“Whatchu gonna do, princess?” scoffed the other. They approached him, ready for a fight.
“You can’t do that,” replied Johnny. “Leave him alone. Pick on someone your own size.”
By this time, several students had gathered around, craving a tussle. “If you say so, prima donna.” The first, named Jared, attempted to throw a big overhand punch, but Johnny moved to the side, landing a round kick right on his abdomen. Leg still raised, he side kicked the bully into the ground with masterful precision, Jared’s back shoved into the lockers.
One second had passed before the other, Nick, joined in on the fun. Reciprocating the other bul y’s move, the big man lunged at him as they both slammed into the floor.
People let out gasps and shrieks as the two went at it.
With Nick on top of him, Johnny channeled his already five-year training. Locking Nick’s knees with his own, the bully had an instant to question this before Johnny flipped him onto the other side. Their positions reversed and Nick’s face vulnerable, Johnny executed a swift, hard punch to the thin space between Nick’s teeth and below his nose.
Johnny hustled to his feet just as Jared came back for more. Jared darted to Johnny, but the teenager side-stepped the bul y, paving the way for Jared to miss him and smash his body into the lockers. They shook as he smacked into them and fell to the hard floor. The crowd cheered.
“Superbly done,” praised Titan. Johnny smiled at the sight. He tried to keep his pride low.
“Thanks,” he replied.
“It is my pleasure,” Titan responded. “But now, I have some things to attend to.
Pristine job, Sparks. It is quite interesting you al are coming to me. I expect you.”
Only a few moments elapsed before Titan closed the scene as their prior surroundings of a dark, misty terrain col apsed onto them.
The figure of Titan began to dissipate, but Johnny chased him. Nevertheless, all for nothing, because Titan’s figure had vanished. In his place, Z burst into view. Both did not speak, but rather chose to stare at one another. How was Z here too?
“When this is over, I wil come for you,” said Johnny. “You won’t hide.”
“It is far from over, Johnny Sparks. I will wait for you.” In an instant, he vanished too.
Then Johnny woke up and his eyes popped open.
~~~
“I want you to relay a message to the Halluxian government,” commanded Titan.
“Make sure the Halluxians understand that I will meet with their leaders to discuss the curation of their economy and way of life.” Justice nodded and ordered for a relay machine to be brought to her at once. She swiped, initiating its recording systems.
Holding it with her left hand, she positioned herself for the declaration.
“People of Hallux, I am Justice, commander of the armies of Titan. He has sent word to me that Hallux has become a corrupt and weak planet, and its inhabitants suffer from disease, famine, starvation, and most of all, cruelty. Titan himself wil journey to your planet and personal y cure the problems. Please prepare and expect his arrival.”
The message ended, and Titan smiled. His hands fidgeted with the wires attached to his head. “Good. Soon after we rid your former allies out of the equation, you will accompany me to Hallux.”
“It is my honor.”
~~~
TEN HOURS LATER
The compartment door opened and Johnny sprang out, the best sleep he had in years. Jane was still in her capsule and out like the sleeping beauty. Ryan, on the other hand, no longer occupied his own. Opening the door, Johnny found Ryan staring out the back window. The view was similar to the other windows on the craft—a bubble of space that looked like soup surrounding the craft and its passengers.
“What’s up?”
“I don’t know Johnny. Are you as afraid as I am?”
“Of course. I would not be human if I wasn’t.”
“Did you happen to have a nightmare?” Johnny was caught off-guard with this remark. “I had one.”
“Real y? I didn’t.”
“Yeah, it was Titan. He’s been behind everything.”
“Whoa wait, you talked to Titan himself?”
“I’m pretty sure I did.”
“What did you say?”
“We were talking about my past, about random stuff. It’s still a bit fuzzy…but it felt so real. I didn’t feel like I was dreaming.”
“A lot of dreams and nightmares are like that,” Ryan replied. “I hear that every time.”
“But this was different. I can’t even explain it.”
“Well, what did you think of him? Good, bad, meh?”
