Author: TJ Edwards

The Middle Class Assassin: Tough Times

(Today I am starting episodic content based off my “Mediocre Assassin” short story. If you’re unfamiliar with it, feel free to read it here.)

Tick. Tock. Tick. Tock. As I watched the absolute seconds pass on a clock on the wall, eventually it signalled the end of my shift. Let me fill you in. My name is Brad Flint, and up until a year ago I was the CEO of a major corporation. As many companies felt the recession, I was one of the casualties. As someone in the board felt that I was being paid too much, they cut me to pave the way for a new, cheaper CEO. Months passed and I found it hard to find a job anywhere. At thirty four years of age, it was actually damn near impossible. Sadly, we had to sell the acreage we lived on for a more modest dwelling. Still unemployed and looking for work, I found myself getting to know recruiters and they were getting to know me. But the day everything began to change, was the day my wife lost her job.

Two kids. A house we owned, but electricity and gas that we never could. As both of us tried our best to acquire new jobs, we had a tough time convincing the kids that everything was okay. We would spend all of our efforts with them trying to be positive, trying to find jobs. Once night fell and the kids were in bed, my wife would burst into tears in my arms. I always told her everything would work out. Our luck had to change sooner or later. I mean, do people really have bad luck for their entire lives?

So eventually I found a job as the clerk for the local post office. Local post office, just not my local. A half hour drive away, the small town for some strange reason had the busiest place I’d ever seen. This was where I met Dwayne Longstead. This guy when I first started was a regular guy: Average frame, no tattoos, basic smile. As time went on he and I became really good friends, one might even say the best of friends. I’d been working there for almost four months, but sadly my wife still hadn’t found a job. This brings us up to speed on where I am now. Tick. Tock. Oh yeah, I’m already done.

Dwayne stood outside waiting for me. The guy was probably mid thirties like me, however if you saw him and I side by side, he looks like a supermodel. In the past few months Dwayne became obsessed with super heroes and action movies. He started working out more than he brushed his teeth. Oh yeah, and he got some dental work done. Remember how I described him? Regular guy? Now the damn guy was some kind of Adonis, his muscles had muscles, his tan had a tan, and I can only assume he got that tan from his incredible smile. It was hard for me to hate the guy, he worked harder than anyone and travelled a lot. He worked so hard nowadays that I had forgotten he came around the first and third Thursday of every month to take me to lunch. Must be Thursday today… Good to know.

Dwayne immediately grinned when he saw me. “Jesus Brad, you’re looking great.” I looked at myself. I had managed to buy meat again since I started working there and had put some weight back on. I was also not as pale as I used to be. “Thanks Rockstar, nice tattoos by the way.” Dwayne laughed to himself. “Oh these things? Has it been that long since you saw me last? Look it doesn’t matter! What’s new with you, how’s the wife and the kids?” He somehow always had this way of getting you excited about anything, he was like a giant muscular, tattooed puppy. I smiled at the thought of him with big floppy ears and replied. “They’re okay…” Dwayne may have seemed naive to me at first, but after getting to know him more and more the guy was as sharp as a samurai sword. “Is everything going well with the house?” He nailed it. Right on the head. Never failed to impress the ever loving crap out of me. “Yeah, not so good on that front Dwayne.” I felt as though I had kicked that excited, muscular puppy with the look Dwayne was giving me. “Damn man, well lunch is on me today.”

We walked into Ellen’s Diner and there was Ellen, smoking a cigarette behind the bar and gabbing away on the telephone. We seated ourselves as always and before I knew it everything was pouring out of me. “I told them I’d have the money, but they wouldn’t listen. So I may have borrowed some money… illegally.” Dwayne stared at me with one eyebrow raised. “Illegally? Did you rob a bank?” I laughed the notion off. “Uh, no. But I did get it from a loan shark.” I was then on the receiving end of the most disapproving look ever since my Dad caught me looking through his porn collection. “I could have loaned you the money Brad!” Dwayne was virtually yelling at the top of his lungs, but I decided not to give in. Calm and quiet, I replied to him. “I owe you enough, but thank you. I know you’ve been there for me in the past few months unlike anyone before you, but I didn’t want to burden you. I mean, you just moved uptown.” Dwayne sighed heavily and ran his hands over his head. “Did you ever think I moved uptown because I’m doing a lot better?” I shrugged. “Of course, why would anyone move uptown?” Dwayne shook his head just as our meals arrived. Ellen stood beside the table smiling. “I just assumed the usual, but if you change your mind let me know.” She sensed the tension and walked away, but not before making a comment under her breath. “Geez, a thanks would have been nice… or even a nod… I hate customers.”

As we ate in silence, the food worked wonders to ease the tension. Something about a nice, juicy steak with gravy and mashed potatoes just eases all of my woes out the door. As we both sat back, arms resting on the back of the booth, we caught each other just grinning. Dwayne leaned forward first, shaking his head. “Brad, I have a proposition for you. I make roughly half a million dollars a year, and I work part time. How would you like to do the same thing?” I was shocked, half a million? No wonder he moved uptown. “Uh, yeah. But do I have to be as ripped as you are?” Dwayne laughed and shrugged. “You don’t have to be, but it helps in my line of work. If you’re interested, you’ll need next Thursday off to attend a small gathering at a friend’s place.” I grinned wildly. I hadn’t socialized since I had my first kid ten years ago. “Hell yeah, that sounds awesome.” Dwayne grinned from ear to ear at my response. “Glad to hear it, wear your finest suit. Oh and bring your ‘A’ game.” As he got up he handed Ellen enough money for both our meals and she got caught grinning as well. “Thanks D-Dog!” As Dwayne walked out of the Diner, he just kept shaking his head at her comment. I laughed and she glared at me. “What? That’s what I call him.” I pondered what this party was going to be for, but it almost didn’t matter. Socializing and half a million dollars… what would I do with that? I spent the next little while daydreaming until I decided to head home for the day.

Heroisms: Destiny

(This is Episode Six, Just joining in? Find Episode One @ Heroisms: Immortality or the Previous Episode @ Heroisms: Choice)

Alex was sitting in his cell when finally a man in a crisp black suit entered the room. “Alexander Deacon McCarthy.” His voice was rich with hatred. “We have some questions as to what exactly your merry little band of misfits has been up to.” Alex stood up and marched over to the iron bars before him. “Look, we have been saving people. Nothing more, nothing less.” The man in the suit scratched his chin and looked down to a folder in his hands. He looked back to Alex without a word, just a grin. Alex grabbed the metal bars and leaned his head against them. “Look Mister… umm… what’s your name?” Clearing his throat, the man in the suit simply replied, “Wilks, Mister Wilks.” Alex felt the iron bars, they seemed more solid than ever before. Normally he could easily bend them, but these cuffs must be absorbing his power. “Mister Wilks, I can assure you. We would never make a move against the government. They have given us stability and credibility among the communities we work in.” Mister Wilks sighed rather heavily. “I wish I could believe that Mister McCarthy. But what I have in my hands is in your own words.”

Mister Wilks pulls a single sheet from the folder in his hands. Clearing his throat once again, he reads off a trio of earth shatteringly familiar lines. ” I think he needed to be taught a lesson, but not like this. I think this is a definite warning from our own government. Do as you’re told, or else.” Mister Wilks looks up to Alex who is as white as freshly fallen snow. “I’m sorry, aren’t those your words Mister McCarthy?” Alex flashed back to the night of Blaze’s funeral and how he tried to keep watch that no one was around. “How did you…” Mister Wilks holds his hand up, interrupting Alex. “Answer the question Mister McCarthy. Are those your words or not? A simple yes or no will suffice.” As Alex clutches the iron bars, he feels rage building in him. A rage so intense, it could consume him. His silence doesn’t go unnoticed. Mister Wilks shakes his head and lifts a radio from his blazer. “Do it.” A sudden scream from the next room sends Alex into a panic. “Alison! Alison!” Nothing but confusion consuming him now, Alex’s gaze jumps from the wall back to Wilks. Mister Wilks stands grinning ever so slightly. “Well?” Alex sighs and shakes his head. “Fine, it was me. Those are my words. Jason and I were conspirators against the government.”

