<Episode 27>

Melissa braced herself as she stood in front of the others, to pay their last respect for the man they lost a few hours ago. They all knew death was going to be part of the deal. But it was still hard to live with. She remembered her brother having a hard time doing this, he was never comfortable at heralding someone over to they next life. Usually because the body wasn’t there, like now. Several times he didn’t want to do it, but he put those feeling aside because, as he put it, some traditions shouldn’t be left behind. And Melissa knew she could do no less. As she looked over the crowd she saw Haily and Davidson standing near the back of the room. They were told they could miss this seeing how they weren’t Drakans. She was glad they came anyway, to at least show they were part of this as well.

“It’s never easy losing one of our own,” she began. “Particularly someone who was with us for a long time. He shared our joy and he shared our sorrow. All of us will feel his lose. His family and friends most of all.” She was ready for the renewed wave of sadness as she was feeling it herself. “I know some of you think he was taken from us before he should have. I know this because that was my initial reaction as well. But as Emily would no doubt say, fate decides when it’s our time to leave this plane of existence.” There were several nods in agreement.

“Unfortunately, this life we lead proves that point, because many of our own have been lost.” She resisted the urge to look in Davidson’s direction, but she had a feeling several of them were. “We can take some small comfort that he died wanting to better our lives and those of our children and future generations. So as we herald him into the next life let us not live in sorrow that he is gone. Instead let us live like he did, in happiness and with the hope this will soon be over.” Melissa reverted to her tiger form and the others did the same. She sensed some fear from Haily and Davidson direction but it was small and understandable.

They all looked at the ceiling above them and howled. The feeling of sadness was pierced by something that took her completely by surprise. Panic… anxiety… guilt? It was almost overwhelming. She looked at the source, or she would have if he wasn’t already gone. Melissa sensed the confusion from Haily as she realized Davidson wasn’t there as well. “Let’s…,” she tried to continue, “let us hope our herald has warned his ancestors that he is coming and that he is worthy.” The crowd slowly dispersed, nobody was indicating that they noticed anything was wrong as they resumed human form. She was suddenly reminded of Emily letter, she described a similar situation from her vision. She started thinking that maybe it was a mistake for him to show up for this.

***

Emily walked the hallways of the habitat slowly. She left before the service was over knowing what was going to happen. But she saw that the child felt it, she was caught off guard but she covered it quickly. But right now Melissa wasn’t her primary concern, he was. Like she thought he ran to a corridor that was seldom used. The young man was leaning over, his hands on the wall and breathing heavily. She could still see the look of panic and confusion etched on his face. Normally she would have waited for him to come to her, but Emily saw his pain once before and didn’t want him to go through this alone again. “Are you alright child?”, she asked.

Davidson quickly composed himself and tried to act normally,” Yeah, I’m fine. I was,” he seemed lost for a second,” never any good at funerals.” Emily knew it was a lie but she said nothing about it.

But she did say, “Few of us are.”

“If you say so. Emily was it?”

“Indeed it is Jack. May I call you Jack?”

He gave her a half smile, “You can call me just about anything you want.”

“I think I’ll stick with Jack child,” she smiled back. “I meant to introduce myself earlier but the others have kept me rather busy the past few days.”

“They put you to work too?”

Emily chuckled, “Not exactly child. No, I’m more of a spiritual adviser for them around here. You could say I’m a seer. I see the future, sometimes the past and occasionally I help those who need to speak to those who have past on when the time is right.” Jack expression went blank for a brief moment.

“No offense,” he ended up saying, “but I never been a big believer in all of that.”

“Like I said before, very few of us are. Care to walk with an old woman?”

“Sure, when is she showing up?”

Emily smirked and waged her finger at him, “I see I’m going to have to keep an eye on you.” Jack offered her an arm that she took and they headed down the corridor. Unlike most people he let her set the pace and the path.

After a couple of moments of silence he said, “So you have one of those…,” he trailed off but he did tap the back of his head.

