1 What If.
1.1 Written by Shelter
Disclaimer: I don't own Titan A.E or any its characters. They belong to Don Bluth and Fox Animation Studios. But, this story belongs to me, and ask permission if you wish to use it. I'm using UK English to write, 'cause that's the only English I know. If this story has offended anyone, I would like to offer my sincere apologies.
This entire story revolves around this one question:
What if the Drej had never destroyed Earth, but merely captured it?
1. An Ordinary Life
AT THE END of the passage was yet another challenging gauntlet. From the splintered sides of the elongated pipe, the bright light at the exit beckoned attractively; for the unwary, however, this light could lead to a dangerous end to this challenge. Right now, stealthily making its way through towards the promising light, was a grotesque figure, its shadows magnified to the curved edges of the pipe wall.
It looked like a huge insect, the size of a man's outstretched palm, but it was made of metal. It had eight mechanical legs, and it moved cautiously, pushing ahead while moving a pair of feet at each time. Its body was streamlined, bald, with ridges right in the middle. The creature seemed like a deformed crawler, a cold metallic ant with no distinguishable head or tail. At each end were what looked like steel pincers, mounted close to its smooth, unmarked frame. Tiny rubber wheels were propped just above the legs, but they had no been lowered, so the creature was relying solely on its thin, hammering feet for movement.
From his place behind a glazed, translucent screen, Cale Tucker stared through the eyes to that creature, acknowledging every movement with his pair of joysticks before him. Two small television screens lit his concentrating face; one was a map, green with grid lines and showing a glowing orange dot, continually moving upwards, the second was a live view from the creature's eyes. The bright light was approaching; Cale could feel the excitement running through him now: what would he find at the end of the passage? His grimy hands gripped the sticks nervously, as he glared at the screen. Right now, the creature was immersed in that bright light, totally blocking out the view. Without hesitation, Cale pushed forward the sticks, egging the creature on.
For a few seconds, the creature trudged forward, the light bathing it so brightly that Cale could barely see an inch ahead. To his surprise, the dot on the grid didn't budge. At once Cale knew his error; his face drained of colour, he watched transfixed as the light parted to reveal a bottomless chasm. The creature, already rocking on the ledge between that plunge and safety, had been pushed on by Cale. It shook for a moment, its even weight balancing it. But then the inevitable happened, and the creature slipped off the edge, falling into the gaping hole belong.
Cale was jolted from his senses; he seized the two controls, and jerked them backward. The creature could only turn back upward and stare at the ledge it had fallen off from. His hands then rushed to the red button on top of his left stick; pressing it with all his force, the creature's hideous fangs stabbed themselves into the glossy metal wall. They had bitten the wall so hard that the creature stopped falling immediately, hanging onto dear life by a pair of pinchers jabbing. Cale pressed them, and made sure they were strong enough to support the creature's weight. He stared at the live recording, thinking, that was a close shave!
He looked at the screen again, and this time he smiled to himself, saying: "Right way up."
He clutched the controls, and pressed the switch that lay poised at his forefinger. Silently, the sides of the creature where the ridges once were, opened up to reveal a pair of turbines, gunning to fly. Cale turned his head sideways, twisting it as if he was horribly confident about the stunt he was about to pull. With a grin on his face, he released the pinchers.
There was a second of free-fall, then the creature seemed to defy gravity. Cale was jamming the switch with all the force he had in his hands; the turbines coughed to life, bursting flames and keeping the creature in its position. Breathing fire and producing lift, it swayed in mid-air, waiting for the motion that would propel it upwards.
Cale took the sticks, and pushed them forward. Like a rocket, the creature soared upwards, its turbines drumming steadily, leaving a trail of smoke behind. The jets rumbled, causing the view to become somewhat distorted. But Cale didn't care - he was too preoccupied with this sudden acceleration into the air. He had experienced it before; every time he was in the air, in total control of his machine, his blood would begin to blast through his veins, his mind would turn blissfully blank and the rush of the moment would thrill him like never before. It was the flying; the mere dream of it would cause his adrenaline to rush, and nerve in his body to tingle with anticipation. He couldn't hide this obsession: he loved to fly.
The creature blasted past its original passage, but now the chasm, moving upwards, had started to slope gently, while winding into tight turns. Cale steered his creature to the point of extreme accuracy, narrowly missing the jutting points of co0rners and the blank walls of the junctions. As the tunnel rose, Cale thrust his controls forward. The creature was buzzing with speed, zooming through with loud echoes that couldn't be heard. Cale was in total control, nothing could stop him.
Finally, the passage ended abruptly. Right now, before Cale was an open stretch of metal, and another big drop. But a metal bridge separated the first landing to a second, which once again beckoned promisingly. Its legs moving and turbines tucked neatly back on its sides, the creature stumbled ahead, inching closer to the bridge.
This is too easy, thought Cale. And why do I get this nasty feeling that something bad will happen this far?
Something bad did happen. As soon as the creature had stepped its foot on the bridge, the front step gave way, and the creature fell forward. This time Cale saw and he reacted - just in time - to pull to creature back onto higher ground. The bridge is flimsy, unsafe. So I've got to cross it in double-quick time. How?
His mind thought anxiously for a moment, but the live view shook, almost as if something had hit the creature. Cale switched to a rear-view camera for a moment, he nearly fell back when he saw the view. Right behind his creature, was another. It was painted red, with the words: 'I AM THE GOD' written clearly on its side; it had twice the number of legs, but they were larger; this new insect overshadowed his tiny bug, being three times as large and five times as tall. Right at its mouth were a pair of huge metal spikes, and at its mouth was a sinister chainsaw, that had begun to run threateningly.
