Chapter 146
Throw me a Lifesaver
Ivy was over at Tristan’s that night as Deimos was in bed, not feeling well. She was making dinner for Tristan and herself. Tristan sat on the backyard patio with that crystal in his hand. Ivy came out with plates of chicken chow mein for each of them. Tristan smiled at her and beamed at the food before him. He picked up the glass of merlot and raised it.
Tristan: “Santé!”
He chuckled.
Ivy: “Salve!”
She replied, tapping her glass on his. She began eating her meal in small bites. Tristan swished his wine, deep in thought.
Tristan: “Did Deimos tell you what happened?”
He asked and ate a dinner roll Ivy made.
Ivy: “...What do you mean?”
She arched an eyebrow.
Tristan: “Craig beat him up—again.”
He said tersely and thrust a forkful of noodles in his mouth. Ivy’s ire soared.
Ivy: “He WHAT?! That fucking caveman idiot!”
She huffed, taking a huge sip of wine.
Tristan: “Don’t fret, Blake and I fended him off and Deimos healed himself after Blake carried him up to bed.”
He said to reassure her. Ivy bowed her head and wondered why he did not tell her.
Tristan: “He took the liquid from this.”
He held up the crystal vial.
Ivy: “...What’s that?”
She eyed it curiously. Tristan shook his head and shrugged.
Tristan: “I don’t know yet. Blake said it was mystical water from his old cult and it apparently ‘the sun’s spirit powers will be with you and shed light on the path of brightness for you, burning away the darkness.’ ”
He relayed what Blake said and scrutinized the crystal.
Tristan: “He wants us to know what it is. Deimos took some and… something happened.”
He said as his face darkened.
Ivy: “...What happened?!”
She pressed him with a look of concern on her face. Tristan cupped his mouth deep in thought.
Tristan: “He seemed to relax but certain sounds bothered him such as the ice cream truck’s music playing. He stared at me, smiling and reddening but looked at Craig with fear in his eyes. He would always look back to me for comfort.”
He leaned back into his seat. Ivy looked pensive and deep in thought.
Ivy: “Huh…, that doesn’t sound like Deimos.”
She mused, studying the crystal vial.
Ivy: “Do you know if he hallucinated?”
Tristan twisted his mouth. He scratched his head.
Tristan: “He said he thinks he loves me and kissed me.”
He said slowly. Ivy froze when he told her that and a wave of complex emotions washed over her as her heart pounded in her chest.
Ivy: “...Wh-What? He kissed you?!”
Tristan nodded soberly.
Tristan: “So I believe he saw you in my place.”
Ivy: “...I see.”
She said softly, not knowing what to think or how to feel.
Tristan: “He didn’t tell you that either?”
He grimaced.
Ivy: “...No.”
She felt hurt that he didn’t tell her this. Why wouldn’t Deimos tell me?! She thought. Tristan knit his eyebrows.
Tristan: “Deimos just took something that made him do something he would never do. He likely needed time to think of how to address this with you.”
He said softly and put his hand on hers. Ivy froze and her heart hammered in her chest when she felt his hands on hers. When he realized what he had done, he blushed and pulled his hand away. Ivy huddled into herself briefly.
Ivy: “...I-I don’t know what to think!”
Tristan nodded and swallowed hard.
Tristan: “I apologize. Just take it one step at a time.”
He said softly.
Ivy: “Right, let’s take it slow!”
She exclaimed awkwardly. What am I talking about? What do I mean by that? She thought to herself.
Tristan: “Should I take this stuff? Deimos used his powers without thinking and I worry about my powers going out of control. Deimos’ heal and mine do not.”
He said soberly.
Ivy: “How about we both take it together?”
She offered. Tristan pursed his lip.
Tristan: “Should we?”
He asked with uncertainty. He then looked down at his lap as a tidal wave of emotions crashed down on him and he felt as if he was drowning with no lifesaver thrown out to him.
Tristan: “Do you wish to discuss something with me or vent? Your emotions are high and you don’t want to do something you regret. We don’t know what this is.”
He said with a hint of sadness in his tone. He wasn’t certain why he was feeling hurt and lonely.
Ivy didn’t know what to think or feel. She could read the minds of others and pick up on their emotional vibes, but she struggled when it came to her own emotions. Was he talking about the spirit water or something else? She wondered.
Ivy: “I don’t know… Maybe we shouldn’t take this stuff right now if our emotions are high…”
She suggested.
Ivy: “I think we should speak to Deimos first…”
Tristan: “He’s in bed right now and not feeling well.”
He looked away and heaved a deep sigh.
Tristan: “I am confused a lot myself.”
He declared.
Ivy: “Me too…”
She nodded. Tristan raked his fingers through his hair.
