The Next Stage: Just Another Joker

By James K. Wadley

Tesla Risollo has won: she has escaped the law, avoided dozens of assassination attempts, and returned to take control of her family, which has joined forces with other, even more powerful families to build their own vision of a perfect society on the moon. Now she has kidnapped the hyper-fast News Reel reporter Kialla Bossito in order to make one last world-wide announcement: the human race on Earth must be destroyed so that the top tier of the species, the upper 2% that has evolved better and faster than the rest, and their genetically perfect off-spring can thrive and create a flawless utopia without the weaknesses of corrupt corporate governments and the decrepit lower classes. Although Kialla receives assistance and information from the seemingly all-powerful demi-god Qupid Hallmark, his loyalties remain as questionable as those of Tesla's servant, Dorodee, and Kialla isn't sure if she can depend on either of them to help her combat the combined might of all of the other families. But Lynnea Misaki refuses to quit fighting: trapped on the bottom of the Pacific Ocean with the maniacal hit-man Phoe, she miraculously survives the global apocalypse and makes her final effort to avenge the death of her sister, Bryyan Jacksson and billions of others. Although they have never met, Lynnea and Kialla must cross time and space to save what little is left of the human race and work together to make the ultimate sacrifice.

• Language: English
• Publisher: James K. Wadley
• Release date: Sep 9, 2013
• ISBN: 9781301840106

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The Next Stage

Chapter Four: Just Another Joker

James K Wadley

Copyright 2013 by James K Wadley

Smashwords Edition

Chapter Four: Just Another Joker

Dorodee Hutchinson was making her way on the ground among the protest riots surrounding the Church of the Virgin’s Last Sanctuary, straggling behind Bryyan Jacksson and Kialla Bossito. Unlike Bryyan and Kialla, Dorodee was doing everything she could to avoid fighting, which meant a lot of hiding and crawling; also unlike the other two, Dorodee was scared out of her mind, as being in the mob was turning out to be a whole lot different than observing the mob from a distance. She didn’t have the combat skills or the mentality for this type of warfare and was falling further and further behind Bryyan and Kialla.

Running over to blend in with a small group of chanting Rhober Orchard supporters, Dorodee started having thoughts of retreat. It had seemed like a good plan, just the three of them under the radar as such, but now that she was separated from the other two and seemingly on her own, she had her doubts about getting through the protesters, much less past the PPU barricades, and within eye-sight of the front door of the Church didn’t even seem remotely possible at this point. She didn’t want to get stomped to death by the crowd or bashed over the head by an over-anxious police officer and be another body in one of the piles, that just seemed meaningless.

As she was deciding to cut her losses, Dial Thenit Powo, Tesla Risollo’s spiritual and legal advisor, teleported right next to her. He ducked his red, bald head as a reaction from the surrounding violence, and made a face of amused horror at Dorodee.

Come along, child, Dial said and clutched her shoulders.

What the what now? Dorodee blubbered as the two dissipated into energy and teleported away.

The room they re-appeared in was all white, like a living room from an old science-fiction movie: three long white couches, a couple of white chairs and some completely white tables, shiny white walls, and white carpets on the white floor. On a sunny day, sunglasses were necessary to sit comfortably in this room.

Blaaah, Dorodee gagged as she reincorporated and fell to her knees on the white floor. She was not a big fan of teleporting because she was particularly sensitive to nausea from the effect.

Sorry about that, Dial said to the girl on the floor. There are some crackers and water on the table over there, or order whatever you like. I’ll be back shortly, he said and looked at a small, little old black man sitting in a white, wooden chair. Uur t’ama bata, Dial said to him in an African tribal language.

The little old man smiled with one loose tooth in his mouth and then clapped his hands together, forming a tall, energy-strewn portal for Dial to teleport through. Once he was gone, the old man closed his hands into little fists and the portal dissipated.

Dorodee looked up at him in confusion.

Amar bainna uu, he greeted her in his language.

Uuuuhhhhhh…okay, she shrugged and started getting up on her feet.

Hello, sister, Glorodee said from behind her.

AHHHH SHIT HELL! Dorodee screamed, falling back to the floor as she tried to scoot away from her evil clone. I knew this was a damn trap, get the hell away from me, you had better tell me what the HELL is going on here or I swear…

Will you calm down? Glorodee kept her hands up and open in front of her to show that she wasn’t armed, and kept her distance so that Dorodee wouldn’t feel cornered. "This isn’t a trap, you’re not in any danger anymore, no-one’s going to hurt you. In fact, I rescued you, so when you’re feeling it, you can thank me later…"

Hmmm, Dorodee eyed her sister and the white surroundings with suspicion one last time, and then conceded. "Well, I guess that makes sense. I thought I was rescuing you, though. Oh, well, she shrugged and slowly stepped closer to Glorodee. Soo, I notice you’re pregnant and gross-looking now. Why?" she asked with incredible bluntness.

"Wow, I like how quickly you went from ‘scared’ to ‘bitch’ right there, that was impressive. And you are filthy and smell like blood and sweat, I guess that’s how we’re saying hello to each other now. Also, as a reminder, YOU’RE WELCOME. Glorodee rubbed a hand over her large belly to calm the baby inside. I don’t want to argue. I don’t want to fight, and I don’t want to get upset, she said and exhaled as if the conversation itself was an exertion. This is for a greater good…"

Uh oh, here comes the cult talk, Dorodee rolled her eyes as she filled a glass with water. "Count me out. I’m not doing that, she used the pitcher of water to point at Glorodee’s belly, To THIS, she passed the pitcher over her thin but still curvy figure. Not to mentionnnn…" she hung on the word and waved the water-pitcher over her groin area.

Oh, stop it, Glorodee said with a tired voice. You really need to grow up!

Oh-h, do I?!

Yes, yes, you do!

"Maybe you should get a mind of your own before you start trying to change the minds of others!!"

My mind..! Glorodee sputtered. You don’t even know what you’re talking about!

I also don’t care! Uh oh, here comes little Dorodee, who doesn’t care about little things, Dorodee sang a song from their childhood in her sister’s face just to be irritating. She will tear up all your art and throw it innn the yard oh no!!

Didn’t I say that I didn’t want to argue with you? I forgot that’s all you like to do…

Uh, didn’t I learn something in school about double negatives canceling each other out or something? Dorodee said in a low, mocking voice. At least I know how to talk right, oh wait… she looked apologetic for a second. Are you dumber now because you have a baby in your big, fat stomach? It can be so hard to mentally deal with all the changes your body goes through during a pregnancy, and you were SO stupid in the first place! I can’t even imagine where your ditsy brain must be these days…

"Okay, enough! God! Aren’t you even