TerraFlame (The New Journey Book 1)

by Alexis González

  “You can’t knock a door be gentle and ring the bell and the bell only works on me” Linex informed him.

  “What the heck is wrong with you?” Joe asked, still confounded.

  “It’s nothing really” Linex proceeded to push the doorbell button and Lysie’s servant opened the door.

  “Hello there, May I help you young men?” the butler asked.

  “We came to see Lysie” Linex and Joe chorused together.

  “Oh my, well Lysie is in a family dinner right now and if you want to enter you must enter dressed formally” the butler informed them.

  They agreed, headed back home and were soon dressed up in suits.

  “Guess this will work” Joe reasoned looking at himself.

  “Yeah and this is a little big for me, but anyways I need it” Linex noted.

  “Well you both are back and elegant!” the butler exclaimed. They both smiled evenly at this, he was finally going to let them in.

  “BUT…!” the butler proclaimed, making due emphasis on that word. “You must be a family member”

  “Oh, for the Lord” Linex threw up his hands in frustration.

  “After you made me go back home dress up and this is what you tell me!” Joe growled his face rather red with anger.

  “Calm down Joe” Linex said

  “Gordon! What is happening over there?” Lysie’s voice floated through the hall, she had been curious as to why the butler was at the front door.

  “My lady, these young men came to look for you” the butler said motioning to Linex and Joe.

  “Thank you Gordon. So, why you came in a time like this?” Lysie addressed her friends in almost a whisper.

  “Uh… we need you, Markson is making a plan and without you this cannot be done” Linex informed her.

  “What is it?”

  “I don’t know, he hasn’t told me”

  “Then I can’t go if it’s not urgent” Lysie replied.

  “Actually it is” Linex insisted.

  “I still can’t my family is here and it’s late too” she grumbled.

  “Please convince your parents to let you come with us” Linex urged, it was important that Lysie be part of the plans.

  “Lysie, what is going on over there?” her father asked, he was a tall man – clad in a waistcoat and had a pair of glasses that rested at the very bridge of his nose.

  “Nothing, Dad, just talking to my friends” she replied.

  “Hello, I am Dr. Jonathan. Pleasure to meet you young boys” Dr. Jonathan said amiably, extending his hand towards Linex.

  “Dad…” Lysie started feeling rather embarrassed.

  “Hello, my name is Linex and this is my best friend Joe. We came here because we need to bring Lysie to ahh…” Linex trailed off, looking at Lysie who was making some awkward gestures to him. “–Play basketball in an indoor court”

  “Yeah…! We need her because we are the greatest trio of basketball” Joe added.

  “Well right now, we have a family dinner but I’m not sure…” Dr. Jonathan started.

  “Please!” the boys chorused.

  “Do you want to go?” he addressed Lysie, looking at her cautiously.

  “Sure dad” Lysie replied.

  “Very well, but first one of you must defeat me in ping-pong” Dr. Jonathan grinned.

  “WHAT!” they all exclaimed.

  “We don’t have time but… it’s on” Linex agreed as they entered Lysie’s house to get things started to the challenge of ping-pong. Who would likely be a winner?

  CHAPTER 11

  A PING-PONG COMBAT

  After the conversation between Linex with Dr. Jonathan had ended, they decided to have a ping-pong challenge.

  Time was going fast and Markson was still making the plan in the laboratory, and at that same moment; Sensei Aiden was still imprisoned.

  “You seriously going to make us play ping-pong? Joe, do you know how to play?” Linex asked glancing at his friend.

  Joe nodded his head in affirmation. “Of course I do, who in the world can’t play ping-pong?”

  “I totally can feel the opposite of that sentence” Lysie rolled her eyes.

  “Oh yeah right, sure I know how to play, pretty easy I’ll show you”

  Joe gets the ping-pong racket and gets the ball and tosses it up. “Here I go!”. He declared, swiping his racket but actually missing the ball. It was rather embarrassing.