Tristan: “What is confusing you?”
He paused.
Tristan: “Do you recall that night in the funhouse when Percy’s minion trapped us?”
He asked slowly.
Ivy: “I wish I didn’t. I hate that stinky-foot asshole.”
She huffed.
Tristan: “I am not aware of my emotions… Percy and Deimos pointed out you were unusually upset when I went to that dinner for Moss.”
He stated, locking his gaze on her. Ivy gave him an empathetic look.
Ivy: “Oh… I understand that… What do you mean I was unusually upset?”
Tristan: “I didn’t go to be a good employee… That was a cover…”
He looked away.
Ivy: “Oh?”
Tristan: “Yes, Remember our dinner at Let’s Meat for a Sub? I knew Rosemary was giving your money to Moss. I wanted to bring it up in front of everyone, so she would do the right thing. People can be manipulated to do the right thing when something they did that’s morally wrong is brought up in front of everyone.”
He explained.
Ivy: “Oh… you had me in mind the whole time?”
She asked softly and blushed. Tristan nodded soberly and smiled.
Tristan: “Yeah… Robin was upset with me but I was more affected by you being upset with me.”
He sighed. Ivy frowned when he mentioned Robin.
Tristan: “I never got around to it because Craig came in and beat up Moss. Veronika or someone told him Moss was going to propose to me.”
He rolled his eyes.
Ivy: “Ugh, Craig. He ruins everything!”
She huffed.
Tristan: “Anyway, it never was done. I messed it up and Robin and I fought after I rescued you and I said I was going to give you that money. I’ll get your check.”
He rose from his seat.
Ivy: “Robin seems to hate me like Jaclyn does… It’s like dealing with two Jaclyns now.”
She said with a hint of irritation in her tone.
Ivy: “...Why are you with Jaclyn 2.0, Tristan?”
She huffed. Tristan stopped.
Tristan: “You were with me when we fought. She knew why I was going to that dinner and I was having a sub with you at Let’s Meat for a Sub after Percy tickled my feet.”
He folded his arms in front of his chest.
Tristan: “After she ruined your salmon and called it cat food, I am not with her. I wasn’t after the dinner. She said I was carrying a torch for you.”
He looked away.
Ivy paused.
Ivy: “Oh… you broke up with her over me?”
She swallowed hard. Tristan paced around and stared at the fireflies.
Tristan: “Well, no, it was a… mutual parting.”
He said slowly.
Ivy: “You and her weren’t right for each other anyway, Tristan.”
She admitted. Tristan stroked locks from his ponytail. He bowed his head.
Tristan: “I thought we had a connection but we don’t. It was nice to take a break from speaking English but I don’t speak it in this house anyway. I need a stronger connection than speaking my first language.”
He drew a breath.
Ivy: “Well, I guess anything and anyone seems better after raising that toddler for months.”
I sound like Deimos, she thought. Tristan nodded in agreement.
Tristan: “Unlike Jaclyn, her feet do not stink, she dresses well, smells nice, and is incredibly talented but again, I need a stronger…”
He paused snapping his fingers, trying to think of the English word.
Ivy: “...Stronger connection?”
She offered.
Tristan: “Fondement?”
He took his pocketwatch out and looked at the time as his anxiety grew.
Ivy: “Fondness? Foundation?”
She offered. He put his pocket watch back and snapped his fingers.
Tristan: “Yes, that’s the English word: foundation! I needed a stronger one than what we had.”
He nodded.
Ivy: “Well, Robin was a stranger. You need that friend stage first.”
She stated.
Ivy: “I think that’s why Deimos and I worked out. We already had that and knew each other for years. Larry was a stranger. I didn’t know how much he sucked until it was too late.”
She heaved a deep sigh.
Tristan: “This is what happened with Craig and me. I crushed on him… and then I got to know him. That’s why it ended.”
He turned to her.
Tristan: “What about you and me?”
Ivy froze.
Ivy: “...What about you and me?”
She asked slowly and softly. Tristan cleared his throat.
Tristan: “How do you feel about me?”
Ivy turned to Tristan locking her chocolate eyes on his green eyes.
Ivy: “I have feelings for you, too…”
She confessed in a soft voice, alluding to knowing he did, too. Tristan turned to her and locked his gaze on her as tears filled his eyes.
Tristan: “I always did for you.”
He smiled as tears dropped down his cheeks. He noticed she never said she fell out of love with Deimos and this was good, he was happy with this, he thought. Ivy read his thoughts and nodded.
Ivy: “I know you do… I pieced that together. I have feelings for Deimos, too… and that’s why I’m so conflicted about this…”
She embraced herself.
Tristan: “Let’s talk to Deimos. Come on.”
