The White Sheep and The Black Wolf Part 33
X paid the taxi driver hastily before taking off toward the granite, inconspicuous building known as MiB headquarters. Time was everything. Earth had to be ready for a full-scale invasion.
Although X had no love for humans, it wasn't right to just allow them to be ignorant of their impending doom. The result of that would be a world-scale massacre that would remain on X's
conscious. The guilt would never be washed away and he had no desired to carry it to his grave.
Before the elevator could completely open, X slipped through the narrow opening. He took the steps two by two, ignoring the stitch in his side.
At the top he found who he was looking for.
A JeeDangian Brigadier Officer nodded to him in acknowledgement. "Grand Advisor Kimbli told us you were coming." There was no mincing about in his words, everything was business. "There's almost no chance of saving MiB once the Hoon'tak forces arrive with their reinforcements, so we must send a counter resistance before that will occur. Our forces will be ready in 2 hours. I suggest you prepare yourself in the meantime. Review our scout's reports and form your attack plan." He thrust a small stack of files towards X unceremoniously. Without another word, the officer clicked his heels together and strode away in brisk steps.
Disregarding the thought of how the officer reminded him of Agent U, X did a few calculations in his head. Only 3 hours would be left before the Hoon'tak invasion began. By the time the counter force would intercept the enemy, the Hoon'taks would be only 1 decron away from Earth, right at the planet humans called Venus.
That was too damn close. They could not afford to delay too long, least the Hoon'taks would press their advantage and be right upon them before they were ready.
X headed for the kitchenette. He needed a cup of coffee bad. He pushed the door and entered...
...only to find Elle standing there as if expecting him. And the look on her face dispelled all of X's previous doubts on the validity of her story on her part in taking down Edgar.
"Where the hell were you?" she demanded icily.
Oh boy, X thought. There was no chance of playing the ignorant trump card. Better to lay down the facts.
"Just done a little shopping that's all," he replied as casually as he could. Jeez, she was giving him the creeps. He lifted up the merchandise he "bought" from Jeebs and placed it on the counter.
"Do you have any idea what I just been through?" Elle glared at him. "While you were busy running away, I had to deal with Hutak. For all you might have known, it could have been Alpha. And I might have been haunting you for the rest of your miserable life!"
X stepped back in surprise. This was one facet in Elle's personality that he had never seen before. Even with the case of the baruga, she never been this pissed. "I didn't think..."
"Of course you didn't think!" Elle snapped. "You are so wrapped up in your own mind that there's no need to worry a puny human like me."
X glowered. "That's not what I meant. I was saying that I didn't think you would want me about anyway." He waved the files about. "The battle cruisers are ready for your departure in 2 hours.
I suggest you review the scout reports before then." He dropped the files unto the table.
Elle glanced down at it then looked back to X. She frowned. "Whoa, Cowboy. What do you mean me? There's no way in all nine layers of hell I'm going up against the Hoon'taks partner-less. That's just plain suicidal."
Something she had said caught X's attention. For he actually looked straight at her. "Come again?" he asked interestedly.
go to he in a handbasket and my partner's still thinking about his pathetic excuse for ending his life!"
"Not like you care, human," X grumbled.
"What do you mean by that? Who was the one who had to save your cowardly butt from overdosing? Or have your warpped mind forgotten?"
"You should have left me be."
Elle rubbed her temples in frustration. She decided to take it slow. "Okay, tell me why did you run away in the first place?"
"Thought it was obvious that even a human can perceive," X replied. "I'm fed up with the bullsh I have to take from Zed and those miserable-excuses-for-agents."
Elle nodded. There were days when she felt the same, which was understandable. Next question. "And you don't care that if the JeeDangian authorities caught you, you would be thrown in prison?"
"Don't expect them to. I know their methods backwards and forwards. They would never lay a hand on me," X answered smugly.
"And what about your folks back home? How would they feel if they had to house a refugee?"
Elle knew she struck a cord. One second she saw hurt on his features, the next it was replaced with an expression of embitterment. X scoffed. "My folks? They wouldn't give an damn. I'll
bet they'll even be disappointed that I didn't get caught."Bingo, she snagged the first thread. Time to trace it to the source. "So it's your family that drives you to kill yourself?"
X kept silent and avoided her eyes.
Elle figured she had to ease it out of him. "Do you love your family?"
He looked at her in disbelief. "Didn't you hear what I just said?"
"There's a difference between liking and loving your family, you know."
"I guess I do," he said reluctantly.
"Then why are you doing this to them?"
Elle got him where she wanted. X, realizing there was no escape sighed. "It's because of how they expect me to carry my father's reputation. They expect me to be perfect like him." He
paused as if to try to fit into words exactly how he felt. "And the problem is I'm anything short of how famous and powerful my militant father was. Ever since he was killed on a recon mission I was forced to uphold the family honor, being the eldest male heir and all. The point is I have no desire for the military life. It just doesn't have the same thrill. In a war, your enemy doesn't have a face. You know that you're fighting an automaton. With police work your perp has a face and a style that keeps you guessing."
Elle nodded, that made sense. It was the same thrill she seeked that drove her away from the lab. Ever since she blasted Edgar into microns, her hand refused to submit itself into the
tedious task of a physician. Her life changed that day. She knew that if she was placed under X's situation, she would have gone out of her mind.
X sat down and glared at his cup of coffee as if to search for the meaning of life beneath its dark surface. "Mother was the least supportive of my choice to be a law reinforcement officer. She
has a strange way with dealing with disappointment, and that was by criticism. She would rave on and on how my poor father would turn in his grave if he ever found out what I was doing with my life." His brow furrowed. "Do you have any idea how it feels to live in the shadow of someone you are not?"
Elle tightened her lips and nodded. "That's called life, X. Everyone expects you to be something you're not. Some people go along with it, losing their sanity, and their life ends in the mad house or by suicide. But my attitude is "to he with it." You can't live as what other people see you, but as how you see yourself." She sipped at her cup. "Is it your mom that drives you to do those
stupid stunts of yours?"
X laughed cynically. "You can bet your small ears on that one."
She shook her head. "And I thought Agent U was the worst bootlicker," she laughed.
X feigned offense. "What? Me a bootlicker? What about the time you kept fondling after Kay?"
Elle almost gagged on her coffee. "Who told you...JAY!" She clenched her teeth and muttered under her breath that sounded to X something like "...gonna make him Zeeltor's new pet guinea pig."
X smirked and Elle for some reason was glad to see it again. It was better than seeing a self-pitying JeeDang that's for sure.
The old MiB clock signaled the time and interrupted their talk. Only 2 hours to go and neither of them had reviewed the reports.
Elle sighed. "Well, my point is X, you shouldn't live your life the way someone else wants it. And don't expect them to be happy with your decision, but what's important is that you're happy." She said this as if it was her last plea to X to come to his senses.
X frowned. "I'll think about it, human," was his only reply.
Elle shook her head. Talk about stubborn. She plucked a file from the stash X brought in and walked to the door. At the threshold, she turned back. "I just want you to know, I want to be
sure my partner's all there during the heat of battle." With that last statement, she left.
X sat there, lost in thought.