The gears keep turning.
I keep running.
My heart is pounding in my chest much harder than you could make it.
I see the fall.
I hear the crying.
But I stay frozen and watch.
What else is there to do?
No one cares.
No one loves.
I know this.
Ruby rich blood coats my being.
There is no part that isn't soiled in blood.
And the gears keep turning.
Round and round.
The cogs and gears keep moving on.
No change.
Everything stays.
Everything's needed.
Why can't life be like a machine?
-.-
Jack sat up in bed tiredly. Sleep had once again eluded him. It was something that never seems to come anymore. His eyes had dark bags that looked like they were etched into his face. A permanent mark. He walked out of bed and headed for his lab. There was nothing to do down there. Only build robots. And even that had grown old and dull. There didn't feel like there was anything worth doing.
Showdowns seemed pointless and a waste of time, energy and blood. How much blood had he lost in those showdowns? Transfusions were needed one out of five showdowns. He was worthless. Weak. There was nothing more to do.
So he settled for leaving. No more showdowns. No more monks. No more talking beans. No more witches. No more dragons. No more evil Warlords. No more.
He packed his bag and left in the middle of the night. It's not like anyone would know he was gone. No one cared anyway. He knew what others thought. White trashy worthless scum. He didn't know where he was going, and frankly, he didn't care anymore. There was nothing more than the open road and knew faces.
A smile crept on his face leaving a pleasant foreign feeling. Good bye Jack. And good riddance.
-.-
That was three months ago. No one had seen the self-proclaimed boy genius in so long that some people almost forgot his idiotic banter if not for the empty silence that was left behind like an inky fog. It was unnerving to say the least. People didn't check up on him though. It seemed like that would cause an unwanted ripple. Or at least a fight against his annoying robots that he had most likely been building. Yeah what could be wrong? He was an awkward teenage boy building robots in his parents' basement and called it an evil lair.
But no one was sure of what was really happening. Because of the involvement in the magical world, no one really noticed that the world was changing from the scientific point of view. Not every creature they fought was magical and evil. No one saw that they were innocent people changed against their will. That is, until Providence appeared at the temple of the Xiaolin warriors.
They came and asked for help. They said it was for the best if they wished to help save the world. The monks immediately said yes if it meant the world would be better. Unaware what they were getting into.
"Hello, my name is Caesar Salazar. I am from Providence," he began as he addressed the monks of the temple, "We need your help to help secure the master nanites from the enemies. We also need to try and get someone from their side on ours."
"Why's that partner?" Clay asked.
"My brother is very important. But we really need him if we want to have a greater chance at succeeding. He is stubborn but a good kid. He is having trouble seeing the good we are doing for the world," he explained stoically. They didn't argue. They didn't see another angle. Not the other one. Not the one that saw the shadows of the so called light.
-.-
"I'm ready," he said steadily. It had been hard and cruel. The past he had thought he escaped had come back when he had tried to escape from another past. He clenched his knife in his hand for a moment before relaxing around the handle. Wearing an outfit that was different from how he used to look, he couldn't believe how he had changed. He was not in the open light. But hid in the shadows of the light to destroy the real threat.
They were the new one providence. A small smile crept to his face, "What are your orders White Knight?"
The man in the white suit looked at him.
"You will continue your work with Holiday. Continue with the nanite research," he said blandly. He nodded his head showing he had understood Knight's request.
"With all due respect sir… when will I begin to learn to fight? I am smart. Not strong. And I would be more of a liability than asset without proper training," he said coolly. He had wanted to ask for a while now.
"You know how to fight. But you will start your advanced training tomorrow. Six and Bobo will be training you. Rex will be your sparring partner."
He cocked an eyebrow with surprise, "Doesn't Rex spar with Six sir?"
"He does. But Six would kill you," he answered. He held back a chuckle. It was no lie.
"Fine. Thank you White."
"No thanks needed. Go to Holiday and begin your assisting," he growled. He shrugged his shoulders and left the room. The dam was huge. He found it hard to believe Providence was leaving them alone. But then again, a scientist, a marshmallow man, an Argo ninja nanny, a talking chimp and a biomechanical teen were a lot tougher than most people gave them credit for. And now he was with them. He ran toward Holiday's office. He passed the ever mocking prisoner scarecrow. It didn't bother him. He knew what others thought of him. The shape shifter didn't bother him in the least. Bean was worse. But only because he was younger then. So naïve.
He wondered why he never died out there. Perhaps it was the way they fought only caused minor internal bleeding for him that could be patched up by his robots when he got home. Or that the monks would never actually try and kill him. Or was he durable? Chase never killed him either. But nagging in the back of his mind he knew. How could he not? It stared back at him daily. The blood red never did go away. And though it disgusted him, he knew it was the only thing that reminded him of his dad. It was dad that did this. It wasn't just him but it felt like it was all his fault.
"Jack? You okay?"
Jack came back into reality.
"I'm fine Rex. Really," he said calmly, "Just thinking about life and how I'm going to change others' lives being here."
"I know. This is a bit overwhelming. I'm surprised you're still here," he said happily. He nodded. Seeing someone he thought was dead after so many years was overwhelming. But being back to doing what he thought he would never do. What his father did. The work that ruined him. The work that ruined so many lives.
"I am too," he said for another reason entirely. Rex smiled and continued down to White's office. Jack continued down to Holiday's office with more of a purpose. He walked briskly until he saw something that made his day.
"Jack-bot thirteen! You're back," he said ecstatically, "Do you have my dad's little gift?"
The machine pulled forth a small glowing container.
"Yeesh, so much fuss over this little nanite. Dad what did you help to create?" he joked as he tossed the container, "Holiday should be happy to get this little baby."
In truth he had planned on destroying it. But the time to use it had arisen. He was glad he hadn't destroyed it like he had originally planned. Hopefully this would be the right thing to do. He walked down to Holiday's room with the robot trailing behind him. He didn't bother to knock as he entered her lab.
"Holiday. I've got a present for you," he sang. Holiday looked at him suspiciously. He smiled and showed her the glowing container. A shocked look on her face stayed for a minute as she stared at the master nanite in his hand.
"How did you…?"
"You don't need to know. This is nothing," he said confidently placing it on her table, "White said I'm your assistant now so I figured that I should bring in a gift."
"Jack," she said not believing him. He shrugged his shoulders.
"I needed to get it out of my house," he explained. She gave him a look.
"My family was involved in the original event. I'd rather not talk about it. I'm here now and that's what's important."
"Glad you see it that way Jack."
Kay if you like it please review. This is a weird combination but I had this idea a few nights ago and it has plagued me to no end. So again, please review!