Chapter 1

A/N: Hi all my lovely readers! For those of you who are interested, this book is LGBTQ+. I mention that because all my other books aren’t in this category. In my world, homosexuality, race, nor religion are NOT an issue, because nobody cares (so long as it isn’t the Horned One.) There was never a struggle, because it was never a global/religious issue for the Church of the Sun. I don’t think I need to put anything else up here, but other than that HI! This book is copyrighted.

All chapters will be in the 1500 words range as well, so some chapters may get cut off (except this one because of the author’s note.)

There will be sex, violence, gore, and swearing.

Oh and typos. I write all this by myself so there are mistakes that do slip. I try, I really do!

Noah-

March 20, 1958 New Apple, New Apple train to Bison City, Jentucky

I kept wondering, was this the right thing to do? I looked out the window as the train chugged along at a steadfast pace… New Apple to Jentucky…. From the biggest city in the country, to the countryside…..

I clenched the letter, and thumbed my fingers over the thick stack of dollars…. THREE hundred for a job I hadn’t even started as a sign on…. That’s my MONTHLY pay!

And a brass officer’s badge…. It already had my surname, Metzker on it…. I wore it as instructed, and I knew why…. This brass shiny shield held weight. People dipped their head to me walking past my car, asking me if there was anything I needed…

It made me wonder was I actually visiting royalty?

Dad’s friend was rich.

Old Money.

I knew that already… but it was becoming apparent just how rich. We were an hour from my stop, yet even seeing the endless sea of trees, smelling the pine resin through my slightly open window, I thumbed the insane amount of money that was halved with me.

Enough to pay bills, food, and set my family up right with some for myself….

Too good to be true…

Too much to turn down.

Dad got crippled in the war, and can’t work, and Lionel’s 12. I’ll be damned if he has to drop out like I did. Yeah, he’ll go to school, but with dad unable to provide, it leaves it up to me.

…. Dad was a butcher before greed caused the world to go to shit…. Some powerful prince, duke, or whatever was assassinated, and all the fat cats sat on their butts, and sent them to fight…

The rich got countries involved… Lord Roland of Transilvenya paid the King of Russisa to start it, and with countries having allies, World War I and II… and the Depression was caused by the infighting. They wanted to keep their power, and millions died for it.

And with Nukes brand new, it was unlike any war ever fought on Urth… It was the first time bombs, gas, and planes were used. People couldn’t run or hide…

I lost a lot of family… We’d HAVE help if not for those damn bombs. It was before I was born, but even if just ONE man in my family was able to come over here, I’m sure they’d be at home helping out. ‘That’s what Metzker do. We Work.’

That’s what father used to say when he was working sick as a dog… I was almost grateful for his accident. He came home… unlike so many.

That’s something I was still bitter about. I know people all over still are too…. Many people died essentially for nothing… Revenge ran rivers red with blood… Almost the blood of my father, and his war buddy who occasionally sends what he can to help.

I was born in 1933, during the height of the Great Depression…. I was 6 when dad left, and when he came back, I was 12 when he returned…  Lionel was born a year after.

And when dad came home, for a time he managed for our sakes… When everything was simple, dad snuck beef home nearly every day working for Mr. Westport, working while too sick too… This went on until he had a bad accident, and they had to fire him when I was about 13 or 14.

My dad worked like that, while his body deteriorated to keep food on the table. I did what I could when I got old enough... about 14 or 15… I dropped out to provide, because that’s what men do, and I wasn’t any good at butchering… or factory work…. Or mechanic. I worked one odd job after the other, burning bridges as I went because I wasn’t skilled.

I was 25 now… My last chance at the steel mill was ruined by Arty’s brother. Marty stole the money, and one day the factory was just closed…. I’d only worked there two weeks, and got cheated my wages…. So now…It was this or all of us on the streets. I had a bit of a reputation as a klutz and screw up…

Gods this was too good to be true, but I was already on my way. The train was first class… I had a whole booth to myself, and I read Shamrock Homes. It was the one with the Hound. It turned out to be a female hyena shifter, and they had to shoot it with silver.

This was probably one of the more controversial classical works. It was heavily discredited because unlike the other mysteries based in at least some semblance of reality, the author went a supernatural route.

As a history fan, I knew it was based off a near death experience in Vacuvan Grandia. They actually had an encounter with a ‘moose sized’ hyena in the woods, and the normal sized animal ended up in the New Apple Zoo. They paid two thousand dollars for it.

I didn’t really care though. It passed the time. Everyone knows that kind of stuff isn’t real. People should lighten up.

I read the letter again…

‘Dear Noah and Metzker family,

I heard about the mill. Sorry to hear it. I gave you my blood word that I would make sure you’re taken care of friend. Here’s some money for your bills and medicine.

Don’t argue with me, take it.

I ask again that you come to my estate and stay, but you’ve declined that five times now. So now, I offer something no man would snub at, an honest job.

Honest pay too. So before you refuse that money, your son earned his first week’s pay.

You said you didn’t want a handout, but I’ll give one to your boy if he wants it. As Chief of Bison City Police, I’ll take your boy and train him up. He’ll be protected by my finest, and made to be a man you can be proud of. That offer’s for Lionel too, but I’m pretty sure he’s too young. $150 bi-monthly, a home in the country, and the chance to make a difference are all down here. All he has to do is show up. I even got the ticket.

You saved my life. You could have left me to bleed out in the snow, but you dragged me back to base, even seeing my…. condition…. I’ll do whatever I can to repay that. It doesn’t sit right with me that a hero, a real one, is on the brink of homelessness. And don’t argue with me. You’re a hero Light damn it, and you deserve a break.

Oh, and Noah, be a dear and wear the badge on your jacket during the trip. My people will treat you right. You won’t see them, but I will have some detectives on the train to make sure you’re alright.

Light’s Speed

Chief Equestos.’

I wonder did his family work with horses, because I’d never seen that surname. I chalked it up to probably the area of the country, and his word assured me that maybe it wasn’t a trap. ‘A man’s only as good as his word’ is what dad used to say. It doesn’t get more oath-y than a blood oath.

I watched the train pull into the station, and it was mostly a wooden platform to hop off. I was nearly the last person there on, and when I got out, the fresh air was crisp. There was just a wooden building and a one-way road that likely led to town, with one attendant.

“Over here officer!” He said cheerfully.

I was surprised he had his hair dyed blue… I kind of assumed since I was coming to the boonies, that there would be some conservatives of the Church to shun that kind of thing, but now that I saw him… I bet my hair would look good in green. I don’t know how they find those custom dyes… You can’t exactly buy them.

At least not for cheap… He must have spent his whole week’s pay for that.

“All the way from New Apple, New Apple, but I’m just a cadet.” I said and he whistled.

“Halfway across the country. Good Luck; we always need more of you good ones around.” He said pointing me to a taxi that was already waiting. I put my bags in the trunk. I thought nothing of it.

The old guy seemed friendly enough, and I got in the backseat. The old guy kind of disappeared, but didn’t get out, so for a moment I was confused.

“That’s better. ‘Ey, You’re headed to the boss, right?” Said a little green man in a red cap!

He wasn’t green at first!

OR SHORT!!

“AH!” I screamed. He had pointed ears, and every tooth was sharp like a shark!

“Oh boy. Buckle up.” He said shaking his head. “Every damn time… Why does he leave it to me?” He complained.