I felt an electrical shock to my chest. I was standing in moving water. I opened my eyes to darkness and then lifted the visor on my helmet. I blinked as my blurry vision came into focus. I stared at the forest around me and then stones and glowing figures on them.
– Enemies arrival immediate in 30 minutes. –
I frowned at the voice in my helmet speaker. I looked around. “Where are they coming?” I asked the voice.
– Enemies arrival coming from your right side from the sky –
I checked my utility belt for a weapon. I reached for something that felt like a side arm strapped to my leg holster. I grabbed it up and looked at it. My vizor I.D. the thing as a universal mining tool. What the fuck? I was miner!?
– Enemies arrival incoming in 10 minutes. –
Shit. I looked around for a weapon of any kind. My gaze locked on the images in the stones as I scanned and down loaded information for locations and letters. Letters?! The letters meant something. I had to scan them all. There was information in the stones I needed to get this time. I couldn’t fail like last time.
Like last time?! What happened last time?!
Hot fire blasted across my shoulder from the sky followed by a storm of fire from the enemy.
– RUN. DAMN IT. –
New project I got going on that is a bit of a fan project for a game called No Man’s Sky.
I’m nearly finishing up Lords Of Delta: Pete. It is extremely good and heavy with the action and awesome.
The good action and ride doesn’t end. Pete is nearing the end of his story but I’m fixing to put a spin to the end. I’m mixing a lot of classic Urban fantasy and heavy fun.
Vince was Icing his hands as he sat in the firm office with Pete and Andrew. Pete was shaking his head, arms crossed and pissed off.
“Where the fuck is Ross, with his daughter?” Pete said finally in annoyance. “She has to know more to this shit. That fucking bastard has got something to do with this shit.”
Andrew nodded in agreement silently as he smoked on his cigar with a grim line on his lips. “Fucking son of a bitch. We need to becareful. We can’t out right connect it all together. We only have one witness and we might need that old bastard alive to close the case with an axe.”
Vince looked at Pete. “Don’t leave like that again without telling me.”
Pete blinked at him. “What?!”
“I said, don’t leave me behind holding my dick like you did again. Let me know what’s up first and don’t fucking ghost me when I call you. I didn’t know what the fuck happened to you after a while and I got worried.” Vince said.
Pete stared at him and then nodded. “I got you. It won’t happen again.” He said and then he smiled. “You softened that fucker up nice and lumpy for your next match.”
Vince grimanced. “I might have over done it. We got two weeks until the second match. I’m hoping my hands heal right until then.”
Pete shook his head. “Don’t worry about that. I’ll think of something.”
There was a knock at the door and then it opened for Ahlar and Ran to walk inside. Vince stared at Ahlar was dressed in a satin yellow dress that hugged her body and vail covered the lower half of her face.
Vince glanced at Pete to see him looking at Ran and ignoring Ahlar entirely. Pete got up as Ahlar came over and held out his hand.
Ahlar ignored or didn’t see his hand and came over to sit facing Vince. “You…you are hurt?”
Vince shrugged. “I lost the first match so I had to take it out on Slicer’s face.”
Ahlar stared at him. “It was supposed to be a simple boxing match.”
Vince shook his head. “Slicer set the tone of the match. He wanted it to be street boxing match so I respected his wishes. I need you to tell me again how you met Slicer.”
Ahlar stared at him. “You’ve been ignoring my phone calls.”
Vince shook his head. “Your playing with fire. I want you hard and dirty and you know it. I’m not like Slicer. You would be my female now if it wasn’t for this case. I’m a Barbarian warrior in a brokes brother suit. I’m not interested in your modern fantasy dating games.. There’s not a soul alive that can stop me from claiming you.. So are you going to tell me the story of how you really met Slicer?”
“Are you speaking to me as my lawyer or a Lord of justice?”
“Both. Tell me the story again. ” Vince said.
Ahlar flinched but she shook her head. “Your not interested in that. What do you want to know. I’ll tell you. No games. Just ask.”
“Did Deamon Ross have a hand in you meeting and dating Joc Slicer?”
