Books by Blake Northcott
THE VS. REALITY SERIES
Vs. Reality
USA / UK / Canada
Relapse (Vs. Reality Volume Two)
USA / UK / Canada
Legacy (Vs. Reality Volume Three)
THE ARENA MODE SAGA
Arena Mode
USA / UK / Canada
Assault or Attrition (Book Two in the Arena Mode Saga)
USA / UK / Canada
Final Empire (The Conclusion of the Arena Mode Saga)
USA / UK / Canada
NOVELLAS
The Manticore Ascension
(A Short Story in the Arena Mode Saga)
USA / UK / Canada
Legacy
The Final Book in the Vs. Reality Series
Kindle Version 1.0 / May 11, 2015
Vs. Reality is Copyright © and Trademark 2015
Blake Northcott, Digital Vanguard Inc. and Noösphere Publishing
All characters appearing in this work are fictitious. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the publisher or author, except in the case of a reviewer, who may quote brief passages embodied in critical articles or in a review.
Credits
Written By
Blake Northcott
Editors and Beta Readers
Jim Deley
J.D. Hunter
Sean Molloy
Mike Stephenson
With very special thanks to
Jeff Geddes
Cover Photographer and Model
Maria Angelopoulou
Supersized hugs for CJ and CR
Please visit me online
blakenorthcott.com
twitter.com/ComicBookGrrl
fb.com/BlakeNorthcott
The final word on Vs. Reality
In the days of yore (circa 2009) I came up with an idea I wanted to adapt into a graphic novel. It was about a dangerous and addictive drug that could transform regular folks into superheroes.
At the time I had no idea what I was doing. I had no artist to bring my vision to life, no contacts in the industry, and no credits to my name; I hadn’t written a novel, short story – heck, I hadn’t even blogged before.
With nothing but a crazy idea, some determination and a keyboard, a few years later I turned ‘Vs. Reality’ into an Amazon Kindle ebook.
Looking back at my work from 2011, the thing that strikes me the most how much my style has changed. And by ‘changed’ I mean I actually have some semblance of style now. Some amazingly talented helped me over the years with my grammar, structure, plotting, character development, pacing, and basically everything else that goes into writing a book – and without them, there wouldn’t even be a Vs. Reality Trilogy.
I will thank all of those people individually in the back of the book, but here, I want to thank you. Whether you’ve been with me on this journey since 2011, or are just learning about the Vs. Realty series now, I want to extend my warmest hugs and most enthusiastic cyber high-fives. The vast majority of people won’t even touch a book that doesn’t come with the seal of approval from a major publishing house, so if you’re reading this, it means that you’re one of the few readers who venture outside of the mainstream in search of independent work – and without people like you I wouldn’t have a career (and you certainly wouldn’t be reading a third Vs. Reality book, because the second volume would have never existed!)
Years in the making, this final chapter represents what I believe is the best of the series, and (hopefully) a satisfying conclusion to a story I’ve had rattling around my brain for more than six years.
So thanks again (and again and again and again!) and I hope you enjoy reading Vs. Reality 3 as much as I enjoyed writing it for you.
Love and hugs from here to the end of the universe,
Blake xox
Contents
Credits
The final word on Vs. Reality
Contents
Chapter One – Force Majeure
Chapter Two – Disequilibrium
Chapter Three – Palingenesis
Chapter Four – Opsimath
Chapter Five – Comorbidity
Chapter Six – Graphene
Chapter Seven – Torappu
Chapter Eight – Recumbentibus
Chapter Nine – Disengage
Chapter Ten – Mythomania
Chapter Eleven – Autodidact
Chapter Twelve – Frisson
Chapter Thirteen – Quidnunc
Chapter Fourteen – Truculent
Chapter Fifteen – Acquiesce
Chapter Sixteen – Polymath
Chapter Seventeen – Kyonshi
Chapter Eighteen – Sensou
Chapter Nineteen – Incredulous
Chapter Twenty – Phalanx
Chapter Twenty-One – Duress
Chapter Twenty-Two – Malapert
Chapter Twenty-Three – Cantankerous
Chapter Twenty-Four – Begrudge
Chapter Twenty-Five – Sagacious
Chapter Twenty-Six – Implacable
Chapter Twenty-Seven – Impudent
Chapter Twenty-Eight – Bromide
Chapter Twenty-Nine – Sprezzatura
Chapter Thirty – Mortify
Chapter Thirty-One – Equivocate
Chapter Thirty-Two – Athanasy
Chapter Thirty-Three – Saturnism
Chapter Thirty-Four – Satanophany
Chapter Thirty-Five – Polylemma
Chapter Thirty-Six – Thanatophobia
Chapter Thirty-Seven – Absolutory
Chapter Thirty-Eight – Transvolation
Chapter Thirty-Nine – Rectigrade
Chapter Forty – Panglossian
Epilogue
Thanks To ...
