Training course/No POV
"Okay gang." Vert said. "Yesterday we worked on individual vehicles. Today we work on movements and special attacks. We will be running through all of them. If you're not in some of the runs watch carefully. Who knows if someday you'll have to do the maneuver? So be on your toes. Let's go through some of them now. First up are the original five. Tezz and AJ, just stay off to the side for the time being."
AJ groaned. "On the sidelines again. Quietly he told Tezz, "I sometimes hate how he talks to us you know? I mean I know he's the leader and all but we're his friends too."
Tezz nodded once in agreement. "He is still very saddened my Zoom's relationship with Grace. Plus with all that has been happening with the war with the Red Sentients, I have reason to believe that he is just stressed, even with the breaks we have between battles."
"I don't know." AJ said. "I mean, I guess that's an okay reason but still… It's wrong." He paused. "Right? It is wrong? To treat friends like this?"
Tezz thought it over. He grimaced slightly. "Sometimes AJ, this treatment is required."
Photo Shoot/No POV
Ellen Harris, owner of Xtremly Beautiful Lashes (AN: a fake mascara line) walked into the makeup room suddenly and walked over to Camellia. "Oh Cam. Such beauty for an 18 year old. You make supermodels jealous. Really you do."
"Thanks Ellen." Camellia said as she turned her chair to face, for today, her boss.
Ellen put a finger to her chin in thought. "Hm… You know what? Screw the poundage of makeup I was going to have put on you and the overly complicated hair. You don't need it child." She looks towards the two men who were the hairstylist and makeup person. "I want her hair curled. Little ones in the front, bigger to the back. I want it like a wave." Her hand motioned a wave for emphasis. "And make sure her hair doesn't cover her eyes." She looked back at Camellia. "We mustn't let her eyes be covered." Ellen shot a smile which Camellia copied. The woman looked back at the men. "For her makeup keep it natural, light foundation, soft blush, light pink gloss and a little bit of brown eye shadow to emphasis her eyes."
"Yes ma'am." Said the makeup person. He reached over for the fake lashes and his hand was immediately slapped by Ellen.
"Can that. Her lashes are long enough without that fake crap on. Just put on some of the mascara and leave it like that. Make sure it's not clump either. Last time it was clumped and it looked downright horrific." Ellen looked back at Camellia. She bent slightly to completely look her dead in the eye. "You don't need that stuff. I say too much fakeness can make a woman look nasty. Especially when it comes to boobage. There can be too much boob and not enough brains sometimes." Ellen smiled and straightened. "Wow. Your birth mother must have been a sight for sore eyes."
Camellia frowned slightly before smiling very softly at her boss. "I'd like to think so. I hardly remember her." Which was a lie. Camellia remembers her, at least what she looked liked thanks to a photo the orphanage owner gave to her when she was adopted by the Talents.
Ellen nodded. "Well, break a leg out there sweetheart." Like that the woman left but not without ordering the men to hurry up with their work. Camellia frowned as her chair was turned towards the mirror and her hair started to get worked on.
After the photo shoot Camellia and Tyler got into the car (Tyler's car, a silver Mazda RX-8, not the HSE) and were ready to drive away from Santa Fe back to the Flats. It was near to a three hour drive back home. Camellia turned to Tyler who was sitting in the driver's seat. "Can we shop for a bit?"
Tyler looked at her. "How did I know that you were going to ask me that? Oh well… I need some new shoes anyways."
"You just got new shoes a month ago."
"I threw some out a few days ago. I need something to replace them." Camellia smiled and the two went off to shop. They stopped by clothing stores, got something to eat in the food court and got stopped plenty of times by fans. Camellia stopped before an arts store on their way back to the care. Tyler noticed she had stopped and too stopped. "What is it?"
"Let's go in. I have a project in mind." He gave a questioning look but shrugged as he followed her in. They were in and out in moments for she knew what she wanted. Drawing paper, good pencils, a canvas and a stand with some canvas paint. They finally got to the car after two hours of shopping.
"And now for the three hour drive home." Tyler said as he started the car. Camellia sat quietly throughout the whole ride. Once they got back to Talent Tech Tyler unlocked the trunk and grabbed the bag containing his new pair of shoes. "So Cam, do you need any help carrying the bags?" When he looked up to the passenger seat the door was closing. He watched as she went to the back, presumably to the trunk. He got out of the car, locking it in the process, and went back to the trunk noticing yet again she was gone, making her way to the doors of Talent Tech. He blinked and looked down at the trunk. She only took the art stuff. That leaves him with all her clothing, a whopping five (big) bags filled. He half sighed half groaned and collected the bags in his hands and awkwardly closed the trunk. Meanwhile Camellia made her way to the garage quickly. She set up the stand and placed the canvas on it. Then she emptied the bags and pulled out the paper and pencils. Stuck in an almost dream-like state, she quickly started to sketch out a drawing. Lines were becoming smudged on the paper due to her hurriedness. She hardly noticed when Tyler came in and dropped her bags before her desk. "You left me to carry your stuff. Normally I won't mind that but you could have taken a bag or two." He watched as she continued her drawing. He blinked while questions were arising in his head. He walked around the desk and looked over his shoulder. His eyes softened immediately upon seeing the drawing. "It's good."
