Chapter 6: Red
[07/19/4517]
After Kenichi, Maddox, Sarina, and Emma left the library, they entered a street filled with pets and their owners. The buildings they passed by got slightly taller. The doors were also larger. Kenichi noticed stables with horses inside. Dogs sniffed other dogs while their owners spoke. A man struggled to get his cat inside a traveling case as his daughter held a shopping bag. It scratched him and jumped onto the shoulder of the girl. A little boy walked out of the pet store with his parents. He carried a fishbowl with a two-headed lizard inside.
Emma smiled. “So cute.”
Kenichi awed at all the pets around him. “Where are we?”
Sarina spoke. “This is the Veterinary District.”
“Really? Is there a veterinary school here?”
“Yes. It’s not a very big school. It’s mostly taught to people who live in the farmlands around the world. Many farmers are in need of doctors to help with horses, zenders, and other livestock.”
Kenichi took another look at the pet owners and noticed that their clothes are very expensive. “So who are these people?”
Maddox spoke. “These are families who own the top businesses around the continent, wealthy landowners, and sometimes royalty.”
“I see.” Kenichi saw Maddox stop at a door. As the detective opened the door, Kenichi looked up at the sign and it read Maddox Clinic. “Eh?”
“Stay here.” Maddox said looking at Sarina and Emma. “Keep the ladies busy.”
“Sure.” Kenichi watched the door close before him. Across the street, he saw a three tailed fox-like creature with golden brown and white fur on a leash tied to a post. “What is that?”
“An oryx Mr. Yamamura. Want to pet it?”
Emma’s eyes sparkled as Kenichi noticed her tail rose up.
“Sure, why not.” Kenichi said. He and Emma followed Sarina across the street while Maddox watched from the window inside. The oryx saw them. It wagged its tail a little until Emma got on her knees and reached out to it. It stood up wagging its tail and nuzzled her. As she laughed, Kenichi let out a light smile. “Cool.”
He took out his smartphone and cleared the security locked. The screen turned on. “Red… camera.”
“Camera activated.” Red said.
Sarina and Emma looked at him as he held the smartphone up.
“Ms. Rosado, could step aside. I want to take a picture of the oryx.”
Sarina and Emma hurried behind Kenichi. As he looked at both of them surrounding him, the camera fixed its focus. The oryx stood there wagging its tail walking closer. The ladies saw Kenichi press the icon to take a picture. “Eeeeh?”
Emma spoke. “It’s just like my father’s camera but faster.”
Sarina said leaning closer to the screen. “Amazing”
The oryx whimpered for their attention and Emma knelt down to pet it again. “I’m sorry. There’s a lady inside the Earthtech.”
“It doesn’t exist.” Kenichi said. “It's just a program. It's made of letters and numbers typed into a machine so I can tell it what to do when I speak.”
“Huh?” Emma looked up with the oryx. “But, she talks.”
“Only because I give it commands.” Kenichi showed Emma the screen. It was an app that read ‘Personal Assistant’ ‘Press to Begin’. He pressed the icon to activate it and it is just a list of icons to set up the program. “See.”
Emma read the icons on the screen. One of the icons said ‘Image’. “What do they mean by image?”
Kenichi and Sarina looked at the screen and shrugged his shoulders. “It’s probably an image from your photo. For identification.”
“I see.” Emma said. She resumed petting the oryx. Her tail rose up and the oryx wagged its tail. “So cute.”
***
Inside, Maddox heard a door from behind him open up. There was a young woman, shorter than him, dressed in pants and blouse with a lab coat on. She approached him with a smile and gave him a hug.
“Colt, you finally made it.”
“Sorry I was late Crysta. My client was dying and I had to get him to a doctor.”
“No way.” Crysta looked around. “Where is he?”
“He’s outside with his doctor.”
Crysta stood next to Maddox and looked out the window. She saw Kenichi with Emma and Sarina petting the oryx. “That’s him with the barbarian and the kid?”
“Yeah.”
“He’s cute.” Crysta looked around the street. “So where’s the doctor?”
“The tall one with Yamamura.”
“The barbarian?”
“Yeah.”
“Interesting.”
“The world really got interesting sis.” Maddox presented the case to Crysta. He opened the case and revealed a yellow quill. Crysta picked it up and felt a static shock.
