by J. C. Fiske
“Quit lookin’ at me like that, what do you think this is? One of your storybooks where something profound happens and you are filled with questions, but I, being the adult, tell you, 'No, boys, you are not yet old enough to hear the truth. In due time, when you are ready, all will be revealed!' Or, better yet! 'You two guys are the chosen ones! We need you to fight against some evil empire and slay the emperor!' Blah-da-di-blah! Psh, you guys read too much lousy fantasy,” Falcon walked crazily this way and that, waving his hands around as he ranted. If sarcasm could take human form, it just had.
Gisbo and Rolce transferred their stares from Falcon to each other, then back to Falcon once more. They both muttered, “Huh?”
“Bah! What a serious bunch you two are. Fine, fine, the truth it is, eh? All right, kiddies, I won’t hold anything back.” Falcon put his hands on his hips for emphasis and cleared his throat.
“What I am about to tell you will not set easily, so you better start preparing yourselves. Whew, here goes.” He paused again, trying to choose his words carefully, then plowed right in.
“Boys, I am a messenger from the almighty IAM, the immortal being and creator of this planet. A plot of utter evil is underway to rid this world of everything decent and just. You two have been chosen, by destiny, to face this evil and prevent their wicked deeds. The fate of the world now lies in the decision you will make to this question, this one question. Will you two give over your lives for the greater good? Or doom us all by refusing? Only in your deaths can Thera be saved . . . now choose,” Falcon said in utter seriousness.
Gisbo and Rolce’s faces fell as Falcon’s words sunk in. They couldn't even look at each other upon hearing such news. Gisbo at first thought that Falcon must be kidding, but one look at the Renegade’s eyes said he was not. He recalled the change in his demeanor when he had faced the Elekai' Elite. His voice held the same seriousness now. Falcon looked at them, his eyes swinging back and forth, awaiting their reply. Another long awkward silence ensued. Neither Gisbo, nor Rolce said a word. The two of them only shuffled their feet nervously and stared at the ground.
“BAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!” Falcon burst into a peal of laughter, pointing at Gisbo and Rolce’s bewildered faces.
“Oh,” he gasped. “Oh boy . . . I . . . I . . .” The Renegade then burst into another fit of laughter. “You should have seen the looks on your faces! Classic, absolutely classic! Oh how I love bringing newbies into the fold!” Falcon said. He clutched his convulsing middle and grimaced in pain, then laughed again. Rolce gave the Renegade an angry glower, but Gisbo’s face lightened up. His heart pounded in excitement as if it were trying to bust through his chest. Gisbo tried to force back his rising smile, but it was impossible.
“Wait, you mean, you mean to tell me that you are here to make us . . . Renegades?” Gisbo asked, hoping upon everything holy that it was true. Falcon put a hand on each of the boy’s shoulders.
“All right, all jokes aside now, promise. Gisbo, Rolce, I have come here to retrieve the both of you. It’s time to continue your Renegade training,” Falcon said, beaming with pride. The boys adopted their confused looks yet again.
“'Continue?' What on Thera do you mean by ‘continue?'” Rolce asked.
“Just as I said. Both of you, as of right now, have completed the first stage in your Renegade training. I know you guys feel lost, a bit out of your minds, but all that is normal. I felt the same way when I was your age. You boys are Renegade born and have passed the first part of your training with flying colors. For you to truly become a Renegade, you must know what it means to walk alone and learn the lessons of pain, sacrifice and sorrow and overcome them under grueling circumstances. Only then can one be deemed worthy of training. Deep down, although you may not have known it, you have always been Renegades,” Falcon explained.
“We have? I still don’t get it. Why me of all people?” Gisbo asked.
“Easy, kiddo. Let me ask you this. Do you have a problem with authority? Do you have a problem with people just like you and me telling you what to do? Who are they to have the right? Do you hate feeling restrained or being ordered to speak as is politically correct and sometimes don't you just want to explode from the frustration of it all?” Falcon asked.
“Hmph, you got no idea . . .” Gisbo muttered, remembering his days in school.
“Yeah,” Rolce said.
