Five Moons of Pluto (11 page)

“why don’t go and find out.”

Jacob’s eyes widen. He looks at his parents to see if it’s okay.

“Go ahead Jacob, enjoy yourself.” says his father with a smile.

“If your gonna go flying.” Susan grabs one of Jacobs thick hooded, insulated sweaters. “you're gonna need this, don’t wanna catch a cold.” Susan hands him the sweater and he puts it on.

“Ready?” says Quantum.

They both step outside in the backyard. There is not enough clouds to cover the beautiful blue sky.

“Here, grab hold.”

Jacob grabs hold of Quantum neck from the back.

“Will be back soon Mr. and Mrs. Henderson.”

Quantum slowly floats off from the ground. Jacob closes his eyes. The feeling of his feet not touching the ground is uncomfortable. The scent of Quantum’s hair catches Jacobs nose. It’s a sweet of grape seed and lemongrass. Once Quantum gets to an acceptable height, they fly off. Jacob opens his eye’s, they are flying over the Queens Borough Bridge into Manhattan. The cars below look like Matchbox cars. They fly over Time Square watching the street dancers and a cab driver argue over the fare with a passenger. They get a bite to eat at a hot dog stand but Quantum doesn’t eat it and just feeds the birds the bun, he gives the hot dog to a dog...not surprising he doesn’t eat it. Jacob feels free and is adjusting to not feeling the ground. He understands why most of the super heroes fly when they don’t have to. It’s peaceful and quiet up in the sky. You got time to think without all the noise, the pressure and people arguing and complaining about the pointless things that seem important. 

Quantum’s head tilts to the left.

“People are screaming for help, Jacob, Im going to put you somewhere safe for a while okay?”

“Sure...no problem.”

Quantum drops Jacob off on the roof of an apartment building in SoHo.

“How far is the danger?”

“Somewhere in Miami. If im not back in thirty minutes call your parents.”

“No problem.”

Quantum jets off.

Jacob knew Quantum’s hearing was good, He could hear a pin drop on the moon, but the strange thing is that Jacob, could hear those screams too.

              Ten minutes has past since Quantum left Jacob on a roof. Jacob sits on the floor leaning on a brick chimney.

“Enjoying the view?”

Jacob is startled by the sound. He stands up and sees Vicious standing on top of the chimney. Jacob stares at Vicious as he takes out a cigarette, lights it up and takes a pull. Vicious is very handsome with salt-n-pepper hair. He wears expensive suits not because he looks good in them he wears them to stand out from the rest of the villains.

“Your...Vicious.” Jacob says softly.

Vicious jumps down to stand on level ground with Jacob.

“Smoke?” says Vicious holding out his cigarette carton of Marlboro

“No.”

“You must be wondering why you’re here?

“I don’t understand.”

“You. here. right now. At this present moment you need to question yourself how did I get here?” Vicious takes a pull of his cigarette.

Jacob looks confused.

“Quantum, dropped me off--”

“wrong answer, Jacob.”

“why are you here?”

Vicious face brightens.

“Right question...
Im here to spread the truth...that’s all I want.”

“What truth?”

“That your hero holds a very dark secret. He was good at concealing it but i finally unlocked it.”

“You mean his secret Identity?”

“Wrong answer again, Jacob. I already know who he really is. I gain nothing by exposing it. The truth Jacob, that’s all I want.”

Jacob ponders Vicious words. What is Quantum hiding and why? Why is Vicious coming to me? Does he need me? No. he’s evil. A murderer. He can manipulate people. Is he doing trying to manipulate me?

“I don’t care about your truth or what you know about Quantum. You’ll do anything to kill him and control the world. Just take you, your truth and leave me alone.”

Vicious finishes his cigarette and flicks it over the edge.

“Funny thing about truth is it’s not for everyone...it’s not for you but them.”

Vicious points up showing Jacob his parents trapped in a clear crystal cube object floating in mid air. they bang on the clear cube trying to communicate with Jacob.

“Mom. Dad!! Let them go!!” shouts Jacob.

Vicious makes a sinister smile.

Jacob yells ferociously breaking windows of cars, apartments and store windows for miles.

“Come now Jacob,
lets show them the truth together.

Jacob rushes towards Vicious. Vicious stands still ready to accept the powerful attack. Jacob fist connects to Vicious’ jaw sending him flying through apartment buildings and landing on the West Side Highway. Vicious gets up and dusts himself off. Cars takes evasive action as Vicious stands in the middle of the highway. Jacob lands behind him. Vicious turns around to face Jacob.

“You see, you’re beginning to understand the truth Jacob.” Vicious turns to his parents. “Witness the...truth.”

Jacob rushes at Vicious again. From behind Vicious, eight long metal construction poles levitate and flies towards Jacob piercing him through the chest, arms and legs. Jacob falls to the ground and begins shake uncontrollably. A blue substance leaks from his mouth and wounds. with a wave of Vicious hand the crystal cube gently floats down and breaks. Jacobs parents rushes towards there what they think is their son.

“No. you son of a bitch. Jacob!!” cries David.

David and Susan look at Jacob on the floor lying in the blue substance.
thier confused.

“What is this? what’s going on?”

The police arrive and point their guns at them and are screaming at them to get on the floor. Pedestrian get out of their cars to get a better look. Vicious waves his hand again and times stops. David and Susan look around...they don’t understand how he did it but he did.

Vicious holds out his hand.

“Mr. and Mrs. Henderson, Im sorry we had to meet like this, but you have to understand that the truth needed to be exposed.”

“That’s my son.”

Vicious points at Jacob.

“
Im not a doctor Mr. Henderson but Im sure human blood is not supposed to look like that.”

David and Susan run over to Jacobs body and examines it.

