<Episode 21>

Dusty looked himself over in the mirror in the bathroom. Outside on the huge bruise that was forming on his side he seemed fine after his battle with the kangaroo. “Hmm,” he mused as he examined his side, “nothing seems like its broken.” He glanced over to her and grinned, “Guess being older than dirt and tougher than leather can be a good thing.” She just smiled back. “Ah, don’t you worry about me little lady, I’ve survived worse than this little mark.”

“If you say so.” Rachel looked down the hall at Jack. He was leaning against the wall not really paying that much attention to them. She knew that look all to well, his guard was up. And she should know, she had seen it enough times in the past couple of weeks. “So Dusty…”

“Y’all still want to know how I knew that boy was a spy right?”, he finished for her as he buttoned his shirt up while he walked by.

“It crossed my mind a few times,” Jack finally said.

“If your looking for a deep conspiracy, I’m afraid I’m gonna have to disappoint ya.” Dusty sat in his chair slowly. “Caught that boy snooping around here a few times. Every time I run him off he’d yell I’d be lucky if he didn’t tell Anderson what’s going on here.”

“Weren’t you worried he say anything?”, Rachel asked him.

“What was he gonna tell him? That a doctor is running an auto part yard? I didn’t last this long without knowing how to hide things.”

“Still doesn’t mean it can’t be found,” Jack told him.

“That depends on how good the finder is and how much better the hider is.” He grunted as he readjusted himself in his chair. “And that made no sense what so ever.”

“We get what you mean,” she told him. “Right Jack?”

“If you say so.” Rachel shook her head. Dusty went to pour himself a cup of coffee, he was trying to look like he wasn’t holding his side while he did it. Before either of them knew it Jack was already there pouring some into Dusty’s cup.

“Much obliged”

“No problem,” Jack sat on the couch. “So why did you risk your neck and fight him?”

“Be kinda hard to explain why I’m hiding the Drakan Killer to every Drakan in town.” Dusty took a sip before continuing, “Besides, I’ve kinda taken a shine to the two of ya already. Hate to see you up and leave so soon.”

“I’d bet,” Jack said flatly.

“Is that so hard to believe?”

“Seeing how most Drakan I’ve come across wants to kick my ass, yeah it is.”

“Jack,” Rachel warned him.

“Rachel,” he returned mocking her tone.

“Hey you two,” Dusty interrupted. “If that’s how he feels it’s not gonna bother me any. Can’t blame a guy for reacting to what life’s been throwing at him.” He looked over at her and winked, “Doesn’t mean he couldn’t be a little nicer about it though.” Jack rolled his eyes.

Rachel smirked as an idea came to her. “Maybe we should make him cook dinner.”

Dusty agreed, “It’s the least he could do after being so rude to this injured old man.”

Jack looked at both of them, realizing he wasn’t going to get out of this one. He got up saying, “I knew it was going to be a mistake fixing breakfast this morning.”

“Little lady, I like the way you think.”

“You got to know how to handle him.” Rachel looked into the kitchen. Jack pulled a bottle of some nasty looking yellow liquid out of the fridge. He looked at her and suddenly had an evil looking grin on his face. “Those bedroom doors have locks on them right?”

***

It took Dusty a few days to arrange to get the chip out of his head. He led him and Rachel to the back of the lot. Out of jammer range too, just his luck. They stopped in front of two semi trailers that were next to each other. They were so close together Jack couldn’t even see a gap. Glancing over to Rachel he said, “At least one of them will be blocking the signal.”

“You’re assuming we’re going in.”

“Why wouldn’t we?”, Dusty asked her a he opened a door to the one on the left. “I mean I have to operate somewhere. I’m not gonna do it in my living room like some quack.”

When the walked in Jack and Rachel discovered it was it was another one of Dusty’s special builds. The two trailers were joined together to form one giant room. Well two if you count the glass barrier and two doors on either side of it as a wall. The other side of the glass looked almost like an operating room. Jack ignored that chill going down up and down his spine. “I’m guessing you didn’t do this on your own.”

“What are you talking about son? I’m just that good,” Dusty face was serious before breaking out into a grin. “I had a few friends with, as you say, rebel connections help out.”

