Before They Were Fabulous

Mikey was pacing; he had heard from Edward and had been told that Frankie was okay, but he wanted to see for himself. He was also furious - suspecting Korse had lied to him; his trust in the exterminator, whilst already waning, was now severely diminished. He would have to have an extremely good excuse if he had lied and, knowing him, he would probably conjure one, but he couldn’t shake the feeling that it would be just another lie. Finally flopping down on the couch, exhausted and dizzy from his pacing, he didn’t even notice the elevator display showing it swiftly on the move. Only at the subtle ping sound as it arrived at its destination did Mikey realise. Turning his head sharply towards the source of the noise, he chewed on his lip as he waited for the doors to open.

“Frankie!” He called, elated and relieved, jumping up to embrace the younger boy as he ran from the elevator.

Frankie squirmed in discomfort as his friend checked him over for signs of injury.

“Mikeyway! I’m fine!” Frankie insisted with an obviously forced laugh.

Mikey frowned and held Frankie at arms length as he looked at him.

“You’ve been crying?” His frown deepened. “What happened? Where were you?”
“So what,” Frankie grumbled, pouting as he pulled out of Mikey’s grip and headed towards Gerard’s room. “Crying’s not a crime... yet.”
“Frankie?”

The younger boy stopped in his tracks and turned, a look of guilt settling on his face as he heard the pain in his friend’s voice. One glance at Mikey’s concerned and distressed expression was enough to break Frankie’s bravado. Flopping down to sit on one of the few steps that led to the bedrooms, Frankie hunched over, dropping his head onto his arms, folded and resting on his knees. Almost immediately the sound of sobbing emerged and the boy’s slight frame shook with the effort.

“Frankie!” Mikey gasped as he ran to his friend, pulling him into a warm and comforting embrace. “You’re safe now. Whatever happened, you’re with me, you’re safe.”

Sniffing, hiccuping and still crying, Frankie managed a few words, emerging disjointed and high-pitched as he found it difficult to control his voice.

“No, you were here when I was taken. You couldn’t stop them. I know you tried but they still took me. If it weren’t for Edward, I’d be dead by now. I’m not safe. I need to leave or I never will be!”

Frankie dissolved into renewed weeping once more, the wrenching sobs exhausting him as he leaned into Mikey’s arms - now the only things keeping him upright. His shoulders continued to shake as further waves of distress washed over him with alarming regularity.

“Edward,” Mikey whispered. “Can you help me get Frankie to bed, please?”
“No,” the younger boy wailed. “I need to go, I’m not safe. You’re not safe either, not while I’m here.”

Mikey aimed a desperate pleading expression toward the security guard. Nodding, Edward headed to the bar area and poured some water into a small glass. Fishing a small plastic box from his pocket, he opened it and thought for a moment before selecting a yellow tablet and dropped it into the water. Within moments he was offering the glass to the tearful boy.

“Frankie, drink this,” he encouraged. “You must be really dehydrated. This’ll help.”
“B-but I need to...”
“We’ll help you find somewhere safe, but first drink up. You’ll feel better.”
“Thanks,” Frankie grasped the glass with two trembling hands and raised it to his lips. “It’s sweet,” he commented with surprise.
“I put a bit of sugar in,” Edward explained. “It’ll help you feel better.”

Frankie nodded, taking more of the sweetened water, not realising that it also disguised the taste of the sedative that Edward had also added. Finishing the water, Frankie allowed Edward to ease the glass from his fingers and place it to the side. It was a gentle but fast acting drug, and Edward held the boy close, stroking his hair soothingly as he waited. It was only a couple of minutes or even less before the young boy slumped in Edward’s arms.

With a slight smile, Edward scooped him up and took him to Gerard’s room. Slipping off the boys sneakers, he laid him gently on the bed and covered him with a thin blanket so he didn’t get too hot with all his clothes still on. Stepping back into the living room, Mikey was staring expectantly at the security guard; he wanted answers. Edward looked back and sighed as the boy gestured with his hands to encourage Edward to speak.

“Sit down, Mikey, please,” Edward indicated to the dining table and chairs.
“What happened to him? Why is he so upset?” Mikey prompted with two initial questions as he pulled a chair out and sat down.

Joining him at the table, Edward took a deep inhalation of breath as he wondered how Mikey would take the news he was about to impart.

“You don’t want to tell me, do you?” Mikey narrowed his eyes with suspicion.
“No, I don’t, but not for the reason you think,” Edward replied, keeping his voice calm and smooth.
“How do you know what I’m thinking?” Mikey grumbled.
“I don’t,” Edward admitted. “But whatever you’re thinking, it’s unlikely to be the reason I have.”
“Oh,” Mikey frowned. “What happened? Who took him?”