Ahlar sat up. “Yes.”
“How?”
“He introduced us at a dinner party. He has also has been encouraging us to date in the beginning. Otherwise. I don’t know the way of it. Are you thinking of pursuing a judgment on Deamon and Joc for a high crime?”
“That isn’t your right to know.” Pete said stiffly.
Ahlar waited staring at Vince. He shrugged. “It’s a possibility. I wouldn’t advise you tell Deacon any of this-“
“If Deacon.” Ran started and paused. “If Deacon has committed any crimes against the law then you can have the full support of the Ross family in his arrest and execution.”
Ahlar stared at him silently and then back at Vince. “Your hiding something. What is it?”
Vince shook his head. “It’s time for you to go.”
Ahlar stiffened at the dismissal but nodded she quickly leaned over and brushed his lips against her mouth. The barrior of the vail was thin but enough to keep Vince in his seat as Ahlar hurried out the room.
Ran nodded to them following after his daughter. The room was quiet.
“What the fuck?!” Pete said. “You want her?!”
Vince looked at Pete. “How did Mini find you?”
“What?!”
“How the fuck did Mini find you?” Andrew asked. “I have been wondering about that myself.”
Pete snorted and shrugged. “Mini has her ways. Anyway, where’s the contract you have with the Ross girl!”
“How did you become a chief administrator?” Amber asked as she took a hold of my bent arm.
I guided her down the street toward my old apartment building that was still two blocks from true cave residence. I wondered when I would be able to take her to my real residence. I would give it a little more time I decided.
“Hmm. Interestingly enough I was hired for the position after I finished my studies abound in my late twenties. I applied for the position when I return back after getting my doctorate in medicine and criminal justice in Iron born. I was still had the position when His majesty Foxx Drakescape was around before the war. When did you first arrive here?”
Amber stared at me with wide eyes. “You’ve been to the sky kingdom? What was it like? Do the people there actually have wings?”
I smiled seeing the youthful delight and interest in her eyes and the strange notion she had of bird people. He had an idea who she got the idea from. “So you traveled here on Jameson’s floating yakt?”
Amber blinked in surprise. “You know of Lord Jameson the explorer?”
I laughed softly and nodded. “Yes. He studied with me at the top university in Iron Born though he lost interest quickly enough in our second year and took to being quite the wander of the skies.”
Amber grinned at me. “Tell me my Lord what are the Iron Born winked people like. Do they had rainbow winks as Jameson told me about? What was living in Iron Born like?”
I kept back laughter at her Senser look of interests and silly dreams in her eyes. “It was…educational and a big impact on me growing into the man I am today. But, no. The people there aren’t bird people. They use modern technology to propell themselves through great landscapes across the known seven kingdoms. They are for the most part humans. Though that will change in the course of a few more centuries. When did you arrive here my dear? Are you on vacation?”
Amber looked like she wanted to ask more about Iron Born but stopped herself. “I came here on holiday two weeks ago. I saw your add in the post. I was interested in the position and honestly I wanted to meet you.”
I raised an eye brow. “Me? Really. I wonder why?”
“You are one of the last Dracoians still in the city responsible for defeating the ancient Dracoian king.”
I rolled my eyes. “Ancient king? Foxx was only sixty-six years old when he was defeated by the allied forces of the guardsmen.”
Amber stared at me silently. “In human years he was rumored to be six hundred years old.”
I shrugged. “True enough for humans but Dracoians and half/drakes aren’t human. By Drakescape standards he wasn’t really that old at all. Have you ever been married before today?”
Amber frowned at me. “No. I haven’t and we haven’t married yet let alone had a grand wedding or registered our marriage with town records or elders here and aboard in Fair Gale.”
I shook my head. “In that you would be wrong my dear. The rules here are much more similar. So you are a virgin?” I said.
Amber’s cheeks turned a lovely pink warm glow as she glared at me. “I am Lady my lord….though I am a much old…” Amber closed her mouth looking away. I caught what she had been about to say.
