'Twas the weekend before Christmas, and on a rooftop in the Lakeview neighborhood, Godan, also known as the Gray Wolf of Chicago, sat up against a decrepit chimney, pounding his last forty ounce.
He swallowed the last drop, stopped his gag reflex from going out of control, and sighed. He relaxed, allowing his arm to fall to his side, and the bottle to slip from his hand.
“What a difference a year can make,” he muttered, closing his eyes and leaning his head back against the brick. The Gray Wolf repeated what he said, taking in the feeling of the snowflakes landing on his face.
An image of Haruki and Tucker, his two missing friends and housemates, wearing Santa hats, flashed through his mind. He growled, sniffed hard, and swallowed.
“I couldn't even find them before Christmas,” he muttered, opening his eyes. He squinted as the light from the nearby street lamp made his head hurt. He looked down at his legs, and realized that he had been sitting there drinking for so long that he was not merely covered in snow—he was starting to become buried in it.
Godan laughed, and shook his head. “Fuck,” he said, grabbing one of the empty bottles, and standing up. The snow instantly fell off, burying his boots nearly to the ankle.
“FUCK!” he yelled, throwing the bottle as hard as he could into the Chicago sky. The Gray Wolf stared off into the darkness, listening to the stereos blasting from the street below him.
“Huh,” he said, relaxing, “wonder how far it got into Lake Michigan...”
He heard a loud humming sound. Suddenly, a bright, blue light appeared. Godan instinctively crossed his arms in front of him, believing he was about to be hit by an energy blast. Seconds passed, and, with nothing happening, he slowly lowered his arms, and peaked.
Across the roof was a blue, spiraling vortex. Godan watched it for another few seconds, and decided to slowly inch his way towards it.
“Okay, this has got to be real,” he said, claws ready, “those forties weren't THAT strong.”
The Gray Wolf finally got right up in front of it. He waited another few seconds and, with nothing happening, put his hands down and relaxed. He gazed into it, and noticed a black square in the middle.
“Huh,” he muttered.
The square grew slightly bigger. It gained features that made it resemble a person.
“Hmm....” Godan hummed.
He closed his eyes for a second. When he reopened them, the object was nearly in the Gray Wolf's face, looking like a person curled up in a fetal position.
“Oh, shit!” he yelled, stepping back.
An explosion sent Godan skidding across the roof, crashing into a snowbank. Another explosion caused the vortex to disappear, making the rooftop go dark again.
“Ugh, jeez,” the figure, who came out of the portal, said, getting onto their knees. “Please let me be back on the right Earth this time.”
The figure looked around. “Okay, I'm clearly on AN Earth, so that's good...”
Godan stirred, sticking his head and arms out of the snowbank. The figure immediately noticed the Gray Wolf. They pushed up the goggles they were wearing onto their forehead, and let out an audible gasp.
“Gareth?” the figure asked.
Hearing his real name being spoken snapped Godan back to reality. “Who said that?!” he yelled, struggling to stand up.
A loud screech made him cringe. The Gray Wolf looked in front of him, just in time to see the figure upon him, their arms wide open.
Dammit, Godan thought.
Before he could thrust his claws forward, he felt himself being tightly embraced.
“Oh, Gareth,” the figure nuzzled Godan's chest, “I've finally made it back! I was worried that I wouldn't have enough energy this time!”
Confused, Godan just stood there, and let the figure hug him.
“I'm sorry I didn't get the beer,” the figure continued, “There were these—”
The Gray Wolf looked down, and saw that he was being embraced by a teenage girl with short, spiky hair, wearing aviator goggles on her forehead, a scarf, and sporting a faded jean jacket covered in patches.
“Hate to break this to you” he finally spoke, interrupting the girl's nervous babbling, “but I'm pretty sure I'm not the guy you're looking for.”
The girl, wide-eyed, became still. She looked up, and stared at Godan. She screamed, and jumped back.
“Oh, come on!” Godan wiped his face with his sleeve. “Can you NOT scream in my fucking face, lady?!”
“YOU'RE NOT GODAN!” the girl yelled, putting up her fists.
“Yeah, I am.” Godan glared. “Who the hell are you?”
She stared at the Gray Wolf for a few seconds. Her breathing slowed. “You're not my Gareth.”
She said it again, Godan thought. “Okay, kid, just calm down. Let's talk.”
The girl lowered her fists, and stared at the Gray Wolf. A typical Chicago breeze blew some of the snow off the roof.
“This will definitely fill my energy back up!” Jenny Everywhere said as he stuffed her mouth with some toast.
“You're welcome,” Gareth said, taking a sip of his ice water.
Jenny swallowed. “Aren't you going to eat anything?”
“Nah,” Gareth swirled the ice in his glass. “I don't wanna ruin the remaining buzz I have left—you know, before you interrupted me.”
Jenny giggled.
“What?”
“My Godan has said the same thing before,” the mysterious girl said as she ate another piece of toast.
Gareth hummed. “Okay, Miss Everywhere, you're being fed—again, you're welcome—now talk: how do you know who I am?”
“You don't have a version of me here?” Jenny asked while chewing.
“Never seen you before in my generally miserable life.”
He's a downer compared to my Godan, Jenny thought. “Well,” She swallowed, “first of all, I come from a different universe.”
Gareth snickered. “Really?”
“Yeah!” Jenny stuck a fork into her waffle. “I can travel between different universes, different times...I call myself 'The Shifter'.”
“ 'Shifter', huh?” Gareth took a sip of his water.
“Because I 'shift' between realities,” Jenny put her hand up in front of her face, and slowly moved it back-and-forth while making a whooshing sound, “get it?”
Gareth stared at her. “Not really.”
Jenny glared. “My Godan would have understood me.”
“All right,” Gareth put down his drink, “just tell me about 'your' Godan already, so you can stop reminding me how awesome he apparently is compared to me.”
“Is everything going all right here?” the waitress asked as she walked by, causing Gareth and Jenny to jump.
“Yeah, we're all good here,” Gareth replied. “Bring us the check when you get the chance.”
“Will do,” the waitress turned to Jenny. “Would you like something for dessert, dear?”
“No, I'm just going to finish this up,” Jenny replied.
