CHAPTER TWO
Lezura spent five months in search of the Rakai, and her search finally landed her in Manhattan.
During the course of that time, Lezura had to sneak up on a woman in Cairo, drag her in a corner with the aid of Donnowarru, and copy the woman’s appearance with her honoi and paste in on herself.
Now Lezura looked like a black haired human female with delicious chocolate colored skin. Her eyes were in a same beautiful brown, and though her ears were now rounded, she still had her acute hearing.
She had travelled across Egypt, half of Europe, across the Atlantic and ended up in the U.S. She learnt Arabic, Dutch, French and English, all within five months thanks to her great intellect. She had learnt enough of each country’s history to properly integrate herself with the population—but that was not to say she didn’t have her difficulties.
It wasn’t easy travelling the world in alien vehicle without arousing some attention. Most difficult was to get fuel for her Thwopter. She spent some of her time doing some jobs in these countries; changing human races at time to match they society. But she found that the dark skin worked well with the sun, though not well when it came to employment.
When the money wasn’t enough, she was forced to gathered kilos of algae and converts them to ethanol fuel for her Thwopter. The flight across the Atlantic was long and tedious, and even required the help of the wizard Donnowarru to carry her and the Thwopter when it ran out of fuel.
So now on this warm day, glowing with the essence of life from animal to plan, Lezura strolled through Central Park to where she had hidden her Thwopter.
She walked across the bow bridge, where the water at her sides sparkled in rippling light. She admired the beauty of the swans floating on the top, and watched some children give offerings of bread crumbs to the bird and the fishes.
The season was fall, triggering the leaves of the trees into their display of warm colors. Lezura passed the bridge and went along the path to a great cluster of bushes a few yards away. She saw a few human males giving her knowing winks and stares.
Wearing a silver silk dress with a white blouse beneath it and in black slippers, she was quite the looker, even with her prescription glasses. Normally a nycarman saw forty meters less than the average human, and had to compensate for it with the aid of lenses. But Lezura knew she would have stood out had she wore her electronic goggles, so she switched to these.
She carried a single-strap bag full of gasoline for her Thwopter. The acrilium battery in the machine could last for up to four years, but that energy could only be used for antigravity orbs.
Lezura walked pass a group of men dressed in kilts and playing bag pipes for passersby and those who stopped to listen. She headed right for a huge cluster of bushes that seemed too dense and tick for any right-minded minded person to venture into. They could walk a few metes into it as Lezura did now, but seeing the rest of the dense growth anyone would have turned back.
But Lezura didn’t, because she knew that it was all an illusion.As she walked into it she felt ripples of low static against her skin. Not painful, but it made her ears flex irritatingly, and had she had body hair she would have gotten goose bumps.
She walked out of the illusion and into a small glade, large enough to house her Thwopter. Lezura still didn’t underestimate the curiosity of the humans, so she attacked a Fizzer onto her Thwopter. It seemed that nothing was in the space, but closer inspection revealed that the air shimmered like heat.
Lezura took a remote from out of her bag and pressed a few buttons on it. The shimmering slowed until the air wobbled, slowly materializing the Thwopter.
She immediately proceeded to open the fuel port at the left of the front of the Thwopter and empty the gasoline cartons into it.
She noticed a daisy next to her foot, withered and abandoned while the others were strong and prideful like white light bulbs in the sun. Lezura touched the flower, a spark of pink energy appeared on her fingers, and the daisy stood up like a newly crowned knight.
“Where the hell have you been?” said a voice.
Lezura sighed and rolled her eyes. She put down the carton and looked behind her to see a raccoon approaching her. It rose on two feet, shimmered with blue energy. Its body contorted and bulged until it became Donnowarru.
Lezura liked Donnowarru more when he was a cute furry critter.
“I told you I was going to get some fuel, Donnowarru,” said Lezura.
Donnowarru didn’t look too happy for some reason. Well, he never really looked happy at all! But he seemed to be a little grumpier right now.
“Is something wrong?” said Lezura.
“I was just chased by those blasted furry monsters again!” said the wizard.
