PAUL WAS KEEPING-UP to the eagerly fast-moving Jane walking ahead. They both were called to the Vice-Principal’s office – that was announced on the PA-speakers at the end-of canteen-break…

… the wheelchair kept-up with the blind’s girl’s pacing blind-stick tapping-on the floor and with-her AI headset guiding directions to the VP’s office. Then as they were reaching, the nervous-stricken Paul had a ‘panic-attack – and blurted to Jane to ‘stop’…

“Slow down, Jane – ‘why’ you in a such-a-hurry TO GO ‘THERE’…” Paul cried…

“… huh… didn’t Mrs Burnell ‘told’ us to GO-IMMEDIATELY to her-office… I want to be ‘done’ with-that as we are already late for science class-now… I’m excited to see our new teacher… since-Science is one of the few subjects I did well’ in the last-final exams…”

The blind-girl ‘heard’ her boyfriend in a-state of mild-hyperventilation, she rushed to him…

“Pauly! Are you okay-dear…?” Said the concerned blind-Jane…

The over-weight-tween, gasped to reply-her…

“… Jane… have you STOPPED TO-THINK – ‘why’ she’s calling-us there…?”

“You ‘can’ ask her that when we-get-there…so, why do ‘you-think’ she is calling-us…?”

“… it’s cos’… this morning, we ‘kissed’ in-class in front of everyone – someone ‘might’ have complained to Mrs Burnell… THAT’S ‘WHY’…”

Jane laughed, saying. “You’re silly… no-one gets ‘called’ for kissing. hahaha…

“…err, Jane… I ‘see’ a déjà vu … IT ‘HAPPENED’ in Perthland ‘before’ – when I kiss the version-of-Alicia ‘there’ – she ‘complained’ that-as a sexual-harassment… and I went to-the Vice-Principal’s office…”

Jane laughed again…

“… hahaha, stop ‘acting’ paranoid… ‘not’ every-events in the ‘3-Perth-realms’ repeats itself ‘again’… for-instance, Alicia was my ‘rival’ in Perthland but she is ‘still’ my-best-friend in the 2 ‘other-Perth’…

“… then, what ‘about’ her boyfriend… the Chinese-guy…?”

“… well, you ‘tell-me’ cos’ I’m blind… you said just-now that he gave Peter a tennis racquet as a prezzie… other than that, we ‘don’t’ know much-ABOUT HIM… so, we leave it as-that…”

… but Paul ‘knew’ the Taekwondo teen-Ken Chan – who had ‘occasionally’ had ‘beaten’ him-flat physically on the ground in Perthland… and Paul GOT HIS ‘PAYBACK’ by beating-him flat-out-on-the-dance-floor in the SHS’ dance-competition…

The tween on the wheelchair was tongue-tied…

“… come-on, Pauly – hurry-up and let’s get it ‘done’… and get back to-class…”

The hesitant Paul followed her-lead…

-O-

They reached the school’s admin-department, where Mrs Burnell waited in her-office. Paul spotted the office staff were ‘busy’ organizing for-the surprise visit from the mayor-of-Perth. The blind girl who was pacing-ahead was intercepted by the office peon…

“… congratulation, Ms Jane Wilson… the vice-principal is waiting for-you inside…”

“…err, Mr Ganesan… g’day… thank you…” Jane was stumped by the accented-voice as she entered the VP’s door…

… Paul saw the Indian-man greeting Jane…

… and he remembered the version-of the peon IN PERTHLAND – on the day he was to meet Alicia’s parents at the VP’s office… to apologize to them that he inappropriately and against-her-will had ‘touched’ their-daughter, Alicia…

… Muthoo Ganesan was the one-who accompanied Paul to the VP-office – who looked at the ‘teen-Paul’ in DISGUST-AND-SHAME that the-youth had tarnished the school’s reputation…

The peon greeted-him when his-wheelchair got closer…

“… congratulation, Master Paul Walker – Madam Burnell waiting for you-inside…”

Paul did ‘not’ reply – but…

… he felt insulted that the peon was delivering HIM ‘AGAIN’ on-a-silver-platter to the vice-principal. Muthoo-Ganesan too held the door for his-wheelchair to-pass… as the Indian-man whispered to him…

“… I love the Tik-Tok video… hehehe… you’re the Tarzan-of-Stamford High School…”

Paul sighed-deep – as then-took a deep-breath to face-the-music – and-was ‘prepared’ to take-on any pain-of-punishment in the VP’s office… as he had the ‘worst-before’…

…of ‘both’ being slapped-across-the-face – and – kicked-in-the-balls by the Perthland’s version of Alicia in the VP’s office…

“Come-on-in, Paul…” Greeted the-seated Ann Burnell.

He saw Jane had already seated herself at front-of the VP’s desk… he ‘parked’ his-wheelchair beside his-girlfriend.

“The reason I called you is that – Mayor Blake is presenting you-both Bravery-Awards for the South-Perth Zoo incident where you-were involved 3-months ago.”

Paul was relieved he-was ‘not’ called-in for his-assumption of the ‘kissing-problem’ in class – then he heard his-girlfriend protesting…

“No! We DON’T WANT it!”

