Chapter 5 - Seeing Red
Mirror-Josie listened fairly intently to what Josie2 had to say. A couple of time she just zoned out and stopped listening. A loud crash from a metal pole hitting the wall got her attention back again.
"Pay attention, Mirror-Josie. Please," Josie2 pleaded eventually sick of the constant banging of the pole. "You need to focus."
"Don't bring her in to this," Josie said as she entered the room. "Look how scared she is."
"What? Oh, no I'm fine," Mirror-Josie said happily. She brushed some hair out of her eyes. "It's not to bad. What I can gather is... it's pretty strange." She looked at Josie and then to Josie2. "I can't believe that it will happen to you. And that it might happen to me."
Josie2 nodded. "Yeah, are you prepared to do it?" A smirk grew on her face. "It will mean some illegal dealings. But—what am I saying? You have no choice. It's fate."
"Illegal dealings?" Josie repeated. "Why didn't you tell me this? You didn't tell me this! I don't want a criminal record. More so."
Josie2 shrugged slightly and reached into a bag, pulling out an envelope. "Isn't this strange? Clandestine meetings, exchanging parcels... All we need is rain, and moody music."
Josie snatched the envelope from her clone and opened it. "What is this?" She asked pulling out an ID swipe card a letter and a disk.
"A contract. Read the letter and look through the disk. The swipe card is for access," Josie2 told her. "I guess you'll find out eventually. But I'm going to keep you in the dark for now."
Josie looked at it closely. "What do you think it is?" She asked Mirror- Josie.
Mirror-Josie peered over and looked at it closely. She furrowed her brow as she thought. "I think it's an access card to this Pearadyne labs little Miss Gattaca keeps on talking about," Mirror-Josie said looking at the clone.
"Ooh, you've got pop culture references and a sharp tongue when you want it," Josie raised an eyebrow. "All my pre-conceptions of you are changed and broken. I don't like that."
Mirror-Josie laughed. "Oh no, don't worry, I'm just bored and angry and slightly sore. It won't last." She looked Josie directly in the eye. "Do you really like Vaughn? I mean really? I know he's well muscled and all but he's just not... you know..."
"He's different to what you think. He's been through a lot—He's like angst in a can," Josie told her. "I'm not sure what Mirror-Vaughn's like, but Vaughn is not like he seems. I can't believe I'm saying this."
"Neither can I. I'm really bored and as much as I'd love to be more bored, we really—"
"No none of you really need to do anything," the Janitor interrupted Josie2. "I'm afraid there's been a change of plans. My superiors request that you return right now. I will follow with in two hours."
Josie2 stared at the Janitor. "No, I have other things I need to do. I have plans set in motion! They need to come fruition! I want fruit! Fruit for Josie-two!"
"You're becoming hysterical," he stated. "Calm down and follow me."
She shook her head. Josie and Mirror-Josie watched the events slightly bemused.
"The funny thing is, that place you sent me, the one with a whole heap of 'friends' it taught me one thing," she paused as she swung her leg up into the Janitor's ribs. "How to kick mucho ass."
She ran passed the Janitor dodging his arms as she dashed through the door. Josie smirked politely as she walked passed with Mirror-Josie. The Janitor didn't attempt to stop them.
"Do you know what's funny?" Josie asked him.
"What?" He asked clutching his ribs.
"You got your ass kicked by a sixteen year-old-girl!" Both her and Mirror- Josie burst in to laughter as they exited the room.
The Janitor shook his head. "They're all becoming like the other. They're losing they're individuality. The first phase must be nearing completion."
Vaughn sat at a table discussing the alternate realities with Mirror- Vaughn. Or at least trying to get a handle on everything. Mirror-Vaughn was starting to grate though, he was so nervous and quiet. It was distracting. So, he was thankful when someone else came to sit at the table. Less so when he saw it was John.
