A Mission Remembered

by Tanner Froreich

  He nodded. “Yeah, Abigail should be picking me up soon to drop me off at the airport.”

  It was a few minutes later that she showed up. I followed him out the door. “You’re not worrying IODINE is going to come for you?”

  He laughed. “They’re not after me, Arf.” Then with all honesty he continued, “They’re after you.” He turned and looked at the car. “Well, see you later. You’ll be able to reach me if you need me.”

  I didn’t say anything, but I realized how much of a blessing Phineas had been. Without him, I may have never made it home. Before he got in the car, I called out, “Thanks, for everything!”

  “Anytime Arf, God’s Speed.”

  ∆∆∆

  “What happened?” was the first question my dad asked me when he and I were the last two in the living room. We had just finished a wonderful family Bible study, and I cannot describe the peace there was in not just reading the Word, but also listening to conversations about it.

  “Where to start...” I sighed. “My first memories are hazy to say the least. I remember being Mindsweeper’s captive, and he was trying to convince me that he was a friend, a criminal, but I knew that couldn’t be right. So, I fought, and when I had beat him, I prepared to escape. That’s when IODINE showed up and convinced me that I was an agent. They had a photo ID so, to my confused mind, it made sense.”

  “But they didn’t account for an act of God – you remembering your Savior and refusing to do their bidding.” My dad smiled. “In all your time running around in a fancy tracksuit, I haven't seen more blatant evidence for God’s hand of protection over you.”

  “Is it not one of the promises God gives to us?”

  He nodded. “‘Let all those rejoice who put their trust in You; Let them ever shout for joy, because You defend them; Let those also who love Your name be joyful in You. For You, O Lord, will bless the righteous; With favor You will surround him as with a shield.’ Psalm 5:1.” He paused contemplating the verse in his in heart. “But don’t fall into the trap of thinking God will miraculously deliver you from every trouble, some are designed to refine you.”

  The words slipped out; I didn’t even have time to think. “Like mom.”

  Dad sighed. “Yes, Lilly has more trust in Him than I do. She is at peace with whatever He ordains.”

  “And you’re not?”

  He rubbed his eyes. “Yes, wait… no. I trust God, but with everything that has happened to you and to Lilly, my faith is being stretched further than I thought possible. You should understand with everything that happened to Rebekah.”

  “Who?”

  Chapter 27

  Past and Present

  “Who is Rebekah? Dad?” I asked. The name sounded so familiar, yet it didn’t. In the context of how dad had used the name, I figured she must have been someone very special to me, but what had happened to her?

  Dad remained silent for a moment, considering what he should say. “Are you sure you want to know? It may be better if you simply didn’t know.”

  “I am tired of people telling me that. There is nothing, no matter how bad, that I can’t handle,” I exclaimed. I wasn’t being completely honest. Though I was scared of the truth, I was not as scared of it as I was of not knowing it. Ignorance may have kept me from much sorrow, but not as much as the mental agony of knowing that there is a side of me that is absent.

  “Rebekah was a childhood friend of yours. Simon, you and she were inseparable. You and her even more so. You both wanted to take your relationship to another level when she…”

  “...Died?” I finished.

  So, all that time I spent worrying about someone waiting for me wasn’t false, but the one who would’ve waited was dead. It was like being socked in the gut.

  I had to ask, “How’d she die?”

  Dad leaned forward in thought before answering. “It was an accident – car crash.”

  “There was nothing we could do?”

  He shook his head. “You were there, yes, and you had blamed yourself for her death for the longest time, but it was entirely in God’s hands.”

  I remembered something from a few days back. “Is that where all my other scars came from?”

  Nodding, he replied, “Yes, you were paralyzed from the waist down in the accident. It wasn’t until you became the Blue Blur that the function of your legs returned.”

  “How did I become like this? With the powers and all?”

  “It’s a long story.” Dad sighed.

  “I have time,” I replied. “I have to know the whole truth, Dad.”

