The Guardian Stories: The Dark Mirror
By
Duckdee,
Posted on: 2006-05-28 23:07 in Multi-Media Fan Creations
Reading the others....
(Too big! 
)
Chapter Two
B
TEMPLE
Christmas had come to Paragon, and with it, the sights and sounds of people rushing around, buying gifts, and pretending to be nice to each other, if only for a few days.
I strolled back from the Icon Tailors in Steel Canyon, where an obnoxious Frenchman had created my costume. I had decided on black armour, with a dark red flame motif. Since fire had burned me, I decided to have it etched onto my armour, as a
I suppose a sign of surviving it. The Frenchman, who insisted on calling me Monsieur Tempelle kept making the flames light, and easily seen. I, however, insisted they should be dark. It made me look more foreboding, as well as being harder to see at night. With a face-sock of the same shade of red covering my face, and dark yellow goggles with a black hi-tech looking helmet, I looked like a dangerous Hero. The tailor asked me if I wanted an emblem of some sort on the front of my armour, but I refused. I had no reasons to put a logo or emblem on my chest I did consider a picture of a Coliseum, to represent a temple, but decided against it.
I pulled out a scrap of paper, and examined the address. 1161 Rankin Boulevard. Checking the street signs, I confirmed I was on the right road, and continued my stroll down to meet Emily. As I walked past the street sign, I was a bit surprised to see it embedded on the pavement, as opposed to being on a lamp-post, but, then again, it stopped vandals from stealing them. I mentally shrugged it off. It must be a tradition, or an old charter, or something.
Knocking on the door of the small house she lived in, I looked around, glaring at some gang members who were eyeing me up, presumably to see if I was an easy target. I held eye contact with the one who seemed to be the leader, until he backed down, and moved his men away. The door opened, and Emily peeked out from behind it, her eyes bright with confusion.
Jay?
Temple. I reminded her.
Right, right. Temple. Of course. What are you doing here?
Im here to escort you to the party. Remember?
The
oh, right. Of course, the Christmas party at the Mayors mansion. Well
come in. She swung the door wider, and I strolled through, taking everything in.
Im just
on the phone right now. Make yourself comfortable. She gestured through to her living room, and I stepped in. Everything was either black or white, and I frowned at her taste in furniture. She must have caught my expression in a reflection, or something, because she sighed.
What?
No, nothing. I just never figured you for such a
bland décor.
Its Retro Minimalism.
The only thing thats minimal here is the colour scheme.
Whatever. She sighed again.
Em. The phone?
Oh, right. Ill be right back.
She hurried out of sight, and I made myself comfortable on the couch. I looked, from my vantage point, at the mass of photographs Emily had put up, to remind her of home. Strangely, a lot of them featured me. There was one of the two of us sitting at The Jolly Roger, my head in her lap, and talking animatedly whilst she smiled down at me
I remember when Sammy took that photo, he told us that nobody would believe that it wasnt staged. Another one showed the two of us sitting on the tyre swings in the childrens play area outside the pub. Next to it, in a small silver frame, sat a small black and white photo of us going over a script in the college cafeteria, our heads so low they were practically touching.
All of the good times from our relationship. I looked over, and saw one more, which interested me greatly.
It was a largish photo, taken in The Jolly Roger. The main subjects in the photo were Emily and Sammy. Emily was pushing Sammy away, whilst Sammy was laughing. Sammy wore, as usual, jeans and a t-shirt, but, from the clothes Emily wore, as well as the crowded pub, I gathered that this was from the night Emily left me. The charity event for those blasted soldiers. Out of curiosity, more than anything else, I looked for me. I didnt take the photo, of that I was certain; in fact, I didnt remember any time where Emily wasnt by my side, apart from when I went out to get some air, and she decided to stick her tongue down Petes throat and, even then, Sammy was with me. Unless I was in the bathroom, it didnt make any
Wait.
I looked over at the bar, and squinted. The crowd in the background was slightly blurred and out of focus, but a man there was looking directly at the camera, and smirking. Although he was wearing a black rollneck shirt and, from what I could see, jeans, he looked exactly like me. I dont mean me, as I was two years ago.
I mean, down to the scarring on the face and right hand, which he held up, his thumb raised before him, he looked like me. Now.
Very strange, and somewhat un-nerving.
I picked up the photo, to get a better look, when Emily walked back into the room.
Good photographs. I grunted, quickly putting the photo back down.
Good memories. She countered. Because of a good boyfriend.
Em
Jay
Temple
Im sorry.
Forget about it.
No, I mean it. You were the best thing that ever happened to me, and I threw your love back in your face. I felt her hand on my shoulder, and, for a moment, I felt like shrugging it off. However, I let it rest there.
I kept your ring, you know.
Oh?
I put it on a chain, and keep it around my neck. Ive never taken it off, either. Its a reminder.
Of what?
I heard her take a deep breath. Of what I lost. And it reminds me that I shouldnt look somewhere else for The Next Good Thing, when I have the best thing in front of me.
