Guardians of the Dark

Kasen held out his fist. He winced as the paramedic sprayed something on it – a cool, minty-smelling mist from a can. It singed for the first few seconds, but started to soothe after the third. He withdrew his fist and looked his knuckles over. They were a bluish-green colour, not too dark, but dark enough to infect him with guilt.

“Can you move your fingers for me?” asked the paramedic.

Kasen did as he was told.

The paramedic nodded, satisfied, then began to pack up his things. “Alright, nothing seems to be broken, but I’d recommend you keep it on ice this evening.” He smiled. “That’s quite the swing you’ve got on you.”

“Oh, so he’s getting praised for it now?” sneered Malcolm behind them. He sat on a chair, holding an icepack to his cheek. A much darker blue stained his left under-eye, and his jaw had gone puffy by his ear.

“Oh, no,” Emperor Hamman interrupted, “no one is getting praised for anything. Personal fights outside the Dark room is strictly forbidden. I’ll allow it this one time, since it’s your first contact with the Dark.”

Malcolm snorted and adjusted his ice-pack. The paramedic waved at him as he left the control room, but he merely pulled up his nose, rotated in his chair, and faced the beam. The swelling looked even worse from the side.

“I – I’m sorry, Your Imperial,” Kasen muttered. He exercised his fingers. His stiff, cracking-with-every-move fingers.

The Emperor adjusted his spectacles. “It’s quite alright, Kasen. Your father has a similar temper to him, I must admit.” Something of a chuckle escaped his lips. “But you’ll have to learn to control it, I’m afraid.”

Malcolm made a face to laugh, but Eliza stepped on his foot and he wheezed. “Sheesh, I wasn’t even doing anything yet!”

The Emperor tutted. “That includes all of you. You’re Guardians now, and you’re going to come in contact with the Dark every single day. The only way the Metropolis of Light will ever prevail, is if we stand together.”

“Together?” asked Malcolm and Kasen at the same time.

“Together.” The Emperor nodded. He parted his lips to say something else, but two Guardians barged into the room and he pressed them together again.

“Your Imperial,” said one of the two Guardians, a woman, “I’m afraid you’re needed in your office, pronto.”

“Oh, well, I’m actually in the middle of orientation right now. Can’t it –”

“No, Your Imperial,” the second Guardian, a man, chimed in. “I apologise for our intrusion, but this is an emergency.”

The Emperor looked to Felicity – who nodded at him – and he dropped his shoulders. “Oh, alright then. I’ll leave it to Felicity to guide you through the rest of orientation. I do say it’s been lovely to meet you all, and I hope you’ll soon come to realise that being a Guardian is the biggest honour a person can receive.”

And with that, Emperor Gorgo Hamman was ushered from the control room.

“An emergency?” gasped Eliza once he was gone. “Boy, you don’t think there was another raid or something?”

“Nah,” said Malcolm, “the Corrupted aren’t smart enough to launch two consecutive raids. I don’t even think they have the man-power for it. I saw the surveillance footage of yesterday, and we practically obliterated them.”

“Where did you get the surveillance footage?” asked Buff.

Malcolm seemed happy he asked. “My dad owns the surveillance company used by the AOL. I get to see everything uncensored before anyone else does. I know it’s not as impressive as being the son of a General, but –”

“That’s enough, Mr. Chesterton,” snapped Felicity.

Kasen relaxed his jaw.

“The safety of this city is not a joke.” Felicity clutched the tablet against her chest. “Now, please come with me.”

They followed her out of the control room, across the corridor, and into the room opposite. It looked empty for the most part, save for a pile of foam mallets, staffs, and different sized armour sets made of rubber. A window lined the wall, this one much larger than in the control room, but also with a view of the Dark room. A panel the looks of a thermometer flanked the door beside the window, the numbers 1 through 10 encircling it.

“Wow,” breathed Eliza, creeping closer to touch the knob. Her fingers barely grazed it, when the door to the Dark room opened and two guys strutted out. They were sweaty, heaving, and not at all delighted to see them.

“Paws off the knob, princess,” sneered the one.

“Felicity, don’t tell me these shrimps are the new recruits?” said the other.

