Let's All Just Blindfold The Poor, We Must Remind Them What's In Store

The Revolution

Brooklyn was just as big and busy as it was last time David was there. It was nerve-wracking, returning to Brooklyn without Jack. And in just an hour, they were to meet Denton and the Revolution at Medda's theatre.
The bridge was just as long, the crates were just as tall and the boys were just as big and intimidating. Some jokingly curtseyed at Kathrine as they passed, and some stared a bit, because these two were clearly not from around here.
"Hey! David right?" They heard a call from behind them, and once they saw who it was, David didn't know if he should be happy, or if he should run. It was the shirtless kid from his last trip, only this time he had a shirt on. "Remember me?"
David noded, "I don't think I ever caught your name?"
"Hotshot." he smiled, sticking out his hand for David to shake. "Is this your girlfriend?"
David's face flushed, but before he could deny anything, Kathrine butted in. "We need to see Spot Conlon as soon as possible, do you know where he is?"
The boy thought for a moment before nodding and walking down the bridge. David and Kathrine followed close behind as they continued to walk and walk and walk.
Hot shot lead them through the bridge, into town, and towards what looked like almost an exact replica of the Manhattan lodge.
Spot was smoking on the steps of the lodge, and his eyes followed the group as they made their way towards him.
"So. How'd it go."
"We were successful."
Spot blew out smoke. "That ain't what I asked."
David took a deep breath. "It was easy. Jack really knew his way around even though he..." he paused. Just saying that boys name send a sharp pain through his chest.
Kathrine picked up for him. "He betrayed us."
Spot didn't want to pry, he knew how it felt to loose someone. But he and Jack had a connection that these two didn't know about. Jack probably didn't even know about it, Spot certainly didn't until just yesterday.
Anyone with eyes would know that Jack and Spot look similar. Strikingly similar - they had a similar build even though Jack was a whole six inches taller than him, they both had dark brown hair with blue- almost grey eyes. They both had tan skin and a firey attitude and and a burning aggression towards authority.
And they shared a Dad. Spot had to dig up as much information he could find on 'the famous Jack Kelly', but it wasn't until he was looking through his own photos that he really found anything. And initially, he only wanted to learn about the boy, he only wanted to know how someone so similar to him could grow up so differently, if they even did grow up that differently.
But then he found a photo of his father. Or rather, their father. It was the photo that he gave to Spot's mother when he told her that he was already married. The photo had four people in it, their father, Jack's mom, a kid who was about 7, and a new born.
The kid looked like jack, but he was slimmer, and his face had some slight differences. What would make sense, is that the newborn was Jack. That would put them at around the same age, because Spot hadn't even been born when this image was taken. And it had to be Jack, the two other boys on the page looked too much like him for it to be a coincidence. And his mother looked sweet. Spot never hated her, or her two sons - he put his energy into hating his bastard of a father.
Spot nodded and stood up. "So I assume you actually have a plan this time?"
-
Jack was running for his life, he had no idea how protected this building was, but pulitzer seemed to assume that inner protection was unnecessary, what with his powers and everything.
It was almost like breaking out of the refuge, but this time everything didn't seem so set-up. He had to climb over fences and walls, he had to sneak by a few guards, and even defend himself against one. He managed to break the chain connecting his cuffs so that he could freely move again, but the pieces of metal were still attached to his wrists.
He ran and ran as fast as he could, out of the building and it's fences and it's walls, into town, into a forest and into another town. It took him hours, but he eventually found his way home.
But he didn't know where to go. Going back to the lodge would be too risky, for all he knew his family wanted him dead.
The only other place where he could find comfort would be at the theatre, with Miss Medda. She could give him advice on what to do, and then eventually he would need to find David to tell him about the new plan.
Just the thought of seeing Davey again sent sparks through Jack's chest. Sparks of admiration, excitement, and fear. He had no idea how he would react to seeing Jack again, but he hoped that it wouldn't involve a fist to his face.
And eventually, Jack found himself at the front of the theatre. He swung open the door, and was immediately greeted by Medda.
"Jack! What are ya doin here kid?" she asked, embracing him in a hug. "David told me you weren't coming!"
Jack gently pulled away from he hug, "yeah well, I's here now."
Medda laughed, "oh, well they're in the auditorium if you need them."
Jack sighed. Of course they were here, Jack could never take a moment to think. He could stop and talk to medda, he could try to explain himself, to get some advice, but he turned and she was gone.
-
David was pacing in the halls. The same hallway that Jack led them to last time they were here. Spot, Kathrine, and Denton were all in the backdrop room, the most secure meeting place that was connected right to backstage. And soon, Spot Kathrine and David would need to actually be on stage. Talking to a field of people. Right now, Kathrine was filling Denton and Spot in on every little detail of what's happened so far. David could be in there helping, but he needed a moment to breathe.
