Powers Ch. 04

It hadn't been stealthy so It was surprising to find the three inside still asleep. It was like taking candy from a child.

They had raided my cupboards, and there was no food left. Bastards. I only had the disgusting soups now. I heard the helicopter come to gather the popped people.

If I could hear it, could everyone else? Time to move, no need to risk it.

***

Only 75 people left. All the people that had popped someone last night had been popped today, combined with my five and three popps from Jenny.

I found a cave near the beach. It wasn't my first choice, but I was falling over from exhaustion. Two days on the move was too much. Even if six hours last night was spent lying down watching people.

***

The sun hit my eyes as the sun set, bringing me out of a nice dream. I tried to crawl out of the sun but that just revealed all the stiffness and pain from sleeping on a stone bed.

I did my stretches and ate another one of the disgusting cans of soup. I would kill for a snickers right now. Then it hit me -- my food. Sure the granola bars were no snickers but still. They had to have a camp somewhere or they would have split out the food.

The search began.

***

Three nights later I found their camp. A big group of them had been walking around searching for me. It was laughably easy to follow them to their source.

Three teams of ten people walked right past me. All of them kidding around, being the loud idiots that they were. The corporal would have a freak out if he saw them. They behaved like this was a trip to spring break, not a fight for survival.

They had three pods dropped down in a circle and had built a wooden barrier between them. It was possible to punch through the wood. Impossible to do quietly. On top of each pod there was a chair with two guards. Look outs in case there was any funny business.

In night time there was a patrol of a team as well, checking inside and then the perimeter.

The last ass whooping I had administered made them pull back. Almost all of the seventy people were centered there in the fort.

They moved out in teams of ten and slowly worked together, filling the water supply from a nearby river.

Every day there was the sound of people training coming from inside the fort.

The next week was slowly spent watching them, calculating a plan. They were first years. Cushy, fat, baby seals and they were ready for the taking. Several times they were just walking past, meters from my position. Not having a clue I was there. One of them even stepped on my hand at one point.

Whoever it was in charge had training. The baby seals made a huge amount of mistakes, but the commander knew his troops well and set his up formation so I couldn't go in take out a couple and run away.

***

It was a surprise when I found all the four guards at the door asleep. It was a chance. I slowly crept closer. I could pop four people and run away.

I was halfway there when one of them opened their eyes a bit. He looked like a kid pretending to sleep, spying on his parents. It's a trap. Fuck. I slowly crawled back with the loud drumming of my heart in my ear.

Then there were footsteps and I froze. Careful, sneaking footsteps. Three of them? Why three?

One shadow shot out and popped all four 'sleeping' guards. The only ones fast and skilled enough to do that were me and the gang. It was a breath of relief, I had finally found them.

There was a loud yell and all of a sudden the world around me was lit up by a huge fire.

Twenty people came running out of the woods. I could clearly see team Asia juniors standing behind them. Then there were a loud yell from inside the camp.

Em was standing over the popped guards. Jenny was on her right and Jack on her left. They just stood there frozen as they got surrounded. I felt the urge to scream out 'Idiots!' If they moved they might still be able to fight their way through, but no. They stood there with panic in their eyes.

"Well, well, well, lookie what we have here. Three little mice caught in a trap." Said Karateka junior. Could he sound any more like a stupid super villain?

I had to do something, but my training told me to stay still. If I moved now I would lose the element of surprise, and that was the only advantage I had left.

Jack and Jenny moved close to Em. It was as if they hit a switch. Everyone came running in. 75 vs 3. Luckily most of the 75 were still inside the fort and the one exit that made it secure was also the one exit that made sure they could not leverage their numbers.

Jack went through the small fries like a hot knife through butter. Jenny was no worse. They were both offensive powerhouses. They traded blows though and even though they were stronger the key in a one vs many fight is to not get hit.

Small fries kept flying left and right as Em held the gate. The ground was littered with twenty popped individuals a minute later.

Team Asia junior closed in. It was too easy. Karateka junior and his duo partner 'call me Lisa' closed in on Jenny, the other three on Jack. Finally they were focused on someone else. I could easily walk up behind them.

Jack and Jenny traded blows with their opponents. They were clearly worse for wear and the locked bodies on the ground made it hard to move around. Em was also getting pushed back. Letting more people get out right now wasn't an option.

