THE COMMENCEMENT
"And the beginning carries within itself the seeds of the future ..."
*************************
The rain was incessant. Had it been some other night, the shady man would have detested the sight of it, but today was different. The lightning, the rain, and everything in between was his only bet. He was running. He had to run.
"Damn it, why can't I shake that one off? He's been tailing me forever now!" he screamed in his mind and ran down the street. Neon lights flashed in the urban area. It was a wealthy place, a place that had some importance to it. He cut into an alleyway, hoping to avoid any trouble and finally shaking his pursuer off.
The moment he entered the alley, he felt a swipe on his legs and fell crashing. His bag with the valuable papers slipped from his arms.
"I shall be returning this to the Professor safe and sound. These are far too valuable for the world to be in the hands of someone like you." The voice was deep, dark, and resonant.
After a few seconds of readjustment, the man got a better look at the assailant. He was a man in a traditional dark suit and tie, formal black shoes, and a white shirt. He had a fedora hat with a purple ribbon tied to it and a chain-like appendage that added to the icy stare of his blue and stoic eyes.
The man stood up and took out his gun. "Damn it!" he groaned and tried to take a shot but it never happened. The assailant knocked the gun right out of his hands and slammed him on the wall of the building nearby. Holding him by the throat, the assailant punched him in the solar plexus with enough force to knock him out cold.
*********
The boy paced about in the hall. It was shiny white and pristine. Something about it made him feel oddly relaxed.
"Allow me to congratulate you on a job well done, Sensei!" a man said. He was a jovial man, perhaps in his late thirties. He was in a blue suit with formal shoes and a white shirt. He had a slight beard and large sideburns.
The boy nodded.
"The papers you brought back to me were of the utmost importance. You know my job too well to know what would have happened if it fell into the wrong hands, don't you?" he said.
" I am glad I could help, Professor Rolstein." the boy said somberly.
"You do not have to be so stiff with me, boy. You are like family to me, you know." the Professor said while adjusting his glasses. " I'm sorry I called you so far out from the city. Rest a while and then return when it is convenient for you. London is a fine place after all!"
"Thank you, Professor. I will head to the Library and then be on my way." the boy said.
He took a cab to the nearest library. Even in the current digital age, nothing made him feel better than reading books in peace. He had his file with him in his bag. He took it out and looked at the cover.
[ ID NO: 4444
NAME - KAI KYOSUKE
DESIGNATION - {REDACTED}
]
Those days were over. This grim file was the only reminder that the past ever existed. The past was dead and he had no intention of reviving it.
The cab pulled up near a giant building with the name " ARZELION BOOK HOUSE".
There was a poster that was partially covered by the presence of another vehicle.
X XXX
Join the age of space-exploration and colonisation. The future is upon us.
Come to K***l City.
XXXXX
Kai did not need to read the rest. He knew that city by heart after all.
He paid the driver and left the cab. After letting out a small sigh, he entered the building.
***********
Meanwhile somewhere else.......
"Why do you think the boss has called us out here?"
"How would I know? I want to return as soon as I can. My business empire suffers when I am not around." Two men bicker about the situation.
They were in a gothic hall with old paintings. The central table had been arranged neatly. The Boss never cut corners with these showy things after all.
" Now, now, the boss has called us out. It must be quite important' a honeyed voice said. The lady was in a blue party dress. She had blonde hair and an alluring smile.
The three continue chattering as four others stay seated without talking much.
The holographic display model at the center of the table starts lighting up.
"The Boss is here at last." someone chirps.
The holographic display lights up and a shadowy figure arrives. There are faint outlines of a suit and a red tie. The face was glitched out.
"It is a pleasure to see you here, my fellow associates. This meeting has been called to discuss the papers." a metallic voice rang out. Nobody knew who the Boss was.
Those words were enough to bring all of them into a state of complete attention.
"I am glad to have your attention. Patterson has failed. He failed to retrieve the papers and was apprehended. Intel suggests that he was captured by an entity known as Sensei. The cameras in the areas have been wiped clean and we have no conclusive data regarding our friend.
Patterson will be dealt with shortly." the voice said in a monotonous drawl.
" Who is this Sensei? Patterson was one of the elites, like us. He may not have been the best of the bunch but anyone with the ability to take him out is a threat to us." someone in the hall voiced the concern.
Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.
