| Chapter Eighteen The man with the giant sword ran around knocking down penguins. White blood flew in all directions. It almost appeared like he had no real strategy at all, like all of his attacks were random and not thoroughly thought out. But despite that the black and white mutants were noticeably mismatched against this man. Yes, the occasional penguin would slice a small rip into his cloak or perhaps fire a shot that would come very close to hitting him, but he managed, and did a very good job at it, to not get seriously wounded. The psychologist didn’t even give the poor penguins a chance. They couldn’t see him, much less hit him. Although they were intelligent enough to trace the path of slain penguins that he left behind, he was so fast that it didn’t matter. So the penguins fired in every direction making it more difficult for the man in silver to protect himself, and also making his actions a bit more random. After awhile the psychologist tired of the fight. Not because he needed a rest, and not because the penguins matched his skills, but simply because there were just so many of the penguins that the fight almost seemed futile. *************** Nick looked over at the Queen. She was sitting looking out the window listening to Scoot discuss his battle plan, and Anday talk about his strategies. Her brown eyes were slightly sad, he thought, and also he saw fear in them. Hannahoko’s eyes always seemed to betray her. How much he wanted to protect her. He figured that it was in a big-brother-sort-of-way, and yet, had their relationship changed? “Hannahoko, I think you should leave the city,” said Nick abruptly. “What Nick? Why? I can’t leave now, now is the time my nation needs me.” Anday stopped talking and looked over at Hannahoko. “I’m sorry Anday,” she said mildly, “Go ahead, I am listening.” “Your nation needs you alive,” Nick said, not allowing Anday to speak, “and Erika is planning to specifically assassinate you, Hannahoko. We can’t allow that to happen. Erin you will escort you to your citizens, will you not?” “Yes, of course,” Erin replied quickly, “I will protect her wherever she goes.” “I never said I was going to leave,” said the young Queen, “All of our lives are in jeopardy, why is mine more important?” “Because you need to be alive to run your nation,” Nick’s voice grew slightly louder. “And what if I come back and there is nothing to lead?” “You will still have your citizens.” “My citizens won’t survive if I don’t have food to feed them, I don’t think they can stand to start over again.” “Have faith in other people, Hannahoko. You’re not the only one who can do things correctly.” “I never said I was,” she said defensively, “and I trust lots of people.” “Then show me, and go to your citizens.” She sighed and closed her eyes. “Alright, I will go. Scoot, you are my next in command, and I do trust you with it. Anday, you already know what you are doing, but please protect all of them, if you can...And, oh, please take care all of you.” Hannahoko looked quickly away not being able to look at any of them for fear that she would cry. Why does it have to be this way, she asked herself not for the first time. ***************** The psychologist stood outside the group of penguins. They did not even seem to notice him, all of them were busy with the man in silver. Matt had to stop himself from laughing at the man’s tactics. That was just it, he didn’t have any, he just jumped around like an idiot. It really is a funny thing if you think about it, the psychologist thought to himself, that penguins would just be coming out of the ground like that. If you think about it, why would they only be coming out of here? Chances have it that there are probably other places where they are emerging. The amount of penguins could be endless. Maybe we could go down that hole in the ground and find all kinds of things. There was probably an entire underground base in these plateaus. I must find out and then I can better help my sister. At the next moment the psychologist was tearing his way over to BenBen. Once by his side the two began to fight together, each careful to stay out of one another’s way. “Let’s find a way in shall we, BenBen?” BenBen did not reply but he did begin to gravitate towards the hole in the ground. Before any of the penguins knew what was happening both Mat and BenBen were already down inside the ground. The amoung of penguins in the underground caverns could only be described as sickening. How in the universe could Mona have so many penguins? Matt began to think again, and how did she manage to make them all so tall and mutant? The battle underground was a bit more difficult due to the enclosed space. The two men beat their way through until they found a rocky hallway that branched off from the main one. BenBen motioned for Matt to travel down it. “Where will you go, then?” asked the psychologist as a penguin smacked a club against the back of his leg. “I’ll stay here,” BenBen replied firmly. Matt nodded and took off down the hallway, BenBen kept the penguins from following. |