Disclaimer: I don't own anything.
Author's Note: This is a take on A Christmas Carol. I'm not sure if someone else has done a story similar to this using these characters. It is centered on Eric and involves characters from both Time Force and Wild Force. I hope you enjoy it.
Scrooge
Eric woke up and slowly sat up in his bed. Today felt like it was going to be worse than yesterday was, though he wasn't quite sure why that would be. Sighing he got out of his bed and set his feet on the cold floor. It didn't take him long to shower and get dressed.
As soon as he stepped foot out of the door he understood why today was worse than yesterday, it was Christmas Eve. Now he would have to endure all of the annoying people on the road pointlessly wishing him a Merry Christmas. As if anyone really had one. He walked over to his car and got in thankful that he had this way to at least prevent a majority of the people even looking his way.
He turned on his radio so he could hear if there were any areas he wanted to avoid on his way into work. He rolled his eyes as a generic commercial filled his car. Surely they could have something else playing. Sighing he looked at the clock and realized that if he didn't hurry he wouldn't be there to make sure that the others were working. Normally they would but there were days that he caught them talking about the weather or other irrelevant things. Was it too much to ask that a person actually do their job? If they didn't want to work then perhaps they should stop and go and wander around until they died; preferably where he didn't have to watch.
Eric finally made it to the Silver Guardians. He parked his car and went inside. As soon as he walked in the door he heard music playing. He paused and listened more intently until he realized what it was. Gritting his teeth he promptly turned away from the direction of his office and over to the staff room. A couple of women and men were in there getting coffee with the radio on.
"Turn that off."
One of the females jumped and turned to see him standing in the doorway. A man quickly switched off the radio, "We were just listening before work."
"Work is now. You are at a place of business. If you no longer wish to be you know the door."
Eric turned and walked off to his office.
As he was entering he heard a voice off to the side, "You know they were just having some fun."
Eric somehow knew that he would interject his opinion. He rolled his eyes before looking at Trip, "Fun and work do not mix. The sooner you all realize that the better."
Trip frowned and shrugged his shoulders, "I think it could work together. I don't see why not."
Eric glared at him and Trip looked at the floor before walking back to his desk. He did not need Trip telling him how to run things, after all Mr. Collins had left the Silver Guardians to Eric because he knew that Eric would continue in the right way. Mr. Collins knew that Eric would keep the business not only going but growing. Eric had branched out to several different things in order to gain the upper holding in most of Silver Hills. Trip just didn't see how the business side worked; he would give all the money away if he could.
"No fun." And he stormed into his office slamming the door shut.
It wasn't too much later when he heard some loud noise outside his door. Frowning he stood up and quickly moved over to it yanking it open. Two guys stood in front of Trip. One was tall with dark hair and glasses, the other shorter with curly hair. The short one smiled upon seeing Eric causing Eric to glare, "What?"
"I'm Max and this is Danny. We were just wondering if you would like to donate for those less fortunate."
"Donate?"
"Well yeah, to help those less fortunate."
The taller one, Danny, smiled, "Any amount would help."
"Any amount? Perhaps they should all be escorted out of town, then they can die and allow the rest of us to live in peace without them begging because they can't do anything for themselves."
Danny's mouth dropped open and Max stepped forward, "Now just because they need some help doesn't mean they should have to die."
Eric glared at Max, "You'll get nothing from me, now leave."
Danny nudged Max, "Come on, let's go."
As they were walking out he heard Max muttering. Eric shook his head; he didn't care what they said they shouldn't have wasted his time. He turned back to Trip, "No more. Get to work!"
Eric had been working without any interruptions for the past couple of hours. It was nice, he was worried that Trip would be coming in and trying to insist on donations or charity or some ridiculous notion. Luckily Trip had stayed out there and since there wasn't any noise he sure hoped that Trip was working.
It was just after lunch when he heard some noise outside his office. Frowning he glanced up at the door and waited for a minute or two, when nothing else happened he figured Trip was taking care of some annoying person so that they could continue working. Eric looked back to his work to ignore anything else.
All at once his door burst open and Wes came striding inside his office. Eric glared at Wes, "What are you doing here?"
Wes grinned, "Me? Why I've come to spread some Christmas cheer to my best friend!"
"Go away. I don't celebrate Christmas, you know that."
His…friend, which you could hardly call them that anymore, continued to smile and proceeded to sit in the chair in front of Eric's desk, "Eric, come on…you used to love Christmas."
"That's a strong word. Don't you have someone else you can bother?"
"Why? I have so much fun with you!"
"Well I'm busy." He snapped.
