<Episode 35>

“I can shave myself you know,” Jack protested as he sat in the chair. Rachel and Sparky stood by as Angie used an old barber razor across his cheek. “I should know, I’ve done it before. I’m kinda good at it.” He tapped his foot impatiently the entire time.

“I know you can,” Rachel said,” but I don’t want you to have a razor in your hands in case you have another episode.”

“I’m haunted and she sounding like it’s a TV show,” he mumbled. A little louder he said, “A couple of extra scars aren’t gonna make that much of a difference. What, you think I’m gonna cut an artery or something?”

“Of course not,” she told him. Even if it was a major lie. “But you’re always doing things for yourself. Sometimes it’s nice to sit back and let somebody do it for you. So enjoy it or I’ll tell Angie to get rough with you.”

“Relax would you Jack,” Angie said joining in. “You should feel lucky. I don’t do this for just anybody you know. Otherwise I never get anything done around here.”

“Good to have connections,” Sparky said beaming.

“Yeah,” Angie agreed, “and it it’s a good thing Rachel asked so nicely.” Sparky stopped smiling while Rachel put a hand over her mouth to cover hers. “Trust me you’re face will be smooth as a baby’s butt by the time I’m finished.”

Sparky started smiling again, “Probably not the only things she…”

Angie pointed the razor at him, “You even think about finishing that sentence and I’ll cut something off.”

He quickly backtracked, “I was talking about your legs, Damn.”

Jack got that familiar twinkle in his eyes, “If I give you twenty bucks will you do it anyway?”

She thought it over for a second, “Make it thirty and I’ll let you name the part.”

“Alright, alright,” Rachel cut in, “stop threatening poor Sparky.”

“Yeah,” he quickly agreed.

“No matter how much he deserves it.”

“Yea… hey!”

“So where’s Arron?”, Jack asked changing the subject. “I’d figured he want to be here. Somebody has to defend Sparky after all.”

“He’s with Melissa and Lance,” Sparky told him. “That cell leader coming in today. Melissa wants to have a few choice words with him about that job he sent us on.”

“Was that the same job Arron was saying ‘We were set up’ over and over?”, Jack asked. Sparky nodded, “Should be a fun meeting.”

“It took forever to calm him down,” Rachel said thinking about the commotion after they came back. “I’m surprised they want him there.”

“I’m sure they have Fido on a short leash,” Jack said absentmindedly.

“Jack go like this,” Angie said making a motion with her lip. He did and she started in on his upper lip. “You sure you just want the shave? It won’t take me that long to grab my scissors and stuff.”

“I’m just tired of my food getting stuck in there,” he said plainly.

“I’m surprised you’re not doing this,” Sparky leaned on and whispered to Rachel. She really didn’t comment. “What you don’t think you can do it, it’s not that hard you know.”

“Well a couple of people have commented I’m becoming a little overprotective,” she admitted. “After I thought about I can kind of see why they would think like that. I guess I’m trying to prove to myself that I can trust Jack in other people’s hands. Especially now that he’s not being as ‘visited’ as often as he was.” Now if only that nightmare of his would show some signs of slowing down.

“I wasn’t talking about that, I just figured something like this would bring you guys a little closer.” Then Sparky grinned a bit as he slyly said, “Unless you guys have other ways to get closer at night.”

Her face not betraying any of the annoyance she was feeling she leaned in a little closer and said, “I know where he keeps his money.” Sparky backed away and crossed his legs. She looked over at Jack who was looking right at them with an amused look on his face. Rachel didn’t want to but she ended up smiling too.

***

She was finding it hard to remain calm with Arron standing so close with his emotions streaming off him. Lance was fortunately a calming source to concentrate on, despite the small edge she was getting from him. Not that Melissa could blame them if this turned out to be true. She really didn’t want to believe they were led into a trap by one of their own, but everything was looking that way. Oh she really wanted Chris there beside her, for support more than anything else.

