Keemew2: 1 little 2little 3 little chapters. 4 little 5 little 6 little chapters. 7 little 8 little 9 little chapters. 9 little chapters in a row. Ya know, I am quite disappointed in you guys. I made this extra fast just for you guys and still NO reviews! I'm hurt. I'm genuinely hurt. Well, I'll keep updating and if you ever decide to review…. please do so.
Zoids
Ch. 9-The start of Depression
PG-13
General, Drama
"I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU LET THEM KEEP JAMIE!!" Leena screamed at the top of her lungs, "Don't you care what happens to him?" She asked a little quieter, but still too loud. Most of everyone had stayed away from the room. Only Steve, Oscar, and Leena were left and she was venting. "He's your son! You left him in their hands! You saw what they did to him!"
"Leena, I warn you to stop yelling right now young lady." Touros murmured to his daughter, "Take a good look at Oscar. He can't even hear you right now. Have you any idea how much this hurts him? Of course not. How could you? What would you do in his place Leena? Let Jamie die by staying? If we are to get Jamie back, if there is a way, Leena, that was not the way to do it." Leena, still glaring, looked at Oscar and noticed how defeated the man looked. Her face softened a little as she looked at him. Her father was right, Oscar hadn't heard a word she had said. He just sat there, looking forlorn. Looking as if the world had just fallen around his shoulders. She looked away, ashamed of how she had acted just then. She couldn't help it. She wanted Jamie back. He was almost like a little brother to her. She always took his presence for granted. Always figured he would be here. Why would somebody even want to think about taking him? He was a nice boy and wouldn't work for the Backdraft. Leena shook her head and left the room then, leaving Oscar and Steve by themselves. Steve walked over and put a hand on his friends' shoulder, feeling him flinch slightly under the touch.
"So, you are still with us, are you?" Steve murmured. Oscar didn't answer at first, but after a deep sigh he spoke.
"That-." Oscar began, but a lump stopped him so he tried again after swallowing, "That was what your were mad about, wasn't it? The ZBC knew about the drug, didn't they?"
Steve sighed, "They knew they had been experimenting in some parts of the back draft, a part most of the Organization didn't even know about. The Backdraft organization isn't what it appears to be. Remember what Stoller told us before? What we found out, just a little while ago?" Oscar gave a barley perceptible nod, one Steve almost missed, "I was going to tell them about it, but got side tracked when they mentioned Jamie. That's why I was talking to them in the first place. I wouldn't have even heard had I not called them. And I never did get to tell them what Stoller told us."
"I remember, but…I never realized that…."
"Neither did I." Stoller said walking up to them, "I would have warned you if I had. In fact, I would have left long ago had I known. Experimentation like that is not something I would like to be a part of."
"We will get him back Oscar." Steve said, "I will make sure personally that Jamie is returned, safe and sound. So will the kids. They love Jamie, Oscar. We are part of a family here. It may be hard to tell sometimes, but we are. We will get him back."
"You have my assistance." Stoller replied, "They still have Pierce, and I don't think Sanders will let me leave her behind." He grinned a little at the thought, "Plus, I always help my friends when they need it." Oscar turned to look at Stoller.
"I thought…."
"You thought what? That I wouldn't consider you a friend?" Stoller smiled, "Forget what I said earlier. I just wanted you to think that. I can't begrudge you, even if I tried. You didn't kill me did you? You could have killed me to keep me quiet; instead, you wounded me and left. I trust you with my life Oscar. I always will." Steve chuckled a little as he watched the two men. They looked at him curiously; wondering what he thought was so funny.
"I'm sorry you guys, but that conversation just has too much twisted logic. If some one were to walk in right now they would have absolutely no idea what you were talking about. I myself don't really know." Oscar smiled at his long time friend.
"Don't worry. Stoller confuses everybody he talks to. I'll tell you about that piece of past sometime after this is all over how's that?"
"Sounds good to me. Now we need to do some thinking."
Leena walked through the hall of the Hover Cargo trying to clear her head. They had stopped the Hover Cargo several miles away, but had not gone back to the base yet. No one wanted to pilot. Jamie was the pilot. It won't be the same without him.
