Project S.T.A.T.I.C. Part 4: Worlds Apart

"The Raven is dead. I repeat, The Raven is dead. He was murdered by a group of women that want to control and rule over the city. He gave his life standing against them. The last vestige we have against the evil threatening our city now lies in the hands of The Feral, The Spectre, a handful of miscreants, and all of you. It is up to all of us to stand for the ideals that he represented, to stand against the tyranny of evil, and to ensure that his legacy lives on."

The recording played on repeat across the radio in Rebecca's makeshift hideout. Once she'd returned to Metropolis, she'd gone to the only place she'd known to be close to a home: the old apartment she shared with Jake. The memories weren't all pleasant, but it was the last place she had been close to him. She had been surprised to find that the place was vacant, but apparently her beloved had continued to pay for it afterwards. He'd been here a handful of times at least too. She could smell his scent on the sheets and he had left some tools in the old den on his workbench. It seemed a part of him still cared for her despite everything she'd done to him. She'd seen his death through the eyes of her familiar, but hearing the news across the radio was truly heartbreaking. He was gone, and she hadn't been there to save him.

Her wolf whimpered and whined as she turned the radio off. It brushed against her leg, and she smiled down at it sadly, "I know, boy, but I can't help how I feel. You did what I instructed, and I won't fault you for that."

She crossed the living room to sit in the wing backed chair she had loved so much. A rueful smile crossed her face as she took a seat. She could remember Jake worshiping her on his knees, but she also recalled how spiteful and cruel she'd been to him. If she had the chance, she would turn back time and do it all differently. She'd never lied to him, but she had hidden truths, omitted things, and left him in the dark more than she liked. All of it had been motivated by fear, though. It was hard to admit, and more than a little sad to say, but it was the truth. She had gone through so much to get him, and she had been terrified of losing him in the face of her ambitions. If she could do it all again, she wouldn't hide a thing from him. Maybe then he'd still be alive, and maybe she could have changed to live with him rather than against him.

A knock at the door roused her from her introspective thoughts. Three sharp and militant raps indicating an old acquaintance she'd used in the past. Her methods were ugly, but the results were undeniable. Rebecca stood up and opened the door. A woman wearing black and pink armor stood in the door and her jaw nearly dropped. "You look as though you've seen a ghost," Rebecca remarked as she gestured for Sadie to enter, "I assure you, I am here and who I say I am."

"Tch, can't fake that posh accent," Sadie scoffed as she walked in and collected herself, "I had to see it for myself, though. You're supposed to be dead, Goth."

"Call me Rebecca," Rebecca sighed as she closed the door to drown out the chaos sweeping the streets, "I believe it was your American author Mark Twain who wrote that rumors of my death have been greatly exaggerated. Sadly, I cannot make such a bold claim."

"Are we abandoning titles in favor of laying low now, Rebecca?" Sadie asked as she took a seat on the couch, "I remember a time when you killed people for uttering your given name. Don't tell me the Goth Goddess is going soft now."

The callous attitude of Sadie Wilson had always grated on Rebecca's nerves. Were it not for her impeccable talents, she'd have done away with her services long ago. "Death changes a person, Sadie," Rebecca spoke in an even tone, but she let her hand begin to glow as she took a seat, "Not so much so that I'll tolerate blatant disrespect. The Goth Goddess died, and I am all that remains of the former menace to the damned and desperate."

Sadie eyed the purple fire sparking on Rebecca's hand warily as she crossed her legs and leaned back. "Still trying to scare me into submission," Sadie smirked, hiding her nerves through years of conditioning, "It's never worked on me, Rebecca, and it won't start now. You know the drill. I'm in this for the money, nothing else."

Rebecca extinguished the flame in her right hand and smirked back at Sadie, "You're aware that I'm an empath, right? You can disguise your fear, Sadie, but I can taste it. Your nerves may be hidden, but I know when you're uncomfortable. Hiding the squirms doesn't mean you're not twisting internally. However, I didn't call you here for a friendly chat. I have business to discuss with you."

