READING BEDTIME STORIES
Chapter Ten: Hunting the Green Storm
***
Disclaimer: DBZ is all Akira Toriyama. The rest is mine. ^_^
A/N: When you finish reading, I'll explain… _
***
"Hey Z…"
Zarbon didn't answer. He just stood staring at Jeice.
"What's wrong?" Jeice asked in the thickest accent.
Captain Ginyu approached his officer without hesitation, putting on the air that he was totally comfortable with Jeice's change. "How ya feeling, kid? You don't look so bad. The accent is a little surprising, admittedly, but hunter green is a good colour for you." He said this all with the confident Captain G flare that he was famous for.
Zarbon continued to stare at Jeice. His change in appearance wasn't extremely shocking… though the eyes were kind of creepy… It was the voice. He'd never heard such an accent before. It wasn't nasal, or articulated… or flowing… or like anything he'd ever heard. It was harsh and… from the back of the throat.
"WOAH!" Guldo froze in the doorway. "Freakish!"
Ginyu sighed. All his efforts to keep Jeice from feeling like a weirdo were for nothing. "Shut up, Guldo…"
***
Jeice lay in the Emergency Room, silently staring at the ceiling. The orange alien was studying the cracks above him… seeing different images… as though it were a sky of stars. He smiled a small smile as he recalled enjoyable nights on the farm when he'd lie in the cool, green grass of the pastures and enjoy the beauty of the heavens. He'd felt so safe then. He'd never dreamed something… so evil… could come from those heavens…
He'd been moved from the actual Emerge to the Intensive Care of ER. Here he would spend the night. In the morning, he'd be sent to his personal quarters where he was ordered to remain for a few days to rest. The intensive care ward had yet to be renovated and as he stared up, he hoped nothing would drip down into his new eyes.
He'd thought long and hard over the changes he'd underwent. In the end, he was just grateful to be alive. The eyes weren't so terrible. At first they seemed to clash terrible… but he was warming up to them. His ears were a little odd, but he'd get use to them too. It was the new accent he was certain he'd never accustom himself to. How did one's voice change through radiation? He sighed, remembering one of the nurses from a far away galaxy commenting, "It sounds Scottish."
He'd been visited by different people throughout the day. Spencer, the annoyingly attractive and preppy officer, had been the only positive highlight of the entire day though. He'd entered in the room, flirting loudly with a nurse over his shoulder while he sipped a coffee… he'd turned, saw the new J, and starting choking on his drink. He spilled the piping hot java all over himself and was burned. He then, looking like a fool, had been forced to fumble for words to explain his rude reaction. ("MAN, that coffee's hot!") Jeice had found the entire episode very amusing. The uncomfortable, fake laugh had been the best part. Unfortunately, all other visitors, including his own Force, had been depressing.
Nobody wanted to make eye contact with him suddenly. Admittedly, he hadn't gotten to look at his new eyes much, but when he had… as stated, he'd found them acceptable. He was warming up to them. Others were uncomfortable. His eyes looked alien, penetrating. Dark and evil, perhaps. His former, happy-go-lucky orange eyes were gone. His eyes and ears forever altered. He knew he'd get use to them. He can handle it. The voice was something else though. Something else altogether. It wasn't him AT ALL.
Absently, he rubbed his newly shaped ears and wondered if people were going to tease him all over again. He silently debated what it would be like to go back to work. He wondered if there were any strange side effects from the radiation that hadn't come out in him yet. He lay in the darkness and wondered until he fell into a dreamless sleep…
***
Jeice jelled his short, white hair, deep in concentration. He'd been back to work a few days now… and things were normal enough. Not a soul had teased him to his face this time around. It seemed people didn't find it amusing, just creepy. He occasionally caught a glimpse of people whispering and glancing at him, almost as though it was a scandal.
He smiled an adorable smile after he finished his hair, satisfied with his work. He was gradually adapting to his new look. He'd realized the pointed ears were an improvement. They really complimented his style. His new eye colour hadn't come so easily. Hunter green and orange hadn't seemed like an great combination… but now… he'd adapted his wardrobe colour and it seemed to fit well enough. He'd always loved hunter and forest greens. This hunter was so dark it looked almost black… only in certain light did the charming colour come out. However… sometimes he missed his orange eyes and wanted to wear an older outfit. Those days, he wore shades.
