Persona: Stratus the Reborn

By Harry G. Mohan

When Stratus is taken from earth to the world of Saga Aurora, he discovers that he is a Reborna reincarnation of the powerful king who presided over the planet. With the burgeoning powers of his past life, he is given the chance to take revenge on the gang members who killed his parents. But when Stratus cannot bring himself to do it, he decides to focus his energies onto a nobler task: protect the
people whom he had once ruled over as king, for Saga Aurora has been drenched in bloodshed for many years, with no end to the brutality in sight. Stratus must fi nd a way to end the battles before it is too late, while keeping his own moral beliefs intactmorals which may cause
his good intentions to play right into the enemys hands . . .

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Feb 10, 2011
• ISBN: 9781456856540

Book preview

Copyright © 2011 by Harry G. Mohan.

Library of Congress Control Number:       2011901094

ISBN:         Hardcover                               978-1-4568-5653-3

                   Softcover                                 978-1-4568-5652-6

                   Ebook                                      978-1-4568-5654-0

All rights reserved. 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 permission in writing from the copyright owner.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

This book was printed in the United States of America.

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Contents

CHAPTER ONE

DAYBREAK

CHAPTER TWO

THE STING OF

THE SCORPION

CHAPTER THREE

THE SUCCESS

OF A FAILURE

CHAPTER FOUR

THE CRYSTAL CASTLE

CHAPTER FIVE

MORTALITY’S TERMS

CHAPTER SIX

BRIO

CHAPTER SEVEN

A NEW HOME

CHAPTER EIGHT

THE DARK DOOR

CHAPTER NINE

THE SIEGE OF

SAGA AURORA

CHAPTER TEN

SEVERANCE

CHAPTER ELEVEN

FLIGHT FROM

THE SAND

CHAPTER TWELVE

THE NAGA

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

CONVERGENCE

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

LAVENDERS

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

DEVA

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

THE MIRROR OF

DARKNESS

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

VOW OF RETRIBUTION

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

CIPHER

CHAPTER NINETEEN

SAGA GARUDA

CHAPTER TWENTY

MOTIVE

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

REBOUND

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

CIPHER’S GAME

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

XANDHA’S PLAN

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

I AM YOU

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

INDUCTION

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

THE WAR COUNCIL

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

FOCUS

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

TWILIT INFERNO

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

RISING SPIRITS

CHAPTER THIRTY

GRADUATION

CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

A PROMISE

TO RETURN

CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

RETURN TO RENOA

CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

THE BATTLE OF

SAGA AURORA

CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR

SHINING SWORDS

CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE

DEATH’S BINDING BANE

CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX

A FACE REVEALED

CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN

THE NEXT STEP

CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT

STRATUS THE REBORN

CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE

DAY’S END

For Mom and Dad

One’s own duty, though devoid of merit, is preferable to the duty of another’s well-performed. Even death in the performance of one’s own duty brings blessedness; another man’s duty brings fear.

—Bhagavad-Gita

Chapter 3, Verse 35

CHAPTER ONE

DAYBREAK

Pulling his coat tighter around him, Stratus leaned against the small building, peering around the corner to look at the street across from him as snow lazily drifted down from the sky. He glanced at the street clock, dimly lit by a lamp next to it. Midnight, he thought. He should have been here by now.

He felt a hand on his shoulder. Ready to roll, Cirrus? he asked without turning.

No, Cirrus said, grimacing, brushing her reddish brown hair back. I changed my mind. I don’t think we should do this. We’re nearly in gang land—

Relax, Stratus said. Everybody’s sleeping now.

You should have told this guy to meet us somewhere safer!

He’s only coming here so that the cops don’t catch on.

But if the Scorpions are here and they realize what you’re doing— Stratus straightened, his eyes focused on the street ahead. He’s here.

Cirrus stepped forward and looked. A man was leaning on the opposite building, smoking a cigarette. Are you sure it’s him?

Yeah… the cigarette is the signal, Stratus said, shrugging her hand off. You stay here.

Wait, what? Cirrus said. You can’t go alone!

I’m just going to get the document. There’s no reason for both of us to go.

But he could have a gun on him!

Stratus rolled his eyes. He’s a cop, he’s not going to pull a gun on me.

Cirrus exhaled sharply. Raj, listen to me, please!

Stratus stiffened, and he turned to glare at the girl. That is not my name anymore.

