

# The Order of the Sleepwalker

Zechariah Barrett
Copyright © 2011 Zechariah Barrett

All Rights Reserved

First Edition

ISBN 978-0-463-33359-4

## Preface

Welcome to a book that has gone by many names, and taken many turns before completion. It is a story I began at 17 years and finished a year after at age 18. I was excited, having written many stories and published a few short stories, but having no long form fiction yet published.

It is a story that I determined to make perfect. I would research locales and develop unique character names. I would think about what each character would do, what their purpose would be in the story, and how it would all unfold.

As I wrote, I could see the story playing out like a movie, and I wanted it be a similar, fluid experience for my readers.

After completing the story, I gathered together beta readers and re-read the story time and time again as I made revisions big and small. Then, when it was all done, I designed a cover and bound it up in a paperback. I did a small printing for family and friends, and I had separately queried literary agents for widespread publication.

I became discouraged as my query letters and research amounted to nothing of substance. So I moved on. I wrote more stories, and found an audience of readers that enjoyed them. Then I looked back. I began a re-write, and it is still in progress to this day. You may have seen it before alongside my other future books. It's called Project Ordine.

This is not Project Ordine. The re-write has taken inspiration and general plot points from The Order of the Sleepwalker, but otherwise overhauled this entire book. I decided to release this book under a penname, to avoid confusion. The reception was positive.

Then I had a realization. With both stories being so distinct, and having been such a large part of my writing journey, why not have both under my own name?

Here we are now, my dear reader. I hope you enjoy this early work of mine, that I have at last decided to share. I appreciate that you have taken the time to join me.

## Prologue

I woke to the sound of crashing waves tossing our boat back and forth, a crackle of thunder sounding in the distance, and the roar of laughter produced from drunken sailors in the cabin next door.

It was often like this – I would wake suddenly in the early hours of the morning covered in sweat, heart pounding, and muscles tensed with adrenaline. Every sense was alert.

My eyes strained in the darkness, and with inhuman speed adjusted to my surroundings. The kitchen, on the other side of the boat, emanated the distinct smell of bacon and eggs, signaling breakfast would be soon.

A few levels down in the engine room I noted that a bolt had loosed from its position on the generator. It would however, be quickly fixed, considering an engineer's measured tread made its way down the stairs a moment later. Then, as I reached to pull aside my blankets, my hand brushed against the fur of my dog – I could identify precisely three hundred and sixty seven hairs in that exact spot, and another five hundred even hairs as I pushed my covers off the bed.

I stood up and proceeded a few steps, all the while feeling the ocean's fluid movements beneath me, and opened the door to my cabin, momentarily blinded by the change in light, to which my eyes adjusted as before. I proceeded to walk, barefoot, down the cold metal corridor. I stopped at the third cabin down, and turned to face the door without any conscious reasoning.

With the same mindless but calculating motion, I pulled open the door and walked inside. A bed, located in the far right corner of the room, next to the bathroom door, sat vacant. I approached the base of it and lay a single hand upon the pillow. It was still warm. I moved briskly out of the room, closed the door, and continued down the hall. I stopped when the sound of footsteps came to my notice – a moment later, a tall, stocky man came into view. My suspicions were oddly aroused from the most unreasonable of observations – he wore a particular brand of European cologne, an obnoxious aroma to be sure. The very air around him seemed tainted, and from this sole dislike for the cologne, I developed an instant enmity toward the man. He looked at me with a perplexed expression, followed by revelation.

"You're back," he muttered, somehow recognizing me.

Oddly enough, I had never seen him before in my life... or as far as I could remember. Had we met briefly before? No, I would've recognized that smell... that pungent odor, it was bound to make an impact on your memory. But then how did he know me? I naturally decided to pose the question I was seeking.

"Who are you?"

Those three words changed my life. I wish I could've forgotten the man's answer. I should have simply walked away, after all, his very existence seethed something sinister – but that same, seemingly unnatural force that awakened me each night, forced the words out of my mouth.

## Chapter I: Burnt Burgers

The bell rang, sounding for the next class. Dreaded English class – with its torture chamber assortment of grammar, spelling, and laborious poetry was at an end, and biology was next! I promptly picked up my backpack, and stood to leave, eager to be out of Mr. Inahka's domain. Detainment, however, was inevitable.

The teacher called out as I made it to the door, "Jake! I must speak with you for a moment."

I let out a quiet sigh of exasperation, beyond the instructor's earshot, and walked over to his desk, as if to the scaffold. "Yes, Mr. Inahka?" I asked, with the hesitation that accompanies a scolding.

Mr. Inahka gave me a small smile, for a moment occupied with thoughts of better times. Then his expression changed to seriousness when he pointed to my English essay on Romeo and Juliet. "Your analysis was lacking..." he began. "I've spoken with Miss Brown, and it would appear you write tremendously well for biology class essays. So why the lack of focus in English?"

I shifted my feet and took a deep breath, as if the action would render my freedom, "English isn't my strong suit." I muttered, as if it were a shy excuse.

Mr. Inahka stood up out of his chair, and waved my essay in the air with irritation. "Writing is writing!" he said sternly. "If you can write essays for biology, you can write a simple analysis paper for English. Think Scientific Method. You present your thesis, prove it, and conclude."

I conceded with a nod, "Yes Mr. Inahka." The teacher tussled my hair, and sat back down. With a few strokes of a pen, in a most singular manner, Mr. Inahka wrote a pass and handed it to me. His signature was as incoherent and varying as ever. "Go on then," he said.

• • •

As Jake entered biology class he crumpled his pass and tossed it into the trash, proceeding to his seat. Miss Brown was already aware of his situation, or "deficiency" as Inahka called it, in English, and never required any explanation when he came in late – among the many reasons why she had become his favorite teacher.

Class had already begun in its usual manner, with students working on the warmup exercise on the over-head – today it was a prompt regarding the concept of carrying capacity: will the increased deer population in Nebraska and Iowa lead to the allowance of additional hunting? Or will predators such as the coyote, keep the population regulated? Jake fetched his notebook and wrote down a quick answer before Miss Brown turned off the overhead and inquired of the class. As usual, she called upon him to give a response.

Jake paused for a moment to gather his thoughts, then with a brief but methodical glance at his notebook, answered, "Predators such as the coyote are in short supply in comparison to the deer population. Because while the deer are further moving into cities and towns where there still remains fields for grazing, predators are already occupied with the hundreds still at home in their habitat. Taking these two factors into account, the midwestern states would be wise to permit an expansion to the current hunting limitations, allowing hunters to decrease the population over a gradual period of time and return the environment to a stable capacity."

This was the only time Jake would speak in such a manner, although if he did so in English, Inahka would be ecstatic. His friend Abrielle looked over at him and rolled her eyes, mouthing the words know-it-all.

"Excellent!" replied Miss Brown. "A very thorough answer! Now everyone, I believe it's about time for our chapter test. I'll give you five minutes to study, then we'll begin."

Jake's eyes widened in realization and panic. He had forgotten to study, yet again. He quickly drew out his study guide packet, which had been creased and fit into his notebook, and memorized each point individually with the efficiency of a photographic memory. By the time Miss Brown passed out the seven page tests after the given period, he was ready. When the tests were graded the next day, Jake received a perfect score.

To make a great class even better, biology was last on scheduling, and when the bell rang, school was dismissed, much to the relief of all. In the usual manner, hallways flooded with the excited chatter of students with plans and parties, and then rapidly emptied as the socialites headed home for Spring Break. Jake grabbed a few books from his locker, and replaced them with his biology textbook – it was the only homework he ever finished early, although he still had a posterboard presentation to do over break. After closing it shut, he twisted the lock dial a few times, before leaving, though never thought it necessary when took the time to think about it. It was treasure trove of knowledge in there, who wouldn't want a piece of it?

When he at last stood up and turned to leave, he found himself face to face with Abrielle Lombardi, illustrious daughter of Lucido Lombardi – the richest man in Italy, making her the school's very own Italian heiress. Despite her European heritage, her skin was fair and her long, flowing hair was of a deep maroon. Her mother was Susan Lombardi, who was born and raised in London until her father decided to ship her off to the States when she was sixteen, after her mother's death, thinking it was better for her to live with distant relatives who would provide more tender care. Mr. Lombardi met her in High School and it was love at first sight. Though after the birth of their daughter, he wasn't to be seen so much. Engaged in a job oversees, which always escaped conversation. Abrielle, however, was without the mystery. She was kind, honest, and determined to pursue her dreams. A second bell rang, though Jake mistook it for wedding chimes.

"Hey Jake," she said. "Ready for Spring break?"

Jake smiled and placed his books under his arm. "Definitely, Mr. Inahka's class has been crazy. You'd think he was a an ex-marine, the way he drills his students."

"Oh, he's not that bad," retorted Abrielle. "It's always been like that with him. I guess it's his way of caring."

"So why doesn't he care about anyone else?" Jake countered, suddenly defensive. "It's always just me he decides to lecture."

Abrielle sighed. "Yeah, I know. But you know about his past..."

Jake shook his head, "We all know about it," he said, "But he still annoys me sometimes."

By now the school was all but empty, with the exception of a few students serving detentions, seeing teachers, or grabbing things from their lockers, not to mention the overachievers actually organizing their lockers. "Let's get going," Abrielle said at last.

"And forget about Mr. Inahka."

As they headed outside, the sun was still burning brightly amidst an almost cloudless sky. Here many kids were still gathered, waiting for rides and socializing before heading home.

As Jake walked towards the bicycle rack, Abrielle called after him. "Have a good break!"

"Same to you!" he responded.

On bicycle, the distance home was about 15 minutes, and Jake always spotted the strangest things on the way there... particularly the most unnoticeable.

At a nearby gas station, he heard a man sneeze and bang his head against the pump – he saw the flicker of a flame in someone's backyard, and heard a faint mechanical clink as a man flipped burgers onto his grill, and by the smell of them, they were a bit overdone. This, however, was hardly the most unpleasant. He could also smell the sewage, deep underground, from the gutters along the street.

The strangest link among all these instances was the distance by which he would notice them, sometimes things even a mile or two away – naturally, human senses would not be able to pick up on these things, yet Jake always found that he could. It was disturbing – he was just your average teenager, with super senses that were partially active in the day, and heightened to their highest extent at night when he was on his nightly excursions. They were however, rare occurrences – the first had been when his mom had caught him sleepwalking outside near the dock, muttering about a lost ship somewhere in the Atlantic Ocean. His parents had excused it as having come from watching too many movies, or too much TV – Jake knew, however, that it was only a guise. How could they simply explain away the abnormal senses he experienced, or the sense of mission that enveloped him during that first incident?

"It doesn't matter," he muttered upon approaching the doorstep of his house. "It won't happen again."

It did however, three nights later.

• • •

Inside, it was time for dinner, and the conversation inevitably turned towards the day's peculiarities.

"Burnt burgers, huh? Well, that's not too surprising, smells like that travel a ways." Ian Laskaris remarked, between bites of beef and broccoli.

"Dad, I didn't pass by the grill until five blocks down, that can't be normal," reasoned Jake.

"And the garbage?" Felecia Laskaris added. "It rained last night, don't you think that could've been what you smelled?"

"But I never do in the morning! Even after a storm. It's always a certain time of day."

"Well then maybe you're a super secret agent the CIA has been preparing all this time! That would explain why you had to stay at the hospital for a while after you were born. You were chosen for a project that no one could know about!" Jake's father joked. "Oh, honey." Felecia chided. "Enough of that nonsense."

• • •

As Jake had walked into his house and closed the door, a car engine rumbled to life. Inside was Mr. Inahka Inahka – the recondite English teacher. A man of significant build, tan complexion, and vibrant blue eyes. He had tailed Jake for nine months straight, and no one was the wiser – to be expected of a CIA operative. The fact that he was following the movements of a sixteen-year old boy in Portland, Oregon, however, was still unknown to the agency.

At present, he was under the authority of another organization – outside the eye of the intelligence community. Their operations encompassed the whole world, and their methods were precise and wholly confidential – no one outside of the organization knew of them and many of its members didn't understand the full extent of its secrets. Rotso was on a team of so-called "talent scouts," seeking out potential members with one qualification – extraordinary abilities, and Jake certainly had them. He could very well have powers the likes of which they had never seen before. Although his level of discipline may not be as qualifying, especially in regards to bookwork. Tomorrow the board members would convene at New York City, under the cover of corporate business.

Rotso would provide an overview of his team's progress, while another agent would take his place, and begin the recruitment process when the time was right. He himself had organized a substitute to take his place, a relative to one of Jake's friends, and though he was a verifiable hothead, he always followed his gut. A quality which was sorely lacking in the committee.

## Chapter II: Red as Blood

A fierce storm kept everyone at bay in their houses for three days straight, which made for a dreadfully boring start to Spring Break. Jake felt as if his time was being squandered away by the merciless hand of nature – what was there to do at home? Read books, watch TV, and swim in the indoor pool – nothing especially fun or exciting.

When the clouds finally parted, and the first rays of sunshine descended upon Portland, Jake was outside, biking towards Annapati's Bakery. He didn't bother to put on his helmet, as he would much rather have the fresh, spring air rushing against his face. Helmets restrained you, and right now Jake wanted freedom – liberty to do what he wished without intervention. He would soon discover, however, that it was only a vain aspiration.

Rotso's substitute was a man by the name Aedus Butler, an Irishman with crimson red hair, military buzz cut, and the build of a Marine drill sergeant. His expression was firmly stoic – focused on the task at hand. He slipped a custom-made iPhone out of his jacket pocket and navigated to the pre-installed e-mail developed by the organization. One new message was entitled Mission Briefing, secured with a 256-bit encryption, which could effectively render any intercepted information useless. Aedus tapped out the necessary ninety-character pass code, added as an additional security measure, with lightning speed. When the message was finally unlocked, decoded, and available in plain English, it read:

Find the boy and record each movement. Do not interfere. ~Izo

Aedus nearly scoffed at the message before him – when had he ever interfered? The Order was getting much too finicky in its old age, and its founding members were becoming weak and paranoid. Aedus shook his head – no, it wasn't his right to judge the inner workings of the organization. He took this job for a reason – plenty of action, little thinking required. With a professional air once again about him, he began preparations for the operation.

• • •

Annapati's Bakery was one of those beloved Ma and Pa places you tend to find in every town. Although it's age, more than anything, shown through. The Panettiere family had been baking for generations, and it was clear that their establishment had been through many a season as well. The once vibrant and artful collage which encompassed the building in green and red hues, had lost its sheen, and the front door cried out in a shrill, odious shriek whenever opened. The magic of the place, however, was not in aesthetics but the craft of their trade. Every morning, when the ovens opened and the pans were withdrawn, locals and foreigners alike would gather at the doorstep for their portion of the hundreds of mouth-watering pastries that were put out.

When Jake arrived at Annapati's Bakery, his friends had already sat down with a tray of pain au chocolat. Walking in, the aroma of baguettes, croissants, tarts and turnovers, chocolate éclairs, sweet rolls, even doughnuts, permeated the air. It was the best place to be if you had an empty stomach, or the worst place if your stomach was growling and your wallet was wanting. Abrielle smiled and waved him over to their table, Garrett – an old friend since primary, was also waiting for him, blonde hair put up in a tuft, with curls marking the sides and back. Next to him he noticed another familiar face, Elbert, the French foreign exchange student. He was of average height, average build, brown hair, and the gray eyes of a remorseless assassin. Like Abrielle, he too was from a wealthy family. Though he only divulged when in the best of moods. It was rumored he had connections to intelligence and secret service agencies all around the world, which could hardly be said the same for Jake, whose only connections were his friends and family. In the end, however, despite rumors and appearances, Elbert was one of the nicest guys he'd ever met, and with a sense of humor rivaling Garrett's at times.

"Hey Jake," Elbert said as Jake approached the table, "How is your day going?"

Despite being born and bred in France, Elbert's English was almost flawless, an accomplishment which was a stretch for many of his classmates. "The day has been great, now that the clouds have gone," Jake responded.

Elbert laughed, "We have rain in France all the time! Oregon has nothing on Bayeux."

Jake lingered in small talk with Elbert for a few additional minutes, then turned his attention to the rest of his friends. "You guys have any plans for Spring Break?"

Abrielle was the first to answer, "Well first, we're not all guys. But to answer your question, yes one of us does have plans."

"Like what?" Jake asked.

"Grandpa Domenico is coming in this weekend from Italy, and we're going to have a party for him. You remember him, don't you?"

"Oh yeah," Jake said. "He always stopped us from arguing by using those fairy tales of his."

Garrett, who had remained silent until now, at last spoke up. "That's all nice and cutsie, but not much fun. I'm heading down to Hawaii to get in some real action – colossal wave action. Maybe even do some sky diving."

Jake nodded, "As usual. What about you Elbert?"

Elbert frowned, and his brow creased in contemplation. "I have some family coming to visit as well – apparently my brother will be visiting." At this he shifted in his seat awkwardly.

"Your brother?" asked Jake inquisitively.

"His name is Aedus," responded Elbert, with a solemn air about him. "And he's my half brother. He can be fun when he wants to be, though not usually."

"Really? How come?" Abrielle questioned.

"It's a long story."

• • •

"He was born in Dublin, Ireland." Rotso's booming voice sounded throughout the meeting room in New York City, overcoming any other noise that dare challenge it. "To a wealthy Frenchwoman, and a bar-tending Irishman – an unconventional parentage for a very unique child. Aedus was taught at Prátaí Private School and from an early age showed extraordinary ability in all he did. At age thirteen, he moved from Ireland to France and graduated at the top of his class. Instead of scholarly pursuits, he became a citizen of France and began training in the armed forces, displaying uncannily brilliant marksmanship. So as he neared his eighteenth year, one of our agents caught the scent. At the time, our recruiter was operating under the alias of Jacque Chaussure, a lieutenant in the French navy. In reality, he was the Order's district commander of Western Europe. He recruited Aedus into his sector and sent him on covert intelligence operations, all of which but one were a success – that single mission, however, was and still is, of exceptional importance. It is the Tête-à-Tête operation – which ultimately seeks to infiltrate the global mafia and cripple it beyond recovery."

At this point, the district commander of Asia interrupted, "It is also an operation that has yet to be cleared by this board."

Rotso waited patiently for any additional comments and then addressed the commander. "We are not the United Nations and clearance has no relevance in this time of war. At one time we may have turned to the elders for consideration, before the factions were created. In the midst of this modern crisis however, the old system has lost its eminence. We are up against an organization much like our own – they are not a petty crime syndicate that we may deal with as we have in the past. This new threat requires innovation."

The commander conceded with a nod, "What would you suggest?"

"I suggest..." began Rotso. "Aedus pick up where he left off – with a recruit."

• • •

Elbert expounded upon the difficulty of his brother's character, as of late – his suddenly cold, professional personality, and complete disregard of his younger brother – as well as his mysterious occupation.

"What a guy," remarked Abrielle after he had finished, "Must be a fun family reunion."

"Oh yeah," said Elbert sarcastically. "It's a blast. I just wish I knew what happened to make him that way."

Jake checked his wristwatch, then gave a double-glance outside, astounded at how fast time had gone. When he had first arrived, it was close to noon, now it was half past four. "I have to go," he said suddenly. "Still have that big biology project."

"Oh!" Abrielle exclaimed, "I forgot about that, I'd better be going too."

Garrett, who was slumped in his chair, the epitome of laziness, simply laughed. "You two are biology nerds. It's the beginning of Spring Break, just relax!"

"It's your F," Abrielle said, then promptly stood up and left, followed by Jake.

• • •

The sky had become a palette of gold and crimson hues, and the group of friends soon parted ways. As Jake headed home, his mind returned to Abrielle Lombardi. She was one of the most unique girls he had ever met, and certainly the most amazing – excelling in all that she did, not to mention a terrific sense of adventure, though not reckless like Garrett. They were close, childhood friends, and he had never thought of their relationship as anything more... until now. Jake frowned, why did all the distractions start when you became a teenager? All the mixed feelings you experience make everything so confusing – life takes on a disorienting twist as everything you have ever known is challenged. Well that was the least of his worries, if he didn't get home soon, his parents would be worried sick. As he came close to a strip of shops and businesses he heard a deafening scream emanate from the local bank, followed by the shouting of men. Then the sound became even clearer, and he could hear the discussion inside.

"If you don't stop your screaming, you'll be the first hostage to die!" yelled one man.

"Just give us the money and nobody will get hurt," another, more authoritative voice assured, sounding very much the part of a blockbuster convict.

"A-al-Alright, alright," stuttered another man, evidently quite nervous, and understandably so. "This will just take a moment."

Although Jake didn't enter into another episode, he felt his heightened senses returning. Smell was the next accentuation – the last man to speak was drenched in sweat, and his breathing came out in short, strained intervals, giving off the distinct aroma of peppermint. Jake stopped his bike, and tried to make sense of what was going on, how was he hearing this? Or smelling that? What was going on? In the next moment, his last question was answered. The doors to the local bank burst open and three masked men ran out. One man carried a large cloth bag, the other two held guns, in preparation for a possible firefight with the police. Instant realization came to Jake – they had just robbed the bank! Then, I can worry about the matter of how I suddenly gained super senses later; right now I have to do something! Oddly enough, Jake felt no fear as he mounted his bike and followed the robbers down the alleyway. The only thing he did feel was an exhilarating sensation that was not entirely his own, and a sudden burst of intellectual capability and calculation. With such seemingly invincible power, he ignorantly chased after them... unaware of his impending downfall.

• • •

Aedus had been waiting when Jake and his friends at last departed from the bakery. He had watched as Jake exchanged a brief goodbye with his girlfriend, parted ways, and then mounted his bike, taking off with a sudden burst of speed. Aedus immediately started up his car and pursued after him, wasting no time.

Traffic had begun to grow denser as families made their commute from work to home, making it all the more difficult to keep track of the boy. Aedus, however, kept on his trail by swerving in and out of the busy traffic, unafraid of opposition. At last, Jake stopped his bike near a local bank, proceeding to dismount.

A few minutes later, a gunshot rang out, and three men, faces covered in thick, black masks, ran out of the bank. Jake seemed to stop and think for a moment, then hopped back onto his bike. Aedus shook his head in disbelief; the kid couldn't be that stupid. Sure enough, Jake turned down the alley where the armed robbers had previously headed. Darn kid! Traffic had come to a standstill from an unfortunate triple-car accident on the road ahead. Aedus opened his door, grabbed his pistol, and headed out into the traffic, locking his car behind him. Five cars sat between him and the alley, and he jumped from car to car in an ostentatious fashion, all the while attempting to make sense of the situation. What could the kid have been thinking, running after a group of bank robbers? Was he insane? Without stopping, he ran into the alley, gun at ready.

• • •

Without hesitation, Jake had already formulated a plan to trap the thieves until the police arrived. He felt like a human supercomputer, compiling and analyzing information in an instant, then transferring the commands throughout his body. It was the only time he had ever felt in control, without an objective being forced into his consciousness.

As he entered the alley, he hopped off his bike and pushed it forward, distracting the robbers for a moment, while he ran over to a mobile dumpster. One man spotted his movements, and shouted to others. They began to head in his direction.

Jake quickly surveyed the old brick wall near the men and identified a weak spot. After this, he plotted the distance between him, the dumpster, and the men, proceeding to propel the dumpster forward with every ounce of his strength, which in his empowered state was many times greater than a gorilla, much more a muscle-building man.

His targets, who had conveniently walked straight toward him, found themselves immediately sequestered by the dumpster, and slammed into the brick wall behind them. A pile of bricks and dirt, loosed from years of storms and renovations, collapsed on top of the them, trapping them effectively without suffocation. Though maybe a broken rib or two.

Jake suddenly felt a sense of extreme fatigue, forcing him to the ground. He gasped for air as his veins pulsed unnaturally and his head throbbed with pain. Jake turned around and lay flat on the ground, staring up at the sky with squinted, bloodshot eyes. It was a peaceful blue, then a golden yellow, and finally a deep, crimson red, as that of blood. It seemed as if time itself were speeding up all a round him. Jake closed his eyes and clasped his head in his hands, praying, crying, supplicating any way he knew how, for relief. Then darkness came and he lay unconscious next to the trapped convicts.

## Chapter III: On the Run

The boy was more than they could ever hope for, Aedus contemplated. He was abounding in potential, even greater than himself – now if only he had the passion... and the ability to control the Kakashgun's great consequence. That knowledge which escaped even him.

Rotso... always the secretive one, yielding information only when it suits him. He watched from the corner of his eye as Jake regained his senses, and began mentally preparing an explanation for the events that had transpired.

After they had departed from the scene of the bank robbery, Aedus had received a call from Inahka. The Kakashgun had been aware of the robbery and had assumed Jake would be there as well. They determined that it would make a good exercise for him. Their level of anticipation was incredible at times, although frightening as well.

Did they watch him as he slept? Perhaps he would have to start leaving out cookies. Jake's eyes flickered to life, contorted by fear and panic.

"Who are you?" Jake asked abruptly. "Where are we?"

"The name is Aedus, your chauffeur. And we're in my car."

Jake glared at him, still tense from his prior encounter. "Let me out."

"Alright," Aedus said, stopping the car in the middle of the road. "Have fun walking a hundred miles home." After a moment of silence, he continued. "Now, I'd be more than happy to take you home, but first you'll have to cooperate."

Jake said nothing – his whole body felt strained, and he had a tremendous headache, although at least it was better than before the blackout. If these were the side effects of using his abilities, he'd rather refrain from another such episode. Besides, according to Elbert, his brother was simply the cold and calculating type, but not much for kidnapping and murder – he occasionally even went so far as to demonstrate something resembling kindness. It would also be nice to learn more about his abilities, providing Aedus knew anything about them.

"You are one of many special individuals on this planet," Aedus began, recalling the time he had a similar talk with Jacque Chaussure. "Your abilities are far from abnormal – and occur naturally for members of our organization. It's certainly not anything new either, we've existed since ancient Egypt, and perhaps before."

"We? You have abilities as well?"

"Yes," Aedus responded, "I'm a weaver, and now, that's not like your grandma. I use energy to conjure up weapons, no, not like comic book characters. I couldn't make some sledgehammer appear out of thin air, that'd probably kill me. Though I could just as easily make a projectile to take out your heart on a second's notice. But no, I'm under orders, can't have too much fun. The Kakashgun," he continued, "is made up of various multicultural factions – some of which originated in Japan, during the time of the Samurai."

"Were the Samurai members of the organization?" Jake asked.

Aedus shrugged, "Some of them, but you won't be finding those guys in your history book. We've remained hidden for centuries, the only people that know about us are those that come in contact with us – even then, they never experience our true power. It's something you'll have to travel to the Kakashgun City to unlock – unless you're born with it."

"Where's this Kashkung city?"

Aedus smiled, at last he had the boy on his hook. "In the middle of a desert, far from any civilization. But to get there, you'd have to come with me."

A sneaking suspicion crept upon Jake. How many people in his life were already involved with this organization? Even the mail carrier could be working for them – he tried to picture the portly man; the jolly, Santa-clause like figure, involved in the world of espionage. No, he was safe... but what about Mr. Inahka? Jake decided to voice his assumption, "Will Rotso Inahka be there?" he asked.

"Yeah, ole' grumpy will be there too." Aedus muttered, almost as if to himself. "You up for the trip?"

Jake considered his options. He could either go home for Spring Break and be bored whenever a rain cloud came by, or he could enter into a world of intrigue and espionage, potentially finding some answers about his abilities. It was a dangerous proposition, one that should take much thought and contemplation. "I'll go," Jake answered. "But I want to bring a friend."

The argument that ensued over this single statement was a bitter one. Aedus had never been good with children, and his deficiency shown through. "You're not bringing a friend!" he had grumbled. "I'm not a babysitter and you're not in control. I hold the ultimatum, a gun."

"If you shoot me, won't your superiors be angry? Plus, the police are only a phone call away," Jake said with a smile, waving his cell phone before the beet red Irishman. "So you can't hurt me, and you can't stop me from leaving. Who has the ultimatum now?"

Aedus was not so quick to relent, albeit his will finally gave way to reason. Maybe this friend would be special too.

A few hours later, they arrived at Garrett's house. Jake had considered bringing Abrielle along, though concluded that it would be much too dangerous. Aedus waited in the car as Jake knocked on the door and explained the situation. Garrett, who was an avid player of video games, took instantly to the idea of super powers and secret agents. Luckily, his parents were also away, and his grandparents showed little protest concerning traveling with Jake – in around fifteen minutes they were on the road again, now with three passengers.

After a long period of silent-driving, Garrett broke the silence. "Soooooooooo... where are we going exactly?"

"To Kakashgun City," Aedus and Jake muttered simultaneously.

"Is it just me or is there an echo in here?" Garrett wisecracked, after another moment of silence, he added. "Tough crowd."

"Oh, I can be funny too kid." Aedus remarked. "But not now... daycare isn't my element."

