Chapter 2: Calm

Calm is the second chapter of The Mazkertis Paradox. It details Mazkertis's battle with Fourteen, Cassius Calm, John Shepard, Cassandra Thorne, and Ophelia Valentine on Liquid-Metallicon.

Summary
Calm opens with Mazkertis storming into Sachiel's medical office on Liquid-Metallicon, taking pills and healing his wounds himself. While running over rooftops above, Fourteen falls through the roof of the office and is injured. Mazkertis grabs him by the neck and telepathically attacks him. Fourteen attempts to fight back with his own powers, but this resistance only tears his mind to shreds. Cassius Calm enters the office moments too late, but engages Mazkertis nonetheless. Mazkertis uses his time-warping powers to turn Calm's own attacks against him, but the monk still manages to blast the wizard through the wall into an alleyway. Sachiel joins the battle and attempts to drown Mazkertis with his powers, but he absorbs all the magic within the water, thus freeing the water of his control. Before Mazkertis can kill the medic, a bullet pierces his robes and he looks up to see John Shepard holding the P90 that fired it. Shepard orders him to surrender, but Mazkertis refuses. A siren rings through the city, signifying that it has come under attack.

Akzer wakes up in another part of the city, having previously been put to sleep by Ophelia Valentine. Upon hearing the siren, he hops on a speeder bike and drives away.

Valentine and her employer Cassandra Thorne make their way to the slums, having sensed an unsettling power in that area. They find Mazkertis, and a mighty battle ensues between him and everyone else there, which prompts Thorne to immobilize him with her power of bloodbending after her initial attacks fail. Unfortunately the wizard escapes her hold by using his powers, and quickly dispatches everyone around him but Calm, who begins to summon his Stand. However, Mazkertis realizes his rapid power usage has taken a toll on him, and disappears through a portal before Calm can finish summoning Noble Eightfold Path. A skiff carrying Akzer and Ozar arrives at the scene to join the battle, but they find that Mazkertis has already fled. Calm helps tend to the injured, and swears that justice will find Mazkertis while Ozar weeps for Fourteen.

A portal opens in Ascheron's throne room on Kyras, and Mazkertis steps out. Ascheron rages at Mazkertis for abandoning him on Saskana, but the wizard pacifies him with flattery, stating that he thought he could handle himself. Mazkertis reaffirms that their allegiance will ensure revenge against their enemies, and finishes his speech with the Lurian salute. Ascheron purses his lips, and returns the salute with "Sieg Luria".

Characters

 * Akzer
 * Cassandra Thorne
 * Cassius Calm
 * Fourteen
 * Gabriel Ascheron
 * Mazkertis
 * Ophelia Valentine
 * Ozar