Post by The Circle Television Network on Nov 15, 2016 16:36:05 GMT -5
Chapter XIII: Blessed Child of Ages (The Enemy of My Enemy)
High Above…
Empire City
It had been only a few hours since the battle for the capitol that saw Gaia and her army defeated at the hands of the almighty protector, Superius…with an assist from a lowly ECPD Detective. All of Empire City was abuzz over the return of the conquering hero…Marcus Superius Regulas…the "Defender of Empire City" and Rome's greatest general!
Everyone knew his history…
Born the son of a military commander in the city of Rome, Marcus Superius Regulas was destined to be a soldier from day one. Entering the Roman Legion at the tender age of 16, Superius was already a skilled swordsman. His abilities were soon fine-tuned and he became a force to be reckoned with on the battlefield.
As the young Superius progressed, the Roman Empire did too, the Legions winning many battles with his presence at the front line. It didn't take long before he came to occupy the position of General.
Said to have encountered the Demi-God; Hercules himself during the Empire's push into Russia during the late third century, the legend surrounding Superius claimed he received the blessing of Hercules, and more specifically was imbued with the god's superhuman powers because of his courage and warrior prowess.
From that day forward, Superius led the Roman Legions into incredibly lopsided victories that expanded the Empire's borders into the continents of Asia and Africa. Superius himself became revered as a god because of his mysterious longevity. But with the city secure, Superius disappeared, his memory passing into legend…[/i]
Anka mused on all of this as she flew over the city, doing what she could to clear her mind after her run in with the so-called…heroic Demi-God.
Only children and idiots believed such nonsense! Superius wasn’t a God and he wasn’t some benevolent protector of the people! Superius wasn’t someone to be celebrated…he was just another man…a man with far too much blood on his hands…the blood of her people…those who did not believe in their pantheon of Gods and Goddesses. It was almost funny how the history books recounted his man’s victories against the ‘heathen peoples’ of the time, with no real acknowledgement that these so-called ‘heathen peoples’ were slaughtered for the expansion of Rome because they did not believe in the same things…their lives did not have the same value.
Superius wasn’t a hero…he was a goddamn murderer and before it was all said and done, she would have her revenge on him!
Before long, Anka had found herself right back at Gateway Park, circling high over the massive statute of Superius…Empire City’s great monument to history’s greatest villain. She drifted down, settling on the Loeb office building adjacent to the park. Even in the growing darkness, this place gave her an excellent view into the stony face of the most celebrated mass murderer in the history of the world.
Folding her wings behind her, she approached the edge of the roof. From here, the tall statue of Superius was clearly visible, as were the police barricades placed around it as an afterthought following the events that had taken place there. Already it had become a shrine to the man with hundreds of people passing by, leaving flowers and tokens of appreciation and worship. Spotlights shone up onto the statue, illuminating it for the night, giving it the appearance of a child holding a flashlight under his chin. The creators of the statue had chiseled his features in such a way that they should be strong, noble, and courageous, ever looking towards the rising sun. In the spotlights, Anka thought that they looked mocking and leering. It was fitting. If only these people knew just what kind of man it was that they adored so much that they would create a symbol of him…if they knew a fifth of the truth…they would tear the statue apart with their bare hands…
Or would they?
There was always faith to consider. People were so quick to place their faith in anything that they took to be a higher power, whether it be the superhumans of the city, Superius…or the One God. No matter what misdeeds their objects of faith had performed, rarely would the devout tolerate slander of the worshipped…or the REAL truth behind their so-called heroics.
The faithful were blinded to the reality that their idols were as fallible and no more worthy of worship than themselves. Fools…one and all…
Gateway Park
Empire City
Spike Staggs was a lost soul following the abduction of Michelle Andretti. His visions had led him to Gateway Park…and to the angel. He had believed that she was the key to finding Michelle. His visions had never failed him before…until that night. He aided the winged woman…the so-called ‘Angel of Empire City’ in rescuing the police detective and fighting off her attackers. He had even given her the ring from his visions…the ring that had healed him and Michelle after they were attacked by Gaia. The angel had won her battle, but in the end, there had been no clue to what had happened to Michelle…and worst of all, there had been no more visions. He hadn’t eaten or slept in days, all he had done was try to find something…anything that would lead him back to the path of the Shadow Thing that had taken Michelle.
He had spent so much time with his head down that he never thought to look up…but once he did, he caught a glimpse of beating wings in the night sky, “…the angel…” he whispered as he saw her descend to a rooftop in the distance. This was the break he was hoping for. This was his chance to see where she was connected to Michelle’s disappearance.
