A/N hahaha threw all you guys off with that one didn't I XD
Anyways, now we head back to the brawlers and we see what they've been up to while Masky and Spectra were beating the crap out of each other, and Meredith works to get Tyler to the Bakugan world and escape the police pursuit after him.
Dun dun dun duuuuunnnn!
Also sorry for the delay guys, just been feeling super burned out as of late. Work is tiring and I've been biking more than 20 miles every day for the past 4 days.
And I've got work tomorrow but I'm going to push myself through. I got Pandora playing. Which is really great.
Anyways onwards to the chapter!
Chapter 66
The room is dark, despite the doctor's assurances that the thin boy lying comatose on the bed was unlikely to wake up any time soon thus the lack of light was unnecessary.
But Dan and the other brawlers had insisted that their friend would want it that way when no one was tending to him. The shadows within the room the best security blanket they could possibly provide their sick friend.
The room was quiet with the exception of the steady beep of the heart rate machine, the boy seated quietly in the chair breathing quietly to the point he was barely heard. He had his hands clasped together and was resting his forehead on the tops of his hands.
"Its getting really crazy Shun." Dan muttered lowering his hands and looking down at his hands. "A whole lot has happened since your distress signal. I feel like everythings falling apart and there's nothing I can do to stop it."
Drago and Skyress looked on silently, the phoenix perched on Shun's pillow beside the comatose boys head. Drago was silent on Dan's shoulder, words were not what Dan needed right now, the boy needed to let out what was bothering him.
Dan shifted so he was sitting up his head hitting the wall behind him and looked at Shun. "I mean it was crazy enough when Masquerade and Naga started this crazy scheme of theirs, but now we've got kids from another dimension, everyone's getting hurt badly, this-this was meant to be a game!" Dan cried slamming his hands against the arm rests. "This was meant to be something fun, but suddenly I feel like we're getting attacked from all sides." Dan hunched forwards wringing his hands swallowing.
"I feel almost like, Masquerade went easy on us. Like banishing bakugan… was the least they were capable of. And I hate to admit it man, but I'm, I'm terrified that I might not be strong enough to face these guys." Dan confessed closing his eyes and burying his head in his hands. "At least, not without you Shun." Dan said lifting his head to look at Shun he pushed himself to his feet.
"Argh." Dan said stamping his foot and punching the wall wincing at the pain that shot up his knuckles. "I can't take this anymore! All this frustration!" He said drawing back clenching and unclenching his fists. "Its just too much."
Skyress turned her body at Drago looking for an explanation but the dragonoid shook his body and focused back on Dan.
"Dan, what happened." The phoenix ventured flapping her wings slightly.
Dan sighed and he took a deep breath and looked up at the ceiling.
"The brawlers are falling apart." He said at last. "Alice, was taken by Masquerade last night." Dan said his shoulders slumping in defeat. "We didn't figure it out until this morning." Dan said shaking his head. "Then there's this guy who wears a mask, not Masquerade, he's got more of a feathery bird thing going on with a bird like mask with a whole lot of feathers in his coat."
"Like he killed a flock of crows to make it." Drago remarked dryly and Skyress hmphed.
"I don't like him already." Skyress stated bobbing her head.
"er, he's on our side Skyress." Dan said frowning. "In fact, he's the one we sent after Masquerade to rescue Alice."
Skyress turned and stared at him confused. "Why in the world would you do that?"
Dan lowered his head and rubbed the back of his head. "Desperation? We'd been looking for Alice all morning with no luck, and he comes in with his technology that gets us into Masquerade's mansion and able to rescue Alice and possibly do some damage to our biggest enemy, the others were all pushing and I just couldn't come up with a good argument against it. And even Jet who didn't like the guy all that much went along… But then."
Skyress tilted herself to the side when Dan trailed off and looked out the window worrying his lip for a moment. "Then..?"
Dan sighed. "Jet flipped out after Spectra left for some reason." He began pace around the room the restlessness and the unrest in his head forcing his body into movement to try and dissipate the strain. "She gave him the broken DT that Masquerade had swapped her functioning one for and when Spectra left her face went completely white, like she'd seen a ghost."
/-/
Earlier that day:
Jet stood as still as a statue, her heart pounding loudly and her breathing quickening till it was coming out in quick pants.
She'd just doomed Masquerade. She'd given Spectra the key to his mansion and Masquerade didn't even know he was coming or what he was capable of. Spectra would slaughter him!
