Issue Six of Eight

Episode 6:
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And You Think You Knew Everything Already
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Michael Smith.

Does anyone know who Michael Smith is?

The name sounds like something a doctor would give to an unidentified patient... but then again, that's what 'John Doe' is for. No, the name Michael Smith has its own story.

But just what is this story?

"I want the Truth."

Okay, okay, fine...

You see, not too long ago, the Enigma was roaming the streets and hunting down enemies such as the Head, Envelope Girl, and the Truth. But what many did not know at that time was that all these 'enemies' were actually normal people twisted and brainwashed by Enigma himself to become his villains. That way, he had a reason to become a superhero. So in a sense, the true villain turned out to be Enigma himself.

"I want the Truth."

Well, Michael Smith on the other hand... that is a bit more difficult to explain.

"I want the Truth."

Hmm� in a way Michael Smith created the Enigma, you see. It all began while Michael Smith was still a wee little boy who loved to read a not- so-successful comic book entitled, "The Enigma" by Titus Bird. As a kid, Michael had collected the first and only three issues of the book and read it again and again. It was, to him, the Bible of comic books.

Of course, at that time, there were other books being released, but none related to Michael the way the Enigma did.

"I want the Truth."

Okay, well... the Enigma was a little tot born somewhere out in the Arizona desert with strange powers. And the first thing this enchanted kid did upon realizing that there was a world beyond the darkness He felt was reach out and touch His father's face... without using His hands that is. This twisted His father's features and horrified His mother. In fear, the two decided to toss the poor wee child into a well.

And to Enigma, well, as a kid then, the well became His world. And when hunger finally found Him, His hands found His ability to summon forth lizards from cracks and nooks in the well. These poor unsuspecting reptiles became His source of sustenance, and His friends.

Above, the family moved on with their lives and the sightings of floating lizards and such prompted them to call for Exorcists. The Exorcists attempted to discover the 'evil entitity' causing all this, and in effect, opened the well.

Anyway, the Enigma learned that there existed a world beyond the well and moved to explore it. And during his exploits, after killing a few dozen lizards for sustenance, he found himself locating a former home. A deserted home once inhabited by...

"I want the Truth."

Michael Smith.

Now Michael Smith had long left this home. But the Enigma found the perpetually read issues of Enigma comics, a comic line written and drawn by the once-perpetually high Titus Bird. And that's when he thought to base His life on a comic book. Life was absurd. That's what the Enigma believed. So what can be more absurd than to base it on a comic book? After the Enigma read the books, he spread out His mind and traveled the whole of the United States. He found Doug Moon's Family Tailors in an eastern suburb of Pacific City. He prodded him to work on several outlandish suits and through his lizards sent word to some of his targets to receive the suits via mail.

The Enigma had set the stage. His own costume was ready. His villains had theirs. But something else lingered in His head. A worry He had yet to solve.

"I want the Truth."

His mother.

His mother had become truly twisted, in body as well as mind. She was monstrous, having long spindly fingers that tapered off into sharp, wicked blades. On her back was a grotesque growth of flesh, pillaring out of her spine. A scowl marked her face, and her eyes flailed with insanity. She sought only to destroy the Enigma. Her son.

Which was why the Engima finally focused on Michael Smith.

"I want the Truth."

He sensed the sweat and the lingering aura of the young boy who had religiously read the comic book, and realized that if only He could get in touch with His own humanity, then His mother just might spare His life.

So the Enigma changed Michael as well.

He made Michael gay. Just so that Michael would love Him. And show Him how to touch His human side.

"I want the Truth."

And Michael did not complain about it. In fact, Michael didn't really mind. To Michael, being gay wasn't about being born with a defect, or with a destiny to stand proud and fight for rights, or about being cursed to something he didn't want to be, or being traumatized or not properly raised as a kid. Being gay simply meant loving and caring for the same gender. And Michael was proud of it. Proud that he loved Enigma.

But he was mortal.

And the Enigma was not.

And eventually, Michael Smith died.

"I want the Truth."

Well, that was the Truth.

April 4th week, 2112
The tower was now before her, its long shadow giving her a cool spot to rest for a brief moment. But her rest was short indeed, for the moment her legs halted their march, she stripped her clothes off and began to change into the body stocking of absolute honesty.

She glanced upwards again and licked her cracked and bleeding lips. The rusty taste of blood awakened her senses and allowed her a little smile. She dropped the remaining piece of her clothing on the sand, and after slipping the body suit over her, lifted both hands towards the sky. She closed her eyes and began to mumble to herself in a silent language that would have made no sense had anyone been listening to her words.

The upper floors were occupied. The Truth could smell the intense aroma of lies that the three cramped in there kept. All she had to do now was wait for the proper time to act.

