The writing of this story is going well, and I have only to write Chapters 3 and 4 now, I have already written the ending. All will come with time.
Click on the chapter names to hit the chapter you want
Ch1 'The Birth of a hero'
They had done it, the culmination of years of research into the Elixir of life and they had finally got the breakthrough, all rejoiced as the meaning of it all sunk in.
Joe woke up with a start, the dream fresh in his mind. In truth the dream wasn't far off from the truth but there was a vital link missing 'But [Joe thought] science is like that - look at Hawkins and his work on black holes, now there's a chaos theory' he smirked.
Joe glanced across to his alarm clock [1:37am] "Bollucks, I gotta get back to sleep". Easier said than done, at that moment the wind picked up and started whistling through his narrowly open window. With a deep sigh Joe sat up and strained to reach the window from his bed when he heard - or thought he heard - somebody downstairs in the house.
Joe froze, his eyes scanned his room for something he could arm himself with in order to fend off the intruder.
Computer speaker - useless
Mouse - useless
Keyboard - useless
Shoes - useless
Bookshelf - removable but useless
Lamp - useless
Alarm clock - useless<
Books - useless
Dumb-bells - what a useless buy, hmm, they would slow down a punch, but they would pack a lot of power with it, I'll take one in my right hand and keep my left free to swing naturally.
He picked up the dumb-bell and makes his way to the door as quietly as he can, he opens it surreptitiously and creeps his way to the top of the stairs. Less than a minute has passed since he first heard the intruder.
There is a deathly silence now and Joe is only too aware that he must stay absolutely quiet. He reaches the foot of the stairs without breaking his silence and decides that the sound that he had heard originated from the dining room. He stealthily made his way to the entrance of the dining room and already can tell things were clearly amiss, the downstairs PC wasn't on (he couldn't hear its fan - it wasn't turned on) 'had there been a power cut? No, impossible, the alarm clock was on, the computer is gone, that's why its not on'. He couldn't hear or see anything else from the outside of the room, so he stepped inside to further investigate, all seemed clear.
He took a step forwards and picked up his phone, he dialled 999 and reached the operator
Operator: Hello, 999 services, what is your emergency?
Joe :I've had a burglary.
Operator: Is the burglar still there?
Joe: I think they heard me wake and ran off, but my computer is missing at least.
Operator: Okay, well, take stock of what is missing, and we'll send a detective down with the scene of crime guys, so if you notice something has been moved, leave it where it is, in case you disturb some evidence.
Joe: I want someone sent round now.
Operator: I understand your concern, but unless a crime is occurring it isn't classed as an emergency and I'm not authorised to send someone round. Can I have your address to send the police to in the morning please?
Joe: Yeah, sure its
Joe is struck to the floor by the intruder on his way down he clips his head on the corner of a chair. Seeing the pool of blood collecting around Joes body, the intruder realises the seriousness of his actions and runs outside into Joes car picking the keys up on his way out.
Operator: Sir? Sir, my god, we're gonna need a squad car and an ambulance down there.
A doctor is talking to Joes parents and younger brother, a few of Joes co-workers are there too.
The doctor begins in a solemn voice, "I'm afraid his brain has incurred serious damage, its highly unlikely that he'll ever wake. It's time to consider turning his life support off".
One of Joes co-workers breaks in before his family can speak "Wait, we've been working on something, its a long shot, but it could"
Another of the co-workers interrupts him "You mean the elixir? No, no, no it isn't ready, we can't experiment on Joes life with it!
The first co-worker is getting worked up now, and retorts "What life? They've written him off for a vegetable!
A nervous silence follows, "Is it ready to be used?" the mum quietly and reservedly asks. "I'm not going to lie to you, it isn't finished, but results on lab rats have been promising and he's gonna die here without it, I would rather he had a some hope rather than none".
Joes mum looks uncertain when the Doctor states "This decision is down to the family, if I have their consent, then its legal". There is a look of determination and hope growing in Joes mums face "Do it, Joe believed in your work on the elixir so much, it will be a fitting choice however it plays out", Joes mum looks toward his dad who looks back and nods, confirming her decision without having to say it.
