<Episode 38>

Jack sat there waiting patiently for him to show up. Silently going over the clues he saw in his head and kept hoping he saw all of it wrong. The guy could be jerk at times but he seemed like a decent enough person, just a little rigid in how he thought things should be. Jack looked at his plant as he heard footsteps coming his way. Glancing over in that direction he saw it was him, “Hey Frank.”

He jumped slightly, “What are you doing? You trying to give me a heart attack or something?”

“I thought you would’ve smelled me before you saw me.”

“My sense of smell isn’t that good,” he informed him. “Now what are you doing in my garden?”

“How did you get the money for those new tools again?”

Looking annoyed he started, ”I told you I ran into…”

“You ran into a guy who owed you money. Right,” Jack said as he got up. “Did you hear about what happened to Emily?”

“What is this twenty question?”, Frank demanded

“I just had a unique experience, that’s all. It’s weird you know,” Jack said as he started walking around a bit, “I haven’t thought or seen things this clearly in a while now. It’s been what, seven eight months since it happened? From what I understand word spread like wildfire down here that I went a little crazy. Of course I can’t say I as all that sane to begin with,” he chuckled a bit. “Now that I’m more or less back to normal you think I’d be relieved. But as strange as this might sound I got used to the ghost being around so now I’m feeling kinda lonely. Hell in one of my more inbetween moments I actually nicknamed one of them Chuck.”

“Is this going somewhere?”, Frank asked sounding even more irritated.

“I’m getting there so hold your horses. Did you know Emily told me everybody was talking about my ghosts? Particularly down here so I know the entire place knew about them. So you could imagine that I was a more than a little surprised when one of Anderson’s men seemed to know about them too.”

“Obviously somebody told them,” Frank said

“Obviously,” Jack agreed, “but who?”

“I wouldn’t past Jason to sell you out.”

Jack smiled sadly, “You know normally he’d be the first one on my list too, but something else happened. About a month or so again, right before I discovered those flowers over there you stormed right past me. I don’t know if you saw me but I heard you. You were saying you had half a mind to take them up on that offer.” Frank paled slightly as he stepped a little closer to him, “Just out of curiosity, who are they and what was the offer?”

“That’s a private matter and none of your business,” he tried to put warning tone in his voice.

“Oh I think it is,” Jack said getting into his face. “I hear you talking about taking an offer. The next thing I know you have money and the World Inc. goon squad knows about my ghosts.”

“It’s not what you think,” Frank pleaded.

“I think it’s exactly what I think it is,” Jack said making him back up. “So why did you do it Frank?”

“I didn’t…” he started to protest. Then he broke down, “Anderson wanted to know what happened to you. He was curious about what happened during that night, that’s all. I swear it is.”

Jack really wanted to punch him right now, disgusted he walked away. “Well Frank I have some good news and some bad news for you. Good news is I asked around and you don’t turn into a mole. So I won’t have to beat you silly for being that obvious. Bad news… Sparky’s right behind you.”

“Wha…?”, was all he got out before he jolted slightly and some of the others came out of hiding to drag him away.

Looking at Sparky Jack went, “Please tell me you didn’t enjoy that.”

Fingering some of his hair that was still shorter than the rest he said, “He cut off one of my dreads man.”

“And I thought I had issues,” he said walking away.

“Hey Jack,” Sparky said after him. “You named one of your ghosts Chuck?”

Shrugging his shoulders he answered, “He looked like a Chuck.”

***

Melissa didn’t try to hide her disappointment as Frank sat in front of her. Of all the people who crossed her mind he wasn’t even near the top of the list. “Why did you do it Frank?”

“I already explained why I did it,” he answered softly.

“How much money did they offer you?”

“Nobody talked to me personally. He sent word that he was willing to pay for information on what happened to Davidson. What we were using was going down the crapper. I was trying to help us out. It wasn’t hurting anything if Anderson knew what was wrong with him.”

“You betrayed Jack,” she told him.

“Do you think I was the only one who thought about it? I’ve heard people talk about what they would do with that money.”

“I’m sure some where, but it still doesn’t change the fact you took Anderson up on it,” Melissa said sharply. Frank went very quiet. “Exactly how much did they offer you for information on Emily’s route?”

