by Van Forson
“Well, it gave me something to do,” Sal smirked. “But seriously Kid, I know this Prophecy is yours to fulfil, but it’s been a journey for all of us. No doubt it's been a hard road, but for the first time, I've felt worthy. You’ve made me feel special.”
“Me? I didn't do anything. You risked your life for me. There’s no way I can ever repay you for all that you've done.”
Sal smiled crookedly, “I’m always here for you Kid; you know that.”
I looked up at Sal perched on the rock. I knew I could count on her until the end. I hoped her feelings of worthiness would manifest in her finally being able to live her true identity.
“And look at this,” Sal said, projecting a holographic map, “while you were sleeping I plotted the coordinates back to Ethereal Bridge; this time we’ll cross over to the Great Unknown. We're not too far from it. I figure if we head due south, we’ll get there within a few hours.”
I heard what Sal said, but I kept looking off into the distance at the flock of birds high in the sky. It was late for them to be flying at this time I thought.
Sal started to clear the campsite, shoving her utensils into her backpack.
“I'm ready to go when you are.”
I faced her slowly.
“This is it,” I told Sal quietly. “It's the end of the line.”
Sal stopped packing mid flow, “What do you mean? We haven’t fulfilled The Prophecy. We still have one eye to get.”
“I know. Where I’m going, I cannot take you with me. We must go our separate ways.”
“Why are you ditching me? Was it something I said? Something I've done?”
“No Sal. You’ve played your role perfectly. I asked you to tell the rest to meet me for a reason. One of them will come by, and then I will complete my mission.”
“What? I’ve got this covered, look at the map. See.” Sal projected the way to the New World. “I've found our way to safety.”
“Someone will come by,” I repeated.
“I told you, none of the crew is coming to help you. I'm right here, telling you I've found a way out. Why aren't you listening to me?”
“I know this doesn’t make sense right now, but it will. You have the keyring I gave to you. All you need to know is on it. Please don't worry. I know what I’m doing.”
“If you know what happens in the future then just tell me, rather than acting so strange, you’re freaking me out right now!”
“If I told you the future now, you'd try and change it. But we have to let what will be, be. Every single element of our life is an intricately woven masterpiece. You need every stroke of the brush to create the perfect picture.”
“Are you okay? You seem like you’re in a trance or something.”
I fought back the lump clogging my throat. This was going to be hard on Sal and everyone else, but I couldn’t let my emotion rule me at the last hurdle. This was what Dr Stoneway had warned me about, to quiet my feelings. All of my life had been leading to this moment. I couldn’t falter now.
“To ensure The Prophecy is fulfilled, there is one eye I have yet to give.” I managed to contain myself.
“Please stop speaking like a Sap!” Sal snapped.
“What I know is too dangerous to burden you with, but I am certain of what I am doing, and one day it will all make sense.”
Sal shook her head, but there was no point in arguing. She had tried her best to prove that she was useful and worth keeping around. But her efforts were in vain, and once again she felt the humiliation of rejection.
***
Skye’s aero bike tore through the terrain at top speed. Jet clung onto her for dear life, his long Kid-esque ponytail flapping in the wind. Skye was riding like there was no tomorrow, and if the pursuing Guardians caught them, there wouldn’t be.
“They’re gaining on us.” Jet yelled in Kid’s voice.
“I know that,” Skye shouted back. “I’m giving it all I can. I don’t think I can hold out for much longer.”
“You have to; otherwise we're done for.”
Jet wished he could protect them both, but there was nothing he could do. In comparison to Skye's Tachion power, he felt helpless.
The troop of Elite Officials blazed their searchlights menacingly. The intention was clear; annihilation would be the only outcome. The front section of the convoy launched another round of pop cons. Once again Skye powered up her force field. The missiles exploded on contact. This last burst of energy took its toll and Skye fell back unconscious.
“Skye!” Jet screamed, catching her from falling to the ground.