Jenny saw my creeping approach and she smiled. That bloody idiot. Luckily I was close enough. Karateka junior turned around and was greeted by a superman punch to the face. That was the opening Jenny needed to take down 'Call me Lisa'.

Jack was lying down with his back against the wall with three small Asians standing above him. I was too late to save him, but in time to avenge him. I kicked the closest one with a powerful front kick.

She popped and flew into the other two, bringing them all down. It was easy pickings to close in and Popp them both with quick kicks.

Jenny had gone to the gate, and with her help, Em was once again pushing back the people inside. That threat was under their control so I quickly checked around. There were a couple of people just standing around. As soon as I laid eyes on them they all just ran.

I wanted to hunt them, but there were still about thirty to forty people stuck on the inside. If I let Jenny and Em take them all they might climb over me, and losing wasn't an option.

I walked up to the gate and the girls were fighting inside. I had to climb over the bodies to get in. The fort looked about as I had imagined on the inside. A big fireplace in the middle, the three pods were all opened and there were bunk beds visible inside. There was a large shelf with all the food collected on the other side.

There were about twenty people standing around in a half circle around the girls. They were mostly getting in the way of each other and not really helping out. Fucking amateurs. The only people that actually fought like a unit were five of my old students. The traitors fought Jenny.

Jenny was looking ragged. She fought with everything she had but it was clear she was about to go dry. It was a weird sense of pride. The little traitors could take down Jenny. Her energy was almost done.

Em looked fresh. She bobbed and weaved through the clumsy attacks while hitting back hard during the pauses of their strikes. She lacked the knock out potential though, so there were no popped bodies lying around her.

Jenny was the one in need of help. Did I want to help her? Nope, not really. After tonight there would be, what? Ten people left? No need to tempt fate. Em would want me to save Jenny though. Was keeping Em happy worth it?

It all came down to trust. I could save Jenny without any cost if I Popped a couple of people and still be the winner. Em might let me win. Jenny always wanted to win though. Did I trust Jenny?

Hell to the no. She stood there in front of me and the impulse took control. It was so easy, just a quick kick and she went Popp.

My students looked at me like I had stolen their candy. I clearly didn't care. Em yelled out with all her pain and suffering, "Jenny!" Did she see what I did?

It was time to hunt. Twenty cute little newbies in front of me. Time to eat.

***

The choppers came in for the people outside. Em was sitting with Jenny, talking about nonsense. Jenny looked totally pissed. The protection gear was stopping her from talking, but she was shooting daggers at me. She knew what I had done.

"I'm sorry, Jenny. I don't trust you." Em looked up. Pain in her eyes. Jenny groaned angrily. "We don't really have the best track record and you stood in the way of my win. You might not understand why, but I need to win this, simple as that."

Em switched from hurt to anger. "You?" She was fighting to get out the words. Then the swearing started. For a sweet southern girl she had quite the vocabulary. Most of them were just suggestions for things to put up my behind. Like my head.

The insults ran off me, making Em even angrier. Her gloves started to lose their white shine and instead the glowed with a bright Red.

She got up. I took a step back she followed. "Stop. Don't come any closer." She kept walking. I walked backwards but not fast enough, she jumped forward and swung, with all the intelligence of a rage monster. It was the most telegraphed punch ever.

I caught her hand and her next fist as well when it swung at my face. I felt her energy coursing through her glove. It was second nature now to reach out and steal it from her.

She screamed out her rage and kicked me in the shin. It was painful, but nothing else. She didn't have the freedom of movement to really Popp me.

She kept kicking and tears rolled down her face as she screamed straight into my face.

Em's gloves dissipated, then her shield. I had sucked her dry. She sank down on the ground crying. For a second I was scared she would trigger her protective suit and get eliminated but she was safe and I let go of her hands. She cuddled her knees and all hope was gone. I had probably lost my only friend, and for what? A silly competition? No, for my big fat ego. I had to be the best. Look where that got me.

***

I took stock of their food supply. There was more of the god awful soups but nothing else. Not a trace of any granola bars or beans, just soup.

It actually didn't taste that bad once it was warmed up. Em mechanically shuffled the heated up soup into her mouth. She looked at me with dead eyes.

Nothing this year even came close to hurting as much as those eyes. She had given up on me and I deserved it.

"I'm sorry."

"Fuck you, you mother fucking ass hole! Backstabbing son of a bitch!"

