Resolution

by Douglas E Roff

  Adam turned to the crowd and turned in every direction, unclothed and arms raised, claws fully extended. He invited attack even as he left himself vulnerable.

  “I am the future, this puny coward the echo of a perverse past, not worthy of the title ‘Gens’ to which he has brought disgrace and dishonor. Today I restore that honor to a great race, a great people who have hid in the shadows for far too long. I bid you end your hostility and come out, come out to me by your side. And show humanity all the greatness of the Gens Nation! Unite with the Nobilus Maximus as one, indivisible and powerful beyond the dreams of our ancestors.”

  Enzo attacked from behind, slashing at Adam, first at his neck for the kill, then at his back and legs. Adam turned to face him.

  “Now, insect the, Ai, unless you would rather flee. Do you believe you can defeat the Chosen of Chosen, the representative on this Planet of all that the Creator wishes us to have in peace and harmony?”

  The Coliseum was aghast at the sight, as were even the Wildmen, who feared nothing, not even the Creator. Many among the Gens Councillors dropped to their knees in reverence. Adam was truly the Chosen of Chosen, the Gens sent to unite the peoples of the world and ring in a new era of peace. Even the Wildmen dropped to their knees, one by one, as Adam raised his arms high and roared a frightening warning that the Chosen One had arrived and his law was now the law.

  Adam turned to face Enzo, who, though he knew his death was but moments away, did not attempt to flee or hurl insult. He instead removed his silk garb, what little still clung to him in Gens form.

  “You are truly the Chosen or Chosen, and I die knowing that my defeat is at your hands and no other. I accept my fate and wish my death to be recorded as honorable. I ask only that you find and protect my living wives and children. They are in Chicago. They are innocent of my sins; none have ever taken part in my atrocities. Please treat them with kindness and mercy.”

  Enzo continued, “Paulo will flee. The Collective you now command must be tasked with bringing him here for the last combat that will unify the three great races. I most humbly apologize to all assembled here, and all whom I have harmed in the past, for my great transgressions, the greatest of all being arrogance.”

  “I will honor your final request in the Books of Our History in this your final moment; I will honor your request to take your family into mine and there they shall remain under my protection.”

  Enzo bowed his head, then said, “Now to the task before you.”

  With that said, with one swipe of the immense claws of his right hand, Adam took the head of Enzo Fortizi.

  CRYPTID: RESOLUTION

  POTERI DI GUERRA

  Chapter 1

  Several months after the death of Enzo in the Coliseum, as predicted, Paulo was in the wind. He abandoned his new wife and children who were brought to Paraiso and integrated into the extended family of the Gens, Nobilus and humans. Enzo’s wife and kids confirmed Paulo’s wife and kids that life in Paraiso was humble, but fulfilling; that no recrimination was ever felt, and that Adam and his family visited frequently to make sure they were comfortable. They were under Adam’s protection which was the only protection that mattered.

  Nobody, not anyone in anyone in the three species, would ever contravene Adam’s wishes in this regard. Adam reminded the people of Paraiso that the past must now remain in the past, and that nothing can ever change if recrimination against innocents is to be allowed. It would heal nothing and show only that the future would be no different than the past. He foreswore vengeance and recrimination against innocents; accountability, however, was another matter.

  One morning as he was sipping coffee at the breakfast table with Alana, Niona came in unannounced, which was not unusual, and dropped off a handwritten letter to Adam.

  “It’s for you from Misti. She asked me to wait a few months, then deliver this to you. Today is as good as any, so here it is.”

  Adam looked it over, not ready to open it up, half fearing her poison tongue, half expecting truths he would prefer never to confront. Misti knew her husband well, and rarely said anything intentionally cruel to him. But her honesty did not always feel comfortable or welcome. Sometimes those pesky inconvenient truths were the hardest to hear.

  Misti had returned to Paraiso, briefly, to give birth to twins, but after weeks of recovery, she left one night and disappeared.