"Right then, since that's settled, you are going to have to tell me more of this, so I know what to expect..."
Joe is laid down and clothed all in white, his eyes open quickly, and the pure light streams in making his pupils dilate. Remembering the blow to his head, his hand sweeps to inspect the damage but finds none. "What the hell?" He says aloud but there is no response back. This made Joe become aware of his surroundings, there are limits to his current environment but just how far the rooms span was was impossible for Joe to discern. "What am I doing here?" he asked himself. "That is what I would like to ask you Joe", a voice behind Joe said, clearly surprised, Joe spun round and took a step back. Facing him was a man robed all in white, or what seemed to be white for it changed as Joe looked at him from alternate angles.
A silence ensued which was broken by the man "Well Joe, why are you here?" the man asked. "I don't know - I don't even know where here is" answered Joe.
"What is more important Joe, is where here isn't, you see, you are no longer on the mortal plane, yet you have not yet transcended it, that is why you are here, this is an intermediary station, a checkpoint if you will, but it is rarely used, hence why just you and I are here".
Joe was entirely lost in thought, and stuttered out his response "Th... The.. Then why am I here, what makes me different?"
"You haven't moved on Joe, you are stuck, concerned still with mortal troubles and trifles"
"That's right... I'm not ready to move on, there is still much for me to do in my life and there are so many people like me, or like how I used to be before, before"
"The attack on you?"
"Yes, I wish there was someone who could stop it, someone with power enough to control the streets and bring peace."
"Look into my eyes Joe" Joe looked into the mans eyes and was startled by what he saw, deep as a well they were, and yet they were bright, and shone like diamonds. The mans eyes searched Joes, and Joe felt as though he was being looked right through. "There could be a way for someone to bring peace Joe, someone could take control, could rid your city of crime, just like you wanted. I could send you back, Better than you were before. Better . . . stronger . . . faster."
"You could?" said Joe, feeling like a child again.
"Yes, but are you sure you want to take such a challenge, I know your intentions are honourable but some have walked the same path before and it did not bode well. I respect you decision though, I will send you back if you wish."
"Do it, send me back. I will take the challenge, I can improve things. I will improve things."
Joes eyes opened and he saw a ceiling he did not recognise, he mused on his dream and considered how real if felt, yet how ridiculous it was. His thought turned to his head injury and his hand crept towards it.
"He's awake!" shouted his mum. In from the outside of his room ran Joes parents and the co-worker who said about the elixir first. "Yeah, mum, I'm awake. How long was I asleep?". "You are joking Joe! Asleep indeed, you nearly died man, everything turned round after the elixir, but even then it was touch and go. You sure proved the Doctors wrong Joe" his co-worker said.
"Seriously, is Paul kidding mum? There's no way you used the elixir, no."
"We did Joe, there was no other way, not 2 days have passed since the Doctors wrote you off for dead, if it wasn't for the elixir, we wouldn't be talking to you, its a miracle, an act of god." Joes mum replied.
Unsure of how healthy he really was and fresh out of hospital Joe decided it would be best for him to stay home for a while rather than throw himself straight back into work. His doctor had warned him against spending extended periods of time on computers, saying 'there was no doubt in my mind it will cause serious headaches and potentially black-outs'.
Being stuck at home all day was making Joe restless and he had to go onto the computer to alleviate his boredom, 'if only to check my e-mails' he told himself. He didn't have any but felt gypped at having to come off so early, so decided to have a go on Unreal Tournament, to break him into FPS's easy after his break.
Starting at Adept difficulty Joe was soon bored, there just wasn't any challenge, so he switched it up to Masterful and then Inhuman, but it was still too easy. He took the logical step and put it onto Godlike difficulty, but nothing, Joe was playing like he never had before. He decided to have a go at playing through the game rather than just individual maps and fight Xan on godlike, the game play was intense, but Joe turned out to be the winner. With a sigh of relief, Joe looked towards his clock and realised he had been playing for hours 'Shit! Well, at least I haven't got a head-ache, no need to tempt fate though' he thought as he turned his computer off as if one second longer could give him a black-out.
