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Chapter EightDisclaimers: See Part 1.
Date: July 22, 3021 Jason falls back in shock as Brian lands a right hook on his face. "Fuck man, what’s your problem?" "You could’ve killed him you bastard!" Brian roars. "The hell were you thinking?" "Hey, I didn’t know, alright!" "I swear to God if you..." "What, Brian? What are you gonna do, huh?" I’ll kill you my own damn self!" Brian snarls. "Brian, Jason, stop it!" Alasen calls. "This isn’t helping anything. Somebody call an ambulance." She snaps. Jason casts a murderous glance at Brian before he runs off to get his cell phone. Brian walks back to Alasen as she continues to try CPR. "Anything yet?" "No." Alasen says curtly as she tries to make Aeryk breath again. "Crap, this is so much easier with a dummy." "Anything I can do?" "No, just stay back." Brian nods and falls back a few feet. Why can’t I stop feeling this way? My heart’s beating so fast. And this fury? I’m sure Jason didn’t know any better, but why did I get so mad so suddenly? I’ve always been so protective over Aeryk, but not like this. I was seriously ready to kill Jason if anything happened to Aeryk. Things would be easier if I just... "The ambulance is on its way." Jason calls, running up. "They said to keep trying CPR until they get there." He sees Brian and his face darkens. The hell is his problem? I didn’t know Aeryk couldn’t swim or anything. I should just kick his ass and tell him what’s up. Brian stares back at Jason. I don’t like that look he’s giving me. God, how I would just love to beat that look off his face right now. Alasen helps Aeryk onto his side as he begins to cough up water. Alasen lets out a sigh of relief. "Thought we lost you there for a second." She mutters. Jason and Brian rush over to Aeryk’s side, both sighing in relief. "You okay bud?" Brian asks. Aeryk nods the affirmative. Jason collects Aeryk in his arms and begins to apologize profusely. "I’m so sorry, I didn’t know." He mutters. Brian’s chest rises in anger and Alasen puts a calming hand on his shoulders. Brian turns on her, but Alasen slowly shakes her head. "Leave it be." She says softly. She raises her hand, silencing Brian before he can protest. "I said, leave it be." Brian scowls, turns, and storms away. Alasen watches Brian walk off and she slowly turns to Aeryk. "You doing okay?" "Yeah," Aeryk says hoarsely. "I’m fine." "I’m so, so sorry Aeryk." Jason cries. "I didn’t know." Aeryk smiles up at Jason. "It’s okay. I should’ve told you that I’m afraid of open water." "If I would’ve listened to you, this never would’ve..." Aeryk quiets Jason with a soft kiss. "I said, it’s okay." He turns up to Alasen. "Where’s Brian?" "He, uh, left to get something." Alasen says. "Oh, there’s the ambulance." She quickly excuses herself and rushes to meet the paramedics. "I hope I don’t have to go to the hospital again." Aeryk moans. Jason chuckles. "I’m sure you’ll be fine." He helps Aeryk sit up, and moves away as the paramedics rush over to check on Aeryk. Jason looks down the beach and sees Brian sitting on his beach towel, staring in the horizon. He rubs his face and is glad to know he’s not bleeding. Fuckin’ asshole. He begins to walk toward Brain, but Alasen calls out to him. "Please, don’t do this here." "Did you see what he did to me?" Jason snaps. "Yes, and I’m sorry he did that, but you should stay with Aeryk. He needs you right now." Jason looks back at Aeryk, and sees the weariness in his eyes. He then turns back to Alasen. "I’m sorry, but I’ve got a score to settle with Brian and that attitude of his." Alasen shakes her head slowly. "What is it with men? Listen, fighting will get you nowhere with Brian. I’m sure he didn’t mean to hit you. He probably just got caught in the moment and..." "Managed to land a right hook on my face." Jason says sarcastically. "I’m sorry Alasen, but whatever you say is not going to change my mind. He’s crossed the line with me." "Then do it for Aeryk, if not for me." Alasen pleads, grabbing Jason’s arm as he starts walking away. Jason stops and snatches his arm back from Alasen. "When will you give up?" "Not until you realize what’s really going on here?" Alasen says. "Brian hasn’t been the same ever since Aeryk moved out of the condo. He’s been quiet and depressed. He’s always off in his own world, thinking about God knows what. He hardly pays any attention to me, and all he seems to worry about is Aeryk." "And this is supposed to excuse him hitting me?" "No!" Alasen cries. "I’m only telling you that Brian really loves Aeryk, on some level or another. Those two have been together for years now, and this has really upset him. I don’t know how Aeryk’s handling it, and I can’t speak for him obviously. But I can bet that he’s probably not as happy as he makes out to be." "Aeryk’s very happy." Jason snaps. "We’re very happy." He adds. "Are you sure?" Alasen asks. "Have you ever asked him if he’s happy?" "Excuse me?" Jason asks, outraged. "Who the hell do you think you are, asking me a question like that? Maybe you should be asking the same question to yourself!" That catches Alasen off guard. "Well, I..." She stammers. "Thought so." Jason says crossing his arms. "The paramedics are done, I’ll check on Aeryk." He brushes by the stunned Alasen.
