Ayden awoke in the back of a small U.C.T.I. transport vehicle. He opened his eyes to see the cage separating himself from the two officers up front. His vision was blurred slightly still from the blow to the side of his
head, which throbbed like nothing else.
As his eyes began to focus, he turned to see if Marcus was in the car with him. A frown spread across his face, at the sight of the empty space beside him. He figured they
must have put him in another, seeing as they were facing different charges.
Even still he had to know.
"Where is he?" he asked weakly, his voice barely more then a whisper.
The officer in the passenger seat turned to look at him, a sly smile upon his face. "Well look who's finally awake," he teased.
"Where is the other one you picked up?" Ayden repeated, his voice clear and raising.
"Personally kid, I think you have more personal things to be worrying about? Attempted murder, fleeing an officer,
assault on an officer. Damn, you really fucked the pooch didn't you? I have to admit, looking at your scrawny ass, I wouldn't have guessed we have such a little fighter on our hands," he laughed at his last comment.
Ayden sat there, silent, his eyes piercing daggers at the officer.
"Where is he?" he repeated once more, between clenched teeth.
"Whoa, settle down there killer. If you must know, your little friend is up head in another squad car. He's being brought in for suspicion of murder. And also to find out why his ass doesn't have an ID chip plated."
"He's innocent," Ayden said, his voice lowering again.
"What's that?"
"I said he's innocent."
"Yeah like we're just gonna take the word of some punk facing the shit you got on your plate. Bet you pick some real good friends don't you?" the officer laughed.
"With all due respect, you don't know a fuckin thing about either of us, officer," Ayden snapped back.
"Oh I know exactly who you are. And I bet your daddy must be rolling in his grave, seeing how much of a failure his punk son turned out to be," the officer sneered.
At this Ayden lost it, slamming his body forward into the cage.
"You know shit!" Ayden yelled, his shoulder bouncing off the mesh.
"Oh look we got ourselves a bad ass. Well we can pull this fuckin car over real quick if you want. Pull you outta that seat and see just how much you can back up, How bout it, huh?"
"Enough Anderson," interrupted the driver, looking over at his partner.
"Yeah Anderson, enough," Ayden sarcasticly repeated, as he sat back.
He was done wasting his energy on this guy. He rode the rest of the way in silence, as they drove towards the other side of Alexandria. They drove for what seemed like an hour. He watched as the city began to thin out, the light of a full moon illuminated the night, until they were in the country side, trees surrounding the entire area. Ayden looked on, surprised to see such a sight. He had known that Alexandria was huge, but just how far the contents contained behind the walls ran was beyond impressive.
Soon they came upon more open area. From outside he could hear what sounded like gunfire, mixed with the occasional explosion. As he took in the surrounding area, a memory from long ago took over. He had been here before, visiting his father on the base he knew was close by. The very one that acted as the headquarter for all U.C.T.I.'s inner workings.
The car shook sudden as something passed overhead. Ayden cranked his neck to see one of the humanoid robots fly over head. They had entered one of the training areas used by the HARM pilots.
As they drove on, he witnessed several pairs of HARMs in practice hand to hand combat. Although all of the Units, as they were often called, had many similarities, each was often custom made to fit their pilot. Knowing this, Ayden was not surprised to see a Unit that stood perhaps 30 feet tall in practice against one that towered over it by at least fifteen feet. The smaller one of the two darted around the much larger one with ease, throwing far more many blows than its opponent.
Ayden watched on in silence as they passed, lost in his own thoughts. The sight was brief distraction from the shit storm he was heading towards. At least he had had a brief moment of peace in the past few weeks.
But it was time to face the music, that he had tried so hard to ignore in the passing days. He was ready to accept what came his way. All that he regrets was getting Marcus involved in any sort of way. He had been the only true friend Ayden had ever had. And now he was facing a hell that he wouldn't have even stumbled upon if Ayden hadn't stepped into his life.
