good!" As he pulled the ripcord on Paladin's parachute as a gust of wind threw him into the air.
"Let the games begin everyone!" Gam shouted as he ran past his friends. A demon launched itself at Gam, but he tucked himself down and flipped the demon behind him, only to be shot by Ripper. Gam launched a grappel into the air, and swung into the air, and came back around past his friends. He swept down to near ground level as Grig reached into his pouch, pulled out the halo, and tossed it up to Gam, who caught it and put it around his arm. Grig reached for his axe, and realized that his bandage was soaked in blood. He checked his pouch, discovering that it was full of zombie blood. He gulped, and reached for his axe, thinking to himself, "I only have to hold together long enough to make this work." And then the demons struck. The team fought through them, but it did not take long for them to begin being overwhelmed.
Meanwhile, hundreds of feet above them, Liadan was floating in the air peacefully, summoning storm clouds around herself. Nearby, Paladin was being whipped through the air by his parachute and strong gusts of wind. He felt like he was about to pass out, when he felt himself hit a patch of water. "Thank you Liadan!" He shouted as he began blessing the water, which fell from the sky in torrential sheets of rain."
Back on ground level, Ripper, Grigori, Velis, and Dahnianna were fighting off the demons, but were about to be devestated, when the rain hit. At first the demons did not notice, but as the rain intensified, it started to sizzle on their skin. "Yeah bitch!" Velis yelled, "get a taste of holy water!" Demons all around began to ignite and then disintigrate, as Liadan landed near her friends, and Paladin crashed into a nearby tree. "What the hell are you guys looking at?" Paladin shouted, "Help get my ass down so we can make the rendezvous point!"
* * * * *
Elsewhere in the city, Gam was swinging through the sky, when he thought he caught a glimpse of Belthor's wings flapping a few blocks away. "Well," Gam said to himself, "It's now or never." And he hung the halo above his head. Despite his swinging quite quickly through the air, it remained suspended above his head, and it started to glow. As Gam had hoped, Belthor noticed and rushed towards him. "Now for the chase scene!" Gam said to himself, as he swung on his line faster, pushing himself closer to the ground. Belthor came up fast, but Gam seemed to be accelerated by the halo, and he was able to stay out of the demon's grasp. At least, until he swung too low as he came around a corner into the city's square plaza. Once in the open, Belthor swung down at Gam, snapping his line, and causing Gam to skid to a halt on the pavement.
Belthor landed next to Gam, and kicked him across the street. Gam leapt up, and sent a flurry of throwing stars at the demon, who swiped them away with his wings. Gam executed a flying kick, knocking Belthor back a few steps, and then he landed and swept the demon's legs out from under him. But Belthor caught himself with his wings, and kicked Gam in the face, sending him sprawling into the middle of the plaza. Belthor leapt at him, bringing his knee downward. Gam saw the demon leap, and rolled out of the way, with not an instant to spare.
At that moment, all of Gam's friends assembled a half circle about one hundred feet from the battle. As much as they wanted to help, they knew that this was Gam's show.
Gam leapt up in the air, and forced Belthor back with a flurry of attacks, until Belthor grabbe the boy wonder by his head, and slammed him into the ground over and over, and then tossed him into the air, only to watch him crash back onto the pavement yet again. Gam remained motionless, apparently dead. Belthor turned to face Gam's friends, all still standing across the plaza, and began to laugh.
"You expected this fool to save you? I believe there's a quote that fits this situation quite well... What fools these mortals be!"
Dahnianna gasped as she saw Gam start to get up. Belthor saw it in her eyes and turned to look in disbelief.
Gam struggled to his feet, looked at the demon and said, "Is that all you got?"
"You can barely stand, fool! When we were split into our distinct sides, you got the idealism, and I got the power. Without me, you are nothing but a fool who read too many comics and has delusions of being Superman."
"No." Gam said stoicly. "I never wanted to be Superman. But he and I share one trait."
"And what is that?" The demon-Gam asked.
"People critisized us both for being too much of a Boy-Scout."
"I fail to see how that will save your pathetic life?"
"Too bad you didn't get any of my memories. If you did, then you'd know that a Boy-Scout is always prepared!" And with that, Gam launched a small marble-shaped canister at Belthor, which exploded inches from his face, covering it with impact webbing.