Edward clasped his hands, his fingers intertwining. Pausing momentarily, he nodded and continued:

“It was Korse,” Edward replied bluntly.
“Korse?” Mikey’s brow creased in confusion. “I spoke to him, he told me he didn’t know where he was. He didn’t arrest him.”
“He did, and if you don’t believe me, you can ask Frankie later, when he wakes up.”

Mikey looked worried as he considered his words. Edward had no reason to lie to him, but he couldn’t imagine why Korse did either - yet one of them was certainly lying.

“Korse lied to me? Why?” Mikey asked, with a puzzled expression now fixed on his face.
“I don’t know, Mikey but he did have Frankie arrested. He wanted me to interrogate him about Gerard’s disappearance.”
“You interrogated him?” Mikey gasped. “No wonder he’s upset!”
“No,” Edward replied firmly, “I didn’t. I just brought him home.”
“Then... what did Korse do?” Mikey asked, growing angry as he spoke.
“Locked him in a small cabinet that was designed to keep getting smaller,” Edward lowered his eyes. “When I found him, he was... practically hysterical.”
“Why would he do that?” Mikey asked, aghast. “Frankie’s claustrophobic.”
“Precisely for that reason,” Edward looked up again. “He wanted him desperate enough to tell me anything.”

Mikey grew quiet and thoughtful as he considered the words.

“Why?” He asked finally.
“He thought he knew something about Gerard’s disappearance. Now he thinks I do.”
“I’ve been thinking about the last time Gerard went missing, when the rebels had him.”
“Go on,” Edward encouraged.

Mikey chewed his lip, uncertain whether or not to voice his concerns.

“Well,” he began, a nervous frown on his lips. “When that happened, Korse was here insisting he’d find him, telling me not to worry. Then suddenly, out of nowhere, he finds him and brings him home. I... I know you already told us about Korse’s involvement but I didn’t want to believe it. I couldn’t. If I had... well, everything I trusted...”

Mikey paused, shaking his head, his brow creased with deep lines of concern.

“He’s already hurt Gee and Frankie,” taking a deep breath, he chewed his lip. “Are we safe, Edward? I know he’s our guardian but I don’t feel safe here any more.”
“I can’t promise that he won’t do anything else to hurt any of you, Mikey,” Edward frowned. “But I will do everything I can to protect you all.”
“When Gee comes back...” Mikey’s eyes glazed with a distant stare. “What will happen to him? What will Korse do next?”

Edward sighed; he didn’t dare imagine.

“When he gets back, we’ll talk again.”

Mikey nodded; convinced that Gerard would know what to do.

*

Gerard stood at the door to the dilapidated building that had once been a pawnbroker’s. He squinted in the bright sun and was sweltering in the heat. It was only now that he realised how different life in the Zones would be to the one he lived in Battery City. There he enjoyed every convenience, regulated weather, a variety of good and abundant food and drinks, reliable transport, fine clothes... the list was endless. Everything the Zones didn’t have, in fact. And yet, here, in this run down building with men who lived such in rough and severe conditions, deprived of even basic needs, he had found safety and a camaraderie that he had not experienced before.

“I guess I won’t see you again.”

Jet drew up alongside Gerard and turned his head to look at him. Gerard exhaled deeply; he appeared saddened by the words.

“I hadn’t thought about that,” he sighed, turning to look at Jet. “I guess I didn’t want to.”

The words raised a bleak smile from the rebel boy.

“Can’t you stay?” He asked in return.
“Stay?” Gerard almost laughed. “Can you imagine just how dangerous that would be for you? They’ll be looking for me, you know.”
“They are,” Jet nodded. “We’ve picked up quite a few radio transmissions to drac patrols. Even the exterminators have been out looking for you!”
“Not Korse, I’ll bet,” Gerard shrugged.
“Oh, he has,” Jet contradicted him. “From what I can work out, he’s been in the Zones with an elite team every day.”
“Huh! It’s not because they want me back; I know that now. They just don’t want me finding out the truth!”
“The truth is dangerous,” Jet replied with a shrug. “To them, I mean.”
“Hmm,” Gerard nodded, absently staring out into the desert. “I doubt they’d recognise the truth if they heard it. And you know what? I feel ashamed to be part of it.”
“It’s not your fault,” Jet replied, concerned for his new friend.
“I’ve played my part simply by doing nothing,” Gerard shook his head, his mouth drawn into a thin line.
“Did you know there was anything that needed doing?” Jet asked with caution in his tone.
“No...” Gerard began.
“Well then,” Jet shrugged, raising his arms with his palms facing up to emphasise his point.
“Now I do,” Gerard replied, suddenly determined and somewhat angry. “And I’m going to change things.”
“Be careful, Gerard,” Jet warned. “They won’t roll over easily.”

