Chapter 6: A Chat Beside the River Arno.

Ward was watching Tina Minoru carefully, as she dangled about, held firmly in his grasp. Her feet kicking, her nails trying to dig into his flesh, desperate to escape. What impressed him is that even though she was afraid, she still fought anyway. That took courage. Sighing, Ward lowered her to the ground, then spoke to her in a calm, but resolute tone of voice.

"I apologize for the rough treatment, Mrs. Minoru, but your violent actions left me with little choice."

Slowly releasing his grip, Ward stepped back, allowing the petite woman to catch her breath. From the very start, he had no intention of killing her, especially after recognizing who she was. In fact, Tina was one of the few people in PRIDE whose reasoning he understood.

She wasn't participating in the coming sacrifice because she wanted to, but rather, because she had no other choice. Her family was at stake. If she had refused, then the "entity" behind the sacrifice… would kill them. And Ward was under no illusions to the contrary. He could even sympathize.

Even willing to kill to protect the one's she loved. That was something he could relate to. However, that was where his sympathy ended. Because there were two sides to every story. The one she was going to kill, was an innocent. Tina knew this and she had other options available to her, but she chose to ignore them… out of fear.

That was where Ward drew the line. Tina could have easily sought help from the other members of PRIDE. She could have even gone to the proper authorities, or used magic to even the playing field, she was a sorceress, after all. Instead, she "chose" to be ruled by fear. So, although Ward understood her actions, he still didn't approve of them. Because she didn't even try to change what would happen.

It was all a moot point though, as whether Ward approved of Tina's choices or not, he had already begun to intervene before their encounter even happened. And if he were being honest, his intervention wasn't strictly for altruistic reasons… so maybe he should avoid being so judgmental.

He was no saint, after all. PRIDE had something Ward needed. Saving "Brooks Watten", the soon to be "sacrifice", while putting an end to all PRIDE's future sacrifices … that was just a happy bonus. And if he got to screw with a "would-be God" in the process… it would make his day.

'Looks like she calmed down a bit.', he thought.

Tina had finally caught her breath, standing up straight, her gaze went from him, then to the Staff of the One, which he was still holding in his hand. From the look in her eyes, Ward could tell that she was considering her options. Her mind most likely torn between whether to flee or try to take back the staff. Taking note of her dilemma, Ward chuckled.

"I would not advise you to try taking the staff by force, Mrs. Minoru."

While meeting her gaze, he held the staff towards her.

"However, should you agree to hear me out on a proposal, one which I believe will benefit both of us… then I will return it you here and now."

Tina hesitated after listening to his words, but it didn't take her very long in making up her mind, as she soon responded while reaching for the staff.

"I'll listen… but it better be good."

She enunciated that last part while holding her neck, it didn't take a genius to figure out that she was the kind of woman to hold a grudge. With an apologetic smile, Ward pushed his hand to the side. A loud "BOOM" resounded through the room, as a portal appeared off to their side.

Those familiar with DC Comics would recognize the portal a "BOOM Tube", a dimensional travel portal used by the "New Gods". It was something he had only recently been able to do. He still couldn't travel intergalactically with it, but anywhere on Earth was possible. Motioning for her to go through first, he spoke.

"Ladies first, Mrs. Minoru."

She scoffed at his words, and while eying the BOOM Tube cautiously, she responded.

"Oh… so now you're a gentleman."

Shaking her head, Tina walked through the shimmering portal. Wards smile disappeared after she left. For the briefest moment, she had reminded him of his wife. It made his heart ache. Lightly shaking his head, Ward retrieved his coat, then walked over to Killian, who was fully aware of his abilities by this point and spoke.

"I'll be back within a few hours."

"Rendezvous with Garrett, then meet me at the next location."

Nodding his head, Killian responded.

"Should we start without you?"

Rubbing the back of his neck, Ward gave it some thought, before replying.

"Mm… yeah."

"I'll join you in a few hours."

Remembering everything he had left to do, Ward felt even more strongly that he needed more people working with him. Hopefully, he could convince PRIDE and if not, he would have to make other arrangements. Ward sighed deeply, wondering if this was what the commanders, he'd once served under had to deal with. Then, not being one to keep a lady waiting, Ward followed Tina through the BOOM Tube.

--- City of Pisa, Italy ---

Ward's BOOM Tube opened towards the end of an alleyway not far away from the "River Arno". The river itself could be seen in the distance. Tina Minoru walked out, followed minutes later by Ward. Having a bit of time to look around, Tina asked Ward a question when he exited the BOOM Tube.

"Is this Italy?"

Hearing her question, Ward smiled.

"It is, indeed, Mrs. Minoru."

With the portal closing behind him, Ward asked his own question.

"Have you been here before?"

Staff still in hand, Tina looked down at the ground in contemplation. Seemingly reaching a decision, she withdrew the staff back into her body, before responding.

"Yes, with my mother… when I was a child."

As the two of them walked towards the entrance to the alley, Ward couldn't help but stare at the River Arno. It was there, that he'd proposed to his wife, while standing upon the walkways of "Ponte Vecchio" bridge. It remained, one of his happiest memories.

