The Chairman studied him carefully. He was wearing a simple, comfortable robe, and his feet were bare. 'As I said, I have been watching. This is a most interesting time for me, Mr. Sullivan. If I so desired I could send my personal bodyguard up and your friends would be dead in seconds, or perhaps I could just destroy you all myself.'
'Then why don't you, big shot?'
'Because I am bored,' he answered truthfully. 'I have been alive for a very long time. I have lived for over a hundred years. I was born the youngest son of a minor samurai lord. My home was destroyed in a revolution, my family put to the sword, and I became ronin. I had seen my share of conflict by the time the Power came to me. Together we learned how magic could interact with mankind. Since that day I have traveled the world. I have learned its secrets. I have seen the heights and depths of magic. I have been to every land. Spoken every tongue. Learned everything. Fought every war. Led men into battle and killed legions with my own hands. I've lain with ten thousand women and sired a thousand sons. I sculpt nations as other men sculpt clay. I have traveled beyond our world and seen the others. I have spoken with the Power face to face as we speak now. I have seen the terrible being the Power fled from and I have protected our world from it in battle beyond your mortal comprehension. There is nothing truly new to me.'
Sullivan could sense he was telling the truth. If the Chairman was anything, he was perfectly straightforward. 'So, we're an interesting diversion?'
'Yes. I could kill you all with a thought. The Geo-Tel was never in danger. My plan will be fulfilled.' As he said, that two black-clad ninjas Traveled in, holding a strange device between them. It sparked and buzzed with energy and Sullivan could feel the magic in the room distort toward it. 'It was only a matter of time. But you and your people interest me, Mr. Sullivan. Your strengths, your flaws, your hates, your desires, your loves and dreams. You are one of the most powerful natural Actives ever born. Your young Traveling friend is even stronger, though she does not realize it yet. We should stand as one, united for what is to come, yet instead you will fight me to the end. Such purity of struggle is bitter, yet beautiful in its way. I wrote a poem about it. Would you like to hear it?'
'I'd rather slit my own wrists.'
'Fair enough.' The Chairman turned back to Madi. 'I am disappointed in you, First Iron Guard. Were it not for my preparation, the Geo-Tel would have been lost to the Grimnoir. And not only that, but it would have been lost to the forces of a man that you had thought you'd killed.'
Madi bowed deeply. 'Forgive me, Chairman. I can make it right.'
Sullivan was surprised just how much genuine devotion there was in his brother's words. At least he'd finally found something that he could truly love.
'Very well. How much longer until the firing?' the Chairman asked absently.
A man in a long black coat answered. 'Approximately ten minutes, sir.'
The Chairman nodded. 'Very well, First Iron Guard Madi. You may redeem yourself.'
Madi bowed his head quickly, then moved to the side, shrugging out of his robe. All he was wearing now were a pair of very baggy black pants. Madi's torso was covered in kanji scars. Nearly every inch of him had been burned, and every one of those made him more dangerous. He shouted something in Japanese, and a moment later another Iron Guard hurried forward with two swords, one made of wood, and one made of killing steel.
Sullivan knew what was happening. He removed the tattered remains of his coat and canvas vest and tossed the rags on the floor.
Madi smiled. 'Let's go then, little brother.' He picked up the steel katana, swinging it back and forth so quickly that the air whistled, then he tossed it gently through the air. Sullivan caught it by the hilt. Madi grinned as he took up the wooden sword, testing its balance. 'I'm literally thirteen times the man you are. Figure I'd keep it fair.'
The Chairman nodded, appreciating this act of chivalry. Jane looked like she was about to puke. The Geo-Tel was steaming along behind five Iron Guards and two ninjas. The Chairman saw where Sullivan's eyes had wandered, and he shook his head softly. 'I would not allow you to stop me… but I will not meddle in your family business. Carry on.'
