Spartan: Endgame

[Swordmaster]

Seventeen​

The rest of the year went by pretty quickly. After my conversation with “Leon”, I felt as if the weight of the world was lifted off my shoulders. I hung out with Jackson and Briana regularly again, and before we knew it, it was time for us to graduate.
In the auditorium on the day of Graduation, I sat next to Briana, as we were, conveniently enough, the only two “W’s” in the graduating class, which consisted of only seventy three. The ceremony went on forever; first, the entire school board made speeches, wishing us luck. Then the Principal made a speech, stating the same exact thing as the rest of the people. After an hour or so of this, there was a memorial to Leon, citing his academic achievements and good nature. I displayed no outward sign of emotion, save for a tightening of the jaw and a clenching of the fists. Taking notice, Briana comforted me by patting my back.
Finally, the diplomas were handed out. Briana and I cheered especially hard when Jackson’s name was called. He made an elaborate bow before theatrically accepting his diploma, causing the entire auditorium to laugh hysterically.
When my name was at last called, another, colder voice said, “Good day,” from above. The whole auditorium collectively looked up and saw Scion floating, his red eyes glowing.
Murmurs about Spartan and Scion broke out across the room. “Silence,” Scion screamed icily. The crowd shut up and listened. “Your so-called hero, Spartan, is present amongst you today. If he values your lives, he will meet me at the football field in fifteen minutes, where this all began.”
On that note, Scion blasted the stage and aisles with heat vision, setting them both aflame. Everyone, save for my father, Briana, Jackson, and me, quickly evacuated. Good for me, I thought as I blew the flames out, with only my confidantes watching. When I was done, I ripped off my graduation gown, under which was my Spartan uniform. Everyone around me gasped. “You carry that with you where ever you go, don’t you?” Jackson asked.
Ignoring Jackson, I told my father and friends, “I have to go and finish this. If I don’t, this whole planet’s doomed. Jackson and Dad nodded, understanding. But Briana was another story. “You could die,” Briana said worriedly. “There’s a good chance,” I said truthfully. I noticed Briana about to cry. “But, in case I do make it out of here…” I bent on me knee and produced a diamond ring, “Briana Walker, will you marry me?”
Dad blinked. Jackson’s jaw dropped. Briana looked shocked, yet pleased at the same time. She said nothing, but merely nodded and smiled as I put the ring on her finger. I got up, and kissed warmly, embracing every last second together. When we separated, I whispered to her, “I’ll never leave you.” With that, I put my mask and shades on, and flew out through the roof.
I dashed out onto the field, where Scion hovered expectantly. I stopped, and mimicked his appearance. As I did so, a flicker of a smile flashed across his face. “I knew you’d come,” he said. “It’s why I didn’t tell the room who you were. I tip my metaphorical hat to you.” Scion nodded curtly. I crossed my arms. “Because of you, my best fried is now six feet under. I couldn’t let that pass,” I remarked coldly. Scion narrowed his eyes. “Leon Allain is a mere pawn in this game. One I used against you. The same as I used Sara Shinlye.”
“That’s all people are to you? Mere pawns?” I asked incredulously. This guy was a sociopath, at best. “Of course,” was the villains reply. “When measured against us, Gods on Earth, that’s all they are. Think of what we could do together. We could rule this world, as kings!” Scion’s eyes shone manically. “I’ve taken the Adventus plan to the next level. Only fools want to manipulate the world. Real men want to rule it!”
“Um, yeah, about that?” I said. “Yeah, that’s not going to work for me. Scion’s expression changed from one of manic hunger to pure anger and hatred. “So that’s the way it is, eh?” he asked. I nodded. “Yeah, that’s exactly the way it is.”
With that, the two of us flew at each other at top speed.
Yin against Yang.
Light against Dark.
Good against Evil.

 

[Snipershot]

awesome. quite touching too. if i was to die tomorrow, thats how id want it, dying for her.