"Too many comic books huh? What is it that Spiderman used to say? Oh yeah, there's web in your eyes!" Gam about fell over he was so exhausted, but he steadied himself, unwilling to waste the one moment in this battle he had an advantage. "Sic vis pacum parabellum. Punisher used to say that, but Vegetus, a Roman general said it first. It means if you want peace, prepare for war."
Taking the thermex napalm packets from his utility belt, Gam did a flip over the demon, securing the explosives to its back. "How about the human torch? Wasn't it, FLAME ON!" Gam pushed an ignition button hidden on his belt, and the napalm went up, covering the demon with flame. "And while we're on the fantastic four..." Gam picked up his escrima, and leapt towards the Belthor, who was still covered in flame and still clawing at the metalic web covering his face. Just before impact, gam yelled, "It's clobberin time!" Gam impacted hard into the demon, slamming his escrima down hard on the monster's head. The demon's lurching sent Gam about twenty feet into the air. When he began falling back towards the monster, he flipped himself facing downward, and yelled, "Or how about something primal, along the lines of, Hulk Smash!" Gam crashed down onto the demon, slamming his escrima down onto the monster so hard that they broke in his hands.
Belthor finally managed to tear off the metallic webbing that covered his face, only to see three more canisters explode, covering his face and binding his hands to his head. Gam begins to unleash more than he ever has before. He begins throwing a volley of punches and kicks. The kevlar and the nomex in his gloves soon gives out, and his knuckles are coated in blood. It is unclear whether or not that blood is his alone, or if some of it is the demons.
But Gam was weakening, the halo that had been supplying him with power was beginning to wear out his healing factor. He didn't have much time left, and he knew it. Unfortunately, the demon managed to tear it's hands free and clear its face right at that moment. Grabbing Gam by the throat, it slammed the Boy Wonder into the ground, stood up and roared.
"No more witty remarks?" The demon kicked Gambit in the ribs. He could feel them snap, and all of his freinds grimaced as the noise was distinct, and loud. Gam knew he was bleeding internally. It was time to end this. But he'd have to wait for the right moment. He only hoped he could last that long. Gam managed to stand up, just as the demon reached him, and slashed across his chest, laughing as he did so. Blade-proof or not, Gam could feel the Demon's claws burning through his chest. The demon's tail wrapped around Gam's leg, and flung him across the street. As torn and tattered as Gam's armor was, he began to get tangled in it, and seeing no other choice, pulled it off. It seemed like there was no part of his torso that wasn't bruised or bleeding. The demon grabbed gam by the throat and held him in the air above his head. He shook Gam proudly as he said, "You're going to die. Do you have any final words?"
Gam gasped for air and said, "I... only have... one thing to say..." Gam closed his eyes, smiled maniacally, and shouted, "NOW!"
As Gam had planned in advance, his friends moved in unison. Velis threw impact webbing at Belthor's feet and wings, tangling tangling them. Belthor started to fall backwards, and at the same moment Ripper fired a blessed bullet into the monster's wrist, causing him to release Gam. At the same moment, Dahnianna lasso'd Gam with a grapel, pulling him free. And in complete synchronicity Paladin threw Excaliber which buried itself in Belthor's chest, the blade extending out of his back, and Grigori rolled a boulder behind the demon.
The effect of this one second in time, freed Gam from the demon's grasp, and the demon itself was pinned to the boulder by excaliber. The demon tried to draw excaliber out of the stone, using all of its strength, but it could, of course, not draw the sword. As the demon reached out for Gam, who was gathering his strength, lightning struck the sword, sending pain coursing through the demon's body, and then leaving him lying limply. Liadan landed next to Dahnianna, who gave her a quick jab to the shoulder.
A cry of victory went up, but a little prematurely. The demon's legs tore through the impact webbing as he stood up, tearing the hilt of excalibur through his chest.
"This isn't over!" The demon screamed, his voice shattering even Gam's nerves. Belthor took a step towards Gam. Although still frightening and definately still very very lethal, it was clear that the demon was weaker than he had been. Gam, not allowing him an opportunity to strike, leapt towards the demon, and while in the air, reached up, pulled the halo from where it hovered above his head, and slammed it into the demon's chest through the hole made by excalibur.
Belthor cried out and staggered back a few steps. Then he reared forward again, as if to attack Gam, who is stood defiantly in front of him. But before Belthor could usher any kind of attack, Gam leapt into the air, and kicked the demon in the face, sending it flat onto its back.
Gam stood at the ready for a moment, but Belthor could not seem to get up. Finally, after what seemed like hours, the demon spat out some broken fangs and hissed, "How? How could... you fools... have beaten me? There was... a plan!"