  “You actually don’t know how embarrassing, well at least I’m not the one with just brute strength only” Linex teased.

  “Oh shut up Linex” Joe muttered; his face was quite flushed. This made Linex chuckle really hard.

  Meanwhile, Dr. Jonathan had gotten his special racket and was looking quite prepared for the game. “Well I’m ready to begin the challenge. First of all, if one of you beat me three times, you can take Lysie to play basketball”

  “Alright and if you win, she will stay right?” Joe asked.

  “that’s correct” he winked at Joe.

  “You better be careful, or he will beat you horribly, he is an expert in this game” Lysie whispered to the boys as they planned together on how to take on her father.

  “It will be fine, I know how to play this game" Linex said, his fingers wrapped around his racket.

  “You sure? I hope so, because if you don’t then I will punch you for making fun of me” Joe arched up a brow.

  “Of course I do, I’m not going to tell lies like you do” Linex chuckled again.

  “Oh shut up and get this over with” Joe shot back.

  “Guys stop arguing, I will play too if you want to switch alright?” Lysie said picking up one of the rackets in the court.

  “Sure” the boys agreed and stood at right side of the net watching Dr. Jonathan.

  “We are ready”. They got their rackets and the challenge was about to start. Linex was the first to face Dr. Jonathan. Although, Linex was nervous and perspiring profusely, he was quite prepared anyway. Dr. Jonathan tossed the ball high and the slow motion started to get in, Linex calmed himself down and waited for the service. Dr. Jonathan hit the ball and Linex counter it.

  The game started, Lysie and Joe were very nervous watching the game and even though Linex was getting good plays, Dr. Jonathan was having the advantage.

  “You are really good, but I think it’s not enough to beat me” Dr. Jonathan complimented after the first round. Which he won soundly.

  “I’ll try my best” Linex insisted as they started off the next round.

  While they were playing, Markson was still in the laboratory planning and looking at some chemicals to make an experiment.

  He finally makes some headway and gets the final product which he injects into his body. It almost drove him crazy but the effect soon subsided.

  He sighed. “At least I can live longer. Computer where is the machine I’ve always wanted to use?”

  “It’s safe in a room, Doctor” an electronic voice replied.

  “Bring it” Markson instructed.

  “Understood, on the process” the computer affirmed. Slowly, the compact latch opened, and a machine came forth.

  “Hello baby” Markson whispered under his breath, his heart thudding loudly.

  “Doctor if you are leaving who can take charge of the creatures?” the computer asked.

  “Freeze them and keep them in a safe place” Markson said.

  “Processing” the computer confirmed freezing the alien creatures and keeping them safe.

  “Perfect” Markson grunted with delight.

  ***

  Far away from earth, in a place pervaded by gloom and darkness, with the bodies of unknown creatures and people piled up. Stood a dark figure clad in a cloak.

  “the order from the king must be accomplished so I have to kill them including the one I felt with rage in the nearest solar system… and the p
ain you all left in me will be returned”

  A streak of blue fire flared around this figure and he disappeared.

  ***

  Linex hit the ball back, the challenge was still on.

  Dr. Jonathan found an opening and smashed downwards. “Got you!” he was quite excited.

  “Dang it I’ve got careless!” Linex groaned at his loss.

  “Pfff… weak” Joe sniggered, earning him a glare from Linex.

  “It’s ok, you two always fight… can you just take a break please? Anyways, I think I can probably beat him since I see him play all the time” Lysie stepped forward.

  “So, it’s your turn huh, my princess? Let’s get ready” Dr. Jonathan smiled.

  “I going to beat you dad since I know your tricks” Lysie replied with defiance.

  “Not all of them” her father said still smiling.

  “Wait what?”

  “You think I will be a fool and play the same games you’ve seen so far?” her father furthered.

  “This is bad” Linex commented watching the exchange between father and daughter.

  “Yeah I can see that” Joe agreed.

