Jim didn’t want to get out of bed. He wanted to waste away. He was tired. Tired of training. Tired
of fighting. Exhausted. He could feel himself experiencing burnout. He was sinking into a pit of depression. His brain chemicals were changing. His stomach had a void in the center of it.
“Time to get up,” said his friend.
“I hear you.”
“Come on, Jim. We are going to miss breakfast.”
“Okay, Randy.”
Jim sat up in his bed, which was located in his shoebox of a room.
He said, “I got to prepare for the day.”
Moving to the floor, he cranked out one hundred pushups. Feeling fatigue he switched over to his back.
“What now?” said Randy.
“I am not finished.”
He cranked out five hundred crunches. He did them in under three minutes.
“Man, you finished those pretty quick.”
“I had to change my brain chemistry.”
“What the hell are you talking about?”
“I was getting depressed.”
“About what?”
“Let's finish this on the elevator.”
“Okay, old friend.”
The endorphins from his exercise session cleared his mind. He was motivated to keep going. To keep fighting. He was a Williams. And men in his family were not quitters. The process of exercising kept his demons at bay.
Grabbing a pair of jogging pants and green long sleeve t-shirt, he put on his combat boots and red jacket, followed Randy out of the room, and walked to the elevator. Everything seemed smaller.
“Now, why are you getting depressed?”
“The monotony of training. Missing my family back on earth. I just feel empty.”
“Okay. And how does exercise fit into that?”
“Exercise has a biochemical effect on your body.”
“Really?”
“Yeah.”
“I had no idea.”
“Yep. It is pretty interesting, isn't it?”
“I will say.”
“I have to use every tool in my arsenal to deal with my mental and physical health.”
“Actually, that makes a lot of sense.”
“Protaru in action.”
“Not yet.”
“We are getting there.”
“True buddy. True.”
The compartment that transported them to the dining hall seemed smaller. He stepped out of the elevator, walking past some offices to the dining hall. Randy opened the door to the room.
“After you, my good friend.”
“Why thank you, my fine fellow.”
Jim walked into the room. He was familiar with the place. He grabbed a tray and walked to the island which served the food he wanted to eat.
“I am getting a Belgian waffle.”
“I am going to get an omelet.”
“I will catch you later.”
“Peace, man.”
“Save me a seat.”
“For sure.”
“I mean it.”
“I will definitely save a seat for you, Randy.”
Jim stepped in line, since he was trying to order from the omelet machine. He waited three minutes in line, getting a mushroom and tomato omelet. He also grabbed a cup of fresh orange juice. He walked past Anna, who was sweeping the floor with an electrostatic cloth sweeper. He sat down by his other friends.
He began cutting into his delicious omelet. He placed the first bite in his mouth and chewed. Swallowing, he began a conversation with his friends.
“Hey Matt. Hey, Sam,” replied Jim.
“How is it going?” asked Sam.
“How was your night?” question Matt.
Jim said, “I talked to Anna for three hours last night.”
“Really?” remarked Sam.
“Yeah. We have been together for a while now.”
“I always see you holding hands with her,” said Matt.
Jim turned to his friends. Randy sat down beside them.
“Hey guys,” said Randy.
“See, I saved you a seat.”
“I am sorry that I ever doubted you.”
“What’s up R-dog?” asked Matt.
Randy turned to his friends and began eating his food.
Randy retorted, “I am getting better at using my powers.”
“That is good,” said Matt.
“Good,” said Jim.
“My powers are coming into my own as well,” said Matt.
“I am better at controlling multiple streams of water at the same time,” he continued.
“How is your training going?” said Sam, turning to Jim.
Jim replied, “It’s fine.”
“Just fine?” answered Sam.
Jim said, “Really. I have gotten stronger in the last fifteen months since I have been here.”
Sam replied, “And taller too.”
Jim said,“I did have a growth spurt.”
Sam answered, “You are a giant.”
“I am not that tall.”
‘You tower over Anna and the rest of us.”
“I don’t know about that.”
“Anna’s eyes meet your shoulders.”
“Okay. I am tall,” responded Jim.
“Look at your dad,” said Randy. “He is as tall as an oak tree.”
