《Gods & Aliens: Book I》 Prologue A young child lies unconscious on an examination table. A hovering monitor displaying her vitals in real time¡ªbeeping in acknowledgment of the steady rise and fall of her chest. As Doctor explains the readout to the father of the child, who looks like he would have been a nervous wreck, if not for his clear position of importance. ¡°What you are asking of me is impossible, Velkor.¡± The doctor says. ¡°You can not simply sever a specific ability. The effects it would have on the mind of the patient would be disastrous.¡± he advices. Velkor stands straight, hands folded at his back behind majestic robes. He looks unsure about his daughter on the table, eyes flicking steadily between her and the doctor stood by his side. ¡°Suppression perhaps?¡± he suggests and the doctor tenses. ¡°Anything at all so she can not use them anymore?¡± ¡°My Lord, she is hardly ... typical.¡± he settles on. ¡°I wouldn''t know where to begin.¡± he pauses. ¡°If she is as dangerous as you say she is--¡° ¡°Do not speak another word, if you are going to suggest I exterminate my daughter.¡± The doctor cowers in fear, eyes shifting to the ground in reverence. ¡°I apologize, your honor.¡± Velkor eyes the man beside him, considering a punishment befitting of his near irreverence, when a Palace guard interrupts, addressing him. This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it. ¡°My Lord.¡± He salutes quickly before offering a quick bow. ¡°The council requests your presence.¡± Velkor acknowledges the man with a curt nod. ¡°I will be along shortly.¡± he answers, eyes not leaving the child in front of him. ¡°They insisted I returned with you immediately, My Lord.¡± Viktor hums softly before turning to the Doctor. ¡°Guard her.¡± He instructs, before striding out the lab, guard in tow. Velkor is stood in the center of a room, Giant holographic heads scrutinizing him, The Council. A pompous egomaniacal jury who made life and death decisions under the comfort of anonymity. Convening with them was easily the worst part of his week, rendered even worse whenever he was issued a summons. ¡°I am handling it as we speak.¡± he grits out, fists clenching behind his back. It would be unseemly for a Sovereign to lose his calm. ¡°Our atmosphere nearly collapsed on itself.¡± the first head gruffs. ¡°The child is unpredictable, what happens next when she decides to throw a tantrum?¡± another adds. ¡°We are working on a way to safely rid her of her powers.¡± Velkor says. ¡°And if you cannot?¡± the first head thunders ominously. The only female head in the Congress assuages. ¡°You know what needs to be done.¡± ¡°Please do not ask me to kill the child, Councilwoman.¡± Velkor pleads, very nearly crumbling. ¡°We are not asking you.¡± She assures him, proceeding to shatter his heart with her next sentence. ¡°We are more than capable of assisting where you hesitate.¡± Velkor hurries in without the guard this time, his rapid steps startling the doctor. He smooths a hand down his clothes in a bid to regain his composure before asking. ¡°Is everything alright, My Lord?¡± Velkor ignores him, pacing the room a couple of times, face screwed in thought. The doctor traces him dutifully with his eyes. ¡°Memory erasure.¡± Velkor finally says, and the doctor is no less confused. ¡°My Lord?¡± Velkor simply gestures vaguely to his head in response. And the doctor nods in understanding. ¡°A temporary fix, but feasible.¡± He gauges, after a brief moment of mental calculation. ¡°How far back do you want it to be?¡± Velkor stops his pacing, pivoting to look the man square in the eye, jaw set. ¡°Blank slate.¡± Chapter 1 Alex peers at the wide little eyes staring back at her. A classroom filled with silent 7-8 year old Children, each face sporting progressively different looks of horror. She thinks she hears one child whimper in what is most certainly abject fear, and is starting to regret making an appearance. A child at the back of the class raises their hand¨Cthe universal sign for a question. One of the select few, who have managed to recover their wits. ¡°Yes?¡± The child involuntarily whimpers¨C¡±She killed them?¡± Alex frowns. ¡°Yes, I said that.¡± ¡°But couldn''t they just talk about it?¡± he asks, fists clenched, ¡°My Mum says, talking about a problem helps a lot better than fighting.¡± The child finishes, posture taut. And Alex gets the feeling he''s a disagreement away from stomping his foot on the ground in a tantrum. ¡°Obviously she tried to talk, the brother wouldn''t listen--¡± ¡°He could have tried harder!¡± And there the stomp was, except from a different child. A tiny little thing almost a head shorter than her classmates. Alex narrows her eyes at her. ¡°You didn''t raise your hand.¡± Her hand immediately springs up, face unrelenting. And Alex would commend her determination if she didn''t absolutely loathe her age group. ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°I don''t like this story, it doesn''t have a happily ever after.¡± The girl sniffs. Alex feels her eyes twitch in poorly concealed anger, and has to remind herself that tossing the child out a window would certainly not be appreciated. She exhales. ¡°It''s a Tragedy, it''s not supposed to have a happily ever after.¡± Surely that would be easy enough to understand. A third hand shoots up as soon as the words are out her mouth. Obviously a second grade reading was a mistake. ¡°What now?¡± This child has to temporarily relieve his mouth of his thumb to speak. ¡°This story sucks.¡± Thankfully his opinion didn''t matter. ¡°It''s a current Best Seller.¡± ¡°Maybe it shouldn''t be.¡± And the first child was back again on the playing field. Alex narrows her eyes at him, about to say something about his crooked milk teeth¨C ¡°Okay children, why don''t we clap for Alex¡¯s wonderful story?¡± The teacher interrupts with impeccable foresight. Only about 3 children clap. One who for all intents and purposes was asleep up until 10 seconds ago, knowing nothing of the read. The teacher shoots Alex an apologetic smile, before addressing the children once more. ¡°Let''s all turn to page 4 in our coloring books, and color the very nice dinosaur.¡± Alex promptly exits the class, the teacher hot on her tail. ¡°I am so sorry about all that.¡± She pants, rushing to catch up with her. Alex decides to spare her and instead stops, the colorful hallway utterly nauseating to her. ¡°No, no it''s alright.¡± It wasn''t in fact alright, it was infuriating, but the poor woman seemed out of her depth already. ¡°Children, you learn to love ¡®em.¡± Alex forces out through grit teeth, hoping the lady doesn''t notice. The lady dips her head in an awkward nod, before angling a thumb at the classroom door behind her. You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author. ¡°I''m-- I''m going to go back. They can''t be by themselves for more than 12 seconds.¡± Alex nods in turn. ¡°Otherwise they tear the place up.¡± she surmises. ¡°No, actually it''s the school rules.¡± She replies deadpan. ¡°Ah.¡± ¡°Also they tear the place up.¡± And she has the audacity to chuckle satisfactorily. Alex raises an unimpressed brow, her most apathetic expression in place. ¡°Yea.¡± The lady grounds out before retreating quickly. And Alex continues her imposing stalk through the repugnant hallway and out school. She strides out of the building, cringing at a billboard of a movie poster right in front of the school. ¡®THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE OTHERWORLDLY¡¯ it reads. The actors on the poster sporting nonsensical looks. A bad parody of her best selling Novel. She is staring hard at the poster, willing it to suddenly go up in flames when her phone rings. She rifles through her numerous jacket pockets in search of it, dropping said best seller in the process. She finds the phone in the inner left pocket, glances at the caller ID with a wince before answering. ¡°Shit!¡± ¡°No, close though. It''s Chris.¡± The voice over the phone jibes drily. Self-depreciation. He was definitely angry. She pinches the bridge of her nose in frustration. ¡°Chris, I swear I lost track of time.¡± ¡°Yes, I figured that out when you didn''t get here 30 minutes ago, like you promised.¡± ¡°I am so sorry.¡± She bends to pick up her book. ¡°I had this reading at a school where my book ended up criticized by a bunch of 6 year olds.¡± She laments, the flash of a camera beside her causing her to startle. She turns to the direction of the flash and shoots the paparazzi her most wilting look. ¡°Do you mind?¡± She asks, and the look works yet again, because the loafer scampers away. ¡°Of course I mind, Alex, I''ve been standing here for 30 minutes!¡± Chris¡¯ voice crows from the phone. Ah. ¡°I am headed straight to you, right now, 30 minutes, max.¡± She glances at her watch while meandering through the car park. ¡°So your plan is to keep me waiting a complete hour?¡± Chris is still saying. ¡°Is this like the time¨C¡± She wedges the phone between her shoulder and ear, muffling what is sure to be a lengthy and frankly trifling tale of some random time when he felt he had been wronged. Storing her book under her armpit, she rifles through her pockets once more, this time whipping out her car keys. The muffling intensifies and she returns the phone to her ear with a sigh. ¡°Chris, I checked those bottles myself. Nobody added any water to your vintage wine collection.¡± Chris sputters. ¡°How would you know, you never tasted them!¡± he cries indignantly. ¡°I don''t need to taste them to know what vintage wine looks like.¡± ¡°I don''t care what you say, it tasted weird to me. Alex, if you''re not here in 30 minutes¨C¡± ¡°I''m standing right in front of my car, about to get in.¡± She jingles her car keys in the mouthpiece for assurance. ¡°Now, if you''d only end the call so I can drive¨C¡± ¡°That''s enough talking for now, you need to end the call so you can drive.¡± Chris interrupts. Alex shakes her head in resigned acceptance. ¡°Of course.¡± ¡°30 minutes.¡± He repeats ominously, followed by the click of the call ending. She tucks her phone back into her jacket, opening her car door to enter, before driving away.
Sometime before the Present ¡­ A girl walks down the street, hands tucked in her thick jacket in a clear bid to avoid the blistering cold. It isn''t snowing at the moment, but the thick clumps of the white substance on the street is a testament to the blizzard that was the previous evening. She stops in front of a diner¨Ceyes squinting against the neon sign strobing the diner''s name across the darkness of the night¨Cfocusing on a middle aged couple inside. The couple seem very much in love, for people their age, she thinks. She stares soppily for a couple of seconds more before walking away. Barely five steps from where she last stood, when the couple exit the cheap diner into a contrastingly expensive car and drive off, zooming right by her-- snobs. A couple of minutes later, Alex is stood on the empty street, head raised to the night sky, face angled contentedly at the moon, when all of a sudden, Police cars. One, two, three¨C an awful lot, zip by her all headed the same way. Curious, she steps into a nearby store for the news, stilling abruptly when she takes in the scene plastered on televisions nationwide. Footage of thick smoke clears to reveal a car dangling dangerously by the side of a bridge. Firemen struggling to put out the fire beside a nearly ablaze tanker. The thing having slammed into the side of the bridge, in a bid to regain traction after ramming into the sleek car. A familiar look flashes across her face on revelation of the car. The couple from the restaurant. ¡°... The passengers have been identified as Tech Billionaire Chris Jordan and his wife Lilian¡­¡± the Newscaster drones monotonously, and Alex contemplates. She has an internal conflict with herself for a solid minute, before deciding to step out of the store, and head the other way. Halting abruptly mid-walk, she digs the heels of her palm into her eyes, and exhales with a loud groan. ¡°What are you doing Alex?¡± She questions herself, almost waiting for an answer before deciding against it. Best to do this before she started to weigh the pros and cons. She sighs heavily before breaking into a run, towards the accident scene. Chapter 2 ¡°I want it done again.¡± A voice booms, reverberating across the near empty room. A timid Professor quakes in his boot, his rumpled lab coat clutched tight against him, like an armor against the verbal gunfire. ¡°Sir, I strongly advise against that, we are down to our last F-15.¡± He adjusts his glasses, pushing it deeper against the ridge of his nose, psyching himself up to proceed. ¡°I don''t know where the hell that thing came from, but I can assure you, it was never meant to be merged with human technology.¡± By some miracle, the General only spares him an indifferent glance, before repeating¨C ¡°Again.¡± ¡°That thing has blown up every last piece of technology it came in contact with.¡± The Professor erupts, ¡°I have tried my very best¨C¡± He is cut short by The General seizing him by the collar of his lab coat, his legs very nearly lifting off the ground. ¡°You''re not being paid to try. You''re being paid to give us results.¡± The General grounds out low, directly into his ear. ¡°And we have been here for 6 months, yet we still haven''t gotten any.¡± The Professor struggles against the General¡¯s grip. ¡°I-- I''m trying¨C¡± ¡°My patience constantly wears thin as the seconds go by, Professor. And when I''m all out of patience, I am a very ugly man.¡± He huffs out, eyes dilating in pure, unrefined anger. A sergeant approaches the general warily, sheet of paper in hand. She sounds unsure even as she salutes. ¡°Sir.¡± The General inhales and exhales, crazed look abating from his eyes as soon as he blinks his eyes open. He begrudgingly puts down the shaking Professor, making an effort to straighten the rumpled fabric of the man¡¯s lab coat before turning to the sergeant. ¡°At ease.¡± The sergeant visibly relaxes. ¡°The reports you asked for, sir.¡± She hands the General the sheet, who accepts it with some leftover venom. ¡°Update?¡± ¡°It took some extra digging sir, but it was a perfect match.¡± She relays excitedly. The General grunts. ¡°I wish I could be surprised.¡± ¡°We''ve acquired the item you requested. It''s en route as we speak.¡± She adds. ¡°Would you look at that?¡± The man drawls with a pointed look at the Professor. ¡°It''s good news all round.¡± The Professor cranes his neck to get a better view of the sheet in the General''s grasp, eyes first widening before narrowing in skepticism. ¡°That''s impossible.¡± He declares, eyes still fixed on the paper. ¡°I know it''s been a while since first year Biology, but this is¨C¡± ¡°Turns out nothing is actually impossible, Professor.¡± He places his hand on the Professor''s shoulder. ¡°On that note, I look forward to nothing from you but good news this time.¡± He squeezes the shoulder, indicating his thinly-veiled threat, before leaving abruptly. The General makes an immature face at the General¡¯s retreating back, before belatedly remembering the sergeant beside him. He clears his throat. ¡°Where exactly was this asset spotted?¡± ¡°Surprising enough, at a coffee shop, in California.¡± She shoots him a knowing smile, before taking her leave as well.