I frowned, and Emily must have sensed it.
Jay? She whispered. Dont you want to see your ring?
I didnt move.
Jason
look at me.
I turned slowly, and stared at Emily. She was, indeed, wearing the ring around her neck; in fact, she toyed with it nervously. Not that I could blame her, as the ring, the necklace it was attached to, and a pair of black lace panties was all she was wearing.
Oh, Jason
She murmured, and wrapped her arms around me.
*
Later on, as we sat in the midnight blue limousine, Sammy between us, bouncing happily on his seat and twittering on about how this was Just like the old days, I caught Emilys eye, as she smiled at me. I forced one back to her, and winked, and she looked away, out of the window, blushing. I sat back, deep in my thoughts, as I realised that Emily, for all her skill, for all her talent, and love, now meant nothing to me.
When we had made love, that afternoon, she seemed
different, to how I remembered. She used to be more
fiery, more passionate, and definitely more interested in taking control of the...er, situation. However, this time, she submitted to me, in every conceivable way. This was definitely not the woman I fell in love with so long ago. Something had completely changed her, and, to tell the plain truth, I didnt care.
We pulled up to the mansion, then, and I popped open the door leading out to the red carpet. I stepped out, and instantly had to force a smile for the cameras and press standing either side of the red velvet ropes leading up to the mansion entrance. Emily came up to my side, and rubbed my hand gently, as we were mobbed by various reporters. Paragon City Fashion Network cameras (How prestigious), next to CNN, BBC Worldwide, Fox, MSNBC
it was certainly going to be given press.
And this is the Mayoral Aide, Emily Campbell, accompanied by
by
Emily smiled at me evilly. This is Jason Tucker, the owner of The Tucker Foundation, as well as the newest Superhero on the block, going by the name of Temple.
I was stunned that Emily had mentioned I was Temple, on worldwide TV, in front of billions of people. The press, however, seemed more taken back that I had been outed as
Im going to kill her.
Mr Tucker! Mr Tucker! Why are you suddenly coming forwards as Januarys Wordwide Lottery winner? Is it
What does this
How do
Where
When did
Are you here
Barraged by question, I turned to Sammy. Sammy! I hissed. Distraction.
On it. Sammy nodded, having started taking to calling himself my sidekick, and taking his self-imposed role very seriously. He jumped in front of me and Emily, and yelled. Wait!
The reporters were stunned into silence, waiting to see and hear what Sammy would do. I wasnt totally surprised when he went into an intricate break-dance routine, leaving reporters staring, and allowed myself and Emily into the mansion without further incident.
Emily turned back to watch him. What on earth is he doing?
Without looking back, I shrugged. The Robot.
*
It was nearly midnight. Nearly Christmas Day, and the party was showing no signs of slowing down. I glanced over to where Sammy was dancing with a redheaded Heroine, whom Sammy had introduced as Sarriss Groundwalker, who seemed quite impressed with his distraction from earlier, which I had found out had been broadcast on televisions throughout the mansion, including one or two by the bar.
It meant no end of dance interruptions for me, as Hero after Hero patted me on the back, to thank me for everything the Foundation had done to help out in Paragon, and quite a few
I realised I was starting to think of them as civilians, approached me, to meet the latest Hero in the city, or to tell me about how The Foundation had touched them. It was the first time I had ever been the centre of attention, and its no exaggeration to say I was the centre of it. Men watched Emily dance, and looked at me jealously, and the women wanted to know how Emily had bagged herself a multi-billionaire philanthropist, as well as a Superhero. I was really quite flattered when a few heroines gave me their phone numbers, and made the discreet decision to not tell Emily about it.
All in all, it made me feel very damn good about Emilys decision to announce my identity to the masses. It was a buzz that didnt even go away when Emily and the Mayor double-teamed me into giving a speech in front of the assembled crowd.
Standing on top of the raised stage area, in front of the band, I glanced out to Emily, who had half an eye on me, and half on her watch. I shrugged it off, and began to speak.
Fellow citizens of Paragon
That was as far as I got before the roof exploded, and men in black armour began rappelling down.
Corruptor had found me.
Aaargghhh it stopped! Where's the rest FG? Please post it!
[center][IMG]http://img163.imageshack.us/img163/2585/resistancesig3.png[/IMG]
Kalis Elfling - Inv/Axe Tanker. [i]Kevin is watching... Always[/i]
Proud member of [url="http://www.honourableunited.org.uk/"]Honourable United[/url]
@Tellis - I reserve the right to be ridiculous![/center]
I'm working on it, I'm working on it! A combination of Writer's Block, as well as tackling a huuuuuuge story like this, ain't easy!
I can imagine. No pressure lol...
