Fragments - Book One of the Missing

Chapter 34 - Scooter

It was just Scooter's luck to be jammed with a friend that was a traitor. To him, it seemed like one sick cosmic joke from the Stars. The Stars seemed to be mocking him - "Here Scooter - let me take your parents, your brother, your friend. Are you left with anything else? Can I take that too?"

The only other person he could say had lost as much was Taniel. And at least they had each other. He wasn't sure if he would have been able to dispose of Twitch unless Taniel was there. But that's who he was. He was the steadfast friend that always stood by his side. Of course, now he was standing by Taniel's side, but that was just semantics. They were brothers.

Stars, how could Twitch have turned on Taniel though when he knew Scooter's own brother went Missing? It absolutely boggled his mind. There was some bigger power at work and Twitch was too short-sighted to see it. Of course, Scooter didn't want to see it, either. He didn't want to see how much sense Taniel made when he told him of the Emblar Army, of the Officials involvement, or how the Underground supplied them. But he never would have chosen ignorance over his friends.

With Rowan's sister Missing, and Twitch being involved, Scooter worked hard to repress the painful memories of his family disappearing. Especially his older brother, Mitch. They could have been twins of body and spirit. They had the same dark hair, the same gray eyes. They both loved cars and computers. When they were growing up, they tried to build their own car. Often their father would take them to Point Lookout Park to test out their creations. Most of them ended in fire. None of them were successful. They still laughed and tried again.

Scooter and his brother were on their own for a few years after their parents disappeared. They joined the Underground together. Since Mitch was older, they sent him on longer and more dangerous missions. Scooter hated how little he saw his brother. And then one day, he never came back. The Underground offered him no explanations, only solace.

His thoughts were interrupted by Rowan stomping around the apartment. Scooter's makeshift computer lab was in the upper level of the loft, overlooking the common space, but he could still hear the anger in every footfall. The tension in the apartment was growing between Rowan and Taniel. Scooter hoped Taniel was man enough to deal with it, because he wasn't sure he could deal with much more stomping, loud sighs and sarcastic comments.

Scooter needed to leave the apartment. He didn't want to be there when the confrontation started, when the emotions exploded. If there was one thing Scooter didn't do, it was emotions.

So he packed up his things and when to his safe place.

****

The buttons of the keypad stuck. Scooter had to press each number as if he was stabbing the button. The stinking keypad needed to be replaced soon. The winter had gotten to his wiring—sticking, freezing and rusting. Thinly veiled restraint gave way to impatience and he punched the keypad. It chirped happily in response.

"What's the point?" he murmured to himself and pushed the heavy door open.

He walked down he dark corridor confidently — he didn't need a light to know where he was going. The hall twisted and turned, then sloped downward. When he finally reached the end he was well below ground. Another keypad, one that worked this time, thank the Stars, and he was through the door.

Lights sputtered to life as he walked into the room. They clicked on one by one as he walked to the other end, examining his trophies and collection on the walls to either side.

Knives, swords, arrows, guns all lined the wall. Weapon after weapon. Anything Scooter could get his hands on. Finding them was easy enough - pinching them off young Underground recruits or raiding the old hideouts. Picking fights in bars. Breaking into Underground stores guarded by new blood.

It was only in this room that Scooter felt safe. Sure, he loved speed. Craved it, in fact. But he wanted to feel in control, safe, more than anything else. Like he could no longer be harmed.

Scooter thought of his brother. Mitch would have loved this room - to take apart every weapon and put it back together. Together they would have loved to learn what each mechanic was for and how it could be manipulated. They would have designed the alarm system, the cataloging together. How each could only be released by finger print and eye scan. But it was only Scooter now, and he explored them alone.

Taniel and Rowan would need these weapons now that the Underground was actively looking for them. And if Taniel's story was anything to go by, a lot more of a headache beyond the Underground. He knew he could trust Taniel, but the story was outlandish. He was still wrapping his head around why people went Missing. Could his parents and brother still be alive? Would he want them to be alive if their only options were brainwashed soldier or battery charger?

Scooter trailed his fingers down a row of knives. They would be perfect for Taniel. To use knives though, you had to be close. Scooter didn't want to get that close to the enemy. He would rather keep his space. If he had Rowan's power, he would try to find a way to amplify it or extend it out from himself. Then the thought occurred to him. Maybe he could make something like that for her - help her. She would never feel comfortable with a gun in her hands. But if the weapon in her hands was an extension of herself she would be more likely to embrace it.

On the opposite wall a few batons caught his attention. Maybe, just maybe.