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A short story that turned into a long mess
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Topic Started: Apr 23 09, 1:44 AM (1,904 Views)
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RazorStar
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Apr 23 09, 1:44 AM
Post #1
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To begin, I started Protector in February, and finished in March. After taking a break from the idea for a coupla weeks a lot of ideas have flown into my head, a cast of characters, semblance of a plot, yadda yadda. Figuring this would be a good place to put up my rough ideas and character sketches, It'd be nice to get some feedback so I don't mess up too badly here. While this may not be the direction I originally intended for my story, it's almost as if my mind is writing it without my help... Anyway I'm rambling now so here is the fully written "Protector", by me, RazorStar.
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The dull room seemed so full of life today… J noted that nothing in there had changed, save his mindset. Accepting a childish dare to stay up 72 hours straight was slowly pushing J in a direction he didn’t want to go. It’s so easy to be in control yet now every one of his nine… doesn’t sound right. Every one of his six senses was either dimming or spazzing out. Was his mind playing tricks on him or did that bird really offer him a slice of bread? Why is there a bird in here anyway? Because I’m falling asleep doesn’t sound right, so I must be awake and dreaming. Huh, his mole is… what is it doing? Oh… it’s just a mole.
“J what is the professor talking about?” the girl beside him whispered. The scent of lilacs in her perfume seemed to shock J back into reality.
“Simple, he is saying that while some organisms need a host to live in to survive, it may hurt the host. That is parasitism, while on the other hand organisms can work together to solve both of their needs in a process called mutualism.” J replied, with only a hint of sleep tracing his words.
How did I remember that? I’m barely paying attention to the world around me. These hallucinations are just empty thoughts of mine. Perhaps they’re scattered dreams that don’t make sense… yet? Why am I even taking this bet? I’m sore and I want to collapse, and things aren’t making any sense. To prove my worth I guess… I’ve always had that problem, couldn’t just be happy with what I am already! That’d be too easy! …Why am I yelling at myself again? I think I should tser my head for a bit because even my sthgouht are backwards. Just lay my head down and…
“J!” The shrill voice of his mole faced teacher woke him instantly. “Quit falling asleep in my class or I will give you a black eye!” He wasn’t serious, but he was certainly a pain in the ass. A miserable lonely middle aged man with a giant mole on his face to remind him about what a failure he is. To be honest, that mole represented him perfectly. Yes, he was a mole. I wonder why…
“Just one question, professor…” J said, almost sounding like a drunk as he spoke, his words slurring from sheer exhaustion. “Why are you a mole?” The light chatter of the class suddenly stopped, as they all peered directly at their professor, and they all could clearly see the rage building up, exploding from his growing pores.
“HOW DARE YOU!” He fumed with seething anger. The thought of a giant mole steaming sent J into a laughing fit. He felt the no nonsense eyes of his classmates peer into him and send sudden chills down his spine. “I’m very sensitive about my mole” he said as tears streamed down his face. The thoughts of a skin mark crying streams of tears sent J over the edge with laughter. J kept laughing, and leaning back, when a sudden shift in the world happened.
J was gone from the regular world, a complete shift in reality happened. The formerly bright sky was dull, as the sun shined gray light through massive clouds. J was hovering in midair, inside the same classroom but no one noticed him. The world was blurry, like when J wasn’t wearing contacts. He peered down and saw his contacts, and clothes fall into the ground, where they vanished between J’s temporary blindness and the gray reality he belonged to. “I need those to see” he lamented as his contacts disappeared, but seemed apathetic to the fact that he was also naked. The gears began turning in J’s head as his drunken mind grasped the area. “Maybe I’m dreaming… and if I am, then physics hold no chains on me.” J wanted to fly and not just hover; he wanted to see this dream for himself, so he grew wings from his shoulder blades. Seeing the gray world around him J thought to have his feathery wings match the setting around him. As his feathery gray wings sprouted, J forced himself out of the gray classroom window and past the clouds into the sun. Bravely into the air he soared, past the multiple spheres that held elements in the earth and into the reaches of space. He wanted to grasp the fiery sun with his cold hands and feel its warmth envelop him in destructive flames. “Gravity will not hold me!” he yelled defiantly and broke through Gaia’s Dome and into the clutches of space. Once he realized that he couldn’t breathe in space he dove back down towards the earth. Slowing gracefully once he was mere meters away from the ground he was ready to touch the surface of this new world in his new form. His big toe tapped the ground and reality suddenly rejected him.
Back in the classroom, the energy of J’s mind had been replaced by dull reality. The mole faced teacher ignored J less than subtly after recovering from the harsh unusual words uttered to him. The teacher scrawled notes quickly on the chalkboard as the delicious sounds of chalk grated on everyone’s ears and then countered with his shrill voice bombarding J with questions of things they as a class had not covered yet. J being prepared for such an instance, and bored with all his spare time he had, decided to read the whole textbook cover to cover and memorize it. The class gaped in awe as student and teacher were battling in a heated debate over science. Question fired as quickly as answers counter fired, and metaphorical flames burned between the 2 fighters. J then thought of his teacher on fire, the mole on fire… The mole was melting. J laughed violently this time around as well, leaning backwards as this world around him was rejected by his mind.
It was different this time J noted. He was floating in a classroom again, but this was certainly not a dream. The people around him were real, they felt real and they noticed him. They were real. And they crowded around him, taking him in. Even his body moved. He wasn’t inside that body, but it was definitely the same body he grew to love in the mirrors of his childhood. It was him, without him. The feeling was certainly nauseating. “They saw me!” his thoughts were screaming, while his pragmatic side told him this wasn’t real, just a trick from lack of sleep. How can it be real, if I’m down there, and up here…?
The girl standing beside J remarked “It’s an angel!” her eyes were wide with wonder and awe, and some of those other words for amazement.
“With a white robe and a halo” another girl chimed in, her eyes seemed to suggest a little something more lustful. Those thoughts sent a slight chill through J’s body. But not as bad as the next comment.
“No way, she has big boobs and skimpy clothing” a large jock shouted. Those words definitely made J want to vomit.
As the students started to argue what J was exactly, whether he was tall, short, human or not, the mole faced teacher with a shrill voice got down on his hands and knees and cried out in joy, “It’s me without a mole and with gray wings!” Those words made J shudder more than the previous 2 thoughts combined.
While everyone in that classroom disagreed that the angel looking anything like their teacher, they knew that he, she, it had wings coated in gray feathers. They extended from its shoulder blades and were huge for nearly anything as they were the size of its torso at least. Whatever it was, it was certainly magnificent to the crowd. They decided to break the first rule of all museums and touch its beautiful wings. The prying fingers came so close but a barrier of light shot up protecting J from the people around him.
“What’s going on?” J thought, almost aloud but quickly closed his lips. After all he was the weird one around here. Figuring himself in a bit of a pickle and not wanting to be mauled by an angry mob of teachers, students and … himself, J acted quickly. He spread his wings open and flapped once at supersonic speed. Like a cannonball J shot out of the classroom window, breaking glass as he smashed through, not really giving a damn about the costs or consequences of his actions. As pragmatism tried to take over, the feeling of the vivid blue sky had made J feel something special. Must be happiness, Must be happiness, he repeated realizing how foreign that feeling really was. The air that was breathing around him, the freedom of flight, it was truly an extraordinary experience. So was the barrier that enveloped him from the hands of the living that wished to touch his new form. A metamorphosis, that is either dream or real, maybe neither is something that no one will experience. Once alone, now able to fly free through the world where all the living may as well have been dead. The frigid air, the sound of traffic moving in choreographed motion, and the sheer exhaustion of flapping his massive wings had moved J out of thoughts and back into a regular state of mind.
Feeling tired from working his new muscles he flew to the top of the school roof and landed… and landed? The world didn’t fade around him; the barrier of light didn’t reject the ground or J. He was sitting atop the roof, cross-legged and perfectly fine. “So I can land somewhere, as long as I’m not directly on the ground.” J said aloud, knowing that no one should be able to hear him. The key word was “should”.
“That is correct Protector.” a voice out of the shadows replied, its form hidden by the shadows caused by bright and weak sunlight. “It’s best that you discover these new abilities for yourself. Or so I thought, but you might need some help.” The shadowy figure chuckled, “Never mind that though, I see you’ve decided to grow wings, reveal yourself in dramatic fashion to a classroom of people and make moves of your own volition. Truly an interesting specimen...” He stepped out of the shadows and revealed himself to the angelic J. He was an aged man of at least 50 years, with full moon spectacles and wild gray hair, which managed to be spiky and in a ponytail at the same time.
“Hey, this specimen has a name.” J stood indignant, “I am J Gibson, and I’d prefer not being compared to a lab rat, unless you have reason.” There really isn’t any reason to call someone a lab rat J realized mid sentence, but it sounded cool so he went with it.
“So you don’t have any name other than J?”
“Only trustworthy people know my name, so for now, J will do.”
The spectacled man grinned; joy seemed to be a natural reaction on the old man’s face. “Fair enough J, and since you have given me the honor of introducing yourself, I will give you mine. I am Satoshi Dias, and I’ve been looking for you specifically J. The knowledge I have on you is extensive, I do know your whole name, your families’ heritage, medical history, anything relevant really. Through 30 years of meditation I have discovered something few mortals will grasp the existence of. The will of the universe is ingrained in my head. In a cruder sense I have the knowledge of God inside my mind, and the assignment I was supposed to do, is almost completed by my chance meeting with you.” Satoshi laughed a bit harder as he started again, “Ok, it wasn’t chance; I did manage to gain a bit of omniscient ability from my meditation. I knew you would come here, and now I have to give you some information.”
“So are you a MacGuffin to move the plot along?” J thought, but quickly discarded that notion. Knowledge is exactly what I need right now, screw my cynicism. J bit his lip to avoid saying something stupid in front of his elder.
“Hmm, I figured you to be like most teenagers and interrupt when something sounds odd or incorrect. Truly I found the right person in you J. The acquisition of knowledge is important in the role of the protector. I suppose you want to know what the role of protector is, don’t you? Well I would have told you anyway but drawing this out makes it so much more enjoyable. You, J Gibson were born and chosen to defend Gaia from the opposing will of the universe. You get to be like the saviours before you, nameless and scratched out from the pages of history. If you want to that is…
Satoshi looked on at the angel’s confused face and realized that just providing the information wasn’t enough. He’d have to do some convincing. The poor kid was probably still juggling the choices at hand, and still wondering if he was just face down, drooling on his desk. “Look J, this may be hard to believe, but I’m going to keep going. While this is your choice, I want you to make the right one. That’s me being selfish though but there are some facts that may impact your train of thought. First of all, you can fly without synthetic enhancements and I wouldn’t call your wings natural, since you’re just making them up. You could do this in a dream sure, but what is happening is real, your actions are making an impact on the world, not just your own. Of course I know you knew this already, but the second part will shock and surprise you. I don’t understand English, I’ve been speaking in Japanese the whole time and you’ve been comprehending it as English, much like I’m comprehending your speech as Japanese.
Yes… Quite a lot to take in, but he’s skipping out… or at least hiding something. I think so anyway, I was never good at being perceptive. Seems like I’ll need to do more than listen to get everything out of him, I probably don’t have answers lying around elsewhere this easy to come by. Chances are this nut job may be the only way to make sense of this all. “Satoshi Dias, what have I become, why do I still have a body down there, and why do I need to be the saviour.”
“I am so glad you decided to ask these questions J! After all that is why I came here. The protector, i.e. you was created by 3 conditions. The first, you must love all living creatures, or at the very least not hate them just because they exist. This is important because it shows you have a sense of harmony. Second, the bridge between consciousness and unconsciousness must be made through sleep depravation or trauma. 95% of candidates end up take the latter method and going into a coma. You took the easy one by not sleeping.”
Satoshi adjusted his glasses as his finger pushed the aluminum to the top of his sharp pointed nose. He exhaled slowly and paused to find the right words. The atmosphere had changed from light hearted conversation to something more serious. Even the clouds seem to follow suit, covering the sun and keeping the cold air blowing.
“The final condition is that you choose this existence, J. Only you can decide whether you want to live in this frame of existence, or go back to your old one. There is a cost for the gray wings on the blades of your shoulders. That price is your old existence.”
The shock was there, flickering in J’s eyes. So it wasn’t all fun and games, I have to die. “You mean like suicide?” J’s voice cracked as he spoke, genuine fear was in his words. Satoshi reached into his pocket and pulled out a crystalline spike five inches in length. He handed it to J with grim seriousness.
