Three's a Pair

by Fro Ninja

Young orphan Huey Jones has lived a life of servitude for as long as he can remember, often feeling cursed by his powers. But when he is freed, he is finds himself at the center of a supernatural war that has been ongoing for more than thousands of years. Joined by two unlikely allies with similar gifts,he vows to protect the world from this ancient threat, and most of all, end it.

32. Chapter 29

Huey kept his distance from Kaos; being in the same room along with his tight guard felt par for the course given their history. He had to convince himself there wasn't a reason to look at the glass on the east side of the room where the Boss and Ellen were watching, vigilantly at that. Kaos was, for the first time since the arduous questioning from The Boss, at a loss for words standing face to face with her cousin. Huey's eyes darted around the room before reaching the phone in his pocket, appalled at the fact that barely five minutes had passed since he was let into Kaos's cell under the admission by the Boss, much to Ellen's chagrin. Huey rubbed the back of his neck, which he saw sparked a twitch from Kaos's hands; he took two steps back as they reached towards him. Kaos gave a chuckle as she pulled her arm back and leaned back into her steel chair.

"I guess I don't deserve even that much from you," Kaos said."What a shame." She shrugged while sipping her ginger tea placed on the nightstand by her bunk.

"I don't like being touched, period." Huey said."Had to take a lot of bad-touches from a lot of creeps over the years. No offense,"

"None taken," Kaos said."I'm not exactly everyone's friend right now,"

"I doubt you even know what the word means," Huey said.

"That hurts, Huey." Kaos said."That tongue of yours has gotten sharper since we last met."

Huey narrowed his eyes."It's the least I could say to a child murder like yourself,"

"I had nothing to do with that!" Kaos said defensively."That was Fetcher who did murdered your orphan friends,"

"I don't see how that makes a bit of difference," Huey said."No one there deserved to have anything of what you and your psycho friends did to them,"

Kaos's head drooped below her neck."I'm sorry," She said."I'm so very sorry,"

Huey shook his head, giving a shrug to the routine that Kaos displayed. He had seen it before many times during his time as a slave on the faces of the children he lived under. That false impression of remorse and delusion that any depraved action could be handwaved by an apology. Tears included.

"Well that just brings them all back doesn't it," Huey said."I suppose this has been weighing on your mind for some time then?" Huey turned his back to her, glancing at the one way glass that Ellen and the Boss were standing behind. He imagined the look of potent rage that was likely on Ellen's face just being no less than three feet away from the monster that completely destroyed her orphanage. Huey figured that Ellen had a degree of self-control from lashing out at Kaos, but decided to keep the conversation rolling to avoid risking that scenario. Much to his chagrin."It's fine to say no, of course. I bet a lot more things come to mind before the lives you've taken. Like what color is the blood of the guy I'm about to kill, or how many deep cuts can the body take before he passes out from exhaustion from screaming?"

Kaos raised her head up, placing her hands on the table."I would appreciate it if you didn't demonize me like that," She said."I'm not some psychotic monster."

"You being in here disputes that claim." Huey said.``There's not a lot you've said or done since I've met you that even comes close to having it be there in the first place."

"I saved the life of your boss's subordinates," Kaos said."Even when he was trying to kill me. That doesn't mean anything to you?"

"Saving the guy who was there to capture you isn't an act of good faith," Huey said.

"You're not giving me a leg to stand on here, Huey." Kaos said.

"Good thing too," Huey said."You'd probably cut it off,"

Kaos slumped back into her chair, letting out a huge sigh."What do you want from me?" She said."Do you want me to sacrifice my life in exchange for the ones I've taken?"

"It would be a start," Huey said."But I'm not into revenge for the sake of nobility. I don't have a reason to believe a single word you're saying, so that's good enough for me. There are also people who want you dead more than me, and I don't need a reason to keep that from happening. Unless you give me one,"

Kaos giggled under her breath.

"You know my circumstances and are using them as leverage." Kaos said."You've become a lot more like him you know."

"Let me guess," Huey rolled his eyes."My father, right? Looks like he's more popular than I gave him credit for,"

"Not your father, my father," Kaos said. "That same sinister methodology for getting his way. You two are a lot alike, you know."

Huey picked his nose with his pinkie. "Listen, I'd really appreciate it if you didn't compare me to the leader of an eugenics cult," Huey said, as he flicked a booger he hanged. "They don't exactly have the best reputation in my book after all they've done so far."

"Now who is demonizing who?" Kaos said, folding her arms. "You only know what you've been told by these so-called noble allies of yours. You don't even have the decency to ask directly from the source," Kaos sighed. "What a shame."

Huey wanted to argue but felt something preventing him from reaching that point. A light clicked on at the back of his mind as Kaos's retort reached his ears. The exchange of their words for some reason felt familiar, like a heavy stone being lifted for his memories to seep out. He put on his best poker face to not give away this thought.

"What can I say?" Huey said, shrugging his shoulders, "I'm still thirteen. I say shit half the time that doesn't make any sense.."

Kaos's eyes grew wide as she buried her face into her palms. Her voice cracked, beginning to weep.

"Of course," Kaos said, sniffling through her tears."Your birthday was last month. Of all the things I could have forgotten, why did that have to be one of them. You have every right to hate me."

Huey snorted. "Yeah, right. You don't know my birthday."

"I know that and more." Kaos said."I know everything about you, Huey."

"When was I born?" Huey said.

"October 12th at 2:36AM" Kaos said, "I know, because I was there."

"What's my blood type?" Huey said.

"Your blood type is A,"Kaos said.

"Eye color," Huey said. He figured she would trip up on this answer as given the change to his makeup in that area after the reversion to his original state. However, Kaos opened her mouth without even thinking twice.

"You have heterochromia," Kaos said. Huey furrowed his brow, sensing a stretch behind her words. "Your left eye was green while your right eye was yellow. The doctor said it was a birth defect, since your father was a Non-type. His and your mother's genes must have not been compatible in some aspects; your hair color was originally in two tones."

