“Stop,” he told him calmly.
Kennedy was taking deep breaths and looked back and forth between Israel and Simpson.
“What the hell is this?!” he yelled.
Frank who now had his hands up slowly stepped towards his boss to stand at his side.
“That’s Simpson,” he told Kennedy. “We have a history with him. He’s no doubt one of Manning’s buddies by now. We’ve been played. They walked right in here.”
“What an absolute pack of dicks!” Kennedy responded immaturely. “ After all I’ve built and all I’ve accomplished we just let the enemy walk right into the heart of our operation and point a gun at my face. That really pisses in my cereal!” he turned to Frank as if expecting a response. “I mean, if only I had, oh I don’t know, an invisible witch that stayed by my side at all times these days…”
Without another word Israel shot out his blunt end coil at Kennedy’s chest but it stopped dead in mid air between them.
“Man alive guys,” Kennedy began. “You really can’t tell when a person is stalling can you? I was nearly about to run out of hilarious things to say.”
The coil dropped to the floor and retracted back inside Israel’s wrist compartment.
“What the hell is this?!” he asked.
Suddenly Simpson shot at Kennedy but again the bullet stopped in mid air and hit the ground as if hitting an invisible wall. Israel’s head wrenched round to the side involuntarily and his arms were forced into a crossed position with his fists facing inwards towards his chest.
“Simpson!” he yelled, struggling to move but it was useless.
Out of nowhere the tall, dark and ragged witched that blinded Deadvolt from seeing Kennedy had now appeared behind Israel, holding his arms and overpowering him with ease. Simpson held the gun up to aim past Israel’s head but was afraid to take the shot in case he hit his ally. Frank bent down to pick up his fallen weapon and both he and Kennedy pointed their guns at Simpson.
“Drop it dick,” Kennedy told him.
Simpson obeyed and slowly bent over, placing the gun on the floor. He then kicked it over to Kennedy’s feet.
“Mask. Off,” Kennedy ordered ”I want to see if I remember you.”
Simpson sighed and dropped his head, defeated.
“Israel,” Simpson began. “There’s something I never told you about Simpson.” he said.
Israel gave an obvious look of confusion as he still struggled against the witch. His coils were pointed directly at his own chest and were of no use. Simpson slowly undid several latches on his mask and helmet. After several moments he lifted the helmet off, revealing his face.
“He’s a shape shifter,” Manning told him. “And he’s back at the apartment.”
“You have got to be kidding me!” Kennedy exclaimed.
“Manning!” Israel couldn’t believe what he was seeing.
Listening in, back in Warstone’s apartment, Simpson who was sitting in front of his screens, saw no need to keep up the act. Relaxing his mind he shifted back into his natural form.
“Manning you total and utter son of a bitch!” Kennedy scolded. “This is absolutely beautiful! I have both of you now!” Kennedy clapped.
Israel struggled harder than ever now but it was still no good.
“Manning why didn’t you tell me?!” he asked, fighting back his emotions.
“Didn’t want you worrying about me out there kiddo. Besides, you think I’d miss taking a pop at this asshole?” Manning gestured towards Kennedy who still stood in completely disbelief with a smile on his face.
“Manning you look… just terrible. Did you age like fifty years since you stole from me and ran off into hiding? Where have you been anyway old buddy old pal? Oh yeah and in case you hadn’t noticed…” Kennedy pointed at Jessen’s body, still strung up to the machinery that held him in place. “Your boy Hade is dead.”
“Shut up! Just shut the hell up!” Manning spat.
“How do we know this isn’t still some shape shifter?!” Frank argued.
“If he is,” Kennedy began. “Will he change back to his real self if he’s dead?”
Frank thought for a moment.
“I don’t know,” he admitted.
“Meh.” Kennedy shrugged. “Guess we’ll find out.”
Kennedy pointed his gun at Manning’s chest and fired. The shot may as well have been directly through Israel’s heart. The young man writhed and fought against the might of the witch that held him at bay but he could not fight his way out of her grip. Manning’s body fell to the floor hard.
