Zyphera had anticipated the blow and adjusted her trajectory. Using the force of the collision and ignoring all pain, she lashed out, wrapping her legs around Mathias upper body. Bending backwards her right hand connected with the side of his knee and with the gravity pulling her to the ground she was once again able to bring his massive form to the floor. She quickly recovered using a handspring to gain distance for the next attack.
“Impressive!” Mathias complimented.
“My combat training always came first, everything else filled what little time I had left,” Zyphera explained still not taking her eyes of Mathias’ hulking form.
“So sleeping wasn’t an option I take it?”
Zyphera laughed, “Hardly! What about you? You’re the only one whose life is not an open book?” she stated, curiosity danced in her eyes. “Even your home world is shrouded by secrecy.”
“How boring would life be if you knew every thing?” He replied giving her a sly smile.
“I don’t know, you tell me,” She said raising an eyebrow.
“Well, perhaps one day you will know every thing too,” Mathias’ tone signaled the end of the discussion.
One floor down in the atrium, Miss Mirdy settled onto a plush chaise with her favorite novel. She’d read it so many times many of its words were faded.
“There is nothing better than relaxing with a good book and a spot of tea,” She said propping up her feet.
It was the one good thing she felt had come from being stationed in the village. She had discovered an assortment of talented writers. Authors from her home could never boast such suspenseful and intriguing novels. Their preference was more towards writing Autobiographies. Granted a Seekers life could be sometimes filled with excitement and adventure. But they were born a naturally cautious people, meant to be in the shadows gathering information about this event and that. They possessed a knack for locating whatever was asked of them, but they did this in relative safety. Only a handful of seekers dared to venture on the wild side.
She was one of them. Her soul soared high when faced with fear and challenged by death. When it was revealed she was fated to be in the Sentry, her heart beat wildly. Her duty commenced immediately. She was shipped out to a god awful town in a strange world. She left everything behind with the scent of adventure hot in her nose. As years passed without incident, she saw her life fading away. Bitterness became her company.
A heavy sigh escaped her lips. “No sense dwelling on the past,” She chided herself. “Living in the past has gotten you no where,” She muttered, diving into a tale filled with thrilling adventures, daring escapes and hopeless romance.
There were no thrilling adventures or daring escapes present in Leath’s dreams. His sleep usually acted out his biggest fears in many different and colorful ways. With a sudden snort he awoke.
“Eeeww, yuck,” He mumbled as he wiped the slobber from his face and the counter. “Well you know what they say, the more drool the better the sleep.”
Through a small window that peered into the atrium, Leath could see that Miss Mirdy had once again fallen asleep reading.
“That old coot sleeps more than a cat,” He chuckled to himself, slightly envious.
“Yes and she doesn’t even find a sunbeam to curl up in,” The Professor added as he walked through the garden door. “I trust you are feeling better?”
“I only need about another 60 or so hours before I am caught up,” Leath replied bitterly.
“Well don’t let the others get you down,” The professor said patting him on the back “They have a hard time not knowing everything,” He said with a wink. “I must be honest with you,” The professor said looking Leath in the eye. “I don't fully understand your destiny here. While the others were gifted from birth with abilities that outshined many others from their planet,” he hesitated for a moment “don’t take this personally, but you are just very normal. Even the other humans chosen for Sentry’s past have demonstrated some sort of ability.”
“Normal eh, I have never been accused of that before. This is why the others are not accepting me here. Are they worried I might hinder them in some way?” He asked trying to mask the sadness in his voice.
“It doesn’t matter what they think. I believe your greatness will be revealed in time. The potential is in you. You just need to believe in yourself.”
“Potential,” he scoffed, “My family would get a kick out of that.”
The Professor patted him on the back. “I have a feeling your potential is going to truly amaze.”
Leath watched as the Professor disappeared into the hallway.
“My potential will truly amaze,” Leath mimiced shaking his head. Some would say he had it all, but potential was never on their list. The son of old money who’s every whim was handed to him on a silver platter was all he was. School was a breeze. It was considered rude to fail one of his statures. He spent a year in Harvard simply because the school received a sizeable donation from his family. Right now, hiding under a tarp in the underground parking of his penthouse sat a 2010 Lotus Exige S260 in liquid blue, with a pure white 848 Ducati superbike keeping it company.
“Mere pennies,” His father would scoff.
Leath took a job at the phone company just to say he had worked in his lifetime. His legacy was someone else’s, handed down to him generation after generation. Having everything left him feeling empty. His friends were his friends for the simple fact that you didn’t mingle with the lower class. His life was a constant whir of….nothing, never ending days of pointless busy nothing. He was encouraged to be nothing more than a showcase of the family’s fortune.
