Day Three

[Retane]

Retane looked down at the water, hunting for his reflection. There was none, as the water was in constant motion. The breeze was cool across his skin as the salty moiture in the air caressed his flesh and stung at his wounds. The Emerald Fiend accepted the bitter sweet pain with a dark and sinister grin. He had been weak. This was the cause for all the damage his had suffered thus far. He glanced back at his comrade who was just watching him. Jack also had his war wounds.

The Emerald Warrior stood up then using the pole-ax to help him get up. Coagulated blood glistened off the blade of his ever physical weapon. The namekian paused as he observed it for a few moments. It was sharp, deadly. It was meant to take the lives of others; Either with a clean cut, or a more ruthless backslash that would tear at flesh, biting through the vital organs of their foe. Or feeling both sides of the weapon, just like Gin and Pepsiman. Pepsiman got away, but he wouldn't be able to survive for long. Only a fool wold leave their chest or back open to the Emerald Fiend of all people. He'd always go for the heart if he could. It was more personal.

The namekian took in a long deep breath. As he tasted the air. It no longer tasted like caramelized beverage. Instead, it tasted like salt and stale blood.

Feed us more! We desire more! The namek recognized the call in his head. Again the Abyss wanted more. It always wanted more.

"What the fuck would you like for me to do about it?" Retane spoke out in an angry tone, calling into the cool dark air. It smelled of rain, but the voices in his head were louder and kept his attention.

Kill your friend. Kill Jack. Kill him before he kills you... The voice in his head was like a smooth whisper, almost promising that it would be ok.

The namekian, however, let out a long low snarl as his lips curled up. Deep down, deep inside his soul, he felt his soul trying to fight at the calls fro the Abyss. He felt the pressure of the orgosynth as it dug deeper into his flesh; The nerves digging trying to latch onto his own nervous system and take control. He was struggling with himself so bad, that he was losing it. He was becoming unstable and he knew it, though he would never admit it. He did find comfort in the gift that Tapion had brought him. The Mohekian had returned a a part of the namekian's soul, and while it was only a part, it was a start. This part had memories and even far greater instincts and expereince. It actually helped protect and shield the Emerald Warrior from the darkness.

It also had the darkness; The desire to hunt out prey and kill. The consciousness to decide who was worthy and who was not. It had that darkness that the God of Death had once been famous for back in the day. Lone itself struggled with things, but deep down there were principals. Many were ment to be broken. But the namekian could never do it. Not break them. Though, he felt he had already broken many. He looked within himself and saw the eyes of Lone. They were understanding, and showed sorrow. He felt it bay at the moon and knew that even Lone was struggling.

"About what?" Jack looked at him curious. The icer had seemed accosted and offended actually, not sure what was going on.

The Emerald Warrior realized he had spoke out loud, and took a deep breath as he looked at his busted ally. 'That's my friend', Jack had yelled as he tried to help Retane. Jack Frost had been there. He had even proclaimed that he had been sent there to protect the namekian, at the Guardian's own guessing. The Icer had proved himself worthy and still had more worth to show. No. He wouldn't kill Jack, nor would Jack kill him. The namekian would not see a repeat of things that had happened in the past. Not this time.

The Emerald Warrior should his head and with a free arm, reached back, wrapping his fingers tightly around the squishy symbiote. The orgosynth tried to hold on, but the namekian wasn't gong to have it. With a strong tug, the small red tentacles released their grip from beneath the namek's green flesh. The namekian didn't need to look back to fell his violet life force seep through the many small opening where the orgosynth had penetrated him. " It's time for you to try this on for size."


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History always has a way of repeating itself and destiny could not be avoided.

The Emerald Warrior looked down at the orgosynth in his hands. He had just removed it from the lifeless corpse of his 'fallen' comrade. The ice wielder was actually prone still, being held up by the angled pole-ax that had skewered his chest. The orgosynth seemed ugly to the namekian now. It's short tentacles squirmed slowly, pulsating almost as if it were happy with what it had done. The namekian let out a low growl as he slowly started to squeeze the red veiny blob , his sharp red nails slowly seeping into the flesh of the orgosynth. The thing screeched in pain, it's tentacles begoing nearly unrecognizable as it recoiled.

