Post by kardonwire on Oct 28, 2011 19:12:16 GMT -5
Ultimate: Shield #2 – Time to be a hero, part two –
Joseph began to smile as King, covered in blood, continued to float upon the water. Noticing this King let out a laugh, breaking the silence.
“You can at least pretend to be scared ya know?” Shouted King as he casually swam towards Joseph.
“C’mon Sam I can’t be scared every time.”
Pulling himself out of the pool Sam began to stretch, only emphasizing his huge frame in comparison to Joseph, letting out a yawn as he did so. Disgusted by the sight but mainly at the smell coming from Sam’s mouth Joseph turned away holding his nose.
“Could you turn around when you do that Sam! I know the smell doesn’t bother you but not all of us like the smell of blood.”
“I didn’t like it at first either my man but what can I say it just grows on ya.” Replied Sam leaning in and exhaling over Joseph.
“Jesus!” Shouted Joseph trying to push Sam away as he threw up on the floor.
“Dude that’s disgusting!”
“Says the guy……who just had raw octopus…..for dinner.”
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“Do you know why he’s been so desperate to see Sam, Jay?” Asked Laura as she placed her bronze armour back into her locker labelled S.S.
Taking a cigar from the breast pocket of his grey suit Jay gave a quick glance at his watch.
“Never noticed Laura but now that you mention it you’re right he’s been pretty desperate for the past few days to see ‘im.”
Looking up at the ceiling Jay has a slightly curious look on his face but after a few seconds his face returns to normal.
“I guess. And I don’t mean this in a bad way Laura, cause you’re one of the best. Hell maybe it’s just my age talking but Sam and Joseph go back quite a bit, even before Joseph joined up he knew Sam since he was a friend of his fathers. Couple that with all the shit those two have been through in battle together and I’m not sure you’d understand but sometimes a man just finds that friend on the battlefield. That one guy he knows is gonna be there for ‘im through thick and thin both in and out of battle. I’m guessing Joseph’s been needing someone to talk to is all.”
Laura is surprised by Jay’s response as she flings her backpack on.
“Well I wasn’t expecting that from you Jay, you feeling alright? It’s not like you to get all mushy so suddenly but I can understand what you’re saying about those two, although it would be nice to be included.”
“Anyway you wanting a lift Laura? I’m going to visit a friend and he stays past your place.”
“Thanks Jay.”
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“The room okay?” Asked Joseph.
Sam walked on ahead and opened the door to his private quarters in the base, ducking his head as he entered the room. Joseph often wondered how Sam stayed sane stuck in the military base all these years. He knew that Sam snuck out every now and then, mainly to have a swim around the local waters, but it’d been so long since he’d been able to just go out and not worry.
“Yeah man it’s clean. They don’t check their bugs till Wednesday so we’re cool. Just close the door behind you.”
“Sure.”
Sam sat upon his bed. It had been designed for his body and took up a good portion of the room. Joseph wasn’t a fan of the bed as it always made him feel like a child. Sitting on one of the chairs Sam kept for visitors Joseph’s expression turned serious.
“What did you find Sam anything useful?”
“Yeah got a good haul from the Metropolis branch a few even mention your father along with some interesting old Heracles projects.”
At these words Joseph’s eyes lit up. Both him and Sam had been gathering information about his father’s disappearance for four years which was when Joseph had joined Project Heracles and became Shield. Information about his father wasn’t easy to find however, even though he had been one of the heads of Project Heracles in its early years his records suddenly stop three months before he vanished with no obvious links to why he disappeared.
“I’ll let you read them.” Said Sam reaching over to a nearby shelf and lifting one of the many sports books upon it. “One of the projects seems to end just before your father vanished.”
The book opens onto a page stuffed with paper. Lifting them out Sam hands them over to Joseph as he places the book to the side.
“Thanks.”
Immediately Joseph reads the file, his eyes never leaving the page. As he reads them his eyes begin to water, memories of his father coming to the front of his mind.