Mister Wilks places the page in the folder and nods. “Thank you for that Mister McCarthy. You’ll be shipped to New Alcatraz in the morning.” As he sauntered smugly from the room, Alex watched him leave. Damn it, I have to get out of here. Hopefully they only got Alison. As Alex pondered his next move, he found himself trying to stay calm. Do I wait this out? It seems as if they’re going to put all of us away. He then turned to the wall from where the scream originated. As he pressed an ear to it, he could hear some muffled sobs just on the other side. “Alison, are you okay?” He stroked the wall for a lack of anything else he could do. A reply came a few sniffles later. “I’m alright. But they separated Brooke and I. I hope she’s okay… she’s just a kid!” Alex turned and sat against the wall. “She’ll be fine Alison, she’s tough.”

Suddenly a group of men rushed past the front door. Alex turned his attention to the panic outside of his cell. “I wonder what’s going on out there?” Alison didn’t reply, she was busy muffling her sobs. As Alex pondered the  events beyond his cage, suddenly Dex walked up to his cell. Alex rushed to the front and grabbed the door as if to rip it off its hinges. “You son of a-” Before he could utter the words, Dex shoved his hand through the bars and covered his mouth. Leaning in really close, Dex whispered to him. “The keys in your pocket are your ticket to freedom. I know Jason acted alone, he always has. Anyone else is just along for the ride.” He turned and checked both ways before removing his hand. “Kid, I know you and him were close, but now it’s your time to shine. You can’t save people from New Alcatraz.” He walked away as quickly as he appeared and Alex stuffed his hand awkwardly into his pocket. Sure enough, there was a key. You still owe me one for killing Jason, I’ll find you. As Alex tried the key in the door, he found that it didn’t fit. Son of a bitch gave me the wrong key. Then as he stared at it, he noticed it had his initials and date of birth on it, along with a barcode. Alex examined the key and then tried it in his cuffs. As they slid off, he felt a wave of static electricity slide off of him. As the wave fell away, his strength returned. Time to get out of here.

As Alex reached for the bars, Dex suddenly reappeared. “Quick get those back on and give me that damn key!” Alex quickly did as he was told and tossed Dex the key. Alex watched in confusion as Dex ran off, leaving him to rot in the cell. That’s it. He is so dead. When I find him- His thoughts are interrupted by a very angry Mister Wilks. “You’re free to go. The guards outside will remove your cuffs.” As he opened the cell door, Alex walked out in a daze. “Why am I free and are the others as well?” Mister Wilks stared at him with no answer. Finally the answer came from Alison tugging at his arm. “Let’s go Alex. They told me Brooke is outside waiting.” As the two of them met up with Brooke outside, they found themselves rejoicing before getting into a cab awaiting them. Mister Wilks watched as they drove away. Dex walked up beside him and shook his head. “What if they find out?” Mister Wilks watched with a stone cold glare as the lights disappeared down the road. “They won’t. Virgil is the best at what he does.”

The Ranting And Raving Of A Creative Mad Man

The sun goes down, plunging the world into darkness and suddenly a light goes on in my cramped home office. For awhile the glow of the laptop screen is more than enough light to work by, until I hear the voice of my Mother in my head. “Timothy, turn the lights on or you’ll hurt your eyes.” Obeying her mental reminder, I turn on the lights and return to my wooden throne in front of my idea box on my bargain basement desk. My girlfriend stirs in bed, asleep, muttering something about turning the oven off and I disregard it as sleep talking.

Is it that time already?

I feel my most alert in these wee hours of the morning, or late hours of the day depending on your perspective. These are the hours I normally write at my best and are normally my most focused. Why is that? How did I become such a night hawk? I listen as the kookaburras laugh maniacally outside and I think about this very article. What inspires me? What drives me? What binds me so deeply to writing, it is as if I cannot imagine being without it for even a day? As I ponder these silly thoughts I wonder if other creatives consider where their muse is on a regular basis. For me my muse works overtime: evenings, weekends, holidays, and sometimes puts in a solid sixteen or more working hours in a day. It all depends on if I sleep and for how long.

But as my mind keeps coming up with ideas, sometimes it can be hard to write everything down. I bought a voice recorder with voice to text software, but I never used it sadly. But my ideas aren’t just stories and games. Those are just all I love to share with everyone. They are my passions! But creatively, I have done many things. Music, Puzzles, Movies, Building Designs, Company Ideas, Business Plans, and oh so much more. It is like I cannot go one day without thinking up some crazy idea. People probably think I’m nuts as I find myself muttering while I think.

Oh games, you've always been there for me...

I don’t know why I chose games as my first passion for my creativity. I love writing, but perhaps it is the way you can interact with your viewer that I find so fascinating. I especially love when a game breaks through and messes with you as a player. But I’ve spoken about those games many times. Today I want to talk about the process I have for coming up with my ideas. Not because I think it will help those of you out there reading to be more creative, but it will maybe give you a bit of the madness behind my thought processes.

Underdog. No, not the cape wearing dog from the movie nor its cartoon counter part from many years before it. I’m talking about the concept of taking an underdog of an idea and bringing it to light. It was one reason I got hooked on the Blackest Night storyline that Geoff Johns was masterminding. I loved the idea of recreating these extremely boring characters that I never cared about, into these sudden foes of unimaginable strength and effect. I hadn’t realized it until the other day, but that was where I got hooked. The line spoken by an evil undead Aquaman still makes me shiver when I think about the first time I read it. “I am still your king.” He said this as he dismantled the Atlantean Army.

I am still your King
"I am still your king." Bad. Ass.

Also, I like filling voids. As I researched the Australian video games industry I got more and more frustrated. Maybe I should perhaps start up a game publishing company over here and that would save companies a ton of money on shipping and save the consumer lots of money at the store right? Well, if that was the case, why hasn’t anyone done it yet? You see, even with a billion great ideas someone has to give them the green light before they go ahead. My process has two people, and the first is my harshest critic. Me. As I come up with ideas I am frequently playing devil’s advocate with myself to shoot them down. If something can make it past me, then it might just be a good idea. I’m overly critical and have probably already shot down some ideas that were original and distinct.

The spark for my creativity can come from anything: a picture, a song, reading the news, working and anything and everything in between. I remember watching the trailer for Spiderman 2 and completely tuned out as the music played. My mind went to a large battle with magician warlords casting huge spells at the other’s army and then suddenly the trailer was over and I thought to myself, I need to get that song. I also love trying to expand on current endeavours such as video game franchises, or even film franchises. I like seeing these things break their own clichés. For example I heard there is another Bond movie coming out. I would personally like to see someone shoot Bond in the head and out of a moving train. They think he’s dead, but the metal plate in his head saved him, but gave him one hell of a headache. I want the bad guy just to not take the chance. It’s as if all Bond villains know how much of a threat he is, but decide to gloat instead of just shooting the man on a tarp and leaving him in a concrete bunker to die a slow, agonizing death.

Also, like everyone else I think, I daydream. You’re at work, and you are busy but not busy enough to occupy your mind. As you sit at your desk, you watch as an earthquake begins. Your coffee vibrates off your desk and crashes to the floor, the wall of your building crumbles and fades away in a cloud of dust as the lights flicker above you. Suddenly you realize this is no earthquake, but Godzilla  is roaming the streets and he is terrorizing people in your city! He finally got sick of destroying Japan! It was only a matter of time! So you grab your conveniently placed Godzilla-Slaying sword and run to the edge of the floor where the wall collapsed away. You’ll be the hero, this time you will stop Godzilla once and for all. You will triumph where Japan could not. You are- Back at your desk. Filing paperwork. Sad but true.

