Those under my command didn’t even hesitate immediately shooting at the figures who blocked the bolts. The lightsabers hummed and sizzled against the rain drenching everyone.

Every shot was deflected with a few almost hitting some of them. A quick shove had them knocked out of the way, the bolts sailing past them hitting the ground or nearby buildings. No point in ordering them to retreat with us surrounded and the Jedi were not willing to let any of us get away.

Not like any of them could outrun one of them. Fight or flight. With each of them knowing the stories of those who had encountered Jedi running wasn’t an option. So it was a fight to the bitter end. A blade hummed, aimed at someone’s neck from behind, but it stopped, hissing like a horde of angry snakes against my vibrosword.

The Jedi’s blade illuminated their face enough for all to see a look of surprise. It was quickly replaced with a face of intense concentration. The blade lock didn’t last long with the Jedi disengaging before going for another strike that I blocked before countering with a series of cuts and slashes that forced them onto the defensive.

The others not idle in that time got some distance firing away at the Jedi who swiftly closed the distance. The blade humming and hissing from each strike I felt a deep-rooted instinctive fear of the lightsabers around me but it was soon drowned out by the hunter in me singing in my blood.

The Jedi engaged in a duel with me went for a counter strike that was halted when a knee was driven right into his diaphragm before my sword lopped his hand off then speared his throat. The two Jedi behind me about to help their friend cried out in shock and horror.

Pulling out my pistol and firing at one forcing them to deflect while the other engaged me blocking his swings with my sword. Not even giving up on shooting them the Jedi deflects them back at me only to stare wide-eyed when I deflect the rebounded shots with more blaster bolts.

The shots rebounded like a couple of pinballs making it far more difficult for them to predict where they were going. I didn’t plan any of it, just going with the flow improvising on the spot. The other I was dueling one-handed was struggling, each blow of mine sent them skidding back giving up on going on the offensive instead opting to stay defensive.

A thrust from me that they blocked only for my blade to continue pressing into theirs. A blade lock that I used to my advantage forcing their weapon higher up. The man stared into my eyes with fear before my blaster turned in his direction.

“No!” The other cried out but it was too late. The trigger was pulled once, twice, three times. Each shot made the man wince before he fell over dead. The Jedi rushed towards me with my squad down several members before another Jedi raised their hand. An invisible wave hit the remaining survivors slamming them against a wall where they fell unmoving.

“Jango we got Jedi!” I yelled into my comlink sidestepping a thrust that almost took off an ear before taking evasive maneuvers with the remaining Jedi beginning to surround me, cutting off room to move. Backed against the wall four of them held their blades at the ready before thrusting them forward to skewer me.

Jumping over the blades and leaping from the walls I landed on a roof before running further away from them. The Jedi weren’t far behind me as they soon joined me along the rooftops. Our rushed steps intermixed with the pitter-patter of the rain.

“Kriffing bastards are early… head back to the fallback positions other squads are being notified. You’ll have support coming in,” Jango said some other stuff but I was a little occupied avoiding getting cut and flash-fried by the bloodthirsty pacifists hunting me.

One of them leaping up cutting me off blade flowing into a stance akin to what someone would use when wielding a two-handed sword putting as much force as they could into each strike. I met them head on angling my blade to force theirs off course feeling tremors run up my hands and arms noting the others would soon be upon me.

Taking a risk my hand snapped out grabbing one of their wrists as my sword kept their sword in place. A quick brutal squeeze had them grunt when their arm was broken before pushing my sword against them even more.

They grunted and pushed back doing an admirable job. “You're not half bad. A shame about your fall.” I smiled at him as he gave me a quizzical look not understanding what I meant.

He soon realized what it was when my leg kicked the side of his knee snapping it and with a powerful shove, he slid down the side of the building hanging onto the ledge with his sole good hand.

Leaving him behind moving across the buildings, the Jedi was not far behind. Ducking under a blade that nearly took my head and leaping over another before blocking a third one stopping my momentum pushing the Jedi nearly off the edge.

“You will pay for all the lives you have taken in this war.” The young blonde-haired woman said to me calmly yet her eyes showed resentment.

“So you're going to ignore you and your buddies here killing a bunch of people as well along with your entire order leaving many planets to get razed to the ground by the Hutts?” I countered trying to force her away but she managed to angle herself to the side avoiding the fall and going through a rapid exchange of blows.

“We had to if we were to defeat you and your masters. Do not insinuate we are evil like you.” She snarled her strikes getting even faster as she even started hopping around me.

It was like fighting multiple people at once when I had to block from multiple different angles and directions. She was all over the place spinning around my strikes and just avoiding them instead of trying to block me. Another Jedi landed near me rushing blade at the ready to lop my arm off.

Taking my blaster and shooting it at him he deflected them while still charging. One of the shots was at an awkward angle I could take advantage of. Aiming at it and pinging another shot off of it sending the recently fired bolt sailing towards the current headache I was dealing with that was mid-air.

No choice unless she wanted to take a bolt to the head she deflected it in time. Lightsaber out of position my sword aimed for her heart was knocked off course when she tried to block; instead, it pierced one of her lungs as she exhaled eyes wide with blood staining her drenched robes.

She fell from the roof as a few looked down only to deflect several blaster shots. “Do you really think it’s best to mourn one of your own when a life and death fight is happening right now?”

They all had looks of contempt and disdain directed towards me. I gestured to myself with my blade and blaster, “Don’t hate me, you guys decided to enter this conflict without thinking things through. And you're the ones who came to attack me so what happens by this point is on each of your shoulders. Especially when you're going lethal.”

I pointed my blade at each of them for added emphasis. They didn’t even bother trying to speak with me after that. The game of cat and mouse had resumed and I didn’t know who was the cat and the mouse by this point. I guess all of us were both currently.

One of the Jedi mid strike scoffed. “Lethal? We are trying to capture you! You're the one who is killing us and taking innocent civilians hostage.”

His strike was blocked before angling him in front of two others who would have skewered me. “You call trying to cut my arm off at the shoulder or going for my head non-lethal? And the kriff you accusing me of keeping hostages. The civilians are kept in a section of the city where they wouldn’t get caught up in this so long as they don’t try to rebel or fight back they are safe!”

Disengaging a grenade is held in my hand before it’s tossed towards them. The grenade stopped halfway to them losing all momentum before it was held in the air by a robed figure with their hand held out.

A quick shot detonated the grenade with me leaping away from them. “The loss of arms and legs would allow us to contain you! Many sentients can survive losing their limbs. We only tried to go for your head after you proved yourself too dangerous. You're a liar just like your Hutt masters. Those civilians are being kept in the government building.” One of the others argued while they ran along another building parallel to me.

“I’m not lying the civilians are over in that section of the-- What?!”

For a moment the fight between the Jedi and me came to a stop when a blast followed by fire and smoke rose high into the sky knocking me and the Jedi from the rooftop.

Spinning and falling an outstretched sign was grabbed swinging off of it bending and breaking it leaping from various buildings landing into a roll. Rising to my feet I look in the distance not understanding what just happened.

That was the section of the city that we had the civilians in…

Side stepping a lightsaber as it carved into the wall. A high cut for my head gets blocked. A thrust for my gut is dodged. On and on it went with two more Jedi dropping down behind me with several more waiting above.

“You monster!” One snarled his eyes beginning to glow yellow.

“Jurn calm yourself!” One of them tried reasoning with their friend.

“I felt it! All those lives snuffed out… those were the hostages you just killed.” Jurn accused me.

I was drawing a blank confused about who had decided to be the biggest idiot this day and killed all those people. “It wasn’t me and I don’t kill civilians. It might have been my people or… it might have been the one commanding your operation here pulling some kind of stunt.”

“Lies! This ends now.” Jurn growled out. He and the others rushed me.

The Jedi was far faster and stronger. Each blow from him was enough to force me on the back foot but his body was far easier to read. The others were slightly more difficult with their robes helping hide their bodies from view and how calm they were in comparison. They all were upset but they were keeping it together enough not to let their emotions get the better of them.

Vibrosword in hand I fended off multiple strikes even nearly taking out a few of them but the others managed to intercept my counters saving their lives. Entering bullet time when one of them intended to pierce me from behind I stepped out of the way of the strike, angling myself to avoid the other lightsabers intended to trap and kill me.

The sword rose slicing through the man’s arms like a sharp knife into a nice tender steak. The Jedi's arms now separated from his body as he watched in horror his blood sprayed out drenching me and the others near us. I had to fight off the urge to lick it up but the fight given to me helped keep it in check. The Jedi grew bolder and more intense, no longer holding back like they were before.

Jurn himself was always in my face, never once letting up in his ferocity. Before his strikes were wide sweeping blows that covered a good portion of the alley making it hard for me to avoid them while he wouldn’t do it too often since his fellow Jedi were near him and he might hit them.

But now he was swinging with reckless abandon. Enough so his fellow Jedi had to keep their distance unless they wanted to get hit.

“Everyone who has died from this evil war can be laid at your feet-- Hold still!” He screamed out in rage and spit flew from his mouth.

His eyes looked like a blazing fire, staring deep into my soul. Despite the intensity behind them I only smiled smugly just dodging and blocking. “Now why would I do that? Do you need a handicap or something? You're not a very good Jedi.”