“Project Overlord? Have you ever heard of it Sam?” Asked Joseph finally raising his head from the page.
“Nah and back then your old man was pretty free with sharing information with me about the other projects like Static and Titan but he never once mentioned an Overlord project.”
“Sounds ominous.”
Joseph went silent as his mind wandered.
“If you don’t mind Sam I’m gonna head home. Have a think on this.” Announced Joseph as he rised from the chair.
“Oh…..no problem dude.” Replied a disappointed Sam. “I’ll catch you tomorrow.”
“Yeah. I’ve got some training but it’s not till the afternoon so I’ll see you about ten or so before I start.”
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Having just dropped off Laura, Jay finished the rest of his cigar and flung the butt out the window. Starting his old green Cadillac, Jay slowly released the wheel as if reluctant to drive but after a second his grip returned and he pulled out onto the road.
‘Where am I going?’ Thought Jay. ‘You’re going to see a friend, an old war buddy.’
Jay’s hands loosened and tightened constantly as he drove. His surrounding slowly changing from a nice urban neighbourhood to a quiet forest, the roads began to get thinner and thinner till eventually he was following only dirt tracks made by other vehicles. All the while his earlier thoughts kept repeating. As the dirt trails got faint Jay’s face twisted in pain, gritting his teeth as his eyes tried to focus on something that seemed just out of sight.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
‘The power to control others.’ Thought Joseph as he opened his fifth bottle of Budweiser. ‘How the hell do you fight something like that.’
Taking a swig from the bottle Joseph looks over to a picture of his father and mother. His mother had died a few years ago, nothing as dramatic as his father’s disappearance she had just gotten too old. She had always been a kind woman, a good mother. Losing himself to memories of happier times Joseph suddenly looked back to the picture.
“What the hell happened dad?
The picture offered no answer as Joseph went to take another sip.
“Finished already?”
Lifting himself from his chair Joseph wobbled slightly as he made his way to the fridge.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
It was getting dark out as Jay finally stopped. It was the middle of nowhere, nothing but nature surrounding him. Stepping out of his car Jay’s expression was still one of anguish. His hands trembled visibly as his eyes blinked erratically. Walking a few metres in front of his car Jay stopped, crouching he tapped at the ground five times and stood back up. A few moments later the ground began to shift, pulling itself back to reveal a set of steel stairs. Reluctantly Jay began his descent down the steps.
He continued to walk beyond the stairs down the old corridors, lit dimly by the red bulbs that lined the ceiling. With each step he could feel himself becoming more and more relaxed. He knew this feeling, hated every moment of it.
‘Once……again I’ve lost. One of these…….days Max, one of thes…….’
Jay’s current thoughts faded away from him as his mind went quiet.
Eventually he came to a steel door, reaching out and grabbing the handle he entered. The room was filled with people all wearing hazard suits and all hard at work. The only noises heard where the sound of metal clanging and beeps of confirmation as various machines done their job. If Jay could have he would have wondered what manner of machines surrounded him, the very appearance of it was alien in nature as each worker used just as strange equipment to work upon them.
After half an hour of walking Jay stopped as everyone else around him continued to go about their business except the strange figure that stood in front of him. Reaching out its crooked skeletal hand its long fingers slowly extended outwards towards Jay. Walking towards it Jay offered out his hand causing the creature to grab it fiercely.
“How long has it been Jay since we met face to face? Fifty…..no fifteen years.” It said with joyous tone. “As you can see time passes very quickly down here. It can be hard to keep track.”
Jay stood silently.
“Oh of course my apologies, I forgot. I’ll loosen my control over you. Or else this will be a very one sided conversation and I do so wish to have a proper chat with someone new.”
“What the hell happened to you Max?!” You look like a damn zombie!”
Max’s looks as if he is trying to smile at Jay’s reaction but the wrinkles that cover his face make it hard for Jay to discern.
