Raven and Norjaguar make a mad dash to the medical facilities where they see their resident healer frantically working on their ally who is for all practical purposes, the most powerful of their pantheon. Viewing the monitors they can see the extent of his injuries. Injuries that should have healed in the span of a heartbeat. The healer has used every magic in known including the fabled eternity crystals and even their power is no match for whatever is happening. Raven, now a bit more emotional due to her recent transformation, is visibly upset, a fact that does not escape the attention of The sky god Thunderbird.
"Raven, are you alright man?"
"I'm fine, it's just who could've done this? I mean who could have done this to him??!! I mean it's the Black Mantis for crying out loud!"
Norjaguar notices the frantic Healer and opens the intercom
"Doctor, what seems to be the problem? Is everything okay?"
"No, no it isn't no amount of magic is working and he's not regenerating. At this rate he won't last much longer. It's like something is topping him from healing."
Suddenly Raven understands, pushing Norjaguar to the side she yells into the intercom.
"Doc, it's a spell. I know of at least three that can stop a creature from healing, but they only work against supernatural healing...Use nanites!"
"Of course, they're technology not magic and wouldn't fall under the parameters of such a spell."
The doctor reaches into a nearby cabinet and removes a single spray canister. Spraying the wound generously with surgical nanobots and a formula of stem cells and protein she is relieved to see the damage being rapidly repaired.
"It's working! His vitals are stabilizing and the wound is closing."
The friends gathered breath a sigh of relief but that is quickly replaced with the dread of pondering who could've accomplished a monumental feat such as this. Raven is visibly shaking, and tears begin to stream down her face, and now both of her companions have taken notice.
"Ray, what's wrong with you? You're crying?"
"I don't know Jag it's just ...I don't know. I was thinking about what this all means. How if someone could hurt him like this, what could they do to the rest of us?"
"She has a point Jag." Thunderbird's words are met with only silence until. There's a blinding flash of light from the surgical table and the glass that separated the three friends from that room shatters and explodes as if made by mortals. A single voice booms in a deafening roar with the words...
"SOMEBODY DIES!!!" The Black Mantis is revived and is angered and he wants answers.
"Calm down Mantis, you're safe with friends." Ravens voice is soothing and gentle and there is not a man in the room who doesn't stop everything they're doing when they hear it. The words and the tone completely foreign coming from their source. The Goddess of war blushes at the sudden attention.
"Did I say something wrong?"
The men assembled stand stunned at her very appearance, her posture her mannerisms all have changed, and while it would seem that such a thing is unimportant, the reaction of the Black Mantis would say otherwise. Leaping across the room with his infinitium claws at full extension the immortal assassin pounces on his one time friend with savagery. As the claws sink into her shoulder Raven cannot help but scream in pain. Instantly her own metal talons are unsheathed and find their mark in similar fashion. As the Black Mantis takes note of the injury, unable to feel pain as the others do he hurls Raven bodily through the nearest wall. IN an instant he is straddled atop her with his claws once again extended one on either side of her face he reminds her.
"You know there's three, now start talking. Who are you?"
"It's me you psychopath! Did your injuries rattle your senses?"
"Raven you unfortunate pretender is a man transformed into a woman, without a single spark of femininity in his body...Next time you impersonate one of my allies do your homework. Now once again...WHO ARE YOU!!! Keep in mind I can wring the answers from your corpse as well as your living body."
"First of all, since when was I EVER a man? Secondly, you need to get the hell off of me before we have a real problem."
"Wow you really have no clue do you? Fine your corpse it is then!"
As his hand draws back the Black Mantis catches a glint of something in Ravens eyes...conviction, determination...no her eyes are different..they're the eyes of...A dragon. Retracting the deadly blades in his hand The black Mantis, takes a deep breath and helping Raven to her feet he says
"My apologies oh Mistress of Battle, my injuries left me somewhat shaken. I was not myself, please forgive my outburst."
Both Norjaguar and Thunderbird stand mouths agape with disbelief at what has just transpired before them. Their silence further enforced by the change in the Black Mantis's tone towards their female companion. He's being almost...charming...NO he wouldn't...he couldn't With a single glance towards one another the two gods realize ...he would and he most certainly could...by all that is he probably will. It is at that moment that Thunderbird interjects even as raven turn and walks away.
"Mantis, you wouldn't"
"What? Oh her? I most certainly would."
Tilting his head to the side the eyes of the Black Mantis are transfixed upon the posterior of the Goddess of war taking in every curve and every move. Again Thunderbird interjects.
"Have you taken leave of your every sense? That is a Man."
"No my friend, that USED TO BE a man, and when he was such I left him alone, but do you see that?" Mantis asks gesturing to Raven's very exquisite posterior. "That is not a man's ass. However, there are more important things to deal with right now. We need to know who attacked me and how the managed to stop the power of the Eternity crystals from healing me. Assemble the others it appears that Obsidian has failed to prevent Parata from being released from his prison. Things will only get worse from here." |