Dominik Dash and the Race to the Center of the Universe

By K D Hunter

Dominik is a middle school track star famous for his undefeated record and quick-witted southern swag. When strange beings attack him one night after a track meet, he learns his Uncle Mike has been hiding him on Earth from a legion of aliens that killed his parents. To make matters worse, Dominik discovers he is the hereditary guardian of a powerful instrument. This responsibility requires him to defeat Lord Manik, an extraterrestrial madman with aspirations to dominate the universe and an evil alien army backing him.

He begins training for the fight of his life with a mysterious tutor, Zane, a shape-shifter with questionable loyalties. Before he leaves to confront Manik, however, Zane reveals that Dominik's mother, once believed to be dead, is alive and being held in a distant space prison. Determined to save her at any cost, Dominik steals an RV-turned-spaceship and blasts off on his adventure aided by two friends. With the added detour of saving his mom stacked atop already impossible odds, Dominik wonders if he can save the universe and make it back to Earth in time to keep his winning streak alive.

Length: 279 pages

• Language: English
• Publisher: K D Hunter
• Release date: Jan 3, 2020
• ISBN: 9781733998307

K D Hunter

K. D. Hunter is the author of An Intergalactic Sci-Fly Saga Vol. 1: Dominik Dash & the Race to the Center of the Universe. He lives in the beautiful Shenandoah Valley in Virginia with his wife and four kids. When he is not writing dope stories, he likes to eat Belgian waffles with maple syrup and make dope music.

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An Intergalactic Sci-Fly Saga Vol.1

Dominik Dash

&

The Race to

The Center of the Universe

K. D. HUNTER

RISING LEVIATHIAN

Winchester, Virginia

Copyright ©2020 by K. D. Hunter

All rights reserved. Published by Rising Leviathian.

No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without written permission from the publisher.

An Intergalactic Sci-Fly Saga Vol. 1:

Dominik Dash & the Race to the Center of the Universe

by K. D. Hunter first edition

ISBN 978-1-7339983-0-7

Illustrations by Nathan Olson

For my Father, who always wanted

to see my stories published but never had the chance

For my boys MG and Rico,

who wanted more superheroes who looked like us growing up

To my wife, SheRae, for supporting me through years of work and writing to bring Dominik’s story to life

Contents

Track 1 // Teleporting Act

Track 2 // Whack Tacos

Track 3 // Trippin’

Track 4 // Bending Corners

Track 5 // Delirious

Track 6 // Real Talk

Track 7 // Actual Factuals

Track 8 // Odd-ish

Track 9 // Fresh Kicks

Track 10 // Shook

Track 11 // Revelations

Track 12 // Sting Like a Bee

Track 13 // Hoodwinked

Track 14 // Rollin’ Out

Track 15 // Word is Bond

Track 16 // The Ultimate Defense

Track 17 // Bum Rushed

Track 18 // Buggin’

Track 19 // Beast Mode

Track 20 // The Invisible Armada

Track 21 // Tangled Stars

Track 22 // Beat Down

Track 23 // Boogie on ’Em

Track 24 // The Hope of Paridium

Track 25 // Flipped Script

Track 26 // Bounce

Track 27 // Dope Ride

Track 1: Teleporting Act

THE ATMOSPHERE WAS insane. There were fans cheering, signs waving, cameras flashing, and camcorders recording. The girls loved him, guys hated him, and parents adored him. But no matter their feelings, they had one thing in common: they were enduring the sweltering Georgia night air to watch him. He was Dominik Dash, and on the track he was king.

The competition was ready to dethrone him, but Dominik didn’t sweat it. He had never lost a race and didn’t intend to start now. He was wearing headphones, head bobbing to the pounding beat. This is how he got hype for a race. It helped him pretend like he had competition to worry about.

Hey, the kid next to him said. When Dominik didn’t reply, the kid shoved him. Yo.

Dominik sighed and removed his headphones. Yeah?

What you listening to? Mary had a little lamb?

He started chuckling while looking at the jocks in the lanes beside him. The boy began collecting fives from the line of muscle heads.

