This is the sequel to my previous superhero story The Evil We Must Face In Ourselves, and is the third part of my Greendale Superhero trilogy. Like the first story A City In Need Of Saving and the second story it is very dark and is rated a Hard T.
This story takes place one month after the events of The Evil We Must Face In Ourselves. There are a number of flashbacks within the story, which are indicated when long passages are in italics. Flashbacks before the dimensional splitting (referring to alternate universes being formed in the actual Community episode "Remedial Chaos Theory") have indicators of which year they take place in. Flashbacks taking place after the dimensional splitting do not have indicating years. To try and help things be kept straight I've made a brief event timeline:
10 years ago=the seven different universes are formed. 8 years ago=the study group graduates from Greendale. 6 years ago=Shirley's boys and Andre are killed by a car bomb. 4 and a half years ago=Shirley becomes pregnant with Aaron, Shirley and Abed get married and they both retire from crime fighting. 2 years ago=Pierce is killed by Chang's twin brother Bernard, aka El Tigre. 1 year and two months ago=Troy is beaten into a coma and Jeff breaks up with Annie to protect her. 10 months ago=the events of A City In Need Of Saving. 1 months ago=the events of The Evil We Must Face In Ourselves.
I in no way own the wonderful show Community or any of its amazing characters.
Dedicated to MEGGEM, for inspiring me to take my first story and turn it into a trilogy. And to Wicked18writer, for inspiring a key plot point in this story.
Greendale, 1964.
William Winger screamed as he smashed another chair to bits. After months, after years of work, the Osbourne book had slipped through his fingers. He thought he had had everything under control. And then that bastard Hopswagger had to ruin everything.
"I told you not to underestimate him."
He glared at the crystal ball sitting on the table, which currently held the spirit of his ancestor and mentor Christof Winger. As the smoke in the glass formed into Christof's former earthly face William longed to smash the ball to bits. While he had once revered him as a great mentor William now only saw him as a nuisance.
"I don't want to hear it Christof."
"You've continually ignored my warnings and look where it's gotten you. I told you not to mock Hopswagger and you never listened to me. It's your own fault he found out your plan and thwarted you."
Hopswagger, William thought. The constant annoyance in his goals. The grad student had been training to be an occult expert and was working as Nathanael Osbourne's apprentice. The two of them had hated each other from the moment they met. William admitted that he received great pleasure in constantly pointing out that while he was only a teenager, he and Osbourne were true partners while Hopswagger was just an assistant. It would seem his arrogance in the matter finally caught up with him.
William tried to control his anger as he thought back to all the work he had done and how it had all been lost.
After learning about Nathanael Osbourne's family history into the occult William arranging to specifically be placed in Osbourne's ninth grade social studies class. Not long after the school year began he approached the teacher and brought up his interest in the occult. Though he was only a teenager Osbourne had been impressed with his knowledge and they started collaborating on study and magical practices. Over the next few years the spells and dark rituals they practiced grew bolder and more complex. Osbourne was impressed with his insight and brought him on board to what had been their life's work; to obtain godlike powers through the splitting of the universe.
But what Osbourne didn't know was that splitting the universe and obtaining otherworldly powers was only half of William's endgame. His other interest lay in Osbourne's book. For generations Osbourne's family had kept a book of spells and research, a kind of dark magick version of a book of shadows. The information within that book was priceless, and William wanted that knowledge for himself. With that book and the dimensional powers he would be truly invincible. But to get the book he had to keep close to Osbourne and help him with his goal of splitting the universe.
Finally, when William was nineteen, they had figured out how to make the conduit that would allow the splitting to occur. In doing so they discovered that those who created the conduit would not have other versions of themselves when the universe split and could only gain the power for themselves if they took it from someone else who obtained all six abilities. But as William explained to Osbourne this was of little concern. Once they split the universe and divided the power they could convince someone to kill their other selves and obtain it before they stole them for themselves. Osbourne agreed that it would not be a problem, not knowing that once the conduit was created and the universe split William would kill Osbourne and take his book.
But what William didn't plan on was Hopswagger figuring out his plan and telling it to Osbourne. Looking back he was impressed that Osbourne was able to keep him in the dark as they performed the steps to create the conduit. It was only after they performed the final step, the sacrifice of a non baptized child, that William discovered that Osbourne knew of his plan and had conspired with Hopswagger to have the book hidden.
