Renegade Reborn (47 page)

He finally understood now, the phrase don’t believe everything you think. He understood now that when standing valiantly, where the voices of doubt came from, where the lies came from, where his horrible thoughts came from, but, why? Why were the lies so much more powerful, so much louder, than the truth? Were all these beings, fighting, over him? Was he really that much a threat? And then, the lies and the truth, became interchangeable. He didn’t know what to believe, even his own name, his own identity, his own life, suddenly seemed false to him. He wasn’t meant to hear such unfiltered language, his brain wasn’t made to hear it, and it was in that moment, Gisbo understood how in the grand scheme of things, how truly insignificant he was. He always believed himself to not be the sharpest tool in the shed, but now, seeing, and hearing everything around him, it was too much, he felt his mind begin to pull, and tear . . .

“Please, please, turn it off, TURN IT OFF!” Gisbo cried. Vadid touched his head on each sides of his temples again, and like a brain freeze fading away, the stabbing pressure, as well as the visions, gave way and were silent. Gisbo couldn’t help it. He fell to the floor, convulsed into a seizure. Vadid was forced to kneel down and catch him to prevent him from swallowing his own tongue.

“It’s all right, Gizzy, it’s all right, you’re here, you’re safe,” Vadid said, and then, Gisbo puked, and immediately felt better.

“We’ll clean that up later,” Vadid said as he helped Gisbo back toward the couch. Gisbo was trembling, shaking all over, fighting for breath.

“What’s, what’s wrong with me . . . what, what . . .” Gisbo stammered.

“You’re in shock, it’s ok, it’s all ok, I’m here, lay back, take a few deep breaths.” Vadid said.

“Do you . . . do you . . .” Gisbo started.

“See that everyday?” Vadid asked, looking around. “Yes,”

“This power, this Man-Phoenix power, why? Why is it mine? I’m no God! I’m, I-I, I can’t take this . . . Grandpa, please, I, I can’t handle this pressure, I couldn’t even handle three seconds of looking at that,” Gisbo said. “I’m, I’m so insignificant. Please, take this power from me, take it, give it to someone worthy!”

“If you were so insignificant, why were so many Mara’s after you, and so many Mystical’s defending you just now?” Vadid asked.

“I . . . I . . .” Gisbo started, but couldn’t get it out. He felt so cold.

“Because you‘re not insignificant. You’re my Grandson, Gisbo Falcon, and you have the capability to light this world up in a way I never could. There is a reason why you, a mortal, was chosen for this power. Did you know, that the very reason why your prayers that night, the night Kennis died, went unanswered? The Mysticals, they came all right, but, in the end, they were overcome and failed. They were slaughtered in trying to prevent Kennis’ death. They gave it their all though, to their last breath, and still, the power of the Dragon, overcame them. Just as you couldn’t save her, neither could they.” Vadid said. As he said it, tears were coming down Gisbo’s face. “I know it hurts, Gisbo,”

“Then the Dragon, evil, darkness, whatever you want to call it, it’s stronger, it’s stronger than the Phoenix, isn’t it?” Gisbo asked.

“It’s quicker, easier, and more in numbers, yes, but stronger? No, I refuse to believe it, you know why?” Vadid asked.

Gisbo shook his head.

“Because, there is nothing that the darkness craves more than your death, and Gisbo? Last time I checked, you’re still alive, son . . .” Vadid said. Gisbo finally was able to take in a deep breath, and every following breath felt easier.

“There ya go. I know that what I just told you, about Kennis, it was disheartening, but, there were also blessings that night. So many people go through life and only remember the horrible things that happen to them, without ever knowing, the horrible things that were prevented,” Vadid said. “Did you know, that you and your lone Renegade force in the battle for Sandlake were victorious that day, because Mystical’s powered your courage, your agility, and your skills? They kept your minds free from doubt, and you know why? Because you, and your words Gisbo, words that you didn’t know you had in you, were given to you, and in return, you gave it to your friends, and gave them power. Why? Because, you chose to act, and IAM, as the saying goes, only helps those who help themselves. Those same Mysticals that helped you at Sandlake, gave their lives that night, to protect Sybil Honj, so that he was able to protect, and save, the next generation of Renegade, but, let’s get back to the story . . .