“What you ‘mean’ you don’t want it… the ‘stage’ has already been set with the mayor’s PR-department… that we ‘need’ some good-positive stories in times of this gloomy-and-doomed Perth plagued by the zombie-epidemic… YOUR VIRAL-VIDEOS in the social-media had garnered 1.5 million views of the handicapped-children fighting atrocities-here… which gives hope to the thousands of the fearful Perth’s citizens to stand-strong and instead of fleeing and migrating to the South Australia state… this ‘award-receiving is a good…”

… Paul cut-in and backed Jane by voicing-out…

“No, Mrs Burnell – 3-people were injured that-day… and it’s ‘insensitive’ for us to get a Bravery-award at their expense…”

“… and, Majun-too… he was hurt-too…” Jane chorused…

“… Who is Majun…?” The vice-principal asked…

“…err… the elephant who got hurt when he ‘saved’ me… but that is beside the point, as my-mummy would ‘not’ want it too… she is over-protective about her-children’s privacy– and the school should-be too… to protect-minor like us…”

“But Jane, this is ‘good’ publicity for the school – you-both are ‘heroes’ as you had ‘distracted’ the Black-rhinos or-else more-people would have been-gored by those wild-beasts that day…”

Paul was stumped…

‘… they are trying to find a silver-lining to a tragedy…

‘… they are massaging-their-own-logics into the event’s outcome to make it rosy-and-positive – Jane-and-I visited the zoo ‘not’ to be-heroes – but to find-out if the was a version of Hajji ‘existed’ in the post-Treeton realm…’

Seated-at his wheelchair Paul sighed-to-himself – as-by the way the adamant Mrs Burnell spoke the mayor’s visit was a big-deal – as it was the school’s first-visit by him…

‘… it was a publicity-stunt for both the school-and-the-mayor to be seen-on-TV…’

… where-else, the ‘other’ version-of-Mayor Blake had visited SHS in the OTHER-PERTH – and gave a similar Bravery-Award ceremony over ‘there’ for rescuing the kidnapped Jane’s brother…

… the-mayor visited-again during the tennis-qualifier of Peter’s PFC– where Hajji-the-wanted criminal had gate-crashed into gym with blazing-guns – and Mayor-Blake was ‘seen’ fleeing the danger-scene as a-coward… protected by the police and his-personal security…

The Vice Principal dismissed them… ‘after’ THE SHS’S VERDICT that Paul-and-Jane should-go on-stage and receive the accolades from the mayor later that-noon…

… Paul trailed behind Jane as she hurried to class – he ‘knew’ she was upset and had-got a lot to lose if her doctor-mother found-out ‘about’ the award… as Paul was ‘hated’ too by-her mother…

…despite the ‘apologies’ @the Wilson…

They were ‘nearing’ the foyer to go to their classroom on the 2nd floor – Paul thought he could get his-girlfriend’s attention… in the elevator-ride to the upper-floor…

… but instead, blind-Jane ran-up the flight-of-stairs, leaving him to take the lift-alone.

-O-

Paul reached his darkened classroom, where their ‘new’ Science teacher was during her-lesson orientation in a PowerPoint-presentation… looking at his-watch, realising that he had ‘missed’ 20 minutes of the lecture…

… he settling-in his desk, behind Jane’s – and took out his workbook to follow the PowerPoint…

Then, Paul felt his-Cursed-scar on his-throat was sweating profusely in the air-conditioned classroom… and, loosen his-necktie… as looked-over…

… and caught his-twin, Peter sitting-on the desk of hospitalized-Charlotte Thompson – STARING AT him in-the-dark…

Paul ignored him, and paid ‘attention’ to Ms Celine Costa – his ‘new’ Science teacher…

… and he instantly ‘liked’ the teacher cos’ she was funny-and-witty…

… Science was one of his-weak subjects – and he hoped that in the senior years… this-teacher would help-him to understand the intrinsic-and-innate laws-of-the-Universe ‘better’…

<><>

THE LAST BELL RANG for the next-lesson… but there was ‘no’ History-lesson that day, as students were assembled to go-for the mayor’s award-presentation at the gymnasium.

At the 2nd floor, Jane-and-Alicia wanted to the girl’s-room… and told Paul that they-would meet-up at the west-wing gym. Isolated, the wheelchaired Paul went alone to the so-called ‘for-the-handicapped escalator’ – where, ‘ONLY’ HE used it…but Jane-and-his twin, Peter took the stairs-down…

Every-ounce of his-energy wanted to ‘boycott’ his own-bravery-award – as Paul believed that the identity of the Defenders-of-Perth should be a secrecy – but ‘now’… with the influence of social-media it was razor-thin-line to-be exposed…

… the viral-Tik-Tok video was THE CAUSE OF IT – and he hated the given-moniker Tarzan from it… as its baggage of ridicules which are ADDED TO the present name-calling to his-handicapcy…

‘… just like-Tarzan is the hero in the-jungle – I’m the superhero in the-concrete-jungle… but I don’t bloody yell from the tree to-get-attention – but discreetly… as the Gemini-Blue, I seek no-attention…

‘… what if I don’t go…?

‘… then, the school would say that I’d ‘humiliated’ the mayor… where ‘not’ realising the fact-that Blake ‘only’ wants his-cheap publicity ‘image’ for his political-gains… and-then, his pack-of-media-press would ‘hound-me’ next… and write-and-speak bad-things about me… of-their disrespectful Perth’s handicapped-Tarzan from bloody Stamford High School…’

Paul sighed as he rolled his-chair over to the elevator and-pressed the button… the old-and-slow-moving elevator hummed as it rattled-on its-cable… it dinged-and-the door opened…

… Paul got in – and though-out the slow-journey ride to the ground floor… the crippled-tween devised a workable-strategy…

“… I’ll suck-it-up today… and go-on stage to get the bloody-award – let the media do their hoo-haa and take their ‘political-pictures’ for-today… and, by-tomorrow I’m ‘old-news’ and ‘can’ get to-go back to be a ‘nobody’ once-again…

“… most-important of-all – I must ‘not’ give any interviews… ‘this’ is the mayor’s bloody theatrical-show, ‘NOT’ MINE…’

-O-

It-dinged, before the door-opened and Paul wheelchaired-out of the lift-car to a corridor that was loud-as a bazaar with chattering students heading to the west-wing for the mayor’s-presentation at the gym…

… the-introvert Paul guesstimated that Stamford High had slightly ‘more’ than 500-students who would be prying-their-eyes on a ‘fake-news Bravery-award’ of the-zoo… coming-out of the expense-of 3-injured-victims’ pains-and-sufferings…