She wanted to cry, but didn't really want the tears to fall, so she held them back. She walked out to the hanger and looked at the Zoids. The Reynos looked so lonely without Jamie. What were they going to do? She turned away from the Zoid and leaned against the railing. A sudden voice made her freeze and her anger welled up.
"HEY LEEEEEENA!" Harry shouted from down below
"What does he want?" Lena muttered to herself, a vein popping from her forehead. Running feet came closer and Harry was next to her sooner then she' expected.
"What do you want Harry?" She asked aggravatedly. She looked at him in time to see a happy smile disappear from his face replaced by a surprised hurt expression, but it dissolved quickly away and Harry had the smile again, if somewhat forced.
"Um…I have some good news for you guys. But if you don't want to hear it, I can just leave it with you guys and leave." She looked at him curiously if not suspiciously and noticed he had some files and a box in his arms. She reached out and grabbed his arm before he could go.
"What?" She asked
"Well, my father has been developing a highly state of the art tracking system and I convinced my father to send me the prototype. I thought it might be useful. It's in this box. You can track anything anywhere by use of the satellites scattered all over space. Any satellite. Weather, spy, weapons…"
"Spy? How do you find a spy satellite?"
"That's the beauty of it. You don't have to know where any satellites are. It automatically finds them for you. Though the draw back is, it goes through so many that you can't tell which one is a spy one, weapons one, or weather. Father was going to sell it to the ZBC, but I think you guys could use it right now. Well?" Leena looked at him for a minute then glared, the vein pooping out of her head again.
"I WILL NOT GO OUT WITH YOU! I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU WOLD USE THIS TO GET TO ME!" Harry stepped back, stricken by her anger and what she had said, "BRIBE ME FOR A DATE AT A TIME LIKE THIS! GET AWAY FROM ME!" Harry looked at her stunned. He didn't know what to say.
"That-" he swallowed hard, "It…wasn't…" He clumsily dropped the box and the files on the floor, scattering the papers. He quickly swooped the papers up and turned quickly, leaving as fast as he could.
"Stupid Harry. Always trying to get a date with me." She mumbled, but the look in his eyes troubled her. She looked at the box and she hoped it wasn't damaged. She brushed some of the loose papers Harry left behind in his hast away and picked it up. It wasn't very heavy. She turned around and headed for her room.
Harry stopped running at the door hatch that led to the out side, turned around, and saw Leena walk off with the box in her arms.
"At least she took the box." He murmured. He turned to leave and walked right into Bit.
"Whoa, what's with the look?" Bit asked. Harry looked at him dumbfoudedly.
"What are you doing out side." Harry asked, "I expected you inside like everyone else."
"Naw." Bit said resolutely, "Can't stay still and thought a walk would help. You look upset. What's wrong."
"Nothing." He murmured
"What are you doing here anyway?"
"I…gave something to Leena…to give to her dad. Um, I should really go now."
"No way." Bit said, his curiosity getting the better of him, as usual. "What did you bring?"
"Bit, I would really like to leave now." Harry said coldly.
"Whoa." Bit was shocked. "Sorry Harry, but not with that tone. You never talk like that. Something is really wrong. Tell me, it might make you feel better." Harry sighed.
"What would it matter to you? You don't care! You'd be happy if I gave up wouldn't you? Have her all to your self! Well, guess what! You can now have her!" Harry tried to push Bit out of the way but Bit shoved him down flat to the ground. Harry looked up at Bit in surprise.
"Is this about Leena or something?" Bit asked, only she could make him act like this. She could make the calmest man act like this. "How many times do I have to tell you! I DON'T CARE ABOUT LEENA!" Harry looked at him in shock.
"How could you not? She is the most beautiful creature that laid grace upon this earth! No man in their right mind would deny that fact!"
"Really? All I ever see is a trigger happy creature that loves to blast her teammates into oblivion if they steal her cupcakes."
"You would dare steal her cupcakes?"
"Oh, yeah, you sure catch the important facts, don't you?"
"I can't help it. I love everything about her. I openly admit my love for her. She has this…untamable wildness about her. Something no man could ever touch and not leave without a scratch. To me, the sun won't rise with out her. She is the center of my universe."
"Is that more love philosophy or somthin?" Harry stared at him and blinked twice.
"You have no room in your life for romance, do you?"