[center][IMG]http://img163.imageshack.us/img163/2585/resistancesig3.png[/IMG]
Kalis Elfling - Inv/Axe Tanker. [i]Kevin is watching... Always[/i]
Proud member of [url="http://www.honourableunited.org.uk/"]Honourable United[/url]
@Tellis - I reserve the right to be ridiculous![/center]
Chapter Three
A
SAMMY
Sammy had worked hard to get to where he was today. A few years ago, when he was 14, he was given a choice; he could go into basketball, baseball, soccer, American Football, gymnastics, or spend time in the weight room.
Sammy couldnt jump. Baseball interested him, but it wasnt included in his plans. Soccer? He had asked his father, years ago, to explain the off-side rule, and was left more confused after the explanation than before it. American Football, to him, seemed more like rugby with protective padding. Gymnastics? What was he, a girl? He opted, instead, for the weight room, and spent every free period, as well as most lunches, in there, sweating, working, getting his body as strong as he could make it. By the time he was 16, he had a musculature that most guys in the school would be envious of, regardless of age. He could benchpress nearly three times his own body weight, which had earned him, from his peers, the nickname Ant. No doubt about it, he was strong. This led him onto the schools wrestling team, where he learned to control that strength, harness his power, and become more agile.
When he was 18, and a graduate with top marks, especially in the sciences, where he had shown remarkable prowess, he was ready. The Ant found the nearest Hellion gang members, and destroyed them all, save their leader, whom he tortured for information. The leader led him to the nearest cell, where Sammy killed the poor soul who had led him there, and demanded an audience with the leader of the Hellions.
After killing, maiming, or severely injuring most of the gang members in attendance, Sammy was quickly named the Boss for the Steel Canyon area.
Sammy pushed the Hellions out farther than they had ever been, quickly eliminating all presence of the rival gangs. The Tsoo were the last, and by far the hardest, matching death for death, kill for kill, until Sammy went in alone, using only the stolen Power Belt he had identified as his mothers, and slaughtered the Tsoo leadership.
Sammy had, in a matter of weeks, wiped out nearly all street crime in Steel Canyon, doing what a lot of heroes had been trying to do for decades. With his father, the businessman, practically running the legitimate businesses throughout Steel Canyon, and himself running the underworld, all of Steel Canyon was under Tucker control. But, that wasnt enough for the 18 year old. He had proven himself to be a strategic genius the world hadnt seen since the days of Napoleon, and, were he to say the words, the Hellions could become vigilantes, providing a service to the city
for a modest fee, of course.
He could have become the Hero he had dreamt of in his childhood, could have gone to his father, and say Look what Ive done, Dad.
He didnt, of course. His plans were just beginning.
*
Ive known for a while now that The Fire Guardian is my father. Its strange, really; it was an open secret. Nobody talked about it, simply because everybody knew, and assumed that everyone else knew. The Guardian wasnt mentioned at all in my home, but that wasnt too strange. The only time Superheroes were mentioned was when Aunt Sarriss would be interviewed on the television, having foiled another robbery.
I could see why my Uncle Sammy, whom I was named after, was so infatuated with her. Although I had never met my mysterious Uncle, I must have gotten my taste in women from him. Lithe, slender, toned
she was a vision. Auburn hair down to halfway down her slender back, and a green leather belt hanging from her tiny waist, on top of the longest, most perfect legs Ive ever seen.
Id been crazy about Aunt Sarriss for years. I know, as I always have, that were not related. But, Ive called her Aunt Sarriss for as long as I can remember in fact, shes rather proud of the story she tells, when my first word was, apparently, Sarr, which is my fathers affectionate nickname for her. In another time and place
who knows what might have happened between us? Ive seen her checking me out
hell, most women do. She isnt to blame. In a city of Heroes, Im as strong, if not stronger, than a lot of the guys out there
not as strong as Sarriss herself, but thats fine. I like a woman who can get rough. So, it seems a shame to me that I have to use Aunt Sarriss, in order to progress through my plan.
My Aunt Sarriss is a beautiful woman.
She made an even better corpse.
*
Jason was sat at his desk in his study, when the alarm came through.
A few notes about Jason Tucker, which you may not realise. Jason grew up, alongside the dear departed Sammy Edwards, admiring Superheroes. However, whilst Sammy appreciated the female Heroes, Jason admired them all. Male, female, androgynous beings, and fictional characters. One of Jasons favourite memories was sitting on the sofa, in the house he and Sammy rented, on a Saturday, watching DVDs of the old Batman TV show. So enamoured was he, in fact, that when the technical staff who assisted his Supergroup told him they were setting up an audio only link for all the members, he insisted that his audio link should be in the form of a red phone, which would light up when he was being contacted. Jason kept this phone underneath a glass cake-tin, and gave strict instructions to his fellow members that he should only be contacted, when off duty at least, in case of dire emergencies.
His team-mates were more than capable of taking care of each other, and themselves, so the phone had never once rung, never flashed
in short, it had never been used.
So, when the phone started its shrill warning tone, Jason had to drudge through his memories of what the noise meant. As soon as his eye caught the flashing red phone, however, he knew it was serious. Lifting the cake tin, he picked up the handset, and barked down the line.
