Jack James and the Tribe of the Teddy Bear

by J. Joseph Wright

  “Hey! I’m flying!”

  He skimmed above the water, speeding along the length of the metal structure, past dozens of vehicles on the suspended two-lane highway.

  The vast ocean swell reached Willow Bridge. Steel beams buckled and cables snapped, whipping the pavement, cracking windshields, slashing tires. The entire platform supporting the road shifted. A wall of whitewater pushed against it, determined to swallow it whole.

  He imagined diving to each car, truck, motorcycle and semi-trailer on the bridge, and hauling every single person from danger. Immediately he felt a strange tingle. His thought became reality and numerous Jack James duplicates divided from his body. An army of them swept onto the vehicles, while he himself sped to a Honda and took the driver by her hand. A woman in her forties, she was surprised, terrified, and then relieved to see him. With their rescued drivers and passengers, Jack and his dimensional copies hovered over the scene, watching while the tsunami reduced the bridge to pieces.

  He thought about taking the victims to dry land, far above the flood plain, and did that precisely. He and his doubles soared to the highest hilltop outside of town, where Willow Column stood watch over the entire river valley.

  He placed the woman on her feet in the parking lot at the base of the tower. The other Jacks did the same with their survivors. Then, in one rapid movement, all of his duplicates once again merged with him, bringing another barrage of pure energy, both physical and mental.

  The rescued motorists stood motionless, one more stunned than the next. A man began to clap and the rest joined him, giving Jack a standing ovation and a round of cheers.

  No time for accolades. The last he saw, his fearless protector had Davos locked in a raging battle high atop the bridge’s steel framework. Then the tidal wave hit, and Jack lost track of Takota altogether.

  If that didn’t have him quaking with worry, the sight of a mountain of water rushing toward Willow did.

  All of the sudden, he wanted to be with his mother, so he imagined himself next to her. That very instant, he was back at North Point, standing by her side.

  Liz did a double take when she saw him. She overflowed with tears, wrapping him in a loving cuddle. He returned the embrace, delicately, making sure not to crush her accidently with his newfound strength.

  “Mom, I can’t do it,” his stomach felt on the verge of rupturing. Never had the butterflies been so furious. “Takota’s gone. I just can’t…”

  “Jack, you have to,” Liz said through tears. “We’ll all be killed.”

  “Son!” Ben pulled him from his mother. “There’s no time! You’d better do something about that tsunami! Quick!”

  “But I can’t! Don’t you get it? Takota’s gone!”

  “Jack,” Amelia tugged him in a half circle to face her. He gazed into her hopelessly light brown eyes, and had to hold his breath when she pressed her soft lips against his. He surrendered to her, allowing himself to feel every nuance in her smooth touch. When she inched away and severed the kiss, he continued to stand there, staring into space.

  “Finish this, Jack,” his butterflies disintegrated with her words. “You can do it.”

  Filled with renewed confidence, he looked toward the Columbia bar where the bridge once stood. The monstrous wave dominated all scenery, growing larger the closer it came, pulling along a fleet of ill-fated trawlers, small aluminum boats, buoys, and large chunks of steel girders.

  He stood firm, the O/A reeling and humming while tiny, static electric bolts of purple crackled along its smooth, shiny surface. He quivered, every one of his muscles tense. With his free hand he pointed at the tsunami, contorting his fingers. His eyelids flickered at the pummeling spray, his arms and legs shook under the strain of his own thoughts.

  In his mind, he zoomed in, superseding the limitations of human sight, deep into the recesses of the very molecules that made up the water, traveling into the atoms, discovering the protons and the neutrons spinning like tiny solar systems. With an imaginary scalpel, he sliced through the covalent bonds, splitting the hydrogen from the oxygen. He needed only one firm cut to separate all of the countless molecules which made up the tsunami. The entire operation took a fraction of a second, vaporizing the deadly threat with one abrupt, gigantic POOF!

  The beach rumbled. Dozens of fishing vessels and hunks of wreckage and other flotsam crashed into the river. His extreme close-up vision pulled out and he saw an iridescent haze, all the colors of the rainbow swirling, dancing, refracting while tiny droplets cascaded and kissed his cheeks. He blinked at the mist. A thick bank of fog surrounded him, shrouding his view. He sensed the Gravitomiton turning off, with it the energy of the multiverse departing from his body. Suddenly his muscles were mush.

