Dare to Soar
by Michael Babbish
“That will be
three Cabbage leaves,” said Marvin Pinkbelly, a fat man dressed in a pink pig
suit. “Three leaves only! Now that’s a good deal!” the pig suited man was
trying to sell pamphlets explaining his “Keep the Cabbage Coming” method. The
squat man claimed to have a means of gaining a large amount of the Coveted
Cabbage in a short amount of time. For those who may not know, the Coveted
Cabbage was the money used in regions known as Metroscapes. The Metroscapes
were large, industrial areas were people worked diligently, competed
steadfastly, or fought relentlessly to gain even a small amount of the shiny
greenish-yellow leaves that were the substance of the Coveted Cabbage. The
essence of the Cabbage, however, was more than just a monetary exchange item
and was certainly no ordinary food product: in a Metroscape, it was survival
itself. Gaining Cabbage and maintaining it was the means of remaining alive and
(if one were lucky enough or savvy enough) remaining safe.
Main City was one
of the Metroscapes in which life revolved around the Coveted Cabbage, and the
pig-suited Marvin Pinkbelly understood the importance of having it as well as
anyone. The small crowd gathered around him listening to his sales pitch for
the “Keep the Cabbage Coming” method also knew the high importance of the
substance. Most of the crowd of about twenty people standing outside a tall,
grey and nondescript building (like most buildings in Main City) and listening
to Marvin’s lecture were skeptical but intrigued. The jobs offered in Main City
paid very little Cabbage, and even those did not offer actual Cabbage leaves
but rather the “value” of Cabbage leaf quantity assigned to an electronic card.
Thus, when someone like Marvin Pinkbelly came along and offered an alternate
means of gaining Coveted Cabbage, it drew the interest of many desperate souls.
“Mr. Pinkbelly,
your method sounds a little too good to be true,” said a timid woman in a sheep
suit. “Of course it would seem so at first!” answered Marvin without skipping a
beat, “Everyone in Main City knows how difficult and dangerous obtaining
Cabbage can be. But I am a true man of the people, and a champion to the cause
of spreading the wealth of the Cabbage leaves to all citizens of Main City.
Everyone deserves to have some Cabbage, in my opinion. I have become adept at
accumulating Cabbage leaves through upright business practices. My original
Pinkbelly Baking Oven sold wonderfully, and I did well for myself by creating
an oven that produces good food expeditiously with minimal ingredients.
Numerous individuals throughout Main City have benefitted! But I wanted to do
more. I wanted to adopt my business prowess and ingenuity to helping others in
Main City, so that Cabbage could be enjoyed by all!”
“How are we supposed
to do that?” asked a man in a dirty grey dog suit. “We can’t create baking
ovens or things like that. How could anyone else earn Cabbage from your ideas.
Everyone knows it doesn’t work that way.”
“That’s the beauty
of it my friend,” answered Marvin, “I have already laid the groundwork for your
success! All you have to do is sign up to sell some of my outstanding
‘Pinkbelly Prize’ items- there are three to choose from- and then go out and
sell them yourself. Of course, I’ll take a small ration from your profits as I
am the supplier, but you’ll make some Cabbage leaves yourself. I get a return
for creating these wonderful products, you will make a profit by selling them,
and your customers will have gained a fantastic new item! With the “Keep the
Cabbage Coming” method, everyone wins!”
By the end of
Marvin’s sales pitch to help him sell his Pinkbelly Prize Items, several people
walked up to the pig-suited man eager to learn more, while others walked away.
One of those who walked away was a lean young man named Sig Calcium. This young
but passionate man was very eager to get himself a container, as living
quarters were called in Main City. He had been sleeping in a hole in the side
of a cliff off the outskirts of Main City for several months, and desperately
wanted to gain a better living in the cutthroat Metroscape. Sig did not have
confidence in Marvin Pinkbelly’s “Keep the Cabbage Coming” method mainly
because he did not think anyone would wish to buy anything from him. He had trouble
talking to people, and could not easily find work. Sig Calcium was not
registered in Main City, which meant he did not have the electronic
Registration Card that recorded a person’s life details, such as how much
Cabbage “value” they had earned. Registration made daily life in the Metroscape
easier, but it also made a person easily identifiable to the corrupt police
force known as the Main Patrol. Sig Calcium detested the Main Patrol ever since
they arrested his mother and father and left him without a home. Sig carried
this resentment with him all his days, but was always very careful not to show
it. In his heart he secretly vowed he would take revenge on the Main Patrol-
especially the Patrolman known as Devil Croak. It was this Patrolman, clad in a
thick black armored vest and wearing a horned helmet, that beat Sig’s father
nearly to the point of death before giving Sig a severe beat down and then
commanding his men to drag his father and mother away. Sig did not sustain any
lasting physical injuries from the attack, though his father was in bad
condition before he was dragged away. Devil Croak got his name from the deep,
croaking sound of his voice, and his great height and massive stature made him
difficult to forget. Sig never forgot Devil Croak, though he never saw him in
person again after that dreadful day. The worst part of the ordeal came when
Sig was informed his mother had married the vile Patrolman. Whether this was by
her will or coercion Sig had no idea, but he did not see his mother again after
the incident.
As he walked
through Main City he would occasionally walk past Teleweb screens. The Teleweb
was the information system installed throughout the Metroscapes that displayed
shows, news, and anything the citizens would need to see or hear. It was
accessed through screens set up in buildings or sometimes in public areas. The
Teleweb was run by the Caretaking Body, the governmental group that controlled
the Metroscapes and the Main Patrol. Sig hated and despised this governing group
almost as much as he did the Main Patrol, but they were distant and had their
capital in the Metroscape known as Sleek City. The Main Patrol were the
immediate threats to Sig and other citizens in Main City. The leader of the
Main Patrol was Chief Barns. Although Barns was leader of the patrol, Devil
Croak was his right-hand man and the primary implementer of the chief’s orders.
They were two hard men with dark souls who served the exploitive regime of Main
City.