"You're well informed." Huey chuckled. "You put dateline stalkers to shame." Huey said.

"It has nothing to do with information." Kaos said, demurely placing her hands on her chest. "I simply know who you are."

"You knew who I was," Huey said, folding his hands on the table. His eyes looked like they wanted to burrow a hole in the Pure-type's face, " You don't know who I am now. There is a big difference there. Huge,even." Huey said.

Kaos shook her head. "That's not your fault Huey." Her facial expression turned into a vengeful stare, looking at the one way window where Ellen and the Boss were observing the situation."It's theirs! They're the ones who caused you to forget everything about ou-" Kaos paused to catch herself, "Your past. All of your memories, gone, because of what they did to you."

Huey picked up on what Kaos held back from her speech. "We have no past," Huey said. "Hell, we don't even have a present. I'm only here because the HBIC thinks you can be cooperative, after all the shit you've done. I'm just a steak thrown into the lion's den to make that happen."

"You don't trust me," Kaos said.

"Give the girl a pulitzer." Huey said with a slow clap. " She has such a way with words," Huey said.

Kaos whimpered, almost attempting to come out of her chair and go under the table. "I can't believe how much you've changed Huey. How much they changed you." Kaos said. "Where is the sweet boy that used to let me play with his hair; that would let me hold him when I was frightened by thunder?"

"You learn a lot about the world when you're tending to someone's drug farm in a humid jungle." Huey gripped his wrist. "You learn even more when you have to watch an entire orphanage burnt down and a whole town being destroyed by psychos with an ideology."

"You don't understand," Kaos said, tears welling in her eyes like a balloon being filled. "I was ordered to commit those acts. If I had known those things had such importance to you, I would have-"

"You can't be serious," Huey said. His fists began to tighten with small embers sparking from his hands."You're trying to be the victim in all of this? You kill my mentor, kidnap and turn one of my friends into a monster, leave my other one for dead and pass it all off as something out of your control?"

"You don't know my father, Huey." Kaos said. "You don't remember what a manipulative man he is. Every single unfortunate thing that has happened in your life, he has orchestrated. He never liked you being close to me, that's why he separated you from us."

Huey felt his chest tighten. "Us? Who is us?"

"You truly don't remember…"Kaos sighed."Such a shame."

Huey felt something stirring in the back of his mind, thoughts searing and sundering like a storm being unleashed. Flashes of a garden filled with lilies and sunflowers surged through his head– hot summer days with cicadas croaking around his ear like fingers scratching a guitar string. Marks of skinned knees from numerous tumbles from playing tag, along with a damp shirt from running through a nearby river. Images of three children pulling him forward while a setting sun shimmered through the leaves of a tall tree, it's rays scattering like fireworks in his eyes.

::Huey:: Ellen's voice suddenly popped into Huey's head, bringing him out of his trance.

::Ellen?:: He responded back through the voice chat that he brought Ellen up to speed on.

::You're letting her distract you.:: Ellen said. Huey imagined a frown of disappointment on her face. ::I thought you had more fortitude than this,::

::I'm regretting telling you about the fact that I can do this now:: Huey thought.

::I'll admit, your attempt to be vague about your new ability in order to sway me was clever. Although it seemed you underestimated me:: Ellen thought. Huey swore he heard her chuckle. ::Something you are doing to the daughter of our enemy's leader.::

::She's not taking me for a loop if that's what you're thinking:: Huey thought.

::I beg to differ; what she is saying is clearly having an effect on you:: Ellen thought. ::The Forsaken not only train their higher ranked members in combat, but in social etiquette. Anything she tells you could elicit a reaction out of you or cause you to think irrationally::

::You're saying she's emotionally manipulating me::

::She is fully aware of the gaps in your memory and is using that to gain control over you. You musn't let her get in your head::

::Well then what should I do?:: Huey thought. ::Everytime she brings up something, I get a weird sensation in my head. Almost like something is trying to climb out of my brain::

::You must stay focused, and not allow her to direct the conversation in the manner she wants. If possible, you have to be able to turn the tables on her. Get into her head by reflecting her deceit back at her::

Huey smirked as Ellen's words struck an accord with him.

::Huey?:: Ellen thought, noting his silence. ::What's wrong?::

::You said don't let her get in my head:: Huey thought .::But what if I get into hers?::

::Got into-:: Huey heard a bang against the glass from the other side. ::Huey, no!:: Huey cut off Ellen's ability to link with his mind. Turns out, he discovered if a connection could be established from another person's end, he could sever it just as well. He turned his attention back to Kaos. She didn't seem to be aware of Huey's mental communion between him and Ellen. Although whether she had an inkling of what he was about to do because he wasn't getting any fathomable answers was unknown to him. He decided to take a chance either way.

"I want to try something," Huey said, nervously swallowing his tongue. He had yet to dive into a mind as unstable as Kaos. He was unsure of what he might see, or what might happen to him. But he knew he still had to do it."I want to see just how much you know about me."

Kaos's expression uplifted, as if the lightbulb in her heart just lit up. "I'll tell you anything you want to know,"

Huey searched his heart for the question for the Forsaken member. It was one that he felt was one he could have answered without any elusive intent from Fisk or Ellen, or was filed behind some firewall that would take him years to decrypt.

"Tell me about my mother." Huey said.

Kaos gasped like the air was stolen out of her lungs. Huey saw a peculiar sight– her hands shaking with trembling lips and eyes refusing to meet his gaze.

"That," Kaos swept her bangs out of the way. "That might be difficult to answer. I didn't know her that well." Huey narrowed his eyes. "She was a foolish woman that my grandfather disowned and my father wanted nothing to do with. As it stands, she's dead to my family."