“All right, I'll be back in a bit.”
Jenny shoved the rest of the waffle into her mouth, and chewed fast.
“Don't start choking on me now,” Gareth said.
“It was starting to get cold,” Jenny swallowed. “Now, how do I explain my Godan...”
She hummed, while tapping her fork onto the plate.
“That hard?” Gareth asked.
“No, it's just...” She put down her fork. “Okay, you two have the same color palette, same mask, but his hair is spikier, and he wears a leather jacket.”
“Is it all patched up like yours?”
“No, he says he doesn't bother since he gets into so many fights that it'll just get damaged anyway.”
“Same,” Gareth nodded. “How old is he?”
“He's a teenager, like me.”
“So, a younger version of me?”
“What're you, in your forties?” Jenny asked.
Gareth glared. “I'm in my twenties.”
“I'm kidding, I'm kidding!” Jenny smiled. “My Godan can take a joke.”
“I bet he fucking can.”
The waitress returned with the check. Gareth quickly looked at it, handed her a twenty dollar bill, and told her to keep the change.
“Thanks again for the food,” Jenny said.
“No prob.” Gareth stretched. “So, you have enough energy to go back to your world now?”
Jenny took a deep breath, and closed her eyes. She concentrated. “No, not yet. I'm like, half-way filled up.”
Gareth cracked his knuckles. “Shit, what now, then?”
Jenny hummed. “This area is still Lakeview, right?”
“Yeppers.”
“Oh, let's go to the Beat Kitchen! Maybe there's a show going on there tonight!”
Gareth glared.
“What?” Jenny asked.
“You sure you don't have enough energy to 'shift'? You're not just trying to use me to get into a show for free, like you just did a free meal?”
Jenny was taken aback. “But I just said my money probably wouldn't work here!”
Gareth snorted. “I'm just fucking with you, kid. Chill out.”
Jenny sighed. “So, what now?”
“Let's go to the Beat Kitchen. I haven't been there in awhile, and it's not like I have anything better to do tonight than mope around.”
“YAY!” Jenny said, getting up.
Gareth finished his water, and they walked out of Clarke's Restaurant.
“Seriously, though,” Gareth said, looking up at one of the trains pulling into the Belmont Station. “How are you feeling? You don't have enough power to go back yet?”
“No, but that meal gave me quite a boost. I'm guessing,” Jenny thought it over, “another hour or so.”
“As long as that shows going on, huh?” Gareth grinned. “How convenient.”
Jenny glared.
“Joking, joking,” Gareth walked past her. “Follow me.”
They found an alley, and ducked into it. Gareth put on his mask, and transformed.
“Okay, hop on,” Godan said, turning around. “It'll be faster if I just get us there.”
Jenny smiled. “My Godan has said the same thing.”
Godan rolled his eyes. “Out of curiosity,” he said as Jenny wrapped her arms around his neck, and legs around his waist, “what's 'your' Godan's favorite band?”
“Rancid,” Jenny replied as she adjusted herself.
Godan snorted, and laughed.
“What?!” Jenny asked.
“Damn, we really ARE opposites!”
“You don't like Rancid?”
“They're all right,” Godan jumped upwards, and landed on a roof, “but they don't got shit on Leftover Crack. Plus, Tim Armstrong's a dick.”
“Oh, really?”
“Yeah!” Godan hopped onto the next roof, and began running. “Let me tell you the tale about an album that was supposed to come out on Armstrong's label, called 'Shoot the Kids at School'...”
As the final song was nearing its end, Jenny hopped onto the small stage, and jumped off. She crowd surfed, and pumped her fists.
“Thanks for coming out tonight,” the main singer said as the song finished. They pointed at Jenny, “especially you, girlie! Later, Chicago!”
Jenny was let down, and the crowd began to disperse. She wiped the sweat off her forehead, and followed the crowd into the bar area. She looked around for Gareth.
“Right next to you,” a voice to her left said.
Jenny looked over to see Gareth, nearly laid out in the booth, the entire table covered in beer cans.
“You missed a really good show!” Jenny said, sitting on the other side of the booth.
“No, I didn't,” Gareth sat up. “I could hear it the whole time. They're a great band.”
Jenny picked up one of the cans. “But you love going to shows,” she muttered, reading the label.
“What do I love?” Gareth asked.
“Nothing,” Jenny put the can down, “just talking to myself. Are you alright?”
Gareth stretched. “I am substantially hammered right now.”
“I just feel bad, since you bought us admission.”
“Hey, I said I was fine,” Gareth shook a can to see if any beer was left in it. “I needed some time alone—I wouldn't have had that much fun in there.”
“You didn't get enough alone time on the roof?”
Gareth casually tossed the can against the wall. “No, you interrupted my solitude,” he said, watching the can bounce, and knock over the other empties.
Jenny looked down at her hands. “Oh.”
The two superhumans remained silent. Gareth realized that he hurt her feelings, and grimaced. “So, you powered up yet?”
Jenny perked up, grateful that the awkward silence was over. “Not yet. I barely gained any since I ate.”
“How long did you say it'll take you to be back to full strength?”
“Probably tomorrow,” Jenny checked her phone. “I don't have a signal here.”
“I thought you said it would take, like, an hour for you to be powerful enough to 'shift'?”
They looked at each other. Gareth glared. Jenny gulped.
“Well, usually,” Jenny replied, “but I just don't feel like I'm powering up like I usually do.”
Gareth hummed. “What if you ate something else? Would you get another boost?”
Jenny laughed. “No, I'm still full! If I eat any more, I'll burst!”
Gareth stroked his chin. “How about a good night's rest? If I'm too damaged to self-heal, I usually just—”
Someone shouted 'MOTHERFUCKER!' so loud that everyone turned their attention to the front door. The bouncer was then sent flying across the bar, crashing into the shelves.
“OH, COME ON!” Gareth yelled, immediately transforming. He ran out of the booth, trying on his mask.
“WAIT!” Jenny yelled. She stood up so fast that the table turned over, causing the empties to scatter.
Godan pushed the people who were crowding the door, taking pictures and video, out of the way. He heard a loud smash, and looked over to see a man beating up a car.
“HEY, ASSHOLE!” Godan yelled. “YOU'RE RUINING EVERYONE'S GOOD TIME!”
