Day One (4/4)

"Your brother doesn't know it right now, Laura...but he'll become great!"

Tragedy sits on a chair facing Laura. Laura is strapped to the chair, but not gagged. She just looks annoyed at Tragedy for tying her up. 

"Oh, the adoration he'll get. The things he'll accomplish! The things he'll do. You can't comprehend it now but he's going to go stratospheric!"

"So why are you doing this? If you know all this stuff from the future then why are you doing this now? Trying to change it? Don't you know history can't be changed?"

Tragedy looks at Laura and chuckles.

"The future? You think I'm from the future?"

"You have to be!"

"No I don't..."

Laura looks confused.

"Then where? Are you psychic or something?"

"Haha. No. I'm not a psychic, or a Visionarie. The truth is, Laura Kent, you wouldn't believe me if I told you..."

Laura looks sassily at him.

"Try me..."

Tragedy smiles evily.

"You really think your little mind could cope with the truth? You really think you could handle everything I could tell you? About your brother? About you? What's going to happen to both of you? I could tell you about friends you haven't made yet. Loves you'll see perish. Sunsets that will become your worst nightmares. I could tell you everything I know and it would blow...your...mind. Are you sure you want to know?"

"Stop stalling and just tell me. I'm a big girl now, I can handle it. You evidently know who I am so you know the problems I could make for you. If you're going to tell me, just tell me. If you're not, stop stalling and just shut the hell up. How does that sound?"

Tragedy smiles again.

"Excuse me, Miss Kent. I'd rather forgotten how much gaul you had..."

******

"So how do we beat this dick?"

Roberta pauses.

"You could've worded that better but you're 11 so I'll let you off. Well, we still don't know much about this Tragedy guy so we don't know any weaknesses he might have or any associates we could use as a bargaining chip!"

"Can't the Split tell us something?"

"The Split is a diversion of the Akara and you know how secretive she is. She won't show us a thing!"

"So we're on our own?"

"Yes".

Jody looks around for a moment.

"Actually, that's something I've been meaning to ask you...do you do this alone?"

Roberta stops for a moment.

"Yes..."

"Have you always done this alone?"

Roberta's expression changes once more.

"No. I once had...friends..."

"Well, can't we ask them for help?"

Roberta continues despite looking sad.

"They're...indisposed".

"Well, call them! If this guy is as much of a threat as we think he is, get them up here!"

"Kind of hard from the grave, Jody..."

Jody stops and realises.

"Roberta...I'm sorry...I didn't realise..."

"One thing about this job that does get you down. You WILL lose people along the way. That's the nature of the beast. We come up against rogue Naturals, Augs, Aliens, you name it. Sometimes, despite your best efforts, you can't save everybody. Sometimes, that includes friends and family...and lovers..."

Jody looks subdued. Up until this point, he'd made this all about him. The fact he's about to become the Caretaker, the fact his sister was kidnapped, the fact this guy seemed to be out to get him, that he didn't think for a moment that there was a whole history with Roberta. Six years of Caretaking obviously had taken its toll on her. And Jody didn't realise until now.

"Is that why you're stopping?"

Roberta paused.

"It's part of the reason. The truth is, after a while, you get tired. You see so much shit that you just can't take anymore. It's like being a soldier on tour. You see a lot of shit, dwell on it and think of the what-ifs and the alternate endings. Especially when you know you could've done more to save someone close to you. I don't expect you to know what that's like Jody Kent. And I hope to God you never will. But, truthfully, if you do take up the Caretaker mantle, it's likely you will. I wish my mentor taught me that before he left..."

There was a silent pause.

"What was his name? Your lover?"

Roberta chuckles.

"HER name was Sophie. Sophie Stopps. She died at the hands of a Leptil".

Jody's face shows silent recognition. He know of the Leptils. The creatures that had invaded Earth two years previously. He took a few down himself after they tried to attack his family. 

"I'm sorry".

Roberta nods.

"Thank you".

As they smile at each other, something comes on over a tannoy.

"THIS MESSAGE IS FOR JODY KENT AND JODY KENT ALONE. I HAVE YOUR SISTER. I'M BY THE CREATIVE ARTS BLOCK SO IF YOU WANT HER BACK, COME AND GET HER. SCHOOL'S OUT SO MINIMAL CASUALTIES! I'LL GIVE YOU 20 MINUTES BEFORE I KILL HER. AND, BELIEVE ME SPEEDFREAK, HER BLOOD WILL BE ON YOUR HANDS!"

Jody and Roberta look at each other sternly.

"Roberta, I have to do something. She's all I have of home..."

