In Serpent's Embrace: Chapter 2-Interstellar Academic Quiz Bowl Pt 1
#2 of In Serpent's Embrace
Recap:
This story takes place several centuries into the future; it will mostly revolve around our main characters (one will not be mentioned just yet). Any who, the human race has expanded into space and have constructed a powerful nation, as well as earned allies (like the Heliokin), enemies (like the Multispawn), and many more aliens some will be revealed in this chapter. So enjoy!
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In Serpent's Embrace
Chapter 2- Interstellar Academic Quiz Bowl Pt 1
Jacob woke with a start, another nightmare. It was like one of those movies from the 20thCentury, A Nightmare on Elm Street, were you have no control over it and you are being chased by something. Well for Jacob, that would be Jeremy. Or some demonic form of him, chasing him through the dorms, screaming, "I'm going to get you, I'm going to get YOU, HAHAHAHA!" He had fangs with saliva dripping from them, horns growing from the top of his head; his hands were more like a falcon's talons, and his deep brown eyes were instead glowing red. Jacob ran as fast as he could around a corner of the next corridor.
Then he ran into his mom, she had blood pouring from her eyes and mouth. She tilts her head to one side, and then raises her right hand above her head, and in her hand is a dagger. She let out a gargling scream through her blood filled mouth, "You worthless piece of shit, I should have killed you in the womb, I never wanted you, it was always your father, YOUR FATHER!" Just when she was about to plunge the dagger into his heart, he woke up in a cold sweat, gasping for air.
That has been the fifth nightmare in a row, but the 'YOUR FATHER!' part was new. Jacob got out of bed and walked into the public bathroom in his dorm. He looked into the mirror and saw dark circles under his sad eyes. Another day, another painkiller, Jacob thought. He walked over to the shower and turned on the water, leaving it to warm up while he relieved himself and got a towel.
He stepped into the shower and washed up, ignoring his morning wood because he wasn't in the mood for any morning play. Especially with that nightmare still fresh on his mind. After finishing up he walked out of the bathroom to his closet, took out his school uniform, navy blue slacks, navy blue jacket with the school's logo on the left breast pocket, a white dress shirt, and a navy blue and white striped tie. After getting dressed he grabbed his book bag and laptop. Then he headed toward the commons for breakfast and a chat with his friends.
He entered the large room filled with students, freshmen to seniors. The tables were arranged in ranks; in the center were the popular kids and on the outsides, the out casts and the loners. Generally they were people who would be called miscellaneous.
Jacob heard someone call out his name. He looked around for the source of it. He saw someone waving at him from one of the miscellaneous tables. He noticed it was his best friend Rebecca Tailors with their other friends.
Rebecca and Jacob have been best friends since kindergarten. Their friendship stood strong for all those years. Rebecca, or Becca as she likes to be called, has green eyes and brown hair with pink dyed strips, most of the time pulled back into a ponytail. She was about as tall as Jacob and had the figure that many girls would die for. Jacob and Becca have done everything that doesn't include sex together, and made a promise to be friends till the end.
Then there is Becca's boyfriend. Felix Hooper, one of the few Heliokin in the school. They had been together for about two years. Like the rest of his species, Felix's body is made up of this cooled plasma that emanates its own light. He can dim, brighten, cool, or heat his body up at will. His hair looks like fire, and his eyes were a mixture of yellow, red, and orange. He is tall and fit, probably the most fit in their little group. Jacob remembers that the reason Felix isn't with the popular kids. It was because of what he did on his first day, 2 years ago. Felix had gotten lost in the school and ended up in the junior high building of the complex. Jeremy and his friend had Jacob cornered when Felix ended up walking by. They were about to beat Jacob up, but Felix stepped in and stopped them. In the process he ended up burning their letterman jackets. Shortly after that Becca and Felix started dating... and more. From what Becca says, he's really good. Ever since then, Felix has been in Jacob's group among the outcastes.
Then there was Brittany Doyle, an Avora Devil-Human hybrid. Her father was on a diplomat mission to the Avora Devil's home world, So-Qu. There he met her mother and had fell in love at first sight. Avora Devils are one of the alien species that are a part of the Interstellar Republics of the Stars. They are very exotic, have sensitive hearing and love to seduce others. But when they fall in love, they never fall for another, even when their mate dies. Brittany is like her mother, feisty and smart. She has long black hair and pure black eyes that creep people out. Her skin is white as snow and just like the stereotypical devils she has a barbed tail. She became a part of the group a year ago when she noticed how poor other students were treating Jacob. So she just simply sat down at his and Becca's table and never left.