Hmm. So she is much older then said she was. I kept walking. Amber said nothing but she wrapped both her arms around my forearm holding on to me tightly. “Amber. You must understand something about my people or more to the point myself. I am a very direct man and harsh when I am crossed. Once you agreed to be mean that is the end of it for me. However, if you are not inclined to stay by my side then you may leave as you please. I will not chase after you.”
“When are we to married?” She asked.
“We already are.” I told her. “Once you took hold of my arm and allowed me to lead you. To my people are to the law the deed is done. It is the drakescape way.”
Amber was frowning and looked at young paper boy and singled to him to come. He came over in a hurry. “Yes Ma’mum. What can I do for you?”
The boy bowed to me. I fished out a few crowns and gave him some for a paper. The boy handed me a paper.
Amber focused on the boy. “Boy. Is it the way here now that gentlemen marry by simple choosing a lady and walking with her?”
The boy nodded without looking at me. “Yes, Ma’mum. That is the way of. It’s a new law new drakescape made regarding men and females. It was passed quite recently indeed.” He said nodding his head and then he took off running seeing another man waving to him for a paper.
I started walking off leading her away. Amber still looked uncertain. “Do you wish to ask around more?”
“Yes. I do.” Amber said quickly. “If you don’t mind Sir. My Lord.” She said softly.
I shook my head. “I don’t mind at all dear.”
The next random meetings with my people all went the same. No one said a word otherwise to the new special license I had just crafted out of thin air. But, really what would they had said. It was the truth. Drakescape didn’t give a tuss about marriage licenses. Mating was the same as it always been sense the beginning.
We finally made it to my apartment building. I turned to Amber opening the door and holding it up for her. “Are you ready?”
Amber stared at me. “My Lord. I would like a wedding. A public wedding. This Saturday.”
I raised an eye brow. “I’m fine with that arrangement. There is no reason to be nervous. I will do what I can to make you at ease.” I said.
I glared at the cruiser burning it with my rage. I didn’t have time for this I had to catch up with the bandits. Little Wolf was counting on us.
I focused and blasted the cruiser up and away a few miles. I blinked closed my visor. My thoughts went cool. I reached for my sword as I raced on a head toward the bandits. Lightning baby handed me back my sword as I felt the fire ignite my electrified blade.
Hmm.
I heard a giggling female voice close to my right ear. “Take out the tires but keep your guard up as you draw near the truck for danger.” Fire Vixen’s voice spoke to me.
I knew it. There was something more to this shit. My instincts didn’t fail me yet. I drove near the truck as a man in Ice armor opened the door.
I fired fire and lightning into the cab killing the two bandits inside. I jumped off my bike hurried inside shoving the bodies out and stopping the Ice Truck.
I got outside as Swan and Tomahawk came up to me and we fist bumped. I bent down and searched the bodies.
“What are you looking for?” Tomahawk asked.
I was silent until I found the detapad and a strange device. It looked like a remote. It glowed vibrating the same energy as the rip in realms a head of us. I pointed it at the rip. I hit a few random buttons until the rip closed.
“How?” Swan asked.
“It was a guess. One thing is for sure.” I said holding the detapad I threw it to Swan.
He caught it. He frowned. “This isn’t alien.”
I nodded. “They were working with someone here to make sure we didn’t get the shipment of Cp-98 in time.”
Tomahawk shook his head. “What’s your gain in this?”
I normally wouldn’t reveal my mind so freely but I felt my fire element cool relaxed around these people. “My instincts tell me I have to help little wolf and back up his father. That’s why I’m here. I always follow my instincts.”
Both men nodded. I walked over to my bike as Jason pulled up and got out. I see it in his eyes he knows who I am. I nodded.
“We got to go. Little Wolf is depending on us to get this done.” I said. Again strangely it was all that needed to be said.
Wolf nodded to me. “Your right. Let’s finish this job.”
We arrived to hell. I jumped out of the passenger side of the passenger side open door before it came to a complete stop. Damn it. The fuckers had gotten here burned everything to the ground. Damn fools. My boy. What the fuck would I do. No. There had to be a way. I would go back to the city. I would find a way. There had to be a scientist I could find to recreate CP-98. My boy still had a supply for the a few more weeks.