It was obvious that this giant's intention was to destroy Cale's creature.
One spike fell right through its side, disabling one of the turbines instantly. Cale's hops had begun to fade, but his face was still alight in concentration. Then his mind hit it: the wheels!
At once, he hit the second switch in his right joystick, and the wheels deployed, all four of them, at the four corners of the struggling creature. He revved up the motor inside, and the creature jerked forward, only to be pulled back by the clutching metal spike. The giant was dragging him towards the chainsaw, which shone off the light menacingly. The creature lumbered ahead once again, saving its life, but no dislodging that vital grip.
Cale's face was sweaty with determination. Wiping sweat off his brow, Cale activated the remaining turbine, boosting it to full power. Through clenched teeth, he snarled: "You want God? I'll give you God!"
The turbine blasted off and aided, by the wheels that were spinning rapidly, the jangled mess of predator and prey surged towards the bridge. The force was straining on that remaining metal spike, and the creature, still struggling to escape, was now dragging the giant towards the bridge.
Then, with a final thrust, the creature burst into speed, its wheels pushing it onwards. The giant was forced on for a few feet, and the parasitical spike gave way. While Cale's creature sped across the bridge, dislocating it entirely, the giant plundered ahead on its sides, and with its last breath, fell over the edge to an unpleasant crunch below. Cale, on the other hand, had steered his creature to the other landing, where it stood, bruised but triumphant.
"And that," Cale said aloud. "Is victory through persistence."
"Well done!" went a voice that seemed to mysteriously drift out from the walls. "A perfect challenge completed! Full marks, Tucker!"
Cale heaved a sigh of relief. Hands bathed in sweat from all his excitement, he wiped them on his shirt, then proceeded to the door at the back of the room. One hand on the heavily cushioned walls, he jerked the door-handle, pulling it towards him. The door swung open to a group of people, his age, outside, seated and watching his progress on a huge screen in front. When he presented himself, they all broke out into hearty applause.
His face turning red, Cale tried to silence them, but the more he tried, the more they cheered. A Vusstran approached Cale from his right; he wore a white coat over his dull green overalls, and had several pens jammed into his coat pocket. He stared at Cale with eyes as big as tennis balls, lip curled, with a snout for a nose, and said: "Perfect, perfect! Not even I could do it."
"Thanks professor," Cale replied. "It's nothing really. Had the idea last night."
"Why so modest, Tucker?" the professor demanded. "A splendid display of mechanical movement, perfect use of independent non-fuel boosters, clear examples of grappling and speed. And not forgetting the total combination of these effects, all in one vehicle! Stratton may be the best school of mechanical engineering in this system, but you're the best in my class!"
Their attention was momentarily diverted when, from a door of the opposite side, a boy burst out looking troubled and hassled, mumbling something distractedly under his breath. He was human too, with flame- coloured hair and deep, dark eyes. He walked towards Cale, his windbreaker flailing out behind him, as if he was going to throw a punch at his classmate.
"Hard luck, Andrei," went Cale.
"I had you in my grasp!" he burst out disappointed. "I had just to drag you into the claws of my creation and you'd be gone. Confounded turbine! Should've nailed it when I had a chance."
"Sorry Yovov," the professor gave Andrei a pat on his shoulder. "Now what have we learnt here today: size clearly isn't everything."
The professor left them to address the class. Soon Cale's classmates had swarmed around him, each of them a different alien species, but all wheedling Cale to tell them the secret of his creature.
"Never seen anything like it!"
"Cool, man, just way cool! How you ditched Andrei's Crusher!"
"What are you going to call it?"
The last question raised Cale's eyebrows for a moment. Amidst the crowd of classmates, he could see that everyone else was interested in his answer. "Well, I guess." he thought again for a moment before giving them the answer. "Slick."
Andrei looked at him, abashed. "Slick? Why the hell Slick?"
"Why not? He escaped your Crusher didn't he?"
The professor was now in front of them, a stack of papers in his arms. He waved his hands frantically for a moment before managing to catch the class' attention. Some people in the class let out a big groan.
"Yes, yes," he let out a big sigh. "I'm afraid the time has come for me to distribute the mid-term reports. I can see the bitter disappointment in your faces, but we've got to push it forward early this term because of the exchange trip that's been organised. Maxell, come and get it!"
A tall Akrennian lumbered forward. Once he had gotten his report card from the professor, he let out a yell of joy, leaping into the air overjoyed.
"Yes, nice work indeed, Maxell, but not good enough to top this class. Andrei!"
One by one each of the students went forward to collect their grades on how well they performed, until finally Cale was left. Automatically, Cale approached the professor, who grinned and said: "Your father would've been proud."
One glance said it all: Cale had topped the class, with almost perfect grades for his mechanical and engineering studies. He found the happiness impossible to suppress, and he thrust his fist into the air, gratified.
Right now, Andrei and two of his classmates gathered around him to check out his grades. One was a girl, with different coloured streaks for hair; instead of thin, fibre, her hair was plastic-like, in various ambled colours from red to purple. They were elastic, smooth and ropy. She had a tall, lanky frame, with mascara lighting up her sky blue eyes. Her skin was coloured a light faded blue. Apart from that she would've looked human, but she wasn't. The second was a Drej; he had swirling energy pumping through him as he glowed even in the bright classroom. He would've seemed as domineering as any Drej Drone, just that he didn't have a weapon mounted on his arms.
Cale had gotten used to the fact that his classmates weren't human. They were more of friends to him than just classmates; the girl put his arm around Cale and glanced over his shoulder at his grades.
"You sure nailed them down," she purred. "That'll show those D'amarans that there's at least someone who's as good as them on this planet."
