Arc 3 - Chapter 51: Bare Man

(Reverence 6, 59 / 8:10:AM)

“That pretty much sums up what happened. Nothing much, nothing little.”

He was crippled beyond repair.

With the white bandages acting like stone, he couldn’t move anything unless it was his eyes. Glancing at the opening hole to his left, Luke clicked his tongue, and smacked his lips.

“So Iris injected me with needles?”

“I was merely following orders. Overdosing you was a task that was given to me. Ordered by me.” Said Iris.

“But that’s not the issue. Right now, we have to know how we’re getting them back.”

Luke gazed his eyes on the metallic floor, as bits of dirt and mud groveled the metal. Unable to scratch his cheek, or his forehead, he tried to nod his head. But upon moving his head up an inch, he felt a sting press on his neck.

Groveling under the strain of the white bandages, he did however feel his toes twitch.

“Kenji wanted his soldiers to guard the adobe, but you had a good idea how to use them. What is it?”

“The train will pass through the Marston Bridge, which is the only way connecting Ridgemente to the west. Any idea what we could do with this Fenix?”

Luke moved his eyes toward Christian and Pacifica, who tried to keep straight faces. Looking like they avoided eye contact, Luke lowered his eyes, and licked his gums and the insides of his cheeks.

As warmth bestowed his mouth.

“How about we blow up the bridge.”

“Blowing up a bridge? Now why would we?”

“If the track is cut off, there would be no way for the train to cross through. Not only that, but it also eliminates the train itself.”

“Kill two birds with one stone, got it.”

Feeling a dry cough coming out, he spat out saliva, but his esophagus swelled in imaginary fire ants. Straining his eyebrows, the pain softened, as he slowly tilted his head up.

“If the soldiers are scouting the bridge, then that means they won’t find anything to blow it up with. Christian, Pacifica, if it’s alright with you two, can you guys assist them with the demolition.”

“Demolition?”

“This van still holds bottles of nitroglycerin. If we play our cards right, we could blow up the bridge with them.”

Pacifica pushed her nails into her palms.

Hearing her breathing fastened, her heart beat against her chest in a frail manner. Placing a hand on her knee, Christian felt her shaking body worsened. Gulping down saliva, the sensation of fire ants lowered, as if Luke’s throat was going through soreness.

“I understand you want payback, but getting revenge for Chris isn’t—”

“I’m not cuckoo! I’m fine! I’m dandy!”

“But uhm…”

“But what boy!?”

“... You’re not alone.”

Pacifica glared at Luke, his eyes adjusted on the floor rather than her face. He didn’t have tears in his eyes, but his cheeks struggled to remain carefree and relaxed. Exhaling air through his mouth, he cleared his throat… which was free from soreness.

“I lost my mother and father when I was 12. After the attack, I had no choice but to walk, a way for me to keep that promise. You want to know what my Mom said to me? To live, to survive as much as I can. So I did. When I was saved, I decided to become a soldier, to train like hell although I now look like… this. I have a blessing that is weak, guns that aren’t lethal, and muscles that can’t turn boulders. But I didn’t whine. I honed myself to become a soldier, a way to prove myself that I could last. Ever since last month, when I fought off old friends, I thought to myself… is this some joke? After everything that I went through, everything that I overcame, it was all meaningless? All because we are now called sinners? We went through hell defending that city. And do you know the worst part of it all?

Luke hunched his back forward.

“I lost another person close to me… the older sister I always wanted. I lost my first family, and I might lose my second. These stakes, and what I must do… is why I can’t lose.

A single tear escaped from her eye. Riveting down to her jawline, it crashed onto her leather sleeve, creating a small stain that was swallowed by the fabric. Both of her hands balled into fists, she loosened her grip the more she inhaled those heavy words.

Luke had endured more than a single soul could carry, yet he didn’t act hardened with scars. He didn’t scream his rage into the abyss or curse the dirt with his frustration. He chose to push forward with what little he possessed. If luck was all he had…

"Pacifica. Payback comes in many flavors. But if you’re dead set on getting your revenge, then at least do it with a clear head."

