Overlord Brawl: Book 1 of the Neon Octopus Ally Series

by L. A. Johnson

  Trisha didn't like where this was going at all. Brad never, ever wanted to be proved wrong. Not once since she'd known him. It took a lot to spook him, and if he was spooked, then there was trouble. "What are you going to do?"

  "I'm going to go to Vega myself. I've got to get a handle on what's going on there."

  "Vega?" Trisha asked. She laughed. Maybe things weren't as bad as she thought. "Brad, I know you've been stressed lately. If you needed a vacation, all you had to do was say so."

  Brad's expression never changed from the deep furrowed brow face. Trisha had only noticed that face a week ago, and now it was nearly his default facial expression. It was starting to worry her. Why hadn't the Vega vacation idea lightened his mood?

  "The invasion activity seems to be aimed in the Vega area," Brad said.

  It was Trisha's turn to frown. "Who invades a galaxy by attacking their casinos instead of the Capital?" To be honest, she really didn't believe there was going to be an invasion in the first place. Not until she saw the look on Brad's face after announcing he was going to Vega. Vega simply didn't have that effect on people. A chill ran down her spine.

  "I know," Brad answered, "everything about this invasion thing is weird. And the hard evidence that keeps accumulating has me very concerned. I don't have a choice."

  "You want me to come with you?" Trisha asked. "It could be dangerous."

  Brad shook his head. "You have to get to the bottom of the Fleek situation for Kirian. And do some digging about a name that keeps coming up in my research, H.G.R.Z. Let me know what you find out."

  "Okay," Trisha said. "Hey, Brad. Be careful, ok?"

  "You too."

  24

  Trisha was worried when she breezed into the doors of the Arcturis Galactic Library. "How's it going, Gwen?" She waved to the librarian, who let loose with a wave of expletives. Within sixty seconds, security was swarming all over her.

  Gwen came face to face with Trisha. Security surrounded them both and waited for Gwen to give them orders.

  Trisha stared Gwen down. Or up, as the case may be, since she was quite a bit taller. "What's it going to be, Gwen? Do I need to get another un-restraining order? The court order specifically states that since I'm a member of the press, you cannot restrain or impede me in my duties in any way."

  "What about slapping you in the direction of the library you're already headed to?" Gwen asked.

  The security guards chuckled.

  "What did I ever do to you?" Trisha asked.

  "Shoot her," Gwen said in response.

  The guards pulled their weapons and pointed them at her. Wow, Gwen's in an even worse mood than usual. I wonder what else is going on around here? Trisha really wanted to get on with her research, so she was going to have to skip ahead to the part of the argument where she kissed up to Gwen in order to get her to go back to her desk. "Um, Gwen, sweetie. Are you okay? We give each other a hard time. I get that. But since the court order, things have been better. Better meaning you hadn't asked your guards to shoot me in the last few months. Why the unnecessary escalation?"

  Gwen took a step back. "Pickles," she said.

  "Come again?" Trisha asked.

  "Jalapeno Jack Burger forgot that I asked for no pickles. Again."

  "Again?" Trisha asked. "What's wrong with them? Don't they know that they have to get it right or you have to leave the library? And you hate to leave the library."

  "Thank you!" Gwen said.

  Gwen's species was known for homicidal tendencies when they didn't get the requisite number of calories. And Gwen was ornery enough without being hangry. There was only one way she was going to be able to research in peace.

  She grabbed one of the guards. "You. Get her the burger. No pickles. Triple check it before you leave." Trisha gave the guard twice as much money as he needed. Trisha pointed at another guard. "You go with him and make sure they give her extra fries. She's the Galactic Librarian, damn it. Get her some food."

  The guards looked at Gwen, who nodded, and then went on their way. The other guards put their weapons away and went back to their posts.

  Gwen and Trisha stared at each other for a moment.

  "That's what they're for?" Gwen asked.