"You flatter me, Christel," Cale said, sarcasm in his voice. But somehow he couldn't help feeling contented that one of his friends was a girl, even though she came from the distant world of Toshika. Every time he was with her, he felt something hot and heavy stir in his chest. It wasn't the same feeling when he was in the air; this made him feel as if his veins were throbbing with an unknown urge that couldn't be suppressed, with a twist in his stomach that made him feel a little embarrassed. His Drej friend, Gejev, Cale saw, looked a little sullen - as if he could make out that facial impression anyway.
"So -" Cale stammered slightly. "You're going to D'amara for that exchange program this Sunday?"
Christel and Gejev turned his direction. "Yeah," Christel replied. "Wouldn't miss it for the world, especially with the Stratton champion coming along."
Cale couldn't hide the sudden flush in his cheeks. Gejev then spoke in his monotonous, rasping voice. "Shouldn't be too bad. Just a few days' flying. I would like to see how they do their engineering."
At that moment, the professor had cleared his throat and spoke to the class again: "You're officially dismissed now. But don't forget the exchange trip this Sunday. For those that are coming, you should meet me at the main counter of the spaceport by nine in the morning. And don't forget your papers."
"Great, no last minute cancellations," Cale said. "I'm starving. Anyone want to follow me to that hawker's down the street? Dinner's on me."
It was an offer hard for any of them to refuse.
By the time they had been dismissed, the day was over. The setting sun had set ablaze the skies of Denver. The fingers of dying sunlight streaked across the sky in bursts of amber, splashing onto the buildings at Stratton University. They pierced the darkening sky like the spokes of a wheel; the sky was now a bloody red glow, with bright sprays of orange still present amongst the heavy, black clouds.
The four of them had gathered their things and, once they emerged from their block, a rush of warm wind greeted them, caressing gently over their faces. It dispelled the cold that had settled upon them, being in and air-conditioned room for almost five hours. A soft, willowy breeze then descended, making the tuffs of hair on Cale's head move repeatedly and ruffling Christel's long hair.
They exited the university, still talking excitedly over Cale's performance with Slick. Through the gates was a road; it was packed with traffic, this time being peak period, while traffic lights blinked incessantly to control this never-ending flow. Right at the end of the street, where the road would widen out into a boulevard, was a small eatery. It was packed between the small alley of two adjacent industrial buildings. The four of them crossed the road, and at once a delicious smell of frying wafted through the air at them. Despite the aroma, there seemed to be a great deal coming from the hawker's.
Nearing, they saw the source of a din. Bright blue and their colours standing out amidst the drab and drear of the dismal hawkers, two large Drej Drones were sacking a stall. One was trigger-happily blasting through the cloth door, the utensils and, ultimately, the hawker himself. There was a sudden scream, and a man, clutching his chest, fell to the floor in a puddle of blood. The second was holding back two hollering humans, a girl and boy, who were desperately trying to wriggle free from their grasp.
"Now what're we going to eat today that the noodle stall's being hit?" Christel asked. Walking past the scene of desecration, only Andrei paid attention to the loud, echoing snarls of the Drones.
"Conspiring against the Drej is a crime punishable by death, human!" one of them snarled. "Where are the rebels hiding?"
"No use questioning them," went the second. "Take the girl, they break easier."
The Drones seized the hair of the girl, whom Andrei thought looked Asian, and began to drag her down the street, still crying for help.
"Leave her alone!" the boy had gotten to his feet, and lunged at the Drone, attempting to reach for its head. But immediately, the Drone spun around, and fired through the boy's chest. He crumpled in a messy heap at the Drone's feet.
"Filthy human scum," the Drone spat.
Andrei felt a hand on his shoulder. It was Cale; the scene didn't seem to bother him much. "Come on, Andrei, ours not to reason why. They deserved it anyway, conspiring against the Drej."
Sitting down at the table, Andrei tried his best to keep his mind of the grisly scene that remained. He was helped by a television screen, flashing news headlines and flickering slightly. The stalls around were pining for orders, but in the end they just ordered three plates of the days' special, ET Meatballs, from a corner stall.
The night wearing on, the streetlights along the road flickered on with showers of buzzing sparks. A neon sign above then, old and falling into disrepair, came on, illuminating the open-air eatery with acid green. It had the words 'THE DREJ - HUMANITY'S BEST FRIENDS' written in block letters across it, but they were now frizzling with sparks and cackling with short-circuits.
"So what're going to do when you get to D'armara?" Christel asked Cale and Andrei, whilst swallowing a heap of green grub that were still struggling on her fork.
"Check out the chicks," went Cale.
He nudged Andrei in the ribs, but he busy staring at the television screen, where a sentence was flashing across it at an incredibly slow speed: 'Drej and humanity celebrate fifteen years of peaceful co-operation at Republic Plaza, Singapore City'. The screen then flashed an image of Drej stingers flying in formation as fireworks set alight the sky. In the background was a single, tall tower, with dashing blue windows that reflected the sun's glare and standing so high that its top was crowned with clouds.
"What's with you tonight?" Cale snapped at his friend. "What's with you and the Drej?"
"Don't know," Andrei replied sheepishly, scooping some wriggling grub into his open mouth. "Just thinking how fast time really flies. Fifteen years since the Drej came."
The rest of them stared at Andrei with disbelieving looks written across their faces, until Christel spoke: "It's been fifteen years, and the Drej and humans are at peace now. Not like the rebellions in the past."
"At peace, right," he said sarcastically.
"Come on, Andrei," pressed Cale. "Still upset you lost your brother in the rebellions? Well, he was a fool, all right, just like my father. Running at the Drej with the stupid perception of a freedom and liberation. That's all trash, we're with the Drej now, and its been more peaceful under them."
