Astral's Rise Part 39: Zane

Astral put the universal glove. "So you know how the gods went back in time and got Angel and James, what if we did the same to get the person I know who would be a great clone canidate. Man is pure muscle with great genes. Besides, we can get your partner AI's to give Alexa a companion and help the station out." 

Astral's pet project AI may be close to being finished, but the more help they had at the top of the station the better, between Astrid, Zeta, Alexa and the new creation, plenty of artificial friends to go around.

"So who is this person?" Adam asked as he and Jaimie stood next to each other. Both filled with wonder on who Astral held with such high praise.

"Only a few people come to mind from his past that would fall under that category? Have we met them?" Jaimie asked as the two of them dressed into comfy but practical clothes.

 Astral stood there speaking the incantation. Finishing the incantation he looked over wearing his cyan jacket. "Nope, he is a special man. One that I hold in high honor."

The two nodded as Astral held out the glove and waived it. Holding one arm still while pulling the other back. Drawing his arm back to shoot them through time, there was a time hole that the three hopped into. This would be a few days after Astral disappeared from civilization. 

They would all be next to a building where people were going in and out constantly. Astral, Jaimie and Adam would go inside and be greeted by someone. Tall and muscular the person was sitting at the desk and yet seemed at eye level. His body was puffy from the clothes that were too small for him.

"Hello and welcome to the world's greatest mall, how can I guide you today?" The man from the desk would look up, seeing an old friend he would exclaim. "Joe! Long time no see! What brought you out here from college?" Jaimie and Adam would be laughing at Astral's real name as he shrugs it off.

"Oh nothing much Zane. You see, I have this personal project of mine where I am creating a clone army, but I'm looking for the right person to clone." Astral would speak then be cut off.

 "Oh and you choose me?" Zane would put up his out on break sign. "Come, I wanna hear your offer. Let's see if you got what would be needed." Zane would stand taller than the three of them. Astral would follow Zane as Adam and Jaimie went off to explore the mall. 

The two ran off like liddle kids, neither of them had even been here. Despite Astral and his funds the two would explore the entire place and start going on the roller coaster rides.

Once they found a quiet place to discuss business, Zane sat down as did Astral. "So, Joe, how has life been? You seem to be doing well for yourself, I mean, look at the chick you had here with you and your outfit speaks volumes, is it made from real gold?"

"Yeah, real gold along the jacket, specially tailored by myself. My entire wardrobe is homemade." Astral took it off and handed it over to Zane who felt its warmth and weight. "Also that banging hot chick, she my wife." Astral had a smile as Zane's glowing smile turned to a frown.

"Life ain't been going well for me. My wife left me after our only child got into an accident on her way to school." Astral's face turned to horror. "During the divorce she took the salon business, ran it into the ground and made me bankrupt. Now I work here, the semi's along the road look tempting." Zane carried on as Astral rested a finger on his mouth to have him stop talking.

"Life has hardships. It's a tough loss and I am sorry I didn't get in touch while I was still around." Astral spoke as Zane moved the hand away from his mouth.

 "What do you mean still around?" Zane was curious and Astral had nothing but time.

"Well, a week ago the government rammed me off the road. I was a giant test subject to them. I escaped and just a bit ago my time. I faced off in a fight versus other super powerful beings." Zane was shocked to say the least.

"As for how time works. I went forward in the universe until it reset itself. Twice. It felt like forever but it's how I met Jaimie and Adam." Astral showed him a timeline hologram from his imagination, visualizing the time Astral awoke his powers to the battle tournament.

Zane was left speechless and in shock. He looked back to Astral and the hologram, flipping between the two rapidly where he became dizzy before shaking his head. "How?" 

"The science I can only explain as magic. The big bang restarted the universe and I had something to travel the galaxy and breathe." Zane was in awe as Astral laid it on the table. "I can't promise any of your true desires if you became the clone's donor outside of what is possible on the contract." Astral held a piece of paper as the ink glowed into place.

"You want me to be your clone donor, but I have many needs that would need to be met. I want my shit back from that rotten bitch." Zane's tone turned bitter as he had his phone out, almost as if he planned a list of items he wanted to take back.

 "List everything you would want and I promise I will match it. In fact I could take it before we leave for the next spot." Astral was determined. This was his friend, from Astral's view he was living a miserable life and he wanted to give it meaning once more.

"I want to mentor the clone army and teach them individuality, they won't be autonomous drones for your war's." Astral would write stuff down on the notepad. "I also want to train them physically." Astral wrote this down. "I get a private area to myself for my own studies and I get to bring all of the stuff I currently own. Also, I get to call you Joe whenever."

"Deal, I will also pay you as much as you want and you can have a major say in any design choices when it comes to the clones' base armor. Let alone their true customization they make on it." Astral would write all of this down. "Anything else?" Astral slid the paper over. 

"Yeah one thing, you claim that I was better at ceramics and add it to this paper." Astral would toss the pen to him. Astral tilted his head over from one side to the other, Astral could be better, but when they both practiced it. Zame was the more talented.

"If you write it on there, I will follow what you need." Zane would add on the pottery line as he then signed the paper. Zane kept writing along the lines. Sliding it all back to Astral. He would sign it as Astral adds one last thing to it. A custom armor just for Zane. Signing it in his legal name for Zane. it would glow and laminate itself as Zane watched it.

"So, outside of the discussed, you also want to be one of the main members of my crew. Explore and conquer a planet with your forces and work on pottery with me once a week. This is it?" Astral asked and Zane nodded.

"Joe, from the bottom of my heart, I could not feel more grateful." Tears swelled the big man as his arms closed around Astral. In turn, he closed himself around the friend he missed.

"You want to watch all of the items appear in the pocket dimension?" Astral asked as he made a little viewpoint through the pocket dimension. Zne watched as each salon shop filled the pocket dimension, all of his belongings from his house. His items. He was free.

"Are you ready for the adventure of a lifetime?" Astral extended his hand to Zane as he took it. With a flash the two vanished as Jaimie and Adam flashed away forward in time to the burning of a facility.