Vegas Baby
and the
Great Red Spot
By
C.R. Ward
SMASHWORDS EDITION
* * * * *
PUBLISHED BY:
C.R. Ward on Smashwords
Vegas Baby and the Great Red Spot
Copyright 2012 by C.R. Ward
“Nothing happens unless first a dream…”
Carl Sandburg
“Turn your interest into a passion, turn your
passion into a profit.”
C.R. Ward
Chapter 1
The hardest part is always getting started. Vegas Baby had spent weeks tracking a serial killer who had committed at least ten murders in Nevada. It took one week to get a decent lead, another week to connect that lead to a face, and two more weeks to get this close to the murdering bastard. Vegas ran through the streets of Las Vegas chasing the killer who called himself “Killsong.” Killsong apparently had the ability to drain a person of all hopes and desires. He could suck away every positive aspect of a person’s life until they wanted—until they needed to be put out of their misery. That was one of the reasons it was so hard to track the killer down. He was good—but Vegas Baby was better.
The chase had lasted for almost two miles. It didn’t take long for Vegas to realize that this trek was nothing more than an elaborate death trap. Every few steps, another explosion powerful enough to break Vegas’ bones and rattle his teeth would go off. Not to mention the snipers Killsong had stationed in different parts of the city waiting to take Vegas’ head off as soon as they had a clear shot. It was obvious that Killsong had planned this. He had to have known that Vegas was hunting him, so he set a trap turning the hunter into the prey. Vegas hated being the prey!
Vegas felt like his muscles were running off battery acid and his heart was pumping syrup. If it wasn’t for the nannites coursing through his veins powered by his own lactic acids, Vegas would have been left bloodied and broken on the back streets with the filth and prostitutes. Even though he wouldn’t get tired, Vegas was starting to worry. Killsong had shown off the ability to do all sorts of parkour moves across the city, but he showed no sign of tiring, plus the maze of explosions was getting more and more elaborate. Vegas was able to stay step in step with Killsong but Vegas wondered if he was hot on the tail of a super power villain or if the bastard was just too crazy to know he should be tired!
Vegas had run across busy city streets, jumped from rooftop to rooftop, and in and out of buildings, was nearly blown up ten times, and killed five snipers before he started to lose his patience. It would have been a big bonus if he could bring this bastard in unharmed, but screw it! While running, Vegas finally reached in his pocket and slid his pink glove over his left hand. Up until now, Vegas had only used the glove to rid himself of the snipers Killsong had targeting him, but things were getting out of hand. Vegas counted at least twelve civilian casualties thanks to Killsong’s bombs and the property damage was closing in on the millions!
As soon as the glove was on, Vegas felt it pulsate and crackle with energy as it turned red. Vegas brushed his hands together, linking the power of the glove with his mind and visualized what he wanted. Almost instantly, Vegas felt the weight of a Beretta form in his gloved hand. The glove was Vegas’ own creation powered by the same nannites that ran through his blood. However the nannites in the glove served a much different purpose; they could create almost any weapon Vegas could imagine. The power glove being pink was a little superfluous but it created an edge that Vegas often exploited.
Vegas vaulted though more explosions smelling the C4 and his own burning flesh. He felt the nannites rebuilding his muscles; his fatigue fed the tiny machines hastening them to keep Vegas on his feet. His anger fueled his drive refusing to let him quit. Vegas hated being blown up, he hated chasing people, but most of all he hated to lose!
Killsong looked back at Vegas barreling down on him. He had to see Vegas’ body charred and bloodied, his clothes tattered and torn almost beyond recognition. Most of all he had to see Vegas’ resolve. There was nothing Killsong could do, no level of preparation he could have done to make Vegas give up. Killsong looked back and Vegas locked eyes with him. At that moment Vegas finally saw a crack in Killsong’s bravado. Vegas pushed himself harder letting the nannites do their work and pushed away the pain. He waited until Killsong gave him a clear angle. Vegas focused his eyes, linked up with the power in the glove and the gun it created until the gun was an extension of his own hand and the target was the size of a mountain in his mind’s eye. Quickly, confidently, Vegas squeezed the trigger. Killsong screamed in pain and barreled into some trash at the end on the alleyway.
When Vegas caught up to Killsong, he was screaming, scratching and clawing like a caged animal. The alley was sparsely lit and Vegas struggled to make out the details of Killsong’s face through the warped, desolate shadows of the Sin City back alley. Killsong was foaming at the mouth through yellowed jacked-up teeth and his shoulder length blonde, matted, sweaty hair hung over his eyes. His eyes were pale blue and full of nothing but hate, lust and utter contempt for human life.
“You fuck! You really think you’re better than me! I know who you are! I know what you’ve done!” Killsong growled at Vegas, “Vegas Baby, the savior of Las Vegas, my ass! I know about you. I know what you do. I know about the women you’ve fucked, the people you killed for money, the drug deals you run! Do you really think you’re better than me, you mother fucker?”
Vegas casually looked down on Killsong from the shadows. Vegas could only assume that if he had feelings he would have some sense of pity. Instead Vegas clapped his hands together again and felt the familiar crackle of energy as the Berretta in his hand disappeared. Now that the gun was gone the glove itself was glowing and shooting sparks of ruby energy as Vegas tightened his hand into a fist.
Vegas grabbed Killsong by the throat with his right hand, and then used the gloved hand to illuminate the twisted features of the murderer’s countenance. Vegas used his strength to force air out of the killer’s lungs with a simple clutching of his hand.
“Of course I’m better than you, idiot,” Vegas said forcing Killsong’s eyes to his. “Nobody can prove anything that I’ve done.”
Vegas smiled then with one punch knocked Killsong unconscious, but immediately regretted it. Now he was going to have to carry this bastard all the way back to the car.
Damnit, Vegas thought, anger management classes just aren’t working.