He sat there digesting the Professors last words. “Perhaps that is why you’re here. To prove that you are more than just…….oh who are you trying to convince,” He said shaking his head as he placed his coffee cup in the sink. “You have no idea what it is like to try and survive in the real world,” He mumbled looking out into the garden.
“Are you talking to yourself?”
Leath whirled around. “I…uh...I didn’t hear you come in,” he stuttered feeling his face burn with embarrassment. “You and Mathias done already?” he asked trying to change the subject. Since the Sentry had moved in Zyphera and Mathias made a habit of sparing every Thursday morning.
Zyphera shook her head. “No, just needing to rehydrate,” She said shaking her empty water bottle.
“I see,” Leath nodded his head.
“Well are you going to move?” Zyphera asked “You’re blocking the sink.”
“Right, sorry.” Leath mumbled feeling his cheeks burn deeper as he stepped to the side “I am uh just going to go,” He said awkwardly.
Zyphera just smiled.
“You are such a moron Leath,” He muttered as he promptly exited the kitchen. “Why can’t you ever say anything intelligent, or even just say hello.”
“You know talking to yourself is proven to help alleviate stress and aid in problem solving,” Mathias said as he meandered down the stairs.
Leath rolled his eyes. “I thought you two were still practicing?”
"We are…” Mathias began before Leath interrupted him.
“Let me guess, water break,” His voice riddled with sarcasm.
“Actually I am starving. I was thinking more along the lines of lunch,” Mathias answered with grin.
“Care to join me?” He asked.
“What, is it really……….lunch it is,” Leath replied as he looked at his watch.
At that moment Zyphera appeared from the kitchen. “Lunch?” she said giving Mathias a knowing look.
“However did you know?” He asked mockingly.
“Your stomach sounds like a 747 is flying into the house,” Zyphera replied.
“Stop exaggerating,” Mathias demanded with a laugh.
“I am not,” Zyphera said with a serious look on her face.
“Whatever, lets go eat.” Mathias chuckled as he headed into the kitchen.
“You�
��re not going to fall asleep in your food are you?” Zyphera teased as she and Leath pushed through the door behind Mathias.
“Ha Ha Ha Ha, very funny,” Leath replied shooting her a nasty look.
“Well you looked kind of cute with that little bit of drool hanging out of your mouth,” Zyphera insisted, barely suppressing her laughter.
Leath continued to glare at her. “I think I am going to pass on lunch,” He said turning to leave.
“Oh come on. I am just bugging you,” Zyphera called out.
“Yes, I realize that,” Leath shot back.
“You are so touchy.” Zyphera shouted as Leath stomped out of the kitchen.
“Give the guy a break eh,” Mathias said as the door swung shut hitting the frame with a deafening crack.
“What,” Zyphera replied shrugging her shoulders innocently.
Mathias shook his head. “You two are like a bunch of third graders.”
“I dont know what that means?” Zyphera asked her eyebrows puckered in confusion.
“Nothing” he replied with a mischievous grin. “Eat your lunch before your blood sugar drops.”
Zyphera glowered at Mathias as she picked up the sandwich he made. “How long do we have to be cooped up in this house?” She grumbled.
“I think the fine print in your contract says till death,” Mathias said gleefully.
“Great” Zyphera mumbled.
Can you hear me.....now?!
Professor Haynsworth‘s green wool slippers squeaked along the worn, cherry stained hardwood floors. He had been wandering the house for the last twenty minutes trying to locate Leath. He heard noise coming from the living room so he popped his head in only to find Miss Mirdy and Zyphera sprawled across the couches.
“Have you ladies seen Leath around,” He asked, diverting Zyphera and Mirdy’s attention from the TV program.
“Last I heard he was helping out Mrs. O with Thad,” Zyphera responded looking over her shoulder.
The Professor furrowed his brow. “Hmmmm, I was just in the nursery and I didn’t see either of them.”
Miss Mirdy’s laugh suddenly broke into his thoughts. “I think I know why you couldn’t find Mr. Durham. It appears He and Thad were out having a big adventure.”
Zyphera and The Professor peered out the window just in time to see Leath saunter by with Thad cuddled against his chest in the baby carrier.
Zyphera could hardly contain herself. Despite trying her hardest to completely ignore the human member of the Sentry, His dedication to Thad warmed her heart. “I have to admit, he looks pretty adorable,” bursting into a fit of laughter.
“Are you talking about Thad or Leath,” Mirdy asked, her eyes twinkling.
“Oh stop, will ya,” Zyphera insisted. But she couldn’t help the smile plastered across her face.
A moment later they heard the front door open as Leath entered the house. They could hear Thad cooing and gooing gleefully.
The Professor stuck his head out the doorway. “Hey Leath, do you mind joining us for a moment?”
