I felt my jaw tighten as the rage seethed and swelled within. Maxwell Maximus. Was in my home. Sitting on my sofa. Talking casually to my girlfriend, Abigail. There were cups of coffee and cookies, set out on the small table in front of them. The atmosphere was quite friendly and pleasant. Oh yeah and he was holding my son. It was the only thing that protected him in this moment. My father was missing. Worse. Presumed dead. He had released some video footage stating as much. Azrael also claimed to have a plan. A way to die and live, simultaneously. It was a cryptic message, one that promised a strange scavenger style hunt. Piecing together clues. Looking for hints and signs that would lead to the discovery of Azrael Erebus.


Hidden in plain sight, he awaited someone to unlock the mystery. Yet that door would remain sealed, for there were currently zero leads for even a glimpse of hope, when it came to uncovering the key. A stranger that bore a secret. That secret of course being that this individual was really my father. His true identity laying dormant, locked away behind the barrier of a mental block, designed to keep the reality far from prying eyes. It would remain as such until his memory was triggered. Then the flood gates would burst wide open and he would remember. Till then there was no choice in the matter. We were all stuck in perpetual limbo, pending that moment.


It was a real enigma. A puzzle, wrapped in a riddle, shroud in a perplexing mystery. Maddening. It plagued my thoughts and haunted my nightmares. Where in the world was Azrael Erebus? No one knew, in spite of the fact that nearly all of his friends and family, were on the case. We were no nearer to solving this conundrum, than we would be if we were trying separately. Now here sat Maxwell Maximus, the man who last saw my father alive, guilty of his abduction, imprisonment and death, chatting away with my girlfriend, like this was a regular social call.


It wasn't my girlfriend's fault, she didn't know the truth about Maxwell. That he was a rat bastard. A snake. That up until the release of my father's video, there were plans to storm the embassy, so to speak. Rally the troops and all the forces together and confront Maxwell Maximus, on his territory. All out war was going to be waged, in the name of rescuing my father. Then his video was released and the plan was scrapped. Against my better judgment, Azrael's words were heeded and so began the search. Our mission was to locate the being that held my father tucked away inside his or her head. Assuming that once that was accomplished, there was a set objective that he had in mind, when it came to dealing with Maxwell. He had to have that figured out, right? Why else would he conjure up this peculiar concept and quest? There had to be an end game solution attached. Until he was located, one could only speculate.


Not knowing. Being uncertain. Whilst searching for Azrael. That was the killer. Every day brought hope and disappointment, at the same time. I wasn't sure how much more of this I could take but what else could I do? In one sense, I could use my force powers and dangle Maxwell over the edge of my balcony. Let him hang there, upside down, until he confessed to his crimes but that would only put me at a disadvantage and place Abbie and Arkin in danger. Who knows how he would retaliate, after I did that? I couldn't constantly guard my girlfriend and our child, 24-7. This was the reason that I kept certain aspects of what was going on from her, why I didn't fully explain Maxwell or his involvement in Azrael's disappearance, I did these things to keep her safe. However, even though I took this precaution, somehow the vulture circled around and found a way to her. Placing me between a rock and a hard place, when it came to handling the situation. I should have simply told Abigail everything.


"Maxwell, to what do I owe this unexpected visit?"


I state in my most friendly, nonchalant manner. Keeping my eyes on him, ready for anything. He sees me and acknowledges my behavior with an equally gregarious demeanor.


"Well, I was in the neighborhood and merely thought I'd stop by, you are my accountant, after all. I hadn't heard from you in awhile and decided to check in on you. See how things were going. Everything is alright, isn't it?"


His tone is cheerful, charming and completely fake. Something's up. I can feel it. Except he's being coy, he doesn't want to let on to what he knows and that's a tad unnerving. It's like we're both seated at a card table in a casino, taking part in a high stakes game of Texas Hold 'Em. Nevertheless the game had only just begun and I wasn't ready to reveal my cards just yet.


"My apologies. That was an oversight on my part, I've been handling business with a few other clients. One thing, led to another and my days sort of ran into each other. Time escaped me. That's all."


A lie. I've been devoting all my time to the search for my father. As have my brothers and several others.


"Since you're here though, why don't you step into my office and we can talk business."


Smiling, I turn my attention to Abigail, she doesn't have the slightest notion as to what I'm really doing, namely removing a poisonous snake from its range of harming her or Arkin. There's a twang of penitence in my gut but I do not display this feeling for her or anyone else to see. Instead, I shove it deep down and remain true to my stage performance, that everything is okay and Maxwell is my valued client. Nothing more or less. It sickens me.


"Do you mind if I steal Maxwell, we need to go over a few things as far as his finances are concerned."


"Not at all. Arkin needs to go down for his nap anyway."


"Yeah, I can tell this little guy is getting sleepy."


Maxwell smiles and hands Arkin off to Abbie, before rising from the sofa. As she walks off to the nursery, we make our way to my office. I allow him to enter first and then I shut the door behind us. Respectively, we each take a seat, with him sitting on a chair in front of my desk, while I drop down onto a swivel chair behind it.