“It is nice to see you care. To answer that all I can say is look around you. This room is what keeps me alive but as I implied is also the reason behind my appearance.”
Jay was taken aback by this. Max should be around his age but looking at this horrid little man in front him was like looking at a decaying corpse.
“But….how? Why?” Asked Jay his mind struggling to believe what he could see.
“Now Jay the how I can give you the why is none of your business. You are only here once again because John has some further modifications to add to you and this conversation is just a little something to relieve my boredom.”
“Modifications? What the hell have you been doing to me you freak?!” Screamed Jay an overwhelming anger boiling up inside him.
“Calm down. You’ve had our equipment in you for the past four years. Every few months I summon you down here so John can perform a little update on you then we send you on your way. This is one of those times.
“You son of a bitch Max! I told Tom it was a mistake to use you! I don’t know what the hell you’re planning but I’ll…”
Jay was suddenly silent as he resumed his former relaxed state.
“It looks like even old age can’t mellow you out Jay, a pity. I was hoping to have a good chat.”
Max shuffled on ahead of Jay as he slowly followed behind.
“You see Jay this is your last visit here. According to John after this little update to you we should be finally able to commence the last few steps in my plan.”
At the mention of the word ‘plan’ Max’s voice takes on a prideful tone.
“I can guarantee you wouldn’t like it. Anyway we’re here.”
Jay came to a stop as he reached Max who was standing at the bottom of another set of stairs.
“This is where we part ways unfortunately. It was nice seeing you again. Say hi to John when you see him.”
Max wandered off as Jay began to walk up the stairs. Each step made a loud thud and as he got closer to the door at the top he could hear a constant electrical buzzing accompanied by the odd mumble. Opening the door Jay stopped and stared blankly ahead. The room was filled with strange machinery, electricity flicked wildly across the room back and forth. Jay continued to stand aimlessly until a giant mechanical creature came from behind one of the machines.
“Good to see Max hasn’t kept you too long. I can’t wait to finally finish my work!”
“Hi.” Replied Jay.
Joseph began to smile as King, covered in blood, continued to float upon the water. Noticing this King let out a laugh, breaking the silence.
“You can at least pretend to be scared ya know?” Shouted King as he casually swam towards Joseph.
“C’mon Sam I can’t be scared every time.”
Pulling himself out of the pool Sam began to stretch, only emphasizing his huge frame in comparison to Joseph, letting out a yawn as he did so. Disgusted by the sight but mainly at the smell coming from Sam’s mouth Joseph turned away holding his nose.
“Could you turn around when you do that Sam! I know the smell doesn’t bother you but not all of us like the smell of blood.”
“I didn’t like it at first either my man but what can I say it just grows on ya.” Replied Sam leaning in and exhaling over Joseph.
“Jesus!” Shouted Joseph trying to push Sam away as he threw up on the floor.
“Dude that’s disgusting!”
“Says the guy……who just had raw octopus…..for dinner.”
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
“Do you know why he’s been so desperate to see Sam, Jay?” Asked Laura as she placed her bronze armour back into her locker labelled S.S.
Taking a cigar from the breast pocket of his grey suit Jay gave a quick glance at his watch.
“Never noticed Laura but now that you mention it you’re right he’s been pretty desperate for the past few days to see ‘im.”
Looking up at the ceiling Jay has a slightly curious look on his face but after a few seconds his face returns to normal.
“I guess. And I don’t mean this in a bad way Laura, cause you’re one of the best. Hell maybe it’s just my age talking but Sam and Joseph go back quite a bit, even before Joseph joined up he knew Sam since he was a friend of his fathers. Couple that with all the shit those two have been through in battle together and I’m not sure you’d understand but sometimes a man just finds that friend on the battlefield. That one guy he knows is gonna be there for ‘im through thick and thin both in and out of battle. I’m guessing Joseph’s been needing someone to talk to is all.”