He pulled his hoodie over his head and made his way through the crowd of Superius worshipers who now littered the park like ants at a picnic. While the Demi-God’s return was timely and wondrous…Spike only sought to commune with an angel, one that he hoped would set him back on the path to saving Michelle…
Loeb Building
Gateway Central, Empire City
Anka had been lost in thoughts from ages long past. Her family cut down in front of her…being raped and tortured by the same murdering dogs…dogs that served the Empire…dogs that followed the orders of General Marcus Superius Regulas! No, the great General had not been there on that day, but that made him no less guilty. In her pursuit of him, she had seen the desolation that had been left in his wake as he pacified the savage lands for the glory of Rome. It was a fiction that she would never accept...
“How lucky am I to find myself in the presence of not one, but two gods!”
Anka whirled around just as a figure cloaked in shadow descended to the rooftop, her hands up. Anka watched as the woman who was now labeled as ‘Empire City’s Most Wanted’ approached…the woman she had helped escape the ‘justice’ that Superius had in store for her. Anka turned away, almost dismissively, “Gaia…” casting her gaze back to the statue in the center of the park.
Gaia walked to the edge of the rooftop giving the winged woman a brief, polite smile before turning her gaze towards the statue of Superius. “So it seems, the gods are soon to be at war for Empire City.” The silence hung in the air between them and when Anka didn’t reply, Gaia turned to her and added, “Why? Why did you save me at the capitol? You’re obviously not for my cause.”
Anka kept her eyes on the statue, even as she answered. “No one else can understand what that monster’s return really represents.”
Gaia arched her brow, “Monster?” she turned back to the statue, folding her arms. “I don’t know if I would call him that, not exactly. Perhaps I would call him a fool…an ignorant traitor!”
Gaia’s hatred for Superius was the same that any sibling would feel for another that had turned against his family…because that is how she viewed him; not a God…but a wayward fellow meta. He clamored for the love of the humans…the same humans that would soon hunt and kill her kind. Anka’s hatred of Superius ran back centuries and was steeped in blood. None knew Superius as she knew him…none of them were even born during those dark times. “Call him what you will, but we both know him as our enemy, and the enemy of my enemy is my friend.”
Gaia chuckled, “Friends?” She smiled broadly, “I’m friends with an angel…I’ll be damned!” She paused, “Forgive the poor choice of words.”
“I’m no angel” Anka added.
She laughed harder this time. “Tell that to the One God fanatics running around the city! You are all the proof they have ever needed.”
Anka looked at Gaia, not having considered what her own appearance had really meant…
IRONIC…her presence had apparently sparked something of a renewal of faith in the One God in many people, yet in her mind, she was a living, breathing testament to His cruelty…
IRONIC…Superius' return had sparked a renewal of faith in him and in his role as the protector of the city, yet he had founded that city on the blood of murdered innocents…
IRONIC…people put their faith in both of them because they didn't know the truth of their existence, if they had, they would shrink from their faith and abandon it utterly!
Anka turned back to the statute. “People are fools and it will be their undoing.”
A vicious smile touched Gaia’s lips, “I always thought that I would be…but now that you’re here...” Gaia watched Anka, wondering if her veiled threat would register, but the ‘angel’ remained impassive. She chuckled again, shaking her head, “I never put much stock in a God whose entire sales pitch was love me and worship me or be damned. Always sounded like some kind of cosmic asshole attention whore.” Gaia lifted her foot up on the edge of the banister and casually leaned over it. “Tell me something, angel. It's something I've always wondered. If God is so loving…why has He allowed this world to become the cesspool that it is? If He's so great, and so powerful, and so damned mighty…why doesn't He fix things in a blink of an eye? He has the power to end every war, every calamity, every injustice…to give us an actual reason to love Him and put faith in Him. But He doesn't. Why is that, do you think?”
Anka kept silent…a long time ago, she'd learned the answer to that very question and it had devastated her.
When Gaia realized that the ‘angel’ wasn't going to respond, she prodded on, “I think, it's because the truth is that He isn't a loving God. He's a cruel, vindictive God who feeds off our love…and when we do choose to love Him, it's made all the more satisfying because He's made the choice that much more difficult. How great it must be to have a multitude of people putting their faith in you…just for being a huge wanker…” Gaia narrowed her eyes at the statue, “…kind of like someone else we both know…”
Behind them, Spike slowly opened the door to the roof. It swung silently on well-oiled hinges; he was thankful for that. He'd had to telekinetically pick the lock on the door and on a few others in order to gain access. He stepped out into the brisk night air, and froze as he recognized the profile of the woman standing next to the angel. However, there was no great battle going on between them…in fact, they seemed to be talking rather pleasantly. It was a far cry away from his first encounter with the murdering meta terrorist. Spike edged around the door, closing it quietly, and crept behind the brick wall that housed the stairwell, listening in as Gaia pointed towards the park…
“The great man there, Superius…more people put their faith in him thank in your God, for a number of even more trite reasons. I'm sure they're all heralding him as the savior of humanity…but the truth is that he's not even part of it!” She erupted into laughter, “These people…they just don't get that. He had them build this city...and then just disappeared. Of course…that doesn't stop peoples' faith in him remaining so strong that they built a statue of him in his absence. Or going all orgasmic when he decides to just waltz back into everyone's lives.” She abruptly turned and sat down with a sigh on the edge of the roof, as though she didn't want to look at the statue anymore. “Popular myth says that your God created me…just like Superius created Empire City. Let's assume for a minute that is true. I don't know about you…maybe you have a more biased view than I do…but I am of the mind that the creator should not fuck over his creation!”
