Chapter 17

Rod's POV

I looked towards Derk and Tenny. They were making their way toward the Ghost Academy. Even with their encouraging words, I was still very nervous about leaving. I thought about my family. I haven't even talked to them at all. Heck, I haven't even thought about them. Are they worrying about me? I'm sure the news about all this chaos has spread around. Perhaps I should quickly go talk to my parents. I turned and began walking towards the parking lot. Hopefully my car was still there.

"Hey where in the world do you think you're going?" Leary yelled. I stopped. Dread filled my body. Now of all times! I was just about to get away!

"I well, pff," I said leaning on one leg and throwing my hands in the air. "I was just going to grab something out of my car."

"Huh, you're a bad liar Rod. I don't even need to use psionics to figure that," Leary said. My face turned red in embarrassment. "Tell me the truth and perhaps I might let you go."

Seeing no way out of it I replied, "Alright, fine, I was just going to say good bye to everyone." Leary gave me a blank look. "You know like my family."

"Hmph," Leary scoffed. "Very well let's go."

"Hey now wait a minute, I can manage by myself," I said defensively.

"Your not part of the Orange Terran yet. Therefore you cannot be trusted," He said folding his arms. "And we wouldn't want you to become distracted and miss the medivac now would we?"

"Ugh, fine!" I grumbled, unlocking my car. "But I'm driving."

"Hmph, very well," Leary huffed, "But only because I couldn't stand driving such an old vehicle."

"Hey this thing is in good shape," I argued, getting into the car.

"I wasn't talking about the condition of the contraption. I meant it is extremely outdated," Leary said, sitting next to me. "I mean seriously this thing can only go up to two thirty? I've seen small children drive faster than that."

"Oh, yeah right," I said, waving my hand at him. I pulled out of the parking lot and onto the road.

"Okay, I am sending a transmition to Ben telling him that we will be arriving back in time for departure. He's going to wonder why we're leaving," Leary said, tapping some buttons on his arm. "And you're going to be the one explaining everything."

"Oh come on, I'm driving," I said, turning the car right.

"I could care less what it is you're doing. You're the one who wants to go kiss your mother good bye," Leary said detaching a device from his arm and putting it onto mine. The gadget clamped itself onto my forearm. A small holographic figure extruded out of the top.

"Well, well. Where in the world do you think you're going?" Ben questioned, annoyed.

"Oh, hey Ben," I said, awkwardly.

"This is not a time for a reception! Tell me what the reason is for you're leaving or you can expect severe punishment for your disobedient and ignorant actions!" Ben yelled. I seemed to shrink in my seat.

"I just… wanted to say… goodbye," I stuttered, very embarrassed now.

"Well you best hurry, for if you're not back by the time the ships arrive I will be sure to hang you by your spinal cords and skin the living flesh off your bones!" Ben roared, ending the transmition. I turned my head toward Leary. He looked very amused and took off the gadget on my arm.

"I guess we better be quick," He said, as I parked the car in front of my parents' yard.

"Could you do me a favor and just… stay here," I asked, hopefully, but only to be turned down.

"No," He replied bluntly. I rolled my eyes and stepped out of the car. We walked up to the door. I rang the doorbell, thinking of what their reaction would be. Hearing someone approach the door I looked up. My father opened the door.

"Hi Dad," I said.

"Son! Where've you been?!" He yelled, pulling me into a hug. "Sharon, your son is back!"

My mother came running in. She joined my father in squeezing the guts out of me. I was a little embarrassed at first, but realized I may never see them again. So I hugged back.

"Why have we not heard from you?!" She asked. "Ever since the school has been put on lock down and everywhere near evacuated, we've been worrying our hearts out."

"I was just," I started.

"All the TV said was that there had been a shoot-out with some mobsters dressed in Halloween costumes." My father said. So that was there cover up story.

"And who on Urthe is this?" Sharon asked, turning to Leary.

"I'm his body guard," Leary said, smirking; obviously enjoying the attention. I rolled my eyes.

"Mom, Dad, this is Leary. He is one of the mobsters in Halloween costumes." I said motioning toward him.

"What! Sharon, call the police!" Dad said, stepping toward the ghost.

"No no, wait!" I yelled, "He's on our side."

"What are you talking about? The reporter said that they were all thugs trying to kidnap college students."

"Come on, you really believe that?" I asked. I started to say something when Leary stepped in.

"Look I apologize for the inconvenience, but we are short on time. Rod here is coming with us to military training," Leary said, putting his arm around me. "I'm positive he will be telling you everything over transmiliticory communication. Now if there isn't anything else, we must be off."

"It's okay, I agreed," I said, as Leary lead me away from my stunned parents. "I'll be sure to call you some time! I love you!"

Leary shoved me into the car and got in the driver's seat.

"I'm sorry Rod, but the medivacs are reaching the atmosphere and issues due to your slow driving, I will be taking the wheel." He said, flooring the gas. I was thrown to the back of my seat as he drifted out onto the road. Leary flew down the pavement at a very high speed, dodging another car pulling out of their driveway.

"You're going to kill us!" I yelled in fear. He calmly looked over at me.

"What's your deal kid? Never driven' this fast before?" Leary laughed. "In fact I could do this with my eyes closed."

"No! Please don't!" I shouted. And to my utter horror, Leary leaned back in the seat and to what I could see, closed his eyes. I let out a screech, starring at the street. We were still riding down the middle of the road, approaching base. We came to an abrupt stop in front of the bunkers.

"Well that was exciting," Leary said, getting out of the vehicle. "Now come on before we—"

Leary stopped dead. It took me a minute to see what he was looking at. I felt my eyebrows fly to the top of my head and my jaw drop to the ground. There in front of us was Derk levitating what looked like Teresa, in the air. Her armor was crunching itself together and it looked like she was gagging. Leary didn't hesitate as he pulled out his gun and shot something in Derk's direction. Blue light blinded me. I quickly closed my eyes, only to open them again second later. A loud pew came from Leary's gun and to my utter shock I saw Derk's limp less body jolt backward. He lay almost lifeless on the ground. I dropped to my knees in horror at what I had just seen. Did Derk just… die?

Hey! Really sorry about the longer wait, and such a short chapter...No really... sorry 'bout that...Please review! It helps!

P.S. I really wanted to get this one up so it has not been revised. Expect a lot of grammar mistakes and cheasyness.

Edit: Okay I revised it. It should have less grammar mistakes and flow a little bit better. Still not my best work, but oh well.