Once again, I just can't tell you how much I appreciate all the emails. I am humbled by your response ... and it does wonders for my ego! Hehehe! Really, thank you. I have received some very nice comments. So now, grab something to drink and something to munch on and enjoy Chapter Seven!
Like any author, I have relied on past experiences to draw from while writing this story. It is entirely a work of fiction. There is a mixture of personality traits of people I have known, but in no way does any character truly reflect any one real life person. This story does involve graphic descriptions of sex between two gay teenage boys. If that offends you, then you should not read it. Any similarity to any real person is purely coincidence.
The adventures that follow tell of an ordinary high school boy finding himself in extraordinary circumstances. Your feedback and comments are welcome. Feel free to email me at Jevic@direcway.com
The door opened and two officers walked in with another man. Joel looked up and his eyes widened.
"Commander, look who we found down in Section D. He must have escaped during the battle," one of the guards said gleefully. Joel quickly pulled his weapon and pointed it at the man.
"Stand back!" Joel shouted.
"Commander! Are you crazy? This is Paulik! Lower your weapon!" one of the officers shouted.
"Stand back I say!" Joel shouted forcefully, never lowering his weapon. The officers moved back against the wall, leaving the man standing alone. Joel looked the man squarely in the eyes. The weapon remained aimed. The man stood still, then slowly bowed his head. Joel smiled slightly to himself, for he knew he was right, and then he addressed the man.
"Under different circumstances, I would say it's good to see you, but not on a day such at this," Joel said. Without letting his eyes break contact with the man that appeared to be Paulik, Joel directed the officers. "Take this man into custody, for this is Kibbeth, leader of the Talons." There were several gasps of disbelief around the room. The officers hesitated. "Take him!" Joel barked. The officers quickly took Kibbeth into custody.
"You are too wise to be a Watcher. You should have become a Talon long ago when you had the chance," Kibbeth said.
"What have you done with your brother?"
"He is being well treated. I want no harm to come to him. His is my brother after all, and he is your, ah, best friend dear Joel."
"That's true, and I wish you no harm. You also will be well treated. Please escort Kibbeth to our best isolation chamber and be sure that he is well fed." Kibbeth bowed again and the officers escorted him away.
Joel couldn't help but think back to his childhood days and the fun times that Paulik, Kibbeth and he had shared. And now, here he was ordering his former childhood playmate to be locked away in an isolation chamber. Combined with the loss of life and the damage to the complex, Joel's emotions were stretched to their limit. He openly sobbed again, still worrying about Paulik. He knew that Kibbeth would not harm his brother, but he wondered about the Talon forces that were now in command. Reports of women and children being killed during the battle showed that whoever was now in command could care less about anything but winning. It was indeed turning out to be one of the darker days of Joel's life. He drew a deep breath, conjuring up enough strength to continue, and turned to the grim task of damage control, including counting and identifying the dead and missing. Crews were already starting to work on damaged sections of the complex. Water was being pumped out. View ports were being repaired or replaced. The medical center was still swamped, but everyone was receiving treatment. Joel directed the work into the late evening hours and refused to leave his post until every missing Watcher was accounted for.
A now thoroughly exhausted Joel sat at his console. An officer walked into the room and approached him slowly.
"Sir?"
"Yes," he said still looking at his console.
"We have accounted for all except for eighteen. There's a total of three hundred forty-two dead and a hundred fourteen injured. And, sir," the officer paused and Joel looked up. "Jevic and Cameron are among the missing."
"Oh dear God."
"Sir, that leaves two possibilities. They were either captured or their bodies have yet to be found. There was an enormous amount of damage near their suite and ..."
"I know," Joel said sternly cutting him off. "I know," this time much softer. He looked up at the officer and continued. "Please concentrate your search efforts around the dignitary suite. Jevic is my son ... my dearest friend's son, and I have become very fond of Cameron." The officer nodded.
"Jevic is highly regarded among our people and great things have already been seen from Cameron. I hope for all of our sakes that they are safe." And with that, he turned to continue his grim task.
"Fuck you Talon asshole," I screamed. His smile grew wide and he bared his gnarly teeth as he slowly pulled a giant sword from his belt. Someone pushed me from behind and I fell to my knees, wincing in pain. Hands on my shoulders made sure that's where I stayed. The rope that held my hands behind my back cut into my skin, but I continued to glare at the big, ugly Talon.
