MVP

This story is also based on the Reedsy.com prompt "Start your story with a character accepting a bribe."

   "Please don't kill us Marcus, you really are the greatest hockey player that ever graced our stadium!"

   "Too late Mr. Owner..... what was your name again? Sorry, you weren't important enough to remember, only important enough to kill!" Marcus laughed gleefully as swarms of pucks flew at the helpless man on the ice begging for mercy.

   Marcus Strang's daydream then ended before he could enjoy the sickening sound of pucks slamming into flesh. He was back to reality, reminiscing about the interesting journey that his life had taken so far. After being released from the SliceClaws hockey team for his violent behavior on and off of the ice, he found himself blessed with hockey related powers shortly after. He could now telekinetically fling hockey pucks, which he used to make short work of bizarre zombies that showed up every now and then to pick a fight. He had also critically injured a maintenance worker at the stadium, along with two third string players on the team. His attacks were in secret, but the word was spreading about his activity. He was currently outside of the stadium per the request of a voice that often went through his head, a voice that claimed to be the benefactor of his new talents. Upon arrival, he found himself standing before a long haired man that wore a long sleeved red shirt and jeans with a wallet chain coming out of his pocket. The man's appearance wouldn't normally faze him, but Marcus immediately noticed that he had the same outfit as the zombies that frequently showed up to fight him.  

   "Welcome Marcus, it is nice to finally meet you face to face. My name is Lone, and I look forward to forming a partnership with you."

   "Partnership?" Marcus asked. "Are you the voice that pops into my head constantly? And are you also the one attacking me with zombies? What is your aim here, Lone?"

   "World domination of course." Lone smiled. "But I don't want to do so by my namesake alone. I wish to have someone to rule with me, hence the reason I gave you the skills you have mastered so quickly. The zombies that have been stalking you are indeed my creations, but please don't be bitter about it.  After all, an athlete like yourself knows how important practice is, I simply needed to give you a way to keep growing those powers I gave you."

   "Well, joining you to take over the world is a tempting offer I suppose, but If you can create zombies, doesn't that mean you aren't truly alone?"

   "This is true, but the zombies don't really function as great company. And as you've witnessed firsthand, they are easily torn to shreds from a few well timed flying pucks. But you my friend, would be a worthy companion to terrorize this planet with. You have shown a good handle of the gifts I have blessed you with, but if you wish to keep them there is something you must do."

   "Doesn't really sound like a gift if I have to follow your orders, but I'll hear you out. What is it you want from me?"

  "You have attacked a handful of members of your former SliceClaws community in private, all while concealing your identity. Well I want you to make a public return to the SliceClaws world, and take the crowd, the players, everyone present hostage at your next game. Show me your potential to control the world by controlling the masses at the stadium!"

   "So you are blackmailing me to go public with my abilities? I love the idea of tormenting the SliceClaws brand, but still...."

   "I think of it as an investment in the talents I have given you. And hey, if you use these powers in this way, I will give you the ability to create your own minions. Imagine your own little hockey team of zombies that plays to win games for you."

   "So blackmail in taking my powers away, bribery by promising me more powers, and forcing me to go public. Yet, all of this could make me unstoppable. Fine, I'm in Lone. But what is your true goal in this scheme you want me to hatch?"

   "There is some opposition from Hugh's hero network that could interfere with our plans. I want you to draw them out, and destroy them."

*****

   Dirk and Doug headed for their seats in the stadium where the SliceClaws would be playing against the visiting PuckSmashers within twenty minutes. Already in their section a few rows behind the goal were Kirk and Serenity, the literal power couple that Hugh had paired them with for the mission. Doug sat next to Kirk, while Dirk stayed on the other side of Doug, avoiding the icy glare Serenity sent his way.

   "Glad you two are here." Kirk said kindly. "Our target very well might not show, which means we'll just enjoy a free hockey game. But I hope he does make an appearance tonight, so we can stop him from hurting anyone else."

   "Agreed." Dirk said calmly. "My guess is he will make his appearance sometime during the game, but there is always the possibility that his other attacks will be as stealthy as his last three victims. I will check around the stadium for anything suspicious, and get us all some snacks too. I heard the loaded nachos in a helmet here are amazing. What can I get you all?"

   "I'll split some nachos with you Dirk." Kirk smiled. "What do you say Serenity, are you in?"

   "No thanks." Serenity growled, glaring at Dirk again. "I have received enough offers from him to last a lifetime."

   "I understand." Dirk replied quietly, walking off with his head down.

