EXTREME MAKEOVER - WORLD EDITION Chapter 2 – The Gaian Awakening
By Atlantis Jordan
DISCLAIMER: This fictional tale involves science fiction and adult same-sex situations. If you are offended by such material then this story may not be for you. All characters are fictional with loosely based material derived from my own real life situations and overactive imagination. Regardless of the title, this story isn’t about the popular reality show, Extreme Makeover. I hope you enjoy my first public offering. Comments can be sent to: atlantisjordan.com@gmail.com (yes, it’s a correct address).
"Open the door and come out with us, Dante. It's been like 3 months since we moved to Denver and all you've done is mope around feeling sorry for yourself. Quite frankly, Brian and I are sick of seeing you like this! Mark yells through the door while jiggling the handle. He thought that convincing Dante to move to his hometown of Denver would help his best friend get a fresh new start and start living again. But that hasn't been the case. He is now hoping that by forcing Dante to come with them on his and Brian's double date will help cheer up their best friend.
"And be a fifth wheel? I don't think so." Dante yells back through his bedroom door. He appreciates what his roommates, Mark and Brian are trying to do but he just doesn't feel like going out. Especially on a double date as a fifth wheel. Can you say awkward?
"We're just going to the movies. Date optional type of scene. Just think of it as hanging out with four friends" Mark silently motions for Brian to get the skeleton key by pretending as if he was giggling keys. "You might as well just come out with us or you'll never hear the end of it." Brian walks over with the key and proceeds to unlock the door. "Dante? We're coming in." Mark yells through the door.
"Hey! I didn't say you two could come in! Get out... get out now!" Dante shouts angrily but only half-heartedly. "When a man locks his bedroom door, that isn't a sign for his roommates to break in. What if I had a hot guy in here?" Dante closes down his computer and stands up to face his lock picking roommates. "I thought we had an agreement that locked doors means the occupant needs privacy."
Brian steps forth and puts Dante in a headlock. "After what you tried to pull 4 months ago, do you really think we would leave you alone too long?" Dante breaks free and moves to the other side of the room. "We just want you to go out with us and have a good time with two of the best friends a gay man can ever have." Brian smirks and flexes his muscular chest. He knows Dante's weakness for muscular men. It's how they became friends. Well, after an unsuccessful attempt at dating that is. As a matter of fact, it's how Dante met Mark as well. If it could ever work, they'd all be the best 3-way gay couple ever.
"Hey! Stop that." Dante frowns at Brian and turns to Mark who is grinning at the exchange. Mark bounces his own muscular chest also knowing how it affects Dante. "Oh yeah, very mature Mark. I swear the both of you act like two 7 year olds sometimes. Okay, fine I'll go... just stop... doing... that."
Mark and Brian high five each other. "Works every time!" They both exclaim at the same time. Mark walks up to Dante and kisses him on his forehead. "Be ready in about ten minutes, both Sean and David are on their way over."
"You two had this planned, didn't you?" Dante asks suspicious of his friends’ intentions. When greeted with the innocent shrug, he knows the answer. "Don't answer that. I'll be down in ten now out, the two of you."
Brian's cell phone goes off so he sprints out of the room to answer. Mark follows but stops at the door
and walks back over to Dante. "You know we are only doing this out of love. We only want you to be happy." Mark hugs Dante sighing heavily.
"I know. And I love you guys for that. Now go so that I can get ready." Dante says while pushing Mark away. "And Mark... thanks."
"You're always welcome. Just know that Brian and I are here for you. You're like a part of our family and family takes care of family." Mark exits the room and closes the door but lingers for awhile hoping that friendship alone will help. He already admitted to himself that he is secretly in love with Dante but knows that he's needed more as a friend. Even though he's now dating a really nice guy in Sean, he still is highly attracted to Dante. Maybe someday... he’ll be the luckiest man on Earth and have his heart.
Dante stares at his open closet not sure of what to wear when he picks up the stereo remote and turns on the radio. A slow song from Janet Jackson’s Rhythm Nation album called Lonely starts playing and Dante can't help but feel the tears start to fall.
Feeling so alone and deserted With people standing all around you Should I trust someone? Should I stay off to myself? Alone with no one to talk to It's such a helpless feeling
A soothing and beautiful song, Dante can’t help but sit down on his bed for a moment while the message of the song wraps around him like a lost lover. The relevance of the song undeniable...
So anytime you feel the need Call me when you're lonely Because everybody needs a friend To be there when you're lonely...
Mark is still outside Dante's door and hears the song. He thinks to himself that there couldn't be a more appropriate song to say what he feels. All he wants is for Dante to trust him enough to come to him when he feels depressed, lonely or whatever. "Dante, if I had one wish... it would be that you could feel comfortable sharing with me what is bothering you. I only want to be there for you. I wish there was some way for me to show you that." With a big sigh, Mark leaves the door and descends the stairs to meet his boyfriend.
So don't isolate yourself Every time that I come around A person all alone is an unhappy one We need somebody near to love us Someone who cares Living life all by yourself is impossible to do And I'll be there for you
If you're all alone and a friend you need Like a river flows, you hurt I'll bleed If you trust in me We can find a way to take away the pain Time heals all things Even a lonely state of mind because... Happiness is oh so hard to find. click
Dante shuts off the stereo and finishes getting ready. Now that was weird. That song was never released from Janet’s album so why was it playing on the radio? Weird. With a quick trip to the bathroom, he checks the mirror to eliminate all signs that he had been crying. "What is wrong with me? Okay, get yourself together. You're living with two of the sweetest guys you'll ever know and they want you to be around... so be around!" It's always disconcerting to realize that you are talking to yourself so Dante stops and walks downstairs to four handsome smiling faces.
