A New Leader

Part Twenty Six : Is This Right

"What's wrong?" Rhys asked.

"Can you tell me what else he did?" I pocketed the small device and pulled up my ECHO pad.

"What do you mean?"

"What did Jack do to you and your friends?" I deployed another Hyperion car, waiting for his answer.

"Oh... are you looking for reasons to kill me?" He asked curiously.

"No, just tell me."

"He... He threatened to kill my friends and I, he wanted to turn them into soldiers of himself, he killed innocent Hyperion workers... it's as if he had no remorse for the things he was doing."

"I know, I know about almost all of that... what did he say and do?"

"He tricked me into trusting him," he ignored my question, "he made me look insane for talking to him and taking the position as president of Hyperion, he used me."

"Fuck." I whispered, Rhys stopping his word babble.

"What?" He asked.

"He's just using you."

"Why did he show you the vault?"

"You're his best sniper!"

My brothers words were screaming in my brain, my thoughts were racing at a million miles a second and I could feel my body curl in. Tears filled my eyes but non fell, there was a sudden loud boom as a shuttle came hurdling towards our area at light speed. Rhys grabbed me by the shoulders and looked at me through my glasses, trying to get me to answer him but my mouth didn't move.

"The car is here." I finally spoke, pulling away from his grasp and walking over to the car.

"Birde." He nearly whispered, but I continued to walk towards the car and hopped in the driver seat.

"Come on Rhys, I'll take you home now." I opened up the passenger side door.

He got in silently and closed the door shut, I started the car up and drove off back towards the Highlands. It was quiet as usual, Rhys had stopped pestering me about what was on my mind. I had gotten what I wanted after nearly five years of looking for it, but now that I have what I want I feel like I've aged. As we made our way into the Highlands, I let out a frustrated sigh and finally decided to speak.

"I was eighteen years old, I had never been in love with anyone ever, even when I was growing up I just couldn't be bothered with the boys around me." I spoke, itching at the words in the back of my throat. "I was confused, he moved on me so fast while I was venerable and took advantage of me... he told me amazing things were going to happen once he opened that damn vault. I trusted him... even when I knew I should've trusted my brother, I should've just stayed home."

"You were that young?" He seemed surprised.

"You must have been the same age when this was all happening."

"I was twenty years old, some what of an adult." He shrugged.

"I thought you were at least as old as me... that's not important."

"I know it's not..."

"I thought I was so mature, I thought that I was doing the adult thing by being in love with this man who 'loved' me, but I guess he only said those things to get me to be his second hand man."

"Did you two... you know." He asked awkwardly.

"Yes... I spared you those details."

"Jeez, he just took away your virginity just like that, not even thinking."

"I try to not think of my virginity as some kind of sacred thing he can just steal." I stated, angrily towards the situation.

"I guess it's good to look at it that way." He looked out towards the grassy area

"Yeah... guess so," I continued to drive towards Opportunity, the lab only a short while away, "I never asked, where exactly do you live?"

"Birde, I know you need me up there on Hades." His words surprised me.

"What do you mean by that?

"I know you need the emotional support, who's going to be there for you?"

"I don't know," I looked out as the grassy plains, "I don't see why this is so important to you."

"We've been traveling together for nearly two days, I think we're friends now." He smiled, I couldn't hide the one trying to fight its way onto my lips.

"I know, but you have a life to live and I have a company to man... also my life to protect." I thought about all of the people who could or want to kill me now that they know who I am.

"You have a point... at least tell me that we'll stay in contact."

"I'll try my hardest." I smiled.

"Ok, good." He smiled back. "I can catch-a-ride home."

"Are you sure?" I asked, turning the car off and loading it in the lab garage as we finally arrived.

"Yes, don't worry about it, I don't live too far from here." He shrugged.

"Alright," I smiled, "and it took me this long to find you."

We both laughed before I turned off the car and took the keys with me, I'll bring them up to the front desk before I leave. Rhys walked along next me, he seemed more tired than I thought I was. He was relaxed as well, maybe he knew that I wasn't going to go through with my original plan and now he could rest easy knowing that Jack wouldn't come after him.

We walked up to the catch-a-ride station that wasn't too far from the lab, I was surprised as I had never seen one before and yet it was so close to my lab and loading dock. He stopped and typed in a few things on an old screen, a car producing itself right in front of our eyes. It was pretty impressive, he looked back at my surprised eyes and laughed a bit, I laughed as well but still felt astonished.

Rhys walked up and pulled me into a hug, catching me off guard completely. I haven't had physical affection in years and I wasn't sure how I should react towards this, his long arms staying around me. I pressed my hands against his chest but his hug only became tighter, I let my arms slowly form around his torso and hug him back. He pulled away moments later and made his way over to his car, smiling and waving as he got in.