<Episode 37>

Jack sat there trying to get his breathing under control. It had been a week since he had that… experience with Emily. His ghosts were slowly disappearing for awhile now, especially since he told Rachel and Dusty where they apparently came from. It was almost like talking about why he was doing it was what they wanted. They even let him start sleeping in his own room and cot again. The nightmares on the other hand… no they were still there in full force. He still didn’t even know who they were going for after it changed.

“You’re up?”, Rachel asked from her bed while propping herself up on a elbow.

“I’m fine and no change,” he said anticipating the next two questions. “I’m going for a walk.”

“Want some company?”, she asked. “Or is this one of those ‘need to think’ walks?”

“Guess I’ve been going on those a lot huh?”

“Whatever it takes to get your head on straight. Just let me know if you have a breakthrough,” she told him as she lay back down.

“Unless I have one so exciting I tell the first person I see you’re next in line.”

“That’s nice,” she said. Jack stood there by the door for a second and just watched her lay there before leaving.

He walked the halls not really paying attention to where he was going. He absentmindedly greeted anybody he came across but he never stayed longer than that. Before long he was standing in the common area, which was still kind of busy despite the time of night. Jack watched them for awhile. They looked and acted happy despite the fact they were living underground. One particular group was laughing loudly. Nobody was paying him any attention, even with him reeking of Drakan Blood. Would they still be acting like this if he wasn’t around? Would any of them still even be around if he never showed up at all? Would they be dead or captured by now if he never took Melissa’s offer?

“It’s almost like you’re seeing things for the first time isn’t it?”, Emily said walking up behind him. “You’re up kind of late,” she commented when he didn’t answer.

“Had a nightmare,” was all he said. “I just wish I knew why they were still coming.”

“Did you think your problems would go away after your journey?”

Not sure what to say for a second Jack just went, “Kinda.”

“They always do,” she said tiredly. “Injuries to the body, those will heal, although some will leave lasting reminders.” She gesture to the scars visible on his arms. “But injuries to the mind and spirit, those take longer to heal. And rarely heal fully.”

“So your saying I’m stuck with these sleepless nights for God knows how long?” Emily didn’t respond but she did lower her head slightly. “I better get used to taking naps during the day again.”

“It’s good to see you in high spirits child,” she told him. “Walk me back to my room?” He said he would let her take his arm. After awhile she said, “You never answered my original question.”

“I don’t know what to think any more. I don’t even know where I’m should be going.”

“That’s funny,” she said thoughtfully, “I was under the impression your friend gave you a very definite direction to go in.”

Jack stopped looking confused as Emily kept on walking, “Wait, you over… how did…?”

She stopped and turned to face him, “While you went on your journey on your own, I was the anchor point to make sure you didn’t go so far that you become lost. And while I never intend to intentionally eavesdrop occasionally something slips through, depending on the strength of the connection. Child, I have rarely seen a connection as strong as what you two had. The only question is, why aren’t you listening to him?”

He didn’t even try to cover up the annoyance he was feeling,” You’ll forgive me if I have a hard time swallowing the idea that my only way out of this mess is to add to it.”

“No one said this would be easy child,” Emily said calmly. “But your friend was right, they need you to be there as their champion.”

He pointed behind him at the common area, “They won’t accept me as their champion.”

She walked up and put a hand on his shoulder, “A champion doesn’t do what he does because he wants to be accepted. He does it because he knows it is the right thing to do and he’s the only one who can.”

“I don’t deserve to be their champion,” he said walking away. “I’ve killed these people. I’ve killed their friends. I’ve killed their family. I killed Melissa’s brother for Christ sakes!” Hanging his head a bit he said a little calmer, “He should have been their champion, not me.”

“He was their champion child,” she told him softly. “Much like yourself he was reluctant to take the role, but they would have not gotten this far without his voice guiding them. But as with all thing as time passes, needs change. He was who they needed then. You are who they need now. Christopher helped them to their feet to start the fight. You need to help them fight.”

“Melissa…,” he started to say.

