KNOW THY ENEMY

Part II

By Kristi Manchester

The Present

In the center of the a debris-strewn room knelt the God of Thunder, Thor. Resting in his arms, both of which were burnt and scarred in much the same way of his back, was Eric Masterson. His clothes were burnt and torn, his flesh was burned and scared and much of his hair was burnt away. The Thunderstrike lay beside them, broken in hilt and shattered in Uru head. Eric, otherwise known as the past hero Thunderstrike, looked up at Thor with shocking blue eyes, deep with pain and remorse.

“I thought…my son, Thor…my son Kevin…I thought he…you…” Eric said, his voice faltering from pain, “How could I fall for this? I should have known…it wasn’t about him…”

Thor looked down at his fallen friend and fellow warrior, his blonde hair hiding his eyes and the pained look within. At his side hung Mjolnir, for once useless and insignificant. The Thunder God knew not what to do or say for any word he spoke would seem worthless.

“What have I done…Thor?” said Thunderstrike, “What did I cause…?”

The Past

“Who art thou who speaketh such lies?!” Thor cried out, hammer held tightly in his clenched fit, “Thunderstrike…Eric Masterson resides in the halls of Valhalla! Thou are not he!!!”

Lightning flashed brilliantly in the sky with each blinding bolt twisting and turning as they tore through the darkness and crashed into each other. The Thunder God looked up at his opponent, lightning blasting the ground around him, sending up sparks while the winds began to whip up. The blasted ground showed burnt metallic and Thunderstrike floated easily on the winds with his mace wrapped in rippling blue energy. Both men stared hard at each other as the storm grew stronger and more brutal.

“I say thee NAY!” Thor yelled, “I will not be made a fool of by thy treacherous ways, skin walker!”

“You think I’m a shape shifter? An alien Skrull?” Thunderstrike said, chuckling a bit, “I am Eric Masterson, Thor, I am the man who sacrificed himself against the Egyptian death god Set…I am the wielder of the Thunderstrike!”

Thunder clapped louder around them as Thunderstrike drew back his mace and exclaimed loudly. “I’m the real deal, Thor, maybe this’ll prove it!”. With that said he threw his mace straight and true as Thor raised his arms to block across his chest. The mace slammed into him with a whistling crack, the impact crushing him crashing into the ground before pushing him back into the doors. His body left a long groove in the metal ground and a heavy dent in the solid entrance.

Without his mace, the man known as Eric Masterson, Thunderstrike descended to the ground slowly to land gently on his feet. His vest and hair flapped and flowed in the wind as he held out his hand. While walking forward toward Thor, his mace returned swiftly to his outstretched waiting hand.

“Does my mace feel fake, buddy?” Thunderstrike said, “Do I sound fake? Look fake? Don’t bother answering, it doesn’t matter either way…I will keep you from breaching through those doors.”

Thunderstrike moved closer to the downed God of Thunder and hoisted him up by the throat. Thus was the power of his past attacks was shown clearly as Thor was much weakened.

“I don’t want to fight you Thor, you have to understand.” Masterson said, “I have to do this, there’s no other choice…Stand down and Yield.”

“Yield?!?” Thor snarled, grabbing Thunderstrike’s wrist and squeezing fiercely he caused his grip to weaken, “Thor will not yield to thee…Indeed, I will not!”

With a mighty war cry, Thor raised his foot up and slammed it down upon Thunderstrike’s face with force hard enough to nearly shatter his bone. Thor used his opponent as a kick off point and launched himself backward free from his grip. He used this move wisely and landed on his feet, grabbing Mjolnir from where it landed near by. This was done just in time as he used it to block a force blast shot at him by Thunderstrike. The blast itself was absorbed by the mystic Uru hammer and Thor was quick to redirect the energy back at Eric.

Thunderstrike was quick to move out of the way and charged his former ally in response. Thor swiftly countered the charge with one of his own , swinging his Mjolnir in a near mirror reflection of Thunderstrike’s motions. Both men collided and caught the others cudgel with an earth shaking clap of thunder. Both Thor and his fallen friend struggled against each other, muscles straining as lightning filled the skies once more. Bolts rained down around them again with such force that the metal ground was pitted with savage craters. Rain began to pelt down upon them, the wind rising up brutally as the great storm fueled by ebony black clouds grew stronger. Both men drawing upon the power of the weather caused the violent storm. Neither man gave ground and each weapon of the Gods glowed with indescribable power wrapping the hands that wielded them in blue waves of energy.