Of course it is. What, you want to go by ‘Stratus’ for the rest of your life?

Yeah, Stratus said angrily. That’s what we agreed on, Clarissa.

Cirrus frowned. You know why I go by Cirrus, but I’m not throwing away my real name either!

Stratus and Cirrus aren’t just different names—they’re completely different identities. If you’re Cirrus, then you’re not Clarissa anymore, Stratus said. That’s the way it is. You can’t be two people. Before Cirrus could say anything more, Stratus said, I’ll be back in a few seconds.

Stratus walked out into the street, crossing over to where the smoking man stood. He went up to the man and leaned against the same wall, facing the other direction. Stratus crossed his arms and cleared his throat. Officer?

The man flicked his cigarette away. Yeah, he said. You got balls to meet me here, kid. You know where we are, don’t you?

Yeah.

I thought you’d wimp out… Glad I was wrong. Glad somebody’s doing whatever they can to put the Scorpions out of business.

Yeah, well… Stratus looked around, making sure that nobody was watching. He dropped his voice to a whisper. Do you have it?

The man reached inside his coat and brought out a file. He held it out to Stratus. Irrefutable evidence of every crime they’ve committed in the past five years. Enough info to put them all away for good, in the right prosecutor’s hands.

Stratus took the file from him and opened it slowly. The man took a lighter from his pocket and flicked it on, giving off enough light for Stratus to read the file.

As his eyes scanned the pages, an almost-manic smile appeared on his face. Finally, after all the years of watching and waiting, the opportunity to strike back had presented itself. A chance to defeat those who had wronged them.

A chance for vengeance.

The man stared at Stratus for the first time with light. Huh… you’re Indian?

Stratus blinked, looking up from the file. He knew exactly what the cop was seeing—the brown skin, the black hair, the brown eyes—a body that people so frequently underestimated just because of its color.

The cop noticed the look that Stratus was giving him. Take it easy, I didn’t mean anything by it.

Stratus scoffed. Whatever. Can you tell me exactly why those Scorpions aren’t in jail already?

The man looked relieved that Stratus had decided to drop the subject. If you have enough money, you can do anything, even get out of prison. They’re untouchable. Not to mention the fact that they’ve probably got moles in the department—

Whoa, what? Stratus asked, taking a step back. They don’t know that you’ve taken this, right?

No. There shouldn’t be any reason for them to come after you. But if you’re going to get it to the DA, I’d do it quickly, just to be safe. If they realize that the evidence was taken… Well, I don’t want to know what they’d do. When you get to the DA, stay there. He’ll keep you safe.

Right, Stratus said, nodding slowly.

The cop nodded as well. I’m pulling for you… Good luck, kid. He began to walk away, lighting another cigarette as he vanished into the darkness.

Stratus watched him leave. I don’t need luck, he whispered. As soon as the man was out of sight, Stratus started to walk in the opposite direction. In a few seconds, Cirrus joined him. She took the file from him and began to look through it.

Yes… this is it, she said, her eyes lighting up.

Yeah. All we have to do is get it to the DA.

Do you want to go there now?

Stratus stifled a yawn. Nah, we’ll head home and go in the morning. Cirrus nodded and the two turned the corner. As they walked, Stratus told Cirrus everything that the officer had said.

In a few minutes, after trudging through the snow, they arrived at a small building with boarded windows. Stratus went around to the side of the building and stood in front of a window. He pushed the wood inward, and when it fell onto the floor, he clambered inside, Cirrus following him.

It’s a sad thing that the cops have to slink around in the middle of the night in order to do their job, Stratus said quietly.

Yeah, Cirrus said. But it’s not really their fault, right? The Scorpions are probably in the department, just like he said.

Stratus scoffed. Not for much longer. He picked up the wood and set it back on the pane. Turning around, he looked into the place where he and Cirrus had called home for years. It was a single room, dark, dusty, and empty aside from two battered mattresses and a pair of patchy quilts. Plastered on the walls were newspaper clippings of various crimes that the pair had suspected were linked to the Scorpions.

Stratus sighed, walking over to the clippings, running his hand on one of them. It seems like a dream, actually being this close to taking them down.

Yeah…

Stratus stepped forward, pacing around the room. Finally, we’re going to get our revenge.

Don’t say that, Cirrus said quietly. It’s not for revenge, it’s for justice.

They’re both the same. Justice just sounds nicer.

