***ONCE AGAIN, SOME CONTENT AT THE END OF THE CHAPTER
...*Sigh* blame Callous...***
CHAPTER FIFTY-FIVE
"...is that really true?" Striker asked Whisker, once he woke up.
"Aye, I guess so..." Whisker nodded, as he folded his arms. "So we`re goin' t' be havin' t'... spend time wi' Cal, until Jill an' Metal Sonic can take care o' Callous."
Striker pet the sleeping Buddy on his lap. "I wonder what Rudy's going to think of that..." he said.
"Aye, that`s gonna be kinda awkward..." Whisker muttered, as he let out a sigh.
Striker got up without disturbing Buddy, and when he opened the door, he saw Brick walk by; his nose heavily bandaged. "What happened to you Brick?" Striker asked him.
"Nothing," Brick mumbled, with a very nasal voice.
"Yeah... nothing..." At that point, Tails Doll fluttered by as well, stopping to glance at Striker.
"...if ye say so..." Whisker uttered, as he blinked.
"...oh, yeah, where's Proxy?" Tails Doll asked, as he tilted his head.
"Th' roof, I think." Whisker said, as he glanced upwards.
"Should we tell him, Captain Whisker?" Striker asked.
"...maybe we ortin' ta." Whisker nodded. "'t`d be a problem if another fight broke ou'..."
"There was a fight?" Whisker never mentioned his episode with Cal to Striker, which caused the bear to look inquiringly at him.
Whisker froze. "...um..." he uttered, before he suddenly went out into the hall. "Let`s go tell Proxy!" he said, as he walked down the hall.
"...Whisker's kinda funny." Tails Doll said, as he couldn't help but hold in a snicker.
"Yeah he is," Striker agreed, as he headed for Milo's room.
Meanwhile, Brick entered the room where Cal and Natal where, seeing that Cal was still sweeping...and red in the face for some reason.
"...how's the cleaning?" he asked, deciding not to ask about what was up with Cal.
"It's going good." Natal said, as she placed a lot of broken objects in a trash bag. "We'll be done soon." Then, she glanced at Brick. "How's the nose?"
"Hurts like hell," Brick said. "But it's taken care of at least."
"Thats good." Natal chuckled, as she tied a knot on the trash bag, to ensure that no trash would be spilt. "With any luck, it should be all better before the kids wake up."
"Somehow I have my doubts..." murmured Brick. Then he looked at Cal, who was STILL sweeping. "Hey, I think the floor's swept enough."
"Huh?" Cal snapped out of his embarrassed trace and glanced at Brick.
Brick shook his head while walking away. "Dork..." he said under his breath.
Natal could only giggle at that.
Cal set the broom aside and yanked up the trash bag in the bin. "I'll take care of that," he said.
"You go ahead and do that." Natal said with a chuckle, as she patted Cal on the back.
Cal just said nothing again, and turned to take the trash bag away.
"...you still got some red on you." Natal said with a smirk, as she glanced at Cal.
"Not listening," He called back, even though it was true. In fact, Natal saying that turned him as red as a tomato.
Giggling, Natal turned to walk away, waving to Cal. "I'll go catch some shuteye. Try not to make a bigger mess while I'm asleep." she said, before she walked back to her room.
Cal actually paused and glanced back and watched her walk away without her knowing until she was gone into her room. Then he continued down the hall. "...Why is everybody always picking on me?" he murmured.
Milo was shocked to hear the news from Striker, and especially when Jack came in to confirm it. "But why is Callous chasing after Cal?" he asked.
"Because she's very mean." both Jack and Tails Doll said at the same time.
"But thar`s got t' be some other reason." Whisker muttered. "Maybe she wants some o' Metal Sonic`s secrets?"
"Maybe," Striker said. "But that means that Cal might be staying here for awhile..."
"...what about Rudy?" Milo asked. "Have you told him yet?"
"...not yet..." Striker murmured nervously.
