The World Ahead

by Chucho Jones

  “Let me get this straight, you’re saying that the faceless turned you and her into a werewolf and a vampire? I’m sorry, but my blood is not up for grabs, understand that,” he said, finishing his glass with a second gulp, putting it down with a forceful determination.

  “Cut it out, Leon. Let’s be serious here. Do you think we can go to arks resting place? Maybe we can find answers there,” said Laura, as if looking for options.

  “I’m further beyond searching for arks and temples. I was about done with the dig site you came out of. All I could find was encryptions of groups of men and women half-man half-animal following rituals and learning about mystic sciences.” Said the man looking at the globe. He gently placed his hand and looked at a place in the spherical map.

  “I believe I have the power to manipulate any ancient-alien-operated-artifact. The wielder gives me such knowledge. I could find a different answer than you. I like you have a condition that doesn’t allow me to live a normal life, and my body suffers for it. I’ll do what it takes to rid myself of it,” said the boy. Laura felt her heart pounding at the sound of his strong words. She couldn’t understand how, but she was letting go of the moments before her. Maybe her son’s determination, maybe having a strong male figure along for the ride made her feel safer. Leon had been pulling his weight, but it was time to get some help from the strong.

  The night began to get darker, a lurking figure crawled from the side of the window, and then another. A vampire lady burst into the study followed by two other vampire men. These vampires looked ill, feral in nature – a big contrast to Justina. They went after Oliver and crew. Leon shot his magnetic grapple at a vampire and lashed a lightning lasso at another thrusting it into the fire burning the creature alive. The thing screeched and yelped as it got sorted by the strong fire.

  “Damn you, Justina, Leave our guests alone! You’re a fiendish rogue!” shouted Thaddeus to his elegant associate.

  “Not me, Nosferatu,” replied the maiden in her thick northern European accent.

  “What the heck is a Nosferatu?” asked Victoria.

  “It’s the faceless,” answered Leon, “How the hell did we get stuck with that guy?” The scoundrel continued. The moon shined a bright light across the night sky. Thaddeus began to gurgle and shake. His eyes began to turn silver and pale. Laura’s heart beat rapidly, she feared the worst could happen – the man unleashed the beast. Thaddeus swung his left arm and knocked the globe out the window.

  “We need to get to ‘Esperanza’ by the city docks it’s my maiden ship. That grim reaper found us,” said the avid explorer as he struggled to keep his composure.

  “Justina, get them out of here,” the dashing rogue threw silver Kunai at the rampaging feral bloodsuckers. Justina ran for the door as she tapped the crew on the shoulder so that they would follow.

  “Fausto, clear the house, then meet us at ‘Esperanza’, yelled the woman at a mirror that showed the running crew and a skipping rope at the distance floating around as it went round and round. The ropes fell to the ground, the house got dark. Things began to fly around the crew without ever hitting them. The hoarding vampires got rammed and hit by the haunted house as the strobing lights confused the interlopers. The blind man waited for them by the door. Justina grabbed him by the arm and helped him down the stairs. The crew jumped into the horseless coach. Leon and Oliver jumped on the driver’s bench. Greg took his post as the puller and glided off to the distance. The hoarding vampires turned into giant bats. Oliver co-piloted the stagecoach. Leon turned and stepped one foot onto the coach’s rooftop. He lit his phantasma and shocked lassoing light rays that stuck to a few flying menaces. Some of the vampires such to the side of the trail. Chasing hastily after the carriage. Victoria stuck half her body out a window, shooting her ray-guns left and right to the prowling vampires running along the shrubs. She hit one of them in the head and the thing burst in flames, consuming itself into dust.

  “Holy cow, these things light up like gunpowder. One of the beasts jumped to the side of the kart and scratched Victoria in her right arm, causing her to drop a weapon onto the trail. Justina countered by slashing the beast’s throat with her bare hands. She then stepped out and jumped over to the giant bats in a single bound. The moonlight shined on her revealing nothing but her silhouette. The devilish rouge turned into a half-woman half-bat and soared through the air riding the skies of the giant bats.

  “Don’t worry child, Camazotz will rid our airborne problem. That’s what they call the young lass around these parts. Let me tend to your wound,” said the blind man to Victoria.

  Camazotz, the she-bat beast soared through the night ripping giant bats’ bodies apart from their heads. At a distance, the roaring howl resounded. The trees shrugged rapidly as the movement caught up to the carriage. A grand feral beast with a long elegant and powerful snout, a strong muscular back, and hair so dark it made the animal man look as dark as the night, followed the carriage. Laura’s heart raised, she lit the back of their way with her intro-phase, she feared the beast would tear the carriage apart. The man-wolf paired with the carriage cringed his snout and continued rampant against the vampires.

  “I thought he would tear us apart,” said Laura to Gaspar.

  “Your boy must have done something to the master. I’ve followed him for sixty years and never did he have such control,” said the blind man.

  “How can you tell?” Laura asked as she saw how well the man could tend a wound –

  without seeing how his hands felt the creases on Victoria’s skin.

