A/N: I can't believe I started typing this the same day I finished the first one. My dad's on me about my obsessive fanfiction typing, but it's my life, right?
OC's:
Jack "Jock" Jernon (mine)
CHAPTER TWO: DON'T LOOK BACK
Speaking in Japanese
NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK – EMERGENCY ROOM – MORNING
Trent woke up. He was on a hospital bed, attached to a heart monitor. He saw Alex sitting in the chair beside his bed.
"What happened?" Trent asked.
"You jumped off a building, remember?"
"Yeah," he said, "then you flew up and caught me."
"I ran up the fire escape and got you. Anything else was you seeing things."
ODESSA, TEXAS – CARTER RESIDENCE – MORNING
Gwen was reading the newspaper. The front page had an article on how she saved the man from the burning train the previous day.
"Dad, can we talk?"
Her father, Chase Carter, was cooking breakfast.
A/N: Chase Carter is based off of Chaserocks, the winner of the Total Drama Interactive contest in Canada. Creative credit goes to him. Good job on winning man!
"Are you pregnant?"
"No."
"Doing drugs?"
"No."
"Then what do you want to talk about?" He paused and thought, "It's about how we're not really your parents isn't it?"
"I want to know more about my real parents. I want to know their hobbies… skills."
"Skills?"
"What they can do."
"Look, when my wife and I think you're ready, we'll all sit down to dinner with them. Okay?"
"Fine."
NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK – NOAH'S APARTMENT – MORNING
Noah was going over some of his father's notes. He heard steps, so he grabbed a small elephant statue and crept around, trying to find the intruder. He saw the man, who was in an orange jumpsuit.
"Who are you?" Noah asked.
"I'm the exterminator. I'm spraying the building today."
"Okay…"
"You've got some roaches in the floorboards, man."
Noah saw the exterminator's toolbox. Inside there was what appeared to be computer wires. Noah could tell this man wasn't really an exterminator.
Suddenly the man swung his spray can at Noah! Noah ducked, and hit the man in the knee with the elephant statue. The man dropped, clutching his knee, and Noah grabbed him.
"What did you do to my father?!"
The man kicked Noah, and grabbed his toolbox.
"Cockroaches are the least of my problems right now. Wouldn't you say?"
"I suppose so."
The exterminator left. Noah followed. Outside his apartment they continued their fight. An African-American woman came out with a gun.
"What's going on here?!" she asked.
"This man isn't an exterminator!" Noah yelled.
"He's paranoid." said the man.
"If you're an exterminator, than tell me honey, why do you have a gun on you?" the woman asked.
The exterminator ran.
"Thanks for your help, I'm Noah Richards." said Noah.
"LeShawna Jackson." she responded.
NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK – TIMES SQUARE – DAY
Rex was amazed! He teleported halfway across the globe! His powers actually worked!
"Konichiwa!" he said to anyone who passed by.
As he was walking he saw a newsstand. The newsstand had a rack filled with comic books. He left a bit of yen, and took one of the comics. The comic was an issue of 9th Wonders. On the cover was a picture of him, with the caption 'REX ARRIVES IN TIMES SQUARE!'
Rex ran off into an alley and started to look at the comic. Inside the book told the story of what happened to him the previous day. Learning of his powers, trying to convince Coco, arriving in Times Square.
Rex turned to the inside front cover. It had all of the writer's information on it. His phone number, his address, and his name…
…Owen Jonson.
NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK – OWEN'S APARTMENT – MORNING
Owen woke up, feeling dreary.
"Hey Owen, feeling okay?" Izzy asked.
"That depends, is that pancakes I smell?"
"Yes."
"Then yeah, I'm okay. I had this freaky dream last night, Izzy! All of NYC, boom! Just like Hiroshima."
"Owen that was a dream!"
"Yeah, but we need to tell someone!"
"No one will believe you can paint the future, Owen."
"Do you?"
She looked to the floor, and saw the mural of the city exploding.
ODESSA, TEXAS – GWEN'S SCHOOL – DAY
Cody was rushing down the hall, he had something very important to tell Gwen.
Gwen was talking with the All-Star Quarterback Jack Jernon and Head Cheerleader Heather Berra. She looked like she wanted to die.
"You see," Jack said, "it's about how tough your hands are, not about the size."
"My mom says I'm pretty tough," Heather said, "but I wouldn't dream of trying out for football."
The only thought that went through Gwen's mind was watching Heather get tackled and crushed by assorted football players.
A/N: You know you're thinking it, too.
Cody rushed up and stopped in front of Gwen. "Gwen, I've got something real important to tell you!"
"Well if it isn't Cody." Heather said. "I heard you got an erection in the boy's locker room."
"He's not gay, Heather." Gwen said.
The principal walked up to the little group.
"Ms. Berra, Ms. Carter, the police would like a word with you two."