Now it was all down to him. He had to get Skye to safety. He grabbed the handlebars and steered with one hand holding Skye with the other. The long ponytail flailing from the side of his head shrunk down. The Capsing effects were wearing off.
“Aww man!” He needed to lose the Officials quickly; otherwise, Kid’s cover would be blown.
The Guardians blasted another wave of missiles. Jet zigzagged across the air, dodging the onslaught.
His body shortened returning to his normal size, and he momentarily lost control of the steering. The bike swerved, and he careered into the window of a derelict building. A mass of Guardians tailing him smashed straight into the wall.
Jet rode down the steps and out the door. He moved with expertise, skidding through the gravel. The cumbersome Official riders were no match for his agility and crashed into each other, grinding to a halt.
On street level Jet raced off towards the buzzing electric barrier of Sub Zero. The fencing was ahead, the Authorities hot on his tail. There was no way out.
Jet held Skye tightly. Slamming his foot on the accelerator, he steamed full throttle towards Sub Zero. The Guardians followed suit. Jet could feel the blazing heat from the red-hot electrical fence as he approached. He had only one course of action. The slightest error would mean certain termination from one direction or the other, but there was nothing else he could do. Just as the riders closed in, Jet popped a wheelie and skilfully flipped the aero bike backwards over their heads. The Officials couldn’t stop quickly enough and crashed into the electrical wire boundary.
Jet watched as the fence erupted into a neon wall of fire, lighting up the night sky.
The explosion brought Skye back to her senses, “Are we dead?” she rasped, her bright blue eyes flickered red reflecting the blaze in front of them.
Jet pulled her close, “Nah, we made it Skye, we did it.”
“You did it.” Skye whispered.
Jet nodded. Nothing but his sheer Human determination had saved them.
“Let’s just hope Kid and Sal can find their way to safety too.”
***
Sal reluctantly rose to her feet and sauntered towards her bike. She dropped her bag of survival gear, “Keep this; yours is running low on supplies.”
“That’s kind of you, but you take it. You’ll need it more than me.”
I walked over and hugged Sal tightly.
“Thank you from the bottom of my heart. Whatever you do keep under the radar and stay safe."
“You know I will.”
“And say hi to Deschanel from me.” I smiled.
Sal shook her head, “Deschanel? When am I ever going to see him again? I wouldn’t know how to find Commania even if I wanted to.”
I raised my eyebrow, “What's yours will never pass you.”
Sal shrugged shyly, “You know best, Soul Survivor.”
With that, she jumped on The Speedster, revved up the engine and drove off without once looking back.
***
Jet powered down the aero bike. He and Skye had reached a clearing through the forest terrain that overlooked the ocean.
“Where are we now?” Skye yawned sleepily.
“This is the coast. We're near Ethereal Bridge. The Upper Worlds and all that we know is behind us. Across the water is a new world.”
“So what do we do now?” Skye asked.
Beep, Beep.
Skye’s yellow keyring buzzed startling them both. She untied it from her trousers and projected the message into the air. Kid’s Vir Sim beamed at them.
“Nevaeh Skye, you are a Tachion Sensation, and you have no idea how much more powerful you will become. Keep training. Believe in your abilities. Harness them well.
Thank you for always having Jet’s back. How beautiful your friendship is. Please look after him for me. You are all that he has now and the future of our world is in his hands. Keep each other safe. I’ll miss you.”
Kid’s image digitally dropped out into the ether.
A plummeting feeling gripped Jet’s stomach, “If only Kid could have made it here she would have fulfilled The Prophecy. Now all is lost. Everything was in vain.”
Jet and Skye looked at each other sorrowfully and turned silently towards the rolling sea.
Skye linked her bony arm through Jets. Jet hung his head wearily. Neither knew what to do or where they went from here, but there was one thing they knew for sure. The weight of the entire world rested on their young shoulders.
“We’re gonna be alright, aren’t we Jet?” Skye rasped.
