Author's Note: First off let me apologize for taking so long to update this. I've had a pretty bad case of writer's block lately. I knew what I wanted to have happen in this chapter, I just couldn't figure out how to convey it. So secondly, I apologize for the crappy quality of this chapter.

Tripleguess: Thank you once again for your kind words, and your review. You're too nice to me: ) And yup, Keane's a weirdo...at least to the KG anyways. -shrugs-

Every Heart Bleeds: Thank you for the review and for taking the time to read my story. I'm glad you've enjoyed it so far. Again sorry for the delay with the update. XD


Chapter 5


The harsh click of the approaching boots grew louder and louder, until Keane was certain their owner was going to come around the corner and spot him. Emerald eyes dancing with anxiety, Keane dashed as quickly as he could over to the shadowed corner of the dead end that he had overlooked earlier. As he slipped into his hiding place, he was sure he had made too much noise; anyone within five feet of him could hear his heavy footsteps! Flattening himself against the wall as best as he could, he pressed his back hard against the cold stone wall and took a deep breath.

A large man finally came into view, and Keane let his good eye focus on the man's features. The man's face was covered in tanned, rough skin that was pulled taut across his impassive features. A helmet of some sort concealed most of the man's face, but from what Keane could see it looked as though the man only had one eye. In one calloused hand the man held a paper with some sort of various symbols adorning it, but Keane couldn't make out what it said.The man's other hand was grasped tightly around one of the largest guns Keane had ever saw in his life.

Keeping as still as humanly possible, Keane watched the man approach the door. It slid open noiselessly, and the large man gave a cautious look around before ducking inside. Before the door slid shut, Keane could hear the green man's voice calling out to the large man. "Sig! Where have you been?"

Keane let out his breath forcibly, and wiped away the sticky perspiration that was trickling down his face. For a moment he debated whether or not he should try his hand at eavesdropping again, for he had to admit he was quite curious about who this Sig fellow was and his connection to the green man. But the more he thought about it, the more he found himself not wanting to press his luck.

As he stepped carefully away from the wall and began to limp away, Keane suddenly realized what the two men had been talking about before he had been forced to hide. They had been discussing him.

Just how did that strange green man know him, and more importantly how did he know his father? Keane hadn't seen his father in years, in fact he couldn't exactly remember the last time he saw his father.

Stopping abruptly in the middle of the Slums, Keane shook his head forcibly. He must have misheard the green man; surely he couldn't know his father. But now another thought entered Keane's head.

"Keane was enlisted in that Secret KG Operation as a small child. We're not entirely sure what he endured during that time, but he has inherited his father's strong will and determination. We have high hopes that he will be able to fight the…"

Keane sighed with frustration as he thought back to the man's words. What was that strange man talking about! A secret KG Operation, enduring unknown things, and being able to fight something? What a loon! Keane snickered, but inside he couldn't help struggling with his thoughts as he started to make his way back to the Palace.

To the best of his knowledge Keane hadn't signed up for any form of 'Secret Operations' in the KG. Keane was in the 'normal' KG along with all the others. He went through the same basic training everyone else did, and climbed the ranks along with his fellow officers. There was nothing out of the ordinary dealing with anything he had gone through as a KG. And that was the end of that.

He continued the rest of his journey, satisfied that he hadridded himself of such foolish thoughts. The green man had obviously lost his marbles. Keane had never saw that man in his entire life, and he had convinced himself that the man hadn't been talking about his father.

But somewhere in the back of his mind, he began to wonder just when he had signed up for the KG. He honestly didn't have the slightest clue. As far back as Keane could remember he had always been a member of the KG. He could remember going through training, learning to use firearms, how to drive a KG bike, everything. Yes, Keane could remember everything, except forsigning up, arriving at the facility, or saying goodbye to his family. Did he even have a family?

Keane raised a hand to his temples as he gritted his teeth angrily, and stopped in the street once more. What the hell was wrong with him? Why did it matter to him when he had enlisted to the KG, or whether or not he said goodbye to his family? It didn't, he was here now and he had a job to do. That was all that mattered.

Exhaling, Keane cast a look of despair towards the sky. Above him storm clouds swirled, covering the pale blue sky with a thick haze. Billowing poufs rose higher and higher, until a warning crackle of lightning erupted from within them. Keane picked up his pace as best he could, which was hard with his injured leg.

As the Palace came into view on the horizon, the clouds opened up and generously dumped sheets of rain upon his form. In a matter of minutes, the rain had created large puddles, and the citizens of Haven City had all disappeared back to the safety and shelter of their homes.

Keane carried on, feeling the heavy droplets as they pounded against his already sopping skin. His hair was plastered flat against his head by the rain, and he shook his head vigorously to clear the hair from his eyes. At last he reached the Palace, and thoroughly soaked and chilled to the bone, he slid his Security Pass through the door and entered.