He put his hand out to her. She smiled and took his hand.
~
Ivy and Tristan walked together to Deimos’ house. She felt a mixture of feelings, mostly positive but some were anxious. She saw Deimos on his front lawn in a daze. He was still in his pajamas, with no glasses on, and kneeling on the lawn. Ivy and Tristan came up to Deimos.
Tristan: “Deimos! Hi, we have to talk!”
Blake was setting up the water sprinkler while Deimos just stared at Ivy and Tristan, their features were more beautiful than ever.
Deimos: “...You look like a snow Adonis…”
He said to Tristan breathing heavily.
Deimos: “And you look like a viridian goddess from the heavens…”
He said to Ivy, breathing and stroking her hair. Ivy blushed and smiled at him, sitting down with him.
Ivy: “Why thank you, Deimos.”
Tristan smiled.
Tristan: “Th-Thanks… We have to talk to you about something.”
Blake quirked an eyebrow. He never recalled this happening to Brad or anyone from Sunshire. Ivy read his thoughts and took mental note of that. It threw her theory out the window of what this substance was.
Ivy: “Deimos…, we need to talk.”
She said gently.
Before Deimos could react, the Rockin’ Limo pulled up and Craig got out of it.
Rock: “Hi, guys! Craig came here to confront Deimos to a DUEL!”
He announced.
Maxx: “NAH-AH! DAT SHIT IS GAY, ROCK! SCREW DAT BOGAN AND DAT PANSY!”
He whined. Craig shoved Maxx into a door and climbed out.
Craig: “YOU AND ME! RIGHT HERE, RIGHT NOW!”
He barked at Deimos. Deimos laughed at the three of them as they climbed out of the limo like a clown car.
Deimos: “HAHAHA, that’s a long clown car.”
Maxx: “SHUT UP, LAME-OS!”
He whined. Blake shifted his eyes to his toolshed, in case Craig attacked.
Deimos grabbed Ivy and Tristan carrying both over his shoulder.
Deimos: “These two are MINE!”
He slapped their butts. Tristan blushed when he slapped his butt. Ivy’s eyes widened. She’d never seen this side of Deimos before. Craig saw fury when Deimos touched Tristan’s ass.
Maxx: “NAH-AH! IZZY-BABE IS MAXXY’S BIG BOOB BABE!”
He whined. Craig punched Maxx out.
Craig: “OHHH, NOW YOU’RE GONNA GET IT!”
He roared, charging at Deimos. Deimos formed a blue barrier around the three. Craig ran into the barrier which sent Craig crashing into the Rockin’ Limo.
Craig: “ARGH! WHAT THE FUCK?!”
He snarled. Tristan’s eyes grew large. Deimos formed that barrier, he thought.
Deimos: “You lose, Craig.”
Craig: “What the fuck was that?! Fight me like a man ‘n stop cheatin’ with ya fancy schmancy magic tricks!”
He rasped.
Deimos: “Tristan doesn’t love you. He loves me… and Ivy.”
He smirked. Tristan froze at Deimos’ words. Ivy froze and swallowed hard. He knows?! She thought.
Craig: “WHAT?! That’s stupid! He can’t love both of ya!”
He scoffed.
Deimos: “Hahahaha, he doesn’t love you.”
He said wryly. Craig seethed when he said that and then the ground shook.
Tristan: “What was that?!”
He asked nervously.
Maxx: “Fatley is coming to town!”
He laughed like a hyena. Ivy turned to Deimos and Tristan.
Ivy: “If that clown asshole is here… then… who’s doing THAT?!”
She gasped as the ground shook beneath their feet.
Lazaros came rushing down the street.
Lazaros: “Brad!”
He cried.
Lazaros: “Brad is missing! They took him away!”
He cried. Blake froze turgid in fear.
Blake: “What do you mean he’s missing?! WHO?! Who took him away?!”
He shook his shoulders.
Lazaros: “Men in hazmat suits! They did after they took the Xupran away!”
He cried.
Blake: “The what?! I have to find him!”
He clenched his fists, arming himself with his knife.
Maxx: “HAHAHAHAHAHAHA, I KNEW DAT FAT WHALE IS DOIN’ THIS! THAR HE BLOWS!”
He cackled. Blake turned to Maxx and punched him out.
Maxx: “OOOOOWWWWHHHH!!”
He cried.
~
Brad was in the corner of the room with the mirror. He felt the ground shake and panicked.
Dr. Duerr watched on the other end and felt the ground tremble. He quirked an eyebrow and surveyed Brad through dark slits. Dr. Ellis Hoffman rushed in, panting and puffing.
Ellis: “Sir, the results are in!”
Dr. Duerr turned to him.
Dr. Duerr: “Is he a Xupran?”