The door to the “war” room opened and she got her first look at Trent, Drake’s replacement. The first thing she noticed was how well dressed he was for somebody supposedly to be in hiding and on the down low. Then she noticed his eyes, blue but very suspicious, looking everywhere as fast as they could. Then he spotted her and looked her over like he was sizing her up. He gave her a warm looking smile, the only thing that was betraying it was the contempt she was getting from him. “Melissa,” she said like he spotted a long lost friend, “it’s nice you can finally see me. I’ve been trying to get a hold of you for a long time.”

“Really,” she said neutrally, “this is the first time I’m hearing of it.”

“Well,” he said as he sat down, “I’d imagine the message gotten lost along the way. You know how subordinates are.”

“No I don’t,” she told him.

Lance agreed, “Neither do I.”

“Yes,” he looked unaffected, “I guess it’s all in how you look at it.” Chuckling he said, “I suppose this is about that snafu from the other night. Bad business that.” The fact he wasn’t even trying to act sympathetic was getting on her nerves. Not only her as she held up a hand at Arron behind her so he’d keep quiet.

“Snafu wouldn’t be the word I’d use,” she told him.

“Oh,” he looked surprised, “and what word would you use?”

“How about ambush,” Lance cut in, “trap, set up.”

“I do believe that last one was two words,” he chuckled. Was he enjoying this?

“I’m glad you’re finding this funny,” Lance snapped.

“Easy Lance,” she whispered.

“I swear I didn’t know Anderson’s little army was going to show up,” Trent said holding a hand over his heart. Melissa eyes narrowed a bit. For as long as she had her gift she knew there were several emotions connected to lying. She was reading several of them right now. “If I even suspected there was a chance they would have showed up I never would have sent you after the disc.”

“That was five months out of date,” she informed him. “As of last year to be exact.”

He gave her a smile she’d only seen on con men and shady used car dealers, “I only said the disc was there. I had no way of knowing how accurate it was going to be.”

“You knew the password to the file easily enough,” Arron told him. “And you knew where the file was and in which office. So how could you not know how up to date it was?”

“No piece of information is perfect.”

“Your piece of imperfect information cost us five people,” Melissa said doing everything to stay under control. She would not give him the satisfaction of seeing that.

As he slowly stood he finally lost the smug look, replaced by something that looked like borderline rage, “And we lost Drake! And from what we have been able to gather your men are still alive. Drake is dead because your people were too late to act.”

“We did everything we could to save Drake,” Melissa told him realizing were this rage was coming from.

“You didn’t do enough,” he said coldly. “Christopher’s supposed successor just stays here and does nothing.”

“And what did you expect me to do if I was there?”, she asked flat out. He wasn’t expecting her to fight back from the look of things. “Just stand there and be a target as Anderson’s men realized who I was? Even Drake wouldn’t have stood for that after what happened to Chris.”

“You’re right,” he begrudgingly admitted, “he wouldn’t have.” He straightened what he was wearing as he calmed down. “Sorry this is a bit of a sore spot with me. Especially with all the conflicting reports from that night. Our people, well my people now I suppose, the ones who got away were saying something like there were two Drakan Killers there that night.”

She felt the sudden nervousness emitting from Arron. But Trent was looking right at her and she was betraying nothing. “I heard the same thing. It was rather hectic that night from what I understand.”

“Yes, especially after Drake died. In fact,” his eyes just burrowed into her, “some of mine, after Drake died, were swearing a couple of yours was dragging one of them off.”

“Really now?” She looked at Arron, “You never told me you brought in the Drakan Killer.”

“Slipped my mind,” he said.

“That’s a pretty big slip.”

“Yes,” Trent cut in. “It is rather strange that neither one hardly been seen since then.”

“Maybe they took each other out,” she offered. “It’s long been rumored the Drakan Killer left Anderson.”

“Always a possibility,” he admitted. “There is a rather strong scent of death around here, isn’t there?”, he asked almost casually.

“I stopped noticing al long time ago,” she said flatly. “We’ve been jumped on a lot of raid or took on the Drakan Killer. Not all of them come back, especially when Anderson men are shooting to kill.”

“I’m sure if I walked into your cell I’d smell a bit of a death scent,” Lance added.