Date: July 22, 3021 "He what?" Jackie gasps. "Right across my chin." Jason says. "What did you do?" Jason shrugs. "Nothing I could do. Alasen wouldn’t let me go, and I was worried about Aeryk." Jackie shakes her head in disbelief. "That’s so odd. Brian’s never like that." "I admit, I don’t know the guy very well, but I never thought he’d do something like that." "You’re right," Jackie says thoughtfully. "He wouldn’t." She decides to change the subject. "So how’s Aeryk?" "He’s asleep. That’s why I asked you over." "Ah, you get lonely?" Jackie taunts. Jason smirks. "No, I wanted to ask you about him and Brian." Jackie pales slightly and her smile fades. "What do you mean?" "I was hoping you could fill me in on why Brian acted the way he did." Jackie lets out a sigh and slides into a chair. "Well, Brian and Aeryk obviously have a strange relationship. They’ve been best friends for years. Beside that, Brian is very protective over Aeryk. He has been with Aeryk through the worst of times. Brian once told me he sees Aeryk as a younger brother." Jackie smiles faintly. "I don’t know, though. This whole thing with Aeryk coming out has been a bit of a strain on them both. Mostly because, I think, Aeryk still loves Brian." Jason nods and falls into a seat across from Jackie. "I didn’t know that." "Sorry, I thought Aeryk told you. But it’s true, Aeryk did or does love Brian." "Is that why he moved out?" Jackie shrugs. "Neither of them talk about it at all. So you probably know as much as I do about that. Best I can say is just wait it out." She gives a serious look at Jason. "Aeryk will turn out alright, he’s strong like that. Hell, you’d have to be strong to be the only survivor of your entire family and see them die in front of you." Jason nods in understanding. "I know it’s only been two weeks, but I think I’m falling in love with Aeryk. Which is why I don’t want this to keep on going between those two." "What do you mean?" "I just feel that Brian is holding something over Aeryk that I can’t put a finger on right now, and Aeryk’s suffering because of it." "So what are you going to do?" "Well, I’ve placed a request to be transferred to our branch in Brazil. If I get accepted, I’ll ask if Aeryk would move with me." Jackie’s eyes widen in shock. "Are you serious?" Jason nods. "I know it’s a little sudden, but I think this will help Aeryk out." "Do you think he’ll want to leave though? Everything Aeryk has is here." Jason shrugs it off. "Well, we won’t have to worry about that for a while. It’ll be a couple months or so until everything is handled." Jackie looks at Jason, shocked. "I don’t know what to say." "Don’t say anything, especially to Aeryk. I’ll wait things out for a bit until I know for sure what’s going on." He rises to his feet. "I’m gonna go check on Aeryk." He says and walks off. Jackie’s cell phone rings and she lets out a sigh before answering. "Hello?"
Date: July 22, 3021 "Jackie, it’s Aaron." "So you get anything, yet?" Jackie whispers. "Not a peep." Aaron says sullenly. "Alasen went out to grab something, so I’m left alone with ‘appy boy." "He’s not talking?" "I just said that!" Aaron snaps. "Brian’s in the living room right now. I’ll try again." He pauses momentarily. "So what about you?" "Nothing I can say right now." "What? You know something?" Aaron gasps. "Tell me." "I can’t. I promised Jason I wouldn’t say anything." "’Ow can this mission of ours be successful if you don’t cooperate Jackie?" Jackie chuckles. "Alright, I’ll tell you about it later, but not here. Oops, Jason’s coming back. Gotta go." She quickly hangs up the phone. "Who was that?" Brian asks shuffling out onto the balcony. "Ah, just Jackie, no one important." Aaron jokes. "So what’s up?" Brian sighs. "Nothing, just thought I’d get some air." "You sure you’re alright Brian? You’ve been acting strangely for a while." "I said I’m fine!" Brian snaps. "Quit asking me." "Fine, fine. Can’t say you never ‘ad a sympathetic ear, though. I did try." Brian sighs and looks into the blue sky. He has been trying. He has been the only one trying with me, I guess. Alasen tries to avoid it. I know Aeryk won’t talk to me now that I hit Jason. God, what was I thinking? I’ve just been so miserable ever since Aeryk left here. Things just aren’t the same. I don’t have anything to look forward to anymore. I don’t even feel like getting out of bed anymore. That’s bad, even for me! "So, uh, I was thinking about goin’ out for a drink." Aaron says cautiously. "Feel like joining me?" He’s still trying? Is this some sign for me that I have to make things right? "Sure, sounds great." Brian smiles faintly. "I’ll, uh, just leave Alasen a note." Brian slowly walks back into the condo. "Christ, ‘e looks ‘orrible." Aaron mutters. What in the bloody ‘ell is going on ‘ere? Brian is totally suffering. ‘Ow ‘ard did you take it, Brian? Please let ‘im talk to me. Aaron walks back into the condo and patiently waits for Brian to ready himself. "’E doesn’t seem right. ‘E ‘ardly smiles, I’ve never seem ‘im eat at all. Now ‘e’s walking around the place at the pace of a garden slug. Brian walks up to Aaron and smiles slightly. "Ready?" "Whenever you are." Aaron and Brian leave the condo and head towards Aaron’s favorite watering hole, the White Flames.
