*** Hey everyone! Sorry for such a delay in getting the next chapter up...I'm in college and just had a crazy semester (Organic Chemistry sucks everyone -_-; ). So as soon as I got back I started writing...so here's Chapter 11! Enjoy!***
Chapter 11 – The Unveiling
The next day Rod could barely keep focus. No matter how hard he tried, he could not shake the thought of how he was going to be exposing himself as Rod Redline tonight to Roseanne. It was almost unreal that an agent as successful as him would be bringing himself to do such a dangerous act. Although for his love for Roseanne, it had to be done.
Throughout the day, even though he tried to show that nothing was wrong, Rod's worries about that night began to seep through. His worries allowed him to start messing up orders or delivering the wrong messages to his workers, which got him a yelling later on that night by the Professor.
"What was wrong with you today, Darrel? Whatever it is, snap out of it and get back on track! I don't need you dragging your sorry ass around here, especially in your position!" the Professor yelled. "If you don't shape up, tomorrow there will be consequences, understand?"
"Yes, Professor," Rod replied, lowering his hood. With that the Professor dismissed him and he drove away gloomily. The time was drawing nearer, and he still had to get through dinner tonight without breaking down.
Dinner for Rod seemed to drag, even though he was eating with his usual crew: Roseanne, Grem and Acer. Although he always enjoyed being with them and joined in on the fun, he couldn't bring himself to do so that night. Grem and Acer didn't really seem to pay any mind to Rod's drop in interest, since they had been drinking before dinner and were out of it to begin with. However, Roseanne took notice. While Grem and Acer were talking away, Roseanne gently nudged his fender and gave him a concerned glance.
"You ok, honey?" Roseanne asked him softly. Rod looked over into her blue eyes, sighed and quickly looked away.
"I'm fine," Rod replied, and that was all he could muster out. He knew that wasn't the response she wanted, but with all his enemies surrounding him, that was all he could say.
After dinner, the couple drove back to their apartment in silence. As they drove the sea air started to get dense and a thick fog started to roll in, signs that a storm was coming. Perfect timing for a night like tonight Rod thought.
As they entered the apartment and started to turn towards Roseanne's room, Rod could feel fear quickly start to grip him. He tried to not let it flood over him, but at that point he was starting to lose control. This is it, this is really it, Rod thought. My entire mission rests on this…I can't believe I'm doing this. What's wrong with me? Am I really doing this for the heart of a Gremlin? What will Pete think of me when he finds me dead because of a female Gremlin? I would shame him, I would shame my country…I would shame myself…
Suddenly he heard something slam behind him, and automatically he jumped. Quickly collecting himself, Rod realized it was the door to Roseanne's room that had just closed behind him. Roseanne, who had been behind him, slowly drove herself past him and into the room, without turning any of the lights on. The only source of light in the room came from the lights illuminating the oil rig, which were now giving a ghostly glow as the fog began to roll in. At first her back bumper was towards him, but then she turned around and looked directly into his eyes.
"Darrel, is….everything ok?" Roseanne's asked, looking more worried than before. For a moment, the two of them were parked in silence. A cold stillness hung in the air as Rod, now on the spot, was planning a way to explain himself. For a while he thought of all the ways he could blow his cover, and then he finally made up his mind. In four simple words he hoped he could explain it all.
"Roseanne…" Rod finally spoke. Silence hung between them again as he prepared his next few words. Their eyes met and Rod knew he could not hold it back any longer…
"I'm…I'm not a Gremlin."
For a while neither of them spoke, but something happened that Rod had not expected, and had not really wanted. Roseanne began to laugh at his response.
"What do you mean your not a Gremlin? 'Course you are, I mean look at you. Do you mean you don't act like a Gremlin? Oh please, don't let that bother you, that's…" Roseanne was about to continue, but Rod cut her off.
"No. You don't understand…" Rod began, but stopped. Why would she understand? Like the rest of the Lemons, Roseanne was just as convinced that he was a Gremlin. With a statement like that coming from the mouth of a Gremlin, he now saw that what he said would not be enough. He knew what he needed to do.
"Roseanne. What I'm about to show you…" Rod paused, drew in a slight sigh, and continued. "Please understand that what you see might shock you, might upset you, might anger you….but I want you know one thing. I'm still the same car, and I will always still love you the same. Please remember that will never change…" Rod sighed as he saw her face become worried again.
What have I done? Rod thought, his heart filling with regret. He knew this was going to hurt her more than he wanted to, but it was better than having both of them live a lie. He knew it was time for her to see the real him, and if he didn't now, it would have only been a matter of time.
Pushing against his will to stay cloaked; Rod activated the uncloaking mechanism in his Gremlin costume. Quickly after doing so, he felt his entire Gremlin body go into lockdown. His engine shut off and then one of his eyelids closed, followed by the other. Then, bit-by-bit, he felt each part of his costume come apart: first the hood, then the doors and then finally, his back dumper. After he felt the last part of his costume pull away, he slowly opened his eyelids, revealing the vibrant blue eyes underneath them. Darrel Gremlin had transformed himself into the American agent, Rod Redline.
Standing fully out of costume now, Rod had never felt so naked. He almost wanted to go back into his Gremlin disguise and hide himself, but he knew going back into costume would do nothing now to help him or her. He couldn't believe himself; he had done the unthinkable. He had gone against all orders by showing himself to the enemy, and now he was waiting on Roseanne's reaction to see if he had doomed the mission, his reputation, and his life.
Roseanne was frozen in place, her mouth agape. She sat parked in that state for a long time, and Rod thought it would never end. He had no idea what she was thinking, but from what it seemed she was feeling a mix of emotions. He could sense fear, anger, and most of all, confusion. She probably thought Darrel was the last Gremlin to be the American spy in disguise, and discovering that she had been dating the American had blown her off her tires.
Finally, after what seemed an eternity, Rod decided to speak.
"Roseanne, are you ok? I…I think I have some explaining to do…" Rod started, but Roseanne caught him by surprise when she finally piped up.
"You're…you're the American. But, but how…" Roseanne paused midsentence, and the silence between them returned. Some time passed before she spoke again. However, when she did, it was with a different tone.
"So…this is how you get your information, don't you?" Roseanne suddenly snapped, catching Rod off guard. "Meddle and mess in the lives of those who have your trust? Who do you think you are, coming in here and messing with those who's lives and trust has already been broken?"
"Roseanne! I can explain, really! I wouldn't…" Rod tried to come back, but Roseanne shot him down.
"Get out. Get out of my room! You're a traitor! Traitor!" She pushed Rod into the door and out into the hallway, with him still fully out of costume.
NO! Rod thought, knowing if Grem or Acer or even worse, the Professor saw him right now, he would be good as gone. Acting quickly he turned himself around and bolted into his room, with Roseanne still screaming from behind him. Without hesitation he quickly transformed back into his Gremlin costume and locked the door.
He really had done it now. The mission was over. All that he had worked for was gone, and the relationship he had developed with Roseanne had ended. He knew that within a matter of hours, he would be done with. If only I had turned down this mission, none of this would have ever happened, Rod thought. Now in total shock at what had just happened, he drove into the corner of his room and hid in the darkness. He had hurt everyone because of his stupid mistake, and now he knew that in the end, he would pay the ultimate price for not only ruining his mission, but for breaking Roseanne's heart.
