Fade Razr

By CATO

What happens when an ordinary person comes in contact with the most powerful substance in the universe? Magic, miracles, and a heightened sense of abilities. Meet Fade Razr, the world's most powerful, melanated super being. Journey with him as he steps into the fullness of his power as a melanated person, bringing injustice to its knees. He give

• Language: English
• Publisher: Inkscriptions LLC
• Release date: Feb 14, 2022
• ISBN: 9781732361478

Book preview

1

Visitors

On a night with a full moon where stars dotted the fall New Mexico sky, two couples of young lovers were on their usual romantic outing near a rock formation in the desert not far from a military site. It was the ideal place to do their thing. Although this area was off limits to the public, and strictly enforced, the two men who were stationed at the nearby base, knew every nook and cranny in the forbidden zones where they wouldn’t be spotted by the armed soldiers who had orders to shoot to kill due to the sensitive top-secret nature of the entire area.

California Girls by The Beach Boys played from their boom box, as the couples laid naked on their blankets. One of the participants walked over to the cooler to retrieve the bottle of Jack and a couple of set-ups. Hearing the roaring sounds of jet engines, he looked up in the sky and noticed four F-15 jets flying as if they were pursuing something. Recognizing the formation patterns, he stood there trying to locate whatever it was they were pursuing. Looking into the dark sky he could see an object ahead of the jets making humanly impossible maneuvers.

Hey Aaron! Come take a look at this, man! What the fuck? Jeff yelled excitedly with his eyes glued on the aerial show. Curious as to what Jeff was marveling over, Aaron jumped up and ran over to him and looked up.

"What the fuck is that?" Aaron asked.

I don’t know.

Is that what I think it is?

Yeah. I think so, he replied as he continued looking up and walking forward. Then again, it could be that exercise that was supposed to take place last month but was postponed.

Nah. I was a part of the planning committee on that. So, I would have known if it was scheduled for tonight. It didn't come across my desk. This is something else going on.

Damn! Did you see that fucking turn it made? Insane! It’s just toying with them! The girls, who remained seated on the blanket, began mocking the two men.

They’re jet watching again, Janet joked.

I know right, Dana quipped. We can’t even get our freak on without them becoming excited like little boys over airplanes. The two chuckled. This is the life of military folks, so if you and Jeff plan on getting hitched, you had best get used to it.

As the two awestruck men continued watching the cat and mouse game in the sky, the object disappeared then reappeared as if it was playing hide and seek. At times it flew so low to the ground that it appeared possible to reach up and touch it.

Hey Aaron. I’m going to call in and see what the hell is going on.

"No! You can't do that! Are you crazy?" Jeff shot back.

Why? Aaron asked.

This is why! Jeff said pointing to their nakedness. What the hell are you going to tell them, dude? We were out here in a restricted area banging our girls when we saw the alien chase? Aaron looked up into the sky and thought about it. Jeff was right. What was he thinking? Something like this could end their careers.

I think what we need to do is just get our shit and get the hell out of here before this area is crawling with patrols. I’m up for rank soon and if we are caught out here, I’d lose that and may even be sent to Leavenworth.

What are you guys looking at? Janet asked as she walked up with the blanket wrapped around her naked body, her head tilted to the sky.

That! Jeff said pointing to the object with the jets behind it.

Oh my God! What is it? I’ve never seen anything like that before! she said in astonishment. Being an Air Force brat and now an Air Force fiancée, Janet had become so acquainted with planes and jets that she had the uncanny ability to identify them by name and model. But this unidentified flying object was something she had never seen before in all her years.

Hey! Come on guys! Let’s get the fuck outta here, Aaron said as he rushed back to their camp and started getting dressed. The others followed suit with their heads still fixed on the dark moonlit sky.

As the Jeep crawled over the rocky terrain and onto the paved road that led back to town, the two couples saw a huge flash over the hills.

What the hell was that? Aaron yelled.

It looked like somebody crashed. I hope it wasn’t one of ours, Jeff replied sternly. But we can’t go check it out, so don’t even ask. We gotta get outta here, bro. Again, I am not trying to lose my rank or my freedom and neither are you.

As the two remaining jets circled over the crash site, Aaron maneuvered the jeep like a getaway driver as they cleared the restricted area and headed back safely into town.