* * * *
One more thing done on a never-ending list of things to do, Vegas thought while sitting in his office in North Las Vegas. The office that Vegas ran his entire operation from was more like home than a place of business. Vegas’ whole life was in these walls. He sat at his desk and looked over the different jobs he could choose.
He had to admit he was pleased that his options were finally starting to grow along with his reputation. There were offers of assassination attempts, finding missing people, drug deals, women offering their bodies to him, people who lost something and needed a get-backer, the job offers went on and on. Vegas even had high profile government contracts on the table.
It had taken years for Vegas to reach the level of notoriety he now enjoyed. To the majority of Las Vegas, he was a hero. But, the underbelly of the city knew him for what he sometimes chose to be. Nothing was beneath Vegas as long as the money was right. He was just about to choose another project to stave off the ever-present sense of boredom when a bright crimson light started to emanate from the center of his office. Something began to push out from the light, invisible like wind, but more solid than steel—a force was pushing outward from the light to create room for its presence.
Papers were pushed off Vegas’ desk; furniture was pushed out of place as the atmosphere in the room became thick, making it hard to breath. The light was as blinding as the sun and briefly gave off a heat almost as intense. Suddenly, the presence became more and more familiar until Vegas knew who was paying him a visit. The light disseminated and Vegas was standing face to face with The Chosen One of Legend.
“Hello Vegas,” Chosen One said without moving his lips. Vegas looked at him annoyed—almost beyond restraint. Vegas would have lashed out but he quickly remembered how futile it would’ve been. The Chosen One had shown up in Vegas’ home unannounced and didn’t even have the courtesy to show up in person. Vegas was staring at an astral projection, a mental image generated by the Chosen One. Vegas could see the Chosen One’s caramel colored skin glowed in contrast to his ruby eyes. His smooth chiseled features were set in a smug perfect smile while his flawlessly braided hair hung down to his shoulders. The astral projection was clad in the Chosen One’s red and white uniform, his red cape with its white trim hung down to his calves. One glance and Vegas took in all these details and remembered why he hated this smarmy bitch so much.
“What the fuck are you doing here?” Vegas said not trying to hide his irritation.
“I know you’re not my biggest fan Vegas, but I need your help to save the universe,” Chosen One again said without moving his lips which only confirmed to Vegas that his mind was being invaded as well as his office.
“Wow, really? Not the city or the planet, but you need me to save the whole damn universe, huh?”
“As a matter of fact, yes I do.”
“Well, fuck off and find someone else.”
“There is no one else—believe me. If there were, I wouldn’t be wasting the last bit of power I have to talk to you.”
Vegas chuckled. “Oh, so the Chosen One of Legend does have a limit to his great and magnificent power. I’m shocked!”
“We don’t have time for your sarcasm. True, I am the most powerful being you have yet to see in your life however; even I have my limits. Even now I am engaged in a fight for my life that I might not win, which is forcing me to ask for your help.”
Vegas had long since taken precautions against telepaths. Even a telepath as powerful as Chosen One couldn’t make Vegas do or say anything he didn’t want to, but Vegas couldn’t lock them out completely. Telepaths that were powerful enough could still talk in Vegas’ head and read some of his thoughts. The worst part is that they could still share their emotions with Vegas. Because of this, Vegas could feel the desperation and fear in the Chosen One’s essence. Vegas could feel the panic and the break in the armor of absolute confidence that normally pulsed from the Chosen One. The cocky bastard had been knocked down a peg or two—he really needed Vegas’ help. Vegas didn’t know if he should celebrate the Chosen One’s apparent humiliation, or hide under a rock in fear at whatever impending doom had him so shook.
“Fine!” Vegas barked, caught in between emotions, “What is it you need? And this better be as big as you say I could be out getting some pussy right now.”
“You and me both,” Chosen One chuckled, “but believe me, this is utterly important for your universe to survive.”
Vegas held down the twinge of provocation he felt. This bastard couldn’t help but separating himself from everyone else.
He had to throw in the fact that he’s from some strange other universe that makes him different—better—and far more powerful than normal people. Like he was a man doing his pet dogs a favor! Vegas knew that the Chosen One was in his head and knew how he felt but he didn’t care; instead, he forced his feelings aside and listened to what the Chosen One had to say.
“I don’t have all night so start talking.”
“I’m afraid it isn’t that simple,” Chosen One said meekly “I’m afraid I will have to show you what I’m talking about for you to truly grasp the danger.”
“Try me.”
“It would be useless, I must summon your own astral projection in order for you to see what I have to show you.”
“Bullshit! You just want to get in my head. No! Not happening!”
Chosen One’s astral projections glowed bright red with power as he glided toward Vegas, “I wasn’t asking your permission, Vegas. You’re going to see what I have to show you regardless of what you want.”
Before Vegas could respond the Chosen One reached out with blinding speed as his hand made contact with Vegas’ head. Vegas felt his essence, his soul, everything that made Vegas who he was, was being ripped from his body. The sensation was like a million needles pricking his skin one after another from head to toe. He tried to fight back, but he was helpless as Chosen One did what should’ve been impossible. Vegas felt himself become weightless; he felt his consciousness being lifted until—he was looking down at his office, then down on his building, then down on Nevada, and then down at the country followed by the whole planet Earth.
Vegas was furious! He hated not being in control. He couldn’t stand having his free will stripped away like this. Vegas tried to speak but couldn’t.
“I’m sorry, Vegas, but you are here to observe and listen. I don’t have time to be gentle with your ego. This isn’t how I would have chosen to go about this, but I could feel you weren’t going to give me many options and given the time I have this approach is necessary.”
Vegas couldn’t speak or even form a conscious thought, but he knew his emotions were still on display for the Chosen One. Vegas made sure his displeasure was known, he let his anger at the Chosen One’s audacity fill him, then push outward until he was sure his feelings were shared.
Chosen One bellowed with laughter. “I may be kind, Vegas, but just as my power may have its limits so does my patience. While I do not wish to offend, do not confuse that with actually caring about your feelings.”
