“General Zeus, I hope you drag time as long as possible before you end the game,” says Noir.
Zeus nods curtly with his plaster-figure-like face.
“By the way, General Moon, are you insane? Why do you keep smiling like a psycho?” Noir says. “We better note you’ve gone mad after feeling pressure before selling you. Of course in case you beat him. Feel easy. Zeus is a human as well. He’s just fantastically strong.”
His joking threat does not affect me. I’m out of control, being too excited to raze him.
“I’m afraid he’s going to break the raffle machine with his exceeding energy,” Zeus says, “I’m going to pick the ball myself. Is it that alright, General Moon?”
“As you please,” I say brightly.
Noir smiles at my confidence and leans slightly forward, excited. I see a white ball with a symbol of red and blue and four groups of black bars falls onto Zeus’s palm. It’s Korea. Hera’s country. Noir smiles when he receives the ball from Zeus, stands up, and throws the ball powerfully into the sky. I see a neat matted white floor.
Good to spread your blood, Zeus.
“Final round is Taekwondo!” Noir shouts at the spectators and turns to whisper to us. “Both of you, I will not let you survive if you disappoint the crazy audience. It includes me.”
Chapter 25
I walk out in the arena after changing my clothes to taekwondo uniform. I walk to the center of the arena, proud of my black belt. And my opponent, who appeared in front of me, is wearing a yellow belt around his waist. If it were Zeus, I must snort or chuckle at it. But I can’t. I can’t even move a finger while his attack begins after the Judge’s signal. He is the last person I want to fight with.
Why didn’t I notice? Why didn’t I think of a possibility that he might become his avatar?
“You can’t do this, Zeus!” I roar up and throw my challenger onto the floor, gripping clothes above his chest. I turn my eyeballs crazily to find Zeus and catch him standing in the terrace behind Cooper, sending a grin to me.
“I’ll break you.”
I run to the nearest stairway to reach him but Cooper interrupts me by clutching my collar from the rear before throwing me onto the floor. I get him out of the way with a kick so, I can rush to my real foe, who is controlling my best friend. His eyes are like Zeus’s. Cold, emotionless and he is faster and stronger as is his avatar. He drags me, again, with enormous power that flings me down.
I quickly stand up and feed him dozens of punches and kicks. He blocks some and even attacks back. He gives me an acute tornado kick in the face. I feel as if a whip slapped my cheek. I block the following kicks and notice his taekwondo is excellent. It’s Zeus’s skills that met Cooper’s power and the collaboration is stark. He is not going to let me win easily. Just as what Bacchus did to Cine, he’s not going to end the game until he breaks me down with Cooper’s hands.
I keep some distance between us and observe his movements. It’s been a while since we faced each other on a sports ground. It’s good and even nostalgic. We played different kinds of sports and martial arts teaching each other. But I see the icy glare of Zeus in his face and recall what to do. End the game as soon as possible. To minimize their enjoyment and marring our memories.
Solar Plexus. That’s the answer.
“Forgive me, Cooper!” I bawl as I dash to him. Just a half second before my fist socks into his celiac plexus I hear Zeus shout, “Move as I order!” and I find my fist cuts across midair. Where is he? In an instance I hear heavy breathing from my back. I swiftly turn to him but, pause as my eyes meet his eyes, Cooper’s own eyes.
“Hello General,” he says politely, “Sorry but, I have to win this game.” Then he begins a series of attacks, using his fabulous wrestling skills.
He must not know the rule. If he knows he can’t fight this hard, I think, receiving his Shining Wizard, German Suplex, Chokeslam, Boston Crab, Superkick, Ace Crusher, Pedigree and finally my Game Over.
He caught me bending. Wrestling moves in taekwondo match. But I am satisfied. He showed them his strength. BTT Generals won’t be able to overlook his talent and expertise. I even want to shout “That’s my man!” hearing the audience’s crazy cheers.
It was awesome, Cooper. You were real cool.
“Judge this game!” utters Cooper, looking up at Noir. “Who’s the winner?”
