University of Console Heroics: Chapter 2

The student union building was completely packed. On any other day it would have been a great place to meet with friends, get lunch, talk to an adviser, work on a Greek life fund raiser, or any one of a hundred other social things that you might find yourself interested in doing throughout a semester of school. Today all of those things and more was happening with every possible student that could fit in the building.

The Nu Tau Delta sorority was running a fund raiser for the 1 up foundation, they were selling 1 cUP cakes and their table was easily the most popular place in the union. Tanya, Faith, and Lacey were manning the booth and being as nice and polite to their customers as they could as they took handfuls of cash.

Clay was sitting at the far edge of the food court area. From where he was sitting he could see the insanity of the fund raising table. He shook his head and returned his attention to his studies. His table was covered with several books all of which he was using to prep notes for a class. Porter swiped an unused chair and sat at the opposite side of Clay’s tiny overfilled table, His Rho Sigma Gamma shirt is black with camo colored letters.

“Dude! Last night was crazy awesome! Where were you?” Porter asked after taking a drink from his soda cup.

“I was working.” Clay replied without looking up from his notes.

Porter smiled and made a donut with his right pointer finger and thumb and moved it over his left pointer finger. “Like workin’ a girl?”

Clay looked up from his notes and put down his pencil. “No, working my job, over at Supply and Demand.” He clarified. Watching as Porter glanced at the dude sitting at the table next to Clay’s. He was in the middle of an intense phone call, completely ignoring his lunch as he yelled into his phone. 

“Dude are you even listening to me?” Clay asked.

Porter brought his attention back to his friend. “Of course I’m listening to you, and I don’t like what I am hearing. A job, really? Clay you are a Thug Studies major.” Porter takes the guys soda without a glitch.

“And I steal enough shit to make grades, so don’t worry about it.” Clay watched as Porter pulled a flask out of his pocket and poured a large amount into the soda. Clay dropped back into his book at Porter took a swig of his concoction.

Porter scanned the crowd in the union for a moment until he remembered why he had sat down in the first place. “Oh hey! You should come by the house tonight. We’re gonna order some pizza’s and play I’d steal it. The pledge with the lowest cash value of cars claimed has to wash every toilet in the house with a tooth brush.”

Clay realized he wasn’t going to get any more studying done with Porter at the table and closed his books. “As much fun as drinking and watching British car shows sounds, I gotta finish this for my class tomorrow.”

Porter took another drink and rolled his eyes. “Dude! We never see you any more, what’s with all the responsibility?” He picked up one of Clay’s books and looked it over. “History of the second dimension: the complexity of simplicity." What the hell is this crap?”

Clay swipes the book and the cup from Porter. He puts the book in his bag and takes a drink from the cup. “It’s the class I’m taking. I’m a senior, I’m set to graduate at the end of this year. I wish I could, but I can’t stay in college forever.”

Porter stole his cup back. “Speak for yourself, I’ma graduate the day I die.”

Clay packed his other books away one by one. “Oh sure, the way you drink we’ll be at the same graduation ceremony.”

Porter looked out around the union again. “Oh sure! Two funerals but only one dead guy.”

Clay glared at his friend. “What’s that supposed to mean?” He asked.

Porter held his hands out to highlight the union. “It means that this is the life Clay. We get four years, maybe five years, if we’re lucky to live it up. Then society demands that we die from the neck up and complacently sit behind a desk, fuck that.”

Clay grabs the soda back and takes another drink. “Ok then, so how come the only other option is staying here and living from the waist down?”

Porter raised an eyebrow. “Huh?”

Clay zipped his bag. “There’s more in this life for me than sex, drugs, and alcohol.”

Porter counted off the list on his fingers and then nodded. “Dude if you wanted to watch sports instead of Car commercials you coulda just said so. Clay’s shoulders slumped in frustration. Porter took his cup from Clay. “Seriously though, stop by the house tonight. Everyone would be glad to see you.”

Clay stands up and slings his bag over his shoulders. “I’ll try.” He offered heading off toward his Class. Porter noticed the guy at the next table was still having his conversation and had yet to touch his forgotten lunch. He waiting until the guy had his back partially turned and swiped it easily. Clay appeared over his should and took the drink.

Porter flipped Clay off without looking as he dug into his newly procured burrito.

