Zen strolled up to the door just as Isaias stepped out of a brown sedan. His jovial mood was missing and he kept staring at a piece of paper in his hand with uncertainty. Zen waited for him to approach the house before slipping her thumb into the slide and unlocking the house.

“What do you have there, Isaias?” she asked, stepping into the small house and heading to the couch. Isaias sighed and followed her, showing her the paper.

“I passed the equivalency test for the Guerreros army force. I could essentially become a Guerrero now.”

Zen stared at him before squealing and hugging the hell out of him. “This is great! You can move out of servitude and that gang! You should be thrilled!”

“Zen, I’ll have to move away and besides, mom won’t like it.”

Zen let him go slightly and stared into his eyes. “Isaias, do you want to do this?”

Isaias ran his hand through his hair and nodded. “Yeah, sis I think I do.”

“Then go for it. If mom says no then there is always uncle. I’d hate to go over her but if it's something you really want then…”

“You think uncle would let me into the Guerreros?”

“Psh, if he knows what’s good for him, he will!”

Isaias laughed. “Hell hath no…”

Zen's hug tightened. “Finish that sentence dear brother and you’ll find out personally,” she muttered.

“Ok Ok, you win. Still, I don’t think mom will like this.”

“That’s her problem, pretty boy!”

The sound of a car driving up got their attention. The door slammed and heavy footsteps sounded. A few curse words were caught by the twins as their mother arrived at the door in a temper. She put her tailcoat on the rack by the door and stomped into the kitchen searching for pots and pans.

Zen sat up and moved to help her. The slam of a heavy pot upon the kitchen counter, made the twins jump.

“Mama? Do you need help?” Zen asked worriedly.

Rosa turned to her children who were staring at her in alarm. She smoothed back her flyaway hair from her bun and sighed. “It was a trying day at work is all,” she said taking the pot and filling it with water. They always cut the water at eight every night. She set it against the fire and let it boil.

“Go take your baths. This will take a while to make,” she said shrugging one shoulder and smiling.

Isaias rose from the couch and snuck towards his room. “I call dibs,” he said.

“Oh no, you don’t! You take forever and take all the hot water, Isaias,” screamed Zen as she rushed to her room and got her things but, it was too late and Isaias had taken the bathroom.

“Great,” she muttered slamming her hand against the closed bathroom door. “Don’t take forever please!”

“No promises,” came Isaias’s muffled laughter through the door and Zen groaned.

Rosa chuckled at her children’s antics.

Thirty minutes later Zen was screaming bloody murder at Isaias as she took a bath in cold water. Rosa left the stove to Zen and took her bath then returned long used to cold showers. That didn’t mean she preferred them. She served everyone on plastic plates, took out the warm water, and set it on the dinner table. Everyone began to eat their food which was a strange supplementary soup, with all the required nutrition. It tasted like crap though.

“So how was everyone’s day,” Rosa said.

Zen grinned and started on her day with the Constantines and the boy she met.

“He tried to steal Suzanna’s palm book, and I should have let him. Would have taught her a lesson to allow strangers in her house. I’d probably get the blame though and I need the job,” Zen said smirking as she remembered the devilish smile the boy had. Rosa smiled and turned to Isaias who was bouncing his leg under the table. A nervous tick. Isaias turned to her smirking. “I almost snapped Luis’s neck today,” he muttered.

Zen gaped and Rosa sighed holding the bridge of her nose. “Isaias!”

“He talked jack about my family! He earned it!”

“Still he’s your cousin and your boss.”

Isaias scoffed. “Everyone knows I’m the one who runs things there mom. Besides, I want to do something else.”

Rosa’s eyebrows rose. “Oh like what? There isn’t much a Low can do.”

Isaias began to bounce his leg again. “Today the Guerreros came for the annual interrogation and exam. I took both, no thanks to Luis, and was the only one who passed both. If you sign off on the permission form I can become a Guerrero mom.”

Rosa chuckled. “You? A Guerrero? The training would wear you down before you graduate,” she said, shaking her head.

Zen frowned. “Why do you say that, Mama? We’ve trained with them before. They don’t do such difficult things. Isaias could join them and probably surpass them if given a chance.”