"Family in the Forsaken don't get along?" Huey said, trying to sound shocked. "You could do a better job at lying than that,"

"I'm not lying!" Kaos said, as she jumped out of her seat. "I would never lie to you Huey. But trust me, the less you know about that woman, the better.

Huey groaned. "Fine then, you're not lying. But check this out," Huey stretched over the table until he was in Kaos's face. "There's lying and then there's holding back the truth. I don't know about you, but I'm fucking tired of the latter."

Kaos slammed the desk, putting a dent in the metal. "Your mother was a kinslayer, Huey. A traitor to her own kind. She took you from us when all we wanted to do was to help you!"

"So then tell me about her!" Huey said.

"I can't,"

"Can't or won't?"

Kaos fell silent. Huey returned to his side of the table, and took a breath to compose himself from the frustration slowly building inside of him. She had obviously been trained not to break under pressure. The interrogation Huey had with her before began to seem like a fever dream with how much information he received with so little effort-at least on his part. It was possible she had let her tongue loose on account of whatever relationship the two shared in the past. Kote and Karina were who they were because of their past, but yet why did his feel so elusive? He asked questions and never received so much as a hint. Even as Kaos called him out for not asking directly from the source, the idea itself was being culled out before his eyes.

A crackling noise rattled his ears as the intercom in the room came alive.

"You're done in there Jones," Huey heard the Boss's husky voice come through on the mic."We will begin further questioning for the prisoner immediately,"

"I'm not done talking with her yet," Huey said, staring directly into at the one sided glass behind him."She hasn't finished answering all of my questions yet,"

"Don't make me repeat myself," The Boss said. Huey noticed that at the same time of her statement, the two guards posted by the door went into a combat ready stance, gripping the assault rifles strapped to their chest. "Either you come out of that room, or we will remove you. Those are your options."

Huey pressed his teeth together. Kaos wore a look of anticipation for Huey's next action. Only ten seconds had passed before the guards slowly advanced onto the young man, grabbing him by his arms.

Not like this. Huey thought. Not when I'm this close.

Huey's arms became coated in a bright blue flame that seared through the fiber of the guard's armor, causing them to cry in pain. He focused his mind on attacking both of them, which gave their brains a slight jolt that sent them crashing to the floor unconscious.

"HUEY!" Ellen's voice screamed out. Huey quickly placed his still lit hands on Kaos's face and focused his mind once more.

"You're going to show me everything I want to know," Huey soon felt his consciousness meld with Kaos's mind as he entered into her mind. Deep. Deep. Deep into her mind.

As expected, Huey felt a torrent of malice overcome as soon as his mind entered Kaos's, thoughts reminding him of her hedonistic nature that would drain the enthusiasm of any psychiatrist. A tempest of emotions washed over Huey, echoing feelings of fear and anxiety of what could be the answers he sought for his past. Passing through on the stream of consciousness, Huey viewed the numerous windows of Kaos's soul with the contents of her memories burning through his mind at super-sonic speed, from childhood involving the practices of murder on the various house servants her father would assign to her to satiate her needs, even her bloodlust. Unconsciously, Huey reached deeper past the emotional wall of Kaos-her psychopathy that she would display to the world as a means of defense-and ended up finding the core of her essence. A black maelstrom formed around him with the devastating force pulling him in closer and closer to the core of her heart.

Talk about your smooth invitations. Huey thought to himself. He took note of the expanding black void that he had been placed in and began walking into it (or out of it), until a great structure manifested before his eyes. The material formed what his brain recognized as a mansion of sorts. Less than a minute of investigating its decrepit outside, the fact of it being Kaos's childhood home shot through his mind as if his brain unpacked that detail. His curiosity on how that association formed was dwarfed by Kaos's increasing resistance on Huey's visit, with his connection to her mind breaking bit by bit. His vision became blurry with the world around him slowly dissipating. Guess that means I'm on borrowed time. Huey ventured inside the mansion without a second thought, pulling the heavy white marble door back; a gust blew past him as the hinge extended outward that sent an odd warm feeling through his blood.

His footsteps were gentle and slow at first when exploring a wide area of what he assumed was the lobby. The lit chandeliers spun above his head like flaming vortexes inching closer to burn him alive. The painted walls contorted and warped into circles giving Huey a slight dizzy spell the more he looked into them; cracks formed and ran downward into the floor crossing into his walking path. Huey ascended up red carpeted stairs that looked to go on forever. Every footstep was heavy, like dragging his feet through mud with seconds turning into minutes before he reached the top of the staircase that seemed to go on and on. He slowly turned his back and saw that the far distance he thought to have spent so long climbing was no more than ten steps.

Looks like her memories are so whacked, it's messing with my perception. Says a lot about where her mind is at. Rock bottom.

Despite understanding the fundamentals, mind diving was an ability that he didn't have the opportunity to explore. He never considered the possibility of a mind fighting back during the connection, at least not to this degree. Rather than dwelling on it however-as well as the loosening grip on her deep consciousness-Huey continued to explore Kaos's home(or at least what she considered to be just that). He walked down a hallway with transparent figures passing him by, either standing around talking to each other or running at a breakneck pace with their arms in front of them as if they were carrying something. Huey figured they were the servants he viewed in Kaos's thoughts from earlier, albeit less bloody than he was expecting to find them. His eyes then wandered to the titan sized windows stretching above what he believed was ceiling and saw it gradually crack from the fierce wind from outside. He began to pick up his pace, brushing past all of the servants who didn't seem to acknowledge his presence.

Huey came to a door at the end of the hallway. It was unlike every other marble door that seemed to fill every inch of the hallway that had a lion-shaped knob with a golden plate finish. The color was a garish looking pink that stuck out immediately, along with a heart shaped knob with a silver finish. Huey placed his hand on the knob, feeling a warm and moist sensation surge through his body, and pulled the door open. Once inside he saw an unremarkably normal room, with decorations or knick knacks to give it a spice of personality or to clue him in on who it belonged to. Yet he felt familiar with it.

