The mission that I had started had turned for the worse when the friend that I had known all his life had forgotten me. But all is not lost; I still had to protect other dementions, including his. Unforturnently, the need to protect them was becoming a harder task for one individual to handle; more will be need in the future.
I've turned to a new world, totally unknown to any other, until now. In my state of depression, I began to seek the help of General Leo. He seems to be on the level, but at times I'm worried about my safety. When I try to find out about his past, he rips apart the room we were in.
"I can't believe you would do this to your body!" the raging lion yelled as he ripped the room apart.
"I had no choice, Sir! It was either that or be bounce out of the Marines. Given the sircumstances, you would had done the same. Would you?" another lion commented, trying to calm the General down.
"Even though you tried to beat the requirements, you still fall short in your age categoy. I'm sorry."
"I still can't grasp the concept that he had to do that to his own body." Leo sighed.
"I have a reason, he loved being a Marine. He would have done the unthinkable just to stay a Marine."
"But he still fell short of the requirements."
"It's just a thought; it could be right or it could be wrong. That's how life is sometimes - sacrificing one's self in a cause they believe in. That's why I'm here."
"I have never met you before in my entire life, nor do I want to meet you. Now leave this place."
I heard the words that took my life away. I knew one day that this would happen, but I never knew it would be so deadly.
I blocked the memory from my mind, but the feeling of depression still scared my face. How could a friend all of a sudden forget you; I was lost in a world that I had known so well.
At the other end of McBain Military, lied a hugh high school. Football practice had just begun, Coach Griffin had sent Tim Kat into the huddle. He was the right tackle. Tim wasn't the star attaction on the team, most to his own teammates feared him and his unpredictible behavior.
"Somebody get the trainer, he have a man injured!" the Coach ordered.
As the quarterback ran for the trainer, the rest of the team, excluding Tim, came to the aid of their stricken running back. The Coach was very upset over the fact that Tim caused the injury. Tim was on the sidelines, pacing back and forth, awaiting some information about his teammate.
The trainer arrived as the same time the ambulance did. But the help came too late, a player had died during practice. Coach Griffin turned to the source of his anger - Tim. The coach infurriated over this fact, he yelled and cursed at Tim. Tim just stood there ignoring the coach's fowl temper.
"I can't believe that you are doing this to my team! I have no choice but to ask you to turn in your gear; you're off the team. You're too dangerous and too uncontrolable. I doubt that you can control your own anger."
A half an hour past since the high school got out, I was to busy watching where I was going and collided into Tim. The force didn't phase him, but I bounced back and tripped on the sidewalk.
"Tim, are you okay? I'm sorry for bumpping into you."
"Chester? You've delt with uncontroled anger, can you tell me how you got over it?"
"It helps to have friends, like me. I can teach you how to control it and use it to benefit others in positive ways."
"Thanks."
On the way back to my hidden home outside of McBain Military, Tim and myself met Leon Mang. I've met up with him a week earlier in school. Leon a well-rounded individual, he is currently one member of the Demention Police.
"What do you mean by 'Welcome to the team'? What team? It's just me and you!"
"Just calm down. Today it's me and you, but shortly we'll have more whom will aid in protecting more that this galaxy. Where this team goes the Galactic Police can't get to, but they can still help."
"Why do ya want to help them or have them help you? There just McBain's overworked and underpaid personal police force."
"Just for that reason, they don't want to just protect McBain. Two of them are here. Let me introduce you to Strike Growler and Panthra Pride."
Panthra didn't waste any time coming around the corner to welcome Leon. Then he turned to me and told me that Strike had to run a patrol, but will be back shortly.
Later...
"So now that you've learned about what is to come, will you help; we need all the help we can get?"
When Tim met the rest of the team he quickly said yes. I knew that there was a chance that he may not make it. If he couldn't control his anger, then he wouldn't be of any use to the team.
I knew what happened, the school tried to convice me that hanging around him was a mistake. I knew the risks when I asked him to join. I didn't need help in picking allies.
Reminding me of the school, I ran into an old friend of mine when I started my very long journey. Speed Cheetah was one of the first legs of gaining my human form. He had retired from the figthing business to become the coach of the track team at the high school I enrolled.
If there was one thing, it would be that I could easily get advice from him. He was working on a secret project of his own - he wanted to run for longer distances. A speedy short distance runner wanted to to be a speedy long distance runner.
He saw Leon's ability on the track and Speed wants to have that kind of stemina. He was the kind of cheetah that wanted to have it all, but had to work harder for it.
"Will we always be friends?" a familiar voice asked me.
"Yes. We'll be friends until the end of time - and even longer than that."
"What happened between us?" I asked a photo of a familiar individual. "Why did we grow apart? What happened to you when I left? What caused you to forget?? Is there a chance that we can still be friends?"
I sat the photo back down and stared out of a window. After looking out of the window, I lowered my head, shocked it twice and walked away. I retired for the night.
The following morning, I awoke as if it was still night. I reluctantly stumbled out of bed and changed. Another rough Friday had just begun. I spent last night finishing up a major assignment. I was glad that this was the last day of my Junior year. Three years down; one to go.
The first thing I done after changing was to turn of the television. Once again I left it on the wrong channel and was listening to the news. Instead of turning it to another channel I continued to listen to it, hoping that it would make me feel better.
The feature story was on Ryan McBain, Paul's younger half-brother. He was being tossed into the street after using an unknown strength enhancer. There is no word of where this enhancer came from or whom created it.
Just as I was preparing to leave for school, someone began to pound on the door. It was Panthra, he was accompanied by a very large lion. The lion gave me his name - it was Ryan!
I had Leon call the school and inform them that I will be unable to attend. I gave him my school work and ask him to get any new assignments from my instructors. Ryan was fixed on the television, listening to how the newscaster was taking about him and this "unknown enhancer".
"It's not unknown!" he corrected, he turn to me, "It's known as the 'McBain Project'. It uses several newly classified chemicals. It's purpose is clear - my brother wants an army that is unbeatable."
"But why did you use it? There was no need to use it."
"There making everyone use it or being thrown out of the forces."
"It's true. They're forcing me into early retirement because I refused to go though it." Panthra cleared. "Strike's over there right now getting preped. It may be too late."
"We got to get over there now, we still have almost an hour!" Ryan told.
"It's too late. We can't get there in time to stop him!" Panthra interupted.
"Maybe not." I pointed to a door. "I've been working on a vehical that may get us there in time. It's called X-72. It's the fastest land vehical on this planet."
"We don't have time to lose. We got to hurry." Ryan ordered.
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