Sig made his way
to his hole in the cliff before another grueling day of work. His job entailed
doing various tasks for a fat man named Gouger. Sig went to sleep in the dirty
blanket on a mound of packed hay that served as a bed and had disturbing dreams
of a dark, grinning face with curved horns upon its head. It belonged to a
creature that held a sword that shot flames. Sig stirred and woke before he went
back to a sleep without dreams.
The following day,
Sig’s boss Gouger was in a particularly unpleasant mood. The young man soon
learned that there was an attempted robbery on the warehouse Gouger owned. As a
result, the fat man took it out on his employees. “Get out there and find me
some of that bomb powder!” Gouger shouted at Sig. “Or if you can manage to get
your hands on a firearm that would be even better. I’ll give you double the
Cabbage leaves for one of those. I need something to kill these thieving
bastards with! Now go!”
“Yes sir,” replied
Sig before he went on his way. He knew his task for the day was nearly
impossible, but he was in no mood to argue with Gouger. Firearms were nearly
impossible to come by in Main City, except for the Main Patrol and some outlaws
such as the Mad Dog Tribe. Sig knew finding a firearm was not an option for
him, and the bomb powder was unlikely too. He also knew his pay would be meager
if he returned empty-handed, and this put him in a bad mood. Still he carried
on. As Sig walked through the streets of Main City something occurred that
brightened his spirit. He heard a voice call his name across the street before
he turned and saw one of his few friends in Main City.
“Hey Sig, what are
you up to?” called Try Wonder as he ran toward his friend. He wore a distinct
suit that resembled a blackbird.
“Hey Try, just
running errands for fat ass, as usual!” answered Sig with a smile.
“How about taking
a break and getting something to eat?” suggested Try enthusiastically.
“That sounds
awesome!” said Sig, and off they went.
The two friends
would occasionally get food at a little diner run by a raccoon-suited man named
Snoop. He was a pleasant person who enjoyed seeing the two young men in his
establishment. He greeted them cheerfully as they walked inside.
“How has your
mother been doing Try?” Sig asked about Sally Wonder, Try’s mother.
“She’s been as
good as she can be after what happened in the Coliseum,” answered Try. He was
referring to his father’s doom in the Grand Coliseum owned by a gigantic spider
named Mr. Spiderhat. “My new brother Twig has been helping her a lot. He’s a
good little boy. He loves the Grand Coliseum of course, though he doesn’t quite
understand its true severity.”
Twig Duckly was a
lost boy found by Try Wonder’s mother Sally. Had she not taken him in, the boy
may have been devoured by one of the predators known as Grandies- which were
large, dangerous animals that could speak and roamed outside the Metroscapes.
Many Grandies were just as intelligent and cunning as any human. Mr. Spiderhat
was one of these creatures who lived and worked inside the city, and was an
exceptionally canny and dangerous Grandie.
“I’m really glad
you found him,” said Sig, “I hate to think what would have happened to the poor
little guy if you didn’t.”
They had a
pleasant lunch at Snoop’s diner, but then Sig needed to return to his work
assignment for the day. Try decided to go with him and help his friend. Sig was
eighteen going on nineteen, and Try had just turned eighteen and greatly
admired his friend. They would have done anything for each other, as their
friendship grew strong after they met about one year previously. They had a
special connection with each other that not many people in Main City could establish
with each other, a true bond that transcended the hardship and nastiness that
epitomized life in Main City. Meeting Try was the best thing to happen to Sig
Calcium. After befriending Try he discovered a new purpose to life in himself.
Instead of being a frightened and embittered young man eager to take revenge on
the cruel world any way he could, his new sole purpose was seeing and passing
time with his friend. Though the animosity Sig felt toward the world was still
very much alive, the warm feelings he felt toward Try cooled his anger and
allowed him to concentrate his angst into more productive endeavors.
The feeling
between the friends was mutual. Try Wonder was confused, frightened and
spiritually broken after his father was forced to his death in the Grand
Coliseum. He would sometimes leave his home and wonder Main City aimlessly. On
one of these occasions he was nearly mugged by two fierce men in wasp suits
known as the Zing Bothers. Sig Calcium happened to come upon the scene and
saved Try from the vicious brothers. Sig was generally not good at conversing
with people, but fighting was an interaction that came naturally to him. It was
by a stroke of luck he wrenched a club from the hand of one of the Zing
Brothers and knocked them both out before leading Try away from the danger. He
spoke freely and naturally with Try. In fact, since his family’s abduction, Sig
spoke more causally with Try Wonder than he had with anyone else. Try brought
Sig to his home and his mother Sally fed Sig and allowed him to stay for the
night. It had been the first time Sig slept somewhere other than his hole in
the cliff in a year’s time. Sally was the first woman to show kindness to Sig
after his life’s traumatic upheaval, despite having an adult son she was still
very youthful and beautiful in appearance. Both of these things cause Sig to
have a latent but strong love for Sally that he would have never given voice
to. It actually caused him to be slightly awkward and shy in her presence, but
this endeared him even more toward her after he rescued Try. The friendliness
of Try Wonder and the hospitality of Sally Wonder moved Sig Calcium deeply, and
caused this overwhelming feeling of love to bloom in him. Sig became high on
the feeling. His affection for the kindhearted people only grew as time went
on. He did not even fully understand the feelings he had for both Sally and
Try, but he did not care. It was a beautiful, nourishing and motivating feeling
and that was all he needed to know.
As the friends
proceeded through the dusty grey streets of Main City to pursue Sig’s nearly
impossible work assignment for the day, Try brightened the spirit of his
hapless friend as he always did. Making jokes and doing impressions of the
personalities on the TeleWeb always made Sig laugh. Sig was usually a very
serious and focused person as his survival depended on it, but Try made him
laugh effortlessly and freely. It kept the humanity in Sig Calcium alive and
well, and prevented him from becoming one of the tireless cretins that so many
disenfranchised people in Main City had become. Sig despised his job, his
living situation and his boss Gouger, but in the presence of Try none of those
things troubled him.
Try actually had
an idea of where to find some of the bomb powder that Sig would need to give
his boss. He knew of an individual who tirelessly gathered all kinds of
materials, some of which were even illegal. Try did not like the individual,
but he knew he could be bargained with.
