Rod Wars

by D. J. Hoskins

  “So you’re telling me to live according to this country’s expectations?” Melissa said coldly as she shrugged off his arm. “Yeah, okay. Thanks a lot for the reminder; it’s not like those aren’t already the words spoon-fed to me daily! And if you don’t mind, Leptin, don’t try to glorify my future, I know full well what bullshit it holds.”

  Turning her back on him, she walked off, her hands clenched by her sides and her head in the air.

  ~*~*~*~

  Why couldn't I have been born like everyone else? Melissa thought as she dropped a shirt into her suitcase. Why did I have to be modeled after Jamieh? It's like I'm just a clone of her or something. When people see me they just think, “Oh she's a goddess” or, “She's so arrogant because she has unlimited titus,” or, “Look, she's the product of science” or, “That’s the girl whose guardian is the school and whose owner is the country.”

  Melissa, what’s the problem with being modeled after Jamieh? her ego said. She kept Kaiga from being overrun by Victashia.

  Yeah but—but it’s like my body isn't truly my own. It’s like I’m a stranger within my own skin. They even shoved a lump of her titus into me for good measure, she thought and shuddered. It's sick how they can just store someone’s titus away for safe-keeping until a vessel strong enough to absorb it comes along. No, not absorb it; they forced it into the body of an infant, my body.

  Most people would be honored to—

  Then they should’ve picked someone else! Not me. To me it’s just a curse. No matter what I do, no matter where I go, I’ll always be compared to her. I'll forever be in her shadow…just a second Jamieh. Melissa, her engineered daughter, she thought and walking past the suitcase, she put a hand on the wall as she gazed out the window. No, not even that, I'm like her second body and to top it all off, I even inherited her shadow self.

  Where there is yang, there is yin, her shadow said, frankly. You hold the properties of yang and I hold yin. That's the only way this body doesn't tear itself apart from the strain of maintaining its enormous titus. Only two sentient entities can withstand it.

  I didn’t ask for a lecture on how my body works, Melissa thought, crossly.

  Then stop whining. It’s not going to change anything. You’ll never be normal and we both know that you don’t really want to be. Watching others struggle is no more fun than experiencing it.

  Chapter 5

  Past and Present

  "Come out when you're ready,” Wilson said over his shoulder as he left the restroom. He had left Alex with a change of clothes, jeans, tennis shoes, and a tee shirt with I Love Kaiga printed on its front. Walking out of the restroom decked out in the new clothing, glancing about, Alex spied Wilson amongst his men waiting by a tall white column.

  "Alex!" Wilson called catching his eyes. "Over here kid!" Wilson said something to the men who nodded and parted as Alex neared.

  "Hey Wilson—"

  "Ah, Alex,” the man said, clapping him on the shoulder before steering him through the building's double doors. "Let's take a ride; I want to show you something."

  "Show me what?"

  "You'll see,” Wilson replied pushing him lightly into the back of a blue car before following after. Alex scooted away from the man, irritated. Wilson never answered his questions.

  What exactly was the Dark Realm? he wondered. Why can't I just pop back to my world like I did this one? Did world jumping require speeding down a highway fast? Do I have to be in danger? Does being an Oddity, or whatever, all of sudden link me with supernatural powers? Just who is this Wilson? A politician? It's obvious he's rich if he has people with guns following him around.

  The car door closed, and through tinted windows, Alex observed most of the bodyguards disappear into a black truck behind them. Another guard settled into the car’s shotgun seat beside the chauffeur.

  A personal escort, go figure. Alex thought.

  The guards tagging along made him nervous. If they pulled a gun on him again, would they shoot?

  Wilson fairly talked Alex's ear off for the duration of the drive with the history of Kaiga. The man went on about the people, the cuisine and attractions, pointing out this, that, and the other as they drove. Turning his attention out the window, Alex tuned Wilson out early as his mind began to wonder.

