Chapter 6
Slowly I stretched, waiting for someone to show up. I had gotten a call about two hours ago saying where I was supposed to meet Duo and Mason, but not too surprisingly they were running late. Truthfully it was to my advantage. I didn't know what I would be doing so I took the extra time to warm up.
Standing I jumped up and down for a minute, not wanting to put my coat back on in the whether, but suffering from cool breezes that brushed over my bare arms. My black tank top wasn't much protection against the cool air, but a leather jacket would be too much. With a sigh I turned back to the road, waiting for a car to pull up beside my jeep.
Headlights shined in the distance. Two cars, barely visible from where I stood, drove over a hill, not too far away. They disappeared behind a second hill before coming close enough for me to get a clear look at them. Two trucks, not cars, one black and one a deep red, pulled into the clearing where I had been waiting.
We weren't far from town, the buildings started only a mile or two away. We were, at the moment, surrounded by farms. Fields of corn and wheat lined either side of the long road that was the only sign that people ever came by here.
Duo stepped out of the left side of the red truck, quickly followed by Mason, stepping out of the drivers seat on the other side. Both nodded hello to me. I nodded back, looking at their identical black pants, shirts and coats. Someone in their organization either liked black or thought it was the best color to use. Blue would blend in better in a crowd, but black wasn't a bad choice.
I turned to the black truck to see Jack waiting. He had already gotten out and stood leaning casually against the hood of the truck, dressed the same as the other two. The only exception I could see was the gun resting in a shoulder holster, even though that was almost hidden, the gun being as black as the rest of his outfit. He probably had a second gun as a back up weapon. I had brought two, not knowing if I would need either. In addition to the second gun I had a knife hidden in a leg strap. I rarely carried a third gun but I didn't mind knives.
"Alex," Jack said with a nod, an almost friendly expression on his face. Again I starred at his brown eyes, feeling some nagging in my head because I couldn't place them.
I ignored the feeling and said a simple, "Hello," to the three of them.
"I'm glad you could make it, Alex," Mason said with a smile that almost reached his eyes. "I'm sorry for our lateness, you'll most likely find that it happens quite often, he paused, but to the point."
Duo took over, both looking and sounding serious. "I'm not sure what you're going to do, I got kicked out not long after you, but you're supposed to know that you have to listen to Jack. He's the only judge so do what he says and things will turn out fine. Careful though, you're going into a government building so don't run into anyone."
I had two problems. First: Jack? Why was he running things, especially when he didn't like me? Second: breaking into the government, my government, I wasn't sure I would do that. My uncertainty showed on my face.
"Don't worry, you aren't steeling anything we don't already have," Jack said dryly, "but I wouldn't get yourself caught. It'd look really bad for you and your parents."
Nothing they didn't already have. They acted as if that made everything better. It didn't. It didn't come close. I didn't steel things from my government, regardless of the reason. Well, sometimes I did, but only when it was important. I didn't see this as important.
Mason was the only one who seemed to care what I thought. "Don't worry Alex, just this once and its nothing too important. We're not going to have you take anything from the government after this." I wasn't sure whether it was his kind voice or the almost pleading look in his eyes, but I decided I would give it a try.
With a surrendering sigh I nodded. "Fine," I muttered, "what do I have to do?"
Jack shot me a look, I wasn't sure exactly for what, confusion or annoyance, but it was close to one of them. He motioned me to get into the truck. "Come on, I'll tell you what we're doing on the way."
I climbed into the passenger seat, glancing back at Duo and Mason, wondering again why Jack was in charge. Duo waved good-bye as the engine started. Suddenly it acured to me I might not get a ride back. Glancing at my jeep I was going to ask Jack, but as we took off towards town I changed my mind.
Shifting into a more comfortable position I propped myself up against the door, resting my arm on my leg that was on the seat. I was facing Jack, and for the first time really studying him. Jack studied the road, ignoring me, but I was fine with that. I starred at him, and the more I did the more features looked familiar, and yet slightly off. His eyes, his eyebrows, his mouth and even the shape of his face.
"Are you by any chance related to someone I know, because you look awfully familiar," I asked.
He glanced at me. "No," his voice was smooth and emotionless. "And get your foot off the seat." I didn't move, he didn't ask again.
"Are you sure?" I persisted, feeling that he was lying.
He nodded. "Yes, very, move your foot," he snapped.
Still not moving I shrugged. "Just wondering." The fact that he didn't seam to be being compleatly honest didn't bug me much. After another minute I asked a different question. "So what am I supposed to do?"
Jack glanced at me again before opening the glove box and pulling out a map. He handed it to me. "Get to the X, get inside the computer undetected, get the listed files, and get out. Very simple. Too simple, but it was worth the compromise."
I raised an eyebrow. "The compromise being?" I questioned.
"One of Duo's guys didn't go with you," Jack stated. "I'd rather know it was fair and at least you could do something than have that nagging doubt that someone might have helped."
"I'd like to know it's fair, too," I said without thinking, and immediately wished I hadn't. Jack clinched his jaw, but didn't say anything. Obviously he didn't plan on cheating, but then again, neither did I. But we didn't know each other. The lack of trust on either side didn't surprise me. But it bugged Jack.
We drove in silence until we came to a residential area. Jack parked on the side of the road and we both got out. "Follow me," he said. It was unnecessary. I would have followed him anyway.
The air seemed warmer here, and the wind less. Row upon row of cozy houses lined the streets, most lights already out for the night, but an occasional person had stayed up late. We walked in a grinding silence, once I wanted desperately to shatter. Yet it still ended wrong.