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – HIGHWAY – DAY
Lindsay was currently driving, still spooked about what had happened, and was talking to her son, Gary.
"Gary, listen. I'm sorry I'm late. I'll be there as soon as I can, okay?"
She turned to look at the camera's film. She saw that she was violently beating the thugs.
She blacked out.
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – AIRPORT PARKING LOT – DAY
Lindsay woke up. She was wearing a different top, and she heard her cell phone ring.
She answered, it was Gary.
"Mom, where are you? I called you like four hours ago!"
"Hours?! I'll be right there!"
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – LINDSAY'S FRIEND'S HOUSE – DAY
Lindsay arrived at the door, and entered. She turned to Gary. "Honey, I'm sorry. Just let the grown-ups talk for a minute."
"Okay."
Lindsay and her friend walked into the other room.
"What's up?" her friend asked.
"The thugs are dead! On the floor of my garage!"
"How?!"
"I don't know. One second they're attacking me, next one they're dead. I don't know why, but… sometimes when I look in the mirror, I don't think it's me I'm seeing."
"Maybe it's Tyler, trying to protect you two."
"Tyler wouldn't risk coming. But either way, McClean's going to be mad, and I have to get out of this place."
NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK – NOAH'S APARTMENT – DAY
"Who would want to tap your dad's phone?" LeShawna asked. That's what it seemed like the so-called exterminator had been trying to do.
"I don't know. First someone tried to steal his research, and now this."
"Why don't you ask your dad?"
"He's dead. Murdered, in his cab."
"Too bad. Dr. Richards was a nice guy."
"You knew him?"
"We were friends, homeboy. I wanted to give him this, but I guess you can have it." she said handing him a book. Darwin's Origin of the Species, First Edition.
"I need your help now."
"What do you mean?"
"Tell me everything my dad told you about his research."
ODESSA, TEXAS – GWEN'S SCHOOL AMPHITHEATRE – DAY
There were assorted girls with black hair in the amphitheatre. A sheriff walked onto the stage and began to speak.
"Alright, ladies! This is not a criminal investigation, but we would like your full cooperation. One girl, with black hair, and this school's logo on her backpack, saved a man's life yesterday and… that man would like to thank her for saving his life."
A fireman was with him. "Offhand, I'd say it was that girl with the blue highlights." He said pointing at Gwen.
Gwen was uncomfortable, she didn't really want to stand out. It wasn't in her nature.
"It wasn't Gwen." Heather said. "It was me. I was taking a shortcut home and, I wanted to help."
"Well, miss, we'd like to treat you as an honorary firefighter." the fireman said.
Gwen walked up to the sheriff. "How is the guy, anyway?" she asked.
"He's fine."
Gwen smiled.
ODESSA, TEXAS – GWEN'S SCHOOL FOOTBALL STADIUM – DAY
Cody ran up to Gwen. "Gwen, I really need to talk to you!"
"Did you hear Heather took credit for what I did yesterday? She's riding on top of the fire truck in the town parade. I'd prefer to see her under that truck." she said angrily. She didn't want to stand out and admit she did it, but was unhappy that Heather took credit for something that she had done.
"Gwen! I lost the tape!"
"What tape?"
"The one where you try to kill yourself, but can't."
Suddenly a football player knocked Gwen over.
"Gwen, oh my God! You okay?" the player asked. He removed his helmet, revealing it to be Jack Jernon.
Gwen got up. "Yeah, I'm fine."
"I thought I heard something snap."
"Nope, not a scratch on me."
"Okay."
Jack walked off.
"Number Eight." Cody said.
"Find that tape." Gwen ordered.
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – LINDSAY'S HOUSE – DAY
"Mom, I don't want to go on vacation." Gary said.
"Too bad. Now go get some of your stuff, we're leaving."
As Gary went to his room, Lindsay went into the garage. The bodies that were there were gone and a red convertible was sitting inside. Lindsay looked in the rearview mirror. Her reflection pointed to the glove compartment. She opened it; the registration for the vehicle was in her name. Also in the glove compartment, there was a note. IN THE TRUNK, FOLLOW THE MAP
Lindsay opened the trunk. She gasped when she saw the thug's dead bodies inside. She picked up the map.
NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK – TRENT'S HOSPITAL ROOM – DAY
Trent was drawing a small picture. It had two stick figures. One of them was flying, the other wasn't.
His mother walked in.
"Hi son."
"Hey mom."
"Why were you on that roof?"
"I can't tell you just yet, mom."
"Look son, your father didn't die of a heart attack, he committed suicide. I don't want to think his depression was inherited."
"Why didn't you tell me before?"
"I didn't want you to worry."
"It's okay, mom."
NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK – OUTSIDE OWEN'S APARTMENT – DAY
Rex knocked at Owen's door, comic book in hand. No one answered. He knocked again, but this time, the door swung open.