Ayden knew that even if they put him away, he was going to do what he could to make them see they had made a mistake in taking Marcus in. He hadn't done any harm to anyone, and didn't deserve to lose his life for the horrors of another. Be it Ayden or whatever monster had taken the life of that woman.
Ayden looked toward the front of the car, as he felt it begin to slow. They entered threw a large gate, after driving down a side road away from the area that the many pilots had been training. He watched as they neared a large red brick building, surrounded by a barbed wire fence. Guard towers sat in increments of three on each side of the fence, including the two corners that made up any given side.
The building worked as both prison and court house. The only one within the city state. As they drove around to the backside of the building, Ayden took notice to the throng of prisoners that were gathered in what he assumed to be the rec area. He took notice that there was no separation of people, be it gender or age. All those who broke the rules within the area were brought to the same fate, here behind the walls behind the walls.
The driver parked the car, and both him and his partner stepped out. The asshole of the two, Anderson, walked around the back of the car, and came to the side of the vehicle
that Ayden was seated. He opened the door and grabbed Ayden by the shirt, jerking him out violently. Losing his balance, he hit the parking lot, face first. He was quickly jerked back up, by the cuffs on his wrists. He fought to not cry out in pain, as his shoulders fought to stay within their sockets.
He was lead through a small metal door, and was met by yet another scanner. This one, although not as alarming as the one that had been his downfall, told the same information all the same. Anderson lead him through another set of doors where they were met by one of the working prison guards.
"He's all yours," Anderson said, pushing Ayden towards the large, slightly overweight guard. "Kid's got a mouth on him, just a heads up," he finished before turning
to leave.
He stopped just within the doorway and turned back slightly.
"It's gonna get his ass in a lot of trouble one day, he's not broken of it now," Anderson said with a smirk to the guard that now had Ayden by the cuffs, his eyes shifting to meet Ayden's.
"Might wanna heed your own advice officer," Ayden sneered, keeping eye contact with Anderson.
At this the guard that held his restraints pulled him backwards, hard. Ayden winced as the pain shot through his shoulders once again, as well as the metal from his cuffs beginning to dig their way into his wrists.
"You shut the fuck up," the one holding him said, adding more pressure.
Ayden watched through the water building in his eyes, as Anderson turned and walked out of sight, laughing to himself the entire time. Once he was out of sight, the guard in control pulled Ayden once again.
"Let's go," he said. "Gotta get you booked. Got a nice cell waiting for with your name on it kid."
Ayden nodded and allowed himself to be lead to their next destination. They stopped in small room with nothing but a wooden bench pressed against the far concrete wall.
Sitting atop the bench was a set of gray colored cloths.
Once they were inside, and the door shut behind them, the guard let go of Ayden's wrists.
"Turn around, gotta get these things off of you. Once I do, you're to strip and put those on. Leave what you got on, there on the bench. Someone will come collect them. And don't even think about anything else, cause I can and will put one between your eyes. We clear?"
"Yes sir," Ayden replied, turning around as he did.
His watchman uncuffed him, and Ayden did what he was told. The room was cold, sending a shiver through him as he undressed. He stood there, only his boxers remaining, looking down at the prison clothes. How far he had fallen in only a few weeks time. All because he wanted to protect someone he thought loved him. The last person he thought he had in the world that had given a shit. How wrong he was, it would seem.
Soon he would have to face them both, as he stood in front of the courtroom of people who would decide his final fate.
"Hurry it along there," came the voice of the guard behind him.
Ayden let out a long breath and dressed as he had been told. After he was done, the cuffs were replaced upon his wrists and he was lead out in the hallway. He kept his eyes on the white painted concrete floor, which had two orange lines painted parallel to each other. As he followed the one, he couldn't help but think of the lesson those lines help. Stay in line, and you'll be fine. Step out and well, the world doesn't exactly take kindly to those who do, do they?
Soon they came to a block of cells. Each was placed behind a large metal door, with only a small sliding window near the top, just high enough that it would be impossible to get your hand, or anything else out to try and open it from the outside, should you be dumb enough to have the thought.
