Prologue
In a universe parallel to ours, the Confederated Provinces of Lybrenia, the CPL, occupy a massive island in the eastern portion of the North Atlantic Ocean just off the coast of Africa. Once called Atlantis, this ancient, highly advanced civilization nearly died out.
While moral fortitude lies rotting across most of the present-day globe, a few champions still exist. One such champion works in the headquarters for the Lamnardy provincial office of the National Environmental and Consumer Protection Agency (NECPA) in Tonsheega, the CPL’s capital city. She is Destiny Jones, the slayer of greedy corporate dragons.
{NOTE: Destiny Jones is kidnapped and dies. Tina (TeeTee) Tendo is the office clerk and Destiny's best friend from their college days. Due to getting her yearly flu shot, and mixing her blood with Destiny's, urged on by Destiny as she lay dying, TeeTee gradually develops the ability to morph into a she-hulk super human whenever she is frightened. Hence Destiny Jones's Legacy.}
{Keep in mind there are differences between parallel universes ... such as having a real Atlantis and a Russia as an 18 century colonial power ... or even a movie hero named Illinois Jones.}
Taken From Two Internal Chapters
After hours of hacking a narrow corridor through suffocating dense greenery, agents Darren McGivers and Tina Tendo reached the base of a natural terrace rising nearly a hundred and fifty feet above the dense jungle floor. Foliage thinly draped the steep slope, blanketed with stunted ferns and wiry shrubs. Long gullies scarred the earth.
Darren wiped his forehead with the back of his hand and pointed up the steep incline. “This is the correct plateau. I’ll climb partway, anchor the rope, and you can climb up behind me.”
TeeTee cocked an eyebrow. “Sounds like a plan.”
“Do you have enough strength to pull yourself up?”
She flexed her right biceps. “Yuppers.”
Darren smirked. “Cute. We’ll find out soon enough.” He strode to the base of the incline and began his ascent with TeeTee following. After a few feet, he paused and looked back. “I changed my mind.”
I hope the new one is a vast improvement.
“Hang tight down there. Once I reach the top, I’ll toss you a rope.”
“Oh? You don’t think I can do it without one?”
“I don’t think you can do it with one.”
“WAB.”
“What?”
Wise-Ass Butthole. She rolled her eyes. “Nothing. Go ahead.”
Darren reached the plateau top and chucked down one end of the rope. TeeTee clasped it, but as he snapped it taut, it jerked free.
“Looks like you’re not even strong enough to hold on to a rope,” he shouted.
It’s a good thing I’m not the Incredible Hulk. My anger’s boiling sufficiently enough to have made the Hulk run up this incline and separate his head from his shoulders. “Oh, I’m strong enough. I just wasn’t expecting a jerk on the other end of the rope.”
“I’ll take that to mean I yanked the rope too hard.”
TeeTee grimaced. “Yes. You could interpret it that way.”
She retook hold of the rope, and he helped her climb by bracing himself and pulling her up. At the top, she dropped the rope. “Wow, that was too much like teamwork.”
He coiled the rope around one hand and elbow. “Don’t get carried away with it. Always follow my instructions, and everything will be fine.”
TeeTee snapped to attention and saluted. “Ja, Komendant.”
He draped the coiled rope over one shoulder. “Try to keep your behavior at least above fourth-grade level, will you?”
They stared into the thinning foliage of waist-high saplings, tufts of grass, and clusters of ground vines.
“I wonder why the vegetation is less dense up here?” TeeTee said.
“Higher altitude.”
She smacked her lips. “Yeah, right. You bet. A hundred and fifty feet brought us into a new climate zone.”
“Hey, I’m just kidding. Didn’t you study any geology? In all probability, the plateau consists of a soil type less conducive to jungle growth.”
Yes, Professor Know-It-All.
Darren pointed to his left. “Staying close to the rim will help us find our way back to the rope.”
Duh!
They walked along the edge, looking into the treetops below. Something whizzed by them. Darren clutched TeeTee’s shoulder. “Watch out!”
Whoosh!
