Chapter 42: The Queen's Gambit!
Kara was feeling better, but then she thought about Kayn. He was helping her so much, yet she still kept such a massive secret from him. Her temperament shifted slightly, the weight of her thoughts evident in her eyes.
She hesitated, her voice barely above a whisper as she asked, "What if… What if I'm keeping something from you? Something that might make you… not like me?"
Kayn's expression softened as he looked at her, understanding the vulnerability behind her words, "Kara, I know that you're a good person at your core. You're struggling with a lot right now, but that doesn't change who you are. Whatever you're dealing with, it won't make me think any less of you. I see the real you, and no secret could change that. Everyone has secrets."
Kara felt a warmth spread through her chest at his words, a sense of relief she hadn't realized she needed. She allowed herself a small smile, something she hadn't felt comfortable doing in a while. "Thank you, Kayn. When I'm ready, I'll tell you. But for now… just thank you."
Kayn returned her smile, a gentle understanding in his eyes. "Okay, Kara. Whenever you're ready."
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Later that Day, Kayn & Violet's House!
Kayn had just arrived home, entering the spacious, modern living room. Compared to other places at this time, Kayn and Violet's entire house was tastefully decorated with a blend of high-tech gadgets and comfortable furniture.
Kayn, wearing casual clothes, walks into the room. He had thought about what Kara had told him earlier that day. He had finally gotten very close to her, to the point she was really trusting him, willing to open up about her heritage very soon.
As he was thinking, he glanced at the television but froze when he caught sight of the TV's headline.
ON SCREEN -
BREAKING NEWS: STARLING CITY BILLIONAIRE ROBERT QUEEN AND SON OLIVER QUEEN MISSING, PRESUMED DEAD AFTER 'THE QUEEN'S GAMBIT' TRAGEDY!
Kayn narrowed his eyes as he saw the headline, immediately turning up the volume and focusing on the broadcast. As someone who watched the Arrowverse in his past life, this was an important moment to look into.
Currently, there was an attractive female news anchor breaking the news in a solemn voice,
"In a tragic turn of events, Starling City billionaire Robert Queen and his son, Oliver Queen, have been reported missing and are now presumed dead following the destruction of their yacht, 'The Queen's Gambit.' The yacht was last seen off the coast of the North China Sea before losing all contact." The news anchor spoke, her voice solemn as she took a short break before continuing.
"Search and rescue operations have been underway for several days, but authorities fear the worst as no survivors have been found. The Queen family, known for their influence and philanthropy, leaves behind a legacy of wealth and power, now overshadowed by this devastating loss..."
Kayn sipped his coffee as he watched the news, his expression unreadable as he listened to the report. It was pretty much exactly the same as in the Arrowverse.
He had been so caught up in all the current issues that he had totally forgotten that late 2007 was the time when Oliver had supposedly 'died', secretly going onto the island and having 5 years of crazy adventures on the Island, Hong-Kong and somehow, Russia.
"...friends and associates of the Queen family have expressed their shock and grief at the news, with many wondering what this means for Queen Industries and the city's future. Robert Queen was a key figure in Starling City, and his son's death has only deepened the city's collective sorrow..."
Kayn watched the television a bit more, eventually turning it off as he sank into thought.
"System, Sign-In!" Kayn murmured.
[ Congratulations! You have received – Kaldr, The Frost Wolf ]
Kayn received the reward and looked into it. Apparently, Kaldr was a mythical Frost wolf with the power to control Water and Ice. It would be 100% loyal to Kayn no matter what.
As Kayn accepted the reward, the howl of a wolf echoed nearby and running into the room was a smaller, cute and exceptionally agile wolf with an aura of frost. Kaldr's power immediately caused the temperature in the surrounding area to lower massively, as if he was a portable air-conditioning.
Kaldr's fur was pristine, fluffy & snow-white, with striking deep crimson red eyes as a faint icy mist following him wherever he ran, hinting at his control over Water and Ice.
Kaldr immediately pounced into Kayn's arms and he hugged the wolf, petting it alot as he wondered thought about how much Violet and the others would absolutely love Kaldr, smiling as he decided to play with him for the rest of the evening.
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Within a secret dimension, the members of ORION were conducting a meeting, lead by The Grand Marshal. The meeting was conducted in a chamber, dimly lit and humming with dark, malevolent energy.
At the center of the room, seated upon a throne carved from obsidian and etched with ancient, malevolent runes, was the Grand Marshal.
The Grand Marshal in his true form was towering and imposing, reminiscent of a malevolent entity. His figure was clad in an imposing, jet-black armor with a fearsome appearance.
The only thing uncovered was his face, which was rather human-like, aside from purple skin, and his eyes being glowing orbs of pure darkness, exuding an unsettling sense of power and control.
Standing before The Grand Marshal was the other members of ORION, each of them an absolute tyrant when put across the Galaxy, architects of chaos who could easily cause massive trouble on their own.
"This Harbinger fella don't learn his lesson, still meddling in our business after boss' warnings." hissed one of the members, a being made entirely of swirling darkness, his voice echoing with rage.
Another member, a hulking brute with molten lava flowing through his veins, slammed his fist into the stone floor, causing it to crack and smolder, "Why do we tolerate this insolence? Let me crush him—burn him to ashes and scatter his remains across the cosmos!"
The Grand Marshal leaned forward, his eyes narrowing as he considered the words of his underlings. His voice, when he spoke, was a low, resonant rumble that seemed to vibrate through the very fabric of the chamber, "You are all so eager for destruction, so quick to end his life. But what you fail to grasp is that Harbinger is more than just a nuisance.....he is an opportunity."
The ORION members exchanged confused and frustrated glances. Opportunity? All Harbinger did was lock up their weaker men and ruin their plans. Even after their threat, he still ran around as if he was invincible.
"Opportunity?" spat a woman shrouded in an ethereal mist, her voice dripping with venom, "He is a threat, Grand Marshal. A threat that we could easily be neutralizing and are ignoring. We should be focusing on the Justice League instead of this small time weakling."
The Grand Marshal slowly rose from his throne, his towering form casting a long, ominous shadow over the assembly, "Harbinger is no ordinary adversary," he continued, his tone laced with dark intrigue, "His power is extraordinary. Killing him would be a waste. No, I intend to absorb his power. But to do so, I must first understand it. Study it. And for that, I need him alive."
The room fell into a tense silence, the members of ORION struggling to contain their bloodlust, their hatred for Harbinger burning brighter than ever.
One of them, a figure with a face concealed behind a mask of silver, stepped forward, his voice calm yet brimming with malice, "Then allow me to capture him, Grand Marshal. I will bring Harbinger to you, alive, so that you may dissect his power at your leisure."
The Grand Marshal's eyes gleamed with approval, "Very well. Take what forces you need. Bring him to me, broken but alive. And remind the world that their interference only hastens the inevitable, our victory."
The ORION members bowed deeply, their dark forms seething with anticipation as they began to plot their next move.
The Grand Marshal watched them with a cold, calculating gaze, his mind already envisioning the moment when Harbinger's power would become his own.
As the chamber emptied, the Grand Marshal allowed himself a rare smile, a twisted, malevolent grin that hinted at the unspeakable horrors to come. "Soon," he whispered to himself, "All will fall before me, and this world will be my playground, a playground of death & despair."
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