Christof chuckled as William seethed in anger. "You thought if you had Osbourne arrested for that murder you'd be free to find the book yourself. But you didn't count on him placing a spell on the book to make it untraceable to you. And now because of your ignorance he's dead and you'll never find it."
William grabbed the glass ball and shook it violently. "Ignorant you call me? Look at me. I've performed more magical feats so far in my nineteen years then you ever did in your entire lifetime. I brought you back into the world of the living."
"Oh yes, this is such a good way to spend my existence."
"Don't tempt me. I'll exorcise you so you're very soul is destroyed. You won't exist at all."
Christof looked at him with utter disconcern. "If I had to choose between not existing and swirling in a crystal ball, I'd choose oblivion."
Slamming the ball down William grabbed his potion ingredients and began mixing. The only hint he had in finding the book was that somehow its reemergence was linked to reality being split into seven different universes. That event had to happen in order for the book to be found. And even though the dice was now lost it was still fated to eventually be used. He just had to know when that would be.
Once it was done he poured it on the table. The white mixture moved like sand being blown in the desert. "How long will it be until the dimensional dice is used?" The mixture moved and shifted until two numbers took shape, a four next to a seven.
William backed up in shock. It would be forty seven years until the dice was used. But while he gritted his teeth in annoyance he accepted when he was told. The universe ran on its own schedule. And while you could change events to suit your needs, you still had to play by the universe's rules. So while it frustrated him to know that it would ultimately take forty seven years for the dice to be used and alternate versions of the universe to form, he accepted it.
In his studies he knew that everything was connected, and that an outcome, no matter how significant it was, could always be traced back to a specific root. He knew the root event that would lead to the universe to split would not be revealed to him now (the universe never revealed events in time too early). But he could find out when in time it would be revealed to him. "How long do I have to wait until I know the event that will lead to the universes being split?" The potion swirled until again two numbers formed, a two and a five.
"So I'll have to wait twenty five years to find out? So be it." Without hesitation, as if he had planned it all along, he grabbed the crystal ball and smashed it to bits. Christof Winger looked at William in pity before his spirit disappeared back to the afterlife. William had grown beyond the need for a mentor, living or dead. He was better off on his own.
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Greendale: September 17th, 1989.
William Winger practically shook with excitement as he stirred the last of the position ingredients together. After twenty five years of waiting he would finally be able to see the event that would lead to the creation of alternate universes, which would lead to getting Osbourne's book and becoming a god.
Today was a very important day, William thought. For he knew that whatever the event was it would occur exactly twenty years from today. The time sand potion had revealed that much. Now he just had to know what would happen in addition to when it would happen.
As the potion settled he dipped a brush in it and painted it along the smooth surface of the table. The table shimmed and swirled with color before images formed on it, moving like they would on a foggy television.
Seven people were sitting around a wooden table in a university library. Immediately William recognized one of them as his son Jeffrey. Though he was a grown man in this scene William was still able to recognize him. Jeffrey was talking to a disgruntled blond haired woman, clearly trying to get her to go out with him. He didn't seem to possess his father's charm as his conquest seemed unimpressed with his advances.
As he looked at him William felt angry that his son would be involved in this. The boy had been a severe disappointment to William. While at first he believed the boy had potential to be an heir to his knowledge, he came to realize that wasn't the case. The boy had a spark of righteousness in him that couldn't be gotten rid of. William had tried to destroy it through beating the boy and verbally abusing him, but all he did was bury it instead of eradicating it. While William sensed that the boy could be devious and manipulative, the decency inside of him would lay dormant and could eventually be brought to the surface by something, or someone.
The only other person William recognized in this scene was Pierce Hawthorne, CEO of the Hawthorne Wipes moist towelette corporation. Though he was much older William was able to immediately recognize the prominent Greendale figure. The man was arguing with a younger black woman with frizzy hair. She was yelling loudly at him while he made odd gestures with his hands.
Two more of the seven people were arguing. One of them was a young black man who looked like he could be either high school or college age (the letterman jacket he wore made it much harder to distinguish.) He was yelling at a wide eyed girl in a green sweater who looked to be about the same age as him. Despite her petite frame she seemed to be holding her own in the argument.
