The Minds' Game: Reset

By Daniel Mehltretter

Mature Content Warning*

The Second of The Minds' Game Trilogy begins years after the events of the first book. Forcibly separated at the end of an age, Gina and Jeremiah are cast away to discover the secrets of a new world.
Your heart and mind will be taken on a journey beyond their breaking points in Daniel Mehltretter's second sci-fi novel: The Minds' Game: Reset.
Welcome to Sircuit.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *

This book includes all 301 short chapters of Book II.

Download and Enjoy!

*Blood and gore, Intense violence, Brief strong language, Suggestive themes.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Daniel Mehltretter
• Release date: Jul 17, 2012
• ISBN: 9781476172521

Daniel Mehltretter

Daniel Mehltretter graduated with a Bachelor's degree from Savannah College of Art and Design in Interactive Design and Game Development in 2010. Then in 2011-2012 Daniel attended the School of Revival in Raleigh, NC. During the fourth quarter of his junior year in college, Daniel wrote The Minds' Game, First Edition, following a breakup and prophecy. All 301 short chapters were written in 12 weeks and one day. In 2011 Daniel re-released The Minds' Game with rewritten chapters and for free. The Reimagined Edition of book 1 is now canon to the series and the only version available. The Minds' Game: Reset was written over the course of 3 years, and was published in 2012. He is writing book 3 at this time.

Book preview

Preface - Jeremiah

Enclosed Thoughts

What makes a man? Or a woman? Or any Being of worth? Is value attainable? Or are we all just here to suffer 'til our lives come to their inevitable ends?

Encapsulated in a liquid tomb of a dying aqua-colored river, the only thing that kept me alive was listening to the repetitive murmurs of my own inceptions. The truth was nothing was known. I had been in the river too long. External stimulants were limited to visions of my subconscious. They weren't external at all, but for the seeming randomness of them. In my own thoughts everything always equivocated to déjà vu. The moment I thought something was new, I realized it was something I had figured out ages ago.

This game wasn't designed for us. That much I knew. It was created for The Minds Themselves. It was a way for Them to explore, create, compete and – for one of Them – destroy. We were created for Them and therefore we had purpose. Even those of us without the Minds' direct guidance had purpose. Why else would they have been made?

Value on the other hand was a trickier slope to follow. Having had a number of years to think of all the various ways The Game would end, I concluded it hadn't already. A hard guess when the Mind that delivered you seems to be visiting everyone except you, but an easier expectation when you know you're still alive. If The Game had ended, I was pretty sure we'd all have been cleaned up by now.

Gina... Where was she now? I feared she was still trapped inside The Bleeding River on some course unknown, but somehow, I was more afraid of her experiencing the opposite. I feared that she'd found a new home, new friends, a new life, and a better one than I would have been able to give to her. But at the same time, I wanted her to have that more than anything else in this far galaxy. Even more than myself. I understood love.

But Nevaeh, I'd do everything in my power to see her again. The moment my boots hit solid ground they'd be running in search of her. And I damn well knew that she'd be doing the same for me. . . We were in love.

Warning:

You are going to enter The Minds’ Game.

What you think you know will change.

…Things are different here…

ACT I

Beyond the Belief

To comprehend is to reason. To know is to feel. To do both is to live.

– The Balance, Book II.

Chapter 1 - Jeremiah

Nevi’im Aharonim

Two living waters had taken two loving Cardinals away from one another. Years had passed since the two Being’s guided by the First Mind had come to know nothing but silence and separation. However, even as they waited in standby, The Game continued.

The Healing River meandered through space. Anything that moved close was consumed to fuel it and then dispatched—still living—into the emptiness around it. However, Jeremiah was not let go.

Jeremiah stayed in the river, watching the bodies soar away. He did not care to join them for the river was keeping him alive. If he were to leave, there would be no sun with air to breath. His only choice was to stay and to wait. It gave him life.

The river continued fleeing through nothingness. Until one day, years after the destruction of Genra, something large was caught in the river’s stream. The old man was ready to return to work.

He was ready. . . He is ready . . . for his second calling.

Chapter 2 - Gina

Nevi'im Rishonim

Are sure that you are ready for this?

I looked down at our tactical gear. Both of us had our fatigues, grenades, weapons and ammunition. We had enough to kill anything that moves more than once.

Of course, I replied. We’ve come all this way, there’s no sense in turning back now.

We walked cautiously through the geometric cave. Everything was squared off along its edges. The walls, rocks and light moved around us as we went. It felt like we were walking in place as the world moved on by.

