MTE: Evaded // Evade Fanfiction

Chapter 9 // Leader of the Rebels

"200... 300 dollars for you!"

Galf laid three-hundred-dollar bills into Jard's palms. They were all scrunched up, but they all still worth their value. Bobo excited spun around, holding his hard-earned money in his hand like a small toy. Defect exhaustedly sighed as he sat on the crusty couch. Their total was 900 dollars from that artifact, but they agreed to split it. Jard settled onto the red couch, releasing his messy orange hair as he fanned the breeze with his black cap. He could hear the raindrops beat to a rhythm in his head like music in his ears. Finally, he was home... or at least he could call it home. After all, he had nowhere left to stay other than his trusty apartment and Galf's shop. He sighed as he lifted his hand, shoving the earned bills into his cap. Bobo wandered outside as Jard fits his cap back on.

"Look, Jard! Your girlfriend is here!"

Jard wanted to slap Bobo, "For the last time, Rose isn't my girlfriend-"

"Hey, Jard..."

Jard recognize the voice. The voice ever since he worked for the Elysium Corporation. The girl who had worked aside him as the analysis of artifact he located. Rose stood by the doorway. Jard turned to greet her, but he sensed that something was off about her. Her eyes were gentle but heavy. She let out a deep sigh as she clenches her coat. Her other hand was holding a cup of hot espresso. Jard's empathy synced with Rose's.

"Hey, are you alright?"

Rose covered her one of her tired eyes with her palm, "I'm alright, Jard. Just had a rough day today."

"You did?" Jard was now interested. He raised his eyebrow and straightened his back as Rose came to sit down in the couch with him, "tell me about it."

"Well..." Rose started, raising the coffee to her lips as she took a quick sip, "it's just about Rebel. And Defect. I had an argument with them."

Jard thought for a bit, "Yeah I know. Rebel and I had a big fight when we met each other. But guess what? We sort it out. If you want me to, I could talk to Rebel about the troubles. I'm sure he understands... hopefully. Same thing with Defect. I mean, that man saved my life and-"

"No, it isn't about that," Rose interrupted, making Jard shut up for a while, "it's just... About the Rebels and what they did to me."

"Oh? What did they do?"

Rose looked at Jard with an awkward expression like if he asked the dumbest question in the world.

"You didn't know?"

"Yeah, I didn't know. I always thought the Rebels were huge jackasses for no reason, but I never knew they would have done something specifically to you. Besides, I had known you for- God knows how long- and I see you as a persevering, kind, a person who won't take other's offense for. What did they do to you to make you this upset?"

Rose let out a sigh, "After you disappeared for two days from when you... you know... The Elysium Corporation leader ordered me to go find you. And then they came."

"The nextbots?"

"No! The rebels! As soon as I arrived at the Jungle, the rebels ambushed me."

Jard knitted his eyes in confusion. The rebels? Ambushing Rose? He always knew Rebels would shoot survivors whoever get in their way. But why specifically ambush Rose and not treat her like every other survivor. Rose looked as if she could read Jard's mind.

"You see. Rebel right there, the assumed "leader". He wasn't the leader at all. He was simply following orders from the rebel leader. You see, the Rebels weren't people who are enthusiastic about what they were doing."

Jard was shocked by Rose's statement. The rebels. The people he once knew was heartless. Wasn't so bad after all? He waited in his seat, waiting to hear more from Rose. 

"None of them wanted to do what they did. They didn't want to run around like chickens and shoot every person they see. They saw it as immoral originally and they felt they did the wrong thing. But it was the leader who commanded them what to do. They promised them that they will have a good life as long as they did as what they told them to." Rose continued, "you can ask Rebel if you want. Though, it's probably not the best time to ask him."

"Man. I didn't know that, Rose," Jard whispered in disbelief, yet he tries to believe every word Rose fired at him, "so, why did they ambush you?"

"They demanded to hand me information. Which I, of course, refuse to share... and then they took me... and beat me up until I give up the information." Rose replied in a stern and saddened tone, trying not to look up to Rose.

Jard nodded, concerned for Rose's wellbeing. He raised his arm, indirectly asking if Rose needed a comfort pat on the shoulder, in which the researcher obligately leaned towards him and into his arm. Jard tried his best not to burst in rage. What sort of horrible leader would force his troops to torture an innocent woman? Though, he had many questions dwelled in this mind. The rebel part was very understandable, but why was Defect dragged into this? After all, he was the kindest out of the rebels, let alone abandon them just because he didn't want to kill Jard or Bobo. 

"Well. What about Defect?"

"He's the problem." Rose raised her voice slightly, "I remembered the person who demanded the rebels to capture me, tie me to a chair and whip me until I give out what they wanted. Defect. He was the reason why I was ambushed in the first place."

Jard paused, staring at the heavy rain pouring outside the shop as Galf closed all the windows. It couldn't be. The nicest person out of the group. The caring dad figure in the group. The reason why Jard wasn't with his mother yet. Defect. It was hard to believe, but the puzzles were starting to match up. Defect wanted to leave the Rebels. Possibly to run from his actions? Did he pretend that he was a 'Defect'? Was he even a 'Defect'? Whatever the answer to those may be, all the arrows in Jard's mind pointed towards one possibility. Defect was the leader of the rebels.