by K. L. Lewis
DeMarcus backed away. “Oh…uh…sorry.”
The man’s face was cold and stiff as stone. “I see you’re new. I’m Principal David Cayce of the Iyrons Academy. Good to see you’re making friends.”
“Um, hi. I’m DeMarcus Maahes.” DeMarcus held out his hand.
Cayce kept his hands behind his back as he looked at him. “Nice to meet you. I caution you to stay out of trouble. Good day.”
Cayce walked away as the three continued to class, with Tyrone making faces behind the man’s back. That went well.
“I hate that guy,” Tyrone scoffed. “Quick to believe the first thing he hears. I heard he used to be a Commander in the NAF Navy. Can’t believe granddad made him principal.”
They reached their class, a room with three rows of desks arched in front of a wide lightboard and a projector at the center of the room. Didn’t look like there was any assigned seating given Tyrone’s insistence for DeMarcus to sit with him and Sarah, and the other students just sat anywhere and talked until the bell.
Mr. Bann, a human teacher, entered the room with his Assistaroid. He looked nothing special, no marks, spots or strips visible on his body, just a normal man with short blonde hair and cream skin. He took a dull look at his tablet before greeting the class with a smile. “Welcome back, everyone! Today we’re starting one of the most important topics in NAF history: The UCR Fracture.”
“Sounds like a breeze,” said DeMarcus.
Tyrone chuckled. “I bet.”
Bann’s Assistaroid levitated above the lightboard. “Before we begin, we have a new student in the class room. DeMarcus Maahes, would you please stand up?”
DeMarcus slouched in his seat. Why the hell should he? Tyrone nudged him to stand, and DeMarcus rose and waved at the class. “Um…hi…everyone?”
“Welcome to NAF History. We hear that you are Yue’s adoptive brother,” Said the robot, sending the class into a murmur. “We hope that you make yourself comfortable.”
“Yue’s brother, huh?” said Bann. “Might be great to have another one of you around.”
Bann turned to the board, writing the topic with his lightmarker while the projector etched images of protestors, riot police, destroyed buildings, and soldiers in the air. Underneath the images rose a faded shape of the North American continent in the middle of the room, with the old United Costal Republics highlighted in red between Canada and Mexico.
“Now then, the Era of Hell,” Bann began as images from the projection followed his words, “a long period spanning from the late 400s to the early-800s in which parahumans became a growing demographic in the country. Often considered a side-effect of the Great Wipe’s dark age predating the Res Novae calendar, the restart of daily life before Year 0 didn’t erase the history of the past, and it’s rather ironic how many people in the old UCR forgot its history back when it was once called the United States of America during the Anno Domini calendar. Once again, there was division, with parahumans seen as unnatural or inferior.”
“However, many natural humans did realize this repetition and combated the hostility, no longer tolerating a repeat of their ancient sin,” the Assistaroid added, with images of the old UCR Congress appearing on the map. “This led to conflict up to the federal level of the old UCR government, with some politicians seeking to ‘protect humanity’ and ‘justice for Earth’ whereas others were more welcoming of the growing parahuman population.”
“Like we don’t know where this is going, huh, class?” Bann mused, sparking a slight laugh from several students. “And of course, some states once again attempted succession. This time, however, they succeeded, sparking the Civil War resulting in the Fracture of the UCR into three new nations.”
The projection of the UCR carved itself and lit into three different regions as Bann called them by name. “Pacific America of the west in red, the North Atlantic Republics in the north-east in green, and the South Atlantic States in blue commonly referred to as the ‘American Empire’ with its expansionist tendencies. The first two had their differences, with the Republic aligned with European nations and Canada, and the Pacific States with the countries in the Pacific. Both were, however, more pro-Parahuman compared to the anti-Parahuman AE.”
The combined size of the Pacific America and the North Atlantic didn’t go unnoticed. “So what was so great about the American Empire?” asked a parahuman student. He threw images of soldiers from the other two countries marching over and fighting the AE. “The others were bigger than it. Why couldn’t they join together and beat the AE?”