Every day that passed while IAM watched his world be ravaged by his brother, IAM wished, and prayed that his Father would return and see the beauty he had created before it was too late, before Appolyon destroyed everything he had worked so hard to build, and that’s when he decided, that the beauty of his creation wasn’t enough.

If he was going to show his people a better way, a brighter way, he would first have to walk in their shoes, feel their pain, and understand their suffering and rather than lead above them, he would live among them, as a living, breathing example of someone able to overcome the temptation’s of Appolyon, and be a living embodiment of strength, kindness, and mercy, and to do that, IAM realized he had but one choice. He would use what little power remained, to come down, to Thera, the same way every man and woman did.

Through childbirth . . .

The Flarian Warlord, his wife was barren. Their whole life, they wanted a child, and back in such days, if there were no offspring, then the line would break, and start anew. IAM, through the Phoenix, linked to the fire, sent his last remaining, influential power, into the one womb that could handle it, the wife, of a Flarian Warlord, to birth a human with the power capable enough to a bring a war torn planet, to peace. We are but a trinity you see? IAM the father, I the son, the Phoenix the spirit. The trinity, it is a powerful symbol, a representation of unity in many civilizations and cultures. One Deity, split into three, but still sharing the same shape.

Unfortunately, everything IAM has done, his twin brother, Appolyon, has done as well, and he is evil, Gisbo, so evil in fact, that Drakearon himself, knows not what he is. Deep down, in his heart of hearts, I’ve seen him. Drakearon truly believes he is doing this world a favor, truly believes he is involved in the greater good. He’s committed evil acts, but, through it all, his heart’s remained pure. How? He created a separate personality, one he is conscious of, but not in entirely control of, and when it comes out, when he spins that mask of his around, the business side of him, as he calls it, comes out and does the evil, while his other side, remains pure. It was the business side of him who destroyed Heaven’s Shelter, who killed the Renegades, who started the Great Veil war, and it was that side of him who has caused most, if not all, the misery and pain in this world.

The Phoenix, as I said, sent His essence into my mother, and impregnated her, so that I may enter this world, as a human, and set this world right, so that IAM, my true father, may see, touch, feel, and understand his creation through my eyes. Unfortunately, before I was born, while IAM spent himself and his power, so did, Appoloyon,” Vadid said.

“What? What do you . . .” Gisbo asked.

“Appolyon, in an unnatural way, entered the body of a corrupt politician, and while she was pregnant with me, he, cornered her, raped her, distorting the energies within her stomach. He knew that in this action, the soul of the child would be split, or, the mother would die, but my mother, decided a third option, on her own. The pain, the maddening visions from Appoloyon, it was too much to bear, and, in the dead of night, she sought to end it all, but since she was unwilling to dishonor the sands of her homeland, she traveled deep into the forests of Naforia, and it was there, my mother . . . she hung herself, but it didn’t stop the birth . . .

Out we came, the two of us, shredding our way out of her womb, not as mere babes, but at toddler stage, complete with a full set of teeth, hair, and wide open eyes. We hung from our umbilical cords, Drakearon and I, as my memory serves, doing battle with one another with me, strangling him, as he, bit into my heel, leaving a scar I still have today, but gravity took over, and due to our squirming, and unnatural weight, the cords snapped, and I managed to maintain high ground, while Drakearon, rolled down a hill, into a swamp.

It was at this moment, The Flarian’s arrived, finally caught up with my mother’s flight, only to see her dead, and me, still alive. They picked me up, returned me to my earthly father who instilled in me morals, values, and respect for my fellow man.

The same, was not for Drakearon . . .

Drakearon, unlike me, had no choice but to survive in the swamp, eating frogs, snakes, and anything else to survive, to stay alive, until he was eventually picked up by a wandering band of marauders, murderers for hire, ready and willing to do the worst of atrocities for the best of pay, but also . . . for free . . . as Drakearon, being just a child, was passed around to the men, one by one, to be repeatedly violated, beaten, raped, and abused by drunken animals of men, over and over, until he was both old enough, and strong enough, to fight back, and fight back he did, killing every member of the marauders, but not before discovering his innate ability to absorb the essence of fallen Flarians, his terrible, and frightening power.