Anka looked down at the woman sitting next to her. It was eerie how much her feelings resembled her own. She had her own reasons for hating Superius…but in the end, were they really all that different than the reasons she hated God? She started to reach for Gaia's shoulder, but a voice from the shadows startled both of them.
“You forgot to point out something. Whatever else he might have done…Superius gave the people of this city hope. A lot more than you've done for it, Gaia!” Spike emerged from behind the pillar. Anger building in him as he remembered Gaia’s attack on him and Michelle that nearly killed them both. “You killed a lot of people, and hurt a lot more. People look up to Superius because they know he would never do that. He stands for something good, and doesn't just use his powers to benefit himself. You could learn a lot from him.” He gestured towards Anka. “Maybe you're already taking that step…by keeping good company!” [/font]
Anka started to retort, but she froze as she recognized the man from the battle in Gateway Park. He had been the one that saved her by giving her the ring…he had been the one to lower Brandon and Stacey down to safety. She didn’t know him, but he seemed to have a keen interest in her.
Gaia slowly stood up, facing Spike, smiling as she recognized him, “You’re the bloke from the news…the one with the camera.” She shrugged apologetically, then cocked her head to the side, “You’re a meta…aren’t you? Honestly, had I known, I would have never attacked you brother.” She paused, as her mood darkened, “That being said, you've got some balls implying that I could learn anything from Superius other than how to sit back and do nothing while my brethren are locked up and destroyed!” A luminous black energy began to grow around Gaia's hands as she charged the gravitons around them.
Spike could feel gravity begin to increase around him, just as it had when he first encountered Gaia. “NOT THIS TIME!” Spike yelled as he was ready. He telepathically pushed for all he was worth. Gaia flew backwards as if she had just been hit by a wrecking ball, tumbling off the rooftop end over end. Spike immediately felt the weight come off his shoulders. He ran to Anka, grabbing her arm. “COME ON! WE NEED TO GO, NOW!!”
Anka pulled her arm away from him, “What are you doing?!”
Spike grabbed her arm again, “THAT WOMAN IS A LUNITIC! SHE’S KILLED HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE!”
Anka wrenched herself away from him again, “AND SUPERIUS HAS KILLED HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS!”
Spike reeled back as if he had been slapped, “I…I never knew…” Spike collapsed heavily to his knees, not from the revelation, but from the power of gravity itself.
Gaia flew up over the edge of the roof, setting foot on it once again. Black energy flowed around her hands, dripping from them like some dense liquid. She glared at Spike grimly. “You will pay for that Superius lover!”
Spike screamed as his body went down hard as gravity slowly worked to crush him. “AAAARRRRRGGGGHHHH!!”
Anka grabbed Gaia’s arm, breaking her concentration, and loosening her hold on Spike. “Remember who the enemy is…you said it yourself!” Anka nodded towards the statue of Superius.
Gaia cut her eyes away for an instant, then back to Spike. “You think this one is any different that Superius? You heard him practically kneeling at the altar a moment ago! Trust me Angel…there is no saving this stray…he must be put down!”
Spike screamed again as Gaia focused her power on him, “ARRGGHHH!”
Anka stood there, frozen for a moment as she watched her new ally crush the man who had helped her in Gateway Park without even knowing who she was. He had acted…out of ignorance, not knowing what kind of person she really was. Could the same not be said of his words of praise towards Superius? “Gaia…”
Gaia roared, “CHOSE A SIDE!”
Anka looked at Spike, his eyes on her, pleading for help…so much like her own had been while Romans cut down her family…murdered her people. There had been no help for her…no help for them. How easy it was to stand back and do nothing…allow those with power to take what they want and do as they please…because they have power…to kill as Superius had done, in the service of a great and self-serving cause…
Gaia screamed, “BITCH!” as she was suddenly blasted into the air at tremendous speed, soaring up so quickly that she was made dizzy from the rapid ascent. She was in the clutches of the Angel as she rose to incredible heights, breaking her hold on her quarry, now far below. Her red locks of hair swirled and buffeted her face, even as she spoke through clenched teeth, “I see you have picked your side after all!”
Anka’s rise slowed, then stopped, both her and Gaia seemed to be bathed in her black energy field as gravity multiplied and then multiplied again. Down they plunged, spinning wildly out of control, the two of them locked in a death grip with one another. Anka shook Gaia, “REMEMBER WHO THE ENEMY IS!!”