“Something similar,” Satoshi replied, “This was the last gift granted to me by the universe. This spike will pierce through your old body’s brain severing your two existences, you right now and the former you. If you truly want to be a protector you will not die but if there is any doubt in your mind the shock and no doubt agony will destroy you. Then you will die, I’ll take the spike back and find the next candidate. He or she certainly won’t be as good a specimen as you.”
J stared at Satoshi almost as if he was looking for other options, but there only seemed to be 3 choices. Continue life as an above average and incredibly lazy student, die with doubt and a shiny spike in my brain or become the winged protector of the people… save them from whatever.
“Hold on Satoshi. You didn’t answer why I had to be a saviour. Why couldn’t I just do whatever I wanted? I mean this universe seems pretty content on not interfering directly with us people.”
Satoshi’s grim countenance was replaced with the smile he was so used to wearing. “J, I could tell you but you wouldn’t get it, well you wouldn’t get it right now anyway. This is something you will learn through experience. You’ve got 15 minutes left in that form, unless you touch the ground before that. Fly around and see the world through those new eyes. Perhaps then you will understand young one. I will be taking my leave now. If all goes well I will see you here in 45 minutes.” Satoshi then turned around, revealing his cape he held over his shoulders. Black fabric contrasted with silver-gray hair hung in a ponytail from the back of Mr. Dias’ head. His movement was graceful and refined as he opened the door to move to the lower level of the school, leaving J alone on the roof of the building.
J slid the spike in his pocket, point up obviously, and reflected on Satoshi’s words. Figuring no harm in flying around for himself, and realizing that was more suited to his intentions, he got up and brushed himself off, getting ready to fly. His gray wings opened as the clouds parted revealing the bright sunlight. He leapt up and flapped forcefully, gaining air and began soaring into the intense blue sky. “I hate getting answers sometimes” J mumbled as his mind melded with the wind, air slowly changing current as new minute muscles adjusted to keep up with the ever changing flow. A wave of sleepiness washed over J as he let the wind just take him anywhere. “I still haven’t slept yet, maybe I won’t feel tired if I take this job full time. Now that I’m apparently the saviour of the universe,” J stopped in mid thought, “What do I do as one?” After pondering for a while, J decided that he should do some recon work, if asking and answering questions weren’t getting him anywhere.
J stopped flying, and hovered in mid air as he peered down into the city. A young couple on a street arguing drew J’s gaze that way. “Damn, I can’t make out any details. Wait! If I have full control over this existence, then I should be able to change my form too.” J closed his dark brown eyes and imagined the eyes of an eagle, pale gold in color and enhanced beyond a human’s understanding. J opened his eyes again and he saw the world as if for the first time. Everything was so vivid and sharp. Even miniscule details were noticeable, and small animals were noticeable even from one hundred and twenty feet up. J dived closer to the city, making sure to hide his presence as he got into the range of human eyes, and perched himself on a tall tree with thick branches. The woman, a young twenty something with long blonde hair in a mostly green and black ensemble was arguing with her boyfriend, a muscular thug like person in a leather jacket and blue jeans. They were arguing intensely, but that wasn’t what was bothering J as he examined the scene closer. The shadows cast on the ground beneath their feet were twitching violently like balls of black thunder. They even emanated a dark chaotic presence and were certainly enjoying the struggle of the humans they lay under.
The couple separated, splitting apart in near violence. Onlookers were shocked as cruel words spat out of their mouths, evil intentions rising to the surface for all to see. Of course, only J could see the mad twitching shadows jump back into the bodies that cast them, spinning the battle of words into a full blown assault, with only human survival instinct keeping the two people apart. J knew he had to do something about these new found shadows, and he sprang into action. He leaped off the branch and dove downward, looking for a place to land. He twisted his head and noticed twitching shadows beneath everyone’s feet. Not all of them shuddered violently like the couple’s did, but all of them grew like dark tumors beneath the feet of the crowd. J was diving deep towards the shadow of the leather wearing man, holding his crystalline spike in hand… J had touched the surface of the earth after exactly 15 minutes passed.
He was back in his regular frame of mind and body. The body he had grown up in for sixteen years, the span of his life. The classroom had settled down considerably, but murmurs of the holy winged being moved through the walls in light echoes. “So it was real? It wasn’t just a dream?” J had wondered, running his hand through the messy mop of black hair, trying to massage his scalp into giving him the truth.
The girl sitting beside J leaned over and asked him a question, one that was probably stated many times in the 15 minutes J was gone. “You didn’t answer me the last time,” she said excitedly, “what did the angel look like to you?”
J decided to go with a half lie; indeed he had never observed himself from the vantage point of J the person. “I saw a perfect me, with golden eagle eyes and gray wings. Then I thought about flying… it was truly an out of body experience.” A genuine smile crept across J’s tired face. “I should think I would like to go back to that.” He reached into his front pocket where he could feel Satoshi’s gift poking him in the leg. He felt the sharp point move across the pads of his fingers, as the gears in his head began to turn.
She looked surprised, intrigued… maybe just confused but definitely wanted to know further. “What do you mean by that J?” She asked, definitely thrown off guard by J’s sudden shift in demeanor. His eyes were no longer sleepy but dead set on his hand as he pulled a large spike out of his pocket and placed it on the desk in front of him. The movement was methodic and robotic all at once, worrying her about what could be going through his head. “J? What are you doing?” Fear crept into her voice, as J tilted his head back. Anxiety came rushing faster and faster as a few students turned their glances at the panicked scene. “Oh my God, don’t do it, you have so much to live for! JUNIUS!” She cried and shrieked, like a banshee now as the whole room now focused on Junius Gibson, who was singularly focused on driving his head through the shiny crystalline spike.
Whether I live or die…if these are my last thoughts and someone can hear them, or if I’m just in a dream and I’m going to wake up soon. I want to help those people I saw with the violent shadows creeping beneath them. I want to learn why I was assigned to be a protector by some higher power. What new abilities will I have? This is for me as much as it is for everyone else. I must do this, for those people, for those gray wings which have given me a truly new outlook on the world. Whether this is the beginning or the end, the start of madness or the path to redemption, if this is true or false… I WANT THOSE WINGS! Junius’ last cry could be heard as the spike plunged deep inside his skull.
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RazorStar
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Apr 23 09, 2:23 AM
Post #2
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The Characters:
My Protagonist: Junius Gibson
A self proclaimed lazy above average student (age 16). Is a bit of an outcast in the regular social circles but people are still able to approach him regardless. Passive in a lot of aspects in his life, but from the moment he met Satoshi he was starting to realize that this world whether it be fabrication or reality is something he'd much rather have then his current average lifestyle. Hates giving out his whole name to people he doesn't trust, so most people call him J, not knowing what it stands for most of the time. Is an average height, but very skinny. After his experiences with his dreams interfering with reality he now has golden eagle eyes opposed to his original dark brown near sighted ones. Has a messy mop of dark brown hair and a bad habit of drinking a lot of pop so his skin is oily but not acne prone. Is able to pop his dark gray wings in and out of his back with a thought. His beliefs pit him as an agnostic, simple because he doesn't care about gods and the eternal soul. Wears a white t-shirt and loose fitting blue jeans, and in colder weather pulls a green winter jacket out of hammer space (actually one of his weapon's abilities). Is incredibly smart when it comes to battling but when it comes to common social situations he is neither cunning nor clever. Tends to be accidentially rude when speaking to others, he doesn't mean it but his words come out wrong.
Weapon: Meteor Cuffs
Junius wears 2 bracers on his arms, and 2 greaves on his lower legs. The first ability of these bracers is that they can change their weight, and amount of space they cover on J's body the instant he commands them to with his mind. From as light as 1 pound each, to as heavy as 100 pounds each (would cover his whole arm and leg). The second ability of his cuffs is that he can take them off and merge them into a short japanese sword (Wakizashi?) for maximum mobility and a cutting weapon.
Left Arm Bracer: (Zap) The special ability of this cuff alone is the ability to send his brain's electricity through his left arm as long as his arm is in contact with a conductor. After using this attack Junius is immobile because the electricity manages to paralyze him temporarily.
Right Arm Bracer: (Stack) This special ability moves all of the cuffs onto his right arm making a giant cannon of energy, giving a much needed long range aspect to his fist fighting style. The attacks are large, rangy and powerful, but they are taxing on the user and not very fast. J's mobility is limited as he is off balance when running and using this.
Left Leg Greave: (Hammerspace) This is not a battle ability, but the Greave can store anything except living animals, a meteor cuff or J's specifically. As well as being able to put anything (nearly) in it, J can easily access it whenever he needs it.
Right Leg Greave (Painkiller) Perhaps the most important ability of J's weapon, the painkiller can reduce the shock and 20% of the pain he feels when he manages to take a serious wound. The effects only last 15 minutes and it takes a night of rest for the Cuff to recover energy to send the chemical into J's body. A slight feeling of vertigo for a few seconds is the only side effect to the chemical.
Anything more I need for him would you think?
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RazorStar
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Apr 23 09, 2:48 AM
Post #3
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(Note my story does take place in the present day, in pretty much a mirror universe save a few minor historical changes)
The Watcher: Satoshi Dias
An old man who looks young for his age. His appearance to Junius Gibson is that of a man around 50 years old but he is really 85. Mysterious and never tells more than he needs to, as keeping secrets is something he does incredibly well. He prefers to avoid confrontation with smooth talking and politicking. Is a prone liar, he is a master of decepetion and has been working with his partner since the middle of the second world war. Is of japanese descent, and can only speak japanese but due to the people he deals with and their special inherent abilities, they can understand him perfectly as if he was speaking their language, and them his. Plays from the shadows, but comes across as a friendly old man who can relate well with the younger generation. He and his partner are essentially the two most powerful people in the world, with their hands in every political, cultural, and economic cookie jar. Is easy to doubt others and as he has grown he has taken a more passive stance on things. (Unlike Junius who is becoming more assertive as he grows). Has wild spiky gray hair and manages to keep it in a ponytail. Wears a black cape across his back, and is customary to wearing earthy color dress shirts and pants. His only fighting skill is his physical discipline and creating barriers of light.
I don't have much with Satoshi yet, as I'm stilling working on the roles of my two Watcheresque characters.
Other people who I have designed later are Zerick, who is Satoshi's partner. Kefir, my lancer. Heath, my barely contained psychopath. and ten other characters who come into their powers in a similar way that Junius did.
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RazorStar
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Apr 24 09, 4:54 PM
Post #4
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I WROTE A NEW CHAPTER HOYL CROW
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RazorStar
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May 24 09, 6:12 AM
Post #5
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I have a new chapter... does anyone care?
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RazorStar
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May 24 09, 8:03 PM
Post #6
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Nope... FINE THEN. You're getting Chapter 2 anyway.
Awakening
Where am I? … Last thing I remember, I was driving a spike into my brain, and it hurt. Right now I don’t feel a god damned thing and I can’t see an inch past my nose. What direction is up or down, left or right, I don’t know a thing. A crazy friend of mine once said that when you feel nothing and see nothing, you’re in purgatory the place god sticks all the people he’s too lazy to judge. Why the heck is that the first thing I remember anyway? I’m Junius Gibson, sixteen years of experience to my name and nothing to show for it. I’m pretty naïve to believe the words of an old man I never met, no matter how trustworthy he seemed to be. Now I’m dead and… hold on a second. I have sensation in my arms. They feel really heavy, like cement blocks in the ocean…
“Wake up. You’re still alive, you breathe and your brain functions. That’s enough to constitute living.” The voiced echoed through my skull in a weird harmonic melody.
“I’ve been interrupted a lot in my inner monologues today. Who are you mysterious voice, and why does it feel so weird?” I asked.
“Right now… well it’s a bit hard to explain but I’ll give it a shot. I am part of the universe’s plan for the future. Originally I was a meteor that circled a star in a constellation that you call ‘Libra’. As I collided onto Gaia’s surface, I was quickly mined by a couple of strange individuals. Apparently I am one of many meteors that collided here, I believe there were thirteen.”
“So all thirteen were in that spike right? The same spike which I’m sure is lodged in my brain and currently sending me on these weird hallucinations?” I couldn’t be left in the dark again; I already made one mistake trusting that Satoshi guy.
