Space Dragon Allepexxis

by C. K. Pershing

  As this was happening, Paress became aware of the Companion running toward him, but knew Casten would stop her. And he did, shooting past Paress and then suddenly going into a slide across the ground, feet first into the knee caps of his opposite. With a howl, the Companion’s knees bent backwards and shattered as Casten rolled to the side and got on her back, trying to subdue her.

  As the Driinen choked, Paress said, “I don’t want you to even look at me or my Companion again. We don’t have time for this. I’m a Space Knight. I already have a Machine. I’m the pilot of #25! So stay out of our way or you’re dead.”

  He used his mind and started to twist the Driinen’s neck. She resisted him, perhaps a fear for her life gave her some extra strength, but it was ultimately futile because Paress easily overcame her attempt and could feel the vertebrae in the neck start to quiver. It was very satisfying.

  “O…kay…” the Driinen gasped. “Okay.”

  “Alright,” Paress said, releasing the Driinen. She dropped to the ground with a thud.

  “Shanyn,” the Companion, still struggling with Casten said.

  Casten, seeing Paress done with his fight, apparently knew he needed to finish his, so he quickly rammed the Companion’s head into the ground five times before putting putting his hands around her face. He pushed his thumbs up against the Companion’s eyes sockets.

  “Stop! Stop moving or your eyes are gone and then I’ll rip your head off,” Casten said in a low voice. “I saw your Creator marks— you should’ve paid attention to mine. You’re an Insev design. Well, I’m a Machten, so you’d better think about that.”

  The Companion immediately stopped moving. “Okay. I’m sorry. I didn’t know,” she said quickly, all sense of bravado gone.

  Casten stood up and dusted himself off, no longer paying attention to the Companion laying face down on the ground behind him. As if she was suddenly not worth his notice. “An Insev,” he laughed while shaking his head. “What an idiot.” After surveying the three prone bodies around them, Casten said, “So are we done?”

  “Not yet,” Paress said. He walked over to the first Driinen, laying unconscious, face down in the dirt. He pulled his attacker up and flipped her over before slapping the bruised and bloodied face. “Wake up.” After a few more slaps, the Driinen gasped, and her eyes opened wide in shock. Paress quickly pinned her down just before a hand was able to shoot out at him.

  He could feel a stronger shield than the other girl’s building up to crash into him. “Stop,” he said. When she didn’t obey, he matched the force she was sending out back at her, and when her ribs felt as if they would crack, she finally relented.

  “Are you done?” Paress asked. “C’mon already!”

  To Paress’s surprise, despite everything that happened, the Driinen was defiant— despite having a broken jaw and a ruined mouth, she spat out, “Fuck you! Some little kid coming here all high and mighty. You little shit. Fuck. Y—“

  In a flare of anger that surprised even Paress, his mind lashed out and he ripped the tongue out of the Driinen’s mouth. She screamed and for a moment Paress was really scared. Not because of the violence. Driinens were extremely tough and had amazing regenerative abilities. One with the Blessing was probably almost unkillable. If her tongue was reattached in the next couple days, it would heal perfectly— or maybe she’d just plain grow a new one. Either way, this is why he couldn’t fool around with such an opponent.

  He was scared because for the first time he’d lost control of his power. In a moment of burning anger, he’d lost it. Considering all that happened with #25— No, something told him, his name is Allepexxis— and how he was able to control his abilities in such incredibly subtle ways… to lose it over something so relatively petty as a would-be bully yelling at him… it worried him.

  “Paress?” Casten asked.

  “Right,” Paress said, refocusing on the matter at hand. The screams had died down and although the Driinen made a show of trying to glare at him, he could tell that now she finally wasn’t so sure of herself. But just in case, he reached out with his mind and wiggled one of her teeth that remained near the hole of one of the ones he kicked out earlier.

  “You’d better leave us alone,” Paress said as he slowly started to pull the tooth out. “Like I told your sister, I’m the pilot of Allepexxis! I can tell you’ve never even seen him or you wouldn’t call him an old piece of junk. You’d be scared.” He was surprised at just how quickly he’d taken to thinking of Allepexxis as his Machine and wouldn’t allow any insults. Probably because of everything I went through to become the pilot.