‘… keep my-head low – don’t look into their-eyes…’

The over-weight tween kept his-head low as he joined the crowd… his eyes kept on the ground at the stream of moving-feet of black-shoes, and also keeping-a-distance to ‘not’ to accidentally chair-bump anyone…

… by-then, half-of the-SCHOOL ‘KNEW’ the Paul-and-Jane were the Bravery-award recipients later…

Paul heard clapping-and cheering as he passed the crowd-of-green-blazers… some students were congratulating by patting on his-back, applauding-and-shaking his-hand – where-even someone voluntarily pushed the-wheelchair to the west-wing…

… he then realised that the fans were mostly the junior-students in short-pants… as they were clamoring about ‘Tarzan-vs-rhino’ – the-Tik-Tok’s 7-seconds-video that Paul-the-hero who took-down the huge-armoured African-beast …

… as their-peer, the senior-student Paul acknowledged them…

“… then, Paul ‘snapped’ its-neck – and the rhino fell-dead…” A 10-year-old exaggerated…

Paul sighed… as he mumbled-to himself: ‘fake-news’…

As he was ushered-along, Paul ‘heard’ haters in the crowd-too… whose senior-students’ reactions were totally opposite from the-fans – where the same 7-seconds-video was a ‘joke’ to-them to laugh-and-ridicule to shame his handicapcy.

Paul ‘ignored’ the haters – and moved-on to the gym with his junior-fans. Soon, they came to an intersection of the corridors that was outdoor that faced the school-front. But over 200-students were bottlenecking the corridor and they-stopped-to-look at something ‘happening’ outside the ‘closed’ FRONT-GATE OF THE SCHOOL… with sound of protest-and-unrest coming from afar…

On his wheelchair, the tween couldn’t make-out of ‘what’s-going-on’ as more students were stalling-and-blocking the way. Then a junior-student came-back to inform…

“The anti-nuke group-people ARE PROTESTING at the front-gate… looks like the-mayor would COME-LATE…”

Paul was stumped as he was ‘pushed-forward’ though the-crowd in the narrow-corridor… as he was in-thoughts questioning himself…

‘… would the-Perth of post-Treeton be-destroyed-and-annihilated by a nuclear disaster…? Jane-and-I have SEEN THE ‘FUTURE’ post-nuclear Perth in-our-Dreamworld… the city was devastated…the radioactive-radiation mutated household-pets… and the streets were total-Mad-Max run by wild children-gangs…

‘… ‘how’ do I stop a nuclear-disaster on my-own…? I’m… just-a superhero… handicapped-Tarzan…’

As his wheelchair was-pushed, Paul ‘looked’ around as he saw ‘familiar’ faces of his-classmates. Then, he saw Peter-and-Bella…

… and the devil was STARING IN-hatred at him…

Paul sighed… as he knew that Peter was jealous of his-achievement – that he would receive an award on-stage later… an accolade that-he himself undesired…

… he ignored his-twin – as they were heading to the west-wing. When they approached nearer-to the gymnasium, more-and-more students came-up to congratulate him. The shy-Paul only grinned, making less eye-contact…

His wheelchair rolled into the door of gym-auditorium that was half-filled. The stage was ‘not’ ready-yet as Paul saw his former gay-Art teacher making-up the place by organizing senior-volunteer students on tall-ladders who were sticking huge cut-out alphabets on the draw-curtain at the background… Paul read:

‘Welcome Honorary Mayor John Blake

Perth’s Bravery Award

Congratulation to Jane Wilson & Paul Walker’

Paul sighed….

‘… no-wonder everyone ‘knew’…’

He saw the school staff-and-teachers were busy putting-things in order for the ‘surprise’ event. Paul saw Principal Harris was talking to the caterer who was arranging the light-food refreshments to be served after the award-presentation.

“Pauly!”

… a voice called from-among the over-the hundred students gathered in the gym… most had settled in the indoor-sitting. He saw Alicia-and-Ken walking-up to him…

“… hey-you, you are finally here… I want you to meet Ken Chan… he’s a new student-transfer to Stamford-High… doing his-final year in school this-year…”

Paul was speechless as the Chinese-teenager shook his hand with a firm-grip…

‘… firm-as-you ‘punched’ me in Perthland…’

“… soo… you must be Peter’s brother… I’m glad to ‘know’ you…” Ken said in a-friendly voice…

“… err… like-wise…’ Paul mumbled in a-doubtful voice…

“WOW! The ‘Braveheart’ Walker-family is so-famous in Perth – your ‘fearless’ brother-Peter ‘rescuing-me’ from drowning in Rottnest-island… and here you-are with-Jane Wilson rescuing-people from killer-rhinos at the-zoo… you twin-brothers are simply-great! By-the-way, I like your Tik-Tok video… you ‘really’ held-firm to the rhino’s-horn like a professional martial-artist…and you ‘killed’ the rhino…” Ken praised-and-complimented…

“… no… I DID ‘NOT’ KILL the rhino… it fell into a coma… the ‘elephant’ killed the other-rhino … why is everyone saying that I ‘killed’ the rhino… didn’t they ‘follow’ the news…?” The confused-Paul asked…

… he heard Alicia laughing…

“… hahaha, the social-media had created this Tarzan-persona legacy for you, Pauly – you’ll be well-remembered in-Perth from-now-on after receiving-the-award… as the-Tarzan who ‘killed’ the rhino to save my-BFF-Jane from danger, hahaha…”

Paul was tongue-tied and did ‘not’ want to argue… since ‘what’ Alicia said was half-true…

… knowing for-a-fact that the internet was a powerful-beast of its-own… playing new-gods by altering perceptions-believes-and-opinions of its ‘user’ daily – to SEE-THE-WORLD that was tailored to their whimsical needs-and-pleasures – where the-citizens…

… would ‘painfully-defend’ FAKE-NEWS as their reality-truth – ‘which’ spun-out from the conspiracy-theories that it was based-upon…

“Alicia, where is Jane…?” Paul asked – and she looked nonchalantly-over, replying…

“… don’t know… somewhere here…”

Paul used his Cursed-sensory vibes to connect with his-girlfriend’s 3rd-eye…

… he spotted her silver-yellow glow across the gym…

… she was ‘seen’ over-there, interviewed – by a team-of-TV crew-reporters…

-O-

The reporter asked the blind-student:

“Jane, you ‘were’ there when the rhinos-attacked… how did you ‘feel’ being in danger…?”

