Chapter 35

 In the shadow of an alley, three figures were exchanging blows, ducking and weaving past each other while attempting to kill one another. Elizabeth, her red hair blazing around her face, used her thin cane sword which was similar to a rapier, to parry and thrust with finesse. Katelyn was using a pair of kukris to fight defensively and offensively; the kukri in her left hand blocked and deflected attacks while the kukri in her right was aiming to slash her two opponents' throats. Melanie, however, was much more slippery. She would use her sword in close range but switch to a whip, without a moment's notice, and she was maliciously aiming at the latter two's faces.

Katelyn lunged at Elizabeth who dodged by ducking and spinning aside at the last moment, narrowly avoiding Melanie's whip at the same time, and appearing behind Katelyn. Katelyn turned and crossed both kukris to block the swing from Melanie's whip before rolling away from Elizabeth who was preparing to attack her from her blind spot.

Elizabeth responded by running towards Melanie and sliding with her body slanted when Melanie tried to whip her. Melanie turned her sword whip back into a sword to block Elizabeth's stabs. Her eyes narrowed when Elizabeth's rapier brushed against her sword and grazed her cheek. She felt the warmth of fresh blood trickling down her cheek and her eyes flashed with hatred.

Right after Elizabeth fell back, Melanie ducked when she felt killing intent directed at her back; while they were exchanging blows, Katelyn snuck behind Melanie and leapt while slashing at her. Seeing Melanie dodge the first attack, Katelyn spun and slashed again at a lower angle. Melanie flipped her body horizontally and the blade passed between her legs without hurting her while Elizabeth kicked at Katelyn with a roundhouse kick. Katelyn used the blow to spin and return a roundhouse kick to Elizabeth who lowered the impact by raising an arm to protect her head. Nonetheless, she staggered backwards as Melanie leaped over her and slashed at Katelyn.

Katelyn used both her kukris to deflect the path of the slash while sidestepping away, but Melanie pursued her with a flurry of continuously chained slashes. At the last strike, rather than pursuing Katelyn, Melanie's sword became a whip once more and she swung backwards at Elizabeth who side flipped at the right moment, avoiding the whip which whistled mere millimeters away from her.

The three separated from each other and tried catching their breaths while eyeing each other. However, before long, they began fighting each other again. This time though, unbeknownst to the other two, Elizabeth was half-heartedly fighting. Instead, she began to control the flow of the battle, successfully managing to have Katelyn and Melanie focus on each other while she quietly backed out.

I'll let these two lassies play with each other, She thought as she caught her breath once more before sitting on top of a large recycle container. They'll have a nice hot workout together and I'll just ambush them when they're exhausted.

With her legs crossed and a flask of alcohol in her hands, Elizabeth looked like she was watching an intriguing play or wrestle match. She would wince when she saw one give the other a solid blow, and she would excitedly clench her fist when one would successfully perform a difficult battle move.

After a minute of exchanging blows, Elizabeth let her voice slip.

"Aye, gaun yersel' hen!" She cried out while clapping her hands, as an audience member would do in a wrestling show. [1]

The two stopped midway in an attack and stared at her for a moment while she cursed under her breath. A second later, Katelyn threw a kukri while Melanie unfurled her whip and they both lashed out; Elizabeth widened her eyes and looked taken aback for a split second before rolling away from the knife and whip that were aimed at her.

Ay, fuck it, Elizabeth thought. Might as end it now.

Seconds later, the three were back into a brawl when a shadow came crashing down from above. The figure landed in between all three and smashed his fist onto the ground, creating a shockwave of energy that pulsed through the ground, knocking everyone off their feet. All three groggily got up and saw a figure dressed in a biker jacket with an armored suit underneath it. His red eyes looked at all three of them apathetically while his deep husky voice sent chills down their spines.

"Enough," Jason commanded quietly, his aura stifling them. "No more fighting. And no more trying to kill each other." 

***

"Thank you, but we'll continue this discussion later, Mr. Singh," Watson smiled politely as she opened the door to her office and gestured at two AEM officers to escort the unhappy guest that was in her office.

"Ms. Watson, I - " the ambassador said but Watson cut him off.

"Ambassador Singh, with all due respect, Atlantis has just faced a terrorist attack. Meaning I have no time to negotiate a meeting, especially with a Phantom who is surely busy trying to maintain order after such a horrendous attack," Watson said sharply. "And what I need to do is make sure that this city, and its citizens, are safe. So, please."

Watson gestured at the door and the ambassador sighed.

