“I recently found out that he was working a third party” David said grabbing the fag off Charlotte and taking a puff. Almost immediately his face when green and he started coughing “A mysterious organisation called The Rainbow Corporation run by the The Man.”
“It turns out The Man is after our powers and has been manipulating the time-lines to get us, Taylor, Milton and Troy to that parallel world so that we’d gain our powers in the first place so he can can steel them” Older Charlotte said.
“Oh my god Ellie” Charlotte already running out of the door “she’s not safe with that fucking lunatic on the loose.
Sure enough no sooner had they jumped into her car when she got a disturbing phone call from the school telling Charlotte off from taking her out of school early. “Another version of me or us or fuck knows who has grabbed her”
“She’ll be working for The Rainbow Corporation” Older Charlotte said “More then likely because they probably promised her to return her back to normal”
“Floor it” David said to Charlotte cocking a gun “don’t worry we’ll get her back.”
“No!” Older Charlotte shouted “You’ve no idea how powerful these bastards are. We need to get help”
“But from where?” Charlotte said in a flood of tears.
“1945” Older Charlotte said with a coy smile.
Chapter 4 - 1945
New York, December 1945
Taylor had known about his thirst for blood ever since him and Milton had explored that tear in the cave after they were chased by a T-Rex. At first he had tried to fight the urge to the point where had started to see things as he lay curled up on the floor in absolute agony. It was when he started to convulse that he knew he had to do something about it. Hearing his heart pounding in his head getting steady louder he lied to Charlotte about taking a walk and crept into camp Lucy and gouged on a helpless survivor until he resembled and empty drink carton. He thought he’d only have a tiny sip but he couldn’t control it and by the time he had finished the sun started to rise burning his skin. He knew he had to find cover so he shot himself and lay in the medical tent until nightfall. He was almost certain he’d get found out but luckily that night that’s when the camp was attacked not only concealing his kill but he was able to slip away unnoticed and re-join Charlotte. He hated lying to her but what choice did he half; vampires are evil fuckers and now he was one. He didn’t even though how it happened because he certainly didn’t crave blood before crash. Maybe it had something to do with the tears? Either way he knew he had to do something about it before he got a stake through his heart that was why he was in New York to visit a scientist friend who had worked on the Manhattan project
But no sooner had David dropped him off that he knew something was odd. At first he thought he was seeing things again for what he saw was something out of his worst nightmare. Nazi’s wondering down Wall Street taking picture of each other. After everything he had been through and fuckers still won and ironically he was now the fucking monster. Except he knew that they didn’t win World War 2 so he must be in another parallel world. Before he could contemplate the horrific ramifications any further however he knocked over the head from behind and slung into a van before he blacked out.
Washington DC
He came too weirdly in the Oval office of the White house but his excitement was short lived when he saw picture of presidents including the most recent one, him. Not only that to his horror he had a swastika band on his arm. He was a fucking Nazi. A fucking Nazi as well as an evil vampire. Could his life get any worse? Oh yes it could!
“I was as shocked as you look Lieutenant” Troy said smugly his feet up on the desk “or should I say Mr President”
“I thought you were killed” Taylor said trying to stand. His head felt groggy and he had a fearsome headache.
“You’re not the only one with powers you know” Troy said helping Taylor to his feet “I rewound time a split-second before that machine crushed me and while you all fighting each other I snook onto the SS Veliciraptor”
“How do you know about my about my thirst for blood?”
“I’ve been watching you for a long time Lieutenant but don’t worry your secret is safe with me for now”
“Help me reverse it and I’ll help you square things with the others”
“Oh it’s going to cost a lot more then that” Troy giggled loving the fact that he had Taylor in the palm of his hand.
“Name your price”
“It’s not about money”
“You know what forget it I knew you’d never help me” Taylor spat loosing his cool “But if you ever breath a word to Charlotte I’ll kill you and this time I’ll make sure you stay dead”
“Didn’t you know she’s shacked up with David playing happy families”
“You bastard” Taylor said losing his cool as he punched Troy in the face.
“I’m already helping you” Troy spat blood as another figure came into the room “that’s why we need you”
“Ladies if you quite finished with got important work to do” the figure said coming in between Taylor and Troy. Taylor was shocked to find himself staring into his own face only this version of himself had a nasty scar running from his right eye all the way down to his mouth.
“Hail Taylor” Troy said giving a Nazi salute to the figure to the other Taylor.
“At ease Lieutenant” The other Taylor said “I thought you were going to brief him?”
“He was too busy punching me in the face Sir” Troy said looking down at his shoes giving Taylor the impression that he was fritended of his other self.
“We need him on our side” Other Taylor said lighting a thick Churchill cigar “So play nice and show him around.” Other Taylor then turned to Taylor “Troy has his doubts about you but when you hear what I’ve got to offer you I think you’ll come round. I’ll see you again at dinner” Other Taylor then walked out of the Oval office with a cloud of cigar smoke billowing from his mouth.
“Will you please tell me what the fuck is going on” Taylor said to Troy as he gave him the tour of the White House. “Why did you salute like you were saluting Adolf Hitler and what does he need me for?”
“Why do you think? On this version of Earth it was America that started World War 2 and you are the leader of the Nazi party! Not only that but World War 2 is still going on and the allies are losing”
“That’s impossible” Taylor said horrified. “We’ve got to stop him”
“It get worse” Troy said as they passed a couple of White House staff. “The other you wants to extract your vampire blood and create an army of super solidiers so he can crush the allies and take over the Earth”
“I thought you were helping him?”
“I might be a twat at times Lieutenant but I don’t work for Nazi’s no matter how much I hate your guts”
“So how do we stop him?”
“Why should we fucking care lets just find another tear and fuck off back to our own Earth”
“No” Taylor said shaking his head “I fought those bastards in World War 2 I’m not about to turn a blind eye now. Besides even if we do find a tear it might not lead us back to our Earth”
“Unless of course you’ve got me” Charlotte said with a huge smile as she turned round blowing her cover as the White House staff. Standing right next to her was David and an bizarrely an older version of Charlotte.
Taylor couldn’t believe it; they were right back where they had started and still aruging over the same thing as they drank coffee in the Oval office. As usual Taylor wanted to do the decent thing and make a stand a fight and Charlotte wanted to fuck off and leave them to it. “How did you get here and where’s Milton?”
“Milton’s back home in a mental hospital” Charlotte said fighting back the tears “I’ll take you to him once when get back”
“We’re going not back!” Taylor said “I’m sorry Charlotte but this time you don’t have a choice or least you forget I’m the
President of the United States. I could have you locked up until this is over”
“That wouldn’t hold her Charlie-boy” David said sipping his coffee “She can create tears”
“It’s why we’re here” Charlotte said with tears streaming down her face “they’ve got Ellie”
“Who has?”
“The Rainbow Corporation” Older Charlotte said cutting in “and we’re running out of time” she slumped into the desk chair “this was a bad idea I forgot what a pompous dick you can be”
“Where’s Troy?” Taylor said having completely forgotten about him. While they’d been arguing he’d done a runner.
“I thought he was dead?” Charlotte said before shaking her head “it doesn’t matter we’ll help you if you promised to help us as soon as your other self is incapacitated”
“You’ve got deal” Taylor said feeling like a complete bastard having to lie to her about his powers.
Into Thin Air: Omnibus Edition Parts 1 - 3 Page 11