The rumble of a car engine came from behind us. We both turned to see the police car cruising down the road, slowing when it came in sight of us. I turned away, indifferent, Jack soon following my example. I hoped the person inside the car wouldn't pay too much attention to two people walking down the street. The fact that it was close to midnight and we were dressed in black didn't help us.
The police car slowed to match our pace. The man inside rolled down his window and we stopped walking to talk to him. "Hello folks," he said, sounding friendly enough, "might I ask what you?re doing out her at this hour."
"You might," I murmured under my breath at the same time Jack said, "Of course you can."
The police man's face grew impatient so Jack continued, his voice with a slight accent that came naturally to me, "Well, we're staying with my sister, visiting from the colonies, and her house is a bit crowded and all" he paused, thinking, "so we went for a walk when we had a chance to get out of the house."
The policeman glanced at me, and then looked back at Jack. "And who is she?" he pointed to me.
"My friend" Jack murmured, not saying girlfriend, which was smart of him. I would have hit him then if he had. I didn't raise an eyebrow, as I'm sure the officer did. I didn't even glare, but I really wanted to. Instead I blushed slightly, tying to stay unnoticed, happy it was dark out.
Anger shot through me as the policeman replied with a smile, "Your girlfriend? Well then..."
"We were just heading back," I said, still not doing anything to mess with the story, not when it was working. But I would have to talk to Jack. I didn't like pretending to be a girlfriend. Especially when I had a boyfriend. There were other stories he could come up with if he had to.
"No need to go back too soon," the officer said cheerfully. He winked at Jack as he rolled up the window. Jack nudged me, trying to get me to continue walking. I didn't move, just watched as the car pulled away from the curb and slowly went over the hill.
"Alex, come on," Jack said, right before I punched him. He pulled back with a yelp, rubbing his jaw where I had hit him. Muttering certain words he glared back at me. I returned the glare full force. "What the hell did you do that for?" he growled.
"Because you're a jerk, amongst other things," I stated calmly.
He continued rubbing his jaw as he starred at me. "Didn't think a story would bug you," he muttered. "First thing I thought of and the cop bought it." He said it as an apology, but it wasn't a good one. I knew he wasn't going to apologize any better. He didn't think he had to.
I turned on my heals, ignoring him. Punching him wasn't the best idea when I was on a test, but I didn't really care. He caught up to me easily enough while I tried to think of a way to tell him what stories he might make up if we got caught again. I couldn't think of anything, but I didn't want to say sorry, either. Even though it looked like he might have done the right thing.
Soon I began to recognize things. The park with the fountain, a certain church... we left the residential area and had entered a city, one I had been in several times before.
I paused after seeing a restaurant I knew. Jack turned to me, confused. He shot me a look as if to say "What now?" I stood, confused myself, for a moment.
Turning to Jack I asked, "Are we going to the lab?"
Jack took his turn being confused. "We're going to a lab, not 'the lab'. Well, I don't know what 'the lab' is. This is just one the government has for some medical studies," he explained. "We don't actually use the lab part, only the computers."
I nodded, understanding. You wouldn't need the lab. If you can get into the computer system you can get into anything. I resumed walking, not needing him to lead me.
The lab: Julia's and my place to goof off and experiment. But our 'mucking about' was a helpful part of the medical studies. We did a lot of experiments. Julia was a science genius. You wouldn't ever guess from looking at her. She had been the most popular girl in school, trendy and outgoing, but also incredibly smart. I helped supply ideas and suggestions, but Julia had always done most of the work. She had helped me with finding our what was in Mathew's virus. All of that had been in the research at the lab. And if Jack could break into it?
"You okay?" Jack asked sounding a little concerned.
"Kind of," I said, not really thinking. The virus had been in my computer, the one not hooked up to the Internet with my personal safety programs.
Jack shook his head and sighed, but he did so while smiling. "You know where to go?"
I nodded; realizing why the map he'd given me had looked familiar. I could get into any place inside the lab, no problem. The main computer was easy to access, but it'd be easier if I could use my card key. "Am I allowed to use a key?"
"No," Jack said firmly. "They can't know you were there."
I pursed my lips while thinking. When I turned into an alley, a building away from the lab, Jack followed, even through I knew he didn't know where we were going. Happy I wasn't carrying anything I stopped under a fire escape.
I jumped, reaching for the ladder, trying to pull it down. Missing I tried a second time, with just as much bad luck. Jack smiled again as he came over and easily caught it on his first jump. I thanked him, but wished he'd let me get it myself. Times like this I wished I was taller, but they didn't come often.
He followed me up the ladder until we reached the top. We were still about five feet from the roof, which was where we needed to be. Carefully I put a foot on one of the fire escape's railings. Using a brick that stuck out a little from the building I pulled myself completely onto the railing. Rattling, the bar shook a little. I wasn't worried. I'd climbed up before several times. I didn't look down, I was about sixty feet from the ground, and I wasn't immune to heights. Reaching for the roof I pulled myself up, climbing up the wall with my feet. I fell over it, rolling out of the fall. Then stood up to look back down to Jack.
"You coming?" I asked, his uneasiness clear.
Jack looked around, glanced down, and then looked up to me. "I'm not sure if the railing will hold me," he stated.
I shrugged. "Might, might not. It doesn't really matter. You can break in through the window right down the ladder, though. If you head for the hallway and go strait to the stairs it lead up to the roof."
