Disclaimer: I don't own Ultimate Muscle/Kinnikuman II.

Notes: I really find Checkmate's Olde English speak annoying to write, but I think it'll lend itself better to the story if I retain that aspect. Let's see how this story goes.

In the Hands of Young Chôjin

By Son Rhandi

Chapter 01: "Cold-Blooded Killerz"

 

'Two kings: One dead and one deserted.

I'm disgusted with your antics, bumbling brick colossus .

Hear the low rumble of the wrecking crew approaching.

Farewell, Sunshine, you crumbling brick colossus.'

The body of Sunshine lay there in a broken heap, its bits and pieces strewn across the floor. An arm here, a chunk of torso there… It looked as if he had been taken to by numerous sledgehammers, each swinging their weight with force enough to send his body crumbling to the floor. Three thugs were just enough. Even though he was old, there was still fight left in him, enough to take out one or two of these young punk wrestlers out, but not three at once, and certainly not by surprise.

First, a dog-faced Hoffman leapt the colossus's shoulders, executing a choke sleeper. A one Red Island Rhodes, that old red rooster with human face, leapt to it, too, wrapping his feathered body around Hoffman, their combined weight just enough to bring him to his knees. Lastly, a green fellow with mustache and a giant horn on the brow --Big Horn, they called him-- took haste to get behind the fallen Sunshine, keeping his body low to the ground. He bucked his head and send that horn slashing straight through the old man's legs, sending him toppling to the ground and causing more of him to crumble upon impact. The job wasn't done, though. Not by a long shot… The second that Sunshine tried to get up (though not a leg to stand on), they struck, all three, taking boot and claw all about the brick colossus. When was the last time, thought Sunshine, he felt pain like this? As he slipped into unconsciousness, his thoughts drifted to Rex King and Checkmate, his prized pupils. Rex was probably toiling away in the Chôjin graveyard, but where was Checkmate? Indeed, where was Checkmate..? Wherever he was, he wouldn't be back in time to save his life.

______________________________________

"Huzzah! A putdown!"

"It's called a touchdown, and that was just beginner's luck."

"Face it, Terry," Gazelle Man cracked his neck. "The last five touchdowns have been more than just beginner's luck. A score of 35 to 7 says enough."

Checkmate twirled the pigskin on his finger and chuckled. "So, this is North American football, eh?"

"Right you are, m'friend," Terry replied, trotting to the end zone. "Okay, Mantaro. Come over here with us now."

The muscle prince groaned, not seeming to enjoy the game very much. "Again?! Why can't you guys decide what team you want me on?"

"I already explained it twice, 'Taro…" The Texan sighed. "You're playing steady because we have an odd number of people playing."

"Yes, we do have a number of odd people playing, but I still don't see why that means I can't stay on one team!"

"Will you just get over here so we can get on with the game?"

Mantaro just sulked and dragged himself to the Kid and the walrus once again. "Don't worry about it too much, bro." There was Seiuchin, always the one trying to keep everyone in good spirits.

"Yeah, whatever… Let's just do this."

"Right. Let's Go. Set it up like we showed you, Check." Gazelle took a few steps back. The chess set wrestler nodded to his teammate and dropped to one knee, standing the football on its corner.

"Ready? And…" The blood-red buck got a running start, then lifted his best foot to the football, sending it skyward to the opposing team.

BLAM!

Gazelle Man's ears twitched. What was that just now? It sounded like a gun going off…

The ball careened straight to Mantaro, his fingers twitching in anticipation. Leaping to the sky so blue, he wrapped his hands around that old pigskin and ran like mad, Check and Gaz charging to meet him, Terry and Seiuchin on his defense. The muscle prince raised an eyebrow. The ball seemed… longer than normal. He hadn't remembered there being any sharp corners on it, either. In fact, part of it felt sort of like brick…

He stole a quick glace to the object tucked in his arm. Mantaro came to a screeching halt and dropped the football like a hot coal, flailing his arms about and shrieking in his usual cowardly fashion. The Texan and pinniped slowed their roll, chess and buck coming to a stop, too, upon seeing their friend's hysterics.

"Mantaro, what's wrong?" The walrus inquired. "Did you see a bug?"

The muscle prince pointed to the object of his panic. "Th-Th-Th-Th-There's a hand coming out of that ball!!"

The other wrestlers cast their sights to the grass where the dreaded football lay. Sure enough, a yellow hand--rather, more of a forearm-- looked to be sprouting from their play toy, a harpoon lodged between the knuckles. And on the forearm were two letters, spray-painted in red: B*A.

"Does this look familiar to anyone besides me?" Seiuchin asked, his eyes fixated on the object. "It was a while ago, but I seem to remember seeing one of these before…"

"A spear fist……" Gazelle Man furrowed his brow. "Think back, everyone. After your match with Checkmate, Mantaro, wasn't Sunshine attacked by one of these?"

