While Juka had taken one of his knights Hunter was still ahead both in pieces captured and board position. However he gave a nod of approval as Juka captured his first ever piece in a game of chess. His question was an intriguing one. Due to his previous secrecy it had never come up, but now?

“I’ve only recently started sharing the extent of my powers with others,” he explained, “So no one knew I’d live forever so they couldn’t try to steal my powers.” Though he honestly had no idea how you’d go about doing that. While he used to be able to temporarily mimic the abilities of other mutants that didn’t really work for immortality. All his experiments to replicate powers hadn’t allowed for permanent replication either.

“Ah that old chestnut,” he said with a smile, “I honestly don’t know where that rumour comes from. Most likely it was wishful thinking on someone’s part that they’d be able to gain more powers as a vampire.”

The knowledge that, in all likelihood, Juka was going to live forever if nothing unforseen happened was still a very surreal feeling. He had never had ambitions to live forever unless one counted having his name and his music live forever. Nor did he ever think that he'd want to acquire the powers of a vampire even if it was a possibility. But there were certainly enough people out there that would probably literally kill for the opportunity; he even knew one or two of them personally.

"I wonder sometimes, what makes a person human? Lately especially, with the changes in my power. When does a mutant cease being human and become something else entirely? Humans sleep and eat and age and have the constant threat of mortality hanging over their every move. But you and I are different, aren't we? I don't sleep or eat and you can heal almost any wound and I guess neither of us age. Are we still human?"

Juka wasn't used to such profound thinking but then, he wasn't used to having a reason for such profound thinking either. And if it turned out that he wasn't human any longer than what was he? And what did that mean for his future? It was starting to make his brain hurt a little.

“The important question is not are we still human,” Hunter told Juka, “but are we still people? Neither of us is Homo Sapien, we’re both Homo Superior. It’s not abilities that you judge people by, but what they do with them.”

“I haven’t been a person in a very long time,” he confessed, “I was a monster. I’m hoping to change that, to change myself.” Rather than get bogged down in his thoughts Hunter just got to the point. “But you, you are very much a person. At least from what I have seen. You’re a gentle, kind and decent individual. And that counts more than your biology ever will.”

Juka had a hard time really seeing Hunter as any sort of a monster. He seemed so calm and collected, so very wise. Wisdom, he supposed, didn't prevent one from being a monster but being calm and even should have, shouldn't it? Maybe it was just because he was a vampire and used to drink blood. Some people, after all, were harder on themselves then they really should be. Even Juka was sometimes extra hard on himself.

"I don't think I'm very gentle," Juka said with amusement. "Kind and decent maybe, I do try to do the right thing. Did I mention that I sometimes hit people with anvils?" Of course, he never just hit people for no reason. Usually it was to stop some evil doer from doing something they shouldn't be doing and he always aimed to merely incapacitate. No permanent damage and killing was absolutely witout question to be avoided at all costs.

Hunter couldn’t help but chuckle at the boy’s argument as to why he wasn’t gentle. “Anvils you say. So you’ve mastered the art of cartoon combat then?” he said with a smile, “Perhaps your not so gentle when dropping anvils on people but in the grand scheme of things you’re not exactly the roughest of characters are you?”

He couldn’t help but find it amusing. Here Juka was trying to claim that he wasn’t gentle. He could have murdered someone and still been a pussy cat compared to the man sitting opposite him, who was currently thrashing him at chess. It was all about perspective.

So maybe Juka hadn't exactly managed to master the game of chess his first time around, but at least he had managed to capture a couple of pieces before losing. His defeat seemed imminent by that point but, when contemplating the exact circumstances, it was expected. After all Hunter had what, 300? 400? years more experience at this game than him? Plus it was his first time so that assauged his poor bruised ego somewhat.

"Cartoon combat is the best combat," Juka asserted with a rather difinitive nod of his head. "But its a little more practical than that. Anvils are heavy without being too big and I can't bubble really big things. And maybe I'm not the roughest person." Even that admittion was just a little ego bruising. He was supposed to be a big tough super hero now, after all.

"I don't kill people." The statement was very certain. "I met Abyss once, do you know Abyss? He killed someone and saved a blue skinned girl. For a while I almost thought he did the right thing, saving the girl and taking dangerous men off the streets, but then I realized no one has the right to choose who lives and dies. So I just incapacitate and punish. I can still make them regret doing bad things without actually killing them, don't you think?" Maybe a 400 year old vampire would offer more insight than a barely adult red haired bubbler.

Hunter was glad to hear that Juka had a firm no killing policy. He knew at this young age what it had taken Hunter over four centuries to discover. No one has the right to choose who lives and who dies. It was easy to argue that there were those who deserved to die. That didn’t give anyone the right to carry out that sentence.

“I know Abyss,” he told Juka, “He believes what he is doing is right. But as you said, no one has the right to decide who lives and who dies. It took me a very long time to work that out. That person did not have the right to kill the blue skinned girl. But Abyss didn’t have the right to kill them. Fighting for what is right is always going to be necessary. Killing for it never should be.”

