The War-Time Paragons

By Mike Orozco

In the aftermath of December 7, 1941, the face of the nation did not
just stand boldly to the bugle call; it continued throughout the start of
my generation, near the end of the first half of this century. Because of
the Japanese attacking various American fleets, killing many Americans
around them on that day, it was now known as a day that will live
in infamy. General Raymond Brodrik, military personnel, decided to
clean up cities for a start on American soil.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Apr 25, 2011
• ISBN: 9781453585344

Book preview

Copyright © 2011 by Mike Orozco.

ISBN:                  Softcover                        978-1-4535-8533-7

                            eBook                             978-1-4535-8534-4

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.

Rev. date: 06/14/2018

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CONTENTS

March 2, AD 1942

March 12, AD 1942

March 26, AD 1942

April 12, AD 1942

April 28, AD 1942

May 13, AD 1942

July 10, AD 1942

August 29, AD 1942

September 15, AD 1942

October 9, AD 1942

November 17, AD 1942

December 9, AD 1942

January 18, AD 1943

Dedication

For Mom and Sis, thank you for encouraging me through the years.

March 2, AD 1942

In the aftermath of December 7, 1941, the face of the nation did not just stand boldly to the bugle call; it continued throughout the start of my generation, near the end of the first half of this century. Because of the Japanese attacking various American fleets, killing many Americans around them on that day, it was now known as a day that will live in infamy. General Raymond Brodrik, military personnel, decided to clean up cities for a start on American soil. Since there were already many east-end heroes in the United States of America, Brodrik decided to find heroes in the Western and Southwestern regions of the country to help. This is how I, Bret Caller, alias Althinius, entered the scene in this story with my friend Fighley and the rest of my colleagues. At the general’s plea and good-sized payment, he hired us to do the right thing. There would be only a handful of us from Reno to my own hometown, Pigeon City, a centropolis city with a unique name in the state of New Mexico. Major Stephen Cobble would assist the general who worked under President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Then there would be other militant connections such as Captain Len Willard and Lieutenant Arvid Vanerk, whom we called Aardvark behind his back. We could not afford to lose our sense of humor during the WWII era; we would be lost without one.

According to Major Cobble, almost one year after that era, the war sent young men in combat gear to the islands surrounding Japan. Fighley, Madame Slice, Rodeo Clown, Captain Steel, and I continued our quest here at home to preserve what is good, just, and righteous. We were known as the Paragons. We even helped to clean up the Westcoast as Rodeo Clown and Fighley assisted in gathering thieves, murderers, rapists, and prostitutes away. This is why for the same common purpose I chose the name Althinius. The name is rather clever, I thought, because it depicts an athlete and a Roman gladiator combined.

Mr. Gin Yung, an Asian man who is the superintendant of the apartment complex where I live and also a friend, has taught me the craft of martial arts. He is a ten-degree black belt. You learn very quickly, Mr. Caller. Mr. Yung refers to me by my last name. I have come to understand that you, unlike any of my other students, have understood honor for more than just a word.

One day as he returned to his home, he found it vandalized. Yung knows who did it: an overachieving kick-boxing contender named Johnny Barett. Johnny lived in the same apartment where we, the Paragons, caught up with him and brought him back to my room to question him. We decided to interrogate him. Johnny was brought over to the apartment but Yung reacted by having Johnny tied up. I suppose he had it coming. Johnny managed to kick me and Captain Steel in the face two days later after he was released. Madame Slice gave him an upper cut across the jawline. Gin Yung tells him not to be so unreasonable next time, to cooperate for the best of everyone. Johnny reacts by spiting a wad of blood in his face. Fuck all of you! he says. Madame Slice kicks him in the stomach; he drops on all fours, then vomits. Johnny starts to linger from the abandoned building where we would meet across the street until he disappears from view. That is a lesson he will not soon forget, says Captain Steel. Yung returns to the apartment complex. I hate to think what others are doing in another part of the country when we are not there, I say to Madame Slice standing in her black uniform as she skins off some small details of her cuticles with her knife. Nobody can help that, Bret, she says to me. As hard as it is for me to accept, I know she is correct. You believe in the higher power? Steel asks me. I look at him and nod. Just trust in him to provide us with what we need to be doing for better or worse. We walk together and meet with Fighley and Rodeo Clown; we were all tired after an early dinner, then separated. I went to stay with Fighley that night at his place; I tell him what we did to Johnny. Had it fokin’ comin’, I understand, he says. I know we did not have to do what we did, Fighley, I say to him. I am sure God will forgive you, which is all you need to know between you and that rat bastard, finishes Fighley. I suppose, maybe, I did know now.

The five of us gather as a group again to thwart all evil in and out of the city, although suspicions were high, for the next two days. When Captain Steel, Madame Slice, and I withheld a man against his will, we found it to be best to report the matter to Captain Len Willard. After all, we were being the opposite of what we were subjected to be. Althinius, can you tell me the reason you all held this man tied up? The jig was up, and there was no enlightening excuse of which to say. I start to catch my breath slowly, Captain Willard, a—a— It is at this point I decide to tell him the truth.

A friend and superintendant of mine had his home vandalized by the man Johnny, another neighbor in the apartment complex whom we tied up. I exhale slowly; Capt. Willard lifts up his notebook so as not to look, as if not to let me see what he is writing. Who is this friend superintendant of yours? he asks, keeping his stern eyes at me, I look at Willard straight in the eye, He is both a friend and a mentor. Of course Capt. Willard will report this news to Major Cobble. And the man we tied up had it coming, He was also a pupil of Mr. Yung. I am through talking. Capt. Willard has a dumbfounded look on his face like he was slapped in the face by King Kong, surprised to believe what I just said. Eventually we were relieved of the charges pressed against us, although we came close to going to jail. Madame Slice and Capt. Steel were given a pardon; I myself was given a warning.

March 12, AD 1942

I cannot say I have always been an optimistic sort; for this moment I still don’t say. I am glad though that Captain Willard, who has become a good friend to us, still remains a good friend despite the struggle with