“Bernado was probably taking it easy on you Zen. The Guerreros are his fighting force. His Army for god’s sake! He wouldn’t cut corners with them! Knowing what you know about your brother do you think he can fit into such a strict fighting force?”

Zen looked at Isaias who had his jaw locked and was tapping the table incessantly. She turned to her mother. “He deserves the chance to try, Mama.”

“Once you wash out of the Guerreros it's employment suicide! I won’t let him commit such idiocy! He has a good job with the Hormigueros as a poison maker. He’ll stay that way!”

“If he makes the Guerreros he could become a working-class mama,” argued Zen trying to make her mother see reason.

“And if he fails he becomes a dreg! I won’t allow it!” Rosa screamed, slamming her plastic plate against the wooden table. It didn’t do much, but it was a sign that the conversation was over. Well almost.

“Do you have no faith in me, Mama?” Isaias asked sending a wounded look to Rosa before getting up and dumping his plate in the waste bin. Then he made his way towards his room and shut the door.

Zen followed her twin glaring at her mother and knocking on his door. It opened and let her through. Rosa sighed and got up from her chair to throw away the trash.

Once more I’m the bad guy!

###

Zen held her brother as he stared at his brown walls with red-rimmed eyes a tear falling from their liquid surface.

“Zen, Am I unreliable?” He muttered.

Zen sighed. “No, and you know that! You may resort to humor more often than not but no you’re not unreliable Isaias. Mama is just scared for you and doesn’t know how to show it well. She didn’t mean that. You’re more dependable than me and she knows it.”

“Then why did she say that Zen? It hurt.”

“Like I said fear made her say it.”

Isaias turned to Zen. “You don’t do that and I’ve seen you scared.” A slight pinch made him jump slightly.

“I’m not Mama, pretty boy!”

Isaias. “Nope. You’re deadlier,” he muttered rubbing his arm.

Zen smirked and pulled away. “Well, what now? Are you going over Mama’s head?”

“I don’t have a choice Zen. This is my chance to rise! I can’t let it slip away!”

Zen nodded. “Then, you know what you have to do. Hopefully, Mama can forgive you one day.”

“Me too,” he said tapping his ear. A screen of names appeared before him and he scrolled to the top of the list before selecting it.

The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

Click

“Isaias! Mijo! What do want?” asked a jovial voice.

“Capo Jimenez. Is uncle busy?”

“No, but you know how it is with Dons. Why?”

“I was hoping to talk with him about a private matter.”

“I’ll run the extension. Good luck Isaias!”

Beep.

“This is Don Arrio.”

“Hey, uncle.

“Isaias! What is it I’m busy!”

Uncle your Guerreros came to the Hormiguero’s base for their yearly interrogation and recruitment. I passed their tests but Mama won’t sign the permission slip. I would like to talk with you about it. I want to become a Guerrero.”

“...Are you sure about this?”

Isaias turned to Zen and she squeezed his hand.

He smirked. “Hell yeah.”

“Then come by my office around one o’clock.’

Click.

Isaias took a deep breath and let it out slowly.

“What did he say?” Zen asked patting his back.

“To meet him at his office at one tomorrow.”

Zen sighed and nodded. “Good luck tomorrow hermano.”

Isaias turned to her and smiled. “Thanks, hermanita.”

###

Isaias had tucked the piece of paper into his brown jeans pockets as he got ready for work. He left the same way as yesterday and spent the day by Shea’s side making some different poisons. At lunch, he took off running down the street to the enforcement building to grab a pass to see the Don. As usual, it took a while. Then he begged a ride from Marie Elena. His cousin succumbed to his charm and drove him into sector one where his uncle’s office was stationed. He showed his pass to the guard and quickly entered the building.

Looking at his timepiece he sighed. Not one yet. He stood by a large column as Lows were not allowed to sit before the other classes and there were Elite’s there waiting on his uncle. They were to be seen first. Finally, it was his turn. He turned to enter a cerulean blue room with golden highlights set off by an onyx desk polished until it shone like a diamond. On top were files and papers of all kinds and behind sat his imposing uncle tapping a pen rhythmically on a folder.

“I said one mijo.”

“I was here at one but there were Elites in front of me,” Isaias replied sitting on the cushy chair before his uncle and unfolding the papers from his pocket.