“… I… I was scared… I ran… I’m blind, I can’t see… I heard the ‘chasing-sounds’ – I was frighted… I ran…” Jane ‘recollected’ the tragedy that happened 3-months-ago…

Another reporter asked-her…

“… then, how ‘about’ when Majun rescued-you… and, how did-that ‘feel’…?”

Jane was stumped… and felt ‘weird’…

‘… how did she know ‘Majun’…?’

… Jane hastily ended the-interview…

“… no-comments…”

Jane was harassed by the reporters – for one-more-question…

“… no-comments please… I’m blind, I don’t watch telly or read the-papers… don’t bother-me…”

… Jane walked-away and – suspected that the Vice-Principal, Mrs Burnell had spoken to the reporters ‘earlier’ in the office – and told-about ABOUT ‘MAJUN’…

… she was fed-up of the school’s ploy of ‘sensationalizing’ a tragedy for the Bravery-award – that she-herself don’t want ‘anything-to-do’ with the accolade…

Jane wanted to go-to Paul – she ‘activated’ HER-3RD-EYE… and saw her-blue-beacon at the other-end of the-gym…

… she walked to him, tapping her-stick to the floor…

… and, she was ‘startled’ by the sound-of-sirens – THE MAYOR ‘had’ arrived…

<><>

10 MINUTES LATER, MR & MRS MAYOR came with their entourage, accompanied by Principal Harris and his staff. Students in the indoor bleachers clapped and the national-anthem played – everyone stood-and-sang the ‘Advance Australia Fair’…

… the seated Paul was in reverie-through-out when they sang the anthem. It echoed the gym’s basketball-court – as he recalled post-nuclear Perth had the mayor’s tall-building – the Blake Tower… THE DARK-TOWER smacked at the-middle…

‘… there is ‘something’ IN THE TOWER… what…? I don’t know…’

Paul ruminated further of the ‘events’ of ‘this’ post-Treeton that – he had experienced pertaining to the Blake Tower:

Patient-Zero, Hajji attacked the BTS concert-goers at the dark-tower – if-had his inspector-mother shot-and-killed him that evening… there would ‘not’ been this-current zombie epidemic that was worsening day-by-day. In the Dreamworld, he-and-Jane went to the dark-tower – which was guarded by the African-demons headed by BlackStar… then, StarGirl-and-Gemini-Blue attacked them with the aid of SeeIn-and-St-Michael… … the incubus-and-the-werewolf entered the dark-tower – he was ‘locked’ outside while Jane was ‘trapped’ inside the pylon. Jane ‘had’ a memory-loss since, and could ‘not’ recall what happened to her inside the stronghold. And, till-today she was traumatized by it with nightmares.

Paul looked around for the ‘culprit’ – HIS-TWIN – in the crowd of students… the devil was ‘not’ there…

‘… maybe he’s still resentful… and ‘NOT’ HERE to see-me receiving the award – he had ‘done’ this-before in the other-Perth… NOT-ATTENDING…

‘… when he-and-Jane LOST TO the ex-Australian international doubles in a Charity-tennis match @the Blake Country Club… yea-right, DON’T BLOODY-COME – good-riddance to you…’

The anthem ended and everyone sat…

… and saw Principal Harris who went to the podium to introduce the honorary mayor-and-his-wife on-heir ‘first’ visit to Stamford High… and invited the politician to give his-speech…

Paul sighed as he ‘knew-of’ the ‘unpopular-version’ of Mayor John-Blake in the other-Perth who gave his-political-agenda long-winded boring-speeches that were booed. The tween recalled a certain-crowd interruption when John-Blake denied-the rumours that the exploding-phone tragedy on the first-day of Stamford High-there… injuring 13 of the school’s students was ‘not’ a terrorist-attack so to-protect the-image of the prestigious school…

‘… you-fool…it’s the-devil WHO ‘CAUSED’ those explosions there – so-to ‘cover-up-the-Janey-breakup’ of his PFC’s popularity… he-even ‘interrupted’ your dubious-speech ‘again’ at your-own bloody-country-club during the ‘start’ of the charity-match…

‘…shhshit… how-could you-all ‘know’…? YOU CAN’T see the evil-supernatural presence like Jane-and-I do… WE’RE THE Defender-of-Perth – and only-we can ‘see’ that its-darkness ‘had’ cloaked our beloved-city…’

Everyone saw the mayor opening his-speech to his-TV media – and, ‘regurgitating’ his political-agenda-script of creating job-and-career opportunities by his-proposal to build a nuclear powerplant in the city.

On his-wheelchair, Paul could ‘not’ put his-2-and-2-together… of WHAT TO-DO in-case of a nuclear-blast disaster… he ‘remembered’ seeing the anti-nuke protesters at the school’s main-gate just-now…

‘… were the protestors arrested-and-dispersed by his-police…? So…how is the Mayor’s nuclear-powerplant fit-in Peter’s puzzle… or is John-Blake ‘just’ a bystander in this realm…a ‘crooked-politician ‘who’ is ‘not’ aware of Asmodeus’ evil-supernatural realm looming in the stratosphere ‘above’ the city…

‘.. but…

‘… he is the ‘owner’ of the dark-tower – in the city of the post-nuclear-Perth of the ‘future’…’

After his-15 minute-speech, the bored-students clapped, and were alive-again and-looked forward to the award-giving ceremony…

‘… shhshit… well, he-pulled-it-off… bravo John-Blake – any-way, weren’t-you ‘also’ the Prime Minister of Perthland WHO MADE a nuclear-deal over-there with Lord Stamford Crowley…?

