All around was madness. Sense had long since fled the battlefield and along with it his sanity. The woman he loved, who he’d found again in another timeline after being torn from his own, was in the hands of the enemy. These things, the Outsiders, he realized, must be in every reality, manipulating things somehow. Some took the form of men, channeling into a mortal shell an immense and dangerous power that let them conquer what they saw as an inferior species. Here, in this place and time so different and distant from his own, he realized; nothing remained of what he knew as Earth or even the aliens he’d known. So changed was the timeline by the influence of these creatures beyond space and time that location, past, future, none of it had meaning.

His name was Justice Haymaker and he had been exposed to the same energies that made up the Outsiders, tempered in the crucible of spacetime and come out stronger than any living thing had a right to be, but, as the landscape was bombarded indiscriminately, all he could do was run for cover. Fleeing at top speed, he smashed through a wall of what looked like wood, scattering the splinters, before seeking shelter behind the titanic rubble of a fallen tower.

“Don’t hurt us!” called out a man’s voice, struggling to be heard over the din of combat. Justice turned his head, finding a man, woman and two small children. They spoke perfect English but dressed in strange patterns and fabrics and the man wore a hat made from the blue fur of some strange animal.

He didn’t get it right away. “What!?” An explosion hit nearby, rocking the landscape. “Oh, uh, no! Not hurtin’ nobody, sir. No problem. Little pre-occupied with keepin’ my own skin intact, y’see!”

“Are you with the Resistance!?” asked the mother of the family.

“What!?”

“The Resistance? A freedom fighter!?” She seemed desperate.

“I’m resisting my own death, lady! Fuck! How are they seeing to shoot at us still!? Fuckin’ sky’s nothin’ but dust and smoke!”

“They don’t see!” said the man. “The Dominion just destroys civilizations, enslaves survivors and occupies worlds! We hoped that you were a freedom fighter, here to spirit us away to safety!” Dim, in the sky, a ship resembling three pills connected by an oblong platter dropped below the haze and into view.

“Slavers again, huh? I know what to do to them.” Justice muttered. Rising up, Justice reached to his hip, slid his finger over the controls on his Destabilizer, top setting; Detonate. “One second, partner!” he shouted, aiming for the leftmost pill, which burst into blue flame before exploding, sending the ship spiraling out of the sky. “Shit! That worked great! No shields? This really ain’t the right timeline.”

“What was that!? What did you do!?” asked the mom, gobsmacked.

“Standard issue X-03 Destabilizer, ma’am! Only one around these parts, I reckon!”

“Your blaster is called a Destabilizer? I’ve never heard of that kind!” said the man.” In an instant all fell silent. As their ears adjusted it became clear that there were still impacts but they were quiet; distant. “I … I think you got the only bomber hitting this location.”

Justice examined his sidearm. The auto-charging battery module, fueled by a piece of dangerously radioactive material, had gone down by almost a full quarter. “What the hell? It’s like shootin’ that ship sucked extra juice out of my gun. That ain’t never happened before.”

The dad grabbed Justice by his boulder-like shoulder. “Friend, you’ve bought us time, but we should move. Come with us.”

“But, my woman, my son, our pet, they’re all out here somewhere, man!” Justice looked around, sheathing his sidearm, he suddenly felt lost now that death wasn’t imminent.

“I understand, but if they met any of our people, they’ll no doubt wind up in the Warrens. Our people came out of those tunnels millennia ago and when threatened, we retreat there until the threat is dealt with by our leaders.” Nodding fervently, he motioned towards his family. “You’ve helped us, now, please, let us help you.

“Dammit all. Yeah, okay, let’s go.” They hustled along, the locals seeming to know by instinct which way to go even though the smoky sky gave no indication of sun or stars and all the local landmarks were reduced to gravel around them.

After a minute or so one of the children, a boy, looked up at Justice. “I’m Bearemy. What’s your name?”

“Huh? Oh, Justice.” A little distracted, the massive man from out of time and space searched the land and sky for threats. “Justice Haymaker.”

“That’s a weird name.” blurted Bearemy in true childlike bluntness. “My folks call me Bear though.”

“Huh. That’s funny. My boy’s a bear too.”

This perked the kid up. “His name’s Bearemy too!? Wow!”

Justice did a double-take. “No, he was a bear. He’s a man now though. Accident with this high-tech … stuff.”

“What’s a bear? I thought it was just a shorter version of the name Bearemy.” said Bearemy.

“It is, son.” said the mom.” looking at Justice she squinted. “Where are you from again?”

Justice took a deep breath, sighed, considered and answered. “Well, that’s a tough one. I’m from a planet called Earth–”

“Yes. Us too.” said the mom.