At daybreak, amidst the thick fog blanketing the area of the crash site, soldiers stood around on high alert guarding the perimeter with assault rifles in hand, scanning the huge desert expanse with a wary eye. What looked like metal and debris was scattered over an area covering a five-hundred-yard radius. On the ground about one hundred yards from the impact site, were two huge bodies covered with sheets and two more bodies inside the wreckage. A few hundred yards away, the smoldering wreckage of the two F-15s lay upside down inside a small crater caused by the impact. Inside what remained of one of the F-15s the mangled and charred body of its pilot hung upside down from the seatbelt. About fifty feet away, pieces of the other pilot’s body were found scattered on the ground in several places.

As the soldiers continued to stand in position around the area, making sure nothing or no one got in or out, two choppers appeared and landed a couple hundred feet from the crash site. When the choppers cut their engines, two men wearing white lab coats, one black and the other of Pakistani descent, stepped out onto the ground. Soon, a full bird Colonel hopped out of the other helicopter and the soldier’s bodies immediately stiffened in salute. After returning their salutes, the Colonel motioned for the two men in lab coats.

Placing on protective gloves, the two men in white lab coats and the Colonel, accompanied by the commander of the soldiers guarding the crash site, began walking through the area sifting through the wreckage.

Dr. McCoy. How are you? the Colonel asked the black man wearing a lab coat.

All is well, sir. McCoy replied.

So, what do we have here, Dr. McCoy?

It appears we had two of our jets involved in a mid-air collision with the terrestrial’s spacecraft. He nodded to the wrecked spacecraft. The bodies of our visitors are over there covered with sheets, he said walking over to them.

Yep. The Colonel said after walking up to them. Looks like dead aliens. And I sure hope they’re indeed dead, because they sure are some pretty big sumbitches, he replied in a southern drawl. But you are the head honcho of our reverse engineering program at NASA, right? So, have you ever seen any of this kind before?

That I am, McCoy said as he continued to inspect the metal fragment with a probe. After running a device over that detects radiation, he spoke into the recorder. "The metal from the spacecraft show no signs of radioactive material. To the Colonel he said, And no. These are quite different. Although every crash, which doesn’t happen often, is unique." He looked under the sheets to see the colossal bodies of the aliens who appeared to be at least ten feet tall. Again, he spoke into the recorder. Deceased terrestrials’ humanoid in appearance, appear to be about nine to ten feet in height. Maybe about four hundred to four hundred fifty pounds in weight.

So how are they different from the ones you have seen before? the Colonel asked.

Their physical stature. I have never seen any this size before. The previous ones we analyzed were much shorter, some even dwarf like. But these are unprecedented in height and weight. I do recall, however, hearing of terrestrials of this kind with the same size, skin tone, and texture after a crash that took place in a remote part of the Soviet Union a few years ago. Speaking into the recorder he said, "Terrestrial’s skin tone is dark, and its texture is human like."

Yeah. He’s darker than you, the Colonel said. McCoy glanced over at him and smiled. I mean, his skin is darker than yours, the Colonel replied with a sheepish smile. He hoped his remark wasn’t construed as racist.

I know what you meant, Colonel, McCoy smiled. I am indeed dark. But not as dark as our visitors here. They seemed to have a bluish hue, or as the old folks used to say in the south where I spent many of my summers growing up, they look blue-black like Kenyans or the Nilotic people in Africa.

Are those what they call dreadlocks? They look like tree vines.

It appears to be, Colonel. Into the recorder, he said, "Terrestrial has what appears to be very thick dreadlocks."

Addressing the Pakistani scientist, who had been conducting his own independent analysis of the wreckage, McCoy asked, Dr. Sheik. The markings and the writings, does it look familiar to you?

Yes. It looks like ancient Egyptian.

I thought so. But I wanted to be sure that I wasn't imagining things. This is incredible! Bringing the recorder closer to his mouth, he added, "Fragments from the alien ship has strange markings on it that looks to be some type of Egyptian script and hieroglyphics." McCoy stopped recording and addressed the crash site commander. "I’m going to need this site cleaned up and secured as soon as possible. I imagine that the media will be crawling out here as soon as they get the calls from the residents in the area, whom I’m positive saw what took place here."

How can you be so sure someone saw this, Mr. McCoy? the Colonel asked. It happened around 0400 hours.