Lezura tried to stifle a laugh, but considering how rude Donnowarru always is to her she grinned at him.“I told you to avoid those animals,” said Lezura. “By the way, they are called squirrels.”
“I do not care what they are called,” said Donnowarru, “they are bloody monsters! Hurry up and go find the Rakai so I can get off this wretched planet!”
“Do not order me around like your house-girl,” said Lezura. “I have to make sure that everything is in order when I meet the Rakai.”
“You are speaking as if there might even a world to save when you get back,” said the wizard.
Lezura felt her gut wretch like a gronk gripped her. She had been trying to put that thought on the back burner of her mind, replacing it with wondrous things about Earth. She had spent five months here on Earth. Based on what Blinchi had recorded, Earth’s time was a little faster that on Sangetsu. But regardless, at least three months could have past back on her home world.
Each night Lezura wondered how far things could have gone; how far the Prestige System had stretched its tentacles of power in the sea of helpless people.
Would there even be anything to save when I get back? Lezura thought. Of course there is! I have to have faith. I have to be strong for her.
“I have faith that the Rakai will change the world,” said Lezura.
Donnowarru scoffed. The way he saw it, if the second Rakai Conner Wondonder could not stop the invasion, what chance did they have now that the other side had taken over. “You keep telling yourself that, little woman. The only reason I am even here to help you is because those damn wizards cast a squire’s spell on my soul. I have to help you regardless of how I feel.”
“That is fine with me,” said Lezura with a smile. She put the empty cartons in a disposable plastic bag. She got up and took the compass from around her neck and examined it. The key was glowing, wobbling unstably under some magnetic pull. “We have to go to the east now, on 5th Avenue.”
Lezura hid back the compass and searched her back for her valuables. She took out her utility belt, and removed her silk dress to expose her white blouse with the Yankee logo in red on the chest, and blue jeans.
She tied the utility belt around her waist, and dropped her blouse over it, though the things beneath it still bulged. She put on a tight bag-pack, that was actually her combat weapon compacted inside.
It wouldn’t be the best disguise, and she was sure that she would be getting some stares. But it was the best she could do on such short notice. She stepped from her Thwopter and activated the Fizzer. The Thwopter vibrated so fast that the molecules were impossible to see, and the Thwopter vanished into a shimmer.
She turned to Donnowarru, who had transformed into a lizard and leaped onto her shoulder.
“Time to go Rakai hunting,” said Lezura. Lezura considered how dehumanizing the term was. She stepped out of the bush and said, “Let’s go find the Rakai!”
The people and squirrels around her stopped and stared at the woman who had made the outburst. Lezura nervously looked at each of them. She smiled.
On sight of her braces everyone went on their way.
As soon as Joey had left Swanson, he went back home and stashed some of his funds. He had some serious work to put down now. First of all he had to get a bath, and without a soap that just meant stripping naked and diving off into the cold river.
Joey uttered a wail from the sensation, and sent a couple birds nearby flying away. He scrubbed himself down with his hands and hurried back to his hut.
Inside was just a bed of sponge covered by a patchy blue blanket. The sun poked curious beams of light into the dusty interior through the many holes in the wall. The wind lifted a lose part of the tarpaulin that acted as the roof. There was a poster of the popular Killzone video game he stole off the window of a store, along with a couple other posters; including the photograph of an alien.
His few clothes were hung on a rack in a corner. He put on a green top and brown shorts and headed out with a few thousand dollars in his pocket, packed a bag full of his equipment and headed out for central park.
He grabbed six hotdogs on the way for breakfast. When he reached the city it was seven forty. He stashed the bag in the back alley of a Macy’s store, and went inside and bought himself nice set clothes to wear.
Joey got rid of his old set and dropped a green cotton shirt with a Lucky Seven Logo and tight burgundy jeans.
Next Joey went to a beauty salon, trying his best to charm the women as they tried to run him out. Once again he got their smiles and approval when he popped out a thousand dollars for their service. Joey got his hair did and his nails and toes cleaned.
He thanked the women and left.
One of the women, a stout figure named Betty, said to one of her friends, “Julie.”
“What?” said the other as she moisturized a woman’s hair.
“Doesn’t that kid seem kinda odd?” she said. “You know—coming in here with a thousand dollars and all.”