Shades of Justice: Chapter 6

“Um, guys, I don’t think we should be standing here.” Warren said as Raptarus’ body began to grow at an exponential rate. The Shades ran for cover as he regained consciousness and got back to his now gigantic feet. He was easily fifty feet tall and just one of his feet could decimate any one of the buildings left on campus.

Warren looked around frantically. “Can you see where he is? My visor is flashing the words “Blinding Light!” When he said blinding light the jeweled centerpiece on his chest armor glowed for a second.

“I have the same words flashing in my visor!” Kelly offered. “What’s Blinding Light?” She asked as her chest piece lit up.

Sonya saw it and the words in her visor as well. “Everyone say it at the same time!” She commanded. 

They all stood and shouted “Blinding light!” together. Each of their chest pieces lit up, firing a beam of their light color to the same point in the night sky. Where their lights converged it got brighter and brighter until none of them, even giant Raptarus could not look at the light. When the light faded, They saw a giant robot in gleaming gold and silver.

“I’m dreaming, I must be dreaming.” Warren said to himself. And sat down hard. By the time his butt hit the ground the group had been teleported into the command center of the Blinding Light and Warren landed in his chair. They had precious little time to get used to their new toy however as Raptarus charged them with his staff. Everyone took their seat and in much the same manner as their suits felt a strong subconscious connection with the machine. Raptarus swung his staff for the right side of Blinding Light’s head. Kelly reflexively flinched her own hand as if she was about to get hit and the robot copied her.

“Something tells me this is all so very new to you children.” Raptarus took a step back and twirled his staff. “How long have you been the defenders of earth? Could this perhaps be your very first fight?” Raptarus used his staff to launch himself into a brutal kick that connected with Blinding Lights Chest knocking the robot off its feet and causing it to land hard on the pool building.

The kids should have been thrown out of their chairs but something about their suits held them in place. “We’re going to die!” Warren screamed.

“Shut up Warren! Get a hold of yourself!” Sonya yelled back. Kelly, how did you make the arm move?” She asked as Raptarus stood over them.

“I just moved my arm and the robot copied me!” She replied.

Sonya crossed her fingers and closed her eyes. “Please let this work.” She whispered to herself and kicked her feet out into the air as far as she could until she kicked her command console. Blinding Light’s right foot kicked out and caught Raptarus off guard. He flew back and fell hard.

“Nice Kick copycat.” Gordon called out. “Now how do we get back up?”

Through trial and error and a few minutes of exploring their consoles they were able to figure out what systems and limbs each of them was primarily responsible for. Sonya was the right leg, Warren was the left, Dante was the left arm, Kelly was the right, and Gordon was the head and chest systems.

“What happened to Raptarus?” Warren asked once they were on their feet again. They looked around and found him, he had fallen in just such a way that the schools flag pole had stabbed through the back of his head, and straight through his left eye. Gordon turned Blinding Light away from the scene. Dante took his helmet off. “Do not throw up in here man!” Warren yelled.

Dante shook his head. “Just needed to breathe…we won guys, it was a crappy haphazard win but he’s dead.”

They looked out at the ruins of what used to be a large portion of the school Sonya looked down at the smoking pile of rubble that used to be the theater. “Yeah” she huffed. “We won.”

Blood and Profit: Chapter 32

The battleship had a two huge landing bays on the rear. Each was more than enough space for the carriers to land. Toll realized he had no clue how this giant bio computer was even supposed to be installed into the ship, and it was far beyond time to ask anyone now, especially considering that he had no reason to know other than his own general curiosity.

With the carriers landed Toll had ten ships to patrol the area for possible threats. The first thing they did was check the far side of the battle station, it didn’t do much to put Toll at ease but there were no ships, no sign of battle damage, nothing at all out of the ordinary. They made their way back around the rear launch bay in time to see the bio computer being led out of the bay by what had to be a hundred or more people in spacesuits. Toll could see a large access hatch opening on the underside of the ship, just ahead of the landing bays. The computer was led by its handlers down below the ship and into the access hatch. Toll watched as the computer was moved fully into its space in the ship. Over a third of the space suited wranglers made their way back to the landing bay. Toll and the rest of the team continued to fly back and forth as they touched down in groups of ten on the landing bay.

As the last group of the suited assistants touched their feet to the floor of the landing bay. The hard doors started to descend. Toll counted to three but didn’t see any intercom activity. He opened a channel. “Corporate asset six five alpha nine zero tango, the rear landing bay doors are closing with our people inside, please discontinue landing bay lock up sequence.” Toll stopped his fighter and watched as the doors continued to close. He switched channels. “Rusty we need stop those doors coming down or this entire plan goes to crap.”