“Where did you get this?” Crysta held up to the ceiling light. It shined as bright as the sun making her turn away from it. The quill illuminated the room. Crysta looked around her clinic with awe. She placed it back in the case. “This could take a week to figure this out. I’ll have to take a sample or this.”
“That’s fine. We’re here for a week anyway. Yamamura has to wait a week his medication.”
“Great.” Crysta took a scalpel and she scraped the surface of the quill onto a Petri dish. “Where did you find this?”
“It was with Yamamura inside his truck when he was teleported from Earthworld into Braddock Forest.”
“So the rumors are true.”
“It’s true.” Maddox nodded. “Braddock Forest was destroyed.”
“H…how many…?”
“So how about dinner tomorrow?”
Crysta stared at Maddox and nodded. “Of course, I close at six o’clock. I know a good restaurant that serves pasta.”
“Okay.” Maddox took the case from the table. He gave Crysta a hug. “I have to go.”
“Colt… be careful.”
Maddox looked at the Pertri dish. “As soon as you get this back, head straight for the Ironguard Embassy. Understand?”
Crysta nodded. “Yes.”
Maddox exited the clinic. He approached everyone overhearing their conversation.
Sarina spoke. “So since it’s very expensive to open a clinic back home, I started one here so I can save money. The ambassador’s offer to be your personal physician until the case ends was too hard to reject.”
“I’m sorry you’re dragged into this, doctor.” Kenichi rubbed the oryx’ fur and its tail wagged.
“No, it’s all right. What’s important is that you’re alive.”
Emma smiled. “Still, this is great news to hear. Does this mean you get to go home faster?”
“Well, I want one more year here so I can develop my skills with a variety of people. The experience will help me handle foreigners visiting Kales.”
Maddox arrived and petted the oryx staring at him. “Ready to go?”
“Yes.” Kenichi nodded and led Sarina away. “So tell me more about Kales.”
Emma followed. “Yeah, it sounds like a fun place to visit.”
Maddox watched on and thought about what Kenichi said back at the hospital. The need for normalcy. He heard the oryx whimper for Kenichi, and noticed he smiled at Sarina and Emma. “738 people for one grandfather. It wasn’t worth it.”
Maddox caught up with them and listened to the conversation.
“Kales is home of the barbarians. It sits on the southern shore of the continent. It has a large beach from one side to the other and is always sunny. We fight competitively and get injured a lot. So, I came here to Nirico. You look like you’re into competitive fighting Mr. Yamamura.”
“Well,” Kenichi scratched his head with a light smile. “I am the current World Arm Wrestling champion on Earth.”
“No way! You have arm wrestling on Earthworld?”
“We have competition fighting on Earth as well.”
“Amazing!”
Emma threw her fist in the air. “You two should arm wrestle.”
Sarina waved her hands. “I’m not into that.”
Everyone laughed while thunder rumbled above. The clouds got darker.
***
It was past midnight. Rain poured down onto the warehouse. The nightsky was covered by lightning filled clouds. Each bolt flashed within. Kenichi stared out at it ignoring everyone around him discussing the route plans. The sound of thunder warned him of the long dark road ahead of him. The rain reminded him of the blindness he displayed in the face of danger. He closed his eyes so he could see again. To see the road clearly before the lights jumped the barrier and struck his truck. When he opened them, he saw Fumiko clear as day. He wanted to say something to her. Anything to ease his feelings. His fears.
“Is it time?” He said to her. He received only a smile and followed her arms resting on a pair of shoulders. There was Emma looking back at him. Her eyes were concerned for him. It was almost as if she wanted to ease his pain, but Kenichi’s cold eyes shined a barrier to forces her to take one step back. Kenichi looked around and saw Maddox still working out the route. Sarina pat the horses that the guards were feeding. He looked back outside past Emma. He stepped around her as if she does not exist.
“Mr. Yamamura, I just wanted to say…” Emma watched him stand there looking out at the blackened sky. The way he stood raised her hairs up. Her cheeks lightly blushed. Her heart skipped a beat. She recognized that pose. Her memories showed a world where Kenichi stood at that very opening next to a grey truck on its right side, the driver’s side. Outside was a blizzard with poor visibility. It was the first time she was scared. Not for herself, but someone for someone else. Emma took a long deep breath. Her lips gathered strength to say something, and she did. “Don’t go Keni!”