“You ask too many questions, kid. Be patient and listen. Right now the past, present and future are melding with your body. Your body, or rather your mind has created a natural defense. I’ll make the room brighter so you can see what I mean.”
A light turned on, and I saw the pool of water around me. It was more like a bathtub, filled with salty, murky, wet water. My arms were trapped in the water, weighed down by something tangible or magical. Holding me down in the awful water that was slowly rising… I wanted to scream out, but figured the effort would just be wasted in vain. In desperation I asked, “What the hell did you do to me? And don’t skip out on me because I always had these awful fears about drowning and I’m really-”
“Relax! The water level increases whenever you struggle or think bad thoughts about your imminent doom. Try using your head for once.” The presence had left the room suddenly, leaving me alone in a cold pool of wet, wet, drowning water.
Alright, let’s break this down. After inserting that spike into my brain I don’t remember a thing. So somebody must have placed me in this tub and put these weights on me which makes no sense, since I’m sure doctors don’t torture their patients in this part of the world. Considering that I’m hearing voices, and that water is dripping from nowhere, it could be entirely possible that this is just a dream. How long have I been dreaming then…Why won’t I get any answers? This is really pissing me off…
“I’M GETTING THE HELL OUT OF HERE!” The water started rushing into the tub, filling it water faster and faster. The weights on my arms got heavier and heavier, but the weights on my legs felt insignificant. I kicked out at the porcelain bath holding me, and surprisingly broke it on the first try through. The water seeped out into the ground, flowing over my naked body and stopped dripping entirely. I looked over to my arms, and they had weird bracers placed on them. The bracers were made of rock and metal and seemed to be fluctuating in size as I looked at them. I looked down to my legs, and saw similar things upon them. They were significantly smaller though, and I could actually move them. After a few tries of tucking them in and kicking out I was able to get into a pseudo sitting position, with both arms still pinned and unable to move. “I just changed the weight on my legs right?”
“Sort of. Those bracers you see on your limbs are the weapons your mind has created. Why you had to find them out in a bathtub is something I won’t be able to understand. Maybe you’re just really fucked up and like hurting yourself.”
“I’ll say… so I can modify the weight on these things? How do I do that?”
I could swear I heard sighing, but passed it off as the wind. The melodic voice spoke again, and while it didn’t have a gender specific to it, I couldn’t help but feel it was female. “These are products of your mind, they can be modified and remove at will. It may be a little difficult for you, since after probing your mind for a bit you seem to be a bit random… Eh, I’m sure you’ll be fine with a bit of practice.”
“About that, this seems like a difficult thing to master, how long do I have to work with it?”
“How about I just wake you up so you can find out?” the voice echoed. “It’s a pain in the ass to work with your body anyway.”
“You really should stop insulting me, I’ve been known to make people miserable” How rude, and I’m letting this voice stay in my head? Well I’m not really letting, it just sort of happened. I mumbled to myself.
“Sorry to say, that I’m not insulting you, you are. I’m part you and part me, just consider me a better voice inside your head. Only slightly though, you’re still a pain-”
“ENOUGH! Just wake me up, or else this might be the weirdest dream I ever had. Next to the one where I was Andy Samberg and I did things to a giant fish. Kanye was there, he’ll tell you more.”
Before any sort of response could be made to my ramblings, the world faded into black, and I opened my eyes slowly.
The cold misty morning shook him to his senses. The sudden shifts in scenery were becoming common to Junius, but what weren’t common were the eyes of Satoshi Dias leering over him. “Good morning J,” He said so nonchalantly. “Are you ready to hear more?”
“That would really be helpful. I’m dead now… aren’t I? These weights on my arms and legs are like divine punishment for what I did… or just a really messed up dream.” He quickly rolled into a sitting position and then tried to stand up. After a few minutes of struggling, J returned to his feet, attempting to stand up straight but was stuck hunched over with the weights on his arms.
“That’s not it at all, J.” Satoshi gave him a slight shove to fix his posture and continued, “These meteor cuffs on your arms and legs are the weapon your mind has created over the course of your lifetime. Now that you’ve been properly separated from your weak body, your true potential is now available to you. Many people end up with a gun, a blade, but this is certainly a unique weapon.”
So they’re called meteor cuffs huh? “More importantly, what was with that voice I met in my head? It was pretty confusing, and said she… or he came from space. Was she locked in that spike you gave me?” J hunched over again, the weights on his arms proving too much for him, “Ugh… this doesn’t seem like a very convenient weapon at all.”
Satoshi adjusted his spectacles onto the bridge of nose, after he finished chuckling at J’s struggles. “As it was, the voice inside your head was indeed property of this spike. We call her Libra, and she gathers information from her host, as well as separating the weak part of your body from the strong. This process effectively leaves a copy of you to live a normal life, and takes a fortified you to do things most people can only dream of. Libra tells me your cuffs have many special abilities, but we’ll just be training the most important part of your weapon. That is of course controlling the weight of your cuffs. We’ll be doing this for thirteen days.”
J’s eyes shot wide open like hungry mouths for the feeding, “Wait a minute! Thirteen days? Training? Why the heck would I need those things? Now that I’m free I don’t expected to be following orders all over again.”
“An ocean doesn’t flow because it wants to. It flows because the moon demands it. Like an ocean, you as well as I follow the moon else we drown the world in our own selfishness.”
“I don’t understand what you’re getting at. A simple Zen saying is not going to be explanation enough, what the hell is this all for?” J’s rage was lightening the weights on his arms and legs, giving his the freedom to finally pace around.
With a disheartened sigh and furrowing of his brow Satoshi said, “In two weeks, my partner and I will be leading all thirteen of you to an arena in the Saharan Desert, near where the shadows are gathering. There you will battle to determine a viable leader and…”
J was getting sick of this, all these implications it would place on him had no choice but to interrupt Satoshi. “That sounds really excessive, unnecessary and generally just a pain in the neck. I can do anything here… This world is just a byproduct of my dreams and I’ll just be back to my old form when I wake up.”
“Then wake up.” Satoshi snapped, like an old turtle gone mad, “And when you do you’ll realize the situation we’re in. You remember the shadows you saw under the couple’s feet right? Well they’re gathering power and growing stronger by the day. Not just the weak ones under their feet, great ones, massive ones, and demonic creatures are all coming to a single place. Libra has told me much through your eyes.” J felt the tight grip clench around the scruff of his shirt as Satoshi lifted him a foot off the ground. He could feel the indignant stare in his gray eyes, and tried to avoid his gaze. “These shadows, the Duskon as we call them have usually been small, well contained and when they get bad we usually only two or three are needed” His voice inclined, and it seemed like J was rising higher off of the ground.
“THIS IS WORLDWIDE! Thirteen people from all around the world are here to contain and destroy the Duskon who cause chaos. His hand settled, and J fell onto the ground with the grace of a ballet dancer with no legs and fell painfully on his ass. “Now, you can do this my way, or try training yourself. You may end up breaking a few bones, severing a limb, decapitation, the list goes on, but provided you do survive it may be worse for you. The Duskon go after the prone, weak, and easy targets. Right now, with those weapons proving more hindrance than advantage they will surround you and devour you leaving you as a mere shell of yourself.”
“I get it.” J wasn’t really in a mood to argue after that chewing out. He didn’t want to create a powerful enemy that could lift him up with one hand, especially with those weights on him hands. “So, what’s first?”
“Focus.” He smiled as he pulled a sparking rod out of thin air, as if reaching into a pocket that wasn’t really there. “I always love this part.” He swung his mighty rod at J, unaware of the innuendo that was just implied.
---
“It’s a good morning, wouldn’t you say, Senior Officer Freedan?”
A warm voice sounded. Everything was warm in the desert, in the medical tents, but unlike the blistering heat, this voice was soothing, like a summer breeze. “Sir, I don’t know who you are, but I’ve had much better mornings than this.” He raised his left arm, whatever was left of it anyway to show his point. “How did you get in here anyway?”
The man with the warm voice moved into Freedan’s line of sight, but with the way the shadows played his face was still covered. He was dressed in a black suit with a red tie, and stood very tall, even though he was only of average height. “I am a VIP, a person who pays the checks for everyone’s superiors. Therefore, I am allowed access nearly everywhere, even the medical tent of an American Army Base. My time is brief, as I’ve scheduled another meeting today. My name is Zerick Aldaune, and I’ve come to you with a proposition.” Officer Freedan could see the whites of Zerick’s eyes, if only for an instant, before the shadows again covered his face.
“You came into contact with something called a Duskon in the hours before your near death. You saw them underneath your comrades-”
“Ah yes, I thought it was just a hallucination from stress at the time. Like dark balls of thunder-”
“Yes, and you are right to think like that but now that you have seen the lowest form of this creature, your fate has been sealed.” Zerick reached into his pocket and pulled out a crystalline pistol and pointed it at Freedan. “Those things you saw, they made your underlings act strange, didn’t they? Disobeying orders, running right into a trap set by a lone kid soldier, leaving you responsible for saving their hides? Luckily for them, you were responsible enough to throw yourself on the line, and only manage to lose one arm, when they had a running start.”
“It wasn’t their fault,” Freedan replied, unable to see the pistol from the angle he was sitting. “They thought they had found their base, and they were just going to scout it out and-”
“You don’t believe that for a second.”
“… You got me. As a senior officer, it is my responsibility for the actions of my subordinates. I will not allow them to lose their lives under my watch. But now… with this intense pain in my arm, my stump, I’m getting sick of this game.”
“And that is where I come in. I can promise you a world free of this warfare, free of this filth. The Duskon are the reason for the evil in the world, the war, the damage, destruction, doom and drought that live. If you want to fix this, take this gun in my hand, and pull the trigger. Your powers will awaken, like a bud to the rising sun, and you can rid of them once and for all.” Zerick walked to Freedan’s side, and placed the gun in his right hand. Freedan could see his features for the first time. From his calming gray eyes to, his stubble that showed class and not thriftiness, and his intelligent business like haircut. A real leader of the white collar slaves, in comparison to Freedan’s muscular frame, bald head and sharp brown eyes, the blue collar soldier. They were opposites in nearly every way.
“What you’re asking is for me to kill myself?”
“This may be a difficult thing to ask of you, but I need you to trust in me. I know I sound a little crazy, but if part of you can believe in my story, then that part of you knows I’m speaking the truth. The shot will not kill you, merely separate the strong you, and the weak you. It is a matter of trust, so I will leave the gun with you. There is only one bullet in there, so your decision is final.” Zerick peering down at his expensive watch continued speaking. “I must be going now, Marshall Freedan. The choice is up to you, and I believe you will make the right one.”
As Zerick left the blistering hot medical tent, Freedan stared blankly at the crystalline gun, considering his actions, and the abrupt visit of the mysterious businessman. “Well the decision is obvious.” He said to himself as he lifted the gun to his head.
---
“Hello partner.”
“You called at a bad time Zerick. I’m in the middle of training the winged protector.”
“Oh come now, Satoshi, don’t be like that. I just wanted to say that the soldier has been awakened, and I’ll be awakening his good friend soon.”
“You don’t have to sound so sarcastic, friend. Besides, they actually met before hand, which really makes me wonder how strong this supposed child soldier is.”
Zerick tilted his head on his fist, “Well in this country the average age of a newly recruited soldier is thirteen, so he’s been doing this for a few years. Considering the person he ended up targeting as well as position, I’ll chalk this up to coincidence.”
“I’m worried that the Duskon are becoming smarter much too quickly. I wonder if our original one month timeline may be a gross overestimation. They seem to be targeting people the instant they sense someone who is aware of them.”
“So I take it you’ve already made the plans to speed ahead to a three week timeline. I was feeling the same vibes, so I’ve sent my clones to contact the other protectors. They’ll be able to do what I can six times faster.”
“After all these years we’re still on the same wavelength… Good bye Zerick.” Satoshi flipped his phone off and slid it into a pocket of air. He looked down at his pupil who was beaten, burnt and bruised. “So you have perfect control of the weights on your legs now? That was much faster than expected but if you can’t control all of four of them, you’ll stand no chance against a Duskon.” Junius struggled to his feet, carrying two pounds on both his legs and a varying amount of either arm, changing with every second that passes. I’m going to die. I’m going to die, in my training episodes were the thoughts that were racing through his head. He raised his arms in the best defensive state he could, as he prepared for Satoshi’s oncoming assault.
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Deleted User
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Jun 18 09, 10:00 AM
Post #7
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Deleted User
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TL;DR.
