<Episode 50>

Walking into the garage Rachel could feel a slight change in the air. Most of the people there kept looking over to one particular area. She was heading over there anyway so she really didn’t need to look. Walking up behind Jack she wrapped her arms around his waist and looked with him. He was there for who knows how long staring at the empty space his motorcycle used to occupy. After a while he said, “It was for the good of the cause. We had to do what we had to do to stop the truck.”

Squeezing him a little tighter she said, “You don’t believe a word of what you just said.”

“Nope,” he replied. “I know it was just a machine. Hell I’m mostly machine.”

“Let’s not go into this again.” She told him. “How many times do I have to tell you you’re the most human guy I know?” Looking at the empty space and sighing a bit she added, “But I’ll admit it’s weird not seeing it here. It seems like you had that thing forever. Even if you were driving like a mad man the first time you rode it.”

She looked up at him, like she hoped Jack started smiling a bit, “That never stopped you from riding with me again.”

“It was either ride with you or walk.”

“One coming in,” the guard at the door announced. In moments the door opened up to let in a rusted out old truck, affectionately known as Bessie. When it came to a stop Sparky stood up in the truck bed while Dusty and Arron came out of the cab.

“Hey there son, little lady,” Dusty greeted them as they walked up.

“Hi Dusty,” Rachel waved in return. “What’s going on?”

“Well I heard about what happened,” Dusty explained. “I came in earlier and picked up these two to show me where it happened. I had the damn fool notion we could salvage some of it.”

Sparky bent down and pulled up a burnt rubber and steel wheel that Arron took and put on the ground. Sparky looked at him saying, “We’re pretty sure that’s the back tire.” Looking back into the bed he added, “I think we found what was left of the exhaust pipe but… ah… it’s a little too mangled to be sure.”

“I don’t know what I was thinking,” Dusty said.

“I tried to tell you it was a lost cause,” Arron told him.

“I didn’t think it was going to be that bad,” the old Drakan said.

“Explosive on the gas tank,” the youth said. “How bad did you think it was going to be?”

While they argued Jack walked up to the tire and stated rolling it back and forth slightly. He looked extremely sad for a moment. “Maybe we can turn it into a souvenir or something,” Sparky offered. “Maybe a table.”

“Junk it,” Jack told him. “It wasn’t even my bike, just something I stole from World Inc. when I went on the run.” He walked away from the group.

Rachel looked over to Dusty saying, “Hang on to that for the time being.” He nodded and motioned for Arron to put it back on the truck while she followed Jack out the door. Catching up and walking next to him she had to ask, “Did you believe anything that you just said?”

“Not a word,” he answered.

“Well start, I hate seeing you like this.”

“I’ll try,” he told her. She doubted it but didn’t say anything.

Instead Rachel said, “Maybe we can head over to Dusty’s one of these days. I’m sure he has a motorcycle or two in his auto yard you can rebuild. It’ll give you guys something to do.”

“You’re trying to talk me into getting another bike? I figured you’d try and convince me to stick with the van or something.”

“Well,” she said taking his hand, “I never told you this but I’ve always loved hanging on to you while I rode behind you.”

***

“Come on Jack,” Jaime said while he held the practice pad in front of him, “don’t start slacking on me now.” He pounded a few more combinations into the bag. “One more time Jack, come on.” He threw a few punched before jumping up and coming down with an elbow strike. Jaime barely got the pad up in time. Looking at him he commented, “I didn’t see that one coming.”

Shrugging Jack told him, “I like to finish with a bang.”

“Let’s call it a day here,” Jaime said throwing the pad at him.

“If you really need the break.” Heading over to a cooler Jack took a bottled water for himself and tossed one to Jaime. Taking a drink he asked, “Did that code I forced out of Tim work?”

“Yeah,” he answered. “It even worked for that other disc too.”

“So what’s on it?”

“Melissa’s still going over it,” he said while not looking at him. “She wants to go over everything before letting the rest of you know.”

“Sounds big,” Jack commented.

“It is,” Jaime said. “She sworn me to secrecy you know, I can’t say anything until she’s ready.”

“Fair enough,” was his response.

“That’s it?”, he asked stunned. “You’re not going to ask, pry or beg? You’re not going to force it out of me?”

“Nope,” he said taking another drink.

“Why not?”

“Because it looks like you’re dying to tell me somebody and it’s more fun to see you suffer like this.” Jaime threw his towel at him. “Thank you,” he said while wiping off his face.

“I swear Lance didn’t even scratch the surface when he described you.”

“I can’t even count the times I’ve heard that.” Then again he wasn’t in a real rush to find out what Anderson was planning now. His gut was telling him whatever it was, it was going to be big. Of course the fact he was remembering more and more of his conversation with Richie wasn’t helping things any.