"We'll discuss this at a better timing then, Ms. Watson," ambassador Singh said before leaving, allowing the two officers to escort him out of AEM's premises.

"Ungh, asshole," Watson muttered while cradling her head with a hand. She was annoyed that the ambassador to India would arrive at the appointed time for their negotiation, despite her canceling it due to the recent missile strike which resulted in her wasting time she could've used more effectively.

A knock on her door made her look up and she found Raphael, Michelle, and Junco outside her office.

"Michelle, sweetie, you alright?" Watson rushed up and grabbed Michelle into a hug before checking her for injuries.

"Je vais bien, mama," Michelle said with some embarrassment since Junco was watching them.

"Ahem, permission to enter, ma'am?" Raphael asked and Watson nodded curtly. Raphael and Junco were acting professional since they were on duty.

"Junco, take Michelle to the mess hall let her have anything she wants," Watson instructed Junco who stood straight like a soldier receiving her orders. "Then take her to the shooting range."

"Ma'am, yes ma'am!" Junco said while saluting before taking Michelle away.

Raphael looked at Watson who collapsed back onto her chair and furrowed his eyebrows. "You alright, Colonel?"

"I'm fine, thank you," Watson answered while rubbing her eyes. She hesitated before speaking again. "You've known Jason - Fenrir - for a while, correct?"

"... Yeah," Raphael answered warily.

"Do you know his last name?" Watson asked again.

"Sage. Why?" Raphael replied.

"That was his adopted name. He had a different surname before that," Watson said and Raphael looked at her bemused.

"What does that - ?"

"It was Singh, Raph," Watson interrupted. "His former surname before being adopted was Singh."

"Singh? As in, the same Singh as …?" Raphael's eyes widened and he looked at Watson with surprise. "Does that mean the Singhs from India are trying to contact him because he's their family member?"

"I don't know," Watson answered. "Oldest records show that Jason appeared in Europe and before that he was a child soldier that was almost always engaged in the African continent. There were no records of him being from or anywhere near India."

Watson sighed before looking up at Raphael.

"What concerns me the most is if the Singh family tries to associate themselves with him by this connection, even if it is false," Watson said. "Right now, the major countries are having a cold war. No one has an advantage over the others, but if Jason were to join India …"

"It could restart the war," Raphael said with a grimace. "Even if it doesn't, India still gains a weapon that could potentially rocket them into being the number one world power."

"Exactly," Watson nodded. "Sanctuary is neutral in all international affairs, and we're the only ones who can maintain that because no country wants to openly aggravate us but that would change since Fenrir is a Phantom operative."

"I don't think you have much to worry about," Raphael said slowly after thinking for a moment. "The fact that he's here, in Sanctuary, means that he isn't interested in joining any country. Maybe he's not even related to the Singhs. It's a popular name after all."

"Maybe," Watson said. "But I still need to consider it as a possibility. And I've been meaning to talk to him. Soon. And personally."

Raphael grunted when he heard Watson and the latter raised an eyebrow in response.

"Don't worry, I can handle him," Watson said. "He's not that bad. I think."

***

Elizabeth narrowed her eyes when she saw Jason's outfit. The armor was nothing to sneeze at but what drew her attention the most was the glaring Council insignia that was emitting from his chest, between his open jacket.

"Really, laddie?" Elizabeth asked, her voice uncharacteristically harsh and spiteful. "You, Fenrir, the proud lone wolf who refused to join any organization, even Morta, decided to become the council's arse-licker? Exactly what did they offer for ye to become their pet, eh?"

"A place to call home," Jason answered quietly.

"And I wasn't enough?! I wasn't home enough for ye?!" Elizabeth asked, almost screaming before she regained her coolness.

"Lizzy …" Jason pressed the button on his neck and the helmet he was wearing separated into plates that settled on his armor. He was feeling guilty because he knew she was right: he never treated her right, he closed himself from her even though she tried loving him. This and the fact that she was his first lover was primarily why he wanted to marry her; he owed her the world. "It wasn't like that. It never was." 

"So that's why you started keeping a distance from me again," Melanie butted in with a dangerously low voice. "It's because there are too many tramps around you. And you won't let me kill them either. So, how am I supposed to make it to your heart?"

Melanie's eyes landed on Jason's chest and she lightened up.

"Maybe I should carve my name on your chest. That way, any woman who sleeps with you will know ... That. You. Are. Mine!" Melanie said slowly and with a lovely smile that was unbefitting of what she was saying.

