An Angels Hero

STCF Introduction

"I am the founder of the STCF." He says, "The name is Fabian Warter. Now that I've told you about myself, tell me about you."

"In what way?" Jack asks as he sits there, skeptical of this all.

"What universe are you from?" Fabian asks. He is sitting with his chin resting on his fist.

"Universe?" Jack asks, "I'm from Fiscera. What do you mean by universe?"

"Hm. Fiscera... That's your nation?" Fabian asks.

"Yes. Why is that important?" Jack asks.

"That is in Universe 777. So I know your universe now." Fabian says, "What is your name?" He asks.

"Jack." Jack says.

"Full name." Fabian says.

"Fine..." Jack says begrudgingly, "Jack Sicen." He says.

"Good. Jack Sicen... Interesting name." Fabian says as he stands. "So, tell me. How did you get to Universe 0?"

"I did it accidentally." Jack says.

"But how did it happen exactly?" Fabian asks, wanting more details. Jack looks at him with an air of anger.

"Sigh..." He hangs his head as he sighs. He then looks back up. "I was tasked with slaying a monster, bought a weapon that could fire a laser that would supposedly vaporize it, missed, and hit myself. Though clearly I'm not vaporized, so it turns out it doesn't do that. There, does that satisfy your curiosity?"

"Do you still have this weapon?" Fabian asks.

"You're full of questions, aren't you?" Jack asks, annoyed.

"Answer the question." Fabian says. His calm demeanor is now one of intensity. Jack looks at him.

"No. I don't have the weapon anymore." Jack says.

"Well, where is it?" Fabian asks, "If it can transport things to other universes, it is far too dangerous."

"It's in my universe. If someone hasn't found it yet, it's probably where I last used it." Jack says, "And unfortunately I don't have every rinky-dink village in Fiscera memorized." He smiles.

"I see." Fabian picks up a communication device off of his desk. "Organize a recovery mission to Universe 777. In the country of Fiscera, there is a weapon with Aether powers there. Find it, and recover it." He then puts the device down. "That is taken care of now. Anything else you have for me?"

"Nope." Jack says, "If you don't mind me asking sir, I have a question sir. And given how much you've asked me, I think I'm justified here."

"Huh." Fabian sits back down. "Fine."

"Okay, great." Jack says, "What is this 'STCF', and what do you do?" He asks.

"Apt question." Fabian says, "The STCF is short for Space-Time Correction Force. Think of us as the police for the multiverse. We take down threats to its stability, and keep peace by correcting alterations and distortions caused by said threats."

"So you secure justice?" Jack asks.

"In a sense, yes." Fabian says.

"Huh. Right before that guy 'arrested' us, another guy tried to kill us in the name of the same justice." Jack tells him.

"Ruin. That's what he calls himself." Fabian says, "He is not affiliated with us. Our ideals don't exactly... Align."

"You know of him though?" Jack asks.

"But of course. He is a pain." Fabian says.

"And yet you've never arrested him?" Jack asks.

"Believe me, we've tried. But he has a sort of aura that allows him to avoid our tracking devices. So he has always evaded us." Fabian says, an exhausted expression while he does. Clearly they've had trouble with him for a long time.

"So you two are not aligned in what way?" Jack asks him.

"He kills all universe hoppers, regardless of the severity of their crime. None are exempt from death by his hand. Yet he calls it justice." Fabian says.

"I see." Jack says, "So you don't kill your arrestees?"

"We do. Though only in special circumstances." Fabian says, "Their crimes must be entire multiverse threatening. Any below that level will merely be imprisoned. Worst case is life." Fabian says, "In my opinion that is justice. Not killing without restriction. But there are some whose crimes warrant death."

"So your beliefs are a polar opposite to his?" Jack asks.

"No. Not entirely. He pursues the same justice we do, correcting the multiverse and taking out threats to the fragile balance within." Fabian says, "The difference is the means in which both Ruin and the STCF take to achieve this goal. One apprehends and arrests aggressors, with the death penalty reserved for only the most severe." He says, "Meanwhile one kills unabashedly. Pretty stark difference I would say."

"I can see that." Jack says, "But what if they do it accidentally?"

"Punishment is still necessary. I know you are asking due to your own circumstance. But just doing it, intentional or not, has the potential to bring entire universes down." Fabian says.

"That so? Well I won't do it again, knowing that." Jack says, "I assure you."

"Sure you do. I've heard that before." Fabian says, "Tomorrow there will be a hearing. That will determine your sentence." He says as he picks up his communicator. "Take him back to his confinement." It only takes a moment, but a guard arrives, a different one than before. Jack stands up, staring Fabian down.

"Follow me, prisoner." The guard says. The two exit, and they retread the corridors that Jack took prior. The guard escorts him to his cell, uncuffs him, and locks him in. Jack sits down on his bed. He looks around his cell, scanning for potential means of escape. But there is nothing.

"Dammit." Jack says to himself, "I need to find a way out. I know what I did could've been bad, but I didn't mean to." He says, "Wait..." He stands, finding he can activate his Angel powers. He deactivates them. "Okay. I can still use them. Tomorrow I have that hearing. Meaning they'll need to open the door and cuff me..." Suddenly it hits him. "I'll attack then! The cell door will be opened, and a guard will come inside. I can overwhelm them with my powers, get whatever I can off of them, then get out! That'll be my escape..." He lays back on the bed.

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"The universe has been corrected. I don't sense any distortion here anymore." Ruin says, standing atop a London building shortly after the battle. "The STCF must've gotten them. Dammit..." Suddenly something big hits him. A distortion. "What in the hell is that?! That distortion is massive!" He pulls out a device and looks at it. "Universe 223 is where it is. Here I come, I suppose." Pushing a button, he disappears.

To Be Continued...