He walked in. "Owen-san?" he asked. No one was there. Rex looked down, and saw blood on the floor. He turned and saw a gun. He picked it up. "Owen-san?"
He walked into the next room and gasped. Owen was dead, top of his head cut off, brain removed.
"Freeze! Drop your weapon!"
The police came in through the door, and sadly for Rex, he looked very guilty at the moment.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – OUTSIDE THE MARTIN RESIDENCE – NIGHT
Police cars had surrounded the Martin residence. Two people had been murdered. Outside, police officer Geoff Crawford was directing traffic with his partner.
"A serial killer strikes, kills two, kidnaps a little girl, and we're stuck directing traffic." Geoff complained. "We should just be in Siberia."
"What's got you so down, man?"
"I failed the detective test again, man."
"Meh, what's so great about being a detective?"
"Please don't hurt me!" Geoff heard someone say.
"What was that, man?" Geoff asked.
"I didn't say nothing."
"He took them. Please help me." Geoff heard.
Geoff started to walk away. He walked into the house. The place was a wreck. He walked past two FBI agents, who strangely ignored him. As the police were looking for the girl to take her with them so they could take of her after her parents' untimely demise, the two FBI agents were talking to one another, trying to figure out what had happened.
"I don't get it, how could this killer have gotten both of them, and not left any incriminating evidence?"
"I've got a theory." responded Agent Garret.
"You always do, don't you Katie?"
"It's just like what happened in Barstow. It had to have been Kingston."
"Kingston doesn't exist. He was just something created out of the last words of a dying victim. Did you even look at that person? One man couldn't have lifted them up, had to be at least three people. Now can we focus on this little girl?"
The daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Martin was nowhere to be found. They searched everywhere in the house, but they were unable to find her.
"There's no sign of her anywhere. But I'm more concerned about the way the parents were killed." Katie said.
They went back to the dining room they had visited before, to get another look at the dead victims. Mr. and Mrs. Martins' bodies had been frozen solid, the top of their heads cut off, and their brains taken out of their heads. The corpses both looked like they were about to take another bite out of their dinner, and had been frozen solid before they even realized there was an intruder.
"Frozen solid, head cut open. Doesn't that bother you? They didn't even know someone was here from the look of it!" Katie said.
"The daughter is our priority right now, Agent Garret."
"All right."
Geoff walked through the house. He heard the voice repeat the same thing, over and over.
"Please don't hurt me."
It got louder and louder until he reached the hall closet. He opened it and saw a girl inside. The missing girl, Beth Martin.
"It's okay," Geoff said, "I'm not going to hurt you."
NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK – NOAH'S APARTMENT – DAY
After Noah and LeShawna finished their discussion over Noah's father's work, Noah continued his work recreating the map.
LeShawna walked past the phone. It was blinking, indicating it had messages left on it.
"Hey, Noah! Your Dad's phone has some messages on it!" LeShawna yelled.
Noah walked into the room. He was curious who had called his father's phone. Against his better judgment, he decided they should listen to them.
Mr. Richards, this is Emi. You forgot to turn in your trip sheet last week! Where is your head?
"Oh no, Noah!" LeShawna yelled.
"What's wrong?" Noah responded, confused.
"Not you, the other Noah! The lizard, where is he?"
Hello, this is Alex Langston. I would be honored to be elected to represent New York's 14th District. When the time comes, vote for Alex Langston.
A new message began to play.
Hello, Mr. Richards, it's me. Why won't you talk to me anymore?! You can't leave me like this!
The phone was picked up at this time and the conversation between the caller and Mr. Richards had begun.
Mr. Kingston. I asked you not to call here anymore.
The hunger, it's…I can't control it anymore. I can't fight my instincts! You did this to me.
I made you a killer?
You made me understand exactly what I could do. You made me aware of the hunger. It feels like the harder I fight to control it, the stronger it becomes. I'm starting to think that…
That what?
That I don't want to fight it anymore
It's over Mr. Kingston. Goodbye.
"I found a tape of my father talking to a Mr. Kingston." Noah said. "He thought he found the first evolved human, his Patient Zero."
LeShawna was holding a lizard.
"I found him! This was your dad's pet lizard. Named him after you. Wanna give him a kiss?"
"Not really."
LeShawna put the lizard back in its cage. She found something odd inside the cage, and took it out.
"Now why would your daddy have a flash drive in a lizard cage?"
"I don't know," Noah said, "but let's just see what's on it."
He put it in his laptop. A list of files involving powers and people came up.
"Good lord! He did it! He really found evolved humans! This must be what Kingston was after!"
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – OUTSIDE THE MARTIN RESIDENCE – NIGHT
Geoff was walking back to his patrol car. But the FBI Agent, Katie Garret was waiting for him.
"How'd you know the girl was there?"