Her legs were beginning to shake, she vaguely heard Mike call her name as she reached out shakily towards the wall resting a hand against it to keep herself upright. Masquerade, oh Masquerade, why did this madness have to happen. Jet was sinking slowly to the floor her body leaning more and more on her arm that was resting on the wall until she fell against it and landed on the floor.
"Oh God!" She cried covering her eyes.
"Jet?" Mike said coming over to her and reaching out to touch her shoulder and when Jet just continued to shake he took her into a loose embrace. "You okay?"
"Is she having a mental breakdown or something?" Runo not so quietly asked the brawlers. Julie frowned and swatted the other girl.
"Don't be mean! She's been through a lot!" The silver haired girl scolded although she worried her lip wondering if Jet was having a mental breakdown. She sure looked like it.
Jet turned to look at him eyes darting to look at him and then at the brawlers who were all looking at her with mixed looks of concern and confusion.
Dan was looking uncomfortable unsure what to do to make Jet stop her shaking fit, Runo was just watching her with a raised eyebrow as she sipped from her drink but there was a crease in her forehead that told her the bluenette was marginally concerned about her wellbeing, Julie was rising from her chair to looking like she wanted to join Mike in figuring out what was wrong with Jet, Marucho looked lost shifting a bit in his seat and fidgeting with his napkin.
But it was when her eyes fell upon Viki and Gus did her heart freeze mid beat.
Disdain.
There was plain and clear disdain in both their eyes.
Gus was glaring at her venomously, and Viki had a dark glint in her eyes and a raised eyebrow as if asking what Jet intended to do with this new information she'd gained.
"He's evil!" Jet blurted out eyes locked with Viki's, "He can't be trusted."
All the brawlers turned and looked at each other, while Gus scowled.
"Says the girl who's having a mental breakdown," Gus said.
Mike's head snapped up towards Gus and his eyes narrowed his teeth gritted as he wrapped an arm partially around Jet and opened his mouth to say something biting when Julie beat him to the punch literally as the girl smacked Gus's arm hard making the male wince and grab his arm.
"Shut up you jerk!" Julie spat jabbing a finger in his face and giving him the evil eye. "She's been through a lot, and she hasn't steered any of us wrong yet so if she's got something to say she gets to say it." She said glancing at the other brawlers. "Right guys."
Dazed and not very confident murmurs in the affirmative made Julie nod her head and smirk at Gus who scowled and folded his arms across his chest but kept silent.
"Its his helios." Jet said quietly, Mike turning to her and Viki's eyes narrowing now her eyebrows furrowing slightly. Jet focused on Viki's eyes, there was no kindness in those eyes, no flicker of warmth or even recognition of Jet as a friend really. She got the same icy and numb feeling from the cold look in her gaze she had gotten when she had faced Billy that time in the dungeon, like only coldness lay within Viki, her true spirit and personality frozen and a new one crafted out of the frozen spirit and personality. Leaving a cold and unfeeling puppet in the place of her friend "Oh god, he's got you under a spell doesn't he?" She said rising to her feet and facing Viki shrugging off Mike who uncertainly let her go.
All the brawlers were now completely lost as Jet moved towards Viki. The pyrus brawler closing her eyes and pursing her lips like she was thinking.
"Viki?" Jet ventured. "Viki answer me." Jet's voice was growing more and more steady as her blue eyes looked imploringly at the other girls blank expressionless face.
Viki's eyes snapped open and she rose from her chair so fast no one was prepared for the resounding smack and Jet's cry of pain as she staggered back clutching her cheek tears pricking her eyes as she looked at Viki. Viki's right hand was still held across her body the palm and fingers spread out for maximum strength in her blow. Her eyes were narrowed into dark slits and her teeth were gritted in what could've been interpreted as a snarl.
"How dare you." She snarled moving on Jet who edged back the girls eyes wide and teary.
"Viki? What's he done to you?" Jet asked shaking her head.
Viki straightened herself up and squared her shoulders as she glared at Jet. "What he's done? Spectra's been nothing but a gentleman to everyone." She said gesturing around to the other brawlers. "Right, has Spectra done anything untowards to any of you?" She asked folding her arms across her chest and raising an eyebrow as she turned to look towards the other brawlers.
"But he's-" Jet began but gave up turning to look at the brawlers her eyes imploring them to back her up.
The brawlers all looked at each other.
Runo scowled and glowered at Viki keeping her mouth closed, unwilling to back up the other girl out of spite. Marucho ducked his head.
"No." Marucho said glancing at Jet and Viki before keeping his head down.
Julie looked like she was thinking as hard as she was capable. But she shook her head and didn't meet Jet's eyes.
