Chapter 16 - Back to Reality

I snap back to reality, and I'm back at the last thing I remembered. It was the day after Razer threatened me into working for him. I'm in my pocket dimension with Claire. The same Claire who just killed me. What did I just experience?

There are only a few people in this world that have precognitive powers. And most of them are supervillains, or at least former supervillains. And not likely to help me. I need to remember as much as possible right here right now. It's no good. Other than the key points I remember nothing. The Man on Fire. The Crack. New "Supers". Anything else has been overwritten by the image of my own daughter killing me.

I don't know when it's going to happen, but I know it's going to be soon, and that it has to be related to why people were after us. Or why else would The Man on Fire be there?

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"So Jack. What's this all about?"

I'm now sat in what can only be known as the "Head Office for the Revolution" or whatever the hell my brother thinks he's in charge of.

"This brother, is about righting the wrongs of this world that have been forced upon us, and returning it to the people"

"Oh you sanctimonious ass"

I see the look in his eyes turn from that of commanding leader to angry brother.

"Stick a sock in it asshole. I don't really give a damn about how you feel about me or what you're doing. Right now you work for me. And that's all that matters right now."

"But that's really your end game? You're telling me that's all you want from this. I know you. Even as a hero you played the long game. You want the world ready for rebuilding, but not by the people. By you."

He looks at me with a smirk. "Why not me Matt? Would you rather remake the world? No that would be too much for you. You haven't been a part of Aincar for the better part of a decade. You get no say in this. You have no idea what it's like here."

He's been sat in the corner now watching all this play out, and realizes that we're not getting anywhere, and despite his better judgement, Micron chimes in. "Guys. I get it. You're brothers, you don't like each other, but this right here is just a giant waste of time."

"I agree Micron. Matt. You and your daughter are going to gather some items for me. It's time we build something."

"Why me Jack? Why Claire? Why do you need us to do this?"

"Simple Matt, "Supers" aren't easy to come by, and you're the first ones of value that I've been able to come across. Oh and you're easily controlled with that wife of yours."

"Don't Jack. I'm doing this for you. Claire is doing this for you. But don't you dare threaten Sara. You're powerless. If she's hurt at the end of this. There will be no more you. No more this place. I will personally tear it all down."

"Fine. Fine. Time to get down to business. Micron if you will."

Micron steps over to the interactive screen behind the both of us and brings up a schematic of a building I know all too well.

"You and your daughter are going to break into here. The former headquarters of "The Line", seized by the government when the "Supers" were outlawed. But I'm sure you know all this already. I mean you were a member after all. We need you to get into the secure vault, and leave this behind."

Micron picks up a small box, and throws it towards me.

"What is it?" I ask.

"A gate. It uses a combination of my powers and an old "Super" your brother used to know. It's essentially a pocket teleport. We want you to activate it in the secure vault, so we can take some of the more unique old equipment Razer made."

"Jack. Micron. What are you stealing?"

"Oh brother you don't need to know. Not yet at least. Just do this for me and you're one third of the way to your wife."

"Fine. I'll do it. When are we going in?"

"Tonight. We're on a schedule now. Things to do and not much time to do it in. You know how it is. When saving the world you're always on a clock."

"Is that really what this is? Saving the world?"

"Matt that's all I've ever wanted to do."

"If that's all you want to do then help me save mine. I want to add something into our little deal. I want to know more about The Man on Fire. I know you know everything there is to know about every hero in Aincar."

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"You're new around here right?"

Claire looks up to see a boy around her age looking down at her. He's got long brown hair hanging down to his shoulders, and is wearing a plaid shirt, over a plain white t shirt, he seems like an every day guy. Until you see the rest of him. The holster under his arm. The gun. The combat gear. He was the furthest thing from normal that a young man could be.

"Yeah."

"Not much of a talker, are you?"

"I am, just not to you."

"Well that's just because you don't know me yet. The name's Quincy. I'm kind of a big deal around here."

"Oh you are, are you? Then really you should know who I am then. Or at least my Dad"

Before he can reply, the door to Razer's office opens, and he beckons for me to come in, and join the conversation.

"Are you coming Claire, we're just getting to where you come in" He turns his head and sees the young man standing opposite Claire. "Oh you two have met already. Good. Come on Quincy, you join in too, it's time to meet your family. Or the rest of it."

"Wait what? Family? Who are you?"

"Oh I'm Claire Walker. And you?"

"Quincy Walker. Razer's son."

"Ha!"

"What are you laughing at?"

"Come on cousin, we've got things to do." Claire walks towards Razer's office trying to stop herself from laughing at her new cousin's attempt to chat her up.

"Wait COUSIN?!"

Despite how she felt in that moment, Claire would later think back to this meeting with her new family, and remember it as the time where her life truly changed. This was the beginning of the end.