The Cross of Mithras Vol. 1: EOD Operation Welcome to Hell

by Douglas Howell

  “I-I-I I can’t breathe. You… can… have… that… jar.” Parker said.

  “How ‘bout I’ll kill you and take it from you?” Double Shock said.

  “Now, now La’jyn’eu… you know that you have to get through me in order to take it. So how about a truce and a compromise?” Mynik’ny’nuta said.

  “I don’t do business with the hive. I kill it. I destroy it.”

  Mynik’ny’nuta than said something in her native tongue. Double Shock then let go of Parker and then stormed out of Parker’s house cursing under his breath.

  “What did you tell him?” Parker asked holding his throat and coughing.

  “I reminded him of his honor. That when someone saves your life you are indebted to them until the debt is repaid.” She answered.

  Parker and Mynik’ny’nuta then went outside to talk with him. They saw La’jyn’eu standing outside staring up at the gas giant in deep fascination and curiosity.

  “It’s name is Vegas. This moon that we are on is called Roscadia. We… err… my species is called human. Humans come from a planet called Earth. Earth is in a far away star system. Humans call your species Apollinarian. I’m really am sorry to hear about your family.” Parker said.

  “No girlfriend or wife. It’s what I always called a job hazard. My parents died before the Tylkuoply war broke out. Four of my siblings died in our Second World War. The other two died before the war against the hive broke out. My Emperor… and my job is my family.” La’jyn’eu said. He then put his hand on his stomach. Parker then gave him the jar of Liquid Death.

  “Please… help us.” Parker said.

  La’jyn’eu then thought about it. “Alright.” He said.

  “Let’s go inside first.” Parker said. With that, the three of them went inside.

  “What do you want Parker?” La’jyn’eu asked.

  “I want to join the EOD.”

  “Why? And who, or what, is the EOD?”

  “Yes Parker. Please tell us why you wish to join them. And while you are at it… why don’t you also mention your plan on joining them. I’m certain that La’jyn’eu would love to hear it.” Mynik’ny’nuta said in a condescending tone of voice.

  Parker then started to tell them his plan, but Mynik’ny’nuta interrupted him and asked him to answer the question of why he wish to join them. She added that she already heard his plan and she don’t want to hear it again. As Parker was mentioning his reason why he wanted to join the EOD, both La’jyn’eu and Mynik’ny’nuta kept on interrupting him. Both of them knew that he was hiding the real reason why and they were trying to get it out of him. Eventually Parker caved in and told them. When Parker was done, both La’jyn’eu and Mynik’ny’nuta look at each other. Mynik’ny’nuta had the look of; ‘Oh my God’ and La’jyn’eu had a smirk on his face.

  “What!?” Parker said a bit annoyed by their reaction.

  “Never mind Parker. I don’t think we need to hear your reason. It came in perfectly clear to me.” La’jyn’eu said causing Mynik’ny’nuta to smirk, then turned away. She was trying to hide the fact that she was suppressing the urge to laugh.

  “Parker… please tell me your plan.” La’jyn’eu continued.

  “You know…” La’jyn’eu said when Parker was finished. “…it’s good for you Parker that she brought me back.”

  “Why?”

  “Because Project 21 would have seen right through your plan. They would have come after you.”

  “Yeah… well the EOD would protect me.”

  “Don’t be so naïve. You have no value to them. Other than…”

  “What are you talking about!? There’s both of you and that jar!”

  “We’re not your slaves Parker. We’re individuals. And I would rather kill you than to allow you to turn that jar over to the EOD. I need it far more than you do. Don’t worry Parker. When I’m done with repaying my debt to both of you… I can guarantee you that the EOD will take you in. So don’t worry. Okay?” La’jyn’eu said.

  “Yeah. I guess.”

  “Is there some type of a report on when your people picked up Mynik’ny’nuta?”

  “Yes.”

  “Let me see it.”

  Parker than went and got the copy of the report and gave it to him.

  “Parker… are you tired?” La’jyn’eu asked him.

  “No I’m fine.”

  “Are you sure? Go ahead and take a nap. If you want I will wake you as soon as I’m done.”

  “Alright.”