He was greeted by silence, but this was nothing new. He hadn't expected anyone to be waiting for him, full of worry. Snickering, Keane shook himself as a dog might do, and stepped out of his rain filled boots. He took a look around briefly, only mildly surprised when again he saw no one. Shrugging he walked over to the elevator, boots in hand, and rode it to his floor.

He limped down the hall gingerly; all that walking hadn't exactly helped his leg. Keane noticed that the door to every room was shut, and the sounds of rowdy KG men were surprisingly absent. Keane welcomed the silence though, and quickly unlocked his room.

Once inside he peeled his clothing off, and changed into dry clothes. Without even casting a look towards his clock he climbed into his bed and prepared for a well needed rest.

Unfortunately Keane found that sleep didn't come easy when one's mind was filled to the brim with thoughts. No matter how hard he tried he couldn't stop thinking about the things the green man had said. Why did the man think that Keane had been in some secret operation, and what did the man know about this operation, if it even existed?

It was then that his comm. unit started to go off, jarring Keane out of his thoughts and back to reality. Cursing under his breath, he clumsily reached for the beeping unit. Keane sighed with frustration, the last thing he felt like doing now was putting up with the others. After fumbling with the unit for a few minutes with a bandaged hand, he switched it on and was greeted by the scornful voice of Erol.

"Oh Keane, there you are, we were so worried. Where, oh where have you been?"

Erol snickered, as he expressed mock concern. Keane though was not in the mood today, at all.

"Stuff it Erol. If you have a legit reason for disturbing me, then I suggest you state it now."

The annoyance highly present in Keane's voice, he gritted his teeth as he awaited a reply.

"My, an angry fellow aren't we? And I thought you would be pleased to hear about my success in leading my troops to a glorious victory, while you led your men straight into the jaws of defeat before running away like the coward you are."

Keane tried his best to keep his anger in check, but he wasn't exactly a happy camper under the current circumstances. He could hear the drunken cries of his fellow officer's in the background. This of course explained why his floor was dead quiet. Keane shook his head in disgust, and green eyes ablaze; he kept his voice level as he shot back a reply.

"I have a right to be angry you ass. You left me and my men vulnerable when you decided not to show up at the agreed upon coordinates in time. You knew we wouldn't be able to take the Metalheads by ourselves. No, you just waited until a good half of the Metalheads, and my men had been killed, and then rushed in so you could play hero. That doesn't sound very honorable to me, Commander."

"I don't know what you are talking about Keane. My men and I were there on time, and we fought bravely while you and your men quivered with fear. The Baron awarded me generously, and all of my men received medals. Oh, and speaking of the Baron, if I were you I'd drag my sorry ass down here ASAP because the Baron wishes to speak with you."

One could clearly hear the feigned innocence in Erol's voice as he gave his story, but Keane knew there was nothing he could do about it. Erol clicked his comm. unit off as soon as he finished his sentence, leaving Keane alone with his thoughts once more.

Keane balled his fist slamming it down hard on his bedside table. What had he done now? Knowing Erol, he wouldn't doubt that he had told the Baron his story, probably adding in a few good details about Keane doing something even more dishonorable and putting the KG to shame, or that he had been talking about rebelling against the Baron.

Keane groaned as he rose to his feet, his injured leg wobbling somewhat at the sudden weight it had to bear. He had decided rather quickly that whatever he had done, it probably wouldn't make the situation any better if he was late to his meeting. The Baron was a stickler about being prompt and on time.

Slipping out of his room, Keane made his way down to the Baron's quarters as fast as his wounds would allow him. Upon reaching the third floor, he could hear the uproar of drunken men coming from the common room. Keane couldn't help the anger that seeped in as he heard their cries. How was it right that they could get drunk and party into all hours of the night and not get in any trouble at all? And what had he done that had caused him to get in trouble? It wasn't fair, but Keane didn't want to be immature. It wasn't like the Baron would believe him anyway.

And so, pushing these thoughts from his mind, he continued his way down to the Baron's quarters. Upon reaching the door, he took a deep breath. The Baron didn't take his business or matters of the KG lightly, and Keane was certain there was punishment in store if Erol's version of the story had been told. Just that thought was enough to send surges of anger through Keane once more, as he thought back to where they partied a few floors above.

Calming himself quickly by taking another deep breath, Keane put on a vacant face and slid his card through the door. Heartbeat pounding loudly in his ears, he anxiously awaited for what was in store.


Well I hope it wasn't too bad. -sheepish grin- I feel awful about making you wait so long for this awful chapter. I promise I'll work harder on the next one, and of course I definitely won't take as long to update.