OIC (36)
MegaZone23
"Everbody's got this broken feeling, like their mama or
their dog just died."
--Concrete Blonde
"Can I talk to you?" Kei asked, knocking on the open
door to Zoner's room.
"Yeah... Yeah, sure. Actually, I was hoping you'd drop
by," he replied.
"I've got something for you to see," Kei stated coolly,
setting a holodisc on his desk.
"What is it?" Zoner asked, holding the disc up to the
light. The only label was a computer verification stamp,
WDFWWWA40427^[XA, on the outer edge. "Computer
verification?"
"100% authenticated. It's the real thing."
"Fine, but what is it?"
"Just watch it."
"Ok, ok."
Zoner slotted the disc into the wall-mounted comm unit
and started the playback. He was treated to a panoramic view
of Ben as seen from a ceiling mounted security camera. That
part was ok; what Ben was doing wasn't.
Ben had charged through a side door and wasted the three
terrorists holding the children. Then, as the children began
thanking him he walked to the center of the hall, smiling at
them the whole time. He seemed to be enjoying their
appreciation. Then the smile twisted and he looked like a
bully just about to pound on a smaller child for fun. One of
the children ran to him and said something--too bad there was
no sound--and Ben patted him on the head benevolently. An
instant later he had placed his gun to the child's face and
fired. Then he began dropping the remaining children. The
film continued on as Zoner watched in disbelief. Then Kei
entered the frame. She froze, and then yelled to Ben, who
spun and shot her.
Zoner noticed that Kei had unconsciously touched the
wound on her shoulder as she watched the scene. He also
noted her lack of emotion. He knew that was not a good sign.
After shooting her, Ben leapt through a doorway,
apparently for cover. However, a moment later he stepped
through again looking a bit puzzled. That's when Kei shot
him. The playback ended just after Ben hit the floor.
The two of them sat there for several seconds in
strained silence. Zoner staring at the now blank screen, and
Kei staring at Zoner. Zoner was the first to break the
silence.
"Fuuuccckkk meeeee," he muttered.
"Do I need to explain anything to you?" Kei asked, a
hint of sarcasm in her voice.
"Well, like who the hell that was in there shooting the
children?"
"You saw for yourself, it was Ben."
"Well, it sure as hell looked like Ben. But I can't
believe that was really him."
"I can understand that. It was rather hard for me to
accept at first too. He had us all fooled," Kei monotoned.
The lack of emotion did not escape Zoner's notice.
"Kei, are you sure you're dealing alright with this?"
"You of all people should understand how I feel. You're
the one who used to talk about being betrayed. I understand
now, about what you used to say, you can't trust anyone."
"Kei, do not, I repeat do not build a wall. Scratch
that, it's too late. Start tearing down the bricks you've
already put in place. I walled myself off, and look where it
got me. Three years without a friend, a suicide attempt, and
one of the darkest outlooks I've ever known. It is NOT a
healthy thing to do. It seems like the best choice at the
time, but looking back I wish I hadn't done it. I missed out
on three years of living. I mean, now that we're `immortal'
three years doesn't seem like much, but I was young and I
should have been living life. Not cutting off the world.
I've never fully recovered, you know how hard it is for me to
open up to anyone. Remember when we first met, when Ben
first created you?" Kei flinched a bit at that reminder. "I
used to drive him nuts because I wouldn't talk to him. And
what about how I almost lost Yuri. Do you want to go through
that?"
"You're just looking back on it now, it's too far in the
past for you. The Zoner I met at WPI would have understood.
I know he is still inside you somewhere, and I know you will
understand me eventually. But for now I think I'm going to
want to be left alone for a while. Are you going to tell the
rest of the crew about this?"
"Um... I don't think so. He does have some rights
still. And I'm not totally convinced that was him. I'll set
up a hearing board."
"A hearing board? I thought I could at least trust
you." Schnick. "Have it your way. I think he should be
killed, just like he killed all those children. So what are
you going to do with him for now."
"He is still an officer, and a friend, he remains free
for now. I don't think he'd be stupid enough to try anything
onboard anyway. I will forbid his use of any ships that he
could run away with, especially his fighter."
"Whatever," Kei said coldly as she picked up the disc
and left.
"She is not dealing," Zoner mumbled to himself. But
what Kei had said was true. That old part of him was still
buried inside and he was making a comeback. Zoner wasn't as
sure of Ben as he admitted, even to himself. He was totally
sure that Ben wouldn't do something like that, but then again
way back in seventh grade he had been totally sure that Rob
could be trusted too.
Still, Zoner called to have the guards pulled off Ben
and to see how he was doing. Jenna told him that Ben was
healing fast and should be up and around in a little while.
When Ben came to he tried to figure out what had
happened. He remembered running into himself, and then being
shot by Kei, but that was real fuzzy. No, that couldn't be
right, Kei wouldn't have shot him. He must have scrambled
his memories up because of shock or something. He slipped
out of sickbay without disturbing Jenna and walked back to
his room to get some new clothes. He punched his entry code
on the comlock, but the door didn't open. Instead a message
popped up on the display screen.
"I changed the code. Your stuff is in room 498. I hope
you fry you fucker. -Kei"
What the fuck? What the hell did he do to deserve this?
