Enveloped heavily by a sullen cloud, the group glumly followed Jamie through the drying muck back towards his home above the town in the seclusion of the forest. Kimberly found herself almost glued to her big brother's side, fighting the impulse to keep her hand solidly locked around his wrist to keep him from disappearing again. Her eyes continuously flitted to his profile as he walked along, the sun casting bright reflective light from his glasses.
'I can't believe he's still alive. It has to be a dream. I'll wake up and this will just be a cruel dream,' she worried, biting her lip.
Discretely studying his new appearance, the Ranger Slayer was struck by the marked contrast between Jason, Red, and Jamie. Driving the point home, having the Red Omega present only enhanced how different Jamie had grown from the Jason she remembered.
Her brother, her teddy bear, was playful, gentle, protective, always ready with a smile and loud laugh. He could be tough when the situation required and tremendously brave. Stubborn as an ox. Jason was always training for either martial arts or whatever sport was in season.
Red, on the other hand, was wild eyed, feral, with a sadistic, toothy canine grin and cruel laugh. He cursed and swore viciously, eager to shed blood and always ready to pounce. It was worse while under Drakkon's thrall. When she managed to pen him in the containment room after the tyrant supposedly perished, the human pet had settled down somewhat, mournful at the loss of his beloved master. But no less lost in his psychosis.
Now, here was Jamie with his nervous fidgeting, soft voice, and apparent talent to grow plants and tend animals. He was reserved and somewhat shy, easily spooked. Being able to safely be this close to the man without having to fight him off was odd. Odd yet welcome.
Jamie's dark eye caught hers and he gave her one of his gentle smiles.
"It feels weird, doesn't it? Seeing me reappear like this? I'm still truly sorry about hurting you all so badly," he offered.
Kim nodded, thinking how she wanted to respond. While she had a moment of anger at the deceit, in her heart, the Slayer knew well the fears Jamie harbored regarding Drakkon. The spooky, deranged asshole had been sickly obsessed with his pet and without a doubt would have mowed over anyone that stood between them.
"I'm scared that this isn't real, that I'm dreaming, and you'll be gone again," she admitted.
"I understand. But I'm real. See?" Jamie whispered, easing his arm around her shoulders.
Feeling the warm weight and smelling that comforting scent Jason always had, made fresh tears threaten and she sniffed them back. She could only nod.
At the rear of the group, Tommy and Jason walked side by side, wanting to walk hand in hand as they marched toward a deadly danger. The White Ranger felt rage and fear, concerned how Drakkon would react at seeing Jason. The possessive fuck might very well decide that he deserved two pets and be just as singly focused on this Red Ranger as his own. It still rankled him that the tyrant had taken Jason's virginity so coldly and callously.
"Perverted dick," he muttered hotly under his breath.
Jason's brow furrowed in concern. Making sure Jamie wasn't looking back at them, he slid his hand around Tommy's waist.
"You ok, Thom?" he whispered.
"No," his boyfriend admitted angrily. "How in the fuck did that son of a bitch manage to live through what Red did to him? It's not fair!"
The Red Omega's eyes lowered, thinking back on the seductive cat and mouse game that he and Drakkon had partaken in. He still couldn't believe he'd been so easily guided down the rabbit hole and straight into bed with the monster. Red's fate could very well have been his own.
Jason didn't look forward to facing his boyfriend's evil doppelganger. Getting a taste of the swift and powerful rage and violence Drakkon was capable of during the beating on the Spectrum was enough. How had Jamie managed to survive for two decades? How long had that Jason lasted before succumbing and transforming into Red?
Tommy noticed his Red Omega's silence and he sighed.
"Oh, handsome! I'm sorry. I wasn't thinking about how you must be feeling. You know I'll turn him into a bloody smear if he tries to get close to you," he stated firmly.
Jason squeezed Tommy's hand tightly before releasing it back to his side.
"I know."
Ahead of the newly engaged couple, Skull and Billy also exchanged discrete glances and smiles despite the gravity of what they were walking into.
Leaning towards the Blue Ranger, the former Sentry's eyes sparkled.
"I have to admit that even though we are walking straight towards Satan's cabana boy its worth it to see you again," he chuckled.
Billy's cheeks flushed and he laughed lightly.
"That means a lot coming from someone who had to live intimately with Drakkon for so long," he answered. "I confess I too feel great excitement at seeing you as well."
Skull flashed a toothy grin.
