Okay, just when you thought you knew where this story was going, we're going to make a 90 degree turn. Or to put it another way, a pi/2 radian turn…
8. Time to Pay
Morning swept into the cell like warm water into a glacier. Blossom hadn't slept; the bed had been too cold. It was the first time in twelve years she'd had a bed to her self, and it now seemed unnatural. The whole thing felt surreal though, Blossom felt like she was drifting through it. There was no point in getting angry about it, or upset either. Many times she wondered what would happen if the world found out what she'd done, now they had, it felt… average. It had happened; there was nothing exceptional about it. The possible extreme results hadn't occurred, it was playing out exactly as she though it would when she was felling rational.
Blossom looked at the sunlight coming in through the window. It was a beautiful day outside. That seemed fitting, she thought. No drama, no fuss. She'd been found out, and now she had to be punished.
A police office opened the door.
"Breakfast," he said politely. Of course politeness wasn't standard inthe police service, towards criminals at least, but Blossom new most of the Police offices by name.
"Thanks Ralf," she said to emphasis the point. "Any chance of a newspaper?"
"If you're sure," he said, and left. Blossom was slightly concerned that he didn't lock the door behind him. Come on, I'm a murder, she thought.
She looked at the food. "I suppose I'll have to get used to a huge dinning hall once I'm in prison," she thought, "just like a school." She chuckled ironically to herself. Even if she got the death penalty, it would be at least two years before they got round to terminating her. Maybe she'd meet some people she'd put inside while she was there. That could be fun, of sorts.
Up above, the Kryptonite Prince was checking the plan once more.
"So, seizing her by force will annoy them?" he asked
"Greatly," said Hump-RE, "and so will our method of trailing her. Then, at the same time, we occupy all their major military installations…"
"I thought you said that none of their weapons could harm us?" the Prince said angrily.
"Yes, but once again, it will annoy them. Then all we do is tell the world what we're going to do to Blossom, and that Superman was a spy working for use and recommended this planet as our new home."
"Was he?" the Prince asked, almost certain that he hadn't ordered it.
"Of course not, but no one can prove he wasn't. Before you know it, there will be banners up in support of her. We then just show the footage of there protests to the Intergalactic Republic – selectively edited of course – and by the time they've finished arguing about it we'll be fully established on earth and there will be nothing anyone can do about it."
"And you're sure the humans can't stop us."
"They thought Superman was invincible sir. They won't stand a chance against your forces."
The Prince smiled. "Very well," he said, "bring the ship into low orbit, and get my forces ready. Oh, and send Arm-OR for the girl…"
The wall of the cell was smashed away. Blossom looked round slowly. A huge man was standing there, grimacing. Alarms were going off all around, but he seemed willing to take his time.
"Blossom Panner," he sneered, "Come with me!" With that he grabbed her and dragged her off. Blossom thought briefly about struggling, then didn't. What was the point?
MJ was woken up by Edward. "Why are you on the end of my bed?" he asked. MJ blinked.
"I didn't want to be alone," she whimpered slightly, "and Dad was out."
Edward looked at her. "It's okay," he said eventually. "I'll get you breakfast."
Downstairs, Dad was still nowhere to be seen. MJ did notice uncle Boomer passed out along the couch. He was surrounded by bottles. MJ thought about waking him up.
"Don't," her brother said as if reading her mind, "he's pissed."
"Pissed? What does that mean?"
Edward froze momentarily. "It err… means he's ill. But don't say it in front of Mum or Dad for heavens sake!"
"Okay," said MJ. She sat down at the table. Edward started making breakfast.
"Can you get the plates down from the top cupboard, I can't reach," he asked. MJ blinked.
"I'm shorter then you!"
"I can't fly."
"Oh," said MJ, but she still didn't move. Edward stopped.
"What's wrong?" he asked, "you love flying!"
"Yeah…" MJ said, "but… I don't know if I should. Isn't it wrong?
"Why?"
"Well, Mum thing…" MJ tailed off. Edward put what he was doing down, and sat down next to MJ.
"It's time you learnt some facts of life," he said gently. "MJ, is everything either right or wrong?"
"Ermmm…"
"Come on," Edward encouraged gently, "I'm not Mum or Dad, so I'm not going to get angry. Tell me what you think."
MJ thought for a moment. "Well, yes."
"Really, is crossing the road wrong or right?"
"Err… I don't know? Not really."
"What if I was crossing the road to get away from someone who needed my help? Or if I crossed over to help someone on the other side? Are they now right or wrong?"
"Umm, yes?"
"Good. Let's have another example. A very sick man is waiting out side a city in the desert. The gates are shut, should the city open the gates and let him in?"
"Yes," MJ said defiantly.
"What if the illness he was suffering from was very infectious… I mean spread easily? Should the city endanger its population to help this man?"
"Err… it depends on whether he's good or not."
"Or what if you could cure all cancer for ever, by killing one person? Would you?"
"Err…"
"What if it was ten people, or one hundred, or one thousand?"
"I DON'T KNOW!" MJ cried. "What's your point?"
"Don't worry MJ," Edward put a hand round his sister, "You did very well. No my point is that very few decisions are black and white. And different people will have different ways of making those decisions, depending on what they value. And what does this mean?"
"That… some people are wrong?"
Edward sighed. "Okay, have you heard of Winston Churchill?"
"Yes, he led Britain to victory in World War Two!"
"Yep," said Edward, "of course we – as in the USA – helped, but if it wasn't for the British, Canadians and there other allies there would have been no one left to save by the time we got round to helping."
"And then the Nazis would have won?" suggested MJ.
"No, the Russians would have, but that's beside the point. The point is would you say that Churchill was a good man?"
