---

Thomas sat on the bed after watching Grady's message and shook his head in disbelief. Yes, he knew of his son's death and it bothered him too. Grady was one of a hand full of people who knew he had disappeared, this was harsh. He walked out of the Balcony and threw the phone into the dumpster from the dive hotel next door. As the garbage truck quickly pulled in, lifted the bin, and drove off.

When two of the brother's rushed to the gate and gave a message the the guard then proceeded to head to the fast food restaurant. A few minutes later a group of angry people came past, some hit hunting rifles, others with sticks or knives. The headed for the restaurant while others spread out watching. Grady, you lovable fool. Many of your flock are going to die because of your words. On the news, a mob had formed outside the catholic cathedral, police were trying to keep them back. The bishop came out to talk with the group, but someone threw a rock knocking the Bishop down possibly killing him as the crowd shouted. Andrew walked down, grabbed a pair of oily old coveralls and an old ball cap from the wall. From the safe, he grabbed a couple hundred dollars and a hand gun which he stuffed in a pocket. He grabbed his backpack containing his important things. Then he rubbed grease on his face neck and ears then headed out of the building. Calmly he walked to the gate house, was handed the note and then headed for the bus stop. It would not be long before the mob would find him if he stayed.

He needed to protect the innocent, they needed some place safe. As he road the bus he could see mobs beating people. People with powers were fighting back, some successfully others not. People were dying and this was on Grady's hands. The bus stopped near a small cemetery that had a chapel that had a basement vaults. The lower faults were full.

After making his prayer, he walked to the gate and unlocked it. Once through he locked it behind him. He was going to need to be Moses and save his people. But they would need a promise land to go to. Today he would start construction. Tomorrow he would worry about finding the people.

---

---

John threw his cup of coffee when he heard what Grady had done. It was on the national news feeds and this two bit street preacher was trying to make Ivy look like a fool. The mobs taking things into their own hands, was too much. He got on the phone and hand the commander of the state police and the Attorny General get in front of cameras condemning the violence and calling for the task force to respond to the enhanced problem. He had to keep Ivy away from the cameras so she did not say something he couldn't control. Picking up his personal phone he called two of his PI's, "I want every thing you can get on this Pastor Grady, pictures, family, any dirt, and any weaknesses." With another phone call, the Revenue department emailed him a summary audit of the churches and his taxes. It was an internal document that was computer generated. The same thing with the DMV.

When he found the weakness, he would use his new tool to deal with this problem.

---

When Ivy was finally allowed to watch Grady's message she felt for him. When she started seeing the mobs and the riots, she was mad. Not "Bless their little souls mad." if they would have given her a gun, she might have shot him mad. John Brown, had advised her to stay calm and stay on message. Don't give into the lawless mobs. Let the police handle this. She needed to focused on the task force and funding.

Not having any reporters or press in the situation room she asked rather loudly, "As Governor can't I have his little black but thrown in jail for inciting riots." This brought a few snickers. When she asked for advice, the room had lots of opinions. She found that most of her staff thought Grady was right. John when asked answered with "Governor, what is important is that you stay on task with the task force and funding.. Go head and condemn mom rule and senseless killing. But stay on task."

Every time she mentioned getting on camera, he staff said no. John placed a hand on her and mentioned at the moment, she did not know who was safe and who was not. She was the spokes person for this cause and the leader of Georgia.

517 Park Street, Atlanta, GA

---

Two parents' figures block the television screen as they stood in front of it to listen to Pastor Grady. Ever since the day their child was shot and killed they were shaken by the mention of anything pertaining to "the Incident"

Behind the couple was a small table that was a makeshift memorial for their son. Pictures, flowers, rosaries, and his favorite things decorated this table. They listened to the pastor expressing his feelings on the empowered. The television abruptly turned off as his father couldn't handle Pastor Grady's rhetoric. The pastor was referring to the empowered as evil and demons. Despite all that has happened the man would never believe that of his son. The boy who had once sat silently on the couch trying to enjoy a good television show. The father stared at the picture on the shrine, at the image of his son.

He held back tears as he looked at his son's image. His loving wife didn't have it in her to restrain her tears and buried her face in his chest. He was just a kid, not some demon. He was just a kid, not the devil. He was just a kid… A kid who was responsible for the death of 100 of his fellow students...

---

When he had calmed down, John Brown walked down to talk to Ivy again. “Governor Ivy,” he called after knocking on the door. He entered her office to find her on the phone with the minority leader of the house. Getting the money to fund a few response teams was easy. He emergency decree had made this a no brainer type of response. The bill was still stalled though.

After she got off the phone, he said to her, “I need you to go on television, the message is simple, the legislature needs to act or the people will. Their failure to respond is creating lawless responses. The people need to let their local legislators know how they feel. And if needed start recall petitions to remove them from office. As governor, your hands are tied and the enhanced will continue to act as they will. Till the legislature acts and passes the bill, you can only respond. I think I will get this Pastor Grady in the hot seat in front of the senate committee.”

Ivy wanted to include that the enhanced were people too, but she knew the game well enough to let the House and the Senate be in the hot seat.

On television, she did her part. “I’d like to do more to help the victims and those struggling with these new powers, but I have to follow the constitution of Georgia and my hands are tied.” She smiled, “As a mother that is still upset about the loss of my son and for the family of the boy who used his powers to kill those students, I want to help them. So we can prevent this fro happening again.” John gave her a look from off camera and she refocused,”I’ve done all that I can do till the legislature acts.”

The rest of the questions all were brought to the same point, the legislature needed to act to protect the citizens.

John got to a couple members of the house and senate and had the summons Grady to testify. Maybe with some luck, he could be a tool to push the bill along. It would be even better, if he could get him to say something to break the laws. He could leverage Grady too.

Warehouse District, Atlanta, Georgia

---

The Pastor’s words on television were indeed powerful. Almost even enough to cause Atlanta to sit still for only just a moment. Trucks rapidly deploying from the warehouse district were the exception. Anthony had gotten the word to move the cocaine which meant Bella had heard the news of Hector’s death. When she saw a picture of his body, she had to look away in disgust.

Bella’s Condo, Atlanta, Georgia

The businesswoman was lounging on her sofa with a glass of merlot in her left hand and her pink Genius Pipe in her right. Six Feet Under by The Weeknd played crisply throughout her living space while she swayed. Her eyes closed, a smile on her face, and nothing to worry about while in her moment of bliss.

“You ain’t gon’ catch her cryyy, she ain’t gon’ lose her miind. She ain’t gon’ lose her miiiind…”

Alan had spent the last few days stalking a certain Jace Williams. Madison had done a lot of the early work of scour the net and narrowing down his location, but it was still on Alan to watch him more closely. Honestly it all seemed kind of boring on the surface. Jace just seemed like some street punk. Ordinarily not worth Alan’s time. However, the kid had pissed off the wrong
people and since Jace had disappeared for a week… he probably had powers. Which would certainly make it more interesting than just beating up on a young wannabe.

In his surveying, Alan had found out quickly that Jace was not staying at his condo and was mostly sleeping with a Tyra Washington. Her place was on a college campus, which was a bit crowded of a place. At least it was too crowded for a place that Alan could not easily blend into.

Which is why Alan now found himself waiting inside Jace’s condo. It was quite nice. Top floor and with all the perks that may imply. Probably all earned with money stolen from Nova’s thugs. The best part was that it had a music studio. Or rather that because it had a music studio, that it also had soundproofing. Jace still stopped in here regularly it seemed and it was a good enough place to kill someone.

Upon deciding on this simple plan Alan had told Kalep that it was time to fight a super. Kalep was positioned on the floor below. This would keep him out of the way of danger that he may not be ready for, but in range to read minds. When that target came by Kalep would read their mind and let Alan know anything important. Maybe they could get a conversation going first to give Kalep a bit more time to sift through the target’s mind.