“Kasen, Malcolm, Eliza, Buff, these two bad-mannered men are Felix and Matt. They’re both recently appointed Senior Officers, as well as our recruitment committee.” Felicity peered over her glasses at them, her emerald eyes lit with fire. “I have to apologise, since they’re usually much nicer than this.”

“Sorry, pets,” said the one guy, Felix, “after spending an hour in the Dark room, we might need some cooldown time.”

Matt agreed. “Let’s go to the recreation room.”

“Recreation room?” asked Eliza as though the word made no sense. She nonetheless sauntered along to another room around the corner.

Kasen took a moment to process the transition. The recreation room consisted of every colour known to man – everything the Dark room was not. It had the biggest projection pad he’d ever seen on the wall, and a large, bed-like sofa in front of it. Something of a bar stood in the farthest corner, complete with a vending machine with snacks, and a game’s table by the floor-to-ceiling window that looked into the Dark room. One could see right into the control room on the opposite side, and, if one squinted, the beam as well.

“The recreation room seems … fun.” Eliza’s voice pitched as she said that. “Where’s – uh – the reading corner?”

Felix blew from his lips. “Reading corner? Ha!”

“What’s so funny about that?” asked Kasen in Eliza’s defence. He traced his hand along the edge of the bar.

Smooth marble.

“No one reads anymore, darling,” Felix went on, “it’s all digital these days. Heck, it’s not even digital any more. Virtual reality’s where it’s at.” His demeanour little by little lightened, almost to the point where his constant smiling began to annoy Kasen. He strutted over to the bar and selected a fizzy drink for himself.

“Anyway, we’d like to apologise for our rude introduction,” said Matt. He took the fizzy drink from Felix and helped himself to a sip. Felix’s bottom lip curled over, so he returned it. “You don’t actually look like shrimp.”

Felix and Matt chuckled to themselves while everybody just stared.

The silence grew to such an extent, they almost started when Felicity clicked her heels together and said, “It pains me to also take off, but I’m afraid Emperor Hamman requests my immediate presence in his office. Recruits, I’m leaving you in these two’s capable hands. If any of you were to need something at any time, feel free to call me up. I’ve already uploaded my contact details onto your transmission bands.”

Kasen scrolled through his contacts. She did. How she managed to hack through his security, he’d rather not know.

Felicity unlocked her tablet and marched off without so much as a goodbye. She walked with her head down the entire time, yet people just made way for her – for her in her bright-yellow pantsuit and four inch heels.

The Commander of the Guardians, a strange picture indeed.

“So,” said Malcolm after a while, “are you two like …”

“A couple?” asked Felix when he didn’t finish. He held the fizzy drink between his thumb and middle finger.

Matt pulled him closer by the waist. “Yes, we are.”

Kasen looked them over. They were both in official Guardian uniforms, but the cut of Felix’s pants looked different than Matt’s. Yes. Felix was wearing the women’s cut. He had several rings on his fingers, and his hair looked the colour of the corridors: titanium white. He differed greatly from Matt, though, who seemed your average AOL soldier. He had broad shoulders, a dark shade of scruff, and even darker waves.

“Cool,” was all Malcolm said in reply.

“Anyway, introductions out of the way –”

Eliza stuck her hand in the air. Malcolm rolled his eyes when she did this, and tossed his ice-pack on the sofa.

“Eh, yes?” said Felix.

Eliza briefly looked around to ensure he was indeed speaking to her. “Isn’t it, like, against the rules to date a co-worker?”

“This is not a law-firm, Eliza,” sneered Malcolm.

Kasen narrowed his eyes at him. He had just been punched in the face, yet still went on as if he owned the building. People like Malcolm gave Guardians their bad name. Clay would certainly agree on that.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” asked Eliza with her hands on her hips.

Felix placed the fizzy drink on the bar. “What he means, poppet, is that things don’t quite work the same here as in other places.” He waited until Malcolm nodded before he went on, “And, no, it’s not against the rules.”

Eliza seemed satisfied with his answer. She flipped her ponytail behind her head and stuck her tongue out at Malcolm.

“I think we’ve found the next Felicity, Felix,” noted Matt.

Felix rounded Malcolm. “Whereas Mr. Hot-headed over here might not even make it to level three in the Dark room.” He patted Malcolm on the head, giggled to himself, and flopped down on the sofa. It sank under his weight.