The last person there was a tall thin young man of Middle Eastern decent. While his face was expressionless his eyes seemed to hold a great understanding within them. He kept looking at everyone around the table like he was watching a movie or a play.
Even though William couldn't figure out how seven people arguing in a room would lead to multiple universes being formed he wasn't disputing that this event couldn't lead to it occurring. He knew enough to realize that time had a ripple effect to it. A seemingly small occurrence could lead to a huge significant development. A child getting a 100 on a test in first grade could lead to him becoming President years later.
He took a handful of fate powder and threw it on the table, hoping it turned white and meant that nothing had to be done. He groaned in frustration when instead it turned red. This meant the event he was seeing would not occur naturally and he would have to manipulate events if it was to happen.
He waved his hand over the table and the potion shimmed as images formed on it, showing him exactly what needed to happen in each of these people's lives to get them to that moment. William watched it hungrily, taking in everything he was seeing and memorizing exactly what he needed to do.
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Hawthorne Plaza, July 1998.
Pierce Hawthorne fidgeted uncomfortably as he sat at the desk in his office. He knew he should be feeling happy right now. Hawthorne Wipes had just absorbed Handy Towels, their largest competitor in the moist towelette business. The business deal not only secured the future of his company, but had made the already wealthy man more money than he could possibly spend in a lifetime. This should be the proudest moment in his life. But instead all he felt was restless and irritated.
"Mr. Hawthorne." Pierce looked up as a well dressed man walked into his office. "Good afternoon. I was sent over from Handy Towels to have you sign the final contracts for the absorption."
"I thought all the contracts were signed at the business meeting this morning?"
"All the major ones were. These were just a couple of last minute minor ones."
He handed the contracts to Pierce and waited while they were signed. "Congratulations sir. Not only are you now the premier supplier of moist towelettes in the country, but your fortune has now expended to such that your family will be financially secure for generations to come. You must be very happy."
"Happy, sure." Pierce said as he tried to hide the feeling of 'where do I go from here?' from the stranger.
"I mean, you can do anything you want. You can travel. You can sail around the world. Anything. Although if I may give a helpful suggestion, I would say you take a few classes somewhere and further your education. My grandfather, rest his soul, retired at age 71 and rather then sit around he decided to go back to school. He found that continually educating himself kept his mind sharp. He died last year at 88 and no exaggeration; he was more with it then people half his age. It's just my opinion, but I think keeping your mind challenged is the secret to keeping young. Well, I really do have to go. Take care of yourself Mr. Hawthorne."
As William walked out of the room he looked at Pierce out of the corner of his eye. The man was deep in thought, contemplating what he had just heard.
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Cutler Family Practice, October 2008.
William adjusted his lab coat as he took one last quick look in the mirror. He had used various potions to alter his appearance. His nose was wider, along with his jaw and chin. His eyes were brown instead of blue and his eyebrows were extremely bushy. Satisfied that he was unrecognizable with his temporary appearance he left the office and walked to the exam room.
The exam room door had been left open a crack, so he peered in to look at the girl sitting on the exam table. While it was definitely Annie Edison she looked different from when he saw her in the future vision. She was heavier, her hair was much shorter, her face was covered in acne, and she was drawn into herself as if she expected the very air to pass judgment on her. He smiled as he saw her. This is going to be easy, he thought.
He pulled her chart from the wall as he walked into the room. "Hello, I'm Dr. Fulkner. I'll be examining you today."
She looked at him inquisitively. "Where's my regular doctor?"
"He was called into the hospital for an emergency surgery, so I'm filling in for him today. What seems to be the problem?"
"I've been having stomach pains. They started last week but they've been really bad the last two days."
"Well let's take a look." He pulled out a stethoscope and performed a quick examination. "It doesn't appear that you have appendicitis or anything life threatening. It might be a result of stress. Can you think of anything that would be causing you stress?"
"My life." She quickly looked up at him before casting her eyes down. "Well, there's my face."
William searched through a drawer and pulled out a tube of medicated face cleanser. "Here you go. This astringent should help with your acne. Although you do have a pretty bad case. You might want to think about making an appointment with a dermatologist. Now, is there anything else that's causing you stress?"
