Clocks and Timepieces 2: The Canvas
Issue 13:
The Day That All Hell Broke Loose
In a blink of dark blue light, Zane materialized in the Gem HQ, eliciting gasps from the ever-observant girls. Ignoring their wide-eyed shock, he calmly and politely informed them of who he was and about his father’s whereabouts. Their hushed whispers washed over him like yesterday’s news; he had no time for gossip.
Gotta bounce. Zane thought, the urgency a constant thrum in his skull.
He followed the Gems’ directions and found his father and sister sprawled on a couch, Kyle’s arms wrapped protectively around Scarlett. A sigh escaped him, a dry rasp.
Hate to break up such a beautiful family moment. But oh well. “Yo!” Zane barked, jolting them both awake.
“Hey you’re—” Scarlett murmured, blinking the sleep from her eyes. Despite the fog clinging to her brain, recognition sparked.
“No time, Scar,” Zane said, his voice clipped. He flicked his gaze to Kyle. “We gotta move. Now.”
“Right.” Kyle responded with a curt nod. Quickly slipping out from under Scarlett, he activated the Labyrinth, summoning his power suit in a flurry of dark purple energy. The familiar armor encased him, the visor sealing his face in a mask of determination.
“Ready?” Zane asked, the question barely a formality. Kyle met his gaze with a resolute nod.
Zane grabbed Kyle’s hand, preparing to jump dimensions. But before the portal shimmered into existence, Scarlett intervened, her grip like iron on Kyle’s other arm.
“Whoa there, hotshot,” she interjected. “You might be easy on the eyes, but if you think I’m letting my Dad hang out to dry, you’ve got another thing coming. I may be wrecked, and let’s be honest, my hair is a disaster zone, but this whole situation screams ‘apocalypse,’ so—”
Their departure was a blur of light and sound. They rushed forward into a portal that threatened to steal all of their breath. The sheer force of dimensional travel transformed Scarlett’s defiance into a choked scream that echoed into the void. Then, just as abruptly, they were spat out on the other side. A desolate wasteland stretched before them, the heat a slap in the face. The sky bled an artificial blue, so vibrant it seemed unreal.
“What the hell?!” Scarlett sputtered, finally regaining her breath.
“You twisted my arm,” Zane said wryly. “So no need to waste time.”
“Where are we Zane?” Kyle asked, scanning the alien landscape.
“Earth 27b,” Zane replied. “Post-apocalyptic wasteland where we grabbed Coal and Gwen from.”
A hint of amusement flickered in Kyle’s eyes. “Speaking of, is our resident intangi-boy still comatose?”
“Nah, he’s up and about,” Zane responded. “Catching up with Gene and Lacie.”
“Thank the gods for them. Continue”
In the distance, a caravan careened across the dusty plains, desperately outrunning a relentless pursuer. They squinted, their eyes adjusting to the harsh sunlight. A monstrous silhouette emerged from the heat haze.
“The Jabberwocky,” Kyle growled, his voice laced with dread.
The Jabberwocky unleashed a devastating blast of crimson energy. The lead vehicle of the caravan erupted in a fiery inferno, sending shockwaves that scattered the remaining vehicles like tenpins. Passengers tumbled out, scrambling for safety. Amidst the chaos, the unmistakable cries of children pierced the air, one a helpless infant.
An armed caravan with kids? Kyle thought, his brow furrowed in confusion.
“Let’s move,” Zane barked, urgency crackling in his voice. “But first, we gotta strategize. Luckily, pops filled me in on a nifty little plan.”
“Hold on a sec,” Scarlett interrupted, her voice laced with bewilderment. “I’m all for saving the day, but...wait! Dad?!”
Hack was in heaven. Nestled in Tone’s swanky apartment, a bevy of beautiful women surrounded him. For once, his mind wasn’t buried in code, allowing him to truly appreciate the scenery. Each member of Kyle’s growing… harem? Yeah, that felt about right.
“Harem is about right,” he muttered under his breath.
“Did you say something Jason?” Tone asked, raising an eyebrow from behind the bar. Her pink cocktail swirled hypnotically in a crystal glass.
“No nothing.” Hack said sheepishly.
