by J. C. Fiske
Here she was one second, then gone the next. Wait, she kissed me! Right on the cheek! Man, I never thought she would be so forward and people call me impulsive! Gisbo thought to himself. As confused as he was by her behavior, the thought that she had kissed him, well, not fully, but hey, a peck on the cheek was just fine and made each of his steps home feel as if he were floating.
“All right, let me see if I have it right. You went fishing, she kissed you, then she skipped away?” Rolce asked as he sat at the table in their tree house eating an apple with Harpie on his shoulder.
“Yup, she was humming too,” Gisbo said.
“Well, I don’t know why you are asking me about it. I mean, I know a lot of stuff, but have you seen me out with girls?” Rolce asked, bemused.
“Nope, but I had to ask somebody and Fao wouldn’t answer me,” Gisbo said.
“She did actually, she said you're stupid. Girls like to be pursued, she’s just playing a little hard-to-get,” Rolce said.
“Fao called me stupid?” Gisbo asked.
“No, I added that part in, but it just seems, I don’t know. Ever since that incident with the wolves a while back you’ve just . . . changed. For the better, don’t get me wrong, you’re just not such the grumpy loner anymore, and now you're pursuing a girl,” Rolce said.
“Look, Rolce, I already told you, I have no idea what even happened. Can’t we just let it go? I don’t really know why I suddenly changed, but I really don’t mind not knowing. I can’t explain it, but I just get a sudden urge to befriend people when I meet them now. I’ve played the angry loner card my whole life and now that I got good, decent friends, well, it feels really nice. What's your deal anyway? You jealous or something?” Gisbo asked, getting defensive.
“No, of course I’m not jealous, forget it,” Rolce responded as he turned to go slump into his bunk.
“No, Rolce! Not this time! What is your deal lately? I know you’ve been going through a lot of rough stuff, but I don’t understand why lately you’ve been pulling this mopey dopey, feel-bad-for-me crap! It’s got to be something much deeper than what happened with Shax,” Gisbo asked with concern.
“It’s nothing, just forget about it,” Rolce brushed him off as he indeed slumped into his bunk and turned a cold shoulder to Gisbo.
“What are you, a freakin’ girl? What is wrong with you, man? Speak up!” Gisbo said. Nothing but silence came from Rolce's bunk.
“Whatever, you're so damn sensitive sometimes,” Gisbo protested. He didn’t really know why he was angry at Rolce. If anything, he was just frustrated by his friend's inexplicable behavior. He realized this after about fifteen minutes and climbed up on the bunk beside him to talk.
“Look, Rolce, I’m sorry, but I just don’t know why you're acting the way you are lately. Tell me what’s wrong with you so I can at least help out,” Gisbo pleaded. Rolce turned over to look at him.
“There is something that has been bothering me, for a long time, even before we met, but it’s nothing about Shax. Sure that bothers me, a lot, but it only adds to something. I’ll tell you about it eventually, but I really can’t right now. Just forget about it, please? I’ll tell you when I’m ready. Ok?” Rolce asked.
“All right, I respect that. Just don’t get all mopey-dopey on me. If ignorance doesn’t suit me, then being depressed all the time doesn’t suit you either. Got it?” Gisbo said.
“Got it,” Rolce answered.
“Good, now let’s go buy some steaks and grill ‘em up, my treat!” Gisbo suggested. Rolce nodded and grinned as they both lowered themselves from their bunks in search of food yet again.
The first week went by quite linearly as each morning the Renegas began their training with weapons, one at a time. This week’s assignment was practicing the use of the “Kai-pull” as Perry demonstrated how to correctly use it. They each got their own to practice with and they tried to hit moving targets from a distance with the bow, then properly attack the dummies at close range with the sharp protrusion. After several sessions with different training drills, everybody showed enough mastery for Renega status on that weapon and were allowed to move on to another. This process went on for several weeks while Perry taught each of them various stances, guards and attacks for each weapon. Gisbo only had to miss work two times for extra lessons on using the daggers. The blasted things just didn’t feel right in his hands, but after the extra lessons he was using them adequately enough to continue.