Laura is surprised by Jay’s response as she flings her backpack on.
“Well I wasn’t expecting that from you Jay, you feeling alright? It’s not like you to get all mushy so suddenly but I can understand what you’re saying about those two, although it would be nice to be included.”
“Anyway you wanting a lift Laura? I’m going to visit a friend and he stays past your place.”
“Thanks Jay.”
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
“The room okay?” Asked Joseph.
Sam walked on ahead and opened the door to his private quarters in the base, ducking his head as he entered the room. Joseph often wondered how Sam stayed sane stuck in the military base all these years. He knew that Sam snuck out every now and then, mainly to have a swim around the local waters, but it’d been so long since he’d been able to just go out and not worry.
“Yeah man it’s clean. They don’t check their bugs till Wednesday so we’re cool. Just close the door behind you.”
“Sure.”
Sam sat upon his bed. It had been designed for his body and took up a good portion of the room. Joseph wasn’t a fan of the bed as it always made him feel like a child. Sitting on one of the chairs Sam kept for visitors Joseph’s expression turned serious.
“What did you find Sam anything useful?”
“Yeah got a good haul from the Metropolis branch a few even mention your father along with some interesting old Heracles projects.”
At these words Joseph’s eyes lit up. Both him and Sam had been gathering information about his father’s disappearance for four years which was when Joseph had joined Project Heracles and became Shield. Information about his father wasn’t easy to find however, even though he had been one of the heads of Project Heracles in its early years his records suddenly stop three months before he vanished with no obvious links to why he disappeared.
“I’ll let you read them.” Said Sam reaching over to a nearby shelf and lifting one of the many sports books upon it. “One of the projects seems to end just before your father vanished.”
The book opens onto a page stuffed with paper. Lifting them out Sam hands them over to Joseph as he places the book to the side.
“Thanks.”
Immediately Joseph reads the file, his eyes never leaving the page. As he reads them his eyes begin to water, memories of his father coming to the front of his mind.
“Project Overlord? Have you ever heard of it Sam?” Asked Joseph finally raising his head from the page.
“Nah and back then your old man was pretty free with sharing information with me about the other projects like Static and Titan but he never once mentioned an Overlord project.”
“Sounds ominous.”
Joseph went silent as his mind wandered.
“If you don’t mind Sam I’m gonna head home. Have a think on this.” Announced Joseph as he rised from the chair.
“Oh…..no problem dude.” Replied a disappointed Sam. “I’ll catch you tomorrow.”
“Yeah. I’ve got some training but it’s not till the afternoon so I’ll see you about ten or so before I start.”
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Having just dropped off Laura, Jay finished the rest of his cigar and flung the butt out the window. Starting his old green Cadillac, Jay slowly released the wheel as if reluctant to drive but after a second his grip returned and he pulled out onto the road.
‘Where am I going?’ Thought Jay. ‘You’re going to see a friend, an old war buddy.’
Jay’s hands loosened and tightened constantly as he drove. His surrounding slowly changing from a nice urban neighbourhood to a quiet forest, the roads began to get thinner and thinner till eventually he was following only dirt tracks made by other vehicles. All the while his earlier thoughts kept repeating. As the dirt trails got faint Jay’s face twisted in pain, gritting his teeth as his eyes tried to focus on something that seemed just out of sight.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
‘The power to control others.’ Thought Joseph as he opened his fifth bottle of Budweiser. ‘How the hell do you fight something like that.’
Taking a swig from the bottle Joseph looks over to a picture of his father and mother. His mother had died a few years ago, nothing as dramatic as his father’s disappearance she had just gotten too old. She had always been a kind woman, a good mother. Losing himself to memories of happier times Joseph suddenly looked back to the picture.
“What the hell happened dad?
The picture offered no answer as Joseph went to take another sip.
“Finished already?”
