I don't have much to say. I want to thank JakiiFan again for helping out with this chapter. Oh, and I want to give credit, again, to AJMS for Erol's last name.
Torn stood aside and watched soldiers in training doing their obstacle course. It was a summer job where he could get some extra money. "Torn." Ashlin said behind the Commander. "Ashlin." He replied calmly almost with no emotion.
She walked up next to him with her arms crossed and looked at the men.
"Did you hear that Laona's kid got thrown in prison for sexual assault a week ago?" She asked. Torn cocked his eyebrow, and glanced down at her. "Really." He sighed roughly.
"He's not worth trusting, and that fact proves it. I thought Razer was a prick."
Ashlin rolled her eyes, and sighed. She understood what Torn meant though. A moment passed. "Torn," Ashlin finally spoke. He looked at her, with a blank expression on his face. "Do you think that Derrick could be telling the truth about the fact it was a clone who committed those crimes down in Kras City and not him?" She asked.
Torn huffed, "Ashlin, criminals say anything to get out of trouble. I don't believe something like that for a second." Torn glared at some younger recruits that were straggling behind the stronger part of the group.
"Hold on for one second." Torn muttered as he moved on toward the young men.
The boy was not much older than 15. He had a disfiguring scar across his left cheek.
"Get up, boy."
He did what he was told.
"Sir I can't take th-" The young soldier tried to protest until Torn interrupted him,"What? Are you questioning my authority?" The boy studdered,"N-n-no sir, it's just that I-"
"I want no excuses for your sorry ass. Move it!"
The soldier staggered then ran off back to the group.
"I see they love your training course." Ashlin said sarcastically as Torn approached her. He took in a deep breath and sighed, "Yeah, I get a runt now and then. Once training was done, Torn and Ashlin entered the city and walked around casually looking for something to do.
"Everyone get out of the area!"
A man panicked nearby.
Torn and Ashlin turned to the man's direction. Ashlin started to walk towards the man who was warning people. "What's problem, sir?" She questioned. The man had a terrified look at his face. He was pale in fright, "The pipe right here, has a highly flammable chemical! If mixed with oxygen it's explosive!" He ranted.
Alarmed, she looked past the frantic man and smelled the air.
"Uh oh.." She choked. "Torn!" She called out.
"What?"
"Get everyone out of the area, immediately."
"Why?"
"We have a situation."
Torn just stood there as he was about to reach for his communicator. Impatiently, she barked, "Now!" Due to this chaos, some citizens were starting to panic themselves as they started running. She started to back off herself and start running.
BOOM!
"Lunch time Pedo." Erol said lowly through the door of Derrick's stuffy cell in Haven's Prison.
"Don't call me that." He growled. It was a new nick name, since he was wrongfully charged with sexual assault. "What? Pedo?" The red head hissed. "Shut up and just give me my lunch." Derrick barked.
He was sleeping as he usually did. That was the only thing he could do. Eat, sleep, and sit there or just push ups to keep in shape. The boy got up and went to the door. He was shirtless, only wearing pants similar to those of his father's. Derrick had a bold tattoo of Mar on his left shoulder blade along with a dead metal head on his other shoulder blade. Erol opened the door and shoved the tray in his hands and closed the door harshly.
"What do we got here now, Derrick..." He muttered to himself. Old fruit, water, and a half eaten yakow sandwich. Erol made a habit of nibbling off of the prisoner's meals. He sat on his bed and took a bite out of the sandwich.
"Hey Pedo, you have a visitor." Erol gawked outside the door.
A visitor?
The door immediately shot open. There stood Zaylin, apparently shooken up with nowhere to go.
"Don't stay too long. He might rape you."
Erol grinned as he pushed her in the cell and slammed the door. Zaylin rolled his eyes with disgust. "I hate that man." She growled.
"I know. Technically that ass is my step-father."
"Ouch." She sighed as she sat next to him on his bed. Derrick put aside his lunch.
"How have you been doing?" She asked quietly. She tried her hardest to not stare at his rock body. He had his father's looks, no doubt about it. The only difference were the soft eyes of his mother.
Derrick stared off at a nearby object.
"If you were charged with a crime you never committed and stuck in a smelly old cold cell how would you feel?"
"Awful."
"It is.."
"No, I mean it's just awful how those girls framed you."
Derrick looked at her and nodded. "That too." He agreed. "I'm sorry you have to go through this." She started to cry. Soon she felt a warm hand on her shoulder. "Don't be." He sighed. "I know I just met you, but I can't help but worry." He smiled. Nobody has ever told him that in his entire life.