"That is one cute kid. So well behaved, not at all fussy or ill-tempered. Dare I say, he's perfect. You must be very happy."


"Yeah. I definitely lucked out on the whole baby lottery"


"Still having a baby in this day and age. Must make you crazy considering the kind of world we live in. Monsters, aliens, enhanced and altered humans. It's a real life horror movie out there. A nightmare. In the terms of Arkin's future and what he'll be growing up to face. Who knows what his future will look like or what he'll have to deal with? That must weigh heavy on your thoughts. The kind of world that you brought him into and what it's becoming. After all, you want him to be safe and happy, right? How on earth can that happen in a world full of freaks and weirdos."


"I think he should be fine. Sure there are new elements popping up in the world but that doesn't necessarily mean that he's in danger."


"I don't know. I think there should be steps taken to make sure our offspring are provided with an environment that they can thrive in, with the peace of mind that they won't be put in harm's way when one of these abominations goes off kilter. Certain provisions. Measures to ensure not only society's safety but also the security of our children and their children to come, so on and so on. Don't you? Unless there's a reason you wouldn't find that necessary."


"No, there's no reason why I would deem that unnecessary, I want only the best and brightest for my son. Never would I put him at risk or want to see him in peril. I don't know what the recent development in special or gifted beings has to do with it. I think there's a chance for good or bad occurring in the world, regardless of these additional elements. I also fail to see what this has to do with your finances."


"I was recently approached by someone with a vested interest in the subject, they wanted to know if I would be keen on joining their venture. Since you're my accountant and financial consultant, I thought I'd benefit from your opinion on the matter."


"Okay. What exactly am I advising you on?"


"The Advanced Human Act. It would require every being on an unnatural, supernatural, gifted or super powered, level to identify themselves. Make their condition or ability known to the public and register with the government. So they're recognized for who and what they are and it can be determined if they're suited for society or if they need to be put someplace where they don't jeopardize humanity's safety. I was asked to provide a capital investment on the project in order to spearhead its development and get it off the ground and running within a year's time. I want to know if you think that's a sound business enterprise to undertake."


This was no coincidence, he wasn't randomly approached about this topic, this was a play. A battle strategy. He wanted to make me nervous, make me feel like I was backed into a corner. He didn't want my opinion, he was gauging my reaction. He knew Azrael was my father, that I wasn't completely human, now he was rubbing it in and trying to make me scared. Make me confide in him and ask for his aid, that's how he gained control over others. How he sank his claws in and made you believe that you were in his debt. I would not give him the satisfaction of holding anything over my head. Still, I couldn't agree with this dreadful idea, not with good conscience anyway. It meant condemning myself and everyone that I cared about to a life of control or confinement. Maybe even worse than that because who knows what would happen to the ones that were rounded up. The ones the were judged to be "unsafe" to roam free and exist as a part of normal society. Experimentation, subjection to testing, becoming pawns in some ruthless tyrant's scheme. The sky was the limit. No, I would have to use a great deal of finesse and savvy when dealing with this subject, to let him know that it was a terrible plan, without giving him room to speculate or ask questions pertaining to my outlook.


"Honestly. That sounds a lot like Nazi Germany to me. You know... segregation, identification, classification, separation, pointing to the left, trains and Auschwitz."


Or I could simply do that. Hehe. No one dares touch something that brings the Holocaust to mind. Not even Maxwell Maximus.

Quote:What have you done lately since losing your X-Treme belt, you won a match, but that's okay, I ended up having the last laugh, because I told you I would.

"Well this is the first match that I've been in since my loss to Robbie Bourbon. So as far as my wrestling career goes, this is what I've done. I've been booked in a triple threat match, against you and Job Ber Wan, with the TV title on the line. Do you realize since joining the XWF this is my third title match? In such a short time too. It's like the powers that be know that this waist should always be shroud in gold and since I don't have the X-Treme title any longer, they want to make up for it by giving me the Television title. Considering that it's a known fact that you won't be able to stop me from taking the belt as mine and Job Ber Wan is a joke. Seriously, I think about him and I just laugh and laugh, he wanted my attention though and now he's got it. Much like the mosquito that he is it won't take much to swat him aside and then I can put all my focus on you."


"Oh Mastermind, you say that you're going to do better but we both know that isn't true. You won't best me in this fight, much like you failed to beat me before, only this time I get to walk away with a title that you've been carrying for well over a hundred days. My father, Azrael Erebus wielded that title for over nine months and now, it's my turn. I will climb into that ring and do what I do best, astound and amaze. Dominate and destroy the opposition, while looking damn sexy in the process. Then when all is said and done and you're laying on the canvas, staring up at the lights, dazed, beaten and confused, I will exit that ring... the brand new TV champion. Thus becoming Mr. Saturday Night. It has a nice ring to it. Don't you think? Donovan Blackwater - Mr. Saturday Night. Almost seems tailor made, like a fine suit. And as such I will wear it with perfection."

Donovan Blackwater
Former 1x...