“By my fathers steed, the power we gather grows with dangerous speed…Soon enow yon storm grows far to unstable…” Thor thought, gripping the mace head tighter though the energy burned at his hand. “Tis formed from two warring storms…I must break away before tis to late and calamity strikes!”

Suddenly, without warning the storm culminated in a massive lightning bolt striking both warriors with unmatched ferocity. The blast sent both men flying away from each other. They rose slowly to their feet, steam rising off of their bodies into the air, With a thunderous crash the air went suddenly still as both warriors and heroes watched each other warily in the silence.

“Why must we fight? Explain this to me my brother.” Thor said, “Why doest thou protect this place? Doest thou not known of the villainous schemes secreted away behind yonder door?!”

“Thor…We have to fight because of what’s behind that door, I can’t let you pass.” Thunderstrike said while shaking his head with a sigh. “That’s about all I can tell you, all part of the deal that’s been set to let me be the guardian of this place. So I am asking you one last time…Back down, Thunder God!”

“For one claiming to be a fallen comrade, thou knoweth little of the son of the All-Father.” Thor said, his eyes sparking brightly.

“I’ll take that as a no…” Thunderstrike said. “To be honest I expected no less from you…a warrior till the end.”

“I cannot yield Eric!” Thor said, his voice even. “What lay behind yonder door may be a grave threat to all of fair Midgard!”

“A threat Thor…? To all of earth?!?” Eric said, chuckling as he hit his mace against his palm slowly. “There is no threat, Thor, not behind those doors!”

“What hath the Skrulls done to thee?” Thor pleaded, lowering his hammer. “They plan mischief and nefarious deeds…what so ever they keep hidden in this metallic fort be truly a threat…wouldst thou so readily protect ne‘er-do-wells?”

“Skrulls? Thor the shape shifters have nothing to do with this!” Thunderstrike exclaimed, “There is no threat! Can’t you understand that? I will not ask you to yield again.”

With a grim look on his face, his eyes cold, unfeeling, Thor set his feet and studied his former friend. “There is little point in attempting to stop this battle…tis seems fate has decreed that Thor, God of Thunder must battle one whom he called friend. if so…then let us be done with these matters most dark. The false Gladiator spoke of mine defeat coming swiftly as if with the speed of Thialfi…I must hurry.” Slowly he tensed his muscles and prepared himself for the coming battle.

“This saddens me deeply my brother. That we two must come to further blows…” Thor said, his deep voice heavy with regret. “I cannot reason with thee by words…then let reason come through force, have at thee!!!”

“Then lets get it on!” Thunderstrike responded quickly.

“FOR HONOR, FOR GLORY, AND FOR THE ETERNAL ASGARD!” Thor cried out.

With those last words said, both thunder bearers in eerie a fashion hurled their mystic mallets as one toward each other. The weapons struck each other and were deflected tot he sides to crash into the ground. Without pausing they charged with hand extended toward their weapons. Just before they collided, both hammer and mace return to the those who wielded them.

With a sudden crash of thunder they clashed in the midst of the blasted ledge with the mountain itself shaking from the impact of their charges. Thor leads with his hammer, slamming it across to knock his foe back but the blow is blocked. Though he was able to guard against the attack with his fore arm, the force knocked Thunderstrike off balance and the Thunder God follows with a solid punch to his stomach which pushed him another step back. Using the space gained from this, Thunderstrike countered with a downward punch to Thor’s head, the blow bending him forward as Eric followed it with a swift uppercut with his mace. Snapping up, Thor’s body was thrown back just as his body was knocked into a pile of debrief. Eric launched himself into the air, intending to slam the Thunderstrike down upon Thor but instead was met with two raised boots as the son of Odin flipped him over into the solid though damaged doors.