Andrei sat back. "I thought you'd understand. I mean, many humans say that your fathers' Titan project thing pioneered the rebellion."
"He was a wrecker, all right!" yelled Cale. "Let's just don't talk about him and his stupid Titan project."
Silence set over them once again, but then Cale forced himself to apologise. "I'm sorry. Lost my temper. I just hate it when I'm only remembered for my father."
Gejev finally spoke, his cold voice settling over them, though Cale could sense disturbance in his voice. "The Drej know him too. Say he was crazy, wanted to save the human race from disgrace and enslavement., or something like that. Good thing the Drej got him before he could cause any more trouble, though they never found out where he and his radicals hid the Titan."
Cale faced his plate of half-eaten, moving grub. He hated his father's memory more than anything else. Why did this have to come up at dinner?
"Damn it, the Wanderers won," Christel broke the silence as she slammed her fist on the table. Cale and Andrei heard Christel swear once as she looked up at the screen. It broke the deafening silence that had settled around them. "Did you see? The Wanderers won the match"
Cale's face suddenly brightened. He suddenly remembered that he had taken a bet with Christel on this match, which included their two favourite soccer teams. "Ten bucks," sneered Cale. "Pay up."
"But I don't have any more money!" Christel wined.
Gejev and Andrei looked up to Cale, eager to see his reaction - but his face was blank, gazing intently at Christel.
"I'll tell you what," Christel negotiated. "You stay patient for a little while longer."
"Christel, you owe me almost a hundred Earth dollars from previous bets," Cale cut in.
".And I'll pay you back once we're alone without these two watching, okay?"
It was Andrei's turn to nudge Cale hard in the ribs. Deep inside his mind, Cale's conscience was laughing, and it showed as his face beamed into a grin. Christel was grinning too, her eyes looking down Cale tauntingly. He fixed that look in his mind as he wolfed down the rest of the meal, paying the hawker before they left.
They walked in silence; despite the relaxed atmosphere surrounding them when they set off, Cale was too immersed in his thoughts to say anything. All he could think of was Andrei, looking at him in this funny sort of way and citing that his father had once been humanity's greatest hope with his Titan and army of rebels. These same rebels had been blowing up both Drej and humans. And his father? Cale thought. His father was a liar and a wrecker!
He had wrecked Cale's life; he had left with the promise of them seeing each other again, but had he come back? No! He never came back! Cale's mind seemed to be furiously burning through his skull, either in anger or hate or both. My father betrayed me, he thought. He gave up his family for a stupid belief. He could still be at my side, teaching, guiding me, but look what he gave up his life for? The more he thought about it, he had a strange desire to destroy something.
Sam Tucker, the thought went through his mind again, he was the man the Drej feared most. But he was my father. And I inherited his goddamn name. Unexpectedly, he spat to the ground, away from the rest so they couldn't see. His mind at war, his emotions dying to crush every bit of memory that he had of his father. He had disappointed him; he had left a deep hole that was still burning through in his soul. How can I face my friends when my father actually killed Drej? He stared at Gejev; he was a peaceful Drej youth, raised among humans in the peacetime, and they had considered the races equal. Cale saw how Gejev had shuddered when Andrei mentioned Cale's father. I've got a life with my friends, I don't need the mere memory of my father screwing things up.
Cale parted with Gejev at the street junction. While walking towards the main city district, Andrei waved goodbye and proceeded down another street. Cale's mind was slowly losing his focus on his abomination of a family and concentrating on having a private chat with Christel. Right now, Cale and Christel were walking alone down the city blocks; Cale's place was right up ahead.
Nearing the door, Cale turned to say goodbye to Christel. But no sound came out of his mouth; he was muffled by Christel's luscious lips, which had silenced him before he could say anything. She pressed hard against his mouth with the fiery energy that he could only dream about in his sleep; slick and smooth, he produced a subdued cry of surprise when he found her tongue searching for his in his mouth. Christel moved in deeper, before she separated, a grin across her face. Cale felt upset that this ordeal had stopped but, this seemed, thought Cale, to be the perfect goodbye.
"Be seeing you," Christel said, her eyes, flashing at Cale. "Until Sunday."
There was a strange afterglow that Cale felt all the way as he entered his house. Music was blaring from a nearby stereo; Iji, Cale's adopted sister, was lying across the couch in the living room, washed with lights, one foot jiggling to the music. She lifted her head from the cushion that it was rested on as Cale walked in, even waved her hand in an attempt to greet him. But Cale didn't care, he was feeling too lofty inside to acknowledge Iji, or even the greeting that Tek gave him as he swept past the blind creature into his room.
His heart was doing some sort of jump; it never seemed to stop racing out of control, and the same hot and heavy feeling stirred in his chest. She smiled at the mere thought of him and Christel kissing, as it fed his mind like a sort of stimulant. The pleasantness surrounded him, as if he was lost in his own happy, mellow thoughts. It wasn't the same feeling that he had whenever he was in the air, but something close to it.
His mind stayed blissfully blank; he had long forgotten the furious rage he was in when he was sparked by the mere thought of his father. All he wanted now was having that feeling, of Christel's warm lips being pressured against, to be repeated, again and again. He could picture the playful smile Christel had given him, he could feel the lock of hair that fell into his face from Christel's forehead; both senses made him strangely gratified. Lying on his bed, he felt too good inside to just doze off and sleep; closing his eyes, he was dreaming now, not wanting to think about anything else but that pressing of lips against his, and the pleasure it gave both him and Christel.
His rush for flying couldn't be explained, but this could.
