Defy

Chapter One

Rhamu has a lot going on in his mind as he watched the civilization of Era -which happens to be one of the Minors- floating around him. He was very far away despite sitting opposite his mum in a hired hover-taxi ride through the biggest market in the Archipelagos -a wonderful site in its glory. Flitting memories flickered through his countenance and his ever chatty mum kept her quiet this time.

He has so much of his father in him. That is a constant reminder to Ayomide which never sat well with her. She did really found love for once in her life when he was born. She entertained the strange feeling of attachment and responsibility while hoping that she will overcome it. Instead, it grew as the boy grew. She didn’t understand it quiet well until his father, her only wedded husband left home for the wars. Rhamu was seven and did not realise that his ba might not be coming back that day and any other day. Funnily she did not care as he bade her farewell that evening, she just held on to the boy, even till daybreak. Somehow, something in her told her that she won’t see Bhamu again. She used to smile and remind herself that she got Rhamu.

It has never been easy for her as a single mother but she pulled through a lot for her son. She re-married twice over the course of the past fourteen years. Those contract marriage that doesn’t really attach importance to ‘till death do us depart’. That has been the way most people were able to live their live and still co-existed with their environment.

One marriage didn’t work out because of her son, the so called husband sees Rhamu as a competition and he wasn’t that rich and she still drained him till it remained only blood. The second marriage might have worked but the man got broke two years ago after six years of taking care of the new wife and stepson. Ayomide’s love for the man started to dwindle. Rhamu had to come home twice over the past one year to settle out dispute between the couples. Eventually, she quitted as she had threatened and found an apartment in Arch Three Extensions.

She found another possible suitor a month ago.

This time around, Rhamu decided to meet the man on one of his visit and it went well. Except of course for the delayed arrival of the man and the long time he spent sweet talking a young girl on phone. He blamed the two incident on his only daughter and added she is a sweet girl. Rhamu had liked the man immediately because of the mention of a sister. He had always wanted one. He has just been dismissed from his current job this time around so he came home.

Ayomide was also planning on moving to The Minors, a lone island called Era, the only single city island in the archipelagos to stay with the new husband. He decided that it was a good chance for him to change environment, so he came along with his mum.

One good thing about Rhamu was that he is a natural map-reader, unlike the vast network of map-readers spread across the Archipelagos that are full of only trained ones. This secret he kept very well because his mum enrolled him in school as a mapper. They have always been on high demand and Ayomide knowing that Bhamu was a natural knew Rhamu will also be. But she haven’t seen any manifestation of that skill in him even till now. The only thing here is people always say he is as good as a natural and they really treasure him where he works. But his current workplace folded up. He decided to use that opportunity to start afresh and away from current scrutiny.

Questions have been coming recently about his abilities and there have been background checks going on about him. He knew his father kept his skill a secret so he wasn’t so bothered. The more reason he needed a change of environment.

He had been lucky that he was alone that night when he first discovered whom he was. His ever present mum had a reason to get into town briefly, leaving him to sleep alone. He used to think it was a dream…

It was going to rain, he knew as he dozed off. The rain is going to drive his mum back home soon. He felt that. He felt the wind shaking the edge of one piece of roof somewhere at the far side of the house where the store was located. He could see the skeletal outline and knew the piece of roof will not peel off no matter how much wind due to the way the others have been pinned down above its fixed edge. He knew how much gust of wind can fold the piece though, felt and saw the hollow rusty pipes that sang its breathy melody and can almost sing along as the wind found its way through. It was amazing to his nine year old consciousness that he sat up straight in bed and tried to find another thing he could connect to.

He saw that his bed was wobbly and loose at a particular wedge that could have thrown him down if he was doubled his weight. He smiled and looked down.

The bed was sturdy enough. He climbed down and noticed that there was a brief disconnection as his body didn’t touch and a clearer connection as his naked feet touched ground. He shook his head in wonderment as he raised his mattress to check for the loose wedge. There it was.

Yeah!

He sat on the ground and tried to know how much he could decipher of his environment outside his house when he noticed feet shaped fluffiness approaching their front door.

Oh Mother!

He knew her fluffiness apart from others. He used to think everyone can identify that before until he was an early teenager. When he started understanding his powers, and when one of his teachers said only natural albinos and orgies can.

Albinos are the first Physics Engineers in the new world. An ability caused by mutation of The Saving Blast. The Orgies didn’t have a skin change but became biologists. The remaining two sets of humanity affected by the blast are the Couriers and Glitches. The Couriers have the ability to manipulate due to their heavy thinking faculty. They probably can make anything work. They have solution to nearly all problems. The Glitches became a destroyer of lives and property. Their power comes with forces that they control with their mind. Only that they lack control and are very volatile. Major problem here was that their power usage drains their life force. Even with the intervention of the Orgies’ medicines, they eventually dwindled away into scarcity while mixing blood to reduce the effect of the glitch- their destructive power.

