Maximum Carnage Issue 26: Moving On by Justin Anderson Wednesday, May 29th, 2002. Manhattan, 3:15 PM "I'm busy..." Jack muttered, opening the door to his hotel room. "Besides, if she ain't talked by now, she won't." "Fine," Cletus said, "but Carnage may have told her something important, and if he did, we might need to know." Jack sighed. "Carnage is done with. Domientius is put away, the symbiote locked up... the Screelak they had died, they think the second Domientius was trapped. So-" Cletus was staring at him. "Okay, I'm going. Just long enough to get what they need..." "Good. By the way, they need me to take down some drug dealer. Heavily armed shit... you mind if I-" Jack grabbed his coat. He handed it to Cletus as he left. Jack closed the door, reaching for the bottle of triazomine. 4:39 PM, Kafka Institution Jack looked through the two-way mirror. "She probably knows we're watching her. She can tune in to others' minds somehow. She doesn't have a strong ability to do this, but she has it," General Peterson said. Jack asked, "what's with the restraints?" "Those," he replied, pointing at the chains, "are to keep her from firing her sonic bursts. What do you know about her abilities?" "Not much." General Peterson flipped through the report. "She fires them from her vocal cords, but she needs her arms to direct the bursts. By keeping her hands behind her, she can't fire them. And being restrained, she can't focus her ability to increase the anger in those around her. But she still has the ability to affect the mood of anyone around her, she does it subconsciously. So stay focused. She generally projects anger, but may be able to channel other moods." Jack suddenly understood what had happened in the warehouse. Shriek had tapped into his mind, directed her mood into him. "Anything else I need to know?" he asked. "There is. She's highly unresponsive. She does not get along well with others. Cletus tried to interrogate her yesterday, it did NOT go well... we had to replace this mirror. Cletus threw the chair. Speaking of which, we bolted those down. We believe she made him do it somehow," the General replied. "Now then, we'll have the room locked, with guards outside, and well be watching. We can't hear what happens, the speaker was damaged in yesterday's incident. Did I mention she broke the chains? We had to get adamantium chains... Al Queda prisoners are easier to deal with and we get more out of them. Anyway, if she remains unresponsive, simply leave. Just knock on the door." The door opened, Jack stepping inside. She was looking away, disinterested. "All right, we'll make this quick. I have better things to do," Jack said, taking his seat. He flipped open the notepad in case he needed to write anything. Shriek ignored him. "Hello! Remember me? Guy from the warehouse!" She looked at him. "What are you doing here?" she asked. "From what I hear, you won't talk, and everyone else has given up. They just need to know if Carnage told you anything we might need to know. And I'm not putting up with any crap, I will walk out the second you decide not to talk. And don't pull any of that stuff you did at the warehouse! I know about your mental projection or whatever." "Oh, come on, you liked it!" she shouted. "You can reads minds now?" Jack said sarcastically. She shouted, "Please, you wanted it!" "ENOUGH!" Jack screamed out. "I came down here because someone thought you might decide to do the right thing and tell us what that monster may have said or done! I took time out of my day to come down here because someone thought you might decide to be a decent human being! Obviously someone thought wrong. I have better things to do." Jack headed for the door. "I'm sorry," Shriek said quietly. Jack turned his attention to her. She had slumped down, facing the table. He dropped the pad, stepping towards her. "I'm sorry too." He knocked on the mirror. The door opened, General Peterson waiting. "What the hell's going on in-" "Never mind," Jack said. "Just get me a chair." 4:45 PM Jack sat beside her. She had begun to calm down. "Let's try this again. Okay? You all right?" She nodded. "Tell you what. If you cooperate, behave, promise to be good, I'll tell them to reward you somehow. That sound good?" "Yeah," she replied. 