“I’m sure you would,” he agreed. “But it does seem a little heavier around here for some reason. Almost like there somebody particularly good at killing Drakan as it were.”

“It’s a larger community,” Melissa aid. “We just take people in. We don’t know what they did before, all we ask is they don’t cause any trouble while they’re here.”

“Right,” he didn’t look or feel like he was convinced. “Well thanks again for meeting with me.” They shook hands and he left. Melissa revisited the urge to wipe her hand on her jeans.

“Does he know Jack’s here?”, Arron asked after a moment.

“He suspects it,” she said. “But he can’t prove it and it’s eating at him.”

“Good going keeping your cool kid,” Lance told her. “I think Chris would have went off on him the moment he saw him. Trent is just the type of guy he loved putting in their place.” She said nothing as she listened to him. Most of her attention was at the door. “Do you think he did it?”

Looking back at all the emotions she read off him she had her answer. “I just can’t prove it.”

***

Emily sat alone in her room trying to meditate. She had a very bad feeling after Trent came by and paid his respects. Nothing concrete nor a vision of anything. Just a feeling that overcame her for whatever reason. Best leave the feelings to the like of Melissa or some other child who knew them better than she did. Breathing in slowly she held it for a second before letting it out and felt her old bones relax considerably. Then she felt that familiar moving sensation she grew accustomed to.

When she opened her eyes she was greeted to a familiar sight. She was in her room and yet not in her room at the same time. Emily knew this because it happened before. And it was some what surprising she was there again. She looked at herself and Jack sometime in the future sitting on the floor of her room. He still had that look in his face and eyes that he had the first she had this vision, so nothing changed there. This time she looked around the room trying to find something to give her some kind of time frame. Anything that would give her an idea of when this was happening. She saw nothing as she felt the moving sensation again.

Opening her eyes one more time she was in her real room, sitting in the chair she was in when it started. Emily looked around her room. She had seen the past, she had seen the future. She had talked to the dead that were willing to speak and helped others do the same. But not once in her life has she ever had the same vision twice. It unnerved her more than anything she had experienced before. Mainly because she wasn’t sure what it meant. Was it going to happen soon? Was it something she had time to prepare him and the other for? What did it mean?

***

Although she didn’t want to admit it out loud, it was good to see Jack looking like his old self. Now if he would only cut his hair. Not that she minded the long hair, she just kind of missed how he used to look. Rachel caught herself staring when she noticed Jack was looking at her. “What is there something in my teeth?”, he asked.

“No,” she said quickly. Thinking fast she added, “It just a little weird seeing your entire face again.” That wasn’t a total lie.

Jack kind of grinned, “Is it weird my face feels a little colder?”

“I think it’s in your head. Come on, our shift is about to start.” Ever since they started letting him go to the garden center it was almost impossible to get him to skip a day. She felt part of the reason was it got his mind off of things, even if it was only for awhile. And she had a feeling he didn’t trust anybody with his own personal project down there. Granted it was a couple of stray flowers, but he looked at peace while he was tending to them. Even if he barely had any idea about what he was doing.

When they arrived the place was busier than usual. Arron waved from the other side when he saw them. Then she noticed something about the tool rack. Picking up one of the shovels she studied it before looking for Frank. “When did we get new tools?”

“Today,” he answered. “I… uh… ran into a guy who owed me some money who finally decided to pay up. I figured it was about time we got some new equipment.” Then he went to another part of the center yelling at somebody for not doing something right. Jack was staring at Frank scratching his chin slightly. She grinned, “That would look a little better if you still had the beard.”

“What?”, he was startled until he realized what he was doing. He eyes caught something and he sighed, “Alright who’s idea of a joke?” Rachel turned around to see what he was looking at. Somebody had cordoned off his flowers with some stakes and rope.

“That was my idea,” Arron said as he came up to them. “Well, mine and Sparky’s. Neither of us wanted them to get stepped on or something by accident. Actually I’m amazed Frank agreed to let us do it. I guess coming into money put him in a good mood.”

