DC - Genesis Mile Chapter 14

Chapter 14: Who can forget?

Tomo and Justin live in a house, on a street known as “Mulliverse drive”, what they don’t know is that on this same street there is a house opposite from where they live, where Alex has been hiding this entire time, since her encounter with Tomo. Had it not been for the large purple wings and antenna, she looked human, just with light-purple skin, wearing grey pants and dark purple jacket. The house was nearly the same as any other house, with the exception of a tall flower in the garden, to which at this point Alex is sitting on thinking about Tomo and what he had said. Her thoughts were interrupted.
“Excuse me!” called a voice, she looked down, it was Bahamut, the blue dragon to whom Max had met a few days ago.
“What do you require?” Alex called to him
“I’ve seen the ‘for sale’ sign outside, and was wondering if this house was for sale”
“What ‘for sale’ sign?” she asked, then she noticed the sign outside, “but how can that be? I heard I got the rights to the house?” she flew down to talk to him.
“Well, tell you what” Bahamut went on, “Here’s my e-mail, contact me when your selling the house, I will pay of course, I need a home to put all of my Iron Maiden CDs!”
Alex took the slip with his e-mail, Bahamut, head-banging to his music on his MP3 player, then walked away.

She turned around, a tall person in a black coat appeared, there was no telling what he looked like just yet.
“Are you liking your sanctuary?” he asked her
“I thought this house was yours” Alex told him, “why is this house for sale?”
“Oh, that thing” he chuckled, “you need not panic, I was just at the estate agent recently and signed the documents leading to this place” he walked up to the sign, “this thing is all that’s left to be taken care of”, he grabbed it, but for some reason when he did parts of the sign were being melted away, Alex was quite surprised.
“What are you?” she asked him
“What are you?” he said in return, “there is no denying it miss McButterfly, there are strange people in the world, what truly matters is which ones are working for the greater good, and I take it you haven’t forgotten your greatest mission.”
“Yeah, about that” she said, “I didn’t think my target was Thomas”
“Is there a problem?”
“Well…”
“Either way, there are some things I would like to discuss with you”

They were inside, having coffee
“So, I understand why this Vampire must be taken care of” she said confidently, “can you tell me what exactly is a City Vampire?”
“Do you really want to know in full detail what they are?” he said, in a warning manor, but Alex was curious.
“Yes s'il vous plait, I need to know more”
“I see you speak French” he started of, “but why do you want to learn the ‘histoire pleine’? (full story).”
“I want to know more about my target and what to expect” she answered
“Very well” and he sat down and rested his back, “years ago, in the 1920s, Industry was flourishing in Merzo City, ships, trains and vehicles carrying cargo and freight to and fro. Industry as you know is a profitable business, and wealth can corrupt a man to the point of greed. Greed, selfishness and all manor of Anti-Social behaviour, this was growing in the City of Merzo, less and less people are being considerate and more and more people end up becoming chavs with little-to-no care to what happens to others so long as they get what they want, be it money or to do drugs, you are aware these are qualities that Merzo bears even to this day.”
“And the Police are becoming less of a threat to this” said Alex truthfully
“There is an old legend, back in the 1800s when settlers were in the process of creating Merzo, back when it was just a small village. They had built Merzo over a burial ground and that is already a bad omen, but it was home to a Vampire who had been sealed away, it was said that if the Vampire were to ever awaken he would take on a new form, and with all the negativity in the world it would only make him stronger. This vampire had awaken of course and given a, what you might call a ‘deuxième vie’ (second life)”
“So with Merzo growing more and more darker, the stronger this Vampire becomes”
“A trait that only the original Vampire bears” the master went on, “it’s also said that Vampires of his kind cannot leave the grounds, but since Merzo has expanded since then with more streets and turfs to explore he has a wider reach, he can go to the other end of the city miles away from the actual grounds he was buried in without risking his life, hence the given name ‘City Vampire’.”
“How do you know all of this?” Alex asked him at last.
“It’s all right here” he replied holding up a book with strange markings on it, “only top archaeologists are able to decipher its meanings, but its all right here, to reserve himself the Vampire had made a diary of this second life ensuring that his intentions are not forgotten.”
“And what about Thomas?”
“Thomas is just a pawn in the City Vampires plans, though once Thomas learns the full extent of his powers he can prove a deadly adversary, and with two City Vampires to worry about its only going to mark doom for this City as a whole.”