  “Come on, I know I can do it" Lysie insisted. She steadied herself and waited for the service.

  Dr. Jonathan tossed the ball and struck it with all his might. The game started and Lysie returned the service accurately. She knew she had to stay focused.

  “What is this trick? Dad doesn’t play like this to anyone” wonder crept into her mind.

  “Is it that hard to beat me? Or is it that you’re just no challenge for me?” Dr. Jonathan gloated returning a backhand stroke.

  This only geared her up, and she continued returning each service accurately.

  “I guess this game is getting interesting” Dr. Jonathan noted.

  Linex was looking at the game and he got lost in the game studying it. “I can see what he is doing but I haven’t seen those tricks before, but I think I’m getting the hang of it”.

  Either by luck or chance, Lysie finally managed to win the first round. Then, after few minutes she wins the second round.

  “Wow, good going, just one more to go… but it’s not going to happen again” Dr. Jonathan said with a sudden note of seriousness in his voice.

  This round was even more intense than the last and Lysie was losing most of the serves.

  “Lysie go to your left while he is in his right I think I’ve now know his tricks” Linex yelled to her.

  Lysie got off guard and created an opening.

  “I’ve got you now, say game over!” Dr. Jonathan struck at the ball really hard that she couldn’t react in time.

  “What have you done Linex!” Lysie snapped at Linex angrily.

  “Way to go Linex” Joe added with a bit of sarcasm.

  “I’m so sorry Lysie, I’ve just warned you about the tricks” he apologized earnestly.

  “It’s your last opportunity” Dr. Jonathan said winking at Linex. “Well Linex, this is your last hope to go play basketball with her”

  “What do you need to beat him?” Urilion's voice rang through his head.

  “I need something more than just focusing, is there something you have to beat him?” Linex asked.

  “Yes, but it’s too early for you to use it, it’s the dragon reactor” Urilion informed him.

  “What does it actually do?”

  “It can help you react faster and have some power boost on your strength, speed and attacks… but I don’t recommend that since you don’t have enough control to your anger” the dragon warned.

  “Just this once, if something goes off Joe can help out” Linex replied.

  “Well that’s your decision but let’s do it” Urilion agreed releasing his powers, and dragon reactor mode was activated were Linex became a little malevolent because of the uncontrollable power. Although, this is a detail that no one notices at first.

  “I’m ready Mr. Linex” Dr. Jonathan announced.

  “Je, je, je. Go on” Linex said in a deep voice that startled both Joe and Lysie.

  Dr. Jonathan tossed the ball up and struck it, right after he got in his position Linex hit the ball really hard making him release a little of his flames from his arms, even though Dr. Jonathan didn’t see it, he's quite surprised about the speed at which he hit the ball.

  “Was that all you got?” Linex asked.

  The doctor was starting to panic, and it was time for Linex's serve. “Say goodbye to this game papá”

  Linex threw the ball up and struck it with brute force, releasing his aura around him and Dr. Jonathan got the last losing strike.

  Unable to control the dragon reactor for much longer, Linex shouted to Lysie.

  “Lysie take this and shoot me and your father!”

  “What no!” Lysie cried back.

  Joe soon realized that the gun was just like a taser his father used. He reached out and snatched the gun from Lysie and shot both Linex and Dr. Jonathan. They both crumpled to the floor, quite unconscious.

  “What have you done!” Lysie screamed at Joe hysterically.

  “They are fine, they are just unconscious for 5 minutes now quick take your father to his bed or the bathroom… whatever place and I’ll take Linex with me we will be waiting for you outside alright!” Joe instructed.

  “Ok then” Lysie agreed reluctantly.

  The game was over and Linex won, after the five minutes of unconsciousness Linex woke up.

  They were on the move, as far as he could tell, and Joe was carrying him.

  “What…” He muttered still caught up in the haze of sleep.

  “So, the sleepy head woke up” Joe commented.

