"Pride N' Siblings"
*Planet Bora 487 (Age 710)
Planet Bora 487 was a world where everyone had an enlarged body part. From their foreheads to their toes, each part grew alongside us. My family was no stranger to the planet's traits. My mother, Cov, had a swollen belly button that covered most of her belly. She had no troubles in how big it got. Cov loved how cute it was. Eventually, she joined the greatest organization in the universe, The Pride Troopers. Now, she wasn't a soldier of justice, but a nurse with honor. She used all kinds of medicine and methods to heal soldiers after missions. Father saw her as a beauty with a nurturing heart. That's how they met one day after a hectic mission. Something sparked between them, they went out on dates, and Father proposed. Afterwards, they quit their occupation as heroes and returned to Bora 487 as parents. I came to this world on Age 710. It was a wonderful year for my father, as he created a business surrounding veterans. Mother called me Top after my great-grandfather. He was a brave warrior in the golden age. Fearless, pompous, and respected.
Five years later, my enlarged waist caught a lot of attention and it wasn't positive. During my primary school days, students wouldn't sit next to me, because of my size. "Lardo!" was one name every student kept saying. As a five-year-old, I took those words as authentic. I thought I was large and not in charge. However, Father and Cov taught me to keep my pride high and not let harsh words break it down. Two years passed and Cov gave birth to Lido, my brother. He grew an enormous head and a bigger attitude. He always viewed his forehead as a joke, which students agreed. Lido released his frustrations on me after school and Father would sometimes separate us. Throughout the next six years, Mother fell ill. Apparently, she contracted a disease in one of Father's Pride Trooper missions. It grew slowly inside her belly button, making her weak with age. After Bottoma, my younger sister, Cov stopped working at a hospital.
Bottoma suffered the same school issues as me and Lido, but hers was far worse. Her backside was a rarity on our planet, which became a bigger target for bullies and tormentors. It occurred during my high-school year, specifically tenth grade. I was planning my college career and becoming a Pride Trooper. My sister would cry to me, sobbing over what those classmates of hers said. I was the only comfort Bottoma reached out to. Lido didn't help, but made things worse. At home, he would tease Bottoma for being born with a disgraceful body part, which resulted in me fighting him. Luckily, or unfortunately, I got the best news after my high school graduation.
*Age 729 (Nineteen Years Later)
"Y-You can't leave home, big brother!" Bottoma, Lido, and Cov stood near the house's front entrance, as I held my belongings. Flora, the Pride Trooper's leader, called about my resume. She loved it so much that she announced a spot for me on the team. It sounded honorable, but leaving my family on Bora 487 felt dishonorable. Lido wouldn't care if I left, because we never made a truce. And it probably won't. Bottoma felt depressed to see me go. She hugged me several times before I stepped outside the house, but she congratulated me in getting the spot. Cov said to keep my pride extremely high and always remember my family. "Your father would be very proud of you right now, Top. Don't forget about pride and family, my son." She hugged me, too, but with happiness behind it. I stated my goodbyes to them before heading to the inter-universal train station for Netfiss. Father never allowed me on his trips off-world. He might had been a soldier of justice, but Father cared more about his family than his pride. I wanted to do the same, but combine those attributes together. While sailing across space in a space bullet train, I watched the stars past by. Those twinkles in their cores made me wonder if the universe was alright. If it can feel the same sorrow as I was in departing Planet Bora 487. But the cosmos was larger than I thought.
*Planet Netfiss, Pride Trooper Headquarters (Age 734 - Five Years Later)
{Kasheral and Top eat lunch at the cafe area}
"Wow, looking at you pose on top of a monster was awesome."
"Yes, Kasheral. Flora wants us to pose after a rough battle is done. Still, I question why the poses are necessary. Sure, they look cool and original, but my growing girth seems to stiffen my movements. I mean… I think I heard my suit rip from bending my knees."
"I understand, big guy. That's how Pride Troopers do. They fight evil doers, they save civilizations, and pose in front of a pleasing audience. I can recommend a suit change."
"To Dr. Shocks?"
"Yes. He can adjust the suit's elasticity and size, so that the accidental rips don't happen."
"That would be nice, Kasheral. I'll make that note right away."
"Top?"
"Oh, Flora!"
{Top stood up, saluting to a humanoid woman with blonde hair and sapphire eyes}
"How's everything, ma'am?"
"Dandy, Top. I'm here to share an important message. After lunch, can you report to my office?"
"Huh? Why there?"
"Because this message is just between me and you. And another person, who's in my office."
"O-Okay, ma'am."
"Alright. Continue your meal."
"You and Flora? That sounds strange. She respects your determination and morals, but a personal discussion at her office?"
