“I thought it would work for you.” Jolly claps in joy. “I got the gene right! I keyed that door to only open for people like us, now go inside so we can talk.”
Jin goes in and Jolly follows. Inside is a lavish apartment, all decked out in silver, with a red couch and chair standing out amid the field of silver.
“Sit, sit, we’ll be here a while.” Jolly goes to the kitchen and opens an old-looking wooden box. “Tea?”
“Yes, please,” Jin replies and walks over to the couch and takes a seat.
‘I’m going to be a while. Feel free to go home, I’ll catch up. If you would find my new clothes and take them home, I would appreciate it,’ Jin sends to Nightmare.
‘Why did Jolly take you to the lounge?’ Nightmare replies.
‘We share a common powerset and he wants to show me some tricks.’
I’m not exactly lying, but it still feels wrong to mislead her.
‘Oh, okay, I’ll see you at home,’ Nightmare says, then suddenly, ‘Get his autograph for me or the clothes burn!’
‘Got it, Kat, I won’t forget’ Jin replies, his grin hidden behind his helmet.
“All comfy over there?” Jolly asks as he comes over with tea.
“I will be,” Theo says as he dismisses his Suit. “Ah, this feels better.”
Jolly Wolf-whistles at that. “That’s some fine control for someone with one day of training under their belt,” Jolly says admiringly.
“A month with Richter and I only need to sleep eight hours a week, so I’ve had some time to get ready.” Theo puts his right leg up on top of his left thigh.
“A month! I only got five with Joule and five more with Ferris. I guess you are the Golden Dragon, so what can I do? I bow to Jinlong-gong,” Jolly says as he bows, being careful to not drop the tea.
“Not you too! No more of this ‘Gong’ business, it took threats to stop Richter, I’m not above doing the same to you until you stop.” Theo rubs his face before glaring at Jolly.
“If that’s how you want it,” Jolly laughs and passes a cup of tea to Jin. He sits down in the chair and takes a sip of his own, sighing with pleasure. “Perfectly brewed white tea. A minute on the heat, no more, no less.”
Theo sips the tea, it has a faint floral note that he finds more appealing than he thought he would. He keeps finding himself going back to the cup until he looks down and sees that it’s empty.
“Delicious right? White Peony tea, from the region the legends say our mutual ancestor came from. Fun fact, I didn’t even like tea until I Awakened. Now I go through more tea than a small restaurant, mostly good stuff like this,” Jolly swirls his tea and inhales deeply.
“I liked tea just fine before, but now it almost feels like I’m drinking something designed for me. It hits every taste bud just right,” Theo says with a hint of suspicion in his voice. “How expensive is it?”
“Exactly, that’s why I buy White Peony. It’s cheap, but it almost feels like it was made for me,” Jolly says warmly. “I wanted to see if you felt the same way about it and it seems you do. Mark another hypothesis as confirmed today, first the gene and now the tea, I’m on a roll,” he grins. “I’ll send a box home with you, I have plenty.”
“Much appreciated,” Theo puts his cup down, “You mentioned meeting Joule and later Ferris, are those…” Theo starts before Jolly cuts him off.
“Yes, Joule was my Wood teacher, though he specializes in lightning, so you may not meet him. Ferris taught me more about Metal than any metallurgist in the world could and those are the powers that made me famous. My ‘Gadgets’ are just metallic constructs that I make out of the powdered metals in the tubes of my duster.” Jolly takes off his duster, detaches something inside of it, and holds it out to Theo.
Theo grabs the duster, it has to weigh 150 pounds! Inside the duster is a compartment that would have been covered by the panel that Jolly detached before handing the coat to Theo. The compartment contains 10 clear tubes that end in the pockets of the duster, they widen out along the back of the coat like a set of ribs. The spine of the duster is a material that Theo hasn’t seen before, soft and flexible, but obviously metallic.
“The tubes let me make any alloy that I can think of, combining 10 or so different metals to get the result I want. The real secret is the spine, I channel my Wood energy through it and it helps the alloys bond. I found the spine after my second Awakening, I was clutching it when I recovered from the event. I’m still not sure what it’s made of,” Jolly explains after seeing Theo’s confused face.