Do you know what it looks like?

Well, I should, I laughed. It would be impossible for us to find if I didn't.

I don’t know about impossible… He lowered his dark glasses to wink at me. His smile radiated that artificial confidence he had whenever we came here.

You sounded like Messiah just then, I chuckled.

Who?

Just a friend of mine from Genra. I answered. He once said that anything is possible.

My friend, Zion, believed that too… he replied.

There was a waterfall coming down a large hole above the path. On the other side was a small underground village. It was anyone's guess what types of villainous creatures or beings waited for us there. But knowing him, I had a pretty good guess.

We looked at the waterfall, with the light-blue sunlight filtering through it from a hole in the ceiling above the town. My companion turned to me and said,

We are close. Are you sure you’re ready?

Chapter 3 - Gina

Read or Not

I removed two handles that slid into holsters on my hips. Buttons along the bottom of each allowed the SS-Tendency and SS-Inclination to transform. They were nearly identical guns that fired large arrows of Shardskrew glass. It shrunk through the air until their targets were found. I made each with minds of their own.

I reminded him that I was born ready and he laughed.

You should take things more seriously. You’re always acting like life’s a game, he said.

I laughed inside, knowing that our lives weren't part of a game. We were all a part of The Game. It was a shame that so few knew it…

Chapter 4 - Gina

Curse of Thought

My assistant prepared himself for the battle ahead. He was the same height as I, with a handsome heft of hair and a little stubble underneath his round chin. His eyes were warm, but dark. He held his rifle; the Arctic Finale, before the waterfall’s reflective sheen in marvel of its beauty.

"…And you thought I took things too lightly," I joked.

This’s no less plausible than those, he said, looking at the guns in my hands. The light went through his frosty gun and the smoke that streamed from the end of it. His gloved hands were tightly wrapped around its warm rubber handles to keep from freezing. Or so he said.

I’ll go first, I told him. Not hesitating, I ran and jumped through the clear waterfall. I landed, completely soaked, on the ground behind it. I was on a rock ledge over the village. From here, a narrow staircase led down to the heart of it. I looked back to watch him jump through.

Wasn’t so bad, he said, landing beside me.

I looked at him strangely, You’re not wet!

He looked down and apologized. Oh, sorry. I wasn’t thinking.

He stepped back to the hole the water was falling down and reached his arm into the waterfall. The water splashed over his gloves and down his sleeves. The water near his weapon turned to ice.

Do you approve, Mrs. Particular?

I laughed and replied, That's good enough.

We looked at the long staircase that led into the village below. The opening in the cave above was about as wide as the town itself. The rising blue sun had no difficulty shining its light onto the many slanted red roofs.

So, what do’ya think? he asked desperately.

I’ll have to admit, I’m moderately impressed by this one.

Chapter 5 - Gina

Preemptive Strike

"Whoa! Did you see that?" he asked.

I stared at him, his mouth hung wide with his false state of shock. He was mocking my reaction the scenery last month. My vision was phased by his terrible sense of humor.

Do you have to make fun of me every time?

He laughed, but I ignored him. The shadow of something, or someone, had just jumped between buildings on the edge of the town. He may have been joking, but there really was something there.

I quickly brushed past him and hurried down the narrow stairs without a guardrail. He continued to stand on the ledge, laughing with himself.

SHINNNNGK! Ta… Ta… Ta…Ta..TA..TA.TA!TA!TA!

Oh, Sheol…

TA!--BOOOOM!

The stairs around him exploded from a sticky time bomb -- sending him flying cartoonishly through the air. He landed on a rooftop twenty feet below and rolled down its slanted shingles. Its tilted drain stopped his exaggerated rolls.

Are you alright!?

CRAAAAAASH!

The shingles around him exploded with the same villains we'd seen two weeks prior.

Ninjas?! Are you serious?

The black bandits ran up the walls of the building in their bare-feet, swords held back in their hands. The leader had jumped through the roof beside him. The ninja grabbed him by the neck and lifted him to his feet. I have you now, Judas!

You told me your name was Peter! I yelled to my partner.

SLISH!

He didn't have time to answer. A riptide of red splashed out of his mouth. In one swift motion, the ninja removed his sword and shoved my partner's lifeless body off of the roof.

Chapter 6 - Gina

What Is It

The stone stairwell was shaking. I looked back and saw that the explosion had destroyed some of its supports. It was going to fall over! I hope the relic isn't in there! I panicked. Why was Peter so careless?