When Kenichi turned around, Fumiko’s eyes grew wide, and blinked. Emma stood there with her right over her heart realizing where was at. Everyone watched her. The warehouse was silent. The shock from her memories made her lightheaded. She collapsed. A she was about to landed on injured left arm Kenichi moved.
“Hey!” Kenichi slid on his jeans and caught her.
“Emma!” Sarina hurried over with her staff in hand. “What happened?”
“I don’t know. I was just standing by the entrance and she just screamed out… my name.” Kenichi realized Emma was in his arms. After Sarina helped lay Emma on the floor, Kenichi stumbled back to his feet looking at his arms. He kept walking backwards struggling to understand what happened. He heard Maddox’ voice.
“Are you all right?”
“Maddox.” Kenichi saw the detective leaving the contractors to meet up with him. He regained his composure and walked past Emma without a single glance at her. “When she’s settled down, put her in the truck.”
“Huh?” Sarina watched Kenichi pass by him cold eyes pointed towards Emma. “Y…yes.”
Kenichi approached Maddox. “The women will ride in the truck. The doctor can take care of the brat in the sleeping cab.”
“Okay.” Maddox looked at Sarina waving for help. “Are you okay, Yamamura?”
“The storm.” Kenichi walked past Maddox and headed for the right side of the truck.
“Idiot.” Maddox said. He watched the volunteers helping Sarina move Emma. “Step away, I’ll take her to the truck myself.”
Kenichi slid his hand over the side of the truck. There was a large dent, his hand went in deep. Some of the paint was scrapped off showing a grey color underneath. He heard his son again calling out his name. His hand curled into a fist ready punch it until he heard Maddox nearby.
“We’re coming by Yamaura. Get the door.”
Kenichi grabbed the door and opened it. As Maddox carried Emma inside, he looked down until he saw Sarina’s foot before him. He turned further away. When her feet shifted, it pointed toward the dent. He lifted his head and saw her sliding her hands over it.
“I can’t imagine what you’re going through, Mr. Yamamura.”
Kenichi answered with soft voice. “Yeah.”
“Don’t be mad at us, please. We don’t have answers. We just… we just want to help and make things right for you.”
Kenichi stood up facing Sarina, and bowed. “I am sorry.”
“No.” Sarina said placing her hands on his shoulder guiding to stand straight. “Just talk to us when something is wrong.”
Kenichi nodded and Maddox climbed out of the truck. “Doctor, Ms. Rosado is resting in the bed. Take care of her.”
“Thank you detective.” As Sarina climbed aboard, Maddox pulled Kenichi by the arm and dragged him around the corner.
Maddox grabbed Kenichi by the collar catching him off guard. “I don’t blame you for being angry at Ms. Rosado for the knife and the theft, but I can tell there is something about her that has your attention.”
Kenichi stared at Maddox only to get push into the box.
“Don’t give me that look. I am your only ally here in this entire world. No one else. Whatever your problem is with her, settle it, or I’ll get the contractors to use the ropes on your truck.” Maddox released Kenichi and walked away leaving him behind.
Kenichi paced around. He saw small boxes nearby and shoved them to the ground. He kicked a box taking short deep breaths. “I should have stopped before the bridge.”
Kenichi returned to the truck and noticed Sarina inside the truck sliding her fingers over everything. Her curiosity made him realize that he is not the only one who having a new experience. He looked back Maddox and remembered how shock he was when sat in the truck for the first time. It was clear as day. When Kenichi started the truck the first time with Maddox, the detective drew his gun ready to shoot the truck. “Damn.”
Kenichi climbed into the truck. Sarina pulled her hand back to her chest as he sat on the driver’s seat. There was fear in her face that she may anger him. Kenichi relaxed. He looked inside the sleeping cab and saw Emma sleeping. She was under cover facing away. He threw his fist at the steering wheel, but slowed down and tapped it. Staring at the rain ahead, hearing the sound of thunder, the passenger door opened startling Kenichi.
Maddox paused. He and Kenichi stared at each other. There was fear on the driver’s face. The detective never saw anything liked that. He turned to Sarina. She had the face of sadness. Maddox knew he had the face of anger. Emma’s moan caught everyone’s attention. She pulled the blanket closer to herself. Sarina checked on her and without saying anything she nodded to Maddox. “Let’s go.”
