Author's note: Yep, Red Witch got it! Vance Astrovik is Young Justice of the Avengers and coincidentally, he's Firestar's (Angelica) former boyfriend!
Pyro: WHAT?! How dare he move on my fire-goddess?!!
And Cletus Kasady was the serial killer who binds with the alien symbiote to form Carnage, a much more vicious enemy of Spider-Man! Anyways, enjoy the continuing series with this next chapter!
CHAPTER 6: The Blame Game
Justin sat morosely on a small crevice of rock jutting out from the sandy ground of the desert plains not too far off from the Lavadome. After the mess had been cleared out and the shock had initially worn off, the Dinosaucers requested an immediate emergency meeting, a real one. Teryx and Dimetro had Allo bring Justin over to the medical ward where they ran several extensive tests, body scans, and blood sample analysis. Justin just numbly followed along, going through the motions like a dazed zombie, unaware of time and the present as he just kept having questions flying through his head.
Why me? What's wrong with me? Why is this happening? What will this mutation do to my life?!
Justin kept breathing heavily as these unanswered thoughts kept rummaging through his mind, leaving him a nervous wreck. He didn't mean to cause to cause so much damage in the Lavadome living chambers, and yet...it had been so easy. It felt like a huge surge of exhilarating, powerful euphoria, of letting loose and free. And it scared him. Allo kept holding his hand, whispering to him that no one blamed him for the accident, that it was nothing to be worried about. Yet, Justin could have seen that his father couldn't have been more wrong, that he was desperately lying through his teeth.
Teryx and Dimetro were throwing worried glances at Justin, and Justin felt hurt when Teryx used gloves for the very first time to handle his blood samples as if they were some sort of radioactive, bio-hazardous waste. Dimetro nervously kept his distance as he kept misplacing and absent-mindedly dropping his medical instruments. A definite sign that the dimetrodon was flustered. And when Justin left the infirmary, the attitudes of the other Dinosaucers had noticeably changed as well. Itchy and Bronto-Thunder were looking at him with pity, and Justin absolutely hated that. As if he was a hopeless case, as if he was about to be handed a death sentence. Plateo, Compy and Tricero immediately stopped talking when Justin entered the newly cleared living room, and at once, it became silent as the Dinosaucers uneasily coughed and glanced at him. Justin just became more depressed as he left the room, and although he could hear the muted voices of Struthio, Montacera, Stego, and Bonehead angrily reprimanding the three Dinosaucers for their behavior, it didn't make him feel much better. Already, Justin felt his life was cursed as it always was. Yet what Justin remembered was the most painful was running into Ryan, the Secret Scout Justin always trusted and cared for. Ryan immediately turned around and stomped off in the other direction, not bothering to look at the adolescent and saying coldly over his shoulder how he didn't want to be contaminated by "a mutant freak".
That stung. So much for thinking that there was a chance for people to love him after so much pain and strife and undeserved anger in his life.
Justin ended his flashback, sitting in a fetal position with his crossed arms over his knees, sorrowfully contemplating as the hot desert winds ruffled his hair. He heard a noise and a soft cough of awkwardness behind him, but he didn't need to turn around to see that it was Sarah, Paul, and David. After all, all the Dinosaucers were in the conference in the Lavadome, and Ryan made it clear that he didn't want to be viewed as being close with Justin.
David then said gawkily, "Uh...hey, Justin. You...you doing OK?"
Sarah had to restrain herself from slapping David upside the head as Paul inwardly groaned. That had to be the stupidest question one could ever ask in this situation. Justin just remained silent, not moving a muscle. Feeling that she was the only one in the group capable of being the most comforting and sympathetic, Sarah slowly walked up beside her friend and sat down next to him.
"We'll get through this," she murmured, "Allo and the others have faced much worse surprises than this, and you know they would never turn you away or abandon you. The Dinosaucers love you like one of their own children, and it's definitely a lot deeper than any of the relationships they've had with us. They'll get used to this."
