The Hade War

by Luke Carlisle

  “You give us Deadvolt now! Is this a game to you you son of a bitch?!” Mack yelled.

  Frank said and did nothing. He simply hung limp in Mack’s arms smiling at him. After a few seconds Mack put him down and Frank straightened his clothes out.

  “Now that’s out of your system… please see me out.”

  Mack looked around his men then nodded. One of the men banged on the door which was unlocked from the other side. Frank made his way towards the door.

  “Yunno, one of these days we’ll find out exactly who you are working for, Frank. Something tells me I’m not gonna like it. When that happens these little arrangements might not continue,” Mack said, stopping Frank who merely turned and smiled before leaving.

  Frank made his way through the bar while Mack and his men watched him from the back of the room. One of them turned to Mack.

  “Did you plant it?”

  “Yeah. Get me the captain on the phone.”

  Frank exited the bar and stepped back out into the street. He nodded to Jackson at the door and walked over to the road. Jackson stood and watched as Frank looked at his watch, wondering why he wasn’t getting back into the car he came in. After a few seconds another car came, exactly the same as the first and pulled up outside the bar. Frank got in and it slowly drove off. Jackson watched in confusion.

  “Why on earth?” he said to himself.

  Inside the second car Frank continued to straighten himself up after Mack’s assault. Vincent Kennedy sat beside him on the back seat.

  “Son of a bitch,” Frank muttered to himself. Running his hand around the collar of his shirt he pulled out a small black pin, only a few square millimetres in size. He held it up for Vince to look at.

  “Tracking device. That’s a shame,” Vince said, lacking conviction. “Can’t trust anyone any more. I feel our relationship with Mack and the boys has reached it’s end.“ He opened the car window and tossed the tracking device out. Then he pulled out his phone and dialled four digits.

  Outside the bar, the first car roared to life, spun all four wheels ninety degrees and rammed sideways into the front of the bar, pinning Jackson against the wall, who yelled out in agony. In the second car, Vince dialled another four numbers. Outside the bar the first car exploded in a ball of fire.

  Israel, hiding in a fire escape across the street, shot a rail out of his wrist coil and swung away to the rooftop of a building diagonally across from the bar. He could do nothing but look down on the flaming remains of what was the bar. He put his hand to his ear.

  “Manning, call the cops!”

  Chapter 7

  “The hell was that?!” Jessen shouted as he fell onto the ground for cover. Greyfall merely stood and turned. The first bar they had been forced to leave was engulfed in flames. Suddenly Greyfall spotted a figure swinging from building to building on ropes which retracted back into his wrists.

  “Hade! Up!” commanded Greyfall as he started running, following the path of the man on the rooftops. Jessen immediately got up and ran after him, looking up to see what it was that Greyfall was looking at. After a few moments he saw the man running across rooftops, jumping from fire escape to fire escape and using some kind of ropes to swing from building to building. Despite the fact he assumed the man was the cause of the explosion, in the back of his mind he couldn’t help but think ‘This is so awesome!’ Excitement flowed through Jessen’s veins as he chased after the suspect. He could already feel a weeks worth of exercise and training with Greyfall beginning to show signs of paying off, but he still could not keep up with either man. Greyfall and Jessen had gone to the gym everyday, but as Greyfall put it “This is false training. It does not give the body what it really needs.” So every day after the gym the two would run up and down every set up steps they could find, filling backpacks with anything weighty and climbing up and down every fire escape they could find in New Belfast. They would push their bodies to the extreme discomfort and challenges the city could provide instead of the controlled comfort of a gym. Greyfall had also begun to teach Jessen basic combat skills, teaching him most importantly how to breath properly when fighting. Without sufficient room in Jessen apartment the two would brawl in the nearby park, Greyfall teaching Jessen how to escape certain holds and defend against the most obvious of attacks. The time traveler was surprisingly impressed with Hade’s progress after only a week. On top of this physical training Greyfall and Jessen took to back alleyways every night for Jessen to practice his force blasts. Starting big he would aim at trash cans, discarded TVs and fridges. Over the week the targets got smaller and smaller. Jessen still struggled to hit a beer bottle from fifty feet but was getting close. Greyfall tried his best to understand Jessen’s power.

