Chapter 93 : Facing another bigot
[Author note : Marvel The Artist's first chapter has been posted on Patréon for public reading. You guys check it out and tell me what you think ! Search for Cathbel on Patréon (e instead of é). It's the second post from the top.
In other news, I haven't written much this week. Or rather, I spent it working on various plot lines : the ones from my stories, obviously... And another one. I know, I'm spreading myself too thin and it's not good, but... As some of you guys noticed, there's just no spark left in this story for me. Until it ignites again, I'd rather work on something that does excite me. Still working on the plot line with 7 arcs planned out. Don't know how many chapters that'll make, though... It'll take place in a crossover world HP x TMNT (again with HP, you say ? Yeah, well... I've been playing You-know-Which-Game... The-Game-That-Shall-Not-Be-Named) with elements from the Final Fantasy series. Oh ! And before people comment about how the TMNT universe doesn't have any true threats or something like that, I urge you to read the IDW reboot of the series.
It. Is. AWESOME ! 'Nuff said !
Enjoy the chapter, guys.]
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Ned's sensors picked up the change in Harvest's mannerisms and figured out their meanings moments before he entered the battlefield. From the very first instants, it quickly became clear that the supervillain wasn't just a B-lister like Grunge. In fact, Ned suspected him to have the making of a great Nemesis for the Teen Titans' team. Too bad the comics never portrayed this before his untimely demise. Maybe it happened in the future, or in the many issues he never had the chance to read either before or after the New 52. In his mind however, Harvest was a badass villain that simply… disappeared.
So, watching him tear through the Metahumans like the angel of death, or a farmer in his corn field… it was quite humbling and made him wonder about a lot of things he took for granted. More and more, it looked like his so-called foreknowledge was actually more of a hindrance that it was truly an asset. Although he never made the mistake of focusing his plans on it, he should still be wary of what he thought was true.
For example, when he gave a helping hand to Superboy… He only considered the possibility of him becoming a bad guy after the fact ! This was a grave mistake ! Similarly, he might consider someone an enemy (or vice-versa) simply because of said knowledge. And any badly concealed, or apparent animosity could, actually, create tensions where they should originally have none… Or conversely, he could lure himself into a sense of false security with someone he should have had his guards up.
Harvest advanced on the battlefield slowly, but like a moving rock in a stream, space was made for him (or he was the one to make it, Ned wasn't entirely sure). His advance was inexorable, inevitable. That's the feeling Ned got, seeing him approach. And although it wasn't possible to tell exactly where the man was glaring, the squib (former squib) could guess.
Quickly, Ned weighed his chances against the man… or whatever he had become. And didn't like them. The nature of his powers were unknown. Ned neither had his armor, or even his own body and the one he had was a replacement he was still getting used to. Same with the equipment.
The smart choice at the moment would be to flee. Or, if that was impossible, to delay and put as much distance as possible. Perhaps Harvest would tire, and at this moment, he'd be more vulnerable. Or wait it out until he had back up.
Ned glanced around, seeing only a chaotic battlefield with enemies and allies entering and exiting his line of sight. No one seemed to pay attention to him or the angel of death making its way to him…
Still, in spite of the odds stacked against him (probably), he went against his instincts of self-preservation and common sense : he approached the man ! Unlike his allies, it was clear Harvest was quite heavy-ended. No idea how many people he would kill or cripple until he reached the tech spirit. And so, unconsciously, Ned made the hero choice.
The analytical, logical part of him knew that it didn't change much in the grand scheme of things. Even without him here, the massacre would continue. Worse even, he didn't know how his death would impact his children… No doubt their morale would fall, resulting in their fighting abilities to dip as well. And while they might not die, he wasn't sure how they'd fare without a body, nor him to build them one. Who would rise up against… himself ?
Nobody knew, except for him and his children what Metal-Ned had planned. In fact, nobody knew anything happened to him at all… Humanity and the world as a whole, would be left defenseless against the next threat. A threat of his own making. A threat that was also him !
The two sides of his mind were warring, arguing against one another in his mind as Ned's body moved forward on its own. As he skated toward his enemy, Ned didn't notice something… The fallen bits of weapons and technology suddenly came alive for a second, before he passed and it went dormant again. He was too focused on Harvest, too preoccupied by his raging thoughts weighing the pros and cons of his foolish 'sacrifice'.
He still hoped to be able to win somehow… Harvest had been defeated by a bunch of teenagers, after all. Sure, they were powerhouses in their own rights (except for Robin), but he also managed to capture them all once, already. Although… He looked toward another person using psionic powers, albeit with no outward manifestations of them.
Omen. She might have been the one to actually do Harvest's work for him, hidden in the background. At the moment, however, she was preoccupied with her own share of opponents. Surprisingly, Bunker had moved on from his fight with Grunge to face her, accompanied by the Bloodsmith and Delphi. This little team-up seemed to work decently well against her.
Perhaps, he had a shot…
Ned slid to a stop about ten feet from Harvest. As if in common accord, the villain stopped as well.
« So, you have come to face your end ! Commendable ! » The drama queen intoned, probably trying to appear both honorable and threatening. Ned just thought the man a douchebag.
Ned shrugged, thinking to himself that if the villain was about to monologue, he might as well give him a chance to. Talk-no-Jutsu wasn't exactly his forte anyways… When he talked, he had the tendency to rile his enemies up instead.
« I'm curious, really… » Ned started. « Your whole Hitler schtick, there… Is it just me or have you lost it somewhere ? I mean… Despite all your hate on metahumans and aliens, you still surround yourself with them. In fact, every douchebag with a modicum of importance in your boy band has some powers. And I'm not only talking about the Ravagers. Your chief scientist, your second in command. They're both something you despise. Or should anyway… Have you gone soft in your old age or are you just that nuts ? »
Inwardly, Ned admonished himself. He just wanted to give Harvest a reason to monologue and he went and antagonized him. Perhaps he should have written a will before coming here ?
Instead of blasting Ned to Kingdom Come, Harvest shook his head and… sighed ? Ned wasn't sure.
« You know nothing, child. Nothing of the horrors you kind will unleash against those without powers. Nothing of the plague you bear, the danger… » He gestured vaguely with his hands toward the battlefield around them : « My weapons are only aimed at their kin. Forged and tempered to become the weapons I'll use in my war against Metahuman and alien kind. Until the time of the final battle comes, they will continued to train and be honed against the threats you and yours represent the world. »
Ned scoffed :
« That's rich coming from an invader of this time. What about the threat you represent ? Tell me, O wise man, has your time finally figured out the intricacies involved in time travel ? The risks involved ? »
Once again, he shook his head and with the following words, Ned finally realized what he was facing : a fanatic. He might have had the idea before that Harvest was such a man, but it was just now that he had the confirmation.
« The risks means nothing. If I… If we don't act now, in this time, your kind will destroy worlds ! And so, I started my hunt. My righteous hunt. Until there are no more of you, I will not stop ! »
Ned wondered aloud :
« And what if it was you're coming to this time, which cause Metahumans and aliens to deal so much death and destruction on the human race ? You or people like you ? Prejudiced bastards with axes to grind killing hundreds, thousands of innocents… What of their closed ones, their families, friends, lovers ? You're just piling up the woods and gasoline and playing with matches on the side… »
And as always with these kinds of people, when their words proved themselves not enough to win an argument, he decided to come to blows.
« This debate is fruitless. Your death is already a foregone conclusion and my resolve shall not waiver ! Now, prepare to die ! »