Of Wings To Fly (Part Four)
Title: Of Wings to Fly
Author:
hunters_retreat
Rating: R
Summary: Jared Padalecki is the world’s foremost Augmentor, an expert in making life better through technological advancement. He’s designed steam-fueled carriages and even made improvements to his brother’s airship. His passion though is to help the less fortunate, to use mechanics and gear work to help heal broken bodies. In all his years as an Augmentor, Jared has never let any of his clients get under his skin, but no other client has ever been like Jensen Ackles before. Jensen is a Mer with surgically created legs instead of a tail and a broken exoskeleton that should make it possible for him to walk.
It isn’t a simple task. From the first observation, something feels wrong to Jared. His desire to help Jensen takes him on a long journey, through confidantes and betrayal, airship flights and naval battles, to grief and love. As Jared and Jensen find the truth behind the broken exoskeleton, they find an even greater truth. It doesn’t take wings to learn to fly.
Or, the J2 AU Steampunk Little Mermaid.
Jared’s favorite thing about living in a port city wasn’t the huge ships that came in from the ocean, offering trade and tales of the Mer and far off lands. It was the stairs that led to the overhead airports that docked the airships as they came into the city.
Jared had a favorite dock and the men who worked there knew him well. He used to come up when he had news of bad weather when his brother was gone. Today, his brother was at port and Jared was nearly bouncing on his feet as he walked to the gangplank.
“Permission to visit the Captain,” Jared called out to the nearest sailor.
The first officer was on deck and he laughed as he grabbed Jared by the arm and pulled him closer. “Jared, lad, look at you. When will you stop getting taller?”
He hadn’t grown in some time, but Jim was always making comments. He’d been on the Chaser for years and he’d been a father figure to both boys after their real father had died.
“How are you Jim? Noah around somewhere?”
“Down in the cabin. He’s been looking forward to this. He has some big ideas, Jared, be prepared. He means to get you on this ship one way or another.”
Jared laughed as he clapped Jim’s shoulder and hurried along the deck to the stairs that led down to the captain’s cabin. He didn’t bother knocking on the door but went in quietly and closed the door behind him.
“Jared!” he’d barely turned around before his brother had him in his strong embrace.
“Hey Noah,” he said softly as he savored the moment.
Noah pulled back a few minutes later and Jared looked him over for any signs of injury. His brother was doing the same. They were both smiling when their eyes met though and Noah pulled him over to the table.
“Tea is ready for the fancy doctor, as you requested,” he teased.
Jared laughed. “Someone has to remind you of civilization. I doubt you take tea time on the Chaser as you should.”
“A bit hard, little brother, when you have strong winds and bumpy currents.”
“I heard there was a storm last week. How is the Chaser holding up?”
“Good. She’s a good ship. I was thinking about putting some work into her though. I happen to know a very good Augmentor and I’m fairly sure he’d like to see his old home still floating for a few years more.”
Jared shook his head. “Jim warned me you had some ideas. Anything urgent?”
“No, improvements in design and accessibility, not trouble. We can hash it out later. Carrier said you wanted to see me about something.”
“You have got to give the kid a better name than Carrier.”
“He likes it. He likes feeling the acknowledgement for the job he’s done. Maybe when he’s older he’ll want another name. We let him pick it anyway. Now, no more stalling. What’s happening with my famous brother?”
Jared sat down at the table and Noah poured tea for them both. They took a moment to take a few sips before Jared was finally able to talk.
“I have a client who came to me five months ago. He’s one of the Mer.” He took another sip of his tea to let his brother respond to that with the appropriate surprise before he continued on. “He went to an Augmentor and got legs.”
“He did what?”
“I know. As horrific as it sounds, it is nothing to seeing it, I assure you. He came to me because the exoskeleton he had no longer worked. After some time studying his current design so that I could fix or implement my own changes to it, I came to a rather startling realization. His exoskeleton had been made to break.”
“Someone did that on purpose?”
“Yes. Now my questions for you, so that you understand the context for which I am asking. I believe he was targeted specifically but I don’t know enough about the Mer to understand their politics and how it could be about him.”
“What do you want to ask me about then?”
“Pretend I know nothing of the Mer. Tell me the basics and we’ll go from there.”
“Alright. Grammar School Mer lessons. So the Mer are a tribal society. There are four clans; the Mentis, Gloriae, Virtus, and the ruling clan, the Cordis. They are all ruled by the King. The King had two Legitus and a Centurion to rule over the oceans. The Legitus were tasked with protecting the Mer from civil engagements. The Centurion had an army of Mer called the Immunes. They held the borders of the Mer oceans and allowed safe passage to travelers. “
“Had. Did. Held. What happened?”