His door buzzed and he sighed, snapping his fingers as finished preparing his appearance for the day. The door slipped open and a formal messenger entered, actually saluting. "Good morning, Sir."
"Oh, hey. What's up?" Jeice smiled, turning away from the mirror.
"Please report to Office #272 immediately."
This was a first for Jeice. Typically messengers had messages. This guy was giving orders. However, it was obvious the orders came from some superior. However, he had a shift he was already running late for…
"Don't worry about duty. Captain Ginyu is well aware, sir."
"Uh… thanks." Jeice replied, growing more surprised. Having his routine tampered with felt like being uprooted. This year he'd become comfortable with his daily schedule and didn't like it disrupted. Stranger still, he had no idea who wanted to speak to him or why. "What's it in regards to?"
The soldier gave him a strange look and then cleared his throat, "With all due respect, sir… it's not my place. Please report to 272."
***
Jeice approached the appointed office and beeped to enter. The door opened instantly and he entered the reasonably nice office of some higher-up. A comfortable desk chair rolled around and Zarbon was looking rather stern within it.
Jeice was relieved somewhat. "Z… what's all this?"
"This isn't a personal call, Jeice." Zarbon wanted to state up front this was business. "I don't enjoy calling comrades in for interrogations… but it's all part of the job…"
Jeice was taken aback. He couldn't imagine what Zarbon would have to accuse or question him about. Unless of course… it was his accident with the mutation project. With further thought, there wasn't a doubt in his mind. He regretted not filling out his forms about the incident more carefully… but then realized he'd done the best anyone could under the circumstances. He could barely remember what happened. He was well aware of how sketchy and suspicious his account sounded, but it was the best he could put together without many memories.
"Just wanted to talk to you about… the incident." Zarbon worded this carefully. He flipped to a fresh sheet of paper on his notepad and prepared to record every syllable for his superiors. However, he hated the fact he had to be the one to question J. Why couldn't some other officer handle it?
"Just wanted to talk to you about… the incident." Zarbon worded this carefully. He flipped to a fresh sheet of paper on his pad, ready to record every single syllable for his superiors. He had tried to get out of this assignment, without success. He didn't like questioning Jeice, especially when he really was suspicious of him. He was nearly certain something shady was going on and didn't want to find out about it. This was the very reason he didn't want a personal life!
Zarbon motioned for Jeice to sit in the across the desk from him. Jeice didn't want to talk about the strange happening at the mutation lab. He also didn't like the way Z seemed to be avoiding his eyes. Just like everyone else did these days. "Fine, thanks." he answered.
"Jeice, I'll be frank."
"Who?" Jeice wasn't familiar with the expression.
Zarbon cleared his throat, annoyed. Deep within his inner stirrings about Southerners grew a little more negative. Jeice was confirming himself ignorant yet again. "I'll be blunt."
"Oh." Jeice felt stupid suddenly. Why did Zarbon always have the ability to make him feel inferior? It wasn't his fault he'd never heard the phrase. Last time he checked Frank was a name. He supposed he was a little ignorant sometimes. However, Zarbon needed to understand no one knew everything and even the smartest are far from perfect.
"Jeice… the paperwork of your accounts… is extremely sketchy. Dare I say suspicious…"
Jeice felt himself start to sweat. This wasn't good. Something in Zarbon's tone told him so. He cleared his throat uneasily and replied, "It's sketchy because I can't really remember what went down, Z."
"Right." was Zarbon's traditional response. J's accent was bugging him.
Jeice glanced at the door and wished he was at work. "Seriously, Zarbon. I don't know what happened. I remember bits and pieces. I assure you… whatever happened wasn't my fault."
"Yes, yes…" Z was skeptical as he produced the reports and started flipping through. "Attempted murder, you feel?"
"Someone tricked me inside that machine and slammed the door. I remember a moment of panic and then… nothing more."
"Interesting. After a week you're certain nothing more has come to you?" Zarbon pressed. Jeice's story was very suspicious. There were so many questions he wanted to ask. However, he wanted to give J a chance to spare himself. There was still time to come clean.
Jeice shook his head.
