Chapter Two

 

Chapter Two

DJ threw himself at the man, swinging his sword only for his attack to be blocked with ease by the opponent’s blade. 

“Finally come to settle the score, Iul?” DJ asked, jumping back in preparation for another swing.

“You have no right to call me that. None at all,” the man answered, mild annoyance in his voice. 

Lui, having picked up a fallen sword from one of the stunned enemies behind them, came up beside DJ. 

“Don’t take him lightly,” DJ warned. 

“Noted,” Lui responded. 

They attacked in unison, DJ aiming high and Lui aiming low. Iul avoided one attack and blocked the other without effort. DJ backed up, but Lui charged forward. Iul batted Lui’s sword away and grabbed him by the throat. “Well, if it isn’t the worm,” Iul uttered in pleasant surprise. “Did you get some skele-gro for that spine?” 

Lui’s sword clattered to the floor as he clawed at Iul’s arm. 

“Lui!” DJ created a javelin of light and threw it at Iul. The man in black dropped Lui and sidestepped to avoid the projectile. Lui scrambled back to DJ in panic, chest heaving. 

Iul tilted his head, disappointed. “Seems I spoke too soon.” Looking past the two, Iul nodded upward. DJ and Lui were grabbed from behind. DJ kicked himself for forgetting about the previously stunned thugs still in the hall. DJ soon found himself without his sword and his arms pinned behind his back. Lui wasn’t much better off, though he kept wiggling in an attempt to escape. Iul sauntered up to the two captives, arrogance in his step and the flat of his blade resting on a shoulder. 

“How did you know where to find us?” DJ demanded, glaring at Iul. “Stalking me now?” 

Iul rolled his eyes. “Don’t be so scrupulous. I keep tabs.” He smiled politely, but his eyes were empty. “It’s always beneficial to know where your Other is at any given time. I’m sure you understand.” 

“As a matter of fact, I don’t,” DJ responded, trying to reach for a pocket on his belt without being noticed. “If you’re here for vengeance, leave Lui out of it.” 

“No can do,” Iul started. “Unfortunately, this errand goes beyond our little blood feud. I’m not here for you.” Iul nodded toward Lui with an evil grin. “I’m here for him.”

Lui stopped wiggling and stared back at Iul. What do you want me for? Lui thought. He hoped by reaching out through mindspeak he could conceal the dread and fear that surely would have been apparent if he used his voice. “Don’t try to get inside my head,” Iul responded without emotion. “It’s too dark even for you.” Iul’s heartless expression was unsettling. The longer Lui stared into the void, the longer true evil stared back. Lui shivered. 

DJ grabbed the telescoping spear from his pocket and activated it. The weapon expanded, knocking the thug holding DJ back. Hands no longer restrained, DJ spun the weapon forward and smacked the attackers holding Lui. “LUI, RUN!” DJ shouted. Lui jumped up and took off running down the hall away from the attackers. DJ swung the new weapon toward Iul, but Iul parried the attack. Iul jammed his sword through DJ’s arm, pinning him to the wall. DJ cried out in pain and dropped the spear. Lui looked back. “KEEP RUNNING, LUI!” DJ shouted. 

Iul frowned in exasperation and grabbed the closest thug. “Secure the prisoner and get him out of here,” Iul commanded, gesturing to DJ before letting the thug go. 

“Yes, sir!” The thug threw a sack over DJ’s head and worked to properly secure the prisoner. A pair of mechanical wings snapped open on Iul’s back and he launched into the air for the fleeing Other. Lui almost made it to the opposite stairwell when Iul rammed into him. The force sent both of them through the building’s side window, shattered glass flying everywhere. Having wings, Iul pulled up and watched with a smug smile as Lui fell. 

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It was dark when Lui regained consciousness. At least, he thought it was because he couldn’t see anything. He groaned in pain as he sat up. From what he could tell through the pounding in his head, his limbs were bound and he was strapped down. “Owww,” Lui said. 

The bag over Lui’s head was yanked off, causing Lui to squint until his eyes adjusted. DJ was beside him and Iul sat across from them, thugs taking up most of the remaining seats in the helicopter. 

“Took you long enough,” Iul said with a sadistic smirk. “You’re lucky the beehive broke your fall. Otherwise, this might have been a short trip.” 

“Lucky?!” Lui echoed, shaking his head to clear his thoughts. “You pushed me! Out a window!” 