Date: July 22, 3021 After a bit of drinks and some food, Brian and Aaron decide to relax a moment in the City Park. "So the guy comes up to Jackie, tries to ‘it on ‘er, and only gets a punch in the stomach for ‘is troubles!" Aaron laughs. "You should’ve seen it." Brian smiles. "Sounds like Jackie all right." ‘E really isn’t opening up to me right now. Should I just be blunt and ask ‘im right out? Aaron asks himself. Brian heaves out a sigh. Should I just tell him? The guy should know what it’s like. After all, he did go through the same thing, basically. "So Brian," Aaron begins. "I wanted to ask you something." Might as well tell him. Brian says to himself. "Yeah Aaron, I do love Aeryk. And I do miss him a lot. And I wish he were here right now. And I wish I had him instead of Jason!" He says harshly, staring at Aaron. Aaron looks back at Brian, thunderstruck. Whoa, wasn’t expecting this! "So, uh, why ‘aven’t you told ‘im?" Brian sighs. "I have, but not in so much words. He knows I love him, but he also knows why I can’t love him." "Pardon?" "It’s something that I’ve done." The memory of the night with Alasen flashes in Brian’s mind and he pushes it aside, painfully. "And what my life is like right now. All my life, I’ve been a disappointment to my family. I slacked in school, I barely made it in the F.Y." The two sit down on a patch of warm grass. "I’ve done nothing but cause stress on my parents. I know that now, and it hurts, a lot." Brian leans back onto the grass and stares at the rapidly clouding sky. "I met Alasen, and at first I thought she was great. She’s beautiful, and we have a lot in common. So why not use this one thing I know I can succeed at and make my family proud of me, at least once. Have a wife and kids, be successful within the F.Y., really have a family of my own that we can be proud of." Brian casts a quick, pained, glance at Aaron and continues. "Then I started to realize that all the dreams I had about making my family happy wasn’t as fulfilling as I thought they were. So one night, when Aeryk and I just got home from the mall, I kissed him. Man, you wouldn’t believe the exhilaration I felt from that one kiss. I felt alive. I felt love. I felt a million emotions, all from one kiss." He sighs. "It wasn’t the first time we kissed though. The first time I got scared and angry that life was throwing another disappointment in my life. At first I blamed Aeryk, like it was his fault. But, soon I realized that it was me, who was in the wrong." Brian sits up and gazes down his legs. "So now, I’m caught in a web of my own making. What happened between me and Alasen has forced me to make the decision of what I must do." "And what must you do?" Aaron asks lowly. "What can I do, but remain with Alasen? It’s my punishment for pushing away the only person I love. For the pain I’ve caused I, too, must suffer." Aaron looks at Brian, sad and afraid for his friend and places a gentle hand on Brian’s shoulders. "You know what you’ve got to do Brian. If you feel that remaining with Alasen is what’s right, then go for it. But if being with Aeryk is what will make you ‘appy..." He trails off. "There is nothing in this world that will make me more happier that having Aeryk back in my life." Brian mutters. "If that is so, are you willing to face the consequences?" "I want to say yes." Brian says lowly. "But I’d be lying if I did." Aaron shakes his head slowly. "I’m sorry Brian." Brian grimaces. "This is something I have to deal with Aaron. I’ve made my decision and I have to stick by it. Otherwise, I’ll be even more of a failure to my family."