Outside, all was forest –endless greenery, eternal shrubbery. It felt as if they had been traveling for days, when in fact it had only been a few hours. Throughout the trip, Garrett provided to be a source of comedy relief – if not quite cheesy, it was a welcome distraction from the passing trees. The conversation fluctuated often, often speculation about the mysterious Kakashgun City – Aedus would always respond in the same, dull tone:

"Wait till' we get there."

Five hours later, and the desire of inquiry having faded, they stopped at a gas station to refuel.

"Now you kids be good," Aedus said, syrupy-sweet. "Oh, and I'm taking the keys with me."

As Aedus went inside the gas station to pay, Jake and Garrett lingered outside, pointing out various interesting people that went in and out, developing a guessing game where they'd attempt to divine the occupation of the individual. In the world of secret agents and Kashkung, they would need all the practice they could get.

Garrett pointed out the first person, a woman dressed very casually, with her hair up in a bun, and dark shades over her eyes. "CEO of... some kind of investors company," Garrett guessed. "Your turn Jake."

Jake looked around for someone who appeared out of the ordinary. However, all he saw were a bunch of truckers and average-looking locals. He was on the verge of giving up when a jet-black limousine, with tinted bulletproof windows and armored plating pulled up the drive.

The two front seat doors opened and men in solid black tuxedos walked out. One man opened the far back door, to reveal the principal in person. He was a bald man of muscular build, with hard blue eyes and a five o'clock shadow, as well as a lofty stature – appearing to be like some villain's goon from a Hollywood movie. "I don't know... hired assassin?" Jake guessed at last, half joking, after a moment of contemplation.

Garrett simply shook his head in disbelief, "Well I wouldn't argue with you! He certainly looks the type."

At that moment, Aedus walked out of the gas station and approached the two boys. "Wondering about tall, ripped, and stubbly over there?" he asked.

"Yeah," murmured Garrett, still in awe of the seven-foot giant.

"I actually know him, believe it or not. And it's a wonder that he's here of all places." Aedus said in a hushed tone as the troop of men passed by.

"His name is Ammon Jónsson, works for the global mafia, and is number one on the Kakashgun's wanted list. " After measuring the odds, a cocky smirk spread across his face. "Think you boys would be up for taking him in?"

"Taking him in where?" Garrett asked.

"Same place we're going – the Kakashgun City," answered Aedus. "He can be dead or alive, doesn't matter, but it certainly makes it easier."

"How would it be easier?" Jake asked. "They outnumber us and outclass us.

Who's ever heard of two teens and one adult taking down a mafia boss?"

"You forget my special abilities," Aedus retorted. "And the power of our organization. We'll need to tail them and see where they go, then call in for back-up before we make our move. For now, we can just wait in the car."

"I wouldn't do that if I were you," said a voice behind them – it was Rotso, in a bright blue business suit no less. "Five hundred pounds of explosives have been loaded into your trunk, immediately activated by the slightest movement, such as the opening and closing of a car door. Plus, haven't you wondered what one of the mafia's finest is doing here? They're looking for Jake and you'd be giving him right into their hands."

Jake fidgeted uncomfortably, first this organization, now the Dark whatchamacallit, he wouldn't be surprised if he had his own satellite and special ops team by now.

"Then what would you recommend General?" Aedus asked scornfully, halfsulking, half-fuming on the inside. How could a simple matter of explosives have slipped by him? And to be outsmarted by Rotso Inahka...!

"Considering you've already been spotted by Ammon's agents, we no longer have the element of surprise on our side. The Dark Kakashgun has likely been alerted as well, and any attempts to escape will be futile." Rotso said, in his usual matter-of-fact manner.

"Wait, who are... or is, the Dark Kakashgun?" Jake demanded. "What exactly is going on here?"

"Aedus hasn't told you?" Rotso asked, somewhat surprised. "Well then, I suppose we still have a small window of time before enemy reinforcements arrive to take us." Rotso knelt on the ground, and picked up a hand of course, black and white pebbles.

"Where there is light, there is also darkness," he said. "So it is with our organization – the Kakashgun. One time, long ago, our order was one entity, not separate factions, united at the Kakashgun City. Then one woman and one man, whose names are lost to history, let the greed of their hearts overtake them and began to follow the path of selfish ambition.

They grew tired of doing good works when there was no reward, so they formed the Dark

Kakashgun – the largest body of organized crime to this day. Many members of the Kakashgun defected to them, and they greedily welcomed anyone else who would join them, even incorporating the Italian mafia. They are a force of absolute malevolence... and must be stopped."

"Can't some super powered guy in spandex do that for us?" Garrett said. "We're only kids! What can we do?"

"You can't do anything," Rotso responded coldly. "But Jake can – starting now."

"What am I supposed to do?" Jake asked, feeling light headed under the crushing weight of the pressure that was placed upon him.

"As much as it pains me," Rotso continued, "You must take on the role of bait."

I wonder if it's even possible for him to feel pain, Jake thought. Everything about him reeks of inhumanity – like a robot. "But I thought you said we couldn't escape?" he voiced aloud.

"I never said anything about escaping," Rotso retorted. "You'll be on the run, aboard a cruise ship en route to countries along the Mediterranean. Garrett, however, must return home before you board the ship. As for getting there in first place, Aedus and I will keep Ammon and his men at bay. Take the road to the left of the gas station and keep walking. A black limousine will pick you up after you've travelled a short distance..."

"What's with all the black limos?" Garrett interjected. "Feels like a spy movie. Dun, dun dun!"

Rotso ignored him, although Jake smiled, "Once inside the limousine, your driver will take care of the rest."

"Wait, don't I have a choice in this? Jake stammered.

"Sure," said Aedus, speaking up. "You can stay here and die, or go on an expensive multi-billion dollar cruise and live. Your choice."

"He'll take the cruise!" Garrett said quickly, deciding for him. With that, it was decided, as Ammon's men ran out of the gas station, guns blazing.

Jake felt all the normal seep out of his life. From this point on, his life would forever be in danger. He would have to look over his shoulders every other minute... no one would be safe.

Jake felt a bullet glide a hairsbreadth from his shoulder and pass by him as he, followed by Garrett, dove into a clump of underbrush and out into the forest. From there they made their way back to the road, walking along its edge in the rare event that a car came speeding through.

"What do you think?" Jake asked Garrett suddenly.

"About what?"

"About all this."

"Well, I can certainly say I've never had to run away from a firefight before! The closest I've ever gotten is the TV screen in my bedroom." Garrett said with a feeble laugh.

Jake looked at his friend with concern, why did he have to get Garrett into this? At the start, when he first agreed to go with Aedus, Jake knew he would be entering a world full of danger. Though all he had thought of at the time was the adventure and excitement that would be entailed. His conbiology had always nagged at him to consider the consequences, and by disregarding it, he had gotten into this mess. It was a sense of utter chaos that felt inescapable, and even worse, he had invited his best friend to share in the pain.

"I'm sorry," Jake said, voicing his worries. "I shouldn't have had you come with me."

"No prob," Garrett said, maintaining a somewhat jovial tone despite the circumstances. "I'm all for adventure and excitement, and you couldn't have known it would be more than that."

Jake felt a sharp pang of guilt – he had known. As he formed the next few words he wished to say, he found himself interrupted by the sound of a car approaching. It was a limo – which meant it was time to go.

Enough emotional drama for one day, thought Jake, strengthening his resolve. I have a mission to do, and a friend to get back home.

## Chapter IV: Iron Man Inahka

They drove for a long time, and then only stopped to board a private jet belonging to the Order, which Jake had come to know of as the Kakashgun Order. Beforehand, the limousine driver had offered Garrett a ride home, but he refused. He wanted to be there until the end, or at least until Jake had to board the cruise ship. They talked very little along the way, anxious for what awaited them. When the plane finally landed, they were in Natal, Brazil.

Rain fell rapidly from the skies and the airplane pilot handed them two plain, black umbrellas, then smiled and wished them good luck. At least some of the Kakashgun members were civil and polite, Jake thought. As they descended the stairs to the ground below, they were met with a large metal barrier, sitting in front of a wooden dock. When they looked up, they could see it formed in a long curve at its front – this was it.

"She's a big'un," Garrett joked.

"So it's time to go." Jake muttered.

"Yeah," Garrett responded. "Well... don't have too much fun without me!"

"I don't think I will," Jake said. "The Kakashgun certainly doesn't seem like the type to include happiness and friendly excitement into their agenda."

Garrett nodded, then coughed awkwardly. Finally, with a serious tone, he added, "Abrielle isn't here, so I guess I have to tell you... don't do anything too stupid Jake. Get back in one piece. Years later, we might just be able to laugh about this, when our lives finally return to normal."

Jake was surprised at Garrett's sudden maturity, and was about to respond as such, when he noticed Garrett had gone back into the plane – likely off to Hawaii as he had planned. From now on, he was on his own. Jake cleared his thoughts, straightened his posture, and set his attention on the mission – board the cruise ship, receive an explanation of his abilities, then go back to a normal life. It sounded easier when he didn't actually have to do it, and when he wasn't bait. He felt very vulnerable in light of the uncertainty all around him.

What was the ultimate aim of the Dark Kakashgun? Why would they bother to chase after a sixteen-year-old kid like him? What would his parents think? Better yet, would Abrielle ever talk to him again?

Jake shook his head, he was getting unwound again. He could worry about these things in due time, when his life wasn't on the line. Rotso had promised him answers and they had better be good.

Jacque Chaussure watched as Jake approached the base of his cruise ship. The organization's commander was somewhat disconcerted about his task – first he was chosen to train a young recruit named Aedus, now a sixteen-year-old boy? When would this insanity end? He grumbled about for a moment longer, pacing back and forth on the main deck until Jake began his ascent up the stairs. Then he had an instantaneous attitude adjustment. He approached the boy, all-smiles – greeting him with an obnoxiously jubilant disposition.

"Bonjour, mon ami!" he cried out in his native French, while shaking hands with

Jake energetically. "What is your name, my boy?"

Jake blinked slowly, evidently still tired from his wearisome journey. "Jake," he responded simply. "Are you the captain?"

Jacque chortled with a laugh befitting a Christmas elf, and then heartily patted the boy on his back. "Oui! Oui! Indeed I am! My ship is grandest this side of the Pacific! You and your family will certainly enjoy your stay here... unless, you've come alone?" Jacque continued before Jake could answer. "Why, all the better! There will be no obstructions to your pleasant stay and the ship shall be your own – in the words of my great pépé, the fewer the merrier!"

"Where are the cabins?" asked Jake.

"Cabins?" responded Jacque, in a surprised tone. "No cabins! We are de qualité supérieure! The grandest ship of all – you shall have your own palace, private quarters, whatever you wish! Comfort is no mere option aboard Le Napoléon Gigantesque, it is of utmost vitality. Allow me the honor of taking you there, young monsieur."

It took them a decent measure of time to arrive at their destination, the ship was certainly as grand and astoundingly large as its name suggested, with all the inclusions of a billion-dollar luxury hotel and the added ability to travel to distant lands. If the Titanic was large, this ship was monstrous beyond proportion. Inside the long, winding corridors, and vast banquet rooms, you'd never know you were on a boat. The Kakashgun Order was certainly quite wealthy to be able to afford such a stately ship as this.

Jacque stopped before an ornate, fifteen by six feet Blackwood door – with a golden lion door knocker. He proceeded to open it, in a most delicate fashion, as if afraid it would break. "Each of these doors," he explained, "Cost over ten million Euro each. Très, très cher." As they walked inside the room beyond the doors, Jacque continued. "This shall be your chambers. You will find everything you require, including a five month's supply of imperishable foods. Food shall be served in the main banquet room at a given time each day. You may join the other passengers if you wish, or help yourself to meals here. Everything is very compétent – if you have any questions, contact the main desk."

Jacque parted with a cheerful smile and another hearty handshake, then left the room – Jake was alone once again. So much had happened in such a short period of time, it was quite overwhelming. Everything seemed like it was in a daze – all he had learned, all he wished to know... nothing mattered anymore. He just needed to rest.

Jake walked over to what he presumed was his bedroom and was comforted by the sight of a large, king-sized mattress held by a Victorian frame consisting of the same African Blackwood as his door. Beside the bed there was another door, leading into a pure white bathroom with black silk and wool towels arranged next to a shower and tub.

Jake picked up the provided shampoo and bar soap off the counter, shed his grass-stained, sweat drenched clothes, and stepped into the shower. Inside was a waterproof touch -screen control panel with a digital hot-cold dial. The dial was divided into five categories: hot, warm, lukewarm, cool, and cold. Jake selected hot and was met with a stream of mineral-infused water.

This place is nothing like home, Jake thought. But I think I might just get used to it.

After his shower, Jake opened a closet inside the bathroom and found a fresh change of clothes, divided into two segments for males and females, as well as taking into consideration various sizes, from infant-sized to extra-large adults.

He found a light, medium sized t-shirt and pajama bottoms, then walked over to his bed and slid under the covers. Next to the bed was a small nightstand with an atomic clock on top, right now it was ten thirty at night – just in time for sleep.

Jake closed his eyes, and welcomed the darkness that came. If only it could last a bit longer than the night provided, if only he could simply enjoy this cruise – thoughts of grandeur occupied his mind through the night, until he faded into a deep, sound sleep.

• • •

Aedus lunged forward and tackled the man before him, proceeding to knock him out with a brief jab of his hand against one of the man's pressure points. Soon another man came charging from behind and Aedus picked up the unconscious man and threw him against the near assailant. "Brings back memories, doesn't it?" Aedus asked Rotso between gasps. "Just like the old days at Kakashgun City."

Rotso flipped a man over onto his back and onto a pile of six other men, "Somewhat," he said, calm as ever. "Although your strength seems to have improved somewhat."

"Touché," Aedus remarked with a laugh. "Looks like you've learned a few new techniques as well."

"New?" Rotso asked, flipping another man over in the same fashion as before. "Hardly. I'm simply using the techniques my sensei taught me twenty years ago."

Aedus gave Rotso a look of surprise, then back fisted another one of Ammon Jónsson's goons. "You had a sensei when you were five?" Aedus continued. "How'd that work out?"

"It worked out very well," Rotso responded, taking Aedus literally. Without warning, Rotso's countenance darkened, and his eyes darted about. "What type of firearm do you have with you?" he asked Aedus sharply.

"A Walther P99," Aedus replied, anxiously gripping the handgun in his jacket. "Why, what's the trouble?"

"That won't be enough," Rotso said, ignoring his inquiry. "What do you have in the car?"

"A Sterling 9mm," Aedus answered quickly. "Now what the heck is going on Inahka?"

"Watch your mouth," Rotso chided. "You'll need a cool head for this. It seems our friend Ammon has brought a small army with him. Do you see that passenger plane in the sky?" he indicated with a turn of his head. "It belongs to the Syndicate," Rotso construed. "It's flight path gives it away. Just look at those unusual humidity trails – they must presume us to be inane."

"Whatever inane means," Aedus muttered quietly, regaining the sarcastic air about him. "So what's the plan?"

"This is the plan," Rotso said, raising his hand in the air in a sort of Iron Man-like stance. Suddenly the palm of his hand began to glow, and golden light began flowing out and interweaving into an intricate form resembling a Celtic symbol. Once formed, the emblem launched from his hand into the air, directly on course with the plane. Where the plane once was, a cloud of smoke billowed.

Aedus' eyes widened, "Whoa," he exclaimed. "What was that?!"

"A Kakashgun," Rotso answered, smiling for the first time. "For which we get our name."

"Why can't I do that!" Aedus complained, stomping a foot on the ground like a jealous schoolboy.

"You weren't born with it," Rotso declared simply. "And you don't have nearly enough training. But that plane isn't the last of our problems. If the global mafia has sent its agents out on surveillance missions, we may safely assume they've already caught scent of the bait."

"The bait. You mean Jake?" Aedus clarified. "What do they want with the kid anyways?"

"We've provided them with false intel that Jake has been born with the Kakashgun. The syndicate will take all measures in order to suppress our number of new recruits; therefore, they will be unable to resist another assassination attempt. Most likely by Ammon Jónsson himself – you did notice him escaping did you not?"

"Of course I did! But I thought you had dibs on the big guy." Aedus responded defensively, then, quickly changing conversation, added, "now what's all this about using Jake?"

"The boat we've placed him on is full of our agents. It'll be as if they're walking into military barracks. We'll have the ability to reduce at least a fourth of their force, then we may strike out each syndicate group individually. Though there remains the risk of casualties... and Jake may not escape alive. However, I'm sure our man will be aptly prepared to defend him."

"You're not talking about Mr. Shoe, right?" Aedus asked, half-expectantly.

"That's Chaussure. Say that around him and you might not live to tell about it. He has good-humor when it comes to his own jokes, although he doesn't take kindly to the mockery of his namesake. I'm certain he's taking measures to secure the boy as we speak."

## Chapter V: The Arashkagun

Jake woke with a start as the shuffle of feet, followed by a brief knock upon his door, alerted him. He quickly pulled away the bed covers restraining him, and donned a fresh pair of clothes originating from the bathroom closet, then directed his attentions to unlocking the door. First, the deadbolt had to be retracted, then the latch had to be unlocked, as well as a biometric security interface which accepted Jake's unique handprint – all this security simply to open the door from the inside. What kind of cruise liner was this anyway? When the colossal giant was finally open, Jake found Jacque Chaussure at his doorstep.

"Excusez-moi monsieur, vous avez un visiteur." He spoke expediently in French, then realizing Jake's incomprehension, he shook his head and laughed. "I'm dearly sorry; I've been in the French Quarters all morning! Nothing but Québécois and Parisians. Now in a language you're more likely to understand – excuse me sir, you have a visitor!" Jacque permitted himself another jolly laugh then patted Jake on the back as a skipper with a naïve recruit. "The man introduced himself as Ammon Jónsson, says it's a matter of utmost importance."

Jake thought for a moment – where had he heard that name before? Suddenly, a dark sense of realization came upon him, and he fought the urge to flee right then. In response to Jacque, he simply nodded, but the keen Frenchman caught a glimpse of fear in his eyes.

"I see you understand the situation, then we'd best be leaving, this way." Jacque said, motioning down the hall.

Jake followed Jacque, his mind reeling. He had begun to get used to being on a luxury ship, and being bait didn't seem so bad for once. Now he had to board another boat while running away from a madman with machine gun thugs?

Talk about a change in scenery. They walked down a plush hallway with Savonnerie carpet floors, and extravagant chandeliers hanging above.

Here, everything was either red, gold, silver, or crystal – it was certainly as de qualité supérieure as Jacque had attested. The hall ended with a grand archway, and stairs wrapping around forever beneath it.

Jacque walked slightly past an arch and roughly tore away the tapestry clinging to the wall to reveal an elevator door.He punched a button, then grabbed Jake by his shirt collar and pulled him inside. Jacque let out a sigh of relief as the elevator doors closed and they gradually descended into the lower levels of the cruise liner.

"I would imagine being bait isn't the most glorious situation to be in." Jacque said after a moment's silence, abandoning his French accent, and taking on a rather more British one. All the while his eyes were fixed on the doors barred before them. "It's all fine and well though, considering you'll have me along. The Kakashgun Order has been waiting a long time for this..." he glanced at Jake. "I trust you'd like some sort of explanation?"

Jake nodded.

"First off – proper introductions. I am the Kakashgun's District Commander of Western Europe, a rather verbose title for an elementary occupation, which may be likened to watching for forest fires. I observe the everyday vocations of the Kakashgun Order in my region, reporting any anomalies. This will be the first time in years that I have veritably had a piece of the action. As for the stratagem in question; all you must do is board another boat while we capture Ammon. We will pick you up by helicopter two days later and all your requisitions will be resolved at Kakashgun City. Sound quite reasonable? Great, I believe we've arrived."

That moment, the elevator sounded with a pleasant dong and the door opened. Now that he was at liberty to move about again, Jacque regained his state of frenzied excitement, this time pulling Jake along by his arm. The room they were in was most assuredly not as elegant as the previous floors they had so briefly toured. All was dirty gray and silver metal, with machinery all around, and a hatch leading into a built-in air lock. Jake was directed here, but stopped by Jacque before he could go inside.

"Step into the air lock and don't look back. Open the door to the outside and you'll find yourself inside the ship intended for your departure. It will undock in exactly twentyseconds. At the entrance you will find a room key, pick it up and locate the room with the same number that is inscribed on your key. Then sit tight and wait for us to arrive. Bon chance, mon ami." Jacque said, locking the chamber on Jake. After the boy had gotten safely inside the next ship and departed, Jacque once again let out his anxiety in a breath, then muttering sarcastically, added: "Après vous, c'est le déluge."

Jake carefully walked into the ship connected to the cruise liner, avoiding hitting his head on the low ceiling, or tripping on the assortment of pipes. Apparently, he had ended up in some kind of boiler room, and a rusty one at that.

Everything seemed old and worn, and abandoned gun shells lay scattered across the cold floor. To his left was an engineer's toolbox, left ajar, displaying its contents for all to see – a wrench, screwdriver, and some electric tape was all that was inside.

Jake continued on, careful to observe Jacque's instructions. The ship will undock in exactly twenty seconds. The ship pulled away from the liner with a few clanks and a hefty thud, noisily making its way out into the vast ocean.

At the entrance you'll find a room key, pick it up... the elusive room key. To no avail, he could not locate it. Unintentionally, Jake began moving about the room, his eyes scanning every nook and cranny like Rotso grading an English paper. He bent down and pulled out the meager contents of the toolbox, revealing a secret compartment underneath, which slid aside to reveal the room key and number. The Kakashgun Order clearly wasn't as smart as they thought they were.

• • •

Ammon Jónsson, the seven-foot giant, cursed repeatedly then bellowed out in a cry of unmollifiable anger. He whipped out his Russian Tokarev TT-33 pistol and crashed it against an oncoming Kakashgun Order agent's skull. The man fell to the ground with a thud, knocked out, but still alive. He loaded his gun, preparing to finish the job, when a burst of energy struck him head-on against his chest, knocking him to the ground next to the agent.

"It's been a while since our last Tête-à-Tête," called Rotso Inahka, from atop the highest level of the ship. The wind blew his short, jet-black hair up into the air, yet he seemed more or less unfazed. Aedus, on the other hand, who stood at his side, looked positively annoyed.

"How did you get on the boat, Inahka?" cried Ammon, face bright red with fury. "I had my men check it fifty times over!"

"Quite the slave driver," remarked Aedus.

Rotso smirked, and then called down his answer, his voice seeming to resound all across the great ocean. "We teleported – don't tell me your Dark Kakashgun is unable to perform such a mundane task as that?"

Jónsson stomped his foot in a helpless tantrum, "Where is the boy? Is he not daring enough to face Ammon?"

"You really gotta stop referring to yourself in third person big guy," Aedus shouted mockingly. "You already look the part of the Incredible Ugly, so why act like it?"

"That's enough," Rotso cut in. "We've had our fun, now there's work to do." Rotso glanced down, and then jumped from his precipitous position onto the main deck where Ammon stood, gently descending upon the platform, landing upon the base of his heels, like some sort of mythical figure. "You may either give yourself up now, or we can take you in by other means," Rotso spoke firmly, another Kakashgun emblem forming upon the base of his hand.

"We will fight!" Ammon responded stubbornly. Suddenly, upon the base of his hand, two dark violet weaves of light formed into an emblem of their own – a Dark Kakashgun. He launched it from his hand, sending out a barrage of solidified energy toward Rotso.

Rotso gave Ammon a toothy grin, then countered with an eight-by-eight foot Kakashgun of his own, blocking the meager attacks of Jónsson, and sending them back at him in a greater force than before. The giant fell to the ground with a great thud, sending vibrations through the deck around him.

The force of his impact cracked the floor beneath him, which gave way the next instant, sending him plummeting to the lower levels of the ship. Crash after crash, he slammed through each deck, creating a cartoon-like impression of his form through each level. Eventually, he stopped at the final level, resting upon its now dented titanium surface.

The great Ammon still lives, thought Rotso. He really is the unstoppable being I'd heard rumors of...

• • •

Ammon growled beneath a pile of brick, blackwood, and metal pipes – more agitated than harmed. It was time to fight back. Pushing outwards with his arms and legs, while using his back to keep the unstable remains in place, he made a small clearing beneath him. Then, with another hefty grunt, Ammon sucked in his breath and launched a Kakashgun at the empty space on the floor. Water spontaneously erupted from the rupture in the hull, slamming into Ammon at full force. The colossal giant, however, ignored the pressure without a flinch and pushed himself through the opening below. As he dived into the open ocean, he felt a great sense of relief – now he had the upper hand.

There is nothing better than for your enemy to think you dead, for it would be the last thought they'd ever have. He confidently swam to the surface, knowing nothing could keep him from his goal. Not even the legendary Kraken could stand in his way. A moment later, he broke through to the surface, taking in a big gulp of air. To his right, he could see a ship floating across the horizon – likely where Rotso had placed the boy, Jake, for safekeeping. One day, Ammon would lay waste to the whole lot of Kakashgun warriors. But for now, he would have to settle for Rotso and a shipful of his men. Ammon directed weaves of Dark Kakashgun energy to his feet, making the water around him froth and glow with a dark violet hue until it formed a solidified rune beneath him. The next instant, he was soaring up into the air, elevated by his Dark Kakashgun. Ammon erupted in a roar of laughter, his face contorting in a wicked sneer – they would be no match for his power!

Rotso's brow formed a contemplative crease as he devised his next course of action. Ammon's movements were simple enough to figure and his objectives were as clear as day, yet something didn't add up. The man's motive had changed. No longer did Ammon concern himself with the mission at hand... now everything was about vengeance and retribution for having made him look the fool, although he had always fit the part. Ammon was running on hatred and his Dark Kakashgun powers were sure to benefit... unless they could be used to his opponent's advantage. Rotso tapped his nose in the fashion of a clever Frenchman then called over Aedus.

"Tell our agents to evacuate the boat immediately," he ordered. "And have Jacque look into whatever insurance this ship may have, although I doubt it covers demolition by

Kakashgun."

Aedus raised his left eyebrow in surprise. "Did you actually crack a joke just there?" One look at Rotso's stoic demeanor gave him the answer. "No, of course not."

"It's the primary downfall of using a Dark Kakashgun; it also exacts a terrible physical consequence. Ammon's is an extreme shock to the nervous system, which if pushed too far, can lead to death. All we need to do is play a little game of cat and mouse – taking advantage of his tremendous power by turning it against him."

Aedus smirked, "I'm game, but how are we supposed to go about... y'know, turning his power against him?"

"I know you're not exactly well versed in the biologys..." Rotso began hesitantly. "However, let us say it has to do with a little matter called E=MC2."

As Aedus walked off, Rotso threaded a small Kakashgun onto the palm of his hand, barely the size of a smart phone. It came to be of a brilliant blue, quite unlike the others, with a spherical curvature covered in various intricate markings. Rotso clenched it firmly until he felt it give way and crumpled into dust, which he then tossed into the air. At once, the tiny fragments began to gather and form into something new – a floating Kakashgun rune surrounding by the orbital characters of an ancient language lost to mankind. Rotso gazed at them knowingly, his similarly brilliant blue eyes displaying the utmost concentration.

It has been awhile, thought Rotso. Since I have had to access the Information Kakashgun. One can easily become lost in its complexities, especially without clarity of mind. I'd hate to see Aedus attempt it.

Rotso took a deep breath and delved into the wealth of information contained within the Kakashgun - somewhere he would find what he desired. He mentally explored its vast catacombs, organizing them into sections that could be better navigated. At last, he settled upon the piece that he wanted. The profile of Ammon Jonsson. Attaining its objective, the Information Kakashgun split in half and then divided into quarters, sending beams of light out of each piece. These beams consolidated into a single holographic form, enabling Rotso to visually view the data. Rotso flipped through the holographic pages one by one, quickly memorizing important content.

There was only one time the information had ever been wrong... the one time when every hope was balanced upon it being right. It was many years ago, seemingly centuries, when Rotso was still a fledgling agent. But none of that mattered at the moment - the past would do nothing to help him now, he must focus on the present. Just then, Ammon Jonsson came into view, soaring into the skies above them, wielding a monstrous Dark Kakashgun that grew larger with every passing moment.

• • •

Ammon rose quickly above the ship, only stopping when he had arrived a safe distance from possible retaliatory fire. From this position he maintained a hover, surveying the ship for any possible opponents. Ammon was surprised when he noticed the entire deck was deserted.

"All hiding below?" Ammon supposed. "I love it! If only all my enemies were this cooperative."