Madi was limbering up. His body was thick with muscle. Sullivan had seen him tear through hard men like they were nothing, and that was before he had been magically augmented and trained. Sullivan held up the unfamiliar sword. 'I don't exactly know how to use one of these things…'
'You'll figure it out pretty quick,' Madi said. 'You always was the smart one.'
'Not always,' he muttered. Sullivan was the youngest. Jimmy had been the smart one growing up, until he'd been struck with a bad fever that had nearly killed him and had left his mind feeble. After their daddy had died, he'd stepped up, trying to take care of his mother and his dimwit brother, while the oldest, Matthew, had done nothing but cause trouble. He'd been a bully, a thief, a jerk, and was only happy when everyone else had been scared of him. Sullivan watched the light reflect down the razor edge of the sword. 'Hell, we should've done this a long time ago.'
'That's the spirit,' Madi said.
Sullivan raised the sword. 'I'm gonna cut you in half.'
Madi grinned savagely. 'Reckon you could try that and see how it works out for ya.'
'Begin,' the Chairman ordered.
They met in the middle. The Iron Guards formed a circle around them. Sullivan swung as fast as he could, the blade driven by his vast strength. Madi moved out of the way easily. He cracked Sullivan hard on the shoulder with the wooden sword. 'Try harder,' he said.
'Go to hell,' Sullivan snarled, hurling his Power, trying to make Madi fall toward him. Their magic clashed, neutralizing each others' forces. The swords met, and then they were face to ruined face, and Sullivan was staring into that dead white eye. Madi grabbed him by the arm and used some movement to duck and hurl Sullivan over his hip. He hit the ground hard, but was already coming up when the wooden sword nailed him in the ribs. He gasped.
They went back and forth. Every time he tried his Power, Madi came back with an equal amount. The Iron Guard was stronger, faster, and had more skill. The wooden sword swept in low and hit him in the leg, and even with his long-magically hardened bones, he felt the fracture. Distracted, he wasn't as fast, and Madi's Power dropped him backwards where he hit the floor and skidded away. On his knees, he swung the sword, but Madi easily leapt over it, and drove the wooden weapon through his shoulder.
Sullivan screamed, and Madi used one foot to shove him off the end of the wooden sword. Blood sprayed freely. He tried to rise, but Madi kicked him in the face. He rolled onto his back, and drove the sword upward, feeling it pierce flesh.
Madi paused, looking at the sword driven into his ribs. He stepped back as it slid cleanly out. 'Nice shot, Jake.' Then he shattered the wooden sword over Jake's skull.
Sullivan was crawling away, blood pouring out of his shoulder and head. The scar on his chest was channeling Healing magic, but not near fast enough to keep up with this. Madi tossed the broken hilt away and it clattered across the floor. 'You idiot! You fucking idiot. I told you. I told you. I'm the strongest there is. I beat you with a bokken! You ain't done yet. Get up! Get UP!'
He rose, shaking. Madi punched him across the room. He collided with two Iron Guards, taking them all down in a heap.
Madi wasn't satisfied. He needed more. He looked to the Chairman, who was sitting there, showing no emotion. 'This ain't good enough.' Madi ran toward Jane, grabbed her by the hair and pulled her across the room. She cried out in pain. 'Fix him! Now, damn it. I ain't done yet!'
Sullivan crawled off the Iron Guards. Madi shoved Jane down next to him. He could feel the warmth of her hands on his head. The hole in his shoulder closed. Somehow he knew that his skull was visible through the top of his head, but the skin pulled together and the blood quit flowing. He got back to his feet and picked up the sword.
Jane scrambled away. 'Thanks,' Sullivan said, tasting nothing but coppery blood.
Madi was pacing back and forth, unarmed, but deadly anyway. He saw his brother standing. 'Again!'
They clashed. Sullivan feinted with the sword, and as Madi moved away from it, his boot collided with the Iron Guard's knee. It was like kicking a railroad tie. Madi punched him in the chest, breaking his sternum, then uppercut him so hard that he thought his face was going to come off. Sullivan landed on his back, but reversed
