Champions Vol. 01

"What if your father saw what you were doing in his name?" David asked her calmly, after opening his eyes to look at her.

"You know nothing of my father, or what he would think!" she yelled angrily.

Tired of her attitude, and his patience losing the battle against pain and alcohol, he snapped.

"You're goddamned right. I don't know shit about him. And you don't know shit about me. How many people have you killed? How many dead faces do you see in your dreams? I'm trying to help you, before you go too far down a path there is no coming back from. Hell, you're probably already there, after making the bloody paperweight over yonder. So fuck you and your fucking ingratitude. Enjoy the nightmares princess," he yelled at her. Then he turned and began to stagger slowly back to the road.

He had only managed to struggle a handful of steps toward the temple when she reappeared beside him.

"You already killed the other three," she said accusingly.

"Shit happens," he replied evenly. He was a bit surprised; he knew his strike on 'baby seal' had a fifty-fifty chance of either paralyzing him, or killing him outright, but he had thought the guy missing an eyeball and half his forearm would make it. His knife must have gone deep enough to open up the artery.

"Now what?" she asked angrily.

"Do I look like your fucking Yoda?" he snapped back. "Do what everyone else does and figure out your own shit. I got enough trouble in my life trying to walk my ass back to the temple before I pass out."

Huffing, she moved closer to him, tucking herself under his right arms and guiding him toward the place of worship.

"Thanks," he said tersely.

"I owe you for avenging my father. When I get you to Astinus that debt is repaid, understand?" she replied.

"Done deal," he grunted.

They had only taken a few more steps when Astinus and Laurena came running toward them from the temple.

"What happened Champion?" "David, are you hurt?" they asked simultaneously.

"Dead assholes, lots of pain, hole through my right side, and broken forearm," he replied. "That's the Cliff's notes. You want more, make with the hocus pocus."

Confused at his unusual words, Astinus paused in his approach. Laurena was more familiar with his foreign phrases, and continued to move toward him until he stopped her with an outstretched arm and raised hand.

"Not you," he said angrily. "I know where you've been tonight, so I'll wait for the actual priest, thanks."

Hurt by his words and tone, and not fully understanding his meaning, she kept her distance.

"Sapphire, I did not realize you were in town," Astinus greeted the woman helping David. "When did you arrive?"

"Tonight," she replied in a clipped tone. "I had some business in town. I dealt with it. Now I'm repaying a debt to this man. Heal him quickly so I can move on."

Astinus' eyes narrowed at her response. "Is this 'business' about the men that killed your father? I told you the clergy are searching for them. They cannot hide forever."

"Two years!" she shouted angrily. "Two years my father has been dead while his murderers roamed free. You healed my broken body, and for that I owe you. But what I told you that first day held true today. Those men either face your justice, or they face mine. Well your justice couldn't find them, so mine did."

Looking at her angrily, Astinus pointed at David, "And here is what your justice has wrought. A man near death so that you could satisfy your revenge."

"First off," David began, thoroughly pissed off again, "they attacked me. I killed three of them; she saved me at the last minute by killing the fourth. Second, the fuckers deserved it. They were vile wastes of oxygen, and we did the world a favor by exterminating them."

He stopped his rant to take a deep breath; it was getting harder to focus. "Third, while you two are bickering over the morality of killing killers, this hole through my kidney isn't getting any less life threatening." David paused. Breathing was becoming more difficult. "So shelve...your shit...and make...with the...hocus...pocu..."

And he passed out in the street.

***

David was at COP Able-Main. He was walking back from the ANA artillery section to the SFAAT offices. It had been a tough day of training, but his counterparts had started to improve. Suddenly he heard the zip of a round cutting the air nearby. Getting shot at on the COP was a common occurrence, but the insurgents' aim was usually too shitty for him to ever hear the rounds come in. That one was close. As he heard the report of the rifle, he ran to a nearby rock that was barely big enough to take cover behind.