  Parker then went into his bedroom and went to sleep. When La’jyn’eu finished reading the report he got up and went into Parker’s bedroom and woke him up.

  “Parker.” La’jyn’eu said lightly shaking Parker awake.

  “What is it?” Parker said being slightly frustrated because he’s tired and want to go back to sleep.

  “I hate to wake you… but I want to read the report on Vaistll Adnrwal.”

  “Why?”

  “Where is it?” La’jyn’eu said in a stern voice.

  “Let me get it.”

  Parker then got up, went into the living room, and gave the report to him. He then went back to bed. After one hour, Parker came back into the living room. He couldn’t sleep because both of them were watching TV and talking.

  “What are you two talking about?” Parker asked.

  “Did we wake you?” La’jyn’eu asked.

  “No. So what were you two talking about?”

  “I was telling him relevant information on Little John.” Mynik’ny’nuta responded.

  “Come again?” Parker said.

  “Remember when you saw me and Little John standing there and our synood’tynd (syn-nude tend) was touching?”

  “A what?”

  “A synood’tynd is that dendrite looking thing that was coming out of our mouth.”

  “Oh yeah. Now I remember. What about it?”

  “I… um…”

  “She consumed Little John, except for his soul. And what I mean by ‘consumed’ is that, it is the same as when you copy something from one hard drive to another.” La’jyn’eu mentioned.

  “Yes. I consumed him. His knowledge, memory, etc. I then gave La’jyn’eu the knowledge of the English language and human body language.” Mynik’ny’nuta said.

  “Oh. Well… that explains a lot.” Parker said.

  “I finished reading that report on Vaistll Adnrwal. She won’t become a major factor in my efforts to help you. But right now… you need to listen to us and do actually as we say you do.” La’jyn’eu said.

  “Why?”

  “Never mind. We need you to send a message to Admiral Lowenthal.” Mynik’ny’nuta said causing Parker to look at her in a shock and confused manner.

  “What!? How come!?” Parker said.

  “Shut up! And do as we say!” La’jyn’eu said in a stern commanding voice.

  Parker then did as he was told. They told him what to say. He got very upset about how he had to, basically tell Admiral Lowenthal his plans. When he tried to speak out against it, they ordered him to shut up and just do it. Parker felt like a prisoner in his own house. He somewhat trusted them, but he also strongly felt like he was losing control of his plan.

  “Does the Project 21 HQ where you are station at, has a cloning facility?” La’jyn’eu asked.

  “Why?”

  “Just answer him!” Mynik’ny’nuta snapped back.

  “Yes!” Parker said out of frustration.

  “Good. Let’s go.” La’jyn’eu said.

  “What to the Project 21 headquarters?” Parker asked them.

  “No. We’re going to the Project 21 headquarters.” Mynik’ny’nuta said.

  “But that’s what I said.”

  “No, you put it in the form of a question. And there’s no question about it… where going to the Project 21 headquarters.” She said. Her attitude only increased Parker’s frustration.

  “Where’s your car?” La’jyn’eu asked Parker.

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nbsp; “What?”

  “Where… is… your… car?” La’jyn’eu asked him again.

  “It’s outside in the driveway. And why don’t we take Little John’s car. You have his keys La’jyn’eu.” Parker said. His frustration was growing at that point.

  “Because we’re taking YOUR car not his.” Mynik’ny’nuta said.

  “Why?” Parker said with increased frustration.

  “Shut the fuck up. Keys?” La’jyn’eu said. For those who personally knows La’jyn’eu, by this point in time all of them would agree on one thing: he does not like Parker. But isn’t obvious why he don’t?

  “Here!” Parker said grabbing the keys off a hook on a board near the door. When he grabbed them, one of his fingers on his right hand caught a hook and deeply scratched him.

  “Ouch!” Parker said causing Mynik’ny’nuta to roll her eyes and shake her head.

  The three of them then got into Parker’s car. With La’jyn’eu behind the wheel. La’jyn’eu then turn the car around doing a 180, rapidly, without leaving the driveway. Parker was very surprised that they didn’t hit Little John’s car.

  “Jesus! What the hell!? Parker yelled.

  “Dude… you need to relax.” La’jyn’eu said in a calm manner.

  “Which way?” La’jyn’eu asked.

