Disclaimer: Why can't you people just leave me alone? Haven't you crushed enough of my dreams already? I know I don't own it but you don't have to rub it in…
Rating: PG or PG-13. I'm not sure why all of my stories are so nice and kid approved, but I think it has something to do with the fact that I'm still not allowed to watch R rated movies. Sad huh?
Summary: Okay I think I have a summary for this one. (Clears throat.) In this chapter Angelo runs off to contact the "friends" he mentioned in the last chapter, and when a certain one finds out what's been done, what needs to be done is realized and Chaos tries to break free of its chains.
Author's note!!!: Thank you ever so much for your reviews, you guys are the best!
Feedback: (ShadowElf managed to escape Maverick's soldiers by a stroke of luck, and is halfway to the portal summoning area she needs to be at. She is traveling by farms at the moment, and notices a horse.) Hmm. I do have some miles to go; perhaps this kind and noble creature will assist me. [She walks over to the fence and holds out her hand for the horse to smell.] That's it girl or uh, boy. [She climbs onto the fence and prepares to get onto the horse] Easy now, easy… [She jumps on and the horse whinnies and rears, then begins galloping like crazy all around the fenced area.] AHHHH!!! [The horse moves to the side of the fence and bucks Shadow Elf off, who flies through the air and lands face down in a patch of mud. She sputters and coughs and then raises her head with fury in her eyes]
Kind and noble creature my ass…
Quote: (This is a new part I'm adding to my usual Disclaimer, Rating, {etc} lineup)
"A writer doesn't die of heart failure, but of typographical errors."----Isaac Bashevis Singer
--------ShadowElfBard
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4:34 PM
Blue Cove, Delaware
The Centre
Ex-Pursuit Team's Main Office
Ms. Parker looked around at the near empty room and sighed. It had been increasingly hard to keep up her "ice queen" image over the past few days with all that had happened. She had to admit, she was worried. She'd been worried for Broots when he'd told her he couldn't leave. It had scared her. Her, the independent and icy woman that could with a mere glance send people cowering in fear behind their desks, had been scared.
Then when she'd found out that Jarod had been brought back, by god she'd wanted to blow her brothers brains out! But at the same time, a small, faintly glowing fire kept burning inside of her since childhood, became filled with immense sorrow. Though no one here would ever know it, not even Dr. Freud, she…felt, something for Jarod. She hadn't even been sure for the past few months if she'd be able to bring him in if she had the chance. Well, she didn't have to worry about that now. She wouldn't have to worry about him at all seeing as she was being moved up to corporate.
She smiled grimly. Yes, her dear father had decided that since she hadn't brought Jarod in, she still couldn't leave. But he cared ever so much for his "angel", (yeah right), that he'd given her orders to move to one of the higher up branches in the Centre. She also noticed ironically, that it was far, far away from Jarod. What a coincidence.
She heard someone come in and saw Sydney and Broots enter, probably coming back to clear out their desks and move on to their new positions.
"Hello Broots, Freud." She said, acknowledging each in turn.
Sydney gave her a small smile. "Hello to you Ms. Parker."
Broots gave a nervous grin and just acknowledged her with a wave.
Ms. Parker walked over to them slowly, her arms crossed. "So. What pathetic excuse for jobs were you two saddled with?"
Sydney frowned angrily. "I'll be working with some of the patients in the Centre infirmary who need psychological treatment or who are working with hypo-kinetic conditions."
Broots shuffled his feet. "I've been let off the hook of the Centre's suspicions, but they're moving me to work with the other techs on the third floor." His hands shook with frustration. "Third floor techs! It's, why it's downright demeaning! They know I can do better than that but those, those, paranoid bastards are still afraid that I've betrayed them."
Ms. Parker and Sydney both stared at Broots in shock.
"Wow Broots," Ms. Parker said tauntingly, "it seems that the trip you took with that project of Raines grew you a backbone."
"I'll say." Came a smooth voice from the door.
