Radioactive: Chapter Twenty

Radioactive

Chapter Twenty

~Doctor! Doctor!~

The others ran into the hallway from the subway system. Fang looked around, smelling the air. Ing clung to his back and made obnoxious noises to which Fang told him to “stop or I will rip your arms off”. The little android didn’t seem to take him to seriously and made the noises on a quieter level. The others followed behind them with Jekyll bringing up the rear. Duke walked beside Riu nodding occasionally to what she was saying but not really listening.

Fang led then to a fork in the hall and turned down the left hall leading to a larger room, “This way.”

“Are you sure?” Riu asked, “I think it’s the other way.”

Fang looked over his shoulder, “Are you the one who can track someone through a rain storm though the jungle in the middle of a blinding fog in the middle of the night with smell alone?”

“Well maybe I can!” Riu placed her fists on her hips.

“Unlikely,” Fang stated.

Riu took a few aggressive steps toward Fang, “What was that!? Just because all you can do is smell very far you think you’re better than me!?”

Duke quickly intervened. He grabbed Riu’s arm and held tight. Duke pulled her back away from Fang and didn’t let her go.

“What do you think you’re doing!? Let me go or I’ll gouge your eyes out!” Riu screamed.

“Let it go,” Duke said simply.

Surprisingly, Riu calmed down enough for Duke to loosen his grip on her. She pulled her arm away roughly and stomped off muttering something about how all men were the same. Riu followed Fang down the hallway he had chosen. Duke didn’t follow right away. He looked over his shoulder.

“Are you coming?” Duke asked.

Doctor Jekyll looked down the other hallway. He started walking down the other hallway away from Duke, “I need to check something. I’ll catch up later.” Jekyll waved over his shoulder.

Duke watched for a moment before turning around to follow the others. Jekyll continued down the hallway. He walked past several laboratories with medical equipment still functioning. Half changed humans were strapped to medical beds, the steady tone of the heart rate monitors told the doctor that they were no longer among the living. Jekyll entered a few rooms and glanced at a few computer screens. He absorbed the information that he gathered and kept it in mind.

“Who are you?” the doctor walked in, seeing someone else he didn’t know in his labs, “What are you doing here? Are you one of them?” the doctor nodded in the direction where Fang and the others disappeared to.

Jekyll didn’t answer him. He looked around, “I see you’ve been busy. What exactly have you been working on exactly?”

“I don’t have time to explain to the likes of you, people of inferior minds,” the doctor said.

“Well from the looks of this you have been turning normal humans into others,” Jekyll said, “Seems like something went a little wrong. Instead of keeping their human forms, they changed into different creatures, a mix between human and monster. I guess that happens when you combine human DNA to animal DNA.”

“It wasn’t supposed to happen,” the doctor defended himself. Then he smiled, “But when I saw the first one change it was like creating a new creature, a new life, that never before existed!”

Jekyll said, “Playing god?”

The doctor smiled, “Well, I only didn’t started for medical research…”

“It gives a rush doesn’t it,” Jekyll stated, “Whether you’re creating or taking something away, it gives a nice good rush to have another person’s life in your hands. Their very fate is in the palm of your hands, either they live,” Jekyll turned toward the half mutant on the medical bed. He walked up and unplugged the heart monitor, “Or they die. All the while, you think you’re in the right.”

The doctor looked curious, “Have you done experiments of this sort too? If so, we could share out different results! Not here of course but maybe a more private location where we can talk without the threat of being discovered. What do you say? Two magnificent minds working together to make a new species!”

Jekyll turned to the doctor and smiled, “I don’t think so.” He threw three scalpels into the doctor’s shoulder.

The doctor staggered back into the wall, “What—!”

“We aren’t the same,” Jekyll said. “You see, you get a thrill out of creating life, I enjoy the thrilling experience of taking it, crushing it and smother every ounce of light out of it. At least I used to. In a way, I guess I still do but I have certain obligations now.”

“Are you going to kill me!?” the doctor asked.

Jekyll shrugged, “I haven’t decided.”

“Please, please don’t kill me!” the doctor begged.

Jekyll walked over to the doctor, “I imagine that you’re victims here begged like that as you changed their very DNA structure. It must have been incredibly painful,” Jekyll dug his heels into the scalpels in the doctor’s shoulder. The doctor screamed in pain as the blades dug deeper. “In fact, you probably did them a favor by killing them. At least now the pain has stopped,” Jekyll looked over at the dead half mutant.

“Ahh!” the doctor screamed as he grabbed Jekyll’s ankle.