"Any hypothesis on the Mad Hatter's desire to turn into Susie Homemaker? And the situation with Jamie? What a mental cluster fuck! Excuse my French," he mused. "I'm still slightly concerned Red's going to come out for belly rubs."
Billy let out a breath and shook his head.
"It is rather interesting from a medical and psychological standpoint. Multiple personalities have long been debated and the subject of hundreds of movies. Even now that it's known as dissociative identity disorder, there's still much we don't know about it. Each individual and their circumstances are different. It really stands out to me that Red is essentially directing things behind the scenes being the only one who knows what's going on."
Skull nodded and another thought occurred to him.
"Why do you think Jason didn't wake up? Jamie said Red couldn't get him to respond and that's why he was created."
Billy tucked his hands into the pockets of his jeans.
"I'm not sure. From the journal entries I read, he underwent an enormous about of trauma. Perhaps he was watching behind Red's eyes without him being aware just as Red has done with Jamie. He could have seen the acts Red committed under Drakkon's reign. It's just a theory."
This made the older man release a bitter laugh.
"The Jason I remember from high school? He would never have followed through with commands Red was given. He brutalized and killed a large number of Sentries and don't even get me started on what he did in the cage fights," he hissed.
Billy's fingers stroked his chin absently.
"Another thought occurred to me, Eugene. Red stepped in to protect Jason, correct? I doubt he started off as the willing pet he became. He stepped in place of Jason so they could survive. It's possible that Red was corrupted by Drakkon's psychosis and he underwent the episode and not Jason himself. I don't know for sure," he puzzled.
For a while, everyone was silent; birds chirped, and the wind lifted their hair soothingly. Reaching the crest of a hill, a loud excited bark pierced the air as a large brown and black dog bounded over the trail towards Jamie, his pink tongue flapping. He darted joyfully up to his human companion, jumping up and lapping fervently at Jamie's hands.
Noticing the others surrounding them, Bear sniffed at them curiously, particularly Tommy and Jason. He almost appeared confused; his head tilted in puzzlement.
"It's alright, buddy," Jamie cooed. "These are friends."
Gesturing fondly at the canine, he added to the others, "This is Bear. He keeps me company up here besides the chickens, ducks, and the goat."
Jason knelt carefully as Bear approached him, nose twitching as he sniffed deeply at his outstretched hand.
"Hey, boy," the Red Omega whispered gently.
The dog nuzzled into his embrace before licking his cheek. The dark eyes glanced up at Tommy reproachfully, uncertain about this one who resembled the dark energy currently infesting their home. The human was slightly different than that one, but would require careful watching on Bear's part.
Moving over the hill, Kimberly gasped at the beautiful landscape that was revealed. The sun reflected off the lake where a few ducks idly paddled to and fro; the fragrant scent of flowers filled the air. Beautiful colors dotted the landscape from the various petals and blooms. It looked like it was out of a storybook.
"I take it you approve," Jamie's voice came from behind her.
Kim couldn't take her eyes from the scenery, so very different from the place they had come from.
"You did all this, Jamie?"
The man chuckled, coming up to stand beside her.
"No, I certainly can't take all the credit. Nature gave me a great canvas. I only added decoration," he grinned.
Billy and Skull also joined them, once the former Sentry had nearly cuddled the dog's hair off.
"This is a much better view than I've had in a long time," he complimented Jamie, still slightly nervous at gaining his attention.
"Thank you," he responded, giving a small smile.
Jason and Tommy were the last to continue over the hill, Bear tagging along behind the Omega.
"Wow," the White Ranger murmured in awe before leaning over to whisper to Jason, "You think you could figure out how to keep all these different plants alive?"
"Shut up," his boyfriend snickered. "I get it. I'm the Grim Reaper of the plant world."
"Nothing you can't learn," Jamie reassured him, overhearing the exchange.
His expression grew serious then as he turned to face his visitors.
"I know you all have very strong feelings about Drakkon. He's most likely going to poke at you, but please remember that I need him alive. Enough so that I brought him here of all places. So I ask that you not kill him," he stated. "I think Red's already called dibs for afterwards, anyways."
Skull laughed.
"I think I can handle seeing ol' fuckface again," he agreed, not wanting to admit that it was Red that scared him more than the tyrant.
Billy also nodded his agreement.
"Affirmative. He very well could have pertinent information about this newest threat."
Tommy crossed his arms over his chest and clenched his jaw. He couldn't get into the exact reason he felt edgy around Drakkon, but he hoped the former warlord kept his distance from his Jason.
"As long as he doesn't try taking off with any of us again. But it doesn't sound like that's a possibility, right?" he muttered.