Don’t you watch those UFO shows on the History Channel, Colonel? The question left him with a bewildered look on his face. You know, The Ancient Aliens?

Oh yeah. And no. But my wife does.

Yours too, huh? McCoy smiled as he knelt, gently lifting a huge piece of wreckage to see two pairs of metal gauntlets and several dozen vials underneath that contained a black substance. Seeing the Colonel with his back turned and speaking to the soldiers, he peered around before placing them in his collection bag.

On the way home from a very long day of physical examinations of outer worldly beings and making notations, Dr. McCoy relished the silence inside their car he shared with his wife who had picked him up from work. After 12 years of marriage, his wife knew he wouldn’t be very talkative after working 18 hours. The most he would say was to give her the customary "Hello beautiful," followed by a kiss, and from work to home, not much if anything was talked about. Wanting to break the silence that she could not stand, Mrs. McCoy tuned on the radio.

According to two eyewitnesses, who asked not to be identified, they saw military jets pursuing an unidentified object over the area, earlier this morning before it collided with two of the jets and crashed. The witnesses would not say what they were doing in the area. Both told the story of a cat and mouse game by the U.S. Air Force and the unidentified spacecraft they referred to as Aliens. If you are not familiar with the famed history of Roswell, this was yet another sighting of UFOs in the area that has been seen by hundreds of people over the last six decades. We attempted to get a statement from the Department of Defense, but its spokesperson said that it is the policy of the agency to not comment on these sightings. Having heard enough, Malcolm McCoy changed the channel.

Noticing his slight irritation at the news report, Mrs. McCoy trained her eyes on him. Well?

Well, what?

Is there anything to the news report?

What do you think?

What do I think?

"Yeah. What is your take on this? Because I know you have one," he said smiling.

You already know what I think. I told you I believe these things exist.

"Based on what evidence? Those Ancient Alien shows you watch on the Discovery Channel?" They both laughed.

Well, yeah. That and a few other things.

A few other things like what? McCoy’s said, his eyes shifting between his wife and the winding highway. Well? I’m listening.

Come on now. Do you think I’m that blind that I don’t know what’s going on? I happen to be married to a man who not only works for NASA, but one who talks in his sleep. Mr. McCoy laughed out loud.

Oh, so in one of my vulnerable moments, I let the cat out of the bag, and you sat there and listened?

No. I laid there and listened. Intently. What was I supposed to do, cover my ears? Of course, I listened. I’m a woman, aren't I? Mrs. McCoy said with a chuckle.

Yeah. You should have covered your ears or even woke me up. You know those things are top secret, he said smiling.

And it is still top secret. My lips are sealed. But those people at NASA will just have to understand that wives are privileged and privy to information that others are not. We also have our own little unique ways of extracting info also.

Oh yeah?

Yeah. You already know, Mr. Scientist, she said before leaning over and running her tongue on his neck causing his body to bristle and tense up.

I guess that’s my cue to hurry up and get us home, huh, he said smiling.

Yes, she whispered to him sensually before perusing her tongue inside and outside of his ear.

2

The Black Prince

When the McCoy’s arrived at their palatial home, their only son, Malcolm, dressed in his Batman pajamas stood on the couch at the window watching his parents’ Mercedes Benz pull into the garage. Antsy and jumping around he could hardly contain his excitement. After successfully fighting sleep for the past two hours, he was determined to be up to greet his parents, just as he had done since he was barely walking.

Okay Jr. As soon as you give your parents a hug, you have to be getting to bed, young man. You’ve already stayed up way past your bedtime, said Ms. Evelyn, the thick, dark-skinned, live-in babysitter.

Yes ma’am, he replied before he jumped from the couch and ran to the door leading to the garage to ambush his parents. As soon as the door swung open, he bum rushed his father. "Daddy!" he yelled at the top of his lungs as he launched himself into his arms.

Daddy’s baby! his father replied with a wide smile. Secured in his father’s arms, he leaned his tiny body towards his mother, and kissed her on the cheek, while Ms. Evelyn stood there smiling with her arms folded across her chest.

Good evening, Mr. and Mrs. McCoy. I tried to get little Malcolm to go to bed, but he insisted he had to give you all a hug first, she said looking at him with a raised eyebrow.