"Very well, have it your way," he hissed. At that very moment two more Talon guards pushed another prisoner into the room. He hands were tired behind his back like mine were, but his head was covered in a black sack. They pushed him roughly down in front of a stone block. The guards made him lean forward on the block. Then the giant ugly Talon spoke. "Pull the sack from his head. I want our friend to see his face." The guards pulled the sack off his head.
"Jevic!" I cried out.
"Cameron, oh God not you too."
"Now you will see the wrath of the Talon," the ugly giant said as he started to raise his sword over Jevic's neck.
"NO WAIT!" I screamed. The Talon only laughed. The guards laughed. Everybody in the room laughed.
"Take me instead. Let Jevic live and kill me. Kill ME you ugly bastard. Kill me instead." Then his smile went away. He slowly raised his sword over his head. "Please, take me instead," I begged. Jevic's face was severely beaten. He was crying softly.
"I love you Cameron," whimpered Jevic. The ugly Talon sneered and looked at me.
"I'll kill you. Sure, I'll kill you. Right after I finish beheading your friend here."
"No please. I'll do as you ask. I'll do anything you ask. I will serve you till my dying day, but please let him live." The ugly swordsman thought for a moment and then looked down on me.
"You Watchers are a strange lot. I'll be glad when you've all been killed." He turned his ugly stare toward Jevic and swung his sword down with a mighty force.
"NO!" I screamed, waking up in a cold sweat. My clone hugged me tight and told me that it was just a dream. Here I am sleeping with myself, or rather a clone of myself, and I'm waking up from a dream? Jeez! Maybe this is a dream within a dream.
"Cameron, you were just having a bad dream. It's OK now. You're awake and I'm here. It's OK." I suddenly heard my mother's footsteps approaching the bedroom door. I glanced at my clone, not knowing what to do. "On the floor ... far side of the bed," he directed. I moved quickly to my hiding place just as mom opened the door.
"Cameron, are you all right dear?" she said softly.
"Yes mom. Just a bad dream," I heard my clone say.
"OK, try to get some sleep," she said sleepily as she pulled to door closed. I slowly got up from the floor and sat on the edge of the bed. My close looked at me, trying to assess whether I was all right or not. He paused for a moment and then asked me to tell him about the dream. I leaned back on the pillow and recalled all of the detail that I could. He sat quietly and listened intently.
"Cameron, I don't have mental powers like you do. I am a machine and incapable of that, but I am in constant communication with the central computer at the complex. I have learned of a massive attack by the Talon." I sat up and looked at him, eager for any news. "Hundreds were killed and the complex was severely damaged, but they did manage to hold off the attack, but I-I'm afraid that Jevic is among the missing."
The door to his world suddenly opened and someone was rudely thrown in. The body crumpled into a pile in the middle of the floor. Paulik jumped up and went to its side. Rolling the body over, he openly gasped. He pulled his son into his arms and comforted him. Jevic had been beaten badly and was unconscious.
"Kibbeth! You will pay dearly for this!" he screamed into the emptiness of the chamber. Paulik's rage grew by leaps and bounds. The confines of the isolation chamber shielded him from communication and from travel, but they did not shield his insight and vast years of experience. But right now, he was concerned for his son. How could Kibbeth have allowed such an atrocity? Jevic was his own nephew. To confine his own flesh and blood in an isolation chamber was one thing, but to allow the brutal beating on an innocent child was inexcusable. While comforting his son in his arms and listening to his rattled breathing, Paulik formulated a plan. In the end, his intellect proved to win out over emotion. He knew what had to be done and he knew how to do it. It was almost time to put his plan into action, but first, he needed the help of his son, who lay unconscious in his arms. Paulik wept tears of love for Jevic, tears of love of his own misguided brother and tears of sorrow for his people. In time, he would put his plan into action and no Talon alive would be able to stop it.
It was difficult to look at, but it was beautiful at the same time. The mahogany coffin before him was carrying his heart, his soul ... the center of his universe. The minutes blurred into an hour and the crowd gathered amid the beautiful oak trees. The color of their leaves was golden and the air was crisp, but Scott was numb. He walked like a zombie and sat in the front row for the last goodbye.