“What?”, he went bug eyed. “I’d never betray us like that. I did everything I could to make sure none of Anderson’s men could follow me here. I got lost a couple of times I was trying so hard. So why would I tell them where to find Emily. I didn’t even know where she was going until after they left. So when was I going to have a chance to tell anybody anything?” Melissa wanted to call him on a lie, any lie, but she knew he was telling the truth.

Sighing heavily she said, “Unfortunately I still don’t think I can trust you at the moment. But I don’t know what to do with you either. So until I do I’m relieving you of all your responsibilities. And don’t be too surprised if the people down here start acting differently around you. Like Emily keeps telling me news like this spreads rather fast.”

“I was just trying to help us out,” Frank repeated weakly as she left the room.

In the hallway she found Rachel standing there and Jack leaning against the wall. “He wasn’t the one who told Anderson about Emily.”

“Then we still got a leak somewhere,” Rachel said. “Even Emily said they were ambushed. There just no way Anderson’s assault team just ran across them.”

“Everybody starting to look at each other too,” Jack added.

“I know,” Melissa said pinching the bridge of her nose, “and until I have something concrete to show them they’re going to keep doing it.”

“I don’t suppose Emily has an idea who did it?”, Jack asked. “With her second sight and all that.”

“When did you start believing in that?”, Rachel asked him. Then she said, “Even if she did ‘see’ it why did she go out if she knew there would be trouble?”

“She knew Anderson was coming to put one of those tracking bug in her head,” Jack informed her.

“Emily a big believer in changing the future as little as possible,” Melissa said anticipating Rachel next question. “Besides I already talked to her about it. She told me she had a bad feeling about the trip but nothing more.”

“Maybe we should parade some of the more suspicious ones in front of her and see if she picks up anything,” Jack offered. Melissa and Rachel both looked at him. “I’m just saying… it’s an option.”

“So what are you going to do about Frank?”, Rachel asked gesturing toward the room he was in.

“I honestly have no idea,” she replied looking at the door. “I can’t send him out in case he decides to spill our location out of spite. And I can’t send him to another sell in case he tells them about him,” she pointed at Jack. “I have to think about this one.”

“Either way me, Arron and some of the others are going to look for the old tools,” Rachel said. “I don’t feel right in using the new one now. I’ll see you guys later.”

“See you in a bit,” Jack said as she left. Melissa watched him watch Rachel go for a few seconds before returning his attention her. A second later she noticed Rachel glance back at Jack.

She just had to ask. “When you said you had an idea who did it, did Rachel ever cross your mind?”

“Why would I have considered Rachel?”, he asked a little bewildered.

“Well you do look at her funny, usually when I mention that Anderson has another Fusion operative in the works.”

“Ok,” he admitted, “I have mainly because she kept some things from me. Like how I have one of those bugs in my head too. And we worked past that. But sell me out like that, there’s no way she would do it.” Jack got real quiet and raised an eyebrow at her, “You didn’t think…?”

“Of course not,” she assured him. “I was just curious, that’s all.” Jack kept looking at her funny as he turned to leave. Melissa smirked to herself, there was some hope for those two yet. She turned to leave herself when she remembered something else she wanted to ask him. “You named one of your ghosts?”

***

“I do not like this,” Perez said as he stood slightly behind Anderson as he waited behind his desk. In a rare occurrence he found himself agreeing with the human. This could very well blow up in his face before he knew it. Particularly if their incoming guest decided to divulge his secret to those under him. Anderson was sure none of the human would believe it. But there would be those who would start to ask questions, which would lead to even more questions. That headache he didn’t need. A light on his desk blinked on and his secretary announced he had arrived.

“Send him in.” Not even a second later an extremely well dressed rebel walked in confidently and took the seat in front of the desk without it being offered. Years of practice allowed him to hide the disbelief of the sheer gall the rebel had. “Can I get you anything Mr….?”

“Trent,” he said nonchalantly as he looked around the room. Then his gaze fell upon Perez, “Although I was expecting a bigger welcoming committee. Just one guard? I’m practically insulted.”