“…I guess…” said Julie. “Now that you mention it…he does look a little familiar.”
It was not until later when Julie was having lunch; which was her usual drink and smoke, that she noticed the wanted poster on the wall.
She chocked on the smoke in her windpipe. Now she remembered where she saw the kid from. And now she was about to get two thousand dollars. She took out her cellphone and dialed the number for the police, giving a detailed description of the Four-foot Slugger, and the nice hairstyle she gave him. She also recommended the officer to let his wife stop buy sometime—and inquired about her reward.
Last up Joey went to Central Park just moments before the instructor for the Outdoor Fitness Program began.
The woman was immediately interested in the handsome young man; a bit short, but with some wiry muscles in his arms, bright brown eyes and his rich brown hair combed over his head with the ends in curls—which Joey was counting on.
Joey admired the blonde woman’s lean form in her sweat shirt and tights, but got straight to the matter in requesting her help. The woman objected of course, but complied happily when Joey dropped five hundred dollars in her hand, offering to pay another five when the job was done.
Of course Joey didn’t plan on giving her a cent more, but the prospect of it would hopefully be enough to gain the woman’s trust.
With everything set, Joey took a few minutes to relax at an outdoor café. He sat in his chair waiting on his order of coffee with lots, and lots of sugar. He stared up at the billboards all around him, envisioning his face being on all of them.
Joey Sadowski: Number one rich kid, gamer, and playboy since the turn of the century. Not to mention the sexiest man alive!
Joey didn’t really care how he got there; all he needed to know was that he got there. Even if he had to continue being a criminal, that was fine by him so long as he didn’t have to kill anyone. But if ever he had to, he figured it wouldn’t be his fault.
Joey felt his happiness slipping into the past, and quickly gathered his thoughts and focused on the mission at hand. Through the melody of screaming vehicles, the news broadcasters on a few of the billboards and peoples footsteps, Joey picked up the unmistakable sound of police sirens.
It was enough to jolt his nerves, and Joey had to tell himself to relax.
Joey heard an interesting news report. He lifted his eyes to the billboard in front of his block. There was some energetic looking black-haired guy giving a report on supposed alien aircraft sighted last night coming off the coast. The image was captured on the witness’ camera phone; in full detail against the backdrop of the blackness and stars in a spherical shape and a ring of blue-lights around it.
Thirty years ago something like this would have been shocking to the public—only that thirty years ago, the rifts started opening up, and all manner of otherworldly stuff began pouring out.
First it was a supposed alien cargo ship that crashed in Nigeria. It was then that the reapers first appeared. They managed to clear all of the alien material.
Then a year later in Greece there was a spout of three rifts opening up. There was one unfortunate incident where an alien and his mate and child were running from the Greek police, and ended up getting hit by a truck. All three of them died on the spot. The authorities wanted to secure the bodies as soon as possible, but the reapers overwhelmed them and took the bodies; along with the truck.
The most recent one was seven months ago in Los Angeles when it was reported that an alien was running around the place. It took two months for him to be caught by the reapers, and by then he had caused quite a lot of trouble.
Last year alone Hollywood put out seventeen alien movies; most of which revolved around that alien they said was running around the place. Directors had been throwing lawsuits at each other about who was imitation who’s work.
So with all this unbelievable stuff happening around the world, there wasn’t much hysteria about an alien spacecraft being sighted or a talking squirrel preaching for equal rights for its species.
Joey finished his coffee that would have been sweet enough to give anyone instant diabetes. With the clock slowly ticking away to twelve o’ clock Joey took a cab to 5th Avenue.
The sun had risen to the peak in the sky, silhouetting the top of the skyscrapers and stabbing down light onto the people. But even then a few stories down the flashing lights made by men were still resilient against god’s sun.
While in the cab he noticed some police cars speeding up the road. He wasn’t sure, but he assumed they would be heading his way. He hoped the lady would be on time to play her part in it, the success of his plan counted on her.
He was near 5th avenue and with a little time to spare. So Joey used it wisely. He stopped the cab and came off. He decided to walk the rest of the way to scout out the environment.