“Already on it, you’ll excuse the delay, I’ve never even looked at this ship’s code before so it’s a bit harder to stop the doors than you think.” Rusty shouted back at him.

Toll switched back over to the channel he had open to the battleship. “Corporate asset nine zero tango those doors are getting a might restrictive, what’s going on there on the bridge?”

With the doors half closed a voice responded to Toll.

“This ship is now the property of the Laborite Corporation. You’re people are trespassing on private property and will work off the debt they owe for their transgressions through the maximum allowed labor charge.”

Toll clipped his mask on and readied his flight combat systems. “Like hell they will.” He switched over to his squad channel. “Rejects, we need to keep those doors open long enough to get out people off that ship, shoot for metal breach only, lasers only kids, we don’t want to harm the forcefield in case there’s anyone in there that isn’t in a suit.”

Smart guy popped into the channel. “Hey boss the bottom doors are closing too.” Toll reoriented his ship to line of site the insertion doors. “Split off escorts stay with the command and control ships everyone else with me.” As he and the other six ships moved to break the insertion doors a fleet of Laborite battle cruisers came in at maximum drive and slowed to attack speeds unleashing what had to be fifty to sixty fighters. “Ok rejects we’ve still got two minutes to show time, make every shot count!”

Toll closed off his open channels and opened one to Connor. “This turned into a cluster in a hurry, tell me you are out of the insertion area.” He said, watching the first of his missiles head for the closing insertion bay doors.

“I am not, why?” Connor asked cool as a cucumber.

“Because they are closing your insertion bay doors, the landing bay door’s we just got notice that the Laborite Corporation has claimed the ship and a laborite battle fleet is on our doorstep with at least five squadrons of ships coming our way.” The middle looked to be a direct hit on the closing mechanism but did not stop it.

“Is someone shooting at us yet?” that was me, we’re trying to stop the doors without breaching the force fields.” Toll explained launching a second missile.

“Let them close Toll, I’m no good in this situation anywhere but here and if this gets worse we’re going to need this computer installed and fully functional. With the doors closed at least we’re safe. You just keep the rest of our people alive.” Connor instructed. Toll flipped the kill switch on his launched missile and it exploded harmlessly in the middle of nowhere.

“You’re the boss, boss.” He replied.

“Stay safe out there.” Connor added.

Toll sighed. “Not really in the job description.” He admitted, turning to face the oncoming squadrons with the members of the squad that weren’t protecting the command and control ships.

Lidarion: Chapter 1

In the kingdom of LIdarion there were many great cities, towns and even villages. Places with long and wonderful histories. Borderwood Keep was not one of them. The keep, all the shops, the homes, the town hall, and all seven farms surrounding it were less than five years old. The tiny population of Borderwood were all new settlers that were looking for a fresh start.

Bernard didn’t need a fresh start. He had moved here with his sister and her husband from the Capitol. A place that had never been particularly unpleasant in his memory. The winters were easier with neighbors to help shovel snow and share the work load of other wintertime maintenance. The winters in the keep could have been five times harsher and they still would not hold a candle to the wonder that was spring summer and fall. He had been drawn to the tiny keep gardens almost the very second he saw them on the day they arrived. He spent nearly every waking hour, learning, tending, and manicuring each plot of beloved flowers. Every winter was spent planning seasonal layouts for each plot and making sure that he had all the required seeds and bulbs in time for planting. He had never been given the job of master gardener but after three years and based on the way everyone deferred to his expertise, he had earned it.

This last winter had been particularly mild, with only a few weeks of mild snow to mark the darkest heart of the winter months, but the near freezing temperatures had stuck around long into what was generally thought of to be spring. But the day before had brought a warm rain and there was not so much as a light frost on the grass in the morning. The clear skies and the first warm sun in recent memory had brought everyone out of their homes. Bernard found himself drawn to work in the gardens along the inside of the east keep wall. Not far from the horse stables they had built for the in in the previous spring.

Bernard had become obsessed with a plant that he had seen in a pot carried by a trading caravan. The trader had called a tulip but it looked like no tulip Bernard had ever seen. IT flowered in all the colors of an explosive sunset. The barest sliver of white bleeding into ember yellow and orange fading into passionate burgundies and purples. He had purchased ever seed and bulb the trader had. He had spent a large portion of the winter prepping the seeds in pots and troughs so he could nurture them alone to the stage where they would finally flower. The bulbs he was planting now and felt a simple satisfaction as he placed each bulb into the earth.