 

[Swordmaster]

Eighteen​

The two of us, Scion and I, collided in mid-air, causing a massive shockwave that shook the trees around us. We grappled in mid-air, neither gaining an advantage. If I punched Scion in the face, he’d punch me back, in the exact same spot as I’d hit him. It was a never-ending cycle of violence.
But a never-ending cycle of violence that I’d stop.
I faked a punch to his stomach with my left hand, and with my right I clocked him in the jaw, sending him flying to the ground with a surprised look on his face. He landed with a loud thud. Without wasting a second, I raced to the ground to continue the fight, but Scion was ahead of me in that regard. He’d recovered from his fall to Earth and was prepared for my next assault, so when I flew to him he grabbed me by the neck and threw me towards the lamp post. I looked at where I was intended to be thrown, grabbed onto the pole and swung around towards Scion, kicking him in to the head, sending him flying to the opposite end of the field.
I allowed him to get up, a momentary courtesy. When he did, we just stared at each other for a long moment, like one of those old Western’s where the two enemy cowboys stare at each other before drawing their handguns. Scion made the first move. He ran towards me, and before I could react he’d tackled me to the ground and started punching my face repeatedly, as he’d done in our last engagement. I felt my glasses break. Scion kindly ripped them off, threw them to the side, and then began to punch me again. Or, rather, he would have, had he not been blown off of me by my super- breath. He flew up thirteen feet into the air, and was brought down by a webline courtesy of me. All the while, I continued blowing, concentrating on making the air as cold as I could. When I stopped, Scion had become an ice sculpture. I breathed a sigh of relief, not bothering to think about how relatively easy the fight was.
I started to fly away, but out of my peripherals I saw Scion’s ice block glowing. A moment later, the ice shattered, and Scion emerged, enraged. He let out an inhuman roar and blasted full powered heat vision at me. I countered with my own. The four respective beams pushed against each other, neither giving in. After minutes of this, both beams seemed to negate each other, and recessed into our eyes, causing them to sting, at least on my half. I assume the same happened to Scion, as my disorientation was not taken advantage of.
We both shook off the nasty aftereffects of that unpleasant attack at the same time. This time, the two of us ran at each other at the same time, and began engaging each other in hand-to-hand combat. Our fighting styles couldn’t have been more different; Scion’s was fluid, graceful, and demonstrated the skills of a Martial Arts master, whereas mine was more of a street fighting style; quick, rough, and unpredictable. I dodged one of his shots to my head and elbowed him in the face as a counter. From that, I twisted and backhanded him. However, my attacks didn’t seem to faze him, though his face was reddening. Scion kicked, I knocked it down; I punched, he caught it with one hand and punched my chest with the other. I doubled over, and before I could recover my breath, Scion calmly walked over to me and kneed me in the head.
I ignored the pain and blasted Scion with heat vision, full force. Scion got sent to the center of the field, and I leaped onto him faster than the Titanic sank. I punched him in the face repeatedly, causing him to bleed. Just returning the favor, you understand. This time, his blood flowed. After the twentieth or so punch, Scion decided he’d had enough. He fired two dense weblines at the bleachers with opposite hands, i.e. He fired a webline at the left bleacher with his right hand, and vice-versa. With a yank, he pulled the two metal creations causing them to fly towards me. I back flipped off of him, far enough to see the bleachers crash into him.
As the dust cleared, Scion was no where to be found, but that wouldn’t fool me. Not this time. I kept my ears open, and heard the slight rumble that told me the Earth was moving. I looked and saw a slight sure in the earth. Before I knew, Scion flew out and grabbed me tightly, hindering my breathing. I was flown high into the air, but soon after I regained enough breath to knee Scion in the crotch, from which he only gasped slightly. “Nice try,” he murmured. “Heh,” I smirked, “I succeeded, fool.” With that, I broke free of the psycho’s grasp and sped away, hoping to get away long enough to recover some of my strength. I looked back, and saw Scion chasing me eagerly, a hungry look in his eyes. We zipped in and out of the alleys in between buildings rapidly. This was meant to try and dizzy him, but it failed. A plan quickly formulated in my head, and I raced headlong for a building. Scion continued to follow me. At the last second, as I was about to collide with the wall, I flew upward, while Scion crashed into the building itself.