While he crouched there waiting for the shooter to stop, other soldiers kept walking around like nothing was happening. Another round came in, and pinged off the rock he was behind. The shooter was good, and was targeting him. Turning to the side, David yelled to one of the soldiers that walked by for help. He needed to get to better cover, but was pinned down at the moment. However, the man just kept walking, ignoring him.

As he crouched behind the rock, waiting for the sniper to kill him, he kept yelling to anyone that walked by, hoping someone would help him. But they didn't. He was stuck, he was going to die, and no one cared...

***

David woke with a start. He hated that dream.

He reached over to pat the reassuring presence of his M9 on the table by his alarm clock. It wasn't there. He reached to the side of the table for his M4. It wasn't there either. He felt a surge of adrenaline as the familiar panic set in. Bolting upright, he searched his room frantically for his weapons.

He wasn't in his room at COP Able-Main. He wasn't even in Afghanistan. He was in his temporary quarters at the Temple of Eros, and all his gear was stacked neatly where he had left it. His pistol and holster were lying on top of them. At the foot of his bed, his clothes were folded into a neat stack as well. That was when he realized he was naked.

"Why the hell am I naked?" he muttered.

"Your clothes were torn and blood soaked," came Laurena's voice from his left.

He turned to that side to see her seated in a chair; a large, old-fashioned, leather-bound book lying open in her lap.

"Astinus healed your wounds, and we brought you back here to rest. We had to remove your clothing to repair the damage to it," she continued.

"Thanks," he said gruffly.

He was still pissed at the whore. She had teased him with her gorgeous body for days, and then given it up to strangers at the first opportunity. Eleven strangers. No woman who was that easy to get into bed should be that high-maintenance. It wasn't as though he liked her. Yeah, she was nice when she tried to be, and she seemed to be great with kids, but she was also a total pain in his ass. Everything had to be her way, a total fucking princess.

It wasn't that he was jealous of her sleeping with a bunch of other guys; she could do whatever she wanted. He just figured he had earned some fucking consideration, and first dibs. After all he had done, he didn't deserve some other man's sloppy seconds. Plus, there had been plenty of other women at the service; she didn't need to sleep with all those guys. If it was so important to her for him to be there, why didn't she wait for him? But he definitely wasn't jealous he adamantly reassured himself, he didn't even like her.

"I'm good, you can leave now," he told her coldly.

Hurt by his tone now, and his words last night, she shook her head in refusal. "No. Not until you tell me why you are mad at me. What have I done that has earned your ire?"

He looked at her like she had grown a second head that breathed fire.

"What have you done?" he asked in amazement. "Lady, what haven't you done? For three fucking days you either made my life miserable with you whining, or made my life miserable with your flirting and teasing. At first I thought you were just clueless about what your body and actions did to me, but it has become really fucking apparent that you knew exactly what you were doing.

"Then you beg me to defy Astinus and sneak into the worship service, promising me mind blowing sex; and stupid, horny asshole that I am, I agree. What do I find there? Do I find the woman that has been tormenting me with her amazing body for the last three days waiting to make all my dreams come true? No. I find a dirty whore pulling a train eleven cars deep, so full of other men's cocks that she can't even spare a moment for the man who SAVED HER FUCKING LIFE!" he finished with a shout.

Laurena was shocked. She had no idea how little David understood of their religion. Of course she was Blessing multiple men, she always Blessed multiple men. That was what the faithful wanted from her, and she was glad to please them.

She began crying. How could he possibly think her a whore? She had never lain with anyone outside of worship service. That was improper, and would have gotten her removed from the clergy. And she was never dirty! She made sure to always be clean, and immaculately dressed. She hated dirt, and dirty things. How could he say such horrible things about her?

"I was giving Eros' Blessings to the faithful. Guiding worshipers to find Eros' love is what priests and priestesses do," she said, still crying. "It is our responsibility, handed down to us from our god. But I am no whore. I have never lain with a man outside of worship, and I never will. It is not permitted for the clergy to do so.

"And how dare you call me dirty," she added angrily. "You know full well how much of my magic I dedicate to cleansing myself. You know how I can't stand to be dirty. How could you say such a thing."