“Your friends are good,” Rachel said.

“You be surprised what you can get done when you promise free medical care. Now just to be on the safe side,” he walked over to a jammer that was near the sink and flipped it on. “I’m gonna scrub up, so you can change in that booth over there,” he pointed to the door that was on the left. “Rachel, care to give me a hand?”

“I am so dead,” Jack muttered as he opened the door.

“Boy you will be if you keep talking like that.”

“You do realize I have no medical training what so ever,” Rachel informed him.

“You ain’t operating little lady, just hand me the things I ask for. Don’t worry I’ll give you a quick lesson on what’s what before we start. I’m assuming you’re a quick study because you have to keep up with all the crap he pulls,” he said with another grin.

Jack had a comeback but kept it to himself. No point in ticking off the guy who was going to be poking around in his head. Well no more than necessary any way. He took off his jacket, gloves and shirt and put on a hospital gown that was in there. Opening the door that lead to the operating room and was hit with a scent that smelled like a hospital. That Drakan was definitely good at what he did, side job or not. Rachel and Dusty were already in there dressed in scrubs, she was nodding every so often as he pointed out the various tools he was going to use. Which wasn’t many, much to his surprise. Just a couple of cutting tools and some kind of camera attached to a TV. “So now what?”

“Plant it there son,” Dusty pointed to what looked like a massage chair. As he sat in it Dusty said, “I may have a fancy set up but I’m still just a back alley surgeon, so to speak. Right now the strongest thing I can give you is a local.”

“Is that wise?”, Rachel asked him. Jack was questioning it himself at the moment. “Shouldn’t he be out if you’re going to be doing surgery?”

“If I was going to do surgery, yeah. But today I’m just taking a look around to see where things are at in the great wide open here,” Dusty tapped him on the head.

“Hey!”, he protested.

“Please son, it’s not like I’m hurting anything in there.” Duty walked over to some plans that were on the table and looked them over. “Fortunately who ever designed this thing put an access tube leading to that little bugger in your head. Makes my job a whole lot easier, let me tell ya.” He picked up a needle with a clear liquid inside and said, “Say howdy to the local.”

Jack looked over at Rachel before he put his face in head rest. Her eye had a distant look to them, “Rachel what’s up?”

“What?”, she was startled. “Sorry, I was just remembering when you went back to the medical wing after your run in with Allen.” She bit her lower lip, “You were in so much pain back then, I…” Jack took her hand, she squeezed back.

He gave her a small smile, “At least I’m in better shape this time around.” Rachel smiled back as she put the mask on and gloved up. Jack leaned into the chair as Dusty pulled the gown away from his back. He whistled suddenly, Jack looked back at him, “You wanna take a picture and take it back to your bedroom?”

“Sorry Jack,” he said, “but damn son they messed you up.”

Jack held up his right arm, “You should get a good look at this one.”

He tried to relax as Dusty was getting ready to stick him with the needle. “Now don’t you worry son, this can be completely painless…,” he stuck him with the needle.

“OW!!”

“…When I want it to be.”

“I know that was for something.”

“Let’s just say Max was an old friend of mine.” All of them were quiet as he stuck him a few more times, a lot less painfully this time around. “I know it wasn’t your fault son. Hell I tested the compound in that dart myself.”

“I was kicking myself for a few days after that one too.”

Dusty grunted as he turned on the monitor. Jack felt his back go numb and he tried to get comfortable. Dusty asked for a scalpel and he felt the blade slice into him. Now that felt weird. He felt Rachel’s hand squeezing his shoulder soon after.

“Relax,” she told him. That was going to be easier said than done. Dusty asked for that scope on the tray and put in the opening he made. Jack left arm shot out suddenly and Rachel shrieked. He started laughing. Rachel realized it was a joke a moment later. “Vous âne!”

“Yeah,” Dusty said plainly, “that one never gets old.”

“Just trying to lighten the mood.”