Getting to his feet, Thor turned quickly and unleashed a barrage of force blasts from Mjolnir at Thunderstrike’s rising form, further damaging the door. Debris flew out from the power of the attack but as the dust cleared moments later a shimmering field of energy stood in the way. A force field that had been formed by the Thunderstrike and protected Eric Masterson from the whole of Thor’s attack. Undeterred by the shield, the Odinson charged forward, slamming his hammer down upon the shimmering blue dome repeatedly. Each blow shook the ground and flared with an arc of electricity as the field itself seemed to ripple. Thunderstrike focused the maces energy into field, reinforcing it while trying to expand it but no matter how strong he made it, cracks began to form. Thor’s attack grew in strength with each blow, his eyes flared with fury , with a battle cry he swung Mjolnir double-handed down upon the field and shattered it in a burst of power. The force of which pushed Thor back and crushed Eric into the doors, cracking them open from the sheer pressure.

Seeing the doors finally opening, Thor charged forward quickly, slamming into Thunderstrike and smashing them both into the torn doors. With the scream of rending metal they smashed thought into a short hallway lined with sold sky blue deep lines that illuminated it. Thunderstrike was hardly done and responded to the attack with a hard shot to Thor’s side with his mace. The Thunder God was slammed into a wall and countered with an attack of his own. The mighty hammer Mjolnir backhanded across and cracked the mighty Eric Masterson across the jaw, nearly breaking it. The hallway was narrow and afforded less room but the walls were already cracking as both Asgardian and Odin imbued men fought. Thor grabbed hold of the remains of Eric’s vest and began to slam him back and forth between each wall before ramming him up into the ceiling to fall back to the ground along with pieces of alien metal. Knowing his opponents power, Thor lifted up the stunned Thunderstrike and with a swift if not brutal uppercut with Mjolnir, sent him flying to the end of the hall where he crashed with crippling force against the far wall. His impact caused a burst of ruby energy and a scattering of ebony shard.

Thor strode down the hall, his blue eyes studying his fallen friend while he slid his hammer back under his belt. The hall opened up into a circular room lit barely by harsh thick lines of dull pulsing sky blue energy that ran in a circle around the room or had before Thunderstrike slammed into the far wall. A line traced down to the silver floor where the lines stopped and flared dully against the shimmering metal. In the center of the room was a circle outlined with a second thick indented circle that was divided into halves by a line leading from the top of the circle to the bottom. The indented design was covered in a glass like substance that was almost transparent to the point of not even being there. Thunderstrike had fallen onto the circles after shattering an indent into the ebony wall. He was surrounded by metal shards and broken debris from the wall he had smashed into. Thor studied the Thunderstrike which lay a short distance away from the fallen man.

“Tis odd indeed…Noble Thunderstrike has not reverted to his mortal form…” Thor thought as he stepped closer to his fallen friend. “If he be who he wouldst claim to be…then this tis most perplexing…has he overcome what even Thor could not? Doest time no longer hold its sway on his power?”

Kneeling down slowly, Thor inspected Eric Masters, placing his fingers tips on his wrist to check for a heart beat. Once one was found, slow and strong he rose up and inspected the damage to the wall, which had caused the energy to cease flowing and to his eyes, cause the entrance to the rest of the base to remain locked. “Tis most assuredly beyond my own understanding of the science of man…Wouldst be easy for noble and wise Iron Man,” Thor thought, as he walked toward the break in the line. “The current has been broken I believe, perhaps tis only in need of a charge…A deed capable of the Mighty Thor no doubt.”

“Tis a gamble friend Eric, but tis little time for naught but risks to be taken.” Thor said as he pressed his hand against the break in the line.

Thor’s eyes began to glow a shockingly bright blue as an aura of electricity surrounded his hand and grew quickly in strength. With a fierce crackling sound the electricity spread out from his hand and lanced violently through the faltering power lines. The red was replaced with illuminating neon blue electricity that flowed down the walls and into the circles on the floor. With a soft hum the complex began to come to life and without a moments notice the circle on the floor began to lower slowly at first but after a moment faster. Thor realizing he had little time jumped quickly back onto the circle as it slid down at a faster pace. Thor looked around himself as the smooth ebony walls began to fly past him quickly. Dropping his hand to Mjolnir, he prepared himself for a battle though he was not sure what may be waiting for him. The God of Thunder did not have to wait long as with a low hum, the elevator entered into a brightly lit circular room of stainless silver metal.