Broots kept looking at Ms. Parker, not wanting to turn around. He knew that voice, he knew that voice. He then swallowed and looked at the door reluctantly. Sh-t.
Lyle gave a smooth smile. "'Paranoid bastards' eh?"
"I-I didn't know Mr. Lyle, I-I mean I, uh--"
"Keep cool Broots," Ms. Parker said, glaring at her twin. She narrowed her eyes. "What do you want?"
He put his hands in the pockets of his white Armani suit. "Can't a brother come and to see his sister for no reason but to tell her how much he loves her?"
"No."
He grabbed at his chest in mock pain. "Oh sis, I'm hurt."
"Not yet." She growled at him.
He just gave his irritating grin. "Dear old dad just wanted to make sure that you guys are clearing out okay." He glanced around the room. "Are you almost finished?"
Ms. Parker gave a coy smile that didn't reach her eyes. "I don't see what the point is, we'll just be returning here in a few days."
Lyle snorted softly. "Not likely. The lab rat isn't escaping this time." He looked over at Sydney. "By the way Syd, I'd be glad to drop off some copies of Jarod's new Sims if you want." His eyes lit up cruelly. "They're very entertaining."
Sydney clenched his fists at his side, trying to calm his breathing. "No thank you Mr. Lyle."
He shrugged. "Suit yourself." He flashed one more smile at Ms. Parker before he left. "Bye sis, I'll be sure to tell dad that everything's going fine." Then he was gone.
Broots groaned and buried his face in his hands. "I bad-mouthed the Centre in front of Lyle! I'm such an idiot!"
Ms. Parker bit back a mean spirited agreement. "No you're not Broots. You're a kind man and a wonderful father." Then she turned and went back to packing up some of the things in the room before she could see the amazed looks from Broots and Sydney that she knew were occupying their features.
They all returned to packing in silence, when an air duct over the middle of the room started rocking, and the door to it flew open, dropping Angelo on the floor with a thud.
Ms. Parker turned around in a fluid movement and brought her gun out in front of her. "Okay who the he-" she stopped and lowered her gun. "Angelo?"
Broots gasped and Sydney rushed forward to see if the empath was all right.
Angelo waved Sydney away and stood shakily. "No! Angelo fine. Need Daughter and friends."
Ms. Parker looked at him curiously but Sydney spoke. "Why do you need us Angelo?"
"Jarod confused." He clutched at his head and grabbed his hair. "Forgot, forgot everything…not safe, in pain…"
They all exchanged worried glances and Ms. Parker felt her stomach churn. While Sydney was calming Angelo down she turned to the tech.
"Broots, Syd's dog is obviously worried about Wonder boy. I would be a fool to ignore something that could possibly be endangering a profitable Centre investment." She looked at Broots meaningfully and he got the idea.
"Of course Ms. Parker." Broots said carefully. "I'll check on it immediately." He ran off to go to level three and search the Centre's database for Jarod's location.
Ms. Parker looked down at the worried empath and the man trying to soothe him. "Hurry Broots," she whispered.
9:47 PM
Blue Cove, Delaware
The Centre
SL-27 Holding Block 24
CP 1 was cold.
He cold see nothing around him but immeasurable darkness and he shivered from the frosty bite of the air in the void.
He walked in no particular direction and was looking about him all the time. He suddenly felt the need to look down and saw that he was at the edge of the dark and now in front of him was a vast expanse of water. No…wait, not water. It was clear, and it was odorless, but it wasn't water. He frowned. Then he saw something out in the middle of…of whatever this liquid was. It was a raised circular platform, pure white and it looked made of marble or ivory. He stared at it a moment and noticed the steel bars around its edges, forming a round cage.
There was something in there too. He squinted his eyes as he tried to see. It was a man, standing with his head down. The man slowly brought his face up and stared at CP 1. Their eyes met, and CP 1 realized something shocking.
The eyes he was looking into were his own.
Almost immediately he was assaulted by images.
A girl with elven ears and emerald eyes…
FLASH!
Cruel laughter, a descent into darkness…
FLASH!