He deliberately said ‘should’ instead of ‘is’. There are times when killing is necessary. However the one doing so should not relish it. It is a burden, not a privilege. So few people understood that. Hunter hoped that he was never faced with a situation such as that. But if he was he would take the burden upon himself rather than let another bare it.

"You know Abyss?" Juka asked. "What about his brother Venus? He's lovely and much less mean than Abyss." What he didnt' mention was that he and Venus also happened to have an on again off again affair. Or rather, maybe affair wasn't quite the right word. Fling maybe? Occasional extracurricular activities done together? The exact terminology didn't matter, what mattered was that Venus was his lovely red Prince.

"They were threatening the girl because she was a mutant. I swooped in to save her but Abyss was all ready there. I clobbered them unconcious but, well, Abyss wasn't so merciful." He shuddered, remembered the sight of the crumpled and unmoving bodies, victims of the big red mutant. "Shouldn't you at least give someone a chance to change?"

Juka could imagine a situation in which he might be forced to choose between the life of one and the life of another and he didn't know, if it came down to that, which way he would turn. To kill someone to save someone? He didn't know if he could even do such a thing. "Have you ever killed someone?" Was that a stupid question to ask a vampire?

“I’ve met Abyss and all his brothers,” Hunter replied. That was is by brothers you meant clones. He knew that they all had different personalities. Venus must be the friendliest of the seven. As he listened to Juka’s account of what had happened he simply nodded. “That sounds like the Abyss I know. He doesn’t really pull his punches on guys he doesn’t think deserve it.”

“Yes,” was Hunter’s answer to Juka’s other question. He kept his voice neutral and focussed on his next move. It was probable that Hunter had killed more people than Juka had ever met. He’d certainly lost count himself.

In some ways Juka almost admired Abyss. Certainly he admired the fact that the red giant could be so definitive in what he believed to be write and wrong. Juka was always so confused, things seemed to be so ambigious sometimes. He could only do his best and hope that it was the right decision, but he often questioned himself. Abyss didn't seem to have that problem; he knew what was right and acted on it. Or so it seemed to him anyway.

Juka made his next move, realizing that his killing question probably hadn't been appropriate. "I'm sorry for asking," he apologized. "I guess I didnt' think. That happens sometimes." Hopefully Hunter wouldn't think to badly of him for the misstep. He could tell that there was a story there and probably a very dark story but he didnt' ask any more questions.

“It’s fine,” he told Juka, managing to smile. He was however glad that the boy did press for details. There were so many details. Mentally shaking off the memories Hunter decided it best to change topic to something more pleasant.

“So you’re in a band,” he said as he moved his next piece, “Are you any good?” Te question was a chance for Juka’s mind to wander away from all the dark things that they’d been discussing to something more positive. And almost certainly more fun for Juka.

It was almost like Hunter had known Juka for years, knowing that speaking about his hand was the one thing that would get him off almost any other topic in the world. Well, either his band or fashion but in truth his band took priority. Then again, maybe it didn't take much to come to the conclusion that he was an egotist and his greatest ego was in his music.

"Why, of course we're good," Juka said with a dramatic gesture. "I wouldn't sing for them if we weren't good. Only the best. We're all mutants, promoting the good mutant name and all that. Who needs money when you have powers for a stage show?"

Making another move, Juka dug into his pocket and handed Hunter one of his ever present cards. "Light in Darkness. You should come see us, our next show is in a couple of weeks. I might even be able to wrestle you up some backstage passes." And maybe a girl. Yes, because clearly the best way to take ones mind off of a dark and depresssing past was with a girl. Mental nod and a note to hook him up with someone nice.

Juka had made Hunter chuckle once again made grand gestures to go with his speech about his band. Taking the card Hunter pocketed it and said, “I suppose that I’ll have to come and see what all the fuss is about then.”

Truthfully he approved of the idea of an all mutant band using their powers to enhance their performance. While there would undoubtedly be some issues at their performances it did go a long way towards showing people that not all mutants were bad.

"But of course you'll have to come Hunter," Juka enthused. "I know you'd regret it for the remainder of your neverending years if you were to let this opportunity slip through your fingers now. We're going to be famous one day, you know." A nod of agreement with himself because, really, how could they not be famous one day? Well, except for the whole some people didn't like mutants thing, but that couldn't last forever surely.

Juka's remaining pieces really were looking rather sad and lonely on that bored. Oh well, it was just a game. Now, if it was a competition of who could sing the best, then he'd have Hunter beat in an instant. Which gave him an idea.

"Say, what if we had a talent competition? We could get together with some other people and sing or play piano or throw triangles at people and then people could vote on who's the best and win a shiny prize. Wouldn't that be fun?"

Well Juka certainly had confidence, you had to give him that. “Well if you’re going to be famous then I’d best take the chance to see you now before you become a superstar with sold out performances,” he said with a smile. What he’d said was only partly in jest. If he had a fraction of as much talent as he did confidence it promised to be a good performance.

“I like the idea of a talent show,” Hunter agreed as he moved his piece. Juka was down so many pieces that it was really just mopping up now. “Who would you have to judge it?” he asked. In his head he wondered if he should play the piano or violin. Perhaps he should do something else, juggling or acrobatics maybe.