Shaking his head, David could only be amazed at this girl's priorities.

"You're absolutely right. You're always immaculately groomed and dressed...even when you are groomed with men's hands, and dressed in their sperm," he added viciously. "Now, get the fuck out."

Her face stained with tears, Laurena stormed from the room angrily. She would get him back for this. Just wait. No one talked to her that way.

*** Chapter 17: Penance ***

140758MAR13 DW

Wolfsvale, Erosius

David got out of bed and locked the door after Laurena's furious exit. He needed some uninterrupted peace and quiet at the moment. Looking down at his healed side, he noticed a faint scar. It was the only proof that he had been so severely wounded the previous night.

This healing crap is pretty damn useful, he pondered. I wonder if I can learn how to do it.

Turning back to the stack of clothes on his bed, he took his time getting dressed. It seemed that Astinus had a multitude of useful skills. His clothes were spotless, and the repairs to his fleece jacket and combat shirt were so perfect you couldn't tell they had ever been damaged.

As he debated whether it would be cold enough today to require the fleece jacket, he heard a knock at the door.

"I told you to fuck off, bitch," he yelled at the door angrily.

The knock came again.

Thoroughly annoyed, he resolved to unlock the door and give her a piece of his mind. If the bitch wanted to come back for round two, he was going to leave her staggering from his verbal barrage this time. As he turned toward the door, he noticed her book lay on the floor next to the chair she had vacated in such a hurry.

So that's what she's after, he thought with irritation.

Walking to the chair he picked up the book then went to the door and unlocked it. Opening the door he thrust the book through the opening, saying, "Take your fucking encyclopedia and piss off."

"Thank you for the book, Champion," Astinus said from the other side of the doorway, "but I was hoping to speak with you for a few moments."

Pausing in embarrassment, David considered the priest's request. Opening the door further he stepped aside and beckoned him into the room.

"Sorry Astinus," he apologized. "I thought you were someone else. Please come in."

The priest walked into the room nodding in understanding. "I could not help but hear your disagreement with Laurena, but I have a different matter to discuss with you."

Closing the door, David motioned for the priest to sit on the vacant chair and sat himself on the bed nearby.

"Thank you for healing my injuries, and for fixing my clothes," the soldier said. "What can I do for you?"

"I would like to discuss what happened last night, outside the tavern," Astinus explained.

Giving a non-committal grunt, David just waited for the priest to continue.

"I have spoken with Sapphire about what happened, and she said you had already killed three of the attackers before she arrived," Astinus began. "She also explained that she killed the fourth after she had already captured and immobilized him. When I asked if she felt he was still enough of a threat to warrant his death, she told me as long as he was alive he was a threat to everyone."

David nodded in agreement. "That sounds about right," he added his thoughts on the matter. "Those men had already proven they were violently inclined. I can only guess why they chose to come after me, but I imagine it was some combination of revenge and opportunity. If even one were allowed to live, he could have continued to be a threat to those around him."

"But Octavius was fully under her power," Astinus argued. "Sapphire is a very accomplished sorceress, and keeping him contained until I could arrive and take over was well within her power. The man deserved a sentence of lifelong servitude for his crimes, but not death. And certainly not the gruesome end that she chose to give him."

Staring hard at the priest, David worked to organize his thoughts on the matter.

"I agree she went a little over-board in her application of justice," he admitted, "but I disagree that her turning the man over to you was the right call. He was a murderer, and he deserved to die."

Sighing Astinus shook his head. "I know you are still learning of our world," the priest explained, "but all life is precious. All life has value. People make mistakes, and those mistakes must be atoned for, but we do not kill criminals. We sentence them to servitude so that they can make repayment equal to their crimes. Octavius should have spent the remainder of his life in service to this town, repaying all those he had hurt and giving him an opportunity to regain his faith and love for Eros before his death. Now neither of those things can happen."

David was already tired of this conversation. The priest was naïve as hell if he thought that someone like that could ever atone for his actions. There were some things you just couldn't come back from.