  ~*~*~*~

  "Stop your crying Alexander. Tears never brought back anybody,” his grandmother ordered. She was a stern woman with thin lips and a mouth more prone to a frown than a smile. Her complexion was creased with wrinkles and her skin, unlike many her age, went without the aid of both makeup and Botox. Thin, short, but sturdy, Loire Mulholland was a strong woman. Head of the family business, she reigned supreme as the chairwoman and CEO of a sports company.

  Alex, blinking rapidly, rubbed his eyes, red and puffy from tears, with his sleeve; he was back in his eight-year-old body. Below four feet and chubby with a head slightly bigger than his body, fat drops of salty tears worked themselves down his cheeks mixing with the snot streaming from his nose to stain the intersecting baby blue lines of his plaid shirt. He cowered before his grandmother as her hand swept down to pop him over the head in what would be the second attempt to silence him. "You are a Mulholland. Stand up straight and wipe those tears from your eyes."

  "I'm—I'm trying...but mom and dad—" He choked back a sob, covering his mouth with a hand as he wiped at the flow of tears. Squealing he ducked out from under his grandmother's hand. Dodging the blow, he scampered behind the well-ironed dress pants of Nicklaus, the grandparent's assistant manager. Startled, the young man who'd been turning a blind eye to the whole affair, dropped his phone.

  "Stand tall and take it. You're a Mulholland; we don't hide behind the legs of others,” Loire chided, and stooping, dragged her grandson out by the arm, ignoring the gasps, whispers and appalled glances of the passerby's in the Florida airport. "I've got you now..."

  Alex, eyes wide, thrashed. "Nick—Nicklaus!" Twisting and turning, he tried in vain to break her grip.

  Ignoring the scene, Eugene, the grandfather, spread out on a bench, book in hand, adjusted his bifocals absently as he continued to read. The six-year-olds, Ayana, and her fraternal twin, Trevor, seated next to their grandfather, were bored watching their older brother's scolding. They began to wrestle. Attention drawn by the twins, Nicklaus turned to separate them.

  "Stop your mewling,” Loire seethed and holding the child with a grip like iron, she brought down her free hand. Alex squeezed his eyes shut instinctively, tensed, ducking his head in anticipation. The grandmother, however, simply placed her aged palm on his head, gently ruffling the child's blond, nearly white mess of hair as she kissed his forehead.

  "Alexander...child, wipe your tears. You're a man aren't you?" Sniffling, the boy nodded rubbing his face on a sleeve. "You're the oldest, the only example to your siblings, so young man, act like it. I know it's hard; you've lost your parents. In one night you were reduced to an orphan. I can't imagine what you went through on that train nor can I put myself in the shoes of your parents who sacrificed their lives for yours. I won't ever be able to replace them and I won't try to. However, you, Alex, have to stand tall and carry on your parent's memory, in here." A manicured finger touched his chest briefly. "You can't forget them for you are the only link your siblings can grasp onto. They'll forget – they're too young to hold the memory – but through you, they can imagine. Don't forget Alex, promise me." Alex nodded tersely and she smiled. "You are your parent's legacy. You survived. You're alive. What doesn't kill you makes you stronger; I know that for a fact. Why, back in my day—"

  "Don't bore my grandson with your outdated stories, Loire,” Eugene said turning a page.

  "Outdated?" Loire pushed her grandson aside, and strode up to her husband. Looking down at him, she smoothed a strand of long white hair behind an ear. "What are you talking about? You're just as old, you good for nothing, washed up, piece a—"

  Eugene looked up sharply and pushed up the bifocals. "I'm not old."
r />   Loire pointed at him and laughed. "Take a look in the mirror, you delusional fool; those wrinkles mean something."

  Inserting a bookmark into the novel, the old man closed it. "Pah, wrinkles. The eyes are the windows to the soul, woman."

  "Woman?! Why, you old fuck—"

  "The appearance is overrated compared to—"

  "To what? Your pruning soul?"

  "Pruning?" The old stood. "I'll have you know the soul never ages. My mind is as intact and functioning as it was ten years –"

  "It's time to board the plane,” Nicklaus cut in holding Ayana's small hand in his and dragging their luggage behind with the other.