He fumed and bristled at my comments, each one of them getting under his skin. He distanced himself from raising his hand as the rain and debris around the street we found ourselves on moved as if pushed by an unseen force.

The water became a rushing tide with the debris made into shrapnel. The telekinetic tide rushed towards me but it soon parted past me after a barrier formed between me and it.

My outstretched hand held the ward steady with fractures formed along it from the force push. But it kept the water, debris, and force push from doing a thing to me instead the building behind me had a crater take form on its side.

“Well, that’s not following the Jedi way.” I scolded him, making him fume.

“Shut up. Shut up. Shut up!” He said it over and over again getting angrier by the second. Just when he was about to use another push my hand came up his eyes widened before a torrent of lightning rushed out towards him.

He barely got his lightsaber up in time to block the lightning as it coiled around his blade wanting to snap out at him but couldn’t. Desperate times call for desperate measures.

I might be able to fend them off but with how many there were and a battle going on around me I can’t afford to hold back any longer. Taunting them to make mistakes and mentally screw with them could only do so much. By this point, I would accept the consequences of everyone seeing what I could really do.

The gathered Jedi gasped in shock at the sight. Not giving Jurn a chance to find a way out of this, a blaster bolt found itself landing right in his face. He lurched back before falling over dead, his blade extinguished.

The various Jedi all looked at me like I was some great evil. I had a good idea of why they would think that. A wave of my hand had several figures take form each overlapping with me taking on my exact appearance, blood included. No one but myself knew who the real me was.

They all brandished the vibrosword rushing into the Jedi hesitant but it gave way to battle instincts as they charged them head-on. The various illusions evaded their strikes with only a few getting hit but they didn’t disperse.

I raised my hand near two of the Jedi who were confused, incapable of telling which one was the real me. One turned about to attack me but a flash of light and the sound of thunder made them miss and instead found my blaster pointed at their temple blowing their head to pieces.

The sound of speeders over the storm above coming towards my location told me that back up had finally arrived. The other Jedi's eyes were closed yet she dodged the blaster bolt before deflecting two more. The force is such bullshit.

Not that it mattered in the end. Empty hand held out she braced herself expecting lightning instead she opened her mouth for a scream that never came when she was flash frozen her body encased inside and out in ice.

The wave of magic rushed down the street turning the ground to ice, turning rain mid-fall into frozen shards, and any Jedi who couldn’t get out of the way of the attack had their blood flash frozen.

Nearly all of them were caught in it with only a few that got out of it alive. The rest looked like ice sculptors carved from their last moments of life fighting off an imaginary enemy. Those still alive shook off the ice that had formed along their robes.

They eyed the various copies of me warily as they all swaggered closer alongside me. “May the force be with you all.” One said solemnly.

“You don’t have to die here. Run away.” I said stopping with all of my copies. My voice reverberated across the street making it difficult to know where it came from.

“No. You have to die here, Sith.” He hissed the word like it was a foul-tasting poison on his tongue.

A bubble of laughter erupted out of me. They looked uneasy but made no move to retreat. “A Sith? Is that what you think I am?” Disbelief laced into every word.

“We may not be capable of feeling what you are doing through the force but that lightning… only Sith could do such a thing. Master Qui-Gon was right. No matter what you must die. For the Republic!” He cried out charging alongside the others who mirrored his battle cry.

They rushed past the various clones shooting, slashing, or punching them but they ignored it rushing past each one. I know they weren’t doing this randomly, they were figuring out which one was the real me by process of elimination. Even if it costs them their lives.

Backing away from the four Jedi and sending another flash freeze their way. The ice formed instantly as the wave neared them and they raised their hands. Like a snowstorm parted before a windshield they held and it passed instead turning the sides of the buildings and street into a solid sheet of ice.

The hum of repulsors had me look up to see five speeders with heavily armed people on them look down at me and the Jedi slack-jawed. “Shoot them!”

My agitated yell at them snapped them out of it before they opened fire. Despite the odds stacked against them in what was a suicide charge the remaining Jedi hadn’t given up on trying to kill me.

A grunt of annoyance was all I gave them when two of them rushed at me. The other two Jedi were preoccupied trying to block the blaster bolts that rained upon them. None of them tried to shoot at the two near me not wanting to risk shooting me by accident.

My vibroblade was held in both hands as we exchanged a series of blows. Both of the Jedi attacked with a ferocity that made everything before seem tame by comparison. Pushing them back or trying anything to get some distance to either use my blaster or magic. Gritting my teeth when one of them managed to blade lock my vibrosword with the other aiming for my hand.

Letting go of my sword it clattered against the ground. Stepping away while evading various strikes that left glowing gouges in the surroundings cutting through everything.

A quick frost spell instead of aiming at them when they brought their hands up again I aimed for the wet ground. It turned into a thick sheet of ice with the two Jedi struggling to maintain their footing on the now slick as snot surface.

That moment of hesitation was all I needed, hand raised towards Jurn’s lightsaber that had managed to survive the carnage this area had borne witness to. It rattled and shook, struggling to rise and come to me as if it was resisting my telekinesis.

Just when one of them got enough balance they lashed out aiming to bisect me at the hips. The hilt finally snapped out of whatever was going on and ignited now in my firm grip. The blades locked and sizzled against one another, the Jedi looking unnerved yet he continued pushing against me, making me slide back along the ice.

That would be his undoing. Instead of falling over unbalanced like he was after his feet nearly fell out from under him instead I was skating along them like an elegant Olympic ice skating champion.

Using the momentum and curving around to the Jedi’s horror. He was outpositioned and off balance. His lightsaber was brought up to block my feint that appeared like it was going to slam down like a two-handed claymore he instead let out one final gasp when a thrust not unlike that of a fencer pierced his heart bringing the thunderous beating to an end.

Despite the beast in me feeling unadulterated joy at getting another kill I felt bad for them. I didn’t want to kill them. But there was no choice in the end. Either I do this and build myself up enough to handle Sidious or let them kill me and let things go to absolute shit in the future.

I’m not sitting back and letting someone kill me no matter how good they are when I can pave the way to a better future.

Glancing past the other Jedi I saw the speeder crews and my men on top of the roofs were handling the other two with the pair being forced further away from me and the remaining Jedi.

The Jedi for their part handled the ice far better than their compatriot. By handle I mean they telekinetically broke the ice apart throwing large sheets of it at me. Another ward followed by flames had the large pieces melted down enough to not outright break my ward.

The Jedi rushed me coming in from the side. Lightsaber activated I met his strike with my own as he tried to overpower me finding me as immovable as a particularly stubborn tree stump. Where his style was about overpowering me I remained evasive and angled his strikes off course. Every time our blades bounced off one another I applied pressure using the tip of the blade nearly getting him each time before and after the strike.

A leap off the wall had me bending back from it using a series of thrusts that forced him on the defensive. He was doing far better than I expected. He was at least moderately better than the other Jedi.

Glancing past him seeing an army of droids turning the street I decided to end this here and now. A quick usage of bullet time slowed him down even further as he tried to go for a desperate move trying to take my hand off when I was mid strike. Angling the blade to block the desperate strike and leverage my blade to land a grazing blow along his arm.

He pulled it back with a grimace on his face that morphed into horror seeing me force his blade out of position. He desperately tried to go for an attack but it was too late. It was fast. So fast that for most people it was a blink and you’d miss it type of moment.

The lightsaber went right through his neck. No resistance of any kind. He didn’t even seem to register the pain when the flesh was instantly flash-vaporized. His head rolled along the ground with a look of sorrow and horror. Not the kind someone had when they were afraid of dying.

It reminded me of the kind I would have when I believed I had failed my… parents. Time returned to its normal flow, his body falling to the ground, his lightsaber extinguished before I grabbed it.

A speeder lowered to the ground near me as I looked up at it, the crew looking unsure of what to say or make of what they just witnessed. Before getting on the speeder the crew urged me to quickly leave worried about the horde of battle droids coming towards us.

Casually raising my hand not even bothering to aim it and firing off a single bolt of lightning that zipped across what had to be several hundred battle droids destroying them in a matter of seconds. Stepping onto the speeder beyond the hum of its anti-grav repulsors, the rain hitting the ground, and the thunder above the crew was speechless.

Just staring slack-jawed at the bodies of the Jedi, the lightsabers I took for myself, then the small army of droids that lay dead in the streets twitching with steam and smoke wafting off the now cooling metal.

“Let’s go,” I ordered them and they snapped out of it, taking me back to our little command center. The comms were busy as orders were dulled out, squads giving status updates, if they needed reinforcements, where enemy positions were, and what they had overrun or if they had been repelled.

This night was only going to get worse I thought to myself.

2025-12-23 15:00:27 +0000 UTC View Post

The Silhouette and The Forge Chapter 54

Despite her talking like she was about to turn this fight around she didn’t. I would give her this-- she put up one hell of a fight. Despite the depleted necronium cuffs around her legs preventing her from speed-blitzing me, she was still swift. Strong as well.

She already proved that when she could knock me back in her first attack at least a meter. If I were to compare her now she would be similar to a Halo Spartan. Even with her magic that enhanced her nullified she was still somehow stronger than your everyday regular human.

