When The Dust Settles

6:00 pm on the dot was when the Ohio six o'clock news started each day everyday it opened to a short news jingle then we saw the anchors, if you've seen one news sight then you probably seen them all the two anchors were a male and female pair. The man was pushing 40 and wore a basic but business appropriate

suit his co-anchor was in her early 30's she of course had blond hair and blue eyes, she wore a eye catching purple suit with a dazzling diamond corsage pinned to her collar, her fashion since and her girl next door personality and her strong New York accent were the reasons why she moved so quickly through the ranks. Channel 2 news was popular in Ohio, the anchors chemistry with one another was unmatched,they would have witty banter back in fourth constantly but today wasn't the day.

"Good evening Ohio"

The man said.

"Im of course Brad Samuels and with me always is my lovely co-host Maria Love"

He moved his left hand as if he was presenting her, she smiled then followed up.

"Good evening Ohio, we have a lot to cover tonight, Governor Mike Dewine is starting a emergency order and the trial of Serena Combs is said to have a upset but before that we have to talk about the unexpected and baffling event that occurred today at the Star Gate mall"

"You said it Maria it seems that a security guard named Karlton Marx went on a violent tirade he attacked civilians, other guards and even the police that were called to apprehend him"

He paused allowing Maria to follow up and she did without missing a beat .

"Mr. Marx then held the place hostage for more than four hours before he was eventually taken into custody but the attack my have not been intentional"

"Yes"

Said Brad Samuels taking lead.

"Karlton Marx is a ex-U.S soldier and reports are saying that he had a sudden flashback"

They continued on just word vomit coming from the mouths at this point, the two anchors went back and fourth ping ponging the story of the Star Gate mall incident. They would bring up that Karl's attack were influenced by some type of gas leak or something like that, it set him off so he wasn't to blame for his actions. Eventually they would move off the topic of Karl and just talk about the mall itself, how the gas leak was so toxic and dangerous that the mall would remain closed till further notice but what they didn't know is that it would remain closed permanently. Then they made it down the home stretch offering prayers for Karl the hostages and all the employees that just lost there jobs, then they stopped and took a break for the weather report. Eventually over time the Star Gate story would fall into obscurity like any other story, but you know and I know this news story was such bull crap, those who had to cover it up knew it was crap and so did those who caused it.

One of those responsible was snickering while he watched the coverage of the incident on his phone, bits of saliva coming from his mouth tears welling up in his eyes he laughed loudly in the back of his Uber ride. He laughed like he was at the funniest of comedy shows but the driver who was trapped in the car with him didn't find it so funny, all he could do is silently cry sweet relief as he finally stopped at the jackasses destination.

"Yo we're here my man"

The driver said a little loud with a lot of bass in his voice, the passenger restrained himself for a moment scowling at the man clearly annoyed that he was disrupted, then he noticed where he was and his face softened.

"Oh shit didn't realize we were here"

He grabbed the three over stuffed grocery bags by his side and hopped out. The driver wasted no time the second the passenger's feet touched the ground he peeled off, but the guy didn't seem to notice he continued to watch his phone as he made his way to a condemned looking house. When he stood at the front door he put away his phone then preceded to bang loudly on the weathered door.

"WHAT'S THE PASSWORD!"

A loud but muffled voice screamed back.

"BLOW ME!"

He responded with the same level of enthusiasm, there was some shuffling then the door cracked open.

"You wish!"

A dark skinned young man with dreadlocks said smiling.

"I do wish! But you don't swing that way!"

Both men erupted into laughter the one who opened the door said while chuckling.

"Damn Cockroach why you always so damn sus!!"

"I ain't sus I just live my truth!"

He responded joyfully.

"Well Mr. Truth you got the food?"

The one named Moonshine asked while rubbing his stomach, Cockroach placed the over stuffed bags in Moonshine's hands.

"There you go sir the creme de la creme of junk food"

"We told you to go to Tim Horton's"

He said looking down disappointed at the bountiful bags.

"Man Fuck Tim Horton's"

Cockroach said pushing past Moonshine.

"Besides!"

He shouted with the biggest grin on his face.

"Who cares about food after today's amazing fucking display!"

He screamed these words at the top of his lungs.

"I mean really did y'all see that shit!!

He screamed again to the other occupants inside the house, besides Moonshine and now Cockroach there were three others in the house. There was Dixie a pretty young woman who could smoke, drink and curse like a sailor she sat on the houses rickety old steps smoking a joint. Then there was Friday a guy that was seen to most to be a mini giant he stood over 7 feet tall and his figure complemented his height beautifully  AKA that means he never skips a meal, he looked to be a grown man but he was only 12 years old the youngest of all of them he stood quietly starring out the window. Then there was the newbie he was tall well not as tall as Friday and he was more lanky then big but that was neither here nor there, he had long unkempt black hair and he was just sitting in silence huddled in a corner.