“Shh,” Jekyll said, “I’m just getting started. Now as a doctor myself, I find your practice, what’s the word, deplorable.”

“They don’t matter!” the doctor shouted, “No one would have missed them! I made their lives better!”

“You remind me of the people I used to kill,” Jekyll sighed, “They didn’t care either. And let me tell you, that isn’t a good thing. I had what you call a psychotic brake, started killing them as a kind of vigilante to protect the people of my neighborhood.”

“It wasn’t like anyone cared!” the doctor cried in defense.

“I cared for them,” Jekyll stated, “Their friends and family cared.”

“I made them into something beautiful!” the doctor shouted, “I turned them from the scum of the earth into beautiful creatures! Yes, they were in pain but I did the best I could to lessen their pain!”

“I made my victims beautiful too,” Jekyll smiled, “by painting the walls with their blood. Would you like me to do that to you, scum of the world? I can think of several ways to make you, how did you say it, more beautiful.”

The doctor shouted, “No please! Ahh—”

Jekyll threw three more daggers into the doctor’s other shoulder. He stomped his heel into the three new scalpels. The doctor screamed in pain. Jekyll put his foot down. He stood up straight and looked down at the doctor as the man gripped his newest wound.

“You can come in now, Duke,” Jekyll said as he turned and walked across the room.

Duke stepped into the door way. He looked slightly embarrassed for being found out. Duke looked down at the doctor.

“What do you want to do with him?” Duke asked.

“What do I want to do with him?” Jekyll looked over his shoulder and smiled, “I want to slit his stomach opened and paint the walls with his blood. But that’s just what I want. We should bring him into custody. I’m sure the Tower has just a few questions to ask him.”

Duke bent down and yanked a group of three daggers out of his shoulder. The doctor shouted in agony.

“Would you be more gentle you twit!?” the doctor yelled.

“Sorry,” Duke said emotionlessly.

He dug the three blades back into the wound and yanked them out again quickly. With the second set of three scalpels he twisted them first before removing them. He smirked slightly as the doctor cried in pain. Duke turned the doctor and pulled his arms behind his back and tied his wrists together. He pulled the doctor to his feet.

“What now?” Duke asked.

Jekyll turned and walked toward the door, “Bring him to the surface. I’m going to have a chat with Kaiba.”

“I bring him to the surface?” Duke asked, “Why don’t you bring him to the surface?”

“Because I could skin you alive,” Jekyll said as he left.

Duke nodded, “That’s a pretty good reason.”

“I’d say so,” Jekyll stated.

Iridescent: Chapter Twenty

Iridescent

Chapter Twenty

~Tempi’s Temper~

After the Fall

Chaud’s eyes shot open. For a moment he lay still, listening for any sound. He sat up quickly and tried to reach for his gun but found that it was gone.

“Calm down, young Galaxy,” a voice said, “No need to worry.”

Chaud looked over to his left. Puppetmaster sat a few feet away. He carved away at a piece of wood. The object he was carving started to take place. It was a single figure doll like in nature not like his usual dolls that he carved. Chaud watched him work for a few moments before looking around his surroundings.

He noted that he was in the back of a school bus. Half of the seats in the back were removed replaces with several blankets and personal effects. He lay on a similar blanket. Chaud sat quietly and heard the sound of children talking and playing outside. He couldn’t see out the windows but he could see that the sun was out. With most of the windows opened Chaud could hear the steady wind outside. Chaud looked back at Puppetmaster.

“Doctor,” Puppetmaster called, “Are you out there?”

There was a moment of silence before someone climbed into the bus. Puppetmaster looked up at the doctor as he approached. The doctor knelt down by Chaud and looked at him with a critical eye. His wide brimmed hat kept the doctor’s black hair in order. The doctor wore a white shirt and black pants. He looked at Chaud for a long time before speaking.

“You were dead for five minutes, you know,” Jekyll stated as took Chaud’s pulse, “Another minute and we might not have been able to bring you back.”

Chaud didn’t say anything as he thought over that piece of information. Jekyll could care less if Chaud responded or not. He checked Chaud’s vitals.

“How long have I been out?” Chaud asked quietly.

“A few days,” Jekyll stated.

Chaud turned his head the direction that Jekyll indicated. He followed Jekyll’s finger with his eyes.

“Take it easy today,” Jekyll said, “I’ll check on you often. For now, go ahead and walk around but don’t over exert yourself. Oh, and no Blue Gold for you for the foreseeable future. There are only so many times you can use that stuff before you lose control.”

Chaud nodded. He didn’t feel like using it anytime soon anyway. It still hurt to move his muscles.