“Not fun being a square peg in a round hole, is it? Ok! We have at least determined the fact that the two of you are rebels, but we have no shortage of those. A rebel and a Renegade are two different things. A rebel simply rebels to be difficult, to stand out and to seek attention. You’ve seen ‘em. I know you have. I’m talking about the fakers. The people who wear silly things, talk in ways that aren’t their own, make outlandish statements just for a laugh. Oh, they’ll tell you they are a big deal, brag about themselves, SAY they will rip you a new one if you cross em and are usually VERY good at talking. But you must understand, it’s all just smoke and mirrors, a defense mechanism to hide their weakness. They are all surface, no substance. A rebel, simply put, takes a side route off the main road, but not out of sight from the rest of the crowd. They need to be noticed and always look to their left, seeing if the main path is staring back at them, always craving attention. Like it or not, they are still a sheep like the rest of them. They are going the same direction. Yeah, we are in no need of those,” Falcon said. Gisbo pictured Thomson’s cronies as perfect examples, as well as the many girls with piles of make up and who treated the latest fashion trends with the same importance as life and death.
“Now, a Renegade, that’s something much more substantial. A Renegade has all the qualities that a rebel has, with one big difference. Renegades set their own ideals, their own opinions, and forge their OWN path. They never look over at the main road for guidance. They are disciplined visionaries and they could give a flying turd about what the sheep are shouting over to them from the main road, usually sounding something like, ‘Hey! Where you going? Look, everyone else is doing this! It must be right!' Even through the criticism, the Renegades persevere and set out undeterred with their heads held high. They never live their lives for any other approval besides their own. And don’t think it's such a lonely way. The Renegade’s life is but flames lit by dreams and passions. With such flames, we bring light to the world around us and know full well that when our time comes, although our bodies may die, our flame will live on. Our fires will ignite anew and join with the fires of future torch carriers worthy of the name Renegade,” Falcon said.
“Quite poetic. I like it,” Rolce said.
“I don’t get it,” Gisbo muttered.
“It’s something you must discover on your own. I’m not worried about you, Rolce. It’s the butt for brains here that I’m worried about,” Falcon said.
“Who’s got butt for brains?” Gisbo asked. Falcon and Rolce both glanced at each other and fought back a laugh.
“So, think back on your current lives, boys. Close your eyes and think. Are you a Renegade? Or are you a rebel? If you would, let me help you out with a third party perspective,” Falcon continued, glancing at Gisbo first.
“Gisbo, this should be easy for you. Did you ever wonder why you were the outcast of a town, without a friend in the world, and being constantly picked on for your strange name? What? Did you think IAM dealt you a bad hand because he simply didn’t like you? No. Everything happens for a reason, champ, and your name was given to you specifically for a purpose. For a child to survive on his own in this cruel world, he’s got to be rugged, like iron. This name has forced you to break free from your comfort zone. Your name has made you fearless, brave and, above all else, confident, with an undying willpower. Everyone told you that you could never be an Elekai’ Warrior. Everyone told you that you would amount to nothing. Everyone hated you, but did that stop you? No, not you, Gisbo. You are set apart from the timid souls and have already started down your own path, but you must realize something . . .” Falcon said.
/> “Realize what?” Gisbo asked.
“You must realize that they were also right about you. You will never be a plain old Elekai’ Warrior. You weren’t meant too. Instead, you will be a Renegade warrior!” Falcon pronounced, with an encouraging smile. Gisbo stood transfixed, thinking back through his life as everything started to make a little sense. Falcon then turned in Rolce’s direction.
“Rolce, this should be easy for you as well. A boy who lived in a foster family that only took him in to receive tax breaks and only picked him because he was the biggest and strongest of all, perfect for unbearable chores. Your adoptive parents were all forms of lazy, yet wanted all the comforts that hard work brings. The reward without the sacrifice and through you, they undeservingly got it. You slaved away at their farm, day after day doing the work of ten farmers and boy, did you do it well! You became one with the earth as you grew more crops than any other farm in Oak County, providing your lazy foster parents with great wealth. You couldn’t be more different from them. They provided you with dirty rags for clothes, miniscule meals, and no place to sleep but with the livestock while they embraced their superficial nonsense and spent their days in pointless luxury and rose within the social ranks.” Rolce began to pat the dirt off his overalls just at the mention of his childhood.
