Take a look at the ABOUT page for more information on this series.
Go to the REFERENCE GUIDE for detailed info on the greater world at large.
We now have a COLLECTIONS INDEX page here on Tuhat, so that should make things easier, with organizing these posts.
I only noticed NOW that the link to the previous scene is automatically added to the bottom of the page when you add it to a collection, so I guess I'll default to that from now on. :)
These are the first present day scenes for Chapter 3. The title of this chapter is Together.
There were plenty of songs I had in my head while writing this chapter. I mention one in the first few paragraphs. I think in earlier drafts, I named this chapter "Eight Line Poem," after the David Bowie song of the same name, off his Hunky Dory album. A good soundtrack for the mood I had in mind.
Clink...clink...clink...
The sky above was a dull foggy haze. The sea below was calm and quiet. A dozen yards away was a small park area set in the forefront of the downtown district, which had minimal traffic. Seagulls flew overhead. The pier at the edge of this small Atlantic Seabound colonial town was empty – save for one man.
Clink...clink...clink...
He was not looking out at the sea. His eyes were fixated on an old coin in his hand. He was tapping it against the metal railing.
He collected old monetary artifacts, like Australian Dollars, schillings from Somali and Egyptian Pounds. He also had a large bundle of United States dollar bills. All this money was no longer in circulation anymore, not after the rise of the New World Collective Empire. The Amero was the new digital coinage for the the two American continents, along with the regions previously referred to as Mexico and Canada.
Thinking about the past was nauseating. He didn't know why he was doing this to himself. He hasn't seen or called up his girlfriend in about a day or so. All the while, Pink Floyd's Wish You Were Here was on constant repeat inside his head. There was no apparent reason why.
He wanted to throw this useless coin into the ocean but he was frozen in place. Even as the sounds of footsteps approached, he remained still.
"Hello, Douglas!"
The man turned around and saw a young girl with red-orange hair.
"Hey. Uh... do I know ya?" he muttered.
"Give it three seconds," the girl responded. She snapped her fingers.
There was a pain, like a sharp splinter shooting through his head.
Douglas nearly passed out. His body collapsed to the ground.
"Oh, shit. Sorry! Sorry about that, Doug!"
Douglas Coback was dazed. He was still conscious. He had briefly lost his motor skills. This sudden rush of memories was intense enough to warrant such a reaction.
"Oh... Michelle? Michelle Auzolle? Is that you?"
"Hello, Doug! Long time, no see! Terribly sorry about that fall! Didn't think you'd take it that way!"
Michelle helped him back onto his feet. Douglas' eyes were still rolling around in his head. Michelle ran off to grab the coin that rolled away after he passed out. She gave it back to him.
"What you doin' all the way out here, girl?" asked Doug. "Came outta the blue, gave all my memories back. Kind of a super weird time for me!"
"Oh. Sorry."
"Nah! It's fine. Great way to snap out of it. You lookin' real proper, girl! You work in some fashion industry over in Nia these days?"
"I wish!" laughed Michelle. "No, I work Balloon Central politics."
“Oh. Really? Always thought you’d end up in some emo larper punk group, doin’ lines off a Porsche with a Vietnamese dominatrix. Be more fun than politics!"
"Glad you haven't lost your sense of humor," Michelle scoffed with a smirk on her face.
"Eh. Not entirely. Gettin' there, I fear. Older I get, the more shit sucks. Wears you down. I shouldn't complain though. I know I could have it a hell of a lot worse. But it's not what it was, ya know? Nothing has been these past two years."
"I see. Quite sorry to hear that. But glad to take your mind off things. You know where Anthony's gone to? Gonna have a meet up! Little quick meet up!"
The evening sun was out. Michelle was grateful to see Earth's sun. Her focus remained on the book she was reading, called The True Believer by Eric Hoffer, who was nicknamed the 'long-shore philosopher.' So far, the book was a solid read.
The sea was calm. Michelle had been on pins and needles ever sense she set foot on Earth. At least out here, it was calm. Safe. Still, Michelle found herself in such a restless state! Getting through one of Athena's books took more effort than usual.
She placed the book on the table next to her lounge chair, stood up and headed back for Douglas' beach house. A sandy pathway led up to the peak of this steep hill, where the house stood. Surf boards, boating gear, beer kegs, wines and various spirits occupied the four-story interior. There were areas that were still being constructed. The design of the house was similar to the old Arcolian buildings back in Niamaterian. It was lavished with wide, solid blue windows, tightly wrapping around the exterior of the house like a ribbon. Gray carpets were underneath elegant furniture. Blocky vases were stuffed with a blossom of flowers propped upon steel, glass tables. White or gray metal-plated walls were held in place by an array of rivets. Out here, there was a garden with bushes, coconut trees and walkways surrounding the pool in the center of the backyard. It was all very sleek and posh.
"So, where's that girlfriend you were talking about earlier?" asked Michelle as she ran up to Douglas. He was currently behind a grill.
"What? You wanna meet her?"
"Yeah! We couldn't get Anthony. He's on the other side of the planet. Next best thing is this new flame of yours!"
"Don't know. Might get jealous, seeing you around."
"Why? Do I dress better?"
"Yeah, pretty much," laughed Douglas.
Indeed, Michelle was no longer wearing jeans and a plain t-shirt. She detested wearing those clothes. She now had on her 'professional attire,' which consisted of a black cropped jacket, red tie, buttoned up white shirt and black short skirt that showed more leg than necessary in professional settings. But it looked cute. On her jacket, she sported two pins depicting flags of Earth nations that used to exist. One was the British Union Jack. The other was the United States Stars and Stripes..
