The Radix
Sorry it's taken me so long to post this. the last couple of months have been pretty messed up. But here it is:
Chapter Eleven - A Year in the Making
When Ruby awoke the next morning she was alarmed by her surroundings. The last time she'd been fully cognizant was when Slade helped her into the inflatable. She didn't recognize the shed like room or remember the journey she must have taken to get there. Slowly she propped herself up onto her elbows, wincing in pain. Suddenly Ruby nearly cried out as she noticed the shaggy, blond head of a stranger slumbering on the side of her cot. Gathering her wits about her, Ruby roughly nudged the head and jumped back as it shot up, revealing the handsome face of a young man.
“It wasn't me!” He called out, the remnants of a dream clinging to his consciousness.
“Who are you?” Ruby demanded masking her fear.
“Huh?” Kale rubbed the sleep from his eyes and brightened when he focused on Ruby's face. “You're awake!”
“Yes,” Ruby said testily. “Hence my asking, who are you?”
Unmoved by the tone of her voice he smiled. “Kale.”
Ruby stared at him. “Kale.” She repeated as he nodded. There was silence as Ruby waited for him to continue the introduction and when he didn't she cleared her throat expectantly. Puzzled for a moment, Kale suddenly chuckled as he realized what she wanted.
“Oh yeah, your friends brought you here yesterday.” When Ruby didn't respond he gestured to their surroundings. “Infirmary? They said you're sick and by the looks of it, injured too.”
Ruby attempted to sit up further only to be halted by the sharp pain around her sternum. “Injured.” She muttered, softly rubbing a hand over the tender area. “Yeah, that I remember.”
Kale watched the discomfort cloud her face. “Quinn says it's broken... the collarbone.”
“Broken?” Ruby stared back dismayed.
Kale nodded. “Some of your ribs too. And your ankle's pretty swollen.”
“I'm falling apart at the seams.” Ruby sighed. “Who's Quinn? She some sort of doctor?”
“Doctor.” Kale laughed at what he thought was an obvious joke. After all, there were no doctors anymore. “She's a healer. Studies natural medicine.” As Ruby nodded Kale arched an eyebrow in interest. “What happened to you anyway?”
“What?” She asked distractedly.
“How'd you get like this?” He reworded the question. “Your friends never specified.”
“I had an accident.” Ruby leaned her head back onto the pillow, her shoulders weak from the exertion of sitting up.
Kale chuckled. “I figured that much. What kind of accident?”
She paused as she peered into his keen, friendly eyes studying her. “I was hit by a truck.”
“A truck?” Kale's mouth was agape in obvious surprise. “I'll be damned. Now, I'm not judging but,” His eyes narrowed. “how did you manage that? I mean with so few cars on the roads these days...”
Ruby rolled her eyes at his sarcasm. “I don't know.”
“The odds of finding a truck that's running...” He continued as though he hadn't heard her. “and then just happening to find yourself in it's path... it's not as easy as it used to be...”
“I don't remember, alright?”
Kale paused. “Amnesia?”
“No.” Ruby almost smirked at his annoying banter as she closed her eyes.
“Well excuse me for saying this but, doesn't that make it harder to learn your lesson?”
Ruby opened her eyes at stared at Kale's stoic face. If the comment had come from Slade or anyone else she might have laughed. In fact she was only moments from breaking into a large grin. She knew Kale was only being playful but she was in no mood to encourage him. She in turn decided to change the subject.
“Where are my friends?”
Kale stretched. “Prob'ly just getting breakfast. Which sounds real good right about now.” He smirked at her as he stood. “You hungry?” Though food was the last thing on her mind, Ruby thought it polite to nod. “Alright then, I'll get you something that'll go down easy. Let them know you're awake.”
“Um Kale,” Ruby called out to him as he walked away from the bed. “Have you... been watching me all night?”
His cheeks colored unexpectedly and Kale looked at the floor. “Well uh, I thought someone ought to.” Before she could comment he slipped out of the room.
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The breakfast tables were chaos per usual with babies wailing for milk, children clambering for eggs or turning up their little noses at porridge, the designated cooks at the grill pit trying to fairly share the fire with those in need of hot water... Adding to the confusion were the Mallrats who were completely unfamiliar with this routine and such a large group. Despite the noise and rowdiness there was a strange sort of order and domesticity to the scene. The villagers had performed this dance for a year now and were well on their way to perfecting it. In no time at all the shouts and barking orders had been reduced to the satisfied murmur of a large group meal.
Amber surveyed her friends with a mixture of contentment and nervousness. Despite being happy that they were all safe and reunited, she was still unsettled. Glancing up she spotted the reason for the queasiness in her stomach as he left the table. Amber's light eyes followed Cipher as he made his rounds, pausing in his movements to give orders to some of his men. Just before he disappeared from her sight Cipher looked up and saw Amber. For a moment they stared at each other and she could see his eyes drop to their son in her lap. She wanted to invite him over and tried to communicate this with her expression. Then Cipher's eyes fell on Jay who sat beside Amber and she felt her heart sink as he walked away. Looking down at her plate Amber knew that she would have to be the one to make the first move.
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“Where are you going?” Ebony gave Slade a suspicious look as he left the table.
“Ruby's awake.” He answered casually. “I'm going to see if she's alright.”
