Canon Fodder

CHAPTER 452 BIG GREEN

“With that, the games will commence shortly,” the lackey said. As he said the words a staircase was revealed next to us. Leading down into the floating platform. A guard walked down the staircase as some followed, each acting like this was normal. 

I stuck around where we were teleported for a moment. Noticing a slight shimmer around us, it must have been some type of forcefield. Unable to lock onto the exact energy signatures of the field, I assumed I could make a Rift that would circumvent it, but I needed to save that for emergencies. Due to my training I knew I could make a Rift about 100 feet away, but the trick was knowing when to do it. This stupid god AI had the potential to read energy signatures, if I did my Rift too often it could show my hand.

The others in our retinue had mostly traveled down to the floor below us. The Less than Enthusiastic Four argued among one another, but I mostly ignored them. Though I had risked a lot saving them, I would prefer to make that revelation when I actually needed something from them like I had tried to do in the future. That could wait for now. For the time being I had to make everyone as prepared as I could. 

I walked down the short staircase to reveal a sitting area large enough for everyone. My Observation Haki mapping out the floating platform. There were some individual rooms, a restroom, and small kitchen, the rest was a large sitting area that looked out onto the fighting platform via a large glass bay window. 

The fighting platform was no longer barren like when we were summoned. Now it had sections of destroyed buildings, rubble, large boulders, and even some greenery littered around it, to give it some terrain. I eyed the other side of the arena where the Imperial Guard waited. The terrain change was most likely to enable them to fight more easily. Of those I fought, they all had their own special powers. Showing that mutants weren’t all that special in the universe. 

“I don’t know if I have to pee, puke, or shit myself,” Peter mumbled near the glass window overlooking the fighting platform.

“Go for the trifecta,” I said as I walked over. “At least there is some tall stuff in the arena for you to use your web shooters.”

“We have barely practiced with them,” he whined. 

“I’m pretty sure you did plenty of that in your room. You know, shooting the white stuff?” I asked.

“I’ll fucking kill you,” Peter said with more confidence than I had ever seen come from him. 

“There’s the Parker that turns me on,” I said, giving him a wink. “I’m telling you, trust your Nerd Sense. You’ll do fine.”

“Being a nerd has not given me special powers. It was that spider,” he said, annoyed.

“Spidey Sense, Nerd Sense, same thing. Trust in your powers, and you’ll do fine. If not, I’ll just save you,” I said.

“I don’t think anyone’s saving us,” Gwen said with a tired sigh as she looked out the window. “But I do plan to do my best.”

“Fuck that,” I said. “Let them do their best, you win. Whatever it takes.” 

“How’s that? Got any pointers?” Gwen asked.

“Well they’re birds…” I said. “I don’t know if you noticed this but this planet is super warm. I doubt they have to migrate for the winter, so they’re probably weak to the cold.”

“Shit, I didn’t think of that,” Peter said.

“You got any gadgets hidden away to help with that?” Gwen asked.

“I…do not,” I admitted. “But what other weaknesses do birds have?” Neither answered. “They float.” They looked at me confused for a moment. “Thus they are made of wood…and weigh the same as witches.”

“What the fuck,” Gwen laughed rolling her eyes. “A Monty Python joke?” 

“I couldn’t think of anything else,” I said. “But don’t worry about it, alright?” I asked, my eyes drifting to Anne who was close by but distinctly not looking my way. I wasn’t much for dodging confrontation, so I walked over to her.

“You need to steal someone’s powers,” I mumbled when I was next to her. She jerked out of her thoughts as she turned to face me. Her gray hair covering her eyes she had hope and fear leaking from her. “You were brought here for a reason. I don’t want you to hold back. You need to steal someone’s powers to survive your fight.”

“I’m not doing-”

“Anne,” I said, letting out a sigh. “I need to tell you-” I was cut off again as the lackey’s voice sounded from speakers inside the large room. 

“And let the Arin'n Haelar commence,” he said as the homeless man’s skin turned red and he winked out of existence. 

Everyone jumped back from where he disappeared from, but my eyes went to the arena floor where the hobo in our group winked into existence. He looked around surprised for a moment then resigned to his fate as he turned to face the Majestor’s platform.

“The first human has been chosen,” the lackey said. “Now, who shall Garuda choose as our representative…” He said the words and a person from the Imperial Guard turned red and appeared opposite the hobo.

His opponent was huge. At least nine feet tall he had pitch black skin and white hair spiked up. Wearing armor that was too tight, and barely covered his massive muscles, the crowd cheered as the lackey announced, “Garuda has chosen Boxmark! The Mighty Mark of the Imperial Guard himself. From the depths of the Glastolian Royal Lineage he once pulled himself out of a Huellers jaws and made it give up the pearl!” He said the words like it was supposed to mean something to us. Everyone else in the stadium appeared to understand as they only yelled louder. 

The muscular Boxmark punched his knuckles together and began to speak. The crowd quieted as the screens focused on him. “I promise to leave some of you for your people to mourn,” he said as he stomped toward the hobo. 

“Come on, pull some Vagabond shit!” I yelled down to the homeless man. He had the nerve to at least look bored as the alien walked toward him. The screens focused on the homeless man for a moment as he mumbled to himself, and the change began. 

At first I thought it was a discoloration in the floating screens, but no, he was turning green. Getting green and mean as he grew to the size of Boxmark, and continued growing. His clothes ripping, the homeless man became a raging inferno of Spiritual Energy as his pants clung for dear life as his transformation finished.

