//------------------------------// // Day 2 // Story: Six wishes for six elements // by Malcolm Merlyn //------------------------------// "So Captain, what happened to your ride?" Slade asked as the two trekked through the dark forest. Even in the middle of the day, the shade from the trees made it almost as dark as night out on the paths within the Everfree. Creatures of all shapes and sizes fled at the sight of the pair, or perhaps waited. Waited, for an opportunity. "I didn't have my motorcycle with me when I was still back in where I was supposed to be. I was starting a truck to transport some deadly cargo for the government. Only when I got here did I see my cycle. Thing was just there like it was practically waiting for me." "So I take it the US government sends you to do all their dirty work?" "I am a soldier, Slade. I don't know what you're getting at, but I don't want to hear whatever nonsense you have in your head." "You may deny it Steve, but we're both quite alike. Old men. Fighting men. Suitable for the most dangerous of all tasks." "You're a murderer Slade. It may disappoint you, but we have little in common." "Me? A murderer? I don't deny that. But you Captain America, have probably killed more men than years you lived. How high is the body count? 100? 200? 500? 1000? I can tell you, whatever it may be, it's probably rival to my own." "And what's your point in all of this? That I am just as bad as you are? I fight for freedom and my people. You? You only cared for one person in your entire life. Yourself. It's all about you isn't it? You just care about that you get paid to kill this dragon thing, and then I bet your gone. You never consider what a war may do to other people. You were given a gift and that gift has only benefitted you. The gift I was given is shared." "You think yourself as a hero Cap?" Slade chuckled. "You know what being the best soldier to your government and being a "hero" to your people really is? You're government is just a bunch of con-men and mobsters in fancy suits and nice names. Someone doesn't play their game? They send in you, just their best enforcer in a inspirational getup if the regular thugs in uniforms don't work. And that's why we're no different. I was another thug like you but this time, every time I go kick in someone's teeth, it's not for the control freaks but for myself." "Really now? I recall having to fight my own organization when HYDRA almost took it over." "Still a thug. Just one who liked the old regime better." He gave up then. If this guy just wanted to get underneath his skin, it was working. Conveniently. He shut up the moment he found the van that was sitting by the tree. Now then... The motorcycle shouldn't be too far then... "Sanya, I need a hand with these.... Well. Wow." So. Massive massive metal beams that weigh about 200 pounds each? Moved easily by a skinny silver haired girl in about 20 seconds where it took a big guy in his prime about that much time just to move one. That was quite interesting. "Okay kid, you are a miracle." Jim said with amazement as he saw Sanya move the rest of the mess with little difficulty. He debated mentally whether or not if she was stronger than Findlay. He also imagined what his old pal's reaction might be to hearing that some skinny girl was stronger that he was. "Thanks. Is there anything else?" "A lot actually but I can do the rest myself." Jim said as he looked at the broken wires and power couplings. "Go get some sleep cause you look a mess." "Okay then." "I'll wake you when I am done. When that boy gets back with those other two, we can have a bite to eat and work on the rest. It's a team job from then." "Alright." Sanya said. She could use some sleep due to her utter lack of it the night before. Even if the soul-destroying roar hadn't made her want to hide under a rock, she was the nocturnal sort of person and was more active in the dark. The ship was truly impressive in many regards. In 1943, you didn't exactly have things like power armor, flying ships (unless you were the Neuroi), smartphones and advanced medicine that healed it's patient through a beam. It occurred to her then that her world was the second most behind in terms of scientific advancement, with only Armin's being the most archaic. This ship fascinated her. The only thing that surpassed her amazement in this wonderful craft was Raynor's mention of his other ship. A bigger ship and a better ship. At about 560 meters in length and moving at speeds unfathomable, it truly be a wonder to have in 1943. Enough thinking about what cool things they have in 2504. Right now, she went back to the living quarters, grabbed a blanket and took a bunk. Amazing. She could set the room's temperature down to the hundredth of a degree, the dimness or brightness of the lights or even the softness of her bed and pillows. Here in the wonders of the future, everything was amazing. She would soon find this even more when she found herself staring at a star map of the Korprulu sector that displayed on the ceiling and listening to a soft song. Her eyes slowly closed as she slipped into dreamland. "Grah. Finally." Medic mumbled to himself as he tossed the last bits of glass shards into the trash. Having drained all the chemicals and rearranged the furniture into a more personal touch. He gave mental note to build another healing device of similar design to the one he had in the hospital. As of now, he placed any unbroken jars into the cabinets and counters in a neatly arranged fashion and put any of his belongings in the locker. Taking a look around, he found a data tablet. Poking around for a moment, it was the ship doctor's personal tablet, which now meant he had access to plenty of research. This was going to be fun. But first... Things didn't feel 100% at home. He was missing something. Right. He needed a dismembered, somehow still alive severed head to be placed in the fridge. And a huge flock of doves somewhere to be messing around while he was working. Well. Time to decapitate someone or something. And maybe now would be opportune to go grab some bodies for SCIENCE. Come to think of it, he heard of a pers... pony that had lots of animals. He would pay her a visit tomorrow. "Um... Hi." Armin said awkwardly as he felt a hundred eyeballs lock onto him. To say he felt like a black sheep would be an understatement. He was more like an extra awkward cow in a flock of sheep. Or in this case, horses. "Hi... Um... How may help you?" The vendor replied nervously. Partly because that Armin, being short among humans was still significantly taller than most ponies and that well.... Not a lot of things like him came around here very often. Or at all for that matter. "I'd ummm... Like to buy some minerals..." He said nervously as he looked at all the stares he was getting. Something akin to if a camel walked into a movie and asked to go see Godzilla. "5 bits for a bag!" The vendor said just as nervously. She wondered inwardly if this creature would eat her or something along those lines. "Umm.... Here..." Armin said handing her all his bits. This got him about 6 bags, each the size of a milk carton. Something told him this may not be enough... "Oh man..." Armin mumbled to himself as he walked through the market, now oblivious to the looks of fear and fascination he was getting. "Jim is going to need more... This will be a problem." All problems of a solution. And it was just his luck that a certain white unicorn had taken interest in his uniform and overheard his mumbling to himself.