“AJ!” a distressed voice cried. “I told you not to burn the hedge!”
“Well soorry!” he bit back. “Not my fault it came out that way.”
Lance rolled his eyes. “Whatever ALEX.”
“Don’t call me that,” he muttered, preparing to fire again.
“Don’t,” came his warning.
Alex McLean glared at the figure lounging in a lawn chair.
“Watch it or that plastic will be a puddle under your sorry ass,” AJ challenged.
“Ooh sorry. Jeez. I’m just worried about my lawn!” Lance retorted.
AJ rolled his eyes. “Sometimes I wonder why I put up with you.”
“Look at your hand genius.”
“It was a rhetorical question dumbass,” AJ bit back. “Ok. Just shut up for a minute!”
Lance rolled his sea green eyes. “Fine then.”
AJ aimed his red ring at the bottles again. “Fire,” he said quietly.
On his command, the red flames burst out of the ruby, hitting its target.
“Man I love this thing,” AJ smiled, rubbing the precious stone.
“Yeah well, I wouldn’t overuse it,” Lance said, looking at his own ring. “Something tells me we’ll need it.”
“Yeah right.”
AJ and Lance met through Lance’s management business- FreeLance Entertainment- a few months prior. AJ was a lyricist/poet and Lance hired him. Their rings glowed whenever they came within 5 meters of each other, and they got together one day to research the rings.
AJ’s parents told him who he was- a Chosen one. They had both come from Crystalon, migrating to Earth two decades before the Quentex incident. Feeling that their son had a right to know, they told him everything- including how to use the ring.
Lance, on the other hand, had no idea. When he confronted his parents about it, he found out that only his mother had came from the Ice Planet. He was a halfie. But together, they came to terms with their powers- and having a good time with them too.
“AJ! Phone!” shouted a voice.
“Wonder who it is.”
AJ went inside and grabbed the phone from Stacey, Lance’s older sister. She just rolled her eyes and said, “I can’t believe you give out our phone number.”
The younger man just smiled his smile and took the call in the living room.
“Hello?”
“Hey Bone.”
“Hey. What’s up mah man?”
“Nothin much. How’s the albino doin?” he joked.
“Dude he’d kill you if he found out you said that,” AJ laughed, glancing outside where the younger blonde was tending to his burnt shrubs.
“Whatever. Just wanted to tell you that I’m not gonna be home for a little bit,” the voice on the other line said.
“Why not? We were supposed to go to the mall and scope the mall for chicks,” AJ joked.
“Oh how could I forget that?” the man said with mock shame. It quickly vanished. “Try ‘attempt-to-get-a-girl’s-number-and-get-slapped’. But anywho,” he hurriedly continued, “I’ve got some business stuff to take care of.”
“Ah the business stuff eh?”
“What are you, Canadian?”
“Stuff it Rok,” AJ challenged. “Fine. When are you getting back?”
“I’ll let y’all know.”
“Cool. Later.”
“Bye.”
AJ hung up the phone and walked (sauntered) back out the patio door.
“Who was it?” Lance asked, “Earth.”
AJ watched the vines’ rapid growth for a few seconds, then replied, “B-Rok.”
“Can’t you give your friends NORMAL names?” Lance asked jokingly.
“Nah. Too boring,” AJ grinned.
“Well I wouldn’t be surprised Mr. Poet,” Lance said, checking over the rest of his plants.
AJ waved his hand. “You’re just jealous cuz I got the talent.”
“Pssh.”
“Piss ant,” AJ muttered.
“Heard that,” Lance called.
AJ rolled his eyes, aimed and, “Fire.”
“AAAH!!!!!”
Lance grabbed his backside and glared angrily at his smirking friend. “WHAT was that?!”
“Payback James. Payback.”
+ + +
Brian rubbed his hands over his tired face. “Can we go to bed now? It’s like past midnight!”
“Try 9:30,” Kevin called back, stifling the urge to laugh.
This new bit of information just made his cousin groan. “ONLY? Agh…”
“Agh?” Nebula questioned, jotting down another note.
“Another Earth term,” Brian teased, knowing it would irk her.
“I will never get used to Earth you know that?” Nebula smiled. “I found it!”
Brian jumped up from the padded chair. “What?”
The two men crowded around her, waiting for more information.
“See this?” Nebula asked, pointing to the ancient prophecy.
“Yeah…Azaria Ellittrl, so what?” Brian asked.
Nebula’s finger moved to the L, then the I, T, T, the R, the E, then at last the double L’s. “What does that spell?”
Brian’s eyes widened. “That’s my name!”