“The Centurion disappeared almost four years ago and the king died two years ago. The Mer have been in upheaval since. Pirates have tested the borders and infighting between the clans for who will rule next has pulled the Immunes away from their posts. The Mer world is in chaos.”
“You still trade with them, don’t you?” Jared asked.
“Yes, but I have a solid reputation with them and I have no need to touch their waters. The ships that must travel in the ocean have a much harder time reaching their destinations than I do. Not only from pirates, but because the Immunes no longer help them navigate the treacherous reefs and currents.”
“I don’t know how that could possibly have anything to do with the Mer I am trying to help,” Jared admitted as he listened.
“Perhaps nothing. Perhaps if you knew who had done such a thing, then you could divine his intent better.”
Jared didn’t say anything and Noah knew him well enough to understand. “You know who it is.”
“They made a mistake, one that allowed me to recognize their work. I need to know more though.”
“Jared, it wouldn’t be the first time someone has taken revenge on one of the Mer because of something that had happened at sea. It probably had nothing to do with him. Someone needed to blame a Mer and they found one they could punish.”
“It sounds like you’ve seen it a few times.”
“Not all port cities are as welcoming of Mer as this one. They keep their borders secure for a reason, Jared. I don’t like this upheaval at all. For those of us that respect the Mer, they have had a terrible loss and someone, somewhere has been sowing seeds for all of this.”
Jared let out a deep breath. “I hate this. I hate not being able to do anything about it.”
“You, Jared? You let a client get under your skin? Or did they get further? Did one get to your heart?”
“Shut up, Noah. You still don’t have wings and I will throw you overboard.”
Noah laughed at his brother but Jared just smiled with him. He felt better in his brother’s presence and he spend the rest of the day, absorbing facts about the Mer, bonding with his brother’s crew, and remembering how much he had missed his earlier life in the air.
Jared spent two sleepless nights contemplating what he should do next. His anger at Jensen's treatment was tempered by his concern for his mentor. This wasn't the work of the man Jared had known. Jeff had been a beacon of tolerance and compassion in their community. He never judged others and he asked his colleagues and friends to do the same. His daughter, Gen, had been a shining example of his love and she had chosen a life outside of polite society strictures when she'd become a scientist and gone to live among the Mer.
Jared knew that was the answer to why. Jeff had set about ruining a Mer's life because of what had happened to his beloved daughter. Jared just didn't understand why it was Jensen's life that he'd chosen. Without that understanding, he felt completely in the dark.
Jeff had to have known Jensen. He could see that the two of them would have gotten along well. Their sense of humor would have lined up and they were both honest, good people. Or they had been anyway. Jared knew he was still seeing a shell of the Mer Jensen had been. The same as he was still seeing a shadow of the man Jeff had been before Gen's death.
The note in his hand was a way out of this. It was a way to bridge the facts he knew with the people he cared about.
He handed the boy two coins and smiled. "Please tell Mr. Morgan that I would love to accept his invitation. I will see him for dinner at six o'clock sharp."
Jared felt sick to his stomach as he watched the delivery boy scramble out if the office. The idea of confronting Jeff terrified him. The fear of what he might say, of how far the man might have fallen, had filled his thoughts since he saw the three pointed flower.
He wanted to scream or cry or fall asleep until this wasn't his problem but even as he thought about it he knew he had to finish this. Jensen deserved more than a half-life and he deserved to know why someone had intentionally destroyed his legs and left him to a life in a wheel chair.
Jared needed to confront Jensen as well in the coming week. If he knew Jeff's reasoning he also needed Jensen's. The Mer still hadn't explained why he'd wanted the procedure done or given him much detail on how the skeleton's gradual breakdown had turned into a swift end.
There were two sides to this story and Jared didn't know either of them.
The restaurant was crowded when Jared entered but Jeff already had a table for them. Jeff was early to every appointment, never late and never on time. Jared got most of his good habits from this man's training.
He sat across from Jeff, unsure of himself in ways he had been since his first days as an apprentice under Jeff’s tutelage. Jeff didn't seem to notice as the server came and they placed orders. Jeff was talkative tonight though and he barely gave time for Jared to respond to his words before he plowed ahead with more. Even the arrival of their food did little to diminish Jeff’s need to talk. He continued through each course with the same enthusiasm.
"It's fascinating stuff, my boy," Jeff said as he spoke of his contract in the north. "I can't say too much but I think the world will be speaking the name Morgan again," he said as he finished the last of his meal.