  “Try to feel it as an extension of your body. Not as something to be understood like an equation, but something to be felt like an emotion.”

  After focusing on this advice it took Jessen two attempts to hit his first bottle from fifty feet.

  Despite this, after a few moments of lagging behind the sprinting Greyfall and starting to really struggle, without thinking Jessen lifted his hand up and aimed at the running man on the rooftops. A blast of light erupted out of his hand smashing the corner of a building to bits as bricks and metal were sent exploding in all directions. He could not see the running man any more. Up ahead Greyfall had stopped and was glaring back at Jessen in disbelief. A second later he ran across the street and began to climb up anything he could grab onto towards the roof top. Jessen watched in amazement as Greyfall scaled the side of the building gracefully.

  “He can teach me that one next week,” he said aloud to himself, running over to the building. Jessen tried his best to mimic Greyfall’s climb, but it took him a lot longer and he exerted a lot more energy in doing so. After several minutes Jessen reached the top of the five storey building. Dripping in sweat and trying to catch his breath he looked about the rooftop frantically searching for Greyfall.

  “Fall!” he yelled, walking over to a more central part of the roof. After a few moments of searching he found Greyfall attending to the man they were chasing who was leaning back onto a vent. The man was wearing a dark blue and black outfit which looked to Jessen to be seamless from neck to foot. He wore a matching dark blue mask, some kind of bands around his wrist and a black belt around his waist.

  “Alright! We got him!” Jessen exclaimed triumphantly.

  Greyfall made no movement and calmly asked Jessen. “Do you know this building Hade?”

  “No,” Jessen answered.

  “You know no one who lives here or any business that operates here?”

  “Nah man, just some random building there’s thousands-“

  “Then how do you know you did not just kill people Hade?!” Greyfall bellowed, standing up and towering over Jessen who felt scared of Greyfall for the first time since he appeared in his living room a week before.

  “I…I…” Jessen could not get a sentence out.

  “Were there people on the street below? Were there people on the street around the corner of the building?!” Greyfall shouted?

  “I… I don’t know. I didn’t…” Jessen realised the severity of the situation. “I didn’t check,” he finished, utterly deflated. Greyfall stared at him.

  “I have already surveyed the building and the surrounding streets. This is an unfinished apartment building. No one appears to be inside. No one was on the street and if they were, they have gone.”

  “Ok…good…” Jessen felt like a school boy being scolded by his teacher. “What about him? Did… did I kill him? Oh man I just shot. I didn’t-“

  “He is fine, Hade. The blast must have knocked him this far over. He’s knocked out but I think he will be fine.

  Jessen and Greyfall suddenly collapsed and grasped at their ears as a high pitched hiss erupted out of nowhere. The sound pierced unbearably through Jessen and Greyfall’s brains. Struggling on the ground Jessen kicked at the air. Greyfall merely lay still, his face a pictu
re of pure agony. The last thing he remembered seeing was a pair of ragged old Air Jordans walking towards him.

  Vincent Kennedy pushed the needle in.

  “Focus, Alicia. You know they are out there somewhere. The man of light and the man who used to not be here. They are out there. Focus on them. Focus on their power. Breathe deeply. Concentrate. The ability to see glimpses of the future is a wonderful power, but right now I am far more concerned with the present.”

  “I have only ever been able to see-“ Alicia started.

  “Shhh, I know. But after your Deadvolt blunder I put our boys back to work on this. We think we’ve found you a way.”

  Vince pushed down on the needle, injecting the substance into Alicia’s arm. She squirmed on the bed.

  “There are five of them.” She said.

  “Will somebody please tell me what the ass is going on?!” Jessen was not happy. “Who the hell are you, and who the hell are you and most of all why the hell is he here?” Jessen exclaimed, pointing at Daniel.

  Jessen and Greyfall had woken up in Manning and Israel's apartment. At least it seemed like it was supposed to be an apartment, but it was more like a warehouse mixed with a science lab. There wasn’t a single window in the whole place. Along every wall were safes, closets, filing cabinets, computers and desktops with all sorts of contraptions, weapons and pieces of armour Jessen had never seen the like of. A large TV had the ’24 Hour News’ channel playing on mute on one wall. Manning and Israel were standing several feet away while Daniel sat further back on a stool at a workbench eating a bowl of cereal and wearing some sort of chest armour. Israel was still wearing his combat gear but had his mask off.

