Galactic High

“So, I just sit like this, and you’ll throw up a bunch of barriers and initiate the merge?” Jack asked, sitting cross-legged on the ground in Chiyo’s room. The two were directly facing one another in the centre of her meditation circle, ready to begin the merge, and hopefully use the opportunity to mentally prepare for the ordeal to come while allowing Jack’s body the chance to sleep.

Yes. Chiyo quickly typed back. While I would prefer direct contact with you, this is likely the best way. I don’t understand what Devil’s Daughter is trying to do, but having these extra protections is probably worthwhile.

“Alright.” Jack took a deep breath. “Relax myself as much as I can and open my mind?”

Chiyo nodded with a nervous smile.

“Okay.” Jack sighed as he controlled his breathing, trying not to think about anything bad for the time being.

The now familiar sensation of Chiyo linking to his mind touched Jack like a wave of warm water on a beach. As he sat there accepting the feeling, he began to perceive the hazy mindscape he had come to expect from their previous mergings. Immediately Jack allowed a conscious moment of thought to clothe himself and provide a sofa to sit down on, before he was soon joined by Chiyo.

Excellent, you’ve gotten much better at accepting the merge! She smiled as she plonked down on the sofa next to him. I just wish this was under better circumstances.

“Yeah,” Jack admitted, glad to be able to have a proper conversation with Chiyo in their shared mindscape instead of using text. “I don’t know why Devil’s Daughter keeps attacking me in my sleep like this.”

I’ve been wondering about that. Chiyo reasoned. Everything about this doesn’t make any sense to me.

“How so?” Jack asked curiously.

Let’s put aside the fact that Devil’s Daughter has a very distinct reputation for targeting the absolute worst of the worst and hasn’t knowingly targeted an innocent. Chiyo started before Jack interrupted.

“And what we don’t know?” he countered. “Attacking people in dreams for starters? Maybe she thinks I’m a bad guy based on the sheer amount of killing I’ve had to do in self defence since I got here?”

Let’s put that aside for now! Chiyo reiterated. We’ve seen Devil’s Daughter fight the Killer Klown, one of the deadliest known threats on the station.

“Right?” Jack asked, trying to see her point.

So why would she go to all this trouble of attacking you in your dreams instead of trying to take you in a fight? Chiyo pondered. Yes, you’re a strong fighter in your own right, but Devil’s Daughter isn’t one to keep her distance or shirk combat either.

“Maybe we should ask her when she shows up,” Jack sarcastically quipped.

That might not be a bad idea. Chiyo reasoned. Has she tried to speak to you?

“Never really got to that point,” Jack admitted. “She might have done on the first night, but I have no idea what her voice even sounds like. Every time I spotted her she was right in my face and I woke up, apart from last night where I was able to land a hit on her.”

Very strange… Chiyo admitted to thinking. We’re missing something here.

The two of them sat down to talk and discuss the plan for tomorrow. Sephy had organised a meeting with her ‘friend of a friend’ a few hours after school, allowing plenty of time for the deathball game and for them to prepare before attempting a backtrace on Dubakuu’s cyberware. Once that was done, they’d have a location, and once they had a location, they could finally strike back at the hacker behind Dubakuu! At least that was the plan…

“Sounds like we’re in for a hell of a night either way.” Jack sighed, leaning back on the imaginary sofa. “We should do something to pass the time.”

I agree. Chiyo replied with a sly smile, moving closer to Jack, eyes expectant…

The mindscape shimmered suddenly, and Jack and Chiyo jumped up in anticipation.

Here she comes! Chiyo warned. Try to keep the dream stable if you can!

“Easier said than done!” Jack grunted, as with a conscious thought his axe was in his hands and his gun was at his hip. “Stay close!”

But before Chiyo could acknowledge Jack’s instruction, the mindscape warped and twisted, and a moment later, Jack jerked upright, awake. Only he wasn’t in his room. Bright white walls surrounded him, reflecting the warm sunlight coming out of a solitary window. A subtle beeping could be heard on his right, and Jack sat up to take a look, eyes widening as he recognised a heartbeat monitor common in any hospital. Shuffling around and getting up, he recoiled in panic as he felt a slight resistance, looking down and seeing a bunch of tubes poking out of his arm. Before even stopping to think, Jack yanked them out before stumbling onto the floor and pushing himself back up. He felt weak, like he hadn’t moved in a long time.