Vegas felt Chosen One impose his will over him and a silent understanding passed between the two. If Vegas kept pushing, Chosen One would just as soon see his mind turned to mush as ask for Vegas’ help.
“Now come, Vegas Baby. I’m not sure you can handle everything I’m about to show you, but you are about to have much to do with little time to prepare.”
Chapter 2
Vegas Baby felt himself being spirited away against his will behind The Chosen One of Legend. He still couldn’t form a conscious thought, but his anger was still on display. Every form of communication had been stripped from Vegas, but he still had the ability to process information. He tried to ignore Chosen One. Vegas didn’t want to hear a word he had to say, but he was helpless. He had no choice but to float aimlessly and absorb all the information Chosen One presented.
“There is a lot you need to see in order to fully grasp what is happening, but I don’t have enough power or time to show you everything. So you will have to fill in the blanks on your own. The first thing you need to know is some fundamental facts about your universe.
“What you first need to see may be the most difficult for you to believe, but I am forced to start there due to my time constraints.”
Vegas’ spirit trailed Chosen One as he talked without looking back. As he finished speaking, light from the stars seemed to warp and twist into strange shapes and colors until the light formed a spiraling tunnel. The sensation was something Vegas had never felt before. It was as though he was his own center of gravity and stood still while the horizon rushed to meet him. The sensation just wasn’t natural; Vegas felt as though his soul was being wrenched and distorted. His mind felt as though it was teetering on the edge of sanity, he wanted to scream, he wanted to escape, but then when he felt himself pushed to the limit—the experience ended as suddenly as it began.
Vegas struggled to get his bearings when he saw the Earth scuttling towards him. Vegas saw the continent of Africa, and then the northern end of the continent was pushed into view, followed by Egypt. However the Egypt Vegas now saw wasn’t the one he knew, rather a version of the country as it would have been thousands of years ago. Vegas saw the Nile River, the Sphinx, and the Great Pyramids of Giza all appearing with more pristine glory than Vegas could have even imagined. There were colors and designs Egyptologist hadn’t even considered. There were hieroglyphs telling stories long erased from history.
For a brief moment, Vegas almost felt excited about his abduction. Being able to view ancient Egypt like this was practically worth it!
“I apologize, Vegas, but this isn’t what I had to show you. I brought you here so that you could be better prepared for what comes next. I know you have a reverence for things of Egyptian decent—come. There is still much you need to see and accept as reality,” Chosen said grimly.
Suddenly Vegas was ripped away from the hieroglyphs he was deciphering and forced into the most magnificent Egyptian temple he had ever seen. Vegas wasn’t familiar with the temple, so he knew it had to be either undiscovered or it had been destroyed before his time. Vegas wanted to see the outside of the temple to get some sense of its location, but knew he wouldn’t get the chance.
Before Vegas could become angry all over again, he noticed the people—or rather the beings—in the temple. Vegas saw a young, strong, regal looking man standing before a throne addressing servants. Despite all the wonders of the hieroglyphs, jewelry, decorations and all of the lost history to view, Vegas’ eyes were transfixed on the king. For some reason, he looked more than human. Vegas tried but couldn’t form the thoughts needed to figure out which Pharaoh he was gazing upon. Vegas focused his eyes more and seemed to see both the Pharaoh and another entity superimposed on him, one with bronzed glowing skin with the head of a falcon. Then Vegas noticed the unmistakable symbol behind the god-king. It was the eye of Horus—Vegas was looking at the Egyptian god Horus!
As Vegas scanned the room, he discerned more and more symbols and more gods in the temple. It was only now that Vegas noticed that standing beside Horus was the most beautifully majestic woman he had ever seen in his life. From her clothes, jewelry, and brilliant wings under her human arms, it was easy for Vegas to identify her as Isis the Egyptian god of magic!
“That’s right Vegas. I wanted you to see this and believe. The Egyptian gods are real. They still exist in your time, all be it in a state of eternal sleep. There are many secrets about your universe that humans are not close to grasping. If you succeed in the mission I am about to place before you and save your universe, I will reveal some of these secrets to you fully.
“This is the first step in your understanding. There is still more you must see and believe—come.”
* * * *
Once more Vegas felt himself being yanked away. He felt his sanity being stretched to its limits as light twisted and warped around him again. Once the psychic maelstrom subsided, Vegas could tell he was floating above another ancient city, but wasn’t sure which one. Vegas hadn’t studied all ancient cultures as carefully as the Egyptians. Seconds passed before Vegas spotted an enormous wall around the city and an incredible battle waging within the walls. Vegas’ eye was drawn towards a giant wooden horse and suddenly he knew where he was. He was observing the battle of Troy! It wasn’t long before Vegas saw a warrior that stood out among the other soldiers. He was clad in brazen armor covered in dirt and blood from his enemies. Everyone in the warrior’s path was cut down just as quickly as they rose to challenge him. The warrior’s technique was flawless, no movement was wasted, every swing of his shield blocked an incoming attack, and every slash of his sword eviscerated his adversary. Vegas could feel the warrior’s bloodlust—his quest for eternal glory. The warrior could be no other than Achilles.
“Very good, Vegas. It pleases me that you are able to piece these scenes together without me having to explain them to you. This is the storied battle of Troy and that is Achilles in all of his grandeur. We must move—our time is growing short. I can not stay in the time stream much longer and you have two more things to see.”
Again, Vegas was made to follow as Chosen One ascended into the heavens. Vegas expected the twisting of light and the tug on his sanity again, but instead, was met with a large mountain that seemed to be floating in the sky. Vegas felt Chosen One speed up as the enormous mound of earth and rock zoomed by until they summated the mountain.