“Uh … no shit? I’m from the Nineteenth century, United States, but I got my gun here from the twenty-three hundreds.”

“Those numbers, friend, they don’t mean anything to us.” The dad stopped, eyeing Justice. “Are you sure you’re from Earth?”

“What? Yes! I mean … not this Earth. Not this timeline. I’ve jumped to a few different ones but it’s never been this different.” The family started moving again so Justice did too.

“We’ve heard the theory of Spacetime before, friend, infinite possibilities, a multiverse. Unfortunately, as the Galactic Conglomerate fell apart, our scientists, anyone learned, disappeared. Some we know were taken, others, we hope, are in hiding like we’re about to be.”

“This is crazy!” Justice grit his teeth, trying to make sense of it. “So … did this war just start?”

The man nodded. “You could say that. It’s been, perhaps, a year. Near as it can be determined, the President of the GC, freshly elected, seized upon an increasing desire for order among the member worlds and power in our military to declare himself Dictator. Sadly, it seemed like, in every barracks, every field unit, everywhere, Dominionists outnumbered those loyal to the GC. In the few places the GC managed to hold they became the Resistance. As the original capital of the Galactic Conglomerate, so far from the current center of power, Earth had the most time to prepare. This invasion is less than a day old.”

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“A day old…” Justice hustled along, having more trouble with the terrain than the locals, distracted by all this new information. “Fuck. I think I just walked into a fucking trap…”

“What!?” the dad stopped, turning to look at Justice. “Trap. I’m confused. Are you … pursued?”

“You could say that, yeah.” Justice frowned deeply, shaking his head, sadly.

“Are we in danger? Is being near you dangerous?” asked the mom, gathering her kids in close to her.

“I don’t know, lady. Look, this President, he got a name?” Justice panned across the family, looking to anyone for an answer.

“His name is Z’euth’z! He’s … kinda like you. All big and muscle-y and he’s got a beard. Maybe taller though.”

“Why does it matter?” asked the dad.

“It might. Not sure.” Justice grasped at straws. “Is … is ‘Zoothz’ a normal Earth name in this timeline?”

“That’s not quite how you say it.” said the mom.

“That doesn’t matter, ma’am! Time might be a factor here.”

“Well, not really.” said the dad.

The mom looked annoyed, tapping her husband on the shoulder. “Yes, it is. There’s been a Z’euth’z in Earth politics for two centuries.”

“Dear, think about it. Two centuries. The name has no roots. It sounds like the name of this god from an old cult too. Zeus! What if the first Z’euth’z made it up? Or … or what if this is some return of that cult!?”

“Z’euth’z? Zeus. Echoes…” Justice rubbed his beard.

“Echoes? What does that mean?” asked the mom.

Justice edged forward, trying to get the group moving again. “Stuff in one timeline is fiction in a lot of others, ma’am. Somethin’ you figure out after you bounce between a few of ‘em. My lady and our pet are better at science but that’s the gist.”

The dad cooperated, starting to move. “So, what? You think the President comes from … beyond our timeline?”

“Man, you got it faster’n I ever could. I hate to tell you folks this but, every time we jump, our vehicle’s been drawn to another one of what we call Outsiders. They want us dead or … captured, I’m not even sure anymore. Your President, er, Dictator now, right? Bet you money he’s here. Probably in one of these ships.” Justice looked down at the dirt, seeing the damage to his twentieth century clothing and the dirt caked into himself. He’d been hit, probably countless times, by shrapnel and who knows what else. His skin was barely scuffed.

“So you are dangerous! Oh, Essence be with us in our time of need!” howled the mom.

“I … I reckon I am. Best you move on without me. I’ll stay here. If anybody asks after me you go ahead and tell ‘em.”

“Not. Necessary.” rang out a voice with a mechanical edge.

“No!” shouted the mom. “It isn’t possible!” Justice turned his head to see a gigantic man in full armor, black as night but gleamingly reflective.

As the newcomer drew near the family got behind Justice, all shaken and making pitiable noises. “What the? Who’s this guy!?” exclaimed Justice who, jaded as he was, was trying not to laugh.

“I am Lord Ofenz, worm. You’ll find that we are very similar, you and I. Dangerous…” his voice, full of menace and deeper than hell actually rattled Justice. A noise emanated, like an iron lung. There was an energy radiating off of him that struck him as the newcomer’s aura washed over him. “Me, moreso.”

The smile wiped off his face Justice put a hand on his sidearm. “Okay, Lord Offense. I see you. Now–”

“Ofenz.” growled the dark monolith.