Gaia’s retort is more like a hiss, “…anyone who sides against me…” Gaia kicked away as she nullified the graviton field. She stopped her descent almost instantly, but Anka plunged off wildly, hurdling into the side of a nearby office building, her body carving a path of destruction down its side as it ripped through the massive plate glass windows. Gaia watched the carnage in a mixture of excitement and regret. She shrugged, “Too bad…I was starting to like her.” She turned her attention back to the Loeb Building, a long wry smile creeping across her lips, “Now…where was I?” She headed back over to finish what she started.
Spike staggered to his feet, holding his sides. It felt like every rib he had was shattered into a million pieces. He stumbled towards the door, trying to make it to safety. His gambit had not paid off, he had not anticipated the presence of Gaia…Empire City’s greatest threat. As he reached for the door, he heard the cracking of the bricks and he stumbled back as the entire wall collapsed under its own augmented weight. Spike hit the ground and pain exploded inside him like a bomb from his wounds.
He managed to look up as Gaia descended to the roof with a maniacal look on her face.
Gaia laughed, “All that faith you put into Superius…well, I don’t think it’s going to save you now. Sorry…NOT SORRY!” Gaia raised her hands as the energy seemed to drip from her hands like liquid death. “This time…I bring the entire house down, what do you say?”
Spike felt the building shudder underneath him and he knew that there would be no escape this time. He tried projecting his own power to hurl the fallen bricks at her, but he could barely make them tremble in his damaged state. He heard the foundation cracking and windows shattering and blowing out all along the side of the building. This was the end…and in his last moments he only thought of his failure to save Michelle…
Everything shuttered, then stopped as Gaia was sent into the side of the ruined brick wall by a charging Anka. She slammed Gaia into the weakened structure and it toppled around them as they fell through the uppermost floor and landed in the stairwell below. Anka’s massive wings blossomed out and shielded them from the partial collapse. Anka slammed Gaia to the floor repeatedly, “STOP THIS! STOP IT NOW!”
Gaia glared at her, even as she raised her hands, concentrating her power once more, “You lack the conviction it will take to kill someone with the power of Superius! Are you willing to kill those who are loyal to him…are you willing to sacrifice anything…EVERYTHING?!”
Anka’s thoughts turned back centuries to the time when she had done just that. She had slain his men…she was moments away from confronting the great General herself…but then…compassion for another had stayed her hand. It was Arella…she had chosen to save a young girl from the same fate she herself had suffered, and in that act…Superius had been allowed to live…he had been allowed to go on and murder hundreds of thousands. Her hands loosened from Gaia, the woman’s words cutting right through her.
With a great burst, Anka blasted upwards, back through the hole in the roof, landing on the edge as she looked down at Spike. He rolled over, gulping for air as dust clouded the area. He reached out to her, “H-Help…please…” He fell back a he saw Gaia rise out of the ruin behind her.
Anka turned to face Gaia, but she greeted her with a smile. “I owe you one Angel…so here it is.” She looked over at the statue of Superius in the distance, then back to Anka. “And for the record…I do remember who the enemy is.” She looked down at Spike. “It’s the rest of the pissants that need to learn!” She wiped a trickle of blood from her lip and rose up into the distance. “We’re even…friend…”
Anka stood there for a moment, watching Gaia go, then turned to Spike as he held his sides, coughing and wheezing. Anka walked over and knelt beside him, taking him by his hand as the ring she wore worked to repair his injuries. After a few moments, she stood up. “The next time you decide you need help…call the fucking police.” Anka took off, arcing off in the opposite direction as Gaia.
Spike got slowly to his feet, he might have been healed, but his body still hurt like a son-of-a-bitch. He started to head to the ruined exit, when suddenly a vision came to him, knocking him to his knees…
Fire…a roaring fire! Flames all around! A man…A BURNING MAN!
Alarms ringing…a vault…people screaming…money littering the floor…A BANK!
A woman…a policewoman…the one from Gateway Park…STACEY JORDAN!
Wings beating…flapping…burning…THE ANGEL!
Darkness…shadows…THE SHADOW…Michelle…?
Spike shook his head as he tried to make sense of it. Michelle…surrounded in shadows? The Shadow Thing had Michelle…but where? A bank? Which one? How would he find it? “Stacey Jordan…” The police detective…she was the key…she would help her find Michelle. The Angel had put him back on the path…and at least for that, he was thankful.
He struggled to this feet and looked out over the edge of the massive hole in the roof of the Loeb Building, scratching his head. If only his vision had showed him how he was going to get down from the roof of this building…
EPISODE CREDITS
CAST (In order of appearance)
Anka ... Kenzi Grey
Gaia … Kate Steele
Spike Staggs … R.C. Tucker
Directed by … DubbleFC
Screenplay by … Ron B.
