The beeper broke the silence of the night. Pain woke up with a start. The beeper was on the table, flashing Chris Streptococus’ number. He pushed the button on the beeper.

“Attack initiated, need immediate assistance…” the beeper read.

Pain stretched his arms and let out a yawn. He moved to the edge of his bed and let his legs dangle down onto the floor. He looked down at his pale and sore feet. Just yesterday, he had stomped them all over an old man’s head for hours. Today, it would be someone else. With a push, he got up and stepped into his shadow like robe, picked up his briefcase and stepped out on the porch. The wagon was parked in front of the porch. He jumped into the wagon and pushed the red button on the front panel. He took out the beeper and typed the co-ordinates indicated in Chris Cocus’ message and pushed the button again. The engine of the wagon rumbled and the exhaust expelled a puff of smoke. Pain grabbed hold of the sidebar and arched his back into a streamlined position. The smoke was now rising.

‘Phwaat!’ a loud shriek of the engine and the wagon catapulted into the night sky.

————————————————————

“You’re late friend. We have been waiting for you for hours.” General Strep Chris-to- Cocus voiced dryly as he saw Pain parking his wagon near the catch’s larnyx. General Christopher was a stout Cocus, his rugged face and deep voice commanded authority. A deep gash on his forehead had left its mark, a momento of his youth.

“You seem sick my friend,” the General continued. “All OK?”

“I am fine General. Don’t worry. Who is the catch today?”

“A big catch today! We latched on him at the ice-cream cart on the highway.” General Chris replied with an air of pride.

At this moment, second in command Captain Germ-ain Cocus appeared from under the tongue and stood in attention in front of the two.

“At ease captain. What news?” The General asked.

“Sir! The operation is going on as instructed sir! The upper respiratory tract has been contaminated by the comrades and the red sores have been hoisted at all checkpoints.”

The General inhaled deeply and turned towards Pain: “Our job is done sir, the floor is yours.”

Pain opened his briefcase and pulled out a black square device with a white button on top.

“What time was the initial contact established with the catch?” he asked the Captain.

“Around 3-4 hours before, sir!” the Captain replied.

Pain put the case on the ground and punched it on the top. In a flash, the case expelled thousands of chords in all directions like a spider’s cobweb. The Streptococii ducked in caution as the chords attached themselves into the walls of the throat, chest and mouth of the catch. Pain looked at the screen attached in the briefcase and noted down the progress of the process.

‘All receptors attached. Progress 100% complete’ read the screen.

He bent down and pulled out a large helmet attached to another end of the black box. He took a deep breath. ‘Here I do it again.’ He put on the helmet and closed his eyes.

………………………………………………………………………….

2 minutes went by since Pain’s initiation. He was deep in meditation, focusing all his energy on his temple, radiating himself through the helmet into the receptors of the potbellied stranger. The General, the Captain and the rest of the Cocii army looked on.

“Its done now.” Pain opened his eyes and took off the helmet, sheepishly, looking away from General Chris. He walked away and sat down on the inner edge of the tongue. Pain’s demeanor caught the General’s eye. He put his hand on Pain’s shoulder and said: “What’s bothering you my friend? You don’t look your own self today. Trust me with your words. I am a good listener” 

“Its nothing honestly!” he replied.

“Oh definitely there is.” The General insisted.

The mercury had suddenly begun to elevate. The catch’s body was responding to the Pain and the red sores hoisted by the comrades.Pain sat down on the inner edge of the tongue with its head bent down in exhaustion.

“ I have been thinking about my job lately, this business I do, you know.” said Pain is a heavy voice.

“Well what about it?” the General inquired.

“ You know, its lonely out there. I mean who would like to be friend with me. They can hardly can stand me for 5 minutes.”

The General pouted, trying to put on a sympathetic look.

“I mean they always judge me wherever I go. Its not that I want to do what I do to them.” Pain took a deep breath. “ How do I tell them I am the way I am. I just can’t help being myself.”

At this moment, the Captain appeared before the General and Pain and saluted them. “Sir! It is my pleasure to inform you that Mr. Pain’s initiation is reaching its desired effect. The catch is experiencing agony and delirium. It must also be informed that the feverish batallion will soon be reaching its designated posts throughout the catch. Congratulations to both sirs for another successful conquest!”

“Wonderful soldier!” General Chris grunted in pride. “Another defeat for the Sapiens specie. Cocii clan prevails yet again. All Hail Cocii Clan!”

“Hail Cocii Clan!” the Cocii scream at the top of their throats inside the Catch,

Pain dropped his head and fixed his gaze on his feet. Another success… another enemy made.

——————————————————-

“Alaaaaaaarmmm!” hundreds of Cocii soldiers rushed into the larnyx chamber where Pain had been resting.Pain jumped up on to his feet.

“Aspirinus, 500 mg ingested, sire!” the Cocii shouted in unison.

Pain walked up to the Cocus nearest to him. “How long ago did it happen?” he asked.

“Almost 5 minutes ago, sir!” the Cocus replied

“Where is General Chris Cocus? Is he aware?” Pain asked as he began pacing around the larnyx lounge. 

“Sir, General Chris is on a supervision tour to the bronchii, we have sent our informers to him with the news.”

Pain’s heartbeat suddenly went up. He didn’t have much time before the killing molecules of Aspirinus would be flowing all around the Catch’s blood and nerves. It was not very far back when another member of the PKK  ( or Pain Killer Klan) called Para-set-em-all had inflicted heavy damages on Pain and his allies. And with the General Cocii away on the other frontier, the Cocii army’s defence was fragile. He had no option but to flee the battle.

“Tell Captain Chris Cocus that I am disapparating for now. He has my beeper number, tell him to inform me when the coast is clear.” He paused and then said, “We might have lost the battle, but we will win the war.”

The Cocii saluted and watched as Pain swiftly pushed the eject button on the briefcase. In a split second, the thousands of wires pulled back into the case. Pain banged the lid close and jumped into his wagon. With a strong push of the leg, he ignited his wagon on and smoked off into thin air through the Catch’s oesaphagus.

…To be continued in part 2…