"Pipe down for God's sake Roach, the kid opened up a window it's nothing to write home about"

Dixie said this clearly annoyed and frustrated by Cockroach's.... cockroachyness.

"Are you smoking crack!!! He opened a portal, in a public mall, in broad daylight, by himself! who cares the size of the portal that's still some impressive shit, nice job newbie"

He turned smirking at the quiet guy in the corner, responding to his praise the quiet dude gave a simple head nod.

"All I'm saying is that windows aren't the greatest, so stop gassing the kid wouldja"

Roach turned and looked back at her with a perplexed look on his face.

"What are you talking about D, I mean he did it alone it took are last three mediums working together to open a portal that size, kids got more talent then they ever did"

Cockroach was a lot of things but smart wasn't one of them he let those words absent mindedly fly from his mouth and it sent Dixie into a rage. She shot up and pulled a gun from her waistband and knowing what he just said and knowing how she would react Friday and Moonshine got in the middle trying to break them up.

"HOLD ON, HOLD ON, CHILL CHILL EVERYBODY JUST CHILL!!"

Moonshine said putting his body in between Dixie and Roach, Friday held Dixie's shoulders and spoke in a very low and concerned tone.

"Please calm down Dixie there's no need for violence"

His voice was soft and tender it was a voice that still belonged to a boy, Dixie forcefully shrugged his hands off her shoulders.

"I WOULDN'T HAVE TO BE VIOLENT IF HE STOPPED BEING SUCH AN ASSHOLE!! YOU KNOW DAMN WELL BRICK, BUBBLES AND SHAW GAVE THERE ALL TO THIS LIFE, HELL THEY GAVE THERE LIVES DAMMIT AND YOUR NOT GONNA SIT THERE AND MAKE A FUCKING JOKE!"

"DIXIE I SAID CALM DOWN!!"

Moonshine said again this time raising his voice higher. Now as I said before Cockroach was many things smart wasn't one of them and you can add sensitive to that list as well.

"Get your panties out of a twist Dixie what's the matter are you on your period or something?"

Friday and Moonshine cringed at the continued stupidity that was Cockroach but Dixie only rose to another level of anger.

"OH THAT'S IT!!!"

She said with fury burying in her eyes.

"YOUR DEAD!"

Roach smiled and pulled a switch blade from his pocket.

"You want too? That's fine bring it on then bitch!"

He said it with no hesitation or shame he just stood there cocky ready to fight.

"I SAID CHILL OUT!!!"

Moonshine said it once again and this time it was louder and filled with anger, he reached into his jacket pocket and pulled.... a mask half out at the sight of it they all froze.

"FIRST OFF!"

Moonshine said.

"DIXIE YOU NEED TO BOTTLE UP AND CONTROL THAT TEMPER OF YOURS AND COCKROACH!"

He shot a quick glare back.

"YOU NEED TO LEARN TO SHUT THE FUCK UP!! I'M NOT DOING THIS WITH YOU TWO, I'M NOT TRYING TO LOSE ANY MORE COMRADES PLUS YOU KNOW HOW MUCH I HATE WHEN WE FIGHT AMONGST OURSELVES"

They knew they knew they knew because ever time they fought every time they argued Moonshine reminded them.

"This is not the time for fighting epically not when we got the Shamans trying to catch us and Chimeras trying to wipe us out, were all we've got so we need to act like it CAPEESHI!!!!!???"

They were all silent and still for a moment then Dixie was the first to move she sneered while reholstering her weapon, she then when back and sat down on the rickety stairs and lit up another joint to calm her nerves. Then next to move was Cockroach, he put his switch blade away then walked away silently into the kitchen for good measure he snatched the grocery bags that had fallen during the commotion. Friday stood were he was sadly, he took it the worst when they fought. Moonshine could only sigh in exhaustion and relief then he got to business.

"Sorry about that Diego"

He said approaching the guy that continued to remain in the corner he was in.

"We're not usually like this, but like Roach said your really talented for a medium you passed the test with flying colors, so if we haven't soured you away are you still interested in joining?"

At the question laid before him the boy named Diego lifted his head looking Moonshine directly in his eyes , then for the first time he spoke.

"It's not like I'm good at anything else and I've got no where else to go and no one waiting on me, so this shit is my best bet"

Moonshine tried to smiled but it came out all cracked and wobbly, he extended his hand to Diego then welcomed him into the PrimeApes.