Produced by … CTN Television Studios
Casting by … Maleek Raheem
Music by … Pedos Candy
High Above…
Empire City
It had been only a few hours since the battle for the capitol that saw Gaia and her army defeated at the hands of the almighty protector, Superius…with an assist from a lowly ECPD Detective. All of Empire City was abuzz over the return of the conquering hero…Marcus Superius Regulas…the "Defender of Empire City" and Rome's greatest general!
Everyone knew his history…
Born the son of a military commander in the city of Rome, Marcus Superius Regulas was destined to be a soldier from day one. Entering the Roman Legion at the tender age of 16, Superius was already a skilled swordsman. His abilities were soon fine-tuned and he became a force to be reckoned with on the battlefield.
As the young Superius progressed, the Roman Empire did too, the Legions winning many battles with his presence at the front line. It didn't take long before he came to occupy the position of General.
Said to have encountered the Demi-God; Hercules himself during the Empire's push into Russia during the late third century, the legend surrounding Superius claimed he received the blessing of Hercules, and more specifically was imbued with the god's superhuman powers because of his courage and warrior prowess.
From that day forward, Superius led the Roman Legions into incredibly lopsided victories that expanded the Empire's borders into the continents of Asia and Africa. Superius himself became revered as a god because of his mysterious longevity. But with the city secure, Superius disappeared, his memory passing into legend…[/i]
Anka mused on all of this as she flew over the city, doing what she could to clear her mind after her run in with the so-called…heroic Demi-God.
Only children and idiots believed such nonsense! Superius wasn’t a God and he wasn’t some benevolent protector of the people! Superius wasn’t someone to be celebrated…he was just another man…a man with far too much blood on his hands…the blood of her people…those who did not believe in their pantheon of Gods and Goddesses. It was almost funny how the history books recounted his man’s victories against the ‘heathen peoples’ of the time, with no real acknowledgement that these so-called ‘heathen peoples’ were slaughtered for the expansion of Rome because they did not believe in the same things…their lives did not have the same value.
Superius wasn’t a hero…he was a goddamn murderer and before it was all said and done, she would have her revenge on him!
Before long, Anka had found herself right back at Gateway Park, circling high over the massive statute of Superius…Empire City’s great monument to history’s greatest villain. She drifted down, settling on the Loeb office building adjacent to the park. Even in the growing darkness, this place gave her an excellent view into the stony face of the most celebrated mass murderer in the history of the world.
Folding her wings behind her, she approached the edge of the roof. From here, the tall statue of Superius was clearly visible, as were the police barricades placed around it as an afterthought following the events that had taken place there. Already it had become a shrine to the man with hundreds of people passing by, leaving flowers and tokens of appreciation and worship. Spotlights shone up onto the statue, illuminating it for the night, giving it the appearance of a child holding a flashlight under his chin. The creators of the statue had chiseled his features in such a way that they should be strong, noble, and courageous, ever looking towards the rising sun. In the spotlights, Anka thought that they looked mocking and leering. It was fitting. If only these people knew just what kind of man it was that they adored so much that they would create a symbol of him…if they knew a fifth of the truth…they would tear the statue apart with their bare hands…
Or would they?
There was always faith to consider. People were so quick to place their faith in anything that they took to be a higher power, whether it be the superhumans of the city, Superius…or the One God. No matter what misdeeds their objects of faith had performed, rarely would the devout tolerate slander of the worshipped…or the REAL truth behind their so-called heroics.
The faithful were blinded to the reality that their idols were as fallible and no more worthy of worship than themselves. Fools…one and all…
Gateway Park
Empire City
Spike Staggs was a lost soul following the abduction of Michelle Andretti. His visions had led him to Gateway Park…and to the angel. He had believed that she was the key to finding Michelle. His visions had never failed him before…until that night. He aided the winged woman…the so-called ‘Angel of Empire City’ in rescuing the police detective and fighting off her attackers. He had even given her the ring from his visions…the ring that had healed him and Michelle after they were attacked by Gaia. The angel had won her battle, but in the end, there had been no clue to what had happened to Michelle…and worst of all, there had been no more visions. He hadn’t eaten or slept in days, all he had done was try to find something…anything that would lead him back to the path of the Shadow Thing that had taken Michelle.
He had spent so much time with his head down that he never thought to look up…but once he did, he caught a glimpse of beating wings in the night sky, “…the angel…” he whispered as he saw her descend to a rooftop in the distance. This was the break he was hoping for. This was his chance to see where she was connected to Michelle’s disappearance.