You better not screw me over lady! Joey thought.
Across from the business store that Joey walked along side, Barney and two other smaller guys were keeping close eyes on him. All three were wearing sunglasses, but while the other two were plainly dressed, only Barney was in full black.
One of the guys, Mark, in a leather jacket and jean, said, “Yo Barney, I still think you should ditch the suit while we can man. It makes you look like a big gorilla. Plus you’re sweating like a pig, man!”
“I love these suits,” Barney said roughly. “Besides, these are what all the mafia guys are wearing…”
The other man, Rex, in a jeans jacket and sweat bottoms and a tam, said, “Dude, you’re getting stupider every day…”
Barney glowered at Rex. “Hey, watch it,” he said. “Don’t forget who’s in charge here.”
“Not for long,” muttered Mark.
“You say something?” said Barney.
“That suit makes you look gorgeous,” said Mark with fluttering eyelids.
Rex touched Barney on his big gut. “Hey, you two spouses knock it off, the kid’s making a move on that street.”
They watched Joey turn east. The three men were about to cross the street when they saw a police car slowly drive up and turn on the street Joey went. The men stopped, not wanting to catch the eye of the police. They waited until the car was out of sight before moving on.
Joey’s eyes swept the city for anyone paying too much attention to him. His gaze finally led him to look behind him, and he saw a police car approaching. Joey’s muscles tensed but he didn’t react. He knew only guilty criminals ran—and he hadn’t committed a crime, yet.
Joey pretended as if he stepped in something, stopping to look at his foot and then behind him on the ground. When he did he got a quick glance at the police vehicle. He realized that it was moving too slowly than usual. As if it was stalking.
Joey went on walking. His senses felt the creeping of the police car, and it raised the hairs on the back of his neck.
The vehicle suddenly reached alongside Joey, matching his pace on the edge of the street.
“Hey,” said the officer riding shotgun. “We need to ask you something.”
Joey figured he’d better play it cool. He stopped, so did the car. He turned to the officers and said with a smile, “What you need—directions to the donut shop?”
The officer ignored the cheeky grin on Joeys face, and said, “You’re a real laugh there, kid. Look—” as the officer spoke the other took the time to try and compare Joey’s features to the sketch of the culprit he had in his lap and the description given by the anonymous caller “—we’re looking for the nearest Pizza Hut. Do you know where we can find it?”
Joey thought: That’s back where they’re coming from. They had to see it. Unless…
Joey saw the eyes of the other officer shift from him to something in his lap.
Is he trying to put the move on me? Joey thought. No, stupid! He’s trying to confirm something. How you look!
Joey said, “I think you fellas passed it. It’s about twelve blocks back where you’re coming from.”
“Thanks,” said the officer, but his eyes clearly didn’t show it.
His partner tapped him on the shoulder for him to look at something. He did, and looked back Joey with a glint in his eyes.
Joey felt a dead weight drop in his bowels. Oh crap!
The officer said, “Hey, look, let me give a few bucks for your help.” And the officer opened the door.
Like I’m that stupid! And Joey ran away so fast that the stunned officer could have sworn he saw and after image.
He dropped back in his seat and slammed the door shut. As his partner hit the gas and let the tires screech he said into the radio on his shirt, “This is patrol unit 5 requesting backup! Repeat: this is patrol unit 5 requesting backup! The suspect has been sighted; he’s heading down on 5th avenue! He’s not arm but is still considered dangerous, over!”
The officers didn’t really wait to hear what the voice over the radio had to say, they just wanted to catch the Four-foot Slugger and get that promotion.
Joey weaved throw the crowd, nearly knocking over an old lady and a little girl in his wake. He heard the sirens screaming behind him like some terror was about to bring the world to its end.
Why the hell now of all days?
But Joey didn’t have time to complain. No. He had to focus. At this rate he could probably reach the drop point before the painting was carried off. And hopefully the instructor was there. He ran through an open mall painted in pink with dazzling lights, and out onto a street where he saw some officers hurrying across the street to greet him.
Joey made a madman’s turn, nearly slipping on the pavement, and sprinted down the block. He screamed and waved at people to get out of his way. With a quick glance behind him he saw the two officers closing on his heel.