"Do not fret. I have sent in Black to survey our friend and take him out if needed. He already has a lead. We shall continue as planned." the voice said and the hologram turned off.
The entire table seemed at ease at this. It was THE Black they were talking about after all...
*******
Kai was busy reading a book; "Arthur’s Trail". Detective fiction has always had a cathartic reaction on his nerves. He felt calm and collected.
This was a one-in-the-world bookhouse. An entire building solely containing books and a few employees somewhere within the maze. It was as peaceful as it could get and he was going to make the best he could of it.
Time had perhaps ceased to exist. The birds were chirping outside and the monotonous clicking of the giant wall-clock provided a kind of peaceful solace to a wayward soul.
“Reading detective fiction I see” a grim voice echoed.
Kai looked up.
A well-dressed person in a golden suit with a long tail-coat looked upon him with a piercing glare. He had blonde hair and eyes that resembled a dark night without stars.
Kai did not respond. He was wary of the stranger. No. He was wary of everyone. He fixed his icy glare suspiciously on the stranger.
“No need to be so cold brother!” the guy said in a jovial voice. “ I am not here for trouble. I love that book by the way. Consider it a personal favourite” the man continued.
The man had a youthful and clean face with shimmering green eyes. He had blonde hair and was fairly tall, almost as tall as Kai. He had a slender build.
“What do you want?” Kai said.
“Hmm…. What do I want indeed…..” he said comically. “I am a writer you see. I find inspiration in the happenstances that pique my interest. You, my friend, are a magnificent find! Let’s just say that you are the inspiration for my next novel.” All the while, he had a grin on his face.
Kai had always been adept at reading and analyzing. Be it books, people, situations, or events, it was all the same.
Kai noticed the goofy smile on the man’s face, the poised posture, the curious but radiant eyes, and the even breathing.
“He wants something more.” he thought.
“What drizzle is this? I am not interested in whatever you have to say.” Kai said in a sombre voice.
“Hey hey! Let us take a deep breath. So, you found out that I have some more ….. wishes. You have some wits about you, eh, fellow!” he said with a mocking confidence.
“How about this..” he said while stealthily moving up near Sensei’s right ear.
“You are not a normal person, are you? What are you hiding?” he whispered while maintaining an amused smile.
Kai had heard whatever he needed to hear. He swept into action with great speed and caught the man in a joint lock from behind. Using his brute force, he slammed him onto the table.
“Who are you? What do you want?” Kai growled.
“Ooof! Pretty strong, aren’t we, chap? My name is Melvin Havencort! Yeah, nice to meet you too!
As for what I want…… Hey! Check out the name of the author of the book that you were reading. “
XXX
Arthur’s Trail
A detective thriller by Melvin Havencort
XXX
“Thank you for your patronage!” the man said. At that instant, a smokescreen erupted from Melvin’s body and covered the entire area.
There was a white flicker as Welvin dashed away with superhuman speed and exited the bookhouse.
“Whew! That was a close one! I am glad my abilities helped me escape like this. What a cynical and unsocial bloke…” he exclaimed.
“I am sorry for being so unsocial” a grim voice replied.
“Seriously?! How the hell did you get here faster than I did?”
Welvin tried to fight his way off. He threw a jab but he felt that it only connected with Kai’s after shadow. He tried to dash away again but Kai appeared in front of him.
He clicked his tongue and tried to throw a kick but it never connected. He looked around but he could not see Kai. He did not have a moment to think for in the blink of an eye, he was on the ground and he was restrained by Kai..
“Could you ease up a bit? It hurts ya know…” Melvin comically uttered.
“I will ask you one more time. What do you want? Your well-being depends on your answer” Kai uttered menacingly with a gleam in his eyes.
“Scary! I want two things primarily. One. An inspiration. And Two, A ticket. A ticket out of this place to another one.
Look, I know you have abilities. I have some too and I can detect those with extraordinary abilities. Call it a writer’s hunch” he winked.
Kai could sense that it was the truth. He got up and let Melvin stand.
“What ticket? Explain”
“Well, you see. I have a certain bounty on my head due to some personal reasons and I need to evade the local mafia. In simpler terms, I need an escort. As you know, I am a well-known writer. I can pay you once we leave.
As for my location. I am sure you have heard of it. Kazel City” Melvin gave a smug grin.
Hearing that name, Kai gave a secret smile.
