“But we haven’t changed the future,” Revile said. “Otherwise, I would not still be here. The simple fact that I exist means the Rüstov will eventually claim you. It is only a matter of time.”
“We could work together,” Jack said. “Together we could stop it. You have to admit there’s a chance. Isn’t there?”
“There is,” Revile said as he primed his wrist cannons. “Me.”
Jack’s heart sank.
“I take no pleasure in this,” Revile told Jack. “I take no pleasure in anything. Thank me, Jack Blank. I do this now so that you will not have to one day stand in my place and do it yourself. I gave you a chance. You know that I did. I tried everything I could.”
Jack nodded. “So did I,” he said, sullen. He’d hoped that there was enough of him still left in Revile to get through to, that there was some measure of humanity left to appeal to. Now he could see there was not. Revile was completely lost. He was completely lost. Jack could understand Revile’s reasoning. He just couldn’t accept it. Revile raised his plasma cannons to fire on Jack. As the Rüstov supersoldier prepared to open fire, Jack told him that he was sorry.
Revile fired, intending to unload two full clips of plasma ammo into Jack. Instead of firing, however, both of Revile’s arms blew apart as the very deadly and extremely unstable plasma backfired in each mounted cannon. Explosions erupted at Revile’s extremities and ratcheted all the way up to his shoulders, blowing them to pieces. Sparks and flames flew as both limbs disappeared like a string of firecrackers being torn apart. Revile’s gun barrels had been jammed… by Jack.
Revile screamed out a cry that came as much from shock as it did from pain. When he was through, he took stock of his devastated torso and stared at Jack with his mouth agape. He found himself in the very unique position of having underestimated himself.
“I don’t take any pleasure in this either,” Jack said.
“How?” Revile asked. “How did you…”
“Sometimes you have to think small to think big,” Jack said, recalling Stendeval’s words of advice. “I didn’t know enough about plasma blasts to stop your guns from shooting, but I know enough to close the lid on a gun barrel. You probably should have thought of that one. We learned that kind of control back in our first lesson with Stendeval.”
“You’re only delaying the inevitable,” Revile said. “Yeah, about that…,” Jack said to Revile. He wasn’t finished yet. He spoke to the loading-bay docking system, and huge grappling hooks sprang to life from the scrap heap and clamped down on Revile. He writhed, helpless in their grasp. They would be able to hold Revile only until his arms rebuilt themselves, but that was all the time Jack would need. By the time that happened, the Infinite Warp Core engine would be ready to fire.
As if on cue, the ground began to rumble. Scrap metal, garbage, and the other debris that Jack had used to cover up the crater in the center of the clearing started to rattle and shake itself loose. The tremors revealed the main thruster shaft of the Rüstov mothership engine.
“The last time I was here, I used the machines on this island to fight the Rüstov,” Jack said. “But I forgot that this whole island is a machine… a spaceship. I guess sometimes it helps to think big, too.” Jack shrugged. “I’ve been talking to that engine since I crashed. I just asked it to help me. You know it thinks I’m Rüstov royalty?”
Revile roared at Jack, struggling against the clamps that gripped him. His arms were only about 40 percent complete. That wasn’t going to be enough.
“I gave you a chance,” Jack said. “I really hoped I wouldn’t have to do this.”
“What you are doing is dooming this Earth to me! To you! This will not end here,” Revile said to Jack. “I am the future. I am tomorrow! This is not over!”
Jack shielded his eyes as the engine’s hum built up in the background. “It is for today.”
The island lurched as the engine fired. The sky went white as the brightest and hottest flames Jack ever saw poured out of the crater. The ground shifted beneath Jack’s feet, propelled by the massive warp engine. He fell backward and rolled down the ridge. When he got up, he saw that once again, Revile was being consumed by the only flames hot enough to destroy him. Jack’s future self was dying before his very eyes. The fires melted the docking arms around Revile instantly. Revile was melting a little bit slower than that, but he wasn’t growing back.