Most of them stood open, due to their occupants currently sending their free time outside in the last bit of sun before the cold came. Ayden was okay with that. He wanted to get to his own private hole, without the gawking of eyes following him.
Finally they stopped and Ayden looked up to see the name of his new home. K-11, was printed in white above the door. The guard pushed him the side, stepping past him as he did. He placed his hand upon the electronic sensor the was placed just to the side of the door, causing the lock to release a moment later.
"Step in and turn around."
Ayden once again did as he was told, and once again the cuffs were off. With one final shove forward, the door slammed behind him. He turned around to see the small window open and a guard's face appear from the other side.
"You're allowed on contact by the way. Just need a name and we'll do the rest,' he said.
"James Mitchell," Ayden replied.
"Any other information to go off of?"
"Last I knew he still worked for the Coalition, HARM pilot as a matter of fact."
"You mean Commander Mitchell?" the guard said, his eye brows raising slightly in disbelief.
"He wasn't last time I seen him, but sure try him. Tell him his godson wants to see him," Ayden answered, before turning away from the conversation completely.
As he sat down on the bed, he listened as the footsteps outside the cell faded into the distance. The bed was nothing compared to what he had back at the Young house. But he really couldn't complain, least it wasn't the cold hard ground he would be sleeping on. The only other thing within the cell was a small toilet sink combo in the corner.
He was just about to lay down, when he heard a voice from the next cell over.
"How was your trip in?" came Marcus' voice.
"Holy shit, is that you?" Ayden sat up and quickly made his way to the door. "Man I am so glad to hear you're okay. I mean you are okay right?"
"For now, yeah. They are trying to get me for what happened to that woman. I swear I had nothing to do with it."
"I know. I'm sorry, for everything." Ayden said, lowering his head. "Sorry I brought my shit into your life."
"Yeah," Marcus said, then fell silent.
"I understand if you're pissed, I really do." Ayden said, before turning away from the door once more, returning to his spot on the his bed.
Ayden drifted off, his sleep haunted of a dying Leonard once again. As if that wasn't bad enough, he dreamt of the way that woman looked, all torn up in some cold dark alley. And the look of terror on Marcus' face as he looked upon the remains. All these imagines danced around his head, causing his body to toss and turn as they did.
He woke suddenly to the sound of a pounding on the metal door leading to his cell. He shot up, almost falling off the bed in the process.
"K-ll, you have a visitor," came the guard from
earlier's voice. "Step back, I'm opening the door."
"Yes sir," Ayden answered, remaining seated, wiping the sleep from his eyes.
There was a loud click, as the lock released. Slowly the door opened, flooding the room with the bright lights that shone from outside.
"He's all yours sir, take all the time you need," the guard said, stepping to the side of the doorway to allow for Ayden's visitor to enter. As the man stepped into the doorway, he had to duck slightly to avoid hitting his head on the top. A shadow engulfed him, as he stood between the light of the hallway and the dim of the cell, causing his already dark skin to almost disappear into the shadows themselves.
Even though it was dark, and the years had been long since he had last laid eyes on the man, he knew him at once.
"Hey Uncle James…" he said somberly.
"Ayden is the really you?" James Mitchell said, his accent deep in tone, originating from what was once the United Kingdom.
"Yeah its me." Ayden said, forcing a smile, as he pushed himself up to his feet. He stood there, looking up at the man who his father had once called his best friend.
As James stepped in the cell the rest of the way, his eyes focusing as he did, he swept his hand over the dark stubble of hair he kept. "Jesus, you look so much like him," he said, his eyes scanning the young man, who was barely five the last time he had seen him.
"So I've been told," Ayden smiled.
The two of them stood there a moment, in silence, both waiting for the other to break it. Finally James opened his arms, and Ayden stepped forward into his godfathers embrace.
"I missed you," Ayden said, his head coming to the middle of James chest.
"Me too kiddo, me too." James replied. "How longs it been?"
"Too long."