He was in love.
1.1 Written by Shelter
Disclaimer: I don't own Titan A.E or any its characters. They belong to Don Bluth and Fox Animation Studios. But, this story belongs to me, and ask permission if you wish to use it. I'm using UK English to write, 'cause that's the only English I know. If this story has offended anyone, I would like to offer my sincere apologies.
This entire story revolves around this one question:
What if the Drej had never destroyed Earth, but merely captured it?
1. An Ordinary Life
AT THE END of the passage was yet another challenging gauntlet. From the splintered sides of the elongated pipe, the bright light at the exit beckoned attractively; for the unwary, however, this light could lead to a dangerous end to this challenge. Right now, stealthily making its way through towards the promising light, was a grotesque figure, its shadows magnified to the curved edges of the pipe wall.
It looked like a huge insect, the size of a man's outstretched palm, but it was made of metal. It had eight mechanical legs, and it moved cautiously, pushing ahead while moving a pair of feet at each time. Its body was streamlined, bald, with ridges right in the middle. The creature seemed like a deformed crawler, a cold metallic ant with no distinguishable head or tail. At each end were what looked like steel pincers, mounted close to its smooth, unmarked frame. Tiny rubber wheels were propped just above the legs, but they had no been lowered, so the creature was relying solely on its thin, hammering feet for movement.
From his place behind a glazed, translucent screen, Cale Tucker stared through the eyes to that creature, acknowledging every movement with his pair of joysticks before him. Two small television screens lit his concentrating face; one was a map, green with grid lines and showing a glowing orange dot, continually moving upwards, the second was a live view from the creature's eyes. The bright light was approaching; Cale could feel the excitement running through him now: what would he find at the end of the passage? His grimy hands gripped the sticks nervously, as he glared at the screen. Right now, the creature was immersed in that bright light, totally blocking out the view. Without hesitation, Cale pushed forward the sticks, egging the creature on.
For a few seconds, the creature trudged forward, the light bathing it so brightly that Cale could barely see an inch ahead. To his surprise, the dot on the grid didn't budge. At once Cale knew his error; his face drained of colour, he watched transfixed as the light parted to reveal a bottomless chasm. The creature, already rocking on the ledge between that plunge and safety, had been pushed on by Cale. It shook for a moment, its even weight balancing it. But then the inevitable happened, and the creature slipped off the edge, falling into the gaping hole belong.
Cale was jolted from his senses; he seized the two controls, and jerked them backward. The creature could only turn back upward and stare at the ledge it had fallen off from. His hands then rushed to the red button on top of his left stick; pressing it with all his force, the creature's hideous fangs stabbed themselves into the glossy metal wall. They had bitten the wall so hard that the creature stopped falling immediately, hanging onto dear life by a pair of pinchers jabbing. Cale pressed them, and made sure they were strong enough to support the creature's weight. He stared at the live recording, thinking, that was a close shave!
He looked at the screen again, and this time he smiled to himself, saying: "Right way up."
He clutched the controls, and pressed the switch that lay poised at his forefinger. Silently, the sides of the creature where the ridges once were, opened up to reveal a pair of turbines, gunning to fly. Cale turned his head sideways, twisting it as if he was horribly confident about the stunt he was about to pull. With a grin on his face, he released the pinchers.
There was a second of free-fall, then the creature seemed to defy gravity. Cale was jamming the switch with all the force he had in his hands; the turbines coughed to life, bursting flames and keeping the creature in its position. Breathing fire and producing lift, it swayed in mid-air, waiting for the motion that would propel it upwards.
Cale took the sticks, and pushed them forward. Like a rocket, the creature soared upwards, its turbines drumming steadily, leaving a trail of smoke behind. The jets rumbled, causing the view to become somewhat distorted. But Cale didn't care - he was too preoccupied with this sudden acceleration into the air. He had experienced it before; every time he was in the air, in total control of his machine, his blood would begin to blast through his veins, his mind would turn blissfully blank and the rush of the moment would thrill him like never before. It was the flying; the mere dream of it would cause his adrenaline to rush, and nerve in his body to tingle with anticipation. He couldn't hide this obsession: he loved to fly.
The creature blasted past its original passage, but now the chasm, moving upwards, had started to slope gently, while winding into tight turns. Cale steered his creature to the point of extreme accuracy, narrowly missing the jutting points of co0rners and the blank walls of the junctions. As the tunnel rose, Cale thrust his controls forward. The creature was buzzing with speed, zooming through with loud echoes that couldn't be heard. Cale was in total control, nothing could stop him.
Finally, the passage ended abruptly. Right now, before Cale was an open stretch of metal, and another big drop. But a metal bridge separated the first landing to a second, which once again beckoned promisingly. Its legs moving and turbines tucked neatly back on its sides, the creature stumbled ahead, inching closer to the bridge.
This is too easy, thought Cale. And why do I get this nasty feeling that something bad will happen this far?
Something bad did happen. As soon as the creature had stepped its foot on the bridge, the front step gave way, and the creature fell forward. This time Cale saw and he reacted - just in time - to pull to creature back onto higher ground. The bridge is flimsy, unsafe. So I've got to cross it in double-quick time. How?
His mind thought anxiously for a moment, but the live view shook, almost as if something had hit the creature. Cale switched to a rear-view camera for a moment, he nearly fell back when he saw the view. Right behind his creature, was another. It was painted red, with the words: 'I AM THE GOD' written clearly on its side; it had twice the number of legs, but they were larger; this new insect overshadowed his tiny bug, being three times as large and five times as tall. Right at its mouth were a pair of huge metal spikes, and at its mouth was a sinister chainsaw, that had begun to run threateningly.
