Hi again. Here is the third chapter of our mixed up story. Hope you
enjoy! Read on.
Scrambles chapter three: Within the Darkness
Dodger awoke in a small room that wasn't much more than a bed and a tiny bathroom. In fact, it looked more like a jail cell than a room. The door could only be opened from the outside. His reflection on the shinny steel door caught his eye. It wasn't his, but young Shadow's. What in the world did Forge do to him?! His thoughts screamed. Where was he? Was this a dream? He felt like himself. Looking down at his hands they looked normal, but every reflection in the room showed Shadow. What is this, Quantum Leap? He asked himself. The door opened to reveal a tall thug looking man that seemed about twice his size.
"Come, Shadow, Master wants to speak to you before you start training today." he said in a rumbling voice. Dodger stood in awe and bewilderment of this man. "I mean now!" the thug commanded. Before he could even move, the thug grabbed him by his throat and began dragging him down a long hallway, then into a large control room that was similar to the War Room. He was thrown in front of a chair, and finally was able to breath again, though gasping for air. The thug seemed to enjoy watching this. Dodger could only imagine what Shadow had done to him to make him so hurtful. Before he could dwell on this thought longer, the chair spun around and he found himself face to face with Sinister.
"Ah...Shadow. Glad you could come." Sinister said evilly.
"Like I had a choice." Dodger snapped back surprising himself. Maybe Shadow had rubbed off on him more than he had credited her.
"Quiet you!" the thug commanded as he brought down a whip on Dodger's back. He whined in pain.
"That will be quite enough, Dozer. We don't want a repeat of last week." Sinister said before Dozer could hit Dodger again. "Now, I think Shadow has learned her lesson. I'm sure she will behave today." he added before turning to Dodger. "As for you, if you step as much as a toe out of line you will pay. I will not put up with this defiance." he continued rising the so-called Shadow's chin to force eye contact. "Do you understand? Now off to training with you. Go on, get." Dodger scrambled out the door before he realized he didn't know where to go. However, the thug called Dozer was soon following.
"Your butt is mine now." he said as he walked into a room that was similar to the Danger Room only everything looked more lethal. "Let's start with some push-ups." he ordered. "Oh, how about a hundred to start out with and we'll go from there." Dodger's jaw dropped. Dozer smiled at this. "Now down!" he said as he kicked out Dodger's legs causing him to fall face first to the floor. "And up one." he continued as Dodger pushed up from the floor. Dozer kept counting as Dodger did a "good" push-up in which he had to touch his nose to the ground and nothing else, then come all the way back up until his arms were straight again. This took a good hour to do.
"One hundred." was called by Dozer as Dodger fell to the floor his arms searing with an intense pain. Sweet ran down his face, he had never done so many push-ups in his life. And he was a fit built man. He must have done around two hundred and fifty but one hundred and fifty of that didn't count. Dodger didn't know how Shadow put up with this.
Interrupting Dodger's thoughts Dozer said, "What's wrong, little Shadow? Are we feeling tired?" Dodger sat up on the floor, but said nothing. This man was truly a slave driver with no heart, Dodger decided. "What? No witty come back today, Shadow?" Again Dodger said nothing. "See. Told Sinister I could break you. All you needed was discipline and a firm hand. He says, however, that your spirit can never truly be broken, only bent, but he's wrong." he babbled on confidently.
"He's right. You will never break my spirit." Dodger interrupted hatefully. "And one day I will escape from under your hand. You self- centered pig!" Dodger was only stopped by a blow to his jaw by Dozer. It sent him flying backward into a wall.
"Insult me again. I dare you." Dozer said as Dodger picked himself of the floor. He was lucky the blow didn't brake his haw.
"There's not an insult low enough or worse enough to describe you." He swore softly. Then he was shoved to the floor as something hot was pressed on his back. It was burning through his clothes and on his back right between his shoulder blades. He screamed with pain and tried to roll away before he realized Dozer was holding him into place and anytime he tried to move the burning would worsen. Finally, he let go, allowing Dodger to move away. The sore was throbbing with pain. Dodger looked up to see Dozer holding something that looked like a cattle brand.