Despite knowing she would lose she didn’t give up. Even with a broken hand it didn’t stop her from countering and trying to take me down. It went on for a few more minutes before she was struggling to get back up with her back pressed against the wall.

She grunted stubbornly refusing to give up. I let out a suffering sigh. “Just give up already…”

I slumped when she just glared even harder at me putting even more effort into it. Probably just to spite me. I casually walked up when she was almost back up.

Fist cocked back with the shield held at the ready she brought her arms up far too slow but enough to take the brunt of the damage when the metal disc reverberated across the boat slamming into her braced arms. She looked like she wanted to curse or say something but stifled it under a suppressed groan of pain.

Her back was further pressed into the now thoroughly ruined and dented back wall. Her arms after that looked ruined. She breathed in lungfuls of air covered in sweat, bruises, cuts, and a smidge of blood.

She looked exhausted yet somehow undefeated despite me absolutely bodying her in every way.

She stared at me defiantly. “Never.” That was all she said trying to get back up with a grimace.

I looked over towards the river that was still somewhat turbulent. “Do I keep going?” I questioned Poseidon, genuinely confused about what to do now.

I never got an answer so it could mean just keep going. “Well, I guess it’s about time I finish this. It was fun Wonder Woman but this has long since worn out its welcome.”

She narrowed her eyes. “Oh don’t hold a grudge now this is me helping you.” I tutted at her before a barrage of fists slammed into her chest forcing the air out of her lungs.

She was stunned long enough for me to grab her and toss her across the floor. She rolled to a stop in front of a metal seam in the wall with me calmly walking over adjusting my coat collar and sleeves nonchalantly.

“Lord Poseidon, am I to presume I have punished her enough?” I loudly called out, head turned towards the river. The water seemed to calm down with the frothing waves fading away turning back into the calmer waters the river was supposed to be.

Grabbing a rebellious Amazon who was straining to get up and dragging her closer to the seam. Pushing a button for the escape pod doors to open only for the doors to barely open. Looking around I see the problem. The wall taking its fair share of a muscled Amazonian back seemed to shift the frame enough for the doors not to open properly.

“Tsk tsk tsk,” I wagged my finger in her face, slapping her broken hand away when she tried to grab the offending finger. She gritted her teeth, eyes turning bloodshot from what must have been a lot of pain from the rather powerful smack. “Now you mind your manners in front of your uncle. In fact, let me help you get them under control.”

With a flex, my black trench coat wormed its way off of me as if it was alive and to Wonder Woman’s horror leapt at her. She tried to knock it away only for it to wrap around her arms like a boa constrictor. Restraining one arm with the other not far behind it as she tried to pry it off only to get the other wrapped up as well.

“What… Ugh! What sorcery is this?!” She exclaimed before her arms were firmly wrapped across her chest looking like a black leather straight jacket.

“I don’t know? Maybe technology. Could be magic. Like a tootsie pop with how many licks to get to the center. The world may never know.” I responded flippantly and was completely dismissive of her rolling her eyes at my response.

With her now restrained my fingers dug into the metal like it was clay bending and crumpling the metal when an application of chakra further enhanced my strength. The metal shifted and folded groaning before it opened enough for me to toss her into the long narrow hall further into the boat as she grunted and snarled trying to get the jacket off.

She wheezed, shaking from the pain she must have been in. She got on her legs about to charge me. Or she was until a spartan kick with my boot straight into her face sent her flying back into an open waiting chamber.

“Your chariot awaits you, princess. Some advice for you,” I say as the transparent doors sealed with her slamming her head into the viewport glaring at me. Her snarling visage takes me back to my troll days when playing online games. “If you can’t beat little ol’ me then you and your friends have no chance against the threat that is Darkseid.”

She paused the angry look now gone as she processed what I just told her before pressing a button before she could ask any questions. The bait had been set. Now it was up to her and her friends to follow the trail and realize what was coming. Or remain willfully ignorant of the looming shadow creeping across the cosmos.

I know Darkseid was intended to play a bigger part in Young Justice. I just didn’t know how powerful he is in the grand scheme of things. I never watched much beyond the second season so whatever they did with the series after that is up in the air if they ever brought it back.

The pod with a silent hiss launched out of the boat moving at speeds exceeding most craft that regular people would have. Turning away from her retreating form banging against the escape pod's viewport I calmly walked back to the control room of my deck.

“I am happy to see I managed to please you oh great God of the ocean.” I bowed once more before the water construct that was waiting for me staring down at me imperiously yet curious.

“You have served as my punishment for my niece and have done a magnificent job. Even managed to embarrass her. I am very pleased. Name a reward and so long as it is within my power I will see it done.”

I paused, having not expected this…

“I ask that you give Diana a safe and quick journey where she will quickly find her Atlantean friends,” I said back, making the entity pause.

He looked down at me with a searching look. “Very well. Before I leave, know this,” He leaned in, staring down at me, his beard dripping onto me as I was fully under his shadow. “Do not abuse the trident and show respect towards me and you will be safe from my wrath. Do not and…” He leaned away as tendrils of water formed out of thin air around me snapping and coiling around me..

He did this from near nothing. The moisture in the air and the water levels had not dipped when they were formed so he didn’t take it from the surroundings. Yet the laws of the universe mattered not to the God of the ocean as the tendrils wrapped securely around me. My arms and legs were enveloped and after giving a few tests I could feel that even if I used everything in my arsenal to enhance my strength it wouldn’t be enough to break free.

“I don’t quite know what you are. You are similar to my family and me, yet somehow alien in every way. I can feel that spark within you that we all have. But it’s dulled and subdued.” That was all he said before the water lost cohesion falling apart hitting the deck with a wet splat.

After that the construct fell apart, the water having fully calmed down. Beyond the ruined buildings and destroyed shoreline of the river it was almost like nothing had happened. Besides the looming dark clouds with the crackle of lightning interspersed between them.

With that taken care of I quickly left the area not wanting to stay around longer than necessary. I had exhausted a not-so-insubstantial amount of resources just handling Aquaman and Wonder Woman. Staying around for any other heroes to show up is just asking for trouble.

…

Wearing a suit over my dark skinned guise of Will Hardigan while I idly rubbed the bruises on my body. Stepping out of the car I waved off the attendant who was going to open it for me instead shaking their hand thanking them.

Waving amongst the gathered crowd of people who waved and showed their support for what I was bringing to Metropolis. I was originally intending for this to be used over in Gotham but I said screw it since it would probably get attacked or blown up and it would be best not to put all of my eggs in one basket. Not that Gotham wouldn’t get a factory. It was also a good thing to spread out beyond Gotham.

Especially with me now owning a not-so-insignificant amount of mines and other such resources across the globe. Not as Will Hardigan but as Daniel Cunningham. That was a quick shock to my system when Light and the others brought it to my attention after leaving the capital.

But it was quickly taken care of by taking advantage of the incredibly anonymous way it was left in my ownership by leaving more subtle bread crumbs towards my current alter ego. It was annoying as it was useful giving me a means to explain how I managed to acquire the raw resources needed for future business and uplifting endeavors.

I stared up at the factory which was a big part of my plan. Project Get Nuked in Your Mouth. And I see the man who all but owned this city in his pocket walked up with his eye candy and bodyguard. What drew my gaze first was his bald head. A childish part of me wanted to do a little reenactment of the bald scene from the SpongeBob movie.

I of course had to ignore it despite how tempting it would be. “William, it is a pleasure to finally meet you face to face.” Lex Luthor said, holding his hand out for me to shake.

His grip was surprisingly strong for a normal human guy. He wore a crisp black suit with a white undershirt and a black tie tucked in.

“This is Mercy Graves, my assistant.” He gestured towards Mercy when he noticed me looking at her.

She merely watched me like a hawk. Observant as if she was probing me for weaknesses or signs of treachery. I nodded her way as she did the same.

“A pleasure to meet you both.” We walked along the crowd that had gathered here in front of the newly established Nuka Cola factory.

Despite how most cities would have you go through the needed paperwork and other various trials to do something like this, Metropolis had something else that most don’t think about at first glance. Lex Luthor loved to gatekeep in Metropolis.

It wasn’t anything in your face or overly overt. It was more subtle and most of the more wealthy individuals don’t even know or realize that it was him making things difficult to get established in the city. Now that didn’t mean he kept everyone out.

He controlled so much in this city that it was rather surprising and made me ask why he allowed me in it. A once small up and coming business that quickly turned into a growing company that had outgrown some other already established companies but was under Lex Corp and Wayne Enterprises and a few other companies.

Such was the growth of my company. Enough that you would think the guy would be against me setting up shop. Instead, he rolled out the red carpet. I idly mused when some reporters were being kept back taking pictures. I even noticed the Daily Planet logo with Lois Lane in the distance.

No Superman with her but that is to be expected when he and many members of the League were currently handling the mess that was the capital of the country.

“Well as you both know I am William Hardigan, owner and founder of Solutions Incorporated. You can just call me Will. I am thankful you supported my efforts to get the new branch of my company a place in Metropolis, Mr. Luthor.” I said earnestly, sounding grateful while he chuckled.

“Please just call me Lex. I like to help support those with potential and especially help nurture those with… ambitions.” He said vaguely.

