AEON: Legend of El Contare

In the beginning, there was Darkness. Then, there was El Contare, manifesting in an incandescent force of illumination and wisdom. Of course, El Contare was not the name by which he was called at that time. It is merely the name by which he is most prominently known at the time our story takes place. Great tomes could be dedicated to describing the life and incarnations of El Contare, and indeed, many have. You have heard of him in some way. Whether it is by the name of Elohim or Thoth, Odin or Quetzalcoatl, you have heard his name. His power is that of all the great gods, unshakable and unquestionable. However, this is not the story of El Contare. This is the story of mortals, varying in race and creed, who stood against the might of the strongest man in Korea and did not bow. This is the tale of the Aeon.

Part 1-A: Break on Through to the Other Side

Our story begins with a young man named Takeshi who had moved to San Francisco on a homestay. Even now, that day echoes in his mind. He remembers his heart beating with trepidation as he stepped forward to face his destiny.

"Takeshi? Is that you?"

Takeshi glanced over to see a well-built man with blonde hair jogging over to him.

"Yes!" He called. "You must be Jake. It's so nice to meet you. I can't thank you enough for letting me stay at your place."

Jake just waved his hand dismissively. He'd clearly just spent a considerable amount of time running around and was still trying to catch his breath.

"Don't mention it. I'm just glad I found you. I just talked to nine other guys who I thought might have been you."

"Wow, I'm really sorry to hear that. Did you get the picture of me? I thought I'd sent it a few weeks ago."

"What? Oh, yeah. It was a real nice picture. Anyway, let's get your stuff over to the car. I've got a surprise for you back home."

He hefted both bags over his shoulder and started walking. Takeshi gave a nervous chuckle and set off after him.

A short time later, he'd settled into his room. He'd been taken aback as soon as he'd seen it. Jake's apartment was huge and surrounded by wide, open windows. It was also decorated with beautiful artworks from various cultures, all tastefully arranged. In their earlier emails, Jake had mentioned owning a small art gallery but he was clearly more successful than he had let on. He certainly seemed well-intentioned, if a little bit awkward. Takashi shook his head as he thought about all the sushi and sake Jake had shown him. It wasn't his fault. Most people only knew about Japan through movies and anime. They were bound to have weird ideas about his home.

"How's everything look?" Jake asked as he entered the room. "Comfortable?"

"Are you kidding? This is great! I feel like I'm taking advantage by staying here like this."

Jake just shrugged. "Don't worry about it. To be honest, I've been looking for a roommate for a while. Someone like-minded who can understand my lifestyle."

"You don't have anyone else like that?"

"Well, there is my sister, Jill. It's been the two of us together ever since our dad died. You're gonna love her. She's amazing. She's a real athlete with the sharpest mind you'll ever meet."

"Wow. I can't wait to meet her. Does she live nearby?"

Yeah, about a half hour or so. She stays over pretty often though, so you'll probably be seeing a lot of her."

Jake clapped Takashi on the shoulder and looked him directly in the eye.

"It means a lot to me that you're here."

Takashi smiled. "It does to me too. I get the feeling this is going to be a year I never forget!

A few weeks went by, and so far, everything was looking good. He had started to settle into a comfortable routine at the university. He'd even made a few friends. One of them was even... well... kind of a friend. It seemed like she might be interested in him as something more. If that was the case, this year was going to be even better than he'd thought.

"You look happy. What's her name?" Jill asked as she gave him a playful punch on the shoulder.

They were watching a hockey game on TV at Jill's insistence. As Jake had said, it was impossible not to love Jill. She was a knockout who owned every room she entered without even trying. She had a real head for numbers too. Takashi had seen her doing calculations in a moment that would have taken him several minutes even with a calculator. He could practically hear the circuits whirring in her head.

"What makes you think it's a girl?"

"You spend enough time with a romantic like Jake, you learn to pick up on it. So c'mon, out with it. What's her name? Tell me you've at least asked her out for a coffee."

Takashi grinned sheepishly.

"Her name is Alejandra, though she goes by Alex here."

"Oh. Alejandra. That's... a Spanish name, right?"

"It might be. She's from Mexico. She's lived in the US since she was a grade schooler though. Her English is flawless."

That's great. I'm really happy for you, Takashi."

Just then, the game returned from commercials and her attention was diverted immediately. Takashi leaned back as she cheered. For a moment, it had looked like a scowl had gone across her face.

"You're imagining things Takashi," he thought. "You're just jumpy because a girl might like you. That class on facial muscles just has you reading too much into little expressions. Jake and Jill are here for you."

