Tele-Journey

Tele-Journey Part 6

After James decided to help the Vandalier and find his sister while they were at the cemetery. Then,they spent the night at James' place,since there was nobody there. James went to his room,grieved.He still couldn't accept the reality that his father is gone. Nevertheless,he still doesn't know the cause of his death,so he only assumed that his father was caught by the explosions.
At that moment,realization striked.If his father was caught by the explosion,then the Vandalier were the reason why his father died.To be precise,the killer of his father.Coincidently,Luke was knocking the door to James' room.
"James,Chuck cooked something for us.Hope you don't mind that we used some ingredients and stuff."Luke was calling him for dinner.
Knowing that Luke is the bomber of Vandalier,James mind was manipulated by anger,his intrusive thoughts was saying that Luke killed his father.As James opened the door,his fist was landed on Luke's face.James was trembling.Luke almost fell but he held on to a cupboard near him.James kept hitting while cursing.
"You monster!You people are monsters!"Shouted James.
"Damn criminal!How can I be so stupid to help imbeciles like you!"He kept hitting while Luke was holding back.
Everyone downstairs heard it.Then Steve rushed to the scene and saw James was hitting and cursing Luke who wasn't fighting back.He pulled James away and restrained him with both of his hand.He tried to calm him down but he was vigorous.
"You killed my father!"That was the last thing James said and he started to cry.
Luke was speechless.He doubted himself.But he also knew that the thing he did may actually killed more innocent people than their targeted enemy,so he can't deny what James said.He just ran away downstairs.Then,he met the others.They were asking what happened.Luke silently walked outside of the house.Steve was still with James.
"Get off me!"James shouted at Steve.
"Get out of here!"
Steve slowly walked away and went downstairs,leaving James to calm by himself.James mind was flooded with emotion.He was sad and mad.He believed that the gang was manipulating him.He can't think anymore,he don't know who to trust,where to go and don't know what he was supposed to do.
On the other hand,Jerome followed Luke outside.He saw Luke sitting on the bench outside,smoking.
"You didn't kill his father,Luke."He said,but Luke ignored him.
"And you know it."He continued.
Luke looked up and released a smoke from his breath.
"You should-"He continued and Luke finally responded.
"Shut the fuck up Jerome!Believe it or not,I did it,we killed his father!We killed people!We're criminals!"Luke blurted.
"How can you be so sure about it?!"Jerome questioned him.
"And what do you know about it?You don't get it.You're used to killing people."Luke said.
"I know damn well about it kid!"Jerome said angrily.
"You don't because I'm the one who set those bombs up!I killed his father!"
"And I left your father to die!"Jerome said it accidentally.
Luke was stunned.He turned his face away from him.
"I know about it."He whispered.
"I overheard Carter's conversation with James while in the van."
"If only you let Carter save him,I wouldn't be here killing people."Luke said.
"If I let him do that,none of us would've been here today."Jerome replied.
They sat beside each other,feeling the calming breeze of the night.Feeling guilty with what they had done.Jerome rubbed Luke's head and went back inside.Luke sat outside for half an hour and went back inside after he ran out of cigarettes.They all slept at the living room with the TV switched on,showing some kind of a drama film.
After an hour passed,James slowly went downstairs and went to the kitchen to find food.He stared at the gang who were sleeping anywhere comfortable.As he got to the kitchen,an omelet was served on the table,probably Chuck's cooking.He took a few bite,even though it was cold.
Suddenly,he heard noise coming from the garage.He went there to see what it was.But instead,he found Carter inspecting some of his inventions in there.He seemed pleased.James walked a few steps closer.
"What can this square robot do?"Carter asked,James thought he didn't notice his presence.
"Oh.It's a trash-taker.I used it to take out the trash because I was too lazy.''James answered.
"You were too lazy to take out the trash but have the time to build this thing?You're mad."Carter said.
"Like,mad-genius."He added.
"I think so."James chuckled.
Carter reached for another device and examined it.It was a small machine that had a round surface with a space that would fit a hand through.The surface of the round got three claw-looking-metals on it.He put his hand through the space and asked James.
"What's this?Self-defense device of yours?"
