FIRESTORM:

“You think Feraz is going to kill Grace?” I coughed fire into the sewer. “That punk gives me indigestion.”

Jackie paced, thinking. “He doesn’t care about her, so anything is possible. Or he could propose to her. He’s so manipulative, his true intentions are anyone’s guess.”

“Like you said, Jackie, it’s a ticking time bomb. The countdown has started. We’ve got to diffuse it before it explodes.”

Jackie wiped layers of crap off her face and body. “Feraz is clearly capable of murder. He’s synthesizing Life Rite underground. It’s making Grace sick, but he doesn’t care. I’m taking him down no matter what, but how does Alpha’s redistribution program get triggered?”

“No sign of Alpha at Life Rite headquarters. I checked.”

“Is that how you got these new scars?” Jackie touched my neck, but I pulled away. My wounds would be fully healed soon.

“Will Grace agree to take you to Bennu?”

Jackie nodded. “Hope so. Playing it cool is my best bet. Pretend this didn’t happen. Act excited for her upcoming proposal. Be her spring break bestie. That’s my plan.”

“You think Grace will agree?”

“Maybe she’ll take extra pity on me now that I’m a sewer rat.” Jackie wiped her soiled shirt, but it was too far gone.

“You do smell like rotten Bennu eggs.”

“Gee, thanks, dad!” Jackie nudged me playfully.

“Your plan still doesn’t feel right. You’d have to see that psycho college pretty boy again. What if he tries to hurt you?”

Jackie sighed. “This is the only way. I’m sticking to my mom like glue.”

“More like stinky shit. You’ll need a million baths to wipe yourself clean.”

“Sounds like you want a hug, dad.” Jackie rubbed herself against my scaly skin. We had a good laugh.

“At least let me take you back to the college.”

“I’d never turn down a ride.” Jackie mounted me.

As I took off, the sewer current crushed a black cloth bag against rocks. That could have been Jackie…

But my girl didn’t skip a beat. Jackie rehashed her plan as I flew toward the Hampshire University of spoiled rich kids.

“I’ll pull out all the stops to convince Grace to take me with her. You fly to Bennu and wait for our arrival. Can’t wait to see Feraz’s face when he realizes I’m not dead. What an idiot.”

“Be careful, Jackie. You’ll be on your own for twenty-four hours while I fly home.”

“No worries. You’ve trained me well, Firestorm.”

“You’ve proven that, but it’s a father’s job to worry.”

Jackie hugged me tight as we flew below The Grid. The university came into view; the school for spoiled children.

I landed on top of the tallest building called Jenkins Hall. Jackie dismounted and gave one more hug.

“Stay sharp. Take care of yourself,” I reminded her.

“See you on Bennu.” Jackie found the exit and made her way back to Grace. I prayed to the ancestors to protect both my girls.

Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.

I shook the stinky residue Jackie left on me and stretched to prepare for the long return journey back to my native land.

Using The Grid as my guide, I flew to Bennu without stopping. No rest for the weary. The heartbeat of home called to me.

After a long and exhausting flight, the lush forests of Bennu greeted me with open arms. The smell of the village at dinnertime brought tears to my eyes.

My body ached from the journey, so I settled onto the balcony overlooking the volcano.

“They’re coming,” I told Beatrice.

“It is time,” she responded.

“We must find Alpha. He’s yet to be seen.”

The volcano gurgled, accepting the facts at hand. “Dig deeper.”

“Reporting for duty.” I scanned the vista.

The sun kissed The Grid on its way to the horizon. Was Alpha already on Bennu? To learn more, I summoned Zayne with my mind.

Tapping into his psyche was a struggle. His reality had diverged so vastly from mine. If I failed to make the connection, the slipstream could discover me as an intruder and kick me out.

“I am Zayne,” I whispered. “Dating Sumi, protecting the eggs with Nannu and the others. Bennu is home for life.”