“Try pulling something this old dog hasn’t seen before, ya hear.” Dusty went quiet as he restarted the information. “Ok I’m turning the scope on. Now this might feel a bit weird for awhile. Might I also suggest that you keep from moving as much as possible.” Weird, slightly painful was more like it, but he kept as still as he could. His foot was tapping like crazy, but his back was perfectly still. He should have asked for a couple of beers first. “Well,” Dusty said after staring at the screen for what seemed like forever, “one thing for sure, this is definitely Drakan tech.”

“Wait,” Rachel spoke up, “Drakan Technology?”

“No offense little lady, but do you think humans could come up with something like this?”

“Get with it Rachel, even I figured that one out.” Dusty breathed in sharply and he got this weird feeling on the back of his neck. “She’s staring daggers at me isn’t she?”

“Son, I’d say the only thing keeping her from whacking you one is this thing attached to you. I’d offer to keep it in but she might tear it out. And I got to return it by Friday.” After another long ten minutes he said, “Ok, I’m getting close to the little bugger. So I appreciate it if you can stay quiet so I can concentrate.” He closed his eyes and thought about just about anything else at the moment. Out of the blue Dusty said, “What do you know, there is a brain in there.” Jack heard Rachel laughed for a bit. “All right I found it.” He was quiet for a couple of moments, “I’m taking out the scope.” It seemed to take longer going out that it did going in. “Rachel, put some pressure on that would you. I made the incision small enough so he shouldn’t need any stitches.”

“Sure.” Rachel pressed some gauze onto his back. “Are you feeling all right?” He nodded. She started patting the back of his head, “Can you feel that?”

Without thinking first he answered, “Yeah.” Then she smacked him in the back of the head, “Ow!”

“That was for that stupid so called joke and the ‘get with it’ comment.”

He looked at her, “Damn, you hit harder than my mom.”

Dusty chuckled as he watched them, “Well, your head gonna be ringing for a couple of hours and your back might be sore for a couple of days.” Staring at the plans he called Rachel over and he put his hand up to keep the gauze in place. “How well do you know his systems?”

“Just the basic of what they told me, why?”

“Look at this.” They spent a few moments as Dusty went over something in the plans with her. That fact he was keeping quiet while he was talking started to worry him.

Rachel eyes went wide, “I didn’t know about that.” Now it was official, something was up.

“Exactly how was a screwed over?”

“Well son, “Dusty began as he rubbed his chin, “I can take that chip out no problem. But they fixed it so the source powering the systems keeping you alive runs threw the chip. Anything happens to that chip and those lines get disconnected, those system loses power and well…”.

“And bye bye Jack”, he finished for him. “Great, just freaking great.”

“There’s got to be a way around it,” Rachel said.

“I’m sure there is,” Dusty answered, ” but the thing is I can’t do it here. I’d need some specialized medical equipment.”

“Like they have at World Inc.”, she added. Dusty just nodded as he rolled up the plans.

“Don’t think they be up to doing me any favors anytime soon,” he commented. Rachel just looked at him sadly.

“I’ll fetch the truck to take you back up to the house. I want you off you feet for the next couple of days to be on the safe side.” Dusty left them alone. Rachel looked at the floor.

“I didn’t know…”

“I know you didn’t,” he said softly. “You wouldn’t let me go through this if you did. At least I hope you wouldn’t.” He tried to get her to return the smile at least, no go. “I have to give those bastards credit for one thing though, they thought of just about everything.”

***

Mentally he counting down from ten and twisted the handle on the detonator. There was a slightly muffled explosion and Jason looked over the barrier at the smoking concrete hut in the middle of the field. He walked over and opened the door and looked inside with a flashlight at the results. His newest mixture worked perfectly. There was not much he could do now a days. He appeared at those war meetings as a favor for the old man. But ever since they “elected” another green, a woman no less, he couldn’t stomach being there any longer. Christopher was bad enough, but now every one was looking toward his sister for inspiration, someone else to bow down too. It made him sick to his stomach.

As he turned back to his barrier he saw the old man pull a notebook out of his backpack. “Was there a rule change about underling’s privacy?”, Jason said angrily as he walked up and snatched the notebook out of his hands. The old man didn’t even show a hint of anything, and that infuriated him even more.

“I see you still working on plans to blow up the main World Inc. building,” he said causally.

“It would end this a whole lot quicker.”