And last but not least, Brittany's mate, Javelin Sultanor. He is a full blood Avura Devil. He has strong features that make most girls in the school swoon on sight. He isn't as strong as Felix, but he is strong enough stand on his own. He has the devil barbed tail, long black hair, tied up in a ponytail, two horns sprouting from his forehead, and black eyes matching Brittany. He has pure white skin, and is also nearly as tall as Felix. Brittany and Javelin have been mated for 2 years now and both moved to Ferdinand High.
After Jacob got his banana and bowl of cereal, he made his way over to his friends and sat down. Becca immediately asked, "How's it goin?"
Jacob responded with the usual, "okay, could be better, could be worse," hoping he wasn't portraying anything about his nightmare. It apparently worked, because they turned to their original conversations. He then began to eat his food and listen to Becca and Brittany talk about random things. Sometimes he wonders why they hang out with him. They are so much better than him, yet they hang out with him all the time. He sighs and Brittany caught it.
"What's up, I know that sigh?" she asks.
Jacob curses himself for letting that slip out; he just puts on a smile and raises his hands saying, "Oh its nothing, just wondering how I got such wonderful friends like you." Becca gives Jacob a look that says, "Stop pulling my leg."
"That was the 'I'm not good enough for you guys sigh', wasn't it?" said Felix also seeing through the ruse.
Jacob sighed again and nodded his head yes and Becca replied, "You have got to stop doing that to yourself, you are a great person. That's why we choose you over them," she gestures to the center of the commons, "They are plastic and would betray us in a heartbeat. But you, you would never abandon us because you have a good heart. You are good, through and through." She smiled and leaned over and hugged Jacob. It brought a tear to Jacob's eye, so he closed them to stop it from flowing.
When he opened his eyes again, he saw her, the most beautiful girl in the school, Elizabeth Ranard. If Venus ever took human form, Elizabeth would be her. She was walking through the Commons saying 'hi' to everyone, in that angel voice of hers. Jacob felt the familiar filling in his groin and blushed. When Becca pulled back, she saw the blush and looked behind her. When she turned around to face him again, she had a wicked smile on her face. Jacob looked away from her and saw the others' faces had the same smile. It said, 'we know what you're looking at and you've been caught.'
Becca then spoke up, "You know, Jacob, she's having trouble with some of her classes, and she said to me one time that she needs to find a tutor..." Jacob's eyes bugged out.
She didn't, he thought looking at her shit-eating grin, she wouldn't.
"...so I suggested that she ask you for help" she finished.
She did, he dreaded.
"Jacob Thompson, right?"
That voice couldn't be directed to him. He looked up from Becca and saw Venus's incarnate standing over him. Jacob's mouth dropped and then quickly shut.
Elizabeth smiled; the smile seemed to gleam with hope. "I'm having a few problems with some of my classes and was wondering if you would be so kind as to help me in a few subjects?"
"Uh-uh, y-yeah, sure," Jacob stammered out.
"Thank you so much, this means a lot," she leaned down and hugged him. Then she got up and walked away, to join her friends at the center of the room.
If she stayed long enough, she would have seen Jacob's shocked expression on his face as well as his friends. Who were covering their mouths with hands to stiffen their laughter. Then a smile and a deeper blush broke out on Jacob's face and they all started laughing.
Later Jacob was sitting in his 'Geography of the Earth' class, trying to listen to the teacher tell him things that he already knew. She talked about the New Madrid Fault in the Midwest of the American State, and that in 1811 - 1812 it caused a lot of destruction in the area, and was felt all the way in New York City. Lucky for him, this teacher understood his daydreaming habit, so she allowed him to drift off into his own little world.
The bell rang and everyone except Jacob left the class. His next class was 'Astrology of the Milky Way', which was in the same room. He decided just to move a few seats over.