"And we will. But we need to do it properly. We may have an advantage, we can't afford to let it go to waste...I have an idea..."

******

19 Minutes Later - Creative Arts Block

Tragedy looks around as Laura is tied to a metal pole that Tragedy has erected. She still looks annoyed as Tragedy patiently waits.

"I'm starting to wonder if your brother really loves you, you know..."

"You tell me. You're his biggest fan!"

Tragedy laughs.

"Oh, I am ANYTHING but that!"

As Tragedy finishes this, something zooms past him and goes to release Laura. As Jody touches the ties holding Laura, he's electrocuted and sent flying back. He hits a brick wall. Tragedy jumps up and down while laughing.

"Aaaaand it's a SHOCKING entrance from the blue bolt as he tries to rescue his lovely sister! But, as usual, he fails in that endeavour!"

Jody struggles to stand up but does so.

"It's over, Tragedy. I don't know who you are but it's over. Let my sister go!"

"You're in no place to make demands of me, boy! I know everything about you! Who you love, who you hate, your favourite colour, what you get up to in your bedroom when no-one else is in the house..."

Laura looks at Jody with confusion. He chuckles embarrassed and laughs it off.

"I...I don't do...that..."

"You are in no place to make ANY kind of demand..."

"Then tell me why you're doing this. Tell me why you're targeting me!"

"Because we are meant to be!"

"What? Like boyfriend and...manfriend?"

"You have NO idea what we are to each other. What we've been to one another..."

"Then just tell me!"

"No. You're not ready yet. You're not the man you're meant to become. That's a little while off. I just got excited this time and decided to start the process a little early..."

"What process?"

"Of you becoming Caretaker. Your destiny. Your life's work. It usually doesn't happen for another few years but I thought, what's a little change now and again?"

Jody looks confused.

"You changed history?"

"I didn't change anything. You wouldn't understand yet!"

"So what did you do then!?"

Tragedy starts to walk over to him and laugh.

"Oh. It was easy really. Wait a little while, kill all of Roberta's friends...oh and Sophie! Killing Sophie was a joy".

"Sophie was killed by Leptils!"

"And who do you think set them free?"

Jody looks stunned.

"That killed hundreds of people..."

"Thousands!"

Jody starts to get more progressively angry.

"You're a monster..."

"No. I'm small fry compared to what you're going to face. Who knows, you may not face them now...Then you can thank me..."

Jody looks stern.

"Why kill Roberta's friends? Why kill Sophie?"

Tragedy smiles evily.

"Would you believe me if I said it was for fun?"

Jody smirks.

"Oh, you've opened yourself up for a world of pain now..."

Suddenly, an electric surge can be heard behind Tragedy. It doesn't affect him though. He turns around to see Roberta holding a Taser to him. It hasn't affected him in the slightest. The more he turns, the more she realises it hasn't worked. She retracts it eventually.

"Roberta. Roberta, Roberta, Roberta. How lovely to see you again!"

"We've never met!"

"You haven't met me. But I've met you. Countless times!"

Roberta takes out a Katana blade.

"You killed Sophie!"

"Yup. And I'd do it again!"

Roberta screams at him and race towards him. Tragedy produces a blade from his sleeve and they engage in a sword fight. As they do, Jody races up to Laura.

"What do I do?!"

Laura looks amazed.

"Do you not pay attention in science?"

"If I did, would I be asking you to help me?"

Laura sighs in disbelief.

"Use your speed and absorb the electricity. You might be able to drain it!"

Jody races around it at full speed. Lightning sprouts from the tower into the vortex. It gets more intense for a moment and then it starts to trickle away. Jody stops and takes a breath before releasing Laura.

"Right, run home, now!"

"What!?"

"GO HOME, LAURA! NOW!"

"I'M NOT LEAVING YOU!"

"I HAVE TO HELP ROBERTA!"

Laura sighs.

"I'm helping too then!"

Laura closes her eyes and goes invisible. Jody smiles and looks over at the sword fight. Tragedy grabs Roberta's wrist and sends her flying.

"ROBERTA!"

Jody races towards Tragedy who notices him coming and swings his sword. In what seems like slow motion for him, Jody dodges every stroke of the blade. Tragedy tries frantically to get him but fails every time. Jody lands a few punches instead before Tragedy grabs his arm and throws him. He hits the wall again and hits his head. He falls to the floor and comforts his head. Tragedy walks over with the blade and places it at Jody's throat.

"You don't know this yet, but you're going to be a great man...or maybe not...how lucky do you feel, Speedfreak?"

Jody says nothing.

