Chapter Four: The Scar Formed From A Twisted Smile

The beads of sweat on Clark's face grew ever more numerous as he waited. He knew he was trapped he had three options. Since had just killed five guards and a user he knew he'd be killed or a hostage. Heh most likely the first one. Clark thought dryly scoffing in his thoughts.

The only thing standing between more soldiers and himself was a mere ½ foot thick cement block the size of the doorway. Surely they could use some explosive or another user could make it disappear. It appeared at the moment they had a battering ram and were simply trying to break through.

At the rate it's cracking they'll be in the room in less than three minutes. I just fought so I'm tired and well spent in stamina. I won't be able to alter more than two more things at the maximum. Rez is somewhere in the building and could either be using this distraction to his advantage or rushing down here. If he's smart he'll go on ahead and use this to his advantage. Clark thought to himself. "Of course the guns are down here…" Clark whispered to himself. Michael may not even be in the building yet…and he definitely won't come to my aide. His job is to locate the man in charge and kill him…

The cement block cracked further and Clark smiled. Out of the three options, escaping into the sewers, trying to wait for Rez to save him, and going out with a bang, he'd chosen going out with a bang. "In this hellish utopia that will be created, my name will go down in the history books as the senile old man who breathed fire to the end." Clark said smiling.

The cement block collapsed to the floor with a crumbling CCCSSSSTTTDDDDD and ten soldiers ran in with guns drawn. They were led by a man who looked familiar. He stood at six foot six inches, and wore distinguishable clothes. His clothes were that of some kind of supreme dictator. He wore a black cloak with a white fuzzy collar over a blood red full length robe. He had long wavy black hair pulled back into a shoulder length pony tail. He crossed his arms and spoke "So…you thought to crumble my regime with just yourself? Quite foolish…that is unless you have friends, in which case you are still a fool for attempting such a foolish thing. So, are you alone or with friends?"

Clark considered his next words and acting carefully. Clark sneered and put on the face of an arrogant punk. "I'm but one man who aims for your death…Victor Marble!" Clark yelled spitting at him. A gun fired and clipped Clark's shoulder. He fell to his knees. "Been a while since I've been shot." He said applying pressure to the wound.

"Spit again and I'll cut off your tongue you stupid user. So your just an idiot who used his powers for one last shot at my downfall. I am Supreme Potente of this city. You will not even look in my direction without my say so!" he yelled. Clark was about ready to die, he shakily climbed to his feet and another gun fired this time clipping his knee.

"Ahhh! God! That hurt!" Clark said falling to his butt. He held his knee close and groaned. He squinted and made a sharp hissing breathing sound.

"You will also kneel in my presence, as you are worthless compared to me." Victor said.

"So you didn't like my little speech did you? That's quite a shame…I do have a place for people like you though. As promised to my public I've got users making a graveyard in the center of the city."

Clark knew he had to buy time before he could charge this guy. He could take them out if he slid his staff underneath him with the string attached. Then he'd summon the remainder of his power to burn this man alive.

"What are your plans? You gonna woo the people and then just take over this world?" Clark sputtered.

"No, I suppose you've figured out the earth thing was a lie. I can't go back just yet. However, we're working around the clock to do so."

"You actually think you can return to earth?! How crazy can you get?"

"Well, my senile old man, you don't know anything about this place do you? In the libraries there are no newspapers, and all the books are empty yes? Well I do know something. I'll even fill you in seeing as your about to die." He said sneering and holding his head high.

It figures, all the stupid villains in the world…really do have to have some long stupid monologue. Clark thought to himself.

"Allow me to explain. In the year 1980 a scientist thought up the ultimate weapon. It was a machine to send anyone, anywhere into an instant and permanent coma. The world governments immediately set to work upon a machine to do so.

Naturally a few countries pulled ahead Russia, China, the U.S. and so forth. We're not sure who finished first but they put it on a satellite to launch. It was to be tested upon the head of a terrorist cell on the night of the change to the year 2000. Naturally something went wrong, at 12:00 A.M., January 1st, 2000 the computers malfunctioned causing a pre-emptive strike on 5,000 people across the world.

