Disclaimer:  All Marvel characters featured in this story are trademarks
of Marvel Comics Group. This is an unauthorized work and no profit is
being made on this work.  This story is copyright Tim Frankovich 1995-96.

Shattered Perceptions, Chapter Twelve

"Shatterstar!" Cannonball exclaimed.  The old man spun around with
surprising speed, saw where Sam was staring and looked quickly up at the
vid screen mounted at the street corner.

Displayed on the screen (as on *all* the screens on Mojoworld) was the
ongoing battle between Shatterstar and Windsong.  Virtually every resident
of the planet was currently enthralled by the images of the fight between
two of the arena's most skilled and deadly warriors.

Sam and the old man were no less enthralled than the spineless ones. 
Lepton was not so impressed.  "It's just an arena fight," he pointed out. 
"He's been through dozens of these, maybe even hundreds.  We need to keep
moving."

"This is MY first time to see him fight," the old man replied.  Struck by
a strange tone to the ancient one's voice, Sam turned to look at him.  To
his surprise, the Rebel's hood had fallen back, revealing his face for the
first time.  His hair was long, white and very straight.  His face was
extremely wrinkled, yet still showed firm features, such as his sharp nose
and a mouth that appeared overly inclined toward smiles.  His grayish eyes
were riveted on the vid screen.  One of them seemed to glow slightly for
only a moment, like a coal remembering some long-forgotten fire.  But the
glow passed so quickly, Sam thought he might have imagined it.  What
struck him most was the expression on the old man's face.  As he watched
Shatterstar fight, his face showed wonder, amazement, and... was it...
pride?

Once again, Sam had the odd feeling that he had met this man before.  But
before he could pursue that thought further, Lepton interrupted again. 
"We really need to get moving," he said brusquely, flipping the old man's
hood back into place.  "There's a pair of dog soldiers scanning us from
across the street."

"You are correct," the Rebel answered, tearing himself away from the
screen.  "But time is now something we are short of.  We have to reach the
arena before this fight concludes."

"No way to do that subtly," Lepton observed.  "You plan on flyin' in?"

"Yes, Sam will carry me.  We'll leave you to make it in your own
inimitable style," he replied. "Sam, if you would..."

Cannonball allowed the old man to hold onto his back as he activated his
blast field and took to the air.  He was momentarily surprised by his
passenger's light weight until he recalled that both Longshot and
Shatterstar had possessed hollow bones.  The two fang troops watching them
stood frozen for a moment before one of them managed to fire one shot
after the ascending duo.

"Don't worry, sir," Sam said.  "As long as ah'm blasting, we're both
invulnerable."

"Yes," the old man replied, smiling faintly.  "I know..."