Oh, no problem, Ms. Evelyn. He’s just gotta stay up to see his twin, Mrs. McCoy said as her husband carried him to the living room in one arm and held the briefcase in the other.

Yeah, daddy’s gotta see his little mini me off to bed. Hearing this, Malcolm’s once smiling face turned to frowns.

Aww daddy, I don’t wanna go to bed yet. I wanna stay up late tonight. I did my times tables and didn’t get into any trouble in school today.

Malcolm, your father is a little tired and so am I, his mother said. You can stay up for a few more minutes, but after that you have to go nighty night. Malcolm looked over at his father to bail him out.

You heard your mother. She’s the boss of this joint, his father said with a shrug. But I tell you what. How about I tell you a short bedtime story? Seemingly satisfied by one of his father’s classic bedtime stories, his smile returned. One of his favorite past times, other than fishing and playing his PlayStation, was for his father to tell him one of his classic bedtime stories.

Okay! he said with excitement.

Give me a kiss goodnight, his mother said.

"Muah!"

"Muah!"

Honey, I will be waiting in the bedroom to finish where we left off, Mrs. McCoy said, looking behind her with a sensual look as she walked into the bedroom. Mr. McCoy smiled, as did Ms. Evelyn who didn’t miss much, not even a low, inaudible whisper that was meant only for a husband’s ears.

Inside Malcolm’s bedroom decorated with almost every superhero ever known to man, including the Brown Hornet, he was snuggled under his superhero blanket as his father began telling him a bedtime story.

"Once upon a time, there was this Black Prince named Adnan, the only child of King and Queen Sankofa, who ruled a Kingdom called Melanesia. One day, while playing out in the forest with his pet lion, Shazzar, whom he’d raised from a cub, Adnan was approached by a strange man. This man, who went undetected by the royal guards posted throughout the area, wore garments unlike any Adnan had ever seen. This polite, kind man, who introduced himself as Aten, was a giant who could crush any man with one blow. Aten would not only teach him mathematics, science, and secrets of the universe, he would also take him on excursions into outer space to far away civilizations to acquaint him with the solar systems and their inhabitants.

Over the course of several years, Aten would periodically visit his friend Adnan and spend time with him. One day during a visit, the two friends planted a tree from Aten’s planet as a token of their friendship. This tree which possessed a powerful substance called melanin would later be called the tree of life" and whoever ate its fruits would never get sick, never grow old or die, but would only transition to the next world once their earthly life cycle ended.

"Over time, Adnan would use his knowledge of the universe and superior teachings taught to him by Aten to help his father rule the kingdom and make life better for its people. People would travel great distances to be in his presence to soak up his superior wisdom.

"The last time Adnan saw Aten was when he was seventeen years of age. It was on this final meeting Aten told him that his life cycle was at its end, and it was time for him to transition to the next world. This saddened Adnan greatly as he viewed Aten like his own father. Knowing that this news had upset the Black Prince, Aten assured him that he would watch over him always in spirit. And that if any time he was in trouble and needed help, all he had to do is stand on the ground facing the sun, point a special amulet to the sky, and help would soon arrive. Little did Adnan know this amulet would one day save his kingdom and his parents who ruled it.

"One day the kingdom of Melanesia was about to be under attack by the wicked alliance of Europa. Melanesia was completely surrounded by thousands of men. The elders and advisors tried to convince the King to surrender and accept the terms of the alliance that would allow him to remain in power in exchange for the kingdom to become one of Europa’s colonies under its rule. In this agreement, the King would become nothing more than a puppet and figurehead. Just as the King was about to agree to the terms and surrender, Adnan convinced him that he could save the kingdom from the alliance. The council objected vehemently, viewing Adnan as only a boy with a vivid imagination.

