The Mind's Eye Ch. 16

I then started to laugh as I realized that I was stronger than it. The look of anger on its face was nearly priceless. "You are nearly unworthy of fighting as weak as you are," I told it.

Again, its face turned red as anger seemed to take hold of it. It then smashed a fist-like appendage into my chest that shocked me. Damn, I thought that actually hurt.

Alright, I thought, it's on again, throwing a doubled fist into the face of it. This time I saw a grimace as it was hurtled even further away.

This time I had to wait for a lot longer before it came raging out of the darkness. It stopped before me as I held up a hand.

"Really," I said, "you need to stop this before you are destroyed. I can see that I am far stronger than you."

A growl issued from the entity's lips as it posted before me. "You will never be stronger than me." This time I actually saw the energy blast and blow it tried to hit me with.

I deflected the blast back toward it, then blocked the swift fist headed towards me.

I just as fast threw a fist into its mid-section, hearing a grunt of pain. Even as it doubled over, I tried to hit it with a doubled fist, it caught me with a fist of its own.

Shit that hurt more than I thought it would, pissing me off even greater. OK, I thought, it seemed that I needed to get serious before I got hurt.

I guess it wasn't expecting to come back immediately with as powerful punch that dropped it. "OK," I said, "time to stop playing, punching it again as it tried to rise.

This, of course, caused it to roar as it headbutted me to my knees. Though I had expected it, it still hurt more than I thought it would.

It took all I had to stay on my feet. I could also see and feel the entity suddenly grow confident. No, I thought as I felt my anger rise, then I hit the entity with almost everything I had.

I was glad to see that this actually hurt it badly. This time I waited, though I didn't feel it returning.

I felt my tired and bruised self being drawn back to the house. I almost fell off the couch when I saw that my daughters and Alice were there.

I tried to get up, then only groaned as I felt the pain all over. Shit felt like I had run into a wall at full speed. Damn, this was worse than I thought.

"Dad?" A worried Trina asked. "You were so cold, we thought that it had killed you." Trina said next to Bell, both with tears falling.

I looked at them as I grasped both of them in a fierce hug. I then looked at Alice as there were tears in her eyes also.

"I know how powerful you are, this fight helped greatly to strengthen you. You will need far more though for the coming last conflict," I heard Shemie's voice, which hit me like a fist.

That's when I felt that something was not right with Alice. I wasn't sure as it was barely there and she was hiding it.

She saw the look of concern on my face as she quickly turned away. "I see that I am unable to hide it from you. Yes, there is something wrong. Alice is dying even after what you did for her. Though there is really nothing that you could nor can do," Shemie said.

"As powerful as I am, I," I stopped as Alice shook her head no.

"It is inevitable, just as much as life is. My dear heart, you are not a god, even as powerful as you are, this is not a gift you possess," Alice said.

I could barely see as the tears started, it wasn't fair a damn double dose of torture. I was about to start cursing and damning god as how much of a dick it was. I was to the point now that I was starting to not give a shit about anything.

That's when I heard a voice in my head that I was choosing as hard as I could ignore. 'Til the irritating voice continued to annoy me.

I thought it was god after all these years trying to talk to me. WHAT! I screamed in my mind. You here to fucking gloat, to rub my face in it again? You know what if this is god? Fuck you like you have me twice now.

A moment later I was somewhere else, though I couldn't tell. Do you hate me that much? I heard a disembodied voice ask.

Why the hell shouldn't I, I screamed. You are a piece of filth not worthy of anything from me!

I heard a gasp that sounded suspiciously like Shemie. Oh fuck you, I yelled using her voice to trick me! I fell to my knees as I felt the huge weight of the decades of pain push down on me.

I felt a soft hand touch me, almost reaching to fling it away, though something stopped me. I sighed as I saw it was the image of Shemie, bringing renewed tears, you still torture me.

"Bill, it's me," she said softly.

Yeah right, nice try you piece of shit. With the power you have, you can do almost anything. I'm not falling for it. I know she is dead, and you're going to take her away again, so I have got one thing to say to you: fuck OFF!

Again I heard Shemie gasp, Bill!

