Blood Moon And The Body Snatchers

Chapter 7: Aye, Aye Captain Kao!

"I imagine you are aware of the risk?" Bruto asked jack as they sat in his office
"I am sir, acutely aware as a matter of fact."
"Really? Because i don't think you are. If the legend of the gravity clan is true, who's to say that the legend of the reapers isn't? Not to mention the fact that we know nothing about his power. How will we train him if we don't know what he's capable of?"
"All i know sir, is that he is capable of greatness. I took him to 12 percent today, and i could barely hold him back. As far as trainings concerned, im sure the professor can come up with something."
"Let's only hope jack. If you screw this up, i don't think i can convince the investors to keep you alive."
"Understood."
"Now, onto more pressing matters. How did it go?" Bruto asked
"In terms of information, i gathered plenty. That information on the other hand, was terrifying."
"What do you mean?"
"Your suspicions were correct Bruto, Archi-Tech is breeding body snatchers under the authority of the shadow. No surprise there, what was interesting is a branch of Archi-Tech known as the evolve division. They have taken on the task of speeding up the evolution of body snatchers."
"Are they succeeding?" Bruto asked
"Swimmingly, they are able to turn out fully grown body snatchers in less than a decade. I haven't seen an adult razor tooth since Ceaser ran the world. They have 10 of them caged and plenty more in the oven."
"Dear god." Bruto said as he sat back in his desk. He took off his glasses and rubbed his face "i hope your boy is good jack."
"He will be, after finding out what i know about Archi-Tech i couldn't turn down a member of the gravity clan." jack said
"If he reaches his full potential, it could mean the end of the world." Bruto said
"Yes, but it will be the end of the world if he doesn't." jack replied
"Solid train of thought jack. Well, i guess we need to get some sleep. Have kao up and ready in the morning. He's got a big day tomorrow."
Its 5 am. Kao is awoken to the sound of jack screaming. "Get up hillbilly!"
He rolls over and sits on the edge of his bed.
"Good grief son! Put away your business! This is a place of professionals! You can't walk around campus exposed, i don't how it is in the south but we don't do that here!"
"Yeah except that im not walking around campus idiot. Im in my room, and what's the deal with you lying to me about sleep? What a stupid thing to lie about."
"I had to keep you awake, in case the architect attacked again. Please get dressed your making me sick."
"Why you looking at me then? I didn't know you were into boy's man."
"Shut your mouth and get your attitude in check! The time for childish nonsense is over!"
Kao stood and put on the same clothes he wore the day before. He hated this, and felt dirty, but it was kind of his only option.
"Don't worry kid, were going to talk to the board today and see about getting you some clean clothes and a uniform."
"Thank god. Let's go."
"You nervous?" jack asked as they walked out of the building.
"No, should i be?"
"You'll be fine kid."
They walked into the arena field. Kao was as confident as he ever was, ready to face anything the ghouls could throw at him. He saw the lineup of ghouls and headed for them. He stood beside panic, who was swaying and barely able to keep his eyes open.
"Rough night?" kao whispered
"Perfect night" panic said slowly
"I see Cletus is here, didn't think you would show new kid." riot said, making sure everyone heard him.
"You're an attention whore, like your mom but with attention." kao said smiling
"Mr. Lecray!" Bruto said as he approached the group "this is your first day and your already making friends?"
Kao hung his head "sorry chief"
"Anyway, you hooligans all know the drill. We have new developments in the project, developments that could mean big trouble. Meet in the conference room after your first hour. Dismissed."
In this instant, kao recognized the power of the clans. All four ghouls let out a loud "HUH!" then vanished, as if they were never even there. As kao wrapped his mind around this, Bruto began to speak.
"You like that huh kid?" he said
"No, i might would if i understood it."
"It's nothing more than speed. It's something you learn to control in the fourth stage. You'll get there, but for now, we need to go speak with the professor about testing your limits. Follow me."
Kao and Bruto walked from the field to the back entrance of the school. Kao had so many questions, but none of them would make their way to his tongue. Except the one that was troubling him the most.