  “Just take it easy son and sit there. You’re gonna be a bit light on your feet for a moment,” Manning told him. Jessen immediately stood up, ignoring the older man. Manning watched him get off the couch with ease.

  “Well hell, you must be tougher than you look, Jessen Hade,” Manning told him.

  “How did you-“ Jessen started.

  “Been through your wallet already,” Manning answered. “Done a background check.”

  At this point Greyfall stood up beside Jessen and place an arm on his shoulder to calm him down.

  “What is this place? How did we get here?” Greyfall calmly asked, convinced they were not in any danger.

  “We live and operate out of here. 104 Beech Street. You’re safe”

  “From what?” Greyfall countered.

  “From us, for one thing. We don’t believe you’re a threat which is why you can still talk. The most important thing you need to know is Israel didn’t blow up that bar, although it’s understandable how you thought he did. Now, who are you guys and why are you only showing up on our radar now?”

  “Who did blow it up?!” asked Jessen, ignoring the question.

  “We really don’t know. Israel was watching the bar for any criminal activity. Daniel was watching Israel and saw everything.”

  “Hold on. What?!” Israel suddenly spoke up. “Who the hell is this guy and where was he watching me from? More to the point why was he watching me?!”

  “I asked him to,” Manning answered.

  “Manning. You son of a bitch!” Vincent shook his head in disbelief. “I knew you would be a thorn in my side again some day.”

  Vincent took out his phone and dialled one number. After several seconds he was through to someone on the other end of the line.

  “104 Beech Street. I need this ‘Jessen Hade.’ Kill everyone else.”

  Alicia continued her narration of the scene.

  “Manning asked Daniel to watch Israel when he went out on patrol. He says Israel needs help. Israel does not like this.”

  Suddenly the door opened. Vince was visibly annoyed as Frank entered, interrupting the vision. Before Vince could get a word out Frank spoke up.

  “Sorry sir, I wouldn’t interrupt if it wasn’t important. It’s something downstairs. Frederick needs to see you right away!”

  Vince sighed and pulled out a small recording device from his pocket. He pushed the record button then handed it to Alicia, cupping it into her hands with affection.

  “Just keep talking. Tell me what you see and I’ll be right back.”

  “Son of a bitch, are you kidding me?!” Israel yelled at Manning. At this point Jessen gestured to Greyfall to sit back down on the couch and the two men watched the situation unfold.

  “I’ve given you dozens of stitches in the last couple of months, you’ve cracked bones, lost teeth, been burnt, stabbed and beaten to a pulp. Forgive me for taking precautions,” Manning said condescendingly.

  “I’ve never lost! I always get my man! I always break up the drug deals, the prostitution deals, the muggings.”

  “Yeah with barely enough strength to make it home afterwards, let alone fight another day. You kick ass, but one day there will be a stray bullet or a knife that takes you out that could easily have been avoided. Or a mindless thug with a pipe hiding behind a corner you didn’t check. So I’ve been asking Daniel here to follow you and intervene if it ever looked like you couldn’t handle yourself.”

  “Which as of yet is zero times!” Israel declared.

  “Mmmm not so much,” Daniel finally interjected.

  “Sorry what now? I’ve never once seen you before.”

  “That’s because I’m not crap at what I do. If you had seen me then I would be.”

  “So what? I’ve still never needed you.”

  “Two weeks ago you chased two thugs into an alley who had just mugged an old man. Remember?”

  “Yeah. I kicked their asses, tied them up, called the cops and got the man his wallet back.”

  “Uh huh. Remember the two other guys who followed in the alley behind you?”

  “There wasn’t two other-“ Israel started.

  “Because I was there,” Daniel interrupted. “You had no idea there were another two guys hiding across the street from the mugging, ready to run in if things went sideways. When you arrived things went sideways. You chased the two that you could see. I took out the two who were chasing you from behind. Oh, those two had automatic weapons by the way.”