Zarbon sighed. "Jeice, why did you send those boys to break?"
Jeice answered, "As I reported… I was hungry myself and wanted a snack brought back-"
"It takes half a dozen scientists to bring you a snack?" Zarbon always had an amazing ability to rewording things. He saw through things and twisted them. Jeice was starting to feel inferior again…
Freeza's left wanted answers and J realized suddenly… he didn't have them. He had no idea why he'd sent ALL the guys out because HE was hungry. It didn't make sense. He couldn't really remember his reasoning of the time… the thought process was lost. He noted Zarbon was clicking his pen on the pad, waiting for an answer with an expression that made him want to scream in miserable frustration.
"I can't remember-" he started. Spelled phonically the phrase would appear: 'Ah can'na ruh'member-' with a unique accentuation.
Zarbon cut him off, annoyed. "Naturally. You can't seem to remember much of anything, Jeice. Not only is your story suspicious… you can't back up your reasoning. The entire affair lacks logic."
Jeice seemed to search for words. He knew he wasn't responsible for what had happened. In fact, he'd been a victim, if anything. However, when Zarbon doubted the logic of the situation… he was sadly reminded again how different their worlds were. Sometimes bad things happened and they just couldn't be explained. Sometimes all the reason in the world doesn't make sense. Before he could stop himself, he sighed regretfully, "Stuff happens."
He realized his mistake too late. The words had just flown out of his mouth. Zarbon clicked his note pad shut in a silent and serious manner that let J know he'd gone to far this time.
"Stuff happens." He repeated, trying to conceal his angry with a calm, cool tone. "Stuff happens…"
Jeice tried to quickly repair, almost rambling, "That's not what I meant. I meant that sometimes bad things happen and they just don't make sense. Reason and logic can't explain every accident. I wasn't being indifferent and uncaring about the situation, my tone was regretful, Zarbon. It came out wrong… because… the accident wasn't my fault and at this time we don't know whose fault it is… Sometimes-"
"Enough!" Zarbon slammed his first down on the desk, unexpectedly.
Jeice was startled into nearly nervous silence. They sat without words for some time… the Northerner speechlessly stewing. Jeice realized he was in quite a corner now. Zarbon had been tip toeing around the fact he was in serious trouble… and now he'd accidentally ticked Z off.
The jeweled young warrior finally spoke. "You realize you're suspected our very serious treachery, Jeice."
Jeice knew his response would come out quivering, so he didn't speak. He may have been humbled and taught some humility the past year, but he still had enough pride to refuse to show fear, especially to someone weaker. A year earlier J had been quite cowardly. He'd been the type to take a cheap shot if he could get it. However, things were different now… He had dignity.
Zarbon, whether Jeice liked it or not, could tell he was pushing sensitive buttons. He wanted to frightened Jeice into a confession. He continued to push, "High charges, Jeice…" Push. "Sabotage… Treason… Disloyalty… Sedition…" Every word was another push. "…Perfidy… Deception… Treachery…" Push. Push. Push.
Jeice's lip started to quiver slightly. He refused to cry, though old cowards die hard. Many say a soul can change - and surely they can - but they seldom do. Jeice sat there, frightened more and more with each accusation… each word of betrayal… and…
"Freeza is personally involved in this case." Zarbon was honest. He was pushing ever so gently. He was an expert at pushing people over the edge. Slowly, but surely, he always made them cry. "And you know how Lord Freeza treats… annoyances…"
Jeice's lip worsened with the tremble… He had nothing to confess… if he were to crack… what would he say? What would he do? He was trapped. Absolutely trapped. He had to hold on. He couldn't snap… he…
"Just imagine how he treats traitors."
SNAP.
"I'm not a traitor!" he lashed out, his eyes wetting. "I would die for Freeza and his cause! I've proven it countless times, damn you! I risk my life everyday! Through Freeza's Army I stay alive! It's MY LIFE! I wouldn't risk everything - I wouldn't throw it all away - trying to stop an invincible, ALL POWERFUL force! I'm telling you the truth! I wasn't responsible for whatever happened in that mutation lab! I'M the victim here! And that computer crap was a mistake-"
"Freeza KILLS mistakes!" Zarbon snapped back. He was so angry. He'd never had someone lash out irrationally like this before. Jeice wasn't crying - he was shouting. All others caved in and confessed… sobbing for mercy… Jeice fought bitterly, clinging to whatever hope there was he'd be found innocent. He was nearly crying, but not going to. He was obviously enraged and upset beyond all control. His disrespect screamed volumes.