I think up these kinds of things all the time. People would think I was actually insane if they stepped into my head for even an hour. My mind jumps around inspired by what I’ve seen and what I want to see. I have seen Star Wars, what I want to see is a Blind Jedi Master using the force to wield four lightsabers at once against two different enemies; Two hover with the force, and two in his hands… in Case you were wondering. I’ve read comics, but I want to see more of how these people would react under real circumstances as in Batman is faced with the foreclosure of Wayne Enterprises. What would a poor Batman do? I have played games fighting demons, but how would the world deal with an actual end of days scenario as demons spilled forth from cracks in the earth? What if everything I thought was actually my own view into an alternate universe? I feel like sometimes I might be crazy and other times, I feel like I’m not crazy enough. I guess at the end of the day, we’re all crazy in our own way.

Heroisms: Choice

(This is Episode Five, Just joining in? Find Episode One @ Heroisms: Immortality or the Previous Episode @ Heroisms: Achilles Heel)

Alex clutched the two girls for what seemed like hours. As they wept, they could heard calls coming in over the radio but no one would go to respond. As they watched the television for some hope, the chopper landed and people began scouring the water for his body. They prayed no one would find one, but then the live coverage cut back to regularly scheduled broadcasting. Alex grabbed Brooke and Alison and lead them to Alison’s room. “Girls, do me a favour and stay here. I’m going to try and get some more information. Just try and relax.” The girls both burst into hysterics and hugged each other as Alex closed the door. His mind raced faster than it ever had before. What the hell was Jason thinking? Why did he kill a man? Why is he dead now? What about us? As he thought about these things, before long he was outside and finally noticed he was being yelled at through a megaphone. “Put your hands in the air and you won’t be harmed!” Alex looked around amid his confusion and raised his hands. As two men with special looking handcuffs rushed up to him, more rushed past him and into the base.

Dex stood near the edge of the water, staring downwind. A man in a suit walked up beside him, looking sharp as ever. “Is he…?” The man asked quietly, and Dex without glancing to him responded. “I’m a sure shot Vance. He’s dead.” As the man in the suit acknowledged the confirmation he turned his back to Dex and grunted. “That’s Sir to you Dex, and don’t forget who is in charge here.” As the man loaded himself back into a nearby chopper, Dex’s eyes never left the water. I’m sorry Jason, you were one of my only friends from that time… but sometimes secrets are worth ending. He turned his gaze to a jet black boat with men leaping into the water in diving suits. Good bye old friend. With that Dex returned to his chopper, and stared at the boat in the water as he thought back to the crime he and Jason had committed together. The crime for which he was still paying off the debt.

Jason and Dex had been in the desert for months when they finally stumbled across their enemy. “Well Jason, this is it.” Dex grinned as if to show he wasn’t nervous. Jason turned to him and nearly burst out laughing. “Look, Dex, if you’re trying to make me feel better just don’t. I’m going to run in, you’re going to cover me and everything will work out.” Dex sighed. “No pressure, what if I hit you?” Jason laughed almost loud enough that anyone could overhear. “Don’t worry about it. But if you shoot me, I will have to hurt you. Got it?” Dex swallowed hard. It was his first mission abroad, and he was stuck with this lunatic. “Whatever you say boss.” He watched through the scope as his boss burst into action. Dex was amazed at his precision and how quickly and efficiently he worked. “Jesus, this guy is some kind of new age ninja James Bond…” Suddenly a man with a huge automatic rifle caught Dex’s eye and with a quick trigger pull, fell to the ground. “Well, one for me, twelve for Jason.” He caught a few other guys and eventually the count ended at four to thirty seven. Dex rushed across the desert to meet up with the sole warrior against the town.

“So, you umm… do this often?” Dex stuttered as Jason tied up the last of his victims. Jason grinned, but concentrated on his knot. “You could say that. In fact, it’s just good to have company here.” A woman burst out of a nearby house and charged the two of them with a knife in hand. Dex raised the rifle, but Jason pointed it down and prepared for the woman. As she got near, Jason disarmed her and tossed the weapon to the ground at his feet. Dex stood staring, impressed by Jason’s skill. The woman was screaming something in a language Dex didn’t recognize. “What is she saying Jason?” Jason swallowed hard. “It seems this town was occupied by peace keeping troops from around here. These are all civilians fighting for their right to survive.” Dex’s stomach jumped into his throat. Jason had disarmed, knocked out or otherwise disabled the thirty seven he had fought. Dex had killed the four he shot. “Jesus, can you apologize for me?” Jason began his apology when suddenly the man he had just finished tying up was at his throat with a knife. Jason somehow kept calm and waved Dex off. Dex however, pointed the gun at the man with the knife and began shouting, “Drop it! Drop it now!”

The moment grew tense and finally the man with the knife couldn’t take it any more and slashed wildly at Jason’s throat. Dex pulled the trigger and the man soared backwards, landing on his back with a bullet to the head. Jason stared at Dex and immediately grabbed the gun from him. “We don’t kill, we aren’t supposed to kill! Not these people, not the peace keepers!” Dex stared at him, only confusion written all over his face. “How are you still alive?” Jason shook his head. “I’m invincible you idiot. I can’t be cut, stabbed or bludgeoned.” Dex fell to his rump as Jason walked around freeing people and explaining the situation to them. A few moments later Jason was approached by the woman who had originally come at him with the knife. She began jabbering to him about something and suddenly the color in his face faded away. Dex stared at him from the ground. “Are you okay?” Jason turned to him with rage in his eyes, but an uncomfortable look on his face. “No. Our military is nearby, and they’ve been robbing, raping and sacking any city they get near. We’re going to stop them.”

Dex snapped back from his thoughts to the concerned look of the man across from him. As he turned to look back to the water where Jason fell, he sighed. My family can never know that we killed twenty three of our own soldiers. My wife can never know that her brother was a rapist and a robber. No one can ever know that it was your idea, and that when you wanted to turn them in, my rage took their lives. Thank you for taking that secret to your grave. Dex sighed as if the world had been taken off his shoulders and he grinned at the man across from him. “You still haven’t missed, have you Dex?” The man across from him asked with a hint of hidden praise. Dex couldn’t help but grin. “Nope. I will never miss.” As the man looked away, Dex looked to his feet as the smile slowly drifted from his face. But sometimes, I wish that was a choice I could make.

Unbiased Law: Episode 25 (Feature Length Film Finale!)

Episode Twenty Four Recap: Glenie announces he wasn’t always a robot to our detective and Magnus is faced with some difficult choices. How to stop a crazed man-robot trying to destroy the world? While ignoring Glenie’s offer of immortality and world domination, Magnus pulls the trigger on him, and then jacks in. As he follows Glenie into his own mind he is soon faced with a weak man, a prisoner in his own mind. As Magnus engages Glenie, he soon finds out the real reason behind his misbehaving. Mister Radlem has imparted his mind upon Glenie’s. Will this be the thrilling conclusion you had hoped for, only one way to find out (or head back to Episode One or Episode Twenty Four)!