Cirrus hesitated before speaking. I don’t believe that. And I don’t think you do either.

They were silent for a while. Cirrus took another step so that she was right in front of him. Her voice became a whisper. So… what are we going to do when this is all over?

When it’s over? Stratus thought. While living on the streets, the pair had had to fantasize about the life they would one day live. But the actual thought about having a normal life seemed impossible to conceive. Would the change be hard? Would they be the kind of people who could never adjust back to the way things were? Would they ever be relieved of the horrors they had endured?

Stratus turned to her to answer her question, but he froze. His attention was unavoidably focused on Cirrus’s eyes. And then his gaze shifted to her long hair, speckled with snow, and to her lips that were slightly parted. She took a step closer to him, their bodies nearly touching.

Stratus immediately took a step back, clearing his throat. We… we should probably get some sleep.

Oh… yeah, Cirrus said, blushing as she stepped back. "We should… 

right…"

Well… good night.

Cirrus nodded. ’Night.

The two walked to opposite corners of the room, lying down on their mattresses. Stratus pulled his quilt over his body, trying to gather as much warmth as he could in the cold room. He closed his eyes, pondering Cirrus’s question again. She had been dropping hints for quite a while now…

What am I going to do once this is over? he thought. He caught a glimpse of Cirrus’s back on the other side of the room. What are we going to do?

But in the back of his mind, Stratus didn’t know if there was even going to be a we. He wasn’t sure if their shared trauma was strong enough of a bond to keep them together once their mission was over.

Besides our past, do we really have anything in com—?

Suddenly a jolt of pain shot through his body. His back arched and he went completely rigid for a moment as his jaw locked. He began to shake as though he was having a seizure. The pain concentrated in his chest, bursts of pain synchronizing with his heartbeat—his eyes blurred—he could hear nothing—

And darkness blanketed him.

So this is Saga Gaia, Mira said, stepping forward, her long black robe and hair flowing around in the wind. It looks dirty.

It is, Xandha said, cloaked in red, his cowl completely shadowing his face. Though the wind was blowing hard all around him, his hood stayed defiantly still.

Axle walked up to stand between them. He wore black armor with intricate silver designs and a long black cape. Xandha, what’s this village called again?

New York.

And what is this statue that we’re standing on? A past queen of Saga Gaia?

No. I believe it’s called the Statue of Liberty.

The three stood on the foremost spire on the head of the green statue, peering down at the city’s illuminated buildings, which shone brightly in the night. Below, waves crashed against the statue’s island base as the wind battered them.

Are you sure he’s here? Mira asked. I mean, he’s had the entire Navagrahas to choose from…

He is, Axle said, scanning the surroundings with narrowed eyes.

But Saga Gaia’s been cut off from yoma for centuries—

The target is a Reborn, Xandha said. The usual rules don’t apply.

But—

Axle turned to Mira. Stop trying to argue! He’s here, that’s all there is to it.

Mira frowned for a moment, but quickly composed herself. She bowed her head. My apologies, master.

Our orders, Axle? Xandha asked.

Fan out and try to locate the Reborn. If you find him, call me. And keep him alive.

Did you hear that, Mira? Xandha asked. Alive.

Mira’s mouth twitched. I can control myself if I have to.

Without another word, the three figures leapt off the statue in different directions, falling through the night sky.

Axle leaned forward in a perfect dive, heading straight at the oceans below as he fell hundreds of feet, flipping over just as he was about to hit. His feet landed on the swirling tides, sending a shockwave of water out on impact, but they did not break the surface. Beside him were Mira and Xandha, standing on the waves that continually shifted like sand. Simultaneously, the three began to run along the water toward the towering buildings ahead, too fast to be seen by anybody else.

CHAPTER TWO

THE STING OF

THE SCORPION

After a few hours, the moon had given way to the sun, which was just beginning to rise behind the skyscraper straight ahead. Xandha stood on the very edge of his building, cloak flitting around in the wind, displaying his black tunic and pants underneath, tightened by many belts and buckles. As he watched the hustle and bustle of the city below, he felt a tug on the back of his mind. He reached down and took from his pocket a rigid slip of paper, inscribed with an intricate seal.

Yes? he said, directing his thoughts at the card.

Any luck? Axle asked, his voice sounding in Xandha’s mind.

Haven’t felt a thing.

This isn’t good, Axle said. If Saga Aurora gets wind of this, they’ll be here too . . . 