A group of children playing some formless game of tag snapped him out of his meditative state as they ran by. ‘You kids be careful now!” he playfully called out after them. Several of them shouted back assurances that faded quickly as the game took them further away.

“We were never careful, why should they be?” a jovial voice asked behind him. Bernard sat up on his knees, a smile on his face.

“Squints!” He welcomed his friend by turning around. Squints was a Gnome and with Bernard on his knees they nearly came face to face.

“Bernard, this might be the first pleasant day in almost half a year and where do I find you?” He asked.

“Knee deep in a garden, for only fools let a pleasant day go to waste my friend.” Bernard offered getting to his feet.

“You and I have very different definitions of ‘wasting’ a pleasant day.” Squints replied.

“Indeed, so what brings you this deep into the wildlands my friend?” Bernard asked as they headed toward the home Bernard shared with his sister and her husband.

“It’s been nearly a year since we last saw each other, does a friend need any more of a reason to visit?” Squints asked.

Bernard shook his head. “Most friends need not even that much, but we are not normal friends, and your life does not afford you the freedom to travel the world in search of companionship” He commented, wiping his hands on a cloth he had pulled from the pocket of his pants.

“In deed, But with great responsibility comes mediocre power, and I have structured and guided my staff to work without me for their next few projects so that I might come this way, and if you are willing, quite a bit farther.” Squints explained, teasing his offer.

Bernard was intrigued. “How much farther? What do you mean, ‘if I am willing? What game are you playing librarian?” He questioned with an excited look on his face.

They arrived at the house and Squints stopped at the door. “Get cleaned up, let’s have dinner with Brooke and Trent, this is something they will want to be made aware of as well.”

Bernard shook his head. “You can never just get to the point can you? Always have to ‘tell the story.’” He complained heading up the stairs to his room.

Squints bowed. “Squints the royal librarian and professional point avoider at your service!” He stood up and noticed that Bernard was alrea

The XP: Chapter 1

Drainiverse Unplugged was the newest version of one of the world’s most successful Massively Multiplayer Online games. The narrative had begun in the late nineties as a text based Multi User Dungeon and because of its steadily growing die hard fan base, had grown up over the years along with rest of the MMO genre. 

Drainiverse was a chaotic story by design. Aliens had invaded earth in the distant future during a global war. The aliens made quick work of Earth and were assured of their victory until a rebel group stole a device that under the right conditions allowed a person to travel through time and space. Humanity was not skilled with the device and the scientists that were left weren’t given much time to explore the device. 

The human rebellion leadership decided to use the temporal flow adjuster without fully understanding how it worked. Causing the past, the present, and the future of earth and several of the closest alternate earths to be spun together like water funneling down a drain. By the time the machine was shut off the damage had already been done. 

There were multiple earths with hundreds of thousands of years and alternate time lines represented. There were now countless aliens, fantastic creatures, incredible ancient ruins, futuristic cities and millions of secrets to uncover and adventures to enjoy. With the launch of its fifth expansion new players were given several cosmetic items and character based bonuses to launch them into the newest content.

Yermum faded into the human starting zone. He moved around a bit to get his bearings but finally made his way to Terry the first guide and quest giver new players had the opportunity to interact with.

Terry was a cowboy with a goth steampunk vibe. He was sitting in a rocking chair and drinking from a jug that had three x’s on the side. “Hail and well met Yermum. Folks round these part’s call me Terry. And let me tell you, those folks will be mighty glad to see a new Rain Bringer in these troubled times. You see, this used to be a nice area filled with opportunity for any enterprising adventurer. Now it’s been completely over run by thieves and criminals. So if your looking for a job I’ve got one for you, that is, if you don’t have any qualms with the idea of dispensing a little frontier justice.” Terry finished his speech but just kept rocking his chair.

Yermum shrugged. “Sure why not.” He accepted.

Terry smiled and took another drink. “Fantastic, you bring me six sets of thieves tools and I’ll give you your first honest day’s pay.” Terry explained. Yermum ran off toward the first combat area where the thieves spawned for new players to kill. 

His starting weapon looked incredible. It was a chain gun longer than he was tall, it had a rope of bullets that fed to a satchel on his hip. He reached his first thief and pulled the trigger. He shot a three round burst and each hit threw up a red “4” over the thief’s head. 