He smiled and waved towards the crowd as he subtly along with Mercy both eyed the bruises on my form. The same bruises that had formed after my fight with Wonder Woman.

Interesting… it would seem Bruce wasn’t the only one clued into the bread crumb trail. It made my respect for the guy grow that he might have an inkling of a trail that he shouldn’t have been aware of.

After all, that trail was meant primarily for Bruce to follow along without most others being able to follow it as he could.

“Respectable. Most people would try to act like a cactus out in the desert, poisoning their surroundings to kill off any competition.”

Luther just chuckled, straightening his tie despite it being just fine. “Sometimes a garden needs to be tended to lest certain plants that seem beneficial are merely weeds in disguise.”

“So what am I then? Beneficial or a weed?” I ask quietly enough for the gathered crowd not to hear us.

“Beneficial of course.” He smoothly replied.

“Has your company thought about going into robotics by any chance? I think you would make quite the splash in that industry.” He made small talk but I didn’t fail to understand what he was saying under the seemingly simple topic.

“Maybe sometime down the road in the future, we could begin to lay the groundwork for a branch dedicated to such things. But for now, my company will continue as it has while branching off into other industries.”

Luthor hummed at the comment giving me a calculating look. “ A shame since your company has made impressive growth in such a short time but I will admit to being interested in your ideas for other industries. Should I be worried you might be looking to outgrow my own?” He gave a small playful smile yet I knew he didn’t view me entirely as a threat. It felt more like he saw an opportunity and a potential asset that had caught his interest.

“You have nothing to worry about Lex, I am perfectly content with where my company currently is. Consider it more like I am looking to help uplift humanity. Though I will admit I am a bit surprised you knew of my interest in robotics. How did you know?”

A complicated series of micro expressions that were nearly impossible to notice if not for my lenses and own enhanced senses when mentioning advancing humanity.

“I always keep an eye on the competition and what they are interested in. Especially when they have much potential to help humanity rise ever higher. I will admit I love your work. Especially when you unveiled those three prototypes.” He gave me a kind and encouraging smile yet it if anything showed his ambition and how he wanted my androids.

If he hadn’t already gotten his hands on some of the pieces from them. He may have ties to the government or enough leverage to get a look at what was left of them. Each of them had built in contingency plans to have most of the more important pieces destroyed when they were defeated.

Not all of the pieces were destroyed since the ones left behind were of little consequence if someone managed to get them. They were more advanced than what was on the market but they were simple things. Like a car's spark plug, or air filter in the sense that they were common things that wouldn’t make any difference if someone managed to snag them. Nothing groundbreaking that someone could use for a doomsday weapon.

I could have had it all destroyed but the issue with that is the means to destroy everything in their bodies. Wonder Woman was hitting far above what she normally used when she battled the first three androids. If that’s what it took to destroy them then imagine how much it would take to properly ensure nothing was left of them.

I’d rather not place bombs or explosives in them when someone could potentially use that to either defeat them or use them as a means to bomb a city when they are fighting some heroes in a highly populated area. So for now I am content with only scraps being left of them when the alternative was using far more powerful means to keep others from getting their hands on them.

“Interesting how you are aware of that. While I appreciate the interest it will be some time before anything much greater is unveiled to the public.” He knows of Will Hardigan’s connection with Silhouette and is aware of what I can do. It would only be common courtesy to let him know that the public may not see them soon but others most certainly will.

“A shame but I do hope others such as myself can get a peek behind the curtain.” He said trying to sound humble but the hidden conversation we were having to anyone not aware of it told me plenty.

I hummed making a show of thinking it over. “Maybe. But that would be sometime in the future when we both know we can trust each other or at the very least won’t backstab one another immediately.”

He raised a solitary brow in my direction at the mention of backstabbing. I shrugged innocently, “In our line of work that type of thing is rather common Lex. You have been at this potentially longer than I have, so you have seen your fair share of it. Consider me being so blunt as a way of brokering some trust.”

Lex tilted his head before a small smile wormed its way across his mouth. “Understandable and rather refreshing. I have dealt with far too many liars in this business and trust doesn’t come easily for people like us.”

The day went on as we met the press answering some questions while enjoying the newly opened factory for the beverage that I intend to take the country by storm. The kicker was that Nuka Cola was as much for me as it was for the rest of the world.

Got tired of tasting the different pop they had and none of them quite hit the spot. So I said screw it and made Nuka Cola an official thing here while enjoying the closest thing I would have to Coke or Pepsi. It was like a weird mixture of the two with a few differences.

An advertisement had been done for the product and hinting at future variations of the drink in the future. Lex and I schmoozed around making connections and meeting everyone who had come out to this.

“And you're sure it doesn’t have radiation in it?” Louis Lane asked me. I sighed in exasperation already having answered this question three times prior.

“Yes. It’s just a name. Like how bomb pops just has the word bomb in its name to make it sound more appealing doesn’t mean it has an actual explosive in the popsicle. My beverage is no different.”

Lex looked amused seeing her blast with several different questions while the other reporters were more mild and within reason with their questions beyond the radiation question.

The day went by at a moderate pace when I would rather be done and over with it already. It wasn’t too slow but not fast enough for my taste. It eventually came to an end when word spread to the gathered reporters of an upcoming press release they would rather be there for than a newly opened soda factory.

Reclining back in my chair in an office that had been bought for use in my company branch here in Metropolis I relaxed in the dark room before my uninvited guest made himself known.

“Why did you do it?” The deep voice of Batman greeted my ears.

I merely spun the chair lazily reclining in it eyes closed humming at him with a playful smile. “I was wondering when you would show up.”

A strong hand grabbed my suit collar, yanking me up and pulling me close. “Enough games. Why do this Silhouette and where is it?”

“Ha!” I merely laughed at him saying the name. “You think I am Silhouette? Pffft please like I am some comic villain. That would be too cliche.” I said jokingly not intimidated in the slightest just having a grand ol’ time with Bruce.

He wasn’t having any of what I was saying and if anything it seemed to anger him even further. “I know your Silhouette. Everything leads back to you.”

A hand raised with Batman letting go of me ready to punch me but stopped when he realized I wasn’t attacking. My hand gestured towards me and the rest of the room. “As they say, all roads lead to Rome. Or in this case, all roads lead to shadows. Case in point.” I looked him up and down.

“What did you do with the trident?” He demanded stalking up to me.

“Why whatever are you talking about Batman? Me and the symbol of Aquaman's rulership over the oceans? How could a simple businessman like myself do anything to a Justice League member, let alone two?” I hammed it up, almost like a comedy actor in a parody movie. A bad one at that.

Something Batman was not too happy to see or hear. He glared and with gritted teeth he responded, “You're going to tell me where it is. And going into custody after what you did to Wonder Woman.”

My smile went from someone having a blast to the kind you wear when a buzzkillington ruins the mood and takes a dump in your cereal bowl.

“Custody? I haven’t done anything.” I shrugged my shoulders with him looking down at my bruises. “I think you're overstepping by doing this, you know?”

“Does Daniel know who you are?” He asked me, completely ignoring how he is breaking the law himself right now.

To be fair he is doing the right thing and I am the bad guy.

My smile developed an edge to it. My posture stiffened as I stood taller and got up in his face. “You leave him out of this. The boy is of no concern to you, especially considering your own relationship with Bruce,” He hid it well but I still noticed the small signs of him reacting to me bringing up his public identity, “And Alfred. I don’t exactly know your exact relationship with them but considering your equipment and how advanced it is Bruce has been hooking you up.”

I smugly smiled in his face, his hands tightening enough that his knuckles popped, even as dulled as it was by the suit. “Daniel is every bit of my concern when you are using your own son.”

I laughed. A sharp bark of laughter that grew before I had both of my hands on my desk turned back to him. “Ha! That was-- ha ha ha-- a good one. Using my son. That’s the first time I heard that.”

I shook my head wiping away a fake tear. “Even if I were using my own flesh and blood, what are you going to do about it? I haven’t broken any laws, you have no proof of anything. Hell, even if you recorded this conversation it would be likely to be dismissed in the court of law since you yourself are a vigilante acting outside of the law.”

My emphasis on breaking the law to him had him tense up but he stayed where he was. “You hurt Wonder Woman.”

“Really? You're not even going to address your doing things illegally… like a criminal.” I said quietly just pressing the milder buttons I could on the man.

Despite it being what I viewed as something mild he took offense to it. His posture stiffened, his jaw tightening.

“I am not a criminal. Not like you.” His cloak draped around him hid his body from view. How the hell does he not fall over stepping on that thing?

“Cute. You're just a few steps away from being just like me.” I said aloud, rolling my eyes at the display. “The problem with you is that you only see black and white. I, on the other hand, see shades of gray.”

“I am nothing like you.” His voice got a little louder, far more firm with the anger simmering beneath the surface.

“You say that like it’s a bad thing…” I picked up a pencil spinning it between my fingers as Batman's eyes narrowed even more. “And I know not what you speak of with whatever happened to Wonder Woman. We all know your guy's line of work comes with plenty of inherent dangers. It would seem the danger finally caught up with her. Thank goodness whoever the villain was that harmed her was decent enough not to go too far.”