“It could also give the others an excuse to join in Anderson’s crusade. You have to think of all the possibilities Jason, not just the one you like.”

“Are you done with the lecture yet?”, Jason demanded as he packed his equipment into the backpack and zipped it up.

“I’m not lecturing, just giving out some advice. Advice you used to ask for if I remember correctly.”

“Now we’re going down memory lane.”

“I’d figure we hold hands and sing next.” The old man looked at him, obviously expecting him to laugh. He wasn’t cooperating. “Right.”

“Why are you out this way Nathan?”

“Do I need a reason?”

“You’re never out here unless there’s something.”

“Unfortunately this time your right. Our cell is being absorbed into another one.”

“They can’t do that!”, he exploded.

“Jason our cell is just the two of us. Even when Kendall was alive I was pulling every string and calling in every favor I had to keep us independent.”

“Then we get more to join us.”

“Nobody wants to join us. You’re not exactly a people person. Both Kendall and myself were asked several times how we could stand being around you. Like it or not we’re going to be part of another cell.”

“Do you have any idea who’s?”

From the look on the old man’s face he knew he wasn’t going to like it. “Melissa’s.”

“No!!”

“She personally requested it, I couldn’t say no. Besides, I don’t think any of the other leaders would have taken us together, if at all.”

“I will not bow down to that woman!”

“No one expects you to.”

“She’s a green, of course she does.”

“Have you ever seen or heard of her talking down to or demanding anything from a blue or red? I sure as hell haven’t. She’s been nothing but cordial to me every time I’ve dealt with her. We’re damn lucky because I don’t think any of the other cell leaders would be as generous.”

He had heard enough. Jason slung the backpack over his shoulder, “You keep believing that Nathan,” and he walked away.

“That attitude is going to get you killed one of these days, you know that.”

“As long as I take the other guy with me who cares?”

***

Emily watered the plant on her table. Even in this dark environment a few buds were starting to sprout. She always took that as a sign that no matter how dark things were, life could flourish. And there were going to be some dark times coming up if things stayed they way they were. In fact she should be expecting a potentially dark moment of her own any time now. That’s if she hasn’t lost the ability to read her expected visitor correctly. After last time it was entirely possible she did. She was thankful when someone started banging on the door, “Come in.”

Melissa stormed in and slammed the door shut. She waved some papers in front of her, “What in the hell is this?!”

“A detailed account of my vision.”

“I saw that. I told you…”

“I know what you said child, and I told you that you had to weigh everything carefully. You can’t do that without all the information involved.”

The child looked conflicted, “Emily I can’t do this. There are factors involved even I don’t want to think about. Not without a crate of aspirin right next to me.”

“Sit,” she motioned to a chair. Melissa stood there. “Sit,” she said a little more forcibly and the child did so. “I know you think you have the world on your shoulders. And right now child, if we have to be honest, you do.” Melissa looked surprised she said that but said nothing. “Most people would break under that sort or pressure. But you have withstood it better than most of the others in the council probably expected. Child I have know you since you were a babe in your mother’s arms, I know how strong you really are. I wouldn’t add to your burden if I didn’t think you could handle it.” Melissa looked at the paper in her hands. “You have several options in front of you Melissa, it’s up to you to choose the right one.”

“What if I don’t know which one is the right choice?”

“I’m going to tell you the same thing I told your brother.” Melissa looked at her. Emily leaned in and placed a finger on the young woman’s chest, “Look in here. People can lie and information can be false. But that voice inside you will never let you down, no matter how many direction you find yourself being pulled in. It will guide you down the right path.”

“All have I to do is listen,” she said. Melissa took one last look at the paper in her hands. She then folded them up and put them in her pocket. “I’d better go, I need to think about some things.”

“I know you do child.” Emily returned her attention to her plant. “I’m sure you’ll find the right path to take us down.”

***

Those couple of days of rest Dusty prescribed for Jack went by quickly. Dusty had him pegged as a complainer but he was proven wrong. Jack even refused any offer to sleep in a bed for those couple of days instead of the couch. Although he complained about being kept to light housework around the place after those days were over, again Dusty’s idea. He didn’t want to be babied and felt he could pull his own weight. They didn’t budge on the issue. Right now he was in the kitchen drying the dishes, or at least he was supposed to be doing that. When Rachel walked in he was leaning against the sink with his head down. As she got closer she could see his eyes were squeezed shut. “Is everything all right?”

