The Hand You're Dealt

This is a piece of fan fiction. “Wild Cards” created by George R.R. Martin.

In 1945, an alien virus was released over the skies of New York City. Eventually, that virus would be known as the Wild Card. Of those who contracted the virus, nine of ten died, most horribly. Of the survivors, nine of ten mutated into monsters and freaks, known as Jokers. But one out of every one hundred people who contracted the virus developed super-human abilities, and these fortunate few became known as Aces. The virus traveled on the winds, reaching most of the world, leaving behind a trail of destruction and pain wherever it went. This is the story of one community, how it became affected by the Wild Card, and how the survivors tried to pick up the pieces afterward.

Pastor David McDonald woke to hear the morning sports broadcast on the radio. “The Brooklyn Dodgers announced today that they have renewed the contract of pitching coach Fidel Castro, ending speculation that Castro would jump to the Mets as their new head coach. In local sports....”

He turned the radio off, and got up and started his day.

As was their routine, his wife Anne had already been up for a while, and by the time he had showered and dressed, he could smell the eggs she was cooking, and he smiled as he went into the kitchen.

“Have I told you that you are too good to me?”

“Yes, but that doesn't mean I would stop you from telling me again.”

They laughed, and kissed.

David sat down, and glanced at the morning paper, skimming the headlines.

“Any good news?” She asked. She never read the paper until he had.

“Looks like there might be some kind of tribute to the people who died in the tornado that hit two years ago.”

“I hope they include the people who have suffered since.”

“You are sure that the tornado brought the virus?”

“Makes sense. We had no more than a couple of victims in the forty years since the virus first showed up. Then, within a couple months of the tornado, we started to get dozens at a time.”

“Well, I know better than to argue with you.”

“Darn straight. And don't forget it,” She laughed.

“Plus, there is some kind of 'last year in review' reflection piece. You know, 1988 was an interesting year.”

“No kidding. Gorbachev trying to reform the U.S.S.R., riots in Tienanmen Square, and that mess around the Statue of Liberty, it has been 'interesting times' as they like to say.”

“That Liberty thing. I don't know understand why a bunch of so-called 'Jokers' have tried to take it over.”

“They are desperate. And I have heard that they are backed by some pretty powerful Aces.”

“You really think these 'jumpers' are for real? That someone could gain the power to possess another person's body?”

“Might explain why you were so attentive to me last night.”

“I think I will let that comment die a natural death.”

“As long as I do, and you don't decide to hurry it along.”

“I would miss your snoring.”

“Anything else you would miss?”

“Maybe. But unless you behave, you are the one who will miss out tonight.”

“I will be good.”

“That will be a first.”

They laughed, and kissed again.

“So, isn't today the start of your first turn to do the rounds?”

“Yes. I am meeting someone at the shelter this morning.”

“Well, finish your eggs, and get going.”

After breakfast, David put on his coat and hat, picked up a large bag filled with supplies, and gave his wife a long, lingering kiss.

“Mmmmm. Nice to know that after all these years together, you still know how to make my toes curl.”

“Well, you make something on me curl, but if I start talking about THAT, I will never get going.”

She gave him a little slap on the shoulder.

“Down, boy. Plenty of time for that tonight.”

“I am going to hold you to that. I will see you later.”

“See you.”

That was another ritual they had. They would not say “goodbye” to each other, because they each believed that even if they parted in this life, they would be reunited in the next.

It was just a short walk to the Light Rail Transit station that would take him downtown, Getting off right underneath City Hall, he paused to speak to two of few Jokers who didn't hide in the poorest areas of downtown. One was a busker, and from a distance he would have looked like any other musician making a living by playing in a public place for tips.

It was only when someone got closer that they would have seen the fact that his “guitar” was in fact made out of flesh and bone, and was actually attached to the man. His partner would never be mistaken from baseline, but enough people were intrigued (and some were obviously aroused) by her appearance that they stopped to put coins in the hat in front of her. She had fur, pointed ears, and a tail. In fact she looked like a anthropomorphic cat.

“Hi guys, lots of tips today?”

