To Fireflyoflight457: Maaaaabey….thanks for the review! It sure was fast! I posted and like ten minutes later, there was a new review XD!
To Lyn: I love Phoebe and Quentin and Fred…aw, hell! I love ALL the characters! XP yeah, it wasn't until I actually posted chapter two that I saw how vast that paragraph was! The paragraphs are always shorter looking once you post them, but I overestimated the change on that one. And 'Her' is coming my friend. Yes. Very soon 'Her' will reveal herself. MWA HAHAHAHAHAHAAAA!
To Carcaohtar: XD! I sure wouldn't object to a fav! I know I love your work! I was really afraid that Demetri would come off the wrong way myself, and, to be honest, this plotline is really starting to grow on me…dun tell nobodies…it might upset my other brain-children 'Holding Our Ground Against Doom' and 'Loyalties and Where They Lie'…oh, and XD! I'm willing to bet that hardly anyone on this sight TRULY knows what they're talking about…I just give them the benefit of the doubt…XD! It's like the G-men with the rifles…it LOOKS real, so dun tell nobodies…XD!
To Gogirlbm: Thanks so much for the fave! Here you go, a new chapter fresh outta my noggin!
Chapter Three
Demetri hardly got any sleep that night. He didn't even get enough sleep to have a dream. He was immensely relieved when his clock read six in the morning. He trudged out of bed, took a hot shower, and put on a pair of black slacks and a white turtleneck. He tugged on his black shoes and combed his auburn hair to one side. Demetri sat quietly on his bed and watched the sun rise. Just as the sun was peeking over the trees, Anita woke up. Wordlessly, she sat down beside Demetri, laying her head against his shoulder, and the two of them watched the rest of the sun rise together. Anita found herself crying softly for a few minutes. This was a bittersweet time for her.
At last, Demetri might know the answers to the questions that had plagued him for so long; but that meant that Anita would have to let him go back to his real home. Anita too took a quick shower to compose herself. She put on a long, black skirt and a white blouse, pulled on her shoes, and pulled her long brown hair back into a single braid. She grasped hands with Demetri as the two of them made their way down to breakfast. Fred greeted the two and Demetri and Anita greeted him back.
"Quentin called. He's feeling much better this morning and our guests will be arriving in half an hour. That leaves just enough time for us to have a nice hot breakfast." Fred said.
Demetri and Anita looked on curiously as Boyd walked up behind Fred.
"Mmmm…smells good!" Boyd said. Fred jumped and knocked a nearly empty bowl of pancake batter onto the floor.
"A little jumpy this morning, are we?" Boyd asked. Fred blushed furiously.
"You almost gave me a heart attack, Boyd! I didn't know you were here already!" Fred said, blushing furiously.
"It's because I have the stealth of a cat, my friend; and I daresay, you can jump like a kangaroo!" Boyd teased. Fred elbowed him playfully and picked up a rag to clean up the pancake batter. Boyd chuckled as he grabbed a second rag and helped Fred clean up.
Minutes later, they all sat down to a delicious meal of pancakes, sausage, and bacon.
"I know they say you should never trust a skinny chef, but Fred's a good cook." Boyd said as he took his plate to the sink.
"Always with the banter, Boyd." Fred chuckled. He glanced at the clock.
"Our guests should be here any moment now. Shall we go wait for them?" Fred asked. It seemed like an eternity that the four of them waited by the stairs; even though in actuality, it was only two minutes. Fred smiled as he let his guests in.
"Hey, Quentin. I'm so glad you're feeling better today; and Phoebe! You look especially lovely today." Fred said. Phoebe smiled.
"Well, today I had time to get ready." She chuckled.
"Right this way, miss." Fred said, holding the door for a third person. A beautiful young woman walked in the door. She had long brown hair that fell to her waist. She wore a pair of dark brown cargo pants with a matching trench coat over her dark green turtleneck. When her amber eyes met his vibrant green ones, they both froze. Everyone else had frozen as well as they watched the two. After a long, tense silence, the girl hesitantly took a step toward Demetri, her eyes still locked with his.
"Oh my god…i-it really is you…isn't it?" The girl breathed. She continued moving slowly toward Demetri until she was within arms reach. She came closer still, hesitantly moving her hands up to caress Demetri's face. He jolted under her touch and blinked as an image of a pair of amber eyes flashed before his eyes. He remembered a flower and those amber eyes, dull with cynicism, but with joy and affection shining just beneath. The shade matched those of the eyes of the girl standing before him now perfectly.
"L-lili?" Demetri breathed. For a reason he couldn't explain, he felt tears building in his eyes. A tear slid down the girl's face as well.
"You guys…this is him…I don't even need to enter his mind to be sure…I know it right now…I swear to god, this really is him…" The girl said, her voice breaking.
"I-I remember you…we were close…very close…you had the same name as a flower…Lili…I'm almost certain…is your name Lili?" Demetri asked. The girl didn't respond.
"I-I'm sorry…I wish I could remember more than just that…" Demetri said. The girl put a finger to his lips to silence him.
