Clash Of Worlds (31 page)

On the opposite side of the mirror, Professor Milton stood in the small viewing room, watching James with interest. It was he who had paged the nurse, who now entered the room as well. “How is he?” asked the professor.

“His vital signs have stabilised at an incredible rate,” answered the nurse. “In four days, he’s healed from injuries that normally take a man six months to recover.”

“Curious,” said the professor, looking deep in thought. The professor’s casual response led the nurse to believe that the man knew more than he was letting on.

“This doesn’t surprise you?”

“Nothing surprises me when it comes to this boy,” he replied. “Ok, that will be all nurse. I’ll go in and see him now.” With that, Professor Milton made his way into the small medical room where James was stationed.

As the professor entered, James was making yet another attempt at leaving the bed. Professor Milton could see his attempts were in vain. “Save your strength, my boy, you will need it.”

James smiled; he was pleased to see the old man. It was a harsh fact of life that James rarely had the opportunity to meet up with him in person anymore. In fact, many agents could spend as much as six months at a time away from the headquarters building if they were not called into a mission that required them to be briefed at the building. The agents did, however, need to go to headquarters for their half yearly summon, in which they would give a progress report to Sergeant Cooper about the well-being of their city. James trusted the professor above almost anyone. He trusted him as much as he trusted Chad, whom he regarded as a brother.

“Looks like you had quite a fall out there my boy,” said the professor.

“Yeah…” replied James, sounding jaded. He had used up a lot of energy trying to get up out of the bed. “How are you doing?”

James managed to sit himself up in the bed. “I’m ok…” he said faintly.

“The nurse says you’re recovering well. You should be up and about in no time.”

James’ eyes felt heavy and he struggled to keep them open. His thoughts dwelt on Lucius, the man who had dished out the punishment to him. He remembered the white haired man’s words.
Alexandria…
“Where’s Chad? I need to speak to him…”

Professor Milton paused for a few moments before giving his answer.

Numerous holding cells were lined up parallel to each other in a dark and damp wing of the World Order’s headquarters. Chad sat inside a small ten by ten-foot cell. There were only minimal living requirements within the cell. A bed to sleep on and a washing basin with a small mirror just above it were the only things inside. Chad had been reprimanded to the holding cells after his attack on Sergeant Cooper a few hours earlier. The cell reminded him of his childhood when he would be locked up in solitary confinement at Bel Grave Orphanage by Mrs Garner. He hated those memories more than anything.
I’m like a rat in a cage.

He began to contemplate whether or not to break out, which he was more than capable of doing. Like James, if he was to put in all of his efforts he would likely be able to slowly bend the cell bars such was his strength. He always held back around other agents, but Chad’s true strength was the equivalent to that of ten men.

The quiet sound of a metal door opening from the bottom of the hallway could be heard. A young girl walked through it, closing the door behind her. As the girl walked through the shadows towards the cell in which he was kept, Chad could make out the girl to be Stacey. He sat up from the bed and walked towards the bars of his cell. Stacey cautiously approached the cell. The girl had been scared by what she had seen earlier when her boyfriend had become enraged at her father. Still, she loved him and had to see him.

Chad got wind of the fact that she was nervous. He felt a deep sense of anger within himself for hurting her, something he’d sworn never to do.
How could I?
“Hey, are you ok?” he asked, with a mellow tone in his voice.

“Yeah, are you?” she replied. Her face was unmoved. Chad turned his head, looking around the four walls of the cell. “Yeah, never better!” he said, playing everything off as if it was fine in a foolish attempt to lighten the mood. Stacey however, wasn’t in the mood for games. She had a deadly serious look on her face.

“Chad, what happened back there?” she asked. The concern was edged in her words.

“Stacey, I honestly don’t know,” he answered. That was the truth too. He had no idea why he had attacked Sergeant Cooper, none at all.

“You don’t know? You could have killed him Chad.” She didn’t raise her voice. She wanted a heart to heart with him. A shouting match wouldn’t have benefitted either of them.

“I don’t know what happened. It’s hard to explain…”

“Try!” said Stacey. She wanted answers for his erratic behaviour.