“Sure thing Professor,” Leath replied happily. “What a beautiful day out there,” He annouced entering the living room. “The sun is warm, tadpoles and minnows are swimming in the calm pools of the stream, and we even saw a few baby birdies attempting their first flights, didn’t we Thad!”
Thad gooed and kicked as if he understood what Leath was talking about. Holding onto Thad’s fingers, Leath bobbed up and down and side to side as the two chattered indistinctly between each other. Zyphera, Mirdy and the Professor watched with curiosity in their eyes.
“Was there something you wanted to talk to me about,” Leath asked looking up at the three. “Is there something funny I should know about,” he inquired, taking in their grinning faces.
Zyphera and Mirdy just shook their heads as they continued to smile.
Leath scrunched his brows together, shifting his eyes from the girls to the Professor waiting for some response.
“Right, yes, I wanted to discuss you reconsidering your participation in the group,” The Professor stated wrapping an arm around the young man.
“Well I told you. I don’t want to be a hindrance to the others, so till that changes……..” He left his sentence hanging allowing the ladies a chance to step in with an approval.
The Professor glanced at Zyphera and Mirdy, hinting for them to say something. At this point he would take a simple nod of their heads as a sign of their approval.
With a big sigh Mirdy stepped forward. “I would really appreciate Leath being an official part of the Sentry and feel his mysterious quality could be a great asset.”
“I agree,” Zyphera added with exaggerated enthusiasm, hoping both her and Miss Mirdy’s doubts remained hidden.
Leath’s face softened “Really?! You guys actually think I could be a valuable asset to the team?”
“I don’t know are you going to cry,” Mirdy asked her face scrunching with concern.
“Well, that has been that nicest thing to happen since I’ve been here. It warms my heart,” he added sniffling.
“Okay I am out of here,” Mirdy stated heading for the door “I don’t want to see some grown man blubbering.”
“I am with you there,” Zyphera agreed, hurrying out behind the old woman. “Welcome to the gang,” she added giving Leath a playful slap on the shoulder as she exited the living room.
Still swaying back and forth with a protective hand wrapped around Thad’s back, Leath’s face glowed. “Did you see that? Zyphera touched my arm!”
The Professor shook his head. Reaching into his pocket he brought out the silver syringe full of the dark goo he had administered to the ladies. “Welcome to the Sentry Leath,” he exclaimed gently poking the needle into the love struck boy.
“Ow, what the heck was that,” Leath asked, flinching away.
“Oh just a little micro organism,” The Professor explained nonchalantly
“A micro whata?”
“It is nothing to worry about my dear boy! It’s just a little something to help us communicate with each other.” The Professor said wrapping a reassuring arm around Leath’s shoulders “It is perfectly harmless,” He insisted. “Now how about joining me for an afternoon snack?”
Leath looked suspiciously at the old man, his hands instinctively wrapping tighter around Thad. “I suppose we could. Thad is starting to get a little fussy and hungry anyways.”
“Wonderful! I have been craving a delicious, warm, avocado and tuna melt.”
“Mmmmmm that does sound good,” Leath agreed, “washed down with a cool glass of milk.”
“Terrific! To the kitchen,” The Professor exclaimed clapping his hands together as he marched forward. “You know the secret to a scrumptious tuna melt, is honey and pickled pepperoncinies!”
Leath looked down at Thad, “That man is definitely into his tuna sandwiches.” He followed the old Professor up the hall and across to the kitchen, for the moment forgetting about the organism now circulating through his body.
Several days passed and Leath’s concern about The Professor randomly poking him with a syringe of tiny organisms no longer bothered him. He never morphed into some pointy eared elf or scary hairy beast so it was all good in his mind. Besides, he had other things more important to worry about. Poor little Thad had been struggling with a bad cold, that was running the risk of turning into a pesky chest infection. He and Mrs. Osbourne had been monitoring the little tike’s condition and treating him with a variety of homemade remedies. He discovered,that Mrs. O. was well versed on the medicinal properties of almost every botanical grown on the property. She had turned one of the old stone out buildings into a small lab were she concocted her antidotes. She’d reassured Leath about the shot he was administered and promised the Professor would explain its purpose.
It turned out she was right. That evening Professor Haynsworth called the Sentry members into his study for a meeting.
“Good evening! Tonight is a very exciting a
nd important step in becoming a cohesive Sentry,” He explained with great enthusiasm “Tonight, Mathias and I will show you how to use our PIG COMM!”
“Our PIG COMM,” Leath asked wondering if he’d heard right.
“It’s your Personal Intergalactic Communicator,” Mathias said with a chuckle.
“I take it this has to do with that lovely shot of goo you gave me,” Leath guessed.
Sentry Rising Page 6