Chapter six (Ten thousand words! Yay! Joyousness!(Sorry, I just get so
excited. This is only the third story I've written to exceed that number of
words.))
Even though he had promised himself that he wouldn't, Snowy did what Jarod said and hitchhiked away from the scene of the pretender's capture. He had no other choice. Well he did, but it involved spending the rest of his life running simulations that would e sold to the highest bidder. So while Parker was distracted with the prone pretender (but only after he had seen that Jarod was definitely alive), Snowy manoeuvred around the other side of the gum tree and climbed quickly to the ground.
In getting a hotel room, he had found that his age for once had worked in his favour. He had pulled out the 'cute' act and the elderly woman at the reception had kindly allowed him to stay in one of the rooms until he could 'find his dad.' The scratches across his face from the cat even worked to his advantage, for sympathy.
Once he had organised lodgings, he got to work. He had not immediately left town. He had stopped at Jarod's car to pick up the beloved laptop and some cash. The latter was important for nothing more than buying food. The former though . . . With the former he could rule the world. It was lucky for the world that he didn't want to. All he wanted was freedom for the first person to give a damn about him since his parents had died.
Jarod sat in the passenger seat as Parker drove him back to the place that had stolen his childhood. The handcuffs were for appearances only. He had given his word in order to save Snowy's life and he would not go back on it. Besides, even if the fall had not broken anything, he didn't feel in great shape for running.
The car was driven to a small airport, where the Centre jet waited, with two sweepers at the ready. Sam's eyes widened when he saw the battered pretender get out of the car but other than that he allowed no emotion to cross his face, just calmly ordered the pilot to start the pre-flight checks.
Jarod entered the doors of the Centre behind Parker with his head held high. The two sweepers were in the vanguard, not having been told about Jarod's promise. 'Good luck with that escaping of yours' said Parker quietly, and half-seriously, just before the lift doors opened to reveal the three most hated men in Jarod's life.
'Not bad sis' Lyle greeted her.
'Where's the boy?' grated Raines.
'Snowy escaped before I could stop him. I considered bringing in Jarod the higher priority.' Snapped Parker, annoyed that even during her biggest triumph, the old ghoul could still find fault.
'Snowy is of no importance to the Centre' said Mr Parker proudly, looking Jarod up and down like so much meat. Jarod met his gaze coldly, although the old man's words had inspired a feeling of relief in him, relief that Snowy was safe for now.
'Take him down to the sub levels' ordered the bald-headed emphysemic. Sam grabbed one of Jarod's arms and the other sweeper the other and they half- dragged him into the elevator, to take him down into the place he called hell.
Parker glared angrily at one of the burly sweepers guarding the door and he hurriedly stepped aside, his partner following his lead. Punching the six- digit code into the pad next to the door, Parker waited impatiently for it to open.
With a beep, it slid out her way, revealing a room divided by a set of cold steel bars. The walls of the room were an ugly grey cinder block and the only furniture was a toilet, sink, and pile of blankets, all inside the cage.
Jarod was pacing the bars, looking for all the world like a caged tiger. He was clad only in the jeans he had been captured in and on his bare torso it was possible to see a multitude of healing bruises from the fall, as well as other, newer wounds, no doubt from his interactions with Lyle.
'You still here?' asked Parker causally, leaning against the wall next to the door, underneath the camera that watched the cell. Jarod paused his pacing for a moment to look at her, then resumed the restless movement.
'What do you want?' he asked, with no emotion, although his actions betrayed his roiling anger at the Centre.
'I came to ask why you went so far just to keep Snowy out of Centre hands.'
'He means a lot to me, I don't want him to get hurt just because of what I am'
'I thought you said you never lied to me'
'It's not a lie'
'But it's not the full truth' finished Parker for him. He stopped his pacing again to stand directly opposite from her, his dark eyes boring into her, judging her. For a moment he seemed to waver, then he shook his head and resumed his pacing.
'Jarod, I can get you out of Lyle's clutches. Just tell me what's so special about the boy.'
'I'm pretty sure being tortured by you would be a lot less fun than by someone who is fooled when I give in.' Parker saw then something else underneath Jarod's anger. The liquid grace of his movements was hampered by aching muscles and painful cuts. The burning anger was probably the only thing that kept him going. As he swung back to complete another circuit the movement pulled at a wound on his shoulder and fresh blood flowed. 'Shit' said Jarod, in the first time Parker had ever hear him swear. He strode over to the pile of blankets and ripped a strip off the coarse wool to bind the wound with.