“You killed innocent--”

“We both know they weren’t innocent. There is no such thing in Gotham.” My humor-filled voice was swiftly replaced with a stern emotionless tone of voice that for most people would catch them off guard.

But Batman showed no surprise, just his frown deepening even further. It would seem his patience was being tested even more than I expected right now. “They were people and didn’t deserve to die. You did that to them so why would Wonder Woman be any different?”

“Deserve has nothing to do with it. You want a drink?” I asked him as I got out of my chair and walked over towards a counter with a few drinks ranging from alcohol to Nuka Cola and some simple water. “Also Silhouettes’ actions should speak for themselves. They don’t go out of their way to harm civilians and besides what happened during that gang war Silhouette has seemingly done everything in their power to ensure the people were fine.”

I poured myself some Nuka Cola with ice in the glass while sipping away. “Ah, that’s some good stuff. Hard to believe no one else could make it this good until now. Now where was I? Oh yeah! We don’t deserve anything in life Batman. At any moment we could lose everything. Just look at the man who supplies you with your equipment. Bruce didn’t deserve to lose his parents. Did he?”

Batman was like a blank page, I couldn’t read a thing from him. But his sensors built into the suit told me a different story. Outwardly he was angry but the calm kind just before you cut loose. The type of anger that doesn’t blind you but the opposite. You're far more aware than you would have normally been.

But Bruce’s suit told me all that I needed to know. He was indeed angry but he was also now listening to me. More so now than before. “Well? Do you think he deserved to lose them? Did he deserve to have all the wealth he has? Did he deserve to have both good and bad things happen to him? No! It just happens. Life giveth and taketh away. Or God if you believe in such a thing. I know I do.”

“Then you should know better than to do what you have done. You know you're not going to a good place on the other side.” He calmly said it like he was just making a deadpan observation of the weather.

I chuckled as I walked past him towards my desk. “Correct you are. But sacrifices must be made. Something you somewhat understand but don’t fully comprehend what that means. Oh yes, I am likely going to hell for what I have done for the greater good.”

Batman closed the distance between us in an instant, fists slamming into the desk rattling everything on it and even knocking over my half-empty glass of Nuka Cola. “Don’t you dare try and tell me what you unleashed in Gotham was for the greater good! You have sacrificed nothing and used the lives of so many people to build a throne of blood and gold for yourself!”

I merely stared up into the angry white eyes of his cowl before scoffing, shaking my head in mock disappointment. “Several things you seem to have the wrong idea about or just straight up don’t understand. For starters, I almost sacrificed a lot for Gotham's sake. Just as God himself offered up his own son for all of our sakes, so too did I nearly give up my only son.”

“Daniel’s life wasn’t yours to decide. Neither was everyone else’s.” Batman leaned down getting into my personal space looming over me like the black shadow of death itself.

“No. They weren’t. When it came to Daniel I did all that I could to ensure he survived. It was the least I could do for him since I was never a part of his life and the reason he was in Gotham in the first place. The other people… while I still mourn their losses they were necessary sacrifices.”

“Their lives were not for you to choose nor was Daniel’s… to do that to your own son and to compare yourself to God.”

I glanced at the spilled drink lamenting the loss but it can be replaced once this conversation is over. He noticed my gaze then looked like he wanted to strangle me when I was more worried about my Nuka Cola.

“I am merely noting a similarity and countering your point of how I hadn’t put myself or something I cared about at risk. Yet as much as you condemn me you cannot deny my methods worked where as yours… failed.” I looked up from his hands which looked like they were about five seconds away from crushing the wooden table under his grip.

His lower face all but screamed violence yet there was hesitation. Or there was until he broke the silence.

“My methods saved lives and helped Gotham. Yours brought death and ruin.” He growled out.

I just shook my head like I was amused by a particularly slow child. “Of course they did, and look what happened. A shiny new Gotham with the slate wiped clean for the new man to rebuild. Every act of creation is at first an act of destruction.”

“Why?” He moved to get into my face but froze with a grunt escaping him as he slowly inched his suit forward but was slowing down before fully stopping. Like he had become a statue.

Giving him a playful smile wagging a finger in front of his face. “While impressive you managed to have a gel built into this particular suit to dampen trauma and impact it wasn’t a good idea to give it an automated means to activate. Especially when your suit is so easily compromised.”

Batman’s jaw rolled as he ground his teeth. Before he could say anything his suit released as he looked at me now wary. Yet I made no move to harm him. “I could have hurt you. Potentially even done what so many supervillains in Gotham have tried for years to accomplish. I won’t.”

My expression softened towards the man who had spent a not-so-insignificant amount of time trying to help Gotham. “To answer your previous questions after proving how easily I can handle you, I do so because I do not know how much longer I will be alive. Because I saw a city in desperate need of help. Because I wanted to leave something for my son since I could never give him anything before. Because I want peace in our time. I have many reasons for doing what I did, but know this!” I held my finger up like a professor lecturing a college class.

“Not a single reason was for power or to become a petty warlord. Now if you don’t mind I would like to rest and enjoy what little free time I have until I must get back to work. This interview is over you can leave through the ceiling where you came in from. And remember to stay out of trouble little fella’.” Batman’s softened expression hardened back up as he turned away from me, his cape made him look like a dark shadow had come to life.

“You're not getting away with this, Will. Regardless of your reasons you will be brought to justice, especially after what you did to Wonder Woman.” With that, he left the room and the building while leaving a few listening devices behind.

Rolling my eyes and letting out a huff before looking down at the spilled glass and back at the cabinet. “At least I have you all to myself.” In a rare moment, I got to enjoy a small luxury of some good pop while watching Metropolis through my office window.

Got to admit as nice as it is to watch this city filled with hope and sunshine, I miss Gotham's more gothic vibe. It grows on you like a fungus but no one can deny Gotham lacks style.

Taking a sip of my new favorite drink only to pause when something was dropped in me. And it wasn’t just mental or spiritual. Cup dropped from my hands spilling across my desk as I mentally scrambled to take out Batman’s gadgets and anything else observing me.

Stumbling over to the blinds blocking out the window before relinquishing my control over the body, eyes going wide as Heli stared down at me in utter fascination. Raising a hand watching my skin form bubbles like it was boiling water. All across it they formed with my skin shifting like tides on an ocean before it began to melt, falling apart before our eyes.

“What the fuck now…”

…

“Washington D.C. is currently experiencing a never-before-seen tragedy today. A supervillain known as Silhouette had attacked the capital of our country targeting a United Nations gala.”

“The extent of the damage is currently unknown with it currently unknown if any have perished from this tragedy. So far after the anomalous weather and sudden flood only those with injuries have been discovered. The Justice League's help has mitigated any potential deaths...”

“The video you are seeing shows the superhero Wonder Woman being taken in for medical treatment after she engaged Silhouette. No comment from the Justice League on what happened and what they intend to do to right this attack on our country.”

On and on the various news stations with reporters droned on about the newest interesting thing to happen in some time. The last time he could think of something that got his interest was when he bore witness to that conflict all that time ago in what was now known as Mongolia.

Sipping the aged vintage wine while delicately dabbing at his face from the tender steak he had enjoyed. “What do you make of this one?” His quiet yet powerful voice held an intensity which few could match. The kind that came with living through all of humanity’s eras and bearing witness to it all from the very beginning.

“Silhouette shows much potential. My shadows have been keeping an eye on Gotham since his first appearance. Seeing what he has managed to accomplish is most impressive.” The man spoke calmly yet his green eyes couldn’t hide the calculating look he had when he gazed at the image of the black clad figure.

“I must agree with you Ra’s, it is not every day we see someone so brazenly attack a meeting between various governments to steal a powerful magical weapon and artifact. He even managed to get the better of Aquaman and Wonder Woman.” Vandal Savage mused aloud.

“Not something anyone could do. I am curious what he intends to do with the trident.” Ra’s said his curiosity piqued.

“You still have not given me an answer Ra’s. Do we have an accord?” Savage asked his younger compatriot. The man had lived a long time through the usage of his Lazarus pits but nowhere near enough like Savage.

But it was enough for him to view things from his perspective and see the bigger picture that most couldn’t hope to. Whether it was from attachments or being so short-lived they couldn’t see so far ahead into the future like how the two sitting at the table could see the results of choices made far into the past.

Not only that but Ra’s was open-minded enough to hear him out without his ego getting in the way. Ra’s like himself was capable of seeing his goals through to the bitter end regardless of how much death and destruction they created in the process. The ends justified the means after all.

A few hundred or even thousands of lives compared to the entirety of humanity and the rest of the universe. A simple choice if there ever was one. The modern person would be incapable of making such a choice whereas he and Ra’s were more than capable of making such a choice. It’s what made them fit for what must be done.

Ra’s stared into Vandal's eyes, weighing the benefits whilst also thinking of any treachery or downsides that come of this. Eventually, his decision was made. Ra’s slowly nodded towards him, “We have an agreement, Vandal. Your organization the Light has potential.”

Ra’s extended his hand when Vandal returned it. The two shook on it for a brief moment before their third companion made himself known.

“Finally! I didn’t think you two old geezers were going to agree and this would have been a colossal waste of time.” Klarion whined with his anchor meowing at him.