“What’s happening to him?” A voice asked.

“Fuck me, it’s Bruce Banner,” I said, my heart rate increasing as the cocky Boxmark faltered a few paces from the Incredible Hulk. 

“Who?” Reed Richards asked as he stepped forward.

“Bruce Banner,” I said in a daze as my eyes turned to Lyra Talbot. Her focus was locked onto the battleground below as they squared up to one another. “He did research into Gamma Rays.”

“I know the name,” Richards said, amazed. “He disappeared years ago. My own research was based on his. How can you know it’s him?”

I ignored the question. “Begin,” the lackey said and the fight started up. I didn’t see it at first as both men had jumped for one another. Instantly their fists were clashing against one another’s faces. Black skin versus green, they growled and a shockwave was let loose from their fists colliding again. The platform we were in naturally moved back, away from the fight as the two men clashed.

“What the hell is going on? Do I need to step in?” Carl Danvers asked.

“Fuck no,” I said, my hands on the window as I watched the fight. “He’s probably the strongest person here.” My words were proven true as he only got angrier and bigger. Yelling and hitting the downed buildings around him he lept at Boxmark and they were exchanging blows again. Each one caused a more powerful shockwave to hit our platform though we were so far away.

My heart rate only increased as I watched them unleash such raw power. I had thought Superman and Zod had been strong, but these guys were throwing blows meant to kill. I could feel the pure bloodlust pouring off them. Neither ready to give quarter or let the other have the upperhand as they began to bleed and yell.  

My eyes turned to the Majestor. He was unbothered by the onslaught. A greenish forcefield flickering to life as the shockwaves hit it, I got a good sense of where it was. Hopeful to need this information when Lilandra attacked, I turned back to the star of the show as he threw Boxmark out of the ring. The man hit another forcefield that protected the people, but was then jumping back in. 

It appeared that we wouldn’t be doing a count of ten for these fights. It was all or nothing, so Bruce Banner gave his all. Punching, kicking, and biting, it was like watching Wolverine fight. All rage, no finesse as he used everything he had and then some. 

Boxmark was punched into the arena floor and it cratered underneath him. Only for the Hulk to land on him, pounding down with all he had over and over. A huge dust cloud shooting up it covered the fighters, blocking everyone’s view. 

“I-I need to talk to you,” Lyra Talbot said next to me in a whisper. I turned to face her and her Haki said that she knew exactly who that was fighting down there. I nodded and followed her past the group watching. Turning into a side room she rushed inside. 

I closed the door behind her. She began to pace inside as her Haki only became more erratic. I felt the fight begin again outside as she turned to face me. Tears in her eyes she asked, “How do you know that is Bruce Banner?”

“I…” I paused, trying to think of a plausible lie. “I heard a report. You know how I work for the government? They had a file on him. I only became curious after I saw you do your…trick.”

“Oh my god,” she said, her hands beside her face as she combed her hair back. “You know, don’t you?” 

“Know what?” I lied.

“He’s my dad, my real dad,” she said, tears streaming down her cheeks. I played dumb as I approached her, my hands on her shoulders.

“Tell me, what’s going on,” I said. 

“I-I don’t know all of it,” she admitted, sniffling some snot back into her nose. “My mom dated Bruce Banner back in the day. Then one day he was involved in a lab accident…and he attacked my mom. He went missing after that. She met my dad soon after…and…” 

“And you now have a green alter ego as well?” I asked.

“Yeah, I mean, only my mom knows I can do this. And she mentioned that she was doing research on Gamma Rays, but she met my…dad or step-dad and he like adopted me, so-”

“Oh so he knows he’s not your real dad?” I asked, surprised. I had assumed it was some kind of affair or picking a new baby daddy situation.

“Yeah,” she said like it was obvious. “But I mean, he turned green, like me…and-oh fuck, Weston, I don’t know what to do.”

“Maybe go talk to him,” I said as the crowd booed and cheered around us. My focus went back to the Haki of the fighters but Bruce Banner was already teleported back to our platform. “Looks like he won,” I said, my gaze looking up to the teleporter ring he came from above us. He was no longer in his Hulk form, but was holding up his pants as Dr. Jekyll made his way to the stairs leading to us. n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

“I don’t know if I can,” Lyra said. “My mom has looked for him for so long. What if…”

“What if, nothing,” I said. “Hey, we survived another dimension. If that is your dad up there, he gave you a gift that makes you extraordinary. Maybe go thank him for it, or kick his ass for running; either way, I’ll be right here to back your play.” 

“Thanks,” she said, leaning forward she pulled me into a hug. “You’ve been a good friend, Weston.” 

“I know, I’m the best,” I said, patting her back with my one arm. “Now go confront your dad, or I will and I’ll announce it to the others.”

“Oh god, please no,” she said as we walked out of the small room. Her eyes locked onto Bruce Banner as he came down the stairs. I put my hand at her back and pushed her toward him. She caught herself, cursing me, but walked up to the man as shy as I could remember. 

“That was an unexpected turn of events. It appears the humans are stronger than we gave them credit for,” the lackey announced from the intercom. “No matter, Boxmark is one of many stars in the Imperial Guard. Let’s have no further delays. Garuda, please call our next challenger.” As he said the words I held my breath, but instead of me turning red and disappearing it was Reed Richards that the god-like AI yanked out of existence and threw on the battlefield. At least he didn’t kick and scream in rage as he was sent off to fight.