'Jarod, you aren't OK here. Just how long do you think you can put up with this before he breaks you? I don't want to harm Snowy, I just want to know what it is'
Jarod finished binding his arm, although the blood had already seeped through the bandage, and sighed. 'Ask Broots' he told her wearily, before sinking down to sit with his back against the wall and his head in his hands.
Parker watched him for a moment, trying to gauge just what the answer meant, before giving up and exiting the room.
Jarod waited until he was sure she was gone before looking up at the camera. #Snowy, I know you're watching this. Listen to me. It's not as bad as it seems. I can get myself out OK? Don't do anything stupid.#
Belying his words, he sunk his head back in his hands and lapsed into a mild unconsciousness.
Parker strode down the corridors, searching for her technician. He was, of course, seated behind a computer in his tiny office.
'Has this room been swept for bugs?' she asked briskly as she strode in. Broots jumped and looked up. 'Yeah, just this morning, um why? Is it about Jarod? Because I know you bought him in but you know . . .' he trailed off.
'What Broots?' she asked, her tone dangerous.
'Oh, um, nothing' he covered quickly. Parker let it slip.
'This isn't about Jarod, it's about Snowy.'
'You mean the pale kid that keeps on sending me viruses?'
'No Broots, the other Snowy.' She snapped sarcastically, making him jump again. 'What do you know about him.
'Um, well, let me see' started Broots, leaning forward to type something into the computer. 'He's an orphan, lived most of his life in New York, met Jarod about three months ago, genius with computers, has the pretender gene, very pale complexion . . .'
'What?' snapped Parker, cutting off the list.
'You've seen him. He's white as a sheet.'
'No you scabby moron, then second last thing'
'Oh, that. It came up with the lab analysis from the hairs on a comb he left at one of their lairs. It doesn't mean anything, in most people that have it, like you for instance, the gene is dormant. It's like a one in a million chance that he would actually be a pretender.'
'Maybe. But I've learnt that when dealing with the labrat, one in a million chances crop up nine times out of ten'
The next morning found Parker in her father's office, doing every thing in her power to get him to assign her to the pretender project.
'But daddy, I agreed not to leave when I caught him, don't you think it's only fair that I get a share in this project.'
'OK Angel.' The old man finally caved. 'But remember that the triumvirate will be very unhappy if anything happens to Jarod.'
'Thank you daddy' said Parker, smiling sweetly before exiting the office, restraining the strong urge to take a shower.
Lyle was harder to swing. Director's permission or not, Lyle didn't want to lose the monopoly he had by being in control of Jarod.
'What makes you think you're needed?' he asked snidely.
'I can get him to cooperate, which is something you can't'
He gave her a doubtful look. 'You're in if you can prove that within a week.'
Parker raised her eyebrow and with a challenging look, turned on her heel and strode toward the area where Jarod was being kept. Lyle watched her long legs and gave small sardonic smile before following.
'Now comes the biggest test' thought Parker as she reached the same door she had stalked out of eighteen hours ago.
Jarod was lying on top of the blankets, curled in a foetal position and shivering. She heard Lyle come in behind her but didn't turn round or acknowledge him.
'What do you think you can do to persuade him that I haven't?' Lyle asked smugly.
'Secret of the trade. I'll need to be left alone with him and I'll need the key to the inner cell.'
'I don't think so Parker. I'm prepared to do what ever it takes to turn a profit on the pretender project but letting the project escape does not count.'
'I brought him in remember? Why would I help him escape?'
Lyle cocked and eye brow and tried stare her down. She returned his gaze evenly. He folded first. 'What ever you say sis. Just remember it's your head if he disappears.' He gave her a key and an insincere smile before turning and leaving. The door slid shut behind him.
Parker took a deep breath and unlocked the cell door before realising she had forgotten something. She drew her 9mm, aimed it at the lone camera and took it out. The gunshot didn't even make Jarod flinch.
Frowning, Parker walked over and knelt down beside the shivering form, trying not to think about what it would do to the knees of her stockings. She laid a hand on his forehead. He had developed a mild fever since yesterday. Parker pulled one of the blankets out from underneath his legs and covered him with it.
'Jarod' she said, trying to get him to respond. There was no answer. 'Jarod' she said, more insistently. Slowly his eyes peeled open and focused blearily on her for a second before sliding closed again.
'You still here?' he mumbled, pulling the blanket closer around him.
'I'm returning a favour lab rat. By coming in, you freed me from my promise to my father. I can leave any time I want. Besides, I told you that I would get you out of Lyle's clutches if you told me what was so special about the boy.'