"I hope he isn't going to freak out over it..." Jack muttered, as he sighed. "Man, things have gotten busy around here..."
"He's not gonna stay for that long..." Tails Doll said, as he tilted his head. "Uncle Cal's just gonna stay long enough for Jill and Big Bro to take out Callous. Then he'll be safe!"
"I hope Jill and Metal can do it," Milo said. Getting out of his own bed, he walked to the door. "I kinda miss Jill,' he said. "She's like a big sister."
"...they're gonna do it." Jack said, as he glanced at Milo. "Jill and Metal are going to take out Callous... and then she's gonna come home!"
"And Big Bro isn't gonna let anyone else try to take over his job!" Tails Doll said as well.
"...well, we better go tell Rudy," Milo said. "We can't put it off after all..." He jumped when he saw Cal pass by.
"Where do you guys dump your trash anyway?" he asked.
"There's a garbage grinder one floor down," Striker said. "The Professor didn't want us littering in the jungle, so he built it."
"I see," the monkey murmured, continuing through the hall toward the elevator.
"...huh." Jack uttered. "Well, let's go find Rudy." he said, as he began walking down the hall.
"...wonder what's on Uncle Cal's mind..." Tails Doll uttered.
The group's biggest worry was Rudy, and when they woke him up, telling him the news, he just sat there for a moment.
"...Rudy?" Striker said.
"...Cal's here in the Clubhouse?" the kangaroo muttered, "and he's...going to stay here?"
They nodded.
Rudy was silent again, and this was unusual for a hyperactive kangaroo like him. He was trying to think about what happened. More than a week ago, Cal used to be a good guy, but then he turned bad; trying to hurt everyone. He hurt Boomer...and even if she had a short temper, she was good to him.
"...he's not going to stay that long, though..." Tails Doll began, as he tilted his head.
"...you okay, Rudy?" Jack asked, as he looked at the kangaroo.
"...I don't know guys..." Rudy said. "I mean...Cal hurt Boomer really badly..."
"...we know," Milo said. "But I get the feeling that Metal won't let Cal do anything like that to us..."
"If he couldn't..." Jack began. "...well, I don't think he'd order Cal to stay here."
Rudy thought about it some more, burying himself under the covers. "Well, thanks for telling me," he said. "But I'm not ready to go see him...so I'm going to go back to sleep..."
"...that's fine," Striker said.
"Sweet dreams, then..." Tails Doll said.
At that point, Jack let out a yawn. "Maybe we should go back to sleep, too..." he mumbled.
"That sounds good right now," Milo said.
"Captain Whisker, you told Proxy right?" Striker asked, just to make sure.
"Nay yet, but I`ll do 't when ye guys be sleepin', alright?" Whisker said.
"As long as he knows..." Jack yawned, before he stood up. "I'm going to my room..."
"Me too..." Striker said, walking out of the room.
"Me three..." added Milo, following him.
"...good night..." Tails Doll said, as they all eventually left Rudy's room. After that, only Tails Doll and Whisker remained in the hall, as the kids had gone to bed. "...wonder what Uncle Cal's doing."
"Who knows." Whisker shrugged, as he began walking down the hall. "I`ll go tell Proxy, now."
"You do that, Whisker." Tails Doll nodded.
Cal had returned from the 'garbage grinder' from a floor below, thinking how interesting the machine was. It literally crushed the garbage like a hydraulic press, but to bits so tiny it was hardly noticeable. Then the bits were transformed into a type of fertilizer material that was dumped outside; meant for the very tree that held up the tree house.
And it sure was standing strong.
Cal cracked open the nearest window he could find and looked out into the night. Somehow, he was starting to feel like his old self again; before being turned into a cyborg. Alone...disliked...
You know, when it comes down to it I'm a total loser... he thought.
"Hiya, Uncle Cal..." he'd hear Tails Doll say, as he fluttered close to the monkey. "How're you feeling?" he asked.