“Second Awakening?” Theo asks with a confused look on his face.
“Wow, I forgot how little info you get during your initial training, mine was 15 years ago you know, but I’ll explain what I can.” Jolly settles into his chair a bit more, “Buckle up, it’s going to be a bit overwhelming at first, but you’ll get it. I have faith in the Great Golden Dragon’s descendants’ ability to adapt and overcome.”
Theo settles into the couch, props his left leg up with his right foot underneath his left knee, and says, “Before I forget, I need one of your autographs for a girl named Kat.”
Jolly smiles. “All right, let’s start at the beginning, I grew up in Riverside City, in a crappy apartment in Docktown.”
He leans in, rests his elbows, steeples his fingers, and begins his story.
Chapter 17: Jolly’s Awakening
It was on my 16th birthday that I had my first Awakening, I found a letter on my pillow in my tiny bedroom, in a tiny apartment I shared with Mom and Gene. My mom Molly was crying in the kitchen, but that wasn’t anything new, my step-dad, Gene, was a real piece of work. He liked to hit her, when I stood up to him, he hit me even harder. I hated him, but he paid the rent. I was saving up money from working, off the books obviously, on the docks. My plan was to make enough for first and last month’s rent and then leave with her while Gene was at work.
The letter had a rainbow wax seal with the Chinese character 龙 on it. I didn’t know at the time that it meant Dragon or Long. I tried to rip open the letter, thinking it might be some kind of contest winnings envelope, I had a penchant for entering those mail-in sweepstakes, hoping for a miracle. I couldn’t rip the letter, it was so tough. I ended up taking my boxcutter from work and peeling back the wax seal. I opened the letter and found one character on the letter inside, 木, which means Wood.
The world went green, sparks shorted out the light fixture and the wind whipped around my tiny room, my mom came in and screamed. She knew what was happening, I could hear it in her panicked screams. She didn’t want this for me. I found out later why that was.
After five minutes of energy pouring out of me, my room was trashed. My mother grabbed a hold of me. “I thought I had escaped that life!” she cried into my chest as she clung to me.
I tried to get more information after that, but she was beside herself. Eventually, I pulled her over to my bed and we sat down with our backs to the wall, looking toward the closed door. I can still hear her cries, she was so sorry about what had happened to me, which made no sense to me, I felt great.
I fell asleep like that, holding her while she cried. I woke up in a similar training situation to yours, so I won’t bore you with that. Suffice to say, when I woke up, I was stronger, faster, and more powerful than any teenager has any right to be.
I heard my mom and Gene arguing in the other room, which was strange. My mom wasn’t one to argue. She usually just let Gene yell, get drunk, and fall asleep in the Lay-Z-Boy recliner that he couldn’t afford, in the living room. Today she was yelling back, telling him how shitty a person he was and how she was going to do better. I heard a *Bang* and then a thud, followed by a grunt and a laugh.
I burst through the door and found Gene holding a pistol, some damn Glock. I didn’t even know he had one, my mom was on the ground bleeding out. I screamed and sent the biggest lightning bolt I’ve ever made to this day into him, it had to be three feet wide. When I got done with the lightning bolt, all that wa
s left was his shoes, I erased Gene from this Earth with that lightning bolt. It feels good getting that off my chest to someone other than the FSA shrink.
I picked up my mom and teleported with her to the nearest hospital, I didn’t even think about it, it just happened. I appeared in the middle of the ER with a dying woman in my arms, thankfully my hood was pulled up. I left her in the hands of a doctor and teleported back out. I went back to the only place I could think of, home. I cleaned until I ran out of cleaning supplies, then the house phone rang.
It was the hospital, my mom, the only person who loved me in the world, was dead. I cried and started tearing through everything in that apartment, looking for answers. I eventually found something hidden under a floorboard under my mom’s bed. It was a letter with a single name on it, Jolly.
I don’t use my birth name anymore, I’m either Jolly or Yinlong, nothing else. My mom always called me Jolly, because I was the only happy thing in her life, or so she said.
