Our Contest

by Phillip Murrell

  Keith hits the power button on his television remote after hearing the doorbell ring.

  “Just a second, babe!” Keith shouts.

  He jumps up from Nick’s couch and gives each armpit a test sniff. Satisfied that he doesn’t offend, Keith rushes to the front door and opens it. His heart sinks a little when he sees Percy leaning on crutches with Jenny standing close to him.

  “Hey,” Keith says, a bit confused. “What happened to the wheelchair?”

  “What’s up, man?” Percy says. “I usually use my crutches. It feels manlier. I hope you don’t mind me tagging along?”

  “He doesn’t mind,” Jenny incorrectly answers for Keith. “I was telling Percy last night that you have a massive video game collection from old generation systems, and he wanted to see them.”

  “Do you really have Zombie Walkabout on the three?” Percy asks as he pushes himself into the entryway.

  “Yeah, but wait, what’s this about last night? You said you were working?”

  “I was,” Jenny answers. “But Percy is a loyal regular.”

  “Why are you still working?” Keith asks. “Most restaurants in Colberton are closed, but they still need you to cut up pizzas?”

  “People will always need pizza,” Percy answers. “So, where’s this game? Don’t make Kitten give the tour.”

  Keith forcefully grabs Percy by the arm. The movement almost knocks the crippled boy over. Both he and Jenny shout their protests.

  “What the hell, man!”

  “Keith, leave him alone!”

  “I’m sorry,” Keith truthfully says. “I’m sick of this Kitten shit. Where do you get off calling her that?”

  Keith notices a flash of panic in Jenny’s eyes. She purses her lips as Percy responds.

  “It’s just a nickname. Relax, man. It ain’t nothing to worry about.”

  “No, I want to talk about this. It makes me hear the silent first word of sex. I don’t want you calling my girl Sex Kitten. So where do you get off with the abbreviation?”

  “We’re leaving,” Jenny announces. “When you grow up and stop being a jealous cliché, we can try this again. Come on, Percy.”

  “Whatever,” Percy says as he looks Keith directly in the eyes, “Kitten.”

  That was the last straw. Keith kicks a crutch out from under Percy and enjoys watching the frail boy fall to the floor and hit it hard. Percy screams his rage and frustration as Jenny tries to help him up.

  “What the hell’s the matter with you?” Jenny demands.

  “He brought that shit on himself. I warned him to stop.”

  “So, you go caveman on him?”

  “Why does he call you Kitten? I want an answer.”

  “It’s just a nickname,” Jenny protests.

  “The hell it is,” Keith accuses.

  Percy slowly gets back up. His eyes scream violence. Keith hopes the boy will give him a reason to knock him back down. Percy quickly complies.

  “Just tell him, Kitten. Tell him it’s because of the shape of the birthmark high on your left hip.”

  The words wound Keith more than anger him. He remembers his prom night, over a year after dating, when he discovered the beautifully placed blemish on her skin. There’s no reason Percy should know about it except one. Keith switches his focus to Jenny and can see tears already pooling.

  “What does he mean by that?” Keith asks, completely ignoring Percy now.

  “It’s not what you think,” Jenny protests.

  “Really?” Keith nervously chuckles. “Because it sounds like you decided to spread your scrawny legs for someone else.”

  “Don’t be crude, bitch,” Percy says.

  Keith looks back at his antagonist. “You say one more thing and I’ll make you wish you brought your wheelchair.”

  Percy looks like he’s about to say something, then decides against it.

  Too bad, Keith thinks.

  Keith looks back at Jenny. The tears on her face tell him what he needs to know, but he still wants to hear her say it.

  “How could you?”

  “I didn’t.”

  “You’re caught, Jenny. Just admit you’re a slut.”

  “Don’t say that. I didn’t do what you think.”

  “What do I think, Jenny?”

  “I’m not going to justify it.”

  “I’ll tell you what I think. I think you’re a horny little slut who couldn’t wait for some thick cock in you and decided to settle for a skinny two incher. That’s what I think.”

  “Stop it!” Jenny screams. “I didn’t do anything.”

  “Get out of my house,” Keith says.

  “No, we’re gonna talk about this,” Jenny retorts.

  “Screw him, Kitten, let’s go.”

  “I warned you,” Keith says before punching Percy fully in the face.

  The boy’s nose explodes with blood and mucus. Keith relishes in his cries of pain. He barely registers Jenny’s protest.

  “You asshole!” Percy screams through his pain. “She just modeled a bikini. You jealous bitch. I noticed it, and we had a laugh.”

  “Out of my house!” Keith screams. “Both of you bitches deserve each other.”

  “The swimsuit was for you!” Jenny screams. “I didn’t do anything wrong.”

  “If that was true, you wouldn’t have kept this from me. The door’s that way.”

  Percy hobbles to the door.

  “Kitten, I’m leaving. You can come with me or stay with the barbarian, but then you’re walking home.”

  Percy promptly leaves. Keith is divided in which course of action he prefers Jenny to take. She’s hesitant.

  “I didn’t cheat on you,” Jenny says.