Alex screeches to a halt beside Chris, doubled over and panting for breath. She inhales deeply one last time before straightening to catch the look he is giving her. Perfunctory and astute. She in turn observes the bags under his eyes, the goatee he has refused to shave off despite her incessant prodding. Mid-life crisis, Akio had called it. Except Chris was in fact not in his midlife, and was instead a 65 year old man. ¡°It''s 3:32.¡± he says nonchalantly, after a surreptitious glance at his watch. Alex drops the wheezing and panting act. Shoulders straightening in the acceptance of being caught. ¡°I know.¡± ¡°You were supposed to get here at 3:20, that was 12 minutes ago.¡± Chris scolds lightly. She produces an almost crumpled bunch of flowers from somewhere, offering it to Chris in penance. ¡°I had to stop for flowers. And park the car.¡± He raises a brow at the flowers. ¡°Why are you breathing like you ran a marathon?¡± ¡°Because you threatened me, Chris.¡± He turns away from her, still not accepting the flowers. ¡°It''s not my fault your cardio''s shit.¡± ¡°You''re gonna cuss in front of Lilian?¡± Alex huffs out, gesturing with the flowers to the tombstone they are stood in front off. LILIAN JORDAN. WIFE, MOTHER, FRIEND. This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report. Alex lays the flowers on it. ¡°She would make an exception if she were here.¡± Alex cracks a smile, a secret thing. ¡°You okay?¡± She asks, eyes still on the tombstone in front. ¡°I''m fine.¡± He doesn¡¯t sound as convincing as he thinks he does. And Alex scrutinizes him for a moment, not buying his bullshit. ¡°Want a hug?¡± She says finally, and he scoffs. ¡°If you want a hug Alex, all you gotta do is ask.¡± Alex nods, interpreting the words only she knows how. ¡°I''d like one then.¡± They embrace, a lone tear Alex pretends not to see slipping down Chris'' eye.
Sometime before the Present ¡­ Alex walks into the kitchen¨Cheadphones over her ears¨Cto find Lilian rummaging through the cabinets. She rips the contraption off her ear and rushes to her side, sensing the impending doom. ¡°What are you doing?¡± She puffs after snatching a pot that would have smacked Lilian square in the head away, mid-fall. ¡°Pots. I can''t find the pots.¡± Lilian grumbles sweetly. And Alex eyes the lone one in her grasp, before informing her. ¡°Bottom left cupboard.¡± Lilian reaches for the cupboard, eyes lighting up at the substantial amount of her quarry. ¡°Oh. You are a lifesaver Alexandria.¡± ¡°Mm-hm.¡± Alex intones. ¡°What exactly do you need them for?¡± ¡°For the dinner I''m making.¡± Lilian answers, proceeding to fill the large pot she retrieved with a considerable amount of water. Alex tenses. Lilian cooking was a bad idea. Zero stars, did not recommend. Your small and large intestines would appreciate the omission. ¡°Um, Gideon makes dinner. She emphasizes. Strongly. ¡°Where''s Gideon?¡± her head whips to and fro, as if Gideon were a frightened animal hiding in the cupboards. ¡°Gideon called in sick, so we have to make do with the next best thing. Me.¡± Lilian lugs the half-full pot of water to the stove, and Alex winces at the mere thought of whatever would brew in it. How did one put this lightly? ¡°Yea but, you can''t cook.¡± ¡°I know. That''s why I have the YouTube on my phone over there, telling me what to do.¡± She waves a ladle at her phone, buried under a small mountain of spoons, and Alex seizes. ¡°Okay¡± she plucks the ladle from Lilian''s grasp, and turn the stove off. ¡°Perhaps I should cook dinner. It¡¯s been a while anyway.¡± ¡°Do you know how?¡± Lilian asks, eyes wide. ¡°Um, Fran?ois Massialot and I once served a spread Philippe I, Duke of Orl¨¦ans couldn''t resist.¡± Alex boasts, rolling up her sleeves ostentatiously. Beat. ¡°I don''t know what that means.¡± Lilian says. ¡°Yea, you wouldn''t.¡± She chuckles. ¡°Is there anything you don''t know?¡± ¡°Actually.¡± Alex peeks her head out of the fridge to consider. ¡°Emojis.¡± Lilian¡¯s chuckles mutate into a full belly laughter. ¡°Do you need any help?¡± ¡°No, I think I''ll be fine.¡± Alex replies, dropping an armful of vegetables straight from the fridge into the kitchen sink. ¡°I''ll leave you to it then.¡± Lilian turns to leave. ¡°Do yell if you need any stew advice or anything at all.¡± ¡°I promise.¡± Alex says, turning to the spoon landmark and remembering in the nick of time. ¡°Lilian? Don¡¯t forget ¡®the YouTube¡¯.¡±
Chris breaks the hug, hand still on Alex''s shoulder, he scrutinizes her thoroughly. She rolls her eyes. ¡°I''m good.¡± She insists, and Chris grins widely, giving her shoulder a firm squeeze. ¡°I know, I will never not be excited about this.¡± He says, frowning when he notices the General stood under the shade of an oak tree, from the corner of his eye. He is in stood in parade rest, glint in his eye and a squeamish man by his side. ¡°What?¡± Alex asks, noting the discomfort in his eyes. ¡°We''ve got company.¡± He inclines his head at the men under the tree. Alex turns to look. She squints. ¡°I didn''t know you invited friends.¡± ¡°I didn''t. Stay here.¡± He instructs. ¡°I''m not a child, Chris.¡± ¡°Alex.¡± Chris looks peeved. ¡°Please, just give me a minute.¡± ¡°That''s 60 seconds, and I''m counting!¡± She yells at his retreating figure. As Chris walks toward the unwanted guests, he recognizes the squeamish man as a Professor the army poached from his prospective hires a couple of years ago. He¡¯d been impressed by the young man¡¯s theses and overachieving accomplishments, hardly getting a chance to meet him before he was whisked away by the army. The man is clutching a very pretentious bouquet of flowers in hand, colors and arrangement exceptionally wrong for the occasion. He stops right in front of them, hands tucked into the pockets of his black pants. ¡°Let me see if I understand this.¡± He starts. ¡°You followed me to the damn cemetery?¡± The General shrugs in what Chris suspects is poorly hidden elation. ¡°You are a hard man to reach.¡± ¡°What is it you want?¡± Chris asks sternly. ¡°You know what we want.¡± The General replies, and Chris frowns. ¡°I told you, I''m retired. Not that I''d help you even if I wasn''t. But, sadly, I am.¡± The General hums inattentively, eyes trained on Alex in the far distance. ¡°You know, your children seem to be talented in some of the most extraordinary ways.¡± his voice takes on a wistful tone, and Chris¡¯ jaw tightens. The man immediately turning to leave. ¡°I think we''re done here.¡± ¡°That''s a shame. And here I was hoping we''d have a civil discussion. ¡° The General interrupts, his smug tone halting Chris¡¯ strut. He nods at the Professor, who pulls out a sheet of paper from his briefcase and hands it to Chris. ¡°What is this?¡± ¡°Something you definitely need to look at. ¡° Chris narrows his eyes at them, before begrudgingly accepting the paper. Patting his pockets unsuccessfully for his reading glasses, he resolves to snatch the one off the Professor''s face. He squeaks. ¡°That''s mine ... okay.¡± Chris skims through the paper for a bit, plastering on a bitter smile before taking the glasses off. ¡°Really now?¡± ¡°You know, I had hoped it wouldn''t come to this. But we really need your help.¡± The General says, faux sincerity dripping from his lips. ¡°So what, blackmail as a last resort?¡± Chris sneers ¡°This is happening one way or another Mr Jordan. Personally, I''d suggest you choose the path of least resistance.¡± The man turns once again to Alex at the far end of the field Chris grimaces at the silent but blatant threat. One last menacing look at the heinous man before him, he turns to leave-- ¡°We''ll see you bright and early Monday morning.¡± The General calls to Chris¡¯ retreating figure. ¡°Uh, My ... glasses.¡± The smaller man stammers, wincing as Chris tosses both the letter and his spectacles in the trashcan nearby. ¡°It''s alright I have a spare.¡° A black SUV with tinted windows rolls in front of them, The General practically manhandling the Professor into the car. Before entering himself with a self-satisfied smirk. The car drives off, Chris stalling for a while, before walking back to join Alex. ¡°That was a whole lot more than 60 seconds.¡± She scrutinizes him as he approaches, clocking the general silence and furrowed brows. ¡°Are you alright?¡± She cranes her neck at where he last was. ¡°Where are your friends?¡± ¡°I''m alright. They couldn''t stay.¡± Chris says, shaking off his despondent demeanor. ¡°By the way, I''m going to need a lift home.¡± Alex scrunches her nose in disapproval. ¡°Where''s your car?¡± She looks about the place for the second time in two minutes, and her eyebrows furrow. ¡°How the hell did you even get here?¡± Chris purses his lips, never one to turn down an opportunity to mystify Alex. ¡°You know, now that I think about it, I have no idea.¡± He turns on his heels, heading towards Alex¡¯s car, Alex trailing behind him, a fed up look on her face. Chapter 3 Sometime before the present ¡­ Alex resists the urge to bang her head repeatedly on the wall beside her. It was difficult to resist, but credit to her willpower she somehow did. When she was told the Dean had sent for her, she would have never predicted Chris Jordan¨Cthe guy from the accident on the bridge¨Cand his lovely wife summoning her, legs crossed comfortably in the traitorous Dean¡¯s office. She tilts her head to the side in consideration, the other occupants in the room observing her like some important experiment. Oxford was nice this time of year, and since her ¡®family¡¯ had had a long standing relationship with the institution for centuries, getting in to finish this particular course would hardly be a problem. ¡°Alex?¡± The Dean''s voice pierces through her subconscious, the furrow in his brow informing her he most likely had been trying to get her attention for a while now. ¡°Yes?¡± She answers and he sighs in relief. ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± He apologizes to the couple seated in front of him, ¡°She has her quirks, but is really brilliant.¡± he laughs sheepishly. Alex raises a brow at the particularly offending statement. The laughter dies in his throat. ¡°Have a seat.¡± He gestures to the spare chair besides the lady. Yea, there was absolutely no way. ¡°I''m good, thank you.¡± She crosses her arms behind her, and inclines her head at the Dean. Go on. ¡°Very well.¡± the man adjusts in his seat. ¡°This is Chris and Lilian Jordan.¡± he addresses her. ¡°I know, we''ve met.¡± He nods. ¡°At the Excursion, so I heard.¡± ¡°Mm-hm.¡± A beat, where the Dean glances at the couple Alex is so very clearly trying to ignore, then back to her. ¡°Anyway, they''re here now to see you.¡± ¡°What for?¡± She asks, her treatment of such important people visibly bothering the Dean. Chris sits up straight. ¡°We''d like to offer you a scholarship¨C¡± ¡°Don''t need one.¡± She interrupts, eyes not leaving its gaze on the spreading bald spot on the Dean¡¯s head. The fragility of human hair. ¡°Uh. Really?¡± Chris stutters. She eyes him from her peripheral, noting his discomfort at being interrupted. ¡°Mm-hm. I''m coping just fine with the fees.¡± She cranes her head as if reading off some invisible projection¨C ¡°I''m living off a small fortune that I inherited ... from my grandparents.¡± she says finally. It had been a while since she''d had to explain the source of her income. The man¡¯s wife Lily? Lilian surveys her dubiously. ¡°And your parents?¡± She asks. Alex turns to meet her gaze. ¡°I don''t have any.¡± That part was true. ¡°So you''re an orphan?¡± Her husband pipes in, and both the Dean and his wife looked scandalized at the brusqueness of the statement. Point to him, Alex loved directness. ¡°Chris!¡± Lilian scolds. Alex simply nods in agreement, pausing a moment to rectify; ¡°A rich orphan. Like Batman.¡± The Dean and Lilian stare at her in incredulity, while Chris looks mostly fascinated. Alex smiles. ¡°Could you give us a couple of minutes with her?¡± Lilian recovers first. ¡°Of course, ma''am.¡± The Dean says, shaking the cotton out of his head, before he exits gracefully. Closing the door behind him. ¡°Alexandra, Alexis? Which is it?¡± Alex whips around to face the woman, eyes having been glued to the door. She had been fantasizing stepping out alongside the Dean, this awkward and unimportant conversation far behind her. ¡°Alex is fine.¡± ¡°I noticed no one said your last name?¡± Lilian continues, and wasn¡¯t she an insistent one? She sighs. ¡°It''s just Alex.¡± Lilians rears back in alarm. ¡°Just Alex?¡± Alex raises a hand to her chest in exaggerated hurt. What century was the woman from? ¡°Beyonce; Madonna, Shakira; Cher; Bono; Rihanna;¡± She lists, and Lilian relaxes in understanding. Jokes on her because Alex was just getting started. ¡°Sting; Prince; Oprah; Confucious; Aristotle; Plato; Socrates¨C¡± ¡°We get it!¡± Chris says. ¡°Drake; Coolio; Common. I''m sorry, I have it all memorized. Fergie.¡± She exhales, ¡°It''s alright, Fergie''s the last one.¡± Her eyes scour the couple for a moment, jaw working in thought. Digression aside, this people had summoned her for a reason. The sooner they addressed the reason, the sooner she got to leave. ¡°Listen, If this is about your Nuclear accelerator¨C¡± she starts. ¡°We''re trying to thank you, asswipe.¡± Chris interrupts eloquently. He turns to his wife who already has her mouth open, poised to reprimand and continues. ¡°Ah. I said ''wipe''.¡± he finishes, and the she closes her mouth with a click. Alex is taken aback. ¡°Thank me?¡± ¡°For saving our lives. That night on the bridge?¡± Lilian fields the question. They remembered, Alex panics internally. Oxford it was then. She had a lovely little chateau in Birmingham that could regain its magnificence after a little dusting. A car to transport her to and back from school would be small change. She winces. You knew things were so very very bad, when England was starting to sound like a holiday spot. At least her accent wouldn¡¯t stand out there, she thinks optimistically. If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. ¡°I''m afraid I don''t know what you''re talking about.¡± she fields weakly. ¡°Okay, cut the crap. We obviously didn''t tell anybody.¡± That was Chris. She relents. ¡°So you''re not here because I outsmarted your engineers?¡± ¡°Not at all, some of them probably needed to retire anyway.¡± He replies, facing scrunching in a frown as he considers the thought. Tsking. ¡°I see.¡± Chris hums before standing, his wife doing the same. ¡°We¡¯ll be on our way then. Since you don''t need that scholarship.¡± He offers Alex a handshake, Alex eyeing the hand instead of taking it. Chris retracts his hand with a small shrug. Lilian fidgets a bit, like she couldn¡¯t bear to be parted from her. Lurching for Alex, who almost doesn¡¯t successfully fend off what was going to be a hug. ¡°You¡¯ll be alright?¡± Chris scoffs. ¡°Lilian, she just said she has a fortune, of course she''ll be alright.¡± He turns to Alex, eyes glimmering in the light. ¡°Certifiable, but overall alright.¡±