"She must be referring to the previous mission we did on Planet Goop. Remember the mutated balls of slime?"
"Oh! Ew, imaging those blobs crawling up my legs was gross."
"Same here, Kasheral. Same here."
*Flora's Office (Fifteen Minutes Later)
I entered Flora's office, noticing two differences. One was Flora's expression changed from casually serious to dangerously serious. Two was the person standing next to Flora. That was Lord Vermond, God of Destruction of Universe 11. I've heard he was once a Pride Trooper, but quit to become the universe's next god. That was two hundred years ago, and it still baffled me. I sat near Flora's desk, clasped my giant hands over my lap, and settled. "Top, you've heard the rumors of our legendary Pride Trooper graduating to a destroyer god. Right? Well, the person standing before us is Lord Vermond. The reason I called you—and only you—up here is dire. Two weeks ago, I suffered a great injury. Dr. Shocks said he cannot fix it with his advanced medicine and experiments. In conclusion, I contracted a parasite that's eating inside my spinal cord and there's no way of surgically removing it." My eyes trembled, hands grew sweaty, and feet stuck on the floor over Flora's announcement. Fear hasn't been a flaw I like to address, but with Flora's condition, it spread across my body in seconds. "Me and Lord Vermond talked about it for hours, but found a solution. As of now, I'll be canceling my role as Pride Trooper leader and promoting you as its new leader."
I could feel my mustache ripping off my upper lips from that comment alone. Flora was revoking her role as leader and live the rest of her life alone. Waiting to die sounded unappealing, but Flora sounded confident. I wouldn't disagree with it. It just felt unprofessional in her quitting this early. But Vermond stated how long Flora has been on the team. About thirty years. With that information, I can understand the final decision. "Don't worry, Flora. I'll make sure the Pride Troopers are as fateful to the legends as possible. Your legacy will not be in vain." Flora's smile shouted a different answer. Instead of "You make that team proud," it expressed a "You better keep the Pride Trooper legacy going for hundreds of years, if you have to." Vermond nodded, saying to Flora about what a wise choice they picked. After the big message, Flora spread her retirement to Kasheral and the other Pride Troopers. It pained us to say goodbye to a fearless, kind, and all the above heroic leader like Flora. You should have seen her in action. Becoming the next leader bought anxiety on me, but I pushed through the fearfulness. What drove me was my family. Cov's last words, Father's encouraging lines, and Flora's last goodbye. They improved my pride to a level no one thought was possible.
So… What was the point of the story, sir?
Top's Office (Age 780)
"The point, Jiren, is Bottoma's coming over as a guest. She called me last night and asked if I can help her with her body image issues. I feared our elite group might make fun of her, so if that were to happen, I'm trusting you to watch over my little sister for me."
"Why me?"
"Because you're the least offensive with… uh…"
"Women with wide hips?"
"Close, but you understand where I'm going. The same applies to Cherri, if you like to share this conversation with her."
"No, Top. Cherri will be training, so she has no purpose in this discussion."
"Point taken."
"When is she arriving at headquarters?"
"She said two days."
"You mean tomorrow?"
"Yes. Tomorrow."
"Don't feel bad, Top. Your story was emotionally moving. It sounds similar to how I left Planet Mordo to find purpose and avenge my parents and Gicchin, but yours was more personal. After listening, I understand why Lido hates you."
"He's still in jail for hiring crooks to destroy his Business Corporation and attempting false blame on us."
"For five months?"
"Still five months."
{Dyspo barged in}
"Top! Jiren! Hide me!"
"What's the matter, Dyspo?"
"My dad,that's what! He must have seen the news or read the newspapers about my existence!"
"Wait, you have a father?"
"Of course! He's a scumbag and a womanizer. Dad just emailed me about coming to Netfiss for a reunion. He's also bringing my half-sister with him!"
"And you have a sibling!?"
"Well, I never knew I had siblings, until Dad bought up Lauren. He banged a lot of women, yet didn't bother to remember their damn names!"
"Settle down, Dyspo. I'm sure your father and half-sister aren't bad. How long do they have to—"
Ring-Ring!
"Crap! Hold on for a second… Where did my—ah-hah! There we go. Ahem, h-hi, dad."
BOY! Is this the building your pathetic ass works at!?
"W-Wait, you're here now!?"
Yes, and standin' near the damn entrance, you f*in' disgrace of a son! Lauren says it is the place! Now get your lean legs down here! I got somethin' to say!
{Dyspo hung up}
"Dammit, he's here!"
"Ah, I'll introduce myself to your father, Dyspo. Don't fret over a brief family reunion."
"This is no family reunion! It's a reunion from HELL!"
To Be Continued.