"And what's up with all these lassies? I'm fine with sharing but not with a bonny lass who's shoogly in th' head," Elizabeth said while pointing her sword at Melanie. [2]

"Says the GILF," Melanie hissed. "Why don't you pick someone more … in your league?"

"That rich, coming frem ye," Elizabeth said before slinking closer to Jason. She sandwiched his arm between her breasts with a smug face that made Melanie grit her teeth. "I've taught the laddie everything about pleasing a lass. Have you even smashed with him? Can your bonny body even please him? No? Then ye're just jelly."

"If that's what you're competing at, then I win," Katelyn spoke up for the first time, her voice sardonic. "He taught me everything and was even my first. Not to mention, we have a child to commemorate our … love."

Fuck, Jason thought as he glared at Katelyn through his helmet which he promptly reactivated in order to hide his expression. She had to kick the hornet's nest.

Sure enough, the expressions on Melanie's and Elizabeth's faces changed. Elizabeth turned pale and bit her lower lip while Melanie began seething with a sweet smile full of murderous intent.

"Alice … she's your daughter," Melanie hissed from between her gritted teeth. She then lashed her whip at Katelyn but Jason pulled out his gun and shot it in midair, redirecting the whip's trajectory.

"Don't stop me!" Melanie spun around at Jason with a ferocity that surprised even him. "The Council wants her, and I intend to deliver."

"Not so fast bonnie," Elizabeth said. "I need to ask her about the … eh - ah! - weather. So I'll be taking her first."

"You all talk too much," Jason said. He moved so fast he was almost a blur, and the two arguing women nearest to him, Melanie and Elizabeth, were caught off-guard. They prepared to defend themselves but Jason disarmed them by grabbing their wrists and applying pressure on a specific spot that forced them to release their weapons. Then he grabbed Elizabeth and Melanie in each of his arms and pulled them closer. "I don't want to hurt you, so that leaves me with only one other way to put you down."

Even as he muttered that Jason let his hands explore their bodies. The hand on Melanie traveled down and gripped her tiny but firm ass, his finger sitting right atop her crack while his other hand went up to Elizabeth's body and settled over her breast. A second later, both cried out through gritted teeth before their knees buckled and Jason, with an etched smile of victory, let them collapse on the floor gasping.

"Wh - what d - did you … laddie?" Elizabeth asked through moans.

"I sent a large chemical signal through your bodies, making you both …" Jason didn't need to finish his sentence for them to realize what he meant: he had them climax from simply some petting.

"H-how…" Melanie gasped in a euphoric voice, her hazel eyes were clouded with pleasure and surprise.

"I control energy, remember? It's pretty easy to do this. In fact, I've been doing it for a while, especially with you, Lizzy."

Elizabeth looked up at Jason in surprise and he rolled his eyes. "Oh, c'mon. How could I, as a kid, satisfy you so well? Did you really never suspect that? C'mon, I was fourteen ..."

"You … arse," Elizabeth realized just now why she was hooked to Jason all those years ago.

"That's right, I am an ass, I used my powers. That's what you girls love about me. Which is why …" Jason kneeled down and bit both their ears causing them to nearly scream again. "You'll never be satisfied with another man again.

"Now then," Jason stood up and turned to look at Katelyn only to realize that she used this moment to escape.

"Tch, dammit," he muttered as he clicked his tongue before yelling at the empty road. "You can't keep running, Katie. I'll find you!"

Jason's eyes looked down even as his voice lowered. "I promise I'll find you."  

And I'll make it up to you … even if it means dying, Jason finished in his mind.

Jason then turned to Elizabeth and Melanie, both of whom were still trying to stand up on their shaky legs.

"Well, this has been fun," Jason slapped both of their ass, sending them sprawling back on the ground while they helplessly glared at him. "But I've got plans with my daughter so …"

Jason bent down and kissed them, causing both of them to squirm again as they locked their thighs tightly while he walked away cockily. "See you around, babes."

Once he was out of their sight, he breathed a sigh of relaxation as he wiped the sweat off his forehead while leaning on a wall.

Huh, that went better than expected, Jason thought. Maybe … I could try getting them all? A harem … that wouldn't be bad. Ah, who am I kidding? The Curse would never let me have a happy life. Then again … a man can always dream.

The black flying motorcycle came down to retrieve him, and Jason jumped onto the bike and flew away.

I still have time before it's evening, Jason thought while checking his watch. "A.V.A set a course for the Loft. We can have our discussion now."