---

About twenty minutes later Ward and Tina were eating gelato, while standing on the "Mezzo Bridge". Neither of them had said a word since arriving, simply watching as the sun set across the backdrop of the city. It was a breathtaking site. Seeing that Tina was growing uncomfortable with the silence, Ward spoke.

"My name is Grant Ward."

He looked over at her, before continuing.

"A late introduction, I know, but considering the… complication of our first encounter, I do hope you'll forgive my poor manners."

Placing his gelato on the bridges nearby handrail, Ward wiped his mouth with a napkin.

"That was delicious…"

Saying so, he sighed turning towards Tina, before continuing.

"Allow me to be blunt, Mrs. Minoru."

Leveling her with a heavy gaze, Ward kept speaking.

"I know what PRIDE is planning in two days' time."

Tina had placed her own gelato down by this point and was paying close attention to Wards every word.

"Too be clear, I not only know about PRIDE's plans… I fully intend to put a stop to them."

Wards gaze turned cold, his eyes briefly glowing crimson.

"Too be clear, I intend to stop it."

"And may God have mercy upon anyone that tries to stop me from doing so… because I won't show them any."

Her fists balled up at her side, Tina couldn't help but be afraid of the man in front of her. And although she secretly hated herself for feeling that way, the look in his eyes made it clear what would happen to the members of PRIDE that stood against him. Reclaiming her courage through sheer force of will, she spoke.

"You mentioned a proposal… one that would benefit us both."

"I said I'd listen, but all you've done so far is talk out your ass."

Despite himself, Ward couldn't help but laugh at hearing her words. Because she was right.

"Ha-ha … my apologies Mrs. Minoru, that seems to be a bad habit of mine."

Smiling again at how much she reminded him of his wife, Ward looked up at the now starry skies.

"My proposal regards PRIDE's future, it's benefactor's ruin, and the fate of the Abstract."

Tina's eyes went wide with shock. She accepted that Ward knew about PRIDE, but never expected that he had knowledge of the Abstract. Its existence was one of PRIDE's most closely guarded secrets. Before she could recover however, Ward had continued speaking.

"I have already taken action to ensure the ritual PRIDE has planned… or should I say the ritual PRIDE's benefactor has planned, will fail."

Looking back down towards Tina, Ward sighed.

"A failure that will lead to said benefactors' death… or, as close that a Gibborim can come to death… while on Earth, that is."

Seeing Tina give him a quizzical look, Ward scratched his head, then carried on in an explanatory tone.

"Their races physiology is energy based, Mrs. Minoru."

"And while energy can never truly be destroyed… it can be transformed."

"Shaped, if you will… into another form altogether."

Ward, seeing that Tina seemed to understand his words, motioned for them to resume their walk-through Pisa. After a lengthy conversation, they reached "Knights Square". Looking about, Ward could only smile fondly. He recalled that before the turn of the sixteenth century, the square had served as the "political Centre" of the entire City of Pisa.

It was truly a marvel, even in this more… modern era. And the square wasn't Pisa's only marvel. Indeed, the city was a lasting testament to Italy's culture and ingenuity of its people, drawing in tourists from all over the world. Blessed with monuments of incredible beauty, it gave the city an almost fairytale like atmosphere.

From the "Leaning Tower of Pisa" to the "Palazzo Dei Cavalieri" here on Knights Square, it was all… so idyllic. More so than that, the fact that most of the monuments were still in such amazing shape after all these centuries, was something that Ward found to be astounding.

He could only applaud the engineering that had accomplished such things and the amount of care that continued to maintain them. It showed how much the people of Italy valued their history. Seeing Wards smile, Tina spoke.

"You really love this city, don't you?"

Hearing her question, Ward responded without hesitation.

"I love the memories I made here, Mrs. Minoru, not the city itself."

It wasn't until he'd said the words, that Ward realized he'd just spoken completly from his heart. It was the first time he'd truly done so since coming to this world. Ward could only sigh at how closed off he'd been these last two years, but given what he'd been through, who could blame him? Looking at Tina, Ward asked his own question.

"I need your answer… will you help me, Mrs. Minoru?"

Perhaps it was something in his eyes or just the atmosphere that surrounded him, but Tina felt her breath catch in her throat. It meant that her time was up. Her answer would determine her future and that of her family's, that much she was certain of. So, Tina weighed her options.

After overcoming her initial wariness of the man, she noted that Ward didn't make her feel threatened, while Jonas did. More so, the man in front of her would never hurt her family. She was certain of that above all. Tina could see it in his eyes.

There was a profound loneliness in them that she couldn't quite put into words. It made her feel like he understood what she was facing, somehow. She couldn't say the same of Jonas. That man had no conscious. And besides… Wards offer was much more tempting.

Her only pause was that she didn't yet trust Ward, as they'd only just met. She would be a fool to do so, but… she didn't trust Jonah either. So… it came down to who she hated more. That made her decision much simpler. Nodding her head, Tina answered.

"All right, I'll help you."

Smiling, Ward responded.

"Then you should look forward to the night of the sacrifice, it should be one hell of a show!"