37. Hunt or be hunted

Montreal city, Canada. T-conquest.

This is getting tiresome. Those were Puck's only thoughts before he hit the wall face first, the bare concrete crumbling under the force of his dense body hitting at sufficient velocity.

Without a moment to gather his thoughts Puck felt another impact. A fist with the force of a speeding train decking him right in the face just as he pulled himself out of the hole. The punch was followed by another two in quick succession, one to his stomach and another to his chin, both powerful enough to force him through the now quickly crumbling wall.

Puck was a superhuman. His body was stronger and faster, he could barely be hurt by anything his fellow men could do, but even he felt his rubber-like bones groaning and his flesh scream in protest under the onslaught of violence they were subjected to.

As he flew through the air, fist-sized pieces of concrete all around him as he heard something heavy move towards him, Puck knew that whoever the enemy was, they were good. They were fast, determined, and strong. Almost anyone else would have been killed right then and there.

But no matter how strong or fast, nor if they had the element of surprise on their part, Puck was still the better fighter.

In a feat of athleticism few could match, Puck corrected his trajectory mid-air, his legs kicking in every direction as he used the still flying debris to move aside just as he turned his body. This proved to be the correct choice as not a second later an armour-clad fist passed through the point where Puck's head would have been.

With an almost practiced grace, Puck landed on his feet, using his momentum to gain as much space as possible between his unknown attacker and himself as he took a fighting stance. His attacker, on the other hand, didn't move and simply watched Puck, a sense of amusement clear in what little was visible of his body language.

For only then did Puck finally recognise who was behind the attack. Dark grey and black metal completely enclosing everything but his eyes, it was a titan of a man. He had no readable expressions due to the full-face coverage but his eyes were bloodshot and his breathing haggard. It had been years since Puck had last seen him but the man was unmistakable.

"What the hell are you doing here Citadel?"

Citadel, once a regular soldier, had been subjected to a cruel experiment by a yet unknown organization that had grafted adamantium to every part of his body, fully enclosing him in the indestructible material. Thanks to his healing factor he had recovered, but the experience had changed the man. Some even said that it had driven him insane. For this reason, he had decided to attack the government and any other form of authority until 'reparations' were made.

Eventually, he had been defeated by the combined efforts of many Canadian heroes but Citadel had managed to escape and had not been seen since. All of which had occurred years ago and while nominally Alpha Flight was never able to find him the truth was that they hadn't really tried too hard. The man had his entire life ruined and was as much of a victim as anyone else. They had decided that if he didn't cause further trouble it would be better to let the sleeping dogs lie. Something which in hindsight may not have been such a good idea.

"Ah, my hardy dear old college Puck. It's been a long time dear friend," spoke the villain as he extracted his fist from the ground where it was half-buried.

"I would hardly call us acquaintances, much less friends, and I don't remember ever working with you," shot back Puck as he assessed his options.

"Ah, but in that, you are wrong oh dear dog of the government, we are both nothing but lackeys, or tools if you will, to those with real power. A puppet pulled by someone else's strings, just like our dear friend here." Only then did Puck notice that Citadel was holding a bloody and unconscious Anatoly on his other hand.

"Oh, I see you finally noticed our little friend here," said Citadel as he shook the unconscious Russian cultist by the arm, his elbow moving in a way that it was not meant to as blood slowly trickled down his savaged face.

Puck winced at the display of cruelty towards the Russian. While Puck felt no sympathy for the man he would not want to hurt him without reason either and from what he knew of the man neither would Citadel. Or at least he wouldn't have before.

Citadel just stood there, looking at Puck as if expecting an answer to some unasked question, maybe even a recognition of the threat he posed?

Of course, Puck was not stupid and if the criminal wanted to give him more time to assess his options then so would he. In a quick and practiced manner, his eyes scanned the area they now found themselves in, taking in every last detail that could be of use in the upcoming confrontation with the demented mutant.

Before the surprise attack Puck had been in Anatoly's apartment on the third floor. Yet they now were on the ground level, or somewhere below the building if the bad lighting, dank smell, and discarded crates were anything to go by.

Maybe a basement? thought Puck.

Still, I need to get him outside, the risk of collapsing the entire place is too great.

This entire analysis took no more than a second before Puck's eyes set once again on his enemy, searching for any weakness or possible advantage and finding none.