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“Radlem? What the hell are you doing here?” I managed to get out. Radlem laughs maniacally. “Heh, you know something Detective? I like you. You’ve got some brass coming down here. But now you see the huge issue. There’s two people in here, not as easy as just jacking in and figuring out the solution to your problems. That’s why I kept him around, to keep this mental safe zone for both of us. Oh and because he’s extremely stubborn.” The two share a glance and Glenie smiles. “I’ve been alive this long, why bother dying?” I shake my head and shift my gaze between the two. “Well this is quite the problem considering none of us in here are robots. So now what?” Radlem grins a champion’s grin. “Well we sit here because you can’t gain control, and let the factory get overrun. It’s a shame really, no more humans might make the world a little less boring. But once you become a robot, you begin to lose your appetite for flesh. Don’t you Detective?” I stare at him, trying to figure out what he’s getting at.
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“Well I suppose it’s about time this ship has one less Captain. ” Glenie looks to me and nods. “I’m going to allow you to absorb my knowledge into your own memories here. Sadly, I don’t know where he has the codes or controls for the discards he copied himself into… but if I’m tired of fighting.” With that Glenie dissolves and I black out for only a second while my own information updates. I turn to Radlem who appears intrigued and frightened. “Hmph, no matter if you two share memories, he knew nothing anyway. But be careful, you are inside the front doors of my mind.” He turns and walks out the door, slowly closing it behind him. Just before he closes it he calls back to me, as I rush toward it. “I’ve got a surprise for you.” The doors close just as I burst through them and into a room that looks dramatically different from the room Radlem walked into.
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As the doors open, I notice the room has changed to a dark bedroom. It’s large and there is a huge bed with what seem like curtains around it. I walk over and throw them open, and on the bed lies Veronica, scantily clad in some lingerie. She leans up to me and I can feel her hand on my skin. I can feel. Tremors of pleasure slide down my entire body, causing goosebumps all over. I try and ignore the feeling, try and ignore her, but she is so beautiful and it’s been so long… too long. This is probably all fake, everything… but it feels real. As I sit beside her on the bed, I slide my hand up the back of her neck to her hair. She is so soft, her hair so smooth, smells incredible. It’s the equivalent of a drug. I pull her in for one passionate kiss. I feel her pressing against me, I feel her warmth, I feel… I feel… My mind feels invaded. Glenie flashes in my mind as if to say “What are you doing?” I lean back from Veronica and she stares at me. “What’s wrong? I came here just for you… My Dad wanted…” Her words fade as I stop listening and start focusing. This feels real, but I need that one thing that makes it not. I slide my hand down her stomach and find no wound, no nanite repairs. It’s entirely consistent. I leap off the bed and shake my head. “I’m sorry, but you’re not who I thought you were.”
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I stagger out of the room confused and dazed. I close the door behind me and picture the room that Radlem escaped in to. I think hard, and when I open the doors, the bed is still there. I close them again and focus harder. The walls, picture the walls, the floor, the colors. It’s the hardest thing I have ever done, trying to forget the touch and smell of a beautiful woman. When I open the doors, I see Radlem walking up a staircase. and as he reaches the top, the stairs disappear. He turns back to me and smiles. What a huge jerk, so cocky and arrogant. I’m going to punch him once I catch him. I walk forward and attempt to figure out how else I can get up. Nowhere to climb, nothing. I stand back by the door and stare forward. Suddenly a thought pops into my head, probably from Glenie. Try and imagine the stairs are still there. But believe it. I step forward where the first step was and there’s nothing. I step back and look down. Believe it. I take a deep breath and begin stepping where I remembered the stairs, and make my way to the top. I look back down and the stairs aren’t there at all. Man… it’s probably for the best I’m only a copy, I’d probably need some heavy therapy after this.
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As I make my way down the hall I see Radlem notice me and move left. I chase after him but when I look left, he’s not there. It’s just a wall. I look around, and suddenly I’m clubbed from behind. I spin from the wall and catch Radlem swinging at me. As we tussle, I force him back and get in an extremely satisfying swing. He drops to the floor and sprawls, completely unconscious. I notice as he lays face down, there is a weird thing on the back of his head. It seems to be a jack in port. Damnit. Dare I go further into the rabbit hole? Ah screw it, I only live once… and only for a little bit. Make the most of it! I kneel down and jack in, and find a matching one on the back of my own head. Strange enough, but who the hell knows at this point. I copy myself with no overwrite and after it completes I step back. I stare at the unconscious body before me… now what?
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I wake up in a dark room with only a safe in the middle of it. I’m a copy of a copy… do I matter at all? I know what I have to do, but do I really care? Sighing heavily, I pick myself off the floor and stare at the safe. On the other side of it, lies the unconscious body of Radlem and Veronica. Could they both be in here together? I help Veronica up and she smiles, despite a bruised cheek and a bloody lip. “You’ve got a mean right hook.” She whispers to me. “Help me over to the safe, I know the code.” As we stand there, I stare at Radlem as Veronica opens the safe. She cracks the door on it and looks up at me. “I’m so sorry for everything. None of this should have happened.” She hands me a small white envelope. I stare at it and look back to Radlem. Something catches my eye. Another jack. What else could he possibly be hiding? I open the envelope and read the code: “Victoria Radlem” I turn to Veronica and her mouth is open. “That’s my mother’s name. Why would he use that as his password, especially after the things he did to her?” I shrugged. Sadly there was only one way to find out. I find the jack on the back of my head and jack in again. What is real? What is fake? How far up do I have to go?
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When I open my eyes, I’m sitting in a chair across from Radlem. We’re sitting with a desk between us and it seems we’re in an office. I look around and everything is frozen, as if I’ve just appeared in a snapshot, or picture. I stand up and look around. Everything seems familiar. Everything seems too familiar everything… I turn around and Radlem has a letter opener and he’s swinging it at my throat. I manage to dodge but the fight gets dirty fast. I kick him in the groin and I can tell it hurts, but when he grazes my arm, my mind almost explodes from the shock of feeling pain. The mind makes it feel so real, so agonizingly real… Radlem and I fight back and forth, punching, kicking, eye gouging, wrestling and hitting each other with whatever we can grab. Suddenly he pushes me onto the desk, and pins me, and he laughs in my face. “It looks like I get to keep control of my body and you will have learned nothing.” The word stings and I fight to break free. Suddenly he shoots back in pain and when I sit up, I see him spinning trying to get the letter opener out of his back. Standing there is a woman who looks like Veronica, but older. She is absolutely stunning, and I can’t help but stare. She meets my gaze. “Take my daughter’s mind with you, and go to the Commissioner’s office with my name. Everything you need will be in the safe there and you already know the code for that.” I suddenly black out.
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I wake up face down in a dark room with a safe. Veronica stands over me and… so do I. “Well that’s trippy. As I sit up, Magnus and I share a look for I too… am Magnus. “You or I have to take her with us.” We both look at Veronica and I suddenly have an idea. “Alright, Veronica, the information you need is entirely written down on this paper, read it and then take it with you to the next level. You and I are going to switch.” Veronica seems confused but goes along with it. “Okay, but this is really confusing.” Both Magnus and I look at each other. “Try being us right now.” After some switching around I find that I’m still in Radlem’s body. “What the hell?” Veronica stares at me and points a gun to my face. “Sorry, Magnus here, looks like you’ve still got to die in his body for the body of Magnus to go up again.” He pulls the trigger and I am blinded like a camera flash.
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I stand in the hallway staring at Radlem’s body stirring in the hallway. I have no idea what’s gone on in there, so I prepare for the worst. As he gets up I prod him with the gun. He looks at me but in a completely different light. “Magnus?” I stare at him confused. “Yeah?” Radlem smiles and it creeps the ever loving hell out of me. “It’s me, Veronica!” After a short time of her explaining what happened I decide we have to switch. After the switch is done, I stand up and look at her in my body. “You had better take care of that thing.” She smiles at me from my own body… and that unnerves me even more. She manages to laugh it off, no matter how awkward things are. “So, it’s strange being in your body. I wondered what you were really like as a human.” She looks down to the pants and lifts them out to inspect the goods. “Not bad Detective.” I stand up and stare at her. “Yeah, well that’s the past. Now I’m all chrome baby.” I shoot her a final smile from Radlem’s body and toss myself from the window.
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I watch into the distance as the factory ignites in flames. We’re not going to make it. Well at least I know we did our best, I sent the best man I could in. Suddenly Glenie stirs and I ready the gun. Confusion erupts from the helpless robot on the ground. “Magnus? What’s going on? Where are we?” I don’t even know what to do or say. “Who are you, I’ll ask the questions, where’s umm… Magnus?” Glenie struggles on the ground. “Why can’t I move? It’s Veronica! Please help!” I stand the robot up, completely confused as to what the hell just happened. “So… if you’re here, where is my copy?” Veronica’s voice came across loud and clear. “No time, we have to go to the Commissioner’s Office and stat!”
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Veronica fills me in on the way there and I can hear Cletus in the driver’s seat so excited. Hell this was probably the most exciting thing that has ever happened to him. Well, I couldn’t argue that, this week was pretty ridiculous for me too. We pull up and I slam on the emergency brake and jump out before the car even stops. One of the guard robots tries to stop me and I blow past him as if he was standing still, well, he might have been. I rush down the hall and tear into the Commissioner’s Office, slamming the door behind me, and tossing a filing cabinet in front of it and then I examine the room. Hmm, where’s the safe, where’s the safe. Stupid girl never told me where the safe was! I look around frantically trying to find it and then I spot it. Behind the desk, but below a filing cabinet. As I stare at the numeric keypad, it’s asking for four digits. I think to myself and try Glenie’s numbers, G13-N13, 1313. The code buzzes and doesn’t give me access. I hear people and robots banging on the door and I try and think. What number could I possibly know?
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I think about all the four digits I’ve come across that would have been relevant to Radlem. Then I think about what Veronica told me. I say her mother’s name aloud, just to see what happens. A small painting shifts slightly, and I stand moving it aside. It reveals a picture of Veronica and on the back it says V3R0-N1C4. I rush to the safe and enter 3014. It clicks and inside is a small server, hard wired to a cellphone and a car battery. I simply pull the phone off the connection and watch as the programming running on it reports an error. As police flood the room, I explain the whole situation to them. They don’t buy it and I’m arrested for a list of things so long I don’t bother to listen. It’s not until the Mayor walks in hours later with a few bruises and a broken arm that I begin to listen again. “It’s okay, the army at the factory has stopped. You may be telling the truth.” The Judge in the cell beside me rushes forward. “Does that mean we’re finally free?” The Mayor nods slowly. “Yes, but you will be retired. Even though you may not have been responsible for this, putting you back into your position would harm the image of our courts. It seems people will be headed back to leadership and decision making roles for the next few years until this investigation is completely over.” The door to my cell opens and I walk out and shake the Mayor’s hand. “Thank you sir.” He smiles at me with a large grin. “No Magnus, thank you.”
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I head out to my car and notice the duo still sitting there, mostly because they are unable to move. “So what took you so long?’ Cletus says as Veronica grumbles something under her breath. I laugh and shake my head. “You know what, I think I’m going to take some time off to fix you two up. After all, Veronica, we’re going to have to find out where your body is and get you back into it. That’ll probably be a case in itself.” She sighs from Glenie’s body. “Well, whatever just get me out of here. I’d like to be able to walk and move again soon.” As I stared at the two friends I had made, I considered the fact that despite my solving of this case, many issues still remained. It would only be a matter of time before robots and humans were headed to war again. But for now, a little peace and quiet sure as hell wouldn’t hurt.
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This doesn’t have to be the end of Magnus’ story! If you really liked this story arc and the crazy case it followed, please feel free to comment on here, email me, message me on facebook, send me a carrier pigeon, I don’t care! I would love feedback! So please please please comment on this entire twenty five episode story and let me know your thoughts! Thanks for reading!