A man in a suit, grinning in the light…
FLASH!
Pain! In his arm…a needle!
CP1 screamed, the sound ear shattering and strangely hollow. He took a step back, horrified, then looked down and saw that he was over the liquid. He shouted as he fell in, and began kicking and flailing violently, but he was like a lead weight, and slowly began plummeting down. He was sinking and couldn't swim up, the light past the surface of the water became farther and farther away and he, he couldn't breathe. The liquid filled his lungs and he faded…
With a deep intake of air CP 1 awoke from his nightmare. He looked around frantically and fearfully, but calmed as he realized that it had been just a dream. What a strange nightmare that had been… Then he smiled. He'd tell Mr. Raines and Mr. Lyle about it in the morning. They'd know what to do.
He nodded, reassuring himself, and then he settled down to sleep once more.
10:02 PM
Blue Cove, Delaware
The Centre
SL-27 Holding Block 23
Elf 17's eyes stung with pain and weariness. She would never show any emotion in the Centre, and knew she couldn't, but it had been hard to keep from crying after the abomination had been fixed around her neck.
She now sat on top of the thin blankets of her berth, looking around in the dark. This cell could easily pass for her last one, were it not for the scent and obvious upgrade in security. Raines had been so excited about her discovered worth that he hadn't been able to wait until morning to move her down to her new cell.
SL-27, the floor where all of the Centre's most important and well-guarded living projects were held. She'd last heard that there were only five housed "residents" down here. She'd passed four of the lower valued cells and occupants as she was walked through 27's hall to her own cell.
When she'd looked inside those rooms, she'd seen assassins. Each of the three people had had that look in their eyes. It had been the look of cold and calculating minds and vessels void of emotions. It had been the look of total emptiness, programmed golems, and unfeeling servants.
It had been the look of killers.
She doubted that the people in those cells were even human.
They were machines. Numb machines not weighted down or held back by ethics or morals. She'd had to admit, she'd been scared after looking in there. She was glad that the last occupant's cell hadn't been open enough to look into. She wasn't sure that she wanted to see what horror lied in that room.
For a moment she considered the possibility that Jarod was somewhere on this floor, but she chuckled and shook away the ridiculous thought. They'd probably built an entirely new sub-level just for him.
Suddenly Elf 17's eyes flashed with pain. God she hoped he escaped soon. Raines and Lyle were becoming very cunning in the way they handled things. If he didn't get out soon, he might not be able to at all…
10:15 PM
Blue Cove, Delaware
The Centre
Level Three, Tech Room
Broots, red eyed and half-dead, let out a quiet exclamation of joy. Finally, he was in.
He'd been working non-stop, trying to get the information Ms. Parker had so subtly told him to retrieve. However, it had been easier said than done. The Centre had obviously feared someone trying to find the exact information Broots had been told to find, and they'd set up nearly sixty different traps and false paths in the mainframe to catch anyone who was unlucky enough to be searching without necessary safety precautions and experience.
Too bad for the Centre that Broots wasn't unskilled in what he did.
He'd been extremely careful in his search, knowing that he was tiptoeing through a minefield. He'd avoided the traps set up by being able to change his server every two seconds so that it would be virtually impossible for anyone to track him down directly. Though it hadn't been easy, he'd safely retrieved the data. Now all he had to do was deliver the info to Ms. Parker and she'd know what to do with it.
If I wasn't so tired, Broots thought, I'd probably be whistling "Zippity Doo Da" right now.
He shrugged and settled for a smile as he went to tell Ms. Parker what the fruits of his labor had to provide.
10:25 PM
Blue Cove, Delaware
The Centre
Ms. Parker's Private Office
"Is this true Broots?" Ms. Parker whispered. She was seated at her desk, with Broots standing in front of her and Sydney over by Angelo in the corner.
He nodded grimly and Ms. Parker looked back down at the papers. She couldn't believe that even the Centre could be so…no, wait, scratch that. She could believe it. She could believe it with surprising ease. The thing that really got her though, was that her father had signed this order. She'd have to talk to him about that.