  "Ten years, twenty, thirty, you're right because as far as I'm concerned you're still the same pigheaded, mooching—"

  "Bye, bye gran'pa!" Ayana said waving as she passed. Trevor, scooting off the bench, mimicked his twin. The child's smile was contagious and Eugene waved back but made no move in their direction. There would be no hug goodbye.

  "For heaven's sake. Say goodbye to your grandchildren, we barely see them twice a year."

  "But they're that man's children."

  "That man?" Loire exclaimed. "Oh will you ever – they're our daughter's and that man was who Isabella married!"

  "He was nothing more than a leech."

  "She loved him!"

  "He seduced her!"

  "You always babied Izzy."

  "At least one of us did."

  "One of us? You did background checks on everyone she came in contact with!"

  "Damn right. It's a father's duty to protect his children."

  "You tried to choose her boyfriends."

  "And they were worthy of her too. They came from money. Unlike—"

  "That's why you never gave your permission to marry Stuart?"

  "That money grubbing street rat never could have provided Izzy with the life she deserved."

  "You mean the life you wanted for her."

  "I wanted the best for her! Not some loser playing entrepreneur with only a high school diploma and a shitty part-time job as a burger flipper on the side. He subjected her to a life of poverty."

  "You never even helped him!"

  "Speak for yourself – sending presents on the holidays and excluding forgotten birthdays. You're such a saint having your secretary mail all those postcards."

  "And now the kid's parents are dead and they're orphaned. We can share the guilt."

  "Share the guilt?" Eugene chuckled mirthlessly, dark eyes stony. "Izzy hasn't even been in the ground a month and you're already shipping her children off to boarding school. You were never there for her when she was a child and now it's their turn?" He shook his head. "You haven't changed...Loire."

  Moments passed, before Loire spoke again, her voice low, livid. "I was the breadwinner for this family."

  "Oh, you still are." Eugene walked past her, his eyes fixated on his grandchildren, a forced smile on his lips. "And you were a horrible mother all the while." He tossed the words over his shoulder.

  "I dedicated my life. This family would be nothing without me. You'd be—"

  Eugene turned, facing his wife, both of Ayana's tiny hands in his. "You dedicated your life to a company and sold your soul for money. I just happened to marry the right woman."

  Their time cut short, hurried goodbyes were exchanged before Alex, his siblings and Nicklaus acting as an escort, boarded the plane. Looking back at his grandparents before walking onboard, Alex thought them nothing more than an old couple, simply...strangers.

  Sitting in a plush seat of the first class across from Nicklaus and his siblings, Alex looked out the wide windows of the cabin, staring into the sunset.

  Chapter 6

  Desert Adversary

  “Is this really necessary?” Melissa asked, gesturing at the three sleek black cars parked outside of the academy gates.

  “Of course,” Leptin said, starting towards the center car.

  “But seriously, those too?” she said glancing at the helicopters hovering nearby.

  “It’s all necessary,” the principal confirmed as he gestured for her to get into the car. “You said you wanted a field trip and this is what goes with it. Now are you going to get in or do you want to cancel?”

  “I’m coming, I’m coming,” she answered as she hopped into the backseat. Leptin followed after her, closing the door as Kevin circled around to get into the driver’s seat.

  The wheels turned slowly as the cars rolled out of the school.

  What a pain, Melissa thought pressing her forehead to the glass as she watched the road go by.

  “It’s all necessary,” Leptin said.

  “Ah, stop saying that...” she whined, shooting him a glare.

  The principal smiled. “You know, I really can't help it.”

  “I'm pretty sure you can.”

  “To a point,” he said after a moment. “However, most of the time I just leave myself open to hearing all sorts of random thoughts. Yours just happen to be the loudest since you are right next to me. Like with hearing, thoughts have a range, and lose their volume the farther away they are.”

  “Really? The movies always make it seem like mind readers can hear thoughts from all over the place.”

  “Not necessarily. I can choose what I listen to. Like choosing a radio station.”

  That's really weird, Melissa thought.

  “How so?” Leptin asked.