Chad didn’t have any, though. He did his best to explain what he felt during that time. “I’m not entirely sure, all I know was one minute I was completely calm, and then the next I was raging. I couldn’t control or stop it. The more your dad spoke, the more it fuelled my anger. It was like something was driving me…”

“Like what?” asked Stacey, who was now confused as ever.

Chad bowed his head slightly and put his head in his hands. His eyes watered up. “Stacey, I just don’t know. I felt like something out there…was calling me.”

Stacey put her hands through the cell bars and hugged him. “It’s ok, we’ll get through this…together.” They both placed their heads against the bars and kissed.

Inside of Le Theatre Des Champs Elysees in Paris, the male theatre conductor was tidying up the stage after the latest performance. All seats in the auditorium were empty for the guests had long departed. The conductor began to hear the sound of footsteps as someone approached the stage. He thought this strange, as he had locked up the theatre some time ago. The footsteps began to get louder. The conductor turned around and behind him stood Lucius. The conductor was startled by the latter’s presence. Ever since he had become involved with Lucius the man had become more fearful of him with every encounter.

Lucius could almost smell the fear pouring off the man. He enjoyed this and gave a smirk of satisfaction. “What’s the matter, my friend? You seem displeased to see me,” said Lucius.

The conductor did a terrible job of hiding his nervousness, stuttering as he spoke. “No sir, erm…how was your trip?”

“A success. I obtained the artefact I desired,” Lucius pulled out the stone that he had acquired from Sydney. The white-haired man smiled as he looked at it. The conductor failed to see the value in such a thing, however, he kept his mouth firmly shut, not wishing to anger Lucius.

“I sense your lack of enthusiasm for this item,” said Lucius, reading the man’s body language like a book. “You’re a fool. You fail to realise the ancient knowledge and power possessed within it.”

“Knowledge?” asked the conductor, whose interest began to pick up.

“Never mind, I have a task for you.”

“A task? Of course! What is it you wish of me?” Asked the man. Lucius didn’t answer though. The pair stood in silence for a few moments. “Sir? Are you ok?”

Lucius looked dazed and put his right hand to his forehead. He began to wince in pain slightly. Then he suddenly exploded into rage. “Get out! Get out of here!” he yelled at the top of his voice.

The conductor began to run, falling as he did so. He picked himself to his feet and continued at speed until he was out of the auditorium.

Lucius closed his eyes. The room disintegrated around him, turning into darkness. He opened his eyes and now found himself on top of a large mountain. The tree’s had worn away, the grass had died, leaving only ash and rock. The sky was dark, and a wonderfully strange star constellation filled it in all corners. In the background was the dark palace of Underworld.

“It has been a long time since I have had word from you,” said a chilling voice from behind Lucius. He turned around and behind him stood Kanto, the king of the Underworld realm. He was a man of middle age and cut a dominating figure. Big broad shoulders were covered by dark royal armour, which had graved upon it, the emblem of Underworld, a four-sided sword, edged in the shape of a cross. He held in his right hand a golden spear, which contained a small stone at the top of it. The stone omitted a small red glow and looked similar to that of the stone that Lucius had recently gained possession of. The man’s face was that which Chad had also seen in his dreams, although Chad was not aware of the man’s identity.

Lucius bowed down immediately. “I’m sorry my king, I have been carrying out your commands.” “And?” asked Kanto, who seemed impatient. The king was a man who was known for his lack of patience, and Lucius’ lack of updates had angered him.

“Everything goes according to plan. The people of this realm are weak and easily manipulated. Their will shall soon be broken.”

Kanto remained silent, circling around Lucius as the latter spoke, almost in a stalking fashion.

Lucius got the impression that his king was not satisfied with what he had heard so far, so he continued on. “I have the second stone, my king,” he said, holding out the object as proof of his success.

Kanto continued to circle Lucius slowly, not even caring to glance at the stone, even for a moment.

“What of the Alexandrian exile?”

