The Narrator:
Chapter 8 = Rude Awakenings… Earth #8189, New York City Outskirts, New York, January 1st, 2013…
The morning comes with little fare. The shimmering light of the morning sun is blackened by a thick overcast sky of choking ash and dust. Aiden's restful sleep is shattered by the sounds of crying and angry shouting. Aiden awakens to see Jay punching Ash full force in the stomach as Tristan holds the scrawny younger boy in a firm grabble, rendering him even more defenseless. Ash cries out in pain as Jay's fist connects with his stomach, knocking the air from his lungs.
Ven:
"LET HIM GO, TRISTAN!"
The Narrator:
Ven shouts pleadingly as Sarah cries loudly beside him.
Sarah:
"GODDAMMIT JAY, LEAVE HIM ALONE!"
Terra:
"She's right, guys. Just leave him alone." [ strong and firm ]
The Narrator:
Terra barks, walking over and placing herself between Jay and the struggling Ash in Tristan's arms as she activates her powers, turning her skin to metal once more.
Jay considers punching Terra square in the jaw, but reconsiders, knowing it would shatter every bone in his hand.
Jay Brickston:
"WHAT THE HELL, YOU LITTLE FREAK? WHAT WERE YOU DOING IN MY BEST FRIEND'S BED LIKE THAT?"
The Narrator:
Aiden, now having a complete grasp of the situation, springs into action, firing an impact bolt of ecto-kinetic energy from his hand, knocking Jay back several feet as he draws his weapon with his other hand. Aiden fires a single shot from his Hardballer Pistol at Tristan's feet..
Aiden:
"There, now that I have everyone's undivided attention. Jay, calm down, or I'll put you down. I'm not going to ask a second time."
The Narrator:
Aiden glares sternly, letting Seth's demonic eyes shine out through his own for Jay to see, causing Jay to cower before him as he keeps his gun fixed on Tristan. With Jay cowering, Aiden turns his deathly glare to Tristan.
Aiden:
"Tristan, it's time for you to let Ash go unless you favour a bullet from this gun."
The Narrator:
Tristan lets go of Ash and backs away from him slowly, hands in the air.
Aiden:
"Ash, get behind me." [ warmly and commandingly ]
The Narrator:
Terra gives Ash a brief but warm hug to help calm him down before patting him supportively on the bottom and gesturing for him to do as Aiden says. Ash follows his instructions and takes cover behind his new lover.
Ashton:
"I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to start any trouble." [ deeply apologetic ]
Aiden:
"It's okay. You did nothing wrong… we did nothing wrong."
The Narrator:
Aiden smiles cheerfully as he plays with Ash's hair for a moment with his empty hand before turning his gaze back to Jay and Tristan.
Aiden:
"Obviously, there are some angry and confused feelings being felt right now, but this is hardly the right way to handle the situation. Do I make myself clear, Jay?"
Narrator:
Aiden scowls at Jay menacingly.
Aiden:
"I am going to lower my weapon, and we are all going to calm down and discuss these feelings as a group in a chill and civilized manner, understood?"
Terra:
"Aiden's right, Jay. Let's all just talk this out."
Ven:
"Please, Jay, listen to them."
Jay Brickston:
"Fine." [ pissed-off snarl of a tone ]
Narrator:
The group packs up and proceeds out of the cave. They look out at the once-great New York City now reduced to a massive waste of destroyed buildings and still-smoldering ashes stretched out below them. No one speaks. There is nothing to say. No words are adequate to describe what they are all feeling at the moment. They all just stand there in silence. Aiden, seeing deeper than all of them, watches the souls of the dying and dead defragment out of reality into the great nexus beyond. He hears their whimpers and screams in his heart, twisting the blade inside, but he pushes down the pain and maintains his mask.
Seth:
"Horrific, truly horrific… The others will never understand our heart in these moments. There's no way they can. There's too many souls crying out for you to handle… There is nothing you can do for them, Aiden. It's time to lead your friends forward and put this city of the dead and damned behind you." [ mournfully ]
Narrator:
Seth whispers mournfully in Aiden's mind.
Aiden:
"Come on, you guys. Let the souls of the city finally rest in peace." [ with deep respect and reverence ]
Narrator:
Aiden turns and walks away, gesturing for the others to follow. After a few hours of hiking, they come to a small abandoned campsite with some tables and benches.
Sarah:
"This looks like a good spot for us to rest and have our group chat."
