Angelos Odyssey

by J. B. M. Patrick

  “But he needs your talent, Tavon; even though you’re a moron, you’re damn good at holding your own.” She smiled at me through her hood. “You could come to pass Rok, especially since he won’t hav—”

  Rokshasa suddenly emerged as he crossed paths with us.

  But he and I were both natural idiots, and I felt confident that he heard nothing.

  “Gossiping, eh?” He said with a meek smile.

  My friend had been humbled, and he no longer appeared worried, set on the task ahead. “We were sightseeing.” I smiled.

  “Ah,” Rokshasa chuckled, “I didn’t think you went for his type, Beatrice.”

  “Whatever.” She rolled her eyes.

  “What are you doing out here?” I tried to deflect that kind of conversation altogether.

  He smiled while standing proudly. “I had to turn down an offer from an old friend, but you must excuse me, Tavon…” He put his hand on my shoulder as he progressed forward. “There’s little time left for you to escape safely.”

  He winked.

  The gesture stunned the two of us for a moment as we waited for the man to leave, his back turned to us as he disappeared into the rest of the city.

  “A loyal friend until the end,” Beatrice said.

  I smirked. “Yeah, well, we all came to see the truth about the Elder eventually.”

  “Don’t pretend like you don’t care; stop detaching yourself.” She gazed at me.

  “Okay…” I replied. “Let’s hurry.”

  --

  At the station, we boarded an incredibly elongated cruiser intended to seat hundreds. This bus would allow us transport to the fringes of Nagao territory, and there were no fees or tickets required in the Fourth Quadrant, a district that had always operated in the black.

  We waited quietly on a crowded bus stocked with various characters so distinct that we found ourselves lost in watching these other strangers survive in the Lower-City. This Quadrant had been left for syndicates to feud over and was easily the most hostile district in the Citadel. Alone, Beatrice and I would need to use everything we’d learned to protect each other.

  Despite both of us being adults now, I shared her anxiety. I noticed she’d been trembling; I held her hand, and she grasped mine tightly as the cruiser continued its path through the lower reaches of the Citadel.

  --

  We were the only ones to get off at our stop, being eyed strangely as few were known to leave their home territory, and we arrived on an abandoned street before being promptly left by our ride.

  “Where do we go from here?” Beatrice was beginning to turn frantic. I’m not sure if she’d ever journeyed very far out of her hometown.

  “We’ll have to move toward the nearest place we can find people to get a better sense of direction,” I said, recalling everything Eze had taught me. “Keep an eye out for power stations, marketplaces, and residential zones; we can ask for directions—and we’ll have to hit a clothing store—”

  “You still have money left over?” Beatrice gazed at me in shock.

  “Some.” I said. “Enough to get us clothes, food, and a way out of the Fourth Quadrant. Public transport is only free within the Fourth Quadrant; moving to another Quad will cost a small amount.”

  “All my life… what have I been missing?”

  We began walking as I replied. “The Elder protected us from the Citadel, but struggle is inevitable no matter what way you take it.”

  “You sound like fucking Rokshasa again.” She shook her head. “Once we’re out of this hell, you have to promise me to stop talking like that.”

  “Like what?”

  “Like you only live for combat… don’t become changed like him.”

  “Do you forgive him now?”

  “No.” She responded bitterly. “I love him, but Rok is too talented to do what he does. He’s a samurai, Tavon; he didn’t have to kill him…”

  I knew more than I should speak about at that time, so I listened and nodded.

  “You wouldn’t do something like that, would you?” She looked at me seriously.

  “If I was trying to protect myself… —”

  “Don’t answer!” Beatrice said, a strong hint of irritation in her voice. “You’ve let him get to you. Tavon,” she said quietly, “don’t let a murderer change you. Rokshasa is just as much a savage thug as any other member of the Nagao—even if he has shown kindness to you!”

  “I’m sorry.” It was the best reply I could think of in that moment.

  “I’m hungry.” She said. “Let’s get food before we do anything else—”

  “Clothes first!”