Guardian.
Jay?
He didnt recognise the voice.
Yes?
Its
Cara
.
Sarriss? Whats wrong?
I need
.
A scream. High pitched, female, and abruptly cut off.
Sarriss? Sarr? Cara?
Silence.
Then, another voice filtered through the line.
Mr Tucker?
Who is this?
Im the man who just killed your associate, Mr Tucker.
Impossible! Jason spat. All Heroes have an emergency teleporter, which takes them directly to our Base.
Ah, Mr Tucker, but, didnt you know? The signal can be cut off.
Jason turned cold. What do you want?
I want you. One on one.
Where?
Im about two miles north of you, Mr Tucker. Come and find me.
The line went dead, and only then did Jason realise he was trembling.
He was 44 years old. He hadnt gone out on duty for months, citing that it was a young mans game. These days, he acted more as an advisor to the younger members of his team. However, if this
animal was to be believed, his best friend had just been killed. And there was only one person who could do anything about it.
Jason grabbed his Power Belt, and, pressing the button to slide down his large, bulletproof window, and jumped out. He didnt know what awaited him, and he didnt care.
He didnt know that two Tuckers would face each other, and only one would survive to walk away.
Chapter Four
C
JASON
We had Sam track Temple as he walked the streets of Paragon. Sammy and I sat around the briefing table, and sat in silence for a while. Eventually, however, I sighed, and pressed a button on the desk.
This is Guardian. All team-members not currently off-duty, or involved in a skirmish, please report to the base.
Sammy gaped at me. Shouldnt we keep this private?
Why?
Because
.geez, Dad, I dont know. Some version of you from a parallel dimension claims that your wife is dead, killed by an impostor?
Exactly why I called for help. We need an objective point of view on this one. We need a plan which is out of the box, and if this Temple guy is me, we can be sure he thinks like me.
Ohh. Sammy nodded. I get it.
Do you?
No.
I sighed, and was about to reply, when I heard the base teleporter kick in. I looked up just in time to see Sarriss walk in.
Honey, Im home! She smirked, but froze in her tracks when she saw Sammy.
You!
Uhm
.hi?
I glanced between the two of them, before staring at Sarriss. You two have met?
Jay, this was the kid I danced with at your wedding.
Ahh. I nodded. Well, perhaps you two should be formally introduced. Sammy, this is Sarriss Groundwalker, second in command of the team. I smirked slightly. Sarriss, this is Samuel Tucker. I paused for a second.
My son.
*
After Dad explained the situation, which took even longer than I thought it would, what with Aunt Sarriss stopping every few seconds to ask a question, Sarriss looked at me uncomfortably.
What?
I cant believe I thought you were cute.
Hey, Aunt Sarr, dont be like that. I mean
Wait. She narrowed her eyes at me. What did you just call me?
Aunt Sarr? I shrugged. Its what Ive always called you. Hell, you always went around telling everyone you know that my first word was Sarr.
It was?
I nodded. Apparently. I dont remember it, myself.
She chuckled, and nodded, before my Dad cleared his throat. Can we get back down to business, please?
Sure thing, Jay. So
theres this other you walking around Paragon?
He nodded. And we dont know what hes up to.
I sighed. Alternate Earths make my head spin.
Sarriss grinned at me. Just be thankful you werent here for the Rikti invasion. When word first hit that they were from an alternate version of Earth, things got a little crazy. She shrugged. Of course, I was still in the Paragon Police at the time, but we saw bad bits, too. Those red portals
She shivered.
Red? I frowned. They were green. At least
in my dimension, they were.
My Dad blinked. Weird. He turned to Sam. You think that means anything?
Nah, dont sweat it, J.
So. We need to find out Temples plan. The question is, how do we do it?
Dad looked around the table, and looked disheartened with both myself and Aunt Sarriss shrugged.
Oh, come on. We need to find out where hes from, what hes up to, and, above all else, why hes here.
Dad
No, dammit! My Dad yelled. He has my wife. My wife, Sammy.
I know that.
Good! Because Im going to get her back. He sighed. After all the [censored] Ive been through since I got to this damn city, I was looking forward to relaxing, taking things easy. I was going to retire, and live the rest of my life in an advisory role. It isnt like I need the money, and I certainly dont need the excitement. But now? I have to keep fighting.
There was an impressive growl from behind Dad, from the monitor. Just when I thought I was out
they pull me back in.
Shut up, Sam. The three of us chorused.
Now. My Dad continued. Sarriss, if I were Temple.
Which you are. She smiled slightly.
Sorta. What would you expect me to do if Id just told someone Ive kidnapped their wife?
She frowned, and thought about it. Youd probably expect someone to follow you, find out where they go.
Okay. So we dont do that. What would I least expect to happen?
She shrugged. Nothing.
Nothing?
Sarriss nodded. Of course. Youre such a do-gooder, youd have to do something. So Temple would wait for it to happen.