Kalep was positioned and ready. He wanted to handle this assignment, then move forward with getting to the Heist. He looked down at his watch, and adjusted his ear set again. Just gotta provide communication with the boss, and then next stop mega millions . His whole life he'd been waiting to live a different life, one where he could prosper & excel. In his mind he was beginning to become convinced that fate had brought him together, in alliance with this mysterious Carter working together to finally achieve his life's mission of being wealthy and successful. Luckily Alan hadn't even provided him with any information about who the target was, allowing him to further remove any feelings of guilt from the situation. He projected a telepathic thought straight to Alan. [b][i]I just heard some thoughts I think it's our guy he's coming to the room. [/b][/i]

Jace was irritated, as much he liked the condo he had a distaste for security. After all he was his own security, he’d just left from meeting up with his uncle Cornell. Business was booming, especially since they no longer had to purchase cocaine, marijuana or any of the drugs they were selling, it was all 100% profit. Oh well more money for him either way, he decided to send a text to Tyra. Hey Tyra, when you get outta class push up to my spot I wanna see you He added two winky emoji’s and clicked send.

I ain’t even going lie shawty one of the best things that happened to me recently, especially cause we getting money together. He was thinking about her as he was in the elevator all the way to the top floor where his sky house condo resided. He took out his wax pen hitting it again only to see it was out of THC. “Fuck” He took out the cart tossing it into a trash bin as he walked over to the entrance to his condo. Taking out his room key he swiped it twice then unlocked the door to step inside.

When Jace walked in and put his stuff down he cought something in the corner of his eye and spun left. Alan stood facing him on the opposite side of the dinning room table like he was Darth Vader or something. Of course his backup was a bit farther away than right next to him, but that was not so much of a concern. "How's business?" Alan asked. It would be fine if Jace started fighting immediately, but if he could entice him into a short, but tense conversation then Kalep would have time to relay just how the target intended to defend themselves. Especially if that meant he learned their powers. Anything in that department would be a huge boon. Even if it was unlikely that 'lightning bolt to the chest' would be ineffective. "I assume good" Alan added. "This is a pretty neato place."

Jace was putting his stuff down, and occupied with thoughts of the next phase of his plan. If I really want to get some free drugs I need to rob the police, whole evidence room guns, drugs, whatever He'd also set his THC pen down having no need for it now until he went to go acquire some more carts at least. However he was taken back spinning around to see an older white gentlemen who'd managed to get into his condo. "Who the fuck are you!!! Bruh are you out yo damn mind!!" Jace was furious his muscle's tensing, although he was a jack boy himself he had no desire to deal with any one coming inside his property. So Bella trying to get me knocked off, this how you wanna play it bitch Reaching in his draws he pulled out a 30 with extended clip and pointed it at Alan. "Glad you like the spot motherfucker cause you finna die in it." He pulled the trigger to shoot twice

Kalep was growing bored, and decided to take a seat, while going on his phone to check his twitter. I really need some new hoes, no cap. I'm tryna get pussy erryday lol He decided to put his phone down after scrolling to Instagram, and seeing a couple bad bitches on his feed. As soon as he heard Jace's raging thoughts he projected another thought to Alan. Heads up, he thinks someone named Bella sent you and he's not to happy....oh shit he's pulling out a gun right now! Kalep first informed him of the Bella statement, and about a minute later he projected to Alan that the target was pulling out a gun.

Alan left Jace's question unanswered. for now. It would be dramatic to answer it only when the thief was on his knees and about to die. It was as technically as Kalep relayed to Alan. Bella did send him on this hit. However, it was a professional courtesy that he did not just go after Jace on his own. As Jace pulled out his gun Alan side stepped and pointed at the punk. A bolt flashed between him and Jace. With any luck it would cause him to convulse and drop the weapon. Both because Alan didn't have much in the way of protection from bullets and because it just was not what he was there for. "Come on!" Alan goaded. "Show me what you can really do!"

As Jace pulled the trigger twice, he was shocked to see Alan had dodged the bullet or rather it seemed he knew he was about to shoot so he was already moving as the trigger was pulled. The Fuck is this dude's deal how the fuck. I'm done fuckin around OH SHIT He braced himself as a bolt of electricity slammed into him causing him to yell out as he was catapulted by the blast through a wall. "Oh you done fucked up bruh I'm going to fuck you up!!!!" He yelled out standing up his shirt having been burnt by the bolt as he stood up some blood had been drawn and a burn mark was seen but otherwise he was okay. Cracking his knuckles he focused on his power to increase his own strength. "And you fucked up my wall bruh I gotta pay for that shit!" Jace reached over to his desk grabbing a bottle of lotion and tossing it at Alan increasing his throwing strength to propel the object at heightened speeds towards the electric assailant but also increasing the strength of the lotion bottle to the point that getting hit by it would cause physical damage.

Kalep now had no attention for instagram, social media or any other form of distraction. He had to make sure his boss's survival was ensured especially after the target had survived getting hit by a bolt of lightning. Ah man what the fuck just happened . Kalep was surprised as well figuring the target had some type of power that made him more durable. Shit I wonder if Jace could tank a lightning bolt, this why I be trying to warn this idiot there's other people out there with powers to stop being so reckless with yours before you meet your match. Casting that thought aside he went to survey the mind of the target and relay information to Alan. [i][b] Okay, he's just now getting serious, your power hurt him so he's not invincible but he's not putting out any thoughts that are letting me figure out what his power is. He just threw something at you, he didn't specify in his head what it is but it's likely related to his power be careful. [/i] He wondered if he'd have to intervene and get directly involved, maybe try to use his own mental powers against the target.

A bottle. This punk literally threw a bottle at him. The guy was durable and strong, but his getting serious was just to start throwing shit? These were the thoughts running through Alan's mind as he quickly flicked his arm, pulling a small handgun into his right hand from a hidden sleeve. It was not the time to figure out if he could shatter the glass with his powers. A gunshot rang out followed by the shattering of glass and the splash of liquid across alan and the backdrop. Alan sniffed the air "Is this stuff soap or is this for you to jack off with?" he asked mockingly. For good measure he punctuated the insult with another bolt of lightning. This time with a little more oomph. Might as well do some testing on exactly what the guy could take.

Jace was irritated, this guy's powers were dangerous, and with his range as well as the speed he'd have to maintain his enhanced durability, but he knew he'd need a projectile attack to reach him not yet ready to test running through a stream of lightning. Ight I know bullets cant fuck with me when I'm boosted, but that last bolt burned my ass. Hol on I know how to fuck this joker up Jace rolled to the side barely dodging another blast of electricity as he grabbed a coin on the ground and tossed it at the roof simultaneously increasing the strength of the coin while weakening the roof above Alan so when the coin hit the roof it shattered the roof above so it would rain down on the electric attacker. He had no retort towards Alan's comment about the lotion only focusing on figuring out a way to hurt him and close ground to get his hands on him.

Kalep was following the fight when he picked up thoughts from the assailant again. [b][i] Yo whatever he just did he said you ain't going expect it, that ain't much info but if it don't look dangerous just get the fuck out the way! [/b] [/i] As he projected another thought to Alan, he heard a thought that made him almost drop. Bullets cant fuck with me...that sounds like..naw it can't be bruh..but..he took a lightning bolt to the chest ah fuck.. Under the sudden realization that Alan's target might be Jace he bolted from the room and began heading towards the stairs while still doing his best to keep track of the man who he now assumed was Jace's thought patterns.

When the coin was flicked Alan assumed it was aimed for him and rolled out of the way. If it could be thrown with even similar force to the bottle then it would just pierce through his body and depending on where the thug hit him it could all be over. Alan expected to look back and see a glint of metal buried into the wall. Instead he figured out that he was not the target, but the ceiling was. Ruble poured down onto the spot Alan just was. Curious. The bastard could affect the environment too. Though how exactly may be too early to bet. Probably better to keep this from going on too long then. As fun as it was. Alan began charging up for something big, even if he'd have to figure out the exact application in a few moments, while simultaneously he fished out a flash bang from his coat and tossed it into the other room with Jace and pressing up against the partial wall between them. It would probably make the bastard make a mistake and if he took the opportunity to charge Alan, then the thief would be able to sense him coming closer through his brainwaves and act accordingly.