Tone looked effortlessly chic in a flowing white tank top and shorts that showcased her toned legs. She was deep in conversation with Meghan, who—much to Hack’s annoyance—seemed perfectly at ease. They’d actually become friends lately. How anyone could tolerate the mousy Meghan was beyond him. Cute, sure, but seriously? Though, she had been acting strangely around him since the whole prison fiasco.
Jack, Nastia, and Bethany lounged in the hot tub, their swimsuits strategically highlighting their curves. Even Shatterstar, Kyle’s first capture back at that ancient English manor (seriously, felt like ages ago), had finally joined the crew. After much deliberation, Kyle finally trusted her scrambled psyche—Karen/Shatterstar/Alternate-Reality Ultra Girl wasn’t some elaborate trap waiting to snap. She dipped her toes in the water, casual clothes clinging to her toned legs.
Still, I’d fall into those traps any day of the week. Hack fantasized, ogling Shatterstar’s generous cleavage.
Hack couldn’t help but fantasize what it would be like to have some of Kyle’s powers, the ability to manipulate minds, and have all these women at his beck and call. Envy gnawed at him—sure, Meghan was a dud, but the others? Hack knew that these women would drop everything to help him in his time of need.
Even if that need is a raging libido. Hack chuckled.
Just as his fantasy reached a fever pitch—all the women worshiping at the altar of Hack—a shrill beeping sliced through his reverie. Groaning, he fished out his phone and read the message aloud.
“Intruder alert! Braxton Industries!”
Bethany shot out of the hot tub like a startled mermaid. “What?!” she shrieked, scrambling over to Hack. Water sloshed everywhere, completely soaking him. He barely registered the generous view of her cleavage pressed against his shoulder as she craned her neck.
Hack fumbled with his phone, ignoring the chill and projected the hidden security feed onto the wall.
They all stared, bewildered, at the image flickering to life.
Jack broke the silence. “Bethany… is that you?”
A blonde in a black and red getup gleefully ransacked Braxton Industries’ files.
“Yeah, that definitely looks like— wait a minute…” Hack squinted, his eyes straining to see clearly. Was he seeing things, or was that…
“M…I…L…MILF? That’s poorly named.” Hack asked.
‘What’s MILF?” Nastia asked.
“The Magic Intraweave Latex Focus,” Bethany explained, rolling her eyes. “And yes it’s poorly named. Daddy’s got a bad sense of humor. But basically it’s a latex collar that focuses a person’s magical power.”
“There’s no way that’s you on that screen, right Beth?” Jack piped up, a mischievous glint in her eye, “Though two little hotties like you are good in my book.”
“It’s possible.” Hack said, “With all of the inter dimensional travel, it wouldn’t be unreasonable for another Bethany Von Hoffe to be present in this dimension.”
Hack considered it. “With all the dimensional hopping going on, another Bethany Von Hoffe in this reality wouldn’t be out of the question.”
“Well, one thing’s for sure,” Bethany declared, her voice hardening with resolve. “She ain’t getting her mitts on MILF!”
She sprang into action, gathering her gear. The rest of the group followed suit, all except Hack who slumped in his chair with a dramatic sigh.
“God I hate going on real missions. Can’t I just use my computer in the background?”
Tone just shook her head no, and the girls dragged him along after them.
“Do you realize how dumb you sound Bethany! When you shouted about MILFs?!” He yelled this as Tone picked him up, cradling him in her powerful arms as she took to the sky.
They rocketed towards the carnage, a twisted junkyard of toppled cars splayed like the limbs of fallen giants. A smoldering husk marked the lead attacker. Kyle rocketed ahead, his boots spitting crimson fire. Zane, brow furrowed in concentration, telekinetically mirrored his pace on the left, as Scarlett was just to his right, riding a powerful air current.
Several gunmen, foolish enough to disembark, peppered The Jabberwocky with bullets. He scoffed, and with a flick of his wrist, unseen tendrils of darkness snaked out, throats snapped like twigs. Silence descended, broken only by the heart-wrenching cries of two small children.
The Jabberwocky whipped around, his crimson gaze widening in a grotesque mockery of surprise as he gazed upon them.
“AAAAAAAAHHHH!” A war cry came from his alternate self as his doppelgänger unleashed a powerful attack.
