The T.A.T.T.O.O.O.

By Daniel P. Rutland

One spectacular day is all that was needed... On December 21, 2012, something extraordinary happened. A thing that general society did not believe in or see coming. There are the chosen ones with the special blood of the "Old Ones," then there is the rest of the population with little faith that thinks those chosen Ones are crazy and d

• Language: English
• Publisher: Daniel Rutland Jr
• Release date: Apr 30, 2017
• ISBN: 9780692104248

Book preview

The T.A.T.T.O.O.O.

By

Daniel Paul Rutland Jr.

Table of Contents

The T.A.T.T.O.O.O.

The T.A.T.T.O.O.O. by Daniel Paul Rutland Jr.

Prologue

Chapter 1. The Awakening

Chapter 2. New Allies

Chapter 3. Early Secrets of the T.A.T.T.O.O.O.

Chapter 4. A Date with a Superhero

Chapter 5. Bryce Seeks Revenge

Chapter 6. D-Smash and Keen Smash It Out

Chapter 7. Shizu the T.A.T.T.O.O.O. God?

Chapter 8. Keen’s T.A.T.T.O.O.O. Avatar

Chapter 9. D-Smash Re-Establishes His Power

Chapter 10. The Dragon and the Tiger

Chapter 11. A New Threat

Acknowledgement

Prologue

Marks, symbols, letters, and numbers… These are nothing, but mere dots that are extended into lines forming meaning, representation, and understanding… That is derived from nothingness... This came to be known as knowledge. Now everyone knows the saying that Knowledge Is Power!, but to what degree? To what extent is knowledge related to power, and how far does it extend? Only One of it's own supremacy and individuality can prove this statement to be true; by one’s own standards and capabilities... Those of Old called the Old Ones, knew and understood these fundamentals and principalities. So they created a ritual that consisted of the placing of marks, symbols, numbers, letterings, and images upon one's body, known today in the twenty-first century as the T.A.T.T.O.O.O. During these rituals the Old Ones would weigh one's power through Telepathy, which determined what and how many T.A.T.T.O.O.O.'s were placed upon one's body. The T.A.T.T.O.O.O. was a measure of power and strength, which brought forth respect! The Old Ones would walk about bearing T.A.T.T.O.O.O.'s showing off their power. This is one of the many secrets of the T.A.T.T.O.O.O. These rituals were carried out throughout the generations; but somewhere along the fabrics of time, the T.A.T.T.O.O.O. lost it's meaning, it’s secrets, it's power… Now the generations of the third Millennia A.D., also known as the twenty first century, bears and represents the T.A.T.T.O.O.O. as a fashion statement; a social activity that ultimately bears no real true purpose… Except for representation or worship on a low frequency of understanding. They foolishly place images upon themselves with no motives, not knowing what they do or why they do it. They wear the T.A.T.T.O.O.O. and show them off, telling each other what they mean or represent to themselves as their individuality on a miniscule and mundane level. But little do they know that the T.A.T.T.O.O.O. has a more significant meaning; a more significant value... A value so great, one could achieve great power and respect! And with that power, One could accomplish such feats as destroying the world, helping the world, or taking over it… But no matter what one chooses to do with their T.A.T.T.O.O.O., the fact remains the same that with the knowledge and secrets of awakening the T.A.T.T.O.O.O., the world could be forever changed. But throughout the last few centuries, the world has basically been the same, because the secrets of the T.A.T.T.O.O.O. were hidden and forever lost, until one day…

Chapter 1: The Awakening

On one faithful, promising, extraordinary, and very unpredictable day, something unfathomable happened. Something happened that is said to happen once every 2500 years... This year, this day, in December, it happened… And when it happened, it forever changed two very special men’s destiny forever. But what changes will happen to the societies of the world because of the change in destiny of these two men? How will the world itself be affected...? What cause and effect will be impacted on the world…? Never again will these two men ever be able to give up on being the special individuals that they are… And although there are many of people that have been special throughout the ages… these two men were special in a time when being seen as normal was the only way to be accepted in society. The only said way to live comfortably and stress free. The only way to obtain what one’s heart truly desired. Being as They say Special, in this time was out casted and seen as a form of disillusion… Or just flat out crazy or insane. People were quarantined in units, cells, and jails called The Crazy House if they spoke about special things and secrets that general society did not agree with. They would be put in a jacket that rendered them unable to move their upper body, this was known

as a Straight Jacket. It was called a Straight Jacket because, I guess They felt that They were setting you straight or rather normal… People that had special gifts from nature itself or wherever it came from, had to blend in and keep secrets just to sustain their way of living. But as for the two men on this day, these peculiar and special men will be changed beyond their wildest imagination. This change will allow them to decide to embrace their Special ways never giving up on themselves and what they believed in… But, there is yet another harsh fact of reality of being special, and that fact is… There are the Special amongst the special…