"It's alright. I'm going to help you remember everything." The girl said. She took his hand gently.
"Right this way, miss." Fred said, leading them all into his office. Demetri and the girl sat down across from one another, neither able to take their eyes off of the other's. Phoebe took out her psi-portal and handed it to the girl. She placed it on Demetri's forehead without a single word.
"Wait…" Demetri said. "Before we start…what's your name?"
The girl smiled.
"You were right. My name is Lili." The girl said. There was a bright flash of light and both Demetri and the girl were sitting relaxed in their seats with their eyes closed.
"She's made it in." Quentin said with a small smile.
Lili found herself standing in a busy marketplace in a little town in France. There was a fruit vendor, a toymaker, a butcher, a baker, a tailor, a blacksmith…all kinds of different stands. Then, in a dark part of the marketplace stood a rundown old gypsy caravan.
"You don't want to go there. There's a demon in there." Demetri said, sticking close to the fruit vendor's stall. Lili raised an eyebrow at Demetri. His figure was completely transparent. When an astral projection was transparent, that usually meant that the projection was incomplete. It wasn't capable of working to its full potential. Something was missing from it. Demetri was incomplete.
Despite Demetri's warning, Lili recognized the caravan immediately and ran to it. The doorway was locked. Lili tried knocking.
"N-no! G-go away! Leave me alone! I-I'm a demon! I'm a demon!" A very familiar voice called from within. It was the voice of a young boy.
"Who's in there?" Lili asked softly so she wouldn't scare the child.
"I-I don't know!" The boy sobbed softly.
"Can you try to remember?" Lili asked gently.
"No! No! I don't want to remember! I just want them to leave me alone! I want to go home!" The boy sobbed.
"Why don't you want to remember? Who do you want to leave you alone?" Lili asked.
"I don't want them to hurt me anymore!" The boy cried.
"Listen…do you still have your friendship bracelet?" Lili asked. There was soft sniffling from inside.
"Is it this green thing?" The boy asked softly.
"Yeah, that's it! I have one too! Open the door and I'll show you! I'm your friend. I want to help you get home!" Lili said. The door cracked open slightly and a vibrant green eye peered out at her from the darkness. Lili smiled sweetly at the boy and pulled up her sleeve to reveal the bracelet.
"Who are you?" The boy asked.
"I'm Lili. I'm your friend. I came here to save you." Lili said softly.
"If you're my friend, then why didn't you come rescue me when they were hurting me? Why didn't anyone come when I called for help? The only saving I ever got was when they finally granted me death." The little boy said. Tears streamed down Lili's cheeks.
"I'm sorry…I'm so sorry…" Lili whispered.
"Please, I'm here now…let me at least try to help you." Lili said. The boy stared at her for a long moment.
"I can't come out of there or they'll get me…you have to come in here with me." The boy said.
"Okay." Lili said softly. Lili stepped into the caravan carefully. It was very dark. Shadowy figures moved all around, leering at them from the shadows and whispering threats. The boy was undoubtedly Raz. He looked just as he had the last time he'd been seen seven years ago, but he was covered in cuts, scrapes, bruises, and burns. Blood stained what was left of the boy's uniform. He was very pale and looked exhausted. His lips were tinged blue from the cold air of the caravan. Just like Demetri, Raz's figure was transparent. Incomplete. Lili knew now what she needed to do.
The boy backed away from Lili, his eyes wide with fear.
"I-I'm a demon…" He whispered.
"Shhh…it's okay, Razputin…you're not a demon." Lili said softly.
"SHH! Don't say that! They said I'm a demon! I'm a demon! They'll come back and they'll hurt me if I'm not! As long as I stay here in my cage where I can't hurt anybody, and never come out, they'll let me live in peace." The boy cried.
"Who will hurt you? Who said that you were a demon?" Lili asked.
"It was them! They hurt me! I can't remember!" Raz cried. Lili had just realized something…Raz was missing just one thing. Lili searched her pockets for Raz's distinguishing accessory.
"Look…I have your goggles." Lili said, offering the red goggles to the boy.
"I've carried them around with me ever since they were found outside the warehouse where you were kidnapped seven years ago." Lili said. She motioned for Raz to come to her.
"It's okay. Come here. I'll protect you." Lili said. Hesitantly, the boy inched toward her. Lili knelt down so that she was eye level with the boy. With a trembling hand, the boy took the goggles from her and examined them. Lili took her trench coat off and draped it over the boy. At first, the boy jumped and tried to run away from her when she moved toward him, but he relaxed when he felt the warmth of the coat. Lili held out her arms toward the boy. The boy looked around at the many shadows and hesitantly scampered into her arms. She held him gently and wrapped her coat snugly around him. She sat down, holding the boy protectively in her lap.
"I won't let anything happen to you, Razputin. I'm here now." Lili said softly. She sat there in the dark with the boy for a long while, calmly holding him to her chest. The boy's eyes darted around the room and he jumped at the slightest noise. Lili could just barely make out the whispers of the nightmares that glided around the room.