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Deleted User
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Jun 18 09, 10:00 AM
Post #8
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Deleted User
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TL;DR.
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RazorStar
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Jun 18 09, 1:21 PM
Post #9
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frownie face.
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Deleted User
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Jun 18 09, 1:24 PM
Post #10
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Deleted User
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*Scratches nose*
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RazorStar
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Jun 18 09, 2:47 PM
Post #11
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*gnaws on elecas head*
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Crimson Warrior
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Jun 18 09, 2:56 PM
Post #12
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Grandmaster of the Tenkuei Klan
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I can actually see that happening.
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RazorStar
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Jul 2 09, 11:05 PM
Post #13
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Chapter 3: Crawling
“I’m so dead. That rod is going to kill me, and I’m gonna miss out on all the great things I could have done… Wait a minute.”
I opened my eyes, in disgust as I came across different scenery, rows upon rows of rotten dilapidated buildings stood before me covered in an overgrowth of plants and weeds. “I think I get it, I must have been knocked out. It’s weird though, my dreams keep feeling more and more real, and these dreams inside dreams are just as strange. I don’t even know anymore.” I raised the weights on my legs to twenty pounds, and tried to keep my arms at a consistent rate, so I could at least raise them. “While I’m out of it, maybe I can find a way to get prepared for Satoshi, for an old man he sure fights like a monster. If I didn’t have any training at all I would have really died… if I’m not already. This is such a pain…”
Traversing the destroyed landscape, I had to wonder if this place was just my imagination gone wild, a sick idea of what I wanted the world to be. A hollow shell, where I was the only person left. I would often think about that, the solitary freedom of being the last man alive. The truth was I was never alone, no matter how hard I tried to be. There were always my parents, my peers, and now that I had finally found a sense of freedom with these wings, there is still Satoshi and Libra to bug me. Speaking of Libra, where is she?
“Right here kid.” The voice resounded, and with a form as well, standing atop what looked like a destroyed house, roots piercing it like knives. It jumped gracefully from the top of the house and in front of me, smiling as it went. “Your training doesn’t end just when you decide it’s alright to fall asleep you know. Satoshi specifically ordered me to keep tabs on you when you were out cold. Since he is training your strength and focus, I’ll stick to training the source of your real power, your will and creativity.”
I couldn’t help but scan her frame, despite her heavy clothing it stuck to her tightly, leaving little to the imagination. She wore a simple gray sweatshirt and low riding blue jeans, nearly the same color as her short tied-up black blue hair. “So you are a girl. You don’t look that bad either, though your face is a little plain.”
I didn’t figure I’d receive a fist in my face that early into to the conversation, I guess some people don’t like flattery. “Now,” She said with anger receding from her voice, “I want you to change the scenery to something that scares you, as opposed to something comforting, like this place. Think of something that really scares you and I’ll help change it to what you’re thinking of.”
Something that scares me… easier said than done. I don’t like admitting to my insecurities unless they are out in the open. Besides why the hell would I want to scare myself, fear is just…”
“A swimming pool?” She said confused. “You’re afraid of water kid? Oh right, you did say that the last time we talked. If you can get over your fears fast enough your willpower will only grow stronger, so here we go.” A quick smile flashed and I knew I was fucked.
God. Damn. It. One fast warp in reality later and I was back in my deep dark childhood memories. The smell of chlorine and piss emanated from the abyss of water that stood before me in its evil glory. I cursed under my breath and tried to yell defiantly at the heavens, but I was shoved into the pool by the hands of Libra. She laughed like a noblewoman as I gasped for air in the awful watery grave.
---
“He collapsed way too soon.” Satoshi sighed as he brewed some tea from his pockets of air. “J only lasted three hours and he’s already switched out with you. That kid needs a lot of work in his stamina if he wants to challenge the Duskon.”
“That’s certainly true Master Satoshi.” Libra said, while she was in J’s body drinking a cup of wonderfully brewed tea. “However, his mental training is moving along a bit better than his physical I’d say. While absolutely terrified of the swimming pool, he’s still trying his hardest to swim without dying. It’s rather admirable, really.”
The swirling winds of the nighttime air were nipping at the two as they sat up on the roof of the school building where J first met Satoshi. What was bugging Libra was not the wind but was the dull and sharp aches she felt course through Junius’ body with every second that passed. “Did he even try to dodge your attacks?”
“Not at all.” He said with grim seriousness. “He gave up any defense he had, and went for attacks as often as he could, even sacrificing his body to some painful hits just to get a shot at me. Satoshi pulled up the sleeve of his fancy dress shirt to reveal bruises all over his arm. “He’s got the will of a fighter, but he has no idea how to fight which really just makes him a masochist.”
“Those look painful,” She said in empathy, “how was his control when he got a hit in?”
“Absolutely perfect, but he couldn’t keep the focus in his arms long enough to keep it up. This is why I don’t have to worry about anything more than bruising to my old body.” He smiled to remove the worry from Libra, “If what you say about his mental training is true I’ll need to try another training method. He’ll be too strong for me to handle on my own. This school roof is getting to me as well, so a location change is a must. It’s way too cold here at night.”
She nodded as she recalled, “I know a place where we can train. The place where J is in his mind, it’s a community centre with a pool, a dojo and large gymnasium. I’m sure they wouldn’t mind us borrowing it out for a couple of weeks. Then you could bring your other assignments to the area. I’m sure they are about to awaken soon, if they haven’t already”-
Satoshi noticed a rustle in the wind and raised his hand to silence Libra. “Whoever you are, show yourself. I have no time for games.” The rustle suddenly vanished as a black cloaked figure jumped from the top of a tree and landed on the roof, in complete silence.
---
“GWAK! This water needs to stop ending up in my lungs!” I can’t even find the damn ledge to hold on to. Muttering to myself as I tried to keep air and not water in my lungs was easier said than done, so I reserved myself to private thoughts, inside my head, where my thoughts should be private anyway. Hell of a fucked up place I ended up in. My throat hurts, my legs are tired, and my arm is tingly. … My arm is tingly? Am I having a stroke? No, that’s not likely. It feels like I’m constantly being shocked in the arm, static in my veins. Could this be an attack? Pulling my left arm out of the water, I noticed that the meteor cuff on my left arm was a lot shinier than usual.
“Libra! I might still be scared as hell of this water, but I discovered something.” I can only manage how ridiculous I looked thrashing around staring at my arm, “My arm has been feeling tingly, and I thought it was just something like my arm being sore from Satoshi’s attacks or trying to swim, but this is cool. Get me out of this pool of death so I can show you.” I tried imagining an empty gym, put I only ended up in a gray room, with a single white florescent light.
“Kind of busy here, kid. What is it?” She asked, making no bother to hide the annoyance in her voice. She was so cute when she was angry.
“I can show you.” Holding my left arm out, with my palm open, I began focusing on the tingling feeling my nerves were giving me. Feeling the electricity deep inside my arm, I felt the need to name my attack. Nothing cool or anything, it was going to be but the pain was so unbearable I could only yell out one syllable. “ZAP!” The electricity shot through my brain, through the nerves in my arm and out of my hand into a massive ball of blue lightning. It burned inside my hand; it felt like my arm was ripping from the inside out as the ball exploded in my palm, sending a wave of sparks in all directions.
She looked disappointed as she watched the close range failure. I couldn’t move, I thought the attack would do less damage to me and more to my opponents but I really couldn’t have been more wrong. I was screaming violently, as I stared into the charred mess that was my hand and she left without a word. Before I knew it, the scenery disappeared completely and I opened my eyes to a stark reality. At least it wasn’t the damn pool again, but a familiar name rang in my ear drums.
---
“Master Satoshi, it has been a while.” The cloaked figure bowed gently to the old man, who was somewhat at ease after recognizing the familiar voice. His body posture was tight, forced and unnatural, like the only child at an adult party. “Zerick wanted me to tell you something.” He spoke softly. “His clones and I took care of fifty four of your possible targets, to save you some trouble.”
The elder man nodded. “Heath, it’s been a long time since I saw you last. You can show me your face. You know I won’t harm you or anything.” Satoshi caught his eyes peering over at the unconscious Junius and explained to Heath, “I should thank you for letting me keep this one. Junius Gibson had the highest rate of survival out of all one hundred and twenty six subjects worldwide. This is him, though he’s not very strong otherwise.”
“I see.” The cloaked figure took off his hood revealing his spiky red hair, bright green eyes, and a very shy expression. “The only one who was higher than me in that regard right? You’ve taken to training him personally?”
“I felt it was my duty. I couldn’t let Zerick have all the fun, though it seems he’s convinced that he needs to convince every single protector to join us. Speaking of which, how many of these possible targets survived?”
Heath smiled, wiping the shy off his face instantly. “Only three survived the awakening. The thing I heard from them is that they had encountered Duskon before they became awakened to their powers. The survivors were Jennifer Barton, age 16, David Myung, age 14, and Linda Sykes age 28. Currently they are on a private jet, heading east towards the disclosed location. Along with my self, that cute knocked out one over there and the soldier Zerick mentioned we have six in total. I’m glad I’m not the only one anymore.”
“I take it Zerick has told you to go after our last friend in North America then?”
“Yes he has. I was going to head there immediately but I saw you here first.”
Satoshi looked blankly at Heath. “So he wasn’t going to notify me that all my targets were taken care of before hand? He’s been so aggressive lately so I wouldn’t put it past him...”
“He probably just forgot, master.” Looking impatient and bored, Heath tried to end the conversation “Regardless I will be taking my leave, it’s about two hours by foot to your last target-”
“Which one is that?”
“Sage Valdez, age 18, Caucasian Male, currently enrolled as a freshman at the University of Lethbridge.” Heath explained, “Going alphabetically, he was the last one on the list. Nothing really remarkable about him, blood type O, good health, good grades, plays baseball and is part of the university’s archery team.”
“Not that Sage Valdez.” J shot up onto his feet, eyes blazing and fists clenched. Even if his arms were being weighed down by the cuffs he didn’t notice. “I’ve got a score to settle with that kid.”
Heath looked at him with a puzzled expression, “Um, he’s older than you…” he muttered quietly.
“Ah, you’re finally up, J. We can start our train”- Satoshi wanted to continue but was interrupted by J.
“That doesn’t matter! The guy is immature and cruel, irresponsible, insensitive and I haven’t got him back yet. I’ve been waiting seven years for my revenge, and now I finally have an opportunity to get him back!”
“We have no time for your personal grudges, J. If we don’t make you stronger then”- Heath whispered a few things into Satoshi’s ear and then stepped back, staring sharply at the angry youth’s eyes, gauging his sudden movements. “Alright then.” A nearly invisible smirk appeared on Satoshi’s face. “Go ahead and find him. We’ll interrupt your training for now.”
“… really?” J smiled, “Revenge will be sweet indeed. Oh the things I’ll do…”
“If you can make it to him first.” Heath said quietly, juggling a single crystalline spike. “You’ll be racing against me. If you win, I’ll let you do whatever you want to him. If not, he’s in my hands. I’m sure if he survives me you’ll be free to do whatever you want anyway.”
“It only takes two hours by foot to get there? Then it’ll only be quicker with my wings!” J’s wings shot out of his back, and spread magnificently in gray wide open glory. “This should be fun… um what’s your name?”
“Heath Aldaune” he replied softly, staring at his shoes. “It’s um nice to meet you too.” He blushed a little and added, “You better go as fast as possible. I’ll even give you a head start.”
“You don’t need to do that, but I’ll take you up on your offer anyway.” J flapped his wings and minimized the weight on his arms and legs to go even faster, his muscles feeling lighter and stronger from the previous straining efforts. “Freedom, Revenge, It’s all coming at once! Sage Valdez, prepare to be destroyed!”
“Are you sure about this Heath? I’m worried what’ll happen when J realizes he can’t possibly go fast enough to match you.”
“He’s too motivated by revenge to worry about that. If he does lose and still tries to interfere I can knock him unconscious.”
Satoshi looked confused as Heath said those words. “If? At his level he’s no match for you.”
“I just believe competition will bring out the best in him. He’s a little bit like I was… a long time ago. Perhaps he’s just as excited about his goals as I am about mine. I’m sorry but I must be going. The mission comes first.” Drawing his hood over his head, and getting into a running stance, he started moving, jumping from tree to tree, building to building and then he was gone from Satoshi’s line of sight in a flash.
