Date: Sat, 8 Sep 2012 22:02:35 -0400
From: Joseph Tubbert <writerjt11@gmail.com>
Subject: A Different Kind of Life - Prologue/The Start - 1

Author's Note: The characters and events in this story are the product of
my own imagination. The universe in which this story takes place is based
off of the MMO - Champions Online which is owned by Perfect World
Entertainment and Cryptic Studios.  All rights belong to the respective
owners.  The main characters of the story are based off of characters I
created when I was playing the game. Similarities to people or places are
simply coincidence or have been produced with the approval of the
individual. This story is intended to be a serial novel, not a "wham-bam,
whip it out, get off quick" kinda of story.  This story is focused around
a gay couple, and if that offends you then you may want to move on now.
This story does start out slow, but I believe it's worth the wait.  Any
feedback would be much appreciated (WriterJT11@gmail.com), Flames will be
used to heat my house this coming Winter.  :-) So without further ado, onto
the Show!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A Different Kind of Life
By - J.T.

Prologue

The inevitability of my future fell like the gavel to the sound block. The
lead judge of the Federal Recognition Board addressed me, "Colonel Kieran
'Apollo' McTierney, please stand." I stood proudly, smoothing the jacket of
my formal military uniform emblazoned with several service medals. I knew
what was coming next. "You are hereby discharged for moral and professional
dereliction under the United States Military code of conduct in violation
of the 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' policy." The crack of the gavel served as
the division between the life I'd known, and a future of uncertainty.

There was chaos in the courtroom: shouts of assent and dissent at the
ruling. Cameras clicking and reporters narrating. As the panel of judges
filtered out of the courtroom, my lawyer apologized to me as sincerely as
I'd ever seen him. I shook his hand in gratitude for the time he spent in
trying to defend me and save the life I had known. I turned to exit
the room. The noise of the courtroom faded in my mind as my eyes locked
with the radiant blue eyes belonging to the young man who served as the
catalyst for my current situation.

In spite of myself, and the crumbling of the life I had known, I couldn't
help but flash him a small smile, longing to hold him in my arms again. Ten
years of loyal service, of unquestioning loyalty and of extraordinary
performance ended because of a single night of passion. A night that
changed my life in every way possible.


Chapter 1

"Assholes! Could you be any more stereotypical?!" Alexei Demidov muttered
to himself as he climbed back to his feet, noting the new grass stain on
his Hollister jeans.

"What did you say, faggot?!" Brick asked as he stopped in his tracks and
turned back to Alexei. Brett Kisinski was a co-captain of the high school
football defense team. Nicknamed 'Brick' he was built like one, both in
body and mind. With two members of the team on each side of him, the group
as a whole resembled a wall... both in body and in mind, Alexei thought to
himself.

"Nothing." Alexei said quietly. Knowing what was coming next. This routine
happened enough times in the week that he'd be Valedictorian if it
qualified as an Honors class.

Brick stepped close to Alexei, forcing him to smell the onion on his breath
from lunch. Alexei was tall, but not the almost six feet that Brick was, he
was more toned though. He wouldn't have been surprised if Brick outweighed
him by a hundred pounds. "You dress like a fairy, you act like a fairy, and
you talk like a fairy... and you call me the stereotype?"

*Shit, who would have thought he actually knew what that meant?* Alexei
though to himself. Brick shoved him back hard, and Alexei stumbled back to
the ground. "This time, stay down, fag." The group, as if acting with a
singular simple-mindedness laughed at the taunt as they walked out of the
courtyard.

Alexei sat on the ground and took note of an additional grass stain and
tear in his jeans. From behind him, he heard the familiar female voice of
his friend Shuniqua. "God, Alex, are you okay?"

"Fine, Shu," he said as he stood up and dusted himself off. "Those assholes
ruined my new Hollisters."

Shu gave his outfit a once-over. His wore a light blue muscle shirt that
clung tight to his thin swimmer's build. The color matched his brilliant
blue eyes perfectly. The deep black color of his hair gave him an exotic
look. The neutral tones of the bead and hemp necklace he wore was broken up
only by the single turquoise gem in the center. His low-slung designer
jeans would leave his lower abs exposed when he stood up straight. *If only
he weren't gay*, she thought to her self. She shrugged, "Don't say a thing.
With your rep most of the school will be convinced it's the new 'in' thing
in fashion. The girls will be intentionally staining their own jeans before
the week is out."

Alexei gave her a weak smile. It was sad, but true. The curse of being a
slave to fashion. "Last day and we're out. Four years with the twits,
sycophants and Neanderthals is way too long. God... I can't wait for
graduation. Things are going to be so much better when we get to Millennium
U."

Shu flipped her wrist in mockery of the move he often made, "Honey, it's
going to be FAH-bu-lous!" Alexei gave her a gentle slap on the arm and
chuckled as they headed back to the school for the last day of classes.
"Speaking of fabulous... I know it's still two months away, but I know
you're planning your 18th birthday party already."

"You know it."

"And?" She eyed him.

He smiled slyly, "I'm not telling. You'll just have to wait and see. It's
going to be...unforgettable."