  He collapsed.

  “He did it!” Ben’s exclamation skipped along the low cloud layer. “Jack! Where are you, my boy?”

  Through the haze, Ben appeared, grinning ear to ear. He ran to Jack and lifted him into a hug. Amelia emerged from the fog, behind her Ayita and Pud. His mom and sister followed. They seemed weary and soggy, but excited.

  “Yay, Jack!” Lily clapped nonstop. Pud smiled and mimicked her.

  “That was uncanny, Jack!” Amelia hugged him after his dad put him down. “I knew you could do it!”

  “But how, Jack? How’d you do it?” Liz lifted her hand to capture some of the drifting sprinkles.

  “Simple, really,” he said. “I thought about water’s molecular makeup.”

  “Hydrogen and oxygen,” Ben pretended his hand was a pistol. “You blew the H2O to bits, didntcha, son?”

  Jack nodded. “In a manner of speaking. I just pictured the bond between the atoms and split them apart.”

  “Hence this vast vapor cloud!” Ben waved his arms in the thick air. “Harmless gas!”

  He laughed. Jack wanted to share his dad’s elation. One thing weighed on his mind. He glanced once more to the river. The fog dissipated in a wispy scattering, then faded to nothing, revealing blue sky. He sighed at his feet.

  “Jack?” Ben placed a hand on his son’s shoulder. “It’s Takota isn’t it?”

  He caught his dad’s stare. “I don’t know where he is.”

  Ben scratched his earlobe. “Where was he the last time you saw him?”

  “He was on the bridge, fighting Davos.”

  “Okay. Use the O/A to find him.”

  He placed his hand over the machine. It once again whistled and abounded with brilliant shapes and colors from deep within. In a fraction of a second, incalculable numbers of dimensional duplicates fused into him. It was jarring the first time it happened, and he still hadn’t gotten used to it. Then the sensation passed and he felt the power absorption turning him into the strongest single force imaginable.

  He scanned every section of the river below, using the O/A’s power to see under the waves and through the murk to the riverbed where the sea life had just begun to return, dazed fish and disoriented crabs darting along the bottom. He swept across the floor, realizing he not only saw down there, he was there. He still hadn’t come to grips with the fact that he could travel anywhere by mere thought. Even underwater. And breathe, too. The O/A provided him with a perfectly tuned biosphere, allowing the ease of movement to go everywhere. If he could imagine it, he could do it. And it would have been fun, if it weren’t for Takota. The absence of Jack’s tiny protector occupied his mind. The idea of doing something for sheer enjoyment seemed ludicrous.

  He had to find Takota.

  He touched the device and transported one final time, returning to the beach at the tip of North Point where his family and friends and a multitude of long faces waited. Ayita and Pud were in tears, staring, jaws shaky, noses runny. Everyone was crying. Everyone. They all wept for Takota.

  Ayita tugged at his pant leg. “Where is he, Jack? Where’s Takota!”

  “I-I don’t know. I can’t see him anywhere.”

  “But what about the O/A?” Pud pointed out. “Isn’t it supposed to be a w
ishing machine?”

  “Well, yes,” Jack nodded. “But there are limitations.”

  “Yeah, we get it,” Pud crossed his arms. “You can’t wish for anything for your own personal gain. But, you’re the True Soul, and Takota’s your protector. The machine must know that. It can find him!”

  Amelia became animated. “Jack, that’s it! Ask the O/A.”

  “I already did. I asked it to help me search for Takota.”

  “Yes, but maybe you didn’t ask it the right question. You asked it to help you look. You didn’t actually ask it to find him. That’s what you need to do. Ask it to find Takota.”

  Jack squinted at her. “I can’t believe I didn’t think of that.”

  “That’s why we’re here,” Pud puffed his chest and put his hands on his hips. “What? Did you think you’d be able to do this all by yourself?”

  “Stop messing around!” Ayita shoved him. “Hurry, Jack!”

  He pressed the O/A and let his muscles relax, once again accessing the omnidimensional field. Then he thought, Please bring Takota to me, as simple as that.

  “Ahoy, mates!” a rough voice snapped him from his daydream. The O/A powered down and released its energy. Jack’s strength went back to normal. He felt like falling, and did, into his dad’s arms.