Ellis shook his head.
Ellis: “No, but his DNA results, sir! They’re not Xupran OR Reonan!”
Dr. Duerr’s jaw dropped and his eyes bulged out of his head.
Dr. Duerr: “What…?”
He snatched the paper out of his hand and examined the results.
Ellis: “They’re not from any species from this star system and not from the dead planet Earth.”
He said tersely. Dr. Duerr scrutinized the results and looked at Brad again. What have you been keeping from me, Dodd? He wondered.
He used the keycard to enter and stood in front of Brad.
Dr. Duerr: “Out with it. Where do you come from?”
He asked forcefully. Brad sobbed.
Brad: “Sunshire! It’s on Koala State!”
Dr. Duerr: “Koala state is NOT on another planet! What planet do you come from?”
He asked again. Brad embraced himself.
Brad: “Reona!”
Dr. Duerr marched up to him and slammed him against the wall.
Dr. Duerr: “LIAR! I GOT YOUR RESULTS AND YOU ARE NOT FROM THS PLANET!”
He barked in his face and threw him on the floor. Brad sobbed and tried to crawl away. He didn’t know what to think or what to do but he had to get away. The ground shook again.
Dr. Duerr: “I will get my answers!”
He stormed out and met with Ellis.
Ellis: “This is not Maxx, sir.”
He said soberly. Dr. Duerr quirked an eyebrow.
Dr. Duerr: “Who is it?”
They marched away.
Brad clutched onto his crystal necklace and took some mystical water.
~
The ground shook ahead and they heard a scream say, “IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIVVVVVYYYYYYYY!!!!” Ivy felt panic form in the pit of her stomach. She knew that scream and that voice.
They raised their heads to the sky to see Charlotte flitting her wings and smiling menacingly at them.
Charlotte: “What did I tell you, Ivy?! What you did to your sister is a crime and I’m going to punish you! DELETE THAT WEBSITE!”
She screamed. Tristan put an ice shield over them as her screams shattered every window in the neighborhood.
Ivy: “Wh-What is going on?!”
Charlotte: “Ivy! What you did against Lily was a CRIME! Why did you and Deimos block me on Chirper?! I am warning you, missy! DELETE THAT SITE AND TELL ME WHY YOU BLOCKED ME!”
She screamed and Tristan formed another ice shield to protect them.
Ivy: “Charlotte! You’re creating reonaquakes out of tiny molehills! STOP!”
She fired back at her. Charlotte let out another scream followed by a huge clap of lightning. Craig yelped and cowered away.
Charlotte flew down and swiped Ivy up. Ivy gasped.
Ivy: “HEY?! What are you doing?! PUT ME DOWN!”
She fired at Charlotte, squirming in her grip.
Deimos: “Ivy?! IVY?!”
He panicked as he came to. Tristan screamed for her.
Tristan: “IVY! NO!”
He formed an ice pillar to reach her.
Charlotte: “Bye, Ivy!”
She dropped her. Ivy screamed as she plummeted through the air.
Tristan called for her, forming an ice pillar for her to land on. Ivy landed on the hard ice from such a long drop with a hard thud on her arm and a loud crack. A sharp pain shot through her arm and she was overwhelmed with pain and screamed, clutching her arm. Tristan formed ice stairs to her and jumped on her pillar as it lowered to the ground. Deimos’ instincts kicked in and rushed straight for Ivy, putting his hands on her arm and healing them as a blue glow emitted from his hands. She felt a tingling sensation as he healed her.
Charlotte swooped down to get Ivy again, but Celeste grabbed her and shoved her off.
Celeste: “FUCK OFF, CUNT!”
She grabbed Charlotte’s head and twisted it until her head faced her back, breaking her neck. Charlotte fell over.
Deimos tended to Ivy and Tristan.
Blake panted, not believing what he saw in front of his eyes. He saw something else in the corner of his eye. A beam of sunlight shone down onto the lawn and Brad manifested from the rays of light, appearing before him. Blake felt a wave of relief when he saw Brad but what was that light?
Lazaros saw Brad appear out of nowhere on the lawn. He ran to Brad.
Lazaros: “BRAD!”
He hugged him tightly. The next thing Brad knew, he smelt vetiver, pepper, and lemon with Lazaros’ arms around him.
Brad: “LAZAROS?!”
He cried, clinging onto him tightly.
Lazaros: “Where were you?!”
He cried.
Maxx: “Eating at da food stalls! DUH!”
He huffed. Brad turned to Maxx and sneered at him.
Brad: “Shut up, you carrot clown jerk!”
He snapped at him in Lazaros’ arms.
Maxx: “NAH-AH! SHUT UP, YA FAT ASSHOLE! GO EAT MUFFINS AND DONUTS!”