  “I’m not here to screw around with bullies and other dumb stuff. You wanna pick on other kids or whatever, fine. But we’ve got more important things to do. So leave us alone or die.” He suddenly pulled the tooth out and finally, finally, the Driinen relented after her screams of pain.

  She closed her eyes and nodded with a soft whimper. She opened them again and stared at him. He met her eyes and finally she nodded again, more earnestly.

  “Okay,” Paress said and he let her go. “If you ever get a Hyper Battle Machine and you wanna try me, go for it. A Space Knight duel. But you’ll lose. Until then, we’re done.” He turned to Casten, “Alright.”

  As they walked out from the copse of trees and back into the open night, Paress said, “Can they see us?”

  Casten looked back. “Nah, I don’t think so.”

  “Good,” Paress said and he doubled over, clenching his stomach.

  “What’s wrong?” Casten said.

  “That whole damn thing!” Paress said. “Why do people do this? We’re barely here and we’re already fighting some bullies! Thank God that first one finally gave up, because she was starting to scare me. I didn’t know how much longer I could keep going… Damn Driinen, they never know when to stop. It also didn’t help that I’m full of junk food and just had a sandwich.”

  “Yeah, but you yourself said it,” Casten said. “Saving the liner while wearing a suppressor. And starting up Allepexxis. That was way harder than dealing with those jerks, right?”

  “Kind of,” Paress said. “Except with the liner, I could let my power run free. It was life and death. And with Allepexxis, I did something that I knew felt right. With this, I had to stay in control to keep from killing them. And I gotta tell ya, that was getting hard to do!”

  Casten patted Paress’ back. “It’s alright, though. You didn’t kill anybody. Don’t worry.”

  “It’s just that, the more I think of it, that thing with tearing out her tongue…?”

  “Yeah, wow, that was hardcore!”

  “Yeah, well, I feel like maybe if it would have gone on more, I would’ve pulled her whole damn brain out of her mouth instead of just the tongue.”

  “Ew! Yikes.”

  “Well, yeah! So that would’ve been bad.”

  “Well if you’re so afraid of killing people why’d you keep threatening to do it?” Casten looked confused and Paress was surprised by that.

  “Are you kidding? I don’t know, it was just something to say at the moment. People say it all the time. You know.”

  “Hmm,” Casten considered. “I thought maybe you knew something. You kept talking about being Allepexxis’ pilot…”

  “It just made me so mad that we managed to accomplish something rare and cool and those bullies wanted to ruin our day.”

  “Well, it just made it seem like since you’re Allepexxis’ pilot, you’re special. Like, you could maybe get away with killing in self-defense because Dr. Behlen really has big things planned for you.”

  Paress considered and then shook his head. “Nah. Space Knight candidates are pretty rare. There’s no way the Academy and the people in charge would let me get away with killing somebody normal, no matter how special they think I am. They really aren’t gonna let me kill two Space Knight candidates— especially two twins with the Blessing since that’s also pretty special. See?”

  “I guess,” Casten said
, but still seemed doubtful. “Also, I notice you called our Machine by his name and not his number.”

  “So do you.”

  “Yeah, when I started to synch you guys I could feel a bit of his personality. I knew he wasn’t just a robot. I can see why Dr. Behlen wouldn’t understand, but I felt it. So what’s your deal?”

  “I dunno. Maybe I felt something too. Something told me. Or maybe because calling him by his number is too…impersonal or something, since I’m going to be piloting him for the next century or so. Everybody talks about Space Knights getting better at understanding their Machines as time goes by. May as well get things started off right.”

  Paress started to feel able to continue walking as the tension finally started to go away. He no longer wanted to stroll around in the field and instead headed back toward their dorm room. To take his mind off things, he said, “So hey, back there you said that Companion was created by Isley… Insect…?”