Once inside, the door slam shut behind him which didn't bother him that much compared to the little girl he found sitting on the bed with a servant. The girl looked to be about five by her size and was combing through the long sleek hair of a female servant, wearing a smile that stretched from ear to ear. Huey came closer to the two and saw that despite the servant sitting down in a patient manner, no part of her body was animated whatsoever. He reached out to the servant's face to feel if she was still alive.

Don't touch my toy! A voice shot through Huey's mind and felt a swift force blow his body into a nearby dresser; the structure of which began to contort from a normal brushed wood finish into organic-growing arms and limbs that wrapped around Huey's body.

"Get off of me!" Huey's thoughts shouted out, hoping to break free. No response from the voice that bonded him. He moved his body around, summoning whatever strength he had to break free; he soon noticed that try as he might his fire had no effect here as he felt not even a semblance of the ability. Flashes of his slavery bubbled to the surface of his mind, with his limbs becoming more restricted. Obscenities rolling off were muted, caused by the feeling of being choked and prevented from speaking a word. Soon, the little girl climbed off her large bed and made her way towards Huey. She inspected his face seething with anger like a toy sitting on the shelf waiting to be unwrapped and brought it close to hers, close enough to kiss. Huey turned his head away as he saw her lips coming closer to his but suddenly felt control of that slipping as the girl held it steady with her own hands, with her soulless smile being the only thing in his eyes whether he liked it or not.

Huey concentrated, struggling to find some semblance of power in his body while pain seared through his mind. Kaos, or her strong negative emotions, fought Huey's influence through her own malignant corruption to the point he felt no control of his tethering to her mind.Slowly he felt his mind being swallowed by the influence of the little girl-who was most likely Kaos-wash over him. His thoughts drowned in a pool of darkness and corruption.

That is, until he felt something else surge through his soul. Something ancient that had been calling out to him for quite some time. Without warning, that very ancient force burst through him, surrounding him in an overflowing red aura that enveloped the whole room.

Huey's eye saw an enigma begin to form into a giant wolf covered in two canvas's worth of markings and scriptures. It's fur and overflowing mane shimmered in a bright red, possessing a force that drained all the color of the atmosphere.

"I FoUnD YOu, aT LaST." The wolf's voice tore through Huey's mind and soul; speaking with such an overwhelming authority and power that he couldn't hear anything else."tHE oNE WHO will LeAd ME tO My HeIR." The world that Kaos's emotions built around the core of her soul started to crumble before Huey; the walls and floors cracked asunder from the pressure of the spirit's influence, with the little girl being knocked across the room by the explosion of power that it unleashed. Soon Huey felt the spirit meld with Huey's, with his body-forcefully-turning over control to it. His thoughts became primal with nothing remaining of his soul that resembled the intelligence and good nature from before. "It is not ideal, but this body–its hate, its jealousy, its…power," The spirit's thoughts became less visceral as its influence over Huey's mind spread."It has potential,"

The one sided glass imploded from the other side, shattering into a thousand pieces that scattered all over the floor. Ellen and Boss covered their eyes, preventing any of it from reaching their eyes, but managed to catch a glimpse of the scene unfolding before them-Huey with his flames overflowing and spreading through the room; Kaos still caught in his burning grasp with no intentions of breaking free from his hold.

"What the hell is that kid doing?!" The Boss said.

"That's not Huey," Ellen said, hopping through the hole where the glass used to be and pulled Huey away from Kaos; his body ended up slamming into the wall from her unexpected strength in the throw. Huey snapped from the hole created from his impact, and with teeth bared, leaped at Ellen. Ellen parried his attack to her right side, grabbing him by the back of his collar and twisting his body directly into her knee before tossing him yet again against the wall. Like before, Huey simply came off the wall with no sign of even being fazed by the counters Ellen had thrown out. A first for her, as many who would receive hits from her took considerably longer to recover, or wouldn't recover at all.

The hair on the back of Ellen's neck tingeled, sensing the killing intent radiating off of Huey's body, but was more importantly taken aback from otherworldly it felt. A sharp whistling sound burst through Ellen's ears with a flying object whizzing in the air and landing in Huey's right shoulder. Ellen's head snapped back seeing the Boss at the other end of a pistol aimed at the young man.

"Don't shoot!" Ellen said."Something is controlling him!"

"Out of the way Ellen," Boss said."First and only warning,"Ellen knew just from the sound of her voice–not an inch of compassion or mercy in its tone–this meant both her and Huey would be targets to her.

"He's not himself. He cann-" Ellen cut herself off, dodging a flying palm strike from Huey–or rather the one controlling Huey–followed by a claw attack so close that it cut off a good chunk of her bangs. After only a few punches and kicks aptly blocked, Ellen recognized a semblance of the Southern Wolf Tribe Fighting Style being used by Huey's body, feeling her body counter each blow on natural instinct. Part of her was amazed that despite his possession, Huey was able to pull off basic techniques of the obscure martial art; although the fluidity in his motions left a lot to be desired given his shorter limbs, his speed and spatial awareness from the counters made up for that factor. The execution of the moves felt more archaic then the method she had originally been instructed–focusing vicious strikes to break the opponents defense rather than aggressively precise attacks that break down their method of strength. Without having ever spared with Huey, Ellen didn't know whether to chalk it up to Huey's inexperience with close-quarter combat, or the character of the spirit that found their way into his psyche.

Ellen decided to put a little pressure on her standoff with Huey, picking apart his offense by hitting pressure points that aided his attacks until he could barely stand. It didn't look to be enough as he went into a relentless assault using the remaining limbs–left leg, right arm and head– that still could be utilized. Ellen quickly disabled Huey's last ability to attack with a couple of quick strikes to the points of his limbs, and followed up with a one inch punch that blasted the boy's body across the room and through the bulletproof door of the room.