“Mr. Perez is the head of my assault unit. I assure you he’s more than capable of handling the situation.”

“I’m sure he is,” this Trent gave him a knowing grin. “Do you have what I asked for?” Without a word he opened a drawer, took out a rather sizable file and slid it across the desk. Trent looked it over, grunting something every so often. Suddenly he started clicking his tongue, “You’re holding out on me.”

“I gave you all you requested,” Anderson said plainly.

“Then where’s the information on the mark two you’re cooking up?” Once again he found himself being surprised by the man, and again years of experience kept that from showing. If this man wasn’t a rebel he would have made every offer possible to get him in his in his company.

“What mark two?”

“Don’t be coy with me Anderson. My cell has tabs all over the place. I know you have a new Killer in the works, just like I know your Mr. Perez is not the original head of your shock troopers.” Trent leaned back and looked confident. “Now about that mark two…”

Anderson leaned foreword slightly, “You said you wanted all the information on the ones we had created, past tense. If we were working on this mark two like you claim then it would be in the creation phase. Therefore we have complied with your wishes.”

He sat there simmering before he regained his composure and started smiling, “You are a sly cat, I will give you that. Fair enough, you’ve kept your end of the bargain so I will keep mine.” Reaching into his coat he pulled out and placed an envelope on the desk. “The location of your lost Killer and, as an added bonus, the so-called leader of this rebellion. I would mention where the entrances and exits are but you never requested that.” The look on Trent’s face made it apparent that he thought he just evened the score. “Pleasure doing business with you.”

“I wish I could say the same,” Anderson said after he left. Waiting a few minutes he looked at Perez who nodded. He turned away and started speaking into the microphone hidden in his vest. Anderson opened the envelope and studied the contents, a plan already forming in his head.

***

“I am not hearing things,” Jack stated to Arron. They were in the garage looking over his bike’s engine. At the moment they were in a heated discussion about it’s current condition.

“You are hearing things,” the youth shot back.

“And last night was the first time I heard this ping. So you weren’t taking as good of care of my bike like everybody said you were.”

“You are crazy.”

“Hey,” Jack pointed a wrench at him, “I know crazy and this ain’t it.” Jack looked up and saw one of the locals coming his way. The confused look on his face told him exactly what he was going to ask. “He looked like a Chuck,” he snapped. Turning back to the engine he muttered, “I knew I should have kept that to myself.”

“You probably listen to the part of your head that said you heard a ping from this high tech hunk of junk.”

Jack patted the side of the bike, “Don’t listen to him baby, he’s just an obnoxious teenager.”

“Does Rachel know you’re cheating on her?”, Arron asked. “Or are you cheating on the bike with Rachel?” Not saying a word or looking up Jack smacked him on the back of the head, “Hey!”

“Chuck did it,” was all he said. When he did look up he saw Melissa walk through the doors with a very stressed look on her face. “And I know that can’t be good.”

“Everybody stop what you’re doing,” she said loud enough that everybody in the garage heard her. Tensions felt like it grew when everyone saw her. “Anderson knows where we are.” There was a lot of gasps, cursing and the beginning of some panicky chatter from that announcement, but she didn’t let it go that far.”Trent, the man who took over for Drake after he died, was the one who informed him. Most of his cell called us the moment they found out and Dr. Freidman told us almost as soon as he saw him in the building. So we have to pack up and evacuate now.”

“How long until they get here?”, Arron asked.

“I don’t know,” she said softly. Finding her voice again she told them, “So I want every vehicle we have packed with the essentials and ready to go as soon as possible. Those who aren’t with Trent are going to help us, Lance and his cell are hurrying over to help out as well.”

“Where are we going to go?”, Jack asked. “There a lot of people down here.”

“We have some unused safe houses close by and Lance said he’d take in some of us for the time being. But we do have a ‘B’ site to go to. Every cell has a back up habitat for cases like this, known to just the cell leader and a few select others. Which brings me to the other reason why I’m here. I need some people willing to fight in case Anderson men get here before we’re ready. Jason and Sparky are heading this up so if anybody wants to volunteer step foreword now.”

Everybody looked around to see who would be dumb enough to take what would be a potential suicide mission if it came down to it. Then everybody looked right at Jack as he took a step toward her, “I’m in.”

