Chapter 11 All Mixed Up Again the Dreams

"It was just orgasmic. I mean, I can't really describe the feeling any more clearly except that in addition to the feeling of supreme satisfaction there was an airy sort of bliss that ran through my entire being. When I held it, it seemed soft at first, like it was going to slip through my fingers, then it got so hard that I could believe it was doing that, right in my hands!" Blue told Vinny all about the moment he first held the OmegaLux Crystal. It was good to get away from everyone who might want a piece of Tommy Levito and chill with Vinny. blue found that Vinny was just about the coolest cat he had ever met and now he was his brother.

They had decided to get to the Shadowlands without hesitation after the brief encounter with Sal Lorenzo and the boys. The ride was quick, scenic and highly unusual for the Levito brothers. Tommy asked Vinny if he could ride WITHOUT any jumpJuice. This was not a new idea for Vinny who rarely used the stuff unless he was with Tommy but his assumption was that Tommy ALWAYS wanted JumpJuice. When Blue asked Vinny if he could refrain from blasting him with the stuff while on their ride to the Shadowlands, Vinny outright hugged him breathless right there, the moment he asked and said,"Oh brother, you don't know how long I have been waiting for you to ask me that! You're too good for the shit. If you never did that crap again it would be too soon for me. Stupid expression, but you get my point."

Blue did, and he was relieved. He needed time to think clearly about all that was happening to him. there was a lot to learn about being Tommy and much to discover about this new world. Also, the dreams had started again.

Chapter 11 All Mixed Up Again

Leer completely ignored the urgency of the message from Sal. He had no reason to feel the same way about it as Max did, all he could think about was her voice. It even sounded like Catherine's voice. Leer didn't need any stronger indicator that he was on the right path. His sense of calm deepened. "Everything's going to be just fine," he said as he entered the bedroom, walked directly to Max and kissed her. She felt warm, safe and remarkably like she did when she had fantasized about being with Tommy. She was now thoroughly confused, and loving it. "Besides, Sal's after the juice, right?"Victor continued, " and we're trying a little different approach with Tommy." Sal might not like it right away, but I think it will work."

Max felt more than just a little self conscious and guilty that she had just been thinking about Tommy again when Victor said his name on the heels of kissing her. But, he couldn't have known, she was certain of that. Still, it had made her feel slightly deceptive, unfaithful and sexy all at once. It turned her on so much, in fact, that she forgot all about Sal and kissed Victor passionately, grinding into him, feeling him firmly against the place where she holsters her weapon. "You seem to have a knack for resurrection, Victor," Max moaned into his ear as she pulled him down on top of herself in the dark. As she did, her mobile phone buzzed another text from her father. Victor took the cell from her and held it tight against her, sending the vibration to the very spot still pulsing from their love-making. "Oh Victor, that is so wrong," she nearly giggled, throwing the phone over her shoulder and wrapping her legs around him.

Chapter 11 All Mixed Up

"Let's dance," Max cooed into Victor's ear as she slinked her way off of Victor's satisfied flesh.

The chair pulsing Bowie's familiar back beat into his spine causing his satisfied smile to widen into an ecstatic grin."I thought we just did," Victor said as he rose to his feet and took Max into his arms, twirling her as the two of them sang together,"under the moonlight, the serious moonlight," it was the perfect night for getting to know each other. They danced for several songs until Max turned away, excusing herself with a kiss.

Leer fell back into the chair, the songs of Leonard Cohen now gracing the speakers of this magnificently comfortable sound system. Leer had once met Leonard Cohen in a world where a megalomaniac dictator had gained control over all civilization after a bloody war which lasted for decades, nearly eliminating Cohen's entire culture. None of his songs were the same but the voice and the style were unmistakable, unlike Bowie who seemed to be the exact same guy across multiple worlds. When Leer met Cohen it was the only time he ever divulged his secret of traveling between parallel worlds. he wanted to let Leonard know that in another world, terrible things happened to his people but they were able to overcome the hardship of war and persecution. Leonard Cohen didn't seem to be the least bit surprised by any of it. He simply replied, "We all have our parts to play in life, mine, here, is to remind my people of who we are, who we have been and who we can be. Another time and place requires a different song."

Leer thought of these words as he continued to enjoy the post orgasm bliss that temporarily took his mind off of the less than pleasant realities of this latest "mission". For Leer, it has always been about the mission. His path has been defined by what was needed by that which he refers to as "All That Is". Rarely did Leer find himself in a place of ease, physically, that is. His life was constantly in flux, always active and far more adventurous than it would seem possible for one man. Emotionally and spiritually, Leer was quite a different man. He was at peace. He had managed to achieve a connection with all that existed around him. His mind and spirit were one at all times and nothing external to himself could shake that foundation, nothing with the possible exception of Catherine Kent.