A blazing energy blast, a white-hot meteor aimed straight for the Jabberwocky’s chest, slammed into him first. It was followed by a relentless barrage of air bullets, each one a miniature sonic boom, stinging like a swarm of angry hornets. As the final echoes faded, a psychic hammer blow struck, a telekinetic assault that rattled the Jabberwocky to his core. Still, he laughed,
“A challenge this time?!” he boomed, his voice a distorted echo. “You’ve grown stronger, other me! Just as I’d hoped.” A wicked grin, a slash of razor-sharp teeth, stretched across his face. “Let’s see if it’s enough!”
“Fuck you!” With a sardonic bark, Kyle unleashed a torrent of emerald fire from his palm blasters. The beams slammed into The Jabberwocky’s conjured obsidian shield, leaving sizzling craters, but the villain shrugged them off with a dismissive snarl. A thick, inky tendril erupted from his shadowed form, whipping towards Kyle’s head. With a flick of his wrist, he pulled his amber shield into place, the impact shuddering through his arm but deflecting the blow at the last second.
Across the battlefield, Scarlett unleashed a hail of compressed air bullets. They whistled through the air, each a miniature sonic boom, but they met their end against the Jabberwocky’s newly erected crimson force field of light.
“Yeah I’ve got that trick too!” Kyle yelled, a hint of desperation lacing his bravado. Channeling Katie’s light powers, and rushing the Jabberwocky head on summoning a crackling blade of deepest violet.
The Jabberwocky snarled, drawing a lightsaber of his own, their blades meeting in a shower of incandescent sparks as Kyle and his alternate self clashed face to face.
“Why!? Why do all this shit!?” Kyle yelled at the Jabberwocky, “Why not just kill me!?”
“Death would be too quick an end for people like us!” The Jabberwocky’s laughter echoed through the desolate landscape, smashing Kyle with a powerful magnetic force blast.
Scarlett charged in, her air spear crackling with raw power. But before it could connect, the Jabberwocky snatched her from the air with an unseen grip, his voice dripping amusement.
Fuck! Zane! Go now! Kyle cried out to Zane mentally. His son gave him a mental nod and left the battle.
“A feisty one, I see,” he purred, his gaze lingering on Scarlett’s chest. “You’ll make a lovely addition to my collection. Oh and by the way,” “Luke, I am your father.”
“You are not my father.” Scarlett snarled, unleashing a powerful gust that sent the Jabberwocky staggering back.
The momentary victory was short-lived. The Jabberwocky turned, his crimson eyes blazing with fury as he noticed Zane slip away.
“You won’t get the chance to chase after him!” Kyle ignited his lightsaber and charged. His power armor roared to life, propelling him forward in a blur of blue light.
“HA!” The Jabberwocky cried out with a defiant laugh as he began to manifest a different power. With a slam of his massive hand, he erected a colossal earthen shield. Kyle slammed into it with a thunderous boom, the barrier momentarily buckling under the force. But within the earthen shell, the Jabberwocky was gone.
“Scar, take cover!” Kyle yelled.
Scarlett dove behind a car for protection as Kyle let loose a powerful blast of Omega energy like a shockwave that flew across the desert. It slammed into the cars and threw them sending Scarlett along with it, but the blast managed to hit its true target, The Jabberwocky, who was flying low to the ground and had turned invisible to pursue Zane. The blast struck true, revealing the Jabberwocky in a flash of agony.
Kyle rocketed after his now revealed foe grabbing him with a steel grip, “You are not touching my kids, motherfucker.”
Zane weaved through the ravaged landscape, the cries of the rescued children muffled against his chest, speeding further and further away from the inferno of the battle.
Now to get these kids to James Frasier… The name echoed in his mind. He risked a fleeting glance at the swaddled figures nestled in his arms.
“Kyle Jr., Gwen,” he whispered, his voice hoarse. “You’ll be safe with me. I promise. Scar and Dad... they’re making sure of it.”
Zane’s lungs burned, his muscles screamed in protest, but he couldn’t afford to falter. The mission, their desperate gamble, had unfolded according to plan—a reckless assault to distract the Jabberwocky, a fleeting window for Zane to snatch the children and vanish. Now, that window was closing fast.