Alex shoves through a small gathering of pedestrians smack at the center of the walkway. Her terrible disguise of a baseball hat fumbling briefly but not displacing. Why on earth she didn''t drive, she fails to remember, her annoyance increasing every time she bumps into someone, most people too engrossed in one thing or the other to even apologize for the fact. As if this bit of discomfort isn''t enough, her phone buzzes. She groans, decently stepping out of the way to retrieve her phone, hand cupped over it in an attempt to view the screen. ¡°Alex!¡± A familiar voice hisses in her ear, causing her to yelp unacceptably. ¡°Jesus! Henry, you scared the shit out of me. I could have hit you!¡± She scowls, more annoyed at the fact that he had been able to get the drop on her. She angles an unamused brow at the laughing idiot who seems to be blissfully unaware of her irritation at the moment. ¡°What are you doing standing here anyway?¡± he asks, red-dyed hair glistening in the sun. Alex returns to deciphering the cause of the buzzing on her phone. ¡°Why, do you own the walkway?¡± ¡°Technically yes, seeing as you''re in front of my Caf¨¦.¡± He replies glibly. A quick glance at the building beside her confirms his claim. Her scowl deepens. ¡°Walking home, Henry, Same route as always.¡± ¡°Wanna come in for coffee? It''s on the house.¡± he asks. ¡°Henry--¡± ¡°It''s not like the last time where the excuse was ''going out''. The Caf¨¦ is right here.¡± he gestures at the building beside them, arms outstretched in presentation like a car salesman. She glances at the quaint little shop beside them longingly, it was right there. ¡°I would love to, It''s just ... I don''t drink coffee.¡± Henry arches a brow. ¡°Really?¡± ¡°I swear, I don''t.¡± She honestly didn''t, the beans tasted terrible to her. ¡°We could have something else then?¡± He tries again, constantly moving in front of her to block her retreat. She slips out from beside him, the urge to flee the crowded walkway fueling her drive. ¡°Some other time maybe.¡± She shoots over her shoulder, feet pacing away from Henry and his coffeeness. The quickening of steps echo from behind, and suddenly Henry is sliding right into step beside her. She sighs. ¡°I don''t get you, you know.¡± Henry huffs. ¡°Your Dad, him I understand. He''s funny, and he adores me.¡± Alex can''t help but be amused. ¡°So you don''t get me because I don''t adore you?¡± She asks. ¡°Exactly! I am adorable.¡± He punctuates this with what he thinks is an adorable smile, eyelashes batting while his hands frame his face. ¡°I mean, what''s not to adore?¡± Alex stops to consider him. He was attractive, she thought reluctantly. Pity that motormouth was attached to him. ¡°You''re not adorable enough to make me have coffee with you.¡± Henry''s pose collapses. ¡°You are so mean, you know that?¡± ¡°Really?¡± She asks, voice unnecessarily high pitched. ¡°Because I think I''m adorable!¡± She finishes mockingly. She shoots him a wink, before starting on her way. Henry thankfully staying behind this time. ¡°I don''t think I''m adorable.¡± He yells after her. ¡°I know!¡±
The front door clicks into place after Alex enters, tossing her keys somewhere, and slumping on the couch. ¡°Chris! You there?¡± She calls out to the murmuring coming from somewhere in the kitchen. She angles her head to confirm Chris is indeed alive, tearing through the kitchen in a rampage she was too tired to investigate at the moment. Satisfied at his well-being, she instead reaches for the TV remote, settling on a random episode of Bones. Chris emerges noisily from the kitchen, a messy trail of things that should most definitely not be in the kitchen behind him. He tosses a couple of probably important books from the bookshelf by the wall, eyes darting in between the nooks. ¡°Keys. Alex, please tell me you''ve seen them?¡± He shoves his hand in a hole in the bookshelf, frowning when all he returns with are cobwebs. ¡°I literally just came in the door.¡± She answers, eyes glued to the TV screen. ¡°Well, did you see them before you left?¡± Chris returns, patience rapidly growing thin. How the hell was this her fault? ¡°No Chris, I didn''t see any keys. I don''t even know what keys we''re talking about.¡± ¡°House, Car. The keys to my Medicine cabinet while we''re at it.¡± He shuffles from the shelf to the chairs, trampling on a couple of first editions discarded uselessly on the floor. Alex winces. ¡°I''ve missed the blood pressure pills two days in a row now, and the adult thing, would be to check where I stand.¡± He continues searching frantically, overturning throw pillows and displacing chairs cushions. ¡°What do you need your car keys for anyway?¡± She takes him in properly, noticing belatedly, that he was a tad overdressed for couch lazing. The betrayer. ¡°Why are you dressed like that?¡± ¡±Uh. It''s-- uh, Bachelor Party.¡° He responds quickly, not even trying. ¡°It''s 11am.¡± she humors him, ¡°Let''s try that again.¡± With a resigned sigh he continues in his path of disruption. ¡°Fine. I''m going to the office.¡± Alex pops up, face set to scolding mode. ¡°No! Chris, you are retired!¡± She scolds, and Akio would be so proud. ¡°There was a whole party and everything! Not to forget, you made me move back in here so you wouldn''t feel lonely--¡± ¡°In this big ass house?¡± He finishes for her, not missing a step. ¡°--in this big ass-- Yes, exactly!¡± ¡°I remember, but this, this is very important. And I can''t stress the ''very'' in that sentence enough.¡± he clasps his hands together to emphasize. ¡°Damian''s at the office, he can do whatever it is for you.¡± ¡°Him? Please. He''s an incompetent ass kisser.¡± Chris shoots and goes back to stomping about, Alex briefly wonders who would clean up after him. ¡°He has a Master''s Degree in Mechanical Engineering.¡± she replies drily. He was an asskisser, but he was an intelligent one. Both things could be true. ¡°And you have several PhDs in a lot of things.¡± Alex rolls her eyes at Chris¡¯ favorite rant, tried, tested and true. She could subconsciously mouth some of the lines even. ¡°Yet here you are fascinated by a¨C¡± he glares at the TV for a moment, ¡°--Rom-Com tv show involving mostly dead people. That man dies by the way.¡± He finishes with a gesture to the man on screen. Alex makes a pained noise. ¡°Why? I hadn''t seen this episode yet.¡± She cries, resignedly turning off the TV. ¡°This is Bones. Everyone new is either dead or about to die.¡± She lifts off the chair in determination. ¡°You know what, I''m suddenly inclined to help you find your keys and send you on your way.¡± ¡°Alex, come on.¡± He switches to soft coaxing, Step 2 in the battleplan ¡®Get Alex to run the company.¡¯ Truly Alex should have numerous awards for the number of times she''s had to put up with¨Csometimes even fend off¨Cthis particular subject. ¡°¨CYou could be running the Company.¡± she pops back into real time to hear him finish. ¡°Well like you Chris, I am retired. Unlike you however, I''m choosing to stay retired. Nothing for me, but food, and spoiler free episodes of Bones reruns.¡± She returns to her position on the couch, search party temporarily forgotten. Chris sighs. Plan failing once again. ¡°Good for you. Me, I''m going to the office. The fear of decomposing into a fossil, looming over my head.¡± he proclaims dramatically, arms flailing over his head. ¡°Alex I need my fucking keys!¡± Speaking of. ¡°Did you check your jacket pocket?¡± He ruffles through each of his jacket pockets in turn, his grumbling unabated. ¡°Of course I checked my jacket pocket. What do you think I--¡± He freezes at a pocket, the jingling causing Alex to narrow her eyes at him. Sure enough, there they were. ¡°Never mind love, I found them.¡± This elicits a snort from Alex. ¡°I swear, sometimes you give me severe whiplash.¡± ¡°I''m taking that as a compliment.¡° He counters, kicking at a throw pillow he had tossed earlier. ¡°Why not let Ezra take you to work? I mean you pay the man, let him work.¡± ¡°No, thank you. I''d like to enjoy my knees now, before the arthritis gets there.¡± He kisses the top of her head before heading for the door, Alex rumpling her nose and calling after him. ¡°By the way you swore! So you get to do the dishes tonight!¡± ¡°I''ll just bribe Ezra into doing them for me!¡± Chris yells back, the front door clicking shut behind him. Chapter 4 Chris walks in the front door, sighing loudly at the sight of the General waiting for him. ¡°I thought I''d do the honors of showing you around myself.¡± The scumbag quips, and Chris does a quick run through of things he might have done to deserve his current situation. He comes up blank. ¡°What more could anyone possibly ask for on their first day?¡± Chris laces the sentence with every ounce of sarcasm in him. He might not be as imposing as the man before him, but he still had his tongue. With a smile too wide to be real, the General ushers him through a pristine white walkway, clinical and bland. The sort of decor you imagine would be present at an organ harvesting hospital. ¡°I''m sure you have questions.¡± The General starts, shoulders angled resolutely in his march forward. Not even turning to look back at him when he stumbles. Prick. ¡°Lots.¡± He replies, leaning on the wall to investigate the sole of his shoe. ¡°The most important being, why the inside of a Plastic Manufacturing Plant looks like where you''d go to get a cocaine fix.¡± He finishes, following after the General once he¡¯s satisfied with the state of his shoes. ¡°Former Plastic Manufacturing Plant.¡± The General corrects amusedly. ¡°It''s been repurposed for military use now. Biochemical enhancements, Endurance room, Gym--¡± Chris holds up a hand to the General''s face, cutting him abruptly short. ¡°Please tell me you did not drag me all the way out here, to watch some hot youngsters bench press themselves?¡± The General cracks a sliver of a smile at this, before quickly recollecting himself. ¡°No. We brought you in for this.¡± He opens a side door camouflaged neatly to look like part of the wall, and they step into a room painted blue. A closer scrutiny of the room reveals the blue isn¡¯t paint, but actually the reflection from a light so bright, it was near impossible to see. A Lab Coat hands them a pair of dark glasses as soon as they fully step into the room. With the glasses on, Chris could actually see better. He could see the glass wall, the glowing watermelon¨CJesus H Christ¨Con the other side of said wall, and he could make out the technicians in full body suits, poking and prodding at the ethereal thing. Some idiot was even armed with a laser, unsuccessfully trying to cut into the watermelon. ¡°We''ve tried everything.¡± The annoying boom of the General''s voice echoes from beside him. ¡°From High powered lasers, to your run-of-the-mill chainsaw, thing doesn''t budge. That''s when we decided to seek your expert opinion.¡± Chris turns slowly to size the General. 6 ft 5, suitably muscular and well-fitted in his imperiously starched army regalia. There was the issue of his Ape-like face though, but that was some other woman¡¯s problem¨Cor man, he didn¡¯t judge. However for someone this impressive looking. The man was rather dumb. And it would be a shame on Chris¡¯ own head if he didn''t inform him of it as rudely as was humanly possible. ¡°You''re all fucking idiots.¡± God he was starting to sound like Alex. However warranted in this situation. His sentence has the intended effect, as the General sputters for a couple of seconds before finding his words. ¡°I--Excuse-- What?¡± This reaction alone brings some much needed warmth to Chris'' heart. ¡°Well you asked for my expert opinion which is, everyone of you that thinks it would be a good idea to pry that thing open, is a brain-dead, uneducated, stupid--¡± ¡°We get the point.¡± ¡°Overpaid idiot.¡° Chris exhales as he finishes his tirade. Prompting the General¡¯s scowl to deepen. ¡°Get everyone out of there now, at least while we still have the skin on our bones.¡± Chris spits, before leaving the room, the perplexed General still in it. The hall is filled to capacity by Labcoats and Military Personnel¨Cthe largest gathering of vapidness in this lifetime, Chris had said¨Call stood in military line. Chris sizes the staff up tepidly, face sporting the most acute morale-killing glare on this side of the hemisphere. He paces the length of the gathering slowly, mirroring the gait of the warden of a correctional facility. Stopping once in a while to angle the dangerous glare at whatever unlucky soul he found himself in front of at the time. ¡°Whose absolute brilliant idea was it to dissect an unknown piece of Extraterrestrial technology?¡± he finally says after the latest round of his cursory glare. At the word ''Extraterrestrial'' people start mumbling amongst themselves. Some trying and failing to shift away stealthily. ¡°Oh, you didn''t know it was Alien?¡± Chris turns to him. ¡±Personally, I thought the viscous glowing thing in the translucent watermelon-looking thing was red Flag enough.¡± Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. Chris was enjoying the hell out of this moment, the General thinks, and had every intention of milking it to the max. Hopefully he wouldn''t tear into them too terribly. A protesting staff was much more difficult to direct. ¡°Now what''s even worse is,¡± Chris continues, ¡°none of you knew what the hell it was, yet the smartest person amongst yourselves, still went along with cutting it open.¡± He turns to the General once more. ¡°You know Glenn, I am learning a lot about the kind of people the military recruits.¡± Who the fuck was Glenn? ¡°These guys wouldn''t even make Desk Clerk at my company. Yet here they are working on a super secret, confidential, doesn''t exist, hush-hush military project.¡± Chris finishes, confusingly affronted. The General frowns, thankfully catching his hand midway from stupidly scratching his head in uncertainty. He notices Chris preen at the aborted reaction and seethes. ¡°Someone get me the test results from whatever scans you were smart enough to run on the thing first. The rest of you take 5, and crack open a Physics textbook while you''re at it. Who knows, your career may depend on it.¡± Chris struts out the room, leaving him following closely behind. The man growls low in wounded pride, not used to following after someone else. Chris was intelligent and this was his field of study, he assured himself. There was nothing he could do but make sure everything the man needed was readily available, only then could he return to his rightful spot as antagonist. This however, didn''t mean he had to like his present situation. ¡°Those were some of the best Professors and Physicists in the state, you just mouthed off to.¡± he says. He sees Chris roll his eyes, and has to stuff down another immature growl. ¡°Really? Now I''m absolutely certain you didn''t look hard enough.¡± Chris replies¨Csentence blissfully devoid of sarcasm¨Cbefore stopping. ¡±The crystal, you obviously knew it was extraterrestrial. Where did it come from?¡± he asks. ¡°At first we suspected Alex.¡± The General says. ¡°Alex was here long before you found this thing.¡± Chris defends. ¡°Agreed.¡± He says. He had inherited the project from someone who inherited it from his father, who in turn inherited it from his grandfather. It was basically a family project. According to test results, Alex had been around much much longer than the discovery of the pod that had housed the giant crystal. Speaking of the pod. ¡°In 1914, something was transported over from an excavated site in Albania. Some poor guy was digging a well in his backyard when he found it. A spaceship.¡± he informs Chris, whose eyes widen in disbelief. ¡°A spaceship? What is this Comic Con?¡± Chris scoffs. He leads Chris into a small room in the narrow hallway. A room filled with discarded jeeps, high-end aircraft remains, countless other automobiles and jets, and¨Cpropped on something of a pedestal¨Ca futuristic double seater pod, barely big enough to house two grown men. The people who would have landed with it would have to have been children at the time. ¡°We brought it down here, tried to utilize it. As you can see, we weren''t all too successful.¡± The General finishes, gesturing to the detritus around them. Chris walks into the room, stopping in front of the pod. His hand grips his jaw in awe. ¡°Holy fucking shit.¡± He ushers Chris out the room and closes the door. Locks audibly sliding into place. It would take 10 tankers to tear the door down, should he lose his eyes, or fingerprints. ¡°I believe in your ability to fix this.¡± He grabs Chris'' shoulder. ¡°Everything you need, you''ll get. A sign of goodwill from us to you. I simply hope you in turn have enough motivation to deliver positive results.¡± he says, his voice taking on a threatening edge. To his displeasure, the sentence makes Chris laugh, shrugging the General''s hand off his shoulder. ¡°Are you threatening me, Glenn?¡± He asks, wiping an invisible tear from his eye. ¡°Because I''m not making any promises. I''ll do what I can, especially given the people I have to work with.¡± There was that name again. ¡°Who is Glenn?¡± ¡°I''ll be in my office.¡± The pompous man announces nonchalantly, walks down the hallway. He stops to open a random door, eyes lighting up in excitement. ¡°An office.¡± He corrects, before stepping into the room to gawk. ¡°Ooh! I like this room.¡± his muffled voice echoes through the hallway. The General frowns in thought. Chris was fun and unpredictable. Two qualities that had no business being in this operation. He''d have to find a steeper incentive if he was going to keep Chris in line.