"They never stopped," Jared said with a tight smile. Jared’s reputation might have outstripped his mentor’s but only because Jeff had taken a few years sabbatical after Gen’s death. His reputation was untarnished though and Jared still couldn’t understand how this man could be the same who had hurt Jensen so much.
“I guess you’re right,” Jeff said with a smile. “It’s nice to feel like I’m at the front of the line again though. I’ve moved away from the more client-based work. After Gen… it was too personal. I couldn’t have confidence in what I was trying to do after she died. Working in the industrial world has been a good change. It was a much needed change.”
“It would have a much different appeal,” Jared agreed.
Jeff took over the conversation again and they drank their tea as they spoke of world markets and what the world had in store for the adventurous of heart. Jeff asked him to walk along the port’s edge when they were finished. Jared agreed because he still hadn’t been able to find a way to make the accusation, to call Jeff out on the hateful thing he’d done. He prayed Jeff would deny it all and they would work together until they found the real culprit, but Jared had lost his hope over dinner.
The Jeff he knew would have noticed Jared’s trouble. He would have asked. The man before him was too caught up in his own importance to pay attention to Jared.
The night was cool but his jacket left him comfortable and warm. They walked along the deserted pathway and Jared’s heart weighed heavily on him as he tried to speak.
“How did you figure it out?” Jeff broke the silence around them as he stopped near a bench on the walkway.
“Figure what out?”
Jeff smirked and Jared gaped. “Jeff?”
“I didn’t mark the exoskeleton. I had someone else do the final draft of the schematics so my penmanship wouldn’t give me away. He didn’t know my real name or anything real from my past. How did you figure out I was the one who had destroyed the Centurion?”
“The what?”
Jeff scoffed. “I know you aren’t an idiot Jared.”
He wasn’t remorseful. He wasn’t the least bit sorry for what he’d done. “Jeff, what did you do?”
“You know what they took from me, Jared,” Jeff demanded. “The Mer had to pay for what they did. Gen isn’t the only human they’ve killed. They’re goddamned Sirens, Jared, calling people away from their safe homes to the depths of the seas. Gen didn’t have to die and I will make them all pay for it!”
“Jeff, Jensen had nothing to do with Gen’s death. How could you target an innocent like this?”
“Innocent? He’s a soldier. Not just a soldier, Jared, but their most elite soldier; the Centurion, youngest son of the former king. He has taken life after life, both human and Mer. I had to make the Mers understand that they can’t continue to play with humans as they do. The whole Mer nation needed to pay.”
“I can’t… Jeff, this isn’t you.”
“No, it wasn’t me. It is now. It was so damned easy too. The Centurion was so well known for his fascination with land-dwellers. I just slipped into his life and convinced him that if he really loved me, he’d give it all up. He didn’t want to be a king, or even a soldier. It was a life he had to live because of his clan’s honor and a son’s duty. He disappeared from their lives and I took him away, held him close and whispered empty words of love and compassion until he almost begged me to stick the knife in that hideous tail of his. He had been so proud of it, Jared, so very proud of his Mer heritage and I twisted it little by little. In just a year, I managed to get him under the knife and gave him legs that would never hold him.”
“It was monstrous!” Jared yelled. “How could you call yourself a doctor after that? An Augmentor?”
“The only ripple in my plans was that he escaped from my holding. I wanted to hand him back to his family, crippled and ruined to see the shame and humiliation first hand. He disappeared though and I never thought to find him again. Until, of course, you came to me with your sad story about the client with broken legs.”
Tears filled Jared’s eyes at the knowledge that he’d betrayed Jensen unknowingly. The man who had tormented him now knew he was close by.
“I don’t need him anymore, Jared,” Jeff said softly with a smile that glinted with madness. “His father is dead from a very careful poisoning and his brothers are too busy stopping a civil war between the clans to see the bigger trouble about to hit them. Legatus Jon and Jos will die and never know what happened to their beloved Centurion Jen. It would be nice to have the whole package though. Think on it Jared. Think about the things we could do together. If you just hand him over to me, we could be the voices behind the world’s leaders, the writers of history.”
Jared fled before Jeff could say anything else. He didn’t know how he’d missed the insanity in his mentor’s mind or how he’d come so close to getting the annihilation he wanted. He ran, unable to stop, unable to do anything but try to protect the man he’d unwittingly betrayed.
Jared banged on the door and though he knew he should be more patient he couldn’t. He banged again until a light came on in the hallway behind the door and Jensen’s maid let him in. “Sir, it is far too late for a social call,” she said shortly.