“Your greatest fear was abandonment and that if you did not do as you were told, you would be tossed into the streets with nothing and nowhere to go. This encouraged you to focus on your studies unlike any other student, faithfully believing that if you succeeded, a better life would come your way. Others became jealous of the overgrown farm boy’s high marks and sought you out every day after school for beatings, subconsciously attempting to stop you from overachieving and showing them up. They were always in a group, mind you, for they were afraid of you. Always in groups they came. You knew full well that with your great physical strength you could have trounced the lot of them, but you chose not to resort to their violent ways, making yourself a free punching bag because you wouldn’t retaliate. What seemed like cowardice or goody-goody pacifism was, in reality, your true nature developing. You embrace self-control, intelligence, wisdom and an undying integrity. You stand apart from those purposeless fools,” Falcon continued. Rolce beamed. He too began to think back at the steps that led him here. Before, only pain had come from these memories, but now an odd surge of happiness replaced them. Falcon folded his arms once more as he looked down on the boys and continued.
“As you can see, when one ventures through a path of desperation, one gains extraordinary skills that people whose lives are governed by normalcy could never hope to achieve. Once one knows how to overcome, improvise, adapt and find purpose in this life, one can achieve anything. Your only limit is the reach of your dreams. Whether you know it or not, both of you have branched off and started down your own paths. The funny thing is, both of you have gone your entire lives thinking that you were alone when unbeknownst to you, just around the corner, there was someone going through the exact same ordeal. You both now understand what it means to overcome grueling circumstances and you have become much stronger for it. It is said that IAM only pressures those he loves to make them stronger. From where I sit, it appears that he loves the two of you very much.” Falcon smiled, giving them both a hard, encouraging clap on the shoulder.
“Now, though you were also unaware of it, I have been back and forth watching the both of you mature and I couldn’t be more proud of who you have become. Before you lies the opportunity of a lifetime, but there is still a choice to be made and I am duty-bound to present it. You may believe that this whole thing was a setup and we merely tampered with your lives. Not true! Deep down, you feel that burning desire in your hearts and know this is what you were meant for. A simple choice remains. Choose to go back to your present lives and I will burn away the memory of this conversation. It’s quite painful actually, or you can choose to follow me, prove yourselves to be a true Renegades, not rebels, and I will reveal to you a series of paths only for those strong of heart. So? Yes or no, boys?” Falcon commanded an answer. There was no awkward silence this time as Gisbo and Rolce responded with a resounding, “Yes!”
“Yes to what?” Falcon grinned.
“Yes to continuing our Renegade training, SIR!” Gisbo answered at once. Falcon then looked to Rolce.
“And what about you?” Falcon asked.
“Yes to continue our Renegade training, SIR!” Rolce echoed with a sharp salute.
“Are you sure? Seems to me you aren’t one for fighting,” Gisbo joked.
“Nah, I just know when to choose my battles. For me, attacking the entire Clash team by my lonesome was not a logical choice,” Rolce defended himself with a grin. Gisbo laughed and stretched out his hand.
“Well, either way, you took a beating for me and I owe you one. It is a pleasure to meet you, Rolce, put ‘er there,” Gisbo said and Rolce pumped his hand hard. Falcon watched the two boys exchange handshakes and couldn’t help but feel his heart skip. How smoothly this had gone! He could scarcely believe it. These boys have no idea the kind of team they will make, Falcon thought.
“Well, I’m fresh out of speeches it seems,” Falcon said as he patted his pockets. “All right, kiddies, we ready to leave?” said Falcon.
“Not like I own anything else. My ratty clothes are all I got, and my schoolbooks, but I’ve pretty much memorized those, so I’m all set,” Rolce rambled. Gisbo laughed.
“You actually memorized textbooks? Wow! You nerd,” he gibed. Rolce looked at him with an aura of utmost calm.
“Just because you have a dog's name doesn’t mean you should score like one,” Rolce said. Gisbo cocked his brow in surprise.
“And what are you getting at, pal?” Gisbo asked, defensive.
“Oh nothing, I just remember seeing the last math exam postings and a boy with your very name was at the bottom of the list. What was your grade again?” Rolce said.