There wasn't more time to think. I had to act. And fast!

With the stairs half-over, I jumped over the three-story drop onto another rooftop. The stairs behind me crushed the buildings where Peter or Judas had been. Three or more light-footed ninjas dashed over the red boxes to avoid the falling stairs.

I can’t believe you used ninjas. Again! I yelled. "What would they want with it, anyway?"

"There’re not ninjas!"

I spun around and saw Peter walking up behind me. He was completely better. His shirt didn't even have the mark where the sword had gone through moments earlier.

I reached my arm to the side. The SS-Inclination shot a Shardskrew arrow through our slanted rooftop. I walked over the peak and looked at the black clothed figure with the bolt of glass in his neck. I knelt beside him. Tilting his body upright, I said to Peter,

Look at him! That's a ninja!

He stood beside me, shaking his head.

HA-HA-AHHHHhhhhhh!

The head ninja held up the relic we had been seeking, but then slipped on the shingles and fell of his roof. The rest of his band jumped like shadows after him.

You’re right, I said to Peter as I leaped to pursue them. A ninja would never have been that clumsy!

Peter jumped down beside me, his face now red. Adding insult to injury I added, And to think… you got killed by him!

Hey! Peter yelled, his teeth nearly sparking. He’s tougher than he looks!

Peter pushed past me, to show me how tough he was. He aimed his Arctic Finale at the building in front of us and pulled the trigger. A blast of frost shot from the end of his gun and froze a wide circular mark into the wall. Reeling back, he kicked the wall, and it shattered apart where the frost had been.

It’s too bad that you’re not tougher than you look, Peter! I laughed and walked past him into the hole in the building.

Peter..? he asked. I’m Judas, idiot!

"Ohhh, clearly," I said, putting three holes through the back of the building. I walked out the backdoor and looked at the three ninjas lying there, dead. The holes in the wall were my witness. Judas walked out after me.

"They’re the Brotherhood of Relic Bandits!" he exclaimed.

I sighed. Not bad, I guess… Wait, do you hear that?

We both heard it. The ticking of another time bomb attached to the roof over our heads. We ran forwards as the building exploded.

Chapter 7 - Gina

Where Are We

A white world fell back to greet us. We were outside of the building and temporarily immune to all the crazy-flying shrapnel from the house and bomb as the world refocused on us. When we were re-attuned with our surroundings, we looked up and there he was.

The Time Bomb Culprit!

He ran across the roof in front of us with a giant backpack of explosives. The SS-Tendency aimed. Six arrows shot one after another into the bandit. He fell off of the roof like a pincushion. In the air, a seventh bolt flew into his pack. The bandit exploded in an outward blast of Shardskrew arrows.

When the blast had cleared, Judas announced, I’m goin’ around. He pointed between the buildings.

I followed after him. No sense in splitting up. Where do you think he went with my relic?

Judas did not answer, did not tread quietly and, above all else, did not smell good. I guess, I should have gone the other way, I thought. Judas suddenly whipped around and looked at me.

You saw that, didn’t you?

Saw what? I asked.

It was that strange man again.

I sighed and walked by him. Did you get a good look at him this time?

Judas stumbled in front and lowered his glasses to look at me. No… He put them back on and faced the far end of the road. But I don’t think he should be here.

Judas, and Peter, had seen this ‘strange man’ so many times that I had lost count and stopped caring. After all, I never saw him. The only description I had from him was; the man was a little taller and broader than he. That could be anybody. Although, it was a bit strange for him to keep appearing here...

Chapter 8 - Gina

What It Is

Judas began to run. His loud footsteps could be heard throughout the entire underground city. Our attackers may not have been as adept as ninjas, but they were still quiet enough to be them, at least under the cover of Judas’ loud stomping. I didn't know where the next attacker would venture from, but thankfully for me, my gun was out and it always knew.

Tihss!

An arrow shot as silently as a shadow’s footstep into the sole of a rear perpetrator. The bandit raised his bleeding foot to dig out the uninvited arrow.

He is here! Judas stopped running to yell. He looked back and saw I was surrounded by bandits.

Oh, Sh--!

I was done before he could finish. Judas’s expression changed. I lightly ran down the alley to him; the bodies of bandits falling to the ground behind me were covered head-to-toe in shards of shrunken black glass.

He went that way, Judas pointed with his weapon and fired. I came around the corner in time to watch the side of a house freeze over. Judas started towards it, but I held him back by his shirt.