I close my eyes and heave a long sigh of relief. It finally ended. Now he will call my name and take me to the Avatar Auction. I planned to end my life, here, after damaging Zeus but, it’s all good. I was happy to fight Cooper before I leave STT and live as someone’s possession.
I hear Noir exhale before delivering his verdict. “It was amazing.” He pauses as if he’s, too, overwhelmed to continue. “Congratulations! Winner of the final round, General Cooper!”
I open my eyes at once at his senseless ruling. What did he just say? I raise my waist up, squeezing my last vigor out of my sore body and say, “Wait, Judge, he used wrestling skills not taekwondo’s! He did not follow the rule…”
He cuts me off in the middle and says frigidly, “Rule is only one, when you have me as a Judge. Entertain me.” He turns to Cooper and talks with a delighted tone, “How can I thank you General Cooper? You killed my stress with your domino attack. Tell me one thing you want before being transferred to the Avatar Auction.”
“No, that’s not what you planned! You should take me. That’s your purpose!”
“Shut up and listen,” says Noir, closing his eyes and widening his arms as if feeling the breeze. “Do you hear it? They are calling his name, not yours. They are eager to bid for Cooper, not you. You are a loser.”
Cooper looks down at me. “Cooper, you’re deceived. You had to let me win!” I hear my voice shaking with fear. He will be taken out. He will be standing in the Avatar Auction. “That had to be me!”
He turns his eyes away from me and stares at Noir. “Time. I want time to be alone with General Cine Moon.”
“Cooper,” I call him out. At the same time I comprehend the truth from his calmness. He knew the rule. He knew their plan. So he fought to amuse the Judge.
“Say no, Judge, cancel what you said! You can’t take him away from me,” I say but, no one even notices that I’m saying some words as I make mumbling sounds mixed with cries. Noir tilts his head dubiously. “You don’t want time with General Zeus? He was your lord.”
Cooper snorts. “General Zeus? I have nothing to do with that asshole. Let him live in his Greek fantasy with his stupid comrades.”
With Noir’s snicker, all the audience begins laughing until it fills the whole arena, as every screen shows Zeus’s fuming face. “Look at his face, General,” says Cooper, giggling with his entire face. It’s been a while to see his shiny beam. He’s smiling. I can’t squeeze my tears out like a fool anymore.
“Yes, it’s funny. He looks hilarious,” I say with my vision hazy with steam.
“How come you smile and cry at the same time? You have a weird skill.” He gives me an even larger smile and lifts me up gently. I hear Noir just before he takes me out of the arena.
“Remember him, audience! General Cooper is available in the Avatar Auction. The man who gave Zeus a public shame is waiting to be your avatar!”
CHAPTER 26
I assume he took me into his domain, seeing a castle made of glass of various colors. The structure looks too peculiar to be real. He must be clumsy in visualizing his home, like a baby who grabbed a crayon for the first time in his life.
“General, welcome to my domain!” says Cooper behind me. I instantly turn and rush to him to embrace him as hard as I can, tolerating pains coming from every cell of my body. His arms lock around my back. We both know that it will be our last chance for this deep hug. He feels rockier and bulkier inside my arms. But in a few seconds he pushes me away swiftly.
“Let’s go in General. I prepared a gift for you.”
I nod and follow him inside his glass castle. I am led directly
to a living room.
“Please have a seat. I’ll bring your gift now,” says Cooper and stamps up the stairs. I sink down on a sofa and close my eyes to squeeze out an idea of how I can save Cooper.
Come on, my brain isn’t hurt. Think of it. You’re his hero. Save him! He’s a GTT now. He can time travel anywhere and hide. Hide? That’s not possible. He’s Zeus’s avatar. He must be freed from the fetters. But just how?
Just then, I hear Cooper’s footsteps and see him with two women. One is Nixie but, the other sleeping in his arms is a stranger. Cooper lays her down on a long sofa like an offering to me, while Nixie and I awkwardly stare at each other. Would she tell him that she met me in the BTTs’ restaurant? If not, should I act like we are meeting for the first time? Thankfully, she takes the initiate.
“Nice to meet you, General Moon. I’m Nixie.”
“Oh, sorry, Nixie, I forgot to introduce you to him. Yes, sir, she’s her, my love.”