Macedonia, 355BC ¡­ A space pod crashes, landing just two yards away from a group of mounted soldiers. As the dust clears, the door to the pod slides open with a woosh, compressed air visibly escaping. A child, looking no more than five years old emerges from the pod, their back facing the soldiers. The child turns around to face the group, revealing herself to be the strangest little girl they ever saw. A tiny diamond embedded above her right eyebrow, blood dripping from where its counterpart should rest on the left. The men have never seen clothes like hers before, a point proven by their slacked jaws and stares of disbelief. Frozen in fear, the child in turn stares back at them wordlessly. The leader of the troop recovers before his comrades, gesturing to them to wake them from their disbelief. "Bring her to me." he commands. And if he is scared, his voice doesn''t give it away. The soldiers hesitate for a moment, two of them reluctantly dismounting their horses to start towards the child. As soon as the soldiers'' feet hit the ground, the girl flinches. Every soldier''s spear and sword suddenly hurled toward both men, impaling them. The other soldiers murmur amongst themselves even more terrified, and back away on their horses. Interesting, the leader thinks. He had court wizards that attended to his every whim. And even they had never displayed such raw and untamed power. If he had stumbled across a young god, he was going to make the most of it. There were wars to be won after all, and with the right tutelage, the skilled child before him could be a force to be reckoned with. He raises his hand in a gesture of calm, dismounting slowly and taking a few tentative steps toward the child, stopping a few feet away. He peers at her curiously. "How ... interesting." he murmurs, eyes trained on the gem on her brow. He stretches his hand out to touch the child, stopping when two swords hover warily out of his dead comrades, vibrating with a low humming buzz. The Leader quickly retracts his hand. "I''m not going to hurt you, child. See?" He raises his hands in surrender, assuring her he is unarmed. "May I come closer?" The Child nods gently and the swords clatter to the ground. The leader moves closer, squatting right in front of the child. "My name is Alexander. Alexander the third of Macedonia, what is yours?¡± Chapter 5 Texas, 1953 ¡­ Some popular 50s country song blasts through the radio in a 50s diner. The occupants of said diner painfully but deliberately undiversified. A waiter, who looks to be in his 30s is dutifully polishing the counter top, customers chatting idly in the background. The bell at the top of the door rings, signifying a new customer. A pair of black boots enter first, its owner''s face obscured behind a tilted black cowboy hat. The action is not deliberate, seeing as the owner casually adjusts the hat, completely revealing themselves. Alex. She takes a seat at the counter, and scoops up the menu¨Cto the chagrin of the waiter¨Cpouring through it fervently, either legitimately oblivious, or pretending to ignore the ¡®what the fuck¡¯ looks on the other customers'' faces. ¡°Pie please. Pecan.¡± She decides, setting down the menu exactly as she found it. The waiter stands, maliciously eyeing Alex. Unmoving. She looks around, a bit confused. Was she missing something? ¡°Pie?¡± She asks again, trying and ultimately failing to get her point across. She turns to another customer exasperatedly. ¡°Is he deaf?¡° Other customer sizes her up, glaring at her like her entire existence was a universal mistake. ¡°You''re not supposed to be here.¡° She rears back at the statement. ¡°Excuse me?¡± ¡°We don''t serve people of your color in this establishment.¡° Waiter interjects bitterly. Oh, so Waiter wasn''t deaf. Just a bigot. She turns to him, tsking disapprovingly. ¡°You''re not deaf.¡° she accuses. The waiter points to a ''WHITES ONLY'' sign in the background, and she squints at it. Snorting before reaching into her jacket for her wallet, all this for some pie. ¡±I didn''t come to inter-marry.¡± She jibes. ¡°I just want pie.¡° Apparently the waiter has had enough. He climbs over the counter and plops over to the other side¨Cher side in 3 seconds. A commendable affair if she wasn''t hungry and in a mood that bode no nonsense. He puts his hands on her, about to heave her from her stool, when she spins him around with inhuman speed. Smack! His head thuds hard on the counter, his face purple like a grape about to pop. Her one hand on his temple and the other twisting his entire arm in a dangerous angle. A couple of customers¨CMen¨Clift up their seats, about to intervene. This was becoming a whole thing. ¡°Now why would you do that?¡± she scolds disappointedly. ¡°If you''re all out of Pie, you could have just said so.¡° She twists his already twisted arm for good measure, hoping to pass her point across. Waiter howls in pain, the volume causing the small rescue party to take a few steps back, but not completely deterred. Waiter guy grunts. ¡°We don''t want your kind here.¡° ¡°My kind?¡° The rescue party murmurs in agreement, taking emboldened steps forward. Waiter angles his head towards her, launching a slimy glob of spit that hits her on the side of her face. Her eyes narrow into deadly slits. ¡°Allow me introduce you to my kind.¡± She grits. ¡°We know enough to--¡± Waiter''s sentence is cut short by his own scream. Alex pushing her fist right through his head. Rendering what was once his skull a bloody pulp. There''s blood and bits of brains splattered on everybody, the waiter''s headless body drops to the floor with a dull thud. The customers stare in frozen horror, a female customer letting out a shrill scream before darting for the door. Alex flinches at the sound, reflexively putting a bloody hand to her ear, then cursing profusely when she realizes a chunk of Waiter guy''s head is nestled at the entrance to her ear. She brings out a white handkerchief from her pocket, quickly wiping the brains and spit from her ear, face and hands. Customer lady was sobbing now, still tugging futilely on the door. The door wasn''t going to open anytime soon, not that she''d be the one to inform the frantic woman. ¡°I am so sorry about the mess.¡± She addresses the occupants of the diner who were now suddenly content with remaining in their seats. The lady is still tugging continuously at the door, the rattling sound slowly eating at Alex¡¯s hungry patience. ¡°Does anyone here know how to make Pecan pie though?¡± she asks, and no one moves. Or says a word. Rattle-rattle. Her left eye twitches. The customers must notice, because they begin murmuring amongst themselves. Probably determining the best pie maker, she hopes. Rattle-rattle! She heaves a calming breath, eyes flicking across their faces¨Ceach one of them sporting different looks of fear¨Cand they hurriedly shake their heads. Rattle-rattle! She turns impatiently to the lady still incessant on bringing the door down. ¡°You. What is your name?¡° ¡°F-F-Freda.¡± A broken voice replies. Alex frowns. ¡°F-F-Freda?¡° The lady somehow steadies herself, now aware of how thin Alex''s patience was wearing. ¡°Freda.¡° She repeats with a wet sniff. Alex is very thankful snot had not escaped with the name. ¡°Well Freda, you look like you can make pie. Not to stereotype, but can you?¡° She glances at her watch, quickly turning back to the Lady. Freda nods gently, not trusting herself to speak. ¡°Well why didn''t you say something? Flip the sign closed and get over here.¡± Freda does immediately as she''s told. Wiping her eyes with the hem of her gown, she shakily heads behind the counter to start on the pie. The ready pie sits on the counter top, hot and steaming. Freda on one side of the counter, dried tears on her face, Alex¨Cshe had told Freda¨Con the opposite side, brandishing a spoon. You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story. Freda can''t help but shrink in on herself at the suspicious look Alex is giving her, spoon cutting into fresh pie. She thankfully diverts her gaze to the bit on the spoon for a moment, before depositing it in her mouth. Her chewing is precise, palates searching and testing out every flavour. Freda had put in her best work into that pie. She takes in Alex''s face scrunched up in thought¨Cher brain working hard to keep up with her tongue; and says a little prayer. Finally Alex swallows, grave stare slowly morphing into a genuine smile. ¡°Best pie I''ve had all year.¡± She scores. And Freda lets out the breath she had been holding since the waiter lost his head. Freda packs the pie up quickly at Alex''s behest, watching her wipe the blood off her hat with the fallen waiter''s apron. She hurries through her task, making sure to maintain her efficiency, every second probably counted to someone like Alex. Packing the ready pie in a paper bag, she hands it to Alex, who collects it with a nod, a nice smile, and a generous stack of bills on the small part of the counter that isn''t covered with brains. ¡°Thank you for the pie, Freda.¡° Alex complements politely. And Freda courtesies primly in response. ¡°And thank you for your hospitality.¡± Alex turns to the other customers, addressing them without prejudice. She tips her newly polished hat in salute, frowning at a man whose head lolls to his chest. Alex places her hat atop her head with a short sigh, marching over to raise the very dead man''s head, and arrange it properly on his shoulders. Stopping to inspect the proper postures of the other still customers¨Cwho are also regrettably dead¨Cand confirming everything to be in order, she shoots Freda a smile before walking out the door, opening it like it wasn''t glued shut 3 minutes ago.
A large space ship lands in the middle of a blizzard, the ground around the flying saucer rumbling as it sets down with a heavy thud. The numerous lights adorning the machinery pierce through the heavy blizzard in the darkness of the night, giving the otherworldly contraption an even more imposing look. A mechanical whir, as a translucent ramp extends, and three men sporting steel blue gemstones on each of their brows descend, one of them holding a hand scanner. Their boots make heavy indents as they step into the snow. The more muscular of the men inhales deeply. ¡°Midgard. You can always tell by the stench of their inferiority.¡± He spits, angling his head away from the outstretched ramp, so the spittle lands in the snow. His comrade frowns at the action. ¡°On the contrary, Nod. I once met a Midgard woman many moons ago.¡± He lifts his gaze to the obscured moon above, face taking on a wistful look. ¡°She was the most elegant and kindest woman I ever met, and I have traveled a thousand stars.¡± Nod grunts at the brief tale, eyes darting about the darkness. ¡°I wonder if she still lives.¡± ¡°I doubt it.¡± The one with the scanner finally speaks. ¡°Occupants of this planet have been known to expire rather quickly.¡± He says disdainfully. Nod frowns after a moment of searching frantically¨Cwhich was basically a half-ass twirl with his eyes darting to and fro in the heavy snowstorm¨Cturns to the one with the scanner. ¡°Nelzux, there is no sign of the Crystal here.¡± ¡°No. But scans pick up residue.¡± Nod stares blankly, and Nelzux blinks the sharp retort off his tongue. ¡°At one point the crystal was here.¡± He says instead, enunciating loudly like it would make up for Nod¡¯s complete lack of knowledge. Nod frowns at the exaggerated tone. And if he had clocked the hidden insult, he couldn''t be that stupid. ¡°You didn''t have to use foreign words.¡± He complains under his breath. Nevermind, the former assessment stands. Nelzux turns to his other partner, completely checking out of all conversations Nod adjacent. ¡°Kyp. Do your thing.¡± Kyp nods in understanding, arms outstretched as if waiting for some invisible hug, before closing his eyes. His partners quickly don earbuds. A couple of seconds later, after their earbuds are in place, Kyp grunts. His arms wrapping around him for a moment before returning to their outstretched positions. A blue pulse-like ripple leaves him. His eyes glow blue, eyeballs moving rapidly as the ripple spreads around the globe. The ripple slams back into him a couple of moments after, causing him to stumble a bit. He shakes the blue glow from his eyes and turns to his partners. ¡°I found it. South.¡± Nelzux plops out his earbuds, Nod imitating him. ¡°Then we cloak the ship. Continue on foot.¡± ¡°You want us to mingle with the Tellurians?¡± Nod asks in disgust, wide eyes trained on Nelzux in query. ¡°Blend in.¡± Nelzux corrects. ¡°This way we will draw less attention, while we search for the crystal.¡± Kyp perks up. ¡°First we will need the right clothes.¡± ¡°We already have clothes.¡± Nod grunts. ¡°Midgard clothes.¡± Kyp says, vibrating in pure joy. He turns to his comrades when a silence descends upon them, cheeks blushing at the questioning looks he finds there. ¡°To blend in?¡± He adds belatedly. Nelzux narrows his eyes at him for a moment, deciding to let the excuse lie. ¡°Fine. But we cannot afford any more deviation from our mission.¡± He pushes a button on his scanner that cloaks the ship, pretending not to see the little fist pump Kyp indulges. He trods in the snow, towards where he suspects civilization might be, Kyp and Nod behind him. Glancing at his scanner every once in a while for confirmation. The three displaced men walk into a clothing store, a little bell above the door announcing their entrance. Nod takes a step in and freezes, a wild expression on his face where he looks like he wants to rip apart anything with color in the cheap boutique. ¡°Can I help you?¡± An uncertain voice asks, and three heads simultaneously whip towards the sound, apparently realizing they weren¡¯t alone in the store. A child, approximately 35 Earth cycles, Kyp calculates is staring them down, nary a look of fear in his eyes. He looks rather intrigued at their appearance if Kyp was being honest. A far cry from the reaction he had received upon his last visit to this blue stone. Nod stalks forward, stopping opposite the boy. He leans directly into him, forgoing all thoughts of personal space¨Cif he knew even what that was¨Ceyes narrowing in thought as he thoroughly scrutinizes his target. The storekeeper¡¯s eyes swell wide in astonishment, when the glowing gemstones above Nod¡¯s brows squelch in on themselves, folding neatly into his skin. Presenting an unblemished space, where they once sat. He raises back up with an air of accomplishment, shooting his comrades a smug smile before demanding¨C ¡°We seek to blend in with you humans.¡± The Storekeeper blinks in rapid successions, possibly not trusting that he wasn¡¯t under some hallucinogens before replying. ¡°I beg your pardon?¡± ¡°Clothes. We need clothes.¡± Kyp says. The Storekeeper gawps at them one after the other for a couple of seconds, before remembering his duties, with a shake of his head. ¡°Of course.¡± he says, mildly disoriented. Before slipping out from behind his station, and leading them to a changing room. Nelzux inspects his reflection on the opaque door the storekeeper had bafflingly referred to as a mirror. He¡¯d like to see what the clothes looked like behind as well, but was disappointed to find out the mirror only worked when he was actively staring into it. The black ¡®jean¡¯ the Tradesman had offered him had a rip on the left knee. A flaw he had been assured was intentional and necessary for the overall appearance of the garment. He had paired the ¡®jeans¡¯ with other clothing he had called ¡®a tee and bomber jacket¡¯ Kyp on the other hand had clothed himself, and took great pleasure doing it, if the way he was preening at his reflection was any indication. His own black jeans didn¡¯t have any tears on it, and had instead proceeded to add two more garments over the white dress shirt the storekeeper had suggested to him. A grey sweater and a dark grey overcoat, stopping just above his thigh. Nod, to Nelzux¡¯s relief still looked like a clown. He insisted on the replication of some celebrity he had seen on a poster on the wall of the shop. Dressed in black, low baggy pants, a black graphic tee, and an oversized purple hoodie with the word ''Thug'' etched brazenly across it. ¡°The picture on the wall said it was ''Hip''.¡± He had said in response to Kyp¡¯s revolting stare. Now they were stood outside the store after rendering the storekeeper unconscious¨CKyp had insisted that he not die¨Cwhen he wouldn¡¯t accept Crulions as currency for payment. ¡°Where to now?¡± Kyp asks, still eyeing Nod¡¯s outfit something fierce. Nelzux retrieves the scanner from his bomber jacket. The jeans too tight and form fitting to house anything other than a single finger. ¡°South, like you said.¡± He responds, after triangulating the red blinking dot blinking on the scanner, with the information Kyp had given.