“Jack you don’t…,” she stated to say.

“Yes I do,” he said flatly. A couple of more took his lead. Then Arron stood beside him. Glancing over to the kid, Jack looked at Melissa and slowly shook his head.

She nodded in agreement, “Sorry Arron I need you for something else. For those of you who volunteered, thank you and I pray to God that we don’t need you.”

“What the hell was that Jack,” Arron demanded. “I can make my own decisions you know. And you’re going to need all the help you can get.”

“Would you shut up for a second Fido,” Jack cut him off. “I need you to promise me you’ll make sure Rachel gets out of here.”

“But Jack…”

“Promise me,” he repeated a little more forcibly.

Arron looked him in the eyes then started nodding his head, “Sure thing man, you can count on me.”

“Good,” he said. Reaching into his pocket he handed Arron the keys to his bike. “Throw her on the bike if you have too, just get her out of here. And if there’s another pinging sound when I take the bike back I’m kicking your butt.” Jack rushed off to throw his stuff in his bag before he did anything else. He was getting a little ticked that he forced to leave what was basically home again.

***

Hectic didn’t even begin to describe the habitat at the moment. Everybody was running just about everywhere. Only a few were actually stepping up and trying to control the chaos. And Rachel was finding herself in her element. “Get those kids to the garage now!” she shouted at an adult watching over a group of the younger ones. “The first couple vans are leaving in a few minutes.” Turning in another direction she mumbled, “What part of children out of here first is that hard to understand.”

“Rachel where do the medical supplies go again?”, somebody asked.

“Second exit on the east side. Dusty has Bessie and a trailer already parked there to take them.”

“How are things going?”, Melissa asked avoiding getting run over by a couple of people.

“Ask me after we get to the new place,” she responded. “I said east exit, that way!”

“Is everybody just taking the essentials?”

“I don’t think I could call them on it if they did,” Rachel admitted. She kept looking down a particular hallway. She was dumb for even considering it under the circumstances.

Melissa looked down that hallway and realized where it headed and what was on the other end. “I’m sure Emily can be convinced to take it with her. Go, I got this covered. But you got five minutes.” Rachel took a second to make up her mind and ran town the corridor.

***

Anderson took a deep breath of the night air. He really should make the time to leave the city limits more often, it was so invigorating. Stepping away from his limo he watched as a black unmarked van pulled up. The side door open and rather disheveled Trent was unceremoniously dumped to the ground. Perez and his team quickly exited the vehicle and surround the two of them as he calmly walked toward the bleeding rebel. “I do hope you appreciate choice of a meeting place Mr.”, he smirked as he sarcastically said, “sorry Trent. This is the same area you told us that would be the perfect spot to ambush the old woman.”

“You son of a bitch we had a deal!”, he spat. “I gave you Melissa and Davidson on silver platter.”

“And I fully intend on following up on that lead. In fact someone I trust completely is heading there right now to look thing over. But after discussing the matter with Mr. Perez we felt it would be best if the men went after a smaller more insignificant target first. How did you put it Mr. Perez, a ‘warm up exercise’ I believe. So I must thank you personally for leading our scouts to such a target.” Trent started to get up but Perez and his men aimed their rifle at him.

“So why did you have your dogs drag me out here?!”, he demanded.

“Because I felt a very strange urge to explain exactly why I did this, believe it or not.” Anderson walked foreword and spoke low enough that only the two of them could hear. “I wanted to tell you personally. My late cousin and myself had very, very few things in common. However the one thing we did see eye to eye on is that we detest traitors. And you Trent are a traitor to a group of traitors. So you are worthless in my eyes.” Anderson turned away and left the rebel seething on the ground.

“You green son of ….!”, he began to shout as Anderson tightened his coat.

“Fire!”, Perez ordered. Gunfire dominated the night momentarily before fading away. Perez caught up with him a few moments after the smell of Drakan blood did, “He started to change sir.”

“You had no choice,” he finished for him. “I understand it perfectly.”

“What did you say to him?”