About the Author
Chapter One – Force Majeure
North Washington Prefecture | May 12, 3016 | 7:43 pm Standardized Time
Dia stands on her narrow glass balcony, perched a dizzying two kilometers above the ground.
The panoramic view of the city is breathtaking. During one of her rare moments alone she enjoys staring out into the distance at the endless rows of skyscrapers, protruding from the earth like shining glass stalagmites. As the final rays of sunlight recede into the distance the orange reflection shimmers off the towering solar panels of the buildings, creating a sparkling light show that’s both serene and spectacular.
Footsteps echo from the hallway behind her.
Her moment alone has ended.
She brushes the platinum hair from her face with both hands and ties it into a loose ponytail, letting it fall over her shoulder. She steps away from the railing and wanders back into her cavernous marble corridor to greet her guests.
Paige enters first, followed by a short, blond-haired Federation courier; a nervous teenage boy who looks no more than eighteen. As always, when meeting with one of The Nine, they dress in formal attire: white jackets with the golden wing insignia embroidered on the shoulder, matching pants, and patent leather shoes.
Dia’s flowing black dress and bare feet are somewhat less formal, but this is her day off. It’s to be expected.
“GJ 436c in the Leo constellation,” the courier blurts out, clutching his tablet close to his chest.
Dia raises an eyebrow. “Your name, courier?” She speaks in a formal, elegant accent, accentuating every syllable.
“My name?” he asks.
“Your
name,” she persists. “Do you have one?”
“Y-yes, of course,” he stutters, his voice cracking. “It’s Spencer. Spencer Deutsch, from the Lincoln Prefecture in—”
“I didn’t ask for your life story, Spencer – just your name.” She places a hand on her chest. “Do you know my name?”
He hesitates for a moment, flicking his eyes towards Paige, and then back to Dia. “It’s Danica...Danica Davenport.”
“To some. But when you enter my quarters – not as a friend or as an equal, but as a courier – you are to refer to me as ‘Your Honor’. The same goes for any member of The Nine.” Dia often used condescending lessons in etiquette to belittle Federation members whom she outranked. It was more for the sake of public humiliation and her own personal satisfaction than to actually impart wisdom. “Is that clear, Spencer Deutsch of the Lincoln Prefecture?”
“Y-yes, Your Honor,” he stammers. “Crystal clear.”
“So what were you saying, about G something? What does that even mean?” Dia folds her arms across her chest, looking impatient now and drumming her fingers against the inside of her arm.
“It’s called GJ 436c,” he explains. “It’s the name of the planet. About five times the size of Earth, around thirty light years away.”
Dia shakes her head in frustration. “That’s what we’re calling it? That’s not a name. That’s just a series of letters and numbers.”
“I’m aware of that, Your Honor. It was named back in...” he flips over his transparent glass tablet, running his finger down the touch screen, “the year 2008, by a pair of astronomers when it was first discovered back in the old pre-Federation United States of America.”
“That’s imaginative.” Dia turns her head to gaze out the window, trying to catch the final moments of her sunset. Cars and mass transport vehicles whizz by in every direction, dropping passengers on landing strips and making their way through recharging stations.
Spencer clears his throat and continues. “Well, um, despite the bland naming convention there are some issues arising, and that’s why we’re here.”
Paige tightens her brow and flicks her eyes towards the courier.
Dia notices the subtle gesture, but chooses to ignore it. “Please, Spencer Deutsch, continue.”
“Well, Your Honor, it’s about their recent progress that our interstellar drones have detected.”
“What kind of progress?” Dia asks, her interest now piqued.
The courier taps the surface of his tablet and it illuminates with various holographic pictures and videos, swirling with blue light above the device. “A pretty monumental leap in technology, actually. They’ve just discovered the formula to creating something comparable to a nuclear bomb. Nothing too powerful yet, but we’re estimating it could have the same destructive power that existed here on Earth in the 1950s. They don’t have uranium, but they have a similar substance, that acts as a—”
“How long?” Dia interrupts.
Spencer pauses for just a moment, looking up from his hand-held monitor. “How long what?”
“What do you think?” Dia snaps, making no attempt to mask her frustration.
“Oh, that. Well it’s difficult to say. Within twenty years they could weaponize it. Maybe ten if they’re fast. But that’s the extent of it at the moment. They’ve only had the ability to create flying vehicles for a few decades, and they haven’t even come close to a space program of any kind.”
“But they could,” Dia says flatly.
“Yes, Your Honor, theoretically...possibly in the next century or two. But again, they’re thirty light years away from Earth. Intergalactic space travel could be at least seven or eight hundred years of development for them, and that’s assuming everything goes smoothly. It could be much longer, if at all. And there’s no reason for us to believe that they would use the weapons against us if they were to find us.”
Paige straightens her back and, feigning eagerness, raises her hand as if she’s waiting for a teacher to call on her in grade school.
Dia is less than amused. “Yes Paige, what is it?”
“Your Honor,” she says, affecting a pronounced British accent, “I’ve read all the data. I’ve seen the video. I don’t believe that the inhabitants of GJ are even intending to make a weapon. I think they’re just creating an alternative energy source.”