The Emerald Fiend's lip curled in anger. This lab experiment thought it was demonic. There was only one true demon in the room right then at that moment, and it was a demon from planet namek, Retane the Exiled. The Malefactor cried out louder as the nails tasted the gooey black substance that came from the small life form. The mercenary let out a long sigh and released it's grip and quietly placed it back to it's original spot. "I'd kill you right here and now if I didn't have any use for you. But Jack's blood will not be the last person's blood you spill on this island.

[i]You spilt it. You could have died,. It could have been your blood. You chose to defend yourself. You were strong enough for the both of you as you really thought. You knew what I was capable of when you handed me to him.[i/] It wasn't the orgosynth that spoke to him, however it was his own subconsciousness eating at him, laying the guilt and blame on the true person responsible for his friend's death, himself. Again the namekian let out another growl. As angry as he was, he was still numb, trying to come to the realization of what had happened.

The Emerald Warrior finally wrapped his arm around the chest and shoulders of his comrade in a something similar to a one armed hug good bye and straightened the body, using his own strength to keep him up. With his free hand and a a hard thrust, the rogue shoved the glaive through, deep enough to grasp it from the back side, and pulled the weapon through. This was more respectful then knock Jack Frost to his back and just yanking the nasty blade from the lifeless corpse. He didn't want to ruin the Guardian's body any more then he had to.

The warrior dropped the glaive and lowered his friend to the ground, placing the ice wielder's hands over the wound. The dark warrior looked at the skin on the face of the fallen Horsemen. It was turning to a pale blue color then and what life was left, had been flushed away. The Emerald Warrior closed his eyes for a moment and let out a low sigh. His hands felt warm and the warmth spread further. The namekian didn't have to look to know what was going on. When it was done, he opened his eyes to see Jack wearing the same Horsemen cloak that represented the Guardian of the Horseman, he had been wearing when he stepped into the barracks. This one was flesh and clean and covered most of his face. The icer would have appreciated it.

Retane stood up then and looked over to the decimated elvish creature and the wicked weapon they had faced, for yet a second time in this event. The warrior glanced back at Jack and again let out a long sigh as he went and picked the hand-held cannon up. It had four missiles ready to fire at a moments notice. The Emerlad Warrior held it for a moment, then gripped at its strap and walked back over to his resting comrade. "You saved us from this thing twice my friend. You killed and earned it. This trophy is yours."

The namek took a slow breath as he lowered the rocket launcher down towards the corpse of his fallen friend.. He let the strap drop and looked down towards the glaive. The weapon was unbiased. It cared not for who it dug it's sharp teeth into, only as long as it did what it was meant to do. The Emerald Fiend nearly felt jaded as he took a long hard look at the pole-arm. It still looked as deadly ever, but now it was caked with his Jack Frost's blood, even the handle.

However, it too had a job to do; If it would take the life of such innocence, then it would be cursed to spill even more blood. He didn't care who it belonged to.

The Emerald Fiend bent down and picked the glaive up. It felt different. It was more violent, more angry then ever. Maybe it was just in his head, but the namekian had to feel that the pole-ax agreed with him and caught sight of a white ball with a red hand print on it and a smiling face in it's palm. "What the fuck are you looking at", The green skinned warrior demanded.

A few moments later of no response, the namekian let out a growl, his numbness giving way to anger just enough to bring his blade down and stab the ball in it's face. The air escaped with a 'woosh' and the warrior raised his arm, watching the deflated peice of material hang onto the sharp object. "Get off", The mercenary growled as he flung the blade upward, freeing it from the punctured ball. The warrior felt a little less tension as he watched the ball lose itself from his blade but felt it grow higher as he watched it land next to the cell phone.

It was Jack's starting item. it was white with a touch screen. Retane had suggested Jack just smash it into someones face, or shove it down their throats if they happened to talk to much and shout, "can you hear me now", back when Frost had showed him. The Guardian had laughed knowing he was making a small joke about Arith and the telepathic link they had shared back in the Tangled Greens. The Emerald Warrior remembered how Jack had been so trusting to the ninja, more courageous then the namek had been. He was distrusting.He had been the scared one at that moment.