Before Kai could say anything, a blockade of black cars popped up.
“We found him. Intel was right. He is here” a man screamed. A dozen goons in formal suits stepped out with weapons.
“There’s someone with him? What should we do?”
“Dispose of them both.”
Chaos erupted as ceaseless rounds of bullets danced around like drunken nobles strutting about on the dance floor.
“Use the smokescreen that you used a while back” Kai ordered.
“Does this mean you will take my job?” Melvin teased.
“Just do it” Kai growled.
“Yes, Yes!”
The entire area was flooded by the smokescreen. Kai knocked out the closest assailants. He took Melvin and used the chaos and the lack of sight to move into one of the smaller alleyways.
“Why are they after you?”
“I write too damn well you know! They must be so jealous of me” Melvin winked.
“Kai is exasperated beyond belief. He rolls his eyes. The man must want to keep it secret. Kai was not the prying kind. Besides, he could sense no ill will from the person.
“ I happen to be heading towards Kazel city myself. I will take you there. At this point, I may not have much of a choice.” Kai sighed.
“Thanks for your patronage my friend”, Melvin bowed.
“Stop fooling around and listen to me. I have a contact here who can secure us a path to Kazel via one of the Velcian Jets. The fastest commercial private birds. Don’t ask any questions. “ Kai said.
“Well connected, are we?” Melvin teased.
Kai took out a couple of things from his bag.
He tossed a round circular tech piece to Melvin.
“Use this. It will hide us from all the radars and create false identities for us in the cyber-space for as long as it is active.”
He also took out a set of fedora hats.
“Wear this and keep your face as covered as you can.”
Melvin whistled and used the things without complaint.
They walked down a few alleyways and entered a large airfield near a docking bay.
Melvin started staring intently at all the streamers and planes in the area.
“Stop gawking at everything and let’s go. Unless you wish to have a bullet therapy performed on you by the clowns from before. If so, then be my guest.”
“Geez, I am coming” he scoffed comically.
They walk up to a particular hangar. It read “Hanger Number 4”.
Kai and Melvin enter the hangar.
A jet-black Velcian was there in the hangar.
“Rick. Are you there? I need the bird.” Kai shouted.
A man exited from the rear platform of the vehicle.
“Ah! It is you! I take it you are going to Kazel?” the mechanic said.
“Yeah,” Kai said. “Thanks for taking care of my ride, Rick. I am grateful to you!”
“Don’t mention it!” he bellowed.
Melvin was gawking at the vehicle. It is said to be the fastest plane in existence. It can travel between hemispheres in minutes at top speed and uses a small Quantum-AI-driven drive core for performance. A design from Kazel city that revolutionized the field of technology.
“Who’s this guy? A friend of yours” Rick asked.
“No. Just a stray that I need to deliver. “
“Hey! I can hear you.”
The back platform opens up and allows entry. Kai uses his virtual key to open it up.
“So long Rick. It is time for me to depart.” Kai said.
“See you soon my man!” Rick bellowed.
They both walk up to the platform and start to enter the Velican. Melvin keeps staring at it from the outside.
Kai frustratedly kicks him inside. “You can enter any time today.”
Melvin scowls a rather comic scowl.
“The Velican can take us there in a couple of minutes but I do not want anyone to raise any suspicions so we will lower the speed. It will take us a few hours. Kazel is located near Japan. We are off.” Kai spoke.
“Zymandis. Set the speed to dial 5. Our destination is Kazel City. Krienz Bay 141, Hangar 4. Take charge of the flight” Kai commanded.
“As you wish.” the ship-board AI responded.
“Are you secretly royalty or something?” Melvin asked, awestruck.
Kai did not reply.
“Your room is on the right. I am sure you will find it…. Accommodating.” Kai said and sat in the pilot’s seat.
Melvin shrugged and entered his room. It was lavish. It had all the amenities for luxury travel.
“A luxury sleep would do me wonders!” he exclaimed and crashed on his bed. He was out cold for a while.”
Melvin woke up after his deep nap and stretched his body. “This feels great!”
He walked out of his room and into the pilot’s section. Kai was already there.
They looked out the front window. They were above the Japanese airspace. They could see a cluster of Islands. One particularly stood out the most in the area. They were decelerating towards it.
Kai looked up to Melvin and said “Welcome to Kazel City”.