  Dad relayed the story of how I had previously been approached by a scientist, Abigail’s father, to be a part of an experiment. He also explained how it was all an elaborate plot to kill me to ruin Dad’s Christian witness. He said that Dr. Pinesberg, the scientist, had orchestrated not only the events that got me disqualified for the Olympics, but also Rebekah’s death. It was later revealed He also engineered a super-strength opponent, “The Troll,” to distract me from figuring out what he was up to. As events played out, Pinesberg turned against “The Troll” and later was accidently killed by him.

  Though the story was woeful, I was intrigued by it. I felt sorry for Abigail, who was raised by this bitter man, but also lost her only family member. I remembered that IODINE had told me that the scientist behind my powers was dead. At least they got that part of the story right. Even when Dad finished the first story and continued to tell many tales of other foes that I had encountered before Mindsweeper, I kept thinking about the Troll.

  When dad was describing mine and Simon’s adventure against a rich video-gaming sociopath, I gestured for him to pause. “Wait, can we go back to the Troll for a moment? Who was he and what did he look like?”

  “Robert Ravenhouse was a man of monstrous proportions. He would stand taller than any other – easily 600-plus pounds of defined muscle – and a strength that could only be compared to that of Samson. Yet, his most identifiable feature is the hair that covers the entirety of his body. It’s similar to the pelt of a tree sloth both in color and appearance. No one knows anything about the past of Ravenhouse. The officers and court system have remained silent about it to the public, but it’s not like many people care about it.”

  I was certain that the other prisoner still in IODINE was this man. Even the agents tasked with capturing him during his break out referred to him by the name “Troll”. I was conflicted between two sides. One told me that he was a criminal and should be left to rot, but another argued that he was still a man, and what IODINE was doing was wrong. I pushed the thoughts from my mind, as I had more pressing issues to deal with.

  “Why do you ask son?” my dad asked.

  I shrugged. “It doesn’t matter right now. I’m really concerned about IODINE – what they are planning, and how it involves me.”

  Dad got up from his chair and sat by me on the couch. “I understand your fear. With war brewing, we can only pray that God will guide our leaders into wise choices.” He gave me a side hug and got up. “It’s time to head to bed. Arf, I know how you are. I know you have to do something about IODINE, but maybe you should take a few days to relax. Spend time with your brothers and sisters, see your mother, go on a calm hike, but most importantly seek the Lord. He will guide you no matter the chaos.”

  He was about to head to bed, but I asked, “Can you tell me more about God? I know His word, but I would like someone to help me understand.”

  He smiled. “Sure son.”

  It would be another two hours before he went to bed. I would have stayed awake even longer. Aside from the theology my father had taught, I still couldn’t stop thinking about the Troll, or as I now knew, Ravenhouse. I felt guilty that I had left him in IODINE’s clutches. I should’ve helped him somehow. I could run back to IODINE’s headquarters and bust him out, but I knew that would be foolish. IODINE would be prepared and I would be caught again. I would have to make careful plans if I was to rescue the Troll.

&nbs
p; In a moment, I took a step outside of myself and considered my thoughts. Was I really going to put myself in harm’s way for the sake of a man who was evidently my enemy? Love your enemies echoed in my head. As if to remind me, a scar from my tortures ached. I had to get Ravenhouse out, not for my conscience sake, but because IODINE may very well kill him and indirectly sentence him to eternal punishment. Even if I was to take his place, it would be worth it. That is what Christ did for me.

  I stared off into space. I was glad to be home but being home had presented an entirely new set of trials. With everything that was happening with Mom, the looming war with North Korea, and my absent past, I could have easily allowed myself to descend into depression.

  The Arphaxad who was must have either been trapped under his troubles or grown so much through the turmoil of his life. When he got hit by Mindsweeper, it is almost as if Arphaxad was murdered, and I was born. I was starting to see that though I shared some of Arphaxad’s traits, I was not him. What would become of me as Arphaxad slowly recovered? Would who I’ve become cease to exist, or would I be assimilated into the mind of Arphaxad Fredrick? What would happen when my past met my present?