Gam, beaten and bloody as he was, chuckled and said, "Yes everything you've done has been completely according to plan."
Gam smiled through a busted lip and continued, "but it was my plan. Everything was predetermined. I planned where you would catch me, where we would fight, and how long it would have to last. I planned where, when, and how we would beat you. That is how we won."
The demon snarled. "You think... you've won... i will grow strong again... I will be back."
"No you won't." Gam answered him. "You're going back."
"You don't have the... power to send me back to hell..."
"No, no I don't. But I have one more surprise planned for you."
From behind Gam, a shadowy figure emerges. The figure is encased in a black robe, that seems to move on it's own. There is a sudden chill in the air. Tendrils of shadow emerge from within the cloak, and stretch towards Gam and the Belthor. Gambit stepped aside and backed up, stopping right in front of his friends as the shadowy figure moved closer to the demon, wrapping the inky black tentacle-like shadows around him.
"What is that?" Dahni asked.
"It's... it's..." Paladin began
"The Boogeyman." Gam finished.
Belthor was all but encompassed within the murky shadows of the Boogeyman's cloak, when the dark figure spoke.
"I think a nice place for you has been prepared... Yes, hell has missed you. Only this time a special place is prepared for you. Right next to the devil himself. Yes... Just like the original devil who once ruled over hell, you will find yourself embedded in the lake of ice, never to escape again. Haha, HA HAHA..."
The boogeyman's laughter elicited chills and nervousness in everyone around. For some, feelings of naseua crept over them, and they thought they would soon vomit or pass out. Gam shivered, about fell over, and then steadied himself. Soon, the Boogyman's tendrils encased the demon within them, and drug him promptly within his robe. The Boogeyman turned to face Gam and his companions. Gam walked towards him, and the Boogeyman's tendrils waved around him, ominously.
"You have the halo now." Gam said.
"Yesss..." The Boogyman replied. "But you have worn it. Perhaps I should take you too..."
"If that is how it must be, then so be it."
"Hmmm..." The Boogey man said as his tendrils started surrounding Gam. But then they instantly snapped back within his robes. "Not today, Boy-Wonder. You're so weak right now that you're fighting unconsciousness just to stand up."
"No I'm not," Gam said. "I'm fighting unconsciousness to stand up to you, because if you're going to take me, I'm going to put up a fight."
"I think... Yesss I think you'll get another reprieve. I have the halo and I get to cart a demon to the deepest pit of hell. I think I've had enough... fun for one day. But don't think that I won't come back for you... someday."
"I'll be looking over my shoulder, and checking my closet."
"Give my regards to your mentor... And tell him I hope he still values that cupid's arrow... Yesss, I may come back for it someday too..."
And with that, The Boogeyman appeared to fall, but when he hit the ground, he split into a hundred crows who flew off. And then Gam promptly fell to the ground, unconscious.
Paladin rushed up, and checked his pulse.
"Let's get him back to the bunker, and fast." Paladin said as he lifted Gam up.
"Is he going to be okay?" Dahnianna asked.
"Yeah," Paladin answered, "He'll be okay."
Paladin handed Gam off to Ripper and Liadan, who could get him back to the bunker quicker, and then he lit a cigarette and started walking in that direction himself.
"Uh, Paladin?" Grigori said.
"Yeah?"
"Aren't you going to get Excalibur?"
Paladin exhaled and said, "Nah, it'll be fine."
Six months later...
Gam sits in a tall tree, wearing a t-shirt and jeans, but still sporting the mask. He has his underarmor on underneath the t-shirt, a smaller more compact utility belt is around his waist and he's wearing his gloves, but other than those and his mask there would be no indication that he was a super-hero. He remains completely silent. There are people searching for him. People that at the moment he wishes to remain hidden from. From the East, he hears footsteps approaching. He casts his eyes downward, and sees one of his pursuers approach the tree, only to stand underneath it, not looking up. In a fluid motion, Gam, shoots a line up to a branch overhead and swings over and downward, swooping up his pursuer in his arms. The boy yells at the top of his lungs, "WEEEEEEEEEEEEE!" Gam and the young boy arc upward, and at the height of the swing, Gam releases the line, and backflips, landing in a crouch, the boy still held safely in his arm.
"Do it again Gam, do it again!"
"Not right now Kale. Maybe, if you do as your parents tell you, we'll go swing through the forest tomorrow."