I felt Jason’s hand on my shoulder. “Cyrus?”
I shook my head. “I ain’t giving up. I’ll never give up.”
“There’s tire tracks. We need to follow them. To catch up with the fuckers. This ain’t over. Oh. Hello.” Jason said in a sudden distracted voice.
My element came awake.
I blinked. My eyes felt on fire. Shit. This reminded of a another time this first happened. She was here. I looked around and saw her. Standing a bit off. She was dressed in black jeans with a leather jacket on and a white shirt on. Her black hair was braided down her back. She looked the same when I met her in the pin when I was at my lowest. She had come and kissed my head and whispered my son’s name nothing more. It was enough.
“Hey. I got a gift for you.”
I shook my head. “I haven’t earned it. I just need to catch up with them. Can you slow em down?
Lightning baby nodded and pointed to the west. A lightning storm started gathering in a area. “Don’t easy on em kiddo. I don’t know who they are but they don’t belong here and their fucking with your son’s life. You got two days to get it down before your ex catches up with you. Do your best.” She said.
“Let’s go.” Jason said running to the truck.
I nodded to her. “Thank you.” I said running to the car.
Lightning baby smiled. “He’s waiting for you. Don’t lose hope.”
My chest hurt but I nodded to her jumping in the truck.
I had my first professional fight in EMP arena in two days after getting my license as a middle weight flyer. Coach Goldman Grayson was giving me the go ahead and I was under his gym. Things were looking good but for one thing. The giant ugly scar on my back was a marketing problem. It had to be covered.
Brock had suggested a tattoo and a tattoo palor to get done in. I agreed and thanked him.
I messaged my son for ideas wanting to involve him in the process in my weekly messages. He sent back a short reply..
“I don’t give a fuck, loser. Get a wolf head tattoo or sword or something.”
It was an idea and it would help. I went to Warriors Tate Shop down town on 7th and main.
It was a small shop but had customers filled in the place. I came inside and found Sue. No. Goldy Warrior sitting down chatting with another man with long hair and silver blue eyes that wore a leather vest, jeans and boots.
“Goldy. hey?” I said.
Goldy’s beautiful eyes lite up at the sight of me but her friend gave me a narrowed eye look of mistrust. I wondered at it as I walked over.
“Hey, Cyrus. Nice to see you. What you are doing here?”
I smiled. “I’m here to get a tattoo. It’s my coach’s orders. I’m getting a wolf’s head on my back and sword with my son’s name on it.”
Both of them froze for some reason. I looked around and noticed a few people were all looking at me funny as well. I looked back to Goldy to see her frowning at me.
“So the scar you got on your back is real bad then? The scar you got protecting me?”
I didn’t like the sound in her voice and look of haunted pain on her face brought back memories. It reminded me of the past and what that asshole had done to her when she was teenager. It also reminded me of how I couldn’t do anything to help her but that asshole Judge guy could before and afterward. I shook it off the memory.
“It wasn’t your fault. I should have been more carefull rushing in like that and I got burned. It’s no big deal and you did rescue me. Anyway, I got to get it covered up with something and my son suggested it. If I have to do it at least it will be something he suggested and he might like it on his old man. When or if he sees me online.” I said smiling and hoping Jon would like it or at least think something of me.
I had to make it up to him. I had to get back on my feet and be a corpo he could respect again. I just had to. Seeing him again and being able to spend time with him was all I thought of now. I had to get to the top.
Goldy smiled. “Your son chose the tattoo. I understand. You’ll get there. You’ll see him again.”
Goldy understood. She was a corpo to. I nodded. “So do you know a good artist here that can help me?”
Goldy nodded and turned to the man. “Swan. My brother. He works here part time in the summer. He’s a fantastic artist. He’ll give you the tattoo.”
I didn’t remember her ever having a brother but things change. I could understand Swan’s look he gave me now.