It was obvious that this giant's intention was to destroy Cale's creature.
One spike fell right through its side, disabling one of the turbines instantly. Cale's hops had begun to fade, but his face was still alight in concentration. Then his mind hit it: the wheels!
At once, he hit the second switch in his right joystick, and the wheels deployed, all four of them, at the four corners of the struggling creature. He revved up the motor inside, and the creature jerked forward, only to be pulled back by the clutching metal spike. The giant was dragging him towards the chainsaw, which shone off the light menacingly. The creature lumbered ahead once again, saving its life, but no dislodging that vital grip.
Cale's face was sweaty with determination. Wiping sweat off his brow, Cale activated the remaining turbine, boosting it to full power. Through clenched teeth, he snarled: "You want God? I'll give you God!"
The turbine blasted off and aided, by the wheels that were spinning rapidly, the jangled mess of predator and prey surged towards the bridge. The force was straining on that remaining metal spike, and the creature, still struggling to escape, was now dragging the giant towards the bridge.
Then, with a final thrust, the creature burst into speed, its wheels pushing it onwards. The giant was forced on for a few feet, and the parasitical spike gave way. While Cale's creature sped across the bridge, dislocating it entirely, the giant plundered ahead on its sides, and with its last breath, fell over the edge to an unpleasant crunch below. Cale, on the other hand, had steered his creature to the other landing, where it stood, bruised but triumphant.
"And that," Cale said aloud. "Is victory through persistence."
"Well done!" went a voice that seemed to mysteriously drift out from the walls. "A perfect challenge completed! Full marks, Tucker!"
Cale heaved a sigh of relief. Hands bathed in sweat from all his excitement, he wiped them on his shirt, then proceeded to the door at the back of the room. One hand on the heavily cushioned walls, he jerked the door-handle, pulling it towards him. The door swung open to a group of people, his age, outside, seated and watching his progress on a huge screen in front. When he presented himself, they all broke out into hearty applause.
His face turning red, Cale tried to silence them, but the more he tried, the more they cheered. A Vusstran approached Cale from his right; he wore a white coat over his dull green overalls, and had several pens jammed into his coat pocket. He stared at Cale with eyes as big as tennis balls, lip curled, with a snout for a nose, and said: "Perfect, perfect! Not even I could do it."
"Thanks professor," Cale replied. "It's nothing really. Had the idea last night."
"Why so modest, Tucker?" the professor demanded. "A splendid display of mechanical movement, perfect use of independent non-fuel boosters, clear examples of grappling and speed. And not forgetting the total combination of these effects, all in one vehicle! Stratton may be the best school of mechanical engineering in this system, but you're the best in my class!"
Their attention was momentarily diverted when, from a door of the opposite side, a boy burst out looking troubled and hassled, mumbling something distractedly under his breath. He was human too, with flame- coloured hair and deep, dark eyes. He walked towards Cale, his windbreaker flailing out behind him, as if he was going to throw a punch at his classmate.
"Hard luck, Andrei," went Cale.
"I had you in my grasp!" he burst out disappointed. "I had just to drag you into the claws of my creation and you'd be gone. Confounded turbine! Should've nailed it when I had a chance."
"Sorry Yovov," the professor gave Andrei a pat on his shoulder. "Now what have we learnt here today: size clearly isn't everything."
The professor left them to address the class. Soon Cale's classmates had swarmed around him, each of them a different alien species, but all wheedling Cale to tell them the secret of his creature.
"Never seen anything like it!"
"Cool, man, just way cool! How you ditched Andrei's Crusher!"
"What are you going to call it?"
The last question raised Cale's eyebrows for a moment. Amidst the crowd of classmates, he could see that everyone else was interested in his answer. "Well, I guess." he thought again for a moment before giving them the answer. "Slick."
Andrei looked at him, abashed. "Slick? Why the hell Slick?"
"Why not? He escaped your Crusher didn't he?"
The professor was now in front of them, a stack of papers in his arms. He waved his hands frantically for a moment before managing to catch the class' attention. Some people in the class let out a big groan.
"Yes, yes," he let out a big sigh. "I'm afraid the time has come for me to distribute the mid-term reports. I can see the bitter disappointment in your faces, but we've got to push it forward early this term because of the exchange trip that's been organised. Maxell, come and get it!"
A tall Akrennian lumbered forward. Once he had gotten his report card from the professor, he let out a yell of joy, leaping into the air overjoyed.
"Yes, nice work indeed, Maxell, but not good enough to top this class. Andrei!"
One by one each of the students went forward to collect their grades on how well they performed, until finally Cale was left. Automatically, Cale approached the professor, who grinned and said: "Your father would've been proud."
One glance said it all: Cale had topped the class, with almost perfect grades for his mechanical and engineering studies. He found the happiness impossible to suppress, and he thrust his fist into the air, gratified.
Right now, Andrei and two of his classmates gathered around him to check out his grades. One was a girl, with different coloured streaks for hair; instead of thin, fibre, her hair was plastic-like, in various ambled colours from red to purple. They were elastic, smooth and ropy. She had a tall, lanky frame, with mascara lighting up her sky blue eyes. Her skin was coloured a light faded blue. Apart from that she would've looked human, but she wasn't. The second was a Drej; he had swirling energy pumping through him as he glowed even in the bright classroom. He would've seemed as domineering as any Drej Drone, just that he didn't have a weapon mounted on his arms.
Cale had gotten used to the fact that his classmates weren't human. They were more of friends to him than just classmates; the girl put his arm around Cale and glanced over his shoulder at his grades.
"You sure nailed them down," she purred. "That'll show those D'amarans that there's at least someone who's as good as them on this planet."
