Super Soldier in Another World

Michael let out a cough as he stared out across the Faewood, standing atop the Fiendwall as rain continued to pour down across the landscape. He hadn't seen the sun in days now, the constant downpour now unceasing. Michael had been worried that it would flood out everything, but the Fiendwallers assured him that it wouldn't. Apparently it drained off somewhere else naturally, but the big ass puddle at the bottom of the hill leading into the Faewood said otherwise, reflecting the green moon above. Cat was resting in the pod again, leaving Michael up here alone, or at least, he normally would have been alone.

"I still don't understand why they haven't returned yet." Belaine said from beside him, biting her knuckle as the rain drops seemed to avoid hitting her, "It is worrisome. It is good that you 'killed me' as I had asked. Terlin could arrive any day now when he realizes that Jason isn't present."

It had been no problem to sell the lie that Hoplite had killed Belaine. Apparently Terlin was shit-scared of Hoplite, at least that was what Belaine had told him. She didn't know why, but she'd said that Terlin had a whole heap of fear in his eyes at the mention of him. Pretending Hoplite was here was a great way to keep Terlin away, at least that was what she had hoped. It turned out her suspicions were correct, for Terlin nor his Watchers had turned up as of yet.

He looked down to Belaine, eyes glancing over the torn sleeve of her crimson robe, "I thought he mighta tried comin' for revenge." Michael told her, "Yer his sister, after all."

Belaine huffed, crossing her arms as she glared toward the towering Ilum tree in the distance, "My brother does not love as a normal person does, Michael." She told him, "His mind is warped, prioritizing usefulness over familial bonds."

"Yeah he's a bitch." Michael nodded.

"Quite." Belaine sighed, "I wish it were not so, but this is just who he is."

"He the only one of ya that acts like this?" Michael asked, "The Fire-Eyes I mean."

Belaine hesitated, rubbing a finger along her chin before shaking her head, "Not to this extent, Fire-Eyes are passionate, ambitious, but not to the point of sending their own sister to suffer millenia of torment." She gritted her teeth, brows lowering into a sharp glare.

"...So," Michael said after a moment, "You won't have no problems if Hoplite kills him?"

"Not in the slightest." Belaine crossed her arms, "At this point I view Terlin as a once dearly beloved family pet that has since gone rabid. He must be put down for the good of the Faewood, no, all the world." She corrected, "I know not how he learned to possess the body of a Pillar-Born, but he is doomed to fall to madness as a result, if he hasn't already. He must die."

"You know, you're actually pretty cool." Michael smiled behind his gas mask.

"Cool?" Belaine squinted, "It's cold out here so I suppose I am cool. Or is that some sort of Outworlder saying?"

"It's a saying," Michael told her, "It means rad."

Her lips turned down in a confused frown, "What the hell does that mean? It sounds unpleasant."

Michael chuckled, "It means good."

"Such strange terms." Belaine told him, "Rad." She said, slowly, "Rad." She shook her head, "How does that equate to being good? I don't understand but I'll take your compliment anyhow."

"Hey, that's pretty rad of you." He grinned, shooting her a finger gun.

Belaine attempted to copy the motion, narrowing her eyes at his hand, "What does that even mean?"

"Um." Michael hesitated, "It's like saying 'hell yeah'." He told her, "...I think."

In truth he had no clue if that was the actual meaning. He'd never really thought about it before.

"Alright then." Belaine said flatly before looking back to the Ilum tree, "We can't sit around waiting for Jason forever." Belaine told him, "If he doesn't return soon, it will be up to you and me to slay Terlin. With your vampiric strength and my magical aptitude, we should be a match for him."

Michael winced, "I don't know about that." He told her, "That body of his almost killed Hoplite before, he's probably a super magistician or whatever ya call 'em now too, you sure we'd be enough?"

Belaine shrugged, "Just barely, perhaps, we would also need to fight through his cronies as well, so don't forget that part. Just shoot the ones with guns and save the rest of your bullets for Terlin."

Apprehension filled him at the thought of facing Tuji- er, Terlin. He'd seen just what that body was capable of before; if it could keep up with Hoplite even in his suit, then what the hell kinda chance did Michael have? He was as strong and fast as a Paladin perhaps, but not a damn demi-god freak like Tuji. That was before even takin' Terlin's magic into account. Over the past couple weeks, Belaine had explained the intricacies of Foundation and told him that Terlin would be far more dangerous as a spellcaster now, rather than just a physical threat.

