Notice from K

Hello!

Hope you've been having a great summer, and have been checking up on this blog for new chapters! Speaking of summer and new chapters, I'm heading out to Vancouver until the 13th, so I probably won't have any time to post a new chapter (which leaves you, the reader, on a little bit of a cliffhanger). However, as soon as I get back, I'll be as busy as I can writing Chapter 72!
In the time that I'm not around, check out Zone 1, G's other blog, and this interesting (and hilarious) podcast I've been addicted to for awhile.

See you in 12 days!

-K

C.N. - chapter 71

I was just finished giving a detailed summary of the plot of Kingdom of Heaven, Director's Cut when the alarm in the flyasaurus blared from the cockpit. Everyone's attention turned to the control panel, which seemed to have malfunctioned, because most of the indicator lights were flashing on and off, some had already gone dim altogether.
Darn, I thought, I was just getting to the good part where I would explain how Kingdom of Heaven is very relatable to what Wolfgang went through in the past day. It looked like I had to put the explanation off until later.
'So what's up with auto-pilot, John?' Graham leaned over John's shoulders and asked. John was in the pilot chair, one hand pressing the panel's button instruments furiously, the other hand shaking the throttle like mad.
'Auto's dead,' John replied, 'And I can't get the ship back to manual piloting.'
'What do you mean auto-pilot's dead?' Graham shouted indignantly.
'The computer system manning auto-pilot, it got breached by a virus, and the virus is killing the system, that's what I mean!' John shouted even more indignantly.
'A virus? When the hell did the system get breached by a virus?'
'Just now!'
'What the fuck?'
'What the fuck indeed, this is a total clusterfuck!'
'Calm down there, you two,' Laura got over to John too. With three people crammed in the cockpit, I could no longer see the control panel. 'So what exactly is the virus doing?'
'It entered the ships's computer just now, corrupted the auto-pilot system, and made it impossible for us to switch back to manual controls.' John said.
'What about the firewall, the ship's computer came with a firewall, right?' Laura said.
'There is a firewall, but we haven't installed it.'
Laura's eyes narrowed, 'And why not?' She said.
'This machine is a test prototype, remember? It wasn't supposed to be ready until next year, until this recent turn of events forced us to take this out of the garage early. So yes, not all of the features on the blueprint are installed in the ship yet.'
'Yeah, even the coffee machine isn't installed.' Terry said. The other Terry nodded.
'See Michael, the bullet-proof glass thing wasn't my fault, this baby isn't supposed to fly until next year.' Eric said triumphantly.
'Aw will you drop it with the bullet-proof glass shenanigan?' Michael snapped.
'Just making my point, Michael.' Eric replied, smug in the face.
'Gentleman, I believe we have more pressing matters at hand,' Laura turned to the the rest of us and said, 'The ship can't fly for much longer, we'll have to make a forced landing.'
'Over water?' Heathcliff exclaimed, horrified.
'Yes, we're miles from mainland.'
'But-but I can't swim!' Heathcliff protested.
'I'll help you, it will be a pleasure to save Prince Charming from drowning.' Wolfgang said. I was happy that Wolfgang seemed to be back to his old self - the self I first encountered with Heathcliff in the warehouse.
'I don't need your help! I still haven't forgiven you for kidnapping my dear Theo, don't you forget it!' Heathcliff declared with indignation. Heathcliff was back to his old self too - the one I first encountered in the penthouse suite.
'Well Theo,' Terry said, with his eyes on Wolfgang and Heathcliff in their
heated argument, 'seeing these guys, I can't blame you for avoiding your suitors.'
'Totally.' The other Terry said.
'Hello? We're in a dire situation here!' John yelled from the cockpit, 'Is nobody except me scared shitless?'
'I am!' said Heathcliff, 'I don't know how to swim.'
'No, not because of that.' John said, 'I'm asking, is nobody except me scared shitless, because it seems I've been taken hostage, by Mr. Kent here.'
Sure enough, Mr. Kent was at the cockpit, with a gun pointed at the back of John's neck. Graham was no longer there, he had gone to the back to prepare the inflatable raft device on the flyasaurus.
'Exactly,' Mr. Kent said, in that cool-as-a-cucumber voice so reminiscent of Mr. Dragon's when he took me hostage at his compound, 'Now if you may all focus your attention on me, I have a few orders to give out.'

Notice

For some reason, the blog has reposted Chapter 32....please be patient as we try to fix this problem!