Jim answered, “I can’t choose my genes.”
“I have not grown that much,” said Randy.
Jim replied, “You will get there.”
Randy answered, “How come you get all the height?”
“Lucky genes, I guess.”
“What time is it?” asked Randy.
Matt said, “It is 0700 hours.”
“I got to get going.”
“Why?” asked Sam.
“Yeah, inquiring minds want to know,” said Matt.
“I start my patrols.”
Sam questioned, “Patrols.”
“Yeah, my dad signed me up to be security for the station.”
“Really?” asked Matt.
“Yeah.”
“Good luck,” said Sam.
“Yeah, knock ‘em dead,” remarked Matt.
Just then, Jim saw his dad.
“I got to get going,” said Jim.
“Really. Why?” asked Sam.
“Why are you leaving too?” asked Matt.
“Training time,” said Jim.
“When you got to go, you got to go,” said Sam.
“Good luck and may the Creator be with you,” said Matt.
Jim finished his cup of orange juice and put his tray with his dirty plates on the conveyor belt.
He walked past Anna.
“Hey, Jim,” said Anna.
“Hey, babe.”
“How are things going for you?”
“Great.”
“I won't take up much of your time.”
“I need to get going.”
“Don’t let me keep you.”
“I will talk to you soon.”
“Bye.”
Jim gave Anna a kiss on the lips.
Jim walked up to his dad. He was almost eye to eye with him. His eyes met his dad’s chin.
“You have gotten taller,” said his father.
“I know. That’s what my friends said as well.”
“Follow me, Son.”
“Sure thing, Dad.”
Jim and his dad, James, Sr. walked to the elevator. They stepped inside and descended into the cavernous structure of the base. Jim could see the stone and rock structure of the asteroid outside of the window of the elevator.
“From now on, we are going to train elsewhere.”
“What do you mean?”
“I think your powers have outgrown the quarry.”
“Okay. So where are you going to train me?”
“In the energy lab.”
“The energy lab?”
“Yes, the energy lab.”
“What is that?”
“You will see.”
“I don’t know. Why can’t we just still train at the quarry?”
“Your powers have been developing so quickly that the energy lab will give you more conditioning. This is going to be a good change. You will see.”
“I don’t know.”
“Trust me.”
“Okay, Dad.”
Jim was a little apprehensive about this new place. The quarry had been all he had known. It was a change and, as far as he knew it, all change was scary. He was terrified as the elevator stopped.
“This way, Son.”
“Okay, Dad.”
Stepping down the hallway, they walked for about five to ten minutes. Seeing rooms and offices, Jim thought about his past. And his future. His abilities were improving. He had made significant progress. He thought about this impending new experience.
Why was he leaving the quarry?
His dad had answered that question.
What was this energy lab and how would it help him with his powers?
How hard would it be to adapt to this so-called energy lab?
He didn’t have a clue. It was a shot in the dark. Finally, they arrived at two large metallic blue doors.
“This is our stop.”
“Okay.”
James, Sr. knocked on the doors.
The doors opened and they were greeted by someone in a white lab coat. He looked to be in his early twenties, with an average height. He was a few inches shorter than Jim.
“Ah, James Williams Senior and James Williams Junior. We have been expecting you.”
“You have?” asked Jim.
“Yes. Please take a seat. Someone will be with you shortly.”
The man walked behind some doors.
“Let’s sit down. Someone will be here soon.”
“Okay, Dad.”
Jim and his dad sat down on the steel seats. The walls were painted a ceramic white. It looked like a room where computer chips were manufactured. The tables were oval shaped like an egg. Jim looked at a gaming magazine on the table near the waiting area. The main article was on a new gaming console. The Y box series s. It was going to have sixteen cores and 32 gb of video ram. The video card would display 4k at 60 frames per second for the graphics. It was coming out this holiday season. He was not even on Earth, so he was not going to be able to enjoy it.
“Why the long face, son?” asked Jim’s dad.
“I just feel tired. I have been here for so long. I just don’t know who I am anymore.”
“You are a Williams. You are my son.”
“I know.”