I lovingly opened it. In that letter she spoke of her own Awakening, a lot like mine, but less powerful. So much less powerful than yours. She then talked about how her family knew it was coming, they celebrated her Awakening. She got the feeling that something was wrong after a few weeks of being treated differently. Eventually, her enhanced hearing caught them talking about using her to free something powerful, they laughed about how she couldn’t possibly survive it as weak as she was.
She escaped that night and fled for the next 10 years, never staying in one place for long. Until she got pregnant with me. Apparently, she wrote the letter when I was two years old, bouncing in the playpen five feet away from her. She didn’t tell me who my dad was, I still don’t know, but I have theories aplenty. Her final note was to get stronger, so I could defend myself from those who would come hunting for me.
So I did, I got stronger. My second Awakening came two years after my first, but there was a problem, I couldn’t get past the final stage of the training, the combining of my elements, so I’ve been stuck ever since.
So that’s me. I Awakened, killed a man, learned I was being hunted, and then got stronger.
The only real authority I worry about is yours and the GGD, Great Golden Dragon that is, and he isn’t around to talk to.
Jolly leans back in his chair and takes a deep breath.
“Oh, here’s that autograph, addressed to Kat.”
Chapter 18: Long Awaited Forgiveness
A moment passes and then Theo stares at Jolly with crimson orbs for eyes. He gets up from the couch and walks toward the chair that Jolly is sitting in. He pulls Jolly up by his shirt. Jolly feels scared for the first time since that day his mother was killed. It feels like he is looking at a god.
“Yinlong, I absolve you of any crimes committed on the day of your Awakening, or in the pursuit of those that caused your mother’s death in the years since. You are to work with young Theo on mastering his use of Earth. His next element will be Fire, so you are to learn as much as you can of that. He must master all five elements by the time he turns 21. Also, I have a gift for you,” Jinlong taps Jolly on the head and back in seven different locations, his fingers striking with lightning speed. “When you go to sleep you will visit Ferris again, you should find the fusion much easier this time.”
Jolly looks deep into the eyes of Jinlong, the Great Golden Dragon, and can’t speak, his presence is just too strong.
“You have done well Yinlong, I am proud of what you have been able to accomplish with your limited powers. You will likely never find Earth, but Water should come easily after you fuse Wood and Metal. You have nothing to fear of those who put the envelope on your pillow those few years ago, they remain true to me and to the world.”
A sad look overtakes Jinlong’s previously proud face, “It is a different group that Molly was running from, I miss her every day.”
Jolly visibly shakes at the revelation of who he is talking to, he tries to bow, but is being held up by his shirt. “Ancestor, I...I can’t tell you what this means to me.”
Jinlong stares deeply into Jolly’s eyes, “Theo is my true reincarnation, if he makes it to 21 years of age, I will have enough energy to clone him, leaving him unharmed and at an even greater level of power. If I have to take over this body before that, his consciousness will be erased. I have come to love him like a son, and I don’t want to have to do that, but if there is need I will. Make it so that doesn’t happen.”
Jinlong sets Jolly back down in the chair and goes and sits down on the couch where he came from. “This will be the last time we speak like this. Remember, I chose you to teach Theo over any of my other descendants, even the one he already knows, though she doesn’t know she is one of my descendants. He will not remember this conversation. Do not tell him anything other than that you are going to be his teacher. The last thing he will remember is the end of your story.”
A wave of positive energy bursts out of Jinlong and his eyes go back to their normal hazel color. It washes over Jolly and he feels better than he has in years.
Theo gets up from the couch and walks over to Jolly. “Stand up please.”
Jolly gets up hurriedly. “Yes?”
Theo hugs Jolly, “I’m sorry about your mom and I forgive you for Gene. Power Rush almost made me kill Highrise and he didn’t kill my mom ten feet from me as Gene did.”
Jolly is stunned at Theo’s response.
Wow, it is going to be difficult to keep that under wraps, they’re so similar.
“Thanks, Theo. I appreciate you listening.”
“Any time,” Theo says and releases Jolly. “All right, I’ll take that tea and autograph then head back home. Can I come back sometime?” he asks with a hopeful tone.