Ice cream. Cookies. Beer. Soda. Alex couldn''t decide. One of the benefits of having a fast metabolism that could digest anything as fast as possible meant she could consume every one of these things without any repercussions. After a moment of deliberation, she settles on a large bowl of mint Ice cream. Mint being one of her favorites since its discovery as an ice cream flavor in the 40s. She had consumed a helping of it daily¨Cto the chagrin of Akio, for almost 30 years. She kicks the fridge door shut with her foot, simultaneously reaching for a spoon just as a blue energy pulse ripples through the house. The lights fritz audibly for a second, before glowing blindingly bright. The sound of the TV going static in solidarity, crackling from the living room. What the hell? Alex heads to the living room to investigate, wincing as a tiny feedback sound upsets her ears. Thinking nothing of it¨Cshe did pick up more sounds than normal people could¨Cshe picks up the remote, flicking through a couple of channels to confirm that every station was indeed down. The bowl of Ice Cream shatters to a million pieces on the ground when she drops it to cover her ears from the sound that has now become completely unbearable. Blood drips down her nose, upsetting the mint green mess on the floor. A quick glance at her hands shows that her ears are spewing blood too. She shuts her eyes as she feels blood trickling down uncontrollably from there as well, before screaming deafeningly and falling to the ground, unconscious. The blue energy pulse ripples back out the way it came, lights and TV returning to their normal state. There is a brief crackle on the TV as a video of Cutting Crew''s "I Just Died In Your Eyes Tonight¡± starts to play. Chapter 6 Thump! Thump! Alex groans at the oddly rhythmic sound, shutting her eyes even tighter. She couldn''t remember the last time she had slept this nicely, and was intent on dragging out this small win for as long as she¨C Thump! ¡°Yes, I heard you! I''m getting up!¡± She yells, and her eyes open to reveal, marble ceiling? Thump! She lifts up abruptly, features screwing in confusion on noticing her sad grey room walls have been replaced with the kitchen sink overnight. ¡°What--?¡± Thump! Her head whips towards the direction of the sound. The upstairs window. It was probably a relentless pigeon¨Cshe had been a bit surprised to learn that birds didn''t see glass¨Cunless someone had gained the ability of flight while she was asleep, Thump! A little bit of focus has her deciphering the sound being a bit too heavy to be any kind of low flying bird, and she scrambles to her feet, almost slipping on a puddle of melted ice cream on the floor. Shuffling over to the door, hand on her head to quell the sledgehammer hard at work in there, she unlocks it and yanks it open. Hand quickly shielding her face from the rays of the sun that was apparently in on the plan to get her this morning. Thump! She inclines her head round the corner and sees Chris hopping on one leg, other socked foot dangling unsupported as he tosses his shoe repeatedly at a window on the 2nd floor. Her room window. ¡°What are you doing?¡° She asks, startling the hell out of Chris. He flails wildly and loses control of the shoe, it clunks him over the head. ¡°Alexandra fucking Jordan.¡± He seethes quietly. Alex winces at the bite of the tone. ¡°I have been outside here knocking, for 4 hours and 30 minutes!¡± he erupts, and Alex rears back in shock. He had been there that long? ¡°Where the hell is your phone?!¡± He thunders. She does a quick pat down of herself revealed it wasn¡¯t on her¨C ¡°Not with me.¡± He opens his mouth, a stern lecture about to leak through, before narrowing his eyes at the dried flecks on her face. ¡±Is that blood on your face?¡± he asks, face morphing into fear. He steps forward to inspect her, hands hovering but not outright touching. ¡°What in God''s name happened?!¡± This is a surprise to Alex who stops to cringe at her reflection on the windows, while Chris bypasses her to enter the house hurriedly.
Sometime before the present ¡­ Alex is seated opposite Chris and Lilian, therapy style. They had been seated this way for over 30 minutes now, Lilian and Chris shifting the entire inch of the sofa nervously. Clearly they had something important to discuss with her, that much she could suffice. The way they were acting however, was starting to make her suspect it was about a rather significant issue. She watches Chris¡¯ right leg stomp a vibrating beat on the carpeted floor below. After the 32nd minute of Lilian opening her mouth and then closing it without making a sound, Alex decides to take the reins on this thing. ¡°You wanted to see me?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Lilian says with relief of someone else starting the proceedings. ¡°Alexandria, we''re worried about you.¡± she says, and elbows Chris when he misses his cue. ¡°Naturally, we''re staging an intervention.¡± He adds, a bit late to Lilian¡¯s starter. Alex blinks. ¡°Oh. I''ve never had one of those before.¡± she cocks her head to the side in thought for a moment. ¡°This might turn out to be a pleasant experience.¡± She rubs her hands in anticipation, and Chris sighs. ¡°You''re not meant to be happy about it. That''s why it''s called an Intervention.¡± ¡°Oh, I''m sorry.¡± Alex says, and schools her face into utter solemnity. ¡°Go on.¡± Lilian, bless her heart, continues. ¡°We noticed you seem rather lonely most of the time.¡± ¡°And you have no friends.¡± Chris adds offhandedly, earning a side eye from his wife. Alex looks affronted. ¡°Whatever made you think that?¡± Lilian reaches over to grab her hands in placation. Alex lets her. ¡°It¡¯s just, we never see you talk with anyone, or bring anyone home ¡­¡± ¡°And you have no friends.¡± ¡°Chris.¡± ¡°Well, we all know she doesn''t. Lilian.¡± Chris says. Alex can¡¯t help but chuckle internally. Her social life had warranted said intervention, Chris and Lilian treating her lack of it like some kind of debilitating disease. Times like these made her just a little bit grateful to have lasted as long as she had, just a little more proof each day that humanity wasn¡¯t at all the lost cause she had inferred it to be. Lilian says something, and she schools her face into thorough affront. Wouldn¡¯t want to make it a walk in the park for them now. ¡°We''re not trying to pry, but have you considered seeing somebody?¡± Lilian asks hesitantly, and Chris stiffens. ¡°See, that right there is prying, honey.¡± He bites out, and Alex gets the feeling Lilian had gone off script. ¡°It''s not prying, if we''re trying to help her.¡± she parlays. ¡°Personally, I think it''s the sort of thing she''s meant to figure out by herself. I mean she¡¯s hardly a 12 year old child.¡± Chris responds, desperately trying to veer the conversation from the direction his wife seemed intent on taking it. Oh, this Intervention thing was entertaining as hell, Alex wouldn¡¯t mind sitting through a couple more of them. ¡°Oh my God, Chris!¡± Lilian whispers, or thinks she whispers furiously. ¡°This is not a united front!¡± Chris lowers his head towards her, ¡°Yea, well you kinda skipped the Matchmaking chapter, when you were pitching me the idea.¡± He imaginary whispers, and Alex is too amused to not comment. ¡°You guys know I can still hear you, right?¡± If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. They could be in Timbuktu, and she would still be able to zero in on whatever conversation they were having. Not that they needed to know that particular peculiarity of hers. Lilian turns to her with a graceful smile. ¡°What we''re saying is, maybe you should try to spend time with people other than us.¡± She resumes from six conversations ago, not missing a beat. If that wasn¡¯t a talent right there. ¡°Yes, people your own age.¡± Chris fumbles to keep up, eyebrows knitting in realization of what he had just uttered. ¡°No, that''s not right. Scratch that.¡± Alex holds back the smile threatening to break out with the conviction of a thousand years. ¡°I''m not complaining, I like spending time with you guys.¡± she says softly. Lilian¡¯s steely resolve melts at the tone. ¡°And we love you spending time with us as well. But¨C¡± ¡°Basically, Lilian wants you to get a Boyfriend. Or Girlfriend. Or ¡­ Person-friend. Whichever works for you.¡± Chris finishes, and the abruptness of the sentence is too blatant to ignore this time. ¡°Wow.¡± Alex exhales, while Lilian solicits some higher power in the sky for strength. ¡°He¡¯s being something of an asshole about it,¡± Lilian lovingly squeezes her husband''s shoulder. Hard. ¡°But he''s right. There has got to be someone you like.¡± A magnificent build up to a borderline tepid climax, Alex thinks. ¡°There isn''t.¡± Chris sits up in attention now. ¡°Someone you liked?¡± he asks. ¡°Nobody.¡± ¡°It might be some lost love?¡± Lilian sits forward as well. ¡°Nope.¡± Why weren''t they letting this go? ¡°From the 12s or 1300s perhaps?¡± Chris persists, with a frown now situated on his face. And Alex has to inhale deeply so as not to scream. ¡°I know.¡± She says, after quelling a much more venomous reply. ¡°There''s no one.¡± There is a bit of an awkward silence where Lilian doesn''t know what to do with her hands, and Chris stares unwavering at her. ¡°Okay, now I mean to pry.¡± He breaks the silence, and Lilian lets out an ¡®Oh, Chris¡¯ under her breath. ¡°You''re telling me you''ve never been attracted to anyone before?¡± He asks, completely flummoxed. And that look on his face puts Alex right back in an amused mood. ¡°You don''t have to say it like that.¡± Lilian starts another session of the non-whispering, whispering thing again. ¡°I''m sorry, but I am utterly shocked right now.¡± Chris whisper talks, before turning back to Alex. ¡°Is that how things work, where you''re from?¡± And wasn''t that a funny question seeing as Alex had no idea where she was from. ¡°Quick reminder, I have no idea where I''m from,¡± she says and Chris winces at his blunder. ¡°But I''d like to think I had parents and didn''t just drop from the ¡­ sky.¡± she trails off and something itches at the back of her head. Like a story, or a memory¨C ¡°Alex!¡± She blinks focus back into her eyes, the couple in front of her both wearing worried expressions. ¡°So yes.¡± She resumes, ¡°I was probably born, just like you.¡± She finishes. Chris nods at her response, deciding she''s alright and fit for conversation once more, Lilian is still staring a bit dubious, but even that changes as soon as Chris opens his mouth again. ¡°I was asking if they um ¡­¡± Chris takes a breath to steel his nerves. ¡°Copulated?¡± ¡°Christopher Jordan!¡± Lilian lets out a scandalized gasp that Alex simply has to laugh at. ¡°You do not say things like that!¡± Chris blushes puce, shoulders rising and dropping in a shrug. ¡°Oh please, It''s for research purposes.¡± And his red-purple face makes Alex laugh even louder. ¡°Now she''s laughing at us, Lilian.¡± He says again with a glare at his wife. ¡°She''s laughing at you.¡± she corrects. ¡°Okay.¡± Alex says, when she''s a bit settled, and her lungs have taken in sufficient air. ¡°I''m just gonna clear up the confusion.¡± She shifts forward in her seat, refusing to embrace the nervousness trying to creep in on her mood. ¡°I''m not attracted to anyone. I never have been, and no, it''s not a ¡®species trait¡¯. It''s a personal one.¡± There''s a moment where no one says anything and a little bit of that nervousness creeps in closer. ¡°Is that a good enough explanation?¡± She asks a bit desperately. ¡°Of course it is, Alex.¡± Lilian replies softly, ¡°It''s perfectly fine.¡± She nudges at Chris beside her who has his head buried in thought. He looks up with a slight frown. ¡°I don''t think I¨C Oh.¡± his eyes swell in realization. ¡°Nevermind, it''s fine.¡± He finishes, and the pensive look disappears completely from his face. Alex lets out a silent breath of relief. ¡°I can''t believe you two were about to give me ¡®The Talk¡¯. I am older than both your ancestors combined.¡± she quips, settling back in her seat. ¡°In all honesty, I was against the whole thing at first.¡± Chris raises a dramatic hand to his chest, and Lilian huffs. ¡°Please Chris. You were simply scared.¡± ¡°I wasn''t scared. I was being cautious.¡± he fields, and Lilian ignores him, turning back to Alex. ¡°I still think you need a friend.¡± She murmurs softly, and Alex deliberates. ¡°Well I have a brother. I don''t know if that counts.¡± She says after a second of consideration. She looks up at Chris and Lilian, both with matching looks of utter shock. And rears back in suspicion. ¡°I take it, it does count?¡± ¡°You have a brother?¡± Lilian screeches, and Alex has to refrain from throwing her hands over her ears. ¡°Yeah, but¨C¡± ¡°Since when?¡± Chris interrupts, eyes darting around the house, as if searching for said brother. ¡°Well it''s¨C¡± ¡°Where is he?¡± Lilian asks again, and if they would actually let her get a word in¨C ¡°Oh, he''s actually¨C¡± ¡°And why haven''t you mentioned him before?¡± Chris asks, completely distressed. Both Chris and Lilian stare at her in anticipation of an answer, Chris even going as far as flapping a hand, in urge for her to hurry up. Now they were ready to listen to answers. ¡°Oh, I can talk now?¡± She asks, an imperious eyebrow arched in faux annoyance.
