Radler and the tropes

Prologue 

A cup of coffee. One of those universal personal things. There are a million ways to doctored a single cup even though it all comes down to the simple ground beans. Diverse in its uniformity so to speak. I drink mine with a dollop of milk, no creamer and hold the sugar. A plain cup of coffee nothing added that would have me stress about its pronunciation as I order. Just about everything in a single day is already stress inducing enough as it is without that added to it too.

At this moment in time my plain cup of coffee with my dollop of milk is trembling slightly perched on the small train tray table in front of me. The trains soft sway a welcome reprieve from the chaos of work. A chaos I enjoy but don't want to take home with me every day. No one remains an educator for long if you don't love your job. Because as you are well aware teenagers are insane. I remember being one and not much has change in since then. I was insane as a teenager too, albeit a quiet and mild mannered one. Hormones are a bitch whichever sex or age you are you are.

Staring past my trembling coffee through the window I watch the endarkened country fly by, the sky littered with stars. Little did I know that I wouldn't be disembarking from this train and that that very cup of coffee before me would be the last cup of coffee I would ever taste.

Pity now I think about it, that I had chosen a shitty brand that day. If I had known I would have sprung for the better stuff for once. Then again if I had known maybe I would never have stepped foot on the 17:08 train home. Although more probable if I had known everything before hand I would have most definitely stepped on that train. Eagerly even, whatever the joys and heartbreak I would knowingly encounter along the way.

Saved by the bell

The screech of metal on metal was ear-piercing, I covered my head as my coffee spilled across the floor with the sudden jerking stop of the train. Being winter it was already dark outside but right then it seemed more than just the dark night. The few scattered people in this train compartment slowly started raising their heads above the seats. All clearly as confused and wary as I felt.

Why had we stopped?

What had happened?

Why was it so very darn dark outside?

One of my confused travel companions was a slightly familiar face. The familiarity you get when you often take the same train together. I didn’t known his name but you couldn’t look passed this man on the street even if you tried to. Very handsome was putting it mildly. A real Prince Charming type. *Insert eye roll here* Hair always full and healthy soft looking, eyes bright and lips succulent. Rosy cheeks and overall unblemished skin on a very tight athletic build. I mostly admire the looks from afar with these types. I can admit I am a little intimidated by such good-looking men. I know they are so far out of my league that I never put myself in a position of disappointment. Been there done that and adjusted my world view and expectations accordingly.

There are five of us in total in this train compartment. Me, Prince Charming, a middle aged professor type with salt and pepper hair and occupational glasses, a build young woman that looks like she could bench press Prince Charming himself and a young emo dressed kid around the age of my average pupil.  

The kid is staring out of the window, he’s closest to me and I hear him mutter to himself. “The stars disappeared.” 

I open my mouth to reassure him it’s probably just cloud coverage when the train compartments intersecting doors blow open on both sides and four solders troop in through each door. I say solders cause they move in a military fashion, though their dress is anything but camouflage.

Futuristic Celtic warriors is what springs to mind. Shiny black metal armor slim to the contours of the body, strong yet lightweight. High collars yet no helmets, no guns but strange looking spear-staff things. All eight of them stop in unison. Each one sporting different facial hair, some with long locks, dread lock and even man buns and beards. A few with shorter styles and a single one with buzz cut.

Black buzz cut steps forwards his eyes sweep over all of us and frowns. “There are five of you. Why are there five of you?” His voice hard and precise as his eyes stray over to Prince Charming, the professor and miss universe.

“The Bellatrix.” Buzz states and the miss universe eyes widen and nods.

His eyes fix on professor man. “Healer Asa.”

“I am a doctor yes.” The man says narrowing his eyes at the solder/warriors.

Buzz settles on Prince Charming and bows deeply. “Blue Brennan.” He says reverently

P.C. doesn’t know how to react to this. “Erm… It’s Brennan Delgado actually.”

Buzz straightens respectful. “We are aware of your ancestors naming Blue Brennan.” He turns his dark eyes back to us glaring daggers at me and nostrils flaring as he takes in the boy.

“Now who are you?” he directs to me. “And what are you?” he accuses the kid. Which makes me bristle, occupational hazard perhaps.

“I’m Radler Jones and this one of my pupils.” I lie though my name is correct.

“Pupils?” He frowns then widens in understanding. “You are a Solon.” By which every single warrior/solder turn a quart to face me and bows their heads respectfully.

“I – I am a teacher yes.” I gulp cause what the fuck.

Buzz glares at the kid and I feel him tremble where he’s half hiding behind me. “You give a whelp the honour of your tutelage?” he asks.

Ok. I don’t like this man. The kid is all but cowering behind me now and I step into full on teacher mode. “I do not need to defend myself against a man who’s not even stated his name or business yet.” Score temporary backbone.

Dreadlocks with beard behind Buzz steps forward. “The text only mentions three Kenraal Falkr.”

“I know. There should not have been five. Certainly no whelp.” Buzz all but sneers.

“A miscalculation perhaps.” Dreadlocks with beard surmised. Buzz or Falkr since I’m guessing Kenraal is a rank rather than a name seems to think this over. “Disposable then.” Dreadlocks with beard concludes. Ar which the kids grabs the back my coat and whines and I try very hard not to breath eye contact with our would be executioner. 

“No.” Falkr resolutely states his voice as hard as his stare. “A Solon is never disposable and the whelp…”

“Is with me.” I breath out in a whoosh. Astonishing myself with ability of speech at this very moment.

Falkrs jaw clenches and he nods curtly a slight flicker in his eyes before it disappears and turns back to the others. Completely dismissed our existence further more.

“Blue Brennen, the Bellatrix and Healer Asa we are in need of your help.”

“Our help?” Bellatrix questions.

“Yes Rouva. A triad of strength from another world.”

“Another world?” P.C gulps audibly.

“We need to disembark the transport. Before it disintegrates. The darkness is already seeping in.” Falkr points to the middle of the compartment where a strange black shadow is already creeping in through the window. He steps back and ushers the three of them out the compartment door. All eight warrior solders turn and proceed to the exit in unison. Leaving me and the kid behind without a word or thought.

“Erm… Mr. J-Jones?” The quiet voice behind me tugs at my coat. “That black stuff is spreading fast. I think we need to get out of here.”

The shadow seems to be eating up everything in its path. I strangely think to grab my bag as we quickly stumble out through the doors chasing behind the warrior solders. As I almost feel the blackness snap at my heels I prey we aren’t red shirts in this story.

Been a while huh guys? 

First installment of many more to come I hope.

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This is a piece of fiction. My piece of fiction which may not be borrowed, altered, taken or copied without my explicit permission. These stories are registered under my name.