Feeling more awake now than when he started on his computer he decided to get himself some lunch, only to find is cupboards were bare, knowing better than driving down to the shop, Joe put on a jacket and began a brisk walk to the shop before having a feeling of untapped energy which he could only explain away with 'being cooped up too long', Joe started a slow jog, which soon turned into a fast run. The trip to the shop seemed to take the usual amount of time it would when running, so Joe thought no more of it, nor did he consider how light his shopping bag felt.
When he got home he didn't feel like a big meal so he sat down to an apple and a bag of crisps, realising almost immediately he had left the remote at the other side of the room. Cursing himself, he stood up and heard a scream nearby, dropping his apple he listened up, only to hear it repeat, this time more frantically. He could not sit by while something was happening, he would have to see how he could help.
Joe quickly locked up and went in the direction of the screams, they were a few blocks away - much further than Joe had originally anticipated. When he reached the house from which the screams came from he rang the police on his mobile phone before looking through a side window on the house, he could see 2 heavies turning the house over, whilst a 3rd was holding the houses owner back, the owner was clearly an addict.
Joe ran round to the front of the house and got ready to kick the door open, in the hopes of scaring the heavies off. Estimating the force he would have to use, he took a deep breath and a short run up and kicked the door with all he had. It did not go to plan. Rather than flinging open, the door is torn from its hinges and flies into the back wall, several feet away. The heavies are disturbed, but it takes more than this to scare them off, they are clearly professionals. Two of the heavies run just short the doorway that opens into the hallway, they can see the door, but cannot see Joe, nor can he see them, he has heard them though.
The pair both take out handguns, and one motions to the other that he is going to investigate and the other should hold back. Cautiously the heavy steps through the doorway, Joes sees him first and his eyes lock on the gun, he freezes from fear and the only sound he can hear is the pumping of blood in his ears.
(Through Joes eyes)
Time seems to slow, The heavy sees Joe and shouts, but whatever is said is lost to Joe. He raises the gun and takes a basic aim, with sound returning as he fires. Time slows even further, Joe sees everything, he sees the gleam in the heavy's eyes, he sees the bullet leave the gun spinning, he also notes the heavy is yet to blink.
The shocking reality hits Joe with time to spare, he flings himself away from the doorway bereft of its door and breathes in, revelling in the intake of air, he hadn't even realised that he had stopped breathing.
The heavy blinks and his view is 'refreshed', he is shocked at his inability to see Joes corpse, he lowers the gun and walks unwittingly to the doorway. Joe is outside, backed right into the wall ready to ambush his enemy, his ears and eyes trained on the doorway.
He heavy's right foot steps through the doorway. Joe turns 90 degrees to the doorway, ready to have the heavy walk right in front of him. He then turns another 90 degrees stepping into the heavy's path as he does, he looks him straight in the eyes but he is looking straight through Joe as if he hasn't registered him being there yet, Joe punches the heavy clean on the nose, knocking him out cold and then he runs around to the back of the house and enters through the back door, using his best compromise of speed and stealth, he passes the addict owner, who has been knocked out, but seems OK, and carries on to find the 2 remaining heavies, hunched around the doorway opening onto the hall. Joe gets right behind them, now sacrificing speed for stealth, and cracks their heads together with a lightning strike then letting go and watching them fall into a heap of limbs.
Joe stands for a moment lost in thought but snaps back when he hears the wail of approaching sirens and realises he cant stay, for he will be unable to explain how he has done what he has, so he lets himself out of the back door and rushes home.
When he got home he found his mind surprisingly clear, whether his dream wasn't a dream or not, he had clearly been given these powers for a reason and all he cares about is using them for what he believes is right. For the good of others.
He casually thought of the two Spiderman films and considered the moral dilemmas faced by Peter Parker as Spiderman, before casting those thoughts aside dismissively, 'that is the movies, [he thought] besides I'm was hardly going to lose it all for a girlfriend. Recent experiences have left me rather disenchanted'.
That night Joe slept sounder than he had in months.
Chapter 3 is entitled 'A heroes limits' and will be finished by whenever, and (all going well) along with Chapter 4 and the concluding Chapters.