Ammon began the process of generating a massive Dark Kakashgun, interweaving thousands of Kakashgun strands into a formidable rune, focusing it at the hull of the ship. In a matter of minutes, he would have enough power to reduce the whole lot of them to ash. Suddenly, Ammon noticed some slight movement upon the main deck, a tiny figure scurrying back and forth, disconnecting a series of hooks and ropes on one side of the boat then rushing over to the other side, only to run to the opposite side again to repeat the process. The whole procedure seemed quite disorderly and inefficient – well serving its purpose. Ammon's curiosity was piqued to an irresistible extent and he moved in for a closer look, all the while letting his Kakashgun grow with greater mass and size. As he drew ever closer, he began to hear a resounding clang and swish preceded by a great splash of water, followed by a succession of smaller splashes and the grinding of wood against wood. Ammon flew towards the middle of the boat where he had a clear vantage point of both sides of the ship, from there he was able to match sound with sight. Hundreds of lifeboats, filled with Kakashgun agents and various passengers were being lowered by mechanical controls, operated by Aedus, on both sides of the ship. Ammon let out a furious roar and hurled his Dark Kakashgun at the ship and its remaining crew. The Kakashgun agents aboard the life boats shielded the passengers from attack. However, the large Dark Kakashgun simply dissipated upon contact.

Ammon was dumbfounded, "What is this?" he screamed. At this point he was all but drained of energy, finally at his limit. Ammon could feel his veins pulsing through his body, and his head felt as if it would burst. "All that power... gone! What... what did you do... ROTSO?!"

As if in answer to his inquiry, the cruise ship began to glow with a mixture of gold and purple hues, giving off a fierce light that forced Ammon to cover his eyes. One instant the cruise ship was floating upon the calm waves of the ocean, the next it was gone, and in its place was Rotso, floating upon a Kakashgun of his own, with another Kakashgun, hundreds of times larger than Ammon's original with surges of energy emitting from its center, held in his dwarfed hands.

"I've converted the ship's mass, as well as your own attacks, into energy, creating a source of light and dark forces for me to draw upon. You have provided me with ample means to create an Arashkagun." Rotso said in explanation. "Though I wouldn't expect a

Dark Kakashgun user to understand such... complex techniques."

Rotso sent his Arashkagun full force into Ammon who used what stamina he had left to protect himself. His efforts, however, were futile, and Ammon dissipated just as Le Napoléon Gigantesque – in a burst of fractured light with purple hue.

"Thursday, April 12th" Rotso said with grave finality. "Ammon rests."

## Chapter VI: At the Mercy of Musibet

After securing his room key, Jake started off to look for his room. The Vecchio

Marinaio, ("old sailor") as the ship was called, proved to be more of a labyrinth than Le Napoléon Gigantesque. From the boiler room there were two sets of stairs, both leading to separate corridors. Jake had taken the one closest to him which contained five rooms and two more stair wells. The first room from the stairs was a sort of storage room, filled with nets, towels, hooks, and all sorts of other odds and ends. The next was like the first, although Jake could smell what it held about a mile away – it was where the sailors stored their catch of the day, or week, or month... possible year. It was slightly cool and abounding in various seafoods all in some progress of decay – it was evident these men knew how to fish, but not how to preserve them. Jake quickly shut the door and moved onto the next room which was filled with maps, compasses, and various surveying equipment, as well as a man pouring over various papers set on top of an old mahogany desk. When Jake opened the door, however, he stopped what he was doing and spun around to face him.

"Chi sei? Che cosa ci fai qui?!" the man barked in Italian.

Jake struggled to remember what Italian he had gleaned from Abrielle and her family, "Ciao ... um, sono stato mandato qui dal ... Kakashgun Ordine?"

The man's eyes glinted with something fierce, "Kakashgun... KAKASHGUN!" he yelled. After a moment of heavy breathing and looking very much like a red tomato, he visibly calmed down and with a deep breath, asked calmly, "Voi non parlate Italiano. Voi siete un Americano? No?"

"Americano..." Jake muttered, having a mental lapse. "Oh yes, American! Yes... Io sono Americano! Do you speak English?"

"Yes," the man responded. "I do. So you say you're from the Kakashgun?"

Jake took a moment to think, wondering how much he should tell this stranger he didn't know. He could be on the other side – a Dark Kakashgun guy.

Before Jake had decided, the man answered the question for him. "By the looks of you, you're a new recruit, if even that. Don't worry, you can talk to me, I don't usually get angry like that. You just... reopened an old wound. That Kakashgun Order... they did me dirty. But I'm not an enemy of children, I have a daughter, a little older than you... now tell me, what have the Kakashgun to do with you? Where are you from and why have they sent you here?"

Jake decided to confide his whole story to the man, desperate to hear whatever the man could tell him about the Kakashgun. It wasn't much of a story anyways... just one crazy thing after another.

"You've come a long way. It must be hard on a young man like you," the cartographer responded. "The Kakashgun picked you up just like they did with my daughter, now she's off... who knows where, fighting some dark mafia... they said they only needed her to help with one mission. That her abilities would save the world or something, but all I care about is having my baby girl back. She's just another soldier to them anyways, the Kakashgun Order isn't inclined to value the lives of individuals. They're just another military force with their own agenda, and a dozen men pulling the strings. I'll tell you what I know... but not at the moment. For now, I'll show you your room and you can get some rest. Then when you're awake, I'll introduce you to the crew.

They'll be glad to have another able arm around to aid in the daily work."

• • •

"...Ammon is dead?"

"Yes sir, we received the report an hour ago."

"...how did it happen?"

"It was Rotso Inahka with an Arashkagun, I understand, sir."

"Has the corpse been collected?"

"Yes sir, we are awaiting instructions for disposal."

"Wait no longer. Whatever personal possessions you may recover, bring to me. As for the body... toss it into the Seine once night falls."

"Mr. Musibet sir... there is no body to toss. All that remains are his ashes, and a golden coin."

"Do you have this coin with you, Antonio?" Musibet asked impatiently. The latter man nodded, "Then give it to me."

Antonio drew from his leather pouch a small, golden coin, about the size of a penny. Bearing the inscription of θα επιστρέψει στη γη, encompassing the portrait of a man who appeared as if he were from myth. "Our men in Greece tell me it means, to the earth we return, and the man in the picture is reportedly Lucio Lombardi, an ancient Greek governor." He handed the coin over to his superior.

"Most interesting, it would seem our dear Ammon had a little secret." Musibet mused, stroking his long black goatee. "Contact Ferdinando Ardito and have him kill the boy named Jake. We cannot have him interfering in our affairs."

"At once, sir!" Antonio replied.

"And Antonio..." Musibet added. "Be sure to keep your emotions in check this time. We don't want another Rotso Inahka coming back to plague us."

As Antonio left, Musibet took another look at the coin which had been found on Ammon's person. The Dark Kakashgun was a highly secretive organization with its ranks enveloped in shadow.

The higher-up's knew most of everything about those below them, although the agents knew little of their commanders. The same was true for Musibet, he was a commander of a great force, yet only a mere fraction of the Dark Kakashgun's colossal global entity.

He wished to know more about those who were above him, entertaining delusions of greater power. The key to his advancement was knowledge, and this singular coin provided a much needed starting point.

From what Musibet knew of Ammon, the man had few kin, and those that he had were likely no concern to his affairs. Therefore, the coin must pose a connection to the Dark Kakashgun, Ammon's passionate occupation, and those to whom he was responsible. Musibet had assumed that Ammon was a mere pawn of his to control... yet it would appear he had been more in the greater scheme of things. He must have attracted the attention of the powers that be and attained some knowledge... insight into the inner workings of the global mafia.

I will look into these... Lombardi's. Musibet thought. Then I shall overtake them.

• • •

When Jake woke in the morning, it wasn't to the sound of knocking at his door and bad news to trouble him, it was to the rocking of creaky Old Sailor.

Jake stretched out his arms and let out a great yawn, then pushed off his crinkly, worn covers and hopped out of bed. At the side of his bed was an oddly placed footstool with a fresh pair of clothes piled on top. They were plain and obviously belonged to some sailor for many a year, with a few holes and oil stains to give them character – all accompanied by the smell of sea salt. Jake, however, didn't mind, and so put on the clothes gratefully.

When he approached the main deck, Jake was met with the bustle of activity – sailors drinking their morning ale, adjusting the sails upon the masts, and preparing nets of tremendous size for fishing. Jake sat down upon a barrel and waited for the surveyor, unsure of what to do. It wasn't long until Jake heard the pounding of weary steps climbing to the deck, and the face of the Italian was uncovered in the morning's light.

"Morning," the surveyor said, looking him up and down. "The clothes fit you well..." After a profound pause, he let out a dramatic sigh and continued. "I hate mornings, kid. I really do... and nights? Eh, not much better."

"So are we going to meet the captain?" Jake asked, interrupting the man's melancholy dialogue. His efforts to detract the man, however, were very much in vain.

"The men move about with great... pigrizia." The surveyor continued, ignoring Jake's inquiry. "Though I can't say I blame them. We've been out at sea for months now, and all are weary with thoughts of home. Though they'll be glad to have some young blood aboard. Ah! That reminds me, you have work to do, but where will your portion fall? Just in time – there's the assigner of lots himself, the good old Captain Burbero."

The captain was an exceedingly tall man, with a finely chiseled muscular figure, and hard set visage covered in stubble. His hair was fair, albeit unkempt, with specks of dirt and splotches of oil scattered throughout – a trait that was true for his entire person. From his grimy scuffed shoes to his tattered pants and faded yellow T-shirt, he looked very much the imposing figure.

"My engineers are all bumbling fools..." he muttered as Jake and the surveyor approached. "Even you could do a better job Ferdinando!"

Jake spared a sideways look at the surveyor, "your name is Ferdinando?" he asked.

"Yes, Ferdinando Ardito, and I don't believe I ever learned your name."

"I'm..." Jake paused for a moment, hesitant to disclose his name. However, considering he had already confided in the man his entire story, a simple name couldn't do any further harm, especially among such unassuming company. "Jake Laskaris."

"Jake the Stowaway at that!" Burbero grunted. "Children have no place here."

"He would seem to be strong enough, Captain," Interjected Ardito, lifting up Jake's arm and forming it into a flex for Burbero's assessment. "You can always put him to work below."

"What? In the kitchen?" the captain asked. "Bah! This boy ain't strong enough to keep the sails, and he certainly ain't ready for the kitchen. It's Dante's Inferno down there! Where'd you come from boy? If it's near enough, we may as well..."

"No need to rid ourselves of a capable hand," the surveyor interrupted, his eyes shining with the brilliancy of a clever idea. "How adept are you at mechanics, Jake?"

"I'm taking an engineering class at school, and my dad owns a boat repair shop." Jake responded, realizing Ardito's intent.

"Perfetto!" exclaimed Ferdinando. "Quite a nice coincidence, eh, captain? How about giving him a chance with your bumbling fools?"

Burbero's massive frame shook with a hearty cackle. "I suppose it can't hurt. I'll have Tuono take him to the workplace so you can get back to those maps. We'll need that Bermuda territory charted out before long, and I'd like to have it sooner than later." With that, the captain motioned over the man named Tuono and the cartographer returned to his solitary duty, but not before a final impartation.

"You'd better keep on your toes, boy!" he called to Jake. "Engineer work is a man's job, so you better pull up those trousers and get those hands dirty. Otherwise it won't be home you'll be going to... though if you do survive, I may have something by way of a reward for you."

• • •

Abrielle flipped through the channels on the TV, paying little attention to the spectacles that flashed before her. Garrett had visited a few days before, and told her about their close encounter with Ammon and Jake's departure with Aedus to visit someplace called Kakashgun City. Everything about the whole affair seemed so surreal, how their ordinary lives were so quickly disrupted and thrown into the chaos of an alien world. When she had been much younger, her father used to tell her stories of their ancestors who had helped defend their country against the plague of an army with unruly powers. Perhaps that army was still at war with the world today...

"Abrielle!" Mr. Lombardi called from the kitchen. "Lunch is ready. I need to meet with your uncle today, so you'll have to clean up afterwards."

The daughter groaned, it was always the same routine. Breakfast followed by urgent business, lunch, and then the family business. Sometimes there was a dinner at home, if one was fortunate enough. It wasn't like that when their grandfather was around, he had been more of a father to her than anyone. Now, however, he hardly ever visited. What could have brought Grandpa Lombardi to mind, aside from his impending visit? One moment she was thinking of Jake, and then the next... the Kakashgun.

• • •

Ferdinando headed back to his quarters with a smile on his face, Jake seemed like a fine young man, if not naïve. He reminded him of his daughter as a teenager – ambitious and idealistic, desiring to change the world yet not knowing quite where to start. She had the heart but not the know-how, and that is what led her to the Dark Kakashgun. A desire to be a part of something bigger than herself, and a great deal of ignorance – she knew not the full extent of their wickedness...

As Ferdinando turned the corner which was positioned before his humble abode, he came to an inexplicable stop. The gut feeling which had served him so well in the past was raging, screaming an alarm to his entire being. His muscles tensed as adrenaline coursed through his veins, and he became aware of the presence of another being, a familiar person – Antonio. Despite these feelings, however, it seemed the man was rather more worried himself than disposed to violent tendencies. Antonio was a skinny gentlemen, and in his frail disposition he shook like a cold puppy in the rain – pale, bony hands nervously gripping a discharge paper from Musibet.

As Ferdinando made the final steps to his cabin, Antonio seemed not to notice him, gaping at the door before him and mouthing words, as a speech student, conversing with apparitions of the future. After standing by for multiple minutes, Antonio finally noticed the cartographer, and with a nervous jump to his step, he turned to face him and deliver his intended rhetoric. Yet with his first utterance, any attempt at articulation and fine words was promptly discarded.

"Gr-gr-ello!" he blurted. "I mean, umm, greetings. Hello. You must kill Jake!"

"Always the blunt one, Antonio." Ferdinando said with a grunt. "What's this about killing the boy?"

"Musibet wants him dead..." he murmured, then with a pique of curiosity added, "who is he anyway?"

"How should I know?" Ferdinando retorted, evidently quite angry at having his day disrupted. "He's a Kakashgun lackey, nothing the syndicate needs to worry about. I won't kill him."

"But... Musibet..."

"I don't give a darn about Musibet." snapped the other. "He has no authority over me."

"But... but... Ferdinando!" Antonio whimpered. "He has authority over me."

"I was stationed here as a surveyor, Antonio," argued the man. "Assassinating order agents is all well and good, but I'm not going to start killing kids. That is an unforgivable crime."

The latter melted before his intellectual superior, "So you will leave me to die?"

"How long must I bear the burden of a brother!" Ferdinando said, grabbing Antonio by the shoulders and shaking him. "Why did you join the Dark Kakashgun anyways? You're the shell of a man and you don't belong in this business!"

Antonio's eyes rolled about, searching for an answer in the ship's bleak hallway.

"I... I..."

"You... you... what?" the brother interrupted, exasperated. "Is it always about you? I joined to save my daughter – what about you Antonio? What makes your life worth living, the Dark Kakashgun worth serving? Tell me."

A light shone in the latter man's eyes, "I joined for you Ferdinando. Yes, I am the weakling, mother's burden. But I thought I could finally have the chance... to do something. Now I'm at the mercy of Musibet."

"And what do you want from me? If you stay on this boat, Titus will find you and kill you for your failure. If you leave, he'll still find you. I would offer to help you, but I already have my Rose to worry about. If you're so bent on seeing the boy killed, do it yourself, but I know you don't have that in you."

"What if I give myself to the Order, and offer information?"

"Information? What would you tell them, all the messages you've been given to deliver that they no longer have use for? The Light Kakashgun would cut you down, same as Musibet."

"Then I'll do it," Antonio said resolutely, his countenance bearing every mark of stoicism.

"Do what?" his brother challenged.

"Kill Jake – if you won't do it, that's the only choice I have."

As Antonio walked off, with much more color in his face and confidence in bearing, Ferdinando opened his door and kicked aside his cartography rejects strewn across the floor. "Betraying family, and killing children... that's what the world has come to," he mumbled. "If not for Rose..."

## Chapter VII: Thorned Rose

Romanesque – it is a word with fantastic image inducing qualities capable of sending one back in time to an era of much finer and more elaborate architectural design. It exudes curving forms and engraved figures, dramatic arches and extraordinary proportions. In these regards, romanesque is the perfect word to describe the Dark Kakashgun headquarters in Siberia.

Why someone would ever desire to build a base in Siberia is beyond me,

Rose thought to herself, as a fierce chill overcame her and the agents around her.

Moments ago they had descended from their assault chopper when the rotor, too, seemed to whine in complaint as the cold set upon it. Now they were in the blinding white of a Soviet Union wasteland, attempting to locate the hiding place of the infamous Titus Tyran Musibet. In such a place it felt as if time itself stood still, lost in oblivion – it was no wonder the German troops had so readily lost their ground in World War II, for it was such a surreal and bitter setting. Another gust of wind ravaged their party, albeit this time it served some use. The snow momentarily parted before them, revealing an ominous monolith in the distance. They had arrived.

Rose turned to her second-in-command, a young Ukrainian woman ironically named Cніr, snow. "How secure do you suppose Musibet has this place? Is your Information Kakashgun picking up anything?"

"Worried about the mythical Kakashgun beasts?" Cніr asked, with a wry smile. "They have been at rest since the corrupted Shogun were our enemy. The information we've been fed about Titus is not as viable as you might think. According to our informer, the base is surrounded by mines and underground traps. However, my Kakashgun states subterranean levels are all but snow and dirt, and there are no mines to be found... which worries me, slightly."

"You think it could be a trap?"

"It's always a trap. You don't get to be a global mafia without keeping tabs on your enemy. I can assure you the element of surprise has long expired."

Rose frowned, one would suppose the absence of traps would be the opposite of disconcerting. It was true that the Dark Kakashgun had able fighters and wouldn't need security, although in light of Titus' infamous paranoia (a quality which all esteemed villains seem to share), the whole set up aroused great suspicion.

After trudging a mile farther, Titus' abode came into full view, looking very much the home of a Roman dignitary. What had appeared to be a single form in the distance was revealed to be a set of Corinthian columns, their massive forms rising from the pure white ground to the black stone ceiling above. The contrast of light upon dark, as opposed to inspiring balance, instigated a sinister tone which made the already bleak and melancholy landscape, all the more foreboding. Rose, with furrowed brow, glanced over at Cніr for some reassurance, yet there was none to be found.

The blanched ground's namesake spoke with a dreadful stoicism, as if their fate was soon in coming. "My information Kakashgun detects life... warped and corrupted as our enemy... yet much bigger. So much bigger."

• • •

Jake looked up in trepidation at the enormous boiler before him from which all sorts of wicked mists were produced. It hissed with the malevolence of the fiercest cobra, and its inward flame roared like a hungry lion.

Burbero stood behind Jake, observing his reaction with a laugh. "Oho! It's not all bad as that, stowaway. She grumbles like my Nonna, but has the temperament of a dove!" The captain smiled and stroked its frame with rough, unfeeling hands, unconscious of the heat which it put off in great abundance. With a raised eyebrow and a contemplative hum, he added, "Do you see this dent here, Jake?" The questionee nodded in affirmation. "This evil deed was done by a mutinous sailor, years ago... and he paid for his crime. My man Tuono saw to that."

Jake didn't know whether to smile, frown, or scream for mercy, so instead he looked to Tuono, a giant much like his superior, who looked giddy with pride. "That's right, capitano," he said. "We showed him."

Burbero howled in his usual manner and pat Jake on the shoulder. "Happy memories aside, I'd say it's about time to put you to work. Just make sure not to bump into my dear Nonna, alright? Now pick up a wrench and work on those rusty bolts!" The Captain clasped Tuono on the shoulder, then muttered something in his ear before leaving the room. The latter smiled and gave Jake a wink.

"Looks like I'm your supervisor... and gaoler." The man picked up a neglected lawn chair, likely the engineer's, which had been propped up against the boiler.

Jake worked for long hours of the night, until Tuono grew tired of observation and snatched the wrench from Jake's hand. "Didn't you pay attention fifteen minutes ago? I said to fix the leak, not inundate it. You get to bed, I'll finish this, but don't tell Burbero I helped you. Otherwise he'll think I'm not the cutthroat I used to be."

Jake gladly let his superior take over and, with a word of thanks, made for his room. As he passed the kitchen, he spied a conspicuous figure sharpening a butcher's knife. The man quickly turned to him, as if he had the intention of approaching, then just as suddenly turned away, dropping his knife to the floor and hurrying off the opposite direction. An odd sight to be sure, though nothing to worry about. Sleep was the only anxiety in Jake's mind.

Passing by the cartography room, he looked in, expecting to see Mr. Ardito and wish him a good night. His usual resting place, however, was vacant. Jake recalled the man's promise earlier that day, something in the way of a reward. What could it be? A new wrench? It seemed characteristic, considering Ferdinando had suggested the task in the first place, and made mention of the job in the same sentence.

Jake proceeded up the stairs to his room immediately above, when he spied the man in question, waiting outside his door, holding a mass of fluff. A scarf?

Ferdinando smiled, and turned towards him. "I was expecting you'd finish around now. Tuono only has so much patience with new recruits. If you had actually learned something from that class of yours, you could have been down there till' this time tomorrow! Though I could tell you were the incompetent sort, just from the way you mentioned your boat repairing father. It was with an uncertain pride, not that of a seasoned worker... no offense. Your attempt at it, however, deserves something." With that, he placed the bundle of fuzz into Jake's awaiting arms.

Two beady eyes looked up at Jake, and an energetic bark confirmed reality – he had been given a dog. Instead of gratitude, however, Jake responded with a look of confusion. "Why?"

"She's a pup I picked up at the last harbor. Nobody wanted her, so I decided to bring her aboard. It was an act of humanity, I suppose, but one I'm starting to regret. If she catches your fancy, and you'll take care of her, then she's yours. Otherwise, she'll be joining you, albeit homeless, at our next stop."

It seemed Jake was being given the guilt trip, though he didn't care. His family adopted a dog once, when he was much younger, and he had wanted another since it passed away a few years ago. "Thank-you sir, I'll do my best."

"What'll you call her?"

"You didn't name her?"

"No, no. I'm not all sentimental as that, but you're still a boy, so you can have that privilege."

"I'll call her Rose." Jake replied, unaware of the namesake's significance. His mother and father had a garden which they tended through the warm seasons, including a plethora of roses which frequently had a place on their dinner table.

The dog seemed to comprehend, wagging her tail enthusiastically, and expressing her contentment with a cheerful yip. Ferdinando patted Rose a last time before parting and returned to his room without a word.

• • •

All was silent but for footsteps. The massive life form Cніr detected had yet to reveal itself, and the sense of impeding doom was significantly trying. Blake, the team's Kakashgun wielder, led in front, a weave of energy already formed in his hand. He consistently looked to the right and left, and when at last a floorboard creaked, he impulsively launched his Kakashgun forward... into the indiscriminate darkness.

Rose motioned for the team to stop. "What do you think you're doing?" she whispered to Blake. "Save your strength for the fight ahead. You may attack once you see the points of their teeth and claws, anything else is unworthy of our attention."

"What about Musibet? He doesn't..."

"Oh, he has claws. Anyone with that poignant a personality is bound to have a few sharp ends."

Cніr had been pacing the room, when she abruptly froze at the center.

"What's wrong?" Rose asked, moving towards her. "Is it..."

"Musibet. He's here."

Blake formed another weave, and scanned the room for fangs. Albeit, as before, there was nothing but darkness.

"Welcome, welcome!" a voice called out in the distance, as fifty Dark Kakashgun agents emerged from the darkness to surround Rose's party. "You have found your way to my sinister sanctuary!"

As Titus likewise arose from the darkness, a blast of energy came whisking towards him. However, before it could reach him, a whirl of violet hues overtook it, casting it into the inky void around them.

"Petty attacks – the Order has always lacked the innovation to conquer me. Internal security is another matter however, and to think, the solution has walked right into my hands! Ferdinando may not be under my authority, but with his daughter... he will be under my control. Agents, execute all but the Rose – bring her to my chamber." The leader faded back into the darkness, leaving his minions to dispatch with Rose's party.

Cніr quickly grabbed Blake by the shoulders and spoke into his ear, "You're the only one amongst us who can use the Kakashgun, I am the only one with knowledge of the Dark Kakashgun's weaknesses. Let us work together. Now, see that man with an almost full weave? Strike his right hand and left edge of the symbol simultaneously... and as for the man over here, just give him a good kick."

Rose knocked two agents together and sent a third off his feet with a punch to the gut. Quickly, however, it was evident that numbers would prevail. "Get out of here and contact the Kakashgun City!" she ordered, as a dozen agents surrounded her with their lilac knitting.

Blake looked hesitatingly at his commander, albeit Cніr complied immediately, pushing her ally towards the door with unsympathetic force. "Go on, she'll come back to us alive. We will not have that privilege."

Blake nodded, creating a levitating Kakashgun as a slew of Dark Kakashgun rushed towards them. Instead of vaporizing them, however, the makeshift craft took the brunt of the impact, serving as a catapult for their liberation.

As watching her comrades safely depart, Rose gave up the fight, having felled a great many men. She was quickly motioned down the dim hall where Blake's unhinged Kakashgun had flown moments before. In the dusk, she fell into the hole where it had collided with ground, followed by the brute next to her who proved uncannily civil in helping her up. The same kindness, she was sure, would not have been extended to her friends.

"So this is what it's like to be a hostage in the global mafia."

As they progressed down the corridor, light shone through a side entranceway, emanating from a lone stain glass window with the likeness of Caesar Nero, an infamous fiend of the Roman Empire. Rose smiled at the irony, for it was a great testament to Titus' own character. Around the corner was an imposing door of unruly proportions, a big office to make a little man feel important. Upon it was some sort of recognition device which registered with a beep once a Dark Kakashgun was presented.

They proceeded forward, into the expanse of Titus' sanctuary. In the immediate room was a long, plush couch covered in crimson silk. Next to it sat a chair of exotic wood, with an outlay of gold leaf, as well as a coffee table of the same properties. Bookcases lined the room, filled with scrolls, binders, maps, and novels of old. Engraved upon their frames was the depictions of burning cities, marching armies, and suffering peoples – perhaps the past ventures of the global mafia, or Titus himself. Beyond was another gaudy threshold, and at last, the door opened to reveal the man whose very being reeked decadence to the core. He stood upon an elevated platform with a podium on top, bearing the image of a snake coiled around the foot of a man, its fangs sunk deep into flesh.

"What did I tell you Blake? Sharp ends."

Seeing Rose, Titus flashed her his toothiest grin and lifted up a piece of paper. "To be delivered to your father," he said. "Oh, our dearest Ferdinando, I wonder what he's up to now? Quarreling with my Antonio perhaps? Ha! They're all a bunch of incompetent buffoons when it comes straight down to the matter. Hmm... you look angry, but why? Have I rubbed salt upon a wound? Perhaps you'd like some more? Once your father gets this letter, he is going to murder an innocent sixteen year old boy out of cold blood. Just to keep his daughter safe! One life for another I suppose..."

Rose shook her head in disbelief, "My father would never..."

"Oh, wouldn't he? What is one child to another when compared to your own?"

"I'll stop him."

"Not in here. The only hope now is Rotso, and he too will have his hands full!" Titus retorted with a triumphant laugh. "Now, gentlemen, please take our dear Rose to one of the finest holding cells this palace has to offer..."

• • •

Jacque had made a promise to Jake, and one he intended to keep. Two days after the boy abandoned ship, a helicopter was made ready for dispatch when the capture of Rose was announced. All commanding units aboard Le Napoléon Gigantesque without peacekeeping obligations were ordered to the Kakashgun City for a council of the elders. Chaussure grudgingly followed the order and redirected his flightpath.

Hopefully Jake would be able to fend for himself for the time being, yet something stirring within Jacque told him this would not be so. The Dark Kakashgun had played its first card, and only a fool would think it the last. Every sleeve had an ace, and Titus' latest move seemed only a bluff made in preparation for the big reveal. Now the ultimate question would be answered – do the elders have enough ardor to push on, even in the face of certain defeat?

• • •

Before the deliberations at the Kakashgun City were set to begin, Rotso and Aedus were given a preemptive mission – to secure Rose and cripple the Musibet crime ring. Accompanying them was a dozen of the Order's finest, including a man named Koen, the only known Arashkagun-wielder besides Inahka and his late sensei who had fallen at the hand of Musibet a generation before.

This time, instead of being transported in the lap of luxury, the team was ushered into a retired World War II bomber which had been haphazardly fixed up and equipped with parachutes just for the occasion.

Inside was a rectangular, modern steel table, tightly secured to the ground so as to avoid impaling agents. Upon it was scattered various files and diagrams, although their contents were pale in comparison to the Information Kakashgun. They provided useful information about the drop zone and layout of Titus' base, which had been deemed "The Chessboard Palace," for its black-and-white coloration. The flight was a long one, during which there was little conversation, and only an awkward blowing of the nose, for the weather was cold, would disrupt the uneasy silence.

Aedus observed Rotso, who appeared to be deep in thought, much like the statue Le Penser. What could the cryptic, part-time English teacher be contemplating? The mysteries of vowels and hyperbole, or perhaps his dark, unuttered past? Having been thus satisfied with this glimpse of human stoicism, his weary gaze perused the room to another stonesque human, Rose's wintry Cніr returned Aedus' redirected attention with a cold, inhuman glare. Deterred, his eyes slacked about again until they had searched each face, all the nooks and crannies, every rusty bolt, the old bombardier had to offer. The Irishman drifted off to sleep.

