Written by Barry Reese
The Year 408, A.D. Italy, near Dacia
Aric crouched low, hiding in the grassy shrubs that lined the road. The stench of death clung tightly to his well-muscled frame and enormous pain came in waves that threatened to overwhelm him. He and a small band of his fellow Visigoths had been ambushed the day before, caught in the web of a brilliant Roman Centurion named Klitus. Of the twelve men who had ridden with Aric into the trap, none had survived.
Aric heard the approaching hoofbeats and smiled coldly. Klitus had been out whoring the night before, celebrating with his men. The wholesale slaughter of the barbarians had put them into a jovial mood.
Aric gripped his sword tighter and waited. Soon enough, Klitus could be seen. He rode a jet-black stallion, his Roman armor outlining a strong physique. It was said that he was a sorceror, a dealer in ways arcane. To Aric, it mattered little. Wizard or no, he was going to die.
Klitus was alone, intent on riding back to Rome as soon as possible. He was a handsome man, save for one long scar on his cheek and the exotic nature of his eyes -- one was green, the other brown.
Aric waited until Klitus was near enough to strike and then he leaped forward, throwing himself at the horse and its rider. He grabbed onto the startled Klitus and pulled him forcibly from the saddle.
The two men landed hard, rolling about. Klitus managed to push Aric away and quickly got to his feet.
"You... you're the young barbarian I saw yesterday. I thought you dead...." A sneer spread over Klitus' features.
Aric brandished his sword. "My soul won't know peace until every Roman dog like you is dead!"
Klitus drew his own sword. "Hah. I doubt you know anything of death and war, Visigoth. I, on the other hand, am an expert on such matters." The Centurion lunged forward, his sword met immediately by Aric's.
The two warriors thrust and parried, equal in ferocity. Klitus seemed to have enormous experience, as if he'd lived through several lifetimes' worth of battles. For Aric, his advantage lay in his indomitable will and powerful strength. A dozen little nicks opened on each, sending small rivulets of blood down their arms and faces.
"Your people are savages, Visigoth. Why not accept the fact that you're doomed to extinction?"
Aric roared, slashing out boldly. He left him open if his attack failed, but in this case luck was with him. The blade slashed deep through the Roman's chest, piercing his heart. Klitus fell backwards with a stunned look on his face, as if he were unable to believe that someone such as this barbarian could truly slay him.
The barbarian knelt over his dying foe. "Know this, Klitus, that it was Aric of Dacia who slew you. Rot in hell."
Warm spittle landed between the eyes of the Roman Centurion. His face froze forever in an expression of disgust and hate....
October 24, 1999. Northern California, outside the home of Aric Dacia.
Gilad watched in silence as Turok notched his last arrow. "You think that'll do any good? He's got the armor, Turok. Worse, he's got Aric."
Turok reached up and wiped blood from his forehead, where it had begun streaming down into his eye. The Native American was favoring his left leg, a gaping hole just above his knee. "We have no choice. Aric is my blood-brother but it would be better for him to die with honor, than live in thrall to Cheng."
Gilad Anni-Padda, known to many as the Eternal Warrior, nodded grimly. His leather bodysuit was ripped and torn, his retractable whip dripping with blood. The two great fighters, one immortal and one timelost, stood shoulder to shoulder in the wooded area outside Aric's home. It was their last offensive, there was no doubt of that. Win or lose, it ended here. "Don't let him touch you when he dies -- that's how he jumps into a new body. Kill him from a distance if you can."
Turok raised his bow and took a step forward. "I shall take one shot -- make sure you give me a clear one. And then it will be done." He glanced towards the well-lit house. "Forgive me, brother," he whispered.
October 20, 1999. Northern California Headquarters of Orb Industries
"...and so I followed you for years, trying my best to make some sense out of the mystery." Samantha Jones sipped her coffee, watching Aric's reaction closely. They were seated in the noisy cafeteria at Orb Headquarters, but Samantha drowned them out easily enough. Aric had that kind of effect on her, creating tunnel vision of a sort.