  “Ugh. But I’m starving…”

  --

  Subsequent to wandering the streets for nearly an hour, we managed to locate a small thrift store. We changed inside before discarding our former clothes and gear altogether except for Beatrice’s gun.

  From there, we traveled in plain clothes to a small café where we were met with a rather welcoming counter chef in a business that had been suffering a dry spell. It was an older woman whose husband once owned the small coffee shop before he’d passed on the year before and left ownership to her. She was quiet and insisted we sit “wherever” while not stopping at all to judge us for who we were: two homeless people on the run from an ugly situation.

  She didn’t charge us anything and, out of kindness, gave me free refills on coffee as Beatrice ravenously devoured a plate covered in blueberry pancakes.

  “I guess that makes us rōnin now, huh?” Beatrice didn’t take time to chew.

  “No. Tch.” I shook my head. “I was never inducted as one of the Elder’s Samurai.”

  “What?!” She stared at me in bewilderment. “I thought they’d made you one! Every family member has to go through the process!”

  “I guess they didn’t bother with me.” I shrugged.

  “We truly were shorthanded… shorthanded enough to grab an orphan off the streets—”

  “And a slave,” I remarked.

  “You don’t know what you’re talking about.” She huffed. “Don’t blow a good moment, Tavon; I love you.”

  “No you don’t.” I replied curtly.

  Beatrice finally swallowed before making eye contact. “I meant what I said—do you love me, Tavon?”

  This was hard for me, because I didn’t genuinely understand love in the first place.

  “You make me happy, Beatrice.”

  The owner of the place screamed.

  To my left, I saw a small group approach rapidly; they were armed.

  They hurriedly raised their firearms and delivered a series of rounds to shatter through the transparent window separating us before we had time to react!

  A piercing scream filled my ears as I struggled to get on the ground and move into cover. Beatrice was moving toward me and doing the same!

  She was alive—yes!

  Beatrice collapsed on the ground next to me…

  I reached over with the intent to shield her with my body in case they charged through the opening, and I looked to see:

  “… Beatrice…”

  They’d shot her in the side of her throat as well as through several areas in her side.

  Her eyes were already affixed to the ceiling, tears falling as she struggled to form words. She met my gaze and sobbed further before attempting to smile as she faded from this life.

  “No! Beatrice… No!” I curled in on myself as I let my sorrow overcome me.

  I did love her.

  I didn’t understand it, but I really did love her…

  She was the only one who’d kept me from losing myself, and I cradled her form away from sight as I heard voices overhead.

  The counter chef’s wailing had been louder than my own cries, and I listened as one of the strangers fired another bullet directly into her skull, silencing her forever.

  “Looks like we got ‘em, D!” Echoed the voice of someone close to my age.

  A slightly younger voice yelle
d, “Yeah! We fucked them all up—especially that old woman!”

  “Shut the hell up, you two!”

  Dfari’s voice.

  Dfari had killed Beatrice.

  “Let me get in a closer fucking inspection—those helmets fuck up a guy’s aim, you know?”

  “Tch,” replied a third stranger, someone older, “you’ll get used to it, boss… we all did—”

  “What did I tell you about shuttin’ the fuck!” Dfari peered into the diner and exclaimed “Ugh,” upon noticing a large section of the floor covered with blood. “Maybe we went too far in blasting them, huh?”

  “Shit!” Another of them said after inspecting the carnage. “It’s lookin’ ugly in there, D; you sure we not gonna get busted for this?”

  “Not if we don’t skimp on out of this place, fellas—let’s go!”

  I heard them begin to run, and I felt a shallow wound bleed from a bullet that had grazed my right shoulder.

  But upon looking at Beatrice’s lifeless form once more, I realized that I wouldn’t let this story end in them getting away!

  I sprinted after them.

  I wouldn’t let Dfari win, and my rage had consumed me in a state of madness as something engulfed my body. My veins began to bulge as every muscle attached to my frame became extraordinarily tense, gathering a power causing them to swell. My thighs, calves, ankles, and even my feet had thickened and pronounced my original speed!