As they entered a bout of air turbulence, all that was once dormant became rudely awakened. Blood rushed to pale faces and hardened hands, and communication now seemed a viable option. Rotso was the first to take advantage.

"We have entered Federation territory and will soon be arriving at our destination. Before then, I think it best for the team to have some acquaintance. Both with their comrades and chutes. If there is anyone who has not had prior experience with such an endeavor, now would be the time to learn. You'll find a brief tutorial attached to your pack. For those of the Asian Districts, Chun, Ju-long, and Jae, I am Rotso Inahka, your mission supervisor. I believe Izo may have... spoken of me."

Chun smirked at this comment, having endured his commander many a time ranting about the ignorant American Rotso, and his failure to abide by Order regulations.

Rotso acknowledged the grin with a nod. "Very highly, I'm sure. In regard to the mission, we have gleaned useful information from Cніr and Blake and we may, with good reason, expect an ambush to be awaiting us. Blake was not able to join us due to his current emotional state... which will be taken into account when sending initiates against mafia higher-up's in the future. Much will be required of each of you, so steel your nerve and recall all that you have learned. We will not retreat, nor will we die at the hands of Musibet. We will take back Rose and leave the Chessboard Palace in ruins, while absconding with what intelligence we may. For this occasion, I have brought along a chessboard for each pair of agents we have in attendance. Until you and your partner arrive at a draw, you must continue to play. For only then will you learn teamwork."

Aedus laughed, "Are you serious Inahka? Chess?"

"Oh, I am very serious. The only way we will end this war is in a checkmate. Plus, it's a gentleman's sport, is it not? Why then did you join le club d'échecs à l'université?"

"What does that mean?" Ju-long asked.

"It means, I should just shut up and play chess."

## Chapter VIII: A Gentlemen's Sport

When had Abrielle first heard the name, Kakashgun? It was so striking, and an enigma to pronounce. Yet so familiar. Upon its utterance, memories inundated her consciousness. Of a light in the distance followed by the sound of a steam-engine. There was a boy and a girl as well, caught up in the mystery of it all. Whirling colors, aromas, textures, and emotions...

"King me!" 5-year old Jake exclaimed gleefully.

"No king in chess 'ake," Abrielle explained. "And you can't move your king yet."

"I thought you say no king?" Jake reasoned. "King me!"

"You have a king, just no kinging."

"That's no fun."

"That's chess, Jake! We need to play by rules!"

At this, a quarrel was begun. Jake slid three of his pawns forward, as if they were rooks, illegally knocking aside Abrielle's immediate defense and pressing on towards the king and queen. Determined to win, even with improvised rules, Abrielle pushed her monarchs out of the way, and shoved the rest of her pieces towards Jake's. Greater chaos ensued.

In the meantime, Abrielle's grandpa had been quietly treading towards them.

Originally so as not to disturb their game, but now with more mischievous purposes.

When he had crept close enough, yet still beyond their notice, grandpa spoke up, surprising the two youngsters. "Now what are you two doing?" he asked beaming, "That doesn't look like the game I taught you."

Grandpa Lombardi was a cheery fellow, and to him, the whole world was his grandchild to whom he would tell stories beyond the most prodigious of imaginations. Those of mythical beasts and master swordsmen, austere sages and their unfortunate pupils. They were always so outlandish, albeit a pleasure to experience, for grandpa had the gift of eloquence.

So it was, every year when the holiday season would come around, Domenico Lombardi would come to town with a slew of fresh narratives to share, and maybe a few games to teach.

Abrielle looked up at grandpa with a frown, "That's Jake's fault! He's still too young."

"No, I'm not!" her friend complained. "We're same."

"No..."

Before another fit could begin, Domenico intervened with a whistle, redirecting their attention and, for the moment, their wrath.

"That's the sound of a train," he explained, whistling again. "Across the Siberian plains..." It was clear, now, that grandpa had a story to tell. The time for all good boys and girls to be quiet, listen, and be amazed.

• • •

Rumble... rumble... turbulence. Rotso looked away from the Information Kakashgun Blueprint projected before him, and instead, directed his attention to the agents still playing chess for their third hour. Albeit, he had allowed for some break time interspersed at thirty-minute intervals, during which plans were analyzed for infiltration of the Chessboard Palace.

"Keep those pieces from falling over! Otherwise you'll have to start the game over." Rotso ordered.

"C'mon Rotso!" Aedus groaned. "I just won for my first time, can't we stop now?"

Ju-long grinned, "No, now we need to have a rematch!"

"You'll be finished when..." Rotso began to speak when the intercom interrupted him.

"In twenty minutes we will be approaching the vicinity of Titus' fortress. Please secure all belongings and make final preparations for departure."

"...we're in the vicinity of Titus' fortress." Rotso continued seamlessly. "Alright, put the pieces away in their respective compartments. Organize, don't just shove them in there! That's right. Arrange them properly – gentleman like, isn't that right Aedus?"

"The Gentlemen's Chess Club of Paris." Jae said, the first words he had spoken since boarding the plane. "That is what you are referring to, yes, Mister Inahka?"

"Yes," Aedus answered in his place. "I was in a chess club, big deal. Don't rub it in."

"It can't have been very good." Ju-Long observed. "I've beaten you twenty times within the past hour. Breaks included!"

"Oh, none of that! We'll see how many Dark Kakashgun men you fell."

"Indeed," Rotso said. "For that purpose, I hope you all have gleaned something from this competition. You must have patience and foresight, always one step ahead of your enemy, taking full advantage of your unique abilities. Implementing them in an innovative fashion is the only way to best the labyrinth of this mastermind. This will be your initiation to true combat, facing equal adversaries. Any one of you may be confronted with Titus and it will be your sole responsibility to take him down, should your teammates be preoccupied. However, should you be fortunate enough to have their aid, you must be able to cooperate and devise a strategy on a moment's notice. Which means being familiar with their strengths, weaknesses, and general thought processes. This is why you have been given particular chess partners. Now that you have come to better acquaint yourselves, I think it best that you know each other's powers. State your name, division, and gifting to the present company, counterclockwise."

A black-haired Frenchman, with a scruffy goatee and stubbly sideburns was first in order. "I'm Jean Rusé. I have illumination abilities and wield the Kakashgun. I joined the Western European Division."

"Ah, yes, our second information Kakashgun user." Rotso remarked. "Next up."

Snow's dark brows creased, descending from the canopy of her pale white hair to more favored company with her light blue eyes. "Cніr. The first user Inahka alluded to. Eastern European Division."

"To the point as expected. Helmet-head?"

The Australian patted down his blonde coiffure instinctively, sliding along its bowl-like shape, "It's Kabu, not Kabuto. I'm a Kakashgun wielder, same as Rusé, and probably the majority of us. Oceanic Division."

"Balafre." said the second Frenchman, needing no prompting. "Kakashgunwielding drill instructor for the Order in Western Europe. Used to be a general." Running a finger along the scar on his cheek he added, "And munitions analyst. I hate scimitars to the day..."

The man beside the wounded veteran nodded, "I'm well aware of your drills – enough to make a seasoned warrior cry and beg for mercy. I'm Renfort, and I also posses the K-gun and hail from the same area. I'm the Order's secret weapon... been trained to back-up any team that gets in over their heads. Managed to complete a few otherwise hopeless missions that way."

"You must be the one they sent," Owen Póilín said. "I'm Owen, with the Emerald Isles order. We're grateful for your support."

The plane shook violently as it passed through a storm, Rotso held up a hand for all to be quiet. "That leaves David, Joe, Jae, Ju-Long, Chun, Aedus, Koen, and myself. The first two, and Aedus, are from America, the next three from Asia, and the last straight from Kakashgun City. All Kakashgun wielders. We don't have time for pleasantries. Balafre, explain the mission to everyone while I speak with the pilot."

As Rotso left the room, Aedus coughed awkwardly. "Somebody got up on the wrong side of the..."

Balafre stood up, "Rotso's right, we've had enough buddy-buddy time. We're here to retrieve a comrade, not make friends. So let's take a look at the maps." At this, he walked over to the steel table, gathered up what documents had fallen to the floor, and held up an illustration, drawn upon a white presentation board. "First, we take up positions around the complex, divided into groups of two. It'll be like surgery. Cніr and Rusé will create an incision on the roof, dropping into an empty space next to Titus' quarters. According to our information, they should meet with no resistance, and will wait for the other teams to advance before engaging any hostiles. Kabu and myself will follow Rotso and Aedus as they storm through the front doors. In the meantime, all remaining units will engage a particular section, along the hallway to Titus, by breaking through the stone walls with their Kakashgun. The teams will create "breakthrough points" in this order: Ju-Long \- David, Chun - Joe, Renfort - Owen, Koen - Jae. By this method we'll catch the Dark Kakashgun agents by surprise, and divide the enemy forces into manageable portions of sixths. You all get a piece of the pie, and you better be able to stomach it."

Rotso emerged from the cockpit and approached Balafre, placing a hand on his shoulder. "You've informed them of their duties?"

"Yes sir," the old General replied. "Though they got the overly simplified edition."

"That's fine. I'm sure the City's best can leave a little to the imagination. The pilot tells me we'll arrive in five minutes, so get your parachutes on, we won't be landing or using Kakashgun to ascend, though you may use some energy to guide you to your destinations. Once we're all safely adjusted, the plane will circle above for fifteen minutes, in which time we should be able to take back Rose and leave the Chessboard Palace in ruins. Your cooperation with one another, however, is essential. Selfishness will not be tolerated. You must meet the needs of your teammates. Your ego will have no place in this battle."

• • •

Grandpa continued his story. "I stumbled through the snow, carrying an axe, hammer, and assortment of nails. I feared, with each step, that I might lose my foothold and injure myself. 'Have no fear!' my supervisor told me. 'If you lose a limb, it'll always grow back.' He wasn't a very kind man, though I never expected he would be. When I finally arrived at the campsite, I met my coworkers, a dozen men and one young woman, desperate souls drawn from the far reaches of Eastern Europe.

They were kind people, all hardworking and supporting a family, except for the girl, who was an orphan from Russia. Oh, but she too labored with the best of them! She picked up her tools, some much heavier than her, and did her duty. I was inspired by her determination. We stayed out till' the dawn of the next day shone across the horizon, one of the few beauties to be found in the barren land. A mile off was our hut, which we all had a hand in building, where we would talk of home, and the bright futures we hoped to have. Then, overcome by exhaustion, we would sleep off our cares, soothed by the crackling of a small fire.

After a morning prayer, we would return to the cold, which otherwise may have worn us down, had not the the Guardians been watching over us. For wherever the Guardians were, a great warmth was with them, overcoming the harshest cold." This last part Grandpa Lombardi said in a hushed tone, emphasizing euphony over its rough counterpart.

"What are gard-yens?" she asked quizzically.

"They're beings of formidable power, created long ago by your great-greatgreat..."

"Granfodder!" Jake chimed in.

"Ha-ha, yes, that's right. You might think of them as fairies, dancing through the night sky in a glow of red, blue, purple, and orange. Have you ever heard of the Great Northern Lights?" Grandpa drew a photograph from his leather jacket, displaying the grand spectacle in question. Abrielle and Jake were enthralled. "I've come across these in my travels. They remind me of the guardians every time I see them."

"Wow, really cool," Jake said with a laugh. "I go there!"

"Maybe you will one day," Grandpa Lombardi said, tapping the little boy's nose. "But for now, you'll have to settle for a thousand words."

"How did great-great..." Abrielle began,

"Granfodder!" Jake called out, as before.

"No interrupt," Abrielle scolded. "How he make gard-yens?"

"I'll show you!" Grandpa Lombardi said, taking up a yarn and needle. "He weaved them with the energy of a Kakashgun, sealing up the monsters which attacked his land."

"Monsters like z-zombies?" Abrielle stuttered.

"Zome-bees?" This time it was grandpa who had come across an unknown word.

"Yeah!" Jake said, eagerly taking up the role of teacher. "They undead, and their arms fall off!"

Grandpa grimaced at the mental image. "Why, no. These monsters were very well alive. I picture the Kraken or the Leviathan!" At the boy's look of disappointment he added with a wink, "Though maybe there is a zome-bee or two, now that I think of it."

Now that she had found the Kakashgun to be real, Abrielle wondered about the Kakashgun beasts. If they were truly as monstrous as Grandpa Domenico had described, who could stand against them if they were released upon the world?

• • •

"Jake." Izo said, rolling the word around in his mouth before spitting it out in distaste. The matter of the sixteen-year old Portland boy had become quite the controversy in Kakashgun City. The Asian Commander was thoroughly perturbed at Rotso's actions, as of late. Not that he wasn't usually, but the past week had been of notable exception.

I suggest Aedus pick up where he left off – with a new recruit. Those were the words of Rotso Inahka, before the council convened due to some purported spotting of Ammon Jonsson, the Goliath of the Dark Kakashgun. The idea had appeared sensible at first, if the recruit had been such a one as Koen, the Arashkagun-wielder. Izo could foresee a bright future for that young man.

His respect for the elders and traditions of old were unparalleled by the youth of today, and he might easily become the commander of some region, should he persist in such loyalty. However, the opposite was true for Jake, Aedus' find. The boy was an untalented sapling, one who had not born any notable fruits in his past, and would hardly do so if given the chance. Plus, he had association with the Lombardi family, who had long been suspected of having Kakashgun heritage... although corrupted, at that. What was to say that Jake was not a mole?

"Yes, Jake." Jacque replied, rubbing his temples. He wished Rotso were here to combat Izo, rather than himself. He had more important matters to attend to. Plus, these assemblies were characterized by the duo anyways. They were the grand finale to every event... and the opening act to each occasion... not to mention the substance of each discussion. Frankly, he could not remember a time that any other member, aside from the occasional elder, gathered the courage to speak.

"What purpose do we have in speaking of him?" Izo asked simply. "He does not fit into our budget, nor the current crisis."

"Ah, but he does." Jacque retorted. "Aedus specifically chose him for our latest endeavor, and he did a smashing job. We have successfully taken down the mafia's Goliath. Shall we not give him what we promised, with a simple plane ticket to our city? It would hardly drain our reservoir."

"He served the purpose of bait, any one number of people could have. That urchin is of no use to us. Why then should we impart any of our knowledge to him? Shall we not say he is best off with the seafaring Italians."

"You're stubborn, egotistic, and verifiably insane." Jacque growled, pounding the meeting table. "How could you abandon a child, Izo?"

The District Commander of Asia looked up from his list of expenditures, scowling. "You are just like that fool, Rotso," he said. "Too sentimental."

"Sentimental?" Jacque scoffed, "Ha! It's common sense, man! Jake is one of our own."

"Since when? I never recall voting on the matter."

Now Jacque's anger mustered itself to lividity. "And I don't recall having voted on a war with the Dark Kakashgun. Yet here we are!"

"Now that is irrelevant. A fallacy of..."

"Rubbish." Interrupted Jacque, impatiently. "Indeed, it has no pertinence. And neither does a counsel which considers puppetry a reasonable practice. We offered Jake information in exchange for a boat ride. He was never meant to be in danger!"

"I seem to recall a certain Frenchman in charge of the boy's safety..." Izo countered with a smirk.

"Englishman, with a deceptively native French accent. And Jake is safe, we transferred him to another ship just before the attack."

"Then what is the problem?"

"The problem is that I should be in a helicopter right now on my way to meet him. Instead, I've been called here to discuss an issue which is all but resolved."

"Now it is my turn to laugh, Mr. Chaussure. Rotso and his company may be experienced, but so too is Musibet. There is no guarantee that..."

"Oh, but there is! We have some of the Kakashgun's best at the job. Titus will fall – if not by our power, his own folly in meddling with forces beyond his control."

"And what meddling is that? Another piece of information which you've swept past the board?"

"Yes, Izo. For it is that which even our elders fear."

## Chapter IX: Corrupted Consciousness

Ferdinando plopped into his leather recliner, sending a plume of dust into the air around him. After it had cleared, he took a deep breath and closed his eyes.

He was startled awake by a gust of wind, and the hiss of a snake. Glass shards were scattered across the carpet, and the sound of the ocean was abnormally prominent. He turned around to see a broken window and the head of a serpent. Its red pupils dilated and focused upon him, "I come from the Sinister," it spoke.

"Musibet?" Ferdinando asked, shaking in fear.

"Yessss." It replied. "You must do the job which was Antonio's."

"What are you?" Ferdinando said, grabbing the gun stored in the side of his chair, and pointing it at the base of the creature's skull. "Why should I do what you say?"

"I am the essence that is the Dark Kakashgun. When you accepted the corruption that comes with our power, you gave up your consciousness to me. I am that which will destroy you, and all that you love, should you fail to heed me. I have no master, but my servants are many. Rose has been given into the hand of Titus."

"He wouldn't dare harm her," Ferdinando growled.

"Not if you do what you are told: kill Jake."

"Why does the Dark Kakashgun want the boy dead so badly?"

The creature unhinged its jaw and moved for the cartographer, its teeth glistening in the harsh light. "He has been granted the power to hinder us." Ferdinando moved out of his chair and made for the door, but he was too slow. In a second, it was upon him, enveloping him.

Ferdinando woke up with rivulets of sweat weaving along his countenance. He was beginning to rethink having joined the global mafia, but there would be no end to it now. Not until Rose was safe with him.

• • •

The same storm which had greeted Rose and her party returned to welcome Rotso's. Koen wiped his face clear of accumulated snowflakes as the wind battered his chute like a ram. The siege of the Chessboard Palace was a two-sided one. He scowled as a gust of wind pierced through his combat gear. Having spent his days in the paradisal Kakashgun City, he was ill-prepared for nature's more rugged elements. Yet while body longed to bask in the sun, his spirit was thoroughly invigorated for the battle to come. At last, his years spent training would come to fruition.

Rotso was not so optimistic. Although he had predicted a successful mission while aboard their craft, he now felt his gut telling him otherwise. Something seemed off about the place, aside from its dreadfully clashing aesthetics. They were heading into a trap, albeit not one devised by Titus. Something stronger was at work, and much older than he.

Descending upon the complex, the teams assembled as instructed. Rotso was the first to land, heading for the door, eager to confirm his suspicions. He formed a thread of energy and wrapped it around the handles, jerking them down with a swift tug. Opening doors conventional means made one vulnerable to ambush. Following the raucous, Aedus, Kabu, and Balafre rushed to join him.

"Looks like nobody's home," Aedus said, peering into the darkness.

"Precisely my cause for uneasiness," Rotso said.

As one, the team stepped inside, self-munitions at ready.

"No." Koen whispered. "How did this happen?"

They were met with a room full of mafia cronies sprawled out upon the floor. Koen picked up one of the mafia agents in disbelief, checking for a pulse. Nothing. He rushed to another and performed the same procedure, and with a grunt of frustration, moved on. The others joined him as Rotso scoped out the hallways, finding a similar scenery of corpses.

"I've got one!" Owen cried out. "This man is alive."

The Dark Kakashgun agent looked up in bewilderment, "What happened?" He asked.

"That's what I want you to tell me," Owen said. "Think, what do you remember?"

"A volcano..." the man muttered. "Sparkling lava... crackling fire... a fierce sunset... a lion's mane."

"He's lost it," Aedus said. "How can a sunset be fierce? Let's look for another one with a little more brains and a bit less pixie dust and unicorns."

"No, there's a pattern to his delusions." Balafre observed. "Except for the last one, though it's a close match. All but the mane consist of orange, red, and yellow coloration."

"Well, that's great Picasso." Aedus retorted. "The man dreams en couleur.

Brilliant. Though I'm more of a fan of the vintage black-and-white myself."

"It's a start," Kabu spoke. "We know our enemy isn't a human or an ordinary animal, but something more abstract."

"Again, more art terminology. How about we break out the finger paints and..."

"He's right," Rotso interposed. "This isn't Musibet we're dealing with. I believe you're all familiar with the legend of the beasts."

"Oh no, not you too Rotso!" Aedus feigned a sob. "Where are the men in white coats when I need them?"

"Yes," Balafre said, disregarding the mockery. "Lucido Lombardi, of ancient Greece, secured them in an undisclosed location in Russia, where no one would ever find them. Where bombs are tested and nobody is the wiser... Siberia."

"You're saying the monsters of old have done this?" Koen asked. "But how is that possible! They would hardly leave a man alive... or in one piece."

"I believe Rotso is suggesting they were released nearby," Balafre explained. "The Guardians restraining them must have sought to regain their hold, but failed, and instead overwhelmed the Kakashgun inside these men."

"Like Jake," Aedus added gravely, his humor having faded. "That boy was whelmed by something."

"Irrelative, though I'm glad to see you're up to contributing," Inahka smirked. "Jake's powers may have some importance later on, but nothing to do with what has decimated Titus's forces.

Ju-Long, David, Chun, Joe, and Renfort emerged from the main hall.

"All dead or unconscious," David reported, as he approached Rotso.

"They may not actually be dead though," Jae added. "Many show signs of being in a coma, though beyond what modern biology has observed."

"That is the least of our worries. Right now we need to find Rose, and warn Cніr and Rusé." Rotso said. "The Guardians are drawn to active Kakashgun energy, although they certainly aren't too finicky. These men must have been preparing weaves for us, which made them the first targets."

"Yeah, that's right... we were going to kill you." The Dark Kakashgun agent muttered. "But then sunset came...nighttime, hit the hay." As the man began to snore, Owen let go of him, dropping him on top of a compatriot.

"Your suspicions are confirmed once again," Balafre said of Inahka. "Which means if either Cніr or Rusé use their information abilities, they'll be the next in line."

Joe Holmes had been pacing back and forth, when something occurred to him."Wait, wait, hold on. Guardians?"

"Yes, yes, we've been over this detective." Aedus responded, "Titus released Kakashgun beasts, Guardians try to recapture beasts but fail. Guardians instead ravage the nearby fortress, because they're just bloodthirsty like that."

"I realize that," Joe retorted, with a roll of the eyes. "But where are the beasts?"

"Long gone," Balafre answered. "They could be anywhere. Though there's not much chance of them causing any harm for some time. It's a long way to any civilization."

"Okay, but why wouldn't they do the same thing as the Guardians and come here? Instinct. A swarm of energy-manipulating creatures are in pursuit of you. You spot shelter in the middle of a wasteland,, and you head towards it. It doesn't require reasoning, it's stimulus-response. So why would they run away from safety, into a storm?" Joe scratched his noggin, searching for an answer. "They wouldn't, unless they were being manipulated by Titus. I understand we need to find Rose and warn Rusé, but we might as well get some questions answered along the way," he finished in an unintentional rhyme.

Aedus' buffoonery was irrepressible. "You're a natural born poet!" he exclaimed.

Rotso had been carrying two long black cases, one in either hand, which he set upon the ground in order to rap Aedus on the head. "Focus," he said. "We will obtain answers to our questions in due time. Kabu and Balafre, you will be responsible for that task. Find Titus, bind him, and take him back to the plane. Ju-Long, Aedus, David, Chun, and Joe, I want you to warn Cніr and Rusé. You'll take the roundabout path and provide support if any of us come across trouble along the way. That is, if our friends are not already incapacitated. Jae, Koen, Renfort, Owen, and I will exit last, after we've found Rose."

Balafre walked over and unclasped one of Rotso's cases, revealing a set of semiautomatics. "You came prepared."

"Yes," Inahka replied, opening the second which contained a set of machine guns. "We cannot become dependent on the Kakashgun. I brought these along in the event that my worst fears were realized."

Chun grabbed an uzi, "Let's give Izo something to talk about."

• • •

He woke to the sound of the crashing waves. It had been two days since Jake was given his mechanics job aboard the ship, and both his neck and back ached from the tedious labor. The _Vecchio Marinaio_ held true to her name in that there was no lack of repairs to be done. It was enough to make one homesick with no end in sight, despite Jacque's promise. Worst of all, the aches and pains brought about abrupt awakenings which led to the resumption of his prior excursions. With his heart pounding and muscles tensed by adrenaline, his senses would suddenly increase, as if arming against an unknown enemy, just as they did now. It was time for his unknown mission.

"Who are you?" It was difficult to see in the dark hall.

"I'm Lucido Lombardi, Abrielle's father."

"Why are you here?"

"For you Jake, to protect you... from the assassins all around you."

In his hyper-alert state, it only took Jake a moment to asses the situation. The same fidgety Italian man he had first encountered upon passing the kitchen stood behind him, blade in hand. Ferdinando was opposite him, malice consuming the very air around him, although distracted for the time being.

"Wh-what are you doing here Ferdinando?" Antonio asked his brother, clenching a butcher's knife in his frail hands.

"I'm here to kill it for my daughter." The cartographer replied, more aptly equipped with an antique European revolver.

"It?"

"That's all he is now... or all he will be. A corpse, a thing, an it."

Mr. Lombardi turned to Jake, a sly smile upon his face. "I'll handle this."

Jake did not respond as he was now fully entranced by the Kakashgun; mind and body seemed no longer his own. Lucido raised an eyebrow, albeit seemed unconcerned.

"Now gentlemen," Lombardi said to the murderous duo – although one was quite harmless, even in the midst of a fly. "What quarrel do you have with this seventeen..." "Sixteen," Jake corrected, in an almost monotone voice.

"...sixteen year old boy? To save a daughter? To save one's own life? What makes you so certain Musibet hasn't disposed of her yet or will preserve your miserable vitality? Why does a man like him need to negotiate? Frankly, he doesn't. He merely wants to reel you in to do his bidding."

"How do you know about Titus and my daughter?" Ferdinando asked, training his gun on the stranger before him.

"Who doesn't know about your daughter!" Lucido replied in good-humor, unfazed by the scowl of the grim revolver. "If you're part of the Dark Kakashgun, you're bound to have heard something of the matter. And as for Musibet... ha! Let's just say he's an old friend. Though he'd sooner strangle me to death than embrace me as such. I'm one of the Senior staffers at the D.K., likely why you've never heard of me. As such, however, it places you both in a precarious position should you instill my wrath. I hold the cards, not Musibet, and most certainly not either of you. If you want to free your daughter, leave this ship and do it yourself. Jake is now in my hands... or rather, my protection."

"I think I'll have better luck killing you both." Ferdinando said, then let loose four shots, two for each target.

Jake reacted prior to the initial discharge, pushing Lucido out of harm's way and somersaulting forward below the range of the bullets intended for him. Ferdinando let fly another as Jake rose to his feet, albeit merely grazed his forearm as the boy darted to the side. With his cartridge nearly at an end, he let loose the last of his sixshooter's fury at Jake's forehead, which zinged past its goal to hit a doorknob. Jake dashed forward, no longer in harm's way but for an immobile dagger, and snatched the gun out of Ferdinando's hand, proceeding to knock him unconscious. The cartographer's eyes rolled around once before he collapsed forward, acquainting himself with a thick slab of steel. With the primary threat indisposed, his attention turned to Antonio, who he disabled with a jab at one of the neck's pressure points.

The exercise having taken its toll, the extraordinary power left him. Jake could feel his veins bulge and contract, as they had before, the premonition to unconsciousness. His vision was drawn down, as if by weights, though not without hesitation. Upon entering the mental void, he saw Lucido over him, the same devious smirk spreading across his face. This was not the man he had known as a child.

• • •

Rusé stroked his goatee, nervously awaiting some sign of life. The room they were in was a grimly grotesque one, characterized by a single pipe, dripping water onto a mildewed floor which had cracks strewn upon its surface where the streams might flow. From these mini-chasms arose plants of the most peculiar sort, needing not light or warmth, with jagged edges and purple veins, black spots and a pungent aroma. The only comfort was that of an otherwise undisturbed silence, and at the very least, a sort of rhythmic sound when it must be upset. However, then came the roar which perturbed this grungy state of being.

"He said this place was abandoned, right?" he asked Cніr.

"Yes." she replied, direly indifferent. "And I confirmed that in the plane. Though that's not what the Information Kakashgun states now." She indicated the holographic grid of data. "I had identified a large presence when I arrived with Rose..."

"And now its back." Rusé finished with a shudder. "Do you believe the rumors?"

An upturned eyebrow, "you're talking about the Kakashgun beasts, right?"

"Yeah... they're here. That's the only explanation."

Cніr rolled her eyes. "You're starting to sound like Blake. It's probably some wildlife exhibit assembled by Titus, a garbage disposal for his prisoners. If they were back, I assure you there would be..." She stopped and her eyes widened. Her Information Kakashgun dispersed into a whirlwind of blood-red figures and images. Overwhelmed, she clenched her head in agony, desperately trying to release its grip on her mentality. "Guardians," she gasped, finishing her sentence.

"Hold on," Jean said, forming his own weave to try and disrupt the flow of corrupted energy. The intended effect was the opposite, intensifying the speed of the figures, feeding the fire.

"Hold on to what?" Cніr asked. "My sanity? Sure, if you'll stop helping!"

