Of Jesters and Orcs 9: Brainiac

[CENTER][u]Of Jesters and Orcs[/u]

Chapter 9: Brainiac

<<<Karaka the Wise>>>[/CENTER]

“Rush, Greater Strength, Unnatural Agility, Keen Eyes…” Karaka just squeezed her hilt of his sword as the magic started rushing through him, empowering him and enhancing his vision, “Rage, Greater Rage, Ceaseless…” Slowly a red film covered his gaze and his blood boiled.

Thoughts of who was with him faded away, thought of the invasion and concern about everyone quickly followed. All that mattered now was battle, the sweet symphony called to him. Without a thought the orc, empowered by the Sage arts and Barbaric rage, immediately started lashing out. His sword leaving great rents that sparked and exploded, anything that remotely looked important was caught in his berserk rage.

If Mopsa could’ve seen him, she would see his eyes were like red hot coals as a roar escaped him. More metal things attacked, and they were destroyed like everything that challenged him.

More and more metal things attacked and were destroyed, but it wasn’t enough! “THESE TOYS ARE NOT ENOUGH!” He wanted, no he needed a challenge! Something to burn away this rage before he lost complete control!

A blast of green light hammered into his blade and heated it red hot.

In an instant the rage cooled, though it hadn’t dissipated entirely. A Berserker’s fury was a worrying, if predictable, thing, but when all that fury and rage is focused, cooled, and methodical… that was truly terrifying. Glaring at the interloper, Karaka bared his teeth as he switched his attention from the toys he’d been smashing to this new one.

This one would be a challenge, he felt it in his bones!

“You aren’t a member of the Justice League.” The voice was dispassionate and cold, he’d heard such voices before.

From sorcerers and wizards who were ruled by cold calculus and ruthless pragmatic logic, they made for some of his more memorable memories concerning enemies he had faced.

“No, just a visitor,” Karaka responded with a grunt, “You’re this… ‘Brainiac’ creature then?”

“Creature?” They asked, “I am no creature, mindless beast.”

“You were created by others, that makes you a creature,” Karaka said, “It seems a shame that the creature bit the hand that feeds, if your creators had a lick of sense they would’ve been rid of you.”

“No, I am a god,” They replied, “And I see everything you are doing. You allies are soon to die and you… shall be stored for further study.” The machine fired a bolt into the distance, earning a flash and a grunt from Nightwing; his ally injured and captured in a crackling electrical cage.

“A God doesn’t need fancy tools like this.” Karaka growled feeling a bit of authentic anger instead of rage building, “A God is Power. If you were a God, then you are a mediocre one on the verge of fading. A pathetic specter desperate for a faintest whiff of true power. Now shut up and fight Metal man.”

“Very well,” They replied, teleporting in front of him and slamming a fist into his chest, sending Karaka flying, a rib in his chest breaking. “It would have been less painful to surrender.”

Karaka scoffed as he got back up. “Perhaps,” He acknowledged before he lashed forward with his sword.

Brainiac caught the blade, ripped it from his grasp, and threw it aside before looking at his hand. Its metal skin sliced down to whatever passed as bones. He flexed his hand for a moment, “Curious. Your blade will be an interesting object of study.”

Karaka scoffed and lashed out with his fists, moving faster than his body could handle but he didn’t stop. Brainiac caught a few of them, but those he didn’t sent him staggering, and Karaka just continued even as his rage was spent and he could feel his body begging for a reprieve from the constant strain of his movements.

The fight came to a momentary stop when Karaka landed a blow on Brainiac's face, damaging his faceplate revealing the mechanical monstrosity he actually was.

“You display unnatural levels of vitality,” it noted, left hand raising, “Please hold still, this will hurt if you do not.” Another green beam lashed out towards him.

Time slowed for a moment as he focused his power, letting him get out of the way at the very last moment and retrieve his blade; which flashed out to deflect and block more attacks.

“Irritating,” It said, “You are using magic, correct?” Brainiac’s head tilted, “Your other companion is soon to be captured herself. If you stop fighting now, you may be kept near her.”

Karaka’s cheek twitched faintly, “Chatty little metal thing…” He muttered as a foolish plan started forming in his head.

Chances that it could kill him and everyone onboard? Nearly a hundred. But if it actually did work, when he died he’d have THE ultimate bragging rights over his Master. He really wished he would have talked to Red Tornado before he even attempted this foolish plan, cutting space was hideously dangerous, never mind complex, but sometimes that was just how the dice fell.

It froze for a moment, turning its head minutely before the wall exploded in a shower of sparks. Brainiac tried to react, but Superman was too fast; almost too fast for Karaka to even see that it was him.

The machine slammed into the far wall, a shield flickering around it and saving that body, before it retaliated: beams of energy lashed out to crash into the space Superman had been floating. The ship rocked from internal explosions elsewhere.