Alex follows distractedly behind him, nearly smacking into his frozen form just in front of the door. She peeks around him, to see what made him stop so abruptly and winces at the reddish green puddle on the ground. A wonderful bowl of ice cream now ruined, she laments. ¡°Tell me you did not throw a ¡®rager¡¯ in the house.¡± Chris says, as calm as can be. ¡°I swear, I did not.¡± She responds, before she has a moment to think about it. Then again, last night was a blur. ¡°I think.¡± She adds, just to cover her bases. Chris stares at her, not quite sure whether to be pissed or concerned. Her eyes wander to inspect him in turn, confirming he is indeed alright, and she can''t help but grin a little at his missing left shoe. ¡°Are you okay?¡± He asks, with a bit more composure this time. ¡°I don''t know.¡± Alex says, and glances her reflection on the window. ¡°I can say I feel a lot better than I look though. Chris relaxes some. ¡°This is good news. Because you look like you tried to stop a bullet train with your face.¡± Alex chuckles at the statement. He was making jokes again, good. He leans against the back of the couch. ¡°What do you remember?¡± He asks, crossing his arms. ¡°I was over by the fridge, trying to get some Ice Cream,¡± Alex has her head angled as she recalls, ¡°then I get this very brutal headache. Next thing I know, you''re trying to smash bulletproof glass with your shoes.¡± she finishes with a wave at Chris. ¡°I was scared shitless. I thought something had happened to you.¡± ¡°Apparently, I''m fine.¡± She says with a shrug, her eyes narrowing as she thinks¨C ¡°Hold on, why didn''t you have your keys?¡± Chris uncrosses his arms and struts away from her. ¡°There was a freak thing with the weather last night, I thought it might be you?¡± He picks the remote up from the floor where it lies, and changes the station on the TV. Alex on the other hand is having a hard time remembering anything past the last 10 minutes. She massages the sides of her head with a grimace, ultimately succumbing to the severe pounding in her head. ¡°If it was, I''m not aware of it.¡± She settles on instead. Chris hums. ¡°Anyway, hurrying here I must have forgotten the keys.¡± he says, and is suddenly too interested in some nonsense on the TV. ¡°You don''t know where you left them, do you?¡± Alex asks. ¡°I really don''t, no.¡± He admits. Alex scrunches her eyes shut. ¡°Of course.¡± She groans softly, her hands shooting to frame her aching head. Chris places a hand on her shoulder. ¡°What''s wrong?¡± ¡°I''ve never experienced a hangover before, but I imagine this is what one feels like.¡± she says, pinching the bridge of her nose. ¡°I think you should see Akio.¡± Alex groans again. ¡°I''m fine, Chris. I just need a little nap, that''s all.¡± ¡°I''m sure you are.¡± He insists, ¡°but it doesn''t hurt to check.¡± She removes herself from his hold and stalks into the kitchen, fetching herself a glass of water. ¡°I''m alright. There''s no need worrying him over minute things.¡± she says and gulps the water down rapidly. Chris eyes her thoroughly. ¡°Alex, you woke up in a puddle of blood and Ice Cream, and barely remember how you got there. Now unless ¡®minute¡¯ has taken on a different meaning¨C¡± ¡°20 minutes. I take a nice, long shower, clean this place up, and I''ll be back to fun old Alex in record time.¡± she says, willing him with her stare to give into her suggestion. ¡°Who says you''re fun?¡± Chris rears back in over exaggeration, and Alex makes an affronted noise. ¡°You take that back, I am fun!¡± She points a finger at him, and Chris has no qualms playing dirty. ¡°What would Lilian want?¡± He asks, Alex''s protests dying in her throat. ¡°You know she''d have wanted you to see someone, make sure everything was alright in that can of yours.¡± He shifts his face into something particularly pitiful, and Alex groans in defeat. ¡°That''s a-- Really Chris? Using your dead wife as blackmail?¡± She runs a hand through her short hair, already sticking up on end. ¡°This is a new low even for you.¡± ¡°Not if it''s for a good cause.¡± He informs her before starting out the kitchen. ¡°You flying or you driving?¡± She follows behind him. ¡°I never said I was going.¡± He repeats the question again, this time infusing it with all the seriousness he''s capable of. Which is a lot when it comes to his family''s well-being. ¡°Flying.¡± Alex sighs. ¡°I''d like to get this over with.¡± Chris nods in satisfaction. ¡°Done, I''ll book you a flight. Last time you used my jet, you trashed it and didn''t clean it up.¡± Alex tilts her head in recollection. ¡°That actually wasn''t me, I loaned it to this girl for her bachelorette thing.¡± She says. Chris huffs incredulously. ¡°That''s even worse, you giving out something that wasn''t yours in the first place.¡± He whips out his phone and types something rapidly on it, nodding at the little ¡®ding¡¯ he receives a while afterward. ¡°And please clean up before you leave. I can''t have people out there thinking I run a fight club in the basement.¡± he says once his gaze lands her again. Alex studies the puddle, then him. ¡°That''s all you''re worried about, how I look?¡± She asks, arms folded across her chest, eyebrows raised in accusation. Chris looks a little sheepish, and Alex grins in victory. ¡°Right, I''m sorry. Clean up the Ice Cream too, I had those floorboards flown in from Rome.¡± He says, wiping the smug smile from her face. He starts up the stairs to his room, only daring to smile at her annoyed reaction when he''s sure she can''t see him. Chapter 7 Nod shifts uncomfortably in his seat. Being crammed into a tubular tin can was not what he foresaw in this pursuit. One look at Kyp beside him made him groan. The man had the gall to look excited, brimming with energy more than enough for the three of them. He was even listening attentively to what the inferior human woman had to say about the restraints on their seats. He decides enough is enough when Kyp leans over to replicate the instructions on his seat restraints. ¡°I do not see why we couldn''t have gone on foot. Or better yet, flown in our own ship.¡± He swats futilely at Kyp''s unyielding hands. ¡°You were the one who voted we blend in.¡± Kyp retorts, the satisfying click of Nod''s seatbelt settling him ¡°No, I was the one who voted we tear the planet apart, and declare an invasion till they surrendered the Crystal.¡± Nod pouts, crossing his arms over his chest in disappointment ¡°Sometimes Nod, the easiest missions take a little precision.¡± He reaches for the pamphlets behind the chair opposite him, fully intent on digesting them. Nod snatches a pamphlet from him, eyes squinting at its vivid illustrations. ¡°How is being stuck in a flying metal tube easy?¡± Kyp sighs, at this rate he would never get to read his folded paper. ¡°Let me guess, you would rather be stuck on our flying metal ship?¡± Nod huffs. ¡°Ours is better because its technology is superior.¡± ¡°It is a vessel that floats, same as this.¡± Kyp fires back. He lifts the pamphlet to his face, legs crossed, signalling the end of the conversation. The plane starts to take off, rumbling lowly as Nod responds to Kyp, who in turn combats, thus beginning a verbal back and forth. Their voices fade into the abyss. Nelzux is sat by the window, fingers gripping his arm rest with enough force to rip it off. The only thing stopping him from actually laying waste to it, was fear of the plane crashing, due to the faulty armrest. He squeezes his eyes shut, as the plane angles, willing the mechanism to move faster. The plane finally stabilizes, reminding Nelzux to let out the breath he was choking on. He looks around wide eyed, still reeling from the experience, and oblivious to the tugging at his sleeve. ¡°Nelzux!¡± Kyp reports, like a child to its parent. ¡°You would never believe what--¡± He is cut off by Nelzux''s off-kilter look. ¡°Are you alright?¡± Kyp asks, and Nelzux tries to school his face into something resembling dignity. ¡°Of course he''s alright, he''s Nelzux.¡± Nod interjects slow as ever, and Nelzux is for once grateful for his lack of observation skills. ¡°Do not think you can brush off the subject--¡± Kyp signals for Nod to swallow whatever argument he was about to embark on, and points to Nelzux. ¡°He looks like he''s seen a Draugr.¡± Kyp says, like Nelzux wasn''t right beside him. This piece of information has Nod inspecting the Nelzux himself, his eyes first narrowing in consideration, before gleaming in barely concealed humor. ¡°It appears you are right.¡± Kyp struggles to keep a straight face, his brain working rapidly to piece together the source of his discomfort and Nelzux considers tearing the roof off the plane. He would survive, he could fly after all. ¡°Are you scared of flying on a plane?¡± Kyp asks. Aliens do not flush. But if they did, Nelzux would have put a tomato to shame. ¡°Quiet.¡± he grunts out, and to his despair, not even in the least bit menacing. Kyp obliges, a small smile tugging at the corner of his lips. Nod on the hand, was either not prepared or too foolish to grant him the same courtesy. ¡°By the gods, you are!¡± he bellows in loud laughter, smacking a heavy hand across Nelzux''s chest. ¡°I said quiet, Nod.¡± Nelzux says, a couple of heads turning towards them due to the volume of Nod¡¯s guffaw. He shrinks into his seat. ¡°How is this possible?¡± Kyp sees his opening and takes it. ¡°You can fly.¡± he asks, genuinely intrigued. If Kyp ever found an answer, he would do well to share it with him. ¡°I''m not talking about this anymore.¡± Nelzux says, finding solace in the ear contraptions the chattering maid had handed to him before the plane took off. He fixes it over his head, like he had seen the aged man in front of him do, Nod¡¯s laughter thankfully fading into a soothing silence once his ears are snugly sheltered. He closes his eyes. Kyp swats at a still laughing Nod, jostling him into¨Cif not completely calming down, tuning the volume down on his preposterous laughter. Nod recedes to quiet huffs, and he settles. It would not do to draw attention to themselves on the flight, considering their aspirations. He chances a look around, making sure they hadn''t drawn serious attention, other than the few heads that had turned during Nod''s cackling. Everyone seems intent on their own thing now, heads faced forward in anticipation of the journey. Good. He turns around to confirm the same state of matters behind him, only to be started by a child. A little boy about 8 Earth cycles is seated behind Nod, eyes gleaming in surprise and mouth ajar. Obviously he had been eavesdropping on their conversation. Kyp¡¯s head whirls forward again to frantically tug on Nod, who turns to the indicated child with a frown ¡°Can the both of you fly too?¡± The child squeaks. ¡°No.¡± Nod answers jovially. ¡°Kyp can multiply himself, while I can release beastly tendons from my body.¡± He finishes coolly, akin to one concluding a nursery rhyme. Kyp gawks unbelievably at his complete lack of unsubtlety. ¡°That is so cool.¡± The child complements, relaxing in his seat. Nod however seems somewhat offended by the simplification of his abilities. ¡°It is not cool.¡± he spits, the word dripping with venom. ¡°The ability to crush your enemy in mere seconds without batting an eyelash, is sublime.¡± he lets a wistful look dart across his face. The little boy''s eyes widen in his head, prompting Kyp to finally intervene. ¡°Are you absolutely certain the little one can stomach your war stories?¡± he asks Nod, who has to shake himself out of whatever gory trance he had slipped into. ¡°Of course he can. He is a man.¡± Nod declares, confusion darting across his face for a split second before addressing the boy this time. ¡°You are a man are you not?¡± The little boy nods quickly in affirmation, the worry lines dismissing from Nod''s face when he returns to Kyp. ¡°See?¡± He turns back to the child once more. ¡°Let me tell you of the time I beheaded an entire planet of dwarves all in time for breakfast.¡± he declares, hand outstretched, twirling an invisible sword. Kyp brightens at the announcement. He remembers this one. If the little one was prepared to hear it, far be it from him to deny the child a decent prose. He nods in agreement with Nod. ¡°Oh yes, this is a good story.¡±
Somewhere in America, 1788 ¡­ A whip cracks down on a boy, and the child screams in agony. Alex watches from her seat in a corner of the diner, wincing at the taskmaster yelling expletives along with the whipping. The boy writhes and twists on the ground, sweat and blood matting dark hair to his face. The man picks the child up with a painful grip by his hair, and she has a clear view of his features. Asian, about 13 years old, with the kind of eyes that looked like they had seen more than their owner appeared to have lived. Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. ¡°You thieving piece of shit!¡± The man yells in tandem with the whip cracking down on the boy. And the piercing screams that follow are getting really hard to ignore. Prompting Alex to swear softly before wrenching the whip from the man''s grasp. ¡°I think he''s had enough.¡± She says, rolling the whip up and tossing it from reach. The man whirls to face Alex¨Cshe had yanked it when he had thrown his arm back¨Chis scrutinizing glare pinning her to the spot. ¡°Now who the fuck do you think you are?¡± the man glares so fiercely, Alex almost expects something behind her to catch on fire. ¡°I couldn''t help but overhear you calling him a thief, and thought I might offer my expertise seeing as I run a reformatory.¡± The man does a double take at her accent. His glare wrinkling into confusion, mouth parted in a little ''o'', revealing stained teeth. ¡°What?¡± He replies eloquently. Alex exhales slowly, biting down the scathing remark that had bubbled to her throat. ¡°A prison house for children.¡± She simplifies a bit nettled ¡°Oh.¡± The man¡¯s posture relaxes. ¡°As tempting as that sounds, I paid good money for him.¡± He punctuates by kicking Akio''s form on the ground, curled up in the fetus position. Best to hurry this up. ¡°Well then.¡± Alex ransacks her coat, pulling out an impressive bag of coins and offering it. ¡°Will this suffice?¡± The man''s eyes widen in surprise.
Nod, Kyp and the Boy are in a heated conversation, Nod aggressively shoving people out of the way as they walk into the airport arrival area. Nelzux staggers nauseatingly behind, palms digging into his eyes to clear them of their haze. ¡°You see child,¡± Nod is saying, ¡°the way to conquering this new father who steps, is by showing no fear in the face of adversity.¡± The child frowns at the advice. ¡°But I don''t want to conquer him, I just want him to like me.¡± Nod opens his mouth again, some battle strategy itching to seep through. Kyp shoves him out of the way, pulling the young child into his space with a firm arm. ¡°Child, he should be the one trying to please you. He is after all the anomaly in your family.¡± He says soothingly, and the crease in between the child¡¯s eyes disappears. ¡°Exactly.¡± Nod seconds as soon as he has found his footing. They walk briskly, Nod bumping into someone aggressively and spilling her luggage. ¡°Excuse me?¡± they say, and Nod whirls around to face them¨CA girl, about 24 earth cycles, dark skin, and short hair that sticks up everywhere like an Earth sea urchin. He scrunches his nose in disapproval. ¡°You are excused.¡± He says, and he, Kyp, and the Child continue on, Nelzux in tow. Alex glares at their retreating forms, exhaling deeply to steady herself. She has half a mind to send the rude one sailing out the window. However bursts of aggression like that were at the top of the list of things Chris definitely did not approve of. She groans low in her throat instead, settling on righting her trolley box the lumbering halfwit had knocked down. ¡°Asshole.¡± She yells before walking on, not giving a crap who heard her. Nelzux was growing increasingly uncomfortable with Kyp and Nod¡¯s fixation on the child. He had expected a parent to whisk the halfling away upon disembarkment of the plane, only to discover to his increasing horror, that the child was something the female servant had referred to as an ¡®Unaccompanied Minor¡¯. Which meant he had no guardians present with him on the plane. Kyp and Nod had taken the information with a grace that Nelzux could have sworn Nod wasn¡¯t capable of, choosing to look after the boy, and answer his insipid little questions. Like the present one concerning some new father who enjoyed stepping. ¡°You have been present long before he was.¡± Kyp has a hand on the boy¡¯s shoulder, he himself bent in a bid to meet the child¡¯s gaze. ¡°Therefore you must stand firm. You must not be threatened, you are the man of the house, not him.¡± he finishes. A woman waves to the boy from the waiting area, the child waves back. ¡°That''s my Mum. I gotta go.¡± the boy says, and Nelzux would do a little victory dance if it wasn¡¯t beneath his status. ¡°Never forget, little comrade. Fear has no place in a warrior''s heart.¡± Nod proclaims in parting. The boy takes in this piece of information with a great deal of attention and a rapid nod, stealing a quick hug from Kyp and Nod before running into his mother¡¯s arms. Nod stares confusedly, his mouth open in invitation to the flies. It is with great pleasure that Nelzux snaps it shut, regretting profusely that it does not catch his loose tongue. ¡°What happened to not mingling with the humans?¡± he scolds, a disapproving frown on his face as he shoves through the both of them, stalking toward the exit.