Lifting himself from his chair Joseph wobbled slightly as he made his way to the fridge.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
It was getting dark out as Jay finally stopped. It was the middle of nowhere, nothing but nature surrounding him. Stepping out of his car Jay’s expression was still one of anguish. His hands trembled visibly as his eyes blinked erratically. Walking a few metres in front of his car Jay stopped, crouching he tapped at the ground five times and stood back up. A few moments later the ground began to shift, pulling itself back to reveal a set of steel stairs. Reluctantly Jay began his descent down the steps.
He continued to walk beyond the stairs down the old corridors, lit dimly by the red bulbs that lined the ceiling. With each step he could feel himself becoming more and more relaxed. He knew this feeling, hated every moment of it.
‘Once……again I’ve lost. One of these…….days Max, one of thes…….’
Jay’s current thoughts faded away from him as his mind went quiet.
Eventually he came to a steel door, reaching out and grabbing the handle he entered. The room was filled with people all wearing hazard suits and all hard at work. The only noises heard where the sound of metal clanging and beeps of confirmation as various machines done their job. If Jay could have he would have wondered what manner of machines surrounded him, the very appearance of it was alien in nature as each worker used just as strange equipment to work upon them.
After half an hour of walking Jay stopped as everyone else around him continued to go about their business except the strange figure that stood in front of him. Reaching out its crooked skeletal hand its long fingers slowly extended outwards towards Jay. Walking towards it Jay offered out his hand causing the creature to grab it fiercely.
“How long has it been Jay since we met face to face? Fifty…..no fifteen years.” It said with joyous tone. “As you can see time passes very quickly down here. It can be hard to keep track.”
Jay stood silently.
“Oh of course my apologies, I forgot. I’ll loosen my control over you. Or else this will be a very one sided conversation and I do so wish to have a proper chat with someone new.”
“What the hell happened to you Max?!” You look like a damn zombie!”
Max’s looks as if he is trying to smile at Jay’s reaction but the wrinkles that cover his face make it hard for Jay to discern.
“It is nice to see you care. To answer that all I can say is look around you. This room is what keeps me alive but as I implied is also the reason behind my appearance.”
Jay was taken aback by this. Max should be around his age but looking at this horrid little man in front him was like looking at a decaying corpse.
“But….how? Why?” Asked Jay his mind struggling to believe what he could see.
“Now Jay the how I can give you the why is none of your business. You are only here once again because John has some further modifications to add to you and this conversation is just a little something to relieve my boredom.”
“Modifications? What the hell have you been doing to me you freak?!” Screamed Jay an overwhelming anger boiling up inside him.
“Calm down. You’ve had our equipment in you for the past four years. Every few months I summon you down here so John can perform a little update on you then we send you on your way. This is one of those times.
“You son of a bitch Max! I told Tom it was a mistake to use you! I don’t know what the hell you’re planning but I’ll…”
Jay was suddenly silent as he resumed his former relaxed state.
“It looks like even old age can’t mellow you out Jay, a pity. I was hoping to have a good chat.”
Max shuffled on ahead of Jay as he slowly followed behind.
“You see Jay this is your last visit here. According to John after this little update to you we should be finally able to commence the last few steps in my plan.”
At the mention of the word ‘plan’ Max’s voice takes on a prideful tone.
“I can guarantee you wouldn’t like it. Anyway we’re here.”
Jay came to a stop as he reached Max who was standing at the bottom of another set of stairs.
“This is where we part ways unfortunately. It was nice seeing you again. Say hi to John when you see him.”
Max wandered off as Jay began to walk up the stairs. Each step made a loud thud and as he got closer to the door at the top he could hear a constant electrical buzzing accompanied by the odd mumble. Opening the door Jay stopped and stared blankly ahead. The room was filled with strange machinery, electricity flicked wildly across the room back and forth. Jay continued to stand aimlessly until a giant mechanical creature came from behind one of the machines.
“Good to see Max hasn’t kept you too long. I can’t wait to finally finish my work!”
“Hi.” Replied Jay.