Just across the street a group of people had gathered. They were carrying signs. The signs spoke of the hatred in their hearts. 'Faggots burn in hell.' 'Death to the sinning gays.' 'You got what you deserve.' Scott tried his best to ignore the signs and the insensitive yells of the crowd. Police officers held them at a distance. Other officers escorted the grieving family to the gravesite.
The crowd of mourners gathered in closer to hear the minister as he made his ashes to ashes and dust to dust speech, but it was of no comfort to Scott. All he knew was that everything that mattered to him, everything he cared about, his entire world was in a mahogany box in front of him. The minister finished and slowly made his way across the front pew offering words of comfort to the family. When he came to Scott, the minister paused and knelt down. He looked Scott in the eyes and smiled slightly as he took Scott's hand into his. Scott looked at the minister through the freely falling tears. He saw a face of compassion and of understanding. Nothing was said, but Scott felt that his pain was understood.
The family began to get up and greet their friends, to thank them for coming. Scott remained seated and gazed upon the coffin. Slowly and carefully, he got up and walked over to it. Some of the family and friends turned to watch. No one dared approach him, and few understood the gravity of his grief. Those that did respected his time and left him to say his final goodbye. They watched in silence as Scott slowly removed the golden necklace from around his neck. He kissed the necklace and then gently placed it on the wooden surface. "I love you Greg, and I always will," he whispered in a choked voice. His tears fell and rolled off the coffin's shiny surface. Scott moved back to his seat and then watched as the coffin was slowly lowered into the ground. With each jerk of the process, his emotions flowed freely down his cheeks until at last, the coffin disappeared into its dark, cold crypt. Scott continued to sit and watch as the men moved the dirt back into its place. The earth seemed to wrap its cold arms around the coffin and welcome it to its final resting place. He still remained seated as the men tamped down the last of the dirt. Then the flowers were spread over the freshly dug soil, perhaps to hide the fact that the cemetery had welcomed another into its midst. And at long last, Scott rose from his seat and began his long walk home ... alone ... truly alone ... except for the tears that would keep him company for weeks to come.
Brandon watched as Scott walked over to the coffin. He held his breath as he watched Scott put the necklace on the coffin. It was more than Brandon could stand. He turned his head and walked slowly away. How he longed to hold Scott in his arms and comfort him, but he realized that was only a fantasy. Scott could never feel for him the way he felt for Scott. Not knowing that it was Brandon's own father that had taken Scott's world away from him. Brandon was so alone, with no one to comfort him .... no one. So this is what it's like. To be the scum of the earth. To be the very person who he had hated the most. It was his darkest day.
"Dad," he groaned.
"It's OK son. You're going to be all right. I know it hurts, but it will get better."
"Where am I?"
"We're on the Talon flagship in an isolation chamber. Do you know anything of the battle?"
"No, I was taken just after the alarm sounded and dad ... they killed Pelma. He didn't have a weapon or anything. They just shot him in cold blood," Jevic said as his eyes teared up. Paulik lowered and shook his head.
"Son, I need you to be strong for me. I need you to be strong for our people. I need you to be very strong. I know that you have been beaten, but you've got to try to turn the pain into strength."
"I will dad. What do you want to do?" Paulik took a deep breath.
"We've got to try to contact Cameron."
"But dad, we're in an isolation chamber. Communication is impossible."
"You're forgetting son, Cameron has already contacted me here."
"That's right! But do you think we can contact him?"
"That's where I'm counting on your strength son. Your powers are very strong. Combined with mine, I think we can reach Cameron. A lot of my plan depends on Cameron at that point. He will have to mind travel here to us." A worried look came across Jevic's face. "I know you have concerns about Cameron using his powers, after all, he is still quite a novice at all this, but I have faith in him and you must too. His growth in power has been the fastest that I have ever seen. He's a special boy Jevic, and I think you know that."
Jevic looked down and another tear fell. Then he looked back up at his father.
"I've hurt Cameron badly. Pelma played a trick on me and made me think that he was Cameron. We ended up, ah, intimate and Cameron walked in on us. I'm so ashamed."