Yermum looked down at his weapon. “That’s it? He complained. Ugh, this gonna take forever!” He continued to lure the thief NPC around the new player combat area until the thief had taken enough damage to drop to it’s knees, groan loudly, and die. Yermum looted the body and found his first set of thieves tools. “All right, everything’s coming up Yermum.” He stashed the tools in his backpack.

When he had all six sets of tools he returned to Terry. Holding the Tools out eagerly to trade. “Ok Terry, give me my money.” He demanded.

Terry smiled as he took the tools from Yermum. “Hail and well met Yermum. Thank you for doing your part to clear our land of these villains. Take this pistol as your reward.” Terry handed over an unimpressively tiny, bland, gray pistol.

Terry took it in hand as one might pinch a dirty diaper between two fingers. “I’m a Rain Bringer. I can’t use pistols.” He complained.

Terry nodded and kept rocking. “If you’re looking for more work I heard Pratchet is looking for some brave adventurers.” He offered.

Yermum stuffed the unwanted pistol in his belt. “Does Pratchet have class appropriate rewards?” He asked sarcastically.

Terry kept on rocking in his chair. “Hail and well met Yermum! If your looking for –

“Never mind.” Yermum cut Terry off and headed in Pratchett’s direction. 

University of Console Heroics: Chapter 1

The first day of the semester is the best and worst day to be on the University of Console Studies campus. If it’s your first day it’s awesome because everywhere you look there is something amazing to see. From Combat Studies majors sparing in the quad, to Targeting and Terrain Management students using the campus layout for parkour style relay races.

The first day of the semester was a nightmare for returning students, no parking within blocks of the campus. Every class was over full and professors were in sour moods. The first day of the semester was an out of control circus for under and upperclassmen alike. Which is why Thompson had gotten up three hours before his first class, and walked the half mile from his apartment to campus. He had purchased his course materials the week before and had every intention of sitting under the elder tree in the quad and finishing chapter three of “Coins, Rings, Rupees, and Banana’s: How to turn your OCD into a strength.” He had switched over to Adventure Studies at the end of his third year, infuriating his father, who’s anger had only slightly begun to wain by the end of the summer.

Thompson realized he had lost focus and had no clue what the point of the last page he read. He sighed heavily and closed his book. He took a look around the quad and saw Oscar sparing with a Combat Studies student he did not recognize.

Oscar was by all definitions a hulking brute and had enough physical charisma to pretty much guarantee himself a never ending string of high level mid boss roles once he graduated. But that was then, now he was being dismantled by this unknown student, it was clear that his opponent had gotten under his skin. Oscar tried one last desperation attack which was high and slow, his opponent swept low and took Oscar off his feet. The crowd parted as Oscar fell back, landing with his full weight on an unsuspecting freshman. They both hit the ground hard.

“I won, pay up.” Oscar’s opponent stood over him.

Oscar got to his feet. “Outside interference. The fight’s not over.” He took a step forward.

His opponent smiled. “You just don’t want to admit you lost!” He traveled the inner circle of the crowd, grandstanding. He stopped and face Oscar again. “You can pay me tomorrow.” He spat, then exited the circle, some of the crowd followed him, the rest dispersed.

The freshman he had landed on was back on his feet “Sorry about that.” The freshman apologized.

Oscar spun on the kid. “D’ju say something punk?”

The kid nodded. “I said I was sorry, but now that we have a moment, you wouldn’t happen to know where the R.Y.U building is would you?” He asked.

Oscar’s blood pressure shot through the roof. He came nose to nose with the kid. “You a freshman?”

The kid nodded and Oscar exploded. He grabbed the straps of the kid’s bag and lifted him in the air with both hands. “I HATE FRESHMAN!” Oscar bellowed.

The kid tried without success to pry Oscars huge hands off his bag straps, he hung almost a foot in the air, completely at the mercy of this human brick wall.His free hand reared back ready to destroy the freshman’s face. 

Thompson tapped Rodgers’s elbow. “That’s enough Rodgers, I think he’s learned his lesson.

Rodgers glared at Thompson. “Enough? I haven’t even started yet!” he leveled his rage fueled gaze back on the flinching freshman.

Thompson put his hands in his coat pocket. “I know, I know, but I’m gonna have to be his second once you do start and neither of us want that.” He shrugged his shoulders looking up at Rodgers who did a double take glance back at Thompson.