“Manning!” Israel yelled. “You mother fu-“
“Ah ah ah.” Kennedy stopped Israel mid insult. “I don’t allow potty mouth in my building you turd. Have I to continue fathering you exactly where I left off before Manning kidnapped you? Oh wait! That’s exactly what I’m going to do!” Kennedy laughed. “You were just about to be tested for one of my experiments.”
Kennedy looked down at the table.
“What’s this?!” He said sarcastically, picking up the needle containing Masterpiece serum. “An experiment right here and now?! Bigger than anything we’ve ever tried before?! What are the chances?!”
“Slimmer than you’d think you punk!” A voice came from the doorway. Everyone in the room turned to see who it was and a feeling of anti climax settled over them. A lone member of Kennedy’s security team, dressed head to toe in black with a helmet covering his face stood with a gun pointed right at Vincent and Frank.
“Ugh. Now who is this asshole?” Kennedy asked Frank, unimpressed and rubbing his forehead. “I’m worth like a trillion billion dollars! Can we seriously not get a damn lock on the door or something?!”
Frank shrugged.
“Disgruntled employee?” Kennedy asked the newcomer who was visibly shaking. Kennedy turned to Frank with a smile on his face.
“Look, he’s actually shaking! Like, literally quivering!” he laughed, turning back to the security guard.
“What’s wrong? You scared? Do you even know how to fire that thing?”
Without a word or warning the gun fired and Frank’s brains exploded over the wall.
Kennedy whipped his head round, wide eyed to survey the scene then back to the guard.
“Yeah they taught me pretty well in the marines,” the guard said.
Kennedy was visibly taken aback by the intruders confidence and marksmanship.
“Shoot me and she kills him.” Kennedy gestured to Israel. “And who in the blue hell are you anyway?!” he demanded.
The guard reached up and removed his helmet. Kennedy had to take a moment to grasp what he was looking at, or in reality, not looking at. There was nothing there. Realisation hit Kennedy after several moments of staring at nothing above the guards shoulders whose hands were now shaking worse than before.
“Name’s Stan,” Invisible Stan announced.
“Manning has himself an invisible man?! Wonderful!” Kennedy said cheerily. “And one with what appears to be Parkinson's or something?! What a terrifying enemy indeed.” he mocked.
“You didn't notice him all the times he was spying on you for Manning!” Israel defended.
“Indeed. Well, Manning’s dead now…” Kennedy paused a moment. “I don’t even have a clever end to that sentence. Just stating the fact that Manning is dead.” Kennedy turned to Israel. “Oh, did I mention that Manning is dead, Israel?”
“Once or twice,” Israel answered. “You were also wrong once or twice.”
Kennedy looked down at Manning who was lying face first on the floor, a small pool of blood expanding outward from his upper body.
“Uh… pretty sure I’m right.” Kennedy pointed at Manning with one hand, his other still holding his gun pointed at Stan. “See that? That’s a dead Manning.”
“I’m willing to bet otherwise,” Israel countered.
“That’s a bad bet,” Kennedy countered back
“And you’re a bad shot. The only thing keeping you safe righ
t now is that the fact that this bitch has got me in her grip. Otherwise Manning and Stan would have you begging for mercy.”
“Well, sorry to break it to you kid but that bitch has very much got you in her grip so I’m not gonna be doing any begging today.”
“Yes you are…” Israel began. “I just wish I would be there to see it.” Israel looked down at Manning’s body on the floor. “I love you Manning. I’m sorry.”
Thunk!
Without warning Israel clenched his fist and moved his hand, commanding his spear coil to fire. The point pierced through his chest and into the heart of the witch behind him who let loose a high-pitched and awful scream.
“Whu-“ Kennedy couldn’t get a word out before a bullet struck him in the arm, causing him to drop his gun and fall to one knee in agony. Looking around he couldn’t believe his eyes when he saw Manning laying on the floor with his arm raised and gun pointing right at him.
The witch flailed and fell to the ground clutching her chest, rapidly changing between being visible and invisible. She let out one last gurgle from deep within then fell to the ground dead.
Stan ran forward and kicked Kennedy’s gun well away from him then moved over to Manning and Israel who were both on the floor.