“Our actual Lavarian name is Benai Attenu.”
“What?”
“In my planet's native tongue, our name is Benai Attenu. We come from the Attenu clan.”
“Wow, that is amazing.”
“Yeah, Williams is just our Earth name.”
“Cool.”
“I know your life hasn’t been easy. I know that you have had a rough time. I was not there for you. I know.”
“You are there for me now.”
“I know.”
“My training is amazing.”
“You have come a long way.”
A sense of pride came up in James, Sr. rising like a hot air balloon. He felt honored to have a son like him. A warrior. A Protaru.
“I am honored to call you my father.”
“Thanks, son.”
“Your ability to protect your fellow man. Your status as a warrior, a Protaru, is amazing.”
“Stop. I am blushing.”
“I know I still have some time before I am done with my training, but I know I will be ready. I will be prepared.”
“I am not going to be around forever. I want to make sure you are okay. I want to make sure you have the tools to survive this life.”
“I understand.”
“I know that this life is not easy. I know that your training has not been easy. In fact it is going to get harder.”
“What?”
“Yes. Strength control is one thing. Energy absorption and redirection is a completely different beast.”
“Great.”
“What’s wrong?”
“I never thought that mastering my powers would be so difficult.”
“After a few years, you are going to be fine.”
“Randy is already going on Patrol.”
“You will get there as well.”
“Really?”
“Yes, Son.”
“I am going to go out on patrol.”
“It is a good simulation of combat on Earth and the other colonies.”
“Okay.”
“New Laveria is the safest of the colonies.”
“Really?”
“Yeah.”
“I had no idea.”
“You will be spending your time training and eventually be facing combat. ”
“Wow. I am going to face combat.”
“Yep. You are.”
“Wow. That sounds intense.”
“You will be ready for it.”
“I will?”
“Yes, you will.”
This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.
“I don’t know.”
“I will make a warrior out of you. You will be a Protaru by the end of your training.”
“Thanks.”
“For what?”
“Being the dad I needed. For helping me through one of the darkest periods in my life.”
“You are welcome.”
“I was going through hell when my powers showed up. I didn’t know which way was up. Mom reached out to you. I didn’t agree with Mom’s decision at the time, but now I realize it was the best thing for me. Coming here changed me. It made me into a new man. It showed me a different path.”
“You are my son. You are my world. Your health and peace of mind are important to me.”
“I wouldn’t be who I am now without your support and guidance.”
“I am glad I could help you. I am glad I could support you.”
“I am ready to handle the future. I am ready to deal with my other powers.”
“All in due time.”
“I know that I can handle it. I know I can handle energy absorption and redirection.”
“I believe in you.”
“Thanks. I had my doubts at first.”
“Really?”
“Yeah.”
“What changed?”
“All that time in the quarry. All the time I spent with Anna.”
“Your girlfriend?”
“Yes, her.”
“Your relationship with Anna drives you.”
“It does.”
“How so?”
“I want to be able to protect her. To defend her. I can only do that if I am strong enough. If I am more powerful than I am now.”
“I see. That is how I felt about your mom.”
“Yeah. I want to spend the rest of my life with Anna. She is my sunrise on the darkest day.”
“Did you get that line from a song?”
“Yeah.”
“I know I heard those lyrics from somewhere.”
“Despacito.”
“That’s where those lines are from.”
“Daddy Yankee and Luis Fonsi.”
“Justin Bieber sings the intro.”
“That’s right.”
“I will do everything in my power to help you get stronger.”
“Thank you.”
“Stick with me and your control of your powers will advance exponentially.”
“Sounds good to me.”
“You have come a long way.”
“Thanks.”
“You have pretty much mastered your super strength.”
“I know.”
“My! Aren’t we cocky?”
“When you have carried those eggs and crushed those boulders, strength control seems like breathing.’
“Okay! Hot shot.”
“Okay, I am confident in my super strength.”
“That’s a good thing.”
“It is?”
“Yes, it is.”
“Okay, cool.”
“You need to be confident. When you are a certified Protaru, you can’t doubt yourself. You have to have confidence. If you second-guess yourself, someone could die.”
“Wow. I never thought about it like that.”