She stretches her hand to me. I don’t hesitate to grab and shake it.
“How are you, Nixie?”
“Fine, thank you,” she says with a forced smile. I see her eyes are puffed-up as if she cried all night.
“Okay, perfect! She’s ready,” says Cooper, kneeling next to the sleeping woman and points to an empty sofa near him. “Please lay down there, General Moon. I want to see you in her before I leave.”
“Who’s she?”
“She’s my gift, General. She’s a BTT.”
“I want to see you in her before I leave,” he said. Does it mean… “She’s an avatar?”
“Yes sir!”
My blank brain gradually turns into a light and begins an analysis of his words. A big smile floats on my face. “That’s it, Cooper. You did it well!”
“Welcome, sir. Now, you should hurry.”
“Yeah, you must hurry. Go into her.”
He pauses by astonishment. “Sir?”
“Go into her and take Nixie with you to the furthest place you can reach.”
He exhales. “Sir, that’s not an ideal plan. Zeus will catch me.”
“No, he won’t,” I say confidently, “Because I’m going into you. You know he abhors me. He would be glad to sell me out there, not you.”
His smile fades away. “What are you talking about, sir? That’s totally nonsense.”
“Why not? It’s a perfect plan. You can live with Nixie happily ever after. You love her. What’s more important?”
“You! You, sir. You and Nixie both are more important than me.”
I shake my head no. “I’ll be fine. I can live on. I’ll be happy to think of you two traveling all the timelines together.”
“Stubborn, stubborn, you are creepily stubborn, General Moon! Why don’t you understand me? I planned all the things for you and her. My purpose is only your escape!”
“Escape to where? How far can we go? We won’t be able to forget you. Please leave with her if you truly care for me. That’s what I want.” Cooper gives me a long look with tired eyes. “Come on, let me protect you. Cooper, please.”
“I believe it’s time to leave,” says Cooper after a pause.
“Cooper!” I hold his hand tightly as I see him turning transparent. He’s teleporting slowly. “You cruel brat, you heartless Cooper,” I yelp in tears. “Don’t leave me! You can’t leave me!” He turns to Nixie, kisses her on the cheek then finally gives me a salute. His teary eyes, firmness of his fingers, and his smile remain like seeing an illusion even after he’s gone to the evil Judge himself. Soon it breaks into a painful outcry of people left behind. My body evokes several stings in different body parts where Cooper’s kicks and punches pierced through and I lose conscious.
CHAPTER 27
When I open my eyes, I am lying on a bed. I raise my body up and look down, feeling a presence and warmth of another person on my left. There lays me. Cine Moon is sleeping there. I swallow and lift my hands, no, her hands. My avatar has long, thin fingers and sharp nails that chill me out.
“I transferred your soul to her body. Do you feel comfortable?” asks Nixie. She is holding a bottle of whiskey on a doorway.
“Of course not,” I say in my avatar’s voice. Fortunately her voice is husky for a woman.
“But you’d better get used to it,” she says firmly.
I nod. “What happens to my body?”
“You can sell that out or keep it here.”
“I see.”
She suddenly breaks into tears. “You had to stop him. There’s one thing he didn’t tell you. He’s not going to be an avatar but, a tester.”
“What do you mean?”
“He’s been sold to the Avatar Auction for their experiment. I overheard in Zeus’s office. They are developing different types of avatars and they buy real people for it. MTT and Avatar Auction are partners. That’s how the Cockroach Hunting started.” She falls down on the floor. “He’ll die there!”
“Shut up, shut up Nixie,” I say.
“We had to stop him. You had to stop him!”
“Why didn’t you tell me earlier about it? Why are you telling me just now after he’s gone to Noir? We’re done! We can’t do anything now!”
“You are useless. You are this helpless! I don’t know what Cooper and my dad saw in you. He even got sick in MTT.”
“Your dad? In MTT?”
“Soldier Gascon.”
“Gascon. He’s your dad! He didn’t tell me he had a daughter in MTT. Why didn’t you tell Cooper he’s your father? You had to tell him. Cooper did a foul thing to your dad. He used him as a, as a…”
“Hanger,” she connects the word. “He only acted to earn Zeus’s trust and my dad understood. Zeus must enjoy the show, looking at your mad face.”