"No. That's the way I like."
"I see."
"Well, you don't seem to be too upset anymore. Care to talk about what it was that had you so down?"
"I guess." Harry sighed dejectedly, "You won't leave me alone unless I do right?"
"You got that right."
"It's Leena. She just hurt me, that's all. I brought something to help you guys locate Jamie. It's a very high tech tracking system that…" He looked at Bit and shook his head, "Never mind what it is. I don't think you'd understand, but anyway, I brought it here and Leena suddenly yelled at me for no reason at all. She, well, she said she would never go out with me and to get out of her sight."
"You asked her that?" Bit asked incredulously.
"NO!!!" Harry shouted, "What kind of gentleman do you think I am? And that's the thing. She automatically assumed that I had shallow intentions! I'm not that shallow Bit! Really, I'm not! I admit, I can be at times, but not when it's something like this! If I was…I wouldn't be so persistent in trying to get Leena romantically." He finished softly. "I would simply just try to buy her off. But I want to be as sincere as possible to her right now. To show her that I do care. That my love is true and nothing will ever conquer that love, not even death." Bit listened closely, trying to figure out just why Harry felt this way about HER.
"Well, one things for sure. You do sound sincere about this.
"That's because I am."
"Well, than, don't leave."
"Excuse me?"
"Don't leave. Convince her by staying. Help us out by more then just that techno doohicky thing. Bring out your two bots and Three Zoids and Help us get Jamie back. Then, after all this is done, talk to Leena."
"You know, that just might work. Thanks Bit, you're a real pal."
"No problem.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Jamie opened his eyes, once again, wondering how many more times he would wake up like this. Then an image of the hover cargo going away came to mind. Why would it do that? What had happened after he fell asleep with Shasta? He sat up and looked around, making his head spin.
"Ah, so you're awake!" Jamie froze at the sound of the voice, his nerves going cold. What did he want? "How are you feeling? The affects wearing off alright?" Jamie looked at Marker, trying not to let the man know he was scared.
"What do you want?" Jamie asked. Marker looked at him innocently.
"Nothing! Nothing at all. I just want to know how you are feeling, that's all." Jamie didn't feel the urge to tell him anything and he realized that the drug had warn off. He just stared at Marker for a minute and glared.
"I see you won't answer me." Marker said suddenly cold. "It doesn't' matter." He walked over to Jamie and lifted him by the shirt. "I'll have what I want." The look in his eyes made Jamie shiver involuntarily which made Marker grin maliciously. Suddenly Marker swung his fist at Jamie making contact with his face. Pain shot through him as his neck snapped over and Marker threw him to the floor. He landed hard face first. "You will not disrespect me!" Jamie raised himself a little off the floor and noticed blood where he landed. His cheek was flaming from the pain. He put a hand to his nose and felt it. It wasn't broken, but it was sore. Suddenly Marker lifted him up and turned him toward him. Do you have anything to say to me now?" He asked coldly. Cold fear ran threw Jamie, then hot anger.
"I have nothing to say to you. When the others find me-," Marker cut him off with a sharp laugh.
"They won't do a thing. They already came and left. They don't care. Why would they? What use are you to them? They aren't your family. They aren't even your friends. They are your wards. Why do you think they left you? They are tired of keeping you."
"Th-they….left?" The picture of the Hover Cargo leaving him on the ship appeared in his mind again. It wasn't a dream? They left? No! They wouldn't! Would they? "They couldn't! You're lying!" Jamie yelled furiously. Marker laughed coldly at Jamie.
"You only delay the inevitable! The truth will hit you sooner or later! You're useless to them! However, here! Here, you can be someone! You have that marvelous Zoid now!"
"They wouldn't do that!" Jamie yelled, but the fury had dispersed and he was trying to convince himself of it now. Marker couldn't be right, could he? "They…. Wouldn't! They….they're my…."
"Your what? Family? I already told you. They don't care a wit about you. Your nothing to them!" Marker pushed Jamie into a chair and leaned forward a little, "Face it Jamie. They don't want you. Your father doesn't want you. He never did. Why do you think he sent you to them in the fist place? Trust me. Your better off with us. Forget about them." Marker then called Williams in from the hall.
"Private!"
"Yes sir?"