He stomped his foot and whined.
Blake punched Maxx out and went to Brad.
Blake: “Brad! I was worried about you!”
He hugged him. Brad hugged him back.
Blake: “But…, what light was that?”
He asked slowly.
Deimos: “What light?”
Deimos quirked an eyebrow.
Blake: “The light Brad came out of.”
He reiterated slowly.
Tristan: “He just came out of nowhere. There was no light.”
He said confused. Ivy looked perplexed.
Ivy: “We didn’t see a light.”
Maxx: “DA LIGHT OF HIS XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXL UNDERWEAR!”
He laughed. Blake shoved Maxx’s head into his limo door.
Brad: “Oh, that was the light of the sun spirit!”
He beamed.
Brad: “I took some mystical spirit water to light up a path for me to get out of that horrible place!”
Lazaros chuckled. He wasn’t sure what to make of that statement but he was glad he was back.
Lazaros: “Well, I am glad it worked.”
He caressed his face. Brad blushed and his heart fluttered when he caressed his face. He purred and rubbed up against him like a cat.
Deimos: “I took some and saw none of that.”
He folded his arms in front of his chest.
Brad: “Maybe you’re not in touch with the sun spirit in your heart?”
He scratched his head. Deimos looked away. He didn’t want to tell him he confessed to other things and saw other things. Ivy read his mind and her curiosity was piqued.
Maxx: “What dat shit?!”
He held up the crystal vial and drank it.
Maxx: “Ohohohoho, maybe it will give Maxxy Malone some lady babes!”
He beamed. Deimos froze.
Deimos: “You drank all of that?”
He asked sharply. Brad cupped his mouth.
Brad: “Oh no!”
He braced himself. One drop was powerful, but that many?
Maxx: “No duh, Lame-os! Well, where are da lady babes?!”
He looked around and ran to Ivy. Tristan put an ice barrier up and Maxx ran into it falling back and crying.
Deimos: “So you see nothing weird?”
He asked Maxx. Maxx blinked.
Maxx: “Nah-ah, Lame-os! I don’t see nothin’ weird! I SEE A BIG FAT WHALE!”
He screamed and pointed to Brad, laughing. Tristan rolled his eyes. Deimos froze and blinked. I saw shapes, Tristan and Ivy in a dreamy manner, Craig in a terrifying manner, and shapes form on the lawn and in the sky, he thought. Maxx sees nothing and he’s not acting differently, he mused.
Lazaros: “Is that all you can say? You and Craig are alike! Same jokes over and over. Nuklear Fail would be like Sex Bees if Deimos wasn’t running the show.”
He snapped.
Craig: “Oi, fuck off, cunt!”
He barked at him.
Maxx: “NAH-AH! MAXXY MALONE AIN’T GAY!”
He whined.
Craig: “I ain’t gay, ya dickhead!”
He fired back at Maxx.
Maxx: “Yeah, ya are, loser! I see you put pics of dat pansy in your room!”
He cackled.
Craig: “OI! Shut your Maxxhole!”
He snapped at Maxx. Ivy glared at Craig.
Ivy: “You’re a creep!”
Maxx ran over to Charlotte’s body and kicked it repeatedly.
Maxx: “Take dat and dat!”
Charlotte’s arm rose and grabbed Maxx’s neck.
Maxx: “WAGH!”
Craig: “Wh-what the?! Celeste killed her, though!”
He exclaimed. Everyone turned to face her in shock. Charlotte threw Maxx on one of Tristan’s icicles impaling him.
Maxx: “WAAAAAAGGGHHH!! ROOOOOOOOOCK!”
He whined. Rock smiled. Okay, if you think that will kill him, he thought. Charlotte turned her head around. There was another loud clap of thunder and Craig ran for cover.
Charlotte: “I am not going down so easily, IVY! You and your little friends stand no chance against me! A crime has been committed against Lily but more importantly: WHY DID YOU AND DEIMOS BLOCK ME ON CHIRPER?!”
She roared. Deimos stood, his mouth ajar.
Deimos: “Are you… Are you telling me you caused this damage over a website about Lily’s shitty stories and Ivy and I blocking you on Chirper? Don’t you think that’s… a bit much? We don’t owe you an explanation!”
Ivy: “...Seriously? That’s what this is about? Why does it matter? I don’t owe anyone access to me.”
Charlotte snarled at them and flitted her wings.
Charlotte: “YOU DO! I WANT TO KNOW WHY YOU BLOCKED ME!”
She charged after Deimos. Celeste broke one of the icicles from Tristan’s pillar and threw it right through Charlotte’s head.
Charlotte: “WAAAAAAAGGHHH!!”
She flew into a stop sign, the icicle also impaled the sign and she crashed facedown on the road.
