《Jogn's War》


 A simple man in his simple world

    Superpowers are a hell of a thing. It warps minds and brings with it its own moral quandaries. Do the powers change the person or simply free them of inhibition. We find that it''s the common man who determines whether you''re the hero or the villain. But such notions are often too simple and quite wrong.


    The world is not black and white. There is no right or wrong. A person cannot be categorized so easily. We are complex beings governed by basic needs and ambitious wants. Too often we find it''s too much to handle. We shut down our common sense and simply throw our lot in with the mob mentality. It''s easier to believe than to reason. Which leads us to our main man J.


    "I don''t believe in powers." - J


    "No way, wtf is wrong with you. Where have you been for the last decade? Under a rock?" - S


    "I know that we''re taught they exist, but I''ve never seen anyone with such abilities." - J


    "I see them all the time on the news. I even saw one taking the subway just yesterday." - S


    "I guess I''m just one of those people who need to see it to believe it." - J


    "You''re in denial man, I don''t have time for this. We''ll talk later." - S


    "k. Later." - J


    J or Jogn looks up from his phone only to peer out at the dark void of a room. A ragged cot runs the length of this small chamber. Adjacent to the bed is a tall hickory dresser with an ancient television on it. Jogn, of average height and complexion walks out the door of this small room. Still in darkness. J flips the switch that lights up the whole place. An empty run-down boxing gym lays before him. Dozily glancing at the clock, he sees it''s about 4am. He starts his stretching and then begins his morning routine. Exercise, Eat, Jog, then off to work.Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation.


    Conveniently, Jogn''s job as a 9-5 dishwasher at a shitty Chinese restaurant is within walking distance of his home. The pay is garbage but still better than nothing. The down-trodden J works his way through the day only to return to his little slice of heaven in the old-ass boxing gym. Eat, Exercise, Surf the Net then to sleep for a bit before starting it all again. The only thing that breaks up this monotony is the pleasant conversations J has with his friend Sara and the payday that happens once every two weeks.


    Bzzzt Bzzzt Bzzzt - Payday!


    J checks his phone and turns off his alarm. "It''s payday." J says to himself with a slight smirk on his face. Skipping his morning routine J sleeps until it''s time to get his check. J awaking later in the morning, jaunts over to the restaurant.


    Walking straight up to his boss, Jogn works up the nerve to ask for his pay.


    "Chin, I''m here for my pay." - Jogn announces.


    A slightly greasy paranoid man of Asian descent stands in the back room staring down at his clipboard.


    "The what now?" ¨C Chin Clarifies.


    Somewhat pissed Jogn looks around then speaks again.


    "My, pay. The pay that I earn. From the job I have here."


    Chin chuckles to himself as if the joke he plays on J every time is funny.


    "Ah, right. Don¡¯t spend it all in one place." ¨C Chin hands over a small envelope.


    Looking down at the greased stained envelope Jgrips it tightly.


    "... Thanks." ¨C Jwhispers under his breath.


    Speeding out the door, J flashes a look at his check and heads to the bank. Four-hundred whole dollars earned for the past two weeks. It seems almost criminal for the amount of work put in. J now waiting in line to make a deposit at the bank, stares off into the distance dreaming of better circumstances.


    Just outside, a small gang of people armed with weapons and dressed in "intimidating" punk-rock clothes walk down the street. A woman from the gang with bright pink hair dressed inblack leather stands in front of the banks doors. She gives her gang a quick look and power-screams at the door.


    Glass breaks everywhere and brick starts to crumble within a 5-meter radius near the scream revealing the bank lobby. As the dust settles the gang enters with weapons readied. J looks on at the rubble and at the armed gang completely confounded. The rest of the people in the bank either run for cover or cower.


    Suddenly asmall text-box flashes before Jogn''s eyes.

 Stranger - 1

    Abrubtlyjolted out of a daze, Jogn stares deafly at the assaulting gang among the rubble. The power scream that had shaken these walls was so devasting that the after-effects were heard for miles. Jogn being the only one still standing in the lobby of the bank starts to shake with a sort-of shocked anger. This was the first time in J''s paultry life he had ever had such dark hatred burn within him. He was finally sick of the shit that this world threw at him. This was the final straw.


