Nathan Returns

by Jason Zandri

  “Yes,” she said and took in a deep breath. “I know it’s why Rebecca is so appealing to you. She is super-powered as well. In an aggression against either one or both of you, you can each take care of yourselves and each other.”

  Lisa moved in closer. “It just seems a little sudden and a little … over the top.”

  “Really?” Nathan said, sounding disturbed. “I might expect that comment from Adia but not you.”

  “Hey! I’m right here!” Adia yelled.

  “Lisa, you don’t get the right to be jealous—” Nathan said before Adia cut him off.

  “Jealous?” Adia shouted. “We’re concerned about your well-being, how you’re handling things, how you feel, and you come back with something petty and demeaning like jealousy? Yes, I’m a little hurt and raw even still, after all the time that’s passed, but at this moment … well, this moment I’m pissed. Prior, all I had for you was care and concern, but I can see that was misplaced. Between the superpowers and the fat in your head, you’re well-fortified against anything.”

  Adia turned to leave, and Lisa moved quickly to stop her.

  “Let her go,” Nathan said. “I’m not keeping anyone around who doesn’t want to be around.”

  Adia whipped around and moved right up into his face. “I so badly wanted to be around. I wanted to be your everything. I always felt like a cop and needing to have my guard up. You allowed me to let my hair down and just be a woman. You pushed me away for my own safety without even asking me if that’s what I wanted. I felt less safe with you gone. And I certainly felt alone.” Tears broke away and fell over her cheeks. “Never again. Today is it. I’ll never cry for you or over you again.” Aida tore her hands into the air and walked off.

  She stormed away, and instinctively, Nathan took a step forward to go after her, but he stopped himself.

  “You’re supposed to follow her,” Lisa said quietly and smiled slightly.

  He remembered that she’d told him that once before. “We’re not together. We’re not going to be,” Nathan said.

  “You don’t have to be with someone to love them. You don’t have to be in love with them to love them,” Lisa said and shook her head.

  “How are you so sure of that?” Nathan asked.

  “I love you,” she said. “And we are not in love with each other. It doesn’t make it any less special or any less intense.”

  Nathan looked at Lisa with affection, leaned in, and kissed her on the cheek. Then he turned and quickened his pace to catch Adia.

  “Don’t,” Aida said and held up her hand at the quickening footfalls behind her. “I don’t need you to say anything to me. I want to be mad at you and hate you.”

  “Why?” Nathan asked while coming around to face her.

  “Because it’s easier than being hurt. I never wanted to be hurt. What I realized sitting in the hospital last year, after the incident in this very park, was that you were my hero even before you saved me.”

  Nathan just looked into her eyes. For all his abilities, he felt powerless to make her feel better and at a loss for words to comfort her.

  “Look, I know things aren’t going to be the same, and they will likely never go back to what they were. I just need to finish grieving the end of us in that fashion. Then I can be the friend you need me to be, and the friend I want to be. It’s hard to see you with Rebecca. I wanted to be the person that brought you that much life into your world. I’m trying to be bigger about it and happy for you. I will eventually. Today, I am still the woman who lost all of that.”

  “You’re in my thoughts. Almost every day. You’ve given me far more than you realize, and as I carry that with me, wherever I go, I have you with me. What greater gift could one person give another than a memory of love that keeps them warm?” Nathan stepped forward. “Maybe someday we can find a way back to one another in that way. Even if that day never comes, somehow, I am going to watch over you in any way that I can. There’s nothing that can stop me from getting back to you.”

  The tears poured over Adia’s face. “How the hell am I supposed to hate you when you say stuff like that?” she said, sobbing. “I wish you’d listen to me … just once.”

  “Well, I suppose you could always shoot me.”

  Shots rang out. Adia got hit three times. Stunned, the shots that hit her chest knocked her back. Her vest stopped all three shots, which had hit nearly center mass. Despite the three hits, she remained on her feet.

  She looked at Nathan, who stumbled forward.