“I told him the truth. That our contacts demanded that we bringing him to them. I thought we at least owed to tell him what he could expect from them since he helped us find the rebel’s main camp. Apparently he felt it would be easier to take his wrath out on me rather than them. Although I am sure our contacts will eventually be grateful that we took this potential problem off their hands. The wording will be rather important when I tell them of course. But in case they don’t, allow me to say thank you to you and your men Mr. Perez for protecting my person during this particular lapse of judgment.” Perez looked proud as he saluted and Anderson entered his limo. Anderson smiled to himself as the door closed, that went exactly like he planned it.

***

“So how much longer to we have to wait?”, Sparky asked. Him, Jack, Jason and about four others waited in the common area while some more were in the garage guarding things in case the assault came in from that direction. Lance even decided to join in and help them hold the fort while the rest headed for this “B” site. Of course Melissa decided over everybody objection to stay until the last of them left, so they had something else to worry about. At the moment Jack had an extra thought racing through his head, this champion thing sucks.

“Last couple of loads,” Lance answered him, “should be heading out in the next few minutes. That last van leaves as soon as we’re on it.”

“Maybe the bug should leave now,” Jason said. “I don’t even know why he’s even here.”

Jack spoke before anybody could stop him, “Because this is my home too and unlike some people I could mention I actually have friends here I want to protect. Besides I said we’d finish it after we took down Anderson. And I can’t kill you if somebody beats me to it.”

“I like to see you try bug,” Jason challenged him.

“I had you dead to rights twice chimp,” Jack shot back.

“Save it for the shock troops,” Lance said as he pulled Jack away. “We don’t need to be doing their work for them right now.”

“Maybe we’ll get lucky and they won’t show up,” Sparky offered. A second later him and a couple of others started sniffing the air and tensed up.

“You just had to say it,” Jack told him as he looked around to see where they might be coming from. Then they heard the footsteps echoing in the air. Jack looked down one of the hallways and saw a lone female figure walking toward them. Wearing a tight bodysuit, her dark hair in a bun and a device on her right wrist she came closer, walking like she owned the place.

Sounding nervous Sparky asked, “We’re in trouble aren’t we?”

“It’s a lone World Inc. operative,” Jack said feeling his left arm twitch, “we’re in it deep.”

“Oh my,” she said stopping and looking each of them over. “Looks like we have some naughty little boys. I’m going to have to do something like that and teach you a lesson.” She grinned as her eyes became more bug like and some transparent wings grew from her back as she turned into a green wasp. Raising her right wrist up to her chest a metal blade popped up, “And I do love making naughty boys scream.”

Sparky changed into a blue eel, Lance a red wolverine, Jason a blue monkey and the other dropped their human disguises. Jack did the arm movement needed to prime the system and shouted, “Henshin!” and the armor formed around him.

“You guys,” Lance said pointing some of their own. “Get to the garage and tell those vans to get out of here now and form a secondary line. We’ll hold her off for as long as we can.”

“A confident boy,” the wasp sounded excited. “I love breaking boys like you.” They surrounded her as she eyed her blade. “Oh who to start with?” The wasp struck out at Sparky with a kick. Jack and the other went in but the female Drakan was holding her own. It ducked and made Jason hit Lance. Jack grabbed her blade arm and tried to knee her in the stomach. She blocked with her knee, twisted in such a way that her arm was free then jumped up and kicked Jack under the chin. Lance came at her but he was thrown on top of Jack. Sparky tried his luck while the wasp attention was on them. She saw him and swung her blade, Sparky backed away with a long cut on his arm. Right then Jack figured out who they were facing, a warrior queen. Great, just freaking great. Knocking Jason down the wasp licked some of the blood off the blade. “Fear laden blood, always delicious.”

“God I hate talkers,” Jack mumbled as Lance got off of him. She came at him and he rolled out of the way. Jack tried to sweep her legs out from under her but she jumped up to avoid it. Sparky and Lance tackled her to the ground. Jason came in to punch her but a well place kick stopped that. Head butting Lance in the face freed up her left arm which she used to start striking Sparky repeatedly. Jack grabbed the arm and pulled the wasp to her feet. She forced him away before he could do anything. Then she swung her blade low and slashed through the bodysuit and into his left thigh. Jack grabbed it and backed away, “Ugh.”