Somewhere in America, 1788 ¡­ Alex exits the diner, the child in tow behind her. She can¡¯t help but notice his nervous fidgeting from the corner of her eye, his hands wringing themselves into an intricate knot that just had to hurt. ¡°I don''t actually run a correctional facility.¡± She says randomly, and the boy¡¯s head whips up to her. ¡°What?¡± Alex sighs. ¡°I''m not putting you in a prison house, because I don''t run one. I''m not even certain there is one on this side of the world anyway.¡± she elaborates, and he scrambles to keep up with her both in pace and conversation. ¡°But you told¨C¡± Alex interrupts him with a weary sigh, and they halt. ¡°I know what I said. Right now I''m telling you I don''t have a prison, so you''re free to go.¡± She gestures to the other side of the road. The building opposite was a bar, but hopefully he got the general message. Akio scrunches his eyebrows in thought, taking a moment to stare at the ground before looking back at Alex. ¡°Go where?¡± he says finally. ¡°I don''t know. Wherever you want?¡± Alex says exasperatingly, eyes darting the length of the road and numerous buildings beyond them. ¡°I don''t know anywhere.¡± He says softly, head bowed. ¡°I''ve lived with him ever since I got here.¡± his lips curl in disdain at the word ¡®him¡¯ and Alex sighs in frustration. Keeping a person, let alone a blasted warlock was not on her bucket list for any time period. ¡°Do you at least have somewhere to sleep?¡± She asks, somehow trying to delay the inevitable of the boy spending the night at her home somehow. ¡°No.¡± She anticipated the answer, and it still doesn''t go down well with her. She throws her hands up in exasperation, trying not to pull on her hair. It had gotten longer than was acceptable, and needed tending to soon. ¡°So what the hell were you planning on doing after you blasted your meal ticket?¡± Akio''s head whips up at that, his mouth scrambling to make up simple sentences. Oh, this was going to be interesting. ¡°What?¡± He chokes. ¡°Don''t play coy,¡± Alex rolls her eyes. ¡°I saw you twirling angry magick in between your fingers.¡± Akio stills, hackles raised. ¡°I-I didn''t¨C¡± ¡°Relax. If I was going to say anything to anyone, I would have said it in there.¡± She assures, and a bit of the tension exits his shoulders. He plants his feet firmer on the floor, back straightening in determination of something, Alex doesn''t know. ¡°I''m Akio.¡± He stretches a hand out in introduction. Alex stares at the outstretched hand, routinely not taking it. ¡°Alexandria.¡± She says instead. ¡°You can put your hand down.¡± He does. ¡°Are you a-- like me, too?¡± He asks next, and Alex can''t help a disgusted scoff in return. ¡°No offense, but no.¡± She resumes walking, Akio running to keep up with her. She was getting close to her home now, Akio still not making any attempts to leave. ¡°So how do you know about Warlocks?¡± Alex eyes him dubiously. ¡°I''ve seen my fair share of things.¡± Akio hums. ¡°Are they popular in Britain?¡± ¡°Britain?¡± ¡°That''s where you''re from, right?¡± ¡°I''m not-- what?¡± Alex rears back incredulously. ¡°It''s your accent.¡± ¡°I''m not British.¡± Macedonian actually, but that wasn''t a story she was looking forward to telling. Akio ponders. ¡°But the accent¨C¡± ¡°I''m not British.¡± she repeats, voice firm. End of story. Akio raises his hand in defeat. ¡°So, you don''t care that I''m a warlock?¡± he clocks the look on her face and elaborates. ¡°I¡¯ve lived through a lot of ugly moments, I''m just trying to make sure this isn''t another Salem waiting to happen.¡± he stuffs his hands into tattered pockets nervously. Alex turns slightly to size him up. ¡°What do you know about Salem?¡± ¡°I lost my Mum to the stake.¡± He says with a shrug. Ah. She slows to a halt, Akio settling alongside her. ¡°Sorry.¡± Alex says awkwardly, hands crossing behind her back. ¡°Yea, it''s fine.¡± Another shrug. Alex teeters uncomfortably for a moment, unfamiliar with navigating through grief or sentiment. ¡°Salem.¡± She says, rocking on the balls of her feet. ¡°So how old does that make you?¡± Best to steer the conversation away from misery. Akio perks up a bit. ¡°I was born in 1650.¡± Alex rears back slightly, angling herself to properly size him. She does so for a moment, eyebrows dancing in tandem with whatever is going on in her head, before nodding impressively. ¡°Pretty impressive for a 138 year old man.¡± she scores, and Akio preens. A moment, then her face crumbles into incredulity. ¡°Yet you let that uncultured swine beat on you?¡± ¡°It''s like you said, he was my meal ticket.¡± Alex hums in agreement, head whipping to the impressive house they were standing in front of. Akio chances a look about, just then realizing they were now miles away from the meal place, and currently situated just out of town. His eyes flick back to the huge house in front of them and Akio whistles. ¡°Is this yours?¡± he asks, eyes not straying from the huge stone building. ¡°Yes.¡± Alex replies, whipping out an impressive bunch of keys. ¡°I bought it from a trader who was relocating.¡± Her eyes are squinted in focus, fingers rapidly thumbing through the bunch in search of the right key. Akio watches her for a couple of seconds, thoughts swirling about in his head. A particular question edges its way to the front of his mind, and he can''t help but fidget in curiousity. ¡°What now?¡± Alex asks, eyes not straying from her ongoing task. ¡°How are you ... here. By yourself?¡± Akio wrings his fingers so tightly, he''s certain he cuts off blood circulation for a second. Alex raises a questioning brow, still busy with the keys. She doesn''t seem affronted, so Akio takes it as a sign to continue. ¡°I mean, you own a house.¡± he waves a hand at the building. Alex''s second brow shoots up, and Akio can make out the faint outlines of a smirk fighting to spill. She was finding his anxiety amusing. Wonderful. ¡°And?¡± she asks, drawing out the monosyllabic word in a very obvious bait. ¡°Y-y ... You own your own house.¡± Akio stomps head on into the trap. ¡°I do.¡± ¡°And you''re ... um.¡± He swallows hard, gesticulating in her general direction wildly. ¡°¡­ Black?¡± she finishes. ¡°Yes.¡± Akio blanches. Alex chuckles, finally abandoning her search to knowingly pluck a key from the bunch. And if she knew the exact key, why go through the show of searching in the first place? Akio chews on his lower lip in thought. ¡°Well, like you I''ve also got a few tricks up my sleeve.¡± She opens the door with a smile, gesturing for Akio to follow her in with a tilt of her head. Chapter 8 Alex squints as the bright glare of the fluorescent light bulbs bounce off the boot buckles on her outstretched feet. The gloomy hospital decor automatically causing a bout of despair to sink in. Funny, seeing as she wasn''t even here for a health-related reason. Now not necessarily a fan of bright colors, she considers the wait room, and the overall misery of the people sat waiting on information concerning their loved ones. Perhaps an uplifting color scheme might be in order. A small smile creeps onto her face, when Akio walks in, his eyes searching. ¡°Doctor Jordan.¡± She calls, arms spread over the unoccupied seats beside her in a lazy lounge. Akio brightens, turning towards the sound of the voice with a smile. ¡°I think it has a nice ring to it.¡± She finally lifts up, and embraces him. A breathless ¡®Alex¡¯ leaving Akio as she squeezes him closer to herself. She pulls back to catalog him for a moment. A far cry from the tattered child that wouldn''t let her be in 1788, he had grown into his own. She inspects everything from the eye bags beneath his eyes¨Cnow considerably better¨Cto the light shoes he has on under his maroon scrubs. Still clean shaven as always. Akio catches her scrutinizing him and rolls his eyes, a reaction that was now partially reflex, wherever she was concerned. ¡°I am so sorry I missed the anniversary.¡± He says regarding Lilian, ¡°Chris must think I''m such an asshole.¡± Alex frowns at the statement. ¡°What are you talking about? He''s so proud of you, it''s all he ever broadcasts.¡± She deepens her voice in parody of Chris, shoulders reared back to appear taller. "¡®Akio is a Doctor.¡¯; ¡®He went to Harvard¡¯; ¡®Alex won''t get off the couch.¡¯" Akio laughs, sobering up instantly upon continuing the conversation about Lilian. ¡°How''s he holding up considering?¡± He asks. And Alex waves a vague hand. ¡°Ah, he''s dealing with things all Chris-like. Most of the time, I have to run to keep up with him.¡± ¡°I can''t even imagine.¡± he hums, eyes glazing over in quick thought. Alex pulls him out of it. ¡°By the way, he''s ''un-retired'' again.¡± Akio makes a distressed sound. ¡°After that party?¡± ¡°After the bloody party.¡± Alex confirms. ¡°God, I feel sorry for everyone at the office already.¡± ¡°I wanted to stop him at first.¡± Alex says, fists tucking into her loose pants pockets. ¡°Then I thought, maybe he needed the activity?¡± she says, head tilting in question. Akio scratches his jaw. ¡°Yea, it''ll probably help to distract him from everything.¡± A finger rests on his lips, eyes scrunched together. ¡°And give me some much needed peace.¡± Alex adds. ¡°I''m sorry, what exactly is it you do all day?¡± Akio asks, a dubious eyebrow hovering. Alex rankles in faux anger, hand flying to her chest in offense. ¡°I beg your pardon?¡± She demands. ¡°I''ve had a long and taxing life, thank you very much. I deserve every bit of lazing about I''m doing and more, so you and Chris need to back the hell up.¡± she finishes with a shooing gesture. ¡°The Alex I knew used to relish the rush of life.¡± Akio crosses his arms in challenge. ¡°Heck, even Chris just upended his retirement out of sheer boredom.¡± he goads, and it probably would have worked on a younger Alex, she thinks. Not the current domesticated version before Akio today. ¡°That Alex has been put away.¡± She says, pleased at the fact that the declaration was in fact true and fully welcomed. ¡°This Alex is comfortable playing board games and cussing out Shark Tank participants with Chris.¡± Akio winces at the information. ¡°He''s watching Shark Tank? Oh, that can''t be pleasant.¡± ¡°I tried to talk to him about his well-being once.¡± Alex recalls. ¡°He pushed me off topic with some overly comedic zen quote. And then shoved me.¡± Akio cackles, never one to miss a chance to laugh at her.¡°Is that why you''re here? Need some reinforcements?¡± ¡°No, I can handle Chris.¡± She grabs him in a one sided hug, wrenching him forcefully from his spot. ¡°I came to see you, since you refused to come see us. Mountain.¡± She waves at herself. ¡°Muhammad.¡± She waves at Akio. Akio shoves away from her, untangling himself from the furious hug. His hands quickly dart up to repair his mushed hair like the prima donna he pretends not to be. ¡°Okay, watch the hair.¡± He gives his coiff an overt pat. ¡°I might as well tell you, I applied to transfer to California, so I could be close.¡± he says, face a maintained picture of perfect nonchalance that Alex sees right through. Alex brightens up anyway. ¡°Really? That''s awesome! We can paint the town on weekends, the three of us, it''ll be like old times.¡± She says. ¡°When does the transfer kick in?¡± ¡°I don''t know, I haven''t had the chance to follow up on anything yet.¡± He swipes exaggeratingly at a non-existent piece of dirt on his scrubs. ¡°Try to remember, you''re talking to a doctor here.¡± ¡°So Doctor is stressed? We can fix that.¡± she smacks him hard on the back, jostling him. Akio profusely apologizes to the person he almost lands on to Alex''s continued amusement. ¡°What time will you be free tonight?¡± She asks once he''s done fulfilling his apology quota. He groans. ¡°Nooo.¡± ¡°Come on, I''ll treat you to dinner, we''ll swap stories, you check my brain, we bowl a bit, and I''ll have you back here, bright and early.¡± Her hands fly up to massage the stress out of his shoulders. He is taller than her so she shoves him down to her level, plunging him into an awkward crouch. ¡°Alex, I have stuff to¨C¡± he stops abruptly, eyes blinking rapidly as if deleting his last words to get back to Alex''s sentence. ¡°Wait, what did you just say?¡± ¡°Bright and early?¡± ¡°No, before that.¡± ¡°Oh, we bowl a bit.¡± His eyebrows were knitting in slow anger now, and well Alex never claimed she was adequate at self-preservation. She squeezes his knotted shoulders a bit harder. ¡°What''s wrong with your head, Alex?¡± he asks, dislodging her hands from his shoulders, voice losing its playful edge. ¡°It''s really nothing serious¨C¡± ¡°What happened?¡± he asks firmly, and all the lightheartedness is sucked from the air in an instant. ¡°Chris insisted I get it checked.¡± she sighs, ¡°I had this thing last night, where I got a terrible migraine.¡± ¡°And then what?¡± ¡°I have no idea. I woke up this morning, and Chris said he had been banging on the front door, 4 hours straight.¡± His eyes dart around in thought. ¡°You didn''t hear him?¡± ¡°Nope. I was unconscious.¡± Akio grabs her by the arm and hauls them down some path. Only stopping briefly to open a narrow door, and thrust them into what¨Cafter brief inspection appears to be a dank janitor¡¯s closet. Alex wrinkles her nose, both at the obvious neglect of the closet and the manhandling. ¡°You couldn''t have chosen a better venue?¡± She turns accusing eyes at Akio. He is too worried to bait into an attention-shifting argument, so it doesn''t work. ¡°¡®Nothing serious''?!¡± He resumes their previous conversation from the wait room, no regard for Alex''s untriggered trap. ¡°Also, I had been bleeding from my eyes, nose, and ears.¡± She adds, only God understanding the reason why. But if he was going to do something, best to have all the information, yes? ¡°Why the hell didn''t you lead with that?!¡± He was scolding her now, like some disobedient child. Which was becoming too much chastising for one evening, perhaps her entire life. ¡°Because now your face is all scrunched up and contorted with worry.¡± She says, hands flailing around his indeed agitated expression. ¡°Better my face than your brain, dumbass!¡± He parries and Alex doesn''t shrink at the reprimand. Almost skulking. Almost. He exhales audibly, gathering his composure once again before speaking. ¡°Since I can''t exactly book you for an MRI scan ... Gimme 15 minutes let me tidy up over here, then we can get dinner.¡± ¡°Oh, God yes.¡± Alex says, ducking to prevent Akio''s wagging finger from poking her eyes. ¡°I''m doing this because of your head. You as a person have nothing to do with it.¡± he says, the fondness in that sentence not even the least bit smothered by his unconcerned attitude. Alex scoffs unbelievably in response. ¡°Yes, thank you Akio, I love you too.¡± Akio scoffs in turn mock offended cracking smile as soon as the little door swings open, and back is turned.
