Chapter Thirteen: Amber's Master
Butch sat down on the bed putting his head in his hands. He couldn't think straight. He couldn't have this happen to him? It wasn't possible but all those things that had happened to him; the disappearing and the headaches. The logical part of Butch's mind said that Amber was telling the truth. But Butch didn't want to believe it. He felt the unshed tears falling down his cheeks and this made him see red. Everything was a blur and the confusion that Butch felt made him want to break down completely. There was more than that however. Butch found himself wanting Cassidy. He wanted her to hold him just to tell her what had happened to him. This was frightening because Butch had never wanted anyone to hold him before. He had been on his own for so long that he learned never to rely on anyone. Now he wanted to cry in Cassidy's arms? His fear made him get angry. This had to be James' fault. If he had just told him that Giovanni had used Butch too. Why didn't he tell him? Did James think he wouldn't believe him? It didn't make sense. Butch was beginning to feel sick again. The TM's he thought as the sickness forced him to lie down on the bed. Should he just run back to Cassidy? Would that be the best move? Butch wondered if he could focus the TM teleport. He struggled to but he had no idea how too so gave up. Butch lay still for a few seconds until the headache passed and he could think again. James had to be in HQ somewhere. If he could see James.then what? James was the cause of all of this. If James had been honest with him then this might not have happened. Butch felt his anger rising again but at that moment the door to the room opened again. He closed his eyes and pretended to be asleep hoping whoever it was would go away. "Butch wake up" it was Amber and she was not going anywhere.
"What?" he mumbled pretending to awake.
"My master wishes to speak with you" was the soft reply.
"No" Butch groaned his head was hurting again. "I just need some sleep"
"Now" Amber snapped "He does not like to be kept waiting" with this she grabbed a hold of Butch's arm and pulled him roughly from the bed. Butch was surprised at her strength.
"Come" she said walking from the room. Butch followed her not knowing what else to do.
They paused once they reached the end of a corridor. Amber rapped three times on the door and then opened it motioning for Butch to follow her inside. Butch stared at the man seated behind a desk similar to Giovanni's mahogany one, there was a grandfather clock in one corner of the tidy office and a filing cabinet in the other. The only things on the leader's desk were a lamp and a laptop. Butch turned his gaze to the leader himself. The man was in his early thirties wearing a grey suit and a loosely knotted green tie. His hair was hazel brown and thinning in places and his small blue eyes just seemed to focus on Amber alone. He squirmed uncomfortably in his leather chair when he felt Butch's eyes on him. He was not exactly what Butch was expecting. Amber moved round to the side of the desk so she was next to the man. He slipped an arm round her waist and told Butch to take a seat.
"I did ask to see them both" he said to Amber. Butch didn't like his voice. It was steady but there was something else behind it. This man seemed to lack the confidence that Giovanni had, had.
"James was asleep" Amber replied. "As you know the guards roughed him up a bit. I thought it better to let him calm down a little". So they did have James, Butch thought, that made things easier.
"I see. Maybe that is wise." Amber seemed to be uncomfortable with his arm round her. Butch wondered if he was missing something in this scene. Whatever it was he was sure was the key to the way the Darkness run things.
"I am Marcus Trent the Darkness's leader," the leader said addressing Butch now. "I trust my Amber has been treating you well?" Amber's his girlfriend Butch said to himself. This should clear a few things up but it made it all the more confusing. Marcus, judging by the way he looked and said Amber's name, loved her deeply. Why would a beautiful young woman like Amber be with a balding thirty year old? It did not make any sense. Not very much of what went on round here made sense. "Fine" Butch allowed to Marcus's question.
"She has also explained things I take it?" Marcus asked next. Butch shook his head. Amber had explained nothing to him.
"We want to help you" was the reply. This took Butch aback a little. Why would they want to help him?
"Tell me Butch can you control the TM's inside of you?" Butch could feel the tears forming again. He rubbed his eyes with the back of his hand to try and wipe away the tears before they fell. "No" he replied.
"We only did the test when he came in an hour ago" Amber butted in afraid perhaps that Marcus would blame her. Instead of speaking he took his arm from round her waist and switched on his laptop before calling up a file. "What do you know about the TM's you were given and how they work?" Marcus turned to Butch again after locating the bit of text he wanted.
"Acid Armour, Teleport and Agility" Butch listed them trying to sound as if he was ok with this but he hated talking about them and the fact that he was, was making it all seem real. "I don't know how they work. I cannot control them".