"Okay Gam."
Gam holds the boy's hand as they walk back towards the village. All the other kids run up as Gam walks into the center of the town, and ask him where he hid.
"Now guys," Gam said smiling, "If I tell you all my secrets, where would I hide next time. Now run along and play, I've got to go talk to Paladin."
The kids run off and Gam walks into Otik's tavern.
"What'll it be, Boy Wonder?" Syl asked him from behind the bar.
"Beer. You know I'm simple. Where's your uncle?"
Syl grabbed a beer and handed it to Gam, and said, "He's brewing."
"Heard anything about Grigori?"
"I'm afraid not, Syl said with a frown, "No one's heard from him."
"Thanks Syl."
Gam walked around back, and greeted Paladin.
"So are you liking your stay here?"
"Yes and no. I love playing with the kids and working at the smithy... But it's not my city, and I can't really do what it is I do here, you know."
"So why don't you just go back?"
"Whole city is still on 'mask' alert. They all still blame me for whatever bad things the demon me did before he got all transmogrified. I'm public enemy number one. It's a shoot to kill kind of thing."
"Still, you weren't exactly Mr. popularity before, so what's keeping you?"
"It's a little different now. My presence would keep the cops from actually persuing any actual criminals, and for the most part, masked vigilantism has become more taboo than it already was."
"So what are you going to do then, Boy-Wonder?"
The two were interupted by Dahnianna walking out of the woods, maskless, wearing a t-shirt and jeans, with daisies braided in her hair. She walked up to Gam and gave him a light punch on the shoulder.
"Well Paladin," Gam said with a smile as he rested his arm on Dahnianna's shoulder, "I could use a little time off anyways to let my healing factor regenerate. There are some things around here that need repaired, and you know me, I am Mr Fix-it. And, I thought I might spend some time with a couple of good friends. Then I think, It's off to the Carribean and back on board Serenity for awhile."
"Sounds good," Dahnianna said, "But I won't be shipping out with you this time."
"Why not?" Paladin asked.
"I'm going to try to find Grigori."
Gam shook his head, "You know you're not going to be able to find him, unless he wants to be found Dahnianna."
Dahn nodded and said, "I know. But There's something to this that I can't quite put my finger on. Besides, I'm figuring I'll be like you Boy-Wonder. Travel, get some experiences, you know, that kind of thing, and mayb-"
"-Well," Paladin interrupted, "At least we can all celebrate the death of Belthor and say a little blessing for Grig while we're all together. Best place would be the pub."
The three started walking around the corner of Otik's tavern
"You'd celebrate waking up with a drink down at the pub," Gam said with a laugh.
"Like you've never done it!" Dahnianna said as she gave Gam a punch to the arm. The two started sparring playfully as the three of them walked along the side of the building.
"Children, can we try to behave." Paladin said, stopping Gam and Dahni in their tracks. Paladin got about ten paces ahead of them when he they rushed him and tackled him laughing.
And despite them all worrying about Grigori and his disappearance, all was well.
* * * * *
In a darkened room, Grigori sat alone. His eyes a little darker, his face a little bit more gaunt. He spoke quietly to himself.
"I don't understand it. The virus should have taken effect..."
"Belthor, huh?" He said scratching his chin, "Well, it's about time we get his ass out of my city."
"How do you t'ink we gonna do that, mon ami?" Ripper asked.
"I've got a plan."
"Then we're gonna kick some ass!" Velis said.
"Velis," Grig began while he bandaged a wound on his hand, "maybe you don't remember som of Gam's other plans."
Gam spun around and looked at Grig, with a little bit of a crazy look in his eyes, "I aim to get rid of this demon once and for all! You with me?"
Grig finished bandaging his wound, cracked his neck, and said, "Hell what else am I gonna do tonight?"
"Oh it's on tonight!" Paladin shouted, and then, with a little less enthusiasm, said, "So, how are you gonna take him out? Archangel said that he couldn't be killed?"
Gam stood up and went to a supply closet and shouted over his shoulder, "Ripper, you still pack blessed bullets?"
"Oui, mon ami."
"Good. Liadan, you up to full strength?"
"Aye."
"Good. Velis, how much impact webbing do you have?"
"About five capsules, maybe."
"That'll do."
Gam tossed a metal briefcase over his shoulder, and Grig caught it, asking, "What's this?"