“Yes child, Anderson had his doctors implant it a few years ago.”

“I guess you didn’t see that one coming.” Emily smacked his leg with her cane. “Ow, ok I had that one coming.”

“Yes you did,” she agreed. “And who said I didn’t see it coming, as you put it.”

He looked confused, “If you saw it coming…”

“Why didn’t I try to avoid it,” she finished for him. “I have been living for a long time child and if I have learned anything it’s that fate will not be denied. If something is destined to happen to you it will happen. No matter how hard you try to fight it.” She caught him looking at his left hand and his face suddenly became very sad. “The others were outrage of course. How dare he do such a thing to a seer? But very few of them did anything about it.”

“Is Anderson that powerful?”

“He has the right friends and can cover his track very well. I assume he was rather upset when Dusty and the other down here developed those jamming machines.”

Jack snorted, “I bet he was. I’m pretty sure I would have been caught by now if Rachel didn’t figure out metal blocked this things signal.”

“Your lady friend seems like a very nice person,” she told him.

“She is, Rachel is one of the smartest people I know,” he voice and expression lightened a bit. Emily smiled to herself.

“And you care about her.”

He looked confused again, “Of course I care about her, she’s my friend.” Then his expression changed again and pointed a finger at her, “Whoa, wait a minute I’m stopping this right now. Dusty tried to hook us up almost as soon as we started living with him. I am not going through that again.”

Emily started laughing, “Dusty always was a romantic at heart. But don’t you worry child, I would never try to force you two together. If you are destined to be with each other than fate will bring you together when it’s ready.”

“Good thing I don’t believe in fate,” he said plainly and looking straight ahead.

“Yes it is,” she answered with a small hint of a knowing smile. Jack caught it and gave her a strange look.

“There you are,” Rachel said as she came around the corner. “What happened?”

Emily answered before he could, “it’s my fault I’m afraid. I needed to go back to my room for something and I asked him for some assistance. Actually my room is a couple of corners down,” she pointed her cane down the hallway behind Rachel.

“Really?”, Jack asked before covering himself. “Time flies when you’re having a good talk.”

“Some of the other say I have a tendency to make things sound longer and harder than they actually are.”

Jack looked at Rachel, “Just so you know, at no point did those words come out of my mouth.”

“I’m sure you would be limping now if they did,” Melissa said coming up behind them.

“Is this the after services meeting hall or something?”, Jack asked.

“Not quite,” Melissa said. “Actually I wanted to talk to Emily about something.”

“Well then,” Jack began, “I’ll just let you two have that talk.” He went to let go but she wouldn’t let him.

“I’ll have an opening to talk to you in ten minutes,” she told Melissa. “Now if you’ll excuse me, how often am I going to be escorted back to my room by a handsome young man?”

“Where did he go?”, Rachel asked with a smile.

Jack just looked at her, “I’m rubbing off on you, you know that?”

Emily patted his arm as they continue walking, “Don’t mind her child, she’s just jealous.”

***

Jack took off his jacket as he entered their room and fell on the cot as soon as he got in range. It was bad enough the mission was a bust but Melissa wanted to that heralding thing as soon as she found out they lost a man. Of course he had to freak out again for no apparent reason after hearing that howl. What in the hell was happening to him? Maybe things will be clearer in the morning, if he got any sleep that is. Stupid nightmares.

Rachel came in shortly after and saw him there. He said nothing, just staring at the ceiling. She sat on her bed asking, “So what really happened?”

“I was walking Emily back to her room. We already went over this.”

“I might buy that, except I saw her leave after you were already gone. Jack you have to talk to me. I want to try to help if anything bothering you.”

“There’s nothing to talk about,” he said flatly.

“I guess that’s why you keep waking up in the middle of the night screaming,” she shot back. He said nothing. Rachel sighed as he started unbuttoning her blouse. Then she looked at him, “Do you mind?”, she said with a bit of annoyance.