“Israel!” Manning struggled to his hands and knees.
“Manning are you ok?!” Stan asked.
Manning nodded. “Straight… straight through my shoulder.” He managed to say as he crawled over to Israel. When he reached the younger man all hope immediately fell away as he looked into his lifeless eyes. Manning touched Israel’s face.
“Israel? Israel son?!” Manning was panicking. “Israel no! No don’t you even think of doing this to me!”
Kennedy was still on one knee, watching and breathing deeply against the pain in his arm. Slowly he began to inch his way towards the table Israel had been lying on, unnoticed.
Manning was crying now. He had Israel in an embrace as if to comfort him.
“My son… Israel why did you do that?! Damn it!” he wailed as he grasped Israel’s hand. There was no response.
A tear appeared out of nowhere and hit the floor. Stan was crying. Unseen to the two mourners, Kennedy was now slowly reaching to the table top. Manning and Stan had their heads dropped low and didn’t notice the insane billionaire as he slowly crawled his way towards Jessen.
Manning finally looked up and with tears in his eyes he glared at his former employee.
“No!” he yelled.
But it was too late. Kennedy had stabbed the needle into Jessen’s leg and the serum was already working it’s way into his bloodstream. Manning sighed deeply.
“Relax Manning. Your friend’s been dead a while. Probably wont make a difference.” Kennedy said. “Just thought I’d give it a shot yunno, seeing as you’re probably gonna kill me and all. Call it a parting gift.”
Manning gently rested Israel’s head on the floor then summoned his strength to push himself to his feet. Stan reached out to help him. Once on his feet Manning walked slowly over to tower over Vincent Kennedy who sat on the floor. Vince forced a smile.
“Yeah… so remember that part about me begging for mercy?”
Outside the battle still raged on. No one was aware of what was happening deep within the labs of the Skyborn. Prisoners who were severely wounded or transformed into something not human were being airlifted away from the scene by the dozen. The army had regrouped and were rolling tanks down Austin Avenue towards the Skyborn.
Metalcore surveyed the seen for a moment high above the battle then flew back down to rejoin the fight, scribbling something in his notepad as he descended. Finding Greyfall he flew to land beside the time traveler.
“Metalcore! How does it look?!” Greyfall asked.
“Tanks headed this way,” Metalcore had written.
“Damn it!” Greyfall spat. “Dustin says there is still a handful of people in there. It must be Kennedy with Hade at least.”
The two men were over run by several crawling little beasts, each one looked exactly identical to the next as the scraped their way across Greyfall and Metalcore’s bodies. Greyfall batted one away with a strong backhand. They were many, but weak.
Warstone was in a fist fight with a giant brute of an opponent. The two men were repeatedly punching each other with a force that would kill anyone else on the battle field.
Elaine had forged an ice staff and smashed it across the top of an enemies head, shattering it in a sickening thud. She forged it again and repeated the same process on another enemies head. She continued her attack relentlessly.
Silvercord was down on one knee with a hand on the ground to support herself. She was throwing up violently.
Manning had had enough. Swinging his arm he landed the but of his gun heavily across the top of Vince’s head, knocking him out cold as he fell backwards to the floor. He returned his gaze to the table were the black needle lay. He picked it up and positioned his thumb on the end, ready to inject it into Jessen if the worst was to happen.
“Manning…” Stan began. “The serum won’t save him… will it? Could it have been used to save Israel?”
Manning looked back at the body of Israel lying on the floor. The witch was laying dead several feet beside him. Frank lay dead and headless mere feet away from that and Jessen hung naked and lifeless on the wall, still attached to all sorts of tubes and wires. He placed his gun gently on the table.
“No. Israel has no powers. No super strength or super recovery system of any kind,” he said as he took several steps forward, looking down at Kennedy who was unconscious on the floor as he stepped over him. Taking several more steps he made his way towards Jessen.
“But he did,” he continued.
“Why would he inject Jessen?”
“Just to inflict one last wave of terror on the world before we put him away,” Manning answered. “On the off chance that it works that is.”