Trash talk was a jock’s bread and butter. When in doubt, they always resorted to lame remarks to get in their opponent's head. Dominik knew the game well. He was used to the constant barrage of jock stupidity.

No, he responded. I’m listening to your mom. She said please, please, if a middle schooler beats my jock son, he might wet his bed tonight.

The other boys began laughing.

What? the boy said. What’d you—

Here’s the short version: your mom’s ashamed, you’re gonna lose.

The jock mumbled something, turned around, and continued stretching in his lane. Dominik shook his head and turned his music back on.

When confronted with an unexpected witty comeback, the jock will normally retreat. Jocks mouthed off to everyone, but with Dominik being in middle school, it was worse. He seemed like an easy target because he was smaller. Boy, were they wrong. He welcomed their comments. The boy tapped him again. Dominik rolled his eyes and took off his headphones.

I’m gonna dust your butt on this track! the boy exclaimed.

A comment like that probably took him several minutes to think up.

Hey man, how about this? Instead of completely smoking you, I spot you two seconds and only whoop you by a few tenths?

While Dominik was still stretching he lost his balance for a moment. He had been having dizzy spells frequently, so this wasn’t exactly surprising. He thought he’d recovered quickly enough, but he saw the kid’s eyes follow his wobbly legs as he fought to collect himself.

Two seconds?

Yeah, unless you need four, he responded.

I’m not scared of no scrawny, fade-headed little punk who's so shook he can hardly stand.

Then the boy noticed Dominik’s kicks. They had Dash the Flash etched on them in metallic gold lettering.

You’re Dominik Dash?

What’s it to you?

Anderson looked Dominik up and down while pacing around him. This was common among jocks. It was a slow prowl meant to detect fear—the slightest flinch would be a dead giveaway and undoubtedly lead to a quick pouncing.

The Dominik Dash? Anderson said while making his way behind him a second time.

The one and only.

You hold a few JV records in track.

Uh-huh.

He was becoming increasingly annoyed with each pace Anderson took around him.

Welcome to Varsity. I’m Anderson. He smirked while stopping right in front of Dominik. I like to introduce myself to all the losers before a race. Shame I have to break your streak.

Dominik began stretching his hamstrings. Nice to meet you Andy, but the only streak you’re gonna break tonight is gonna be in your undies.

The jocks in the lanes beside them started laughing harder than they had laughed all night.

Anderson turned around again and went back to stretching.

Double D! a voice echoed behind him. Are you seriously going to do that? Two seconds? That's an eternity in the 100-meter.

It was his best friend Josh. He was a frail, freckle-faced kid with bright red hair. The only indication that he had anything to do with athletics was the uniform he was wearing. A tucked collared shirt and slacks were his usual attire. Josh held Dominik's running blocks at every track meet. Normally holding someone’s blocks was a chump move, but this wasn’t just anyone. This was Dominik Dash. He made anyone cooler, even a block-holder.

Yeah, Josh, matter fact, stop holding my blocks. Take ‘em off completely.

Dominik stood up. He needed a challenge, and running without blocks to help propel him would do just that.

The other boys looked at him standing with no blocks. They started cracking up.

Double D, no, you got to use blocks! Are you trying to lose?

You should listen to him, Double Dummy Anderson said.

Josh, what’d I say man? Take ’em. I’m about to roast this turkey.

Oooookay.

Josh hesitantly moved the large metal object. Dominik’s knees began to wobble again.

You okay, Double D?

Yeah, give me my sunglasses.

He whipped his head from side to side, trying to shake off the dizziness.

Josh reached into a black and red duffle bag that had Dash the Flash inscribed on it and pulled out a pair of silver-framed sunglasses. Their engineering was out of this world. They were thin, light, and expensive-looking. Dominik’s uncle had given them to him. He had no idea how he was able to afford them off what he made as an auto mechanic. And right now he didn't care: the sunglasses seemed to make him feel better whenever he was having dizzy spells.

Runners on your mark, the announcer said over the intercom.

The boys knelt down and put their feet in their blocks—except for Dominik, who stood there and just let out a big yawn.

Set.

The boys arched their backs and extended their arms as if they were about to crab walk.

See you at the finish line, Dash! Anderson yelled.