Jace groaned when he saw that Alan had evaded the rubble trick and was thinking about using a particularly dangerous move considering his power. I might have to just say fuck the floor, the condo's already fucked up. But if this motherfucker manages to catch me with a whole fucking stream shit fuck all that Jace was trying to figure out a way to close ground with the guy wishing he was outside where he could utilize more of the environment to his advantage. "OH SHIT!" Jace yelled out seeing the flash grenade deciding to focus on his own durability and not even chance trying t affect the strength of the flash grenade
"STOP!!!!" Kalep burst into the room right after the flash grenade went off knowing it was time for him to intervene. "KALEP?! BRUH THE FUCK!" Jace yelled out in agony reeling from the flash grenade while Kalep quickly went to utilize his power on Alan to telekentically restrain him. "Listen stop! STOP! You can't kill him not him!! That's my best friend!!" Kalep yelled out trying to use his power while Jace not wanting to miss out on the action had thrown a small box his remote came in however it knocked Kalep off his feet instead of his intended target.

"Ugh AH! JACE!!! You hit me motherfucker! " Kalep yelled out as the cardboard box had sent him into a table near the television set also causing him to loose his telekenetic grip on Alan.

The Flashbang went off and Alan, now crackling wildly with electricity quickly turned the corner to take advantage of his disoriented opponent. Then he couldn't move. Kalep, of all people was holding him in place. Couldn't read his mind, but Kalep could affect his body. Alan would have to file that one away for later. Fight only with a clear plan. Getting held would be bad if he wasn't already aiming a lightning bolt. Like right now. Kalep had busted in before Alan could raise a hand. And he was going on about Jace being his best friend? Kalep needed to hang out with people his own age. and who weren't street punks.

And then Just as soon as he was arrested, Alan was free to move again. Jace had thrown a small box at his apparent friend and sent the poor salesman flying. "That isn't any way to treat your friends" Alan said in a low growl. The thief crossed out of the dinning room and towards Jace. He breathed in deeply, channeling more and more energy, but he let it spark off somewhat towards the floor and ceiling to be more menacing. He raised his right hand in a claw and pointed it to where Jace lay on the ground. "That is especially not any way to treat my crew!" he howled, letting loose a torrent of lightning. Kalep had asked him to keep the guy alive and maybe Alan could find it in his heart to honor that by cutting the attack short, but for now he would channel it and see what damage it did to this super.

Kalep groaned trying to get up surprised by how much pain the cardboard box had put him in, while Jace was screaming forcing his eyes open despite his vision blurry, and the ringing in his ear from the flash grenade, although it hadn't affected him as much as it would a regular man it was more then a nuisance. "FUCK YOU!! AAAH!!!!! I WILL FUCKING KILL YOU AAH!!!!" Jace screamed as the lightning hit him causing him to scream as blood was drawn, as his skin slowly starting to burn he decided to lunge forward through the stream of electricity charging towards Alan at full speed in an attempt to body slam him into the television powered by his own ability & adrenaline. "FUCK YOU AND FUCK BELLA!!!!!!"
Kalep inhaled sucking up the pain from the cardboard box irritated. Fuck his power, he really fucked me up with a god damn card board fucking box "ENOUGH!!!!!! STOP THE DAMN FIGHT!!" Kalep yelled out getting up and going for round 2 with his own powers going to form a telekenatic wave of pressure to blow back Jace & Alan attempting to separate them from each other while making sure not to utilize enough force to hopefully cause either of them harm.

This guy just wouldn't go down. And he wasn't really thinking anymore. Which was a pity in its own right. At least the coin trick had been interesting, but one would suppose this sort of thing happens in the aftermath of being completely disoriented by a flash bang. Or maybe it was just the pain and burning flesh. Either way a brick shithouse was charging at Alan. the Thief kept up the electrical discharge up to a few moments before impact. Alan stepped to his right side and forward sticking his foot out just as Jace's left foot was picking up for the thug's latest stride to trip him up and limit the force it could generate.

BOOM!!!! Jace hadn't expected Alan to stick his foot out to trip him up, the pain flowing through his body from the torrent of electricity had him focused on one thing and one thing only eliminating the threat. Still it hadn't been enough to completely veer him off course just altering the course of the collision into Alan allowing him to still slam into the electric attacker bringing them both colliding into the dining room table shattering it. "I'm bout to fucking kill you bruh!!" Jace raised his right hand and swung it down hoping to shatter Alan's jaw or at least break some bones. Before he could land his punch the telekenetic wave emitted by Kalep separated him from his attacker throwing him back.

"I told you mother fuckers to stop!! STOP!!!" Kalep was infuriated now and getting hit by the box as well both of his "allies" still continuing the fight was making him mad. Turning to Jace he decided to unleash his powers of mental dominion on him. "Calm the fuck down! Calm down! CALM DOWN!!! Don't attack Carter! Breathing heavily he walked over to Alan. "Come on man! Just explain what's going on! Maybe we can work something out? Who sent you to kill Jace, what happened??" Kalep didn't raise his voice knowing that his friend was no saint, and was aware of his actions as YRN Reparations figuring one of his robberies was probably the reason, the exact thing he'd been warning Jace about constantly including earlier today at Darius's bar.

Alan coughed heavily and then started to calm his his breathing by holding the individual parts again while Kalep badgered him... This had suddenly become a lot more trouble than he thought it would. Killing the psyker's friend was not exactly conducive to maintaining a good relationship with Bella since he was supposed to kill Jace. On the other hand working with this punk would probably work out poorly for all of the reasons that lead Alan to him in the first place and nicely iced with attempted murder and dangerous super powers. Still, it was more of a sure thing than pretending Alan could exile Jace...

"Your friend her has pissed off a lot of people recently" Alan stated flatly while dusting off his coat with his hands. "For now that is all you need to know..." Alan sighed, sensing that his explanation up to this point would not be good enough. "That said..." shaking his head. "There may be a way to please all parties involved..."

Alan whipped out another phone and started to text Bella. Hey, almost done with the wedding shoot, but my assistant has some concerns about the bride that we would like to discus with you at your earliest convenience

Kalep groaned this is exactly the situation he'd been trying to keep Jace from getting in and now it had blown up in his face. Although he wasn't prepared to sacrifice his close friend, he was focused on the life changing effect the heist would have on his life. "God Damn it..." Kalep groaned in response to Alan's comments as well as picking up some surface thoughts from Jace on Bella & her character. "Really Jace you going hit a lick on someone tied to someone running the fucking coke game in the city ugh. "What's this way? Or what's it gonna cost?"

"Man what's it going cost! Bruh is you really debating with Sparky over here on whether Imma live or not." Jace retorted irritated to see his friend was on speaking terms with Alan. "I ain't had no fucking smoke with Bella, this bitch done sent Storm's white couson to merk me so I think yall should holla at HER over me." He was pissed although he knew Ramon's death was the trigger he had total disregard for Ramon's life due to his family's past conflict with them. "And" Jace turned his focus to Alan pointing at him. "First off whatever solution we have you betta not throw no fucking lightning bolts at me bruh I got fucking second degree burns!! IF Bella willing to let by gones be by gones I can get her lil small ass sack back, ain't no bank in Atlanta I can't rob!" Jace barked confident in his abilities to make right but really he wanted to see if he could reverse the situation to get connected with Bella as a cocaine dealer again.

"Oh" Alan smirked looking up from his phone. "No bank you say?"

517 Park Street, Atlanta, GA

---

“Honey, it’s okay…” The man was comforted his crying wife with a firm embrace. The tears were fighting to leave his eyes as he not only held her but looked into the eyes of his son in the picture. “It’s going to be okay.” He reassured as she sobbed warm tears into his chest. A knock on the door sounded, but the two had been so caught up in their moment together, that it took the second knock to get their attention. “I’ll get it.” The father didn’t think his wife appeared to be the best person to answer the door. He eased off of his firm hold and let her go before kissing her forehead. He then headed to the door, but there was a third knock before he even got to the door. “Hold on! I’m coming. Who is it?” He strung the words together before putting his eye to the peephole to see a black man with a badge held up to the door. He didn’t recognize it but motioned to unlock the door. The click… the click of the latch opening

The door smashed right into the man’s face as it was forced open the moment it was unlocked. The father grunted and stumbled back while holding his face before being grabbed by the collar and repeatedly stabbed in his abdomen. He swung at the intruder, but it didn’t stop… The blade entered and left his body without interruption until his wife screamed out.