Did she really think she could keep up with Terlin? He asked that exact question, and she hesitated, "I don't think so." She told him, "But I can't bear the thought of him ruling the Faewood, if I must give my life to dethrone him, then I will."

"Well… what if there's a way to take him out without fightin' him head on?" Michael asked, "He's got Tuji's body, but where's his old one?"

Belaine's eyes widened, "Michael, you may just be smarter than you let on. I thought you were an idiot this whole time, but clearly you conceal your intellect." She said with newfound respect.

"Ouch." Michael said flatly, "I ain't the brightest crayon in the tool shed, sure, but I ain't dumb."

"But you talk like an ingrate." She said flatly, "You cannot blame me for that perception."

"Moving on." Michael said with a huff, "If we kill his original body will that kill him?"

Belaine bit her lip as she thought, tapping her foot on the stone beneath her. "I do not know." She admitted, "But I doubt that he would simply just cast it aside, he could wish to return to it one day. If he's not inhabiting it though, that means it would need to be fed, watered, and cleaned by someone, else it would simply starve to death. There has to be someone, perhaps even Terlin himself, that goes wherever his original body is located to maintain it."

"Nasty." Michael frowned, "But makes sense to me. I think we gotta sneak in there soon anyway, I have to get that pod back and the munitions inside it. You said you could make it invisible right?" He asked her.

"I can, but I don't think it will be so simple to just walk in and take it. The pod has likely been relocated to a more secure location, its contents distributed to Terlin's most trusted minions." She explained.

Michael cursed under his breath. He hated to admit it but she was right, if he got the pod, whatever, everything in it was already out and in elvish hands. Well no big deal, he would get it all back eventually. Part of him almost hoped that Terlin's Watcher's would return soon, his fangs were beginning to ache again. It wasn't nearly as bad as when he was back in Akan-Var, but it was starting to become noticeable. He could just drink a squirrel or something, like he had been the past couple days, but there just wasn't enough blood in them rodents to satiate him.

He needed something bigger, and he refused to drink the people around him. Maybe he just needed more small critters to make him 'full', or maybe he would be lucky and a deer or somethin' would emerge from the woods soon. Either that… or Michael could go into the Faewood itself. The Watcher's would find him real quick after that- he scowled. He wasn't gonna go killin' elves that were just doing their jobs, Terlin's lackeys though, those were free game in his eyes.

But they hadn't come back since Michael had torn the first group of them apart with his bare hands. He instinctively flexed his fingers at the thought as he pondered that… he wasn't sure, but Michael just might have gotten stronger since drinking those elves. What was it that Megad had told him? Vampires only got stronger as they got older? Wasn't that supposed to be a super-slow process?

Eh, whatever.

"Let's change the subject." Belaine began, breaking the silence, "You said that you are now bound to Lithia to turn her into a vampire, yes?"

"I kinda don't got a choice." He told her, "I toldja already, got that damn brand on my neck. Didn't really have a choice anyway, she said she'd kill me if I didn't."

Belaine had told Michael all about what had happened during the final battle with Kazon, and how Lithia had betrayed Nolvi and had stolen her body. He hadn't known Nolvi very well, or at all really, but she had been around his age… too young to die like that. He was glad that he didn't take up Lithia's other offer, nor would he, especially after learning how she'd gotten free. The thought of it sickened him

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"I think it is a double edged sword." She told him, "On one hand, Lithia becomes that much more difficult to kill conventionally, but being a fresh vampire, she wouldn't be able to walk in the light."

"She could just use magic to make her not burn or something, or hell, even just cover up like I'm doing now." Michael shook his head, "I ain't gonna be her slave, so I'm gonna make her a vamp when she comes snooping again."

"...Could you perhaps kill her during her transformation?" Belaine asked.

That gave Michael pause. It was a tantalizing thought… he would have to bite her at minimum, what if he just drained her completely dry instead? If she died, he wouldn't have to worry about being her slave nor her running around as a suped up vampire. However, he felt it wouldn't be that simple.

