Chapter Two: A Rose Without Pedals...

Kim was in the kitchen humming as she put away some groceries. She hummed a little tune, it was shame that she was probably the only optimistic person involved in Michael´s world. Michael awoke in his bed groaning as he was still sore.

¨I see you have woken up sleepy head.¨ Kim said smiling.

¨How long was I out?¨ Michael asked silently reaching to his nightstand for a cigarette and muttering as he didn´t find his box.

¨Looking for your cigarettes? You had then in your trench coat pocket that somehow got ripped. I´ll assume you got into a fight, I´ll base that theory on the fact that you passed out at the door and were covered in blood. Anyway when your coat ripped so did the cigarettes.¨ Kim said leaning against the frame of the doorway.

Michael groaned, his system was craving some nicotine badly. He especially needed some since he was in some pain. He never liked taking drugs or medicine back on earth and here was no different. He usually just smoked until he felt better, in this case he would need to go through about 3 cigarettes he estimated.

¨I really need to get a cigarette or I´m gonna feel sore all day...¨ Michael said.

Kim sighed and looked at him in the eye

¨You need to quit smoking, it´s unhealthy even if it appears to have no physical effect on you in this world. Just because it seems safe doesn´t mean you should keep doing it. Your friend came by a day ago and asked to see you. He was dressed horribly and smelled awful so I offered him a shower and meal but he wouldn´t have it. He said he´d come back by today or tomorrow.¨ Kim said walking over to Michael. She sat down next to him on the side of the bed and stroked his hair.

¨He said...you fought with Cane. Is that true?¨ Kim asked softly as if she was going to cry.

¨Look, he attacked first. I only defended myself. I got the pay though.¨ Michael said.

¨I don´t care about the pay! You could have gotten killed! Then what would I have left in this world?¨ Kim asked looking him directly in the eye. A small bit of water was forming in her eyes and a tiny tear fell slowly down to her nose. It slowed down then before it got off the cheek Michael wiped off.

¨We needed the money, and I told you that my job was dangerous, fighting is necessary in my job. I warned you when you said you loved me the first time that I had no regrets and would die at any time without feeling bad about it.¨

Kim closed her eyes and sighed ¨I know I know...I just wish you wouldn´t be so reckless. Did you at least win?¨

¨What?¨ Michael asked surprised.

¨Did you kick his butt or not?¨ Kim asked forcing a smile.

¨Of course I won, for I all know he´s still unconscious on that basement floor.¨ Michael said frowning.

¨Yeah yeah, lets just eat. I made some potato soup for lunch. I figured the smell would wake you up since you love soup.¨ Kim said walking back into the kitchen. Michael looked outside and watched the rain for a second before he heard a knock at the door. He got dressed putting on a plain white t-shirt and torn jeans. He groaned as he popped some joins walking to the door. His hand went to undo the 5 locks he had installed on the door. Michael was a very paranoid and cautious person.

He opened the door to see a cleaned up version of Rez panting and holding a piece of paper. ¨May I come in?¨ he inquired.

¨Sure thing Zem. We´re just about to eat join us for some dinner.¨ Kim said coming up behind Michael. The three walked into the kitchen and sat down at the small card table that Michael had. Kim brought over two bowls of Potato soup and smiled as she put them down.

¨Thank you my dear. It smells very good.¨ Zem said. Michael rolled his eyes the manners of Zem always bugged him.

¨You were panting when I answered the door. What brings you hear in such a hurry?¨ Michael asked dipping his spoon into his soup. He reached over to get a cracker from the plate of crackers Kim had just set down.

¨There is some bad news...very bad. For twelve years we´ve all been here with no rule. Now there is a nut job who is claiming he has been back to earth. He has produced a case of handguns as proof.¨

Michael coughed on his soup as he gasped for air he took a drink of water from his glass.

¨Guns?! Where on earth did he get...¨ Michael shut up since he didn´t intend that pun at all.

Kim laughed as she pulled up a chair and heard the pun. She helped herself to some crackers and crumpled them up over her soup.

¨So, there is a nut job that now has possession of guns. How many?¨ Michael asked dryly.

¨Word has it the case contained 50 hand guns.¨ Zem said depressingly.