5:02 PM "What's going on in there?" Dr. Kafka asked. General Peterson replied, "I'm not exactly sure, but it looks to be going well. She's calm and cooperative." He knocked on the mirror, grabbing Jack's attention. The door opened. "Is she reasonably calm? You think we could unchain her while you're in there?" Jack replied, "well, probably. I doubt she'd do anything. But I can't make any guarantees." He waved for a guard to enter the room. "They decided to unchain you while I'm here," Jack explained. The guard unlocked the cuffs, leaving them alone in the room. "What are you doing?" Dr. Kafka asked. "Just an experiment in therapy. Blind the mirror," he ordered. A shade was pulled down. "What is going on here?" she asked again. "I'm in charge with this one. Shriek was not your patient to begin with. A situation I want a full report on, I want to know why she was stuffed in that rotting asylum instead of under proper care." 6:17 PM Jack handed the notepad to General Peterson. "Well, she didn't know anything we didn't, but she talked anyway." He examined what Jack had wrote. Three lines detailing nothing. "Jack, how does Shriek react with you?" "Rather calm. She doesn't act that way around others, does she?" he replied. "No, she doesn't," the General answered. "What is it about you she likes?" Jack hesitated. "I have no idea." He was lying. "Well, considering her behavior with you, I may have an idea... would you be willing to continue meeting with her, for treatment?" he asked. "Well," Jack said, "possibly. What do you have in mind?" "I was thinking of having you meet with her one on one. No one watching, no one listening. No doctors. They don't seem to be helping her any," he explained. Jack considered the offer. "I'll let you know tomorrow. I'll have to think about it." 8:19 PM, Jack's hotel room Jack considered the offer. It sounded reasonable, but General Peterson didn't know about Shriek's advances. Jack wondered himself what had really happened. Had he actually been attracted to her, or was it simply a reaction to her mental projections? This did not concern him, however. His true concern was his current feelings. He was starting to fall for her. Was it a reaction to her situation and desire to be treated fairly, or was he falling in love? 8:31 PM "Cletus, take a seat," General Peterson offered. "How did that bust go today?" "Fairly well, I got 'em. That's not why I'm here though, is it?" he said. "No..." he repied. "Jack's interrogation of Shriek went well. Almost too well. I think there's something I need to know." "Right..." Cletus knew where this was headed. "The warehouse. I went after Carnage, he went after her. I saw her with her arms around him at one point, looked like she was holding him in place. Later, I found him locking lips with her. He denies any involvement, claiming she advanced him, but... Jack could probably take Shriek down, break any hold. He's strong enough. There could be something between them, even if it's one sided." "I thought so. Shriek's about his age, we believe maybe a year older. And, there's something I need to tell you about the triazomine he's been taking. It isn't working. In his body, with his ability to heal, the drug would last maybe half an hour. Probably less. And that would be when he began taking it. By now, it doesn't do anything. He's built an immunity to it," he explained. "But," Cletus said, "something else about it. Jack didn't suffer any hallucinations from those two we fought in Vegas, and I didn't for some time, after being given one myself." The General thought, finally saying, "good point. The drug would stay in his system despite not doing anything, until metabolism flushed it out. Triazomine is still only available to the government, and has had very little testing done so far. side effects will take time to show. It's possible it somehow alters the way nerve impulses work while it's in the body, blocking his mind from outside tampering. I'm no scientist, it's just an idea." Thursday, May 30th. 3:12 PM Jack let them in the room. Two undercover guards, leading Shriek. She wore makeup, covering her face. It was the only way they could effectively sneak her in the building. "We'll be in a room downstairs, room 304. Call us if there are any problems. She's on an honor system here, if she tries anything, we have our orders," one of the guards explained. They unlocked her restraints, leaving the room. Jack locked the door. "Are you armed?" she asked. "Do I need to be?" "They had guns," she said. "Yes," Jack replied, "but you're still technically a criminal, and a patient. You don't plan on giving them a reason to use their guns, do you?" "No." "That's good. You can wash that stuff off if you want," he replied. She stepped into the bathroom, looking in the mirror. She paused. The makeup covered her face and neck, but it was enough to make her look normal. "I'll just look ugly again, why bother..." she muttered. "I wouldn't say that," Jack said. he was standing in the doorway. "You know, you don't have to be depressed all the time. Do you really want to keep killing, stay locked away in a cell the rest of your life to be forgotten? I know if someone like Cletus Kasady can change, there has to be a chance for everyone." He held out his hand. She took it. "There," he said. "I'll wash that off for you if you want." She nodded in agreement. Jack dampened a towel, gently scrubbing the makeup off her face. They had done a good job, the stuff looked like actual skin. He had it cleaned off in only a few minutes. It was the first time he had taken full notice of the black patch over her left eye. A four-pointed star. "Feeling better?" he asked. "Yes. So, what are we going to do?" she asked. "Well, basically whatever we want. We can't leave the room, though. You'll stay here until you decide to leave. We have full room service, cable, all expenses paid, since technically, I'm doing this as a job for the US Government." She stared at the tub. "I feel like taking a bath, actually. It's been years since I had one. Just showers..." 