“This is no social call. I need to speak with Jensen.”
“Jared?”
Jared was taken aback to see Jensen in a pair of loose knit pants and a simple undershirt on. He’d never seen him in anything other than proper dress attire and something about it made his heart ache.
“Jensen, I’ve done something horrible. I didn’t know at the time, obviously I would never have said anything if I had, but he’s coming Jensen. Jeff knows you are my client.”
“Jared, calm down.” He dismissed the maid quickly and looked at Jared. “Who is this Jeff? Why are you so scared?”
“Jeff, he’s the Augmentor who did this to you, Jensen. I found his mark on the exoskeleton and I went to see him tonight to confront him. I thought… it had to be a mistake but it wasn’t. He’s insane. He hurt you Jensen and he wants to find you and use you as a pawn to hurt your family.”
Jensen closed his eyes. “He told you what happened?”
“He said… you loved him. You left the ocean because he asked it of you.”
“And the rest?”
“I only know that he designed the exoskeleton to fail. He wanted you crippled and broken before he returned you to your family.”
“I would rather die than let them see me like this,” Jensen answered.
“I’m afraid that’s why he wants to be the one to bring you back to them. Jensen, you can’t stay here. I know how clever Jeff is. If he hasn’t broken into my office to get your address before, he will tonight. I have a way to keep you safe though.”
“How? If he’s as clever as you say…”
“He chose me as his apprentice for a reason Jensen. I have a place you can go. I won’t… I won’t be able to come find you for some time. If Jeff can’t find you he’ll watch me and try to follow me to you. It will allow you to be safe and just maybe I can finally do what you asked me to.”
“What is your plan?”
“My brother has an airship and I know he would keep you on the ship for me. He could use a navigator and you said you’d always wanted to fly,” he said with a thin smile. “I’ll find a way to fix your exoskeleton and I’ll prepare the pieces while my brother keeps you safe. When Jeff has moved on and it’s safe, I’ll come to you with the equipment I need to get you on your feet again Jensen.”
“Jared, you don’t have to do this. I know what Jeff can be like. I don’t know what caused him to be so cruel but I understand men like that. If you do this, you will be in danger.”
“So long as you are gone, he’ll leave me alone. I was his apprentice, Jensen. After Gen died, I’m the closest thing he has to family.”
“Gen?”
“His daughter. Five years ago she died. She lived with the Mer using a waterlung of Jeff’s design. The waterlung worked fine but she was caught in a strong current during a storm and she didn’t survive. Jeff blamed himself but he blamed the Mer even more.”
Jensen closed his eyes before he let out a deep breath. “I was such a fool.”
“You were in love.”
“I wanted to be in love. I was in love with the world outside of my father’s domain and I let myself be lied to. You wanted to know what happened to me, Jared? You want to know why the suit slowly stopped working but then just died? Because he did it. When he decided I had been ruined enough, he told me I was just a pawn, that it was all about my father. He didn’t love me and he never could because I was a god forsaken salt-breather!”
Jared gasped at the words but Jensen continued before he could try to stop him.
“He told me I didn’t know him at all, that I didn’t even know his name. That he was glad it was over so he didn’t have to pretend he could stand me anymore. And when I tried to fight back, he hit me hard enough to knock me to the floor. While I was stunned, he stomped on part of the exoskeleton. I heard the crunch and when I tried to stand back up, I couldn’t. Whatever he’d done, all he needed was pressure in the right spot to make the whole thing stop working.”
“Jensen,”
“How the hell did he find me, Jared? I ran hard and fast and I never looked back. How did he find me?”
“He didn’t,” Jared said softly. “I’m sorry. He was my mentor. He took me in as an apprentice and he helped me become an Augmentor. When I started to work on your exoskeleton I talked to him because I was confused. I didn’t know… Jensen, you have to know I would never lead him to you on purpose.”
Jensen watched him for a moment before he nodded. “I know, Jared. I trust you. I trusted you enough to think you might actually be able to get me out of this chair. I’ll have to trust you now too.”
“You should pack then. Pack lightly. My brother will be able to replace the things you have to leave behind once you get away from the city.”
“I don’t want to leave you here in danger,” Jensen confessed.
Jared smiled at him. “You won’t be. Jeff won’t hurt me and he’ll know you’ve gone. Just be careful, Jensen. I won’t be there to look after you but I will return to get you out of that chair.”
Jensen smiled. “Swim, fly, or dance Jared. Just so long as I can get out of that chair.”
Jared nodded and gave Jensen a tight lipped smile before the Mer turned and began to pack for the journey with Noah and the Chaser.
