Propulsé

Chapter 2

Ari was certain that the subject of his search was hiding somewhere within Ends County. Immediately, he began the routine. The routine he encountered each time he came upon a new town in his hunt. His one-armed man. This process had repeated itself many times over the past year and change. He needed to find a way to exchange his money for the local currency. If not, he would have to find a job. Not only that but a place to say until he could determine his foes whereabouts. This was the cycle that played on a seemingly never ending repeat. Find a town, find a source of information, and find Mason.

As Ari explored the town, he ended up coming across a group of men blocking his path as he walked. They appeared to be part of some sort of group, wearing similar suits, all fixed with the same dangerous look in their eyes. Ari looked the men up and down swiftly. The awkward outlines of their jackets revealed to Ari they were some type of uniformed militia. Despite this, Ari casually stopped the men and asked them if there was a bar or a good restaurant nearby. Visibly annoyed by his casualness in addressing them, what could only be assumed to be the group’s leader stepped forward to confront him.

“You little punk! We might just be Nons but we work for the Ligue, show some respect!”

“Hey, hey.. I'm cool, I'm cool,” Ari calmly raised his hands forward defensively. Expressing his intentions to get information and be on his way. 'Nons' what the hell was that? It sounded stupid as Ari replayed the words back in his head. Immediately, Ari doubled over in a fit of laughter.

“You said you're what now? I'm not trying to be rude, but I've never heard someone so proudly call themselves a... Non was it?”

The leader of the group then lost what little patience he had, pulling a gun on Ari and bringing it straight to his face. Just as the barrel reached Ari's forehead the leader was immediately sent flying backwards at and incredible velocity.

Ari was startled by the sudden force; however he had no time to think as the rest of the gang came rushing in on him thinking that it was he who had taken out their leader. One of the men stepped forward and shouted, “Don't screw with us, you damn Nantis, we aren't afraid of you!” Ari, visibly confused, was then set upon by all four of them; however, the gang’s advantage in numbers was of no help.

Ari side stepped as the first large man lunged for him. The man continued forward as Ari made his move on the second closest guy. One strike with Ari’s free hand was all it took to knock him out cold. The third member chose this opening to rush in on Ari, however, Ari used his large and surprisingly heavy bag to force him to back off. Ari swung his bag across his body with great force as the third man dodged. The first member who Ari had rushed past chose the worst timing to move in as the bag came around full swing a buckle on the side of the bag landed perfectly, breaking his jaw.

The crack was so loud it had caused another young man to look across the street at the scuffle. As Ari’s back turned to the third and fourth man, they rushed in only to receive a double leg back kick to each of their faces as Ari balanced his hands on his overstuffed duffle bag. In truth, the entire event was over before it truly began. Ari was much faster and more prepared than any of his attackers. Luckily for him, the only man carrying a firearm was sent a block away before he could even comprehend what was happening.

The young man across the street was completely stunned by Ari's display of combat ability. He stood with his mouth agape as he watched the final moments. The guy was dressed plainly with a kind face of youthful innocence and spiky long black hair that had been clearly slicked back neatly with some molding gel. He did not appear to mean Ari any harm, his tie dyed ‘Good Buds' tee shirt giving off the impression that he was in no way involved with the strange men that were currently passed out on the sidewalk. Ari looked over at the boy to find that he seemingly vanished and reappeared right in front of Ari.

“I'm Jessie. Nice to meet ya,” Jessie offered his hand. However, Ari sharply withdrew.

“Waaaaaaahhhh, you-”

“What's the matter?” Jessie cocked his head to the side with a puzzled expression consuming his brow. He took a moment to observe Ari's appearance and it finally clicked.

“Oh you're not from around these parts?”

“Uh, no I'm not”

“I see, I see, well just come along with me.”

Ari, still baffled, began to walk along with Jessie through the downtown area. He had been on his own for so long it was nice to speak with someone who was not himself. As they walked, Jessie learned that Ari was a bartender in search of work. Hearing this news, Jessie immediately decided to bring him to a place called Propulsé. Ari had many questions regarding the incident with the uniformed men and Jessie's apparent disappearing act. Though he had assumed this was mainly a trick his mind had played on him. He was exhausted so he knew better than to place too much stock in his own perception.

Propulsé turned out to be a local bar with very unimpressive curb appeal. It almost reminded Ari of the other dive bars that he had done odd jobs for in his travels. The two then entered this dive bar-like establishment where the locals would come to hang out and drink in peace. There were two blue felt pool tables off to the front right corner, framing an old jukebox sitting against the wall between them. Just beyond that, a couple of large booths where big groups of people were sitting together and throwing back shots.

The bar was surprisingly quite nice once inside, with fancy wooden cherry red cabinets displaying the various liquors in stock at the bar through glass doors. Immediately behind the bar, a window revealing a small kitchen big enough to make various bar snacks led to the back exit. As Ari faced the bar, he noticed an entrance off to the left where there appeared to be a second floor. He thought to himself that it was much nicer than his initial impression. Business appeared to be steady, and he determined it would be a good place for him to work while he was in town. Bars were always a great way to meet a variety of locals. There he could gather information in locating Mason.

Propulsé, was, in actuality, a quaint place that served as a neutral zone in town where Nantis and Nons all got along, for the most part. Jessie brought Ari to the back office and introduced him to the owner of the bar, Bouche.