Atop the mountain, Vegas saw a giant towering over the edge, standing proud and strong as he surveyed all that was below him. The giant had silver hair that hung below his massive shoulders and a beard of matching silver down to his chest. He was dressed in a long cloth that flowed down his ankles and across his chest exposing muscles that looked carved of some glossy tanned colored rock. The giant’s eyes pulsed with the power and fury of a thousand thunderstorms. Vegas instantly was struck with astonishment from looking at Zeus—the Greek god of thunder.
“Again you impress me, Vegas. You are accepting the images of the past much quicker than I would have expected. Now let us take our leave before we are noticed.”
Vegas experienced a different sensation as Chosen One zipped them back to the present. Instead of a pull and twist, it was more like a shift in their position. Yet, as they were leaving, Vegas noticed Zeus’ eyes faintly look in his direction. The power Vegas saw in the thunder god’s eyes was enough to strike him with a fear that he had never known. It wasn’t like Zeus was looking at Vegas, but rather looking through him until he held no secrets. Vegas was filled with a brief, but intense terror at the thunder god noticing his presence. The exchange only lasted an instant, but it would stay with Vegas for the rest of his life. Suddenly, Vegas’ mind’s eye blinked and he was looking at the fifth planet in the solar system, the Jovian giant—Jupiter.
Vegas had studied the planets and he had an extensive knowledge of Jupiter, but nothing could prepare him for seeing the gas giant up close. Vegas calculated that in their current position, they were floating as far from Jupiter as the moon was from Earth. At that distance Earth would look like it could fit in the palm of your hand; however, Jupiter still dwarfed Vegas’ field of vision. Vegas could see most of Jupiter’s sixty seven moons, the beautiful aurous created by the planet’s massive magnetosphere, and the most interesting feature sat directly in front of Vegas—the great red spot—and anti cyclonic hurricane over three times larger than the planet Earth.
As Vegas took in his surroundings, Chosen One spoke. Vegas wanted to block him out and try to process everything he was seeing, but the Chosen One’s voice was predominate in his mind.
“I apologize again. It is much easier to exit the time stream than to enter and travel through it. You are now looking at the planet Jupiter, as it exists in the present. The next thing I have to show you is the reason I have abducted you, and however unbelievable, I assure you it is one hundred percent real.”
The next thing Vegas knew, he was zooming towards the great red spot, diving deeper and deeper into the center of the largest storm in the solar system. Even descending at such high speeds into the center of the storm, it was still a mass of chaos and violence. Swirling colors of oranges, reds, pinks, browns and whites were pushed in every direction, and lightning bigger than some states in North America flashed. As they slowed, Vegas struggled to make out a massive structure that seemed to not only be the center of the storm but its source of power. Vehemence and energy seemed to pump in and out of the structure like blood to a heart. Vegas couldn’t think of the word to describe the structure. It wasn’t exactly a stadium, or coliseum; the sheer scale of it seemed to defy laws of physics. He couldn’t see it clearly from the distance where Chosen One had decided to stop, but it gave off a dark scarlet glow. The only thing Vegas was sure of was that it couldn’t have been formed naturally. No structure should be able to stand under the enormous pressure of Jupiter’s surface. Vegas still had trouble forming a decent thought, but he did wonder why Chosen One had stopped so far from whatever it was he was now looking at. If this is what Vegas was suppose to see, why was he not be allowed to see it in detail?
“There are powers at work here beyond my ability to defeat in my current state. Any closer and our presence would be detected,” Chosen One said responding to Vegas’ silent concerns. “Everything I have shown you was to help you to understand that this place does exist. You are the only human to ever see the temple of the Titans. I don’t have time to explain, but the gods are still alive—their influence over humans weakened but still alive.
“Inside this crimson temple is a power unequal to anything else in your galaxy—perhaps the entire universe. A power even the gods and Titans fear. What you must do Vegas: Find away to reach this structure on Jupiter’s surface, defeat any obstacles in your path, and steal this power from the Titans that you will need to save the universe.”
Vegas listened to the Chosen One of Legend and felt the anxiety and truth in his voice. Vegas could also feel the Chosen One’s power fading because he was able to form cohesive thoughts again. Vegas instantly began running calculations and scenarios. He wasn’t sure if Chosen One was manipulating him or not, but he was intrigued by the challenge more than anything now. The prospect of pulling off something of this magnitude, to stare at the face of the impossible and succeed, to accomplish a task no other person could even comprehend, was the type of thing Vegas dreamed of. But why--why was Vegas acquiring this power so important? For it to matter, in order to obtain absolute glory for his deed the ends had to justify the means. A mission like this is worthless without the proper reason to accomplish it.
“You must forgive me,” Chosen One said pulling Vegas from his thoughts, “but our time is up. I do not have the power to continue this if I am to get you back to your body.”
Vegas looked at Chosen One and saw him look much different than he did when he first appeared. His uniform of red and white was torn and shredded and caked in blood in places. Chosen One had lacerations all over his body; his perfectly braided hair was in shambles, even torn out in clumps in places. The most disturbing thing Vegas noticed was Chosen One’s eyes. They were bursting with an energy that Vegas thought may have surpassed what he had seen in Zeus just moments before.
Chosen One looked directly at Vegas and spoke his final words: “Because of your petulance, I left you a surprise back at your body. But the crux of the matter is that Gor is being resurrected, Vegas! Look at the center of your galaxy to find the reason for your quest. Good luck, Vegas Baby, you have exactly six months to acquire the power—if you fail, it will be the end of everything.”
Suddenly, Vegas sprung awake gasping for air. His eyes were full of tears, his muscles were stinging as if spikes were stabbing him, making the slightest move painful. Vegas waited until he was able to catch his breath and composure. He was able to recount everything that had happened. He remembered every detail of every image. Vegas knew what he had to do—as soon as he was able to stand.
Once Vegas was strong enough, he stood and did a body check to make sure he was okay. Then he smelled something terrible and felt something wet.