He pulled his hoodie over his head and made his way through the crowd of Superius worshipers who now littered the park like ants at a picnic. While the Demi-God’s return was timely and wondrous…Spike only sought to commune with an angel, one that he hoped would set him back on the path to saving Michelle…
Loeb Building
Gateway Central, Empire City
Anka had been lost in thoughts from ages long past. Her family cut down in front of her…being raped and tortured by the same murdering dogs…dogs that served the Empire…dogs that followed the orders of General Marcus Superius Regulas! No, the great General had not been there on that day, but that made him no less guilty. In her pursuit of him, she had seen the desolation that had been left in his wake as he pacified the savage lands for the glory of Rome. It was a fiction that she would never accept...
“How lucky am I to find myself in the presence of not one, but two gods!”
Anka whirled around just as a figure cloaked in shadow descended to the rooftop, her hands up. Anka watched as the woman who was now labeled as ‘Empire City’s Most Wanted’ approached…the woman she had helped escape the ‘justice’ that Superius had in store for her. Anka turned away, almost dismissively, “Gaia…” casting her gaze back to the statue in the center of the park.
Gaia walked to the edge of the rooftop giving the winged woman a brief, polite smile before turning her gaze towards the statue of Superius. “So it seems, the gods are soon to be at war for Empire City.” The silence hung in the air between them and when Anka didn’t reply, Gaia turned to her and added, “Why? Why did you save me at the capitol? You’re obviously not for my cause.”
Anka kept her eyes on the statue, even as she answered. “No one else can understand what that monster’s return really represents.”
Gaia arched her brow, “Monster?” she turned back to the statue, folding her arms. “I don’t know if I would call him that, not exactly. Perhaps I would call him a fool…an ignorant traitor!”
Gaia’s hatred for Superius was the same that any sibling would feel for another that had turned against his family…because that is how she viewed him; not a God…but a wayward fellow meta. He clamored for the love of the humans…the same humans that would soon hunt and kill her kind. Anka’s hatred of Superius ran back centuries and was steeped in blood. None knew Superius as she knew him…none of them were even born during those dark times. “Call him what you will, but we both know him as our enemy, and the enemy of my enemy is my friend.”
Gaia chuckled, “Friends?” She smiled broadly, “I’m friends with an angel…I’ll be damned!” She paused, “Forgive the poor choice of words.”
“I’m no angel” Anka added.
She laughed harder this time. “Tell that to the One God fanatics running around the city! You are all the proof they have ever needed.”
Anka looked at Gaia, not having considered what her own appearance had really meant…
IRONIC…her presence had apparently sparked something of a renewal of faith in the One God in many people, yet in her mind, she was a living, breathing testament to His cruelty…
IRONIC…Superius' return had sparked a renewal of faith in him and in his role as the protector of the city, yet he had founded that city on the blood of murdered innocents…
IRONIC…people put their faith in both of them because they didn't know the truth of their existence, if they had, they would shrink from their faith and abandon it utterly!
Anka turned back to the statute. “People are fools and it will be their undoing.”
A vicious smile touched Gaia’s lips, “I always thought that I would be…but now that you’re here...” Gaia watched Anka, wondering if her veiled threat would register, but the ‘angel’ remained impassive. She chuckled again, shaking her head, “I never put much stock in a God whose entire sales pitch was love me and worship me or be damned. Always sounded like some kind of cosmic asshole attention whore.” Gaia lifted her foot up on the edge of the banister and casually leaned over it. “Tell me something, angel. It's something I've always wondered. If God is so loving…why has He allowed this world to become the cesspool that it is? If He's so great, and so powerful, and so damned mighty…why doesn't He fix things in a blink of an eye? He has the power to end every war, every calamity, every injustice…to give us an actual reason to love Him and put faith in Him. But He doesn't. Why is that, do you think?”
Anka kept silent…a long time ago, she'd learned the answer to that very question and it had devastated her.
When Gaia realized that the ‘angel’ wasn't going to respond, she prodded on, “I think, it's because the truth is that He isn't a loving God. He's a cruel, vindictive God who feeds off our love…and when we do choose to love Him, it's made all the more satisfying because He's made the choice that much more difficult. How great it must be to have a multitude of people putting their faith in you…just for being a huge wanker…” Gaia narrowed her eyes at the statue, “…kind of like someone else we both know…”
Behind them, Spike slowly opened the door to the roof. It swung silently on well-oiled hinges; he was thankful for that. He'd had to telekinetically pick the lock on the door and on a few others in order to gain access. He stepped out into the brisk night air, and froze as he recognized the profile of the woman standing next to the angel. However, there was no great battle going on between them…in fact, they seemed to be talking rather pleasantly. It was a far cry away from his first encounter with the murdering meta terrorist. Spike edged around the door, closing it quietly, and crept behind the brick wall that housed the stairwell, listening in as Gaia pointed towards the park…
“The great man there, Superius…more people put their faith in him thank in your God, for a number of even more trite reasons. I'm sure they're all heralding him as the savior of humanity…but the truth is that he's not even part of it!” She erupted into laughter, “These people…they just don't get that. He had them build this city...and then just disappeared. Of course…that doesn't stop peoples' faith in him remaining so strong that they built a statue of him in his absence. Or going all orgasmic when he decides to just waltz back into everyone's lives.” She abruptly turned and sat down with a sigh on the edge of the roof, as though she didn't want to look at the statue anymore. “Popular myth says that your God created me…just like Superius created Empire City. Let's assume for a minute that is true. I don't know about you…maybe you have a more biased view than I do…but I am of the mind that the creator should not fuck over his creation!”