“This is not over!” Revile shouted again, now in real pain. “They will never stop coming after you, Jack. Even these fires will not stop me forever! I will rebuild, I will return, I will…”
The last echoes of Revile’s tirade melted away like a dying computer crashing, and then there was nothing left. Nothing but the roar of nuclear flames on a desolate rock in the middle of the sea.
Jack asked the engine to lower the flames to a slow burn. He was afraid to shut them off all the way, but he couldn’t let them keep pushing Wrekzaw Isle around like this. Too much more would have shaken the island apart. The flames died down like a stovetop flame turning from high heat down to simmer. Jack double-checked with the shipwrecked systems, and the engine confirmed that the island would stabilize at this level of output. At minimum power Wrekzaw Isle wasn’t going anywhere except in a slow orbit around the Imagine Nation.
Jack stared at the low flames deep inside the island’s thrusters, at the spot where he, the hopelessly infected Rüstov spawn, had just killed Revile. Where he had just killed himself. It was quiet. It was over. And it was also just beginning.
Jack fell to his knees, turning over what had just happened in his head. It was a lot to deal with. Maybe too much for a twelve-year-old boy. Jack should have felt relieved, but instead he felt worse. The doubts he had pushed away during the battle came flooding back. Jack told himself that he hadn’t had a choice. It was either him or Revile. Him now or him from the future.
Jack had given Revile a chance, but he hadn’t taken it. Jack had done what he’d had to do. So, what did that mean? He had done what he’d had to do to survive, but again, he wasn’t so sure he had done the right thing. Suddenly, he was wondering if he really had just damned himself to a future as Revile that would one day end right back here in this spot. Years from now, would he travel back in time, only to end up at this island on the receiving end of those flames?
As Jack pondered these questions, he found he wasn’t alone. The sun was up, and red energy particles were swirling in the air around him. One of them drifted past Jack’s face and faded away. He looked up and saw that the Inner Circle, and all of the other heroes from SmartTower who could still stand, had gathered on the scrap-metal ridge over Revile’s grave. Stendeval floated in the center of the group. They were staring at Jack, completely speechless. Jonas Smart looked especially flabbergasted.
Jack stared back at them, his face drained of expression. They’d seen him with Revile. They’d seen him kill Revile. But how long had they been there? How much had they heard?
Skerren jumped down from the ridge and walked toward Jack, sword in hand. Jack backed away from him and stumbled to the ground. Skerren approached briskly and stopped a few feet away from Jack. None of the others made any effort to stop him. Not even Allegra. Not this time. That sealed it, Jack thought. They had seen everything.
Skerren looked over at the slow burn of Revile’s grave and then back to Jack. “It’s over,” he said. Skerren sheathed his blade and knelt down next to Jack. He didn’t say anything. He reached out, put his arms around Jack, and helped him to his feet. “Come on, brother,” Skerren said. “Let’s go home.”
CHAPTER
19
The Future Is Now
After using his powers to heal all the heroes’ battle wounds, Stendeval flew everyone back to Empire City. He probably could have teleported everyone back just as easily, but if he had, Jack would have missed something that was a completely new experience for him, something much better than flying.
As Jack and the others passed over the six boroughs of the city, t
hey found the entire city awake and cheering. He and the heroes were greeted by jubilant crowds out on their rooftops, down in the streets, and up in the skies. The crowds cheered for all the heroes who had dared to fight Revile, but mostly they cheered for Jack, the one who had saved the day.
Jack was about to ask someone if they were really cheering for him when he saw the floating NewsNets telling his story in the sky all around him. Apparently, Stendeval and the others weren’t the only ones who had followed Jack to Wrekzaw Isle. This time around, the SmartCams had made the trip as well. They had arrived at the same time the heroes had, and had sent high-definition images of Jack’s deeds back to everyone in Empire City. As far as the Imagine Nation was concerned, Jack was officially a hero.
That was all very nice, and Jack appreciated the sentiment, but despite the cheers and congratulations, he didn’t feel like much of a hero. In truth, he felt depressed and a little scared about what might be coming next. The future that Revile warned him about was horrifying, and nobody in Empire City realized that they were cheering Jack for defeating the worst villain ever… himself. What if Revile was right? What if it wasn’t over? From the first day Jack had shown up in Empire City, people had worried that he was a Rüstov agent, and Jack had sworn up and down that it wasn’t true. Now that the people had finally come around and believed he was not working for the Rüstov, he’d discovered that, in a way, he was.