"That it has. What the hell are you doing here anyway? They said they got you on attempted murder charges. Where the hell is your mother?" James bombarded Ayden with questions, pushing him back gently by the shoulders.
Ayden lowered his head, a sad attempt to hide the shame in his eyes.
"Technically they're right," he replied after a moment.
"What do you mean technically? Either you tried to kill someone or you didn't." James said, releasing his hold on his godson.
"I did. But its complicated. I did it cause he was going to kill her, Uncle James." Ayden choked, trying to hold back the tears the threatened to leave his eyes. "She'd be dead if I hadn't stepped in. Fuck we both would be I'm sure."
"Who would be Ayden? What are you talking about?"
"My mother. He was drunk and in one of his fits. I came down and he had beaten her to the point I barely recognized her. She was fighting for air, and he just kept hitting her. And I reacted. Like my body moved on its own." Ayden answered.
"I see," James said, lowering his head. "I'm sorry kiddo, I really am. I should have been there. Maybe none of this would have happened."
"It would have either way. You don't know what Leonard is like. Raging alcoholic, raging personality, all set behind six feet plus and almost three hundred pounds of psycho." Ayden said.
"Oh I know all too well what Cross is like. So did your father. You see Cross and your mom were a thing before she met your dad." James said.
"Jesus, how did I never know that?" Ayden questioned himself. "She never said anything. But that would explain why he had such a hard on for my dad."
"Yeah, August and Cross didn't exactly see eye to eye.
For many of the same reasons you two don't. To August, Cross was a piece of shit, who thought he was God's gift to all those around him. And well, one night your dad proved otherwise. Not as badly as you did from the sounds of it." James smiled at this, but quickly wiped it from his face when he saw Ayden lower his eyes once more.
"I really didn't mean to, like I said. I just reacted."Ayden repeated.
"I know, kiddo. You know your dad used to say the same thing. But goddamn if he wasn't good at fucking things up when need be. But he never just did it because he could. He had this thing against injustice in the world. And from looking at you now, I can see him more and more in you. He always was the hero, up till the end." James said, his voice lowering, as his mind began to drift.
As Ayden looked up at his godfather, he could have swore there were tears building in the corners of his brown eyes.
"You miss him don't you?" Ayden broke the silence.
"Every day, kiddo."
"Me too" Ayden said. "Although I'm so sure I'm much like him. I almost murdered someone. Even though I try and tell myself it was for a good reason, there is a part of him that wonders if my mother wasn't right when she said I wanted him dead long before that night. Maybe deep down it was all the years of him hitting me, and walking all over everyone, that lead to my actions. I don't know" Ayden said.
"Don't you say that. You're no killer Ayden. Just like August wasn't deep down. He hated it you know. Hurting people. But he also knew it was a necessity at times. When it meant protecting those would can't protect themselves.
What you did was just that. No matter what the past may have held, in that moment, you acted to protect your mom."
"Then why did she act like I was the devil standing there in front of her? She said I was no son of hers." Ayden said, his voice shaking.
"I don't know. Maybe in that moment she saw something she didn't wanna face. That her choices had finally caught up to her. You know, she's see a lot of death in her life, and maybe the sight of another one made her break. Her own child, standing there with blood on his hands, because she couldn't walk away before then. I don't know kid." James answered, touching Ayden's shoulder again.
"If you had seen the look, you might think differently.
It was nothing short of pure hatred," Ayden said, shaking his head.
"One day I'm sure she'll forgive you,"
"Yeah I doubt it," Ayden said under his breath.
"Either way, right now we need to focus on getting you out of here," James said, ignoring the last of Ayden's comments.
"I doubt that's an option. They're gonna throw the book at me. If you had seen what I did to him. No jury in the world is gonna look past the damage I left in my wake." Ayden replied.
"Maybe, but its worth a try. You did what was right. Even if it was brutal, you were only protecting the life of your mother and yourself. Nothing else, right?" James said.
"Yeah."