Black vans pulled up and men in hazmat suits climbed out. Blake took Brad and hid behind the bushes as the men took pictures of Maxx and Charlotte and the damage. They carried Maxx and Charlotte away and threw them into the van, locking them in. When the vans left, Blake slowly rose. Brad looked up at him.
Celeste: “No one is going to question WHY that bitch didn’t die after I broke her neck? Okay then.”
She threw her arms up. Blake bowed his head thinking of Deimos explaining to him that Maxx became this large alien cockroach. Brad breathed a sigh of relief.
Brad: “I hate to say this but I am glad Maxx is dead.”
He drew a breath. Rock smiled. Yeah, Jackie-babe thought she killed him many times and didn’t, he thought. Deimos rolled his eyes. He’s not dead, you fat idiot, he thought. He didn’t think Charlotte was either.
Deimos turned to Lazaros.
Deimos: “Didn’t you say men in hazmat suits took Brad away? Were those the same men?”
Lazaros: “Yes, they were, but Blake took Brad and hid them away.”
He smiled at Brad. Brad smiled back at him and went to him. Blake’s eyelids dipped.
Deimos: “Why did they take Brad away?”
Lazaros heaved a sigh.
Lazaros: “I guess they thought he turned into something like Maxx.”
Brad: “Wh-What was that thing? Blake and I totally saw it in Maxx’s room before took me on that buddy trip!”
Tristan, Ivy, Deimos, and Celeste gawked at Brad.
Deimos: “Are you fucking serious? You never heard of a Xupran?”
He queried sharply. Brad drew back.
Tristan: “I don’t believe Blake knew what it was either, Deimos.”
Deimos nodded. He recalled having that conversation with him.
Blake: “That’s right.”
He confirmed.
Deimos: “I thought most people knew what they were. They may not have extensive knowledge of them as I have but I thought most people knew, even the most backwoods people know what a Xupran is! They are a part of the Reonan Space Garbage Disposal. Our garbage spaceships transport all of our trash to Xupra.”
Ivy pondered about this.
Ivy: “Hmm…, it’s curious that neither of you know what a Xupran is.”
Brad: “Well…, explain them to us and why is Maxx one of them now?”
Ivy: “Deimos, you’re the expert on Xuprans, the floor is all yours.”
She nodded to him.
Deimos: “I already explained it to Blake. I am more interested in why neither of you know about Xuprans.”
He folded his arms over his chest.
Brad: “I don’t know? That weird old man said I wasn’t from Reona!”
Blake turned to Brad with a shocked expression. Deimos froze and his jaw dropped when Brad said that.
Deimos: “Okay, you and Blake seem like you’re from another world in many cases, but what did he mean you’re not from Reona? Was he commenting on your social fucktardedness or did he literally mean it?”
He asked sharply. Brad looked hurt by his comment and clung to Lazaros. Lazaros knit his eyebrows.
Blake: “Well, that is because we were raised in a cult cut off from the rest of the world, and that does something to you. Brad takes things too literally. It’s likely he was saying this in jest because of Brad’s ‘off with the fairies’ behavior.”
He stated.
Brad: “I dunno… It didn’t seem like he was joking. He wasn’t laughing.”
Deimos narrowed his eyes at Brad.
Deimos: “Tristan thinks Brad is retarded but the thing is he doesn’t look retarded, unlike Hector. It’s a different awkwardness from Hector Hunter.”
He said acidly. Brad looked hurt.
Brad: “You think I’m retarded?!”
He shook his head as tears filled his eyes. Tristan knit his eyebrows.
Tristan: “No, no, I didn’t word it so bluntly!”
He waved his hands around.
Brad: “Wait, what do you mean I’m awkward?!”
Deimos: “Hector knows what a Xupran is and lots of things about this culture that you don’t know. Tristan feels sorry for you, so don’t take his kindness as anything else.”
He spat.
Tristan: “Deimos, please. Someone kidnapped him and we don’t know what happened. I don’t know if that old man was commenting on his lacking social skills or if he meant it. But he has not become a Xupran as Maxx and now Charlotte have.”
He said firmly, but gently. Brad’s head spun with confusion.
Brad: “I lack social skills?!”
He cupped his mouth, looking confused.
Brad: “Okay, what’s all this stuff about Xuprans and why are Maxx and that crazy lady alien cockroaches now, but I’m not? That thing bit me, too!”
He asked as he pressed his hands against his temples.
Lazaros: “Xuprans are from the planet, Xupra, the planet furthest from the sun in The Peleus Star System. They are large alien cockroaches that can eat garbage and anything and everything. When you see our garbage out on the curb every week, the Reonan Space Garbage Disposal trucks come to collect it to load on spaceships to Xupra to dump on the planet.”