“Oh my god!” a familiar voice called from ahead, and the sound of a door smacking open could be heard as they ran towards him, holding him in a tight embrace as she helped him to his feet. “Jack! You’re awake!”

“Mum?” Jack asked. “What’s going on?”

“It’s okay now! It’s okay!” His mother cried tears of joy. “You’ve been in a coma for a long time! The doctors didn’t know if you would wake up or not, but I’ve been coming here every day! I knew you would come back!”

“No way, this can’t be real!” Jack shook himself out of the embrace. “I was just….” He looked around for Chiyo but saw nothing. “Chiyo? Where are you?”

“Oh my god, Jack, it’s okay!” His mother tried to calm him down as he looked around in panic. “The doctors said there would be some brain damage, but we can fix that!”

“No way!” Jack shook his head. “I was just talking to my friend! We entered a shared mindscape to prepare for some kind of attack?”

“Mindscape? Attack?” His mother gave a faint smile, trying not to laugh. “Listen to yourself, Jack! That’s ridiculous! Next you’ll be telling me about aliens, magic and monsters!”

“No! It was real!” Jack took a step back.

“Jack, it’s going to be okay!” his mother cried out, trying to move to embrace him again, but Jack stepped back again, holding out an arm to keep her away.

“Okay, okay.” His mother tried to calm down as her eyes saw the open door. “You’ve only just woken up, perhaps a familiar face will help?”

Jack turned around to look, and his heart lurched when he saw who it was.

A girl his age stood there, looking at him with beautiful dark eyes and brown hair. Dressed in jeans and a purple hoodie, it was an all too familiar face Jack never expected to ever see again.

“Hello, Jack,” she nervously greeted with a faint wave.

“Aliza…” Jack finally gasped in shock. “How…but…”

“It’s okay, Jack,” Aliza smiled back at him. “I’ve missed you too.”

“This shouldn’t be possible,” Jack growled under his breath, backing away until his foot hit the back wall. “How?!”

“I know things got really bad.” Aliza sighed, after taking a moment to find the right words. “The bullying wouldn’t stop and I just couldn’t take it any more…”

“Aliza…” Jack hoarsely managed to reply as he now took a step forward. “I’m so sorry…”

“It wasn’t your fault, Jack.” Aliza smiled warmly. “I know it was sudden but…”

Jack……fight…..

“....when I moved to another school I knew I should have stayed in contact with you!” Aliza cried and took a step towards Jack.

Jack instead held his arm out towards Aliza, taking a step back. “What?” he asked. “Explain.”

Aliza was taken aback by Jack’s sudden change in behaviour as she stopped. “My parents forbade me from ever contacting you! They took away my phone and social media, and I was chaperoned everywhere I went! I managed to escape and made it out…”

Jack’s perspective shifted as his Dominator reappeared in his outstretched hand, his mind no longer believing the deception.

“ALIZA IS DEAD!” He yelled in rage at the imposter. “WHO ARE YOU!?”

Aliza stopped, giving up her lies as she gave a low chuckle, which quickly changed into a cruel cackle as the form of his mother disappeared, and the hospital room warped into nothingness.

She was suddenly forced back, pinned against an invisible wall, writhing in pain with an expression of utter malice and hate before it turned into a maddening laughter as she stared at Jack.

Show us your true form, coward! Chiyo snarled, as Aliza’s skin flaked away to reveal a Stygian red.

“You know, I was told by too many people you were one of the good guys,” Jack snarled as he looked at Devil’s Daughter. “Should have known that was all a load of bull...”

This form is not your true one. Chiyo continued, staring at the writhing Devil’s Daughter. I told you to show us your true form!

The form shimmered again. The face of Devil’s Daughter changed into something ugly, marked with vicious scars and burns, with several chunks of their body missing altogether.

“The One Who Hates sends their regards,” The Stygian woman mocked, barely giving Chiyo a glimpse before giving Jack her full attention. “Come find me, human,” she taunted. “And prepare to accept your fate!”

The figure pulsed, and with a flash of red magical energy, she disappeared.

The dark sensations around them completely subsided, and just like that, Jack and Chiyo were alone again.

“What the hell just happened?” Jack asked Chiyo as he sat down, thumping on an incorporeal floor.