He grunted as he rolled over to face the wall to give her some privacy. Finally he said, “I’d tell you if I had a problem with anything.”

“I want to believe that Jack, I really do,” she told him. “Unfortunately you keep waking up the neighbors and they’re looking at me for answers. From what I understand a couple of them actually complained to Melissa.”

“Then I’ll find a muzzle tomorrow, that should make them happy.”

“Jack that isn’t funny.” She placed a hand on his shoulder and rolled him back over to his back. She was already wearing that over sized blue T-shirt she found. “I’m starting to get worried about you.”

He rose up and took her hand, “There’s noting to worry about. I’m just going through a bit of a rough spot right now. I’ll be over it before you and the nosy neighbors know it.”

“This rough spot of yours has been going on for a coupe of month now.”

“And I can handle it,” he assured her. “The moment I can’t you’ll be the first person I talk too. I promise,” he crossed his heart to prove the point. Rachel looked like she was going to keep arguing the point. “Look, we both had a long night, and I don’t know about you but I’m really tired. I just want to get some sleep.”

She looked unconvinced but pulled away saying, “We’re not done talking about this.”

“If you say so.” He turned back over as she turned off the light. “Night Rachel.”

“Goodnight Jack,” she said back. He laid there for a long time. He doubted she understand if he did tell her.

***

The trap they set last night could have gone better. Yes his forces were able to eliminate one rebel, his body was in cold storage right now. Still the others that were with him escape and he had losses of his own. But there was a bit of information that intrigued him. Anderson put the tips of his fingers together as he looked at Perez. “Are your men positive he was there?”

“Unless there is a third mark one out there we don’t know about who hooked up with Hailys’ twin,” he answered.

Anderson cocked an eyebrow, “There’s no need to get sarcastic Mr. Perez.”

Taylor spoke up beside him, “This does make the second reported time Davidson intentionally helped the rebels.”

“Except this time our spotter seen him come in with the rebels,” Perez added. “From the look of things he and the rebels might have joined forces. Of course that just my opinion sir,” he said.

“And it appears your opinion might be correct Mr. Perez,” Anderson agreed. “Step up your training program for the men. We’re going to have to assume they’re going to encounter Davidson on every mission from now on.”

“Yes sir, I’ll have them start immediately,” he gave a quick salute and left his office.

Anderson leaned back in his chair and uncharacteristically sighed out loud. “That makes our situation that much harder. If Davidson and the rebels can learn to work as a cohesive unit we might,” he held up a finger, “might mind you, have some trouble.”

“I’d imagine that would depend on how much trust they were able to build between them,” his VP said.

“True Mr. Taylor, very true.” He thought this over, how could he use this to his benefit? “Of course I have been telling the other Alphas that the Drakan Killer was a concoction of the rebels’ propaganda. They would be unintentionally supporting my claim by working with him.”

“A small bright spot at least,” Taylor agreed. “I’ll start a contingency plan to spin this bit of information.”

“Speaking of contingency plan, what is the update for Mitchell and the other mark one?”

“From the looks of thing it appears Allen’s pet project is going to beat Mitchell out of the gate, to use the expression. Of course Dr. Armstrong is doing everything in his power to prove that estimate wrong.”

“Of course he is,” he allowed himself a small smile. “One thing bother me about this, why didn’t we hear about this union before now. Christopher may have been able to convince the others to remain quiet but he is dead. Who else has the influence to keep this quiet?”

“Christopher had a sister didn’t he?”, Taylor asked. “Could she have convinced them?”

“Yes he did, Melissa, but she would have to be desperate to house Christopher’s killer.” He got up from his chair, he needed to think this over. “If anything important comes up I’ll be in my personal gym. I need to relieve some frustration.”

“I’ll order the replacement equipment now,” Taylor said.

Anderson smiled again, “Good man.”

