The Christmas Anthologies
The Lead Characters of Each Story (in alphabetical order): Bray, Cloe, Darryl, Ruby
Order of the tails via votes so far: Mega, Bray, Ebony, Jack, Zandra, Zoot, Alice, Jay, Salene, The Guardian, Ruby,Amber, and Darryl…
Featuring: The entire tribe list of characters
Disclaimer: Cloud 9 owns the tribe- I'm just in the business of writing weird things
Notes: There will be a chapter per story teller, each will have selective characters relating to them involved, I'm actually polling for the order they appear- I take votes- however the first was decided already by 4 people. All of it non tribal- and about Christmas- titles and situations made already- enjoy. And yes it's tribal, but future tribal- and an AU obviously.
Also before anyone asks, The Twas the night is from 2002-2004; it's a repost, The xmas challenges were practice for the Christmas treats (which will be posted last minute I assure you), so this is actually my planned Holiday fic for the year.
Tale 1:
The Computer Grinch
Whoever said Christmas was a good either was a neo Christian loser or some freakin' greedy child. Christmas will lead the downfall of society and show us for the glutton pigs we are. The entire thing- one big joke.
"Let me get this straight- you want us to work our way through Christmas without a break?" Java demanded angrily slamming her fist on the desk.
Mega blinked once looking at her blankly before turning back to his computer, "Absolutely, it's a bullshit holiday that adults use as an excuse to spoil their mutant offspring from hell. Meanwhile, a way for tribes to make vouchers by claiming good cheer and using this Santa that's long dead for leverage to boost sales… On top of that, then the Mallrats make it a holiday so they can take off see their kids they neglect the rest of the year," he reported as he continued to type.
"And next you'll be announcing that we were going to war with the Christmas industry," she said sarcastically.
"Can we do that? Because if so, I'm all for it," he proclaimed.
Java rolled her eyes and walked off, "Fine whatever".
That's my assistant, she's no picnic let me tell you- she's bitchy, she thinks she rules the world, she thinks she can buy me off, and worst off- she's sleeping with the only friend I have. Of course, he's also my worst enemy so it's even too. Though, I'd like to say she's my biggest problem- no my biggest problem is my former employee Jay and his snotty younger brother- both of which I'm in semi business with.
"I have another agreement for you to sign- I need to borrow a few men…" Jay said hours later at the meeting.
They were in a small meeting room. Jay was sitting one end, Ved in the middle, and Mega at the other end. Jay had slid down the paper as Mega looked over it. Jay was looking to use his men for system set ups.
"Jay- my tribe is not for your use anytime you want for free," he said straight not even bothering to consider it.
"I had a feeling you would say that but if you do it- I got Ved here to agree to hand over those programmes of Ram's," Jay said motioning for Ved to pull something out.
Ved rolled his eyes and took out two discs, "These are the information on the security forces he was going to put in, and the cameras- you can mold them to your use".
"He could find out"
"He's no longer in the business- you ran him out of it- it won't do much for him now. You got your way, he's working for us now, Why would he care?" Jay inquired.
"No reason… that concerns you anyway- fine but the only day I can free them up is for Christmas," he replied deadpan.
"What?"
"You heard me- the 26th is a big business day, we're working on the generators, and so is the day before- we're firing up that new store's computer systems," Mega reported.
"Ved and I are spending the holidays with the other Mallrats," Jay said looking at him with a shot of shock edged into his face.
"Well then cancel if not- you can forget it"
"You really are something else," Jay said coldly.
"Whatever gave you that idea- the attitude or just my cheeky personality? I run a business- a serious cut throat business- my little technos are trained well efficient machines. We are not little kids with pitchforks like you and government. You're totally incapable of leadership as far as I'm concerned. We could run you out easily- be happy I'm willing to work with you at all," he warned before standing up.
Jay gave Mega a final glare before nodding, "Fine we'll be here- see you then".
"Good," he said taking the information and heading towards the door and opening it for them before storming off.
Mega then went down the hallway and looked at the others, "You're done for the day- go do something else but leave me alone," he commanded.
The others dropped what they were doing and walked off- Java looked at him.
"I'm going to Liberty to see Ram and Siva- I'll be back tomorrow," she replied.
"Fine- but no Ebony?"