Satoshi looked empty as he stared up at the dark sunless sky. “So much for an even partnership. All my work is done… and I did next to nothing. Better see him personally, instead of dealing with this sudden bureaucracy.” He reached out and grabbed tightly at the air, and started ripping the very fabric of space as he created a space big enough for him to travel to. Closing the rip behind him he focused on Zerick and his possessions. As the dimension spat him out his cell phone started to ring.
“Satoshi? This is Zerick. Where are you?”
“Right behind you.” Satoshi brushed the desert dust off of his fancy clothes and black cape. He looked up to see a slum filled with hundreds of poor people wandering the streets. “The question is where are you?”
Zerick turned around to face the spectacled man, who looked his senior of at least ten years. “So good to see you again, partner. I wanted to take to you about a few things.”
“Heath filled me in.” Satoshi said abruptly, not mincing words.
“Then that saves me the trouble. I still have to discuss the finer things with a certain someone, who lives in this slum.”
“That would be the kid soldier, Kefir Rahal right?”
“He’s not that much of a kid.” Zerick corrected, “Well he may be to old folks like us, but he is eighteen, the age of an adult. Strangely enough, his birthday is today.”
“April 21st 2006.” Satoshi looked at the people crowding around a single home in cheers and excitement. “I guess he’s a hero to these people? It always amazes me how the poor in wealth can be so rich in spirit. A faith in a god really goes a long way for these people.”
“Well we live to be the source of their faith, Satoshi.” Zerick puffed out his chest and stood powerfully on the dusty street, giving off a strong yet soft aura. “It is our job, and we have the power to fix their situation. A great cleansing is finally coming to these war stricken parts. Even in the poorest of the poor places, they will feel peace, fulfillment, and an order that will give these people a sense of equality with their fellow man. They won’t be stepped on in the pursuit of greed, conversion or justice. No one will, once we remove the Duskon from the world. We just need to do it as soon as possible, so the darkest hours never come.” He cleared his throat and softened his authoritative tone, “I apologize for being so hasty with our operations, and taking your work out from under your nose, but I felt I needed to do everything possible to solve our world’s issues.”
A great sense of relief came over Satoshi’s shoulders. “I understand. Sorry I had my doubts about you Zerick.” It was always better to talk to him in person because it was so much easier to solve issues that way.
“You had your doubts about me? Well then, I think we should talk to Mr. Rahal together. What do you say partner?”
Satoshi grinned wide and replied, “I’d love to.” They walked past the crowd, and into the slightly better off house in the pile of wreckage and beaten up streets that so many poor people call their home. As if the people knew a great man the people made room for Satoshi and Zerick, so they would not have to slither by the masses. It was there that a great lance was born, one that would reach to the skies.
---
Sage Valdez had woken up early today. He was usually one to sleep in, but something bugged him as he got out of bed. A familiar taunting voice became so much clearer in the crisp morning. An awful childhood memory stuck in his brain, and the shrill voice of a young brown haired kid shouted defiantly. “You are my enemy, Sage Valdez.” My childhood memories… they weren’t that great. I can blame that kid Junius for that. He had to disagree with me on every turn, every minute of every day.
I don’t even know why I’m so preoccupied with these memories. A bad feeling perhaps? That’s entirely possible. I think Freud would have a field day with me. Well I got bored of psychology anyway... really I should be more preoccupied with other things. Final exams, girlfriends, social life, my future… I sound like such an old man.
Well, I’ll never get over this stupid premonition by jogging. Heading to the archery range will definitely help. The bowstrings, the composite material of the bow, the focus on angle, velocity, range, power… ooh I’m getting excited already. Running faster now, Sage hurried to the campus archery range, ready to let out all his doubt and confusion with his bow and arrows. He didn’t know that he was a target as well, just like the ones he was so eager to shoot at.
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RazorStar
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Jul 13 09, 1:30 AM
Post #14
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Chapter 4: Toward
“One.” An arrow flew out his quiver, into his hand and out of the bow so quickly that a blink would miss the motion. The arrow did not soar, did not waver, and did not falter. It wasn’t in the air long enough to do anything but pierce the target. “How was that?”
“1.2 seconds.” An onlooker remarked, impressed by the low number on his stopwatch. “You’re doing remarkably well today.”
He didn’t respond, he just looked disinterested, as long black locks fell down to shield his face from all distraction. He was an archer, the only breathing being in the universe. His target… it didn’t matter, just that it was going to be destroyed. He readied his bow to fire again. “Two.” He drew the first arrow, and loaded it, while pulling back he had the made the motion to grab the second and load so quick that only a truly observant narrator would be able to catch the motion. The first arrow ripped through a monster’s fleshy centre, the second taking out its eye. The rabbit fell to the ground, painlessly dying next to the archery targets out in the distance.
“1.8 seconds. I’ve got to say, you’re the best exterminator I’ve ever had Mr. Valdez.” His pudginess made him almost adorable as he flattered and wooed the teenager, “This is amazing even for you. Normally you take a few tries to hit these blasted things, but this was William Tell mastery. What are you’re secrets? Training regiment? Drinking your milk everyday?”
“No.” Sage shrugged his shoulders, still feeling uneasy, “I’m just having this weird feeling, like I’m being hunted.” He whisked his hand over his sweat covered brow to keep the hair out of his face. “It sounds a bit strange… doesn’t it?”
“I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t but it sounds like an interesting story anyway. You look exhausted anyway, it’d be good to take a load off every once in a while.” A large comforting expression attached to the fat man’s face and Sage couldn’t resist his offer.
“Well… It’s a long story. Going back to when I was in fourth grade, nine long years ago…” Sage reminisced, taking a seat on a wooden bench much further behind the archers.
The playgrounds were cold and uneventful. I was always looking for friends when I was young. I liked the attention it brought me, and it made my life a little brighter. Then I ran into Junius Gibson. He was two years my younger, which automatically made him inferior to me in every way. He wasn’t a peer, a person I was supposed to look up to, but a snot nosed brat. He said he didn’t like me, said that I wasn’t being true to myself. This kid was only seven years old, and he was talking to me about the true self. I was nothing but a fake human trying to be a person. Then he asked me if we wanted to be friends.
Naturally I declined, and degraded him. He said that I shouldn’t give up in finding myself. I’m not sure how we got to violence, chaos, a warfare but it’d probably have to do with the fact that I have never past, present, and probably future, ever met a kid so stubborn on making people see things his way. I was my own person. Not a liar, not a fake, not anything back in elementary school. So we began to fight, every day at recess, at lunch, before school, after school, we’d fight. Never with weapons, I didn’t want to kill the kid, and he was too pride set on making me see my own way with his way. Nothing really bad about the guy otherwise, but he’d always haunt me with that. For three long years, my life was a battleground. I was in anger management, counseling, I had finally got all the attention in the world. And it pissed me off. These people, these talking heads, they tried to tell me who I was, what I was, just like Junius. Nothing at all like Junius, he just wanted me to be me. It took a while, but I finally got what the hell he meant by it.
The next day, he gave up on me. In his own words, said I’d never find my own way and that he was sorry. So I socked him in the face. Harder than I ever did before, hard enough that I snapped his jaw. I didn’t want to stop, I just wanted to turn his face into another piece of pavement, but I was held back before I could do any real damage. I don’t remember, who it was that held me back, just that I’m glad they did. He was right about something. I realize that now but I can’t take back all the pain and suffering he and I shared. I still don’t forgive him, and I’m sure he doesn’t forgive me. Through all those years… I feel really close to the guy. We haven’t talked, even been in the same room since, but I always get this awful chill when I think about him. And well, I’m getting that same chill now.
“Oh my.” The pudgy owner responded, “Sounds like you’re just feeling regret for your actions.” He lent a comforting hand on his shoulders. “You know the saying forgive and forget right?” He tried to lend a comforting smile to Sage, but it couldn’t possibly be well received.
Sage looked up and sighed, “I think, I may have already forgiven him. His brown hair and plastered bleeding face don’t stay in my nightmares anymore. It’s just that I feel he’s coming back. It’s been a while since I’ve felt like this, and it’s usually nothing…” Sage struggled through his next words, “but I’m frightened this time.” Trying to hold back his fear, Sage tried to continue, but the archery owner wouldn’t let him.
“Come on; don’t get all sappy on me now.” His endearing eyes met the youth’s teary brown eyes. “Follow your heart, and chase after that awkward feeling. Once you’ve done that I’m sure you’ll feel better,”
“That’s all well and good,” Sage said looking down at his athletic shoes, “But how the hell am I supposed to confront this… feeling? The person lives a good few hours away.”
“I have a feeling he’s coming.” A weird sensation rose over Sage at that very instant. He looked up and saw a deranged expression in the man’s face, and a small knife in hand. “He won’t be in time though.” The stab came fast, and Sage resorted to his experience in close combat and kicked both his legs at the larger man’s stomach.
“What the hell?” He said as the larger man was knocked back by his strike. Sage got up from the bench and started to run for his life. “What are you doing?”
“Don’t be alarmed now.” His voice had a weird reverb to it, his eyes flickered with sparks of madness, and a swirling shadow lay underneath his feet. “It’s for the greater good that you die.” He swung his knife wildly at Sage, licking his lips as he charged the youth. “C’mon! I wanna see you bleed! I bet you’d look amazing dead!” Sage raised his hands in defense, stepping backwards, never wanting to turn his back on this freak. This freak that he once knew like a mentor, now ready to kill him. His sleeves were beginning to get cut up by the slashes, and the space he had was steadily declining, as he was getting cornered, trapped between a wall and a killer. Any archers practicing before had left the range now in sheer terror, as they couldn’t bear to watch the unfolding scene.
“Please stop!” he begged, trying not to give in to his hunter’s instinct. “I don’t want to hurt you, Peter!”
“You look so cute when you’re scared.” A vile grin told the entire story Sage never wanted to hear. He was going to die, if he didn’t act. Death is not an option. Death is not the consequence. Death is the end. The End… This is not my The End. His rationalizations trailed off, he was no longer thinking, only operating on the last instinct he had to keep him alive. His insanity took over. Sage quickly slammed his fist into Peter’s stomach, and ran with the momentum as he kept slamming fist after fist into his gut, his ribs, any available target was no match for his fists. Peter was on the defensive now, but seemed to be enjoying the pain of each attack. “Such pain. I’m sooo hot right now.” He laughed as he took a cross to the face. The blows weren’t doing anymore damage to Peter. With bloody knuckles Sage kept swinging, but felt weaker and weaker with each attack and eventually had to stop to keep breathing.
“No.” Sage lamented. I did everything I could…
Peter’s eyes twitched furiously, laughing a horrid laugh which would make your ears bleed if you heard it. “Marvelous!” He jammed his knife into Sage’s shoulder, once, again, and a third time laughing that horrid laugh as Sage fell to his knees, his tears and blood melding into a killer artist’s masterpiece across his chest. “You look so wonderful like this. I’m gonna make sure you enjoy this…” His knife traced a line down Sage’s body, from his chest, down to his crotch, slicing through his clothing with ease. As he reached for the zipper, he stopped suddenly. His blackened eyes shot out of his skull as his neck turned to face his back. A blade was stuck deep inside, a few millimetres from his spine. He tried to reach out for it, to pull it out, but he couldn’t. “No… I was gonna be alone with my beautiful Sage…” Peter gurgled and collapsed to the ground, getting a mere glimpse of his killer. His dark cloak became the last image he ever saw.
“Sage Valdez.” The cloaked man spoke. “Do you want my strength?”
He was too afraid to say otherwise, he needed all the help he could get now. He gladly accepted the crystal spike into his brain, too afraid to think otherwise.
---
My name is Kefir Rahal. Yesterday I accepted a proposition from a very persuasive pair of men, who promised me something that I thought was merely a lie. Peace, tolerance, and understanding were all available to me. Protection, comfort and love were available to my family, who has lived in the slums of Saudi Arabia for too long. I was once a mercenary for the rebellion forces, or for our army, whichever would pay well… I was constantly cheated out of money by both sides, but it kept my family safe because the army and rebellion knew they had a loyal backstabber to play either side for them. However ironic that was, they’re now safe from their clutches. An army doesn’t extend past borders; a rebellion doesn’t fight when times are fine. In Sardinia, I was given freedom, my family was given freedom.
There was a condition, but one so minor that I would be foolish to accept. I would have to fight to make a better world future. To remove the Duskon, dark swirling, twitching shadows that are the source of all evil in people, with my own power, my own resolve. This was something I would gladly do. My last mission would finally be a noble one.