April 2nd week, 2112
"So it was the death of this Michael Smith that made you come back into activity?" Gabriel asked. He felt a trifle weird, considering he wore the face of this stranger he mentioned. He stared at the pair of hands that were not his, and listened with surprise at the voice that he knew he did not own.

The Enigma nodded. Both of Her hands hung loosely between Her legs. A frown had begun to form on Her face. Her eyes had begun to become wet with tears.

"And this Michael Smith is the man you have turned me into?"

"No-" the Enigma's reply was straightforward and hard, "You have always been Michael Smith. Michael Smith is everyone who exists in the world.

Michael Smith is everyone that lives. You are Michael Smith."

"My name is Gabriel! Gabriel Brendan!"

"You are Michael Smith to me. All of you are."

"You're not making any fucking sense!"

"I will if you listen-" the Enigma replied, only to get cut off as Kirsten's foot swung upwards and slammed into Her face. The Enigma reeled back in pain while Kirsten bent down to lift Gabriel up. With one hand under Gabriel's underarm, and the other holding on to the momentarily forgotten gun, Kirsten struggled to get Gabriel on his feet and head off. The Enigma was unable to move. The experience of having someone hit Her was unexpected. Before, when Her opponents were those She had imbued with power, it was understandable. After all, no one was stronger than Her or at the very least, as strong as Her. But today, it seemed, the Enigma did not know all the answers either!

"Move it!" Kirsten groaned as she struggled to carry the weight of Gabriel.

"We have to get out of this house and into the car. We have to leave everything! This fucking weirdo is not going to get us to strut around and follow his rules!"

"B--Buh-- But.."

"No buts! We're getting out of here, Gabriel! Together!" Kirsten replied and continued to drag Gabriel towards the staircase. It didn't matter to her if there were two more floors to get by. Nor did the fact that she was not strong enough to carry Gabriel. All she knew was that she had to get away! To escape! To find someplace safe.

Sometime before the first week of April, 2112
He was watching as the car crossed the desert-like wasteland that comprised Arizona from the mountain top. The small clouds of dust buffeted upwards and swirled about the car like dancers. Inside, He could see the two; hands held tightly, faces beaming with excitement, clothes damp with perspiration.

"Michael Smith..." he muttered to the wind, and the wind stilled. < P> The car began to wind between the valley, towards the tower which the two had built a month ago while they still were in Fresno. The reflective windows occasionally flickered blinding flashes of light. He flew upwards, keeping Himself against the sun to conceal Himself from their view. He followed them, slowly trailing their passage in the desert above the sky.

By the time the two reached the tower, the sun was dipping down below the peaks of the mountains nearby, and the sky had turned purple- orange. He descended onto the top of the tower and motioned His hands toward them. He saw the joy in their faces and realized He wished to be a part of this joy. The circular rings of light spun once more around His hands. With but a thought, these rings began to float and drift towards the two.

April 2nd week, 2112
"Honey, can you... oh shit, that is you isn't it?" Kirsten asked Gabriel with a clear expression of concern. Her left hand gripped the gun so tightly that her knuckles were pale and strained. After a quick glance back at the doorway to check whether the shapeshifter was in pursuit (and finding that they were alone), Kirsten released Gabriel and fell to the sand beside him.

Her chest was straining for air. Her arms were tired. Her legs trembled every so often. "Please tell me you're still in there."

"Kirsten," the unrecognizable figure replied with the voice she knew so well, "What ever that Meta did, he... she... only changed me-"

"Shh!" Kirsten suddenly muttered, pulling Gabriel towards her. An outstretched arm aimed the gun towards the doorway while she held her breath. Kirsten had heard a sound. "I thought I... No, the creep isn't there."

"Listen to me. I know what's going on."

An expression of relief, annoyance, and surprise formed on Kirsten's exhausted face. She dropped her arm and gasped for air. Her right hand stroked Gabriel's cheek then stopped upon hearing what she thought were footsteps. The gun was aimed again. "What is going on?"

"It's hard to explain."

"Fuck hard. Just try. Let me handle the understanding part."

"Well," Gabriel grunted out as he returned to a standing position, "He's looking for love. And meaning in his life."

"He is?" Kirsten asked, the gun still facing the door, the trigger finger slowly pulling back.

"Yes, he is."

"Well, so am I," Kirsten retorted, "but you don't see me transforming men to women, do you?"

April 4th week, 2112
Voices. The Truth heard voices coming from the other side of the tower. They were the voices of the two the Truth had attempted to "educate" not too long ago. With a hint of a smile, the Truth affirmed that they would not escape this time.