Jack shook his head, showing he was annoyed. "Why didn't we go that way to begin with?" he asked.
Again I shrugged. "I forgot you might not be able to climb up. Sorry. I've never gone this way with anyone but Julia. We only went inside when it rained," I explained.
Rolling his eyes Jack began to climb down the ladder to the next landing. "I'll be up in a minute," he called to me. I watched him disappear, and then turned to the door he'd becoming out of.
After he showed up we'd cross to the lab's roof. It was only about a three-foot jump at most. I wasn't sure what Jack would think of that. He didn't seem very comfortable with heights, but it shouldn't be too big of a problem. Planning out a map of where I would go I glanced across the roof to the door that would lead inside to the lab.
A dark shape moved suddenly on the roof. I blinked, squinting to try to get a better view of what it was. It moved again, and then froze, making it hard for me to pin point it's location in the shadows. When it moved again I watched carefully, trying to see if it was large enough to be a person.
Creak... my head snapped to the door on this roof to see Jack slide out. I focused on him for just a moment before turning back to the other roof. Whatever had been there was gone. I felt uneasy, but I knew I shouldn?t be. It had probably just been a large cat.
"Where to now?" Jack asked, not noticing my discomfort.
I just started walking towards the edge, slowly and surely. I stopped right on the small lift of bricks that acted as the barrier between the building and the fall. With the deep breath I jumped, holding my breath as I soared over the long drop. I didn?t take a breath until I landed, a bit shaken, on the other side.
Jack walked to the edge, and looked down. He gulped, a shiver a fear jumping through him. "Couldn?t we have gone in closer to the ground" I know a few different ways..."
"Glad you know them. I don't. This is how I get in and you've already said you wouldn't help. So we're going my way," I stated evenly. "If you're afraid to jump close your eyes. I'm sure you can jump three feet."
Jack shot me a glare, and with a swift jump landed on my side. He shot me a look that seemed to say that he had never been afraid. I merely shrugged and motioned him onward towards the door.
The door to the building was locked. I had the key at home, but it wasn'' necessary. I pulled out a set of lock picks I sometimes carried with me. Selecting one, I carefully started on the lock, taking only seconds to get through it and open the door to go inside.
This part of the lab was reserved for Julia and me. We both had an office, both branching off from the hallway that the ceiling's door led to. I walked pass both, entering the lab we worked in, having to pull out a couple different picks before I could get into it. We didn't want people breaking into our lab so we had used complex locks. I had never expected to have to break in myself, and I really didn't have to. I just wanted to stop by again, not having been here for a while.
We walked into a world of tubs, chemicals, experiments and multicolored cabinets. Julia had been against the stereotype of white labs so she decorated ours as vividly as she could. I didn't touch anything important, although Jack went around studying things. I know what most of the stuff was. Some experiments or vials were Julia's only and as far as I knew could have been anything.
"Don't touch anything without a lid, don't break anything and don't open anything," I requested. Stopping to think I added, "Can I use this computer?" I pointed to one. "It doesn?t have anything of mine on it, and I haven't added any cheats or codes that would make things easier."
Jack glanced at me. He pursed his lips in thought, trying to decide whether or not he should say yes. I was surprised when he nodded. Why would he let me work on a computer he didn't know for sure hadn't been added to" Maybe he believed me, or was trying to trust me.
Handing me a piece of paper he asked, "Mind if I look around? Instructions are on the sheet of paper."
"Go ahead," I said, already skimming through the instructions. I turned the computer on and got started hacking into the system. It was easy and it didn't take long for me to get everything and save it on a disk. I slipped the disk into a carrying case and slid it onto me built, not having a better place to put it.
I stood up and turned around, strait into a gun pointed at me head. My mind was blank as I jerked back in surprise, not quite being able to think as I stumbled on the chair behind me. I had to blink once, twice, then a third time before I could look past the gun and at the face behind it.
Blue-brown eyes starred into mine. Her blond hair was held bag in a tight, short ponytail and her eyebrows seemed to split near the ends into two thin lines. She was dressed in a black turtleneck, gloves, and pants with her gun's holster attached to her thin, black belt.
The lady smiled softly at me. "Hello, Alex," she said, holding out her hand. "Please give me that disk."
I froze, from confusion instead of shock. The disk? It didn't have anything important on it, but she didn't know that. And why would she break in here? What did she want? Or more importantly what did she think was important enough for me to break in here and get.
"Ashley," I said softly. My hand slowly reached for the disk case as I recalled the last time I had seen her. I knew better than to reach for my gun, though my instincts were shouting for me to do so. Instead I handed her the disk. "Here you go," I said. The moment she took it I slammed her other hand up. The gun fired twice, answering to Ashley's jolted hands. I cursed, hoping no one would investigate right away. I twisted Ashley's wrist at the same time she kicked my shin. We both yelped, but she let go of the gun and I was waiting to grab it.
Immediately I pushed away from her, knocking her onto the ground, and hopping away on one foot as I muttered under my breath. I aimed her gun at her head, never taking my eye off of her.
"Stand up slowly," I ordered. She listened, glaring at me and keeping the disk clutched in one hand. "If your hands go out of sight or you make a sudden movement I'm going to shoot, no questions asked. I don't like you and I don't care if you're dead." I meant what I said and she knew it.
Click.
I adjusted myself so I could look to where the noise had come from, already knowing what it was. I didn't look away from Ashley, but when I saw Poe pointing a gun at me I dropped Ashley's. Confusion swept over me again as I looked from Poe to Ashley and back again.