“LARRY!” She screamed out as she walked upon the horrific scene of her husband being brutally stabbed. The assailant’s eyes met hers as he threw her husband down to the ground and WHAM! The front door was flung shut before he lunged at her next. She screamed bloody murder as she put her hands up. CRACK! His knuckles collided with the front teeth, knocking two out clean and loosening the others. She fell backwards into the table where her son’s memorial was adorned. She grabbed it to break her fall and it kept her on her feet. The glass table slid and down the picture of her son fell. Its frame broke apart on the hardwood floor. Her screams had become a sickening groan of pain and terror as she couldn’t fully open her mouth. The intruder didn’t even give her enough time to even lay her eyes on him before he got a good grip of her strawberry blonde hair and slammed it through the face of the glass table. And then she was tossed into the center of her living room, her body crashed onto the floor. It hurt to open her eyes even. She could feel the sharp glass all over her face then felt a powerful blunt blow to her ribcage. The wind knocked out of her. Again on the same side. She couldn’t even gasp for air the way she wanted. She internally begged for it all to end before feeling a sharp pain stab into her back repeatedly. Her death did not take long to come after this.

The father was still alive, struggling to move as he dragged himself across the floor. There was the aim to help his wife, but how would he do anything? When he saw his wife’s killer stand up from over her body, he knew it was his time. It was fucked up, but he let himself think of his son and his wife. Maybe he’d see them. He wasn’t religious, but he truly wanted to believe that he was going wherever they were now. He would not go so easily. He felt a boot stomp into the side of his head. Then again. Then again. Moments later he was dragged to the living room, where he would lie beside his beloved, his face caved in and unrecognizable. The son’s picture was taken and the word “DEMON” was written in red over his face. The man left the home with gas running and several candles lit. The picture was then stuffed into the mailbox. The murderer made his exit. It wouldn’t be long until authorities responded to a gas leak and a home set ablaze with two bodies of the homeowners brutalized.

---

---

---

---

Oh now it was time to have some good old fashion fun. Many people seemed to be blaming Empowered for the Atlanta police station bombing that had occurred even though it was no factual proof they’d done it yet. Hospitals, & schools that didn’t want to accept Empowered individuals in Atlanta & especially Gwinnet where even more against Empowered individuals then before.

Adora walked down the street humming to some music in her air pods as she neared a business building across the street from the hospital in Atlanta. Hmm this will do this will do A smirk was sprawled across her face as she decided to make her entrance into the facility ready to carry out the next phase of her plan. Finally ridding herself of Hector Salzaras was empowering, although the death of her mother & her lover occupied her mind finally seeking vengeance quelled the fire of rage that was consuming her soul.

For the first time in years, even with powers she truly felt satisfied. Not only satisfied but broken, the last ounce of true humanity gone from her. Never a hero per say in the past, but now she truly embaced what she told Hector on face-time before the untimely demised of the last people on earth she loved. Now she was truly evil incarnate, and she would enjoy every minute of it.

Before long she’d gotten on the elevator, and headed to the women’s bathroom. Upon emerging she’d adopted the appearance of another woman, this time biracial a mix of black & white. Whistling once more she boarded the elevator with three other people, and pressed the top button to go to the roof. Before long and a few dings later she emerged to see she was the only person on the roof top besides what appeared to be a middle aged man with a cup in hand smoking a marbolo.

“Oh uh ..whew.. I thought you were the boss.” The Man retorted clearly he didn’t expect anyone else to join him.

“Oh no sir, I’m your boss’s boss. But don’t worry your secret is mine to keep.” The murder chimed in as she walked closer to the edge of the roof looking down at the city of Atlanta excitement coursing through her veins.

“My..My secret what are you talking about? Look lady, I don’t know why the sent corporate but.” The man stuttered through his words his tone clearly defensive as if Adora had pierced some veil of secrecy.

“Your an alcoholic duh, as soon as I came up you tilted your cup and hid it. Why else would you come all the way up here? Don’t worry I’ve got plenty of substance problems too.” With that she whipped out a blunt and as well as a lighter to spark it. Taking a few drags of the potent cannabis and relaxing. Putting her mind at ease after closing a painful chapter of her life with her family’s life long enemies even though she was the only survival in the generations long battle between the Zayas & The Salzaras.

“Huh, your one to talk, smoking that shit, at least my vice is actually legal. Well corporate or not your no better then me, so what brings you up here.” The defensive worker now much more relax chimed in as he took a few more sips of his clear white alcoholic beverage.

“Nothing much I just tied up some long term loose ends in my life, and now I’m just ready to have some fun and really live it up. I’m transitioning into a new phase in my life, phase two...the better phase, the more fun phase, it’s exciting. I think everyone should experience change it’s essential to growth” Much emphasis was placed on the last word as Adora giggled, the man raising an eyebrow seemingly confused.

“Yeah that shit’s def talking to you, but word of advice if anyone comes up here I’m snitching lady I need my job.”

“Oh your a snitch, well...I must say I don’t tolerate those.” Before he could respond she turned to him reducing him in size and smiling as she walked over to him picking up the now screaming man who’s cup fell as he was scooped by the giant killer. Playfully she held him over the roof a lethal fall at regular size, but even more mind blowingly fatal at this height.

“YOOO!!! WHAT THE FUCK! I WAS PLAYING PLEASE LISTEN YOOO!!!” The man was screaming out while Adora rolled her eyes.

“Oh please I wasn’t going to drop you.” Leaning down and lowering she set the worker who seemed to be in the midst of almost having a heart attack on the ground before violently stepping on him and laughing.” I much prefer those against me to experience a very very painful death, any against me, my team, or my kind will suffer tremendously just like this hospital. Now to get a little down and dirty.”

Ready for action she got down on all fours, crawling over to the curve and taking out her purse enlarging it to regular size, and pulling out a gun. To put the cherry on top she used her powers to turn herself, purse, and the weapon invisible. Using her power she fully enlarged the sniper to full size, and put her eye into the scope looking at the hospital now undetected due to removing herself from visibility.

“Now let’s have some fun, oh I wish I had some popcorn.” Finger on the trigger she swayed to the right then left trying to figure out the best place to strike. “Boom” One word and her finger pullled sending the bullet flying at the hospital. Within a few feet of being away from her the bullet was visible, but to make it even clearer to anyone watching she enlarged the bullet to an enormous size of a massive boulder watching as it plowed through the hospital tearing clean through it and striking the street behind the hospital.

Immediately those walking through the streets near the building screamed out seeing the giant object appear out of nowhere and tear a hole through the hospital. While the scene inside the hospital was pure panic, several people had literally been ripped apart by the giant bullet, the structure itself damaged, and smoke starting to billow from the gaping hole in the left side of the upper right hand of the hospital. “Boom...Boom...Boom.”

Back to back she fired three more shots enlarging the bullets as they struck different parts of the hospital causing a massive scene of panic in the streets as the massive bullets tore through the hospital in the middle of Atlanta, the building itself starting to tilt from the four giant bullets tearing through the structure, hundreds if not thousands of people dead from the bullets. “Now let’s have some fun.” “Adora giggled and shrunk the sniper down putting it in her purse, then enlarged her final weapon of choice and decided to stand up and step back a little for this one before getting down on one knee, an RPG in hand.

“Adios amigos, Bang!!” Pulling the trigger the rocket flew towards the hospital enlarging it to giant sizes it struck into the remnants of the hospital and a massive explosion took place wiping out what remained of the hospital, everyone inside, and killing several within a 10-20 feet radius on the ground from the hospital as well, the residual shockwaves shattering windows of a couple nearby buildings as panic flooded the streets of Atlanta at hte destroyed hospital.

People were running in every direction screaming for their lives, sirens blaring, people on the street crying, crowds running in every direction. Adora smiled at her handy work reducing the RPG and putting it in her purse. Still invisible she shrunk down her purse placing it in her pocket and smiled before taking flight into the skies soaring through the clouds still hidden from site leaving the scene of her destruction and the numerous lives lost from the eradicated hospital.