¨My God...¨ Kim said dropping her spoon. ¨The only reason people aren´t dieing in mass quantity here is because there are no guns. If this these guns get out-¨ she was cut off by Zer. ¨Forgive me for cutting you off, but he already has followers. You see he is promising rescue and he´s putting together a government. He already has armed fifty of ´his´ own men with the guns. He drew a huge crowd of at least 500 with his speech yesterday. A government with 500 followers in this world is dangerous.¨ Zem said finishing his soup.

Michael got up and walked over to the stove and poured himself another bowl of soup. ¨That´s not the worst part Michael...the man promises law and order to be maintained in this world. He promised that as long as we are here he´d terminate anyone that posed a threat to peace in society a.k.a. himself.¨ Zem said lowering his head and looking away. Michael was tired of hearing this garbage.

¨The man is just looking to become dictator of this world Michael. Listen to me, he is a dictator! We have to take him out now before he spreads beyone our capabilities. I am leaving to attack his headquarters tonight at 10 P.M. It´s up to you if you want to join me, but I don´t think I´ll make it far alone...I am sorry to ask this of you...but if he got control of this place...he´d put prices on everything, he´d rule with fear... and he´d stop Rez´s drug trade.¨ Zem said.

Kim sighed and looked at Michael ¨Listen, I don´t know what you´re thinking, I never know what you´re thinking...I don´t like it when you throw yourself in harms way...but this is something that might need to be done...¨ Kim said. Zem got up and scooted his chair back as it scraped against the floor. His shoes clicked as he walked across the floor to the sink to put his bowl in.

¨Thanks for the soup Kim...and sorry to repay you with bad news and asking Michael to leave.¨

¨It´s ok, I´m used to it by now. Michael is an adult that can make his own decisions obviously.¨ Kim said ¨Come back soon ok? You´re always welcome here.¨ Kim said smiling as Zem turned to go.

¨Oh yeah I almost forgot, these are from Rez.¨ Zem said turning around and tossing a small box of cigarettes at Michael. Zem then opened the door and left as the door clicked shut. Kim looked at Michael as he finished his soup, ¨If you go tonight promise me something?¨ she asked.

¨What?¨

¨Promise me that you won´t kill unless you have to?¨

Michael sighed looking at Kim ¨You know that is going to be next to impossible. They have guns Kim. They will be skilled with them and there is no telling how much ammo they have. Death is just a part of this world as much as it was back on earth.¨ Michael said putting on his coat.

Michael put his bowl in the sink and kissed Kim as he put on his hat. ¨I´m going to see Clark. He´ll know what to do about this. Who knows? Maybe he´ll even join Rez/Zem tonight anyway?¨ Michael said dryly as he closed the door.

¨Good luck...¨ Kim said walking over to start doing the dishes. Michael´s shoes made a rubbing sound on the thin carpet that was in his hallway. He opened the door to the stairs and started the descent down to the street level when it hit him that there might be a war brewing.

Michael arrived at the rotating doors of the building when he found himself sighing. I am not a champion of justice...hell I don´t even care what happens to this world. I know this is Hell but...I don´t want some dictator ruling over my life. Even still this is complete and total lunacy these men will have guns. I don´t even know if I will be fast enough. I know Rez relies much on his own strength to overthrow his opponent and then cripple them; however I don´t know if that will work in this situation. We´ll need a strategy...and that is Clark´s area. Michael thought to himself. The rain that fell above and around Michael seemed to lower his hopes that the decision he was leaning towards was the right one; however, at this time Michael simply wanted to protect Kim. This government was a bad idea, there was doubt in Michael´s mind, but could he stop it? This question lingered over Michael like a grim reaper hanging on his shoulders.

Michael finally made it to the area in which Clark lived. ¨This area grows more welcome every time I come.¨ Michael muttered reading a sign on the door ¨KEEP OUT TRESPASSERS WILL BE SHOT, SURVIVORS SHOT AGAIN UNTIL THEY ARE NO LONGER SURVIVORS¨ The area in which Clark made his residence was covered in barbed wire. Clark lived underground, in a subway system. His home was an abandoned subway that no one had found yet. Michael summoned his psycic weapon with which he slashed the barbed wire and he walked through. He found a fresh coil of barbed wire on the other side which he reattached to where he had cut through. Michael proceeded down the steps, each step making an echo off the staircase down into the subway level.