Date: July 23, 3021 Aeryk slowly makes his way out of his Triennium and gathers his bag and walks toward the doorway exiting the garage. "Another day, another dollar." He mutters. He turns as he hears another set of footsteps and sees Brian making his way toward Aeryk, his face pale and lifeless. "Hey." Aeryk says as Brian walks up, trying to smile. "Hi." Brian says lowly. "What’s up?" "Nothing, are you alright?" Aeryk asks. "You don’t look so hot." "I think I have a little cold or something, no biggie." Brian mutters, trying not to make eye contact with Aeryk. "Uh, sorry about yesterday." Aeryk looks down. "Oh, um, yeah." He stammers. "Just, uh, stay away from Jason for a while. He’s still pissed at you." The two stand by the doorway for a moment, not looking at each other. "So how are things going with your assignment?" Brian asks. "Jason and I are going to a concert tonight, to check things out." "Just you two?" Brian asks, looking at Aeryk with sad brown eyes. Aeryk tries to keep his eyes away from Brian’s, but fails. "Jeff and Brent will be doing surveillance." God, he looks so tired. What’s happening to you Brian? I haven’t been this close to him for a while. He still makes me feel warm inside, even though we’ve been apart. My heart... "Things haven’t been the same since you’ve left." Brian says, still holding Aeryk’s gaze. "I really miss you." "I miss you too, Brian." "Please come back then." Brian says quickly. "I need you with me Aeryk. I can’t go on living like this." Aeryk tears his gaze away. "I can’t Brian. It’s impossible." "Why?" He cries. "Why can’t things go back to the way they were?" "Because life doesn’t work that way Brian!" Aeryk snaps. "I’ve changed, you’ve changed! Our lives have split into separate paths! Don’t you understand that?" "No, I don’t." "What is it you don’t understand? That I can’t go through another day of standing by, watching the only man I’ve loved screw around with some woman, knowing that he loves me but is too chicken shit to admit it! No, Brian. I won’t do that to myself. I’ve had too much happen to me." "Don’t you understand what I’m going through right now? My life has been hell the past month. I’ve gone from finding the perfect woman, to falling in love with my best friend, to loosing him to somebody else! I’ve screwed up royally, Aeryk, and I’m paying for it. I want to make things right, but I can’t do it alone. I’m weak without you Aeryk, I need you with me." He takes Aeryk’s trembling hands into his own. "You’re right, I am chicken shit for not living up to my words. I want to make things right, for us." Aeryk tries to remove his hands from Brian’s. "Stop it Brian. There’s nothing else to do now. I’ve moved on." He continues to struggle against Brian’s firm grip. "Let me go." He pleads. "I love you Aeryk." Brian cries. The familiar electric shock runs through their bodies like never before, and it terrifies Aeryk. No, I can’t let this happen! I’m supposed to have moved on. I have to think of Jason. I’ve got to let go! The feeling of Brian’s lips interrupts Aeryk’s thoughts. No! Stop this Aeryk; you’ve got to be strong. Aeryk glares at Brian with murder in his deep blue eyes. "Bastard!" He roars. "Stay away from me!" Aeryk wrenches his hands away from Brian’s, grabs his bag, and runs full speed away. Fear fills Aeryk’s mind as he hears footsteps running behind him. Aeryk reaches the elevator and turns to see Brian rushing up toward him, calling his name. "Aeryk, I’m sorry!" Ignoring Brian, Aeryk presses the button to his floor and the door whooshes shut before Brian could reach it. Thankfully alone, Aeryk collapses to the floor and begins to shake uncontrollably. "Fuck you Brian!" He cries. "Fuck you!" Tears begin to stream down his face as Aeryk battles between anger and sadness. "It’s not supposed to happen this way. I’m not supposed to love you anymore." Aeryk feels the elevator slow to a halt and he forces himself to rise to his feet. He gathers what calm demeanor he has left and wipes away any stray tears. As the door opens he collects his bag and walks silently toward his office. Along the way, Jackie and Aaron call out to him, but are ignored. "Huh, that was rude." Jackie snorts. Aeryk reaches his office and carelessly tosses his bag on his couch. He slams the door behind him and turns on his CD player and turns the volume up high, to block out his thoughts. Jackie and Aaron stand just outside Aeryk’s office and look at each other, worried. "Uh-oh." Jackie says. "Looks like somebody’s pissed." Aaron says and turns as he hears heavy footsteps behind him. "Morning Brian!" Brian looks at Aaron with emotionless eyes and brushes by him without a word. "Well aren’t we in a good mood today?" Aaron scoffs. Jason peers his head out of his office and watches Brian pass him. He turns to Jackie and Aaron. "What’s going on?" "About damn time!" Jackie cries. "Get in there and be the caring boyfriend!" Jason gives Jackie a funny look as he walks up to her. "You are a strange person, you know that?" Jackie laughs as she pushes Jason toward the door. "Okay, I’ll handle it." Jason tries to open the door. "He locked it." "Well knock on the door you bloody fool!" Aaron says. "My God, why Aeryk needs a boyfriend with friends like you is beyond me." Jason jokes as he knocks on the door. "Go away!" Aeryk roars over the loud music. "Aeryk, it’s me babe." Jason calls. "Awe, he said babe. How cute!" Jackie snickers. "Brings a tear to your eye, don’t it?" Aaron giggles. "Alright you two, back to work." Jason rolls his eyes. "Well look at you." Aaron cries. "Just because ‘e’s dating the Chief’s favorite, ‘e thinks ‘e can act all ‘igh and mighty." He says as he and Jackie walk away. "I know!" Jackie replies. "Give him an inch, and he takes a mile." Jason shakes his head as Aeryk opens the door and stands aside, allowing Jason to enter. "You alright babe?" Jason asks. Aeryk shuts the door and throws himself into Jason’s arms. "Make it stop, please." Aeryk pleads as tears begin to fall. Jason holds Aeryk close to him. Damn you Brian! You’ve gone too far this time.