"Just like Ryan?" Justin asked in a sad voice, "After all, he's known me for a long time, and this came to be a big, rude awakening for him. He doesn't want to see me, does he?"
"Er..." Sarah didn't want to repeat the words Ryan said when she, Paul, and David went to go cheer up Justin, but it was anything but friendly. Justin, however, guessed the truth.
"I know how Ryan feels about this, Sarah," moaned Justin miserably as he burrowed his head into his knees, "I don't blame him for not wanting to associate with me anymore...but it still hurts that he's abandoning me! That he's turning his back on me! I thought he was my friend...and I looked up to him like an older brother! But then again, who wants a brother who's a freak?!"
Justin was close to breaking down as tears welled up, and Sarah just sat next to Justin and drew him close with one arm as Paul and David just stood by, unsure of how to comfort their friend. Granted, they could understand Ryan's fear and loathing when they found out about Justin's new abilities, but they knew better that it was something their young Secret Scout had absolutely no control over, that this was something he never wished for, that being a mutant was something he was born with. And mutant or not, it wouldn't change that Justin was always one of them, that he was their friend and comrade.
"You're not a freak, Justin," Sarah supplicated gently, "And though I admit, finding out you had...mutant powers...was definitely a big shock..."
"But we know it's not something that is of your fault. You can't control the DNA and genes you were given just like I can't change the fact that I'm black or that Sarah is Ryan's sister," Paul added thoughtfully.
Sarah then said, "Justin, it's not the end of the world that you're a mutant. In fact, it's probably better that you are given your current situation because you know as well as the rest of us that the Dinosaucers are not hypocritical. They're also hiding from human society, so they will understand the importance of keeping you safe and hidden due to your powers. I mean, even now, they've made sure you've had a great home at the Lavadome, just so that there's no need for you to go out and deal with what will happen when you come out in public. To tell you the truth, Justin, you're in a somewhat better situation with the Dinosaucers than if you were living in the city or back at any human civilization."
David then offered helpfully, if not blithely, "Well, there is a bright side to this Justin: at least being a mutant won't hurt you any further. I mean...people already hate your guts enough as it is without even knowing you were a mutant."
Sarah, reddening in the face, turned to growl at her boyfriend.
"David!" she warned through her gritted teeth.
The raven-haired adult just held up his hands in awkward defense as he explained nervously, "Hey, I'm just trying to point out a bright side, Sarah! I mean, it's pretty well-known to everyone that every time anyone sees Justin, they go completely psycho and try to hurt him or attack him!"
Paul sighed, "As much as I am shocked to admit it, David has a good point...do you two remember when we tried going to the mall to celebrate Justin's 10th birthday?"
They did...
It was a warm sunny day and the shopping plaza was brand new, just begging for the chance to be raided and explored by various teens and adults wishing for a break in the quiet, luxurious air-conditioned building. Unfortunately, it was anything but serene for Justin as he started drawing people's attention the instant he stepped into the building. At first, it just became glares and sneers thrown in their direction, but the longer Justin lingered around, the more hostile the crowd became, and some stores refused to let the Secrets Scouts in because Justin was with them. Eventually, Sarah, David, Paul, and Ryan, who carrying a whimpering Justin, ended up sprinting as fast as they could out of the shopping center as a large mob of men, women, and children were chasing them, hurling derogatory insults and soda cans and rocks.
David them sadly remarked, "Yeah, I remember that, but it wasn't nearly as bad as when we tried taking you to "Chuck E. Cheese Fun N' Games" for your 7th birthday party, Justin."
Justin tried not to wince at the memory...
When the Secret Scouts entered the building, it had been only less than several minutes before Justin was crying for help as he was tied to a statue of Chuck E. Cheese himself, and all around Justin was a heap of trash and flammable material as a crowd of parents surrounded the statue with lighters and matches, demanding furiously to burn the "demon child" to the stake. And Ryan, Sarah, Paul, and David were doing their best to break through the crowd with fire extinguishers as the garbage all around the stake blazed with flame.