Others had to attend extra lessons for various other weapons. Grandfield, like Gisbo, also had an especially hard time with all the Shininja weapons. He looked quite ridiculous wielding such small armaments. They were wildly disproportionate for his large body; Rolce's too, for that matter. During these early weeks of weapons training, Gisbo purposefully tried to avoid Anakah, partially because he couldn’t stop thinking about her, but also for a myriad of other reasons he couldn't put his finger on. She wouldn’t stop smiling at him from afar, only to grin wider when he broke out in a furious blush.
“So, word is you and Anakah are hitting it off quite well, eh?” Knob said one day as he came up behind him.
“Who the hell told you that?” Gisbo asked. Knob rolled his eyes before answering.
“Uh, just about everyone AND word is you’ve been too scared to ask her out again, but don’t worry! You just come to the Knob, he’ll set you true,” Knob exclaimed, but Gisbo didn’t find it at all funny. He felt the familiar flurry of uncontrollable thoughts and emotions, signifying he was about to do something stupid . . . again.
“Oh, is that what they say? Well, I’m just not interested and I figured she’d take the hint,” Gisbo said. Knob was taken aback. Gisbo was also shocked by what had come out of his mouth. I didn’t mean that at all! I’m crazy about her! Too crazy apparently, Gisbo thought, but should have said.
“Wait, that didn’t come out right, I mean I . . .” Gisbo started.
“I see. Well, can’t believe everything you hear, I guess. Good news though!” Knob said as he immediately frolicked over to Anakah with a familiar goofy grin.
“So Anakah, what you doing tonight?” Knob said. Anakah looked up, surprised, as her conversation with Glinda and Ashlin was interrupted.
“Um,” Anakah said. Ashlin quickly interrupted her.
“Look, Knob, Anakah isn’t interested in hanging out with you! Besides, she’s seeing Gisbo,” Ashlin said with an assured smile. It was then Knob glanced back at Gisbo with a look that said, “Sorry, buddy, but I’m a guy, too.”
“Not what I heard. Giz just told me that he wasn’t interested and has been ignoring her, thinking she’d get the point!” Knob said. The words lingered in the air like a storm cloud. For a moment, poor Anakah stood speechless and then she made eye contact with Gisbo. This was the worst part of it. His stomach lurched in the most twisted pang of guilt and stupidity as Anakah looked like she was about to cry. She quickly dropped her head down, allowing her long hair to hide her face. Ashlin and Glinda burned looks of furious disdain towards Gisbo before telling off Knob with a variety of colorful words and trotting away to console their friend. For the first time, Gisbo wondered why he didn’t break out in an outburst at a time when one was needed.
“Um, so you never officially told her what you just told me? You were still in the ignoring process?” Knob asked, a bit bewildered. Gisbo didn’t say anything. Normally he’d punch Knob on the nose, but it really wasn’t the guy's fault. He had just stood there frozen and speechless as Knob told Anakah his very own heinous lie. Gisbo felt horrible and resolved to apologize to her the next day.
When Rolce and Gisbo got home that night Falcon, Moordin and Foxblade were all waiting for them with a fresh meal already prepared. Gisbo had a good hunch as to why they were there together. They must have gotten the official word that it was all right to share what happened on the day of Purah’s funeral. Gisbo hoped he was right, anything to take his mind off his stupid deed for the day.
“I know it has been a little while,�
� Falcon started.
“You mean five freakin’ months! That’s not a little while!” Gisbo interrupted.
“Fair enough, it’s been a long while, but my hunches that I shared with you on that day were indeed fairly accurate. Narroway wanted to make a full, precise, investigation. There were a lot of rumors going on already and the Chieftain didn’t want to add to them. Everything checks out now and you will be one of the first to know just what went down that morning. So you and Rolce eat your meals and listen. Moordin will take it from here. Being an active participant in the investigation, he can explain it much more clearly than I,” Falcon said.
“Or, do you just want to eat and make me do all the talking?” Moordin gibed.