I know, Xandha said. I’ll double my search.

If you haven’t found anything by noon, rendezvous back at the green statue. We’ll come up with another plan then.

Understood.

The warmth dissipated as Axle signed off. Xandha stowed the paper away. After a quick, deep breath, he leapt off the building, flying high into the sky and onto the adjacent one across the street, breaking into a run right along the lip of the building. Xandha’s speed increased; he became a red blur as he ran and jumped through the many buildings.

Oh!

Xandha stopped in his tracks, right as he was about to jump again. That was definitely something . . . 

And it felt like the back of his head was being lightly compressed. Xandha looked down and laughed softly. Found you.

Stratus and Cirrus stood side by side, staring up at the large panel of numbered buttons. What did the directory say? Cirrus asked.

The twentieth floor, Stratus said. Shouldn’t there be a receptionist in this kind of place? They shouldn’t leave the ground floor totally emp—agh! He clutched his chest as another wave of pain soared through his body. He quickly shut his mouth to avoid another yelp of pain.

Are you sure you’re okay? Cirrus asked, eyeing him. You’ve been rubbing your chest all morning.

Stratus was breathing heavily. I’m… fine.

The elevator slowly rose. Stratus took a few more deep breaths as the pain dissipated.

He had passed out after his episode last night, and for a while, he had slept through the worst of the pain. But as soon as he had woken up, it had returned. Every few seconds, his chest would sear, and it would take all his strength not to yell out. Still, Stratus would not allow it to hinder the day’s agenda.

Today was the most important day of their lives.

I couldn’t have gotten this far without you, Stratus said.

Cirrus smiled. I know.

Thank you for sticking with me for so long.

I have a favor to ask.

Anything.

She glanced downward to avoid his eyes as her skin began to redden. When this is all over… I don’t want us to separate.

Stratus grimaced. She wants to bring this up now?

Cirrus stared at him intently. I want to stay with you… I—

Suddenly the bell dinged, snapping her out of her speech. The two looked up. They had reached the twentieth floor. Stratus turned away. Uh… we’ll talk later. Let’s finish this first.

Cirrus frowned, but shook her head clear and nodded. Yeah.

The doors slid open.

For a moment, Stratus and Cirrus didn’t even realize what had happened. It was as if their eyes were adjusting to the dark. And then they saw it.

Stratus walked out of the elevator and into the hallway. In front of him, on the ground, was a body. A hole in the back of the dead man’s head oozed fresh blood, pooling onto the ground into a dark red circle. There were holes—gunshot wounds, Stratus realized—in the man’s body, staining his black suit with blood.

Steeling himself, Stratus inched forward to the body, feeling sweat run down his face. His eyes met the body’s unseeing ones, and Stratus knew who it was. I-It’s the DA. They know! Stratus yelled, running back to the elevator. First floor—now!

Cirrus hit the button, and the elevator doors closed. They began to descend.

How did they know? Stratus muttered, looking at the ground, his hands shaking. Doesn’t make sense—

Stratus, the file! Cirrus said. We need to throw it away!

W-What? Stratus asked. We can’t!

That’s the reason they’re here! Throw it away, they won’t have a reason to hurt us if—

They didn’t have a reason to hurt my parents or your sister, but they still did, didn’t they? Stratus said, raising his voice. We sacrificed years on the streets to get this kind of opportunity. I’m not just going to throw it away! He looked up and saw that they were nearing the first floor. We’re just going to have to run for it.

Cirrus took in a deep breath and tensed as the elevator dinged. Stratus did the same as the doors slid open.

The two dashed out of the elevator, immediately running for the front door. They pumped their arms, their coattails flapping behind them until they were almost at the door—

A gunshot sounded—Cirrus screamed—a thud—

Stratus skidded to a stop and wheeled around. Cirrus was lying on the ground, clutching her shoulder.

You little punks. I can’t believe you two have caused me so much pain.

A man stepped into Stratus’s view, his handgun still smoking. His dark body was decked with tattoos and gold chains. Covering his bald head was a stylized tattoo of a scorpion.

D-Damien, Stratus whispered to himself.

Damien grinned. Gandhi, I’m surprised… You’ve been trying to take me down?

Stratus’s fists tightened so much that his nails were cutting into his palms. You think I’d just let you get away with killing my parents? he yelled.