Anka looked down at the woman sitting next to her. It was eerie how much her feelings resembled her own. She had her own reasons for hating Superius…but in the end, were they really all that different than the reasons she hated God? She started to reach for Gaia's shoulder, but a voice from the shadows startled both of them.
“You forgot to point out something. Whatever else he might have done…Superius gave the people of this city hope. A lot more than you've done for it, Gaia!” Spike emerged from behind the pillar. Anger building in him as he remembered Gaia’s attack on him and Michelle that nearly killed them both. “You killed a lot of people, and hurt a lot more. People look up to Superius because they know he would never do that. He stands for something good, and doesn't just use his powers to benefit himself. You could learn a lot from him.” He gestured towards Anka. “Maybe you're already taking that step…by keeping good company!” [/font]
Anka started to retort, but she froze as she recognized the man from the battle in Gateway Park. He had been the one that saved her by giving her the ring…he had been the one to lower Brandon and Stacey down to safety. She didn’t know him, but he seemed to have a keen interest in her.
Gaia slowly stood up, facing Spike, smiling as she recognized him, “You’re the bloke from the news…the one with the camera.” She shrugged apologetically, then cocked her head to the side, “You’re a meta…aren’t you? Honestly, had I known, I would have never attacked you brother.” She paused, as her mood darkened, “That being said, you've got some balls implying that I could learn anything from Superius other than how to sit back and do nothing while my brethren are locked up and destroyed!” A luminous black energy began to grow around Gaia's hands as she charged the gravitons around them.
Spike could feel gravity begin to increase around him, just as it had when he first encountered Gaia. “NOT THIS TIME!” Spike yelled as he was ready. He telepathically pushed for all he was worth. Gaia flew backwards as if she had just been hit by a wrecking ball, tumbling off the rooftop end over end. Spike immediately felt the weight come off his shoulders. He ran to Anka, grabbing her arm. “COME ON! WE NEED TO GO, NOW!!”
Anka pulled her arm away from him, “What are you doing?!”
Spike grabbed her arm again, “THAT WOMAN IS A LUNITIC! SHE’S KILLED HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE!”
Anka wrenched herself away from him again, “AND SUPERIUS HAS KILLED HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS!”
Spike reeled back as if he had been slapped, “I…I never knew…” Spike collapsed heavily to his knees, not from the revelation, but from the power of gravity itself.
Gaia flew up over the edge of the roof, setting foot on it once again. Black energy flowed around her hands, dripping from them like some dense liquid. She glared at Spike grimly. “You will pay for that Superius lover!”
Spike screamed as his body went down hard as gravity slowly worked to crush him. “AAAARRRRRGGGGHHHH!!”
Anka grabbed Gaia’s arm, breaking her concentration, and loosening her hold on Spike. “Remember who the enemy is…you said it yourself!” Anka nodded towards the statue of Superius.
Gaia cut her eyes away for an instant, then back to Spike. “You think this one is any different that Superius? You heard him practically kneeling at the altar a moment ago! Trust me Angel…there is no saving this stray…he must be put down!”
Spike screamed again as Gaia focused her power on him, “ARRGGHHH!”
Anka stood there, frozen for a moment as she watched her new ally crush the man who had helped her in Gateway Park without even knowing who she was. He had acted…out of ignorance, not knowing what kind of person she really was. Could the same not be said of his words of praise towards Superius? “Gaia…”
Gaia roared, “CHOSE A SIDE!”
Anka looked at Spike, his eyes on her, pleading for help…so much like her own had been while Romans cut down her family…murdered her people. There had been no help for her…no help for them. How easy it was to stand back and do nothing…allow those with power to take what they want and do as they please…because they have power…to kill as Superius had done, in the service of a great and self-serving cause…
Gaia screamed, “BITCH!” as she was suddenly blasted into the air at tremendous speed, soaring up so quickly that she was made dizzy from the rapid ascent. She was in the clutches of the Angel as she rose to incredible heights, breaking her hold on her quarry, now far below. Her red locks of hair swirled and buffeted her face, even as she spoke through clenched teeth, “I see you have picked your side after all!”
Anka’s rise slowed, then stopped, both her and Gaia seemed to be bathed in her black energy field as gravity multiplied and then multiplied again. Down they plunged, spinning wildly out of control, the two of them locked in a death grip with one another. Anka shook Gaia, “REMEMBER WHO THE ENEMY IS!!”