  Israel stared at Daniel for several moments.

  “Alright fine! I’m not an idiot. I genuinely thank you for your help.” He turned to Manning, “But why didn’t you tell me?”

  “It was the best way for you to train. A kid with his training wheels still on his bike isn’t afraid of falling. If you knew you were protected from above you wouldn’t have learnt so much.”

  “From above?” Israel repeated.

  Manning turned to Daniel.

  “May as well show him,” Manning said.

  Daniel put his spoon down and stood up from the stool. Suddenly his body levitated off the ground until his head was touching the roof. Israel stared in disbelief.

  “That is freakin awesome!” Jessen exclaimed. “That explains how you just came out of nowhere earlier!”

  “A marvellous power. I knew several men in my squad with the power of flight,” Greyfall added.

  Daniel came back down to the ground and walked over to Jessen and Greyfall.

  “Yeah. About that,” Daniel began. “Just who the hell are you?”

  Greyfall obliged.

  “Time travel!” Alicia exclaimed into the recorder. “That must be it! Greyfall must have prevented the war by coming back!”

  “Which brought us to this reality. In my world, my future, all of you are dead.”

  Manning, Israel and Daniel stood staring at Greyfall in silent shock.

  “Well, I guess… Thanks?” Israel finally said.

  “I need a beer,” Manning said as he walked away from the men to a fridge at the side of the room.

  “Beer please?” asked Jessen, raising his hand.

  Manning took two beers out of his fridge and tossed one to Jessen who immediately popped it open and began chugging it.

  “So, for lack of better words, we are all living i
n one big, giant, second chance?” asked Daniel.

  “Yes. The natural timeline has been severed, we are currently living in an alternate reality to my own. The reality that should have befallen all of you,” Greyfall answered.

  Manning looked deep in concentration as if something caught his attention from outside of the room. He shifted and turned, walking away from the group towards the television.

  “Manning?” Israel asked.

  “Yeah… just gimmie a minute,” Manning replied.

  The news on the television was showing photos and stock video of Vincent Kennedy with the tagline ‘V.K. to unveil world changing new project soon.’

  Daniel continued the conversation.

  “So Greyfall is obviously gifted with strength, but I would also suspect you are more resilient than the ordinary man, Hade. You should barely be able to stand after my sonic shock.”

  “Is that what that was? It sucked. Screw you by the way. But if I’ve learnt anything in the last week or two it’s that all bets are off. I may as well be an alien as far as I’m concerned. You think I have some super strength or something?” Jessen replied.

  “Obviously not to the scale of Greyfall here. Your chase was much less efficient and your scaling up that building was no where near as impressive as Greyfall’s. But you are certainly a bit stronger than the average person. Although to you it’s just normal.”

  “Hey, where is Elaine? You were with her. Are you two together?” Jessen asked.

  “Manning, what is it?” Greyfall swayed the conversation back to the older man. Manning turned back from the television and spoke to the group again.

  “Sorry. I was just curious as to what that is about,” he answered as he pointed to the news report.

  “We’re not exactly fans,” Israel put in.

  “Of that Kennedy guy?” Jessen asked. “Why?”

  “The conversation has turned to you,” Alicia narrated.

  “Vincent Kennedy is an asshole,” Manning declared.

  “He, uh… he does not think highly of you,” Alicia recorded.

  “Of all the moments. This is actually pretty damn relevant I reckon,” Manning explained. “I used to work for him. Long, long time ago. He’s a scientist, entrepreneur, business tycoon, cold, heartless piece of crap who owns half of the real estate in New Belfast and could probably shoot the president and get away with it. He is a Grade-A evil genius who wants to own and control everything. At the same time as killing anyone who get in his way, he’ll give millions to a charity or invest millions on research to end a disease. He wants to cure everything, making trillions in the process, own everyone, build everywhere and achieve everything. He is obsessed with becoming the greatest and most successful human being of all time, all while throwing the Super Bowl winning touchdown pass and modelling for GQ at the same time. He houses abandoned kids and orphans and threatens judges and lawyers with the lives of their own children. He’s a real self righteous and contradicting piece of shit.”