  “Well it’s not weird…” she said, casting her gaze back out the window. “It’s just way different than the way I thought it worked.”

  “I’m glad you learned something. After we leave the city, things could get a little dangerous.”

  “And back to what’s important huh?” Melissa said turning back to him. “So? What do you mean by a ‘little dangerous?’ We’re just going through desert right?”

  “Exactly. Desert. It’s a wide open playing-field where an attack could come from any direction. The chance of it happening isn’t exactly large, but—”

  “But it's not small either?” Melissa guessed.

  “But, it’s always something to consider.”

  ~*~*~*~

  “Seems like it goes on forever, huh?” Kevin said, glancing at Melissa in the rearview mirror.

  “Yeah…the desert looks endless,” she replied watching it go by through the window.

  “You'll see more green once we get closer to Corpus since it’s on the edge of the province of Kiko, near the coast of the Insie Sea,” Kevin said.

  “And how far away is that exactly? My butt's getting sore.”

  Someone’s coming, her shadow whispered and Melissa sitting up, glanced out the car’s tinted glass.

  What do you mean? she thought back. And from where? What direction? Friendly or—?

  A powerful adversary is coming toward us, quickly, the voice continued.

  Who—who is it?

  Melissa could almost feel the shadow furrow its brows and shake a head it did not have. I don't know, but it’s strong. Very strong indeed.

  There it is, Melissa thought, her eyes plastered out her window.

  Two figures revealed themselves on the empty desert horizon, walking in the direction of the moving vehicles. And yet their movements appeared slow, almost sluggish as they approached. In comparison the cars they neared seemed to be still when in reality they weren’t.

  ~*~*~*~

  So she’s in one of those, Akane thought as she pulled back the hood of her billowing red robe. It’s a shame that they brought a convoy of bodies along with them. I’m afraid their ashes will not see a funeral.

  “Thank you for transporting me here, Vargus,” Akane said, glancing at her partner. “You can now make your departure. I'll take it from here.”

  “As you wish,” Vargus said and putting his hands together, he closed his eyes and like a ghost in the wind, his body began to fade before vanishing altogether.

  “Now let’s see what a fledgling eleven is capable of,” Akane said as her e
yes narrowed on the center car. “Rumor has it that she carries Jamieh's titus. How burdensome. By the grace of Viate, I shall free her and end her life before she matures…and comes to know pain.”

  Closing her eyes, she breathed in deeply while bringing her hands together.

  “Tyrant’s Rampage,” Akane said snapping her eyes open. Spreading out her arms, she lifted her chest and exhaled. Releasing a torrent of flames from her mouth, she gathered the fire between both palms, willing it into a ball nearly as large as her arm-span and restrained by fingers alone. Dropping her hands, she watched as the ball floated out before her. Turning the full force of her gaze upon it, she pointed a hand forward.

  “What the hell is that?” Melissa shouted as the figures were replaced by a large luminous shadow.

  Sand turned to glass as the ball of fire skimmed across the desert, flying toward its target.

  The smell of smoke rose as the helicopters turning in pursuit of their enemy, let their missiles fly.

  “Hold on!” Kevin yelled as he slammed a foot on the accelerator.

  “Damn it, what the hell is going on?” Mr. Leptin said pulling out a radio and pressing down its button. He snapped out a word. “Report.”

  “The presence of a hostile is affirmed,” the radio replied through static.

  “Is it the Vitate Order?”

  “Unknown, sir. Please proceed to point Alpha with Bee Stinger; a distress signal has been initiated. The standby units Sky Fox and Delta Fish have been notified and are in route. I repeat, proceed to point Alpha immediately. Securing the safety of Bee Stinger is top priority.”

  “Copy that, we’re rerouting now.”

  “The goddess is on my side,” Akane said as she turned her eyes to the sun. Blocking its brilliance with a hand, she materialized a fire spear. Dropping the arm, she began to advance. Twirling the weapon absently, she stepped into a lunge and hurtled it forth. Meeting a missile head on, the spear cut in one side and out the other as it spun on towards the helicopter, the explosion beneath it, propelling it.