Narrator:
Sarah suggests as she makes her way over to a nearby bench. Terra sits down next to Sarah and gestures for the others to also come sit down. They all take a seat around the wooden table in the center of the small campground. Ash sits down next to Aiden, nuzzling his arm.
Aiden:
"Now, Jay, would you like to start by explaining to me what happened before I woke up that led you and Tristan to attack our little friend here?"
Narrator:
Jay stares at Ash with absolute disgust before turning his rage-filled eyes to Aiden.
Jay Brickston:
"How about you explain to me why I woke up and found you and that perverted freak lying half-naked in each other's arms? What are you, Aiden, some sick candyass or somethin?"
Aiden:
"I've never tried to hide my bisexuality, so it's not my fault you never noticed. Either way, my sexuality is none of your business."
Ven:
"Well, for the record, I am not going to judge. I've had more than my fair share of sex with men, women, and most things in between."
Narrator:
Ven proclaims, contributing his two cents of bardic pansexuality to the conversation while offering a suggestive wink at Terra, then Aiden, and then Ash.
Terra giggles, winking back to him while Aiden just rolls his eyes and Ash blushes.
Terra:
"Come on, Jay, think back on all the things you and Aiden have been through together. You guys are best friends. You guys love each other. Are you really going to throw away your friendship with Aiden just because of his sexuality?"
Jay Brickston:
"Leave it to Terra to play the 'Friendship' card."
Narrator:
Jay responds, running his hands through his hair as he lets out a deep, frustrated sigh.
His anger still boiling, he takes a moment to collect himself and calm his rage to at least a manageable simmer as he thinks about all the things that he and Aiden have been through together and how they have always protected each other.
Aiden:
"If you're really my friend, my sexuality should make no difference to you."
Narrator:
Aiden presses in a warm yet stern voice. Jay growls one last time before finally turning his attention back to his best friend.
Jay Brickston:
"Alright, fine, I'll leave the little degenerate alone, and I'll try to accept that my best friend is some kind of pervert, or half-pervert, but don't expect me to like it."
Aiden:
"Well, it's a start."
Narrator:
Aiden responds, nodding to Jay before turning to the rest of the group.
Aiden:
"Moving on, it is my understanding that we must now discuss the location of the ones who took Edward. Ash, you said we are likely to cross paths with them, right?"
Narrator:
Aiden continues, causing Ash to stop nuzzling him.
Ashton:
"Well, they would have been forced to make their way out of the city just like us, and most likely in the same direction. However, we camped out in that cave last night, which means they may have been able to sneak by us, but this would only give them a minimal head start. However, they would have also been looking for a suitable location to rest, just like we did. Actually, come to think of it, since we took the cave, the next safest place for them to set up camp would have been here! We should search this area for clues that they were here."
Narrator:
Ash explains as they all stand and begin searching the area for clues. Tristan walks up to Aiden with his head hung low.
Tristan:
"Look pal, I'm sorry for how I reacted this morning. I shouldn't have attacked the little guy like that. Please forgive me. Please apologize to Ash for me. I was so wrong and I'm sorry." [ clearly ashamed ]
Narrator:
Aiden smiles at him and nods. After about twenty minutes of searching, Sarah starts shouting for the others to converge on her location.
Sarah:
"I've found something, it's a Z-Phone III." [ singing triumphantly ]
Narrator:
Sarah smiles wide with glee at her accomplishment as she turns to the rest of the group and shows them the smartphone.
Ashton:
"That's big brother's. Nice job, Sarah."
Narrator:
Ash responds excitedly as he takes the phone from her and opens it.
Ashton:
"He left a text message on the screen for us! It says Z.I.B.S. #12."
Narrator:
Ash declares excitedly as he shows the message to Aiden.
Terra:
"Great, but what does that mean?"
Ashton:
"It's a Zorrin-Industries Black-Site Number. One sec."
Narrator:
Ash pulls out his own Z-Phone and starts searching through various files on it.
Ashton:
"Ah, here it is! This Black-Site is not far from here. Clearly, Edward wants me to go there."
Ven:
"A Zorrin-Industries Black-Site sounds good. In case no one noticed, we're low on ammo and it's only a matter of time until we run into more undead, or worse, more of those psychos."
Narrator:
Ven chimes in, reloading his weapon and readying it. The rest of the group nods in agreement.
Ashton:
"Then it's decided. We head for the black-site."
Aiden:
"Alright, everyone, we have our heading. Let's move out. Weapons at the ready."
Narrator:
Ash takes point, guiding the group north towards the Black-Site.