"Hmph, there's the sadistic bitch I love to hate," Sadie grinned, "I've always admired your ability to rattle someone's cage, Rebecca. That said, you and I both know I've studied you extensively. Whether I can take you remains to be seen, but neither of us would walk away unscathed."

"Which is precisely why we've never come to blows," Rebecca pointed out, "That and my payments have always cleared with you. You don't like me, and I don't like you, but we've always had a mutual respect. Your methods are brutal, but they always get the job done. It's why I can think of no one better to do what I'm needing."

"You have yet to share the details of the job," Sadie raised an eyebrow, "Who do you want dead this time?"

"It's not that, Sadie, I need you to retrieve something for me," Rebecca replied.

"You're kidding," Sadie scoffed, "A whole city is at war and burning right now, and you want me to steal something for you? I've got calls coming in from hundreds of clients right now; all willing to pay a pretty penny for safe passage or services that only I can provide, and you're asking me to be a petty thief."

"Yet you sit before me as always," Rebecca frowned, "You want to know what I want, how I'm here, and what I'm willing to pay. You've always been a curious little girl, but then perhaps it's that submissive nature you try to keep locked away."

"Don't insult me," Sadie warned, reaching for the gun tucked in the holster beside her boot, "I didn't come here for one of your bullshit seminars. The Goddess is dead, and I've never cared for your rhetoric."

"Is the truth such an insult?" Rebecca asked, eying her guest carefully, "Submission isn't such a bad thing, is it? Elizabeth, Jake, and many more have risen beyond their desire to be dominated, and so have you, my dear."

"These bullets are coated with a special enchantment, Rebecca," Sadie glared at her, "They're stolen from Brunswick labs, and they're designed to cut through magic with ease. Keep running your mouth, and we'll see if you're as strong as you once were."

"At ease, soldier, I'm not trying to rile you up," Rebecca held her hand up in surrender, "Well, not to the point of starting a fight. So sensitive about who you are beneath all that bluster. Know that I will not judge you, Sadie. That part of me died and was left in the underworld."

Sadie stared at her for a moment before relaxing and huffing, "You want to start by telling me how exactly you're here, Rebecca?"

"I would if I could, but your guess is as good as mine," Rebecca sighed, "I awoke with no memory of my life, my name, or where I had been. I came to in Citiville, and I was accosted by The Amazon in the streets one night. She knew me, but I couldn't remember her. However, I knew that I felt an intense hatred for her. When she came at me, my instincts took over and I ended her wretched life and the bane she'd been on so many. After that, I was taken in by a family until they learned of my powers and abilities. They became fearful of me, so I left them to prevent them from living in fear. Then, I was drawn to my old home by forces unknown. It was there that I recovered my mind, and it was there that I resolved to right the wrongs of my past life."

"And the animals?" Sadie asked, eying the raven and the wolf that sat beside Rebecca, "I don't recall you having pets in the past."

"Long before you were a thought in your mother's mind, I was alive and wandering the wastes of western Europe," Rebecca explained, scratching behind the ears of her wolf, "Most are familiar with druidic legends in some form or fashion, but I trained with them while learning to harness my new powers. It was through them that I gained a human mastery of magic, and through that I was able to usurp a demon queen in one of the circles of Hell. Upon my return, all I was left with was the powers I'd gained without the aid of the forces of darkness. The rituals and rites are still with me, and the elemental magics are just as potent as ever. These two are projections of myself, and they are tied to my very core. They serve me, follow me, and they are all I have left of a life I lost eons ago."

Sadie watched the wolf as it laid down in front of Rebecca in a protective manner. The bird had been staring at her since she walked in, and she was unnerved by how large its fiery eyes were. "So you broke out of Hell to get here, and you don't even know how you did it," Sadie surmised, "You've got your old magic, but you're a shell of the woman I knew. Heh, how the mighty have fallen."

"A snake sheds its skin, Sadie, and we are no different than the animals that walked this plane before us," Rebecca corrected her, "A shell is a stretch, my dear. I am just as formidable as I once was, but I am no longer shackled by the influence of the demonic curtailing my mind. For the first time in centuries, I can see clearly and my life is my own."

