To those who've read the AU 'Journey' ficlet – don't worry. I wouldn't do that in the 'real' version ;) (not unless I had a reason to do so *eg*). Of course, I said the same thing about the whole mindswitch thing, but...all right, all right. I'll behave now ;)
A/N 1: As in the previous chapters – ideas for fic and character development, questions, plotbunnies, suggestions, flames, character pictures, corrections, additions, comments, and everything in between can be mailed to hack_heaven@usa.net
A/N 2: J.DeLuca: *g* Don't worry. It was only because I couldn't get the idea out of my head, and because I know better than to ignore my muses. If I had, I don't doubt that it would have ended up as a major plot-twist in the 'real' Journey-verse, just like the last ficlet-idea I ignored turned into a 35-pages series ;) Would I actually use it in the 'real' universe? If I found a reason to do so – yes *eg* (but don't worry – so far, it'll remain AU ;)
Italics indicates thoughts/telepathy
'...' Indicates a conversation between Jhonen and Erik
* * *
Chapter Twenty-Two: The Choice You Make
* * *
'He's insane. Fucking nuts,' Jhonen said and shook his head. It had been hours since his conversation with Blade, and he was the only one who was still awake. He'd tried to sleep, but found it impossible. The conversation with Blade kept running through his head, playing over and over again, until Jhonen was sure that he would go crazy.
'But you gotta admit that he's got a point,' Erik remarked casually.
'Shut up!' Jhonen snapped.
'Come on. You know the truth won't go away just because you ignore it," Erik snapped back.
'It's not the truth,' Jhonen disagreed. 'It's just his way of justifying the murder of innocents.'
'Whatever you say,' Erik replied.
'It is!' Jhonen repeated with finality.
'Are you sure it's me you're trying to convince?' Erik asked. 'Because it doesn't sound that way.'
'Shut up, damnit!' Jhonen shouted.
Erik shrugged.
'Have it your way,' he said and disappeared.
Jhonen sighed and closed his eyes. It was going to be a long night.
* * *
It had been a long night for Ryan as well. He'd had another nightmare, this one even worse than the first one. He had once again woken up before dawn, and by now he was feeling tired, cranky, and miserable. The only thought that kept him from screaming 'fuck it all!' and drop the charade was the fact that they would reach Chicago that day. And hopefully, the Guardians would be there as well.
He intended to wait until night, then sneak out and check the motels that he, Kyle, and Diana had considered. It had been three days – they should have noticed that something was wrong by now. And even if they hadn't, Ryan really didn't care. He wanted to get away from the Shadow Alliance, consequences be damned. He was breaking down, and he knew it.
"How long until we reach Chicago?" he asked.
Zach had offered to drive, while Jordane handled the maps, and Ryan was very grateful for that. He didn't trust himself behind a wheel while in that condition.
Jordane looked up.
"Soon," she replied.
Ryan nodded and leaned back.
Soon. Soon...
* * *
They reached the hotel less than an hour later. Unlike New York, Chicago hadn't bothered with checkpoints, probably because they knew that it wouldn't help much, anyway. Whatever the reason was, the Shadow Alliance was grateful for it. No need to endanger themselves unnecessarily.
The hotel itself was fairly small and located downtown. The style was Oriental – neon-dragons on the outside, Chinese decorations on the inside. All in all, it wasn't bad. And it was certainly a lot better than Jordane remembered it.
"Nice to see that they cleaned the place up a bit," she mumbled to Laetitia while they waited for the manager to finish the registration. They'd checked in under false names, of course, and paid in cash to prevent any paper trail. Some extra money had ensured that they would not be disturbed.
"You've been here before?" Laetitia asked and let her gaze wander across the room, mentally marking the possible exits.
"Once," Jordane replied. "Not one of my better memories."
Laetitia smiled faintly.
"Was it really that bad?" she asked, a bit amused.
"Last time we stayed here was the time I found out what it feels like to be at the wrong end of a sniper's rifle," Jordane explained quietly, and Laetitia nodded. She could understand Jordane's dislike of the place – your first gunshot wound was one of the things you'd prefer to forget, and the area where it had happened was rarely on your list of favorite places to stay.
"Must've been a while back," Laetitia commented and took the keys from the manager with a small smile.
They headed outside, out to the cars where the others were waiting.
"Three years. I still have the scar."
They reached the cars, and the subject was dropped.
* * *
The Guardians reached Chicago shortly after the Shadow Alliance. Prue, who had spend quite a few months in the area, knew a place where it was possible to rent large cabins, and had showed the way to a large and relatively open park area in the outcasts of the town.
That fitted Blade just nicely. It was a rather quiet area, and the cabin they'd rented was located relatively close to the hotel the Shadow Alliance would be staying at.
As the Guardians unpacked their things, Blade headed outside unnoticed. There was only one thing left to do, and that was to contact Jordane and arrange a place to meet. And hopefully, he would be able to muster enough control to use Ryan's telepathic abilities to do so.
Blade sat down next to the cabin and leaned against the wall. He closed his eyes and focused on Jordane. Of course, there was always the risk that he would screw up and that the Guardians would hear the conversation as well, but that was a risk he was willing to take.