"Forget about my power to heat objects to a nice red hot again my young Shadow? This..." Dozer said, holding the brand just above Dodger's nose so he could see the small skull and wings that made up the brand still burning with red hot heat, "has been permanently burned into your back. Not even your healing factor will let it heal without a scar. May it remind you who you are and when to keep you mouth shut. Enjoy." He stopped to watch the imposter Shadow whimper in pain. "Now get up. It's time for the obstacle course."
"No, she will not run the course!" A young woman in her twenties shouted out as she ran to Dodger's side. "I can't believe you. She's only a child!"
"She's a weapon and that is all."
"She's a human being!" the woman snapped picking Dodger up off the floor, and putting his arm around her shoulder to help him keep his balance. "Come on, Shadow, let's get you cleaned up." she said as she moved him out of the room.
"Rockle! When will you learn that Shadow is a born killer and nothing more. Taught only to hurt, kill, and survive." Dozer called after them. "Don't listen to him," she cooed in Dodger/Shadow's ear. They entered Shadow's room that Dodger had been in when he had awoken. The woman laid him down on the bed and told him to lie still while she went to go get some bandages. Dodger stared at the bond haired woman and wondered if she was they only one that was kind to Shadow when she was young. Also if this was the woman she spoke of about the locks.
She came back in and did her best mend his back. She end up having to cut his shirt off and around the sore from some of it melting onto the skin. "He really did a number on you." she muttered as she bandaged the last of his back. "I'm afraid you will feel it for quite some time. As of now you should try to get some sleep. Most likely you'll have at it again tomorrow. Stay strong my girl. Don't let Dozer break your spirit." she said in a whisper as she left the room. The door slammed shut behind him, Dodger could hear three different locks turned to hold the door in place.
For the rest of the day he was stuck in this holding cell. No wonder Shadow didn't like being cooped up. He rolled over and almost screamed as he hit a hard lump in his bed. After muttering a few curses at the pain in his back, he investigated what was there. From under the mattress he pulled out a small leather bond book. "What is this?" he thought to himself. He opened it and read what is said on the first page.
My young Shadow this book is to
fill as you please with your thoughts,
deeds, and hopes. Keep it in a safe place
out of prying eyes.
Your friend, Rockle
He slammed it shut. It's Shadow's dairy. For the longest time he just looked at it. Should he read it? What harm could it do? After all he was Shadow at the, right? Why not? He opened the book and began to read. The first entries didn't make much sense, but by the dates she couldn't have been more than five. The book held everything in it from where she was ticklish, her fears, daily life, training exercises, to the begin of escape plans. When he finished he put it back where he had found it. "It appears..." he muttered to himself so that no one could possibly hear, "that there is a lot more to Shadow then she likes to let on. Just some more pieces to the puzzle." He laid his head on the pillow and closed his eyes, praying that he wasn't stuck like this. Then a thought hit him. If he was Shadow, who was in his place? Those thoughts were interrupted by the sudden appearance of Pixie.
"Irona?" he questioned with confusion.
"That's me!" she said cheerfully. "Forge told me to tell you...huh...to stay put and everything will be back the way it should be soon. Yeah, that's it...I think."
"You think?"
"Well, I'm eighty-nine percent sure." "And the other eleven percent?" he questioned.
"You are stuck like this."
"Great...life as Shadow."
"Well, I don't think that will happen. Bye, bye." With that Pixie vanished. Dodger laid back down, said another silent prayer and tried to sleep. Hopefully he would get to see Shadow in the morning rather than be her. They sure had a lot to talk about.
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Forge and Irona had come up with a way to communicate with the Pack members. They only problem was Irona couldn't stay back long and they were afraid of her dazy moments. With that risk in mind she went back, telling them to stay put. Forge was still toying with how to bring them back. "If only I could find out how it happened." he thought to himself. "Security tapes!"