"I need a drink," Sadie sighed, standing up, "I can't believe I'm entertaining working for you again, but my curiosity has the better of me."

"Jake kept a bottle of scotch on the top shelf in the kitchen," Rebecca said, "My guess is that there's still some left. I was more of a chianti drinker myself, but I ran out before I left this place."

Sadie walked into the kitchen to find the bottle just where Rebecca had said. She grabbed it and a glass to pour herself a drink. "So you're hanging around an old haunt because you miss the poor bastard," Sadie said as she walked back in, "No offense intended. The kid was good, better than most I've fought. It's a shame what happened to him, but he never was good at making smart decisions."

Rebecca tensed at the insult, but she forced herself to breathe. She wouldn't attack, not when she could tell Sadie hadn't meant any real harm by her comment. "This place was my home, and its memories are bittersweet," she explained, "I saw him die, Sadie, and I was unable to do anything to help. Is it so wrong that I returned to the last place he and I shared where we weren't trying to kill one another?"

"Didn't say it was, did I?" Sadie countered, taking a sip of her drink, "I'm just assessing the situation as information arises. For what it's worth, I'm sorry for what happened to him. He was a target more often than not for me, but I know how much he meant to you. I'm guessing you heard about Footgirl and her involvement with him recently."

Rebecca tensed again and gripped at the arms of her chair, "I had heard that they had gotten together, but I try not to think about it. Jealousy is one of the things that I still struggle with."

"Those two were never gonna last," Sadie shook her head, "Alexis is too intense and crazy for someone like him, but he kept her out of trouble for a while. She's back on the warpath again, though, and it won't be long before she strikes at the new players on the scene."

"As infuriating as she can be, that may prove to be more useful than anything," Rebecca sighed, relaxing a bit, "However, her influence is easily swayed by promises of power and selfish intent. I presume you're aware of just who is threatening this city."

"The Brunswick family," Sadie nodded, "More money than they know what to do with, and powers that make the old you look like a puppy on a good day. It sounds to me like you're planning on taking the fight to them for retribution. I'd ask if you're hiring me for assistance, but you've already told me you want me to steal something."

"All that matters to you is that my check clears, right?" Rebecca asked.

"You know me too well," Sadie smirked, "Still, it's a shame to lose such a reliable client to a foolish crusade for a dead man."

"Trust me, I won't be losing this fight," Rebecca assured her, "I'm no fool, either. There are others that will be fighting this battle, and I intend to keep my involvement at a minimum until the time comes where I need to reveal myself. For some, that will be sooner than later. For the Brunswicks and their operation, it will come at a most inopportune time. Voidfoot, the world eater, will be felled by my hand before this is said and done."

"You have indeed changed," Sadie chuckled, "The woman I knew would have burned this city to the ground for what those women did, and anyone who got in her way would pay the price. Now, though, now you're practicing subterfuge."

"A tempered response is sometimes the smartest play," Rebecca remarked, "I know what Voidfoot is capable of. I made it a point to strip her name from the records in my archives to ensure that none of my initiates would pursue her path. Her powers are not meant for this world, but everyone and everything can be killed. Power corrupts and clouds the mind, I would know better than anyone. Her arrogance will be her undoing, but not before many suffer the consequences."

"Hmph, this sounds like a show that I would like to see," Sadie grinned, "My payment comes first, though. My loyalty is bought, not given."

Rebecca nodded and stood up to grab a bag she'd taken from her castle. "My coffers were barren from raiders, but this was precious to me," she said as she sat the bag down, "It was a trophy I took from the night I brokered my deal with Lilith. It was meant to be a reminder that I would never again know weakness, but now all I see is regret when I look upon it."

