A/N: I'd like to give a colossal thank you (and a virtual chocolate rabbit) to everyone who left a review, you guys are the best! We left off with Agura's reaction to Vert, and AJ trying his best to help. I apologize if this chapter feels a bit disjointed but keep in mind, there are quite a few teenagers in this Hub, each with their own thoughts and feelings. Trying to portray all of them, especially when so many coincide… Well, it takes skipping around. Just think of it as a movie switching scenes, and read on!
The laboratory door was thrown open, and Tezz looked up in annoyance. Sherman barged in looking larger and angrier than he had in a long time. Upon finding Sage, the Cortez had half-dragged her back to the med-bay only to find Stanford and Spinner leaving at Vert's request. Sage had slipped through the doors to be alone with Vert, and he hadn't even gotten the chance to…
Well, Sherman wasn't entirely sure of what he would have done to Vert, but he was still pissed about losing the opportunity to find out.
"How could he?" The Cortez slammed his hands down onto a laboratory table. "Tell me how a man—no, a COWARD, can look at a person so perfect, and…and…" He paced back and forth in a frenzy, trying to restrain himself from smashing an experiment in progress.
"Sherman, calm yourself, please!" Tezz snapped in irritation. "What in the name of Ørsted is going on?"
"I saw those tapes, Tezz." Sherman grabbed his comrade by the shoulders and shook him for lack of anything else to shake. "He hit her. Hit her!"
"What are you talking about?" Tezz narrowed his eyes. There were only two 'hers' that Sherman could be referencing and he had a sickening feeling that this one didn't happen to be the last of her race. The Russian had been in the laboratory all day dissecting a theory about Vert's condition, so he possessed no knowledge whatsoever of the recent incident.
"Watch this." Sherman thrust a screen in front of his face. Tezz's eyes widened as the appalling event played out onscreen. When it concluded, he blinked several times, and immediately spun around to a fresh set of quantum computer monitors.
"It's just as I suspected. His condition is exacerbating."
"What?" Sherman hissed, incredulous at Tezz's cool manner. "Aren't you mad?"
The Russian's back remained to him. "The captain has infuriated me on multiple occasions, Sherman. Wasting my time resenting him has never benefitted me before, why bother resenting him now?"
"Because he is a worthless excuse for a human being!" Sherman roared. With only experiments around him to release his anger on, he ran his hands through his own hair so violently Tezz expected handfuls of it to be torn out at any moment. "How could he attack her like that and still dare call himself a man?"
"In case you have forgotten, that man is slowly becoming more Vandal each day," Tezz replied pointedly. "And although your jealous, inferior mind, especially in this ridiculous enraged state, may not be able to process that—"
"Being contaminated by a Vandal toxin is no excuse— excuse me, did you just call me jealous?" The Cortez narrowed his eyes. Tezz finally turned around from his screens.
"I thought it was nothing more than a sexual attraction at first. But I've been watching you, Sherman. You love that girl." Tezz said it matter-of-factly, as if he was discussing the weather. "And you can't."
"He doesn't deserve her, Tezz," Sherman said hoarsely. There was no point in arguing with the electromagnetic master. "She's perfect in every way, and he's a fool."
Tezz arched a single eyebrow. He turned to his screens and rapidly produced a picture of Vert.
"That man right there is a lot of things." Tezz gestured to the image. "He is headstrong, impulsive, cocky, and for whatever reason, Sage chose him to lead us. He's also deranged, infected with an incurable toxin and volatile beyond our knowledge. But for whatever reason, Agura chose him, and she loves him."
"He hit her—"
"She loves him, Sherman!" Tezz snapped. "The human heart may not be dictated by logic but as a scientist, you should be! Move on!" He turned back to his computer in a huff, and moments later, the laboratory door slammed shut.
Alone once more, the Russian scientist heaved a sigh, and turned back to his study of the tapes.
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Sherman was a man driven mad. He stormed throughout the Hub until he found Agura's room, and he was about to knock on the door when it slid open. AJ stepped out, something clutched in one of his hands.
"Sherman," he spoke out of surprise.
"AJ," the Cortez responded brusquely, reaching past him to knock on the door. AJ just as quickly took his arm and stopped him.
"Actually, bruh, Agura kind of needs some space right now," he said apologetically, but there was a determined edge to the Canadian's genial voice.