Jordane... he whispered.
The reply was instant and followed by a warm, caring feeling.
Blade?
Yes. Did you reach the hotel without any problems?
Of course.
Blade smiled slightly.
That's my girl. What about Ryan?
Jordane's evil smirk could be felt even through the telepathic link.
He doesn't feel so good. He's been having some terrible nightmares recently, she replied with mock regret.
Blade smirked.
How unfortunate.
Yeah, isn't it? Apparently, those nightmares were about his teammates, dying in his arms. Isn't that just *horrible*?
Remind me to thank Laetitia when I get back.
Jordane grinned.
Will do. And speaking of which – when and where do we meet?
Blade frowned.
How about the abandoned warehouses in the industrial parts of town? he suggested and sent her a mental image of the place in question.
I remember it, Jordane replied. The warehouses, around eight p.m.?
I'll see you there.
Blade...be careful, okay? Jordane sent worriedly.
Blade smirked.
Of course, my Queen, he replied and cut the connection.
Jordane opened her eyes and sighed. All they could do now was to wait.
* * *
It was evening when Erik finally showed up again. He didn't alert Jhonen to his presence, merely whispered quietly in his mind.
'Jhonen...'
'No,' Jhonen replied annoyed. 'Go away. I'm not in the mood for any games.'
'It's not a game,' Erik replied smugly. 'Blade is leaving.'
'What?!' Jhonen demanded.
'Leaving, going, taking a hike-'
'I get your point, but where is he going?'
'I don't know,' Erik replied and shrugged. 'Why don't you ask him?'
Jhonen mentally glared at him, then took a quick look around and left the room as quietly as he could. The door to the hallway was closed, and after checking that he was still alone, Jhonen quietly opened the door and entered the small room. The door that led out of the hallway was closed as well, and Blade was standing in the middle of the room, putting on a pair of Ryan's spiked shoes. He seemed oblivious to the fact that he wasn't alone, but Jhonen knew that it was an act. One did not just catch Blade Heron by surprise.
"You're leaving," Jhonen noted and closed the door behind him.
Blade tied the second shoelace, then looked up. He didn't ask how Jhonen knew, because he was pretty sure of the answer – it was the spirits. Again.
"Yes," he replied. "I'm not too fond of this team, and quite frankly, I want my own body back."
"And you think I'm just going to let you leave?" Jhonen challenged.
Blade sighed.
"I'm not an idiot. If you wanted to stop me, you would have done so by now. So why don't you tell me what you want, before I lose my last bit of patience?" he suggested.
Jhonen paused briefly.
"Were you telling me the truth last night?" he finally asked.
"About what?" Blade asked. "The Riots? The humans? My offer?"
Jhonen looked away for a moment. He felt like a traitor for even asking, but he had to know.
"All three," he replied.
Blade sighed.
"Yes, I was," he said. "And the offer still stands."
"Why?" Jhonen demanded. "We're not even on the same side."
"You're a mutant, and you're a pretty smart kid. Too smart to get killed because of some humans. Besides, we can always use one more," Blade replied and shrugged.
He knew that the trick would be to act casually. If he pushed Jhonen too much it wouldn't work. But if he made sure to sound only a bit interested in Jhonen's possible defection, it would be so much easier to convince the kid to change sides.
Teenagers – and especially teenage boys with egos - were so impressionable.
"Why should I join you? I'm happy here," Jhonen replied, waging war against his curiosity – and losing.
Blade shook his head.
"No...I've watched you, just like you've been watching me, and I know that you're not happy here. You might be with us, you know. And unlike Ryan, I'm not asking you to risk your life for a species that wants you dead."
"I don't want to kill anyone," Jhonen stated.
Blade hid a smirk. Jhonen had already given in...he just didn't know it yet.
"I won't force you to," he replied.
"I won't tell you anything about the Guardians," Jhonen continued and crossed his arms.
"Have I asked you to?" Blade replied and opened the door. "Are you coming or not?"
Jhonen paused. He knew that if he walked out of that door, there would be no turning back. He would have betrayed the people who took care of him when he needed it most, and he would belong to the Shadow Alliance instead. Ryan was a good guy – friendly, protective, optimistic, and the born leader. He was the very image of the mutant hero, protecting a world that hated and feared him.
The problem was that Jhonen was no longer sure that he wanted to follow someone like that. Ryan gave protection and encouraged understanding and teamwork. Blade offered freedom, and demanded loyalty in return.
Jhonen admired Ryan, but recently he'd seen and heard too much to believe in mankind's innocence. He'd even felt their true nature on his own body, even before he discovered that he was a mutant. He had dozens of small scars from his childhood, from a time when he was beat up by the older kids, simply because he was small. And if they could do something like that to their own kind, who knew what they could do to mutants?
They'd had their chance, hadn't they? They'd had it, and they blew it. They didn't deserve his protection. Not anymore.
Jhonen clenched his fists, then followed Blade out of the door, never looking back.
* * *
Coming up: Both Ryan and Blade want the mindswitch undone...but is it even possible to do so? And what will happen when the Guardians show up?