She tried to take over your mind, I think. Chiyo sat down on the ground next to him. I think these last few nights were her trying to weaken you using your own negative experiences to drain you mentally. She didn't know I’d be here.

“And she didn’t know about…” Jack began, thinking of Aliza until he just couldn’t continue.

No. Whatever she tried to do you completely threw her off. I don’t think she’ll be able to target you like that again.

“Unless she comes for me the old fashioned way.” Jack sighed. “I guess deep down I knew I was going to have to fight Devil’s Daughter at some point.”

If that was definitely her. Chiyo reasoned, and Jack nodded, conceding the point, as the sofa reappeared underneath them. It’s hard to believe she would do this, but if not her, who? They stayed like that for a few more moments, thinking about what just happened.

“The One Who Hates.” Jack then spoke. “What does that refer to? I doubt it’s good.”

I’m unsure. Chiyo admitted. Affiliated in some way most likely. We’re still missing pieces of the puzzle but we know more than we did.

“Yeah…” Jack sighed, before changing the subject. “How much have you seen? Of my dreams I mean.”

Only when I detected something wrong. Chiyo admitted. That night where you dreamed of your arrival, I sensed so many negative emotions from you that I saw it all from the moment you first got up. As for here, I saw enough. I’m so sorry. I didn’t know.

“It’s alright.” Jack sighed. “I told Alora that Aliza had gone to a different school when she asked me about something. I’m guessing it was that memory the intruder preyed upon not knowing it was a lie. Aliza took her own life and…I saw it happen…”

Jack stopped as he fought to control the tears that he knew would come, turning away from Chiyo as the Ilithii moved closer to him, putting her arms around him and just staying that way until Jack calmed himself down.

I wish I had the right words, just know that I care. We all do.

Jack smiled sadly and nodded, embracing Chiyo as he looked over her shoulder to look at the faint form of Aliza staring silently back at him, a hooded figure of light behind her with both hands on her shoulders. “I know. I can’t keep doing this to myself. If I keep reliving that memory, if I keep holding on to the past, I’m only going to lose myself to pain and suffering. I don’t know if she will ever forgive me, or if I can even forgive myself, but I have to let it go, and I have to move on.”

The form of Aliza smiled as both faded away, the hooded figure giving one, slow nod of approval as it disappeared into bright dust.

‘Goodbye Aliza.’ Jack thought to himself, as he let go of the past.

Do you have any more movies in your subconscious we could watch? Chiyo asked after some time had passed, trying to change the mood. We have about an hour or two before we need to wake.

“Thank you, Chiyo.” Jack smiled, embracing her tighter, moving his head down to look at her as she looked back up at him with silvery blue eyes. They stayed like that for several moments, gazing into each other’s eyes, unsure of what to do, before both gave in to their passion. Chiyo used her power to pull Jack towards her for a kiss as he put his arms around her waist, hoisting her up to sit on his lap.

You have no idea how long I’ve wanted this! Chiyo managed to get out as she wrapped her arms around his neck, Jack barely having the wits to put a supporting arm around her back as the Ilithii hungrily explored with her tongue. Jack didn’t want to be completely passive, however, as his other hand cupped Chiyo’s ass, pulling her closer to him as his tongue met hers halfway…

Suddenly, without any warning, Jack’s perspective shifted as he found himself back in the lotus position in Chiyo’s room as a loud pulse roared through the house. He looked ahead to see Chiyo, who had turned a completely dark shade of blue as she shuddered, and another pulse shook the house again.

In a panic, Jack got up and quickly moved to her, stopping in confusion as he laid her down. He was pretty sure that wasn’t an expression of pain…

Another pulse rang throughout the house, less powerful than before but still enough for a few of the books to fall off the shelves. The house shuddered twice more, before the tremors lessened in intensity, Chiyo looking up at Jack with a mortified expression.

“Chiyo! What the hell was that?” he heard Nika yell from her room.

Um…nothing! Chiyo replied unconvincingly.

“That didn’t sound like nothing! You ok down there?” Sephy called down.

It’s fine! Go back to sleep! Chiyo replied.

“Um…Chiyo…” Jack asked, and almost instinctively Chiyo reached for her commlink to start typing an excuse before Jack stopped her with a wide smile.

“I could understand what you were saying!”