“It’s the truth.”
“Okay, sure.”
“I am glad to see you coming into your own.”
“Thanks.”
“No problem.”
A man in a lab coat arrived in the waiting area.
The man said, “James Williams Junior.”
“That’s me.”
“Follow me.”
Jim stood up and followed the attendant to the back of the lab. Entering through a set of double doors, they walked through a hallway into a new room.
The room was white as a snowy Christmas. There were claws and orbs. Jim thought they served as sensors.
“Right this way,” said the lab attendant.
Jim and his dad followed behind the attendant. They walked through some more metal doors that were the color of silverware. They reached a wall.
“This is where we stop.”
“Okay.”
Jim stood there looking at the wall. There were cabinets looking like a bunch of autopsy drawers.
The attendant picked up a tablet.
“We know your powers are super strength and energy absorption and redirection,” said the attendant.
“Okay.”
“These machines are going to help you with your control of these powers.”
“Really?”
“Yeah.”
“How?”
“One will inject energy into your body and the other one will stress the muscles in your body. Kind of like an artificial gravity machine.”
“So, I am going to train like Goku in Dragon Ball Z.”
“Kinda. Yes.”
“Do I even need these machines?”
“What do you mean?” asked the attendant.
“I mean, come on, I did strength training in the quarry. Isn’t that enough?”
“Your enemies are not going to be rocks and eggs,” said James Sr.
“I am already strong enough. I don’t need the strength machine in this lab. I am good enough for combat without it.”
“You enemies would chew you up and spit you out. You are not ready for combat.”
“I am ready.”
“I will be the judge of that.”
“This is a waste of time.”
“You have never been in battle. You never faced combat.”
“I know.”
“The energy lab is going to get you combat ready.”
“Okay.”
“Both machines.”
“Okay, Dad.”
The attendant spoke to Jim.
“Are we ready to continue?” asked the attendant.
“Bring it on.”
“We need to figure out your starting point.”
“Cool. Fine with me.”
“Today, we are going to calibrate the system. To figure out where your baseline is.”
“Cool. What do I have to do?”
The technician said, "Good question.”
James Sr. said, “Son, stand in the center of the circle on the floor.”
“Sure, dad.”
Jim walked to the center of the room. He stood there waiting for the calibrations. The attendant pressed a button on the tablet in his hands. All of a sudden, a white robotic arm came out one of the doors, which looked like a robot that was used to weld doors at a car factory.
It shot a beam of orange light between two prongs. Scanning him from top to bottom.
“Ah interesting,” said the attendant.
“What is interesting?” asked Jim.
“Your energy absorption cellular matrix is pretty high.”
“What is that supposed to mean?”
“That’s a very special situation.”
“It is?”
“Yeah. It is.”
“You hear that, Dad? I have a high cellular matrix.”
“I hear that, Son.”
The attendant said, “It means we are going to have our work cut out for us.”
“Is that a good thing?”
“It is going to make my job fun.”
“Okay.”
The attendant pressed the tablet. A pad appeared on the wall.
“What is this?” asked Jim.
“This is going to test your redirection capabilities.”
“What do you want me to do?”
“Place your hand on the pad.”
“Why?”
“Just do what the man said,” said James, Sr.
“Okay.”
Jim walked over to the wall and pressed his right hand on the pad.”
The attendant walked over to the wall and flipped a switch.
Heat rushed into the pad. Jim felt his entire hand get warm. He absorbed the thermal energy. A few seconds later, the energy was released from his hand.
“Thank you,” said the attendant.
“Are we done yet?”
“Not quite.”
“What’s next?”
“Your strength calibration.”
“Okay.”
“In order to not damage your muscular system, you are going to only undergo training on the artificial gravity machine three days a week.”
Jim was getting tired. All of his training was getting to him. He thought about Anna. He wanted to protect her. He wanted to protect everyone. That was his drive. His purpose. He dug deep and got his second wind.
“Let’s do this!” said Jim.
“I love to see your enthusiasm,” said the attendant.
He pressed a button. An greyish blue orb attached to a metallic arm came from the ceiling.
“Wow! That looks high tech,” said Jim.