Aric glanced around the cafeteria before answering. "You devoted so much time and effort... just because you were curious?"
Samantha felt a flush touch her cheeks. "Well, curiosity is my biggest failing, I guess. But it's also what drove me to become a successful archaeologist. I can't stand having a mystery before me that I can't solve. It drives me crazy. Besides..." Samantha tried her best to look sexy, without coming across like a tart. She hoped it was working. "...I found you fascinating. Not just for the mysteries you presented but because you were handsome -- and obviously tormented*."
(*When Samantha first saw X-O, he was putting the remains of his wife Deidre to rest.)
Aric looked amused. "You enjoy seeing men in torment?"
Laughing, Samantha shook her head. "No... not quite. I just meant that you seemed so sad... I guess it's strange to see such a large man crying like that."
"It... was not an easy time for me. My company had been taken from me and my lover... was killed. I felt as if everything I touched was doomed to die."
"I'm sorry."
"It no longer matters -- I've regained my empire and most, but not all, of my friends. Life... is good."
Samantha noticed the almost wistful tone to his voice and thought for a moment that she was responsible for it. But then she saw his eyes light up as he looked past her. She followed his gaze and saw Gamin striding towards them. For a moment, Samantha felt a flash of resentment. The younger woman was gorgeous, moving with a fluid motion of her hips. She looked like a tiger or some jungle predator, on the prowl for food. Or a mate.
Gamin stopped at the table, her hands on her hips. "We've got a problem, Aric."
Aric's eyes roamed quickly over Gamin's lithe form before he responded. Samantha bit her lip in response. God, he's as much of a sexual animal as she is. Strangely enough, the realization only served to further entice her.
Aric's voice interrupted her reverie. "What sort of problem? Is Ken being fussy again?"
Gamin cracked a grin, and her eyes twinkled. "Nah. He's learned his lesson since I plugged his transmitter into that Gameboy and gave him a scare. This is something else -- Gilad is here and he says it's important."
Aric stood up so suddenly that he caused Samantha to jump in surprise. Aric's mind was already turning over the possibilities -- did Gilad's reappearance have something to do with the recent danger*? Had things not ended as well as they'd believed? "I'm sorry, Samantha, but I have to go. We'll talk later."
(*In the Armageddon 1999 series, housed elsewhere on the VFA site.)
Samantha opened her mouth to talk, but could only watch mutely as Aric and Gamin strode out without another word. Finally, she sighed. "There might not be a later, Aric Dacia. Because I have to go back to work.... Damn it."
Doris Ketch hurried past Aric Dacia's office. She had been a quiet presence about Orb the past few days, content to watch and learn -- but the sudden arrival of Gilad Anni-Padda had thrown her plans off-schedule.
Doris Ketch was, for all intents and purposes, dead. The being who now controlled her body was General Cheng -- the Immortal Enemy. The same being who had once, centuries ago, inhabited the body of a Roman Centurion named Klitus. His ongoing war with the Eternal Warrior had reached a fever pitch in the last decade and Cheng had no intentions of rekindling it before he'd accomplished his goals -- to find out how Aric of Dacia had survived so many centuries. Once he'd learned Aric's secret, Cheng planned to steal it from him -- and preserve his own life. Since the strange departure of so much of the world's Darque Power* (Was it all of it, he wondered?), he'd been more than a little afraid that the next time he died without touching someone would be his final death.
(*In Armageddon 1999.)
"Hi, Doris." Gamin, perched on a desk just outside Aric's office, smiled as Doris came past. "Long time no see."
Doris stopped and examined the woman before her. Office scuttlebutt said that she was Aric's lover and confidante.... Doris smiled and stepped towards her. "Gamin... Just the person I wanted to see. Could you step into my office, please?"
"He could be anywhere. Or anyone. Cheng is ruthless -- and if Geoff is right, he's interested in you for some reason."
Aric crossed his arms and waited. "I've never met him, nor have I heard of him. What could he possibly want with me?"
