I wake up, finding myself alone in a room. I touch the back of my head, and pull back my hand spotted with blood. You had to jump, didn't you? When are you gonna learn to control that temper. It's not just your ass on the line, it's Sonya's too. I try the door, and find it locked. Yeah, real shocker there. I sit on the bed, lighting a smoke, staring blankly out of the painted shut window. It's not like my big ass would fit through that, anyway. I stomp the cigarette out on the wood floor, as the door flies open, and Marcus walks in with two guards.
"I hope you like the accommodations."
"Where's Sonya?"
"Elsewhere, at the moment."
"Look, man, I'll fight in this competition for kicks. You don't have to do this to her. Let her go."
"So she can send those special forces assholes down my throat. I don't think so," He sniffs, "I smell smoke."
"Hey, nobody told me this was a non smoking room."
"It's not," I gasp, as two men carry Sonya in, barely conscious and gagged, "In fact, I think I'll join you."
"You . . ." One of the men presses a nine millimeter hard against the back of Sonya's head.
"You what," He pulls out a cigarette, and tosses it at me, as the men handcuff Sonya's arms to a chair, "Light it."
"Fuck you."
"Fuck me? Don't you mean fuck her?" One of the men buries his fist deep into her midsection.
"OK, LAY OFF HER!" I pick the cigarette up.
"Smart girl. Light it," I light it, and he snatches it out of my mouth. He puffs on it, walking toward Sonya, "Do you know why most Special Forces agents don't smoke?"
"No, and I don't want to know."
"I'll show you," Kill me or not, he ain't doing this. I charge at him. Seconds later, I find myself on the ground, his foot on my throat, "Come on, Jessie. Didn't I teach you better than that?"
"Don't do this, man. She doesn't deserve this."
"Deserve has nothing to do with it." Sonya's eyes go wide, as he moves the fiery tip towards the back of her left hand. She pulls against the cuffs, looking away.
"If you do this to her, even if it kills me, I will bury you."
"You know, I believe you." He moves it even closer.
"DON'T DO THIS! SHE'S A HUMAN BEING! JESUS CHRIST, DON'T!"
"Human? Karen said you think she's superman. With everything in cigarettes, I wonder if there's some kryptonite," He shoves the tip into the back of her left hand. She screams into the gag, closing her eyes, as he laughs, "Must be."
"I'M GONNA KILL YOU!" He laughs, seeing the tears falling down my face.
"I'll be waiting, but you've got to finish my tournament first." As soon as he takes his foot off, I flip up, charging at him. One kick puts me face down in front of Sonya. He walks out, laughing, as I lay, crying. Nice job, dumbass. I finally pull it together, and take off the gag.
"You OK?" She nods, still not opening her eyes. I try to move her hand.
"DON'T! It hurts, don't." I wonder how strong the wood is on these things.
"Can you lean to your right?"
"Don't waste your energy." I punch the chair arm at the joint, snapping it. I snap the other, and slide the cuffs through. Sonya's arms fall limp at her sides. I pick her up, and carry her to the bed. I sit against the wall next to the bed. Pull it together, Jess. Pull it together.
Sun coming through the window wakes me up. I look up at Sonya, who's still out. Jesus Christ. I see a silver tray on what's left of the chair. I lift the lid, and find a plate of eggs and toast, and a note. I read the note, ball it up, and throw it away. His investment? Sonya better pray she gets her hands on that fucker before I do.
"Jess?" Speak of the devil. I walk to her, carrying the tray, as she sits up, cradling her left hand.
"I'm so sorry."
"You didn't do it. Apologize to me when you do something, OK?"
"Yeah." I split the eggs into two piles.
"What are you doing?"
"This is all they left. There's enough here for both of us."
"You need it more than I do."
"We split it, or we see how it looks on the walls."
"You're just stupid enough to do that, huh?"
"Oh, yeah." She sighs.
"Fine," Oh, shit, did I just win? We both eat, "I appreciate what you tried to do last night."
"I can't believe he did that to you."
"I've had worse, believe me. This isn't the first time I've been caught."
"This is why I didn't want you with me."
"I don't abandon my friends."
"I'm not your friend. I'm your responsibility, remember?"
"I hate to break it to ya, but you haven't been that since Mitch," I cry, hugging her, "What?"
"Thanks."
"You've got to get this shit under control. He could've killed you last night."
"I didn't care."
"I know, that's what scares me. You're so focused on defending me, you're not seeing anything past it."