Jarod's eyes opened again and he fixed her with a dark stare, as though he was trying to see how she would use the information. 'I can help you if you work with me.'
'You mean you can get them to stop torturing me if I do simulations for you? Wow, what a deal.' His tone dripped sarcasm.
'If you do simulations now the Centre can't use them. Snowy's still on the outside remember. I can get Broots to contact him somehow and if the Centre starts auctioning them off then he can stick a wrench in their plans. It won't be for long. Just long enough to lull them into a false sense of security.'
'I really must be delusional, because I though I just heard Miss Parker lay plans to help me escape.'
'I never wanted you dead Jarod and if you stay where you are, that's exactly the way you're heading.'
It was the use of his real name that persuaded him. That, and the way she tenderly stroked his hair away from his face as she waited for his answer. He gave a small nod, then closed his eyes again. She pushed off her knees and stood watching him for a second. Then she left the inner cell, carefully locking it behind her. She had to pause to master the smile that was threatening to break through before opening the outer door.
Parker spouted orders as she strode out of the room. 'Right, he agreed. No thanks to you though dear brother, he's unable to lift his head at the moment. Get a real bed put in there and see what you can do about getting him looked at by a doctor. Oh, and give him his clothes back.'
'What was the thing with the camera sis?' asked Lyle dangerously as he lengthened his stride to keep up with her pace. He had been waiting right outside the door for her to re-emerge.
'You might want to get that replaced' she replied, not giving a thing away. He gave a half-sigh, half-laugh before peeling off to find someone else to bother. Only when he was well out of hearing did Parker allow herself to slow her pace and let out a huge sigh of relief.
Snowy watched Miss Parker enter the cell with Lyle from the patch on the security cameras. When Lyle handed her a key and left, he had to take several deep breaths to stop himself rushing off right then.
When she took out her gun and aimed it at the camera, he knew he couldn't wait any longer. Barely glancing at the fuzz that now filled the screen, he shut down the monitoring program then began to write code. He was building a program to distract the Centre long enough so he could get Jarod out without anyone stopping him.
He would save his mentor, and no one would stand in his way.
Snowy seems to be developing a life of his own. He just won't listen to me when I tell him not to go running off on pointless quests. *sigh* . . . Young people these days.
Even though he had promised himself that he wouldn't, Snowy did what Jarod said and hitchhiked away from the scene of the pretender's capture. He had no other choice. Well he did, but it involved spending the rest of his life running simulations that would e sold to the highest bidder. So while Parker was distracted with the prone pretender (but only after he had seen that Jarod was definitely alive), Snowy manoeuvred around the other side of the gum tree and climbed quickly to the ground.
In getting a hotel room, he had found that his age for once had worked in his favour. He had pulled out the 'cute' act and the elderly woman at the reception had kindly allowed him to stay in one of the rooms until he could 'find his dad.' The scratches across his face from the cat even worked to his advantage, for sympathy.
Once he had organised lodgings, he got to work. He had not immediately left town. He had stopped at Jarod's car to pick up the beloved laptop and some cash. The latter was important for nothing more than buying food. The former though . . . With the former he could rule the world. It was lucky for the world that he didn't want to. All he wanted was freedom for the first person to give a damn about him since his parents had died.
Jarod sat in the passenger seat as Parker drove him back to the place that had stolen his childhood. The handcuffs were for appearances only. He had given his word in order to save Snowy's life and he would not go back on it. Besides, even if the fall had not broken anything, he didn't feel in great shape for running.
The car was driven to a small airport, where the Centre jet waited, with two sweepers at the ready. Sam's eyes widened when he saw the battered pretender get out of the car but other than that he allowed no emotion to cross his face, just calmly ordered the pilot to start the pre-flight checks.
Jarod entered the doors of the Centre behind Parker with his head held high. The two sweepers were in the vanguard, not having been told about Jarod's promise. 'Good luck with that escaping of yours' said Parker quietly, and half-seriously, just before the lift doors opened to reveal the three most hated men in Jarod's life.
'Not bad sis' Lyle greeted her.
'Where's the boy?' grated Raines.
'Snowy escaped before I could stop him. I considered bringing in Jarod the higher priority.' Snapped Parker, annoyed that even during her biggest triumph, the old ghoul could still find fault.
'Snowy is of no importance to the Centre' said Mr Parker proudly, looking Jarod up and down like so much meat. Jarod met his gaze coldly, although the old man's words had inspired a feeling of relief in him, relief that Snowy was safe for now.