He fell to the right as she sprawled toward the incline. Tumbling off the edge, she plummeted down the steep embankment, bouncing and rolling until she caught hold of a protruding root.
“Darren! Help, Darren!” The root bent severely as she goggled at it. “Holy guacamole!” She watched the root split … then separate. “Stop, please!” She glared at the root, and it ceased its cracking. Her eyes opened wide as she panted. “You’ll hold. Bless you.”
Her face started to contort. “Wowpers! The powers that be, don’t let me morph into Super Destiny now! She’s a lot heavier than—!”
The root snapped, and a transformed TeeTee fell, screaming with each bounce down the incline. Her last bounce threw her into open air, and she fell onto a treetop.
Plunging through the branches, she landed astride a black leopard, its muscles bunching beneath its glossy fur.
Rooooaaaar!
She felt the beast surge upward. After the wild feline stomped back to earth, TeeTee sprang to her feet and discovered the leopard bearing its fangs a mere six feet away. She backed against the tree trunk.
Rooooaaaar!
“Nice kitty. Be a good kitty and leave.”
Rooooaaaar! The leopard pounced.
TeeTee pressed her back against a tree as the black beauty flew toward her. She snatched the beast from the air by its throat and held it aloft while plowing her other fist into its gut.
How am I doing this? It’s as if the big cat has no weight at all. I know Destiny was strong … but she wasn’t this strong.
TeeTee tossed the beast several feet away. It rolled to a stop, sprang to its feet, and gawked at her.
Believe me, leopard, I’m just as bewildered as you. I don’t want to hurt you, so just leave me alone.
The leopard trotted off, shaking its head.
It must be a mind-reading leopard because I swear it’s taking my advice. But Destiny never had that suggestive ability that I know of.
She stared up the incline. “Darren? Darren! Are you there?”
TeeTee strode toward the spot where she and Darren first climbed the plateau.
We couldn’t have strayed too far. If I follow the cliff, I should see the rope soon.
She halted and looked toward the top.
I should have reverted to my usual scrawny self by now. It’s as though the effect of changing into Destiny lasts a little longer each time. I think I’m a little taller too.
“Darren? Are you there?”
She continued sauntering along. After morphing into her original self, TeeTee halted again and stared at the cliff top.
I’m so stupid. As Destiny, I had the strength to climb, but it’s too late now.
She stepped to the edge of the incline.
What just happened? Did someone ambush us up there? Did Darren get attacked by someone who pulled up the rope? Does Empire know what we’re doing? I can’t get there without a rope now … not as TeeTee Tendo.
TeeTee peered at her watch.
I’ll just have to wait.
She sank onto a fallen log and scanned the area. The low, slanting sunlight gilded the grass blades.
I hope there are no more leopards or other wild animals.
Her gaze lit on a brilliant splash of purple high in a young kapok tree—a single Kalmanari orchid on a limb twenty feet overhead glowing like stained glass.
Holy guacamole! If Darren doesn’t return, I can at least bring back the orchid sample to Tonsheega. I must find a way to get it.
TeeTee snatched up the nearest stick and hurled it upward. It flew past the orchid.
Close. I’m sure glad I played baseball while growing up with my brother, Regis.
TeeTee scooped up another stick and hurled it. It glanced off the base of the orchid but failed to dislodge it.
Damn! It’s affixed to the branch. She scrutinized the trunk from the ground to the plant. There are no branches to help with my climb. Maybe the trunk is small enough for me to grip.
She inched toward the trunk and stretched her arms around it. Just barely.
Holding on, she wrapped her legs around it, slid her arms higher, and pulled the rest of her body up a few inches.
At this rate, I might get there by sundown.
She continued upward at a snail’s pace, her muscles trembling with strain. Five minutes later, at nearly ten feet high, her grip loosened, and she fell to the ground. She lay still, struggling to get air into her lungs.
That hurt! I’ve got to stop being so reckless. I wish something would come along and scare the crap out of me. As Destiny, I could run, jump, kick off the tree trunk and ricochet high enough to grab the branch.
TeeTee leaned forward and gazed into the foliage. Another Kalmanari orchid occupied the branch of a smaller tree.