"Funny Mega"
I'm happy I don't have a family or a girlfriend. Emotional attachments are the downfall society. Java proves it. God is she weak. I hope I never become that dependent on a sibling and a boyfriend in my life.
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As if by accident, Mega fell asleep at the computer after typing up another report. There was no such thing as holidays in his book anyway. Once the adults had died- he lost any need, interest, or want for anything like that. Family and a girl didn't matter. No, there was only one thing now for him- his control and his tribe.
Everything else, was just in his way. Of course, as he woke up- his mind was trailing back some still to well long before… once upon a time he had a brother- in another lifetime. Didn't look much like him, acted like him even less, but he was gone now. And sometimes briefly he wondered what changed.
It started years ago it seemed like, he was left when he was like eight or so, from there he met the techno's, he got taught what he knew now… he then took it over and stabbed Ram in the back.
He tried to take over the city but the Mallrats had been told by Java of his plan for exchange for her freedom- he spent a year locked up- before agreeing to be of SOME small help as long as he remained in charge of his tribe.
Java was then appointed to assist him under the pretense Amber knew she'd sell him out again for the right price- she also confessed to him that she was back with Ram- and made up with Siva. Both had moved to Liberty way back when. Java would travel to see every night after work.
Off hand, he enjoyed making Java miserable as a side hobby- he actually though had semi made up with Ram- just because of how they worked off each other. They were hardly friends either but they were in a way… when it was convenient for them to be anyway.
Liberty- was another story in itself. Mega knew part of the story- some guy saved Ram helped him out- for a while dated the owner there who gave them all shelter until the Mallrats came looking for Ram asking for his help to take down Mega.
Instead, he got Java to do it for him- she went back to Liberty with him. Mega got arrested- and the Mallrats remained right where they were after they fixed Ebony's sanity- and her and Jay got back together. It Mega really sick to watch.
As for this girl who owned Liberty apparently her and whoever was keeping Ram, Java, and Siva there spilt causing them to almost be thrown out- Mega had to act quickly and bribe this woman to keep their housing because honestly, he didn't want them within 500 kilometeres of where he slept at night.
She took it- Mega personally wanted to kill this guy for almost getting him dumped with Ram but convenient for him- was no where to be found at the time. Since, then Mega had enjoyed his freedom from it all- and five years later- he was still in paradise that way anyway.
Of course what he didn't know might just kill him…
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(Liberty- a few weeks ago)
"I swear to god- if those Mallrats don't kill him- I will," Java said angrily.
Siva rolled her eyes and looked at her sister, "Mega is impossible but - we need his techno's for the sake of our lives being possible. He has to have someone to watch him like a hawk- that's Jay. And then someone in there that would rat him out for a dollar- that'd be you seeing as Lex nor Ebony know computers. Ram can't- he'd more likely help him and never sell him out. I hate to say it but we- you especially have little choice but to go along with him," Siva said.
"I could run the Techno's- Ram could," Java protested.
"No I couldn't- the Mallrats have me doing too much other things in order to keep my freedom- and you could but they'd never listen," Ram reported still typing on his computer as Ruby served them drinks.
"Do you have nothing better to do than to complain about this guy all the time? You could just quit," Slade replied moving to sit down with a drink of his own.
Java shot him a death glare, "When did you get back?"
"Earlier- it's funny Java whenever I see you- you're either trying to take over, have sex with Ram, kill Ebony, or wanting to kill this Mega guy- the first three you can't do much about but the last you actually could- so why don't you just do it for once? You spend more time here anyway. The Mallrats could find you something here with the trading or security for it," Slade suggested taking a sip.
"You what considering you know so much about what I can and can't do- you try working for Mega then- go on- see how hard it is- and how cut throat. He has to be watched or else he'll back stab you- and that's a fact- and if you're not ruthless- he'll walk all over and use you. You wouldn't last a day," she said darkly.
"I don't know shit about computers"
"So? Most of his assistants don't- their just paper pushers- I do security- go on try it"
"I think I'll pass. I'm not in this place for the city or the helping building it strong…" Slade replied.
"I know- you're looking for something- did you get anywhere anyway?" Siva asked him with interest.
"Just another dead end. Always another dead end. Every time I try. Maybe I've dried out my resources here- maybe it is gone… I just hoped against hope there would be something here," he said after a second a sullen expression taking over on his features.
