[Val Verde]

[May 17, 2021]

—

“Wheee!”

“Hahaha!”

I snorted and twitched awake.

My vision cleared from sleep and focused to show with the blue ocean, and the white sands of Long Beach.

The water glittered with the afternoon sun, and the white beaches stretched outwards. This was paradise. Val Verde.

The large deck pergola had a fabric sheet creating shade. It was large enough for the dozen wooden lounge chairs underneath.

In one of those comfortable lounge chairs, sat my nigh comatose body.

The day was above warm. Not quite hot, not quite comfortable.

Yet under the shade created by the sheet, the world was perfect.

[clink]

I turned my head and spied my half empty margarita. The mango concoction was enthralling. It sang to me.

I lifted my arm and took hold of the still cool drink. Though the large ice cubes were now slivers of their former glory. Only two pieces were still anything resembling cubes.

The sweet, and deep mango flavor filled my senses as I drained the last of the fancy cup. The small umbrella moved with my straw.

I sighed, smacking my lips I returned the cup, and caught site of a blue blur streak across the ocean. A purple blur right behind her.

Both girls laughed, and giggled as they shot across the ocean’s surface. They skimmed it at times, or angled up to the wide skies.

Then they would loop and continue.

I smiled.

Kori had embraced her new environment. It seemed that she had never got to enjoy what the beaches had to offer. In her youth, she could only train, and only on rare occasions could she relax.

Kara on the other hand, had been calm when she woke up. The fact that we didn’t know her language had set on edge, but Kori had solved that with her usual cheat.

Now the two giggled in Krytponian, and enjoyed the world.

Kara was new to her powers, but Kori had nothing but time and could dedicate everyday to teaching her new friend. Flight, energy projection, etc.

Kara was a quick learner. She was very studious as she tried to master her powers. She seemed to pick things up very a few tries. Though she did practice a lot as she wanted to be able to use her abilities safely.

Her greatest desires was to still find her cousin, which I had been able to bring up documents of Superman. Most of it was from the tablet that Lex had given me with the newspaper present.

There was tons of articles on the man of steel.

Though it was awkward. Someone, usually myself or Candice, had to read the article. Then Kori would translate to Kara.

Though I had been surprised twice already by the intelligent young woman.

Kara was already learning English like it was magic. She would listen to us read a paragraph, or a sentence. Then clarify. Then repeat.

Kori and Kara needed to speak Kryptonian less, and less.

Between the two girls, I felt like a complete fool.

Which Candice only nodded with when I had confessed last week. She smirked at me when I pouted.

“Any more margaritas and you will regain your weight in fat.” Candice chided as she slid into the chair next to me.

“I am a leader, not a fighter.” I grinned as I tooted my own horn.

“Yeah. A leading cause of obesity.” She shot back.

“Tell you what. I will stop when you do as well.” I looked over and eyed Candice in her tube top, and bikini bottom. I leered. The woman was skinny, but soon enough she would return to that fit, toned, and pale body.

Life in armor tended to prevent tanning.

Candice glowered at me for the gall to ask her to stop drinking fruity concoctions.

She however, did place a tray of new drinks on the table between us.

I immediately grabbed mine, the orange to her pink, and drank a third of it. There was another two pink drinks as well. Whatever secrets strawberries held with girls, it was enigmatic to me.

Strawberry flavored. Bah.

I put mine back up, stretched, and considered another nap.

“Girls! Drinks are here!” Candice yelled out. She didn’t holler, and she didn't scream.

Yet the two girl redirected themselves. From across the ocean, and straight onto the shaded pergola. They streaked inwards, but decelerated as they approached.

Kara had learned how momentum via flight worked. At least after she demolished my lasts sandcastle.

Which I swear was on purpose, as Candice won and I lost. She had a castle, and I had a broken wreck of what was once perfection.

The two skipped in, and my eyes locked onto theirs. Kori’s green, and Kara’s blue.

I was a man of hard discipline.

I had lived my life from First Service, then from salesman into Second Service. I had even touched the edges of Third Service more then once.

Discipline was in my blood. A corner stone of who made me the leader of the Jade Falcons, and now the Supreme Leader.

So thus, one must understand why I stared at the two young women.

Kori smiled brightly as our eyes met. In the short time I knew her, she was a person who loved life. Her past was one of a warrior, and her pride as one lent her a edge that few understood.

With that edge, that could embrace death with a smile. This outlook allowed her to also wear her simple, purple bikini with enthusiasm.

Her smiling face was regal. A byproduct of a strong lineage of powerful warriors. This gave rise to her near perfect physic. A body carved from brutally effective training. It was all on display.

Kori was also my favorite as she did not mind my wandering eyes on her body. Though Candice did smirk whenever I was able to tear my eyes away.

Kara was as beautiful. Her dark blue bikini was a replica of Kori’s, but she was also much more shy. She had wanted something more modest, but Kori scoffed, and forced it onto her

Kara had protested, but her eyes liked the design. She capitulated with little effort, and a laugh.

She seemed to be enjoying herself. Her time on Earth was not as terrible as she had feared. Time with Kori, it was with a new friend. With Candice, and myself, tolerable acquaintances.

With my wolfish self, she glared at me if I stared too long. It wasn’t technically my fault. The Kryptonians were engineered to perfection. It was part of my very DNA that I would stare. She looked amazing, and I knew that she knew that as well.

I had also been forced to learn that I could not to stare too long. Kara liked to show her displeasure the hard way.

Last week she had glared hard enough to shoot lasers, and I was lucky she was looking out to sea. I was able to dodge, though it did scorch my arm.

Kori was at her side in an instant. Kara was beginning to panic, and stared at my burn with horror.

It was superficial, and I forgave her, but she was extra cautious since then.

Since then Kara allowed me to look, there was a limit to it as well. Her traumatic glances at my bandaged arm was enough to keep me in her good graces.

The girls grabbed their own margaritas, and chatted.

Then they began to include Candice. The English element was still tricky, but soon all three were laughing.

I turned my head and got up. I made my way forward, and stood on the hot beach as I stared into the ocean.

The day was perfect. Yet, at this moment, I felt not the warmth.

I couldn’t see the island, but I knew Val Gris was there. Beyond my sight.

I had approved of the last plans to invade.

Six legions were going to operate. Though the word legion was a bit of a misnomer. We didn’t have thirty-six thousand soldiers.

We didn’t even have six thousand.

Legion was recently voted in as the word to honor the heroes. It would help the history of the divisions that they still served. That they all served in spirit.

Six legions, roughly four thousand men.

Two outfitted in the newest gear, and four with standard weapons.

I wondered how many would continue to serve as heroes.

“Johnny! What was the name of that trap in Bangkok?” Candice hollered at me.

The world snapped back, and I could feel the sand burning at my feet. The intense and bright heat on my skin. It was a good reason for why my face was starting to burn.

“First of all, her name was Jasmine. Second, she was very excited to meet me. Third, Candice only know how to lie!” I turned around, to see three sets of eyes gleaming.

They were all ready to hear my story.

In fact, I don’t think there was any other story that Candice loved as much.

————

Chapter Seventeen: Life is a beach.