"Wouldn't she have a plan for if I tried that?" Michael asked, "I dunno, I don't wanna risk getting turned to a puddle."

"If not that," Belaine put a hand to her chin, "Then maybe someone could kill her while she's distracted by the turning process, like myself for example, or Jason if he returns." She said, trailing off into silence again.

Michael's hands clenched as nervous apprehension filled his gut. Seeing Hoplite again… he was both thrilled and terrified to do so. He was a traitor but Michael was no better.

Because now, Michael believed what Hoplite had told him- about Jyn not being human, about him being his son. He'd been in a mental battle with himself for weeks now, but no matter what he couldn't bring himself to say that Jyn was a human being anymore. He still didn't know for sure, and his loyalties were still firmly with Terna- or what was left of it anyway, but Hoplite-

But Jason wasn't lying when he'd told Michael those things, of that he was certain. When he came back to the Fiendwall, if he came back, then Michael was gonna give him an apology. Cat though, that was more complicated. He hadn't even floated the idea by her yet, terrified of what might happen afterwards. She could try to neutralize him for all he knew, or even just outright leave as they had done to Jason before.

She'd be one of the last members of the Ternan military, in a world filled with deadly wizards and crazy ass demi-gods, he couldn't let her die, for Nate's memory. His head hung low as he thought of his brother in arms. He was over-reacting, Belaine told him that there was a contingent of Ternan troops that Jason had freed from Kazon, but the odds of Nate being one of them was miniscule.

"What is wrong?" Belaine asked him, "You seem upset, the idea of facing Lithia is a daunting task-"

"No," He shook his head, "It's not that. I'm worried about a comrade of mine, I think he's dead but I don't know for sure. Don't suppose that one of the guys you saw leavin' Castle Blackgaze was named Nate right?"

Belaine shrugged, "I didn't hear their names, there were quite a few of them though, perhaps your comrade was amongst them?"

Michael refused to get his hopes up, "Black guy, big like me and probably wearing this same kinda armor too, sound familiar?"

Again, he wasn't gonna get his hopes up. She didn't know their names and Nate hadn't been the only black dude on the Sparrow. Knowing Michael's luck, Nate had died onboard the ship…

"I do recall seeing a particularly dark-skinned man amongst them, I did not learn his name. He stuck out to me though, as I've never seen anyone like that before." Belaine told him, placing a hand on her chin again.

Against all reasoning, hope blossomed in Michael's chest, "Really? You're sure?" He asked, becoming excited.

Belaine nodded, "I am certain, I've never seen a person like that before in my life."

Don't get your hopes up. It probably isn't him. Michael let the hope die in his chest. He couldn't bear what would happen should he ever find out if the man Belaine saw wasn't Nasty Nate. He distracted himself with what Belaine had just said, about never seeing someone like Nate before.

"Uh," Michael hesitated, "Are ya saying that there ain't anyone on Ahkoolis like that?"

Belaine shook her head, "No, I'm afraid not. If you haven't noticed, Outworlders and Ahkoolians aren't the same. We have people who are deeply tanned, but he was the first person I'd ever met with that skin color. He was large like yourself, it is possible he's this comrade you seek."

"He could be alive…" Michael said to himself, "Nasty ass Nate, you son of a bitch."

Don't get your hopes up! He internally scolded himself.

"Such a foul tongue." Belaine scowled, "I have a question pertaining to the races of you Outworlders. If you hail from the same world as this 'Nate' then why aren't you black as well?" She asked him, "I was under the impression that all your kind was exactly the same, or at least that is what the records claimed."

"Nobody here on Ahkoolis is the same right?" Michael asked rhetorically, "Same principle where we're from. Nate told me his family came from a place on Earth called Africa, my family originated from Europe- or uh, America? I can't remember, I don't know my family history very well. It's all based off environment though, uh, I think, like how much sun ya see and how hot it is. There's lots of races from Earth too, it ain't all black and white," He chuckled, "Literally."

"Is that what you are? White?" She asked.

"Byeah." Michael nodded, "Like the Fiendwallers."

"They don't look like you at all." Belaine told him matter of factly, "All you share is perhaps a skin tone, but their facial structures, eyes, even their noses are different than yours and Nate's."