Probably getting more and more nervous in the process. Sammy chipped in.
Okay
so what do we really do?
I looked around, and the others shrugged at me.
Wait for him to come to us? Sarriss suggested.
I sighed. I hate waiting.
Chapter Five
A
SAMMY
Jason flew over the rooftops in a rage. The thought that someone could switch off the base teleporters at will was bad enough, but
the simple, cold murder of Sarriss? Just to get his attention? That was inconceivably evil, beyond that which he was used to. As the Fire Guardian, he was used to stopping muggers, and members of The Council. Occasionally hed come up against a foe who laughingly called himself an Arch Villain, but with his team by his side, they were never much problems.
His team.
Cara.
As he flew through the various sub-areas of Paragon City, which the occupants had dubbed as zones, his memory flashed back on a few years after Sammy was born, when the Fifth Column had resurfaced. Jason had jumped to the task of stopping them with unabashed glee, and it had been Sarriss, herself, that noticed that he had been using lethal force on the Column agents. Since this was a reportable act, and Sarriss had a duty to turn him in to the authorities, if not arrest him herself (an act she didnt really want to try, as his helmet could probably do some serious damage to her fist) she pulled him aside after one such mission, and quietly, gently, and affectionately yelled at him. At the time, he had shrugged it off, and told her that he didnt care about what happened to Nazis. What Sarriss had said in reply made him scowl, today.
Were Heroes, Jason. Heroes. That means we never kill. Its against our code.
Well,, Jason thought to himself. Its probably for the best that she isnt going to see what I do to this son of a [censored], then.
*
I watched as my dad
The Fire Guardian, landed on the rooftop, and stood opposite me, his arms folded. He looked almost
serene, his cape flapping in the wind. Although he couldnt see my face, hidden as it was behind a forcefield mask, I smirked and nodded at him.
I had spent my time in science class wisely, learning all I could about the apparatus behind the so-called Power Belts. These devices emitted a shaped and coloured costume, which various heroes used as clothing. Not all of them used this method, but it seemed a safer alternative to normal clothes. My father had, in his time, altered his costume, and added different costumes, or memory slots, so that he could walk around in jeans and a shirt, as well as a tuxedo, and still have access to his primary costume, which I was looking at now. I knew that the costume I wore must have unnerved him somewhat, as I was wearing my mothers old Power Belt. Admittedly, I had altered it somewhat, but the general appearance I had was one which was strikingly similar to the costume she had worn as The Corruptor, a villain who had nearly killed The Fire Guardian, three times before I was born.
My family was insane.
Mr Tucker! I greeted him. How nice of you to join me so quickly.
He dipped his head, ever so slightly. I had no real choice, did I?
Oh, theres always choice, Mr Tucker.
He flexed one of his hands, and ignited his fire sword. Shrugging, I relaxed my body, and waited. I was sure that, no matter what he had in mind for me, I could best my father in hand to hand combat.
When he swung at me, I stepped back, but realised, too late, that I had grossly underestimated him. This wouldnt be the one sided fight that I had believed it would be, or hoped for. My Dad, not knowing or caring who I was, was out for blood; I was only too happy to oblige him.
*
Slash. Parry. Punch high. Sweep kick low.
Every action we make, every action we dont make. Every single thing we do, or say, or think about
all these things give us the power of life or death. Not just over one person, but over the entire world. One of our own creation.
I refer not to the world of our perceptions, the self-contained visualisations we have of our place in the world, and how we walk through it. I refer, instead, to the world of limitless actions, of limitless consequences, the world borne of belief, and logic, and emotion. Every move we make, no matter how slight, creates another, parallel world.
A quick snap, and an arm breaks.
Let us take the most simple of actions. Do you leave your home and catch a bus to meet your friends now, or wait ten minutes? Surely something so small, so inconsequential, would not impact the world in any way. However, fate works in curious ways. If you leave to catch the bus now, you would get it. The bus driver would see you waiting, and slow down before stopping, so that you can board. He drives on, safely, contentedly, secure in his world.
The Fire Sword disengages and falls from the lifeless arm.
If, however, you waited the ten minutes, you would not catch that bus. The bus driver, therefore, would have no reason to slow down. Therefore, it follows that the car coming out of the junction up ahead would be ploughed into, thanks to the driver thinking more about the end of his shift, instead of the road ahead. The two people in the car die instantly. The bus driver spends the last minutes of his life impaled upon the central column of his steering wheel, his death mourned by his wife and two children, who grow up crippled by fear of cars, and driving. The heavily pregnant woman on that bus falls from her seat onto her stomach, her unborn son taking his mothers weight. The woman suffers internal bleeding, and, despite the best efforts of her doctors, dies on the operating table. Her son was killed instantly, his fragile spine unable to bear the pressure.
A fist shoots out, and smashes into a stomach.