"I just need to talk to her for a second," Sherman replied curtly, knocking away AJ's grip.
"She wants to be left alone." The blond held his ground, blocking the door.
"You don't know her like I do," Sherman snapped.
"And you don't know Vert like I do," AJ raised his eyebrow and said right back. "Sherman, dude, I don't want to fight you over this. Just take a deep breath and back away, okay? Agura might be in the mood to talk later, but right now isn't a good time."
"I'm sorry, since when are you her guard?" Sherman demanded. Secretly, his fist clenched, and AJ, trained in the leagues of the finest frat boys, picked up on it.
"I'm here in lieu of my best friend," AJ let his arms hang at his sides, but tensed up in case things came to a fight. "And he, her boyfriend, would just as quickly tell you that she needs to be alone," he emphasized.
"Just let me goddamn talk to her, AJ." Sherman sighed in frustration. His teammates were all finding a way to get on his every last nerve today, and the results were showing in his language. "Don't give me this high-and-mighty crap."
"Dude, I'm trying to do what's best for her, not what's best for myself," AJ said pointedly. "And what's best for her would be for you to turn yourself around and get your attitude under control before coming back," he added curtly.
Sherman's temper snapped, and he swung, but AJ was ready. He dodged the punch and grabbed the Cortez's arm, twisting it behind Sherman's back so that he was immobilized.
"Sherman, why don't you go for a drive?" AJ hissed, breathing heavily in exertion. His pinned teammate strained against him, and each matched the other's might. "I think you need to clear your head."
"Screw you," Sherman grunted. "You don't know who you're defending."
"I'm defending my best friend," AJ snapped.
"You're defending a monster," Sherman whispered, and broke free from the hold. AJ's back slammed into the wall with the force of his effort. He narrowed his eyes at the Cortez, who was already sprinting down the hall, his feet pounding out his anger with every step. AJ watched him go, and moments later was rewarded with the sound of the Buster screeching out of the underground base.
The Canadian slumped to the floor. "That's not gonna be good for your gear box," he jested humorlessly to an empty hallway. AJ hadn't been with the Battle force 5 for long, but he was pretty sure the members weren't supposed to be fighting each other. Not only was he thrown off by Sherman's obsessive concern for Agura, he was disturbed by the Cortez's aggression as well. AJ glanced up at Agura's door, in fear that the commotion had distressed her even more, but the green-lined entrance remained closed.
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Her own body had finally stopped trembling, but the crash rattled her shower doors. Agura's instincts tugged at her to go investigate, but they were overruled by the crushing weight of despair that had her pinned to the floor. She didn't know how long she had remained curled on the bathroom tile, but any length of time would have been pathetic. She hadn't made any move to wipe her face clean but she figured the great disturbance from outside was the closest thing to a universal omen that she would receive. With great reluctance, the huntress stood, and faced herself in the mirror once again. She winced, and ducked her head to avoid her own reflection. Her Shocksuit was slowly stripped away, and she tried to ignore the bloodstains. Naked, she met her own eyes in the mirror once again. She saw the ugly splotches of purple on her forearms from his grip and the mottled black of her knees from the fall. She took in the blood and tears tracked across her face and felt her eyes well up once more. She stared in blank confusion at the body he had once touched so gently, for the intimacy between them seemed as abstract as a distant dream.
Agura staggered numbly into the shower, leaving teardrops on the floor behind her as stiff knees were suddenly burdened with the task of supporting her body. She eased into the hot water and sat emotionlessly down on the marble floor, letting the stream run over her and spray away sticky trails of fluid. She closed her eyes and sat under the water, as if it could rinse away memories, for a long, long time.
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AJ's next mission was to bring Agura's note to Vert. His fingers positively burned to open the folded square, but by some magical act of willpower, he resisted.
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"Sage…" Vert held his own hands out in front of him, staring at them in horror as if they belonged to another person's body. "What's wrong with me?"
For several unbearable minutes after her entrance, the Sentient had reviewed the tape and fixed his monitors, IV and cords. Besides being a co-commander, mentor and ally, Sage was a motherly figure to Vert, and knowing how disappointed in him she had to be crushed him even further into depression. He had only asked Spinner and Stanford to leave because he couldn't stand the disgust in their eyes for another second, but he would have instantly traded their burning animosity for Sage's eerie silence.