When Adnan walked outside, stood on the earth with his bare feet, and held the amulet up to the sun as it begun to reach its zenith, just as Aten instructed him to do in times of trouble, the sky became dark as if nightfall was upon them. There was a terrible noise all around that sounded like the roars of thousands of lions making their presence known. The earth shook violently as if it was going to split asunder. Suddenly, there appeared horseless flying carriages that were so many in number they were like the stars in the heavens. The men and horses in the Europa alliance panicked as though they were under the wrath of the gods. The flying carriages attacked relentlessly sending the Europa armies fleeing through the forests for their dear lives. The strange rays that looked like flashes of sunlight jutted forth from the flying ships, intersected through the skies like lightning bolts. Everything the rays touched, including the bodies of horses, the armored carriages that pulled them, the shields, the weapons, and the full-grown men who wore and carried them, they all disintegrated and disappeared, never to be seen again, while the once terrified people inside Melanesia cheered wildly. Once the battle to end all battles had ended, and the threat of the Europa Alliance was forever destroyed, the earth was now in total peace and harmony. There was no more colonization, invasions and occupations of other people's lands as European military superiority and tyranny was vanquished. This not only endeared the people to the Black Prince inside and outside of the kingdom, his proud father, who recognized his coming of age, abdicated the throne and crowned him King. It was that same year the Black Prince found his Queen, Aryanna.

When Mr. McCoy paused his story telling, he looked down to see his son sleeping peacefully. The smile on his face looked like that of a sleeping Black Prince, totally content with the kingdom in which he was blessed to reside in. Smiling, Mr. McCoy pulled the cover over his prince and quietly walked out of the room.

3

They’ve Been Here Before

The clandestine NASA laboratory hidden deep inside a New Mexico mountain was the size of five football fields. Unknown to the public, it was perhaps the most heavily guarded and secured government site in the United States and the world over.

Inside this location, which was built after the first visitors to planet earth were discovered following the crash of their spaceship during the 1930s, there were hundreds of scientists, engineers, assistants, and the armed soldiers who guarded it. The various cryogenic chambers in the lower rooms, housed the bodies of the aliens of different species, shapes and sizes who crash landed to earth and never made it back to their planets of origin. Many had long suspected that the government held the bodies of these visitors, but like always, the government not only gave its usual denials, but launched a campaign to discredit the stories and the UFO enthusiasts and eyewitnesses alike as nothing more than wide-eyed conspiracy theorists.

Big Mac. What you up to, homie, other than fucking with alien shit? his friend and colleague Joppy asked. Malcolm Senior laughed.

Aww nothing. Same old same old.

So, what’s that?

Alien shit. And don’t touch it, he said, slapping his hand. Joppy smiled. Just some things I recovered from the crash site.

That looks like some type of hieroglyphics or something.

Wow! I’m shocked, he said holding up a book of Egyptian hieroglyphics to compare it to the markings on the fragment. You do know something besides that biology stuff, and women, after all. Joppy chuckled.

Check out those symbols. Looks like the same as the ones on that pyramid. It appears our visitors have been to our planet before we theorized, aye?

It appears, Malcolm said, examining the markings and comparing them to the book.

Did you notice the shape of the head of one of our subjects?

Yes. It’s oblong.

Oblong like a certain Egyptian Pharaoh? Do you see the correlation?

"You mean, Akhenaten?"

Yes. The symbols, the scribing, and the shape of their heads leaves no doubt that they’ve been here before. I once recall watching an episode of Ancient Aliens.

Oh, don’t tell me you watch that too? Malcolm said cutting him off. You and your ole girl should find better things to watch on T.V. The two men chuckled.

Well, speaking of something better to do. What you guys got going tonight? Me and the wifey have two extra tickets to the Luther Vandross concert. Wanna hang out with us?

Damn! Can’t nobody alive blow like Luther. But I’m going to have to take a raincheck, my brother. Duty calls tonight.

Well, it sucks to be you, then, Joppy said rubbing the top of Malcolm’s head which was something he knew got on his friend’s nerves.

I done told you about that shit, Malcolm said, cutting his eye over at him. Joppy chuckled mischievously.

Okay, my brother. I’m out of here.

Alright, Jop. You guys enjoy the concert.

Okay, Big Mac. Will do, my brother. And you enjoy your night in this creepy ass place, he said with a chuckle before walking away down the long corridor past one of the armed soldiers who stared straight ahead as if he didn't see him.

The single most detestable thing about Malcolm McCoy’s six-figure job was working late nights in the lab by himself in a facility that housed the bodies of beings from far away planets. Beings that perhaps had been sent to earth as scouts to observe mankind’s offensive and defensive weaponry for the purposes of a future invasion. And others who may have been here to take test subjects back for some barbaric experimentation that some humans claimed to have endured at the hands of extraterrestrials. Whatever the purpose for their visit was of no consolation to Malcolm, who could never get used to the feeling of working late nights inside that lab.