Ellen held her hands up at The Boss and ran towards Huey; her heartbeat quickened with her mind's line of thought tearing at the seams when seeing his motionless body. She then took a sigh of relief when his breathing had steadied, along with the otherworldly presence from before. It looks as if whatever was possessing Huey had subsided for now, but her experience informed her that it would only return given enough time.

Boss strided behind Ellen, noting her handiwork with a nod of approval. "Nice work as always Ellen,"

Ellen beamed at the Boss with scorn, the lack of concern in her voice causing her fists to ball up from reflex. "You were going to shoot him," Ellen said, with an absence of the cordial tone used with Boss.

"I was going to do what needed to be done,"

"You were going to shoot me if I didn't get out of the way for you to shoot a thirteen year old boy,"

Ellen noticed the Boss's stoic expression hadn't moved an inch when she said that; the lack of a glint in her eyes painted a clear story of Ellen that she was all too familiar with, one that spoke when words couldn't,if ever, suffice.

"That thirteen year old boy almost killed my prisoner, assaulted my guards, and destroyed my very expensive interrogation room." Boss said."With how I'm feeling right now, there is an infinite number of worse things I could do to that child than just shooting him. That would have been a mercy,"

"It would have been a waste," Ellen said.

"Maybe," Boss said, pointing at Huey."But you asked me to lower my gun because of something as intangible as a spirit possessing him when direct evidence blows a hole in my window?"

"Isn't discovering the intangible the very foundation of your organization?"

"My organization relies on facts of the paranormal, explained by science and logic. Not speculation and witchcraft,"

"The world is a lot more than what can be explained in a laboratory, Boss. You should know that as well as I do," Ellen said.

"What I do know is that you're willing to abandon reason for arcane teachings taught to you in a jungle." Boss said.

"It's those same arcane teachings that have brought us this far, and it's what you're relying on for progress in this goddamn war," Ellen said.

Kaos broke the tension with a sharp cough and her breathing back into consciousness. Boss walked over to the pure-type and helped her to her feet; almost immediately Kaos ran over to Huey's motionless body, inspecting his condition.

Ellen walked over to Huey to do the same, earning scornful eyes from Kaos.

"You did this!" Kaos said."You hurt him,"

"It was only to take away his ability to hurt anyone," Ellen said. "He would have killed you had I not intervened."

"And I would have let him," Kaos said, cradling Huey's face in her arms."Not a single good thing has happened since I set foot in this dreadful country. Being put out of that misery by the only person in this world that I care about would be a mercy."

"Spare me your empty self-pity," Is what Ellen wanted to say to the young that destroyed her orphanage-the only genuine thing she built not for the purpose of fighting or anything malicious-but present circumstances kept her from lingering on the subject. She took a breath and walked over to the Boss, who was already getting off her phone with security in order to secure the area. In less than a minute, five guards arrived at the scene and took Kaos-who surprisingly went without a fight- to another room with the assurance of a later visit from the Boss.

Quicker than expected, Huey began to stir awake. Ellen ran over to him, helping him to his feet. Huey. He took only one look from Ellen and Boss as well as the destruction around him, before connecting the dots.

"I did this, didn't I?" Huey said. Ellen nodded. He noticed that unlike usual, there weren't any comforting words attached to her confirmation.

"Give me one reason why I shouldn't have you put in an ice box for this, Jones." Boss said, looking down at him. Huey touched a spot on his forehead as if a fly had been crawling on his skin(or inside it). A musing expression formed from the corners of his mouth, wondering how best to explain himself.

"Honestly, I don't have a reason," Huey said. His hand kindled a ball of fire while glaring at the Boss."But I think we both know how pointless that ice box would be, ma'am."

"Watch yourself, Jones." Boss said, looking down at him. Her figure looked like an outline to Huey as it stood in the flickering light. "When Black brought you on board, I was expecting outstanding results from your talents. The only thing I've gotten out of you is recklessness and defiance."

"You told me to come down and talk to Kaos. I did just that." Huey said.

"And look what's come from it." Boss said. She held her hand in front of Ellen as she looked to open her mouth. "Do you honestly think she'll be open to negotiation after what you just put her through?"

Huey's eyes looked ready to pop out from the shock."After everything those assholes did–all the dead people, the destruction…what they did to Kote–you want to negotiate with them?! Are you serious?"

"I don't expect you to understand, boy. I expect you to follow orders."

"Yeah, sure. You wanting to break bread with terrorists really inspires loyalty."

"Huey, be silent." Ellen said. As if on command, Huey held his tongue.

The Boss snorted."It's good to see that someone here has a handle on him."

"I'll take it from here, Boss."

"Yes, because you've done such an effective job of that so far, Ellen." The Boss sighed."Maybe he'll learn responsibility while you teach him discipline."

Huey looked down at the ground, holding his head together with his hand. "I would if I didn't have this mess of a headache," he said.

The Boss sighed and shook her head. "You put up with this, Ellen. I'm gonna pummel this kid if I talk to him any longer." Ellen nodded, and with no further retort, Boss walked past Huey with no lingering eye contact out through the crater made in the wall.

Ellen took a knee down to his level. She curled her fist, resisting the urge to punch him herself.

"What you did was extremely dangerous."

"I know."

"You could have killed yourself, or Kaos."

"Like you don't want to do that any more than me." Ellen frowned at his statement. Huey rubbed the back of his neck while darting his eyes to the side."Sorry."

Ellen took a hold of his shoulders. "I want you to promise me something Huey." Huey's eyes were focused on Ellen. "Never do something like that again. For one with such intelligence, your decision making is based solely on emotion. That is dangerous to have when dealing with matters such as this."

"Even if it's to find out who I was?"

"For goodness's sake, not this again. Who you were has nothing to do with who you are now." Ellen brushed her bangs apart, making Huey think of Kaos once more giving him a slight headache."If there are answers to be found, you will find them with time or we will do so together. At the rate you're going for answers, you'll endanger not only yourself, but everyone else around you. As well as receiving the ire of the Boss, and trust me, being on her bad side is not a stable way to a long life."