******

“And so that is the initial beginning of the Concourse of Dragons, the initial alliance of Draconic species that united to combat The Twilight Court that would one day transcend into what we now know as the Red Legion!” Mr Sparrel grinned as he aggressively drew some diagrams and wrote some names on the board. “While in theory, all types of dragons had an equal say, this naturally changed over several centuries until the Red Dragons, who in general are considered to be the most powerful, asserted dominance under the total command of Halvastar, the Red Death. Now the Twilight Court still survives to this day, but…”

They were interrupted by the bell. Dammit! Jack was really into History Class, and by the sounds of it, most others were as well!

“Your homework is to research and write an essay on the influential factions that formed the initial Concourse of Dragons and their key figures!” Mr Sparrel chuckled as he heard even more groans at that. “What? I’ve got to give you kids homework sometime! Jack, see me after class!”

Jack and the rest of the group hung back as their fellow students left, with Mr Sparrel quickly ushering them forward.

“My contacts in the Greenwardens tell me you visited the Oracle and that you had an…interesting time.” Mr Sparrel sighed, pulling out a glass and pouring himself a drink from a hipflask. “If I had known even half of what my sources tell me is true, I never would have sent you on that path. Unfortunately, I have nothing else for you so far despite my best efforts. I’ll be perusing my library this weekend and I have put feelers out with my former Starseeker colleagues to see if any case like yours has ever happened before. Also, the Oracle is an old acquaintance of mine, so I shall visit them soon and find out why the Sentinels have been so unforthcoming with me and offer any assistance I can. I’ll let you know if I have any updates, but be careful. There are powerful forces at play that young men and women of your age should never have to deal with.”

“We understand, Mr Sparrel,” Alora politely replied. “We are grateful for whatever assistance you are willing to provide.”

“Just stay safe.” The history teacher smiled. “And good luck with the game!”

*****

“More missing students?” Alora questioned after the group left Homeroom. Mrs Schlart didn’t have many more announcements that evening, save the same one that had been repeated over the last few days.

“Yeah.” Nika sighed. “Saw a bunch of missing posters around, and even though some have been found with no memory, others have been missing for a while.”

“Not our problem though!” Sephy pointed out. “Even if it was, where would we even start?”

Sephy’s right! Chiyo concurred, thankful she no longer needed to text Jack. The faculty will handle it eventually, but we should act if we see anything.

“Would have thought the cameras would have picked something up,” Jack reasoned. “Whatever’s happening is probably in a blind spot.”

“Let’s not worry about that now,” Nika replied as the group made it to the sports team changing rooms. “See you two on the sidelines?”

We’ll be there, though we’ll try and get our homework done first! Chiyo nodded.

“Don’t let Luvia win!” Alora winked. “Good luck!”

Jack, Nika and Sephy entered the changing rooms to find Vaal waiting for them. “Alright! Jack, I've got your kit here!” The Eladra tossed him a bag. “Most of us are changing at the moment, I’m just waiting for Kizzarith and Crill then we’re briefing once we’re all ready.”

“Alright,” Nika acknowledged, as all three headed towards different cubicles, Sephy having to be playfully waved away from Jack’s cubicle by an exasperated Nika.

Opening the bag of freshly ordered team kit, Jack had to admit that the facilities here were much nicer than the ones they used for normal sports class. The tiles were unblemished and uncracked, the hooks on the walls for belongings were plentiful, and the bathroom facilities looked polished. Far cleaner than one could ever expect on your average school property, though judging by the sounds Plooderoo was making several stalls away, Jack felt sorry for the poor sod that had to keep it that way.

“Damn Ploo! Who are you trying to murder?!” he heard Kritch call out from the stall next to him, to raucous laughter from the rest of the team.

“Scrooooooow Yooooooou!” Plooderoo called from his stall. “My people evolved to defecate on a weekly or monthly basis with little warning while trawling deep ocean floors. I either do it here or mid game!”

“You should have done it at the goal posts! The smell will keep the enemy team away!” Kizzarith added with a chuckle as he entered the changing rooms.

“Don’t take too long! We still need to go over the field of play,” Vaal interrupted, and Jack immediately stopped dawdling and focused on his uniform, which reminded him a lot of the lycra clothing many people wore to the gym, with built-in protective pads on the elbows, knees and other vulnerable parts of the body. Slipping on the black and purple top with his surname and what appeared to him as the number ‘10’, Jack felt ridiculous, the stretchy skin-tight material sticking all over his body. Hurrying to put the socks and official footwear on, Jack was one of the first ones out and ready to go.