Citadel's body was covered in unbreakable adamantium from top to bottom, with nothing but small eye holes to see out of, making any kind of cutting attack useless. His body too would quickly regenerate from any kind of concussive damage short of something truly terrific and Puck was man enough to admit he was not that heavy of a hitter. Not even overpowering was an option, as Citadel was as strong, if not stronger, than Puck. He was completely outmatched in any way or form and logic dictated he disengage and call for reinforcements.

Citadel smirked, or at least Puck assumed he did, before taking a step towards Puck and raising his hand as if inviting the Alphan to attack. "I presume you understand your situation? You cannot win, so why don't you let me finish what I came to do."

"And that would be…?" asked Puck while his eyes searched for something elsewhere.

"What, but of course it is to take you and our little rat over here," he said as he gave the unconscious Russian cultist another shake. "home with me. I'm afraid you have bothered the wrong people one time too many."

"Hmmm, let me think about it," answered Puck, grabbing his chin in mock thought as he watched something in the corner of the room. "Let me give you a counteroffer instead, what about you lay down and let me apprehend you? You could save both of us a lot of time that way."

This time Puck could see the mutant's eyes harden, the veneer of affableness all but gone. "You can't defeat me, much less capture me," he stated as a matter of fact.

"So I guess I'll have to kill you, eh?" smiled Puck as he looked the mutant right in the eye, his gaze just as cold.

"You can't do it," answered Citadel.

"Who said I'll be doing it on my own?" The next second a blur crashed against Citadel, pushing him away at the same time as something heavy impacted his hand, the kinetic energy alone breaking most of the bones in his hand and forcing him to release Anatoly.

Quick as lighting Puck was already there, grabbing the unconscious Russian man before he even touched the ground and bouncing away.

After taking a moment to see that the Russian's life wasn't in danger and leaving the unconscious man on the ground, Puck followed Citadel through the new hole to the outside, from where the sound of fighting was already apparent.

A furrow had been carved through the ground, pavement parted like sand. Two cars were now nothing more than wrecks and panicked screaming could be heard all over, even if thankfully most of them were wise enough to vacate the area. As a rule, Puck was against urban combat for some very understandable reasons, the risk to bystanders first amongst them.

As for the battle itself…

BOOM BOOM BOOM!

BOOM BOOM BOOM!

BOOM BOOM BOOM!

Citadel was on his knees, his arms up as he tried to shield his face while Steel Talon rained down a flurry of blows on him. The birdman's sword was nothing more than a blur as he stabbed over and over, trying to force the incredibly hard metal of his blade through the even stronger adamantium through sheer brute force. Each time the blade connected a shockwave emanated from the point of impact, shattering windows and shaking the ground.

"It is over, I have defeated you! Yield now or face your end oh vile criminal!" exclaimed Steel Talon. Like always, he had a flair for the dramatic.

Citadel, on the other hand, did not relent, trying in vain to escape from the hero's untiring assault and failing every time.

Even if Citadel could not be harmed thanks to his adamantium armour there was no way for him to retaliate before reinforcements arrived to help subdue him, as far as Puck could tell the battle was already decided.

Or so he thought.

Without warning Citadel stood up, one hand pushing the Alphan's sword aside and abandoning all pretenses of defense as he tackled Steel Talon to the ground.

The birdman was surprised for a second, but he quickly rolled away, one hand striking Citadel sharply on the side of the head before pushing the hulking criminal away in one swift motion.

Before Citadel could get his bearings, Puck crashed against him, feet first. The Alphan's dense and small body mass hitting the armored criminal like a cannonball. Citadel flew back against a close lamp post, crumpling the metal into a misshapen mess.

"I can't let you have all the fun, eh kid? '' said Puck with a smile as he took position beside the younger hero.

"But of course!" answered the birdman as he took on what Puck assumed was meant to be a 'heroic' pose. "This wrongdoer must be punished by the swift hand of justice."

"Never change, kid." Shaking his head at his companion's antics Puck once again focused on their enemy. Citadel was still unharmed but there was no way he could overpower them now and he knew it.

The criminal's eyes, barely visible through the slits, were wide and bloodshot as he got back on his unsteady feet. Gone was the surety from before and a growing sense of despair was clear now. Citadel looked at Puck and Steel Talon, then at his surroundings. The empty streets and the distant yell of police sirens proving that he had dallied for too long. His eyes scanned everything around him and found nothing that could save him.