Wait for it, I told him, raising both guns.

Ice flew into the air with glass arrows shredding their ways through the wall. The bandits inside were stuck to the opposite wall in designer red. My weapons kept firing as the frost drifted away. Then, I saw it! The head bandit was standing tall in the middle of the building. Shardskrew arrows were deflected by the relic on his arm.

I turned to Judas and said,

"There it is... The Hand of God."

Chapter 9 - Gina

Falling for It

The head bandit turned and ran away through the building. We ran after him as everything around us began to crumble.

What is going on?! I yelled, ducking a falling doorway.

Judas slid through a window, just before it sunk into the ground. We’re all outta time!

We reached a small opening. The leader had jumped over a growing gap and then ran up the side of a building to a sinking rooftop. I looked down at the growing hole in front of us and then searched for a way across. Judas said,

We’ve got to get it now! This place ain't gonna be here much longer!

TWIT!

Nine nails shot across the gap -- filling the collapsing wall behind us. I immediately noticed Judas had been hit by two of them, not by the sound of the nails, but by the noise of him cursing. It was always, Sheol this, Sheol that, who or what was he always blathering on about?

Here’ goes! Judas yelled, stepping back while pulling nails from his bleeding arm. I stepped away with him. Our backs were to the building we had come through, until the last of it disappeared into the ground. Judas jumped, just as I spotted an easier way to get across. I shot an arrow into the rope of a, conveniently placed, drawbridge.

SHEOL! Judas yelled. I looked down as the drawbridge fell, crossing the gap next to him. He struggled to grasp the dirt, his feet falling farther down the growing crevice.

Who'd you bribe to install this here? I asked as I walked across the bridge.

Judas looked at me crossly. Jus' get me outta here, dammit!

I pulled him up. Together we watched the building the lead bandit had scaled sinking gradually into the quaking ground before us.

Well. . . I said, reaching down to turn on my pull-boots.

Wait! What the Sheol are those?!

I laughed and ran up the wall. C’mon, he’s gettin’ away.

The wall sunk faster when I reached the top. It sunk so quickly that Judas took a step forwards and dropped down beside me. When he did, he pointed to my boots, Those aren’t fair at all!

Chapter 10 - Jeremiah

Hidden Baggage

Leechers!

The crew aboard the massive transport starship, Gladius, prepared for the coming storm. The ship was intended for transport, but that didn't mean it was unequipped for battle. The people of Gladius could fight just as well as the armies of their planet Sircuit.

Everyone! Get to your battle stations!

That’s the biggest Leecher I’ve ever seen. . .

There’s no way that’s a Leecher!

Brace yourselves! It’s going to hit!

No sooner had those words left the captain’s lips that a giant wave from a living river crashed into the ship. Worrying more about his men than himself, the leader lost his footing in the collision. He hit the metal deck with an echoing clang.

Are you all’right captain?! His first mate ran over to assist him as the ship tilted the other direction.

Hold on! We’re not through it yet! Another shouted.

CLANG!

Everyone nearby heard it. Someone landed outside. Being out of the water, gave them minutes to survive. The survivor had found the hatch and began kicking. The corresponding yells found nothing in space, but the sound of his boot was heard. Then the captain gave the order. The crew quickly let me in…

Chapter 11 - Gina

Losing Alias

The ground was sinking faster than the buildings. This was made possible in one way, all of the buildings in the cave were now airborne. As the buildings fell through the cave that fell through the planet that fell through... Basically it was bad! I handed Judas one of my boot’s canisters and jumped away. I looked back to find him holding the device, like a child with a rainbow tissue. He gazed at the glowing light and put his fingers under the pushing suction to see what it would do.

Gina to Judas. Come in please! I laughed.

Judas pulled his fingers out of the canister. I’m comin’!

Holding the canister low in his hand, he ran and jumped onto the roof with me.

Good job, I said, pointing to the distant escaping leader. Now, we get to repeat that about thirty times.

About thirty rooftop leaps later, we trapped the head bandit. The cave wall rose steadily around us. We stood on two sides of the lowest roof with him between us. He began to laugh, and I half-expected him to fall off of the roof like the last time.

Just give us the Hand of God! I tried using Persuasion. No one has to get hurt!

The bandit ripped off his face cloth, but I didn't recognize him. No, he said. Someone does have to get hurt!

Slish!