  “North.” Parker responded.

  “What?”

  “Left.”

  La’jyn’eu then pulled out fast. He was traveling at high speed on the wrong side of the road.

  “You’re on the wrong side of the street! And it’s quicker to go the other way!” Parker yelled out.

  “Oh.” La’jyn’eu said. He then did a perfect 180 and kept on traveling at the same speed.

  “You’re gonna have to slow down, or you will get us killed! Or pulled over.” Parker cried out.

  “Relax. I’m not gonna get us killed.”

  “That’s easy for you to say. You already died.” Parker cried out again.

  La’jyn’eu then looked at Parker with one eyebrow raised and a smile that showed a great deal of confidence. He then went faster.

  “Holy shit!” Parker yelled out. La’jyn’eu just went through a red light missing some cars.

  “You’re crazy! You are fuckin’ crazy man!” Parker cried.

  Mynik’ny’nuta then lean forward in the back seat and said. “You know Parker… the motto of the Hau’rino Imperial Department of Special Operations, the HIDSO, is, ‘Sometimes the crazy thing… is the right thing’.”

  When Parker heard her say that, not only was he shocked and speechless, but he also started to cry. La’jyn’eu then looked at him and smiled. Although La’jyn’eu is quite confident in his abilities, no matter what people like Parker thinks about him, he’s not arrogant in any way shape or form. He’s an exceptional individual with the skills to boot. And for people like Parker, it throws them off causing them to think that La’jyn’eu is arrogant.

  “If you keep on driving like this you are going to get us pulled over by the police.” Parker said in a calm manner thinking that might reach him.

  “Relax. The mafia runs the city. Little John’s father is a mafia boss. And therefore who runs the police?” La’jyn’eu asked.

  At one point La’jyn’eu raised his hand and waved at a cop who was sitting in his car. The cop saw him waved (but did not know who it was), and did nothing.

  “See Parker… we just passed a cop back there.” La’jyn’eu said in calm confident manner.

  “What!?” Parker said trying to find the cop.

  “I told you… you need to relax.” La’jyn’eu said.

  Finally, much to Parker’s relief (and he somewhat dreaded it) they got pulled over. La’jyn’eu slowed down and gracefully came to a stop. He then looked at Parker and smiled. That made Parker uneasy to see him smiling at him because he didn’t know what he was fixing to do. Parker started to think that maybe he’s crazy enough to kill the cop.

  “Gonna a little fast back there weren’t you buddy?” The cop asked La’jyn’eu. When the cop saw him, he recognized him as Little John.

  “Oh geez… I didn’t know it was you!” The cop said.

  “That’s okay. We’re kind of in a hurry.” La’jyn’eu responded.

  “Where are you headed?” The cop asked.

  “To the Project 21 HQ. We need to get there like yesterday.”

  “Okay. I’ll lead the way.” The cop said.

  La’jyn’eu then looked at Parker like, he planned all of that. After the cop passed with his sirens on, it basically told Parker that he was right all along. The mafia is not only running the city, but the police as well. It told him that he is also right when he wishes to join the EOD. To him Project 21 is to blame for allowing the mafia to run the city and the police. And it made him hate the city even more.

  “You see Parker… this is far faster than allowing this robot to choose the way. After all… it has to obey the laws.” La’jyn’eu said in a kind way. Parker didn’t say anything. He was under too much stress by him driving at high speeds.

  La’jyn’eu then asked the robotic car to play a sample music from each genre in its list. (There was only one type of genre for it to play.) La’jyn’eu kept on asking it to skip to the next song until he got fed up with it.

  “What kind of shitty ass music you call this?” La’jyn’eu asked Parker.

  “Mine.” Parker said in a rude manner. “It’s called Astro-Rock. It came out in the 2260s.”

  “Do these robotic cars have a satellite link up?” La’jyn’eu asked Parker.

  “Yes why?” Parker asked out of frustration.

  La’jyn’eu then had the robotic car to use the satellite link up to play music samples from different type of genres. He kept on skipping the selections. At one point he said, “Oh god. Skip this shit.” He stopped when he heard heavy metal.

  “Oh yeah. This is good adrenaline music.” La’jyn’eu said as he turned up the music. It only annoyed Parker very deeply since he hates that type of music.

