Chapter 12
Kai woke with a start, feeling his heart beating quickly, as though he had just been running for miles. Sweat trickled down his back, covering every inch of his flaming hot body. Looking to the side of his bed, he saw a chair. Rei was sitting in it.
The Chinese blader sighed with relief. "For a moment, we thought we'd lost you, there."
"Why?" Kai was breathing pretty hard. What was wrong with him?
"Well, you started screaming, and panting. It took a little while to shut you up." Ray seemed a little reluctant to talk, as though Kai were a fragile child who, when told the wrong thing, would panic. "You started calling out a name or something and muttering in your sleep. Then you got all quiet, and..." Ray let his voice trail off.
"You don't have to worry. I'm fine." Kai got up and started dressing himself. Ray appeared like he was going to protest, like Kai wasn't well enough or something, but he stayed silent.
It was quiet for a while. Both were unsure what to do. What was there to do? Just sit around and wait for the word that they could leave and go home. That the coast was clear and Voltaire was in custody. That was what they wanted to hear, but according to Tex's word, it didn't seem probable. Finally, Kai broke the silence.
"What did I say?" He was mumbling, not like him.
"Huh?"
"What did I say? You said I was talking in my sleep."
"Oh...I don't...really know." Kai couldn't tell if Ray was lying or telling the truth. "I think I heard 'Voltaire' and 'away,' but that was about it. It was hard to understand." Kai was satisfied with this answer. "We made sure Max and Tyson left you alone, though. It's not good to wake someone up from something like that. They were real worried. We all were."
Again, it became quiet. The room was still completely blanketed by complete darkness. When would morning come?
"I don't trust that guy," Kai declared suddenly, slightly startling Ray.
"Who?"
"That Tex person or whoever he was. I don't like him." Kai had regained the sternness in his voice and had his chin resting on his clasped-together hands, the elbows of which were resting on his knees in a thoughtful manner.
"Why? He's one of us," Ray stated in a surprised manner, as though Kai had said something that was utterly ridiculous and he couldn't believe their captain had said it.
"I just don't. I've got a bad feeling like him. I don't trust him," Kai repeated. Ray let the matter sit, and that was all that was said on the subject.
Finally, when the first rays of sunshine started bursting through the protective windows, the Driger-master stood. "I'd better go fix breakfast," he yawned, stretching. "I wonder if they have Tyson's favorites. We all know what happens when Ty doesn't get his pancakes and muffins."
Kai somewhat wanted to smile at that proclamation, but he refrained. He was left all alone now. Just like he had felt for a long time. Alone. Friendless.
But that wasn't true. He had friends. Four very good ones, and he wasn't about to let them down.
He wandered downstairs after a few minutes (it's a safehouse kind of thing) to see Ray cooking. They always had a least a few scrumptious delicacies when he was around. He was grateful for that. Even luxurious servant-cooked food paled in comparison with Ray's delectable and exotic dishes. Tyson and Max followed soon afterward. Kenny was still in their room, working on who knew what.
"Morning, Kai!" Tyson greeted with a yawn, and was rewarded with a grunt.
"Yeah," Max joined in, eyeing him as though he asking 'Are you sure you're okay?'
"You had us worried last night," Tyson commented, helping himself to a blueberry muffin. Ray glared at him. They had agreed not to mention the episode to Kai. "Sorry."
"But seriously, though. What happened?" Max inquired, concerned, snagging some waffles.
"Just a nightmare. That's all. Nothing to worry about," Kai answered, keeping his sentences short and his tone emotionless. They weren't pleased with this response, nor did they fully believe it, but they kept their mouths shut. Kai cut into some sausage.
Ray joined them. Everything on the table, though it seemed like an average meal, was different. There was a taste to the muffins that only Ray could seem to master, and the sausage was spiced perfectly that even Jimmy Dean (don't own) couldn't accomplish. The pancakes and waffles were extraordinary. (None of this is meant to be perverted!)
"Excellent job, Ray!" Tyson complimented through a mouthful of food. "This is delicious."
"Thank you," Ray accepted it. No one cared that it was barely audible. Kai knew the reason Ray was so quiet. They both were, though that was no big deal for him; he was always the silent leader. But they were both definitely troubled about the whole situation they were in, as well as whether or not to trust Tex.
The worst thing about Kai was that he was usually right about stuff like that.
Now, travel a little ways (still in Russia, folks) to a dark warehouse. Someone, the head of Biovolt, Voltaire, stood towards the back, hidden by the black lightlessness (OMG, that's a word?!). The lack of the sun's brilliance made the place perfect for...illegal acts. He spoke to a man kneeling before him, a little of the sun's magnificent rays coming from a very compact window from high up resting on his brown messy hair.
"They suspect nothing?"
"No sir." The man looked up, smirking, revealing his face and his identity to be none other than - Tex. "Nothing...at all."