The terrible guilt that Jack felt was compounded by the sight of Jazen’s body as Stendeval lowered the group down at the base of SmartTower. A crowd was gathered at the scene when Jack and the others arrived. The people there moved aside to give Jack room as he marched stiffly toward the body of his best friend.
The MagLev road was dented where Jazen and the Left-Behinds had hit it. Jazen lay faceup on the ground, completely motionless with open eyes. He almost looked to Jack like he had a satisfied, proud look on his face. In the end, he had been stronger than the Rüstov. He had given everything he had to save Jack. Jack’s eyes welled up at the thought of it. He knelt down beside his friend and took his hand. He reached out with his powers, trying to talk to Jazen, but there was nothing there. Jack held an empty shell.
A heavy hand came to rest on Jack’s shoulder. It was Blue. Jack didn’t even notice him crouching down next to him. “What happened?” Blue asked, reaching out to lay his other hand on Jazen’s chest. Jack knew Blue would miss Jazen Knight every bit as much as he would.
“Jazen and I, we…,” Jack started to say but stopped himself. He swallowed hard, thinking about just how much he was going to share with everybody. He turned around and saw the Inner Circle, the Peacemakers, and all of Empire City hanging on his every word. SmartCams hovered over Jack, ready to broadcast his story across the city. “I thought I might be able to find out something about my past in Circleman Smart’s files,” Jack said. “I convinced Jazen to help me break into SmartTower, but we got caught.” Jack looked up toward Jonas Smart. “The Rüstov attacked us right after that. We never saw them coming. Jazen gave his life to save me from them.”
Murmurs ran through the crowd as people spoke quietly among themselves of Jazen’s noble sacrifice. Virtua pressed her fingers to her lips, then reached out to lay the kiss on Jazen’s forehead. With great sadness her hand continued down to close Jazen’s eyes. Smart’s eyes narrowed as Jack gave everyone his somewhat censored version of the events in Smart’s lab.
“In the battle,” Hovarth began, “why weren’t you using your powers against the Rüstov?”
“I couldn’t,” Jack said. “Circleman Smart had power nullifiers set up in the tower. He turned them on after he caught us in his lab.”
The Inner Circle turned to Smart with disapproving looks.
“And Revile?” Prime asked. “What did Revile want with you?”
“He wanted to kill me,” Jack said quite honestly.
“Why?”
Jack shook his head. “I don’t know,” he lied.
Jack noticed that throughout his entire explanation, Stendeval had not said one word. He had merely stared down at Jack, listening quietly. Smart was about to say something, but a voice in the crowd spoke first.
“They wanted to kill him because he beat their virus!” a man in the crowd shouted out. “He’s immune!”
“He’s a hero!” another voice declared.
As the crowd began to once again cheer the boy who had killed Revile, Smart appeared to decide against whatever it was he was planning to say. He didn’t seem happy about it either. His lips were scrunched up so tightly that he looked as if he’d just bitten into an onion. As the crowd’s enthusiasm grew, people started edging in toward Jack to shake his hand and pat him on the back. He was getting overwhelmed when Stendeval stepped forward to give him some room.
“Please, all of you, this boy has had enough excitement for one morning,” Stendeval said to the crowd. “But I think perhaps not enough for one day” he allowed. Stendeval gathered Skerren and Allegra near Jack and addressed the crowd directly. “I’ve seen enough from all of these children to make my decision on whether or not they belong in the School of Thought. Today the Inner Circle will settle the matter once and for all,” he declared. “That is, if there are no objections,” he added, deferring to his fellow Circlemen. The Inner Circle was, of course, in total agreement. Stendeval nodded. “There you have it,” he told the crowd of people, as well as the people watching at home. “This day at sunset, at the sphere in Hero Square, the Inner Circle will meet to vote on the School of Thought candidates. We invite you all to attend the ceremony.” The citizens of Empire City applauded, and Stendeval leaned down toward the children. “In the meantime, I suggest the three of you go home and get some rest.”