  "That's what they're for," Trisha said as she made her way back to the most sensitive area of the galactic library. Hopefully, she had just earned at least a few hours of goodwill.

  The Galactic Library was a very expensively decorated place. At least the main floor was. There were vaulted, carved ceilings, plush carpeting, adorable reading tables and comfy chairs everywhere. The main floor of the Galactic Library was, in fact, one of the most peaceful places in Arcturis. Of course, the documents that Trisha was looking for were never on the main floor of the library.

  The documents that Trisha was looking for were two flights down, past a flooded-out basement, and down a hallway with a light that always flickered and threatened to go out in a door marked condemned.

  It was funny, in a way, Trisha thought. She knew that the whole setup was designed to keep reporters out. And it worked. The other reporters stayed on the cushy main level and refused to descend into the eighth circle of hell, as Trisha and Brad liked to call it. But all the really good information was down there. Of course, the people who had gone through all of the trouble to hide the files down there weren't going to make life easy by organizing them. The trick of it all was finding the needles in the haystack. The other trick was braving the haystack.

  "Ah," Trisha said, concentrating as she approached the flooded hallway that was lit like a horror movie. "Turn back," she said in a spooky voice. She laughed. Despite the scary walk, the only bad thing that had ever happened to her down here was a security guard sneaking up on her one time while she was searching for files and scaring the heebie jeebies out of her. He's lucky she hadn't had a weapon on her. There. Condemned room.

  She opened the creaky door and let herself in, turning on the light. The light inside the room didn't flicker like the light in the hall, thankfully. She pulled out her notebook. Okay, look for a record of any Banishment Orders and anything about a company or organization called H.G.R.Z.

  She dug into the paperwork. When she finally spotted the first document of interest, she looked at her watch. An hour had passed. Her stomach rumbled thinking of the burger she had the guards buy for Gwen.

  The document had H.G.R.Z. in the title, something about the Galactic Oversight Board. Huh, thought Trisha, that board was just dissolved. She checked the date. The document was from years ago. She hauled the box she found the paper in onto the desk. Usually interesting documents hung out together.

  Weird. The document was about a Board notice to undo the ban on Fractals. The scathing note from H.G.R.Z. to the board said that if the Fractal ban were lifted, then not only would no further funding be sent, they would demand all previous donations to be refunded. The amount of the donations subject to refund amounted to 932.372.865.039.152.473.213 Galactic Credits.

  Trisha looked at the string of numbers. She frowned. That can't be right. That amount can't even be real. Who in their right mind cares about Fractals so much that they're willing to throw around and then take back that amount of money? And what other concessions had these people gotten from that corrupt Galactic Oversight Board? She didn't care much about Fractals, since she didn't partake herself, but she was beginning to suspect that the company in question was controlling much more important issues as well. Maybe even banishments.

  She dived into the box looking for more documents and again lost track of time. When she finally came up for air, she had an entire stack to look over. She rifled through the pages faster and faster. When she finished, her heart was racing. She ran her fingers through her hair. She grabbed the stack of papers tightly and looked around to make sure nobody was watching even though she knew she was alone.

  She texted Brad: Get out of Vega now! She waited for a response. She waited some more. She looked at her watch. It was three forty-five in the
morning. No wonder he wasn't answering. She took a few deep breaths. Then she hid the box she found the documents in behind the other stacks in the back of the room. She took photos of the original documents in her hand and emailed them to the secure drive at the office. Then she took the papers themselves with her for safe keeping.

  She wasn't at all sure what she was going to do with the papers. What she needed was to think.

  She made her way back up the stairs and out of the Library, past the snoring Gwen.

  25

  Floyd looked at his watch. It was almost time for the announcement ceremony. He got up and went out to touch base with his receptionist, Rachel.

  "How fun was that?" Rachel asked, lighting up when she saw him. "Kirian, Destroyer of Planets. Right here, in our building. In your office."

  "Yes," Floyd replied. "It was very exciting."