A few hours later...
“So where is the Gaian child? We are in the vicinity that the Tracker Droids reported but I don’t see the child anywhere.” Commander Silaas says as he scans the crowded shopping center.
“Sir, I believe that he entered the establishment called AMC theatre with four Terrans, Sir.” One of Silaas’ surveillance team members states while retrieving data from the Droids. “A team of four would be sufficient to extract the Gaian with minimal upset to social order.”
“Yes, you may be correct. Pick your team and begin immediately!” Silaas had spent the better part of two months tracking down the Gaian only to have Prince Orian and his Atlantian cohorts thwart every gain he makes. Now, with the assurance that no Atlantian energy signal has been detected, Silaas is ready to capture the Gaian child and return to his beloved ship.
“Right away, Sir! Turek, Korzon and Chenok come with me!” The surveillance team captain heads towards the movie theatre with the best and strongest fighters on his team.
“Don’t fail me, captain” Silaas mumbled under his breath. “The sooner I can get off this backwards planet the better.”
At that very moment, leaving the theatre on the other side of the complex...
“Watch out! Fifth wheel coming through” Dante exclaims as he walks in between the two couples who were being way too affectionate for his taste. At least by being in front, he wouldn’t have to see what they were doing.
“I told you that you are a fifth wheel” Mark chuckles softly. “Isn’t that right, Sean?”
“Huh? Oomph!” Sean gets a jab in his side from Mark “Oh yeah, Dante you’re not a fifth wheel at all. This is just a bunch of friends hanging out.” Sean says while stealing knowing looks at Mark.
“Right” Dante says disbelievingly. “So what now?”
“Well...how about I buy everybody coffee, my treat!” David exclaims as if he just saved the night. “There is a great place just up ahead that doubles as a cool jazz club. It’ll be fun and a great way to wind down from that movie.”
As everyone files into the coffee shop/jazz club, Dante holds back and watches his friends with their dates and wishes he could be that happy. Mark notices that Dante isn’t with the rest of them and looks back seeing Dante with a sad expression on his face. He walks over.
“Aren’t you coming in with us?” Mark asks concern written on his face.
“No, I think I’m going to go home and call it a night.” Dante says putting on a forced smile. “But thank you for making me go out. I actually had a great time. Really!”
Mark didn’t know whether or not to trust his friend’s answer. “Okay, well get home safely and I’ll check in on you when Brian and I get back.” Giving Dante a big hug.
“Yeah, if you either of you too actually make it back”. Dante smiles genuinely as he always like to see the people he cares about happy. Even if he doesn’t feel he could ever be.
“We’ll be back. And I’ll be checking in on you, okay?” Mark kisses Dante on the forehead and with one final look and smile, returns to his date’s side.
Dante stands there watching his roommates having so much fun with their dates. After a moment he sighs, turns around and notices a mirror. While staring at his reflection, he is suddenly grabbed from behind.
“Hey! Let go of me!” Dante exclaims in surprise but his assailant is extremely strong.
“I’m not here to harm you but I need your help! You are in grave danger and I...” The stranger says but is suddenly cut off.
“Get away from him!” Sean yells across the room as he and David advances towards the scene. “Let him go!”
“Please Dante...” The stranger takes off running out the door following by Sean, David and Brian.
Dante is visibly shaken but otherwise okay. He can’t explain the sensations that flooded his senses about the stranger. He felt surprise, fear, and attraction, almost all at once. He was still deep in his thoughts when Mark approached him.
“Dante! Are you okay? Did that man hurt you?” Mark could be a mother hen sometimes. Dante smiles inwardly as he acknowledges Marks concern.
“No, but that was very weird. I was startled but he didn’t hurt me. Just said that he needed my help.” Dante starts to rub his arms. He didn’t know why he didn’t also say that the stranger felt his life was in danger.
“Well, it was probably some crazy street dweller looking for a quick buck.” Mark said matter-of-factly. “I’m just glad that you are okay”. Mark grabs Dante and hugs him tightly. “For a moment there, I was afraid that he was about to do something bad to you!”
Dante feels how the scene had visibly shaken Mark so he did what he does best... comfort. He returns Mark’s hug and assures him that everything will be okay and the he was fine. Over Marks shoulder, he notices the shop employees putting out fires that seem to have erupted on a couple of the tables that had candles on them.
Back on stealth cruiser 1...
“What was that?!” Orian exclaims as a Terran surveillance alarm goes off.
“Sir, the Gaian has awakened! I am now able to get a fix on its location!” The tech states with excitement. “I’m sure Raynor has made contact with the Gaian by now which may account for the bio-energy spike.”
“Let’s hope that you are right. I’ve been patient long enough. Now that you can track the Gaian, tell me of her location immediately. It’s about time I met my new charge.” Orian’s eyes glow an unnatural white as he begins chanting the Protectors ritual in preparation for meeting a Gaian for the first time. He is excited and a bit unsure at the same time... but he knows what his birthright is and he will not be denied!
“Sir, just so you are aware... uhm... the Gaian’s signal reading is that of a male, not female.” The tech says. “I’ll double check the reading just to be sure.”
End of Chapter 2....
Note from meeting Dante for the first time. Keep in mind that he still doesn’t know the GENDER of the Gaian child. And yes, Dante’s abilities as a Gaian is manifesting (awakened). Please feel free to email me your comments, regardless if they are negative or positive, to atlantisjordan.com@gmail.com.