“LAST name,” Kevin corrected. “So this means…”
“Just watch,” Nebula shushed.
She pointed to another name- Elli Drishcharon. She repeated the process of pointing to the letters. “Richardson.”
“So this means that all the last names are scrambled?” Brian asked, looking over the rest of the last names on the list.
“Yup. At least for you two. I don’t know about the rest,” Nebula sighed.
“Looks like we’ll be here for a while then huh?” Kevin said, plopping down onto an extremely comfortable couch.
“Oh yeah.”
“I’ll go get the coffee,” Brian muttered.
Kevin scoffed, “You just wanna get out of work.”
“You know it cuz.”
“So much for being noble,” Nebula laughed.
“Do you think there’s a ring for laziness?” Kevin joked.
“I heard that!”
+ + +
“Kevin.”
“Nuh…” he groaned.
“Kevin!” the man hissed again.
“What?”
“I’m gonna go to Nick’s house- we were supposed to hang yesterday,” Brian said quietly, glancing at the sleeping form of the Princess.
“Mmm ok…”
Brian smiled, even though he was fully aware that his cousin hadn’t heard. “Buh bye Kevy,” he laughed, closing the door.
+ + +
Brian drove his LandRover down the streets, looking for the right house. He parked the vehicle and got out, whistling a tune from the radio.
He jumped up onto the porch and knocked the door, but as he jumped, his ring fell from his pocket.
“Jeez,” Brian groaned, getting down on his knees to look for the ring, which had conveniently rolled under the bush. “Ouch!” he cursed, sucking his finger where the thorn had pricked.
He glanced up and stopped. His ring was glowing. It wasn’t the only thing either. Brian reached out and grabbed two rings- his own bronze one, and another ring that was a blue green color.
“Another one?” Brian whispered to himself.
“Is my bush that interesting?”
Brian froze and snatched the rings, scurrying back onto his feet. His face was flushed in embarrassment as he slipped the rings back into his pocket.
“What were you doin in my bush?” Nick laughed. His friend joined in.
“Or did you just want us to see your butt?”
Brian narrowed his eyes at the stranger. “I dropped something.”
“Which would be what?” Nick asked.
Brian waved his hand. “Nothing.”
“Mm hmm,” the stranger smiled, nodding his head, unconvinced.
“Who are you anyway?” Brian demanded.
“Chris,” he smiled, holding out his hand.
Brian glanced at the palms of the man’s hand, making sure it wasn’t a trick.
“What do I have cooties?” Chris laughed. “It’s just a hand.”
Nick laughed. “It’s not contagious.”
“What, his craziness?”
“Hey I resent that,” Chris smiled.
Cautiously Brian shook the short man’s hand. Then his brain finally kicked in. “Wait. YOU’RE Chris? The one who’s been playin ball with Nick?”
“In the flesh,” he smiled.
“Yo Frack, sorry for skippin yesterday,” Brian apologized. “I had things to take care of.”
“Like…”
“That’s rude Chris,” Nick elbowed the older man, then looked at his best friend. “Like?”
Brian rolled his eyes. “Stuff. So whatch y’all doin?”
“’Stuff’,” Chris mocked.
“You know I’ve never kicked a girl before, but I’ll make an exception,” Brian shot back.
Chris stuck his tongue out.
“Can you believe this guy is older than you?” Nick laughed, pointing at Chris.
“Hey! I told you not to mention my age!” Chris hissed.
Brian laughed. “Ok old man, whatcha guys doin?”
“You wanna fight? Man cuz you got one right ‘ere,” Chris challenged, smiling.
“I snuck out, so we gotta do this quick, before Kevin wakes up,” Brian said.
“Kevin? What’re you doin with Kevin?” Nick asked, dribbling the ball between his legs.
“Stuff.”
“I’m beginning to hate that word,” Chris whispered loudly to Nick.
“I agree,” the young blonde smiled.
“Y’all are gangin up on me now huh? Fine then,” Brian said with mock sadness. “I understand. I’ll just go hang with Neb- I mean ah, nevermindgottago.”
“Who’s Neb?” Chris called to him.
“No one.”
Chris and Nick glanced at each other. “Oh Briiiaaan!”
Brian stopped, turned his head, and started to run.
+ + +
“Where is he?!” Nebula cried out. “We can’t just lose a Chosen One!”
“I don’t know,” Kevin said for the umpteenth time.
“What’s his number?” Nebula asked, whipping out her cell phone.
“What?”
“His cell phone,” she snapped.
“Ok, ok! It’s uh…oh here,” Kevin said, giving her the number.
“Ok…” she dialed one number at a time, then put the phone up to her ear.