The master left, allowing Alex to think things over, she opened the book but all she was doing was looking at pictures and strange markings as she couldn’t read any of it, but there was still one mystery she couldn’t solve, if the Vampire who gave Thomas his powers is still at large, who is the bigger problem, and if the original Vampire is more deadly wouldn’t that mean Thomas is less of a threat? To make more sense of this she closed her book and whistled a couple of robots she created into the room.
“Any chance either of you can translate this for me?” she asked kindly, the Robot grabbed the book and said “yes ma’am” and walked away, slightly depressed with the fact that she was expecting it to say “I’ll try my best”, she went back to the solitude of her flower bed (the giant flower at the back of the house, inside its petals was a small bed).

She can remember the time she first met Tomo, thinking how much of a shame it is that she lost part of her memory, the earliest memory she had was awakening in the suburbs of Merzo City, looking around her not knowing where she was, even she couldn’t remember where she came from. She noticed a bump on her head which could explain why. She noticed so many people around her but no one seemed to know she was there, she couldn’t understand why and whoever she touched would phase right through. Alone and unseen, she wonders around the city looking for answers, and that’s when she met Tomo back when he was younger.

He was being bullied, by none other than the younger versions of Sealy, Nathan and Robert who are the soon-to-be Metal Fisties, they were beating him up and asking for his money, the usual. The fact that she couldn’t touch them skipped her mind and she decided to have at them, but they run away before she could do anything, Tomo was still crouching down because of the bullies, but then he slowly looked behind him and noticed Alex right behind him.
“You seem to be ok” she said to herself, though Tomo was thinking she was talking to him, Tomo’s first words after a moment of shock and fear were…
“IT’S A GIANT MOTH LADY!!!”
“I’M NOT A MOTH LADY!” Alex said back, but then she suddenly realised that for some unknown reason, he could see her, but before she could talk, Tomo fled in fear, Alex hoping he could explain what was happening decided to chase him. Tomo ran into the shopping centre running in terror, Alex was flying towards him no matter where he went. Tomo noticed a policeman, but when he explained the situation the policeman thought he was playing tricks, which didn’t help much. Tomo managed to reach the roof of the centre, he could see an alleyway right below where he was gasping for breath, but that’s when he had an idea.

Alex reached the roof and looked around her, Tomo was nowhere to be seen, that’s because Tomo was dangling on the side of the building thinking she will go away if he lay low, frightening enough Alex flew right over him and didn’t even notice. Relieved she was gone, he decided to pull back up, but not until he heard “FOUND YOU!” right behind him, this made him lose his grip and before he knew it he was falling from the building. He was certain he was now doomed, and shut his eyes, but when he opened them again he noticed that Alex had grabbed his leg moments away from hitting the ground, she safely let him down, Tomo was now cornered and didn’t know what to do.
“Now then” she said, out of breath
“Please don’t hurt me” said the poor frightened Tomo
“Why would I want to hurt you?” asked Alex, “frankly I’m surprised you can see me”
“But…you’re a moth lady”
“I’M NOT A MOTH LA…” then she took a deep breath, “My name is Alex, and I’m in a bit of a pickle right now, since you’re the only one who can see me I don’t suppose you can remind me where I came from do you?”
Tomo stood up, “I’m sorry, I don’t know anything about that”
Alex sighed, “if only I can remember, then I can go back home”
Tomo couldn’t believe what he was seeing, a humanoid butterfly? Was this for real?
“Thanks for saving me” he said quietly, “but I must be heading home, it was nice to meet you, good luck finding your way home”
Alex smiled, “you know I don’t seem to have many friends here”
“Well, being a moth lady I’m not sure…”
“FOR THE LAST TIME I’M A BUTTERFLY!” she yelled, but then was quick to laugh, “I didn’t quite catch your name”
“Its Thomas” he replied.
“Ok Thomas, just call me if you need me”.