"You did what?" Aaron roars. "I’m sorry, I didn’t know what I was doing!" Aaron heaves out a strained sigh. "You know Jason will kill you the moment ‘e finds out." "Aeryk wouldn’t say anything." Brian mutters. "I don’t think ‘e would ‘ave to!" Aaron says. "You can see it written on ‘is face!" Aaron falls into a chair and glares at Brian. "This is absolutely incredible. I thought you were gonna stay with Alasen!" "I am!" Brian says defensively. "I just wasn’t thinking properly back there." "I would say so." Aaron snaps. "Well, we better get you out of ‘ere before Jason can ‘unt you down." "Uh-oh, what happened now?" Jackie pokes her head into Brian’s office. Aaron rises to his feet and whispers the details in Jackie’s ear. "You did what?" Jackie cries. "Oh, Jason’s gonna kill you!" "Why are you two saying that?" Brian says. "Everything will be fine. Jason won’t find out." Jackie looks down the hall as she hears a door shutting and pales when she sees Jason storming down the hall with murder in his gray eyes. "Crap." She mutters. "What?" Aaron looks out and blanches. "Oh shit." Jason shoves past Jackie and Aaron and confronts Brian. "You stay away from him, got it?" He snarls. "You’re lucky I’m not here to beat the living shit out of you Brian, but you’re lucky Aeryk still has sympathy for you." He looks down at Brian with disgust. "Next time something like that happens again, I’ll choose to ignore my better judgment." He turns on his heel and leaves Brian’s office. Brian stares off after Jason, for a moment he feels fear. What have I done? He sighs and runs his hands through his black hair. I’m losing him.
Date: July 23, 3021 "Can’t we just forget the concert tonight, so I can take you home and take off your clothes?" Jason smirks at Aeryk as the two walk down the sidewalk toward the Concert Hall. Aeryk gasps in shock. "Jason! Don’t say things like that when we’re in public." Jason pouts. "I can’t help it. You look so damn good in that tux of yours." He wraps his arms around Aeryk’s waist. "Can’t we just go home now, please? You’re killing me here." Aeryk laughs as he removes himself from Jason’s lustful grip. "The concert is only a few hours Jason. I think you can survive a bit longer." Jason’s head perks up. "You mean?" He asks excitedly. "If you show me a good time, maybe." Without a word, Jason grabs Aeryk’s hand and drags him toward the concert hall. As the two reach the main doors, Aeryk reads the large poster just outside the Hall. "Oh, that Beau D’Mer is playing tonight. I heard he’s a great flautist." Aeryk examines the picture of the handsome brown haired and blue-eyed Beau D’Mer. "Hey, no looking." Jason smirks. "My card may be maxed out, but that doesn’t mean I can’t window shop." Aeryk replies. "In that case I might have to introduce myself to that gentleman over there." Jason smiles innocently. Aeryk playfully smacks Jason on his chest. "That’s illegal, only I can do that." The two enter the building and hand the ticket holder their tickets and gaze at the beauty of the Concert Hall. Soft lighting and intricate decorum strike the inner senses and leave the beholder in awe. The enormous crystal chandelier hangs majestically just above the main entrance. "I want that." Aeryk gawks. "Sure honey, anything you want." Jason jokes. The two make their way through the lobby and into the small café in the back. "Care for a drink?" Jason asks. "We have a short while until the concert begins." Aeryk agrees and the two order their respective drinks. "Vodka," Aeryk makes a face. "How can you drink that stuff?" Jason takes a healthy drink off his screwdriver. "Easy, I just did." Aeryk frowns. "Smart-ass." Aeryk takes a drink off his rum and coke. "So are you feeling alright?" Jason asks. Aeryk nods. "Yeah, it’s been a rough day I guess." "Well, you know I’m here whenever you need me." Jason squeezes Aeryk’s leg for emphasis. "I love you Aeryk." Aeryk nearly drops his drink and is about to respond when the lights begin to flash. "Looks like the concert’s about to start." Aeryk inhales the last of his drink and places the glass down. "C’mon." He waits patiently for Jason to finish his drink before they join the mass of men and women heading toward the concert floor. Did he just say he loved me? Aeryk blanches. Great, I probably scared the shit out him. Jason looks down at Aeryk as he walks ahead of him. But I’ll do anything to keep Brian away from what’s mine.