She fidgeted a little before answering. "There's school. I want to graduate valedictorian and go to an Ivy League college next fall, like Princeton. But no matter what I do I can't keep up with the amount of work I have to do to raise my GPA."
William carefully listened to her when he 'pretended' to suddenly get an idea. "I think I may have something that can help." He took out a prescription pad and wrote her a prescription. "This is a prescription for Adderall. It's a pill that helps you concentrate and stay focused and energized. You take this and you'll be able to stay up all night studying and be refreshed for the test in the morning."
"Really?" Annie's eyes shined with hope before she frowned. "I don't know. Are you sure it's safe to take?"
"It's perfectly safe. I've prescribed it to many students and it's helped them with their studying. Just try it and if you don't like it just stop taking it. And I'll leave a note for Dr. Cutler so if you do decide to take it he can write you another prescription if you need it. Well, I have another patient to see. It was nice meeting you Ms. Edison."
With that William left the exam room, leaving Annie holding the prescription as if it were a lifeline.
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Riverside High, February 2009.
William zipped up his track suit jacket as he walked out onto the football field. He had taken great care this time with his change in appearance and persona (that of a stereotypically grizzled coach.) Unlike his other alterations this one would take more than a single encounter to get the needed results.
As he surveyed the players he blew his whistle and called them all over. "Ok people, listen up! My name is Coach Payne. Your regular couch had some personal matters to take care of so I'll be your coach for the next few weeks. I run a tight ship and am very hard on my players. But I have also led school teams to championships for the last twelve years. So while my methods may not be popular, they get results. Now, who here is the QB?"
The crowd of players made room as Troy Barnes stepped forward and raised his hand. "Me, I'm quarterback. Troy Barnes."
"Barnes! Give me twenty laps around the field, ten running forwards and then ten running backwards. Everyone else do eight laps forwards and eight laps backwards. MOVE OUT!
Over the next two weeks he pushed all the players extremely hard. But none harder then Troy. He had him do more runs than anyone, more practice drills than anyone else. Anytime Troy came close to complaining he yelled that the Quarter Back was the most important player and had to work harder to lead the team to victory. If the quarter back messes up the whole team messes up, he yelled. He secretly smiled as he watched Troy push himself, confident that the kid was reaching his breaking point.
Finally the day William had been waiting for arrived. After practice he released the team, telling them to be back early the next day to get in a quick practice before the big game. As the players left he called Troy over to him.
Once everyone was gone he spoke to the boy. "Listen Barnes, a talent scout is coming to watch tomorrow's game. This can decide your entire future. Way I see it tomorrow can go down one of two ways. You can play a fantastic game, impress the hell out of that scout, get a full scholarship, and be set for life. Or you can choke, let everyone down and spend the rest of your life wondering what could have been."
Troy paled as the weight of tomorrow's game came to rest on his shoulders. "Tomorrow's game is really that important?"
"Yes Barnes! Your entire future rides on tomorrow! Now listen, I want you to go home and get a good night sleep. Don't go staying up all night partying and losing focus. Last thing we need is you getting drunk and hurting yourself. Now get out of here."
With one last look of worry Troy walked into the locker room. William smiled; confident that after tonight Troy would not be playing in tomorrow's game. Or any game for that matter.
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Tops A Dropping strip club, April 2009.
William nursed his glass of scotch as he surveyed the crowd in the club, waiting for the man he was looking for to show up. For the past three nights Andre Bennett had been coming to this strip club. According to the bartender he wasn't a regular. But that was evident from the way he acted. He clearly didn't act like a normal rowdy customer. Hell, he actually handed the strippers dollar bills instead of stuffing them in their g-string. Andre's routine was always the same. He'd get a beer and quietly sit near the stage as he watched the dancers, paying particular attention to one flirtatious long necked dancer. Once his beer was done he would quietly leave. Same routine each and every night.
Finally William spotted Andre walk in. As always he looked out of place, particularly with the Cosby style sweater he was wearing. William waited until Andre got his beer and took his usual seat before casually sitting next to him.
"Want a drink?"
Andre looked over at William. "What?"
"I'm in a generous mood tonight, so I was offering to buy you a drink."
Andre gave him an odd look before tilting his beer upwards. "I'm good thanks. I just wanted one beer."