  “Yes, you did,” Keith counters.

  Jenny slowly turns and leaves with tears streaming down her face. Keith is glad her back is to him because he’s finally able to release his own tears. The angel on his shoulder begs him to call for her and profusely apologize, but the stubbornness he inherited from one parent or the other easily subdues his conscience.

  Jenny leaves the door open as she exits his home. Keith follows. His eyes linger on Jenny’s seductive body, and he slams the door behind her. His next step is to rush to his room and bury his tears in the pillow on his bed, just as he did as a child.

  Julie and Votary watch as the newest Templars execute a series of warm up drills for the third training session of the day. Julie grimaces and shakes her head disapprovingly as she watches the weak one, Catharsis, fail to remember the proper order of attacks and blocks.

  “That one’s a liability,” Julie proclaims.

  “I thought she had her uses?” Votary responds.

  Julie is doubtful. “Minimal uses. She may be good for training purposes. It lets the rest of them feel superior, but she’s weak. She isn’t a soldier and doesn’t belong here.”

  “So, you want to talk about soldiers now? Last I checked, soldiers weren’t supposed to fraternize.”

  “Say what you mean.”

  “I mean that I know about you and Flaimeson. You shouldn’t do that with him. You shouldn’t do that with anyone except a spouse.”

  Julie is incredulous. “You really want to preach to me about chastity? Alright, Mr. Hypocrite, what about you?”

  “I have not had intercourse with any of you.”

  “No, but you sure kill people a lot.”

  “And you don’t?”

  “Absolutely I do, and for far less noble reasons, but I’m not the one passing judgment here.”

  “Forget I said anything.”

  “Not that easy. I’m sick of you holier than thou Bible thumpers trying to make me feel bad for enjoying sex. It makes you sound like you know better than God.”

  “Absolutely not! Don’t blaspheme.”
<
br />   Julie smiles. She enjoys getting these rises out of the man who used to be her biggest nemesis.

  “Tell me then, do you believe in God?”

  “Of course, I do.”

  “Do you believe Abel is God?”

  “No, Abel is powerful, but he isn’t God.”

  “It’s refreshing to hear that. I wasn’t exactly sure where you stood on that front. However, this means you believe God created mankind.”

  “I know he did.”

  “Then you must think God is a moron.”

  “You’re crossing a line, SOT.”

  “We aren’t animals and understand that sex is needed to make a baby. Therefore, it isn’t necessary to make sex pleasurable if it’s only for that reason. Since God did make it feel amazing under the right circumstances, it must mean that he’s either a massive moron or he approves of casual sex.”

  Julie relishes Votary’s silence. The senior Templar ceases to speak with her entirely. She takes this as a sign she won the argument for the moment. Julie looks back at the recruits and sees them all quickly pretend they were training during the entire argument. Julie decides to take this moment to speak with Catharsis.

  Julie walks over to the small Templar.

  “Come here, Staci.”

  “I thought it was Catharsis with the helmet on?”

  “Then come here, Catharsis.”

  Catharsis obeys and approaches Julie. Despite the glares she assumes come from beneath Votary’s helmet, Julie escorts the Templar to the hallway leading into the training simulator.

  “Get rid of that bucket,” Julie orders.

  Catharsis graciously obliges. Staci’s hair is matted from her workout. She uses her armored arm to wipe sweat from her brow, but she mostly only succeeds in smearing it.

  “Why are you still here?” Julie asks.

  “What do you mean? To fight the Malignant, I thought.”

  “Don’t speak to me as if I’m a fool,” Julie scolds. “I want to know why you’re here. You aren’t a prisoner, and you aren’t a soldier. All you are is a liability.”

  Staci stares at the floor. “I know. I want to go home, but I’m scared nobody will let me. I don’t do well with guilt trips.”

  “So, you pretend to make continuous mistakes?”

  Staci looks up at Julie.

  “I told you I’m not a fool. You understand. You want us to kick you out.”

  “I had hoped.”

  “I can give you what you want.”

  “Really?” Staci says.

  Her eyes light up with hope.

  “If you do two things for me, I’ll put in a word to get you off the team.”

  “Anything.”

  “Don’t agree without knowing all the details.”

  Staci nods.

  “I need to know if there are any more cowards and fakes among the Templars. Pain is the best way to sort this out. We’re going to have a special training session with all Templars, and you’re going to torture them into revealing a hidden word. I want to know who can take it and who can’t.”

  “I’m not comfortable with that.”

  “Then you’ll have to stand before the omnipotence that is Abel and ask for a portal back home.”

  “Please, no. I saw what he did to Shot Caller.”

  “I’m sure you did. Good luck.”

  Julie turns to leave. She smiles as Staci immediately calls for her.

  “Fine. What’s the second thing?”

  “It’s the same thing again. We have a prisoner on this ship who knows about the Malignant fleet. You’re going to help me extract that information.”

  Julie stares at Staci for non-verbal confirmation. Julie senses the young woman’s fear and smiles at how easy she is to manipulate.

  “I’ll do it, but please make it soon.”