"Jevic, you were deceived. It was not your fault. But this whole thing could work to our advantage. Cameron will no doubt have you constantly on his mind. It will make communication easier. Once we make contact, let me speak to him." Jevic nodded. "OK, are you ready to try?" Once again, Jevic nodded and then sat up on the bed, and turned to sit on its edge beside his father. They joined hands and closed their eyes.
"I'm afraid so. There was a terrible battle, but the Talons were driven away and the Watchers are still in control, but the cost in life is staggering. More than three hundred are dead and more than a hundred have been injured."
"Oh my God," I whispered. I dropped my face down in sadness, but then quickly looked back up. "I've got to try to contact Jevic!" The clone smiled and nodded. I took a deep breath and let it out slowly. Then I closed my eyes and started to concentrate. The cloak of darkness immediately surrounded me. More concentration and then ... static? The same static I had encountered while trying to contact Paulik. That means Jevic has been captured. At least he's alive. I concentrated harder and the static slowly got quieter and quieter. "Jevic!" I called out. "Jevic! It's Cameron!"
"Cameron, thank God we reached you," said Paulik.
"Is Jevic there with you?"
"Yeah, I'm here."
"Cameron, listen carefully," directed Paulik. "I want you to try to mind travel to us. It will be difficult, but I believe in you and your power. Will you try?"
"Paulik, it was hard just to push my thoughts through the chamber's static and pushing me through will be even harder. I don't know if I can, but I will try."
"Cameron, I miss you," said Jevic.
"Jevic, we need to talk, but not now. Please concentrate on me. Perhaps that will help me punch through. OK?"
"We believe in you Cameron. You can do this," said Paulik. The static returned as I started to relax and return. I blinked my eyes open and looked in the eyes of myself.
"I know everything about you, but still, it's really weird," I said. My clone grinned. "I'm going to try to mind travel to Jevic and his father. Hopefully, I'll disappear shortly. But before I try, I wanted to thank you for ah, for being me."
"Your thanks are not necessary, but they are accepted. Good luck Cameron."
"Thanks Cameron." We both grinned at each other and without even thinking about it, I quickly hugged my clone tightly. Then I sat back on the bed, closed my eyes and started to concentrate. The cloak of darkness welcomed me back, but I immediately felt the resistance of the static. I pushed harder, but it would not budge. I pictured Jevic and Paulik clearly in my mind and pushed even harder. Still nothing. I pulled back slightly, gathered my strength and pushed forward as hard as I possibly could. Suddenly the static gave way, the weightless feeling came and then I tumbled on to the floor of a room.
"I knew you could do it," called out Paulik as he came and helped me up. I gave him a big hug. "Someone else is here too," Paulik said nodding over toward the bed. Jevic was grinning at me, but his face was horribly beaten. I rushed over to him and took him into my arms.
"Oh my God. You didn't tell me you'd been hurt. Are you OK?"
"Physically, I'll be fine. But Cameron, I feel so bad about us. I love you more than anything else in the world and would never do anything to hurt you."
"But you did hurt me Jevic," I reminded him.
"Cameron," interrupted Paulik. I turned toward him. "I know you two have a lot to work out, but we have more pressing issues to deal with. If it means anything coming from me, Jevic would never intentionally hurt you." I smiled and nodded at him. "Now, we have to combine our powers to get us all out of here. Cameron, you'll be the lead and Jevic and I will give you backup." We helped Jevic off of the bed and all three stood arm in arm. "OK Cameron, concentrate on Joel. Picture him in your mind. Really concentrate this time. You're traveling three people at once. It won't be easy. Just remember to concentrate and let nothing break that concentration." I nodded and took a deep breath.
"Here we go," I said as I closed my eyes. The darkness came quick, and so did the static. I put all my efforts into picturing Joel in my mind. Then I heard voices and shouting. I knew we had just moments to spare. I concentrated directly into the center of the static. The tingling sensation came and I threw it toward the static with a great force. The static exploded in a giant white flash of light and the weightless feeling came quickly.
"Paulik!" I heard someone yell. I opened my eyes and saw that we had made it to the command center and one very happy Joel was there to greet us. "Jevic! Cameron! How did you get here?" a bewildered Joel asked. Paulik simply nodded at me. "I don't know how you did it Cameron, but thank you, thank you for getting them out safely."