-K

*Edit: G seems to have accidentally republished it when he edited it...he apologizes for any inconvenience it may cause*

T.N - Chapter 70

Charlie started this long explanation about the movie Kingdom of Heaven, but unlike the others, I wasn’t listening. I was simply being observant. Wolfgang seemed to perk up a bit as the focus was drawn away from him and his family drama and onto the story that was Dennis and Charlie were unraveling (which, all I could really make sense of, was about crusades and battles of epic proportions). Laura watched him fondly, and a genuine smile, one without a single sign of her signature smirk, lit up her face. Heathcliff and the henchmen were all gathered closely around closely, asking questions with eager expressions. Kyle, despite all the hustle and bustle, was still out cold. The only person who was slightly distanced from everyone else was Kent, who was still at the cockpit, leaning forward and gazing out the window wistfully. His hands were on the dashboard for balance, and I hoped that he wouldn't accidentally doom us all by pressing a button.

I guess Dennis followed my line of sight, as he then called out, “Hey Kent! Stop being a loner and come over here! You liked Kingdom of Heaven when you watched it with me.”

Kent grinned. “I did like it, but obviously not as much as you. You threw quite the tantrum when we couldn’t find a copy of the director’s cut online.” He fixed his shirt pocket, and made his way over to the group.

I laughed. “I remember that,” I said. “It was on the rare occasion that Dennis was visiting home, and he was in the computer room in the basement. Despite the fact that I was on the 2^nd floor in my bedroom, I heard some yelling and things breaking. I think Grandfather and Kent panicked, thinking that there was a security breach.”

“Oh come on, it wasn’t that bad...” protested Dennis.

“Come now,” replied Kent, “let’s not forget the fact that he managed to short-circuit almost all the computers in the room.”

I smirked. “Oh yeah, it was quite impressive. There was a little ‘bang!’ sound, and a lot of sparks everywhere just like—“

There was a sharp sound, and we all turned our heads towards the unoccupied cockpit. Sparks were flying in all directions from the control panels, and all the buttons that were previously lit were completely dim. “—just like that,” I finished off my thoughts.

“Kent!” screamed John as he ran over to the control and started pressing buttons like mad. “What the hell did you do?!”

“I didn’t do anything!” yelled Kent. “I don’t even know how the machine works, I’m smart enough to know that I shouldn’t touch things I don’t understand!”

“Did someone jinx the entire blasted trip?! Or did Lady Luck decide to frown on me today” John growled. “First the self-destruct button was set off, and now the cockpit is on the fritz...in all my years building and piloting these vehicles, nothing like this has ever happened!”

“I think it’s time to stop grumbling to yourself and start trying to fix this,” said Laura calmly, striding over to the control and prying open a panel. “Otherwise, we have a worse situation on our hands than bad luck on our trip.”

Hello! Sorry, I did say I was going to write more, but I guess that was a lie...I've just finished volunteering, so I'm planning to try to get as much done as I can before school starts! There is construction happening in my backyard though, so it's a little but of a distracting environment to write in...

In the meantime, between chapters, check out Zone 1 (which I may start writing in), or listen to this very interesting podcast called Welcome to Night Vale (which I have been listening to and enjoying a lot).