He teleported as fast as he could to the location his old father had told him of. The familiar sensation of disorientation washed over him as he materialized in a stark bunker room, eerily similar to his previous visit with Coal and Gwen.
But this time, the faces that greeted him were etched with worry and the weight of time. Aunt Tone, older, her once vibrant eyes clouded with pain. Uncle Jimmy, his features hardened, his dark tendrils crackling with hostility at the unexpected arrival.
Before Jimmy could unleash his power, Tone’s voice, raspy and weak, cut through the tense air. “James, wait!”
“James, wait!”
The tendrils retracted, replaced by a grimace on Jimmy’s face.
“You have my children,” Tone rasped, a fit of coughing wracking her body.
“Look Tone, you gotta take it easy.” Jimmy said.
“You have my children.” She said again, more firm this time despite her weak voice, “Are you here to kill us? Extort us?”
“Neither.” Zane replied. Ignoring the suspicion in her eyes, Zane gently placed the babies in her arms. A quiet sigh escaped them, their cries subsiding as they instinctively sought comfort.
“I came to you with a message from Kyle. My father.” Zane said.
“Your what now?” Jimmy asked incredulously.
Zane’s time was precious. “There’s no time for explanations, but I can share the message.” With a touch of his mind, he sent a memory, a glimpse into their minds.
In a flash, they saw an older Kyle, his face etched with the lines of a life well-lived. A warm smile softened his features.
“Hey there,” he greeted them, his voice filled with a bittersweet affection. “First, I gotta say, I miss you guys like crazy. This is Kyle, you know that, but Tone, Jimmy, I’m not the Kyle you knew. I’m from a different reality, one where the world didn’t fall apart. Where we found peace, and I got to live a happy life.”
A flicker of sadness crossed his face. “Tone, Jimmy, in your world, I died recently. Not coming back. And you’re being attacked by an evil version of myself. I’m so sorry for the pain he caused. Those are our children, and Tone, my darling Vanir, I know you’ll take care of them. But Jimmy, as my brother, I need your help too. I know Devon’s gone. I know it’s a lot to ask, but please, raise them with love. And Jimmy, in this dimension, follow your heart. I love you both. Zane, I’m so proud of the man you’ve become. Walk in the light, but know the darkness. It’s part of you too.”
The older Kyle gave them a wave, tears in his eyes and the memory faded. All three individuals left behind were crying now and the young babes joined in the chorus. Zane hadn’t been able to access that memory at all since his dad had sat him down and laid out the plan for what he was going to do after he hopped to Earth 1. It was the final words his dad had said to him.
Shit dad. I miss you so much. Zane thought.
“Hey kid.” Jimmy said, “What’d Kyle mean by following my heart?”
“I think you already know that answer.” Zane said, wiping the tears from his eyes. “I’m sorry, this is really sudden, but I have to go.”
With another flicker, Zane vanished, leaving Tone and Jimmy Frasier behind with the wailing infants.
Jimmy turned to Tone, stumbling over his words, “Tone I…I- uh…what I’m trying to…“
“James. Please. This is no time for beating around the bush.” Tone said with a weak smile,
“Tone…I love you.”
Tone looked at Jimmy in shock, but Jimmy continued, “I’m going to be here for Coal and Gwen, but I want to be there for you too. And I know Kyle was first, and it honestly weirds me out that you two were together before but-mmmff!”
“I know, James,” she whispered, silencing his rambling with a kiss.
Hack, Tone, Meghan, Bethany, Jack, and Nastia descended onto Braxton Industries as a squadron. The unsuspecting alternate Bethany Von Hoffe was inside Braxton industries, accessing the vault of devices that filled the storage vaults of Braxton, the group quickly rushed in.
“Hey other me!” Bethany yelled, her voice echoing in the vast chamber.
The other Bethany whirled around, startled by the mirror image of herself.
“Like… what the hell are you doing here!?” she asked.
“I could ask the same thing.” Bethany replied.
“Hmph.” A smirk twisted the alternate Bethany’s features. She crossed her arms defiantly, thrusting out a hip in a childishly provocative pose. “You’re messing with the wrong person, Bethy,” she sneered. “Master Jabby won’t be happy if I don’t get him that... MILF doohickey.”