Damn! These guys are fit. I wonder if it’s the change to pizza?
Joey touched his body for his equipment, but bitterly remembered that he left them at his rendezvous spot. His best chance was to lose these potential Olympians. Joey considered; if he stayed in the crowd they couldn’t shoot him because civilians were there, but that posed an obstacle for him as well. But if he led them anywhere else where people couldn’t see, they would probably shoot him in his little butt.
And that would be the end of it.
But he might be able to lose them.
But there were just too many people in his way.
Joey pushed two people out of his way, heading for the place he thought could work. This spot was an abandoned construction site where they wanted to build a mall, but due to some contract issues the workers had to postpone the construction. Joey didn’t know when the work would start back; he just hoped it wasn’t now.
He ran through the gate, ducked under the red tapes and into the yard of metal parts and machinery. It was almost as if the work was just being started, as the smell of burnt metal and cement mix was still in the air. Joey saw the skeletal building up ahead; with a patch in the roof on one side and some skin walls here and there.
One of the officers said into his radio, “The suspect is in the closed-off Wenton’s Mall, over!”
“Copy that,” said a woman’s voice, “We’re sending backup your way.”
Joey went into the building’s husk, a mix of dark rooms and those bathed in light. The officers were close on his tail, and suddenly lost him when he turned into a dark room. They took their positions at the door, guns raised and ready. They nodded to each other, and both spun into the room.
“Freeze!” said one officer.
But all they saw was the fluttering of a plastic tarp, and the rectangular light that played against it through a window. There was bucket and paint tins in a corner, and a copy of Flare Magazine on another.
The officer’s radio jazzed with static, and a voice said, “Patrol unit one, this is patrol unit three. We are currently in the yard. What’s your position, over?”
“The culprit’s gone out a window throw the back,” said the officer. He nodded to his partner and they hurried out of the room. “We are continuing pursuit, over and out!”
When Joey jumped through the window he landed chin first on the concrete.
The dive bomb…only works…in movies…Joey thought as he staggered to his feet. Judging by the bright sunlight he thought he would have landed outside in the dirt, but it was just another room with the roof missing. He swore under his breath and looked for the nearest exit.
He looked way down a corridor and saw a ladder. He ran for it, passing rooms on the way.
“Hold it right there!” Joey heard.
By his conditioned mind Joey went faster when he heard that. The other three officers from patrol unit three were closing in on him from the right. From the left corner of his eye he saw the other two officers on the other side of the building; their torso occasionally exposed though each window.
There was a loud bang. Joey felt a bullet nip him on his thigh. It didn’t enter his flesh but it sure stung. Joey nearly tripped but he managed to maintain his balance and continue his stride.
The stairs was just meters away.
“Hold it!” said the officer.
But Joey didn’t stop. He touched the ladder and scurried up it like a monkey. An officer reached there in time to see his foot, and he got off a shot. The bullet hit home just beneath Joey’s calf, shooting pain right up his leg. Joey uttered a loud wail. The shock and the pain stunned him. But he remembered he had a job to do.
Whimpering all the way he climbed onto the floor.
I have to make it! I have to make it! I have to make it!
He felt his warm blood soak into his pants’ foot. He tried standing on the surface. He fell once but he got up and started limping across the floor. Above was the empty roof, crisscrossed with girders and a clear plastic tarp on one side. He hopped to the wall-less end of the room. His heart rate increased with each sound of the officers’ steps as they ascended the ladder.
Joey reached the edge, looking into the vast city. He looked down and saw the jutting ledge of the floor below. He could have jumped down easily and made his escape, but with his leg he doubt he would have gotten far.
If only I hadn’t gotten shot!
“Freeze!”
And Indeed Joey’s heart skipped a beat. He felt the strength deplete from him. He lifelessly raised his hands, and limped around to five shiny 9.mm pistols staring at him.
“You aren’t going anywhere this time,” said the nearest officer. “Unless you plan to jump—and that would make it easier for us.”
Joey’s mind thought about jail—where he definitely would be going now. He had heard all those stories about the awful food, the cramped cells. And worst of all, the big, hairy, sweaty smelling men looking for fresh meat.