“Yeah, well maybe you should take the hint,” Jaime told him.

“Now where’s the fun in that?”

***

This was not going to go over with them rest of them. Hell rumors were already starting to spread after they stopped the truck. Melissa wanted to bash her head into the wall when Jaime handed her the data they decoded. Unfortunately she knew exactly what they had to do. The other cell leaders agreed with her. That was the easy part, the hard part was coming up. She arrived late to the war room trying to put this off, everybody watched her. “Sorry I’m a little late.”

“We didn’t have anything better to do,” Jack said.

“Speak for yourself bug,” Jason spat.

“So what is Anderson doing now?”, Rachel asked cutting off Jacks response.

“First thing first,” Melissa told them. “Apparently this Tim person was telling the truth about this mysterious compound. We found the closed off road he was talking about and followed it as best we could.” She nodded and the lights went out. A second later a mountain entrance was projected on the wall beside her. “As you can see the guards are wearing World Inc. uniforms and it’s heavily guarded. But a little searching around the area let us discover a couple of vents we think we can use to get in.”

“But is the prize worth getting in?”, Sparky asked.

“That’s going to depend on the lock,” Rachel told him.

“That’s my line,” Jack said. She elbowed him in the side.

“Unfortunately it’s a prize we may not want.” Bracing herself she nodded again and the image changed. The mixture of emotion that came at her almost knocked her for a loop. Beside her a schematic drawing stared back at them. Jack stood up and slowly walked foreword, disbelief etched on his face. She gave him a sympathetic look as she glanced down at the words on the lower right corner. The words said “Fusion system”. “As you can see there’s a possibility Anderson is starting again.”

Jack just stared at the image, “Damn it.”

Rachel joined him looking at the image. “I remember seeing the schematics for Jack’s system. It didn’t look anything like this.”

“Maybe it’s for the Mark 2 system,” Sparky offered.

“We barely survived Mitchell,” Arron told him.

“Damn it,” Jack repeated.

“The other cell leaders and myself have a plan. The basic idea is we’re going to take it out before he can activate this one.”

“How are we supposed to do that?”, Sparky asked.

“It’s going to be a two prong attack,” she explained. “Most of the cells are going to attack the main gate head on. We’re hoping this will distract them enough so a smaller group can get in and disable the life support system.” Knowing what the next question was going to be before it was asked she answered, “Jaime’s and a couple of other cells are working on an EMP device to disrupt the life support tube. The range won’t be all that great but it should do the job.”

“How do you know it’s going to work?”, Rachel asked.

“We don’t,” she admitted. “But going by what we know of the tubes they used before we think it will. We’re hoping this is going to affect other systems they have there.”

“You do realize,” Nathan spoke up from the back, “the inside unit is going on what’s basically a suicide run.”

“I know,” she said, “which is why I’m asking for volunteers.”

Jack raised his hand, to the shock of Rachel and everybody else, “I’m in.”

“We could use you on the outside,” Nathan commented.

“I’ll be more useful on the inside,” he told him. “Not all the guards are going to be heading for the front door.”

“If Jack’s going in then I’m going in,” Arron spoke up. He looked over to Sparky who said nothing, he wasn’t even looking at him.

The point of an elbow right in the side made him say, “I guess I’m in too.”

“I’m letting the bug take credit for all of this,” Jason said. “Even if it is a fools goal.”

Nobody else spoke up so Melissa said, “Thank you. For those of you who didn’t say anything I don’t blame you. Jaime volunteered to go with you. I’ll find out how many he was able to get to go in with him.” Without a word they all piled out of the room. The somberness of their mood echoed what she was feeling.

***

“Are you nuts!”, Angie yelled at Sparky. Emily and Melissa past them as they walked the halls. Sparky tried to explain his side of things but she was barely letting him get a word in edgewise. She wished she could tell them he was going to be alright. But truthfully, much like Jack’s confrontation with Christopher the future was cloudy, she had no idea what was going to happen.

Melissa stopped and went back to them. She said a few words to them. Angie still didn’t seem happy but she hugged Sparky around the neck and told him to be careful. Melissa rejoined her and they continued on their way. She did that with Jason and Arron so far, that just left one other person.

They found him in his room sitting alone. That surprised Emily a little. Then again right now it was probably for the best. Jack barely acknowledged their presence as he watered his plant. The yellow petals seemed to perk up slightly as the roots drank it up. “I still can’t believe this was in the middle of a bunch of weeds,” He said. “I still can’t believe I haven’t killed them yet.”