The two men stood in silence for what felt like an eternity. Manning gripped the black needle tightly. Without warning the power went off. The lights went out and all machinery noise was silenced. The two men looked around them for some form of light source that could guide them.
“Manning!” Stan called out in the darkness, obviously worried.
“I’m here Stan. Don’t worry,” Manning reassured him.
Manning stared towards where he thought Jessen still hung on the wall but it was hard to tell, having been surprised and slightly disorientated by the blackout. He couldn’t quite understand why, but Manning breathed as quietly as he could. Slowly he raised a hand and began to creep forward inch by inch. He was expecting to eventually touch the cold skin of Jessen’s body but he just kept inching forward, touching nothing. Eventually he gathered up enough courage to make a larger reach forward. His hand did not hit flesh, but instead Manning found himself touching metal. He could feel in his hands that he was touching wires, tubing and metal framing. Curious he began to feel around at a faster pace. He made an image in his head of what he was feeling and as it became clear in his head he felt his heart skip a beat. Jessen had moved. Manning was touching the metal structure that Jessen had been attached to. Turning, he looked back round into the pitch black room. He wanted to stay quiet but almost involuntarily spoke out into the darkness.
“Jessen?” he called.
Two beaming bright eyes of purple and white suddenly opened in the middle of the room, illuminating the space around them for several feet. Manning stood still and looked in horror. Slowly the light began to spread. A low hum sound began to grow from within the light source. Veins and arteries now glowed in the same brilliant purple and white light. Skin became slowly visible. Muscle upon muscle tensed and shone until finally a fully formed body stood, naked and emitting a radiant light. Manning slowly began to take a few steps forward. The head of the body turned and looked up at him, gazing deeply into Manning’s eyes who stood transfixed at the beauty of the light. The two figures held eye contact for several moment
s. The humming sound now filled the room loudly until suddenly the figure closed it’s eyes and it stopped.
The power in the room came back on. Lights and machinery sprang back to life and the room was filled with the sound of buzzing and tapping.
Manning couldn’t believe who or what he was now looking at. Jessen Hade stood ripped from head to toe in muscle. The light in his eyes and the glowing across his body had faded away.
Jessen surveyed the room. He saw the unconscious body of Vincent Kennedy and the dead bodies of Frank and the witch. He cast his eye lastly on the body of Israel who lay on his back on the cold floor, surrounded by a large pool of blood. As Manning stared at Jessen he could see some form of emotion, some form of recognition in his eyes. The silence was finally broken.
“Manning,” Jessen said with more strength and confidence than Manning had ever heard before.
“Yes, Jessen. Are you ok?” Manning asked, thumb on the end of the needle at his side.
Jessen nodded. “You won’t need that.”
The needle burst in Manning’s hand, the glass and metal falling to the floor. Manning was taken by surprise and wiped the antidote on his leg. He looked to Stan as if to say ‘Did you see that?!’ Stan had positioned himself squarely behind the table now for protection.
“Manning…” Jessen said and the older man looked back at him. “I’m sorry about Israel.”
Manning dropped his head for a moment then looked over at the body of Israel.
“He did what he had to,” Manning said.
Without another word Jessen walked over to the cabinet that Simon had opened earlier. Reaching up to the top shelf he pulled out a box and placed in on the table. Opening it he began to take out what appeared to be the clothes Jessen was wearing the night the hideout was attacked. That felt like so so long ago now.
Jessen put on his black NCW t-shirt and torn jeans. He pulled up his grey converse then reached back into the box for his usual hoody that he always wore. Manning thought to himself that he could hardly picture Jessen ever wearing anything else. Jessen put the hoody on then reached into the box again for the final piece of clothing. He pulled out the bandana mask that Manning had given him not long after their first meeting. He pulled the cloth over his head and tugged the lower fabric up over his mouth and nose. With two hands he reached to the back of his head and pulled the elastic hood up over his head and onto his forehead so only the eyes and forehead were visible. Lastly, as always, Jessen pulled the hood of his hoody up over his head. He turned and stood to face Manning and Stan. The three men stood in silence for several moments.
The Hade War Page 30