Ever since he laid eyes on the pair of gauntlets, he found at the crash site, Dr. McCoy was most intrigued by them, particularly their markings. They were beautiful and silver colored with gold markings and a ruby red symbol of a bird that looked like the Egyptian God Horus inscribed on them. It was then and there, he decided he would take them home, which was why he purposely did not record them in his notes.

The substance in the vials, which he also purposely omitted from his notes, was also something that caught his attention. He figured it served as some sort of immunization for the aliens to protect them against the contaminants and germs in the earth’s foreign atmosphere, like the vaccination shots humans take to guard against certain diseases. To Malcolm’s astonishment, the preliminary test results concluded that the tar like substance was very compatible to melanin, but a far more potent form. Perhaps thousands of times more potent. After pondering the results, Malcolm’s mind began to wander with the possibilities it offered just like the scientist that he was. It wasn’t lost on him that this substance could be used to treat, or perhaps even cure, ailments that afflict mankind, like his son’s sickle cell. And this is how it has been with scientists since time immemorial. The what ifs have often led to fantastic discovery. So, at this point his mind was made up. Any reservations he previously had about taking these articles away from the facility were now gone.

After placing the gauntlets in his briefcase and the small vials inside a couple cans of soda that had secret hidden compartments, he walked out of the laboratory and headed to his car.

Okay soldier. I’m out of here, Malcolm said to the young, slender soldier who looked like a mannequin.

Okay. Have a good night, sir, the robotic soldier replied without even looking at him. To say that he was disciplined and well trained was an understatement. He was more like a Cyborg than a human who didn't seem to have a soul, let alone a personality. That was a testament to his training, not to develop any personal relationships with the scientists who knew some of the best kept secrets in the U.S. government. That was another thing Malcolm hated most about his job. In his opinion, he didn't see any harm in making it known to the public that they are not the only living beings in the entire universe. In fact, he felt that it could be a benefit to mankind knowing about the existence of aliens. Perhaps it would humble a people who had grown so arrogant and so self-absorbed that they no longer displayed humanity towards each other.

After unlocking his car door and placing his briefcase in the front passenger seat Malcolm sat down behind the wheel and let out a deep sigh. Having taken alien artifacts from the lab many times before, this time was no different from any other occasion. It was always a scary situation, and he was always a nervous wreck. If he was caught, it would not only end his career, but perhaps his freedom.

After composing himself and preparing to back out of the underground garage, he looked into the rearview mirror and was surprised to see the robotic guard running up to his car full speed.

Mr. McCoy, stop! he yelled as he rushed towards him.

"Shit! Malcolm said under his breath. Is everything okay, soldier?"

Yes, sir. You dropped your pen, the young soldier said.

Oh wow! Thank you! I would lose my damn head if it wasn’t attached to my shoulders.

Don’t mention it, sir, the soldier said before walking away.

As he watched the soldier walk back to his post, Malcolm closed his eyes and took another deep breath before driving away.

4

Desperate Measures

The next day, which fell on a Saturday, the McCoy’s attended Malcolm’s Pop Warner football practice as promised. Like always, Mrs. McCoy would be on pins and needles watching her son play this sport she considered barbaric, while her husband, a former high school standout linebacker, would be the loudest parent in the stands even during practice.

"Alright son! Show’em what the McCoys are made of! Represent! Represent! Whoop! Whoop! Whoop!" he yelled. The lady sitting next to him rolled her eyes and began inching herself away from him.

Malcolm, are you sure he’s going to be alright out there? It is a little sunny today, a tense Mrs. McCoy said as she sat fully erect in her seat. Each time her son was involved in the slightest contact, the more rigid her posture became.

Are you kidding me? It’s sixty degrees out here and the sun is barely out. He’s going to be just fine, honey. Besides, his doctor already cleared him to play. Remember what he said? Malcolm should live a normal life just like any other healthy kid. And there is nothing more normal in life than a manly game of football.

Okay, she said with consternation in her voice.

When one of Malcolm’s teammates, a chunky knock-kneed kid ran the ball, Malcolm placed a hit that put him square on his back, sending his helmet a few feet away, and the ball straight up into the air. Before the ball could land back to earth, the kid’s mother had bolted from a sitting position straight to her feet. "My baby!" she said as she darted down the bleachers so fast, she cleared three rows at a time.