“That sounds risky
Try,” said Sig, “Most people in this city are untrustworthy scumbags. How do
you know we can even bargain with this guy anyway? It sounds dangerous.”
“It might be, but
I hate it that you live in that hole,” answered Try. “You need to earn some
Cabbage so you can get out of there already. I really wish we had room in my
container, but it’s too tight the way it is and my mom was barely allowed to
even adopt Twig. If you started living there the Main Patrol would give us
trouble. It really pisses me off!” Try had made himself angry recalling his
friend’s unfair and severe situation. His emotions then began to overwhelm him
and his eyes teared up. Sig knew this happened to Try, but made efforts to
console him every time. He took his friend into his arms in a tight embrace and
held him close. Try let hot tears pour for a moment, but then gained his
composure.
“Hey it’s okay
buddy,” said Sig as he wiped tears from Try’s face. “You know I’m too tough to
let this place get me down. And besides, like you told me before, we have each
other. As long as we keep on helping each other, nothing can really bring us
down.”
“You’re right,”
answered Try, now feeling better. He greatly admired the strength and
perseverance of his best friend, and on a deep level probably knew he was
responsible for it. The inspiration they provided each other was the essence of
what a true bond between two individuals is made of.
“So who is this
guy that might have the powder?” asked Sig.
“He’s a fly-man,”
said Try, “His name is Buzzy Hopedasher. He’s a very unsavory person, and I
hate him because he works for Mr. Spiderhat, but he has all kinds of stuff that
he trades for other goods. Because of his connections to Spiderhat he could get
away with dealing illegal items. I notice he generally doesn’t bother people
unless he has good reason. If we ask him to trade, he’ll probably just refuse
and fly away. But he usually keeps a low profile. That’s why I think he’s
better to approach than anyone else.”
“But what do we
have that he would want?” asked Sig. Try smiled and took an object from the
pocket of his blackbird suit. To Sig’s surprise, the object was a small power
wand. These were weapons that could emit dangerous sparks and sometimes even
fireballs. Try’s power wand was small, but would still be a valued commodity in
Main City. “Let’s get you some powder, my man!”
The two friends
found the fly-man Buzzy Hopedasher standing around the corner of a building
before an alleyway. He was tall and his arms and legs were thin. Buzzy was one
of the people in Main City who did not wear an animal suit, but rather had traits
of both a human and a creature. Buzzy was quite literally a man with the parts
of a fly. He had the mouth of a human, but his head from the nose up was a
fly’s head. His neck was human but his his thick torso and body were like a fly’s,
which made it resemble a strange bulbous suit. He had long skinny arms and and
legs that were black with human hands and feet. To say he was creepy would have
been an understatement. People like Buzzy who had human and animal traits were
known as Morphies. Nevertheless, he had something Try needed and the young man
would not be deterred by Buzzy’s unsavory look or character.
“Hello Buzzy,” said
Try as he and Sig made their way toward the fly-man.
“What do you
want?” asked Buzzy crossly.
“I have a nice
little power wand here that I thought you might want to trade me something
for,” replied Try.
“A little power
wand?” said Buzzy, intrigued. “That’s better than most of the crap you offer
me. I’ll take a look.” Try showed Buzzy the wand and the fly-man looked it
over. “Not bad. What do you want for it?”
“Do you have any
firearm powder you can spare?” asked Try.
“What the hell do
you want that for?” snapped Buzzy. “That’s dangerous shit. Oh wait, I get it. I
bet it’s for that tramp friend of yours, isn’t it?”
“Don’t worry about
it! Are you going to trade me or not?” Try answered, getting angry at Buzzy for
insulting Sig.
“Let me see what I
got,” muttered Buzzy, “Follow me.”
Buzzy led Try and
Sig into the building they were standing near. He closed the door behind them.
The place had a foul smell and was cluttered with random items. Much of it was
old furniture and various trinkets. They walked through the clutter, deeper
into the room.
“I got a few
people who I need to consult first,” said Buzzy, “Wait right here. I’ll see if
I have the powder.” Buzzy then disappeared into a door at the far end of the
room.
“Man, this place really
sucks,” said Try, “He better give me a decent amount of powder for that power
wand. I hate giving it to him, but it will be worth it.”
“You don’t have to
do this Try,” said Sig, “You should hang onto that power wand, you never know
when you might need it.”
“I’m not worried
about it. I have one other at home that’s a bit better anyway. It’s the one my
dad left behind before he was taken to the Grand Coliseum. That one is valuable
to me, but this little one I got from a friend who was on his out of Main City.
All it does is shoot sparks anyway.”
The door opened.
Buzzy stepped through and said, “Is this the guy fellas?” To the surprise of
both Sig and Try, two figures emerged into the room from behind Buzzy. It was
the dreaded Zing Brothers, and they both attacked the two friends.
The Zing Brothers
wore wasp suits, and unlike Buzzy Hopedasher they were two men in suits and not
a hybrid Morphie. Sig and Try defended themselves as best they could, and might
have beaten the Zing Brothers if not for Buzzy interfering with Try’s power
wand and blasting the two friends with the incapacitating sparks that emitted
from the weapon. Buzzy tied Sig’s arms behind his back while the Zing Brothers
made ready to remove Try’s blackbird suit. The scene enraged Sig so much that
he broke the bonds and leapt after the brothers. Sig attacked with such
ferocity that Buzzy was afraid to attack him even with the power wand he had.
Instead, he decided to just run away with the power wand.
The fighting and
screams caught the attention of people outside the building. Sig threw the
brothers through various piles of junk that cluttered the room, and it made
quite a commotion. It was not long before the Patrolmen emerged in the building
with batons. There were four of them and they beat Sig and the Zing Brothers
with their black batons. Try tried to intervene on behalf of his friend and
explain the situation, but was struck down by one of the batons. As Try, Sig
and both of the Zing Brothers were laid out, in stepped the dreaded Devil Croak.
He towered over the other Patrolmen and commanded them to take all four away.
Two Patrolmen brought the Zing Brothers out of the building and the remaining
two dragged Try and Sig outside. Devil Croak left them as the Patrolmen helped
Sig and Try to their feet.