Swan was silent studying me. “If I give you the tattoo you got to make a promise to us.”
What hell was going on? I frowned but nodded. “Sure with in reason.”
“You can’t ever give up on yourself or claiming back your son. The day you do give up, I’ll carve the image off your back. Do you agree to my terms?”
A legal or moral contract. Hmm. The 🐺 head had some type of meaning to them.
I stared at him and thought about the days, the months the fucking moments sitting in my cell with regrets over my own stupid decisions that had cost me moments, days and months with my son I couldn’t get back. Now that I was out, I could never see him in person unless I got back to corpo legal status showing my fitness as a patriarch.
“I, Cyrus Morgan Vod agree to your terms of the contract.” I said.
Swan shrugged and waved me to a seat. “Let’s get this going then.” He said.
The cover might be a work in progress. The story is still forming in my head but I like the cover. It is a comeback story in the truest sense and a full on action story about a father and son.
I walked into the Corpo building owned by Casey and holdings with Abu Kali and Harley. I had Ruby set up at a spot I would need her and away from the shit storm about to happen. I felt it then. A shift in the feel of everything and everyone.
I looked around then saw him walking into the building past us. Cyberpunk Dreams. He looked. Damn. Well. He looked like me or me more rightly I looked like a lower version of him. His hair was jet black as where the rest of his gear. A black shirt, pants and leather jacket and boots.
He always looked like this. No matter the Era of time. He rarely interfered in our events but for…shit. This was a case of a fucking alien showing up in our realm.
He paused by me and lifted my fist to bump against his. We nodded to each other. He angled his head for us to follow him. We did silently.
Dumbasses and normals all gave him wide breath. He walked to the elevator and we followed him inside. The ride up was a quiet event. I wondered what he wanted us to do. Fuck it. I faced him.
“How you want to play this?” I asked him.
Cyberpunk shrugged. “He’s an invader him being here breaks the law.”
I nodded. “Say no more. Death is the judgement.” I said turning from him to wait for the door to open.
The door opened. Cyberpunk walked out. We paused for a second because the trap door above us opened. I saw a man dressed in all leather and a eye patch on one eye cruching beside a lady that looked like my mother but she was different.
The lady smiled at me and handed me a sword. I smiled at her as understanding hit me. “Lightning Baby arrives for the party with a gift.”
I took the sword as she and the man dropped down. Lightning Baby hugged me and kissed my cheek. “Your rite is over kick some ass. I got to work.” She said stepping outside she began to cut her way through the enemies my family and the stranger stepped into the battle cutting and shooting down mutant shit heads until we were the last standing.
I looked ahead to the main office of the asshole and saw him dead on the floor and my mother standing over him with her sword.
“Shit. How the fuck are we alive?” Harley asked.
Abu Kali nodded frowning and sniffing the air. “What’s that smell?”
I smiled and got out my detapad. “Just a little bit of Ruby’s perfume in the vents. She’s killing it now.”
“poison gas?!” Abu Kali said in a high voice.
I snorted shaking my head. “Not to us. We’re family. ”
My mother came up to us. Putting away her sword and smiling at me. “So you’ve had a journey. What did you learn?”
“I understand why you mated with him. I don’t hate him anymore. I can understand why he is the way he is.” I said thinking on the spot about it. “Everything else the family taught me.”
My mother smiled and nodded “Now. You are a true nomad male. So introduce me to your family as we get the hell out of here. I heard you got a girl now.”
The past few minutes we found dick all but T1s to kill and no sign of team Bravo. They were all dead except for Ruby. No sign of West or Betty. They were in the wind and we were stuck in the mansion until day break or we found a ride onto the main road back to Raccoon city.
I sat on the steps of the stairway of the main room of the mansion waiting for Jill and Berry. I heard the explosion a few rooms away.
Jill. I glanced at Ruby who sat beside me cleaning her blade. She shook her head.
I sighed and stared at the door. The door opened and Jill came out naked from the waist down covered in herbs. I took off my vest and shirt and went over to her. Jill held up her hand with her other arm covering her breasts.