“Hmm, sometimes I forget you are a Low. Well let me see them,” Bernado said as Isaias handed over his papers. He was surprised at the score. Not many people scored so high on the test. It was no wonder his Guerreros were salivating after him. They needed new blood. Twenty-five thousand men and women weren’t enough in his opinion.

“Impressive Isaias and you say Rosa won’t sign off on the permission slip?”

“No. Mama has no faith I could become a Guerrero but it’s not her choice. I’ll be eighteen in November. Til then I need her permission. I’m going over her and asking yours. Do I have it?”

“Is that all you want? With a score like this, you could enter as a sergeant already.”

“No uncle I want to earn my place like everyone else. Besides I have to work on my attitude a bit if I want to make sergeant first,” Isaias said smirking.

Bernado nodded. “Welcome to the Guerreros then Isaias. You have today to move into the barracks and a week to give notice to your gang.”

Isaias shook Bernado’s hand and nodded before leaving with signed papers.

I’m sorry mom but I got to do this.

He tucked the papers back into his pockets and grabbed the brown dimensional pocket all Guerreros wore from his uncle. It linked his things to his new room. He didn’t have much and most of what he did have were weapons and clothes. He wondered if he’d take jack for being a Low Guerrero. He shrugged. Most Guerreros were middle class. Nothing he could do about it now.

###

Zen swept the hall of the Constantines while Suzanna giggled with that boy from yesterday. He could be a serial rapist for god’s sake! She just lets him in like nothing! My mom would kill me.

Zen watched as the boy refused the android fluid again. Not that Susie’s mom knows about this. At least he’s got a decent head on those broad shoulders. Not that I’ve noticed.

She blushed when the boy winked at her. She turned her head and kept sweeping. Suzanna however noticed and frowned. She blocked Zen’s view of Stephan and kept talking to him. Hours later when she lay in a drug-induced sleep Stephan rifled through her palm book again for a certain picture he had found yesterday and downloaded it to his own palm book. Zen didn’t say a word just let him steal info from Suzanna. Suits her right for letting a crook in her home. I hope he cleans her out! Zen simply showed him out the door but curiosity got the better of her.

“What did you steal from her?” She asked him.

He gave her that devilish smile and showed her the photo. Zen cracked up. It was a photo of Suzanna in a cow costume complete with a bell. She was doing a strange dance and had her butt in the air and seemed to be mooing to an auburn-haired child with citrine eyes.

“Figured with some photoshopping it could become a really valuable picture,” he said.

“I remember that child. She was with an acquaintance of the Constantines, the Marquis. She was taken off the island six months ago. I remember because she loved watching Gretel the Invincible Cow. I used to sit and watch it with her.”

The boy stared hard at her. “Do you remember anything else about the girl?”

“No. Why?”

“That girl is my sister and I’m searching for her. She was taken from home after running away from our mother’s protection one day.”

“Oh, well if I remember anything else I’ll tell you ok?”

He nodded and started to leave before turning back to her. “I still don’t know your name.”

“Guess,” she said smiling and shutting the door.

###

The clanking of silverware filled the air as the aromas of culinary delights suffused the space around them. She could smell tender chicken breast and stuffed turkey. Her own steak and potatoes were a blend of unknown spices and buttered potatoes melted on her tongue just so. Rosa was on her date with Carmelo and so far it hadn’t been a wreck like she had thought it would be. He had picked her up and given her a nice maroon dress that fell to her knees. It felt like silk caressing her curves. No one questioned the Don about bringing a Low to a fancy dinner because she looked nothing like a Low with her coiffed hair and painted face. Now she was sitting in a restaurant and was dining with the best...again.

“I’ve forgotten what eating out felt like,” she muttered as she scooped a forkful of steak and potatoes and chewed modestly.

Carmelo smirked and chewed his own rice and chicken alajio plate. He swallowed. “It reminds me of earlier years. We used to go out all the time,” he said.

“Hmm used to. I have children now.”

“They are almost grown Rosa.”

She sighed placing her fork down. “I know but a mother’s job is never finished. Isaias wants to join the Guerreros. He passed their exam.”

“And you don’t think that he can do it? I’ve seen him act to defend his sister and he was better than good Rosa. He might need an attitude adjustment but that can be taken care of in basic training.”