“They did, but they still couldn’t beat the AE,” Tyrone explained. With his tablet, he sent silhouettes of the PS and NR soldiers bickering at each other over the North American continent. “Sure their armed forces were bigger than the AE, but there was disorganization in their plans that made things difficult. You can have the biggest army in the world and it won’t mean anything if you can’t use it right. So their operations often failed until they started fixing themselves up.”
Bann nodded at Tyrone’s answer.
DeMarcus opened the text from his tablet, adding graphs and sending images of drones and ships from the AE blasting away the other two countries. “There’s also the AE’s greater capabilities,” he noted. “A lot of the original UCR’s military command and industry relocated to the AE, giving it a stronger military, and allowing it to outfight the two nations combined. They produced war drones at a faster rate than the other two could take out. And that’s made worse with many of their mobile facilities that launched the drones behind enemy lines during a conflict. Any fight they got in was already decided until the AE started losing steam with the arrival of Iuvian forces late in the conflict.”
As DeMarcus added to his description, Tyrone and Sarah’s jaws dropped, and DeMarcus’s eyes darted around at the murmuring everyone made about him. Mr. Bann’s eyes widened. “Wow. That’s…rather high level, DeMarcus,” he said. “Something I’d expect more from Tyrone given his family’s ties to Iuvia.”
DeMarcus smiled and shrugged. “I’m full of surprises lately.”
“Well, surprise me more,” Bann said. “Why did the AE lose the civil war?”
DeMarcus felt the eyes of the other students zero in on him, his own darting around at everyone waiting for his answer. “They didn’t? Technically? It was actually a stalemate once Iuvia came into the picture thanks to an AE attack on their Caribbean territories, and it further escalated into the Solar War when the AE dragged the Sinic Republics into it.”
Bann smiled. “Impressive. Did Tyrone teach you all that?”
“I wish,” Tyrone answered, still stunned of DeMarcus’s knowledge.
“Looks like you have some competition then, Iyrons. I’m glad DeMarcus mentioned Iuvia’s involvement, because that brings us to the next topic on the Fracture—”
The lecture continued for the next hour until the bell for the next class. For DeMarcus, it was Physical Education with Yue and Mitch alongside him. Better yet was Crystal Shay who was also a part of his class. The class was split into two teams, with DeMarcus, Yue, and Mitch’s team on one side, and Crystal and her blonde human friend Elene on the other. Yue’s crooked smile toward the two girls gave DeMarcus weird vibes as the class stood ready for a game of warball.
Several blocks rose from the floor as cover, and the game began. Soft, golf-sized spheres flew into the air, growing as big as ancient basketballs as the teams caught and threw them at each other. DeMarcus hadn’t had this much fun in forever as he ducked from the spheres thrown at him, and nailed another player with his own. He saw Crystal eying him, smiling with a sphere in hand. He smiled back, wanting to talk to her after ducking her shot. But before he got a word out he got beaned in the head by Elena.
“Got him,” Elene cheered, high-fiving Crystal.
Well that certainly wasn’t the way he expected to strike out.
Come the lounge hour, where the students in the Yard hung about and ate their lunch, DeMarcus sat with
his friends at a round table as they shared their day. “So, DeMarcus here upstaged me in History over the Fracture,” said Tyrone.
“And here we thought only you knew the advanced stuff,” said Yue.
“My mom always said it was one of the most important things to know. That old saying, ‘those who fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it?’ "
“No doubt everyone was shocked that someone knew more than Ty,” said Mitch.
“Mr. Bann had a field day every time DeMarcus answered his questions,” said Sarah. “Ty here barely got a word in.”
DeMarcus’s head turned to Crystal Shay passing his table, his nose following the whiff of her sweet berry perfume as she looked back at him. His mind went fuzzy until he heard Mitch call his name. “DeMarcus? DeMarcus!”
“Huh? What?” DeMarcus’s head shook and turned to Mitch’s voice.
“Dude, come on. Are you really that into her?” Mitch asked.
“Yeah, why?”
“Because she probably won’t even notice you?” Mitch answered.