A tear welled up and fell from his good eye, as he muttered, "You never were a sidekick. You were my friend..."

The Emerald Fiend paused as the tear hit the ground as there was a flash on the phone. The namek stared at it and watched it flash a few moments later, always flashing at a slow interval. Retane pressed the screen and saw that their was a scheduled 'Video Chat Reminder' on the phone. He followed the instructions and pressed the button. He almost dropped it as he heard the deadman's voice, and saw Jack Frost, unscathed but in a spot they had once been.

"Hey my friend. " Jack seemed solemn and sad. " If you are watching this, then it means I have died, and you got lucky to recover this. I know you are most likely feeling pain deep inside and don't want to admit it, but it's ok. It wasn't your fault. My job was to guard you. If I die here, which is a given that I have, I will be ok with it.

"You don't fear death, nor should I. So I'm not going to. I'm going into this thing hoping to help make a name for yourself and even my own. Not everyone can be as good as you, but as a member of The Horsemen, I hope to make a statement, to impress you and others. I don't want to seem like just a sidekick or anything. I have got to be more useful then that. i just have to."

There was a breif pause as the Guardian looked behind him and took a long deep breath before looking back, "I am scared you know. You are always so confident. So strong. You act as if nothing really scares you. This really isn't my thing, obviously. But to be accepted by you, means I have to get use to it. I've never killed anyone before. I have went toe to toe with the Boogeyman, Pitch Black, but never killed. I'm not sure I know how. I don't even have Savior here to even protect you, but I feel that I can still hep you..."

The Guardian looked away and a whimper came from his lips. When the icer looked back tears had welled up in his eyes. "I just realized that you will be watching this as I have died. I hope it was saving you or a death fit for a Horsemen. I've died before you know, saving my sister. I just hope I don't lose my memories like last time. That has to be my biggest fear."

The picture showed Jack wiping at his eyes, "I feel your pain my friend. I remember not knowing. I can sympathize. It makes you question yourself. But you once told me that you trust your instincts. Trust them now, and fight. Make sure I didn't die for no reason. I really hope I proved myself before I died and really made you proud."

The screen went blank for a moment. The mercenary looked back at his friend and felt another tear swell up in his own eye, but looked back at the phone as Jack showed back up on it, "Do your best in this thing, I know it means a lot to you. You may even be hurting for me, but don't worry about me. I'll be waiting for you at the end of this. Just give them hell. Bring hell to the Abyss and remind them that the Horsemen have come.... I'll meet you at the End... I promise..."

The screen flickered and the Emerald Warrior watched as Jack's teared face, faded from view as the battery died. Retane's second tear finally fell as he stared at the blank screen. He slid the dead phone in his pocket and looked down at the body that was once Jack Frost. He bent down, sadness and anger still trying to take over the numbness within, and grabbed the rocket launcher and flung it on his back. It clanged with even another heavy object that he now carried, and the sound of metal on metal reverberated throughout what was left of the clinic.

"Well, Jack, we made it to the clinic like you wanted. I'm sorry you died here. It was my mistake. I didn't think it was possible for a single use to do that to you. I should have known better, but you are a Prime; A Horsemen. I thought it would have been ok. Perhaps it's use to me and just ate at your innocence. It is my fault you are dead. I can't change that. But, I can remind the Abyss that Jack was here. And I will do that in your honor. So I have to use your trophy. I don't think you would mind...." The namekian paused for a moment and gave a grin remembering a joke from before.

The demon from namek raised his hand up to his face. It was in pain, but was numb to the touch. The dark fiend placed his right hand near his useless eye and laughed for a few seconds before he jabbed his fingers deep within and snatched the non-seeing oval out of it's socket and tossed it to the corpse of his comrade, "A trophy for a trophy. Now you can really play 'Eye Spy'."


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The namekian looked back at the clinic before he left. He thought about blowing the place up but shook his head and walked away. If someone arrived they would look at Jack in his cloak and they would know. They would know that The Horsemen had come.