"What do we do?" Rusé asked, on his knees, having attracted the Guardians unto himself as well. "Never in all my years..."

"Get a grip grandpa," Cніr barked, teeth gritted. "There's always a coward in every group. Man up and show some steel, otherwise you'll have a leave of absence like our last partner. We wait for Koen or Rotso, if anything, the combination of light and dark energy should be able to drive the Guardians away, if not quench them entirely."

"You're relying on the fact that they're ancient forces," groaned Rusé. "But what if that's not all there is? What if the Arashkagun isn't the power that bound the beasts and created the Guardians, as we originally supposed? The power to save us may lie in someone yet unknown."

"We don't have time for what if's." Cніr said, taking in another sharp breath. "What good is supposition when we're needing a resolution?"

"To focus our minds," Jean said with a forced smile, struggling to stand up. "If we don't keep busy, they'll overtake us before long. It's a mental attack... they may be sapping our powers as well, but at the least we may have control over one faculty."

"For once, you've made a good point." Cніr admitted grudgingly. "I'm starting to see why they call you Rusé. What's next, Sudoku?"

"I was thinking something more along the lines of Scrabble, but that works too. I'll start. Hope you have a photographic memory." he said with a wink. "In the first column, upper-right box, a seven."

## Chapter X: Predecessor by Power

He lay upon the podium, a coin in his grip. He seemed very much the shell of a soul, a pirate captain long-gone, clasping onto his treasure. But then he awoke with fitful laughter, eyes unfocused and estranged. "Their power is incredible," he said, with trembling speech. "I lacked the vision to see it... to choose the jailer over the beast which he keeps."

The bemused onlookers were Kabu and Balafre, who stopped in their tracks when Titus made utterance. They hesitated, as one naturally would with an object of insanity, and waited for his next words.

"And now my enemies think me mad. But they shall not kill me, for I am already dead. That s-serpent. saw to that. Puppets, all! That's what we are. Yet I hope, obsess, entertain vengeance." He stood then, swaying like a leaf as he moved about the room. "The unprepared are robbed of all that they are. How great is their power! Ha! For they have drained me of mine. My lifeblood they have sapped. Where is the quilt of the widow? It has been scorned, brought to nothing. Oh, the melody! The orchestra has lost their will, the plot is at an end. But no, look yonder at the scaly phantom, it continues to thrive. The helmet and scar wonder of me. They question my motives, and rightfully so. For the night is coming upon us all, and no one will be left that the mantle may be taken up."

Balafre grabbed Titus by the arm and restrained him with a metal cord he had about his waist for just such an occasion."He's saying we have no hope," the General told Kabu, while pulling Musibet along. "And that neither does he. I am starting to understand the meaning. He wanted to be the antagonist in the grand scheme of things, to bring glory to himself. Now he cannot, but his enemies will be crippled with him. The Guardians will soon rob all of us of our power, in their search for the beasts. And while we are vulnerable, the beasts will strike, with no one to oppose them. His plan has succeeded, it's just that he isn't at the helm."

Kabu dipped his head in agreement, and in this posture looked into the face of Titus, which seemed to have frozen. Half in agony, the remainder in sick satisfaction.

"What will we do with him?"

Balafre snorted, not at the question but with the weight of Musibet, and shifted him under his arm. Carrying the infamous mastermind like a pile of lumber. "He's already given us answers to our questions of the moment, so we'll take him to Kakashgun City and leave that decision up to the elders. He may still have some insight on how to bring down the beasts, since he was the one who discovered how to release them. I can tell you that no amount of firepower will be capable of it." He discarded his gun by tossing it at the podium, denting the eye of the viper.

• • •

Jacque, adamant to his cause, expanded upon the threat which the Guardians posed to the welfare of society and the Order as a whole. All the while, Izo appeared bored out of his mind, taking note of the various fallacious statements which were made in order to refrain from nodding off.

"We're not scared by petty Guardians," Izo jeered.

"You're not afraid to lose your powers? Well that's all well and good when the beasts are wreaking havoc. Tell me Izo, what do you fear?" Jacque spurred, drawing himself against the table.

"I fear that your stipulations are more droll than they are factual." Izo rested his head upon a hand. "If we are all going to lose our abilities anyways, then what is your point? You consistently stray from those matters which are pressing, and able to be dealt with. A visionary is fit for the ambassadors, not for our counsel."

"Since you insist on hearing the logic of my case, I'll give you my joyau de grand prix." Jacque beamed. "During our break, I received word from Balafre. I believe you hold some respect for the General? He found a coin upon Musibet's person, depicting the likeness of Lucio Lombardi. It read in Greek, to the earth we return. I believe this is a reference to something we have yet to consider – the existence of other Kakashgun powers. We have no idea how the Guardians were created, or how the beasts came to be. Just that it must be some technique which escaped us in history. But what if that's not true, and there are actually those among us capable of such things? Or able to be trained to do so?"

"Then we will round them up, like the Americans say, and have ourselves a rodeo." Izo winked, in one of his rare moments of levity. "I believe that's enough discussion for one session, Mr. Chaussure. Please look into the budget next time, instead of fantasy fiction. There are those of us who would like to keep our organization running for the next generation, instead of chasing after dreams." That said he rose from his chair, followed by a group of his supporters.

One very serious-looking gentlemen made for Izo and he spoke while walking beside him.

"Sir, I too have received word about Rotso's party. The beasts have been released, and an undisclosed source has provided a tip via the CIA."

"What is it?"

"Jake's powers are the same as the Lombardi Lucio who bound the beasts and created the Guardians. Therefore, if we lose our powers, he's the only one who can stop them. However, Jake refuses to do anything further and has fled to the Aegedian Islands, off the coast of Italy."

"And you are sure of this latter fact, how?"

"It was included in the tip sir, but aside from that, Jake left the boat which Jacque had told him to stay on. It logically follows that he was either forced off, or no longer wishes to be a part of this."

"Why would he choose Italy?"

"Aedus included in his report that Jake may have a love interest, Abrielle Lombardi, who has family in Italy. It's possible he's staying with them."

Izo handed the man a warrant from the elders. "Bring him here then. I had this written in case such a thing would occur. If Jake will not cooperate, he must be captured and persuaded to help us. Assemble a task force and do what you must. Rough him up if necessary, the fate of the world rests upon it."

"Yes sir, but you realize we have no jurisdiction..."

"The situation demands it! You yourself have told me so." Izo implored. "Beyond us, if the elders believe it to be of import, then it is most pressing that we accomplish it. In the event that the juvenile will not use his powers for us, then we may safely suppose he will do so for ill purposes. If he sides with the global mafia in that region, then not only will we gain a new enemy, all will be lost."

"I understand, sir. It will be done."

The man, whose name was Ariel, continued down the hall to an elevator, where he entered a passcode and slid the card about his neck for special clearance. He would need to access the Kakashgun City's armory, in case they came across the beasts while searching for the boy. The sliding doors moved open, and swiftly closed shut after he had cleared the entrance. Extra precautions, can't let a fruit fly get in. He would hate to think what would happen if it malfunctioned.

Ding. There was no elevator music, no flashing lights, or number pad. You made your decision before entering. The elders thought this would give the young ones better resolve, though it was a pain if you forgot to make your choice.

Level 150 was at the top of the council's complex, specially made with the most durable materials known to man, and some that weren't. If the rest of the building were to blow, it also had a built-in levitator in the form of a giant fan and a set of adjustable pressure-rockets. Inside was a laboratory that would make a scientist cry in jubilation, filled with a grand assortment of cutting-edge technology where no hammers or nails were to be found. Wires and computer chips were likewise old-fashioned, as the Information Kakashgun provided the most effective data storage network, and a mentally activated communication Kakashgun was in the works. If the Guardians were to discover their city, the effects would be catastrophic. That's why they needed to stop the beasts. However, the Guardians could only regain control of the beasts if they were reigned in by the powers of Lucio, not much luck there, or his predecessor in power.

When it was all said and done, Ariel would have to do something nice for Jake. Maybe he could be the one to provide a tour of the city. Izo couldn't object if the boy saved it from destruction. Ariel stepped inside. This time the elevator doors stayed open a short while, to allow anyone lingering inside the level a chance to depart. It was impossible to leave otherwise, so they always kept contact with someone outside the tower who could fetch them once they had finished work.

Ariel moved passed the stainless experimentation tables and robotics which consisted Section 1, and headed to the weapon's closet in Section 4. Hopefully the device he was searching for was still in operation.

Centuries ago their ancestors had left a warning for their posterity, instructing them to devise weapons which could store their Kakashgun energy, knowing all too well that the global mafia may try to release the Beasts, and the even more devastating Guardians. They were thorough enough to include a disclaimer, ahead of their time, stating that their weapons may be of little use if the Guardians chose to disable them. Ancient civilizations... they say aliens helped them. Ariel scoffed at the thought. More like Kakashgun agents.

• • •

"Don't worry," Lucido told Jake as he awoke. This won't be like your experience with Aedus."

Jake could tell from the start that he was telling the truth, the primary difference being that he was now tied to a chair, like a hostage. Mr. Lombardi's next action, however, took him by surprise. He walked over and untied him.

"You're very special," he said. "I had to restrain you so that you wouldn't go berserk in my office. You are being given missions, if I am to understand correctly, and you will stop at nothing to complete them. Not that it's of your will, the Kakashgun is what controls you."

"I don't see how this is much different from Aedus. He stalked me wherever I went, too." Jake surly retorted.

"That's not how I know," Lucido said. "We're neighbors. I've seen you sleepwalking before because it alerts the dogs. I know about your powers because they're just like the grandfather for which I was named, Lucio Lombardi, among the noblest of Greeks! He was the one who created the beasts of old."

A shadow fell across Jake's countenance. "So why am I here? ...does Abrielle know about this?"

"You like my daughter don't you?" Lucido jabbed. "But no, she knows little about my business."

"The mark of a great father," Jake sarcastically replied.

Lucido placed a hand upon his heart, as if hit with an arrow. "Oh! Don't be so quick to judge, it wounds me."

Jake was unamused. "Wounds your pride?"

"I enjoy this repartee, Jake, I really do. But we don't have much time for it."

"Okay, let's get to the point. Why am I here, Lombardi? To offer me answers? The Kakashgun has already promise me that."

"No, you misunderstand," Lucido said gently. "Aedus offered you answers, and he's certainly quite genuine in his promise, just as Jacque and Rotso are in maintaining your safety. I'll give you that. However, they're the only ones with such benevolent motives. The Order could care less about providing you with information, their only desires are domination and balancing the budget. If you prove of some use, they'll entertain your whims, but you'll end up in flames.

The Light Kakashgun is not as pure as it would seem. They take care of their own, but you're the odd one out, just like my grandfather. Once he had locked away the beasts, they repaid the favor by incarcerating him.

They even went after his family, but his wife was very resourceful, and left with her children for England, where they were in the care of a distant cousin, and a member of a barbaric tribune at the time. He covered their tracks and made it so that the Kakashgun would never find them.

If it hadn't been for him, there would be no Lombardi family. Though he would've had a much more difficult time in this present day, when their agents are everywhere, and all the world's surveillance tech is under their command."

"Nice sob story," Jake said. "Sounds like the propaganda we learn about in history class. Why would they want to get rid of Lucio?"

"He no longer suited their interests, my boy! It's not that difficult. His power was too much for them. Not something they could control. Don't tell me you can't see the truth in it? Every member of their organization is kept on a leash. Rotso is a bit more deviant than the others but his time will come." "Where's your proof?" Jake countered.

"Look to the actions of the Kakashgun Order, even now. I suppose they haven't told you about the elders, and the man who influences them? Izo has obtained an order for your capture. They believe you are uncooperative and unpredictable, now that they have been given enough time to realize the extent of your powers. Once they have you back, you will be sent after the Kakashgun beasts, at the expense of your life perhaps." Lucido's eyes seemed genuinely mournful. "I want to see you thrive Jake. And you can, but not with Rotso or his associates. The Dark Kakashgun isn't as bad as we've been made out to be. Those of our ranks, as Titus Tyran Musibet, who have become rogue, are quickly dealt with. Such men are isolated from us, we don't send out a kill order. They deem us the global mafia, though we may be better called a worldwide policing force. We keep the Light Kakashgun from its goal of higher power, and reduce crime in all the cities we're involved in. With us, you won't be used, and you may leave at any time."

"What about Ammon?" Jake asked. "He worked for you guys."

"Another rogue," dismissed Lucido. "In the end, he fell into the hands of our enemy, as he deserved."

Jake was tempted by what he saw as a proposition. "And you'll tell me about my powers? Teach me how to control them?"

"Yes Jake. The knowledge that has been passed down from father to father in our family, I will gladly impart to you."

"Then let's begin now," Jake said.

• • •

Ju-long led the way to the Informative Duo, with Aedus and his unrelenting wisecracking not far behind. The others walked on in silence, keeping their distance as if they could prolong the moment when their power would be taken. The hall they entered was opposite Titus' quarters – much more elegant than those they had seen before. The corridor was filled with diamond-clad chandeliers, and gold-leaf ornaments which wrapped around renaissance-style paintings, depicting volcanic eruptions. Beneath these, quite fitting in composition, stood obsidian busts of Greek and Roman poets. It would seem Musibet was not only a lunatic, but a romantic with fiery passion.

A dozen grand doors and lavish rooms later, they found the entrance to what may be deemed the janitor's closet of horrors, juxtaposed to their previous sights. Two figures sat therein, each huddled against an opposite wall, exclaiming various representations of English vernacular.

"Pineapple!" The Frenchman yelled triumphantly.

"Sudoku," Cніr responded.

Rusé pursed his lips in agitation. "But you don't have a u."

"Don't I, now? You're the most random person I've met, Jean. One moment we're speaking in numbers, the next exotic fruits. Scrabble is hardly the mentally-taxing activity I had hoped for. Where are you getting all your letters from?"

"Ludicrous, another one to add after my delicious tropical friend. The same place you're getting your numbers."

"Your overactive imagination?"

Cніr and Rusé seemed as crazy as Titus, which was unfortunate; but even more so, Aedus lacked a joke for the occasion. He decided to settle for a taunt, instead.

"You two love birds having fun in there?"

The man was quite brave to have uttered this, and soon understood why.

Cніr rose from the ground, grabbed Aedus by the ear like a misbehaved schoolchild, and proceeded to press him against the wall with great force. "Stick to witticisms, little fire, they're less likely to get you killed."

"How are you doing that?" Ju-long asked, astounded.

"Doing what?" Cніr snapped, infuriated.

"Moving with such energy. If the Guardians got to you, then you shouldn't be capable."

"We kept our minds busy," Cніr explained. "As you may have seen. Now, however, I believe the attack has subsided. Although our powers have been robbed, at the very least we have our faculty. Right Jean?"

Rusé nodded. "It was my idea."

"And an idiotic one at that. I suggested Sudoku."

With the snow-angel of death thus occupied, Aedus slipped out of her grasp and bolted for the plane outside. David, Chun, and Joe, however, stood in his way.

• • •

Jake's Kakashgun began to corrupt, but to him it just felt like more power. Now, when his mission-state overtook him, he no longer went unconscious. His veins still reacted, albeit with more subtlety than before. It was only when he overexerted himself that he began to feel the consequences.

"They say we're the only ones who must be careful of how we use our abilities, because we'll die if we try too hard," Lucido had told him. "Even though they're nearly the same! You were living proof of that. Now, however, you have more control."

Before Jake had gone off on this adventure, he had seen things as black and white, good and bad. Now he saw grey as well, and it disturbed him. How is it possible to discern anymore, when all around you the world is enveloped in deceit?

"You must have a motivation. What is your reason to live?"

He would focus on protecting the people he loved – that would lead him on the right path. Jake had told Lucido about the time he had thwarted the bank robbers, and Abrielle's father likened him to a superhero.

"You can do great things Jake. Close your eyes, focus, and make your own mission."

Jake slowly nodded off, falling back into the lush green grass, onto the warm ground. He soon entered into a deep sleep, when dreams enter the mind.

Jake stood at the dock of his first mission, watching a steady departure of a sailboat. Antonio, Ferdinando, Burbero, and Tuono were at its stern, waving goodbye – kindred spirits born of an alternative reality. He smiled and waved back. Abrielle stood beside him, and she grabbed his hand and squeezed it. Her beautiful brown hair sparkled in the sunlight, and he forgot all else aside from the moment. She gazed into his eyes and placed a hand on his face, as if she were planning to kiss him.

I'm glad you're back, she said. I really missed you.

Jake's face flushed. I missed you too. I was thinking about you the whole time.

Really? Abrielle asked, skeptically. Then why have you brought that with you?

Why did he bring what?

The water before them became a tumult of white crests, which twisted and pulled the wood foundations holding them above ground. Now it was a maelstrom, a violent whirl which tore the logs apart, as if feeble planks. They were drawn into its eye, as if into a tornado, without a chance to catch their breath.

Jake opened his mouth and yelled as he and Abrielle were separated as she sank quicker and quicker until she totally engulfed in the seaweed strewn depths. The water flooded his lungs, and he expected to suffocate, but aside from a burning sensation he was still able to breathe. It must be his mission-state. Jake took advantage and swam after Abrielle. Now he had his purpose. Launching himself forward like a torpedo, he hit the rocky ground, bruising his upperbody although recovering quickly. Jake stood on the ocean floor and ran across the ground, with gravity as if on land. Even his clothes failed to restrain him, he felt light and agile. He came to a cave, from which shone a blue light. Inside, he saw what looked like the scaly corpse of a creature of legend, on top of which sat Abrielle, who waved at him without a care.

Isn't this amazing? She said. We're like the people of Atlantis!

Jake let out a bubbly-sigh of relief. I'm so glad you're alright. I thought you'd drowned.

Or was eaten by a monster? She joked, poking the lifeless beast beneath her.

With that single touch she awakened the creature and its yellow, serpentine eyes flickered open. It flicked its tail, creating quake-like tremors which threatened to tear the earth in two. Jake fell to the ocean floor and Abrielle slipped off the leviathan into a chasm set into the rocks. Jake struggled to get up and save her, but was bound under the monster's tail, which had settled upon him.

You're not going anywhere, it said. I've been meaning to talk to you, outside of your childish fantasies.

What did you do with Abrielle? Jake yelled in terror and desperation, having missed her disappearance in the alcove.

I've eaten her, it lied. But you can have her back, if you appease me.

How? Jake would do anything, despite the probability of her being harmlessly regurgitated next to nil.

Finish your training, activate your powers, and join my servants.

Wh-what servants?

The Kakashgun beasts.

At the mention of them, light flooded through the murky water, as if from Grandpa Lombardi's storytime train, and Jake was drawn into another dream.

Garrett looked concerned. "What's wrong with you man? You look like you just got dumped."

"Something like that," Jake murmured. "Wait, where's Abrielle?"

"Where do you think?" Garrett chuckled. "At home! Working on that stupid biology project. You were smart though, and came with me here."

"But, I... I just. Okay, never mind." Jake dismissed it as a nightmare, as well as his ordeal with the Kakashgun. It made more sense anyways. "I don't remember the flight."

"Yeah? That's no surprise. You conked out the moment we boarded. Guess our fun at the gas station was too much for you." Garrett picked up a handful of sand and threw it at Jake's face. "Boom!" he roared, trying to psyche him out.

Jake shook his head free of the pebbles and glared at his friend. "Funny. It really has been a long day. Though, maybe I should call her, just to make sure..."

"You just can't get your mind off the little Miss Lombardi, can ya'!" Garrett taunted.

"I'm worried about her," Jake retorted. "What if you're wrong?"

"Wrong about what?" This was too much for Garrett, and he bent over howling with laughter, gripping his sides. "Yo-you... hah, hoo. You have completely lost it! Wow, you need your own comedy show or something. A cushiony room maybe." Garrett scooped another bunch of gravel and tossed it at Jake again.

Jake shielded his eyes. When he opened them, he was back at the training grounds. He wasn't much for dream interpretation, but what he had just experienced left him at a loss for words. Especially his encounter with the snake. It made him feel like there was unfinished business, as if Abrielle was still in peril. The solution was clear: resume training. Jake jumped forward onto his feet and headed back to Lucido's office. He met the man half-way.

"Have you finished relaxing?" Mr. Lombardi asked.

"Yeah..." Jake still felt dazed, and maybe a little queasy too. "Um, sir, do you know about any serpent? A Kakashgun beast maybe?"

"Actually yes, but he's not beast. He's a manifestation of Dark Kakashgun energy. Why do you ask?"

"I met him in my dreams."

Lucido blanched and fidgeted with his hands. "Did he tell you anything?"

"To finish my training."

Lucido stopped the nervous motion. "Oh, oh, just that. Well that's great! It means there's big plans for you. We've all been waiting for the one who has mastery of the Kakashgun, and you may be that man! It's definitely time to get back to work, and I think, to speed up the learning process."

Speed up the learning process. Coming from a teacher, it can be a student's worst fear. Whenever Rotso had wanted to expedite a certain lesson, they always ended up with more homework, more assessments, and more demanded of them in terms of quality. Why couldn't they just take it slow for once?

Lucido led Jake into an isolated room with thick steel walls and dirt for its floor. In its center was an enlarged replica of Lucio's coin.

"To the earth we return," Mr. Lombardi said, bending down to feel the engraved Greek figures. "Do you know what it means Jake?"

Jake shook his head in the negative.

"It's homage to your predecessor in power, who alone was able to put the beasts back where they belonged: in the dirt."

"This is going to accelerate my learning?"

"Of course."

Lucido walked over to the coin and pushed a button in the center with his heel. There was a loud thud, followed by the squeaking of gears as the metal plate before them slid aside to reveal a cage. Inside was one of the strangest creatures ever to walk the earth. It had the body of a leopard and the teeth of a crocodile, with a much larger mouth to hold them. It had paws with retractable claws at the front and talons on the top. Its legs were covered in what appeared to be a membrane much like bat wings, like the leathern chaps of a cowboy. At its end was a thick tail covered in spikes. Jake didn't like what he saw.

"Is this a Kakashgun beast?"

"No, not exactly. It's a mongrel infused with Dark Kakashgun energy, that's how it manages to live with various species intertwined. Courtesy of Titus' experimentation.

This is what we believe the Kakashgun beasts may be like, though much more majestic. Now Jake, I'm going to let this fellow loose and I want you to bind it with your power.

Otherwise, it'll surely kill you. Its lethal points weren't made for ballet. Well, hop to it!"

Lucido left the room and locked the door which had a narrow slit through which he could watch and speak. As soon as he was secure, the cage door began to creak open, bit by bit, psychological torture at its finest. Jake closed his eyes and tried to concentrate, but fear forced his lids open again. A few centimeters more and the beast, which was gnashing its teeth in anticipation, would be free. Jake walked over to the trigger button on the floor and tried to pull it back up and close the barrier. It was, however, wedged in too tightly.

"I can't do this Lucido!" Jake called out, abandoning the pleasantry of formal names. "My powers don't just activate out the blue."

Lucido pressed his mouth through the aperture, "It's the accelerated course, my boy. You did well against the Italian brothers, why not this monster which is so much more capable than them?"

"I was already in my mission-state!" Jake clamored in indignation. Mr. Lombardi had lost it! What was he thinking, throwing him into to the lion's den like this? Would he save him at the last minute, or leave him to die? What happened to the big plans there were for him? At this rate, the only planning done for him would be for his funeral!

Jake heard a click and turned around to see the last bit of the cage door sliding into the wall. The mongrel stepped out, sinews protruding with every movement, telling of its strength. The bat wings extended to increase intimidation, though its chompers were enough to do that. After only one more step, it bent down for the pounce.

Jake ran to the door and began to pound on it. The gap in the door had been closed. Either Lucido didn't want to see what was about to happen, or he had left. Either way, it made for poor prospects. Jake gave up and turned around to face his foe. He felt adrenalin rushing into his system, though it was too late for the fight or flight mechanism. What he needed now was power, that which had been promised to him. Though if his powers didn't activate, perhaps he could defend himself as is. If he could just wrap the creature's tail about its neck, without impaling himself, he might just stand a chance. It was a long shot, but then again, everything lately had been.

The cur snarled, a mix of hiss and growl, then darted towards Jake, appendages outstretched, daggers glistening.

Jake put his arms out to protect his face. It did little good, for in the next moment his vision flashed red.

## Chapter XI: Unknown Enemy

Rotso's squad found Rose in a place much like the janitor's closet, though with a touch more grime. She was unrestrained but with her powers already spent, that much was clear from her position. She held her knees in her arms, looking despondent and grief-stricken, as if at a death. She acknowledged them with a flick of the lashes.

"What has happened here, soldier?" Rotso asked, appealing to her sense of duty.

"Do you know about Jake?" she asked quietly.

"Yes, Aedus and I scouted him. What of it?"

"My father has been told to kill him."

Rotso snarled and slipped out his samurai sword, stabbing it clean into the metal wall, up to the hilt.

Koen trepidatiously tapped Rotso on the shoulder, "Now you look spooked. What's going on here?"

"More than I planned for. We need to get back to the plane, pronto. My student is at risk. We'll talk as we go."

Renfort looked to Rose, offering her his hand.

"Thanks," she said. "But I can stand on my own. It is the compromising of my family which has faltered my resolve."

"That's what the Dark Kakashgun does," Rotso said, as she followed him to the exit gap one of their groups had made earlier. "They invade the family and turn one against another. I should've seen it coming, with what they've done to mine. There may yet be hope for Jake, however. His powers are astounding, beyond the scope of the Arashkagun. With time, he could become a well-disciplined young man. I'm certain he can hold his own in strength, but not in spirit."

"We're going save Jake, then?" Owen asked. "But what about everything else we have on our plate?"

"Yes, what about the epidemic that will soon come upon us?" Jae added.

"Should we lose our powers, the world will stay in motion. Should we give ourselves up to the dark, to going every which way we desire, then chaos will come."

Rotso replied. "We must look to the consequences of our actions, before the mission."

• • •

Jake sat in a dark room. He was in the same chair he was first tied in, the seat where he had chosen to continue his story with the Dark Kakashgun. Since then, his world had been overturned even greater than before he had boarded that plane; when he had said goodbye to Garrett and left his parents without a word. A tear trickled down his face and landed upon his lip, as salt to his wounds. What terrible power he had. He looked at his hands and imagined that he saw blood upon them, red with purple streaks. He had returned it to the ground alright.

It wasn't that he was remorseful about taking the monster's life, but something perturbed him. What was to stop him if he felt threatened around those that he cared about? What if he didn't protect them, but tore them apart as he had this mongrel? Perhaps what bothered him was that he couldn't even begin to consider these questions, that he didn't want to know. He had been so eager for knowledge and control, and had gained neither. Just terrible memories. Nightmares. A serpent slithering through his being.

Jake bolted up as a light shone across his frame. It wasn't Lucido. Although they were familiar to him. He could smell it. Had Ferdinando or Antonio come back for him? Jake stood; he didn't feel ready for combat, but he might not have a choice.

As the illumination grew closer, a voice began to whisper. "Jake, are you there?"

The tone was feminine, but still indistinct. "Yes, who's there?" Jake asked distrustfully.

"It's Abrielle, you doof. After all these years, you can't recognize my voice?"

Finally, she came into view and Jake was taken aback. She looked as beautiful as ever. "But, wh-what are you doing here?" he stammered.

Abrielle's eyes gleamed with melancholy. "I followed my father here, hoping to find you."

Jake exhaled with the burden upon his shoulders. "Oh," he said, at a lack for words.

"What's happened to you?" Abrielle asked, concerned by Jake's dismal tone.

"Training has been rough," Jake said, dismissing the matter. "Why did you think I'd be with your dad? How much do you know?"

"Are you interrogating me?" Abrielle asked, with a raised eyebrow. "I overheard a conversation dad had with mum. You want to know about that too?"

"Yeah. Any information would help." "Alright, so it was at dinner time..."

• • •

Lucido had been unusually excited, as the Great Detective on a singular case. The Missis, Carino Lombardi, had been home to fix dinner. Equally atypical since she had begun working nights. Once Abrielle had left, her husband was a profusion of words, stepping beyond his reservations – an uncanny slip-up for an esteemed global mafia operative.

"It's great, my dear." he said, rubbing his hands together as she set a plate of steaming lobster carbonara before him, and then took her place at the table. "The family business is paying off, I'll be getting my jewel soon enough!"

"I thought you already had your jewel," Carino said with a wink, wrapping pasta about her fork.

"Oh yes, I do," Lucido replied, with a wink of his own. "Albeit at work, I was lacking a competent apprentice. Now I've found a young man with all the qualities of a Lombardi! Turns out, it's the Laskaris boy." He said this last part in a whisper, although his daughter managed to catch wind of Laskaris.

"You hardly tell me about the business." Carino said, filling up her glass with sweet tea. "Why now?"

Upon this comment, Lucido realized he had forgotten himself. "It's just that I'll be leaving for a few days and... I'm anxious for what awaits me!"

Abrielle, who had been waiting at the stairwell, tip-toed up the thick carpeted steps. She was glad they had covered over the wood last month, otherwise her stealth would have been for naught.