"Razputin! Why didn't you save Sasha? How could you have let us both get shot? You should have recognized the trap! You never should have let yourself be captured! This is all your fault, demon! I hate you!" Milla's voice whispered harshly.
"You let him shoot me, Razputin. You let him shoot Milla; the woman who means more to me than life. You let him shoot us both after all that we've done for you. If it hadn't been for you, none of this would have ever happened! Now you will rot in hell forever, demon!" Sasha's voice hissed.
"Stay in your cage, demon, where you can never touch anyone again, and I will permit you to keep your pathetic existence. You will stay in this cage along with your sins, and forever you shall remember them and repent!" An unfamiliar voice said.
"Remember the mercy I have shown you, wretch, and the agony of my rage; for it was the grace of God that spared thee and it was by his hand that you suffered your punishment! Remember it, demon; for if ever you should stray outside your prison, you will suffer the full fury of the wrath of god; and this time, you will not be shown such mercy!" The same, unfamiliar voice hissed. The boy tensed and huddled closer against Lili's chest.
"Raz, who was that?" Lili asked.
"A messenger of God…God sent an angel down to him with a message. He carries out the will of God…punishing demons and wretches like me. I am a demon beyond redemption…I have committed the most unspeakable of sins…I am beyond salvation." Raz said softly.
"Raz, this 'messenger of God'…Did he have short black hair and ice blue eyes?" Lili asked. Raz nodded.
"He's not a messenger of God, Raz! He was a nutcase! He was lying to you! None of what he said meant anything! He was a very religious and very prejudice man who was also very mentally unstable! His insanity drove him to believe that he was a soldier of god sent to eradicate all those who he thought were unworthy!" Lili said. She gripped Raz's shoulders and looked him in the eyes.
"Raz, this man did horrible things to so many people. He attacked blacks, Hispanics, Oriental people, Asians, Jews, Christians, Catholics, the blind, the deaf, people with deformities, the mentally challenged…anyone who wasn't white, anyone who didn't speak English, anyone who he believed wasn't completely devoted to God, and anyone who he believed was imperfect. He was the insane, small town version of Hitler!" Lili exclaimed.
"No, he's real…I'm a demon…the angel gave him holy water that hurt me…" Raz said. Lili shook her head.
"Raz, the guy was insane, but admitably, brilliant. He concocted some kind of psitanium based chemical compound that reacts with psychic energy. When it comes into contact with a psychic's skin, it messes up the energy flow; preventing the psychic to use their powers and causing them bodily harm by turning their own energy on them. He just deluded himself into thinking that an angel gave it to him." Lili explained. Raz's eyes searched hers hesitantly.
"We caught him, Raz. He's behind bars now. He can't hurt you anymore. He can't lie to you anymore. You're not a demon and you never were." Lili said. Lili smiled faintly.
"We thought you were dead, Raz. You've been gone for such a long time. You dad and your friends and I have all missed you so much." Lili said softly.
"Dad…and my friends…a-and you…" Raz said softly. Tears sprang to his eyes. "I miss them too."
Lili smiled and ran her fingers through his hair.
"Then let's go home, Raz. Come on." Lili said. Raz stared at her.
"I-I can go home?" Raz asked. Lili nodded. Raz hung his head and sniffed softly.
"No I can't. I-I don't know how." Raz said softly.
"That's okay. Just come with me. I'll take you home." Lili said. She smiled encouragingly at Raz.
"I wanna go home." He said softly. Lili stood up and offered him her hand.
"Then let's go." Lili said. Raz took her hand hesitantly. A small smile tugged at his lips. The two headed slowly toward the door. Lili didn't want to spook Raz. Demetri was standing beside the caravan, trying to peek in through the window.
"Lili…please come out of there…I think that's where they put the demon that was inside me…" Demetri called.
"This isn't a demon, Demetri. It's you." Lili called as she pushed open the door. Raz squinted in the new light and clung tightly to Lili's hand nervously.
"Demetri, I think I've found your other half." Lili said. She nudged Raz toward Demetri gently. Demetri and Raz froze and locked eyes. Immediately, a green glow overtook them both. They were abruptly pulled together, like a pair of magnets, and a blinding white light filled the little street.
Lili jolted awake in her seat with a short gasp. Her eyes went immediately to Demetri. The psi-portal had fallen into his lap. He appeared to be asleep. After a few, tense moments, his fingers twitched and his eyes fluttered. Slowly, his vibrant green eyes opened. He looked a bit disoriented at first. His gaze traveled to Lili's face and their eyes met. A warm smile graced his face.
"I would say more like he's my other fourth, because I've always believed you to be my better half." He said. Tears shone in Lili's eyes. She jumped up and launched herself into Raz's arms.
"Oh my god! Raz!" She sobbed. "That was so fucking corny."
Raz chuckled and wrapped his arms around her. After a few moments, Lili abruptly pulled back and delivered a sharp blow to the side of Raz's head.