Peering around the corner, the Truth saw the woman-closet lesbian- writer-feminist wannabe holding a gun towards the open doorway of the tower. Beside the woman, leaning against the car's hood, was a man whom the Truth had not seen yet... but seemed vaguely familiar.

The Truth pulled back into its hiding place and waited. After all, knowledge isn't given without proper reason. And never at the wrong time.

April 2nd week, 2112
Breaking glass and falling shards were the only warning Gabriel and Kirsten found themselves witness to before the Enigma leapt through the windows from the upper floor. The gunshot rang as Kirsten fired the weapon by instinct; the bullet merely embedding itself into the wall.

Michael screamed as numerous shards tore into his face and shoulders. In a frantic attempt to stop the pain, he grabbed a few shards that were large enough and pulled them away. That simple action caused more wounds and gave birth to additional, intense pain.

Kirsten was the lucky one, with most of the larger pieces of glass merely grazing her. She dove forward and felt her ankle twist as she landed. Her weight added to the pain caused her to drop the gun and hug her leg tight.

The Enigma descended upon the two, gazed down, then motioned with Her right hand towards Gabriel. As Gabriel's bleeding body rose from the car, Kirsten could see all the lacerations and wounds the glass had dealt. Only one thought came to mind at that moment: Where is the gun?!

She turned to her side, and upon seeing the gun resting on the ground near her foot, she reached for it. Pain surged again and expelled itself as a scream from her lips. The Enigma looked towards her.

"You bastard! You KILLED him!"

The Enigma nodded, and motioned towards her to rise. Kirsten felt her body lift from the ground and reached for the gun once more. Feeling its weight against her rising hand, she held on to it tight, pulled it up, and took aim. The Enigma cocked Her head towards Kirsten, then shook it as if to mock her plan. Her finger pulled the trigger. A deafening shot rang out in the night.

"Honey... honey, wake up!" Kisten yelled out to Gabriel as she shook him awake from his nightmare. With a sudden gasp, Gabriel rose from the bed and stared at her. She was sitting naked beside him, her hair rolling past her ears. He paused for a moment, catching his breath, then reached out to touch her cheek.

"You... Oh fuck, I must have been dreaming.."

"You bet you were," Kirsten commented with a tang of sarcasm. She reached for a nearby glass of water and offered it to him with a smirk.

"If you only knew what you were saying in your sleep. I mean, turning into another man named Michael?"

"Wait," Gabe interrupted, his mouth left agape for a second, "What else did you hear?"

"And what the hell was all that moaning? You better tell me what you dreamt, you cheapskate! Sounded like you enjoyed that imaginary tryst more than being with me."

Gabriel forced his way out of bed and stood before the mirror in the room. His face was still his. No marks or anything to denote having been struck by glass shards. Nor were there any signs of anyone else having been in the room. He looked back at Kirsten, then blinked his eyes slowly. Could it have all been a dream? Or had it been a vision?

The only clue given to him was the scent of oranges in the air.

He descended to the tip of the tower, precariously balanced on its edge. Then again, the Enigma did not really stand on the edge. Rather, He was effectively weightless and simply hovering above the roof.

Turbulent Arizona winds cut across the wastes. Dust clouds twirled and danced across the ground. He opened His awareness towards Gabriel and smiled. He sensed the agitation Gabriel felt, but also the clarity of thought that was now his. Then He recalled Gabriel's request: The Truth. Gabriel wanted the Truth.

Like the great ray that a lighthouse uses to guide ships home, the Enigma released a mental beacon to the Truth and allowed the Truth to sense His presence. He knew that the Truth had always been his greatest antagonist. He realized that the Truth had the power to destroy Him. Don't look so surprised. After all, even man had destroyed his creator. But these dangers were unimportant to Him. It was Gabriel's request. It would have been what Michael Smith wanted. And to the Enigma, Gabriel and Michael were but one and the same person.

April 3rd week, 2112
Kirsten was in one of her moods. Of course, that was how Gabriel tried to explain it to himself. Why else would she get jealous and annoyed and all just because of a simple dream? To get a bit agitated was normal. To ignore Gabriel for the rest of the day, even expected. But a whole week? And unlike the first few days here in the sweltering desert where hunger, exhaustion, and heat had mingled so closely together, these past few days had been the closest thing to being single for Gabe. Cooking his own breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Fixing his own laundry. Masturbating since sex was no longer an option. A man could only take so much of this.

"Kirsten?"

She walked past him and sat instead facing the windows. Her shoulders were exposed while the rest of her was hidden beneath the white silken blanket she wrapped around herself like a coat. Between her hands was a glass of iced tea.

"Kirsten, come on," Gabe pleaded.

He would have been happy to see at least an eyelash batter towards him.

Or perhaps a dagger-like gaze. But she gave him neither and made him feel more miserable that way.