  “Absolutely. We’ll train with the Templars today. You’ll do exactly as I say, though.”

  “I’ll listen. Just make sure you help me.”

  “I will.”

  Julie and Staci walk back into the training simulation room and rejoin the Templars inside.

  Akio enters a small and modest home.

  “Father’s here!” a small boy shouts.

  He jumps up from the floor and rushes his father. Akio grabs the boy in a bear hug and lifts him off the floor. Soon Akio’s wife and older son run into the living room and join the two in a family embrace.

  Akio sets his younger son down and kisses his wife warmly. He then turns his attention to the older son and rubs his hair.

  “You’re getting tall, Takeo,” Akio says to his son.

  “Thank you, Father.”

  “The Templars allowed you to come home?” Akio’s wife asks.

  “Of course, Kazue. They don’t own me. Only you do.”

  Akio gives his wife a second kiss.

  “Tell us about space,” Akio’s younger son begs.

  “Please,” Takeo adds.

  “Alright, Satoshi, what do you want to know?”

  “Is it cold?”

  Akio laughs. “Not really. My Templar armor keeps me safe and warm.”

  “It lets you survive in space; correct, Father?” Takeo asks.

  “It does, but I think my augmentation might, too. I’d just turn completely flat and my blood wouldn’t freeze.”

  “Really?” Takeo and Satoshi ask in unison.

  “I don’t know,” Akio admits and shares a laugh with his sons.

  “Would you like something to eat?” Kazue asks.

  “Nothing would make me happier than to eat one of your meals again,” Akio admits. “The other Templars have Abel materialize succulent meals, but I miss the comforts that only you can provide.”

  Kazue smiles from the compliment while Akio’s sons pull him to his favorite chair.

  “Tell us about the battle,” Takeo says.

  The two boys sit on the floor by their father’s seat and wait for him to begin his tale of adventure.

  “Maybe when you’re older.”

  “Aww,” they both say.

  “You heard your father,” Kazue warns from the kitchen.

  Akio listens as he hears his wife prepare his favorite meal. He didn’t have to ask, and he already knows she’s making him miso soup, nimono vegetables, and grilled sardines. He’ll wash it all down with green tea. Soon the sizzle of the fish reaches his ears.

  “Do you have any other questions?” Akio asks his sons.

  “Is Mother going to kill us all?” Satoshi asks.

  “Only if you don’t eat all your nimono,” Akio jokes.

  “Father, please,” Satoshi presses.

  Akio stares at his son. The boy is nearly seven and already wise. Akio decides to answer the question.

  “Mother won’t beat us. I haven’t figured out how yet, but she’ll lose. We have new Templars who’ll help us.”

  This revelation intrigues the boys.

  “What are their powers?” they both ask as one.

  Akio chuckles. He should have anticipated this.

  “They have amazing powers. Even better than my boring one.”

  “I like your power, Father. It’s unique,” Takeo states.

  “Not according to DJ.”

  “What?”

  “Never mind,” Akio says. “We have one guy who can turn invisible.”

  “Boring,” Satoshi says.

  “There’s a woman who can make our augmentations even more powerful.”

  “That could be useful against the Malignant,” Takeo says.

  “Exactly,” Akio agrees. “Then we have a guy who turns into smoke.”

  “That’s not too useful,” Satoshi says.

  “The smoke has akuma living inside it.”

  �
�That’s much better,” Takeo says. “What else?”

  “There’s a man who can turn into a hybrid of two animals and a woman who can transfer powers between augments.”

  “Cool. Could you get Votary’s power? Then you could make him take off his helmet,” Takeo suggests.

  “I don’t think it’ll work. I’m sure he’ll share with us soon enough.”

  “Who else is there? There should be three left.” Satoshi counts on his fingers.

  “A man who can turn off electronics around him, a woman who can make you feel great pain, and a man who can draw something, then take it off the paper and place it in the real world.”

  “Awesome,” the boys say.

  “I told you they were better than me.”

  “Never,” the boys say and give their father another hug. Akio closes his eyes and holds his boys tight. He prays it’s not for the last time, but the Malignant challenge before him makes him highly doubt the chances it isn’t.

  Melanie sits on the uncomfortable couch in the standard hotel room she shares with Mr. Polite. The television is on a twenty-four hour sports channel, but she isn’t actually paying attention to it. She looks at Mr. Polite as he reads a fantasy novel and subtly sends images of cancer toward him. Mr. Polite glances at her, and Melanie quickly looks away. She prays he doesn’t mention it, but she hears him clear his voice. It’s his cue that he feels slighted. Melanie realizes she must do something to keep him from becoming suspicious.

  She stands from her sofa and arches her back to try and tempt Mr. Polite with her bosom. She senses his attention and knows he’s attracted to her. She decides the time may be right to try and seduce him. Her hypothesis is that the physical connection will make her sabotage easier.

  “Mind if I sit with you?” Melanie seductively says.

  Mr. Polite stutters as he responds, “N-No.”

  She plops onto his lap and wraps her arms around his neck.

  “What are you reading?”

  “Just silly fiction. Knights and dragons, stuff like that.”