  Lightning ripped across the sky and a loud thunderclap boomed.

  People in the park screamed and moved away. Lisa moved forward cautiously but quickly. “Nathan!” she screamed. Adia moved forward as Nathan lurched.

  It took those extra seconds for Adia to realize that she had been shot in the chest through Nathan’s body.

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  An old woman made her way slowly along Empire Street, dragging a ratted luggage bag on wheels behind her. She turned left onto Fountain Street, grabbed at the straw hat on her head, and paused for a moment when another elderly man came into view a few yards away when he turned the corner from Greene Street.

  The man looked over at her inquisitively and paused. His eyes opened wide, and he spun around to walk in the direction he’d come from. He stopped abruptly when the same woman suddenly stood right behind him on Greene Street.

  He turned again to move away and down Fountain Street, and she once again blocked his way.

  “We will have this conversation, Thaddeus,” the old woman said while she loosened her grip on her bag. Her voice cracked. “You can spin yourself around like a top all you like. You can let me know when you’re done, and we can get started.”

  Thaddeus turned away and stepped across Greene Street and into the parking lot that formed part of the property on Washington Street. “This is impossible,” he muttered. “You died; we all advanced. I know this specifically.”

  “You know this specifically because you were summoned to take the talisman if it wasn’t passed,” the old woman said while she crossed the large and busy street.

  “It was not to be passed!” the man yelled, and then turned around to see a younger version of the old woman. “You basically knew this, Cecelia.” The old man shook his head. “As a Watcher, you knew the path we were on.”

  “I was at my end,” she said in her younger voice and became as she appeared in Elysium. “You know that at that end, when it is under any certain level of control, that a Watcher passes control to the next Watcher, rather than that next Watcher assuming control.”

  “Of course,” he snapped. “That’s why I was there.”

  “Yes,” she said and stepped forward, leaving the luggage behind her. “You were planning to wait for me to pass, and then assume control. I didn’t exactly allow you to assume control.”

  “No! You didn’t,” Thaddeus yelled, throwing his hands in the air. “And you knew the main path in front of us was to pass the talisman … not assign it.”

  “It is the right of any Watcher—” Cici began until he cut her cut off.

  “It is the right of any Watcher, at their end, or at any time when the gods call, to assign the powers of The Prime Universe and the Olympus conduit to an Earthly champion.” Thaddeus moved in a circle around Cici, as he continued, “We can all hear the call. It is weak at best. Interference is shunned. The scales were not so moved that you needed to answer. You knew this. You selfishly decided anyway.”

  “The Fates saw this path as well,” Cici said as she moved her head slightly to watch him move around. “Like all paths, not all of them are clear. Of the many, a few rise to most probable, and then only one is taken in the Prime Universe.”

  “And the rest diverge; yes, I am well aware.” He sounded more agitated. “You know a second path was nearly equal in choice. Who is to say that was not the path?”

  “Free will allows the paths to rise, or fall, on their own,” Cici said.

  “The
irs!” he yelled. “Not ours. You chose. You picked a champion. That was an action, and we are Watchers. We’re not supposed to interfere; only observe.”

  “Choosing a champion is permitted and is not considered interfering,” Cici bellowed. “Unlike your actions with young Evelyn Packard. Your actions, in leading her to ancient texts and her using them, were not only in direct violation of our sacred duties, but they caused numerous deaths. And what you unleashed—”

  “There will be more. This world is too far gone to save without a massive purge. That is what is now set into motion. Paths have changed, and the divergence is there.”

  “And you seriously want to know why I chose a champion over allowing the right to pass to you?” Cici turned to face him directly. “I saw many things as a Watcher that I suppose I wasn’t meant to see. I didn’t ask why I saw them, but I did see them.”