“Well she's survived this far, I doubt she's taken a sudden turn for the worst.” Ebony snapped back, immediately regretting the hostility in her voice. Her regret increased at the look in Slade's eyes. Instead of replying he gave her his signature sarcastic smirk before walking away. Silently kicking herself, Ebony jumped up and ran after him. “Slade wait!”
“Not now Ebony.” He didn't turn to look at her. “I'm not in the mood.”
“Look Slade, I didn't mean that the way it came out.” She walked quickly to keep up with his long strides. “I'm just really edgy, alright? I'm sure Ruby's fine.” She continued when he didn't answer. “I just don't see why you have to hover over her.”
“You can't stand it can you?”
“What?”
Slade stopped and turned to face her so suddenly that Ebony nearly ran into his chest. “You can't stand anyone being more important than you.”
“Oh please,” She scoffed.
“Ya know Ebony,” He leaned in closely making her heart to flutter in her chest. “If this is gonna work, you really need to deal with your issues.”
“Issues?” Ebony shot back, ignoring how his addictive anger caused her pulse to race. “My only issue is your running off to help poor Ruby every time I turn around.”
“Look, if I wanna see the mother of my baby, that's my prerogative.”
“And what if there is no baby, Slade?” The words were out of her mouth before she could stop them. As much as Ebony wanted to tell him that Ruby's test was negative, something was holding her back. Ebony wasn't certain whether it was her own guilt, or if she was waiting for the moment such news would have the greatest and most influential impact.
Slade glared at Ebony, his thoughts on that truck and the child it might have killed, and wanted to hurt her like never before. “You'd love that wouldn't you?” He hissed. Then turned on his heel before she could utter another word.
She watched him go not sure whether she wanted to kick him in the teeth or beg his forgiveness. After a moment Ebony decided to fore go both choices until she'd had some time to think. This thing with Slade was becoming increasingly frustrating every day. Why did she allow him to make her feel this way; so insecure, so frightened, so unworthy? Ebony would never admit it out loud, not even on pain of death, but what she wanted more than anything from Slade was reassurance. The love she had for him had grown far past her usual infatuation. This was no longer about getting what she wanted or the need to win. Ebony now loved Slade to the point where she was willing to give up everything that had once meant anything to her; power, reputation... she was even willing to give him the one thing she never gave anyone... the truth.
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After the breakfast rush the village descended into it's daily grind of work. The Mallrats, seeing that they had no assignments, were at a loss as to what to do with themselves. Gradually they began to scatter in different directions. Lottie had already become immersed in the preteen subculture and despite her shady nature was readily accepted by her peers. Bird was especially taken with the young clepto and dragged her by the hand, showing off things of interest and fun. Gel, with Sammy in tow, discovered the sparring pen where Lyric was instructing several others on the fine art of hand to hand combat. Excited at the prospect of young men fighting and proving their manhood, Gel took great pleasure at the distraction her pretty face caused with many of the boys. Lyric grew so impatient at one point that she sent one green haired boy flipping head over heels with her bow staff. The surrounding kids laughed as she stood over him.
“That was a cheap shot,” He muttered, rubbing the back of his head.
“There are plenty of those in battle Kurt.” Lyric reprimanded. “What you wont find are a crowd of pretty girlies cheering you on.”
While Lex assisted Taisan with her errands, glaring at any male that allowed his gaze to graze over her too long, Darryl stumbled upon the archery range where Kye was being congratulated on a bull's eye. The tall blond had finally been relieved from the watch post earlier that morning. Instead of catching up on some much needed sleep, he'd been dying to get in bit of practice with the new bow he'd left in his shack. Darryl watched from the sidelines as one of the young men teased Kye about his accuracy.
“The bull's eye is too easy for you. Everyone knows that. What this guy needs is a moving target. We don't want him to get rusty.”
“Not now Sid.” Kye brushed him off laughing. “It's too busy. Stray arrows and crowds don't mix. Maybe during lunch.”
“Oh quit the excuses.” Sid goaded in a good natured fashion. Spotting Darryl he walked over and pulled the surprised boy by the arm. “See? The new kid wants to see what you can do. Don't you?” He nudged Darryl, fishing for a name.
“I do?” Darryl missed the hint and stared at the group in confusion. “I mean, I do. Yeah, yeah, of course I do.”
Kye smiled at him and Darryl was startled by the shiver that shot up his spine. “Oh alright. If it'll get you guys to leave me alone. Malon.” Darryl watched as Kye readied his bow and Malon pulled out what looked like a skeet shooter. Suddenly he shouted “Pull!”
With the flick of a switch Malon sent a small, clay pot sailing up into the air. The crowd of boys watched as it went higher then began to dip toward the tree line. Kye raised his bow from the ground toward the sky and held his stance.
“It's gonna go into the trees.”
Kye didn't move.
“You'd better shoot now man. You're gonna lose it.”
Still Kye didn't flinch.
There was collective murmuring and just as Darryl was sure that the clay pot was as good as gone, Kye released his arrow into the air. There was silence as they watched it arch and just before it and the pot disappeared into the cover of the woods, the pot exploded in midair followed by a distant shattering sound. The boys cheered and Darryl whooped along side them.
“Hope that was to your liking.” Kye flashed another smile at him before walking away.
Darryl watched Kye, his mane of blond hair trailing down his back and nodded to himself. It certainly had been.