"Take this kid back to the girl. I think he needs some time to himself. Tell Harper to get the girl. I….need to talk with her." Williams looked at Jamie's dazed disbelieving expression.
"What's wrong? I thought you gave him the antidote to the drug."
"I did. He doesn't want to believe that his so called friends didn't care enough to help him."
"But-" Marker interrupted him before he could go on.
"I know. He will get used to the idea and start following my orders as soon as he realizes the truth." Anger filled Williams, but he kept his temper under control, making sure it wasn't visible, but only inwardly seething.
"Yes sir. I will take the kid to the cell, then Find Harper to take the girl to you. I could-"
"You'll do nothing. You seem to be rather….susceptible to her innocence and charm. That is not very efficient you know. You need more discipline."
"Yes sir!" Williams walked over to Jamie and grabbed his arm. Jamie jerked out of his grip and ran for the door, but Marker was already there. He grabbed Jamie by the neck and squeezed a little, then slammed him, against the wall.
"And where would you be going? I wouldn't know where, because you don't have anywhere to go. The only ones who care about your well being are right here. You notice your still alive, right?" He grinned as Jamie's eyes bulged a little. Something in the back of Jamie's mind screamed at him not to listen, but why shouldn't he? Marker let go of Jamie's neck and he dropped to the floor. "Listen to me Jamie. I'm telling you the truth. I want to help you, but you have to start following orders like a good soldier. That's what you'll have to become if you stay with us. And there is no if about it." Marker nodded to Williams and he grabbed Jamie again and led him out the door. Marker walked to the front of the desk and turned the screen on. Shadow appeared as if waiting for the call.
"Well?" Shadow asked
"Well what?"
"Don't play games Marker. I am not in the mood. What's going on?"
"Oh, nothing. The boy woke up a few minutes ago. He should be pretty susceptible to suggestion what with his brain still slightly fuddled. Slight after effects that have its perks. Almost like brain washing really. He won't be able to convince himself otherwise of whatever I tell him. The worst that can happen now is that he will end up fighting himself so much that he closes up, but I don't think he's strong enough for that."
"What did you tell him?"
"I told him no one cared for him. No one wanted him. He'll be begging to join us just for the companionship as soon as it sinks in that I was being truthful." His grin was malicious, enjoying the thought of the emotional turmoil Jamie would go through.
"You sure he's not strong enough to realize the truth?"
"He's not strong enough to handle a god Zoid without a split personality. He's ours."
"What of the other personality?"
"Oh, that." He frowned and waved his hand off, "I suspect it won't be much of a problem right now. He said it only comes out when he's in a Zoid."
"That doesn't mean that he doesn't come out when the boy is asleep or something. Just to the kids' knowledge. Heck! Maybe the kid even can communicate with this other personality. You just don't know."
Marker glared at the screen coldly. "Are you trying to say I don't know what I'm doing? Fine. We'll put it this way. When it realizes Jamie is ours, it will be ours as well. I have to admit, I don't know much about these things, but it should be fairly susceptible to the drug, as is Jamie. Unless the drug wiped it out of course." Marker said in an after thought, "The drug does destroy part of the mind if not treated quickly enough."
"What?" Shadow almost screamed, "He better not…"
"Don't worry. There is no brain damage. I had him checked before he woke. Besides, it's just a theory about that split personality being destroyed. It's what I am mostly thinking, okay? The drug did such a number on the boy, wouldn't be surprised at all."
"Very well. But if the drug did do some sort of brain damage…you are the one in trouble." Marker looked at the screen for a minute, then sighed.
"Fine boss. I get the picture."
"Good. Anything else to report?"
"I will be speaking with young Shasta soon. Is it al right too…" He grinned maliciously again, only this time it was bigger, "Put her in line? Just a little?" He asked innocently. Shadow seemed to shift nervously in the chair.
"Absolutely not. That girl is very important to us. I don't care what she has told you, I want to speak with her myself. Shasta has lived her whole life with her grandfather. She knows every thing he did. I don't want her to suppress her self from emotional and or physical trauma of any kind. Understand?" Marker frowned but nodded his head.
"You know, you are absolutely no fun at all."
"Good! You're a sick bastered. Just thinking of your last victim makes me nauseous."