Last I heard Poe had been working with the Preventers, the organization in charge of stopping possible threats against peace. Poe had been leading it for the most part, with a lot of help from his parents, WuFie and Sally Po. They had been taking care of a problem on one of the Delta colonies, but now he was back here, and for some reason with Ashley Catalonia . I didn't even know she was still alive, her being supposedly on the space colony I had destroyed. It seemed all the main characters from that event were coming back, or all who were still alive. The question, though, was why was Poe working with Ashley?
"Sorry Alex, but we need to be leaving soon," Poe said, sounding truly sorry. It didn't matter, I was still ticked. "I wish I had time to explain more, but all I can say is be looking out for an organization called the Underground. They're big trouble and we don't know much more than that." It had to be serious for him to break into my lab to get info.
"The Underground, eh?" Jack walked out from a back room where supplies were kept. "Sounds kind of cheesy if you ask me." In a fluid motion he pulled out his own gun and aimed it at Poe. "Drop your gun."
Poe stared in surprise, trying to fit Jack into what was going on. A new face was always a problem when guns were involved. "I'll shot her first," Poe replied, emotionless and trying to buy time.
Jack grinned with a shrug. "Damn, I'll have to explain why Poe WuFie is dead and Alex got shot, but hey, it'd actually help me out," he said cheerfully. Poe hesitated, not knowing whether or not Jack was bluffing. "Drop it," the laughter was gone from Jack's voice, and Poe did as he was asked.
I took out my own gun and pointed it at Ashley so she wouldn't forget she was being watched. She glanced nervously at Poe, who was carefully watching Jack, waiting for him to look away. I grimaced at my own forgetfulness. As I pulled out my second gun and aimed it at Poe I remembered just how good with marshal arts he was. If jack wasn't careful he'd be on the floor in a few seconds.
"Poe, if you move I'll shoot you. You might be able to take him out but you'll be filled with bullets before you got to me," I stated casually. Poe looked at me with much annoyance. We'd been friends since childhood and weren't use to each other being the bad guys. But he had a gun pointed at me first so I didn't care what he thought.
Jake spoke again, "What're you two doing here and why do you want that disk?"
"Now you're going to have to shot us," Poe said, not giving up info. Poe glanced at Ashley, who nodded knowingly, wearing a sly smile.
"Maybe you should ask Alex," Ashley purred mockingly. "She's got enough information hidden in these computers to posses a threat to everyone. God knows what she had hidden in her head." I met her eyes and knew that she knew exactly what I had in my computers, just not how to get to it. They were looking for information on the virus. She knew about it. Knew more than I did. But not enough.
Jack didn't flinch or fidget to anything they had said. He didn't drop his causal mask or even glanced at me questionably. "Trust me lady," he said, spinning a lie, "Alex and I have been working in here for a long time. I know exactly what threat she posses."
Ashley bought it, even Poe looked surprised, if skeptical. Both shared a knowing, worried glance, as if they were afraid too many people might know something drastically important, and too many people did. Of course I had more information locked in my head that on any computer I owned, but there was still enough of a threat in the machines.
"Get out of here, both of you," I said coldly. There was anger in my voice and I wasn't sure why. I wasn't really mad. I was scarred yes, but not really angry.
Jack glanced at me before saying, "Leave the disk."
Ashley hesitated before putting it down, then followed Poe out. I watched them turn down the hallway, walking to the door to make sure they stayed out of sight. Jack picked up the disk and I walked over and took it from him.
"The place is probably bugged," I stated, hinting that we shouldn't discus things until we left.
Jack nodded. "Yeah, take the disk, and get rid of any information you don't want them to have. They'll be back and Ashley is very patient. She'll find a way to break through any programming you have." I didn't bother to ask how he knew Ashley.
It was true, though. The good thing was that all the information was in my personal computer. "Even if I delete everything it can be found, if the person looking for it is good."
"And the person will be good," Jack pointed out.
I nodded agreement, thinking. Then grabbed a hammer and went out into the hallway. It took about a minute to break into my office. I made sure the computer was unplugged before opening it. Then I carefully took out the memory cards. I set them on the desk and took a deep breath. Pounding them wasn?t necessary, but it would make me feel better. I picked up the hammer and slammed it onto the memory cards, again and again, until there was nothing but bits of bent up metal. One or two hits would have been plenty, but it was nice to see that the only information I had anywhere on the virus was destroyed.
"Don't you think that was a bit overkill?" Jack asked dryly as he came up behind me.
I shook my head. "Oh no, I didn't burn it or drown it or do a number of things that might be considered overkill." I paused to think. "But I still might do that, too."
Jack laughed. "Let's get out of here. You passed so you'll want to talk to everyone. And Blake is probably being convinced how to vote right now. He'll be nice and convinced for me when tonight I have to go and unravel all his reasons," Jack said cheerfully. He was looking forward to it, and I couldn't tell whether or not he was worried he wouldn't be able to do it.
Okay, now it's getting a little more interesting *sighs in relief* but I'd like to thank Mooncancer for the comments though. Sorry if anything's confusing, and I'm thinking about putting up the stats for all the G-kids including Zechs, Ashley and Nicholae (he shows up later). If you're interested just say so and I'll put them up after the next chapter.
~Rave
Hey, I'm trying to fix the whole question mark problem so I'm reposting this chapter, chapter 7 will be out sometime tonight or tomorrow, I have to proff read it a little first. So the only changes to this chapter is this message, and if there are no longer an extreme amount of question marks in odd places than it's worked.
