The Brothers Lefray, Part 2 (Solo)

Late Night. The Shores of Jump City.

Dar was anxious. He was hunting down two very dangerous enemies: an assassin and his own previous second in command. He was quite certain that Lilith X and Energy Warrior would eventually be killed, but the wide-ranged operation to do so was quite stressful.

He had taken leave of his bodyguards and was walking the beach of Jump City to let the night air relax him. So far, it wasn't working. And then it got worse. Much worse.

"Is this how you use your power, brother?"

Dar looked to the side, to see Leejay Le Lefray, his mentor and adopted brother. He was quite surprised, actually. It had been months since he had seen the monk, and the Zydon had undergone quite a transformation. His once bald head was now covered with a thick rag of black hair, and his usual garbs were replaced with a fine suit.

But surprised as he was, Dar could think of nothing to say, so Leejay continued. "I wanted you to be a force for good, but you have changed more than expected. I know your plans, what you intend to do after you kill those two women. Dar, you could destroy the human race. You have to stop."

Dar's eyes widened. How could Leejay possibly know his plans? He had told very, very few people. He hadn't even told Energy Warrior about it. His face filled with anger. In the end, it didn't matter how Leejay knew about his plans. He knew. Dar drew his sword. "Nobody tells me what to do, monk."

"I lost my powers by helping you kill the old Pride, but don't think I can't kill the new one." Leejay pulled a knife out of his suit.

It was nothing too impressive, but it's design was unmistakable. Dar actually took an involuntary step back. It was the Nth metal blade that he had won from Gilda, the blade that he had used to kill the old Pride. He had given it to Leejay for safekeeping, but now his own brother intended to use it against him?

"What? You forgot you could die? Of course you did. You're Pride. I'm sorry, Dar, but unless you promise to cease all plans on your next operation, I will be forced to kill you."

Dar hesitated, considering his options. Making his resolve, he narrowed his eyes at Leejay and sheathed his sword. Before Leejay could relax, however, Dar pulled a small rock from his pocket. The rock had a crude etching of a balloon on it, and the etching glowed as Dar spoke. "Lady of Chaos, I hold in my hand your sigil. I summon you, by the ancient laws. I hold you to your promise. Be present, Shivering Jemmy of the Shallow Brigade!"

The rock flashed blindingly and disappeared from Dar's grasp. A little girl appeared, floating in the air. She had messy yellow hair, bright blue eyes, a blue bathrobe tied around her waist and a balloon string in her hand. She rubbed her eyes. "Oh, that's right. I owe you a favor, don't I, Mr. Dar? Well, I'll warn you. I'm not in the mood, so you better think long and hard before you say your wish. You don't want me to take it the wrong way, do you?"

Dar pointed at Leejay. He had considered how Jemmy might react to various requests at length, and needed no time to think now. "Do not allow Leejay Le Lefray to cause me harm."

Jemmy grinned. "Oh, you lucky duck. A few years ago, I would have killed you myself, so that he wouldn't need to harm you. But, that's not me anymore." She turned her attention to Leejay. "So, I don't really want to fight you, so I'm going to try to just intimidate you." Jemmy formed a sword out of thin air and used telekinesis to impale herself through the heart. She then pulled the sword out, instantly healed from the wound, and ate the sword. "So...yeah. If you promise not to hurt Dar, then I will let you go. I don't want to fight you, and you really don't want to fight me."

Now it was Leejay's turn to hesitate. This being was clearly not human. What she actually was, he was unsure. Leejay did not believe that anyone was unkillable. It was possible he could defeat Jemmy in single combat.

But Dar was also here. Leejay probably couldn't beat both of them. "You have my word, Shivering Jemmy. I shall not harm Dar, except in self defense."

Jemmy nodded, eating the last bite of the sword. "That's fair. Well, I'm out." And just like that, the Lady of Chaos vanished. For a moment, the brothers Lefray glared at each other. They would, of course, be employing agents to escalate the violence, but they would not fight each other. A Lefray was true to his word.

Leejay turned and walked away. Dar watched him go for a moment, and then turned to walk the opposite direction. It was no great loss, he decided. After all, they had never been brothers in any other way than name.