“I know it’s important Teekl! But all that chaos and we had to miss out on it…” He slumped over watching the magical image replay of Silhouettes and Black Mantas plan in action.

“With Klarion and me a part of this Light, who are the other members you have your eyes on?” Ra’s said while side-eyeing the Lord of Chaos.

“Currently the businessman Lex Luthor, and the aquatic terrorist Ocean Master. A potential candidate is the one who has garnered all of our interests and attention as of late.” Vandal said, holding his arms behind his back watching the various screens that showed the devastation brought upon Washington D.C.

Silhouette had made a name for himself but also managed to make many enemies in the process. Many countries would not forget this, especially the United States. Nothing quite like having a mysterious figure embarrass your entire nation within the very place where every decision made for the country was made while they had guests of other powerful nations attending.

Vandal idly wondered if this was also a part of his plan or simply a consequence he had come to accept as the price for what he was after.

“The first makes some sense, the second I am unsure of. As for Silhouette, that is someone I would like to meet. A rather hard man to find if there ever was one.” Ra’s commented watching the waters surge along the river and flood the capital of America.

“If you have ideas for candidates I am willing to hear you out. Especially if you have reservations about Ocean Master.” Vandal said casually while looking towards Klarion who whooped and hollered when according to him Poseidon was the cause of the devastation.

“Black Manta had aided Silhouette and from the looks of things his master is not aware of what he was a part of. He is capable, cunning, and has shown intelligence beyond what a simple mercenary would have. Why not him instead of Ocean Master?”

Vandal hummed before he gave his answer. “We have time to make a decision. I do see your points. Any suggestions you could think of for other candidates?”

Ra’s gave a knowing smile as if he had just the people for the Light.

Batman confronted you +50

Get Lex Luthor's interest +50

Bring Nuka Cola to another world +50

Perks gained: Slime (Overlord - The Series) (200CP) There are many types of slimes and oozes. All of them are uniformly next to impossible to hurt with physical attacks, but are incredibly vulnerable to one type of elemental damage (fire for a regular slime, ice/cold for a lava slime, etc) and also possess a slight weakness to magic in general. You possess the ability to take on a human form that will pass even close inspection, while losing none of the benefits that come with being made up of an amorphous slime-like substance, and possess physical abilities at least twenty times that of a human. Including speed, despite how odd that may seem. You can naturally fit through tight spaces, shape your body into unnatural forms, and can make as many 'feelers' or 'manipulator arms' as you like. In truth you're more like a uniformly colored Shoggoth than you are anything else, except without all the eyes and body parts. Slimes are also powerfully acidic and can inflict grievous acid damage on anything they touch; you naturally possess the ability to determine whether or not your acid will damage the things you are in contact with. All Slimes are naturally good at alchemy and can create alchemical substances and magical potions, if they possess the knowledge of their creation, directly out of their own body. Slimes, due to their nature, are ageless.

2025-12-22 15:24:41 +0000 UTC View Post

When You Give a Man Power Chapter 50

“Move! Everyone to your battle stations!” One of the many squad commanders appointed by Jango to delegate orders yelled out, ordering everyone into position.

I was atop one of many taller buildings with my ion cannon aimed and waiting for the AATs to come rolling through that shield. Several others were atop the various buildings tall enough to give us enough sight over the walls while keeping us out of the thick of it.

“Bet I can get more kills than you Bane,” I said over our voice channel.

I got a snort in reply. “In your dreams Corvo.” He deadpanned.

“Alright well I will be keeping tabs on how many I manage to take down. The man with the most kills gets all the booze he could want for a night. Bet?”

A moment of silence fell over us as I adjusted the scope, giving me a picture-perfect view of the numerous droid drop ships unloading the battle droids as they marched in formations all grouped nice and tight.

The droid's tanks hovered among the hordes of droids. It was an intimidating sight. I couldn't deny that much. An army fearlessly marching towards us with endless numbers. They were like ants completely ignoring the blaster cannons on the walls that had managed to be salvaged after we took the city. There weren’t nearly as many as before but I would take anything by this point.

Clusters of droids were dismantled and tossed aside by the cannon fire, but the droids simply marched on, uncaring. My keen eyes even noticed various Republic forces amidst the ranks of the droids. There were even my old power armor designs made into droids.

The things marched alongside everything else all but drowning the ground from view like a tide of army ants set to invade and destroy all in their path.

Everyone was set up at key choke points along the various gates that led into the city. Speeders that had been scrapped for parts, furniture, or even pieces of metal had been set up at the points to reinforce and make the choke points narrower.

The droids had already passed the shields with many of the various pirates, smugglers, and bounty hunters opening fire across the city. Droids dropped like flies each blaster or ion shot took them down easily yet for as flimsy as these things were it didn’t matter.

They were mass-produced garbage but it was mass-produced garbage that could overwhelm anyone or anything should they not be taken seriously. The red and blue glow of our forces’ shots zipped to and fro across the battlefield as the droids opened fire back. None of their blasters hit anyone yet.

They were like a line of musket men using their numbers to make up for their poor accuracy. Add enough guns and bodies and you would be bound to hit something eventually.

The droids were nigh endless with them just pouring in. The droids themselves as we had anticipated were supposed to be the vanguard with the tanks hovering in their main cannons primed and ready to tear down the gates.

When the tanks passed the shield I opened fire. My shot had long since been lined up with my target. The blue bolt struck true hitting the lower portion near the repulsor lift the tank used for mobility. Even after all this time the Trade Federation hadn’t fixed the weaknesses of their tanks and various forces.

The ion charge sparked blue tongues of electricity that surged wrapping around the tank like burning serpents before it fell barrel-first into the ground, the hum of its power fading away. Various droids around it were shoved down and crushed under it with the others following my lead shooting the tanks down.

Some hit their mark and others whiffed with droids near the tanks sparking before falling over smoking. The surviving tanks turned to open fire on either the gate or the various posts we had set up. Taking my cannon after it cooled down enough and charged up another shot, I took out one of the tanks aiming for a crew on a tower not far from me.

The shot was timed just right when the tank was about to shoot, instead, it spun out of control, the cannon spun and fired its payload right into the side of another tank about to shoot through the gateway. Fire bloomed along the molten metal that acted as shrapnel embedding itself in and tearing down any droids close to the explosion.

I turned towards the crew who let out a collective breath of relief looking in my direction before I spoke into our collective group call. “Next time don’t miss. Every shot counts especially when all of our lives are on the line. Understood?”

They all nodded at me giving looks of respect as their backs turned ramrod straight. They redoubled their efforts making sure not to miss again.

Their shots along with the others who had missed became better but they still missed some shots on occasion. Life or death situation aside they were using unfamiliar weapons that were bigger and heavier than what they were used to.

We managed to keep the tanks at bay for a time with the dismantled ones acting as roadblocks before the rest of the tanks just fired on the remains, destroying them and rushing in all at once. Too many for us to take down, they opened fire on the gates.

The durasteel withstood a few shots as the metal glowed and had scorch marks across it. The barrage continued while we returned fire, the tanks now ignoring us while we poured everything we had to take as many down as we could.

“The gate is coming down and we can't hold them. Everyone tried to take as many tanks down as they could. Even if it’s just one per squad, that's at least a few less tanks we have to fight on the streets!” I roared over the blaster fire into the comms.

The various squads heard me loud and clear doing their best to try and take as many as they could down. The gate didn’t last long before the durasteel doors had been blown open with a gaping molten hole with a horde of battle droids swarming into.

The instant the droids entered through it they were scrapped by several heavy rotary blaster cannons I had modified used by groups who had created fortified walls to hide behind on the streets. The droids were destroyed by the dozens in a matter of seconds yet it wasn’t enough.

Turning my ion cannon and taking out another tank before one of them aimed right for me, the tanks now aiming higher up with the gate being taken care of.

“Oh shit! Everyone get down and get to the fallback points.” I dived off my perch just in time.

A red bolt struck the tower destroying it, sending smoke, fire, and debris raining down below. Tossing my ion cannon with it being too heavy to a nearby rooftop banging against the roof and sliding along it before I landed right after it.

The tanks opened fire on the various positions the squads were perched at but to my relief, they had heeded my words and had immediately left those positions behind. Looking down at my ion cannon seeing it was damaged but it could do one last thing for me.

A few quick tugs of some wires in its internals began to create a loud ear ear-piercing squeal. Picking up the cannon that was beginning to spark and smoke ominously I spun once, twice, three times before tossing it up and over the wall where the tanks had been.

A bright blue glow was followed by a deafening explosion that sounded like thunder. All the cannon fire from the tanks had stopped from that side for a moment. A feral smile was on my face nodding to myself before running when more cannon fire came.

Running and jumping over various rooftops avoiding the artillery from the tanks which was decimating the various tall buildings that gave us a vantage point across the city. The droids themselves couldn’t have been intelligent enough to do that…

My form rushed along like the wind had come to life. A leap to another building, grabbing a pipe to the side swinging off of it changing my angle while maintaining momentum.

With a thud several figures worse for wear raised their blasters only to pause seeing it was me. “Alright, people take up positions! And you four,” I point at four different squads, “If you survive this battle you need to work on your aim.”

They just stared at me wide-eyed, not even arguing or giving me glares. “Get to positions!” I yelled, repeating myself imitating my old boot camp drill sergeant.