Gam, still rummaging through the closet shouted back, "It's thermex napalm. Burns five times as hot and only twice as fast. Also expands upon ignition. It's cased in sealed packets with a remote ignitor that I'll hook into my belt. Now Paladin, do you have Excalibur?"
"Of course I do Gam."
Gambit turned around and tossed Paladin what looked like an overstuffed backpack.
"You'll need this too."
Paladin examined the bag, with all of it's straps, and asked, "What's this?"
Gam smiled and said, "It's a parachute. You guys ready to hear this plan?"
* * * * *
A few hours later, about an hour before dawn, the door to the bunker was thrown open, and Gam emerged. Behind him, all of his friends stepped out, armed to the teeth. Gam walked down the center of the road, with his friends a few paces behind him. Demonic spawn began to turn towards them, and stalk them slowly. Gam stopped and turned to his friends.
"Remember, timing is everything. You have to be at the agreed location at the agreed time, or none of this works. Liadan, you're up."
Liadan nodded and then a gust of wind picked her up into the air.
"Alright everyone," Gam yelled through the wind, "Let's kick some demon ass!"
He walked over to Paladin, as hundreds of demon spawn started to close in and prepared to strike, and he asked him, "You ready?"
Paladin stomped out his cigarette and said, "No."
Gam smiled and said, "Good!" As he pulled the ripcord on Paladin's parachute as a gust of wind threw him into the air.
"Let the games begin everyone!" Gam shouted as he ran past his friends. A demon launched itself at Gam, but he tucked himself down and flipped the demon behind him, only to be shot by Ripper. Gam launched a grappel into the air, and swung into the air, and came back around past his friends. He swept down to near ground level as Grig reached into his pouch, pulled out the halo, and tossed it up to Gam, who caught it and put it around his arm. Grig reached for his axe, and realized that his bandage was soaked in blood. He checked his pouch, discovering that it was full of zombie blood. He gulped, and reached for his axe, thinking to himself, "I only have to hold together long enough to make this work." And then the demons struck. The team fought through them, but it did not take long for them to begin being overwhelmed.
Meanwhile, hundreds of feet above them, Liadan was floating in the air peacefully, summoning storm clouds around herself. Nearby, Paladin was being whipped through the air by his parachute and strong gusts of wind. He felt like he was about to pass out, when he felt himself hit a patch of water. "Thank you Liadan!" He shouted as he began blessing the water, which fell from the sky in torrential sheets of rain."
Back on ground level, Ripper, Grigori, Velis, and Dahnianna were fighting off the demons, but were about to be devestated, when the rain hit. At first the demons did not notice, but as the rain intensified, it started to sizzle on their skin. "Yeah bitch!" Velis yelled, "get a taste of holy water!" Demons all around began to ignite and then disintigrate, as Liadan landed near her friends, and Paladin crashed into a nearby tree. "What the hell are you guys looking at?" Paladin shouted, "Help get my ass down so we can make the rendezvous point!"
* * * * *
Elsewhere in the city, Gam was swinging through the sky, when he thought he caught a glimpse of Belthor's wings flapping a few blocks away. "Well," Gam said to himself, "It's now or never." And he hung the halo above his head. Despite his swinging quite quickly through the air, it remained suspended above his head, and it started to glow. As Gam had hoped, Belthor noticed and rushed towards him. "Now for the chase scene!" Gam said to himself, as he swung on his line faster, pushing himself closer to the ground. Belthor came up fast, but Gam seemed to be accelerated by the halo, and he was able to stay out of the demon's grasp. At least, until he swung too low as he came around a corner into the city's square plaza. Once in the open, Belthor swung down at Gam, snapping his line, and causing Gam to skid to a halt on the pavement.
Belthor landed next to Gam, and kicked him across the street. Gam leapt up, and sent a flurry of throwing stars at the demon, who swiped them away with his wings. Gam executed a flying kick, knocking Belthor back a few steps, and then he landed and swept the demon's legs out from under him. But Belthor caught himself with his wings, and kicked Gam in the face, sending him sprawling into the middle of the plaza. Belthor leapt at him, bringing his knee downward. Gam saw the demon leap, and rolled out of the way, with not an instant to spare.
At that moment, all of Gam's friends assembled a half circle about one hundred feet from the battle. As much as they wanted to help, they knew that this was Gam's show.
Gam leapt up in the air, and forced Belthor back with a flurry of attacks, until Belthor grabbe the boy wonder by his head, and slammed him into the ground over and over, and then tossed him into the air, only to watch him crash back onto the pavement yet again. Gam remained motionless, apparently dead. Belthor turned to face Gam's friends, all still standing across the plaza, and began to laugh.