He followed his comments with a hyena-like laugh.

Go!

The shot fired, and all the boys flew out of their blocks, except for Dominik.

There was a loud gasp from the spectators in the stadium. They began talking amongst themselves, trying to figure out what Dominik was doing.

One, he said to himself.

He looked down at the chain that hung around his neck. It had been in his family for as long as anyone could remember. For some reason he always felt like the encircled star charm somehow made him faster.

Two, he said.

Dominik tucked the necklace back under his shirt and burst forward.

The first few jocks were only twenty-five meters away. It took several seconds for Dominik to pass them. He hoped the two remaining runners would be a greater challenge. One of the jocks who thought everything was funny earlier was up ahead. He wouldn’t be laughing now. Dominik blew past him halfway to the finish line. Now only Anderson remained. He was kind of fast. Dominik would have to work for this one, but not too hard.

A fierce intensity set into his eyes. Because he was so fast, creating impossible odds was the only way he felt he could challenge himself. Dominik set deep into his run. He began to take long strides and swing his arms harder. At this speed the only thing he could hear were his own gasps for air and the sound of cleats digging into the track.

Looking behind you was a cardinal sin while sprinting. Anderson hadn’t looked back yet, but he would. Whenever Dominik made a bet like this, they always did. It must’ve been the fear they felt when they knew someone was gaining on them. Dominik couldn’t relate to that feeling.  

There were only twenty-five meters left. He was now right behind Anderson. Dominik loved to see a jock’s priceless expression as they witnessed victory slipping away. When he ran past Anderson, their eyes caught. He gave him a wink as if to say see you later.

Dominik leaned forward. But at the moment when he was supposed to cross the finish line, something strange happened. Instead of planting his feet on the track, he found himself falling over.

He jumped back up. It was suddenly dark, and he couldn’t see anything. There was a thick smell of wet dew. The cheering crowd was replaced by the sound of scurrying animals.

Then he was hit with a weird feeling. It was like knives piercing his stomach. The pain was so strong it caused him to hunch over. When his eyes finally adjusted, he noticed red lights in the distance. He figured there must have been a road there. To his left he saw the track and stadium lights below. The situation was now clear. He was somehow in the woods!

Track 2: Whack Tacos

NOW THAT HE THOUGHT about it, the stuff happening to him wasn't that unusual. As Dominik walked down the hill toward the track, he began to recall moments when similar things had occurred. One time he was late for first period and started running down the hallway. The next thing he knew, he was dazed and in his classroom seat.

Another time, when he was younger, he was playing red light-green light with his classmates. The teacher said green light, and before she could turn around, he was hanging on her leg. She screamed a bit, then reasoned Dominik had somehow tricked her. Telling his uncle he cheated was far more sane than saying, Have you been talking to your nephew about teleporting?

These fits of jumping time were always surrounded by short periods of sickness. He knew something was wrong, but he was scared to tell Uncle Mike. Even if he did get up the nerve to tell him, he wouldn’t know how to describe all his weird problems. Uncle Mike probably wouldn’t even believe him. Anyways, telling him was pointless—his uncle didn’t have any money to take him to the hospital with his blue-collar job.

It was a long walk down the hill, and Dominik was scared to run. On the other side of the school was a lake. The last thing he needed was an unexpected nighttime plunge. He heard a rattling engine veer onto the road he was now walking on, so he turned to watch. A banged-up steel car that was covered with what looked like numerous burn marks raced up and skidded to a halt beside him.

Rocks and dirt were thrown everywhere. Dominik was left coughing in a cloud of dust. The vehicle looked like it had been through a war zone. It was flat-out embarrassing. Dominik felt bad for feeling ashamed of it; he knew his uncle was doing the best he could. The driver’s side door flung open. He probably would’ve used the window if it wasn’t busted.

We’ve been looking all over for you, Uncle Mike said.

He was so tall that he had to duck lower than a normal sized person to clear the car’s frame.

Get your narrow behind in here.

Alright man, you don’t have to act crazy.

What’d you say?

Dominik walked to the passenger door. Nothing.

Nope, in the back. You haven’t earned the right to ride up front.

Why you trippin’, man?