This was new experimental technology so no one knew what happened to the person in the coma. In our case we came here to this city. We figure our bodies are still laying unconscious on Earth somewhere. The only other things we know are we register pain and death here because if you die here you die in the real world. We are the consciousness of the bodies on Earth, and the body cannot live without the mind. That is why we are able to drink and smoke as much here as we want because it is the mind and not the physical body. It is unexplained how everyone ended up…wherever here is." Victor finished.

Oh my God…it was a technology malfunction…I have to tell the others! Crap if only I'd have escaped earlier!...My mission remains the same no matter what information I find out though. Clark thought.

"That's a nice story it truly is…however, Earth or not I cannot allow you to continue. In the words of my blessed grandson. THINK FAST!" Clark yelled sliding his staff right under Victor. Clark screamed "NOW!" as flames shot up and engulfed Victor. His body vanished from sight as the flames hit him. When it cleared Clark felt dizzy using his last bit of stamina. The smoke cleared and laughter filled the room as Victor stood untouched…

"Ha ha ha ha ha…I see. You put your last bit of energy into that one little burst of flame. It's a shame you didn't know that I can't be hurt by such a simple attack. You see I am how do you say…immortal. You can't scratch me, I am God here. There is nothing you can do. Now…die." Victor said motioning forward as the guards cocked their guns and prepared to fire.

"My last words will be…life is life no matter where it is or how it is used…and as such no matter where it is or how it is used all lives must come to an end. Mine is now, but yours will follow." Clark said opening his arms wide as to embrace his death.

What happened next appeared as in slow motion to Victor. He had no sooner shouted "Fire!" when a flash of light caught his eye. He slid to the left just enough to avoid a round piece of metal in the shape of a disk cutting his head off. It cut his neck ever so slightly. The next event to follow was the soldiers are pulling the triggers of their guns and firing 10 scattered bullets all aimed toward Clark in various angles. Every angle covered by every bullet led to one single solitary fate…death.

The bullets were half way to Clark when a pillar fell from the ceiling in front of Clark. The bullets ricocheted from the pillar harmlessly. As they did so a man fell from the floor above. Dust fell around him as he stood up.

"I see you've been busy Clark? Did I interrupt a good death attempt?"

"So much so that I had my last words all picked out and everything. It was going to be a beautiful dramatic death and you spoiled it Rez."

"Well excuuuuse me for saving your old already more than half spent life." Rez said.

"That's him huh?"

"Yep. Be careful, something's not right. Flames did nothing to him and he claims to be immune to simple attacks."

"Don't worry, I got this one. You just lie there, just don't die on me you old man."

"Shut up and do your thing." Clark said as his weapon disappeared with a POOF.

"I should have guessed the old man was lying when he said he was alone. I'll assume you're about to try in futility to kill me. Very well, I shall give you a chance to die in battle." Victor said touching the wall and pulling out a Japanese style blade known as a katana. Rez considered Clark's warning and threw down his psychic weapon making it disappear. He touched the floor and pulled out a scimitar. It was an interesting choice of blade and design. From the hilt the blade rose an inch and a half and then made a large crescent and finally straightened back out to make a flat point on top about two inches long.

That's an interesting choice of blade to go down with. I wonder what his skills with a blade like that are like. Back on earth he must have studied middle age warfare and battles surrounding the holy land and ancient Europe. We'll see who's blade skills are superior. Victor thought to himself.

Making the first move, Victor ran forward and leapt up to the ceiling and came down somersaulting and slicing with his blade. Rez leapt back until the blade hit the ground. Then Rez put his foot on the blade and prepared to cut Victor's head off. A quick smirk from Victor made Rez change his mind and leap up into the air and back. Right after he did so, a huge spike rose from the ground where Rez was moments earlier. "Crap." he said running and making an arc around to the left side of Victor. Victor thrust his blade forward towards Rez's stomach. Sweating Rez used the shape of his blade to his advantage. He stabbed it into the ground and used the curve to catch the Katana and force it to the right. Rez threw a punch forward making contact with Victor's face.