“A special metal,” she announced holding the blade up. “One that can cut just about anything, even your precious armor. And I bet you thought you were invincible. “Sniffing the blade and licking it again she looked at him, “There’s no fear in this blood. I’m going to enjoy putting it there.” Jack refused to back up from her again, then Lance and Jason went at her again catching her by surprise. He joined in as best he could but his leg was bleeding and killing him. The wasp kicked him in the leg forcing him to a knee. Lance and Jason forced her back allowing Sparky to sneak up behind her and grabbed her shoulders to shock her. She jolted slightly from the charge he was generating. The wasp started throwing elbows behind her and threw her head back smashing him in the face. Thrusting the heel of her palm into Lance’s chest knocked him down. Jason was able to hold his own until fast punch to the gut dropped him to his knees as the wind left him. Holding the blade up for a killing strike the wasp said, “This naughty boy learns the hard way first.”

“The monkey’s mine!”, Jack shouted as he ignored the pain and ran at them. Jumping off of Jason he rammed his shoulder into her. Trying to keep the advantage as they got to their feet he started throwing rights and lefts, connecting with most of them. He missed one time too many and the wasp took over. Giving him a taste of his own medicine she grabbed Jack by the back of the head and started throwing knees in his face. Grabbing him by the neck she threw him back Jack fell against one of the post and tried to hold himself up. The meter started flashing and he twisted the pod up.

“Now die for Momma,” she said right before she charged him. Jack ducked and the blade impaled itself into the post. She struggled to free her weapon and he cocked a fist back.

“Go boom for Daddy!”, he said as he punched her in the gut. The wasp screamed as it flew back and exploded. Jack dropped to the ground with a plop, “I need a drink.”

“I think I need a cigarette,” Sparky said as he came over and offered to help him up.

Jack looked at it, “Yeah I’m not touching that hand.” Getting to his feet Lance and Sparky asked if he was all right and he responded with a nod.

Jason walked up behind him, “That was… mildly impressive bug.” Jack whipped around and decked him catching all of them by surprise.

“Jack what the hell?”, Sparky asked. He deactivated the system. They saw him glare at Jason for a few moments.

“That’s for calling her worthless,” he told Jason. Jack started to limp away before Lance demanded to check on his wound.

“It looks superficial to me,” he announced after a few moments.

“Still hurts like hell,” Jack told him.

“We’ll check it a little closer in the van. Let’s get out of here before any reinforcements decides to show up.” Jack leaned on Sparky for support as they headed for the garage.

***

The “B” site was an old subway that one way or another feel off the map. So they should be relatively safe for the time being, well until Anderson decided to intensify the search for them. People were settling in best they could giving the circumstances. The place need a lot of work to make it livable but there was plenty of people willing to do the work necessary. Jack, after he got patched up, more or less disappeared when he arrived. Rachel found him in one of the side tunnels sitting against a wall and looking up. She walked a little closer to see he was looking past a grate and at the stars in the night sky. When he looked at her he stared at the pot of flowers in her hands. “You did not risk your neck to dig those up.”

“You worked hard on them and I wanted to save them,” she explained. “Besides Emily had the same idea. She had a couple of guys digging them up by the time I got there. She said they brought you peace and didn’t want to leave them behind. You may not like it but I agreed with her at least.”

“You’re both idiots.” After a few moments of silence he took the pot and set it by his feet, “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome. Sparky told me about the fight, so are you all right?”

“You’re like the eightieth person to ask me that,” he told her.

“So are you going to tell me what you told those seventy nine others,” she stated as she sat beside him, “or are you going to tell me the truth?”

Jack went back to looking at the night sky. Softly he answered, “I don’t know.”

“Well don’t keep it to yourself this time,” she told him. “That’s what got you in that mess to begin with. You have a lot of people around you ready and willing to help out the best they can when it feels like things are getting to be too much for you. Do you hear me?”

“I hear you.” Another moment went by before he added, “Thanks for being there for me when I was in it.”

She smiled at him, “You’re my friend, where else am I going to be?” He smiled back and returned to the night sky. She rested her head on his shoulders and joined him at watching the stars.