A man stares into the sparkling night sky feeling an emptiness deep within his heart. He feels as if he is being sucked into a dark void from the aching pain of loneliness and un-acceptance. As the abyss grows within him, he gazes into the night sky seeing so many beautiful stars shining back at him trying to soothe his soul and make all of his pain go away, vanquishing all of his worries. But no matter how hard the stars try, it just isn’t enough to fix the damage that has been done to him by the cruelties of society. The sad distraught man leaks fluids from his eyes streaming like a river flows to its keep. The sad man’s head and heart aches as he recollects about how he has tried his best,

having helped so many people but has been neglected due to some kind prejudice or hate towards him. How he has been lied and hated upon just for being himself. How other people have been accepted for being themselves but no one has accepted him for the magnificent person that he is. He wonders why everyone else is accepted but he is not over and over in his mind and his heart. He beats himself up inside for being the person he is, wishing that he was different, accepted… As he replays the negative thoughts over and over in his head as they eat away at his internal being, something erupts inside of him. The T.A.T.T.O.O.O. on his chest begins to burn and glow, a red aura starts to seep from the T.A.T.T.O.O.O. surrounding his body. Then suddenly the aura expands in all directions like the explosion of a grenade. The sad man winces and falls to his knees teary eyed pouring even more liquid from his eyes. He hears someone calls his name. Feeling embarrassed and sad, the man refuses to look up because he would rather not let anyone see him in his weakened state. He feels feeble and helpless, so the last thing he wants to face is another person that will belittle or torment him even further for being vulnerable and weak. Then he hears someone calls out to him again. The distraught, weakened, sad man, slowly looks up to see a creature menacingly looking down upon him. The sad man lets out an agonizing yell that echoes throughout the high buildings of New York…

Out of the darkness of nothingness brings forth a huge black and grey, skinny, sharp clawed monster with pointy wings and ears. He has this menacing look on his face. He is dressed in what looks like a tuxedo or a really fancy suit. He is looks like a butler of some sort but has the image of a large deformed imp with sharp wings, claws and teeth. He appears before Keen and bows to him with a sharp glare…

Greetings to you master, my name is Golamere. It is but a pleasure to meet you Keen. I am at your service. My sole purpose and duty is to protect your life at all cost so my existence will live on! He says then laughs a shrieky laugh. Keen is baffled and hesitant but asks with fear,

What are you?!

I am an Augmentation of your consciousness, spirit, heart, and character. But as you see, we don't have time for this… There are more other important matters to attend to...

Keen doesn't have the slightest clue of what Golamere is talking about.

Like what?

We have to…

But just as Golamere is about to finish his statement, Keen's alarm goes off, which means it is time for Keen to get ready to head off to work. Keen wakes up in a frenzy getting tangled and wrapped up in his bed covers looking like a human burrito. He rolls around on the bed trying to untangle himself but falls off completely and hit the floor with a loud thud! He gets up and turns the alarm off seeing that it is nine o’ clock in the morning and that he is already late. Keen has to be at work at eight o’ clock in the morning, so he is already an hour late.

Man I'm going to be late for work again! Geez…

Keen rushes off to go showers up for work. He gets dressed in front of the mirror, he brushes his teeth and begins combing his brown hair into his normal style. Women see Keen as a pretty handsome guy although he feels he is just average looking. He does appreciate his cuts and pecks, but wishes he was a little bit more muscular. Keen is average height and average weight. He stands five foot eleven and weighs one hundred and eighty-five pounds. But he knows how fight because of his parents putting him in martial arts as a kid. Keen has blue eyes and is very athletic, but lives a pretty normal life. He is twenty-four years old and lives the life of a bachelor. He has a huge T.A.T.T.O.O.O. on the left side of his chest. The T.A.T.T.O.O.O. on Keen’s chest is just a bunch of thick and skinny lines. The lines connect, looking like a sort of sharp seal placed upon his chest. As far as he know he was tatted as a child, which seemed a little weird to him but he doesn’t let it bother him too much. He just wished he had a say so in the matter of having a T.A.T.T.O.O.O. as an infant. So After Keen freshens up, he heads out to work. He locks his place up and walks to his normal bus stop on a normal day, or so he thinks… As he is waiting for the bus he hears a woman's loud scream coming from a nearby alley.