"I have a feeling that their isolation chamber's grid will need to be repaired," chuckled Paulik. "Cameron blew it up!" Joel laughed and slapped me on the back. "We need to get Jevic some medical attention Joel. They beat him badly." Joel looked over at Jevic and I could see the fury building in his eyes.
"Paulik, they're absolutely covered up. There's well over a hundred injured there."
"Oh God," Paulik stammered. "How many dead?"
"Three hundred forty-two," Joel said sadly. Paulik suddenly appeared dizzy and we helped him to a seat. "Easy Paulik," he said trying to reassure his friend. Paulik's tears streamed down his face. "It got ugly my friend, very ugly. Sections D and E are flooded. Sections G, H, and B are heavily damaged too. But, we have a special guest." Paulik looked up.
"Kibbeth?" Joel nodded and then turned to me.
"Cameron, do you think you could help Jevic down to the medical center. At least they could look at him." I nodded. "Good, I'll let them know you're on the way." I lifted Jevic's arm over my shoulder and we walked ever so slowly toward the door.
"Cameron," said Paulik. I paused and looked back at Jevic's father. "Thank you," he said softly. "Thank you for everything."
"Any time ... dad." I winked at him and then turned back to help Jevic. We made it down the corridor without any conversation before he stopped me.
"This is killing me Cameron. We've got to talk and we've got to talk now. I have to explain." He pointed to a bench at the corner of the corridor. So I helped him hobble over to it and we sat down.
"You cheated on me Jevic. There's nothing to explain. You just plain and simple cheated on me. How am I supposed to forget that and just move on?" He hung his head sadly, letting me get it all out. "I gave you my heart and you kicked it to the curb. You lied to me about Pelma. You said he was your best friend, not your ex-boyfriend. So you've cheated and you've lied. I can't trust you Jevic. And if I can't trust you, how can we ever continue to be boyfriends?"
"I am truly sorry Cameron," he said softly, his head still hung low. He looked pitiful, but my hurt ran deep.
"Sorry? I'm just supposed to accept your apology and pretend like nothing happened?" I said hotly. I could see his tears.
"Pelma's dead."
"H-he's dead?" I stammered.
"The Talons killed him. They attacked just after you left the suite. I told him to go straight home and lock the door, but they caught him in the corridor and shot him over and over again."
"Oh Jevic, I'm so sorry."
"He didn't have a weapon. He didn't have anything. He was just a kid trying to get out of the way and they just killed him." Jevic was openly sobbing now. "I was so mad. I fought with them and killed a few before the others ran. I ran the other way and was captured. You know the rest." I couldn't help but feel sorry for Jevic. I still loved him. I'd never stopped. I was just mad at him. Here he was sitting beside me in anguish. What am I supposed to do? I'm supposed to do what I want and need to do. I put my arm around him and hugged him tight. Jevic sobbed for quite some time. We just sat there, my arm around him, and gently rocked back and forth. To me, I suppose we were a strange sight, but no one gave us a second look. The expressions on the faces of the people passing by told of their own grief and shock. Some were angry and some were sobbing too.
"Cameron," Jevic said as his tears finally started to subside.
"Yeah Jevic," I said softly. My anger now subsided as well.
"Cameron, I'm going to tell you something you probably won't believe, but it's the truth. It will explain everything that happened." He looked up at me with pleading eyes.
"OK Jevic, I have an open mind."
"Pelma had a unique talent. He could change his appearance. I mean he could really change ... change into anyone he wanted to be. That day, he chose to change into you and trick me. The relationship I had with him was nothing compared to our relationship. Pelma and I had a relationship of lust. Cameron, we have a relationship of love. I honestly thought that I was making love to you. And it was wonderful I might add. Pelma changed back into himself when you showed up. I was just as surprised as you were. I still can't explain why he did it. Perhaps he was jealous. Maybe he just wanted to play a trick. I don't know, and now we'll never know." I thought about what he said for a moment. I thought about what Paulik had said to me back in the isolation chamber. This strange new world that I was now an intricate part of certainly has many strange and wonderful things in it. I guess that someone changing into someone else isn't too far fetched. Then I had an idea.