I sighed, I know it's not you, so please leave me alone, thanks to IT. I just don't give a shit anymore, once was bad enough, but twice and Alice is dying also, no thank you.

A new voice came from out of the air, what if they stayed with you? It can be made to happen.

Yeah right! As if you are going to do that for a nobody like me that you absolutely hate. Have hated all my life, thank you, but no, you back-stabbing piece of shit!

Then it was quiet for a few minutes as I looked for a way out, then gave up waiting for my life to be snuffed out.

It wasn't long after that I felt a soft hand on my shoulder. What is it you want, Bill? It, as well as I want to know.

I think that you know what in the hell I want. That thing it will, l never grant it, so no point in talking about it.

It can happen, you know, it needs you, you have been groomed for this moment a long time. So, what is it you want, huh?

I want you, Alice, my daughters, hell, my family. All things that, I know that, I haven't been 'good' enough for. If it was possible, I'd do everything I could to end this. Nothing I want though will ever be granted. Even if it is that shit, I will just take it again as soon as I am finished. There's no promise or contract written that I can trust that IT will honor.

Bill, I am afraid that you are wrong there.

NO, I'm not, there is no power that can force it to comply, so no, I'm not. Looking up, I shouted, just let me go, so I can tell everyone goodbye.

I never realized that you were as hurt as you are. I will grant you all that you wish; a deal.

I narrowed my eyes, no, after all this I will die as soon as I am finished. I don't trust you to keep your word or promises.

Alright, all is granted, may I make you my champion?

No, I do this for myself and my family, not you or the earth. I watched as it nodded, then I was back in my house.

I fell to the floor far more tired than I had been when I left. God, I was beat as I looked at Alice, then did a double take. I wasn't the only shocked one.

"Momma?" I heard from beside me.

"Mom? Is it really you?" I heard from the other side of me.

I watched as both my daughters ran to her, almost afraid to touch her, as if she'd disappear if they did.

I was speechless, unlike both my daughters who were all over Shemie. A few minutes later, a shimmering beside Shemie appeared. I was still trying to speak when Alice appeared.

This time my mouth was wide open as both women walked to me and closed my mouth. I started to shake my head when both of them put a hand on me and shook their heads no.

"You were always so stubborn Bill. Just accept that we are both here," Shemie said.

I stared at her with wide eyes, "You, more than anyone else, should know why I can't accept it."

I watched as Shemie sighed, "I know dear, but that was years ago."

"Maybe for you, not me. Every day I am still alive, is a tortured reminder. The last draw was losing you, after that. I can't really give a shit about too much," I spit out.

Alice had moved closer though she had stopped. Both women were looking at each other slightly befuddled.

"I thought that you having both of us and your daughters would be compensation enough," Alice said.

I turned and looked at her with a shocked look. "It is a small amount, remember I lost everyone. My family, then my brother again, that nearly destroyed me. Then I lost Shemie, who had almost completely healed me, plus two daughters I didn't know I had," I said with a look of extreme pain on my face.

They were both about to speak again when I just flashed out. I really wasn't in the mood to listen to more pain being heaped upon me.

Then the real shit happened when I appeared in front of the home Shemie and I shared. This was the last thing I needed as he collapsed in the front yard.

The next thing I knew I was waking up in a white room. I was hooked to a lot of machines that weren't really showing anything.

Then there was the fact that I was strapped down with, I guess, industrial strength straps. I pulled at them, ripping them lose, shaking my head.

The thing that got me the most was the little ass that walked in a moment later.

"It took a while, but we recovered most of the memories about you and the program, Bill Black. Now then I suggest," he started.

"No, I don't think so," I said as I severed the contact, then I shut his ability off. I also had to do the fifty or so nearby.

Damnit, I thought, here I thought I had done most of them. I got up walking by the drooling idiot who had thought he was more than me.

Again, I flashed out, thinking of a park I had been in on the other side of the U. S. I was hoping that I could think more here as, at my house it was so, thought chaotic.

I was only there an hour before I started to feel more that knew of the program. I sighed as I started in on another four hundred, shit this had spread quickly.