He opened his eyes and looked up, but not at her. Jack was looking out the window, almost like he was searching for something. Then he relaxed and said, “I’m fine.”

“Are you sure? I can get Dusty…”

“I’m fine,” he repeated. Then he changed the subject, “The clean glasses are over there if you want to get something to drink.” He reached into the sink to grab something else but there was nothing there so he pounded the counter top lightly.

“That’s not why I came in. Dusty said he’s expecting some rebel company tomorrow.”

“We better make ourselves scarce for a couple of hours then.” He threw the towel into the sink, “I don’t think Dusty wants another fight around here anytime soon.”

“You know,” Dusty said from the doorway, “and I don’t want to be telling you two your business, but sooner or later you’re going to have to work with the rebels. Tomorrow might be a good place to start.”

“I was changed and sent out to kill them. I don’t think playing nice is in the cards.”

“Not anytime soon any way,” Rachel agreed with him.

“Then it might be time to start mending some bridges.” Dusty pulled a piece of paper out. “They always tell me where they’re going when they get a piece of info from inside World Inc. they have to check out. Just in case it’s a trap and they can’t move the wounded all that far, mind you.” Jack took the paper and looked it over. “It’s dried up river bed a mile or so out of town.”

“I know where it is.”

Jack put it down on the table as she said, “What do you want to do?”

“I think… I’m gonna take a ride.” He walked past her and Dusty and grabbed his gloves and jacket. Picking up his helmet he looked at the other one sitting there and then to her. “I think I’ll do this one solo, if it ok with you.” She nodded.

“Here son,” he said as he tossed Jack a phone of some kind. “Give us a call if you find anything. It’s special build so you don’t have to be worried about being traced.”

“Sure thing.”

“You better come back,” she told him.

He put a hand on his chest,” Please, it’s me.”

“That’s why I said it.” He gave her that stupid little sly grin of his as he pulled the hood over his head and walked out. “I hope he’s doing the right thing.”

“So do I little lady, so do I,” Dusty said taking the paper. “Just out of curiosity, how long has he been having those nightmares of his?”

“It’s been awhile, since before we left World Inc. I’ve tried to get him to talk about them.”

“But nothing right? We might want to keep an eye on him.”

Rachel watched as Jack drove toward the gate. “Trust me, I have been.”

***

Jack sat on his bike in the darkness on the high side of the River bed. Even he could see this would be a perfect place for a trap, hopefully the rebels would figure that out too. Deep down he knew Dusty was right, he would have to deal with the rebels one of these days. Personally he was hoping for later, much, much later. Somewhere around the time they stopped being super pissed about him killing their leader. That might take fifty or sixty years, if he was lucky. Maybe he should have asked Barry what kind of warranty he was under. Probably got voided the moment after he “resigned” from World Inc. He adjusted himself in his seat as he saw some movement in the riverbed. A group of about seven could be seen in the moonlight. They were being careful, flashing the lights in their hands behind them and up the sides of the riverbed, they were expecting a trap too. Jack rolled the bike back a bit to make sure he wasn’t spotted. The last thing he wanted was to be outnumbered by another bunch of Drakan.

Then he saw some movement across the way, then another one and another. A sound behind him caught his attention. Jack swung his helmet toward the sound, it crashed into the head of someone behind him, someone dressed in a black uniform. He knew that uniform, it was one of Anderson’s troopers. Scanning the area he saw a couple of more on this side of the bed and figured there was more across the way. “Look out!”, he yelled at the rebels. The looked up about the same time the troopers made their move. The Drakan changed into their true forms as a couple of guns on this side went off. An explosion rocked the ground behind them, even he knew there were probably more bombs further back, the rebels were trapped. He had to give them a hand. He raised his left arm across his chest and the belt appeared. He swung that arm to the side and raised his right. “Henshin!” and he slammed his hand on top of the belt.

