It was midnight and the academy was dark and silent. Well . . . except for the ones who were on duty. Those on duty paced recklessly, not truly paying to authorized rules to proced with strict behavior. The two who had journeyed so far from their planet came about slowly. The female hauled her stuff with a sleepy motion.
"I am going straight to bed as soon as we get in!" she remarked. The male's hand clung to hers in a husbandly way.
"I know you hate that but you have to deal for now darlin'. I am just glad to be home." He slowly opened the door and nodded to the two on duty. "Don't worry lad and gal, it's Lei and Meira Turner."
With an elegant tilt of his head he gestured his wife into the building. Going down the vacant hallways and galleries. Passed the libraries and other such rooms in which many were in them studying, carefully, the textbooks.
Their luggage became heavier with every step and neither were feeling like they could move yet another muscle. Finally they came to their own dorm. Unlocking the door with his card. Both gave an exaggerated sigh of relief. Meira threw down her baggage and flicked the lights on with her left hand.
"So this is where you lived? Last time I journeyed here to give a conference you never allowed me to see the dorms."
Her blonde hair glowed angelically in the illuminated room. She dove for one of the beds and landed, the mattress, like a trampoline, sending her up a couple inches. She laughed, highly amused.
"You know I am not sure if I am going to be used to living back here after spending so much time off-world."
Her blue eyes glanced up at his dark ones in concern. He dismissed her reaction with a small wave as he himself sat upon his own bed. Laying back, his hand resting under his head. He stared, thoughtfully at the ceiling.
"It won't be forever...it's just that lil girl...she was a real sport when I was younger...her parents were getting divorced or something...dreadful..." It was a partial lie and both he and Meira knew it.
At the reminder of the timid girl, Meira sat up. Her hair in disarray. She kneeled on the bed now biting her lip.
"Ever think that maybe she lied? She could have been anyone Lei." The harsh reaction from her husband brought out a creep of blush from her. She ducked her head, " Eh. Either way you ne ver told her the truth . . . "
He quickly overpowered her vocals with his.
"I couldn't. But now I aught to face the facts-if I can still find her."
He spoke of doubt as if he too had sensed that the 'lil girl had lied about her family life.
Meanwhile Sky had given up even attempting to gain access to his own room. He was too proud to ask the others for any sort of assistance. Mainly because to explain the situation would just cause further angry feelings on his part. So he ended up, to his dismay, on the couch. Grudgingly he pulled the covers around him and shut the light off.
"Immature leader wannabe" He whined, " I am so going to make you regret this."
Jack woke up early and cautiously unlocked the door. Quickly and quietly he exited the dorm and made his way to the holding area where all the carded beings were. Upon coming to the door he realized it was locked. He glanced to the left and to the right before trying to open the door using the code.
"Whatcha doing?" Z nearly made her brother jump a mile. He cursed, rubbing his hair with his hand sheepishly. Z however was the picture of calm. She stood on his right, leaning against the wall.
"You know you shouldn't sneak up on people!" Jack scolded his sister. Forgetting her ability to be so silent as the door by then gave the green light and he opened it. "You tell anyone and I swear you'll regret it." He knew Z would never turn around and leave him where he is. Pointing a finger and waving it at her he tried to maintain control on the seemingly unraveling situation.
That, peaked Z's interest, more than just watching her brother had. She gave a sly smirk as she folded her arms. Her radio blasting ever so faintly through her ear phones around her neck which made an odd sort of centerpiece for the SPD uniform. Z immediately took in the factor that her brother was no longer in his uniform but in civilian clothing.
"Mmm. I get it" She slowly drawled out, " and no, you're not about to do that." With more authority. "You're not screwing up now."
Jack, gave Z, a look of impossibility. His heart felt like it would stop before even it continued to start. There was a little girl who needed his assistance and he was three feet away . . . but he felt as if he was thrown a hundred leagues away.
"I am not screwing up Z, turn that music off or down, take your choice." He spoke in a whisper, "never mind, go back to bed." He ordered her. Jack turned his back and resumed to go through the door now open and into the room. Then with speed he started to look for Kiana.
The face of blazing fury pronounced itself the partner to Z as she put her hand on his shoulder and spun him around effortlessly. Their eyes locked for a moment. His pleading for understanding hers . . . a whole different concept.
"Jack, I have followed you, been at your side through some real half-baked plans of yours but this takes them all." A small grin appeared to form across her lips and she gave a small nod for him to continue. "But I do know you well enough to know even you do stupid things-"
She was cut off by the amusing tone of Jack. His eyes lit up, laughter replacing, where concern once had been held.
"You mean, like when I said 'let's go help them' and we ended up incarcerated."
Z sighed, " oh I am glad you thought that was sooo funny." Her voice fumed sarcasm. She slapped him, sisterly, upside the head.
The next few seconds seemed to drag on for ever. Until Jack was holding the precious card. His worried face came back in full force as their sleeping friend struggled.
"Z...please..." Z gave another exaggerated sigh as she locked the doors from the inside.
To Jack Z seemed to soften some from the hard vision he had seen minutes ago, to the gentler form. But at what price would that be?
"If we get caught," she threatened, "I am blaming you. I am perfectly happy where we are now Jack. I don't want to-"
Jack once more cut her off with a warm glance.
"I know Z...I know", he gave her a quick hug. Silently after consideration he pushed her towards the door, "which is why if you leave the room I won't be mad at you."
That sprouted a string of laughter from Z as she raised the weapon to turn Kiana back.
"I am not sure if you're up for the challenge solo." She responded as she fired and Jack caught Kiana in his arms, lifting her off the ground. He noticed with a sinking feeling that her breathing was slower and her form paler then it had hours ago.
"This isn't good. I shouldn't have let Sky win..."
Z swallowed hard a moment as she set sights on the teen. Standing beside her brother was harder to do mentally than it would be physically.
"Is this about you and Sky or about rescuing Kiana? Cuz if it's all on your male egos then I am waking." Spinning on her heel. "Cuz the truth is Jack...No one deserves to be trapped in that war."
Sydney Drew was all to aware of the fact that it was Saturday. Which meant a much needed rest for her unless a villain showed up. Which she totally was counting on since the freaks always seemed to want to mess with her plans. She whistled about excitedly as she danced, in her room, to her music blaring from speakers. Finally she gazed at the mirror as she brushed her long blond hair until every spiral was perfect. Then settling her eyes upon the make up kit and grabbing for a rose-shaded lip gloss. After ten minutes with fussing with her looks she went to find all her friends.
The person she saw when she went into the main room was a sleeping Sky. She giggled as she skipped over to him. Her head to the side, whispering in his ear,
"Awwww! Sky, wake up its Saturday!"
Sky's reaction was to pull his covers over the top of his head and mumble,
"Then get out of my room! What time is it?"
Syd merely sat on the edge of the couch. She shrugged checking the clock.
"Early six o'clock in the morning. But don't be so grumpy after all you're on the couch, not your room. Whih doesn't make any sense," her blond curls shook in sympathy for him, " I don't know what's come over you." She let out a breath. " I have to go shopping I'll be back sometime later!" Her exit was as smooth as her entrance was.
Sky slipped his covers off and sat up rubbing his eyes. All he saw leaving was golden hair bouncing. That's when it hit him.
"JACK!" He yelled. Normally he would have maintained the utmost composure but what Jack had done he would consider to be too far! Still in his SPD Uniform Sky scrambled out to his dorm's door. Finding it unlocked he knocked twice before barging in.
"Jack? We need to-" The door opened to reveal no one. Jack's bed still neatly made and it rivaled against his own comfortable one. He sped off in the opposite direction in order to find Jack.