“You two young men
better be careful.” The Patrolman said to the wearied friends. “If Devil Croak
identifies you as threats to the peace you will be in severe trouble. We have
had trouble with the Zing brothers before, but you two will want to watch
yourselves. What were you doing in that building anyway?”
Before either
friend could answer the Patrolman said, “Never mind, it’s not important now.
I’ll bring you home. Tell me where you live.”
The Patrolman
brought Sig and Try to the building where Try and his family lived. Mrs. Wonder
was distraught to see Try had gotten into trouble, but was relieved that he was
not severely harmed.
“Come in and have
something to eat.” Mrs. Wonder said to Try and Sig. “You both must be careful.
I know neither of you meant to cause any trouble, but there are more dangerous
people in Main City than one could count. Don’t trust anyone like that terrible
fly-man.”
After they ate Sig
left and would have to return to Gouger and explain that he didn’t receive
anything after his day of searching. He was sure Gouger would deride him
severely and the thought of it increased the aggravation he felt. He would have
felt worse if he knew of the conversation Sally Wonder had with Try after he
left.
Back in the
Wonders’ container, Sally said to Try, “I know Sig is your friend and I truly
wish I could help him. But he keeps getting himself into trouble. You know one
of these days he really might end up in bad trouble, and if he gets thrown into
the Coliseum like your father was, that will not end well.”
“Why don’t you
have more faith in Sig?” Try burst out as his emotions got the better of him.
“What happened to Dad was terrible, but he made a deal with that disgusting Mr.
Spiderhat and that’s what got him put into the Coliseum in the first place. Sig
won’t do anything like that!”
“But here you were
doing the same kind of thing for Sig,” answered Sally, “You were going to make
a deal with that fly-man to get Sig some Cabbage. I can understand why you did
that, but it’s a very bad idea and could end in you getting arrested and thrown
in prison, or even worse, you might end up in the Coliseum yourself.”
“Sig is homeless,
the damn Caretaking Body took everything from him!” shouted Try. “If nobody
else is going to help him, then I will!”
“I’m sorry Try,
but you can’t do anything for him,” said Sally. “You would be better off to
stay away from him while he’s doing his work.”
“I can’t believe
this, there’s no help for anyone in this damn place! I hate Main City, I wish I
could burn the whole damn city to the ground!”
“Try, don’t say
that! You could be arrested for even saying such a thing!”
“You could be
arrested for breathing in this stupid place!” Try said before leaving the
container and running off. Sally sat down on a chair, very saddened and nervous
for the sake of her son. Young Twig Duckly went to her and tried to console his
adopted mother.
Sig did not fare
any better than his friend that evening when he returned to Gouger’s warehouse.
His boss condemned him and threatened to fire him if he did not start producing
goods for Gouger to sell from his warehouse. Sig was forced to apologize and
left the warehouse feeling resentful and agitated. Instead of returning to his
hole in the cliff, the wandered off through Main City. It started to rain as he
walked through the streets, and he went so far that he eventually came to the
outskirts of Main City. As he walked along Sig noticed a strange figure in the
distance. It was a very large person that seemed to have a metal suit. Sig was
ready to turn away, but he noticed the large man was sitting on the ground and
seemed to be sulking. For some reason he had a strong urge to approach the
large person. The figure did not seem threatening. Sig approached the large
figure very cautiously.
The person appeared
to be a man in a suit that covered his entire body. The outfit appeared very
outlandish to Sig, but the man paid little attention to him. He was sitting on
the ground with his knees to his chest and his arms wrapped around them. The
man seemed almost like a giant, metal child. Sig also noticed this strange
person seemed very sad.
“Hello there,”
said Sig, “I don’t think I ever saw you around here before. That’s an
interesting outfit you’re wearing.”
“I don’t know
where I am,” said the huge man in a gentle voice. “I don’t even know how I got
here. But Kit was in trouble and I couldn’t help. It’s terrible; it was so
terrible. And I want to forget it. I want to make it all go away. I want to
make it go away.”
“What happened to
you?” asked Sig. “You are in Main City now. It’s one of the Metroscapes ruled
by the Caretaking Body. You better be careful, there are dangerous creatures
outside the City. There are Grandies and Morphies that could kill people,
although that suit looks like it could protect you. Where are you from, big
guy?”
“It doesn’t
matter,” answered the big, metal suited man. “It doesn’t matter, I can’t get
back, and I just want to be gone already. I want the pain to go away. Why am I
alive if I can’t do anything? Why won’t this pain just go away?”
“What’s giving you
pain?” asked Sig, “Maybe I can help. Is there something I can do to make it
stop?”
“Yes,” answered
the large man. “I have my painful memories stored on a cube, but I can’t remove
it myself. Someone else has to. The cube is behind my head, just at the top of
my neck. Can you remove it?”
Sig looked and saw
the cube the metal giant was talking about. He said “Yeah sure,” and then
removed the small cube. The metal giant let a sigh and said, “Thank you. I was
very upset, but now I cannot remember what was troubling me. What is your name
friend?”
“I am Sig
Calcium.”
“Thank you for
helping me Sig Calcium. My name is Cyber Wurko, but you can call me whatever
you like. I wish I can share more about myself, but you took many of my
memories from me. I still remember my abilities though. Let me pay you back by
making you a fine suit. I see people here wearing animal suits. I can make you
one. What kind of suit would you like?”
“Thank you sir,”
answered Sig, “I always wanted a bird suit. Kind of like my friend Try’s
blackbird suit, only I’d like mine to be dark red. I always wished I could fly
away in one, even though I know the suits don’t really do things like that.”
“The suit I make
you will allow you to fly, Sign Calcium,” said Cyber Wurko, “The suit I make
you will give you abilities beyond your wildest dreams.” A smile then seemed to
appear on the metal giant’s previously forlorn face.
“What!” exclaimed
Sig, “How can you do that?”