“You were determined to help them live,” Emily told him. “I would have been surprised if they weren’t surviving in this environment under your care.”

“So how loped sided is this going to be?”, he asked. Both of them knew what he meant.

“Jaime has a couple of guys to go in with him,” Melissa answered, “so seven of you will be going in.” He nodded. “So where’s Rachel? I’d figured she be in here.”

“She said she needed to think,” he replied. “I didn’t want to distract her.”

“I’ll talk to her later,” she said. “But I really wanted to talk to you for a moment.”

“About what?”, he asked. “About how I apparently lost my marbles?”

“Something like that,” she said with a small smile. “I already talked to the others. Look Jack I know we always haven’t been the best of friends. And we’ve had our ups and downs. Most times I trusted your judgment, although there were a few times I thought you were off your rocker…”

“No offense but this is sounding more and more like a good-bye speech by the second,” he commented.

“I know, I’ve said it three times so far and it sucked each time,” she tried to laugh. “But I do care about you as a friend Jack. And more people than me want you to come back in one piece. One person in particular really wants you to come back alive.”

“I’ll do my best,” he said a little half heartedly.

“Also I thought I should tell you this in person. From the look of things Anderson is spending less and less time at the main World Inc. building. Chances are he’s spending that time at this complex.”

Emily silently watched as Jack looked right at her. She knew what he was thinking. Finally he said, “If he’s there take him out.”

Melissa sighed, “That’s not what I’m saying. If he is there be careful. They’re going to guard him as much as they’ll guard this other Fusion.”

“If there’s just the one,” Jack said darkly.

“Let’s not go making this bigger than necessary child,” Emily spoke up.

“She’s right,” Melissa agreed. “It’s going to be rough enough as it is.”

“Right,” he said, “so when are we leaving?”

“As soon as Jaime says the device is ready.” Not sure of what else to say Melissa went, “I better find Rachel and see how she’s doing.”

“Melissa,” Jack said as she went to the door. “I know I’m going to see you again, but I’m glad I took you up on that offer.”

“I’m glad you took it too Jack,” she hugged him. “You better come back.”

“Like I said I’ll do my best. And I’ll do everything to get the rest of them home too, even the chimp. I am the champion after all.” Emily stayed behind while she left. After a moment Jack asked her, “So what are my odds exactly?”

“I don’t know child,” she answered. “The future is branching out in too many directions to know for sure. But I can tell you this, he will give you an opening to finish it. If you don’t take it then I don’t know if you can beat him. And that the decisions you make during this will determine your final fate.”

“That’s not as comforting as I was hoping it would be.”

“It’s the best I can do for you child.”

***

After a little searching she found Rachel by herself in a supply room sitting on a crate. It was a quiet area with nobody else around. Melissa used this place a few times herself when she needed to think. Rachel said nothing as she sat next to her. Just sitting in silence for awhile she eventually asked, “How are you doing?”

“I don’t want him to go in,” she said, “but I know he has too. I just get the feeling I’m never going to see him again.”

“You can’t think like that,” Melissa told her. “Beside you and I both know he’s just stubborn enough to come out of this in one piece and then some.”

“I really hate this champion thing he’s supposed to be,” she admitted. “I don’t know what it means. Jack still doesn’t know what it’s supposed to mean. But he’s letting it drive him. From staying behind when we had to move to facing Mitchell to this.”

“Emily said it was something that was already in him,” she said. “Circumstances just forced it out of him.”

“I just don’t want to lose him. I almost lost him once, I don’t want to go through that again.”

“Maybe you should tell him this,” Melissa told her. “It could give him an extra incentive to come back.” Rachel said nothing right away. “I think it’ll have a lot more weight to it if you told him what you told me.”

“He has too many things on his mind right now as it is. I don’t want to add to it.”

“You’d be surprised what I’d make room for,” Jack surprised them both by appearing in the doorway.

“I’ll leave the two of you alone.” Pausing just long enough for Jack to enter she left. Looking back Melissa saw him sit next to her and take her hand.

***

It seemed like forever before Jaime said the device was ready. And she spent all the time she could with Jack before then. It still didn’t seem like it was long enough. He left for the garage to go over the final plans with Melissa. In that time alone Rachel made up her mind. Passing everybody in the hallways she made her way to the garage. Luckily they were still there so she wasn’t too late. Melissa was talking about where they were going to meet up with the other cells when Jack noticed her walk foreword, “Come to see us off?”

“Not exactly,” she said. Ignoring the look Melissa was giving her she continued, “I’m going with you.”

“Yeah, we’ll be over here,” Sparky said as they walked away from the two of them. Despite that Jack took her by the arm and pulled her in the other direction.