Slowly I stretched, waiting for someone to show up. I had gotten a call about two hours ago saying where I was supposed to meet Duo and Mason, but not too surprisingly they were running late. Truthfully it was to my advantage. I didn't know what I would be doing so I took the extra time to warm up.
Standing I jumped up and down for a minute, not wanting to put my coat back on in the whether, but suffering from cool breezes that brushed over my bare arms. My black tank top wasn't much protection against the cool air, but a leather jacket would be too much. With a sigh I turned back to the road, waiting for a car to pull up beside my jeep.
Headlights shined in the distance. Two cars, barely visible from where I stood, drove over a hill, not too far away. They disappeared behind a second hill before coming close enough for me to get a clear look at them. Two trucks, not cars, one black and one a deep red, pulled into the clearing where I had been waiting.
We weren't far from town, the buildings started only a mile or two away. We were, at the moment, surrounded by farms. Fields of corn and wheat lined either side of the long road that was the only sign that people ever came by here.
Duo stepped out of the left side of the red truck, quickly followed by Mason, stepping out of the drivers seat on the other side. Both nodded hello to me. I nodded back, looking at their identical black pants, shirts and coats. Someone in their organization either liked black or thought it was the best color to use. Blue would blend in better in a crowd, but black wasn't a bad choice.
I turned to the black truck to see Jack waiting. He had already gotten out and stood leaning casually against the hood of the truck, dressed the same as the other two. The only exception I could see was the gun resting in a shoulder holster, even though that was almost hidden, the gun being as black as the rest of his outfit. He probably had a second gun as a back up weapon. I had brought two, not knowing if I would need either. In addition to the second gun I had a knife hidden in a leg strap. I rarely carried a third gun but I didn't mind knives.
"Alex," Jack said with a nod, an almost friendly expression on his face. Again I starred at his brown eyes, feeling some nagging in my head because I couldn't place them.
I ignored the feeling and said a simple, "Hello," to the three of them.
"I'm glad you could make it, Alex," Mason said with a smile that almost reached his eyes. "I'm sorry for our lateness, you'll most likely find that it happens quite often, he paused, but to the point."
Duo took over, both looking and sounding serious. "I'm not sure what you're going to do, I got kicked out not long after you, but you're supposed to know that you have to listen to Jack. He's the only judge so do what he says and things will turn out fine. Careful though, you're going into a government building so don't run into anyone."
I had two problems. First: Jack? Why was he running things, especially when he didn't like me? Second: breaking into the government, my government, I wasn't sure I would do that. My uncertainty showed on my face.
"Don't worry, you aren't steeling anything we don't already have," Jack said dryly, "but I wouldn't get yourself caught. It'd look really bad for you and your parents."
Nothing they didn't already have. They acted as if that made everything better. It didn't. It didn't come close. I didn't steel things from my government, regardless of the reason. Well, sometimes I did, but only when it was important. I didn't see this as important.
Mason was the only one who seemed to care what I thought. "Don't worry Alex, just this once and its nothing too important. We're not going to have you take anything from the government after this." I wasn't sure whether it was his kind voice or the almost pleading look in his eyes, but I decided I would give it a try.
With a surrendering sigh I nodded. "Fine," I muttered, "what do I have to do?"
Jack shot me a look, I wasn't sure exactly for what, confusion or annoyance, but it was close to one of them. He motioned me to get into the truck. "Come on, I'll tell you what we're doing on the way."
I climbed into the passenger seat, glancing back at Duo and Mason, wondering again why Jack was in charge. Duo waved good-bye as the engine started. Suddenly it acured to me I might not get a ride back. Glancing at my jeep I was going to ask Jack, but as we took off towards town I changed my mind.
Shifting into a more comfortable position I propped myself up against the door, resting my arm on my leg that was on the seat. I was facing Jack, and for the first time really studying him. Jack studied the road, ignoring me, but I was fine with that. I starred at him, and the more I did the more features looked familiar, and yet slightly off. His eyes, his eyebrows, his mouth and even the shape of his face.
"Are you by any chance related to someone I know, because you look awfully familiar," I asked.
He glanced at me. "No," his voice was smooth and emotionless. "And get your foot off the seat." I didn't move, he didn't ask again.
"Are you sure?" I persisted, feeling that he was lying.
He nodded. "Yes, very, move your foot," he snapped.
Still not moving I shrugged. "Just wondering." The fact that he didn't seam to be being compleatly honest didn't bug me much. After another minute I asked a different question. "So what am I supposed to do?"
Jack glanced at me again before opening the glove box and pulling out a map. He handed it to me. "Get to the X, get inside the computer undetected, get the listed files, and get out. Very simple. Too simple, but it was worth the compromise."
I raised an eyebrow. "The compromise being?" I questioned.
"One of Duo's guys didn't go with you," Jack stated. "I'd rather know it was fair and at least you could do something than have that nagging doubt that someone might have helped."
"I'd like to know it's fair, too," I said without thinking, and immediately wished I hadn't. Jack clinched his jaw, but didn't say anything. Obviously he didn't plan on cheating, but then again, neither did I. But we didn't know each other. The lack of trust on either side didn't surprise me. But it bugged Jack.
We drove in silence until we came to a residential area. Jack parked on the side of the road and we both got out. "Follow me," he said. It was unnecessary. I would have followed him anyway.
The air seemed warmer here, and the wind less. Row upon row of cozy houses lined the streets, most lights already out for the night, but an occasional person had stayed up late. We walked in a grinding silence, once I wanted desperately to shatter. Yet it still ended wrong.