Unfortunately Wes didn't even look offended, he just shrugged his shoulders, "Alright, then come by for Christmas tomorrow. It'll be great!"
Eric shook his head, "I don't do Christmas. It's a wasted day off."
"Eric, it'll be fun. You can have fun."
"Look, just leave. I'm busy and need to get things done." Eric looked down at the papers he was shuffling through, after another couple of minutes he looked up to see his 'friend' was still there, "What?"
"Don't worry; a spot will be saved for you. I'll see you tomorrow!"
Eric grumbled as Wes disappeared. He was not going to go over to his house, he refused. And with that thought he began working again.
He had been left alone for the rest of the day when his alarm went off. He finished his work and stood up and stretched. Grabbing the few things he had brought to the office he walked out of the room and shut and locked the door.
As he started to walk off he heard a quiet, "Mr. Myers?"
He looked over at Trip who was standing at his desk also getting ready to leave. "What?"
"Tomorrow is Christmas and I was just wondering if we still had that off?"
He exhaled and rolled his eyes, "Must you?"
"It is Christmas…and well," He pauses and looks down, "it's unlikely other places will be open."
Trip had a point much to Eric's dismay. He clenched his jaw before answering, "Fine, but be in earlier the next day!" And with that he stomped off.
It took Eric longer to get home than he liked. It wasn't like he had left during rush hour. He knew that it had to do with all those stupid people taking part in all the ridiculous Christmas activities. Didn't they realize how pointless the whole thing was? After all what did one get from it? You lost money and time and neither was ever to be returned. It made much more sense to pretend the blasted holiday didn't happen.
Getting into his house he quickly locked and chained the door. It was a bit cool in there but warmer than the cold air outside. He set his things down on his desk and moved to the kitchen. After heating up a meal in the microwave he took it and went to the kitchen table.
As he ate he went through his mind all the work that would have to be compensated for those fools taking Christmas off. He supposed he should just stay here since nothing else was likely to get done at the office and yet he just didn't know if that was what he wanted to do. He knew that he would get work done, but he would only be able to get so far. Although if he did go to work and everyone was off for that ridiculous day then perhaps he would get some peace and quiet. He nodded liking that idea.
All at once he heard a slight rattle at the front door. Frowning he stood up and went over there unlocking it and peering outside. Upon seeing that there was no one there he turned and locked it up and went back to take care of his dishes. Afterwards he decided that he would go right to bed so he could perhaps get up early in the morning and go to work for a peaceful, work filled day.
As he was getting ready in the bathroom he thought he heard his name in his room; but there was nothing there. Deciding it was just in his head he got into his bed and went to turn off the light.
"Eric."
He jumped as he saw that Mr. Collins was sitting in the chair just across from the bed. The figure didn't move and Eric realized that it had to be in his head. Shaking his head he moved to turn off the light when the figure in his chair spoke, "Eric, I'm really here."
Eric looked closer at Mr. Collins and realized that there were chains all over him, almost as though he were in bondage. He frowned, "I don't see why that should give me any reason to believe that you are here. I could just have eaten something bad and perhaps this is nothing but a dream."
Mr. Collins frowned, "Do you really believe something like that?"
He had to admit that he didn't believe that he had fallen asleep, however he didn't believe in ghosts either, so obviously it had to be the more logical, more believable option. "I'm not going to play party to this."
However at that time Mr. Collins chose to stand and walk over to Eric, "I came to deliver a message and I'm not leaving until I have done so. Now pay attention."
Eric pondered about the possibilities of whatever this was going away on its own. He could go back downstairs, but what good would that do, the…hallucination or whatever it was would probably follow him. He sighed and gestured to his old partner, "Fine, go on." After all maybe he would leave after he told him whatever it was he wanted to.
Mr. Collins frowned at him and then nodded, "I will speak since my time is limited, but I think it will do you well to really listen." He sighed and moved a little shaking the chains. Looking down he began to speak, "These chains are the ones given to me on my exit from this Earth. It was because I was not a good person. I was selfish and unkind. They are my penance." He looked up at Eric, "And this is what waits you unless you change."
Eric raised an eyebrow, "Change what?"
"Who you are." He sighed, "My time is almost up. There will be three ghosts who will visit you tonight, listen to them and understand them. Perhaps you can avoid the fate that I am bound to."
"Are you done?"
Mr. Collins nodded, "I am; but you must listen Eric, it is very important."
"Alright, now will you go? I'm really very tired."
But before Eric could finish his statement Mr. Collins had disappeared as though he had never been there. Shrugging Eric turned his back on the spot Mr. Collins had been occupying and went to sleep.