The horrible part is, Gisbo, is every time you fight him, you aren’t just fighting him. You’re fighting the ghosts of thousands of my Flarian brothers and sisters, our, brothers and sisters. Part of me even believes he carries their souls with him as well. I hear them when I sleep sometime, crying out for a freedom I cannot give them.” Vadid said, his eyes growing heavy.

“I feel, it was in that marauder camp that Drakearon developed his dark and light halfs. One half to escape the pain, and the other, to remember it, in order to pay it back. Even now, I wonder, if things went differently that night, if perhaps, maybe, we were blank slates out of the gate, and if only Drakearon was taken into a loving home, as I was, but then, I need only look at my heel to know differently. I believe, possibly, there is a good side to Drakearon, way, down, but soon, I feel, it will be crushed and all that will remain, is the madness of Appoloyn.

From here, you know the rest, and that, that’s why I had to leave this world. Because Drakearon and I share the same soul, and through me, he would be able to return to Thera, and I, I could not let that happen, not after all the people who sacrificed their lives for our peace and freedom, and so, I had to leave. And that, Gisbo, is my story.” Vadid said, taking in a deep breath, and breathing it out, as if a great weight fell off his shoulders.

“So, so that’s why. That’s why you had to leave us! You, didn’t leave, you banished yourself, here, all alone, at the cost of your happiness, so that we, we could be happy,” Gisbo said, his eyes growing moist. “I’m, I’m so sorry for what I said before . . . I feel like such a fool . . .”

“No, I’m the one who is sorry, Gisbo. Yes, if I stayed, it meant Drakearon would return and once again, with him, death and destruction, but, in my heart of hearts, I know that wasn’t the real reason.” Vadid said.

“What do you mean?” Gisbo asked.

“The real reason I left? Politics,” Vadid said.

“Politics?” Gisbo asked.

“I was always better suited for swinging a sword, leading a charge, than leading a land, Gisbo. When the battle died, and there was peace, I had served my purpose. I brought peace to a world corrupted by war, but now, how ironic, that in a way, we live in a world corrupted by peace. You, you have been training for one moment, Gisbo, one fixed point in time, and when it’s done, and the battle’s over, and the final war approaches, like me, they will want your leadership. Then, you’ll have a decision to make. For me, with peace came a new evil I wasn’t equipped to face. Politics, but you, my dear Gisbo, you will succeed where I failed, by making the right choice.” Vadid said.

“And what choice is that?” Gisbo asked.

“A choice coming sooner than you think . . .” Vadid said.

“But how is that, that you’re . . . you’re a God, and yet, you couldn’t even solve Thera’s problems. What can I hope to do? And, everything you said, it contraddicts itself! If you’re IAM, or a part of IAM, then, then why?” Gisbo asked, now standing to his feet, his hands on his hips.

“Why what?” Vadid asked.

“Why create mankind? I can’t help, but remember something that Vice told me,” Gisbo started.

“Vice, said lots of things,” Vadid said.

“Yes, but, he said, the act of a God, creating us, for his worship, it is the ultimate act of gluttony. Why? Why create us in the first place?” Gisbo asked.

“Why? Tell me, Gisbo. Why is it that people create music? Write stories? Paint masterpieces? They certainly don’t do it to make money. Why do artists, do what they do?” Vadid asked.

“That’s a pretty loaded question, but, well, I have friends who paint and they say it relaxes them, or, is therapy, but, I think, it’s probably because, well, on second thought, I’m not really sure . . .” Gisbo said.

“Why did you want to be an Elekai’ Warrior? What do you get out of martial arts and self-defense?” Vadid asked.

“Well, lots of things, but if I had to sum it up to a phrase, I’d say, the ability to understand myself, and the world around me.” Gisbo asked.

“Bingo. Without the people of Thera, Gisbo, without you, IAM could never understand his own heart, the heart, given to him by his own father. Even Gods, need to grow . . . and die . . . there are Gods everywhere, Gisbo. Some call them celebrities, doctors, politicians, etc. but all of them require one thing to survive, faith. Gods cannot exist without faith, or so it’s been said, but, to me, being both son, and a part of IAM, I still cannot understand him fully in this human form of mine, let alone the one who created him, the one that binds all of Time of Space together, the Nameless one, but, I did come across something that helped put things into perspective for me.