The man continued smashing the car, ignoring the Gray Wolf. The crowd had turned their attention to him instead.
“Okay, now I don't know what to do,” Godan said.
“Kick his ass!” someone yelled.
Godan snapped his finger. “Good idea, random bystander!”
The crowd cheered as Godan walked up to the man, who was now kicking the car. His foot connected with a tire, causing it to explode. The sound made everyone, including the Gray Wolf, jump.
“ENOUGH!” Godan yelled, grabbing the man by the shoulder and turning him around.
Before him was a balding, sickly, malnourished man, wearing all black, ragged clothing—the most notable being a t-shirt that had a skull and bones on it
It was the near-invulnerable, superhuman junkie punk, Black Terror.
“Get your,” Black Terror growled, clearly drunk, “hands off me, you—”
Godan punched him in the chest, sending the villain smashing into the car so hard that it nearly toppled over. Black Terror gasped, wide-eyed. Before he could react, the Gray Wolf rammed into him, and proceeded to viciously pound his enemy.
“Excuse me, excuse me,” Jenny, now wearing her goggles on her face, made her way through the crowd. She saw what was going on. “Oh no,” she gasped, “he's gonna kill him!”
“You couldn't,” Godan punched Black Terror in the mouth, “just fucking rot in Cook County, could you?” He once again punched the villain in the chest, and grabbed him by the shirt, pulling him close. “I'll put you down for good this time!”
Black Terror's head drooped down. Godan raised his fist. “You're not wrecking another show...”
Jenny wrapped her arms around the Gray Wolf's stomach, and pulled him back, making him drop the unconscious villain.
“HEY!” Godan yelled. “LET GO—”
He felt his body go numb. Red light flashed before the Gray Wolf's eyes, and the superhumans' disappeared.
The concertgoers freaked out. Some crowded around the destroyed car and Black Terror. Two police cars pulled up.
On a random rooftop, Godan and Jenny reappeared, flickering until they fully solidified. Jenny released the Gray Wolf, and fell to her knees, breathing heavily.
Godan blinked a couple of times. “What the hell,” he mumbled. He gulped, and rubbed his face. “What the hell did you just do?!”
“I...” Jenny caught her breath, “shifted us across town.”
“WHAT?!” Godan glared at her. “WE NEED TO GO BACK!”
“Why?!” Jenny put up her goggles. “He was beaten!”
“That was Black Terror, you fucking idiot!”
“Black Terror?” Jenny looked confused. “THAT was Black Terror?!”
“Oh, you know him?” Godan asked sarcastically.
“Well, yeah, he's one of my Godan's biggest enemies,” Jenny stood up. “He doesn't look like THAT though.”
“Then you know he only gets more powerful the longer he fights—he has to get knocked out right away—”
“Which you did!” Jenny interrupted. “You didn't have to keep beating him! What were you trying to do, kill him?”
“YOU DAMN RIGHT I WAS!”
The Shifter stared at her friend's alternate counterpart, not knowing how to respond.
“What?!” Godan asked, still in her face. “You got a problem with that?!”
“My Godan wouldn't do that,” Jenny replied, looking away.
The Gray Wolf's heart skipped. “Well, I'm not your goddamn Godan.”
Jenny turned around, wrapping her arms around herself.
“Fucking bullshit,” Godan mumbled, running towards the roof's ledge, and launching himself into the night.
Jenny shifted above a church. She looked down, and saw that a Christmas party was going on in the community center next door. She smiled as she watched two kids run out of the doors, and began throwing snowballs at each other.
“All right, I can feel him nearby,” she said, closing her eyes. She concentrated as the winds blew her scarf around.
She finally locked onto Godan's energy.
“THERE!” she said, opening her eyes. She shifted again, just as one of the kids took a snowball right to the face.
Why do I still have this on, Godan thought, pulling his mask down as he laid against another old, broken chimney. He took another swig from his bottle.
Before him, the Gray Wolf saw what looked like a person flickering.
“Oh, goddammit,” he mumbled, taking another drink.
Jenny fully materialized “Found you!” she said, landing.
“Lucky me,” Godan mumbled, letting out a burp.
“That was gross,” Jenny slid her goggles up as she walked towards him. “What're you drinking now?”
“It certainly isn't something you're old enough to drink,” Godan replied, taking another swig.
Jenny examined the label, and recoiled.
“What now?”
“MALROT?” Jenny gagged. “REALLY?!”
“Well, after all the shit I had to go through thanks to you, I had to get something stronger.”
Jenny cringed. “My Godan loves to drink that stuff, too.”
“Is that so?” Godan growled. “At least we have one thing in common.”
Jenny put her hands behind her back. “I'm sorry.”
Awkward silence ensued between the Gray Wolf and the Shifter. Godan took another long draw. He swallowed, and began coughing.
“Are you okay?” Jenny asked, bending over.
“What are you even still doing here?” Godan asked, wiping his mouth with his sleeve. “Don't you have enough power to teleport back to your world yet?”
“ You mean, 'shift'?”
Godan rolled his eyes. “Whatever you call it.”
“Nope, I still don't have enough energy to shift.”
“But you had enough energy to 'shift' over here.”
“Yeah, but that doesn't drain me at all—it's going between dimensions that's really tiring.”
“Oh,” Godan looked to the sky. “Okay.”
More silence between them. Jenny looked up at the sky as well.
“So, why are you being such a downer tonight?” she asked.
Godan closed his eyes. “Because it's the only thing I can be tonight.”
Jenny looked back at him. “Don't you have anyone to hang out with?”
Godan shook his head.
“Lana?”
“She's at work.”
“Nang?”
“She's working too.”
“Nita?”
Godan furrowed his brow. “Who?”
“You don't have her in this universe?”
“Never heard of her.”
“Well, she's the one that suggested we all get together at one of your squats to have a—”
“Your Godan has a squat?”
“Lots of them, all over Chicago! I was sent out on a beer run, but I ran into some trouble, and accidentally shifted here.” Jenny sighed. “I should have gone with Tucker and Haruki on their food run.”
Godan's eyes shot open. “Tucker and Haruki exist in your universe?”
“Yeah! Don't they exist here too? Are they working?”