“Where is our? wheres Quantum?” Susan sobbing.

“Your son is dead. Quantum is somewhere in Miami doing his good deed.”

“No.No. I don’t believe you. I saw my son today. I touched him. Felt his breath on my face….please tell us.” David cries.

“He’s dead. two years ago Quantum fought the dimension destroyer monster
Boreack. He was careless in his fighting. He picked up a train smashed the monster in his face. the broken piece collided with your son and killed him.” Susan falls to her knees and screams. David calms her down enough to listen to Vicious’ story.”After Quantum, defeated the monster He did his usual damage report and found your son underneath the train. I suppose he was stricken with grief that he decided to have your son rebuilt by a robotics genius in another dimension. Im not certain on who rebuilt him...but you must understand that Quantum Killed your son.”

David looks closely at what use to be he’s son. Electrical wires, metal bones and flashing lights are exposed. The darkest thoughts and feelings run through
Davids mind and heart. His son...His only son…gone.

David looks up and sees Quantum ripping through Vicious’ time barrier with little effort. He breaks through and lands. He looks around and sees’ the robot Jacob with David and Susan.
              The truth has been exposed. David and Susan stand up. Susan wipes the tears from her face.

“You killed our son!!” Screams Susan.

“Im...sorry. I--

“Shut up...you lied to us...betrayed us..,” says David

Vicious’ looks at Quantum and waves.

“
Hiyya big guy. your secret is out,” says vicious lighting up another cigarette.

Quantum ignores him.

“Where is my
real
son’s body at?” says David.

“His body is gone...I buried him. I can show you--”

“No. He’s gone. Lets go Susan, were leaving.”

Susan, still sobbing hugs David and follows. David walks her to a
near by Honda Accord and puts her in the passengers seat. He walks back to the robot Jacob, picks him up, carries him to the car and lays him down in the back seat. David walks over to Quantum and stands a few feet in front of him. Vicious, tired from standing sits on top of a car hood enjoying the show.

“You have taken our son away from us Quantum, I know he’s not coming back. Mourning for him now will do nothing….out of all the trials you have faced, the enemies you fought, armies you have broken is nothing compared to a father's wrath after losing a son...you will soon feel my wrath Quantum. After
i have destroyed you, then I will mourn for my son.” David looks at Vicious. “Can you unfreeze this time trap?”

Vicious finished with his cigarette throws it on the floor.

“Sure Mr. Henderson.”

david
gets inside the car. Vicious waves his hand and times resumes. David drives off and the cops are pointing their guns at Quantum. The cops look around confused about what's going on but even more confused as to where the boy went and how did Quantum just appear out nowhere.

“Well Quantum, be prepared for the final finale. I of course will be
their to see it to the very end. later.”

Vicious vanishes before
everyones eye’s. Quantum stands there wishing he can go back in time. It was possible with Alister, but he died many years ago in the future by the tetra virus. He saved the planet and gave it a new future. Quantum flies off and soars into the sky. It’s peaceful and quiet. Up here no one can bother unless some other superhero or supervillain disturbeds him. his thoughts are wrapped around Jacobs death and Davids words.
Can this human really defeat me? and if so, how? I have faced demi gods and triumphed
.
I have tried everything to bring Jacob back but failed. I don’t know what else I could have done.
Quantum speeds off into the horizon with a heavy heart because of his sin.

Davids
eye’s if fixed on the robot Jacob. The skin has been removed and only the metal bones and wires lay bare. numerous empty coffee cups are on the floor and table. The basement which was supposed to be a workout gym for Susan is now his personal lab.  David at one point wanted to be a mancave but his load at work put an end to that dream. A black board sits right besides the door to upstairs covered with notes, sketches and mathematical equations. A wooden desk is across from the blackboard and next to the desk is a couch. David rubs his eye’s and fights to stay awake. He gets up and walks to the stove, not caring that he is stepping on his own notes, where a coffee maker is at. He searches for a cup but all sees is the used ones either ripped apart or crumpled. He open the above cabinet and sees a sketchbook and an old mug. He grabs both, pours himself a cup of coffee and sits on the couch. He flips through the sketchbook and sees various drawings of Quantum. The signature down below of each drawing is Jacobs. David throws the sketchbook on the floor and begins to cry, his thoughts drifts of Jacob, but he quickly stands up and wipes away his tears telling himself not yet we have work to do. He looks on the floor at one of Jacobs drawings. It’s some sort of a huge giant metal armored robot. on the top left corner of the drawing it reads
supervillain contest. supervillain name Hardwire.
David quickly goes to the blackboard, erases all his notes and begins jotting down his new idea to kill his son’s murderer.

Quantum places a bouquet of flowers on Jacobs grave, another place where Quantum can be secluded right among the dead. Quantum steadies himself. With his super hearing, he hears someone or something approaching him...very fast. He turns around to the direction of the sound. Within seconds the ten foot tall metallic man lands inadvertently crushing a few tombstones.  His red, slanted robotic eye’s scan the area. His metallic frame reflects Quantum’s image and a metallic guard covers his mouth like Optimus Prime. The metal man gazes at the bouquet of flowers on Jacob’s grave.

“Placing flowers on a grave will give you no
solace,”say’s the metal man, His voice, more human than robot.

Quantum studies the metal man. He wants not to believe it, but his
eye’s and ears are revealing him the truth.

“David, is that you?”

“David is no more. Hardwire stands before you,” he say’s holding on his iron arm, clenching his fist.

Quantum shakes his head. He wants to laugh at the ridiculous sight but out of respect for Jacob he holds it in.

“There is no need for us to fight David. I’m truly sorry for what i’ve done. I’ve decided to turn myself in and face my crimes.” says Quantum holding his head down in shame.