"I OUGHT TO CHOP YOU INTO FOURTHS MYSELF FOR THE SHIT YOU'VE PUT ME THROUGH THE LAST SEVEN YEARS!" She shrieked. Quentin and Phoebe had to grab Lili while Raz hid behind his chair. He froze when he saw Anita staring at him tearfully. He stood slowly and walked over to her.
"A-allo, i-I'm Anita." She said softly. Raz smiled.
"I know. Anita, I'm still me…I'm just…complete now. The part of my memory…the part of me that was missing is here now. I still remember everything else that Demetri remembers and I feel the same feelings that Demetri feels." Raz said, taking Anita's hands. "I'm still your Demetri…just think of it as a name change. A rose by any other name would smell as sweet; and Demetri by any other name still loves Anita very much."
Anita let out a soft sob and threw her arms around Raz's neck. He hugged her gently. She sniffed and looked up at him.
"I still would like for you to introduce yourself to me. I do not know your ozer 'alf." She said sheepishly. Raz smiled.
"Hi. I'm Razputin D'artagan Aquato, son of Greyson Aquato. I am twenty years old. I am a gypsy and live with my father and several other gypsies of the Aquato clan in a traveling circus. I was born in Lithuania, my mother passed away when I was very little, and I have no biological brothers or sisters, but count my fellow clansmen as part of my family. When I was ten years old, I ran away from the circus to Whispering Rock Psychic Summer Camp to hone my psychic powers and begin the path toward my life's dream of becoming a Psychonaut. While there, I made many friends and uncovered a plot to rule the world. I foiled the plot, saved the camp, and four other inmates of a broken down asylum called 'Thorny Towers' that was in the middle of Lake Oblongata. When all was said and done, my relationship with my father was stronger than ever, I had many new friends, and was accepted into the Psychonauts as their kidnapping specialist. I was the youngest in history to ever be accepted." Raz said. Anita stared at him.
"You can't be serious…you are making all zat up, aren't you? You are pulling my leg!" Anita said. Raz shook his head.
"Sounds crazy, but it's true." Raz chuckled.
"Wow…" Anita muttered, plopping back down in her chair. Raz's gaze moved to Quentin and Phoebe, who were looking back at him with smiles. Raz laughed.
"Oh my god…you two got married! Congratulations! I wish I had been there!" Raz said. Phoebe and Quentin laughed.
"We've got a tape of it, so you can see the whole thing." Quentin said.
"God…you got so tall, Quentin…and Phoebe…you grew up really nicely…not that I ever thought you weren't pretty…" Raz said. Phoebe chuckled.
"I know what you mean. Thank you, Raz." Phoebe said. Raz's eyes went back to Lili (who was still being restrained by Phoebe and Quentin). Raz walked up to her.
"I-I'm sorry, Lili…that I've been gone so long." Raz said softly. Phoebe and Quentin released her when they were certain that she wouldn't attack Raz again.
"Seven years…for seven years, I've waited. Not a day has gone by that I didn't miss you." Lili said. She gave him a teary smile.
"But I never gave up. I never doubted you. I never believed that you were dead. I always knew that you were out there somewhere and that you were alive!" Lili laughed, throwing her arms around Raz's neck. The two embraced lovingly. Lili buried her face in Raz's shoulder.
"Mmm…you'd better take me on one hell of a date to make up for the seven years of birthdays and first kiss anniversaries you've missed." Lili whispered. Raz's heart soared.
"S-so…does that mean…" Raz asked. Lili nodded.
"I told you that I never gave up on you, Raz. I was waiting for you to come back. You're still my boyfriend." Lili said. Raz grinned happily. He grabbed Lili's hand and pulled her over to where Anita was sitting.
"Lili, this is my surrogate mother/sister kinda sorta…she found me and nursed me back to health. Her name is Anita. Anita, this is my girlfriend, Lili Zanotto." Raz said. Anita and Lili smiled and one another and shook hands.
"Thanks for looking after my stupid boyfriend." Lili chuckled.
"Ze pleasure was mine. I love zat knuckle headed boy." Anita chuckled.
"Hey…" Raz whined. A soft laugh caught everyone's attention. Fred was sitting down in an armchair nearby with Boyd standing beside him. Boyd had a hand on Fred's shoulder and Fred was crying. Fred was blushing and Boyd was chuckling.
"C'mon, Fred, pull yourself together before you drown us all." Boyd teased, holding back joyful tears of his own.
"Oh, shut up, Boyd." Fred said. Raz laughed and walked over to them.
"Wow, Fred…a world renowned psychiatrist, psychiatry professor, and philanthropist…Thanks so much for helping me remember who I am." Raz said. Fred laughed as he wiped the tears from his eyes.
"I'm sorry…I just can't believe it's really you!" Fred said. Raz laughed and hugged Fred and Boyd. Fred took a moment to compose himself.
"We've missed you, Kid!" Boyd said, ruffling Raz's hair. Fred grabbed Raz's hands.
"Raz, do you remember how you got away from that nutcase and how you ended up in France? I just gotta know!" Fred said. Raz paused. He was deep in thought. Suddenly, a panicked expression overtook his face.
