Season Beatings Part 5

By the time I opened my eyes again, my surroundings had changed. The seemingly endless black void quickly turned into a tightly cramped white corridor that stretched far from either side. What was even more surprising, though, was that I now had a "partner."

Somehow in the short span that the light happened, Eternus had now appeared right in front of me. Before I could even consider that a good thing or not, Eternus' trademark short fuse had reached its limit a long time ago; a spark of realization and dread appeared on his grimaced face as he burst from sheer frustration.

"Goddamn it! I'm an idiot! Why the hell didn't I think of that before?!"

"Care to fill me in?" I said, completely out of the loop.

"Nefario mentioned before was talking some crap about some hologram interface stuff. And I didn't see any projectors and shit to explain how they got there. So if they can appear in a room like that, no problem. So what's to stop them from changing the room itself?"

"Ding, ding, ding. Correct Eternus, once again, I'm impressed by your battle-worn intellect. You won't believe how long it took me to perfect my Nefarigram technology, but it has paid off spectacularly. I'm sure you of all people understand the need for theatrics and presentation in our time? Nonetheless, in that split second, I used them to separate you all into pairs, to welcome to my Nefarimaze officially! What awaits you is a complex series of corridors and floors, some real, some oriental. Unite with the rest of your team, and I will let you proceed to the final battle. Provided the various booby traps don't kill you on the way there, of course, though. Either way, I give you my best!" Nefario said enthusiastically in the intercom.

A cold fury started to wash over Eternus' body as he decided to get into drastic messages. Using a shattered and sharpened piece of metal from his earlier opponent. Eternus started to roll up his clothes and level the shard over his hand in crazed determination.

Without hesitation, he then carved the shard deep overhand, instantly creating a pool of blood over his hand while gritting his teeth so hard I'm surprised they didn't shatter like glass! After that, he collapsed his now scarlet red hand, forcing even more blood to start creeping out.

By the time he tried to go for his left foot, I had got over my sheer shock, quickly grabbing his hand with a steel-like grip and looking him dead in the eye.

"What the hell are you doing?!"

"What's it look like? I'm leaving a trail for both us and the others. I don't know who the hell this Nefario person is but one thing is clear; there is some method to their madness. Either way was in their hands, and nothing stopped them from changing the rooms again through the holograms or other machines anyway. This is the only move I can think of; blood's easy to see, sticks and stays provided they don't try anything. Either way, we got a lot of walking to do, so let me lead the way," he said in almost blind resolve.

With that, Eternus started to storm off in a huff, and I had no choice but to follow as he numbered our path in crimson blood in a grim. However, we didn't realize how long this maze was until it was far too late. Our lives nearly ended many times. I lost count through armed flamethrowers, gatling turrets, and near acid baths. Either way, we still stuck to our "map" covered in blood, grime, and singed clothes until I saw a depressing sight.

"Eternus, I'm pretty sure we've been here before. I think we've passed this sixteen for like the fifth time now."

"I'm sure we have," Eternus said in his trademark negativity.

"Then don't you think that you know, do that thing where we stop and regroup?"

"No, you can stop if you need to, but I can keep going,"Eternus said adamantly.

With that small sense of interrupted focus, Eternus activated another deadly trap, shooting out a spinning saw from an outstretched launcher. At that point, any real thought vanished from my head, only action and instinct. My fatigue meant nothing; my surroundings meant nothing, hell even Eternus meant nothing in the end. The only thing I saw was the fast-moving arrows right in front of me.

So faster than I ever thought possible, I snatched the incoming disc with almost predatory strength, throwing the disc right to the sender with the same torque, slicing the turret in half, and having it explode on contact! And much like a rubber band, that weird sense of focus completely vanished, leaving me even more exhausted than ever, of both Doctor Nefario and Eternus. The latest comment of the latter basically all but sealed that raw deal.

"I could've handled that," Eternus said as he tried to move in front of my heaving frame.

However, I didn't let him have the last word; instead, I forcefully grabbed his shoulder and turned him towards me.

"Why do you always act like this?" I said in honest curiosity.

"Ricochet, I don't have the time for this shit, let go and -"

"No, no, shut up and listen to me; we literally have all the time right now. So I ask again, why do you always act like this?"

"Acting like what?"

"Acting like you're invincible, acting like you don't need rest or you don't need us," I said in a rather loose tone.

With that, wisps of Eternus' new dark aura started to leak out a little bit, sensing my usual disobedience.

I told you before, Ricochet, any permanent hit you take is a temporary one for me. So you don't have to worry about me, nor care, I'll be fine no matter what. I've been using you for years, so just use me for shit like this," he said in an almost depressing tone.

At that moment, I saw past ripped-up clothes, ruffled hair, and a cape. Instead, that same instinct that took me over picked up on something that I knew very well: the feeling of fear, the fear that safeguarded all expectations.

A fear so powerful it's almost second nature to avoid it at all costs, using whatever excuse you can find. For the first time in probably forever, I finally understood the man that I followed. Because that same fear is what dominated me for a decade straight. So instead of letting my anger and stress get ahead, I limbered up and relaxed for both me and him.

"Yeah, I get that, Eternus; we have to work with all that we got, right? Nevertheless, we are a team for a reason, and just because you can take it doesn't mean you always should make it the first option. Did you forget rules number two and three? Or did you honestly expect us to sit by while you throw yourself into the fight because I can confidently speak for all of us when I say that we're not going anywhere, Eternus? After all, you didn't do that for me. " I said with more wisdom and emotion that I didn't even know I had.

By the time I finished, both Eternus and I looked at each other in shared awe over what I said. Then, for a fluttering moment, my indescribable instinct came again, showing that for a second, I pierced through Eternus blackened heart. With that, his face finally started to soften as he took in one long, patient breath.

"Fine, let's take a short break."

With that, the 2 of us rested in this alien-like room, filling up the oppressive silence inside with our aimless banter. I didn't know how long we were in there, really, for hours or a couple of minutes. But by the time we started to get back up, we sensed presences that got very much welcomed. At first, I thought I was hallucinating, but as their steps grew closer, I realized that my brain indeed wasn't playing tricks on me.

Once again, lady luck seemed to shine on both of us, as soon enough, the other Cons arrived in their separate pairs. However, Fury made her way towards first, hugging both of us first and checking up on Eternus.

"Thank god you are all right! It took Port and I forever before we figured out how this damn maze works, but once Frag used Gum to spit some morse code, once we saw your trail, we caught up. Are you okay, Eternus? That was a scary amount of blood."

"Yeah, I am Fury. But, honestly, I'm more surprised that you just used a bad word."

"Oh, I did? Well, um, I'm not sorry?"

"Atta girl, come on, we've still got some ass to kick," Eternus said while getting up.

With that, our rise in morale restored at least a little bit of our stamina. But I didn't think about that. Instead, all I did was react as another mysterious door managed to appear right in front of us. And for once, the lack of Dr. Nefario's annoying commentary was more chilling than anything we've experienced so far.