After examining himself, Vegas was filled with anger as he discovered the Chosen One’s ‘surprise’. He had set Vegas up; he had done it on purpose with his telekinesis! While he was away from his body, Vegas had shit himself.
“Son of a bitch!”
Chapter 3
Vegas sighed deeply and looked around his office where he had assembled his friends. Each of them were very different from one other and had special abilities just as unique. There was Joe Warfield, Jen, Panda Jack, Topaz, Zo, Blu Mbagwu, Robert Holley, and Deep Willis.
“You really expect us ta buy that load of horse shit you sell’n,” Rob said after taking another gulp of his beer. Rob stood 6’6” wearing his favorite blue jeans and white wife beater which showcased his muscular frame forged from years of mining.
“Why would I lie about something this big?” Vegas replied.
“The same reason you lie about everything else; you’re a fucking liar!” Topaz barked from where she stood in the corner of the office. Her arms folded and legs crossed, she was one of the most beautiful women Vegas had ever been around. She wore a dark gray hooded sweatshirt that was cut just below her perfect breast and a pair of matching baggy sweat pants that hid her shape. Vegas didn’t mind; he had every inch of Topaz committed to memory. Topaz had a body to die for: thick brown wavy hair, creamy caramel skin with blue eyes that were a gaudy side affect of her abilities. Despite her looks, Vegas wondered if inviting her was a good idea given their recent history.
“Is it really too much to ask that you be mature enough to put our past behind us long enough to save the universe?” Vegas snapped back “Your powers would be extremely helpful.”
“Well, I, for one, definitely didn’t come here ta hear ya two argue.” Zo cut in with his thick Jamaican accent, stretching his muscles as his Rastafarian clothes hung loose over his golden brown body. Zo ran a hand through his shoulder length dreads looking extremely disinterested in the conversation.
“I agree with Zolomon,” Panda Jack growled from the corner where he was encased in shadow. “I suggest we all stay on topic. The sooner Vegas finishes saying his piece, the sooner we can all leave.” Panda Jack glared at Vegas with the dark circles under his eyes that inspired his surname. Panda adjusted his long dusty brown trench coat retreating deeper into the shadows.
“Amen,” Blu chimed in with her sensual African accent from where she sat on Vegas’ desk. Vegas had always admired Blu’s style. She had smooth ebony skin, petite breasts, thick thighs and ass from her time as an Olympic track star, and full seductive lips she often augmented with lipstick and smoky eye shadow. Vegas wanted to know her on a more intimate, level but had never had to opportunity to try. It wasn’t surprising he wasn’t able to get Blu to stay still long enough to make a move considering she could almost run at the speed of light. People who see her in her uniform know her best as Bluestreak.
Jen stood from his seat pulling himself to his full height of 5’6” and addressed the group. His voice carried wisdom beyond his twenty-three years: “You pulled in favors to get us all here, Vegas. I really hope you have some proof because your story seems pretty unbelievable.”
“Are you guys serious? I told you what happened. The Chosen One of Legend showed up and did some cosmic-voodoo-time shit. All of you are just going to have to believe me.”
Deep was next to speak as he adjusted his glasses and massaged his neatly trimmed beard, “I want to believe you,
Vegas, but your track record with these matters is somewhat--dubious. Plus, your story raises a lot of questions. You and The Chosen One have never really had a great relationship. Why would he appear to you, instead of one of us?”
Of all the people in the room Vegas respected Professor Deep Willis the most. Deep had dark brown skin, stood 6’0” and was built like a tank—nonetheless he was one of the leading professors at UNLV.
“He said he didn’t have a lot of energy—for whatever reason I’m not really sure. If he survives whatever he’s going through, then you can ask him yourself. I just know what I’m telling you is true,” Vegas remarked.
Rob had finished the last of his beer and was getting another out of Vegas’ mini fridge. “The proof is always in the pudd’n—so where’s the pudd’n?”
“Vegas, you’re going to have to show them. This pack of ingrates ain’t gonna believe shit if you don’t.” Joe had finally spoken.
“There isn’t much to show,” Vegas said. “I really need you guys to understand that I need your help.”
“In other words you don’t have any proof,” Topaz shot.
“I didn’t say that, just that it isn’t much.”
“I’m sorry, Vegas, but you’re going to have to give us something. If the Chosen One was here to back you up it would be a different story because your word doesn’t carry a lot of weight,” Deep said regrettably.
“Wow really? Is that how it is? After everything I’ve individually done for all of you, and you still need proof when I come to you with something this big?”
There was a brief pause as everyone in the room examined each other.
“Yeah,” everyone ultimately said in unison. Vegas paused looking shocked. He couldn’t believe they had such little trust in him. Vegas looked as if he had been betrayed—cut deeper than any blade could go.
“Fine! If that’s what it takes to get any of you to help save the damn universe, then I’ll show you what I have. But remember just because it isn’t much, doesn’t mean it isn’t real!” Vegas snapped.
Vegas kept a look of betrayal and anger as he reached into his pocket and pulled out a small handheld device. Vegas was sure he looked upset to everyone in the room although in reality, Vegas was using all his strength not to smile. He expected everyone to not trust him. After all, he was an asshole most of the time. This was all part of the grand scheme of things in Vegas’ plans for his “friends.” They didn’t need to trust, or even like him—yet. The main thing at this stage was that they all respected him and that respect is what got them to come when called.
The device Vegas pulled out of his pocket was round, about the size of a golf ball on top, and shaped like a tripod on the bottom. Vegas walked to the center of the room and placed the device on the carpet. Then he walked to a nearby cabinet where he pulled out several pairs of thick gray goggles. The goggles were bulky and made to encircle a person’s entire field of vision when pulled over the eyes.
“Everyone put one of these on,” Vegas said without looking at anyone still sounding upset. Vegas took one for himself and then passed the others around the room.
Rob took the gray goggles, another swig of his beer, then began, “Aw, come on Vegas, you know we don’t mean any—”
“It’s fine Rob.” Vegas cut him off.
