The Worm screeched. It suddenly found new energy as it bucked and writhed, trying to throw Karnage off. Karnage wrapped his arms and legs around the horn. His weight tore it further and further as The Worm writhed more and more frantically. Karnage’s sweaty hands started to slip. His strength was leaving him. He dug his nails into the horn’s scaly surface. He had to outlast The Worm. Stay the course, soldier! Stay the course!
There was a wrenching snap, and Karnage and the horn toppled down The Worm and slammed into the ground. The Worm convulsed, contorted, then went limp. Smoke spewed from its mouth.
Karnage felt an arm on his shoulder. It was Sydney. She twirled a set of handcuffs on her finger.
“What are those for?”
“You’re under arrest.”
“You gotta be fuckin’ kiddin’ me,” Karnage said.
“Nope,” Sydney said. “Not kidding. Not kidding at all.”
Spragmites poured into the arena. They were fast approaching Karnage and Sydney. “Captain,” Karnage said, “may I respectfully suggest that this ain’t the best time for you to be slappin’ a pair of cuffs on me.”
Sydney eyed the approaching horde, and tucked away her handcuffs. “You mind telling me what’s going on here?”
“It’s kinda complicated,” Karnage said.
“Try me.”
“Me killin’ the worm was supposed to get me outta here.”
“Why don’t you sound like it worked?”
“Somethin’ tells me you might have screwed things up.”
“What? That thing where I saved your life?” Sydney said. “Sorry about that. Won’t happen again. Promise.”
The Spragmites surrounded them. Some stared at The Worm in awe. Others stared at Karnage and Sydney. Some in reverence. Others in fury. Among them was the High Prophet. He pushed through the crowd. A phalanx of D-pads followed him. He pointed an accusing finger at Sydney. “Interloper! You dare interfere in the affairs of Spragmos?! You will pay for this outrage!”
“What is this outrage you speak of, High Prophet?” All eyes turned to see Tristan standing amongst the crowd. Those near her backed away in surprise and fear.
The High Prophet’s eyes narrowed. “I should have known. They are in league with the Blasphemer!”
“I am in league with no one, High Prophet.” Tristan turned to the crowd. “You all saw, as I. Just when it seemed certain The Worm would not find this man worthy, this woman burst through the heavens like a saviour, as if sent by Spragmos himself—”
“Lies!” shouted the High Prophet.
Tristan turned her wondering gaze to the High Prophet. Her tone remained even. “Why such hostility, High Prophet? Are you filled with uncertainty for the future now that the Prophecy has been fulfilled? Do you fear the change the Lightbringer signifies? Do you fear the True Path?”
“I fear nothing. And he is not the Lightbringer!”
“No,” Tristan said. “He is not. They both are.”
The crowd gasped. The High Prophet sneered. “More lies! The Scripture only speaks of one Lightbringer, not two!”
“Your interpretation of the Scripture is meaningless, High Prophet.” She turned to the crowd. “Spragmos has spoken. The Worm is The Word, and The Worm has chosen.”
A few voices in the crowd called out “Mama-oo-pow-pow!”
The High Prophet waved frantically for silence. “No! My people, do not be fooled!” He pointed an accusing finger at Karnage and Sydney. “These two are blasphemers! Heretics come to destroy The Word and The Worm! Come to destroy Spragmos himself! Awaken The Worm within you, and you will see the truth as it has been revealed to me!”
“But The Worm is The Word,” Tristan said. “There is no other truth to be revealed. There is no need to try to read further into what has occurred. The Worm has spoken. They are the Lightbringer.”
“No!” The High Prophet shouted. “They cheated!”
“You can’t cheat The Worm. And The Worm is The Word.”
A larger chorus of voices picked up the chant: “Mama-oo-powpow!”
“Don’t lecture me about The Word! I know more about the Scriptures than you could ever—”
An ear-splitting alarm cut through the air.
“What the hell is that?” Sydney shouted.
“Proximity alarm,” Karnage said. “Somethin’s invadin’ our airspace.”
Winds whipped up in the arena, throwing dust and debris everywhere. The Spragmites scattered in all directions. Karnage, Sydney, and the High Prophet stood in the midst of it all. Tristan had long disappeared.
“The coward!” the High Prophet cried. “She knew she lost, so she fled! Run, Tristan! Run! For when I find you, I won’t make the mistake of sparing you again! Oh no!”
The sky suddenly went pitch black. Karnage looked up, squinting through the sand and wind. Flashing lights littered the sky, illuminating mammoth panels running the length of the horizon. Something had blocked out the sun. Something that looked like…
Unidentified Flying Objects of Death!
Karnage grinned.
“You see?!” The High Prophet pointed at the darkened sky, shrieking to be heard above the wind. “Spragmos has come! He will not stand for this outrage! He will smite you! He will smite you all!”
A panel on the ship slid open. Something large and phallic descended towards them. Spragmites ran in all directions as green energy crackled along the shaft, collecting on its bulbous end. Sydney grabbed Karnage’s arm and screamed in his ear. “We have to get out of here!”
Karnage shook her off. He raised his arms towards the ship, and closed his eyes. “Come get me, you bastards.”
Karnage’s world filled with an intense painful green.
MK#6: ALIEN KARNAGE
CHAPTER ONE
Karnage woke lying face up on a hospital gurney. Soft white light enveloped him. He sat up. Medals jangled against his chest. He looked down. He was wearing a full-dress uniform. Karnage looked around. The world was empty: nothing but soft white light gently warming his skin. He lay back on the gurney, and closed his eyes.
So, Karnage thought, this is death.
“Major?”
Karnage opened his eyes. Cookie stood before him. He was wearing a hospital gown. His bald head was smooth and free of scars. Glowing green squiggles danced up and down his forearms. “Major? Are you awake?” Cookie said.
“I dunno,” Karnage said. “Am I dead?”
Cookie shook his head. “No, sir.”
“You sure about that?”
Cookie smiled. “I’m sure.”
“Well that’s a relief.” Karnage sat up. “What with all this white shit everywhere and me bein’ decked out in full military dress and all, you could see why I might jump to that conclusion.”
“Nobody’s dead yet, Major.”
“Nobody? You mean Velasquez? Heckler? Koch?”
Cookie nodded. “All still alive, sir.”
“I knew it. I just knew they weren’t…” Karnage dropped his shoulders and let out a sigh of relief. “Good. That’s good.” He looked up at Cookie. “I found ’em, Cookie. I found ’em! It was just like you said. Comin’ in all squiggly and on an angle and shit. I don’t know what they done to me. Last thing I remember they opened up some monkeyfucker of a death ray on my ass. Next thing I know I’m here, talkin’ to you! And look at you.” Karnage grabbed Cookie by his arms. The squiggles squirmed hotly under Karnage’s grip. “You got no bandages on your head or nothin’. You’ve never looked better. Except those squiggles. Shit, they’re writhin’ and spreadin’ and dancin’ like… like some kinda… hell, I don’t even know! What’s it all mean, Cookie?”