Heroisms: Achilles Heel

(This is Episode Four, Just joining in? Find Episode One @ Heroisms: Immortality or the Previous Episode @ Heroisms: Sacrifice)

Jason slammed his hand down on the wheel as he drove. “I’m sorry guys, I’m so sorry.” As he pulled up outside of the Government Offices, he thought about what he would do. “Is there anything I can do? Is this right?” His words fell into the silence. Stepping from the car, Jason pulled a ski mask down over his face to conceal his trademark hair. No time like the present to get started. As he began to march toward the doors a security guard appeared before him. “Um sir, I don’t think it’d be wise for you to try and get in with that mask on.” Jason stared him down. “Just try and stop me.” The guard held up his gun and aimed it at Jason. “I’m warning you sir, back away and return to your car. No good can come of this.” Jason grinned to himself, the adrenaline was pumping so hard he forgot he had a heart beat. He stepped closer and slowly. “I’m sorry but I need to get in there.” He said so matter of factly it caught the guard actually off guard. As Jason took another step, the Guard aimed for a leg and pulled the trigger. Sadly, his bullets couldn’t penetrate Jason’s skin. Unfortunately for Jason, his body deflected the bullet right back at the guard, catching him on the side of his neck.

Jason’s eyes widened with immediate regret. “Jesus Christ!” He jumped into action using his ski mask and hands as a blockage for the wound while shouting for help. Son of a bitch, what am I doing? I need to find a way for no one to get harmed. As he sat there holding this man’s life force in, he watched as the man slowly faded away. As the Guard’s eyes widened, his body grew eerily still, and Jason felt his final breath. As he stood staring at the body in front of him, he realized he had made a huge mistake. All it would take was this and the rules for super heroes just got more strict. Suddenly a black sedan pulled up behind his car and Jason froze. Shit, shit, shit… what do I do? What the hell do I do? He looked around and did the only logical thing he could think of at the time. He ran.

Alex had some minor cuts and bruises but other than that he was fine. Alison had fixed him up with some ice for his ribs, he thought he might have broken one. As he sat on the couch, he stared at the television like a lazy zombie. Alison popped back in to check on him. “How are the ribs?” Alex lifted the ice to show some wonderful shades of purple, green, brown and blue. “Yeah, this looks like it’s getting better.” Alison sighed heavily. “What the hell were you thinking, what the hell was he thinking?” Suddenly a girl bursts in and interrupts them both. “Sorry guys, but turn it on channel eleven now!” Alex grabbed the remote and held it defensively. “No way Brooke, my shows are on.” Suddenly the remote wasn’t in his hand, it was in hers. He shook his fist at her and then grimaced in agony. Brooke turned the television to channel eleven and there was a grainy video of a masked man getting shot, and then trying to help a security guard. As the video looped with the reporter talking over it, the three of them simply stared at the screen. The salt and pepper hair, the build, and the car… had Jason really just run off to kill a guard?

Jason could hear the police dogs barking not far behind him. This wasn’t good, in fact this whole plan was stupid. Who could erase all the superhero files anyway? They’re probably backed up a million times over. As he leapt over a fence, he realized the dogs were closer than he had hoped. Suddenly he felt one gnawing on his arm, and it didn’t seem to want to let go. “Damnit, you stupid mutt, I don’t want to hurt you, let go. Let go! Let go!” With his last syllable, he tossed the dog aside as if it were never a threat. Suddenly he had two more dogs approaching him. Fearless. Hungry. Angry. As Jason stared them down, he heard their owners call for them. They must have found the other dog. He thought staring into the eyes of his pursuers. As the dogs circled away and back, Jason got a call on his own personal radio. “Jason, Jason! Are you there?!” Jason looked around and whispered back. “Yeah I’m here, Alex is that you?” The voice crackled back across the radio. “Of course, but no time to explain. There is a helicopter loaded with two things. Dex and a really big gun, I’m sure he’s going to take you out. You’ll be the next example!”

Jason stared at the small device that just pumped his inevitable doom to his ears. Damnit, bad day to not wear clean underwear. He stood beneath the trees and tried to ponder his next move, but all he could think about was Dex and what else was probably on that helicopter. Jason thought back to his first ever annual check up.

The doctor leafed through the forms he had signed. “So it says here you can be penetrated only by diamond? How did you determine this?” James smiled, despite what he was about to say. “My Mother backhanded me with her engagement ring. It bled a ridiculous amount, but nothing else ever since has penetrated the skin.” The doctor nodded. “No need for a test then.” Every year after that they just assumed the doctor before them had run the tests.