"What..?" The chess set wrestler inquired with a tone of disbelief.

"It's true," Mantaro briefed him. "You were unconscious at the time, Checkmate, but when you lost the match, the dMp attacked Sunshine by sending a giant stone spear fist like this one through his back as punishment for his… failure…"

Checkmate turned away from the others and studied the arm, scrutinizing with ice-blue eyes. Strange… For him to be unresponsive at the time they witnessed this object, the arm gnawed at the back of his mind. He had seen it before, many times before, he felt. Checkmate kneeled to the grass and ran his fingers along the yellow stump. His eyes widened and he shot back to his feet. "I must make haste. I'm off." He walked with swift pace to retrieve his shirt and cape.

"Checkmate? What's the matter?" Terry approached. Why're ya takin' off so soon?"

"I have to see Master Sunshine. I thank thee for thy gaiety, but my playtime is over. Good day."

"Check, wait!"

____________________________

"I thank thee for the care thou hast given me, but I must go from this place, and from ye, Master Sunshine. I'm having some doubts about this life and methinks it would be best to taketh leave for a time."

"Is that a fact..?"

"'Ties a far better thing I do now, milord. Prithee, have neither sorrow nor ire towards this."

"Am I that easy to read?"

"As a child's book, m'lord. I shall return, though when is unbeknownst to me. Please thinketh well on me, when thou wilt."

"Well, fine. Maybe it'll be good for you. Don't be gone too long."

____________________________

He returned to the stadium area where he and Mantaro had fought, the place where he shed his former self. There had been a wormhole there at one point, they had entered this part of the world through it, one opened behind the building by Sunshine, himself. Check could open them, too, thank to the abilities inherited from his master. He raised his hands, and the black space opened. That was the easy part. The hard part was concentrating solely on the destination in mind, focusing all attention to the site. He leapt into the black hole, thinking only of Nazca in Peru's southern desert, his master's homeland. A pyramid, his stay on its steps, long abandoned by a dead civilization...

He landed gracefully, that Checkmate, touching down on the lush, green grass. But what was this..? He was plunked at the foothills..! Checkmate looked around, the structure nowhere in sight. But the area he was in was familiar. Perhaps he'd been too broad in his concentration, including the surrounding area as well as the pyramid. He'd be sure to be more specific next time. The chess set wrestler traversed the hill directly in front without too much effort, it being in his mind that the pyramid would be in his sights upon reaching its zenith. Ah, there it… whaaat..?

Check's eyes widened. From the temple's open top was a billowing black tower of smoke..! A fire? Master Sunshine… The chess set wrestler transformed to knight mode, citing four legs were faster than two. The dark knight galloped down the hill and across the valley below. He ran as fast as his four legs could carry him, his hooves beating the tender grass, his checkered cape flowing behind. Through the bushes, through the tree, that young man pressed on, slowing his gait upon his arrival, but oh, more misfortune! The front entrance was blocked off, sealed by boulders..! He could feel the stress and anxiety mount, that Checkmate, but there wasn't a second for that. Knowing he didn't have the strength to move such a pile, he took flight up the step pyramid to the open roof. They kept a rope ladder there in case of emergencies such as this.

It was still intact by the look of things. He only hoped the fires hadn't reached it, too. Reverting back to king mode, Checkmate made his way down the wavering rope ladder , the harsh smoke making his eyes water. "Master Sunshine!" He cried. No answer, though. The roar of the flames became louder as he moved closer to the floor, as did their blistering heat become noticeable, even spotting embers blowing past him. "Master Sunshine? ….koff, koff…"

The smoke was getting thicker now. The chess set wrestler unclasped his cape and wrapped it 'round his mouth and nose. His eyes burned, brimming over with stinging tears. Where was Master Sunshine? He walked through the flaming corridor, calling out his mentor's name. "Sunshine! Sunshine! Where art th--"

He stumbled, landing on his elbow to the stone floor. When he turned on his side to see what he'd tripped over, he was taken aback. Checkmate crawled to the charred item, running his hand over it. He lowered his head, there was no denying it. That burnt block was Sunshine, blackened like the walls of the temple. From what he could tell, the remainder of the body was lying face down. Check turned his broad body over, its still-hot surface searing his hands. Of course, he didn't feel it. His mouth was wide open, Sunshine's, as if crying out in fear or surprise. Perhaps a bit of both…

Don't be gone too long.

Checkmate clenched his fists. If he had returned yesterday, could he have prevented this..? With a heavy heart, Check rose to his feet, the smoke becoming too thick for adequate breathing. He did not look back as he scaled the rope ladder, nor did he when he crossed the valley, the sounds of the building's collapse echoing across the landscape.