CHAPTER TWENTY NINE

Four Days Ago

"He will put himself back together."

"Even if he did, how could he know you teleported us to New York?" Randolph said in the corner of the room, not facing Jack who was sitting down by the desk.

"He will put himself back together and find us." Jack had a funny way of both responding to and ignoring Randolph at the same time.

"That's impossible."

"I need to get Jason and my parents somewhere safe. Somewhere I've never been, or never will go."

"Jack, listen to yourself, you're talking madness."

Jack was still in his DarkFlood gear, but with his face wiped clean and his cape on the floor. He thought about what he could do. It was impossible to see where he would be in the days to come. How could he? Clarity only arrived when looking back at time. But he must try to predict and work out a reasonable or safe enough solution for his loved ones.

Jack did not know much besides Oklahoma and Afghanistan, even in New York he was lost outside of Chinatown. And that is when it hit him, "I can take the kid back to China, back to his parents."

"What? You don't know anything about China."

"I can take my parents there too." Jack got up and went to leave the quietly lit room.

"STOP IGNORING ME!"

Jack turned around to face Dr. Randolph, "You're lucky I don't kill you."

"Just let me explain."

"You saved my life, Doc" Jack tried to go on, "Twice."

Dr. Randolph looked up at him, in Jack's hesitation to finish he found the opportunity he needed to explain his actions, only then he did not want to, only then did the burden of his own misgiving become too much to bear. So, Jack went on.

Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

"And for that I thank you. But we are not friends. I don't need an explanation from someone I don't care about."

Jack opened the door and before he walked through it, he warned the kind doctor, "And if she's dead, I'll kill you for it."

Jack left Dr. Randolph in the dark room with his guilt. He went over to the TV and knelt down next to Jason who was sitting with his father on the couch. "Jason, can you remember China at all?"

"I was just a baby."

"Try to remember."

Jason closed his eyes and imagined his birth. He tried to remember his grandfather's stories of their homeland, of the day he was born. Jason could always just make out a glimmer of an image when his grandfather used to talk to him about it. Jack tried to lock on that image.

He had this feeling for a long time now. Whenever he would heal someone he would keep their psyche for a fleeting moment; their memories, on the other hand, never faded. He put his hand on Jason's cheek, his fingertips on his temple.

"Hey!" Jason twitched, "Stop tryin' to friggin' Vulcan mind-meld me!"

"Stay still, boy, I'm getting you home."

"Wait, what?"

"GOT IT!" Jack flashed three times and Jason and his parents were gone before Dr. Randolph entered the room.

"Where'd you take them?"

"I have no idea."

"Jack."

"You'd have to ask Jason. I took him to one of his memories. I don't even think he knew where we were."

"This is crazy. There's no way Fitzsimons will find us."

Spotlights opened up on the windows out in front. The light shined through the cracks in the door. Sounds of helicopters swung in, through the city blocks. Jack teleported outside briefly. He appeared on the other side of the street, above the alleyway where he first saved Jason, the other side of the spotlights.

Jack looked around for Fitzsimons. He could not find him. He kept looking, trying to identify the officer in charge. It was a mix of regular patrol men, detectives, and swat; they were all led by a regiment of the national guard. Amongst the national guard there were a couple of soldiers with private sector badges. This was definitely Fitzsimons' operation. Perhaps he had not fully healed from Randolph hitting him with the car. That was a good thing.

But something from his past struck him deep in the heart. It was not at all what he was looking for, but it was what he found. The commanding officer was made quite clear to him now. This was impossible. This crossed the line and brought Jack, or Philip, or DarkFlood, or whoever the hell he was over the edge of reality. Jack was losing his mind. What he saw was Corporal Faulkner leading the operation, the sniper from his squad during the Afghanistan procedures; a team that was confirmed to be entirely KIA.

This can’t be.

End of Saga Two