Max called to him from within her bedroom, "Victor, daddy's back in town and he wants you at the clubhouse ASAP. It's a text message so I can't tell what he's thinking but it's got something to do with Tommy. Listen to this,"Tell Victor to get to the clubhouse ASAP-What the Varst happened with you and Levito? Never mind," she continued reading," just get there, Now! Sal." Doesn't sound too good, we'd better hurry."Max warned Victor, shifting back to her old frame of mind the moment the daddy bell rang.

Chapter 11 All Mixed Up Alternate Worlds Same Old Song and Dance

Blue didn't know what to say to Vinny. The fact was that Tommy, the real Tommy, had already been lost to Vinny without his knowledge and Blue was beginning to wish that Vinny really was his big brother. There was a warmth to Vinny that, despite his brawn, spoke of a gentleness and kindness which few exemplify, unless you happen to be threatening someone close to him, then my friend, you had better watch out! But Tommy was his brother and Blue, by virtue of being Tommy, had a guardian angel. As long as Vinny thought he was Tommy, no one could touch him without Vinny jumping in with all his might to defend his little brother. Still, Blue felt as though he had done something to hurt Vinny, as if taking over his brothers lifeless body was somehow his own doing. It wasn't. Logically he knew that and comforted himself with that rationale whenever the waves of shame began to wash over him. Besides, there wasn't anything rational about popping up in someones dead brother's body. All of this thinking and feeling shame took time. It left Tommy looking a little like a stunned deer, caught in the headlights' of Vinny's heartfelt sentimentality.

"Hey Tommy, it's okay man." Vinny said as he laughed, "Ground control to Major Tom"

Blue snapped back to what he now knew as reality and laughed hard from Tommy's drop-jawed open mouth. Vinny thought that Tommy was laughing at his clever comment but Blue was nearly in tears as he laughed, both out of relief at the opportunity to laugh in spite of the awkwardness he was feeling over the circumstances and the realization that Bowie existed simultaneously across two disparate parallel universes.

Chapter 11 All Mixed Up Alternate Worlds Primer

Blue was beginning to become accustomed to living as Tommy in this new world and Leer was truly enjoying being with Catherine, Mona, Max. Confusing? yes because neither Blue nor Leer intended to remain in this alternate reality except that they had no way of knowing what they should be doing to get out. Imagine, for a moment what it would be like to have none of the normal indicators we so easily take for granted at your disposal. For example, take away the identity of anyone with whom you are speaking, remove the location and context and see how you feel about the sureness of your footing.

"That was unbelievable, how smooth can you get. I thought I was going to die!"

"You thought you were going to die, what about me? I was just going along with you. You're the one who started off crazy, crazy good. You really got right on top of things the way you took control right from the beginning. I mean, I normally get a little nervous about what might happen even if I just hear Sal's name, but you took all of those fears away. I was able to stand up and deliver, or in this case sit down!"

"Well, no one can resist that creamy goodness, I could guzzle down buckets of the stuff. With or without nuts."

"Farb, I feel like I'm sixteen all over again."

"Yeah, I know what you mean, I haven't felt like this in a very long time, maybe ever! Now that you mention it, you even look different. I can't quite put my finger on it, but somehow you've changed."

"I guess resurrection has its price."

"Funny, you know I mean in a good way, there's something about you that just isn't the same, but I'm getting used to it."

"Maybe I should get myself killed every day."

"Please don't say that, I don't want to lose you again."

This entire conversation took place at the exact same time between two distinct sets of individuals, Tommy and Vinny and Victor and Max. If you really think about it, you can well imagine who said what but this illustrates the flexibility, transmutableness and interconnectedness of our existence. It also exposes its fragility because both Max and Vinny have actually lost the very people they think they are talking to, loving and enjoying the company of.

Chapter 11 All Mixed Up

"Where do you think Sal is right now?" Leer asked Max, knowing that an eventual meeting was unavoidable.

"He's probably still in Cleveland," Max smiled. "You know how he loves Cleveland, besides, he's got a lot of business to look after there. if you know what I mean?"

"Well, not exactly, I mean, what could possibly be going on in Cleveland?" Victor laughed.

"Very funny, Victor," Max replied, you know full well that Cleveland is probably the biggest city for JumpJuice in the country, well, maybe Belfast is bigger, but Cleveland is at least second. Anyway, you're just yankin' my chain aren't you?"

Leer realized that he had made a stupid mistake. It's hard to remain on your toes at all times when it comes to alternate time lines and parallel worlds. Just because beef is beef doesn't mean that Cleveland is Cleveland and Belfast may not even be in Ireland. Actually, there may not even be an Ireland, St. Patrick's Day, leprechauns or even Guinness, perish the thought.

"Oh, I get it," Max continued,"You're still upset about the last time we hit Cleveland and I left you handcuffed to the bed for a whole morning while Zeek hammered the roulette wheel for 30k." Max teased him, her expression triumphant as she climbed into Victor's lap and reached past his head to the backrest of the mind-blowing chair he found himself sitting in. It was like a Porsche and a luxury recliner built into one. Max eased her face closer to his by grinding into his lap, arching her back and leaning in, her triumph turning to a pout as she said, but you had it coming to you, didn't you Vic?!"

