The Two

SWAT members loaded their weapons, placed more weapons into bags, or secured body armor. Marine and Army snipers checked their gear. Other soldiers got their heavy ordinance ready; heavy caliber machine guns and rocket launchers. Some glanced at each other apprehensively. Others gave a reassuring nod that it was going to be alright. Some just focused on their gear, checking and rechecking, loading and cleaning. Perhaps if they focused on the equipment they wouldn't think about where they were going.

Special Agent Marion Sawyer and Colonel Abram Holsted watched from the Command Room via video monitors.

“They're afraid,” Colonel Holsted noted.

“They should be. We're about to take on a living god,” Agent Sawyer replied.

“Then let's get moving,” Colonel Holsted urged. Sawyer simply nodded.

Agent Sawyer walked into the room with Colonel Holsted. The gathered soldiers, police and SWAT members all stood at attention.

“At ease,” Holsted called out.

They relaxed as much as they could. Every body in the room was rigid.

“Maximus has barricaded himself in the Capital Building. This is where we will move in and take him out,” Sawyer said, addressing everyone in the room.

“You all have your orders. You have all drilled specifically for this purpose. I don't need to tell you that it doesn't get any more important than this,” Holsted added. Various heads nodded.

“We have the equipment and the tactical support. We will make this assault, we will sanction Maximus, we will end this today,” Sawyer said.

One soldier raised his hand.

“Yes?” Sawyer asked.

“Where's Agent O'Connel?” the soldier asked.

“He's on his way. We will be leaving immediately upon his arrival,” Sawyer said.

There were many glances exchanged.

“We're dead if he doesn't show up,” one soldier murmured to a compatriot. One man close by nodded, another tried to ignore it.

Gabe O'Connel entered a few moments later in loose fitting faded jeans, a blue and black faded flannel shirt and sneakers with the laces undone. He was sipping from a coffee cup when he entered.

“Everyone ready?” he asked as he walked into the room. The gathered troops seemed to ease visibly at his arrival. He smiled as he looked around at those assembled.

“That's a lot of hardware,” Gabe noted.

“We need to be ready for anything in there,” Sawyer countered.

“There's no preparing for everything,” Gabe replied.

“Do we need more manpower?” Holsted asked.

“Eh, if this isn't enough more dead soldiers won't really make much of a difference,” Gabe answered off handedly.

Sawyer grabbed Gabe by the arm, dragging him from the room.

“Excuse us,” she said over her shoulder.

“Hey, you're going to spill the coffee!” Gabe protested as they exited the room. Holsted watched them leave. Every set of eyes in the room watched them leave. Tension filled the room again.

“What the hell was that?” Sawyer hissed.

“What was what?” Gabe asked.

“More dead soldiers won't make a difference? What the hell is wrong with you?” Sawyer pressed.

“Look, this is a suicide mission. Everyone should know that going in,” Gabe replied.

“Everyone here knows the risks, but making flippant remarks about the sacrifices being made here are unacceptable,” Sawyer all but growled.

“Sure thing teach. You should cluster them in waves. Close, mid range, and long range,” Gabe said.

“Will that give us a tactical advantage?” Sawyer asked.

“Definitely. If Maximus gets mad and vaporizes those closest, then you still have two waves of grunts to attack with,” he said, drinking from his coffee cup again.

Sawyer smacked the cup from his hands. It spilled on the floor and skidded.

“What is your problem?” Gabe asked, annoyed.

“Your lack of respect is a start,” Sawyer shot out.

“I'm helping you kill my best friend, how about a little gratitude?” Gabe responded.

“Your 'best friend' is a mass murderer,” Sawyer replied.

“And how many deaths were on the hands of each person he killed?” Gabe asked. Sawyer paused for a long moment. Her eyes widened as her mouth opened, then she closed her mouth and just stared at him.

“You're a sympathizer?” she said, breathless.

“Some what. I mean he is my child hood friend. But I'm still here to help you kill him. I'm not going to go back on that. He's caused a lot of damage and hurt a lot of people, some that didn't deserve to get hurt. That's your flawed system, it shouldn't be ours,” Gabe answered. The coffee cup floated back to his hand. The coffee followed, swirling and spinning in the air like a galactic constellation before coming to a rest in his cup. He took a drink.

“You think you're so superior...” she muttered.

“And all the people that you've incarcerated; you always treat them with dignity and respect, as you would a peer. Yes? Better yet, you were absolutely positive that they were the guilty party,” Gabe said quite conversationally.

“The evidence pointed to them. That's my job,” Sawyer replied.

“Quite. Nothing sociopathic about that reasoning. Come, let's go rouse your cannon fodder that their lives have purpose,” Gabe said, heading toward the door.

“You're really sick, you know that?” Sawyer spat.

“You incarcerate people like animals for years over circumstantial evidence and I'm sick? Come on, let's not bullshit,” Gabe said, walking closer to her. He stared into her eyes, looking right into her. She suddenly felt very uncomfortable, and afraid.