A.V.A complied and the bike flew to the Loft while blocking any satellite from detecting it. Jason leapt into the balcony of the Loft. As soon as his foot touched the ground, the balcony's entrance to the Loft unlocked itself and he walked in calmly. He used the hoverlift to reach the main floor and walked up to the supercomputer that was up and running.

"A.V.A, be a dear and unlock the operating table," Jason said while sitting down.

A large workshop table slowly lifted itself up from the ground a few feet from the computer and Jason swiveled the chair towards it. The table was full of prototype weapons and gadgets that Jason was working on. A few were from Selena, while the others were little side projects Jason made these past few years.

With a deep breath, Jason started working on two different gadgets. Today, during the battle with Elizabeth and Melanie, Jason realized that his weaponry and gadgets were lethal: none were suited for taking down an opponent without harming them grievously. For that reason, he decided to add the finishing touches to either one of his two newest gadgets: a bola with two electrified ends that would stun an opponent once they were trapped and an anchor grapple that was inspired by a Telltale game he had once seen Alina play. The latter gadget was similar to the Grappling Pivot he had on his shoulders, however, the device would fire another hook that was attached to the end of the cable. That way, Jason could tie and hang an opponent up without needing to be at arm's distance. [3]

As he tinkered with the gadgets, footsteps approached him. Ava, the android version of A.V.A, appeared behind him, silently watching him work without interrupting him. After a minute of silence, Jason paused, unable to bear the droid's silent stare.

"You have questions," Jason stated in a quiet voice bereft of emotions.

"Yes," Ava said with a tilt of her head. "I'm uncertain of what to make of your recent actions. Why allow that missile to strike you? I had aborted the launch sequence almost as soon as it was ordered. Yet, my protocols were overridden. You allowed the launch sequence to be activated."

Jason smiled and shook his head once. It was almost like he was disappointed with A.V.A's observation.

"Ava. What does your name stand for?" He asked slowly. Right now, if any of the girls were to be watching him, especially Alina, they'd immediately point out that he sounded just like a comic villain.

"Advanced Virtual Assistant," Ava replied coherently.

"Advanced," Jason muttered before looking at her, his voice still low but magnetic. "Advanced. You're smart. Brilliant. You tell me why I did what I did."

Ava was silent for a moment, appearing to compile her thoughts together before speaking slowly. "The first reason to come to mind was that you didn't want to alert the enemies to the fact that you are capable of stopping their hacks."

Jason nodded while smiling. "Go on."

"The other reason would be to pressure Sanctuary itself," Ava continued. "They must have known about the syndicate that was controlling the western pier, yet allowed them to smuggle in mercenaries and Practitioners. If an attack by terrorists were to occur, then the city would be forced to blame someone. And you would ensure that the mercenaries would be targeted first."

"That's right," Jason said encouragingly. "What other reason could I possibly have?"

"You were bored," Ava stared at Jason, her pair of cold, soulless eyes peered into his set of impassively apathetic eyes. "It's been two years since you've had a good fight. And now, you found one. Or rather, it found you."

"Hmm, perhaps," Jason said with a slight frown. "To be frank, I'm not sure about that either. But there is one thing I'm certain of …"

Jason stood and walked up to Ava and fixed her hair. He then gently placed a hand on her chin and raised her head up so she could gaze straight into his eyes.

"The attack brought both Alina and Alice, especially Alice, closer to me," Jason said quietly as he turned away and returned to fixing the bolas. "That means more than anything else; the fact that my daughter could not bear to see me injured ... it means a lot to me. It means she cares for me."

Ava tilted her head in contemplation before asking slowly. "But wouldn't that possibly backfire, should they discover the truth?"

"I don't see how," Jason shrugged. "They'll either think that I'm an idiot, a daredevil, or at worse, a bit loco. It doesn't matter, not in the long run. And we are in this for the long run. Never forget that, Ava."

Ava remained silent and didn't disturb Jason after his last sentence while the latter focused on his project in front of him. Right now, he was short on time, so he could only finish one project before evening. The question was, which one should he complete first? [4]

[1] Roughly translates to "Go for it!" or "Go get'em!". Yeah, she was cheering them on.

[2] Bonny lass = skinny girl. Shoogly in th' head = loose in the head/got a few buckets loose in the head.

[3]  Bolas, the weapon in every ninja's arsenal. And the Anchor Grapple is a reference to the gadget from Batman The Telltale Series: The Enemy Within.

[4] This was an interactive vote in which I had the readers decide which equipment to upgrade first, hence the question mark (on Royalroad).