Finding the Fallen

Chapter 20

Coming to the unfortunate realization that he would probably have to kill the Servant before the stubborn idiot gave in, Merik called out one last time. "This is your last warning. My next shot goes right between your eyes, pal."

The taunting worked. The Servant let loose a barrage of fireballs, one after the other. The attack lasted nearly 30 seconds before it stopped suddenly. Merik could hear the man panting with obvious effort. A sharp whistling punctuated each inhaled breath as the guy fought desperately to keep his lungs working. Peering cautiously around the tree trunk, Merik saw the scout sink to him knees. 'Sonofabitch...did that actually work?' he thought.

Raising his gun to shoulder level, he stepped out from behind the tree and moved slowly towards the injured Servant. The man's head was drooped between his shoulders and his hands were on his knees, palms up. "That's a good choice, friend," Merik said as he took another cautious step forward. "Like I said, I'm not gonna kill you. I just need some information. When this thing is over, you'll be free to go home."

The man spoke for the first time, "And there's your mistake, spy. You should kill me." His head rose quickly and his hands erupted in flames. Merik had no time to react and nowhere to go. He pulled the trigger just as two balls of flame flew from the scout's open hands. The buckshot hit the other man in the chest, knocking him back against the tree where he slumped in apparent defeat, unmoving.

But Merik wasn't able to dodge the fireballs this time. Both hit their target dead center. Merik felt the heat wave as he landed on his back in a pile of oak leaves and detritus. Grabbing his chest with one hand while maintaining his hold on the shotgun with his other, he struggled to rise to a sitting position. Oddly, he felt no pain. His shirt was singed in two spots, one slightly above the other, but his exposed skin was untouched. The two holes in his shirt told him the man had definitely hit his mark. What the hell was going on?

Merik quickly waved the incident off to dumb luck and located his target once more. He kept the prone form in his sights as he rose slowly from the forest floor. He doubted the Servant was dead, but he was certainly on his way out. Merik had decided when he first saw the scout that he would attempt to capture him so they could question him regarding Tannish's plans. He really had wanted to talk to the man and would have made good on his promise to release him after the battle, but it looked like that might not be possible at this point. He cocked his gun and took a step forward, testing the waters a bit.

The scout remained still. "I'm not falling for that a second time, asshole," Merik said bluntly. No movement. He tilted his head to the side slightly in an attempt to listen for breath sounds, but he heard nothing. Maybe he was dead. 'No, way too easy. He's not done yet,' Merik thought to himself.

Merik backed away a few steps and then slowly began to circle behind the body. The tree would be in the way to some degree, so he wouldn't be able to stand directly behind the man. He'd have to stand off to one side slightly. But at least this way he could maintain a decent line of sight on the guy, and if he decided to get up or try to attack again, it would be obvious. Merik would see it coming this time.

His movements did not solicit a reaction from the scout. 'The SOB's probably healing,' Merik thought. Resigned to holding his position until somebody came looking for him, he settled in, dropping the shotgun to his hip and leaning against a tree. He would wait him out. One way or the other, this guy wasn't going anywhere.

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Logan heard the shot ring out, the distinctive sound echoing off the rocky terrain of the forest. He looked back only once to see Harry moving forward with renewed determination. That was Merik's gun; Logan was certain of it. Unfortunately, it was unlikely Merik knew he was up against a Servant, although he would figure it out pretty quickly...one way or the other.