There was a silence in the room that resonated louder than any scream could. Deep got his goggles and then tried to cut through the tension. “Vegas you have to understand that—”
“I said it was fine!” Vegas spat. “Just put on the damn goggles.”
There was another awkward silence as everyone hesitated to put on their goggles.
“I’m sorry but I can’t do this,” Blu said looking distastefully at the goggles in her hand.
Vegas sighed annoyed. “You can’t do what, Blu? What the fuck can’t you do?”
“I can’t wear this thing! It’s ugly!” Blu was serious but she was also able to say it in a way that made everyone chuckle. Just a couple of words and a smirk on her luscious red lips was all Blu needed to pull one and all from the edge and elevate tension in a room. “I mean do you see how cute I look right now, Vegas? You see this outfit.”
Blu was decked in red skinny jeans with a form fitting black shirt showing every curve of her Olympic-built torso. Her hair was in a multitude of two-inch twists, the first stage of dreadlocks she always wanted to grow but couldn’t due to her track career. Blu looked classy, approachable, sexy, and flirty all at once. With one glance Vegas could have painted a picture of her with ostentatious detail.
Vegas grunted sarcastically, “I was busy trying to convince everybody that the universe was in danger, so no Blu, I haven’t noticed your outfit.”
Blu slowly took off her scarlet patent leather platform pumps. “Your loss. If all of you will excuse me for just two seconds.”
With a flash of blue lighting, Blu disappeared. Everyone barely had a chance to blink before she reappeared almost as though she hadn’t left. She even had her red pumps back on. In her hands were the goggles, but they were now painted a reddish-pink hue and had black trim that matched her outfit flawlessly.
“All right. Sorry it took so long, but it’s hard to run in these pants. Now I’m ready,” Blu announced crossing her arms and showing her pearly whites.
The group paused, trying to process what Blu had done until Rob broke the stillness. “How’d ya get da paint to dry that fast?”
Everyone laughed. Vegas noticed with the burden of talking about the destruction of the universe brought, the assemblage of heroes was happy to seize the light-hearted moment. Everyone but Panda Jack, that is.
Vegas didn’t see any hint of a grin on Panda’s face. Instead, he looked as though he were grinding his teeth. Vegas remembered that while he had everyone else pretty much pegged with at least some idea, if not total knowledge, of how their powers worked, Christopher “Panda Jack” Nelson was still a huge question mark. Panda stayed in the shadows sequestered from the group. With deep age lines etched in his face, silver hair pulled into tight ponytail with his brown duster trench coat and clothes straight out of an old cowboy western, Panda looked like a man from another time. He always seemed out of touch with his surroundings and either uninterested or irritated by people around him.
“Okay, Vegas, whatever you have to show us, let’s do it already. I got a new girl running the register at my record store and I need to get back before something happens,” Jen said pulling Vegas from his thoughts.
“Suits me. Everyone put on your goggles—please.”
One by one the group did as they were asked.
“Topaz, could you cut off the lights for me?”
“Why do you need me to do it?”
“Because—you’re—closest.”
Topaz mumbled to herself and glared at Vegas. Then she pointed at the light switch as the blue earrings she wore began to glow faintly. Vegas watched as Topaz focused the power she pulled from the regular jewelry she wore. After a brief second, the power of telekinesis flowed from the jewelry, through her body, finally flicking the light switch.
Vegas glanced in Jen’s direction and noticed a glimpse of pride in his face. Jen had spent a lot of time and effort teaching Topaz to control her powers with that amount of finesse. Jen was also known as the Human Weapon, thanks to his mastery of his chi, the flow of energy in the body. That ability, coupled with the ability to tap into the energy of every living thing around him, made Jen one of the most powerful beings on the planet and the perfect person to help Topaz control her unique powers. Vegas tried to test Topaz once to understand how she was able to draw power from jewelry and why different stones gave her different abilities. Diamonds would give her one power, opals would give her another, and rubies would let her do something completely different and so on.
Vegas pushed that puzzle of ambiguity from his mind and reached into his pocket pulling out his power glove, then placed it on his left hand. Then he clapped his hands together, felt the familiar crackle of energy and linked the glove with his mind forcing it to form what he imagined. In an instant, Vegas was wearing two thick gray electronic gloves with glowing red sensors on each fingertip.
“Yo, mon, does mine be broken? Cause I’m not see’n a ting,” Zo said.
“Yeah, what gives? I’m afraid of the dark,” Rob joked.
“Vegas, if this is one of your bullshit pranks, I swear to God.”
“Topaz baby, chill. I just need a second to fire this thing up. I made it myself you know.”
“Nothing you make is impressive to me anymore, and don’t call me baby.”
“Damn,” Joe cut in, “girl you need to get laid!”
That got a giggle out of a few people including Vegas. Before Topaz could deliver her colorful responses, Vegas clapped his hands together again, the device on the floor clicked on and the room exploded in swirling lights and shapes.
“Everybody step back,” Vegas, broadcasted. “I don’t want anyone to get hit.”
The assembly did as Vegas said.
After a stunning light show, several images started to take shape out of the spiraling light. When the process was finished, all light in the room had drained away except for a bright glowing white orb the size of a basketball that appeared just above Vegas’ 3D imager. Three other balls of light circled the larger orb as other lights danced around everyone in the distance. Thanks to the goggles everything else had been blackened out to the point that there was no longer any sense of depth in the office. There seemed to be no floor, walls, or ceiling. Everyone appeared to be standing in the void of space looking at endless illuminations in every direction.
“Where did everybody’s goggles go?” Blu asked.
“They blend into the 3D holographic projection rendering them invisible,” Vegas answered.
“What the hell are we looking at?” Rob asked nursing his beer.
“We are standing in a 3D hologram of our galaxy. For now, I limited the hologram to our solar system. That white ball of light in the center is our sun and the three small specks of light are Mercury, Venus and Earth. Right now the projection is to scale.”