The man played a greeting on his “guitar”. Since his transformation, he had not spoken. Many people believed that the “strings” were in fact what was left of his vocal cords...

As for his companion, she spoke, but she sounded exactly like the creature she appeared to be...

He took a pre-made care package out of his bag, and left it at their feet, gave both of them a hug, and moved on, saying a prayer for them as he left. He then headed up the stairs to catch a bus to the Boyle street shelter.

Behind him he could hear the music beginning again..

Despite the wild card, they were both determined to make the most of their lives, and their faith and patience encouraged him.

David got off the bus a half block away from the Boyle Street Shelter. It was the home of last resort for the desperate, the rejected, the mentally ill, and the addicted. And Jokers were often all of those.....

Once at the shelter, he waved at a group of older men who often stayed at the shelter. Most people were asked to leave the shelter right after breakfast, but a few were allowed to stay longer. Mostly because they had no where else to go....

He went to the office, and gave a hug to Reverend Mike Christopher of the downtown Presbyterian church.

“Hay, Mike. You are looking good.”

“All complements are appreciated.”

“You know, Mike, I am very proud of all the inner-city churches. Once a large number of victims started to showing up, we all got together and decided we needed to each help out. Including our week-long turns touring in and around downtown.”

“Don't get too proud; It goeth before a fall, remember?”

David laughed. “You are going to be my guide today?”

“Sure, I’ve had my fun, but I don't mind keeping you company. Are you planning to take the bike?” He had a pleading look in his eyes that made David laugh again.

“I was saw that same look on your face when it was donated. You love that crotch rocket, don't you?”

“Well, It was a gift for the shelter; we should use it.”

“You know, Robert Borden is a rare person indeed. To be a street person and escape that life was rare. It is rarer still for a former street person to become well off. But what makes him unique is his determination to help others who had were where he had been, and to that end had provided transport to workers at the shelter, and because of the background he had come from,
he had decided that transport should be a bike.”

“And since it had arrived, you have been in heaven, you old rascal,” He added to himself.

The two men went around to each of the men at the shelter and gave a word of encouragement, as well as either a hug, a pat on the back, or a handshake. Most of the men rarely got any such contact, and they needed and deserved it as much as anyone.

Once they had completed that, they went to the back, where the staff worked, and after a few words of encouragement, they went to the small shed behind the building, where the bike was stored.

Of course, they couldn't go all out, but anyone who saw them must have smiled at the sight of two men on a motorcycle, the older one whooping and laughing as they maneuvered around the downtown core.

The bike was a necessity, because unlike many cities, homeless people didn't all congregate around one area, and there certainly wasn't a “Jokertown” for the Jokers, at least not yet. On the sides of the bike, there were saddle bags which they had filled with care packages, and each man had a backpack with more inside.

They made a circle, going first north to near the CN train station where some people hung around looking for whatever day work was available.

From there, they went west to the edge of the downtown core where a small church had opened a shelter for women trying to get off the streets. David had trouble keeping tears from his eyes, especially when looking at the children of these women, some of them born addicted or damaged.

When they finished at the church, they went south, to where a needle exchange program had been started. Neither man thought it was an ideal solution, but both agreed that it might help a bit, and that’s all one could hope for. Lastly, they went east, and went into the river valley. It was the favorite spot for the homeless, little traffic, no police presence, and a person could sometimes even make some kind of shelter without fear.

In every location, there were a handful of Jokers mixed in with the others, although “mixed in” might have been a miss-statement. They were there, but almost always separated from the others. Even on the pecking order of the street, the Jokers were at the bottom.

By the last stop, David was starting to feel the despair of the people seeping into their minds.

“Come on, David, I can see it is getting to you. Let me cheer you up. Lets go see the stone house.”

“I have seen the pictures from the paper. I was hoping to see it today.”

They made their way down the valley via a access road, to a beautiful stone castle. In the distance David could see the pyramids of the city's botanical gardens, which was a famous landmark. The castle itself reminded him of something right out of a fairy tale, and he found himself smiling at Mike as they knocked on the door.