“Well, you do love to talk and I do love to eat,” Falcon rebutted. Moordin sighed in defeat.
“Fine, very well. As Falcon has just shared, I have been one of the ones heavily involved with the investigation. The betrayal of Lokin and the return of Shax tied in with Purah’s death has startled us all,” Moordin said. Rolce looked downward at the mention of his father’s name.
“As you know, for two years children have been taken from us before they could become Renegas and be brought to their true home, Heaven’s Shelter. For those two years, we have been doing everything in our power to figure out how these children have been abducted and why. The only way someone could intercept the Renegas is if they were within our midst ten years ago when the children were originally sent to their locations. It is startling to realize that such a carefully crafted plan has been put into effect and it shows without a shadow of a doubt that there was a traitor within our midst,” Moordin stated in slow, heavy words.
“However, that is only one mystery solved which opened the doors to a variety of other questions. For example, why were the Strifes involved? What are Shax and Lokin’s intentions now? What do they need the children for? The answers to such questions were not easy to come by, but over five months of deliberation we have come up with strong theories, as well as a few answers,” Moordin said as he guzzled down a cup of water before continuing.
“Took you long enough,” Gisbo grumbled. Moordin ignored him.
“So, first question: why were the Strifes involved? It turned out Falcon’s hunch was true. The mysterious peace treaty Narroway made with Chief Lamik, leader of the Strifes, was absolute. For the Strifes to be involved with such treason is ridiculous; they would never resort to kidnappings. We respectfully detained them and discussed the matter, then allowed them to return to their homes in a matter of days,” Moordin said.
“Wait! Why would you just let them leave like that? They almost killed me and Rolce!” Gisbo protested. Moordin nodded in understanding.
“That is true, but you have to realize this was the act of a few. The Strifes were only acting out of desperation and Foxblade had to do the same to quell the unknown danger at hand. You have to also understand, the Strifes aren’t necessarily bad people. They disbanded from the Renegades, taking many of our morals and values for their own, but to an extreme form. They put themselves on a moral high horse, seeing the world only in black and white, while we Renegades see that the world has shades of gray. There was once a time to categorize things in black and white, but that time has passed. When we Renegades look upon people, we see the potential for good, though all of us have the capability to do evil and make mistakes if we want to. The Strifes don’t see mankind that way, unfortunately,” Moordin explained.
“What do they see?” Rolce asked.
“They look at everyone who refuses their beliefs as the enemy and those who do not have belief in IAM must be purged of their wicked ways and difference. Disgusting logic. This is why Chief Lamik left the Renegades, taking quite a number with him and battled us for years before Narroway’s peace treaty,” Foxblade said. Moordin nodded in agreement.
“Wouldn’t you call that evil?” Rolce asked.
“Yes and no. They mostly keep to themselves and do not attack the innocent. When that changes however, we will have to break our peace treaty,” Moordin said.
“So what did Narroway do to stop the fighting between Strifes and Renegades?” Rolce asked. Moordin simply shrugged.
“It is between Narroway and Lamik. Whatever it was was very personal for the two of them. I asked Purah and Sybil Honj the same question years back, only to find that he never shared the answer with them either. The two of them were the closest to Narroway,” Moordin answered.
“That sounds fishy.” Gisbo said to no one in particular.
“Whatever he did, it quelled much violence and if Narroway does not wish to share, then he does not need to,” Foxblade said without even looking up from his plate of food.
“Of course you would agree. One who keeps secrets has no problem with somebody else who keeps secrets, even from their own synergy,” Falcon grumbled, glaring over at Foxblade. Finally, Foxblade looked up.
“Where’s your secret fishing spot?” Foxblade asked. Falcon grimaced and did not answer. “Well then, my secrets stay with me,” Foxblade said as he continued eating.