"No, it's the first teleportation prototype."James answered.
"Like the one that was stolen?"Carter continued to ask.
"Yeah.I made it when I was a kid.It was fifteenth percent done."James replied.
"You made it when you were a kid?"Carter was shocked.
"Even the scientists couldn't do this kind of thing that time!"He exclaimed.
"Seriously?I thought it was achieved by Allistor Deloin."James said.
Carter laughed after he said that.
"James,have you ever witnessed any teleportation device today made by the Braintech?"
"No,but I heard rumors before."James said.
"They never showed it until they got yours."
"Plus,the teleportation device was the reason for the clash between Xsandiora and the city's higher ups.They lied about the teleportation device and wanted the town to launch their project.But in truth,they just wanted the town as their new headquarters,Allistor Deloin was part of it ."Carter told him.
"So,that's what happened.How come you know so much about it?"James wondered.
"You see,my father was part of the Deloin's Company.Before Braintech was introduced,Deloin's Company was stationed in Xsandiora.When the clash happened,we fled to the mines and that's how the Underground town was built."He answered.
"You people achieved something more amazing than the city did."James was amazed.
"We're far away from the City technologies."Carter sighed.
"It may look fancy and all but those really are nothing compared to the City.Some of the people that sell cool machines such as your leg used to work at the Deloin's Company.They even got the government permission to send people of Xsandiora out."
"Hypocrites."
"Money can do anything.Poor people like us can't do anything about it.Whoever works with them must obey their orders."
"If they don't?"
"Isn't it obvious?Executed.My father was one of the people who were killed.Some people escaped themselves to survive,but my father faced them to bring justice upon this town."Carter reminisced.
"He was a great person."James said to comfort him.
"Everyone said that,James.To the world,we're nothing but a criminal.That's we are."
"I'm sorry."
"Don't worry about it,we'll help you find your sister."Carter said and smiled.
As the night turned to dawn,they woke up and gathered at the front yard before heading to Xsavion.Luke walked towards James and stopped in front of him.
"James...I wanna apologize.I may not have the right to...And maybe this won't even be enough for what has happened but,I'm sorry..."Luke said.
"Let's just forget about it,okay?We all suffered in different ways,but I believe...We're here with the same goals.Besides,I don't have any proof to say Luke did it."James said calmly.
"Are we cool now?"Steve suddenly interrupted. "If we're good,let's just go."He scoffed.
They all chuckled.They went to the van and headed to Xsavion.James brought a bag with him,as if he was moving away.He probably was.
"What did you bring?"Carter asked after seeing him with his bag.
"Some clothes and the teleportation device."James said.
The others who heard it stared at James after he said that.
"What?"Chuck was shocked.
"Why didn't you tell that earlier?"Jessy said.
"Yeah,we don't have to waste our time driving."Steve said while driving.
"It's an old prototype,guys.It's not working like the other one,okay?"James explained.
"But I'll rebuild it.Can I borrow your workshop,Carter?"
Carter chuckled. "Sure, do what you must."
They all laughed together along the way.The bond between them got closer and stronger.After four years the new Vandalier was formed,Jerome and Carter felt lively again.Two years at Zsantos was difficult,stressful and they were way too formal with each other.Ever since Luke brought James in,some of them had changed.They took a different route,a longer one that was outside of the City.Definitely,they wouldn't want to get into trouble like last time.
"Steve!Two days from now,Ataris is making a baseball match at Burnett Forth!Let's go and watch it."Luke told Steve excitedly.
"Seriously?!We might arrive tomorrow evening!We could make it."Steve said.
"James wanna come?"Luke invited him.
"I don't really do sports..."James said anxiously.
"I'll skip."Jessy said.
"Me too."Aris said.
"I'll just go with Steve then."
It was a long road ahead of them.As usual,Steve was left alone to drive them to their destination.Some others fell asleep,Carter was humming and James just enjoying the view through the window.James never really went anywhere like traveling in his life.So,he was mesmerized by seeing new things.He was still thinking about his sister and what actually happened to his father.He couldn't shake the feeling that his father was killed by the Vandalier.However,he tried not to be accusive.He tried to sleep,but he couldn't.He stared outside until his brain went tired.