Yue slumped on her wrist, scowling at Crystal. “It’s like those Terranet dramas from the ancient past. You’d think we’d know better, but nope, we still have pain in the asses like her.”
“Yeah, she’s a bitch,” said Sarah. “But who knows what she’ll think of DeMarcus? He’s new, she might find him interesting.”
The encouragement lifted DeMarcus’s spirits, but he saw that Yue didn’t share his optimism. “I honestly wouldn’t get his hopes up,” she said. “She’ll make a fool out of him like plenty of others.”
“Well, how about this: if she does make a fool of him you can chew her ass out,” said Tyrone, cracking a sinister smile on Yue’s face.
“Okay, here I go.” DeMarcus stood up and made steps over to Crystal’s table to the worry of his friends. His underarms sweated as he wondered what to say until he noticed that other kid, Rafeal, walking his way. He hoped he didn’t bother him, sighing in relief that all that happened was their shoes brushing together.
But Rafeal stopped and turned toward DeMarcus, as if offended by their slight touch. “Hey, you dwit!” he shouted.
DeMarcus jumped, and turned around to Rafeal. “Me?”
“Yeah, you! You just ran me over!”
“Huh?” Run him over? DeMarcus barely touched him.
Rafeal walked up, his fist tensing at his side as he stared DeMarcus in the eyes. “I don’t hear an apology!”
DeMarcus stepped back, but stood his ground. “Sorry? Look, I don’t want any trouble.”
“Doesn’t look like it!” Rafeal grabbed him by the shirt. Then he blinked and eyed DeMarcus up and down. “You know, I don’t think I’ve seen you around. You must be new?”
DeMarcus grimaced. “You figure that out on your own?”
That remark earned him a toss to the floor, and a spike of pain shot from his old wounds. He clenched his stomach as every student in the vicinity stood in silence, watch Rafeal crack his knuckles on his way toward DeMarcus. “Smartass, huh? Let’s teach you some respect.”
“Yo, Rafeal!” Tyrone shouted. Rafeal turned around to Tyrone and Yue standing up to him, both ready to maul Rafeal for his next step. “How about you back off my friend before I teach you some respect?”
“So, the school star’s in league with this runt?” Rafeal chuckled, with a group of his friends behind Tyrone laughing with him.
“It must take one to know one,” said DeMarcus. “Probably why you pick on others.”
A human boy sitting by the solar trees laughed. “Kid thinks he’s tough.” DeMarcus glared at him over those words, reminding him of his attackers.
“Shut it, Vearez!” Rafeal commanded, silencing the boy. Rafeal walked away from DeMarcus, growling toward Tyrone. “Tell your little friend here to stay out of my way then!” he said, ramming his shoulder into Tyrone’s as he walked off.
“Stop acting like a sad little boy and we might,” Yue threw back.
Mitch and Sarah helped DeMarcus up as Tyrone and Yue joined them. “You alright?” Tyrone asked.
“That could’ve gone better,” said DeMarcus
“Let’s put the love confession on hold for now,” said Yue as they went back to sit down.
DeMarcus’s heart sunk. Talking to a girl almost led to a fight. Of all the advice his mother gave him, none of it dealt with girls. He sweated at Crystal and her friends clustering up and giggling his way. He never felt more embarrassed. Well, he’ll try again next time, hopefully without Rafeal to ruin it.
CHAPTER 12 – PLAZA OF TERROR
Sitting in class, slouched over his desk as the science instructor lit the projector with images of the human heart and blood cells, DeMarcus had his eyes glued on Crystal sitting right next to him. He hid his smile on his wrist, tapping his stylus on his tablet as he made an occasional glance at her. The tip of his tail twitched and flicked about, and he kept himself locked in his seat as his mind buzzed on how to approach her. Not that she paid him any attention, her eyes glued on her tablet with its bright screen’s making her copper-brown eyes sparkle as she scribbled the class notes down.
How to get her attention, he wondered. She was right there, he could just say hi. But what if she felt bothered by him? What if the teacher noticed him and called him out? And more importantly, what about her did Yue want him to steer clear of?