On to Chapter Five
Author:
hunters_retreat
Rating: R
Summary: Jared Padalecki is the world’s foremost Augmentor, an expert in making life better through technological advancement. He’s designed steam-fueled carriages and even made improvements to his brother’s airship. His passion though is to help the less fortunate, to use mechanics and gear work to help heal broken bodies. In all his years as an Augmentor, Jared has never let any of his clients get under his skin, but no other client has ever been like Jensen Ackles before. Jensen is a Mer with surgically created legs instead of a tail and a broken exoskeleton that should make it possible for him to walk.
It isn’t a simple task. From the first observation, something feels wrong to Jared. His desire to help Jensen takes him on a long journey, through confidantes and betrayal, airship flights and naval battles, to grief and love. As Jared and Jensen find the truth behind the broken exoskeleton, they find an even greater truth. It doesn’t take wings to learn to fly.
Or, the J2 AU Steampunk Little Mermaid.
Jared’s favorite thing about living in a port city wasn’t the huge ships that came in from the ocean, offering trade and tales of the Mer and far off lands. It was the stairs that led to the overhead airports that docked the airships as they came into the city.
Jared had a favorite dock and the men who worked there knew him well. He used to come up when he had news of bad weather when his brother was gone. Today, his brother was at port and Jared was nearly bouncing on his feet as he walked to the gangplank.
“Permission to visit the Captain,” Jared called out to the nearest sailor.
The first officer was on deck and he laughed as he grabbed Jared by the arm and pulled him closer. “Jared, lad, look at you. When will you stop getting taller?”
He hadn’t grown in some time, but Jim was always making comments. He’d been on the Chaser for years and he’d been a father figure to both boys after their real father had died.
“How are you Jim? Noah around somewhere?”
“Down in the cabin. He’s been looking forward to this. He has some big ideas, Jared, be prepared. He means to get you on this ship one way or another.”
Jared laughed as he clapped Jim’s shoulder and hurried along the deck to the stairs that led down to the captain’s cabin. He didn’t bother knocking on the door but went in quietly and closed the door behind him.
“Jared!” he’d barely turned around before his brother had him in his strong embrace.
“Hey Noah,” he said softly as he savored the moment.
Noah pulled back a few minutes later and Jared looked him over for any signs of injury. His brother was doing the same. They were both smiling when their eyes met though and Noah pulled him over to the table.
“Tea is ready for the fancy doctor, as you requested,” he teased.
Jared laughed. “Someone has to remind you of civilization. I doubt you take tea time on the Chaser as you should.”
“A bit hard, little brother, when you have strong winds and bumpy currents.”
“I heard there was a storm last week. How is the Chaser holding up?”
“Good. She’s a good ship. I was thinking about putting some work into her though. I happen to know a very good Augmentor and I’m fairly sure he’d like to see his old home still floating for a few years more.”
Jared shook his head. “Jim warned me you had some ideas. Anything urgent?”
“No, improvements in design and accessibility, not trouble. We can hash it out later. Carrier said you wanted to see me about something.”
“You have got to give the kid a better name than Carrier.”
“He likes it. He likes feeling the acknowledgement for the job he’s done. Maybe when he’s older he’ll want another name. We let him pick it anyway. Now, no more stalling. What’s happening with my famous brother?”
Jared sat down at the table and Noah poured tea for them both. They took a moment to take a few sips before Jared was finally able to talk.
“I have a client who came to me five months ago. He’s one of the Mer.” He took another sip of his tea to let his brother respond to that with the appropriate surprise before he continued on. “He went to an Augmentor and got legs.”
“He did what?”
“I know. As horrific as it sounds, it is nothing to seeing it, I assure you. He came to me because the exoskeleton he had no longer worked. After some time studying his current design so that I could fix or implement my own changes to it, I came to a rather startling realization. His exoskeleton had been made to break.”
“Someone did that on purpose?”
“Yes. Now my questions for you, so that you understand the context for which I am asking. I believe he was targeted specifically but I don’t know enough about the Mer to understand their politics and how it could be about him.”
“What do you want to ask me about then?”
“Pretend I know nothing of the Mer. Tell me the basics and we’ll go from there.”
“Alright. Grammar School Mer lessons. So the Mer are a tribal society. There are four clans; the Mentis, Gloriae, Virtus, and the ruling clan, the Cordis. They are all ruled by the King. The King had two Legitus and a Centurion to rule over the oceans. The Legitus were tasked with protecting the Mer from civil engagements. The Centurion had an army of Mer called the Immunes. They held the borders of the Mer oceans and allowed safe passage to travelers. “
“Had. Did. Held. What happened?”