"Then it seems we will have to agree to disagree Astinus. Because I think you are wrong, just as you think I am wrong; and I don't see either of us changing our opinions," David told him.

"That is unfortunate," Astinus said, "because you killed five men in the mountains, and three more in this town. That is eight lives you have ended, and I now question whether those actions were necessary. Sapphire has already agreed to the punishment for her crimes, and I had hoped you would understand the need for yours as well."

"What the fuck?" David replied in shock. "What crimes? Is defending yourself a crime in this fucked up world?"

"No, doing what is necessary to defend your life is permitted," Astinus told him, "but killing men when you have other options is not. Did you even try to find a way to spare the lives of those men?"

"Why would I?" David asked. "I was outnumbered. They were trying to kill me. If they hadn't drawn weapons I would have beat them black and blue for fucking with me, but I wouldn't have killed them. As soon as they tried to kill me it was game on, and there was no way I was going to play nice when it was four to one."

"Exactly." Astinus replied. "You chose to kill them, rather than merely stopping them from killing you. It was that difference of intent that made your actions a crime. Just as I suspect it was within your capabilities to incapacitate those five men who held Laurena, rather than ending their lives.

"You need to realize that our world is not your world. You may be Eros' Champion, but you are still subject to Eros' laws. It is his wish that all life be held as sacred, and penance be paid for any lives taken which need not have been."

David was well and thoroughly pissed. It was like he was back in Afghanistan. Once again he was forced to justify defending his own life to some asshole that had been sitting safely back at headquarters while someone was trying to kill him. Well fuck that. He'd had enough of this shit.

"Fuck you pacifist," he seethed. "Next time someone tries to kill me you can come take my place. Then you can try to have a reasoned discourse with them while they run swords through you."

"You truly do not understand why your actions were wrong," Astinus responded calmly. "So I am now certain that your penance is well deserved. Sapphire shall accompany you henceforth, and work with Laurena to teach you Eros' laws. It will be your responsibility to report to a member of the clergy at each town you pass through, in order for them to check on your progress. Once you have proven to a shepherd of the faithful that you understand the wrongness of your actions, you shall be released from your obligations."

David hated the sound of that. Sapphire may be very easy on the eyes, but she was more of a bitch than 'the whore.' He wanted nothing to do with either of their high strung asses.

"Fuck that. I don't want either of them in my life."

"Champion, you do not want to refuse this," Astinus explained calmly.

"I really think I do," David replied. "I'm being punished for doing the right thing because you disagree with it from the safety of your little temple. Fuck you and your fucking penance. What are you gonna do about it pacifist?"

"Then you are to leave at once," Astinus said with a heavy heart. "Henceforth you will receive no aid from a member of the clergy, and the faithful will be instructed to shun you. You will be alone in this world, unable to seek aid from anyone until you pay your penance."

David leapt to his feet. This was total bullshit, but he would be damned if he would allow this tree hugger to punish him for doing the right thing. Fuck this guy. He didn't need any help.

"No more of you panty-waste assholes telling me how to do shit? That sounds like heaven to me. Point me toward this Field of Woe and get the hell out of my way," David spat.

"You misunderstand," Astinus told him calmly, standing as well. "No aid means I will not give you directions. No one will. If you want to find the Field of Woe you will have to wander around this land until you stumble across it, for no one will help you now."

As Astinus turned to exit David realized he was boned. He had no idea how big this continent was, and Laurena had only mentioned that their destination was along the road to Calavius. He could survive on his own easily enough, but getting the fuck off this madhouse world had just become his top priority. He didn't know if Eros could do that, but it seemed like his best shot at the moment. He would have to play nice if he wanted back home.

"Fine," David barely managed to say through his rage. "But just Sapphire. I'm not spending another minute with 'the whore'."

"You misunderstand Champion," Astinus explained to him, turning back from the door. "Being taught the errors of your actions by Sapphire and Laurena is your penance. Guiding you and teaching you are Sapphire's penance. You will both seek redemption together, and it is Laurena's task to oversee your education."