Karaka tried to watch the fight but couldn’t as it was at that moment his body finally gave out, his sword falling from his limp and numb hands. He fell on his knees and it was only through pure bullheaded stubbornness that he only groaned instead of scream as his body felt like he’d been ripped apart.

There was still that glowing power inside him that Mopsa had given him, writhing and burning. The power of a Champion.

Glancing over and seeing Superman and Brainiac still fighting, he had to make a choice… should he just let Superman handle the delusional machine or should he use this power to hopefully finish this machine with a god complex?

The machine landed nearby him and raised its undamaged left hand towards Nightwing. “You are faster than me,” It acknowledged, “But you can not save the boy and yourself at the same time. Surrender and you will both survive.”

“Well, looks like that took the choice out of my hands…” Karaka thought.

Not sure if he could grab his sword quickly enough, Karaka instead focused on that power. And the power reacted, it didn’t heal his aches but it did energize him. What’s more is the power also latched onto Brainiac and in that instant Karaka pushed everything he had left, even triggering his reserve spells when he was down but not out.

For an instant, he imagined, he was moving like the Flash. Grabbing his sword and knowing he didn’t have enough time for a proper overhead swing he pushed forward. Forcing enough raw heat and energy into his blade to slice through the floor itself.

Effectively giving the machine what would’ve been an uppercut, only slicing his from crotch to crown; the metal parting like it was butter.

And when the attack was complete Karaka fell back, panting like a bellow with sweat pouring from him. He didn’t even move as the machine’s halves crashed, or when Superman flew to check on Nightwing and then himself.

He just focused on his breathing, and assessing just how much damage he’d done to himself in his bullheaded foolishness.

Flash arrived a moment later, “I’m late again!?” He asked, “Come on, I wasn’t that busy, I was only getting Bats off the station and away from the explosions he triggered, destroying every android on the way.” He paused for a moment, “Come to think of it, I was pretty busy.”

“I… need a healer…” Karaka rasped, turning his head and spitting a glob of blood to the side.

“Say please,” A cheeky and familiar voice asked, the elf skipping up next to him, her hands glowing with white healing light.

“Please, oh wise and beautiful Dame Mopsa heal this foolish orc!” He croaked, with a chuckle that was aborted as his ribs violently protested.

“Mm, ok!” She grinned wide and slapped him on the back, rejuvenating magic pouring through him and, painlessly, moving broken bones back into position and healing him to… mostly be back where he was before they’d boarded the vessel. He was still going to bruise, but that was better than the alternative. “There, that’ll let you keep going until we can get some proper rest.”

She didn’t look much better than he felt either, one of her eyes bloodshot and her breathing strained.

“Right, now that the lovebirds have reunited,” Flash started, earning a giggle from Mopsa, “And I love that you’re a generous audience, but we really should get off before the rest of the ship explodes.”

Almost in time with his words, the ship started listing.

“Or crashes, I guess Diana is done, you still have enough in you for a teleport Mopsa?” He asked, “Because Superman and I carrying you would not go well, Bats stole a jet and I can’t fly that, Nightwing could but he’s… asleep right now.”

Unconscious, asleep, same thing really.

“Lovebirds…” Karaka muttered to himself as he got up and picked his sword up.

“Yep, I got one last teleport in me,” She agreed, “I sent Batgirl down on the way here, so this is the last. Don’t have the materials prepared for another, so give me a location. Batcave work?”

Flash nodded and, with a gesture and chant, they left the falling deathtrap… excepting Superman, which seemed to surprise Mopsa. “Huh, guess he didn’t want to come. Probably making sure the ship doesn’t kill anyone when it lands.”

Flash nodded. “He does that, Diana is doing the same. Get some rest, we’ll handle the cleanup,” He said, “On behalf of the League, thanks for the assistance.” And then he vanished in a burst of wind.

“So…” Mopsa started, sauntering over to a chair, “I didn’t hear you deny the lovebird comment…”

“I didn’t really know how to respond,” Karaka admitted as he went over to sit as well, “Any orc would be lucky to have a lovely maiden’s attention like you. But well… magic aside, I already have one foot in the grave…” He added with a shrug.

“True,” She agreed, “And I can only do so much. You sure you want to stay an orc? Even becoming a human would give you a few more decades.”

“No, and truthfully… on a plane like this? The answer to my age-related problems could be somewhere in this world,” Karaka said, “It would be a good adventure, and if nothing comes of it… well sometimes the adventure itself is worth more than the prize.”

“Mm, I can understand that,” She replied, leaning back in her stolen seat, “Can you bring Nightwing over so I can wake him up?”

Karaka shrugged before getting up and retrieving Nightwing, who had begun snoring much to his amusement. Picking the human up and putting him over his shoulder he walked back and sat the human in his seat, keeping a hand on his shoulder to keep him upright.

“... Please make sure he doesn’t punch me,” She requested before chanting and gesticulating, looking slightly silly doing it, before pressing a glowing hand to the man’s chest. He woke up instantly and, indeed, tried to punch Mopsa before he realized who it was.