Puck, having tired of the sad excuse of a criminal they were fighting, took a step forward. "Honestly, this is pathetic. You came to us all high an' mighty and then folded like a deck of cards after a few hits. Why don't you just lay down and save us the trouble of having to beat the stupid out of you, eh?"

Citadel did not answer, his eyes regaining their focus for a second, a heavy weight appearing upon them. Almost like he had made some terrible choice.

In one swift motion, he took a dagger from… somewhere, wielding it with practiced ease. The blade was a cruel thing, blood red and barbed. The edge seemed to blur as he moved it to a ready position, prompting Puck to jump back into a fighting stance. Citadel gripped the dagger with enough strength that the handle groaned… and stabbed himself in the chest.

"Tkabdthal'ha assist me!" shouted Citadel as the fell blade impossibly cut through his adamantium shell, right where his heart would be.

Puck didn't hesitate, his powerful legs propelling him in an explosion of power and crashing right into Citadel just as the blade pierced the life-giving organ. Puck's hands moved deftly, one ripping off the embedded dagger while the other struck Citadel in the face, pushing him to the ground. Puck was an experienced fighter and his previous encounter with the demon at the bank had left him on edge. Even then he was not fast enough.

As he fell, Citadel lashed out, his leg bending in an unnatural manner and striking Puck square in the face with bone-breaking force. The hero rolled with the kick, landing on his feet with his usual grace as he tried to put distance between his convulsing enemy and him. Citadel was on the ground now, blood pouring freely from the open wound in his chest, the adamantium surrounding the wound somehow corroding into a dark-red mass of bloody rusted metal. The criminal trashed around aimlessly, screaming in pure pain as his limbs elongated and thinned, his head growing bigger and his chest turning into a misshapen inverted cone.

Puck saw his fellow Alphan start to move but stopped him with one swift motion, never breaking contact with the convulsing gangly monster which used to be Citadel.

Finally, the trashing stopped and the creature rose up. Gone was any trace of humanity, its cold cat-like eyes looking at them with a mix of contempt and hunger.

"⏃ ⏚⏃⍀☌⏃⟟⋏ ⍙⏃⌇ ⌇⏁⍀⎍☊☍ ⏃⋏⎅ ⍙⊑⏃⏁ ⍙⏃⌇ ⌿⍀⍜⋔⟟⌇⟒⎅ ⟟⌇ ⎅⟒⌰⟟⎐⟒⍀⟒⎅. ⋏⍜⍙ ⟟ ⏁⏃☍⟒ ⋔⊬ ⎅⎍⟒." Spoke the creature in its terrible tongue, a shiver running down Puck's back and the taste of curdled milk filling his mouth.

In one impossible motion, for Citadel had been incredibly heavy and the gangly monster was even more so, the creature jumped to the top of a nearby home, a throwing knife impacting the area it had just occupied not a second after.

"Come here wrongdoer, prepare to submit yourself to justice!"

The creature looked down at Steel Talon, his arm still extended from the throw, and sneered.

"⟟ ⍙⟟⌰⌰ ⊑⏃⎐⟒ ⊬⍜⎍⍀ ⎎⌰⟒⌇⊑ ⏃⋏⎅ ⌇⎍☊☍ ⏁⊑⟒ ⋔⏃⍀⍀⍜⍙ ⍜⎍⏁ ⍜⎎ ⊬⍜⎍⍀ ⏚⍜⋏⟒⌇." as it spoke metal groaned and warped, a maw full of razor-sharp fangs dripping with corrosive saliva growing where Citadel's mouth should have been.

"Come back here, you failed attempt of a monster, you aren't getting away," threatened Puck, one fist raised.

The monster, the demon for that's what it was, answered and for the first time it was not in its own fell language but English "TheN COmE fOr Me if YOu daRE, LIttlE mAn."

"With pleasure."

In a second Puck and Steel Talon were moving, the ground exploding behind them as they jumped to the roof the demon was perched up. But before either of the heroes could reach it there was a blinding flash of light and the next they knew the creature was not there anymore.

The monster had escaped.

Against all odds, the demon had snatched victory from the jaws of defeat and evaded the two Alphans. It was galling for them to suffer such a loss, even Steel Talon uncharacteristically cursed out loud. Puck on the other hand simply sighed and shook his head.