Get off of me! Let me go! Help me! Somebody, anybody, HELP ME!

Keen immediately starts running towards the alley and mumbles to himself, I'm going to be late anyway...

As Keen gets into the alleyway and peers down it, he sees at the end of it, a man holding a gun up to a woman's head. The woman struggles desperately to find an opening to make an escape. Keen runs and stops in front of the two about seven feet away and yells at the man.

Hey you! Let her go!

Who do you think you are talking to boy!? This isn't my first rodeo! The Gunner says.

The damsel in distress shifts a bit and yells, Help, he is trying to rape and kidnap me!

Shut up broad before I have to shut you up!

Keen gets worked up and jerks, making a sudden movement. This is the last time I am warning you, let her go!

Keen drifts off and begins to think to his self retreating in his mind, what have I gotten myself into?!

Keen is scared out his wits because he doesn’t have a clue at what he is going to do, but he knows that something has to be done... He feels he has to save this woman even if it costs him his life! Keen shuffles with a few quick movements which unnerves the gunner. So the gunner points the gun at Keen and fires a shot at Keen's face aiming directly between his eyes. The bullet blazes through the air heading towards Keen's face getting ready to strike him down! Just as the bullet gets about four inches away from Keen's face ready to take his life, Keen feels his birth T.A.T.T.O.O.O. on his chest give him a burning sensastion. Before he even realizes what is happening, a huge razor sharp ink claw of energy emerges from Keen's T.A.T.T.O.O.O. and slashes the bullet out of the air cutting it in two perfect halves right down the middle. Keen retreats and winces from the impact of the bullet and inked claw of energy. After the impact, as the two halves of the bullet bounces off of the ground, Keen opens up his eyes and then charges directly at the gunner. The gunner is so shocked and fearful at what he saw that he doesn't have time to react to Keen's quick movements. Keen comes upon the gunner and grabs the gunners right arm holding the gun, and twists it a leftward motion disarming the gunner, while at the same time giving the gunner an elbow to the throat with his right arm. The damsel in distress then breaks free from the gunner grasp and runs behind Keen. While the gunner is holding his neck recovering from the blow, Keen holds his hands up and reveals the gun that the gunner was holding a few seconds ago. He passes the gun to the woman.

Here, take this and go call the police, I'll handle this guy...

The woman runs around the corner and out of sight but peeks around the corner so that she can watch the fight just in case Keen was to need any help. Keen turns back to the unarmed gunner.

Let's finish this! Keen says as he spits at the gunner with disgust.

The two men face off preparing for battle, and before the first blow is thrown, Keen's chest burns and then he hears a voice that sounds exactly like the voice of the creature he dreamt about earlier this morning.

Let's see what you are made of! Don't let me down. Ahehehehehehe…

Keen is caught off guard by the Gunner, because of his attention being on his burning chest and on the voice that he was sure he had heard in his head.

Surprise boy! The Gunner yells.

The gunner gets a good punch to Keen's face. Keen falls back but recovers almost instantly. The gunner jumps back thinking the fight is over, but Keen shakes his head looking at the gunner as if he was a ten year old boy.

Man I see why you had a gun, my guess is, you had one because you hit like a little child! Keen teases.

Keen chuckles in amusement at his own remark. The gunner gets annoyed at Keen's chuckles and runs at him with full force. He throws three punches at Keen but misses all three times. Keen dodges the first two punches and ducks under the third one, then comes up with an uppercut to the gunners ribcage. The gunner is hurt, he crouches over holding his stomach from the impact of the blow. While he is bent over trying to recover from the Keen’s assault, Keen does not give him a chance to recover. Keen then grabs the gunner by the head and starts kneeing him. He gives him five blows, and on the last blow he hits him so hard that he sends the gunner flying. The gunner lands about two feet away from Keen, nose bleeding and unconscious. The last knee that Keen had given the gunner had knocked him out.

Done already? I was just getting warmed up!

Keen does a sort of victory dance and then runs out of the alley. As he turns the corner he runs right into the damsel that was in distress.

Oh the woman says surprised.

Hey it’s you… why didn't you run away like I told you too!?

I’m sorry, it’s just I wanted you to be okay. So I stayed just in case you needed my help. I did call the police, they should be here any moment now.

Well I’m not too fond of the police so let’s get outta here.

Keen takes the woman by the hand and get away from the alley. Once they get away from the alley they start walking to Keen's normal bus stop. As they get to the bus stop the woman turns to Keen with a deep romantic glare.