“She has her role in this and she is fulfilling it now,” Emily cut him off. “In fact Christopher would be proud at how fast she took to the role despite her fear and reluctance.” She looked him in the eyes, “There is a spark within you child, and only you can decide if it dies out completely or grows into something larger. If you want to fulfill your destiny you must be forged in the fires of your upcoming battles to become something stronger. Nobody can force you to choose, but all I ask is that you think it over before that spark dies out completely.”

“That’s a lot to put on one guys shoulders,” he informed her.

“Christopher told me something similar,” she said as she took his arm again. As they headed back to her room she added, “There are times I’m surprised at how many similarities you two have.”

“So, what, you’re saying we would have been fast friends?”

“Oh child no,” she chuckled and patted his arm. “There is no doubt in my mind that the two of you would have been at each other throats after a week.”

***

Rachel wasn’t sure why Melissa wanted to talk to her alone. It couldn’t be for an update on Jack. She talked to her, Arron, Dusty and Sparky almost daily and Jack usually comes up at least once. And it had been months since she whacked Jason in the nuts with the staff. It would be kind of strange to reprimand her now. Well she’d find out when she got there. Like she said she would be Melissa was in the cafeteria. “Rachel,” she greeted her friendly enough. “Can I get you something to drink?”

“No, I’m fine,” she replied as she sat across from her. “So what did you want to see me about?”

She actually looked embarrassed, “I know the timing of this is going to seem strange but after our last conversation I couldn’t remember the last time I asked to see how you were holding up with all the things Jack was going through.”

“It’s a little late to be asking me now isn’t it?”

“I know and I feel horrible. I was so worried about the spot I put Jack in I forgot about you. Even while you were trying to shoulder the entire thing.”

“As you can see I held up pretty well,” Rachel said. “My sanity is intact, probably a bad choice of words considering the situation.”

“And trust me there were a few times I worried about that,” Melissa admitted. “They way we had to fight to get you to take a break, even if it was for five minutes. Dusty was even worried about you.”

“I never really noticed to be honest.”

“I’m surprised you noticed anything else. Not that I’m trying to undermine your determination or anything. Like I told you last time, I doubt he would have gotten as far as he did as fast as he did without you.”

“I’m sure if somebody else was his mission operator for this long they would have gotten the same results.”

“You’re cutting yourself short. There’s a reason why Dusty didn’t argue all that much when you basically became his primary provider.”

“Dusty has a habit of seeing things that’s not there,” Rachel countered. “Trust me, Jack and me compared notes about this. We’re pretty sure he was trying to get us to get together.”

Melissa just looked at her, “But you do want to…”

“I know what I told you,” she said suddenly. “And I also told you if anything was going to happen it would have before now.”

“And as long as you sit in idle nothing going to happen. How do you know what’s going to happen if you don’t try. Why don’t you make the first move?”

Rachel started getting irritated, “Why are you pushing this?”

“I’m just curious,” Melissa admitted. “What is the reason why you’re not doing anything? And don’t give me that excuse you gave me last time about him thinking you’re too high maintenance. We both know better.”

Rachel debated to herself for a few moments before answering. “You seen those looks he gave me every time Anderson threw a new twist at us. I just get the feeling part of him still sees me as part of World Inc.”

“Rachel…,” Melissa said, looking unsure on how to continue.

“We worked things out after Richie. I’m just afraid that if we did get together and Anderson threw something new at us it would start all over again.”

“After everything that’s happened do you really think he’s going to do that again?”

“I don’t know… I,” she trailed off. “Is that all you wanted from me?”

“There was one more thing,” Melissa said as Rachel started to get up. “It also occurred to me I barely know anything about you. With deal with each other just about every day and outside of the occasional snippet here and there you’re pretty much a blank slate.”

“And I can say the same about you,” Rachel told her.

“Maybe it’s time we changed that, she said. “Like how did you get involved in all of this to begin with?” Rachel started to laugh slightly. “What’s so funny?”

“It might only be funny to me, but after we moved in with Dusty Jack finally got around to asking me that same question. As to how, let’s just say I walked into the middle of a skirmish.”

***

Anderson looked at the map on the Command Center wall with interest. Williams was marking out a spot she and Perez discussed after they went after the information they were given. Perez looked apprehensive, “You sure we can trust this information?”