  “I can see the peace inside him, and the turmoil inside of you,” he said with a smile. Laura felt exposed next to the man, a feeling she hadn’t felt since she finalized her training with ‘The Better Company’ when she joined F.A.M.I.L.Y. She lifted her long skirt, propped her leg up for better support, cocked her weapon, and shot at two beasts that approached the back-right wheel.

  “I’m sorry to say this, but if you were to see what’s after us you’d be in turmoil too,” said the general with a gracious tone.

  “You’re all patched up kid,” said the man from Victoria.

  “Great thanks,” said the kid, “Chuggy help me to the rooftop.” Chuggy held on to the top of the coach’s door, swung out the window and on to the rooftop, and pulled Victoria up. She laid on the top of the roof chest down and began shooting at the vampires as they chased after the carriage and went for the wheels. The wolfman fell behind, and the vampires got distracted by a ferocious howl. Multiple howls were heard across the isolated city and the surrounding woods. It was as if the alpha male called upon other children of the night. Meanwhile, the grand wolfman was left behind to fight and stall the remaining vampire horde. The crew continued to make haste toward ‘Esperanza’ as the path cleared.

  14

  Chapter 14

  The night was coming to an end. A cool morning breeze began to creep around the ambient scenery. For hours the crew had been on a run, there were no clues of any monsters tailing behind, and no sign of Thaddeus. The carriage had made it safely to the city docks. A beautiful water vessel sat at long end of the dock. A ship like no other, Leon stepped off the carriage and gazed at the beautiful site. A rustic deck with streets made out of stone, at the edge of a strip. There were stone buildings of various sizes dressed the edge of the bay. It was hard for the young scoundrel to process it everything, after what they’d been through. He remembered for a moment that there was a time in his life when he longed to be a cowboy or a swashbuckler. A dream that probably remained at the back of his head, but got lost among his science-heavy lifestyle after his encounter with outer-beings. Aliens, future robots, and the occult had been a little too much what he had bargained for.

  He felt ready to conclude his journey, no matter where that would take them. He saw the grand ship and took comfort in the fact that he and the crew would stay clear of the skies for a change. He had been pushing his luck in the skies for far too long. Leon turned to the dashing beauty
, he wanted answers.

  “Why where we chased, and how do you know it was the faceless?” asked Leon in distrust something about the beauty suffused deceit. It could have been her vampiric nature, or something else.

  “We have been chasing each other around for centuries. He made us into what we are. Thaddeus, Fausto, me. We all had desire for power, and we are paying the price for it. He talks about mandates from higher beings and cults of illumination. We fear he wants to end it all,” said the gracious lady to the scoundrel as they all walked towards the ship.

  Dawn kept breaking. The lady seemed eager to get aboard.

  “The day is about to break, I must return to the indoors. I’ll leave you to Mr. Gasp and Fausto. I’m sure the master will follow shortly. I, however, must go.” The lady took haste boarding the ship and got lost on the inside of the gallant of the structure. The rest of the team followed. The crewless ship was being tended by Fausto. The anchor was raised by itself, ropes flung and swung around on their own preparing the ship to set sail. Laura helped the old man board the ship. The crew needed some time to figure out the next step.

  “Watch your feet,” said Laura to the old man as they walked into the ship’s main deck. They were followed by Oliver, Victoria, and the rest of the group.

  “Ah, don’t worry my dear. Fausto usually keeps a steady ship. Isn’t that right my boy?” said Gaspar to the amiable ghost. Wooden window covers flapped as if agreeing with the old man.

  “I read molecular activity all over the ship. Extra sensorial automation is being caused by this molecular anomaly,” said Greg as his stereoscopic lenses scanned the environment. Oliver checked his forearm’s display and saw the data that his robot counterpart constantly shared to him.

  “Wow, so that’s how paranormal activity happens. Fausto is crossing dimensions, I guess this can be quite an anomaly.” Said the boy, feeling quite wondrous about the paranormal enigma. Leon stepped into the conversation.

  “Both of you have said anomaly one too many times,” Connor said.

  “They kept eyes on the anomalies, that’s how they were able to find us.” Said the modern scoundrel as he led up to something. Victoria and Laura took interest in the conversation. Leon felt the sudden spotlight, this time he had a straight answer.

  “Jukebox, I’m going to need Omnimaiden’s phantom core, and spectacles – we need to find a way to get the information from inside. The IFO is out of the question so we will need this to figure out what to do next,” said Leon with a determined look. Oliver looked at his uncle right in the eyes. he looked at his arm display and looked at Greg.

  “You’re right. This might be the kind of information that might help us take an educated move for once.” The boy said with slight angst behind his tone as he scratched his left arm with his robot hand, he looked at Greg and gestured his head towards Leon. The robot looked at Oliver, then looked at Leon. He too followed his counterpart’s movement and gestured his positronic brain towards the rebel.

  “Oh, correct, the core,” said the robot. He propped his chest cavity open and drew out the broken blue core. It’s inner crystal technology shun a dim dark blue. The robot handed it over to Leon. His heart raised, for seconds. He smiled with a sincere gaze at the maiden’s core. He thought it was funny he was holding her broken heart, his mind quickly came back. He looked around to see if anyone noticed him gazing at the synthetic beauty’s heart. Thaddeus strolled in wearing torn clothes over his otherwise naked body. Leon was reminded when Oliver showed up in similar attire with the mime the day he lost the maiden to the glider.