"HEY! You don't call my mother a bitch. Not now. Not ever. I understand that you're mad. I did a something terrible, but I'll fucking shiv you in the eye with this lid if you talk shit about my DEAD parents! Got it?"

Fuck. There I went again. My blue core of sadness overwhelming and then held into place from my red hot shield.

Em nodded. "I'm sorry. I meant backstabbing piece of shit."

"Thanks that's much better." I said with a nod. Em smiled. There was hope. "I'm a terrible person I know, but she was going to lose, I only sped up the process."

"Don't you say that, you maggot infested scum of the earth. You, the almighty champion of fucking everything, could have saved her."

"Yes, I could've. It would mean walking past her though. Showing her my back. You, of all people, know how competitive she gets. She could have taken me down. If not right then maybe later. I don't trust her, simple as that. I know I'm a horrible person and I wish had Popped her differently, but I was going to Popp her eventually. I couldn't see any other way, and we all know she doesn't stand a chance in a fair fight."

I had said what I wanted to say. Em needed time to think.

***

The next morning there were 7 people left on the island and the fight entered its last stages.

Every hour you got a ping and a link to everyone else's location. All the other five people quickly banded together, but I took them out without any problems.

Then it was just me and Em left. I hiked up to the mountain top and enjoyed the view. Em attacked at first light.

"Good timing, I just made some soup with a crushed roots and nuts bread. It's delicious. Want some?" She just shook her fists out and said nothing. "Still mad, huh?"

She jumped me. I took a spoonful of soup as I ran away. I kept a five meter distance between us until I finished my soup. Running and eating soup at the same time is not easy, half the soup went out on the ground. Luckily I had made plenty.

When that was done I let her catch up. Her fist glowed from the red inside. I ducked, bobbed and weaved until the sun came up. It was a beautiful sun rise.

Em tried her best but I was pretty good at dodging by now. Her attacks came in the same pattern. You should never fight angry. Eventually she calmed down and the golden white shine returned to her fist. After an hour of flailing after me she had to take a break.

"You're going to have to talk to me eventually, you're my only friend Em. I'm very sorry I hurt you but I couldn't take the chance on Jenny."

"That's not why I'm mad you, you moron!"

"Almighty goddess, might I convince you to tell me what the stupid moron did to upset you?"

"I was so happy when you showed up. You were the perfect fucking addition to our team. Strong, cocky and the son of the strongest fucking Battery through time. For once I actually had hope, a glimmer of a chance to shut up my mother. She always talks about American five and how none of her children can live up to that. We were going to be the best, shut her up and you fucking ruined it. You, Jenny and your fucking squabble. Grow the fuck up, Partner. I'm the one that has to go between my best friend. I'm the one getting torn apart. I thought you were getting better but no. You're still the same immature child you were six months ago. Your parents are lucky they died in a car crash so they don't have to see the child they loved turn into a pathetic piece of shit."

"HEY!"

"Maybe that's all they could hope for. Do you know your parents nicknames? Mom told me. They were the whore sister and the weakest center in history."

"Em, please don't do this."

"Do what? Tell you about how your momma loved to suck cock and there wasn't a single guy in this whole school..."

I've had enough, I was tired. I reached out and her shield went Popp.

"I'm sorry, I know you're angry but talking shit about my parents will just make me hate you. I apologize for putting you in this position. If it's so hard to be both our friends then go be Jenny's. I'm used to the cold dark loneliness. Thanks for the good times we shared. I'll see you when I see you, Partner."

The sunshine and beautiful weather felt so out of place. Big tears kept rolling down my cheeks. I was a horrible person, and this was just another person I had hurt. I should cut myself off from people, that way I can't hurt anyone.

The loud roar of the helicopter ruined my brooding mood. The congratulations of the crew died on their faces. I wasn't happy and they gave me my space. Everyone could see the navy blue light from my glove.

Three weeks and two days. It was the first ever solo victory. I should be happy, but I wasn't. Thoughts of Em kept running through my head all the way home.

There was an interview on the plane. I can't remember much, but there were some beautiful shots of my fight with Em. Her controlled powerful combinations and me ducking away. Then they spliced in my final punch. As if I had tired her out and then taken my opportunity.

It was visually pleasing and that made me feel even worse.

///// /////

Thanks for reading.

I'm struggling with part 5. Instead of forcing me to write it I'm going to let it rest and write some other stories. So next week will be "the Chef", I think. I don't know. Maybe I get a random bout of inspiration and post part 5 next week. See you.