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Unlike the others Trader was disheartened to have stepped into this alternate universe. He missed the city and wished they'd landed anywhere but at the Hidden Valley Ranch. He planted himself under a tree and refused to participate in what he considered to be an unfortunate and rather dull mistake. He silently vowed to get back to his boat as soon as possible if only to retrieve his moonshine. Though he disliked the Radix, he wasn't stupid enough to try and leave just yet. He'd have to collect supplies and figure out where he was in the wide world. Besides, no matter how terribly domestic it was, Trader wasn't about to give up free food and a warm bed.
The rest of the Mallrats had followed Alice and sat around helping her peel potatoes with other young women in the village. All were engaged in gay conversation. Jay took this relative moment of calm to pull Amber aside for a private word while Bray was distracted by his cousin and the other small children. They had hardly spoken a word to each other since Ram's confession. They had a lot to talk about and Jay felt a pressing need to resolve a few unspoken matters.
“I think we need to start thinking about what our next move is going to be.”
“Move?” Amber stared at him in confusion. “What are you talking about?”
“Well we don't know yet whether or not we'll be welcome to stay here. And even if we are, I think the smart thing to do is to sort out our bearings, find out what's around us, discuss our options...”
“Options?” Amber interrupted in surprise. “You want us to leave?”
“I want to discuss that idea, yes.” Jay corrected.
“Are you crazy?”
He narrowed his eyes. “Last time I checked, no.”
“Jay, look around.” Amber gestured to the surrounding group. “What do you see?”
Having learned the subtle change of inflection in Amber's voice by now Jay decided it was best to humor her. Sweeping his eyes over the group briefly he returned his gaze to her. “What am I looking for?”
“Jay,” Amber was surprised he hadn't yet figured it out. “We've all just found our friends. Ellie has her sister, Lex found Taisan. Cloe, KC and Ryan are here. I've found my son's father.” She spoke in a fierce whisper when Jay's impatient expression didn't change. “Are you seriously suggesting I sit down with them and discuss leaving?”
“Amber...” He paused, not quite sure how to continue.
“What?” Amber probed gently. “Have I misunderstood you?”
He didn't answer at first realizing how insensitive and thoughtless his statement had been. Of course he would never suggest such a thing. Even Jay was hard pressed not to feel a twinge of warmth when he saw how happy Lex was to be back at Taisan's side. Not to mention they all felt safe for the first time since evacuating the city. It hadn't even been what he wanted to discuss. Jay knew there was little chance that their group of castaways would be sent packing. In fact the only one who had anything to worry about was Ram and at the moment Jay didn't care enough about the young man to be concerned with his fate. No, what he really wanted to talk about was Cipher. The Achilles' heel of he and Amber's relationship.
Since they first met, the essence of Bray had put a wedge between Jay and the girl he truly desired. In the beginning he remembered thinking how fortunate the guy was to have such an amazing young woman devoted to him. When Amber told him that there could never be anything between them because of Bray and all that happened, Jay hadn't fully understood the implication of that statement... until now. After Amber's change of heart Jay refused to think about whether she had left over feelings for Bray. He simply threw caution to the wind and ignored the fact that he was entering a world of potential hurt. Jay never asked Amber if she still loved Bray. He already knew it was an unfair and very unnecessary question. Having experienced the loss of his own first love, Jay was well aware that such emotions never died and he was willing to accept the lasting presence of Bray's memory in Amber's heart.
With Bray's being alive and walking among them, Jay suddenly felt as though the rug had been pulled from underneath him. He was forcibly thrust into an entirely new predicament and it seemed that all the progress that he and Amber had made was for naught. What was going to happen between them now? Amber's comment about how Bray's memory would ever prevent them from being together repeated itself in his head. Jay could no longer ignore the seriousness of those words. True Amber had accepted Bray's death and taken her place by Jay's side, but that didn't go to say that she'd ever stopped loving the father of her child. Now Cipher was here and she'd been off center ever since they'd arrived. The painful truth was Jay didn't trust that Amber's feelings for him were strong enough to survive this emotional windfall (seeing as how indecisive they'd been in the past). These thoughts spun chaotic webs through Jay's mind and yet he couldn't bring himself to voice them aloud.
“No, no you're right.” Jay finally spoke. “Leaving would be ridiculous.”
Amber's expression softened. “I know it sounds unbelievable but I think we can actually try to relax for once.”
Jay nodded gently. “That makes for a nice change.”
“It certainly does.” Amber agreed with the familiar smile that always made Jay's knees weak. She had no idea of the thoughts circling through his mind though hers were similar. For a moment all was forgotten as they both felt that familiar spark between them. As though their lives hadn't been thrown into upheaval over the past week. Jay gazed down, returning her smile and marveled at the power she held over him. There was so much they needed to talk about, an answer Jay needed to know and yet was fearful to hear. But for just a second they'd reconnected and things between the couple felt remotely normal. Neither of them were wanting to bring up the subject of Cipher now though both knew it could only be avoided for so long. Choosing to push these thoughts to the back of his mind Jay leaned in to kiss her and was pleased when Amber eagerly met his lips with her own.
As she pulled away Amber felt as though they were being watched intently. Out of habit she immediately looked at Trudy, since it was usually her wistful eyes which seemed to stare at she and Jay the most. No, Trudy was supervising as Brady and the younger ones made a train of potatoes (not yet peeled) in the dirt. Amber's eyes quickly swept over the group around them until they found Cipher's watching as he stood unseen on the sidelines. Quickly he looked down and turned away. So much for not thinking about it.