Now, look ahead 35 years. The son, who would have been a doctor in a research laboratory, never makes the accidental discovery of a cure for cancer. The man who stands in his stead didnt have the same drive, the same flair for the imagination. Millions of people die.
The two people in the car, themselves, are of no consequence to history. The families they come from, although originally distrusting of each other, take this tragedy and form a bond. A son and a daughter from these families, united in their grief, begin dating, and have a family. They live happily ever after, but untouched by even a modicum of the greatness that the unborn doctor was destined for.
Your friends, expecting you at the earlier time, move on. They go to a bar, and one of your friends, the one with the big mouth and the inability to close it, gets into trouble by insulting a man a foot taller and two feet wider than he is. You, unaware of your friends location, arent there to step in, to intercede and stop your friend from making a mistake one which, judging by the knife the insulted man keeps in his pocket, is a fatal one. You catch up to your friends, just in time to help try to staunch the blood from your friends stab wound in his chest, too late to do anything but shed tears as he dies. Another life ruined.
Countless lives lost a future uncertain. A cure for one of the biggest medical killers in the world, never created. Your social circle decimated. All because you decided to wait an extra ten minutes.
A howl in pain, and one of the two men stumbles back a few feet, flailing his arms as his wounded opponent reaches for a discarded weapon.
Parallel worlds are created by something smaller than even the tiniest of choices. A word here, a gesture there, can change our opinion of another person. That creates a rift whereas, before, there could have been camaraderie, friendship, even love. The child you could have made with this person now alienated will, in another Earth, a dimension like ours, but not quite, marries, and their child marries, and so on, and so forth. Hundreds of years from now, your genes and teachings to your original child would have brought about world peace. Sadly, in this world, the world of your choosing, this is no longer possible. All because you said an innocent word a fraction of a second too late, or smiled too soon. In that world, everyone lives in harmony. In this one, the human race fought itself to extinction.
The two Tuckers, locked in mortal combat, each breathed heavily, worn down by their battle with each other, when one saw an opening, took it
The only consolation I can offer you is that, since you are unaware of the outcome of your decision, you are blissfully ignorant that you are, in fact, the unknowing architect of humankinds ultimate self destruction.
They say that a butterfly flapping its wings over San Francisco can cause a hurricane in China. Some people believe that a butterfly is too small, too insignificant to the grand scheme of things, to make such a thing happen. However, in a universe where a smile now can bring about the death of all mankind 500 years from now, I ask you: Is insignificant really a term that can be applied to anything?
The other Tucker grins like a feral animal, and slashes the Fire Sword down upon the shoulder of his opponent, cauterising flesh as it slices through bone. Now they are both without the use of one arm. Maintaining balance.
So, in a world where nothing is truly insignificant, where every action has ripples, cause and effect, on what scale would you place a fight, to the death, of father and son? Superpowered veteran fighter, versus massively strong amateur? One old but experienced, one younger, more brash, using brute strength and a genius at tactics to supplement his lack of skill?
You may say, dear friends, that this is all but a butterfly flapping its wings.
I say to you, this is no less than Armageddon.
Not for what is now. But rather, for what it will be. The outcome of this fight is not that it is uncertain. Few things are fixed constants in the Multiverse our friend Temple spoke of such things earlier. However, outside of his ken, there are more constants than he knows. One of them is this: in this fight, there will be only one victor. One will stand, and one will fall. Across all the parallel worlds, in all the Multiverse, this is the only one where Jason Tucker and Sammy Tucker fight to the death. The outcome, to you, right now, is unknown. The Schrödingers Cat of my tale. However, to me, it is already known. It has already happened. Events set in motion beyond The Dark Mirror, beyond The Flames of Justice, back beyond the very beginning of this story, all those months ago when I started to tell it.
A scream rings out, and one of the men charge the other, using his incredible strength to hold the other high above his head, even with one on arm. He throws his helpless opponent down, impaling him on a railing.
This fight is already won, and already lost. You have seen the end. Now witness the beginning.
*
Emily watched on the news, as the death was proclaimed.
Tucker died today, after a fierce battle with
She shut the television off, tears already coating her face.
It wasnt supposed to be this way
. The thought echoed throughout her head, although she knew not from where it came. As she sat, alone in her grief, she heard the familiar noise of the elevator ding, and the all-too familiar footfalls indicating the arrival of the only surviving member of her immediate family. Her reason for living.
Sammy!
Her son smiled at her, holding one side of his body away from her, obscuring it from view. Hey, mum. Whats up?
Here we GO!
After many long months agonising over how to end this....I suppose it's officially an Epic now, really, I realised that the best thing I could do would be to take my mind off it, and do something entirely different. Enter 'Ask A Ben'. However, if you're one of the newer people to the forums, and are wondering exactly what it is I'm blathering on about, let me share something with you:
I'm many, many things. A comedian...of sorts. A film editor? If you can count a short clip of me rambling about a variety of topics 'film', then sure. An actor? Definately. A singer? Why, thank you, yes I am. However, first and foremost, I'm a writer. This story, The Dark Mirror, is the fifth story I've written about my erstwhile hero, Jason Tucker. If you're familiar with the trials and tribulations I've put him through, get stuck right in. Things are exactly how I left them. If, however, you either want to refresh your memory or meet 'FG' for the first time, then see the links I've provided. Either way, I'd recommend reading Reunion, just to get caught up on what's going on.