Dia turns to her sister, placing her hands on her hips. “And you’re basing this on what? Your extensive experience as a military strategist?”
Spencer’s eyes dart towards Paige, and then back to Dia. Sensing the tension mounting he takes a tentative step backward, removing himself from the conversation. He clutches his tablet even tighter to his body, like a security blanket that he’s afraid to relinquish.
“No, Dia, you’re the Leader of the Federation. I know that because you remind me virtually every day. But you might have forgotten that I’m a high-ranking chair member of the International Human Rights Association.”
“Which, as we all know, is an advisory board,” Dia replies sharply. “Nothing more. And I outrank you.”
Paige tilts her head and responds with a sweet smile. “Again, something you bring to my attention on a daily basis.”
“If you listened to anything I said, there wouldn’t be any need for the constant reminders.” As Dia’s voice rises in volume her crystal blue eyes flare with electricity.
“And if Your Honor took her head out of her ass long enough to—”
“Okay,” Spencer interrupts, his voice catching in his throat. “Um...I think my work is done...here...now...so, I’m going to return to The Tower and tell them that we’re at a momentary deadlock. If that’s all right, ma’am...uh, Your Honor? I’ll be back this time tomorrow and we can continue discussions?” With a dismissive gesture from Dia whose attention is still fixed on Paige, Spencer leaves as if someone had just pulled a fire alarm.
Dia waits for the sound of her chamber doors to slide shut before she continues. “Paige, that was not amusing. And you are never to undermine me in front of members of the Federation, especially a bloody courier, of all people.”
Paige mimics Dia’s stance and posture, folding her arms over her chest. “Then fire me.”
“Sometimes I wish I could.” Dia turns and wanders towards a small floating refreshment station. She fills a tall slender glass with blue liquid from the tap and takes a quick sip. “Next week at the vote I’m going to overrule you and your committee. I’m going to suggest that we move in, strip the planet of its natural resources and then destroy it from orbit.”
Paige shakes her head. “That’s genocide.”
“No,” Dia replies insistently. “That’s survival. People here on Earth and the other colonized planets can heed it as a warning: any attempt to create a weapon that could threaten The Federation is strictly forbidden. Break the rule, and suffer the consequences.”
Paige fills with an intense sadness, gazing deep into her sister’s eyes. “You’re just like him, you know.”
“Possibly,” Dia says with indifference. “But I did learn one thing from studying his work: if you want to punish less often, you have to punish more severely.”
Chapter Two – Disequilibrium
Langley, Virginia | August 30, 2011 | 12:31 pm, Eastern Daylight Time
Dia’s heavy eyelids crack open. The fluorescent ceiling lights are blinding, and her first functioning sense that returns to her is smell. The first odor she can detect is cigarette smoke. And a moment later, a hint of cat litter.
As she’s sprawled out on the floor a black cat leaps onto her motionless body, circling a few times around her stomach before curling into a tight ball. She lifts her head off the carpet and finds a man resting on a stylish leather couch, peering down at her with curiosity. He’s sitting in a haze of smoke, taking a final drag from his cigarette before depositing the filter into a freshly cleaned ash tray.
“Where am I?” Dia asks, craning her neck to take in her surroundings.
“
In my office,” the man replies, as if she should already know the answer.
“And who are you?” she persists.
He snorts out a laugh that causes plumes of smoke to billow from his nostrils. “You’re going to be disoriented for a while, so I’ll start again from scratch. But before I give you the recap can I interest you in a bran muffin?” He walks to his desk and scoops the pastry from a small plate. “Karen just baked them this morning. I’ve got Dr. Pepper in the mini-fridge as well. A shot of caffeine might help you with the short-term memory loss.”
She raises her hand to decline the offering, and as her eyesight sharpens a realization sets in. “Mike...it’s you. And you’re working for my dad now?” Dia hardly recognizes him without the worn slippers and tattered green housecoat. He still has a dishevelled look to him; bleary eyes, three days of beard stubble and a head of greying hair that seems to have never been combed. But now, wearing a suit and tie he appears almost respectable.
“Yup, I’m working for ‘The Man’ again.” Mike smiles softly and takes a seat on the edge of his desk. “It wasn’t much of a choice, really. It was either get shot in the face by two federal agents, or accept the position in Langley’s psychic division.” He takes a sizable bite from a muffin and continues to talk as he chews. “The General sure knows how to negotiate. But the benefits are good, the pay is fantastic, and Karen gets to work with me as my personal assistant. She’s supposed to be here tidying up but she wandered off again. You know how she can be.”
Dia brushes the cat away and it protests with a rusty meow. She rises to her feet, rubbing the side of her throbbing head. “The future...I saw myself. At least I think that was me.”
Mike nods. “That was you, all right. Just a little sneak preview of the life you had in 3016. More like a teaser trailer, really. The more we go back in the more vivid the memories will become.”