“Jay, would you excuse me? There's something I have to do.” Amber gently dismissed her companion and ran after Cipher. “Bray! Bray please!” He stopped at the sound of her approaching steps though he didn't turn to face her. Amber stared at his back at a loss. Finally, “Bray. Wont you at least talk to me? Look at me?” Cipher didn't answer as he fought the wave of emotion threatening to knock him off his feet. Amber sighed in frustration. “Don't you even want to see your son?” She asked in quiet desperation.
“I've dreamed of nothing else.” Was his painful reply.
“Then is this cold reception payback for something?” Amber asked thinking of how she'd reacted when Pride first brought Bray and the others to the Gaians.
Sighing Cipher turned toward her and Amber was overwhelmed by the hurt in his eyes. They seemed to be the only thing she was able to recognize about him anymore. The one thing the Technos hadn't been able to touch.
“How can you think that?”
She shrugged. “I don't know what to think. All I know is you haven't said a word to me since we arrived.” His eyes bore holes into her guilt ridden frame and Amber continued. “I mean if this is about Jay, I swear it's not what you think. Well, it sort of is.” She admitted ruefully. “But it's very recent, I promise you. It didn't come about until after we found out... when I thought you were...” She couldn't say the words.
“When you thought I was dead?” Cipher finished for her remembering Trudy's words on the beach. Amber nodded. Cipher's eyes flickered over to where Jay stood watching their interaction. “So you thought the Technos killed me and then you took up with one of them?” His rhetorical question dripped with sarcasm.
“It's not like that.” Amber frowned. She was so tired of defending her relationship with Jay. Tired of being treated as though she were doing something wrong. “He was never truly one of them. He left them and has been on our side ever since.”
“Oh I see.” Cipher nodded, his voice still sarcastic. “So the uniform is what, a souvenir?”
Amber narrowed her eyes. “Is this what you really want to do? Sling mud?” She sighed as she stared at her boots. She didn't want to argue with him. Fighting with Bray was the one thing she didn't miss in their relationship. Along with his unfailing ability to avoid a confrontation at any cost. Which she could see had been somewhat cured by his imprisonment. “He's learning to stand now.” She spoke of their son quietly.
Cipher felt his throat tighten and his guard lowered. It was much easier to attack Jay than to deal with what pained him most. The thought of another man raising his son, the son he hadn't been there for, the son that had gone unprotected in his absence... Amber could see by Cipher's expression that she'd gotten through to him. His protective wall of hostility was down. Looking over at the group she smiled as May fought to keep Bray jr from stuffing a potato in his mouth.
“Isn't he beautiful?”
“Like nothing I've ever seen.” He whispered then smirked slightly. “Except maybe for his mother.” Amber smiled up at him and Cipher felt his heart melt on the spot. Why was she still able to do that to him? From the moment he stepped foot into that mall, there was always Amber's smile. Cipher swallowed fiercely. “I'm sorry I wasn't there.” He kept his eyes on his son. He couldn't keep looking at her face. It was killing him. “Sorry you were alone...”
“I wasn't alone.” Amber explained gently. “Trudy was there.”
“Trudy?”
Nodding, Amber beamed over at her friend. “She and Pride forced Lex to take them out to where he'd left us. They were determined to bring us back to the mall.”
“What rebels.” Cipher couldn't fight the smirk on his face.
Amber laughed lightly. “The boys went back when the Technos came. Then Trudy found me in the barn. She delivered Bray and took care of me.” Cipher listened as he watched Trudy playing with his niece, conflicted over his feelings. He wasn't sure whether he was happy Trudy had been there for Amber or annoyed that Pride and Lex found it pertinent to abandon she and Brady in the wilderness. “So I wasn't alone.” Amber reiterated this point and Cipher nodded. Seeing the wistful look in his eyes Amber knew what needed to be done. “Wait right here.” She said before heading over to where her son sat in the midst of her friends. Though she could feel Jay's questioning eyes on her as she lifted Lil Bray into her arms, she didn't look at him before turning back toward Cipher. What she was doing had nothing at all to do with their relationship. This was about her baby and she could only deal with one male ego at a time. With a bright smile Amber gazed from father to son. “I'm not sure if you've been properly introduced.”
Cipher took a breath to keep from losing what control over his emotions he had left. “We've met.”
Amber nodded. “Do you wanna hold him?”
“Eh,” Shaking his head, Cipher took an uncertain step back. “He... he doesn't like strangers.”
With an indignant frown Amber placed the little boy in Cipher's arms. “Then it's a good thing you're his father and not some stranger, isn't it?”
As he met her determined eyes Cipher nodded slightly. With his mother close by Bray wasn't nearly as upset to be held as he had been yesterday. Instead he found Cipher's talisman to be of some interest and attempted to pull it from his father's neck so as to eat it. Cipher gazed into Bray's grubby face and the smallest of relieved smiles played on his pursed lips. He couldn't believe it but there they were; He, Amber and their child, a family at last. It was all so overwhelming he wondered how he still had the ability to stand.