He explained gently.
Deimos: “We learned this in grade two science.”
He sneered at Brad. Brad took in what Lazaros had to say.
Brad: “Well, me and Blake never learned this! Now it makes sense why Maxx was always an alien cockroach eating garbage! He literally is, haha!”
Deimos: “Uh, no? It happened when you and Blake found the Xupran in his bedroom.”
He rolled his eyes.
Tristan: “But how did Maxx and Charlotte become like them?”
Deimos shook his head.
Deimos: “I don’t know this. I know Maxx is because Blake told me after Maxx made an ass of himself at Miss Behaven with his shitty make-believe band, he got Brad out of there and the Flores mafia took Maxx away. He was gone for two weeks. He came back fully intact with a ‘buddy trip’ for Brad. No one can survive an assault from the Flores Mafia and nothing can kill Xuprans. They are extremely durable and extremely stupid.”
He explained. He wasn’t going to tell them the only way to kill them because Brad will somehow fuck it up, he thought. He also wasn’t sure if it was just peanuts or if any nut would do as he didn’t get enough time to read the thesis, he thought.
Brad: “Uhh, if they can’t be killed, then how did the one that attacked me and Lazaros die?”
He tilted his head.
Lazaros: “Yes, it died, after it ate the bag Brad brought for me.”
He nodded.
Tristan: “I see, what was in the bag?”
Brad: “Oh… I baked Lazaros some peanut butter cookies, galaxy swirl macarons, snickerdoodles and fig rolls, oh and sugar cookies! OH! And chocolate cookies with mint chips!”
He explained and blushed as he listed them all off. Lazaros smiled at Brad’s thoughtful gesture.
Brad: “Wait…, does that mean cookies kill them?!”
Deimos glared at Brad.
Deimos: “Sure, Brad.”
He cupped his chin. Amongst the cookies was peanut butter cookies, he thought. Maxx ate peanut butter brittle but was hospitalized and didn’t die, he thought. Then he thought of how Blake and Brad mentioned Maxx was growing more and more animalistic, so maybe the Xupran DNA wasn’t fully formed yet when he ate the peanut brittle. But he wanted to know what the old man meant by Brad not being from this planet. Brad is an idiot like Maxx so he can’t tell me, but someone else can, he thought and locked his gaze onto Blake.
Craig came out of hiding.
Craig: “Is the thunder and lightning over?!”
Deimos: “Yeah, Craig, the scary lady is gone. What a great protector of Tristan you are!”
He snapped.
Ivy: “Tristan needs protecting from YOU.”
She huffed at Craig.
Deimos: “Since you tried to attack me again, what is going on with the band? Are we still having it or not?”
He asked sharply.
Craig: “If ya back off from Tristan!”
He fired back at him.
Deimos: “Negative. I am not doing that. Next!”
He said dryly.
Craig: “But you’re with HER! Don’t be a greedy slut!”
He huffed, pointing to Ivy.
Deimos: “So what? How I have a relationship shouldn’t affect you or the band.”
He snapped.
Tristan: “Craig, I am not going to be with you, so forget about it.”
He added in an angry tone.
Tristan: “Whether I am with one person, two people, or no one, I am not going to enter a relationship with you.”
Craig’s lip trembled.
Craig: “THIS IS BULLSHIT!”
He roared.
Rock: “I know, and now you’re upset Lazaros is with B-Rad!”
He grinned. Tristan quirked an eyebrow.
Lazaros: “...Why?”
Craig: “NO, I’M NOT! It’s just not fair that slutty asshole and that fatass get what they want, but I don’t!”
He rasped. Lazaros rolled his eyes and shook his head. Deimos turned away.
Deimos: “Yeah, Craig, life is never fair… May as well deal with it.”
He muttered. Craig pouted and had nothing more to say.
Rock: “Craig, let’s go in the Rockin’ Limo! Have a quiet evening while Maxxy is at the doctor’s!”
He got in the limo. Doctor’s? Deimos wondered. What does he know? He mused. Craig stomped off into the limo with Rock. They drove away and they all watched him go.
Tristan: “Interesting he called those hazmat suit people ‘doctors’.”
Deimos nodded.
Deimos: “Yeah…”
Percy stood by a tree and watched everything unfold. He locked his gaze on Brad and Blake. Showtime, he thought. Ivy read Percy’s thoughts and gasped. Deimos and Tristan turned to Ivy when she changed her expression.
Deimos: “What is it, Ivy?”
They gasped when Percy jumped in front of them.
Celeste: “Oh, just when we got rid of ONE clown, another fuckin’ jester shows up to finish off the clown act!”
She snarled and stomped her foot. Percy smirked.