“The Centurion disappeared almost four years ago and the king died two years ago. The Mer have been in upheaval since. Pirates have tested the borders and infighting between the clans for who will rule next has pulled the Immunes away from their posts. The Mer world is in chaos.”
“You still trade with them, don’t you?” Jared asked.
“Yes, but I have a solid reputation with them and I have no need to touch their waters. The ships that must travel in the ocean have a much harder time reaching their destinations than I do. Not only from pirates, but because the Immunes no longer help them navigate the treacherous reefs and currents.”
“I don’t know how that could possibly have anything to do with the Mer I am trying to help,” Jared admitted as he listened.
“Perhaps nothing. Perhaps if you knew who had done such a thing, then you could divine his intent better.”
Jared didn’t say anything and Noah knew him well enough to understand. “You know who it is.”
“They made a mistake, one that allowed me to recognize their work. I need to know more though.”
“Jared, it wouldn’t be the first time someone has taken revenge on one of the Mer because of something that had happened at sea. It probably had nothing to do with him. Someone needed to blame a Mer and they found one they could punish.”
“It sounds like you’ve seen it a few times.”
“Not all port cities are as welcoming of Mer as this one. They keep their borders secure for a reason, Jared. I don’t like this upheaval at all. For those of us that respect the Mer, they have had a terrible loss and someone, somewhere has been sowing seeds for all of this.”
Jared let out a deep breath. “I hate this. I hate not being able to do anything about it.”
“You, Jared? You let a client get under your skin? Or did they get further? Did one get to your heart?”
“Shut up, Noah. You still don’t have wings and I will throw you overboard.”
Noah laughed at his brother but Jared just smiled with him. He felt better in his brother’s presence and he spend the rest of the day, absorbing facts about the Mer, bonding with his brother’s crew, and remembering how much he had missed his earlier life in the air.
Jared spent two sleepless nights contemplating what he should do next. His anger at Jensen's treatment was tempered by his concern for his mentor. This wasn't the work of the man Jared had known. Jeff had been a beacon of tolerance and compassion in their community. He never judged others and he asked his colleagues and friends to do the same. His daughter, Gen, had been a shining example of his love and she had chosen a life outside of polite society strictures when she'd become a scientist and gone to live among the Mer.
Jared knew that was the answer to why. Jeff had set about ruining a Mer's life because of what had happened to his beloved daughter. Jared just didn't understand why it was Jensen's life that he'd chosen. Without that understanding, he felt completely in the dark.
Jeff had to have known Jensen. He could see that the two of them would have gotten along well. Their sense of humor would have lined up and they were both honest, good people. Or they had been anyway. Jared knew he was still seeing a shell of the Mer Jensen had been. The same as he was still seeing a shadow of the man Jeff had been before Gen's death.
The note in his hand was a way out of this. It was a way to bridge the facts he knew with the people he cared about.
He handed the boy two coins and smiled. "Please tell Mr. Morgan that I would love to accept his invitation. I will see him for dinner at six o'clock sharp."
Jared felt sick to his stomach as he watched the delivery boy scramble out if the office. The idea of confronting Jeff terrified him. The fear of what he might say, of how far the man might have fallen, had filled his thoughts since he saw the three pointed flower.
He wanted to scream or cry or fall asleep until this wasn't his problem but even as he thought about it he knew he had to finish this. Jensen deserved more than a half-life and he deserved to know why someone had intentionally destroyed his legs and left him to a life in a wheel chair.
Jared needed to confront Jensen as well in the coming week. If he knew Jeff's reasoning he also needed Jensen's. The Mer still hadn't explained why he'd wanted the procedure done or given him much detail on how the skeleton's gradual breakdown had turned into a swift end.
There were two sides to this story and Jared didn't know either of them.
The restaurant was crowded when Jared entered but Jeff already had a table for them. Jeff was early to every appointment, never late and never on time. Jared got most of his good habits from this man's training.
He sat across from Jeff, unsure of himself in ways he had been since his first days as an apprentice under Jeff’s tutelage. Jeff didn't seem to notice as the server came and they placed orders. Jeff was talkative tonight though and he barely gave time for Jared to respond to his words before he plowed ahead with more. Even the arrival of their food did little to diminish Jeff’s need to talk. He continued through each course with the same enthusiasm.
"It's fascinating stuff, my boy," Jeff said as he spoke of his contract in the north. "I can't say too much but I think the world will be speaking the name Morgan again," he said as he finished the last of his meal.