His eyes wandered around the room, his mind still buzzing until he noticed the clock that was a minute until dismissal. He tapped the clock on his tablet, showing the time all the way down to the second—five, four, three, two, one…
At the sound of the bell, Crystal rose from her seat as the students gathered their items and poured out of the doors. Now was his chance.
He followed Crystal out into the school plaza, where she sat alone at one of the benches. He took one step, then paused as the hairs on his neck rose. He looked left, then right, watching the heads of the students bob around the area. The last thing he wanted was a repeat of last time with Rafeal. When the coast was clear, he made his way over, standing by the seat right next to Crystal. “Is this seat taken?” he asked.
Crystal looked back at him and the seat. “No, you can have it,” she said.
A wide smile grew on his face as he took the invitation and sat beside her once again. “So, how’re you? Studying over the notes from last period?”
“I’m mostly just waiting for my friends to get here,” Crystal said without looking back at him. “We’re about to head out.”
“Out to where?”
“The Rula Megaplaza. Mostly to hang out.”
“I heard they had a massive magna-rink there,” said DeMarcus.
Crystal’s eyes met his as her brow rose in confusion. “You’ve never been there?”
“Not yet,” he answered. “I’m kinda new here. But my friends were going to show me around someday.”
“Oh really?” Crystal said with a smile. “So, where are you from then?”
“Well,” DeMarcus paused as he chose his words. “Last place I lived at was the river city of Houston before coming here. Then…a bunch of stuff happened.”
“What kinda stuff?” Crystal asked, seeming more curious.
“The attack in the city…I lost my mother from it.”
The smile he saw on Crystal’s face changed to one of sorrow as she made a brief look away before meeting his eyes again. “Oh. I’m sorry to hear that.”
“It’s okay,” he said. “It’s still a lot for me to take in.”
Was that something to say? He wasn’t sure. And from the look of Crystal nipping her lip, he thought he might have screwed up in talking to her.
Then, Crystal closed her tablet and smiled as she leaned closer to him. “Well, if you want, maybe I can help you feel better?”
“How?”
He saw a smirk on her face as she took his hand and led him to a corner of the plaza out of view of the general academy. The soft cuff of her grip took him by surprise, and he nearly trip
ped as she pulled him along. When she stopped, DeMarcus found himself blur as another tug pressed him against a wall and found himself nose-to-nose with Crystal.
His face froze in shock, and his eyes swept toward the academy. “Uh, wait…what’re you doing?”
Not another word was said when Crystal’s lips pressed on his. He melted into a puddle as his arms lost all control and wrapped around Crystal. Then his ears jumped as a massive booms echoed in the air…FHOOM…FHOOM…FHOOM!
DeMarcus jumped at the yellow flashes of explosions that scorched around him, and his eyes flashed bright. He found himself in a heavy daze on a soft cloud in a purple room of twilight. He thought he was in heaven at first, then realized it was just his own room, with the red heavy blanket still draped over him.
He noticed he had his arms wrapped tight around his pillow, and his whole body was soaked, his whole shirt drenched in sweat. He smashed his fist into his mattress and wished he were asleep again. With a quick glance at the clock, he growled at the time—four-thirty in the morning, five hours before school!
Why the hell did he wake up now of all times? Better yet, who woke him up? There was a loud noise outside his room…BAM…BAM…BAM!
“Yue!” That was Amy shouting. “Hurry up!”
So that’s who woke him? His eye twitched with wrath as he resisted the urge to throw his pillow at the wall the moment his feet touched the carpet. He took a breath, stood up, and went outside.
The banging grew louder…BAM…BAM…BAM!
“Yue! I know you hear me! You’ve been in there for thirty minutes!”
When DeMarcus opened the door, his ears rung from the barrage of noise that filled the air. “WHO THE HELL ASKED YOU TO KEEP TRACK, YOU LITTLE BRAT?” Yue roared.
He quickly closed the door. Holy crap, that was loud! And he still heard them go at it through the walls. “YOU CAN’T TALK TO ME THAT WAY!” Amy yelled back. “NOW OPEN UP!”
“I have another way of talking if that door moves an inch,” Yue warned.
Is this what it’s like to have sisters?