“I got a 7!” Gisbo said, quite proudly, folding his arms with a smile.
“Out of 100? You got 5 free points just for putting your name down! No one, and I repeat, no one can be that stupid,” Rolce stated, dumbfounded.
“Textbooks are stupid and studying is stupid. Doesn’t mean you're dumb if you get low marks, it just means . . .” Gisbo paused, deep in thought, trying to come up with something to say.
“Yeah, way to prove my point,” Rolce said, laughing. Gisbo frowned.
“Hang on, it’s coming . . . it just means, I’m a Renegade!” Gisbo said, smacking a fist across his chest. Falcon sighed.
“The path to stupidity is never a Renegade's path. There are far too many thorns and briars,” Falcon said.
“Yes, but plenty of blackberries!” Gisbo chimed in. Rolce just shook his head and stared slack jawed.
“Heh, well put, my friend. Renegade Perry will enjoy having you in his philosophy classes. Well! Let us be off! It's not as though you have much to bring either, Gisbo, so let's cut to the chase,” Falcon said.
“We don’t have any food; I mean, we gotta pack something. How long is it going to take us to walk?” Rolce asked. Falcon looked as if he were estimating.
“To walk? Ohhh . . . I’d say about a week, possibly shorter if we run the whole way and don’t sleep or eat, of course,” Falcon said, in an assuring tone.
“How is that possible? Hell, it doesn’t even look like you brought a pack with you! Did you really run all the way here without sleeping or eating?” Gisbo asked. Rolce wondered the same thing, but didn’t want to sound dumb. Gisbo the impulsive would ask first.
“Boys, for two so smart, I’m astonished that you haven’t caught on to my humor yet. Of course I came here without eating or sleeping,” Falcon replied evasively.
“But that’s impossible!” Gisbo refuted.
“Ah, but who said anything about walking?” Falcon added.
“You did!” Gisbo argued.
Falcon ignored him as he unsheathed his sword and tossed it to the ground. R
olce and Gisbo stared on, puzzled. Falcon nimbly hopped atop the blade, stretching out his right foot to meet the tip of the sword and placed his left foot just above the hilt. He then pointed his ring downward toward the hilt-stone and instantaneously a rope of beaming energy stretched out and connected with the blade, igniting it immediately. With a more controlled roar, the blade began to pulse with power from its underside and before long, Falcon began to rise into the air and do what could only be described as flying.
Rolce and Gisbo watched on amazed as Falcon shot into the sky, leaving a fiery streak behind him and using his ring to steer the agile blade. When he swung his fist, the sword obeyed immediately, following its every motion with great precision. Demonstration now completed, Falcon landed with a loud WOOSH in front of the boys, spraying up a cloud of dust.
“Nothing like a bit of skeeting! Only way to travel in my opinion. Now come on boys, Heaven’s Shelter awaits our arrival! And believe me, many more surprises are in store for the likes of you two!” Falcon shouted over the roar of his blade. Before Gisbo could ask how they were supposed to fly, Falcon took the initiative.
The Renegade lifted his cape upward, revealing two red gleaming pieces of metal attached to his back. He removed them from their straps and threw them on the ground, one on each side of him. Swords they weren’t, but rather they were two rectangular sheets of thick metal with two half-ring cups on either side.
“Well, you two can’t release your essence yet, but don't worry, these will do. Go on, try 'em on; beginner skeets, perfect for training or towing multiple flyers. Slip your feet into the footholds. One size fits all, as you’ll see,” Falcon encouraged.
Rolce and Gisbo both stepped on the reddish metal planks. Their feet were way too small to fit into the holds, but no sooner had the thought crossed their minds than Falcon’s essence snaked out in a rope once again. With a flash of red, both metal slabs ignited in a fiery blaze. At first, Rolce and Gisbo were alarmed as fire flickered all about them, but amazingly enough, it didn’t burn them at all. On the contrary, it felt warm and almost soothing. The two metal footholds suddenly appeared to melt over their shoes like mercury and then solidified, holding their feet firmly in place. Gisbo looked over at Rolce with excitement, but the big guy didn’t seem to share his enthusiasm. Rolce looked as if he had swallowed a ghost.