“Yes. Anyhow, let's get back to the matter at hand. You both now know a little bit about what made it so strange to see the Strifes involved with the kidnappers and now realize they were acting out of desperation. When we rounded them up and discussed the matter, they told us something we were not expecting. Apparently, Lokin and Shax had not only been stealing Renegas, but also Strife children as well. Most of the Strife members involved at Purah’s funeral were the fathers and friends of these children, for Strifes also forbid women from carrying weapons and learning Elekai’. Sure, we can all admit that women lack some physical and emotional advantages to become warriors,” Moordin said. Gisbo laughed at this.
“Hah! I’d love to hear you tell your wife an’ Roarie that!” Gisbo said. Moordin raised a hand.
“Hold on now, let me finish. Not everyone is cut out to be a warrior anyhow, at least physically. What they don’t realize is just how much equal footing woman can have and the hidden advantages they possess when channeling their essential energies. Women can harness their feelings and inner strength in ways that overcome mere brute force when using Elekai’. Believe me, you never want to see my wife upset,” Moordin said. Gisbo shuddered at that.
“We haven’t seen her upset yet?” Gisbo asked.
“Heh, not a chance. Better keep this room clean, I hear she is stopping by to check up on you two tomorrow,” Falcon warned. Gisbo and Rolce gulped.
“These Strife fathers were acting outside of Chief Lamik’s boundaries set in the peace treaty to save their children. They told us Lokin and Shax contacted them, telling them if they helped in the invasion of Heaven’s Shelter, they would receive their children back. This so-called invasion was just too small to have any immediate effect, for the Strifes had no idea how many men they would be joining. Most of them quickly discovered it wouldn’t be enough, which is why they purposely did not ignite their weapons when they made their move, allowing us to rapidly diffuse the situation. Some however, driven to the edge of their desperation, ignited their weapons, forcing Foxblade to react as he did,” Moordin said. Gisbo looked over at Foxblade eating his meal. He remembered how dangerously swift he had been as he decimated the Strifes holding him and Rolce. It was scary, yet one of the most awesome things Gisbo had ever witnessed.
“Now that you know who the capturers were and why the Strifes were involved in the matter, it leaves one more unanswered question. Why are Shax and Lokin stealing children? What is it that they need children like Foxblade’s son Jakobi for? It is here we have only theories and are not totally sure of their motives. We know not where their base of operations is located, either. At this moment, scouts have been sent out to pursue any leads relating to their lair,” Moordin said.
“What’s the best theory you have?” Rolce asked.
“Well, we believe the main aspect of it all is Shax. He is a Sybil and Sybils have very mysterious powers as it is. We are also very s
haky when it comes to knowing Drakeness techniques and it is said that Sybils using Drakeness can employ powers never before heard of. We know that the purity of children are needed for some of the Drakeness’s dark rituals and we conclude they need them to somehow do us harm. How such abilities are even being used without the presence of Drakearon in this realm is equally frightening. We are in a dangerous position were the enemy knows much about our abilities and we know only basics of theirs. Rough times are ahead and we believe that we are close to finding the location of Shax and Lokin. Once we do, we can promise that the children will be saved and Shax and Lokin will be eliminated for the murder of Purah and crimes against Renegades, as well as humanity,” Moordin assured them. Rolce was shocked by this sudden realization. Moordin noticed this as he placed his hand on Rolce’s shoulder.
“I know there is much conflict in your soul right now, Rolce. You don’t know what should be done with your father and frankly I don’t know what to do either. He was my best friend. I’ve tried once to bring him back to our side. It helps to see Shax as already gone; there is no helping him. Instead, an evil being resides in your father's body and he must be stopped,” Moordin said. Rolce looked up at him.
“I just don’t know what to do. When I first saw him kill that child, I thought he was the most evil man I have ever seen, but when he arrived at Heaven's Shelter that day and looked at me, called me his son, I swear I saw something there. He looked ashamed,” Rolce said. Every member of Moordin’s synergy looked at each other.
“You can’t allow such thoughts to go through your head, Rolce. The atrocities he has committed. He killed your mother and nearly killed me,” Moordin said.
“I know that,” Rolce said.
“Either way, Rolce ... let's say he did come back to us - we can’t let his actions slide. He will be punished, most likely chained for a life sentence. Nobody can escape punishment,” Moordin said.