“Don’t. I’m covered in herbs and I was hit by acid.” She said.
“Let me see your back.”
Jill smiled. “Hell, no. I know it’s bad but I’ll live. Hey, Ruby baby.” She said.
“Hey, sweetie baby.” Ruby said.
I threw Jill the shirt as Berry came in carrying a struggling Betty.
Betty looked at me and screamed at the sight of me. Jill quickly put on my shirt and flenched at movement. We needed to get her to a doctor.
I didn’t look at Betty. She wasn’t a factor. But…I needed information she had. I sat down on the stairway.
“I want a vehicle out of here.”
“Alright. You let me go and there’s a jeep outside. Take it and go.” Betty said.
“I saw the jeep outside.” Jill said.
I got up but Ruby pushed me back down. I frowned at her. She smiled at me and kissed my lips.
“Sit a bit.” Ruby said and got up and faced off with Betty. “Why did you bring us here?”
“West planned all this? I’m just-“
“She’s lying.” I said listening to her heart beat and body movements.
Ruby nodded. “Why did you bring us here?”
Betty changed her breathing and tried to be calm. “West was hired to wipe out the teams and start-“
“She’s lying.” I said. “She won’t tell us the truth. Leave her to the dogs or kill her. I don’t give a fuck. Jill needs to get to a doctor.”
“I know but we have to know if this was a termination mission by the government or the corporation. We need information.” Ruby said.
I looked at Jill. She was holding up a key card. “What you got there?” I asked.
“Let me go and I’ll tell you what door that key opens.” Betty said. Lying again.
I stared at Jill.”You know what door that key opens?”
Jill smiled. “I think I do. Let’s take a look at that old type writer again.”
Some writer or blogger or YouTuber probably has addressed this shit but…they weren’t named guardiandogg. Let’s go! Spoiler alert!
Okay I finished the short story. This is my conclusion.
Pause.
Paycheck the movie deals with time, the government and American freedoms and rights being taken away and a solution to becoming protected against this is…
What?
The corporation is the greater evil in relation to the government vs the corporation. One should take down the corporation and then take your girl and hide from the government.
Now. I still love that movie. I like the ending in part. But…that ain’t the conclusion the written story Paycheck leaves me.
Holy shit.
Paycheck the written story. The conclusion I am left with I agree to in part. Jennings does not like the uncertainty of being a worker for a corporation that would easily sell him out or allow him to be taken by the government that has taken his freedoms, can hold him and possibly kill him if he doesn’t obey or even if he obeys.
The government has taken all his freedoms and he is one man alone. He has no means of having a wall between him and the government. But, for one wall. The last wall. The corporation.
Being an individual citizen in the United States of America means shit if the constitution is ignored or people in power ignore or water it down with bullshit laws but ownership of a corporation, having a family and legacy can secure your future against the government if you position yourself rightly.
I am left with a conclusion also that there will be a moment a revolution against the government. The people will raise up and fight the government.
Na’aw son. Miss me with that shit. The cyberpunk future I live in is over populated with beta bitch simps and cowards out for the bag plugged into the American dream that comes on tv or Netflix everyday on their subscription feed.
People don’t really want to fight the system. They want to ignore the fact we are becoming slaves to the machine so they can watch porn and work their job. People would gladly trade freedom for comfort because real freedom requires you to start making some fucking spears to kill the mother fucking bear. (The Edge, 1990s.)
Final thoughts…
Phillp K. Dick. Son of bitch saw this shit coming. Look for all intents and purposes this is the cyberpunk future. We are living in it. Just not the 1980s version bladerunner flying cruisers shit. Corporations are almost on pair with countries in power. The line between the Corporations and the government is blurry.
People really do believe that CCN, FoxNews and every other propaganda mouth piece are just companies that might lean one way or other for money, mindshare and trust. No. These are tools for distraction, disinterest, disinformation against freedom of thought and liberation of the mind.
The story isn’t so much a mindfuck as it is a tame piece of excellent storytelling about the current days that have gone to the doggs.
Days Gone Dogg 