 

[Swordmaster]

I flew down and looked in through the hole Scion had made. Employees of the building fled from the room in dread when Scion emerged, growling, from the rubble his damnable body had caused. I fired a webline at his coat, which stuck, and threw him down onto the street below us.
Before he could fly away, I flew towards him and grabbed him, leading him down. We looked each other in the eyes. “I hate you,” Scion sneered. With that, he flipped me around and threw me to the ground, all while hovering mid-air. Before I could try to control my landing via flight, he pushed me even harder to the ground with his heat vision. I landed hard, though I had mentally prepared myself for the pain. It still hurt, though. I got up, ripped my mask off, spit out blood, then put the mask back on. A crowd had formed around me, as if this were a baseball game. “Go! Get outta here!” I yelled, but it was futile. The crowd was here to stay. Scion landed before me a minute later, two children under each of his armpits. The crowd gasped in horror.
With but a merciless grin, he threw the two children like baseballs, one north, the other south. They both flew the air incredibly fast. I looked from North to South, not sure where to go. Sighing deeply, I flew north, so fast that I caused a sonic boom. I caught the first child, a twelve-year old boy, fired a web net, and threw him onto it. “Thanks!” he called. I saluted smartly at him, and then flew towards the other. I caused another sonic boom, and but a second later caught the other child, a six-year old boy. I fired another web net and threw him onto it. He grinned at me, his front two teeth missing. Beneath my mask, I smiled.
I flew back to where Scion was, only to find him holding a bus, which he threw at me. I caught it, all to easily. Wondering why Scion had given me such an easy challenge, I set the bus down.
That’s when I realized his challenge wasn’t so easy; he was aiming heat vision at the fuel tanks! I leapt in front of his rays, absorbing the rays, saving the bus at the cost of my own energy. That’s when I realized why Scion was doing this; to tire me. Sadly, it was working. I was feeling more drained than ever before. I leaned against the bus for support, my body aching. Scion flew and landed next to me. He too leaned against the bus, but he did so mockingly. “Why do you fight, Kyle?” he asked, sounding generally curious. “Love? Peace? Hope? Whatever it is, it’s futile. Surely you realize you can’t beat me, certainly not in this tired, pathetic state you’re in?” I nodded resignedly. He was right…as much as it pained me to admit, Scion couldn’t be beaten. He smiled coldly. “Good boy. At least you now realize I’m better than you. A fact that your Father, your Girlfriend, and your best friend will soon come to realize as well. Oh, I’m going to have fun with them.” He was practically shaking at this point. “Oh yes, much fun, especially with your girl, old what’s her name? Oh, it doesn’t matter,” he concluded. Then he laughed. It was cold, mirthless, and evil.
It was the worst sound I’d ever heard, and it angered me to my core. But with this anger came a newfound energy, one which enabled me to realize a plan to defeat Scion, a plan so simple and so obvious: If I could make Scion cocky, his invincibility would be overloaded, and he could be beaten. And, as much as I despise it, killed.
It was the only way to stop him, I realized. I couldn’t send him to an Arkham Asylum, or put him in a Kryptonite containment cell. He’d escape. He was too dangerous to be kept alive. And as much as I hated it, I knew I had to do it.
I hung my head low, eyes shut, hoping I looked defeated. Scion grabbed me by my collar and flew me up high into the sky, all while whispering, “It’ll all be over soon.” I felt the heat of the sun on my back, and I realized we were close to outer space. I didn’t know how close, so don’t ask, but I know it was pretty damn close. Scion threw me to the ground again, but this time it was harder than before, and from so high up, it would have killed me, had I not been subtly using my flight to slow my fall. When I landed, I hit the ground gently, but discreetly punched the ground hard so it would make a sound similar to that of my body making impact. The crowd around me didn’t see it, so they whispered to each other in dread, “Spartan’s dead!”
I listened, and I heard Scion’s laughter, laced with thoughts of victory. I waited for him to land, and when he did, I waited for him to walk over to me. I waited for the right moment…
“Here is your beloved Spartan!” he bellowed to the crowd that surrounded me, putting his boot on my chest. “DEAD!”

