Dante's Abyss Spectators

[Skeletor]

Well, it seems like everyone’s doing their part to pitch in. came the silky voice in Skeletor’s head. The malefactor almost seemed annoyed at Kuzuru for his help, but Skeletor wasn’t listening to it, his mind swirling with images of battle that were both utterly alien and intimately familiar at the exact same time.

“We’re up against a pair of hard-asses this round.” Kuzuru said, noting that his companion seemed lost in thought, “We’ve got power enough to beat them now, but it’ll take concentration too. Focused anger, not bluster, right?” he asked, though Skeletor only nodded in a distracted sort of way.

He taunts you. The orgosynth muttered in the back of Skeletor’s mind, His words speak of friendship, but you are only a tool for his conquest. Skeletor shrugged.

“A quid pro quo.” He responded. The revelation was nothing new to him. Alliances were formed from mutual benefit, and so long as the demon and Skeletor continued their victories he had no call to question his companion’s intent.

“I… not really?” Kuzuru said, confused by Skeletor’s answer, “Just don’t let them get in your head or nothing.”

“Of course not.” Skeletor snapped. The Orgosynth merely hummed. Skeletor strolled to the nearest data screen, gaze flashing over the list of upcoming matches. Though some matches of the third round had already started, it seemed their match with the Ass-kicker and the Queen of Blades was waiting for a more advantageous viewing period. Syntech wasn’t about to pass up a quarter final match with a poor timeslot.

“Kerrigan…” The warlock muttered, the mists of Darkshire reaching into his mind. To find her here, after that abysmal failure of an assault… Skeletor chuckled to himself.

Was it her fault? the Malefactor asked, that you lost in Darkshire, I mean.

“She certainly didn’t help.” Skeletor spoke irritated, then turned back to Kuzuru, the demon seemed to be watching him with an unusual expression. Skeletor couldn't immediately place it.

Jealous, perhaps? the Malefactor chimed, though Skeletor said nothing in reply.

“I am going to find this Queen of blades. She must account for the embarrassment of Darkshire.” He announced, and then strode off, leaving Kuzuru to watch his retreating form with pensiveness. The demon scratched the back of his head and gave an irritated sigh. So long as they kept winning.

---

Skeletor stormed through the hallway of station 18 with even more confidence than usual. He could feel the power in each footfall, in the stumbling of the reporters he shouldered out of the way as he passed. It was good to be back.

“Mr. ‘Tor! What is your response to allegations that your position in the quarter finals is only…” one of the bolder journalists began, but Skeletor ignored the bothan, spotting his quarry. Sarah stood outside the medical bay with the kind of casual menace that only a humanoid zerg could inspire.

“Kerrigan!” Skeletor shouted, striding forward. The queen glanced up, eyes narrowing as the warlock approached, “It seems you failed to conquer darkshire, even without any walls! So much for being the cornerstone of your army!”

“Skeletor. Last I heard you’d collapsed the tunnel on yourself and your men, without even beating the primes you were trying to kill.” Kerrigan replied evenly, though there was a dangerous gleam in her eye.

She doesn’t take you seriously. the malefactor purred as Skeletor bristled in outrage, Should you allow that insolence? a few cameramen had the foresight to catch the brewing incident on tape, as Skeletor ground his teeth.

“You hairless harpy! I will see your horde pays for this insult, down to the last eggsac!”