A half hour after dinner, Lucido kissed his wife goodbye and left the house. In bed, Abrielle hurried to the window to see if he would take the car. By favorable circumstances, he was on foot, headed for the dock which had been the setting for Jake's dream. Abrielle unlatched her window and climbed out, dressed in subtle colors and light, soft-footed shoes to avoid attracting attention. A few blocks down, Lucido's luxury boat, which he used for business, awaited him. Following close behind, Abrielle ducked past the onboard search light and hurried up the stairs before they automatically locked back into the ship. There were plenty of hiding places aboard the spacious vessel, and she moved between them frequently throughout the trip, day-by-day swiping meals before fading back into the shadows. She had wanted to go downstairs and have a closer look, but there was always a guard of some sort, manning the entrance day and night.

On the second to last day of their journey, they came upon another ship. It was a rusty old thing, with the name Vecchio Marinaio written on the side in faded red ink. Lucido emerged from downstairs and boarded the ship, with the help of the captain. All was silent for the next fifteen minutes, until a series of gunshots shattered the silence. Abrielle poked her head over a banister and a bunch of a barrels to see her father emerging from the chaos, a limp body in tow. Lucido's captain rushed over and helped haul the person, grabbing the legs as they pulled them aboard. They moved past Abrielle and she got a glimpse at their face – it was Jake! She wanted to follow after him, but she knew that it was futile. She would have to wait until they docked.

That evening they arrived off the coast of Italy, at their destination. Her father and the Captain were the first off, carrying a still unconscious Jake to Lucido's work complex. Before the rest of the crew left, Abrielle jumped overboard, executing a perfect flip and landing gently onto the sand. She proceeded to run after her father, keeping to the cover of the trees. The next few days, she kept close watch of Jake, even observing his fight with Musibet's horrible creation. It was when he left to his room that she saw her chance to reveal herself.

As Abrielle drew closer with her flashlight, Jake's shadow fled. It was as if her presence had cast away the demons of his mind. But it was not so, for a conflict still awaited her.

• • •

"You spied on me?" Jake said. "Why not show yourself when I went outside each day?"

"My dad was watching you the whole time," Abrielle explained. "And I wasn't spying on you... I was worried about you Jake. My father isn't the man you think he is."

Jake's heart softened for a moment, but then he became defensive, as if taken over by a different person. "So you overheard my conversation with your dad, huh?" Jake said, in contempt. "Then you should know the truth. I know you've had a hard time with your dad, Abrielle, but he can help me! You can't. He's the only one who understands me and my power."

"I think you need some fresh air," Abrielle said, brushing off the sting of his words and pulling him up by the hand.

Jake allowed her to lead him to an exit he hadn't known existed, tucked away in a corner of the shadows. As the door opened, the ocean spray coated them with a gust of wind and the smell of freshly cut grass excited their senses.

"So why did you come for me?" Jake asked, sitting on a patch of dandelions. "I didn't bring you along for a reason."

Abrielle joined him at the spot, "I know what it's like to lack something. You are right, I have had a rough time with my father. It's because he's never really been there. You lack peace because you don't know about your powers. I've never known much about my father. He mentions going away on a business trip, but we rarely hear anything of it. This is the first time I've done something about it. Why? You're here. I finally have a motivation outside of my own, and that pushed me to do it. To stowaway on the ship." "So you think he's lying?" Jake asked, feeling very vulnerable.

"About most things, yes." Abrielle said frankly. "He lives in deceit. And that's my own father I'm talking about! What drove you to seek out answers, Jake? What makes all of this worth it?"

Jake dislodged a bunch of flowers and began to pluck off their tiny pedals. "If I know more about my powers, I can protect everyone. I can keep you safe. I didn't want you to come because of this. There are things I don't understand, and I don't want anyone else to get trapped in it. Then there are things I do. The enemies are obvious when they're carrying guns, not so much when they're in the world of espionage."

"Let's go." Abrielle said. "I brought enough money with me to buy a pair of plane tickets, and the airport is only a few miles away. We can leave this behind."

Jake hesitated. Could he just leave all the trouble behind, just like that? "No," Jake said, recalling his dreams. "I need to learn more about my powers first."

"That's very wise," a voice said behind them.

Abrielle turned around and a look of horror came across her face as she saw who it was: her father.

"I had my suspicions that you may have followed me," Lucido said to his daughter. "My chef reported a daily absence of particular fruits, vegetables, and quick breads. Plus, your mother called. You don't really think things through, do you Abrielle?"

"What are you going to do with her?" Jake inquired anxiously.

"I'll let her stay," Lucido said, much to their surprise. "It would do her good to observe the battle to come."

"What battle to come?" Abrielle asked.

"Look out into the distance, past the grassy fields, to the town beyond. See those haggard travelers? Even in their fatigue, they have murder in their eyes, just like Antonio and Ferdinando. Remember what I told you Jake?"

"There are assassins all around me," he recalled.

"Yes, hidden in the shadows. Or in this case, the light. The man leading that group is Izo. It's surprising that he's joined them, I wouldn't expect the pen-pusher to stray from the city. Ah, and there's his crony, Ariel! That man belongs out in the field. He's a mercenary of the coldest sort, some say he has no heart."

"I doubt that," Abrielle retorted.

"Oh? What about Rotso, Jake? He's one of the few not in pursuit of you at the moment, but of a horrible disposition, nonetheless! These men are far worse, I assure you."

"There's a way to find out," Jake said. "I'll ask them."

"Good," Lucido said. "Once you know of their intentions, you'll find me to be true to my word."

"Don't go Jake," Abrielle said. "You'll only get in another fight and complicate things more."

Jake wasn't listening. In his mission state, he stood and surveyed the land. Lucido was right! They had come to capture him... or kill him. Ariel carried a gun, which glowed bronze at its base. He would need to disable that first.

• • •

For all his talk about Jake being inapt, Izo couldn't help but feel some trace of sentiment for the boy. He had been an ordinary schoolchild nearly a week before and now he was the world's most wanted teenager, for the powers which had been granted to him. It allowed for some leeway, but very little. That Jake would deny his aid, the only remedy in sight for their crisis, was unthinkably selfish.

The circumstances which brought Izo outside of his usual territory were indeed dire. The Guardians were on their way to the Kakashgun City and if Ariel didn't find Jake soon, they would all be vulnerable to attack. Such a drastic situation called for Izo's involvement.

• • •

Their team of six had come prepared for conflict, but Ariel sincerely hoped it would not be necessary. From what he'd read of Rotso's mission reports, the kid was a fairly upstanding young man. It was hardly believable that he would withhold his talents from the world. Especially when he was the only one who could save it. There had to be more to the equation. So he thought before Jake was upon him.

Jake somersaulted over Ariel, snatching his gun midway, then landing behind him with his hand on the trigger. The rest of the team formed Kakashgun and moved for him, launching a barrage of attacks. Jake formed his first weave of energy and used it to absorb the attacks, much like Rotso had with Ammon. He launched back a flurry of his own, sending all but Izo flying a half-mile away. Jake trained Ariel's device on him, and set off a golden laser, which narrowly missed the target, who timely flopped onto the ground.

Izo weaved his energy into a trio of spears, one of which he threw at the gun, slicing it in half. The remaining pair he held at his side, waiting for a counter attack. Jake did not disappoint as he dashed toward Izo, with the speed of a cheetah. After colliding with his quarry, he continued to pull him along in a bear-hug position. Izo found occasion to jab the spears into his back, which Jake avoided by tossing the man to the ground with an unsettling crack. Izo got up quickly, rubbing his neck. He had been hoping to get that kink worked out. Jake drew together the remaining light energy he had absorbed and combined it with the tainted energy within, forming an Arashkagun. Izo's eyes widened, and he flipped behind a pair of bushes, which he converted into energy for use as a barrier. The Arashkagun plowed through the ground, uprooting three feet of soil, and shattered the feeble defense in a burst of brilliancy, temporarily blinding onlookers and kicking up a sediment. Izo weaved together a web of energy, to hinder its progress and lessen the blow, and his endeavors served to preserve his life. The discharge merely knocked the air out of his lungs, and caught a section of hair on fire, which he promptly patted out. Izo, however, was spent of energy.

"Destroy him!" Lucido called. "Your troubles will be at an end!"

"No!" Abrielle screamed.

"I need to protect..." Jake began.

The clouds darkened dramatically and flashed with red, sending down a storm of Guardians. From the sand and grass emerged a great claw. A roar penetrated the tumultuous atmosphere as a lion emerged from the sand and grass which fell like rain drops from its enormous golden mane. With the emergence of a second paw, Izo was tossed as chaff to the wind, completely powerless, and landed unconscious on the top of a festive palm tree.

Jake, however, was still brimming with gusto. The Guardians attempted a mental invasion but were repelled by an unseen force. Abrielle ran out to him, jumping over a tail which had begun to surface. The Kakashgun beasts may be powerful, but they were slow to appear.

"Jake!" she called.

At the mention of his name, Jake came out of his combative state and regained his mind. "Abrielle!" he yelled back. "What are you doing?"

She rushed to his side and wrapped her arms around him. "Can you do something about all of this?" she asked.

"I." Jake paused at the word. I. It was left to him. Why had he of all people been granted these powers? "I don't know," he finished.

A sonic boom sounded in the distance and a fighter jet appeared minutes later, headed for their position. Jake scooped Abrielle up in his arms and ran for Lucido's facility as the plane crashed into the ground, sending up a spiral of smoke and flame, but not before ejecting its passenger. The parachute seat had a built in glide which its pilot utilized to steer towards Jake.

"Who is that?" Abrielle asked.

With his enhanced senses, Jake could see through the tinted visor and gleam a section of the man's face.

"Mr. Inahka," he gasped.

Rotso activated a set of wheels on the bottom of his chair, rolling smoothly onto the ground.

"Hello students," he said, pulling off his helmet and tossing it aside. "I hope you've had a productive break."

"Yeah," Abrielle said. "I'm almost done with Miss Brown's biology project."

Rotso smiled. They still had their wits about them. That was good, they'd need it to get through this catastrophe. He turned to Jake. "You accepted the Dark Kakashgun," he said, in a neutral tone.

"Lucido promised me—"

"Knowledge. Training. Yes, I understand. I believe Aedus offered more of the same. What you've been taught, Jake, is deception. Have you made it through the ambiguity? Do you feel any more fulfilled than before?"

"The Kakashgun Order was trying to capture me!" Jake snapped back.

"Because Lucido fed them false information. That's what led me here. I was able to trace the source. Your new mentor told our council that you were through with us. That you wouldn't bother to give us a helping hand in this trouble," he said, pointing to the lion's hindquarters which were nearly clear. Rotso wondered, momentarily distracted.

"I never—"

"Said any of that. I realize that. After being your English teacher and a surveillance agent, I've come to understand you."

"So what should he do?" Abrielle butted in, eager to have the beasts gone.

"He must help the Guardians regain their charges. The other beasts will be simple enough, they're still underground in a semi-tangible form, restoring their power. Once this lion, Tatoranaki, is dealt with, the rest will follow."

• • •

Lucido had deceived him all along. Somehow Jake felt better knowing this, although it was accompanied by a sense of betrayal. He had already experienced the latter with the Kakashgun Order. Now, however, he knew who his enemies were. As well as his friends.

Jake dashed towards the lion which stood fully out of the ground, leaving a deep cavern in its place. His mission-state had returned with a plan provided by Rotso. All he needed to do now was get eaten. Hopefully Leo would play his part. Jake weaved a hundred Light Kakashgun projectiles, which he directed at the beast's neck and jaw. They did little harm, but served as enough aggravation to draw its attention. The lion glared down at the ant-like Jake, its eyes flashing an emerald green. It opened its maw as he had hoped, and devoured him with two tons of dirt. Once inside, Jake surrounded his body with a bubble of Kakashgun power, to avoid being buried alive. He rolled through the creature's stomach, which may be likened to an incinerator, a burner mass which destroyed all enemy matter. Jake stood up and closed his eyes. His shield was gradually weakening. He needed to work fast. Jake mentally sorted through each and every lie he had been told by Lucido.

"The Kakashgun Order takes care of their own, but you're the odd one out, just like my grandfather."

It was not just their own that the Kakashgun Order took care of. Rotso was proof of that. He may seem overly strict, but he cared. As for Izo and Ariel, it was Jake who had struck first.

"I want to see you thrive Jake."

That definitely worked out well. Lucido practically fed him to his pet, without any assurance that he would emerge victorious. He left Jake to fend himself, not even watching after the first minute.

"The Dark Kakashgun isn't as bad as we've been made out to be. Those of our ranks, as Titus Tyran Musibet, who have become rogue, are quickly dealt with."

Before giving Jake instruction for the lion, Rotso had told him about their run in with Titus. He had by no means gone rogue, aside from desiring to climb the mafia corporate ladder. Titus was manipulated by a serpent, the same one that Lucido served.

"Now, with the Dark Kakashgun, you have more control."

He had felt more assurance of his power, the ability to guide his mission to suit his own needs. Key words being: his own. Before joining the Dark Kakashgun, his power had only protected him, even warning him of the battle to come, as Jake now saw it.

"Your troubles will be at an end!"

With Lucido, his troubles had only begun. He would have become a puppet of the global mafia, defying the law and using the beasts to conquer whatever forces stood in their way.

With each contemplation, Jake felt Dark Kakashgun energy flowing out of his pores until all of it had exited his system, releasing its poison into the beast. The lion rumbled and stirred, as light fought with dark, then began to turn transparent.

A complex diagram came to Jake's mind, a supercomputer to the end, and he created a weave of energy which he sent throughout the lion's body, which transformed the lion into an intangible form, incapable of movement. Jake phased out of the stomach and landed upon the ground with a thud, eased by a patch of weeds. The Guardians descended upon the lion, like locusts upon crops, and consumed its being, sealing a portion away inside each of them. After the other beasts were sealed away they would restore all of the Kakashgun agents.

## Chapter XII: Daughter Affair

Ferdinando roamed about the Vecchio Marinaio in a groggy disposition. Since Jake had left, he hadn't slept a wink. Every time he tried to close to his eyes, anxieties of every sort would invade his mind. His only consolation was that he didn't receive a second visit from the serpent.

Even Captain Burbero, who rarely displayed any sort of empathy, knew to steer clear of the man. "Your eyes are those of a father whose child has been kept from him," he had said. "If it was me, I'd talk to Nonna about it. She's a bit puffed up sometimes, but makes for a good companion." After all his years with the captain, he couldn't discern whether this was a cruel joke or a heartfelt suggestion. Tuono, whose countenance had become as stone when he heard it, inclined him to the latter.

Regardless, Burbero was right, although he didn't know the half of it. In the course of an afternoon Ferdinando had gone from a protective parent to a cold blooded killer. The day before he had given Jake a dog, treating the boy like his own son. The next he was... a shiver ran down his spine as he recalled his own words.

"That's all he is now... or all he will be. A corpse, a thing, an it."

Every moment of murderous intent he had justified himself, knowing all the while that he was no better than the Kakakshgun Order who used his daughter. Frankly, he didn't even have proof of their transgressions. It was by instinct that he concluded their organization was nothing but trouble, a cause for those with a death wish, lead by a pack of aristocratic fools who only sought their own glory. So he was irrational too.

"What makes you so certain Musibet hasn't disposed of her yet? He merely wants to reel you in to do his bidding."

Lucido Lombardi. A father as well. Was he as bad as Ferdinando? He knew how to feed the fire, that's for certain. And that cologne... ugh! He had made a good point, though. Why would Titus have to keep his word? He could have killed Rose, ridding himself of one of the many Light Kakashgun agents he detested. Ferdinando hadn't even thought to negotiate. Though it was difficult looking a leviathan eye-to-eye.

What would she think, if she was still alive?

I'm disappointed in you papa.

He could hear her now. Hands on her hips like his mother, though less gray. What was he to do?

Someone approached him. Looking to the ground he could see their shadow and a pair of designer shoes, Sibirskoĭ Obuvi. Were they Russian?

"Papa."

It couldn't be. He was delusional. It wouldn't be the first time he'd imagined her, safe with him.

"Ferdino."

That was the nickname she'd come up with as a toddler. "Ferdino, Ferdino!" she would say. But that was before.

"Papa Ferdino!"

Ferdinando looked up and nearly had a heart attack. It was her, Rose. She was actually here! But how did she get on the ship?

"You didn't notice the helicopter?" she said, pointing to the skies, in answer to his surprise. "You must be out of it, papa."

"R-rose. What happened?"

"Is that the first thing you ask?" Rose said with a smirk. "Though I'd likely do the same. Skip to what's important, save the pleasantries. That's what you taught me. I was rescued by my friends."

"And Titus?"

"More of a nut-job now than he's ever been. Incarcerated, incapacitated. The Dark Kakashgun has suffered several blows today. If you're thinking of leaving, you'd best do it now."

"Do you know about Jake?" Ferdinando asked, with a gulp.

"Yes. Rotso informed me. I couldn't believe you'd be driven so far, but that wasn't all you. Been seeing snakes?"

"Yes, a very big one. How did you know?"

"Jake saw one and so did Titus. It shows itself to those who choose the path of darkness, then manipulates the depravity which was already in their hearts."

"You're disappointed." Ferdinando said quickly. He couldn't cry, not now. But he did, shaking in desolation. "Forsake your father," he sputtered. "I'm no good."

"No, you're not." Rose said. Then she lent him her hand, "But you can be."

• • •

Tatoranaki sank to the depths of the earth, contained within the Guardians. By his power, they were able to overcome the straggling beasts who had yet to fully materialize. Jake collapsed on top of a mound of sand which had been created in the creature's wake. Aside from a sore back, however, he sustained no further injuries and for the first time didn't black-out. Abrielle and Rotso were quickly at his side, the latter expertly checking Kakashgun aftereffects after observing Jake was physically able.

"A little wear and tear but nothing significant." Rotso remarked. "You'll be good to go for a day, sustained by Light Kakashgun energy, but then you'll probably crash. Just enough time for a tour of the city. Our side of the deal is still open."

"Does he have to go now?" Abrielle asked.

"You heard him," Jake groaned. "I've got one good day before I crash. For how long though?"

"You'll need to rest for the remainder of Spring break."

Jake coughed and put his hand to his forehead. "Serious? So I really don't have a choice if I want to see it soon. I'll go."

Abrielle couldn't believe what she was hearing. "For once, think about the consequences. You jumped right into all of this and now you're heading right back into uncharted territory, just when things have calmed down."

"Kakashgun City is the reason I choose to do it," Jake said. "And I'd like to see it before I get back to normal life. I have a lot to think about, and the trip might help answer some questions. If anything, I'll be ending my break on a high note."

Abrielle chuckled and pushed aside some of Jake's hair which had fallen over his eyes. "Okay, Mr. Adventure. But what about me?"

"You can come with!" Jake said, already planning it out in his mind. "It'd be more fun that way. And maybe we could work through all this together, on the way. Compare notes, like in biology."

"I'm sure Abrielle has her own questions, which the Kakashgun City won't answer." Rotso said, cutting off the fantasy. "Do you not wish to talk with your father?" He asked her.

Abrielle eyes wandered from Jake, to Rotso, and then to her father's complex. "Yeah... I do. Would that be okay?'

Rotso nodded. "I have agents securing the place as we speak, and they should have found your father by now."

Abrielle was still debating it. "What do you think Jake?"

Jake didn't answer for a moment. "That would be smart," he said. "Just be careful. He's more disturbed than usual."

"You'd know better than I would," she said. "My mom and I never got to see this side of him."

"Then we have our arrangements," Rotso concluded. "I'll talk with Izo about the tour. Abrielle, I'll have Cніr show you to your father."

• • •

Izo sat on a fallen tree, nursing his wounds.

"It hurts, skidding on sand. It's almost like being thrown off a bicycle," he said to Rotso, upon his approach.

"You don't seem like the bicycling type." Rotso responded in jest.

"More of the couch-potato brainiac?" suggested Izo, anticipating another witty remark.

"Class president, rather. I can see the cowering students obeying your every command."

"And one that is too stubborn to? There's always a rotten apple! It's been a while since our one shared year in Middle School, Inahka."

"I suppose," Rotso admitted, sitting next to him. "You're well bruised... like that apple. Reminds me of our time in Qatar."

"Now that I can recall with clarity. We split ways beneath the tower." Izo stopped his bandaging and looked off into the distance. "It's almost the same terrain, at least in this portion."

"The day when our debate was begun. Do you still find me intolerable?"

Izo resumed his nursing. "Now more than ever," he said with a barely noticeable grin.

"Because you know what I've come to ask you," clarified Rotso. "I realize it's a reluctant endeavor on your part, but you may find it to be enjoyable. If not, then contemplate the magnitude of what he's achieved. Our powers have returned thanks to him and we may rest easy for the moment."

"All but me," whined Izo. "I'll do it. But it'll only make me reminisce better times with Koen. He's the only youth that I mentored with joy. The rest were as your boy. I'm sure he does terrible in English."

"So be it." Rotso accepted. "I'll tell Jake he has a tour guide."

"Fun fun fun... ouch!" Bandage met raw flesh. "Oh yes, but we'll have to levitate through the city."

• • •

Cніr and Abrielle walked side-by-side to Lucido, each with a solemn expression.

Cніr had never been in a position with a child in her care, but she could tell this one was far from the ordinary. She could be carefree at school and professionally reserved when the situation demanded it. Good qualities.

"How're you handling it, kid?" she asked, thinking conversation might loosen things up a bit.

"I never really knew him." Abrielle said quietly. "My grandpa was more of a father to me than him. I'm handling it... I'm disconnected."

"That's how I live, Abrielle. It's only a certain few who can get me to open up. You seem to be much warmer."

"Mm." Abrielle didn't feel warm. To her it was like a winter day without the joy. Just a bleak desert of snow.

"Not quite so disconnected as you'd like. It's tough, losing someone to the darkness."

"And what if you never had them?" Abrielle said, bordering bitter.

"Then you show them light."

They arrived at Lucido's office, where a group of men surrounded the man in question. Kabu, Balafre, David, Jean, Chun, Ju-Long, Aedus, Jae, Koen, Renfort, and Owen. Lucido had never felt so claustrophobic.

When Abrielle and Cніr entered, they emptied out, taking positions near anything which could be deemed an exit. Cніr laid a hand on Abrielle's shoulder and gave her a firm squeeze. Abrielle winced.

"I'll be waiting at the door. Call out if you need anything," Cніr said, then moved to the side.

Lucido appeared amused. "She's a strong one."

"Very," Abrielle agreed.

Her father folded his hands and placed them atop his desk. He bent forward and looked his daughter in the eyes. "So what have you come to speak with me about? I recommend being concise. It's only a matter of time before my compatriots free me. It'd be best if you're not here when that happens. I won't be able to ensure your safety."

"I'm sure Rotso and his team will be more than able to take them down." Abrielle countered. "I'm here to talk to you about the secrets you've hid from your family."

"Oh, such a mature tone!" Lucido said, feigning awe. "You have the bite of your friend, Jake. It's too bad neither of you will yield to my authority. You could have been useful."

"Useful?" Abrielle said in disbelief. "Is that all mom is? Do you just use everyone you meet? What was my purpose, to serve you?"

"I met your mother before the global mafia discovered me." Lucido answered. "She was my happiness for a time. My sole purpose. She remains my joy, but the latter position is taken by that which came later. The Dark Kakashgun is so very rewarding, Abrielle! You can't appreciate it, of course, just like Jake. He saw how it could serve him, but then he had to become an idealist. It is only those who dedicate their whole being that truly reap the benefits. What benefits? I'll inquire for you and save us some time. For Jake, it was the power to protect you. To understand more about himself and take full control of his special abilities. You can't ascend in the Kakashgun Order. It's like the old world monarchies. You are born with authority. If you show promise, you may be led to believe that you've achieved something. But is being the lead puppet any more dignified? I have ascended the ladder of this organization because I've shown myself to be capable. Family has its place but this comes first. It's for your own good."

Abrielle nearly cringed at the cliché. "It's not for anyone's good," she retorted. "Jake was almost ruined by the Dark Kakashgun. It was only by releasing it that the world was saved by the beasts."

Lucido laughed. "Touché, what wordsmanship! You've disabled my arguments as if they're naught." The chuckling died down unexpectedly. "Go home Abrielle," her father said menacingly. "Forget trying to confront me. Nothing will change!"

Cніr slammed opened the door and moved for Lucido. "What's going on in here?"

She barked. "Stay where you are Lombardi." Abrielle looked at her nervously. "The Mister. I think that's time enough for discussion."

Abrielle got out of her chair and followed Cніr out. The snow was steaming.

"That man," Cніr growled. "What did you say to snap him out of it? His noble fakery."

"I just..." Abrielle averted her eyes. "Spoke my heart."

## Chapter XIII: Refiner's Fire

Jake looked out one of the passenger windows of Izo's personal jet, equipped with a butler and a rotating full time service staff. The sun was sinking into the expanse of clouds – downy acres whose gossamer forms revealed glimpses of stark blue sky, only to be upset by mantled elevations which increased with vibrancy by the minute.

"You'll end up in flames." Lombardi had said.

Jake smiled as he gazed out at the salmon color peaked clouds.

Yes, Mr. Lombardi, I have. I'm in the refiner's fire.

Kakashgun City was nestled in a land surrounded by desert – the sandy hot kind. Inside, however, vegetation was plentiful and the trees grew in bounty. It was a hidden paradise which few knew about, enveloped in an energy field that would render satellite imagery useless, had not their agents gained control of said satellites. It was the Bermuda Triangle of the Middle East. As they began their descent, Jake could see a cluster of communities. The homes were made of a sturdy, rock-like material, giving the impression of an ancient world village. This semblance, however, was disrupted by a very modern looking spire, which as they came closer, revealed itself to be a shimmering scraper of the sky. Jake's jaw dropped in awe.

They landed on a patch of ground next to the tower. Izo stood, motioned for Jake, and they silently departed from the plane. It was quiet outside as well, until they made for the square, which was all hustle and bustle. Jake looked around for familiar faces, but there were none to be found. He thought back to what he had been told aboard Le Napoléon Gigantesque.

"...all you must do is board another boat while we capture Ammon. We will pick you up by helicopter two days later and all your requisitions will be resolved at Kakashgun City."

Two days, huh? It was amazing how plans had changed. Even now, Jacque was nowhere to be found.

"What are you looking for?" asked Izo, as they passed a trio of palms.

"Jacque," Jake answered, absentmindedly.

"I saw him recently." Izo said, walking with hands folded behind his back, like a butler. "Although it would be better put that we shared a quarrel. In regards to you, no less. Chaussure was adamant about keeping his promise. Albeit we found better use for him elsewhere."

"Oh," responded Jake.

"I had a wrong impression of you." Izo confessed. "I readily believed Lucido's false intelligence and acted upon it without much consideration. I relied upon generalizations. A folly, on my part."

Was this some form of apology?

"I was, however, correct in believing that you defected. You fell right into Lucido's hands. He simply didn't expect you'd use some logic in the end."

Not a chance.

"Thanks?" Jake said uncertainly.

Silence resumed until they arrived at a long brick building where there was a group of kids practicing with their Kakashgun. They were advised by Ariel, who was covered in bandages from head to toe, though moved about without much difficulty. When he saw Jake, he turned around with a big grin across his face.

"Hey Izo! What've you got here?"

"My charge. Rotso asked me to give him a tour. I don't suppose you'd like to take my place?"

"Well, sure. Er, yessir! Just one moment."

He called over a friend, another man who appeared to be in his twenties, and gave a brief explanation to the kids.

"Alright guys, Koen will be instructing you for a while until I get back. He's much better than me, so don't be afraid to ask questions."

Izo accordingly walked over to Koen, congratulating him on a job well done with Rose and Titus. The latter seemed bashful at this sudden praise. Ariel parted company with them, after thanking Koen a last time, and joined Jake.

"Hey, how's it going kid?" He asked.

Jake was surprised that the man who he tossed across the field greeted him so warmly. "Good," he said. "I'm really sorry about what happened. When I went out of control, you know. If there's anything..."

"It's no problem!" Ariel responded, patting Jake on the back like Burbero used to. "Lucido deceived you, and that messed up your powers. You don't really have much control of it, from what I've heard. If anything, it makes me more passionate to go after the global mafia! But I never operate in hate or bitterness. It makes for a burden way too hard to carry. But enough of that, how about we check out the tower? If anyplace holds the answers you want, it'll be there. After that, Rotso should be back, so we can meet up with him."

"Alright," Jake said, shedding off his depression. "Sounds good to me!"

"Then let's get going!"

The Kakashgun Tower was about five blocks away. In getting there, Jake experienced a stark contrast to Izo. Ariel was one of the most bubbly, positive people he'd ever met and the most extraverted as well. He had a great interest in technology and there was no end to what he had to say about the mysterious Level 150, though Jake was more interested in what lay at the bottom of the structure, where tours were provided for the local schoolchildren about Kakashgun history. Most importantly, there was an exhibit dedicated to the study of Lucio Lombardi and his fantastic powers! Any mention of this, however, was quickly brushed off by Ariel, who found it to be the most boring of the entire place.