‘… I’ll put you in the ‘top’ list-of-criminals IN ‘OUR’ Defenders-of-Perth-book, along with my-devil-twin…’

Principal Harris went-up to the podium TO THANK THE MAYOR – as they proceeded to the main-event…

… Paul felt of someone holding his-shoulder with firm-fingernails digging into his-blazer – and noticed that it was Jane – who seemed nervous to go-on-stage…

… he put his hand-on his shoulder… to touch her-hand…

The counselor Diane-King and the peon Muthoo Ganesan – approached Jane-and-Paul to ‘bring-them’ on the stage. The peon pushed the wheelchair on a ramp… while the counselor held the blind girl’s hand to-go-on-stage…

Some PR-members of the mayor’s entourage had set-up the awards – as Principal Harris then made the-scripted official-announcement…

“The mayor-of-Perth’s office had honoured our school, Stamford High – by presenting 2 of our-students the Bravery-award for their valiant-and-courageous act ‘despite’ their-limited handicapcy… and preventing further civilian-casualties, as they-both ‘had’ fearlessly put-their lives in danger’s way at the recent tragedy at the South Perth Zoo…

“… and, without further-ado…

“… will the-young-heroes – Jane Wilson and Paul Walker – please come-forward…”

The counselor-and-peon ushered Jane-and-Paul to the Mayor-and-wife – and, the-wife presented a medium-sized accolade to the blind-girl… while her-husband awarded the crippled-boy in the-wheelchair…

The whole gymnasium roared of cheers-and-applauds – some junior-students were chanting, ‘Tarzan’…

On-stage, the introvert-duo hung-their heads-low in bashfulness to the ovations – Paul peeked above at his-girlfriend standing-beside…

… to see her face that was covered by her-dreadlocks, but her lips were a curved into a wide-smile… Paul thought…

‘… no-harm in enjoying ‘our’ 15-minutes-of-fame’s of unsung-Defender-of-Perth ‘moments’ once-in a-while… it is a morale boost on the first-day of school… and we’ll be an inspiration to the junior-students who had ‘been’ the most supportive…

‘… Principal Harris-too said his-kind introduction to both-our bravery – and every lovers-and-haters cheered for us-in this beautiful ‘simple’ setting-of-the west-wing gymnasium not’ the Brookfield Place…

“… where over-there, it would-be pyrotechnics-displays and-us showered with confetti… but that Peter’s kind of ‘award-recognition,’ where my-twin crave ‘raving-attention’…

‘… but ‘not’ me…’

… speak of the-devil…

As, the cheering simmered-down – a different voices were clamouring in-protest – and everyone’s attention were at a group of students entering through the side-door of the gymnasium…

… it was the 20 animal-activist students from Bella’s classroom – protesting-and-objecting to the Award-presentation.

Their leader Bella Beulieu was remonstrating…

“Mayor Blake, you are giving-out insensitive-awards where the zoo had s rhino-dead, an elephant seriously-injured and another rhino-in-coma – why’re you giving awards based on pain-and-suffering of animals? You’re giving a bad-name to ‘our’ school-too that endorses these atrocities are acceptable-norms that animal ‘suffering’ does ‘not’ matter…

“… you-even had forced our-disability students to accept the Bravery-award… when Jane-and-Paul don’t want to-be heroes in a cruelty-of-animals tragedy…

“… Mayor, if you want to give a ‘bravery-award’ – GIVE TO Peter-Walker – he had rescued a student from-drowning by diving in the sea TO SAVE-HIM in our recent school’s Family-Day beach-trip… HE’S A HERO, and… where is his award…?”

Paul-and-Jane were both speechless on stage, when the school’s security-guards and the mayor’s bodyguards escorted the score of student-protestors back to the side-door that they came-in…

… Paul saw his twin-Peter was-among the-protestors – as they were chanting-out that he was a hero… he was-seen hi-5-ing them for ‘ruining’ the award-ceremony…

Principal Harris was apologizing to the mayor of his-unruly students’ behaviour.

The award presentation WAS-OVER and the students were leaving the gym to go-home… Paul and Jane wanted to leave-too – but they were invited for the tea-reception with the-mayor and-his entourage…

… Quietly, Paul ate his-cake in the corner as he observed the adults mingling – even Jane was talking to their new-teachers of the-senior-term. He was approached by the TV-reporters for a post-ceremony interview but declined saying…

“… no comments…”

Paul was into his-2nd slice of-cake when a REPORTER APPROACHED – and she-was not’ with the media-cameras…

… and-she looked ‘FAMILIAR’ TOO – but Paul couldn’t place her ‘from-where’…

He politely wanted her to-go-away – but she kept-speaking to him off-the-record… and-she also politely said…

“… no, I don’t want any-comments from you, Paul Walker – I’m just an aficionado of weird-and-unusual stories of Australia where the sleepy-city Perth is ‘now’ more-famous than Sydney-or-Melbourne… because of ‘what-you ‘extraordinary-did’ for this-city, Tarzan-Paul…

“Once-after this-award, your ‘popularity will skyrocket-viral-ling your-Tik-Tok ‘feat’… to 3-or-4 million views – to make-you Rockstar-famous on the internet to-solidify a tell-tale video of a cripple-boy who-had ‘wrestled’ a brute-rhino… till it dropped-down and went-to a coma…

“… do you-know, you’re already popular in social-media forums like in-the ‘Perth’s Conspiracy Theorist’ where there is a lot of discussion-of you…? They even-have a Facebook-group too, which I’m a-member… and, I’ve been seeing interesting-things said about-you…

“… the ‘one’ that caught my-eye-and-attention is-they had ‘analysed’ that 7-seconds-video ‘frame-by-frame’ by the milliseconds… and saw some ‘white-light’ emerging-out of your-hands…

“… which led them to ‘believe’ that you have some-kindda electrical superpower that brought the beast down… now-tell me if that is ‘true,’ Paul Walker – or would-you-be denying that…?”