"On the bright side, it was worth it to see Sarah knock out the attendant dressed as the Chuck E. Cheese character with an uppercut when she managed to drag you out of the bonfire," David managed to awkwardly laugh, though he was troubled at the event.
"I also felt sorry for the woman who tried to club me with the pizza pan," Sarah reminisced, "I honestly can say I didn't mean to knock out her front teeth when I bashed the skeet ball into her face."
Sarah then sighed sadly as she forlornly stated, "And do you remember when Justin came with us to help out with the Girl Scout Troop I was facilitating?"
It didn't take long before Sarah, David, Paul, Ryan, and Justin dashed out of the Girl Scout building complex as a crowd of ten-year old girls chased after them, screaming with anger as they carried little hatchets in their hands, threatening to chop Justin into "itty-bitty pieces".
"Out of all the days you could have asked us to help out, we had to come on the day your troop was supposed to earn their wood-chopping merit badges?!!" Ryan yelled.
"Oh shut up and keep running!!" Sarah snapped back.
"Which reminds me...I'm sorry you got disbanded from the Girl Scout association when the leaders later found out you were my friend," Justin murmured apologetically, but Sarah just shook her head with easy grace as she hugged Justin again for comfort.
"Ah...well, I never really wanted to be a Girl Scout Troup leader. It would have taken up too much of my free time, and I had other priorities in my life as well, so it wasn't entirely a huge loss."
Justin could tell she was lying, and the guilt came back even worse.
Paul then stated wearily, "And I remember when Ryan, Justin, and I simply went to go get doughnuts at the Dunkin' Doughnuts store five years ago..."
"Can you drive faster, Ryan?!!" shrieked Justin the front seat as the back windshield of Ryan's black BMW exploded from several bullets.
"It's kinda hard to when we have the police shooting at us!!" snapped Ryan with worried adrenaline as Paul told him to swerve left at the next intersection. Normally, car chases would be an attractive sight, but there was nothing interesting about the fact that Paul, Ryan and Justin were riding in Ryan's car, being pursued by a score of over a hundred police cars and vans, all of them containing angry cops waving and brandishing rifles and guns with their sirens blaring.
"I guess I really can't blame Ryan for being frustrated with me then," sighed Justin wearily and morosely, "I remember Sarah telling me how much he was chewed out by his parents back at home when they saw how much his car was wrecked and when the police had to interrogate him for over two hours, demanding my whereabouts. He was actually pretty close to serving a jail sentence, just because the Chief was so mad at me escaping."
"It wasn't your fault, Justin. You didn't know that the doughnuts shop was hosting a party for the graduating class of new officers of the city police department. And besides, Ryan and I may have been questioned and verbally harassed, but I'd do it all over again if it meant keeping you safe. And despite Ryan's behavior as of now, I know that deep down, he would too," Paul said gently as he knelt down and rested a hand on Justin's shoulder.
David then spoke, "Yeah, Paul's right, Justin. You know Ry cares about you. Remember when we took you to see your first baseball game between the Red Sox and the Cubs at the city stadium a month after Allo found you in the desert?"
"It was his only baseball game, David," moaned Paul.
Ironically, Ryan and David both felt that a trip to the local baseball stadium to see his first ever live-baseball game would do Justin a world of good. He had recently managed to recover and be dismissed from the infirmary only a few days ago, and the two boys suggested that perhaps some fresh air and entertainment would further help Justin get over his traumatic experiences. Unfortunately, when Justin, Ryan, and David settled in their seats, neighboring fans hurled food and degrading curses at the three. But that was nowhere as bad as when the camera focused on the image of Justin on the stadium wide-screen for everyone in the building to see...
David sprinted out of the stadium and into the parking lot, carrying Justin on his back with Ryan following close behind, using a baseball bat to deflect the hurled projectiles of baseballs, bats, rocks, and food from striking them. And what made it even more dangerous was the fact that the team members of both the Red Sox and the Cubs were chasing the three boys along with the umpires and the audience.
"GET THAT KID!!" yelled the Red Sox pitcher, swinging a baseball bat.