  Casten brightened. “Ha! Insev!” He shook his head and laughed. “Can you believe that dummy actually called me a butler? An Insev? I mean, that’s pretty much all Insevs are— a bunch of janitors and butlers. Nothing against janitors and butlers, but they’re not what you think of as Companions for Space Knights. I didn’t even know Dr. Insev made Companions. He’s supposed to be a nice guy, but you know, you don’t get the kindly old guy at the burger joint to prepare a fancy dinner for the Emperor.”

  “So all that stuff about him being an Insev and you’re a Machten…” Paress said. “He’s the burger and you’re the fancy dinner?”

  “Yep.”

  “Wow, I didn’t know Companions were like that.”

  “Well, why not? We’re all only as good as our components and Creator, right? Like cars and starships, and meals, or whatever. It’s the same way for Companions.”

  Paress smiled, “Well that’s pretty cool. I’m glad I’ve got the best.”

  Casten frowned slightly. “Well, not exactly the best…”

  “Wait, what?”

  “Well,” Casten scratched his head, “I’m up there. Dr. Machten’s in the top five. Definitely. But not the best. That’s like, Dr. Lang or somebody. Even people that don’t follow Companion design can spot a Lang.”

  “Really? Wow.”

  “Yeah, well, for one thing— and I don’t want this to turn into another thing about how we got put together even though we’re two guys— but anyway, all of Dr. Lang’s Companions are girls. Like, really, really, really hot girls.”

  Casten was so earnest that Paress couldn’t help himself. “Dammit, really? Then why’d they give me you?”

  “Hey, I just said…”

  “I know, I know. I’m sorry.”

  “Okay then.”

  “Well, it’s just, if I’m so special, why didn’t they give me the best?”

  “Geez…” Casten frowned.

  “No offense. You’re the one who brought it up!” Paress said.

  “I know. I wish I hadn’t. Well, it really does come down to what you’re tested as being best with. Not just the gender or the race, or even how the creator builds the Companion. What kind of abilities we’re built with, whatever. Sometimes the ‘best’ isn’t what’s needed.”

  “Oh, so you’re saying the Driinen might actually be able to do amazing things with their Insev because she was chosen for what works best.”

  “Hey now, let’s not get crazy here,” Casten warned.

  “What? You just said…”

  “I’m talking about the difference within the top five. Insev’s like, the bottom twenty. No way that Companion’s getting up to these levels. You saw it— as soon as I told her what I was, that was it— all the fight was gone.”

  “Yeah, you’re right.” Paress shook his head. “Finding out new stuff all the time.”

  “Yeah…”

  As they got closer to the campus, Casten stopped. Paress did too, “Whats’ wrong?”

  “This has been kinda going through my mind,” Casten said.

  “Okay… what?”

  “Well, during the fight, for a real quick second, I thought I saw Dr. Beheln watching us in the distance at the edge of the field.”

  “What? Are you sure?”

  “No, I’m not. My memory’s usually excellent of course, but when it comes to this, I don’t know. Like, I’m actually kind of fuzzy on whether I saw him or not. My eyes are functioning perfectly. The fight and everything else is perfectly clear.

  “But I just keep feeling like there was this glimpse of Dr. Behlen kinda blocked by you and the other two in front of me. But when I concentrate on it and try to bring him into focus, I get nothing.” Casten shook his head, closing his eyes tight. “It’s just so weird!”

  Paress patted Casten’s arm. “Don’t worry about it. I’m sure it was just a trick of the bad light and dust since we were under those trees. The way the shadows fall through the leaves and everything…”

  “Yeah, maybe.” Casten finally said. “Except that shouldn’t affect my eyes.”

  “Well, you can’t actually see the Dread Phantoms,” Paress pointed out. “Who know what else is walking around here that we can’t exactly see? And hey, if you did see Dr. Behlen, maybe that’ll be a good thing. After all, I have no idea what’s gonna happen to us because of this fight and how rough it got.”

  “Oh yeah, I didn’t think of that,” Casten groaned. “Tearing someone’s tongue out is pretty bad.”

  “It was self defense!”