   "Serenity, I know what my brother did back then was unacceptable, but can you please give him a chance to make things up to you?" Doug asked. "He isn't the same monster that harassed you before. My girlfriend Cerissa and the rest of the Pirate's crew that she is a part of cured him of a cursed mutation by sending him to the Reflection Dimension (https://theprose.com/post/425756/dirk-s-fate). You know that anyone that returns from that place is changed for the better. Dirk deeply regrets the way he acted before, and he has dedicating his life to not only helping others, but making amends too."

   "I would never condone anyone being horrible to you honey, but Doug is right." Kirk added. "Dirk would not have returned from Hugh's Reflection Dimension if he was the same jerk from before. You don't have to be best friends or anything, but we should all try to get along, since we all work for Hugh's hero network."

   "I understand what you both are saying, but I don't owe Dirk anything." Serenity replied with a tone that was angry, yet calm. "I haven't been back to Shyran Park to play basketball since Dirk told me that I would be honored to hook up with him, as he claimed to be God’s gift to women. He kept insisting I go out with him until Doug dragged him away. I'm sorry guys, I do believe in Hugh's Reflection Dimension as a tool to reform those that want it. But I still am having a hard time seeing past the Dirk I previously encountered on the court."

   "I know Serenity, and believe me, both of us are very ashamed of what happened that day, among other days and girls my brother bothered." Doug said apologetically. "He transformed into a disgusting monster when he tried the same tactics on Cerissa (https://theprose.com/post/415790/cerissa-s-vow). But thanks to her sleeping spell, and the Reflection Dimension, he has come around to become the man I knew he could be. If you don't want anything to do with him outside of this mission, that's fine. But if you look past his failures, and my failure to help him see the light sooner, I am certain you will see who he truly is now - no longer a monster."

   The conversation was interrupted by a stray hockey puck flying through the stadium and into the glass separating the crowd from the ice. After the hockey glass behind the goal completely shattered, the puck floated in the air above the goal the heroes were sitting a few rows from. A man dressed in SliceClaws hockey gear ran past them onto the ice. He held out his right palm, and the puck slowly floated onto it.

   "That's.... Marcus Strang!" Serenity said with disbelief. "He got canned from the team for violent behavior. To think someone like him has that kind of power!"

   "He's our culprit, so it would seem that we won't be enjoying a free hockey game tonight after all." Doug said sheepishly. "I'll get everyone else to safety, and I will contact Dirk and have him do the same to the people not in this seating area. Can you two keep Marcus busy until my brother and I finish evacuating the stadium?"

   "Of course Doug, maybe we'll even take him down before you two get back." Kirk grinned, exchanging a smile and nod with Serenity. Doug donned his dark helmet that came standard with most members of Hugh's hero network, which then covered his body with armor. He then raced off to begin evacuating the frightened crowd. Kirk and Serenity had also been offered helmets, but declined them due to already having special powers of their own. However, their powers had been upgraded by Hugh to send anyone defeated by their abilities to the Reflection Dimension.

   Kirk quickly grabbed his journal and wrote the words "hat trick." Both words became respective metal melee weapons, and Kirk leaped onto the ice to face Marcus. Serenity also raced to the ice and boldly faced her mutual foe by Kirk's side.

   "Ah, you must be the power couple Lone told me about!" Marcus snidely remarked. "A fellow with metal words for swords, and his girl that can dodge anything as long she's dancing. Intetesting powers, but they won't hold a candle against the ones Lone gave me."

   "Lone gave you your powers?" Serenity asked with a hint of surprise. "I suppose that makes sense. But Marcus, Lone is gone now (https://theprose.com/post/435469/inspired-partnership). Our allies sent him to the Reflection Dimension. You don't have to do what he tells you, you are your own person now."

   "Ha, this is my own doing, and my own desire! And I just spoke to Lone recently, so unless your friends just defeated him, you're bluffing!"

   "So Lone isn't gone?" Kirk asked, really speaking to Serenity. "Or maybe there are multiple Lones out there? He did send zombie versions of himself after us, perhaps he can make normal copies of himself too."

   "It doesn't matter. You two are in the way of our plans, so you are getting kicked out of this game."

   "I don’t think so, you're getting ejected now Marcus!" Kirk yelled as he charged forward with the metal words in his hands. Marcus rose his hands into the air, summoning multiple pucks over them. He laughed as he flung pucks at Kirk and Serenity.

   "Marcus didn't play the game well enough, but the new me is going to win every time. So call me MVP from now on.... at least until you're dead anyway."

   Kirk deflected pucks with his melee words while Serenity used her power to dodge anything as long as she was dancing. She could also stop and pose to fling an invisible force at her opponent, but she lost her balance and slipped on the ice before she could do so this time.