"I see you've been doing well for yourself after two whole years, here on Earth," said Michelle as she sat down in a nearby chair.
"Wish I can get back into Nia," sighed Duckett. "But, hey! I got out okay. Kickin' it back, out here on these floating islands."
"Also don't have Anthony to bicker with. You argued with each other like the straight married couples you two were!"
"Hey! He was the one crashing with me, alright? He never thought about getting his own place! He spent all his time at GEDR."
Doug took the finished meat off the grill. It was a tower of meat, with steaks, hamburger meat, hot dogs. Whatever else he threw on the fire. Doug carried it all over to a table near where Michelle sat.
“I got ketchup and sauerkraut over here,” he mentioned as he walked back to the grill.
"I don't know if Anthony liked any of us," uttered Michelle.
"Eh, don't know," Douglas sounded. "Certainly was never gonna forgive you after that one crazy-ass tirade you had when you were eleven. Tore up his Dearmul construction plans. Lost his shit with that."
Michelle sighed heavily as she rolled her eyes. "There was no excuse for what I did. I deserved his ridicule," she stated reluctantly. "I was a mess. Best way I can put it."
"Is that why you're here? Actin' crazy again?"
Michelle didn't know what to say to that. She looked over at him without much of an expression on her face.
Doug didn't seem to notice her state. He was busy finishing up with the food preparations. He then handed Michelle a plate of hamburgers.
"Eat up, already! Lookin' as skinny as ever, girl!"
Michelle quietly shrugged to herself as she took a bite of hamburger. She then sighed to herself as she sat back in her chair. "Okay. The reason why I'm here... it's a long story."
Doug took a seat across from where she sat. "Right. I'm all ears," he stated.
"Yes. Well, I already mentioned our recent success with the third-party universe gateway project. What I haven't told you is that Robert Hindler has been making some erratic decisions concerning the project that could land him in hot water with the Republic! I try to tell him that he should explain his decisions. Not only has he shunned me, he's been pulling this lawyer bullshit on me to make sure I stay silent! Never had the nerve to sound the trumpet on him! Not looking for a bribe! I'm trying to help! That's why I’m doing all this bleedin' nonsense for him!”
"What ya doin' for him?" asked Douglas.
"I'm here on Earth to pick up a new 'recruit.' Someone who is not a citizen of the Republic of Niamaterian. Would seem apparent that he has no experience in anything relating to GEDR's secret gate project!”
"Who? This person you're picking up?"
"Yes! How could he know about the project if he's not a citizen?"
Douglas nodded thoughtfully. "Interesting," he mumbled. It took him several moments to come up with a response. "Well, you know I didn't work directly with GEDR. Anthony did. If he was here, he would give you some better context on the matter. I worked as an independent contractor for the company.
"Now, that being said, I will say that Randel Fulster would had never tried pullin' this weird-ass bullshit. Randel should had hired Kathryn as his replacement. Or hell! Even Duckett would have been better! Not this Hindler weirdo! That's was Anthony's whole spiel."
"What do you think I should do?" asked Michelle.
"Don't know. What does Kate say?"
"She says to proceed with caution. Easier said than done, given the fact that I have to head into one of those North American sanctuary cities. That's why I'm here. This is my refuge from all that business."
"Oh, shit. That's brutal. Ashlin's family is somewhere in that North American region. Athena just walked right in there. Plucked Ashlin right outta that mess! You couldn't pay me all the money in the world to do that! If I were you, I'd tell Hindler to go screw himself – Hey! How's Ashlin and 'ol Duck Boy? How they gettin' along these days?"
Michelle bit her lower lip. "I, um... I think they're fine," she mumbled. "Duckett... he's okay."
"Those two ever hit it off?"
"Yes. You could say that. Haven't talked to them in a while."
"Duck Boy ever get hired by GEDR?"
"He did. Ashlin too, believe it or not. Ashlin. She's, um... doing good."
Doug peered at Michelle suspiciously. "Right. I'm not asking questions. Not sure I wanna know – but look. Here's the thing you need to know about Robert Hindler! This is coming from Anthony! These are not my words! He's talked extensively about this. Anthony said the immortals of Niamaterian society are the ones who run the show at GEDR – ya know! The so-called 'alternate beings,' as they call people like Athena. They might put themselves in that guardian position for a reason, to make Fulster and Hindler the front men. I can see the possibility. If they had the choice between some dweeb and Kate Berner, they would have chosen the dweeb, cause you can push him around more than you could with someone like Kate. I'm guessin' Kathryn is as stubborn and opinionated as ever!"
"To some extent. Not like she used to be, although your little sister is not helping Kathryn's attitude – or my attitude, really."
"Oh, yeah! I have a sister! Totally remembered that just now!" Douglas said with a laugh. "How is Karen?"
"Your sister is a bloody psychopath and I despise that girl to the very core of my being!"
"Oh, good! Nothing has changed! That's good to know!" laughed Douglas. "And what stupid crap is she getting herself into these days?"
"Larper culture. Gaslighting complete and total nonsense!"
"Oh, fuck. That's still a thing? Jesus! Do I wanna know this, of all things? I didn't get my memories back just to get a wave of bad news, thrown my way!"
"Oh, it's nothing too awful! Not yet. Karen has yet to shave all the hair off her head, so that's quite decent. But I do wonder about that girl sometimes."
NEXT SCENE (Coming Soon)
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