The armor formed around him as he brought the bike to life. He drove up and down the side of the riverbed finding all the troopers he could and either take them out or make them jump out of the way. Bring the bike around he saw the troopers on the other side started running down into the river bed with those shock sticks in their hands. Jack brought the bike down into the riverbed and drove right threw them. All but one jumped out of the way, he skidded to a stop and kicked him square in the chest. That went flying back as he got off the bike. One of the troopers pointed behind him and he looked back. Jack, the rebels and the troopers just stared as the one he knocked down got up like there was nothing behind that kick. “How many Drakan does he have working for him?”

The trooper yelled and changed into a blue crab. The rebels took the opportunity to go after the other troopers. Jack stared at the claws on that Drakan, especially the bigger one. He turned to grab the staff off the bike, the crab moved quicker than he thought it would and wrapped a claw around his wrist. The pressure made him drop the staff. Then the crab threw him away from the bike. Snapping it’s claws it came toward him. Jack sidestepped a lunge and kneed it in the gut. The crab acted like it wasn’t affected, this one might take awhile. He got distracted as a trooper landed hard by him and the crab backhanded him. It got the big claw around his neck and started squeezing. Then it ran and smashed him into the bed wall and started pounding with the other one. Jack was gasping for air as a green furry hand grabbed on of its’ eyes and pulled. It screamed and let him go. Jack slide down the wall gulping in the air as a green wolf fought the other Drakan. A trooper reached him as he got to his feet. A quick jab took care of him. He ran in and shoulder blocked the crab back a few feet. Standing next to the wolf he asked, “You that same punk kid from the woods?”

The wolf nodded, “Consider us even,” he said as he went after another trooper. Jack saw some cracks in the crabs shell on its’ chest. They almost looked like claw marks.

“Fair enough”, Jack said as he targeted those marks. The crab kicked him under the chin flipping him over. Fido left a little too soon. He rolled out of the way and landed a hard punch to the cracks. The crab yelled and started swinging wildly. Jack ducked out of the way and went for a side kick when he saw a chance. The Drakan caught his foot and laughed sharply, the bastard was faking the whole thing. It pulled him in and started pounding away. Jack quickly got his arms up trying to block most of the assault. When he saw an opening he grabbed the bigger claw with both hands and started pulling. After a few moments there was a cracking sound and the claw started bending backwards. It screamed, actually in pain this time, and started backing away, he went in and stated pounding away. At its’ head, it’s gut, the crack in it’s shell whatever he saw a place he could get a hit in. He grabbed the Drakan and threw it to the side as the meter started flashing. He grabbed the right pod and twisted it down, and the mini turbines inside the belt started spinning. Running at the Crab he jumped up and aimed his right leg at it. His foot hit the cracks on it’s chest and it flew back and exploded.

Jack stood there as he landed then looked around. There were troopers on the ground, some where still fighting the rebels, others were running away. The wolf and three others were just standing at there. They stared at each other for a long time. One of the rebels started to come at him but the wolf held up an arm to stop him. Jack looked at the ground and saw a walkie talkie sitting there, must have come off one of the troopers. He bent down and picked it up. Looking it over he looked at the wolf and tossed it to him, “You might find that useful.” The wolf nodded once more. He went over to his bike and picked up the staff and put it back in its place. When it looked like nothing else was going to attack him he gunned the engine and rode off, letting the rebels handle what was left.

***

Anderson stood behind his desk looking out the window as Taylor gave a verbal report of the operation. Perez was less than happy to discover that there was a Drakan in his command without him knowing it. He’ll handle that in the morning. Right now he had a more pressing concerns. They spent weeks setting up that operation, everything was planned to the last detail. Davidson involvement was not one of them. Looking away from the window he said, “Mr. Taylor.”

He closed the file in his hands, “Yes sir?”

“Get in contact with Logan. I want to see him tomorrow.”

“Logan sir?”, Taylor said looking a little uneasy.

“Yes Mr. Taylor.” He looked back out the window. “As long as Mr. Davidson stayed out of our affairs I would have waited for Mitchell, or at least for this other Fusion operative Allen had stashed away. But he just made himself a nuisance. It is time to take care of him.”