"So did you two find anything suspicious?" Jeff asks. "No, the first half is already over." Aeryk says sullenly. Jason nods his head. "Well, it’s only another hour or so until it’s over." "Well, Doc is getting antsy in the van sitting around doing nothing." Aeryk smirks. "We’ll try to pick things up for him." Jason sees the lights inside the Concert Hall flash again and he places a gentle hand on Aeryk’s shoulder. "Time to head back in." Jeff waves as Aeryk and Jason walk back inside. As he reaches the van, he opens the sliding door with a sigh. "How boring can an assignment get?" Brent smirks and places his headset on. "I thought you’d be used to the waiting game by now." "I’ve never had much patience." Jeff replies as he places his headset on. "Okay, let’s see what we’ve got here." Jeff rapidly types in several commands on the computer and a several rooms of the Concert Hall appear. "How’d you get those?" Brent asks. "Bugs." He motions to a small insect like robot sitting on the far end of the desk. "Pretty neat huh? They can travel though the smallest cracks and send back a perfect picture of its surroundings. It even has audio." Jeff turns a knob below the monitor and smiles as the sound of applause rings through the van. Brent makes a face. "Great." An image of the various sound waves within the concert floor. "Hello?" Jeff says looking at the sounds coming from Beau’s flute. "That’s strange." "What is?" Brent asks, looking at Jeff. "Hey guys," Jeff speaks into the headset. "You might want to take a potty break. We have a bit of a problem with Monsieur D’Mer’s flute." Jason and Aeryk look at each other and quickly make their way out of the concert floor. "What’s going on?" Aeryk asks, talking into his watch, a special radio given to him by Jeff earlier. "Well, Beau’s flute is giving off strange sound waves. Now, I’m no expert but the computer thinks something’s wrong and I tend to agree with the computer." "Do you think he’s the guy we’re after?" Aeryk asks. "He may be. Just stick around until Doc and I give the go ahead." Jeff says. Jason and Aeryk walk into the bathroom and check to see if anyone’s inside. "You set?" Aeryk asks, pulling his gun off from his hidden leg strap. "Of course." Jason says doing the same. "You do have your vest on, right?" Aeryk smirks. "Is somebody worried about little old me?" "Alright you two love birds, listen up." Jeff says suddenly. "We’ve got loads of people suddenly falling asleep inside the concert floor. Looks like we’ve found our thief." Aeryk grins widely at Jason. "Nice." The two bolt out of the bathroom and into the empty lobby. "Shadow, is there anyone else inside we need to worry about?" "Beside D’Mer, two others, the pianist and the cellist. They’ve disappeared in the back stage and are now," He pauses looking into the surveillance bug monitor over looking the back stage. "Getting some large bags." Jeff snorts. "Doc and I will be in there soon." Beau stops playing his flute and gazes around the filled concert floor and smirks. "Like taking candy from a baby." He snickers. "Are you two ready yet?" Jason and Aeryk burst into the room and aim their guns at Beau. "F.Y. Police, put your hands in the air!" Jason orders. Beau looks up at Jason and Aeryk and smiles faintly. "Ah, the man from the mansion. Pleasure seeing you again." Aeryk scowls. "Can’t say the pleasure’s all mine. Where are your friends?" Beau ignores Aeryk’s question and plays a quick, high-pitched melody on his flute and the other patrons begin to awaken. "Gentlemen, if you would please." He snaps his fingers. The large curtain behind Beau slowly rises revealing the other two thieves carrying two massive gattling guns. "Oh shit!" Aeryk cries just as the gun yielding thieves unleash a barrage of plasmic bullets. The concert hall rings with screams of terror and confusion. "We gotta get these people out of here!" Jason calls to Aeryk as the two hide behind thick pillars. As a few brave souls dash past Aeryk he gazes at Jason wide-eyed. "Looks like that’s taken care of." Suddenly a wave of terrified people thunder past Aeryk and Jason, shoving mercilessly to get away from the danger. Jeff and Brent shove past the mass of people and after much difficulty reach their comrades. "Sorry we’re late. Where’s D’Mer?" Jeff asks. Jason chances a peek at the stage and curses. "They’ve gone." "Quick, we still might catch them." Aeryk says as he races down toward the stage. As the four of them reach the stage, Aeryk orders for Jeff and Brent to take the right while Jason and he take the left. "Be careful you two, they’re armed." Jason and Aeryk silently enter the vast darkness of the back stage. Several plaster statues and various other props litter the area. Aeryk frowns as a rat scrambles across the floor. "Don’t these people ever clean back here?" Jason turns his head up as he hears footfalls from the catwalk. "They’re on the catwalk." He cries and the two race of the ladder leading up. "God this place is a maze." Aeryk says as they reach the top. "I’ll take the left." Jason says, gazing around the enormous expanse of the catwalk. Aeryk nods. "Be careful." He rushes down the right path. Crap, of course there has to be curtains all the way up here. Aeryk grimaces as he pauses behind a curtain a moment before turning the corner, his gun poised to shoot. Suddenly, countless blasts of plasma hurl out of the darkness forcing Aeryk to dive back behind the curtain and fall to his knees. Damn Aeryk, like this curtain will help at all. Moments later, the curtain is torn to shreds and Aeryk makes a desperate race away from the bullets. Out of the corner of his eye, Aeryk sees the man shooting at him and scowls. How in the hell am I gonna do this? He gazes forward and grins as he sees a pulley that conveniently runs along the wall towards the thief. I should remind myself to thank whoever put that there. Aeryk makes a lunge for the rope and turns himself so that his feet land on the wall. With a firm grip in the rope, Aeryk races along the wall, the plasmic bullets inches away. With the thief in range, Aeryk twirls around on the rope and lands a hard kick to the thieves face. Aeryk lands gracefully on the catwalks, bursting with self-pride. The thief drops his gun and lets out a roar of outrage and swings a blind fist toward Aeryk, only to find a gun planted on his face. "Ah-ah." Aeryk shakes a finger at the thief, shaking his head. "How about you turn around so I can arrest you, huh?" He asks before proceeding to cuff the man to the railing, then rushes off to aid Jason.