"You flatter me, Christel," Cale said, sarcasm in his voice. But somehow he couldn't help feeling contented that one of his friends was a girl, even though she came from the distant world of Toshika. Every time he was with her, he felt something hot and heavy stir in his chest. It wasn't the same feeling when he was in the air; this made him feel as if his veins were throbbing with an unknown urge that couldn't be suppressed, with a twist in his stomach that made him feel a little embarrassed. His Drej friend, Gejev, Cale saw, looked a little sullen - as if he could make out that facial impression anyway.
"So -" Cale stammered slightly. "You're going to D'amara for that exchange program this Sunday?"
Christel and Gejev turned his direction. "Yeah," Christel replied. "Wouldn't miss it for the world, especially with the Stratton champion coming along."
Cale couldn't hide the sudden flush in his cheeks. Gejev then spoke in his monotonous, rasping voice. "Shouldn't be too bad. Just a few days' flying. I would like to see how they do their engineering."
At that moment, the professor had cleared his throat and spoke to the class again: "You're officially dismissed now. But don't forget the exchange trip this Sunday. For those that are coming, you should meet me at the main counter of the spaceport by nine in the morning. And don't forget your papers."
"Great, no last minute cancellations," Cale said. "I'm starving. Anyone want to follow me to that hawker's down the street? Dinner's on me."
It was an offer hard for any of them to refuse.
By the time they had been dismissed, the day was over. The setting sun had set ablaze the skies of Denver. The fingers of dying sunlight streaked across the sky in bursts of amber, splashing onto the buildings at Stratton University. They pierced the darkening sky like the spokes of a wheel; the sky was now a bloody red glow, with bright sprays of orange still present amongst the heavy, black clouds.
The four of them had gathered their things and, once they emerged from their block, a rush of warm wind greeted them, caressing gently over their faces. It dispelled the cold that had settled upon them, being in and air-conditioned room for almost five hours. A soft, willowy breeze then descended, making the tuffs of hair on Cale's head move repeatedly and ruffling Christel's long hair.
They exited the university, still talking excitedly over Cale's performance with Slick. Through the gates was a road; it was packed with traffic, this time being peak period, while traffic lights blinked incessantly to control this never-ending flow. Right at the end of the street, where the road would widen out into a boulevard, was a small eatery. It was packed between the small alley of two adjacent industrial buildings. The four of them crossed the road, and at once a delicious smell of frying wafted through the air at them. Despite the aroma, there seemed to be a great deal coming from the hawker's.
Nearing, they saw the source of a din. Bright blue and their colours standing out amidst the drab and drear of the dismal hawkers, two large Drej Drones were sacking a stall. One was trigger-happily blasting through the cloth door, the utensils and, ultimately, the hawker himself. There was a sudden scream, and a man, clutching his chest, fell to the floor in a puddle of blood. The second was holding back two hollering humans, a girl and boy, who were desperately trying to wriggle free from their grasp.
"Now what're we going to eat today that the noodle stall's being hit?" Christel asked. Walking past the scene of desecration, only Andrei paid attention to the loud, echoing snarls of the Drones.
"Conspiring against the Drej is a crime punishable by death, human!" one of them snarled. "Where are the rebels hiding?"
"No use questioning them," went the second. "Take the girl, they break easier."
The Drones seized the hair of the girl, whom Andrei thought looked Asian, and began to drag her down the street, still crying for help.
"Leave her alone!" the boy had gotten to his feet, and lunged at the Drone, attempting to reach for its head. But immediately, the Drone spun around, and fired through the boy's chest. He crumpled in a messy heap at the Drone's feet.
"Filthy human scum," the Drone spat.
Andrei felt a hand on his shoulder. It was Cale; the scene didn't seem to bother him much. "Come on, Andrei, ours not to reason why. They deserved it anyway, conspiring against the Drej."
Sitting down at the table, Andrei tried his best to keep his mind of the grisly scene that remained. He was helped by a television screen, flashing news headlines and flickering slightly. The stalls around were pining for orders, but in the end they just ordered three plates of the days' special, ET Meatballs, from a corner stall.
The night wearing on, the streetlights along the road flickered on with showers of buzzing sparks. A neon sign above then, old and falling into disrepair, came on, illuminating the open-air eatery with acid green. It had the words 'THE DREJ - HUMANITY'S BEST FRIENDS' written in block letters across it, but they were now frizzling with sparks and cackling with short-circuits.
"So what're going to do when you get to D'armara?" Christel asked Cale and Andrei, whilst swallowing a heap of green grub that were still struggling on her fork.
"Check out the chicks," went Cale.
He nudged Andrei in the ribs, but he busy staring at the television screen, where a sentence was flashing across it at an incredibly slow speed: 'Drej and humanity celebrate fifteen years of peaceful co-operation at Republic Plaza, Singapore City'. The screen then flashed an image of Drej stingers flying in formation as fireworks set alight the sky. In the background was a single, tall tower, with dashing blue windows that reflected the sun's glare and standing so high that its top was crowned with clouds.
"What's with you tonight?" Cale snapped at his friend. "What's with you and the Drej?"
"Don't know," Andrei replied sheepishly, scooping some wriggling grub into his open mouth. "Just thinking how fast time really flies. Fifteen years since the Drej came."
The rest of them stared at Andrei with disbelieving looks written across their faces, until Christel spoke: "It's been fifteen years, and the Drej and humans are at peace now. Not like the rebellions in the past."
"At peace, right," he said sarcastically.
"Come on, Andrei," pressed Cale. "Still upset you lost your brother in the rebellions? Well, he was a fool, all right, just like my father. Running at the Drej with the stupid perception of a freedom and liberation. That's all trash, we're with the Drej now, and its been more peaceful under them."