“How do you-”

“No mind tricks here. I've read up on you. I wanted to know who I was allying myself with. I read up on the people Maximus attacked as well. They were all bad people. They had positions, titles, held government office or some position of power, but they were terrible human beings that hurt and killed people in their ascent to power. So just cut the pretense to righteousness. You want him dead because he scares all of you. I want life to get back to normal. That is the beginning and end of our common cause,” Gabe said, crumpling the coffee cup and tossing it in the trash.

“Why are you even helping us at all?” Sawyer asked.

“Because you can't do this on your own,” he said over his shoulder.

Five minutes later the soldiers were dismounting in the blasted out war zone that had once been central D.C., the capital of the United States. The soldiers had all seen Maximus' war zones on television. He had waged a campaign of terror across the world. Moscow, Hong Kong, Pyongyang, Mexico City and other capitals considered corrupt by the Red Messiah had fallen. Their leaders dead, their military in shambles. Opiate lords in Asia, gone. Warlords in Africa, gone. Militant religious groups in the Middle East, gone. Eradicated by Maximus. He had slain thousands. He was feared by millions.

With the fury of a god Maximus rained down fire and lightning from the skies. Lava bubbled up from the ground. Weapons, tanks, planes, and buildings all crumbled or fell apart at his gesture. Time and again different governments would stage counter attacks and assassination attempts. Dozens of attempts all met with the same swift fate. Maximus was untouchable.

Yet their had been groups that had rallied to his cause. Those that had taken to the streets with signs and face paint in favor of Maximus' swift and deadly overthrow of regimes. The Reds had gathered in the streets, in town halls and in social communities. They had been targeted early by police and military. Maximus had been swift to dissuade this course of action as well. Soldiers and police found themselves trapped in barred cells at Maximus' discretion. The landscape of the world had changed.

Maximus had met with world leaders, many of whom he respected. The meeting Maximus had most looked forward to was that with the Dalai Lama. It had been in private, no press was allowed. Whatever had transpired in their discussion had left Maximus displeased. He had not been seen publicly since. The Dalai Lama refused to comment. Gabe could have guessed however. Violence was never the Dalai Lama's way, and he could not have approved of Maximus' agenda. Gabe imagined that the 'Lama' had some advice for Maximus he had not been expecting, and he'd been brooding on it ever since.

As the soldiers moved into position, Gabe saw the 'Reds' gathered around the capital building. They were a ragtag lot, some former soldiers, some college students, some just regular disenfranchised people that had taken to Maximus' concept of government overthrow. They had no idea what was coming their way. Gabe had insisted that they not be targeted or harmed. This was about taking down Maximus.

Gabe walked forward with a small group of soldiers with him.

“We ask that you disperse at the request of the United States Army,” one of the soldiers called through a megaphone.

“There's no such thing anymore!” one of the Reds called back.

“And we recognize no such authority” another one called out.

The soldier's grip on his rifle tightened. Gabe held up his hand.

“Save it for Maximus,” he said.

Gabe walked ahead of the soldiers.

“I've come to speak with Maximus!” he called out.

“And who are you?” one of the Reds called back.

“An old friend. Gabe. He'll remember me,” Gabe said with a quiet confidence that made the Reds notice. They looked at him for several moments consideringly. One nodded toward another and the second Red ran inside.

Moments later he returned but said nothing.

Within moments after that, the sky darkened and lightning crisscrossed the sky. Rocks and debris raised off the ground as though the behavior of gravity had shifted suddenly. The soldiers stepped back hesitantly.

“Give them a show they'll understand, smart...” Gabe said quietly to himself.

Maximus could have reconfigured elements at a molecular level out of thin air to preclude his entrance, but regular people would not have comprehended what they saw. Acts of nature that resembled the wrath of ancient gods, that people understood.

A flash of lightning zigzagged out of the sky into the ground with a thunderous roar and a shaking of the earth. A smoldering crater was left in its wake. In that crater stood Maximus; his face painted red and clad in the billowing brown robes of a monk. He even dressed the part of the Red Messiah now., Gabe noted. The soldiers immediately leveled their guns. Maximus laughed a booming laugh that echoed off the broken down buildings of downtown D.C.

“They still only trust in the power of their toys,” Maximus said to Gabe, but loud enough so those nearby could hear as well.

“People trust in what makes them feel secure,” Gabe replied off handedly. Maximus smiled and strode toward Gabe, his arms extended.

“Brother!”

The two embraced; old friends reunited. One of the soldiers took this as his opportunity. He fired at Maximus. The bullet disintegrated in mid air. A moment later lightning struck from the sky, leaving only a charred husk as the remnants of the errant soldier. The others took aim. Gabe threw up his hands.

“Stop you idiots! Do you all want to die just like he did?” Gabe shouted.

“They never learn do they? Just like all the dictators and warmongers who thought they would supplant me through force. But alas, force is all they understand,” Maximus lamented.

“Why do you bring such violent friends to my door?” Maximus asked in a chiding tone.

“They are hoping that you'll stand down and leave D.C.” Gabe replied.

“Oh do they?” Maximus said, turning to face the soldiers within view. His smile froze their blood. They lowered their weapons.

“Smart. Some dogs can learn,” he quipped.