  Ben propped up his son and shook him gently. “Jack! Do you see?”

  Weakened, he peered over the water. His heavy heart lightened when he noticed a large disturbance leaving a hefty wake. A gigantic, pale gray creature glimmered in the noonday sun. It was Queenie, her craggy lips drawn in a wide smile. On her spiky backbone sat Captain Kimbo, cradling a grayish brown, furry bundle.

  “I’ve got him!” the captain hollered. “I’ve got the little bugger! Fished him right out the tsunami! You should have seen ole’ Queenie, here—she was brilliant! She got me close enough, the brave girl! Then I plucked him free! Poor little guy, though. I don’t know if he’ll make it.”

  The dragon got close to the beach and the captain hopped off, stepping knee-high through the waves. He placed Takota down, laying his head in the sand.

  Jack sprinted to his friend, along with the entire crowd, it seemed. Ayita and Pud made it to him first. Ayita began to wail.

  “Oh, no! Takota, please! Don’t die, please don’t die!”

  Jack knelt next to his lifeless friend. “Takota? It’s me, Jack.”

  No response. Takota wasn’t even breathing. Jack lowered an ear against his chest. Nothing. He attempted CPR, clearing his airway, pressing on the little guy’s sternum, blowing into his mouth and nose simultaneously. Nothing.

  “NO!” he jumped up. “You can’t take him! Not yet!” he screamed to the sky. “Please! You’ve got to listen to me! I know this can’t be the end! Please, don’t take Takota from me! I need him, WE need him!”

  Then he felt the O/A pulsate in his hand.

  “Jack!” Ben touched his shoulder. “It’s working!”

  Takota’s eyelids moved. His tangled fur shifted over twitching skin.

  “What, what’s going on?” Jack looked at the machine.

  Ben smiled. “It can heal. Automatically. Apparently, it’s been doing it for a while now. Anyone who comes close to it. A neat little side effect, don'tcha think? Just watch.”

  Takota’s eyelids stirred again. His pupils darted back and forth. He tossed and let out a gurgle, coughing up water, gulping air. Then he sat up, staring at Jack.

  “Whoa! What happened?”

  Jack’s mouth dropped open. “That’s what I want to know. What happened to you?”

  Takota was blank. “I-I don’t know. Last thing I remember, I was on the bridge, fighting Davos. When the wave hit us, he disappeared and, and all of the sudden I’m laying here.”

  “What does it matter?” Ayita pushed past Jack and threw her arms around Takota. “You’re back. You’re with us and you’re okay.”

  “Jack?” Lily blushed, yanking on his shirt. “Can I go for a ride on Queenie, too?”

  A decisive applause broke out, hundreds of people, once terrified to tears, now giddy with exhilaration. Even the police cheered, many of them chasing down and arresting any Archer Savage employees they found, along with the heartless businessman, himself.

  Chants of Jack! Jack! Jack! began to catch on. Nobody seemed to want to stand still, leaping and jumping and cheering. Jack even saw an elderly man and woman, both with short gray hair and Coke bottle glasses. They stole the show, dancing, tapping their feet. He laughed when the old man twirled his wife in a fancy step and she lost her false teeth. Takota had a good chuckle, too. She snatched them off the ground, blew on them, and popped them into her mouth again.

  Jack had to wave at the people to stop chanting his name.

  “Thank you! Thank you all so much! I can’t take all the credit,” he held up the O/A. “In fact, I really can’t take any. You see this? This is my dad’s invention!”

  “But you’re the only one who can use it correctly, son,” Ben smiled at him. “You deserve all the credit you get.”

  Jack squeezed Takota. “I never would’ve been able to do anything if it weren’t for my best friend, here.”

  Takota beamed. “I can’t think of anywhere else I’d rather be.”

  Blinking away a tear, Jack sniffled. Takota’s eyes became glossy.

  “Jack! Jack James!” a woman’s voice startled him. The news reporter made her way forward, dragging the cameraman by his jacket.

  “This is Kristy Blades, live from North Point. Minutes ago, much of the population of Willow witnessed an incredible scene involving a courageous boy, his amazing machine, and his magical, teddy bear-like friend. So, Jack James, tell us about your day.”