Jet nodded tautly holding back his tears. He protectively put his arm around Skye hoping to be the comfort that he also sought. He felt her petite frame soften in his arms, and he knew that he had to be doubly brave, for the both of them. But the lump welling in his throat exposed his fears. They were on the run, his sister was gone, and life would never be the same again.
Fin. Owari. Done. Quit.
Dit-dah-dit-dah-di-dit.
Twenty: I
I powered down the rocket sneaks and wandered into the mouth of the cave. It was the stone cold rendezvous point I had asked all members of the crew to meet me. Now all I had to do was wait. If my Inner G was on point, then I would complete my mission.
I delved into my backpack and drew out the chocolate treats.
“Go, Keziah, it’s my birthday.” I sang scoffing handfuls of the stuff.
Most people hope to live a long life, until a ripe old age, like Grandma and Grandpa status. I just about made it to my sixteenth birthday. And the prospect of celebrating another year isn't looking likely. So, here we are, right back where we started. And this is the last entry I’m going to make to add to the Vortex of Souls.
The wind howled around me, and I took a step further into the cave to escape its frosty bite. It was the end of the year, that winter season again. Another chapter in the history of time coming to an end. A ray of light flickered behind me breaking through the darkness.
“Hello, Kid.” A figure stepped out of the shadows.
I nodded expectantly, “I knew you would come. I knew it would be you.”
***
Cindy sat alone in her darkened bedroom. She flicked through the TV channels staring absentmindedly at the screen. The pink blinds on her windows were shut, keeping the outside world locked out, just the way she had grown to like it. Her mother had stopped pleading with her to leave the house. And even Mindy, who never left her side, knew it best to give her space.
Cindy zapped onto TEN news. The report held her interest for more than the usual millisecond, and she stopped changing channels. The AE newscaster looked seriously into the camera as she continued the outdoor broadcast.
“…Sub Zero continues to enjoy the Yuletide season after the celebratory fireworks which could be seen for miles around.”
Something about the news didn’t ring true. It hadn’t looked like fireworks like the report had claimed. It seemed as if the parameter fencing off Sub Zero was on fire.
Sal and Skye had said the Tachions in Sub Zero had helped Kid and The Res in defeating the Authoritarian Militia, by using their powers, but that wasn't reported. Why hadn’t the news shown that? The news was meant to tell the truth after all.
Things weren’t adding up. TEN had even stopped running the Kid story altogether. Last week she was public enemy number one. This week she was removed from all screens. It was like she never even existed.
Cindy fluttered her eyelashes. All this concentrating on something other than fashion and celebrity gossip made her brain ache, but she forced herself to keep thinking. It was something her Type was not encouraged to do.
Cindy reluctantly flicked the screen past the shopping channel and stopped on a breaking news report. This time, a reporter who looked like a Brainiac took up the story in a very knowledgeable way.
“The militant, callous, anti-state, Tachion Liberation Movement have broken into the Nexus, the Nucleus that is the home of CAB - Confidential Authoritarian Business. This is an abhorrent threat to National security and your personal well-being. The TL is a dangerous threat. Their reign of terror must be brought to an end.”
Cindy had been actively following the TL since Wain's demise. She hadn’t known him that well, but the injustice of his termination had severely affected her. The militant Tachions fought because the Upper Worlds judged them by their imperfections. As a Gold Star Code Type, she was also judged by society for her perfection. To her, it was the same thing, but on the opposite side of the scale. Judging someone based solely on appearance was wrong whichever way you looked at it.
There was a light knock on the bedroom door, and Cindy quickly paused the screen. Her mother had already warned her to stop sympathising with the TL. If the Authorities found a Code Type empathising with their cause, they were liable for Regen.
“It’s only me Twinny,” Mindy peered around the door. “Oh, my, days!” Mindy gasped at what she saw.