If Leer had truly been Victor, he would have recognized this routine and known what to expect. As it was though, he was inwardly praying that he would survive.

"You had to drag me to every strip club, fantasy gift shop and pleasure palace on the strip, while you and the boys ogled and stuffed every G-string and plastic rack in Cleveland!" Max hula-ed her hips and ground down harder onto Leer so the only thing between them was the denim of his trousers and what little she was calling underwear these days. She bent her elbows, snapping in on him like a steel trap closing on a defenseless animal, her breasts tight against his chest, her mouth breathing his exhalations."I thought I made you forget about all those girls Vic, she punctuated with a little more grind, then reached for a remote on the end table adjacent to the chair. "Looks like I'm going to have to try a little harder," she grinned and ground just a little more, pressing a button on the remote and the chair sprang to life. The arms opened forward at the front and speakers rose from within, gliding into place. Music enveloped them as Max danced upon Leer's denim. He still wasn't sure where Cleveland was, but for now, he didn't care.

Chapter 10 Ice Cream with Nuts

As Vinny pulled Tommy up to leave Jen and Barry's, ready for a chance to get away from it all, Blue was thinking that this would be just the right thing, even though he had no idea what the Shadowlands were. That's when Vinny walked straight into a brick wall. Actually it was a well-built, motionless, statue of a man who stood directly between Vinny and the exit doors. When Vinny bumped into him, he remained expressionless, he did not budge.

"Excuse me, " Vinny said politely and gracefully stepped around the man, still pulling Tommy along by the shoulder. Instantly, another two statues appeared from behind the man, blocking the exit of Jen and Barry's Ice Cream Shop, passive aggression in the flesh. The danger was palpable. The men, both larger than the first stood motionless yet resolute. A couple of weeks earlier, Vinny would have known his next move, a quick right with the base of his hand into the face of the guy on the left, sending the cartilage of his nose up into his brain, excruciating pain, or death likely, giving Tommy the opportunity to perform a leaping kick right over Vinny's own outstretched body, to the throat of the other statue, breaking the windpipe, possibly severing the jugular or both, again pain or death. The third guy would be easy, unsure as to which one of them to go for, he would suffer the wrath of both, death. Today, however, things were different. Tommy was different, and Vinny was smart enough to choose another path. "Hello Gentlemen," he smiled as he let go of Tommy's shoulder with a gentle stroke, as if to say keep calm. Blue was not a fighter, so Tommy had no trouble at all following that path.

The fearsome duo swung open like an iron gate and a man no larger than a grade-schooler emerged from between them, smiling and popping whole peanuts, still in the shell, into his mouth. He smiled sardonically, "Well, what do we have here? The walking dead and the next of kin! You know, I always get a kick out of zombie movies. Those damn things move so slowly, yet they always manage to catch up with everyone who runs and hides from them. And the only way to kill them for good is to cut their heads off or to blast them to bits. Well, I am not running, nor am I hiding. So what'll it be? Taking off the heads? or Blasting to bits?

Blue hadn't met Sal Lorenzo yet but it wasn't too hard to figure out that this must be him. This process of identification took him long enough to leave him seemingly speechless, prompting Sal to continue,"What's this? Max never told me that she blasted a hole in your gut AND cut your little tongue out, she's a good girl that Maxie!"

"I'm just a little stunned," Blue countered, making Sal laugh, looking to his minions for the obligatory chorus, but Blue silenced the laughter with a deadpan, "I just had no idea you liked ice cream, and look, you've brought your own peanuts, business must not be so good."

Vinny winced in mock pain and followed with a brilliant idea of his own. "If that's the case, " he smiled as he smoothly fell backward onto a stool at the counter, " let me buy you and your "friends" an ice cream"

The "friends" looked to Sal with indignation but to their surprise he accepted with a grace that said two things. I can play this game as well as anybody and I am not going to kill you today. "Why Vincent, how very diplomatic of you," he accepted as he stepped up and ordered a fudge sundae with extra peanuts, " and three chocolate dipped cones, rolled in nuts for my associates." He turned to Tommy and Vinny and whispered, "gotta keep their gun hands free."

"Excuse me, Mr. Lorenzo," interjected the largest of the associates, a big black man, with a smooth deep voice, who bashfully added,"I'm allergic to nuts."

Vinny and Tommy laughed so hard that it was infectious. Sal began to laugh, as did his associates, one by one, including Duane, the allergic one.

"Make one of those without nuts," Sal added as Vinny held a fifty dollar bill aloft, tears in his eyes, smiling and breathless.

The server took the fifty and Tommy quickly pulled Vinny up and toward the door saying,"Enjoy your ice cream gentlemen>"

"Tommy," Sal replied in an ominous tone,"You and I need to talk. And Soon. And Vinny," he softens, "thanks for the ice cream"

Without hesitation, Tommy and Vinny leave Jen and Barry's, destined for the Shadowlands.