The Search for Power

[Strazio Rockwell]

Strazio fell to his knees and slumped next to Nemesis's corpse, his body ached and blood dripped onto the ground. His breathing was labored and he felt weak, after a few seconds of panting he slowly lowered himself to the ground, laying on his back. The gash across his chest wasn't deep, but the darkfire had ripped it open wide. He looked over at the tower and smiled weakly, Dmitri was running over to him with a first aid bag. The sniper leaned down next to him and began to tend to the Prime's wounds.

"I've already radioed back to Darkshire, they're sending a few more recruits."

"What about Cork?" Strazio asked weakly. Dmitri shook his head and Strazio cursed openly. Dammit, if only I was stronger I could have protected him! Strazio clenched his teeth and slammed his fist against the ground. Eventually Dmitri managed to stifle the bleeding, but not before Strazio's cloak and undershirt was ruined. The sniper helped him to his feet and acted as his crutch, leading him back to the tower. Dmitri led Strazio to his cot and helped him lay down. Strazio tried to move, but Dmitri lightly held him down.

"Rest now Strazio, you did the heavy lifting. I'll take care of the rest."

Strazio frowned, but even though he didn't want to admit it he was in no position to disagree. Sleep came quick to the injured prime and he managed to sleep the entire day away, waking up the next afternoon. His body was bruised and stiff and sore, but he was alive. Upstairs he heard a familiar song being played on Dmitri's guitar. Sore, but not immobile Strazio managed to suffer to his feet, fresh guaze was wrapped across his cheat and around his arm. He was so exhausted that Dmitri was able to clean his wounds and refresh the gauze without waking him. Grunting and groaning Strazio managed to climb up the ladder and meet Dmitri. He smiled and listened in silence as Dmitri finished his song. Cork's corpse was gone and the blood was cleaned, Dmitri certainly busted his ass getting things back in order.

"Sorry I wasn't strong enough" the prime apologized after Dmitri finished his song.

"What?"

"I'm weak, I couldn't protect Cork. Hell I barely even beat Nemesis, every fight I've had so far I've won by a very thin margin."

"There was nothing you could do Strazio, Cork knew the risks. Don't beat yourself up over it."

Strazio hung his head low and clenched his fists. "I could have been stronger Dmitri, I could have saved him."

"Listen, Strazio" Dmitri paused to light a smoke and take a drag "you can't protect everyone, and one day you will get beaten. Especially in a place like the Omniverse . You're only weak if you refuse to improve."

Strazio bit the insides of his cheeks and managed to meet Dmitri's soft smile with a smile of his own. The old sniper coughed before taking a deep and long puff.

He continued "Now you've been here for two weeks and I've enjoyed your company. But Dobson is sending several new recruits to take Cork's place and I know you've been getting stir crazy. We're going to have five counting you, that seems a bit cramped you're free to leave and adventure elsewhere."

"Yeah, I know..." Strazio ambled over to the ladder and looked down "I'm going to get stronger Dmitri, next time you see me I'll be tearing the gates off Dracula's castle. Mark my words"

Dmitri chuckled softly and continued playing his guitar as the Prime descended into the heart of the tower. He gathered up his few belongings and held his hand outwards. His cloak and shirt were ruined in the battle so he took a few minutes to construct identical copies from omnilium. And so after two weeks of serving at Dmitri's watchtower the prime left for Darkshire. I need to leave the moors, at least for now. I'm not strong enough to storm any castles and playing watchdog for another two weeks would kill me from boredom. I'll return to Dobson and then I'll leave the moors in search for more power.