"This is your first visit and the only one for a while, why not check out the cool stuff?" He had said enthused. One cool thing after another and they were quickly out of time. Ariel checked his watch and let out a sigh.

"You were right Jake, that first level is more fun than I remembered. That movie about the samurai and shogun was amazing! I had no idea Rotso's great-great, goes on and on, grandfather was who inspired Lucio."

"We saw everything but the Lucio exhibit." Jake added.

"Yeah," Ariel said. "I still think that one might be a bit on the boring side. There's always next time! Ah, there's Rotso. Hope you have your English homework done, bud."

Ariel seemed anxious to get back to the kids and Rotso dismissed him, after questioning him about Izo.

"Quite the energetic one, isn't he?" Rotso said to Jake. "Did you get the answers you wanted? The Lucio exhibit would've been perfect for that."

Jake fidgeted. Yes, it would've been most enlightening, but Ariel had the attention span of a puppy. "No, but I learned about your Arashkagun."

"The ancient Japan area? Ah yes, quite thrilling. The young ones always love that the most, aside from the swashbuckling pirate captains. The global mafia was much simpler back then."

"Sounds great, but do you think we might be able to fit in the Lucio..."

"That reminds me," Rotso interrupted. "I have something I want to speak with you about.
Jake instinctively checked his pockets for a pass. He always kept one on hand for English class.

• • •

Without further ado, Rotso led Jake to another plane, a jumbo jet which could rival Jacque's ship. Towards the back was Rotso's mobile office, and he motioned for Jake to take a seat on the cushy, white leather.

"After our debrief on the Aegadian Islands, Lucido's complex, I wanted to give you the chance to ask questions of your own. Whatever you want." Rotso said.

"Anything?" Jake asked.

"Yes," Rotso confirmed. "Whatever you want."

"Tell me more about Ammon."

Rotso blinked his eyes twice. This was his expression of surprise. "What about him?"

"I want to know what happened after I left Jacque's ship."

Rotso frowned. "I converted the ship into energy. Not as easy as it sounds, being something Scientists would think impossible. I created an Arashkagun, which you know much more about now. He was vaporized in a moment. It's not a moment that I relish. Combat with another human being is terrible. Eliminating them when no other option remains is horrific. Some eagerly jump at the opportunity to battle, others avoid it at all costs. I don't find a place with either of them. I will fight when it is necessary, but I neither disapprove or endorse it. When Ammon was defeated we received orders from Izo and the committee. They wanted Aedus and I to form a team and infiltrate the Chessboard Palace, one of the global mafia's strongholds and the domain of Titus Tyran Musibet. We were told to rescue a comrade of ours, Rose, and capture the man in charge."

"Why were they holding her hostage?" Jake asked. "Couldn't they just kill her?"

"That would be their usual method," Rotso answered. "But they had a use for her. She was a motivator for her father, Ferdinando. By holding her life in the balance they could ensure he would target you without hesitation."

A chill ran down Jake's spine. "All to get to me. It seems like everyone is after me. Even my own powers vie for control. I'm trapped."

"That's not true." Rotso said. "You're not a slave to the Kakashgun. Nor to our order. You only fall into bondage when you give into the darkness. The Light Kakashgun is given at birth, but the Dark Kakashgun is not. You can gain our Kakashgun with much training, but that is your choice. The global mafia's power comes with a chain and ball. Both provide you with an option. Why did you choose the latter, Jake?"

"I kinda felt led by my heart. It seemed like it was the only way to get control and finally get freedom."

"What our hearts tell us is not always the same as our Spirit, whose yearning cry is often unheard. There is a higher calling, beyond our inhibitions, aspirations, and fears. It is Love. Not just the people who are close to you, not just a warm feeling you get within yourself. Not acceptance, not peace. Though all these things may be benefits, pure love is endeavoring to be selfless in every respect. Seek to operate in true Love, and your powers will become a blessing, not a curse."

"Was killing Ammon true love?" Jake questioned.

"No. That is something I'm wrestling with myself. Where do we draw the line between necessity, pragmatism, and spirituality? Seek Love. That is the answer which comes to mind. I'll keep fighting for it, even if it's a seeming contradiction."

## Chapter XIV: Jacque's Promise

As Rotso predicted, Jake crashed when he got home. But not before a bit of unfinished business.

Jake's parents were irate. He had left a week ago for Annapati's Bakery and had made only one call since, the day he had left for Jacque's cruise, and the phone call had been a tedious one to say the least.

"Where have you been, young man?" Jake's mother, Felecia Laskaris, had asked, in the manner susceptible to stereotype. "We said you could see your friends for an hour, not sixteen hundred!"

"Were you off with Garrett again?" his father, Ian, had chimed in.

Now the process seemed to repeat.

"What is the truth?" Felecia demanded. "Your English teacher called and vouched for you. I think there's something wrong with this picture. You don't even get along with Mr. Inahka."

"The truth is that a lot happened. I was with Garrett and Abrielle part of the time, and switched between hands when I wasn't. It was a lot like a game of hot potato."

"Now be serious," started his mother.

"I believe he is, dear." Ian contributed. "Look at those eyes. I think Jake needs to rest right now."

"Oh, alright." Felecia relented. "But he'd better get to sleep right away!"

Jake climbed the stairs to his room and, in the same clothes he'd been in since Lucido's complex, he plopped onto his bed and fell asleep seconds later. He woke to the sound of his alarm, which he couldn't remember setting. It was 7:35 A.M. Jake slammed the sleep button and checked the calendar. It was a Monday. Break was over. As he got out of bed, he heard his mother call up to him.

"You awake Jake? Twenty minutes before the bell rings!"

Jake started. It took fifteen minutes just to get there, usually about five minutes to eat breakfast, and three to take a shower. First day tardies were not a great way to start off.

Nine minutes later, Jake rushed out the door, a bagel in his mouth. He was about to run across the street when he was hit by a sudden gust of wind which knocked him off his feet. The bagel, however, was saved.

Looking up, Jake saw a helicopter landing in their driveway, a certain Frenchman at the controls.

"I told you I'd pick you up!" Jacque called. "And it looks like I couldn't have timed it better. You'll be late, even if you keep up a running pace. But by chopper... we can shave a few minutes at least."

Jake hopped aboard without a question. He talked with Jacque briefly about the events that had transpired since their parting, and then they had arrived at school. Seeing a military class chopper descending on the main drive was a rare sight. Teachers opened their windows and poked their heads out, their homeroom class behind them. Students who were just arriving looked up in gaping awe with exclamations of, "Sweet!" "Awesome!" "Is that Jake? Lucky!" A few girls even squealed.

Jake rushed inside and got to the room with nine minutes to spare. The school day was filled with excitement, both from Jake's fellow students and his teachers. They were filled with questions about his overwhelming entrance, and he was glad to answer them as it took his mind off some of his ordeal with Lucido. It was easygoing until biology class. Opposite day had come around without him knowing it.

"You forgot your assignment?" Mrs. Brown said at the beginning of class. "This is a first Jake, and I'm very disappointed. Of all times over a long break. What were you doing the whole time? Your friend Abrielle finished her project, why not you? No, don't answer me now. We'll talk after class."

Jake waited with dread till' the end, when he would have to develop an explanation for himself. He couldn't just tell her about the Kakashgun!

The bell rang and the class emptied out, leaving him and the teacher alone.

"Well Jake?" she asked. "What happened? This assignment was worth half your grade. Considering your track record, I may give you a chance to make up for this, but if you so much as lie to me..."

Mrs. Brown stopped as someone came to the door. Another student? Now was not the time to be asking questions, she needed to deal with this here and now. She walked over to the door, flustered. "What do you need?" she asked, before seeing who it was.

Rotso Inahka smiled pleasantly. "I need Jake," he said.

"I'm busy with him right now, Mr. Inahka," Mrs. Brown said. "Can it wait?"

"You may safely excuse his odd behavior, Mrs. Brown, and his missing assignment. He has been very busy over the Spring Break, and it is my fault completely. I take responsibility for whatever needs to be done."

Mrs. Brown was taken aback. "Well, alright. I've never seen you like this, Rotso.

Normally Jake is your... well, worst student!"

"We got to know each other a little better over break." Rotso explained. "Jake is going through a lot right now, and I've begun to understand it. It may take a while, but I sincerely hope you will as well."

Rotso left the room with Jake in tow. They headed to his room where Rose, Cніr, and Aedus were waiting.

"We have need of your powers again, kid." Aedus said with a smirk. "And this time, you'll get more answers than you ever wanted."

## Afterword & Teaser

Thank you for reading The Order of the Sleepwalker! As I mentioned in the preface, this story is being envisioned as an entirely new book called Project Ordine. You'll find some similarities, but also many differences. On the next page, you'll get an idea of what it's like!

Thank you, again, for joining me on this journey.

Feel free to connect on social media or my website.

ZechariahBarrett.com

Facebook.com/ZechariahBarrettOfficial

Twitter.com/ZechBarrett

YouTube.com/ZechariahBarrett

## Prologue

It was 5am aboard a ship in the Mediterranean Sea, and Jake—a 17-year old boy from Portland, Oregon—was restless and far from home.

I wake to the sound of the crashing waves tossing our boat back and forth. I used to be a heavy sleeper. In fact, I still am. I shouldn't be awake. There is a crackle of thunder and the ensuing flash of light shines upon the waters much like a spotlight. They're searching. Searching for me.

At times, he'll wake suddenly in the middle of the night—alert, tense, all senses straining—for no apparent reason.

I can hear drunken laughter from the cabin next to mine. How did I get so far from home? I slip out from my blankets, and I can feel the rough, worn fabric as it passes along my skin. That is a normal sensation. But as my feet set upon the metal floor, I can feel the tremor of the thunderstorm. I can see ever present lights in the sky and across the waters. Yet the storm is many miles away, and the stars are obscured by fog. I am far from normal sight and hearing, and far from the touch of ordinary humans. What am I? I look towards the porthole. In another flash of lightning, I see my reflection. I am a boy with dirty blond hair, brown eyes, and a problem.

Then he begins sleepwalking. He's conscious of what he's doing, yet he can't stop, and he can't wake up.

These thoughts echo through my mind. I am free to think, but my body is not my own. A dog lies at the foot of my bed. He's a gift from one of the sailors. I set a hand gently upon his back and I can feel his heartbeat thumping as if it was in the palm of my hand. He's sound asleep. That's good. I can't have anything disturbing my mission... but just what is my mission?

Jake wonders if it's merely an adolescent phase. He desperately searches for answers.

I begin walking to the door. I hear a bolt come loose from the generator a few levels below me. Then there's the tread of the engineer, already off to fix it. I reach the door and open it. The hall lights are momentarily blinding, but my eyes quickly adjust. I walk down the hall and set off at a brisk pace for the third cabin down from mine. Upon reaching the room, I pull open the door and step inside, with hardly a sound. I already knew that the room was empty, but I must confirm something. I move over to the bed in the righthand corner of the room and feel the pillow. It's warm. He left only moments before.

But who? I question this force that drives me, but as usual, I am given no answer. I'm a puppet. The strings are my master and I want to be cut free. I leave the room and continue down the hall. It is then that my target comes into view. I sniff at the air and make a disgusted face. He wears a particular brand of European cologne. But it's not the cologne that's disgusting. It's that familiar air about him—tainted, conniving.

"You're back," he mutters, recognizing me.

Despite the familiar air, I've never seen him before, as far as I can remember. Had we met briefly before? No... I would've recognized that smell and that sense of evil. But how did he know me?

I sense the mysterious force driving me to speak. "Who are you?" I ask.

Those three words changed my life. I wish I could've forgotten his answer. I should have walked away—no, fled from that presence. But that same force that awakened me at night had forced the words from my mouth.

## Chapter I: Burnt Burgers

It was seventh period, 2:55pm—English class.

Rosso Inahka was a man in his forties with black, side swept hair, a tan complexion, and a reasonably muscular build. Among the Junior class, Mr. Inahka was the English teacher of nightmares, and at 6-foot tall, he towered over the class. The nightmares were not to be found in his figure, however, but in the torture chamber assortment of grammar, spelling, and poetry—of which free verse was the only form that felt remotely freeing. If only blank verse was truly blank.

"Remember, your haikus, blank verse poems, and visual projects are due the Monday after spring break. That gives you plenty of time, especially with the time we've had in class. If you have any questions, I'm here after school today, and you have the contact form to email me on the MyClassActivities dashboard," Mr. Inahka announced. "Have a great weekend... and don't procrastinate! This project makes up a fourth of your grade."

The school bell rang. English class was at an end and Jake's favorite class, biology, was next!

Jake had already put away his note book and he quickly stuffed his pencils tip side up in his pocket. He wouldn't stab his leg, but hopefully he'd remember that reaching in for them again. He watched Abrielle Lombardi gather her things together. "You have a good weekend too, Mr. Inahka," she said with a smile. It was genuine. Abrielle was an oddity in that she actually liked English. Jake was an oddity in that he liked Abrielle. She had her redeeming qualities, however. She was the sweetest girl around, and by far the prettiest, with her flowing auburn hair, striking blue eyes, and adorable smile. She and Jake had been friends since grade school, but he'd always felt something more.

Jake waited at his desk as Abrielle passed by and looked in his direction. "Ready, Jake?" she asked, and then added in a whisper, "I'm not looking forward to biology today. I spent all of my time studying English last night."

Remember the redeeming qualities, Jake! He reminded himself.

He swung his backpack over his shoulder and was about to reply when Mr. Inahka called to him, "Jake! I must speak with you. I'll write you a pass if necessary."

Jake looked to Abrielle with the longing gaze of a trapped animal. "See you in biology," he whimpered.

Abrielle quietly chuckled, "It'll be okay, Jake." As she passed by, he could smell her pomegranate shampoo and he grinned. He gave her that for her birthday, along with a collection of fountain pens that she'd been talking about since she saw them on the CorkBoard social media site.

"Over here," Mr. Inahka said, motioning towards his desk. He walked over to the computer and pulled up the grade book.

Jake walked over and looked to the screen for his grade. He saw Abrielle's first: 110% overall. Mr. Inahka stepped in front of the computer before Jake could find his.

"You've done quite well on the tests," Mr. Inahka observed. "However, your essays have been bringing down your grade. Have you reviewed the notes I've written?"

"Yes, Mr. Inahka," Jake replied. "And I'm trying to use more formal speech and more vocabulary, but English isn't my strong suit."

Mr. Inahka shook his head. "I wouldn't say that. Miss Brown tells me that your biology essays are excellent. You incorporate the terms, you follow the scientific method, and you stay on track with your thesis. You're demonstrating that you can follow the concepts. Why not in English?"

"It's... I don't know," I shift my feet and take a deep breath. "I try to do the same kind of work. Maybe it's because I'm not as interested in English."

Mr. Inahka smiled. "I get it, Jake. I wasn't always an English teacher. I was a student just like yourself, and I liked biology too. English is a necessary evil to some people. I sure thought so. Until I realized the power of the written word. What document freed a certain thirteen English colonies from the British empire?"

"The Declaration of Independence? _"_

"Right," Mr. Inahka minimized the grade book from the computer screen and walked over to the world map. "Do you like history, Jake?"

"Yes, Mr. Inahka," Jake wondered when he'd be free to leave.

"History demonstrates that writers hold great power. Writing conveys knowledge, culture, ambition, and heart. Writing is virtually boundless. Essays aren't always fun. They're preparation for greater things. Practicing a violin isn't fun early on either. It can be loud and obnoxious. Nothing like what you'd hear in an orchestra. In time, however, there is beauty to be found in it. I want you to write your essays with that expectation, Jake. The expectation of great things."

Great Expectations. Jake shuddered. He could handle Mr. Inahka's soliloquy. But that book again? And the reading packet that came with it? No, sir. "I understand, Mr. Inahka."

Mr. Inahka winked. It was an awkward gesture coming from the Mr. Darcy clone. "And I know you weren't crazy about Great Expectations, but this is different. Each one of us has a destiny, Jake, and writing often helps to get us there." He returned to his desk and selected a pen from the drawer. It was a fountain pen, much like the ones Jake had gifted Abrielle. Maybe Mr. Inahka was a CorkBoarder too. Jake snickered.

Mr. Inahka raised an eyebrow but didn't otherwise acknowledge Jake's amused expression. With a few fanciful strokes of his pen, as one might expect of John Hancock, Mr. Inahka wrote the pass for Jake. "I want to see those essays improve."

"Yes, Mr. Inahka," Jake repeated, and he left the classroom with haste.

"Go on then, Jake," Mr. Inahka murmured as the door shut. "That destiny of yours will come along soon enough."

• • •

This wasn't the first time that Mr. Inahka had detained Jake after class. There had been other times involving clichéd stories, improper irony, faulty sonnets, and understandably, lackluster blank verse poems. Jake had decided to pursue the literal route. Mr. Inahka didn't appreciate the poetic gesture.

biology teacher Leanna Brown, of fair skin, short stature, and ginger, curly hair, was the antithesis to Mr. Inahka in every way—physical appearance, personality, and demeanor. She had a great passion for biology, was encouraging to all, not prone to soliloquy, and well aware of Jake's English class situation.

When Jake entered the classroom, he crumpled and threw away his pass. Miss Brown smiled as he took his seat between Abrielle and his blond, freckled, and messy hair styled friend, Garrett.

Everyone was looking to the front of the class at the overhead projector which was whirring faithfully. There had been talk of buying an HD projector, tablets, or even virtual reality headsets, but much of the budget was being spent by expanding the gym facilities. That, and Mr. Inahka thought such things to be frivolous, and it was said that he was very vocal in teachers' meetings. What's that old saying? The angry bird gets the pig... er, worm?

biology class often began with a writing prompt. However, unlike those in English, Jake found the biology topics be engaging. Today's prompt was about carrying capacity. With the increase in deer populations, should more hunting be allowed? Or will nature balance itself without human intervention? Explain.

Thoughts of the textbook concepts and weekly biology articles passed through Jake's mind, and he finished writing his answer as Miss Brown switched off the projector and faced the class. "Who'd like to share their answer?" she asked.

Jake's hand was the first up, and Miss Brown nodded in his direction. "Go ahead, Jake."

Jake glanced down at his paper, "The deer population has outpaced that of the coyotes, wolves, and other predators in many regions. The deer population also isn't showing any signs of decrease due to disease. Nature's corrective measures are nowhere to be seen. Although excessive human intervention has led to the destruction of habitats, and extinction of species, and nature does bring correction eventually, I believe more hunting will be permitted, and I'd agree with such a measure." In biology class, Jake became an authority. The words came together so much easier, and felt free from poetic structures and essay conventions.

Abrielle looked over at Jake, and when she'd caught his attention she mouthed the words, know-it-all.

"Excellent!" Miss Brown said. "Is there anyone with another perspective?" Not a peep came from the class. Garrett fiddled with his thumbs and feigned intense concentration on his biology book. Abrielle offered a smile. Miss Brown nodded, "Very well. I know you've all been studying for the chapter test today, but I'll give you ten minutes to refresh your minds and review your study guides."

"Good," Garrett murmured. "Because I didn't study."

Abrielle shook her head, and flipped through the pages of her completed packet. "You'll regret it come college time," she whispered. "If you do well in high school and on the assessments, you can skip classes in college. Otherwise, you end up taking classes like biology again."

"Really?" Garrett blurted out. Miss Brown looked in his direction and he slapped his hands over his mouth. "Really?" he repeated in a whisper. "In that case..." Garrett dug through his backpack and pulled out his biology folder with all of the past worksheets. "I guess I'll start reviewing."

Jake hadn't completed the packet entirely, but he'd finished all of the required assignments and felt confident. He rarely looked forward to tests, but biology was a unique exception. He saw them as a test to prove his passion.

When the tests were handed out, Jake took his time on the essay portions. Garrett was one of the first students to hand in his test, and he flipped through a surfing sports magazine for the rest of the time. Abrielle and Jake finished at the same time and met each other's gaze as they handed in their tests.

"How do you think you did?" Jake asked, as they sat back down.

Abrielle shrugged, "I've been spending most of my time working on English, but I felt prepared, so I'd say I did well. I was hesitant with the wording of a few questions, but the extra credit questions will help. I always like seeing those." She watched Miss Brown as she began grading the papers. "And we already know how you did," she said with a playful nudge.

Jake smirked. "And we already know you're done with the English project already."

Abrielle brushed her hair back, "And I can help with yours when we get together this weekend.

Together. Jake blushed.

Abrielle averted her eyes and Jake thought that he saw a blush upon her cheeks as well.

Garrett slipped out his Nanoid smartphone. It was one of the latest, and he bought it because it was waterproof up to twenty feet and the camera was great for recording an especially nice surf. "It's almost break, guys. Two minutes..."

Most of the class had finished their tests and had started glancing at the clock every couple of minutes. At two minutes, everybody was counting down in their heads. At one minute, everyone began counting aloud, but Miss Brown hushed everyone, because there was one student still finishing his test; it was Elbert, the French foreign exchange student with black curly hair and gray eyes who sat beside Garrett. He finished his test with ten seconds to spare and the class erupted in a final countdown.

Ten... nine... eight... seven... six... five... four... three... at this point, even Miss Brown joined in... two... one... zero! The school bell rang. Spring break had begun.

When the class had emptied out in the hall, there were already many students preparing to leave. The majority of seniors had an early release, however, and the halls weren't as congested as during the day. Jake's locker was immediately next to the seniors', so he was able to quickly put his biology book away and swap out for his English book and poster board. He wasn't looking forward to the project, but so long as Abrielle was with him, he wouldn't mind writing a dozen sonnets or ten essays. She brightened every moment.

If it weren't for the caveat of Abrielle's favorite class, Jake would venture to say she was perfect. Although he wasn't so sure of her father, Lucido Lombardi. He was a recondite man, who ever seemed to be traveling someplace for some business. Someone could learn more from an absolute stranger in five minutes than with Lucido in five weeks. On the other hand, her mother, Susan, was warm and open. She had been born and raised in London, until her mother's death when she was sixteen. Her father was emotionally wrecked and all but broken. He couldn't work, refused to eat, and looking at his daughter was a painful remembrance of his loss. For this reason, he sent her off to the States, to live with relatives who had always adored her. Lucido and Susan met in high school, and she saw something in Lucido that he didn't even see in himself—she saw a kind, courageous heart and a determination to fulfill all that he set out to do. They fell in love, married in college, and had Abrielle.

Abrielle took after her mother, in her temperance and open heart. She had the determination of her father, but little else. Jake did not observe any warmth in the heart of Lucido. Not towards him, anyway. Any encounter he had with Lucido was cold and curt.

Abrielle approached Jake as he shut his locker, with her biology and English textbooks in hand. Jake watched her blue eyes as they settled upon him.

"You're studying bio over the weekend?" Jake asked.

"Yep!" Abrielle answered. "I figure after I've helped you with English, you can give me some pointers in biology."

"Sure! I'd love to," Jake perked.

"Great, it's a study date then." Abrielle smiled softly. "And we'll have to get out and enjoy the break too. I'm sure Garrett already has plans in mind."

"Knowing him, he'll be looking for the best surf."

"True," Abrielle said. "So we'll probably have to come up with our own plans. Got anything in mind?"

Jake frowned in contemplation. "Not really. I'm just glad to be on break. The further from Mr. Inahka and English, the better."

"Aww," Abrielle said, with her lips in a pout. "He's not that bad, Jake. He cares about you and wants you to succeed. That's why he lectures you."

"Why doesn't he care about anyone else?" Jake said. "It's always just me."

"Maybe you remind him of someone. Maybe you remind him of himself. He often says how he used to hate English until his literary epiphany. He wants to see that passion in you."

The halls had all but emptied, with exception for the track and football teams, and Abrielle took Jake's hand. "Let's go and forget about Mr. Inahka and school for now. We've got a break ahead with endless possibilities." She looked into Jake's eyes and smiled.

Jake almost melted.

Outside, the sky was deep blue and nearly cloudless. A slight, refreshing breeze swept through the grass and flower beds that lay along the front of the school. Roses were the choice flower this year. There was talk that the gardener had fallen in love. As Jake walked with Abrielle, he imagined plucking a flower and asking her out right then and there. But she wouldn't approve of him disrupting the arrangements.

At the edge of the school grounds, there were many kids yet gathered as as they were socializing while waiting for their rides. Jake eyed the bicycle rack and saw his blue mountain bike chained up as he'd left it. Abrielle spotted her mom's car, a luxurious red coupe, and released Jake's hand. "I'll see you again soon, Jake!"

"You definitely will. See you!" Jake replied.

Jake walked over, unchained his bike, and set off down Oak Street. On bicycle, the ride home was fifteen minutes, and lately the journey had been an unexpected one. The past few weeks, everything seemed different. It was as though he could feel the wind stronger than ever before. It felt good, but also strange. Was it something to do with puberty? Was he experiencing a greater rush of dopamine? Something disrupting his brain? He mentally sifted through a list of the disorders that they were learning about in psychology, but nothing like that came to mind. If it was just the thrill, Jake wouldn't be so worried. But there were other changes.

As he passed two blocks, Jake could smell burning burgers. He'd lived in the area all his life and there were no restaurants or places to grill until Washington Road, which was closer to home. The park, just a block ahead, saw its share of campers and grills, but the premises were shut down until further notice, due to the state of litter and general abuse of the provided facilities.

Jake passed another block, and this time he could smell the runoff sewage. It smelled of mildew, oil, and something he couldn't quite place... a dirty baby diaper, maybe? Not a great mix. Before the changes, he'd never smelled anything so bad, except for the boys' bathroom. Now, every time he headed home, and especially after the rain, it was overpowering. He'd do anything for the burnt burgers again.

These things were to say nothing of what happened at night. During the day, these super senses of his were partially active, while at night they were the strongest when he began wandering. It had only happened a couple of times, but mother had caught him a few times. The first time, 3 months ago, was at the dock. He awoke during the night and left the house. His mother heard the garage and came after him. When she found him at the dock, he was muttering about a lost ship in the Atlantic. When Jake got up the next morning, he didn't remember any of it.

The next time, 3 weeks ago, he again headed for the dock, but this time both his mother and father came after him. That time, Jake was also fully conscious, but unable to stop sleepwalking. As his parents followed after him, he set off for a run. At the dock, he jumped in the water and began to swim. His dad jumped in after him and when he'd caught him, Jake stared into his eyes and said, "They're coming, dad. I can sense them. The awakening is soon."

It was all very freaky. Jake's parents had contacted a therapist and scheduled a session. The therapist asked many questions, especially about school, romantic interests, and Jake's home life. He concluded that Jake was trying to escape—from English class and lectures, from frustrations of the friend zone with Abrielle. The awakening was when Jake would finally overcome those frustrations and realize his identity.

"It'll be soon!" The therapist, Mr. Ronalds exclaimed to Jake's parents. "Your boy is just growing up. This is a phase. In the meantime, however, I'd advise keeping a careful eye on him during the night."

Jake wasn't so certain. How could an unrealized identity take such a hold of him? How could it explain the sense of purpose and heightened senses? Although, he hadn't mentioned the latter to the therapist. His sense of smell and touch had only gradually increased at that point. It was in the past two weeks that they had become stronger.

Jake's thoughts carried him for the rest of the journey home and into the house for a dinner of stewed beef with potatoes, carrots, onions, and garlic. As he greeted his parents and sat at the table, the day's events carried into the regular family banter. Since Mr. Ronalds, however, Jake was hesitant to speak of his experiences.

"How was school, rugbug?" Jake's dad, Ian Laskaris, asked. He was a bearded, black haired, hazel eyed man, with a habit of wearing plaid shirts, and always had an odd nickname for Jake.

"It was pretty good," Jake said, forking a potato. "The usual from Mr. Inahka."

"You know that's only because he wants you to succeed," Ian said, echoing Abrielle's sentiment from earlier.

"And the ride home?" Jake's mom, Felecia Laskaris, asked. She was a woman of brown eyes, curly brown hair, and simple, unadorned clothing. She knew that Mr. Inahka was a touchy subject.

Jake looked between his parents. "It was good. I was careful in traffic and didn't go too fast."

"In traffic?" Felecia asked. "You rode onto the street?"

Since the incidents, his parents seemed far more anxious than usual. He had to watch his every word. "No," Jake sighed. "I meant with the busy traffic. I was on the usual path. I didn't go into the street until the neighborhood."

"Good, I was about to say..."

"Anything unusual?" Ian asked.

He had to ask. "Not really," Jake said, casually.

"We can tell something is wrong," Felicia insisted.

"I smelled burnt burgers. And sewage. That's it," Jake said. "It just seemed strange."

Ian let out a breath and visibly relaxed. "Burnt burgers? That's not too surprising."

Jake forked a carrot and swirled it around in the stew. "It's while I was near the park." Why was he confiding in them? They'd just call Mr. Ronalds again.