  "You guys must be old friends, she wanted to surprise you. You've been holding out on me, Floyd, what other secrets are you hiding? I mean, since when are you this interesting?"

  "You have no idea," he answered wryly. "Hey, if she does come back, please give me a heads up, okay? She's great, but she's a handful."

  "Ok," she answered. "Do you really think we'll see her again?"

  "Oh, I'd count on it," Floyd said and made his way out of the building.

  Once outside, he found himself in the giant, square courtyard surrounded by tall electronic billboards. His office building just happened to be one of the Capital Square buildings. This was considered the center of Arcturis where all important events and meetings took place. He blinked into the light of the sun and glanced at the crowd of people. Then the reporters spotted him. They were led by the Diamond Girl reporter from that rock concert.

  "There he is!" Diamond Girl shouted before elbowing all the other reporters out of the way and shoving a microphone in his face. "Floyd, you've officially filed paperwork to be an Overlord candidate. What chance do you really think you have against the Neon Octopus?"

  Better than you think, Floyd thought. He blinked and thought about it for a second. He was Mantix and they didn't know it. So they actually thought that he was the underdog. Which might work in his favor for now. "Well, you're right. It's very much a David and Goliath type of situation here. I'm obviously putting my body and life on the line to stand up for the people of Arcturis against Soda and the other candidates."

  All the reporters nearby murmured approvingly. He had them going.

  "That's right, I'm a therapist. A man of science. And I will use science and reason instead of brute force. Tentacles are so last season, if you get my drift. A new day is dawning in this galaxy."

  Diamond Girl pressed on with her question. "How do you plan to protect yourself in an Overlord battle with no rules?"

  Floyd opened his mouth to answer but was cut off by a roar of the crowd. The reporters turned to see what the commotion was. A smiling weirdo in a costume and robes was on the big screen holding his arms open and welcoming the crowd.

  "The Oracle! He's here!" The reporters ran off into the scrum.

  Floyd could only stand there with his mouth open. Him? With his goofy robe and hat? Who is he, anyway? He looked familiar somehow. Then another figure popped up on a nearby billboard. Floyd squinted to read the name, because it looked like a typo. "Who the hell is Froggy?" He could only shake his head. This galaxy was getting weirder and weirder. At least with the reporters and the crowd gone for the moment it would be easier for him to make his way to the stage.

  26

  Ray mugged for the crowds in his best robe and hat, the one he used to film the infomercials. This day was special. It wasn't mandatory for the Overlord candidates to be here for the announcement ceremony, but he wouldn't have missed it for the world. He stood at the top of one of the buildings in the square, looking over the crowd, which was even much more impressive in person than on television.

  According to the paperwork, no physical violence was to take place until after the announcement. Just in case, though, he had lots of weapons stashed under his robe. So far, there were only the four candidates: himself, Soda, Floyd a.k.a. Mantix even though the yokel press here hadn't figured it out yet, and some new guy, Froggy.

  Ray's first effort to wrest control of this galaxy ended with Soda stealing the position out from under him. He wasn't about to let the same thing happen again. The big thing that was bothering him right now, though, was that all his Oracle calculations had been irritatingly vague about the possible outcomes. Much more so than any scenario he had run since he got here. Something was up. He could feel it, and his fortune telling dice could feel it. He hadn't figured out exactly what it was yet, but he was a little busy right now. And as long as whatever it was didn't get in the way of him becoming Overlord, he didn't care.

  He continued to smile and wave for the cameras. He knocked his smile up several notches when Diamond Girl approached him. He was ready for her.

  "Master Oracle," she said, shoving the microphone in his face. "You are currently running as the people's choice favorite. The order is, in fact, you, followed closely by the Neon Octopus, the newcomer Froggy, and then Floyd."

  The crowd quieted down a little to hear the conversation, which was being broadcast on the loud speakers and on one of the giant billboards.

  "Oof," Ray said. "What's with all of the Floyd hate?"