The room was larger than the elevator room, and far more grander in its design. It was clearly a lab and an amazing one at that as Thor soon realized with a simple glance around. Long tables stood a few feet from the walls to the sides, sleek and smooth with complex sets of beakers, wires and test tubes upon them. Chemicals flowed between beakers, glowing faintly in the light as burners boiled the liquids before they were mixed and pushed out toward waiting devices. They were mainly alien in origin but bore a resemblance to centrifuges as each test tube that slid in place was mixed carefully before being removed by slender silver robotic arms. Thor’s eyes scanned along the complex instruments on the tables before turning to a massive computer that rested more to the center but far enough away. Its monitor was made of many, many screens which all showed different images. All of the images though related to a hero active in the world currently, the Avengers, the X-Men, the FF, Spider-Man…they all were present though there was something off. On both sides of the computer stood two tall, thick tubes with thick gel like liquid in each. Inside each tube was a Skrull, half changed into a hero with one taking the form of Thor himself and another the form of a second Gladiator. From each cylinder ran tubes that led to a basin that rested at the end of each table, chemicals were mixed with each and pumped into the cylinders.

“What foul deeds doth these nefarious villains plan?!” Thor said loudly, his hand clenching tighter around his hammers hilt, “The son of Odin shall not allow this threat to continue one moment longer!”

Thor approached the computer and the encased men, his eyes sparking brightly while he raised his hammer into the air. As he began to move his hammer in a circle a soft hiss interrupted him. On the wall a door opened swiftly and in walked an eleven year old Kevin Masterson. Thor’s eyes widened and he lowered the hammer before crossing the distance in long strides to the boy. The Son of Odin did not take chanced and hoisted the boy up by his neck.

“Tell me what goes on in this infernal place, Skrull!” Thor said, his voice sinking to a deeper snarl as he spoke, “Why hath thou built such a place and what doeth thou plan to do with yon shape shifters!?”

For a moment the boy struggled in his grip before simply hanging limp as his sensitive ears heard the beginnings of Thunderstrike’s stirrings. Kevin Masterson studied the Thunder God with oddly calculating eyes that shifted from blue to a eerie yellow.

“So I see Nar’Mex failed to slay you even with his suicide blast?” ‘Masterson’ said with a chuckle. “Oh well, that cannot be helped I’m sure, but I doubt you’ll make it out of here alive…after all you have Thunderstrike to deal with.”

“Your lackey poses no threat to the Thunder God as tis stands now.”, Thor responded, his grip tightening further around the wrapped hilt of his mighty mallet, “Thunderstrike died and hath moved on to the fabled valiant halls of Valhalla! This is naught but a shape shifting clone dog, he will be dealt with by mine allies after I cease this plot of evil.”

“You haven’t figured it out? You still think he’s a shape…” ‘Kevin’ said before looking to the rising Thunderstrike, “Dad! help me! Thor’s gone mad!”

Thor turned and looked at Eric Masterson, his eyes wide as he realized what had just transpired. With only a moment to stop the coming battle, Thor set himself for the coming charge with little hope in his words.

“Hold Eric! This is not your son, tis a shape shifter…” Thor said, holding the boy up high, “If you only stay your rage you will see I am right.”

Thunderstrike did not stay his hand as he quickly charged forward at the Odinson with a cry of, “Kevin, I’m coming!” His mace lay on the floor still but his rage was all consuming as he slammed into Thor, slamming him to the ground and causing him to drop the Skrull. Taken flatfooted, Thor was quickly lifted off his the floor and thrown into the huge computer console. The screens shattered under the impact of his body and showered the floor in glass and electric sparks. Thor fell to the ground and stood slowly, his hammer held ready but anger in his eyes now. Thunderstrike summoned his mace to him, catching it easily before charging again.

“Fool! Villain! Thou hath done a terrible deed this day!” Thor yelled, his eyes flashing with blue energy, “Thou hast enabled the foul shape shifters to keep their secrets secret…Now you must face Thor’s wraith!”

“You won’t get another chance to hurt my son!” Thunderstrike yelled as he raised his mace double hand to strike.

Thor responded in kind as he raised his own hammer, held in both hands and as Thunderstrike slammed his mace down it was met with Mjolnir. As if mirroring each other, both released a huge burst of electricity from their weapons. Though the burst of energy was small at first, The two men began to pour on the power quickly in an attempt to finish the other off. Aided by the growing rage in them, it expanded quickly and with a cracking sound exploded out to fill the room with rippling waves of electricity. Both Thor and Thunderstrike were engulfed in the titanic explosion. Lightning arcs shredded through the cylinders and tables, chemicals exploded and the bodies of the two half changed Skrulls from slammed violently into the walls as was “Masterson”. The electric storm flashed out suddenly as both men were knocked backwards into the debris and against the wall.