"Sasha and Milla! Did they make it? Are they okay?! God, please tell me they are…Wait! I saw it on tv…they spoke at my funeral…they're alive…" Raz sighed, relieved. The panic came right back not a second later.
"OH MY GOD! Sasha's in prison!" Raz cried. He started pacing around the room as old memories came pouring back. He was suddenly remembering countless newscasts that he had heard pertaining to his friends.
"And JT too! And Maloof is wanted by the Psychonauts! And Vernon was fired because of that awful thing that happened to Elton! And, holy crap, Bobby's a top agent! And…oh my god…Lili! You're not a Psychonaut anymore and your dad's not grand head!" Raz cried. Lili sighed and guided Raz to a chair, making him sit.
"You only know what you heard on the news. There's a lot you need to be set straight on, because the media doesn't know shit." Lili said, a hardened expression on her face. Quentin and Phoebe also looked bitter.
"Well, I'm listening." Raz said eagerly. Lili sighed and took a seat across from Raz.
"I don't even know where to begin." Lili said softly. "Things have gotten really fucked up since you've been gone, Raz."
"Just go in order starting from when I disappeared." Raz suggested. Lili nodded.
"Okay." Lili said. She took a deep breath and started her tale; a summary of seven years.
"Well, all of us from Whispering Rock graduated and went on to become agents upon turning eighteen. There was one exception. Maloof was allowed to join at age 17, because the agency needed him for a special mission. Since Mikhail is two years older than Maloof, Mikhail was already on the force. Mikhail and Maloof were partnered up on a mission to infiltrate the Italian Mafia. Maloof was chosen to go on the mission because, just as we suspected, his father was in the Mafia. He was a captain, but he got whacked when Maloof was 15. So, being from a family that was so strongly connected with the Mafia, Maloof was a perfect candidate to go undercover." Lili began. Her expression saddened.
"So, Mikhail stayed in the city and monitored the surveillance feed from the equipment that Maloof had on him while Maloof went undercover and managed to get the Mafia's attention. He joined their ranks, did their bidding, and gained their trust until, finally, one day, he got made. He was the first psychic the mafia ever had. Things went perfectly for about four months, but then, Maloof turned traitor. At least, that's what it seemed like. All I know is that Maloof stopped contacting the Psychonauts and became more involved with the Mafia and committed some really serious crimes. Mikhail was ordered to take Maloof down, and neither of them have been seen since." Lili said.
"What do you think happened to them?" Raz asked. Lili shrugged.
"I don't know. I think something when terribly wrong and the agency tried to cover it up. It wouldn't surprise me after what happened to Elton and Vernon." Lili said bitterly.
"Whatever you heard about them on the news was a complete and total lie." Lili spat angrily.
"Tell me what happened." Raz said. Lili's expression was sad.
"Well, when Elton graduated, he went into the Psychonauts Navy division. It wasn't long before he was a well know officer for his leadership skills, wisdom, and bravery. About three months in, Vernon got stationed on Elton's ship for a nine month deployment out to sea. Vernon was and still is quite the scientist. Oceanography, biology, marine biology, archeology, astrology, geology, geography, paleontology, linguistics, sociology…he's got more degrees than a thermometer. He was fully equipped to handle all aspects of all things pertaining to history. It was both his forte and his passion." Lili explained.
"The agency deployed him on Elton's ship so that Vernon could investigate possible psitanium deposits in the ocean. He was also looking into several shipwrecks and other sites of interest to the agency on the route. Elton would take Vernon out to the sites on one of the speedboats. Vernon would dive down and investigate and whatnot and Elton would stay on the boat and provide whatever help Vernon needed." Lili said. She smiled slightly.
"You already knew that Milka broke up with Elton and Franke broke up with Vernon." Lili said. Raz nodded.
"Yeah, it happened at camp, but they were still good friends." Raz said. Lili nodded.
"Well, Elton and Vernon spent a lot of time together, just the two of them, out on that speedboat. They got to know each other very well. Very. Very. Well." Lili said slyly.
"You're kidding!" Raz chuckled. Lili shook her head.
"I knew Vernon was bisexual and he used to have a crush on Elton…but I never dreamed that Elton was…" Raz laughed.
"Oh, yeah. For the longest time, none of us knew about it…it wasn't until something horrible happened that we found out about it…" Lili said softly, her expression saddening again.
"What?" Raz asked.
"One day, Vernon and Elton were out at a site in the Arabian Sea. They were a good eighty miles from the actual ship. Vernon came across some sharks in the water and sustained a serious bite to his shoulder. The wound was deep. He was bleeding pretty badly and the force of the bite had completely snapped his collarbone and his shoulder blade was split in two. The tubes going to his oxygen tank were badly damaged as well and Vernon couldn't make it to the surface. Elton managed to call off the shark and jumped in after Vernon. He got Vernon out of the water and resuscitated him. Elton knew that Vernon wouldn't survive the journey back to the ship. He picked up another vessel thirty miles away on his scanner and headed for it." Lili took a deep, shaky breath. Her fists were coiled with rage.