Victor took the punch and slid back pulling his Katana with him. "A nice blow and delivery, you pride yourself in fighting dirty, or winning whatever way it takes. Do you not?"

"Victory and life go hand in hand for one such as me. As a wise man once said: All's fair in love and war." Rez said rushing forward and swiping across to the right with his scimitar. Victor ducked and as the blade missed he leapt up into the air coming down over Rez, who leapt backward as the Katana stabbed into the ground. He still hasn't revealed a psychic weapon of any kind. Rez thought to himself. "Ready to surrender?"

"Surrender? I'm not even warmed up yet!" Rez yelled running forward at Victor.

Michael had reached the roof and proceeded forward to the door. He opened it and slid inside. The stairs before him smelled of mildew. There must be a leak from the rain somewhere. Michael decided as he walked down the steps. A clicking was heard by the guards and they put two and two together that no one would be coming from the roof. The two guards that were on the top floor cocked their guns and ran to handle the intruder. The thought that only someone with special powers would be the only person to make it to the roof didn't occur to them.

Michael tensed up as the sound of guns cocking hit his ears. Ducking down to the floor Michael covered his head as the two guards spun in and fired into the stairwell. They weren't trained well with guns and they completely emptied their clips. Michael counted ten shots and then rolled forward in a ball. He came to their feet and came up fast with two daggers he pulled out. He had stabbed each of the guards in the heart killing them instantly. Michael didn't know that most of the guards were heading towards the basement to watch Victor fight so he checked the rest of the room.

He had altered the two guns into plastic roses. "Heh ironic...there was a band called Guns and Roses back on earth." Michael said dryly. Michael took a look around observing his surroundings more. The top three stories housed a gigantic library! He ran and checked each book hoping for something human...He growled and slammed his fist into the book case. "Nothing! They're all blank! They really didn't make it to earth." he said.

Turning to leave and head downstairs, Michael thought for a second. If my job is to assassinate Victor then I'll have to actually have to do some heavy duty killing to get to him. He probably has body guards and all. So from this point forward I need to put all my energy into focusing.

As Michael's hand went to the door knob, it was already turning. A man with a cup of coffee came in.

"Hey guys, were you practicing with your guns again? You know the boss only hands out limited-" he saw the dead bodies and he joined them on the floor. Michael walked out of the room. He could always summon his weapon, but at the moment he had 20 throwing daggers in his coat.

Michael saw a nice sized air vent and he decided to crawl in to avoid any more guards. He latched the cover back on and proceeded to the next part of the ventilation shaft. As he crawled into the shaft a nice breeze hit him, for it was humid outside and he much enjoyed the breeze. Crawling further and further into the shaft Michael realized that there was a part of the shaft coming up that opened up and went into a column going down. The air was coming from there and Michael figured there were giant fan blades spinning in this column. The thought hadn't occurred to him before. Crap. Michael thought.

Trying to figure out what to do he turned on the flashlight he had and checked. The blades spin in unison...so if I land on the center of the first I could simply grab two edges and slide down doing the same with every new fan blade since they are about ten feet apart...Plus I need to save as much stamina as possible. One fight and I'm pretty much spent on energy for altering. Michael thought.

"Kid's don't try this at home on earth..." Michael muttered dryly as he pulled a rope from his trench coat and tied it to some steel beams at the top of the shaft. He kept the rope rolled up on his arm lowering it only as he needed. He had four more ropes in his coat anyway but he still didn't want to risk tangling his ropes.