  I was lost in thought, trying to think of how I could retrieve my memories. My mind was so scattered that any chance for coherent thought was impossible. I struggled to remain calm, and the more I tried to focus, the more stressed I became. There was so much that I didn’t know.

  I stood up abruptly and bumped into the coffee table, knocking the Bible my father had been reading to the ground. I picked up the old leather book and looked at the words that it had opened to. “Come to me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” I continued to read the last few words in Matthew 11, “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

  I continued reading the Word, and with each passage, had my strength renewed. I still had concerns, but I was reminded of where I could take them. An invisible force overtook me and slowly I lowered my face to the ground. Hands clasped together, I cried from the depth of my heart, “Help me, Lord. So much has been taken from me, but I have not been taken from you! Please, aid your servant. I know that I am weak, I am proud, and I am still a sinful man. I need you every hour Lord. Renew my faith. Continuously remind me that the same power that raised Christ from the dead is the same power that guides me in my life. Help me put my doubts, fears, and sins on the cross, and renew me with courage to face the monsters at my door and within. I am nothing without you my God, my King, and my Savior!”

  I continued to pray, praising God for who He was and what He’d done. I also asked for wisdom to deal with the threats that wandered about around me. But, still with a weakness of the flesh, words slowly stopped flowing from my mouth and I just lay there in silence. Once I stopped praying aloud, fatigue started to overcome me and my head hurt as I think I slipped off to sleep.

  I dreamt of the life I once lived. My mind formed an imaginary reconstruction of Rebekah’s death. I imagined being in a car with her, and then the accident. Another driver had swerved to dodge a piece of debris, I was busy talking to Rebekah and he nailed us head on. Though this was the logical rendition of what little my father had told me, it didn’t feel right. I crawled out of the flipped vehicle, the engine compartment was crushed like a can and the smell of fuel filled the air.

  I stumbled to the other side where Rebekah was unconscious. I looked around, and I didn’t see the other driver or his car anywhere. The dream shuddered like a damaged movie. For a brief moment the scene sifted to something completely different. I didn’t see much – just the car Rebekah was inside in flames. I was on my knees trying to get in through the back window instead of the passenger door. It looked and felt like the dream I had before. The scene reverted to the original dream as I was shaken by the sound of an unearthly roar of laughter.

  I pried open the passenger door and pulled Rebekah out. Her breathing was shallow. The emotions that I felt were more real than anything – agony – like I had experienced last time I had a dream like this. The girl opened her eyes and asked, “Do you remember me?”

  I nodded. “Yes, I remembered you, Rebekah.”

  “No, you don’t. You know about me,” she muttered, “but you don’t remember me.”

  I shot awake, and I was on the living room floor carpet. It was still night. I rubbed my face; the tears were still fresh. Who was this girl that caused such emotion? This was the second dream I had had about her dying. Which one was correct? The car accident or that seemingly apocalyptic event so horrible I didn’t like thinking about it. How did Rebekah die?

  Chapter 28

  Pride and Fear

  Aside from the lack of memory, the next few days were peaceful, in a way. I spent some time with my family, some time at the hospital with mom, and a lot of time reading the Bible and praying. The down time actually gave me opportunity to reflect upon myself. I sat in my room thinking about what I had read in the scriptures. I was starting to see just how spiritually weak I was. I could see I was too often depending on myself instead of trusting the Lord. Over the past few weeks I had tried to escape from IODINE by myself. Each attempt had failed miserably. I wouldn’t have escaped if God hadn’t moved in the heart of my captor.