“Interesting,” Deep began, “Tell me, Vegas, why did you ask us to back up if this is a hologram? What did you mean about not wanting us to get hit?”
“I meant exactly what I said. This isn’t a normal hologram. I constructed it out of hard light.”
“Hard light?” Zo asked with a raised eyebrow. “How is such a ting possible?”
“Oh my—Vegas—did you—do what I think you did?”
“Yes Professor, I believe I did.” Vegas smiled clearly proud of himself.
“Ummm, somebody wanna fill me in?” Rob started with his southern drawl, “cause it just looks like he made some fancy light show that could knock ya on ur ass and give ya a black eye if ya ain’t paying attention.”
Deep smiled as the astonishment struck him. “So much more than that Rob. Vegas has discovered the Higgs.”
Everyone looked from Deep to Vegas, then at each other, in confusion waiting for an explanation. Vegas fought back a smile; he enjoyed their bewilderment much more than he probably should. Vegas let everyone speculate for several seconds before educating them.
“For years scientists have been trying to find what was called the Higgs or the God particle. For most of the people looking for it, it was a way to discredit religion or explain the supreme evolutionary principle. That principle has been defined as the life force, which is the impetus behind all movement. Its blind intention is to evolve and expand consciousness, life, and experiences throughout the infinity of the universe. Put plainly, a force whose objective is to know itself in a myriad of forms and circumstances.
“At its core, however, it’s much simpler, yet extremely more complex. The God particle I found is nothing more than the bridge between the tangible and the intangible. It’s the understanding of why matter has mass.”
“Whatever da hell that means,” Rob interjected. “I just want to know how da hell I’m gonna get another beer if I can’t find the frig?”
“I’ll get you a beer when we’re done, Rob,” Vegas promised.
“Wait a minute, isn’t matter and mass the same thing?” Joe asked.
“No, Joseph. They are not one and the same.” Deep retorted, “I believe you would know that if you had attended your classes this week.”
“Sorry about that Professor Willis, but I was helping Vegas get ready to save the universe and all. That’s a good enough reason for me to not be kicked out of school right?”
“I suppose. Vegas, when did you achieve this? This could be the greatest discovery in scientific history. Why haven’t you shared it?”
Topaz huffed louder than necessary, and then rolled her eyes.
Vegas ignored her and answered Deep, “I can’t share it. Science isn’t ready. This means the collapse of the foundation of physics as we know it.”
“Congratulations,” Panda Jack snarled, “Now, what does this have to do with why we’re here?”
Zo reached into his pocket as Panda Jack spoke, then lit up a thick five inch blunt, took a slow drag, and exhaled. “I’m wit da Panda. You’n the Prof can talk ya nerd talk some otha time. Why we be here mon?”
“Ok, to the point then,” Vegas said spreading both his hands toward the white sphere representing the sun.
“Everybody gather on the opposite end of the room from me and stay back at least ten feet. If you get any closer, the hard light can hit you, and trust me, that shit hurts. The 3D imager makes the light intangible again after the ten foot limit.”
Vegas used his hands, pushing in circular motions away from himself causing the light to flash and twist. The gloves on his hands allowed him to interact with and move the hologram at will. Vegas continued the hand motions until a small red light was in the center—above the hologram device. He then connected both hands forming a square, and then slowly moved his hands away from each other. Simultaneously the light at the center grew until the Jovian giant was recognizable. Around the planet orbited dozens of lights, some bigger than the others—all different colors.
“All right, sorry that took me a while, but like I said this hologram is to scale. For anyone who never paid attention in grade school astronomy, this is the planet Jupiter and its over fifty-eight moons.”
“Wow, Jupiter—why should we care?” Jen remarked sarcastically.
“Because, this is where we need to go to save the universe.”
“Wo,wo,wo! You try’n to tell me you want me to fly with you to Jupiter? Now, you are aware that I won’t even get on a damn airplane unless I’m shit-faced!” Rob stated.
Blu stepped forward. “Why the hell would we sign up to go with you to Jupiter, Vegas?”
“Because this is where Chosen One told me I had to go to save the universe. I figured that part would’ve been obvious.”
“How would we even get there?” Deep asked with more intrigue in his voice than conjecture.
“Joe and I took care of that.”
“Vegas did all the designing, but I helped with the assembly,” Joe announced.
“Why Jupiter, mon? Wha be special bout that planet?” Zo asked.
“I told you it’s where Chosen One told me to go.”
“Why there?” Panda Jack asked. “I don’t care who said what, Vegas, you ain’t the type of person to do anything unless something’s in it for you.”
“The survival of the universe isn’t good enough—really? All of you really think that bad about me?”
This time it was Topaz who stepped forward to address the group. “Stop dodging the fucking question, Vegas, what are you hiding? What’s on Jupiter that’s so important?”
Vegas surveyed the room and discovered the consensus of the group was to have this question answered. Vegas was hoping to save this part for last but didn’t see any options now.
Vegas grunted, and then used his hands to rotate and zoom in on a section of the planet’s southern hemisphere. When he found the proportions he wanted, he turned the image around to face his would-be allies.
“Any of you know what you’re looking at right now?” Vegas asked.
Silence.
“Anybody?” Vegas repeated.
“Looks like a big red tornado if ya ask me,” Rob alleged.
“It’s Jupiter’s great red spot,” Deep corrected. “It’s an anti-cyclonic hurricane over three times bigger than Earth. It’s the biggest single storm found in the solar system and it’s been raging visibly from Earth for over four hundred years.”
“Thank you Professor,” Vegas smiled.
“Aw damn,” Blu said then motioned for Zo to pass his blunt. “I need to get high or something, I can tell this is going to be some shit.”
Zo, passed the blunt. “Don’t be hit’n that too rough now. That herb make purple haze look like kiddie shit.”
“Save your concern, Rasta, I know how to smoke,” Blu, replied taking a slow drag.