A lump immediately formed in the Gray Wolf's throat.
Jenny noticed the pained look on his face. “Gareth?”
“They're busy too!” Godan blurted out, finishing off his bottle.
“So, is this all you're gonna do tonight?” Jenny asked. “Just sit here and drink?”
“Yep, I'm continuing what I planned to do before you came along.” Godan tried to drink from the bottle, forgetting it was empty. “Get another bottle, pass the fuck out, and hopefully NOT wake up.”
Jenny put on her goggles, snatched the bottle out of the Gray Wolf's hand, and whipped it off the roof.
“Now THAT one definitely made it to the lake,” Godan said.
Jenny grabbed the Gray Wolf by the arm, and they shifted. The duo appeared on the street. Godan scrambled to his feet.
“STOP DOING THAT!” he yelled, putting his mask back on.
Jenny slid her goggles up, and smiled. “We're going to have some fun!”
“Oh, fuck off!” Godan turned around, “I'm outta—”
Jenny grabbed him by the hand. “You're REALLY gonna thank me for this later,” she said, dragging him across the street.
The Gray Wolf saw the church they were heading towards.
“Hate to break it to you, but religion and I never really meshed well.”
“Not there,” Jenny squeezed his hand, “next door.”
Godan looked over at the community center that was covered in Christmas decorations, with a large sign that said “WELCOME FAMILIES”.
“Same with family.”
“Oh, stop whining!” Jenny led him into the center. On the table next to the door, she saw a Santa hat, and grabbed it. “Wear this,” she said, putting the hat on the Gray Wolf's head.
“Hey, stop—”
Jenny yanked Godan forward, shutting him up. They entered a hall that was filled with, as the sign welcomed, families—playing games, eating, conversing, and enjoying the holiday atmosphere.
“I don't think we belong here,” Godan said.
“Oh, yeah?” Jenny winked, put her fingers in her mouth, and let out a loud whistle, catching everyone's attention. “HEY, EVERYONE! WE HAVE A SPECIAL GUEST TONIGHT!” She stepped to the side, and presented the Gray Wolf to the attendees. “GODAN!”
The room became dead silent. The attendees stared. Godan felt his face turning red.
“I can't believe you made me do this shit!” he mumbled.
“That's NOT Godan!” one of the kids yelled.
“You don't think so?” Jenny grabbed Godan by the wrist, and raised his hand. “If he wasn't Godan, would he not have these AWESOME claws, then?”
More silence, then the children erupted in screams, and rushed to meet the Windy City superhero.
“Oh, shit!” Godan said, trying to back away.
“Don't swear in front of the kids,” Jenny grinned.
The children, while grabbing at his sweatshirt, peppered Godan with questions.
“Are you really a wolf?”
“Can you lift a building?”
“How high can you jump?”
“How many fish monsters did you punch?”
“Did you bring us any presents?”
“Jenny,” Godan reached out to the Shifter, “HELP!” One of the kids grabbed his mask by the tassels, and pulled. “HEY, LET GO!”
Jenny, along with the other adults, laughed.
Eventually, the kids calmed down, and they situated Godan in the same chair that they had Santa sitting on earlier. The children, along with some adults, sat around and listened to the Gray Wolf as he answered their questions, and told stories.
Jenny sat at one of the tables, eating a cookie. Seeing Godan—this older, and, as she observed, more angry version—sincerely smile, laugh, and have a good time, filled her with joy.
One of the kids, who had a black eye, ran up to the table, took an apple from his mothers plate, and ran back.
“Aw, he's gonna give the Gray Wolf of Chicago an apple,” the Mom said, getting out her phone, and tapping the camera app.
“They call him that here?” Jenny asked.
“Well, yeah, he's all over the news! You didn't know that?”
My Godan constantly calls himself that, Jenny thought, though it hasn't caught on with the public. “No, I never knew that until now. Is that your kid?”
Jenny looked over, and saw the boy whisper to a girl.
“Yep, that's him and his sister,” the Mom took some pictures. “I still can't believe Godan's actually here.” She looked back over at Jenny. “Thank you, by the way.”
“Believe me, it's my pleasure.”
The girl suddenly smacked the boy in the face.
“TIFFANY!” the Mom yelled. “STOP THAT! YOU KNOW BETTER!”
The girl immediately stopped, and things went back to normal.
“First, she hits her brother right in the eye with a snowball, and now this,” the Mom shook her head. “Her dad rubbed off on her more than I hoped.”
That explains the eye, Jenny thought, looking at the Mom.
“They've been asking for their Father all night, but we've begun divorce proceedings, and he's not taking it well. I took them here in order to try and get away, even for a night.” She smiled at Jenny. “Godan being here, keeping their attention, was just what we needed.”
Jenny smiled, and nodded in agreement. “I think he needed this, too.”
Tiffany and her brother walked up to the Gray Wolf, and held out the apple.
“Oh, for me?” Godan, smiling, took hold of the fruit. “My favorite snack. Thanks!”
The siblings shook their heads, as Godan was about to take a bite.
“No?” Godan asked.
The boy, revealing a toothy grin, held his clenched fist up. “Crush it!”
The Gray Wolf raised an eyebrow. “Seriously?”
The kids cheered, and began chanting 'CRUSH!'
A man, wearing a puffy winter jacket, appeared in the doorway. “TIFFANY!” he yelled. “BRAD! WHERE YOU AT?!”
“SHIT!” The Mom, wide-eyed, ended her conversation with Jenny, and rushed over to the man.
“This can't be good,” Jenny said, getting up.
“Your wish is my command!” Godan said, holding out the apple, grinning. “MERRY CHRISTMAS, EVERYONE!”
He easily crushed the apple, sending juice and flesh onto the kids, making them scream and laugh.
“Fred, you can't be here!” the Mom said.
Fred, looking over at the crowd of kids, including his own, wiping apple pieces off their faces, became enraged “Get out of my way, bitch!” he yelled, pushing the Mom away. “HEY, WHAT THE FUCK YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING?!”
He stomped over towards the Gray Wolf. The parents in the crowd, sensing what was about to happen, ushered the kids away.
“Just engaging in some Yuletide fun, friend,” Godan said, gripping the arm rests. “Care to join us?”