“Puppetmaster! Is my doll ready yet?” a girl ran into the bus.

Puppetmaster smiled, “Almost, just a little longer.”

The girl sat beside the master as he worked on the small wooden doll. Jekyll stood up and left. Chaud carefully got to his feet and walked off the bus. He squinted his eyes as he looked around the camp. Vehicles of all kinds were the outer perimeter. The vehicles consisted of the school bus, an ambulance, an animal transport, a pick-up truck, a mobile home bus, and a heavy duty jeep. Smaller vehicles like motor bikes and four wheelers were in the center. In the center of the camp was a large fire place. Children and woman walked around freely within the perimeter. The men all held weapons and stood usually along the edge of the perimeter. Some of them stood on top of the taller vehicles as look outs.

Chaud spotted his sister playing among the children of the camp. The wolf lay in the sand a few feet away from her watching closely. He walked over to her.

“Amber,” he said.

Amber turned to where she heard her name. She jumped to her feet and ran to her brother. Amber threw her arms around her brother and squeezed him.

“Chaud!” Amber squealed, “I’m so glad you’re okay!”

“Keep squeezing me like that and I might suffocate to death,” Chaud laughed.

“Sorry,” Amber let go and whipped tears from her eyes.

Chaud stopped down and held her shoulders, “Hey, don’t cry. I’m fine.”

Amber looked at him, “Promise me you’ll never use that stuff again.”

Chaud smiled, “Amber, I—”

“You have to promise!” Amber cried, “You have to promise to never EVER use it again! No matter what!”

Chaud looked at her in the eyes, “I promise. But Amber, I need you to understand that if I need to protect you or my friends I will do what I have to but I wouldn’t do it with you looking. Alright?”

“You can’t take more than one!” Amber crossed her arms.”

Chaud nodded, “Deal.” Chaud stood up and looked around, “Where is Vicky?”

“She went to look for supplies with the others,” Amber answered.

“Others?” Chaud asked.

“Here they come!” a man on lookout yelled.

Chaud heard the sound of motors coming. The children all stood up and waited anxiously. Sand was kicked up as the group of four traveled in. Chaud instantly recognized Vicky among the four riders. She took off her protective eye wear and smiled at Chaud when she saw him out and about. Vicky got off the four-wheeler and walked up to him.

“Good to see you in the land of the living,” Vicky smiled.

Chaud nodded, “Defiantly don’t want to be the first one of the team to kick the bucket.”

Vicky hugged him, “It would be embarrassing wouldn’t it. You’re supposedly smarter than all of us.”

“Is that the rumors now?” Chaud smiled.

Vicky shrugged, “Zara seems convinced that you and your family know all and any secrets and are sworn to secrecy.”

“What?” Chaud looked at Vicky, “You believe that?”

Vicky looked Chaud over, “I have yet to think on my opinion.”

Chaud looked passed Vicky. He watched as the others dismounted their vehicles. The four-wheelers were adorned with their findings. He noticed Fang and Shadow as two of the riders. The children all gathered around Shadow excitedly asking him if he had found them anything. He smiled and brought out a bag of candies from a bag that he had found. The children jumped excitedly at the sight of the sweet treats. While Shadow handed out the candies, at the disapproving glances of the mothers, Fang walked toward the mobile home. Fang looked at Chaud for a brief second then ignored him as he disappeared into the mobile home.

“Chaud, I want you to meet someone!” Vicky motioned over to the fourth member.

The girl wore a short green sleeveless top and shorts showing a large amount of her midriff. She had a good fit body and was obviously proud of the fact an unashamed to flaunt it. An off white sash wrapped around her waist and was held in place by a large broach or pin creating a drape effect. She wore green fingerless gloves. Around her shins were white leg warmers that fanned out freely and flittered in the wind. Under the leg warmers were her shin high sandals that helped her leg support. On her back was a large brown rectangular container.

She walked toward them. A few strands escaped from her two ponytails and blew in the wind. Her dirty blond hair was in tight curls and the ponytails looked more like poofy round balls on her head. She reached out a hand to Chaud.

“Chaud,” Vicky started the introductions, “This is—”

“Tempi Washington,” Chaud stated, “also known as The Desert Wind due to her ability to manipulate sand. Best sand wielder on the Island and the leader of the Agent team Navi.”

Tempi smiled slyly, “Well, you seen to know a lot about me. ‘Fraid I’m not so privileged as to know so much about you, Chaud Galaxy.”

“You know her?” Vicky asked.

Chaud shook his head, “I did research on the teams before graduation. Standard procedure.”