***

Like she expected Jack was acting like nothing happened to him. A couple of Drakan looked at him with annoyance, but he ignored them. He had another nightmare but this time he tried to cut off his initial scream. Rachel was already awake, she was expecting it. She remained motionless and watched him. Jack had sat there breathing hard then quickly turned his head around the room, almost like he was searching for something. She caught him doing that few times back at Dusty’s. Mumbling something he laid back down. Rachel wasn’t sure if he ever went back to sleep.

Right now he was trying to respect whatever period of mourning they had around here. Joking around only when he saw the other Drakan were. But for the most part it looked like he was trying to avoid knocking out Sparky. When that Drakan said they were going to be inseparable he meant it. A few moments after spotting them he trailed Jack just about everywhere he went in the habitat, talking his ear off. At one point she came down a hallway and saw Jack push him out of a room he was entering, “Dude a little privacy please.”

“One man operation, you got it,” Sparky said. “I’ll be right here waiting for you.”

Rachel recognized that look on Jack’s face. Good thing for Sparky she just happened to be walking by. “Jack you did say you wanted to go to the garden center later right?”, she asked. It looked like Jack’s initial hunch was right as his blue eyes went wide. Jack saw it too.

“Yeah,” he played along, “how about I meet you down there? You’re coming too, right Sparky?”

“I… I..,” he stammered, “I think I hear my mom calling me.”

Another Drakan that was in the hallway asked, “I thought you said you mother was in Florida?”

“She yells really loud,” and he was gone in a flash.

He looked at her looking very relived, “Thank you.”

She smiled as she went on her way, “Any time.”

Although she wouldn’t say the Drakan were accepting Jack, she would say they were slowly getting use to him being there. Actually Rachel was surprised at grateful looks the parents around here were giving him. Especially when their child started to act up and get out of control and they spotted him. Most time he would do nothing and stand there, other times he wag a finger and give them a stern look before turning away smiling. He actually told her once, “You know, it’s kinda fun being the boogieman.”

Not that they haven’t made a couple of friends down here already. Arron pretty much accepted them from the start and she was getting to know Melissa faster than she thought it would take. Then word started going around that Emily apparently had no problem with him and that warmed up some of the others. Arron and a group of the others invited them to talk in the main room after all the work was done for the day. Everything was going fine until she noticed the other Drakan becoming very quiet.

She looked around and saw the monkey, Jason, came up to them. “Steady Jack,” she whispered as she put a hand on his shoulder. Jason sat on the same bench he was, making sure there was plenty of room between them. Neither of them looked at each other but she could feel the tension. Better cut off a potential brawl now, “Let’s get out of here.”

“Who was Richie?”, he asked suddenly. Rachel didn’t think it was possible but Jack tensed up even more. “The first time we fought you mentioned a Richie, who was he?”

Without any emotion in his voice he answered, “My best friend since I was three.” There was a moment of silence the Jack asked, “Who was the guy you mentioned?”

“His name was Kendell, he was the spider you faced. He was my partner for a long time.”

Rachel and the others looked at them, were they actually going to be civil with each other? Letting him live was one thing, but if they could actually get along it could help his acceptance with the others. That hope was dashed when Jack finally looked at Jason, disdain in his eyes. The only expression on his face was that sly half smile of his as he said, “So that’s were spider monkeys come from.”

“What?! Not that kind of partner…,” he growled and stormed off. Jack smile grew bigger.

“Did you have to do that?”, Rachel asked him wearily.

“Yes I did,” he answered before heading off in the opposite direction.

Rachel sat on the bench feeling very tired. Arron put a hand on her shoulder, “I don’t think those two will ever get along.”

“I guess I should at least be grateful they didn’t start exchanging blows on the spot.”

***

Melissa looked around her makeshift conference room. A few maps of the city and surrounding area, a few chairs, mainly some empty crates. It wasn’t much but it suited her needs. She tried to convince Chris they needed something like this for awhile to help plan their operations. He always resisted saying it would make them too military like. Melissa just wished he didn’t have to die in order for her to get this done. Almost as soon as she thought that Davidson and Haily walked in. Davidson slowed down as he came in with a strange look on his face as he looked around. Haily had a similar expression and said, “Déjà vu.” Davidson nodded.

