The Kingsville Wars - Lets Just Try To Avoid Ourselves

DID YOU FEEL IT LAST WEEK? DID YOU? THE FEELS OF THAT ENDING HAS ME REELING FROM THE PAIN OF FRIENDS LOST IN TIME.
WELL IS HIGH PAST TIME WE GOT BACK ON THE HORSE! THE STORY IS FULL OF MISSPELLINGS AND LACK OF PURPOSE... UNTIL LAST WEEK.
THE MYSTERIOUS J HAS ARRIVED. BUT HES NOT IN THIS CHAPTER. OR IS HE? READ AND FIND OUT.
THE MEXICAN ORACLE HAS GIVEN OUR HEROES HOPE, AND NOW WE CAN GET BACK TO IT.

TWO HOURS HAVE PASSED BY. THE MEXICAN ORACLE CALLS BACK.

Carlos's phone rang once again, exactly two hours after Angel said he'd call.
MO - Carlos you there? Please Jesus and all thats holy let him be there...
C - I'm here dude. It seems like this place happens to let us talk for some reason. Let me put you on speaker phone.
MO - Cool. I did some digging on your everyday activities. You guys went to Corpus a lot. Like a lot. Almost every weekend. Kingsville sucked hard for you guys, anyways, you reaaaaaaally liked your Olive Garden back then.
O - I still do. Never ending pasta like a mother fucker!
Checo and Rennie high five'd.
MO - Either way, I checked in a very not so legal way where you guys had been.
C - So?
MO - You guys happen to be in Corpus and should be eating right about now. Your receipt says you'll be paying the ticket in about an hour.
R - I'm guessing we came back after that.
MO - That I cant tell. Seems you went drinking somewhere and didn't make purchases until the next day.
N - Well the plan is to go back to the apartment, some our stuff is there and we could use the food.
MO - Sounds good. I'm doing a lot of digging on Leongo. He's been developing crazy technology for the government and the private sector too. Real shady shit. I mean to give you guys a summary of all the crap this dudes done. Needless to say, he's powerful and smart.
O - Yeah.... no. I remember that douche, and he didn't know how to talk right, let alone teach...
MO - Well that douche created the World Engine according to my research. The stupid thing had the involvement of someone you guys know. Just a sec the doorbells ringing...
The call abruptly ended after a loud crash was heard.
As the call dropped the guys started to stare at each other in disbelief.
C - The heck?
Carlos couldn't dial out.
R - What the actual fuck was that?
N - I don't know, but we need to get out of here.
Neto pointed at the entrance and the group saw two Leongos.
F - Scout party?
O - Looks like it. Lets slip out the other way, theres a field and then Chavez street right after it.
R- Lets go.
C- What if Angel calls back?
N - Then we'd better be back in two hours then.
Checo's idea worked. The team was able to exit out the other entrance and avoid starting another battle. Although they could engage in some action, both Rennie and Fredo were particularly exhausted and needed food.

