ALEXiThymiA: Chapter 44: Poppycock

Chapter 44

Poppycock

Despite all the stops, all the photo ops, and the circuitous route, the team got Alexa onto the second floor with relative ease. Redline the speedster in a red power suit made multiple trips through the route, to ensure its safety. Polyglot used their runic knowledge to tag Redline, to ensure even magical components were detected by Redline’s numerous trips.

Judge and Warder had the honor of escorting Aru’ka and Ms. Peacock to the final location. While the old timers. Or old in the relative world of Supers, Fuego III, and Void II held up the rear. Together Fuego III and Void II made a perfect pairing. Fuego created minor flames that could create the necessary shadows that Void II needed, to seal off the team’s path forward in shadows.

Honestly, Ms. Peacock couldn’t have asked for a better set of supers to volunteer. Of course, she knew that Redline and Polyglot were both likely here solely to recruit Aru’ka. That or at least lay the groundwork for a future sales pitch. Everyone knew that Aru’ka was a sophomore, or at the very least that she was over a year away from graduation. There was no point to use your entire sales pitch now, when she had plenty of time left to still decide.

That said, the teams worked well. Everything went smoothly, and before they even knew it, they were on the second floor. Again though, Ms. Peacock couldn’t shake the fact that she felt something was going to go sideways. Not wrong, at least she hoped that things wouldn’t go wrong. Rather, she felt things on this scale were going too well.

Looking back, she had promised so much. She had given so many people time to prepare for the Miracle Healer. Shaking her head, Gods she hated that name. Who would name anyone or anything a miracle worker. A quick glance out of the side of her eye showed that the tall healer was just waving. She had a kind of stoic grace to her. Her back held high, and posture nearly perfect. Aru’ka carried herself with a certain unmistakable dignity that could not be denied.

Several spectators even noted how Aru’ka seemed to outshine both Judge and Warder as well. She outshone Judge because she was a few inches taller than the 6’0 even tall warrior. Even when compared to the taller 6’5 Warder, she still seemed to outshine him as well. After a glance it was clear that most of Aru’ka’s grace was due to the way she carried herself to the full extent of her 6’2 frame. Not bending an inch to gravity, as if she was defying gravity itself to have any sway over how she carried herself. Compared to Aru’ka, it was clear that time had taken a toll on the two recently retired heroes.

For starters, both had slight hunches in their backs. A sign that their posture had been slowly whittled away at over time. Secondly, despite both their best efforts, their bodies seemed to retain the slightest trace of body fat, not much, far below the world average. But it was enough, particularly in skintight uniforms that seemed to accentuate the flaws, rather than hide them.

“Wow, look at that. Aru’ka could be the descendant of Judge and Warder.” One astute onlooker called out.

At that, both Judge and Warder flinched slightly, though Aru’ka herself seemed to either not hear the comment, or not rise to the bait.

“No way, just because they both have black hair.”

A quick glance showed the oversight. Looking at the Trio they were all wearing form fitting black uniforms. Aru’ka because that was one of the few colors in her size. Judge and Warder due to most of their operations happening at night. Looking back on it, it had been rather obvious that comparisons would be made. They even have the same eye color, Ms. Peacock chastised herself, as she watched the trio.

Fortunately, by this point it was time to have the groups break off. This had all been worked out ahead of time. Polyglot, the runic warder, would take up position behind the throne and begin setting up defensive wardings.

Fuego III and Warder, the two large and physically imposing males of the group set up as bouncers to establish a security line. Judge formed the front of the line and would quickly interview the parents and family members of those being healed.

This of course left Ms. Peacock herself, and Void II as the personal guards. This was perfect as Void II had long ago let her natural hair color fade to its matronly silver. This along with her dark leather uniform gave a stark contrast of colors. It also showed the true effect that this career had on the body. While Void III had a few years to take the title and make a name for themselves, many would find it hard to believe that Void II retired only seven years ago. But looking at her silver hair, and her wrinkled face, many would assume she had been retired for decades. Such was the price of power; such was the burden of devoting one’s life to service.

Sitting down on her throne, and it was a throne, the TV station had gone all out for this event apparently. Alexa looked down at the mass of people.

“We have a few high-ranking individuals that we need to get through first. The most important being the Prime Minister’s daughter.” Ms. Peacock said.

Aru’ka for her part just shook her head. Then looking into the crowd pointed.

“Ohh!”

Seeing the gesture come from the imposing super in training, Ms. Peacock could almost be convinced that Aru’ka had been born for such a role. That she had spent her entire lifetime preparing for moments such as these.

She didn’t speak, she didn’t need to. Her gesture and posture spoke volumes.

The message was clear, she would choose who she saw first. Looking at her first choice, Ms. Peacock couldn’t refute the choice. There in the front row, after all the VIP children, were those truly close to death. Or worse, those with degenerating nerve conditions that caused their lives to be constant streams of agony.