Gaia’s retort is more like a hiss, “…anyone who sides against me…” Gaia kicked away as she nullified the graviton field. She stopped her descent almost instantly, but Anka plunged off wildly, hurdling into the side of a nearby office building, her body carving a path of destruction down its side as it ripped through the massive plate glass windows. Gaia watched the carnage in a mixture of excitement and regret. She shrugged, “Too bad…I was starting to like her.” She turned her attention back to the Loeb Building, a long wry smile creeping across her lips, “Now…where was I?” She headed back over to finish what she started.
Spike staggered to his feet, holding his sides. It felt like every rib he had was shattered into a million pieces. He stumbled towards the door, trying to make it to safety. His gambit had not paid off, he had not anticipated the presence of Gaia…Empire City’s greatest threat. As he reached for the door, he heard the cracking of the bricks and he stumbled back as the entire wall collapsed under its own augmented weight. Spike hit the ground and pain exploded inside him like a bomb from his wounds.
He managed to look up as Gaia descended to the roof with a maniacal look on her face.
Gaia laughed, “All that faith you put into Superius…well, I don’t think it’s going to save you now. Sorry…NOT SORRY!” Gaia raised her hands as the energy seemed to drip from her hands like liquid death. “This time…I bring the entire house down, what do you say?”
Spike felt the building shudder underneath him and he knew that there would be no escape this time. He tried projecting his own power to hurl the fallen bricks at her, but he could barely make them tremble in his damaged state. He heard the foundation cracking and windows shattering and blowing out all along the side of the building. This was the end…and in his last moments he only thought of his failure to save Michelle…
Everything shuttered, then stopped as Gaia was sent into the side of the ruined brick wall by a charging Anka. She slammed Gaia into the weakened structure and it toppled around them as they fell through the uppermost floor and landed in the stairwell below. Anka’s massive wings blossomed out and shielded them from the partial collapse. Anka slammed Gaia to the floor repeatedly, “STOP THIS! STOP IT NOW!”
Gaia glared at her, even as she raised her hands, concentrating her power once more, “You lack the conviction it will take to kill someone with the power of Superius! Are you willing to kill those who are loyal to him…are you willing to sacrifice anything…EVERYTHING?!”
Anka’s thoughts turned back centuries to the time when she had done just that. She had slain his men…she was moments away from confronting the great General herself…but then…compassion for another had stayed her hand. It was Arella…she had chosen to save a young girl from the same fate she herself had suffered, and in that act…Superius had been allowed to live…he had been allowed to go on and murder hundreds of thousands. Her hands loosened from Gaia, the woman’s words cutting right through her.
With a great burst, Anka blasted upwards, back through the hole in the roof, landing on the edge as she looked down at Spike. He rolled over, gulping for air as dust clouded the area. He reached out to her, “H-Help…please…” He fell back a he saw Gaia rise out of the ruin behind her.
Anka turned to face Gaia, but she greeted her with a smile. “I owe you one Angel…so here it is.” She looked over at the statue of Superius in the distance, then back to Anka. “And for the record…I do remember who the enemy is.” She looked down at Spike. “It’s the rest of the pissants that need to learn!” She wiped a trickle of blood from her lip and rose up into the distance. “We’re even…friend…”
Anka stood there for a moment, watching Gaia go, then turned to Spike as he held his sides, coughing and wheezing. Anka walked over and knelt beside him, taking him by his hand as the ring she wore worked to repair his injuries. After a few moments, she stood up. “The next time you decide you need help…call the fucking police.” Anka took off, arcing off in the opposite direction as Gaia.
Spike got slowly to his feet, he might have been healed, but his body still hurt like a son-of-a-bitch. He started to head to the ruined exit, when suddenly a vision came to him, knocking him to his knees…
Fire…a roaring fire! Flames all around! A man…A BURNING MAN!
Alarms ringing…a vault…people screaming…money littering the floor…A BANK!
A woman…a policewoman…the one from Gateway Park…STACEY JORDAN!
Wings beating…flapping…burning…THE ANGEL!
Darkness…shadows…THE SHADOW…Michelle…?
Spike shook his head as he tried to make sense of it. Michelle…surrounded in shadows? The Shadow Thing had Michelle…but where? A bank? Which one? How would he find it? “Stacey Jordan…” The police detective…she was the key…she would help her find Michelle. The Angel had put him back on the path…and at least for that, he was thankful.
He struggled to this feet and looked out over the edge of the massive hole in the roof of the Loeb Building, scratching his head. If only his vision had showed him how he was going to get down from the roof of this building…
EPISODE CREDITS
CAST (In order of appearance)
Anka ... Kenzi Grey
Gaia … Kate Steele
Spike Staggs … R.C. Tucker
Directed by … DubbleFC
Screenplay by … Ron B.
Produced by … CTN Television Studios
Casting by … Maleek Raheem
Music by … Pedos Candy