+ + +
“NO ONE!” Brian shouted for the millionth time. “NO ONE!”
“Brian…” Nick trailed off, glancing at Chris.
“Ok one more time Brian,” Chris smiled. “Who is Neb?”
“No one,” Brian said defiantly.
“I hate to do this but-”
RIING!
Nick stopped mid-sentence. “What was that?”
“Nothing,” Brian said quickly.
“I’m on it,” Chris smiled. He glanced down at Brian and let out a mock evil laugh.
“Hate you,” Brian muttered. “Nick let me go.”
“No.”
“Nickolas…”
“Hey Brian’s phone,” they heard Chris say. “Who’s this?”
Brian closed his eyes. “Oh no.”
“No, who’s this?”
“Please don’t let it be…” Brian half prayed. The last thing they needed was someone knowing about their mission.
“Oh Nebula! We’ve heard so much about you!” Chris said loudly, an evil grin spreading over his elfish features.
“Oh god no,” Brian groaned. “NICKOLAS CARTER LET GO OF ME NOW!”
Brian twisted and jumped out of Nick’s grasp. Then he lunged at the older man. “Yeah so wha- HEY!” Chris was saying.
“Give me my phone!”
“I was just-”
Brian elbowed Chris hard enough in the stomach to make him double over. He grabbed his phone.
“Hello?” he said breathlessly.
“Brian. I thought we lost you!” Nebula said thankfully.
“I went to see Nick,” Brian explained. “I was in for more than I thought.”
Nebula laughed. “Who was the guy I was talking to?”
“His name is Chris the Smartass,” Brian informed, running away from Chris’ outstretched hands.
She giggled. “Bri, get down here. We’ve got some work to do.”
“Alrighty,” Brian said. “Ok I REALLY gotta go.”
“Bye.”
Click.
Brian jumped into his blue LandRover again and was off for the Hologram House.
+ + +
Chris glanced at his younger friend. “Ya thinkin what I’m thinkin?”
“Your car, let’s go!” Nick laughed, running towards the Mazda.
+ + +
The 25 year-old man drove as quickly as he could, then finally finding the road he was looking for. He was surprised that he could actually find his way back.
“Another surprise for ya Rok,” he said to himself. “Ok now I’m talkin to myself. I’m going crazy.”
He got out of the car and strode up to the door, ringing the doorbell. The song it played was foreign, but Brian could have sworn it was familiar.
“Brian! Get inside,” Nebula smiled, hugging the man.
“Uh hi?”
“Sorry. I get compassionate sometimes,” she smiled.
“Ok. We all have our moments I guess,” Brian nodded uncertainly, stepping inside. “I will never understand how you do this stuff. Holograms and whatnot.”
“Just use a projection system.” Nebula turned her head to the direction of the phone ringing. “I’ll be right back. Close the door!”
“Yeah,” Brian said, throwing his jacket on the nearby couch. He inconveniently forgot to close the door as he saw a picture- probably a holographic picture, for it was suspended in mid-air.
He walked up to it and saw a group of three people. He recognized the child as Nebula- her hair was hard to misplace. So the other two had to be her parents. Her mom was beautiful- ‘I see where she gets it from’ Her dad was well built and looked important. They all wore crowns or tiaras. They were silver and had a crystal in the middle.
“Whoa neat house!”
Brian’s eyes widened and he turned around. “Oh no.”
“Why didn’t you tell me about this place?” Nick asked, looking up at the high ceiling.
“Nick, Chris, PLEASE get out,” Brian begged, knowing he’d be in big trouble.
“Why? This place is awesome,” Chris said, walking towards the couch.
“Just go away please!”
“Hey Brian I’ve- hello,” Nebula said, surprised at the extra two beings in the room.
Brian looked down at his feet.
“Ooh Frick’s got a chick!” Nick laughed.
“Brian?”
“They followed me,” Brian said quickly. “I didn’t tell them- I’m not that stupid!”
“Tell us what?” Chris asked suspiciously.
Nebula looked at Chris and saw Nick standing against the door. She stopped. “Hello.”
Nick smiled. “Hey.”
“Brian who are these people?” Nebula finally asked, ripping her gaze from the blonde.
“Blondie’s Nick and the old guy is Chris,” Brian said seriously.
Nebula laughed. “That’s not nice Bri.”
“Ha! See?” Chris said, pointing at Nebula. “Some people have hearts!”
“Hey I was joking.”
“Um could you please leave?” Nebula asked.
“Why?” Nick asked, his eyes narrowing a bit.
“We have business to take care of,” she said. “Please.”
