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Post By G-Eyed Mon Dec 13, 2004 at 11:52:21 am EST |
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Unfinished Excerpt Week: three pages of what would have been Goldeneyed #1! | |
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“…and the question still on the minds of the citizens of Parodiopolis is, ‘just what is going on with the Lair Legion?’ Since their valiant efforts in the devastating ‘Ultizon War’, the infamous ‘super-hero’ organization has gone through a rocky period of change, losing several members, most prominently former team leader Fin Fang Foom. Meanwhile, the team has been taking in many younger, more inexperienced members as students in a new Lair Legion Training Academy, headed up by former Legion leader Visionary. However, despite this aura of change and growth surrounding Lair Island, public opinion of the current state of the Legion is lukewarm at best. This reporter has to ask: Can current team leader Goldeneyed take the heat?” Bry Katz slumps further against his bed, disgustedly eyeing the glowing television across the room. “I can too”, he says to himself. “I can damn too, you stupid-haired ass-bastard…” He takes another sip of his whisky drink, slowly standing to his feet. Interrupting Mary Tremblay’s entertainment news, he turns off the set. He breathes deep and shakes his head out, twirling the ice cubes in his glass. His legs quiver a little as he walks toward the armchair by the room’s window. He falls backward into it, letting out a muffled groan as he gazes out toward the city of Parodiopolis. He briefly finds himself lost in feelings of doubt and frustration, before quickly turning his attention towards next day’s agenda. ‘Training Academy curriculum to go over with Visionary.... And there’s new students to scout for. It’ll be Thursday, so there’ll probably be some new apocalypse to divert… I should maybe take a long lunch and see what Michael’s up to… And Laurie…’ Thoughts of Laurie flutter through his mind. Her ‘Confident Face’. The way she breathes when she’s asleep. The gentle look in her eyes in those rare moments where she’s truly relaxed. He loves her. He hates her and he loves her all at once. And with a long, deep breath, Bry Katz falls asleep.  1: Saying Goodbye - Part One In the morning, he discovers himself stiff and uncomfortable, curled up in his armchair. Beside him, his bed is well-made and undisturbed. It’s been nearly a week since he’s slept in it. He pulls himself out of the chair and stretches his arms. He stumbles over the glass on the floor. The carpet around it is wet and sticky. He walks into his open closet and finds a costume. It’s well-worn and a little ratty, but is the only one that’s not dirty or torn. Once dressed, Goldeneyed teleports to the kitchen. He takes a large bottle of water from the refrigerator. He doesn’t say a word to either Nats or CrazySugarFreakBoy!, who sit at the long table across the room, but He can feel Nats glaring at him. He quickly teleports to Finny’s office… no, his office… and takes a seat at his desk. He washes away the dry stickiness in his mouth with the water. His eyes roam over the large metallic desk, and he becomes overwhelmed with all that lies ahead of him – the reports, the releases, the meetings, the documents, the contracts… Goldeneyed sinks into the Makluan-sized chair behind the desk and buries his head into his hands. He rubs his eyes and moans in frustration. He folds his arms over his chest and sits back. He stares at the phone. A little blinking light tells him he has messages, but the mere thought of dealing with those makes him want to curl up and sleep. A moment later, he picks up the receiver. He dials Laurie Leyton’s phone number, hesitating after every number… “This is Laurie. I’m not in, so just leave a message or whatever.” Goldeneyed winces a little. He’s heard that message every day for the past two weeks. He hears a beep. This time, instead of hanging up, he clears his throat and launches into the speech that’s been running through his mind for the better part of the week. “Laurie, uh… it’s Bry. I’ve been trying to talk to you for a while. I’ve been trying to find you, but I don’t know where you are and I probably guess you don’t want to talk to me, so…” He clenches his eyes shut for a second or two. “I’m sorry. I don’t want it to be like this. But I can’t change the fact that mistakes were made, on both ends, and I can’t help how things are now. I feel really alone, Laurie. I haven’t told anyone. I’m trying to be strong, to be the leader, the rock… But I just feel so alone and helpless, and I don’t know how I’m going to get through the days anymore. I just don’t.” He finds himself chuckling a little. “I always hoped I’d be in charge someday. You know that. I always thought I’d be so good at it, too. I’d be Mr. Born Leader and guide the Legion into some bold new era. I’m trying to implement all those ideas I had, that we talked about… But it’s like I can’t be good enough. I can’t keep it together. My friends… My teammates, I mean. They don’t really have any faith in me. I can see that, and it’s just…” He stops himself, suddenly feeling very uncomfortable. “Laurie, I wanted to talk to you in person… I really wish I could just see you. Maybe it’d be different if I could see your face when I’m about to -- I can’t be with you, Laurie. Not anymore. I’m sorry... I just can’t get past it. The baby. I can’t. It’s not that I blame you. Not really. But you didn’t trust me. Did you think I would be like all those other bastards you used to date, that used you and ran off with things got tough? If you’d have told me… I swear, I would’ve done anything. For you, I’d have given up the costume, the Legion, everything. I swear…” His voice trembles as he speaks. He struggles to still his quivering bottom lip. “Because I loved you, Laurie. I loved you maybe more than I could really understand…” He holds the phone between his fingers. Nothing left to say. No good way to say goodbye. He hangs up the receiver. The intercom buzzes. Ruby Weaver’s voice breaks the fleeting second’s peaceful silence. “Mr. Goldeneyed, Nats is out here. He says he ‘needs to talk to you right damn now’…” G-Eyed groans. Loudly. “Tell him I’m busy. In fact, tell him I’m gone for the rest of the morning. I’ve got an important meeting I’m going to right now.” |
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