Amber smiled so widely she thought her face might crack. She never thought this moment would come and now that it was here, nothing else mattered. “Bray baby,” She tickled her son's chin. “Meet your daddy.”
chap ten <------> chap eleven
Chapter Eleven - A Year in the Making
When Ruby awoke the next morning she was alarmed by her surroundings. The last time she'd been fully cognizant was when Slade helped her into the inflatable. She didn't recognize the shed like room or remember the journey she must have taken to get there. Slowly she propped herself up onto her elbows, wincing in pain. Suddenly Ruby nearly cried out as she noticed the shaggy, blond head of a stranger slumbering on the side of her cot. Gathering her wits about her, Ruby roughly nudged the head and jumped back as it shot up, revealing the handsome face of a young man.
“It wasn't me!” He called out, the remnants of a dream clinging to his consciousness.
“Who are you?” Ruby demanded masking her fear.
“Huh?” Kale rubbed the sleep from his eyes and brightened when he focused on Ruby's face. “You're awake!”
“Yes,” Ruby said testily. “Hence my asking, who are you?”
Unmoved by the tone of her voice he smiled. “Kale.”
Ruby stared at him. “Kale.” She repeated as he nodded. There was silence as Ruby waited for him to continue the introduction and when he didn't she cleared her throat expectantly. Puzzled for a moment, Kale suddenly chuckled as he realized what she wanted.
“Oh yeah, your friends brought you here yesterday.” When Ruby didn't respond he gestured to their surroundings. “Infirmary? They said you're sick and by the looks of it, injured too.”
Ruby attempted to sit up further only to be halted by the sharp pain around her sternum. “Injured.” She muttered, softly rubbing a hand over the tender area. “Yeah, that I remember.”
Kale watched the discomfort cloud her face. “Quinn says it's broken... the collarbone.”
“Broken?” Ruby stared back dismayed.
Kale nodded. “Some of your ribs too. And your ankle's pretty swollen.”
“I'm falling apart at the seams.” Ruby sighed. “Who's Quinn? She some sort of doctor?”
“Doctor.” Kale laughed at what he thought was an obvious joke. After all, there were no doctors anymore. “She's a healer. Studies natural medicine.” As Ruby nodded Kale arched an eyebrow in interest. “What happened to you anyway?”
“What?” She asked distractedly.
“How'd you get like this?” He reworded the question. “Your friends never specified.”
“I had an accident.” Ruby leaned her head back onto the pillow, her shoulders weak from the exertion of sitting up.
Kale chuckled. “I figured that much. What kind of accident?”
She paused as she peered into his keen, friendly eyes studying her. “I was hit by a truck.”
“A truck?” Kale's mouth was agape in obvious surprise. “I'll be damned. Now, I'm not judging but,” His eyes narrowed. “how did you manage that? I mean with so few cars on the roads these days...”
Ruby rolled her eyes at his sarcasm. “I don't know.”
“The odds of finding a truck that's running...” He continued as though he hadn't heard her. “and then just happening to find yourself in it's path... it's not as easy as it used to be...”
“I don't remember, alright?”
Kale paused. “Amnesia?”
“No.” Ruby almost smirked at his annoying banter as she closed her eyes.
“Well excuse me for saying this but, doesn't that make it harder to learn your lesson?”
Ruby opened her eyes at stared at Kale's stoic face. If the comment had come from Slade or anyone else she might have laughed. In fact she was only moments from breaking into a large grin. She knew Kale was only being playful but she was in no mood to encourage him. She in turn decided to change the subject.
“Where are my friends?”
Kale stretched. “Prob'ly just getting breakfast. Which sounds real good right about now.” He smirked at her as he stood. “You hungry?” Though food was the last thing on her mind, Ruby thought it polite to nod. “Alright then, I'll get you something that'll go down easy. Let them know you're awake.”
“Um Kale,” Ruby called out to him as he walked away from the bed. “Have you... been watching me all night?”
His cheeks colored unexpectedly and Kale looked at the floor. “Well uh, I thought someone ought to.” Before she could comment he slipped out of the room.
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The breakfast tables were chaos per usual with babies wailing for milk, children clambering for eggs or turning up their little noses at porridge, the designated cooks at the grill pit trying to fairly share the fire with those in need of hot water... Adding to the confusion were the Mallrats who were completely unfamiliar with this routine and such a large group. Despite the noise and rowdiness there was a strange sort of order and domesticity to the scene. The villagers had performed this dance for a year now and were well on their way to perfecting it. In no time at all the shouts and barking orders had been reduced to the satisfied murmur of a large group meal.
Amber surveyed her friends with a mixture of contentment and nervousness. Despite being happy that they were all safe and reunited, she was still unsettled. Glancing up she spotted the reason for the queasiness in her stomach as he left the table. Amber's light eyes followed Cipher as he made his rounds, pausing in his movements to give orders to some of his men. Just before he disappeared from her sight Cipher looked up and saw Amber. For a moment they stared at each other and she could see his eyes drop to their son in her lap. She wanted to invite him over and tried to communicate this with her expression. Then Cipher's eyes fell on Jay who sat beside Amber and she felt her heart sink as he walked away. Looking down at her plate Amber knew that she would have to be the one to make the first move.
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“Where are you going?” Ebony gave Slade a suspicious look as he left the table.
“Ruby's awake.” He answered casually. “I'm going to see if she's alright.”
