The Wicked One

Chapter Thirty-Nine | X-Factor, Part Two

In a swift motion, I pulled my cape around my body using my one good hand, disappearing once again into the familiar darkness. For the short instant that I floated in that frozen abyss, the pointed fingers on my claw stretched outwards, sensing the battle ahead. I swore to myself I would do my best to deny them the bloodshed I knew they craved.

I reappeared back into the world directly behind the guard who was holding Robin, the only one who remained on the ground. I saw his helmed head begin to turn in my direction as soon as I appeared, but I did not give him long to react.

Using all the strength and built in momentum I had, I turned my body, sending a kick into the alien's exposed side. The impact was enough to send jolts of pain up and down my leg, but the guard barely seemed to react at all. Instead, he merely turned all the way around so that he was facing me, dropping the spear along the way. Strange, did my attack make him drop it?

Not wasting any time, I spun again, this time aiming another kick straight for his face. My foot hit solidly again but, as I tried to retract it, I found that it suddenly became impossible to move. Still at the awkward position of having my entire body stretched out horizontally from the kick, I turned my head just enough to see the large, purple armor-clad hand gripping my foot.

Uh oh.

I tried to pull my leg free, but the relaxed way the alien seemed to grip my foot might as well have been a steel bear trap. Before I could think of how to proceed next, the purple monster threw me in the air with a casual flick of his arm.

Random images flew through my vision as I hurtled towards the roof. I didn't even have enough time to tell what I was looking at or who was there before the image changed. I desperately grabbed for my cloak before I was to make a very solid impact with the top of this dungeon. Gripping what felt like one of the ends of my cape, I quickly pulled it over me, tucking in my legs and claw as I did so.

I vanished again into darkness. My claw again twitched. It wanted attention. It knew I couldn't do anything without it.

I gritted my fanged teeth. I refused to give it the satisfaction.

I reappeared in the air, still curled into a ball, only now it was right over the guard who had thrown me. I pulled myself toward, twirling rapidly in the air, aiming straight down at the guard. At the last instant, I kicked my leg out, letting the heel clip the top of his helmet before throwing it downwards as I landed.

I struck the ground and staggered to keep my balance. The blow was again solid and painful; I was forced to keep most of the pressure off my right foot as I attempted to stand again. The clatter of metal on stone rang in my ears as a purple helmet rolled along the floor. The alien guard was now hunched over. A less resistant Robin was still in his arm, looking shocked as his gaze switched from the alien to me. 

My eyes remained on the guard. He had leaned forward, but his feet hadn't left the spot since I first attacked him.

Slowly, the Tamaran guard rose back to his full height, the missing helmet revealing long, red hair and very bright, very angry, purple eyes. I noticed Robin trying to struggle again, his arms were pinned to his sides but it was his hands that seemed to be moving the most, fingers trying to extend towards the belt around with waist.

I could only look on for another moment before the guard suddenly raised his free hand, purple energy exploding from it. With no time to reach for my cape, I spun away from the bolts of energy as they shot out like cannon fire towards me. The Tameranians around us quickly moved aside to make room for the sudden show down. Faintly, I could hear Starfire calling my name. Actually, it sounded like a warning.