"What is it Ms. Parker?" Sydney asked in confusion. "What has the Centre done?"
"You tell him Broots, I can't trust myself not to begin cussing and shouting." She responded quietly.
"Oh, uh, sure. Yeah, okay." Broots turned to Sydney. "Well, um right now Jarod is being held in SL-27." He licked his dry lips nervously. "They've, they've given him a drug induced amnesia. He's been performing Sims and from what that paper says, he can't even remember his own name."
Angelo squeaked as he felt the surge of emotion go through Sydney. Sydney quickly realized that his anger and loathing was affecting the empath so he took some deep breaths to calm down. Angelo gave a relaxed sigh and then returned to standing impassively, his eyes closed and content once more.
Sydney focused on his breathing to keep down his emotion as he spoke. "They've given him amnesia? With what drug?"
Broots thought back to the paper. "Um, something called CW-A-41." He shrugged to show his ignorance of its properties. "All I know about it is that it was created about a month ago in the testing labs."
Sydney went quiet and bit his tongue. It was becoming increasingly hard to stay calm when his protégé was below in a dark corner of SL-27, not knowing who he was. He became pained and then felt Angelo patting his arm. He looked over at the empath who gazed at Sydney with sympathy and understanding.
"Sydney sad." He said softly.
"Yes Angelo. I am very sad, but I'll be fine."
"Well I won't be, and neither will my brother once I get a hold of him." Ms. Parker growled with ferocity as she snapped a pencil she'd been holding in half. She stood up and started walking out.
"W-where are you going Ms. P?" Broots asked nervously.
"To SL-27," she replied, never once looking back. Then she was out the door.
Sydney's eyes widened. "Broots! We have to stop her!"
"Stop her? I thought you knew Ms. Parker Sydney. There's no way we can change her mind now."
"Well we have to do something Broots! The sweepers haven't been told that we're not allowed to go down but the technicians manning the security cameras probably have orders from Raines!"
Broots paled. "Oh no, Ms. Parker could be in big trouble Syd." He chewed on his thumbnail then snapped his fingers. "I got it! Look, you go down with her, I'll meet you there!" Then he rushed out, running with all of the power in his thin legs.
Sydney turned to Angelo. "Come on Angelo, we have to go help Ms. Parker."
Angelo nodded in conference and they both went to go after the director's daughter.
10:46 PM
Blue Cove, Delaware
The Centre
SL-27 Holding Block 24
Ms. Parker strode down through the sub-levels with a determination that caused sweepers to move out of her way without even a word. Something in her eyes told them that she wasn't in the mood to be questioned on where she was going. Besides, she was the Director's daughter. She only had the Centre's best interests at heart right?
Ms. Parker nearly growled at the two people guarding the entrance to Sub-Level 27 and they both yelped and moved aside. She was about to go through when a familiar voice called out to her to stop.
She turned around. "What is it Dr. Freud?"
Sydney stood straight and looked her in the eyes. "Angelo and I are coming with you."
She raised a finely curved eyebrow but then nodded, accepting his worry for his former pupil. She turned around to enter when one of the guards found his voice.
"Uh M-M-Ms. P-Parker, we uh, we aren't all-allowed to uh, let them th-through." The sweeper said shakily, pointing over at Sydney and Angelo.
She glared at him and the other guard hastily replied, "we don't have anything against you ma'm but well, it goes against our orders."
She smiled sweetly at him and went over and whispered something into his ear. His face turned bleach white and he moved out of the way and began waving her in.
"Thanks," she told him, and then went in. Sydney and Angelo also entered, without any trouble at all from the two now severely frightened sweepers.
"The two sweepers won't tell anyone we've come, and if Broots decides to show up then he'll be allowed in." Ms. Parker told Sydney, walking confidently as always.
Angelo leaned over to Sydney, and whispered as if sharing a secret. "Sweepers scared. Sweepers really, really scared."