"Jet, can you back up your statement of Spectra being evil?" Dan asked looking towards her.
Jet opened her mouth, she didn't care what she had to say, what she had to reveal, but then she closed it again. Would they believe her if she said she'd seen Spectra's helios was unevolved and according to the NV storyline for him to have the Spectra Phantom persona set up and have his helios at his first level it meant that he was evil? That would mean coming up with a way to explain the tv show or explain it away, and she didn't think she could pull that off.
"No, she doesn't." Viki came in before Jet could get a word in. Jet looked at Viki in confusion and the girl sneered. "See she's all jealous. There's a little secret that Jet hasn't told you all."
"Viki," Mike began moving to step between the two of them arms raising to push them apart when Viki grabbed his shoulder and shoved him aside making the aquos brawler stumble back with a grunt of surprise. Viki shot him a murderous glare.
"Oh don't go and take her side. She's clearly trying to paint Spectra as a bad guy because she's a little green with envy." Viki said shaking her head and stepping away from Jet in disgust.
All eyes darted from Viki to Jet finally Julie spoke.
"What do you mean?" The silver haired girl asked uncertainly
Viki scoffed. "See, Jet here is jealous of my relationship with Spectra,"
"But Jet dislikes Spectra, why would she be jealous?" Runo asked snorting. "Maybe her claim actually has some merit."
Viki's eyes narrowed but she sighed. "Yes Runo, that's also part of the reason she's willing to paint him as evil, and try to keep her crush from getting his ass handed him to for his crimes."
"Viki." Jet began to say. "Why?" She asked her eyes beginning to look pained.
"You know for someone who had been kept prisoner by Masquerade and claims to stand against him, isn't it a bit odd that they seem to be on such friendly terms?" Viki inquired.
Silence fell upon the group as all eyes fell to Jet.
"Makes you wonder, how that happened doesn't it." Viki said tapping her chin thoughtfully. "What did Jet do to gain Masquerade's favor, maybe… You weren't as much as a prisoner for Masquerade, as you were, oh I dunno, a lover?"
Jet's face flushed and her eyes widened. "Viki! You know I'd never!"
"I thought I knew you wouldn't go and frame my boyfriend because you were upset that you weren't able to be with your loverboy Masquerade.." Viki said sniffling and wiping at her eyes clenching her fists once she was done wiping away at the tears that weren't actually there. "So there's a lot of things I thought you'd never do that you seem to be quite capable of doing!"
Jet stared at her and then her eyes narrowed. "I never slept with Masquerade." She said flatly as she clenched her fists. "How DARE you accuse me of that!" She looked at the brawlers her nostrils flaring. "Fine! It is true I like Masquerade, and why not? He's saved my life from Billy and Julie's too!" Jet said gesturing to the silver haired girl who shrank in her seat looking conflicted.
"He's the one who kidnapped Alice and brutally beat each of his former minions!" Viki retorted then she scowled. "In fact if he's so great why don't you go side with him then?"
Jet's eyes welled up with tears. "Maybe I will!" She spat wiping at her eyes as she looked at the brawlers who were just sitting there looking thoroughly shellshocked. "What do you say? Are you with her?" She asked.
"I can't take this! Bwaaaahhh!" Marucho cried as he jumped out of his chair and fled from the room.
"Marucho!" The other brawlers cried before they all turned to look at Jet.
"You made him cry!" Runo snapped eyes narrowing at Jet before she jerked her head upwards pointing her nose in the air pointedly. "Go be with your sweetheart! We don't want you here!" Runo said rising from her seat before going after Marucho.
Julie didn't say anything and Dan looked helpless.
Sniffling and crying now Jet glared at them through her tears.
"Well fine then! I'm leaving! But you'll regret not listening to me!" Jet shouted as she turned and ran out of the room as fast as she could.
"Jet!" Mike shouted running after her.
Viki frowned but rolled her neck. "Well that's one traitor weeded out, ugh, that makes me tired. I'm gonna go back to my room." She said as she stretched her arms above her head and headed out the door.
Silence fell upon the last three occupants of the dining hall. Then Julie placed her arms down on the table and placed her head down and began to sob into her arms.
Dan slowly got up. "I-I think I'm gonna go visit with Shun." He said quietly before he headed out of the room. The door clicking shut with a sense of finality behind him.
/-/
"And that's why I'm here." Dan said as he stopped pacing at the foot of Shun's bed. "Too try and get some comfort, to try and figure out a way to fix this. But all I know for sure is that Mike is pretty steamed at us for not trying harder to keep Jet with us, Marucho's falling apart, Julie's upset about losing Jet, Runo's mad, and Viki and Gus… Well they're acting really odd." Dan said.