"I just saw Josie and the Mirror-one," John said, brushing of Mirror-Vaughn who disappeared quickly. "They were fine, we don't need to worry. Not that anyone really was."
"No, I guess not," Vaughn muttered.
John leaned in slightly and lowered his voice. "You need to leave. Everything. The school, the life you live now, Josie. All of it."
Vaughn laughed thinking it was a joke. John was serious. "And I had a surprise lobotomy when?"
"I'm not joking if you don't leave there will be badness. There will be badness anyway, but this way there will be less of it."
"What are you talking about?" Vaughn asked. "Is this some kind of plan to get Josie? Because I've seen the way you look at her."
"As much as I wish it were that simple, it's not. This isn't some immature selfish plan to make Josie my girlfriend. This is something far more important," he hesitated for a second. "Besides, you are the one she wants. Ooh, ooh, ooh. And other such musical references." He muttered un-enthused.
"Once more with less feeling," Vaughn said feeling slightly triumphant. "Then why do I need to leave? Wouldn't it be smarter to keep the knowledge flowing and in a tight circle?"
"Not just you. Everyone. I'll be giving Lucas and Marshall the same warning," John assured him. "And Corrine wants to leave anyway. Something is going to happen. We already know that. But I know more. I know the source of the problem. I can... I can..."
"How? How do you—Oh, you're parents. They didn't. There is no job for them. They're still in Australia! It's you! You're the one with a job!" Vaughn cried out, louder than he wanted to.
John stared at him, before bursting into laughter. Vaughn went to draw back his comments, but John cut him off. "Let's not jump to conclusions."
"I didn't jump. I took a tiny step. Conclusions were there. Bleeding obvious conclusions at that," Vaughn offered. "How did you get the job?"
"You're not letting this go anytime soon, are you?" John replied defensively.
Vaughn grabbed him by the front of the shirt and pulled him in. "I'm surprisingly smart when the time comes. Compared to what I usually am anyway. I can put two and two together and get traitor."
"I'm not a traitor and I didn't sell anyone out," John stated. He added—with a sardonic grin—when Vaughn let him go. "They weren't my friends to sell out."
Vaughn fought the urge to flatten John immediately, and pushed him back off the chair. "What are you talking about?"
John blinked a few times and shook his head. "What, I'm sorry, I zoned out. I do that sometimes, it happened last night a bit as well."
"What do you mean?"
"I just black out, I mean, I don't fall unconscious or anything, but I don't know what happens in what ever time it is that passes," John explained. "It's happened ever since I was a little kid. I was at work with my uncle—I think I was two—and... boom! Tiny snapdragon!" He clapped his hands together to emphasize the 'boom.'
I don't believe you, it's too convenient. Come on! A split personality? This is... less than good. Vaughn thought to himself begrudgingly wanting to scream it out. "I guess you want a hand?"
"Don't trouble yourself," he muttered picking himself off the ground. "Did I do anything embarrassing?"
"No, of course not," Vaughn lied. "Let's go."
John waited for Vaughn to leave first and rubbed his eyes hard. I have to... soon...
Marshall stood over Lucas, reading the total of what they had to the group, which consisted of the two of them, Mirror-Lucas and Mirror-Vaughn.
"...Uh, so that's all we know," Marshall told them. "Any other things to add?"
Lucas half-turned to face hi best friend. "I have something to add. That shoulder, its going to give me frostbite."
"So you noticed?" Marshall asked sourly.
Lucas stood up and turned fully. "How could I not?"
Mirror-Vaughn glanced nervously at Mirror-Lucas, who was writing down everything that was being said. "What are you doing?" He whispered.
"This is gold. This would make an uber-fab play, series or movie. I'll be set up for life with this!" He replied quietly slipping a lollipop into his mouth. "I wonder how I'll get people to play their doubles at the same time?"
"I think we have more important things to worry about," Mirror-Vaughn told him as the arguing heated up. "Like them."