Averting her eyes away from Luke, she knew what it meant for Luke. What his second family meant. Uncurling her fingers, she laid her hands onto her thighs, whilst small droplets of blood stained her nails.

“Got it… b-boy…”

David glanced from behind, and noticed Luke’s hunched state. Seeing that he was moving slowly, the liquid that he was injected with was actually working.

“Luke. I don’t know if you realize it yet, but you’re moving bit by bit. By the time we get there, you might be able to walk. Christian, Pacifica, are you guys’ heads locked in the game?”

Christian clutched both of his hands together, but it wasn’t airtight. Having a frown on his face, he didn’t push his head nor his eyes down, as he took in Luke’s advice. His body trembling, unwavering even, all he had to do was take in a single breath…

Before narrowing his eyes forward.

“Ready as I ever be.”

Luke put on a smile, a casual one that lit up the sibling’s souls like a campfire. If they were to describe his face, it was as mellow as burning smores, melting chocolate, and hot cocoa. Accepting their destination to the Marston Bridge, rather than the train itself, Luke turned his head toward the open hole.

“Hey David. Once we reach Ridgemente, you and Iris are gonna accompany me. That leaves the van with Christian and Pacifica.”

“Sorry son, but you and Iris are jumping in on that train. Not me.”

“Wait what, why?”

“Gabriel is somewhere in that city.”

David’s fingers jabbed into the wheel, with the leather creaking greatly by his nails. He couldn’t turn to his right, as Iris was silent as he withered in frustration. Using his eyes, he trailed the many buttes that were painted orange. Reaching the height of mini mountains, that familiar sight engraved a small flicker of nostalgia…

“He’s a man that is equal to me in speed, but not in strength. If Luna can’t fight head to head with Kenichi, then I’m afraid no one can fight against Gabriel.”

Pushing his eyes back on the road, red-deviled tumbleweeds rolled against the pavement. Not a single one managed to strike him, but he did loosen his foot on the pedal.

“I’ll try to handle him somehow. And besides, I have a lot of questions that need to be answered.”

Luke glanced down at his hands, which were still bondaged in white. His fingers twitching one by one, he moved his hand, but the sensation of fire ants swelled in them too.

“So I guess we all know what we’re doing. Even if Iris tags along, I don’t know how me and her will get on…”

“With your luck, I’m sure you’ll make it.”

“I know… I know… hey can I ask you a question?”

“I’m all ears.”

Cracks and splinters began to pop from his cast, leaving some of his skin to be bare. Stretching out both of his legs, he felt tiny needles striking his skin, but he knew it was imaginary. Feeling the blood warm his toes, up to his thighs, he found the privilege to strain the floor with his feet.

“You called Mr. Sumiko the master of Togo. I don’t know if this may sound dumb, but, what is Togo?”

“Wait, you don’t know what Togo is?

“I’ve heard some of my friends talk about it. Is it like a power or…”

“Jesus kid…”

David placed the back of his head on the headrest, and had a small frown on his face. Doing it by force, he swayed his head left and right, and straightened his back. Pulling his right foot an inch back, the van drove below the speed limit through the desert winds.

“Togo is a fighting style used by most of the world. Most agents acquire it by training, along with specialized soldiers.”

“So then is it just training?”

“Yes. You just train. That’s how you grow it.”

Luke slowly raised his head.

Remembering a certain woman, he remembered the way she fought with her swords. But within that technique, lay a groundwork, a foundation she molded it off from. Knowing that she was strong, what gave her that strength was her hard work…

Clicking his tongue, Luke’s cheeks slightly went red the more he mesmerized her moves. Letting out an aww sound, his nodding didn’t prickle his skin like last time.

“No wonder Luna always trains. Ever since we first met, I would always see her working out at the gym.”

“I gave her insights and techniques, making her get a lead in training. I also tutored Miles and Stan a bit, but Luna by far is the greatest. It comes in stages.”

David’s eyes squinted at the dark patch of clads. Feeling the steering wheel loosen, it didn’t force him to steer erratically. Hearing the grains of sand sting the metal doors, it even made Christian and Pacifica stare out of that open hole.

But not Luke. As his whole body was teetering with a resurging warmth, he curled and uncurled his hands instinctively.