The Prime Minister of Britain and his daughter were already on their way up when they were stopped by one flat hand.

“Aww.” The crowd didn’t know what to do at first.

Everyone had been given their orders. Everyone knew what the order was. The Prime Minister who even now was flanked by his own Super protection squad was forced to wait.

One of the guards moved forward, anger on their face. At that Alexa turned her icy cold eyes onto the man and stared. She gave a look that spoke volumes in a matter of seconds. There was a battle of wills taking place, and the queen of the hospital spoke, and all must obey.

Finally, after a second, the brute of a guard paused, not wanting to create a scene.

The Prime Minister for his part, used the moments after to save face. “Stand down, we can wait.”

With that, the protective detail around the Prime Minster shrank in, no longer concerned about the photo op and instead worrying about protecting their two charges.

Then Alexa, still in her Aru’ka costume, once again pointed at the sickest children up front. She made her finger do a jumping motion, one, two, three… Within a second she had identified the six children in need of the most care and had them come forward.

These were children that needed to be wheeled up. Seeing this, Aru’ka, or queen Aru’ka as the media would call her rose from her throne and waited at the bottom step. There she greeted the children, not even paying the handlers any attention.

Instead, she was just placed her hand upon the first child’s head. Then despite only needing the energy to travel an inch, a brilliant burst of green light could be seen.

A staff member, or maybe a media member wishing to capitalize on the sight, dimmed the lights ever so slightly.

Woosh.

With that slight dimming the glow of power became even more pronounced. Alexa healed all the children, only going so far as to nod in acknowledgment to the parents and caretakers of the children. All but the last caretaker. This time, when offered a hand, Alexa took the offered hand and healed the caretaker as well.

“Bless you, bless you.” The caretaker said, as tears began to form in their eyes.

Alexa nodded, but otherwise said nothing.

With those six critical patients taken care of. Alexa turned around and made her way back up to her throne, while also signaling to Ms. Peacock for the proceedings to continue.

The message was clear, if the children could walk to her, they would.

Of course, this only stood to make the protective detail around the UK Prime Minister even more agitated. But the Prime Minister calmed his guard with but a simple dismissive wave. They were the ones who were imposing on her good will after all. At least that was what the calming gesture seemed to be saying.

With Aru’ka set, the group made their way forward.

Ms. Peacock was only mildly aware of the mysterious conditions surrounding the Prime Minister’s daughter. Looking at the girl, it was clear she was around Alexa’s age. Though her current physical condition made it seem like she was much younger than Alexa.

Her body was pale, as black veins seemed to pulse throughout her body. While she was still able to walk and was arguably in much better physical condition than the other children Alexa had just healed. The Prime Minister’s daughter was clearly suffering from something.

Seeing the girl, Alexa’s eyes went wide as she saw something.

“I can’t thank you enough for seeing me.” The Prime Minster began.

But once again he was cut off by a simple gesture from the stoic healer.

“Polyglot.”

Aru’ka’s first word spoken since this whole ordeal began.

“Wha?”

It took a moment for her word to register, but after a second, Polyglot came around to look at the seated healer.

“You called?” Polyglot said, his tone a little nervous.

Alexa nodded. “Set up anti-necromantic wards there, there, and there.” Alexa said, pointing to three sections of floor that were behind the Prime Minister, his daughter, and their entourage.

“Necromancy?”

A murmur went over the crowd.

“You think this is Necromancy?” The Prime Minister asked, fear in his voice.

Alexa for her part just nodded.

Fortunately, Polyglot was fast on the uptake and went about writing out the runic words for protection against Necromancy.

“Done.” Polyglot called out, as he was just now standing from his efforts.

Alexa just nodded, then stood up from her throne. She then beckoned the young girl forward. There was a nervous tension as Alexa’s normally intense personality seemed to be taking over the entire event. An event that was supposed to be a feel-good story for everyone involved.

The girl, well teenager really, walked forward. With her the burly guard who got in a staring contest earlier with Alexa also took a step forward.

Once again, Alexa held out a hand gesturing for the guard to stop.

“Stay back. We will need room.” Cold words, as if spoken by the heart of winter herself.

At first the guard wanted to protest, but once again a gesture from the Prime Minister stopped the guard.

The girl strode forward, her legs clearly trembling, but with each step she managed to gain a bit more poise and posture. Finally, she was on a relatively flat area. This was likely meant to be a staging point for sick children to wait, while they made their turns to go up and be healed. There was also a perfect spot for the film crew to interview the families of those being healed while they waited.

At the moment, this served as the perfect viewing spot to record what was unfolding before their very eyes.

As the girl came forward, she stopped a step away from Alexa. Alexa then held out her upturned right hand, in a gesture that clearly meant she was allowing the girl to grab her hand. The teenager then reached out her trembling arm and clasped the hand. The moment her hand made contact; her small hand was enveloped in a vice like grip.