"The toxin, primarily." She finally answered him, but did not meet his eyes. Sage was tapping away at a computer screen, and Vert huffed at her matter-of-fact response.
"That's not a good enough reason, Sage," he countered in distress. "I should be stronger than this thing."
"It is a powerful chemical, Vert," Sage rebuked. "Do not underestimate its effects."
"I don't want to just cop out and blame the toxin!" He snapped. "You saw the tape; don't you get it? She's the girl that I love and I attacked her! There's nobody I would rather spend the rest of my life with, and I said all of those horrible things to her and grabbed her and hit her and…" His voice broke, and Sage looked over sadly.
"And that's only from today," he hung his head. "I wouldn't blame her if she never wanted to speak to me again."
"Vert." Sage put her hand on his shoulder. "I have observed your interactions with Agura. You two are deeply bonded. I am confident that you will be able to overcome this incident."
He shook his head. "I did a bad thing, Sage. I don't know how romance works for Sentients, but by Earth standards, I did an unforgivable thing.
"In your defense, you were under the influence of an extraordinarily capricious virus," Sage began, but Vert just shook his head.
"There just isn't an excuse for hitting a woman," he told her. "Or anyone you love, really. That's what my dad would say."
The med-bay doors opened and saved Sage from having to formulate a response.
"AJ!" Vert exclaimed in relief as his friend neared. "How is she?"
The Canadian opened his mouth to speak but then closed it. Biting his lip, he slowly shook his head.
"Oh, God…" Vert choked out, and buried his face in his hands.
"She'll be okay," AJ said finally. The depth of Vert's regret tore at him. "I talked to her, but… she wanted to be alone."
Vert looked up through teary eyes. "Did she… Was there…"
"An anxiety attack?" AJ supplied grimly. "Yeah."
"God…" He crumpled under the weight of guilt. "She must hate me," Vert whispered, gradually coming to the realization. "How could she not?"
AJ cleared his throat. "She wanted me to give you this." He produced the folded paper Agura had given him. Vert perked hopefully at the green square. "I didn't read it," the Canadian added, as his friend reached for it the way AJ imagined one might reach for a ghost.
Vert unfolded the note slowly, as if it would evaporate in his hands. AJ observed anxiously as Vert scanned it, once and then twice more in disbelief. His eyes immediately filled with tears.
"She's so good," he choked out, and the crumpled piece of paper fell from his hand. AJ hesitantly picked it up, and when Vert made no move to stop him, he unfolded it, squinting at the words.
I still love you
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"I just can't believe it."
Stanford was in the rec room with Spinner, after Vert had asked them to leave, and pacing vigorously.
"I mean, it's VERT!" He continued. "Who doesn't love Vert?"
"Nobody," Spinner answered sadly.
"So why would he do something like that?" Stanford threw his arms up in the air in agitation.
"I don't know."
"And to Agura, of all people!" The Brit continued.
"I don't know."
"I mean, an argument, sure!" His pacing exacerbated. "They're both strong personalities, right?"
"Right."
"But violence? It just doesn't add up!"
"Nope."
"I mean, she'll go on for hours about how he's a perfect gentleman," Stanford said. "And we can't get him to shut up about HER! They're the two most infatuated people I've ever met!"
"Yup."
"So the real question here is, why?" Stanford gesticulated wildly. "What on Earth drove him to do something like that?"
"I don't know."
The redhead stopped in his tracks and glared at the hacking expert. "Is there anything you do know?"
"Oh, what is there to know, Stanford?" Spinner asked tiredly. "Everything we thought we knew just got turned upside down."
AJ lumbered into the room and collapsed into the couch cushions. "You said it."
"How's Agura?" Both of his companions immediately sat straight up and asked in sync.
AJ blew out a sigh. "A little shaken up."
They both raised eyebrows.
"Okay, a lot shaken up," the Canadian admitted.
"God, this is insane." Spinner hung his head. "This is a big, catastrophic tangle of insane."
"We're going to have to tell her." Stanford joined AJ on the couch. "You guys know that, right? She can't just go on believing that her boyfriend is doing this to her for no reason."
"Actually, she thinks that it's medicine," AJ said. "Apparently Sage told her that she's giving him medicine to help him heal that makes him more aggressive."
"Well-played, Sage," Spinner remarked. Stanford nodded.