"They never stopped," Jared said with a tight smile. Jared’s reputation might have outstripped his mentor’s but only because Jeff had taken a few years sabbatical after Gen’s death. His reputation was untarnished though and Jared still couldn’t understand how this man could be the same who had hurt Jensen so much.
“I guess you’re right,” Jeff said with a smile. “It’s nice to feel like I’m at the front of the line again though. I’ve moved away from the more client-based work. After Gen… it was too personal. I couldn’t have confidence in what I was trying to do after she died. Working in the industrial world has been a good change. It was a much needed change.”
“It would have a much different appeal,” Jared agreed.
Jeff took over the conversation again and they drank their tea as they spoke of world markets and what the world had in store for the adventurous of heart. Jeff asked him to walk along the port’s edge when they were finished. Jared agreed because he still hadn’t been able to find a way to make the accusation, to call Jeff out on the hateful thing he’d done. He prayed Jeff would deny it all and they would work together until they found the real culprit, but Jared had lost his hope over dinner.
The Jeff he knew would have noticed Jared’s trouble. He would have asked. The man before him was too caught up in his own importance to pay attention to Jared.
The night was cool but his jacket left him comfortable and warm. They walked along the deserted pathway and Jared’s heart weighed heavily on him as he tried to speak.
“How did you figure it out?” Jeff broke the silence around them as he stopped near a bench on the walkway.
“Figure what out?”
Jeff smirked and Jared gaped. “Jeff?”
“I didn’t mark the exoskeleton. I had someone else do the final draft of the schematics so my penmanship wouldn’t give me away. He didn’t know my real name or anything real from my past. How did you figure out I was the one who had destroyed the Centurion?”
“The what?”
Jeff scoffed. “I know you aren’t an idiot Jared.”
He wasn’t remorseful. He wasn’t the least bit sorry for what he’d done. “Jeff, what did you do?”
“You know what they took from me, Jared,” Jeff demanded. “The Mer had to pay for what they did. Gen isn’t the only human they’ve killed. They’re goddamned Sirens, Jared, calling people away from their safe homes to the depths of the seas. Gen didn’t have to die and I will make them all pay for it!”
“Jeff, Jensen had nothing to do with Gen’s death. How could you target an innocent like this?”
“Innocent? He’s a soldier. Not just a soldier, Jared, but their most elite soldier; the Centurion, youngest son of the former king. He has taken life after life, both human and Mer. I had to make the Mers understand that they can’t continue to play with humans as they do. The whole Mer nation needed to pay.”
“I can’t… Jeff, this isn’t you.”
“No, it wasn’t me. It is now. It was so damned easy too. The Centurion was so well known for his fascination with land-dwellers. I just slipped into his life and convinced him that if he really loved me, he’d give it all up. He didn’t want to be a king, or even a soldier. It was a life he had to live because of his clan’s honor and a son’s duty. He disappeared from their lives and I took him away, held him close and whispered empty words of love and compassion until he almost begged me to stick the knife in that hideous tail of his. He had been so proud of it, Jared, so very proud of his Mer heritage and I twisted it little by little. In just a year, I managed to get him under the knife and gave him legs that would never hold him.”
“It was monstrous!” Jared yelled. “How could you call yourself a doctor after that? An Augmentor?”
“The only ripple in my plans was that he escaped from my holding. I wanted to hand him back to his family, crippled and ruined to see the shame and humiliation first hand. He disappeared though and I never thought to find him again. Until, of course, you came to me with your sad story about the client with broken legs.”
Tears filled Jared’s eyes at the knowledge that he’d betrayed Jensen unknowingly. The man who had tormented him now knew he was close by.
“I don’t need him anymore, Jared,” Jeff said softly with a smile that glinted with madness. “His father is dead from a very careful poisoning and his brothers are too busy stopping a civil war between the clans to see the bigger trouble about to hit them. Legatus Jon and Jos will die and never know what happened to their beloved Centurion Jen. It would be nice to have the whole package though. Think on it Jared. Think about the things we could do together. If you just hand him over to me, we could be the voices behind the world’s leaders, the writers of history.”
Jared fled before Jeff could say anything else. He didn’t know how he’d missed the insanity in his mentor’s mind or how he’d come so close to getting the annihilation he wanted. He ran, unable to stop, unable to do anything but try to protect the man he’d unwittingly betrayed.
Jared banged on the door and though he knew he should be more patient he couldn’t. He banged again until a light came on in the hallway behind the door and Jensen’s maid let him in. “Sir, it is far too late for a social call,” she said shortly.
“This is no social call. I need to speak with Jensen.”