Sadie frowned as she opened the small sack. Her eyes widened as she pulled out a heavy crown with ten of the most dazzling jewels she'd ever seen inlayed on it. "This thing must be worth a small fortune," she marveled as she checked to ensure it was real gold, "Is this-"

"The crown of King Oliver from the sixteenth century," Rebecca nodded, "The man who saw fit to imprison me years ago, and the man who ruled a kingdom lost to time and wrath. The gold is real, as are the stones, and it should fetch you a high price with your buyers, Sadie. It is all I have to offer, but it is yours if you accept my job. If all goes accordingly, I can pay you more once we win. If I fail, then you walk away with your down-payment."

"This thing is easily worth half a million on a slow day," Sadie said, studying the crown, "Now you have my full attention, Rebecca. What haven't you told me?"

"First, you're not stealing something, you're stealing someone," Rebecca answered, "Jake's body, I need it brought to me."

"You're shitting me," Sadie scoffed, "Kinky as you are, I didn't peg you for a necrophile."

"Don't be disgusting," Rebecca grimaced at the joke, "I need his body if I'm going to bring him back."

"Bring him back?" Sadie repeated, "Well, I'd say the dead don't come back, but look who I'm talking to. I'm not interested in the details of how you're planning to do that, but let's talk about what you're asking. The body of Jake Blackridge is going to be heavily guarded by those sister freaks and their goons. Then there's the matter of the undead bitch that ate half of his fucking face. I'm no expert on zombies, but I'm pretty sure she's going to want leftovers. Oh, and then there's the little matter of the psychotic Footgirl, Alexis Hamilton, that is probably going to go after the body at some point."

"Hence the hefty payment I'm providing to you now," Rebecca reminded her, "Or, are you suggesting that your skills aren't up to the task at hand? My mistake, if that's the case, I had assumed Sadie Wilson would remain as sharp as the sword you carry."

"Oh, that's not what I'm saying at all," Sadie chuckled, "Nice try, by the way. If this were anyone else taking a shot like that, I'd double the price after breaking a limb. However, I know you, Rebecca. As much as you can be a pain in the ass, I have a begrudging level of respect for you, your tactics, your conviction, and your dedication to your little lover. I'm just pointing out the risks that are involved and making sure you're aware of them. This backfires, the storm is going to fall on you, not me."

"That's why I'm paying for the best," Rebecca said, "That crown should also cover the second part of this job."

"Protection," Sadie sighed and shook her head, "You want me watching to make sure that you're not followed and that this shit doesn't blow back on you until you're ready."

"There's the smart Sadie I remember," Rebecca smirked, "The storm is indeed coming, Sadie, and I intend to be at the center of it when it does. However, when it does it will be on my terms. You, my sweet money hungry mercenary, are the insurance I need to ensure that it plays out exactly as I plan."

"Hmph, there's the woman I remember," Sadie said, "The woman who always found the advantage, no matter who she had to use. I knew she was still in there somewhere. You can play the part of a changed woman, but you're the same conniving crime lord that called me when she needed a job done."

Rebecca's smirk fell at Sadie's comment, "Make no mistake, Sadie, I am not the same woman I was last we spoke. I have no interest in running a criminal empire again, but that doesn't mean I won't use what I learned to gain the upper hand here."

"Heh, if you say so," Sadie leaned back and finished her drink, "Indulge me for a moment before we get back to business, Rebecca. Let's say that you do pull this off. Let's pretend that your plan goes off without a hitch, which you and I both know is doubtful given who's involved. Why do this? You're a free woman with a second chance at life. Why risk your life for a fight that doesn't concern you when you can simply walk away and move on?"

Rebecca was quiet for a moment as she debated her answer. She knew the reason, but she hadn't expected Sadie to care. She answered with a question as Sadie poured herself another glass, "Do you have any regrets, Sadie? Anything that you would do differently if you had the opportunity?"

"Getting personal tonight, aren't we?" Sadie asked, "Fine, I'll bite. I don't have many, but I believe everyone has something. I'm no exception to that. What's your point?"