   "Serenity!" Kirk cried out as MVP laughed and directed more pucks at the downed dancer. Kirk deflected the pucks before they could reach his girlfriend. More pucks began approaching the pair - more pucks than he would be able to block. Kirk did his best to shield Serenity with himself, bracing for impact from the pucks. The hits never came, as lasers flew through the air destroying the incoming projectiles.

   "Time for our power play MVP, now it's four against one!" Doug cried out, continuing to blast pucks with his laser gun as Dirk did the same. The two brothers stood before Kirk and Serenity, giving their team the chance to play offense once again.

   "What's wrong MVP, did you run out of pucks? Looks like you lost, once again!" Dirk taunted.

   "Oh I've got more on the way, but first it's time for me to even the playing field, or should I say ice? Kirk and Doug, time for you to fight!"

Doug removed his dark helmet and reverted back to his street clothes, while Kirk threw his melee words onto the ice. The two then lunged at each other and broke into a fist fight.

   "Doug! Kirk! What are you doing?" Serenity cried out in horror.

   "My other ability is to cause any two people of my choice to fight against their will." MVP laughed. "After they take out their aggression on each other, they will spend five minutes in the penalty box. And once that time is up, they will emerge and fight again. They will keep doing this until one of them is dead. Fights in hockey are one of the best parts of the sport, so enjoy the show with your remaining teammate!"

   "He's no teammate of mine, I'll stop you on my own!" Serenity snarled, resuming her dance. She just had to keep her balance long enough to strike a pose and knock MVP down, hopefully breaking his control over Kirk and Doug. MVP rose his hands up again, bringing even more pucks into the air above him. He flung pucks at Serenity and Dirk, but the pucks flew past Serenity thanks to her dancing, and the pucks directed at Dirk were knocked down by his swordsmanship.  

   "Serenity, are you doing ok?" Dirk asked as he continued to fend off pucks with his sword.

   "I'm just fine Dirk, not that it's any of your business. I am going to end this now, no thanks to y-"

   Serenity lost her balance and fell onto her back. Multiple pucks were about to close in on her, when she noticed a green force field knocking the pucks back. By her side was Dirk, holding a laser gun that was generating the shield.

   "It's a new gift from Chris." Dirk grinned under his helmet. "He installed a force field option on the gun, but it limits the number of blasts available as a trade off. Although one perfect shot will end all of this."

   "Dirk.... you saved me. Even after how rude I've been to you." Serenity said in a humble tone.

   "I don’t blame you. I know I get a pass for my crimes for returning from the Reflection Dimension, but believe me, I don't feel worthy of forgiveness. I was terrible to you, and many others. I even tormented my brother's girlfriend when we first met her on a beach. She went out of her way to save me and heal me from a curse I accepted in foolishness. I don't expect you to forgive me. I barely forgive myself, Serenity."

   "I was wrong about you Dirk. The jerk I met on the basketball court would have never said the things you just did. I forgive you, and I hope you forgive yourself someday too. I think I know how we can win this, and it definitely won't be with me working alone. Will you accept me as a teammate and work with me, Dirk?"

   "Are you kidding, I'd be honored!" Dirk gushed as he helped her to her feet. "OK Serenity, what is the game plan?"

*****

   MVP stared at a cloud of smoke where Dirk and Serenity were a moment ago. He looked back at Kirk and Doug in their respective penalty boxes, laughing as they glared at each other.

   "Hide all you want kids, but your friends are about to come back on the ice and pummel each other again! I wonder how many more fights they can handle?"

   Dirk charged out the smoke and lunged at MVP, halted by a swarm of pucks that surrounded him.

   "Very well, let's see how many more shots on goal you can take MVP!" Dirk taunted as he lept back to defend against the coming onslaught.

   MVP sent the pucks flying at Dirk. Dirk deflected many with his sword, and dodged the rest by sliding around the ice.

   "So where's the girl? Did she realize she was in over her head and bail on you?"

   "Seems that way." Dirk lamented. "She cursed my name and ran off to who knows where. That's ok, guys like us are used to being misunderstood, right?"

   "You may be right." MVP laughed. "Too bad fate has us on opposing sides. We could have been good friends."

   "Nah, for a guy that calls himself MVP, you actually really suck."

   "Excuse me?"

   "Do I need to spell it out for you? Fine.... Serenity, strike a pose!"

   Dirk dove out of the way, revealing Serenity dancing in the stands, back where the hockey glass once stood before MVP had shattered it. Serenity posed with a finger pointing at MVP, smiling as the invisible force that generated from her move whooshed at MVP, sending him into the air and crashing onto his back. The remaining pucks he was controlling fell beside him on the ice. The fight was over, and MVP helplessly laid on the ice as Serenity and Dirk approached him together.

To be continued....