Chapter 3

I had to get out of that place, and I did. When everybody had retired early for the night, I avoided sleep and silently left through the front door. The night had drawn in, so I crept out to the cluster of nearby trees that marked the beginning of the woodland and morphed owl. Through its eyes, the world became a much brighter place, and I zoomed up into the air, away from our secluded home.

The owl had its ideas of what to do in the dead of night, but my needs were greater. I knew exactly where I was heading and why. I carried a small bag in my talons. Inside it were a wallet and identification.

After a while of flying, I spotted streetlights in the distance and made a straight line towards them. It was the nearest town to our new home - a busy tourist spot. At this time of the night, the streets were still active. And dark.

I reached the downtown area where most night activities had commenced. There was a Burger King at the end of the street with a nice blackened alleyway adjacent. Diving into it, I found a cozy, hidden spot to turn human safely. I managed to morph some dull-yet-barely-suitable clothing that would allow me to wander around without gathering unwanted attention. It was a tight-fitting polo shirt and the blandest set of jeans. Not my style, but I wasn't after my style, so it didn't matter. At least I'd long ago moved past the cycle shorts phase.

I took the small bag and emptied its contents, storing them and the bag in my pockets. I was ready to hit the streets.

With scruffier, long hair and a van Dyke fast becoming overgrown, I wandered into the wintery Wyoming street hoping nobody would realize my true identity. I was famous around the globe, but I looked nothing like the well-trimmed, clean-shaven war-hero-turned-TV-gameshow-host. And with the identity card announcing me as humble Dominic Rodriguez, even the most diehard fan would struggle to see past it.

I almost bumped into a group of four girls when I exited the alleyway. They caught a good look at me… and laughed before continuing on their way. Perfect. Well… Sort of perfect.

First mission: Food. Burger King was right next to me, so why not indulge? It's not that I didn't continue enjoying a little fast food now and again after I became rich and famous. In fact, I probably ate it even more often. Lobster and caviar be damned.

I stepped in through the glass double doors to a busy scene. A few eyes turned my way but quickly diverted to their previous directions. I was invisible to the world, all but for the employee behind the counter who willed me over with a selling smile. I strolled over to the counter.

Within minutes, I was enjoying my favorite Burger King meal, sitting alone at one of the tables and gazing into the night through the windows. It tasted so good! Almost as good as the food aboard Enrich. I would enjoy more of that when I got home, but an old favorite was definitely welcome for now. And not one person bothered me, which seemed so unusual given the last few years of celebrity life.

I finished up, threw the garbage in the trash, and returned to the night. I wandered to the main street where the club dwellers were scurrying and proceeded through them, ignoring the shouts and screams of inebriated locals taking full advantage of the weekend.

A flashing neon sign called me from afar; red and green symbols and shapes depicted an active establishment. That was where I was going, and I quickened my pace, eager to taste the sting of vodka on my tongue. Three clusters of people patrolled outside, laughing and joking just as I used to, but I was going to get inside before I mingled.

Of course, there was door security. But, with my fake ID, they were no problem, and I crossed the boundary to the blasting of loud, thumping music and the hybrid smell of alcohol, perfumes, and sweat. The temperature soared, and so did the atmosphere. I felt safer immediately and couldn't help but grin to myself.

I quickly fought my way to the bar and ordered two cocktails, throwing back the first to put me in the right state of mind and sipping politely at the second. I was ready to throw myself into the action and work that Marco charm. Or the Dom Rodriguez charm on this particular adventure.

I had to force my way into the thick of it, starting with the dance floor where people crammed themselves shoulder-to-shoulder. I squeezed in, flicked back my hair in an attempt to look at least a bit cooler, and became just another awkward bouncing person, cocktail pressed to my lips because there was no space to lower my arm. Soon, the rhythm and the flashing lights took me in their spell, and I totally forgot about anything outside of that building.

Then, finally, I got into a typical nightclub conversation. Some big guy in a checkered shirt turned and stood face-to-face with me. Already grinning dopily, he stared down at me for a few seconds and narrowed his eyes. Then he laughed and smiled wider. "Hey! Dude, you look like Marco Hudson-Delvalle!"

It's funny how the first person to see through the disguise was drunk. I grinned back and quickly gave a denial. "I wish I had his money."

The big guy turned and grabbed his friend by the shirt. "Hey Tim, doesn't he look like Marco Hudson-Delvalle?!"

The one called Tim, with scraggly long hair and a matching black beard, laughed. "Yeah! He does! Is he going to turn into a fucking gorilla?!"

"Oh god, it's Hagrid!" I retorted jovially, pointing out the spooky similarity. They both found it highly amusing and, suddenly, I was part of their group. There were further comparisons of me to my authentic self, but they didn't believe it was me. I didn't think so, anyway.

After a while, everybody required more drinks and a break from the cramped dance floor. The group of six rowdy guys and I moved to the bar. They joked as I bought another cocktail, and they drank copious amounts of the cheapest beer on offer. They ogled some girls, and it looked like the Hagrid look-alike was about to strike lucky. As part of his attempt, the group found an empty booth, huddled around a circular table covered in empty glasses and their full ones. There, the joyful nature continued, now involving the red-haired girl that Hagrid was focusing on.

"Hey, hey," called Ivan – the first one I had encountered in the checkered shirt – to the girl. "Don't you think this guy looks like Marco Hudson-Delvalle?!"

The girl looked at me, swaying slightly. "No way! His hair's too long. And Marco Hudson-Delvalle doesn't have a beard."

"And I'm far better looking," I added, sipping from my glass and leaning back against the padded seating.

The girl tilted her head and stared with false contemplation. "Hm… Nah."

The guys found that funny. I was more than happy to play along. I wasn't after girls - I was after something else.

"Well, I bet I could take him one-on-one!" I claimed half-heartedly. "For the savior of Earth, the guy looks like a total weed!"

"Dude, you could not beat Marco Hudson-Delvalle in a fight," Ivan commented with a huffing of laughter. "He'd turn monkey and rip your fucking head off!"

"Well, yeah!" I countered. "But we can't all turn into gorillas! No, I'd beat him, hands down."

Ivan huffed. "You talk awful tough for a man your size."

I smiled wryly. "It's a little something called confidence, my good man. I once arm-wrestled Hulk Hogan and held him for at least a minute."

That brought the biggest laugh of the night. It was laughter at a facetious comment, but Ivan took the bait, just as I wanted.

"Okay then, tough guy," he grunted, shoving away the empty glasses before him with a beefy, hairy arm. "Prove it."

His elbow hit the table, hand poised for the challenge. I sat forward, accepting the offer and placing my elbow down, my hand clasping into his. It was twice the size. Any sane man would know which way to bet. "Sure! I'll try not to break your arm!"

"Ready?!" he called.

Oh yes, I was ready. I concentrated, focused on the bulky Ivan sitting directly before me. I felt the steady tingle, the oncoming of DNA into me. Suddenly, his grin flattened, and he started to look distant.

"Go!" I shouted. There was no resistance from him, and I didn't expect any. But I made it look like a struggle, shaking my hand subtly enough so that it seemed genuine.

I felt the acquiring finish. I thrust down, slamming his arm to the table. He blinked and shook away the trance before looking down to stare his defeat in the face.

The group cheered heartily and mockingly reassured Ivan, who was utterly baffled.

The night continued for a little while, but I'd done all I wanted to do. I made my escape, went back to the dark alleyway, and morphed for the journey back home.