This was all going so fast, so much was changing so quickly. Part of his brain longed for Jack to be there with him, it longed for his comfort, and the other part wanted to punch that boy so hard he wouldn't be able to stand.
David took a deep breath. But it wasn't like he would ever see him again.
"Davey?"
He spun around to face the all too familiar voice. He spoke (thought) too soon. David was paralyzed, he was stuck in between fight and flight, he couldn't believe his eyes.
"Davey I'm so happy to see ya, what a' you'se doin here?"
David managed to straighten himself. "I could ask you the same."
"I'm here to help, I came all the way here from Pulitzer's just ta-"
"You were with pulitzer?"
"Can I jus' explain myself?"
"Yeah sure, 'cause I definitely want to hear another cheap lie from you."
"Look, I dunno what I said that bothered you so much but-"
"Are you serious?"
Every time Jack opened his stupid mouth, he just had to make things worse didn't he? There was so much David wanted to say to Jack right now, so much he was thinking. But the one thing he didn't dare say in a world like this, he let slip out.
"You broke my heart Jack." his words were shaky, David felt like he would drop dead at any second. "All I wanted was you. And you..." David laughed to himself, this was crazy. If he thought Jack hated him before, their relationship could never be salvaged now. And David was speaking the truth. He was speaking from the remains of his shattered heart. Of course he wanted to win this war, of course he wanted to make a difference, but he never would of even thought of that without Jack. And now that he's gone, it almost doesn't even seem worth it for him. "It was clear you didn't feel the same but, I'd just wish you would've tried to let me down slowly." He managed to finish.
Maybe it was his fault that Jack left, that's always how it's been isn't it? Maybe he made him uncomfortable, or maybe Jack realized that he had powers, and turned on them just because he believed that David didn't deserve all of this.
Whatever it was, he couldn't stand to look at Jack any more. With his grey eyes, and his perfect freckles, and soft hair.
He disappeared behind the door.
He must have looked pretty upset, because when he came into the room the conversation immediately stoped.
"Woah you look like hell, what happened?"
"Jack's out there."
Kathrine gasped. She never in a million years would she have expected him to return, but before she could even get a word out, Spot stormed out of the room.
Jack was still standing there, in utter shock. He was so stupid, he just destroyed the remains of everything he loved, everything he promised himself to protect.
His breathing became heavy. He had no idea Davey felt that way, even close to it. Jack was longing to know what he said to him, what could make him look again like the hollow person that he was when Jack found him sitting alone at Jacobi's
And before he knew it, Spot was in front of him, and before he knew it, Jack was on the floor, holding a black eye. But he didn't curse, he didn't fight back. He deserved this.
And then he heard another familiar voice.
"Spot what the hell?"
"He deserved it."
"I did." Jack said shakily, sitting up to see Spot, Kathrine, and Davey standing over him. And there was a man there, he was tall with curly hair and a spark in his eyes that was similar to Kathrine's.
"Dave, I wasn't bein a dick when I said that I dunno what I said. I really don't remember."
There was a moment of silence between the four of them before the man moved towards Jack, and helped him up.
"Jack Kelly is it?" he asked, shaking his hand.
Jack nodded confusedly. "I'm bryan denton, I work with kathrine."
Oh. This was Kath's boss. "Uh n- nice ta meetcha sir."
Denton nodded. "Let's sit."
The man led Jack into the backdrops room, and pulled out a chair for him to sit in. Spot was still dearth glaring him. Him and David were very confused at dentons hospitality, especially considering what Kathrine had just told him.
Kathrine knew just what was going on though. This is how he is around people he interviews, especially when he goes 'layer mode' on them. Aka he interrogates them, and looks for holes in the story.
"Now Jack, Kathrine tells me that you came to the lodge late after the break in at the refuge, is that right?"
"Technically yeah."
"Elaborate on that."
Jack huffed, "when we was done gettin' Crutchie, there was a boy still in that place - Albert. So I went to go help 'im, and he escaped, but I didn't.
"So I assume the warden caught you right?" when Jack nodded, he continued. "So how did you end up back at the lodge?"
Jack shifted. "Well, Snyder took me ta' see the president but.. I didn't remember how i got there an' then.. An' then pulitzer told me ta shut down the revolution, and that he'd... he'd ruin our lives if I didn't but... but I don't remember anythin' after that."
"When were you able to begin remembering things again?"
"Well, I'se felt like I was in a haze, an then all a' the sudden I'm standin' in tha lodge."
"What was going on in that exact moment?"