Fred got right into the Gray Wolf's face. “You think you can just spray my kids with that shit?” he nodded over towards Tiffany and Brad, who were petrified. “While wearing THAT get up?”
“Hey, I tried to warn them,” Godan shrugged, “and what's wrong with what I'm wearing? You got something against punk rockers?”
Fred grabbed Godan by the collar, and lifted him to his feet. “I kill gray wolves for a living!”
“I'm sure you fucking do, tough guy.” The Gray Wolf began to laugh. “Question: how do you keep all that wolf blood off your Supreme coat?”
Fred threw a punch at Godan, who easily caught it.
“You don't want me to embarrass you in front of your kids, dude,” Godan said, letting go of his fist.
“FUCK YOU!” Fred yelled, throwing another punch.
Godan caught that punch as well. “Okay, I gave you a chance.”
“DON'T DO IT!” Jenny yelled.
The Gray Wolf instantly crushed Fred's fist, causing blood to splatter everywhere. The kids screamed in terror. Fred also screamed, and yanked his hand away.
“Bet you didn't think I was the real deal, huh?” Godan asked, wiping his bloody hand on the side of his pants.
A tentacle tore through the back of Fred's jacket, and shot towards Godan, smashing him into the wall.
“MELTON!” someone screamed, as parents and kids either ran away, or hid from the member of Chicago's infamous superhuman street gang.
Fred, holding his hand, looked around frantically. He saw his soon-to-be ex-wife running, with their kids, out the front door. He cursed, and gave chase.
“A fucking Melton,” Godan mumbled, sitting up form the rubble, and taking off his Santa hat. “Can't even have one moment of happiness.”
“Keep running!” the Mom said to Tiffany and Brad, trying to make them go faster.
“GET BACK HERE!” Fred yelled, shooting his tentacle at them.
Jenny suddenly shifted in front of the family, forcing the tentacle to wrap around her.
“GO!” she yelled, grimacing as the tentacle tightened.
Fred growled. “I'll show you, you fucking—”
Godan appeared behind the gangbanger, and slashed the tentacle, cutting it off at the base. He grabbed the Melton by the neck, making sure his claws sunk into his flesh, and threw him across the street, into a building.
“You seriously didn't think I was the real deal?” Godan yelled, walking towards the gangbanger. “You meet a lot of impersonators, fucker?!”
Fred tried to get up, but fell back to the ground, coughing. He tried to unleash his tentacle, not realizing it had been hacked off, only to hear a loud buzzing sound.
“Where's Paris?” Godan asked, looking around for Melton's leader. “She and the rest of your crew didn't feel like busting up a kids party?”
“They gave me,” Fred coughed, reaching into his jacket, “the night off!”
Godan, sneering, kicked the gangbanger's hand. A hidden gun fired. Fred screamed.
“Way to spend your night off, dickhead,” Godan said, cracking his knuckles as he watched the Melton start to cry.
Jenny was finally able to free herself from the tentacle. She looked over, and saw Godan about to beat the gangbanger.
“GARETH!” she yelled as she flew over, “STOP!”
Godan did so, and looked back at her with a rage-filled face. “You mind NOT blasting my secret identity out in public like that?”
Jenny landed next to him. “Sorry, but you took care of him.” She paused for a second, hearing sirens in the distance. “See, the police are coming—no need to hurt him anymore.”
“Big fucking whoop,” Godan kicked Fred in the stomach, “he still ruined the party.”
“STOP!” Jenny grabbed the Gray Wolf by the arm, and spun him around to face her. “YOU'RE BETTER THAN THAT!”
“What're you talking about?!” Godan yelled back.
He saw the tears well up in Jenny's eyes. He realized what she meant.
He grew angry.
“I TOLD YOU,” he pushed Jenny to the ground, “I'M NOT YOUR FUCKING 'GODAN'!”
The Gray Wolf growled, and leapt onto a nearby roof.
Jenny wiped her eyes, swallowed the lump in her throat, and flew after him.
Fred coughed again, spraying the pavement in front of him with blood, as a police cruiser pulled up.
Down the street, peeking behind the corner of a building, Paris, the android leader of the Melton's, shook her head, and turned around.
“I told that idiot not to do it,” she said, putting her purple top hat back on, “but did he listen to me...”
“We gonna save him?” one of the Melton's she was with, asked.
“Nah,” Paris walked past the group, “it's our night off too, so we're gonna have some fun,” she snickered, “just like the Gray Wolf!”
“Where we going?” one of the other Melton's asked, as the group followed their leader.
“There's a dive bar around her that my database said is pretty fun on nights like—”
“I didn't know robots could drink,” a Melton interjected.
Paris ignored being mislabeled, and grinned. “I guess we're about to find out, aren't we, boys?”
Godan flipped down onto a rail. He thought he made the usual, perfect landing. Instead, his feet slipped, and he fell on it. He grunted, allowed himself to slip off, and fall to the ground, curled up, holding his crotch.
Jenny landed next to him, but did not say a word. She just watched as the alternate version of her friend winced in pain.
Godan activated his healing factor, and looked up. “You annoy YOUR 'Godan' this much?”
Jenny did not respond. She breathed deeply, and continued staring at the Gray Wolf with a concerned look. Godan finally healed up enough that he was able to get up.
“No excuses this time?” he asked, standing up. Jenny remained silent. Godan grunted, turned around, and leaned against the rail. “Still not back to full power yet?”
“Nearly there,” Jenny whimpered.
“Good, I guess.”
Godan sighed, and scratched his head as he looked into the distance, at the lights of downtown.
A scream bellowed from below them. The Gray Wolf looked down, and saw a group of homeless people near an overpass. Two figures stood out: one that was passed out, and another who was giving them CPR.
“SHIT!” Godan yelled, jumping over the railing. Jenny grimaced, and followed.
Godan landed behind the group. “We got an O.D.?” he asked, making his way through the group. Various people confirmed it was. “Did it just happen?”
The person giving the victim CPR nodded.
Godan got down on his knees. “Okay, I got this.”
Floating above them, Jenny watched as the alternate version of the Godan she loved took out Narcan spray from his leg pocket, tilted the victims head back, and sprayed the medicine into their nose. They waited a few moments, until the victim woke up.