Sydney felt like laughing out loud. There wasn't a person on this planet besides Jarod who wasn't scared of Ms. Parker when she was angry. The woman was a panther.
They went by three different cells, and Sydney blanched as he looked inside of them. The faces that greeted him were frighteningly empty of expression.
They reached the end of the hall and stopped, seeing a steel door on either sides of the walls, both without windows or real identifying markings of any kind. Ms. Parker crossed her arms and tapped her high-heeled foot impatiently. Besides not knowing what room was Jarod's, there were two numbered access pads on the doors. She hadn't planned on that.
Everyone turned around through, when they heard someone running towards them. Ms. Parker drew her gun and Sydney told Angelo to get behind him.
Broots skidded around the corner, but was wearing sneakers and slipped on the just-waxed floor. He crashed into he wall and dropped to the ground. He shook his head, and stood up groaning.
"Oh man they should put some signs up or something." He looked at Ms. Parker's drawn gun and let out a small cry of surprise. He covered his face with his arms. "Ms. Parker it's me!"
She kept her face expressionless but there was a slight twinkle of amusement in her eyes. "I know it's you Broots. I'm just wondering if shooting you would be considered a mercy killing."
He lowered his arms and frowned, then rubbed his back where he'd rammed into the wall.
Sydney smiled and looked at his friend expectantly. "We're safe Broots?"
He nodded. "Yep, got it all set."
Ms. Parker crossed her arms. "You have what 'all set?'"
"Oh, well I had to somehow make sure that us going to see Jarod wouldn't show up on security so I, well, I got the tech in charge of the SL-27 cells out of the way."
"And how did you accomplish that Broots?"
He smiled, a bit embarrassed. " I um, I told him I'd watch the monitor and got him to go get donuts at Krispy Kreme."
She widened her eyes appreciatively. "Good job Broots. But how do you know when he'll come back?"
He snorted softly. "You obviously don't know how far away the nearest Krispy Kreme is. He'll be gone for hours."
Sydney looked confused. "But why wouldn't he just go somewhere closer?"
Broots looked at him in shock. "And give up their high quality jelly-filled donuts? It would be like Ms. Parker buying overalls at a yard sale instead of her designer skirts."
Ms. Parker shuddered from the thought and then cleared her throat to draw Broots attention to the matter at hand. "Broots? You can pat yourself on the back later. We need to know which room is Jarod's and how to get past the access pad."
Broots walked over to the door on the left. "That one's his, and while I was in the security room I checked up on previous recordings. I saw the numbers Raines entered to get in."
"Well what are you waiting for? An invitation?"
He scurried over and began pressing buttons. The light on the pad shined green and the door unlocked.
Ms. Parker walked in first, a bit nervous. She didn't know what to expect, and seeing the pretender at all always made her stomach clench. She chided herself for feeling like a schoolgirl again.
They entered and then turned on the light. The room was pretty large actually, and there were normal needs, a toilet, a sink, and some not-so-normal things like cameras. But what drew their attention was the man sitting on the bed, looking at them with curiosity and kicking his legs at nothing. He had his hands folded in his lap and Ms. Parker felt like she was a child again, meeting Jarod for the first time or, giving him that secret kiss.
"Hello." He said cheerfully. "Have you come to ask me to sim?"
Sydney and Broots exchanged worried looks. Something wasn't right here…
Angelo went and sat in a corner, hugging his knees and rocking back and forth muttering incoherently to himself. Jarod looked at him strangely but turned back to the others.
Ms. Parker swallowed. "No, we just want to talk to you." She felt the strange need to talk to him like a child, though she was afraid Jarod would suddenly get angry at her for speaking to him like that, but strangely he almost seemed at ease with how she spoke to him, almost comforted by it.
"You want to talk to me?" he asked, furrowing his brow. "Have I done something wrong?"
"No, no." Sydney said quickly. "We just want to ask how you are, and how you are doing here."
"I'm doing all right Dr. Green." He said, and Sydney nearly jumped at being referred to by his last name.
"You know who I am?"