Then they heard a deep voice yell, “Neb where’s the thing on how to use the rings? I think I know how…”
“Kevin! Can we talk?” Nebula said loudly, pulling him away.
Chris could hear Kevin say, “What are THEY doing here?”
“Thanks a lot Neb,” Brian muttered. He still stared at his feet.
“Brian? What’s goin on?” Nick asked.
“Look Nick, we just have some things to do-”
Chris whispered something to Nick and he laughed.
“What? What’s so funny?” Brian demanded.
“Your stomach is glowing,” Nick said, pointing to Brian’s pocket.
‘Oh great’ Brian groaned inwardly.
“How’d you do that?” Chris asked.
“Nothing,” Brian said, closing his hand over the glowing ring. Nonetheless the rings still shone through it. ‘Agh dammit!’
“Frick c’mon,” Nick said, coming closer.
Chris stared at the pocket. ‘How…? Can it be?’
“Please go- I-I’ll make it up to you,” Brian pleaded.
“Nick c’mon,” Chris said softly. “I think we should leave.”
Brian looked away from Nick’s betrayed eyes as he turned to leave.
The door slammed, echoing through the spacious “house”.
“I’m sorry Nick,” Brian whispered. He looked down and sighed when the ring stopped glowing. “Now you stop.”
The Southern native walked through the house in search of his cousin.
“Kevin? Kevin!”
“Brian! In here!” he heard his voice call.
He opened the door of what looked like a computer lab and walked in. A blast of cool air hit him, causing him to shiver before getting used to the drop in temperature.
“Are they gone?” Kevin asked, not looking away from the computer screen.
“Yeah.”
“What’s wrong?” Nebula asked, turning around in her chair.
Brian sat down, his head on his fists. “Nothing except the fact that Nick might not be my best friend anymore.”
“Oh I’m sorry,” she said. She let her thoughts wander to the blonde and gave a tiny smile. She hadn't failed to notice that he was better looking than most.
Brian didn’t miss this, being as perceptive as he was. “You like him.”
Her blue eyes focused again. “What?”
“You. Like. Him.” Brian folded his arms.
“No. I. Don’t.”
“Yes. You. Do.”
Nebula shook her head. “Let’s get to work.”
Brian couldn’t help but smile. “What’d I tell ya?”
+ + +
“Who does he think he is?!” Nick fumed, slamming the car door.
“Look Nick calm down. He just has stuff to do,” Chris said in an annoyingly calm voice, starting the engine.
“Like what? Fuck Nebula? Pssh.”
“Where did that come from?” Chris said, turning in his seat.
“Come off it Chris. They were in a house. Had to do some ‘business’,” Nick quoted, leaning against the leather of the door. “Whatever.”
“Nick, you can at least respect his privacy.” Chris turned on the radio.
“He could at least TELL me what was going on.”
“He didn’t have to.”
“What are you, on HIS side?”
“I’m on MY side,” Chris said. “Just chillax.”
“Easy for you to say.”
“Just…hey what was with that glowing?” Chris asked, getting to a safe subject.
“I dunno…kinda weird don’tcha think?” Nick asked, wondering himself.
“I can’t think of anything,” Chris admitted.
“Me neither,” Nick said.
Chris bit his lip. ‘What if it’s…no possible way…’
“Maybe it’s a nightlight,” the older man kidded. He let out a sigh of relief when Nick laughed.
“Nah… He’s already got one.”
The dread-locked man laughed. “Does it match yours?”
“Ouch! Hey that was my arm!” Chris cried out.
“You deserved it,” Nick said.
“Ok here we go. Tomorrow?”
“Why not? It’s not like I’ve got anything else to do,” the blonde grumbled.
“Later.”
“Yeah later.”
Nick sighed as he opened the door to his house. Then wondered. ‘Maybe…’
With new spirit the 21 year-old leapt up the stairs into his room and hurried to the oak dresser beside his king-sized bed.
“NO…no, no, no…” he moaned, lifting up boxes and moving watches. “Dammit no!”
The man searched frantically around his room, lifting, moving, panicking. Sweat started to form. His dad had given him the ring as a going away present. Nick had to swear up and down that he wouldn’t lose it. Then his dad died. He swore that if he lost it he’d never forgive himself.
“DAMMIT! Where the hell is it?!” he hissed to himself, looking under the bed for the 5th time. “NO!”
Nick kicked his bed in vain. “SHIT!” he cried out, hopping on one foot, grabbing his other one. “Ouch, ouch, ouch! Fuck it!”
The blonde looked around his disheveled room and groaned in defeat. He plopped lifelessly onto the bed as tears formed in his eyes.
“I’m sorry Dad.”