#gary mcgee

Five days before the invasion, the air around him twirled and danced, gently caressing his skin and fleeing as freely as it arrived. Twisting and floating high above the village was a boy no older than 15. Despite his average slightly pudgy build he was stepping lightly through the sky as gracefully as a swan gliding across a pond. His dyed blue hair, short and close to his head and slicked back, fell out of place barely in the breeze. It was as though every time he moved his hand, he carried the breeze with him, swaying back and forth, his thin blue Chinese shirt twisting slightly as tiny whirlwinds elevated him. He paused, arms straight out and legs together and suddenly, he let go.

The boy fell to the earth, his thin eyes untouched by his orange triangular goggles. He descended with a faint smile on his face. There was no fear, only familiarity of the speed, the churning in his belly, his body buffeted vigorously as he fell to earth, and far below him was his home, a small town in the United States Midwest around a small volcano, Ashton it was called, and below a small crowd viewed his performance, entranced by his aerial audacity.  Just as he was barely able to identify the houses below him, he strained his arms against the continuous updraft of his descent and rotated his arms in a wide stance. As he did the air began to apply less force against his body. Soon he was simultaneously spinning himself through the air like a corkscrew and his clothes twisted as the air around him formed a cone shaped tunnel, slowing his descent, turning his dangerous speeds into harmless grace.

In moments he landed, surrounded by a group of teenagers, all staring in awe at the demonstration. He smoothed his hair back and smiled faintly at the group as they congratulated his daring. He received pats on the back, head rubs, and cheers. He coolly handled the attention as though he were a bird in the sky, gliding through the friendliness, weaving through the conversations seamlessly, soaring through his repository of responses, he had heard it all before, but it was not what he was here for.

He continued his feats, when offered a lighter he made flames grow and danced through them, when he took to the sky, he returned with arms full of rainclouds, when he lay upon the ground the area was subject to tremors, and when he took up his acoustic guitar, he lead them in song until late noon fall, and as the summer sun stood high and the many teens returned to their homes for their meals and other obligations, there were only two left in that park, the boy, and a younger one, tall for a thirteen year old with auburn hair and tawny eyes, and a disposition akin to a bunny rabbit, timid, small, withdrawn, in his knitted mahogany shirt and his potted plant close to his chest. His head was down but his eyes were on the boy of remarkable power. The be-goggled boy was Maoxin-Jin Choo, better known as Mark-Jin to his friends, such as the young Gary McGee before him.

Mark-jin strolled to Gary and gave him his strongest smile that made his tiny eyes look closed and his round face seemed to be like the sun, and with that, Gary could not help but smile as well.

“What did you think?” He asked Gary cheerily. Gary shrugged and looked away. “It was okay, but I was able to tell, it was just a show for you… You didn’t seem as free today…” Gary closed his eyes as though he expected punishment, but Mark-jin just patted his head and replied:

“Yes, so it would seem, It just isn’t as fun anymore, they really don’t get me like you, I’m just an act to them,” Mark said plainly, his smile still there. He rubbed Gary’s cheek and looked at the flower pot, its contents was a tiny fragile pink flowers, its faces with five petals. “Young azaleas; your new project?” Gary nodded with a tiny smile.

“They’re… really pretty, when they get to chance to grow old…” Gary muttered quietly.

“Where do you want it in the park?”

“I’m thinking by the new young maples, most of the little kids don’t go there, they’ll be safe…”

“And if they aren’t, I’ll protect them for yo-,” Before Mark-Jin could finish, his cell phone began to ring in his back pocket. He took it out and answered.

 “Hello? Oh, ni hao, yi sang… Yes I recall… the creation of our enemies? Even… Mine…? Of course I wish to help, our first venture together has taught me much. It would be an honor to serve alongside you again… Too formal? Ha ha, yeah, I guess so… Well I have a friend, he is not the most audacious among us but his heart is large, his abilities make him almost impossible to harm, and he won’t deny this venture considering the risks… My family will understand, and I can make his understand too. How soon… I see. We shall try our best to arrive… Accommodations? Thank you for your generosity, I hope it’s not in vain,” and with that, Mark-jin put his phone away and looked to Gary.

“Is something wrong?” Gary asked.

“Yes.” Mark-jin said softly as he put his hand on Gary’s shoulder. “And I think I’m going to need your help…. And the help of that metal symbiote of yours.” Gary backed away.

“No! I don’t want to go looking for danger!” Gary said, nearly dropping his plants.

“This is important, Gary,” Mark-jin said. “This may be bigger than anything you and I have faced, but we’re going to get help. And you know that I will protect you.” Gary gulped and closed his eyes, looking down to think for a bit. It took a minute for him to look at Mark-jin behind his goggled eyes and nod slowly.