"I don't abandon my friends, either."
"I'm not asking you to. I'm asking you to look past this minute."
"What?" She shakes her head.
"Let me explain it like this. Marcus burnt my hand, right?"
"Right."
"Eventually, it'll heal. Your broken neck won't. For you to do this, you need to be one hundred percent physically and mentally. You worry about what they do to me, you loose. You jump to defend me, you get hurt. You loose one fight, they will KILL me. You want to defend me? Win."
"You're asking me to cut my own throat."
"No, I'm asking you not to let them cut mine. They'll keep me alive as long as you keep winning. Jax is probably searching the whole state by now. Play this out, and give him time to find us."
"I don't think I can do that."
"You can. You don't want to, but you can, and I'm asking you to."
"You don't understand."
"Explain it to me."
"You remember I told you I made a mistake, right?"
"A fifty grand one, yeah."
"My cousin and I were inseparable, until she got married. I knew he was hitting her, and I HATED him for it. She made me promise before I spent the night that I wouldn't do anything if he blew. I kept my word. He punched her, and I watched. I've never forgiven myself for not doing anything. I kept my word, but her blood's on my hands. Now, you want me to put your blood on my hands, too? I can't do that."
"Jess, I'm not your cousin. I'm asking you, please, stay out of it. The pain is temporary. Buy Jax enough time to find us. If I need your help, I will ask you for it. Until then, save it for the fights. I'll make you a deal. I'll get you ten minutes alone with Marcus, no consequences, when this is over."
"Do I get Karen, too?"
"HELL NO! That bitch is mine." I laugh.
"You think he can find us?"
"He managed to track my ass to Outworld. He's damn good at what he does. If you can buy him enough time, he'll find us, guaranteed."
"I'll try, but no promises."
"You'd better do more than try. If she planned this, it's only gonna get worse on me. I need to know you're gonna be smart about it."
"I won't do anything physical next time, if that's what you want."
"It is. I appreciate your concern, but I can hold my own," I hug her again, crying, "If you don't stop that crying, I'm gonna give you something to cry over, got it?"
"I'm scared, Sonya." She sighs, hugging me back.
"So am I." She hugs me, trying to calm me down, as Kano walks in.
"Good morning, Jess."
"It's Jessie, to you."
"Oh, come on, let's be friends, Jess."
"I am NOT your friend, you psycho fucker."
"Now, Jess, is that any way to talk to an investor."
"Investor? Do I look like Microsoft or something to you?"
"No, but you're gonna make me richer than Bill Gates."
"You hope."
"Even if you don't, I get one hell of a door prize," He looks at Sonya, and smiles. She stares back at him, hatred in her eyes, "I'll just finish what I started all those years ago."
"Keep dreaming, asshole."
"That's what your father said, before I shoved that knife into his gut. You remember that, don't you? All that blood, as you screamed for me to stop." I see tears in Sonya's eyes.
"Why do you fuck with her all the time?"
"Why not? I told her daddy what would happen if he busted me. He did it anyway. No jail can hold me. I told him I'd kill his whole family for it. You're the only one left, Sonya. Well, you and JJ." I see the rage replaced with terror.
"STAY AWAY FROM HIM!"
"Don't worry. When I decide to kill him, I'll make sure and tell him how much of a whore his momma was. How she begged for her pathetic life, as I slowly skinned her alive. Or, maybe I'll just go pick him up, so he can watch." Her eyes go blank. Oh, shit, she's snapped. I grab her, trying to restrain her.
"STAY AWAY FROM HIM, YOU BASTARD!" She buries her elbow into my face, and I feel my nose start bleeding. Control it. Don't snap on her. Don't do it, Jess. I lift her up, and slam her hard into the bed, as Kano fires a shot into the air.
"Good girl, I knew we were friends." She struggles against my grip, kicking my leg.
"I should let her kick your sorry ass." She kicks my leg again.
"Let her, I've got ten shots left."
"I'LL KILL YOU!"
"Sonya, please." I whisper, feeling my grip loosening. She kicks my leg a third time. FUCK, MY KNEE! AUUGH! I fall off her, landing hard on my back. I can only watch, as she charges at Kano. He shoots her in the leg. She falls face first, screaming, holding her bleeding calf. Kano kicks her hard in the side, forcing her over. He buries one knee in her midsection, and begins viciously hitting her in the face. FUCK THIS! I pull myself to the bed, and to my feet.
"LAY OFF HER!" He stops, looks up at me, and laughs.