"Sure, for now, but that doesn't solve our big problem! Your brother and Tezz are what, how much closer to a cure?" He looked to Spinner, who shrugged.
"I don't think they're having too much luck."
"Sherman certainly isn't," AJ muttered offhandedly. The present Cortez raised an eyebrow at him.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"N-nothing, Spin." AJ shook his head vigorously. "Don't worry about it."
"Don't worry about it?" An incredulous Spinner echoed. "That's my brother you're talking about, dude!"
"Look, he tried to see Agura after the attack, and things just got a little heated," AJ raised his palms in the air.
"Wait, did you blokes fight?" Stanford arched his eyebrows at the blond.
"Guys, it was just a little spat. Nothing to worry about. Can we move on?" AJ pleaded. Spinner frowned, but said no more.
"I still say we need to tell her," Stanford finally tackled the burgeoning silence.
"Wouldn't that only make her more depressed?" Spinner pointed out.
"Dude, her boyfriend hit her. How much lower can things sink?" Stanford retorted, but then amended his words. "I mean, I'm obviously not poking fun at the situation, but wouldn't you rather have an explanation than this endless cycle of misery and apologies?"
"Stanford actually makes a good point," Spinner nodded grimly. "It might be time to tell her the truth."
"Whatever we decide, Vert still has the final call," AJ interrupted.
"If he can still make the call," Spinner muttered disconsolately, receiving a look from both the Brit and Canadian. "Guys, if this toxin inside of him makes him violent enough to attack Agura, who knows what it'll do next? He could… change, or turn, or mutate or whatever, at any time!"
"We don't need to think about that right now," AJ said tersely.
"Well we're gonna have to eventually!" Spinner threw his hands in the air. "You guys know that we can't just skirt around this forever, right?"
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"Sherman, you must return to the Hub immediately."
The last voice the Cortez wanted to hear rang from his com system. The Buster was speeding across the Salt Flats as if it were solely powered by the force of his rage.
"Sherman, I know that you can hear me."
He continued to ignore his Russian lab partner.
"Sherman, I have developed a theory."
"You're always developing theories," the Cortez grumbled.
"This one is different. It is about Vert."
"Isn't everything nowadays?"
"Don't be insolent."
"Don't be a pompous, assuming, arrogant jerk."
"Sherman. This. Is. Important."
"FINE."
"I believe that the toxin is targeting specific regions in Vert's brain. The left half, which is the side that handles organization and logic—"
"I'm familiar with lateralization theory, Tezz."
"Very well. As I was saying, I believe that the left side of his brain is being more directly targeted."
"Go on."
"If my hypothesis is correct, the toxin, by design, is only mutating the right brain cells, while completely destroying the left. I have been continuously monitoring his cerebral activity for the past several days and the spikes only serve to prove my theory."
"Spikes?"
"Specifically those in emotional activity. His interactions with Agura have been especially informative."
"Are you telling me that you knew what he was doing to her? This whole time?"
Radio silence answered him.
"TEZZ!"
"It was in the name of science! I have received some of my most informative data in this past week, possibly even enough to save him—"
"But at what cost, Tezz?!"
"Our mission is to save the captain's life at any cost! Maybe if you had taken my advice and forgotten about your inane feelings for her—"
"This might be hard for you to understand, Tezz, because you've never cared about anyone in your life, but it doesn't work that way."
"If you had the control of a true scientist over your mind and emotions, maybe it would."
"Just shut up!"
"This conversation will not be over until you come to your senses and return to the Hub. With the data I have collected, we may be able to save the captain."
"And how do you propose we do that? We haven't been able to stop the toxin from attacking the other cells, why would the brain be any different?"
"I believe that if we can reengineer t-cells to recognize and destroy the contaminated cells, we would be able to stop the damage to his brain."
"Yeah? And what about everything else?"
A heavy sigh came through the speakers. "I am doing all that I can, Sherman. Please return to the laboratory."
Sherman gritted his teeth. "Have a blood sample ready when I get back."
"There is no need to be peremptory."
The com clicked off; Tezz's way of saying goodbye. Sherman growled under his breath and turned the Buster around.
Back towards the Hub.
A/N: I know, a lot going on here. To clarify, anything bolded in the previous section was Tezz speaking. (P.S. I know that some of you were anxious to see Zoom's reaction and I apologize for his absence but promise that it will be in the next chapter!) Thanks for reading and Happy Easter everyone!