Story One: Into The Inferno
Story Two: The Flames Of Justice
Story Three: Bloodlines
Story Four: Reunion
This story, Dark Mirror, may see the end of my literary Fire Guardian. It's been far too long, and far too difficult, to get to the stage where I'm at now. I've run out of fresh new stories to tell about him, especially when you consider that this story has been in the making since before Into The Inferno. Everything that's happened so far has been leading up to this point, this story, and this particular tale is the climax to it all.
Maybe I'll write a prequel next. Everybody loves prequels, right?
Enjoy the story, and your feedback, as ever, is more welcome than a Freespec.
- Ben "The Fire Guardian" Fox, May 29th, 2006
--
Chapter One
C
TEMPLE/JASON
I sat down at the meeting table, gesturing for Sammy to do likewise. He sat next to me, and I held out my hand, waiting for this duplicate of me who called himself Temple to tell his tale.
Jason, He began, pulling out a chair opposite me, and steepling his fingers. What do you know, exactly, about the Theory of Relativity?
Very little. I shrugged. It isnt exactly a field of speciality for me.
For me either. Temple shrugged, and grinned slightly. Of course, Ive had to learn, as part of my job.
Job?
Yes. Temple nodded, and looked me right in the eye. I tried to suppress a shiver. It was a truly disjointed feeling, looking at someone who looked and sounded just like you, but carried themselves in a way you never dreamt you would.
Ill get to that in a bit. Now, the Theory of Relativity, as we know it, is actually two theories, not one. General Relativity, and Specialised Relativity. The theory of General Relativity states that, for wont of a better way of putting it, that all matter in the universe whether a particle of sand, a building even you and me, this table, everything in this base, curves Spacetime.
Sammy looked up. Spacetime?
Spacetime is where all physical events take place, in a nutshell. One Spacetime area would be, say, the orbit of the Earth around the sun. Another would be, to make another example, Jason winning the lottery.
I frowned. So, how many of these Spacetimes are there?
Oh, an infinite number. The really good part, however, is that you have to factor, into those Spacetimes, the fact that our presence warps them. Curves them, and distorts them slightly. Each Spacetime is unique, and cant be duplicated exactly.
I was catching on. Because we cant occupy more than one place at any one time?
Temple smiled. Exactly.
But youre here. Sammy frowned. So you are occupying more than one place at one time.
Temple shook his head. In a purely genetic way, then yes, thats certainly true. Both your father and myself share the same DNA the same remarkable good looks.
He chuckled, and I didnt like the sound. He sounded far too pleased with himself. Surely Im not that vain.
However, on a Quantum level, were radically different.
A what?
Temple sighed, and leaned back in his chair. Well, now were getting to the heart of the matter. You see without going too much into it, the Revised Theory of Specialised Relativity postulates that, just as there are an infinite number of Spacetimes, there are an infinite number of universes to contain them.
Sammy and I exchanged a look, before I turned back to Temple. Youre talking about Parallel Universes.
Yes, exactly. Temples face, although never losing the smile, tightened somewhat. And you said that you didnt know much about the Theory.
Suppose, my friends, that you could travel to other worlds. Journey to see alien civilisations, people from radically different cultures.
Would you do it?
I stared at him blankly. Part of me wanted to deny him this, yet it intrigued me.
Of course you would. Mankind has always been curious, ready to explore the strange and unknown at the drop of a hat. However, Im not referring to the travel between stars, no crossing the great void known to us as space. The great unknown depths of the cosmos hold no real secrets, not even in a universe of limitless possibilities. There is no need to endanger yourself, wrapped in a ship make of steel and composites, surviving on recycled air and tasteless dried foods, of hooking yourself into an abominable apparatus which is part seat, part vacuum whenever you need to relieve yourself. I refer, instead, about the travel to different worlds inhabiting the same space as our own. Different dimensions. Its a truly staggering concept.
Suppose you could travel to an Earth in which the British won the war of Independence. What would have become of your precious Paragon City then, I wonder? Maybe it would still be there, named Parliamental City? Or maybe not. Or a world where the Rikti have taken over? Im sure youve imagined such things. Ive seen them. Ive lived them all.
Temple stood, and paced the floor, grinning. This was his favourite subject, I supposed.
Ive been to places where you can be homeless, or a king. Ive been five minutes walk in one direction from here, and seen things of such glory, of such beauty, that theyd take your breath away. Ive been five minutes walk in another direction, and seen things that would give you nightmares for the rest of your life.