-K

C.N. - chapter 69

It looked like Wolfgang wasn't going to give in, but neither was Theo.
Theo slapped Wolfgang on the cheek. The force of her palm jerked his entire face back towards her. Moments ago Wolfgang had turned his face away from Theo, and now they were facing each other again, Wolfgang's left cheek rosy from Theo's hand.
'Why did you slap me?!' Wolfgang said angrily.
'You deserved it.' Theo said harshly, grabbing Wolfgang by the collar, 'Are you so nearsighted you can't see beyond anything but what you think? You don't know what your mother went through to get you back, and now you push her away like what she did meant nothing?'
'And what do you know about her that I don't!' Wolfgang yelled back. His voice was hoarse. 'You've only know her for less than twenty-four hours, Theo! How can you say that to me when you, like me, KNOW NOTHING!'
Dennis, Heathcliff and I flinched in unison. The sound of Wolfgang's voice echoed throughout the flyasaurus; stealth mode was on, and by the looks of it everyone was listening.
'Are you saying this just to hurt your mother, or do you really believe what you say?' Theo said fiercely. Her grip on Wolfgang's collar tightened.
'I don't care I hurt her, and you don't know anything about Laura, why are you defending her? ANSWER ME!' Wolfgang shouted back.
Laura and Mr. Kent were about to say something together, but stopped. Theo had let go of Wolfgang.
Theo was suddenly dead calm. She spoke what she said next in a plain voice, and just then I realized that Theo was a very mature person, that was all there is to it. 'I might not know much more about Laura than you, but I know something about you I've picked up during the time you were, quote-unquote, holding me captive.'
'I was holding you captive.' Wolfgang said with indignation.
'You weren't, I know this because I knew you weren't going to hurt me when you, quote-unquote, kidnapped me-'
'I did kidnap you, and I had come up with the devious plot to take you all by myself.' Wolfgang cut in, with indignation and also a bit of his slyness which I hadn't heard since Mr. Dragon/Clark Gable shot him.
'Let me continue, Wolfgang,' Theo said, enveloping Wolfgang further into her coolness, 'In that warehouse where your ex-henchmen took me, when we had that chat where you asked me to marry you, which by the way I still regard as a preposterous proposal, I knew you had not intention of hurting me, or anyone for that matter.'
'It wasn't a proposal, you were going to marry me, whether you liked it or not.' Wolfgang said.
'Stop telling me what you were going to do and just listen, I knew you wouldn't hurt anyone because you were never like that. You weren't like that when we were children and you aren't like that now. That's not something you change out of.'
'What are you saying?' Said Wolfgang. The mark Theo left on Wolfgang's cheek was fading. It seemed Theo took care not to give him a that'll-leave-a-mark slap. (My sister educated me on the different slaps the hand can administer, she was a expert at slaps from her experience dealing with rural highschool boyfriends, who she thinks are all immature and needed some slapping around once in a while.)
'You took me hostage so you could propose to me. Yes, I was appalled above all else, but also a bit flattered.'
'Aww, I knew I should have done that! If only I knew that's what impresses you, Theo.' Heathcliff wailed.
'That's sweet of you, Heathcliff, but like I said many times before, I still intend to preserve my status of being single.' Theo turned to Heathcliff for a moment and said. She turned back to Wolfgang, 'Wolfgang, someone who doesn't care about hurting other people wouldn't quote-unquote kidnap me, propose to me while pretending to act ridiculously sly and calling it true love, and then take a bullet for me to prove it to me.'
'Aww, I knew I should have taken the bullet for you!' Heathcliff burried his face in his hands. Dennis put a hand on Heathcliff's shoulder to comfort him.
Theo continued, and everyone quieted down. 'When the Dragon fired his gun, the bullet was for me, you jumped in front of me and saved my life. You cared about me to the point you would get hurt if it meant I won't, and you say you don't care about hurting your own mother?'
Wolfgang didn't say anything. His eyes were wide with surprise and realization.
'You wouldn't hurt anyone, Wolfgang. You only responded to Laura the way you did because the Dragon forced you to be someone you clearly aren't.'
Wolfgang paused to let the words sink in, and then he burst into tears.
Laura went to Wolfgang and embraced him. Wolfgang leaned into her and embraced back.
'Aww.' John (who turned the flyasaurus on auto-pilot to watch Theo talk Wolfgang to himself), Michael, Eric, Graham, Terry and Terry, Dennis, me, and even Heathcliff enunciated in unison.
Laura looked up from her embrace and smiled at Theo. Theo smiled back.
Wolfgang sniffed, wiped his cheeks, and said, 'Well, this is embarrassing.'
'No, this is my son.' Laura replied. They saw eye-to-eye.
It was a touching moment, and it lasted for a long time. When Wolfgang finally loosened his grip on Laura (because the wound on his chest was throbbing again), he still looked slightly sullen, and just at that moment something came to me which I thought could cheer him up even more.
I asked Wolfgang, 'Say Wolfgang, have you ever seen Ridley Scott's Kingdom of Heaven, Director's Cut?'
'You've seen it? Gosh, I was looking everywhere for a copy of the director's cut!' Dennis exclaimed. 'All the video stores near our place only stock the crappy theatrical version, director's cut, wow!'
'What about it?' Theo asked. Everyone looked very curious.
I took a mental note to let Dennis borrow my copy of Kingdom of Heaven, Director's Cut later. Right then, I had some explaining to do.

Now with summer starting...

We can now actually write more often! Yay!
I've updated the latest Theo chapter with some more content, as I felt it was a little too short (as well, what I had written was too short in itself to be a stand-alone). Hopefully, we'll have more time to write these next few months, though no promises on my side (as I'm volunteering and vacationing for a few weeks).
Happy reading!

T.N - Chapter 68

Excuse my late arrival! It's been over a month now since I've actually posted anything. Think of it as being fashionably late.
(P.S this chapter has been updated to be a little longer!)

Once the other vehicles arrived, our plan was back on schedule. I sighed in relief, but also silently cursed Charlie for forgetting something so crucial. I’m pretty sure I wasn’t the only one who had a minor panic attack at the sight of metal scraps and scorch marks where the truck should’ve been. It took all the self-control I had to not run to Kent. I wasn’t a little kid anymore...and I had to prove myself that I could handle situations like this. Especially if we were going to actually face the Dragon, where a lot more could happen.

We all clambered into the nearest truck after Laura had a quiet conversation with Graham and Kent. I sat at the back, facing Graham with a captive Kyle. It was slightly more crowded inside, with Kyle and Wolfgang added to the mix. They were both soundly sleeping.