“What are you talking about?” Malcolm demanded to know.

“We’re just predicting who’ll make it,” explained Matt. “The life of a Guardian is a difficult one, my friend. Just ask Mary Bates. She was recruited the same year as us. One of the most agile people I’ve ever –”

“Matt,” Felix chimed in, “don’t.”

Matt shut up.

“Was she – uh – a friend of yours?” asked Eliza.

“Yes.” Matt joined Felix by the sofa, but didn’t sit down. “We actually saw her the night before, and she looked –”

“Matt,” Felix repeated.

He shut up again.

A few seconds passed like this, until Matt clapped his hands together and said, “Anyway, other than the possible impending doom of your own psyche, being a Guardian is great. A lot of people think all Guardians do is guard the Dark, but we actually have plenty of posts.” He walked over to the Dark room window.

Two women brawled on the other side. They truly seemed angry with each other, although neither inflicted any harm.

“Guardians are assigned according to their skillsets. This will be decided after your trial period, which will include an overview of all our areas of work. The three biggest posts are transporting the Dark to and from the Collection Points, depositing it, and researching on how to live in the Dark. Felix and I are part of the latter group, although we volunteer for the recruitment committee on the side,” revealed Matt.

“What are the smaller posts?” asked Eliza.

“And what if we don’t like the post we’re assigned to?” added Malcolm.

Matt propped himself against the glass with his hands in his pockets. “Some of the smaller posts include first aid, computer programming, and guarding Craedor Fortress. And, in regards to your other question, it doesn’t matter whether you like your assignment or not. You chose to join the AOL by your own will.”

Malcolm didn’t seem satisfied.

“For now,” said Felix, rising from the sofa, “you’re errand runners for the two of us.”

“He’s kidding,” insisted Matt. They shared a glance. “Like I said, we’ll be taking you around the different posts to see what you’re good at.” He straightened out and walked to the bar to finish the rest of Felix’s drink.

“You, quiet one,” Felix blurted out.

Kasen’s head snapped up. Felix was looking right at him, a smile coiled around his mouth that bordered one of pity. He combed back his fringe and stood upright, but this only made Felix full-on laugh at him.

“What is it?” he demanded to know.

“You’re the General’s son, aren’t you?” he asked-half-declared. “Mason, or Jason, or –”

“It’s Kasen.” Kasen gave a curt step forward. Felix was just toying with him, of course, but it was getting on his nerves. And he had already punched one person today. “Yes, I’m the General’s son. What about it?”

“Feisty much?” said Felix, somewhat offended.

Matt chimed in, “It’s just – It means you knew Samael of the Dark, right?”

“I wouldn’t ask him about that if I were you,” droned Malcolm under his breath. He adjusted his hair over the bruised side of his face. The brown of his eyes popped against that of his fringe. “He’s a bit, well … touchy.”

Kasen outright growled at him.

“Oh, so he’s the one who gave you that shiner?” Matt nodded as though he was impressed – or as though he couldn’t believe Kasen had the ability to actually punch someone. “You must really be pissed off, then?”

Malcolm huffed in agreement.

All of a sudden, Felix gave a jump. “Oh! Oh! Oh!” He surged to the window. “Do you guys want to fight for real?”

Kasen and Malcolm shared a look. No one had to say anything else for them both to shake their heads. While a part of Kasen told him not to do it – that he knew better than to give in to a petty rivalry like this – another, much louder, part of him insisted that he should. And, frankly, he liked the latter part better.

“Let’s do it,” he said.

“No, I strongly advise against this!” Eliza made herself heard. She ran to the doorway and blocked it with her body. Malcolm slipped right under her dainty arms. “Malcolm Chesterton, get back here this instant!”

“Or else what? You’re going to fight me?”

Eliza wheezed through her front teeth. When Kasen came by, she clung to his chest with everything she had.

“Eliza, stay out of this. Please.” He pried her off him. Her hands were like silk compared to his, and she smelled of vanilla. The only other woman Kasen ever got to hold, was his mother. But that was much different … His heart didn’t speed up, and a warmth never built around his cheeks. He at once let go of her.

“Suit yourself,” scoffed Eliza and reversed. “But don’t expect me to attend your funeral when he snaps and kills you.”

