A Dark Trail - Chapter 6

"Barrier!"

The pink wall appeared in time to shield Pollock and Clever Adolescent Panda from the worst of the grenade. Shrapnel flew, shredding wires and shattering glass. The concussion sent a nearby cart flying, scattering the few pieces of equipment on it as it did. Pollock winced and dropped the wall, needing to catch her breath.

CAP immediately darted forward and launched at their attacker, who didn't seem able to react in time. To the panda's surprise, the man proved as substantial as a shadow, and CAP crashed headfirst into the wall.

The man watched the panda's faceplant, then turned towards Pollock smoothly, producing another grenade from his suit pocket. "Your hour is at hand."

From behind him, a whip cracked, knocking the grenade loose before it could be armed. The man turned, swinging his other arm in a lazy arc toward CAP's head. The panda had enough experience to be wary, and rolled out of the way.

The man's hand slid easily into the wall for just a moment, until its arc brought it clear again, a piece of the wall grasped between his fingers. He locked eyes with the panda and smiled. "Won't be a minute."

"Is he using time-related expressions?" Pollock grumbled as she reached into her jacket for a large gun. The man drifted smoothly into the wall and out of sight.

"Of course he is! Didn't you see the clocks all over his outfit?"

"Yes, but what do grenades and intangibility have to do with time?"

"Time to call a hearse," the voice responded from behind them as he rose through the floor. He sounded outwardly calm, but there was an undercurrent of glee his two targets picked up on easily.

The whip lashed out again, but passed harmlessly through him as he brought out another grenade. Pollock fired and the canister burst open, revealing a whirling saw blade. The top of the grenade clattered to the ground harmlessly.

CAP gawked. "What happened to boxing gloves and silly string?"

"I have those, but I thought more extreme measures might be required."

The man frowned momentarily. Then he reached into the metal floor and pulled a section of piping several feet long, which he held easily at one end. "Playtime is over."

He jabbed the impromptu staff forward, catching Pollock squarely in the chest, sending her flying back into the wall. Pollock gasped from the dual impacts, wishing she'd remembered to bring a flak jacket or something. The staff was already snapping to the right, where CAP absorbed the strike with two thick forearms. The panda slid an inch or two, but no more. They tried shoving back, but the man let his feet sink slightly into the floor and he stopped.

Clever Adolescent Panda took a firm grip on the end of the staff, murmuring to themselves. Perhaps impatient, the Immaterial Man pushed forward, only to see the panda bend the staff back on itself like they were planning to roll it up. Using that extra grip, CAP gave a sharp wrench, and the man pulled back, refusing to give an inch.

Which is what his furry opponent wanted. CAP used the force of the pull and leapt into the air, spinning and again unfurling the whip and cracking it in the air overhead.

"It's your down time," The man released the staff and reached out with one hand, patiently waiting for the panda to pass through him. He'd be able to grab any number of organs. It didn't work as he planned, as CAP jabbed one free paw forward, and it connected solidly against the Immaterial Man's. The force behind it, combined with the momentum of the leap, smashed the man to the ground, the floor bending and creaking beneath him. He was too stunned to react, and a moment later one the lights, it's cables cut by the whip, crashed on his head.

CAP helped Pollock to her feet, who was confused by the sequence. "Did he forget to turn intangible?"

"I altered my aura so I could still hit him. Like how I made it so insects don't recognize me as food."

"Setting aside that those two things are nothing alike, why didn't you do that earlier, then?"

"It takes more concentration than fooling insects. You have to make it sorta tangible, but not all the way tangible."

"Oh yes, clear as mud."

"Your hourglass is out of sand." Their foe rose slowly.

"That was kind of weak. Really awkward phrasing."

"Don't critique his dialogue, just punch him again!" Pollock yelled as she got some distance, trying to think of a good counterattack. CAP's fist shot forward. . . and passed harmlessly through his target.

"What was that?"

"I lost my concentration, maybe because someone is yelling in my ear! And I don't see you doing anything!" The panda leapt backwards, away from another casual swipe of an intangible limb.

"Whatever, let's just get out of here. We need more room to operate."

The Immaterial Man's smile returned as he sank into the floor. The two dashed towards the door, only to see the floor beneath the exit come crashing down, the wall and ceiling following it, sealing them in. As they tried to wave away the dust - no telling what toxic materials were in the walls - they watched their opponent walk casually through the debris. As he stepped clear he began tossing a grenade, the one CAP had swatted away from him earlier, up and down casually.

"You're on borrowed time."

"He's strong enough to bring down an entire wall?" Pollock was growing more irritated and concerned by the moment.

"It's not that hard. He probably just swept out key supports beneath it. It's not like he punched it."

"Shut it."