4:51 PM She had been in the bathtub for some time. Jack decided to leave her alone, she could use the time to herself. He looked up as the bathroom door opened. She stood before him, wearing a towel. "I'm done," she said. She was half inviting him to join her. "I'm going to get dressed. Or not, depending on what you want to do later..." She was serious. Jack knew she would throw the towel off in an instant if she felt like it. "That's all right, actually. We can make our plans later. Besides, wouldn't want to ruin any surprises, would we?" "True," she said, closing the bathroom door. 7:19 PM Room service carts sat by the door, empty plates stacked up waiting to be taken away whenever Jack called for room service. Shriek was curled up beside him. "What do you really think about me, Jack?" she asked. Jack had realized it was time he confessed, both to her and himself. "I... well, I like you. You're a beautiful woman." "That's not what I meant. Do I scare you?" Jack sighed. "No! You did at first. A criminal... combined with my own demons. I have no real right to judge you, I'm really no less guilty. I read... your case file. You got hooked on drugs. I did too." He went for the bottle of triazomine. He tossed it in the nearest garbage can. "I don't need that dependancy anymore. I'd rather have you. I'd rather have you than loneliness and lies," he said. She pulled him back down onto the couch. "You mean it?" she asked. "I do." She reached her arms around him. "Jack... I like you too. Maybe all I needed was someone who cared about me. No one ever did." 8:13 PM Shriek turned off the television. "TV's boring," she said, tossing away the remote. "It's dark out. Let's turn the lights off." She began making out with him, a favor he quickly returned. He stopped, however, as she began removing her shirt. "What is it?" she asked. "Umm, nothing really, just-" "Oh. Never done this?" He shook his head. She whispered something in his ear. Again, he shook his head. "Don't be afraid. Just lay back..." "It's not that I don't want to, but, well-" She pulled her shirt back down, turning the lamp back on. "Just a bit shy?" "Yeah," he said. "It's definitely not you." She curled up against him, her arms wrapped around him. "I guess that was a bit quick. Hope you don't think I'm some slut, "she said. "Of course not," he replied. "Well, there's nothing saying we can't make out, is there? Then just fall asleep in each other's arms?" "I'd like that," he replied. "Okay... don't get me wrong, we are going to have sex. I've decided that already. I know you want to. Just let me know when." Friday, May 31st. 1:12 PM Jack let Cletus in the room. "I may have a slight problem," he said. "Let me guess. Gas prices going up," he replied, sarcastically. He knew why Jack had called him. "All right, so you and Shriek are definitely on each other's... I always knew the whole immortality thing would catch up to us. They still have the serum," he said. "The problem is, how do I tell her? That she'd have to become immortal just to be with me. I don't think she'd turn me down, but I saw her look in the mirror. I think she might want to be cured one day. Have her skin changed back. If she becomes immortal, that can't happen!" he shouted. "That could be a problem. Hey, I don't know, you think she looks fine?" "Yes, but, I can't make her look like that if she doesn't want to!" he said. "That's something you'll have to talk with her about. I can't decide this for you." 1:46 PM, Kafka Institution Jack had told Shriek the truth. He had spilled everything. And the moment of truth was something he was not looking forward to. "So, let me get this straight," she said. "I can become immortal, like you, and we can stay together forever. So, what's the big question here? Of course I'd do it!" "Well, there's a slight problem. There's no guarantee the serum will work," he said. "It may not be compatible with your DNA, the serum might have even started to break down... we're not even fully sure the immortality will last. We won't know until we live long enough to find out. So, it's still your call. Best thing to do would be to take a blood sample first, make sure the stuff will effectively bond with your DNA... then hope." "All right. Tell them they can take the blood. How long will the test take?" she asked. He replied, "about thirty minutes." 2:18 PM Cletus knocked on the mirror. Jack went to the door. Cletus waved him in the back room. "Good news. Perfect bond with her DNA. They don't see any problems," Cletus explained. Jack entered the room, explaining the test results to her. She was excited. General Peterson entered the room with two lab assistants. She held out her arm as the proper dosage was injected. It was the final time a drug would ever be pumped into her veins. The past would remain there. Shriek had now become a new person. 