Hardly." She replied after some time. "It's just a sketch. I'm going to paint it when I'm done."
"Didn't peg you for the art-y kind."
"I'm not." He was going to press on but decided not to. He left the garage quietly and let her finish. She finished the sketch shortly after. Standing she went over and pulled the stand with the canvas closer to the desk, pushing the bags away from the floor. She opened the cans of paint and the brushes placed them on the desk and she pulled the sketch closer to her. She went over to the sink, cleaned out a glass and put water in it. She walked back over to her canvas and then started to paint. It took her well over an hour for her to paint nearly all of it. She backed away and looked at the painting. A woman's face with blonde, short, curly hair, a semi-chubby, but still sleek face, a necklace hanging around her neck. The only spot (or spots) that weren't painted were her eyes. Camellia cleaned out the brush and went over to select the color. The brush hovered between two cans, brown and green. The muscle in her arm twitched. Almost disgustingly she dipped the brush in the brown and painted the eyes while the flashback hit her like a ton of bricks.
Flashback/No POV (AN: The sentences will be said in Spanish first then repeated in English in parenthesis.)
The office of the benefactor of the orphanage Camellia had spent two years of her life in, almost going to three, was still fresh in her mind. All because of that one night when she was called down to Mother Rodriguez (Camellia never called her Mother, only by her last name) right as it was time to go to bed. She remembers walking down the halls of the semi-friendly orphanage building (it was the other orphans that made her life there miserable) and reaching the office where Rodriguez waited. She was sat down in a big chair before her desk while she sat at her own seat, across from her. She took no time getting to what she had to discuss with Camellia. "Sé que usted no sabe las circunstancias de su nacimiento. Así que voy a decir. (I know that you don't know the circumstances of your birth. So I'll tell you.)" There was a pause as if she was thinking over whether or not a five year old child should know the horrid truth. "Su madre fue violada por un hombre americano que estaba borracho y había hecho las drogas. (Your mother was raped by an American man who was drunk and had done drugs.)" So the truth came out. Young Camellia had inferred that, by the way the other orphans had treated her, especially the older ones. "Su madre tuvo que mantenerse a pesar de que su familia le había rogado que no. (Your mother had kept you even though her family had begged her not to.)" She paused for yet another moment, to let the sentence sink in. Camellia understood. The shame that would be brought upon the family for the birth of a bastard child. "Usted es inteligente y sé que me puede entender. Mueve la cabeza si no lo hacen. (You're smart and I know you can understand me. Shake your head if you don't.)" Camellia remained perfectly still. "Buena. (Good.)" She looked down at her desk and the sound of a drawer opening was heard. Soon the drawer was closed and a vanilla file appeared in the hands of the benefactor. "Este es el archivo del caso. (This is the case file)." She stood and came around behind Camellia and Camellia watched the benefactor with her eyes. The file was placed before her and opened. Two pictures immediately caught her eye. One she recognized, it was her mother. The other was a brunette male, stout, with a square jaw. "Usted reconoce su madre, obviamente, este hombre es su padre. (You recognize your mother obviously; this man is your father.)" The words hit young Camellia like a slap to the face. This man is her father? She inspected the picture more closely. She looks nothing like him. She looks more like her mother. Then she saw the one thing that she and he had in common. Little hands went up and gingerly pointed to his eyes, his green eyes. "Si Camellia, usted tiene los ojos de su padre. Los ojos de un violador. (Yes Camellia you have the eyes of your father. The eyes of a rapist.)"
End of flashback/No POV
Camellia stared into the painting of her mother. Her vision blurred as tears filled her eyes. Just the thought alone of her eyes made a sob break through and the tears unfolded. Then as if the world was mocking her, voices started to fill her head.
What beautiful eyes you have.
The eyes of your father.
We mustn't let her eyes be covered.
Sucia cabroncita. (1)
Your mother must have been so beautiful.
Su madre murió hoy. Ellarecibió un disparo enuna guerra debandas. (Your mother died today. She was shot in a gang war.)
