Chapter I: No Rest for the Vigilant - Multex707

It was one of those days that made you just sit back and ponder stuff you wouldn’t really think about if it weren’t for such reflection time. The breeze was nice, adding a cooling edge to the warm summer sun, and the sound of the ocean made the picture complete. Next to the brand name plastic beach chair and umbrella sat a table, securely balanced by having its legs partially buried in the sand. On it a cell phone, a glitzy hotel pen that you’d normally swipe from the front desk, and a half full glass, containing a bluish looking soda, on the rocks of course. The occupant of the chair breathed in the scenery, letting his troubles fly away with his exhalation. "This is the life" he happily thought, watching the breakers roll on in. Reaching over for his glass, he noted that he should do this more often, else the blasted stress of work was going to do him in sooner than he wanted to go. He half grinned as he took a drink and savored the flavor. "Heck, I risk my life for a living; inevitable I’m gonna go some day." He thought. Turing his glance back to the placid scenery, he stretched and added mentally "Just not today."
The reflection time was abruptly shattered as the cell phone jolted the thinker back to current events. Groaning he deftly smacked the phone with the flat of his hand, sending it sailing a yard or two and landing with a quiet "paft!" in the sand. "Not now, relaxing, work later.", He muttered as he lay back to try and regain the frame of mind he had. Instead of the cell phone, this time his relaxation was interrupted by the sound of around twenty windowpanes being blown to shrapnel by a very large explosion of gunfire. Muttering a very foul word, the vacationer leapt to his feet, grabbing up the cell and clicking it on. "Bout time you got off your arse!" an agitated voice growled from the other end. "Tell me something I care about, like what the hell just caused the forecast to become showers of glass and lead." The phone holder snapped back. The voice on the other end seemed to be away for a moment, and the sound of a keyboard clicking fast and furiously could dimly be heard before the caller returned. "Terrorist situation, bout sixteen of them holed up in the office building one block south-east of your current position. I’m not even going to ask if you accept this one because I know you want to make someone pay for disturbing a vacation of yours, or am I wrong about you for once oh predictable one?" The phone holder half-snickered. "You’ve gotta get a life you little computer freak, too much time around me can’t be doin’ you good." The caller chuckled in reply. "I’ll take that to mind. Now back to business, you need anything for this one?" "No thanks, all I need I have on me. And don’t bother givin me those entry ways to the place, it’d just waste time." The caller chuckled again. "I’ll never understand you completely, pal. If this were any of the others, they’d be dead in five minutes tryin what you do." The phone holder grinned as he turned to look in the direction of his next destination. "Lucky I’m me then, aren’t I?"
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The man seemed to have done an incredibly good job at holing up inside the Jyle Computer corporation building, and had made sure to take out every security camera in sight, and even those carefully concealed within the walls. Each man stood poised in position, eyes trained on the exit they guarded, and a close glance was shot to the hostages ever few minutes. They all wore some style of full face mask, only exposing eyes and mouth, and their attire looked slightly military in it’s make up. 15 of the men were armed with the latest in automatic rifles, the Zeta-Phi78 models, while one man stood with only a pair of binoculars in the center of the room. Apparently, this was the leader. This could also be guessed by the fact that he could most likely dispatch of most of the other fifteen men without breaking a sweat. Most likely this guy could bench a Winnebago for fun. His muscles were obvious even through the jacket, and he bore the telltale scar of a neuro-muscle enhancement chip upon the back of his neck. That would give him enough strength to bench a sedan at least. And all the time he stood, peering out the now glass-less windows, eyes training in on any movement. "Alright, it appears we won’t be having any company for awhile.", the leader started, turning to the hostages. "The feds would have been here within the minute, and the cops just a bit slower, but it’s been too long. Rest assured men, this has been a success." The men all gave nods of approval and there was a dull clamor of snickering and congratulating. "Now", the leader started as he turned to face the hostages, imparticular a rather aged man, lacking in the hair department, and unmistakably to even the most simple of bumpkin, would be the president of the company. "Where are the files?" This