  Alana said, “Well, Chosen of Chosen, do the words of a tiny woman with giant tits scare you?”

  “In a word, yes. She has always scared me. And I never enjoyed it when she yelled at me.”

  Niona asked, “Should I vet the letter for you, little girl?”

  “Et tu, Niona?”

  “C’mon. I’ll gather the wives. We all need to hear this.”

  “One hour, then back here; I’ll make breakfast and Alana will brew fresh coffee. Don’t be tardy.

  One hour later, all the wives were in the Great Room, breakfast out and coffee in pots ready for them to choose and consume. Adam was very uncomfortable with so many pairs of female eyes focused solely on him, and the sealed envelope placed flat in front of him.

  Hecate said, “Alright Adam, get going.”

  Adam opened the letter slowly, in part because he did not want to read it and in part as obstinacy in the face of his wives’ overzealous curiosity.

  He began reading.

  Husband

  I said some things to you before I left that weren’t true, which I regret. One was that I did not love you any longer, which was the biggest of lies. Lies to cover up the things I was feeling inside, none of which have anything to do with you. I have loved you ever since that day in the Park all those years ago, a day etched in my mind, seared into my consciousness, as much a part of me as anything that is real in this world. I loved you then, and always have. Nothing has ever changed, nor will it. I have never understood my attraction to you, even less, your attraction to me. At times I have been horrible to you but even when later I came to realize that you were only trying to protect me, you were still the one who put up with my anger, my frustration; you were the only one who ever understood the real me. And loved me; loved me not despite who and what I was, but because of who and what I truly was. Of the truly authentic me, warts, insanity, anger, and all.

  I wish I could say that I understand our relationship, but I truly don’t. I never understood ‘us’. You are exactly what I always believed you to be, both sweet and extremely dangerous. Pure, but toxic in ways I never minded and in ways that I loved and admired. You were never anyone’s beginner love; you would have destroyed your partner’s affections, as you almost did with Hannah. There was a time I hated her, hated the idea that anyone could ever beat me to your love, that anyone could ever fill that place in your heart.

  But I was wrong. I was arrogant and thought this thing we had was a zero-sum game; someone had to lose if someone else was to win. I was determined to win but did not understand what was at stake. Of course, neither of us understood the magnitude of what was to come; what we would all face. But we did, and we faced it together, each of us playing our part. When Alana entered our lives, I understood well before either of you that my part would diminish, and I would fade into history. Hers would rise like the sun at dawn.

  No one woman can claim the entirety of your heart; that’s the only mistake that Hannah ever made. Your needs in the face of what is, is beyond anyone’s comprehension, except yours, and are too great for only one companion. You need pieces to fulfill your role, and your heart is larger than even our souls. I never thought a man could ever be as fulfilling as you, but I was wrong. Your heart and unbounded love and acceptance of all in this world makes me weep for my own weaknesses. I am selfish and cruel. You have lightened that burden, but my role, my accomplishment was only to put you on this path and to keep you there until you no longer needed me as your guide.

  That time has come. Almost all the other pieces that you need have arrived, the most recent being the warrior princess Niona the H
untress. I do not know who she is, but I do know what she is. She is an angel of the Lord, your God, sent here to protect you as does the little one. This I can do no longer.

  The Creator and Immortals are charlatans, as I’m sure at least Noki has already discovered. They are the ancient Gods of Greek, Roman and Norse mythology; creations of man. They are not Gods, yet pretend to be so; they are merely powerful.

  Finally, you will suffer terribly before your time to depart this mortal existence but know that I will be with you at the end. But it will not be the end of us, not for us, not for any of our extended family. Our journey will then just begin again.

  I love you, and always shall

  Misti Alarcon St. James

  Adam looked as the letter, the stood up and walked to his room and locked the door. His wives remained together in Adam’s Study until he came out of his room many hours later.

  “We have work to do, and we should attend to it. Have we heard anything at all of the whereabouts of Paulo Fortizi?”

