Doe swallowed harshly, this was one topic he'd have rather avoided…
The host tried to think of a way out until he realized that the show needed to dive into the nitty-gritty and deal with it "Tell us about these camps and Moneta…it's something nobody wants to talk about…but why don't you start at your beginning. That seems like the best place"
"Very well…I might be able to fit it in the two hours"
My parents were molecular biologists working on a project studying the DNA code of viruses and bacteria, soon after I was born we went to a small village deep within the heart of Africa. There we stayed for years, growing close to the tribe and in particular the chief. When I was three I was bitten by a monkey, a green monkey who had a rare diseases that no human could ever survive, the final symptoms are uncontrollable spontaneous mutations to animals. My parents managed to create a cure that stabilized my fever and my form, but as an unexpected side effect I turned green and can change my form at will.
A few years later a disastrous flood hit the river and my parents and I took our boat-the largest in the village, to go find whatever was blocking the current from flowing and stopping up the river. It was a fallen tree that was so far from either bank that we had no choice but to stay in the boat and use a chainsaw to take chunk after chunk out…but after the first cut the entire tree gave way and we hurtled towards a waterfall so quickly that the motor died trying to fight the current. My mother convinced me to go to the village for help as a bird. I-I was so panicked I didn't think about what I was doing…
…By the time I got back with help we couldn't find the bodies…
The far off look in his eyes and the tears that fell suddenly stopped as he blinked rapidly and Doe took the opportunity to keep the camera off his guest "Mr. Logan has agreed to answer questions live after his story and a message from our sponsors" the crowd slowly wandered out and Doe got up "You okay with answering questions about this? Seems like a close subject" Logan nodded.
And in truth those at the house were staring mouth agog at what they had just heard. They had been with him for years and never once heard his past. He knew each of theirs- a safety requirement for being admitted to the house. But as the final commercial faded their eyes were glued back to the screen.
Doe welcomed the people back "So, Logan, what happened after…where we left off?"
Gar nodded and slowly closed his eye and leaned his head back, which caused many people in the audience to get…shall we say…worked up.
After my parents died the Chief believed that I needed time away from the village where they died, to deal with my own stress and their deaths. As much as I hated to leave I had to. I was adopted by a couple here in the states. Two metas like myself, she had the power of elasticity and he had mental powers. They never showed them off but subtle things gave them away. They were just normal people like you and me, she was a kindergarten teacher while he managed the city's largest bank. They were high school friends of my parents and I lived with them from the time I was four until I was seven. Then came the Oregon Incident. In Astoria Oregon, A meta with the power of minor temporal expansion went on a rampage and killed 34 people, sixteen of which were metas but suddenly it didn't matter that almost half his victims were metas, all of us were dangerous. No matter what powers you had you were dangerous. We were told that it was a simple observation camp and within a month we could return home. They lied. The next four years were hell. I won't go into much out of respect for the dead, but the guards that were sent to observe us became our tormentors. They did things that…things that will never be spoken of and that should never have been done, torture was too light a word for the things they did. Out of the seven thousand that entered that camp twenty-two survived the four years. Thirteen died of complications from their time, three killed themselves out of mental trauma, two died of car accidents and the other three were killed when they tried to testify against the guards. I survived that place even when my foster parents died because of this.
Logan tapped the back of his neck, Doe countered "You're neck?"
"Brainstem. It contains what most people call the 'reptilian brain' of humans, it's our instincts and unconscious body regulation. In my case it also contains all the predatory/prey instincts that exists. I became a beast, hid in alleys and hunted at night."
"So I take it that that's where things ended?"
The guest chuckled "No, after that one person was brave enough to try to help me. The one guard I respected. Slade Wilson."
Doe's eyes widened "Well, if you don't want to talk about the things they did it must have been horrible, what with you've put in your books…and I do want to hear about this Slade but we've got to go for a moment" and again the crowd dispersed as Logan stretched.
Those back at the home were wondering what type of pain he had suffered through. They had seen the scars on his body and many of them pushed a cold sweat from them. But somehow he lived through it. It was Victor who broke the silence as he shook his head "Man, Gar's been through some messed up stuff…this may sound bad but I'm kinda glad he did" at the shocked looks he continued "Not because he got hurt but because it made him…well, him" they nodded and scrambled for drinks and snacks before the show started up again.
Doe looked up at the camera "Okay, lets here more about this Slade character. He must have been something…as your third father would you say he had a big impact on you?"
Logan gripped his chin "In many ways he had more influence on my than anyone else" Doe waved in hand in a 'go on' gesture
Slade was the only guard that didn't hurt us, but it was one against hundreds, he had s strict code that he kept, like an old fashioned knight. But when the camp was shut down I was the only one who was young enough to be put in foster care. He took me in when I conveyed that he was the only one who didn't torture us…but still I was untrusting. He never pushed me and I swear that man had a patience that a Saint would envy. He reintroduced me to people. But he also taught me how to trust, and that it was a gift not easily earned. Right now I can count on both hands how many people I trust. But back on the subject, Slade took me in and for the next seven years he helped me…essentially become human again. To me he was my dad, Mark and Marie Logan were my first set of parents, taken from me far to young to really remember and Steve and Rita Dayton I had too short a time with but I will always thank them fondly. But Slade was the man I aspired to be, everyone around him respected him and his circle of friends, though small, was faithful and just…just perfect. He raised me. They all did but he was the one who allowed me to be me. And to everyone I was just his kid. But he died from complications to an old wound, on my birthday no less. That was the wildest night I'll ever had. Four different lawyers came to talk to me, one from my birth parents, the next from my foster parents, third was Slade's personal lawyer and the final one was from D.C. Long story short I got an inheritance that means I could live without working till the age of 103 and three children wouldn't have to work until they were 54. Including houses and cars and all that jazz.