"Okay, fine. No more reckless stunts." Huey said.

Ellen's face turned into that of a scowl and she grabbed tightly by his arms."This is not a joke. What happened here today is in fact, your fault. Your actions not only put yourself in danger, but the prisoner, the guards, as well me and the Boss. This isn't the first time, but it will be the last. I want you to tell me that it will not be done again. Ever. Understand me?" Huey felt stunned from Ellen's focused gaze. It was the first time he ever saw that expression on her face. He felt lost, but also certain of what was being expected of him from her. He gave a firm nod."Very good." She patted him on his shoulders, giving him her usual warm smile. "Now then. Since you were so persistent in doing so, what did you see in her mind? And what is it worth it?" she asked.

Huey's eyes darted around like he was attempting to get his thoughts in order before having to put on a presentation. Seeing what he saw in Kaos's mind could be tangible to any psychologist with a penchant for studying lonely rich kids with a chip on their shoulder. The events afterwards,however, were a little more tricky. His expression told Ellen all of that and even the fact that just putting it into words to take time; seeing as how the day had just ended with bases' most important prisoner walking out of her own cell, there was never a better time for her to clear her schedule.

Huey and Ellen made their way back to the commons area of the base. He was texting Karina in real-time, filling her in on the situation while doing his best to express what had made his way into his mind to Ellen. The First Blade managed to digest the vague information provided as they walked side-by-side. She covered her mouth, overwhelmed by the shocking realization that everything Lisa had said was coming true. The divine wolf spirit was indeed coming for Kote and planned to use Huey as a cipher of sorts to draw him out. The obvious conclusion would be that the spirit wanted control of Kote's body for reasons that eluded her-she had an inkling, but she left it at just that.

Ellen didn't hesitate bringing Huey in for a hug, to which he returned the gesture. The body warmth exchanged between the two made Huey shiver at how unfamiliar it still felt to him. All words of concern, 'Are you okay?', 'That was dangerous.' 'You could have been killed", Huey heard from Ellen's mind(or her heart in this case). Releasing him, she grabbed both of his shoulders.

"It is imperative you keep this spirit under control, Huey." Ellen said. Huey's throat swallowed hard with Ellen's eyes beaming through him, feeling the weight of her words. He put on his best smile.

"Of course I will," Huey said, tapping his head."Not the first time I had someone living inside my head you know."

"I'm serious, young one." Ellen said."The spirit, Chozu, is the most violent out of the four deities of the Divine Wolf people. His destructive power is what the warring tribes fed on when they sought to fight off invaders from their home. Or amongst themselves."

"Yeah, I gathered that much when he was in my head," Huey said. He lifted his arms, moving them around in tandem with his body."It was like he was flowing through every muscle in my body. His thoughts were surging in my head. Everything was chaotic."

"Like with Terry?" Ellen said.

"No, that was different. Terry and I always felt in sync whenever he took over, kind of like how Firestorm has two people inside of him-Jason Rusch and Martin Stein-one's the brains and the other is brawn. This was nothing like that. It's like he wore my body like a sock puppet. I had no control over what was happening, but I saw and felt everything. The things he was doing, I never moved my body like that before."

Ellen nodded. "You performed moves from the fighting style of the Southern Wolf Tribe, albeit a more archaic version of it. That's where the feeling derived from. Although," Ellen patted Huey's body, clenching his muscles and gave a small smirk."With a lot more practice, you could become quite adept at it."

Huey was amazed by her expression, and more so her statement."Wow. I think that's the first time I've seen you crack light on something."

"It is one of those days I'm afraid." Ellen beamed. "Apologies if it seems out of character for me."

"It's different...but in a good way...I guess." Huey shrugged.

"I'm glad you think so." Ellen rubbed the back of her neck. She walked over to the viewing window. A full moon was in view of the entire desert, with usual unsettling noise of the industry going around the base hushed for the time being. It was a beautiful night to say the least.

"Do you still feel him?" Ellen turned around just as Huey put his phone away in his pocket.

"Yeah, I still do. But I think he's asleep for now, if I can even say that."

"Then we must move fast." Ellen said. She took out her phone and attached a signal booster to its port, extending its wire past her neck and placing a headphone in her ear.

"Move fast with what?" Huey asked as his eyes lit up. "And is that a military-grade international signal amplifier?"

Ellen nodded. "I'll have to make a call to the only person in the world that can help us. Go to the Valentine's and tell them that I'm calling Maxwell. We leave for South America in the morning."

"South America?" Huey said."Just like that? What about the Forsaken? And the Landsmen? We can't just get up and leave to go see some rainforests."

"We're not going on vacation, young one." Ellen said."If we resume our operations with your plus one, we run the risk of being sabotaged in the worst way possible. We'll have to seek help in order to purge it from your body, and maybe…" Ellen pondered her words for a moment."Maybe it will provide a way to awaken Kote from his comatose state.

Huey wanted to jump out of his skin when he heard that statement. It was one he had been wanting to hear ever since coming to Aegis Base. "Are you serious?" Huey asked. Ellen nodded."But how can we do that?"

"The process is more than I can explain in a brief conversation. But as it stands, it is the most effective method we can utilize." Ellen said. Huey sensed there was more to it than what Ellen was alluding to, but after weeks of seeing modern medical technology fail in awakening his friend, he felt it was time to give mystics a try.

"Okay then. I'm in," Huey said."If it means bringing Kote back, I'll do whatever it takes."

"Keep those words to heart, young one. They will give you strength when the time comes."

\

"You know, I didn't think you were the type to go with your gut like this." Fisk said over the buzzing noise of the hangar bay. He and Ellen covered their ears as the C-2 Kawasaki military jet was going through its flight checks. Soldiers came in and out of its transport bay, dropping off supplies and provisions needed for the trip–calculated to be about two days. Huey and Karina helped the Valentine's carry Kote into the plane in a gurney with gentle hands, being careful to mind the three foot gap of the ramp and the ground.