"They're part of the curse on our teams! Kill them all!!" howled the Cubs shortstop as he kept throwing baseballs at the three figures running for their lives, with Justin too terrified to cry as he held on to David tightly.
Sarah frowned as she contemplated all this. She remarked, "You know, now that I think about it, it seems really odd that every person Justin meets up with goes completely insane and does nothing else except trying to kill him or make his life miserable..."
Paul agreed. He said, "You are valid on that issue, Sarah. It cannot be a mere coincidence, and most of the perpetrators are complete strangers to Justin. They have never met him nor do they have any knowledge about him or his past! And yet that still does not hinder them from acting so savagely."
"Could it be his power? Y'know, mutant pheromones or something? Might explain why they only seem to go psycho whenever they're around Justin," David offered suggestively. Paul shook his head and sighed.
"No, for it were, it would not explain why the four of us have never given in to such animalistic behavior. We have known Justin for a good portion of all our lives, and yet by contradiction, nothing of the sort has happened to us. Additionally, Justin just had his powers emerge now, so it would be unlikely that if they were dormant during his childhood, Justin's mutant abilities would not have triggered the mobs back then. And besides, the Dinosaucers are immune to the effects as well, so if it is simply a matter of biological signals, it wouldn't explain their status of no effect or ours. After all, all of us are living beings as well."
"From the way Ryan is acting, I wouldn't exactly call him human...the jerk," Sarah growled darkly.
It was always the same, the insults, the rejection, the fact that he was worthless, a miscreant, a plague that brought filth and danger to everything he touched. Justin then knew he was meant to be alone. He was damned. He couldn't escape it. Justin tried to hold it together, but it was too much as the tears started to well up.
"It's OK, Sarah...After all, it's better for me to suffer than Ryan...you really can't blame him...I wouldn't want to curse him with my life...or you guys...or Allo and the others..." Justin whispered, trembling, his whole body shaking with cold spasms.
Justin then started to sob, crying as the memories of pain and hate overwhelmed him, and even though Sarah, David, and Paul gathered around the adolescent, trying to console him, Justin wished that he was never born.
---
Ryan strode into the living room of the Lavadome after a good hour of frustrated twitchiness, about to go get his motorcycle helmet. No sense in staying since he still had a lot of work to do, and there was no way in hell he was going to associate with that freak of nature any longer. Then he saw Sarah, Paul, and David marching up to him from the doorway, determined and undaunted. Ryan, not bothering to divulge in some pitiful, saccharine, "we-are-all-equal" speech, just took his helmet off the pegboard off the far wall and turned away.
Paul wasn't easily brushed off. He said evenly, "Ryan, we need to talk."
"Look, I'm not in the mood, you guys. I have to catch a plane back home." The blonde-haired adult continued to head towards the hangar bay without even glancing at his three comrades.
"Ryan Bradford Whitterson, don't you dare walk away from us!!" shouted Sarah, using her brother's full name to let him now she meant business. Yet it was only until David grabbed Ryan by the collar of his dress shirt and pulled him back roughly to face them that the blond-haired leader of the Secret Scouts finally worked up the decency to look at his three fellow friends.
"Will you three just get off my back?!" Ryan snapped, irate and growing even more dangerously angry, "I'm not interested in getting close to Justin or apologizing on how I feel! So save your breath!!"
David growled as he poked a finger into Ryan's chest, "Quit being such an asshole and drop the mutant-hating bigotry, Ry! You're not helping Justin or Allo with your attitude!!"
"Trust me, the last thing I want to do now is help that mutant!"
David was livid, automatically defending Justin's honor as he grabbed Ryan by the shirtfront, snarling, "Keep talking like that, and I swear it will be the last thing you ever do to the kid!"
Ryan pushed David's hand away from his persona, shouting, "Gee, again you side with the twerp over me! Why is it I'm not surprised?! After all, no one can resist favoring the 'charity case' over there! Everyone is always willing to bend over backwards for the weakling!! Nice way of being a friend, David!"