Cindy was sitting on her bed, a pair of scissors in hand. Her long golden tresses lay strewn on the floor replaced by short spiking hair. Her face was blotchy red with spots, and she had gained more than a few pounds.
The look on Mindy’s face said it all. Cindy looked far from beautiful. And this was her desired effect.
“I’ll call mother. She’ll get you a lazer treatment, and that acne sorted straight away and like, one pill can grow your hair back within the week.”
“No.” Cindy yelped defiantly, lunging to close the door. “Mother can’t come in here!”
There was a silent standoff before Mindy sat gingerly on the bed. Cindy had been acting odd for some time now. She didn’t understand why her twin was blocking her out like this.
Mindy reached over to fix her sister's boyish mane into some form of funky hairstyle.
“Leave it.” Cindy hissed, through the brightest smile.
“Like, ok.”
For the first time in their lives, Mindy felt distant from Cindy. Now they didn’t even look like each other; it was as if they no longer had anything in common.
“You’re changing Cinds,” Mindy said quietly. “Buzz cutting your hair, bad skin, chubby-fat. Why are you doing this?”
Cindy knew that this day would come. She and Mindy had been inseparable their entire lives, and now it was time to be honest with her twin, no matter the cost. Sharing the same beautiful face as someone else, who was considered better in every way, had finally taken its toll on her.
“I need to be me,” Cindy said sadly, beaming like a beacon.
“What does that mean? We’re the same. Don’t you like being like me?”
“That's just it! I'm fed up of being like you. I’m perfect, but you’re perfect-er! I’m beautiful, but somehow you’re more so. Everyone likes me, but you're still more popular. You’re so right for this Aesthetics thing. The preening pouting perfection, you’re so comfortable in your own skin. I'm not.”
“So the reason you don’t like being you is because of me?” Mindy asked blinking wildly.
Cindy hadn't thought about it like that before, but the simple answer was, “Yes. I guess so.”
The Twins looked at each other long and hard. A feeling passed between the two that they had never felt before, or at least had never admitted. Cindy stared at Mindy and felt jealousy. Mindy stared back and felt pity.
The bedroom door knocked again, and Brad bounded in without an invitation.
>
“Your mother let me in,” Brad said flashing a dazzler at his girlfriend, Mindy.
He followed her gaze to Cindy and total horror spread across his face.
“Jeez! What happened to you?”
Cindy hid behind her hands. Although she was adamant in her decision to change her appearance, she was not prepared for Brad’s response. No one had ever been disgusted by the way she looked before.
Mindy hastily ushered Brad out of the room, “Let's go, Braddy. Cindy wants to be left alone.”
“Why in the world would she do that to herself?” Brad asked horrified.
“Because she hates me.” Mindy said closing the door.
Cindy turned woefully back to the television. She had never crossed words with Mindy in her entire life. Their negative exchange made her miserable. But she had chosen to conceal her Type, like the Eee Cees, and would have to deal with the consequences.
The news report continued with the breaking story of the TL infiltrating the Nexus. Through her sadness, Cindy tried hard to focus her attention back on the screen.
Orbs captured the images of the four members of the TL in blue balaclavas smashing into the Nexus. There was no mistaking Jonsey, the known leader of the TL. His red face and long plaited locks flowed behind him. Masks obscured the other two assailants faces. But there was something about the fourth perpetrator. He was so huge that his blue TL uniform was ill-fitting. Cindy figured that they didn’t make revolutionary outfits in Quadruple extra large sizes. For the briefest moment, his mask slipped.
The Brainiac reporter continued;
“This is the most brazen attack on the Nexus recorded in the history of the Upper Worlds. If you have any information on these criminals, please contact your local Authority immediately. It is your civic duty to do so. You owe it to your fellow man. You owe it to the state!”
The still images of the four culprits lingered onscreen. Cindy paused the report and zoomed into the last assailant. For her, there was no mistaking the muscular veins, which crept up the right side of his face. Philippe’s poorly disguised figure rang out from the TV screen.