Thank you for saving me!

Aww it was nothing… Keen says bashful.

Well it was something, it was a lot! I’m grateful that you were there.

The woman kisses him on the Cheek.

My name is Kate by the way. What's yours?

Oh me? My name is Keen.

Keen huh? That is a cute name. Kate and Keen? Sounds good together, don’t you think…? The woman giggles to herself.

Keen blushes and looks down. He is not normally this shy or bashful around a woman but there is something very special about Kate that just makes him melt inside. She gives him butterflies in his stomach, so he cannot help being so bashful in her presence.

Yea kind of…

So how did you hear my cries for help? What were you doing and where were you?

I was right here at this bus stop. I come here every Monday through Friday to catch the bus here and head to work. So as soon I got here, I heard your cry for help so I dashed off to help you.

You put your life on the line to help me? You could've died ya know…?

Well that is a risk I was willing to take… All I knew is that I had to save you! It's what I felt in my heart...

Oh, my… well any man willing to sacrifice his life for me is definitely worthy of having my number. So do you have a girlfriend?

No not at the moment…

Well why don’t you take down my number?

Keen takes out his cellular phone to get Kate's number, the bus that Keen catches to get to his job pulls up to the bus-stop, he enters her phone number  and jumps on the bus but before the bus driver closes the door he yells,

Where are you headed!?

To a meeting, call me later!? Kate makes the hand representation of a phone and puts it up to her ear as she yells back to Keen.

Okay I will!

Keens smiles a bashful smile as the bus doors closes, and then the bus pulls off. Keen has to ride the bus for about twenty-five to thirty minutes to get to his job from his home. When Keen normally rides the bus, he don’t pay attention to the stops in between because he is so used to his usual routine, he watches out for his stop but nothing else. But Keen always makes sure he keeps an eye out for the people on the bus for the streets of New York are nothing to mess around with. But on this special bus trip Keen is watching all of his surroundings because he realizes that he almost lost his life earlier by trying to play hero. Keen doesn’t regret his actions but he is just being more cautious and attentive. Keen peers out the left side of the bus, and all he sees is crowds of people walking about going in and out of shops, nothing out of the ordinary. So Keen carries on and peers out of the right side of the bus and he sees the same thing; crowds of people walking about shopping. As Keen watches the crowd of people move about, a mysterious man catches Keen's eye. The mysterious man is a short and skinny Asian man with long dark hair and dark eyes. He looks a few decades older than Keen, and is dressed very unusual, but very casual. He peers at Keen through the crowd, through the bus window with deep intent, almost as if he knew Keen would be on that bus at that very moment. As the bus passes the man, it seems as if the bus is moving in slow motion to Keen. Keen glares back at the man with angst and fear. Their glares clash with each other’s as the world around them seems to disappear. Then suddenly the mysterious man quickly nods to Keen and turns around, then he points to a T.A.T.T.O.O.O. shop right behind him. The shop reads, Da T.A.T.T.O.O.O. Shrine. Keen looks at the T.A.T.T.O.O.O. shop and sees a yellow aura around it. Keen is not used to seeing auras so he shakes his head and turns to look at the mysterious man but the man is gone.

I could've sworn...! Keen says in disbelief.

Keen looks back at the T.A.T.T.O.O.O. parlor one last time and sees that it is still glowing before the bus passes it. Keen memorizes where the T.A.T.T.O.O.O. store is and continues his bus trip to work.

Keen arrives at work about two hours and thirty minutes late. He works at a meat factory in a warehouse on a back street. There is not much around the meat factory except for other warehouses, an alleyway, and a few shops. He has to walk down an alley to get to the warehouse which is only about a five min walk from the bus stop. Keen enters the warehouse and his boss confronts him almost immediately.

Hey, hey, hey! Why are you late today? I’m about tired of your absenteeism and your tardy arrivals! Keen I’m warning you…!

Keen puts his head down, Sorry Bob, I am late today because I got attacked in an alley by some gunner guy. I can’t promise that it won't happen again...

I’m about tired of your excuses as well! So what alley were you attacked in? The one right outside huh!? You expect me to believe that? I…

No it was the one right by my house. Its’ ok though, I’m alive and that’s all that matters. I will be on my best behavior from now on Boss! Keen interrupts.

Ok so what are you standing around for!? I barely have anybody working for me as it is! So I need you to be on ya P's and Q's. Now get to work!

Okay...