With great focus, the path not taken touched my heart. We idolize the unchosen choice as if it could have made everything perfect. But his journey was filled with victory and struggle, just as any other. We were still one.

I used our shared connection to ride his stream and control his mind. Seeing through his eyes, breathing through his lungs, feeling through his heart.

“Go to the complex,” I instructed him. “Find clues.”

I watched as Zayne dropped his work and left the village.

“Zayne, where are you going?” Semi asked.

He didn’t answer. Under my control, Zayne swiftly made his way to the complex and used his DNA Identifier© to waltz through the front door without resistance. Paid to be a Life Rite employee sometimes.

“Walk to the labs, on the south end.”

Zayne strolled through the complex, obeying my every command. I sat perched on the volcano balcony, watching.

“Turn left… Open that door.”

Zayne scanned his DNA Identifier©, but didn’t have access to the door I told him to open.

“Try the next one.”

Door after door, access denied. Even controlling Zayne’s body, I was unable to search for much needed clues. Where was Alpha hiding? How capable was that damn drone in this probability? Time to find out.

“Turn right. Try every door in sight.”

Zayne followed the corridor and ran into a guard. “Hey, what are you doing here? This is a restricted zone.”

My stomach sank. “Tell him you are lost.”

Our connection wavered due to my unexpected fear.

Zayne stammered, unsure what to say.

The guard sensed his anxiety and pulled his gun out. “Freeze.”

Zayne ran on instinct, and the guard chased.

“Stop! Comply or I’ll shoot.” He trained his gun. When Zayne didn’t to stop running, he took his shot.

Zayne ducked. The bullet missed him, but barely. He ran for his life. Turning the corner, he ran into another guard who intercepted him.

“What do we have here? Another local up to no good? You stealing or something?” The guard pulled Zayne’s hands behind his back. “Spread ‘em.”

The other guard rounded the corner, now two against one.

“Good catch.” The rent-a-cop slapped Zayne across the face with the butt of his gun. The other one kneed him in the stomach, then punched his kidneys.

It was my responsibility to get him out of the situation safely. If Zayne died in this probability, I would get booted. Not to mention the guilt for ending his life still full of untapped potential.

Focusing, I re-established my connection and took over Zayne’s mind. Strength restored. He kicked the guard restraining him from behind. The man doubled over, clenching his weak stomach.

With hands free, Zayne threw an uppercut. Blast! The guard’s jaw broke, and he dropped his gun.

Zayne picked up the pistol and held the surprised guards hostage at gunpoint.

“Back away!” I demanded, through Zayne.

The guards put their hands up in surrender.

“Knock them out if you want to live,” I ordered.

With a round-house kick and a one-two punch, Zayne took them out. Their bodies slumped, unconscious.

“Now run!” I mentally helped Zayne navigate through the complex corridors toward the volcano balcony where I waited. Footsteps echoed behind him as the guards regained their senses.

“Rogue native in the south wing. All hands on deck,” they said into their radios. More men in uniforms flooded the halls, nipping at Zayn’e heels.

My fact-finding mission was over. Only human guards answered the call for back up. Still no sign of Alpha.

Zayne dashed to the volcano balcony and leapt onto my back.

As I took off flying, he dropped the gun into the volcano.

“My shadow returns,” he screamed over the whistling wind. “Leave me alone, shadow.”

“If fate allows,” I promised.

“Fate is never kind.” Zayne wiped sweat from his brow.

I soared through the scavenger-free skies and dropped Zayne off in the dense Bennu forest.

He bowed to pay his respects. I bowed in return. He rest his forehead onto mine. A wave of strength renewed us both. Light and darkness united as one. Whether he liked it or not, we needed each other.

Zayne ran off, leaving me alone with my worst fears. Both of my attempts at finding Alpha were futile. The curse of this clumsy body struck again.

Jackie was in the deep end without a raft. If we failed our mission, it was my fault. The ticking time bomb was about to explode.