Jeice and Zarbon sat in panting, outraged silence for a few moments, glaring at one another…
"Come on, Zarbon! I was just nuked! You're suspicious I can't remember stuff?!"
"You're a liar, Jeice." Zarbon was calming down somewhat.
A small part of his Northern heart was pained by hurting Jeice and bringing about his undoing. The rest was all business. He would do anything for Freeza. Even kill the only person who ever smiled at him sincerely. The only person who had ever sincerely asked 'How are you?' He didn't look at it in that melodramatic manner. That personal crap got you killed. So many soldiers fell to feelings. He would gladly turn on anyone. He wouldn't die.. Zarbon was NEVER going to die.
Jeice felt himself losing it again. There was only one thing his no-good father had ever taught him and that was: Never call someone a "liar" or "shallow". One insulted their honour, the other their soul. However, before he could snap back, Zarbon continued…
"You're a liar and it's time you learned how the military works. Military justice isn't like civilian justice. In public justice you're INNOCENT until proven guilty. In the army… your GUILTY until you prove yourself innocent. That said, you haven't a leg to stand on, you ignorant fool."
Jeice was seething mad now. He couldn't even speak he was so enraged.
Zarbon continued, "We've only got circumstantial evidence against you right now, Ginyu. I never squealed about the first "accident". However, this is strike two in my books. Strike three and I tell everything. Strike three and you're out. You're gone."
Silence. Jeice was so obviously angry. His closed mouth his clenched teeth. Pearly whites trembling with pressure. He had never been so angry in all his career. He was walking a very thin line… a line of life and death… a line about to hang him dead… and here stood this flake from the North… his hangman.
"Now get the hell outta my office." Zarbon almost spat.
Jeice was gone, almost instantly.
Zarbon sat silently behind his desk, listening to an approaching storm. The thunder and lightning would be upon them any moment. He sighed, feeling horrible. He hadn't meant for things to blow out of control the way they had. He'd wished some other officer had handled it. He still liked Jeice to some degree… and now… things were worse than ever between them. However, that was the way things had to be. He had a job to do and no goofy Ginyu was worth dying over. NEVER.
***
Jeice had stormed from the office in a raging whirl of heat. He was sweating and trying not to screech. He stumbled through the halls, wall to wall, until he staggered into his own home. He was extremely feverish and near insane. The pyrexia had sprung from nowhere in his running anger and had totally consumed him now.
Lightning flashed, illuminating the apartment.
"I'm… sick…" he was inaudible as he stumbled towards the mirror. He was so flushed and trembling. He managed to see his feverish face in the steaming glass… but his mind was a blur of delirious heat. He almost failed to notice his eyes were behaving very strangely. They were changing colour. First hunter to orange. Than orange to hunter… and visa versa… as he stood barely about to breath. His breath was on fire. He leaned his sweaty self against the glass for support… but started to slide down, blazing. "I'm… I'm… sick…" he collapsed.
He lay barely breathing, a boiling and sweaty red mess on the floor.
Another skybanger flashed across the sky with a sickening crack that illuminated the room red. The world crackled with red… and people started screaming…
***
A/N: Thank you for the support.
Firstly, I'm sure you've all noticed how I've tied his appearance on the actual show with his appearance in this fic. Ya, Silver tells me J-kun has dark green, almost black eyes on the show. Anyway, don't worry, Jeice fans. You just have to trust me. ;)
Secondly, please continue to let me know what you think of stuff. Do you understand the chapter titles? "Hunting The Green Storm" has many meanings. Even aside from hunter green and the storm that's started up. That title has several meanings if you think about it. ^_^
Lastly and most importantly, please be patient with me. I'm very busy and I try and take my time when I post my work. I don't like to pump out crap as fast as a can just to please people. I'm so sorry, but you won't like it if I don't take my time and think about stuff. I need inspiration to write. I need to be in the mood too.