"So, Mr. Bruto sir, do you mind if i ask you something?"
"Sure son, can't promise i know the answer."
"Ok, well, the only reason i agreed to this crazy thing was because jack said there might be someone here who knew about my dad. Would you be that someone?"
"Well kid, i imagine he died young."
"Yes sir, he was 21."
"Most Hellenic men are far too bold to live amongst humans, they wind up tied to all sorts of shady people and events."
"Right, well, do you know what might have happened to him? His name was Rex Lecray."
"That's a hard question son. He's never been here, i know that much. Whether or not he's still alive, i haven't the slightest clue."
"That's what i figured."
"Jack is a slick talker, but he means well. He could lie his way into the queen's bed if he tried."
Just then they reached a large steel door in the building, it was nestled at the end of a hallway on the first floor. Bruto reached in his pocket and pulled out a solid black card, he swiped it on a pad just beside the door and it opened with a loud clink. Bruto pushed the door aside and motioned for kao to enter. He walked through the doorway and into a small stairwell. He heard the door clink shut behind him.
"Well? What are we waiting for?" Bruto said
"Right sorry."
The pair then began to descend into an underground level. The walls of the stairwell were dimly lit, dingy and stained with years of dust. As they reached the bottom stair they turned a right and were in a large lab filled with equipment. Beakers and test tubes, microscopes, telescopes, pretty much any type of scope you can buy. A man stood with his back to the door way, maniacally rifling off numbers in a seemingly precise order as he fidgeted with some chemicals in beakers.
"5, 5, 1, 6, 1."
He wore a long white doctor's coat and sported frayed white hair. His gloves were attached to his hands at the wrist with string. He spoke perfect English, though it wasn't hard to tell he was German.
"Professor!" Bruto shouted. The man dropped the beakers in fright and turned as the chemicals mixed together and formed a deep purple smoke that billowed along his back. He wore thin framed circular glassed, and was pale as paper. When he realized it was Bruto he turned back to his work.
"Bruto you fool! That's a month's work, gone! Now i have to start again!"
"Calm yourself, it's not like you're ever going to die."
"Not unless i kill myself. What brings you to the depths of my study" he said as he examined the broken glass.
"This young man here, actually" Bruto replied "i would like an analysis."
The wild eyed scientist turned and approached kao. He began to look very closely at him while narrating his findings.
"6'5, Caucasian male. Hellenic, higher level of intellect. Deep rooted anger issues, spawning from abuse or witnessing abuse. He's of the family Bruto what do you want me to say?"
"He's of the gravity clan." Bruto said with a crooked smile.
The professor turned his head toward kao. "Oh my word" he said as he began examining him even closer. "He looks just like Lyken! I'll be damned! Does the board know?!"
"They have been notified yes. Although, they won't offer any funds until we know of his power level."
"I see... yes, well why don't we just use the old rock method?"
"How could the fire clans testing method help us here?" Bruto asked
"Ah! That question lets me know that you don't understand the test at all. The rock is large yes? Way too big to lift, it sits in a large vat of water. A member of the fire clan heats the rock until it boils the water, their power is based on the quantity of water they can evaporate using this method."
"Go on" Bruto said
"Same rock, same amount of water. We get the kid to lift the rock, his power can be measured by how much the water level falls."
"By god professor, you've done it again. Bravo! When can we start the test then?"
"The test is already set up in max room one. We can do it now if you would like."
Just then panic burst into the room. He was looking much better than before, apparently woken by his stiff training regimen.
"I finished my first hour early chief, mind if i observe?" panic said
"Sure kid, just don't mess up the test. This has to be 100 percent accurate if we hope to peak the investors interest."
"You have my word sir"
"Splendid, the professor and i are going to set up the restraints. Keep him company for a few minutes panic."
"Will do sir"
Bruto and the professor then walked down the hallway on the other side of the room.