Jamie shook his head.
"Living in the facility was a special hell for him. I think if he could have, he would have taken off long ago. He still has his kiss-asses, I'm sure. But no one's going to be dumb enough to volunteer to be his caretaker. Besides me apparently," he sighed.
Now, he looked at Jason, trying to think how to phrase what he wanted to warn him about.
"Drakkon has very little joys left to him besides being an asshole and agitating those around him. Don't be surprised if he makes comments, jokes, or innuendos. I can almost guarantee he'll bring up what happened before."
The Red Omega looked away, embarrassed still and not looking forward to dealing with Drakkon's fuckery. He knew Jamie was right; the sadistic fuck was going to mention their 'relationship.'
He remained silent as Kimberly also addressed the group.
"This won't be easy for any of you. I suggest not being around him any longer than you have to. And definitely don't be alone with him," she advised.
With that in mind, the group approached Jamie's home, each with different concerns and worries regarding seeing Drakkon again.
Jason felt anxious about hearing the recounting of any details of their toying with each other.
Tommy bristled thinking about Drakkon attempting to get near his boyfriend again and any harm he might still be capable of inflicting.
Kimberly bit her lip nervously remembering all the barbaric acts she committed under his orders, including the brainwashed sex she had shared with Jamie.
Billy's expression hardened at seeing the man who was capable of carrying out all the atrocities he'd read about against a version of one of his best friends, traumas capable of causing the PTSD and dissociation that Jamie experienced.
For his part, Skull was mostly unbothered about Drakkon. During his time with the Red Sentries, he did have some interaction with the asshole and managed to live. He knew it was unlikely he was capable of anything with all of them present. Not that caution wasn't required, just maintaining the usual distance and skepticism that served him well in the palace. Red, on the other hand…..
Jamie held his breath as he approached the door that opened into the kitchen. He didn't know if Drakkon, or David, was still asleep or if he wasn't, what he was doing. Obviously, he could get in and out of the wheelchair under his own power despite his dainty helplessness he'd displayed at the facility.
Fuck, this had potential to go from zero to one hundred.
Who knew how Drakkon was going to react; he didn't like sharing Jamie with anyone.
Opening the wooden door quietly, he detected the smell of food cooking and heard Jasper bleat from somewhere inside the kitchen. Shit, he'd forgotten that little ass was loose in there! She'd probably made a mess.
Entering the kitchen, Jamie observed David sitting in his wheelchair at the butcher block table, leafing through a book he'd snagged from a bookcase in the bedroom, while a pot of soup simmered on the stove. He didn't immediately look up and Jamie gestured for the others to hold back a moment.
"Hey, I'm back. Ummm, what are you doing?" he asked curiously.
David's hazel eyes met his and a corner of his mouth turned up.
"You never were very good at keep secrets from me, darling. Besides faking your death," he grinned slyly. "Tell me, what surprise are you holding back?"
He flipped a page in the book and lowered his eyes back to the small print. A few peeled carrots lay on the tabletop near his hand.
Jamie glanced back at the others timidly, bracing for a possible explosive outrage. He motioned for the others to come inside.
Kimberly, Billy, Skull, Tommy, and Jason filed in as being led to the guillotine. Hearing multiple footsteps on the floorboards, the man in the wheelchair raised his head to see what else the universe felt fit to ram up his ass. Therefore, he wasn't too stunned to see ghosts from the past.
"Jamie, darling, I wish you had told me we'd be having guests. But I think there's enough lunch for everyone if you add a side of sandwiches," he quipped, his eyes glittering eerily.
An insistent bleat from under the table caught his attention as Jasper returned for another carrot. Twitching lips and tongue graced David's palm as the goat gobbled the orange vegetable being offered. David laughed.
"Such a spoiled little flea bag, you are," he crooned.
The visitors exchanged confused glances at one another as Jamie sighed and rubbed his eyes under his glasses. At least the tyrant hadn't flipped shit.
Lifting his head, David grinned again at the people standing awkwardly before him.
"Let's see now. Who all has come to gaze upon the freak show I've become? I see my Ranger Slayer, my faux Sentry, brainy little Billy, my weaker self, and the little duckling. Well, this is quite the lunch date," he teased.
Jamie moved forward blocking his mocking gaze as he crossed his arms in frustration.
"You need to start talking and start now. How is your coin related to that hound that keeps showing up to kill me? He attacked me again while I was in town getting supplies. According to their data, its energy signature matches your Black Dragon coin. So, enlighten us. What the hell is going on?"