Paul’s jaw dropped as he now recognized ‘WHO’ SHE-WAS… as she continued to ‘tease’…

“… now for the-interesting part – they-too are saying you’re the one ‘who’ killed the black-panther at the Wilson-residence – to save Jane-Wilson and her-brother Jaheem-Wilson… ‘and-not’ an-Act-of-God lightning that stuck the wildcat-dead… is that true…? And, how did you get-over to the Wilsons in your-condition, tell-me…? Can you-also ‘fly,’ Tarzan-Paul…?”

Paul realized ‘WHO SHE-WAS – it was the ‘SAME’ REPORTER who haunted Jane in school – ‘after’ the day of the panther-attack in her-house…

“… you don’t have to answer-that – but sooner-or-later I’ll find-out… and ‘expose’ that you indeed have ‘mutant’ superpowers – and that would be my investigative ‘breakout’ story of you-Tarzan…”

The pale-as-seen-a-ghost, Paul wheelchaired fast to leave the auditorium… hearing…

“Go eat your-cake and enjoy the award-receiving… but ‘I’m coming’ FOR-YOU my person-of-interest, Tarzan-Paul, hahaha…”

… Paul exited at the side-door – as the reporter Lana Lane chuckled…

<><>

Peter was outside the gym-auditorium after he was ‘thrown-out’ with Bella’s animal-activist friends. The tween with a metal arm was ‘still’ fuming as he was denied a Bravery-award… and looked-at his girlfriend and said to-her…

“We ‘need’ to talk…!”

“… okay, we go Maccas – I’m buying…. You ‘wait’ outside, dear – I go get my-bike…”

He saw her leaving with her-group of classmates – where at the same-time, a mass-outflux of students came-out of the gym to go home after the award-presentation. Peter was walking among the sea-of-green school-blazers – and a group of final-seniors students ridiculed him…

“… look at the one-armed-bandit sulking … when the mayor did ‘not’ want to spend the tax-payers’ dollars to ‘get’ him a Bravery-award – it’s politics, you-sucker… and furthermore you’re ‘not’ as popular as your-twin, Tarzan-Paul…”

“RACK-OFF!!!” Peter yelled at them…

They all laughed as they left-by the school’s front-entrance – Peter stood at the stone-stoop and waited for Bella… looking in-spite at the flock of the dispersing students at the school’s parking-lot…

… he cursed-at them under his-breath of the insult they said a-moment ago – and wished their heads were ‘blown-off’ their necks… just like the exploding cellphones of the other-Perth…

“Peter Walker…!” A woman’s voice called behind his-back…

… he doesn’t know ‘who’ she-was… nor was-bother to-know-who…

“I saw you-all protesting just now… HOW-COME there was ‘no’ such news about you ‘rescuing’ the boy who fell-into the sea during the trip to-Rotto…?” Lana Lane asked…

“Yea, why you-reporters weren’t there…? Now the bloody-school ‘HAD’ COVERED-IT-up to ‘not’ acknowledge me as a hero-that-day…!!!” Cried Peter out-loud…

“Yes, that is ‘NOT’ FAIR, Peter – Paul ‘got’ the award, and ‘not’ you…” Lana ‘stirred’ his-pot of-anger…

“Yea, I’m a hero-too… that-Poe don’t DESERVE IT – it’s that aggressive-rhino which ‘attacked the 3-people that-was killed by that-elephant… and Poe who rode his-ass like a rodeo-clown on the old-assed rhino, that had dropped dead-later of a-heart-attack – and bloody-POE ‘CHEATED’ – and he got the award just-now!!!”

“Wow! How could-have Paul had ‘brought-down’ a 3-tonned animal – DOES HE HAVE ‘superpowers’…?” Lana instigated…

Peter was stunned a moment when the reporter SAID-THAT – Lana saw-HIM HESITANT to-reply her…

“Why-you-people hell-bent to give him-credit – Poe bloody-cheated – and yet you talk of him-being a hero – that’s unfair… instead you’re ‘not’ asking about – my heroic-attempt when I dove in the-sea and rescued the drowning soy-boy-cuck with my Made-in-USA cyborg-arm, by pulling him out-of-danger – why aren’t you asking me that… hah, like your newspaper is going-to write-itself…!!?” Paul yelled at her…

Bella arrived with her Ducati – and saw her boyfriend arguing with-someone… she called…

“Peter, what’s the matter…?”

The tween got on the pillion-of the bike… still shouting… as the ‘complained’ to Bella…

“… hey, I’m ‘not’ stupid, okay…? I ‘know’ what you’re doing – you bloody-reporters ‘give’ bias-credit to those who don’t deserve’ it… like the time, you glorified Capt. John-Rambo Hart, the war-veteran off-to the roof with your bullshit newspaper headlines… bloody déjà vu… I can see that you’ll be doing-so ‘for’ my-quad-twin tomorrow…!!?”

“Hey-you b****! Stop harassing my-boyfriend!” Yelled the 14-year-old…

… Lana Lane just chuckled-and-thought of the youngsters…

‘… a-take charge-girl… ooo-so feisty…’

Peter-was still lashing his-gripe…

“You go ahead-and-publish all-you want ‘about’ my-quad-twin – all I ‘know’ it’s just all fake-news… or half-truth-news… or fake-news of half-truth news, yea… I don’t bloody-care as I will ‘not’ wanna switch-on the news or… read your-bloody newspaper again-EVER…!!!

“Come-Frenchie, LET’S GO… cos’ we ‘got’ better truth-new to create ourselves!!!”