“I don’t know,”
said Cyber Wurko, “I just can. I don’t know why I have the abilities I do, but
I am sensing many different vibrations from the life around me. This city you
live in is in great torment and pain. This is a very troubled place. People are
miserable here. I sense you are in great pain too, Sig Calcium, but I’m here to
help you. I will help anyone like you. In spite of it all, you’re still a good
person. You deserve better than what this place has to offer you. I hope my
suit will help you, and I think it will. Just wait Sig Calcium, I will produce
a great bird suit for you. You will soar, Sig Calcium. The passion I sense
inside you will carry you to heights nobody around here has ever reached for a
very long time.”
“What are you
talking about?” asked Sig, “How do you know these things if you didn’t even
know the name of this place a moment ago.”
“I don’t know Sig
Calcium,” answered Cyber Wurko, “I just do.”
Cyber Wurko
instructed Sig to relax for a few hours while he worked on his new suit. Sig had
no idea how the metal giant was supposed to produce a suit since he had no
tailoring materials, but the gigantic man did seem to be quite an anomaly. Sig
walked around on the outskirts of Main City for a while thinking of how he
would gain more Cabbage leaves to afford a container for himself to live in. He
thought of Try and Sally wonder and hoped they would be okay. He recalled with
dread Devil Croak and the Main Patrol who arrested his parents and left him
homeless. Many things passed through his mind as he walked along. Finally,
after about three hours had passed, it was twilight and Sig returned to where
Cyber Wurko sat.
“Hello Sig
Calcium,” said the metal giant, “Your suit is ready.” Cyber Wurko pointed to a
box laying on the ground before him. Sig opened the box and pulled out the most
realistic-looking suit he had ever seen. Many people in Main City had animal
suits, but only hybrid people had an image that actually resembled an animal.
Sig was mesmerized by the suit, and for a moment just stood in awe staring at
the quality of it.
“Try it on,” said
Cyber Wurko gently. Sig did so and was amazed to find that the suit fit him
perfectly. It was composed of a headpiece with feathers and a beak that
strapped onto his face. A well-fitting shirt went over Sig’s torso and arms.
Two great wings emerged from the back of the shirt that Sig could control with
his thoughts and minimal back movement. He had no idea how that was even
possible, but it worked as though the wings were a natural part of him. It also
had two brown gloves that fit snugly over the young man’s large hands. The suit
contained a discreet brown belt that wrapped around his waist and connected the
shirt to the bottom part of the suit. This was fascinating as the bottom part
of the suit consisted of pants that had long tail feathers in the rear that
moved as easily and naturally as the wings of the back did. It also had
kneepads and elbow pads. The boots looked exactly like large bird feet and fit
comfortably over Sig’s feet. He moved his toes inside the nice-feeling boots
and to his surprise the bird toes of the boots moved as if they read his mind.
Even the back talon on his heel could move at his will.
After throwing off
his clothes and putting on the bird suit, Sig moved around in his new attire.
It was as if it gave new energy to his body. His movements all seemed fluid and
natural, and even his senses and instincts were enhanced by the amazing suit.
He could hear subtle sounds around him that he was sure he could not hear
before. He did not know how, but it seemed the headset had enhanced his
eyesight too. He was amazed and felt like a brand new person; he was completely
and totally revitalized. As he turned and faced Cyber Wurko again, Sig was
filled with such an overwhelming feeling of gratitude that his eyes began to
water. Other than Try and Sally Wonder, nobody had ever been this kind to him
since the day he was separated from his family. Sig ran to the metal giant and
threw his arms around him.
“Thank you so
much!” Sig exclaimed, “Thank you, you great and wonderful person! I haven’t
felt this good in so long!” In all his excitement Sig then kissed the side of
Cyber Wurko’s head, which to his surprise felt warm despite looking like metal.
He then repeatedly kissed his benefactor’s neck. The metal giant sat in the
same position and made no reaction, but as Sig moved away and stretched his
limbs in the suit the metal giant said to him, “That suit looks like a bird and
has wings for a reason. Spread out your wings and fly. The suit has internal
protections from the harmful weapons of the people in this place. I don’t know
how I remember that, but I do. It seems for the first time in your life Sig
Calcium, you can finally dare to soar beyond the troubles that have burdened
you for so long!”
In another moment
of bursting exultation, Sig leaped into the air and even to his own surprise he
flew as naturally as though he had done it his whole life. He made several laps
throughout the air and laughed heartily before landing onto the ground. He was
so excited he could hardly contain himself. He could hardly wait to go show his
new suit to Try.
After thanking
Cyber Wurko again, Sig flew off in search of his friend. When he came to Sally
Wonder’s container, he was surprised to enter and find the dove-suited woman
leaning over Try. Twig Duckly greeted Sig cheerfully as he walked inside. Sig’s
friend was lying on the small couch in his mother’s container with bruises on
his face. Sig immediately demanded to know what happened. He found Try was too
injured to speak.
“He saw a man
being bullied by The Zing Brothers,” Sally told Sig, “Try went to intervene,
but then Devil Croak and several other Patrolmen came upon them and gave them
all a severe beating. Try wasn’t as injured as the Zing brothers were, but he’s
in pretty bad shape.” Then she couldn’t help but address Sig’s new suit, “That
outfit looks incredible, where did you find that?”
Sally was
especially surprised because she knew of the poverty Sig lived in normally. He
explained his chance encounter with the metal giant and how he received the
suit from him. Sally could hardly believe what she was hearing, but then again
Main City was a strange place and all kinds of wild and unexpected things were
known to happen there.
Sally invited Sig
to stay at her container for that night, where he stayed awake at Try’s side
for most of the night. He eventually fell into a deep sleep for about three
hours, but then woke feeling completely rejuvenated. He gave his friend a
gentle embrace before silently slipping out of Sally’s container and into the
streets of Main City. Sally was kind enough to give Sig dinner during his stay
the night before, and he was not feeling very hungry in the morning. Instead he
was filled with a burning and overwhelming desire for revenge upon the
Patrolmen, specifically Devil Croak. The lieutenant of the Chief Patrolman was
known to be especially brutal in dealing with the citizens of Main City, and he
was greatly resented for it far and wide. Many wanted to destroy the vicious
Devil Croak, but most would not have stood a chance against him. The lieutenant
Patrolman was a giant of a man himself, and though he was not as large as Cyber
Wurko he was still very intimidating.