"Suit yourself." He waited while Andre watched the women dance until the long necked dancer came on stage. "Boy these women are beautiful. And with the right persuasion I'm sure they'll take you to the back for a bit of fun."
"They're strippers, not hookers. And even so it doesn't matter. I'm married." Andre said as he held up his hand to show off his wedding band.
"I'm not passing judgment, I was once married to. It's just; you look like the type of man who's here for a reason. You seem like you're here because you're not getting something you need at home."
Andre looked like he was going to protest so William barreled on. "I was married for twenty years, and only a few of them were happy years. I never thought I'd cheat, but one day it just happened. And the thing I discovered is that ultimately it wasn't the sex that had me do it. Even if we're not getting any from our wives all we need is our hand and a tube of KY. What I missed was the closeness, the feeling that someone needed and appreciated me. Even if it was artificial and only for one night, I realized that I couldn't go on feeling empty and controlled anymore. I needed a release."
He got up as Andre silently stared at him. "That's just my opinion. Take it or leave it. Have a good night friend." Without another word he walked through the club. As he got to the entrance he looked back at Andre. The man was idly cradling his beer as he stared up at the long necked dancer. William smiled in victory as he walked out of the club.
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We Know Footwear magazine photography studio, New York City, May 2009.
"Ok, now just tilt your foot up a little towards the light. Little more so the anklet is, perfect. Just hold it like that." He took a dozen pictures in rapid fire secession. "Very good. And we're done Ms. Perry."
William started putting the photograph equipment away as Britta Perry took off the anklet and put on her socks and boots. "It was a pleasure working with you Ms. Perry. You have very lovely feet."
"Thanks" she dully said.
As he finished packing up the equipment he went over to her. "So, what do you do?"
"What do you mean?"
"Well, in my experience people who model rarely do exclusively just that. What do you do with your life Ms. Perry?"
"Um, well, I was with the peace corps for a while. I spent some time in Africa. I was in Amsterdam for a while."
"Sounds interesting. What about now?"
"Well, I'm…" she stopped as she suddenly realized how directionless her life had become. "I don't know. How's that for an answer." She sighed deeply as she rubbed her eyes in frustration. "I was thinking about going back to Colorado. That's where I'm from, Greendale Colorado."
He smiled gently at her. "It's important to have a place you can call home. More importantly it's important to have at least some sense of direction and purpose in your life. After high school I followed this girl to Sweden and after we broke up I traveled around Europe finding any work I could. After doing that for nineteen years I finally hated having no focus in my life. So I went back to school and took some classes and ended up turning a interest in photography into a career. You're young and clearly have lots of interests. I'm sure with the right motivation you'll find what you're meant to do with your life."
She looked at him, not sure if she should tell him off for butting into her life, or thank him for showing general concern for the aimlessness her life had become. As she walked out of the studio she figured it wouldn't hurt to go on-line and check out schools in Greendale and what it would take to get her GED when she got back to her apartment.
William chuckled as he mentally checked off Britta Perry on the list in his head. Five down, two to go, he thought.
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Basement bar of Hamish, Hamish and Hamlin law firm, July 2009.
William tapped his foot as he waited for Alan Connor to arrive. He knew the lawyer always stopped at the bar after work before heading out. He just had to wait until he arrived.
A part of him wished Jeffrey would show up. Although he had again changed his appearance he knew it would be a thrill to walk right up to his son and see if somehow his disguise could be seen through. But he knew Jeffrey never bothered visiting the bar, even if it was in the basement of the law firm he worked at. Jeffrey felt he was better than that, and instead went to some trendy out of the way bar to show how cool he was.
Just then Allen stumbled into the bar. From his red rimmed eyes and constant sniffing it was clear he was high on coke. This should make things easier, William thought.
He waited until Allen had a drink before approaching him. "Allen? Allen Connor?" He squinted before gasping in recognition. "Oh My God, it is you. It's me, Charley. Charley Laker. You were my lawyer last year for a DWI case. You got me clean off. How've you been?"
Allen frowned as he slowly nodded his head. "I'm good. I'm sorry, I don't remember you…"
"Oh, that's ok. I'm sure you've represented so many people that after a while only the real big cases stick out. The important thing is I remember you. Barkeep! Get this man anything he wants. I'm buying for him tonight." He sat down next to Allen as he slapped him on the shoulder. "See that. You treat me right and I treat you right."