"You still got much to learn, kid." As he spoke the short Alphan took out something from a pocket, a small square of reinforced plastic and metal. The contraption's screen lit up as the blinking dot on a GPS map formed on it.

Steel Talon's face was not human and thus he did not have any cues for Puck to pick up, yet the hero was sure the birdman was smiling and so he smiled back.

"Let's get the bastards."

---

A thin slice appeared in midair, it was less than an atom thick and imperceptible to all but those attuned to it, it was not a natural occurrence but something woefully unnatural, a small cut into the overarching fabric of the universe. The slice slowly grew and widened, just as if someone had slipped a blade into a piece of fabric before stretching the resulting opening. Dark things whispered from the new hole to somewhere else, promising all and desiring everything in return.

From this eldritch event emerged a creature, i's body covered in a rusty metal carapace, its thin gangly extremities moving at an odd rhythm as it stepped through the rent in reality with a grace belied by its appearance.

The room the creature stepped into was dimly lit, a featureless grey office with only a desk and the man behind it as distinguishing features.

"Creature, I see you have returned and even kept CItadel's body intact," spoke the man for the first time without even stopping with his paperwork as if he had just noticed the demon and found its presence unimportant. "Did your mission succeed?"

The monster, now identified as the demon-possessed Citadel, just smiled; its sharp toothy maw dripping corrosive spit.

"yEsS," spoke the creature as it stood to its full height, an aura of menace around it.

"Good," answered the man, finally looking up at the demon, "but first why don't you get more comfortable first?"

There were no other chairs in the room, the man's intention was clear.

"i DOn't thINk sO," growled the demon.

"You seem to forget who you are bound to and the promise your master made. Tkabdthal'ha kneel before me, now!" there was no special power in his voice, nor any magicks at work. But as he spoke, Tkabdthal'ha knew he had to obey, for it was not this man's power which compelled it but its master's own.

The man waited until Tkabdthal'ha fell to its knees before continuing "Then what is the current status? Are they in our possession yet?"

"nO, THe yOuNG onE waS tOO StROnG. i hAD tO TakE a DiFfErEnT ApProAcH," Tkabdthal'ha said before opening a clawed fist to reveal a crushed tracking device. "tHey ShOuLd bE WaLkInG INto A TrAP AbOuT nOW."

The idea that an upper-class demon like Tkabdthal'ha could not take care of one of the newer alphans was worrying, as the man had made sure no one who could possibly oppose him would join that organization yet apparently someone had.

The man had long worked, tirelessly pursuing his one goal. He had first moved in the shadows and only emerged into the light when the time was right, yet the so-called defenders of the nation rose to oppose him. They had fought him at every turn and frustrated his plans no matter how thorough. Eventually, the man realized he could not oppose them in the open, not while they could single him out and destroy him as he sought to take what was his by right. If the heroes of the nation were too strong then he would destroy the nation first and replace it with one more to his own liking.

"Good, I want this matter taken care of before we proceed with the plan. The time is long overdue for me to take the spotlight and for the pests who have been battling us in the shadow to be dragged into the light and slain as the rats they are," growled the man as he remembered his more present enemies. Alpha Flight had been a nonissue for years now and what was about to happen would be but the beginning of their end, but there were still those who opposed him and his dominion, those who sought to stop his plans to better the human race and to wrestle his hard-earned control from his hands. He would not allow this.

"yOu mEAn ThE UNlIvInG ONe?"

"Yes, I feel our final confrontation is at hand. They have long been a thorn in my side, one I will not tolerate any longer. But it's of no matter, "he dismissed the demon's concerns with a wave of the hand. "Today Alpha Flight will die or serve and my ascension will be completed."

"For I am this world's only master."

---

AN:

So hello there!

Now, I know it's been a while and that you are all probably thinking "damn, this chapter isn't worth the wait" and you are probably right. This was meant to come out rather quickly (I had something like 50% of it done a month ago) but things happened and then I got writers block and couldn't string a two word sentence even if my life was at stake, much less finish a chapter proper. I did manage to do it, though I'm not 100% happy with the end product.

Now that this one is out of the way we should finish Alpha Flight's "mini arc" in a relatively short time and (hopefully) I'll have next chapter ready to post by next Monday, though I won't make any promises.

Also, I'm trying a new system to show if the chapter is happening in the present of the past by marking it as before or after Nazarick's takeover of Canada. If you have any alternatives you think would be better feel free to suggest them