"Yes sir. Mister Raines had me sim you for a test trial earlier."
Sydney blinked in surprise but was interrupted by Ms. Parker before he could say anything.
"Do you know what your name is?" She asked him quietly, becoming lost in his pure and innocent eyes.
He nodded and smiled. "Yes ma'm. My name is CP 1. I belong to the Centre," He added on cheerfully.
Broots looked like he was going to be sick. Sydney was saddened and Ms. Parker clenched her fists and held back tears. How could they have done this to him? It was wrong, it was just plain wrong. No one should be able to hurt him like this. Not like this…
Jarod suddenly looked over at Angelo and turned his head inquisitively as he stared at him. "Is something wrong with him? He doesn't seem to be doing so well."
Sydney knew that they shouldn't stay here any longer. "Actually, you're right…CP 1." Sydney said the foul name trying to keep his distaste for it out of his voice. "I think we have to be going now."
He looked at Ms. Parker meaningfully, and with a sigh she nodded. Then she looked back over at the man she felt so strongly for. Sydney helped Angelo stand up and the two of them left the room with Broots, Sydney giving Ms. Parker a look of understanding before he closed the door.
Ms. Parker then walked over to Jarod, and he just stared at her curiously. She was still holding back tears, tears that she'd held back all her life. Then she bent over and gently gave him a kiss on his forehead.
"Goodbye." She told him and left the room.
When she'd joined the others outside she fumed with fury. "I'm going to kill them!" she nearly screamed and Sydney tried to calm her down.
"Please Ms. Parker!" he hissed. "I'm just as angry as you are but you have to be quiet!"
She stomped her foot. "Well we have to do something Syd! I won't leave him like this!"
"I don't want to either but," he swallowed against his next words. "I don't even know if the drug's effects can be reversed."
"Soul can be freed." Angelo spoke softly, and everyone turned to look at him in surprise. "Soul can be freed. Need the Elf."
Broots instantly understood. "Angelo, do you mean Elf 17?"
Angelo nodded. "Elf can help Jarod. Elf can free Jarod…before its too late."
11:05 PM
Blue Cove, Delaware
The Centre
SL-27 Holding Block 23
Elf 17 pulled her ear back from the wall. She couldn't believe all that she'd heard. Jarod was here, on this very floor even! But from the sound of it, he wasn't fully here in both mind and body.
She wondered why Ms. Parker, Sydney, Angelo, and Broots had come down but then smiled. She knew why, it was the same reason he hadn't been caught for so long. They all liked him. They were all his friends. The lucky guy.
She sat down on the floor. But right now she had to figure everything out. It sounded like Jarod had forgotten everything, like he didn't even know who the hell he was. The Centre was notorious for its many drugs, but could they have actually given him something to block off his memories? Then she snorted softly. That was like asking if Ms. Parker's skirts were short. Or course they could! It was what the Centre was all about.
She bit her lip. She had to help him. She couldn't leave him like that. It was no wonder he hadn't escaped yet; he couldn't even remember his own name.
That was what got to her the most. It was one thing to put a collar around someone's neck, or to take away their freedom, but to take away someone's name…that was taking away their identity. She gazed sadly at the floor. She knew about identity loss all too well.
She began to shake with anger. No. She wouldn't let them take another name. He had earned his freedom, and by god she was going to give it back to him! The world needed him, he'd helped so many lives that he deserved to be free, he deserved to live knowing who he was and where he came from. She may not have a name, but he was going to have his.
Even if it was the last thing she did.
She grimaced. Of course, knowing the Centre, that could very well be true…
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Whew. You have no idea how hard I worked to get this up as soon as I did. I mean, when you have to go to school for nearly nine hours a day and finish homework, you don't get many chances to things like this. But hey, I had to make up for lost time right? So, anyways, hoped you enjoyed this latest installment, and I think I might use the whole "name" thing for a theme. It's original enough. Oh, and just for a reminder… PLEASE FOR THE LOVE OF ALL THINGS FICTION WRITE ME A REVIEW!!! Talk to you later!