The eyes of a rapist, rapist, rapist, rapist…
Camellia collapsed due to knee weakness. The sobs and gasps for air shook her body. "Mamá… Mamá…" Camellia looked up at the painting. "¿Mamá?" One tear slipped off her face before her vision was completely blurred. She swallowed hard and continued to cry until she fell asleep right there.
Red Sentient Planet/Krytus
I shifted in my seat again. Everything has been going wrong lately. I was supposed to have command of the Multiverse by now, to have the rest of my species awakened by now. To have everything as it should be, in my control. I know whose fault it is; it is the humans and my sister Sage. Not to mention all who join forces with them, even if it is just for a moment. I should really be training with the others, but I'm just not up to it today. Kyburi has come back with absolutely no traces of the others. She has her tough persona on but I can see through her eyes that she is sadden and unhappy. She is really starting to weaken, though she defiantly does not show it in battle or to the others. I feel that she wishes to just end it all, to go back in stasis and just sleep for eternity. But she cannot. I won't allow her. I scoff to myself. The leader I am. Not allotting any time for my warriors to rest, always pushing them to train or to fight harder. I suppose I could let them rest, even if it is for a day. I growl softly. Then I will be deemed as weak for not pushing them, for pitying them and their tired souls. I groan and stand, suddenly tired of sitting. I will train with them and continue to push them. Once we win over the humans they may rest all they want.
Salt Flats next day/No POV
The sun shone like it does every day, bright and hot. Camellia was found by Tyler in the morning and was given some hot breakfast and some council while Tezz was seemingly anxious and excited to go over to Talent Tech to hang out with Camellia (and regrettably Tyler). He waited for afternoon to hit and then waited a bit more. By the time one had hit he was getting ready to leave. He jumped into the Splitwire and started to dial Camellia to let her know he was coming when the alarm in the Hub rang. He groaned aloud and then realized how uncharacteristically it was of him. The others came running while he dumbly sat in the Splitwire, the ringing tone sounding softly. Stanford looked over to him. "Geez Tezz, already in the Splitwire?" He looked over him. "Did you forget something?"
Sage shook her head. "He was about to leave." She answered.
"Leave where?" Questioned Sherman.
"That doesn't matter guys." Vert called. "Sage, get him suited up quickly. He's coming with us." Vert looked over to him. "Whatever you were going to do can wait right?"
But I was going over to see Camellia. Tezz sent mentally. Aloud he said, "Yes, of course." He canceled the call and got out to be suited up by the little robots. He got back in just as the others were leaving. He looked at the ones who stayed. Stanford and once again AJ. Tezz sighed while the car spun around. He floored the pedal and went after the others.
Camellia's Garage/No POV
Tyler reached Camellia's cell just as the ringing tone was abruptly cut off. "Hm. Must have hung up." He mumbled to himself as he picked up the phone.
"Who called?" Called Camellia from the Enforcer engine.
"I don't know." He said as he turned. He checked the missed calls. "Apparently Tezz did but he didn't leave a message and he hung up mid ring."
"He was supposed to be stopping by today." She said as she stopped her work momentarily.
Tyler shrugged. "Maybe he changed his mind."
"Maybe." She looked up at the painting of her mother she and Tyler had hung up in the morning. She sighed, feeling completely tear-ed out before she started working yet again.
Battle Zone/No POV
Battle Force 5 came through the Storm Shock and stopped to survey the land. It looked like the Red Sentient home world except it wasn't as red and was barren. "So why are we here?" Agura questioned. "Red Sentient activity?"
"No." Sage simply replied.
"What do you mean 'no'?" Zoom asked.
"This planet has a resource I need to be able to even have the chance to get into my brother's mind. With it I can see what he is planning."
Tezz refrained from groaning. Luckily Spinner did it for him. "Come on Sage. You triggered and alarm for this?"
"I need you guys to hurry. This planet in unstable and has a multitude of earthquakes. I found a time where there was no activity and I need you to jump on it." The others could hear the smile in her voice.
"So Sage," Sherman started, "what are the properties of this resource?"
"It has an electrical pulse and is a pale green-blue color."
"I can track some by honing in on any electrical pulses." Tezz said as he got to work quickly.
"Thank you Tezz." Sage said. "This resource is in short supply so I do not know how long it will take. But there should be no other pulses on this planet that would—"
"Found some." Tezz interrupted. Just like that Tezz started to lead the way towards the source. He transmitted the location to the others while he was at it.
The others stayed behind in mild shock. "Is it me or does he seem a little…?" Spinner started.
"Rushed?" Sherman ended for him.
"Yeah." Agura said. "I wonder if it has anything to do with where he was going to before Sage sent us here."