The hours passed by now. It became impossible to tell at which point the group arrived to the neighborhood where the apartment was. It was clear that a lot of things were bothering them.
O - If no one is gonna ask, why do we look like this?
F - Huh?
O - We've been fighting and running and sitting around looking at each other and no one has brought up that we look twenty something?!
The group looked at each other. Checo was right, the guys just found it so natural about the whole situation that no one seemed to notice. But he was right.
N - Thats weird, we're supposed to be in our fifties.
R - That is weird dude, I don't remember looking fifty, but you're right, why are we young?
O - I don't know either, but whatever the point is, we have a problem... we may end up bumping into each other and won't know who we're looking at.
C - We're wearing different clothes doofus.
O - Doesn't matter. We have no idea what else can happen. Flaco over there nearly passed out when he saw himself. Let me repeat that, s-a-w h-i-m-s-e-l-f.
F - Checo's right. I saw myself and the closer the car got, the worse I felt.
N - But you fought in the alley...
F - Maybe the other me left and I didn't feel the pain...
R - Or maybe you need to see each other in order to feel pain?
O - Look I don't know what's going to happen, but just in case, someone needs to stay outside the apartment and play guard. We can take turns.
N - I'll take first shift. For some reason I can see somewhat farther than before.
F - Weird...
N - Yeah. Anyways we're here. You guys try to find a way in.
Checo went to the back with Carlos. Neto, Rennie and Fredo tried the front door. Rennie tried to open it but it was obviously locked.
R - IT'S LOCKED!
As Rennie yelled, he got a quick response from Checo.
O - SOMEONE LEFT THE BACK ONE UNLOCKED. FUCKING PAST RENNIE!
Checo and Carlos went into the house and opened the front door. The rest of the guys went in.
C- De... ja... vu...
The apartment was as if they had been there a couple of days ago. The black couch, the collection of labeled movies. Beer bottles all over the place, even Neto's red blanket on the couch. Dishes in the sink that were obviously Rennie's. The lamp at the stairway. The terrible string mess of electronics hooked up to the TV. Everything was there. Nothing was out of place; it was a temporary home away from home. Lost in time with a sense of normality. Neto quickly broke the stunning silence.
N - You guys want a beer?
The light chuckle was what the guys needed. A thick sense of belonging took over all of them as they shared a beer and the terrible food their past selves stacked the pantry with. The choices the guys had made when young made them think time did really move on as they grew up. Out of touch, out of time it seemed.
R - This is probably the best dog food I've had in a while.
F- I bet when past Checo comes back he's going to rip on you.
R- Remind me to mess with his room in a bit....
Carlos came running from upstairs.
C - Guys! Guy! My old guitar!
Carlos strummed it and tried to sing.............
C - THE BOYS RE BACK INDFNIEWBFOEIWFOWNFJEOWQF--
---BOOOOOOOOOM!
The loud explosion made a hole in the wall leading to the kitchen. Sheetrock crumpled down and as the dust settled the guys looked at Carlos from the newly made hole.
O - The...
R - ...fuck?
Carlos looked down at his guitar and the strings were red. Molten steel red. They were dripping something red and glowing that evaporated before hitting the surface. His throat was glowing white as well, as if he swallowed an LED light.
N - Dude... your throat.
Neto pointed at Carlos as he put the guitar down and quickly went into the downstairs restroom. His throat was in fact glowing. Afraid to sing he calmed down and the glow slowly diminished. The strings on the guitar did the same as he calmed down.
O - Is he going to be alright?
N - As crazy as this was I need to step outside and make sure no one heard that. Also I really need to be standing guard. You guys figure it out.
Neto walked outside. The rest of the guys were tensed up by almost being blown to bits.
F - Thin Lizzy has always been a dangerous band to play.
Carlos chuckled. He was nervous, and it was in his right to be. This power... he had strength to fight, but now this?
R - So you can chuck things in glowing light and sing loud enough to blow crap up. What else can you do then?
C- I'm seriously freaking out.
O - OK, we really need to figure out what each and everyone of us can do.
R - But what can we do? I am able for some reason to focus energy on things and use them as weapons. I don't even now how to swordplay, let alone move like I've been moving. But I can.
F - I can heal, but thats about it. No damaging things, I tried during our fight on the way to rio seven.
O - Well I can get really heavy
R - Cause you're fat, got it.
O - Pendejo, pay attention. You're in your vegan body right now. Moving a raw steak near you will make your cry.
Rennie looked down.
R- Aw shit.
It was his vegan body.
O - Moving on. I can get really heavy, it feels like my body wont budge from where I'm at. And I was also able to bring down that huge guy by focusing on getting strong and heavy. Pretty much crumpled his neck to the ground.
C - So I can charge things like Gambit and throw them. Oh! And also sing and destroy?
R - Well the guitar did some funky shit, I'd keep it around. You may need it.
C - Ok, let me step outside. I need to test this. i don't want to hurt you guys.
Carlos opened the back door.
C - The boys are back in toooooownnn...
Nothing happened.
R - Well now we know you need that thing.
C- Thats good I guess.
R - Oh my fucking god, you're a fucking bard and a paladin! A Bardladin!
F - Wait that makes sense.
Checo looked at them confused.
F - We're class based. Dude think about it. Checo has all the qualities of a tank, like a tanky warrior. Carlos is obviously a paladin. Rennie you're definitely a warrior, and Neto for a fact is a rogue. I'm a healer for some reason. Look whatever we did in the future with this world engine, we all received some sort of power. Holy shit guys, we figured it our before Neto.
Neto came in the room just as Fredo finished his statement.
N - hey sorry, I have to pee. I was thinking about this whole super power thing. It feels like we all have class based powers, like an MMO or something. What do you guys think?
R - This fucking guy.... go pee.
N - Ooook.
Neto went to the restroom confused.
C - Dude this is crazy, why do we even have this?
O - Whatever we did in the future gave us powers. The future seems kind of cool.
F - It'd be weird if we just got powers just like that.
R - Yeah, it seems like this World Engine shit holds some answers.
C - I just hope Angel can get a hold of us again.
Neto stepped out the restroom door to join the others.
N - OK, so we have powers?
R - We had the same discussion. Fredo sorta got it right until you came in and stole the thunder with your smartness.
F - Well, if we all have our skills, then we need to grab a backpack and some food before we forget. Keep talking, we need to figure out other shit.
N - Sounds like a plan. What else we need? Water?...
O - ...And weapons, whatever you can use, take it as a weapon, time is ticking, our other selves may be coming home soon.
F - OK, I'll take the food since I can't really use a weapon. The least i can do is carry it around.
R - Take a staff. All wizards and healers have staffs. Here.
Rennie broke the swiffer duster and gave Fredo the stick.
R - Fredo the Flaco Priest.
F - Rennie Mesquite Blade.
O - I'm Checo the Stout! Before you guys start with another fat joke.
N - Thats pretty cool, I'm Neto the Poison Blade then.
C- And I'm Carlos...
He swung his guitar over his shoulder.
C - ... Man of Love.
The guys continued to make their bags and supplies. It took a while since most of the time, the team kept reminiscing about what the could remember of those days and the fact that time really had gone by.