“Oh I can’t WAIT to see what the news says about this one, oh Johnny boy….your going to be passing that bill sooner then you think muuuuch sooner.” Adora laughed to herself as she continued her escape flight laughing happily at all the people she just killed, and the damage she’d caused not only to the area but also to empowered human relations in Atlanta, Georgia, the United States, maybe even perhaps the world

---

As the day progressed, the good Father had been taking his anger out on the earth. A slow winding spiral down into the earth till he hit limestone. He had been a good place to take out his frustration.

He learned a couple things. The first was that under the ground it gets dark, really dark. He needed to get an electrician in to run electricity and lights. He had made a trip to the home improvement store and bought flashlights, batteries, a couple lanterns, and five extension cords. The second thing was he needed to wrap the inside of the tunnel with a really hard stone so water would not penetrate the passage and flood the tunnel. There were some good aquifers that flowed underground and a lot more water than one would expect under a city.

The bedrock under Atlanta is only about 131 feet under the surface. This surprised Thomas, as he was expecting this to take weeks. When he tunneled into the bedrock then made a room about the size of a normal living room. The room was one piece of stone with right stone pews, four to each side.

Thomas returned to the surface to find food and rest.

When Thomas checked the news on his phone, he got a start, someone had been killing priests in Savannah and Atlanta.

In the walls he had made two tracks to run electrical cables and he had an idea of a cart system that would help move things up and down the passage way, but that was future work. Right now he needed to

“Good evening and here is your WSB Atlanta news. Our top story for the evening is the ongoing investigation over the Bombing of the Local Police station,” a handsome newscaster said. The video drones on showing the carnage, blood, and wreckage.
The voice continues on, “The F.B.I and A.T.F. have taken over the investigation.”
A Federal Agent said into the camera, “This is looking like an act of Domestic Terrorism and we will get to the bottom of this.” The voices continue to drone.
After a quick five minutes of advertisements, a woman takes over. “In other news, five Brothers of the Benedictian Monastery of Savannah and three priests from the Atlanta area were found shot dead in apparent. They were all shot in the back of the head gang style head while kneeling in prayer.”
Images were shown of blood around the altar rails of three churches.
The weather came next with the five day forecast.

Next came protests at the capital and city hall calling for action to deal with the enhanced people.

Atlanta, Georgia - Jordan Whittaker - Georgia State Dorm Room

“Ain’t this some shit.” Jordan groaned looking at the horrifying news on the television in his college dormitory. His plan to escape to Atlanta, and find a new life away from guns, selling heroin, fighting, and other unsavory behavior had been unraveling rapidly thanks to “The Incident” & being Empowered. He remembered vividly when the lights all went off in the city,a global blackout, panic, sirens blaring, and then everything went out. Net thing he knew he woke up in the outskirs of the city shirtless, and a week later. The whole entierety of the experience had been disturbing & heightened his teenage PTSD from gang banging.

“Can you believe that, some Pastor he is! Who is he to call these people demons, he’s the real monster.” His girlfriend Tiara protested as she walked back into the living room where Jordan was and kissed him on the lips then sat down and put her hand on his.

“Baby stop, I know what your trying to do. I’m sorry that Shannon died, but I keep telling you the only reason we survived that car accident is the grace of God, I don’t have no damn powers, I’m not one of them things.” Jordan protested although he quickly realized what he said would effect her. “ I ain’t mean to call em things Tia-”

“Oh fuck you! That’s not okay Jordan. “His girl protested as some tears welled in her eyes both of the harsh reminder that her cousin Shannon was killed, as well as the fact that the guy whom she idolized and held a place in her heart had been the one to utter the most recent hatred statements about her. Maybe I Was wrong about him being Empowered, there’s no way we survived that accident that entire Bus everyone on it that hit us and two cars full of people behind that got involved all died, even our car is totalled and we still here maybe it was God Tiara wished she could remember the nature of the accident but the memories of the time & everything around it were gone from her mind.

“I know babe I’m sorry, I mean look even if I was one of them well I would have to get the fuck outta here. I mean I’m sure it’s bad everywhere to be an real life mutnat, but in the A everything going on it’s gotta be up the scale. I mean look Shannon got killed and she lives in Miami, her power wasn’t even violent.”

“Look I need some fresh air babe please let’s stop talking about her, I’ll come back later I’m sorry.” Tiara felt bad about trying to coerce Jordan into revealing he was empowered, and got up to leave much to Jordan’s disapointment who sighed and went to focus on watching the rest of the news report about Pastor Grady, only to learn a hospital downtown had been brought down, as well as riots & other violent acts.

“This whole situation is a fucking mess, jesus christ, got my girl mad at me but I can’t tell her Im gonna have to go back home, this shit is fucking insane.” As he sat back in his couch he shrugged wanting to figure something out when his phone began buzzing and he reached for it only to hear a voice he’d hoped was from his nightmares rather then part of reality.

“Hello Whittaker, it seems you think my call was a warning? I know now what you are, and who you are. I will ruin your life, you see everything going on in the media? What do you think will happen if I take the evidence I have of you to the authorities? All those people on that bus, the honda, and the corolla are dead because of your power, you decided you and that wench of yours deserved a second chance at life more thn over 30 people?

“Your fucking real.” Jordan balked realizing just how serious the situation was, and the person on the other line laughed.

“Listen Jordan, I told you what I want. If you want your family, your girlfriend, all of them to be safe, you’ll be wise to listen to me, or else. I’ll be calling back later to get an update on your homework.” Click.. A ping noise was heard, and thel ine disconnected Jordan holding the phone in his hand shaking about what was unraveling, now forced to accept the truth of his life being Empowered & the ramafications from his actions intentional or otherwise were dismantling his life more and more every day.

“I have to find this motherfucker, rock his shit, and get the fuck outta here or else Tiara, Kandice, mama all them might get got.” A sigh of exhaspuration infused with stress & disapointment emerged from the struggling college student as he held his face down burying his vision into the carpet trying to figure out a remedy to his situation rather then just wallow in self pity.

Location: UIC - Vetrinary School

---

Ashley had her backpack worn on her back, with both straps on her shoulders. Showing her geek level was pegged at a solid 11. It made sense to do it, because of the weight distribution. But no one on campus did that unless they were a nerd. She had just sat through her freshman English Class. It was a complete waste of time. Two comments, and the prof was off ranting about the evils of Republicans, how white people were the problem to ever ill in the world, and white privilege was ... Well, you get the idea. The English prof picked Ashley out for her pale skin, red hair, and nice clothing as the poster child for all that was wrong in this country. You might as well put a make America Great hat on her head and a Trump for 2020 shirt on her. Not that she liked any political candidate, in her mind they all acted like animals.

"It's people like you that are causing the problems in this country," the prof growled. She was a middle aged Caucasian woman wearing a wool skirt in a Irish family pattern. That made Ashley want to scratch her head in confusion. Then she had a nerve to ask Ashley to name a famous black writer.

Ashley looked at her and said, "Maya Angelou who wrote the poem Touched by An Angel"
Then went on to recite the poem,


Her prof went nuts telling her she was making that up, till someone did a google search on their phone to prove her right. It did not mater that she knew Black poets, Mexican poets, and others. Her liberal prof was so open minded that she couldn't be open minded to anything but her own position. It wasn't that Ashley disagreed that the family she was born into was able to provide for her better than other families or that slavery or what was done to the Native Americans was wrong. But didn't the prof realize that she worked in a system that reinforced white privilege and quota's were not going to fix that nor would giving everyone an A for attendance. There needed to be some standard somewhere.

Ashley had to work hard to block her prof's anger at her and the classes bordem on the topic. On the window sill sat a grey squirrel, "You want to talk privilege. Dogs. They live in you house, they eat your food, and pampered while we live out in the cold," It's thoughts coming through clear, "and don't get me started on cats..."

After class, one of the African American women came up to her and said, "Good job, Carrot-top now we all get to write a five page paper for Friday about a Black writer."