Gilad, dressed in a leather jacket and wearing his long hair swept back, tilted his head at Aric. "Not to sound snide, but I'd guess it has something to do with the X-O armor. That is the usual reason when someone comes looking for you, isn't it?"
Aric grunted. He still didn't care much for Gilad, thanks in large part to the fact that their first meeting went so poorly*. Now, he regarded him with respect -- but not any particular affection. "Fine. I appreciate the warning."
(*See X-O Manowar Yearbook # 1.)
Gilad frowned. "Aric... You don't understand. Cheng is deadly. I've fought him more times than I care to remember. You'll need me here."
"I doubt that."
Gilad sighed, shaking his head. "Damn it, when are you going to stop living in the 5th Century?"
"Maybe when you start treating me like a fellow warrior, and not some village idiot who has to be protected." Aric's eyes were narrowed and his voice was rising in intensity.
Sensing a losing battle, the Eternal Warrior turned away. "Fine, Aric. Have it your way. If you need me, don't be too proud to call."
Aric sat down heavily as Gilad slammed the door on his way out. Arrogant ass.
The modern-day barbarian leaned forward and felt a tinge of regret. Perhaps he'd let his distaste for Gilad cloud his mind. It was true that Gilad could have proved useful if Cheng truly were in the area.
He looked up as the door to his office opened and Gamin moved in. She was smiling. "Things didn't go well?"
"No."
Gamin moved behind him and rubbed his shoulders. "Poor baby. Let Gamin make it all better."
Aric's eyes opened wide as the beautiful thief leaned forward and kissed him. The barbarian didn't resist, however, and returned the favor. All thoughts of Gilad and his arrogance faded quickly, as he pulled Gamin into his lap.
Gamin kept her eyes open, even as Aric closed his to savor the moment. If he hadn't fallen prey to his lust, he might have noticed something unusual about his friend and soon-to-be lover.... one of her normally green eyes was now brown....
NEXT ISSUE : Part Two of "The Immortal X-O." Gilad and Turok make plans of their own, while Aric's life falls to pieces. Again. :-)
LETTERS
Barry, just read issue 76. I've gotta tell you, nothing makes a tedious day at work better than popping around on this site and finding a new chapter from you.I can already tell this story should be a winner. I can't believe you brought Cheng into X-O. He is by far one of the best villians ever created.Due to his tenacity if nothing else.Now there's just the problem of having to wait for Turok and Gilad together with Aric till the next episode.
Cheers,
Eric Gill
Thanks, Eric. I've always liked the Immortal Enemy, so Cheng will (hopefully) be well portrayed here. Keep in touch!
Great issue! It's
nice to see a story with Aric in it, that doesn't need a
huge battle scene. I liked the introduction of Rand last issue,
and the origin of his armor in this issue was just as good. I
can't wait to see where the Immortal Enemy, Turok and the rest
play into the big picture. But, if past issues are any indication
i know i won't be disappointed.
One small plea, let's see Tish from Vh2' X-O introduced into the
series. The interplay between her, Rand and Aric would be great.
Both are definately her type. And it would throw a nice little
twist in the the Aric/Gamin relationship.
Nice work....
Newpowergen
Tish will definitely pop up soon -- I plan for Rand and the Armorines to reappear in either issue 80 or 81. Don't worry about the Aric/Gamin relationship needing twists -- there will be plenty. ;-)
I love what you're doing with X-O. Especially bringing in that other armor, does it have the same abilities as Aric's or are there some differences? Also do you know if any of the other Valiant Fan Fic series like Shadowman will have anymore issues written?
Henry Freeman
Rand's armor is essentially the same as Aric's, at least in terms of abilities. However, as a sentient entity, it may grow and mature in different ways than either Shanhara or Bekhara -- so I think it's plausible there might be slight differences later on. As for the other VFA books, there will be new issues soon. I write so much faster than everyone else that I make them look slower than they really are. ;-)
See you all next issue!