I then set a type of protection around me, I hadn't before. I just hoped that I got all of them plus all the new files I had found.

I then thought of home appearing in a still house, at least I thought it was. I was suddenly tacked from behind by both my daughters.

Almost immediately, Alice and Shemie appeared with concerned looks that quickly turned to anger.

I thought about flashing out, then thought better of it. After all, I would have to face their wrath anyway.

I just looked at the floor as they started in, then suddenly quieted when I wasn't paying attention. They also noticed the tears that were falling from my eyes.

"Just end me. I am so tired of fighting with no way of winning nor gaining. Just end me, I won't fight it anymore," I said.

I felt four sets of arms surround me as I heard sobs coming from them. "Dear god, is it so bad that you no longer wish to exist? I am almost ready to ask for the same. This is a lie to the faith that we had," I heard Shemie say.

A powerful voice came to all of us. Your faith was not misplaced and will be rewarded. You, Bill, have suffered longer and more than I thought would be put upon you, no more.

I sighed, expecting nothing to happen, 'til my brother appeared beside me.

I shook my head no, this wasn't going to happen again, not a third time to lose him. I could only stare at him as he did me.

It was a moment later that I heard a gasp from the stairs as I saw my sister staring at our brother.

"Wade? Is... is that you? Dear god in heaven, I don't think that this joke is funny," our sister said, shock spreading across her face.

"Doris?" Wade said, shock registering on his face. "Yeah, it's really me, even if I don't understand it."

I watched almost not believing it as I watched the two of them hug. I shook my head as I listened to the voice that came to me again.

It was a few hours later that I took a deep breath and nodded to the others as I flashed out. I was in space again, a long distance from the earth. I had felt the fifth entity moving toward the earth again.

I also felt the strongest representative from the four groups as they lay in wait. Well, I thought, three of them as I knew that one of them were on my side, plus a little surprise that I had for them.

I also had the earth ready as all that were in the group were far stronger than they were before. I just hoped that the upping I had spent the last two days doing was enough. I knew that my four ladies were more than enough.

I was just worried that the three representatives might have a way around them.

I smiled as I remembered the worry from Dutenner when I outlayed my idea. We had a few days, so I did what I could for them.

An approaching of great power snapped me out of my thoughts as the fifth presence stopped in front of me.

So you are here, and you wish to apologize to me for what you did. It's thoughts came to me.

I just smiled as I shook my head no. Actually, I thought back to it: I am here to end this. I had taken hold of the entity in front of me's hand.

It wasn't 'til I heard the entity start to scream in pain that I realized that my thoughts had been right. Now, I had to just successfully implement my plans.

I wasn't really sure I was actually hurting it 'til it tried to destroy me. Finally, I let it snatch its type of hand away from my grasp.

You will pay for that human, since you will not join us, then you and your race should just die! I smiled as it turned to start blasting away at the earth. It was shocked when all its blasts were easily deflected.

It was funny as the stronger its blasts got, it seemed the easier they were to deflect. The entity glared at me as my smile grew larger.

What's wrong I asked not able to have your own way? It appears that you aren't that strong after all. I felt the growl as it turned toward me.

I thought it was formulating a plan, then it just started to fire blasts at me. I almost started to laugh when its eyes grew large as nothing was reaching me.

The other four race representatives appeared behind it as I nodded toward them. Pretty much as I expected, they started to attack me. I smiled as I fired at Dutenner, hearing a crunch as he faded.

I smiled more as everything was going as I had expected it to. I then turned toward the two mom-human appearing reps firing at them. A moment later they also vanished.

We will wipe that smile off your face as well as your pitiful planet. I felt that the shield was again being attacked though Alice, Shemie and my daughters were fairing very well.

Xeinther, seemed to almost be frantic as he started to fire stronger blasts. I shook my head before he was strongest now. I couldn't really feel him. Making a backwards motion, he yelled out, then vanished.

Now it's just you and me, though I'm not that worried about you. I made another backhand motion as the entity grunted and was knocked back. I saw it had resisted most of that as I nodded and upped my power.

It appeared that it was far more prepared for me than I thought. With a roar it came for me as I punched its mid=section, the surprise it held was priceless.