“You get used to the feel of it eventually.” Arlox, the aquatic Protector from his class, smiled as Jack joined him on the bench while they waited for the others. “It’s not the best, and it doesn’t really count as armour, but it’s good for regulating body heat and tracking you, plus it makes it harder for opponents or spectators to grab you, though that fur on your head may be a vulnerability.”

“Hah! I don’t think our newbie has to worry about that! Not after all the ass he’s been kicking so far, including ours!” Bentom chuckled as she exited the showers, doing a few stretches as she joined them. The armadillo-like xeno had less clothing than the two boys, but Jack reasoned that was likely due to her natural protective hide.

Karzen joined them soon after her sister did, quickly followed by the others, with Plooderoo being the last one, the Ploothe still tugging awkwardly on his patchwork uniform.

“Alright, now we’re all here.” Vaal called everyone to a team huddle and brought out the map. “Here’s the plan. The field of play is the entirety of Floor 38 of this building, which includes the cafeteria. Spectators are at the edge of the out of bounds areas so that shouldn’t be a problem. Play begins in the cafeteria with the first ball. The other two balls will be released by the referees ten minutes into the game or when the first goal is scored. Goals are located in these two corners.” Vaal then indicated spaces on the edge of the map, where the outer perimeter corridors met. “So there are many places they can come from, but also multiple places we can intercept an attack. This will be trickier when all 3 balls are in play, but as long as we all communicate and work together we can get through this. Crill and Arlox, stay close to Ploo and be on defence. Coordinate with Kritch and Sephy who we’ll need to slice into the system and find paths for us. Myself, Karzen and Bentom will be in the initial scrum in the Cafeteria with our Chasers.”

Vaal stopped to give Jack a grin. “As soon as the sirens blare, Jack, I want you to be the first person on that ball and give our opponents a taste of our secret weapon when they try to get you! Don’t try and make a run for it; instead, try and pass the ball to Nika or Kizzarith so both of them can work together and make a break for it, while the rest of us stall whoever they’ve got there. Once the scrum ends, chase after wherever the ball has ended up and get us that first goal! After that…we’ll improvise! Score goals if you can and it’s quick and easy for you to do so, but don’t be afraid to fall back and intercept one of the other balls!”

“Right.” Jack sighed, nervous with anticipation as they heard a klaxon sound, signifying that it was time for both teams to get ready!

“Alright, let’s go!” Vaal cheerfully hyped up the team, leading the way as they exited their changing area to the cheers of spectators from all around. They were silent as they made their way to the central cafeteria. Not only did they not want to leak their plan to the spectators, but because there was nothing else to say. The plan was basic, but that made it adaptable. And adaptability was vital in the face of their opponent.

Both teams grouped up at the centre, kept apart by the referee team, before being instructed to shake hands will all opponents. Jack did so, examining his opposition as they curiously examined him, before finally he got to the end.

“JACK?!” Luvia exclaimed as soon as she saw him. “You’re their new team member?!”

“Well yeah!” Jack grinned with a wink. “You invited me to watch your game so I figured I’d get a close-up view!”

“We both know that’s not true! You would have had to be registered!” Luvia eyed him up and down slyly, licking her lips. “I’ll have to punish you for that!”

“Combatants! To your starting positions!” the head referee called, and Plooderoo and the two Protectors lightly jogged to the goal area, as something similar happened for their opponents. Sephy and Kritch moved to their own positions outside of the room, as Karzen and Bentom moved to the side to cover two of the closer exits. Nika, Kizzarith, Vaal and Jack kept as close to the centre as they were allowed to by the referees, as several members of the other team did the same, Luvia being one of them.

The referee team scattered to cover the field of play as the head referee brought out the ball, and laid it perfectly in the middle of the room.

“COMBATANTS? ARE YOU READY?!” the referee yelled, louder than Jack thought possible from the small creature. He was answered by various shouts, nods and bashes from the players, though only the team captains were acknowledged.

“SPECTATORS? ARE YOU READY?!” the referee yelled again, to massive cheers from the crowd around them, as the referee brought out a loudspeaker-like drone that he threw into the air above the ball, before quickly getting out of the way of the incoming carnage. Jack began to shake with anticipation as the drone initiated the countdown.

“3…..2….1…..BEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP!”

The game had begun.