"They'll be fine," he muttered standing up and walking towards the door. "I'm going for a walk. I need to talk to some people about the acting."
Mirror-Vaughn raised an eyebrow. "You're serious about this?"
A nod was the reply.
"Fair enough," Mirror-Vaughn said as he barely dodged a mug. "I'm going to come with you." He grabbed his books and pushed his glasses up as Mirror- Lucas put his arm around his shoulder and led him out the door asking about 'billing.'
"You threw a glass!" Marshall cried. "A glass! What is wrong with you?"
"It was a mug. And I didn't have anything else to throw," Lucas corrected. "And nothing is wrong with me! There's something wrong with you!"
"What? Why, because you told Corrine how I felt and crushed her feelings just because Josie doesn't ever want you to be her boyfriend?" Marshall boomed. "I think that's good enough reason to be angry! And the whole mug throwing event!"
"At least someone had the guts to tell her!" Lucas yelled just as harshly. "You just backed out because you're afraid you might hurt someone's feelings! Well boo-hoo! You're not perfect! It's okay to make people feel bad!"
Marshall shook his head and moved closer to his friend. "That doesn't mean you can just interfere that way! Just because you're my best friend doesn't mean you have rule over my life!"
"Some one had to! You're doing a pretty shitty job of it!" Lucas told him.
"I don't need this," Marshall muttered quietly.
"Yeah you do! It's about time someone hit some reality into you!"
"I don't need you! Got it! I don't need you around me or near! I don't care how close we are!" Marshall thundered sick and tired of Lucas.
"What are you saying?" Lucas asked.
Marshall didn't answer and nothing was said for moments afterwards. They just fumed silently in front of each other until Lucas took a few steps back and turned away, running out of the room.
"I'm saying..." He couldn't finish the pop-culture reference, instead he slumped into a chair, and started writing something down sighing heavily.
Vaughn arrived home and saw the door open a jar. Good. A perfect time to talk to his dad. Only, he could hear another voice. Josie! He entered slowly not about to interrupt their meeting. It would end badly enough as it was. He moved inside enough to hear them perfectly and see them slightly, then sopped and listened.
"Josie Trent, how did you get in here?" Victor asked.
She pulled something from her bag. "Quite easily," she replied. She saw his apprehension when his eyes focused on her protection. "Don't worry, I hate guns. Luckily, this is an M-9 Tranquilizer pistol. Which I have no problem in using."
"This is a joke."
"No it's not," Josie2 remained adamant. "It's very serious. I have been given specific orders to have you cease and desist what you are doing. Pearadyne labs must stop immediately."
Victor shook his head.
Josie2 leapt from the table and pushed the gun into his throat. "I get tired of this. Stop what you're doing, or face the consequences." She pushed it in harder. "Oh, and if I want to date your son, I will. You're personal dislike of me amounts to I don't give a damn."
"You're insane aren't you? That's the only reason I can think of that you would try and give me orders," Victor countered calmly. It clicked. "Ah, you're the clone I've heard about. So, the mental deterioration had already begun?" He laughed shortly. "Impressive."
She gave herself a mock fanning. "Gasp. I'm famous. That means I can kill people and no one will raise an eyebrow."
Swiftly, he grabbed the clones arm and ripped it away from his throat, causing the gun to go flying and her to jerk back. She hopped back shocked.
"Reconsider this, Josie," he warned her. "I don't want to hurt you. What I'm doing could change everything. Don't you want to be a part of that?"
"You never tire of hearing yourself talk do you?" She asked uninterested. "You don't control anything, least of all Vaughn, so just give up while you can. The superiors want to do this peacefully."
"No. Now get out of my house," he replied shortly. "I hope we can do this again sometime."
She grabbed her gun and slid it back into her bag. "Bye."
She slid past him and walked to the front door. She saw Vaughn out of the corner of her eye but did not react at all. She looked up at the ceiling, took a deep breath and left the house. Vaughn waited until she was gone before he walked out to where his father was.