  This was the first time I thought about him since our escape. I felt responsible for his death. I was able to disable a helicopter in flight without a problem, but I couldn’t keep him from getting hit. I wasn’t responsible though; IODINE and that cursed Mr. Bordeaux were. A hatred brewed within me, but I remembered a verse I had read in Deuteronomy that my dad had shared with me. “Vengeance is Mine, and recompense; Their foot shall slip in due time; For the day of their calamity is at hand, And the things to come hasten upon them.” [9]

  It was difficult, but I forced my wrath to yield to God’s, which would happen in due time. It was hard to not let bitterness take over after what they did to Phineas, myself, what they are still doing to the Troll and…Greg. A thought appeared in my head. Part of me, a dark bitter part, asked why I felt bad for the man that tortured me. I had to remind myself of how Christ had died for us while we were still sinners, so why should I not show love towards my enemies.

  However, that dark voice within me questioned the authenticity of his actions. After all, I had seen IODINE agents commit suicide in the name of their cause. I pushed the thoughts from my mind, as I couldn’t doubt the blessings that God had given me. I would probably carry the feeling of responsibility for Greg’s death to my grave, but I would honor his sacrifice by doing everything I could to expose IODINE for the evil that it was. I praised God for His mercies and goodness. I finished my rabbit trail by asking God to give me wisdom to combat IODINE’s lies and expose the ones that had yet to be revealed.

  Then as if knowing it couldn’t gain any ground on that front, the same dark voice questioned the words of my father. I felt as if dad wasn’t telling me everything about Rebekah – who she was and what had happened to her. I didn’t think he lied about anything, but the event I imagined didn’t fit. I didn’t have a memory, only a notion, an almost instinctive knowledge, that the accident was much more violent than a common wreck. Even my physical scars told a tale much more terrible than the one I was led to believe. The voice tried to cause me to distrust my father.

  I chased the thoughts from my head as Paul walked into the room. “Hey Arf, are you ready? The museum’s awaitin’.”

  I stood up. “Yeah, just give me a minute.” My dad had insisted that he give me a tour of his museum in the hopes that the place would inspire some memories. I gathered my stuff into a backpack, and I stuffed the last bit of my suit into the bag as I descended the stairs. I was surprised how easily the armored cloth fitted into the cramped compartment.

  I slung the bag over my shoulder and found Paul in the dining room. “I’m ready, let’s go.” He nodded and dropped the book he was reading. Walking o
utside I asked, “What were you reading?”

  He shrugged his shoulders. “Just some old history book, you know how History and I go way back.”

  We got in the car, with Paul in the driver seat.

  “No, no I don’t,” I said simply.

  He frowned as he put the vehicle into reverse.

  We picked up Simon from his apartment on our way to the museum. It was a little out of the way, but his charismatic demeanor was a welcome presence. Apparently we had shared the apartment before Mindsweeper. Driving down the road, I saw an electronic billboard for a news station. The tag line read, “War is coming and the Blue Blur is still missing! Find out more tonight at 8:00.”

  I leaded forward. “Hey, do you guys know how the world sees me? As the Blue Blur?”

  Paul looked at Simon. “We think what you do-err-did was amazing. We appreciate you preaching the gospel, but as many people feel, there is something that we feel you could do better.”

  “What do you mean?”

  Simon cut in, “You are a bit of a hothead.” Before I could reply, he added, “It’s probably better if I just show you.” He pulled out his phone and pulled up a video of me on top of a car.

  In the video I said, “This is not justice! This is mob rule! People, hear my words…” I then proclaimed the gospel to the crowd in the video and tied it to the events in the video. The crowd had gathered to protest about a cop who had shot a nineteen-year-old who that was breaking into a car and drew a weapon on the officer.

  A woman called out, “We don’t want your people hating God!”

  I responded, “Is it hatred to judge justly? You protest against what you see as injustice. So why do you call the just judgment of God hate!”

  The crowd withheld a reply.

  I then said, “I will tell you why, because you don’t retain God in your minds and you don’t want to submit to His Law! Turn and repent of your pride and find grace in the Cross of Christ!”