"Yes!" MJ felt confident about that one.
"What about someone who said that the Kurds in northern Mesopotamia should be gassed for their attacks on British colonial forces?"
MJ was quick off the mark here. "He did that?" Edward nodded.
"So was he good or bad?" MJ paused.
"I don't know?" she seemed worried. "Should I know?"
"No, you shouldn't. What my point was is that all people are capable of good and evil, and no one is purely good or bad. Not even Mum. She made a mistake, we all do. But that doesn't make her a different person, it makes her human."
MJ thought about what he'd said. "Okay," she said.
"Great," said Edward, who sounded better as well. "Why don't you fly up and get those plates, okay." MJ nodded, and left a pink streak behind her as she did.
Breakfast was ready when Eddy reappeared. He seemed cheerful.
"I got rid of the journalist!" he said, "That's one success."
"How?" asked MJ.
"I put Edward's sports kit on the front lawn."
"I'll wash it tomorrow," Edward said automatically. Suddenly, there was thumping on the door.
"EDDY OPEN UP!" shouted Buttercup. He did, and she, Bubbles and Butch crashed in. Boomer sat up.
"Ow," he whispered, "what's the problem."
"It's on the television," said Butch angrily, "some aliens have taken Blossom!"
"What," Boomer sat up quickly, "Hootnons?"
"Wrong fic."
"Kryptonites?"
"Yes!" screamed Buttercup. Eddy snatched the remote and turned on the television. On the screen flashed up a Human like being.
"So, if your Blossom survives trial by combat, we will leave your pathetic planet alone. If she looses though, we will declare her guilty, and punish you all by making you our slaves. Oh, and just so there is no confussion, she looses WHEN she dies."
The screen returned to static. Eddy switched it off.
"Dam," he said. Then he slumped on to the sofa. Behind him, Buttercup started shaking slightly. How could her last words to Blossom be the ones she said yesterday? It was terrible. It couldn't be!
Bubbles started blubing slightly. Boomer took this as his cue, and jumped up to take her in his arms, as she sobbed quietly. At the back, MJ stood there, confused and scared. But she heard a familiar voice behind her, although she was the only one.
"That's not going to happen!" said Brick determinedly, and MJ found her self nodding in agreement.
The Prince turned away from the camera. Hump-RE led the subordinates' applause. "Brilliant sire," he said, "they'll be screaming and shouting in minutes.
The Prince scowled. "Why did I have to talk like that? It made me sound like a comic-book super villain!"
"Well, it had to be something they could instantly rally against," explained Hump-RE. "Our research shows that these humans are not very bright, we had to keep it simple."
"Very well Hump-RE, you may go. Send Arm-OR in."
The huge Kryptonian entered, dragging Blossom along the floor like a rag. "There you go sire," he said. "One murderer."
"Ah good," the Prince approached Blossom. "Stand up," he ordered.
For Blossom nothing seemed real right now. It was all too strange. Two days ago she'd been in her life, now she was in some sort of sci-fi move. She saw no point in going against the flow, so she stood up. The Prince studied her closely.
"I wouldn't think you could kill him," he said stiffly. "How'd you do it? Did you seduce him and snuff him as he slept?"
This got the expected laugh from his subjects. Blossom shook her head. "No, I beat him to death in a free fight," she said dejectedly. The Prince looked up, and smashed her into the floor.
"You don't speak until you're asked to!" he stormed. "Have you never been in court before or something? Answer!"
Blossom spat blood. "One count of stealing golf clubs," she replied. The Prince laughed.
"Change of plan people, I think I will fight her in this "trial". I'll be a nice warm up before I set all the humans to work, building New Krypton." He turned to Blossom. "That speech I made to your planet may have been over exaggerated, but I still intend to carry out every last word of it."
"Even leaving if I win?" Blossom expected to be hit, but instead, the Prince just laughed, and picked up and iron bar.
"I don't think that's a large possibility," he said, crushing the bar into molten metal, "but for the record, no. Even if you do win, your planet is ours. Take her to the cells Arm-OR."
"With pleasure," he replied, and he grabbed Blossom by the wrist and swung her over her shoulder. Then something struck him. "All the cells have some one in them."
"Oh yes," said the Prince, "those dammed mobians. I'll tell you what," he said evilly, "put her in with the one who broke!"
"Yes sire," he said gruffly and he stomped out dragging Blossom along with her.
Soon, they were down in an even dingier area of the ship. Arm-OR stopped, and swung Blossom up against the wall hard. He looked her up and down.
"Shame you're not a bit younger," he said, "or I would have been able to do more then just imprison you. Do you have a daughter?"
Blossom tried to keep calm. "No."
"Liar. I'll keep an eye out for her. For now that young Hedgehog will do." Blossom mentally froze. This morning it had all seemed so simple and… slightly anticlimactic. But now, it was so unreal, it seemed like a dream. It couldn't be…
Arm-OR kicked a cell door open and chained her up, handing her by a wall medieval style. "Enjoy your company," he laughed, and he stomped out, locking the door solidly behind him.
Blossom looked up. It was crazy, she though as her mind, still not fully recognising the situation processed the latest event. He was chained to the other side of the cell. His spikes were burnt and his skin cut. He'd been beaten, torched and fried, but he was just opposite her now. He looked up at her, and the feeling of an uncontrollable dream/nightmare continued through Blossom's mind. She hadn't done anything today but gone where she was placed. Now, she was here. It was unbelievable.
Blossom was smashed back to reality moments later, when he spoke to her in the same dry, slightly mocking, bitter way that he would have used had they been in his office:
"Are you the latest method of torture?" asked Sonic the Hedgehog.
Please review. Thanks. Next chapter's more of Sonic and Blossom.