Jason walks silently along the opposite end of the catwalk, gazing around the dark path. "Come out, come out wherever you are." He mutters as he pauses behind a curtain. "Damn it!" A voice snarls. "Just blast the thing open." Jason appears from behind the curtain and aims his gun at Beau and the thief. "Hold it right there gentlemen." He says. "I wanna see your hands in the air please." The thief turns his gun and aims at Jason, but soon sees a plasmic bullet soaring through the air seconds before it strikes his head. Jason’s eyes narrow as he sees sparks fly from the thief’s head instead of blood. "A robot?" Beau, taking advantage of the moment, grabs the gattling gun and shoots at the lock of the door he was trying to escape through earlier. He tears open the door, drops the gun, and heads into the hallway leading to the roof. Aeryk races down toward Jason. "What’s happening? I heard gun shots." "He’s getting away!" Jason cries and the two race toward the door. "Shadow, Doc," Aeryk calls into his watch. "We’re in pursuit of D’Mer, heading towards the roof." "Gotcha Aeryk," Jeff replies. "We’re on our way." Jason and Aeryk scale the stairway leading toward the roof, three at a time. "God, that guy’s fast." Jason mutters. Aeryk and Jason burst through the rooftop door and are instantly assaulted by a blast of high-pitched wails from Beau’s flute. Jason and Aeryk fall to their knees, holding their hands over their ears, grimacing in utter pain. "I should’ve killed you when I had the chance." Beau snarls. "And now, I have my chance. Sleep well." He sneers as he places his flute to his mouth again to assail Aeryk and Jason with mind piercing melodies. Aeryk faintly hears Jason’s cry of pains as unconsciousness calls to him. My mind, it feels like it’s splitting apart! Through his minds eye, Aeryk suddenly sees two kanji appear, one the character for "water well" and the other for "sadness", in the space of two heartbeats. What the?
Jeff and Brent stop a moment and cry out in shock. "What was that?" Jeff says. "I thought I just heard Aeryk’s voice in my head." Brent mutters. Jeff begins to breath heavily. "Something’s wrong." He races down the catwalk and up the landing. "Wait." Brent says, grabbing onto Jeff’s arm just before he enters the roof. "Listen." Jeff listens to the sounds of Jason and Aeryk’s pain-filled cries, and the sound of a flute. "It’s the flute." He says. Brent nods. "We have to disarm him." Jeff nods and readies his gun. "Let’s do this." Brent kicks the door open and is assaulted by the mind-piercing sound of the flute. He grunts in pain but is able to shoot his gun at Beau’s arm. Jeff’s eyes narrow as he notices sparks fly from Beau’s arm. "A robot?" Beau falls back and holds his hand over his injured arm. "You didn’t think I’d come here myself, did you?" "He’s controlling it from somewhere else." Brent says, aiming his gun at the robot. "Give the big guy a cigar!" Beau chuckles. "But sadly, this will be my final performance. However, I do love going out with a bang." The robot tears off his shirt, revealing a timer on his chest. "You have two minutes to get out of here." Beau laughs. Brent raises Aeryk to his feet and guides him down the steps. "We better hurry." Jeff helps Jason to his feet. "C’mon, there’s a bomb." Jason nods his head and stumbles down the steps, the sound of Beau’s laughter ringing in the distance. Jeff urges everybody forward as the scale down the catwalk ladder. "Come on people, only a minute left!" He cries looking at his watch. Aeryk, his mind still under the effects of the flute, stumbles and falls to the floor of the stage. Jason gently pulls Aeryk to his feet. "You okay?" He squeezes Aeryk’s hand. Aeryk nods and, with Jason’s aid, manages to rush out of the concert floor. Just as Aeryk turns to corner he spies the robot standing on the stage, it’s arms outstretched as if it were on a crucifix. A second later, the robot explodes. Jason holds Aeryk close as they turn the last corner before the exit. The floor below them shudders and the walls behind them crack and burst into flames. The chandelier above them swings around violently, threatening to fall. Pieces of the ceiling fall to the ground, barely missing the four escapees just before they dive out of the Concert Hall. Jason places his body over Aeryk’s as the glass doors explode, and shards of metal and glass fall to the street below. A few moments later, Jason and Aeryk rise to their feet and brush themselves off. "You okay?" Jason asks. Aeryk nods, shaking. "You?" Jason places a gentle hand on Aeryk’s shoulders and turns as he hears the sirens of the city police and fire department. "Worthless." He grumbles. "Always arriving too late." Jeff smirks. "So how are you liking the F.Y. now?" Jason smiles back. "Can’t say it’s a boring job."