“He impressed a Don then?”

“Did you ask his score on the exam?”

Rosa ran her hand through her coiffed bun and patted her hair then turned her face ashamed. “No.”

“Rosa, the boy scored high enough to be a sergeant starting off. My Arachnids were displeased that the Guerreros found him first.”

Rosa’s eyes widened. “I didn’t know! I was just so scared… I should have let him explain...when I get home I’ll talk to him. If he still wants to go...then I’ll let him.”

Carmelo nodded and wiped his face and hands. “Well Rosa, are you ready for a crash course in Intergalactic crystals?” He asked. He did promise her to tell her about Intergalactic crystals on this date and he was not one to lie. Rosa nodded and leaned in.

“The first thing to know is they choose guardians to use their powers. Only Galatians have been able to use them but they are picky. It is impossible to take a crystal from their guardian unless you are the GC.”

###

Isaias was slipping his clothes into the Guerrero-issued dimensional pocket. His weapons went into his weapons dimensional pocket strapped to his right wrist. Zen watched with red-rimmed eyes but a faint smile was over her lips. Her brother was moving on to bigger and better things.

“Don’t forget your favorite whip, Isaias,” she said pointing to the rack behind the door. It held all his choice whips, something illegal for Lows but since most looked like belts it was easy to hide, unlike her knives which she had passed for a set of cooking knives before. Whatever misguided soul thought that, needs help. Anyone can see they are for fighting. What kind of cooking knives have beacons on them? What, I can’t find the chicken or something? You shouldn’t even hire me if that was the case! Luckily it worked well for me.

Isaias turned and packed his whips. That was all of it. Everything he owned in a few sweeps. He turned to Zen and hugged her.

“It won’t be forever, hermanita,” he said smirking.

Zen punched his shoulder. “You better write me every day, Isaias.” She wiped a few tears from her face smiling proudly. They were standing in front of the house when a sports car turned up and out stepped Don Rodriguez who helped their mother out of the front seat. They both stood speechless.

Zen turned to her brother. “Well, now you can tell mama with added support Isaias,”

Rosa turned to her children. “Tell me what?” she asked as Carmelo stood beside her. From the looks her children were giving each other, he knew he would have to hold Rosa back from one of them. He wasn’t wrong. Isaias stepped up to face Rosalinda fear in his eyes.“Mama...I’m leaving.”

Rosa’s eyes narrowed. “And where will you go pray tell? You’re only seventeen!”

Isaias squared his shoulders. “To the Guerrero’s barracks. Since you wouldn’t sign the papers I asked uncle to and since he’s a Don his word is the law.”

“What!” Yelled Rosa stepping closer to her son. Carmelo held her by the shoulders and she calmed slightly.

Zen chimed in. “It was my idea, Mama. Isaias only has a few days til the exam is null and void. He wants to do this so I told him about uncle overriding your word.”

Rosa shook in disbelief. Her children had gone behind her back and gotten their uncle to override her word! How? Why? She was going to let him go just...why? She turned accusing eyes on her eldest.

“Don’t ever come back!” she screeched and collapsed into Carmelo crying. Isaias looked hurt but nodded and began his walk to the barracks.

“Mama no! Isaias! Remember to write me! I’ll be waiting,” Zen screamed making Isaias smile slightly.

Rosa turned red-rimmed eyes on her daughter.”You! Inside! You’re grounded!”

Zen nodded not wanting to upset her mother anymore tonight. She went to her room and stayed there for the rest of the night.

Outside, Carmelo was calming a frantic Rosa.

“Why would he do this!”

“Rosa, while I agree what he did was out of line, you didn’t handle it much better. He’s seventeen and a rebel. Don’t you remember how you were at their age?”

“I didn’t go against my father to join the Guerreros, Carmelo!”

“Of course not when you fought tooth and nail to be included with us boys when you were fifteen...remember Rosa? You refused to wear dresses and comport yourself like a lady of standing unless you could join the boys in the training field.”

Rosa sighed. “Yes, I remember.”

“Don’t let this separate you from Isaias, Rosalinda.”

Rosa nodded and bade, Carmelo, goodbye before entering house 76. It was too quiet without Isaias.