“All the best that money can offer,” replied the attendant.
He looked at Jim.
“Please step into the next circle.”
Jim walked over to the adjacent shape.
“In the center please.”
“Ahh, man!” said Jim.
James, Sr said, “Listen to the man. He is trying to help you.”
“Sure. Whatever.”
“What was that?” replied his dad.
“Nothing.”
“That is what I thought.”
Jim got exactly in the circle.
The orb device shot out waves of blue light bombarding the Protaru in training. It started to feel heavy.
“Is this normal?” asked Jim.
“That is just the machine calibrating to your strength level.”
“Should it hurt?”
“You will be fine.”
Another thirty seconds and the waves turned red.
He felt heavier. It was like lifting an oil tanker.
“This is getting heavy.”
“It is almost over.”
“I don’t know if I can handle this!”
“You got this, Jim,” answered the technician.
“Okay,” replied Jim.
Ten seconds passed and the waves stopped.
“What was that?” asked Jim.
“The machine is determining the correct starting point for you,” answered the Attendant.
Jim said, “I never got your name.”
“Tommy.”
James Sr, said, “Is that all for today?”
Tommy answered, “I believe so.”
“Thank you, Tommy, for your assistance.”
“No problem. I love helping one of the toughest Protaru to have ever existed.”
“You are helping my son.”
“I know, but you sir are a living legend.”
“I appreciate the compliment.”
Tommy said, “The algorithm will customize a training regiment. It takes 36 hours to complete. Then, we can start your training.”
“I won’t be training with you anymore, Dad?”
“You won’t be doing this kind of training with me. If there are any issues, I will be here to assist Tommy in a heartbeat. You will go out on Patrol with me once you get more training here at the energy lab.”
“I am going to miss it.”
“I am still here, son.”
“What time does my energy lab training begin?”
Tommy looked at the young kid.
“Report back here at 0900 hours in two days.”
“You got it!”
“I will see you soon,” said Tommy.
“See you soon,” said Jim.
“Okay.”
“Thanks, Tommy, for your help and assistance today.”
“No problem, Bladefist. It is all part of the job.”
“Let’s get out of here, Junior.”
“Sure thing.”
Jim and his dad walked out of the energy lab. A sense of relief washed over Jim, like waves on the beach.
“How was that?” asked Jim’s dad.
“That was intense,” replied Jim.
“I think you’ll get the hang of it.”
“I hope so.”
“What do I always say?”
“We are Williams men.”
“And what do we do?”
“We don’t quit.”
“That’s right.”
Jim and his dad walked to the elevator. Getting on the elevator, his father turned to him.
“I am going to give you the rest of the day off,” said Jim’s father.
“Really?”
“Yeah.”
“Thanks, Dad. You are awesome.”
“You can thank me later.”
“Okay.”
“Have fun, son. You have earned it.”
“You don’t have to tell me twice.”
“I have to go to a meeting. I will see you soon,” said Jim’s father.
Jim’s dad stepped off the elevator. Jim was all by himself. He rode it upwards. His girlfriend stepped on the compartment.
She was wearing her work uniform. It was sapphire in color, resembling nurse scrubs. She had a backpack on her back with all her belongings in it.
“Anna.”
“Jim.”
They kissed on the lips.
It seemed like they had not seen each other in a century.
“I missed you so much,” said Anna.
“I am here.”
“I am so happy to see you.”
“It is funny seeing you here.”
“What are you doing here? I thought you would be training with your dad.”
“I was setting up a new regiment.”
“Really?”
“Yeah.”
“What kind of regiment?”
“It is in the energy lab.”
“The energy lab?”
“Yeah.”
“Look at you. You are Mister Big Shot now.”
“I don’t know about that.”
“I guess the cavern was not good enough for you.”
“My dad felt I outgrew it.”
“My boyfriend is going to the energy lab now.”
“It still feels unreal.”
“What does? The energy lab?”
“The fact that I am dating someone as awesome as you.”
“You are pretty amazing yourself.”
“I have the rest of the day off.”
“Really?”
“Yep.”
“I don’t have to be home for another three hours. I finished my shift early.”