  Chapter 2

  The gathering of the three great nations took place in a new lecture hall at the new University of Paraiso. It was semi-circular seating looking down on a central lectern where Adam, Akira, Tar and the five representatives of they Wildmen were seated nervously. The Wildmen had pledged their loyalty and the support of their Clans to Adam, but wanted to go home. City life agitated them.

  To the five-principal leaders of the Wildmen he spoke secretly and candidly.

  “It is the support and blood of the Wildmen that I need for our future. These ‘conotti’,” a slang used connote useless cowards among the Gens, “are rife with traitors and spies, and I wish your further forbearance to stay and help identify and detain them all.”

  Inta, their leader, said, “We shall kill them all and be done with it, Manti. We will gladly carry out your commands immediately.”

  “We need to identify the Gens of the Eighty-One who are still loyal to the cause, their human counterparts, and those humans in non-loyal Gens clans who are prepared to fight for us not knowing of their Gens brethren indifference or outright betrayal. I believe the conspiracy to be between the Gens elite of the Eighty-One and the Councils of the Collective.

  “I wish your men to detain those pointed out, but not kill them. Just detain them for now. I must interrogate all who came today, human, Nobilus and Gens. None are to leave this Hall no matter what standing or stature or invented emergency.

  “Your men should line the inside of the Hall Please have your remaining men stationed at all the exits and entrances to the Hall in numbers. There may be fighting and death, Clans escaping will be given over to you for punishment according to the old ways.”

  “You honor us Manti with work and faith you place in the value and fidelity of our oath and commitment to you and our future.”

  “I do. Today is one of the most important days we will experience in our lifetimes, and I place all my trust in you and your men to carry out the duties I have expressed to them.

  Inta turned to leave.

  Adam said, “Do not fail me, today.”

  Inta replied, in his own language, “It shall be done, Manti.”

  ***

  Hecate appeared right after Inta left. “Ready?”

  “Yes. Start with the Gens in the Collective, then the Gens in the Eighty-One, and the Gens who just turned up. Finally, test the humans of the Eighty-One.”

  “You suspect them?”

  “No. But I trusted Saldana once too.”

  ***

  Adam walked on stage before several thousand Gens and humans from the Eighty-One, and several thousand Gens of the Collective and a few stragglers who came uninvited anyway representing no clan but their own. They were welcome and had witnessed the dispatch of Enzo. They remained to hear and witness more.

  Everyone in the auditorium was now aware that Paulo had fled and was in the wind somewhere. All claimed they did not know where.

  Adam rose to speak, Akira and the Clan leader of the Gens Germania seated to the left of him, Niona and Tar to his right.

  “Thank you all for attending today. As you know, I do not ask for nor desire oaths of personal loyalty, although they are often given as a sign of respect, as have the Wildmen and others. But I do wish to know today who is loyal to our cause and who is not, or who is undecided, and will speak the truth here and now this day. All who voice their sincere feelings one way or another may leave when we are done without recrimination. This is no cowardly trap.

  “I call on the humans of the Eighty-One first. Lis will speak for them.”

  “We are all loyal and pledge ourselves to you and what may follow. We have long awaited your arrival. The death of Enzo at your hands sealed our belief that you are the Chosen of Chosen.”

  “I call on Lenta, spokesman for the Gens of the Eighty-One. What say you?”

  “We of the Gens of the Eighty-One disagree with our human brothers. Only two pledge loyalty at this time, the Germania, and your Clan. The rest withhold their pledge.”

  “May I ask why?”

  “You have not defeated Paulo, only his brother Enzo.”

  “If the Prophecy is true, and I have killed Enzo, what other proof do you need?”

  “The Prophecy may be true or it may just be legend, but its conclusion is incomplete in any event. After we conclude here, we shall leave. We await future events, should they happen. If Paulo is found and brought here, we shall return.”

  “If invited,” was all Adam said.

  “So be it Adam St. James. But you have proven nothing until the final match is won.”