“You’re not going,” he told her.

“Yes I am,” she said firmly. “I’m still your mission operator. Or did you forget that already?”

“No I didn’t forget and this is a hell of a time to bring it back up now. You heard them, there’s no guarantee we’re coming out of this one alive.”

“We started this together Jack,” she said, “and you told me we’re going to finish this together.”

“This is different,” he started to say.

“Rachel listen to reason,” Melissa tried to tell her.

“Stay out of this,” Rachel snapped.

“Talk some sense into her,” Arron told Jack.

“Arron,” he pointed at him without looking in his direction. To Rachel he said, “Do you have any idea how dangerous this is going to be?”

“All the more reason you need all the eyes you can get watching your back.”

“I got plenty of eyes watching my back already. Why are you pushing this so hard?”

“Why are you fighting so hard against it?” she shot back.

“Because I care about you and I don’t want you getting hurt.”

“And I care about you too you big moron.”

“Young love,” Sparky quipped, “it’s a beautiful thing.”

Neither taking their eyes off the other both of them shouted, “Shut up Sparky!”

“See they’re even speaking at the same time now,” he continued.

“Do you treat all your girlfriends this way?”, Rachel demanded.

“You’re the only one who went out of her damned mind,” Jack said letting his temper get the best of him.

“Whoa… girlfriend?”, Sparky said stunned.

“That’s right she said girlfriend,” he snapped as he turned toward the rest of them. “Unless your ear’s been surgically removed from the grapevine we are officially a couple.” Everybody but Melissa just looked at him. Melissa, on the other hand, was burying her face in her hand. “Don’t just stand there gawking, exchange money or something?” His shoulders slumped when Sparky handed Arron a twenty, a few more bills exchanged hands with the others. “Are your lives really that empty?”

“Don’t change the subject,” Rachel told him as she turned him back around. Jack put his hand on his head as he looked around. He looked like he got an idea. Reaching out he grabbed her by the back of the head, pulled her close and kissed her. He kissed her for a long time. She struggled at first, only to partially kiss him back. She did not want that to be their last one. When he pulled away she asked, “Was that supposed to convince me to stay here?”

“No,” he looked upset with himself, “It’s something incredibly stupid.” There was a hum in the air right before she felt something against her stomach. Then she felt nothing.

***

Feeling himself be torn apart he watched as Rachel jolted for what seemed like an eternity. Dropping the staff he caught her as she started to fall. Holding her limp form in his arm he held her close. Whispering in her ear he told her, “I’ll find a way to make this up to you. I love you Rachel, never forget that.” Picking her up in his arms Jack carried her to a bench and carefully set her down on top of it. Gently pushing the hair from her face he kissed her on the cheek. Before leaving her he took off the jacket and used it to cover her.

When he turned around he saw Melissa standing behind him. Instead of looking angry she nodded in understanding and handed the staff back to him. Without a word he took the foil out of the hood and headed to the van with the others. “You guys are a couple?”, Sparky asked as he passed. “I thought you two were just having sex.”

“Shut up Sparky,” he snapped as he entered the van. Sitting near the back Jack didn’t look at any of them as they got in. The chimp said something but he wasn’t listening. Right now all he was seeing was the hurt and betrayal in her eyes right before she passed out.

***

In the halls of the complex Anderson walked with Taylor, Armstrong and Gen. Rhodes right behind him. Of the four he was the only one who looked like it was still business as usual. “I still can’t believe Tim caved like that,” Armstrong said.

“According to him,” Rhodes said, “he was positive Davidson was going to kill him. It must have been one hell of a performance.

“Desperate times my good General,” Anderson spoke up. “The rebels are starting to feel the pressure of the situation and they intend to go out swinging. I would be surprised if they did anything else.”

“It doesn’t change the fact they know where we are now,” Taylor told him.

“As I told you before Mr. Taylor it was bound to happen sooner or later.” Continuing walking Anderson added, “Now is as good as time as any.”

“Except I don’t know if I can get any more soldiers here before then, “Rhodes said. “I had to send most of the ones we had here back to their bases because their COs were starting to complain about how long I was keeping them.”

“Oh I’m sure Mr. Perez and his men are more than ready for the rebels,” Anderson told him. “I for one can’t wait to see how they are going to respond to the information they acquired. In fact I hope some of them make it this far.” A door opened up that allowed them to enter. “I want them to see what the ultimate goal of the Fusion system actually was.” They passed a couple of tubes that turned into a row of tubes that turned into several rows of tubes. Each was filled with the blue liquid, each one had a person floating inside. “I want them to see,” Anderson continued, “exactly how futile their little rebellion is.”