"A lot can change in thirty years, Fisk." Ellen said, grabbing his wrist, displaying the gold ring finger on his hand in front of him."You should understand that better than anyone."

Fisk shrugged."Like you said, kids can change you. For better or for worse." A private came up to both of them, and handed a duffel bag over to Ellen. Fisk instead took it in his hands.

"Thank you." Ellen said.

Fisk nodded and the both of them headed up the jet's ramp. "Besides," Fisk said. "I haven't changed a single bit since you met me, Ellen." Fisk said. "I've just had to see the world in a different way."

"And what way is that?" Ellen asked.

"Well," Fisk placed Ellen's bag in a top loading area, stuffing it between two steel footlockers that were filled with anti-tank rocket launchers. Courtesy of the Boss. "After dodging bullets in Iraq for the president and being invited to slit the throats of guys some suits pointed their fingers at, I've learned to see it as a bunch of paperwork where someone signs at the dotted line. What nobody talks about when it comes to that paperwork, is that it has to be drafted, written, proofread, edited, re-written, proofread and edited again before anyone can even think of handing it over to the president's secretary. And then it's talked about before being put into action."

Ellen smiled."You're trying to tell me I haven't thought this through."

"You don't have to think. You have people to do that for you. What you're doing right now, common sense is all it takes to dispute why it's a bad idea."

"Tell me then, Fisk." Ellen said, placing her hands on her hips."When common sense and everything you thought about how people act and react, is thrown out the window when you're forced to survive for dear life in a jungle for ten years, what do you have left to survive with? Intelligence? Wisdom? Your gun?"

"You're preaching to the choir, Ellen." Fisk said.

"And you aren't?"

"I'm not going to argue philosophy with you."

"Of course you aren't. You couldn't win it anyway."

Fisk looked at the kids and the Valentine family placing Kote in a secure harness. His eyes switched between Huey and Kote. He placed his hand on his mouth and let out a smooth sigh.

Ellen connected his viewpoint, giving a light fist bump on his chest.

"You could just say you're worried instead of playing at semantics with me, Fisk," Ellen said."I feel like we're both getting too old for it."

"Alright then," Fisk said."Taking the kids to a jungle when we still have a killer cult to follow up on is one thing. Having one of the kids, who has wolf spirit controlling him like a rip-off Jeff Dunham that's trying to get to another kid, is a matter that warrants an intervention."

Ellen frowned, seeing the validity in Fisk's words.

"You're not just worried about that, are you?" Ellen said. She then started to look at Huey, who was having a loud discussion with Karina on how the seating arrangement was going to work. Being the only male(the only that is awake)her suggestion was sit on the outside of the plane. Huey retorted by saying she should take the storage area, since there wouldn't be a seat big enough for her ass to sit in. Lisa quickly broke the two up before their bickering could lead to the third fight of the morning. Fisk gestured to Ellen to speak outside. Fortunately, the jet's pilot had finished testing the turbines and the hangar bay had mostly quieted down. "You're concerned that the spirit will possess Huey once more?" Ellen spoke at normal volume.

Fisk shook his head. " What you said Huey told you about this…spirit and how it wants to get to Kote. You might as well gift wrap him if they're going to be around eachother."

"Your concern is noted, Fisk." Ellen said. "However, I trust Huey to be in control of his mind long enough for us to make it there."

"Really? What makes you think that?" Fisk asked, which made Ellen chuckle. It was a question that could only be based on information told to him by the Boss. In fact it wouldn't be too unreasonable to believe that there was a meeting room discussion on yesterday's incident, one that Ellen wasn't invited to; Osgood, and Tessera did give her some cautious looks this morning when having their routine morning exercise. Ellen wasn't naive enough to believe her Blade subordinates wouldn't have doubts about her leadership, in fact she welcomed whatever criticisms about her actions from any of the other members. The difference here was that there were no such words exchanged to relay those critiques. Given the gravity the incident could have on relations between her, Huey and the Boss, and quite possibly PITT as a whole, perhaps words should be the last thing used to bring a point across.

"I don't think anything. I trust him." Ellen said.

Fisk blinked his eyes twice. "You…trust him?" Fisk said. "The kid can invade someone's mind and make them sing 'Louie, Louie' with their finger up their nose and you say you can trust him?That's all you got for me?"

"You're telling me that's not enough for you, Black? That boy and his comrades have fought and bled for your cause. The least you could do is offer something unconditional to repay them."

"It would be enough if it wasn't for the fact that, A–Huey has hacked into classified systems connected to the White House bunker,and B– fucked up two interrogations with the League of Evil's daughter by commandeering it to what he wanted. I haven't even mentioned him being upset at me when it came to not telling him about The Landsmen. I was lucky I was able to keep him from reading my mind about that."

"Well you can stop worrying about one of those things." Ellen said. "He knows about the Landsmen." Fisk put his hand over his eyes, letting out a deep sigh.

"Please tell me you didn't show him the Delta file that I gave you."

"I showed him the Delta file you gave me."

"Jesus Christ, Ellen. You want to tell the kid next week's lottery numbers too?"

"He's a prodigal child with the mind of a super-computer, Fisk. The desire for knowledge is second nature to him."

"Knowledge that he's going to gain by any means necessary. Even if it puts him and other people at risk." Fisk said, shaking his head.

"He does so for the sake of his friends in that regard. For goodness sakes, Fisk, will you stop comparing him to Harmon?" Ellen said.

"Funny, I was going to say the same thing to you." Fisk said.

The two were quiet for a little bit before they heard the sound of someone's throat clearing.

"You two might wanna dial it back, just a bit. People are starting to stare."

Fisk and Ellen looked outward to see a red panda in a bomber jacket approaching with a duffle bag, bearing a confident smile. His slicked-back black hair gave full view of his rugged but handsome face, drawing a lit look from Ellen.