"Strange. You're usually the first with a witty response. Maybe I've changed too much this time..."

Before Jody can look up, Roberta screams once more and races towards Tragedy with her Katana. He turns around, knocks the blade out of her hand and kicks her in the shins. She screams out in pain as he throws her away once more. She lands on the floor about 20 feet away from Jody. Tragedy goes up to her and grabs her by the neck. He pulls her up so their eyes are level.

"The last time we were here, I pulled out your heart through your chest. The time before that, I ripped out your vocal cords. The time before, I just shot you. But this time, I'm going to make sure Jody remembers how powerful I truly am...and how ruthless I can be..."

And with that, he drops Roberta back to the ground.

"Kill me. I don't care. Just leave him alone..."

"Say hi to Sophie in the Veil for me..."

With a quick slash, Tragedy beheads her. Roberta's head flies over to Jody, who catches it like a rugby ball. Her face, frozen in a state of terror as he stares at it. A girl he had a crush on less than 2 hours before, dead. Traumatized, he drops it and stands up.

"You're fucking sick..."

Tragedy smiles evily.

"Oh, Jody Patrick Kent, or Torah Al-Nivah...you have no idea..."

As he smiles once more, the Katana blade pierces his throat. Confused and outraged, he turns around to find Laura fading back into existence. Blood pouring from his mouth, he smiles at her.

"Well, well, well. Looks like Ghost gets me again. Didn't see that coming..."

Laura stands there looking sassy as usual. She chuckles as blood pours out of his mouth. Tragedy splutters as he faces Jody one more time.

"We will meet again, Speedfreak. When you're more like how I remember you. But, spoiler alert, your sister isn't ALWAYS going to be around to save you..."

Jody, still traumatized, speeds over to him and punches him in the stomach. After that, Tragedy vanishes into thin air. Jody and Laura are left with a decapitated body and a head frozen in horror. As they walk over to the body, the hand starts to blaze brightly with light. Jody turns her over to see a coin appearing from under the skin. Laura looks horrified as it rises to the surface.

"What the hell is that!?"

"I think this is the coin that Roberta mentioned before..."

"What coin?"

Not answering, Jody looks at the coin, then back at Roberta's head. He knows he has to do it now. He has to do it for her. She sacrificed her life to save his. Now, to make things right, he has to avenge her. He picks up the coin and places it on his palm. The light comes again as it sinks into Jody's skin. A few moments pass before it disappears again. Laura looks amazed.

"What the actual fuck was that?"

Jody looks at her but says nothing...

******

Two weeks later.

Two weeks ago, I met an incredible woman called Roberta Neave who was the Caretaker of Planet Earth. Someone who defends the planet against Naturals, Augs and Aliens. She died trying to save me from a being known as Tragedy. He killed her in the most brutal of ways and he did it, seemingly, so I could become the Caretaker after her. While I don't want to be Caretaker, I have a duty to now. For Roberta if nothing else. 

I have no idea what this new adventure will bring, nor do I know what I'll lose along the way. But with my sister, Laura, and my friend, Mel, I know we can do it. I know we can save people, find Tragedy and make him pay for what he did to Roberta.

Jody steps out in the Speedfreak costume he saw in the Split.

My name is Jody Kent. And I am the Speedfreak...

******

Convenience Store, Downtown Trillingham.

The shopkeeper sits and reads a paper as his shop remains empty. He looks up for a moment and sighs at how desolate it is.

"Bloody online shopping..."

He goes back to his paper for a moment before the door opens. He looks to see who's come in but can't see anyone. He stands up and looks again but, still, sees no one. Annoyed, he sits back down and reads his paper.

Suddenly, the room goes cold. He notices and looks away from his paper again. He looks around and notices he can see his breath. He looks towards the shop floor again for a moment and, still, sees no one. He turns around and, before him, stands a hooded figure. The shop keeper looks shocked as the figure grabs him by the neck. After a short struggle, the figure snaps the shop keeper's neck and drops him. Moments later, something rises from the shop keeper. His spirit. He looks around.

"Where am I!? Help me!? Someone help me!? Where am I!?"

A light descends from the ceiling and covers the spirit. The spirit starts to rise and the man looks happy as he ascends to heaven. As he starts to rise, the figure grabs the spirit and holds on. The spirit struggles once more to escape the grasp but fails. The figure opens his mouth and the spirit gets sucked in. After the spirit has been digested, the figure starts to shine a purple light for a few moments before coming to peace again. The figure looks down at the body and smiles.

"I still need more...there has to be more...and I have an entire city...buffet..."