"I'm sure you remember hearing a newscast about how some of Lerio's guys 'discovered' the location of a major terrorist base in Al Amarah, Iraq back when the elections were still going." Lili said. Raz nodded.
"Elton and Vernon discovered how they made that lovely discovery. The ship they stumbled upon in an attempt to get Vernon to a doctor just happened to be one of Lerio's ships. Elton felt like something fishy was going on the moment he came aboard. There was an awful lot of security on it for a mere 'supply ship' as the men aboard claimed it to be. The men aboard were being awful friendly too. They volunteered to inform the ship that Vernon and Elton came from about Vernon's injuries. They fixed Vernon up. All the while, Elton had a sense that something wasn't right on that ship. He kept getting flashes of someone screaming in Arab. Whoever it was, they were in terrible pain. Someone kept asking 'Where?'. Elton was very uncomfortable. It was going to be dark soon and Vernon's injuries had been treated, so Elton decided to take Vernon and get back to the ship." Lili explained.
"So, Elton thanked the crew for their help and got Vernon back onto the speedboat. As they got started on their way back, Elton told Vernon about what he'd experienced. Vernon was able to translate a little of what Elton remembered hearing in the Arab language. It was pretty obvious to them both that the Arab was the victim of a major infringement of 'prisoner of war' conduct. He was being tortured for information." Lili said. Raz gasped.
"The guys on the ship must have been suspicious of Vernon and Elton. They opened fire on them. Their speedboat was destroyed. Vernon was too weak to tread water and Elton was unconscious and badly wounded from the explosion. A whale shark that Elton had introduced Vernon to followed the two everywhere on the sea, so it was right there to save Vernon and Elton when the speedboat went down. It got Vernon and Elton back to their cruiser. The crew of the cruiser was on high alert. They knew that Elton and Vernon should have returned long before then and neither of them was responding over the radio. They were six hours late. By then, it was all over the news that they were missing." Lili said. She sneered bitterly.
"So, in an 'act of compassion', Lerio jumped into his helicopter and rushed to Vernon and Elton's ship to 'aid in the search and rescue'." Lili murmured darkly. She snorted.
"Ha! He was there in order to look good for the press! Oh yeah, he helped in the search alright; but 'rescue' was far from his plan. If it'd been his group who found Elton and Vernon, they would have killed them both to keep them quiet!" Lili spat angrily.
"But, thankfully, the two were found by members of their own crew. They were on the whale shark's back, unconscious from a combination of their injuries and hypothermia around 18 miles from the cruiser when their crew finally spotted them. They took Elton and Vernon back on board and treated their injuries." Lili said. Lili sighed and took another deep breath.
"Vernon was the first to come around. Elton's injuries left him in a coma. His legs were so badly damaged that it wasn't likely that he'd ever walk again. When asked what happened, Vernon told the truth. Unfortunately, Lerio already had a perfect alibi. He moved his ship, got rid of the prisoners, and worked his charm. He made a total fool out of Vernon. Anyone who didn't know Elton and Vernon personally believed that Vernon was lying." Lili said. She looked absolutely furious.
"And they said on the news that the speedboat exploded when one of Vernon's depth charges that he used to get deeper into the ocean floor backfired and hit the speedboat's gas tank…" Raz said. Lili nodded.
"The news also said that Vernon was fired because his sanity was questionable and he was a danger to everyone around him. They talked about some huge scandal between Vernon and Elton. They said that Vernon and Elton were having an affair, and Elton was just in it for the sex. Like hell! I can promise you, both of them are as much virgins as they ever were." Lili snorted.
"I didn't need to know that." Raz muttered.
"What? I'm just saying that Elton would act a hell of a lot more manly if he ever got laid." Lili said.
"Okay, I'm not even going to ask about why you think that…" Raz said. Lili rolled her eyes.
"Trust me. I think we'd know." Lili said.
"Anyway, the news said that Elton broke up with Vernon and that made Vernon mad, so he fired the depth charge up at the speedboat on purpose to get revenge on Elton for breaking his heart. They portrayed Vernon like some naïve little schoolgirl having sex with a married teacher because the teacher said it was true love, and Elton was the teacher." Lili spat. "And when his heart got broken and he saw the truth, Vernon went mad with anguish and hate and decided to get even."
"BULLSHIT!" Lili growled. "Vernon got fired because he knew too much! They took away everything from Vernon to prevent him from coming back! They trashed his credibility! They slandered his good name! The destroyed his reputation!"
"What about Elton?" Raz asked. Lili sighed.
"Still comatose. Vernon is trying to stay away from Elton because he thinks hanging around Elton will just do more damage to Elton's good name. The doctor that's 'taking care' of Elton says he did everything he could to revive him. I say it's bull. They do everything they can to keep anyone who's a close friend of Elton's out. The doctor is with Lerio. I'm sure Elton can be revived; but Lerio doesn't want that, so it's not happening." Lili muttered.