Sig’s suit was
especially great because as fantastic as its abilities were, when he decided he
wanted to retract his wings and tail feathers he was able to do so and make his
suit look very minimal. As he did this and walked through Main City, he looked
like a resident in an animal suit like most others who wore them. The material
still appeared to be high quality, but nobody would have suspected the immense
power that existed within the suit. Sig wanted to test the capabilities of his
new outfit, and planned to do so in a confrontation with Devil Croak when he
found him.
It did not take
the bird man long. He wandered around Main City until twilight, when he
eventually found Devil Croak and two other Patrolmen standing above a
frightened Marvin Pinkbelly in an alleyway. The pig-man was cowering in fear
before the Patrolmen when Sig intervened.
“Hey Devil Croak!”
Sig shouted, “I have a problem with you!”
The three
Patrolmen stopped what they were doing and slowly turned toward Sig.
“You have a lot of
gall to approach me boy,” said Devil Croak in his deep voice. “I’m going to
make you pay for your audacity. You will be begging for mercy by the time I’m
through with-”
Before the
Patrolman could finish his sentence Sig dashed at him and kicked the massive
man square in his face. Devil Croak flew backward and Marvin Pinkbelly swiftly
ran off. The other two Patrolmen immediately attacked Sig, but he defeated them
each with a single kick and knocked the both out. Sig Calcium then dashed
toward Devil Croak again, who was getting to his feet. The bird suited man
grabbed both of Devil Croak’s wrists and planted his feet directly into the
Patrolman’s face. Sig pressed with his feet and pulled with his hands until the
Main Patrol chief’s lieutenant had two dislocated shoulders. Devil Croak
cringed and fell to the ground as Sig let him go, though he did not let out a
scream. The other two Patrolmen began to stir, but Sig quickly descended upon
them and snapped both of their necks. The sound of the crunch curdled his blood
when he heard it, but in his adrenaline rush he turned his attention back to
Devil Croak.
By now Sig’s rage
was at maximum as he thought of the bruised body of his friend Try. Now that he
had actual power to wield, all of the bad feelings he built up over the past
several years of shame and degradation came out in a torrent of extreme
violence against Devil Croak. Sig leaped onto the Patrolman and punched him
repeatedly in the face until it the man’s helmet broke and his forehead was
flowing like a blood-red river over the terrain of his face. Sig then stood over
the Patrolman, and with the talons upon his boots he ripped out each of Devil
Croak’s eyes. He then slashed at his enemy’s face with the talons until it was
no longer recognizable. After releasing his frustration upon the Patrolmen Sig
finally calmed down and left the spot quickly. Nobody ever knew it was him that
slayed the Patrolmmen that night. Nobody that is, except Marvin Pinkbelly.
The pig-man ran as
swiftly as he could away from the alley after Sig Calcium attacked the
Patrolmen. Although he was relieved to be free of Devil Croak and his comrades,
he was frightened at the strength and agility of the bird-man. He was sure that
the newcomer was a Morphie of some kind, but one with exceptional strength. He
never told anyone of what he saw that night, for fear of incurring the wrath of
the strange bird-man. Marvin would see Sig Calcium again one day, but even then
he did not dare mention his brief run-in with him.
Sig flew off into
the night and returned to Cyber Wurko, where he collapsed and went to sleep for
the night. The following morning Sig was surprised when two small Bittes were
sitting before him and presented him with a freshly made oatmeal breakfast. Unlike
Grandies and Morphies, Bitties were good and gentle beings. They were small
people whose bodies resembled fruits, vegetables and flowers. Sig thanked the
Bitties and ate the food. He also noticed the blood had been cleaned from his
suit. Cyber Wurko remained in his same seated position and said nothing. Sig
thanked him again for the suit and flew away, not mentioning anything of the
previous night.
The Main Patrol
found the remains of Devil Croak and his comrades the next day and swiftly
removed the bodies. Chief Barns was adamant about not mentioning the incident
on the Teleweb to prevent his force from looking weak. Nevertheless, the
Caretaking Body had learned of the incident and brought Barns in for
questioning. In a secret lair beneath the City, several key members of the
Caretaking Body had gone to Main City from their headquarters in Sleek City.
Among them was their leader Lord Red. He was displeased to hear of the
humiliating loss to the Main Patrol and was determined to discover the cause.
When Chief Barns did not have any answers, the leader of the Caretaking Body
was not pleased. After groveling for mercy before his master, Barns was granted
clemency with a promise of reinforcements from Lord Red. Chief Barns understood
how lucky he was to remain alive after failing the cynical Lord Red, but the
leader of the Caretaking Body had more pressing matters on his mind and wanted
the chief of the Main Patrol alive. Deep in his dark soul Lord Red knew there
was something stirring in Main City that would threaten his power, but at the
moment he wished to remain calm and gather as much information as he could.
Little did he know the man who had slain Devil Croak would soon execute one of
the biggest offenses to the Caretaking Body anybody had done in recent memory.
Sig Calcium was in
mental turmoil after his battle with Devil Croak and the Patrolmen. He did not
know what to do with himself. He was glad he removed a fearsome threat from
Main City by slaying Devil Croak, but was also afraid of what the ordeal had
done to him. “Does this mean I am like him now?” Sig asked himself in fearful
self-reflection. “Did I get this suit just to be a murderer like Devil Croak?”
Sig broke down and wept, but soon flew into the air again and returned to Cyber
Wurko’s location. There he fell before the great giant and wept. Cyber Wurko
extended his hand and consoled the bewildered young man.
“Do not be upset
with yourself Sig.” said the Metal Giant. “You did what anyone in your
situation would have. I know there are things in my history that have caused me
great pain and suffering, but when you removed that memory cube from my head,
you took the painful memories away. You did me a great service. I wish I could
do the same for you and all human beings. I have extensive powers bestowed to
me through my metal suit, but I am still not nearly as strong as all of you. I
see have seen from afar how people live their daily lives. This is a dark and
threatening world you all live in, and yet you people in Main City persevere.