They all ran to their positions taking cover near the edges of smaller buildings that would be harder targets for the tanks to hit over the wall. “This is suicide. We can’t win!” One of the grunts said loud enough for everyone to hear.

I paused and appeared right behind him. Hand on his shoulder I pinned him to a nearby wall. “We don’t need to win. We need to buy time. That means you take down as many droids, tanks, and even Jedi as you can. We are fighting to run away.” I jabbed my finger into his chest hard enough to make him wince.

“Do you got that?” I asked him and he just shook his head. “Good.” I turned to look at the others who watched us. “Eyes on the street below. Those blasters aren’t going to hold forever.”

They all followed my orders, all of them watching the streets below as Bossk’s entrenched squads went to town holding and even pushing the droids back several times. The tanks even had to blast the remains of the fallen droids that had clogged the hole multiple times.

Eventually, the droids coming through the now bigger hole managed to land a few shots, winging two and killing one of the makeshift turret gunners. I watched as the ground squads missing one rotary blaster had created a big enough void for the droids to now form up and march through the street gaining ground.

Enough so the various fighters below us had to make a tactical retreat tossing grenades and explosives into the oncoming metal tide. I could hear the hearts of those around me like they were machine guns as they watched on in horror.

“Hold…” I said loud enough for them to hear me.

They gulped. One squeezed his blaster's handle hard enough that his gloves creaked and strained. Another whispered a prayer in a foreign alien language I didn’t understand. They all did as told. No one even made an attempt to pull the trigger too early.

“Hold,” I said it again when the droids marching reached us up here as the machine army marched on. They tensed up some wanting to run and I glared down at those who thought to break formation. A good long hard look was enough to make them hold their position.

Others tensed up but followed their orders. The tension grew, becoming nearly stifling for the people around me. Yet I was unfazed. I had been through worse if not just as bad seemingly hopeless situations.

Yet I survived and beat the odds. This was no different. The droids marched on walking past several small metal objects that stuck out oddly but they didn’t even bother looking at them.

Pulling out a detonator that had a series of buttons on it. A press of one had some of the pulse mines go off with forked tongues of electricity snaking their way up the droid's bodies. They spasmed in place before slumping over or falling to the ground.

What had to have been several hundred battle droids were now taken out with a click of a button. The various criminals all let out a collective sigh of relief before they tensed again when more marching greeted our ears.

More blaster fire followed through the hole, the droids shooting at those who had fallen back to their fallback points before they opened fire again. The droids were once more pushed back and couldn’t get anything through the gaping hole.

That was until the destruction of a nearby turbo laser emplacement on the wall got blown up in the distance with a series of bangs that had me wince.

“Ground forces pull back. The tanks have your position and will be firing on you.” I didn’t know what the tanks were doing but I wasn’t taking any chances.

So far the droids have been the only things coming through the breach. But they have been smart about what they are doing. Smarter than they should have been. They tended to have a single-minded determination that followed simple orders without questioning them or finding alternative methods of achieving them.

But they weren’t doing that here. The ground squads despite not falling under my command did as ordered and fell back shooting into the tide of droids that poured out of the hole once more.

Everyone on the rooftops looked up at the orange streaks coming down. They were like arrows or javelins tossed high into the sky kissing the system's star before streaking down in fire as the missiles landed in the nearby street where they had been positioned.

“Move!” I yelled out moving back while tossing a few people who were in arm's reach away from the stray missiles. Most of them had enough sense to run and leap aside the missiles impacting and destroying the surrounding rooftops. Time around me slowed before I pulled out my DL-44 and fired at several missiles that would have killed several other groups.

Each blaster shot prematurely blew up each missile before they could get too close. The people stared up in horror, their expressions slowly shifting from calm acceptance to confusion before the visible wave of force from the explosion slowly formed, quickly growing in size knocking them back as the fire briefly illuminated the darkness of the city with the clouds above getting thicker and darker.

Fire and smoke made me cough when I breathed it in while looking around surveying the damage. Several buildings had completely collapsed with the few squads on them dead as I saw the occasional limb sticking out of the rubble.

Looking around some were torn to pieces from the explosion, their limbs and body parts charred black falling from the sky or lying near me and others. The survivors got up looking shellshocked before they watched me move forward.

Seeing I was still alive and ready to fight they grabbed their weapons despite the tremors that ran up their hands like a junkie going through withdrawals. I didn’t hold it against them. Before all of this and everything my past lives had gone through, I would be petrified. Not enough to run but enough to know it wouldn’t end well for me.

Looking down into the streets seeing the horde of droids marching down it. I know they were just machines but a part of me acknowledged the fear and dread at seeing an enemy march forward uncaring if they die or not. They walked over or bashed down any defensive barriers that were left standing which weren’t many.

Surveying what I could of the ground and seeing only a few pulse mines had survived the barrage. Taking the detonator before addressing the gathered survivors.

“Get some distance they are going to be firing more missiles and artillery this way. Harass them but do not engage in a prolonged fight with them. Use hit and run tactics and flank whenever you get the chance.” Those near me nodded despite the looks on their faces telling me they would have preferred to be anywhere but here.

The others over the comms acknowledged the orders with various groups running and leaping from roof to roof. Clicking another button, what's left of the mines went off destroying all the droids that marched into the street yet again.

Like last time more missiles came from above any that got close to me and the various squads under my command were swiftly shot out of the sky before they got a chance to get close to anything. Fire and shrapnel rained out of the blackened sky as I leaped from the rooftop.

It all just rushed by me as one moment I was gunning down hordes of droids along the other streets they managed to force their way onto the next I was tossing pulse grenades at some tanks with such accuracy and finesse Koby would be proud.

I was anywhere they needed me while giving orders to those under my command in areas that sorely needed the droids harassed. I was in charge of light assault operations. They needed droids flanked and picked apart? Then we are the ones to go to.

The things were relentless. Even with me clearing smaller streets all on my own with my count already reaching over a thousand more just kept pouring in.

The plan Jango had given everyone was that our task was to slow them down as much as possible while those mechanically inclined worked on my ship getting it fixed and ready to leave the system. I could have helped with that but Jango also knew that I was even more capable of handling the droids and helping delegate his orders while keeping things from unraveling.

Or unraveling not as fast. I couldn’t be everywhere at once despite easily handling hordes of the droids but even I would begin to grow tired doing this for several hours.

The others were doing alright considering what we were up against but they couldn’t keep the tide of rising metal from flooding the streets. Case in point the retreating bounty hunters who fired grenades from my grenade launchers at the swarm of droids.

The first wave of them was destroyed in a wave of flame and shrapnel before a giant form walked through the flame blaster cannon aimed and firing at them.

Before it could hit any of them I took my collapsible bow, took a trick arrow, and let it fly free. The arrow hit the mark in one of its photoreceptors piercing it before a current of electricity ran through its internals. The hulking behemoth twitched and spasmed before it fell over alongside the two behind it about to rain hell upon the guys retreating.

They looked up, each waving at me before running off. The various battle droids opened fire on my position but I was already gone having dropped down to the street appearing in front of them. With a flex of my knees, I weaved through the droids my vibrosword drawn.

The droids fired anywhere and everywhere only shooting where I had been which may as well have been a small eternity since I was last there. In a matter of seconds, I had passed a half mile before jumping to the rooftops again. Didn’t even bother to turn around as the various droids had stopped shooting before they all toppled over and were sliced to pieces.

“Jango, how are things going with my ship? Cause whatever the crews are doing they need to work faster because everyone is getting overwhelmed.” I asked him hoping for some good news.

I know I could survive this. If it came down to it I could fight my way through the droids, get into the wilderness, and hide out there for a long time until they stopped searching and found a ship to get off-world.

But I’m not leaving the others. Not Jango or Bane nor the various criminals that are fighting for their lives. It’s an easy thing to think about leaving people to die, it’s another thing entirely to be presented with the choice and go through with it without any hesitation or guilt over what you are about to do.

“They are getting their Corvo, your droids are being dispatched to help keep the enemy back and reinforcements are on their way,” Jango responded quickly and succinctly. Despite hearing blaster fire in the background he was pretty chill when he was talking to me.

Just as the man had said the familiar sound of rotary weapons winding up before the bright red glare across several streets before it disappeared alongside the various metal steps of the droids marching into the city.

A part of me was ecstatic at the battle before me. The part of me that wanted to cut loose but I restrained it. Not yet. Deep down I knew that time was coming and soon. Despite the battle raging across the streets I knew deep down that even if they managed to get the ship fixed there was no way they were letting us fly out of here.

With the tactics the Republic and Trade Federation have used so far, it’s safe to say they have the planet surrounded from orbit. Anything that isn’t one of their ships isn’t getting in or out.

An explosion had me leaping across several buildings almost gliding like a ghost in the night seeing Bane alongside several others pushing back against the tide of droids.

Taking my blaster pistol and firing several shots each hitting several dozen droids. Bane whirled around with a blaster aimed at me but he paused before giving me a grunt.

“I count one thousand seven hundred and thirty-six droids, Bane. What’s your count?” I give him a smug smile.

He glowered before smiling back. “Your mines and explosives don’t count.” He said back as if he had won the argument yet I didn’t fail to notice he didn’t list off his numbers.