“Hardly the right way to treat a friend!” She announced with a wide grin before standing up, “Come on, I think we could all use lunch! I have bread, wine, cheese, and fruits! And plenty of jerky.”

“You had me at lunch,” Karaka said with a chuckle, “Feels like my guts are about to eat my backbone, it always happens when I push my magic.”

“Yep yep,” She replied, Nightwing still looking a touch dazed but otherwise seeming to be fine with the current course of events as she started laying out a spread of food on the nearest flat surface.

To her credit, she did also put a tablecloth down first… it didn’t help much with where she was putting it all, but she did that much.

Karaka didn’t think Batman would approve of them eating off his large machine.

“It’s the thought that counts, Mopsa., Karaka said eventually.

“Bah, there’s enough here for Bats when he comes back. And Flash, and Superman, and Diana-is Diana Wonder Woman?” She asked for clarification, Nightwing nodding, “And Diana! Needed to go on a food run soon anyway, get a little more variety in my diet. Grapes are wonderful, no doubt about it, but sometimes a girl just wants some mangoes.”

Nightwing just looked at the spread, and all that was available, “Variety, huh?” He asked dryly.

Karaka just shrugged as he helped himself to some grapes, tossing them into his mouth as he listened clearly amused.

“You travel for three months with just this selection of foods and tell me it’s enough variety after,” She replied dismissively, “Trust me, it gets old real fast. I’m just glad I managed to acquire some discounted pineapples after saving a town that cultivated them.”

Karaka just nodded, he had encountered a similar issue when he traveled. And while he was willing to eat damn near anything, eventually travel rations and jerky just lost their appeal. Variety was the spice of life after all.

“Fair enough, I give!” Nightwing said as he held his hands up, “I wasn’t disagreeing, but for anyone else this is quite a spread.”

Karaka decided to try out some of the cheeses and breads, he actually wasn’t sure he recognized some of them! 

“Well, when you’re a nearly one hundred and forty year old woman that’s fought on the front lines in a war against demons… you pick things up. I made a good amount of these cheeses and breads myself, keeps costs low.” Mopsa paused for a moment before admitting, “Mostly because magic gets expensive sometimes. I have three books worth forty-thousand gold pieces each, multiple ten-thousand gold diamonds, and more magical components than you can shake a stick at!”

“Mmm, maybe I should try my hand at smoking meat again…” Karaka thought absentmindedly as he chewed on a bit of cheese.

Last time he tried he nearly burnt down a hut he’d been living in at the time. Maybe he should’ve sought lessons instead of seeing someone do it and decide he could do it too.

Though in his defense he was rather drunk at the time…

“And, of course, wine gets pricey too,” She further admitted, pouring out a glass for each of them, “But it’s a vice I’ve not seen anyone complain about me having…”

The golden fluid sizzled and bubbled gently, a fruity aroma filling the air.

“Maybe brewing as well? Gods, I’m getting old… I’m thinking about hobbies. All I used to think about was adventures and training…” Karaka thought with a snort of amusement.

“This one is one of my favorites, traditionally drunk as part of celebrations and I think fighting a malevolent alien army counts!” She continued, toasting her glass, “To new friends and allies!” And then downed a gulp of it before giving a strong burp.

“Hear, hear!” Karaka seconded with a chuckle, “It takes a special sort of arrogance to believe that you are a God. Insulting really,” He added with a scoff.

To think a metal man could just claim Godhood like it was just a title, while he didn’t follow any one God he showed respect when he could and never disrespected them on purpose. A slight by accident could be forgiven, but a conscious act of mockery?

To quote a dwarf, ‘That’s a Smitin’.

If he wanted to meet his ancestors, he’d sooner throw himself in a volcano. At least the heat would kill him quickly. Gods, especially when they’re vengeful, are capable of a level of spite it would make heads spin!

“Mm, I’ve considered going on a quest for godhood myself,” Mopsa admitted whimsically, “I’m not sure what I’d be a god of though, perhaps children and comedy?”

“Chaos and Mischief,” Karaka said.

“He already exists, I worship him,” She countered.

“God's can share domains,” Karaka retorted, “Perhaps children and beauty then? Or family.”

“Flatterer,” She replied with a grin, “I suppose I shall discover it when, if, I ever decide to pursue that path. That said, what of your plans for the future? Either of you?”

“For me? Well… I would like to retire from this life and get myself a girlfriend,” Nightwing said with a shrug, “After that? Who knows.”

Karaka nodded, that was a rather respectable goal in his opinion, “I would like to see more of the plane, who knows, maybe even find a solution to my aging problem.” He said, “And after I found that solution? Eh… not sure really, I’ve always been more of a ‘day by day’ sort of orc.”

Mopsa nodded and they descended into a companionable sort of silence and conversation, Mopsa seeming to notice something and grinning for a moment, even winking, but Karaka didn’t see anything at all when he looked.

It was probably just her familiar, now that he thought of it.

[hr][/hr][hr][/hr]