Chapter 3: Copy Cat

There's an officer lounge near the upper levels, which is rarely used. Typically, it is used as a method of escaping. I've seen Mitch and Jerome use it as a means of escaping recruits who are a little too hands on. Sky uses it to hide more often than anyone else. Occasionally, its used when someone is too tired to do anything else. I was given a key to it after the last adventure when I was run ragged. It was a means of apology. I don't really like using it, mostly because I worry my friends are beginning to grow jealous of my relationship with the others.

Today, however, with the night I had prior, I chose to use it for a quick nap. It took some time to get used to the room and lumpy couch. Soon, enough though, I fell asleep. I don't know how long I slept but I woke to the sound of Ty screaming in a way I had not heard before. I sat up quickly, very alert of my surroundings. Ty was standing directly in front of the television. His hand clenched the remote so hard his knuckles turned white and his hand shook.

"Ty, what's wrong!" I gasped, jumping to my feet.

"Im…possible…" he stuttered.

With a sudden burst of energy, he threw the remote aside and rushed out of the room. I didn't know whether to follow him or see what he was looking at. Glancing at the TV, I found it to be a broken old flat screen. The news was on. The reporters seemed to be full of life, deep in discussion. I could hardly hear them talking but it seemed they were talking about a string of crimes. Finding this unhelpful, I decided to go find where Ty had run off.

I followed his reckless trail across the base until he eventually busted into Sky's office. Quentin was in there as well but their conversation ended as soon as Ty entered. I stood against the doorway panting, though I don't think any of the three knew I was there.

"Have you been anywhere in the last twenty-four hours!" Ty shouted.

"Huh?" Sky murmured.

"Have you left this base in the last day!"

"Uh…no…"

"Meeting. Now."

Ty quickly ran back out, tapping his headset. I watched him storm down the hall, turning sharply. I looked back toward Sky and Quentin. We were all at a complete loss.

"What just happened?" commented Quentin, looking to Sky.

"I'm not sure but I think we're going to find out," shrugged Sky, rounding his desk.

Ty had organized a meeting quickly. It included Sky, Quentin, Jerome, Mitch, Seto, Jason, Ty and myself. I'm not sure if this was the intended cast for the meeting or Ty simply grabbed whoever happened to cross his path while he marched here, but no one was willing to bring it up. We all simply took our seats and waited. Ty was in a heated discussion with someone over his headset, but eventually it ended.

"Sky, you swear you haven't left this base in the last two days?" Ty repeated, looking over at Sky at the other end of the table.

"No, sir," Sky grinned. "Why?"

Ty let out a deep groan, lowering his head. A moment of silence before he finally reared his head back up and spun around to turn on the monitor on the far wall. Turning to face it, we were greeted with a recorded news feed from earlier, no doubt the one that Ty was watching when he lost it.

"If you haven't heard…we have a report about the mysterious Sky Army leader attacking…"

Ty quickly paused it, glancing at Sky against. Sky's mouth hung open, eyes staring at the screen. Jerome leapt over the table, grabbing the remote from Ty and hitting play again.

"…in a small town just outside of Capital City. No one was killed but many were injured. There is no information on his current whereabouts and…"

Ty snatched the remote back, turning off the program. Everyone turned to face Sky who was still entirely glued to the screen. You could see his reflection in the now blank surface, forming an endless echo between the monitor and his glasses.

"I…I…I…" he eventually muttered but that's all he could manage to say.

"I've already got media covered. Every image and video are…mysteriously gone. As for the news itself, I'm hoping to bury it under something more…interesting. Yogscast are offering their aid on this one," Ty explained, tapping on his tablet on the table. "It'll all mean absolutely nothing if we can't find out who did this."

"Was it some…hater?" Quentin offered.

"A double ganger?" perked Jerome.

"An evil twin?" chimed in Mitch.

"Yes, because a long lost evil twin makes complete sense," mocked Seto, rolling his eyes.

"You got a better idea?" snapped Jerome and Mitch.

"A clone," shrugged Seto, grinning lightly. None of us could tell if he was being serious or not.

"I've already sent some scouts over there to investigate," Ty continued. "Sky, is there anything you want to add?"

Sky slowly spun around to face the rest of us. He gulped, shaking his head.

"I…I don't know. I know I didn't do that stuff…" Sky groaned. "But…I don't think…I don't think I have an evil twin…"

Jerome and Mitch exchanged looks. They had a comment but chose not to share.

"We'll figure this out. In the meantime, Sky Army will keep a low profile in every sense of the word," Ty nodded. "This…never leaves this room."

The group nodded. A majority of the crew left, talking quietly among each other. Sky remained, eyes on the table, hands together, no doubt deep in thought. Ty was again on his headset, tapping on his tablet. I sat, unsure what I should be doing.

"Heh…Ty's pretty great at all this," Sky mumbled.

I looked over at him. His eyes were still on the table.

"Yeah, he sure is," I replied softly.

"I can't image getting this far without him," Sky nodded, looking up lightly. "It feels like we've been friends forever."

"I can image," I smiled. It felt like I had been with these guys forever. My old life seemed like a story of the distant past.

Sky chuckled lightly again, sitting up.

"I can't image being without everyone. They all…you all mean so much to me."

I simply smiled, not knowing how to respond.

"Well, I guess I should do my rounds," Sky yawned, getting to his feet. "You have work too, don't you?"

"Yeah, I've got some stuff…"

He looked around, taking in a deep breath. Giving me a slight nod, he left. I let out a long sigh.

"This will pass," Ty offered, patting me on the head as he passed. "Everything usually does."