'Take him down to the sub levels' ordered the bald-headed emphysemic. Sam grabbed one of Jarod's arms and the other sweeper the other and they half- dragged him into the elevator, to take him down into the place he called hell.
Parker glared angrily at one of the burly sweepers guarding the door and he hurriedly stepped aside, his partner following his lead. Punching the six- digit code into the pad next to the door, Parker waited impatiently for it to open.
With a beep, it slid out her way, revealing a room divided by a set of cold steel bars. The walls of the room were an ugly grey cinder block and the only furniture was a toilet, sink, and pile of blankets, all inside the cage.
Jarod was pacing the bars, looking for all the world like a caged tiger. He was clad only in the jeans he had been captured in and on his bare torso it was possible to see a multitude of healing bruises from the fall, as well as other, newer wounds, no doubt from his interactions with Lyle.
'You still here?' asked Parker causally, leaning against the wall next to the door, underneath the camera that watched the cell. Jarod paused his pacing for a moment to look at her, then resumed the restless movement.
'What do you want?' he asked, with no emotion, although his actions betrayed his roiling anger at the Centre.
'I came to ask why you went so far just to keep Snowy out of Centre hands.'
'He means a lot to me, I don't want him to get hurt just because of what I am'
'I thought you said you never lied to me'
'It's not a lie'
'But it's not the full truth' finished Parker for him. He stopped his pacing again to stand directly opposite from her, his dark eyes boring into her, judging her. For a moment he seemed to waver, then he shook his head and resumed his pacing.
'Jarod, I can get you out of Lyle's clutches. Just tell me what's so special about the boy.'
'I'm pretty sure being tortured by you would be a lot less fun than by someone who is fooled when I give in.' Parker saw then something else underneath Jarod's anger. The liquid grace of his movements was hampered by aching muscles and painful cuts. The burning anger was probably the only thing that kept him going. As he swung back to complete another circuit the movement pulled at a wound on his shoulder and fresh blood flowed. 'Shit' said Jarod, in the first time Parker had ever hear him swear. He strode over to the pile of blankets and ripped a strip off the coarse wool to bind the wound with.
'Jarod, you aren't OK here. Just how long do you think you can put up with this before he breaks you? I don't want to harm Snowy, I just want to know what it is'
Jarod finished binding his arm, although the blood had already seeped through the bandage, and sighed. 'Ask Broots' he told her wearily, before sinking down to sit with his back against the wall and his head in his hands.
Parker watched him for a moment, trying to gauge just what the answer meant, before giving up and exiting the room.
Jarod waited until he was sure she was gone before looking up at the camera. #Snowy, I know you're watching this. Listen to me. It's not as bad as it seems. I can get myself out OK? Don't do anything stupid.#
Belying his words, he sunk his head back in his hands and lapsed into a mild unconsciousness.
Parker strode down the corridors, searching for her technician. He was, of course, seated behind a computer in his tiny office.
'Has this room been swept for bugs?' she asked briskly as she strode in. Broots jumped and looked up. 'Yeah, just this morning, um why? Is it about Jarod? Because I know you bought him in but you know . . .' he trailed off.
'What Broots?' she asked, her tone dangerous.
'Oh, um, nothing' he covered quickly. Parker let it slip.
'This isn't about Jarod, it's about Snowy.'
'You mean the pale kid that keeps on sending me viruses?'
'No Broots, the other Snowy.' She snapped sarcastically, making him jump again. 'What do you know about him.
'Um, well, let me see' started Broots, leaning forward to type something into the computer. 'He's an orphan, lived most of his life in New York, met Jarod about three months ago, genius with computers, has the pretender gene, very pale complexion . . .'
'What?' snapped Parker, cutting off the list.
'You've seen him. He's white as a sheet.'
'No you scabby moron, then second last thing'
'Oh, that. It came up with the lab analysis from the hairs on a comb he left at one of their lairs. It doesn't mean anything, in most people that have it, like you for instance, the gene is dormant. It's like a one in a million chance that he would actually be a pretender.'
'Maybe. But I've learnt that when dealing with the labrat, one in a million chances crop up nine times out of ten'
The next morning found Parker in her father's office, doing every thing in her power to get him to assign her to the pretender project.
'But daddy, I agreed not to leave when I caught him, don't you think it's only fair that I get a share in this project.'
'OK Angel.' The old man finally caved. 'But remember that the triumvirate will be very unhappy if anything happens to Jarod.'