3:24 PM Dr. Kafka had finished a lengthy interview with Shriek. General Peterson's idea. This was a hearing to officially release her. The hearing was officially over. She had found no legitimate reason to keep Shriek as a patient, and the General was willing to offer a full pardon against all her past crimes. "I'm going to need certain personal information which I don't have to finish this form. I'll need your name, you've given two..." "Sandra Deel. That's my name. The other one I gave was a lie. You'll need my birthday. May 11, 1977," she said. Dr. Kafka finished filing the release papers. "That's it. Sandra Deel, you are officially declared sane and are free to go," she said, handing over a copy of the release paper. "You can pick up any personal belongings at the main entrance." Shriek left, Jack following. General Peterson stood beside the desk with a smug look on his face. "You don't like me, do you, General?" she asked. "No," he answered. "I get the impression Cletus doesn't either,' she said. "Probably not," he replied. "And you're going to become a thorn in my side, treating my patients your own way..." He smiled, simply saying, "oh yeah!" 3:41 PM, Jack's hotel room Shriek tossed the box of belongings on the bed. She merely had two suits, both of which she'd had on in previous arrests. She pulled them out. "Which do you like better, the full body suit, or the more revealing one?" she asked. "I don't know. I didn't get to see you in the full body one. I do like what you're wearing now though..." "How would you like me out of them?" she asked. She gently turned him, pinning him against the wall. Only the situation was a lot friendlier than last time. Jack began kissing her this time, which surprised her, but she had no arguments. "Not that I don't like the bab girl act, but remember what I said... behave, and you'll be rewarded." She was curious. "Okay. Sounds good. We can wait..." Friday, June 21st. 3:08 PM, General Peterson's offices, Manhattan Cletus entered the office. It had been a slow month. Aside from his usual routine of busting up drug dealers, murderers, rapists, wife beaters, and child abusers, nothing aout of the ordinary had happened. "So, why'd you call me?" he asked. "Jack wanted to get ahold of you, actually. He had something to tell you. Though before he does, he's effectively retiring. He'll still be under our employee, but off the active duty list. You'll be on your own, unless you'd want a partner," the General explained. "No. I think I can handle this myself," he replied. 3:22 PM, Jack's hotel room Cletus knocked. He was let in shortly after. "General said you had something to tell me," he said. "I do. That is, we do. Sandra, you tell him." "Jack asked me to marry him. We're getting married in two weeks!" "Not bad. General told me you were being taken off active duty, I figured this was why," he said. "Yeah, he's also giving us a house. A mansion in Vermont. He'd had it built for himself about a year ago, but he never moved in. No one's lived there, actually, and the land it's on is officially US Army restricted land, so no one can bug us. It's about twenty acres in the forest, no one can bother us. We would like you to come to the ceremony, too. You and the General are all we know, really." "I'll be there," he said. He began to hand the coat to Jack. He'd had it for over a month. "Tell you what, you keep it," Jack told him. "You'll need it." "I left the hotel shortly after that. Jack had his life back, so did Shriek. But I had to find mine, still. Regardless of the past. I'd never forget the past, only in the hope I'd never make those mistakes again. There was still work to be done. But the past year had been good for me, helped me settle many things, sweep the skeletons from the closet. These days are now over... but even as I continue walking down the streets of my old home I realize something. The old days may pass by, the old times gone... but is NEVER over!" Notes: Basically set in the Marvel Universe, I will be using a lot of my own continuity for this series, and generally focus on the main characters. Appearances by Marvel's universe will be special occurrences. Crossovers with characters/titles from other companies will be treated as "single universe", not as "2 universes crossing temporarily". I will also try to ignore major Marvel comic story arcs. Cletus Kasady, Carnage, and other Marvel characters are copyright Marvel Entertainment Group, Inc. Other characters are either my creation(copyright myself), or copyright their specific owners if non-Marvel licensed characters. Characters used without permission/not for profit. These are strictly fan stories. Permission to reprint extends to placing this text, unaltered, elsewhere online. It may not be altered, and especially NOT TO BE SOLD, unless Marvel wishes to license this series from me.