“Ah Jack,” Melissa said, “I wanted to talk to you about something.” She might as well get this over with.

Davidson got defensive rather quick, “If this is about the monkey just because I have to live with him doesn’t mean I have to get along with him.”

Melissa just stared at him, “What are you talking about?”

“Nothing,” he answered while trying to act innocent. No need in asking any more, no doubt she would hear about it later.

“No I wanted to talk to you about what happened to Christopher.” His expression went blank but she could feel the turmoil inside him.

“I killed him as simple as that,” was all he said.

“I realize that,” she told him,” But I also know there has to be more to it than that or you wouldn’t have left World Inc.”

“Look I realize he was your leader…”

“He was my brother,” she cut him off, anger edging her voice, “and I have the right to know what happened!” Davidson and Haily looked at each other in surprise. Oh great, “And you didn’t know that until now did you?”

“I’d be lying if I said we did,” Haily answered.

“I’m surprised the others haven’t thrown that in your face by now. But it still doesn’t change the fact that I deserve to know what happened.” Davidson looked hesitant to answer until he eventually sat down in one of the chairs and told her.

“Like I said I killed him,” he rand his hands through his hair before continuing. “I was fighting him and his guards. After a bit ten more, I guess that’s how many there were, came in to help him. They forced him to go. I jumped over them using the staff and ran after him. I hit him with the kick and he went…, “he corrected himself, “he exploded. Actually his guard tried to take the hit but he pushed him out of the way. I ran through the rest of them to grab the staff. But they didn’t come after me, they surrounded what was left of him and ho…,” he choked up for a moment, “howled. I had to get out of there… then…,” he trailed off.

“The what?”, she asked. Haily started rubbing his shoulder.

He closed his eyes and said, “Then there was a massacre. Anderson’s men covered the upper area and started firing away at the remaining Drakan, they killed them all right then and there.” Haily looked sick as she heard this for the first time. Melissa didn’t need her gift to see how reliving this memory was affecting Davidson. He continued, “I went up there and grabbed the first one I could and demanded an answer. He said Anderson orders were to take out the ones I didn’t get. After that I went after him.” Oh God he was telling the truth, it was just like in Emily’s vision. She sent those men to their death, just because she wanted to help her brother. “I’m sorry,” he said softly but suddenly

Melissa needed to breath, he was being sincere. “Don’t, don’t be. Chris knew there was a strong possibility that he was going to die when he faced you. Th…, “she stuttered, “thank you for being honest with me.” After a painful moment of silence Arron ran into the room, a panic look on his face. “What is it?”

“La…,” he was breathing hard, “Lance. We just got a distress call from Lance.” Davidson got to his feet looking all business. “His convoy was ambushed by Anderson’s troops.”

“Where is he?”, Davidson asked.

“He said he was past mile marker twenty eight before we lost contact.”

“I know where it is,” he told them before rushing past Arron. He fixed that foil lined hood over his head. She realized he was heading for the garage. “I’ll go ahead and try to help who I can. Get a party together and meet me there.”

“Melissa?”, Arron asked her.

She watched him, saw how determined he was. There wasn’t much else she could do, “You heard the man, get a party together. And contact Dusty and tell him to expect some serious wounded, just in case.”

***

Jack pushed the bike as hard as he could handle it. Finding out that leader he took out was Melissa’s brother drove home just how much he wronged this group of people. And it was going to be a long road up hill to try to make it up to them, if he ever did. And he had to start some where. He reached mile marker twenty six and had a good long straight stretch of road in front of him. Jack raised his left arm in front of his chest to make the belt appear. Quickly he swung his arm to the side and raised his right arm, shouting, “Henshin!”, he slammed his right hand on top of the belt and grabbed the handlebars of the bike. He accelerated the bike as the black body suit and blue armor formed around him. Please don’t let him be too late.