Rebecca reached down and stroked her wolf again as she replied, "This is my chance to atone for some of those regrets. My life, the choices I made, put Jake in a position that cost him his soul. The same monster that gave me my first taste of magic, the one that I usurped centuries ago, now has the man that I love. His soul belongs to her for eternity upon death, but he only brokered such a foolish deal because of my actions. The blade that he used to finish me purged me of the demonic influence for good, but it was given to him by the demoness that I had stolen from. In exchange for it-"

"He promised himself to her," Sadie frowned, looking genuinely troubled for a change, "The kid's knack for poor choices continues and is unparalleled. The blade was tethered to her, so when you were killed-"

"My soul, and all the powers I'd stolen, were sent straight to her," Rebecca finished with a mournful look, "Perhaps she saw what was coming, and she saw fit to free me so that I could watch and live in a world without the man I love. A final act of torture and malice to use against me. I return to life long enough to recover my memories, see him from afar, and watch him perish."

Sadie looked down at the bottle and shook her head, "Sounds like you need this more than me. I've heard the stories about demons, the usual bullshit, but that's cruel by any standard here on Earth. So, you plan to somehow bring him back from the dead to do what exactly? Spurn the demon that screwed you?"

"To give him the chance to live, and to find a way to remove her hold on him," Rebecca answered, "Pamela and myself can work together to find a way. That's assuming she's still willing to work with me after what I did to her and her pet."

"You're going to be bringing him back with a lot of missing pieces, you know?" Sadie sighed, "That undead freak took several pieces off of him that he's going to need if he's going to be worth a damn."

"Let me worry about that, I've planned for this as well," Rebecca assured her, "I have more than just you involved in this plan. I'll be paying a visit to the next member of our group while you work on completing the first part of your job."

"You're not going to tell me who I'll be working with?" Sadie asked.

"You'll see her soon enough, Sadie, and you wouldn't believe me if I told you," Rebecca said, "It's easier if I show you than tell you."

"I'm not a fan being kept in the dark, Rebecca," Sadie said, "I'm talking to a dead woman, taking a job from one in fact, and I've seen more shit than almost anyone alive to date. I'll make an exception for you, but only because of our history and what you've shared with me."

"All will be revealed in time," Rebecca promised, "You need to focus on the task at hand first. His body is being kept in a storage facility on the eastern side of the city."

"You know this how exactly?" Sadie asked before adding, "I don't like being misled and running blind. I need to know that whatever my target is will be in order to achieve maximum outcome efficiency."

"My raven," Rebecca glanced up at her bird, "I had it follow the Brunswicks and their little followers after Pamela and the others were forced to retreat. They took his body and stuffed it inside of an old freezer. The warehouse they took it to is one that primarily houses freezers and meats. North Refrigeration is the name of the supposed company, and the one you're looking for is black with a gold B on the outside."

"What if you're wrong?" Sadie asked, "The smarter play for them would be to move him, or to have multiple chests."

"True, but as I've pointed out, they're overconfidence is their weakness," Rebecca smiled, "They're primary concern, as of now, will be containing the collateral damage, seizing the city, and dealing with the threats moving around the city. Their focus will be diverted because they know the opposition is moving against them."

"They won't leave the place unprotected, though," Sadie pointed out, "You may be right, but they want his remains. For what, I have no idea."

"His essence will make it so Voidfoot can lock onto him in another universe," Rebecca said, her smile falling again, "They need him to use as an example for the masses, and all of us exist in multiple realities. They will pluck him from his home, bring him here, and use him to break down the people of this city. While still a possibility without his body, it will be more difficult. The window we have is small, but again, I came to you because you're the best at what you do."

"Flattery doesn't suit you," Sadie scoffed, "Although I do appreciate the sentiment. You're planning on using the others as a distraction while we work, aren't you?"

"I play chess, not checkers, dear," Rebecca answered, "They'll play their part, but I'll see them before this is all over. I cannot risk making contact with them before I have what I need, though. Any indication that there's something more than a simple resistance happening could spell disaster for my chance of success. Let them scatter their forces for now. It should prove beneficial for our objective."

"Fine by me," Sadie shrugged, "It means that I'll have to deal with base security rather than super powered opposition. Give me a day, and I can have his body for you, Rebecca."