    The pink haired punk screamer and a blonde punkish man with frosted tips came to the fore. What they saw was an entire bank of people hiding and cowering except for one man with a face twisted in such a way that could scare death itself. An average complexion and average height of a man just making such a face while shaking irrevocably.


    The pink screamer looks briefly at the blonde frost tipped punk.


    "Ronnie, what in the flying fuck is that man doing."


    Ronnie speaks up unwillingly.


    "I don''t know Tara. Looks like he''s about to shit himself." Letting out a small chuckle.


    "No dipshit, I mean why wasn''t he affected like the others." Tara exclaimed.


    "Hmmm not sure, Let me try again babe." Ronnie abrubtly hops past the rubble heading toward Jogn.


    Jogn slows his shaking and startsto think aloud.


    "Looking at these people make me furious. Blowing up walls, thinking they can just do whatever they want. Who cares if they''re wearing shitty clothes and putting on airs as if they''re all that. I''m sick of all the stupid shit in my life."


    Ronnie walks slowly up to Jogn and directs the palm of his hand at him. "You''re some kind of freak, kid." Shaking his hand as if something is supposed to happen, Ronnie stands there confused.


    "I said I''m sick of your shit!" J screams at him while pulling a serated knife out of his back pocket.


    Slash! Blood drips onto the floor from Jogn''s blade. A long shallow cut stretches across Ronnie''s chest through his black shirt. Blood stains his clothes as Ronnie continues to stand there shocked.If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.


    Quickly snapping out of it, Ronnie pulls out a worn glock. Shakily standing there he weakly raises his hand and fires his pistol. The sudden recoil of the gun and lack of proper form jerks Ronnie''s shoulder putting him off balance. The bullet whizzes past Jogn embedding itself into the counter behind him.


    Jogn stepping toward and passed Ronnie, wields his blade. Shunk!Piercing straight into Ronnie''s abdomen, blood spews forth. Ronnie hacks up a slight amount of blood and droops forward onto J''s shoulder.


    "What the fuck dude!" Tara yells.


    Tara the pink haired beauty squats into a yelling position and opens her mouth as wide as possible. All that comes out is a really loud normal yelling-like noise. Aaaaaoooooohhhuuuuu?? The sound trails off with exhausted breathing.


    The rest of the gang of approximately 3 other people are completely floored by the strange events developing. Quietly one of the bank guards that had been previously hiding behind several people takes a pot shot at one of the stunned thugs. Pow! A powerful slug slips past the thug and puts a hole in the wall behind him. Having gathered his strength the grizzly guard yells out. "I called the cops, you better surrender or start running!"


    Sirens buzz in the distance. WeeWooWeeWoo


    "Fuck y''all. Fuck this and Fuck that guy over there especially." Tara belts out while pointing at Jogn.


    As the sound of sirens starts to get closer the gang bolts out the door. Tara turns to look at Jogn one last time before running out of the bank only to see a green flash of light launch straight at her.


    Fwoom!The flash of light smashes straight into Tara''s face that suddenly bursts into fleshy shrapnel. Everyone staring in aww traces back the plasmic projectile to a woman standing in the back of the lobby. A tall curvaceous pale skinned red-head stands confidently with fist held forward.


    "Wow, that was awesome!" Jogn exclaims staring at this amazon of a woman.


    "You''re like some kind of super girl... Wait no.. that''s been done. Uhhm superwoman? No no that''s not quite right."


    "I got it. I''m a call you Mega-gurl or Mega for short." Jogn says happily now having figured that out in his head.


    Mega calls out to Jogn "We should go before those cops show up, you did stab a guy and I don''t want to deal with paperwork. Btw my name is Rh... Nevermind let''s just bolt."


    "Sounds good I guess." Jogn quips.


    J pulls his blade out of Ronnie and lets the ragdolled body hit the floor.


    Completely ignoring the remaining crowd Jogn and Mega slip out the busted hole of the lobby. Seeing sirens getting closer Mega grabs J and flies off into the air at highspeeds.


    "Uhmm, Holy shit you can fly." Jogn whispers.


    "Yup." Mega nods.


    Jand Mega then continue to fly off into the airto get away from the PoPo and avoid nasty paperwork.