As Maddox sat in the passenger seat, he noticed Sarina’s long legs stretched out along the seats. Kenichi saw soldiers lined up around the truck. The contractors stood behind everyone. He placed the keys into the ignition and started it up. The needles on all the gauges came to life. The rumbling sound made the soldiers step back. Some had their hands on the hilt. The magicians raised their staffs up. Contractors behind them awed. The black smoke ejecting above from the muffler intrigued everyone.
Kenichi took his smartphone, placed it in the dock, and it spoke. “Interface connected.”
“Red… Chartmap.”
“Chartmap activated.”
Kenichi stared at the large screen, then at Sarina. He turned the screen toward her. “Doctor, you can touch the screen on my smartphone. Use the map of Nirico and guide me.”
“Yes.” Sarina grew a smile. She pulled her long legs to her chest and leaned closer to the screen.
Kenichi stared out at the rain, his hands shivered on the wheel. He heard Maddox speak.
“You can do it Yamamura.”
Kenichi lifted his up and he relaxed. He shifted into first gear, revved up the truck and pulled the chord. The horn blared across the warehouse. Everyone inside ran and drew weapons at the truck. Kenichi and Maddox looked at each other as Sarina pressed her hands over her ears. They laughed unaware of Emma opening her eyes in the sleeper cab.
Emma found herself under the blanket. She lifted herself up as she heard Red.
“Low ceiling ahead.”
Kenichi replied. “I see it.”
Emma saw Kenichi lower the window. As he stuck his head out, she realized where she was. She tapped Sarina’s shoulder to get her attention. The doctor placed her finger over lips. She leaned closer and whispered. “Don’t let Mr. Yamamura know you’re awake. Let’s hear what he says about you.”
“Eh?” Emma blushed. “Why?”
“Just do it. Watch.”
Emma laid back and put the blanket over her body.
“We’re cleared.” Kenichi pulled his head back in. He noticed Sarina was checking on Emma. “Is the brat okay?”
Emma fumed.
“She’s okay Mr. Yamamura.” Sarina said. “You shouldn’t be so hard on her.”
The truck emerged from the warehouse. The headlights shined bright in the night. The right turn blinker flashed and everyone walking on the right side made space. The contractors were awed at how the truck moved. One of the soldiers turned to them. “Stop gawking, the first slope is ahead.”
As Kenichi watched the contractors hurry to the slope, he turned on the windshield wipers. He heard Sarina gasped as the wipers pushed aside the rain water clearing the window.
“Amazing.”
“Red… play music.”
“Select music type.”
“Jazz.”
“Now playing… jazz.” Once Red started up the song, all the speakers blared inside the truck. It caught Emma’s attention.
“I recognize this song.”
“Mr. Yamamura, this Earthworld music sounds great.” Sarina’s eyes pointed at Emma and she spoke again. “Emma has been through a lot too. Her arm was broken by people who attacked her and her friend. You shouldn’t be so hard on her. She really was sorry.”
“It’s not the knife I’m mad about.” Kenichi stopped at the slope and waited for the contractors to signal him. “I’ve faced a lot of knives in my youth.”
“Huh?” Sarina looked at Kenichi wondering what he was talking about. “Oh, right… you’re forty years old.”
“What I’m angry about is her claiming I’m her husband.” Kenichi noticed Sarina struggling to move the map. “You can tell her to zoom in. Just say her name and zoom in.”
“Red…” Sarina said. “Zoom in.”
“Zooming.”
Sarina smiled and Kenichi continued. “It’s insulting to claim to be someone’s dead wife.”
“She was scared.”
“Really?” Kenichi received a signal to move ahead. He turned left and saw how close the wall is.
Red spoke. “Object nearby.”
“Maddox, look outside and watch the wall.” He saw Maddox opening the door. “Don’t open the door, lower the window.”
“Oh, sorry.” Maddox lowered the window. He saw a contractor watching the truck turn and received a signal from him. “The contractor says you’re good.”
Kenichi turned as the sound of thunder boomed. He stopped. The hill was right ahead, but he felt his grip tighten on the steering wheel.
“Yamamura.”
Sarina leaned close. “Are you all right?”