At once a set of spikes flew out of the ceiling down at Michael. He swore cursing his own stupidity for forgetting about Clark´s security system he had rigged up. ¨I see Clark is showing off his ability to delay his altering until later times. I hate how that old fossil does that!¨ Michael yelled cutting the spikes with his lance. Another wire went off as Michael did a back flip to avoid the bag of tools that zipped open and came clattering down. The next scene was one of pure acrobatic brilliance as Michael leapt up and extended his hands and legs full length to hang sideways to avoid two blades that came out of the wall and sliced horizontally across into the other wall. Waving his arm across while still holding with the other Michael made a tube that led under the other stairs and let out on the floor like a slide in a McDonald´s play place. He climbed up with this arms until his feet gave away and he slid down through the tube and slid out onto the subway level. He brushed himself off as he got up.

A staff extended to Michael´s face as he raised up his arms. ¨It´s me Michael! Relax you old geezer put that thing away!¨ Michael yelled frantically remembering Clark´s psychic weapon appeared to be an old walking stick at first and then it proved you wrong by revealing it had the ability to summon and control flames. ¨Lower your arms! I didn´t know it was you.¨ Clark said revealing himself into the light. ¨I set off those traps because I didn´t know it was you. Now why did you call me a fossil?¨

¨Because I did know it was you.¨ Michael said groaning as he popped his back in three different areas. Clark walked to his subway cars where he made his home. He went inside and sat in a chair where he produced an old fashioned English style pipe and put some tobacco in it. He struck a match and inhaled puffing out smoke rings.

¨What brings you to my home on a day like this?¨ Clark asked motioning for Michael to sit. Michael did so and pulled out a cigarette. He couldn´t find his lighter so Clark noticing handed him a match. He struck it on the side of the subway car. ¨I came because I need advice. I am kind of lost on this one.¨ Michael confessed. Clark smiled his old smile and chuckled a little. ¨Are you not always lost on an issue when you seek my advice? Do you not think an old man like myself would learn your style of asking for advice?¨ Clark asked chuckling some more.

¨Well, anyway I don't know if you've heard of this new man who claims to have gone back to earth...he´s somehow produced a crate of guns and people are going nuts over it. I--¨ he was cut off by Clark interjecting. ¨Yes I have heard of this man, Michael we can't let those guns get out. I know no order can exist here in Hell as he is promising, we are not cops or fighters for justice...but we cannot let guns flow freely to the crowd. A user could simply have made those guns. As I said earlier we are not fighters of justice, but we have to stop him. If you came to me asking if we need to stop him by force then my answer is this: I am going, we will be lacking in force tonight without you...in fact we will most likely die without your aid. I will not force you to come; however, must deeply weigh your options. Rez and I are meeting at the old city library at 10:00 tonight.¨ Clark said.

¨I don´t care about this world, or my fate however it may be intertwined with this world. I simply want Kim to be happy.¨

¨Now now Michael you know she will be happy as long as you are with her. She´s been that way since you saved her. She loves you deeply and will be happy if you are happy.¨ Clark said putting some more tobacco in his pipe. Michael sighed knowing it was inevitable either way he was joining this fight now. ¨Thanks for the talk.¨ Michael said getting up to leave.

¨Anytime, what more does an old man get pleasure from?¨

¨Those porno mags stashed over there in the classical book collection you have going? ¨

¨GET OUT!¨ Clark said stamping his cane and making an opening in the ceiling. He projected the cement under Michael up back onto the street level.

"Grouch…" Michael muttered as the rain hit him and he felt the wetness rise up in him again.

"I guess I have no choice, if I want to protect Kim I've got to make the first move with Rez and Clark and destroy the gun shipment. I just don't understand, I doubt he made it back to earth…I never tried but…"

A new idea had popped into Michael's head and it hit him like a sack of bricks. He ran over to a building where some metal pipes were sticking out of the wall. He focused heard and opened his hand then slowly closed it into a fist. Grunting and forming the mental image he wanted in his mind. He groaned as sweat appeared down his cheeks, it was exhausting but worth it as he made his discovery. "So it is possible…" Michael uttered in disbelief picking up a 9mm pistol. He made sure it was loaded and pulled the trigger. Michael had expected to hear a bang and a bullet to whiz up in the sky…instead he got a little CLICK.

"What did I do wrong? My mind is sharp enough to make this and I crafted it perfectly. The only thing missing is, THAT'S IT! GUNPOWDER!" Michael shouted aloud. The amazement was showing on his face as he realized it was impossible. Even an 'user' could not make a gun.

