Shattered Perceptions

Chapter Thirteen

by Tim Francovich

 

 


Shatterstar's eyes snapped open. He immediately rolled to his feet and to the side, staggering only slightly. The impact from the fall had knocked him out for perhaps a second or two, but he could not feel any other damage.

Windsong lay nearby. As Star regained his balance, she came to as well, immediately rolling away from him and getting to her feet. "Stupid!" she mumbled. "Forgot 'bout... mutant power..."

"I have heard that you are a mutant, as well," Star said. "Is that not another reason that we should fight alongside each other instead of against each other?"

"Do you honestly think I want this?" Windsong hissed. "If it weren't for the cameras and the control devices..." In response to her words, both warriors felt a stab of pain in their heads. Windsong staggered. "I don't have a choice!" she cried, lunging forward.

Star fell back at her attack. He had hoped that he could stall a few moments longer to regain some of the strength he had lost in using his mutant power, but such a luxury was not granted. Windsong landed on him, grabbing at his neck. Shatterstar, despite his exhaustion, retained a strength edge over her. The fall had shaken her more than she let on. With little effort, Star used her own momentum to flip her back over his head.

Windsong twisted in mid-air and landed on her feet, drawing her sword again. Star drew his own sword and crouched warily. A final plan had taken form in his mind.

"Very well then," he announced. "You leave me no choice, either."

The ensuing sword duel was one of the most enthralling, vicious and intense that the viewers of Mojoworld had ever seen. In the months to come, it would beat all re-run request records. It would not be until its fourth repeat that its ratings would drop below those of The Fall of Mojo (I). The arena trainers would loop portions of the vid to use as training tapes for aspiring warriors. Never before had there been such a impressive display of strength, speed and swordplay on the sandy arena floor. Before it ended, both warriors were covered with sweat, blood, and caked-on dirt. Both were staggering, barely able to stand. Both were wounded in multiple locations. Neither was willing to give up.

The trainers argued for months following: Was Shatterstar truly the better warrior or had he simply out-lasted Windsong in fortitude? For in the end, Windsong barely flinched as her sword was dashed from her hand. She only barely managed to stay on her feet as Shatterstar stepped forward and grabbed a handful of her hair. As the people of Mojoworld watched in awe, Shatterstar whispered something the cameras could not hear... and thrust his sword straight into Windsong's chest.


Part 14

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