It turned out that Alex did indeed like him after all. They ended up going out a few times and were currently planning a night together on New Years Eve, a few days away. These days, the time Takashi spent without a giant grin on his face were few and far between. Not only that but Jake had offered to let him stay for another year. They hadn't really been talking much lately. Jake was preoccupied with the opening of his gallery's first exhibit. And Jill... well, she was a bit distant these days. To be honest, Takashi wasn't that upset about it. Jill did stay over a lot like Jake had said, but sometimes... sometimes he woke up early and the bedding on the sofa where she was supposed to sleep was untouched. He knew she hadn't been going home early. The implications made him a little uncomfortable. It wasn't like he thought poorly or Jake and Jill. They'd been nothing but nice to him and everyone was entitled to live their own lives. It was just that... there were other things too. Jake had a weird intensity sometimes. He seemed to be expecting something from Takeshi, but he couldn't figure out what it might be. Not only that, but the few times he had mentioned Alex they would both grunt noncommittally and change the subject.

"Don't get so hung up on this." He chided himself. "Your life is the best its ever been. Enjoy it before it all comes crashing down."

Takashi's heart pounded as he leaned back on the hood of Jake's car. Alex was pressed against him, her head resting on his shoulder. In the distance, fireworks exploded to signal the turn of the new year, but he barely even noticed them. What had he done to be so lucky? He had friends, a great place to live, a promising future, and now someone he could potentially spend it with. The year had brought him so much, and from the look of things, the next year was shaping up to be even better.

"Mmmm," Alex nuzzled against him. Y'know, on second thought, I'd rather go somewhere else after all."

Or maybe it wasn't.

"Yeah?" He asked stiffly. "Where do you want to go?"

She pressed even more tightly against him.

"You're place."

"My place? Why would... oh."

She leaned forward and kissed his ear.

"Don't make me wait too long."

"No, ma'am!" He yelped.

They got up and started to get into the car.

"Wait," Alex pointed to the road. "Who's that?"

Takeshi followed the direction she was pointing. In the distance stood a tall athletic figure with long blonde hair and...

"Jill?"

Jill stepped forward. Even from a distance Takashi could tell something was wrong. She was walking too stiffly. Her face had no expression on it. Her eyes were focused intently on the two of them. Takashi instinctively placed his arm in front of Alex.

"Hey, Jill!" He called. "Everything ok?"

Jill didn't respond. She simply kept walking towards them. Takashi felt the hair rise on his arms. This didn't feel right.

"I thought you and Jake were going to a party. Did something happen?"

Finally, the mention of Jake seemed to get through to her. She stopped just a couple meters away. She blinked and looked at her surroundings with a frown. Her eyes drifted to the Golden Gate Bridge and the bay at the bottom of the slope where Takashi had parked the car.

"Jake is... gone," she murmured.

Takashi had to strain to hear her, but he didn't dare step forward.

"Gone? Was there an accident? I'll call an ambulance an-"

"No. He has left... of his own will."

"Why would he leave? His art gallery just opened, didn't it? His whole life is here."

"Some things are... more important. We have a calling... to something so much... bigger than we are. We thought... you might be like us. Our people... had an understanding... in the past. Jake was so sure... he was so excited... he found someone... he could trust."

"Jill, you're not making any sense! Come on, we're friends, right?" Talk me through what's happening!"

He reached behind himself and passed Alex his keys. She took them and squeezed his hand. Slowly, she started to inch toward the car. At the same time, Takashi stepped toward Jill like she was a wounded animal who might snap at any moment. She was shaking now, sharp twitched like she was being electrocuted. He got within an arm's reach and held out his hand.

"Take my hand, Jill. Let's go home."

She looked down and shook her head.

"I can't."

"Jill, I..."

She looked up and Takashi gasped. Her left eye glowed red. A familiar symbol sat in the center in place of her pupil. It was a symbol that had been burned into history as the ultimate sign of hate.

"Long live the master race," she whispered.

Her arm split open and several serrated knives extended out. She shrieked and swung at Takashi who could only stand frozen in horror. A piercing screech resounded as Jake's car slammed into Jill and sent her flying.

"Takashi, c'mon!" Alex called from the driver's seat.

Her voice snapped Takashi back to reality and he hopped into the passenger seat behind her.

"What the hell was that?" She asked.

"I... I don't..."

"Well, whatever. Let's focus on getting out of here!"

Something struck the back of the car and began to lift it. Takashi looked back and saw Jill's red eye looking back at him. She smashed her arm through the window, yanked him from the car and held him above her. Wires poked from her mangled body, sending crackling sparks into the air.

"You will... not escape!"

She threw Takashi to the side and turned back toward Alex. Takashi tried to pick himself off the ground but his body wasn't obeying him anymore.

"Jill. Please..."

Alex looked over at him. For one long moment, their eyes met. Then Jill ran her blades through Alex's chest.

"NO!"

Blood sprayed from Alex's mouth and for a moment, her eyes glazed over, but suddenly they came alight again with new intensity. She gritted her teeth and the car sped backwards, taking Jill along with it. Together they crashed into the bay and sank. Takashi forced himself to his feet and limped over to the bay.

"Alex! ALEX!"

The water frothed and bubbled, but neither of them emerged.

"She's waiting for me," he thought. "I have to get her. I have to-"

His face struck the ground and he faded into the darkness.