"Our scientist explained to me that they work as Future Sight does" Marcus started. Amber snorted at this obviously not thinking very much of Garret as a scientist and his theories of how the TM's work. Marcus ignored her and continued.
"You control them by thoughts. For example Teleport, you think where you want to go and you are there. It is very important that you can control them. I think you'll recall what happened when Giovanni forced James to using his TM once too often. That was only one TM and James could control it. You have three inside you. Using one would be the equivalent of James doing three viewings in a row. Have you been really ill lately? Waking up and the room spinning for example?" Marcus didn't even wait for Butch to reply before carrying on. "That is because you cannot control the TM's and are using them at random. If you cannot learn to control them then you will keep doing more and more and eventually die from the strain. And may I add that you're death will come a lot quicker than James' would of" Butch knew that Marcus was speaking the truth but he had no way to control the TM's. Butch didn't want to die. Dying was one of the few things that Butch was scared of. How had James controlled the TM in him? "That is why we sought you out" Amber took over. "We want to help you learn to control the TM's Butch. If it weren't for us finding you then the truth would have died with Giovanni."
"Then I would be dead" Butch finished. He felt the room spinning again and this time because he was so shocked. No one would have known what was happening to him! James had kept quiet and he would have died because of it! The earlier rage he felt towards the other was rising up again. Who the hell did James think he was? Butch took a few deep breaths and studied Amber and Marcus for a few minutes. Amber was staring straight at him. For a few seconds Butch thought he saw something else in her eyes. Almost a look of satisfaction but then it was gone. Marcus was looking uncomfortable again and seemed more interested in the lamp on his desk than the present situation. The Darkness had its secrets Butch realised.
"What do you want in return?" he asked.
"We want to help you" Marcus replied. Butch laughed softly. He had learned a long time ago that nothing came without a price.
"You can tell me" Butch spoke evenly looking right into the leaders eyes.
"We think you would be a valuable member of our gang" Marcus said and Butch was sure that he spoke the truth.
"You want to use the TM's inside of me," Butch said.
"Yes" Marcus smiled thinly alarmed a little that Butch had guessed this. "Do not worry. Our plans are not as elaborate as Giovanni's were. A couple of assassinations here and there that's all" Butch did not even want to consider working for them but another thought crossed his mind. If he learned how to control teleport then he could escape from here and go back to Cassidy. He needn't have to do anything for them.
"Help me control it then" he said at last keeping his voice unemotional and steady.
"Good" Amber said "I knew you were the smart one when I first met you. Now Garret is free tomorrow morning to start helping you. When control is complete you will start on the missions for us"
"The important thing to remember here is Butch that you are not a slave, this is not Team Rocket and I am not Giovanni" Marcus said quietly. "You will have free roam of the HQ and will be treated as an equal"
"Can I see James then?" Butch asked.
"Not at the moment. We had some problems with the guards as I said" Amber said quickly. "James is not exactly in a fit state right now"
"What happened to him?" Marcus wanted to know.
"One of the guards broke his wrist and beat him about a little. I gave him some painkillers before I came to see Butch in the lab." Amber said Butch sensed that Amber didn't like talking about James to Marcus. There was something not quite right about Amber either. She and Marcus and the way they behaved. Amber was always giving the impression that Marcus was the leader but he didn't seem leader material. Marcus seemed to lack the leadership qualities. Giovanni had a certain manner and front that Marcus lacked. Amber had little respect for Marcus. Why Amber cared about Marcus, if she did care about him, was beyond Butch. He couldn't help but think that Amber had a hidden motive and if so was this motive good or evil?
James passed around the room waiting until there was silence outside. It was morning now and one of the Darkness's guards had already been in and given him breakfast. James ate not because he was hungry but because it was part of his plan to get out of here. If Amber thought he was resisting then the guard would around him all the time and it could prove to be dangerous. James decided the best course of action was to play along with Amber. That way she would relax her guard and he could escape. But to do that he would need a good idea of the layout of the HQ. James was pretty sure he could pick the lock on the door, after Amber had been to see him. The door was opening now. James seated himself on the bed and smiled when he saw it was her.
"How is your wrist this morning?" she enquired noting the food was gone.
"Better thank you" James replied through it hadn't stopped aching all night. He had taken two of the Aspirin even through he didn't want too and the pain had dulled slightly. James was sure however that Garret had not set it properly. He needed a real doctor to help him with it.
"You ate as well" Amber noted sitting herself down beside him.