But the question now, was would the military know it was Jason? As he ran across the fields beside the headquarters, he could feel the laser sight trained on him. He knew it would take a lot for Dex to shoot, but Dex was as unbiased as they could come. He did what he needed to do to provide for the four kids he had, all of which would be entering their teens soon. Jason thought to himself. Dex, just let me get to the water. As he made his way toward the river, he heard the shot and felt it all at the same time. The bullet was a tranquillizer dart and it shattered on impact. Jason kept running and trying not to panic. They’ve realized it’s me, I’m not going to make it. 

As Alex, Alison and Brooke watched the dart shatter, they grew concerned. What would the government pull off next since that failed? As they sat anxiously waiting for Jason to drop or make the water, they were all standing, holding each other. Even Alex couldn’t feel the pain. The pain of losing his mentor would far outweigh any of his physical pain.

Dex sat in the helicopter staring through the scope. “No effect from the tranquillizers. Do you want me to load plan B?” A voice came stern over the headset. It was his well dressed boss, and his words were cold. “Bring him down.” Dex stared at the diamond bullet. “Will this thing even fire?” The voice came over the headset once again. “It’s specially designed. Trust us, we’ve spent millions ensuring this would work if need be.” Dex loaded the huge bullet into his gun. I’m sorry old friend. I am just the right hand of an evil man. I hope you understand. Dex considered missing, but then thought of the repercussions that could have on his own family. He sighed and aimed for Jason’s head. Damn, this sucks. He pulled the trigger and the bullet soared through the air landing a solid shot. Jason tumbled a few times and his body fell into the water off the ledge.

Alex held Alison and Brooke close as they all cried. Two heroes have died this week. The question now, is who would be next?

Unbiased Law: Episode 24

Episode Twenty Three Recap: Magnus finally has reclaimed his vehicle and upon arriving at the discards graveyard, finds a small solar powered cleaning robot in a bush. After a short discussion with the small robot, he realizes that his robot helped him out awhile ago. Unable to just leave the poor robot there to rust away, Magnus decides to recruit his aid and places his new found ally in his car. As he enters the graveyard, he is sought out by the limping robot and has found out that he wasn’t always a robot. Today’s episode is the second last episode for this story arc, what is left for our detective to find out? Only the words below know (or head back to Episode One or Episode Twenty Three)!

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“Not always a robot? Well that explains the limp.” I try and break the intensity of everything and Glenie glances for only a moment back at me. “Magnus, it is time for us to shine. As we speak I march an army upon the factory that creates us. We are going to take it over and convert the robots there into our own personal military.” I stare at him and begin my questioning. “But if you were a human, what would make you rebel against the very people who created these bodies, one of which you used to be?” Glenie scoffs and stares at the factory, as if waiting for a signal that everything is under way. “I’ve thought about it, and the moment you and I became humans inside of robots, we became immortal, like the gods. We now have power to control this city, shape it to our will. Rule the world!” He spins and I can already sense that he’s shocked when he notices my gun.
“What are you doing? I invited you to join in the immortality that will be our revolution. Robots against humans, extinction of the lesser race, Magnus, you know that together we could simply live forever.” I stared at him down the barrel of my gun. I wouldn’t miss. Not with this new body. “Glenie, I thought you were always a robot. You were never very personable. We can’t play God though. If humans wish themselves extinct so be it. But you and I are better than that, we’ve been given a second chance at life and this is how you’d repay them? With extinction?” A huge explosion came from the factory across the graveyard, and Glenie burst into laughter. “It is almost time, you are either with me, or with them… which side do you pick?” I stand there, and the moment hangs like a Windows operating system. I stare through Glenie, past the factory and imagine a world where I control everything. I could create hundreds of robots. Just like me. Like… me.
I flinch and reality slaps me in the face like a horse shoe magnet. I can see the gun quivering in my hand. “I’m sorry Glenie. But this isn’t right. You have to stop this. You have to call back the robots.” He laughs at me again, and I’m getting agitated. “You can’t stop me or them Detective. You would have to enter my brain, find the code yourself and deactivate them from a remote location which I won’t disclose to you. Your case, has gone cold Magnus.” No, this can’t be it. There has to be something I can do. Something… Wireless. I think back to the transfer I did for Veronica and her sister. Time to break the law once again. “Okay Glenie, you win.” I lower my gun for a second and I notice he walks over to me. “It’s okay, it’ll all be over soon.” It’s a good thing I can’t grin, because I had a crappy poker face when I was a human. “Yeah Glenie. Yeah it will be.” I move faster than I ever have before and I leap in front of Glenie, aiming and hoping I can hit his motor function drive. The shot goes off and we both hit the ground. I can hear him screaming in rage, but he still has power. I walk over and jack in. Time to follow this son of a bitch down into his rabbit hole.
As soon as the copy completes I jump up and hold my gun at his face. This was the deal I made with myself. Once I know the information, relay it back to myself and pull the trigger, I still have to figure out where to deactivate the discard army. Sadly for now, for this version of me. It’s all a waiting game.
Ah shit. I must be the copy inside this maniac. Time to find the information I can and go get killed. As much as I want to be the one pulling the trigger, I know deep down we’re both the same person. But are we? What if I’m the real one? No, we’re identical. But what if we’re not? I look around at my surroundings. This must be Glenie’s subconscious. It’s designed to be a huge steel castle. The ideal impenetrable fortress. Lucky for me, I’m already inside. At least the me on the outside was a good enough hacker to get me this far. I make my way across velvet carpet floors amid steel columns, until the hall ends at a rather large set of double doors. I push them, and they resist my attempt. What now? I look around. Nothing that can help me. Although if this is his subconscious, can I control it too since I have been copied here? I believe the password is Glenie. “Glenie.” I say it aloud and believe it will work. Sadly it doesn’t. Also it gets his attention. “You are an intruder here, and you will die because of it.” I turn and see a man in his late forties, grey hair, walking toward me with a limp.
“Glenie, is that you?” The words slide out of my mouth before I realize how stupid that sounded. “Yes it is me, but you’re not supposed to be here.” I stare at this frail man, it seems as though he’s been in here for ages. “Glenie, you’re about to destroy the world.” I tell him this and he looks shocked. “I’m what?” The man falls to the floor and sits there, stunned. I rush to his side. “Are you okay?” He nods. “I’ve been trapped here for years. I fight to regain control, but I can’t. I have managed to overwrite his motor skills with mine, which has slowed him down significantly. He hates the sign of weakness.” I stare at him, with some mild confusion on my face. “Who hates the sign of weakness Glenie?” He points over my shoulder and to the doors that have suddenly opened wide. I turn and my gaze fixates on the man I never expected. The one person who I thought had a minor role. Two people driving one robot, and sadly for Glenie, Mister Radlem didn’t like taking turns in the driver’s seat.
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Heroisms: Sacrifice

(This is Episode Three, Just joining in? Find Episode One @ Heroisms: Immortality or the Previous Episode @ Heroisms: Nemesis)

The people mostly cleared out in droves, trying to beat the traffic. Jason sat with his face in his hands with Alex and Alison by his side. Turning to Alison, Alex nodded and they began to move from the seats. He turned and put a hand on Jason’s shoulder. “Bud, we’re going to give you a moment alone. To collect yourself, alright?” Jason managed a simple grunt and with that, they were gone. Finally the Pastor realized one of his flock has stayed behind. He made his way to Jason’s side and sat beside him. The two sat in silence for sometime before Jason finally lifted his head and looked to him. “Forgive me Father, I don’t know what to say or where to start.” The Pastor smiled and nodded. “You’ll find the words when the time is right.” Jason absorbed the wise words. “Father, in confession, everything is kept between you and I… correct?” The Pastor’s eyes widened and he swallowed hard. “Yes, of course.” He stood and made his way to the end of the row and guided Jason to the confessionals.