“Not particularly Mr. Perez,” He admitted. “But it was given as a show of good faith. An attempt to prove their trustworthiness.”

“By selling out their own?”, Williams asked.

“That thought did cross my mind Mrs. Williams. Normally I would turn down there offer, but the supposed target is a little too good to pass up.”

“So this would hurt the rebels if we get her?”, Perez asked.

“More morally than physically,” Anderson informed him. “Sometimes the gain is worth the risk. Although that doesn’t mean we have to be stupid. Do you have a plan in place Mr. Perez?”

“Well that’s going to depend on what kind of security she’s going to have around her.”

Ah, the daily juggling act he had to perform when he was around humans. Exactly how much information should he give away and in what manner and not appear suspicious. “I already spoken to some of our Drakan contacts,” he started. “She likes to travel with as a small an entourage as possible. At most she’ll have a guard and a driver. So resistance should be light.”

“How were you able to get all of that?” , Perez asked, obviously impressed.

“As tactfully as possible. There no need in angering our allies unnecessarily after all. And as long as we are careful with the target.”

“Right,” Perez looked a little disappointed. “So a small task force then. Maybe about three or four. And, if you will agree, a larger force that will be held back, just in case it is a trap.”

Anderson thought it over, “I would say that would be agreeable. You paid my attention to my words Mr. Perez, I am impressed. Prep the right people for the job and have them waiting at the target area in advance. And I must point out as little violence as possible. As I said there’s no point in angering our allies.” Not to mention a more powerful alpha. That was the last thing needed at this point.” And might I add, any unnecessary violence that harms the target and the consequences will be harsh and dealt out by me. Is that clear Mr. Perez?”

“Yes sir it is.”

“Good, “I’ll let you do your job then.”

***

Melissa got into the habit of walking around the habitat, just make sure everything was alright with those under her. She could never just hang back and give orders, she just had to see how everybody was. Melissa was too connected to these people to do otherwise. Although she was a little surprised to find Jack sitting by himself and looking at the ceiling. He gave her a friendly wave and said hello. But right before she overheard him mutter, “Champion? I don’t even know what the hell that’s supposed to mean.” Melissa really wanted to ask what that was about. But she figured it had something to do with his thing with Emily, so it was best to leave it alone. Just for his privacy if nothing else.

“Hi Melissa,” Rachel said as she joined her. “Doing your nightly rounds I see.”

“I never told you about these,” she informed her.

“’I’ve seen you do it before a couple of times,” Rachel said. “I have very good observational skills. It’s why I insisted on going out in the field. I figured I could help out if I was able to spot something out of the ordinary.” She sighed, “Too bad I didn’t see the obvious right before my eyes a couple of times.”

Here were at least two things that could have been about. So Melissa went with the one that surprisingly bothered her as much as it did. “Despite at how proud my cousin is of who and what he is he is very good at hiding what he is from the, and I’m quoting, ‘lower species’.”

“No offence but the more I learn about your cousin the more I learning to despise him.”

“Hey at least you quit, I’m still related to him. So why are you joining me on this particular ‘round’ as you put it.”

“Honestly I enjoyed our talk earlier, and I noticed you looked a little anxious. Thought I could come over and see what was wrong.”

“Emily been requested to do what she does at another cell. I always get a little nervous when she leaves the habitat.”

“Then why doesn’t the person come here?”,” Rachel asked. “She does have one of those tracking chips in her head.”

“Normally they do, but every so often she takes a trip to their cell. She calls it an itch to stretch her legs. She does so much around here it’s hard to tell her no when she makes the request. Well that and she a wicked shot with that cane of hers,” they shared a laugh. “It does her good to get out every so often I guess. Nobody wants to stay cooped up down her all the time.”

“You don’t have to tell that to the kids down her,” Rachel commented.

“Well to be honest I knew there were a few ways out of here that the children were using. Not the one leading to that construction site though. I would have had that sealed off the moment I found out about it.”

“I guess that would explain the wielding team in that pipe. The kids looked really disappointed. I was afraid they would take it out on Jennifer. I think they were before Jack gave them that look.”