“I don’t see how a giant hurricane can save anything,” Jen stated. “I assume there is more to this.”
“You assume correctly,” Vegas confirmed with a tight smile. Vegas flipped the image of Jupiter so that the hurricane was facing upward and then motioned his hands in a way that caused the hologram to dive deep into the planet’s atmosphere.
Vegas kept motioning the hologram downward as Deep asked, “Vegas, are you suggesting that you want to travel into Jupiter—at the center of the great red spot?”
“That’s exactly what I’m saying. We have to travel to the planet’s core in order to reach—this!” Vegas said as he finally reached the core of the 3D Jupiter model where the silhouette of a humongous structure was outlined in shadow and a reddish vortex.
“What the hell is that?” Rob asked.
“That is where we have to go. It’s a temple built by the Titans,” Vegas responded.
“Titans? You mean the ancient Greek myth Titans?” Topaz speculated.
“Yep, those guy.”
“Wo, wo, wo! You try’n to tell me that all that ancient Greek shit ain’t shit, them things are real?” Rob exclaimed.
“Yep. They’re real.”
“How do you know they are real?” Blu asked between puffs.
“Chosen One showed me they were real. He took my mind on a cosmic rollercoaster to the past and showed me the gods of Egypt and of Greece.”
“If this is a holograph projection based on scientific data, how did you acquire the images of this temple?” Deep inquired.
“I didn’t. It’s not humanly possible to manufacture a probe to penetrate that far into Jupiter and transmit any information back. There’s no material known to man that can withstand that kind of pressure.”
“Then how do you know it’s there?” Panda Jack grumbled from the corner.
“Chosen One took me there. I created this part of the hologram artificially from memory. All of you are seeing exactly what he showed me.”
“In other words, what you’re showing us now is something you created using CGI, which doesn’t really prove the temple exists,” Jen added.
Vegas moaned and rubbed his freshly shaved head with both hands in frustration. He felt like he were bogged down by a severe weight, a burden that no man should have to carry, and no one believed there was anything wrong. Vegas huffed, put his hands on his hips while the room hung wordless. There was only one more thing Vegas could show them—one more thing that might be convincing enough to any of them with half a brain.
Vegas used his hands to guide the hologram out of Jupiter’s atmosphere, and when the whole planet was visible, he used his hands to shrink it until the red light representing the planet all but disappeared. Then, with several hand jesters, the room again burst into a spectrum light.
“Vegas. You said you created a 3D map of the Milky Way is that correct?” Deep asked.
“That’s right,” Vegas answered continuing his hand movements.
“Would you mind telling me how you managed that?”
“I used the SDSS.”
“AAAhhh, I see.”
“UUUmmm, less nerd speak please. What’s the SDSS?” Blu asked taking another drag of the blunt.
“Sloan Digital Sky Survey.” Vegas deadpanned, “It’s a program based out of New Mexico used to make a 3D rendering of galaxy clusters. But, they also made a 3D map of the Milky Way. I was able to get access to the data and add to it with probes I teleported into deep space.”
“You said you couldn’t do that,” Topaz accused.
“If you were actually listening, you would know I said I couldn’t send probes into Jupiter’s dense atmosphere, but far off regions of the galaxy are fair game.”
Vegas continued his hand movements until they stopped on a formation of dust and lights. Around the cluster of lights and gas, a bright cerulean light shot from the center at opposite ends.
“This is the last bit of proof I have. What you’re looking at now is the super massive black hole at the center of our galaxy. The Chosen One told me to look here for proof and this is what I found. This is why I’m going through with the mission he gave me.”
“Yoo, mon, jus look like fancy lights. Wha tis be proof of? And, Blu stop ya chiff’n and past da herb.”
Blu sniggered passing the weed, “Oh, right—my bad.”
“What this proves, Zo, is that something weird is happening. You see those plumes of blue light? Well, that’s an enormous amount of energy being shot out of the black hole. It’s called a quasar. Quasars are among the most powerful naturally occurring phenomenon in space and they are relatively common throughout the universe.”
“Then what’s so special about ours?” Jen asked.
“Our galaxy shouldn’t have a quasar at its center,” Deep answered. “If it is there now, it means something significant has happened to cause such a drastic change.”
“That’s right,” Vegas, confirmed, “Quasars are normally a black hole shooting out excess gas and dust because it can’t absorb it all fast enough. All that gas and dust comes from the black hole being new and our super massive black hole isn’t new enough to have a quasar in it, yet there it is. Chosen One told me that Gor was being reborn. I can only assume this is where his resurrection will happen.”
The room got just a little more gloomy and ominous when Vegas mentioned the name Gor. When The Chosen One of Legend first arrived on Earth, he used his powers to communicate his mission to every living thing on the planet. Every man, woman and child knew exactly who and what Gor was. Gor was a force of nature unlike anything the universe has ever known: Gor is death, Gor is the omega. Chosen One had traveled to our dimension to track down the weakened Gor and stop him from being fully revived. The Chosen One had been unable to save his own dimension—he had sworn to protect us with his life—he claimed our universe as his new home and swore not to fail, and now he needed Vegas to help keep his promise.
“I’m sure all of you understand why I called you now. This is serious and we need to handle it. Gor is draining energy from the quasar he somehow created in our galaxy’s black hole and he’s using it to come back to life.”
“Bohica,” Rob said.
“Exactly,” Vegas retorted.
“Wait, what does that mean again?” Blu asked.
“It’s just a say’n for when things go from bad to worse, hun,” Rob answered, “Stands for; Bend, Over, Here, It, Comes, Again. If Gor’s make’n a run at life, that’s as bad as it gets.”
Again, silence permeated the air. Vegas was content to let everyone sit with their thoughts for a moment. Maybe they weren’t all as stupid as they seemed most times. When someone finally spoke up, it was Topaz, and, of course, Vegas was disappointed.