“The Jabberwocky?!” Bethany asked, “You’re working for him?”
The alternate Bethany puffed out her chest, a smug grin plastering itself on her face. “That’s right!” she declared, her voice dripping with misplaced pride. “Call me Bloodstone, Master Jabby’s Ace of Hearts!”
She struck a dramatic pose, attempting to project an aura of power. It backfired spectacularly. The team, instead of being intimidated, exchanged amused glances. The pose lacked any grace or menace, and the childish nickname only reinforced the impression of a ditz in villainous cosplay.
Bethany rolled her eyes. “Well,” she said dryly, “that device is mine, not yours. No matter what bizarre alternate reality you crawled out of, it’s not up for grabs, especially not for someone working with that psychopath.”
Bloodstone’s smug expression contorted into a snarl. “Fine then!” she bristled, drawing a quarterstaff in a clumsy attempt at a menacing stance. “I’m not called Ace of Hearts for nothing, there’s only six of you and one of me... Oh wait...” Her voice trailed off, the realization of her numerical disadvantage dawning on her.
“Uh Beth, other you is kind of a ditz.” Hack whispered a little too loudly.
Bloodstone shot him a venomous glare. “Shut up!” she snapped, her voice cracking with barely concealed fear. “Come at me, then! Show me what you’ve got!”
FUCK! electricity jumped through Kyle’s body and power armor as he dropped the electrified Jabberwocky from his grasp. The Jabberwocky let out a cruel laugh of sadistic victory. As soon as Kyle had grabbed the Jabberwocky in a stranglehold, The Jabberwocky had electrified his whole body, sending bands of electricity coursing through Kyle’s body and armor. Scarlett winced, unleashing a torrent of air bullets that forced the Jabberwocky back momentarily, allowing Kyle to scramble away, his movements jerky and spastic from the jolt.
Suddenly, a blur materialized on the battlefield. Zane, reappearing in a flash of teleportation, landed a devastating uppercut to the Jabberwocky’s chin, sending the villain reeling.
Thank god that was the old Jabberwocky, and not the most recent version. If we had fought the current incarnation of the Jabberwocky, we would’ve been toast. Zane thought to himself.
“Time to leave,” he announced, his voice tight with urgency.
Without hesitation, all three shared a grim nod. Kyle, Scarlett, and Zane sprinted towards each other, a desperate bid for escape. In the distance, the Jabberwocky, recovering from the blow, surged forward with renewed fury.
Just as they reached each other, Zane scooped up his sister and father in a single, swift motion. With a final flicker, they vanished, leaving behind a crater where a searing blast of red light had vaporized the empty space they just occupied. The Jabberwocky, enraged and frustrated, roared his defiance into the empty sky.
Outnumbered and outmatched, Bloodstone crumbled under the combined assault. Bethany charged in, fists flying, while Hack, Meghan, and Tone waded into the fray. Nastia, ever the pragmatist, delivered the finishing blow with a well-placed tranquilizer dart.
As Bloodstone came to her senses, she began to cry in frustration as she struggled against the bonds she had placed in. She struggled mightily, causing the metal chair to tip violently, sending her tumbling face-first into the floor in a massive faceplant.
“Gaaaah! Stupid other me! You don’t understand how hard it is to please Master Jabby these days! He’s so distant with his plan to prevent all of Earth 28 from being erased.” Bloodstone cried, her voice muffled by the ground as she spoke directly into it, unable to right herself.
A collective gasp rippled through the room. “Erased?” Hack breathed. “That’s why he came here?”
“Yeah, haven’t you heard?” Bloodstone scoffed. “Whole dimension’s toast. Needs a ton of magic to stop it, that’s why I needed that MILF doohickey.”
Hack frowned. “He wants to save a whole dimension, but keeps Kyle alive? Doesn’t make sense...”
A bloodcurdling scream pierced the air, shattering the tense silence. They all rushed to the windows, their faces draining of color at the horrors unfolding outside Braxton Industries.
“Oh my god,” Meghan whispered, her voice choked with dread.
In the chaos, Bloodstone, unnoticed by the transfixed group, managed to slip away from her restraints and into the shadows.
