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| Lpnet3-100 Day of the Mystikon Chapter 1: The Martian Landlords Chapter 2: The Post Neutronic Era Chapter 3: The NYC and the EMDA Chapter 4: Stranded at Toyland Chapter 5: A Gem for a Raygun Chapter 6: An Isotope for an Engine Chapter 7: A Sublime Portent Chapter 8: A Hard Rain Chapter 9: Against the Wind Chapter 10. The Monster Tank Chapter 11: The Secret Agent Chapter 12: The NDX Unit Chapter 13: Fort Granite Chapter 14: Contact with the Natives |
Day
of the Mystikon
2. The Post Neutronic Era I took my vacation and tried to rest, but it wasn't easy knowing how much manipulative power Exo and Xik had over my future. Within a week, I had all the gold and platinum converted to cold cash, and sat in a motel, wondering what to do with it. Before encountering Exo and Xik again, I had thought of writing a book. With 25 grand, it was possible to get it published. It was an ambition that I had long before my dealings with the Martians, and now, with the money to do it, I felt closer than ever to reaching that goal. But 2 months was not enough time, I realized, to complete it, or was it? Perhaps it was, if I really got going, but it was still not enough time to get it published. Besides, there were other things I had to do, and all that would take time. Finally, I compromised by carrying the writings in the briefcase wherever I went, and worked on it whenever I had the time. 25 thousand dollars was 25 times more money than I ever had all at once ever before. I could not resist the temptation to play with it and enjoy myself. One thing for certain about the good old USA, anyone with lots of money could find plenty of ways to enjoy it. When it came to play, the United States was a veritable playground for people with money. The first thing I did was locate an automobile dealer and purchased a vehicle for 10,000 in cash. It was a brand new 1994 ‘Hyundai’, not the sexiest or sportiest car, but nonetheless attractive, and for my practical purposes, quite within reason. When all the paperwork was complete and it was a done deal, I sat behind the wheel and felt like a new man. It was the first ‘new’ car I’d ever owned and with 15 thousand to play with still, I began to realize how good it was to be alive. As I drove south on 91 towards Springfield, toward the old hometown-city area, I wondered if I should look up some old friends. Then I thought of Lisa and wandered where she was. Exo said he could pick her up anytime, but I myself had lost touch with her quite some time ago. Besides, even if I did find her, there was no certainty that she’d still be interested in me. The fact was, she dated many other guys, all of whom had done better then I did. They all had more money, more muscle-power, and more friends. As I thought about it, I realized just having a new car and 15 grand to play with might be nothing compared to what her present boyfriends could provide. Still, I felt I had to protect her from Exo and Xik, so I decided it was beast to try and locate her, if for no other reason than to keep an eye on her. When the time came, it might be possible to defend her from the Martians. I spent the evening shopping for new clothes. For the first time in my life, I found an expensive suit that ‘made the man’ and for the first time in my life I looked like someone that ‘fitted in’ rather then stuck out like an oddball. Later that evening, I checked into a motel on route 5 in West Springfield and enjoyed the luxuries of a warm shower, expensive wine, Chinese food, and pay-television. The next day, I decided to put 13,000 in the bank and keep only 1500 on me. It was safer that way, especially considering the areas I intended upon venturing into. I can honestly say that whoever coined the phrase ‘money isn’t everything’, probably never was poor one day and wealthy the next, at least not in the USA. Sure, money isn’t ‘everything’, but it sure is a good beginning. Being poor sure wasn’t. I had lunch at a fast-food take-out, ate in the car, and decided to look up an old friend. Leo Gaultier, whom I attended high-school with, had married Lisa’s older sister Laura. If anyone could point me to Lisa, he could. So I located Leo and Laura living in West Springfield, and learned that Lisa was still single and living at home in ‘Mawaga’ with her mother and sister. I felt genuinely excited about seeing her again, but when I drove to her house in Mawaga, she was with another guy and I was suddenly unsure of myself. The other guy was good-looking, young, and had a very sexy, sporty vehicle. I saw them hugging in the driveway by the vehicle and decided to keep driving. As I reflected upon this image of them together, all the anger inside me arose and I couldn’t contain it. I drove quickly to the end of the street, got on the highway, and drove as fast as I could. Before I regained my senses, the Hyundai was hitting 85 and on its way to 90 mph. Around halfway along route 57 I gave myself a mental slap in the face, slowed down, got in the break down lane and stopped. What the heck was I doing? What did I expect? Lisa was a beautiful girl. It was perfectly natural for her to have such a relationship. I was a fool. I was a fool to think she’d be as unhappy and desperate as me. She didn’t need me. She was the kind of girl that had her pick of all the young men around. I was a fool to think she’d be alone and waiting for me to return, after all these years. She obviously had forgotten all about me and resumed her life as if I’d never existed. I became mad at her and then mad at myself for being so stupid. To heck with her, I decided, still some what under the heat of jealousy. I don’t need her and she doesn’t need me I went wild at that, like a caged animal set free in the jungle at last. I recalled all the money I had, thought of New York City, made a U-turn, and headed back to route 91. I let the rock and roll music blare as I sped along route 91 south, past Hartford, and New Haven, on to the Big Apple. I had plenty of cash, a bullet-proof vest (from AB1 Earth) and a .357 magnum pistol, just in case. I was a free bird, like I’d always wanted to be, and nothing was going to keep me down now. It was time for me to live, at last! |
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