"I'll handle this bitch." I see the blood on his fists, as she looks at me, her mouth and nose bleeding.
"Touch her again, and I'LL BREAK THE LEG MYSELF!"
"You won't do that. If you do, we'll kill her."
"The hell I won't. Your money or your payback. Choose." He searches my eyes. Yeah, I am serious. He laughs again, getting off of her and leaving, as she grabs her calf again, crying. I hobble over, and try to drag her to the chair. She pulls herself up, and sits on it, still holding her calf.
"Find something to tie this off with." I hobble to the bed, and rip the sheets, tossing her the strips. She ties it off, tight.
"He's fucking with you."
"He's going after my son."
"Sonya, think about it. If he could've gotten JJ by now, he would've. Jax and Johnny aren't stupid. He's fine."
"I hope you're right."
"I know I am. JJ's fine, Sonya."
"Oh, God, your knee."
"It's fine. I know you didn't mean it."
"I'm sorry, Jess. I'm sorry."
"Don't be. I doubt it was me you were hitting, anyway." The door flies open, and three men train their guns on me. A fourth jerks her out of the chair, "WATCH HER LEG, ASSHOLE!" He laughs, leading her out. The three follow, closing the door. God, give her strength.
"She's got enough of that, already." Raiden appears next to me.
"WHERE THE HELL HAVE YOU BEEN?"
"Right here with you."
"And you let him shoot her?"
"Do either of you understand what I can't interfere in the lives of mortals means?"
"It means you're about as useful as a broken tree branch."
"I'm sorry you think so." I sigh, shaking my head.
"I'm sorry. I'm just worried about her. They're gonna hurt her bad, aren't they?"
"Yes, they are, Jessie. But this is nothing she hasn't faced before." I hear her anguished scream. I sit on the bed, burying my head in my hands.
"What do I do?"
"Be strong. Defend her when you can, and look after her."
"It's not enough, man."
"It's gonna have to be. You can't do anything else."
"Are they gonna kill her?"
"I don't know, Jessie. That depends a lot on you. Marcus is set to make a small fortune on you, if you win. But, when this is over, if Jax hasn't found you by then . . ."
"Then she's history." Raiden nods, as we hear another scream, "Do something."
"I can't. I wish I could."
"You can
wipe out planets, and you can't stop this?"
"Jessie, she's had far worse
than anything they can do to her. But,
she will need you. Her survival will
depend on you."
"She doesn't deserve this, Raiden. Help her."
"She doesn't need my help."
"She's too good for this shit. Come on, man, DO SOMETHING!"
"If you want to do something, then stay strong, and help her through this." Raiden vanishes. WORTHLESS ASS PIECE OF . . . GOD! After everything she's done for him, he can't do anything? Punk bitch. I hear that scream again. I bury my head in my hands, sobbing. Him? What the hell am I doing? Why didn't Raiden pick somebody that could do the job? The door opens, and Marcus and a guard walk in. He immediately trains the gun on me.
"Nice to see you're resting."
"What the fuck are you doing to her?"
"She's being looked after. I can't have her bleeding to death on me. Not yet, anyway."
"I never dreamed you'd do this, Marcus. I admired you. I never imagined wanting to kill you. Now, I think I'm gonna enjoy it. Almost as much as you enjoy the pain you're causing her."
"You think I like this? I wanted to build a society of the world's finest fighters. Special Forces had to stick their noses in my business. When I saw you fight a few days ago, and I saw how well your Marcus trained you, I knew you'd be one of the crown jewels in my collection. A few rough edges, but they'll be smoothed out soon enough." I hear her scream again.
"I'm gonna pay you back for everything you put her through. I'm gonna rip your fucking heart out."
"I don't doubt it for a second, but I'm not the one causing this. I wasn't planning on Special Forces to send in one of their best officers. I was planning on some rookie like Sanchez or the other two. Hell, if not for Karen, Sonya would've walked out last night. I really didn't recognize her. But Karen spotted her the second she came in with you. I promised Karen when she started working for me Sonya's blood. But, with her reputation, I never thought it would be this easy."
"If you're not doing it, then stop it, before they hurt her bad."
"Karen handles that, not me. I do the fights. Besides, Kano said she kicked your ass. And you're sitting here worried sick about her? Was she worried about you when she broke your nose? How about when she took out your knee?"
"He threatened her son. I'd kick my ass if I tried to stop me, too."
"Maybe you are as stupid as Kano says you are."