Jack couldn’t deny that he was completely worn-out. He exchanged hurried good-byes with Skerren and Allegra, arranging to meet up with them later. He walked across the street to the Ivory Tower, and when he reached the door, he noticed the SmartCams still following close behind him. “I don’t think so,” he said as he went inside. The SmartCams stopped in midair like they’d hit a wall.
Jack was almost to the elevators when Smart called out after him. “Jack,” he said calmly. Jack turned around to see Smart standing alone in the Ivory Tower lobby. “A word,” he said.
Jack stared at Smart from across the empty lobby. They were alone. He approached Smart cautiously. “What do you want?” he asked.
Smart studied him for a moment before speaking. “I noticed you didn’t say anything to the others about your birth certificate,” Smart observed, rubbing his chin slowly. “Your ‘corrupted’ file. Why not?”
Jack just shrugged. “It doesn’t matter,” he replied. “You deleted the file. We both know I can’t prove anything.” Jack put his hands up. “What’s the point?” he said. He started to walk off, but Smart grabbed him by the wrist.
“There’s more to it than that, Jack,” Smart said, his voice suddenly turning more threatening. “I was there with you when the Rüstov came through my window. Jazen Knight called them. You left that part out too.”
The corner of Jack’s lips turned up ever so slightly. He met Smart’s gaze and didn’t look away. “Now you’re the one with no proof,” he said, pulling his arm free. “Jazen called for help. He was broadcasting a distress signal. Even your Peacemakers got the call. Your machine must’ve got it wrong.”
“My instruments don’t lie,” Smart said. “People do. What aren’t you telling me?”
Jack thought about the Rüstov computer virus and what a threat to the Imagine Nation it represented. How there could literally be hundreds of Mechas out there who were under the Rüstov’s control, innocent Mechas who didn’t even know they were infected. Something definitely had to be done about it—that much was certain. But what would Smart do with that information? What would he do to Jazen’s memory? To the lives of Virtua and her people?
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Jack told him. He was lying and Smart knew it, but there was
n’t a thing the Circleman could do about it. Jack was a hero now, and Smart didn’t have a shred of proof that said otherwise.
“You thought I was the Great Collaborator, and now you know better,” Smart said contemptuously. He shook his head. “You actually suspected me! The irony would be amusing if it weren’t such an insult. Everything I do, I do to protect this city!”
“You don’t get it,” Jack said. “Making sure all these people are afraid of the Rüstov doesn’t make the city stronger. It only makes you stronger. You’ve got the right idea. It’s just too bad your heart’s in the wrong place.”
Jack turned around and started walking back toward the elevators. “I know your name, Jack,” Smart called after him.
Jack stopped dead in his tracks. He didn’t turn around. He didn’t want to give Smart the satisfaction. He could practically hear the man’s creepy grin getting wider, and that was bad enough already.
“That’s right,” Smart said, walking up slowly behind Jack. “You think I didn’t read that file before I deleted it? I read it the day you came here, before I ever sealed it in the first place. Tell me what really happened back in my lab tonight, Jack.” Smart leaned down over Jack’s ear. “Tell me what happened, and I’ll tell you who you are.”
Jack turned around and looked Smart dead in the eye.
“I don’t need to know that anymore,” he said with conviction. “And I definitely don’t need to hear it from you.
Jack got in the elevator and rode upstairs.
When Jack got back upstairs, he found that he couldn’t bear to stay in Jazen’s former apartment for very long. The place was still a wreck from when the Rüstov turned it upside-down, and everything in the loft reminded Jack of Jazen. The kitchen was the worst. Jack knew that if Jazen were still alive, he would have already been in there whipping up Flopflips, Floovberries, warp-speed milkshakes, and anything else he could think of to raise Jack’s spirits. Jack’s stomach growled for reassurances that he knew weren’t coming, and it made him miss his friend even more. He got out of there almost as soon as he had come in.
The Accidental Hero Page 26