Mrs. Stinheart, a woman in her mid 40's, was the instructor for both classes. She just peered over at him and smiled. She liked Jacob; he was her best student out of all her classes and one of the top students in his class. As long as he did the homework and had good grades, she didn't need to worry about him that much. The rest of the class poured in and took their seats. After the second bell rang she began class.
"Can anyone tell me what sovereign states boarder Terran Space," she asked prepared to see hands, but as usual, there were none. She looked around and noticed Jacob slowly raising his hand, "Yes, Mr. Thompson?"
"There is the Republic of Helios, the Republic of the Avora Devils, the Republic of the Xenowolves, the Principality of the Multispawn, the Basilisk Holy Empire, and free space that the Terran government has laid claim too and is in dispute with the Multispawn over the territory," Jacob answered with confidence.
Mrs. Stinheart smiled with pride, "Correct, now..." she moved on and was further disappointed by how little the class studied. After class Mrs. Stinheart called Jacob over to her desk.
"Yes, Mrs. Stinheart?" asked Jacob, with a little worry in his voice.
She smiled and said, "Don't worry honey, you aren't in trouble," she saw the relief melt from him. "I just want to inform you that there is a new quiz bowl going on. Every top school in the IRS and neighboring states are sending their top students to it. The winning school not only gets a trophy, but also receives money to buy new supplies that would makes said school top for a long time," she paused for a second and continued, "and the students get a full scholarship to any university that accepts them. I think you should really consider about joining," she said.
Jacob's face said it all, he was unsure, but his eyes spoke more. He was excited and wanted to do it.
"Jacob, you are one of the smartest students in the school and I've spoken to your other instructors, they all say your grades are good enough to do it," she continued.
"Well, I'll have to ask my mom," Jacob said worried inside.
"Ok," she smiled handed him a data card with the information of the bowl. "Try and get back to me on that as soon as possible."
"Ok," Jacob says taking the data card and walking out, hoping that his mother would let him do it.
When Jacob stepped out into the hallway, the nightmare from last night came back. Standing in his way again was Jeremy McDougal with his arms crossed, with a face that spoke 'I'm pissed off so you better run.' Jacob knew what was coming and took off running in the other direction. He heard Jeremy's footsteps right behind him and they were gaining on him. Before he could round the corner Jeremy pushed him to the floor, and then picked him up holding him against the wall.
"Look you little ass whip, don't even think about making any moves on my girl, you understand me," he banged Jacob's head against the wall, causing him to let out a little yelp.
"Excuse me, what seems to be the problem," came a stern voice. Both boys look over to see Mrs. Rinheart standing there with her arms crossed and a not so happy look on her face. "Mr. McDougal, let Mr. Thompson down this instant and head off to class, I expect to see you after school."
"But there is a game tomorrow and if I don't show up to practice after school I can't play," Jeremy let Jacob go and has this pleading look on his face. Mrs. Stinheart is one of few instructors that don't fall for his charm.
"No buts, you know the rules, now you will pay the consequences," she said sternly. "Now go before I give you double detention for disobeying an instructor."
Jeremy turned around and gave Jacob a look that could kill. Jacob knew he was going to get it when he saw Jeremy leaving, and not just from him either. Mrs. Stinheart came up behind him and touched the top of his head. A jolt of pain shot through his head and he cringed.
"Oh dear, come on lets get you to the nurses office we need to get that looked at," Mrs. Stinheart said taking him to the nurse.
'Oh, I will need to be there again, real soon,' thought Jacob. He feared what Jeremy had plans for his revenge.
After the visit to the nurses office Jacob was released for the rest of the day. He headed to his dorm and began preparing for a weekend at his mothers. Afterward he laid on his bed and let sleep take him.
This time Jacob wasn't plagued by nightmares, he felt relieved at that. He got out of bed and changed into his regular day clothes, a red t-shirt and blue jeans. He then collected his things for the weekend and headed out the door.
By now school was over and everyone was out in the courtyard preparing to leave for the weekend. Jacob saw the autumn leaves on the trees. He always loved Vienna in the fall. It was pure beauty, he thought. He saw the skyscrapers of the newer sections of the city in the distance. He made his way to the statue of Franz Ferdinand, a hero to the Austrian State's people. The statue is where Jacob and his friends always meet when there was no school.
He could see his friends in the distance, then weaving through the sky, was the transport that would take him to his mothers.