was said with enough intimidation to make a drill sergeant soil his fatigues in fear. The president stammered and was about to reply when he was cut off by another voice from above. "Screw the files, where’re your insurance policies?" Apparently the voice wasn’t God. At that moment, the ventilation grate above either became victim to a freak accident in the quantum physics of time and space, or an explosive chose that moment to detonate behind it. The erruption of flames and the falling grate proved enough to startle everyone. Except the one who planted it. From the smoking vent dropped a figure, moving so quickly as it hit the carpet, that the men weren’t able to do more than ruin the furniture a bit more with their stray shots. "Shit...no wonder there weren’t any cops!" the leader cursed. "Someone KILL HIM!" From behind a stack of papers on a desk a voice spoke up. "How touching, such effort for me? I should be flattered.", followed by the sound of a gun being cocked, then, "But I’m not." The air became a blaze as red lines of high density light, more commonly known as laser-fire, and the men scattered. "Whatsa matta boys? Don’t want to get down to the bare bone and fight?" the voice taunted, firing off another round from his weapon. Two of the men groaned and fell, stunned out of their minds. The leader peered around the edge of the file cabinet he was using as a shield, only to have the top of his shoe blown to scrap. "Well, that’s gonna cost ya one HECK of a repair bill." The sarcastic voice cracked. "Damn you you freggin smart ass! Somone get in there and put a bullet in his head!" A loud banging of the metallic variety diverted the man’s attention to the five men on his right, a split second before a set of file cabinets crashed into them from above. "I find paperwork such a hassle. This kinda is a good way to vent, you know." The voice quipped yet again, from somewhere on the other side of a row of cubicles. By this time, four of the remaining terrorists had made their way up the isle, and, upon a signal, leapt out into the isle, facing all directions. Except up. So the stranger’s shot aimed at the ceiling fan above made them quickly realize their mistake as the support pole gave way and the metal blades, still spinning gently, crashed down from above. By this point, the leader’s plans turned from eradicating the one responsible for his men dropping like flies in a bug zapper, to getting out of there and fast. As he was slowly making a path for the elevator, a sickening CRACK of bone meeting another surface extremely hard sent him freezing in his tracks. Quickly following were two gasps of surprise and horror, followed by similar sounds, indicating the last two of his men had gone down. Now, it was him, and the hunter. In a hurried crawl for the door, the lead terrorist stumbled upon the body of one of the last three men to fall. Apparently his nose had been broken and his face was red and bruised as if he had been slammed in the face by a piece of sheet metal. Not sheet metal, the boss corrected mentally, boots. And sure enough, the boots that had done the damage stood on the carpet a few feet away, shining in the florescent lighting. Though, this pair of foot gear was all but vacant. The now panic sticken man could see where the metal of the boots merged with the night black skin of the stranger’s ankles. Gaze traveling further up, his gaze fell upon the most unmistakable shperical body, currently decked out in a rather trendy sports coat and bowtie. It was the face of the stranger that made the leader stare. Metal plating covered the left portion of the being’s face, and from the center, a harsh, piercing red mechanical eye glared down upon him. The other side of the face was just as startling. Though lacking in the metal plating, this side was unique in that where the stranger’s right eye should be, a four sided, blue hued diamond merged with the flesh of his face, rather cleanly at that. Though these "eyes" had nor real pupils, the leader of the terrorist knew they were glaring down at him. Neither of the two moved a muscle for what seemed like an eternity. Finally, the leader spoke. "Why aren’t you making your move, Agent..." The stranger’s face remained motionless. "Why aren’t you making one yourself. My gun’s in my pocket, you’ve got a good 30 percent chance if you act faster." The leader thought this over for a good minute or more. Then, summoning all of his enhanced strength and courage, the leader sprung upwards…directly into a knee aimed right for his forehead. With a sickening thud, the last of the terrorist gang fell to the floor, littering the carpet. "Too slow.." the agent said under his breath as he stepped over the unconscious man and crossed the room to the now standing hostages. "Sir, looks like your pest problem has been taken care of. The local boys’ll be here soon to pick up the trash and settle any claims or such you might have. Until then, please