“I’ll give you my cell number, if you ever need anything, I’m a message away. By the way, If I ever get just a picture message from you, I’m showing up. It doesn’t matter if it’s a picture of a puppy or something, so make sure to send something before or immediately after if you don’t want that,” Jolly sparks between his hands.
“A few more things, I would appreciate it if you didn’t mention my teleportation to anyone else, it’s my trump card. I’ve never used it in public and only on one mission, I told everyone present that it was a gadget that was too expensive to make more of. Also, if you need help with your powers, call me, not some random Cape. We can meet wherever you want.” Jolly hands Theo a card with Jolly, 325-655-9663 on it.
“Da Jolly One?” Theo laughs.
“Easy to remember if you grew up memorizing phone numbers like I did. Now scram, I’m feeling tired,” Jolly smiles. “Oh and on the street, as a Cape, you should probably just go by Jin. It’s a lot easier to say for most people and Jinlong might draw unwanted attention.” he gets up and walks over toward the door.
Theo hurriedly gets up, “Thanks for the tea, I guess I’ll see you soon?” he asks hopefully.
“Of course,” Jolly says as he opens his apartment door.
Theo walks out and gets in the elevator, a big dumb grin on his face.
I talked to Jolly and even got his phone number. Kat would be so jealous if she knew about the phone number.
He enters Jolly’s number into his phone under Shifu, which is “teacher” in Mandarin.
Jolly closes the door to his apartment and says, “I’m going to get some good sleep tonight, Ferris, here I come!”
Chapter 19: Maria’s
Theo barely remembers to activate his Suit before the door opens on the ground level, it opens into a very busy kitchen, dozens of people in white outfits walk around. The one lady with a big hat points toward the rear exit as if to say, “The door is that way.” Jin nods and waves, he then walks out the back door of the kitchen into an alleyway. From there he runs to a secluded spot and drops the suit again. He isn’t used to the suit yet.
Theo pulls out his phone and texts Kat and Dante, Up for some dinner? I want Burritos.
Dante: When and where?
Theo: New Milan, Mari
a’s, 10 minutes?
Kat: Deal, I love their chips, I’ll be there.
Dante: I’ll bring my Firebird, so I can give everyone a lift home.
Both Theo and Kat: Nice
Kat: I’m currently without wheels, so I’ll be more like 30 minutes.
Dante: I’ll pick you up, make it 15 until we’re at Maria’s.
Theo: K
Theo walks the 15 blocks through New Athens to Maria’s and gets a table for three near the door. Maria’s is busier than usual, Theo has to fight for a table to fit him and his friends. He orders an iced tea for himself, a Pepsi, and a Root Beer. Kat and Dante show up a few minutes later, about 30 seconds after the drinks arrive.
Theo waves Kat and Dante over when they come in." Over here. I ordered your drinks. Pepsi and Root Beer, you two can fight over who gets what."
Dante swoops over and grabs the Root Beer, taking a large swig of it. "Ahhhh, that hits the spot. Thanks, Theo, we haven't eaten here in months, and that's a crying shame." He sits down on the left side of Theo.
"All right, I guess that leaves Pepsi for me…my favorite!" She grabs the Pepsi and drags it over to her seat on Theo’s right side. “I miss meeting up here after school, we should do that more.”
“Looking forward to school tomorrow?” Dante asks.
Theo and Kat look at each other, grab their straw wrappers, and shoot them at Dante in unison. Dante ducks and chuckles as the wrappers hit him in the chest and face.
“Okay, I guess that’s a no from both of you. I for one am looking forward to my new Independent Study. I've been working toward it since Middle School.” Dante smiles as he tosses the menu back into the middle of the table. “I know what I want from here, why did I even bother looking at that?”
“I came here for the Nachos, loaded with chipotle pineapple salsa, queso, and adobo chicken. All piled on top of the best fresh tortilla chips you’ve ever had. Mmmm, yum,” Kat purrs.
Riverside City Chronicles | Book 1 | Riverside City [Capes & Cowls] Page 6