"Jevic, I think the best thing we can do is get you down to the medical center and make sure you're all right. Then we'll go back to the suite and, if you're feeling up to it, you can find out what it's like to make love to the real Cameron." The look of surprise on his face quickly changed to delight and then to lust. "I love you Jevic. I know you would never intentionally hurt me. Even your father knows that."
"He knows what happened with Pelma too," he said once more hanging his head.
"You told him?"
"I tell my dad everything." I just smiled and shook my head.
"That's why I fell in love with you."
"Because I tell my dad everything?"
"No silly. Because you always do the right thing. Now come on, let's get you looked at." We slowly made our way to the medical center. It was pure chaos, but we did manage to find the doctor that had worked on me. He took one look at Jevic and pulled us into an examining room.
"What happened to you?" he asked.
"I was captured by the Talons and they beat me up."
"How did you get way?" he asked as he started his examination.
"Cameron got me and dad out." The doctor quickly glanced at me and smiled.
"I knew you were special Cameron. I guess I just didn't realize how special you really are." I smiled and he continued his exam. After a few moments, he finally spoke. "This will tingle a little," he said to Jevic. Then he held a device in front of his head. It hummed a little. Then he moved it down to Jevic's chest. It hummed again. Then down to his sore leg, where it hummed again. "Well now, give that about a hour and you'll be in perfect shape."
We thanked him profusely and made our way back toward the suite. Jevic's leg was already feeling better and he walked without my help. The corridor had been repaired from the weapons fire and appeared normal. We walked into the suite and found that it had been thoroughly cleaned. I was hungry and suggested we get some supper. Jevic was more than ready.
"I want some more of those vegetables in that cream sauce you fixed for lunch the other day. That was delicious. And while you're at it, show me how to use that darn contraption. The last time I tried to get hot chocolate out of it, it took three tries." Jevic laughed and pointed out the intricacies of the food processor. After our wonderful meal of vegetables, we retired to the living room and sat on the couch.
There are times for lovemaking. There are times for down right animalistic sex. And there are times for cuddling. I had figured that much out, even though I hadn't experienced a whole lot of any of them. I had my favorites mind you, but I knew that tonight was turning into one of the times for cuddling. We had both been through a lot. I was exhausted and I knew that Jevic was too. Taking him by his hand, I led him to our bedroom. I helped him take his clothes off and he helped with mine. Then we slid between the crisp clean sheets and snuggled together in our warm nakedness, my back to his chest. I could feel him 'knocking at my back door,' but attributed that to teenage hormones for it wasn't long before both of us had fallen into a deep, restful sleep.
Note from the Author:
This chapter was a difficult one to write and it certainly lives up to its name. I left two of our boys in pretty bad shape. Brandon is dealing with demons from his past and the effects they are having on his present. Scott ... dear sweet Scott is hurting so bad. And Cameron must have a lot of love for Jevic. There's not many who would take someone back after that ... no matter what the explanation. But alas, I'm afraid that's not the last test of their love. And don't piss Jevic off. You'll get a sore neck. Hehehe.
I want to make mention of the funeral scene. After I wrote the initial draft, I went back and added the part about the protestors across the street with all their signs and shouts of hatred. After reading the first draft, I couldn't help but think of Matthew Shepherd and what his family had to endure. So I wanted to add that aspect to this story. People can be so mean, so full of hatred ... all because of who someone choses to love. And its not even a choice! I didn't ask to be gay. Hell, if I had a choice, I'd be straight. It would be a lot easier in today's society. But I didn't, and I don't, have a choice. Neither did Matthew and neither do a lot of you reading this. Times are changing though. I read everyday about another high school finally accepting a Gay/Straight Alliance Club. But the fact of the matter remains that there is still a lot of hatred in this world. So be careful, but know that you are not alone. Maybe you don't have someone by your side to help you though the day, but you are constantly in my thoughts and prayers.
Stay tuned for Chapter Eight titled "Beginnings." I promise it won't be as sad as this chapter. As always, be sure to email me at Jevic@direcway.com and let me know what you thought of Chapter Seven. And hey, ... be careful out there ... play, but play safe!