As an albino (not in colour but by inheritance), he can identify living things but cannot analyse or read them, just like orgies can’t read non-living things but can just identify it. And despite their intelligence on that aspect, they can’t really compromise. The Couriers became managers in all aspects…

While trying successfully to hide who he was, he started putting down his ideas in blue print sketches under layers of securities in the electronic black diary he carries about on him. Waiting for the right time to exhibit them. Over a long time now, He has started to wonder if he was the only natural in his various environments.

Hib himself came down to the port to welcome them, because he lives away on a little rocky island a bit separated from Era-fifteen minutes hover-boat drive from the Market Port.

“Welcome dearies.”

He had a distance look about him and he seems brighter than the last time Rhamu saw him. “How have you been sir?”

He nodded happily and shook the young man’s hand in his two. He looked at the woman fussing over her luggage and raised his voice, “Are you not going to greet me first, Ma’am?”

Ayomide switched mood has fluent as she has ever been, She became a nonchalant bright eyed lover in a twinkle and started to walk into the man’s outstretched arms.

That was when Rhamu noticed her.

She was sitting at the wheel of the hover-boat, looking flushed through the windscreen at the party, without a slight change in her countenance. Her blue eyes shone from that place and her Red curls bellowed long and scattered around her. She had a paler skin than Hib and square sets of jaws. She though resembled Hib, but there was a wild look about her. She locked eyes with Rhamu and looked away quickly.

Rhamu collected two sets of heavy bags and lugged them on towards the boat while the two love birds chatted and laughed, oblivious of everything as at that moment. A slight frown was all the reaction he got as he reached the boat. Rhamu dumped the bags on the ramp that led down to the door of the boat.

A slight inscription etched in green read ‘@bolt’ on the lee side. He was sure he saw the inscription initially but it was not legible from afar. He walked unto the rickety looking machine and marvelled at the excellent shape the engine was. Sure it has a good handler except from minor places where the normal human will not even know was loose. He approached her with a wide smile at the good care the machine received from her and offered his hands. He didn’t even know how he knew it was her behind the wheel slight more than 76% of the time the boat spent over this past five years.

“Hello there.” Rhamu offered a handshake.

She ignored it and looked at his face scrutinising. “Daffodil,” was all she said. Her knuckles tightened on the stirring wheel of the hover-boat.

He knew this was a very old design with modifications in his engines. He did not just know females could get used to the stress involved in manoeuvring those primitive designs. He didn’t even take offence. He just didn’t know what she just said. “What?”

“My name is Daffodil,” said the girl. “And your name is Rhamu. Do not call me ‘Daf’, only Hib-hmmm, dad got to call me that.”

“Alright Daffodil. You have a lovely boat here. What’s she called?”

“Bolt.”

“Okay Miss, so will you give me a hand with the luggage?”

“No!”

“Alright.” This was a viper he has to contend with here. He did not know if his mum will be able to tolerate her. He turned away and just recalled she addressed her dad by the first name. He turned back and she met him stare for stare. She just now looked cold and lonely. “Why Hib, why not…”

“Hibiscus,” she interrupted

…dad”

“Oh that,” she resumed her vacant expression. “Formalities don’t sit well with me.”

“Good to know Daffodil.” He turned and went to commandeer all the luggage by himself.

She didn’t show up at home until late at night after everyone has settled in. Even the new comers. Hib found a vacant store in the garage for Rhamu after the young man turned down the invitation to stay in the spare room next door to Daffodil. It was a perfect sanctuary for the later. He settled in faster and helped his mum.

At dinner that night, she came home bright but flushed. All her hair tangled and she just walked past dinner with just a “Hi” directed at anyone who cared to listen on that table. After dinner though, Hib excused himself said he want to tuck his princess in for the night.

Ayomide frowned and spoke up, “Why. She isn’t a baby no more Hib my dear.”

Hib just politely kissed her full on the mouth and said it won’t take more than a minute. Ayomide made to protest but Rhamu tapped his plate slightly to call her attention. She noticed, didn’t look at the young man but smiled back at Hib. “Don’t stay too long darling.”

As punishment, Rhamu stayed at dinner till Hib returned which wasn’t long. Rhamu tried to sweet talk his mum to take it slow trying to remind her she did likewise for him. She wasn’t really ready to listen. Rhamu noticed she already saw the girl as a rival. He was glad to take his leave as soon as Hib came back downstairs to join them.