The Light in the Darkness

Chapter 1

Actor threw the book across the room and pounded the arms of his chair, cursing Garrison for asking him to read it. Yes, Garrison meant well. He most certainly did not want to give G-CAT any more reasons to take Chief back and proof that the Warden was not keeping up his Rogue's proper training would be the perfect excuse for G-CAT. They both believed the manual might help them to form strategies to protect their Guardian, Chief. At first Actor thought G-CAT's manual on the training of Rogues would indeed be an excellent way to turn the tables on G-CAT. He had even laughed when Garrison had shown him that the Professor had sent him a personally autographed copy of the training manual. It was an open invitation to the Gorillas to turn G-CAT's methods against them but the more he read the more enraged he became as he realized the true horror of the life of a Guardian. The first chapter on the history of Guardians had interested him a little, even the Professor's revisionist history allowed Actor more insight into their nemesis and would definitely help the team improve the con they were using to keep Chief safe from G-CAT but by the fifth chapter Actor had become sick to his stomach. The Professor was a master manipulator and a truly cold, soulless, fool.

Actor tried to calm himself. He would be of no use to Chief or the rest of the team if he could not manage his feelings of revulsion at the socially accepted training and treatment of Guardians of any level let alone Rogues. How could any intelligent feeling human being not be revolted by the inhumane treatment of the human beings known as Guardians. As the information on the treatment of people forced to live under the Nazi regime was made available to the free world, the average U.S. citizen was appalled by the brutality of it. And yet the vile treatment of American citizens called Guardians, by the government sanctioned organization called G-CAT, was accepted even though in many ways it was just as bad as what the Nazi's were doing.

He stood slowly and walked to the window. There was their Guardian, a Rogue they called Chief, working with Mrs. G in the "Victory Garden". Actor began to chastise himself for it was not so long ago that he too thought of Guardians as little more than violent animals in human form. Then on the very first night that the Guardian came to live and work with the team the truth of the hell these men and women were forced to live in was made vividly apparent. That first anguished cry… Please … would haunt him till the day he died.

Their Guardian, whom he now knew to be an intelligent man and nothing like the primitive beasts Guardians were portrayed as. Somehow after being enslaved and brutalized for years Chief had remained sane, honest and kind hearted. Actor bowed his head in shame. He was no better than anyone else. He had looked upon the degradation but did not care, listened to the cry of agony and did nothing. Well no more! He would work to save this man no matter what it took. He was about to turn from the window when Chief looked up at him with concern. Actor, not wanting Chief to worry, smiled back at Chief and pointed to a new blossom on a plant, then gave the thumbs up hoping Chief would think he was just watching them work. Chief looked at the flower and the look of concern was replaced by his rarest treasure, a big grin and returned to his work with even more energy.

Actor left the window knowing that Chief was safe with Mrs. G. She treated him as the son she had never had. She took personal credit and delighted in the mental and physical changes in Chief. Mrs. G. was a good woman but Actor couldn't help but wonder if she had known that Chief was a Guardian when he arrived and not as she was told a shell-shocked soldier, would she have treated him with kindness or disgust like everyone else? The biggest question now was how she might react if she found out that he was a Guardian? Chief adored her, she was the first "real' person that had been kind to him in a very long time, if she found out what he was and was disgusted by him, what would it do to Chief's very fragile ego and heart?

Even now with months of constant reassurances from Garrison, his Hearth, the rest of his teammates, and therapy with Katherine, one harsh look or word would convince him that he had done something wrong and send him into a state of panic and despair. Though Chief had sworn never to refer to himself as a worthless dog again they all knew that he still saw himself that way. Silently, Actor asked himself, How do we save him from that?

Actor moved away from the window and found the book opened to a color picture of a proud trainer holding the leash of a well trained Guardian. The Guardian's position of submission, kneeling, sitting on his heels, hands spread open on his thighs, and head bowed. Actor reached to pick up the book but his hand began to tremble. How do you do it, Chief? his mind asked. How are you able to forgive us… me, when I don't know how I'll ever be able to forgive myself?

The door to the study opened and Actor stood up surprised to see Chief standing in the doorway. Chief carefully closed the door and walked toward Actor. "Actor?" he asked. There was look of alarm on his face now, he was worried about his teammate. Actor was so wrapped up in his shame that he couldn't move. Chief stopped as he stepped on the book still lying on the floor. Actor whispered "Chief don't," as the Guardian bent to pick it up, but Chief reached for the book stopping only when he recognized the picture for what it was. Then he carefully pick the book up and closed it. Now he stood in front of Actor with such a look of sadness that Actor's heart ached.

"You feel bad because of me?" he whispered.

Actor didn't know what to say. He looked down at the book Chief held and then back at him.

Chief looked Actor directly in the eye. It was another of Chief's rare treasures, eye contact, and smiled. "Thank you." he said.

Then he sighed and handed the book back to Actor. "It's okay Actor. The Warden told me you were readin' the book. He said you might be able to find a way for us to work the con better if you read… that. I understand." With a half smiled to encourage Actor he turned and left his teammate alone.