  Dfari would be punished; he’d taken everything I’d had left—reduced me to what I was before I’d met the Nagao! No! I wouldn’t let this happen to me!

  My upper body began to increase in size as I pursued the four of them through a narrow walkway which transitioned into a series of steps before giving way to a higher platform which then led to an upper level containing several more streets centered around squatters’ dens. From the edge of the walkway leading to Xoxun Street, I could see the fringes of the Citadel from its heights before I caught up to Dfari and his men amidst a crowd of people who fled in terror as they drew their weapons.

  He’d figured out I was coming, and perhaps he’d played with me all along to tease out this moment. Gunned down by Dfari’s personal firing squad; it was his revenge fantasy come true.

  “You shoulda seen this shit coming in due time, motherfucker!” Dfari spit while brandishing his glock. “You’ve always been trash… ‘Knockdown T’ ends as some low-time thug in a weak clan, killed by Dfari,” he smirked, “the superior man, after al—”

  The blade of an ax decapitated the foot soldier to Dfari’s right.

  As a stream of blood whirled before them, a samurai growled and charged as he lowered the weapon to his side to swing horizontally as he gutted the consecutive Meiziki gangster. Rokshasa then kicked out at Dfari with enough force to knock him on his back as he simultaneously fired a negligent round.

  The last thug remaining with the will left to fight fired an older model assault rifle, but Rokshasa responded by thrusting his previous opponent’s body forward into him! The samurai hurried in and swung his ax downward, splitting through the head of the last member.

  Rokshasa pressed his foot into the corpse’s stomach as he forcefully withdrew the blade of the weapon from the deep depression made in his target’s skull. He then turned, revealing eyes filled with a powerful bloodlust, as he stood to face down Dfari.

  Dfari had recovered and currently aimed at my remaining friend in the Nagao, but the samurai continued to walk forward and appeared indifferent.

  “I’m not gonna hesitate to kill you, you fool!”

  Dfari squeezed the trigger.

  His weapon jammed.

  “Fuck.”

  And in that moment, Rokshasa turned to me, acknowledging my anger, and said: “It’s time you become a man, Tavon. THIS is the path of the warrior.”

  He connected with me in spirit.

  Dfari gasped before turning to sprint away from us.

  “Go!” Rokshasa shouted to me.

  I didn’t delay as I dashed with all my accumulated speed toward my oldest enemy.

  I chased him to exhaustion as he attempted to flee into the woods encompassing a small park. After he’d tripped on an unseen branch, Dfari limped until he decided to turn and threw his fist my way! I lowered my head and moved in rapidly! Gathering immense strength, I altered my stance and uppercutted Dfari’s in the center of his jaw, shattering some of his teeth as he fell back.

  But I wouldn’t relent.

  He began to plead, “Wait! Wait! Stop!” as I leapt onto him and began punching at him with a savage lust!

  I continued striking and striking at the pulp that remained of his face before letting loose a battle cry as I grasped my hands around Dfari’s throat!

  “T-T… T…” He tried to speak, his face now mostly a bloodied mass.

  I tightened my grip around his neck, shook with rage, and clenched my teeth. My hatred fed itself, and I increased pressure against his attempts to escape. Dfari resorted to punching me, but his hits became weaker as he lost circulation.

  “Do you feel sorry?!” I screamed while shaking his frail form. “You killed her! You didn’t have to—and you killed her!”

  My grip grew even stronger, producing a crushing sound and sensation as I pressed harder. More mangled breaking was heard from within, and I witnessed Dfari’s eyes become glossed over as his life drained away.

  I waited for some time before letting his body collapse to the ground, and Rokshasa was nearby to pat me on the back as I came to stand.

  “He knew you?”

  I stared at him, feeling far away from that place…

  “He killed the people I cared about.”

  “Are there more like him?”

  “No…” I replied bitterly. “It’s over.”