Gerard looked at Jet, a surprised expression emerging on his face. He had not considered BLI’s reaction until now and as Jet indicated, it seemed likely to be a combination of hostility and evasiveness.

“I’ll be careful,” he nodded, grateful for the advice. “I... I wish I could stay but my brother and best friend are still there. I can’t leave them.”
“I understand,” Jet replied. “You talked about them a lot when you were delirious.”
Gerard’s cheeks flushed a deep pink at the words and he stared alarmed at Jet.
“I... What did I...? You heard me? Did anyone else...? I... oh, no,” his shoulders sagged at the revelation. “What did I say?”
“Don’t worry, it was just me and Babydoc. Oh, and Flex once, but that was later when you were making sense.”
“What did... sorry, Jet... I really need to know.”
“Just how much you love them. It seemed really hard for you to be away from them.”
“It is,” Gerard nodded. “But it’ll be hard going back too.”
“Why?” Jet tipped his head and offered a puzzled stare.
“I’m going to miss you guys too. You’ve done so much for me... risked so much...”
Jet’s eyes widened as he heard the catch in Gerard’s voice as he became suddenly overwhelmed by emotion.
“I’ll miss you too,” Jet replied, turning to pull Gerard into a sincere and comforting embrace. “I honestly didn’t expect to like you... but now...”
“We’ll always be friends, Jet, whatever happens and wherever we are,” Gerard mumbled over the other boy’s shoulder. “I’m better for having known you.”
“Me too,” Jet agreed. “Take care of yourself and Mikey and Frankie.”

Gerard laughed; he really had been talking about them. He would have understood Jet knowing of Mikey through the BLI literature, but he could only have known about Frankie from him.

“Said your goodbyes, Gerard?”

The voice belonged to Dr Death Defying and Gerard found himself nodding as he took a small step back and smiled at his new friend.

“Yes, sir,” he added. “Well, to Jet, anyway. I really want to thank you, sir. You saved my life. I just hope I’m able to do something to make a difference. I will try, I promise, I’ll do everything I can.”
“That’s not why we helped you, but I’m glad to hear it.”

Death Defying stretched out a hand towards Gerard who shook it firmly.

“Sir, why did you help me?” Gerard asked quietly.
“A friend in need. My sergeant managed to get me off the battlefield to safety when I lost the use of my legs. He’s like a son to me and I saw how important you are to him. I couldn’t refuse.”

Gerard smiled faintly; these men were fine role models. The type of men he would look to for inspiration and guidance. There was no one like that in Battery City except Edward.

“I’ll tell Edward what you said, sir,” Gerard replied politely, raising a chuckle from the doctor.
“You do that,” he nodded knowingly. “Now then, Flex and Leech are going to take you to the rendezvous point where he’ll meet you and take you back. Are you ready to leave?”

Gerard inhaled deeply as he thought about the question. There was a part of him that simply wanted to see Mikey, Frankie and Edward again and surprisingly another that simply wanted to stay. He knew which had to win for all their sakes.

“Yes, sir,” he nodded.
“You’re a brave young man, I hope you realise that?” Death added his appreciation for what Gerard was planning in return for them.
“I’ll try to put it to good use,” he replied with a firm nod.

As he spoke, Flex and Leech appeared in the doorway, both putting on sunglasses as they stepped into the unforgiving sunlight.

“Ready to roll?” Flex asked cheerfully.
“Yeah,” Gerard nodded before hesitating. “Oh... no... where’s Babydoc? I haven’t said goodbye.”
“You missed him,” Leech shrugged. “He went out early on reconnaissance. He’s not reported any problems, so I guess we have a clear run.”
“We’ll tell him you said goodbye,” Flex added. “He’ll understand.”

After giving Jet and Death Defying a brief hug, Gerard followed the two ex-soldiers to the jeep to begin the long journey back to Battery City. Climbing into the jeep, Gerard tilted his head and offered a questioning look.

“I thought you were going to drug me?” He asked.
“Are you gonna run away?” Leech asked with a smirk.
“No,” Gerard laughed in return.
“No need then, is there?” He replied as he started the engine. “Besides, it’s much easer to talk to you when you’re awake. All Flex ever says is ‘Stop slouching!’”
“Hey!” Flex complained, raising a bright laugh from Gerard as the small group drove off down Route Guano.

Notes

Hello lovely readers. I’m really sorry for the long delay in getting this chapter up. Uni has become really hectic but I’m now in the last 3 months and although it’s full on, the end is in sight! I will finish this, I promise, but it may be a few weeks until the next update.

Thanks for staying with it! I really appreciate you taking to the time to read and, if you have time, comment.

Take care!
Sas xx