Board Thread:Writer's Workshop/@comment-4849011-20160604033711

Some time ago I started work on the final installment to my Houseguest series ("The Man Called Pathos", "The Houseguest", "What Was Sacrificed", and "The Binding Mask"). I don't have a title yet, but I know it will have four chapters. Here's part one, which I just finished a day or two ago. This is all I have so far. I don't know when I'll have the other parts completed (I haven't started on them yet), but when I do I'll post them here.

Chapter One: Band of Brothers
Looking out at the scenery, Daniel had to admit that Gerard Ripley had made the best decision. The iguana man had told Daniel that he knew someone in Kentucky who could help them with his case. After Ripley explained the situation, Daniel mulled it over and finally agreed to the trip.

“How are we going?” Daniel had asked. “Are we flying, or going some other way?”

“We’re driving.”

“What?”

“We’re driving there.”

Daniel stared in disbelief. “You want us to travel from California to Kentucky by car?”

“That’s right. Long-distance car trips are certainly not unheard of. I think it’ll be beneficial for you.”

He was right. Although the trip had been long, and at times draining, it had given Daniel a chance to unwind. He hadn’t been allowed to take a turn at the wheel, but that just meant he had time to rest and reminisce. He spent a lot of time just gazing out the window at the scenery. Both the natural beauty of the diverse landscapes and the man-made splendor of the diverse cityscapes touched something in him. At times he felt at peace. Other times he thought of trips his family had taken when he was growing up, remembering good times, bad times, and times that were both at once.

They had recently passed grassy fields and slate hills, and now they were driving through a small town. Up ahead, next to a local government building, was a monument with a howitzer, a few plaques, and a number of small American flags.

“Pull over up ahead,” instructed Daniel.

Estes, who was taking his turn at the wheel, understood and obliged. Daniel thanked him and exited the parked vehicle. Kim followed him so he could pay his respects as well. Kim was humble about his service, noting that military service was compulsory in South Korea, and he merely did his duty to protect and help others. However, something about his tone & demeanor, as well as the reverence Ripley, Estes, and the others had toward him, suggested that Kim was selling himself short- that his actions were more heroic than his modesty permitted him to reveal. It made Daniel think of his late brother, but then again, so did a lot of things.

The two solemnly gazed at the monument to the community’s war dead. Though he wasn’t from there, Daniel smirked in pride as he read a line stating that during World War I, that city didn’t have a single man drafted; they had all volunteered.

Daniel thought back to a counseling session he had had with Simon and Ripley. “You’ve improved since you’ve been here,” Simon told him.

He was referring to not just his physical health, but his mental health. In fact, his psychological state was what had shown the most improvement. When he first arrived, Daniel frequently had flashbacks and nightmares that led to violent outbursts and fits of crying or screaming. On the other end of the spectrum, he sometimes had spells in which he stared into space like he’d been given zombie powder. Though he still suffered the fits, spells, and whatnot on occasion, they had decreased in frequency and intensity. His temperament had also improved, leading to fewer and less dramatic mood swings. He had suffered from trust issues due to the torture he had suffered at the hands of his captors, but his rescuers and new comrades had worked patiently to reassure him and help him heal.

Daniel was happy for the progress he had made, but he stumbled over his words. “Well, I… you all… you all have helped me a lot. You’ve been good to me, all of you.”

“Thank you. I’m glad to hear it. However, I point it out not so we can have praise, but so you can have encouragement. Think of your progress and be of good courage, and don’t bottle up your feelings. You’ve been through the mill- not just the experiment that gave you increased strength & abilities, but also the psychological torture those monsters subjected you to.”

Daniel lowered his head. Simon continued, “Due to the trauma you’ve suffered you have flashbacks, nightmares, fits, mood swings, etc. You have triggers- and I mean you really do have triggers, unlike these whiny college kids who are offended by everything.” Daniel chuckled despite himself. Simon finished, “You know what you have, right?”