“Jared?”
Jared was taken aback to see Jensen in a pair of loose knit pants and a simple undershirt on. He’d never seen him in anything other than proper dress attire and something about it made his heart ache.
“Jensen, I’ve done something horrible. I didn’t know at the time, obviously I would never have said anything if I had, but he’s coming Jensen. Jeff knows you are my client.”
“Jared, calm down.” He dismissed the maid quickly and looked at Jared. “Who is this Jeff? Why are you so scared?”
“Jeff, he’s the Augmentor who did this to you, Jensen. I found his mark on the exoskeleton and I went to see him tonight to confront him. I thought… it had to be a mistake but it wasn’t. He’s insane. He hurt you Jensen and he wants to find you and use you as a pawn to hurt your family.”
Jensen closed his eyes. “He told you what happened?”
“He said… you loved him. You left the ocean because he asked it of you.”
“And the rest?”
“I only know that he designed the exoskeleton to fail. He wanted you crippled and broken before he returned you to your family.”
“I would rather die than let them see me like this,” Jensen answered.
“I’m afraid that’s why he wants to be the one to bring you back to them. Jensen, you can’t stay here. I know how clever Jeff is. If he hasn’t broken into my office to get your address before, he will tonight. I have a way to keep you safe though.”
“How? If he’s as clever as you say…”
“He chose me as his apprentice for a reason Jensen. I have a place you can go. I won’t… I won’t be able to come find you for some time. If Jeff can’t find you he’ll watch me and try to follow me to you. It will allow you to be safe and just maybe I can finally do what you asked me to.”
“What is your plan?”
“My brother has an airship and I know he would keep you on the ship for me. He could use a navigator and you said you’d always wanted to fly,” he said with a thin smile. “I’ll find a way to fix your exoskeleton and I’ll prepare the pieces while my brother keeps you safe. When Jeff has moved on and it’s safe, I’ll come to you with the equipment I need to get you on your feet again Jensen.”
“Jared, you don’t have to do this. I know what Jeff can be like. I don’t know what caused him to be so cruel but I understand men like that. If you do this, you will be in danger.”
“So long as you are gone, he’ll leave me alone. I was his apprentice, Jensen. After Gen died, I’m the closest thing he has to family.”
“Gen?”
“His daughter. Five years ago she died. She lived with the Mer using a waterlung of Jeff’s design. The waterlung worked fine but she was caught in a strong current during a storm and she didn’t survive. Jeff blamed himself but he blamed the Mer even more.”
Jensen closed his eyes before he let out a deep breath. “I was such a fool.”
“You were in love.”
“I wanted to be in love. I was in love with the world outside of my father’s domain and I let myself be lied to. You wanted to know what happened to me, Jared? You want to know why the suit slowly stopped working but then just died? Because he did it. When he decided I had been ruined enough, he told me I was just a pawn, that it was all about my father. He didn’t love me and he never could because I was a god forsaken salt-breather!”
Jared gasped at the words but Jensen continued before he could try to stop him.
“He told me I didn’t know him at all, that I didn’t even know his name. That he was glad it was over so he didn’t have to pretend he could stand me anymore. And when I tried to fight back, he hit me hard enough to knock me to the floor. While I was stunned, he stomped on part of the exoskeleton. I heard the crunch and when I tried to stand back up, I couldn’t. Whatever he’d done, all he needed was pressure in the right spot to make the whole thing stop working.”
“Jensen,”
“How the hell did he find me, Jared? I ran hard and fast and I never looked back. How did he find me?”
“He didn’t,” Jared said softly. “I’m sorry. He was my mentor. He took me in as an apprentice and he helped me become an Augmentor. When I started to work on your exoskeleton I talked to him because I was confused. I didn’t know… Jensen, you have to know I would never lead him to you on purpose.”
Jensen watched him for a moment before he nodded. “I know, Jared. I trust you. I trusted you enough to think you might actually be able to get me out of this chair. I’ll have to trust you now too.”
“You should pack then. Pack lightly. My brother will be able to replace the things you have to leave behind once you get away from the city.”
“I don’t want to leave you here in danger,” Jensen confessed.
Jared smiled at him. “You won’t be. Jeff won’t hurt me and he’ll know you’ve gone. Just be careful, Jensen. I won’t be there to look after you but I will return to get you out of that chair.”
Jensen smiled. “Swim, fly, or dance Jared. Just so long as I can get out of that chair.”
Jared nodded and gave Jensen a tight lipped smile before the Mer turned and began to pack for the journey with Noah and the Chaser.
On to Chapter Five