“In the system of Togo, there are four distinct stages each person goes through. Everyone that I told you about, including Luna, are in the first.”

“Wait what? How is she still at first?”

“She’s more or less bordering the second stage, so is Jenny and Iris. Judging from the way Kenichi fights, he might be bordering on the third.”

His eyes began to darken, as the fight with Kenichi mellowed his cheeks in a tingling darkness. Remembering those two fights, he didn’t allow his body to surge with strength like usual. He knew he went easy, he knew he couldn’t fully defeat him.

Digging his fingers into the leather, some of it scraped apart.

‘And Iris is going to have to deal with him. Hope she isn’t like Jenny…’

Luke pushed his elbows on his knees, while hearing the stone bandages crackle and snap. He turned his head to stare at the hole, but some of his cast began to crumple apart. Mostly from his neck and feet, the rest of it still grounded his body like a mummy.

“And what about you and Gwen?”

“Gwen never used Togo. That speed you saw of her, that was all her power. As for me however…”

David used the rearview mirror, but it was to see who was staring at him in the back. Without giving himself a chuckle, he raised his right lip up, as he glittered in smugness.

“I’m fully in the third stage. At that point, people who reach the third tend to be seen as superhuman.”

“And what about Mr. Sumiko.”

“Why do you think he’s called the Master of Togo?”

Luke gulped saliva down his throat, parching his vocals along with his gums and teeth. Vaguely remembering his spar, he trailed the way that old man fought. But it was all a blur. In fact, he didn’t really remember if he even moved. When he blinked, he was already on the ground.

—How am I still alive? Did he actually go easy on me?

There was no way for him to beat that battle. Not now, and maybe not ever. But if it weren’t for his own will, and his own unyielding spirit, he got right back on his feet. Even when everything burned, even when the pain overwhelmed his skin, down to his bones, he showcased his strength.

“During my spar with Mr. Sumiko, my blessing didn’t help me much. He was so fast, that even my instincts lacked speed. If there’s a way to evolve, or grow my blessing, then would I have to—”

“Blessings and curses are different.”

Luke raised his right eyebrow, and he felt no static dwell in his forehead. Looking like his face was already healed, there was no swelling within his lips or cheeks. Raising his right hand softly, most of the white bandage creaked from strain, while he began rubbing the back of his head.

“Wait what? How?”

“Blessings have acts, not stages. Curses have parts. There are three acts within a blessing user’s life, and it evolves the blessing.”

“So it gives the user more freedom.”

“Yeah. And for curses, there are two different parts to it. They can be switched back and forth, like a gear of a transmission. You can think of blessings as automatic, while curses are manual.”

More of Luke’s bandages tumbled to the floor.

Most of his shoulders being laid bare, the warm air of the van griseled against his skin. He didn’t wear any tank top or shirt, while his arms began to unravel from his binding. Only his stomach, crotch, and legs were still covered. But even then, they too began to sparkle.

“But unlike Togo, both blessings and curses can’t be grown by training. How they evolve, I forgot how.”

“So how do we know we evolved our blessing?”

“You and your group will figure it out for yourselves.”

“Great…”

Feeling his body shrivel in the warm damp air, he noticed Christian and Pacifica having mixed reactions. Christian made a deadpan face, while Pacifica had her hands block her eyes. Her cheeks blushing red, he had a naive curious look.

“You okay Pacifica?”

“You might wanna look down…”

Luke glanced down at his … he was bare.

“AH!!”

Placing both of his hands to his crotch, he covered it while pushing himself in a corner. His whole pale face burning red, he looked around rapidly with a quivering lip. Noticing a bag, one that looked like it houses clothes, it was right near where Christian stood.

But for a split second, Pacifica’s fingers slightly opened…

“D-Don’t peek!”

“I-I-I-I’m not!”

“Huh, no wonder Luna and Hope fight over you.”

“It’s not that special!”

With the van traversing through the high desert, the wind continued to howl. And upon glancing at the back, David had a smile to his face, as the three of them began to argue. Loosening his hands on the wheel, he returned his eyes to the road.

‘You better keep your eyes on him… he might be more than just ready…’