Mirror-Josie listened fairly intently to what Josie2 had to say. A couple of time she just zoned out and stopped listening. A loud crash from a metal pole hitting the wall got her attention back again.
"Pay attention, Mirror-Josie. Please," Josie2 pleaded eventually sick of the constant banging of the pole. "You need to focus."
"Don't bring her in to this," Josie said as she entered the room. "Look how scared she is."
"What? Oh, no I'm fine," Mirror-Josie said happily. She brushed some hair out of her eyes. "It's not to bad. What I can gather is... it's pretty strange." She looked at Josie and then to Josie2. "I can't believe that it will happen to you. And that it might happen to me."
Josie2 nodded. "Yeah, are you prepared to do it?" A smirk grew on her face. "It will mean some illegal dealings. But—what am I saying? You have no choice. It's fate."
"Illegal dealings?" Josie repeated. "Why didn't you tell me this? You didn't tell me this! I don't want a criminal record. More so."
Josie2 shrugged slightly and reached into a bag, pulling out an envelope. "Isn't this strange? Clandestine meetings, exchanging parcels... All we need is rain, and moody music."
Josie snatched the envelope from her clone and opened it. "What is this?" She asked pulling out an ID swipe card a letter and a disk.
"A contract. Read the letter and look through the disk. The swipe card is for access," Josie2 told her. "I guess you'll find out eventually. But I'm going to keep you in the dark for now."
Josie looked at it closely. "What do you think it is?" She asked Mirror- Josie.
Mirror-Josie peered over and looked at it closely. She furrowed her brow as she thought. "I think it's an access card to this Pearadyne labs little Miss Gattaca keeps on talking about," Mirror-Josie said looking at the clone.
"Ooh, you've got pop culture references and a sharp tongue when you want it," Josie raised an eyebrow. "All my pre-conceptions of you are changed and broken. I don't like that."
Mirror-Josie laughed. "Oh no, don't worry, I'm just bored and angry and slightly sore. It won't last." She looked Josie directly in the eye. "Do you really like Vaughn? I mean really? I know he's well muscled and all but he's just not... you know..."
"He's different to what you think. He's been through a lot—He's like angst in a can," Josie told her. "I'm not sure what Mirror-Vaughn's like, but Vaughn is not like he seems. I can't believe I'm saying this."
"Neither can I. I'm really bored and as much as I'd love to be more bored, we really—"
"No none of you really need to do anything," the Janitor interrupted Josie2. "I'm afraid there's been a change of plans. My superiors request that you return right now. I will follow with in two hours."
Josie2 stared at the Janitor. "No, I have other things I need to do. I have plans set in motion! They need to come fruition! I want fruit! Fruit for Josie-two!"
"You're becoming hysterical," he stated. "Calm down and follow me."
She shook her head. Josie and Mirror-Josie watched the events slightly bemused.
"The funny thing is, that place you sent me, the one with a whole heap of 'friends' it taught me one thing," she paused as she swung her leg up into the Janitor's ribs. "How to kick mucho ass."
She ran passed the Janitor dodging his arms as she dashed through the door. Josie smirked politely as she walked passed with Mirror-Josie. The Janitor didn't attempt to stop them.
"Do you know what's funny?" Josie asked him.
"What?" He asked clutching his ribs.
"You got your ass kicked by a sixteen year-old-girl!" Both her and Mirror- Josie burst in to laughter as they exited the room.
The Janitor shook his head. "They're all becoming like the other. They're losing they're individuality. The first phase must be nearing completion."
Vaughn sat at a table discussing the alternate realities with Mirror- Vaughn. Or at least trying to get a handle on everything. Mirror-Vaughn was starting to grate though, he was so nervous and quiet. It was distracting. So, he was thankful when someone else came to sit at the table. Less so when he saw it was John.
"I just saw Josie and the Mirror-one," John said, brushing of Mirror-Vaughn who disappeared quickly. "They were fine, we don't need to worry. Not that anyone really was."