Kasen and Malcolm suited up in the rubbery armour. They wanted to go without it, but Felix and Matt insisted they should. They gave each of them a foam mallet, and briefly explained how the Dark would affect them.

“We’ll have the knob set to level 1, so it won’t be as intense,” said Matt, then turned the knob by the door. Everyone currently inside the Dark room groaned in disappointment. One of them even cursed at Felix.

“Hey, we’ve got new recruits over here!” he shouted back. “Just cool it, will you?”

One after the other, the Guardians piled out of the Dark room. Each seemed even angrier than the first, especially the two women they had seen sparring. Kasen and Malcolm waited until everyone had left before they entered.

Kasen choked and stopped in his tracks, fighting the urge to scream out loud. His usually silent breathing turned to slightly louder huffs, and he constantly wanted to gnaw on his teeth. His every muscle tensed, not in a way that kept him from moving, but in a way that made him feel like he could do anything.

The door slid shut behind them.

Felix, Matt, Buff and Eliza returned to the recreation room. They gathered by the window like a bunch of spectators at a sporting match, each rooting for their team. Eliza had her fingers in her mouth, her jaw working.

“Get on with it already!” shouted Felix. He tapped – more like knocked – on the window with his knuckles.

Malcolm licked across his teeth. “Yes, Traynor, let’s.” He jerked the mallet above his head, testing out his swing.

“Listen, Malcolm,” Kasen began, “I don’t know whether this is such a good idea.” He rubbed his pounding head. Not pounding with pain, but thoughts – memories – of the previous night. Of the past eighteen years.

“Why? Are you scared of losing?”

“No, I –”

“You’re scared of losing, I understand.” Malcolm grinned to himself. He shrugged, and turned to the door.

“I’m not scared of losing, Malcolm.”

“Really? It doesn’t seem that way to me.”

Kasen tightened his grip on the mallet. He looked to the window, where Eliza now stood frowning, and Matt and Felix still heckled. Buff showed no emotion at all. If only he felt the way he looked, and not as confused, as crazy.

“Let’s face it, it’s probably better you weren’t selected as a Gatherer. You wouldn’t survive a day out there in the Dark.”

Kasen fought against his rising anger. He chewed his lip until he tasted blood, which again reminded him of the pain in his knuckles, and of what Malcolm had said about Samael. He drew back on the mallet and whacked him in the side. Malcolm didn’t expect the blow, thus toppled over and hit the mat with a thump.

“WhOoOo!” shouted Felix from beyond the window.

Malcolm spat on the ground. “Now you’ve really done it, Traynor!” He picked up his mallet and tossed it Kasen.

Kasen jumped out of the way. He dropped his own mallet on the mat, then picked Malcolm up by his padding. He felt stronger now, more capable of doing things. The Dark filled him with a drive he never knew he had.

And it was amazing.

“You want to go hand-to-hand, eh?” sneered Malcolm just before he kicked Kasen in between the legs.

The armour protected him, but the blow nonetheless made him drop to his knees. He barely touched the mat before Malcolm kicked him again, in the stomach this time. He fell on his back, aching, yet couldn’t stop himself from smiling. This was the type of pain he sought after. The type that dulled him on the inside.

“Why are you smiling, freak?” sneered Malcolm.

“Because – you’re losing!” Kasen wrapped his legs around Malcolm’s feet and pulled him down beside him. He jumped up and grabbed his legs with both hands, then dragged him to the window for everyone to see.

Before Malcolm could even attempt a snarky reply, Kasen grabbed him by the hair and pinned him up against the glass. He pressed his face down, flattening his bruised cheek. Malcolm muttered something inaudible.

“Shut up!” shouted Kasen. “For once in your life, just shut up!” He searched the recreation room for Eliza. She had planted herself on the sofa, facing the other way. The projection pad was on, showing the news.

Kasen gasped when he saw the headline: “BREAKING NEWS: Surprise raid on the Eastern Collection Point leaves countless injured or dead, and General Bentley Traynor hospitalised and in critical condition.”

Every ounce of power he felt – every bit of drive – at once flushed from his system. The pain that made him feel so good a second ago, made him want to collapse, to throw up, and his entire mind wiped clean, blank.

He let go of Malcolm’s hair.

“Dad …”

“Hey, Traynor?”

“Yea –”

Malcolm’s fist collided with his face.