End chapter three. Four's a comin'. See who comes next.
Scrambles chapter three: Within the Darkness
Dodger awoke in a small room that wasn't much more than a bed and a tiny bathroom. In fact, it looked more like a jail cell than a room. The door could only be opened from the outside. His reflection on the shinny steel door caught his eye. It wasn't his, but young Shadow's. What in the world did Forge do to him?! His thoughts screamed. Where was he? Was this a dream? He felt like himself. Looking down at his hands they looked normal, but every reflection in the room showed Shadow. What is this, Quantum Leap? He asked himself. The door opened to reveal a tall thug looking man that seemed about twice his size.
"Come, Shadow, Master wants to speak to you before you start training today." he said in a rumbling voice. Dodger stood in awe and bewilderment of this man. "I mean now!" the thug commanded. Before he could even move, the thug grabbed him by his throat and began dragging him down a long hallway, then into a large control room that was similar to the War Room. He was thrown in front of a chair, and finally was able to breath again, though gasping for air. The thug seemed to enjoy watching this. Dodger could only imagine what Shadow had done to him to make him so hurtful. Before he could dwell on this thought longer, the chair spun around and he found himself face to face with Sinister.
"Ah...Shadow. Glad you could come." Sinister said evilly.
"Like I had a choice." Dodger snapped back surprising himself. Maybe Shadow had rubbed off on him more than he had credited her.
"Quiet you!" the thug commanded as he brought down a whip on Dodger's back. He whined in pain.
"That will be quite enough, Dozer. We don't want a repeat of last week." Sinister said before Dozer could hit Dodger again. "Now, I think Shadow has learned her lesson. I'm sure she will behave today." he added before turning to Dodger. "As for you, if you step as much as a toe out of line you will pay. I will not put up with this defiance." he continued rising the so-called Shadow's chin to force eye contact. "Do you understand? Now off to training with you. Go on, get." Dodger scrambled out the door before he realized he didn't know where to go. However, the thug called Dozer was soon following.
"Your butt is mine now." he said as he walked into a room that was similar to the Danger Room only everything looked more lethal. "Let's start with some push-ups." he ordered. "Oh, how about a hundred to start out with and we'll go from there." Dodger's jaw dropped. Dozer smiled at this. "Now down!" he said as he kicked out Dodger's legs causing him to fall face first to the floor. "And up one." he continued as Dodger pushed up from the floor. Dozer kept counting as Dodger did a "good" push-up in which he had to touch his nose to the ground and nothing else, then come all the way back up until his arms were straight again. This took a good hour to do.
"One hundred." was called by Dozer as Dodger fell to the floor his arms searing with an intense pain. Sweet ran down his face, he had never done so many push-ups in his life. And he was a fit built man. He must have done around two hundred and fifty but one hundred and fifty of that didn't count. Dodger didn't know how Shadow put up with this.
Interrupting Dodger's thoughts Dozer said, "What's wrong, little Shadow? Are we feeling tired?" Dodger sat up on the floor, but said nothing. This man was truly a slave driver with no heart, Dodger decided. "What? No witty come back today, Shadow?" Again Dodger said nothing. "See. Told Sinister I could break you. All you needed was discipline and a firm hand. He says, however, that your spirit can never truly be broken, only bent, but he's wrong." he babbled on confidently.
"He's right. You will never break my spirit." Dodger interrupted hatefully. "And one day I will escape from under your hand. You self- centered pig!" Dodger was only stopped by a blow to his jaw by Dozer. It sent him flying backward into a wall.
"Insult me again. I dare you." Dozer said as Dodger picked himself of the floor. He was lucky the blow didn't brake his haw.
"There's not an insult low enough or worse enough to describe you." He swore softly. Then he was shoved to the floor as something hot was pressed on his back. It was burning through his clothes and on his back right between his shoulder blades. He screamed with pain and tried to roll away before he realized Dozer was holding him into place and anytime he tried to move the burning would worsen. Finally, he let go, allowing Dodger to move away. The sore was throbbing with pain. Dodger looked up to see Dozer holding something that looked like a cattle brand.