"Well then, that is what we have. Plus I may have a few things up my sleeve. Being the head of the HARM training program has its perks. Plus you are the son of one of the most notable pilots to ever see the inside of our deadliest weapons. Given your family history, they may be apt to be more understanding." James continued. "For now through, I have to get outta here. Sit tight kiddo. I told them to make sure you stay right here. Don't need anything happening to you. If people know who you are, they might try to start shit with you. Just sayin."
Ayden nodded, and stepped closer to hug his godfather once more. James messed up the top of Ayden's hair before stepping back. "Keep your head up. You're gonna be okay. One way or another."
Ayden forced a smile and nodded again. He stood there watching James begin to make his way toward the door. Just before he reached the door to knock, Ayden stepped forward.
"Wait," he said quickly. "There is one more thing. I need you to look into something else. My friend, who is the next cell," Ayden nodded in the direction of Marcus' cell. "Well, he is being brought up on some bullshit murder charges. And I know he didn't do it. Without a doubt," Ayden continued.
"How do you know? People can be pretty good at hiding the monsters inside, kiddo," James said, turning around to look at Ayden once again.
"Because I just know. I can't explain it. Just like you said I can't be a cold blooded killer, I feel the same in him. Plus how can the son of Raychel Young be a monster. It makes no sense." Ayden pleaded.
He stood there looking at his godfather's face, and for a brief moment, saw a look of shock overtake his brown eyes.
"What did you say? Raychel Young never had any children," James said, shaking his head.
"Not that anyone knew of. But I've seen the proof that she did. She just hid it. She was quite paranoid, apparently. But I promise you, Marcus Young, thats his name, is in fact her son."
"Marcus huh?" James whispered to himself, his eyes towards the ground. After a moment he looked at Ayden again.
"I'll do what I can. For both of you. For now, just keep your heads down. I'll be back when I can."
Ayden nodded in agreement. "Thank you, for everything."
"Don't thank me yet. Not until you're on the outside again." James replied. With this he turned and knocked on the cell door. The lock released and he pushed the door
opened. He turned around just on the other side and waved a hand at Ayden. "See ya kiddo."
"See ya," Ayden called after him. He stood there as the door shut once again, leaving him alone in the dim lit room.
Soon the sound of footsteps faded, leaving the world silent once again.
His head once again resting on the pillow, he was just about to close his eyes when he heard the sudden sound of knocking on the wall right by his head. He sat up once more and placed his ear to the wall. From the other side came Marcus' voice.
"You awake?" Marcus asked from the other side of the wall.
"Yeah. What's up?" Ayden cupped his hands over his mouth toward the wall to make sure his voice had a chance to carry.
"Just wanted to say I understand now," Marcus said.
"Understand what?" Ayden asked.
"Why you didn't wanna talk about what happened. It's fucked up," Marcus said. "Hell if I had to deal with that kinda shit, I don't think I would have handled it nearly as well as you have."
"I don't know about that," Ayden replied. "You'd be surprised what people can handle when thrown to the wolves.
Believe me, I would have thought nothing like the last few weeks could have happened to someone like me. That my entire life would be torn apart in the blink of an eye. Or that I would be able to make it out without breaking down completely."
"Either way, I'm sorry. I really am man," Marcus said.
"Sorry that for a moment there, I believed you were what they said you were. But after overhearing your conversation with your godfather, I know my gut was right from the start."
"Thanks I guess," Ayden said. "I feel like a monster though. If you had seen what I left there at that night, I think you would think differently of me."
"From what I've heard, you're the only one who's not a fucking monster in this situation." Marcus interjected.
"The nightmares keep reminding me otherwise," Ayden said, his voice lowering so Marcus couldn't hear.
"It's been a long night, I'm gonna head to bed," Ayden said.
"Understandable. I just wanted to say again that I'm sorry. And thanks for standing up for me," Marcus said.
"No need to thank me. After all you've done for me, its the least I can do," Ayden said. "Anyways, goodnight."
"Goodnight."