He grimaced. “Hey!” said Joey.
“What?” said the first officer, unflinching from his stance with his weapon.
“I’m seventeen,” said Joey feebly, “so that means I won’t be going to one of those adult prisons, doesn’t it. Plus I don’t have a criminal record. That has to count for something!”
“Yeah,” said the officer, slowly approaching Joey with the others. “It means that when your eighteenth birthday comes you’ll be spending it with the big guys.”
Joey felt his gut sink even lower. And any lower and he might be pooping out his large intestine right here and now.
“This’s It for you, Four-foot Slugger,” said the officer.
“I’m not damn short!” Joey blurted. “I’m just not that tall!”
“Excuse me…”
The voice cut through the tension like a heated knife through butter—so casual and clear.
The officers turned around to see a black woman standing at the mouth of the ladder; hands at her side and a pleasant smile on her face.
“Who’s the dork?” said Joey as he examined her.
“Shut up,” said an officer.
The first officer saw some glittery stuff in the air before his eyes. He blinked it out and said, “Raise your hands slowly. Who are you?”
She lifted her hands up to the height of her head. “My name is Lezura Hembim,” she said confidently, her voice a soft tenor without any noticeable accent. “I am an associate of the young man you are pointing—”
Lezura’s eyes caught the sight of blood on Joey’s leg, and she gasped. “My goodness!” she looked at the officers crossly. “Did you shoot him?”
The first officer lost focus for a moment. The woman seemed to be blurring. “Mam I need you to step aside.” He turned one of the officers. His felt slightly weak. And what’s with all this sparkly stuff? “Cuff him.”
The officer nodded slowly…too slowly. He stepped towards Joey, each step too slow. What the hell’s going with me? The air smells nice, though. Like daisies…
With the other guns on Joey the officer put away his weapon and reached for his cuffs. He fumbled with them even though they were right there on his hip.
“You okay, dude?” said Joey with a suspicious stare. The man was moving like he just woke up. “And what’s with all the sparkly crap around you? You look like a fairy.”
The officer’s eyelid fluttered, getting heavy. “Just…keep…quiet…crook…I’m just…a….little…” the officer stopped, and he fell flat on his face “…shhrreepy…”
Then the other officers followed the trend and fell to the floor. There was a chorus of deep snores.
Joey looked wide around him at the scene. Was it sudden luck, or had there been a divine eye keeping watch over him.
“The hell’s this…?” Joey said under his breath.
Up above on a girder, Donnowarru finished sprinkling the last of the snooze-dust from the canister Lezura gave him and sealed it back up.
Joey lifted his eyes to the woman, who was already making her way towards him. She knelt down and lifted the bloody leg of his pants.
“Hey—”
“There is no need to be alarmed,” said Lezura. “I am only checking your wound. I have some medical experience.”
Joey studied the woman keenly. “Who are you…?”
Lezura looked around the calf of the blood stained leg. She touched the wound to feel the depth of the bullet.
Joey winced. “Hey, watch it!” he said.
“You are lucky,” said Lezura, “the bullet is only a centimeter from your tendon.” She stood up, looking down at Joey. She saw Joey’s frown. “I have most of my medical equipment at my hideout. You can follow me there and—”
“Wait just a damn minute,” said Joey. “I’m not going anywhere with you. I’ve got work to do.”
Lezura was thrown off. “But you have just been shot. You need medical attention.” She was trying to break the ice with that, instead of just saying “Hey, I am a nycarman sent here to take you back to my world to fight a war”.
“What I need is for you to get the hell away from me,” said Joey dryly. “I don’t know what you did to these blue-boys, but thanks. Anyway, I’ve got somewhere to be”—Joey limped away from Lezura and made for the stairs—“so I’ll see you later, four-eyes!”
Lezura recoiled at the insult. She reached out and grabbed Joey’s arm, spinning him around.
Joey’s foot stung him. “Ahhh! What the—”
“Now look here young man!” said Lezura with a drip of venom on her tongue. “I have been looking for you for five months now, so the least you can do is listen to what I have to say.”
“Bitch what the hell’re you blabbering about?” Joey