  "The people like to back a winner. They just don't believe that Floyd has the type of firepower needed to stay in the race. Speaking of which, how do you plan to withstand the attacks of the powerful Neon Octopus? Or even Froggy? It's Froggy's sneak attack on Soda downtown just a few hours ago that has moved him further up in the polls."

  "Wasn't that an illegal maneuver?" Ray asked. "The candidates hadn't even been announced yet."

  "True," Diamond Girl answered. "But with her being the frontrunner, she's seen as a political insider who deserves what she gets. Plus, the timeline isn't as important anymore with all of the rules getting thrown out the window for the remainder of the contest."

  "Okay," Ray shrugged. "Well, you asked me how I was going to defend myself. What I think you're really asking is how can I attack. How can I win this thing? Am I right, people?"

  The crowd roared in unison, a deafening sound.

  Ray let the noise die down a little. "Well, first of all, my weapon is the future. I have made a very good living proving to you people that I know what's coming, and that's a real source of power. I have the future, and I am the future." He turned to Diamond Girl. "And I see a little surprise for you in your future."

  Diamond Girl beamed at him. "Do you mean Raymond's going to finally pop the question?"

  "No," Ray replied, "I don't see anything like that on the horizon. But I do happen to know that Fasha there is gunning for your job. You'll get the demotion email in thirty seconds." He leaned in to her. "Just between you and me, Fasha's banging the News Station Director's daughter on the down low. My Oracle dice say that will be more than enough to keep him from being successful in his bid to get rid of you. Plus, he has an awful case of athlete's foot."

  Diamond Girl literally gasped. The crowd roared. Ray smiled and waved some more. He would never tire of this much attention. Diamond Girl pulled out her phone and checked her email. Then she cursed on the air, which Ray already knew was going to happen. She'd get a slap on the wrist and a small fine, but between the stratospheric ratings and Fasha's infidelity, she'd have this job for at least the duration of the Overlord competition now. And he got to show off. And she'd owe him one. All in all, a good day's work. And he didn't even have to use the weapons under his robe. He'd just tuck those away for a rainy day. Now it was time to make his way down to the ceremony.

  27

  "Welcome, everyone, to the Overlord Competition!" Diamond Girl shouted into the microphone from the main stage. Her voice carried to the furthest corners of the crowded square. The crowd quieted down to hear.

  She's loving every minute of it, Soda thought of the barely clad,
super-aggressive entertainment turned political reporter.

  "I'm here to announce the candidates that will be battling right in here in Arcturis for the right to be Overlord. First, who could forget the Neon Octopus ex-Overlord? Give it up for Soda, everybody!" She let the crowd roar and cheer and boo for a few moments. Then she indicated for Soda to step forward.

  Soda waved and held up three tentacles in her newfound and popular hand signal for victory. Then she stepped back.

  "Okay, okay," Diamond Girl said, settling the crowd back down. "Up next we have, um, Ray- the Master Oracle from the infomercials. He's very magical. And a snappy dresser."

  The crowd cheered again.

  Soda pouted. Snappy dresser? What is she talking about? What in stars name does that have to do with anything? All I got was, you remember the Neon Octopus?

  "Ok, people, next we have Froggy. Froggy is an interstellar digital badass who's new to the competition, but he knows how to make an entrance!"

  Diamond Girl looked around. "Who am I missing?"

  Soda pointed a tentacle at Floyd.

  "Oh yeah, last and least, we have Floyd. A therapist who works right here in Arcturis Square. In that building right over there." She pointed at the building where Floyd worked. There wasn't much of a crowd response this time, so she continued. "The candidates have been announced. The battle is now officially underway, and the rules are nonexistent."

  A thousand phones and cameras clicked away at the faces gathered together at the beginning of the biggest political battle Arcturis had ever seen.

  "Okay," Diamond Girl said to the candidates on stage. "You guys should probably each make a very brief statement for the news. The ballsier the better. Keep in mind that what you say could very well have an impact on your power rankings later tonight when I adjust them."