“Y, you would seriously fight me, for, him?” Rodgers looked back at the freshman who was starting to realize he was living much longer than he had expected to.

Thompson came and stood next to him “Want to find out?” He asked with finality.

Rodgers took one last look at the new kid and then dropped him to the ground. “Best make sure your baby sitter is always around, punk.” Rodgers spat before he stomped off.

The new kid blessed himself and double checked that everything in and on his body was where it was supposed to be. “Oh my god thank you! You just saved my life!” he gleefully shouted.

Thompson shook his head. “Just a few broken bones most likely. You better watch yourself around here. Combat Studies majors tend to anger easy.” He nodded in the direction of Rodgers in the distance.

The new kid nodded. “I’ll keep that in mind.” He flinched all of a sudden as he remembered that Thompson was more than likely the very threat he had mentioned.

Thompson held up his book. “Adventure Studies.” He confirmed. The new kid relaxed again, as he checked the title of the book.

The new kid nodded and then perked up. “You wouldn’t happen to know where the R.Y.U building is?”

Thompson nodded. “Yeah this building here is the Jarvis hall of 2D studies and on the far side of that is the R.Y.U building.

The new kid nodded. “Cool! Thanks.’

“Don’t worry about it…so what are you taking?” Thompson asked.

The new kid checked his class list. “Intro to energy with Roberts.” He read.

Thompson raised an eyebrow. “Cynthia Roberts?”

The new kid double checked his class list. “I guess so, why?”

Thomson smiled. “She’s an old friend. Tell her I said hi.”

The new kid nodded. “And who exactly are you?” He asked

“Dean Thompson.” He replied.

“Johnathan Foster, nice to meet you.” They fist bumped.

“Hey if you’re not busy after your class you should come back by the union and have lunch with me and my friends.” Thomson offered

Foster nodded. “That’d be cool, thanks.” Foster waved as he headed toward his class.

Thompson nodded and then looked at his book. “I should have left the damn school, brilliant move genius.” He kicked at the brick walk way in frustration.

Shades of Justice: Chapter 5

Raptarus had thoroughly beaten the Shades. Each of them was down, winded, bloody, or broken. 

Kelly was on her back, visor cracked, unevenly dashed on a pile of rubble. “Technarius, got any tips for us on this guy?” She groaned.

His voice came through heavy static. “You swim the five hundred yeah?” He asked. 

Kelly rolled over, sliding off the rubble pile and landing painfully on her side. “Yeah why?” She asked.

“Where does your mind go when you swim it?” he asked.

“I don’t know what that means.” Frustration added itself to her anger and pain.

“Are you mentally tracking each moment of the five hundred or does your body take over?” He clarified.

“I guess my body does kind of take over.” She admitted.

“Then do that now. All fo you have to find a way to let your body take over your mind.” 

Kelly sat up as Technarius’ voice faded from her helmet.

“I need Muse.” She demanded.

“Anything specific? He asked.

“Reapers.’ She replied, getting to her feet painfully slow. The drums filled her helmet as Raptarus turned to see her standing.

“Well now, one of you has some soul after all.” He readied his staff.

Kelly materialized a second Black light Saber and engaged Raptarus. As they traded blows, it became clear that Kelly was moving with a speed and grace nearly super human. Raptarus lost ground and found himself on the defensive, retreating step by hard fought step. She pressed forward until he had moved almost twenty feet away from the other three shades.

Raptarus took note of the missing fifth shade. Spinning his staff he locked Kelly up in an awkward block. He Leaned in to a point where she would have been able to feel his breath if it weren’t for her helmet and revealed a nasty grin. “Where’s your little red friend?” He growled.

Gordon’s kick solidly connected with Raptarus’ pelvis from behind. The impact echoed through the rubble. Raptarus dropped to his knees in shock. “Ok, that hurt.” He groaned before crumpling to a ball on the ground and passing out.

Kelly’s sabers powered down and the others limped over to join the pair to stand over the body of their defeated foe. “Bet your glad you practiced all those kicks now.” Kelly laughed.

Gordon shook his head. “I still can’t feel my foot.” He reminded her.

The center of Raptarus’ staff started to glow a bright red, slowly at first but it got faster and brighter.

“Um guys I don’t think we should be standing here.” Warren said as Raptarus’ body began to grow at an insane rate. 

The Shades ran for cover as he regained consciousness and got back to his now gigantic feet. He was easily fifty feet tall and just one of his feet could decimate any one of the buildings left on campus.