"Davey was right in front a me, I musta said.. Somethin' to him." Jack paused, he now knows that he said something much more than just.. 'Somthin'. He broke David's heart.
He continued, "an' everyone looked pretty pressed, an there were things floating, and then... I left and the Delancey's grabbed me. An' the rest is fuzzy again."
Denton nodded, thinking carefully, "and when did this fuzz stop?"
"When I was in some sorta dungeon under Pulitzers... Base or office or whateva. There was a girl there, an she told me some pretty important things, and then I spent all day tryna get back jus' ta tell you'se."
Denton nodded, finally satisfied. Almost. "Give me your hands."
Jack reluctantly held his hands out to Denton, who examined the cuffs before pulling out a key.
Jack shook his head. "That ain't gonna work on these Bryan."
But the key fit perfectly, and Denton took the two pieces of the cuffs in his hands. "I know it was hard to see Jack, but there's been bits and pieces of revolutions growing everywhere. Adults like me need to be prepared for when kids like you need help."
Spot scoffed, "so youse just buying this story?"
Kathrine nodded, "it is kind of hard to believe that you don't remember any of the important parts Jack."
Denton spoke before Jack could attempt to explain himself. "There's something that I should have told you all much sooner. I was planning on telling you tonight at this rally but, it can't seem to wait much longer." he paused, and looked between the kids. "I used to work with Pulitzer. I was his personal journalist before he became president."
"Oh good, now we got the daughter, and the ex of Pulitzer."
Kathrine punched Spot in the arm at the comment.
Denton laughed. "Anyways, I don't remember most of the time I worked with him. And looking back at my articles, I wrote about things that I really didn't believe in without even realizing it. Once I managed to leave, the realization hit me. Pulitzer has a talent. And this isn't just me assuming, I confirmed it with the man Pulitzer was running against. Pulitzer's talent is based around lies and manipulation - he fogs up your brain so that he can use you as a puppet."
"Tha's just what I wanted ta say, the girl I met, she told me about that. And she told me that under Pulitzer's building there's library that's filled corner to corner with research about talents, about how everyone has one, about how we ain't alone."
"We?"
"C'mon spot, youse telling me you haven't noticed anythin weird that you can do?"
"hey, I never said that I didn't have one, but you?"
Jack scoffed playfully, the tension already lifting between them.
"So, everything you said that the lodge," David started, finally finding the energy and will to speak on all of this. "All of those were just Pulitzer's words?"
Jack nodded, standing up from his chair. "Davey, I never wanted to hurt you, whatever I said, just know that I didn't mean a damn word."
David didn't know what to do, this just seemed too good to be true. But he did have to admit, that that night at the lodge seemed very out of the ordinary for Jack to just turn on them like that, with absolutely no warning. But he just cracked a small smile in acknowledgment. Even if all of this was true, which it must be, David told jack something in the hallway that he could never forget. And David wasn't under mind control, Jack would never see him the same.
"Well then, this is the first thing we have to tell everyone. The entire revolution is waiting out there, along with Midtown, Queens, Brooklyn, and our boys."
"But we also need to change the plan. Re-breaking into the refuge wont do anything meaningful, we need ta break into Pulitzer's library, and spread out this information. The people need to know."
Kathrine nodded giddily. "And I can get you in there much easier."
She couldn't contain her excitement over how well everyone was treating each other again, and she tackle hugged the boy, almost knocking him over. "It's so good to have you on our side again Jack."
"It's so good to be back. And from now on we can't let anyone be alone in a room with Pulitzer."
Denton smiled at the kind environment that had been created through a simple explanation. "Well, don't get too comfortable, we still need to defend you to almost 100 people, and tell them we have a completely new plan."
"Yeah," Kathrine agreed, pulling away a bit. "And the leader of the revolution still wants to talk to us, he must be waiting at this point."
When Kathrine and Bryan first found the revolution, it was only a small group. They didn't actually meet the leader, and they still haven't.
Byan opened the door to the back stage, and sure enough there were two men standing there waiting for them. One of them made a small bow-like gesture, and walked away.
"Ted?"
"Denty!"
The two men skipped the hand shaking and quickly embraced each other in a hug.
"You two know each other?" Kathrine asked amusedly.
"Remember when I just told you about how I teamed up with Pulitzer's rival to discover his powers?"
'Ted' let out a laugh, "telling them about our history already, are we?" he jokingly asked Bryan, as he shook Kathrine's hand. "And you must be Miss Kathrine! Teddy Roosevelt at your service."
"Oh! The pleasure is all mine!" she smiled, shaking his hand as well.
He went around and formally skook the hands of the other three boys. "So, whats the plan?"