Daniel chuckled again, but this time it was a brief and sardonic chuckle. He replied sadly, “Yeah, I know, and the irony’s not lost on me. I never saw combat, and yet I have combat shock.”

“It’s nothing to be ashamed about. You’ve talked about being tough, and you’re right. Having this condition doesn’t make you less tough, less of a soldier, or less of a man- it just means you have a condition. A number of people, both military and civilian, have post-traumatic stress disorder- war veterans, police officers, firefighters, nurses, survivors of violent crimes and natural disasters, and even victims of cruel and constant bullying. There’s a stigma associated with it, but it shouldn’t be that way. A person who lost a limb or who had a heart condition shouldn’t be shunned or viewed as weak, and neither should someone with a mental illness.”

Daniel nodded. He spent a few minutes in silent thought. Ripley told him, “I hope that prior to this you weren’t the type who would despise someone with that condition.”

Daniel looked up at Ripley. His eyes rapidly grew hard and then burned with fury. He arose from his seat in a flash. “What kind of question is that!?”

Estes and Kim, moving calmly yet swiftly and resolutely, took defensive positions in front of Ripley. Ripley himself casually moved an arm to a better position for removing a weapon from his coat or belt, should the need arise. Simon leaned forward slightly in his chair in case he needed to take action.

“How dare you ask me that! That something only a monster would do!! I’ve been arrogant in my life, and I’ve done bad things in my life, but I’m not that kind of a-hole! I’m tough, but I’m tough for real, not one of those mofos that tears down others to try to look tough!! I don’t knock down others to try to prop myself up! Only a lowlife does that!! I always helped and supported my comrades! Anyone who was at Basic Training with me can tell you that, and anyone who doesn’t is lying! If you don’t believe me, then put the Binding Mask back on me, or inject me with something, and ask me again! If I were still in the service, I’d help any of my brothers-in-arms! I don’t look down on people unless they’re apathetic or hateful or something! How can you- How can you even ask me that question!? How dare you!!!”

He stood there steaming in anger, his breath starting to become ragged as a result of his outburst. Ripley observed him, then smiled. “I’m glad to see your heart. If you had turned out to be hateful, then I would have had no use for you.”

Daniel was surprised. “You… You would have abandoned me?”

“No. I still would have helped you recover so you wouldn’t become a killing machine, and I still would have been glad I rescued you. However, I probably would have turned you over to the proper authorities so you would be locked up where you couldn’t hurt anybody. You could have all the power, abilities, and training in the world, but if you were cold-hearted and didn’t have character, I’d have no use for you. I came across as insulting your character, but I was trying to prove it, and now that it’s been proven, you’ve justified the trust I’ve placed in you.”

Daniel was moved by this. He felt both amused and honored by the fact that just like he had placed trust in Ripley, Ripley had placed trust in him as well. “Yeah, well… that’s good to hear.”

The tension in the room began to dispel. Daniel sat down again. Simon told him, “Waste cities can be rebuilt, dry bones in the valley can have new life, and you can rise up and help others despite these setbacks in your life.” Daniel thoughtfully nodded in agreement. Simon added, “Your character reflects well on your late parents.”

The compliment caused both pride and sorrow to well up inside him. “Thanks. Ma and Pa were the best. They worked hard to raise us right- me, my sister, and my late brother.” He swallowed hard.

“Take as much time as you need.”

“Let me tell you, my brother was one of the greatest soldiers who ever lived.” His voice took a reverent tone. “If I could be one-tenth the man he was, I’d be the proudest man in America. He was a hero- a real hero. He had medals, accolades… and he would have earned twice, maybe three times as many if he hadn’t-” His voice broke. “-if he hadn’t come home in a box.”

He felt tears sting his eyes. Feeling they might start streaming down, he pointed to his eyes and announced, “See this? This is pride right here! My brother was a hero!”

Simon nodded in agreement. “I would have liked to have met him.”

“Yeah. He would have liked to have met you too.”

“Thank you.”