“Yeah,” Tempi looked around coolly, “My second probably knows more about you other than you’re the big man’s son. I could care less about those things. Everyone ends up the same when they cross me.”

Chaud smiled, “I see.”

Tempi crossed her arms, “Where’s your girlfriend?”

“You mean Zara?” Vicky asked, “She’s not his boyfriend.”

Tempi looked at Vicky, “Right.”

“She isn’t,” Chaud stated, “And I don’t know where she is currently.”

“Well, that’s a surprise,” Tempi said, “I’m not a super genius like you and I know that you’re best known for knowing everything. And still you don’t know where your girlfriend is. Have your sources dried up?”

“You seem to be missing more people from your team than I am at the moment,” Chaud looked at her.

“Hope your girlfriend’s alright,” Tempi turned around, “It’d be mighty unfortunate.”

Chaud sighed, “She’s not my girlfriend.”

“Right,” Tempi said over her shoulder as she walked away.

Vicky looked at Chaud with a curious look, “What was all that about? You were verbally ripping each other’s heads off. She was nice to me until she met you.”

Chaud looked at Vicky, “Let’s just say her family and my family don’t get along.”

“Don’t get along how?” Vicky asked.

Chaud searched for words that didn’t include profanity, “Well, her dad’s the Police Commissioner and my dad’s head of the Tower. They just don’t like each other. I think that this island isn’t big enough for the both of them. Tempi’s dad complains about my dad’s power on the Island and demands more laws should be put in place and then there’s my dad says that there should be less so he can better protect the Island.”

“Ouch,” Vicky stated.

“All the political people’s try to stay away from either side so we’re stuck at a stalemate,” Chaud nodded.

“I guess she won’t want to be my friend now, will she?” Vicky sighed.

“Sorry,” Chaud said.

There was a short silence between them then Vicky spoke, “Their team name is Navi? We should have a team name. Do we have a team name? Why don’t we have a team name?”

“Currently we’re just known as Zara’s team,” Chaud shrugged, “I’m sure once we find everyone we could have a meeting to figure out what we should be called.”

“Sweet,” Vicky smiled, “I really do want a cool name.”

“I don’t care either way,” Chaud said.

“Chaud?” Vicky asked.

Chaud looked at her, “Yeah?”

“You and Zara aren’t dating behind my back are you?” Vicky whispered.

Chaud raised an eyebrow, “No.”

“Good, I thought I was missing something big,” Vicky sighed, “But seriously though, Chaud! We need to discuss a team name. I was thinking along the lines of…”

The Turn: Chapter Twenty

The Turn

Chapter Twenty

~Busted~

Two Years before the Turn

Zara sat in a dark interrogation room. She stared at the dark window in front of her where she knew a camera and maybe a few people were watching her. Since they sat her down, she hadn’t moved from her straight backed sitting position. She hadn’t even moved her head.

The door opened and she followed the man entering with her eyes. He had long light blond hair up to his jaw, so light that it almost looked white. He wore a casual white shirt with a light black sleeveless jacket and denim jeans. Overall he didn’t look very threatening. He slapped an empty folder on the metal table, pulled out the chair across from her and sat down. He placed his elbows on the table and looked at her. The man had nice blue eyes. He looked bored and disinterested but she could tell he was taking in her appearance too.

“I’m Detective Row Harper,” he pointed at the folder, “and you, Ms. Jolene Ross, do not exist. You’ve already wasted enough of my time, how about we just cut to the chase, hmm? Who are you?”

Zara said nothing.

Row leaned in a little, “Not even a hint?”

Again, Zara said nothing.

Row sat back in his seat, “Well, I guess we could start with what I already know. You aren’t Ms. Jolene Ross. You’re not 29 years old. You’re not a Public Health Inspector. Look, the guys that were firing at you, they are talking. Heck, they are singing like my aunts canary. Right now, it looks like you were trespassing and you drew the gun on them first. Do you want to set the record straight?”

Again, nothing.

“The girl in the hospital, is she with you by any chance?”

Nothing.

Row sighed. The girl in front of him was a hard nut to crack. In the time that he had entered the room, she had barely blinked. He had to find some way to make her react. The way a person reacted could tell a lot.

“What about this thing called the Tower?” Row asked.

Zara’s eyes inadvertently darted briefly to the right. Row smiled.

“So what? Is it some kind of secret agency or something? You aren’t allowed to talk about it or you’ll have to kill me?” he waited a moment. After a while, he picked up the empty folder and walked out of the room.