“I can’t lay a finger on it. For one thing, he’s huge. And with red eyes I would expect him to be evil or whatever, but I didn’t real y sense that emanating from him.”
“Real y? That’s good news. I would like to be in and out.”
“Yeah,” Johnny chuckled, “me too.”
Just then, Dustin and Sam opened their door. “Oh, hey guys,” Sam said, yawning.
“That was a wonderful sleep I just had.”
“Same,” Dustin added. He and his brother ambled to where Johnny and Ryan stood, looking out at the curved space of the universe.
“We’re far away from NYC now,” Sam said. “Just look at that.”
“How about you?” Johnny asked. “How you holding up?”
“It’s basically unexplainable,” Sam answered. “I really love that we’re in space and al , but honestly, I’m kind of nervous and petrified. It’s a lot of information and scenery.”
“A lot of everything,” Dustin added. “This is not how I envisioned my life.”
“Agreed,” Ryan said.
Sam sighed, leaning on the wal next to Ryan. “I hated to leave…and not saying a word about it was the worst part.”
Johnny did not respond—he had felt the exact same. He chose not to initiate more conversation. The group of men simply watched the curvature of spacetime warp constantly, stars and galaxies moving about like a soup. The steady hum of the Octavian’s engines provided a nice background noise.
Nevertheless, Johnny said, “We’ll get through this, guys—together.”
CHAPTER 15
CONFLICTING DESTINIES
Ledarius flipped more switches and dropped out of warp. The engine purred, and the others walked in, including Jane.
“How’s it going?” Johnny asked, raising his head to see the view from the Octavian’s cockpit. “W-What the hell is that?!”
“Holy shit!” exclaimed Ryan, who would be one of the few to ever see a craft so large. A hive of smal er craft scurried about and around the Octavian.
“That is the Titan, the main freighter in Titan’s fleet,” answered Ledarius. Another sizeable ship passed through their view, but once away, the behemoth was in plain sight for all to examine. It loomed above like some beast—a sleeping giant.
“Are you telling me you cruised us right into his big Kahuna?!” Ryan replied.
“I think so,” Dustin added.
Jane turned to Johnny, who was awestruck and worried at the same time. “What are we going to do?”
He gulped. “I know what we won’t do. We will not back down and we are going in there.”
“I’m sorry, but when did you get so virtuous?” Sam asked.
Before Johnny could reply, a message transmitted from the Titan. “Greetings from Lord Titan! Please dock in 7P, be aware of traffic. Thank you.”
The ship was gargantuan in size. The Tetra’s construction crews had shaped its frame like a diamond, only a sliver of room at the top constructed with transparent edges. Giant warp generators were on the opposite side. This monstrosity had a width of five miles, a depth of one mile, and height of three miles. It resembled a city in space.
As for colors, Titan had chosen a deep gray for its color.
Ledarius taxied the Octavian to Dock 7P, the bay swathed a nightmarish white in color.
“This is…amaz
ing,” Dustin said, his eyes glued to the scene before him. “It’s beautiful.”
“I have goosebumps,” Sam chimed in. He was frozen stil , overwhelmed.
“How is it beautiful?” Ryan retorted.
“I see what you mean,” Johnny replied. Each person, including Jane, absorbed the incredible view as they meandered through traffic and into the bay.
Once parked, Johnny and the others fully prepared their suits. “All right Jane, just remember what you learned.”
“I will try.”
“You have to. We can’t lose you.”
With those words, the team slipped on the partial face masks. Ryan’s had been colored a dim green, Johnny’s a dim blue, Sam’s white, Dustin’s gold, and Jane’s ghost gray.
The Octavian rumbled once. Then twice. With each, Johnny and especially Jane sensed their heart skip a beat. Here they al were—a bunch of humans among a dozen species in the flagship of apparently the most powerful being in the universe. Jane so badly wished her parents would have been here. Johnny, feeling the same, turned to her to see a face contorted in fear.