Great hit, Malc! Malcolm Sr. yelled. Mrs. McCoy nudged him and rolled her eyes. After the massive hit that would have made Ronnie Lott proud, the coach called practice for the day. I sure hope you won’t be acting like her and embarrassing our son, he said to Mrs. McCoy with a chuckle.

"Hmm. Well, you better leave me at home then, because if something happens to my baby out there on that field, I’m going to cut up a whole lot worse than her," she said popping her neck. Malcolm laughed and headed down the bleachers.

After reaching the field, he patted little Malcolm on the helmet. "Great hit, son. Way to knock him on his ass," he whispered in his ear before looking over at the kid walking slowly off the field crying and being consoled by his mother.

Later that night, Malcolm walked to his parents’ room door, knocked, and collapsed.

I heard a knock, his mother said before throwing on her robe and heading to the door. When she opened it and looked down, she let out a terrifying scream. MY BABY! Startled, Malcolm Sr. hopped up from his sleep and ran to the door to see his wife cradling their unconscious son.

Inside the hospital ICU waiting room, the McCoys and Ms. Evelyn sat there in silence. The petrified looks on their faces said what they did not verbalize. Holding his wife in a tight embrace, Malcolm Sr. had begun wondering if he had made a wise decision in allowing his son to play a contact sport with his condition. Over in the next seat, Ms. Evelyn, a devout Muslim, clutched her prayer beads and uttered a prayer to herself. When the doctor walked in, all three shot straight up from their seats to receive the news of Malcolm’s condition.

Hello Mr. and Mrs. McCoy, the doctor said smiling. Malcolm is fine. We got him stabilized and breathing normally. Mrs. McCoy and Evelyn both let out deep sighs of relief simultaneously. All his vitals are normal and he’s in no danger. I think maybe he got a little too worked up today on the field. He told me about the hit he laid on the other kid. He smiled.

Can we go see our baby? Mrs. McCoy asked without further delay.

Sure. I don’t see why not. He’s a little sedated, but… Before the doctor could finish his words, Mrs. McCoy and Evelyn tore out to Malcolm’s room as if they were shot out of a cannon. Mr. McCoy, however, remained behind to speak with the doctor about his son.

Doc. Was it the hit that caused this? he asked.

I would say, no. His test results came back negative for concussions or any other head trauma. I think it’s just his sickle cell condition worsening. He’s had three attacks this month. Maybe this was a symptom of that which brings me to this, Mr. McCoy. I know you are already aware that your son has the most severe form, one that typically lessens his quality of life, or worse, could cut his life short.

Okay. Well, what are you saying, doc? Malcolm Sr. asked looking directly into his eyes.

I’m saying that he should take it easy and not take part in anything strenuous and stressful anymore, and especially a contact sport like football.

Okay. I see, Mr. McCoy said with a distant look in his eyes. Just as the doctor was about to walk away, he called out to him. Hey, Doc, do me a solid.

What’s that?

Don’t tell my wife what you just told me. The doctor looked down and nodded his head.

You got it, he said before walking away.

After hearing the doctor’s bleak forecast of his one and only son’s future, he made up in his mind right then and there that he would begin testing the alien substance that he suspected could treat or even cure him.

5

The End Justifies the Means

After organizing his lab, Malcolm Sr. began testing the substance. After the second test gave him the same results as the first, there was no doubt that it was an extremely potent, concentrated form of melanin. Thousands of times more potent than anything found on earth.

To begin the experiment, he separated the test subject rats. In one cage he put the rats who were infected with the same strain of sickle cell as his son. The healthy rats, the control group, he placed them in the other cage. A short time later, he began administering the substance he nicknamed TOL-8, which stood for the Tree of Life to the experimental group. It was a reference from the Black Prince story he’d told his son and 8 that represented Malcolm’s age. Like in all experiments, he took notes and used a video monitor to observe the behavior and movements of the subjects.

Miraculously, within a day the condition of the experimental group began to show improvement. They were up walking around and eating. By day two, they were up playing like normal. The lone visible side effect was their increased physical size and strength that enabled them to move around a ten-pound ball with relative ease that was placed in the cage for exercise. Encouraged by what he saw, Malcolm spoke the findings into his