  “I’m sorry I’ve went in a rampage Lysie” Linex mumbled feeling guilty.

  “It’s alright, as long as dad is fine I’m ok” she responded.

  “We have to keep going who knows if some of those smoke things comes out at this time” Joe advised.

  They all agreed and headed back to Markson's house.

  ***

  Sensei Aiden was taken out of his box for some questions and Commander Alderson makes a cut-throat gesture at him.

  “I hope these kids are alright… I have to make my escape soon” the old man grinned, he had a plan.

  CHAPTER 12

  A NEW TEAM

  By the time Linex, Joe and Lysie got to Markson’s house, it was already way past midnight. They proceeded to change their clothes and headed down to the laboratory.

  “I’m so tired and we have to be awake at this hour?” Lysie yawned, her eyes were already heavy, and she was feeling quite weary.

  “Of course, but dad needs us for something important” Joe soothed; they were standing in front of a hatch which opened with a clink, allowing them to enter.

  “Exactly, as long as we get things ready we will have everything back to normal” Linex also added hastily.

  “Oh well, and where is the hatch to enter the laboratory?” Lysie asked.

  Linex pointed at the hatch. “Over there”

  “Good” Lysie nodded in agreement. They approached the hatch slowly.

  “Just don’t enter before we get…” Linex trailed off.

  “This is cool!” Lysie announced getting into the hatch which opened with another clink and closed immediately she was in.

  “My God…” Linex grunted.

  “Just finished up, come on let’s get over there” Joe announced, fixing himself up. He glanced at Linex waiting for him eagerly.

  “I’m done!” Linex declared, after some minutes, they all slid down to the laboratory.

  “Linex you finally arrived” Markson announced cheerfully. He was still seated at the other side of the table.

  “Yes doctor, so do you have done the plan?” Linex asked.

  “Absolutely! Come over here” Markson replied showing the board with many details on how to save Sensei Aiden
. “With you two on our side we can be capable of saving him”.

  “Are you serious? You made me come all this way just to get the old man back?” Joe asked rather irritated.

  Linex grabbed Joe by the shirt very mad. “Listen Joe I may be your best friend, but he is my teacher. Second, he is more than just a teacher he was here to protect us all from monsters. Third, I need to know more about my power, so stay here and hear the plan”

  “Guys please stop; this is not how you should act” Lysie came in between them and pulled them apart from each other.

  Linex sighed and let Joe off.

  “Kids these days… well the plan might be risky but it’s the best I can get” Markson commented shaking his head.

  “Well… say it” they both chorused at the same time, this made them gawk at each other seeing that they had made same statement at the same time.

  “We need Joe to get on the top of the tallest building of the military, Lysie you will get inside the military in disguise” Markson explained.

  “How…?” Lysie chimed in, her eyes wide open with curiosity.

  “I have some clothes of the military scientist, it’s old but it’s very useful for you and I have to take a photo of you to make a license and do it exactly like the ones from this era and Linex…” Markson paused to regard him.

  “But wait… I’m just a kid how will they let me in?”. Lysie asked interrupting Markson.

  “Oh… I don’t know, perhaps you’re right… very well I will try to find people who can help us in our mission”

  “People like who?” Linex asked rather confused.

  “Just let me think this will ya!!” Markson got irritated and got back to Linex’s mission.

  “Linex…” Markson said looking at him.

  “Yeah…?” Linex looked up with enthusiasm.

  “You and I will be the brute forces; we will be waiting for the signal through Lysie while we are in the skies…” Markson added.

  “You mean we will be getting a helicopter?”

  “Not actually a helicopter, but it flies” Markson replied pointing to the war machine that he had been working on.

  “It’s big” Linex gasped looking at the combat machine in awe.

  “I know, and it has guns in his hands, flamethrowers and programmed to have combat skills. Nevertheless, Lysie I have a costume for you since you don’t have any powers like me” Markson said addressing Lysie.