“You ran.” Iul shrugged. “It was two floors. You probably would have survived either way.” Iul spoke as though his words justified his actions. 

Lui glanced at DJ, green eyes widening when he noticed the crimson. DJ, your arm! Are you okay? Lui thought, reaching out with mindspeak to his Original. 

Not really, was DJ’s mental response. Don’t worry about me, buddy. 

He’s not going to get away with this, Lui thought. He attacked the base in broad daylight. They’re going to send someone to resc-

“I can hear you,” Iul said loudly, cutting off Lui’s train of thought. “You’re both right in front of me. At least wait till my back is turned if you’re going to talk about me, scum.” 

“Mhphmmmhph,” was the noise DJ made as he glowered at Iul. 

“Ah.” Iul reached over and removed the duct tape over DJ’s mouth. “What was that now?” 

DJ grimaced and took a breath before he spoke. “I said, leave him alone.” 

“Was that all?” Iul asked, unimpressed. “Let me just put this back.” He put the tape back over DJ’s mouth. DJ squirmed and attempted to continue talking only for his words to come through muffled. 

“You should have put more thought into your answer,” Iul said with the same self-justified tone. 

The sound of a second helicopter coming up beside theirs caught Iul’s attention. 

“Surrender! We have you surrounded!” Someone said over megaphone. Lui looked up at DJ with a hopeful glance. Iul huffed and gave an apologetic look to his captives. “Hold that thought.” Iul stood up and pulled open the helicopter door. Two helicopters could be seen following on one side. Iul suspected there were a few more on the other side out of his line of sight. Iul grabbed a headset and held it up to one ear. “Slim, you got eyes on the welcome committee?” Iul asked. 

“Got ‘em, boss. Four tangos,” was the answer Iul got.

“Send them off with some party poppers,” Iul instructed. 

Lui and DJ watched in horror as the rescue choppers were shot down in flames. Iul leaned out and waved at the AH-64 flying behind them before returning to his seat. “Sorry about that.” He removed the tape over DJ’s mouth again. “You were saying?” 

“Your actions always seem to leave a pile of corpses behind,” DJ said, voice seeping with anger. “How can you sleep at night?”

Iul raised an eyebrow. “Egyptian cotton, if you must know. Rolling in piles of cash.” Iul grinned. 

“Is that what you’ve been reduced to?” DJ asked, unamused. “Sellout.” 

“Oh, please!” Iul leaned back in his seat with a dismissive wave. “Like I deserve a lecture from you. You know, it would have been cheaper to hire you as a mercenary than to go to all this trouble?” He leaned forward again. “Who’s the real hireling here?” 

“You’re going to pay for this, villain!” Lui chimed in. 

“Is that all you’ve got to say?” Iul turned to Lui with a smug face. “If that’s what I am, so be it. I don’t mind being the villain in your story. I’m already the hero in mine.” 

“You don’t deserve to be called a hero,” DJ said, voice even. 

Iul turned back to DJ. “Not after you threw me to the wolves, you mean?” Iul asked.

DJ shook his head. “Your blame is misplaced. As are your loyalties.” 

Iul snorted. “Funny you still think I’m loyal to anyone but myself these days.” A wicked smile suddenly broke across Iul’s face. He stood up and yanked Lui out of his seat. In an instant, Iul pulled Lui to the open helicopter door and held him out with one arm as if to drop him. “What about this one?!” Iul asked, a chaotic energy in his voice as he looked for DJ’s reaction. “Is he loyal?” 

“No!” Lui cried, trying not to do anything that would shift Iul’s grip while also being utterly helpless to stop himself from falling if Iul let go. “Please! Please don’t drop me!” Lui pleaded. 

Iul turned to Lui. “Well, are you? Last I remember… you were a little snitch.” 

“P-please…” Lui whispered, eyes squeezed shut. 

“Don’t do anything we’ll both regret, Iul.” DJ’s tone was still even. Unwavering. It was impossible to tell whether or not he believed Iul’s threats. Iul looked back at DJ and narrowed his eyes. “I told you not to call me that,” Iul said as he pulled Lui back into the helicopter. Lui crumpled into a trembling ball at DJ’s feet as soon as Iul let go of him. 

“Then what would you have me call you?” DJ asked, unfazed as he stared Iul down. 

“What I am,” Iul said with a shrug. “Evil.”