"Don't bullshit me. You don't have that power, and if it's a gift from that creep in New Horizon, I'm good." Hearing James chuckle, Jeremiah narrowed his eyes, wondering where the confidence came from.
"You won't believe me without seeing it. Can you meet me?"
"James, I don't like you. Quite frankly, I don't think I will be able to resist punching you if I see your face." James scoffed in reply.
"I don't get why you hate me so much, Jeremiah. Sure, I used you against Cain, but I'm not stupid. I only did that because I knew you could survive."
"You misunderstand." Jeremiah replied, "I never really liked you. Before I put on airs becuase we where collegues and a useful one at that, but you always irked me the wrong way. You're just a terrible person who likes to be miserable."
"You're a stuck-up, cunt who thinks better of everyone, Jeremiah. We all have flaws. Now we can sit here and name-call each other, or you can stop being childish and come and meet me." Jeremiah chuckled, the final bit of tension in his body finally gone and nodded to himself.
"Where?"
"You know Jenny's is in Jefferson. I'll meet you there." Jermiah made a quick note and grabbed his things. Looking to the Captain, he smiled.
"We're not done yet." Grabbing his phone, he turned it off speaker, "I'm heading over now, don't waste my time."
--------
James looked to the door and saw Jeremiah walk in, look around, and spot him. Taking a seat at a server walked over with a pot of coffee and poured him a mug before walking off. Taking out a cigarette, James lit it and took a deep inhale.
"Do you have to smoke in here. People are eating." James stared and shrugged.
"I sat in the corner for a reason." Ashing it out, he reached into his pocket and pulled out the badge the ISD gave him to prove his association with them. Sliding it over, Jeremiah picked it up, looking over it with confusion before closely examining it to see if it was fake.
"You're a wanted criminal. How the hell did you get this?"
"Check your system when you get back. All charges I am wanted for have been dropped. After all, they were phoney to begin with." Taking another inhale of his cigarette, James took back the badge and smiled.
"So you trade one in for another. You really are a slimy person." Jeremiah shook his head and took a sip of coffee.
"I didn't have much choice. It was this or prison."
"Whatever." Jeremiah shook his head, "Was this your proof to say you can get the Aretfact. Just because you joined the ISD doesn't mean you can get what is needed. I'm sure they're rare and that you don't have the clout." James nodded and smiled.
"Normally, that would be the case, but I have been given a mission. Deal with Zoktis. I'm sure you remember the name." Jeremiah squinted and looked into James's eyes, taking a sip of coffee.
Opening his mouth, Jeremiah paused what he was about to say and chose something else instead, "What is Zoktis? All I know is that it is a myth that children read, but the way you talk about it and the warning the ISD gave before. There's more, isn't there?"
James took another drag of his cigarette, ashing it afterwards, "Do you know the truth behind abilities?"
"Never thought about it," Jeremiah said with a tired voice, seeing that the conversation would drag on.
"They evolve with humanity. Culture, systems, you name it, an ability will form around it after a long enough time with enough people knowing of it. But then what is the source of these abilities?" Jeremiah's eyes widened. Looking at James, he couldn't help but wonder if he was crazy.
"Zoktis isn't this. There's no way." Jermeiah said in disbelief, trying to sense even an ounce of a lie from James.
"I am unsure if it really is, but Xavier seems sure it is. And this group chases after the thing needed to gain access to it. As for what will happen if they open it, we don't know." James took a final drag of his cigarette, putting it out afterwards,
"James." Laughing to himself, Jeremiah picked up his coffee and drank, trying to stop it, "This isn't a police case if it's true. This is..." Waving his hands, he tried to find the words, "It's insanity. I can do a lot, I can deal with most issues in this city, but this is different."
"Jeremiah," James eyes hardened. Leaning forward, he stared deep into his eyes, "This is the enemy you have to face if you want to protect this city. You can't be halfhearted or scared because of it."
Jeremiah's mouth fell agape, looking at James, wondering where he got such overblown confidence from. Even if they fought, Jeremiah knew he would win 10/10 times, and yet James was willing to dive headfirst into the dragon's den. It wasn't a confidence gained from his connection with the ISD but built on something else.
"You're crazy. This whole thing, nah. Keep your Aretfact, I'm done with this."
"Are you such a coward?" James said, stopping Jeremiah as he rose. Jeremiah's lip twitched, and looking to James, he lifted his arm. James felt a vibration across the front of his body, slowly pushing him deeper into his chair. It got stronger with each passing second, feeling like it would tear his body apart from within.
"A coward. That's what you call me. You're telling me, the people to fight control time and chase after a myth, and I'm a coward for not wishing to be involved." Jeremiah's fingers curled, making the vibration become more intense, "What can you do? Right now, I could kill you. Don't you understand? If you can't do anything, then why should I listen?"
The words got trapped in James throat. Activating his eyes, he stared at his aura and saw the black-and-white static inside. Looking within himself, he slowly changed his aura, 'Vibration, no, it's different. He mainpulating something else.' James mind raced as he remembered every time Jeremiah used his ability on himself and others. Thinking clearly, he smiled and said to himself, 'Friction. That's what it is.'
Jeremiah saw James smile and frowned. James looked inside his body and slowly changed its nature. The clear white canvas morphed into static. Looking in himself, James finally understood what Jeremiah did to people when he used his power, and why it is so dangerous. It wasn't anything special, only controlling the state of an object, increasing or decreasing the friction between them.
But even this was nothing to what Jeremiah had achieved, and James couldn't help but be completely impressed, even realising how much of a genius he was and why his ego was so shattered. If he wanted to do anything, maybe he could affect how an object interacted with another, but Jeremiah had fine-tuned his power to the extreme, going so far as to manipulate the air around him. The barrier around him, pushing against his body, was constantly changing, undergoing micro shifts to create a vibrating wall that crashed against him, having become a subconscious thing for him. It was something no one could approach, and whilst he couldn't outright kill him, it gave Jeremiah every opening he needed.
How long he had spent training it, perfecting it to where he could do it without thinking, baffled James. It was a terrible ability when he thought about it, and yet Jeremiah had pushed it to its absolute limit, turning it into a weapon that could stop ninety per cent of people.
Even if he wanted to fight it, he didn't know how to start. To stop the force pressing against him, he needed to match every change that happened within every second, or be so overwhelmingly stronger that it couldn't touch him.
Changing his aura back to normal, he felt at ease as Jeremiah lowered his hand. "We're done now."
"No." James weakly said, looking at the man with a newfound respect, "Jeremiah, I am not stronger than you, that much is clear, but I must act. You can run, hide away. You're right, you're not a coward for seeing this as a hopeless endeavour. But why stop? This man isn't alone. He has a support network that can be attacked. I can't do it alone, God knows the ISD won't help me, even if I am one of them, until it's too late."
James looked deep in his eyes, "I'm not asking you to do anything other than what you always have been. Be a weapon that can be used. I will try to provide you with the things needed to counter time, but in the meantime, don't give up and focus on the others." Jeremiah stared at James for nearly a minute.
"I'll think on it." Walking off, he left the cafe.