Daniel felt like a burning fog had formed in his brain and was infiltrating the rest of his system. His face felt flushed, his chest felt tight, his nerves felt on fire, and there was an uncomfortable feeling in the pit of his stomach. His entire system felt displaced and strained. He stood up. “Excuse me.”

“Of course.”

He calmly went to the clinic bathroom and locked the door. Then he immediately grabbed a towel, fell to his knees, and crammed as much of the towel into his mouth and face as he could. He let out a muffled scream that shook every fiber of his being. Then he sobbed openly, both for everything and for nothing in particular. When he regained his composure, however long that was, he arose, washed and dried his face, and rejoined the counseling session.

“Are you all right?” asked Simon.

“Yeah, I’m okay, thanks,” replied Daniel.

In the present Daniel and Kim stared in silent thought for several moments. After a while Kim patted Daniel on the shoulder as a gesture of camaraderie and they turned to head back to the vehicle.

It was no surprise that Ripley and Estes had also gotten out to pay their respects. Ripley didn’t have any relatives in the service, but the iguana man had respect for those who had sacrificed so much. The fact that lizard people were barred from serving in the United States military was a divided issue. Some lizard people felt that they should be allowed to fight for the country they loved and that had given them such opportunities; others said they were relieved that they wouldn’t have to risk their lives for a country that looked down on them. As for Estes, he had his own story.

One day, as Daniel, Kim, and Estes were talking, Daniel had asked Estes, “Did you have anyone in the army?”

Estes looked uncomfortable. “My father and some of my other relatives.” Daniel started to say something, but Estes held up a hand to stop him. “It wasn’t the U.S. army, nor was it a choice.” His expression hardened and his hand took a hard grip on the cup he was holding. “I was born here; Papa wasn’t. You can bet, though, that if he had served in the U.S. Army, he would have been an asset.”

Daniel nodded. Estes gazed at his cup in sadness. “I thank God he got out of there, and that I was born here. With my powers, who knows what they would have done to me over there.”

Daniel started to reflect, but his thoughts were interrupted by Estes holding the cup toward him. “It might not be perfect, but here’s to America.”

Daniel smiled and tapped Estes’s cup with his own. “To America.”

As the four headed back to the vehicle, Daniel thought about everything Ripley and his allies had done for him. Not only had they rescued him from those monsters that had treated him so cruelly, but they had also helped him heal and grow stronger. They had also provided him with equipment so he could eventually become a vigilante and use his abilities to the full to help others. From the very beginning Ripley had made it known that while it would be nice if Daniel were to join Basilisk, it was only an option. Whether he joined was entirely his choice, and there would be no hard feelings if he decided not to. He had read the Basilisk by-laws and code of conduct, and he knew that there was nothing that would violate his moral code. Reflecting on everything, he made a decision.

“Ripley,” he called.

Ripley stopped and turned to look, as did Estes and Kim. Daniel silently raised his right hand. Ripley immediately understood. “You’re making this choice of your own free will?”

“Yeah.”

The iguana man grinned warmly. “Excellent. This decision was yours to make, and I’m happy that you made the choice you did.” He came up to Daniel and raised his right arm. “You swear to uphold and abide by the Basilisk code?”

“I do.”

Ripley took out a needle from his coat, took Daniel’s hand, and pricked his ring finger three times. Daniel looked at the marks- three pricks in two rows. The top row had a prick on both the left side and the right side; the bottom row had just one prick on the left.

“Those dots represent the letter F in the Braille alphabet,” explained Ripley. “It represents ‘Fidelis’, the Latin word for ‘Faithful’. Had you thought about a codename?”

“No, I hadn’t thought of that. I just now decided, and there’s been so much other stuff on my mind.”

“That’s certainly understandable. Let’s see… You have a great love of country, and have shown great loyalty, so how about Devotee?”

“Yeah… Yeah, I like that.”

Ripley nodded and then shook his hand. “Welcome to Basilisk, Devotee.”

Estes and Kim shook his hand and gave their congratulations as well. Daniel smiled as he drank in the feelings of belonging and acceptance. 