Chapter 344: Don't Smash It

Chapter 344: Don't Smash It

The idea of going back home tricked out with superpowers had its appeal. On the level of a daydream, you could easily visualise it as compensation for a life full of misery and unfair treatment, which is what bitter young men think should be the way the world works. I should know, Im one of them.

But the reality is very different. Spider-man wouldnt last very long in the internet age, not as a genuine hero. Theres no way hed want to keep his identity a secret, for a start. No time to fight crime when youve got to put out a new video on YouTube every day.

I had to make a choice. Play the hero because thats what youre supposed to do, or leave it to people who actually thought they could make a difference. They couldnt, but at least they kid themselves.

We each only have one or two of these kinds of moments in our lives, times when we have to make decisions that shape our future, and its important not to rush to judgement. Going to university, the death of a parent, whether to assassinate your friends who may or may not be under the power of a megalomaniac determined to take control of the planet weve all been there. Its only right to weigh up the options carefully.

Fuck that. Youve got the wrong guy, I said, leaning back into the armchair Wesley had so kindly provided for me.

If Peter wanted to go back to Mother Earth and get into a pissing match with the other alphas vying for control, good luck to him. He would certainly bring a new meta with him, but the game has plenty of players who know a thing or two about how to fix the odds forever in their favour.

I wish you luck if you want to fight him, but I have no interest in trying to stop him. I looked up at Wesley. I guess this means youll be moving out? Not trying to be pushy, itd just be handy to know your plans.

I dont think you fully appreciate the magnitude of what were telling you, said Arthur.

No, I get it. I really do. Peter wants to return home with the powers of a god. I think if he can get HBO to run it as a pay-per-view event, itll be huge.

Whatever Peter planned to do and Id guess it would be more of a sneak attack rather than face-tanking the powers that be he would have plenty of people trying to either co-opt him or remove him from the field of play. It would be a pretty big mess, and one I did not want any part of.

Of course, that could all be circumvented if I stopped him here, before he had a chance to make a mess over there. Then hed make a mess over here, mostly out of me. I didnt want any part of that, either.

Arthur put his hands together like he was about to pray. Hardly worth the effort, hed already locked up all the gods. Well, most of them.

You could be right, he said, calm and reasonable (alarm bells were going off, I braced for an attack). But you are the only chance we have. Hes been waiting for you a long time, and his plans are all in place. It will take an extreme act of sacrifice to stop him now.

Every sentiment he was expressing was anathema to my soul.

If hes had all this time to prepare for my coming, then what chance have I got? Hes done a hundred years of prep for this. It would be petty to make him waste all that hard work for, what? Saving the world? Therell be other worlds. Youll get him next time.

If you had a hundred years to prepare, said Wesley, how much of it would you spend getting ready?

This was the problem with letting someone live in your head. They could see how your mind worked.

No, Id wait until the night before the showdown, and then try to throw something together. But thats me. Im lazy and unambitious. Peter has a solid work ethic, right? Probably has a chip on his shoulder because of the Great Depression. Was that before or after you left? Nevermind. My point is, hes ready for me, Im not ready for him. Im not even ready for you, and you guys werent even trying to kill me, apparently. Why did you even bother to attack me if you wanted my help?

To be sure, said Arthur, like that explained everything.

To be sure of what? That I could take a beating?

You wouldnt have tried to sacrifice yourself like that if you were under his sway. Peter wouldnt have allowed it.Read latest chapters at nov(e)lbin.com Only

Thats why you attacked me? To see if I was one of Peters minions? I turned to face Wesley, sinking a little deeper into the armchair. You spent all that time with me. Couldnt you tell?

Wesley shook her head. You may not have even been aware of it. His ability can be very subtle.

And, it is easier to see a persons true character when they are under some kind of pressure, said Arthur. They were quite the double act. Although, you happen to require a more intense examination to reveal your genuine feelings. You required the threat of imminent death.

But I didnt die, I pointed out. Maybe I was bluffing.

You did die, said Arthur. At least, you came as close as one can before I pulled you back.

I get it, youre all in this, you and Arthur and the gods and the elf. Youre all heavily invested. But Im not. Im not mad at you for dragging me into it if you thought it was the only way to win, but if Im so bloody important to Peters plans, why didnt you just let me die and be done with it? Without me, his plans are fucking scuppered, right?

Arthur winced every time I swore. Not quite. You arent necessarily out of his reach just because youre dead.

Arthur shook his head. Its just a piece of wood in my hands.

Who made it?

It belongs to the Golden God. Depriving him of it was how I managed to trap him. With it, he is unstoppable.

I looked at the sword more closely. This was a gods sword? Didnt really have the kind of bling-factor you expect of a holy weapon. I didnt doubt what Arthur had said, but it didnt explain why I could use it.

I decided to hang onto it, even though I was sure Arthur thought Id be more likely to come around to his way of thinking if I had a weapon of this power. It still felt like a stick to me.

If you really want the benefit of my experience, I said, release the gods.

Arthur blinked at me. Why?

Because he wont expect it.

That would be madness, said Arthur.

But hes right, said Wesley, Peter wouldnt expect it.

Ah, see, ah, right? I had no idea what point I was making, but if the rest of them got busy fighting each other, it would give me a chance to get in my boat and sail into the sunset. With any luck, this planet was flat and I could sail right off the edge.

Think about it, get back to me. I have to see an undead captain about a cruise. Wheres the exit?

I was feeling much better now that I had a plan. The not-heroic two-step. Step one refuse the call. Step Two, run.

The darkness lifted and I was in a tunnel, alone. I had refused their offer, and theyd accepted my refusal. Could it really be that easy? Probably not. I made way along the tunnel, hoping I was going the right way.

I walked out of the shrine. Damicar and Richina were waiting for me. Richina looked pretty serene, like shed been waiting for me to put my shoes on so we could go for a nice walk along the beach. Damicar had a mildly stunned look on his face, like he wasnt sure what had just happened. Captain Somya was with them, which was perfect.

Is the ship ready? I asked him.

No, said the captain. Im afraid it will take several days to get it into a seaworthy condition.

That wasnt the news I was hoping to hear. We dont need it ready for a regatta, just patched up enough to limp back to port.

He shook his head. There are too many holes in the hull. Two days, at the very least, if the islanders are willing to help.

It wasnt like I had a choice, and two days wasnt so bad.

Im sure the islanders will assist in getting us off the island as soon as possible.

They may be busy, said the captain.

Busy? Doing what?

He pointed out to sea. I turned to look. We were high enough to see the water, and the ship in the distance approaching. Had Peter regained control of his minions? Was he about to arrive for a chat? And who did he have with him? It didnt matter, if it came down to it, I was going to give him what he wanted.

I dont suppose you have a telescope, do you?

Of course, said Captain Somya. He pulled out a short tube and handed it to me.

I pulled it to its full length and had a look. The ship was a big three-master, much more elegant than Somyas ship. It had sailors scurrying all over it. Many of them had armour that glinted in the light. But it was only one boat, and the islanders were fucking metal when it came to putting up a fight.

Something caught my eye. Light flashing in the crows nest. There was someone looking at me with a telescope of their own, someone with flowing red hair. She waved at me. The telescope in her hands was snatched away by someone shorter and darker.

There are forces that in this universe that are both unpleasant and troublesome, and two of them were headed this way.