“That’s about the gist of it.” Kefir finished his journal entry, normally a log of slaughter and tactics it had definitely taken a turn for the brighter in these past two days. He strapped the metal lance on his back, the weapon of his heart, his very own stinger protecting him, and protecting the ones he loved more than anything. Kefir walked out of the cushy room, through the hallways, and into the magnificent courtyard, where a massive coliseum stood, designed to sit thousands of spectators.
“Modeled after the one in Rome,” A calming voice resounded, as it walked up beside Kefir. “Quite a sight, I must say. The time I spent with the architects and technicians was well worth it. I prefer this one over my Egyptian and Grecian ones because of its historical feeling.”
“Must have cost a fortune to build… How did you afford this?” He looked back at the calming voice, which stood a few inches shorter than him, but stood taller than his height allowed.
“My, my, Kefir. Well I suppose I should let you know that I have control over all the money in the world.” Zerick smiled gleefully. “I’m sure you’ve heard of the trickle down effect?” Kefir scratched his chin, and gave a simple shrug in response. “Well, that’s a lie. Money doesn’t work like that. It goes back to the top, and the top flushes it back down for the bottom to retrieve. Because I stand above all, all money will eventually come into my control. So I can only help people by spending so much on elaborate projects.”
Kefir noted the man’s enthusiasm and felt compelled to ask, “If you have so much money, can’t you just make all people equals by a system of equal distribution?”
“It’s not that easy.” Zerick said, “Worldwide communism does not work, well it won’t work unless people stop thinking of themselves as individuals. If people were to stop doing that then they’d be no worse than cattle, they could be pushed around, walked over and crushed by nature. However, if we were to remove the Duskon threat, people would no longer feel hatred, or hostility towards others. While they may not all be equals, the ability to respect, and tolerate others will become apparent in all people. It’ll be a true revolution in human thinking… maybe even a true human society.”
“You really like to ramble on.” Kefir made note of all of his mannerisms while speaking. He was definitely a believer in his words… if not a tad melodramatic. I’m sure with enough time locked in a room with the guy and you’d be compelled to believe his every word. … I guess that’s why I’m here, Kefir thought. He decided to change the subject, “So why training through real combat between our comrades?”
“Protectors have never been able to kill other protectors. It’s just impossibility. By fighting to the death, without fear of dying we will be able to bring out the absolute peak in human ability.” His voice ascended, his throat bellowed in his majestic power, as he was explaining simple facts. “Human resolve is a powerful thing. It can act like a Deus Ex Machina in our toughest of times, and is also our greatest weapon against the Duskon. A steeled resolve should never fail you.”
“I understand. I want the peace that you want, so I will gladly fight for you.” He got on his knee and bowed to Zerick. “I believe in your vision.”
Zerick shook his head and responded in turn. “Don’t bow to me until our vision is attained.” He gave out his hand to Kefir, which was gladly accepted. “How would you like to meet the others, Kefir? Well, you may have met this guy before…” He quietly chuckled to himself, as Kefir felt left out of the loop.
Well it would be good to know my comrades. Kefir thought as they walked side by side into the massive iconic coliseum. I hope they all want the same peace I do…
---
I came across the scene a few minutes after Heath did. I don’t even remember when he beat me, but he was keeping pace with my wings the entire way through. He must have been toying with me because he didn’t look the slightest bit tired when he reached Sage. Sage… I want to make him feel so much pain, that he can’t even stand up. For every free punch he got on me that fateful day, I want to give him five. I want to see him so mangled that he’d be on the floor groveling on his knees, begging me to stop destroying him, and I would say that this is divine punishment. Retribution. Redemption. Revenge.
I still think like that, I still do but the scene of destruction I saw really made me think "could I go through with it?" If I could shed my cowardly ways and just act like that dead fat man, and truly massacre a person… No. I couldn’t, I’m still human and no demon. Heath had told me that my revenge would need to wait until Sage was conscious. It wouldn’t be any fun if he was knocked out when I had my turn with him. However at this very moment in time, I did not want to touch him. I guess I felt pity for him. Anyone would… right? Well, it was that or jealously at his attacker. I don’t care to know who he was, now that he’s a dead man, but he took my revenge away from me. And even if the way his clothes were cut up is not a sign of needless violence, but something dirtier, he took my revenge away from me indirectly. The bastard…
I just kept breathing though. It would take a person like Sage to survive this; his arms cut up the way they were, his shirt and pant waist cut open by the fat man’s knife. I really couldn’t care to comprehend the situation. It really just made me sick to my stomach. Heath asked me if I cared if he lived or died. The answer didn’t matter, because I’d be the one to kill him. With my bare hands, no weapons, just like old times.
This is an archery range. I’ve never been to one in my life. With bows, arrows, and other things thrown around all helter-skelter, this place looked like a disaster area, but I’m sure at the time of incident, no one noticed the mess. This was too desperate a struggle. I had to leave soon. I don’t think I can hold back the puke in my throat much longer.
The police still hadn’t shown up. I asked Heath after clearing my throat why that was and he merely said this wasn’t something their affairs could handle. I guess… he had a point. I watch the spike in Sage’s head slowly make its way further and further in. I guess if it all went in he’d become like me. Did I want this? Absolutely… A real rival again, I haven’t been so excited in years. I really should thank Satoshi for these powers. … Maybe he won’t be a rival anymore, or an enemy, maybe he moved on without me, and I’m still stuck with a petty childhood grudge?
… I don’t have an answer. All I could do was stay with Heath as we watched over Sage’s prone body. Heath was really something… he was able to kill a man with no remorse or hesitation and save Sage’s life. I want to be like that, I want to be able to act without hesitation and be a bit blunter with my emotions. The last bit of the spike slid into Sage's skull. He began to convulse worse than any seizure patient I’ve ever seen on TV. They must just be terrible actors. Heath told me to clear any objects away from Sage and let him finish shaking out. Holding him down would do absolutely nothing. I remember hearing something like that in a course once. Maybe I’m just imagining it. I let his body do the epileptic worm on the hard ground without any obstructions. It was kind of fun to watch, but alas all good things come to an end.
His eyes shot open, and darted around furiously, nothing but sheer panic in his expression. God knows what he must have been through. He saw me and stopped panicking. After taking a few deep breaths, he reminded me why I hated his guts so much. “Good morning little Juni. Did you miss me that much?”
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RazorStar
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Aug 30 09, 12:25 PM
Post #15
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Well I was gonna have my next chapter done by this weekend, but some virus completely destroyed everything on my computer, and I can't restore it back to it's original state. That being said... it looks like it might be a while before chapter 5. So I apologize.
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RaeMina
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Aug 30 09, 6:10 PM
Post #16
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Let me be your sword and your shield
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Geez, tough luck buddy. And I was looking forward to the nest chapter
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RazorStar
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Oct 22 09, 11:09 PM
Post #17
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OMG GUYS GUESS WHAT. CHAPTER 5 IS FINALLY DONE!
Chapter 5: Lies
Those words that came out of his mouth set forth a deeper anger in me, as I stomped towards him, ready to grasp him by the throat and squeeze the life out of him. Heath’s hand had shot out and grasped my shoulder. “Now isn’t the time, J.” He said with a tone reserved for parents chewing out their young children. “He still has to survive these next few hours.” As I looked back at Sage I could see why Heath said that. I needed to step back for a moment.
Sage was having a candid conversation with himself, exclaiming wild things and then denying them an instant later. It was really quite amusing, watching him bouncing around yelling at himself.
“Why the hell are you in my body?” He said in anger, and quickly replied to himself in calmness, “I’m part of you, Sage, a part of you that you were able to reject, your strength and weakness. I am who the world will be seeing from now on!” He pointed to the sky dramatically as if expecting lightning to strike in that instant. It didn’t.
“He sounds a lot like Libra” I said to Heath, “but a lot more dramatic.”
Heath chuckled a little and said, “Yeah, it’s like that for mostly everyone. You looked confused?”
“Do I look confused?” I wondered out loud, but decided to shrug it off, “I guess so, I want to know more about how these spikes work. I have a general idea, but it’d be nice to know a bit more about it.”
The redheaded boy smiled deeply and pulled out a crumpled piece of paper from one of his pockets. “I supposed it wouldn’t be too hard to explain it, though the real mechanics behind it are quite complex.” He pulled out a dagger from god knows where and clicked a button on the hilt, allowing a pen point to come out of the blade. He drew a circle on it, with the name Sage in the middle. “This for all purposes is Sage.” He said happily.
“I got that much.”
“Good, I didn’t want to lose you there.” He drew a large slash through it, cutting it into two pieces. “Now, everyone has desirable and undesirable qualities right? This tends to happen because of natural limiters on our brains. It ends up slowing down humanities natural evolution to a snail’s pace. Now normally we have these limiters set because of the natural stress it causes on the brain.”
“Oh, like Tetsuo in Akira?”
“Um…not to that extent, you don’t need to worry about turning into a giant fleshy ball of doom” He laughed shyly. Turning his eyes back down to his drawing he continued whatever he was going to say. “Luckily these spikes and other tools act as a way to force the true potential of a person out.”
I wondered if I did the same thing when I inserted the spike in my head. I’m really drawing a blank on what actually happened. “Alright, so the spikes have a variety of roles I imagine.”
“Yeah you’re starting to get it. Obviously, the spike first has to distinguish the desirable qualities from the undesirable ones, so it divides them as it enters; next it replaces those undesirables with a special element from rare meteors. The knowledge on this element is classified beyond that, even I don’t know too much about it.”
I remember Libra saying something like that, something about being from a different area of space all together. However many light years away it was, it certainly would not have been a short trip to earth. But that means that this element would have to work something like a brain in the first place. This was making my head hurt…
So, Heath interjected, “In essence you, Sage and I are currently harbouring two separate consciousnesses in the same body. The new and improved you, complete with great abilities, and the meteor’s replacement of your limiters. Naturally most people have trouble coping with this change to begin with, and many don’t get the opportunity to survive before getting used to the change in mental states.
Naturally. Whatever doesn’t kill you can only make you stronger. Shifting my gaze to a now prone and naked Sage, I couldn’t help but revel in the unknown irony. I licked my lips in dissatisfaction.
“Anytime you two want to interfere, go right ahead!” Sage shouted to us. Who else would he be shouting to? The wound on his shoulder looked much worse than I thought, his arm looked like it was hanging just a bit looser than it should have and the fact that he wasn’t shouting in agony made me wonder whose strength it was that was keeping him in tact.
I was answered quite easily enough by what I assumed was Sagittarius, (I heard his name through Sage’s random ramblings) “You can’t allow these clothes to stain any further. I’ve already stemmed the blood as much as I can without you resting. You can’t let your great body go to waste now. He kept this conversation up for a while, shifting from anger, to flattery to embarrassment to just plain creepy. His face flipped like a gymnast thirty feet in the air crashing into the mat below.
“Sage,” I said loud enough to get his attention, waving my arm to get him to notice as well. “You should let him take over for a bit, you might bleed out if you keep resisting.” Might? Oh that’s a good one. I should’ve have just let him find out for himself.
His voice strained as he cursed me out, “Damn it Junius!” He knew I hated it when people called me by name and he knew I hated it even more when he called me by name. “You have no idea what it’s like to have this prick inside of you!” By the way his face twisted into a pretzel of I shouldn’t have said that, I knew that my anger was no longer there but the joy of a joke in poor taste was.
“Sage, I may like this guy less than I ever liked you but he’s currently the only thing keeping you alive and somewhat sane.” I pointed to his shoulder to further clarify my point. Well I could have pointed to his dick but that would really be in poor taste. He looked back at me with a resigned glare and eventually succumbed to my whims. I had a deep smile inside.
With an almost silent “Alright,” released from his steamy breath Sage slipped into unconsciousness falling to the ground like a gymnast… I used that simile already. His princely alter-ego took over his body, moving into a cross legged sitting position, looking me dead in the eyes. They were a calmer sort than I ever remember them being.
“Excellent job.” He spoke with a mirrored calmness, “I’m surprised he listened to you.”
I scratched my head and said that he was probably too tired to argue with me. Which is probably the opposite of what he once was, has he really changed that much?
Sagittarius offered his hand to me and said politely, “Make sure you take care of him ok?”