  30

  Flowers

  ROKSHASA WAS ONCE WITH BEATRICE.

  “I had feelings for her, too… so I understand the hatred you felt. He was your burden, Tavon, and you did well to confront a much lesser foe.”

  “…” I wasn’t able to think properly at this time. My mind had gone, leaving me with only my basic senses as I followed Rokshasa back toward Nagao’s center.

  “Tavon…” He said worriedly. “Don’t tell me this is the first one, is it?”

  “…”

  “Is that why you hesitated in the fight with Uban?”

  “…”

  I killed someone.

  “You must collect yourself, Tavon; composure is a key when following the path destined for a warrior.”

  “That bastard…” I said.

  “He hurt many, and you were called to deliver justice.”

  “Nothing forced me to do that.”

  His face… why does it keep replaying in my head—why won’t it stop? It’s making me so angry. At myself.

  Rokshasa sighed. “Brother, you must treat this as a lesson… we’ve both suffered a loss—”

  “She told me she loved me.”

  Rokshasa grew quiet.

  We walked in silence for a time before he asked, “Did you love her?”

  “I think so…” I felt sadness well up inside of me. “I didn’t have the time to figure everything out, Rok… I just wanted to leave with her.”

  “It’s treason.” He said flatly before offering me a wan smile. “But I understand why you did it, Tavon.”

  I didn’t say anything.

  “Listen,” Rokshasa spoke in a hushed tone as we approached more familiar territory. “I would have words with you following our return.”

  “We’re talking now, aren’t we?”

  “Tavon,” he warned, “there are some things not meant to be said aloud…”

  --

  We moved to the shrine, which seemed to be abandoned for the time being.

  “After I defeat Mendo,” Rokshasa spoke while staring at me earnestly, “will you side with me against the Elder’s son?”

  “Rok… what do you intend to do against the Nagao?”

  �
�Not against.” He declared valiantly. “For.”

  Rokshasa ruminated deeply. “It is clear that Naizo has no right to inherit the Nagao clan—don’t you agree, Tavon?”

  “He’s weak, and he doesn’t attempt to train or get any better.”

  “Exactly.” He said. “Which is why I will challenge him for his position upon disgracing the Meiziki!” The samurai stepped closer. “If you back me in my opposition, Naizo will be compelled to concede defeat—”

  “Or the Elder will fight you to the death.” I said. “Do you want that outcome?”

  Rokshasa grumbled, “No. But I refuse to relinquish my legacy, my honor…”

  --

  The day had come.

  I was ordered to meet with Naizo at six in the morning and traveled to the outer edge of the Citadel near the Shikon’s castle. Naizo was already waiting impatiently for me.

  “You’ve stuck around this long and still can’t find it in you to be on time?” He scowled.

  “Apologies.”

  “Nevermind. Why would anyone expect you to understand anything, after all.”

  Naizo still genuinely believed that I was a very stupid person and so didn’t feel as threatened by my presence as the others despite my strength. He grinned at me patronizingly, “What? Aren’t you excited to be my right-hand man, Tavon?”

  “Huh?’

  He shrugged nonchalantly. “With Rokshasa out of the way, you’re the one who stands the most to gain above all others.” Naizo folded his arms while thinking smugly to himself. “You’re young, so you’ll enjoy a life of royalty after we set about annihilating our enemies!”

  “Where’s the cruiser?” I asked.

  “Here,” Naizo, expressing a seemingly kinder side, patted me on the shoulder before showing me over the edge to view an immense vessel…

  In the center, there hovered a colossal chrome exterior in the shape of a diamond and encircled by a transparent, glass dome. The dome was attached to a series of parallel, circular corridors containing spacious abodes intended to house a small population. The gigantic cruiser was powered via an engine that had been installed at its other end. At the bottom of the vessel, I spotted numerous jets aiding in its aerial suspension below us.

  The cruiser was reachable by an elongated, flexible steel ladder descending onto a deck above one of the living quarters adjacent to the control room.