"I knew it…I knew that this Lerio guy was no good!" Raz said.
"Raz, you don't know the half of it!" Lili cried. "Why do you think I quit the Psychonauts?! Why do you think Sasha staged a coup and tried to kill him?!"
"Lerio played dirty! He smeared the Zanotto name and the names of all our friends! He's done all he can to get anyone who remains loyal to my father out of the agency!" Lili hissed. She leaned close to Raz's ear.
"He's up to something." She whispered.
"Sasha thinks Lerio is a real mad genius. Lerio is setting up the board. He's getting all the pieces that pose a threat out of his way and putting his own pieces into place. Bribery, torture, threats…there's nothing he won't do." Lili said.
"He's looking to get whoever he can on his side." Phoebe said, staring hard at Fred.
"Phoebe, don't start." Fred said.
"Don't start what?" Raz asked.
"Old Lerio has wanted Fred here for years. He's the best psychiatrist there is." Quentin said. "We should know. Phoebe and I were his students for a long time."
"He's tried to get me under contract for years, but I keep turning him down." Fred said. "I don't like the way he works."
"Yeah, and he wants you on his side really bad, Fred. He's been playing nice so far, but I'm terrified that that's all going to end soon." Quentin said.
"I will not work for or with him." Fred said defiantly.
"I know…and I don't want to see you do it either…but he's going to get ugly toward you soon…I know it." Phoebe said.
"You two may be able to play along with him and work against him at the same time, but I cannot. It goes against every fiber of my being." Fred said. Quentin sighed.
"What Fred is doing is important. As long as he can remain an outright pillar of defiance to Lerio, it may encourage others to the same." Quentin said.
"Thank you, Quentin." Fred said smugly.
"However, it puts you in a lot of danger, Fred." Quentin said. Fred sulked.
"You are a psychiatrist, not a psychic. You live alone and you work at home, so people come and go and no one would think anything of it if something happened to you that left you unable to leave your home…" Quentin said.
"I am an excellent fencer and have many swords hanging on the walls all over my estate should I need one. I'm also a black belt, and I have a handgun which I know how to use..." Fred said.
"Martial arts, bullets, and swords won't protect you from a psychic attack!" Quentin snapped.
"So you want me to get security." Fred said. "That just defeats what you said earlier about me being 'a pillar of defiance against Lerio'! A pillar does not take cover from what it stands against behind others! A pillar faces what it stands against and allows others to take cover behind it!"
"Oh, that's a great line! Put that in the next protest speech!" Boyd said, clapping. Phoebe, Lili, and Quentin glared at him.
"Yeah, it is a great line, but, Fred, what good is a pillar if it falls?" Quentin asked.
"A big, thick, tall, strong pillar can continue protect those who stand behind it, even after it falls." Fred said. Quentin sighed. He'd been bested in a contest of words. Fred stood and put a hand on Quentin's shoulder.
"Don't worry about me. It's like you said. I'm not a psychic. I'm not a Psychonaut. I'm just a regular guy…yes, Boyd, a ten foot tall regular guy…" Fred said, eyeing a smirking Boyd. "So, the way I can provide the most help now is to uphold my image as a respectable person and act as a pillar. I will stand defiant against whatever Lerio throws my way. I will protect the people who stand behind me, and if more pillars should be raised, we will stand together as a firm, strong, sturdy, unwavering foundation on which a brighter future may be built."
Boyd, Raz, and Anita were in awe at Fred's words. Phoebe, Quentin, and Lili had to admit that Fred made an eloquent point.
"I shall stand against the elements strong and tall. I will break before I bend to Lerio's will. Even if I should break, at least I will know that I stood strong and true and that perhaps I've inspired the raising of other pillars to take my place." Fred said.
"Beautiful words, Fred. Truly, you do make a powerful speech; but this is your life we're talking about! Lerio will stop at nothing to get his way! He will hurt you however he can! He'll go after the people you care about, he'll ruin your good name, and he will physically injure you! He could kill you!" Quentin hissed. Fred looked Quentin in the eyes calmly.
"I know that. You seem to forget to whom you are speaking." Fred said, a small smile tugging at his lips. "I am a Bonaparte. I will gladly fight my enemy until one of us is dead."
Quentin sighed and ran his fingers through his hair.
"The way you're going on, I might as well go to city hall and reason with an actual stone pillar." Quentin muttered.
"You're pretty persuasive. Maybe it'll listen." Fred teased.
"So, judging by the sound of things…the rebellion is still alive, huh?" Raz asked. Lili nodded.
"Sasha was the mastermind behind it all; but just because he's in prison doesn't mean we're finished. Everyone in this room is involved." Lili said. Raz smiled.
"Where do I sign up?" Raz asked. Lili smiled.
"You're in, tree sitter. There's no way we're sending you to Lerio!" Lili laughed.
"Hold on just a second." Quentin said. A wicked smile crept onto his face. "Sending him to Lerio may not be such a bad thing…"
"What? You been smoking crack or something, Quentin? What's really in that hot chocolate you like so much? Phoebe, are you using cocaine as fabric softener when you wash that damned scarf of his?" Lili asked. Quentin chuckled and shook his head.