"I want to accept your offer" James said getting right to the point. "I miss Jesse," he added quietly hanging his head.
"I know you do" Amber said softly. "Is that why you changed your mind?"
"Yes and I.I'm a killer" James knew this second part was true.
"You do not have to kill again" Amber promised, "The other will do that"
"You mean Butch?"
"How do you know about Butch?" Amber said sharply.
"I had a dream," James said. Amber missed nothing and he would have to be careful of this. "I think it was part of the TM. It told me Butch was the other one"
"Butch is here now," Amber said. "In the next room. He is not taking the TM news well." James nodded and said nothing more on the subject. Amber seemed to trust him. This was good.
"I have some business to attend to," Amber said at last. "I will tell you when we are in need of Future Sight until then just rest." James nodded again and Amber left. James decided to wait an hour and then get away.
Amber went back down the corridor towards the lab. This was turning out better than she dared hope. Soon she would have Butch and James exactly where she wanted them. "Garret" she snapped as she entered the lab.
The scientist jumped and dropped the test tube he had been holding "Yes Madame?"
"Its all set"
"He agreed?"
"Of course not" Amber said angrily.
Garret shook his head "I don't like it. It's such a waste. Think what we could do with his talent"
"If we do this then we can have all the TM's we want. If one has to die to get it then so be it"
"Does our leader no?"
Amber sniggered "I'll be dealing with him next, Butch will help me"
"You can be sure?"
"He seems fine on the outside but they are both emotional messes. Honestly I thought Team Rocket agents were made of stronger stuff. Those two are nothing more than love sick weaklings"
Garret smiled uneasily and handed Amber the syringe. "Just as long as you know what you are doing."
"Of course. This way we all get what we want. Butch gets to control his TM's, I get my personal assassin"
"And James?"
Amber smiled wryly "I'll tell him to come down to the lab then the rest is up to you"
"I thought we agreed?"
"What's the matter Garret? Don't you like spilling a little blood?"
Garret frowned unhappily. Amber ignored him. It didn't really matter to her what Garret did. She had to get to Butch. Then she could deal with Marcus and Garret. The man was a fool really. Did Garret really expect to live after what he knew? As soon as he did all the experiments Amber would have him dismissed. No one could know her secret after all secrets led to leader's downfalls.
Butch sat down on the bed putting his head in his hands. He couldn't think straight. He couldn't have this happen to him? It wasn't possible but all those things that had happened to him; the disappearing and the headaches. The logical part of Butch's mind said that Amber was telling the truth. But Butch didn't want to believe it. He felt the unshed tears falling down his cheeks and this made him see red. Everything was a blur and the confusion that Butch felt made him want to break down completely. There was more than that however. Butch found himself wanting Cassidy. He wanted her to hold him just to tell her what had happened to him. This was frightening because Butch had never wanted anyone to hold him before. He had been on his own for so long that he learned never to rely on anyone. Now he wanted to cry in Cassidy's arms? His fear made him get angry. This had to be James' fault. If he had just told him that Giovanni had used Butch too. Why didn't he tell him? Did James think he wouldn't believe him? It didn't make sense. Butch was beginning to feel sick again. The TM's he thought as the sickness forced him to lie down on the bed. Should he just run back to Cassidy? Would that be the best move? Butch wondered if he could focus the TM teleport. He struggled to but he had no idea how too so gave up. Butch lay still for a few seconds until the headache passed and he could think again. James had to be in HQ somewhere. If he could see James.then what? James was the cause of all of this. If James had been honest with him then this might not have happened. Butch felt his anger rising again but at that moment the door to the room opened again. He closed his eyes and pretended to be asleep hoping whoever it was would go away. "Butch wake up" it was Amber and she was not going anywhere.
"What?" he mumbled pretending to awake.
"My master wishes to speak with you" was the soft reply.
"No" Butch groaned his head was hurting again. "I just need some sleep"
"Now" Amber snapped "He does not like to be kept waiting" with this she grabbed a hold of Butch's arm and pulled him roughly from the bed. Butch was surprised at her strength.
"Come" she said walking from the room. Butch followed her not knowing what else to do.