"There aren't any sides in this Ryan!" pushed Paul, frustrated.
"Shows what you damn well know, Paul!" snapped Ryan, now even more cornered and defensive.
"What the hell is the matter with you?!!" demanded Sarah, her hands balled into fists as she fought the urge to punch out Ryan right there and then, "How could you treat Justin like that?! He's your friend! He looks up to you like a brother, and yet all you can do is whine and bitch as if there's something wrong with him, as if he's some sort of freak!!"
"He's a mutant!! That says he's a freak in my book!!"
"But he's still the same Justin who we know and love! He's still the same Justin who's asked you for advice and adored you like a puppy dog! He's still the same Justin who loved it whenever you took him out on camping trips with Allo! He's still the same Justin who's always been kind, accepting, gentle, and compassionate! Even Raptor admits that you're even being colder than he is, Ryan! And that's saying something!"
Paul then heatedly argued, "Ryan, to hate Justin simply because he is a mutant is completely unfair and narrow-minded! Justin was born with it!! He didn't get to choose what genes he inherited nor has he wished for this to happen to him! You have known Justin for ten years and never had a problem with him before, so to say you're being righteous in starting to show apathy and revulsion now just because a few objects go flying around is just pathetic, Ryan!"
"Ryan, you have no reason to be so cold to Justin! He's never done anything to hurt you!!" David shouted.
Now the argument was getting ugly; they were all treading on very tense ground.
Ryan then completely lost his temper and self-control as he roared, "You're wrong!! Ever since Justin came to live with the Dinosaucers, he's brought us nothing but pain and trouble!! I've always resented him!!!"
"WHY?!!" demanded Paul, Sarah, and David in unison, now ready to lose their respective tempers.
"BECAUSE HE STOLE ALLO FROM ME!!"
Sarah, David, and Paul all stopped, gaping. There was a slight pause as they took in the sentence.
"What?"
The question was stunned, definitely as if Ryan dropped the ball. David, Paul, and Sarah just stared at Ryan blankly, silently, their anger momentarily gone and replaced with confusion and puzzlement. Ryan gave a resentful and frustrated sigh as he finally opened the floodgates to his heart, his voice dropping in volume but still barbed.
"Damn it, you guys, why can't you just see it? Before Justin came...I dunno how else to explain it...everyone was happy! We didn't have to deal with troubles about being chased by mobs or fearing that the Tyrannos were going to hurt Justin or mutant powers! Everything was perfect until...until he came along! We were happy, the Dinosaucers were happy, and Allo and I used to be close! We were inseparable! I loved him like he was a part of my family, like he was my uncle! And then that damn, pathetic whiny excuse of a kid came along and stole Allo from me! Ever since then, Allo cared about nothing else except his precious son! Yeah, sure, he always made sure he kept up his duties as a leader and held the Dinosaucers together and still remained friends with us, but what I used to have with him, the old spark that we had together, that made our friendship unique! It's gone! Gone because that damn son of a bitch replaced me as Allo's main concern!"
"Let me get this straight," David asked, shocked, "The whole reason you hate Justin...is because you're jealous??!"
"If it wasn't for him, me and Allo would have still been close as before," muttered Ryan heatedly.
Paul said, placating, "Ryan, think how immature and petty you sound right now as of this moment. This isn't right, for you to resent Justin just because he has Allo's affections and that you are unwilling to share him, regardless how wrong that just sounded. Allo is a living being, not a thing to squabble over. You know Allo still cares for you!"
"It's not just that, Paul! Didn't you just hear a word I said?! Why have you guys been so blind about it? Did you even wonder why I didn't want to come to this damn birthday party in the first place? Did you?! No! It's because everyone is always worried about hurting Justin's feelings and wants to do everything they can to make sure he doesn't suffer, but as a result, it drags us down! Justin always was a burden...to us and the Dinosaucers! Every damn mess he brings, whether it was the Cubs game fiasco to the shopping mall, Justin has to bring trouble and as usual, we're the ones who have to haul his butt out of there at our expense!! And don't try denying it isn't true! You three know damn well it's always Justin the mobs want to hurt, it's always Justin that causes us to be pariahs and outcasts because people hate us being associated with him!!"