---

It had been a long day, quite the eventful one at that. Governor Ivy had so much to deal wit, the police station bombing, Pastor's Grady hateful message inciting violence in the streets against Empowered in Atlanta & other parts of Georgia, as well as the most devastating an entire hospital being destroyed by what appeared to be giant bullets as well as an explosion. One could only imagine what thoughts were flowing through her head as she was tucking her child into bed. A few moments later with whatever The Governor was doing she was able to notice that it seemed time itself had stopped. Any vehicle's outside weren't moving, any running water was "paused" as if there was a TV remote on her life, and a mysterious man with a scar on his fore head holding an automatic weapon was seen leaning against the wall. He said, "Hello Governor, we need to talk"

Ivy screamed in shock of having an armed man in her house and moved between him and her child. She did not know that the automatic weapon would rip through her and her daughter like a hot knife through butter.
"Who are you and what do you want?" she spoke in a tone with more authority than what she uses even as Governor. "What are you planning to do to my daughter?" she demanded. The fact that things had stopped around her registered in her mind, but the maternal instincts pushed them aside at the moment.

The man simply rolled his eyes not seeming to feel any type of way about her running to protect her daughter. "My name is Damon, and what I want is to prevent the extinction of the human & empowered population, on a more personal scale I want what you want? The people I love to be alive, and well." He'd waited so long for this moment, for this exact conversation, although he knew the risks of what he was doing, the alternative his current reality was far worst then anything he imagined could occur from the changes he would surely bring about with this "Assignment" of his. "Your daughter? I don't want anything to do with her Mrs. President."

Ivy was taken back, a little.. "I'm not the president," she said. John had talked about how she should run for the office and that she could balance out American politics. "Can we go in the other room?" she asked trying to get this stranger away from her daughter. Ivy was running through many different scenarios like John had taught her. What did he want from her and what was it going to cost her?

As they move to the living room, she noticed the T.V. program had frozen. A car going through a puddle put a splash into the air that just hung in the air. "What did you do?" she asked.

"Hmm I suppose not yet at least in this time." Damon mused making reference to Ivy's political success in the era he'd traveled from. "Sure whatever makes you more comfortable I don't have much...time to waste." He almost grinned at the last statement, but he was far past any jokes especially with the current predicament he was facing. Doing as the Governor asked he moved to the other room knowing she was at unease with him carrying a weapon, suddenly appearing in her home, and her daughter's safety being at risk in her mind. "Oh nothing much I just stopped time, as far you saying your not president?" Damon reached in his pocket and pulled out a torn newspaper article with the headline "Governor Ivy Smith from Georgia elected as first female president of the United States" the newspaper article date showing 2020.

She looked at the paper and looked at him. "Stopped time?" she said almost in shock.
She sank down into her spot on a couch with cushions made for decorations more than comfort.

"Yes you heard what I said ma'am look at the newspaper article really look at what do you see." He spoke still in a dry tone wanting Ivy to truly get a a slight understanding of the situation and an idea of where or rather when he was from

She looked at the paper and read it. John had told her that she could be president but she didn't believe it. "Your charisma and my coaching and we can set you in Washington, D.C. We could change the world," he had said to her. She looked up at him. "So what is it that you want from me?" she asked somewhat still in shock.

"You seem awfully calm and not very reactive to this whole situation? Or is that simply because you realize your inferior to a man who can both stop time & travel through it?" Finally some real emotion showed through a sense of superiority to Ivy, although this complex had developed long before he could ever tamper with the flow of time in any way shape or form. "As I stated when I got here, I need your help to change time. I'm from six years in the future, 90 percent of the human population is dead, and the planet itself is mostly a wasteland a cesspool of waste, violence, suffering & death. " He took a seat on the couch although leaving space from Ivy not wanting her to think he was about to make a sudden move on her. "Your one of the key people who can influence what happens in history, I need you to do so in a way that prevents the end of humanity."

"And has a gun," she said, "and Hun, it has been a rough couple weeks. People blowing up hospitals, playing with cars like they were hot wheels, and other evil things that I wouldn't even want to say." A good southern lady isn't going to show all her emotions to a stranger. John had taught her emotions get you in trouble when others can read them. She also learned that skill when she was on television.

"Forgive me but I know what's going on, trust me that's child play compared to what I've seen to what I've lived! I wish some exploding hospitals, and cars being flung around where the extent of what I've dealt with but it dosen't even scratch the surface. Honestly the powers, the people with them, and the technology that distributed them really play a large role in everyone dying." Being an empowered himself he hated to say it, but hell he'd made this very trip to the past by using the same technology. "Tell me how you really feel, honestly. If I wanted to kill you or your daughter you'd already be dead, I could just slit your throats with time stopped honestly I can't hurt you. The Butterfly effect, step on a butterfly in the past you might cause a chain reaction that leads to an extinction of an entire species. Your the first female president in US History, so your a pretty damn big butterfly to step on."

"Someone showing up in my house with a gun would put the fear of Jesus into you," she said with a southern twang. "People are unhappy with me right now. Some say I'm not doing enough, others want me to do nothing..." there was an and that hung there. Tears formed in her eyes as she was frustrated with fighting a fight from a position that people couldn't see or seem to understand.

"Well the world did end in the first term of your presidency, but it's not entirely your fault the Genesis Corporation however plays a massive role in our extinction." He spoke the name of the company with a hateful venom in his tone speaking of the business that had effectively ruined the world. "I can't tell you entirely what to do, I've done so much already just by coming back in time and speaking to someone of your importance. But I weighed my options, give it a year or two at most and every single person will be dead in my time. Honestly just do what your doing, you won so you must be doing something right or at least perceived to be that way.

"However you didn't answer my question. What do I have to do to prove to you I'm not lying? And are you going to do anything do you care? Do you understand I'm telling you quite literally that everyone on the planet is going to die in less then a decade, 90 percent in less then five years." He spoke re-iterating his point knowing this might be a lot to soak in, and not knowing how Ivy was taking all this.

She looked at him with the one thing she truely wanted more than anything else in her mind. "I want my son back," she said.

"All those articles and videos I've seen you up on the stand on youtube, about helping people and all you care about is your own flesh and blood?" Damon retorted although he wasn't disapointed or even concerned about what she said, after all while he ultimately traveled back in time to save the world what he cared about most was his own friends & family he lost.
"I can make that happen, you understand however that I'd be changing the course of time itself? And only you would be aware, well you and any others on this earth that are sensitive to alterations in the flow of time."

She looked at him with cold stare, "Even if I could only hold him for five minutes," she said, "It would give me the strength to fight this fight. That would prove you were not lying to me. I'd ask you to stop what ever caused the enhanced from happening, but you might not be able to do that. " She paused, "I could ask you to change lots of events and save people. But then other things might spin out of control."

"Well your right about that if i attempt to change something that would prevent me from having gained this power in the first place, it simply creates a paradox thereofre preventing me from going back in the past in the first place, but fine." Damon placed his hand on Ivy's shoulder and they vanished. They reappeared in the high school where the oxygen manipulalting teen was draining the air out of the lungs of the other students. Teenagers were dropping dead left and right. In her vision Ivy could see the teenager raising his hand to Tyler with fury in his eyes.
"You stupid piece of shit! You always thought you were better then me huh well fuck you and your whole family, you deserve to die." The kid screamed at Tyler who stumbled back in fear.
"Man you don't have to do this listen! There's got to be another way to use this power you have! Just because other kids bullied you, put you down, look at it another way, this power you have, you can help people, save lives make a difference Y...you." Tyler tried to argue with the kid but was also filled with fear.
"You don't know anything! IM NOT SAVING ANYONE! OF COURSE YOULL TAKE THEIR SIDE! WELL GO TO HELL WITH THE REST OF THEM!!!" The kid screamed at Tyler and began removing oxygen from him causing him to the hit the ground his face loosing color and before he died time suddenly froze allowing Tyler to breath, Damon having stepped in. "W...what th efuck what happened I'm alive?!" Tyler looked up confused seeing the empowered who was about to strip him of his life frozen in time and he slowly got up catching his breath seeing everytone running for their lives in his school was frozen, and then the next sight was even more breath taking." MOM?! Your here?!"