The rumble of a car engine came from behind us. We both turned to see the police car cruising down the road, slowing when it came in sight of us. I turned away, indifferent, Jack soon following my example. I hoped the person inside the car wouldn't pay too much attention to two people walking down the street. The fact that it was close to midnight and we were dressed in black didn't help us.
The police car slowed to match our pace. The man inside rolled down his window and we stopped walking to talk to him. "Hello folks," he said, sounding friendly enough, "might I ask what you?re doing out her at this hour."
"You might," I murmured under my breath at the same time Jack said, "Of course you can."
The police man's face grew impatient so Jack continued, his voice with a slight accent that came naturally to me, "Well, we're staying with my sister, visiting from the colonies, and her house is a bit crowded and all" he paused, thinking, "so we went for a walk when we had a chance to get out of the house."
The policeman glanced at me, and then looked back at Jack. "And who is she?" he pointed to me.
"My friend" Jack murmured, not saying girlfriend, which was smart of him. I would have hit him then if he had. I didn't raise an eyebrow, as I'm sure the officer did. I didn't even glare, but I really wanted to. Instead I blushed slightly, tying to stay unnoticed, happy it was dark out.
Anger shot through me as the policeman replied with a smile, "Your girlfriend? Well then..."
"We were just heading back," I said, still not doing anything to mess with the story, not when it was working. But I would have to talk to Jack. I didn't like pretending to be a girlfriend. Especially when I had a boyfriend. There were other stories he could come up with if he had to.
"No need to go back too soon," the officer said cheerfully. He winked at Jack as he rolled up the window. Jack nudged me, trying to get me to continue walking. I didn't move, just watched as the car pulled away from the curb and slowly went over the hill.
"Alex, come on," Jack said, right before I punched him. He pulled back with a yelp, rubbing his jaw where I had hit him. Muttering certain words he glared back at me. I returned the glare full force. "What the hell did you do that for?" he growled.
"Because you're a jerk, amongst other things," I stated calmly.
He continued rubbing his jaw as he starred at me. "Didn't think a story would bug you," he muttered. "First thing I thought of and the cop bought it." He said it as an apology, but it wasn't a good one. I knew he wasn't going to apologize any better. He didn't think he had to.
I turned on my heals, ignoring him. Punching him wasn't the best idea when I was on a test, but I didn't really care. He caught up to me easily enough while I tried to think of a way to tell him what stories he might make up if we got caught again. I couldn't think of anything, but I didn't want to say sorry, either. Even though it looked like he might have done the right thing.
Soon I began to recognize things. The park with the fountain, a certain church... we left the residential area and had entered a city, one I had been in several times before.
I paused after seeing a restaurant I knew. Jack turned to me, confused. He shot me a look as if to say "What now?" I stood, confused myself, for a moment.
Turning to Jack I asked, "Are we going to the lab?"
Jack took his turn being confused. "We're going to a lab, not 'the lab'. Well, I don't know what 'the lab' is. This is just one the government has for some medical studies," he explained. "We don't actually use the lab part, only the computers."
I nodded, understanding. You wouldn't need the lab. If you can get into the computer system you can get into anything. I resumed walking, not needing him to lead me.
The lab: Julia's and my place to goof off and experiment. But our 'mucking about' was a helpful part of the medical studies. We did a lot of experiments. Julia was a science genius. You wouldn't ever guess from looking at her. She had been the most popular girl in school, trendy and outgoing, but also incredibly smart. I helped supply ideas and suggestions, but Julia had always done most of the work. She had helped me with finding our what was in Mathew's virus. All of that had been in the research at the lab. And if Jack could break into it?
"You okay?" Jack asked sounding a little concerned.
"Kind of," I said, not really thinking. The virus had been in my computer, the one not hooked up to the Internet with my personal safety programs.
Jack shook his head and sighed, but he did so while smiling. "You know where to go?"
I nodded; realizing why the map he'd given me had looked familiar. I could get into any place inside the lab, no problem. The main computer was easy to access, but it'd be easier if I could use my card key. "Am I allowed to use a key?"
"No," Jack said firmly. "They can't know you were there."
I pursed my lips while thinking. When I turned into an alley, a building away from the lab, Jack followed, even through I knew he didn't know where we were going. Happy I wasn't carrying anything I stopped under a fire escape.
I jumped, reaching for the ladder, trying to pull it down. Missing I tried a second time, with just as much bad luck. Jack smiled again as he came over and easily caught it on his first jump. I thanked him, but wished he'd let me get it myself. Times like this I wished I was taller, but they didn't come often.
He followed me up the ladder until we reached the top. We were still about five feet from the roof, which was where we needed to be. Carefully I put a foot on one of the fire escape's railings. Using a brick that stuck out a little from the building I pulled myself completely onto the railing. Rattling, the bar shook a little. I wasn't worried. I'd climbed up before several times. I didn't look down, I was about sixty feet from the ground, and I wasn't immune to heights. Reaching for the roof I pulled myself up, climbing up the wall with my feet. I fell over it, rolling out of the fall. Then stood up to look back down to Jack.
"You coming?" I asked, his uneasiness clear.
Jack looked around, glanced down, and then looked up to me. "I'm not sure if the railing will hold me," he stated.
I shrugged. "Might, might not. It doesn't really matter. You can break in through the window right down the ladder, though. If you head for the hallway and go strait to the stairs it lead up to the roof."