remain here and make sure any of your employees still in the building do as well." He went on in the standard procedure. The president nodded, still a bit shaken, then cleared his throat as he began to reply. "Thank you, Mr…" "Multex." "Yes, Mr. Multex. You’ve saved the lives of me and countless of my employees. How may I repay you?" the man questioned, shaking the agent’s hand. Multex’s gaze traveled down to his hand, still currently in the grip of the president’s. "For one, you can let my hand go…" "Oh! Yes, certainly!" the man obliged. "And for second, fire your security and get some decent men. I caught countless of them slacking off on the job, a few sleeping even. It makes my life and yours much easier in the long run to do that." The agent directed, turning towards the door. The president blinked and looked more than flustered at the mention of the men he hired slacking off, but quickly recovered and called after Multex, who was now in the hallway and pressing the elevator button. "I will follow your advice! But isn’t there anything else I can do for the hero who saved us?" The man swore he saw the agent wince slightly, however little, at the last question. But the agent soon recovered, however, and gave a dismissive wave. "Don’t call me a hero." "But why not? You saved our lives. To us all you’re a h-" Before the president could finish, the agent had spun on the heels of his silver metallic boots, giving the man a stare that could possibly freeze a forest fire solid. "I said…don’t call me that." The words came, tipped with a chilling edge. "It’s a word that doesn’t suit me. Please be kind enough to heed that." The elevator doors opened with the telltale "ping!", whereupon the agent stepped in, turned, thumbed the ground level button, and the doors slid shut, leaving the president staring on.
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It was another day, and a pretty good weathered on in the state of Kazi in Globeston; the world power of Paralell earth most compared (begrudgingly) to the United states of america, on first earth. It wasn't like the inhabitants of paralell earth had anything against first earth, it was just that "they weren't as civilized". Concepts like racism just because of skin color there and all the hatred was enough to make any paralell earthling stop and shake their heads. Almost evryone, save the smallest of infants, on paralell earth knew of First Earth, though few first earthlings knew of Paralell earth's existance. Those who did had moved there right away, for good call too. Paralell earth was a grand site, with it's blue skies, not the grayish hue of blue we see in our skies, but as blue as blue can be described. There also was a lot more grass, many more forests, and a few less roads, though the roads weren't realy needed since the completion of the monsterous sized and now neferious "Highway 777". It was the only road on ANY planet that spanned the globe. Over oceans, deserts, you name it, it passed all terrains at least once. It was one of the landmarks anyone in space could clearly see, and the traffic jams so immense the astronuats could see them well. In over all, it was a great place to be. And not only for it's land marks at that. Paralell earth was the planet that could brag of more action on a daily basis then even the most crime ridden first earth city could in a month.
Some of the greatest villians got their start on Paralell Earth, but of course, this resulted in the plante also being home to some of the greates known heroes as well. Justice figures as Omega Maroack, the metallic robot enforcer of justice from the year 2000V who had been sent back in time's flow to the current age. Or the Cosmic Crusader, a true super hero in every way! A Green blooded paralell earthling if there ever was one. But we're not going to stop and take a look at these heroic souls. Not quite yet. Our journey takes us to the 78th floor of a seemingly normal office building, with seemingly normal people at their desks. As we watch, the elevator doors at the end of the hall slowly slide open, and to people step off. One, a small orange skinned man, with a body of P.Earth's sperical variety. Over his left eye he wears an eye-patch, and he has a slightly worn tan fedora with a raveling red band around it on his head. Beside the short figure stands a person we've seen just awhile ago. Standing at around 5'9", Multex707 seems to have the height category nicely covered. We now follow the two to a pair of desks which face each other. One one lies a stack of computer plans, disks, postit notes and a very expensive looking computer. On the other lies a green velvet ammunition box, A silver pocket watch of the rail road variety, a picture frame containing a photo, and a few large black books with various labels on them stacked upon another computer, this one slightly of more brandname variety than the first. We now pause to listen in as the duo approach the desks.