"Who knows?" Vert said. "Let's just follow him and make sure we get this for Sage and get out before Krytus and the others decide to come pay us a visit." The vehicles rumbled forward after Tezz who was long gone before them.
Red Sentient Planet/No POV
"Krytus sir, activity on this Battle Zone."Kyrosys stated as he pointed to the screen.
Krytus walked over and looked at the location. "What is the importance of this planet?"
"Nothing that I can see Krytus." Kryten answered.
Krytus' eyes narrowed. "Let's go."
Battle Zone, Tezz/Tezz
I located the resource. It emitted a strong electrical pulse, so strong that I had to shut off my tracker before it blew. I grabbed the rock substance with the Splitwire's magnetic grappler and turned it around and went back to the others. Somewhere along the lines I passed by them. "What is taking you so long?" I ask them as I continue on towards the Storm Shock. I could see the others stop suddenly and turn around.
"Hey Tezz, what's the hurry?" Zoom asked me.
"I am in a hurry because I have something important to do back on Earth."
"And what's this important thing?" Spinner asked.
"Yeah Tezz." Agura pushed. "What is this important thing?"
I started to get aggravated. What was with them? Can't they just leave me be? Luckily the Storm Shock was ahead. Ignoring the questions the Splitwire drove through and without stopping I went back to the Hub. Of course I got there first and handed Sage the rock. "Thank you Tezz." She said.
I simply nodded and quickly went back to my room to get the Shocksuit off. Sometime between all this the others arrived and had conjugated at my door. I got out and ignored them as they questioned and taunted me. I jumped back into the Splitwire and thanked god for the muffled sounds of the others. It turned again and I escaped from the others. Once I got back outside I dialed Camellia again.
Battle Zone/No POV
The Red Sentient 5 arrived at the Battle Zone and immediately went out on the search for the Battle Force 5. They were scanning, looking, and searching everywhere. They searched the whole planet and got back to the Storm Shock without finding any member of the BF5. Krytus growled to himself. "Why are they not here?"
"We don't know Krytus." Kyburi answered. "They should be here."
"Well they are not." He snapped back.
"Well… Maybe they left?" Krylox said.
Kryten growled. "Obviously idiot."
Krytus growled in anger. "This was a waste of time!" He yelled before entering the Storm Shock to go back home. The others followed soon after, all thinking the exact same thing.
Camellia's Garage/No POV
Camellia was still working on the engine when Tezz walked into the garage. Tyler got his second call minutes ago and had relayed the message that he was coming. Then Tyler got a call from Amy and left to go talk with his girlfriend. The sudden fact that she and Tezz were alone in her garage was just nerve racking. Stupidly nerve racking. "Hello Camellia."
"Hey Tezz." She said as she stood and wiped her hands with a slightly wet cloth.
"How was the photo shoot yesterday?"
"It went okay. It was an advertisement shoot for Xtremely Beautiful Lashes. It's supposed to go in a fashion magazine and all." She shrugged. "Still it was nice doing something un-Talent Tech related for a change."
Tezz nodded once. His eyes went over to the painting. "Is that new?"
She followed his gaze to the painting. Her eyes softened and she sighed. "Yeah. I painted it last night." She looked back at Tezz. "She's my birth mother."
"Ah." He said softly. He looked back at the painting. "She looks like you."
She chuckled once. "More like I look like her."
"Right. Because she's older than you." An awkward silence befell upon them. "Where's Tyler?" He asked to break up the silence.
"He got a call from his girlfriend so he left the room. He knows how much I hate it when he talked all lovey dovey with Amy." He only nodded, not knowing how to respond to that. She stared down at the concrete floors. "So the contractors are coming tomorrow."
"Oh that's great." He looked away and started to scan the room for a conversation piece.
"Yeah." Another awkward silence. "You know I thought you wouldn't come." He looked at her. She was still in her same position that he started to wonder if he had made up her saying something. "Stupid huh?" She said as she looked up at him.
He gazed into her eyes; they were a bit cloudy, not like their usual lightness. "No. Of course not." She smiled faintly. "So hey, why don't we grab Tyler and go out to eat? Maybe go out of town on a road trip?"
She giggled. "Sure. Just give me a moment to change out. You can get Tyler. I'm sure he's out in the back somewhere." He nodded and took the elevator up. They both breathed out deeply when they were no longer in each others' presence. That was tough. But in a way they both got what they wanted. They got to hang out with each other some more (even with Tyler there), Tezz is getting to leave town away from his friends' taunting and she got him to leave so he could find out she changed in the closet.
End of chapter 11. Please review.
1: Dirty bastard.