Anyway, I hope all this stuff makes sense. Thanks again, everyone!! ^_^
Chapter Ten: Hunting the Green Storm
***
Disclaimer: DBZ is all Akira Toriyama. The rest is mine. ^_^
A/N: When you finish reading, I'll explain… _
***
"Hey Z…"
Zarbon didn't answer. He just stood staring at Jeice.
"What's wrong?" Jeice asked in the thickest accent.
Captain Ginyu approached his officer without hesitation, putting on the air that he was totally comfortable with Jeice's change. "How ya feeling, kid? You don't look so bad. The accent is a little surprising, admittedly, but hunter green is a good colour for you." He said this all with the confident Captain G flare that he was famous for.
Zarbon continued to stare at Jeice. His change in appearance wasn't extremely shocking… though the eyes were kind of creepy… It was the voice. He'd never heard such an accent before. It wasn't nasal, or articulated… or flowing… or like anything he'd ever heard. It was harsh and… from the back of the throat.
"WOAH!" Guldo froze in the doorway. "Freakish!"
Ginyu sighed. All his efforts to keep Jeice from feeling like a weirdo were for nothing. "Shut up, Guldo…"
***
Jeice lay in the Emergency Room, silently staring at the ceiling. The orange alien was studying the cracks above him… seeing different images… as though it were a sky of stars. He smiled a small smile as he recalled enjoyable nights on the farm when he'd lie in the cool, green grass of the pastures and enjoy the beauty of the heavens. He'd felt so safe then. He'd never dreamed something… so evil… could come from those heavens…
He'd been moved from the actual Emerge to the Intensive Care of ER. Here he would spend the night. In the morning, he'd be sent to his personal quarters where he was ordered to remain for a few days to rest. The intensive care ward had yet to be renovated and as he stared up, he hoped nothing would drip down into his new eyes.
He'd thought long and hard over the changes he'd underwent. In the end, he was just grateful to be alive. The eyes weren't so terrible. At first they seemed to clash terrible… but he was warming up to them. His ears were a little odd, but he'd get use to them too. It was the new accent he was certain he'd never accustom himself to. How did one's voice change through radiation? He sighed, remembering one of the nurses from a far away galaxy commenting, "It sounds Scottish."
He'd been visited by different people throughout the day. Spencer, the annoyingly attractive and preppy officer, had been the only positive highlight of the entire day though. He'd entered in the room, flirting loudly with a nurse over his shoulder while he sipped a coffee… he'd turned, saw the new J, and starting choking on his drink. He spilled the piping hot java all over himself and was burned. He then, looking like a fool, had been forced to fumble for words to explain his rude reaction. ("MAN, that coffee's hot!") Jeice had found the entire episode very amusing. The uncomfortable, fake laugh had been the best part. Unfortunately, all other visitors, including his own Force, had been depressing.
Nobody wanted to make eye contact with him suddenly. Admittedly, he hadn't gotten to look at his new eyes much, but when he had… as stated, he'd found them acceptable. He was warming up to them. Others were uncomfortable. His eyes looked alien, penetrating. Dark and evil, perhaps. His former, happy-go-lucky orange eyes were gone. His eyes and ears forever altered. He knew he'd get use to them. He can handle it. The voice was something else though. Something else altogether. It wasn't him AT ALL.
Absently, he rubbed his newly shaped ears and wondered if people were going to tease him all over again. He silently debated what it would be like to go back to work. He wondered if there were any strange side effects from the radiation that hadn't come out in him yet. He lay in the darkness and wondered until he fell into a dreamless sleep…
***
Jeice jelled his short, white hair, deep in concentration. He'd been back to work a few days now… and things were normal enough. Not a soul had teased him to his face this time around. It seemed people didn't find it amusing, just creepy. He occasionally caught a glimpse of people whispering and glancing at him, almost as though it was a scandal.
He smiled an adorable smile after he finished his hair, satisfied with his work. He was gradually adapting to his new look. He'd realized the pointed ears were an improvement. They really complimented his style. His new eye colour hadn't come so easily. Hunter green and orange hadn't seemed like an great combination… but now… he'd adapted his wardrobe colour and it seemed to fit well enough. He'd always loved hunter and forest greens. This hunter was so dark it looked almost black… only in certain light did the charming colour come out. However… sometimes he missed his orange eyes and wanted to wear an older outfit. Those days, he wore shades.
