Chapter 13 - Do We Have A Deal?

The man in the park sits back comfortably on the bench he recently shared with the daughter of his former comrade in arms. He watches her run out of the park, and pulls a communicator out of his pocket.

"Does she have any idea you're there?"

"I don't think so, I can hear her heartbeat. She's afraid. Very afraid."

"Good. Play the part of a bomb until you pass through that door. Don't reveal yourself until everything is set up."

"Don't worry about it. Just get in before he kills me."

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"Razer"

The name comes out of my mouth like a snarl.

"Hello old friend. It is so good to see you again."

Every word out of his mouth is a lie. I have to remember that. He may have been a hero once but not the last time I saw him. He lost the right to call himself that the day I ended things with him.

"I'm not your friend. What do you want? And I'd be quick."

"Oh Matt, I don't for a second believe you would kill dear Micron there. I know you. And more importantly I know that even after the attack on you and your family just a few days ago, The Man on Fire is still alive. So let my man go, so we can talk."

Damn. He knows me too well. He knows I couldn't bring myself to let The Man on Fire die even though he ended my life. I know it would have been fair, but it wouldn't have been right. I look back over at Razer. He does know me too well. He isn't stressed in the slightest. He knows that even with the risk of them killing both Claire and I, that I'll still let Micron go. He was the one person I hoped I could avoid in this pursuit.

"Fine." I let Micron down, and he obnoxiously dusts himself off and walks over to Razer's side.

"What is this anyway Razer, is he your little puppet now?"

"No no, nothing so sinister Matt. He's just seen the light."

"Oh like how you did? You know I always believed you were better than that. I knew you had a dark side. I knew people died because of you, and I always thought they deserved it. But you went beyond what was right that day. You may have been correct but you weren't right."

"Oh will you give it a rest already. The past is in the past. Right now we have a future to fight for. By whatever means possible. And right now you are those means."

"What? Are you insane. Do you really think I would ever work with you again?!"

"Now now. Calm down. You're scaring your daughter. My she really has never seen this side of you has she?"

Claire is sat at the computer just off to the side from mine and Razer's confrontation, and looks terrified. I shouldn't have let him get to me.

"Claire, Kiddo do you mind giving us a minute? I think this discussion is going to get a bit more heated than it is already."

"No Dad. He knows where Mom is. I'm not going anywhere."

"You hear that Matt. She's staying. Good. It'll build character to see her Father become my - oh what did he call you a moment ago Micron?"

"A puppet I believe boss."

"Ah yes. A puppet. And you're going to become mine."

"Why would I ever do that Razer?"

"Oh because I not only know where your wife is, but I am the only one with the means to access her pocket dimension. You see as soon as I knew you were looking I redirected the doorway, and replaced it with a replica. You could look for all of time and never find Sara unless I willed it."

Crap. I can't tell if that's a lie or not. It's not out of the realms of possibility. He did create everything I'm using. I did manage to lock him out of most of the systems, but if he really wanted to I'm sure he could get in. I have to believe him this time.

"I imagine you aren't telling me this out of the goodness of your heart. What do you want?"

"Oh I want many things Matt. One being the end of this outlawed society we "Supers" have found ourselves in. And I've realized to do so requires one thing. You."

"Me? A washed up hero, who has only seen one instance of combat in the past seven years? Your bar must be set really low."

"Oh no. It's not you directly I want. It's Claire. But you're kind of a package deal."

"Absolutely not. Why do you even want Claire? She has nothing to do with this."

"Oh Matt. She has everything to do with this. By the way Claire, just so you know since your Dad hasn't directly said it, Micron was the bomb. You're safe. But don't try anything because your Mother is not"

He's being too kind. What's his angle? Is he trying to win me over? Claire? Or both of us? What does he want?

"I think that's enough Razer. What do you want?"

"It's enough when I say it is Matt. Remember. I hold all the cards here."

"Alright. I'll listen."

"Good. You know me well enough to know that none of this is without reason. I want your family to join the cause. Imagine it. Sheerforce, Veleta, and their child fighting the good fight after almost a decade away. Imagine the attention we'll grab."

"That's it? You want us to return as heroes?"

"No I want you to return to this world as it's villains. The ones who will return it to it's previous state before this false utopia rose up in it's place. I want you to end the world."

"Are you serious? Do you hear yourself? You want me to end the world?"

"Not you specifically. Claire. I want her to be the figurehead of the next generation. The daughter of two of the most powerful beings in Aincar. What more could you want."

"That's ridiculous."

"Before you get all defensive like that I want you to keep two things in mind. I have your wife, and I know everything."

"What do you mean everything?"

"The truth of this world. Who made it, how they did it, and why. I'll tell you the specifics when I know I can trust you again. But just know that whilst I am a career liar, and I know you know that. This is one thing I will not lie about. This isn't how the world is meant to be."

I can't believe it. He really believes what he just said. Is it true? Has the world been manipulated? I need to know. But I know he won't tell me. At least not for a while. He's right he holds all the cards, and the only one that matters. Sara.

"So. Do we have a deal?"