Damien scoffed. Let me give you some advice, Gandhi. You want to take somebody down, you buy a gun and blow their head off. If you believe in something as vague as justice, you’ll never get anywhere.

Justice is real! Cirrus yelled from the ground, her face pained from her wound.

Damien barked a laugh. If it was, I’d already be in jail, wouldn’t I? It all comes down to—

As Damien spoke, Stratus’s eyes were fixed on the gun in his hand. His mind began to race. Damien probably had another gun on him somewhere, and plenty of ammo.

If I could just bait him . . .

Hey! Stratus said, interrupting the man’s speech. How about we settle this once and for all—you and me!

Damien smirked. He cocked the gun and held it out, aiming it right at Stratus’s head. My thoughts exactly.

Stratus’s body began to shake, but he held his ground. What, you’re too much of a coward to fight without a weapon? Can’t take me on by yourself?

Damien’s lips slowly turned upward into a smile. And I thought you people were supposed to be about nonviolence. He lowered the gun. Fine. Tell me what you’re thinking.

Xandha jumped down from the building, turning invisible as he did so. He landed lithely on his feet at the front entrance as people walked past him, chattering away, not knowing that he was even there.

Something’s happening. His heart is racing.

He passed straight through the opaque doors, intangible, and looked at the scene on the other side.

There was a bald man standing with a gun in his hand, pointed at a boy and a girl. Xandha immediately focused on the boy.

So that’s the Reborn. Looks like his yoma has finally matured.

The bald man was saying something to the boy, but Xandha could not bring himself to pay attention. He walked behind the boy and placed an invisible hand that hovered right behind the boy’s head. Show me your story.

Everything around Xandha seemed to shimmer and bend as he focused his energies on the boy in front of him. And then images began to flash through his mind.

A living room—two bodies on the ground, bleeding profusely from holes all over them—the Reborn as a young boy, kneeling at their sides, crying—

And the images faded, leaving Xandha in a black expanse. This is where his strongest memories begin, he thought. But what happened afterwards? Xandha waved his arm. The darkness turned into golden sand that swirled around him, twisting and writhing until it condensed into a new picture.

The Reborn was stumbling along a deserted city street, panting, looking behind him every few seconds—

Golden sand shifted—

The Reborn stood in a dark alley, looking down at a young girl on the ground as rain poured all around them.

You were hurt by the Scorpions too? the Reborn asked, his voice the distinct pitch of a boy who had not yet matured.

Yes, the girl replied.

What happened to you?

They took my sister away from me.

The Reborn put his hand on the girl’s shoulder. The only reason I’m alive now is to make sure that the Scorpions get what’s coming to them. Will you help me?

The girl looked up at him. But . . . what can we do?

We’ll think of something, the Reborn said. The Scorpions will pay.

The girl took a shaky breath and dried her eyes. Yeah.

What’s your name?

Clarissa. Clarissa Strife . . . but I usually go by Cirrus.

Cirrus?

Yeah. It’s what my sister always called me . . . What’s your name?

Raj. Raj Ashoka.

Xandha snapped away from the memory, returning to the present as the black expanse disappeared. He slowly looked up at the Reborn, who was burning with rage as he spoke to the tattooed man.

Raj . . . Ashoka?

Xandha walked around the boy to look at his face. He stayed quite still, looking at the Reborn silently.

Yes . . . it is.

Tell me what you’re thinking, the bald man said.

Throw away that gun and fight me like a man! the Reborn yelled.

All right! the bald man yelled with glee. He tossed the gun away to the side. Have it your way! I’ll just snap your damn neck! He ran at the boy with a roar. Xandha quickly stepped out of the way as the Reborn ran at his opponent.

STRATUS, NO! the girl yelled from the floor.

Stratus wildly punched out at the bald man. The man sidestepped and rammed his knee into the boy’s stomach. The Reborn groaned in pain and keeled over. The bald man linked his hands together and smashed him in the face, sending the boy flying backward. Stratus picked himself up, his nose broken and bleeding. As he started forward, he cringed, grabbing his chest as he fell to the ground, yelling in agony.

Another spike! Xandha said, automatically moving forward. His yoma should have matured by now!

The bald man picked up the gun that he dropped. You can join your parents in hell! he yelled, aiming the gun.

Everything around Xandha seemed to slow. I can’t let him get hurt! Becoming visible, he held his hand out at the bald man. A swirling orb of fire expanded from the center of his palm and shot out at the bald