Who Taj Bahar When Wed. May 23 What Taj goes to sign the new deal - or does he? Type Narrative Warning None Status Complete
To say the government officials were excited for Taj's decision was an understatement. The mechanics of his mathematical, probability, tech-savvy, scientific genius IQ mind were gifts they wanted to utilize. The last thing they really wanted was to lock this mind up. Politics and power made sure it never got that far. But, they knew Taj's smart ass instability and loyalties too. The entire room seemed to hold their breath as Taj took hold of the pen to put his name to the dotted line.
He looked to the right to see the enforcer, Jim. This was the officer that rode his tail when he bent or all out broke rules of his probation. Did he really want to give him even more power? He had no clue how to focus his body on even menial tasks like washing dishes without the small glimpses in the windows of the future telling him which pots and pans were going to need further soaking. Most people would look at the stuck on grime and could simply see if the sticky food-stuff were going to come off or not. But, inside Taj's mind he'd learn to use his glimpses of what the future holds to even make small decisions, like that one, to fill up a pot and soak it. So, being without his powers threw his whole world off. Frankly, he was scared. He admitted that one to K. Everything he did was like learning how to walk again. It just wasn't so obvious on the outside. It was really no wonder Taj had the break-down he did over things. He wasn't his usual self, yet another reason the brothers were so thrown off by his actions and attitude. No one really understood it. No one ever really understood how his body worked, much less his mind. But, at least they were used to him. This however was something even his closet couldn't predict. But, then again - he wasn't himself at all - all things considering - the Taj they knew and loved was gone in those moments.
But, there he was, pen in his right hand, slowly drawing it closer to the document. With his left he touched his pants and could feel the pocket-sized journal Dally left for him within it. He found it when he was rushing off and late for his appointment to do this thing. It had taken him by surprise. Strangely, there were no tears as would hit a more tender heart if given the same gift. But, it wasn't because Taj wasn't touched. He'd eaten. He'd eaten people with Casper. Several. This was something he'd been depleted of and malnourished and was common for his species to eat, not for physical sustenance, but for wisdom. His body consumed how different people's thoughts and feelings functioned. He hadn't enough in his lifetime to make a proper sphinx out him. He always held back being raised human. It made not only his body, but his mind very weak. His mind was coveted by the government for secretive reasons while it was at it's weakest. That could only prove the potential this magical being held within him. But, that nourishment Casper encouraged him to do, to hunt, to eat, opened his mind back to his own nature again, his sphinx's nature. He didn't cry when being as touched as he was because his nature was strangely even and it held it's middle even when confronted with such an emotion-provoking gesture. Taj's mind cut through all the emotions attached to it was logically deducing what data the gift really held for him. It proved Dally thought about everyone even when he was gone, not just him. It proved Dally could admit he didn't understand Taj's mind and that was ok. Taj didn't like being talked at like someone was a know-it-all about himself, when he didn't even understand himself. Dally admitted to a lot of things. Andy wouldn't leave him, even if he left. Kareem and he were working things out. And now Dally, that only left Chester to make amends with and it was the manner and just the right wording and sentiment and tone that Taj computed all together like it was a puzzle and he wasn't sure what the picture was going to be when he put it together. But, he did. He put it together and as he held his pen on the line as he wrote the letter T to begin his name, his hand paused. An ink blot began to grow under the tip. He squeezed the journal through his pocket then he looked up at each of the officers and sat the pen down slowly.
"You all fell for this? I didn't think you were this gullible. Thanks for participating in another one of Taj Bahar's human research studies. I'll be sure to tip the check-box that you drooled the most." He flashed a smirk at Officer Jim. Taj made that all up right there, impromptu, being the ass he could always be, then left a room full of flaring nostrils with a laugh and a strut. He was going home and when he got there he pulled the for sale sign right outta the ground and threw it in the dumpster.