The police station was buzzed about the five teens with iron clad jaws. Row walked to his desk and collapsed in his chair. He quickly took out a pen and paper and wrote the words ‘The Tower’ on a sheet of paper. He had one more kid to interrogate but he thought he knew he wouldn’t get a word out of him. By the way the night was shaping, he wouldn’t get home until midnight…maybe.

“Hey, Harper!” his superior called, “Will you quit lounging around and get to work! That kid won’t shut up! He’s annoying everyone’s ears off!”

Row looked up, “Yes, sir.”

Before going down the hall, Row picked up an evidence box and walked toward another interrogation room. Sure enough, the boy’s voice could be heard half way down the hallway. Row opened the door and walked in.

“About time! What’s it take to get noticed around here!?” Chaud complained.

Row set the box down, “You going to cooperate?”

“Maybe,” Chaud smiled, “Can I get my phone call now?”

“What’s with this Tower?” Row asked.

Chaud laughed uncomfortably, “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“You want your phone call?” Row threatened.

Chaud shrugged, “Hey, I don’t know which tower you are referring too. Last I checked there were millions of towers in the world. You’d have to be awfully specific for me to answer.”

Row reached into the box and started setting things on the table. All the devices in Chaud suitcase were strewn all over the table. Chaud bit his lip.

“An information skimmer, wire cutters, forged documents, multiple ID’s, keys to a stolen cab, keys to a car stolen last night, I think there is a set of electric truck keys somewhere in there, half a dozen cell phones, a hand gun and ammo, and a packet of unopened gum,” he looked at Chaud, “Let’s start with your name.”

“Phone Call,” Chaud smiled jokingly. Row packed everything back in the box and headed for the door, “Okay, okay, okay! Ask me something else! It isn’t fair that you ask me things I can’t tell you!”

Row looked over his shoulder, “Than what can you tell me?”

Chaud shrugged, “It depends on the question.”

Row couldn’t follow this kids thinking but it seemed apparent that he knew a lot more. He walked back in and sat down.

“Is there a team here?” Row asked.

“Maybe,” Chaud answered.

Row sighed, “Are you in charge of your merry band of friends?”

Chaud shook his head, “No.”

“What do you do exactly?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Row thought a moment, “What are you hobbies?”

“Oh, you know; surfing, basketball, soccer, videogames, stuff like that. I have to make things happen, you know what I mean?”

Row pulled out the several sets of keys, “You ever play game Grand Theft Auto?”

“Couple times, I guess,” Chaud answered.

Row was getting the hang of this double talk, “You have a job.”

Chaud sat back in his chair, “As a matter of fact, I do.”

“Does it pay well?”

“It’s decent, I guess; better than minimum wage.”

“Much better, I imagine,” Row nodded, “So where did you learn to use a data skimmer?”

“Work,” Chaud answered casually.

“Right,” Row smiled, “The work you can’t tell me about. The work that has something to do with the Tower?”

Chaud smiled, “You know, there was this one time when I was younger, and my brother got this science assignment from school for the science fair. Well, he decided to explore reverse psychology. I was like seven. He set a box in front of me and said “Don’t open”, and walked away. Naturally, I opened the box. I got covered in that dye that stains your skin all over my face and arms. On top of that he had me sit in his display in front of all those people with a video of the ordeal playing over and over again on a TV behind me. Not to mention my mother was pissed that the stains wouldn’t come out. I think she’s still trying to get them clean. Moral of the story is—”

“Don’t open the box?” Row finished his sentence. He could sense the real meaning of what Chaud was saying.

Chaud tilted his head slightly, “I wouldn’t want you to get inked. It isn’t fun. Can I have my phone call now?”

Row rolled his eyes. He let Chaud up and walked him down a hallway. There was a single phone attached to the wall. Row noticed Chaud glance up at the camera. Chaud stood awkwardly in front of the phone.

“Um,” he started, “could I have just a minute?”

Row looked up at the camera before stepping several feet back. He kept looking to see what Chaud would do. Chaud stood in front of the phone. He scratched just above his eyebrow, glancing up at the hallway camera. Moments later, the phone rang. Chaud picked it up quickly and turned his back to Row.

“What is it?” the voice on the other end said. It was all business, “I’m busy.”

“Hey, Jekyll,” Chaud muttered, “great to see you too. My brother owes you another one doesn’t he?”

Jekyll sighed, “Actually, this favor for your father.”

“Name?”

“Armitage Shanks,” Jekyll hung up.

Chaud placed the phone back. He walked back over to Row and was brought back to the interrogation room. Row glanced at Chaud as he sat down in his chair.

“If you don’t mind my asking, who was that?” Row asked.

Chaud reclined, “Man, I’m tired. I don’t think I want to talk anymore.”