Jack shook his head, showing he was annoyed. "Why didn't we go that way to begin with?" he asked.
Again I shrugged. "I forgot you might not be able to climb up. Sorry. I've never gone this way with anyone but Julia. We only went inside when it rained," I explained.
Rolling his eyes Jack began to climb down the ladder to the next landing. "I'll be up in a minute," he called to me. I watched him disappear, and then turned to the door he'd becoming out of.
After he showed up we'd cross to the lab's roof. It was only about a three-foot jump at most. I wasn't sure what Jack would think of that. He didn't seem very comfortable with heights, but it shouldn't be too big of a problem. Planning out a map of where I would go I glanced across the roof to the door that would lead inside to the lab.
A dark shape moved suddenly on the roof. I blinked, squinting to try to get a better view of what it was. It moved again, and then froze, making it hard for me to pin point it's location in the shadows. When it moved again I watched carefully, trying to see if it was large enough to be a person.
Creak... my head snapped to the door on this roof to see Jack slide out. I focused on him for just a moment before turning back to the other roof. Whatever had been there was gone. I felt uneasy, but I knew I shouldn?t be. It had probably just been a large cat.
"Where to now?" Jack asked, not noticing my discomfort.
I just started walking towards the edge, slowly and surely. I stopped right on the small lift of bricks that acted as the barrier between the building and the fall. With the deep breath I jumped, holding my breath as I soared over the long drop. I didn?t take a breath until I landed, a bit shaken, on the other side.
Jack walked to the edge, and looked down. He gulped, a shiver a fear jumping through him. "Couldn?t we have gone in closer to the ground" I know a few different ways..."
"Glad you know them. I don't. This is how I get in and you've already said you wouldn't help. So we're going my way," I stated evenly. "If you're afraid to jump close your eyes. I'm sure you can jump three feet."
Jack shot me a glare, and with a swift jump landed on my side. He shot me a look that seemed to say that he had never been afraid. I merely shrugged and motioned him onward towards the door.
The door to the building was locked. I had the key at home, but it wasn'' necessary. I pulled out a set of lock picks I sometimes carried with me. Selecting one, I carefully started on the lock, taking only seconds to get through it and open the door to go inside.
This part of the lab was reserved for Julia and me. We both had an office, both branching off from the hallway that the ceiling's door led to. I walked pass both, entering the lab we worked in, having to pull out a couple different picks before I could get into it. We didn't want people breaking into our lab so we had used complex locks. I had never expected to have to break in myself, and I really didn't have to. I just wanted to stop by again, not having been here for a while.
We walked into a world of tubs, chemicals, experiments and multicolored cabinets. Julia had been against the stereotype of white labs so she decorated ours as vividly as she could. I didn't touch anything important, although Jack went around studying things. I know what most of the stuff was. Some experiments or vials were Julia's only and as far as I knew could have been anything.
"Don't touch anything without a lid, don't break anything and don't open anything," I requested. Stopping to think I added, "Can I use this computer?" I pointed to one. "It doesn?t have anything of mine on it, and I haven't added any cheats or codes that would make things easier."
Jack glanced at me. He pursed his lips in thought, trying to decide whether or not he should say yes. I was surprised when he nodded. Why would he let me work on a computer he didn't know for sure hadn't been added to" Maybe he believed me, or was trying to trust me.
Handing me a piece of paper he asked, "Mind if I look around? Instructions are on the sheet of paper."
"Go ahead," I said, already skimming through the instructions. I turned the computer on and got started hacking into the system. It was easy and it didn't take long for me to get everything and save it on a disk. I slipped the disk into a carrying case and slid it onto me built, not having a better place to put it.
I stood up and turned around, strait into a gun pointed at me head. My mind was blank as I jerked back in surprise, not quite being able to think as I stumbled on the chair behind me. I had to blink once, twice, then a third time before I could look past the gun and at the face behind it.
Blue-brown eyes starred into mine. Her blond hair was held bag in a tight, short ponytail and her eyebrows seemed to split near the ends into two thin lines. She was dressed in a black turtleneck, gloves, and pants with her gun's holster attached to her thin, black belt.
The lady smiled softly at me. "Hello, Alex," she said, holding out her hand. "Please give me that disk."
I froze, from confusion instead of shock. The disk? It didn't have anything important on it, but she didn't know that. And why would she break in here? What did she want? Or more importantly what did she think was important enough for me to break in here and get.
"Ashley," I said softly. My hand slowly reached for the disk case as I recalled the last time I had seen her. I knew better than to reach for my gun, though my instincts were shouting for me to do so. Instead I handed her the disk. "Here you go," I said. The moment she took it I slammed her other hand up. The gun fired twice, answering to Ashley's jolted hands. I cursed, hoping no one would investigate right away. I twisted Ashley's wrist at the same time she kicked my shin. We both yelped, but she let go of the gun and I was waiting to grab it.
Immediately I pushed away from her, knocking her onto the ground, and hopping away on one foot as I muttered under my breath. I aimed her gun at her head, never taking my eye off of her.
"Stand up slowly," I ordered. She listened, glaring at me and keeping the disk clutched in one hand. "If your hands go out of sight or you make a sudden movement I'm going to shoot, no questions asked. I don't like you and I don't care if you're dead." I meant what I said and she knew it.
Click.
I adjusted myself so I could look to where the noise had come from, already knowing what it was. I didn't look away from Ashley, but when I saw Poe pointing a gun at me I dropped Ashley's. Confusion swept over me again as I looked from Poe to Ashley and back again.
