Prologue 13: Rooks's Utility

Caption (to assist readers):

- Everything is good. - = speech of the character

"All good." = character thoughts (during certain scenes)

*boom* = ambient or scenery sounds (similar to using other types of comic fonts)

~ Flashback ~ = Separates the current Plot from past events, will be used to help readers recognize and differentiate such events.

Attention (Please Read):

This chapter may be edited and revised soon, until the end of this volume.

This chapter is told from James Heller's point of view.

- I never said I'd need you alive, Rooks. - I Answer Rooks before twisting my right arm in the shape of a blade in the middle of his chest and then consuming him.

Web of Intrigue! My consciousness wanders through Rooks' memories towards his most recent memory with one of his superiors:

- Your next assignment after dealing with Heller will be to oversee the Crusade project. Colonel Rooks, there an F-15 fighter reserved at the base for your immediate departure. - Commands one of Rooks' superiors by revealing his new orders.

- Understood Sir! - Answers Rooks.

The wretch who truly lost himself to his end, loyally blind by greed with a future place among his superiors, Rooks would not relinquish his chance to rise to the top before thinking of either morality or his own family. Luckily his family never knew his true face and depending on Blackwatch, they never will.

I remember the last night with Dana, our last night together in Manhattan.

~ 2 Months ago, Hours before Dawn in the Red Zone ~

Dana and I went back inside her apartment.

- First we need to check his skill that led to recreating his cell phone. - Dana informs me, extending her hand.

- I agree, here it is. - I answer by handing my cell phone to Dana.

- The device appears to be exactly similar to the original, its chemical composition may have changed, but that part doesn't matter. Look and behold, even its interior looks identical, now try to recreate a new copy. - Reports Dana when analyzing my cell phone externally and internally in front of me, right asking me to recreate another identical cell phone.

I try to recreate a second cell phone, similar with the first, by putting my hands in both of my pockets.

"We don't need another one." - Says the inner voice in my mind.

"Yes, we do! Don't disturb me!" - I answer the voice back, ordering her to shut up.

This new ability interests me, with this new evolved ability I will be able to recreate more objects in the future, including copies, an ability that would be very useful in the future in my human form or disguised as a human without having to resort my body transformation in public.

- I achieved. Here Dana take it. - I exclamed to Dana when I managed to reproduce another cell phone, overcoming my mental conflict, it was an easy process in which it only took 2 minutes of concentration.

Dana takes the second cell phone and takes the two cell phones to the counter that we used as a table during meals, Dana disassembles both using only her keychain, separating all its components side by side while analyzing part by part until she finally finishes her analysis.

- You did it James, yet another new skill for your arsenal and one that will help us build plans of action against Blackwatch. - Dana tells me with a slight smile on her face, I could feel that she was excited and less anxious than before.

Dana reassembles the two phones again, with just a single difference, one with the original chip and the other with one of her encrypted chips. I pick them up, absorb them, then successfully recreate them together, removing one from each side pocket of the jacket, handing both back to Dana for review.

- Both work and with different chips, exactly what we wanted, we did it James. - Confirms Dana, smiling and excited with our successfull first experiment together.

- I wish to continue training this skill Dana, I feel the desire to test new objects. - I says to Dana feeling somehow inspired and possibly contaminated by her excitement.

- I would ask exactly that James, your ability to create objects would completely change our chances of success, can we spend the next few hours with me planning and you dividing the focus on your training and helping me with the scenario variables? - Questioned me Dana, I no longer felt the feeling of fear in her, she is so excited about more chances of success and our experiment that she can't hide the smile on her face.

- Come on my partner, give me as much as you can. - I answer Dana smiling back, I could feel that this could be one of our future assets against Blackwatch.

Hours passed during the night, Dana provided me with several objects for me to try to replicate and for her to review, dividing our attention in two: The limits of my new skill and the creation of plans against the impending siege to Resistance in the future.

I discovered that my new skill has certain limits, I can recreate various objects, the smaller compared to the size of my hands, the easier it is to create a replica, but I cannot reproduce gold, silver and gunpowder, I can recreate firearms and not ammunition , I considered testing it in practice, however I remembered that there was still a child sleeping in the same apartment with us.

~ Flashback Ends by External Interruption ~

I feel a vibration in my belt, or rather in Rooks's belt, as I assumed his form after consuming him, his radio started working again when I reached the door of the bar, probably out of range of the little jammer still on the counter.

- Update about the Target. - Orders the male voice, I notice that it is the same voice from his memories, one of your superior commanders.

- Heller is on his way in search of his daughter, he refused to surrender. I fulfilled my part of the plan, requesting permission to proceed to my next destination sir. – I answer Rooks' disguised call by exactly replicating one of his prepared answers.

- Permission granted Colonel Rooks, the Target is now our responsibility. – Replies the voice before the call ends, perfect, good job Rooks. Dead, but useful.

I look back before leaving the Bar remembering the device that Rooks left on the counter, decided to turn it off and take it with me, thanks for the parting gift Rooks and the drink of course.

I get on the jeep and travel quickly back to the base, noticing a movement of military soldiers and Blackwatch soldiers organizing towards New York along the way, everything happening as planned.

Upon arriving at the base, I easily received authorization for entry, proceeding directly to the landing strip and the hangar designated for my access.

I had seen other aircraft in my past as a marine, although I never drived one because I was a specialist ground agent, I feel different this time and put my hand on its surface.

"I need more, to become more powerful than this machine in the sky." – I hear the voice inside my head, I understand, I instinctively envy this aircraft.

Unfortunately, I don't see the possibility of becoming competitive with this soon, nor should I consider challenging this military power at the moment, I must hurry.

The aircraft is in perfect condition, ready to fly, exactly as it should be according to Rooks' memories.

I climb into the cockpit and start the engine, heading for the airstrip, accelerating enough to take off and fly... Heading West!

I can feel my whole body tremble, it's not fear, it's the feeling of envy, envy of not being able to be an even faster creature. Never mind, I'll do exactly what Rooks would do, ignoring my feelings, speeding up more, my first flight as a pilot and flying at super sonic speed.

I need to be quick, as quick as I can, I'll finally meet you, Pariah.