"Think about it, Lili. Raz, the poster boy of the Psychonauts, makes a miraculous return with the same values that made him a hero. Lerio will suck up to him right away. Raz makes Lerio think he's behind him, Raz gets on Lerio's good side, Raz sweet talks Lerio into letting him see Sasha since he hasn't seen him in so long and Sasha can relay information to us through Raz! Raz could probably talk Lerio into letting him see Elton too! He might be able to help Elton!" Quentin said.
"Perfect!" Phoebe cried. She kissed Quentin on the cheek. "Mmmm! I married one brilliant, sexy hunk of man!"
Quentin smiled and put an arm around Phoebe.
"And I married one sweet, jaw-dropping gorgeous slice of lady." Quentin said. Lili turned to Raz.
"What do you think?" Lili asked. Raz smiled.
"Count me in." Raz said.
"Now, how to go about this…" Quentin said thoughtfully. Phoebe's hand shot up.
"Oh! I've got it!" She cried.
"Lerio is going to be giving a big speech next month about the new policies he's employing! It's open to questions from the public!" Phoebe said.
"Yeah, that's perfect! The press is always all over the place when Lerio gives a speech! We'll have Raz there in his uniform; all decked out with his helmet and goggles and friendship bracelet, he'll state his name and place of residence, as all those who want to ask Lerio questions do and when he does…" Quentin said.
"Instant uproar!" Lili cried.
"From there, Raz acts like he's on Lerio's side, gives us inside information, and we gather up all the evidence we need, and when the moment's right, we pounce! Hello impeachment, bye bye Lerio!" Quentin laughed.
"It sounds like we're going to need all the help we can get. Who else is with us in this?" Raz asked. Everyone fell silent. They all smiled nervously.
"Uhm…aside from us?" Phoebe asked. Raz nodded.
"Uhm…well…Dogen…and Jt was with us, but…" Quentin said, his expression saddening.
"What happened to him?" Raz asked.
"Jt was the one who actually fired the shots during the assassination attempt. For once in his life, he actually missed." Quentin said grimly.
"Jt kept Chops in the dark about the whole thing so Chops wouldn't get into trouble if Jt happened to fail. Chops didn't know anything about the coup. Poor guy…h-he…" Phoebe said softly.
"He was forced to go after Jt. Chops was so flustered over the whole thing that his aim was off as well. He was aiming for Jt's leg…he was aiming to immobilize only…but he misfired and hit Jt in the back; right over his heart." Lili said.
"We don't know where Jt is or if he's even still alive." Phoebe said softly.
"As for Chops, I think he's lying low up in Canada. He's facing an inquiry on top of the fact that he may have fatally wounded his best friend." Phoebe said.
"And does he know about why Jt kept him in the dark?" Raz asked. They all shrugged.
"We should tell him. I'll bet he'd feel better and I'll bet he'd help us." Raz said. "As a matter of fact, I think we should round up all the old campers. It's time for a little camp reunion."
"What if they don't want to join us?" Phoebe asked. Raz looked her in the eye.
"They will. I know they will." Raz said, smiling reassuringly. "None of them are so blind or so heartless that they wouldn't understand and wouldn't want to fight this."
He grabbed a pencil and paper and began to write down the names of the other campers.
"We know that Elton's comatose, Dogen's with us, Sasha's behind bars, and Chops is in Canada…" Raz began. "The big question here is where are all the others?"
It took three hours to complete the list.
Phoebe, Quentin, Elton, Dogan, Chops, Sasha, and Lili were all accounted for (duh).
Milla, Ford , and Morry were at Whispering Rock under house arrest while the Psychonauts investigated them to see whether or not they were involved in Sasha's coup. They weren't. Sasha kept it secret from them for the same reasons Jt kept Chops in the dark.
Clem and Crystal were a pair of the agency's best detectives. Nils was a field agent and Elka was a top doctor in the agency. Kitty was working a very high up desk job in the agency. Milka was working a desk job in the archives department. Chloe was working for NASA. Bobby was a top agent in the Psychonauts. Benny had dropped out of Psychonauts training and never actually became an agent. His whereabouts were unknown. Jt, Mikhail and Maloof were currently missing.
"What about Franke and Vernon?" Raz asked. Lili shrugged.
"A little while after Vernon was fired, Franke quit. I have no idea where they are now." Lili said. Fred swallowed thickly.
"I-I know where they are…" Fred said hesitantly.
Well, Raz is back! Or is he? Okay, I'd love to get some reader participation on this one, just for fun. Who would you guys like to see Lili and company track down first to recruit for the coup? Each former camper comes with their own shroud of mystery that needs untangling. Have they already chosen a side? Are they the same people Raz remembers, or will the changes in them come as a big surprise? If so, would it be a pleasant surprise, or a chilling one? Will they believe Lili and company? How great is the risk of Lili and company being turned in by one of their former friends?
Reviews greatly appreciated!