Just then, Anna’s cell phone rang.
“Let me get this.”
“Take your time.”
Anna opened her flip phone.
“Hi mom.”
Jim couldn’t hear Anna’s mom’s voice.
“Yeah.”
“Okay.”
“That too.”
“Sure thing, mom.”
“I love you, too.”
Anna hung up the phone.
“Everything okay?” asked Jim.
“Yeah, babe.”
“I have to go home.”
“Really? Why?”
“My mom needs me to watch my little brother. Our father is taking another shift in the medical ward, and my mom is feeling under the weather.”
“Is she okay?”
“She has Shavarian shingles.”
“Wow! That sounds rough.”
“It is okay. The disease is not contagious.”
“Do you think I could come over?”
“I don’t know.”
“Come on. I am great with kids.”
“I guess I could ask my mom.”
“That sounds like a great idea!”
“Oh, Jim.”
Anna texted her mom.
She got an answer right away.
“I texted my mom. She is okay with it.”
“Great, I can’t wait to meet the folks!”
“It would be just my mom and little brother.”
“Oh yeah. Silly me.”
The elevator stopped at floor 17.
Anna said, “This is our stop.”
“Cool,” said Jim.
Walking out of the Protaru base for the city of New Lavaria, they were both on the city streets. They walked down the street past a river. Jim could see vents for circulation in the distance towering high above. The street lamps let out an orange bronze haze.
“These street lamps remind me of the lights back home.”
“I like the ones in Evanston better.”
“You know about Chicago?”
“Yeah. I do.”
“I am impressed.”
“Thanks.”
“How do you know about Chi-town?”
“I went there on vacation with my family. I love the Taste of Chicago.”
“The taste is awesome.”
“I agree with that 100 percent.”
“What is your favorite food to get at the Taste?”
“I love getting the turkey drumstick from Donatello’s.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. What do you like to get there?”
“I like O’Murphy’s deep dish pizza.”
“Interesting.”
“I order it with pepperoni and mushrooms.”
“No black olives.”
“No sir.”
“Why not?”
“I don’t want that many toppings on my pizza. It ruins the taste of the food.”
“That’s understandable.”
They walked down the corridor and past a bridge. Under the bridge were pipes for delivering water. The city’s utilities were interconnected to the structure of the development.
“Oh yeah. My mom wanted me to bring her a cup of Hungarian mushroom soup. We have to stop at a vendor before we go home.”
“Well don’t let me stop you.”
Anna and Jim stopped at a cart that sold the famous soup. The vendor had a ladle and a bunch of paper bowls to the side of a large pot of the orange-colored soup.
“I want 1 bowl of soup please,” asked Anna.
The Vendor was a tan skinned woman. She had a medium blue and red dress on with a blue hijab and a blue scarf. Her many wrinkles defined her appearance.
Scooping a few ladles full of the soup into a bowl, she turned to Anna.
“That will be three Donios.”
Out of her pocket, Anna grabbed three coins that looked like arrowheads on one side and circles on the other.
Handing the vendor the coins, Anna grabbed the bowl of soup.
“It is for my mom. She is sick,” said Anna.
“Well, I hope she gets better.”
“Thank you, Miss Aneesa.”
They walked away from the vendor and headed toward Anna’s home. They walked under an overpass. Cars were driving by.
By the time Jim and Anna got to Anna’s neighborhood, the highway was replaced with narrow streets. The buildings were small, which looked like a bunch of shanty towns. Most of the dwellings were built right into the asteroid.
“Are we almost there?” asked Jim.
“Not yet.”
“How close are we?”
“I would say about five minutes.”
They walked over a hill and past two intersections.
Finally, Anna stopped.
“Well, this is it. This is where my family and I live.”
“I can’t wait to see it.”
“I don’t know if I have ever brought a boy home.”
“I am your first?”
“I would say yeah.”
“I should feel honored.”
“You should be. You are a special guy.”
“Thanks, babe.”
Anna pulled a keycard from her pocket and waved it at the door. The light on top of the door handle lit up green.
Jim and Anna walked into Anna’s home.
“Hey mom. I am home.”
