Aftermath [in work]

Chapter 9

Chapter 9

"Name is Paul Ross." Paul said to the tall and bulk man infront of him. Standing behind Paul was Janice and Lee. "So you want to join North Star?" The man asked. Paul nodded then looked back at his two followers. "Any room for them to hide at for a few weeks?" He asked.

The man looked at the two, then back at Paul. "Well," he said, "they can rest at one of the staff rooms. We're not going to stay here forever though, just for another month. Then they can't come with us."

Paul nodded in agreement. Janice kneeled down and turned to Lee. "We're going to stay here for awhile, ok? Until we can find another place."

Lee nodded but asked, "Why can't we go back?"

Janice looked down and sighed, "They were bad people. . ."

"But I thought the bad people were in the sk-"

"Enough Lee. Now come on, let's get inside."

Lee remained quiet as they entered into the large theater.

The crowded theater lobby was full of voices discussing about gunfights with the Zodiacs. Paul pointed Janice into the staff area, and she went in that direction. Then Paul began looking around, until he finally saw Adam. Adam was one of the infamous North Star co-founders, Paul had heard about him for years during the Zodiac attacks. Apparently Adam had been inside the Mother Brain, and was close to destroying it before a gunfire erupted. The eyepatch on his left eye only proved this.

"Hello sir Adam." Paul said as he approached him. Adam turned to him. He had a young face, but it had its share of scars. His hair was slicked back, and his good brown eye stared down into Paul's. "Please, just call me Adam. What can I do you for?" Adam responded.

"I'm part of the Nova squad. I would like to join North Star and do my part." Paul said.

"Ah, Michael?"

"No. . .Paul Ross."

"Oh," Adam sighed, "where is Michael then?"

"He left back at HQ, I believe, after I began to fire against Zodiacs capturing humans."

"Ah, well would you please get him here so I can talk to a real official?"

Paul wrinkled his nose, but nodded. "Yeah. . .on it." He shrugged, turning to the exit and leaving.

"We don't need that bastard." Michael said, throwing his rifle to the ground. "We can do just as much without him."

Marco sat by a black body bag. "Michael. . .you know he was the strongest one out of us. . ."

Michael turned to him and stomped his foot. "Hell no! I'm stronger than him! Stronger than you, for that matter!"

Michael stomped towards Marco, clenching his fists. Marco's eyes widened.

The echo of the gun stopped Michael in his tracks. He turned around and saw Paul standing behind him, a smoking gun aimed at the ceiling. Paul gave Michael a face of disgust, to which Michael returned in a face of shock and slight fear. "North Star is here finally." Paul said.

"They want us?" Michael asked, clearing his throats.

"They want you." Paul corrected.

"Ahem. . .of course. C'mon, let's go then. Marco-"

"No," Paul barked, "me and Marco will be going later. You go alone, Michael."

Michael's nose wrinkled and he turned away. He stomped off, while Paul turned to Marco. "Pack as much supplies as you need. They'll need as much as they can get."

Marco scrambled to his feet and looked at Paul. "You survived! I thought you died, Paul!" Marco cheered.

Paul smiled and replied, "You know im a human tank. Come on, let's get packed."

They began putting food and weaponry in their backpacks while Paul told Marco what happened in the battle. "I wish I could of helped. . ." Marco sighed.

"It's ok," Paul reassured him, zipping his full backpack closed, "you can kick some ass later, alright?"

Marco smiled and nodded. Paul smiled back, and they began moving with full backpacks.

Within two hours' time they had made it to North Star, where Adam was already having a serious discussion of city routes with Michael. Paul and Marco pushed through the crowd to the staff area. "I know you always loved kids. So guess what?" Paul gestured with a smile. "You're kidding." Marco said with wide eyes. Paul opened one of the doors, and they caught Janice and Lee playing patty cake.

"This is Marco. He'll take care of your young'ling there." Paul told Janice, pointing at the excited Marco. He had a playful grin at Lee, and entered the room. Janice nodded and stood up. She turned to Lee and explained, "Lee, this is Marco. He'll be your new buddy for now!"

Lee glanced at Marco curiously. "Hey little guy! Lee is your name?" Marco asked, approaching Lee. Lee nodded, watching Marco sit infront of him cris cross.

"Ahem, I have to talk to you outside." Paul glanced at Janice. She turned to him, and nodded. She went outside and Paul shut the door.

"My name is Janice." She immediately began.

"Hello Janice. I'm Paul." Paul answered.

"Paul. . .thank you, really."

"It was no big deal. It's a basic thing."

"You usually save people?"

"Yeah. Being part of Nova has it's perks, but that's not what I want to talk about."

"What is it?"

"Well, it's about what happened afterwards. . ."

"Oh. . .what about it?"

"I'm just sorry you had to go through that, to see that."

"I-i'm used to it. . ."

"Well, you know you can't go back. We have to find another camp for you."

"Why can't I stay here? I can fight!"

"What about the young one? Lee?"

Janice looked down. "He can just stay here while I fight!"

"What if you don't come back to him?"

"Goddamnit I don't want to be deserted!"

"Janice. . .this war will always enrage on unless we find a way to destroy the Mother Brain. As of now, we don't have any way of doing that. We're dying for no reason, no value to it."

"Isn't that what war is all about? Pointless people dying so it can satisfy the superior ones?"

Paul turned away and looked down. "I saved you for a reason. I don't save you just so you could die"

"We're all going to die. I will die, you will die, Lee will-"

Paul turned back to her and snarled, "Don't say that! Listen. . .there's still a lot of time left for us to destroy the Mother Brain,"

"How?!" Janice asked, her eyes watering.

Paul sighed, and turned back around. He began to walk away from Janice, and back to the theater lobby.

"Ah, there's the man!" A voice called towards Paul. He looked at his left and saw a short yet bulk fellow greeting him with a handshake. Paul hesitated for a moment, but eventually shook his hand. "Who are you, sir?" Paul asked. The man grinned. He had a young and smooth face, with some ear piercings. "Name is Roger. Well, i'm just a general here. I heard of your story of running off to save some survivors alone, is that true Paul?"

Paul nodded and replied, "It's true. Why?"

"Well," he said, "i'd like for you to join me in a Zodiac base raid? Trust me, it's way different than what you used to do."

"Eh. . .sure. I need an adrenaline rush right about now."

Roger grinned. "Good, good. Meet us up in another few hours outside, that's where me and a few boys will get ready."