Toka-Ace #1: The Re-Emergence
Chapter 19

“Danger” seemed to be the key concept. Once I describe my experiences I was successful in convincing Layla and her grandmother to leave their house and put themselves the protection of Katherine and the other former Tovlin operatives. Then I headed out for my next persuasion job.

I learned from the rocky start I’d gotten off to with Layla. This time I had a much more streamlined and efficient plan for going about this. Or at least I hoped so.

I went right up to the door, as myself, and rang the doorbell. After a little while of waiting I heard a woman’s voice. “Hold on, hold on, I’m coming,” she called.

The door opened. An African American woman with long micro-braided hair, an oval face and bright but inquisitive eyes had answered the door. “Hi, may I help you?”

“My name is Troy, I’m a friend of Eugene and Ivan. Are they home?” I asked.

“No,” she said regretfully. “Normally, they’d be on their way home from practice right about now, but today they went off to a barbeque in the park on Silver Spring.”

“Okay, no problem,” I said. “I’ll just catch up with them later.” I turned away, already plotting my next move. All I had to do was replace a place to transform into Toka-Ace and fly over to where Eugene and Ivan were and tell them everything.

“Would you like something to drink?” Sharron invited. (I knew her name was Sharron; I knew more about her then she would be at all comfortable knowing.)

“Sure.” I blurted, then I got angry at myself. Stupid. I was so stupid. Why had I said yes? I should have just left to look for Eugene and Ivan. How awkward was it going to be if I stayed here and Eugene and Ivan showed up and this woman realized that I wasn’t a friend of her nephews? There was only one thing left to do.

The living room was nice and spacious. There was a big plasma screen television and entertainment system. There was a big wooden table in the middle and three couches in a semi-circle around the entertainment system.

“Would you like something to eat?” Sharron offered.

“No, thanks,” I declined.

“So how do you know my nephews?” Sharron asked.

“Actually we go way back.”

“Really?”

I sighed. “No, not really, Look, I need to be honest. I don’t know Eugene or Ivan per se. I just have something important in common with them. It’s because of this important thing that we have in common that they’re in danger.”

Suddenly Sharron snapped into motion, not particularly fast but fast enough to surprise me. She grabbed my arm and swept my legs and threw me to the ground. “Arrghh!” I went to the ground hard. The wind was knocked out of me. She put her weight on me while keeping my arm in a lock.

“I work for the police department,” she said forcefully. “You’d better explain yourself. If you don’t answer me, I’ll personally throw your ass in jail before dinnertime. Who are you really? And why are you threatening my nephews?”

“I’m not out to hurt them,” I strained to say. I knew she worked for the police department but obviously hadn’t processed the information. I concentrated and transformed into Toka-Ace.

Sharron jumped off of my back before the white flames could touch her. “Now let’s try this again,” I said.

Sharron raced toward her closet. She yanked open the door and seconds later she leveled a shotgun at me.

“Whoa!” I spread my arms. I transformed back into my normal self. “People are after me because of my powers and the same group is targeting Eugene and Ivan.”

“What are you talking about?” Sharron demanded.

I told her everything I knew about Tovlin and the danger that her nephews were in because of Tovlin. It was hard convincing her I wasn’t crazy. I had to transform again and let her get close to me, peering at me like I was some crazy science experiment. I guess I was. She asked me a bunch of questions I couldn’t answer.

“They’re in danger now!” I finally said.

“I’ll call them right away. I’ll tell them to come home.”

“I can get to them faster.” I said.

“Hurry.” she said, as if she hadn’t been slowing me down. But I couldn’t blame her. It was pretty unbelievable.

“Keep your shotgun handy in case Tovlin comes here,” I instructed. “Don’t worry, I will bring them back.” I paused. “I’ll be sure to let you know before I walk in the door.”

I transformed and flew to Silver Spring. There were two picnic areas, a park, tennis courts, a couple of basketball courts, and a section of woods.

Night was starting to fall and the last bit of daylight was starting to fade. I flew over the park less worried about being seen.

I landed on the top of a tree and looked from person to person, searching for Eugene and Ivan.

There was some sort of party going on. Someone brought a grill and was barbequing. Near the grills were coolers. One of the coolers was open and I could see beer inside. A stereo rested on another cooler that I knew contained beer. The music flowed.

Girls in short shorts and low cut tops were dancing trying to get noticed by the boys. The boys cheered them on.

“Don’t hurt yourself, baby.” I could hear one guy from up here.

Tsk, tsk, tsk, I thought. I know their parents raised them better.

I looked at every face, and was still unable to locate Eugene or Ivan. It was dark. The street lights at the edge of the park were on and the only other light came from the fire of the grill and the occasional small bluish lights from people checking their cell phones.

Maybe Sharron called them and they’re on their way home, I concluded after more fruitless searching. I was about to leave when I noticed two girls going down a path. I followed from the air.

The girls were using their cell phones to light the way and ducking under low branches. They were joking with one another.

I was gliding just above the tree tops. The night and the tall trees protected me from being seen. Not that they were worried about anything other than the present moment anyway.

“This is where it’s going down at,” I heard one of the girls say.

There was a small clearing. Someone had started a small campfire. More teens were there. It was about an equal mix of five boys and five girls. Among them were Eugene and Ivan.

Great I found them. I descended and landed in a branch and watched. Eugene and Ivan were twins. They both have dark skin and were taller than me and had their hair cut in a fade.

“Hey quarterback,” Said one of the girls flirtatiously. She batted her eyes. “I was wondering if I could talk to you?”

“Give me a break,” I muttered to no one.

After a few seconds of talking I was able to work out that it was Ivan that the girl greeted. They started heading off together on a path that led away from the clearing. I sprung from my hiding place and landed in the soft dirt path front of Ivan.

Ivan jumped back in surprise and let out a curse. “What the...?Who are you?”

“Hey, football star,” I greeted mockingly. “I was wondering if I could talk to you.”

The teens in the clearing all stared at me. The girls took retreating steps. The guys came forward to stare at me.

“Eugene and Ivan Childs, I need to talk to you.” I announced.

Eugene came forward. “What is this?”

Before I could explain another guy came forward. ”It’s a guy in a costume.” he slurred. The boy was bigger than Eugene or Ivan. He was big and bulky. He pushed his way past Eugene. “Get out of here, costume guy.” He raised his fist to strike me.

Normal human speed is no match for me. I extended my hand and electrocuted him when he got close.

He collapsed to the ground with a soft thud. I held back. He would not die, but he would be unconscious for a few hours.

Eugene and Ivan both looked shell-shocked.

“What do you want, taser guy?” Eugene asked.

“The first thing you need to know is that they party is over.” I said sternly. “The second thing is that I need you to come with me because you’re in danger.”

“What do you mean?” Ivan asked. “What danger?”

“I think we can answer that question.” A new voice said. It was the voice of an adult.

There were three new men in the clearing. All of them wearing slacks and collared shirts. Or at least that’s what their holographic disguises would have the naked eye believe.