"If that means I'm nothing like you two, I'm fine with being stupid. I didn't sell my humanity for a couple of pieces of intel, or did you get a little more than that." He laughs, slapping me. I spit in his face.
"Yeah, you are that stupid. She's getting what Karen thinks she deserves."
"Karen's a sick bitch."
"Gotta love her, huh?"
"I'm gonna love watching Sonya break her foot off in that bitch's ass."
"I doubt she'll have the strength, when Karen's done."
"Paybacks are hell, Marcus."
"I wouldn't know. No one's ever lived long enough to pay me back. Kano has a doctor coming in to look at your knee."
"After he checks on Sonya, we'll see."
"I told you, her leg's being handled."
"I'll believe it when I see it."
"You'll believe it when I tell you to believe it."
"Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't make myself clear," I get inches from his face, "UNTIL I SEE HER LEG BANDAGED, NO ONE'S TOUCHING ME, ARE WE CLEAR?"
"You're lucky Kano's got money on you."
"Do you need a hearing aid? ARE WE CLEAR?"
"Crystal."
"Good," He walks out, obviously pissed. Fuck him. I can't wait to get my hands on his sorry ass. Jax, wherever you are, you better find us soon. The door opens suddenly, and Sonya, unconscious, is thrown in. The door slams shut again. I try to pick her up, and feel the knee go again. Who am I kidding? It probably never came back the first time. I drag her to the bed, and barely get her on it. I HATE THIS KNEE! I stretch it out, trying to put more weight on it. Wonderful. I pull the jeans up, and find it doubled in size. Tonight's gonna be a real blast. I try to walk it off. Sonya slowly comes through, almost doubling over. I gently take her shoulder, "You're OK."
"That why I feel like I've been hit by a bus?"
"It'll pass. Rest." She painfully sits up.
"Fuck that. How's the knee?"
"It's fine."
"Show me."
"I said it's fine."
"And I said show me."
"It's fine."
"Jess, don't make me get up," I sigh, pulling the pant leg up again. She gasps, "Oh, shit."
"It's fine. It's you I'm worried about."
"Fine? You're knee's shot."
"It'll be fine. It works itself out. Besides, Marcus has some crackpot doctor coming in to look at it. I guess being Kano's investment has its advantages. You OK? I heard you screaming."
"I'm alive."
"That good, huh?" She laughs, laying back.
"Yeah, I haven't gotten my ass kicked this well in a long time."
"I bet. Just imagine how much you're gonna enjoy thumping their skulls when this is over."
"Why do you think I'm laughing." She laughs, evilly, as a doctor is led in at gunpoint by two men.
"Which one of you is Jessie?"
"I don't know. It's so hard to keep up with it, you know?"
"You must be Jessie." He looks past me, and to Sonya.
"What makes you say that?"
"You don't look bad enough to be one of Marcus' psychos." Sonya and I both laugh.
"Actually, I'm Jessie, but you're checking on her first."
"I'm only getting paid for you."
"Check on her, or leave," The men point the guns at me, "Go ahead. You can explain to Kano how he lost all that money because you two idiots got trigger happy."
"That's not necessary. She obviously needs medical attention."
"Chee, ya think?" He smirks at me.
"Gentlemen, wait outside. I examine my patients in private." The men leave, closing the door, as he moves towards me.
"You're checking her first."
"Don't trust me?"
"About as much as I trust them." He laughs, as I move out of the way.
"Smart girl." He roughly grabs her leg, causing her to wince.
"You do that again, you're gonna need a doctor."
"It's OK, Jess."
"Do you want me to check her, or not," He cuts the pant leg up, revealing severe burns around the bullet hole, "Someone doesn't like you."
"You don't have enough paper for that list, doc."
"Did they take out the bullet first?"
"I don't know. I don't remember." He sprays it with an antiseptic, and raps it tight.
"I would prescribe rest, but I doubt this idiots would care. Lift up your shirt."
"I usually like dinner and a movie first." I laugh, as she pulls the shirt to just under her chest.
"Jesus Christ," He presses on her bruised midsection, and she shoves his hand away, "There's no way I can tell what kind of internal damage you have without my equipment."
"I can tell you. I've got at least two cracked ribs."
"And you're conscious?"
"I've had worse."
"If you have, I'm impressed," He turns his attention to me, "OK, now can I do my job?"
"Why, you can't do anything about it."
"Let me be the judge of that." I pull the pant leg up. He examines it, "You're right."
