A Whole New World

Cody struggled, his head caught in a vise-like grip by the leg of a young woman. Her calf pressed against him with a strength that belied her small frame, the blade at her heel spinning ominously. He could do nothing but remain at her mercy. His cheeks flushed with embarrassment, and he squeezed his eyes shut.

“Okay, okay! Please, just… get your leg off me, ma’am!” he pleaded.

She released him and stepped back, tilting her head in amusement.

Cody leaped to his feet, turned away, and faced the wall like a child caught misbehaving. “A gun would have been sufficient! Have you no sense of decorum?”

The young woman, no taller than four foot nine, crossed her arms and smirked. “Seriously? The man who reportedly took out a dozen enemies in his first M.U. sortie… afraid of physical proximity?”

He sighed. “I went to prison at seventeen. It’s not exactly rare for someone like me to be, well… inexperienced. People stay virgins into their thirties—sometimes longer.”

The woman chuckled softly and pulled a book from her jacket, placing it on the table. “Here, take this. Consider it a trade. I confiscated your ‘Ki Ki La La’ volume, so you’ll have to lend me the latest installment later. I love that series.”

Before Cody could respond, she had already exited the room. He turned toward the table and glanced at the thick book she had left behind. Curious, he picked it up. His face turned crimson when he read the title: The Kamasutra: The Complete Guide to… He trailed off and stuffed the book into his waistband, deciding he’d return it to her later.

Hours later, the door opened again. A man, flanked by two women, entered the room. One of them was the same young woman from earlier—Kalifa—who now wore a confident smile.

“My daughter tells me you mean no harm, especially when women are present,” the man began. “Let me be frank. We cannot detain you. Our war with the Chinese over Asia is complicated enough without involving a decorated pilot like yourself.”

“Decorated pilot?” Cody echoed, wary of where this was going.

“You are not the ‘War Dog’? I’ve heard tales: born in an M.U., your mother piloting against the Japanese until her final moments. Rumor says you piloted the M.U. back to safety as an infant. Quite the story. Do your M.U.s have an autopilot function?”

Cody groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose. “These rumors are getting ridiculous. What’s next? They’ll start calling me a god.”

The second woman—a quiet girl with a softer demeanor—spoke up. “Some already do. The ‘God of War,’ they say. Raised in Washington—a fishing village known for warring with neighbors for entertainment. Pilots pay homage to you before missions, believing it guarantees their survival and success.”

Kalifa grinned. “Wait until they find out you’re afraid of women. Oh, and let’s not forget your alleged three lovers.”

“Three lovers?” Cody asked incredulously.

The quieter woman continued. “The rumors name them: Heather Yamir, the ‘Angel of Death,’ a prodigy who’s been training tirelessly since she failed to rescue you; Ariana Greater, commander of the Second Legion, who conquered Alaska in search of you; and Tiffany Susan, a long-range specialist with the highest kill count, rumored to be emotionally scarred by your… supposed influence.”

“None of that is true!” Cody exclaimed, his face turning beet red. “Ariana might have a thing for me, but the rest? What is this, a harem manga? I’ve never even… seen a woman fully… you know… intentionally.”

The quieter woman raised an eyebrow. “And yet you’re carrying a copy of The Kamasutra in your waistband?”

Cody looked to Kalifa, who was grinning mischievously.

“I didn’t expect the famous ‘War Dog’ to be so… human,” the man said, gesturing for Cody to follow. “Come. Let’s get you a meal and some rest. You look like you’re in need of medical attention. Perhaps you’ll share your story along the way. I’ve never caught a shark with my bare hands, but I imagine you’ve got a tale or two.”

Cody shoved his hands into his pockets and muttered, “I bet you do, too.”

The second woman gave a small wave. “I’m Tasha. Nice to meet you.”

Cody nodded slightly. “Cody Ello Fin. Likewise.”

The man introduced himself as Jarima, ruler of the Jericho Province. He walked with his hands clasped behind his back, Kalifa and Tasha following a precise ten feet behind.

“When the Vatican finds out we harbored you, there will be consequences,” Jarima said calmly. “Luckily, we’ll return their M.U. and claim you had already fled by the time we realized you weren’t one of their agents. We’ll say you posed as a Vatican envoy, stole one of our M.U.s, and vanished.”

Cody raised an eyebrow. “And I’m just supposed to go along with this?”

Jarima smiled. “Yes. I’ll even provide you with a long-range M.U. It takes three pilots to operate here, but ours are superior to most. I think you’ll find it agreeable.”

“Why are you helping me at all?” Cody asked. “Why not hand me over to the Vatican or use me as leverage?”

Jarima stopped and turned to face him. “Simply put? I’m a fan of your story. You’re up there with Sun Tzu, I Ching… even Richard Nixon. Did you know Nixon piloted a short-range M.U. during the Great Eastern Conflict? His final words, before being shot down, were, ‘You’re the crooks, not me!’ Have you read his memoirs?”

Cody blinked. “This world just keeps getting stranger.”