"Twelve hours," Rebecca shook her head, "Were this any other threat, I'd be fine with your timeline,  but we are dealing with forces that have powers that can eradicate civilizations on a whim. We do not have time to spare. The longer we wait, the more perilous things will become."

"You're pushing your luck," Sadie frowned, "I need time to gear up and scope the place out. You want this done right, I need a fair amount of time."

"Then I suggest you get moving soon," Rebecca countered, "I have faith in you, Sadie. Do what you must, but time is a luxury we do not have in abundance."

"Still as demanding as I remember," Sadie scoffed, "Very well, I'll get moving then. You want his body brought back here, I'm assuming."

"Everything I need for what comes next is still here, so yes," Rebecca nodded and added, "Sadie, be careful out there. History and differences aside, I've come to understand that all life means something. We may not be friends, but talent such as yours doesn't need to be wasted."

"Hmph, that's unexpected," Sadie said as she stood up, "You almost sound as though you truly care about what happens to me."

"As I said, I'm not the same woman you knew before," Rebecca said, "I don't need people dying for me anymore, and I don't want your name added to that list."

"I'm a survivor, Rebecca, always have been," Sadie said, closing her eyes and looking up, "It's what I do, and it's what's made me the woman that I am. If I die, it won't be in your name or for you. It'll be because of a hefty paycheck, but I'm smart enough to know when to cut ties and run. I'll be back with the body of your ex before you know it. I just hope that you're ready for the blowback that's going to be coming your way, and I'm not just talking about the Brunswicks and their followers. You left more than a few enemies behind before Jake plunged that dagger into your heart. Some of them are still fighting, and the word is their hate runs deep for the likes of you."

"You're referring to Jason and Elizabeth," Rebecca frowned, looking away as Sadie shot her a knowing grin, "The things I did to them were heinous and unforgivable, but a common enemy unites those with differences as deep as ours. I cannot return what I stole from them, but I can help them to move forward."

"You're assuming they want your help," Sadie pointed out as she checked her equipment.

"Want and need are two very different things, my dear," Rebecca reminded her, "They want me dead, but they need what I have to offer if they hope to have a chance for success. I'm not doing this for them, but rather because it's what he would have wanted. Jake saw beyond the darkness in me, but I relished those shadows day after day. He believed that I could do better, be better, but I was blinded by ambition and selfishness back then. This is an opportunity for me to do what he wanted for once, and I do not intend to squander it."

"Let's just hope they see it that way then," Sadie sighed, "I'll keep them from killing you, but it's up to you to get them to trust you. This is going to be one hell of a party before it's all said and done. Make your calls, get whoever you're going to get here, and I'll be back in twelve hours or less. A woman is only as good as her word, after all. I'll call if I run into any hiccups along the way. Let's just hope that your plans are still as solid as they used to be."

"I'll see you soon, Sadie," Rebecca said as her old acquaintance walked out the door.

Rebecca sighed as the door shut. That was one part of her plan taken care of, but the next phase was going to be incredibly difficult. One of the most enigmatic women throughout her lifetimes on this earth was key to her plan, but she hadn't seen her since their final meeting. Dilatrix, the woman who existed outside of time, was the missing piece to this puzzle. While she didn't know if Dilatrix was alive, her suspicions told her she had to be. Whether it was the same version that Rebecca had murdered was a mystery, but the chronomancer was full of surprises. Thankfully, Rebecca had a hunch where to find her. The temporal nature of Dilatrix's magic had a distinct effect on the weave, and she had felt it while she was in the city. The clever woman probably suspected that Rebecca was coming.

She stood up before kneeling onto the rug in the living room. Her familiars gathered beside her as she concentrated on the last place she'd felt that temporal fluctuation. There was no time to waste, and she'd have to plead her case to ensure the aid of the chronomancer. It wasn't for her, not this time, but for Jake. As strange as Dilatrix had always been, she had a clear soft spot for Jake and the others. Her relationship with Rebecca had been purely out of necessity and curiosity to further her research. A pool of darkness began to form around her as she locked onto the position of her old colleague. Rebecca sank into the void and was off for her next meeting within seconds.