Jason sat in and his broad shoulders felt as if they touched both sides of the small booth. There was space between him and the walls, but he didn’t enjoy tight spaces. Then a small window opened between the two and although he couldn’t see the man, he knew he was there. “Forgive me Father, for I have sinned.” Jason waited a moment as he awaited confirmation, but then continued. “Father, the man we bury today was an exceptional man. Always risking his life for the well being of others. But I believe he was sadly made to be an example for the rest of the community.” A voice on the other side acknowledged his concern and then Jason began his reasoning. “Father, there is a small group of superheroes living among this community, and for years we’ve had to check in. James didn’t. This is why I think he was made to be an example. However I put a man in hospital with my fists not long ago and have yet to be punished for it. Why? Why do the gods act in such a way?” The silence felt like it lasted a lifetime, but then the Pastor finally found the right words. “It is not the actions of God that we must question, but the intent of humankind. People crave power, and people in power crave to keep it and exert it over others. Anyone who cannot be corrupted by power is eliminated by those who crave it. It is sadly the way the world works my son.”

Jason sat for a few minutes letting those words sink in. It is sadly the way the world works my son. He looked to the ceiling of the booth with rage, as if to look up to God for an answer. His face steeled again and he looked straight ahead. “Thank you Father, that will be all.” As he walked from the booth, Jason glanced to the other confessional. He walked away disgusted that even a man of God could believe that it was just the way the world worked. It was time for change. It was time he acted upon this. Jason stormed out of the church with a head full of steam and passed Alex and Alison in his rage. They ran to catch him, and the three of them got into a car. As they drove past the church, they were unaware of the events unfolding within.

“Please, I beg of you. I won’t tell a soul.” Suddenly the Pastor was forced from the confessional and he fell, sprawled on the floor. Behind him was a man with a gun equipped with a silencer. As the Pastor glanced up from where he lay on the ground, he noticed some incredibly expensive leather shoes. As he followed them up, he noticed they belonged to a man clad in a suit to match the shoes. The man’s face was dark from the Pastor’s angle, with two of the overhanging lights from the church glaring over his shoulders. The Pastor decided to make another attempt at a plea. “Look, I won’t tell anyone. He needed to confide in someone.” The man in the suit looked around and two other men in suits closed the doors to the church. Finally his eyes fixated on the Pastor on the ground. “I know you won’t Father.” Nodding to the man with the gun, gave him permission to pull the trigger. “I’m sorry. I wish it didn’t have to be this way.” He motioned to one of the men who just finished closing the door and he came over and picked the Pastor off the floor. “Out the back.” As they carried him off, the man in the expensive suit turned to ensure everything was as they had found it. As they helped the Pastor into the back of a black sedan, the men followed suit and together they drove off into the night, to an unknown location.

“Want to talk about it?” Alex stared at Jason, whose eyes were unblinking and intense. “No, maybe tomorrow.” As the trio drove back to their base of operations, the silence was near deafening. Alison found herself sitting in the back and humming ever so quietly. As they pulled up, Jason parked and was slowly making his way out, delaying for the other two to get out first. Alex leapt out and helped Alison, and as soon as he shut her door he realized something was wrong. With the locks engaged, Jason sat back in and began reversing. Alex, unaware of what else to do, ran and jumped on the hood of the car. As the two stared at each other amid the confusion, Jason spun the car around thus tossing Alex onto the nearby grass. Leaning out the window, Jason shouted to him. “I’m sorry, but the less you know, the better.” As he peeled off, Alison rushed to Alex’s side. As the two watched the lights disappear down the road, Alex turned to Alison. “What do you think he’s going to do?” Alison stared half dazed into the distance. “I don’t know. But the question is, who will stop him?”

Unbiased Law: Episode 23

Episode Twenty Two Recap: As Veronica spills the beans, Magnus finds out almost everything he needs to know about the Radlem’s. He gives in to his sympathy for her and lets her get a head start to a new life. Having earned his car back and clearing the background on Veronica, he is granted with one final parting gift from her. The name of the leader of the discards, also known as the killer robot, is apparently Glenie. Magnus having recognized this name from his own past now sets out for what seems to be the final clue to his case and finally closure on the whole Robot Uprising. What will today bring? Only this episode will fill you in (or head back to Episode One or Episode Twenty Two)!

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I sit for a moment to allow that to sink in. Glenie? My first robot boss. He understood more than any other robot but he was programmed from scratch. He spent every waking hour with the last of the human commissioners before he was placed into the position once they believed he was ready. The question is when did they scrap him? How hadn’t I heard of this? I mean he was the one who got me on this case, now he was both the leader of the discards and the police force? Something wasn’t adding up. He already had more than enough power to cause problems, so what’s with the discards? I look up to check my rear view mirror, and then remember it got shot off. Bah, I don’t need it anyway. I pull onto the road and for the first time in a week or more, I’m behind the wheel of my car. It’s riddled with bullet holes, missing pieces, and there’s blood all over the back seats. She’s got her issues, but she’s mine. Sweet, sweet wheels of justice and freedom.
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After my joyride, I pull up to the spot I remember in the original video I got many moons ago from a concerned individual. The one that showed the discards cannibalizing a dropped off robot on the road. The one that showed my car and her second, well third murder. I park the car and start walking toward the discard graveyard when I hear something. I turn and see nothing but a bush blowing in the breeze. Suddenly it comes again. It’s the faintest of sounds, almost inaudible. “Magnus…” The whisper is almost lost on the breeze, but I catch it. My vision looks into the bush and I notice the remnants of a small robot left. I lean down and look him over. He’s got no way of moving, but it looks like a truck may have bumped him off. “You. Are you the one who sent me the video?” The robot looks up and down the road and then at Magnus. “Yes, you are the one I heard them talking about at a seminar. I am C13-TU5. Cleaning robot for the school board.” I shake my head in disbelief at what has befallen him. “How could they simply just toss you here, you still seem to be working fine?” C13-TU5 stares at him as if he just froze, but then breaks the silence. “They tossed me because I was getting slower, repairs were getting harder and the newer models were cheaper. But that doesn’t matter. I heard about you from the Neighbourhood Watch in one of the schools. They said if there was ever something the police couldn’t help with, you were the one to call.”
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I would have smiled if I could. People saying these things about me in their meetings meant my job was being done well. Too bad I had to close up shop on official business this week. I miss the boring days of tracking down dead beat fathers and cheating husbands. Suddenly C13-TU5 began again. “I didn’t know who else to call… I remembered your email from the meeting, but for some reason I couldn’t find a number for the police in my database. Guess I’m losing my memory too.” If a robot could look depressed, I’m sure this robot fit the bill. I patted him in the head. “Don’t worry, I’ve got some business in here and then I could use someone like you with a keen eye for detail in my office. Would you be up for that Cletus? Do you mind if I call you that?” C13-TU5 paused a moment. “I’ll think on the new name, but I wouldn’t mind working with you.” I grabbed him out from under the tree and tossed him in my car. He’d need some work, hell, probably a lot of work. But I couldn’t just let him rust away under the tree. Also, apparently he didn’t need to recharge. Maybe he was solar powered.
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After placing him into my car I headed down into the graveyard, and it was worse than I ever expected. As I walked through I could tell I was being watched, if I made one wrong move I could have loads of robots upon me. As I marched through the aisles and over the random parts and discarded robots. I felt sick to my stomach. I saw cleaning robots, public service robots, military droids, police droids, you name it, and it came here. As I stepped over one unit’s head, I could hear the remaining energy fizzing away as if to manage some last words. As I knew I couldn’t be sick, I was okay, but my mind was making my fictional stomach do back flips while filled with battery acid. My eyes darted across the field of debris, well bodies and I glanced down to my own metallic legs. I was standing knee deep in discarded robots. This wasn’t right. It didn’t feel right. We were really this oblivious? Instead of recycling or improving the existing robots, we simply just toss the old ones away? “It’s terrible isn’t it?” A familiar voice came from behind. I turned and watched as an unfamiliar robot, walked with an all too familiar limp. “It’s incredibly saddening to see what humans do to the things they create. They consider themselves gods, while in reality they are less than savages.”
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I stand staring at the robot limping through the debris and I am too stunned for words. I still attempt. “I… I didn’t know. I mean, I knew, but didn’t… if you understand… what I mean?” I can’t take my eyes off him. Then he stuns me with only words. “Magnus. This was why I put you on the case.” My mind is baffled and my words fly out before I think about them. “Why? You were the one pulling all the strings, me included. Why was I so important in all of this?” The robot shuffles slightly and turns away from me and stares at the large factory in the distance. I recognize it as where the droids are made for the police and military. He hangs his head, and his words come out as sad as I’d ever heard a robot speak. “Because you and I are the same Magnus. The only difference is I never forgot you, but eventually, the force forgot about me.” I thought about his words for a moment. “But… you know I wasn’t always a robot, right?” He stares straight ahead, still fixated on the factory. “I know Magnus. Nor was I.”
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Magnus seems to be familiar with this robot, but not entirely. Will this prove to be a clever rouse? Or will this be Glenie? What will Magnus learn next? Where is everything headed? Only two episodes left! Stay tuned!

