Injustice 3: The Might of Magic (Book 3)

The Man:

I stand in front of the same steel doors as before. Shooting out my hand, I pull one of my swords from thin air and insert it into the column. I watch as the doors slowly pull themselves apart. I step through once the door is open and into the hallway. I recount how many steps from the door to the glass display case, stopping only to turn on the lights by waving my hands. When the lights turn on, I see the faces of some old friends.

"Hey Tommy," I say, talking to an almost ancient newspaper clipping tapped to the back of the display case. Reaching into my jacket pocket, I pull out the Master Morpher. "Thanks for the help."

Opening the case, I gently and carefully place the Master Morpher back where it belongs. Turning away from the display case, I start walking away but freeze after a few steps.

I turn my head back slightly. At first, all I see is the pitch-black. Nothing more, but still. Something is telling me I can't leave. Not yet anyway. It takes a few minutes to realize what is biting at me. I let out a small chuckle before waving my hand and turning on all the lights in the hallway.

All the lights in the hallway turn on simultaneously and I can see everyone.

"Hey everyone," I say, seeing nodding and waving at some very old and dear friend. "I feel like I haven't seen most of you in ages. Wait, no. That is true. I haven't seen all of you in ages."

I let out a small chuckle again before strolling further into the hallway. As I walk, I look at all the display cases, all lit up and shining.

"Mighty Morphin. Zeo. Turbo. Space. Lost Galaxy."

I stop when I see my red Lightspeed Rescue jacket. Placing my hand on the display case, I step back. I look up and see the rebuilt Lightspeed Megazord.

Staring at the Megazord for a few minutes, I crack and open the display case. Putting my whole hand on the jacket, I feel the old memories rushing in. Closing the case and stepping away, I look further down the line.

"Time Force. Ninja Storm. Dino Thunder. Mystic Force. Jungle Fury. All of them."

"Thank you for the help, Merrick. Thank you for the help, Tyzonn."

With the 'biting' feeling gone, I turn and head for the exit. However, when I turn on the lights for the Ranger Hallways, I also turn on the lights for most of the other hallways. Walking toward the exit, I can see everything from my past journeys.

Stopping in front of another case, I reach inside and pull out my old lightsaber. Pushing a button, a bright red beam shoots out. Swinging the old lightsaber around, I smile. Turning, I reach inside. Pushing a second button, I watch as a holographic newspaper shoots up.

"Obi-Wan Kenobi and young jedi defend against droids," the heading states, and right below the heading is a picture of my old master and I defending the city of Ecumenopolis.

Pushing and activating another holographic display, I see two wanted posters this time. I'm on one of the wanted posters. The second poster shows another of my masters.

"Hello Galen," I say, bowing my head.

I turn off the displays, put my lightsaber back on its stand, and move on to another case. In this display case, I see my old BSAA uniform.

My eyes land on the badge on the right arm. A picture of the Earth with the letters B, S, A, and A sewn onto it.

"Oh man," I say, shaking my head and laughing. "One of my more painful jobs. And yet."

I lean to the side and look past the uniform. Behind the uniform, I see more clippings and even some profile pictures.

"Chris Redfield," I say, eyeing the old, boulder-punching man. "And Leon Scott Kennedy. You two think B.O.Ws are bad. If only you could see me right now."

Turning away, I swing my hand and turn off all the lights. Exiting the hallways, I watch as the steel doors close. I walk and walk until I see the others standing in the meeting room.

"Hey," Kara says, waving when she sees me enter. "Where did you go?"

"Nowhere special," I answer. "Just had to return something. Anyway, enough about me. Where were we?"

Spectre:

"Jump City," I say out loud. I look at the burning, smoking ruin of the once bright and lively city. "There is nothing left."

I shake my head at this depressing sight. Walking through the empty ruins, I stop when I finally find what I'm looking for.

"Hello," I shout, screaming into the massive hole in the street. "Hello? Is anyone down there?"

I wait for a response but I don't even hear the wind.

"Son of a bitch," I think. Walking off the ledge, I drop into the hole. Seeing the floor of the portal room approaching me, I slow my fall and descend the rest of the wall. Slowing down until my foot hits solid ground, I look around the portal room. It doesn't take me long to find him.

"That son of a bitch," I say, grinding my teeth. My nails dig into my palm, leaving cuts. I drop to a knee and check on Phantom Stranger. I feel nothing. I sense nothing. Phantom Stranger is...dead.

"That son of a bitch," I shout. Pulling back my arm, I punch the ground beside the dead Phantom Stranger. Cracks appear all around my fist. The whole room shakes. Dust falls from the ceiling. Pulling myself up, I look around some more and see them.

"The Lords of Order."

I can tell it's the Lords of Order, based on the outline of their bodies. All of them are frozen, trapped in whatever this white stuff is. Based on how they're frozen, they were trying to escape but couldn't.

"What is this," I ask. A little curious, I touch the white stuff but immediately, as soon as I do, it feels like it's sucking the energy right out of my body. Screaming as I drop back onto my knee, it takes everything I have to pull my hand back.

"Ahh...," I moan, shaking my hand. Stretching my fingers, I step back from the stuff. I feel my energy, my magic quickly returning to me. With my magic, I summon a rune. A dark rune, filled with dangerous magic. Throwing it to the floor, I watch as the rune spins while growing.

Stepping back as the rune grows, I watch a hand burst out from the ground and through the rune. Slowly but steadily, I see a whole man pull himself up.

The man pulling himself from the dead wears a torn shirt and cloak. His hat is filthy. Also, his skin is practically gone. So much of his bones can be seen through them.

"Where...where am I," the man mutters. He places his gloved hands on his head. When he feels his bones, he screams.

"Where am I," the man yells. "What is this! What have you done to me!"

"I didn't do this to you," I yell back, shutting the man up. "You did this to yourself, James Craddock."

Though Mr. Craddock isn't screaming or yelling, he is still panting. Like a dog on a hot day.

"I know about your deal with a demon," I start, "How you promised your soul to him."

I then shoot out my hand. A green glow appears all over Mr. Craddock. Mr. Craddock drops to his knees as he watches my green glow take over. With my magic, I give Mr. Craddock new clothes, a cloak, and even a clean hat. Mr. Craddock's whole body fades away but beside him lays a crane.

"But I can set you free. I can grant you what you want, but I won't do it for free. I want you to kill someone for me. He can take your place in Hell."

Hearing my offer, Mr. Craddock wastes no time and grabs the crane. He stands up and tips his newly cleaned top hat.

"And who," he asks, "Who am I supposed to end?"

"I don't know his name but for now, I will call him the man in the sunglasses."