He grabbed her hand in a comforting way. “It’ll be OK. Together we are.” The back door unlatched like a cargo bay and a large soldier equipped with a humongous scythe stood, his stance threatening. Judging by his attire, he was without a doubt not a typical one, either. He wore dark green armor and a helmet fashioned with an opaque face cover. He had to be at least seven feet.
“Greetings, people of Earth. I am Solis, third in command. Titan has been expecting you. Come and witness the Justification.”
They were ushered to fol ow him, but Ledarius stayed behind. Dustin ran over. “I guess this is goodbye.”
“It is, Earthling. It is. Godspeed.” Dustin nodded and watched as he buckled into his craft once again.
The group passed by a variety of mechanical humanoids who eyed them in curiosity.
An innumerable profusion of small, medium, and large crafts, most oval shaped, stained the white of the bay. They turned into a hal way, only unlocked by Solis’s touch. Walking down its dimly-lit path, the only noise was a soft purr of the ship. The walls themselves were striped with wires, glowing a sunny yellow. At the end, an elevator opened for them and the group stepped in with Solis.
“Showtime,” Johnny whispered to Ryan. They had already activated the energy banks in the suit. Each respective outfit illumined a specific color. Thus, the white serrated streaks on Johnny glowed blue, Ryan’s rectangular highlights green, the entirety of Jane’s gray, Dustin’s gold, and Sam’s white as the fortification mode had been initiated once again.
The elevator door closed and in one minute it had reached the top. Each strode out.
A giant throne sat in the middle of the glass-enclosed room.
Stepping around the throne, he came into view. Arms crossed and staring out, he appeared even larger in person.
The big man unhurriedly turned his body, his armor practically black with a few dark gold highlights. His bright red eyes shined, puncturing into their very souls.
“Ah, yes. Johnny Sparks. Jane Cooper. Dustin Jones. Sam Jones, his brother. Ryan Slade. It is a pleasure to congregate with you. You need not fear. I have whom you seek.”
“Oh, thanks,” Johnny said. Titan nodded. But even a nod sent shivers down his spine. Solis was big, Titan was a monster.
“So, uh, where is she?” Ryan asked Titan. The figure did not seem as evil as he at first thought.
“Those suits are mine, by the way,” he said. “I don’t care if someone gifted them to you. They are still mine, as is the Energy now coursing through your very being.”
“Ooris?”
“Yes. You, Slade, have been granted the ability of matter absorption. You can absorb and become anything you touch. Incredible, to say the least!”
“Uh, I guess?” Ryan replied.
“I had a dream last night. You were in it,” Johnny said. “Were you influencing my dreams?”
“I was.”
“For what reason? My friends dreamt as well.”
“To prepare your minds.”
“For what?” Jane asked. She did not say what had happened on Azintea. That is an experience she could not let loose. His focus turned to her.
“For the future. You see, as I told Adia, I will tel you. Mankind’s two main problems are ignorance and rebellion. Criminals rebel the law. People rebel against enacting the greater good of the species. But ignorance trumps even that. Humans have a propensity to allow unknowledgeable people to rule over them. They themselves have al owed their minds to be taken over by technology. Phones, computers, and media of al kinds have prevented mankind’s advancement. Chief among these, friends.
Friendship has become a malignant cancer for societies across the universe.
“Further, their ignorance and materialist view baffles me. As the so-called prophet Hosea once said, ‘My people perish for lack of knowledge.’ This myopic vision of reality has proved to be an immovable, obstinate obstacle. I, Titan, am saddened by this—
humanity could achieve heights no species in the universe has ever dreamed of. But, I will help them. I wil be the way. Only through me can humanity final y set itself on the correct path. The right path. The path to freedom, advancement, and peace.”
Everything changed so quickly. He’s right, but this is not good. “A-Are you going to Earth?” Johnny asked.
“One day soon. Either Earth is the answer, or it is not. If not, I wil bring the Justification nonetheless. It wil become the blood and sweat of the Tetra! I wil clean house of its evils by my purity. You can trust me.”
“Why?” he replied. “Let us help you. There is a better way to do it, I’m sure.”