His door buzzed and he sighed, snapping his fingers as finished preparing his appearance for the day. The door slipped open and a formal messenger entered, actually saluting. "Good morning, Sir."
"Oh, hey. What's up?" Jeice smiled, turning away from the mirror.
"Please report to Office #272 immediately."
This was a first for Jeice. Typically messengers had messages. This guy was giving orders. However, it was obvious the orders came from some superior. However, he had a shift he was already running late for…
"Don't worry about duty. Captain Ginyu is well aware, sir."
"Uh… thanks." Jeice replied, growing more surprised. Having his routine tampered with felt like being uprooted. This year he'd become comfortable with his daily schedule and didn't like it disrupted. Stranger still, he had no idea who wanted to speak to him or why. "What's it in regards to?"
The soldier gave him a strange look and then cleared his throat, "With all due respect, sir… it's not my place. Please report to 272."
***
Jeice approached the appointed office and beeped to enter. The door opened instantly and he entered the reasonably nice office of some higher-up. A comfortable desk chair rolled around and Zarbon was looking rather stern within it.
Jeice was relieved somewhat. "Z… what's all this?"
"This isn't a personal call, Jeice." Zarbon wanted to state up front this was business. "I don't enjoy calling comrades in for interrogations… but it's all part of the job…"
Jeice was taken aback. He couldn't imagine what Zarbon would have to accuse or question him about. Unless of course… it was his accident with the mutation project. With further thought, there wasn't a doubt in his mind. He regretted not filling out his forms about the incident more carefully… but then realized he'd done the best anyone could under the circumstances. He could barely remember what happened. He was well aware of how sketchy and suspicious his account sounded, but it was the best he could put together without many memories.
"Just wanted to talk to you about… the incident." Zarbon worded this carefully. He flipped to a fresh sheet of paper on his notepad and prepared to record every syllable for his superiors. However, he hated the fact he had to be the one to question J. Why couldn't some other officer handle it?
"Just wanted to talk to you about… the incident." Zarbon worded this carefully. He flipped to a fresh sheet of paper on his pad, ready to record every single syllable for his superiors. He had tried to get out of this assignment, without success. He didn't like questioning Jeice, especially when he really was suspicious of him. He was nearly certain something shady was going on and didn't want to find out about it. This was the very reason he didn't want a personal life!
Zarbon motioned for Jeice to sit in the across the desk from him. Jeice didn't want to talk about the strange happening at the mutation lab. He also didn't like the way Z seemed to be avoiding his eyes. Just like everyone else did these days. "Fine, thanks." he answered.
"Jeice, I'll be frank."
"Who?" Jeice wasn't familiar with the expression.
Zarbon cleared his throat, annoyed. Deep within his inner stirrings about Southerners grew a little more negative. Jeice was confirming himself ignorant yet again. "I'll be blunt."
"Oh." Jeice felt stupid suddenly. Why did Zarbon always have the ability to make him feel inferior? It wasn't his fault he'd never heard the phrase. Last time he checked Frank was a name. He supposed he was a little ignorant sometimes. However, Zarbon needed to understand no one knew everything and even the smartest are far from perfect.
"Jeice… the paperwork of your accounts… is extremely sketchy. Dare I say suspicious…"
Jeice felt himself start to sweat. This wasn't good. Something in Zarbon's tone told him so. He cleared his throat uneasily and replied, "It's sketchy because I can't really remember what went down, Z."
"Right." was Zarbon's traditional response. J's accent was bugging him.
Jeice glanced at the door and wished he was at work. "Seriously, Zarbon. I don't know what happened. I remember bits and pieces. I assure you… whatever happened wasn't my fault."
"Yes, yes…" Z was skeptical as he produced the reports and started flipping through. "Attempted murder, you feel?"
"Someone tricked me inside that machine and slammed the door. I remember a moment of panic and then… nothing more."
"Interesting. After a week you're certain nothing more has come to you?" Zarbon pressed. Jeice's story was very suspicious. There were so many questions he wanted to ask. However, he wanted to give J a chance to spare himself. There was still time to come clean.
Jeice shook his head.
Zarbon sighed. "Jeice, why did you send those boys to break?"