“Pardon me?” asked Justice.

“Ofenz. More emphasis on the o sound and it’s a z at the end.”

“Who the hell care– Listen up, dude, I’m guessin’ you work for that Z’euth’z sumbitch, right? So let’s just skip to the end; I ain’t goin’ peaceably which means you’re probably gonna die. So how’s about you stick your name in that and suck it.” Justice removed his Stetson briefly, trying in vain to dust himself off, then firmly squeezed it back in place on his big dome.

“Disrespect. To be expected. I know how you think, you know.”

“Bullshit.” Justice pulled the X-03, blasting the absolute hell out of Ofenz, feeling his aura of terror, taking no chances, he gripped the trigger hard. All around him he heard screams; the beam refracted, splitting into a multicolored spray, destroying the countryside and doing little other than push Ofenz back. With a motion, without being anywhere near Justice, Ofenz sent the Destabilizer flying from Justice’s grip. “What the hell!?”

“Fool! We had a chance to settle this with words but now you are disarmed and I–” sweeping his cape aside Ofenz grabbed a short stick from his hip which then shot out what looked to be a coherent red flame, about three feet long. “--am not!”

“What the fuck!? Is that some kind of blowtorch? Why’s it so long!?”

“Justice!” called the father of the quickly forgotten family who were all hiding behind a nearby wall. “That’s a Laser Sword! It can cut through anything! Don’t let it touch you!”

“Laser Sword?” gulped Justice.

“Laser Sword.” growled Ofenz.

“Shit.” muttered Justice as his quarry charged. Ducking under, he tripped Ofenz with little effort. “Dumbass!” Falling upon Ofenz, he kicked the sword away, which went out instantly as it left the villain’s hand, and started raining full-force punches down on his enemy. “Sick of this shit!”

At first Ofenz was completely caught off-guard, flailing, getting one arm crossed over his throat, Justice pinning him there by that wrist while still hammering the helmet. First it cracked, then it broke, exposing one blue eye. “Enough!” he shouted and, shockingly, his Laser Sword flew into his hand. Igniting, it nearly took Justice’s head off, who stood up and away. As he lunged back in, Justice felt what could only be a flying wall of granite strike him, driving him back about fifty feet, tumbling in the dirt.

“The fuck was that!?” exclaimed Justice, angry. “Why’d your shit fly back to you!? Mine didn’t fly back to me!” Stomping his foot like a child Justice shouted “this is bullshit!”

Laughing sardonically, Ofenz gave no answer, instead he charged forward, Justice meeting him in the middle. With the sound of two big haulers colliding head-on Justice ducked under the Laser and slammed one of the big meat hammers he called fists into Ofenz’ armored midsection. Staggering, the towering monster still turned to meet him.

“What now!? Huh? Which is deadlier? Your fucking flashlight or these hands!? C’mon!” diving in, Justice swatted Ofenz’ arms aside, gripping him around the waist and flipped him over in a German Suplex, further damaging his helmet. The two rose together, obviously similar in terms of power, Justice holding the wrist that held the Laser Sword, Ofenz keeping Justice’s big right hand at bay. “I done killed two of you Outsider fucks already! What makes you think you’re different!”

“Because, Justice!” Ofenz grunted, struggling, before headbutting Justice, the fragmented metal cutting his cheek. As Justice instinctively grabbed at the wound Ofenz managed to swipe at him with the Laser Sword. “I’m not an Outsider!”

Falling back, shocked, Justice clutched at the burn wound on his chest. True to form, he’d been saved by the toughness he’d been accumulating in his travels, but it hurt worse than anything he’d ever felt. “If you’re not an outsider then what the fuck are you!?” Since his journey began Justice hadn’t been challenged like this. Justice couldn’t comprehend what he was dealing with.

Drawing near Ofenz pointed his weapon at the still-glowing wound. “Does that really matter? Surrender! Don’t make me destroy you.”

“I ain’t come this far to give up to some damned magic-flingin’ cyborg, boy! Now answer my question; give me one damned reason I can’t stomp you into nothin’ like all the other Outsiders!”

“Oh, Justice, no…” Shaking his helmeted head Ofenz then did something shocking. Reaching up, with a hiss as it disengaged, he removed the helmet. Underneath was a bearded face with bright blue eyes and weathered skin. Other than the overly pronounced brow, everything else was the same. “I … am you…”

Temples throbbing, eyes bulging out, Justice screamed in shock. “No fucking way! This is bullshit!”

As Ofenz stood over him, laughing, Justice could see all the events of these past years flashing before him. Inside, he asked himself, “how did I get here?”