"Chuck's Burgers and Pork restaurant is a distance, and we smell that in the backyard sometimes," Ian said. "Smells travel. But the sewage... that is strange. I suppose that confirms our fears." He looked to Felecia. She frowned and looked to Jake.

"I always thought..." Ian continued. "That something was different about you. Right from your birth. I thought that maybe there was a reason that you had to stay at the hospital for so long. Now I understand."

"What?" Felicia asked. "What are you talking about?"

Ian had an ornery look on his face, with an almost imperceptible grin. "He must be a super secret agent from the CIA! They've been grooming him from birth, for a project that no one could know about! That explains the sleepwalking. And these smells... he must have super senses!"

"Oh, honey," Felicia chided. "Enough of the nonsense." She looked back to her son. First the sleepwalking. Now he thought smells were strange. What was going on with her baby? "Should we call Mr. Ronalds again, Jake?"

"I don't think there's anything to worry about, dear," Ian jumped in. "Right, Jake?"

Jake nodded.

"It's been a tough school week, I'm sure," Ian continued. "We're all due for some rest."

"Oh alright," Felicia relented. "But you tell me, Jake, if there's anything bothering you."

"I will," Jake murmured. He hoped that there would be nothing more to tell.

• • •

After Jake had gotten home from school, a car engine rumbled to life on the opposite street, and inside was CIA agent Rosso Inahka. He had been following Jake home for a year, day after day, including weekends. However, this was not for official CIA business... or for English class. This was yet unknown to the agency.

Rosso's phone buzzed from within its holster, but he didn't need to check it. It was a reminder for the meetings tomorrow in New York City. One was with the counterterrorism department of the CIA and the other with his true employer—L'Ordine, as it was known in Italy. It was an international organization, and Jake was of particular interest to them. Rosso's job as a high level operative within the CIA allowed him to gather intelligence about unusual incidents. With Jake's history, Rosso suspected that he may have inherited certain abilities. After the recent incident, he was sure of it.

With the NYC meetings, Rosso had flown in a substitute to continue monitoring Jake. The agent, Aedus Butler, was related to one of Jake's friends. This provided his cover as a family visit. He was well qualified, with his own set of abilities, and Rosso had worked extensively with him before. There was one concern, however—the man's personality. Rosso hoped that their enemy would not take this chance to act.

## Chapter II: Red As Fire

Aedus Butler, the late 20s, ginger haired, green eyed Irishman, was in a bit of a sulk. A storm had hit mid-flight, and they were coming in for a landing just before the winds were expected to pick up. Aedus was accustomed to the frequent rains of Ireland; he liked rain, but this was something else. A downpour of rain beat upon the plane. All of the toddlers seemed to be crying in unison. It was a horrific symphony, and there was a sense of dread knowing that he should have brought earplugs.

The plane landed without event, and Aedus located the terminal that led to the car rental space where Rosso had arranged for a car. When Aedus picked up the keys, he found that it was one of those tiny, no frills, front passengers only, budget cars. It just screamed 'fun times!' Kinda like Rosso. The rental clerk made a joke of it, and Aedus laughed with him. Apparently no one rented this car. Ever.

Aedus used the GPS on his phone to navigate to the house where Elbert was staying. A family of five were his hosts, and he'd given them a call before coming. Everyone was eager to meet the big brother. Even Elbert was excited. They didn't have the typical stepbrother or regular sibling relationship. They didn't see each other often, with Elbert from France, and Aedus often returning to Ireland. Whenever Aedus came to visit, they had fun with it. This time, Aedus hoped to coax his little brother into playing some rugby. That is, if the host family wasn't too frightened with the prospect.

Aedus arrived at the house. It was a ranch style, red and white brick house, with fittingly French style windows, and a neatly manicured front yard with a marble fountain that also served to water the garden. Elbert was living it up!

He stopped the car at the curb and got out to check the tiny trunk. Rosso had supplied him with the necessities, which included a loaded automatic pistol and a rapier. Aedus smirked and unloaded and pocketed the pistol, but left the sword. The chance of him getting into a sword fight was a slim one. It had been years... around the time he'd met up with Rosso for their last mission.

He approached the house and knocked upon the door. A woman in her mid-30s answered the door. She was of average stature and with wavy brown hair, and soft, brown eyes. "Are you Elbert's brother?" she asked.

"That'd be me. My name's Aedus," he extended his hand and she shook it. Soft hands.

"Welcome Aedus, my name is Clarice," she stepped aside and opened the door further. "Come on in."

Aedus pocketed his keys and walked inside. He was greeted with a wide open space that separated into rooms with glass doors and more French style windows. There was an office, patio, front room, dining room, formal dining room, a spacious kitchen, and bedrooms marked by their oak doors. Clarice brought Aedus into the living room and motioned to a chair. "I'll go get the kids from outside. My husband, Charles, will be home a bit later. But before that, can I get you a drink?"

"No, I'm great, thank you." Aedus was looking forward to meeting everyone, but he needed to get to Jake as soon as possible.

Elbert ran into the house with two girls and three boys alongside him. Clarice introduced the kids: Ronnie, 14; Josh, 12; Ashley, 12; Eliza, 11; Jacob, 6. Jacob grabbed ahold of Aedus's leg and clung on as Aedus walked in circles, with the little boy cheering, "yay!"

Clarice moved to remove her son, but Aedus shook his head. "It's fine," he laughed. "I like kids." He continued walking in a circle, but looked to Elbert and the other kids while doing so. "What are you all up to today?"

Elbert snickered and shook his head at his big brother. "My friends from school are going to the local bakery and they've invited me. Then..." He looked to the kids. "...we're all going to a movie later, right?"

Ashley perked, "Yup! It's the new superhero movie, Colonel Weak, Now Strong, everyone from school has been talking about it." The other kids observed Aedus in silence.

Clarice smiled, "What about you, Aedus? Will you go with Elbert to the bakery, or do you want to stay and rest here for a while?"

"Actually," Aedus stooped over as Jacob got ahold of his arm, "I have some business to do while I'm here."

Clarice raised an eyebrow, prompting further explanation.

"A friend wanted to meet up," Aedus lied. "So I think I'll do that first and meet up with you all later. Are you and your husband going to the movie as well?" He raised his arm up like a crane and lifted Jacob up in front of him, with his other arm ready to keep the boy from falling.

"Oh yes," Clarice laughed. "Charles is a huge superhero fan, and I'm interested this time myself. We wouldn't miss it. Would you care to join us?" She took Jacob from Aedus's arm, and tickled the boy's belly.

Aedus nodded, "Sure! That'd be great." He dug inside his pockets and took out his keys. "I'll be off then. Thank you for your warm welcome, and I'll see you all later!"

"Alright!" Clarice said, still holding Jacob. "We'll see you then. And know that dinner is at 5, if you can get back in time."

"Got it," Aedus smiled. "Thank you so much."

"Bye!" Jacob called, with his arms flailing. "Bye," the kids all echoed.

Aedus waved as he headed for the door, which was still ajar. He looked around through the glass for a moment, and then went outside. His phone buzzed as he reached the car, and he snapped it out of its holster. The screen came on and showed a text from Izo. The message read, "Find the boy and record each movement. Do not interfere unless absolutely necessary." Aedus laughed and set the phone to sleep. Izo was about as much fun as Rosso.

• • •

The start of spring break wasn't the most eventful for Jake. A fierce rainstorm with high winds kept everyone indoors on the first day, and although the rain eased, the high winds continued their onslaught into the second day. He felt that his time was being squandered away by the merciless hand of nature. He wanted to see Abrielle. He'd already asked his parents about going over to her house. He'd even settle for texting with her, but the internet wouldn't connect and his phone wasn't getting a signal. By the second day, he was considering using the landline, until the power went down. It wasn't just nature; even technology was working against him!

The third day, however, brought sunshine and gentler winds after an early morning storm. His cell phone signal was restored, and he received a text from Abrielle: "Garrett and Elbert are going to Annapati's Bakery. Wanna meet up with them?"

Jake asked his parents for permission, and upon receiving a yes, he grinned and tapped out his reply, "Of course! I'm on my way." After kissing his mother goodbye and receiving a fur-in-face bear hug—that really felt like hugging a bear—from his father, Jake took his bike from the garage and set off up the street. He stood atop the pedals as he climbed the steep hill that led to Annapati's Bakery.

The bakery was owned by the Panettere family who had been baking in the Portland area for generations, and they weren't more than a few blocks from Jake's neighborhood, next to a strip mall with his dad's favorite Chuck's Burgers and Pork.

At the top of the hill, Jake could see the bakery. The building was over a hundred years old, and the chestnut and cream paint was beginning to flake, but inside was a paradise of fresh baked goods. Jake locked his bike into the rack beside the shop, next to a silver bike that was similarly chained, and then walked inside with the door chime announcing his entrance.

The aroma of chocolate éclairs and chocolate buns, cream puffs, brownies, fruit tarts, breads, and coffee hit Jake all at once. His eyes settled on the table where Garrett and Elbert were sitting. His heart sunk. His friends were here, but not all of them. Not Abrielle. He checked his phone and considered texting her, but she was probably still on her way.

Mr. Panettere stepped out from the kitchen. He was a tall, tanned man in his 40s, with light blue eyes and dark brown hair. "What can I get for you, Jake?"

Jake had been here many times, but there was ever a dilemma of choice.

"I just finished some cream puffs," Mr. Panettere said with a grin.

"Then I'll have the cream puffs," Jake said with a smirk.

Mr. Panettere took a piece of wax paper, gingerly picked a trio of chocolate glazed puffs, and set them atop a plate.

Jake peered out the door as he waited, his eyes searching the parking lot.

"Looking for Abrielle?" Mr. Panettere said, as he set the plate by the register and moved to the coffee machine.

"Yeah," Jake replied. "She's the one who texted me about everyone coming here. I probably should have checked to see if she was coming first."

"Did you tell her that you were coming?" Mr. Panettere asked. He filled a cup of coffee and cream and began ringing everything up at the register.

Jake took out his wallet. "Yes, why?"

Mr. Panettere laughed. "If that's the case, I'm certain she'll be on her way."

"How—"

The door chime sounded and Abrielle hurried inside, her face flushed and hair fluttering from a gust of wind. Her eyes met Jake's and she let out a breath. "Hey! Sorry, we've been getting ready for grandpa Domenico. Have you been here long?" She smiled to Jake and Mr. Panettere.

"No, I just got here a few minutes ago."

"That'll be seven dollars," Mr. Panettere said to Jake.

Jake sifted through the bills in his wallet and found a ten. "Do you already know what you're getting this time?" He asked Abrielle.

Abrielle peered through the glass, careful not to rest her hands on it. "Black coffee and a chocolate bun," she decided.

"How do you do that?" Jake shook his head.

"What?" Abrielle laughed. "Drink black coffee?"

Mr. Panettere watched the two interact, a smile ever present on his face, and handed Jake his change.

"That and you always decide so quickly," Jake said, taking up his coffee in one hand and his plate of puffs in the other, and waited for Abrielle.

"I know what I'm in the mood for," Abrielle said. "And right now, it's a chocolate bun, black coffee, and seeing you."

"It's an honor," Jake pursed his lips and took a bow.

They both laughed. Mr. Panettere set Abrielle's order on the counter. Garrett and Elbert were quietly watching from a high rise table in the corner of the bakery, both with the same knowing smile as Mr. Panettere.

Abrielle paid Mr. Panettere. "Thank you," she said and took her coffee and chocolate bun.

"You're welcome," Mr. Panettere replied. "It's good to see you all again."

Abrielle nodded, "I've missed coming here with everything going on at school."

"Me too," Jake said.

"Summer isn't too far away," Mr. Panettere said. "I expect to see you both a lot more then."

Abrielle laughed, "Oh you will." She walked with Jake to their table.

Mr. Panettere stepped out from behind the counter. "And you boys too!" He called to Garrett and Elbert. "Are you staying for the summer, Elbert?"

"No, I'll be going back home," Elbert said. "My parents wouldn't be happy with me staying too long. But it's been great to be here! Your pain au chocolat is as good as back home."

Mr. Panettere's face lit up with delight. "I'm glad to hear that! I'll be headed to the back now. Let me know if you all need anything, and enjoy your vacation!"

"We will!" Jake and Abrielle chimed together.

Garrett nudged Elbert. "Already acting like they're married," he whispered.

Jake and Abrielle took the seats opposite of their friends.

"Hey Jake," Elbert said. "How are you doing?"

"I'm doing great, now that the internet is working and we can get outside. Did anyone else have a connection issue?"

Elbert shook his head. "I didn't, but I have an international phone and I wasn't using wifi."

Garrett checked his phone, "Now that you mention it, I guess I haven't had any new texts, but I've been packing for Hawaii, not trying to finish my homework early, like you nerds."

Abrielle sipped her coffee and shook her head. "Have you even started on your English project?" She turned to Jake. "And to answer your question, our internet wasn't working either."

"No," Garrett replied. "I'm going to work on it in Hawaii. The ocean inspires me."

"Hmm, alright," Abrielle said with a faint grin. Everyone knew that Garrett was a huge procrastinator and he liked English about as much as Jake.

"You'll see," Garrett said. "My muse lives on the ocean waves."

Abrielle laughed.

"How is it in Hawaii?" Elbert asked.

"It's great," Garrett said with a sigh. "The waves are perfect, the sand feels incredible, the people are great. I'd like to live there. My dad is actually Hawaiian, so we visit pretty often."

"How is it in France? What's your family like?" Abrielle asked Elbert. "You've spent all this time learning about us. Now let's hear about you."

Elbert laughed. "I've said how I come from the Normandy region in western France. It's mostly countryside and small towns around there. I live in a city called Bayeux, which is far smaller than Portland and Paris, and about 20 minutes from the ocean."

"Do you visit Paris much?" Jake asked.

"We'll visit Paris as a family sometimes, once on a school trip, but it's more than 3 hours away, so not too often."

"Have you ever been to the Notre Dame?" Abrielle asked. "I've always wanted to visit. The Eiffel Tower looks beautiful, but there's so much history with the cathedral." She took a bite of chocolate bun.

"I have and I agree," Elbert nodded. "In Bayeux, we also have our own Notre Dame. Many cities do."

"I didn't know that!" Abrielle said. "Are they very similar?"

"There are architectural similarities, but I wouldn't say they're very similar. The Notre Dame de Paris, for example, is much larger and more elaborate."

"How about family?" Jake asked. "You have a brother, right?"

"One stepbrother, yes," Elbert said.

"And he's from Ireland?" Abrielle asked. "I remember you talking about him during the family culture project in social studies. And the way you talk about him, you seem close."

"We are," Elbert smiled. "But I don't always see him that much, with his work and home back in Ireland. He travels a lot, but that can also be a good thing, since he has a business contact in Bayeux. Apparently he has one here too! He flew in today."

"Will we get to meet him?" Jake asked.

"I hope so!" Elbert replied. "Aedus said he's meeting up with a friend, probably the businessperson, for lunch, and then he'll join us at the movies tonight. Would you all like to come?"

"Sure!" Jake said. "I'll have to check with my parents, but it sounds like fun."

"I'll have to check as well, but I'd love to!" Abrielle said.

"I won't be able to come," Garrett said. "I'm leaving for Hawaii tonight. But what movie are you going to?"

"Colonel Weak, Now Strong," Elbert said.

"Oh yeah! We were talking about that at school. You'll all love it. Even has some romance for Abrielle," Garrett laughed.

"Jake likes romance too," Abrielle looked to Jake. "Don't you?"

"I..." Jake stopped between his bite of cream puff and hesitated between Garrett and Elbert. Then his eyes settled back on Abrielle. "Definitely. I'm not big on overly sappy stuff, but romance gets a bad rap."

Abrielle smiled.

"Whatever," Garrett said, shaking his head. "I better get going guys." He stood and took his plate of croissant crumbs to the dirty dish tub above the trash.

Abrielle stood up and gave him a hug. "Don't forget the project."

"Yes, mom," he smirked.

Jake and Garrett gripped hands, "Have fun, and don't get too crazy," Jake said.

Garrett laughed, "You sound like Abrielle." Then he moved closer and whispered in his ear. "You two are perfect. Make a move." Jake's face flushed slightly. Garrett stepped back and grinned.

Elbert clasped Garrett's hand, "Enjoy the surf. It's been great getting to know you."

"It's been awesome," Garrett said. "I'll have to check out the surf in Normandy sometime. But I should be back before the end of school and we can all hang out some more."

"I'll look forward to it," Elbert smiled.

Garrett fetched his sunglasses from the table and placed them atop his head. "Enjoy the break. Especially you two," he winked to Jake and Abrielle and left.

Jake and Abrielle exchanged a quick glance and turned back to Elbert.

"So when's the movie?" Jake asked.

"This evening at 7 o'clock," Elbert replied. "Text me and let me know if you both can make it, and I'll let my host family know."

"You think they'll be okay with us joining?" Abrielle asked.

"Oh definitely," Elbert said. "They told me to invite friends from school."

"Great!" Abrielle checked her watch, a gift from her father. "We'd better get homework finished first though." She looked to Jake. "Still up for helping me with biology?"

"Of course." Jake said. "As long as you're still up for helping me with English."

"Of course," Abrielle chuckled. "How's your homework progress, Elbert? Would you like to join us?"

Jake focused his attention on the remainder of his cream puffs. If Elbert came along, it wouldn't be a study date anymore. Although, Elbert was fun and he wouldn't want to leave him out either.

"Not this time, but thank you," Elbert replied. "I'm going to check if Aedus is back at the house already. But I hope to see you both at the movie tonight."

"I hope to see you both there too," Abrielle said. "And get to meet your brother!"

"Same here," Jake said. "I'm excited for it."

"Me too," Elbert said. He stood and picked up his plate, followed by the others.

Abrielle and Jake texted their parents as Elbert went to talk with Mr. Panettere, who had family in Bayeux. It appeared that the two shared an acquaintance.

"You mentioned Jean when I first got here," Elbert said to the baker. "Did you see him recently?"

"Oh yes, he visited yesterday," Mr. Panettere told Elbert. "Small world, isn't it?"

"Very small," Elbert said. "Maybe that's who my brother is meeting with..."

"And who is your brother?" Mr. Panettere asked. "Maybe I know him too."

"Aedus Butler," Elbert answered. "He's from Ireland, but grew up a bit with me in France."

"Now that's not a familiar name," Mr. Panettere frowned. "Ah well."

"My parents said yes!" Jake told Elbert.

Elbert turned around, "Awesome!" He looked to Abrielle.

Abrielle looked up from her phone and shook her head. "I don't know yet. I'll text you later, like you said. My mom must be busy right now, and dad won't be any help."

"Alright," Elbert said. "That's okay. I don't need to know immediately. The movie has been out long enough, it shouldn't be too busy. Just let me know before 5, if you can."

"Sure!" Abrielle smiled. "I don't know of anything going on, so I'm pretty sure I'll be able to, but I'll definitely let you know before then."

"I hope you can," Jake said, as they headed for the door.

"Me too," Abrielle said, and waved to Mr. Panettere. "Bye Mr. Panettere! And thank you."

"Yes, bye and thank you, Mr. Panettere!" Jake said.

"You're all welcome anytime!" Mr. Panettere said with a wave back.

"Enchanté et merci!" Elbert called out.

"Enchanté et de rien," Mr. Panettere replied with a smile.

It was late afternoon and the sun outside was not shining so brightly as it had when they'd arrived. A few clouds were to be seen in the sky, but there was no sign of rain. It was warm, and a refreshing breeze pressed against them.

Elbert's host family's house was within 15 minutes walking distance, but they'd set him up with a silver mountain bike to be safe. He'd locked it up in the rack beside the shop, and it was now next to Jake's. Although she had a car back home, Abrielle had also brought a red mountain bike and locked it next to Jake's.

The three teens unlocked their bikes, strapped on helmets, and said their goodbyes. Elbert biked up the street, while Abrielle and Jake biked alongside downhill.

• • •

Aedus was doing just what he wanted to do on the weekend—watch a 17-year old and his friends socialize at a bakery. When he saw Jake, Abrielle, and Elbert leave the bakery, he set down his binoculars and moved a hand towards the ignition. He was far enough out of sight for Elbert not to spot him, but close enough to keep track of Jake. Not that he needed to be especially close. Rosso had tapped into Jake's phone and configured it to send live GPS coordinates when requested. Aedus could admit that it was creepy, but it was for the boy's security. He started the car and shifted to reverse but kept his foot on the break until Jake was out of his line of vision. Jake was heading towards home and Aedus could wait outside the neighborhood or continue to tail him if he was going elsewhere. Aedus clicked his phone, with its GPS app ready on the screen, into a holster suctioned to the car window. He then maneuvered out of his parking space and shifted into drive. If this didn't take too long, he could meet Elbert back at the house before dinner.

• • •

Abrielle's neighborhood was a few miles away from Jake's and he followed her home. It was nearing rush hour and they talked a little along the way while watching for traffic.

"Do you smell anything?" Abrielle asked as they passed his neighborhood. After his dock incident about 4 weeks ago, Jake had begun confiding in Abrielle about everything that had been going on.

"Not at the moment," Jake smiled. "But I did the day before break. I smelled burnt burgers and sewage on the way home."

"Oh that's nice," Abrielle plugged her nose.

Jake laughed. "Yeah, but no incident since then. It's been close to four weeks now."

"Maybe you can relate with the movie tonight," Abrielle said with a smile.

"Why?" Jake asked.

"It's like I'm friends with a superhero," Abrielle replied. "You have had these incidents, and these powers that are beginning to surface, and next you'll be saving the world."

"I don't know about that," Jake said. He felt a lump in his throat. "But that'd be cool. And I would like to get the girl."

Abrielle looked to Jake, and then to her bike handles, and then back to Jake. "And do you have a particular girl in mind?" She said, with a slight tremble to her voice.

Jake was silent for a moment and his face began to redden. This was the moment. There was no turning back. He looked to his bike handles and gripped them tightly. He turned to Abrielle. "You."

Abrielle slowed down, moved her bike onto the sidewalk, and set it on the ground. Jake followed her lead and set his bike next to hers. She sat against the wooden fence that bordered the road with a wide patch of grass. Jake sat alongside, a further distance than he did usually.

Abrielle extended her hand, palm out, and lay it upon the ground. Jake moved closer and took her hand into his.

"I love you," she said, with tears in her eyes.

Jake's heart beat heavily through his chest. "I love you too," he said with a breath.

She looked into his eyes and held his gaze for a long moment. She turned her body to the side, to face him, and Jake met her there. She slowly bent forward, her eyes shifting down his face. Jake felt his breaths quicken and he bent forward until he could feel her breath upon him. He tilted his head slightly and parted his lips. She slowly parted hers and set her free hand against the back of his neck. He shivered upon the contact, and placed his free hand against the back of her hair. Their lips made contact and Abrielle pulled Jake closer. She shifted her head, opened her mouth wider, and wrapped her lips again around his. They held the kiss for a minute and gently broke off. They watched one another in silence. Jake took up Abrielle's other free hand and held them together. Abrielle took a deep breath and looked to the traffic passing by. She squeezed Jake's hands and smiled. He smiled back.

"Let's go, Jake." She quickly kissed him on the cheek. "Homework to do. And you still have to let your parents know when you're coming over, right?"

He nodded. "They said I could, but they wanted me to stop by the store and get some milk first." The words coming from his mouth felt wrong. He wanted to tell her more about how he felt. But she was right. Time for homework.

Abrielle shook her head, her eyes still moist, and she wrapped both of her arms around Jake and kissed him once more. "I've loved you for a long time, Jake."

"I have too," he said. "I mean, you."

Abrielle laughed. "I thought you may have."

She didn't ask why he hadn't said so sooner. She didn't say anything else. She just stood, one hand still holding Jake's, and then let go and set her bike upright.

Jake stood with her and they biked the rest of the way to her home in silence, sharing the occasional gaze. When they arrived at the house, Abrielle opened the garage, moved her bike inside, and came back out to see Jake.

Abrielle's house was a grand, redbrick house, far bigger than Jake's moderately sized home—situated in a wealthy neighborhood—with stone corinthian columns, and a wide mahogany with curved window panes. Along the stairwell of the house, there were a series of windows from which one could look outside, and Jake saw Abrielle's dad standing there, looking out for a moment before passing up the stairwell.

"I'm going to have to tell mommy and daddy about my boyfriend," Abrielle said, walking up to Jake. "You better come back quick so I can reintroduce you."

Jake smiled. It all felt like a dream. His greatest dream was coming true. "I will." He looked to the upper window again. No one was there. He kissed Abrielle and biked down the street towards the store.

At the bottom of the hill he braked and made a left turn onto Oak Street, the same road that he took to school. It was then that the smell of peppermint hit his nose. The store and bank were just ahead and there was a tea shop and cafe further along the road, but not close enough to smell peppermint unless they were brewing cauldrons of it. Were his senses picking up again?

A loud scream made Jake jump in his seat and stop his bike. He moved up onto the curb, got off his bike, and looked around. There were people walking along the streets, but nobody appeared alarmed.

Jake heard a shout. "No screaming!" Then there was a click and Jake could hear something sliding into place. It sounded like a gun. "Nobody makes a noise or speaks unless spoken to." There was a shifting of feet and Jake could hear two hands slam upon a counter. "Get the money, but not in a bag."

"All... alright!" stuttered another voice. "It'll just take me a moment."

A bank robbery?

There was another set of feet with a heavy tread, and Jake felt that they belonged to someone else.

"You have three minutes. You're going to take the money and place it in this bag. Just the bills. Nothing to hold them together. Nothing but the bills. As much as will fill the bag."

There was a click and the shuffling of dollar bills. A few alighted upon the floor.

"Don't pick them up. Just grab more. And you! Help them grab more."

"O...okay."

More shuffling of bills.

"That's good. We're leaving. If I see you so much as take one step on my way out..."

"I... I understand."

Jake's hand involuntarily dug into his pocket and pulled out his cell phone. He no longer had control. It was another episode! He detached the back panel of the phone and yanked out the battery. He set the phone into one pocket and the battery into another. What was the purpose in that? So he couldn't call for help? It felt as though he were being kidnapped by his own body.

The bank doors opened and two men walked out. They wore black vests and had grey wolf masks that covered the entire head. One man held a large cloth bag in one hand and a pistol in the other, and another, much larger man, clutched an automatic. They walked towards a dirty black pickup truck. It was so dirty that the license plate was mostly obscured.

Against all the force of his will, Jake mounted his bike and set off towards them. What was he doing? How was he going to stop men with guns? Not to mention the one man five times his size. Despite these fears, his body forced him onwards. Faster. Faster than he'd gone before.

The pickup truck sped off and went down an alleyway. Jake pedaled across the sidewalk and reached the alleyway. The truck turned for a side road, and Jake followed fast on their tail. His vision focused on their rearview mirror and he saw a pair of eyes focused back toward him. The truck pulled off onto a corner next to a set of apartment buildings and garages, and parked. The two men stepped out, threw their masks into the trunk of the truck and replaced them with motorcycle helmets. The bigger man took ahold of the money. With their guns still in hand, they ran towards a garage. Jake reached the apartments as they stepped inside the garage which contained two motorcycles. The big man spotted Jake, and aimed his gun at him. Jake stayed true to his path. The other man raised his hand and the big man halted. Jake stopped his bike at the garage, feet from the men.

"What do you think you're doing, kid?" the smaller man asked. "You want to die?"

Jake didn't answer. He moved towards the big man.

"Fine, but it was your choice," the smaller man shook his head in despair, drew his pistol, and fired.

• • •

Aedus followed the GPS and waited at the entrance to Abrielle's neighborhood as Jake stopped by her house. He biked out of the neighborhood a few minutes later and Aedus followed slowly as he turned onto Oak Street.

When robbers emerged from the bank, and with Jake headed straight for them, Aedus hit the gas and followed after them. He reached the apartments in time to see Jake walking up to the men in the garage. Aedus stopped the car, and drew his pistol from his pocket, just in time to hear the gunshot.

• • •

Jake somersaulted forward as the shot was fired, narrowly avoiding the bullet, and standing to face the smaller man. At this close range, he twisted the man's arm, took his gun, and slapped him across the face with it. The man fell to the ground unconscious. The big man opened fire with his automatic as Jake flipped backwards and landed behind one of the motorcycles. He stopped firing for a moment when he saw Aedus step outside of his vehicle and aiming his own gun. In this moment, Jake lifted the five hundred pound bike and threw it towards the man. The motorcycle crashed against the man's frame and sent him against the wall of the garage, a pile of bricks falling from the force of the impact.

Jake suddenly felt a tremendous fatigue forcing him to the ground. He gasped and his head throbbed. His vision turned red and he fell unconscious next to the robbers.

## Other Titles By Zechariah Barrett

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400 Years of Silence (Short Story)

The Feline Inheritance (Short Story)

War at Our Doorstep (Short Story)

The Detectives Games (Serialization)

Project Ordine (Anticipated 2019)

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