Jeice answered, "As I reported… I was hungry myself and wanted a snack brought back-"
"It takes half a dozen scientists to bring you a snack?" Zarbon always had an amazing ability to rewording things. He saw through things and twisted them. Jeice was starting to feel inferior again…
Freeza's left wanted answers and J realized suddenly… he didn't have them. He had no idea why he'd sent ALL the guys out because HE was hungry. It didn't make sense. He couldn't really remember his reasoning of the time… the thought process was lost. He noted Zarbon was clicking his pen on the pad, waiting for an answer with an expression that made him want to scream in miserable frustration.
"I can't remember-" he started. Spelled phonically the phrase would appear: 'Ah can'na ruh'member-' with a unique accentuation.
Zarbon cut him off, annoyed. "Naturally. You can't seem to remember much of anything, Jeice. Not only is your story suspicious… you can't back up your reasoning. The entire affair lacks logic."
Jeice seemed to search for words. He knew he wasn't responsible for what had happened. In fact, he'd been a victim, if anything. However, when Zarbon doubted the logic of the situation… he was sadly reminded again how different their worlds were. Sometimes bad things happened and they just couldn't be explained. Sometimes all the reason in the world doesn't make sense. Before he could stop himself, he sighed regretfully, "Stuff happens."
He realized his mistake too late. The words had just flown out of his mouth. Zarbon clicked his note pad shut in a silent and serious manner that let J know he'd gone to far this time.
"Stuff happens." He repeated, trying to conceal his angry with a calm, cool tone. "Stuff happens…"
Jeice tried to quickly repair, almost rambling, "That's not what I meant. I meant that sometimes bad things happen and they just don't make sense. Reason and logic can't explain every accident. I wasn't being indifferent and uncaring about the situation, my tone was regretful, Zarbon. It came out wrong… because… the accident wasn't my fault and at this time we don't know whose fault it is… Sometimes-"
"Enough!" Zarbon slammed his first down on the desk, unexpectedly.
Jeice was startled into nearly nervous silence. They sat without words for some time… the Northerner speechlessly stewing. Jeice realized he was in quite a corner now. Zarbon had been tip toeing around the fact he was in serious trouble… and now he'd accidentally ticked Z off.
The jeweled young warrior finally spoke. "You realize you're suspected our very serious treachery, Jeice."
Jeice knew his response would come out quivering, so he didn't speak. He may have been humbled and taught some humility the past year, but he still had enough pride to refuse to show fear, especially to someone weaker. A year earlier J had been quite cowardly. He'd been the type to take a cheap shot if he could get it. However, things were different now… He had dignity.
Zarbon, whether Jeice liked it or not, could tell he was pushing sensitive buttons. He wanted to frightened Jeice into a confession. He continued to push, "High charges, Jeice…" Push. "Sabotage… Treason… Disloyalty… Sedition…" Every word was another push. "…Perfidy… Deception… Treachery…" Push. Push. Push.
Jeice's lip started to quiver slightly. He refused to cry, though old cowards die hard. Many say a soul can change - and surely they can - but they seldom do. Jeice sat there, frightened more and more with each accusation… each word of betrayal… and…
"Freeza is personally involved in this case." Zarbon was honest. He was pushing ever so gently. He was an expert at pushing people over the edge. Slowly, but surely, he always made them cry. "And you know how Lord Freeza treats… annoyances…"
Jeice's lip worsened with the tremble… He had nothing to confess… if he were to crack… what would he say? What would he do? He was trapped. Absolutely trapped. He had to hold on. He couldn't snap… he…
"Just imagine how he treats traitors."
SNAP.
"I'm not a traitor!" he lashed out, his eyes wetting. "I would die for Freeza and his cause! I've proven it countless times, damn you! I risk my life everyday! Through Freeza's Army I stay alive! It's MY LIFE! I wouldn't risk everything - I wouldn't throw it all away - trying to stop an invincible, ALL POWERFUL force! I'm telling you the truth! I wasn't responsible for whatever happened in that mutation lab! I'M the victim here! And that computer crap was a mistake-"
"Freeza KILLS mistakes!" Zarbon snapped back. He was so angry. He'd never had someone lash out irrationally like this before. Jeice wasn't crying - he was shouting. All others caved in and confessed… sobbing for mercy… Jeice fought bitterly, clinging to whatever hope there was he'd be found innocent. He was nearly crying, but not going to. He was obviously enraged and upset beyond all control. His disrespect screamed volumes.