Thor rose slowly and weakly, his body burned and bruised by the battle and the monstrous attack. He looked to the form of Thunderstrike who lay, smoking near the Skrull body of his “son” which had now changed half way back in death. Thor made his way to his allies side quickly though he limped slightly. His hammer now slipped back under his belt.

“He hath not changed back to the form of a Skrull…most odd indeed,” Thor thought. “Perhaps…there tis more here than I first expected.” He knelt down and picked up the badly injured Thunderstrike in his arms. As he studied his fallen foe, his eyes began to take note of the energy that had begun to flow faintly off of Eric Masterson. “Magic!?”Thor thought. “He is not a Skrull…tis dark tidings indeed, tis means…I hath done a terrible deed my Father.” Thunderstrike woke soon enough, with enough remaining strength to keep his eyes open and he coughed weakly.

“My son…?” Eric said. “How is he…?”

“Tis not your son Eric.” Thor said as he nodded toward the body of the shape shifter who had been his son.

“What…I was….wrong?” Thunderstrike said, looking slowly toward his fallen ‘son.’ “Thor…what the hell…is going on? I thought I was…protecting…Damn it!”

“Calm, my brother…calm thyself…You must rest.” Thor said, watching his badly injured friend with pained eyes.

“The-there isn’t…time…Thor.” Thunderstrike said, wincing as he moved while looking straight up. “I can feel…I’m dying Thor… I thought…my son, Thor…my son Kevin…I thought he…you… How could I fall for this? I should have known…it wasn’t about him…”

Thor looked down at his fallen friend and fellow warrior, his blonde hair hiding his eyes and the pained look within. At his side hung Mjolnir, for once useless and insignificant. The Thunder God knew not what to do or say for any word he spoke would seem worthless.

“ What have I done…Thor?” said Thunderstrike. “What did I cause…?”

“I do not know my friend…” Thor said softly. “Know this brother, Thor hath been fooled by such villainous foes before, tis not dishonorable…but tell me…how hath thou returned to this place?”

“It is so…blurry Thor, so hard to think now…feels like a fog has covered my memories.” Eric said, coughing harshly before shaking his head slowly to clear it. “I remember sitting at the great table in…Valhalla’s halls when a cloaked man approached, he told me of my sons sickness…like a fool I believed him…” For a moment Eric began to shake violently before calming in the Thunder God’s arms, once more continuing. “He spoke of threats to him…and that I could come back to earth to protect him…I couldn’t see him…Heh, stupid eh Thor…?”

“No Eric…Thou are not a fool…truly only a father…” Thor responded as the mists of magic began to flow from Thunderstrike’s body faster, causing him to begin to simply fade away. “What did this man sound like…twas he someone known to you?”

“…No Thor, I thought…I could place the…voice but its gone from my memory…” Eric said, his eyes closing slowly. “I think…I…Thor…take care of Kevin for me…please…d-don’t let him….”

With those last words, Thunderstrike…Eric Masters passed from this world again. His body fading completely upon his last breath and leaving only a rune marked stone in his place. For a moment he closed his eyes and said a soft prayer to the All-Father Odin before looking to the remains of the mace known as Thunderstrike as well as the rune that had taken the place of his friend and comrade.

“Tis a rune of Asgard…Father…what sorcery hath been done on this day?!” He yelled up to the heavens, his eyes tearing with pain and sorrow.

Meanwhile

Upon a throne in a darkly lit hall sat a being wrapped in many layers of gleaming emerald and gold robes. Each robe was inscribed with Nordic runes of power and protection which glowed a soft violet light. On his head, hiding his face in shadows, was a rune lined hood that allowed only piercing violet eyes to look out. He sat relaxed but pensive with his hands interlocked before it and one foot resting on the seat.

With a tap of his foot a rune appeared up on the marble floor and a crystal mirror emerged before the Throne. Its brilliant surface washed the being in soft blue light. The being tapped his foot again and two images appeared beside each other upon the mirrored surface, one of Thor yelling to the heavens and the second of Thor standing upon a mountain side, looking out toward a distant village.

The being smiled a wicked smile of white teeth and with a chuckle said, “Tis all going as I hath wished…very, very good indeed.”