“Calm down, you're good,” Godan said as the victim began to jerk around. “I'm getting you to a hospital.”
Godan slowly lifted the man up. “Hospital, hospital...” he muttered, thinking of where to go. “JENNY!”
“Yes?” the Shifter asked, landing beside him, to the shock of the crowd.
“Do you know where Saint Anthony's Hospital is?”
“Yeah!”
“You can get us there faster with your teleportation.”
“Shifting.”
Godan glared. “Just get us there!”
Jenny nodded, took hold of Godan's shoulder, and shifted them. The crowd screamed, and talked frantically amongst themselves.
Jenny, Godan, and the victim appeared in the parking lot of Saint Anthony's. Ignoring the weird feelings that came from shifting, Godan ran into the hospital, with Jenny following him.
They passed by a cop car. The officer inside looked up from his phone, and glared.
“HEY!” Godan yelled as they entered the lobby. “WE GOT AN OVERDOSE HERE!”
The staff in the lobby scrambled. “Just now?” one of the nurses, rolling up a stretcher, asked.
“Yeah,” Godan laid the victim down, “I just gave him Narcan.”
The other staff joined them, and took the man down the hall, as Godan and Jenny watched.
“That injury looks pretty bad, Mister Gray Wolf,” someone said, putting their hand on Godan's shoulder. “Follow me, and I'll fix you up.”
“I don't have a—” Godan turned around, and saw that it was his housemate, Lana, in her nurse uniform. “Oh, HELLO nurse!” He grinned. “I AM feeling pretty SICK right now. I sure could—”
“Okay, you don't have to lay it on THAT thick, lover boy.”
Jenny saw who it was, and lit up. “Oh, my God, Lana!” Jenny clasped her hand together. “You're a doctor in this universe!”
“I'm still a nurse,” Lana looked at Jenny awkwardly. “Who are—”
“I'll explain as you treat me,” Godan interrupted. He looked at the Shifter. “Go chill over there for a sec,” He pointed Jenny towards some chairs, “I'll be back.”
“Why are you hanging out with teenage girls wearing goggles?” Lana asked, leading him down the hall.
“It's not like I want her hanging around me,” Godan replied.
Jenny watched them go into an examination room, then went and sat down. She put her goggles up, and relaxed. I just can't figure him out, she thought.
“Excuse me, young lady,” someone beside her said, “did you just come in with the Gray Wolf of Chicago?”
Jenny looked over, and saw a Chicago police officer uniform. She looked up, and her eyes widened, as well as her smile.
“OFFICER HANNIGAN!” she yelled, jumping up. “YOU'RE HERE, TOO?!”
“I think you're being way too harsh on her,” Lana said, taking a hit from her vape.
“Oh, bullshit,” Godan replied, taking a sip of water. “I wouldn't have gotten into all these scraps tonight if it wasn't for her.”
Lana sighed. “So, you would have been fine with Black Terror wrecking the Beat Cafe?”
Godan glared. “Absolutely not.”
Lana grinned. “You would have been fine with that Melton tearing up that Christmas party?”
“Stop it.”
“No, no, I'm sure that if Jenny wasn't around, then you wouldn't have had to waste that Narcan—”
“OKAY, I GET IT!” Godan immediately calmed himself. “She has just really been getting to me with all her 'But MY Godan...” comparisons, and, well...”
The Gray Wolf downed the rest of his water, and closed his eyes.
“What?”
“Well, this is our first Christmas without Haruki and Tucker, and yeah, it's been really hard.”
Lana took a big hit from her vape, and exhaled. “Same,” she narrowed her eyes, “but I'm not drowning my sorrows with liquor, and I'm certainly not blaming my troubles on a teenage girl from another dimension.”
“So, what are you doing then? Cause whatever it is, I wanna know.”
“Seriously?” Lana leaned against the table. “I'm living my life! Going to holiday festivals, parties—all that stuff I've invited you to, but NO, you're too busy hunting down Melton's, fighting monsters, and, apparently, getting hammered on rooftops!”
Godan hummed. “Don't forget searching for Haruki and Tucker.”
Lana wiped her forehead “I miss them just as much as you—and I know you'll find them—but running yourself ragged like this isn't helping.”
Godan sighed, and nodded.
Lana took a deep breath. “They wouldn't have wanted either of us to mope around. Isn't that Nang girl you've talked about having a holiday bash at her nightclub tonight?”
Godan nodded again.
“Then go to it after Jenny leaves! You'll blow off some steam, and you'll be with someone that wants you around!”
“Oh?” Godan smiled, and raised an eyebrow. “Are you saying you don't want ME around?”
“Don't even start that, Gray Wolf of Chicago,” Lana, smiling, got up, straddled Godan, and kissed him.
They made out for a few minutes. During it, while his head was tilted to the side, Godan noticed a mistletoe hanging from the top of the door frame. He slowly slid his hand down the back of Lana's pants.
“Okay, down boy,” Lana said, breaking away. “I already risk my job enough by vaping in here.”
“Add this to the list of places for us to do it in the future.” He pointed at the door. “We weren't underneath the mistletoe toe.”
“We were close enough,” Lana got up and took the ornament down. “Here, this might help you with Nang later.”
“Thanks,” Godan stuffed it in his pocket.
“Come on, your friend from the future—or alternate world, or whatever—has been waiting around long enough.”
They walked back to the lobby. The receptionist greeted the Gray Wolf enthusiastically. Godan thanked her, and looked around.
“Uh, where's Jenny?” Godan asked, looking around.
“Over there,” Lana pointed towards a chair, “aren't those her goggles?”
They walked over and they were, indeed, the Shifter's goggles. Underneath them was a folded note.
Godan caught a whiff of a familiar scent. He picked up the note, and opened it:
“Track us down, mutt. Love, Hannigan.”
The Gray Wolf, enraged, crumbled the note. “FUCKING PIG!”
“Well, isn't that interesting,” Officer Brett Hannigan said, leaning against his cruiser. “I've never imagined there were other universes—much less how radically different I'd be in them.”
In an abandoned, dimly-lit parking lot, Hannigan had a barely-conscious Jenny handcuffed to a pole, blood coming down the side of her head. She winced, and groaned as she tried to move.