Again, I upped my power. I was about three quarters all the way. I was sure it could feel me as I kicked out into its face, driving it back again.

Damn, I thought that had almost hurt as it had barely affected it. Hmmm, I thought guess I was going to have to get more serious.

So you are far stronger than I thought. Good a strong opponent will make me stronger. Your life force will make me the most powerful in existence. Not even the gods will be able to resist me.

I waited for the laughter to fade from my thoughts as I upped almost as far as I could. This time it came at me, its claw-like hands looking to sink into me. I had doubled my fists up as it approached me far faster than before.

I swung at them as hard as I possibly could, the resounding crack I felt let me know it had broken something. Well, that, and I guess it had for blood flew from its mouth before it froze.

Shit I thought that had almost broken my hands, though I knew this wasn't over yet. This time it returned a few minutes later far more cautiously. Now that it was actually hurt, I think it was worried I might win.

I smiled; a seed of doubt is what I needed now. What? You thought that I was that weak? Please, I have been stronger than you for some time.

Finally, it started to test my defenses, throwing a punch feeling me out. A few moments later, it actually started to fire energy bolts and physical attacks.

I was starting to respond in kind, though I felt that this was draining for both of us. I had no idea just how long we were going at it. Now both of us were injured, though he more than me.

Unfortunately, I was putting almost all I had into defeating him. It appeared that I had disabled one of its powerful arms as well as a leg. I was cut in more places than I wished to mention.

It was hours, days, weeks. I wasn't sure, the attack on earth had stopped. I could barely feel all my friends, daughters and family though the worry was still coming through. Shit I thought I felt as if I was drained as hell.

That's when it started to laugh at me. You are strong even for a human, though I can feel your power and energy starting to fade. This battle is mine, as is your planet.

Hmmm, it was my turn to laugh at it. You are obviously far less at reading energy than you thought. I have more than enough to finish you.

If you are so powerful, then come finish me. I don't think you can as your energy is nearly gone.

The entity started to laugh as I suddenly smashed a fist into the spot I had doubled-fisted before. This time its eyes got bigger as I reached in for the last bit of power I had.

I then did something I had never done before. I actually prayed. Not for me, not for the earth. I prayed for Alice, Shemie and my daughters. I knew that they'd be mad that I went into this not expecting to live.

While the entity was doubled over, blood coming out of its mouth. I took all my energy. All of my life energy, spiritual energy and physical energy and put it into a last powerful blast.

It looked up as I started to glow, you wouldn't dare!

I just smiled as it tried to hit me, then bounced off. Realization hit it as it started to flee. I was dragged along as I had attached to it.

Another five, ten minutes later I felt the buildup reach maximum. I whispered to its thoughts, goodbye ass. Then I released the largest blast I ever had.

At first, I heard it scream as it started to resist, then louder as the energy started to shred it. As the body started to dissolve, I smiled as I thought they were fine now.

I looked at the earth that was closer than I thought it had been, huh. As I felt my eyes close, I nodded I had done it.

Alice, Shemie and my daughters stopped still at that moment, then all four started to scream and cry. The rest appeared around them as all four passed out.

The first thing I felt was warmth, what? I had died in space, where was I?

"He's coming around, get the family!" I heard a female voice say.

Family? Damn, I hadn't saved them at all. I had tears coming from my eyes when several soft hands touched me. "Dad? Dad! Oh! Thank god he's alive."

"What?" I said in a low whisper. "I thought I was dead."

"You almost were," Bell said. I barely opened my eyes seeing Shemie, Alice and my daughters. Behind I also saw Dutenner. Are the other three removed? He nodded, then smiled as he vanished.

Good, I thought, as I still felt weak. I guess I hadn't used it all, how did I get back? I nodded as I heard a voice saying thank you, then was at peace. Shit it was going to take another few weeks before I was better.

"Oh, before we go," Shemie said. "I just wanted to congratulate you."

I looked at her confused, "For what?"

"You're a daddy again, well twice over," she said.

"What!? "How!" I said confusingly, then promptly passed out again.

Fin