 

[Swordmaster]

“Not yet,” I snarled, snapping my eyes open. Scion’s head jerked from the crowd to me, his eyes widened in horror. “No...” he whispered. I lifted his boot off me hard, causing him to stagger back. He tried to fly away, but flight wouldn’t come. Apparently that too was connected to cockiness. I wouldn’t know. “Wha…?” he wondered out loud. “How?” He looked at me wondrously. “What, your Adventus creators never told you of our one weakness?” “Weakness?” Scion asked incredulously. “Guess not,” I said. “Well then, I won’t either.” With that I lunged for him. “You may be faster than me,” I said, breaking his jaw; “You may be stronger than me,” I continued, punching his gut, causing him to vomit; “Hell, you may even be better looking than me, but I very much doubt that,” I said, head-butting him to ground “But you’re not better than me,” I concluded, grabbing him and breaking his back. I stood over my enemy’s broken body, and leaned down and whispered in his ear, “You know why? It’s because I have things to fight for: my friends, my family. And tomorrow.”
Scion wheezed, and I knew the time had come. I ripped open the shirt on his chest and burned the ‘S’ symbol onto it, causing him to scream in agony. When I was done, I grabbed him and flew slowly toward where he had just thrown me, giving Scion time to appreciate his pain. Summoning all the strength I possessed, I spun around, faster and faster, until I’d gained enough momentum. When I did, I let go and threw Scion in the direction of the sun. He flew there uncontrollably, screaming for what seemed like an eternity. After eternity, the screaming stopped.
I hovered there a moment, before I began laughing in relief. The laughing stopped when my world became black, and I began to fall gracefully towards the Earth.
I never felt myself land.

 

[Swordmaster]

Nineteen​

I awoke in my bed, my whole body numb. I looked around my room, my neck cracking in response. My whole world was blurry. Confused, I sat up. I was still in my Spartan outfit, except my mask was off. I looked at my mirrored closet door, and could only make out a fuzzy outline of myself. Squinting, I saw my face was still bruised and scratched. A little surprised, I looked at my clock’s date. It was July. Specifically, a week after my battle with Scion took place. Closing my eyes and shaking my head, I hoped to clear my world. It didn’t. It was still as blurry as before. Confused, I got up slowly and walked downstairs, taking note of a hole in my ceiling that leaked in a beam of sunlight.
I walked down the stairs to find what looked like an outline of my father reading the day’s newspaper. “Dad?” I whispered hoarsely? Dad looked up hopefully, and practically leaped out of his chair when he saw it was me. “Kyle!” he cried exuberantly. He embraced me tightly. “Ow,” I said, wincing, wondering why this pain was here. Dad looked at me, a look of worry and apprehension on his face. “…Sorry,” he finally said. Still wincing, I took a seat on the couch.
“Are you alright, son?” Dad asked tentatively. I started to nod, but then I shook my head no. “What’s wrong, then?” Dad asked. I closed me eyes. “Well, my body hurts like hell, my good looks gone, and I can’t see five feet in front of me.” Dad’s face darkened, that much I could see. “What’s wrong?” I asked. “Okay, good, you’re sitting. I’m afraid this news may come as a bit of a shock to you…”
What my father told me saddened me greatly.
***
Two weeks later, when I was fully healed, Dad was driving me to Briana’s, where she and Jackson were waiting for me. I was wearing a classic Superman shirt, blue jeans, and a blue jeans jacket. Apparently, they’d visited me every day when I was unconscious, just to make sure I was still alive. A sudden thought hit me. “Hey Dad?” I asked. “Can we stop by the cemetery for a minute?” He looked at me, then nodded his head slowly.
At the cemetery, I walked over to my mother’s tombstone. “Hey, Ma,” I said as I approached. “A lot’s happened since I’ve last been here.”
And so I related my entire tale to her, and when I was done, I walked over to Leon’s, all the way on the other side of the cemetery. There, I related my tale to him to. “And it was all for you,” I said, tearing up. “For you…and your memory.” Wiping my eyes and standing up, I said, “See you around, man,” and walked away.
***
An hour later, I rung Briana’s doorbell. It took her a minute for her and Jackson to open the door. When she did, she practically leaped into my arms, peckering me with kisses. When she was done, I said, “I take it we’re still engaged, then?” She nodded excitedly. I smiled. “Good.” After that, Jackson embraced me, something that shocked me. He wasn’t one to show much signs of outward emotion. “Okay Jackie Boy, don’t go all Brokeback on me now.” He laughed and let go. Briana led me inside, into her room, and sat me down next to her. “So…tell us, what happened after the fight that put you in a coma for a week?”
I sighed. I told them, how after throwing Scion into deep space, I’d fallen unconscious and fallen towards Earth, but I subconsciously flew myself into my house, landing on my bedroom’s floor and causing a giant hole in the roof. Their eyes were wide. “Wow,” Jackson said. “Wow,” Briana said. “Wow indeed,” I agreed. “But that’s not the half of it.” I reached into my jacket pocket and pulled out my glasses. Not my shades, mind, but my actual glasses, and put them on. I took a deep breath and said seriously, “My powers are…gone.”
Briana and Jackson gaped at me. “…WHAT!?” Jackson yelled. Briana stared at me, looking as if she were in another world. I nodded solemnly. “Yeah, it seems that the fight with Scion burned out all my powers. The flight I used to get back to my room was my last ounce of superhuman in me. I’m…human, again.”
The room was quiet as a tomb for a while, before Jackson asked, “Aren’t you sad?” “A little but,” I said. “But not being Spartan gives me more time to spend with Briana. That is,” I continued, looking at her now, “If she’ll still have me, even though Spartan’s gone.” She squinted her eyes at me. “Are you insane?” she yelled. I looked at her in fear. Oh no, I thought. “Of course I’ll still be with you,” she finished. “I fell in love with the man behind the mask. And besides, as we made clear earlier this year, Spartan is you, and you’re him.” She got up and sat on my lap. I smiled down at her.
“You’re right,” I said. My smile dimmed a little. “My only regret is that I can’t help people anymore. Like you said, that’s a part of me. Even though Dad said there’s a five percent chance of me getting my powers back, I’m not holding out hope.” Jackson slapped me across the head. “You idiot! You can still help people, just in different ways. You could become a cop, or a private detective, or a shrink. There are plenty of ways to help people without being a superhero.” Briana nodded in agreement. “You can still be a regular hero, Kyle.”
I considered their words and nodded. “Yeah…you’re right.” I kissed Briana deeply, feeling incredibly content. If this was how the rest of my life would be…it wouldn’t be so bad.