“Well she's survived this far, I doubt she's taken a sudden turn for the worst.” Ebony snapped back, immediately regretting the hostility in her voice. Her regret increased at the look in Slade's eyes. Instead of replying he gave her his signature sarcastic smirk before walking away. Silently kicking herself, Ebony jumped up and ran after him. “Slade wait!”
“Not now Ebony.” He didn't turn to look at her. “I'm not in the mood.”
“Look Slade, I didn't mean that the way it came out.” She walked quickly to keep up with his long strides. “I'm just really edgy, alright? I'm sure Ruby's fine.” She continued when he didn't answer. “I just don't see why you have to hover over her.”
“You can't stand it can you?”
“What?”
Slade stopped and turned to face her so suddenly that Ebony nearly ran into his chest. “You can't stand anyone being more important than you.”
“Oh please,” She scoffed.
“Ya know Ebony,” He leaned in closely making her heart to flutter in her chest. “If this is gonna work, you really need to deal with your issues.”
“Issues?” Ebony shot back, ignoring how his addictive anger caused her pulse to race. “My only issue is your running off to help poor Ruby every time I turn around.”
“Look, if I wanna see the mother of my baby, that's my prerogative.”
“And what if there is no baby, Slade?” The words were out of her mouth before she could stop them. As much as Ebony wanted to tell him that Ruby's test was negative, something was holding her back. Ebony wasn't certain whether it was her own guilt, or if she was waiting for the moment such news would have the greatest and most influential impact.
Slade glared at Ebony, his thoughts on that truck and the child it might have killed, and wanted to hurt her like never before. “You'd love that wouldn't you?” He hissed. Then turned on his heel before she could utter another word.
She watched him go not sure whether she wanted to kick him in the teeth or beg his forgiveness. After a moment Ebony decided to fore go both choices until she'd had some time to think. This thing with Slade was becoming increasingly frustrating every day. Why did she allow him to make her feel this way; so insecure, so frightened, so unworthy? Ebony would never admit it out loud, not even on pain of death, but what she wanted more than anything from Slade was reassurance. The love she had for him had grown far past her usual infatuation. This was no longer about getting what she wanted or the need to win. Ebony now loved Slade to the point where she was willing to give up everything that had once meant anything to her; power, reputation... she was even willing to give him the one thing she never gave anyone... the truth.
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After the breakfast rush the village descended into it's daily grind of work. The Mallrats, seeing that they had no assignments, were at a loss as to what to do with themselves. Gradually they began to scatter in different directions. Lottie had already become immersed in the preteen subculture and despite her shady nature was readily accepted by her peers. Bird was especially taken with the young clepto and dragged her by the hand, showing off things of interest and fun. Gel, with Sammy in tow, discovered the sparring pen where Lyric was instructing several others on the fine art of hand to hand combat. Excited at the prospect of young men fighting and proving their manhood, Gel took great pleasure at the distraction her pretty face caused with many of the boys. Lyric grew so impatient at one point that she sent one green haired boy flipping head over heels with her bow staff. The surrounding kids laughed as she stood over him.
“That was a cheap shot,” He muttered, rubbing the back of his head.
“There are plenty of those in battle Kurt.” Lyric reprimanded. “What you wont find are a crowd of pretty girlies cheering you on.”
While Lex assisted Taisan with her errands, glaring at any male that allowed his gaze to graze over her too long, Darryl stumbled upon the archery range where Kye was being congratulated on a bull's eye. The tall blond had finally been relieved from the watch post earlier that morning. Instead of catching up on some much needed sleep, he'd been dying to get in bit of practice with the new bow he'd left in his shack. Darryl watched from the sidelines as one of the young men teased Kye about his accuracy.
“The bull's eye is too easy for you. Everyone knows that. What this guy needs is a moving target. We don't want him to get rusty.”
“Not now Sid.” Kye brushed him off laughing. “It's too busy. Stray arrows and crowds don't mix. Maybe during lunch.”
“Oh quit the excuses.” Sid goaded in a good natured fashion. Spotting Darryl he walked over and pulled the surprised boy by the arm. “See? The new kid wants to see what you can do. Don't you?” He nudged Darryl, fishing for a name.
“I do?” Darryl missed the hint and stared at the group in confusion. “I mean, I do. Yeah, yeah, of course I do.”
Kye smiled at him and Darryl was startled by the shiver that shot up his spine. “Oh alright. If it'll get you guys to leave me alone. Malon.” Darryl watched as Kye readied his bow and Malon pulled out what looked like a skeet shooter. Suddenly he shouted “Pull!”
With the flick of a switch Malon sent a small, clay pot sailing up into the air. The crowd of boys watched as it went higher then began to dip toward the tree line. Kye raised his bow from the ground toward the sky and held his stance.
“It's gonna go into the trees.”
Kye didn't move.
“You'd better shoot now man. You're gonna lose it.”
Still Kye didn't flinch.
There was collective murmuring and just as Darryl was sure that the clay pot was as good as gone, Kye released his arrow into the air. There was silence as they watched it arch and just before it and the pot disappeared into the cover of the woods, the pot exploded in midair followed by a distant shattering sound. The boys cheered and Darryl whooped along side them.
“Hope that was to your liking.” Kye flashed another smile at him before walking away.
Darryl watched Kye, his mane of blond hair trailing down his back and nodded to himself. It certainly had been.