Michael frowned as he thought of the Fiendwallers. He'd just categorized them as just caucasians and moved on, but what Belaine said was true. They didn't look like any other person he'd seen back home. These guys had grown up on a completely different planet, hell, a completely different reality from Earth. The differences between Earth humans and Ahkoolian humans were deeper than just skin too. Hell, he'd heard that people here grew three sets of teeth throughout their lives, rather than just two.

The 'humans' here weren't like Michael and Nate, in fact he wasn't sure if even calling them human was accurate. They certainly looked and acted like people though, and in truth that was good enough for Michael. Still this could potentially pose a problem, but one unique to Nate; everyone would know he was an Outworlder at a glance, Nate'd stick out like a sore thumb.

Then again, that wasn't exactly a bad thing either, Outworlders were revered here, for the most part it seemed. Still, what if Nate crashed somewhere bad, a place where Ahkoolians considered Outworlders a delicacy? Images of Nate being thrown in a giant boiling pot of water filled his mind, assorted vegetables thrown in afterward to make Marine meat taste better. Michael shook his head, this wasn't a damn cartoon, if they were gonna eat Nate they'd throw him on a fire not a pot of water.

"You're zoning off again." Belaine told him, "I still have more questions about your species."

"Shoot." He told her.

"Do you have green people?" She asked him, "Or blue even?"

Michael stared for a second, "Uh, no, we don't have green or blue people."

"I see, so you go from white like yourself, tan like that Cat woman, and black like Nate, there is no blue or green people." She said, more to herself than to him, "No oranges I suppose?"

Michael let out a laugh, "No, there ain't no orange people either."

"Very well, why are all the men of your species so large?" She asked him, "Or is it just coincidence that you, Nate, and the other men I saw amongst the soldiers I met are all built like blacksmiths?"

"Oh that's easy," Nate told her, "We work out, all the time."

"Work out?" She asked with a squint, "What does that mean?"

"Oh uh, like exercising, lifting weights, running, stuff like that." Michael told her.

"Ah that makes sense." She nodded.

"Also the state-enforced eugenics." He said casually, resting his hands on his hips.

She squinted again, "What is eugenics?"

"Jeez it's like talkin' with a five-year-old." He chuckled.

Belaine's face reddened, her eyes narrowing into a sharp glare, "Excuse you?" She asked, "How dare you compare me to a child, I simply wish to learn more about your kind and asking questions is the proper way to do so!" She harumphed, crossing her arms before turning away from him.

"Hey, I didn't mean it in a bad way or nothin'," Michael told her sincerely, "Look, eugenics was enforced by Lord Jyn a bit after he took over our world. He didn't let people with diseases or bad genes have children, after a few generations of that we got some pretty healthy humans, compared to how it used to be back then. That's another reason me n' Nate are built so big, we just got superior genes to the humans of the past."

She turned back to him, a conflicted look on her face, "While I can certainly see the merit in such, do you not find it cruel to deny someone already unfortunate from one of life's greatest joys?"

"Greatest joys?" He asked.

"Children, Michael." Belaine told him, "The infirm have hard enough lives as it is, denying them children seems a step too cruel for my tastes."

He shook his head, "I'm sure it was rough to start, but nowadays it's a non-issue. It was necessary to make us strong."

"Did you kill diseased children?" Belaine asked with a scowl.

"What?" He asked, "Naw, not at all. Sick people just ain't allowed to have kids, but like I said it ain't an issue nowadays, genetically most people are in peak health."

"I find it hard to believe that your people went with this 'eugenics' willingly." Belaine crossed her arms.

"I ain't got a clue how folks felt about it back then." Michael said, "But I can say that-"

Static on his radio cut him off, a voice crackling over the comms, "Repeat, this is Conductor Mcgraffe, are there any survivors out there? Do you read us?"

Michael's jaw trembled as he responded, turning away from Belaine, "Affirmative Conductor McGraffe, this is private Michael of the Eighth Arm Marine Corps, I read you."

"Affirmative!" Mcgraffe said excitedly, "Glad to hear from you private! Where is your location, we'll come by and pick you up."

He turned around, scanning the horizon for any signs of their transport. These must have been the same guys that Belaine had helped free from Kazon, meaning that Nate could be among them. Against all reason and sense…

Michael began to hope.