Date: July 23, 3021 The real Beau D’Mer lounges lazily in his chair and shrugs. "Oh well." Vincent scowls. "You were supposed to kill them you idiot!" "Hey, there was little I could do. Those other robots you sent were worthless!" Beau says rising from his chair. "Enough you two." Jen says. "There will always be other chances." She turns to Beau. "Where’s your brother?" "Out somewhere, more than likely." Jen nods. "Find him and bring him here. There’s something I want done." Beau nods and leaves the room. "So what are we going to do now?" Vincent asks. "We have to wait just a bit longer. He’s still working on translating the spell." Vincent shivers involuntarily. "That boy gives me the creeps. I don’t trust him." Jen frowns. "I trust him, which is more than enough, got it? As soon as the spell is translated we can go ahead and find the four temples and the statues within." Vincent nods and looks out into the dark forest surrounding them. "I never was big on nature." He mutters. "As soon as we get what we want, we can create our own worlds." Vincent grins at the thought. Yes, a world without you, my Dark Lady.
Date: July 23, 3021 Aeryk watches Jason’s car drive off into the night and slowly closes the doors behind him, and makes his way up to his room. "Rough night?" Derryk asks. Aeryk turns his head as sees Derryk walk up to him, smiling faintly. "Yeah, you can say that." He turns the knob on his door and enters his room. "I’m gonna read a bit more of the book before I go to bed." Derryk enters the room after Aeryk. "You doing alright kid? You seem a little down." You have no idea. "I just have a lot on my mind right now, I guess." "Want to talk about it?" He shuts the door. Aeryk sighs and sits on the end of his bed. "Things are just getting a little hard with me right now." "Is it the Jason and Brian thing?" Derryk asks. "Yeah," Aeryk says surprised. "You know about that?" "Word gets around." Derryk smirks. "So what’s the matter now? Brian being as sensitive as ever?" Aeryk snorts. "Something like that." He shrugs. "I don’t know. All this time, I thought I’ve moved on from Brian. I like Jason, a lot, and things are going well for us. But today," He pauses for a moment. "Brian kissed me." Derryk nods. "I see, and what did you do?" "I pulled away, of course." Another thought crosses Aeryk’s mind. "Have you ever been in love before?" Derryk nods. "Did you ever get that strange electric feeling whenever she touched you?" Derryk smirks. "It was more like a fire, but yeah." "Well, before all this, I always got that sensation with Brian. When we happened to brush by each other and when he kissed me. I don’t get that with Jason." Aeryk looks at his feet. "He told me he loved me tonight." "What did you say?" "I couldn’t say anything." Aeryk admits. "I was to shocked that I was afraid to say anything." "Do you think you can love him?" Derryk asks. "In time, maybe." Aeryk replies. "But I find myself thinking about Brian too much. It’s frustrating as all hell!" He cries. "A part of me still wants to be with Brian, but I know it won’t happen." "Then go with the part of you that wants to be with Jason, Aeryk." Derryk says lowly. "I have nothing personally against Brian, but the guy is a bit of a knucklehead." He jokes. "I’m sure Brian loves you, Aeryk. He probably has his reasons why he’s the way he is." Aeryk grimaces. "But why can’t he just admit he can’t do this? It’s not fair!" "Life rarely is fair Aeryk, and you of all people should know that." Derryk says seriously. "Give it some time, I’m sure things will turn out fine." He gives Aeryk an affectionate pat on the back and smiles down at him. "You’re a strong man. Just be patient and time will reveal everything." Aeryk smiles faintly up at Derryk. "Thanks Derryk." "Anything for you, kid." He walks over to the door. "Get some sleep, okay?" Aeryk nods and waits until Derryk shuts the door behind him before he slowly strips off his shirt and tosses it aside. Maybe he’s right. All I got to do is be patient and wait things out, but patience has never been my real strong point. So what if I don’t love Jason right now. It’s only been a couple weeks, and I do like him a lot. Who can say I won’t fall in love with him? An image of Brian’s face brings a slight pain to Aeryk’s heart. Why does it feel like I’m betraying Brian? That’s stupid, it’s not like we had anything between each other in the first place! If he wants to be miserable and live a lie for the rest of his life, that’s fine. There’s nothing more I can do right now. Trying to forget about his problems for the time being, Aeryk reaches for the spell book and begins to read from where he last left off. He gasps as he sees a picture of the strange turtle he saw before in his dreams. "Genbu?" Feed the Scribbler: luckycharms@e-scribblers.com. |
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