Nine nails cut across my companion's neck. I stood watching my partner lose his final life. It wasn't that I was slow; it was that I was unprepared. My weapons were in their holsters and the seconds it would’ve taken for them to transform, would’ve been too long. My partner was dead, and there was nothing I could have done in time to stop it.

Chapter 12 - Gina

Where We Are

I wished I'd had a Mind cue. A premonition. Something to have let me know when the lead bandit was going to strike. The truth was, I hadn't heard from the Mind in a long time…

The bandit removed the bloody arm weapon from my partner’s neck. Judas fell off the roof with nine holes in his throat. I expected him to fall out of sight, but the rooftop was descending so quickly that his body stayed floating midair, gradually moving above us. Our building was falling faster than the roads once again, and thus we were surrounded by walls on all sides. It was a battle to the death in a race through the world.

The man that I didn't recognize watched me pull the guns from the holsters on my hips. As the weapons began to transform, he made his move.

The results were simultaneous:

- I had a fist-full of nails in my stomach.

- He had a head-full of pointed Shardskrew.

The bandit fell at my feet. My knees gave way. I fell on him, breathing heavily with my sliver of health. The Bandit leader was dead.

I unhooked the Hand of God from his arm and held it before me. I tried wiping the drizzling blood away, but it just smeared across the indents of the letters, Hand of God by David.

Thud-ump!

The body disappeared and I fell onto a padded floor.

"MISSION ACCOMPLISHED"

I took off the game’s glasses and looked across the large room as it transformed leisurely back into its usual box-shape. Judas jumped off of a square above and landed beside me. The box where he'd been was now a tile in the wall.

Sorry about that, Judas, I said, dusting myself off. I should’ve had my weapons ready.

Hey, it’s no problem! You beat it after all... but please. Call me Peter.

Chapter 13 - Gina

Mind Games

Peter and I walked from the game room to my adjacent living quarters.

I get to choose the environment the next time, right?

Of course, Peter replied smiling, I always look forward to stepping into the worlds you imagine.

Do you have a good idea for our next target? I asked.

Peter raised his arm. "Nothing as epic as your Hand of God. He put down his arm and walked to the window in his baggy white coveralls. Honestly though, where do you come up with this stuff?"

I walked beside him and pretended to pull a gun from an invisible holster on my side. They're all things we had in Genra.

Genra... Yeah, it’s really too bad they won’t let you leave here...

"What can I do, Peter? You know me better than anyone else in Sircuit. Can’t you convince them to let me go?" I saw that I was tugging on his arm too hard too late. He pulled away.

I’m sorry Gina. I want to believe that you're not responsible. Maybe someday I will.

Peter left the room a little flustered.

I don’t want to use Peter, I thought. Our bond is slowly escaping the security of friendship... and though my heart belongs to another, he's my only means of escaping this prison. I've got to find Jeremiah, and I'm not going to let these walls stand in my way. Jeremiah is my love. But right now, Peter is my only means of escape.

Chapter 14 - Jeremiah

Eyes of the Future

No sooner had I hit the cold metal on the inside of the ship’s treacherous cabin that a needle sank into the bulk of my arm. My head hit the metal floor with enough of a clang to jar me awake. I listened to my whispering captors.

"Why would the captain want us to rescue him?"

I felt a sudden jab in my arm where the needle had gone.

I agree. He’s clearly one of them!

Something was oozing out of the hole.

Aye. The captain’s lost it.

I cracked an eyelid and saw bright aqua goo coming out of my arm.

No. I mean, this one’s one of them.

Yes, I know. This is one of 'em.

Yeah, but you made it sound like the captain’s one of them.

What if the captain is one of them?

Only two, I thought. From the water I saw that the ship looked large enough to fit the city of Sunderville in its belly, yet they sent only two to take me away? Clearly they don’t know who they’re dealing with.

I let out a scream and bashed one of my captors into the wall. Perhaps, I should have waited…

THUD!

Rough arms lifted me onto metal. The only warmth was a bright light with moths tapping against it. I opened my eye for a moment before it was brutally pried by four fingers.

It’s worse than we feared.

… I’ve never seen anything like that before.

Get the captain!

A man darted off and I was left alone with a woman who was missing a thumb on her right hand. Before I had a chance to move, three men entered. The woman spoke with a hollow voice.

Can you see me? She asked, pulling back the flesh around my eyes.

Unfortunately, I groaned. What have you done to me?

We didn't do this to you... She let go and reached for something in her pocket. I opened my eyes of my own free will and stared at the face staring back at me without it.

