“My life
is a series of events, one thing after another, each of these things eventually
culminating into some kind of life changing event that then alters my destiny
from that point forward. I was born in
another universe and because of that I was in line for an Event that ripped our
universe to the ground and forced us to go to war with a parallel universe that
was invading us.”
“In truth
we went to war with them because they accidentally invaded us and we retaliated
in the only way we knew how, and at the same time an unseen hand was moving us
forward to their own end for some unknown reason.”
“I watched
as my universe was sealed away from me and lost my parents and family forever
because the way back was gone. This left
me in the care of one of world’s greatest heroes and his training brought me
against my greatest enemy, Zero.”
“Zero in
turn forced me to locate a new source of knowledge so that I might continue my
education and find a way to cure my…father, the man like my father. I know it’s impossible, but we’re super
heroes and that’s what we do every day.
So I will use the Knowledge and weed out the answers I need until I
figure out a solution to the problem I have given myself.” Sapphire looked at Zoe who nodded at
her. “I have to ask it the right
questions, everyone has a boss, and that led me to Andreas Darkk, whom I stood
over in Carcass his prison. I saw the
birth of Genesis, the Coming Darkness, the thing which is coming next and that
which I am now preparing myself for.”
She rubbed the bridge of her nose and sighed. “What are the right
questions? What can I ask to start and
knit together the last threads to see the whole tapestry.”
Stand Alone 10 - The Little Things 1
“Who was Doctor Kirby?”
“Presenting
Doctor Alexander Kellan Kirby noted physicist and quantum engineer.” The crowd roared in approval as the Doctor
came up on to the stage. He waved his
hands for calm and the group quietly rapidly.
“Good
morning every one, I feel like a rock star.”
The crowd laughed at the joke.
“Today I am going to go over several of my recent discoveries relating
to the evolution of stars. We think that
these celestial bodies are just lights in the sky that twinkle and eventually
fade away, but I believe that they are so much more.” He pointed at the white screen behind him and
slides began to follow what he was saying changing from star type to star type
across a common stars life cycle. “What
I am saying is…what if the stars themselves are alive and they follow an
evolutionary life cycle from birth to death?”
Several people in the crowd gasped and in the silence someone muttered
blasphemy.
“I am
working with several government and businesses to attempt to draw some of the
energy down from the stars and get long range readings; we are currently
building several laboratories across the world to attempt to better understand
my theories and possibly harness the energy to remove ourselves from a dependent resource like oil. I would
like you all to meet my main financier Rex Ruthless!!” A young man barely into his twenties stepped
onto the stage and joined Dr. Kirby at the podium. He waved at the crowd.
“Hello
everyone,” he spoke quietly but his voice carried, “I believe in Dr. Kirby’s
theories and have put forth considerable resources towards this venture. We already have several ARC, advanced
research collectives, in multiple countries across the planet and construction
has begun on the equipment that will draw some of the energy down to the
Earth. I have personally hired two
doctors that have specialized in this field to oversee that project, and we
should have results in a few years.”
“Who is Oswald Johnson?”
“Who are
you really Oz?” Rex Ruthless sat on the
edge of his bed and stared at the young man before him. “I have had some of my people look into you,
since you are my roommate, and one cannot be too careful you understand.”
Oswald
nodded, “That is a good question Rex.”
He turned and sat at his desk.
“Well?”
“Well
what?”
“Who are
you?!” Rex’s voice raised a few
decibels.
“I am the
son of Kaliope and Jaswell Johnson. My
IQ is 37 points higher than yours. I
come from no money and a middle class background and have had to achieve all of
my college funding through scholarships and holding three jobs during high
school. I also gamble occasionally and
raised money that way as I am able to count cards quite easily. Dr. Kirby put in a good word with the school
board and found me placement here. Other
than that I am just a young man looking to make his mark on this world, and
your roommate for now.”
Rex ground
his teeth, “I knew all of that already but I think you are hiding something.” Oswald turned in his chair and looked Rex
right in the eye.
“Everything
I told you was true,” he stared intently at Rex. “The things I have left out about who I am
are none of your concern and therefore none of your business. So DROP it.”
The single word echoed slightly.
Rex looked away first and immediately felt ashamed, but he nodded.
‘You won’t
be my roommate for long.’ Rex thought to himself as he stood and walked out of
the dorm room calmly. Oswald sighed as
the door clicked shut and then smiled.
‘Everything
about that story was true Rex,” he thought to himself, ‘Except I’m not actually
Oswald Johnson, I replaced him months ago.’ He started to laugh to himself.
Darwin Dexter
the Baron of the Side-realms, and King of the Anathema went back to his
homework, after all the Star Force wasn't just going to come to him without
some work.
“Why was SuperDude in Nevada when
Shrulk made its first appearance?”
‘I will
guide you where you are needed most, when the greatest dangers arise on this
world.’ Dawnbringer voiced its thoughts
directly into his mind. SuperDude banked
left as a feeling began to pull him in that direction.
“So you
are like a danger magnet?” Superdude
asked the entity that dwelled within him.
‘In a way,
I go to the danger, I do not bring the danger to me,’ it responded. SuperDude nodded.
‘I feel
something towards the West Coast of this country, continue on this path and we
may be able to prevent many deaths.’
SuperDude nodded again and pushed himself faster.
“How did Doctor Kirby die?”
“Why are
you doing this?” Kirby screamed over the
wind howling through the alleys created by the skyscrapers of Megalopolis.
“Because I
tire of your repeated failures, I have invested too much time and money on you
and your protégés, perhaps your suicide will spur them onto greater achievements.” He shoved and the good doctor fell down from
the penthouse of Ruthless Unlimited.
TBC in Skullduggery
110 Part 1