An unnatural crimson bled across the night sky, blotting out the stars. In River City, the once comforting glow of streetlamps was eclipsed by an infernal light that pulsed from a dozen swirling portals. From these gateways, demonic figures poured forth—hulking ogres with dripping maws, winged nightmares with razor-sharp claws, creatures of pure malice and hunger.
Panic erupted like a wildfire. Screams echoed through the concrete canyons, punctuated by the unholy roars of the invaders. Every jumbotron, every television screen, flickered to life, displaying The Jabberwocky, floating at the dead center of all the portals, cold and confident.
“Mortals of River City,” his voice boomed, amplified by an unseen magic, “This is your final act. Surrender your pathetic resistance, and perhaps you’ll be spared the fury of the damned!”
A gesture of his hand, and another portal ripped open, disgorging a monstrous ogre with fists like battering rams. It roared, slamming its fist into the ground with a force that sent tremors through the city. Buildings groaned, windows shattered, and flames erupted from gas lines ruptured by the impact.
“Bow to your new king! Me! The Jabberwocky!”
The Jabberwocky chuckled to himself, Come and get me now, other me.
They materialized on a skyscraper rooftop, the stench of smoke and brimstone assaulting their senses. Below, River City was a hellscape bathed in an unnatural red glow. Demons swarmed the streets, their roars echoing off the buildings.
“Shit.” Zane muttered, “I did not expect this.”
“What the hell is happening?” Scarlett exclaimed, hand flying to her mouth.
“I think Hell is happening.” Kyle said grimly, suiting up in his power armor.
“Dad, you can’t just jump down there!” Zane exclaimed, eyes snapping open. “The Jabberwocky’s way out of our league.”
Kyle grimaced, a flicker of doubt clouding his eyes. “I know,” he conceded, “but I can’t just stand by. Impossible odds are kind of my specialty.”
Zane nodded grimly. “Then you’ll want to read this.” He dug into his pocket, pulling out a worn leather envelope. “Letter from Nigel. Said you should see it.”
“Letter?” Kyle asked, confused.
“Yeah, your letter. From Nigel.” Zane explained as he himself began to warm up his powers, “I just know you should read it.”
Kyle’s brow furrowed. He’d completely forgotten about the letter given to him in the chaos of the time jump. He reached into his own jacket, fingers brushing against the familiar leather of his old coat. The envelope was still there, nestled in the inner pocket.
He pulled it out, the crinkled paper a testament to its journey. It bore the simple inscription: “From Nigel.” With a deep breath, he ripped it open.
As Kyle unfolded the single sheet of paper, Scarlett and Zane watched him intently, the city’s inferno burning behind their worried faces. The first few lines were filled with an awkward tenderness that made Kyle shift uncomfortably.
Kyle, I didn’t say it much... you know I’m not one for sappy pronouncements... but here it is: I love you, son. Always have, always will.
It would appear that the Norns have far more in store for you then you would have initially anticipated and I have no control over it. Ragnarok was and is inevitable, I cannot stop it, just as I could not stop what will transpire from happening to you.
To get to the meat: Bryan Chang wasn’t your father, never was, never has been, never will be. You’re a god. You’re a god because I am one. Some might call me Father Time, King of Asgard, whatever suits you. With you, I prefer Father. But you’re my son, one of many throughout the ages, and that means you have divine powers just as your many siblings do. You will meet Jimmy, Katie, maybe others. You know or will know their powers of luck, good and bad. You are different. Yours is not about luck but of destiny, of fate. The future is not set in stone and if you wish to protect the ones you love, you must seek to change it.
You stand at the crossroads of The Great Weave, and although you cannot perceive it, you are on who might dictate its course. Your fate is an unfinished painting. A masterpiece yet completed. The clock will run, the timepiece on your wrist will wind its way around, yet none of this will affect you. You might decide how your life shall go. You and you alone. You are Azrael, leader of those who wish to deny fate itself.
Father
Kyle carefully folded up the letter, placed it back in the envelope, and put it back in his jacket.
“What did it say?” Scarlett asked.
He carefully folded the letter, his mind racing. “I’ll explain later,” he muttered, his voice filled with a newfound resolve. “Right now, we’ve got a city to save.”