"No, I guess not," Vaughn muttered.
John leaned in slightly and lowered his voice. "You need to leave. Everything. The school, the life you live now, Josie. All of it."
Vaughn laughed thinking it was a joke. John was serious. "And I had a surprise lobotomy when?"
"I'm not joking if you don't leave there will be badness. There will be badness anyway, but this way there will be less of it."
"What are you talking about?" Vaughn asked. "Is this some kind of plan to get Josie? Because I've seen the way you look at her."
"As much as I wish it were that simple, it's not. This isn't some immature selfish plan to make Josie my girlfriend. This is something far more important," he hesitated for a second. "Besides, you are the one she wants. Ooh, ooh, ooh. And other such musical references." He muttered un-enthused.
"Once more with less feeling," Vaughn said feeling slightly triumphant. "Then why do I need to leave? Wouldn't it be smarter to keep the knowledge flowing and in a tight circle?"
"Not just you. Everyone. I'll be giving Lucas and Marshall the same warning," John assured him. "And Corrine wants to leave anyway. Something is going to happen. We already know that. But I know more. I know the source of the problem. I can... I can..."
"How? How do you—Oh, you're parents. They didn't. There is no job for them. They're still in Australia! It's you! You're the one with a job!" Vaughn cried out, louder than he wanted to.
John stared at him, before bursting into laughter. Vaughn went to draw back his comments, but John cut him off. "Let's not jump to conclusions."
"I didn't jump. I took a tiny step. Conclusions were there. Bleeding obvious conclusions at that," Vaughn offered. "How did you get the job?"
"You're not letting this go anytime soon, are you?" John replied defensively.
Vaughn grabbed him by the front of the shirt and pulled him in. "I'm surprisingly smart when the time comes. Compared to what I usually am anyway. I can put two and two together and get traitor."
"I'm not a traitor and I didn't sell anyone out," John stated. He added—with a sardonic grin—when Vaughn let him go. "They weren't my friends to sell out."
Vaughn fought the urge to flatten John immediately, and pushed him back off the chair. "What are you talking about?"
John blinked a few times and shook his head. "What, I'm sorry, I zoned out. I do that sometimes, it happened last night a bit as well."
"What do you mean?"
"I just black out, I mean, I don't fall unconscious or anything, but I don't know what happens in what ever time it is that passes," John explained. "It's happened ever since I was a little kid. I was at work with my uncle—I think I was two—and... boom! Tiny snapdragon!" He clapped his hands together to emphasize the 'boom.'
I don't believe you, it's too convenient. Come on! A split personality? This is... less than good. Vaughn thought to himself begrudgingly wanting to scream it out. "I guess you want a hand?"
"Don't trouble yourself," he muttered picking himself off the ground. "Did I do anything embarrassing?"
"No, of course not," Vaughn lied. "Let's go."
John waited for Vaughn to leave first and rubbed his eyes hard. I have to... soon...
Marshall stood over Lucas, reading the total of what they had to the group, which consisted of the two of them, Mirror-Lucas and Mirror-Vaughn.
"...Uh, so that's all we know," Marshall told them. "Any other things to add?"
Lucas half-turned to face hi best friend. "I have something to add. That shoulder, its going to give me frostbite."
"So you noticed?" Marshall asked sourly.
Lucas stood up and turned fully. "How could I not?"
Mirror-Vaughn glanced nervously at Mirror-Lucas, who was writing down everything that was being said. "What are you doing?" He whispered.
"This is gold. This would make an uber-fab play, series or movie. I'll be set up for life with this!" He replied quietly slipping a lollipop into his mouth. "I wonder how I'll get people to play their doubles at the same time?"
"I think we have more important things to worry about," Mirror-Vaughn told him as the arguing heated up. "Like them."
"They'll be fine," he muttered standing up and walking towards the door. "I'm going for a walk. I need to talk to some people about the acting."