"Maybe it's not here- maybe it's wherever you came from- Slade, Britain is pretty away"
"No, I left it long before the virus hit. My parents moved here long before this thing existed- besides I lost it not too far from here after the virus hit… I don't think it was capable of going all that far on it's own. So either I'm really under estimating its ability or it's just plain gone," he confessed sadly as if not wanting to come to that reality.
He didn't want anyone to know he had a brother, and after all of these years- he still had nothing. He lost him in sector 24- god there had to been some record. But every time someone thought that may have seen him- it was a bunch of nothing. Slade was getting tired of looking. He'd disappear for weeks at a time on a hunch to come to nothing and then try again. It seriously ruined his sex life. Enough that he had lost a few potential girlfriends along the way. He was finally out of hunches and leads- maybe now it was time to throw in the towel. Accept the cold facts- Josh was dead.
Slade then moved to get up, "I think I need to go lay down"
Java and Siva looked at him oddly as he got up and headed towards the stairs. Ruby gave him a hard one, and then Ram looked at them, "I'll be right back"
"Where are you going?" Siva demanded.
"No where important- just give me five"
Ram then followed him to the door of his room and stopped him, "So- she got a name?" he asked finally.
"What?" Slade said turning around.
"Well see Ruby thinks that all this time you've been looking for some long lost girl like Jay did for a while before his head set in. Java thinks you're just insane to care about anything. Siva is betting you're looking for some long lost puppy or something- she's foolish like that. But I'd like to think I'm smarter than that. I don't think it's any of the above- so let me reword that- HE got a name?" Ram asked him.
Slade looked at him slightly dumbfounded- was Ram a mind reader- did his brain expand beyond computers?
"What makes you ask that?"
"You don't care enough about females- they're for fun not attachment. Like good old Ruby down there for example. Ebony too for that matter- you know before she went back to the blonde Barbie. So I'm guessing it's either a woman you knocked up- she gave you a kid and you lost it- or you got a brother," Ram said.
"The latter- but what concern is it of yours Ram- you don't exactly give a damn," Slade said suspiciously- when Ram was asking questions he knew to be worried.
"Well I do owe you for saving my neck- teaching me to walk, getting me past being an asshole- well partially, and indirectly thanks to you I got Java back. Sure, I helped you with a few things around here- but I'm sure I still owe you enough to use some technology to help you on your quest," Ram reasoned.
"Fine but you don't tell anyone about this- I don't want anyone to know"
"Got it- so what can you give me?" Ram asked shutting the door, locking it, and then taking a seat on a chair in the room.
"His name is Josh- he's about 22ish at this point- wears glasses- and is darker than me," Slade said after a second.
"He got a picture or something you know something I can actually work with?"
"It's as old as the virus"
"I can always age it with a computer if need be," Ram reported.
Slade pointed to the desktop as Ram jerked his head over- at first, Ram swore he had seen that look before somewhere- but then within a spilt second… he knew where. His eyes gauged out- his heart stopped or so it seemed, and his mouth dropped.
Slade's gaze flicked to his- Ram… had seen him before! That was the only explanation for that look… but how…
"You've seen him before?" Slade demanded.
Ram nodded slowly closing his jaw, "Oh yea…"
"Is he died, Ram? Was he one of the guys you shipped out?" he said automatically fearing the worst.
"No… it's- a lot worse than that"
"Nothing is worse than him being dead"
"You sure about that? Because trust me, this is bad…" Ram said looking at him seriously.
"Talk"
"Mega came to Liberty once- it's a shame you weren't here- you missed him Slade. By a matter of hours… all this time you've been searching all of over- and the irony- you just needed to take a little trip to the Mallrats jail cell or the Hotel- and you would have found him. That is a young Mega right there- no mistaking it," Ram told him.
Slade felt his heart stop in shock- Mega was HIS BROTHER? Mega- this guy everyone described as a cold expressionless monster hell bent on taking over the world and killing all of society. THAT Mega? No, that couldn't be right- there was no way…
"You can't be right…"
"Oh Ram's never wrong- in fact, if you give me a minute- I can get his techno identification shot from back when I was leader. You'll find the striking resemblance. I'm sorry… but you know what they say…" Ram said looking at him, "If you want I can go…"
"Yea- I really need a minute right now"
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A few weeks of coping, and now he was ready- he drove into city- passing by tons of people setting up for Christmas which was in the morning. Noticing the holiday stuff different tribes had put up.