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Multex fell into his cushioned swivel chair with an audiable exagerated groan. The orange skinned one glanced up with a slight grin. "That rough a mission, Tex? I'd have thought you'd be begging for more by now." he smirked. Multex looked up and shrugged. "It wasn't tough, it was just too boring to be called a real mission. Get in -get hostages safe-take out terrorists; Not exactly rocket science, P.C." P.C. ,(born Percival Clarence Hacker, though noone who liked their computer privacy dared call him this, save the even more intimidating Multex), grinned as he took a seat behind his own desk, deftly turning his computer on with a flick of his hand. "It's not like I like major violence and destructive criminals trying to kill me, it's just....boring now." Multex explained. P.C. Glanced up from his monitor, slightly intrigued. "Bored? Do continue, this might be interesting." Multex turned hiz gaze down to his desk as he phrased what he wanted to say mentally. "Well...you have to admit....in the last three years...we went through hell and back...well, I went through all of it and you were there for a good bit, but still, you gotta admit...those were three interesting years." Multex's technologically geared partner nodded slightly at this. "True, Tex, never in my life thought we'd be facing more than critical situations. Perhaps once we'd have to rescue the president, I thought, but never imagined being dragged into the path of a psychotic cult and their angry diety who were trying to take controll of time itself. And then there was that sadastic robo-ba$#@&d who was on your tail the whole time." With the last sentence multex groaned audiably and simultaneously a pen bounced off P.C.'s head. "DON'T mention Ratch EVER again! I've had enough of that metallic asshole for five lifetimes. Bringing up his name only brings back memories of that p****." P.C. raised his hands in surrender and waved a mock flag, earning another pencil off the head. Grinning, he went back to his typing. Multex drew a breath through his teeth, which, due to his odd biological make up, only appeared visable when he was in an extreme of moods, along with the rest of his mouth. But this was just "normal" to him now a days. Glancing down at his desk, Multex's gaze fell upon a small envelope that he was sure hadn't been there a moment ago. As he slowly picked it up and turned it over, he instantly knew by the handwiting and stamp that it had just appeared. Rolling his eyes slightly he forced himself to leave the comfort of his chair and straightened his coat. "Where you headed now, Tex?" his partner inquired. "Got an appointment with an old aquaintance. Be back sometime later, or perhaps a few weeks." Multex answered, picking up his cell phone and pocketing that. "Don't ask." Tex quickly added, cutting off P.C.'s question to come as he turned and strode for the elevator.
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Some people believe the center of all universes to be a super heated small molten core with gravity more powerful than could be imagined. Still, others would argue that it would be a black hole, or a wasteland filled with nothingness and anything. Actually, as Multex had once commented, It looked more like a room with moving colors on every wall and floor. The scientists would probably blow their minds if the found out Multex was on the button with that one. You see, many people on First earth believed in "The Big Bang Theory", stating that everything started all compacted into a ball, then suddenly exploded everywhere at once. On Paralell Earth, many a scientist were chuckling at that one. Now if you put a First Earth scientist in the same room as a Paralell Earth scientist and forced them to discuss the formation of the universe, about an hour later you'd most likely find the First Earth scientist screaming at the top of his lungs, both hands in his hair, sweat pouring down his brow, glasses fogged, while the Paralell scientist would most likely just be smiling and nodding routinely. Why such assurance in the Paralell scientist? Because most every scientist from Paralell Earth knows about the "Cosmic Rip", The "Spire", and the "Nexus of things". Since neither I, nor you i'm betting are Paralell Earth Physics majors, I shall try to put these three things on simple terms.
The Cosmic Rip was best described by Omega Maroack as "The Universal Highway", because it's pretty much that. The Cosmic rip occupies all the space nothing else does, and all the "between" space; that is all the space between dimensions. It's size is measurable and measureless, and it weighs practically nothing and a lot at the same time, putting it as simple as one can. The Rip, as it's most often shortened to, centers around "The Nexus of things", which is pretty much the center of EVERYWHERE at the same time. Now, since the discovery that people could travel from anywhere to anywhere-else through the rip, the forces that be some how decided that someone should keep a limit on these things, less something go terribly wrong, as thngs tend to. The gave this job, quite unceremoniously, to a being who was given the same name as the thing he was to monitor. Now, Cosmic Rip, or CR as he like to be called, to make it a little less confusing, ran The Cosmic Rip. So in laymen's terms, CR ran the Rip. Got it? Good, let's move on. CR was centered, and has lived in the Nexus of things for approximately about a few thousand years after history began and some things went wrong. It was CR's job to be like an eternal night watchman, and the boss of the Rip at the same time. The job didn't pay anything, but as CR logiced, "Getting suddenly smeared out of existance because someone in charge took a coffee break isn't a thought the people would like.". Now, since we've covered everything but the end of this lecture, we move on to the most little known about the Rip itself.