"You expected this fool to save you? I believe there's a quote that fits this situation quite well... What fools these mortals be!"
Dahnianna gasped as she saw Gam start to get up. Belthor saw it in her eyes and turned to look in disbelief.
Gam struggled to his feet, looked at the demon and said, "Is that all you got?"
"You can barely stand, fool! When we were split into our distinct sides, you got the idealism, and I got the power. Without me, you are nothing but a fool who read too many comics and has delusions of being Superman."
"No." Gam said stoicly. "I never wanted to be Superman. But he and I share one trait."
"And what is that?" The demon-Gam asked.
"People critisized us both for being too much of a Boy-Scout."
"I fail to see how that will save your pathetic life?"
"Too bad you didn't get any of my memories. If you did, then you'd know that a Boy-Scout is always prepared!" And with that, Gam launched a small marble-shaped canister at Belthor, which exploded inches from his face, covering it with impact webbing.
"Too many comic books huh? What is it that Spiderman used to say? Oh yeah, there's web in your eyes!" Gam about fell over he was so exhausted, but he steadied himself, unwilling to waste the one moment in this battle he had an advantage. "Sic vis pacum parabellum. Punisher used to say that, but Vegetus, a Roman general said it first. It means if you want peace, prepare for war."
Taking the thermex napalm packets from his utility belt, Gam did a flip over the demon, securing the explosives to its back. "How about the human torch? Wasn't it, FLAME ON!" Gam pushed an ignition button hidden on his belt, and the napalm went up, covering the demon with flame. "And while we're on the fantastic four..." Gam picked up his escrima, and leapt towards the Belthor, who was still covered in flame and still clawing at the metalic web covering his face. Just before impact, gam yelled, "It's clobberin time!" Gam impacted hard into the demon, slamming his escrima down hard on the monster's head. The demon's lurching sent Gam about twenty feet into the air. When he began falling back towards the monster, he flipped himself facing downward, and yelled, "Or how about something primal, along the lines of, Hulk Smash!" Gam crashed down onto the demon, slamming his escrima down onto the monster so hard that they broke in his hands.
Belthor finally managed to tear off the metallic webbing that covered his face, only to see three more canisters explode, covering his face and binding his hands to his head. Gam begins to unleash more than he ever has before. He begins throwing a volley of punches and kicks. The kevlar and the nomex in his gloves soon gives out, and his knuckles are coated in blood. It is unclear whether or not that blood is his alone, or if some of it is the demons.
But Gam was weakening, the halo that had been supplying him with power was beginning to wear out his healing factor. He didn't have much time left, and he knew it. Unfortunately, the demon managed to tear it's hands free and clear its face right at that moment. Grabbing Gam by the throat, it slammed the Boy Wonder into the ground, stood up and roared.
"No more witty remarks?" The demon kicked Gambit in the ribs. He could feel them snap, and all of his freinds grimaced as the noise was distinct, and loud. Gam knew he was bleeding internally. It was time to end this. But he'd have to wait for the right moment. He only hoped he could last that long. Gam managed to stand up, just as the demon reached him, and slashed across his chest, laughing as he did so. Blade-proof or not, Gam could feel the Demon's claws burning through his chest. The demon's tail wrapped around Gam's leg, and flung him across the street. As torn and tattered as Gam's armor was, he began to get tangled in it, and seeing no other choice, pulled it off. It seemed like there was no part of his torso that wasn't bruised or bleeding. The demon grabbed gam by the throat and held him in the air above his head. He shook Gam proudly as he said, "You're going to die. Do you have any final words?"
Gam gasped for air and said, "I... only have... one thing to say..." Gam closed his eyes, smiled maniacally, and shouted, "NOW!"
As Gam had planned in advance, his friends moved in unison. Velis threw impact webbing at Belthor's feet and wings, tangling tangling them. Belthor started to fall backwards, and at the same moment Ripper fired a blessed bullet into the monster's wrist, causing him to release Gam. At the same moment, Dahnianna lasso'd Gam with a grapel, pulling him free. And in complete synchronicity Paladin threw Excaliber which buried itself in Belthor's chest, the blade extending out of his back, and Grigori rolled a boulder behind the demon.