When the door opened, a huge shadow stood in the doorway, and David's first impression was the creature answering the door was an ogre.

“Hi Rocky.” Mike said.

“Nice to see you, Reverend.” the large creature rumbled.

“This is Pastor David McDonald, Rocky. He is going to be with me today, and be doing the tour for the next week.”

David offered a hand, but the creature said “Sorry Pastor. I cant shake your hand without breaking it.”

“It is quite all right. You can’t control your strength?”

“Yeh. Sucks, but what can you do? Come in.”

They went into the castle, and David could not help but gasp. The inside of the castle was simply beautiful. Stone, crystal, glass and even gems shone in light that streamed from a large glass window in the roof.

“Just beautiful. The pictures do not do it justice.”

“Thanks, Pastor. I will see if CB is up for visitors.”

David whispered to Mike, “CB?”

“You will see.”

The woman who came out might have been beautiful, except she was very pale, and dressed in the remains of a bride's dress. David felt like he had seen her before, but couldn't recall where or when.

“Hello Mike, who is your friend?”

“Pastor David McDonald, miss. Nice to meet you.”

“Come, sit. I assume you would like to hear our story?”

“Only if you are comfortable telling it.”

She smiled. “I think I may like you, David”

They all got as comfortable as the stone furniture allowed, and the woman began.

“Rocky and I met at a transgender support group. He was female to male, and I was heading the other way, but we clicked almost immediately.”

She paused for a moment to think about the memory.

“Anyway, we were falling for each other, while we struggled with being the wrong gender, and wondering if we could ever fix it.”

“So how did it change?”

“The wild card. I think it has a sense of irony. It gave us our hearts desire, but in such a way that takes away most of the benefits we hoped for.”

“How do you mean?”

“Well, Rocky is now a male, but he is not the handsome man he hoped to be, and indeed he can’t even function in public. Plus, he has enormous strength, but little control, so he is always afraid of hurting people or breaking things.”

“And you?”

“My situation is much the same. I am now the beautiful woman I always wished I could be, but I cannot go out, and I cannot touch anyone.”

“Why?”

“I cannot handle sunlight. And at night, I look more like a zombie or vampire than a living girl.”

“And you said you couldn’t touch people?” he asked after a short pause

“Anything I touch rots. Metal rusts, wood falls apart, paper dissolves, plants wither, fabric simply falls apart, and, well, I don't particularly want to find out if what would happen if I touched a human being.”

“Wait a minute. I remember where I saw you before. There was a TV interview shortly after the first group of Jokers started to appear, and they talked about a woman they called the Corpse Bride”

“Rocky calls me C.B.”

“What about using your real name?”

“Another irony. The female name I had picked out was Carol Bradford. So I am still C.B.”

“I am truly sorry.”

“Don't be. Rocky and I are doing pretty good, all things considered. He built me this place, of things that cannot be affected by my power, and it is beautiful. We have each other, even if we cannot touch. And most of all, we have faith.”

“Thank you.”

“For what?”

“After all the despair I have seen today, I needed to feel some hope again.”

“A man of faith, needing hope?”

“Even a man of faith can struggle with doubts.”

“Then I am glad I could help. Mike has told me about the tour the churches have started, and I thank God for you all, for what you are trying to do for not only Jokers, but for all the poor and homeless.”

“I just hope we can make a difference.”

“I believe you will.”

“Come on, David. We should go back to the shelter, the supper rush will be starting soon.”

The two men let themselves out, and soon were riding back up the hill toward the Boyle Street Shelter.

After helping with supper at the shelter, David said his goodbyes, and headed for home. Once there, he snuck up behind his wife while she was making dinner, and hugged her and kissed the back of her neck.

She arched, and gave a little moan, and then turned around to give him a full kiss.

“So how was it?”

“Hard, at times. So much hurt, and so little I could do about it. But there are also some fine people making the best of the hand they have been dealt. And those people restored my hope.”

“Maybe God put those people in your path today, just for that reason.”

“Just like God gave me you?”

“Flatterer. Now, after supper, you can show me how grateful you are for me.”

“Deal.”