“If you think his look is something you should have seen the one Chris used to give them. I wanted to shut up and behave.”

“Then you should see my Mother’s look. My Dad swore the kids down the street started acting right. But that’s nothing compared to my Aunt’s. She actually made a gator stop coming at her.”

Melissa shook a finger at her, “Now you’re pulling my leg.”

“Heart to God it happened,” Rachel said. Melissa was still shaking her head in disbelief. “I was there I saw it happen. Nobody believes me when I tell this story.” Rachel stopped and held her arms out, “Look, I’m giving you permission, read me and tell me I’m not telling the truth.”

“I’m sure you believe you seen what you think you saw at whatever young age you were.”

“I was seventeen.”

“Did you tell this story to Jack?”

“And Dusty and they both laughed in my face.”

“Well it a ridicules story if you think about it.” A strong sense of anxiety made her stop and look back. Arron came running toward her. Even Jack got up to see what was so important. She tried not to think of the worst scenario possible. “What is it?”

“We just got a call from Emily’s driver,” he said between breaths. “They were ambushed by Anderson’s men. There last location was one of the back roads outside of town.” Melissa tried not to panic, that was one of the scenarios racing her head. She knew they needed to get a rescue party together now. Then she saw Jack running for the garage. Please do not let him be late for this one.

***

Her captors took her age into account as they sat her in the van, although still tied and gagged. Her escorts were on the ground tied together as Anderson’s men guarded them. “How long to we have to stay here?”, the one by her asked. “We could have had this old bat back at HQ by now.”

“Anderson’s orders,” a second one spoke. “Perez said he wanted to escort her back personally.”

“She’s just a Drakan, and an old one at that. Why even waste his time or risk his safety?”

“I don’t know, something about keeping our Drakan contacts happy or some crap.”

“I still say we should just shoot them all, bunch of freaks.”

“Don’t let the boss hear you say that. He gets a… bit testy.”

“Whatever,” he waved him off. This had been going on for a while now. It was starting to test her patience. Emily closed her eyes to find her center and calm herself. A sound of an incoming engine broke her concentration. She didn’t know much about cars but that sounded a little fast for it to be Anderson. Opening her eyes and looking around she saw a single headlight coming toward them. Her guards took a defensive position as the bike turned sharply and skidded to a stop. The rider took his helmet off, “Holy crap it’s Davidson.” Emily held her head up, not in relief but to show she was proud. She looked in his eyes and saw a fire within them. He made his choice.

***

Jack looked around quickly as he got off the bike. He was damn lucky they didn’t open fire yet. Sadly he recognized one of them from that party at that bar from awhile back. Might as well get this over with while they were still in a state of shock. “You have until I activate the system to let them go,” he told them. Without any hesitation he got his left arm up, the belt appeared and he finished the movements, “Henshin!” He stood there as the armor formed around him. The next move was theirs.

The moron from the party decided to lower his weapon and walk toward him. “We got nothing to worry about. Didn’t you hear? He’s not right in the head. Lost the will to fight and all that crap. What are you going to do Davidson? Send your ghosts after us?” Jack waited second before punching him in the nose. He felt it give and it started gushing blood as the moron backed away. Jack was hoping he do something that stupid.

Looking at the other two he went, “Next.” God, he hadn’t felt like this in a long time. Another one came at him with a shock stick in hand. Jack kicked him in the gut and he went down immediately. The third one went into a fighting stance as a pair of fin like wings grew out of his back as he transformed into a red stingray. “Of course one would show up when I’m around,” he muttered as he got ready and waved him on.

The stingray wasted no time in rushing at him. Jack followed suit, jumping up at the last second and jamming his knee into its chest. The Drakan backed up a step and came back at him. Jack quickly found himself on the defense as the Drakan started swinging away. The armor on his forearms absorbed the blows and waited for an opening. He saw it and kicked the Drakan in the stomach. But the stingray saw it coming and backed away so the blow only grazed it. Then it spun around and Jack had to jump out of the way to avoid its tail coming at him. When it turned back around Jack rushed in and smashed his forearm into the Drakan’s face. The Drakan tried to swing widely and Jack quickly blocked the blow. But it left him open as a knee smashed into his back. Another club like blow smashed into his neck stunning him. Before Jack knew it he was air born and slamming into the side of the van.