 

[Swordmaster]

Twenty​

Fifteen years later…
***
On Thanksgiving Day, I woke up at around 11:00. It had been a particularly busy week, and I was looking forward to spending the day with my family and friends. I yawned and went for the shower.
When I was done a half-hour later, I went downstairs to the living room/kitchen combo, where Briana was making the turkey. I grabbed her from behind, and she leaped thirty feet in the air, her wedding band glinting in the light. She turned to me, trying to fight the smirk on her face. “Don’t do that!” she giggled, slapping my arm. “Can’t resist, hon,” I said, kissing her. “Ew!” a little voice behind us squeaked. We turned and saw our three year old son, Thomas, pointing at us with a disgusted expression on his face. He was still wearing his Superman pajamas. He was my son in every way; he had red hair, pale skin, and my incredibly badass steel-blue eyes. I turned to Briana. “He’s not ready yet?” I asked her. “Dad’ll be by in an hour, at most.” She looked over my shoulder at our son, smirking. “He’s stubborn,” she said. “Just like his father!” She squeezed my sides, and I laughed. I hugged her. “I love you, you know.” “And I love you.”
***
An hour later, as if on cue, Dad arrived. Briana, Thomas, and I greeted him. His once dark hair had faded to gray, but he was still the man who’d raised me. “Grandpa!” Thomas yelled loudly. “Hey buddy!” Dad said enthusiastically. After spinning him around, Dad asked, “Where’s Elizabeth?” Dad asked, referring to our five month old daughter. “In her crib,” I said. “She’s been napping constantly,” Briana added in. As if on cue, Thomas raced for her room. Dad looked at me slyly. “Kyle was the same way. I remember one time…”
“Oh look, Jackson’s here!” I interrupted loudly. I opened the door and greeted my best friend. Briana hugged him, and Dad shook his hand. “So,” I said, “how’s the writer of the best Spidey run since Lee?” Jackson stroked his beard. “Same as ever,” he said. “You won’t believe how many babes I get writing. This one time…” Briana slapped him before he could finish and shot him a look. “Ah….that’s a story for nights at the bar, eh buddy?” Jackson said, nudging my ribs. It took all of my being to resist laughing, or else I would face the wrath of the wife.
“So, this everyone?” Dad asked. “No,” I said “The Commissioner’s coming.” Despite all that had happened, Sarge/Cap/Commish and I still managed to remain good friends. Amazing, isn’t it? As if on cue, the doorbell rang. I answered, and Commissioner Gary Russel came in. He’d gone gray around the temples, and he’d grown a beard. “Good to see you, Kyle,” he said, shaking my hand. “Sorry about this week, I don’t know why things are so hectic.” I shook my head. “No worries. I’m working on finding out why things are the way they are right now, but so far no luck.”
Commish nodded. “Now, where’s Thomas? He’s been around for three years and I only met him when he was first born. I’m insulted,” he joked. I laughed. “He’s with his sister, who you also have to meet. But a word of advice when you’re around him: don’t call him Thomas, he hates that name. And you know what happens when he gets angry.”
“I don’t see why he should hate his name,” Dad said. “It’s a strong, powerful name, worthy of the people’s recognition.” I turned to Dad, perplexed. “Um…a) He’s only three, and b) You’re just saying that because it’s your name.” Dad flushed. “Pwned,” Jackson muttered. We all looked at him. “Um…I’m gonna go find my godson,” Jackson said, heading towards the nursery. A minute later, he called for me. “Um….Kyle…Bree…you might wanna come in here. Looking at each other nervously, we walked to the nursery, where we saw Thomas lifting up his sister’s crib with one hand as Elizabeth watched from her carrier.