“Getting money suddenly does that to you,” Jack said glancing back at Frank.

“That was very thoughtful of the two of you,” she said. “Wasn’t it Jack?”

“Yeah, thanks Fido,” he said picking out a spade. “How did the meeting with what’s his name go?”

“Don’t worry about it man,” Arron told him. “Nothing big happened.”

“That bad huh?”, Jack said.

“Worry about it after your done here,” she told him. “This stuff isn’t going to pick itself you know.” Rachel grinned to herself, “And somebody has to do Sparky’s workload.”

“Thought that’s why we had Fido here?”, Jack actually reached up and patted Arron on the head.

“Would you stop it,” Arron knocked his hand away. “I have half a mind to bury my foot in your ass.”

Jack had the nerve to look hurt, “But I’m sick.”

“In the head,” Rachel said. “The rest of you is perfectly fine.”

Arron grinned like a mad man, “So you’ve done a few personal inspections to verify this?”

Rachel face went warm almost immediately. Jack walked by with his head lowered muttering, “You so walked into that one.”

***

The common area was busier than usual as several of the adults looked over the place. Emily looked over what she could as well. This was one of the few times she wished her particular gift could be turned on when she wanted without any delay or preparation. But if she hasn’t figured it out by now she never would. She was so obsessed on her search she nearly ran into Jack who was coming around a corner, “Excuse me child.”

“It’s ok,” he said. “But I’m starting to think I did something because that the third time I’ve almost been knocked down in the past ten minutes.”

“It’s nothing you’ve done child,” she assured him. “One of the children is missing.”

Concern immediately etched his face, “Which one?”

“Jennifer,” she answered and continued her search.

“The one with the bear?”, he asked following her. “How come nobody told me? I’d help look for her.”

“I assume they didn’t want to add to your burden.”

“Screw my burden, a kid’s missing,” he told her. “When was the last time anybody saw her?”

“That was the first place everybody looked and we found nothing. Nobody could pick out her scent among those present.”

“Isn’t there a bloodhound around here?”, he muttered. He joined her as they looked around the complex calling out her name. After awhile he asked, “Is there any chance she went outside?”

“Possible, but we have people looking by the exits.”

“All the ones you know about,” he said. “Trust me, as a former sneaky little kid, there gotta be a couple around here that you don’t know about. Come on.”

“Where are we going?”

“To find a kid who’ll talk.”

She was amazed at how tight lipped the children when it came down to finding any other way out of the habitat. Jack called it the code of the playground. You don’t screw up a good thing you’re not supposed to know about by telling an adult about it. After a few more children said nothing Jack stood there with his hands on his head and his eyes closed. Emily thought he was having another one of his episodes until she heard him whisper, “Think like a kid, think like a kid, think like a kid.”

“I think I know where Jennifer went,” said a boy who looked like he was barely a teenager.

“Where?”, Jack asked immediately.

“There this pipe by the garden center,” he began. “A lot of the smaller kids use it to play outside. Jennifer keeps starting out but stops because she’s scared. The other kids make fun of her because of it. I told them to stop… I didn’t think she actually go.”

“It’s alright child,” Emily said, “you’re doing the right thing. Now where does this pipe lead?”

“A construction site that’s close by,” he said. “I think it’s abandoned, nobody been seen working there.”

When Emily turned toward Jack he was already gone. She smiled to herself, “You’re close to figuring out child. The moment you do I’ll be there waiting for you.”

***

“Jennifer!”, Jack called out. He looked around trying not to get nervous. The kid was right, this place hasn’t been used in awhile. Plenty of places for somebody to get hurt or… Just concentrate on finding the girl, “Jennifer!” Why did he go alone? He didn’t even think about grabbing some of the others to help look. No, he went straight to his room, made sure there was still some foil in the hood and left. What was going through his head? “Jennifer! This ain’t funny anymore,” he looked around and saw something on the ground. He hurried over and picked up a white teddy bear, “Polly,” she had to be around here somewhere. He saw something out of the corner of his eye and hurry after it, “Hey!”

