Chapter 17 - Under Dark Skies

Mikael moved faster than ever as he cleared entire blocks with a single step. He sped north west as he passed through the city leaping between the sides of skyscrapers and along the roofs of buildings and within minutes he found himself outside the confines of the city and speeding up a mountain side. With a final push he leaped up from his location and found himself soaring through the air as he twisted his body before landing gently atop the mountain peak as he looked back towards the skyline of the city in the distance. He looked at his surroundings and recognized that he was at the peak of Bear Mountain.

"I think this is about 57 miles from home by car. And I made it in… around 7 minutes going in a straight path. That's pretty good. I bet if I trained my body I could reach what the other Mikael could." Mikael said to himself as he did a bit of mental math. He looked up at the clear skies above and closed his eyes as he felt the fresh mountain air brush past his face as he took a deep breath and expanded his senses into the surroundings.

"Nice weather. Shame I'm about to ruin it." Mikael smiled as he opened his eyes after sensing that no one was in the mountains at the moment. He then raised one hand to the sky and slowly turned it clockwise as he closed his fingers. The clouds above seemed to gather above him like a vortex as they grew darker. However unlike before the clouds remained silent as light rain began to fall. Mikael waved his hand again as a large boulder whipped into the air coming to a sudden halt several feet to right as it spun and rotated in place. Mikael moved a finger in a circle as the Boulder started to orbit around him as several more rose to join it.

Mikael closed his eyes as the boulders spun faster and faster until all that could be seen were the faint outlines that spun around him like a gyroscope. As he opened his eyes again the boulders fired off into the air at breakneck speeds before streaks of lightning fell from the sky turning them to dust all at once. Mikael reached out as he attempted to expand his influence, the rocks on nearby mountains lifted off the ground, the rain began to pour heavily from the sky and the dark clouds expanded further and further. Soon the entire state of New York and its immediate neighbors fell under the shadows as it continued to expand. However as it reached the limit of half the east coast Mikael felt a sense of exhaustion beginning to take hold. It felt as though his physical body was straining to sustain the flow of power that flowed through it. He quickly stopped attempting to push his limit as he looked around.

Everywhere he looked was covered in a shroud of darkness. All he could see from the city now were the small spots of light from the windows of the various buildings. Dark clouds reached out far beyond the limits of his vision obstructed by the sheets of rain that soaked everything in view.

"Damn…That's exhausting. I know I have more in me…But I don't think I can handle more right now." Mikael struggled for air as he felt as though his body was on fire. He barely managed to lower himself into a comfortable seating position atop the mountain as he felt his body begin to recover as the familiar warm energy filled his form.

"I probably should've spent some time training physically. I should make sure I don't use more than my body can handle." Mikael stood to his feet after several minutes. He had recovered but now he felt as though he had been been starving for days.

"Ah damn it. I need to get away from here. I've been here too long and I need some food and a nap." Mikael said as he drew on as much power as he felt comfortable and began to descend towards the city. As Mikael was making his way back to New York City while looking for a place to eat, the clouds were finally beginning to clear as the last remnants of his power faded from the air. As sunlight bled through the clouds once more a group of armed figures were seen making their way up the side of the mountain. The group eventually stepped foot onto the peak where Mikael stood they immediately pulled out equipment and started to investigate the scene until one individual stepped away and made a phone call.

"Sir, there's nothing here. No tracks, no prints, nothing. Whoever we saw through the satellite when that storm started is no longer here." The figure said over the phone as he looked over the rest of the group packing away their equipment. After a brief pause a voice answered from the other side of the line.

"Fine, we'll find whoever they are eventually. For now rejoin Bravo team and continue with the primary objective."

"Understood sir. We're heading out now." The figure put the phone away as he started to lead the group back down the trail towards the several black SUVs parked at the foot of the mountain.

Meanwhile near Lower Manhattan Mikael found himself stopping at a local pizzeria and was currently finishing a large pizza on his own. He wiped his hands before he finished his large soda and rose to his feet. He picked up the extra pizza he ordered and started to make his way out the building and down the street. He had barely made it to the end of the block when he heard his comlink beep from inside his pocket. As he pulled it out and pressed a button he heard the familiar voice of HK-47 speak over the line.

"Observation: Master, there are several armed meat bags currently approaching the factory. I thought you would like to know before I begin eliminating them."

"Try to capture one if possible 47. I'm on my way over." Mikael answered as he put the comlink away before he looked down at the pizza in his hands. He gave a shrug as he took out a slice before he stepped into a nearby alley and leaped into the air before speeding across the rooftops towards his factory. Within a minute Mikael appeared on the roof of his building next to HK-47 who currently was using the holographic disguise matrix, to appear as a distinct bald headed man dressed with a barcode on the back of his head.

"So where are they at?" Mikael asked as he took a bite from the pizza he was still carrying.

"Observation: The would be intruders are currently approaching this building from the alleys at a frustratingly slow pace. Query: Do all meat bags move this slow?"

"Well it gives us time to give them a little surprise doesn't it?" Mikael said as he finished his current slice of pizza and started walking inside as he began eating another slice. HK-47 looked at the approaching figures before joining Mikael inside.

"Go ahead and take position 47." Mikael said as he set the remainder of his pizza in his office before he grabbed a spare disguise matrix and clipped it to his belt. As Mikael activated the device his form began to shimmer slightly before it was replaced with a bald dark skinned man dressed in a light brown tunic covered with a dark brown robe.

"Not the one I was aiming for but sure. I'll go with it." Mikael said as he examined his disguise and pressed a button hidden under his desk as he started walking to the door before he stopped in his tracks.

"On second thought, better idea." Mikael said as he walked back to his desk and hooked his disguise matrix to a pad in his desk and quickly tapped a couple buttons. In moments his form shimmered again as he now had a beard and appeared to be wearing an eyepatch. A smile formed on his disguise face as he walked out of the office and hid in the shadows.

"Let's have some fun shall we?" Mikael whispered as he waited for his guests to arrive.