"...decent," Cal murmured, without looking back at the plushie.
"Hm..." Tails Doll hummed, as he fluttered onto Cal's head. "...how do you think Big Bro is doing right now?"
"Who knows," Cal shrugged his shoulders.
"Hm." Tails Doll nodded. "...is there anything on your mind, Uncle Cal?" the doll inquired.
"Wondering how I ended up here in the first place..." Cal mumbled. "In a matter of simply two weeks, I went from working for a detective agency to being hunted down by a witch...and being hated by practically everyone because of some things I did."
"...what did you do, then?" Tails Doll inquired. "I don't think Big Bro's told me about that..."
"I betrayed the Chaotix," Cal said. "Not only that, but I came close to killing someone..." Somehow, he felt more like he wasted his life, and while he could forgive himself if he ever felt guilty, there was no way that anyone else would forgive him for nearly killing Boomer.
"...Uncle Cal?" Tails Doll began, as he fluttered off his head, before looking the monkey in his eyes. "Be honest. You're not just feeling decent, are you?"
"...no," Cal admitted. "But I think I know what my problem is..."
"...really?" Tails Doll inquired, as he placed himself on Cal's head again. "What's that?"
"I felt like I was wasting my time and my life, but I didn't figure it out until just now," Cal murmured. "I think it's because I'm trying to be something I'm not."
"...and what are you going to do about it?" Tails Doll asked.
"...I don't know what I'm going to do about it," Cal said. "Think about it a lot I guess..." He looked up at Tails Doll. "I tried to be evil most of the time, but it ended up backfiring on me. I think it took this long to finally get that I'm just not the type that can be evil...but I don't know what I am."
He looked outside again. "...I'm still trying to figure it out, I guess..."
"...I can help you to find it out!" Tails Doll said happily. "Better to do something together than alone!"
Cal looked at Tails Doll again, in some disbelief. "That's not a bad idea..." he admitted. "...but how would you help me?"
"We'll just have to find out!" Tails Doll laughed. "But maybe you should get some rest, first. I know Big Bro made you that cyber-like thing to make you not need it, but you should still rest!"
"...where do you suggest I sleep?" Cal asked. "I'm sure that I'm not welcome to any of the beds here..."
"Well... you could always take a couch!" Tails Doll said. "I can get you a blanket, if you'd like..."
"...sure," Cal murmured, "I'd appreciate that Tails Doll." Without letting Tails Doll respond, Cal ventured through the halls until he came into a room with a couch; coincidentally enough, the same room that Whisker had thrown the objects at him.
Soon enough, Tails Doll fluttered after him, now carrying a blanket after him. "Here you go, Uncle Cal!" he said, as he handed him the blanket.
"Thanks," He murmured. After grabbing a pillow and lying onto the couch, he whipped the blanket up in the air and allowed it to settle on top of him, getting comfortable on the couch as best he could.
"Good night, Uncle Cal..." Tails Doll said, as he began fluttering down the hall.
"...night," he mumbled, closing his eyes. The cybernetic parts of him started to shut down, while his organic self actually began drifting off to sleep.
Tails Doll glanced one more time at Cal after that, before he fluttered off. ...I hope that he'll be alright...
"Well, the tomb's as boring as it can get..." Callous said.
"And we're stuck here for three days? Lame." Johnny groaned, as he sat down. "Man, what I'd do for a trap door that could take me out of here..."
"You're not the only one," Callous murmured, sitting down next to him.
Letting out a sigh, Johnny glanced at Callous. "Is he always like that? Deity, I mean."
"Like what?" Callous asked, intending for Johnny to be more specific. Deity was a number of things in her book...
"Well... how do I put this..." Johnny began, as he scratched his head. "...well, emotionless, for one thing."
"Believe it or not, yes, he's always been that way," Callous answered. "I think his emotions were all sucked out of him long ago, but I never knew what really caused him to be like that. All I know is that he cant be manipulated at all, because he has no emotions to manipulate with."