Rule number two of altering states you cannot alter organic material and rule three is you cannot craft raw material. So that is what a 'user' is missing when he goes to make a gun in this world. He is missing gunpowder and cannot complete the process of making a gun. Michael thought to himself on the way back to his apartment.

One last thought appeared before Michael Wait…what uses gunpowder? Michael stopped walking and soon only the sound of falling rain was heard as Michael's shoes stopped moving. He didn't care he was getting soaked this new revelation had just shown itself and Michael had to figure the odds.

"Fireworks…" Michael muttered as he realized the grim reality. They can simply extract the gunpowder from fireworks, then they have a 'user' who wants money or something make the guns. It takes a detailed mind to make weapons the more complex the weapon, the harder it is to make etc. So they would need someone very skilled to mass produce guns. At least I know now he is a fake and he didn't go back to earth… Michael thought.

As the rain hit Michael each drop just seemed to chip away a little more at his soul, each drop had its own blade with which it cut off a little sliver of Michael's soul. If it weren't for Kim, Michael might have tried to take his life by now. He was tired of this world, with or without his altering abilities this world sucked. It was devoid of human life it seemed, and even the physical bodies that were here didn't seem all that human. Kim was the only thing holding him together. Each ripple that Michael's shoe caused as it hit a new puddle echoed outward. It was almost symbolic of Michael's soul crying out with each new rain drop that hit.

Back at the apartment Kim was cleaning. She had out an old fashioned feather duster that she had found at one of the stores she recently visited.

It's like mother's was back at home. Mother I hope you aren't to unhappy without me. I don't know if you can hear me, heaven may be even farther from here than it is on earth…just know that I am happy. I am living with a man that I love deeply, he won't admit it directly, but I know he loves me. I never know how long it will be until I see you in heaven, but I hope that you two can meet. Kim prayed silently. She smiled and thought of the time Michael asked her about herself. It was about a week after he had rescued her and he had just started getting used to her. He was so uptight before she came along it seemed.

Kim started to think about the first time she went in to cover him with a blanket…she shuddered at what she saw and at the same time had so much pity and compassion upon Michael. He had just come home from a fight of some sort, she didn't understand why fought so much, but whatever he had done it bloodied him up. When she asked him about it the first time he replied "Nothing you need to concern yourself with" in a gruff voice. He limped in and tracked blood across the floor. He went into his smoking room but didn't close the door. He groaned and at one point screeched in pain as he sat in his chair. He lit up a cigarette muttering about pain as he inhaled and exhaled for a few minutes. Then he put the cigarette out in the ash tray on the windowsill.

She vividly remembered the scene that followed, and she had remembered it simply because it had made her feel so many emotions at once. This was something she thought impossible when she arrived in the city of rain. Michael leaned back and licked up the kick stool. As he propped his feet out he grunted and she heard a loud POP. Obviously this fight had forced a terrible toll upon his body.

"Do you want me to call a doctor?"

"….no…leave me be" came a grumbled response.

She waited for what seemed an eternity standing there with a broom in her hand. After five straight minutes of waiting Kim walked slowly into the smoking room ignoring Michael's orders. She had a blanket and wanted simply to at least prevent him from catching cold. As she walked around front quietly she leaned over to put the blanket down on Michael. Before the blanket had even made contact with his torn body his eyes shot open. She didn't count but many red lines were exposed as his eyes were wide open. He shot his left arm forward grabbing her right arm and he wrapped his legs around hers. He raised his right arm in the air and shouted "YOU WILL BURN WITH SATAN'S ANGELS FOR COMING AFTER ME!" Michael shouted in a loud voice summoning his lance. He slammed her to the floor and was upon her all within the reaction time of a ½ a second. She had no sooner blinked when his lance was coming down point first at her head. She shook with fear looking into his eyes. It was as if the very flames of Hell were exposed within them, yet at the same time she saw a soul crying out. It was crying out for love, and an escape to someplace safe…

She stopped screaming and merely lay still, she was perfectly ready to give her life to ease him right then. Tears flowed from her eyes as she smiled gently. Michael snapped out of his murderous rampage long enough to realize she wasn't fighting back…in fact she was letting him kill her without any resistance. He adjusted his right arm at the last second and slammed his lance four inches down into the floor. He let it go and it disappeared with a quick POOF and little puff of smoke.