Holy guacamole! That one’s within reach.
She scurried over, gently unwrapped the tangled roots of the delicate flower, and cradled the blossom’s delicate stem, scrutinizing it.
So, you’re the little rascal causing all the trouble. Hopefully, one orchid will be enough to draw all the serum we need for analysis.
“Nang bootoo!” A chorus of harsh voices cut through the late afternoon hush.
TeeTee spun around to face six scantily clad natives—lean, painted in ocher, and carrying spears, axes, and machetes. Their eyes glittered, their chants insistent.
Her back stiffened as she backed up, placing her orchid gently in her sample bag. When they reached her, some raised their weapons.
With her heart thudding loudly, TeeTee shoved her arms forward. “Wait a minute! What do you want?”
They chanted, “Nang bootoo!” and pointed to her bag.
She stepped away from their menacing encroachment. “Nang bootoo to you too.”
The natives pranced around her, taking turns pulling at the bag.
TeeTee wheeled around as the natives infringed further into her space. “You’d better leave. You’re scaring me, and you don’t want to deal with me when I turn into Destiny Jones.”
Two natives jerked harder on her sample bag. “Nang bootoo! Nang bootoo!”
“What is it? Did you see me put the orchid in my bag?”
One native slunk behind her and yanked the bag. It held fast to TeeTee but dragged her to the ground. The other natives leaned over, attempting to separate her from her bag.
“You can’t have it. Go hunt your own orchid.” They’re frightening me! “I need that orchid! It can save lives!”
One native kicked her in the ribs.
“Hey! Stop that!”
The native raised his machete.
TeeTee thrust up an arm. “No! Don’t do it!”
The machete swung downward. She turned to look, and her nose mashed against the quivering blade where it protruded from the ground.
TeeTee shivered as an icy wave radiated outward from the center of her body. Already her face tingled, and her cheeks burned. “Noooooo! Leave me alone!” She leaped up.
In an instant, her body convulsed, her chest broadened, and her limbs lengthened, thickening with musculature strength. As seven-foot-six-inch Destiny Jones bent and grabbed one native by his feet, she swung him around like a rag doll a few times, then let go. The man plowed into three others. The natives lay strewn on the ground, three unconscious, the fourth groggily trying to regain his feet.
Advancing on the other two standing natives, she ripped the spear from one and snapped it in half. The natives gawked until TeeTee almost reached them, then they fled into the jungle, pulling at their hair while screaming, “Kanaima! Kanaima!”
TeeTee breathed rapidly for several seconds. “My name is not Kanaima!”
Kanaima. Kanaima? Oh, yeah … that legend about a half-human, half-wildcat creature that’s supposed to be roaming these parts. He’s too primitive to realize it’s just another myth, such as Sasquatch or the Loch Ness Monster, manufactured for weak minds.
“Ouch.” She examined her left shoulder. “Blood? He cut me.” Sitting up, she slid her fingers over the three-inch surface wound. “Behold the superhero who bleeds.”
TeeTee lifted her sample bag and continued toward the base of the cliff. She realized she had not resumed her normal stature.
What’s taking so long? I’m not scared. I still have a sense of danger, though.
A hulking creature burst from the jungle undergrowth to her right. The beast rose to eight feet and sported a leopard’s hairy head planted on a muscular, hairless human body. At the ends of its human-like fingers and toes protruded long claws. Leopard spots dotted its body.
“Kanaima?” TeeTee whispered, stepping forward.
Kanaima approached, baring sharp teeth and clawed hands. It stopped short, and TeeTee saw it rise six inches over her superhero height. The beast beat on its chest and roared again.
TeeTee stepped toward the creature and shoved it backward. It hit a tree and gaped at her. Tears dribbled down its face. “Go on … scram!” It whirled around and sprinted away.
As the sun retreated from the day’s brightness, TeeTee morphed again into her normal self. With the orchid secure, she retraced her steps to where the jeep was due. It arrived at the pickup point just as she did. She plopped down next to the driver and fell asleep.
END SAMPLE CHAPTER
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