They paused once they reached the end of a corridor. Amber rapped three times on the door and then opened it motioning for Butch to follow her inside. Butch stared at the man seated behind a desk similar to Giovanni's mahogany one, there was a grandfather clock in one corner of the tidy office and a filing cabinet in the other. The only things on the leader's desk were a lamp and a laptop. Butch turned his gaze to the leader himself. The man was in his early thirties wearing a grey suit and a loosely knotted green tie. His hair was hazel brown and thinning in places and his small blue eyes just seemed to focus on Amber alone. He squirmed uncomfortably in his leather chair when he felt Butch's eyes on him. He was not exactly what Butch was expecting. Amber moved round to the side of the desk so she was next to the man. He slipped an arm round her waist and told Butch to take a seat.
"I did ask to see them both" he said to Amber. Butch didn't like his voice. It was steady but there was something else behind it. This man seemed to lack the confidence that Giovanni had, had.
"James was asleep" Amber replied. "As you know the guards roughed him up a bit. I thought it better to let him calm down a little". So they did have James, Butch thought, that made things easier.
"I see. Maybe that is wise." Amber seemed to be uncomfortable with his arm round her. Butch wondered if he was missing something in this scene. Whatever it was he was sure was the key to the way the Darkness run things.
"I am Marcus Trent the Darkness's leader," the leader said addressing Butch now. "I trust my Amber has been treating you well?" Amber's his girlfriend Butch said to himself. This should clear a few things up but it made it all the more confusing. Marcus, judging by the way he looked and said Amber's name, loved her deeply. Why would a beautiful young woman like Amber be with a balding thirty year old? It did not make any sense. Not very much of what went on round here made sense. "Fine" Butch allowed to Marcus's question.
"She has also explained things I take it?" Marcus asked next. Butch shook his head. Amber had explained nothing to him.
"We want to help you" was the reply. This took Butch aback a little. Why would they want to help him?
"Tell me Butch can you control the TM's inside of you?" Butch could feel the tears forming again. He rubbed his eyes with the back of his hand to try and wipe away the tears before they fell. "No" he replied.
"We only did the test when he came in an hour ago" Amber butted in afraid perhaps that Marcus would blame her. Instead of speaking he took his arm from round her waist and switched on his laptop before calling up a file. "What do you know about the TM's you were given and how they work?" Marcus turned to Butch again after locating the bit of text he wanted.
"Acid Armour, Teleport and Agility" Butch listed them trying to sound as if he was ok with this but he hated talking about them and the fact that he was, was making it all seem real. "I don't know how they work. I cannot control them".
"Our scientist explained to me that they work as Future Sight does" Marcus started. Amber snorted at this obviously not thinking very much of Garret as a scientist and his theories of how the TM's work. Marcus ignored her and continued.
"You control them by thoughts. For example Teleport, you think where you want to go and you are there. It is very important that you can control them. I think you'll recall what happened when Giovanni forced James to using his TM once too often. That was only one TM and James could control it. You have three inside you. Using one would be the equivalent of James doing three viewings in a row. Have you been really ill lately? Waking up and the room spinning for example?" Marcus didn't even wait for Butch to reply before carrying on. "That is because you cannot control the TM's and are using them at random. If you cannot learn to control them then you will keep doing more and more and eventually die from the strain. And may I add that you're death will come a lot quicker than James' would of" Butch knew that Marcus was speaking the truth but he had no way to control the TM's. Butch didn't want to die. Dying was one of the few things that Butch was scared of. How had James controlled the TM in him? "That is why we sought you out" Amber took over. "We want to help you learn to control the TM's Butch. If it weren't for us finding you then the truth would have died with Giovanni."
"Then I would be dead" Butch finished. He felt the room spinning again and this time because he was so shocked. No one would have known what was happening to him! James had kept quiet and he would have died because of it! The earlier rage he felt towards the other was rising up again. Who the hell did James think he was? Butch took a few deep breaths and studied Amber and Marcus for a few minutes. Amber was staring straight at him. For a few seconds Butch thought he saw something else in her eyes. Almost a look of satisfaction but then it was gone. Marcus was looking uncomfortable again and seemed more interested in the lamp on his desk than the present situation. The Darkness had its secrets Butch realised.
"What do you want in return?" he asked.
"We want to help you" Marcus replied. Butch laughed softly. He had learned a long time ago that nothing came without a price.
"You can tell me" Butch spoke evenly looking right into the leaders eyes.
"We think you would be a valuable member of our gang" Marcus said and Butch was sure that he spoke the truth.
"You want to use the TM's inside of me," Butch said.
"Yes" Marcus smiled thinly alarmed a little that Butch had guessed this. "Do not worry. Our plans are not as elaborate as Giovanni's were. A couple of assassinations here and there that's all" Butch did not even want to consider working for them but another thought crossed his mind. If he learned how to control teleport then he could escape from here and go back to Cassidy. He needn't have to do anything for them.