“But then again, I did hit you pretty hard there,” Hannigan twirled his baton as he walked up to the Shifter. “You could be having delusions due to a concussion.”
“You're...” Jenny whimpered, “not like this.”
“What was that, sweetie?” Hannigan bent down, putting his hand next to his ear. “Come on, speak up.”
Jenny glared at the officer. “The Brett Hannigan I know is a good person!” she yelled. “He was compassionate—”
“Uh huh?” Hannigan interrupted.
“And...” Jenny stuttered, “kind!”
“You kinda just said that, but okay!”
Jenny tried to pull forward, the cuffs scraping her wrist. “And he was a hero!”
Hannigan laughed. “He's a cop too?”
Jenny nodded.
Hannigan stood up. “Yeah, it's safe to say,” he tapped the baton on his palm, “you're a long way from home! Have you been bugging the Gray Wolf with this shit all evening, Miss Everywhere?”
Jenny screamed, and tried to lunge at him. The cuffs made her nearly face plant
“Well, then,” Hannigan raised the baton, “allow me to show you what our dimension is REALLY like!”
A large piece of concrete shattered on the back of Hannigan's head, causing him to drop the baton, and stumble. Godan suddenly appeared, and kicked the corrupt cop across the parking lot.
“I wish you'd get it through your head,” the Gray Wolf said as he snapped Jenny's cuffs off her, “that this ISN'T your universe!”
Jenny fell to her knees, crying.
“Shit, your head,” Godan kneeled down to examine the wound. “That pig did a number on you.”
Jenny looked up at Godan, her face wet with tears. “Why is this universe so dark?”
Godan looked flabbergasted. “Oh, come on!” he snorted, “don't be so dramatic! I'm sure your universe isn't all flowers and sunshine either!”
They heard a roar. They looked over, and saw Hannigan transforming into his red wolf form.
“Get out of here,” Godan said, pulling Jenny to her feet. “I got this.”
Jenny looked at him with a shocked look. “You can't beat him!”
The Gray Wolf grinned. “In YOUR universe, maybe.”
Hannigan, fully transformed, howled, and charged at them. Godan let out a battle cry, and did the same.
The Shifter watched as the two wolf warriors went at it, tearing at each other with their claws. She began to think about her Godan and her Hannigan—how heroic they were, how they had a mentor-student relationship...
She shook her head, and exorocized those thoughts from her head.
She got angry.
Hannigan lifted Godan above his head, and slammed him onto the ground. He let out a bloodthirsty howl, and lunged at the Gray Wolf.
Godan suddenly glowed red, and disappeared. Hannigan's face slammed into the pavement.
“What?” Godan mumbled, vaguely aware that he was shifted. He looked up, and saw Jenny Everywhere, covered in a flaming, red aura, arms extended, with blank eyes. “You okay, kid?”
“I got this!” Jenny replied, in a venomous tone.
Hannigan tore his face out of the ground, his jaw bloody. He was suddenly covered in a square shadow. He looked up, and saw his cruiser coming right at him.
“I thought you had to touch something in order to shift them,” Godan asked, getting up as the cruiser smashed into the corrupt werewolf cop.
“It's easier, but not necessary,” Jenny's aura flared again. “Watch.”
The smashed cruiser turned red, and shifted out of existence. It appeared in the air, with a nearly unconscious Hannigan underneath it. Jenny yelled, and threw her arms down, sending Hannigan and the cruiser smashing into the ground.
“Well, goddamn!” Godan said, rubbing his head.
Jenny repeated the shifting, smashing Hannigan and his cruiser harder into the ground.
“FUCK YEAH!” Godan yelled, pumping his fist. “MAKE HIM PAY!”
Jenny shifted them one more time and, with all her strength, smashed Hannigan and the cruiser into the ground, shattering the vehicle to pieces.
The parking lot was quiet.
“Feel better?” Godan asked.
“Yeah,” Jenny replied, her intense red aura disappearing as she breathed heavily. “I finally realized who I was fighting.”
Godan nodded. “About time.”
A claw shot out of the wreckage. Taken aback, Godan got into a battle stance as Hannigan emerged from the wreck, bloodied and torn. The officer wobbled, regained his footing, and charged at the Gray Wolf and the Shifter.
“Pig just won't fucking die!” Godan muttered.
Jenny's arm suddenly shot forward. Hannigan became engulfed in red energy. The Shifter, growling, closed her fist.
Blood suddenly spurted out of various points on the cop's body. Hannigan, wide-eyed, whimpered and collapsed.
“Um,” Godan relaxed, “what did you just do?”
Jenny powered down, and fell to her knees. “I shifted all his bones.” she replied, exhausted.
Godan stared at her. “You broke his bones?”
Jenny, taking a deep breath, nodded. “I'd be surprised is he wasn't paralyzed”
Godan grinned. “AWESOME!” he yelled, extending his fist. “Great job!”
Jenny, returning the grin, bumped fists with the alternate version of her friend.
“We should get your head looked at,” Godan said, scooping the Shifter into his arms.
“I'm fine,” she replied, “just a scratch.”
“You can tell that to Lana,” Godan leapt into the air, “I'm sure she's interested in hearing what her teenage counterpart is like.”
Jenny ate her rice too fast, causing her to choke and cough.
“Slow down!” Godan said, putting aside his Chinese food, and patting her on the back. “Unless choking is another way for you to regain power.”
“I'm good,” Jenny took a drink of her pop. “I'm actually back to full strength.”
“Really? Even after all that shifting,” The Gray Wolf pointed to her bandaged head, “and the damage you've taken?”
Jenny shook her head. “I told you before, the type of energy I need to build up to shift between dimensions is different from regular shifting, so I haven't tapped into it at all since I've been here.”
“Ah, gotcha,” Godan finished his meal. “So, what'cha gonna do when you get back?”
“I suppose I'll rejoin my Godan, and I'll tell him and the others all that happened here tonight.”
The Gray Wolf grinned. “Tell Teen Godan that I said, 'Hey, Yo!'.”
Jenny ate the last of her meal. “How about you? What are you going to do once I leave?”
Godan hummed.