"Restraints huh? This sounds like it's going to be brutal." kao said
"Not really dude. They just restrain you because they don't want you to use your body. The tests are strictly power based." panic said as he pulled a candy bar out of his pocket.
"They want me to lift a rock out of water. How am i supposed to do that without touching it?"
"That's what you do isn't it? Your clan? You're supposed to be able to move things with your power."
"Wow, never done that before."
Jack then phased out of kao's body, stretched and took the candy from panics hand.
"Well you've been quiet for a while, that's a first."
"I was taking a nap kao, a well-deserved one at that."
"I don't know if i like the thought of you sleeping inside me."
"Well kid, i don't like a lot of the thoughts that you have either. Most people go to therapy, you just play this stuff back like a dirty movie." jack said while stuffing the candy into his mouth.
"Hey, im a man among men what can i say?" kao replied
"You're a pervert."
"Were ready lecray!" Bruto yelled
"Let the show begin." jack said
As they walked down the hall it reminded kao more of a prison then a group of testing rooms. The walls were of solid concrete and the doors were made of reinforced steel, with bars across the observation windows. The doors all lined one wall and descended in order "max room 4, max room 3, and max room 2"
They approached the door labeled "max room 1" and entered slowly. The room was large and barren, half of the room was a pool of water at least 20 feet deep. On the other side, where Bruto and the professor stood, were four chains bolted to the floor. Two short chains and two long chains, one for both arms and both legs. On the ends of these chains were sturdy steel cuffs with large locks.
"Come on kid we haven't got all day." said the professor
Kao walked over to the chains and the professor wasted no time in strapping him down. Kao raised and lowered his arms, feeling the weight of the chains.
"Im gonna go ahead and tell you guys" kao began "I've never lifted anything with my mind before."
"Don't use your mind kid, use your power. Jack will crank you up to a level you're comfortable with, then just focus that energy at the rock. The legends say you can lift it, so we've got to at least try."
"Right, the legends. I almost forgot." kao said
"Bring in the rock!" Bruto shouted
The professor pushed a large red button near the door. A loud siren began to wail as two panels above the pool of water separated. A large, perfectly circular boulder began to descend from the ceiling. It was at least 20 feet across, it splashed hard into the water as the rope that was holding it released.
"What the? That thing is huge!" kao shouted
"Kao, focus. This is a simple task we are asking you to perform." the professor said
"Are you kidding me? That thing weighs 10 tons at least!" kao said
"13 tons. Begin when you're ready kid" Bruto said
The three men walked out of the room and closed the door, jack phased into kao's body and began the power up.
"What am i supposed to do?" kao asked jack.
"Im releasing 10 percent kao. Focus that energy on the rock and move it."
"It can't be that simple."
"Powering up, 10 percent power. Heart rate normal, temperature normal blood pressure normal. Power up successful. Let's do this kid."
When the power surged into kao's spine, everything changed. His confidence took over and he began breathing heavily.
"All right kao, just do what you were born to do"
"Let me concentrate"
Kao began breathing more and more rapidly, tightening his muscles and smiling the grin of a madman. The rock wouldn't budge, it was as if it was cemented in the water. Kao could feel it though, he could feel every individual atom in the rock straining against his power. It was as if he touched everything, as if he was gravity, not just that he could control it.
"Make it happen kao! You got this! Kick that rock in the face bro!" panic shouted
Kao tightened the chains and began pulling them upward, releasing more energy he could focus into the rock. He began to grunt with every exhale. Ripples began to appear in the water as the rock lifted and sank, fighting the gravity kao was forcing under it.
"You got this kid, take it all the way." jack said calmly
Kao began to scream, and grunt like he was trying to break the chains. The floor started to crack from the force of him pulling. The rock raised a few inches then sank back into the water. Kao heaved again, and the boulder raised a little higher this time. He was straining so hard that it looked like his veins would burst, and his eyeballs would roll from his head.
