CHAPTER FORTY SIX

Himalayas, China

Dr. Randolph had settled in since Philip left him here some weeks ago. He and Jason had successfully assimilated into the rural Chinese lifestyle. It was much easier for Jason who already spoke the local dialect. They were not too far from a common tourist area of the Great Wall, and Randolph would often visit it just to talk with people from the United States. It kept him from going crazy due to absolute loss of identity thanks to Philip.

Dr. Randolph knew this wasn't just for their well-being, this was punishment for sleeping with Philip's ex-wife. But Randolph held no ill will towards Philip for it, the doctor was a compassionate man and knew on some level that he deserved this exile. Jason was a great friend in light of losing Philip. Dr. Randolph and Jason were taking Lazarus' son to the Great Wall over the weekend when it happened. Something Dr. Randolph was not expecting, given Philip's decree before they parted ways.

Jason fell to his knees and screamed. Dr. Randolph and everybody around them watched as Jason grabbed his head and his anguish forced itself out in another deafening scream. Jason rubbed his temples to try and relieve the pain. It felt good and coincidentally the pain started subsiding. Everyone else took their hands off their ears and re-opened their eyes. Some people recognized what was going on. It was happening more and more often around the world.

So the cellphones and cameras were whipped out to record Jason's very private moment of transformation. He writhed on the floor in agony before it was over and could once again think clearly. Jason got up and looked around. There was dirt on his jacket and his hair was all messed up, and he knew all those cameras were projecting this image of his freakout onto the internet and all over the world. He saw it in his head, in Beijing, Tokyo, London, Times Square in New York showing the embarrassing video. It was clear as day in his head and all too overwhelming for Jason.

"NO!" Jason's anger took him and he threw out his hands, but nothing happened. Everyone starting laughing, but not for long when their cellphones and other electronic devices started sparking and shorting-out in their hands. Everyone panicked. Somehow they already knew...It was Jason doing this.

Jason could see everything in his head revolving around the electricity, from the tiny circuits and computer chips in the cellphones to the network satellites orbiting space. He twinged his fingers and they all succumbed to his will, even the very fabric of the internet. Whatever it may be...

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The mindless tourists ran in terror and fled the Great Wall of China. He knew the police would arrive for him soon. The sanctuary Philip had so carefully set up for them was now exposed to the world. They could not stay here. Dr. Randolph did not know what to do. He was already lost in China. Where else could they go? Jason was preoccupied coping with this new power within him. Lazarus' boy looked up at Dr. Randolph; he was terrified. He had to do something. But what?

The clouds cracked together and the skies opened, bringing rain and lightning. The storm seemed to only fall over them on the Great Wall. Dr. Randolph identified the storm with his surrender into hopelessness, but that is not what he should have been relating it to...

Fitzsimons, the military research scientist, and beholder of the Storm Harvester came together from the tornado winds and crimson lightning. He stepped out of the fury as normal as the day Randolph met him. Fitzsimons had come for Jason.

"I'm putting together a team, Jason," Fitzsimons talked as if they were already well acquainted, "And since your beloved hero has left you at the hands of others. I have come to give you a one-time offer to work for the U.S. government, with me," Fitzsimons winked, "before your own local government comes to collect you and dissect you."

Jason stood before Fitzsimons as Dr. Randolph and the boy cowered behind them.

"Well, what'd ya say, boy?"

"I'm not afraid of you."

"You should be."

"He will come back for me."

"He's forgotten about you."

Jason staggered backwards. He had nothing more to say. Damn, he didn't want to admit it, but the jerk was right. How could Philip have just left them? Jason didn't even know what was happening to him, now he was expected to fight… Fitzsimons. The big bad?

"Face it kid, you're alone..."

"Not Alone."

DarkFlood proclaimed as he teleported in with a scatter-jump, placing Moses, Lazarus, and Vlad all around Fitzsimons. Moses pulled stone from the Great Wall, Lazarus pounded his palm with his fist, and Vlad bent the pressure all around them, manipulating Fitzsimons' storm.

"Ha! You might think that you have won this one, DarkFlood!" Fitzsimons admitted before he fled.

"I don't care. You have to answer for what you did to Sarah!"

"All I needed was to provoke you into showing your hand." Fitzsimons was pulled off the ground and back into the storm. "Ha ha ha, see you back in New York!"