“Absolutely,” I say and get out of the bed.
“Where are you going?” she asks me when I pass by her strong smelling odor of alcohol coming from her mouth.
“I’m going back to STT.”
“Are you crazy? Cooper sacrificed himself to send you out of STT, then what?” says Nixie, frantically following me.
I turn back to her. “How can I get out?”
“You can’t leave here without my consent. He left his domain for me.”
“Could he transfer the ownership to an NTT?”
“He gave me a key coming in and out.”
“Key? Interesting. Where’s that?”
“I won’t give it to you,” says Nixie, holding her neck. I notice she’s wearing it.
“Okay, give me that or we play wrestling.”
“Don’t say a word that reminds me of Cooper!”
“Cooper was a born-wrestler. That doesn’t change. Well, he changed his fate.”
“I warned you!”
“We should change quickly to survive. He’s gone. Cooper’s gone. You’re right. I’m helpless. I couldn’t save him but, he saved us. We should remember him and live well.”
“So, is your way to live well going back to STT?”
“I’m going to bring my friends, including your dad.”
“That’s not possible. You cannot even go into STT without the Minister’s permit.”
“And I have that.”
“What?”
I bring out a MTT badge that I took off from my MTT uniform. This was given to MTT Generals by the Minister. I saw the same thing from BTTs working in our district as well.
“This is the key I need to enter STT. Now, give me your key to get out of here.”
“No! They will definitely find you out once you step inside STT. They will locate you with the badge. You will be caught!”
“Don’t lie to me. I know what kind of deal Zeus made with Cooper. He might ask him to be his avatar for saving us. I bet Zeus was with Cooper when he bought the avatar for us. It must be his idea as well to buy me a female avatar. He’s a mean chump. But, he’s keeping the promise even after Cooper gave him a shame in the last. He’s not invading here. You know Judge Noir’s ability. He can invade any domain. He
’s a mutation.”
She nods yes. “You have some brain!”
“Thank you.”
“But Zeus isn’t going to give you up. He, at last, broke the promise by taking you to the Avatar Triathlon. That’s why Cooper was mad.”
“I see.”
“There’s no reason for him to keep the deal. Zeus agreed not to touch us, believing Cooper being a permanent avatar for him but, he won and left for the Avatar Auction. You see now? He’s only taking some time before catching us.”
“Why take time?”
“I don’t know. Maybe he knows you well. He knows you’ll be back.”
“Yes, of course, because he already owns me.”
CHAPTER 28
Nixie gives me an unconvinced look after hearing my story. I told her that I had become his avatar without knowing it myself, that I actually met her for the first time in the dream, and that I was inside him in that dream.
“That isn’t an avatar,” she says, “That’s only a trick. Avatar’s opposite. You go inside your avatar. So, if you were inside him it means he’s your avatar. Having Zeus as your avatar? That doesn’t make sense. You don’t even know where to buy one.”
“Avatar Auction.”
“Yes, but, you don’t know how to get there.”
“Do you know how to get there?”
“No, but, I’m going to the black market to buy one for me.”
“Why?”
“I need a new body before he catches us. He will definitely look for us.”
“It’s too dangerous alone. Just wait for me. I’ll be back in a few hours.”
She snorts. “Don’t ever think of coming back if you’ll return to STT. I know he will catch you.”
“I’ll come back safe. We should move together as Cooper wished.”
“But you don’t help me! And you’re exactly opposing his words! Going back to STT is suicide, you get it?”
“I think taking time like this is more dangerous,” I say, and stretch my hand to her neck. I was narrowing the distance between us while we were talking. However, my avatar’s arm was shorter than expected so I missed the necklace by an inch. I extend the other hand, stepping forward to her but, Nixie turns back protecting her necklace. I clasp her shoulder to make her face me. Her body is so rigid that it doesn’t turn around. I soon notice it’s my avatar’s hand that has less power. I have to use both hands to spin her body around and when I make it, I see Nixie ready to attack me with her nails.