"Even so, it's wrong to blame Justin! He can't help the fact that those people are being heartless jerks! He's the victim here!" David argued.
"And that's no excuse for being such a jerk about Justin's mutation! Justin hasn't done anything to ruin your life! He would have never hurt you the way you're hurting him now, Ryan!" snapped Sarah.
"Oh really?!" barked Ryan, now even more vindictive, "Just like how he ruined your chance of going to college and getting you declared as the proverbial daughter of our family?!"
Paul turned to Sarah, confused, asking, "Sarah, what did he mean by that? What's he talking about?"
Sarah went white as she set her mouth in a thin line, hissing, "No, Ryan..."
Ryan glared back venomously as he then looked at David.
"Did Sarah ever tell you why she never found a good time to visit our parents? Did you ever wonder why she insisted that you not visit her at her campus nor attend her college graduation? Did you ever find it suspicious why Sarah really never let on much about her life during these past five years?"
"Ryan, stop it!" Sarah's voice was close to pleading. Ryan just ignored his sister as he just steely continued towards Paul and David.
"You want to know why?? It's because she never went into college! It's because she's been working odd jobs as an office temp until she could land one at the law firm where she is currently! You want to know why she could never go to college?! Because our father and mother disowned her once she turned eighteen because of her associations with Justin! As a result, she got cut off without a penny, and without funds for college, she couldn't afford to go anywhere, so that's why she has to work! It was the only way she was able to survive because our mom and dad dropped her!"
"WHAT?!" exclaimed David and Paul in outrage as they looked at Sarah. Sarah then explained in a tired, distant voice.
"It was five years ago, around when we were celebrating my birthday shortly before the day we graduated high school. Don't you two remember? When David bought me the bottle of wine as a present and the day before you got news of your scholarship, Paul? Well...I also invited Justin. It took some pleading from both me and Justin to convince Allo to let him attend, and we were both really happy when Allo agreed. Until the day of the party. Justin was about to come towards my house when our mother and father spotted him arriving towards our front door. Though we couldn't explain it, our mom slammed the door on Justin's face and refused to let him in the house, and my father threatened to call the police if Justin stayed. They even burned the present Justin brought for me in the fireplace. When I found out, after the party, me, Ryan, my mom, and my dad had a huge argument, and they were able to deduce that this was the same Justin who got Ryan in trouble with the police after the Dunkin' Doughnuts store car-chase. They demanded me to report to the police where Justin lived was since they thought Justin was a menace to society and that the lawful and right thing to do was to have Justin removed and taken away. I refused. Then my parents said that if I chose to protect Justin over my own family, then I was no longer welcome to be part of the family. They said the minute I graduated, I was no longer welcome back home. In short, they would pretend they never had a daughter. I...I chose to protect Justin. The rest...well, Ryan just told you."
"I didn't know that," frowned David as he looked at Sarah who angrily turned crimson.
"Why didn't you tell us? We could have helped you," Paul offered worriedly.
"It was a family matter, David. I didn't want to involve you or Paul. It was between my parents, Ryan, and I," she said heatedly.
"Yeah, and look what it cost you, Sarah!! You deserve better than that, and yet you had to forsake it!! All because of him!!!" Ryan snarled.
"It was a sacrifice I was willing to make, Ryan!" shouted Sarah furiously, "and you have no right to say whether it was Justin's fault or not because I sure as hell know I don't blame Justin for it!!"
"But I do!!" bellowed Ryan, now even becoming more inflamed from the memory, "You think that I didn't care, that it didn't tear me up inside, that I wasn't crushed to see that happening to sister?!!"
"Even if I didn't do it for Justin, I would have done it anyways because it was the right thing to do! I don't regret protecting him or the Dinosaucers! Mom and Dad were wrong to treat him so badly! He's my friend!"