  He laughed purely by reflex. “Now that’s a long, long story. Maybe I’ll sit down and tell it, sometime.”

  “Okay,” her attitude gave away her disappointment. “Then, can you tell us about your little friends? What are their names?”

  “You already know Ayita,” Amelia held her protector up for everyone to see.

  Ben pointed at Pud. “And this little guy is…”

  Pud vanished, creating a minor stir. He reappeared on Ben’s head. Standing with his arms wide, he said, “I’m Pud!” to a round of giggles. Then he took a bow. His jaw dropped and he lost balance, tumbling into Ben’s waiting hands. Liz snatched him and planted a big kiss on his lips.

  “I owed you that,” she smiled. Pud melted against her shoulder, snuggling his snout in her hair.

  Jack boasted. “And this is Takota.”

  Hoots and hollers. People surged to get a glimpse of the tiny hero.

  “And this is Cheyton!”

  In an unforeseen moment, all activity in the once boisterous throng terminated to a hush. Nobody moved, except Enola. She strode in front of Cheyton and smiled, her afterglow twinkling vigorously.

  “Don’t worry,” she assured them. “Davos can’t control him anymore. I short-circuited his chip!”

  Jack wasn’t sure what to think.

  “Takota?” Enola eyeballed her mate. “Cheyton has something he wants to say to you.”

  Cheyton held out his hand. “I’m sorry.”

  Takota glanced down. “I won’t shake your hand.”

  A collective, confused breath. Cheyton wrinkled his brow.

  Shaking his head, Takota continued. “That’s not how friends make up. Come here,” he moved close and clutched Cheyton. “This is how it’s done!”

  Cheers erupted across the peninsula. While Takota and Cheyton embraced, Enola eased up to them. Then Ayita.

  Pud hurried to the huddle, his arms wide. “Oh, boy! Group hug!”

  He caught his foot on a rock and, stumbling, crashed into his friends, sending them toppling. When the dust settled, they lay in a pile, laughing and wrestling, bathed in Enola’s otherworldly radiance.

  Jack sat in the sand. “So, we’re all friends again?” he asked Cheyton.

  “Friends,” Cheyton nodded.

  Takota sat up o
n his elbows. “Why’d you do it, Cheyton? Why’d you allow him to put that thing in your brain? You knew what he wanted to do.”

  He explained, “Davos had Enola. If I didn’t give in, they would have done it to her. I would’ve been devastated.”

  “But, don’t you see? He would have put the implant in Enola no matter what.”

  Cheyton stiffened his lips. “I know that now. And I know what Davos’ plans are. He’s only one of many Nagas. They’re everywhere. What Davos did here, that was nothing compared to what he and the rest of them are up to.”

  “Like Teresa said,” Amelia’s voice trembled. “And like my visions. Jack, I didn’t want to tell you, but there’s something more, something hidden about Davos.”

  “You mean more than shapeshifting, conjuring evil spirits—and that thing that shoots red electricity, there’s more than that?”

  “Way more,” she had a grave tone. “I’ve been picking up on it for a long time. Ever since I was little I’ve sensed an approaching evil.”

  Jack displayed the O/A proudly. “I say let ‘em come!” he put his hand on Takota’s shoulder. “We’ll be ready!”

  More deafening roars. Packs of people approached to express their joy and appreciation. In the tapestry of smiles, Jack saw someone familiar. It went by in a flash, yet he swore it was Teresa, bright with giddiness. Then she was gone. He recognized two other scowls. Dillon and Mike. Both of them stared at the ground when they noticed him looking. He wouldn’t let those boys spoil his good mood. Nor would he let Cheyton’s warning allow the ugly monster of fear to creep in. Everything had its time. And now was a time for celebration. He’d worry about the Nagas later. Even then, he wouldn’t be too concerned. He had the O/A. And he had Takota. What more would he need?

  Epilogue

  JACK DIDN’T KNOW if what he was doing constituted cheating or not. Technically, it wasn’t what the O/A had been designed for. Still, it worked. It had been months since his family occupied the place, and the landscaping needed a bit of a boost. Before his eyes, his mom’s rhododendrons bloomed to their full, crimson splendor. Her whole garden began to come alive with radiant hues. The daffodils, the petunias, even the roses returned to health.