Heroisms: Nemesis

(This is Episode Two, missed the first one? Find it @ Heroisms: Immortality)

The Pastor stands before the hundreds of people crowded into his small church. As he looks around, a bead of sweat glimmers in the dim candle light before him. He clears his throat and begins. “Our Loving Eternal Heavenly Father, as we meet this morning to remember our dear friend and loved one…” Alison tunes him out and turns to Alex, still wiping a tear from her eye. “I still can’t believe this has happened. I feel like we only saw him a few weeks ago. Jason leaned forward to quiet her before she could continue, but then stopped to think about what she said. A few weeks ago? Perhaps. But when was it… and why?

“James from Fire here and we need backup immediately, Code Alpha, forty nine, fifty two!” The call came through panicked and distressed. It wasn’t often that the fire department needed super heroes, but Alpha at the beginning of the code meant that something was amiss. Heroes aren’t meant to ask questions, just get there and figure it out as soon as possible. However Jason jumped on the radio and got back to him. “What’s your location and problem?” The reply came back garbled and only a few words made it through. “*Crack*… *Hiss*… the asylum…” Static was all that he was left with after that. As Jason stared at the speaker, he wasn’t sure about anything. Just they needed to get there, and pronto. As he stood to leave one final clue crackled across the radio, “escape attempt”. Then nothing.

Jason rushed into the lounge of their base, looking frantically back and forth. He spotted Alex who was lifting weights. “Alex! Jesus, we’ve got a huge issue over at the asylum! Fire Rescue called in a fifty two!” Alex shot up from his prone position and dropped the weights to the ground, all nine hundred pounds. “A fifty two? What the hell is that?” Jason paused a moment to think, he actually only knew it was really bad but realized he had no idea of what they were up against. “I’ll check it and you round up the others!” Alex nodded and ran off to the study while Jason rushed back to the radio and looked for the code book. As he read through the codes he found it. “Alpha, Special Ops assistance required. Forty nine, uncontrollable blaze. Fifty two, Listed Criminal on Premises.” Jason dropped the book and ran up the stairs to his room shouting the meaning of the code for all to hear. In minutes the entire group of six were in their transport and on their way.

As they pulled up, they recognized James or “Blaze” immediately. As they rushed up to him, they recognized the immediate distress on his face. His feet were tapping the ground nervously and he relaxed only a little when they rushed up to him. Alison piped up first. “Blaze, what the hell is going on?” He pointed to the inferno where the asylum used to stand. “It was that guy who has been going around calling himself Firas the Fearless. He came to help the inmates held here escape.” The team of heroes looked at each other and then stared at Blaze. “Firas, isn’t he a fire guy? That’s right up your alley isn’t it?” Alex asked with a half grin and confusion in his eyes. James looked at him and nodded. “But Dracon isn’t.” His words came across and hit Jason square in the face. Everyone turned to Jason, and watched him run his hands nervously through his salt and pepper hair. “Shit. Not him. Anyone but him.”

Dracon is a man who much like Blaze can withstand a tremendous amount of heat. However, he also has some other abilities. Jason remembers these to be: kill your partners, hold a grudge and manipulate light. The last one was key, as it allowed him to bend the light around him so he could become invisible, change colors or even change appearances. Jason stared distant into the fires. “I’ll kill him today if I can find him.” The others shushed him and they all stared at the flames. Alex cleared his throat and made his announcement. “No time like the present to get to work I suppose?” They all jumped up and rushed in, splitting up and watching for Firas. Blaze would be the first to find him, not that it was hard. The man was screaming like a lunatic. “Burn! Burn! Burn!” As he managed to burn more of the asylum’s ruins he noticed Blaze standing near by. “Ah, time to send you to hell!” As he turned the flames on Blaze, Blaze emerged right in front of him. “I was thinking of doing that to you.” Blaze punched Firas straight out. Just as he noticed Jason rushing toward him. “Look out!” he screamed at Blaze, who turned just in time to see the light of the flames flickering the tiniest bit strangely. Suddenly, Dracon was before him.

Jason leapt over Blaze and crashed hard into Dracon, both of them tumbling through flaming debris. Dracon stood first, and stared into the eyes of his nemesis. His voice deep and dripping with venom, his words sank in like daggers. “Come to die like the old man you are? Or would you prefer the same treatment Silverstar received.” Jason paused only a moment to pay tribute to her memory. When Jason had found her, she had been brutally attacked, raped and was left for dead. She died hours later only after uttering one word. “Dracon.” Jason steeled himself. “No. But I’m going to send you to that personal circle of hell Satan has reserved for you.” He leapt at Dracon as if he was a feral beast. As many of the other heroes were embroiled in their own battles rounding up the escapees, Blaze watched hopelessly as the two pummelled away at each other.

As the fight between the two became dirty, and down right atrocious, Blaze felt like he should step in. After all, he was watching a dear friend getting clobbered and clobbering right back. Suddenly, the tide turned when Dracon tripped up on some debris and toppled over. Before he knew what was happening, he had an extremely angry Jason slamming his fists upon his face. Jason hit for what seemed like forever. Finally, Blaze grabbed his arm as Jason raised it for another swing. “That’s enough!” Jason looked down and saw his rival. Broken and defeated, Dracon lay on the ground barely breathing. His tongue had been punched against his teeth and was missing a piece and the only reason they noticed that was because Jason had nearly punched his jaw clean off and had ripped through Dracon’s right cheek. As Jason stood up, his hands not even showing the faintest bit of wear, he looked to the team of his peers surrounding him. Judging him. He watched as Blaze handed over Firas to the authorities and looked back to him, shaking his head disapprovingly.

That was the last time Jason has seen James. Blaze. Jason hung his head as the church erupted in the song Amazing Grace. As tears rolled down his cheeks. Alex patted him on the shoulder. “There, there bud. There, there.” As Jason hung his head not in sorrow, but in shame he thought about James and how he did everything else right except this one thing. It wasn’t fair. His mind also drifted to his nemesis, still in a coma after the beating he’d received. Jason sniffled and wiped his nose with a handkerchief from his blazer. He stared at it and lost himself on a train of thought. Why did he die and I wasn’t even punished? I beat a man into a coma, and almost to death but not even a slap on the wrist. Things have to change. As he straightened up in his seat, he wiped his nose once again and his look was as cold as steel. Things must change.