Ivy did what any mother would do, She ran to her son and grabbed him. "Where do you think I would be?" she asked. "I always said that if you needed me, really needed me I would come." She kissed him in that embarrassing way that Moms to do their teenagers. She held his face in her hands, "I'm so proud of you for trying to save others." She sat down on the floor and held him in her arms like he was two. "Always know that we love you and are so proud of you." Tears ran down her face, as she held her boy.

"Mom what's going on????? Why is everyone frozen, where did you come from" Tyler was overwhelmed, one minute he saw his life flashing before his eyes. Every moment up until his confrontation with the empowered individual. He'd wished and prayed he could see his mother one more time as everything was going dark,and even though he was confused tears welled up in his eyes streaming down his face as his mother embraced him. She felt so warm, the one thing he'd wanted more then in anything in his final moments was to see Ivy. "I love you mom, I'm so scared, I just wanted to help everyone, I wanted to be like you and dad.." He spoke his voice strained in between tears.
"Oh how romantic, not to interrupt kiddo just wanted to let you know were actually fromt the future, a future in which your dead, in about two mintutes actually. " As if on cue he looked at his watch although it was frozen with the rest of time. "So I mean I'll give you your five minutes a few more if you want to say good bye before time resumes and he's out of breath literally, I mean unless you want me to change...the past that's up to you though Governor." Damon smirked the ball now in her corner, he figured with the potential of her son to be alive again he could get her to do anything
Tyler was still locked in the loving embrace with his mother, although hearing Damon's side commentary caused his heart to race with fear, Ivy could feel her son's heart beating faster then ever. "Mom is he telling the truth?! Are you...really from the future..." He didn't know what to believe but he'd spoke to Ivy this morning, and it didn't make any sense that she was just there, and it seemed time was frozen. "Please...mommy is he lying? I...I.. don't want to die I'm so scared please...help me." Tyler burst out crying as he hugged his mom regretting getting involved with trying to help the other students and wishing he'd just left

She gave Damon the dirtiest look she had given anyone, "Yes, I came back with him to let you know how much we love you and how proud we are of who you are." She rocked him, "Tyler, I want to save you more than anything...." she said with her maternal heart breaking. Twice she was going to lose him. She said, in his ear, "Honey, If I save you many more people are going to die too. Maybe your sister, or even Dad or me. But, I did not want you to be alone."

Tyler started to wallow when he'd seen his mom some hope had returned into his body, he'd thought he was already dead but now he realized he truly was dead. Seeing everything frozen around him he clutched his mom tighter hugging her and holding her close his tears rolling onto her skin. "Please don't leave me I'..I'm sorry please please take me to the future, please mommy please I don't want to die! please." His voice growing weaker with every please on the verge of wailing his whole body envelopd in fear begging his mom to save him, begging the woman he came from to help him at all costs." Mom d-o-o-n't leave me please I love you please SAVE ME!! MOMMY!!!!!"

Ivy held him for as long as she could, willing her breath into him.

As Tyler grasped for air he clung to his mother scratching her arms and holding on to her pleading for breath and his life. Ivy pulled him close and cried out to Damon, "Save him you bastard. I want all this to never have happened." Then he as gone and all that remained was the tears and sobbing of a mother who had just lost her son for a second time and the prayer that she did the right thing.

"What is it that you want from me?" she asked...

---

Thomas had been pushing himself and his power for hours. All of the anger and frustration he was feeling towards the sin in the world pushed at him. He was taught to practice indifference, but that is more easily done when people are not trying to kill you. In his struggling for meaning, he created a masterpiece. The church he created was beautiful. The altar was 6' long by three feet of solid gold. Marble covered the rest of the place. The Crucifix was also gold with silver accents to make Jesus' body really come alive. The eyes were gems that were so blue, it looked like Jesus was truly alive on the cross. Around the altar was a rail of marble, along with the floors, ceiling, pews, and walls. There were no seams anywhere. Behind the crucifix near the back walls were murals depicting holy Scenes in Jesus' life all made out of gems. On the altar sat a Patten and Cup made out of simple materials. Thomas near exhaustion kneeling at the rail in prayer.

A sudden "pop" noise was heard, and a man with a scar on his upper right forehead appeared a few feet away from Thomas behind the priest hard at working using his powers to build his church sanctuary for empowered individuals. "Hello Thomas, I always had my own picture in my head of this place you built. Although, I myself never got to see it." He looked around truly in awe of what he was building even it's current state, especially coming from an era where most of the world was dilapidated and torn apart.

The priest nearly jumped out of his skin at the man's voice. "I thought the doors were locked!" he said.

Getting a grip on himself. "What can I do for you?" he asked. He wondered if the droning of the generator had muffled the footsteps. "Please help me to the pew," Thomas asked the man. He had over extended his powers to the point of hurting himself.

Damon smirked at Thomas's reaction, although he grew to appreciate the priest in his own timeline before his own demise it was interesting to see a more idealistic Thomas not yet completely stained by the eradication of humanity & society. "The door was locked but I didn't walk in here Thomas, that's not my mode of transportation." He waltzed over to the priest to assist him to the pew as he'd asked. "Well what I've come to ask for is a-lot, really more then I've asked anyone ever well besides this one lady but that's aside the point." He'd made a minor reference to Governor Ivy but he knew that Thomas especially in this point in history didn't know her personally. "May I ask you a question?"

Thomas looked him in the eyes in a very pastoral way, looking for something deeper as the stranger spoke. "Ask," is all he said.

"Alright I don't have much time, really. It's quite simple, and I'm willing to do anything to provide proof. My name is Damon, I'm from six years in the future, and the human race is nearly extinct, I came back to get your help to quite literally save all of humanity." He sighed knowing that was a mouthful and even with everything going on figured he'd have to do some convincing to sway Thomas of both the authenticity of what he was saying, and the urgency to act on it

Thomas looked at him and smiled, "I don't need your proof," he said that is not how Thomas was. "What is it you need and if I can give it, I will?"

He's listening to Damon's story before deciding he is a nut job.
His prayer book that he lost would work.
I would with behavioral health people. People tell you all sort of things, doesn't mean it is true. Thomas sees the world going to hell in a hand basket.

Damon was taken back and shocked, he hadn't expected Thomas to simply believe him regarding his statement about the end of the world especially the part about him being a time traveler." Hmm well there are a couple people that you could kill, more then a couple if they were to die right now in 2019 it could quite possibly fix my future. But things have a funny way of happening one way or another from what I've seen first hand." He thought about his own attempts to alter time himself. "Honestly I find it hard to believe that you accept what I'm saying as truth, I certainly wouldn't. But your a strong man and you played a major role in helping people with powers, and building positive human & empowered relations, like the mutant MLK had the world survived you'd have gone down in history as one of the great influencers to make a true change on earth."

Thomas wrinkled his brow and asked, "Who is it that I am supposed to kill?" Fame, glory, pride was not things that were going to motivate Thomas to do something. There was more to the story and he needed to listen before judging Damon. Even if he was crazy, there might be some truth to his story.

"The telepath Kalep Jackson, President of the American Legion Division Malik Henderson, a girl named Ally Olson, political advisor John Brown, just to name a few but like I said I know you probably won't. You were one of my mentors before you died, and one of the most genuine men I've ever had the pleasure of meeting. Hence why I've sought out your help to change the past, to create a better future in whatever way you see fit based off the intel I supply you." He didn't want to give Thomas too many specifics, although he'd done so with Ivy he had specific leverage over her, not to mention Thomas himself played a big role in his life and progression as an empowered so he had personal stake in not altering Thomas's history too much.

Thomas now thought he was crazy. "You do know that Priests do go around killing people," he said with the implication that it was against the job description.

"Yes I'm well aware, you do know that I only traveled from six years in the future, and everyone is dead, the world is a smoldering boulder of mass death. Forgive me for my insensitivity about a few assholes who literally play major roles in this happening." Damon sighed hopefully Ivy would come through on the more cold hearted tasks/ideas to fix time.

Thomas looked at him and did not see any indication of a lie in Damon. He sighed then said, "If you were one of the people I mentored, you know how I operate. " He would need proof about the moral evil that would necessitate murder. Then he would need to see for himself. Then he would need to see if there was any other way to handle this.