"Forget about my power to heat objects to a nice red hot again my young Shadow? This..." Dozer said, holding the brand just above Dodger's nose so he could see the small skull and wings that made up the brand still burning with red hot heat, "has been permanently burned into your back. Not even your healing factor will let it heal without a scar. May it remind you who you are and when to keep you mouth shut. Enjoy." He stopped to watch the imposter Shadow whimper in pain. "Now get up. It's time for the obstacle course."
"No, she will not run the course!" A young woman in her twenties shouted out as she ran to Dodger's side. "I can't believe you. She's only a child!"
"She's a weapon and that is all."
"She's a human being!" the woman snapped picking Dodger up off the floor, and putting his arm around her shoulder to help him keep his balance. "Come on, Shadow, let's get you cleaned up." she said as she moved him out of the room.
"Rockle! When will you learn that Shadow is a born killer and nothing more. Taught only to hurt, kill, and survive." Dozer called after them. "Don't listen to him," she cooed in Dodger/Shadow's ear. They entered Shadow's room that Dodger had been in when he had awoken. The woman laid him down on the bed and told him to lie still while she went to go get some bandages. Dodger stared at the bond haired woman and wondered if she was they only one that was kind to Shadow when she was young. Also if this was the woman she spoke of about the locks.
She came back in and did her best mend his back. She end up having to cut his shirt off and around the sore from some of it melting onto the skin. "He really did a number on you." she muttered as she bandaged the last of his back. "I'm afraid you will feel it for quite some time. As of now you should try to get some sleep. Most likely you'll have at it again tomorrow. Stay strong my girl. Don't let Dozer break your spirit." she said in a whisper as she left the room. The door slammed shut behind him, Dodger could hear three different locks turned to hold the door in place.
For the rest of the day he was stuck in this holding cell. No wonder Shadow didn't like being cooped up. He rolled over and almost screamed as he hit a hard lump in his bed. After muttering a few curses at the pain in his back, he investigated what was there. From under the mattress he pulled out a small leather bond book. "What is this?" he thought to himself. He opened it and read what is said on the first page.
My young Shadow this book is to
fill as you please with your thoughts,
deeds, and hopes. Keep it in a safe place
out of prying eyes.
Your friend, Rockle
He slammed it shut. It's Shadow's dairy. For the longest time he just looked at it. Should he read it? What harm could it do? After all he was Shadow at the, right? Why not? He opened the book and began to read. The first entries didn't make much sense, but by the dates she couldn't have been more than five. The book held everything in it from where she was ticklish, her fears, daily life, training exercises, to the begin of escape plans. When he finished he put it back where he had found it. "It appears..." he muttered to himself so that no one could possibly hear, "that there is a lot more to Shadow then she likes to let on. Just some more pieces to the puzzle." He laid his head on the pillow and closed his eyes, praying that he wasn't stuck like this. Then a thought hit him. If he was Shadow, who was in his place? Those thoughts were interrupted by the sudden appearance of Pixie.
"Irona?" he questioned with confusion.
"That's me!" she said cheerfully. "Forge told me to tell you...huh...to stay put and everything will be back the way it should be soon. Yeah, that's it...I think."
"You think?"
"Well, I'm eighty-nine percent sure." "And the other eleven percent?" he questioned.
"You are stuck like this."
"Great...life as Shadow."
"Well, I don't think that will happen. Bye, bye." With that Pixie vanished. Dodger laid back down, said another silent prayer and tried to sleep. Hopefully he would get to see Shadow in the morning rather than be her. They sure had a lot to talk about.
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Forge and Irona had come up with a way to communicate with the Pack members. They only problem was Irona couldn't stay back long and they were afraid of her dazy moments. With that risk in mind she went back, telling them to stay put. Forge was still toying with how to bring them back. "If only I could find out how it happened." he thought to himself. "Security tapes!"
End chapter three. Four's a comin'. See who comes next.