Chapter 15 - Gina

Tying Knots into Truths

Through the tall glass windows of my spacious room, I watched the green sun as it set over the City of New Heights. Peter told me that we were being kept on the top story of a thirty-floor prison. Although, having never left, I didn't know for sure if we were on the top floor or not. In every ship that passed, each passing day, I tried to see my building’s reflection. But it had been almost seven months, and the ships were never reflective enough to see it.

Accused for murder. That is what happened to me. When The Bleeding River came to rest on this planet, there was only one survivor. Ironic? They didn’t seem to think so. I was unjustly accused for the murder of every being that had been in the river when it arrived here.

I didn't know what had happened. Was it possible that I killed while in the river? Sure. It was highly probable that the river controlled me once again. But there weren’t witnesses or proof that I knew of showing me murdering people in there. All I remembered was jumping into the rivers with Jeremiah... The next thing I knew I was here, in this very room.

I’ve been stuck in this cell for far too long.

Mind...

Where have you gone?

What would you have me do?

Why haven't I heard your voice?

I didn't have the answers. But I had to get out of this place…

Chapter 16 - Jeremiah

Peace from Paper

The woman removed the mirror from before me. She went to shake my hand.

The name’s Mystie, she said with her unique handshake. I don’t suppose you have a name?

A stern shout took the place of a reply,

Everyone out!

Mystie quickly stole back her hand. In the hallway she had an indistinguishable chat with the captain. After that, the captain entered. His boots jolted the metal table with variable shocks. There was an electrical current running through him.

The light above my bed tilted in his direction, but I could only see the silhouette of his wide hat past the fluttering of dumb moths.

"Heh… A half smile revealed a glowing piece of silver, accompanying his teeth as a permanent visitor. A gruff voice that had seen years of practice aimed at doorway behind him. Close the door!"

As he had asked, the door creaked to a sudden close, without even an arm to pull it. I was the first to speak.

You free me from space to hold me here? Some way to treat your guests.

The captain chuckled and stepped beside the bed with his arms crossed.

What have you done to me? Am I drugged?

After a subtle smile, the man spoke to me, "What do you feel?"

I feel like I hit the metal deck pretty hard after your boy hit me with that edger-sized needle.

The captain moved under the light just enough for me to see the huge gloves that covered his hands. He cracked his knuckles and turned to the door.

Come in!

Five entered the room and the captain turned to leave.

Keep your eyes on him. He doesn’t act like one of them, but I’ll be back when we get through the rest of the Leechers.

We'll watch him.

One more thing. Give him this. . .

"But H--"

A gloved hand covered the speaker’s mouth.

Let him try to read it.

Chapter 17 - Gina

Forgotten Visions

The green sun had set and the dark moon was crossing the sky behind the blinds of my spacious room. I lay in a large bed with a warm blanket and a fear of sleep. Nightmares were all I had since I arrived, but I couldn't remember them. Days and nights were all the same now, and there was only one thing that made time—telling. I only knew how long it had been when I saw Peter or Judas. He came only once a week.

Every day and night between I sat here thinking of ways to escape this cell. I'd been perfecting the same plan for weeks, but it wasn't until now that it was finally coming close to execution. The joy I would feel for escaping this prison would be exuberant, I thought.

Our next Mind Game, would be our last. . .

Chapter 18 - Jeremiah

Wordless

Mystie handed me the piece of paper. I held it up in the moth light.

Do you see anything? she asked.

There was nothing. It was just a plain tan-colored sheet of paper with some stains. I looked closer; feeling its edges, hoping something would appear. I flipped it over and back again. Still, there was nothing written on it.

I don’t see anything, I said, trying to hand it back.

Hold on to it, she replied. Until the Captain comes back at least.

I began folding the paper -- there was something.

CRAAAACK!

They’ve broken in! By the cargo hold!

Someone yelled in the hallway as the ship began to tilt. I felt like I was going to fall off of the table, when I realized, this is my chance to escape! But where would I go? Someone grabbed my arm before I could think it through. I was still nauseous from being drugged. A funny feeling swept my whole body. . .

"They’ve damaged the artificial gravity system!"

My body left the table, but my arm was still held by the guard. Should I..?

BAAM!

I did. I had forgotten about the powerful punch I packed in my right arm. The golden knuckles, given to me by Zachariah, still worked. The person I punched flew across the room into darkness. I heard them hit the wall and then saw them return. The lack of gravity sent them