Kyle looked so small, with his hands bound behind him, and totally unconscious. Upon closer inspection, I saw that his face had thinned considerably, his cheekbones jutting out sharply. There were faint bags under his eyes, and what looked like a developing bruise along his jaw. He looked...fragile. Not the big, arrogant, bossy big brother I was used to seeing. I had an urge to go over and stroke Kyle’s head, but I quickly stifled it. What was I doing? He was the enemy. He was working for the Dragon.

“He’s awake! Wolfgang is finally awake!” I heard one of the Terries exclaim. There was a commotion as Charlie and I rushed over to where Wolfgang was still lying with his head on Laura’s lap. Even Heathcliff came along, though probably slightly grudgingly.

“Shush, you’ll make him go into shock,” replied Laura, still stroking his hair. “He’s been through a lot.”

I peered over and saw Wolfgang’s hazel green eyes flutter open. His eyes were at first glazed, but open seeing his mother’s face, they quickly focused. He shot straight up and fell off of the seat with a yelp.

“Who are you? What am I doing here?” he asked, panicked. He winced and clutched at his old bullet wound

I knelt down by him. “Calm down,” I said reassuringly. “These are friends. You’re safe.”

“What, are you not going to introduce me?” asks Laura bemusedly. “He must be curious, at least.”

Wolfgang looked at me quizzically. I raised an eyebrow at Laura, and then turned back to Wolfgang.

“Well, um, this is Laura. Laura Gable,” I said, gesturing at her. 

Wolfgang’s eyes widened. I faltered a bit, not wanting to shock him too much. But at an impatient cough from Laura, I swallowed and continued.

“Don’t freak out, ok? But...well...she’s your mother.”

It took a moment for Wolfgang to register what I was saying. His mouth gaped and widened as if he was about to say something, but he then abruptly shut it again. Finally, he managed to stutter out, “She’s...my...mom?”

“The one and only,” replied Laura, smiling. “Now how about you give me a proper hug?” She stretched out her arms.

Wolfgang stood up, and stared down at Laura. “You show up out of the blue after 19 years, and you expect me to just give you a hug?”

Laura slowly dropped her arms. “After 19 years of only being able to watch you from a distance, I would like to think that a hug isn’t too much to ask for.”

“Well how about an explanation on why you disappeared and left me with a criminal and manipulative father, huh? That shouldn’t be too much for me to ask!” Wolfgang yelled.

The Terries, Michael and Eric all scrambled out of the way as Laura stood up and met Wolfgang’s scowl with a cold expression. John looked back from the pilot’s seat to see what the commotion was, but as soon as he saw Laura’s expression, he turned back around and clenched the clutch.

Kent fiddled with his collar. “Laura, please don’t become emotionally compromised now. We have more important things to discuss—“

She cut him off with a wave of her hand. “Do you know what it’s like to watch the one you love slowly get driven mad with power and greed? Do you know what it’s like to have them never listen to you? Do you know what it’s like to leave your family behind just so you can keep your life and sanity? Don’t you underestimate the sacrifices I had to make; I had to leave you behind, my precious son,” she smiled sadly.

“Well if I was so precious, couldn’t you have sneaked in to at least say hi to me or something?” He gestures to the others, and the truck. “It appears you’re well-equipped enough to come see me secretly.”

“I was busy those 19 years building up this team, creating alliances with the Justice League, and getting your father under arrest! I didn’t have the time or the resources to come visit you, however much that pained me.” She reached up and caressed Wolfgang’s face.

“Don’t make up excuses, Laura,” he said, slapping her hand away. “I went long enough without a mother, I don’t need one now.” He turned around and headed to the back of the truck, slumped down next to the piles of weapons and clothing with his back turned to the others.

She still held her hand out, but slowly retracted and clenched her fists close to her chest. Her facial expression was not of resentment, or sadness. Instead, there was absolutely nothing. She marched to the co-pilot’s seat next to John, and sat down.

I walked over to Wolfgang and sat down next to him. He shifted away from me, sulking like he was back to being 5 years old. I grabbed his arm and pulled him so he was facing me.

“What are you doing, you idiot?” I hissed, shaking him slightly. “Here’s your mother, wanting to make amends with you, and you slap her away?”

“She’s not my mother,” he replied sullenly.

“Well then, who is she?”

“Someone who just wants to get into my life after 19 years of abandonment without any regards as to how maybe I don’t want to see her.”

“Wolfgang, stop acting like a kid and apologize to your mother.”

“Laura Gable will never be my mother, nor will I ever accept her!” he yelled, clear enough for everybody in the truck to hear.

That’s when I got angry.