The Mall winning most decorative for short but as he pulled up to the Hotel that Ram had told him about- it looked positively dead. Cold as possible. No sign of life but cameras all over. He hopped off his bike and stepped in noticing oddly there wasn't even a guard around.
He made his way around for a door with light and finally he found one and typing going on inside. He knew that was it. He had found his brother. He opened the door and walked in.
"I said clear out for the night and I meant it," a voice said from a side door walking towards the room he was standing. Clearly there were connecting rooms.
"I didn't get that memo," Slade
Right off, his blood rain cold- he knew that voice. That voice haunted his dreams and memories. He saw him when he got up in his mind, and his voice in his head. It was him. A very alive him. A very alive him standing in his compound.
"Why aren't you in a ditch somewhere?"
"Excuse me?"
"I said why aren't you in a ditch somewhere for someone that's supposed to be dead, you breathing is not part of the programme," Mega said standing up and walking over towards him as he shut the door.
"Then you made poor assumptions," Slade replied, "I was never dead- and nor were you. So we both had the wrong idea…"
"Then they the fuck are you here?" he demanded looking at him.
"Purely accidental- Ram noticed a likeness between a photo I had on me and you- he put two and two together rather quickly I might add," Slade said honestly, "Oh and just so you know- I stopped at the Mall- and I told Jay and Ved they had the day off".
"What gives you that right?" Mega inquired.
"I've already booked tomorrow- you have a problem with that?"
"Yep"
"Too bad. It's my right, and frankly speaking if you want me gone…"
"All I have to do is say so- okay, I'm saying so- go away," Mega said darkly.
"Actually Josh, that was never an option- what I was going to say was if you want me gone- I'm going to have to end up a corpse right now because short my death- I'm not going anywhere. You could attempt to beat me up but we'd both know you'd end up with broken bones before that was over. So you might as well accept defeat now. Realise sometimes things aren't going to go you're way- like your troops working- I sort of told Java to make sure this place was a ghost town come tomorrow," he reported.
"Don't tell me you actually believe in this new tribal Christmas idea those pathetic tribal leaders thought up," Mega said with a semi suspicious look from the desk he had forced himself into.
"Not really- ours sucked before the virus- why would it any different now? I figure let them have the holidays like lovesick puppies, happy teenagers looking for gifts and sweets, and kids that don't remember before the virus to discover what our world was like. You and I can spend the day fighting, while you listen to my pathetic apologies, and then you explain what stick was shoved so far up your ass that you decided to try and take over the city, enslave a bunch a people, kill a few, and then work your tribe to death," Slade answered.
"Your right about the shitty Christmas"
"I take it that was your way of saying fuck you?"
"That's about right- I have a semi better idea- and go with me on this here- without trying to give input. We get drunk somewhere first, then get into a fist fight, then talk, and then afterwards pretend were human for five minutes- act like it in front of those virts including appearing civilized and into the events of this year… so that A: It makes me look good in front of the other tribes for the sake of business, B: It makes you look good in front of woman you want to do tomorrow night, and C: Then we get into the casual but inevitable conversation in which you have to tell everyone the reason for so elusive behaviour is you're my brother, and why I'm such an asshole is because you blame yourself for fucking me over. Though, it true- then I get the defense claim it's all me and I don't give a damn- staging a public but true war that will make you look not in business with me- and yet give you an excuse to keep coming back to "fix" me- sound better?" Mega said finally standing up and opening the door passing Slade.
"On second thought, suddenly this Christmas thing doesn't sound so bad- for either of us"
"Nope and we still get to drink out of the deal- without having to sit here in a standoff… and my uniform covers the red and green- all we need is the trading gifts- the stupid tree but wherever we head there will be one, and cheer- and we don't need to provide that they will. Off hand, it might even be a normal one in a weird way," He conceded as Slade followed him out and down a hall.
"Sounds like a plan- so where am I staying?"
"You've got to be kidding me"
"It's about Midnight, Liberty is a few hours away on foot- I didn't take the bike, and it's not like you were getting away with ditching me for the night…."
"First door on the left"
"Hmph- oh and happy holidays"
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The dark one is out of the way! Whoo.