“And yet I still have you beat. Better catch up or you're buying everyone drinks once this is done.” My smile was sickly sweet as Bane's eye twitched in agitation.

But the others around looked between the two of us before one of them nudged his friend. “Free booze?” He asked excitedly. His buddy nodded happily back.

I tried not to laugh when Bane looked ready to punch both of them and those around him were getting excited at the idea of free drinks. “Best of luck to you Bane… don’t go dying on me since I don’t have anyone else that would be as satisfying to beat like you.”

Bane's smile turned a smidge more gentle, almost heartwarming even. He nodded back with a tip of his hat. “Same goes for you, Corvo. Not until I beat you once and for all.”

I quickly left their group behind backing up either my own squads when they faced too much opposition but couldn’t retreat or help any ground squads getting overwhelmed. It was a madhouse set on fire and the fire was just spreading despite everyone’s best efforts to contain it.

Yet a growing excitement that was as much dread was that they had fought nothing but droids this entire time. No flesh and blood troopers or Jedi. That darker part relished in the carnage around me yet another part was concerned about the others. Not just Jango and Bane but the grunts under their command.

Not all of them deserved to die like this. It’s a given they all have done some messed-up things, others more than the rest but even then it was for survival. Some might be monsters but not the majority. A case of one's environment leading them to make some desperate choices and do things most people wouldn’t do but would if placed in their shoes.

It’s something that has stuck with me back in my days being the general of the Minutemen and even before that in my time fighting against the Chinese. Even with the raiders some of them were not half-bad people, just being a raider for some of them was all they knew.

I cared for my people. It’s something I could never let go of. I closed my eyes, clearing my thoughts till it was only that dark part that relished in the conflict that was left. My heart hardened as it always had to be to ensure whatever needed to be done was brought to a conclusion.

Rushing down various buildings occasionally into the streets and alleys tearing through the droids like they were paper mache with my hands the things incapable of doing a thing even if they had me surrounded. Explosions came from each gateway into the major roads for the city lighting up the night sky in the distance across the city.

It would seem the tanks had finally decided to join the party. Weaving through the droids around me, easily destroying them, I lost count after five thousand had been dismantled by my hands.

I didn’t even bother drawing my vibrosword after first using it, realizing it would be best to save it for something far more dangerous and it would be pointless to use it on something that my hands and body could easily handle. That and I’d like to give Bane a chance in the competition since using a blaster for every single one just wasn’t fair for the man.

After all, it’s like I am making a five year old look bad in a shooting contest. It would also make it even more satisfying when I flexed on him that I mostly used my bare hands!

Leaping over a large gap across a bigger alley seeing three tanks moving along the street shooting at the few trying to hold them back. The crew about to use some missile launchers was blasted to pieces when one of the shots landed on them.

Those that were left were about to retreat but stopped when they saw me leap from a building and grab the front tank's cannon before it lurched its repulsors groaning under the newly added strain.

It veered off to the side despite my weight even with the equipment on me shouldn't be enough to make it do this. The tank neared a building I climbed up standing atop the barrel finding my balance maintaining it easily despite the speed and angle the tank was tilting towards.

With a bend in my knees followed by a flex, I landed atop the middle tank's canopy where the hatch was. Ignoring the previous tank and droids screaming in terror as they crashed into the building before it collapsed atop them.

Grenade in hand about to go down the hatch before I paused and leaped up and over the blaster cannon shot that impacted and blew out the back of the tank I was standing on. The tank backed away both side blaster cannons firing trying to hit me after rolling along the ground going into a full-on sprint.

The blasts tore out chunks of the duracrete but not a single one even came close to landing. The tank swerved and veered trying to get a bead on me but it was too late. Palming the grenade and tossing it at the main gun where it landed inside the barrel.

Already down an alley before the blast greeted my ears and back up to the rooftops. In the distance, I could see several of my squads firing down into a distant street trying to support other groups that were getting overwhelmed.

“Everyone fall back to the next position. Corvo and his group will begin the next stage.” Jango gave out his orders with everyone following them.

Everyone was worried and I couldn’t blame them. Even with me having dealt with so many droids it didn’t matter. There was a reason why people grew wary of Zerg rush tactics in RTS games. Why worry about making each unit exceptionally good when you can mass spam a bunch of cheap crappy units that could just overwhelm everything in the game?

The first stage was never intended to beat them or keep them out of the city. We all had unanimously agreed on that. It served the purpose of taking out some of the tanks making the fight further in the city easier.

That and taking out as many droids as we could but that was negligible with just how many they could field and unlike other battles according to Jango and Bane they have even more than they normally would have. Further driving home the point that this was a trap and they wanted us dead. Badly.

“Bossk, Cradossk, is it in place?” Jango asked on the comms line only those put in charge could hear.

“They are in place.” Cradossk hissed over the line chuckling ominously.

“Good. Corvo, begin the next phase while the others fall back.”

“Roger that.” I turned towards the others in the distance.

“Alright listen up and listen good. Our job right now is to slow down the enemy forces as much as possible. Unlike before we believe this time around they won’t just have those dumb as rocks droids marching in here but flesh and blood troopers who have some nasty combat experience when it comes to dealin’ with people like us.”

I prattled on giving my crew a fair warning of what was coming. Let it never be said I wasn’t honest with my troops. Just as I would prefer to know exactly what to expect even if I didn’t like it. It’s why I even bothered telling them in the first place. Well, that and the possibility it would help any who were foolish enough to believe nothing beyond a droid would be coming in.

But those types of people died off before they could make it to the city. No one that naive and foolish could survive up until this point.

“No one gets too entrenched in a fight. Hit’em hard and fast, no theatrics, get in, get out. That simple. Stick to the rooftops and alleys, and above all else stay with your squads.”

The people under my command nodded their heads before fanning out with their assigned groups. The droids marched unimpeded beyond a few traps from some regular explosive mines slowing them down if you could even call it that.

It was like the many droids destroyed didn’t even matter. Just a drop in the bucket. Except this time just as we all had assumed there are Republic troopers mixed into the crowds of battle droids.

They moved sticking to cover while keeping an eye on the tops of the buildings and the alleys. Looks like they knew enough to know what we would do. A snort escaped at the idea that would save them. One particular group was fending off my men so I stepped in to rectify the issue.

“You outer rim scum! You’ve lost just give-- huh?!” The man was yelling while shooting his rifle at my men above, keeping them pinned down, forcing them to retreat since it’s a waste of time trying to get them.

Just when he was about to lob a grenade up top I appeared right in front of him. One moment he was about to toss the grenade the next his head was twisted a hundred and eighty degrees his hand dropped the primed grenade.

Catching it and rushing towards his squad mates who fired in my direction. One was tossed into the four others with the grenade shoved down his throat where you could see the red glow and bulge of it coming from his neck. A rush of air and heat at my back with a lack of heartbeats told me they were dead.

Sidestepping and weaving through a wall of blaster fire taking apart the squad like a surgeon on an operating table. Two fingers into a man’s temple had him go glassy-eyed before slumping over. Another had his head decapitated by a knife-hand strike.

Two of them fired their rifles after a moment of hesitation but it faded away once they realized their comrades were already as good as dead. Rushing towards the two leaping with my body parallel to the ground.

Performing a corkscrew spin avoiding the shots and seamlessly pulling out my pistol shooting six shots total. The two firing abruptly stopped their bodies falling to the ground with the rest behind them slumped over steaming scorch marks either in their heads or where their hearts were.

On and on it went with my men and me doing everything we could rushing around the back lines of our enemies harassing them before leaving as quickly as we arrived. More troopers were becoming intermixed amongst the droids.

Taking care of a side street filled with droids and a handful of troopers with three of my subordinates. “We got’em! At this rate, we will be out of here and enjoying ourselves.” One of them beamed happily already imagining whatever delights he could.

“Save it Andron,” A female Rhodian interjected, giving him some stink eye, “We ain’t out of the thick of it yet.” She looked towards me to back her up.

“She’s not wrong. Wait…” I held a hand out silencing them as I heard something. I don’t know what it was but it was real. “We’re not alone.”

The others frowned, turning serious weapons raised and ready as rain began to fall further darkening the abyss above looking like a god's black tears with lightning and thunder crackling above as if they were demons anticipating a bountiful harvest this night.

The rain and lightning helped hide whatever made the noise as the few scattered droplets quickly turned into a downpour.

The others looked towards me questioning if I had truly heard something. A hand gesture and they followed their orders heads on a swivel. Then a cloaked figure appeared at the end of one of the alleys.

The cloak hid whoever was underneath it but the gathered criminals had seen enough or heard enough to know what they were. Just as I had watched plenty of movies and shows to know what I was looking at.

Then to my group's collective horror, several more figures appeared around us from the rooftops to other alleys flanking us. A collection of blue and green lights illuminated the night with the rain hissing against the azure and emerald beams.

2025-12-16 16:29:26 +0000 UTC View Post

SullenMadMax

SullenMadMax posts

From Steel to Blood

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The Empire Beneath The Empire

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Trial Without a Judge

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Perception is Everything

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The Good Guys Shot First

What Victory Bought Me

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When You Give a Man Power Chapter 53

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