It was a tedious process landing on the center of the fan and then immediately leaning forward and catching a space between two individual blades. He was feeling very dizzy spinning. The fan blades were suspended by a single bar going across the shaft on the top side, and there was no bar below so Michael could spin on the fan dangling without trouble. Michael picked his moment and did a somersault forward and coming down between two blades. Catching his bodyweight and holding steady, Michael spun and let go coming down above the next fan blade.

Having a bit of luck for a change the fan blades stopped as the air conditioning deactivated. "Yes dang it! It's about freakin time!" Michael whispered. Not knowing how long until it kicked on again Michael quickly tied a rope to the bar suspending one fan blade and lowered himself slowly down though the blades. "Almost..." Michael muttered sweating from the strain of lowering himself so slowly. Kim is going to gripe about how coarse my hands are when I get home...Michael thought sarcastically. Michael's luck ended when on the 15th floor a soldier walked over to the thermostat and lowered it. As the blades started to whirl Michael knew instantly he was screwed.

He felt his rope jiggle and finally the fan spun with enough force to cut it. It snapped quietly but Michael felt that dizziness you feel when you are falling without control. As if in those dreams where you are falling within infinite blackness Michael saw a bit of light coming up at him fast. It was a vent opening! Thrusting his hand for it when it was level Michael's arm popped stopping his body weight dead. He grunted when it popped but he reached his other arm up to grab between the bars.

Michael brought his feet up behind him as he pressed against the opposite side of the vent and proceeded to stretch forward. With a long CRREEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAK the vent busted forward and Michael crawled onto the eleventh floor. He looked at a sign that read "Documentation Room" and an arrow that pointed left. He raced down the hall towards the room. I can find some plans and destroy them...or find something related...to Earth... Michael thought. The possibilities of what lay in that room were endless.

As Michael came to the door he saw two guards...but he was looking around a corner so they couldn't see him yet. Using a dagger to reflect around the corner he was sure he counted just two. Michael spun from the corner so fast the soldiers were dead with blades in their hearts before they could fire a shot.

Not caring if other guards found those bodies Michael twisted the door knob and walked into the room. It was about the size of someone's living room and it contained three file cabinets. One cabinet labeled "Earth" another labeled "The City of Rain" the last labeled "The Water Cycle". Michael thought carefully as he was sure he had limited time. He had to figure out which files to take and which to leave. He was curious on what data they had gathered on the city of rain but he realized that priority outdid curiosity.

Each file cabinet had five drawers. He pulled open the top drawer of the cabinet labeled "The Water Cycle" and saw five folders. He opened the first one and inside was a paper with some statistics on it. It showed a graph...some numbers...what caught Michael's eye was the statistics at the bottom of the people within the City of Rain.

"It counts to 5,000...it stops there. Since the time we've gotten here...the number hasn't decreased or increased! Surely people have died though! This can't be correct!" Michael gasped. He read further: "As of now day 4,360, we have concluded that for every person that dies in this world, a new person is dragged to this world. We are trying to conduct research on how this happens but we are so limited as to what we can do. In this world the only source of power and hope lies with the users ability to alter. We cannot yet figure out how they do so, however we do know one thing. Users should be the Gods of this world because they can do such amazing things. However, they cannot even stop the rain, let alone change living things. Despite these limitations they should be able to be Gods here, yet they aren't. Our boss, Victor Marble is able to defy the laws of altering! The four rules of altering are as follows:

You cannot stop the rain.

Living material cannot be altered.

One can only alter to a certain extent before becoming exhausted.

One cannot produce or destroy the matter only alter it.

Victor has defied two of these laws! He has altered a human being into death. He altered a human's leg into a metal limb once. It was quite a feat and he was nearly exhausted afterward, but he did it. The human however died of medical complications in the end. It seems the human has a massive heart attack from blood clot. Even though it was a success, Victor's mind was not that of a doctor so he didn't think of the consequence of turning a leg into metal. It seems that some way some how he is able to alter without end. He is working on defying the law of producing and destroying material as well. Soon he will defy all the laws and become God himself."