I couldn’t take his hand, not yet anyway. I let the disappointment roll off of him before I decided to reply. “I can’t promise you that, not yet anyway. I’ve still got my own issues to deal with.” I wonder if my face contorted like the previously mentioned gymnast. I’m still struggling with the fact that Sage could get past my problems so easily. He looked like he was struggling with the wound in his shoulder, and quickly retracted his outstretched hand to apply pressure on the wound.
“You should go to a doctor for that shoulder.” I offered. “As well as a few of those light scratches too.” Well light is a bit of understatement, but in comparison to his shoulder it seemed right. Cuts lined both of his arms, and there was a very shallow nick down near his belly button.
He shook his head lightly and suddenly winced in pain, muttering a breathless curse. He said in agony, “That’d take too long, the surgery needed would keep me, er us, occupied for a couple of weeks. The healing process I’m using takes about as long as a surgery without the moving and removing of different pieces of tissue, and cuts the recovery time to nothing after it’s finished. It’d be better if I was unconscious for this, but I can do it while conscious as well.” He began to talk about the details of what he was doing, but I had to interrupt.
“Spare me the details, just work on getting yourself fixed up.” I turned to Heath who was just getting off the phone with someone. “So what do we do now?”
Heath was doing an excellent job of being invisible; I hadn’t even realized he was doing anything until it was too late to matter. He had a wide smile showing out his black hood, and that smile said happily, “Your next task is to take care of the police that are coming.” I could see the bastard children in his lying words.
“Police?” I scrambled, “I thought you said they weren’t coming.” Panic was starting to sink in, how would we explain this to the cops anyhow?
“I said their affairs couldn’t handle the situation. It doesn’t mean they won’t eventually learn of this happening. They still need to know that a crime took place here.”
I shifted my shoulders uncontrollably, as if a great wind blew by me and froze me part way through. “What are we going to do?” Sagittarius echoed my thoughts perfectly.
“We aren’t doing anything.” He said, emphasizing the ‘we’. Drawing his hands into his pockets, he muttered quietly, “This is somewhere I can’t be.”
“Somewhere you can’t be huh?” Logically that made sense, he did just kill a guy in cold blood, but honestly I stopped thinking logically at the end of the first chapter.
“That’s right.” His reply was quick, as was his flight. He hopped over the fat man’s dead body and ran east towards the sun. I caught his black cloak disappearing into the corona, and couldn’t see anymore without burning my eyes.
I was alone with Sage, and an opportunity for revenge came into view. Of course! I could bust his jaw with a quick punch, or slam my foot into his kidneys. No… I don’t want to. Maybe I could use this as a chance to get out of the protecting the world business. I’d do it if I had too, (after all, I needed a place to live too) but it just seems like a waste of time. Heath, Sage and those others would be more than enough to take care of the duskon.
“J?” The sound rang, but didn’t resonate. “J!” That one did.
“Yeah?” I replied absentmindedly, lost in thought.
“We still have the same dilemma.” He made his point perfectly clear, in a stern tone of voice. We were still against a police force, a group of people who wouldn’t understand the situation even if we explained it. …We? No, it was just Sage and his new friend.
“I better get going too…” Running away had to be the better option.
“Oh no you don’t,” He responded loudly, “You’re sticking with me!” He reached out and grabbed my forearm with his weak arm. The grip was weak and I shook him off after upping the weight on the arm.
“That was mean.” He pouted like a puppy dog, bringing his arm back to hang limply at the side. If he was in a store I might have been inclined to buy him.
“Alright, I’ve got a plan.” I said with my best confident voice, even giving a half smile to show I was completely serious that I had no idea what I was doing. “Play dead and follow my lead.” I had no plan. I was really just winging it. So I let my wings come out and play.
“Your plan?” He raised his eyebrow in interest, while his ears picked up on the sounds of sirens. “Better be quick with it!”
The police had arrived just in time and I motioned for Sage to lie down on the ground, face up. The police cautiously approached the scene, guns raised, stalking the morning to the best of a tired officer’s ability. Their eyes looked bloodshot and fatigued, hands worn and weary. It must have been a long night for them too. “This is the police.” They shouted, thinking they’d get a response. There were three of them, but they only real distinguishing features to them were the style and amount of facial hair each had. They came into the archery range’s lobby, examining the scene. They saw the scattered bows and bowstrings, arrows, benches, and the accursed dagger mere inches from the scalloped fingers of the fat man. Of course they saw me too, kneeling over the ‘dead’ body of Sage Valdez.
“Freeze…” The man with the bushy gray beard stopped at the instant he saw my wings twitch. That pause gave me all the information I needed. He thought I was-
“An angel!” replied the second officer, a balding man with rough stubble that would insult the perfection of a 5 o’clock shadow. “Oh mercy! Oh praise! I thought I’d never see such magnificence”-
“Stick a pipe in it Jim.” The third cop replied, “It could just be an elaborate disguise dawned by the killer to lure us in to a trap. He could’ve placed the phone call too.”
This third guy was pretty good at scepticism, so I decided to prove him wrong. I pumped my wings furiously to get myself off the ground, ascending to the rafters, while their jaws descended. “My humble servants,” I said with gusto, “I am indeed an agent of the divine so do not quarrel amongst yourselves. I have come to return this young man’s soul, because his mission here isn’t quite finished. He still has a purpose amongst the living.” All I could think was how easy this really was.
The first two cops had already got down on their knees and started to pray, the third one taking some time before finally accepting the truth.
I descended back to the ground and knelt down by Sage’s head. I began chanting ominously, gesturing to the sky, raising my hands in mock adulation and… Sticking my finger in my mouth I gave Sage a wet willy. He jerked up suddenly, with a disgusting expression and a curse ready to escape his throat. Before he could let it out I gripped him tightly and whispered in his ear. “We’re even now.” All I needed was a final address to remove the remaining doubt. I released Sage from my tight (accidentally) grip and stood up, facing the shocked officers.
“I have a message from the divine, to the masses.” The officers stood at attention while Sagittarius was still acting confused. “A new era has come.” Silence, the actor is on stage! The actor is an angel! How ironic, a lying angel… “A new heaven on earth will be here in one month’s time, a world where humanity reaches a new ideal in peace.” Hah.
They looked like they believed it, they hinged on my every word, like loyal dogs. Was this really an ideal world? Or would I just be in some infinite struggle with loss of life abound? Why are my dreams so messed up?
“This will be a struggle, but humanity will persevere. Keep to your faith and you will survive, so tell the world to start believing in utopia. The Divine’s power will come to fruition.” I felt so cheesy but all three officers, even the cynical one believed every word.
The officer with the bushy gray beard stepped forward and spoke out. “What is your name, angel?”
I wonder what I looked like to these people. Every normal person had said something different, but the general idea was that I was a perfect being. So how many people saw themselves in me? Who knows? Who cares? All they need to know is…
“My name cannot be said among mortals. Those who learn of my name will be banished to purgatory forever.” Now I’m using terrorism on these people… “However, you can call me J, that name will do you no harm.”
I started to rise towards the roof again, letting those who were looking upon me get a glimpse of my power. I let my dull aching arms get heavy with all the weight in those cuffs and slammed through the roof, leaving an angel sized hole. Setting the stage for my retreat I flew through the hole, leaving Sage alone with the problem at hand. Without Heath and Satoshi keeping tabs on me, I was finally free. This world is filled with liars. Heath lied about the cops and Satoshi flat out told me he was a liar. I think I’ll use these powers how I like, for my own ends. I need to start lying too, I owe them after all.
---
“So…” The slithery voice whispered in tune with the cloaked boy’s thoughts, “It was a good idea to keep an eye on him.” Heath closed his eyes and responded in turn.
“Master Satoshi was right to suspect him after all.” He sighed miserably and looked back at J, who was almost invisible to Heath’s eyes at this point. “I don’t get why he’d run away from this. He’s seen what the Duskon can do this world.”
“Perhaps he just doesn’t care about the world.” The voice echoed quietly.
Heath shook his head, “No! J isn’t like that at all. If he didn’t care he would’ve hurt Sage.”
“He still ran away, ya know. We should get him back.”
Heath was busy watching the cops, who had decided to leave the area after seeing J pull off his act brilliantly. “If he didn’t care, he would’ve sold Sage out…” The wind whistled through the cold morning, making a slight chill only more so. “He definitely cares enough. He’s smart, responsible, and maybe a little impulsive but he’s not evil enough to want the world destroyed.”
“He’s cute too.” The voice seared in his brain, distracting him slightly. “If you’re done daydreaming, we should get him back. The point of this was to see if we would escape given the opportunity. He did.”
Heath blushed and quickly hid his face back in his hood. “He doesn’t even like me, let alone like that! Does he…?” A large lump grew in his throat, and forced it ways down his gut making him feel a little queasy. Heath bit his lip and focuses back on the task at hand. Sage would be alright, Sagittarius could get him to Sardinia with no problem. The real issue was flying away and now gone from sight.
“Heath… you know what we need to do.” It said, louder and more commanding.
Heath reached into his pocket and dialled Satoshi’s phone. After letting it ring for a minute and getting no answer, he hung up and slid it into his pocket. “I know, Ochi.”
He hopped up from the branches of the tree he was perched in, and hit the ground rolling sideways. Picking himself up with little effort he started running full blast towards the flying boy.
“You know what all good birds do Heath?” Ochi echoed into Heath’s brain.
Heath had blocked Ochi’s voice from intruding, he was singularly focused on only one goal, bringing back J and making sure he’d never run away again.
Ochi laughed loudly, unknown to Heath that he had answered correctly. “That’s right, Heath. All good birds are caged, and never set free.”
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RaeMina
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Oct 23 09, 9:04 PM
Post #18
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Let me be your sword and your shield
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I now have a quote of the week: "Stick a pipe in it Jim." Good chapter, Razor. I was kinda confused about whose PoV it was in the beginning, but otherwise it was a nice little bit of fun~
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RazorStar
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Feb 7 10, 12:55 AM
Post #19
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Do you miss the point? When the world lives on energy… where do we live? Beings of truth and mild consequence, jokes and drabbles that go on for days. Who are we, but candles and dust settled amongst the roots of our dead ancestors waiting to build the foundation of society. What is the meaning of living, if you cannot find happiness in the days gone by, and the days yet to come?
To answer that, I contemplate on what happiness is to us all. My story began on a different note than you. I was not simply a person content to live life for freedom. I could not find my traces in happiness there, not as my old friend had done. I believed my path was in love, and I still hold true to that. Support, companionship, and a warm smile of the person beside you is what will make our brief time as simple flies so important.
I had learned of my lover’s fate in an empty alleyway in Lyons. … Yes the one in France. It was a well spent vacation, and the two of us had grown to love the style and elegance of the city. However, when that Japanese man had confronted us, the world we knew suddenly got a lot larger.
I could tell you, that his wrinkled hands and wrinkled face made him seem almost cherubic, but his eyes were cold and diligent, almost solely focused on his mission. I guess I’d call him a recruiter, but you know him as Satoshi Dias.
Please take your time and sort this through, I cannot maintain my link with you if you continue to let your thoughts race. Focus only on my voice and listen. I need you to stay with me; you’re my only hope at making this through.
You know well what this is about, cousin. The shadows that swirl and devour, Duskon. I am so sorry they found you, and… this is my punishment for what happened so many years ago. I was not meant to be a protector, I was not meant to even survive that poison Satoshi gave her, but I took it. You’re the only reason I’ll make it out alive. I know you don’t remember me but this is my fault you’re still here, and I have to ask you for one last favour. Please help them out… Junius.
You can come back… if you just ask. If you even remember what you were to us. That is the payment I offer for this, you can be back where you belong, living with the prestige you deserve. I am not just a voice in your head. Remember me, if you want to remember you.
…Yeah, that’s all. The blood we share is the link between us. I want to help you live your life to the fullest, but your duty calls you, just as much as it calls me. Live on, and fight on. I’m sure you have people who love you too. Who am I? You don’t need to know for now. It’s for your own good… now matter how lame that sounds. I’ll see you soon Junius.
The voice dissipated into the void, echoes of memories linking these two people, was unknown to J, but he knew that his bonds were too strong to be ignored. The chains of fate had pierced through, and bound them to this task. Were the Duskon really the threat, if this voice sounded so reluctant? Was it… just a hallucination, the dream seemed to last forever. This was real, so the voice must be real. ‘What is really going on’, was all that the teenager could think about.