The effect of this one second in time, freed Gam from the demon's grasp, and the demon itself was pinned to the boulder by excaliber. The demon tried to draw excaliber out of the stone, using all of its strength, but it could, of course, not draw the sword. As the demon reached out for Gam, who was gathering his strength, lightning struck the sword, sending pain coursing through the demon's body, and then leaving him lying limply. Liadan landed next to Dahnianna, who gave her a quick jab to the shoulder.
A cry of victory went up, but a little prematurely. The demon's legs tore through the impact webbing as he stood up, tearing the hilt of excalibur through his chest.
"This isn't over!" The demon screamed, his voice shattering even Gam's nerves. Belthor took a step towards Gam. Although still frightening and definately still very very lethal, it was clear that the demon was weaker than he had been. Gam, not allowing him an opportunity to strike, leapt towards the demon, and while in the air, reached up, pulled the halo from where it hovered above his head, and slammed it into the demon's chest through the hole made by excalibur.
Belthor cried out and staggered back a few steps. Then he reared forward again, as if to attack Gam, who is stood defiantly in front of him. But before Belthor could usher any kind of attack, Gam leapt into the air, and kicked the demon in the face, sending it flat onto its back.
Gam stood at the ready for a moment, but Belthor could not seem to get up. Finally, after what seemed like hours, the demon spat out some broken fangs and hissed, "How? How could... you fools... have beaten me? There was... a plan!"
Gam, beaten and bloody as he was, chuckled and said, "Yes everything you've done has been completely according to plan."
Gam smiled through a busted lip and continued, "but it was my plan. Everything was predetermined. I planned where you would catch me, where we would fight, and how long it would have to last. I planned where, when, and how we would beat you. That is how we won."
The demon snarled. "You think... you've won... i will grow strong again... I will be back."
"No you won't." Gam answered him. "You're going back."
"You don't have the... power to send me back to hell..."
"No, no I don't. But I have one more surprise planned for you."
From behind Gam, a shadowy figure emerges. The figure is encased in a black robe, that seems to move on it's own. There is a sudden chill in the air. Tendrils of shadow emerge from within the cloak, and stretch towards Gam and the Belthor. Gambit stepped aside and backed up, stopping right in front of his friends as the shadowy figure moved closer to the demon, wrapping the inky black tentacle-like shadows around him.
"What is that?" Dahni asked.
"It's... it's..." Paladin began
"The Boogeyman." Gam finished.
Belthor was all but encompassed within the murky shadows of the Boogeyman's cloak, when the dark figure spoke.
"I think a nice place for you has been prepared... Yes, hell has missed you. Only this time a special place is prepared for you. Right next to the devil himself. Yes... Just like the original devil who once ruled over hell, you will find yourself embedded in the lake of ice, never to escape again. Haha, HA HAHA..."
The boogeyman's laughter elicited chills and nervousness in everyone around. For some, feelings of naseua crept over them, and they thought they would soon vomit or pass out. Gam shivered, about fell over, and then steadied himself. Soon, the Boogyman's tendrils encased the demon within them, and drug him promptly within his robe. The Boogeyman turned to face Gam and his companions. Gam walked towards him, and the Boogeyman's tendrils waved around him, ominously.
"You have the halo now." Gam said.
"Yesss..." The Boogyman replied. "But you have worn it. Perhaps I should take you too..."
"If that is how it must be, then so be it."
"Hmmm..." The Boogey man said as his tendrils started surrounding Gam. But then they instantly snapped back within his robes. "Not today, Boy-Wonder. You're so weak right now that you're fighting unconsciousness just to stand up."
"No I'm not," Gam said. "I'm fighting unconsciousness to stand up to you, because if you're going to take me, I'm going to put up a fight."
"I think... Yesss I think you'll get another reprieve. I have the halo and I get to cart a demon to the deepest pit of hell. I think I've had enough... fun for one day. But don't think that I won't come back for you... someday."
"I'll be looking over my shoulder, and checking my closet."
"Give my regards to your mentor... And tell him I hope he still values that cupid's arrow... Yesss, I may come back for it someday too..."
And with that, The Boogeyman appeared to fall, but when he hit the ground, he split into a hundred crows who flew off. And then Gam promptly fell to the ground, unconscious.
Paladin rushed up, and checked his pulse.
"Let's get him back to the bunker, and fast." Paladin said as he lifted Gam up.
"Is he going to be okay?" Dahnianna asked.
"Yeah," Paladin answered, "He'll be okay."