  “Apologies for my delay. Boy, what you did to me was impressive, never have I been in such control of my raw power,” said the man as he incorporated the group. Despite wearing the ensemble of a man of the trail he kept a certain grace about him as he stood by the team. Leon noticed Laura couldn’t take her eyes off the towering man.

  “What’s that you’re holding lad? Is that the boy’s source of power? Did something happen to it?” The man asked, intrigued.

  “Something like it,” said Leon in a dry tone. “How did you come across Fausto, Thaddeus?” Asked the scoundrel in a serious tone.

  The man had a serious look on his face. He turned somber at that moment.

  “I was on an expedition, probably about a century ago. I decided to go back to the Ark and try to reverse my condition there. I have had enough time to create a sustainable lifestyle to pursue my cure. I had a valet at the time, a young boy whose fate would have been worse had he not come with me, or so I believed,” said the main as he sat next to Gaspar on a crate as the old man rested, “It was wrong of me to bring him to every endeavor. We made it to the Ark, and we activated the machinery as best as I could remember. The boy tried to help, but something ill happened – I can’t explain what it was. The boy got caught in the line of the accident and disappeared in a flash,” he said while wiping tears from his face, “I came to love him like a son, so the loss was unbearable. Fortunately, I was quickly distracted by the misfortune of Justina whom I found hopeless and injured inside the Ark’s chamber. Weeks later, small manifestations began to occur. First, the mirrors, then the doors. In brief, I began to feel Fausto’s presence around us even more. I believed that my condition gave me the curse of attracting such horrors like myself. I began to dedicate my life to fight the otherworldly and strange with my family,” the man said with the utmost sincerity. Laura’s eyes watered, Leon didn’t want his sister to cause a scene so he interrupted.

  “See, Oliver this might be the answer we might be looking for, maybe that’s why Connor sent us here. The setpoint of F.A.M.I.L.Y., don’t you get it?” Leon said, emphatically. “Fantastic acronym by the way, what does it stand for? Wait. I’ve thought about it. Front-Against-Mysterious-Invaders-of Lore, and Yonder… am I right?” He said as an attempt to cheer the group.

  “I think it just means, the group of people you want to surround yourself with when you do the things you love the most,” the man said looking at Leon with respect. Leon understood the meaning behind the man’s words. He took a glance at his three original companions and took a deep breath. He realized between them and the stranger he stood out front. At that moment he realized whether he wanted it or not, he had been the man of the family, and they needed him the most to remain strong.

  “I like my version better,” he said to the strong man as he tapped him on the arm. “Come on hyper jets, help me figure this thing out,” said Leon to Oliver as he grabbed him by the shoulder. “Is there a place where my family can rest, while the boy and I figure this out?” he asked the man, “Maybe the ark is the answer we’re looking for to get home,” he continued.

  “There are accommodations for everyone. Please follow me. I assure you the ark is not the answer, I found the source from whence the grim reaper came. I can brief you all at nightfall when Justina wakes. We have a hefty journey ahead of us, but Fausto can take haste. We will have a short time to catch out a breath,” said the man while everyone got into the ship’s main cabin.

  15

  Chapter 15

  Oliver sat on a wooden chair with floral carvings of wolfsbane tuning down its legs and frame. Leon sat across from him on a small table. They had a great mirror to their side. Leon projected his Intro-Phase at the mirror so that both of them could see his personal interface. The broken core sat at the table by the two brilliant minds. Oliver manipulated the information on the mirror as he scrolled his left-hand’s fingers over his right forearm display.

  Greg stood by the door of the room attentive to every bit of data that registered.

  “Master Hawke, if it’s alright, I’d like to scan the ship for a detailed analysis of the molecular anomaly. I’d like to understand the vessels automation,” said the robot in a curious tone.

  “Go ahead. It’ll be a while before we come up with a breakthrough here. Keep the data updated,” said Oliver to his robot friend. His heart pounded every time he could exchange words of knowledge with his new favori
te pet. He looked at Leon and saw the determination behind his glares. He wondered if this would have been like to work on a project with his father. At the time he had to settle for what he had; just then, a rushing sensation went through his body at the thought of dimensional discovery. Three minds from three different timeframes coming together because of a wild idea from a rebel.

  “Do you think we will find what we’re looking for?” the boy asked as if looking for comfort from his uncle.

  “I’m not that sure, all I can bet on is that if we can make my face turn into Omnimaiden we might have a shot at some help from the future, and we could use that right now. That’s especially true since we’ve seem to have lost the IFO,” said the young rebel.

  “Can we go through the intro phases interface again?” asked Leon, raising his eyebrow. Oliver cackled a little at his uncle. He could always count on him for a laugh at least.

  “It’s a nine-level matrix with nine attribute readings. It defines the subject into its essential core. So far, I’ve understood how to define it but not manipulate it,” said the boy to his uncle.

  “So, this thing tallies your existence?” Asked the greaser cowboy.