Mirror-Vaughn raised an eyebrow. "You're serious about this?"
A nod was the reply.
"Fair enough," Mirror-Vaughn said as he barely dodged a mug. "I'm going to come with you." He grabbed his books and pushed his glasses up as Mirror- Lucas put his arm around his shoulder and led him out the door asking about 'billing.'
"You threw a glass!" Marshall cried. "A glass! What is wrong with you?"
"It was a mug. And I didn't have anything else to throw," Lucas corrected. "And nothing is wrong with me! There's something wrong with you!"
"What? Why, because you told Corrine how I felt and crushed her feelings just because Josie doesn't ever want you to be her boyfriend?" Marshall boomed. "I think that's good enough reason to be angry! And the whole mug throwing event!"
"At least someone had the guts to tell her!" Lucas yelled just as harshly. "You just backed out because you're afraid you might hurt someone's feelings! Well boo-hoo! You're not perfect! It's okay to make people feel bad!"
Marshall shook his head and moved closer to his friend. "That doesn't mean you can just interfere that way! Just because you're my best friend doesn't mean you have rule over my life!"
"Some one had to! You're doing a pretty shitty job of it!" Lucas told him.
"I don't need this," Marshall muttered quietly.
"Yeah you do! It's about time someone hit some reality into you!"
"I don't need you! Got it! I don't need you around me or near! I don't care how close we are!" Marshall thundered sick and tired of Lucas.
"What are you saying?" Lucas asked.
Marshall didn't answer and nothing was said for moments afterwards. They just fumed silently in front of each other until Lucas took a few steps back and turned away, running out of the room.
"I'm saying..." He couldn't finish the pop-culture reference, instead he slumped into a chair, and started writing something down sighing heavily.
Vaughn arrived home and saw the door open a jar. Good. A perfect time to talk to his dad. Only, he could hear another voice. Josie! He entered slowly not about to interrupt their meeting. It would end badly enough as it was. He moved inside enough to hear them perfectly and see them slightly, then sopped and listened.
"Josie Trent, how did you get in here?" Victor asked.
She pulled something from her bag. "Quite easily," she replied. She saw his apprehension when his eyes focused on her protection. "Don't worry, I hate guns. Luckily, this is an M-9 Tranquilizer pistol. Which I have no problem in using."
"This is a joke."
"No it's not," Josie2 remained adamant. "It's very serious. I have been given specific orders to have you cease and desist what you are doing. Pearadyne labs must stop immediately."
Victor shook his head.
Josie2 leapt from the table and pushed the gun into his throat. "I get tired of this. Stop what you're doing, or face the consequences." She pushed it in harder. "Oh, and if I want to date your son, I will. You're personal dislike of me amounts to I don't give a damn."
"You're insane aren't you? That's the only reason I can think of that you would try and give me orders," Victor countered calmly. It clicked. "Ah, you're the clone I've heard about. So, the mental deterioration had already begun?" He laughed shortly. "Impressive."
She gave herself a mock fanning. "Gasp. I'm famous. That means I can kill people and no one will raise an eyebrow."
Swiftly, he grabbed the clones arm and ripped it away from his throat, causing the gun to go flying and her to jerk back. She hopped back shocked.
"Reconsider this, Josie," he warned her. "I don't want to hurt you. What I'm doing could change everything. Don't you want to be a part of that?"
"You never tire of hearing yourself talk do you?" She asked uninterested. "You don't control anything, least of all Vaughn, so just give up while you can. The superiors want to do this peacefully."
"No. Now get out of my house," he replied shortly. "I hope we can do this again sometime."
She grabbed her gun and slid it back into her bag. "Bye."
She slid past him and walked to the front door. She saw Vaughn out of the corner of her eye but did not react at all. She looked up at the ceiling, took a deep breath and left the house. Vaughn waited until she was gone before he walked out to where his father was.