Dan sighed as he went over to the windowsill and leaned against it gazing out the window. "I wish you'd wake up man, we need you…" He pause and took a deep breath. "I need you." He said turning to look at Shun.
Silence met Dan's words and the pyrsu brawler sighed and looked away from Shun returning his gaze back to the outside world.
"You don't want me." A hoarse voice came weakly from the bed.
Dan's head snapped up and the boy whipped his head around to look at the bed.
Shun's eyes were open and green eyes looked blankly at the ceiling.
"Shun!" Dan cried rushing over to his friend's side. "You're-You're…" He trailed off as he looked at Shun's eyes and confusion hit him. "Your eyes are green!"
Shun closed his eyes. "I had hoped that was a nightmare, but everything… I'm so weak Dan." Shun said as he lifted a shaky hand and clenched it into a shaky fist. "Whatever that guy did he ripped all the strength, everything I had, right out of me and leave me like this."
Dan snorted. "Aww come on man, don't be such a downer, you just woke up that's all!" Dan said smiling at him and grabbing his hand. "Look, you're finally awake! That's a step in the right direction!" Dan said.
"But Dan, I can't-"
"Don't talk like that." Dan said tears pricking in the corners of his red eyes. "I'm so glad to see you awake again, it doesn't matter how strong you think you are right now." Dan sniffed and wiped at his eye. "Its not important."
Shun blinked and tilted his head as he looked at Dan. He frowned but he managed a weak nod. "I guess you're right." He said.
Dan grinned and he laughed softly. "Of course I'm right I'm always-"
The happy moment of Shun's awakening was brutally cut into by the sound of Dan's bakupod beeping loudly.
Dan glared at it, and Shun frowned. "You should answer it Dan."
Dan reluctantly complied and pushed the button shifting so he stood behind Shun so they both could see who was calling and what it was about.
The picture of a boy with spiky blond hair and red beak like mask appeared on the screen.
"Masquerade?!" Shun said in confusion eyes widening.
"No, that's Spectra." Dan said he grimaced slightly as he recalled the argument between Jet and Viki that had occurred earlier that day. "He's the one who we sent to rescue Alice and defeat Masquerade."
Shun blinked. "Oh okay." He said.
Spectra chuckled. "I bring you good news Dan Kuso, I have returned to the Marukura residence triumphant. The reigning king of bakugan has been toppled by me, and I was able to rescue your friend."
Dan's eyes widened, "Masquerade is…?"
"Defeated, gone, obliterated, yes." Spectra said grinning broadly. "Now how about you come and rejoin your brawlers as we celebrate our triumph against the forces of evil."
Dan grinned. "Sure! I'll be there in a minute!" He said before ending the call and turning a sheepish smile to Shun. "Look I'm uh sorry to cut it short, I could go and bring the others here-"
Shun shook his head. "That won't be necessary Dan, I'd rather like some time to myself actually, I have.." He glanced off to the side. "A lot to think about, and I'd appreciate some quiet for when I'm thinking."
Dan deflated slightly and he nodded. "Well all right if you say so Shun," Then Dan lit up again. "I'll come by tomorrow and I'll tell you all about what happened! How's that sound."
Shun managed a forced smile. "Sounds great Dan." He said as the pyrus brawler let out a laugh before he turned to head towards the door.
"Great! I'll see ya tomorrow Shun!" Dan shouted over his shoulder as he ran out of the hospital room.
Shun waited a few moments before he sighed and sank into his bed closing his eyes.
"Don't bother coming to me for help Dan." Shun said as he gritted his teeth raising his hand towards his face to see. He watched as his trembling fingers struggled to close into a shaky fist. "I can't help anyone." Shun swallowed. "Not even myself." He murmured as he closed his eyes a tear slipping out as the room grew darker and darker as the sun clouds burned along with the sun as it began slide beyond the horizon.
A/N I was gonna end on Jet's POV but decided I preferred Shun's ending so dramatic and sad…. At least I hoped it was.
This whole chapter felt really blah. More like a chapter I just really needed to get through instead of a really good chapter.
Anyways I has an announcement for you all.
So this story is far from done, I'd just like announce that there's in fact 3 arcs to this story. Presently we are in the first arc 'The Dual Dimensions' the next arc will be titled 'Doom and Docorrus'
I'll let you interpret that as you will ^.^
I hope you liked this chapter despite how bad I felt it was.
Anyways, please review as it helps urge me on to write.