You entertain one another, create songs and stories and scenarios to help lift each
other’s spirits. It’s the most inspiring thing I ever saw. I see the way you
love each other, and despite my metal exterior, it touches a deep part of me
somehow. I loved once, the way you people love. I do not remember who or where,
but when I see the exchange of love between people in the midst of this dark
world I recognize it. I cannot understand how, but I do understand. Observing
this has been what has prevented me from self-destructing ever since I came to
this world. It is the most beautiful thing there is. If nothing else, I want to
help people like you preserve that. Have you felt this love before Sig?”
Cyber Wurko’s
words got Sig thinking, and it helped him get his mind centered after the
trauma of his battle with Devil Croak. Sig thought of his friend Try again, and
then answered Cyber Wurko. “Yes, I do love someone; a few people actually.
You’re right, even killing Devil Croak and those Patrolmen can’t change how I
feel about them. I’ll do anything for Try and Sally and Twig. I love them so
dearly. They are everything to me. They’re the friends I have in this hellish
place. I think I should go see them.”
“Yes, go do that
and feel better,” answered Cyber Wurko. “Don’t let anything bring you down.
It’s not worth it.”
Sig was encouraged
by his discussion with Cyber Wurko and set off to see his friend once more. His
reception at Sally Wonder’s house was different than what he had expected,
however. Sig noticed a grave, yet deeply sad, look in Mrs. Wonder’s eyes as she
greeted him.
“Sig, you’ve come
at a bad time.” Sally told him. Sig had an unpleasant premonition as she gazed
at him. Something in her look was different than what it usually was. She was
looking at him as if he was different, and a feeling of dread grew inside him.
“I’m afraid Try can’t
see you right now.” She said with a straight face that lacked emotion, which
was very uncharacteristic of her. “Sig I am truly sorry. I know you have been
through a lot, and I know you have been close with Try. But…” she hesitated for
only a fleeting moment, and then continued, “But I’m afraid you must stay away
from Try from now on! I don’t know why you’re wearing an animal suit now all of
a sudden, but it doesn’t matter. Try is in grave danger every time he is with
you, and I cannot allow it anymore. I have lost Try’s father already, and I
can’t lose him too. I have to take care of my boys. I care about you Sig, but I
cannot have you endangering my sons. Please leave and don’t come back. I mean
it Sig!”
It took every bit
of strenuous effort Sally could muster to not show her emotions, as she was
feeling extremely pained by what she was saying to Try. The look of confused
devastation in Sig’s eyes only made it worse. The young man stood in
consternation for a moment before his breathing quickened and, despite his
newfound confidence from his suit, his eyes teared up. He gently took her hand
in his and dropped to his knees.
“Sally, you can’t
mean that,” he said as his voice cracked. Sally kept her stoic gaze despite her
internal anguish.
“Please don’t do
this.” Sig begged as Sally pulled her hands away. “I swear I can protect Try,
as well and you and little Twig Duckly, if any danger should arrive. You would
be amazed what this new suit can do. I mean it, I have gained new abilities I
never knew could be possible.”
“That’s enough
Sig.” she answered. “I think you should go now.”
Sig could not keep
his grief inside any longer. Tears streamed down his face as he fell forward.
His tears dropped onto Sally Wonder’s shoes before she walked back into her
container and closed the door. Sig quickly wiped his tears away, composed
himself and ran off swiftly. When Sally entered her container she collapsed
onto the floor and sobbed heavily. Her adopted son Twig Duckly went to her and
tried to console her. She held him close as she wept bitter tears, knowing that
Sig would obey her demand that he stay away from Try. She knew Sig loved her as
he did her son, and she also knew she used this love to force him away and it
hurt her greatly. Despite this, she knew Sig was doomed to a terrible fate, and
did not want him to bring harm to her older son by getting him into trouble
with the Caretaking Body’s agents. She only hoped her efforts were not too
little too late.
Sig ran swiftly
from the building where Sally and her sons lived. As he neared the outskirts of
Main City he flew into the air with his newfound powers. He flew far away until
he came to the hole that used to be his home. He went inside and curled himself
up and wept bitterly. After he did this for a while and expelled his emotions,
at least for the moment, he heard a song playing in the distance. Somebody had
a music box that was playing a song.
“No matter what the world may do
I will always remember you
When my joy turns into fright
Your memory is my beam of light
My mind and heart want you to know
How deeply I love you so!
Forever, beyond the life of all
the stars
Eternally, deeper than all my
scars
Your image in my mind burns
As my lonesome heart still yearns
To see your loving eyes once more
To hear your voice that I adore
You are now beyond my reach
A place that I have yet to go
Still my heart wants you to know
How deeply I love you so!”
Sig wept again as
he heard the lyrics to the pop star Christie Starlight’s latest song “Too Far”
as it accurately reflected his feelings at the moment. He curled up in his hole
again and fell asleep for the night. When he woke, the aching pain had passed
though sadness remained. As his mind raced his emotions soon gave way to
seething anger. He had enough of the wicked world he was part of, and an idea
formed in his mind as to how he would take revenge on those he despised most-
the Caretaking Body.
After his fateful
meeting with Sally Wonder, Sig Calcium brooded for the next week. Eating and
sleeping very little, the bitterness inside him grew. The anger and aggression
he felt inside kept him from succumbing to depression and despair as was very
common to the residents of Main City and other Metroscapes. Though it tormented
him, it kept Sig Calcium alive in the darkest time in his life.
Sig occupied
himself by fighting thugs and ruffians in the streets of Main City, and
sometimes even fought against Patrolmen too. After slaying Devil Croak, he no
longer had any inhibitions to killing others who were in the service of the
Caretaking Body. He had only slain three other Patrolmen, as the others ran
away. If Sig defeated a foe who then ran away he usually let them go. He would
occasionally return to the area where Cyber Wurko was located, and Bitties
there would make meals for him. Cyber Wurko warned him about letting his anger
get the better of him.
“Be careful Sig,”
the Cyber Wurko told him, “There are beings out there that feed off of hatred
and aggression like yours. Most of these creatures feed off of people who are
depressed and hopeless, but some creatures from the dark depths of this world
may try to thrive from the negative energy of someone like you.”
“How do you know
this?” Sig asked.