"Help me control it then" he said at last keeping his voice unemotional and steady.
"Good" Amber said "I knew you were the smart one when I first met you. Now Garret is free tomorrow morning to start helping you. When control is complete you will start on the missions for us"
"The important thing to remember here is Butch that you are not a slave, this is not Team Rocket and I am not Giovanni" Marcus said quietly. "You will have free roam of the HQ and will be treated as an equal"
"Can I see James then?" Butch asked.
"Not at the moment. We had some problems with the guards as I said" Amber said quickly. "James is not exactly in a fit state right now"
"What happened to him?" Marcus wanted to know.
"One of the guards broke his wrist and beat him about a little. I gave him some painkillers before I came to see Butch in the lab." Amber said Butch sensed that Amber didn't like talking about James to Marcus. There was something not quite right about Amber either. She and Marcus and the way they behaved. Amber was always giving the impression that Marcus was the leader but he didn't seem leader material. Marcus seemed to lack the leadership qualities. Giovanni had a certain manner and front that Marcus lacked. Amber had little respect for Marcus. Why Amber cared about Marcus, if she did care about him, was beyond Butch. He couldn't help but think that Amber had a hidden motive and if so was this motive good or evil?
James passed around the room waiting until there was silence outside. It was morning now and one of the Darkness's guards had already been in and given him breakfast. James ate not because he was hungry but because it was part of his plan to get out of here. If Amber thought he was resisting then the guard would around him all the time and it could prove to be dangerous. James decided the best course of action was to play along with Amber. That way she would relax her guard and he could escape. But to do that he would need a good idea of the layout of the HQ. James was pretty sure he could pick the lock on the door, after Amber had been to see him. The door was opening now. James seated himself on the bed and smiled when he saw it was her.
"How is your wrist this morning?" she enquired noting the food was gone.
"Better thank you" James replied through it hadn't stopped aching all night. He had taken two of the Aspirin even through he didn't want too and the pain had dulled slightly. James was sure however that Garret had not set it properly. He needed a real doctor to help him with it.
"You ate as well" Amber noted sitting herself down beside him.
"I want to accept your offer" James said getting right to the point. "I miss Jesse," he added quietly hanging his head.
"I know you do" Amber said softly. "Is that why you changed your mind?"
"Yes and I.I'm a killer" James knew this second part was true.
"You do not have to kill again" Amber promised, "The other will do that"
"You mean Butch?"
"How do you know about Butch?" Amber said sharply.
"I had a dream," James said. Amber missed nothing and he would have to be careful of this. "I think it was part of the TM. It told me Butch was the other one"
"Butch is here now," Amber said. "In the next room. He is not taking the TM news well." James nodded and said nothing more on the subject. Amber seemed to trust him. This was good.
"I have some business to attend to," Amber said at last. "I will tell you when we are in need of Future Sight until then just rest." James nodded again and Amber left. James decided to wait an hour and then get away.
Amber went back down the corridor towards the lab. This was turning out better than she dared hope. Soon she would have Butch and James exactly where she wanted them. "Garret" she snapped as she entered the lab.
The scientist jumped and dropped the test tube he had been holding "Yes Madame?"
"Its all set"
"He agreed?"
"Of course not" Amber said angrily.
Garret shook his head "I don't like it. It's such a waste. Think what we could do with his talent"
"If we do this then we can have all the TM's we want. If one has to die to get it then so be it"
"Does our leader no?"
Amber sniggered "I'll be dealing with him next, Butch will help me"
"You can be sure?"
"He seems fine on the outside but they are both emotional messes. Honestly I thought Team Rocket agents were made of stronger stuff. Those two are nothing more than love sick weaklings"
Garret smiled uneasily and handed Amber the syringe. "Just as long as you know what you are doing."
"Of course. This way we all get what we want. Butch gets to control his TM's, I get my personal assassin"
"And James?"
Amber smiled wryly "I'll tell him to come down to the lab then the rest is up to you"
"I thought we agreed?"
"What's the matter Garret? Don't you like spilling a little blood?"
Garret frowned unhappily. Amber ignored him. It didn't really matter to her what Garret did. She had to get to Butch. Then she could deal with Marcus and Garret. The man was a fool really. Did Garret really expect to live after what he knew? As soon as he did all the experiments Amber would have him dismissed. No one could know her secret after all secrets led to leader's downfalls.