Andrei sat back. "I thought you'd understand. I mean, many humans say that your fathers' Titan project thing pioneered the rebellion."
"He was a wrecker, all right!" yelled Cale. "Let's just don't talk about him and his stupid Titan project."
Silence set over them once again, but then Cale forced himself to apologise. "I'm sorry. Lost my temper. I just hate it when I'm only remembered for my father."
Gejev finally spoke, his cold voice settling over them, though Cale could sense disturbance in his voice. "The Drej know him too. Say he was crazy, wanted to save the human race from disgrace and enslavement., or something like that. Good thing the Drej got him before he could cause any more trouble, though they never found out where he and his radicals hid the Titan."
Cale faced his plate of half-eaten, moving grub. He hated his father's memory more than anything else. Why did this have to come up at dinner?
"Damn it, the Wanderers won," Christel broke the silence as she slammed her fist on the table. Cale and Andrei heard Christel swear once as she looked up at the screen. It broke the deafening silence that had settled around them. "Did you see? The Wanderers won the match"
Cale's face suddenly brightened. He suddenly remembered that he had taken a bet with Christel on this match, which included their two favourite soccer teams. "Ten bucks," sneered Cale. "Pay up."
"But I don't have any more money!" Christel wined.
Gejev and Andrei looked up to Cale, eager to see his reaction - but his face was blank, gazing intently at Christel.
"I'll tell you what," Christel negotiated. "You stay patient for a little while longer."
"Christel, you owe me almost a hundred Earth dollars from previous bets," Cale cut in.
".And I'll pay you back once we're alone without these two watching, okay?"
It was Andrei's turn to nudge Cale hard in the ribs. Deep inside his mind, Cale's conscience was laughing, and it showed as his face beamed into a grin. Christel was grinning too, her eyes looking down Cale tauntingly. He fixed that look in his mind as he wolfed down the rest of the meal, paying the hawker before they left.
They walked in silence; despite the relaxed atmosphere surrounding them when they set off, Cale was too immersed in his thoughts to say anything. All he could think of was Andrei, looking at him in this funny sort of way and citing that his father had once been humanity's greatest hope with his Titan and army of rebels. These same rebels had been blowing up both Drej and humans. And his father? Cale thought. His father was a liar and a wrecker!
He had wrecked Cale's life; he had left with the promise of them seeing each other again, but had he come back? No! He never came back! Cale's mind seemed to be furiously burning through his skull, either in anger or hate or both. My father betrayed me, he thought. He gave up his family for a stupid belief. He could still be at my side, teaching, guiding me, but look what he gave up his life for? The more he thought about it, he had a strange desire to destroy something.
Sam Tucker, the thought went through his mind again, he was the man the Drej feared most. But he was my father. And I inherited his goddamn name. Unexpectedly, he spat to the ground, away from the rest so they couldn't see. His mind at war, his emotions dying to crush every bit of memory that he had of his father. He had disappointed him; he had left a deep hole that was still burning through in his soul. How can I face my friends when my father actually killed Drej? He stared at Gejev; he was a peaceful Drej youth, raised among humans in the peacetime, and they had considered the races equal. Cale saw how Gejev had shuddered when Andrei mentioned Cale's father. I've got a life with my friends, I don't need the mere memory of my father screwing things up.
Cale parted with Gejev at the street junction. While walking towards the main city district, Andrei waved goodbye and proceeded down another street. Cale's mind was slowly losing his focus on his abomination of a family and concentrating on having a private chat with Christel. Right now, Cale and Christel were walking alone down the city blocks; Cale's place was right up ahead.
Nearing the door, Cale turned to say goodbye to Christel. But no sound came out of his mouth; he was muffled by Christel's luscious lips, which had silenced him before he could say anything. She pressed hard against his mouth with the fiery energy that he could only dream about in his sleep; slick and smooth, he produced a subdued cry of surprise when he found her tongue searching for his in his mouth. Christel moved in deeper, before she separated, a grin across her face. Cale felt upset that this ordeal had stopped but, this seemed, thought Cale, to be the perfect goodbye.
"Be seeing you," Christel said, her eyes, flashing at Cale. "Until Sunday."
There was a strange afterglow that Cale felt all the way as he entered his house. Music was blaring from a nearby stereo; Iji, Cale's adopted sister, was lying across the couch in the living room, washed with lights, one foot jiggling to the music. She lifted her head from the cushion that it was rested on as Cale walked in, even waved her hand in an attempt to greet him. But Cale didn't care, he was feeling too lofty inside to acknowledge Iji, or even the greeting that Tek gave him as he swept past the blind creature into his room.
His heart was doing some sort of jump; it never seemed to stop racing out of control, and the same hot and heavy feeling stirred in his chest. She smiled at the mere thought of him and Christel kissing, as it fed his mind like a sort of stimulant. The pleasantness surrounded him, as if he was lost in his own happy, mellow thoughts. It wasn't the same feeling that he had whenever he was in the air, but something close to it.
His mind stayed blissfully blank; he had long forgotten the furious rage he was in when he was sparked by the mere thought of his father. All he wanted now was having that feeling, of Christel's warm lips being pressured against, to be repeated, again and again. He could picture the playful smile Christel had given him, he could feel the lock of hair that fell into his face from Christel's forehead; both senses made him strangely gratified. Lying on his bed, he felt too good inside to just doze off and sleep; closing his eyes, he was dreaming now, not wanting to think about anything else but that pressing of lips against his, and the pleasure it gave both him and Christel.
His rush for flying couldn't be explained, but this could.
He was in love.