Titan laughed yet narrowed his eyes. But it was not totally sinister. He looked amused and sad. “You are very wise, Johnny Sparks. In fact, you all are. I can feel you.
But change is a one-way street. There is no ‘better way.’ That which you compromise to keep, you lose.”
Titan had spoken with such authority that they froze. This was something neither wanted to get themselves into.
What just happened, Johnny thought. He did not prepare for this. Titan spoke of the very future of humanity.
Ryan flinched. He’d been in a plethora of brawls but no one resembled Titan.
Dustin and Sam could not speak. The typical talking points which had worked on human sociopaths had no effect on this figure. But he was not really a sociopath.
“I know you are afraid, my sons and daughter. You must listen. You have a grand destiny. Due to the mysterious Z, you have been gifted powers beyond imagination. You stand amongst a select few from the past millennia who were lucky enough to be granted Ooris. But if you misuse it, your destiny is lost. Join me. Join me, and we will justify creation.”
Their legs turned to jelly. This was the moment of truth. Johnny glanced at the others, who were static. He gulped and weighed the options as Titan stared him down like a devil. But he remembered Jane’s vision. This was not the path. Find Sonovan Lung.
“You’re so right,” he started. Titan did not smile but kept the same face. The others turned to him while he nodded, as if saying it would turn out fine. “But we came for Rose and we must find a man named Sonovan Lung.”
Titan’s eyes widened and he raised his head slightly. “Ah, Sonovan Lung. Sonovan Lung.” He shook his head in remorse. “Then, as I said, your destiny is lost.” Now he spoke malevolently.
“There…is always a better way, Titan,” Johnny replied. “You are right on so many things. But I will not…accept.”
“Neither will I,” Ryan added.
“Me neither,” Dustin and Sam finally complemented.
“Forget it,” Jane said.
Solis stood behind them, watching the scene.
“Ah, where have I heard that before?” Titan scoffed. “Are you calling yourselves heroes? Please, do not. Heroes die. Many have fal en by my blade. I only helped their respective worlds. Why must
they be so arrogant and rebellious?”
“They were the only ones who knew your true nature,” Ryan said. “Now don’t make me ask again. Where is Rose?”
“I know you want to fight me now, but I stil want to see your reaction. Justice!”
The elevator opened and a masked person stepped out into the room. Ryan recognized the Oracle suit at once, with its dark red hues. “Rose!” he shouted in joy. He ecstatical y ran to her. Justice unhooked her helmet, revealing her face. Her striking red hair draped to her shoulders.
“Ryan Slade. This is a pleasure,” she greeted in a tone absent of emotion. Ryan’s joy regrettably snuffed itself out. His smile faded, as did the others’.
Ryan was pissed. Provoked, he shifted and glared at Titan. “What have you done to her?” The others looked back at him as well.
He turned his face toward Rose, gesturing with his hand. “The perfect weapon. She will truly bring justice to many worlds. Her destiny is now fulfilled, as yours would have been. Like her species, she is now mine.”
“Not for long.” Ryan strode to his massive chair and squeezed. The metal left the chair and instead served Ryan as he absorbed its molecular composition. The man grew and expanded, his body full of the metal. Solis watched, enthralled.
“Impressive ability, Slade. Justice, engage.”
Justice flipped the helmet back on her head. Ryan turned to see her shift to an attack stance. “Oh shit.”
She flung herself at him, eyes blazing. But Johnny ran and intercepted the hit, parrying the attack, sending her back. Now Solis stepped in, taking out his weapon—an abnormal y large scythe. Titan merely moved backward to the window, set to engross himself in the scene.
“Thanks man,” Ryan blurted. At that moment, Solis swept his reaper under Ryan, knocking him off his feet. He then pounced on him, metal clanking on the floor like hammers. But Ryan was now prepared. Ryan rolled back, stood up, and launched a huge punch at him. It sent Solis across the room and onto the floor.
“Yeah, don’t try that again buddy.”
Rose was up again. She attacked Dustin, punching and kicking. He blocked most of the attacks, but she had gotten a kick through his defense at the end. He buckled and
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