Why am I trippin’? Uncle Mike replied.

Dominik slammed the back door and hopped in beside Josh. Yeah.

Josh was staring out the window, fidgeting with each dramatic exchange between Dominik and his uncle.

What was that about tonight?

What was what about?

Don’t play stupid. You standing around at the beginning of the race like you were brain-dead or something then taking off afterwords.

Whatever, man.

No, I asked you a question. Uncle Mike turned to glare at him.

I needed a challenge, Dominik mumbled, now realizing it sounded kind of dumb while being sure to leave off anything about teleporting.

Speak up.

I—needed—a—challenge.

By what, seeing how big a fool you could make of yourself?

I won, didn’t I? he said, trying to be a smart aleck while attempting to figure out whether he’d actually won the race. He didn’t completely know what had happened between the finish line and the woods.

Yeah, but only by a few tenths of a second.

Dominik quietly let out a sigh of relief. Now he felt better about continuing to argue.

Then that’s all that matters, right?

Don’t be stupid, boy. That ain’t all that matters. You should be out there using your skills to impress folk. Not playing some pea-brained game you came up with at the drop of a dime. How about this for challenge—had you not decided you would put on a show out there, you would’ve been close to the world record.

The world record! he exclaimed, jumping up in his seat.

That’s right. And guess what? If I know it, all the scouts and recruiters know it. People like Josh would kill to have half of your talent.

Josh looked at Uncle Mike with a confused gaze, then continued staring out the window.

I would have killed to have had your talent at your age. But having great talent isn’t enough. What do you do when you run into someone who has more talent than you?

You finished, man? Dominik said, grabbing his headphones out of the duffle bag on the seat. Luckily Josh brought it for him. He quickly threw them on.

What do you do? Uncle Mike said, reaching back and jerking off the headphones.

Dominik shot up in his seat. There ain’t nobody quicker; can’t you see I’m the fastest? It’s no thinking out there on the track. You just do what you do. That’s why I’m undefeated. You see all those people out there? They ain’t out there for no other reason but me.

Boy, there is more out there than you know. Bigger, quicker, and stronger; you just haven’t met them yet, his uncle said, taking a softer tone.

Dominik could see him in the rearview mirror staring at the moon that was shining brighter than his uncle’s bald head. For a moment Dominik had the feeling he was talking about something out there. The thought seemed a little ridiculous. He was probably caught in his own thoughts, something his uncle often did.

Unc? Dominik said, trying to snap him out of it. He was starting to become nervous. It had been a few seconds since he last looked at the road.

Can’t you see I’m not talking about track or running? I’m talking about life, Uncle Mike said.

Man, I was born to run.

No, boy, you were born to be more than a runner.

The ride to Josh’s house felt like an eternity to Dominik. When his uncle started lecturing he could go on forever. He felt especially bad for Josh. He had to be tormented by his uncle’s endless babble, and he didn’t even do anything. By the time they got to Josh’s house, his brain was probably mush.

Thanks, Mr. D, Josh said, glassy-eyed.

After Josh’s crazy retreat-sprint out of the car, Dominik thought his uncle might take a hint. No such luck. He shamelessly continued jabbering without missing a beat. At this point Dominik would have rather ridden in the trunk or on top the car. After daydreaming of gouging his eyeballs a few times, he was relieved to feel the car slow down.

You know, I only tell you all this because I love you—so we have an understanding now?

Huh? Dominik said.

Are we clear?

Oh yeah—yeah—crystal, he said.

Dominik was preoccupied by something he saw outside the window. They appeared to be red lights, similar to the ones he’d seen in the woods earlier. He let out a grunt. The pain in his stomach had returned.

You okay, boy? Uncle Mike asked as they walked up the steps.

Dominik was hunched over. Yeah, tacos for lunch, you know. He pulled himself up the steps.

Well, go handle your business. Uncle Mike said, unlocking the door. I’m headed to bed, got to be up for work.

Uncle Mike walked down the hallway and shut the door. Dominik remained in the living room on the couch. After a few minutes, the pain eased up.