Lucius took a deep breath before responding. “He still lives…”

Kanto stopped in his tracks. The spear, which he had held upright at his side up until this point, now came downward, with it’s spiked tip pointed in the direction of Lucius. The white haired man knew he could not be harmed here and now. Their conversation was taking place in the minds of both men. Kanto had used his ancient power of telepathy, to communicate with the leader of the Underworld armies across the different realms. His power was so great he could communicate or manipulate anybody susceptible to his will from any world, no matter how far away they might be. As the ruler of the Underworld realm, all those from that world were susceptible to his will. He could control all of them if he desired with mere thought alone. This is why he was able to communicate with Lucius from such a great distance, and although he could not hurt the white haired man from here, Lucius knew the consequences of the king’s wrath.

“You were defeated?” asked Kanto. The tone in the king’s voice showed his displeasure.

“No, my king…” replied Lucius, sounding a little anxious.

“Yet he still lives?”

“We were interrupted, an unexpected thing has occurred. The other one, the exile from our own realm, the two of them have become allies.”

“Allies?” Kanto said. There was no hint of surprise or concern in his words.

“Yes, my king. The other one arrived and came to the Alexandrian’s aid. It’s sickening to think that one of our own is helping the Alexandrian vermin. He too must be eradicated.”

Kanto seemed enraged by this suggestion. “No!” he shouted. “The banished son of Underworld is susceptible to my will. He will prove useful. He will remain alive…for now.”

Lucius was not happy with the king’s response. “My king, he could prove troublesome and may interfere with our goals. I am superior to him. I shall kill him.”

“You are not superior boy,” said Kanto bluntly.

Lucius gave Kanto a look of astonishment at his judgment of him. He immediately leapt to his own defence. “I am the General of the armies of Underworld, undefeated in battle. All in our realm recognise my name and know to fear it. How am I not superior?” There was a hint of defiance in his voice.

Kanto began to laugh, almost in a mocking fashion. “Your motives are pathetic and predictable, and full of childish need. You are so desperate to prove yourself, but your efforts are in vain, for the banished son of Underworld is the superior one.”

“I will prove my worth,” said Lucius, who seemed to have been slightly hurt by the king’s words. Lucius carried on. “I will continue on with my mission. The people of this world shall have their spirits shattered and their will shall bend to yours. Soon, all in this realm shall be under your influence and you will rule them all.”

“Good,” said Kanto, showing no enthusiasm to the white haired man’s speech. “Now then Lucius, you are to kill the son of Zeris. Then, you will bring the other one to me.”

“As you wish…” answered Lucius hesitantly. The king of Underworld now spoke his final words. “Be warned, General of Underworld. If you fail in your task, if the people of the Earth realm are not broken, there will be no distant realm, no world, and no obscure wasteland where I cannot find you. You think you know suffering? If you fail me, I will make you beg for your own death.”

Kanto placed his hand against Lucius’ chin and touched him softly. Then suddenly, from his hand came a paralyzing sensation, which ran through Lucius’ entire body. Lucius cried out in pain and with that he was back on the theatre stage inside Le Theatre Des Champs Elysees.

The theatre conductor had heard Lucius scream from off the stage and came rushing back aid him. The conductor did this out of fear rather than loyalty, thinking he would be spared the white haired man’s rage if he helped him. He proved mistaken, however. “Are you ok sir?” asked the conductor as he approached a clearly shaken Lucius. Sweat poured off the white haired man’s forehead, and he breathed heavily. The conductor stood beside him and looked him up and down in confusion. “Sir?”

Lucius raised his head and glared the conductor in the eye. Without hesitation, Lucius ploughed his fist straight through the man’s chest. He slowly pulled it out, his entire arm filled with the man’s blood. The conductor fell to the floor in an instant. His death was quick, but not painless.

Three more days had passed and James was close to one hundred percent. He was now walking unaided and had begun light gym work. Today he had a meeting with Professor Milton. The professor wished to discuss the events of the Sydney mission and, in particular, the mysterious white-haired figure he had battled with on the rooftop.

James was pleased to be finally spending time with the professor once again. He looked up to the man more than anyone else. In the absence of any parents whilst growing up, he was the father figure James never had. He was forever thankful to him for rescuing he and Chad off the streets of London all those years ago. James walked into his office and the pair embraced each other, almost like a father and son might do.