"Duh, you sure?"
"The only thing I can do is give you a shot of pain killer."
"I don't need it."
"Sure you do." He pulls the syringe from his bag, and loads it with pain killer.
"I don't know what you think you're gonna do with that, but you ain't coming near me."
"This won't hurt a bit," He walks to Sonya, and slides the cut pant leg up. Palming the needle, he reaches slightly higher than the cut pants would reveal, and injects it into her leg. She winces, closing her eyes, as he takes the needle out, and walks to me. He pricks my knee with the needle, and puts a band-aid on it, "Now, was that SO bad?"
"I didn't feel a thing. You're OK, doc."
"I have my moments," He leans over, whispering, "Besides, she needs it more."
"Yeah."
"Weren't you gonna kick my ass a couple of minutes ago?"
"Hey, I never said I was perfect." He puts the syringe back in his bag.
"You're protective of your friend, that's not a bad thing, especially in this place."
"Thanks," He tosses me a bottle of pills, "What are these?"
"Perkasets. Take two every six hours with food, if you get any."
"I do. Thanks again."
"Don't mention it. EVER."
"Can you help us?"
"They watch me closer than you two. I'll be back to check on you tomorrow."
"The knee feels better. Thanks."
"Hey, only the best for Kano's investment." He winks, knocks on the door, and leaves. A guard opens up the door, and leaves a tray and a six pack of coke. I look to Sonya, who's out cold. Dreamspace. No pain, no hurt, just peace. I wish I could keep her there. Keep her away from them. She's tough enough to handle them. No question about that. But, she doesn't deserve this. I shake my head, leaning against the wall. I have to do something. I need to end this before they fuck her up worse than she is now. This is my fault. I've gotta do something to make it right. I couldn't stop her from coming with me. God, this was a mistake. One she's paying for. Raiden sent me to help her? I can't even stop this. I gently take her burnt hand.
"God, Sonya, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry." I feel her squeeze my hand, as she sits up.
"This isn't your fault, Jess. None of this is your fault."
"I have to stop it."
"Just let it go. I can hold my own."
"I want to stop this, before she kills you."
"Don't worry about me. I can handle it."
"I can't," I said, choking back tears, "I didn't mean to get you hurt."
"You didn't hurt me. You've never hurt me."
"I caused this." She raps her arm tight around my neck. Oh, shit.
"No, you didn't. You're beating yourself up over something you can't control. It's a waste of energy."
"If they keep this up, they'll kill you."
"She doesn't want me dead, Jess. She wants me suffering. Before I got that shot, I was. When it wears off, I will be, but I'm not now. Pain and I are old friends. It visits once in a while to remind me not to get stupid. As far as me dying, I got a news flash for you and that bitch. I did not survive countless missions, four tournaments, five years in hell, and childbirth to buy the farm from a bitch and a dick swinging contest." I laugh, as she tightens her grip on my neck one more time before letting me go.
"I don't know why I'm worried about you. You're fine."
"No, I'm high. Right now, I'm not feeling much of anything, thanks to you."
"I wish I could do something to help."
"You are. You're gonna win, that's what I need."
"These clowns dropped off a six pack of coke. You thirsty?"
"Extremely." We split the sandwich and two cokes before Marcus walks in.
"You satisfied?" Three guys move toward Sonya.
"Keep them away from her."
"I told you, I don't control that."
"Let her go, Marcus. I told you, I'll do this for shits and giggles. Don't hurt her anymore."
"Don't plead with this fucker over me. I can take whatever he wants to give."
"You don't deserve this, Sonya."
"Actually, I was going to take her with you. But, if you prefer I leave her here...."
"At least if she's with me, you can't fuck with her."
"Sure I can." One of the men reaches for her. I grab his arm, and shove it back towards him.
"Try it again, and you won't have an arm to try it with."
"Jessie . . ."
"No, Sonya. I've made this mistake once, I won't do it again. NEXT ONE THAT REACHES FOR HER GETS THEIR ASS HANDED TO THEM!"
"You love to push your luck, don't you?"
"Try me, superstar. I'll make you famous." He laughs.
"Where do you come up with all of those witty catch phrases?"
"You wouldn't understand, and I don't have twenty six years to explain it to your dumb ass."
"You're right, you don't. If you don't leave soon, you'll be late." I help Sonya up. As soon as her feet touch the ground, she's handcuffed. We're lead to a limo, and driven to the next fight. The lead Sonya roughly to an office, as I step up to the ring.