Michael couldn't believe what he was reading. "That's...not possible. He's defying the laws of altering themselves! How?! If he can defy one of the four laws then...That just means we'll have to beef up our attempts to kill him. After all he bleeds right?" Michael thought. Michael grabbed two or three more random files from the cabinet labeled "The Water Cycle" and stuffed them in his trench coat.

At that time Victor wasn't bleeding too much. Victor drove his sword forward thrusting towards a panting Rez. He barely ducked out of the way and rolled in time. Rez has been fighting for ten minutes straight now. He is panting and his movements and reactions have slowed to just above what an average human can do. He won't last much longer...even more shocking is Victor is merely sweating. Rez has a look of fear in his eyes because he is out of ideas and tricks...but Victor's eyes show no falter, it's as if he is some unlimited robot merely waiting for the next move so he can parry and move in for the kill. Clark thought. "I've got to come with a plan and fast. I'm powerless and wounded. Rez will last another two minutes before his body gives out on him. He can't alter much more either. I estimate he's got about four to five good transformations left in him." Clark whispered to himself.

Another shocking thing is if they were losing or scared or worried in any way they could take me hostage...seeing that they've made no move to do so shocks me all the more... Clark thought to himself.

"Have you seen the error of your ways yet measly mortal?"

"Heh, I've made plenty of mistakes in my life. One mistake is a double edge sword to the rest of my mistakes though..."

"And what mistake would that be?"

"No regrets!" Rez yelled catching the katana in the curve of his blade and swinging it up and left in a crescent shape. The katana left Victors grasp and stabbed into the wall.

"Now Victor! Surrender before I cut your head off! You know full well you're unarmed and my reflexes are still good enough to kill you before you can alter anything!" Rez yelled.

He's not even backing up to the wall to show fear or backing down! He's got something up his sleeve somewhere...gotta be on alert. Rez thought to himself.

In a scene of brilliance Victor defied Rez's plan. Victor had the scimitar's point at his neck so he couldn't move without Rez taking some sort of action. Victor slowly raised his hands open palmed at Rez. "Here is where your logic is defied." Victor said as slowly touched his shirt over his breast plate. As he did so two spring-loaded chains with a sharp point on each end shot out at Rez. "He altered his shirt?!" Rez gasped ducking. One chain point cut his left shoulder open. The other slit his right arm. "#!" Rez said. Victor did several back flips to the wall and he laid flat against it. "Now die." Victor said as a red chain of energy altered the wall into several launching spikes.

With thirty cement spikes flying at him Rez cursed and planted to hands flat to the ground to pull up a medieval shield made of solid steel to shield himself with. Rez was now paralyzed, he could not move without a volley of spikes to kill him. Somehow Victor wasn't letting up! The spikes kept coming and Rez felt them as they hit his shield. After about sixty seconds of spikes clashing with the shield Rez's arm was going numb.

Clark couldn't move for the spikes were just to his right and if he got caught or nipped by one it wouldn't be pretty as he was already wounded. The spikes were coming in an endless volley as Victor shouted out "I can keep this up all night. Or are you already dead from a heart attack behind that shield?! I'll come and find out myself!" Victor shouted launching one last volley of spikes and charged at the shield. Rez lay crouched in a state of half consciousness behind it not really registering what was coming at him. Victor, running right behind his last volley of spikes yelled out "I've got it! I'll change your body and joints into solid steel and we'll try making you the first robot of this world or on Earth!" Victor said laughing and getting closer. Rez had enough and fell unconscious as he did so his shield flew from his hand as the last volley of spikes. It landed with a CLA-CL-CL-CLANK on the floor a dozen feet away.

Victor thrust his right arm forward to catch Rez's head and start altering his body. "Meet your maker!" Victor shouted as he got within five feet of Rez's head. Clark watched as his comrade and friend was about to meet his end and there was nothing he could do. You don't even get last words...how cruel. Clark thought. When Victors hand was four feet from Rez's head dust flew from the ceiling and a glowing red light came at a blur. Victors hand made contact with another foreign material a two feet from Rez's head. It was Michael! One guard observed a hole in the roof with a diameter of four feet that seemed to go up several floors. "He's good." the guard muttered looking up in astonishment.