“Yeah.” Kenichi shifted gear and moved forward. “You all have no idea what it was like to hold your wife in her arms as she slowly died.”
He saw the contractors at the top of the hill signal to turn. As he did so, he continued. “Hearing Fumiko’s last words hurt the most because she was right.”
Kenichi stopped after turning and waited for the contractors to get ahead. “It’s not fair.”
When Emma heard that, her tears poured. She leaned to her left side onto her injured arm, and whimpered.
Sarina noticed and leaned in. “She’s lying on her injured arm. I have to get her back on the correct side or it won’t heal.”
When Sarina placed her hand on Emma’s shoulder, she saw her look back in tears. She whispered. “Emma?”
Emma whispered as the truck moved on. “Is it really Kenichi? What he just said I remembered that happening to me.”
“I’ll get him to stop talking.”
“No. I must know. I can’t go home without knowing.”
Yamamura spoke. “Hey, doctor.”
“Yes.” Sarina returned to the front. She saw him trying to read the map and slid her finger over the screen. “Sorry. Here is where we are.”
Kenichi saw on the map that the street will curve like a snake until the next turn. When he looked ahead, the street was thin. “It’s wide enough, but it will be like putting a thread in a needle. Red… rear view camera.”
“Rear view camera activated.” The monitor showed an image of the ground ahead of them. It had two green lines stretching out ahead. When he turned the wheel slightly, two yellow lines turned away from the green lines. A message warned that the lines were not aligned.
“This is the newest feature for vehicles. This will allow me to see if I’m going to bump into the wall behind me while I turn ahead.” Kenichi drove forward. The sound of thunder cracked louder. He leaned back taking a deep breath catching Maddox and Sarina’s attention.
“Mr. Yamamura?”
“Yeah… yeah I’m all right.” Kenichi looked at his wife’s pendant. “Fumiko’s with me, so I’ll be fine.”
Sarina spoke. “So you never dated anyone afterwards?”
“What?” Kenichi leaned close to the window watching the flashes of light in the clouds. “You’re interested in me?”
“No.” Sarina blushed. “What I mean is that you seem lonely.”
“I see.” Kenichi saw lightning stretching out above and shifted his shoulder almost as if he wanted to dodge them.
Maddox spoke. “I’ll watch the lightning, you focus on the road.”
“Thanks.” Kenichi turned his attention to the first curve. The monitor showed the lines overlapped each other. He could one of the contractors stepping aside. Kenichi stopped the truck. He lowered the window sticking his head out. “Tell everyone to stand behind the truck. The turns are too tight. All of you will get crushed.”
“Okay.”
As Kenichi watched one of the contractors appear on the monitor to get the others to clear out. He answered Sarina’s question. “If you mean to ask if I dated again the answer is yes.”
Emma eyes grew wide, then saddened.
“I tried to move on without Fumiko. However, I felt nothing from other women.”
“Love doesn’t stop.”
“You’re right.”
Maddox looked out the window. “You’re clear. Go.”
Kenichi drove onward and continued speaking. “It took me some time to understand why I wasn’t connecting to women, and that was when I realized why?”
Lightning struck a rooftop. Nothing happened, but the size of the bolt got everyone’s attention. “How much farther do I have to go until the next turn doctor?”
“You’re halfway there.”
“What kind of storm is this?”
Maddox looked out at the sky. “This could be a monster storm.”
Kenichi nodded. “Yeah this is a big storm.”
“No, it actually is a monster storm.” Maddox lowered the window and looked at the guard ahead. “Hey! It’s a lightning dasher. Get non-essential personnel into a building.”
“Understood.” The guard outside said and ran for the next guard. Lightning struck the rooftop again. Debris flew to the ground striking the running guard.
“Damn, forget moving slow.” Kenichi grabbed the chord above and pulled on it. The horn blared causing Sarina and Emma inside to cover their ears. The guards and contractors outside also covered their ears. Kenichi shifted gears. The truck sped up.
Red spoke. “Object nearby. Turn slowly.”
As the guards and contractors opened doors to get inside, lightning struck the ground creating a wave of electricity. It enveloped two guards and a contractor. As they collapsed to the ground, more debris fell from above. Sarina spoke. “Let me out, they need medical assistance.”
Kenichi turned the wheel. “Not with the lightning doing that.”