Alex''s home, 1788 ... Alex shoots up from sleep with a gasp. Her room door swings open with a force so hard, it smacks against the opposite wall and barrels back, Akio stopping it from clipping him in the face at the last second. ¡°What.¡± She blinks rapidly, willing sleep deprived eyes to immediately function at peak capacity. ¡°There''s an angry mob outside.¡± Akio pants. ¡°What?¡± Alex repeats, dropping from her bed to the front door in a quick dash. She opens it to an incensed mob, lit torches and pitchforks in hand. They mutter angrily amongst themselves, volume increasing as soon as she steps out to address them. ¡°Can I help you?¡± Alex regards them irritatingly. Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website. Akio''s former master shuffles his way forward, elbowing every and anybody in his way. ¡°This ain''t no prison house for kids!¡± He yells the obvious. He was becoming more trouble than she had expected. ¡°I thought it wise to rest before we embarked on the journey to¨C¡± She cuts off with a sigh. Functioning on 2 seconds of sleep and untethered fury, her fingers pinch the bridge of her nose. ¡°You know what, you''re right, there is no correctional facility. I just couldn''t stand you whipping the boy like an animal.¡± The crowd mutters their disagreement with her statement, the man positioned in front of her nodding vigorously to egg them on. He whips back to face her with a loud snarl, teeth bared in threat. ¡°I want him back!¡± ¡°I paid for him.¡± Alex says with a scoff. The man takes another step forward getting even closer, and Alex has to rear back instantly from the foul stench that is his breath. ¡°I don''t know whatever deal you got going on with the Governor that makes you think you''re untouchable, but I''d be careful how you talk in front of these people here.¡± He whispers, and Alex has a feeling her invulnerability was the only thing keeping the acidity of his rancid breath from peeling her skin. ¡°I paid you a whole lot more than the child was worth. You better turn around and leave, before things get messy here.¡± She replies, her voice raised for people in front to properly hear. He flashes stained teeth at her, mercifully letting out a puff of air once his face is away from hers, before turning to address the mob. ¡°Y''all hear that? She says she''s go''n kill me!¡± The crowd grows antsy. Grips on pitchforks tightening in purpose and agitation. Alex bristles at the number of people she''d have to kill if this couldn''t get sorted. She had hit her limit on the ¡®plagues and incurable illness¡¯ excuses as far as the Mayor was concerned. ¡°Says she''s go''n string me up by my own gizzards if we don''t get off her property!¡± Stained teeth was still saying, the roar from the crowd sealing the fact that she would not be getting out of this without bloodshed. Speaking of bloodshed. The man whips to face Alex, pistol quick drawn and poised to shoot, the loud clicking of numerous other guns interrupting an otherwise perfect night. A quick angling of her head away from the gun pointed at her, reveals numerous other guns pointed at her. Their wielders in no mood for negotiation. ¡°We can''t have you out of order now can we?¡± He asks, nozzle inching forward slowly to finally rest on her head. She groans. Damn, she liked this house. Perhaps one last effort¨C ¡°Listen, I don''t¨C¡± The words are hardly out of her mouth any sooner than her adversary is blasted backwards across the street. She blinks owlishly, her gaze as well as the crowd¡¯s following the trail of fading purple energy from their fallen leader to Akio standing behind Alex at the door. She winces as all eyes turn to them. ¡°Well shit.¡± ¡°Witchcraft!¡± A random voice cracks through the silence, and a shot fires, Alex closing and bolting the door just in time for the bullet to splinter dry wood. They both fall to a crouch at the sound, hands lifting to press against their ears as more guns join in the catastrophe. ¡°What were you thinking?!¡± Alex screams angrily, the hands framing her face accompanied by the cowardly crouch position, lessening the reprimand by a good percentage. ¡°He was going to shoot you!¡± Akio parries. ¡°So you use your powers in front of an armed mob?!¡± She yells back. The door groans under the weight of the attack, and Alex takes a second to thank the extravagant trader for whatever the hell kind of wood the door was made of. ¡°Get your shit, we''re leaving!¡± She says, voice rising higher than the reverberations of rapid gunfire. Akio does a quick inspection of the ground around him to Alex''s immense disbelief. ¡°I don''t have any shit!¡± he yells, after the stupid action. The idiot. Honestly! ¡°Then use the back door!¡± She says. Grateful when Akio listens and immediately bolts out the back door. She raises from her crouch to detour somewhere else in the house. The sound of the front door finally collapsing nettling her even further. People pour into the house, setting books on fire and smashing priceless possessions. Akio stops at a safe distance, pausing to catch his breath. He lets out a little whimper at the sight of the flames that have now engulfed the entire house. Alex had seemed really fond of it, taking the time to give him a grand tour of the impressive space. His heart stutters a bit in his chest, eyes searching, praying fervently that Alex had gotten out before the fire swallowed the building in its unforgiving flames. ¡°Devil spawn!¡± He whips around to find his former owner, gun aimed between Akio''s eyes, breath coming out in laborious pants. Akio backs up a step, body angled to dive for the man at the slightest chance. He cocks his gun, and Akio watches him squeeze the trigger in slow motion. Eyes squeezing shut when he realizes there would be no monologue or miracle to save him this time. He was going to die. A sickening snap jolts him out of his subconscious, his body jerking involuntarily at the sound. His eyes fly open to find his assailant strewn dead on the ground, his neck twisted inhumanly to the side. Alex stands by the body, glare boring an angry hole into the center of an already dead head. Akio jerks forward and halts abruptly, barely resisting the urge to barrel into her in a hug. ¡°You''re not dead!¡± Akio settles for rejoicing instead, and then slaps a hand over his mouth. Best to not reveal their location to the bloodthirsty mob. Alex replies with an annoyed hum, sidestepping the strewn man by her feet with candid disdain. ¡°I wish I could say the same for my home though.¡± She adjusts what Akio notices is a moderate-sized bag behind her. ¡°I''m sorry.¡± He says. And she waves it away. ¡°It''s fine. Are you hurt?¡± Akio pats himself down in confirmation of all his body parts. ¡°All good. What''s in the bag?¡± He pretends like he doesn''t see her grip tighten where she grips the canvas. ¡°My shit.¡± ¡°You risked getting killed to get your shit?¡± He says incredulously, eyes flicking to the still ablaze house that lights up the entire street. She swings the bag over her shoulder elegantly. ¡°Just the important shit.¡± She inclines her head away from the house, and they start away from their dark corner. ¡°What about him?¡± Akio jerks a thumb at the receding dead man behind them. ¡°I¡¯d rather we didn''t stay and find out.¡± she replies after a quick glance behind her. Akio fidgets at the casual nonchalance with which she dismisses the dead man. He had killed precisely one person before in an act of self defense, and remembered how difficult he had found eating for an entire month. Cold dismissals like the one Alex had just displayed meant a long list of bodies to the displayer¡¯s name. A long list of people who had come up short in a fight against Alex. He curses his bad luck. ¡°Listen, if you ever have something to say, please say it. The squirming is infuriating.¡± Her sudden input causes him to jump a little. He was taught not to speak without permission, creative and painful consequences awaiting him each time he broke said rule. Perhaps following it, would work in his favor where she was concerned as well. He informs her as such along with the details of the several punishments his former owner had rewarded him with, watching in confusion as her eyes widened in what could only be described as horror. ¡°I don''t own you. If you think back a couple of hours ago, I asked you to leave." She looks back at the body, now a good distance away. The fingers of her free hand clenching, like she wanted to snap the man''s neck a second time. ¡°And I said I had nowhere to go.¡± He prompts a reenactment of their conversation from earlier that evening. ¡°Oh, I haven''t forgotten.¡± Alex shoots a pointed look at him, encompassing his continued presence beside her. ¡°I¡¯m not going to kill you.¡± she says after a beat, eyes trained forward fervently in concession to the discomfort they both seem to be radiating. ¡°Even if you decide you longer feel the need to bother me.¡± Akio relaxes at the assurance, shoulders slumping as the weight of an imagined threat lifts from his shoulder. He nods at her when she finally tears her gaze away from the dawning horizon, to look at him. ¡°Where are we going exactly?¡± he asks, trying to initiate small talk. Alex sighs exasperatingly. ¡°Just walk, Akio.¡±
A bowling ball lands on the wooden floor with a thud, rolling crookedly before teetering into the gutter at the last minute. Alex groans frustratingly, feet stomping petulantly on her trek to grab another ball. Akio sits nearby, legs crossed and propped up on the table in front of him. His chair is angled in a dangerous slant as he laughs hard, and Alex has half a mind to lob the ball in her hand at a chair leg. ¡°What are you doing?¡± He asks in between wiping non-existent tears from his eyes. ¡°What does it look like? I''m bowling.¡± Alex squeezes an eye shut, tongue lolling out the side of her mouth in thorough concentration, as she calculates the force needed to properly swing her ball. Akio takes in her pose and cackles all over again. ¡°God forbid. Let me rephrase the question. What do you think you''re doing?¡± She swings the arm holding the ball back and forth to build momentum. ¡°Screw you, Akio.¡± She finally lets it go and it bounces, heading once more for the gutters. Alex frowns. ¡°I''m convinced these balls are sentient, and for some reason, they hate me.¡± ¡°More wrist, less head.¡± And she bets he thought he sounded like Sun Tzu with that idiotic hint. ¡°I add any more wrist, and the balls will be tearing right through the building.¡± Akio gets up to join her, grabbing a ball. ¡°It''s not rocket science, Alex.¡± He spins the stupid ball on the tip of his pointer finger like it weighs nothing. ¡°You simply aim and toss.¡± He tosses, his ball clearing every last pin. Alex grumbles suspiciously. ¡°Okay, you cheated. I just need to figure out how.¡± ¡°You can''t cheat at bowling.¡± He says amusedly, taking one look at her shoes and scowling. ¡°Those aren''t even bowling appropriate shoes.¡± ¡°Like I''d put my feet in one of those disgusting things.¡± She snorts, snatching a ball from the pile. ¡°And you wonder why you can''t play.¡± Akio dips his hands in his pockets, watching her stretch unnecessarily. ¡°Why exactly did you suggest this again?¡± ¡°I can so play. It has nothing to do with the shoes. It''s this place, the ground doesn''t seem level.¡± She glowers daggers at the inanimate lanes. ¡°Remember when you tried teaching me to shoot a gun?¡± he says, eyes clouding over in fond remembrance. ¡°No.¡± Alex answers, the slight twitch in her right eye giving away the fact that she did remember. Akio smiles. ¡°Wonderful, I''ll remind you. You made me stand outside by myself, for 7 hours. You wouldn''t let me eat, till a bullet hit one of those wretched cans.¡± ¡°I have no idea what you''re talking about. Such angst at something that took place centuries ago. You need to get rid of all that, and make space in your heart for love.¡± She says sweetly and tosses yet another ball. This one somehow going in the opposite direction. Alex and Akio wince in tandem at the loud crash and scattered complaints that accompany. ¡°Oh crap!¡± ¡°Sorry!¡± An angry attendant walks up to her, forcefully thrusting the ball in her stomach before leaving with a huff. ¡°Really sorry.¡± Alex says. ¡°It''s hilarious how awful you are at this.¡± Akio says amusedly. ¡°At least I hit a can, even if it was by accident.¡± ¡°No, you shot me in the head, and I died. What''s worse is, in spite of all that, you still don''t know how to aim a gun.¡± She thrusts the ball at his stomach in turn, and he doubles over in pain. ¡°Aha!¡± He wheezes, before devolving into a coughing fit. ¡°I thought you didn''t remember?¡± ¡°I don''t think anyone could forget a gunshot to the head.¡± She responds drily, before stomping away to grab a fresh ball from the pile. Akio shakes his head at her severe pettiness, gaze falling to the ball she had left in his arms. He bites the bullet and deposits it neatly on the stack. ¡°Since you obviously remember that day, remember what you told me? You said to let go of whatever it was I had twisted up inside me. At the time, I was sulking about my mother''s death.¡± He says upon his return. Alex pauses mid swing to preen at Akio''s statement. ¡°That is some Mr Miyagi shit. I said that?¡± She asks excitedly. ¡°Of course, there were no Karate Kids then.¡± He responds. ¡°Jesus, I was smart.¡± Akio sighs in deep resignation. How extremely in character for Alex to retain the unimportant bits in a given piece of information. ¡°Just toss the damn ball. Remember, first clear your mind, then toss.¡± ¡°I should conk you over the head with this damn thing.¡± She jiggles the ball. ¡°Repay the favor.¡± ¡°Will you let it go, it was an accident!¡± ¡°I know, which is why I''ll ''accidentally'' conk you in payback too.¡± She says, taking a deep breath and tossing the ball. The ball glides convincingly for a couple of seconds, teetering into the gutter at the last slide. ¡°Witchcraft!¡± Alex announces loudly, drawing the angry attention of all the other patrons present. ¡°Okay what the actual hell? That ball should have knocked down 2 pins at least.¡± Akio inches a cautious foot forward, swiping it suspiciously across the lane. ¡°I told you the balls knew what they were doing!¡± She whispers conspiratorially, waving a crazed hand at the untouched pins ahead of them. Akio is inclined to agree. ¡°No, no, I agree, that was sus as hell.¡± ¡°I have no idea what that means, but all this bowling has worked up my appetite.¡± She stretches her arms above her head in her shuffle to their table. ¡°That''s it? You didn''t even bowl jack shit.¡± Akio says, dropping into his seat. Alex frowns, feet propping on the table in mirror of his earlier pose. ¡°Mind your language. And I swung, okay? Swinging takes energy.¡± ¡°I can''t believe you dragged me all the way out here to watch you feed the gutter.¡± ¡°Like you didn''t have any fun.¡± ¡°I might have, if we didn''t have other pressing matters?¡± Akio raises a questioning brow, the tail end of his statement produced from behind clenched teeth. The action seems to annoy the hell out of Alex. ¡°Jesus!¡± She explodes. ¡°When was the last time you had a timeout Akio? Work, work, work; worry, worry, worry.¡± He rears up in attention. ¡°Alex, you realize we''re talking about your brain, your health?!¡± ¡°I''m not dying today, or anytime soon. I''ve had plenty of opportunities to do that, and I waved them all goodbye.¡± She tsks. Akio groans long-suffering, eyes lifting to the sky in petition to a higher power. ¡°Just please let me check you? It¡¯ll hardly take any time.¡± ¡°I''m hungry. Where can one get a nice meal in New Jersey?¡± Akio rakes a frustrated hand over his face, clearly understanding her ploy. ¡°You''re going to keep ignoring me till you get what you want, aren''t you?¡± ¡°Can we get New York pizza in New Jersey? I''ve always wanted to try New York pizza, see what all the fuss is about.¡± Her eyes dart around the establishment, as if expecting a random carton of New York pizza to be lying about. Akio sighs. ¡°After eating, I get to examine you?¡± She rears up to a proper sitting position, dropping her feet from the table with a thud. ¡°Done.¡± Akio stands. ¡°I know just the place.¡±