"That's enough kid! Your gonna hurt yourself!" Bruto screamed over the loud release of energy
"No! I can go higher! I know it!" kao screamed
The boulder then began to raise at a slow, but steady pace. Inching out of the water, as kao directed a heavy stream of red hot energy to its core. It was almost like he had made the rock a part of himself, and was lifting it like a large appendage. Using nothing but his mind, just as you would your hand or leg.
The rock broke the surface tension, and raised out of the water like black beards ghost. Every jaw in the room had hit the floor, as they witnessed a miracle. In this moment, Bruto knew that the ghouls had a chance. For every yin there is a yang, and that fate wouldn't allow the architect to take the world from the Helena's.
Kao was calm at this point, he didn't need to struggle at all to hold it steady. He let the large rock hover for a few more seconds, for dramatic effect, then released it and smiled as it crashed into the water. Waves rose above the side of the pool and washed over kao's feet, a cold yet satisfying feeling rushed to his head. Kao is a champion, in life and in death.
"Powering down, blood pressure normal, temperature normal, heart rate normal. Power down successful."
Jack phased from kao's body and gave an "i told you so" smile as Bruto, the professor and panic walked in the door.
"Dude! So sick bro!" panic said walking up to kao. "That rock was a good 10 feet above the water!"
"I think i could have gone higher man. I just didn't want to wreck the ceiling." kao replied
"No need for that son." Bruto said as he walked up to kao "you've done well, and i will be telling the board about your power. Any thoughts professor?"
"Extraordinary. I don't understand how a power like this could have survived so many generations without us finding out Bruto."
"Me either, no time to dwell on that. He's here now and he's going to turn this whole program around. Aren't you son?"
"I'll do my best sir" kao replied
"Splendid! How about your calculations professor? What's our young friend reading here?"
"Considering the mass... the horsepower needed to move the object a foot, times that by the 13 feet he moved it. Ah, at 10 percent power Mr. Kao is pushing about 2000 units of Hellenic force. So at 100 percent, you're looking at about 20,000 units."
"20... 20,000?"Panic said very slowly.
"Yes panic, almost twice what you have." the professor replied
"That, that's impossible. How could a body hold that much energy?" Bruto asked
"He's special, he has Lyken blood. Lyken could stop time itself, imagine how much power it would take to make the universe stand still."
"Your right, i guess i just didn't see him being that powerful." Bruto replied
"You know what's even better than that Bruto? He thinks he could go higher. There's no telling what his actual level is, not without coming up with a more accurate test." the professor gave Bruto a look of concern, which Bruto immediately recognized.
"Kao, hurry on to the school store. Take this key-card, it will get you 400 dollars in clothes. Buy something suitable, you'll want to look nice when we put you in front of the investors."
"Thank you sir, but i have my own money. I'd rather not take any handouts if you don't mind."
"Oh, well splendid! Make sure to get a clean uniform for special events. Any other personal attire is up to you."
"That's another thing i was curious about sir. Im not trying to brag, but i was about to graduate with the highest scores, in the most prestigious high school in the nation. I mean, Harvard actually invited me on a scholarship and i didn't even apply. What exactly will i be learning?"
"A smart Helena." the professor blurted out "i thought i was the only one."
"Mind your tongue when you speak of the family." Bruto said sternly "kao, you will take the standardized tests. From there we will work on whatever you need. Dismissed."
Kao and panic exited max room one and headed for the stairs. When Bruto was sure they couldn't hear him he began to speak calmly.
"I understand your concern." he said
"May i elaborate on my concern? Or are you just going to tell me why im wrong?" the professor replied
"Im all ears."
"He's dangerous Bruto. You know we can't control that much power. You reached the 5th stage in your training, and you didn't have half the power Mr. Lecray has in his first stage."
"I reached 7,000 units. That's more than anyone has ever reached."
"Yes Bruto, but it took you 300 years to do it. Kao reached 2000 on his first day. Who knows what he's actually capable of? Our ancestors wiped out the gravity clan for a reason, now you bring the last one to our doorstep?"
"It was a tough decision, but it was mine to make. I had hoped you would respect it."