Maddox pushed Sarina into the sleeping cab onto Emma. “Stay where you are.”
Another round of lightning sliced through a house. The debris cascaded down like an avalanche. Kenichi’s memories of the forest flashed before his eyes. He shifted gears again ignoring the walls he bumped into.
“Yamamura, you’re going too fast. We’ll miss the… turn.”
“Red… deflection.”
“Deflexión.” Red said. Its magic drawing appeared on the monitor catching Sarina and Emma’s attention. A layer of light covered the truck as it turned the final curve. The avalanche of debris bounced off the shield until the truck cleared the danger zone.
Kenichi saw the turn. “Here we are. It’s going to be tight.”
The truck slowed down, and began its turn. The right wheel lifted slightly as Kenichi turned the steering wheel. “Come on. Stay balance.”
Everyone hanged on as the top of the truck bumped the building. The street was wider but not enough to clear the walls. Kenichi straightened the wheels out. The right wheels touched the ground. It was a long hill going up. Rainwater cascaded down the street. Another bolt of lightning struck the street spreading even further due to the water. Kenichi hit the accelerator and the truck climbed the hill. “Where’s the embassy?”
Maddox spoke. “Turn left at the top of the hill before the market. It’s a straight street from there.”
At the top of the hill, water pushed carts over. One by one they rolled towards the truck. Kenichi turned the wheel, dodging each cart. Another lightning bolt struck a cart and debris flew into the air. He noticed the water where the lightning struck bubbling. “The water is hiding the potholes.”
He increased the strength of the headlights and was able to see more of the area. The top of the hill was visible. There was also a large carriage at the edge with little room to move around. The lightning struck the ground before the truck and the wheel rolled over the pothole. Water splashed into the air, the truck bounced up. “My axel!”
The carriage pushed over and rolled really fast. Kenichi looked at the smartphone. “Sonic Wave!”
“Onda Sónico!” There was a wave of sound projected outward from the front of the truck. It struck the carriage. It shattered into pieces as lightning struck the ground again. The vehicle cleared the dangerous area and reached the top.
Kenichi turned left. The back wheel struck the corner of the building. He drove straight as two lightning bolts struck in succession.
Maddox spoke. “We’re here. Turn right.”
Kenichi struck the brakes. The wheel levitated over the water. “We’re hydroplaning. Hang on.”
The truck swerved side to side passing by the embassy entrance. Kenichi hit the emergency brakes and the truck came to hard stop. It had turned completely around facing the embassy it just passed. The guards waiting at the entrance hurried out of the checkpoint building to provide assistance.
When Kenichi looked out of the windshield, it was just rain. The lightning moved onward past the city. He noticed a flash of purple light within the clouds. At first he thought it was the flying creature he saw outside Braddock Forest. It was not. In fact, he could not see what the creature was that Maddox talked about. Kenichi collapsed over the steering wheel. “Are we out of the forest?”
Sarina pulled herself up. “Forest?”
Maddox spoke. “Braddock Forest.”
Kenichi lifted his head. “I should never have driven in the rain. I wouldn’t have ended up in this world. I would never have been in that forest.”
Kenichi’s hands vibrated. He saw someone’s hand held his. He turned to the side and it was Emma’s.
“You’re going to be all right.” Emma looked him in the eyes.
Kenichi looked away and pulled his hand off of hers. “The reason why I never connected with another woman after Fumiko passed away was because of my last words to her before she said ‘It’s not fair.’”
Before any one could speak, there was a knock on the door by Maddox. The rain eased up as he lowered the window and the guard below spoke. “Is everyone okay?”
“We got injured men from the lightning dasher.” Maddox opened the door. “Come doctor.”
“Yes!”
As Maddox and Sarina climbed out, Kenichi looked at Emma with the corner of his eyes. “Get out.”
Emma did not hesitate to leave the truck, bumping into Fumiko’s necklace. As she climbed down, Kenichi grabbed it to keep it from falling over. Both the necklace and Emma were in clear view of him.
Once the door closed, Kenichi droved the truck inside the embassy grounds. As the embassy guards guided Kenichi to its destination, the rain came to an end.
All Emma could do was stand in the middle of the street alone replaying everything Kenichi said about Fumiko.
To Be Cointinued...