Michael was sweating as his right hand was connected with Victor's. Red sparks flew as Michael squinted his eyes and grunting said "So...Victor...we...meet at...last."

Victor himself was sweating furiously now and he was even grunting. "And...you are?"

"...Michael...I'm come to guide you across the river...styx and into...Hell."

"You have been gathering data this entire time I take it?"

"...Yes."

"..Then...I...assume...you're aware of...my...abilities."

"...Also...correct."

"So...you still...defend...your friend...despite this knowledge?"

"In...a...New York Minute."

"So be it...then die with them!" Victor yelled showing his temper.

Michael's entire right arm started to shake violently and bleed. It sprayed blood and Michael cried out in pain...he didn't back off though. Red sparks flew as two users abilities clashed. The sparks turned black and Victor's groans grew louder as in triumph. Michael's flesh and internal arm started to change to steel! The metal flesh traveled slowly up his arm! Michael was in terrible pain and he screamed shaking his head left and right in a violent motion.

When the metal flesh made it to Michael's shoulder something snapped in Michael. He used his left hand and grabbed the metal flesh or his right arm and yelled "I SAID NOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!" A bright red flash stopped the metal flesh at the shoulder joint. Victor cursed and put more energy into continuing the altering process of Michael. "DIDN'T YOU HEAR ME?! NO MEANS NOOOOOOOOO!!!!!" Michael shouted at the top of his lungs blood coughing out from within him.

The red flashes around Michael's shoulder grew and surrounded Michael and Victor. "HHUUUUUUAAAAARRRRRGGGGG!!!!!" Michael yelled as the flashes now pulsed and one finally appeared separating Victor and Michael's hands. It knocked Victor back into the wall enough to crack it. Not only that, Victor was pushed flat against the wall by the force of the energy. Michael instantly collapsed to his knees and he coughed up blood.

Gotta...get outa here... ran though Michael's head like a strobe light appearing again and again and again and again. Michael touched the floor with his left hand and a large crack formed and the middle of the basement collapsed taking Rez and Clark with it. The guards immediately ran to Victor who pried himself from the wall. Some pointed their weapons down into the hole and fired. Victor ordered them to stop. "Sir should we go after them?"

"No...they're injured and we won't hear from them for a while. Just get some spare users to repair this place." Victor said walking to the stairs.

"And where are you going sir?"

"To see who is dead and what they stole."

"Don't you need to rest?" the man said before spikes reigned from the ceiling killing him. "I am God remember? I need no rest." Victor said walking up and away as if nothing ever happened...

Three hours later, a manhole by the Michael's apartment slid open. A metal arm and crawled out. The other arm was holding Rez's body. Clark himself had left and headed for the subway limping through the sewers. "I'll be fine." he said. Michael made it all the way up his stairs and to the front door. He opened it and Kim sprang to greet him. She gasped when she saw the bloody mess that was Rez's body slung over Michael's shoulder.

"Rez...Oh my god your arm! What happened?!"

"Just get Rez some bandages and fresh sheets." Michael groaned putting him down gently on the couch. "What about-" "Just get Rez." Michael interupted.

Kim came back with some bandages and medicine. She worked immediately set to work mending Rez. She was a registered nurse after all. Michael went to his smoke room and sat down in his chair groaning. With his metal arm he fished out his cigarettes from his trench coat pocket. He lit one up and inhaled. "So I just fought God..and didn't get away without a scar." Michael muttered holding up his metal arm. It was heavy...but somehow he could move it and his fingers and joints.

Victor must have gotten better...I don't know how I stopped it from spreading either...the thing that worries me most...is that I had to use my left arm to alter the floor to escape..." Michael said closing his eyes...It now appeared that Michael couldn't alter with his right arm anymore...