"He should have behaved better. If he just had given us the information we needed, I wouldn't have tortured him to death. Only a little."
"I'm going now. If I hear you did more then slap her around, you will be in a lot of trouble."
"If I hear you did more then slap her around." Marker mocked in a whiny voice, "Not to worry. I know all about priorities. See ya." With that, he clicked off.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Williams watched Jamie closely. The boy looked absolutely depressed.
"Hey, are you okay kid?"
"What would you care?" Jamie asked miserably. Williams shrugged indifference, but made sure to watch his mood. He didn't like depressed people. Depression could lead to a lot of things. He didn't like the thought of some of them.
Williams opened the door to the dark room and Jamie walked numbly in. He heard exclamations of surprise and anger and suddenly Shasta was at the door.
"What happened to him? Why does he look so….so…"
"Beat up?" Williams supplied, "I don't know. Keep an eye on him till Harper arrives to pick you up. I'm being monitored, so I can't stay and chat." With that he shoved her back in and closed the door, locking it. He looked around to see if anyone was around to notice the exchange. With no one in sight, he walked off. Inside Shasta had the flash light on looking at Jamie.
"What happened to you? You look awful!" Jamie gave her a sardonic look
"Not really. I don't look half as bad as I feel."
"What's wrong?" Jamie sat down and put his head in his hands.
"They don't want me."
"Who?"
"My team."
"What?"
"They had a chance to rescue me. I saw them leave. My mind cleared of all the muddle and I saw them leaving me. They didn't stay to help me! They don't care! No one does." He trailed off at a whisper
"I thought they were your family?"
"NO! I just wanted to believe that. Now that I think of it…the only thing I was ever good for was doing their work."
"What do you mean?" Shasta asked pulling her hair behind her ear.
"I cooked, cleaned, did laundry…and not a single thank you out of anything! I mean, I even did work on their Zoids. I was the one who usually drove that stupid snail like hover cargo!"
"What about your dad?"
"My dad?" Jamie sighed, "He was the one who sent me to them. He wouldn't let me come home. He told me I was better off with them." Something familiar in the back of Jamie's mind seemed to be screaming at him, but he couldn't tell why. He just didn't know what to believe. He didn't want to believe anything at the moment. He was probably better off….
"Oh, Jamie! Is that what they told you? All those lies? It could have been something else! You were practically unconscious of everything! You can't believe…" The door opened suddenly and a man came in with a gun. He kicked Jamie to the side and grabbed Shasta by the arm.
"HEY! What are you doing?" He slapped her across the face and hauled her out the door. As the door closed Jamie just lay on the floor and closed his eyes. Shasta cursed the man she supposed was Harper and he threw her against the wall. She slid, dazed, to the floor and felt herself lifted up. Harper carried her down the hall and kept a good grip on her. By the time he reached Markers door Shasta was beating his back while she was flung over his shoulder. It didn't even faze the guy. He opened the door and tossed her in, closing it behind him. Shasta stood up quickly and kicked the door as it closed.
"Now what did the door do to deserve that?" Marker asked. Shasta wheeled to face him.
"Listen here Jerkface!" She cried as she advanced on him, "I don't care what you want! You shouldn't treat people like this!" He yawned and waved her yelling off with his hand.
"Yeah, yeah, yeah. You people are all the same. Never letting people with unique tastes have any fun."
"Excuse me?" She halted everything when he said that.
"Just what I said. I'm bored now." A sudden grin lit his face, "But I know what will brighten my day…." He stood up and walked to her. She stood her ground, refusing to back away. He stopped in front of her and looked right into her eyes." Absolutely no fear." He murmured, "You are either very brave or very stupid."
"The latter I'm afraid." She replied. Marker gave her a confused look and she smiled. "Unlike most people, I don't mind insulting myself. I find it healthy to keep in mind how imperfect all human beings are." He smiled and started to turn, but slammed the back of his hand into her face instead. She stumbled back and turned to face him again.
"Unfortunately I'm not allowed to kill you." He said as he walked back to the desk, "And I would just love to do that right now. So, instead, I'll have to kill someone else. Who it is is up to you." He turned to look at her again, knowing he was close to getting at her. "You're afraid to see others hurt. I can see it in your eyes now. I can feel that fear. It's very enticing. You don't care what happens to you, but when it concerns your sister…"
"ALRIGHT!" Shasta screamed suddenly, "I get your point!"