It’s been years since then, and still she couldn’t remember where she came from, she can even remember the days when she would cheer him up when he felt sad and talk the day away, but that didn’t change how she not felt towards Tomo. This was because of another incident in her life that she can remember, when she saw Tomo bullying some smaller child, this was a year after they met when they were older and the was in Primary School.
“What do you think your doing?” she asked him, as she saw the child running away
“Remembering my place in the world” Tomo replied
“What? Beating up others? What’s the meaning of this? This isn’t like you at all”
“I was weak before, but now I feel all the more stronger, no one ever cared for me and what I’ve been through, and every time I snitched no one would believe me, but then I realised what if you become more like them?”
“What your becoming is a bully and you know it! How can you live like this? Is this who you want to become?”
“Yes, got a problem with that?”
“As a matter of fact I do”
“Then why don’t you make like a moth” he turned around with a violent look on his face, “and GET THE HELL OUT OF MY LIFE!”

That was the last time they saw each other, and for treating her that badly, that’s why she has this sudden hatred towards him. The robot she asked to help translate the book came back.
“Cannot compute data”
“I take it that means you cant translate it” she said as she took the book away from him, “now I’ll never discover a weakness”
The computer next to her was acting funny, she went up to it and on screen was a strange shadow looking right at her with red eyes, she didn’t know what it was but went for a microphone
“There is no need for that” said the strange caller with a mechanical voice, “I can see and hear you quite clearly”
“How?”
“Thanks to your master, I am now online and ready to assist you in your cause”
“Who are you?”
“We are much alike you and I, we both came from another world, and seek to rise above others”
“Another world? You mean you know where I came from?”
“No, but your master does, and if we can assist each other, we will both get what we want.”
“What should I do?”
“The main thing I need from you, is to help me out of this prison, and I know how, but I need your help”
Alex eager to know who this was decided to listen carefully, after all if he knew her master then he might be a good ally.
“For all its worth” she thought to herself, “I cannot let Thomas win”

“Thomas” was at the Tournament facing Omega-2 in a Pokemon battle, at this moment he was shocked to find his Steelix critically damaged from Scizor’s Metal Claw attack, and Steelix was knocked out and unable to battle. By this point, both Tomo and Omega-2 were on their last Pokemon, in Omega-2’s case Scizor was still standing, whilst Omega’s Gengar, Blaziken, Feraligatr, Typhlosion and Salamence (all noted on the giant Billboard above them) had been knocked out, likewise Tomo’s Electabuzz, Cacturne, Dusclops, Walrein and now Steelix had bitten the dust, and ironically leaving Justin as his final Pokemon, and how appropriate as both have wanted it no other way than to battle each other.
“This is it!” said Tomo as he called back Steelix
“Don’t worry about me” said Justin confidently, “I am fully recovered and am capable of being in this fight”
“I have full confidence in you” Tomo replied, “though just remember, there is no regret in losing if you know you gave it your all”
“I’m very sure they know the same”
Technically the battle is still going on but instead of just rushing into the fight, Justin walked up to Scizor on the battlefield, and he offered him a handshake.
“May the best Mon win”
Scizor wasn’t surprised by Justin’s politeness and shook back, then they turned round and walked away from each other. Omega was confident in Scizor, and noted Tomo’s determined look, he was looking forward to a good fight. Justin and Scizor stopped, and they quickly turned around and charged at each other.

At this moment before they collided, Tomo couldn’t help but think about how Alex was doing, and that if they ever saw each other again, the both of them would be ready!

End of Chapter 14