Supported merely by his right hand on the ground and his two knees he lessened his grip with his left hand on Kim's arms.

"You were going to let me kill you, you didn't even put up any resistance. Why were you ok with that?"

"I caught a glimpse of your heart through your eyes…it just wants love and shelter…that's all you want…I was completely ok with dieing to show you that. You think that this world is devoid of the slightest humanity…if you will permit me to live I will show you otherwise." Kim said.

"Why? What is the point of what you are trying to do?!" Michael said slamming his right fist into the floor. Kim didn't flinch but merely lay there and raised her left arm and stroked Michael's cheek gently.

"Elementary my dear Watson, elementary." She said in a deep British accent laughing as she quoted Sherlock Holmes.

Michael's expression was blank as he didn't know to react to what she had just said.

"I am in love, and if you'll trust me I'll show you." She said laughing and smiling.

"Is that all you want? Trust?"

"Well, it'll be a start." She said winking and giggling some more. At once Michael's arm gave away and collapsed gently on her falling asleep.

"I'll take that as a 'I trust you' then" she said smiling. She reached over and pulled the blanket over them both as she too fell asleep….

Back in reality, Kim was dusting the smoking room. Hard as she tried she couldn't find any kind of cleaning chemicals like she was used to on earth…Febreeze, Windex, etc. It didn't matter. She had stuff for laundry but nothing for floors or windows or anything else. She had to do things the old fashioned way, she did them with a bucket of warm soap water and a sponge. She was glad she came upon this old fashioned feather duster though. She opened the window to the smoking room to air it out.

"He smokes like a freight train so no wonder it smells so bad in here." Kim said pinching her nose.

The door opened and Michael strode in. Considering that she had just cleaned he hung his wet coat and hat on the rack next to the door. He then popped off his shoes and set them on the rug next to the door. She excitedly ran to the door and threw her arms around him shouting "Welcome home!"

He simply stood there and finally asked, "Ummm I was only gone for two or three hours right?" She drew back and said "Mmmhmm, but I made some dinner and it's a new recipe I couldn't wait to have you try it." She said smiling. Michael coughed and said "I'll have some dinner after a smoke."

"Oh no you don't!" she said snatching the pack of cigarettes from his hand.

"Smoking ruins your appetite and though I can't make you stop completely I won't have you miss a balanced meal. You can consider one for dessert after you eat."

"Oh yeah? I don't think so." He said snapping his fingers. She had a ribbon holding her hair back. It extended forward wrapping around the box and tossing the box of cigarettes to Michael. He caught them with a nod of his head. Something was wrong. "Why aren't you trying to get them back?"

"I already have them." She replied walking over to the drawer. Michael examined the box and found the bottom open. She had taken all of them out!

"Sneaky lady ain't ya…" he muttered going to wash up for a plate of 'new recipe'

"Kim, I've got to go tonight. I've figured out that this guy, whoever he is, is fake, a talented user can make a gun. It's possible, so he's got a user or two working for his little shenanigan."

"So it is possible…Clark is going tonight?"

"Yes, he and Rez will be attacking. They will need my help. If there are fifty guys armed with guns AND users there it will be too tough without me. All of us are very experienced users. Maybe some of the best in this world, but against guns and masses skill means nothing. Just realize tonight will be bloody and I may not come back…" Michael said. She brought him over a plate with a new kind of chicken and potatoes smothered in some kind of new sauce.

"I hear the cooking in the afterlife sucks. Trust me, if you fall in battle my cooking alone will be enough to raise you from the dead." She said putting her hands on her hips. Michael scoffed and said "We'll see, your cooking is good but-" he paused to take a bite of chicken dipped in the potatoes. He chewed as a spicy flavor hit his tongue followed by the tanginess of the sauce. His eyes opened wider in satisfaction. "Ok, your cooking will bring me back to life." Michael said agreeing. He then stood up and walked over to Kim and grabbed her arms. "Wha?" she said blushing.

"Thanks, without you I feel like a rose without pedals. My roots can absorb the water of this world and sustain me…but without pedals to absorb sunlight and make food…I can't call that living. So thank you." He said drawing her in for a hug.

"I love you too…" she said smirking.

"I guess you dropped the love cannot exist in this world crap, I'm glad it was getting old." She said chuckling to herself.