Lana Lane laughed as superbike on-full-throttle left the school parking-lot – she chuckled ‘seeing’ the next-generation wave of ‘rebel-teens’ running wild… to go against the systems-in-a civil-society…

… she saw the angst-and resentments of the one-armed boy… WHO GOT an expensive prosthetic-arm… AND-NOW – he thought that HE’S BETTER THAN ‘his’ superhero-twin…

‘… hmm, and-also… the twins ‘HATE’ EACH-other… that’s interesting…’

-O-

Paul wheelchaired-fast… ‘hiding’ from the-reporter…

… ‘who’ could expose his supe-secret identity to the Perth-mases any day-soon… he ‘freaked-out’ to that-thought…

‘…oh-my-God… she ‘knows’ WHO-I-AM… soon the mystery of Cursed-trio would-be-out… and-Jane too… we’ll be seen as ‘freaks’… a cripple-and-a-blind ‘who’ could fly…’

Paul scrambled away from the scene-of-suspicion – wheelchairing with his Bravery-award on his-lap…

… the safest-place he could think-of was to go home to the Walker-house. The chair’s wheels screeched, as Paul stopped – he took-out his iPhone to call his-Uber-driver, Gary…

… but-Gary in traffic-jams with the police-checkpoint blocks for the mayor-and-his entourage’s departure – and-the driver guesstimated he would reach in 20-minutes – so Paul wait-it-out at the front-entrance…

… seeing the sea-of-green blazers of students at the parking-lot ready to-go home on their-first day of school. Those-who pass-by him were acknowledging-and-congratulating him… he doesn’t know their name but only recognise their-faces from the canteen-breaks and school assembly. Those ‘strangers’ were-now praising him and wanted-to-talk to him ‘after’ he ‘received’ the mayor’s award – the same boys-and-girls who-had ‘ignored’ him before-as a crippled-boy… for 3-years after-his-accident…

… but junior-students looked-up to him as a hero… and even asked for his-autograph – half-heartedly he obliged…

‘… these are the Tarzan-Paul’s fans – HOPE ‘NOT’ of Gemini-Blue-Paul… but that reporter-woman is going TO-EXPOSE-ME… what do I-do…?’

Paul saw the escorted-mayor leaving the school in the siren-vehicles. He saw Jane and her-group of fans coming-out from the gymnasium… he recognised Akatendeka Ibori was with them…

The Zimbabwean-exchange student spotted Paul from afar... and told-Jane. They-all walked towards Paul. The boys-and-girls ‘posed-group-photos’ with them-both holding their bravery-award… they-left the couple soon-after that to go-home…

… leaving Paul-and-Jane ‘alone’…

“Where were you… I was looking for you at the tea-reception…?” Asked the blind-girlfriend to her blue-beacon… but she ‘heard’ him tongue-tied, and gasping with anxiety to form-words…

“What’s ‘wrong,’ Pauly…?”

“… I-I-I… Jane… ‘remember’ the reporter who was ‘harassing-you’ in school after the black-panther attack…? She was ‘here’ – and she ‘knows’ about my-secret-supe identity…”

Paul elaborated the off-the-record conversation that he-had with Lana Lane – who have a frame-by-frame Tik-Tok ‘evidence’ of him… ‘electrocuting’ the rhino-to-drop into comatose.

Blind-Jane quietly listened-and-recalled…

… of herself letting her StarGirl superhero guard-down in the other-Perth – where she ‘shot’ a double-cosmic firebolts at the ‘other-version’ of the black-panther to ‘injure’ it … which-was caught ON-VIDEO. But her ‘boyfriend,’ Peter back-there – had told her ‘of’ the uploaded YouTube-video that was badly-shot in the-dark… that could ‘not’ identify Jane as the-assailant in self-defence…

“Paul, don’t worry about-that – she’s just getting-into your-head… the ‘more’ you panic, the ‘more’ she-gets into you…” Jane pacified-him…

The crippled-tween calmed-down – and, realising-that he was the one in the superhero-duo team THAT WORRIED-a lot…

Jane bent-over to kiss him, saying…

“… just like in Perthland, you ‘won’ the dancing award for-me – I’m ‘GIVING’ YOU this Bravery-award… I can’t go-home with this – my mummy would ‘kill’ me…”

Paul held both the accolades in his hands…

“… no, I don’t want it-either… after what Peter’s girlfriend said in her-protest – that the zoo animals that died-and-suffered… I’m going to dump them both – so that we-both who own-pets, respect animal right, don’t-you think-so…?”

“Fair enough…” Jane responded, nodding…

She saw her-blue-beacon throwing the awards in the school garbage-bin…

“Janey!”

… Paul heard Alicia’s voice calling… turning-around his wheelchair – and noticing she was holding Ken Chan’s hand. Alicia had-removed her-beanie, with her shoulder-length platinum-blonde hair flowing – as the couple approached the blind-girl…

The Chinese couple congratulated them…

… Paul ‘remembered’ a version-of-the dark-haired Alicia that he fell-in-love and dated in the OTHER-PERTH –who was the superheroes’ ally … but she was ‘attacked-and-struck’ in her-head into a-coma by a homeless-man named Jimbo. Day-by-day, the Chinese-girl over-there got worst and was in her-dying-state – when Paul-then rescued her-soul in the afterlife from the grim-reapers who were accompanying Alicia-to-hell… … then, there was the version-from-hell-Alicia with dyed platinum-blonde hair who was into martial-art and ‘tormented’ him in PERTHLAND… with her ‘bully’ boyfriend Ken Chan who led an Asian motorbike-gang…

Paul sighed…

… seeing a 3rd-varient version of Alicia – that WAS ‘MERGING’ as the ‘both’ of the former in post-Treeton…

Paul does ‘not’ TRUST KEN CHAN – who had ‘conveniently’ popped-into this-realm from Taiwan-to-Perth… on the first-schooling day in SHS…

… and, he worried-for his-ex…

‘… he’s ‘not’ a good-guy, Ali… ‘how’ am I gonna tell you-that…sheesh…? You blind-BFF even-told me ‘NOT’ TO JUDGE this-version of your ‘new’ boyfriend… and, as your ‘first’ boyfriend, I ‘hope’ you all the best…”

“Pauly, do you want to-follow us…?” Asked Alicia…

“… huh… what, where…?”