"I am fully prepared to go down with this ship Bruto. One day i will die for this world, i would much rather it be at the hands of a body snatcher than a Helena."
"You're a loyal man, so i will be honest with you. If this boy takes us to deaths door, he is meant to do it. There are things going on that will be the death of us anyway. The boy is either our last hope, or our eminent defeat."
"What a beautiful way to describe the end of the world" said the professor
Panic and kao walked lazily through the east hall of the academy. Panic couldn't seem to shut up about the miracle he had just witnessed.
"Bro! You're like, a freakin snatcher slaying machine man!"
"I've never even seen a body snatcher man" kao said with a laugh
"Trust me dude, with that power you just showed me, you'll have the architect begging for mercy!"
"Thanks man, i just need to train i guess. Im actually kind of excited to see how far i can take it."
They were walking through the lobby when a petit girl in glasses came running up to them. She wore her dark black hair in a ponytail and spoke with extreme clarity as she addressed panic.
"Panic sir, you're late for your second hour of training! You must get there now before i have to log you as absent. I don't think your investor would like you missing your training session."
"Oww! Im late? How late, like give me a time frame!" he responded
"Your session started 11 minutes ago. If you go now i can count you as tardy."
"Hello my name is kao lecray. Nice to meet you miss?" kao said sticking out his hand
The girl looked at his hand, then at his face. She then completely ignored him and turned back to panic.
"Why are you still here?" she said with a snap
"This is Rena. She's my keeper, don't worry you'll have one soon! Then you can deal with the aggravation yourself! Got to split man, the store is just ahead on your left, right beside the water fountains!"
"Later man." kao said to panic as he jogged off toward the back exit. Rena continued walking past kao without saying a word "what a stuffy little woman" he thought to himself as he walked toward the school store. He passed a few students who were on the way to the restrooms, but the halls were for the most part empty. He was at the store before he knew it, and walked through the glass doors examining the clothes in the window. There were 5 long shelves of clothes, as well as hoodies and shirts hanging from the walls. Books and supplies were stacked neatly on their own shelf by the checkout counter. To his left there was a coffee bar that smelled of fresh hazelnut and soft breads baking. Large metal chairs sat randomly in front of the coffee bar, giving a more relaxed feel to this neat and orderly little store. As kao walked up to the checkout counter he noticed that it was also a display case, slap full of electronics like phones, tablets and laptops.
"Hello sir may i help you?" said the pretty blonde behind the counter
"Sure, im new here so i have a lot of shopping to do." he said with a laugh
"Oh you're Mr. Lecray? I already have your uniform ready. Bruto sent me your sizes earlier."
She turned and looked around the rack behind the counter. "Ah here it is" she said. She had to stretch to reach the uniform hanging on the top rung. Kao got an eye full while he had the chance.
"Pervert!" jack sang to kao inside his head
"Damn right!" kao thought back
"Here we are!" she said in a cheery voice as she laid the uniform on the counter. "One pair of slacks, one button down under-shirt, dark black suit jacket, black loafers and a pair of dress socks. Im gonna go ahead and tell you, this uniform is really only for special occasions like dances and banquets. Any other time you are welcome to wear anything from the store you'd like. Your total on the uniform is 150 even."
"Actually could you hold it for a while? I'd like to buy a few outfits while im here." kao said
"Certainly sir. Let me know if you need any help."
Kao began to browse the store, looking along each shelf. Jack phased out of his body "you better hope they have clothes for goliaths in here" he said very seriously. Kao handed him a ten.
"Go buy yourself some food or something, i got grown up stuff to do."
"Whatever you say captain kao!" jack said with a salute. He then stiffly walked to the food court
Although jack was acting like an idiot, he was actually right. Most of the clothes here didn't fit kao, they were mostly 4 or 5 inches to short. Though he did stumble on three shirts that were just his size, two pairs of pants, and a black trucker hat with the word "ghoul" in bright green across the front.
Kao placed the items on the counter.
"Will that be all for you today sir?" the cashier asked
"Actually, how much is that fancy red phone there? The big one."