Jenny became concerned. “You're not going to spend the rest of the night drinking, are you?”
“No,” Godan smiled, “I think I'll pay Nang a visit. There's a Christmas dance party going on at her club, after all.”
Jenny let out a sigh of relief “That's good. Want me to drop you off before I go?”
“You know where the club is?”
“Is it in this universe's Chinatown?”
Godan nodded.
Jenny extended her hand. “Let's go!”
The Gray Wolf took hold of the Shifter's hand, and they disappeared
On the roof of the Temple of the Man-Eating Spider, Chinatown's premier nightclub, Nang Tu, superhuman enforcer of The All Seeing Eye gang, smoked a joint while looking down at the street. A bright red light appeared behind her. She turned around, ready to fight, when Godan and Jenny shifted into existence
“Sup, Nang?” Godan asked, saluting her as he fully materialized.
“Oh, hello Gray Wolf,” Nang eased herself. “I didn't think you were coming.”
“I got convinced”
Godan looked over at what Nang was wearing: a tight, bright red dress that had Christmas trees all over it, and a coat that looked exactly like something Santa Claus would wear.
“You look very Merry tonight.”
“That was the goal,” Nang took a hit from her joint. “Who's the kid?”
“Oh, yeah. Nang, this is Jenny Everywhere.” Jenny waved as Godan pointed at her. “She's from another universe.”
Nang stared at them. “Another universe?”
“I'll explain later.” He turned to Jenny. “So, how's Nang different in your universe?”
“Well,” Jenny scratched her chin, “she's not as tall, or as voluptuous,” the Shifter giggled. “She's also goth.”
“Were you a goth when you were a teen?” Godan asked Nang.
Nang snorted. “No, what're you talking about?”
“Like I said, I'll explain later.” He turned back to Jenny. “So, I guess you'll be heading back then?”
“Yeah,” Jenny nodded. “I think I've had enough of your dimension for one day.”
“I assure you, we're usually a lot better than we were tonight.” The Gray Wolf put his hands into his sweatshirt pockets. “Sorry I was a dickhead to you.”
“No, It's all right!” Jenny put on her goggles. “I shouldn't have pressed myself upon you.”
“Well, if you didn't, I'd still be on some roof, trying to throw empty forties into Lake Michigan, so it all—”
Jenny clasped her hands in front of her, and stared at Godan, smiling.
“What?” Godan returned the smile. “Why are you giving me that look?”
The Shifter suddenly wrapped her arms around Godan, and pressed her face into his chest. Momentarily surprised, the Gray Wolf returned the hug.
Nang, confused, raised an eyebrow.
“I'm gonna miss you,” Jenny said, looking up at him.
“Same,” Godan patted her shoulder. “Come back sometime—I swear, I'll be less crabby.”
“And less drunk?” Jenny asked, letting go.
“THAT I can't promise,” Godan winked, “but I'll be a happier drunk next time, okay?”
Jenny nodded, turned around, and stretched out her arms. She closed her eyes, and dug deep within herself. Her red aura flared—her whole body began to tremble. She took a deep breath, and gave one last push.
A bright, blue portal opened. The Shifter breathed out, and looked back. Godan gave her a thumbs up.
“GOODBYE FOR NOW!” Jenny yelled, as the portal pulsated, trying to pull her in.
“SEE YA, JENNY!” Godan yelled back, waving. “MERRY CHRISTMAS!”
Jenny saluted her Godan's alternate counterpart, and entered the portal. It pulsated a few more times, and disappeared
“So, instead of spending the night with me,” Nang approached the Gray Wolf, extending her joint, “you hung out with a teenage girl instead?”
“It was completely platonic,” Godan took hold of the joint, and took a hit, “and a good thing, too. She got me out of my funk.”
“Well, I'm still offended that you didn't enthusiastically accept my invitation. This is the biggest Christmas party in Chinatown, after all.”
Godan finished the joint, and flicked it away. “I'll make it up to you,”, blowing out smoke. He dug through his pocket, and took out the mistletoe that Lana gave him, and held it over their heads, “starting now.”
Nang grinned, wrapped her arms around Godan's neck, and kissed him. The Gray Wolf put his arms around Nang's waist, and pulled her in closer.
A blue portal appeared in the alley. Jenny Everywhere stepped out, and immediately fell to her knees, exhausted.
“Please tell me I'm back,” she gasped, lifting up her goggles. She looked around, and saw the open pack of Old Style she left behind. “Looks like I am.”
“JENNY!” a voice from above her yelled.
Before the Shifter could react, a figure landed in the alley a few feet from her. He wore a leather jacket, gray pants, gray shoes, a gray shirt, had large, spiky gray hair—with two of them sticking up prominently, like horns—and had a gray mask tied around his face.
It was Godan.
Her Godan.
“I've been looking all over for you!” the teenage Gray Wolf said, walking up to her. “Are you all right?”
“I am,” Jenny, smiling, said as she slowly stood up, “just went on an unexpected trip.”
“Really?” Godan looked over, and saw the scattered beer cans. “Wait, what happened?” He looked worried. “Were you attacked?”
Jenny let out a grateful sigh. “I'll tell you about it later.”
“Okay then,” Godan put the cans back in the box. “I got the Malort, and I'm sure Nita, Haruki, and Tucker are back from their food runs—”
As he turned around, Jenny wrapped her arms around Godan's neck, pulled him in, and kissed him.
“Shifty,” Godan gasped after she pulled away. “What was that for?”
Jenny hugged him. “I'm just celebrating Christmas,” she said, squeezing him.
Godan put his free arm around her, and hugged back.
The snow fell gently on them, as well as everyone else in Chicago, on this weekend before Christmas.
/
GARRET SCHUELKE is a writer, podcaster, and musician that currently resides in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He is the author of the GODAN series (Bakunin Incorporated), Anamakee (Riot Forge Studios, 2016), Whup Jamboree: Stories (Elmblad Media Group, 2017), and three ebooks. He is also the host of The Garret Schuelke Podcast, The Cheeseburger Blues: An Exploration into Dad Blues Rock, and A Riot of my Own. He makes music under the moniker Neobeatglory.
To learn more, visit Garret Schuelke’s official website: garretschuelke.tumblr.com.
Comentarios