Percy: “Hello to you, too, my warrior princess!”
He bowed. He beamed at Tristan and clasped his hands.
Percy: “Oh, my handsome ice prince!”
He blew a kiss at Tristan. Tristan’s face twisted with disgust.
Ivy: “What do YOU want?!”
She glared at Percy.
Percy: “Aside from a romantic dinner for two with Tristan, I am trés interested in what that ‘weird old man’ told this person who is literally larger than life!”
He spread his arms out to Brad. Lazaros glared at him.
Lazaros: “Great, another joker like Maxx…”
He muttered. Brad got a bad vibe from this strange man, not unlike that weird old man.
Brad: “Who are you? Are you Maxx’s fanboy or something?”
He asked Percy. Percy threw his head back and gave a harsh bark of a laughter.
Percy: “I am… interested in Maxx in the same vein I am in you, lil’ tubby…”
He smirked.
Percy: “So tell me… When that old man said you’re not from Reona, he wasn’t kidding because I know that old man well and he has no sense of humor.”
He smiled and stuck his forked tongue out. Brad clung to Lazaros.
Deimos glared at Percy.
Deimos: “Because he’s your grandfather, right?”
Percy shot a hateful glare at Deimos.
Percy: “Stay out of this, Deimos. This does not concern you. I want my information from this orca and then I will take my snow prince for a dinner for two at my house. Is that too much to ask?”
He growled. Ivy glared at Percy.
Deimos: “Not happening.”
He said forcefully. Percy feigned sadness and shed some tears.
Percy: “Je suis triste…”
Tristan rolled his eyes.
Celeste: “How about I beat your fuckin’ ass? You have a fetish for getting your ass kicked or somethin’?!”
She barked and pointed to him.
Deimos: “Don’t give that fucker ideas…”
He whispered. Percy chuckled.
Percy: “Oh, I would like to spank Tristan!”
He held his left hand horizontally under his mouth as he laughed. Tristan felt a wave of disgust crash over him.
Ivy: “You’re such a creep!”
She sneered at Percy. Percy’s shoulders shook as he laughed. He shrugged and shook his head.
Percy: “Why, you want a round, too, beautiful?”
He purred.
Ivy: “Hell no! Stay away from me!”
Deimos: “Go to Hell, Percy!”
He rasped and stood in front of Ivy and Tristan.
Percy: “I’d love to tango with Ivy and Tristan but I am intrigued by what that ‘weird old man’ said about that tub of lard. What are you hiding, fatty?”
He smirked at Brad. Blake growled at Percy. He didn’t like this man and these were the people his father warned him and Brad about. Ivy read Blake’s thoughts and looked at Deimos and Tristan.
Brad: “I don’t know anything?! Go ask your grandfather!”
He cried. Percy got closer.
Percy: “I am not asking him… I am asking you.”
He chuckled and reached in his longcoat.
Blake: “He doesn’t know anything!”
He interjected. Percy turned to Blake.
Percy: “Nice hair. Nice to see someone else with taste. Okay, what about you? Do you?”
He smirked. Lazaros stood in front of Brad.
Lazaros: “He said he doesn’t know! Brad is as honest as the day is long!”
He snapped.
Percy: “He’s also wide as the two moons. Out of the way, Lazaros. My business is not with you.”
He flicked at him as if he were warding off flies.
Blake: “Leave him alone. We don’t know anything!”
He huffed at Percy. Percy smirked at Blake.
Celeste: “How about I beat your ass to the moons and you can test it?!”
She yelled. Percy sighed and shook his head.
Percy: “Whatever. Near as I can tell, that little fat boy is Lazaros’ pet. Yes, you are inferior, just as Maxx is. Maxx is… my grandfather’s pet and Lazaros has one, too. Charming.”
He chuckled.
Brad: “Wh-What are you talking about? Pet? Like in the kinky way or ‘cause I’m like a cat?!”
Percy laughed.
Percy: “Did you not listen to me, fatty? I meant that you’re inferior to us.”
He stuck his tongue out.
Lazaros: “That is NOT true!”
He snapped.
Brad: “I’m NOT like Maxx!”
He fired as tears filled his eyes. Percy shrugged and smiled.
Percy: “I think you’re going to find you and Maxx have a lot in common, fat boy.”
He got his knife out and licked his blade. Brad drew back and covered his face in Lazaros’ chest. Blake braced his legs apart, ready to fight. Percy smiled, loving this.
Percy: “This was fun but I will have to retire for the night.”
He put his knife back and turned to Tristan.
Percy: “Be seeing you, mon cheri. Adieu!”
He blew a kiss and jumped into the air. Lazaros hugged Brad close to him. Brad clung to him, feeling safe and warm in his arms.