They spent the next two hours drinking. Or more accurately, Allen spent the next two hours drinking. When Allen wasn't looking William simply waved his hand in front of his glass to make the alcohol disappear. He kept going on about how great a lawyer Alan was and how important he must be to the firm.
"I'm telling you, I know I'm repeating myself, but the way you got me off was pure genius. I'm surprised they haven't made you partner yet."
Allen chuckled darkly as he brought the glass of whisky to his lips. "I may have a while before that happens. Besides, they would make Jeff Winger partner before me."
"He's that guy you said you work with."
"Yea. Big hot shot lawyer. He breezes in here and suddenly he's the firm's golden boy." He downed his drink and shuttered as the liquor burned his throat. "He, he better watch out though. Cause I could have him out of here like that."
"Oh yea. How's that?"
Allen leaned closer to William and lowered his voice. "I've found out something about our Mr. Winger that could get him fired from here. Maybe even disbarred."
William faked surprise at hearing this. "Really, wow. Why haven't you told anyone?"
Allen shrugged as he signaled for the bartender to pour him another drink. "Cause it would completely destroy the guy's career."
"But you said he doesn't deserve the success he has. You work twice as hard as this Jeff and he gets all the recognition. If you truly know of a reason he shouldn't be here, I say screw him and rat the guy out. Survival of the fittest."
Allen nodded at William's words. "Yea. Why should he get all the success when he doesn't deserve it?" He stood up unsteadily, only not falling over because William caught him. "Yea, first thing tomorrow I'm going to send a e-mail out that will expose Jeff Winger for the fraud he really is."
"Why not do it now. If you wait until tomorrow you'll think of a reason not to do it and just end up stuck in the same situation you're in right now. This way you don't hesitate and get the life you deserve."
Allen smiled as he pulled himself out from William's grasp. "Yea, you're right. I'm going to go up to my office right now and send that e-mail out." With that Allen stumbled out of the bar, leaving a smiling William to gladly pay the bill.
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Greendale Community Campus, September 17th, 2009.
William pushed the stringy long hair out of his face and adjusted the thick glasses he wore. He hated this last disguise (he looked like an unsuccessful guitarist turned janitor.) But he knew it would be the last one he would need if he was successful today.
He stayed in the shadows as he watched Abed Nadir talk to Jeffrey in the quad. The young man babbled on excessively as Jeffrey vaguely listened to him. He waited until Jeffrey walked away and Abed walked into the building before following him.
Hiding in an alcove he waited until Abed was almost there before pushing his cart out, causing Abed to 'accidently' walk into him. "Oh man, I'm sorry. Are you all right young man?"
Abed brushed the dirt off his jeans, not looking concerned in the slightest. "I'm fine."
"Well again, I am sorry. I've seen you around. Your names Abed right? I'm Carl. Carl Reed."
Although his face remained the same his eyes lit up in glee. "Like the janitor in the breakfast club."
"Um yea, I guess so. I saw you coming out of Chang's Spanish class the other day. That's a hard class."
"It is kind of difficult."
William leaned on the handle of his broom as he 'pretended' to think of an idea. "If you're having trouble maybe you should see about tutoring. Actually, I overheard a blond haired woman in your class talking about a tutor. She had kind of a funny name. Bittle, Bricca."
"Britta. She's twenty eight, has two older brothers, and she thinks she's going to fail tomorrow's test."
"Britta, that's it. Well, she seems to know someone who's tutoring people in Spanish. I'd say find her and see when they meet."
"Cool. Cool, cool, cool."
William waited until Abed had walked a few feet before he called out. "Abed! If she knows someone it wouldn't be fair if just you two benefited from they're help. I'd see if anyone else in your Spanish class needs tutoring also." With that he pushed his cart down the hallway.
Three hours later he walked to the library study room and peered in the room. The exact same scenario he'd seen twenty years ago was happening now. All seven people were there, with Pierce arguing with Shirley, Troy arguing with Annie, Jeff hitting on Britta, and Abed watching them all. He walked away giddy with glee. All of his hard work had finally paid off. Now all he had to do was wait for everything to fall into place.