  “Yes, you often saw the paths that even The Fates couldn’t. It doesn’t matter. Wrath, greed, sloth, pride, lust, envy, gluttony … this world is soaked in sin. It is too far gone to be saved.” Thaddeus moved a couple of steps away from Cici. “What was that saying the old ones from World War II used to say as they aged? ‘What this world needs is a good depression; that will get it back to basics and on track.’ Nothing can save these people. Decimation down to two or three percent of the populace would allow for them to reclaim the world as their own and in a glorious right.”

  “I knew you were mad, but I never knew how far gone you were. Being a Watcher brings madness; we all know this, those of us that live to old age.” Cici dipped her head and turned away. “All that we see, and all that we know, and unable to take action on any of it. It becomes too much for our minds and souls, especially near the ends of our natural lives over the many long years.” She turned and gave a stern look. “But to speak of a cleansing that brings the world populace of over seven billion to a mere one hundred fifty million or so is certainly beyond simple madness.”

  “And what will you do?” Thaddeus asked. “You are not going to risk eternity in Elysium by taking action. And what could you do? There’s no stopping me. What I’ve set into motion is done and cannot be undone. I have no additional part in what happens next. ‘A Watcher watches and observes.’ You will not take action.”

  “No, she will not, but I will,” a voice called out from behind Thaddeus. “You have been judged. I will carry out your sentence.”

  Thaddeus turned to see Artemis standing with sword and shield in hand. He turned to address Cici, but she had gone.

  “I see,” Thaddeus said quietly. “Only a Watcher can find a Watcher. We generally elude you Olympians too. Well, Artemis? Get on with it.”

  Artemis said nothing and struck him down.

  ***

  Lisa scrambled alongside Adia. Another rumble of thunder slammed, and the sky opened up with rain.

  “10 – 34 S! 10 – 34 S! Madison Square Park,” Adia screamed into the radio and tried to lift Nathan. Lisa took over while Adia drew her service revolver. “I need an ambulance. The Patriot is down.”

  “I hate this goddamned park,” Lisa said while she ran her fingers through Nathan’s hair. Nathan moved ever so slightly.

  “You and me both,” Adia said while she tried to look through the rain and in the direction up and away from where she thought the shots had come from. Then she glanced down at Nathan.

  “God, Nathan …” Lisa whispered as she began to cry. “Don’t … not today. Not like this. Don’t die here on the street with just us. Save the world or something. This is senseless …”

  “This was premeditated,” Adia said, angrier than she’d ever felt. “Someone knew we were here and called in the hit. This is nothing short of an attempt on his life.”

  Rebecca dropped in out of the sky. More thunder crashed. The look on her face was one of complete distress.

  “You!” Adia yelled. “The weather isn’t helping. Turn it off.”

  Rebecca turned to Adia; her eyes suddenly became black as night.

  Fear gripped Adia, and she turned her revolver at her. “Now.”

  Rebecca waved her hand, and a burst of wind knocked Adia aside and part of the way into the park.

  “Stop,” Lisa yelled from the ground. “This makes matters worse, not better. Help Nathan.”

  Rebecca snapped her head down and looked at Nathan. Her eyes remained completely black. She raised her hands, and Nathan floated upward.

  With Nathan free from her lap, Lisa stood slowly, never taking her eyes from Rebecca for more than a couple of seconds, and she did only to glance at Nathan.

  Rebecca rotated Nathan upright so that he stood several inches off the ground. Blood soaked through and over his clothes, and the rain dripped it into a noticeable puddle below him.

  “Who did this?” Rebecca asked with an angry flash in her eyes. “They will pay with their lives.”

  “We don’t know; it just happened,” Lisa said. The cold rain soaked through her clothes. She glanced over at Adia, who had recovered enough to try to stand.

  “This would have never happened if he’d left with me,” Rebecca said. “But he wanted to speak with the two of you. This is the result.”

  “Hate us later. Help him!” Lisa screamed and pointed eastward. “Get him to the hospital.”

  Rebecca moved into Nathan as if she were going to hug him, wrapped her left arm around him, and lifted him up and away. They disappeared out of view across Madison Avenue and down East 24th Street.

  As Rebecca moved away with Nathan, the rain came to a quick end.