He passed marker twenty seven and was coming up on twenty eight in no time. Before he knew it he came up to another apparent massacre. In the brief time he had he saw Drakan and men in World Inc. uniforms lying on the ground. The he saw a red wolverine fighting a red cat of some sort. Jack quickly realized that this plan of his had a slight problem. The cat knocked the wolverine down and Jack made his choice. He came in fast riding on his back tire and slammed the front tire into the cat. It flew back from the impact as he brought the tire down and skidded the bike to a stop. Jack got off and took the staff from its holder. He pointed it at the wolverine, who was taken aback. “Please tell me you’re Lance.”

The wolverine changed back into a blond long haired human. The same one he saw with Melissa, “This answer your question?”

“Right,” he said as he turned toward the cat and snapped the staff to it’s full length. The cat got back to its’ feet as Jack charged it. The Drakan ducked the first swing easily but didn’t see the back swing aimed at it’s knees that tripped it in time. Jack brought the end of the staff around as he stood over it and brought the end close to its’ face. “Be a good kitty or I’ll spay and/or neuter you.” The cat kicked him in the back and he stumbled foreword. The red Drakan kicked itself to its’ feet and Jack swung the staff again. It ducked and extended the claws on its’ right hand as it swiped at his chest. He went flying from the blow. Before he could regain his footing the cat pounced on him and started throwing clawing swipes at his head, knocking him senseless. On instinct he twisted the staff in the center to collapse it. The he jammed it hard into its ribs.

The cat howled in pain and knocked the staff out of his hands. He had just enough of an opening to hit the bottom of its jaw with the heel of his hand. Dazed, Jack had no problem pushing it off and rolling to a kneeling position. He noticed Lance just sitting there watching them. Not like he was expecting any help or anything, but at least look like you were making an effort or something dude. The cat snarled as it came at him. He dodged and grabbed the cat around the waist from behind. Grunting, Jack picked up the Drakan and threw it over his head, falling back in the process. The cat landed on the back of its neck and was slowly getting up. When it did Jack was right there to knock it back down. He pounded away until the meter started flashing. Jack spun around and planted kick to its’ gut to force it back. He twisted the pod up and the charge went up his side and down his right arm. Jack raced in and landed a straight punch to its chest. The cat flew back and exploded. Jack stood there trying to get his breath back, another one added to the nightmare.

Deactivating the armor he removed his motorcycle helmet and walked over to Lance. They stared at each other for a few moments, Jack started smirking as he said “Not bad for a guy who you said couldn’t be trusted around you guy huh?”

Lance didn’t reply right away, “You didn’t know which one was me did you?”

Jack shrugged his shoulders, “I was always good a fifty-fifty. According to Dusty it’s the height of rudeness, but if I ever do this again somebody better tell me who turns into what before I make a huge mistake.” He held out a hand for Lance. He looked at it for a moment then took it and Jack helped him up. “You all right?”

“Yeah,” he nodded.”Luckily Anderson troops were only armed with stun grenades and had no idea how bad we outnumbered them. You’re not bad with that staff, a little crude maybe, but not bad.”

“Eh, Anderson had one of his top goons give me a few lesson. I never really paid that much attention to be honest with you.” A couple of pairs of headlights could be seen coming the direction he came from. Before long a couple of old vans came to a stop and Rachel and the other piled out. “You guys missed the party.”

The Drakan ignored him as the checked on the others. The relief was visible as they realized the other were alive. Rachel stood next to him, mainly to make sure he stayed out of the way. She smiled at bit at him, “You did good, you know that?”

“Was there ever any doubt?”

“With you? Always,” she playfully elbowed him the ribs. He sold it before smiling back.

Lance was talking to one of the medics a little bit away from them. “Looks like her cousin tried to go for one of the big fish.”

He snorted, “I don’t think he considers me that big of a target.” He tried to make sure they didn’t over hear the conversation, they did any way. Jack and Rachel both started at him.

“Cousin?”, Rachel asked. “What cousin?”