"Oh, the cyborg touch? Let me see here, looks like it's about 400 with initial set up. Would you like me to ring it up?"
"Sure that sounds good"
"Ok, well let me tell you about our easy access card program" she said as she was ringing up the items "it will be free to set up an account, you will get a debit card with your money on it. Also, investors will be able to auto-deposit funds directly to your account. You can also set up auto-deduct to automatically pay your phone bill every month. The card is good anywhere debit cards are accepted. Would you like to sign up?"
"Uh, is there a limit to the amount i can put on the card?" kao asked
"No sir, the card is directly connected to your student account. You can put as much on it as you like."
"Well why not, guess it beats toting around paper all day."
She pulled out a long sheet of paper and pointed at several places for him to sign. Kao then pulled out his wallet and began counting the 100 dollar bills he had taken out of his duffle bag.
"Ok i have 4000 on me. Ill deposit that now, but I'll be coming back with more later."
"That's fine sir" she said as she took the money and placed it in the cash register. She then typed on the computer for a minute. Then handed him a black debit card.
"Your funds have been successfully transferred to your card sir, and it looks like your total on the items comes to 817.35."
"I just got it, now i got to give it back?" kao said as he handed her the card
"You're so funny!" she said as she swiped the card
"I love your accent! Where are you from?" she asked nicely
"Atlanta, Georgia. The only state worth living in." he said with a smile
She put the clothes into a bag, along with a new phone in its box and handed him his card. "Well, Georgia, maybe you could look me up once you get your phone running." she said leaning on the counter "the names Andrea"
"I might just do that Ms. Andrea. I'll be back a little later with the rest of my funds"
"Can't wait" she said as he turned to leave
"Come on jack!" he yelled across the store
Jack was in a heated argument with the bar attendant "what do you mean you can't put chocolate syrup on popcorn?!" he yelled "i demand to speak with your supervisor!"
"Sir" the young man said "i already told you, we don't have any chocolate syrup. We have caramel if you'd like that."
"Caramel? CARAMEL!? What kind of low life creation do you take me for? You whiny little hipster punk boy! I've got half a mind to climb over this counter and smack you around! No i don't want any freaking caramel! I want chocolate! I don't care if you have to melt a candy bar! There will be chocolate on my popcorn!"
"Sir, please calm down. I'll give you a free caramel popcorn if you just calm down." the attendant said
"You bet your ass I'll get a free caramel popcorn! And I'll get a free scone! And that nice little hat you're wearing! Make it happen bucky!"
"Get me a coffee!" kao yelled from across the store
"Yea! And a free coffee! Extra black home boy, so help me god if that coffee is brown ill snatch every tooth out of your greasy little head!"
The bar boy frantically gathered jacks order and placed it on the bar. Jack picked up the spoils of war and walked over to kao.
"All right im good." jack said as they walked out of the store. "So what's next on the agenda?" jack asked
Kao sipped his ill-gotten coffee "I'd like to go to my room and get all my stuff put up. Im supposed to be meeting with the investors sometime today."
"Sounds good to me"
Kao pulled his clothes from their bags and laid them out in a line on his bed. He opened his closet door and gathered the hangers he needed. After all his clothes were hung orderly in his closet, kao pulled the cyborg from the bag and slid the top off of the box. The phone was neatly packaged in plastic with a charger wrapped up nicely above it. He plugged in the phone and turned it on. He followed the initial set up instructions and then shuffled through it, looking at the different tabs and features. Just then there was a very light knock on the door. "Come in" kao said confused.
The door opened with a short thud, and in walked the plainest woman kao had ever laid eyes on. No makeup, hair in a ponytail, dress pants and leisure jacket, large black suitcase, long pointy nose with coke bottle glasses that rested on the tip. She leaned her head back so she could see through them. She began to speak as properly as she could.
"Good evening Mr. Lecray" she began in a heavy British accent "my name is Salem Rollins. I am your assigned keeper. I will plan your day, run your errands, and balance your accounts and investments. I will be your personal secretary"
"Cool" kao said "what do you mean investments? I don't know anything about stocks."