Gasp.

The sudden motion shocked the young girl.

Then Alexa said, the next word that caused everyone to pause. “Kneel.”

At this the guard had enough, moving forward he was about to make his way forward, when he was hurled from the stage by an unseen hand.

It took Ms. Peacock a moment to understand what had happened. For a second she thought Redline, or another super might have stepped in to stop the aggressive move, but no. Alexa just turned her attention from the man, a man that she had clearly thrown with Telekinesis, and turned her attention back to the girl.

Of course, no one had expected such an action from a Healer. That was likely the only reason such a swift action worked in the first place. Alexa had used the element of surprise to keep the bruiser of a guard at bay.

With Alexa now staring down at the smaller girl, the girl trembled slightly, but soon complied with the effort.

Once she was down, Alexa nodded. Then she said three words, no one had time to prepare for or react to. “Sorry for this.”

With that being the only cue, Alexa began.

Nova.

There was a blinding glow of light that erupted from Alexa’s hand, into the Prime Minister’s daughter. The minute the healing glow of green light filled the young girl’s body, a patchwork of slimy black tendrils could be seen pulsing and wiggling under the girl’s skin.

Seeing the black strains of energy was enough for everyone in attendance to realize they were wrong. They were like the deepest parts of the pits of Hell had been summoned forth and left to fester within this young girl’s body.

After a few seconds, the girl began convulsing, as the green magic began violently attacking the dark demonic energy. It soon became apparent why Alexa wanted the girl to kneel, as the girl soon lost all control of her body. Her limp body falling forward, as the first black strands of evil energy began pouring forth from her.

Alexa used her body to brace the girl, while also using her left hand to use Arcane energy to burn away the black trials of necromantic energy that were floating in the air.

It was at this point, that Alexa gave another three-word command to the girl. “Stay with me.”

Alexa using her still connected right hand, the hand that was providing a constant stream of healing energy into the girl’s body to shake her.

With a slight jerk, the girl managed to shake her head slightly in acknowledgment. With that one subtle shake, Alexa gave a slight nod of her head. An almost imperceptible movement, but under the light show that was going on before her, the light show she was creating. The movement spoke volumes about the determination that Alexa now exuded.

With a final burst of will, she clasped the hand even tighter. Then she began to make the poor girl glow.

If what they had seen before was to be a comparison, it was the equivalent of viewing a nuclear reactor that was beginning to melt down. At least that was what the spectators saw. Even the cameras had a hard time focusing as the force of green light was on a magnitude that blocked out most of the stage.

In the end all that could be seen was the green light, and the black cloud of demonic energy that slowly bubbled its way up the girl’s body.

“AHHH!” She cried out in pain, as the black cloud of death used that moment to make its escape.

As the black cloud moved, it was clear that the energy was alive. Or at the very least still being controlled by someone. As the black cloud tried to flee. Heading straight for the crowd of sick and weary children, the black cloud made its charge.

Fwoom.

The sound of a power meeting its polar opposite could be heard, as the demonic energy met the necromantic wards set up by Polyglot.

Unfortunately, despite the preparations, it was clear that the wards set up would not be enough. As the necromantic energy pounded once, then twice against the protective barrier.

“AHH!” People screamed, as they began trying to get away from the malevolent energy that was clearly trying to get away.

Still, it paused long enough for Alexa to focus her will, and fire.

BOOM!

Arcane Burst!

A stream of arcane energy flowed from Alexa’s outstretched left hand and quickly burnt away the center of the malevolent force. From there, it was only a matter of time before she was able to burn away the remaining trapped wisps of energy.

Panting.

Alexa found herself panting.

Alexa looked down to see that the girl that she had been healing was staring up at her with wide eyed shock and awe. Of course, the Prime Minister’s daughter was not alone in this, everyone looked on with awe and reverence at what they had just witnessed.

They had all witnessed it, a miracle. Not just a miracle, but a true miracle. They had finally found someone who could combat the powers of Necromancy.

Still, the entire ordeal had clearly exhausted Alexa.

She turned to lock gazes with Ms. Peacock, then said one word.

“Poppycock.”

A pause, as everyone looked at her with confusion. Fortunately, Redline was faster on the uptake than Ms. Peacock, as he was there catching the fainting girl before she could begin collapsing.

With that pandemonium broke out. Or at least it would have, had the details of supers, and the Prime Minister’s own detail not moved to gain control over the situation.

“Enough! We will take a momentary recess.” Judge said, her commanding voice more than enough to gain control over everyone.

With that the two details made a tactical retreat to a side conference room, where they debated what to do next.

Looking down at the unconscious girl in Redline’s arms, only one thought came to Ms. Peacock’s mind, poppycock indeed.