The house they lived in was small. It only had a bathroom, kitchen, living room, and two bedrooms. The living room was his favorite room in the house. Dominik liked it even more than his own room. The thing he liked the most were the pictures that covered the walls. It was like going back in time through his family's history. This was important to him because he had never known his parents.

Everyone in his family was a runner. His mom, uncle, and grandpa all ran in college, but his dad was the fastest. He was nicknamed Flash, just like Dominik. Uncle Mike told him his dad was the youngest person to ever win a race at the Olympics. He really looked up to his dad, despite the fact that he had never known him. All of his family members were holding a fancy medal in the pictures. This was Dominik’s first year on Varsity, and he was determined to get his picture up there, too.

Dominik found one person in the pictures to be particularly interesting. There was a man who appeared with everyone. He was with Dominik’s uncle, father, mother, and grandfather. The crazy thing was, the man never appeared to grow older. Dominik heard of people aging well, but this was ridiculous.

He was in black and white pictures wearing zoot suits with his grandfather. Then he was with his dad sporting greasy hair, gold chains, and shell-toes. Stranger than the pictures was the fact his uncle never seemed to talk about the guy. All he would ever call him was an old teacher.

Dominik could stay up all night looking at the pictures. They made him feel connected to the family he’d never had. He loved his uncle, but he still wished his mom and dad were alive. He got lost looking through all the pictures. When he looked up, it was past midnight. He brushed his teeth, took a shower, and slid into bed.

The blinds were half closed, so he could see the woods out back where he often played when he was younger. Suddenly, the pain in his stomach struck him again worse than before, causing his entire body to bend. In the distance he saw red lights. They couldn’t have been car lights, as he had thought before: he knew there was no road back there.

Dominik was starting to think it was all in his head. His symptoms were beginning to concern him, but he convinced himself it was the tacos. Josh had warned him not to mess with them, and now he regretted not listening. Dominik might have won the race earlier, but he wasn’t sure if he would win the midnight sprint to the toilet.

Track 3: Trippin’

DOMINIK HAD BEEN SICK before, but he couldn’t remember a time when it was this bad. Throughout the night he went from shivering and shaking to feeling like he was on fire and sweating. It was like his whole body was going haywire. This was hands down the worst night of his life. And just when he felt like he was coming through the worst of it, he tried to climb out of bed and fell flat on the floor. His head was spinning in circles. He tried again to pull himself up but found himself pinned to the floor like there was a two-ton sumo wrestler on his back.

After a few minutes of watching the room spin like a merry go round, the dizziness finally subsided enough that he could pull himself onto his bed. The instant he made it on top the bed, he was out like a light.

Dominik woke up to a beaming ray of light streaming through the narrow cracks in his blinds. He must’ve really been sleeping good because he felt like it had only been minutes since he dozed off, and from the brightness outside it was clearly afternoon. Uncle Mike was definitely gone by now. He always left for the shop before Dominik got up; in fact, he could never recall a time when he had woke up before his uncle.

Dominik groggily slung his legs off the bed. He still wasn’t feeling that hot, but good enough to get dressed. Dominik figured he would wear his sunglasses just in case he was hit with another episode of diziness. But a search of his nightstand and duffle bag revealed nothing. After tearing his room apart, charged by a short-lived burst of anxiety, he slapped the wall. How could he have been so careless? His sunglasses were the one thing he always made sure he had nearby, not only because they were undoubtedly expensive but because of the instant relief it provided him from his sickness. There was only one conclusion that could be made—they had to be at school.

After throwing on a black hoodie, grey joggers, a white t-shirt, and red and black Chucks, Dominik headed to the kitchen. He pushed open the door and walked out to the tiny back yard surrounded by a rickety wire fence. It was a dustbowl of barren ground that looked as lifeless as Mars. There was a small shed in the back corner that had clearly never been used for any form of yard work.

Chained to the rusted black stair rail was an almost equally rusty bike. It was made out of a thin metal that was surprisingly strong. His bike was a complete embarrassment, possibly worse than his uncle’s busted up car. When Dominik was younger, he had tried his best to destroy it. He had thrown it off the porch, jumped on it, and accidentally left it in the street where it got run over. It seemed impossible to break or bend. Despite the rust, the bike had a sleek, almost