"And as a result, your life got ruined! And yet Justin gets off unscathed, just like the selfish, coward he always was! And now you want to lower yourselves even further??! By being a mutie-supporter??!! Damn it, don't you see?! Ever since Justin came into our lives, he's been nothing but trouble and a burden! He ruins everything!!" Ryan bellowed.
Paul frowned as he reasoned gently, "That is how you feel, and perhaps...there's some truth to the reasons. But Ryan, you know as well as all of us do that you have no right to be jealous and resentful towards Justin because you think he took over your role in Allo's life. And you certainly cannot blame Justin for the fact that trouble has constantly tortured him. If anything, you should understand that Justin needs a little happiness in his life and that he certainly doesn't deserve to be abandoned."
"Geez, Ryan, even I can see that you're being a selfish jerk about this! Think about it! You have everything a kid could ever want! You have a home, rich, loving parents, a sister who will always be there for you, a college education, and a happy childhood! But what does Justin have? Nothing but all the crap and beatings and insults and various strangers trying to make his life a living hell!! He has nothing going for him!! And screw your thoughts, Ry!! I agree with Sarah's decision! Hell, if I found out sooner, I would have yelled at your folks for treating her or Justin that way!! I'm just sorry you couldn't do the same!" David snapped.
"Do what?! To sacrifice everything I've worked for, everything in my life, everything that I love and cherish?! All for Justin's sake?!! It's hardly what I'd call worth it!" Ryan retorted.
Sarah then said the most painful words Ryan could ever hear from his sister.
"Justin needs Allo more than you, Ryan. Allo cares for you as a friend...but he cares for Justin so much more because he's his son. Because Justin never had a father. Accept that, Ryan. Accept the fact that Allo, and the rest of us care for Justin and that we're willing to do all we can to help him. Accept the fact that being a mutant doesn't change our views about Justin. He's still the same Secret Scout whom we trust and care about."
Ryan then let out the beast from his soul.
"The only thing I'll accept is the fact that I regret that I didn't leave the brat behind so that one of the countless mobs could have finished him off for us when I had the chanc-"
CRACK!
Sarah's eyes were cold ice before she then realized what she just did out of uncontrollable anger. She let out a small gasp as her eyes clouded with tears as she stared at her numbing palm and then at Ryan's reddening left cheek where she slapped him. Paul and David were stunned, and so was Ryan. He and Sarah never fought and hit each other before; it was an ultimate betrayal of their sibling relationship.
"Ryan..." Sarah tried to apologize, "I...I'm..."
Ryan just gave an annoyed growl before stalking off in a huff, distancing himself from the other Secret Scouts. Sarah just clasped her hands together worriedly and numbly as David draped an arm around her shoulder, trying to comfort her. Paul's mouth was set into a grim line.
"That went well," he exhaled wearily.
"Ry's all right, Sarah," whispered David to his girlfriend, "it's just that he can sometimes be too stubborn. He knows you didn't mean it."
Sarah didn't say anything, but just continued to sadly stare at Ryan's retreating form, wishing that Justin would not continue to have his life plummet downhill due to forces the teenager couldn't control. How wrong she would be several hours later.
Author's note: Well, that's another chapter come and gone, but now we focus on how the Dinosaucers are dealing with Justin's mutation! Fans of the Dinosaucers canon will NOT want to miss the next chapter because it explains what exactly happened nine years ago and reveals a bit more of why the Tyrannos are not around. All this and more on the next chapter "Screaming, Arguing, Discussing...It's All The Same".
Althea: HEY! You said this was a Misfit story!
Todd: Yeah, we've only been in for one chapter so far!
I will get to you guys soon! Trust me, I'm not going to forget about you guys! You'll be in the chapter after the next one!
Trinity: Not anymore! We took the liberty of doing a few selective editing on your computer! Hee hee hee!
HEY! GET AWAY FROM MY KEYBOARD!! Anyways, feel free to leave a review while I try to undo the damage Trinity did...HEY, PRINCESS-FLUFFIETTA-TINKERBELL IS NOT A DINOSAUCER!!