Last I heard Poe had been working with the Preventers, the organization in charge of stopping possible threats against peace. Poe had been leading it for the most part, with a lot of help from his parents, WuFie and Sally Po. They had been taking care of a problem on one of the Delta colonies, but now he was back here, and for some reason with Ashley Catalonia . I didn't even know she was still alive, her being supposedly on the space colony I had destroyed. It seemed all the main characters from that event were coming back, or all who were still alive. The question, though, was why was Poe working with Ashley?
"Sorry Alex, but we need to be leaving soon," Poe said, sounding truly sorry. It didn't matter, I was still ticked. "I wish I had time to explain more, but all I can say is be looking out for an organization called the Underground. They're big trouble and we don't know much more than that." It had to be serious for him to break into my lab to get info.
"The Underground, eh?" Jack walked out from a back room where supplies were kept. "Sounds kind of cheesy if you ask me." In a fluid motion he pulled out his own gun and aimed it at Poe. "Drop your gun."
Poe stared in surprise, trying to fit Jack into what was going on. A new face was always a problem when guns were involved. "I'll shot her first," Poe replied, emotionless and trying to buy time.
Jack grinned with a shrug. "Damn, I'll have to explain why Poe WuFie is dead and Alex got shot, but hey, it'd actually help me out," he said cheerfully. Poe hesitated, not knowing whether or not Jack was bluffing. "Drop it," the laughter was gone from Jack's voice, and Poe did as he was asked.
I took out my own gun and pointed it at Ashley so she wouldn't forget she was being watched. She glanced nervously at Poe, who was carefully watching Jack, waiting for him to look away. I grimaced at my own forgetfulness. As I pulled out my second gun and aimed it at Poe I remembered just how good with marshal arts he was. If jack wasn't careful he'd be on the floor in a few seconds.
"Poe, if you move I'll shoot you. You might be able to take him out but you'll be filled with bullets before you got to me," I stated casually. Poe looked at me with much annoyance. We'd been friends since childhood and weren't use to each other being the bad guys. But he had a gun pointed at me first so I didn't care what he thought.
Jake spoke again, "What're you two doing here and why do you want that disk?"
"Now you're going to have to shot us," Poe said, not giving up info. Poe glanced at Ashley, who nodded knowingly, wearing a sly smile.
"Maybe you should ask Alex," Ashley purred mockingly. "She's got enough information hidden in these computers to posses a threat to everyone. God knows what she had hidden in her head." I met her eyes and knew that she knew exactly what I had in my computers, just not how to get to it. They were looking for information on the virus. She knew about it. Knew more than I did. But not enough.
Jack didn't flinch or fidget to anything they had said. He didn't drop his causal mask or even glanced at me questionably. "Trust me lady," he said, spinning a lie, "Alex and I have been working in here for a long time. I know exactly what threat she posses."
Ashley bought it, even Poe looked surprised, if skeptical. Both shared a knowing, worried glance, as if they were afraid too many people might know something drastically important, and too many people did. Of course I had more information locked in my head that on any computer I owned, but there was still enough of a threat in the machines.
"Get out of here, both of you," I said coldly. There was anger in my voice and I wasn't sure why. I wasn't really mad. I was scarred yes, but not really angry.
Jack glanced at me before saying, "Leave the disk."
Ashley hesitated before putting it down, then followed Poe out. I watched them turn down the hallway, walking to the door to make sure they stayed out of sight. Jack picked up the disk and I walked over and took it from him.
"The place is probably bugged," I stated, hinting that we shouldn't discus things until we left.
Jack nodded. "Yeah, take the disk, and get rid of any information you don't want them to have. They'll be back and Ashley is very patient. She'll find a way to break through any programming you have." I didn't bother to ask how he knew Ashley.
It was true, though. The good thing was that all the information was in my personal computer. "Even if I delete everything it can be found, if the person looking for it is good."
"And the person will be good," Jack pointed out.
I nodded agreement, thinking. Then grabbed a hammer and went out into the hallway. It took about a minute to break into my office. I made sure the computer was unplugged before opening it. Then I carefully took out the memory cards. I set them on the desk and took a deep breath. Pounding them wasn?t necessary, but it would make me feel better. I picked up the hammer and slammed it onto the memory cards, again and again, until there was nothing but bits of bent up metal. One or two hits would have been plenty, but it was nice to see that the only information I had anywhere on the virus was destroyed.
"Don't you think that was a bit overkill?" Jack asked dryly as he came up behind me.
I shook my head. "Oh no, I didn't burn it or drown it or do a number of things that might be considered overkill." I paused to think. "But I still might do that, too."
Jack laughed. "Let's get out of here. You passed so you'll want to talk to everyone. And Blake is probably being convinced how to vote right now. He'll be nice and convinced for me when tonight I have to go and unravel all his reasons," Jack said cheerfully. He was looking forward to it, and I couldn't tell whether or not he was worried he wouldn't be able to do it.
Okay, now it's getting a little more interesting *sighs in relief* but I'd like to thank Mooncancer for the comments though. Sorry if anything's confusing, and I'm thinking about putting up the stats for all the G-kids including Zechs, Ashley and Nicholae (he shows up later). If you're interested just say so and I'll put them up after the next chapter.
~Rave
Hey, I'm trying to fix the whole question mark problem so I'm reposting this chapter, chapter 7 will be out sometime tonight or tomorrow, I have to proff read it a little first. So the only changes to this chapter is this message, and if there are no longer an extreme amount of question marks in odd places than it's worked.