 

[Swordmaster]

Briana and I looked at each other again, breathing a sigh of relief. “Oh, that,” Briana laughed. “Yeah, we’ve known about that for a month.” Jackson looked from Briana to me, shocked. “And you didn’t TELL me?” he yelled. “Didn’t think it needed to be said,” I said, smirking. “He is, after all, my son. And what good looking boy he is,” I added, grabbing him and tickling him. “No!” he giggled. “Stop! Mommy! HELP!”
I looked up at Briana and smiled warmly. She smiled back. She still had that same smile I fell in love with, all those years ago.
***
At 4:00, we were about to sit down for dinner before Commish’s watch-phone rang. “Excuse me,” he said. “Please, start without me, I insist.” “You can use the nursery,” I called after his retreating back. He raised a hand in acknowledgement. Elizabeth slept in her carrier next to Briana, who was trying to get Thomas to eat his greens. “NO!” he said, pouting fiercely. Briana looked stern. “Thomas Leon Wyatt, you eat your broccoli, or Daddy won’t get you that Xbox 1024.” I looked at her, startled. She mouthed, “I’m sorry,” before continuing in her attempts to get Thomas to eat. I shook my head in wonder.
A minute later, Commish came back, looking worried. He went past the dinner table and went straight for the living room. We all looked at him, concerned. He put the T.V. on and switched to channel 5, where we saw the fifth Thanksgiving Day parade that day being attacked by a sixty-foot robot. The Army had called in helicopters and fighter jets, but they didn’t even make a dent in the machine.
I looked from the screen to the dinner table to Commish, who looked at me with sad eyes. After a long minute, I closed my eyes and sighed.
“I can’t ask you to do this, Kyle. Not today.” I smirked and opened my eyes, which had fierceness to them. “You kidding? I’ll be in and out of there in a half-hour. Less, if the army gets out of the way. Watch me on T.V.”
I moved for the door, but Briana stopped me by touching my arm. “I’m sorry,” I said to her. “But I have to go.” She smiled and said, “Oh I know that. Just promise me you’ll be careful.” I turned form the door and looked at her directly in the eyes. “I always am,” I said confidently. We kissed, and she said, “I’ll hold you to it.” She started the timer on her watch. “Half-hour.” With that, I ran out my door and sped away, listening to the conversation at home. “You know, Briana,” Jackson said thoughtfully, “any other woman would have given up on him by now. “Yeah,” she said softly, “but I’m not any other woman.”
***
I sped behind my house, ripping open my suit to reveal an embossed red-on-black Superman ‘S’. A second later, I, Spartan, flew out from the backyard, a streak of black and red.
I charged into battle, as I have done so many times before. And as I will for the rest of my life. It’s my destiny, you see; to fight the never-ending fight, not just for the sake of the world, but for Elizabeth; for Thomas; for Commish; For Jackson; For Dad; For Briana; For Leon...
And For Tomorrow.

 

[Swordmaster]

The End is the Beginning.​

 

[Snipershot]

and it ends....