  Adia moved about and picked up her service revolver. Then she called off the ambulance and requested back up to search for the shooter.

  “Are you okay?” Lisa asked, shivering from being soaked through.

  “I’ll live,” Adia said, still looking in the direction she thought the shots had come from. “With all the commotion and the local disturbance, we’ll never find the shooter now.” Adia turned her attention down East 24th Street.

  “How will we know where she took Nathan?” Lisa asked.

  “I’ll check in on the radio; there will be some updates.” Numerous police cruisers pulled up at the scene. “I’m going to have to go.” Adia nodded to the cars. “I have to update them.”

  “Okay,” Lisa said with a nod. “Can you let me know when you find out anything?”

  Adia smiled and nodded. “He’s strong, Lisa. If anyone can pull through that, it’ll be Nathan.”

  A tight smile tugged at Lisa’s lips. “I’m going to buy him more Captain Delta shirts.”

  Adia grinned. “I was thinking Sapphire Speedster.”

  Lisa nodded, turned, and walked out of the park and towards home to wait on updates regarding Nathan.

  ***

  Jane Parker sat at her desk, reading the news update online. She shook her head at the newest information regarding Nathan and his condition. She’d already placed a call to the hospital to get an agency update. A knock on her office door startled her.

  “Special Agent Parker?” a man called out, cracking the door open.

  “Yes?” she said and stood.

  “There is a Jennifer Stanton here … from the I.T. department?”

  “Yes,” Jane said and came around from behind the desk. “Send her in.”

  The young girl entered the office. Her hands shook as she held her access and identification badge in her hands. Tears welled in her eyes. “The incident with the rogue fighter jets and the courthouse …” Jennifer said, as she sniffed and looked down at her photo in the badge. “And today … with the assassination attempt …”

  “It wasn’t an assassination attempt,” Jane said.

  “Well then, what the hell was that?” Jennifer snapped and looked up from the badge in her hands. “It’s my fault … I pieced together the information.”

  “Someone would have eventually,” Jane said, partly trying to be logical in her comments. On some level, she wanted to try and comfort Jennifer’s uneasiness as well, b
ut she soon realized she was failing.

  “Maybe …” Jennifer said quietly, once again looking down at her photo. “But that was me. It was my diagnosis and hypothesis.” Jennifer paused and looked directly into Jane’s eyes. “And I’m sorry, but the news said three cluster shots in the center of his chest. That wasn’t meant to debilitate him or anything; it was an attempt to kill him.”

  For a moment, Jennifer said nothing and only stared at Jane. Then she walked over to the desk, placed her badge onto it, and then walked back to where she had stood originally.

  “Are you honestly going to tell me you’re okay with this? You can sleep at night? Knowing a man is in a hospital bed clinging to life because his government, or I should say, a rogue entity within his government, went after him, in an effort to neutralize him as a threat when he never was one in the first place?”

  “There are larger forces at work here than what you can hope to understand,” Jane said, hands on hips, and legs apart in a defensive stance. “We are small pieces on a large game board. You’re young; I can’t expect you to understand all the nuances of everything. I would hope that in time you and other young people here serving the government, your government, would understand.”

  “Game board? This is not a game, and it sounds like you’re trying to convince yourself more than me. And ‘my government’ wouldn’t pull shit like this,” Jennifer said, as tears ran down her face. “It’s enough that someone could have been killed because of information I supplied to this office. Information I supplied, thinking it was for information gathering and true intelligence and analysis. It’s worse knowing it was Nathan. It would have been bad for me if it were a soldier, or an officer, or someone like that. But my God—it was Nathan.”

  Jane just looked at the young girl in front of her. A small part of her flinched because she remembered being a young girl like that.

  “I’m not foolish enough to sit here and tell you to tow the ‘company’ line; I was young and impressionable like you once,” Jane said, mustering all the confidence in her voice that she could. “I would remind you, you’re under non-disclosure for what is done within this agency, under penalty of—”