They had ‘invited’ Jane-and-Paul to Chinatown for lunch. Paul ‘declined’ when Jane said ‘no’ to them…

“Are you ‘sure,’ Janey…? Don’t you ‘miss’ your favourite delicious stinky-tofu…?” Alicia teased-and-chuckled…

Jane laughed…

“… ooo-Ali, I ‘miss’ those… take-a-rain-check… my-Mummy is coming to pick-me-up…”

The Chinese-couple said their-goodbyes before – blending into the flow of students dispersing to go-home…

… leaving both Jane-and-Paul quiet – thinking of ‘what’ Alicia’s relationship would transpire-to in this ‘confusing’ post-Treeton realm…

Paul peeked at Alicia sitting on a huge-superbike – hold-tight from the-rear onto Ken… her-new-boyfriend… as they zoomed-away…

Paul sighed…

“… Paul, are you okay…?” Jane ‘casually’ asked…

“…huh… what…? Why do-you ask…?”

The blind-girl just-chuckled…and further asked…

“… do-you still miss-her…?”

“… yea… some…” Paul sighed-again…

“… my-Paul-the-worrier…” Jane patted his-head…

They-both then heard a car horn – it was Uber-driver Gary…

“My-ride is ‘here’ – do you want me to-wait till you-mummy comes…?”

“… no-Paul, go home and feed your-dog… she must-be hungry…”

They-both laughed…

… Paul held her-hand to-genteelly pull her-over – Jane bent to him… and they-kissed their goodbyes…

The boyfriend wheelchaired to the ramp to go to the waiting Nissan Almera – hearing Jane’s voice from his-rear…

“… I-love-you, Paul – I-err… I won’t call you-tonight, dear… see you in class-tomorrow…”

<><>

THE SUPERBIKE RACED IN THE FREEWAY – where there were ‘less’ roadblocks and checkpoints…

… on the Ducati, Bella heard her angry-boyfriend ranting about Lana Lane – who had-cornered him outside the gym just now…

“…BLOODY-B****! You call that ‘news-reporting’…!? That is a silly TikTok video of a bloody puppet-stringed quad-with dangling-legs… who hung onto a grandpa-rhino that have heart-problems and dropped… and-you call that an-award-winning bravery…?

“I ‘curse’ you that your-career go-down to bloody-shit-b**** when you ‘can’ make-up bullshit like-this! You’ll be out of work-soon – and, hope The Muppet-show people will employ you for your ludicrous-comedic-writing-chops… You’re a joke… a bloody unfunny-joke…!!!”

Bella stopped the bike on the side of the-road – as Peter was getting too-vigorous for her to balance-and-ride the superbike. She wanted him to-vent his-chimney… before they go for lunch…

She coaxed him…

“Come-on, dear – don’t be upset… those Bravery-awards they-both got are bloody-fakes and are ‘beneath’ you – you’ll be in the media-lime-lights soon when you win tennis competitions with your-robotic-arm this school-term…”

“Yea, hell-I would – just-look at Jane who went on-stage just-now… she practically sat on-an-elephant’s bloody-head and she ‘won’ an-award for bravery… mediocre! I taught that blind-school to play tennis in the ‘other-Perth… I had plans with her as the Perth’s Famous Couple for the mixed-doubles in school’s qualifiers… which SHE ‘SABOTAGED’… it’s a shame that she’s winning fake-awards with my-quad-twin ‘after’ the bloody circus-act at the zoo…!!!” The displeased tween ranted-on…

“You DON’T NEED that blind-girl when YOU CAN HAVE ME, as your mixed-doubles partner – we’ll be the ‘new’ Perth’s Famous Couple and we can win tournaments together, and-I promise-you that, Peter…” Bella cajoled to win him-over…

“Yea-Frenchie, that’s the plan – it’s tennis open-season next month… YOU-AND-I, we will show this bloody-ungrateful city of who-we ‘really’ are…!!!”

“Yes, we-do that… and your finest-moment comes when you ‘beat’ Oliver Brown to be the #1 SHS players – and, go-into the qualifier to the school-district competition… and be-Perth’s CHAMPION AGAIN!” Bella further wheedled her-persuasion…

The revelling Peter laughed-and-rejoicing his future-glory… he felt like a block-of-ice ‘had’ substituted the helmet-on-his-head… with all of his-burden ‘had’ lifted…

“Hahaha! YES… yes…!”

“Ok-Pete, can we go-and-eat now…?”

“… nah… I’m ‘not’ hungry yet – take me ‘SOMEWHERE’ else…”

Peter winked with a dirty-smirk…

… Bella ‘understood’ his-hint…

She doesn’t want to ‘lose’ Peter if she kept defying HIS-WANTS – now-with school had reopened… and girls would want to-throw themselves at him if he became the school’s tennis-champion…

… and-even his ‘proclaimed’ SOULMATE-JANEY too ‘could’ be-one…

But Peter was HER-CATCH…

... for her to KEEP HIM ‘HAPPY’ – she had-to BE PROTECTIVE of him and ‘never’ would want to lose him to some-OTHER GIRLS…

… to the extent-that SHE WAS WILLING to get-herself pregnant to ‘KEEP’ HIM… all-for-herself…

The speeding superbike headed to THE-MOTEL…

Bella has ‘not’ had sex with him during the school-break – with-all of the Perth’s security unrest which had been disrupted-by the zombie-epidemic…

… BUT-TODAY, she ‘wanted’ to get him drunk with vodka-screwdriver – and have lots-of ‘UNPROTECTIVE-SEX’…

… TO SECURE ‘her’ protected-prized boyfriend ‘just’ FOR HERSELF…