"Oh, damn it! What the hell is wrong? It was just a fucking dream, Kirsten! A dream!" Gabe yelled out as he walked towards her. Hearing no reply, Gabe bent forward and embraced her from behind. She remained still, unresponsive and cold. "Honey, I'm sorry, okay, but it's not like I have control over my dreams-"

"Who's Michael?"

"What?"

"This Michael guy� who is he?"

Gabe grabbed Kirsten a bit more tightly than expected. Kirsten held back a yelp and instead stared at Gabe with a face mixed with confusion and fear. Gabe let go of Kirsten and suddenly covered his face with both hands.

"Ahh, that name again!"

"But Gabe," Kirsten cooed, carefully watching her husband's reactions, "that name came up a few times while you were asleep. And for some vague reason, it does seem awfully familiar."

"No, it doesn't!" Gabe interjected immediately, "He's no one!"

"Honey, please," Kirsten shrugged, "If I still stood by you when you told me about your homosexual encounter during� when was that? College? What's to make me go away now? I can handle it, but only if you tell me. I can't stand knowing there is something I should know and being denied it."

"Alright... Alright... I'll explain everything. Everything I know."

April 4th week, 2112
They never spoke about the Enigma again. Or about Lesbianism. Or about homosexuality. Or about Michael Smith. Or about the Truth. The two realized that their sane minds could only take so much of this insanity and that it was better to just forget about it all and move on. After all, that was why they'd gone to Arizona, right? To start over?

There are many things that run through a person's mind when they go through something as chaotic and deliciously insane as this. Suicide does at times become one of these things.

Oh look, its Kirsten. She's walking towards the bathroom. Her face is downcast. Her eyes peer through nearly non-existent slits. Her lips are pulled back tight. Her cheeks are sullen.

"Honey..."

Gabriel watched with a sense of urgency. He wanted to be close to her, but he found himself unable to move. He was scared. He was nervous. Most of all, he was afraid of what might happen next.

Oh look, a knife. Its moon-like blade curved and glistening back the light of the stars. A black handle, slick and slender like a tongue. Is that Kirsten's hand grabbing a hold of its handle?

"Honey," Gabe asked again, "You don't have to do this-"

"I have to," Kirsten muttered as she raised the knife and brought it close to her wrist. She bit her lower lip then looked at Gabe. Gabriel suddenly burst out laughing and shook his head, "I'm sorry, dear, but I'm just not cut out for this role."

"Honey," Kirsten annoyingly exclaimed as she tossed the knife to the headrest, "I need you to act out the paranoid husband so I can glean just how Michelle might react in this scene. You know it helps me to internalize a role before I write the part."

"Fine, whatever works for you, hon."

He never moved from the tip of the tower. But His senses were always nearby, watching with fascination as the lives of Gabriel and Kirsten Brendan changed and progressed. He felt a certain tang of envy and sought to sate this emotion somehow. Lizards of all kinds fluttered towards Him, drawn and pulled from their pits and homes by rings of colored light. He chomped them down, each one's head to join the others already melting within Him. Twenty lizards, a filling meal for anyone considering each lizard was practically the length of one's palm, and the thickness of a quarter's width, but still this emotion panged within Him. Food did not help Him.

His eyes caught the movement in the distance. Like a trotting twister, a small dust cloud could be seen gradually making its way towards the tower. His eyes shifted to that area, and He saw the Truth making her way across the waste. He smiled, focused on His present location once more, and decided that it was time to pay the two a visit.

"It can't be happening again!" Gabe groaned as Kirsten pulled him out of the house. His body continued to shift. To change. To tremble and quiver ever so slightly. "This was my dream!"

"I know," Kirsten muttered as she hauled the two of them out of the tower. Then she froze, staring at the car before them. "No," Gabriel told her, though his voice was that of Michael's, "Remember what happens if we stay by the car."

"Why us? Why?"

"Oh fuck!" Gabriel exclaims upon seeing the figure lurking in the shadows. It was the all-too-familiar visage of the Truth. And this time it seemed, even the Enigma was against them. The sound of breaking glass. The shower of shards. The gunshot as Kirsten fires at the doorway, hitting nothing. The Enigma. The Truth. The Brendans.

All things come around. But how is the important question.

End Issue Six

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Enigma was originally published by Vertigo,a trademark of DC Comics. Others, if any, are not mentioned as a challenge to the said owners nor as an insult. The author of this fanfiction assumes NO ownership over the comic character ENIGMA. All other characters are created by Tobie Abad. This page is not intended to challenge or claim ownership of the character ENIGMA which is copyright of DC Comics.

Written by Tobie Abad [email protected]
Comment and reactions are welcome! In fact, appreciated!

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