"So you want to tell me every thing?"
"I can't! Not all at once. What kind of moron are you? I spent six years finding all this out! You really expect me to tell you every thing im five minutes?"
"I see your point." He replied. He walked over to her again, so he could reach her better. "So, tell me. What was the lie last time and what was true?"
"Most of it was true nimbwit." A sudden fist to her cheek knocked her to the floor.
"Do not insult me further." Shasta's anger flared up, but she held it in check. She didn't know what this guy was capable of doing. She didn't even what to think about it.
"Alright. I won't insult you anymore. But it doesn't mean you have my respect."
"Fair enough. You were saying?"
"First, I need specifics on what you want to know. Do you want to know how to build something? Or do you want some general information? It doesn't matter. I have a photographic memory and remember in exact detail everything my grandfather taught me. Ask me what you will. But first, let me see my sister." She took a deep breath and added, "Please." Marker seemed to think on this request.
"Fair enough. I think you would want proof of your sisters well being. I'll have Harper take you to her." He unlocked the door and Harper walked in, "Take her to her sister."
"Yes sir." was the curt reply. Harper grabbed her by the arm and hauled her out the door like last time. This time she didn't resist. He led her down the hall and turned several corners. After a while he finally stopped at the familiar door that held her sister and everyone else. He opened it and tossed her in surprising the occupants of the room.
"You don't have long." He said, then closed the door.
Shasta stood up and brushed herself off. The occupants just stared at her in shock.
"Shasta? What happened? Are you okay?" Pierce asked frantically. She ran over to her sister and hugged her, then pushed her out to get a good look at her, "What happened? Why is your face all bruised? I never thought they would hit your for..."
"NO!" Shasta said quickly, trying to get her sister from imagining such painful thoughts, "They didn't beat anything out of me. That Marker guy just…
"Marker? HE did this? Why would he?"
"Let me explain." Shasta said exasperatedly, "Jeeze! The only reason I'm bruised is cause I can't keep my big mouth shut! Okay? I kept mouthing off."
"You did? Weren't you scared?"
"Why? The only thing I was scared about was the thought of them killing you. That's the only reason I will talk. Is to keep them from doing that. I made them let me see you."
"Oh, Sweety. I love you so much. I'm sorry I left."
"Don't worry about it. Were together now, right? We'll find a way out of here yet." Pierce smiled at her little sister and replied.
"Such optimism. Wish I had some of that. Where's that Jamie kid? What happened to him?" Shasta looked down, reminded of the last several hours.
"Oh, yeah. Um, well…Jamie was able to fly my Ptera. Well, she's not mine anymore, now is she?" Shasta murmured, "I don't know what they did to him, but after he flew her, he seemed rather…bad. They drugged him or something. He fell asleep once and almost didn't wake up and when he did, he was in a dazed state. That was when they took him away. When they brought him back, he seemed fine except he kept saying they left him. He clarified that as his team. He seemed to think no one cared about him. I don't know why, but they're playing head games with him! It's emotional torture! How can they do that to someone?"
"It's easy when your Marker." Pierce muttered.
"Boy, that sounds harsh." Jany murmured from against the wall. No one said anything. No one wanted to. Shasta sat down on the floor and looked up at her older sister."
"How can people be like this Silania?"
"I don't know Sweety." Pierce replied, "Are you sure your okay?"
"Yeah. I'm just worried about everyone else."
"I don't suppose they told you what they planned for us did they?" Someone asked. Shasta shook her head.
"Sorry, no. Why do you ask?"
"We've been talking about it." Jany murmured, "We don't think they'll be letting us go like they said."
"What makes you think that?" Shasta asked. Jany smiled and shook her head.
"Such naiveté" Someone else murmured.
"Right." Jany said, "It must be nice. Let's put it this way Sweety. We are prisoners of a very bad bunch of people. They have already threatened to kill your sister here to get at you. We know their location and who they are. I don't think we'll be going anywhere except to meet our maker. None of us do."
Keemew2: Well, here you have it. What did you think? Please tell me, okay? IT would be very nice to know what you think.