"I do master lecray. I have taken many courses on the matter, and will protect your financial future as if it were my own. I brought literature on the subject if that's where you would like to get started."
"Thanks but, maybe later. Im still wrapping my head around all of this."
"Very well sir, and what would you have me do?" she asked
"Uhh, can't really think of anything at the moment." he replied
"Your meeting with the investors starts at 2pm sharp. I suggest you prepare yourself mentally and physically." she flared one of her nostrils "as well as hygienically"
"Ok should i wear my uniform to the meeting?"
"Why of course sir. You must look the part as well as live the part."
"Solid advice Ms. Rollins." he said as he stood from the bed
"Oh please, call me Salem, Mr. Lecray."
"Only if you call me kao." he said with a smile
"Noted, moving right along. It's time for your bath, I'll run the water and prepare your outfit."
"Thank you, but that's not necessary. Been doing it on my own for years. There is something you can do for me though, now that i think about it"
"Anything and everything is the motto of the keepers."
"Right, uhh, good." kao pulled his duffle bag from under the bed "i set up an account earlier and put a little money in, the rest is in here. If you would, run down to the store and deposit this. Make sure you count every bill and then check the balance to be sure it corresponds. I set the pin as 1994. Once you're done with that, use the card to purchase a smart tablet as well as a printer and a laptop. If you're going to be running numbers for me your gonna need better than a suitcase, so make sure the tablet can link to the laptop for mobile transactions. Also, buy yourself a cellphone, this cyborg touch seems to be pretty nice. You look like your about to have a heat stroke, buy yourself a whole new wardrobe. Nothing to fancy, i want us to be friends first and associates second."
"Goodness sir... are you sure?" she said
"That's an order private! And the names kao not sir. Pick up some lunch while you're at it."
"Certainly, anything in particular?"
"Whatever ya'll want, i don't care. Some chicken would be nice but im not picky. Get the cashiers number as well"
"Sure, but i don't know if i can carry all of it by myself kao."
"Jack, go with her and grab yourself something for the trouble."
"Aye aye captain kao." he said as he stood up walked out the door, Salem close behind him
Kao walked into the bathroom, he noticed the elevated shower floor. There was no curtain or door for the shower, just a shower head and a drain. This didn't bother him too much, as he wasn't in any way insecure. Kao threw his towel on the hook and undressed. He looked in the mirror and held up his arms flexing his muscles. Kao was a large man, his biceps were toned and cut. His chest was large and defined. He trained his whole life to be the picture of physical strength. Now, in the afterlife, his size meant nothing, his power was everything.
He noticed something missing, the x on his chest was gone. As a matter of fact, there wasn't a scar or blemish on his whole body. In death kao was truly reborn, all signs of scars and aging were gone. The memories though, they would last forever. He stepped into the shower and turned the water on cold, he never used hot water. His thoughts drifted back to Atlanta, to that sober time of bliss he had found in Lexi. She was still heavy on his heart, making him hate the life he chose. For the life he chose, lead to the death that separated him and Lexi.
He felt the cold water rush over his back. He opened his mouth in a gasp, shocked by the cold. He let out an extremely slow breath. The time flies when he thinks of Lexi, though he managed to get clean in the days of happy thoughts. Just then, Salem walked into the door of the bathroom.
"Sir, all that you requested has been done. If you would like to instruct me on how to set up your new equipment, I'll be waiting in the room."
Kao turned off the water and grabbed the towel, wiping his eyes then his neck. "It doesn't bother you to see me naked ma'am?"
"I am your keeper kao, humble servant. And from what Mr. Jack has told me, i may see much worse in the future."