Paladin handed Gam off to Ripper and Liadan, who could get him back to the bunker quicker, and then he lit a cigarette and started walking in that direction himself.
"Uh, Paladin?" Grigori said.
"Yeah?"
"Aren't you going to get Excalibur?"
Paladin exhaled and said, "Nah, it'll be fine."
Six months later...
Gam sits in a tall tree, wearing a t-shirt and jeans, but still sporting the mask. He has his underarmor on underneath the t-shirt, a smaller more compact utility belt is around his waist and he's wearing his gloves, but other than those and his mask there would be no indication that he was a super-hero. He remains completely silent. There are people searching for him. People that at the moment he wishes to remain hidden from. From the East, he hears footsteps approaching. He casts his eyes downward, and sees one of his pursuers approach the tree, only to stand underneath it, not looking up. In a fluid motion, Gam, shoots a line up to a branch overhead and swings over and downward, swooping up his pursuer in his arms. The boy yells at the top of his lungs, "WEEEEEEEEEEEEE!" Gam and the young boy arc upward, and at the height of the swing, Gam releases the line, and backflips, landing in a crouch, the boy still held safely in his arm.
"Do it again Gam, do it again!"
"Not right now Kale. Maybe, if you do as your parents tell you, we'll go swing through the forest tomorrow."
"Okay Gam."
Gam holds the boy's hand as they walk back towards the village. All the other kids run up as Gam walks into the center of the town, and ask him where he hid.
"Now guys," Gam said smiling, "If I tell you all my secrets, where would I hide next time. Now run along and play, I've got to go talk to Paladin."
The kids run off and Gam walks into Otik's tavern.
"What'll it be, Boy Wonder?" Syl asked him from behind the bar.
"Beer. You know I'm simple. Where's your uncle?"
Syl grabbed a beer and handed it to Gam, and said, "He's brewing."
"Heard anything about Grigori?"
"I'm afraid not, Syl said with a frown, "No one's heard from him."
"Thanks Syl."
Gam walked around back, and greeted Paladin.
"So are you liking your stay here?"
"Yes and no. I love playing with the kids and working at the smithy... But it's not my city, and I can't really do what it is I do here, you know."
"So why don't you just go back?"
"Whole city is still on 'mask' alert. They all still blame me for whatever bad things the demon me did before he got all transmogrified. I'm public enemy number one. It's a shoot to kill kind of thing."
"Still, you weren't exactly Mr. popularity before, so what's keeping you?"
"It's a little different now. My presence would keep the cops from actually persuing any actual criminals, and for the most part, masked vigilantism has become more taboo than it already was."
"So what are you going to do then, Boy-Wonder?"
The two were interupted by Dahnianna walking out of the woods, maskless, wearing a t-shirt and jeans, with daisies braided in her hair. She walked up to Gam and gave him a light punch on the shoulder.
"Well Paladin," Gam said with a smile as he rested his arm on Dahnianna's shoulder, "I could use a little time off anyways to let my healing factor regenerate. There are some things around here that need repaired, and you know me, I am Mr Fix-it. And, I thought I might spend some time with a couple of good friends. Then I think, It's off to the Carribean and back on board Serenity for awhile."
"Sounds good," Dahnianna said, "But I won't be shipping out with you this time."
"Why not?" Paladin asked.
"I'm going to try to find Grigori."
Gam shook his head, "You know you're not going to be able to find him, unless he wants to be found Dahnianna."
Dahn nodded and said, "I know. But There's something to this that I can't quite put my finger on. Besides, I'm figuring I'll be like you Boy-Wonder. Travel, get some experiences, you know, that kind of thing, and mayb-"
"-Well," Paladin interrupted, "At least we can all celebrate the death of Belthor and say a little blessing for Grig while we're all together. Best place would be the pub."
The three started walking around the corner of Otik's tavern
"You'd celebrate waking up with a drink down at the pub," Gam said with a laugh.
"Like you've never done it!" Dahnianna said as she gave Gam a punch to the arm. The two started sparring playfully as the three of them walked along the side of the building.
"Children, can we try to behave." Paladin said, stopping Gam and Dahni in their tracks. Paladin got about ten paces ahead of them when he they rushed him and tackled him laughing.
And despite them all worrying about Grigori and his disappearance, all was well.
* * * * *
In a darkened room, Grigori sat alone. His eyes a little darker, his face a little bit more gaunt. He spoke quietly to himself.
"I don't understand it. The virus should have taken effect..."