---
Chapter 6: Broke
A euphony of sound greeted the day, the birds hit high notes, and the babbling brooks played bass to the forest’s orchestra. The camp’s fire had long died out, and J was not alone in the forest any longer. He had seen the black cloak of Heath carelessly hanging on the branch, and it took him a few seconds to realize what that implied. He sprung to his feet and looked frantically for the redheaded youth that had tailed him all the way to this remote forest. “No…” he mumbled under his breath, I did a good job of covering my tracks… I didn’t even have tracks to cover. Kicking his feet angrily he began to pack up for another escape, when the nagging feeling in his gut kicked in.
“Yeah that’s what happens when you don’t get enough meat in your diet.” Heath called out from a distance. “I got some food though, don’t worry.” His voice sounded jovial, as if he was thrilled to ruined J’s nice time.
“What are you doing here anyway?” J steadied the tone of his voice and the pacing of his heart, a trick he learned to hide his anger through politeness and casual interaction with people he didn’t like.
“I came to fetch you. Satoshi figured you’d run away and you’d probably take a course of action that would be more beneficial to us than it would be to yourself.” I figure you gotta be a lot stronger now after spending so much time in the air and having a good night’s rest.” He had moved into the line of sight and J was shocked to find that he was almost completely nude, except for a pair of boxer shorts.
“R-Right, Yeah, just put some clothes on.” If J was a fangirl he’d be admiring his well sculpted figure, but he took the high road of averting his gaze.
Heath lifted his arms up and shouted an emphatic woo, and immediately slipped the cloak on along with a pair of shorts. “Ah much better, I feel almost naked without-”
“Clothes?” J suggested, facing the younger boy.
“Oh no, I wouldn’t mind if I was around you without clothes, I feel naked without all of my knives with me.” He responded with an innocence you’d except from someone half his age. “You should eat up; we’ve got quite a trip to the airport.” He threw J a large bag of beef jerky, hidden inside one of the cloak’s many pockets.
“Thanks.” He tore into the bag and devoured it fiercely. “I love meat.” he said dripping saliva out of his stuffed mouth. “sho, I’ve decided I whas ready for this, I just needed a day.” –He took a loud gulp and swallowed the jerky– “I just needed a day to clear my head, say goodbye to the places I missed, things like that.” He gave a wide smile. It’s my duty to defeat the Duskon, so I won’t struggle any longer. Let’s go, I can eat on the way.”
Heath was stunned by J’s acceptance; he’d expected J to put up a struggle. In all honesty, he was a little bit disappointed things weren’t gonna be all fun. “Alright then, make sure you can keep up, you should be faster now.” Heath started running up a tree, making sure he could fin a quicker path above the dense underbrush. J followed suit and took to the skies, soaring just slightly above the trees, following the redhead. The morning air was cold, but the wide smile on Heath’s masked face was even colder.
---
The whizzing sounds of buzz saws were blacking out the screams of the people’s flight. The leader of this attack had a demented smile on his face as his soldiers rushed down and chased the civilians. His eyes were completely red save the round black pupils squirming around like worms in his head. His teeth had grown jagged from his grinding jaw slicing through the enamel, and his heart was tainted by black corruption. Like a conductor, he was listening to the harmonious screams of a thousand people in unison, as blood flew across the city’s tall buildings. His soldiers dressed in full forest camouflage, were quickly looking like they’d be better off hiding in a meat locker, as the innocent civilian blood stained everything.
“Kill them all!” He laughed loudly, grinding his teeth, letting his blood drip down his throat. If you fail, the whip will be glad to greet you maggots.
His soldiers seemed much more motivated after that threat. The swirling shadows beneath their feet froze in place and the humans they controlled began running faster, waiting to decorate their blades in the glory of war.
Old women fell down into the street and were trampled by the faster running men and women. Those who were lucky enough to survive being squished were cut up into uneven pieces. Some of the hungrier Duskon ripped off pieces of the dead body to get some quick nourishment for the hunt. No one could hide as the Duskon effectively cut off alley ways and fire escapes, waiting for the poor fools who strayed from the crowd. No one could stop this slaughter, no one human anyway. The sounds of the commander’s horrid laugh somehow echoed above all the screaming, and it sounded like death’s cold touch.
As ten thousand people were running out of town in fear, two people walked in with determined rage.
---
“Oy, Kefir. What the hell is this?” The larger man spoke, sun reflecting off of his shaved head.
“It appears to be a slaughter.” He said roughly, “I thought you knew about them, after all you were stationed right next door.”
“Ah.” The large man cracked the knuckles on his good hand. “I think it’d be better if we just got to work buddy.” He set down his backpack and popped off his prosthetic arm, and replacing it with the large machine arm he kept inside the bag. Snapping it into place, he motioned to the dark haired boy to take out the guys up close while his arm synced with the rest of his body.
“As you wish master.” Kefir said coldly as he charged forward, taking the lance off his shoulder and quickly punctured the pursuing Duskon. The monster’s body went limp as he collapsed to the floor, while the lance’s sting was hungry for more. Swinging it around like a toy he knocked out another Duskon, and cut through the mouth of another. The morale of the Duskon was quickly lowering as Kefir cut swaths through their ranks.
But one Duskon was able to slip past Kefir’s crazy attacks and charged towards the patient man waiting for his weapon to load. As he came near, Marshall was quick to react and whacked the Duskon on the chin, letting black bile spew from his damaged mouth. “Bastard!” He yelled in a guttural tone, but it was his last word as he was quickly liquefied by Marshall’s new toy.
“Guess I overdid it.” He shrugged and asked Kefir if he needed any help. By the time he looked over in his direction he could see the cowardly Duskon were in full retreat. “Good job, you saved me a lot of trouble.
“Yeah, maybe if you weren’t so lazy they’d be out of here by now. Now let’s go pay that general a visit… Um what are you doing?”
Marshall smiled as he starting shaking hands of the people behind the line of destruction. “Thank you, thank you. It was nothing, my little buddy did all the work. You want me to sign autographs? Sorry, no can do.”
“Marshall! We have a job to do! It amazes me that you were ever a soldier!” Kefir said angrily, clenching his teeth together before letting out a deep nasal breath. “Let’s go.”
Marshall looked disappointed but he turned and ran into the heart of the shadow’s mayhem, leaving small pot holes with each heavy step. Most of the Duskon could be seen running away as the pair approached, but one thing that wouldn’t leave were the dead bodies scattered around like litter. The stench was starting to grow worse.
“This is horrible.” Kefir said somberly. Even I never had to do anything this atrocious. These were innocent people…”
“They’re still people, Kef. We can’t let what they lost be in vain.” He spoke quietly, almost in a whisper. “Never forget what you’ve seen here, this is the price of their existence. We’ll remove every last Duskon on the face of this planet, so keep your anger stewing till then.” The steps of the pair were faster and harder, and the stink got worse and worse until they came to the epicentre of bodies and death. Atop the crushed head of one poor soul was a man dressed in immaculate dress clothing, covered in medals of heroism and honor, with splashes of blood dimming their luster. He coughed out some blood revealing his worn down jagged teeth, and crooked smile.
“So, you’re the maggots who ruined our nice time.” He spoke forcefully, letting his anger show completely. He drew a gun and pointed it at the larger man. If saws don’t work, bullets will have to do. He fired but the bullet fell harmlessly to the ground.
“That isn’t gonna work.” Kefir responded to the unanswered question. “You’re going to have to fight us with everything you have if you expect to survive any longer.” Kefir rushed forward and stabbed his lance forward, but the general calmly turned away from the point, and kicked the weapon out of the boy’s hands.
“Hmmph. My orders were not to engage of any of you bastards, but you just had to come and bring the fight to me.” He slammed Kefir hard in the ribs and knocked him backwards into Marshall, knocking them both over.
“I’ll kill you!” Kefir shouted at the top of his lungs, but the Duskon obviously wasn’t listening. He changed into a dark shadow, and disappeared into the ground, moving quickly away from the two protectors. As he left, he spoke some parting words, which seemed abnormally loud in the dead silence.
“In two weeks, you will feel my wrath, you all will. There will be more blood, any you will not stop me again.”
The retreat was complete just as quickly as the massacre began, after all was said and done, the destruction was untold. Kefir was cursing the Duskon with every awful word he could muster, but Marshall was eerily silent, looking utterly shocked.
“Marshall! Why did you just freeze up back there! You could have hit him with one of those special bullets from that arm cannon.” Kefir looked him dead and the eye and stop ranting for a second. “W-What’s wrong with you? Snap out of it!”
Marshall opened his mouth for his mouth for a second, but didn’t say anything for a long moment of time. “That’s was my commanding officer. I knew him as a benevolent but committed person. How could the Duskon take control like…”
Kefir seemed to snap at his partner’s hesitation, rage being the only sounds out his mouth. “What!? This person is no longer the man you knew! He just slaughtered hundreds if not thousands of people, and you couldn’t even act. What kind of soldier are you, Marshall? Did you not leave your emotion behind when you signed on? I shouldn’t be the one to tell you this, but in case you doubted the abilities of these monsters, take a good look around.” He took a deep breath before screaming loudly at the sky. “Look at these corpses. These people no longer have the means to fight back against the world’s evil. We are the only ones around who can do a damn thing about it. So get your resolve steeled next time. We got too damn lucky, that guy was powerful and ruthless, and we need to be just as contained if we want to beat them.”
Marshall shook his head up and down, agreeing with all the youth had said. “I was too weak, weakness lost my arm and weakness almost lost you. Only my arm is steeled, but I will be ready the next time, Kef.
“Good.” He said curtly, before getting on his knees to pray, presumably for all the dead to be delivered to peace. Marshall looked around and decided that prayers weren’t gonna give these people the peace they desperately needed. Making a few quick calls to Zerick and the emergency services, the recovery action had begun. Kefir got up, finished from his prayer. “Let’s go, we have to get stronger fast. There should be other protectors by now, and we have little time to get as strong as possible.” Their steps were heavy, weighed down by the vindication of the Duskon’s existence and their inability to remove the threat. The city of Naples would never be the same.
---
J was feeling the strain of the weights on his arms, pulling harder than ever before. He called to Libra as he began diving down towards the earth. “What are you doing, Libra? Try to keep me under control!”
The sound in his head responded forcefully, “Sorry J, we’ve got an issue. It seems a couple of the protectors have encountered a powerful Duskon, they just sent me a warning so I lost control for a second. It was horrific.”
“It’s gonna be even more horrific if I crash down to earth!” With that warning J was able to get back a control of the weights on his arm, letting the familiar amount of strain return to his muscles. He began to pull up a bit, and landed on the ground comfortably. “How heavy are these things anyway? They feel the same as they did two days ago.”
“Right now you probably weigh twice as much as you used to. You’re good at math right, you can figure out.”
J laughed loudly as he ran up beside Heath who had slowed down to a walking pace as well. “Before I prolly couldn’t even lift 30 pounds, now each limb is pulling about that. These powers really are incredible. I wish I could take these cuffs off though.”
“So you got the warning too, huh J.” Heath asked as the two walked toward their destination. “It seems that Virgo and Scorpio weren’t powerful enough so they decide to send a warning to anyone they could. Even though they appear to be in Italy, the warning came through loud and clear.”
“Um, aren’t we heading to Italy? If the Duskon are already over there…”
Heath waved it off, “The Duskon are everywhere J. Japan, America, Egypt, wherever. This one was really powerful though, I doubt it was just one, but more like a mixture of them. We’re going to Italy, Sardinia to be precise, because of it’s location towards the centre of the earth.”
“On a map maybe… but anywhere near the equator would have been fine then, even the middle of Africa.” J shook his head, “I don’t think that excuse really flies.”
Heath had taken to ignoring him, looking up at the passing planes. “We’re almost here, you better stay grounded. Nobody wants you to get sucked into a jet engine or anything.”
“Nobody wants to be ignored either.” J muttered under his breath. The pair looked up at the air traffic, planes taking off and landing in patterns, doing the same thing over and over again. Perfectly peaceful, flying without worry as all things should be. It was warm and soothing outside, no worries could exist in this peaceful world. Yet the boys knew a storm was looming where they were heading. The largest plane took off, as the boys entered the terminal. The doors shut tight and there was no heading back.
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RaeMina
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Feb 8 10, 6:27 PM
Post #20
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Let me be your sword and your shield
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Good good stuff, man. Y'know, I once had a character I called Heath, except he was quite different from your Heath. Ah well. Good length too.
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