Only about five beings in the whole had ever been to and seen The Spire. Three of them were destoryed there, while the remaining two escaped with their lives, and the occasional nightmare. Begrudgingly, Multex was one of the latter two. If you asked him what the Spire would be, he's simply say something like "It's like a huge obelisk that acts like a sand-dial of all time, now leave me alone, I don't want to talk about it any more." Thus ends our little Educational moment. Now that you are utterly confused, allow us to continue with the story so you will remember little and criticize less.
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Multex glanced around the large chamber with the mainly yelow, red and orangish walls as he stepped out of the long, kind of bluish, greenish, indigo colored hall way he had entered the Rip through. At first, he'd thought being one of the privelaged few to be allowed to open a hole in the fabric of reality, step in, walk a little bit, step out another hole and be on the other side of another world was pretty cool. He'd found out the drawbacks of this the hard way. CR often called those in who knew about the rip fairly well to assist him in straightening out matters, since he could almost never leave his post. Well, he never used to be able to, until he had started training a back up named Edgar. As Multex crossed the massive, yet small space of the Nexus of things, he once again mentally noted that when rip was on duty, you could find Ed in almost ANY job anywhere you were. The guy was a passionate worker, probably how he got the stand in position. "Thinking of Physics again, Tex?" a voice questioned from a large chair behind an oaken desk. "Really shouldn't do that, only leads to more work for you and I, or haven't you learned that yet?" Multex half grinned and shrugged as he took a seat in another chair infront of the desk. "'Scuse me for being mortal. You got a point though, I think too much for my own good. Gotta start getting out of that First earthling mindset." The Cosmic Rip chuckled, reaching accross and offering the agent a small glass, which Multex accepted. "True. hang around the Firsters too much and you begin to think like them, bugger it. People should be more accepting of what nature hands them is my motto, but that's just me." CR grinned, showing his perfectly white teeth. Being in such an omnipresent position did have its advantages Multex noted. The agent took a sip from the glass, now filled with his favorite light wine that had just seemed to appear in it on the spot. "I'll never refuse a good time off, but cutting to the point, please tell me you just invited me here to reminisce about events to come or play some mind rotting games on a system that has yet to be invented?" CR's grin dulled slightly, still remaining a bit of a sad smile though. "I only wish, friend. I only wish." At this, the agents good humor had taken the equivalent of a face first collision with an eighteen wheeler. "What now?" Multex asked, a cold chill on the last word. CR didn't fail to notice it and could only return a look that could say "I'm sorry to ask this of you, my best friend.". "Well...we have yet another situation. NOT here or the Spire this time, thank the Rip, but on another dimension of another planet." "No dice.." Multex replied, finishing his drink and standing up. CR was next to Multex in a blink, offering him a large but thin, blank covered book. "I would ask Omega, or someone else if i could, as you've done a great deal already. But...I don't think they'd be as suited for this as you." Multex gave the other being a stoney glare, the edge still in his voice. "Why me." "It's in this book. I found it on my desk this morning. Please..."
With a long silence, the agent finally accepted the book and opened it's cover to the first page. Scanning it, he found it to be an elongated letter of some sort, hand written in Rhenzin for god's sakes. This was a surpirse to Multex, as he knew how hard learning the only universal basis for language was. Speaking alone, writing it was like a near impossibility. Multx was fortunate enough to have had the language drilled into his mind when he had became what he now was, all thanks to what forces currently lie dormant in that jewel that was now his right eye. The writer droned on about a planet in great detail, noting diverse terrain, climates, and overall descriptions for nearly two pages. As he continued reading for the next hour, now sitting in the chair once more, he still had yet to find the author's purpose for all this. Until he hit the last few lines on the final page with anything on it. He drew a slight breath and tensed as he hit those sentences.