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Unlike the others Trader was disheartened to have stepped into this alternate universe. He missed the city and wished they'd landed anywhere but at the Hidden Valley Ranch. He planted himself under a tree and refused to participate in what he considered to be an unfortunate and rather dull mistake. He silently vowed to get back to his boat as soon as possible if only to retrieve his moonshine. Though he disliked the Radix, he wasn't stupid enough to try and leave just yet. He'd have to collect supplies and figure out where he was in the wide world. Besides, no matter how terribly domestic it was, Trader wasn't about to give up free food and a warm bed.
The rest of the Mallrats had followed Alice and sat around helping her peel potatoes with other young women in the village. All were engaged in gay conversation. Jay took this relative moment of calm to pull Amber aside for a private word while Bray was distracted by his cousin and the other small children. They had hardly spoken a word to each other since Ram's confession. They had a lot to talk about and Jay felt a pressing need to resolve a few unspoken matters.
“I think we need to start thinking about what our next move is going to be.”
“Move?” Amber stared at him in confusion. “What are you talking about?”
“Well we don't know yet whether or not we'll be welcome to stay here. And even if we are, I think the smart thing to do is to sort out our bearings, find out what's around us, discuss our options...”
“Options?” Amber interrupted in surprise. “You want us to leave?”
“I want to discuss that idea, yes.” Jay corrected.
“Are you crazy?”
He narrowed his eyes. “Last time I checked, no.”
“Jay, look around.” Amber gestured to the surrounding group. “What do you see?”
Having learned the subtle change of inflection in Amber's voice by now Jay decided it was best to humor her. Sweeping his eyes over the group briefly he returned his gaze to her. “What am I looking for?”
“Jay,” Amber was surprised he hadn't yet figured it out. “We've all just found our friends. Ellie has her sister, Lex found Taisan. Cloe, KC and Ryan are here. I've found my son's father.” She spoke in a fierce whisper when Jay's impatient expression didn't change. “Are you seriously suggesting I sit down with them and discuss leaving?”
“Amber...” He paused, not quite sure how to continue.
“What?” Amber probed gently. “Have I misunderstood you?”
He didn't answer at first realizing how insensitive and thoughtless his statement had been. Of course he would never suggest such a thing. Even Jay was hard pressed not to feel a twinge of warmth when he saw how happy Lex was to be back at Taisan's side. Not to mention they all felt safe for the first time since evacuating the city. It hadn't even been what he wanted to discuss. Jay knew there was little chance that their group of castaways would be sent packing. In fact the only one who had anything to worry about was Ram and at the moment Jay didn't care enough about the young man to be concerned with his fate. No, what he really wanted to talk about was Cipher. The Achilles' heel of he and Amber's relationship.
Since they first met, the essence of Bray had put a wedge between Jay and the girl he truly desired. In the beginning he remembered thinking how fortunate the guy was to have such an amazing young woman devoted to him. When Amber told him that there could never be anything between them because of Bray and all that happened, Jay hadn't fully understood the implication of that statement... until now. After Amber's change of heart Jay refused to think about whether she had left over feelings for Bray. He simply threw caution to the wind and ignored the fact that he was entering a world of potential hurt. Jay never asked Amber if she still loved Bray. He already knew it was an unfair and very unnecessary question. Having experienced the loss of his own first love, Jay was well aware that such emotions never died and he was willing to accept the lasting presence of Bray's memory in Amber's heart.
With Bray's being alive and walking among them, Jay suddenly felt as though the rug had been pulled from underneath him. He was forcibly thrust into an entirely new predicament and it seemed that all the progress that he and Amber had made was for naught. What was going to happen between them now? Amber's comment about how Bray's memory would ever prevent them from being together repeated itself in his head. Jay could no longer ignore the seriousness of those words. True Amber had accepted Bray's death and taken her place by Jay's side, but that didn't go to say that she'd ever stopped loving the father of her child. Now Cipher was here and she'd been off center ever since they'd arrived. The painful truth was Jay didn't trust that Amber's feelings for him were strong enough to survive this emotional windfall (seeing as how indecisive they'd been in the past). These thoughts spun chaotic webs through Jay's mind and yet he couldn't bring himself to voice them aloud.
“No, no you're right.” Jay finally spoke. “Leaving would be ridiculous.”
Amber's expression softened. “I know it sounds unbelievable but I think we can actually try to relax for once.”
Jay nodded gently. “That makes for a nice change.”
“It certainly does.” Amber agreed with the familiar smile that always made Jay's knees weak. She had no idea of the thoughts circling through his mind though hers were similar. For a moment all was forgotten as they both felt that familiar spark between them. As though their lives hadn't been thrown into upheaval over the past week. Jay gazed down, returning her smile and marveled at the power she held over him. There was so much they needed to talk about, an answer Jay needed to know and yet was fearful to hear. But for just a second they'd reconnected and things between the couple felt remotely normal. Neither of them were wanting to bring up the subject of Cipher now though both knew it could only be avoided for so long. Choosing to push these thoughts to the back of his mind Jay leaned in to kiss her and was pleased when Amber eagerly met his lips with her own.
As she pulled away Amber felt as though they were being watched intently. Out of habit she immediately looked at Trudy, since it was usually her wistful eyes which seemed to stare at she and Jay the most. No, Trudy was supervising as Brady and the younger ones made a train of potatoes (not yet peeled) in the dirt. Amber's eyes quickly swept over the group around them until they found Cipher's watching as he stood unseen on the sidelines. Quickly he looked down and turned away. So much for not thinking about it.