"Hm..." Johnny muttered, as he glanced at Callous. "Say... now that he's gone into that dark cocoon-thing... he can't hear us, can he?"
"Nope, he can't," Callous said.
"And... he can't read minds, can he?" Johnny inquired.
"Not that I know of," she said again. "Why?"
"If that's the case..." Johnny muttered, as he glanced at Callous. "...then we could start thinking about how best to... you know, deal with him after Jill's out of the picture."
"I've been thinking about that," Callous whispered back to him. "And I thought of something actually...back in Westopolis, Metal Sonic had a machine that drew out energy from the black emerald Daddy was locked up in...it literally sucked the Corruption out of the emerald and it was used to inject Corruption into these androids that were modeled after Shadow the Hedgehog."
"Really..." Johnny whispered back. "...do you think it'd work on him, too?"
"I think so," Callous whispered again. "I think we could drain the Corruption completely out of him, and while he's left defenseless...we take him out." An evil smile grew on her face. "How does that sound?"
"That sounds great." Johnny whispered back, smirking as well. "But first... we gotta get off this island."
"Well, we still only have three days..." Callous muttered. "...scratch that-two days now. To be perfectly honest though, we don't have to rush..."
"True..." Johnny muttered, as he glanced up at the ceiling. "...man, soon you'll be all done with Jill. How quickly do you think you'll get her to throw the match in your favor?"
"I'm going to toy with her and humor the challenge a bit," Callous said. "Then if things are too slow, I'll force her to forfeit by threatening Metal's welfare. I'm sure I could inflict enough pain on the toaster to make him wish he were dead..."
"Too bad he can't die, huh?" Johnny laughed. "Aah, just thinking about how you'll beat her is too much fun!"
Callous eyed Johnny from head to toe, allowing dirty thoughts to sink into her mind. Not as much fun as what I could do to you, big boy, she thought.
Blinking, Johnny glanced at Callous. "...so what's on your mind right now, hm?" he inquired.
Callous giggled playfully as she stood up. "Oh...nothing..." she said, hoping to tease him. She even hoped to tantalize with him with a sway of her hips as she walked by.
Johnny was silent for a brief moment, before letting out a chuckle, as he stood up, before following Callous. "It can't just be nothing, can it?" he pressed on, as he folded his arms.
Callous gave him a smirk over her shoulder. "I don't know...what do you think?"
Grinning, Johnny suddenly wrapped his arms around Callous' shoulders. "Oh, I have a few guesses..." he said with a chuckle.
"Mm-hm," she hummed, smiling a sexy smirk.
"...so, know about a place we're certain that the twins can't get to?" Johnny inquired, as he smirked back. "I wouldn't want anyone to spoil our fun..."
"Sure. Right this way," she whispered, taking him by the hand and leading him away.
As he was led away, Johnny couldn't help but look at Callous. Man, she's fine... he thought. Bliss couldn't hold a candle to this beauty...
When reaching the designated area, Callous didn't waste any time pinning Johnny against the wall and stopping a lips distance away. "This place aught to do..." she whispered.
"It better..." Johnny whispered back, as he was quick to grab Callous' own arms and overpowering her, pinning her against the wall instead. Wasting no time himself, he made his move by quickly kissing Callous.
Callous let out a chuckle, breaking away, "Ah, it seems it backfired." Then she returned, kissing vehemently with tongue.
Again, Johnny acted far more ferociously than the last time, as he was actually undressing Callous whilst he was consumed with the makeout. Callous was surprisingly overwhelmed this time, but she liked it. She gasped in-between kisses while she assisted with undressing herself. When Callous was fully undressed, Johnny suddenly spun her around, before pinning her to the ground. "I'm gonna enjoy this..." he chuckled, as he returned to kissing her.
After tossing tongues around for a bit, she broke to reply briefly, "I get the feeling that I will too..."
"That makes it better." Johnny quipped, as he quickly dove in again to kiss her.