  “I dunno…”

  “Well, if Dr. Beheln saw what was happening, maybe he can stand up for us.”

  “I hope so.” After a moment, Casten said, “You know how we were talking about being in a movie with bullies and all that stuff? Well, maybe the movie we’re really in is the one where the hero gets pushed too far and gets his revenge. Also the hero has some crazy powers that he has to watch out for or they’ll take control.”

  Paress snorted. “Well, I guess maybe that’s true. But those movies always end pretty badly. The guy ends up being possessed or something. I hope ours doesn’t go that way.”

  “Me too.”

  They were back in the main lights of the campus. People looked at their scuffed and dirty clothes but said nothing. You oughta see the other guys, Paress thought.

  “We don’t know what kind of trouble we’ll be in when the professors find out about the fight and just how intense it got,” Casten said. “Y’know, in case Dr. Behlen didn’t actually see anything and it’s our word against theirs.”

  “Yeah.” Paress stopped. “Alright, all this stuff about where our story’s gonna go… What kind of movie we’d be in if this was a movie. Let’s think about a certain kind of movie where things work out. Lemme say again like we did back home when we decided we were coming here and I made up my mind: I will be a full honored Space Knight with you as my Companion.

  “We got Allepexxis to work so there’s that. Dr. Behlen said we’re technically already there. So we’re gonna graduate and get out there and help anybody who needs it. People are gonna be able to look up to us because we’ll be the best Space Knight team there is. So no matter what, we’re going the distance and nothing or nobody is going to stop us. Anybody else like those Driinen get in our way, they’ll be sorry. We’re going to make big things happen. Okay?”

  Casten smiled and nodded enthusiastically. “You got it. I’m with you all the way. Let’s go the distance.”

  Hearing this, Paress felt recharged for whatever was coming. If they got in trouble for kicking the asses of people who wanted to hurt them, fine. Life was bigger and more important than stuff like bullies and school drama. He already knew he’d have to grow up really fast and that didn’t bother him. It was time to get serious.

  The next morning, Paress was getting antsy, so he decided they’d leave about an hour early. Besides, arriving early would surely impress Doctor Behlen so he figured it’d be a good start to his first official day as Allepexxis’ pilot. After dragging a groaning Casten o
ut of bed, they headed out for Behlen’s office, retracing their steps form the day before.

  Paress was amazed nobody had come for them during the night to punish them for the fight and the same seemed to be happening now as they walked along with nobody stopping them. The Driinen were proud people and wouldn’t tattle, but he figured that surely an instructor or somebody else would have seen their wounds and reported on them. Besides that, their Companion’s legs would have to be replaced since she didn’t have the same kind of healing abilities as the Driinen.

  Well, I’m not complaining if nobody wants to go after us, he thought.

  Sooner than either of the boys had hoped, the tell-tale thinning of the crowds of students came and they arrived at the gates. Paress could start to feel his excitement for the day ahead drain away as they got closer and the familiar terror began to take hold again. Once again, Casten grabbed his hand and they both shut their eyes tight.

  “We only have to walk straight ahead,” Paress said. “You can keep us on course even with your eyes closed, right?”

  “Yeah…”

  “Okay, let’s go.”

  As they got closer to the gate, Paress could hear the Dread Phantoms talking again. “Dammit.”

  “What?” Casten asked, terrified.

  “You can’t hear them? They’re talking like yesterday.”

  “I didn’t hear anything yesterday. I could feel something change in the air, but I didn’t hear talking.”

  “Then why’d you sing?” Paress found this conversation was at least busying his mind a tiny bit from focusing on the terror. “You weren’t also trying to drown out the sound of them laughing?”

  “They were laughing?” Casten fairly shrieked. “No! I was singing along because it helped take my mind off how scared I was and it was a cool tune.” He held Casten’s hand tighter. “Laughing… Paress, I’m really scared.”

  “It returns with the doll, but not the Child of Stone or Child of Claw,” Paress could hear the Dread Phantom on his right say.

  “It sang one of the Songs before. Something from its first home,” the other said.