  “Hey Parker!” Mynik’ny’nuta shouted into Parker’s ear to be heard. “I need to tell you… he’s an adrenaline junkie! But it’s the type of adrenaline… of when someone throws a hand grenade at you!”

  “Aw. Don’t listen to her Parker.” La’jyn’eu said turning down the volume so that he could be heard. “She doesn’t know what she’s talking about. She’s going by rumors about me. But I am an adrenaline junkie.” He then turned the volume back up. Parker could see in the eyes of La’jyn’eu that he really loved the adrenaline rush and the song was intensifying it.

  “Oh God!” Parker cried out.

  Parker just couldn’t wait for his nightmare to be over. It started to remind him of something. It was something that was dark and evil, like it came from a dream. Then it hit him. It reminded him of his dream that he had with Death in it. Now he now knows that he’s dream came true in a metaphorical way. And that only increased his dread in not knowing what will come next.

  There were times in which he just sat there screaming out in fear of being involved in a car crash. At one point they came so close of being in a car crash that Parker’s life flashed before his eyes. And it reminded him of why he wants to get away from Roscadia. It told him that it is he’s destiny to join the EOD and nobody can change his mind.

  It took them roughly 30 minutes to get to Project 21 HQ. (Normally it would take 90 minutes.) Both the cop and La’jyn’eu slow down as they approached the building. La’jyn’eu came to a stop and turned down the volume. The cop then turned his car around and rolled down his window so that he could talk to La’jyn’eu.

  “Little John I didn’t know you like that type of music.” The cop said.

  “Here’s something for your troubles.” La’jyn’eu said as he handed the cop some money. What Parker didn’t know was: that it was the money that Little John gave him earlier.

  “Why thank you. Thank you very much.” The cop said all smiles.

  “Yeah don’t mention it.�
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  The cop then left and waved at La’jyn’eu as he went by. As the cop was leaving, all three got out of the car. For Parker, he was glad that it was finally over, the music, the speeding, and the stress. But what he didn’t know was that it was about to get worst for him.

  “Hey Parker… pussy-R-U?” La’jyn’eu asked Parker.

  “What?”

  “Exactly. Now get your ass on the ball. Time is precious.” La’jyn’eu ordered Parker.

  “You heard the man.” Mynik’ny’nuta said as she grabbed his collar and forced him into the building. Parker would have gone anyway but, both La’jyn’eu and Mynik’ny’nuta was in a rush for some reason and they won’t mention why.

  Parker led them to the cloning facility. Before they got there, La’jyn’eu asked Parker to call ahead and make sure everybody is out of there. La’jyn’eu then asked Parker if there is a cryo-status room nearby. Parker mentioned that there was. Parker knew that if he keeps on ordering people out of a secure room Project 21 is going to get suspicious. But he said nothing about it.

  “How long will it take to make a full grown clone of you?” Mynik’ny’nuta asked Parker.

  “Why?”

  “Just answer the question.” La’jyn’eu snapped back.

  “Eight days. You know it won’t work. They have the technology to tell the difference between me and a clone.” Parker added.

  “I kind of figure that they did.” La’jyn’eu said.

  “Then why do you want to make a clone of me?”

  “It’s part of a HIDSO trick.” La’jyn’eu said.

  “What kind of trick?”

  “You know Parker, its best that you don’t ask. Shut up! Now when will Admiral Lowenthal arrive?” La’jyn’eu asked Parker. La’jyn’eu was starting to get tired of Parker’s constant whining, and so was Mynik’ny’nuta.

  “Thursday.”

  La’jyn’eu then turned to Mynik’ny’nuta and both of them started to talk in their native tongue. She then looked at Parker like, she felt sorry for him. La’jyn’eu look at Parker and said nothing.

  “What? What were the two of you talking about? It’s about me isn’t it?” Parker asked, being deeply concerned for himself.

  “Parker… I’m going to tell you this in the most strongest possible since of the words: Mynik’ny’nuta and myself are professionals; we know that we get on your nerves, we will help you to the best of our abilities. And if we have to do anything that is rough and hard for you, we will try our best to lighten the load.” La’jyn’eu said in a calm compassionate way.