Kei had a hot temper, but wanting him dead was something
else. Then he thought of his memories--maybe she did shoot
him. Still, the question was: why? He had to find someone
who could explain the situation to him, and by the looks of
things Kei was right out. He decided to find Zoner.
Gryphon entered Zoner's office, walking stiffly with the
pain of his bandaged chest, and said, "Zoner? What the
hell's going on? I don't understand any of this. Kei tried
to kill me, no one will talk to me--what the fuck is going
on?"
"Get out," Zoner deadpanned. "Just get out. I really
can't deal with you face to face right now. I feel like I
should kill you myself, but I don't feel like washing your
blood off my shoes."
"What?! Oh, come on, Zoner, not you too! What the fuck
did I do that--"
"Don't play the innocent with me--Kei saw you with her
own eyes. Why would she lie about something like that? And
I've seen the film. It's destroying her, tearing her soul
apart, to think that the man she loved, the man she trusted
so much, would do a thing like that. If it wasn't for Yuri
she probably would've killed herself over it. Over you. I
hope you're proud of yourself, you son of a bitch--now get
out. This is your last chance."
"Zoner, I didn't do it, whatever the fuck it is! I
don't know what Kei saw, and don't you think it isn't ripping
me apart inside just as much to know that the woman I love
hates me? I DIDN'T DO ANYTHING!"
"Shut up, just shut up. I trusted you, Ben. I trusted
you a lot. Now it looks like you've betrayed that trust."
"Oh, yeah," Gryphon replied, his own anger mounting.
His frustration and rage that no one would believe him was
reaching a fever pitch. "You trusted me soooo much. You
would never let me into your life, not even after I saved the
worthless thing. I always knew a little of what was going
on, just enough to drive me absolutely mad with curiosity and
concern, but I was never cleared to know further. You played
the little word games and the little mind games and you
amused yourself. I'll always be the freshman to you, won't
I? Huh? Well fuck you, man, you and everybody like you. I
don't need any of you." Ben turned away and seethed.
"If Vaughn were here," he said, turning back, "he'd set
you straight. Vaughn wouldn't believe something like this of
me, even if Kei did."
"Bullshit," Zoner replied. "If Vaughn knew what you
did, he'd be the first one coming after your head."
"My ass he would. I don't know what it is I've
supposedly done, and I don't care, 'cause I didn't do it.
Either I was framed or you're all just crazy, and if it takes
the rest of my life to prove it, then that's what it takes.
I'm not going to let this rest, goddammit--and I'm never
going to forget just how much you trusted me. Fuck you!"
With that, Gryphon turned around and stormed out.
Well, that went just fine. Who the hell else can I try?
I guess Yuri is the next one in line. But if she gives me
the run around too I think I'll go crazy.
He found her relaxing in the Wedge. She tensed up when
he approached, something that did not go unnoticed.
"Hi, Yuri, can we talk?"
"Uh.. Yeah, I guess so. What about?"
"Why does Kei want me dead?"
"What?! How can you ask that after what you did?!"
"Well, for starters, I don't know what it is that I
supposedly did."
"I'm sorry, Ben, but I just can't believe that."
That's it, I'm going crazy. "How do I find out?"
"Talk to Kei," Yuri snapped.
"Oh yeah, great idea. Here Kei, here's a target for
you. So do you believe her?"
Yuri looked troubled for a minute, then she made up her
mind. "I don't know. I don't think there's any way you
could've done that. But I can't figure out how Kei saw you
do it if you didn't. I don't think Kei would lie about
something like that."
"Fine, but can you at least help me try to clear
myself."
"How?"
"Help me get off the Son so I can figure out who set me
up."
"Oh.. I don't know... I mean I shouldn't... You know,
it's not right..."
"Please, Yuri."
She bit her lip and nodded. "I guess I at least owe you
that much. After all, you created me. But after you're gone
I can't help anymore."
"Thank you. You won't regret it. And I understand," he
kissed her forehead. "You prep my fighter and I'll go get my
stuff."
"Ok. I'll meet you by the hanger in ten minutes."
"Great. Thanks again."
Gryph went to his new room and hastily packed the
clothes he planned on taking, along with a few mementos that
Kei had managed to miss. He scrawled a note and then left
for the hangers.
Yuri met him outside the bay door.
"Ben, we've got problems."
"Great, what now?"
"Zoner issued a command barring you from taking any
ships off the Son. They've got security on the bay. I can't
get to your ship."
"Eve or a decker?"
"A decker I think."
"Can you get past them?" Yuri stared at Ben. "Ok, ok.
Sorry I asked you. Will you please get past him?"
"I'll do my best."
"That should be plenty good enough."
"I'll go back to my quarters and work from there. I can
prep the ship from the 'trix. I'll contact you via this comm
screen as soon as it's clear. Once security is down move
quick."
"Will do. And Yuri?"
"Yes?"
"Take care of Kei. Tell her that no matter what I love
her. I just hope that someday I can come back to her."
"I'll tell her. You just better not have done it. Or
I'll come after you."
Ben watched Yuri's retreating form and wondered again
just what it was that he had done.