Imagine it. Infinite possibilities, right here, right now, invisible to you, and everyone you know. Most people dont want to even concede the possibility of life on other planes of existence, but theyre real. As real as you or I. Ive travelled these worlds, these dimensions, and discovered that there are only four constants. And, before you offer up the age-old phrase that death and taxes are two of them, let me assure you, that Ive been to places where nobody is taxed on anything, and places where people live forever. No, some things Ive discovered are a lot more interesting to you and I.
Did you know that, no matter what happens, there is always a Fire Guardian? The team of Jason Tucker and Sammy Edwards is never denied, both of them exist, in some form or another, throughout the Multiverse. Emily, too, is a constant. No matter where you stand, on whichever Earth you inhabit, The Fire Guardian and his friends are there, to stop wrong-doing, and live for truth, justice all that stuff.
I nodded slowly. Im sorry, but this seems like something out of a bad science fiction movies, yes. I thought these could only be created by someone travelling in time.
Yes, yes, and only, then, by someone driving a DeLorean up to 88 miles per hour. Temple smirked. Please, Jason, I live the life. I know whereof I speak.
I nodded for him to continue. Now, I am a part of a group in my Universe that well, polices these Alternate Dimensions. The Guardians of Infinity, were called, and there was a very troubling sign coming from your Universe.
Oh?
Yes, it seems a Doctor Pendant, believing he jumped back in time to this point, tried to enlist the services of his past self.
Believed Sammys eyebrows shot up.
Yes. However, what he did, instead, was to open up a portal that not only sent him to a different time, but also to a different dimension yours.
So the Doctor Pendant that died recently, the time traveller wasnt actually from this Universe?
No. And it must have been a shock to him to discover that the Pendant from this reality wasnt a Rikti collaborator.
I thought this over. So Sammy isnt my son?
Hey!
Actually yes and no. Genetically, hes your son. Mine, too. But, from a Quantum viewpoint, no.
Sammy looked stunned. Temple ignored this, however, and took a breath. Part of the problem remains, though.
I found I couldnt put up with these lies any longer. Why did you kidnap my wife?
What?
Come on, Temple, I found your note. You took Emily.
No, I didnt.
That note was written in my our handwriting! I felt my voice raise, and I let it. You come here, you talk some [censored] about parallel universes, and you kidnap my wife?
Jason, Jason, Jason. She isnt your wife. Nor is she mine. The woman youre referring to, right now, is a wanted criminal in four different realities. Shes a Supervillain known as Corruptor, who has killed both her own counterparts, as well as ours, in those realities. Shes amassed an incredible fortune by our deaths that, if she decided she wanted it in paper money, and not in electronic accounts, would bankrupt this planet in a heartbeat. She targeted you for death, and, frankly, Im sick of showing up just in time to watch coroners stuff my body into a black plastic bag.
What?
Its true. Temple continued serenely, and pulled out a small handheld device, pressing a few buttons before sliding it across the table to me.
This is the Quantum signature of the woman I took from your apartment. Check it against you own.
I stared at the unfamiliar device.
The button labelled scan? Temple shook his head.
I pressed the button, and a second later, another pattern, like a wave-line from an oscilloscope, appeared on the screen.
Now, Temple said with maddening patience, as if he were addressing a small child. Press the Comparison button.
I did so, and watched as the two patterns on the screen try to align themselves.
It failed.
Happy now?
Hardly. I grumbled, before sliding the device back to Temple, who picked it up and put it back on his belt with one fluid move, and nodded.
Wheres the real Emily?
Temple sighed. Honestly? I dont know.
So, help us find her!
I cant.
I stared at Temple. Why not?
Because, Jason, shes probably dead.
No, that isnt it cant
Youre lying.
Temple had the decency enough to try to look sad. I wish I were, for your sake. My own Emily well, she was killed shortly after our wedding.
Im sorry.
He nodded once. Well, then.
So, why are you here?
Excuse me?
Youve got Pendant. Youve got Emily, I bit back, So why else are you here?
Oh, I just wanted to meet you. To explain the situation. Youd have done the same for me.
I nodded silently, and Temple took that as his cue to leave. Standing up, he nodded back to me. See you around, Jason.
Sure.
Without saying another word, or even glancing at Sammy, Temple spun on his heels, and headed towards the Base exit.
When he left, and Sam confirmed the transport, Sammy turned to me, wide eyed. Do you really think that Mums dead?
I dont believe a word of what he told us. Im going to find Emily the one he has, and talk to her.
Im coming with.
Just like that. I started to argue, but Sammys expression, looking just like his mother, told me hed brook no conversation.
Okay.
*
Temple pressed a button on his forearm, and held it up to his face. Cain?
Yes?
They bought it.
Oh, good. So, the experiment will continue?
As planned.
Good work, Temple.
Temple nodded, although his companion, Cain, could not see.
And after we kill Tucker, and that dimension jumper he calls a son? What happens to his wife?
Temple imagined he could see the smirk on Cains face.
Shes yours, to do with as you see fit.
Good.