He caught up quickly enough and his heart nearly stopped. Jennifer was being held by a guy in some ragged clothes with his hand over her mouth. Finding his voice he demanded, “Let her go.” The guy looked nervous, then he started sniffing the air. Jack went cold as his stomach tightened. Oh God, not here not now.

“Drakan Killer,” he was getting all excited. “You can help me. This is a rebel brat, I know it. She won’t tell where they are. But you, you can find them. Make her talk. Then I can show them I am worth something.”

“Anything, just let her go.” Why, did he go out alone? Some how Jennifer was able to get her mouth free and bit him. The guy let her go and she ran toward him. Jack pushed her behind him and started backing away. The guy started to look derange as he turned into a matted haired blue panther and charged at them. Jack grabbed Jennifer as the Drakan flew over them. Then it bared its claws and started swing away at him. Jack barely dodged each swing. He sidestepped one attack and spun around and without thinking he put his left arm up across his chest and the belt appeared.

The panther backed away but he was breathing hard and his heart was pounding away a mile a second. He couldn’t do this, not any more. Then he saw Jennifer and finished the movements and weakly said, “Henshin.” He took a step back as the armor formed around him. He was praying the Panther would turn tail and run. No such luck as he had to block when it started attacking again. Ducking one swing he reared his right arm back on instinct as he popped back up, fully intending to plant his fist into the cat’s face. Again something stopped him from making a fist. He hesitated just long enough for the panther to kick him away. Then it pounced on him.

He covered up as the Drakan wailed away at him. Then it picked him up and threw him into one of the steel girders. Jack had no where to go as it jumped up and kicked him in the chest. He fell to his knees as the wind left him. The panther picked him back up and punched him again turning him around. Jack came back around with what should have been a vicious back hand, then he stopped a inch from the panther’s head. What was wrong with him?! The panther had a disgusted look in it’s eyes as it punched him in the gut. Being picked up and tossed he landed hard. Looking up he saw Jennifer huddled against a pillar watching them looking frightened. Staggering to his feet he never took his eyes off of her as he weakly pleaded, “Run.” But she was frozen by fear.

“Weak!”, the panther shouted. “Soft! You’re soft. Just like the other, just like Anderson.” He started ranting, “He has the right idea but he doesn’t go far enough. He says kill those who don’t come to their senses, but only the adults. No he says the children can be saved, brought back to the right path. But he’s wrong, oh yes he’s wrong. They’re already contaminated with false ideas. If they want this stopped they have to eradicate all of it. Kill every last man, woman and child. Start with her to prove my point.” Jack never took his eyes off of Jennifer as he listened to that mad man. Slowly, ever so slowly, his fingers started to curl and make a fist that started shaking.

A primal scream escaped his throat as he whipped around and charged the Panther. He wasn’t even aware his fist flew until it made contact with the Drakan’s nose. He didn’t let up after that, letting this new burst of anger drive his actions. No, it wasn’t anger, it was something else but it was damn close. The Drakan tried to fight back but he reached around and grabbed it by the neck and repeatedly drove his knee into its head. Then he started hurling it into the pillars, it begged for him to stop and for mercy. Jack didn’t find any. He threw it to the ground as the meter started flashing. He stalked the panther as he grabbed the pod and twisted it up, only thinking about what the Panther was saying only minutes before. The charge from the belt went up his side and down his arm as he waited for the bastard to get to its feet. When it did he ran in screaming and tried to drive his fist through the Drakan’s chest. The panther flew back and exploded.

Jack was breathing hard as he took a couple of steps back and looked at his armored hands. Breathing even harder he clenched both hands into fists as he dropped to his knees. Tilting his head back he let loose another scream at the sky above him. It was not a cry of sorrow. It was not a cry of desperation. It wasn’t because he killed another Drakan. It was one born of frustration and confusion. Because something in his head clicked together and for one brief shining moment everything in his world made perfect sense. Then he lost it just as fast as he got it. Jack knew if he was ever going to be able to function again he had to get that moment back. And he thought he knew where to start. Or who to start with.