Pulling himself up he gave a quick glance to Emily to make sure she was alright. To nobody in particular he mumbled, “Think I’m a little rusty.” Clearing his head he looked up and dropped back down, “Whoa!” and a fist flew over his head and smashed the window behind him. Jack popped back up catching the stingray around the waist and ran foreword before driving him to the ground. Jack started punching away until its tail smacked him in the back. It didn’t hurt, just distracted him long enough for the stingray to get a shot in. Then another and another until he was forced off. Jack sat there just long enough to get the cobwebs out of his head and kick the Drakan’s legs out from under it as it tried to get up. Both of them scrambled to their feet and continued to pound at each other.

The meter started flashing and he wasn’t seeing a chance to do anything. Time to make one. Jack ducked a right cross and doubled it over with a fist to the gut. Grabbing one of its fins he tossed it away from Emily and the van and ran in with a shoulder block to knock it further away. Quickly backing up he twisted the right pod down. The turbines in his belt started spinning and the energy was redirected as it ran down his leg. As the Drakan got to its feet Jack ran foreword, jumped up and extended his right leg. His foot connected with the Stingray’s chest and it flew back and exploded. Going down to a knee and breathing hard he said, “Ok, maybe I’m a lot rusty.” A pair of familiar vans pulled up shortly afterwards and Rachel, Melissa and the others piled out. “Oh, now you show up.”

“Jack!”, Rachel and Melissa both cried out.

He pointed toward the other van, “Emily over there, don’t worry about me.” Melissa and the others did that but Rachel still checked on him. Standing up he tapped Sparky on the arm and motioned to the moron from the bar, whose nose was still bleeding, “That guy a human or a Drakan?” He had an idea but he just wanted to be sure.

“Does it matter?”, Sparky asked.

“No, not really.” Jack walked over and hauled him up by the front of his shirt. Staring into two very frightened eyes he said, “Tell Anderson that if he has a problem with this to grow a set and deal with it himself. Because they are defended.” God that sounded corny as hell, but strangely enough it felt good. He still didn’t know what being a champion meant but saying that still felt good. Dropping him he turned around and deactivated the systems.

“Thank you,” Melissa said as she ran to him and hugged him around the neck.

“Just doing what I thought I had to do,” he told her.

“I wasn’t sure what was going on,” Sparky said. “You came in the garage demanding to know what route she took and shot out of there like a bat out of hell.”

“Don’t you mean a dragonfly out of hell,” somebody joked.

“Cute,” Jack said. Emily came up to him, “Are you all right?”

“I am fine child,” she said, “but you may have a problem.” She looked at the World Inc. trooper.

“Now what he’s going to go through?”, Rachel asked looking at both of them.

“That goober,” he said pointing to the one from the bar, “mentioned my ghosts. We were the only one who knew about that so somebody had to tell Anderson about it.”

“Who would have told him?”, Melissa wondered out loud.

“I think I got an idea who.” He looked at Rachel who looked away with a hurt expression on her face. Melissa was about to say something but he spoke first. “We go those new tools about a week or so ago right?”

“What…,” Rachel was shocked for a second, “yeah we did. Wait, you don’t think…?”

“Just keeping our options open.”

***

Anderson sat at his desk as the phone rang. Picking it up he didn’t have a chance to speak as he heard, “So was my information accurate?”

“Yes it was,” he said. “But unfortunately Davidson made a surprise appearance.” Not that he would say it out loud but part of him was actually glad Davidson apparently got out of his troubles.

“I had a feeling he might,” he sounded triumphant for some odd reason. “So do we have an agreement?”

“I see no reason why not. What is this deal you propose Mr.….”

“Just call me Trent. And all I want is all the information you have on the Drakan Killers you created and the condition of the last one you sent out.”

Anderson did not see that one coming. He was suspecting some sort of immunity when the rebels eventually lost. Or at least asking for the job with his company. “And if… if I give you this information what do I receive?”

“I can tell you where your lost Killer is.”