“Jay, would you excuse me? There's something I have to do.” Amber gently dismissed her companion and ran after Cipher. “Bray! Bray please!” He stopped at the sound of her approaching steps though he didn't turn to face her. Amber stared at his back at a loss. Finally, “Bray. Wont you at least talk to me? Look at me?” Cipher didn't answer as he fought the wave of emotion threatening to knock him off his feet. Amber sighed in frustration. “Don't you even want to see your son?” She asked in quiet desperation.
“I've dreamed of nothing else.” Was his painful reply.
“Then is this cold reception payback for something?” Amber asked thinking of how she'd reacted when Pride first brought Bray and the others to the Gaians.
Sighing Cipher turned toward her and Amber was overwhelmed by the hurt in his eyes. They seemed to be the only thing she was able to recognize about him anymore. The one thing the Technos hadn't been able to touch.
“How can you think that?”
She shrugged. “I don't know what to think. All I know is you haven't said a word to me since we arrived.” His eyes bore holes into her guilt ridden frame and Amber continued. “I mean if this is about Jay, I swear it's not what you think. Well, it sort of is.” She admitted ruefully. “But it's very recent, I promise you. It didn't come about until after we found out... when I thought you were...” She couldn't say the words.
“When you thought I was dead?” Cipher finished for her remembering Trudy's words on the beach. Amber nodded. Cipher's eyes flickered over to where Jay stood watching their interaction. “So you thought the Technos killed me and then you took up with one of them?” His rhetorical question dripped with sarcasm.
“It's not like that.” Amber frowned. She was so tired of defending her relationship with Jay. Tired of being treated as though she were doing something wrong. “He was never truly one of them. He left them and has been on our side ever since.”
“Oh I see.” Cipher nodded, his voice still sarcastic. “So the uniform is what, a souvenir?”
Amber narrowed her eyes. “Is this what you really want to do? Sling mud?” She sighed as she stared at her boots. She didn't want to argue with him. Fighting with Bray was the one thing she didn't miss in their relationship. Along with his unfailing ability to avoid a confrontation at any cost. Which she could see had been somewhat cured by his imprisonment. “He's learning to stand now.” She spoke of their son quietly.
Cipher felt his throat tighten and his guard lowered. It was much easier to attack Jay than to deal with what pained him most. The thought of another man raising his son, the son he hadn't been there for, the son that had gone unprotected in his absence... Amber could see by Cipher's expression that she'd gotten through to him. His protective wall of hostility was down. Looking over at the group she smiled as May fought to keep Bray jr from stuffing a potato in his mouth.
“Isn't he beautiful?”
“Like nothing I've ever seen.” He whispered then smirked slightly. “Except maybe for his mother.” Amber smiled up at him and Cipher felt his heart melt on the spot. Why was she still able to do that to him? From the moment he stepped foot into that mall, there was always Amber's smile. Cipher swallowed fiercely. “I'm sorry I wasn't there.” He kept his eyes on his son. He couldn't keep looking at her face. It was killing him. “Sorry you were alone...”
“I wasn't alone.” Amber explained gently. “Trudy was there.”
“Trudy?”
Nodding, Amber beamed over at her friend. “She and Pride forced Lex to take them out to where he'd left us. They were determined to bring us back to the mall.”
“What rebels.” Cipher couldn't fight the smirk on his face.
Amber laughed lightly. “The boys went back when the Technos came. Then Trudy found me in the barn. She delivered Bray and took care of me.” Cipher listened as he watched Trudy playing with his niece, conflicted over his feelings. He wasn't sure whether he was happy Trudy had been there for Amber or annoyed that Pride and Lex found it pertinent to abandon she and Brady in the wilderness. “So I wasn't alone.” Amber reiterated this point and Cipher nodded. Seeing the wistful look in his eyes Amber knew what needed to be done. “Wait right here.” She said before heading over to where her son sat in the midst of her friends. Though she could feel Jay's questioning eyes on her as she lifted Lil Bray into her arms, she didn't look at him before turning back toward Cipher. What she was doing had nothing at all to do with their relationship. This was about her baby and she could only deal with one male ego at a time. With a bright smile Amber gazed from father to son. “I'm not sure if you've been properly introduced.”
Cipher took a breath to keep from losing what control over his emotions he had left. “We've met.”
Amber nodded. “Do you wanna hold him?”
“Eh,” Shaking his head, Cipher took an uncertain step back. “He... he doesn't like strangers.”
With an indignant frown Amber placed the little boy in Cipher's arms. “Then it's a good thing you're his father and not some stranger, isn't it?”
As he met her determined eyes Cipher nodded slightly. With his mother close by Bray wasn't nearly as upset to be held as he had been yesterday. Instead he found Cipher's talisman to be of some interest and attempted to pull it from his father's neck so as to eat it. Cipher gazed into Bray's grubby face and the smallest of relieved smiles played on his pursed lips. He couldn't believe it but there they were; He, Amber and their child, a family at last. It was all so overwhelming he wondered how he still had the ability to stand.
Amber smiled so widely she thought her face might crack. She never thought this moment would come and now that it was here, nothing else mattered. “Bray baby,” She tickled her son's chin. “Meet your daddy.”
chap ten <------> chap eleven