"Don't you listen to him Salem, he's a cold blooded liar." kao said as he finished toweling off
"Whatever you say kao" she finished
After kao put on his uniform he looked in the mirror. the outfit reminded him of his junior prom, when he got so drunk that he started a fight with the D.J., then the football coach, then lexis ex-boyfriend Jeremy caught a swift helping of justice. He was so wasted, Lexi had to help him to the taxi, then lie to police about the multiple black eyes and broken noses. She would say "your better than this" or "your too strong to freak out, you'll hurt someone" and she would calm him down. He went to rehab for 2 months that year, she called him every day. She even visited him, when his own mother was too afraid to be close to him. She rubbed his back while he shook from DTs and kissed his shoulder saying he would be ok. he quit drinking thanks to a drug called Elucinol, then he got addicted to Elucinol. She stayed with him as he violently threw up from the combination of training and detox, he would work out 12 hours a day to keep his mind off the drug, and lexi would sit at the gym reading a novel.
Kao shook the thought from his mind, straightened his jacket, and then walked into his room.
"How do i look?"
"Splendid! The investors will love that jacket!" Salem said, walking over to him and brushing off his shoulder
"I don't understand this whole investor thing. I have plenty of money, why can't i just support myself?"
"I'll admit, you have a lot more money than i thought you would. Although, 3 million dollars won't be enough to pay for every trip. It won't pay for your training or the tests that the academy will perform on you, you will train till the day you leave the ghouls."
"Well that's great." kao said rolling his eyes "I've never had a day off anyways, why start now?"
"That's no attitude to have kao. You'll be saving the whole human race from now on, this isn't about some silly belt or prize money."
"Right, I'll keep that in mind while i slave away for the rest of eternity."
"Good"
"Go ahead and set up the electronics how you want them Salem, me and jack will head to the meeting."
"Right away, what about your lunch? I got you chicken."
"Go ahead and eat, I'd rather leave now and be early then risk being late."
"Solid thought, kao."
Jack and kao exited the room, and began the long walk to the conference room in the east wing of the main building. They talked as they walked.
"So, what exactly is going to happen at this meeting?" kao asked
"The usual bullocks, there are 10 investors, all of them are stuffy republican types. They will ask you a series of questions, then ask you to prove your power on a small scale."
"Then what? One picks me like a puppy in a pet store?"
"Kind of, they offer you an investment package. You may get three or four depending on your performance. The package will usually include food and clothing, a weapon, spending money. It will basically say 'I'll give you x amount of money to gain this percentage of power over the next five years'."
"Wow, so it's like a sports contract almost?" kao asked
"Sure you could say that"
Kao looked down at his phone, 1:45 pm. he had plenty of time to make it to the meeting, he figured he might as well stop in the lounge for a cup of coffee. He made a quick left into the lounge while still looking at his phone and bumped right into Anna, knocking her off her feet. Kao swiftly caught her and stood her back up.
"Oh god, im so sorry Ms. Anna. Did i hurt you?" kao said quickly
"Im fine, im fine i should have been looking where i was going." she replied
"I guess were both guilty of that huh? Can i offer you a cup of coffee as an apology?"
"Maybe some other time. I took a late lunch, now im late for my afternoon session." she looked down and noticed the phone in kao's hand. She snatched it and began looking it over "this is the new cyborg touch isn't it? How on earth did you get this without an investor?"
"I came prepared" kao said with a smile.
Anna began to shuffle through the applications "this thing is incredible, i need to talk to Kairo about getting me a new one. She's been holding out on me since i haven't broken 55 percent yet. You don't have any contacts?"
"Hey don't judge, im trying to make friends." he said with a laugh
She laughed as well "well, I'll be happy to be your first friend kao." she said as she clicked furiously on the touch screen "there you go! Anna Helena, your first contact"
"Thanks" kao replied "I'll be sure to put it to good use"
They both smiled, then Anna continued on to her next training session. Kao stared at her until she was out of sight. He then swiped his card on the lounges coffee machine and began sipping the dark roast.
"You do realize she's your cousin right?" jack said without looking up from the magazine in his hand
"Shut up jack. She's like my millionth cousin."
"Still, it's prohibited for members of the family to date."
"Yeah, i know. You said that already." kao said in a childish tone
"Let's get going hillbilly, we got stuff to do today."