---

When Thomas got done at the shop, he got on the phone to the only person he could think of that might be able to help him convert hard assets into cash. So he dialed the number for a second time, knowing this one was probably going to cost him.

Bella Nova was being driven to the steel mill for her upcoming meeting with a guy that wouldn’t die and possibly a hitman that wouldn’t kill. She was already not in the best of moods, so when her phone rang, she couldn’t help but suck her teeth. Upon looking at the caller ID, she sighed. Her father would haunt her if she ignored a Catholic priest, so she did what the old man would want her to.

“Hey Father Thomas, how’s it going?” She started with the pleasantries. This was a man she may have to use in the future, and she didn’t want to ruin that.
“I hate to bother you, again,” he said. “I came into a couple items that I need help converting into cash and I am not sure how to do that.” He said. “Can I meet you some place?” He asked. “I have a couple gold bars,” he said.

Bella raised an eyebrow at the request. Not just because it involved cashing in gold, but because it was coming from a priest. Maybe a donation? Who the fuck donates in gold bars? She pursed her lips and went on to tackle this not as a kingpin, but as a face of the community.

”A couple of gold bars? Wait what? Thomas, um just meet me… Just drop a pin on your location and I’ll pick you up. If you have gold you need to trade in for cash, I can take for you, but I’m going to need someone to make sure it’s the real deal. Then I can forward you the cash. I can probably give you a rough estimate of what you’ll get back, but no exact numbers.”

“Okay, give me a minute,” he said fumbling with his phone. “Grrrrr,” he said as the phone beeped in Bella’s ear. Then he managed to send the message with his position. A Starbucks not far from the cemetery. “I think that worked,” he said. Thomas was fairly sure cellular phones were of the Devil.

Thomas had done only a quick search of the internet to find the standard size of a gold bar, 7" by 3 5/8" by 1 3/4" which was 400 ounces and it weighed 25 pounds. Carrying them in his back pack was kind of rough. But he needed money to survive and he needed a discrete electrician.

"Okay it went through. See you there." Bella said quickly before hanging up and texting an appraiser she knew to expect a visit. Bella assumed that this favor would be simple to fulfill. Boy was she wrong. A black Cadillac Escalade with tinted windows pulled up to Thomas. Bella opened the door and looked down at the priest wearing a backpack. "Come on get in." She unintentionally barked the order but didn't raise her voice to do so.

Thomas was sort of use to taking orders. The image of the church that people had was one loving family where everyone got along. They also had their moments of disagreement and power struggles. Now with the “war” on enhanced people, he was on the bottom of the pile. Thomas climbed in to the back and closed the door.
He was glad not to be carrying his package through the streets of Atlanta. Though most people left priests alone, but fifty pounds of gold clacking together makes an impressive sound.

Bella watched Thomas enter the SUV with his backpack that clanked as he shuffled into his seat. She didn't even want to ask.

"Vincent... Take us around some. Bella said before raising her eyebrows twice at Thomas. "Gonna open the bag or what?" Color said playfully.

He nodded then pulled out one of the bars to show her. Nice and shiny. He handed it to her to examine while he kept a serious look on his face.
“It is not stolen,” the priest said. “But I was asked to keep the one who gave it to me secret,” he said, “You understand what attention having assets like this can bring on a person.” He was sure she did, since he had called her before because she had wealth and influence. He wanted to say hello to Vincent, but he knew that would be bad form, so he waved like a school child on the bus. It was much more classy.

Bella was speechless. The week had been very eventful, but this was just out of the norm. A priest had just handed her a solid gold bar instead of a pocket bible. By the sound and look of Thomas, she knew he wasn't messing around at the moment. Vincent noticed Thomas' wave and just nodded his head in the rearview mirror.

"So someone is just handing out this much gold... Thomas do you even know how much one of these is worth? You could... You could open up a mega church with this and someone just... Someone just gave this to you like it was five dollar bill?"

Thomas said, “I sworn not to tell who gave it. They swore it wasn’t stolen. “Thomas thought this was a time that less was more. He did not want to lie, more did he want to tell her, he created it out of nothing.... He dodged the worth question as he had no real clue.

"Fine. It's not like I can force you tell me." Vincent looked warily into the rearview mirror. He knew firsthand that Bella had her ways, but was just playing her businesswoman role. "Just leave it with me and I'll see what I can do... And you need to be careful. This one bar is basically a whole milli in the palm of my hand. And you happen to have two." Bella sighed. Thomas was a very lucky man. Someone else of her calibre might have scammed the man or disposed of him. "Is this a donation to the church? Do not lie to me."

Had too looks on his face utter shock at the value and sad that she would think that he would lie and with a bit of despair. He wouldn’t lie not when he was asking for a favor. “No, it was given to me. A donation that size would go right to Rome. The bishop sent me out, so no. I did not steal it from the church. I am still a priest.” he said. The priests that Vincent and he visited with were all dead plus a couple others in Atlanta. That had been in the news. He would let her draw her own conclusion. He figured that a couple phone calls and she would know that too and that they did not know where he was residing. “Special Assignment” is what the diocese would call it. There was more going on. A woman of her power and with her networking probably knew more than he did anyway. “If it were stolen, I would have refused it,” he said. He guessed that was really the issue. The fact that he was the one that gave it to him was a detail he did not want to give out. He had not really worked out his relationship with Bella.

"Then I'll take it... I won't ask about anything else, except that you tell no one about this. You don't know about these bars. You didn't give them to me. They don't exist. Oh and I'm taking a cut of it. It's the price for the service and your secret. Okay?" Bella said this sternly.

Thomas agreed with a nod. What was going was more than this. Her words had some stress to them. It was almost like... He wasn't sure. But she was almost losing her cool...

"Good. Here, put this one back in the backpack." Bella handed Thomas the gold bar. "Vincent, drop me off first. I can't be late to this meeting. Besides, I think you and Thomas should spend some more time together." Bella chuckled, but she also wanted Vincent to keep tabs on Thomas while she was not present.

Thomas noted what he thought was a protective tone to Bella. In a way he thought she might be worried that he might be getting into the wrong crowd or putting himself in danger. Like walking around Atlanta with twenty-five pounds of gold would put him in danger. So far they were the only three that knew.

He sat back in the vehicle after she got out. He would move up when he got far enough away that it wouldn’t cause a scene. But Thomas was not prepare for the night that he and Vincent were going to have…

---

"I told you what I want from you Ma'am. The world is in danger and I need it saved. So the future I'm from never exists, there's a company called The Genesis Corporation there a biochemical & pharmaceutical company. They were established a few months ago, coincidentally two months before "The Incident". There going to unveil a cure for people with abilities, let's just say the side effects are horrific at all costs I need you to work on getting them shut down once they premier to the public, no matter what it takes. Also I need you to find me in this timeline and gave me this" He reached in his pocket and pulled out a syringe with a strange purple liquid in it and handed it to the Governor. "I need you to inject me with it, this will allow me to gain my time powers in this timeline rather then in the dystopian future I've come for in return if you help me gain my powers six years earlier you can have him. "Damon waved his hand and a shimmering noise was heard and Tyler waltzed forward confused. "MOM HELP IM" Then with a wave he vanished. "I can control space and time, basically I've allowed him to escape the murder but trapped him in a temporal spatial loop. You find present me, mold me and use me to help you stop the Genesis Corporation, you can also help me learn how to use my powers to free your son from the loop and have him back here take this it's a flash drive of instructions on how to use my powers." He also handed her the flash drive marked "Damon". "You know what to do Ma'am."

She slid the injectable and the thumb drive into her pocket then ran to her son. The good part about being governor is that you have access to a lot of personal data on people. She would start looking into both of these things early tomorrow. John had taught her not to talk to the people in charge for something like this. A low level clerk could pull up an address and a phone number from his tax forms. But she would try the phone book at the internet before getting into anything that could be questionable use of power.

She ran to Tyler, grabbing him in a hug and dragged him to the couch to try to explain all that was going on and the why’s. She failed as such things are not rational. He did notice the newspaper article about her becoming president. But he did not ask.