“I’m not sure how, but I have a sense of these
things. There is much dark and terrible energy emanating from the hearts and
minds of people in this world. It frightens me. I also know there is positive
energy that rises occasionally in spite of it all. You should try to pursue the
latter, Sig. Someone like you would be very beneficial to the light- it needs
all the help it could get.”
Sig was not
entirely sure what Cyber Wurko was talking about- his large metallic friend
said strange things often. He did believe it was a good idea for him to use his
powers to help others, rather than just harm the Patrolmen. He did this when he
came upon Geb Growth, a fat man who was having difficulty making his way in
Main City as most residents were. Sig showed Geb to Cyber Wurko, who also made
him a suit resembling a grey rabbit. Geb loved the suit and hoped he might
eventually meet another person who wore one like it. Geb agreed to remain near
Cyber Wurko and the Bitties and helped establish an area called the Vegetable Patch.
Although Geb
Growth encouraged Sig to remain in the Vegetable Patch, the bird-suited man had
ideas of his own. He felt good about helping Geb, but deep in his heart he
still missed Try and could not be satisfied so long as he remained away from
his beloved friend.
One day something
occurred that angered Sig immensely. He discovered that the Caretaking Body’s
production of Cabbage now was containing an ingredient that made it addictive
to users. Sig discovered this information on a Teleweb screen located in a pub.
He was browsing a private station. These were technically illegal, but
impossible for the Caretaking Body to monitor because there were so many of
them. When Sig saw this he became enraged. The Coveted Cabbage already brought
out the worst in people because of its status as the currency in Main City and
its scarcity. Sig was angrier and more disgusted with the Caretaking Body after
discovering the additive to make the Cabbage even more dangerous and cause
additional harm to people. He left the pub and wandered through Main City.
One night, Sig
Calcium lay asleep and had a vivid dream. He was in the Grand Coliseum of Mr.
Spiderhat and was battling numerous enemies. He was winning until one large
enemy rose above the rest. It was a ferocious demon with dark wings, jagged
teeth and a flaming sword. A loud voice in the Coliseum said “The barriers are
being broken. Soon matter and mind will converge and things will never be the
same.”
The demon laughed
and held something up in his left hand as he brandished his sword with its
right hand. To Sig’s horror the thing in the creature’s hand was Try Wonder’s
corpse. In a fit of despairing madness Sig charged at the horned demon. The
monstrosity opened its mouth and Sig flew into it, where he was engulfed in
flames. Sig woke in a cold sweat, as the words, “The barriers are being broken”
lingered in his mind. He was so shaken up by the nightmare that it prompted him
to do something drastic. Seeing his greatest fear- Try’s death- manifested in a
dream made him bold and uncaring. He decided then and there that he would do
something to defy the Caretaking Body like nobody else in Main City had done
before, and he was going to do it at the heart of Main City- the Guard Post.
The Guard Post was
the central hub of Main City. It was where a massive bowl of the Coveted
Cabbage was located. This was guarded by massive Grandie hounds known as The
Guard Dogs. These beasts could destroy a person in mere seconds, and their gaze
struck immediate fear into the hearts of anyone who gazed into their eyes.
Nobody in their right mind would dare to confront a Guard Dog, let alone an
entire pack of them. But Sig Calcium was not in his right mind anymore – or
maybe he was the only person in his right mind, while everyone else’s mind was
warped by fear. Either way, Sig set off and flew into the air.
“I’ll show them
all what I think of them!” Sig thought in his mind as rage grew inside him. “If
I can’t be near Try, then I don’t care about anything anymore!”
Sig flew through
the air and eventually came to the clearing at the center of Main City where
the Guard Post was located. It seemed he arrived there at a very volatile time.
Sig perched atop one of the tall grey buildings of Main City and looked down on
the action in the clearing. He saw the massive bowl with the illuminated Cabbage
leaves emitting their mesmerizing glow. The massive hounds that were guarding
it seemed distracted by an individual. It was a man in a brown rabbit suit. Sig
noticed that the attention of the Guard Dogs was turned on this unfortunate
man, and they were temporarily distracted from the Coveted Cabbage. Sig saw his
chance and took it. He leaped forward and, summoning all the power in his suit,
flew in a mad dash toward the bowl like a bolt of lightning. Once he landed
inside of it, he grabbed two handfuls of Cabbage leaves, and as quick as he
flew in he dashed out again. The ear-splitting barking of the Guard Dogs filled
the entire Guard Post as the beasts lunged at the bird-suited thief. But they
were too late. Sig Calcium had achieved one of the greatest robberies and
offenses to the Caretaking Body in recent memory. The entire ordeal created a
buzz throughout all of the Metroscapes, and by the end of the day Sig Calcium
was the most wanted criminal in Main City, an accolade he was quite proud of.
Sig flew far away
with his handfuls of Cabbage, but he was unaware of the ripple effect his
actions would have. By labelling himself as the most wanted criminal of the
tyrannical government, he endangered anyone associated with him. It was not
long before Sally Wonder heard a knock on her door and the Main Patrol took Try
Wonder in for questioning. The realization that his actions could affect Try
dawned on Sig shortly after his heist, and his rage gave way to overwhelming
anxiety. He flew away from Main City and perched in some of the barren trees
that were scattered on the outskirts of the City. He mumbled to himself and
tried to think of ways to save Try, Sally and Twig, but to no avail. After
remaining awake for over two straight days, Sig finally fell asleep in a large,
dying bush on the barren outskirts of the Metroscape. He gathered food like a
scavenger for the next several days until one night he slept and had another
dream about the ominous demon he had seen previously. He woke after the
overwhelming feeling of dread had passed. At last he decided, for better or
worse, he would venture back into Main City. He knew his capture would be
certain and his fate would most likely be grim if he returned there, but his
concern for Try was too great to keep him any longer.
“Don’t worry Try,
I’m coming for you!” Sig said to himself as he flew back toward Main City. A
tear fell down the side of his face as he flew onward, not knowing the fate of
his beloved friend nor what his own would be.
Discover the fate of Sig Calcium and Try Wonder in the novel
“The Rabbit-Man” available now!
Michael Babbish
© 2017
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