"I don't know, I just heard her calling for help and…"
"None of us heard her, how did you?"
"You didn't hear her?"
Geoff looked at his watch.
"Oh man, I'm so late!"
"For what?" Katie asked.
"Couples counseling. My Wife Bridge and I, we're going through a rough patch and… I gotta go."
"Did you set this whole thing up to look like a hero?"
"Please," Geoff said, "you don't really think I did that, you think Kingston did."
"How do you know about Kingston?"
"I heard you talking about him."
"Yeah, right. You sir, are under arrest."
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – ROAD – NIGHT
Lindsay drove into the desert. Gary was asleep in the backseat. She took a shovel and began to dig a hole to hide the dead bodies. She was surprised when she hit something.
And even more surprised to find it was a human skull.
ODESSA, TEXAS – CARTER RESIDENCE – NIGHT
Chase was looking at something on a portable video player. Gwen walked in and he shut the player off.
"Hey Gwen, how was school?" he asked.
"Fine, how was work?"
"Fine. Listen, I talked to the adoption agency, and we were able to set up a meeting with your real parents."
"Great."
"Listen, it might take a while to get everything ready, so I hope you're willing to wait."
"I Am." she began to walk to her room, but stopped. "Chase."
"What?"
"I just want you to know, no matter what, you'll always be like a father to me."
"Thanks, Gwen."
"Just understand you can't protect me forever."
"I do, and it breaks my heart."
"I'm going to get ready for dinner." Gwen said as she walked away.
Chase went back to the player. It was the tape of Gwen jumping off the cliff.
"It breaks my heart."
NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK – HOSPITAL ROOF – NIGHT
Trent was standing on the rooftop again, wearing the clothes his mother brought him. He looked down at the busy street below. Alex walked up behind him.
"What's going on Trent?" he asked.
"Tell me the truth, Alex. Tell me you flew."
"People can't fly, Trent."
"Tell me you flew, or I'll jump again. That'll look good on your campaign. 'Langston lets friend fall to his death.'"
"Fine! The truth is…"
"The truth is what?!"
"We both flew, Trent!" Alex looked downward. "I flew up to catch you, lost my grip, and you flew and saved yourself."
"You're lying! You're doing the classic politician thing to do. Tell the people what they want to hear when you don't really mean it!"
"I'm serious, Trent!"
"NO YOU'RE NOT!" Trent said taking a few steps forward.
"Trent…"
"What?"
Alex pointed to Trent's feet. They weren't on the ground.
"I'm flying! Alex, I'm flying!"
"I know!"
NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK – POLICE DEPARTMENT – DAY
Rex was being interrogated. He had been charged for breaking and entering, illegal immigration, and murder. They had brought a translator in, so they could understand what he was saying.
"Looks like he's guilty on illegal immigration." said one of the officers. "No American money, no passport, no English speaking ability…"
"I speak English little…" Rex responded.
"… and no ID. Except this, 'Honorary member of the Merry Marvel Marching Society, Rex Blazeman.'" the officer continued. "Ask him how he got to New York."
"How'd you get here?" the translator asked.
"Teleported. Like Star Trek." he said, performing the Vulcan salute.
"When did you do this?"
"Day before. Call friend, he speak English, clear up."
He told the cops how to reach Coco. They called him at Yamagoto.
"Moshi-Moshi."
"This is the New York Police Department. You speak English?"
"Yes." Coco responded.
"Your buddy here, Rex Blazeman, says he was talking to you yesterday about teleportation. Ring any bells?"
"I haven't seen Rex in weeks. Where is he?"
The officer hung up.
"Your buddy Coco hasn't seen you in weeks." the translator said.
Rex was very confused at this point. He talked to Coco about his power to bend space-time the day before and…
…suddenly he realized something important. He could bend the fabric of space and time!
"October 2?" he asked.
"November 8." the officer responded.
Rex looked at the newspaper on the desk. It was indeed dated November 8th, with the headline LANGSTON WINS IN A LANDSLIDE!
Suddenly he heard a loud boom. Rex and the cops ran towards the window. They saw a large mushroom cloud expanding outward, towards them.
Rex closed his eyes, trying to return back home.
TOKYO, JAPAN – SUBWAY STATION – DAY
Rex opened his eyes. He was back on the subway car. He turned to the man next to him.
"October 2?"
"Hai."
Rex was very relieved. He was home. He put what he saw behind him. Until he saw that he had the 9th Wonders comic in his hand. What he saw was very real.
And so was that explosion. And it was only 5 weeks away.
END
Japanese Translator
Konichiwa - Hello
Moshi-Moshi - A greeting to say when answering the phone
Hai - Yes
Well, what do you think of that, huh? Building the drama, huh? Just wait until the next chapter, One Giant Leap.
This chapter took almost 2 hours to type. Make it all worthwhile for me. Take two minutes to review.
Rex out!