  This was meant as an insult to Adam’s status, but he did not take the bait.

  “I turn to the Collective. What say you?”

  “We are divided. The transformed Gens and City dwellers even now are making their way to Amman, there to await transport here. They have chosen you, Manti. The Gens of the Preserves and the wild Gens of the Free Gens Movement, are likewise on their way here. There are millions.

  “We have prepared room and accommodation,” Adam said. “Like the humans of the Eighty-One, you may choose to be part of Paraiso, or like the Nabateans, or have your own country and customs.”

  “We thank you, Manti.”

  Adam said, “Are there any among the Gens of the Eighty-One who wish to fight me for dominance. I understand there are many among you who still believe me a fraud and express your feelings loudly, though not to my face. We shall fight naked, hand to hand, with or without weapons.”

  Lenta rose, “We do not dispute your power, Adam St James, only that you are the Chosen One of the Prophecy.”

  A voice rang out from a Gens. “I will fight you. Here and now, fraud. I bring my ancient blade.”

  He jumped down, his young son close behind him begging him to sit back down. His son said, “If you die, with mother already dead, I will be alone. Please father, do not do this.”

  His father backhanded him hard, throwing his child to the sand. “I did not raise a coward, go back to your seat.”

  The boy ran again to his father, who struck the boy down again. This time the child did not get up.

  The Gens looked at Adam, “Let us begin, fraud.”

  Adam transformed and drew his sword. He took the man’s head quickly.

  Adam called to one of Niona’s handmaidens. “Take the boy to my quarters. He is now under my protection.”

  He looked up at the Gens of the Eighty-One, and the Collective Clans who wished to leave.

  “Go traitors and cowards, and do not return. I shall deal with you after matters are settled. And send your Master Paul Fortizi to me unless you desire to hide with your dishonorable master. He has one month to show himself and accept my invitation to fight; if he fails like the coward he is, I will seek him out, drag him here, and disgrace him before crowds invited to watch his ignominious defeat. Leave, traitors, and never return to my sight again.”

  They left.

  ***

  The
re were several days of expressed pent up rage before Adam began to calm down. The Martial Field was empty, and even Hecate knew better than to appear before him. He opted to transform and run the Serengeti as a wild beast and was gone for more than two weeks. When he returned, he seemed back to normal.

  He was not.

  The betrayal of the Gens of the Eighty-One burned at his soul. However, he did not show his anger and to all he met daily; he simply appeared to be the convivial Adam he had always been.

  Adam was clear however, that had he gone to the meetings with the Gens Councils Eighty-One, attempts on his life would have been made. That the Gens of the Eighty-One had sold out to the Collective was still difficult to imagine, but their reticence to pledge to the cause was disturbing. What did this mean to the humans of the Eighty-One? Why had the Gens pulled back?

  Adam took solace in the process of undertaken; he would learn hard truths about his allies and enemies in the coming months. Then the associated process of finding traitors within their midst would continue. These days he suspected everyone of hidden agendas, from wives, friends and families to the Gens, humans and Nobilus he needed to move forward.

  In for a penny, in for a pound. There was not turning back now. He need luck, and plenty of it. He hoped it wouldn’t be bad luck.

  ***

  One night, Niona and Alana appeared at his Study door as he was reading an old manuscript of the ancient Nobilus. He looked up and asked, “What brings you, my wives with dour looks on your faces, to my Study? I am in trouble with you, or someone else?”

  Niona said, “You are not in trouble, husband, but we wish to talk.”

  “Shall we talk here?”

  “No, in your bedroom.”

  “For?”

  “Just talk. Alone.

  They left for his quarters, and lay in Adam’s bed, one wife on each side.

  “Now,” said Alana. “Rather than hide your foul moods and ill temper at those who have deserted you for safer and higher ground, you will instead share your burdens with us, your fears and plans for what you must do next. We will tell no one. This will remain between just us. Now, what troubles you and how can we help?”