Yet another time has arrived to post a chapter. This one goes more into detail on powers and even has a small flashback. Interesting stuff.
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Aquarius stood up and leaned back against the tree gripping her stomach. Several of her ribs had been shattered and even an organ or two were moved out of place. Saturn looked from her to Taurus and smiled. Taurus threw the quarter in his hand to the ground.
Brittle Apocalypse
Chapter 11: Talk Is Cheap
What the fuck was that? Aquarius pondered the possibilities in her mind.
He put his hand on my stomach as if he was going to massage it gently, but I felt like every ounce of my body was being spun wildly. She tried walking, but fell from the pain her abdomen.
"Calm down, Aquarius. Are you alright?" Taurus turned his attention to his fallen companion.
"Yeah, I'm fine. How did he do that?" She got back up and stayed next to the tree.
"Not sure. But that might be his power." Taurus placed his palms together calmly and closed his eyes. "Let me ask you this. Have you ever actually fought anyone on equal ground before?"
Saturn removed both hands from his pockets and let his arms hang comfortably at his sides. Scanning the area, he let the environment fill his senses. Then he laughed. It was small and mocking. In a tone of great disrespect.
"You think you can actually be as strong as a General? That's rich. That's why you are all below us." He crossed his arms and turned his nose up in disgust. "It's your cocky attitudes that got you stuck in the Zodiac when the true power lies with us."
"Pfft." Taurus lowered his arms. His forehead was glowing with the symbol for the star sign Taurus. "Then let me ask you this. What happens when an unstoppable force meets an immovable object?"
*****
Aries threw a high kick. Neptune simply ducked.
He threw a wild punch. Neptune easily side stepped to the left.
Aries threw another forward kick. Neptune didn't dodge.
He grabbed his foot with his right hand. Twisting it around, he flipped Aries down onto his back. Neptune slammed his elbow into his gut, knocking the wind out his lungs. He then let go and left Aries a limp gasping mass on the ground.
"Please. I'm kicking the shit out of you without even using my powers? You are one sad excuse for a Zodiac member." He looked up and his eyes met Virgo's. "Well hello, beautiful. It's about time we caught up."
"You stay away from me you freak." She raised her arms and put her palms out facing Neptune. "Don't make me use my abilities."
"I remember why you hate me so much." He smiled and kicked Aries again and rolled him out of the way. "Virgo. Do you really hold a grudge this long? You're such a woman."
-3 Years Earlier-
A war was taking place. The Generals were "cleaning" out the "dirty" and "soulless" people in the world that would hinder their attempts to show the governments of the world the error of their ways.
Jupiter and Uranus were leaving a house in a small suburb. Behind them they left a trail of carnage which was by their definition of "justice."
Saturn and Venus moved quietly through a village in Europe killing people in a certain family.
Neptune was moving alone. His mission was clear.
He entered a silent home. The lights were on. He moved quickly to the kitchen. Inside, he met a woman and young man preparing dinner. With a motion of his arm, water sprung from the faucet and decapitated the woman and boy in an instant.
Moving upstairs, he dispatched the father. Back downstairs someone opened the front door.
"NOOOOO!" Virgo burst from the kitchen and met Neptune at the bottom of the stairs. "What the fuck did you do?!"
"My job. Now get out of the way bitch." He tried to step down. Virgo blocked his path.
"You killed my family, you bastard."
"Exactly, they risked our entire infrastructure. If they somehow found out about the Zodiac and your involvement, we would all be put away for a very long time."
"That is no reason."
"Go blow it out your ass. Or should I just shut you up myself?" Neptune placed his hand directly between her legs. She gasped and froze. "One move and you'll die just like them."
-Present Day-
Virgo's hands were glowing slightly. Neptune took another step forward. As he did, he felt a tingling sensation in his right arm. When he looked down, it was dripping away as it seemed to be melting.
"You raped me then. And now you are going to pay for what you did." He quivered. The sight of his arm falling apart made him cringe. Aries stood up and watched as Neptune screamed aloud.
"What the duck are you doing to him? Are you in his head or something?" She turned to him distressed and angered.
"Aries, shut the fuc-"
"So that's what this is?" Suddenly Neptune stopped moving. With a flick of his right hand, water shot from his arm and slammed against Virgo's chest knocking her to the ground. "You make illusions? What a shitty waste. At least Aries used to be able to do something cool."
Aries charged Neptune in anger, throwing all of his weight into his punch. Neptune wasn't looking and the fist hit him square in the left cheek. Throwing his right arm again he stopped the fall and cart wheeled back to his feet.
"I can't believe I wasted my time with you weaklings. You aren't even worth killing." Neptune turned around and opened a portal before them and disappeared.
Aries ran over to Virgo. He picked her up and began walking with her on his shoulders.
"Come on, you lazy bum. Let's go find the others."
*****
Cancer back stepped away from Jupiter. Watching Capricorn in action, she was amazed by the energy surrounding his body. Jupiter watched in horror as the energy around him began to wildly spin and collect in his arms.
"Prepare to be blown away." He slammed his fists together and interlocked his fingers.
"That's what you think." Jupiter smiled. Cancer looked to him amazed at his confidence. Unfortunately she noticed something strange. There was no arm on the ground. No blood or anything.
"Oh no." She turned to Capricorn. "Wait! Watch out! Somethings not right!"
Just as she finished her yelling, a fist met the side of Capricorn's head, throwing him twenty feet through the air. The energy in his arms vanished along with the sign on his forehead. The arm that had hit him was floating in the air where he had been standing. When he and Cancer looked at it, it evaporated into smoke.
"Surprised? Don't be." The arm suddenly reformed out of smoke and reconnected with Jupiter. "My ability always catches people off guard the first time. I did, after all, let you cut my arm off."
Jupiter walked forward a few steps. Just as he lifted his arms again, a portal opened behind him. Neptune stepped through to greet them.
"Jupiter. It's time. They aren't worth the trouble. We definitely were right about all of them. Let's go get Saturn." Jupiter stood up straight and looked to Neptune.
"Hmm. Maybe you're right. These punks didn't see me coming." He directed his attention to the bloodied Capricorn and partially transformed Cancer. "Sorry kids. Play time is over for today. But maybe next time we can continue where we left off."
Together, Neptune and Jupiter vanished through the portal again, leaving Cancer and Capricorn to carry themselves back home.
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To be continued in
B.A. Chapter 12