Jeice and Zarbon sat in panting, outraged silence for a few moments, glaring at one another…
"Come on, Zarbon! I was just nuked! You're suspicious I can't remember stuff?!"
"You're a liar, Jeice." Zarbon was calming down somewhat.
A small part of his Northern heart was pained by hurting Jeice and bringing about his undoing. The rest was all business. He would do anything for Freeza. Even kill the only person who ever smiled at him sincerely. The only person who had ever sincerely asked 'How are you?' He didn't look at it in that melodramatic manner. That personal crap got you killed. So many soldiers fell to feelings. He would gladly turn on anyone. He wouldn't die.. Zarbon was NEVER going to die.
Jeice felt himself losing it again. There was only one thing his no-good father had ever taught him and that was: Never call someone a "liar" or "shallow". One insulted their honour, the other their soul. However, before he could snap back, Zarbon continued…
"You're a liar and it's time you learned how the military works. Military justice isn't like civilian justice. In public justice you're INNOCENT until proven guilty. In the army… your GUILTY until you prove yourself innocent. That said, you haven't a leg to stand on, you ignorant fool."
Jeice was seething mad now. He couldn't even speak he was so enraged.
Zarbon continued, "We've only got circumstantial evidence against you right now, Ginyu. I never squealed about the first "accident". However, this is strike two in my books. Strike three and I tell everything. Strike three and you're out. You're gone."
Silence. Jeice was so obviously angry. His closed mouth his clenched teeth. Pearly whites trembling with pressure. He had never been so angry in all his career. He was walking a very thin line… a line of life and death… a line about to hang him dead… and here stood this flake from the North… his hangman.
"Now get the hell outta my office." Zarbon almost spat.
Jeice was gone, almost instantly.
Zarbon sat silently behind his desk, listening to an approaching storm. The thunder and lightning would be upon them any moment. He sighed, feeling horrible. He hadn't meant for things to blow out of control the way they had. He'd wished some other officer had handled it. He still liked Jeice to some degree… and now… things were worse than ever between them. However, that was the way things had to be. He had a job to do and no goofy Ginyu was worth dying over. NEVER.
***
Jeice had stormed from the office in a raging whirl of heat. He was sweating and trying not to screech. He stumbled through the halls, wall to wall, until he staggered into his own home. He was extremely feverish and near insane. The pyrexia had sprung from nowhere in his running anger and had totally consumed him now.
Lightning flashed, illuminating the apartment.
"I'm… sick…" he was inaudible as he stumbled towards the mirror. He was so flushed and trembling. He managed to see his feverish face in the steaming glass… but his mind was a blur of delirious heat. He almost failed to notice his eyes were behaving very strangely. They were changing colour. First hunter to orange. Than orange to hunter… and visa versa… as he stood barely about to breath. His breath was on fire. He leaned his sweaty self against the glass for support… but started to slide down, blazing. "I'm… I'm… sick…" he collapsed.
He lay barely breathing, a boiling and sweaty red mess on the floor.
Another skybanger flashed across the sky with a sickening crack that illuminated the room red. The world crackled with red… and people started screaming…
***
A/N: Thank you for the support.
Firstly, I'm sure you've all noticed how I've tied his appearance on the actual show with his appearance in this fic. Ya, Silver tells me J-kun has dark green, almost black eyes on the show. Anyway, don't worry, Jeice fans. You just have to trust me. ;)
Secondly, please continue to let me know what you think of stuff. Do you understand the chapter titles? "Hunting The Green Storm" has many meanings. Even aside from hunter green and the storm that's started up. That title has several meanings if you think about it. ^_^
Lastly and most importantly, please be patient with me. I'm very busy and I try and take my time when I post my work. I don't like to pump out crap as fast as a can just to please people. I'm so sorry, but you won't like it if I don't take my time and think about stuff. I need inspiration to write. I need to be in the mood too.
Anyway, I hope all this stuff makes sense. Thanks again, everyone!! ^_^