'Thank you daddy' said Parker, smiling sweetly before exiting the office, restraining the strong urge to take a shower.
Lyle was harder to swing. Director's permission or not, Lyle didn't want to lose the monopoly he had by being in control of Jarod.
'What makes you think you're needed?' he asked snidely.
'I can get him to cooperate, which is something you can't'
He gave her a doubtful look. 'You're in if you can prove that within a week.'
Parker raised her eyebrow and with a challenging look, turned on her heel and strode toward the area where Jarod was being kept. Lyle watched her long legs and gave small sardonic smile before following.
'Now comes the biggest test' thought Parker as she reached the same door she had stalked out of eighteen hours ago.
Jarod was lying on top of the blankets, curled in a foetal position and shivering. She heard Lyle come in behind her but didn't turn round or acknowledge him.
'What do you think you can do to persuade him that I haven't?' Lyle asked smugly.
'Secret of the trade. I'll need to be left alone with him and I'll need the key to the inner cell.'
'I don't think so Parker. I'm prepared to do what ever it takes to turn a profit on the pretender project but letting the project escape does not count.'
'I brought him in remember? Why would I help him escape?'
Lyle cocked and eye brow and tried stare her down. She returned his gaze evenly. He folded first. 'What ever you say sis. Just remember it's your head if he disappears.' He gave her a key and an insincere smile before turning and leaving. The door slid shut behind him.
Parker took a deep breath and unlocked the cell door before realising she had forgotten something. She drew her 9mm, aimed it at the lone camera and took it out. The gunshot didn't even make Jarod flinch.
Frowning, Parker walked over and knelt down beside the shivering form, trying not to think about what it would do to the knees of her stockings. She laid a hand on his forehead. He had developed a mild fever since yesterday. Parker pulled one of the blankets out from underneath his legs and covered him with it.
'Jarod' she said, trying to get him to respond. There was no answer. 'Jarod' she said, more insistently. Slowly his eyes peeled open and focused blearily on her for a second before sliding closed again.
'You still here?' he mumbled, pulling the blanket closer around him.
'I'm returning a favour lab rat. By coming in, you freed me from my promise to my father. I can leave any time I want. Besides, I told you that I would get you out of Lyle's clutches if you told me what was so special about the boy.'
Jarod's eyes opened again and he fixed her with a dark stare, as though he was trying to see how she would use the information. 'I can help you if you work with me.'
'You mean you can get them to stop torturing me if I do simulations for you? Wow, what a deal.' His tone dripped sarcasm.
'If you do simulations now the Centre can't use them. Snowy's still on the outside remember. I can get Broots to contact him somehow and if the Centre starts auctioning them off then he can stick a wrench in their plans. It won't be for long. Just long enough to lull them into a false sense of security.'
'I really must be delusional, because I though I just heard Miss Parker lay plans to help me escape.'
'I never wanted you dead Jarod and if you stay where you are, that's exactly the way you're heading.'
It was the use of his real name that persuaded him. That, and the way she tenderly stroked his hair away from his face as she waited for his answer. He gave a small nod, then closed his eyes again. She pushed off her knees and stood watching him for a second. Then she left the inner cell, carefully locking it behind her. She had to pause to master the smile that was threatening to break through before opening the outer door.
Parker spouted orders as she strode out of the room. 'Right, he agreed. No thanks to you though dear brother, he's unable to lift his head at the moment. Get a real bed put in there and see what you can do about getting him looked at by a doctor. Oh, and give him his clothes back.'
'What was the thing with the camera sis?' asked Lyle dangerously as he lengthened his stride to keep up with her pace. He had been waiting right outside the door for her to re-emerge.
'You might want to get that replaced' she replied, not giving a thing away. He gave a half-sigh, half-laugh before peeling off to find someone else to bother. Only when he was well out of hearing did Parker allow herself to slow her pace and let out a huge sigh of relief.
Snowy watched Miss Parker enter the cell with Lyle from the patch on the security cameras. When Lyle handed her a key and left, he had to take several deep breaths to stop himself rushing off right then.
When she took out her gun and aimed it at the camera, he knew he couldn't wait any longer. Barely glancing at the fuzz that now filled the screen, he shut down the monitoring program then began to write code. He was building a program to distract the Centre long enough so he could get Jarod out without anyone stopping him.
He would save his mentor, and no one would stand in his way.
Snowy seems to be developing a life of his own. He just won't listen to me when I tell him not to go running off on pointless quests. *sigh* . . . Young people these days.