Bouche was at least a decade older than Ari, in his early thirties or so. A tall and robust man, standing almost two-feet taller than both Ari and Jessie he was like a real life giant. His big round cheeks were accentuated by his silly bowl-shaped haircut, the sides completely shaved to the skin. He wore a thin, but long mustache above his upper lip.

Bouche got straight to business and asked Ari to demonstrate his bar tending prowess. To this request, Ari smirked.

“Follow me back to the bar,” Ari said confidently. Bouche and Jessie shot each other an inquisitive look of skepticism. Ari immediately delivered. He grabbed a bottle, throwing it behind his back and catching it, spinning it in his hand as he brought it forward to pour a shot. Not yet finished showcasing his talents, he grabbed a couple slices of fruit and began juggling them in one hand, catching them in a shaker tin. The patrons of the bar all ceased their conversations to watch the young man. They were all stunned and began to cheer him on.

Ari flourished his right arm outward, signaling that he was just beginning the spectacle. He scanned the bar for a few bottles of choice and poured them four at a time, holding each end between his fingers. Then, he laid out eight glasses and slowly poured. He was holding something against the top; however, no one could make out what he was doing. Each glass was then filled with a shot, though to the crowd’s amazement the color changed slightly with each pour.

“It's green now!”

“Look yellow. Now orange!”

Everyone had never seen anything like it. Finally, the pour ended with a dark red color occupying the final glass. Then, Ari smiled and bowed.

“Here,” he happily called out as he passed out the glasses to various patrons whose attention he had caught while showing off for his potential new boss.

“Eh, it's a little over the top for the vibe of this bar.” Despite the words he spoke, Bouche could not help but be impressed by Ari.

“Oh, just hire him, he isn't just a bartender, he's a bouncer!”

Bouche first looked at Jessie then back to Ari. To Bouche, Ari did not even appear to be able to fight his way out of a paper bag.

“Go on,” Bouche curiously prodded Jessie. Jessie explained to Bouche how the two had met barely an hour before.

“He's from out of town too,” Jessie added. “It would be good to have a Non working here. Don't you agree, Bouche?”

“Non?” There was that weird word again or at least, it was being used in a weird context. Ari did not know what they meant by it but could only ascertain it was their word for a foreigner. Bouche took the opportunity to explain the caste system of Ends County. Ari refused to believe it at first. The existence of super powered humans. Nantis. There was no way. He was surely joking around, Ari thought. Though, it would explain how Jessie crossed the street instantaneously earlier that day. Either way, Ari listened closely to Bouche.

“Nantis are, by a majority, those with high mental prowess. Their minds function on a higher plane like a machine.”
“Why?” Ari asked curiously.

“Ah, no one can really answer that, though many have their theories….. For better or worse. But you need to be careful. There are also Nantis that possess dangerous abilities. This development has only come about in the past fifty years or so I hear. Each generation seems to be worse than the last.”

Bouche's explanation was interrupted by the old brass bell above the front door. It sharply rang out and a gloomy, slim girl entered the building. She tied on an apron with a yawn, putting her name tag on the left half of her shirt. Her eyes were dark and slightly baggy, belying her youthful face. Ari read the name tag as 'June' and began to watch her as she got straight to work. She was a younger girl, probably still a teenager in school, with dark green eyes, framed attractively by her straight bang haircut, either side just barely reaching past her jaw line.

"June, welcome to work, this is your new bartender Ari.”

“....” She looked in the direction of Ari's chest but never met his eyes. Ari turned to Bouche with disbelief and excitement, he could not believe he got a job so quickly.

“Really! Thank you so much Mr. Bouche!”

“Eh, just Bouche is fine...”

“I just have to find a room to stay in and I'm all set!”

“Take the room upstairs.” The words were spoken so off handedly they barely registered.

Ari was in even further disbelief than hearing the story of Nantis earlier. A room and a job in one shot. He could not thank Jessie enough for this. Jessie and Bouche for that matter.

“It ain't much but you can stay there.”

“How much is it though?” Ari had some left-over money, but it was from the last town he had visited. “Where is your exchange bank? I have a little money I can give you now.”

Bouche shook his head, “Ends County is still an unclassified zone. We don't have an exchange bank like other areas.”

“Well, my luck had to run out sometime....” Ari sighed.

“Don't worry about it for now, we will just get you settled in.”

Ari thanked Bouche and immediately began volleying questions about Nantis. He turned to June and asked her if she was also one of these Nantis.

Three small flies landed right on the tip of Ari's nose. He tried to shake them off frantically however, despite his flailing they would not budge. Where had they come from? They had to have flown in when June opened the door. The entire bar was clean upon his initial walk through. It perplexed him as he continued to desperately shake off the unwanted guests.

Everyone in the room began laughing uncontrollably at the spectacle.

“I can control just about any living life form. Aside from people,” June giggled, finally looking Ari in the eyes. “Not that I would even attempt such a thing....”

“June here assures that our establishment stays pest free,” Bouche laughed as Ari just looked at them with a face of childlike wonder. He was utterly fascinated by all of it, the people of Propulsé and staying in Ends County. Meeting such interesting people and laughing together with them was a feeling he had completely forgotten in his past year and a half of life on the road. As he continued to learn more of these Nantis the name Mason had nearly escaped his mind for once.