"Charles," Ellen said. Chuckie dropped his bag and saluted Ellen. She waved her hand before extending her hand."No need for that." Coming out of his salute, she gripped his hand into a shake–the coarseness of his palms were a familiar, yet welcome sensation. Chuckie flashed a brief smile to Fisk as the two also exchanged handshakes."We're not at war right now. You can put aside the formalities."

"Sorry 'bout that, Com-I mean…First….I mean Ellen." Chuckie brushed his hair back before speaking again. Fisk figured if he had a mirror, he would no doubt be checking it. "It's been so long since we've seen each other, I wasn't clear on the customs between us."

"You can address me as you like, Charles. You've earned that right." Ellen said with a small smile. Chuckie nodded and picked up his duffle bag."By the way, this is Fisk Black. He's my liason for the organization that PITT contracts with." Fisk nodded.

"Charles Bogard. Number Seven of the Thirteen Blades."

"Nice to meet you, Charles."

"Call me, Chuckie. Been that way since I was a kid. Speaking of which." Chuckie examined Fisk from top to bottom."You a leatherneck, by any chance?" He asked.

Fisk gave a surprised whistle."I did my time. You served, too?"

"Nah, but the guy who taught me how to box did. Twenty years in SPF. Showed me a lot of their moves. He'd also bring his old platoon buddies to the gym for sparring sessions. Would beat the ever loving shit out of me, but I always took note of how they carried themselves. Body language, articulation, that take-no-shit attitude, and their eyes–laser-focused on a task like someone's speaking into their ears and giving them orders."

Fisk smiled. "If that's the case, I'll be careful not to make you relive any childhood trauma then."

"Don't be." Chuckie beamed at Fisk. "There's nothing traumatic about knocking out marines." Chuckie said.

Fisk sized up Chuckie, and nodded his head in agreement."Apparently so."

Ellen broke the tension between the two by tapping both of them on their chests.

"If you two are quite finished?" Ellen said, which took both Chuckie aback. Fisk on the other hand rolled his eyes."Did you just get back, Charles?"

" I've been back for a couple of days now. I couldn't stand the barracks here, so I went off base. I used to box for one of the bars in town, so the owner let me shack up for a couple of nights, since I brought in a lot of money for him back in the day."

"Was it a dispatch?" Ellen asked.

"Something like that. I was bringing in a prisoner from the midwest–a Pure-type that's a part of the Forsaken. The Boss put out a hit to the local law enforcement, but I caught a ping from Osgood that showed me her location."

"I see." Ellen said, in a revelatory tone. "So you were the one who brought Kaos Amacus into us. Well, I certainly hope that she didn't give you any trouble."

"Why would she give him trouble?" Fisk said. "He's a Blade, isn't he? Body enhancements and all that."

"I never took my shots." Chuckie said."Call me superstitious, but I don't think relying on medicine that's made from the same beings trying to take over the world is a good look."

"So you're like Anthony." Fisk said. He noticed Chuckie rubbing his neck the second he heard that name."I take it you knew him?"

"Something like that." Chuckie said. "Let's just say I owe him a lot." Not wanting to pry any deeper, Fisk remained silent, which acted as a wordless signal for Ellen to take over.

"Well regardless, I'm happy to see you returned, Charles. Your arrival is rather fortuitous." Ellen said. Fisk glanced at Ellen then at Charles, and knew exactly where her train of thought was heading.

"Yeah, well, knocking the skulls of Pure-type stragglers all over the country was starting to get old. Can't wait to get into something new."

"I'm so glad to hear you say that." Ellen said.

"So who's coming to town?" Chuckie said, while pointing to the transport behind the two. Ellen looked behind her and saw the pilot holding up his ring finger and index finger high in the air. Five minutes until departure in binary. Ellen nodded and turned back around to Charles.

"Not coming, going. This jet is going to the South American rainforests. The members of the cryptic-type squadron are going on a personal mission of sorts."

"There's a cryptic-type squadron now? Damn. Osgood told me that P.I.T.T was going to start creating a team that would perform ops that's too much for regular grunts, but I didn't think it would be this soon." Charles said. "Wait, who're those rugrats that keep waving at you?"

Ellen and Fisk turned around to the sight of Huey and Karina waving at the two of them. Ellen waved her hands inward, beckoning them over. "Those rugrats are the members of the squadron in question." Huey and Karina ran up to all three of them. They each made a brief glimpse(Karina's was a little longer) at Charles and looked back at Ellen.

"Huey Jones. Karina Zaldwyck. I would like you to meet Charles Bogard. The Seventh of the Thirteen Blades."

Charles was silent for a while holding his hand out in a friendly manner. "How goes it, kids?" He said, in a high tone. Karina's face blew up like a balloon before laughter spilled out from her mouth.

"Dude, how old are you that you still use 'how goes it?'" Karina said. "I can't tell if you've never been around kids, or your social skills just suck."

"If that's the case, you two can relate." Huey said.

"Fuck off," Karina retorted.

"Pay her no mind, she gets really frisky around older rugged guys. Daddy issues, and all." Huey said.

"You're the last person to be talking about daddy issues."

Chuckie took a second to process what he was hearing. Ellen placed her hand on his tense shoulders.

"These twerps are the new squad made by P.I.T.T?" Charles said.

"Make no mistake, Charles. Although young, these two have earned their right to be called soldiers. Especially Zaldwyck. She's seen more combat than both of her squadmates combined. Suffice it to say formalities will not be necessary with them either. In time, you'll learn to be accustomed to their…colorful language."

"I'll be sure to keep that in mind." Charles did a second take."Wait, what do you mean when you say accustomed?"

Ellen smiled, came down to one knee and placed her arms on Huey and Karina's shoulders as if she were propping them to Charles.

"Children. From this day forth, Charles shall be the new mentor of your squadron."

CHAPTER 29 END