"...and so you must now realize, Agent, that it was merely a trifle for me to compose such a tome for you. As I do know you will find your way here, as I have foretold. Do hurry and make your preperations for journey with haste, as I do require what is mine and is also yours for what I wish to accomplish. And please, Sir, do not attempt to hide the object in question from me and decide against coming, lest you force me to labor a bit more on my part to uncover it just as fast.
Do feel free, however, to enjoy this little world i have chosen. I'm sure you shall find it quite unique. It is one of my greatest masterpieces yet, I must state. A single world, with a composition of parts from numerous other worlds i have joined and merged into one singular world long ago, before our first encounter even. Call it one of my ancient "warming up tasks" when I was still aquiring my vast skills. Oh, I've taken the liberty of "sampling", or would you call it stealing lifeforms from the worlds that my planet is composed of and putting them in the proper locations. To make the game a tad more enjoyable for the both of us, I have meerely, how did you put it in our last encounter?, "influenced" events so that great forces of darkness, evil figures, and less civilized beings who strive for the same goals I do to be present on this new destination as well. The question is, Dear Agent- Will you let those i have brought here be slaughtered by their greatest foes, along with some old rivals of yours in a rush to find and challange me? Or will you go against the rules of sanity and try to save their meaningless existances before our confrontation? The hourglass is slowly counting off the time left you have to prevent my plans, so I do suggest you finish your preperations soon and make your decisions.
And before I let you to make up your mind, Agent, I have an old aquaintance of yours here looking foward to see you once you arrive. I believe you know his abilities quite well by now, and no doubt, this is why the Cosmic Rip has chosen you for the task. Havoc will be waiting for you, he asks me to include, waiting to shake your hand...and remove it as well.
-Yours in Rivalry,
*Sir Pseudo Havering of the Seventh Circle of Whyr-Rhoh-Tin*

And, upon the nature of such things, as the closing address had been read, The green covered book ignited in an unholy dark fire and left every plane of existance with not even one speck of ashen remains. Multex looked up to meet CR's gaze. "When do I leave?" "Now, if you're ready." "Could you pick up a few things for me from my place?". CR nodded and waved one of his black gloves, conjuring up a rip hole to Multex's dwelling. "What first?" Multex thought carefully before responding. "For starters, my mine kit." "Which one? The Disarming or assembling one?" "The Assembly kit", Multex directed, "As I doubt I'm going to be facing anything as serious as a nuke." "Right", said CR, waving a hand and causing a small pouchike case to come through the Riphole and settle to the ground nearby. "Next, I'm going to need the whip and Hook from my climbing gear, it's in the closet, under some magazines, and my survival belt." "Where's the belt?" "It's on a rack, by my medieval weapon display case." As the belt, a large silver hook that looked like a downscale version of something off a crane and a brown leather belt with a variety of small pockets settled on the ground, CR glanced back to the agent. "Looks like if you take too much more you're going to be a bit burdened. Still, Anything else?" Multex put his hand where his chin would be and "hmm"ed to himself for a moment before grinning slightly. "My hat and my cane. Been dying for a chance to try the Cane out, and this might be a good time." Cosmic Rip nodded for the last time and brought a forest green fedora, sitting on top of a mahogany colored cane with a silver handle and tip through the hole and set it down next to the rest before closing the hole. He waited as the agent strapped on the belt, stuffed the mine kit in an inner pocket of the Agent Coat (multex's specially designed sports jacket and now his trademark clothing item. Fashion that's water, fire, rip,shred, stain, bullet, heat, cold, radiation, and many of the extremes proof, as Multex had dubbed it. It's only flaw being it only protected a portion of his person, leaving the rest open to assult.) , strapped the hook on his back and put the hat on his head. Upon finally getting all gear in place, the Agent turned to face CR, taking his cane in hand. "Looks like it's not going to be such a boring year after all, eh Tex?" Cosmic Rip quipped with a grin. "Life never lets me rest long , CR, you of all people should know The Agent With Attitude is always on call." And with a final exchange of glances, CR snapped a finger, opening a rip hole behind Multex. The Agent tipped the brow of his hat, winked and gave a thumbs up before freefalling in to the swirling vortex, falling towards the next destination on his traveling history.