Maximus raised a hand and an energy field appeared, covering he and Gabe like a dome. They would not be interrupted again.

“So what brings you to my neighborhood?” Maximus asked.

“I needed to talk to you. About this,” Gabe replied, gesturing around.

“Oh this? What the old governments would have called 'acceptable losses,' had they not been the ones losing,” Maximus replied with a smile.

“It's gotten a little out of control, don't you think?” Gabe asked, sipping at a new cup of coffee. Maximus eyed the coffee.

“Where did that come from?” Maximus asked.

“I made it,” Gabe replied.

“You conjured it?” Maximus pressed.

“Sort of,” Gabe answered.

“Through my force field? Nothing should have been able to get through,” Maximus said.

“When you can't go through something, you learn to go around it,” Gabe said, taking a sip.

“It's a Costa Rican blend. My favorite. Would you like a cup?” Gabe continued. Maximus shook his head. He understood what Gabe was doing. It was a subtle way of showing that Gabe could maneuver around his defenses.

“You've not been idle,” he noted.

“Well, I haven't just been drinking coffee if that's what you're asking,” Gabe quipped.

“And yet you've been decidedly silent amidst all the recent upheaval,” Maximus noted.

“Didn't really seem like you needed my help,” Gabe stated.

“With this rabble? Of course not,” Maximus spat.

“Still, you've had no opinion on the matter?” Maximus continued.

“I've been busy studying, traveling. Putting my arts to other uses. For the most part I haven't seen anything different between what you've done and what other government powers did before you. It's just another form of-”

“There has been nothing else like what I have done!” Maximus shouted, cutting Gabe off. Gabe looked up from his coffee, nodded, and took another sip.

“There have been unique theatrics, sure, but you're still a tyrant,” Gabe responded dryly.

Stones and debris floated from the ground as the sky roiled overhead. Gabe sighed, and with a wave of his hand the stones fell to the ground as sand.

“I've abolished corrupt governments...” Maximus insisted.

“Ruling through fear is still ruling,” Gabe added.

“I've given the people choice,” Maximus retorted.

“Leaving them alone would be allowing them choice. Assuming some other power doesn't take control, which is likely,” Gabe mused.

Maximus' fists clenched. The very air seemed to vibrate.

“So you are here to stop me,” Maximus conjectured.

“All good things must come to an end,” Gabe declared.

In the coming seconds atoms dispersed and collided in thousands of ways. New isotopes and elements formed and vanished in flashes of light and fissures of energy that shook the air itself. Most could not comprehend what they saw. Gabe and Maximus flickered in and out of reality as reality was bent, unmade and remade all around them.

Maximus' energy field constricted around them. Gabe threw his coffee cup in the air. Droplets flattened against the dome and spread outward, hissing and coiling. Tiny holes emerged in the energy field. Then the barrage began.

Dozens of guns fired at once. Many bullets disintegrated in mid air. Soldiers were turned to vapor and dust in the blink of an eye. Others vanished into a red mist of blood that carpeted the ground with the movement of the churning air. But some made it through. Gabe had distracted Maximus and assaulted his defenses on levels that no one else living could comprehend. In those precious moments as the very fabric of reality coiled around them; two sorcerers that had become living gods met their destiny.

Bullets tore through Maximus' flesh and Gabe waved his hand, sending a fissure of molten white gas through his old friend's brain before he could undo the damage. Maximus the mighty fell to the ground dead.

Gabe stood staring down at his fallen friend. He wondered what life would be like now and how this world would rebuild itself. Would it fall into old habits or would it press on anew? Would old governments resume power or would new ones emerge?

Then a bullet tore through Gabe's chest.

“Son of a-” Gabe murmured as he fell to the ground. Moments later Agent Sawyer was standing over him.

“The book,” Sawyer said.

“Hmm?” Gabe answered, coughing up blood.

“Where is the book?” Sawyer insisted.

“You'll have to be more specific,” Gabe replied.

“The text that gave you and Maximus your powers. We know it was some book that contained the knowledge,” Sawyer pressed.

“You just shot me. You think I'd entrust it to you?” Gabe chuckled.

“It needs to be contained,” she continued, as though that were some sort of answer.

“It's gone,” Gabe answered.

“You destroyed it?” Sawyer asked, hopeful.

“Passed out the pages. Before I contacted you,” Gabe uttered, wincing.

“What?!” Sawyer exclaimed.

“Some one,” Gabe coughed. “Had to keep you honest.”

This he said with a smile. And with that, Gabriel O'Connel, all powerful sorcerer and coffee aficionado gave up the ghost.

“You son of a bitch...” Sawyer muttered softly. A soldier ran up to her.

“We need to get him up,” the soldier yelled to Sawyer. He clearly couldn't see that Gabe was already dead.

“Why?” Sawyer shot back, annoyed.

“There's been a report of two teenagers hurling lightning and fire,” the soldier replied stiffly.

Nearby Sawyer could hear other phones ring, comm devices crackle and walkies beep. Each one radioing in some other catastrophe. She turned to see the Reds had already dispersed. She found herself wondering if Maximus had taught any of them his powers already. She imagined she would be finding out very soon.