But the I was shocked thing was Slade willed me everything. Everything. But it was the man from the Capital that really surprised me. I won't tell you all of what happened that night but I don't have to worry about many things. But the sudden change brought about…discomfort. I had always lived with people and suddenly found myself alone.
"So I sent out flyers for roommates. I got numerous calls but the first one was…well, he and I argue a lot but each and every room in my house is filled with family. He's well known within certain circles…"
Doe smiled as they got to something much more light hearted "So what do you argue about?"
"Perspective. We both believe in the Sanctity of Life-but he takes it to mean that every life should be saved, the way I see it is Nature is unstoppable and that we shouldn't interfere with it and allow Life, in all forms, to move the way nature intended. I'm not saying go out and murder someone but let life go on"
The host shook his head "And you said you have four roommates, why don't you tell us a bit about them. Don't have to be too specific but whatever you want to give us. Remember this show is designed to pick apart your life!"
Logan chuckled "Alright, sounds fun" those at home felt their jaws drop. Gar said fun…what was the world coming to!?
"So who joined your little family next?"
"Ah, that would be the resident alien"
"Cool, where's she from, France, Italy-"
"No, I meant literally. An alien as in outer space." this didn't really surprise the host as other species had been making Earth their home for the past ten years…almost to the day that the Camps were closed. "She's from a planet called Tameran and she's…well, she's tougher than a truck and stronger than stronger than anything else I've ever seen, she's a sweet girl…but she's ruthless in a fight. Ya' seen Tamerainas are warriors, all of 'em and damn good ones."
"Oh…well, who was next?"
The author smirked and scratched the back of his neck "The next one was a nerd with the build of a football star. He's a bit…well, he's every inch a dork. And I'll tell him that to his face. But he's a nice guy that many people look to as an older brother, he runs an electronics store and he and I get along well."
"What do you two get along over? Movies? Video games?"
Gar full out laughed and several people in the audience had blushes painted over their face "Surprisingly enough, movies, music, books…quite a few things. He and I share very similar tastes in books and stand about half-on, half-off on movies. But we can't get along at all about music."
"But I thought you said you bonded over music?"
Doe felt himself smile in reflection to the grin that was plastered over the green man's face "Yeah, we do. Our music arguments are legend in the house…he likes rap and hip-hop while I like a variety, classic, jazz, rock, metal…I really just like good music" he chuckled.
Doe shook his head with a breathy laugh "So that leaves us the last roommate of yours…"
"Indeed it does, she's a another alien, she's from an entirely different dimension. She looks rather…dark, but she's so cheery and happy that if you didn't see her you'd think she had an obsession with pink, flowers and coffee products. But she likes dark colors, blue in particular, old books, stone gargoyles and tea. She's another bright and cheery person that you would rather not piss off. She's been trained by the monks of her homeworld and…well, lets just say that her parentage would scare even the most hardcore fanatic."
Doe took a drink of his coffee "So a bouncy goth with daddy issues?"
"Something like that" he said with a razor sharp smirk.
Doe nodded "So, those are your roomies?" the author nodded the affirmative and the host nodded back "Sooooo…." he started slyly and waited until the water bottle was at the other's mouth "is there a person you fancy?" he rushed and held up his arms to block the spray of water that burst out. Gar's coughing, questions and curses combined for a rather…interesting minute.
After regaining what air he could Gar stared at Doe in a way that should have melted the sunglasses on his face and through the man "There is a woman whom I feel a particular pull to but I assure you that she doesn't feel that way."
Doe leaned against the desk and 'hmm'-ed rather mischievously "And how do you know that?"
Gar smirk shredded the same look from the former as he tapped his nose "You forget, my nose can smell human pheromones like yours can smell a skunk in a field of flowers. Every time we speak mine spike-I can't help it, but hers never change."
The crowd couldn't help the collective shock that rolled off their bodies, a man who could create a web of words so foul that even murderers and rapist feared to sleep was in love with somebody. Those who knew him better were more shocked. Never had the seen him act strangely, he was always calm and cool. Vic scowled "There's only one place where we don't see him…"
Richard nodded "His editor! That's gotta be it!"
They turned back to catch Doe chorttle "Why don't you make us a little something about her then?"
Gar quirked an eyebrow "Here? Now? Are you serious?"
Doe's shit-eating grin was perfect "Unless the 'greatest author of our generation' can't do it" he sing-songed.
A moment passed and just as Doe was about to speak his victory Gar's best voice came out-the storyteller's voice that enraptured everyone from the first word
Every word I've said is bullshit. Every lie I've told is the truth.
How does one like me feel this?
Every breath I take is death. Every tear I cry is fury.
How does one like me feel this?
A thousand words you said and ten thousand truths I hear.
And the angels weep at every song.
Air is blessed to past your lips and into the velvet heart of compassion.
And the angels weep at every song.
How does one condemned as I feel love?
How many hearts does love heal?
With a soul as black as mine?
How many hearts does love heal?
Every man, woman and child watching watched in utter silence until he pulled the glasses down and stared into the camera with eyes so emerald that Gaia herself seemed to sleep within "You asked and I gave. She and I are more different than I'd ever care to admit but I've never been able to say no to her. Never"