A few minutes later and a car was approaching playing some familiar music. It parked and the laughter of all the guys was there. Neto ran inside as he locked the door.
N - The other us are here! Fucking go!
The guys rushed from all over the house and dashed outside, Checo was still coming down the stairs.
C - Shit! I left my phone in my old room! Checo go get it you're closer!
C - Shit! OK!
Checo ran back upstairs as the front door opened. The past versions of Checo, Rennie, Carlos and Neto walked through the door. Checo started experiencing pain, as if time was trying to tear him apart.
Outside the guys were nervous as Checo wasn't making his way outside. The past Checo was about to go upstairs.
R - CHECO!
Rennie had run to the front to yell. In unmeasurable pain, Rennie made the dash with his newly found speed.
The past Checo walked outside and the future one came tumbling down the stairs and locked the door as he tried to become more lucid as the pain was mixing memories and tearing his mind asunder.

(The past versions of us have the prefix P)
PC - Weren't you outside? When did you get changed?
O - Me? Nah... I don't know... i was wearing this. Hold on I need a beer.
PN - You OK dude?
O - Yeah I just need to... um... just um... give me a sec.
Checo stumbled out the back. The pain was making him less and less lucid.
PR - Weird.
The front door opened.
PO - Why did you assholes locked me out.
PR - Weren't you inside?
PO - Dude I just saw you outside...
PC - What? I told you not to drink so much.

Back outside Rennie was trying to recover as he chuckled.
C -  That was fricking close.
R - Dude, that thing Fredo experienced... its waaaay worse the closer you get.
Checo was walking with Netos help.
N - Yeah, in the future, lets just try to avoid ourselves.
O - That was way too close.
R - Checo I stole your old you's keys. We have apartment keys and...
O - The explorer!
R - If we wait a bit, we're going to just watch TV or something, we can take the car and have some wheels.
N - Up until this times Checo decides to file a stolen vehicle report.
F - Fuck it.

Time passed and the time was drawing near for one of Angels calls. Checo and the rest stole the Explorer and were making their way to Rio 7.
O - Dude! My disturbed CD!
Checo started cranking it, soon after Fredo pressed the eject and tossed the CD out the window.
F - We heard the same one for many years.
O - Pinche Flaco ahora si te voy a dar en los huevos.
Fredo curled under the pain of a thousand suns as Checo punched him in the testicles. As the guys laughed and joked around, the mall was getting close. As they were parking Carlos's phone started to ring. As he picked it up Angel could be heard coughing and spitting.
MO - They tried to kill me.... some dudes that look like Leongo, but in Mexico we pack now. You guys are not going to believe me.
C - Lets go inside, we're gonna have to hear this.