Keen gets to work feeling very bad about the way his day has turned out thus far. The only good thing that worked in Keen's favor today is that now he has a new lady friend that intrigues him. Keen is feeling depressed, and that his life changing so fast. He barely understands what is going on. Why are these things happening to him? He doesn't understand what his birth T.A.T.T.O.O.O. means and why he has it, but he do know that everything that happened to him today was one hundred percent real, and that he has to learn how to bring forth Golamere if he is to survive. He has to talk to him, bond with him, wield him… Keen starts up the cutting machine and sends slab after slab of meat through the grinder and cutting machine. Keen makes different types of meats until his lunch break. Keen break is an hour. So while Keen is on his lunch break, he makes his way to the freezer away from gaping eyes to solitude. Keen walks between a few slabs of hanging meat, he pauses and begins to meditate. He meditates on that burning sensation he felt on his chest when Golamere was summoned for the first time.

Keen hears a voice in his head, That’s right, keep it going! Don’t stop now!

Keen's chest begins to burn and he starts to concentrate harder. Keen lets out a huge roar and falls to his knees with tears in his eyes! It hurt him a great deal using his T.A.T.T.O.O.O. for the first time. Golamere erupts in a full inked Augmentation of reality! Golamere floats down until his feet hovers about six inches off of the ground towering over Keen. He stands before Keen with a sinister smile showing his sharp teeth with his wings folded. He looks just like he looked in Keen's dream.

I did it! I summoned you! I just can't believe you are real! But how…

In due time Keen. It took you long enough! I’ve waited for this day for far too long! But it's finally here! Now it is time to get to business! Keen, we must begin our training.

"Training? For what? Why…?

"Patience my feisty friend. Soon everything will be revealed. But, about that gunner you beat up today! He is a flunky of the man that uses my big brother... and my big brother is no lite weight. He is an Augmentation of berserk ferocity. He does not go down easy! But that's the icing on the cake! No more time for words, lets train!

Okay, how do we train together!?

Believe it or not we share the same mind! I live in there… I reside there unless you summon me forth! So now that I am out, just give me commands through Telepathy. I’m a very old being, alot of us are...

Alot of us…!? There are more of you!?

Yes. Many more…

How many!?

Don't know, I have a bit of amnesia but I’m slowly getting my memory back. I’m pretty sure that if you get stronger, I will start obtaining all of my memory. To put it simple, the stronger you get, the more memory I will obtain. Now, let's begin…

Keen walks over to Golamere and stand by his side. He turns to Golamere and nods. Keen thinks in his mind attack the meat. Golamere slashes the meat with one swift sharp swipe. The huge slab of meat is cut into three long pieces. Two pieces fall to the floor leaving the middle center piece still hanging.

Okay master that was fine and all, except for the fact that you were not specific! I am a combo Augmentation. I love doing swift and hasty slash combos! Let’s try again, but this time try to control me fully by adding detailed thoughts. But don’t forget, if u want to be lazy and give me lazy commands i will gladly oblige! Ahehehehe… But when it comes to life or death situations especially dealing with my big brother, you will want to be as precise as you can be. Just remember this one important fact, Augmentations can only do so much without command of our master. But we get more freedom the stronger an Augmentor gets.

Why?

"Because trust is built; and your energy flow gets molded and Augmented to new levels. We will grow closer and our bonds will be unmatched! Never let anyone sever our bonds, which will be difficult in life or death situations! For if our bond is severed, not broken but severed; we will lose contact with each other forever…!

So what happens if our bond is severed!? Do you die!? Can you die!? Do you go to someone else?

No no no, silly goose! We Augmentations usually don't, as you would say die. For the most part we will go back to our world where we will reside until brought forth by another which could be decades, centuries or even millenia! I cannot remember the whole process… Okay, but seriously stop distracting me! I’m happy to meet you too! But you must train right now because I almost lost you today before we even had a chance to meet! We will finish our conversation after work once we get home to our cozy little apartment.

Our apartment!?

Yup! What's yours is mine…! Ahehehehe…

Whatever you say... I don't mind sharing.

No master, it is whatever you say. Golamere bows.

Thanks! The only thing is, I was not planning on going straight home after work today!

Oh, is that so!? And where might you be going…? Golamere asks already knowing the answer.

That T.A.T.T.O.O.O. shop…

Yup! Figured as much! Well if we are going there tonight, we are in for a huge surprise! We need to get back to training now!

Well let's get to it! I only have thirty more minutes until my lunch is over!

Keen starts giving Golmere different slash combo commands in his mind's eye concentrating on