"I was going to bake you some cookies, but I had no time. I wanted to see you." Zaylin's sobbing slowed down. Derrick sighed lightly.
"Even if you did, I wouldn't be able to get any. Erol would confiscate them and say that there's a strict law that visitors can't bring food because there's a chance that there'd be a "weapon" hidden in them so they can attempt to escape. It's a stupid excuse."
"Oh..."
"Yeah."
Zaylin looked into Derrick's eyes. They seemed so cold and lonely, but started to change into something that was almost completely different. Derrick moved an inch closer to Zaylin. He smiled weakly and said, "It's the thought that counts, right?" She nodded lightly.
"You're not a bad guy. I don't like to see you here."
"I'm glad you're here. It's good to see a friendly face." Derrick said softly.
He wanted to kiss her. Badly. He knew he couldn't. Before he knew it, Zaylin had actually moved closer to him. Out of impulse, she went in to kiss him. Derrick nearly froze as she kissed him. He staggered slightly, then started to warm up to it. By the time he kissed back, she drew away.
"Sorry." She said lightly. "Sorry." She repeated herself, looking away. He blinked. "Um.." He protested. "I shouldn't have done that. I just..." Zaylin started to tremble. "I just couldn't help myself. Sorry."
Derrick tried to speak.
"I should go.." The girl said quietly as she got up. "No, wait." Derrick finally spoke up.
She looked at him. He gently held her hand. "It's ok.." Derrick grinned. "Don't be sorry. There's nothing you should be sorry about."
Embarrassed, Zaylin decided to sit back down. She had nothing to look forward to when she would leave anyway. There was an awkward silence that had sunk into the room. "Once you get out of here, do you want to come back to my apartment sometime? I'll have a fresh batch of cookies for you then." Zaylin asked. The boy nodded.
"Sure... I'll be able to kick Erol's ass then." He chuckled.
There was a loud knock at the cell door.
"Hey, Pedo, it's time for you to stop groping your girlfriend. Visiting hours are over."
Derrick then gave Erol a nasty look, not caring whether he saw it or not.
Shit-head...
Zaylin got up when Derrick did. "I'll get you out of here." She whispered. He looked at her.
"How?"
Zaylin covered his mouth.
"I have my ways." She stated as she let go. "Wait." Derrick stopped her for the last time. Zaylin turned to him as he suddenly pecked her on the lips. She paused as she saw him grin sheepishly.
"Lets go! Put your pants back on, boy." Erol was growing impatient.
"Bye." She giggled as she opened the door to leave. Erol eyed Zaylin leave until she was out of sight. Derrick stood there with his arms crossed, glaring at the red head. He walked up to the door, almost in Zamekhein's face.
"Visiting hours aren't over for another ten minutes." The boy commented with a rough voice. "I know." He said with a smooth voice and a sly grin.
"You son of a-"
SLAM!
Erol closed the door and locked it. "Ooh if you weren't a Krimson Guard Commander and my father-in-law you'd be in a hell of a lot of pain right now..." The boy hissed. Erol had already left. A surge of anger pulsed through his veins. He clenched his fist and punched the metal door as hard as he could. He kept it there. He had made a slight dent in the door! Blood trickled down the door. He didn't wince even once as he breathed heavily, doing his best to calm himself down.
Dust and debris was everywhere. Ashlin had awoken. She coughed, and opened her eyes. She tried to get up, but fell back to the ground with a sudden rush of pain coming from everywhere. She tasted blood.
"Ashlin! Are you alright?!" Daxter shouted as he approached her.
With her vision blurry, she took a short glance at the ottsel. "Daxter?" She managed to breathe out.
"Ashlin!"
She heard Jak behind her. Jak kneeled down beside her and put a hand on her shoulder. "Are you alright?" He asked. She spoke with a weak voice.
"Where's Torn?"
The blonde looked around and saw nobody.
"I don't know. But we have to take you to the hospital."
"No."
"You look pretty bad Ash. You need help."
"Don't call me that."
"What? Ash?"
"Yeah."
Daxter paced, "I'll go get help." He informed his friend and ran off.
Jak grabbed his communicator. "Laona, come in!" He said. "What, Jak?" She replied. "Ashlin's down. Apparently there was some sort of explosion. Get an ambulance here pronto." The blonde ordered.
"I'm on it."
Blargh