“Wow, I didn’t realise this place was so fucking big...”

Matthew stood back, watching as Johnny and Zacky gazed up at the vaulted ceiling of the Locker. Steel beams crossed the length of the airspace and those circular caged lights that were often found in warehouses lined the gaps, hanging from long metal stems like upside down flowers. The space was large, cool, and extremely overawing. And they were only in the entrance hall. Johnny of course was as silent as ever. It was the mechanic who had made the exclamation.

“I mean, hell...the way they talk about it, you’d think the place was underground...”

“Most of it is,” Matthew pointed out.

Zacky glanced back at him, lifting an eyebrow. “Really?”

“Yeah. This is just the first level. There are three levels down and it stretches for miles underground.”

“Fuck. That’s insane.” Zacky shook his head, dragging his fingers through his hair. “How much shit is in here?”

Matthew’s face tightened. “Too much.” He didn’t go further with that statement, knowing if he did he’d probably say something he’d regret much later on down the track. Then again, this whole exercise they were about to embark on was probably going that route, anyway. Not that he was going to admit that.

Lifting a hand he motioned to his two companions. “Come on, we need to go to the office.”

Zacky moved to walk next to his friend, keeping his eyes fixed on a point several feet in front of them. He was still mad at Matthew. But, a part of him had been intrigued by the request that had been laid out before him. At least, enough to entice him to leave his shop closed for the rest of the day.

To be honest, he had always wanted to see inside the Locker. It was morbid curiosity which drove that particular thought process. Most people would avoid even talking about the Locker. It wasn’t anyone’s favourite place. Particularly anyone who had their things confiscated by the Creed. But, Zacky had never been in that position so his curiosity stemmed from the fact that it wasn’t really part of his life.

He took a moment to glance at his friend; Matthew was striding along in silence, his thoughts locked away behind the impenetrable cover of his Aviators. Not for the first time, and probably not the last either, Zacky wondered what was going on in Matt’s mind. He rarely gave anything away, if at all. That had always been the case, even back when they were all at high school.

Matthew Sanders was a man of very few words, and it hadn’t helped when he was younger that he’d had a bit of a stutter, always repeating words and having to really think hard before he spoke. It was evident, though, that he had improved on that front, quite a lot, except that if he got really excited he still repeated words in a jumble, sometimes. But, that didn’t happen often enough for anyone to notice.

His friend’s mysterious demeanour, of course, hadn’t gone unnoticed by any of his other friends – Brian and Jimmy - and it had caused them to call Matthew by the nickname ‘Shadows’. Well, Matthew had come up with it, and Zacky had just started to refer to him like that more than his actual name. It fitted, and it still suited now. Zacky knew that the men in the Creed used that moniker for the big man almost exclusively. It made him a lot more intimidating.

Zacky turned his contemplation from his friend to the younger man who was trailing behind them. Johnny Seward. He was walking with his head down, arms folded tight across his chest as if holding himself together. There was a feeling of sorrow that seemed to hang over him like an invisible storm cloud. Zacky could understand part of why Johnny was feeling as if the whole world was against him. Luke Seward had been his friend. Pretty damn close, really. And when he’d...died, it was as if a light had been doused.

However, what Matthew had said about Johnny not wanting to live was a bit harder to take in. Part of him wished he hadn’t asked on the drive over to the Locker. He would’ve much rather gone on not knowing that about the younger Seward. It was really depressing, and he was usually the one who could cause a room of people to feel bad. For Matthew to make him feel depressed was a new thing altogether.

“Zack,” Matthew’s voice pulled the younger man from his thoughts.

“Huh?”

“What were you doing with Elliott?”

Zacky looked over at him, finding himself staring into his confused eyes. Matthew had slid his shades down the slope of his nose, one eyebrow cocked.

“Oh, he was signing his Bentley over to me.”

Matthew let out a low whistle. “Nice.”

Zacky snorted. “Only if I can fix it. Pretty worthless, really.”

“You going to sell it once you have?”

The mechanic rolled his eyes. “I hadn’t thought about that really. Maybe I should. It’d cover all my debts and some.”

Matthew grinned a little. “You could take a holiday.”

“Yeah, guess I could,” Zacky shrugged.

“No, seriously. I reckon you should.”

Zacky shot the bigger man a sharp look, retorting, “Says the man who needs a vacation more than I do.”

Matthew’s face closed up. He pushed his Aviators back over his eyes. Zacky rolled his eyes again.

“Don’t do that, Shads. You know I’m right.”

“You rolling your eyes at me doesn’t help convince me, Zachary.”

“Rolling your eyes just pisses him off.”

They both halted, swinging their heads around to look at Johnny. He didn’t stop and just kept walking passed them, his head still down. But, it was the first words they’d heard him speak all morning and it surprised them both.

“Uh...Johnny?” Zacky jogged to catch up with the smaller man. Johnny didn’t look up, or stop, he just kept going.

But, he did answer, his voice low, barely audible. “He doesn’t like that, Vengeance.”

Zacky blinked at the name. “You remembered...”

Johnny didn’t respond that time.

Matthew caught up with them, a frown marring his features. “Zack, I can’t...” he cleared his throat, roughly. “I can’t afford to take a break. It’s hard enough Eskino is making me take this week off.” He’d explained all that to his friend on the way over, finally breaking his silence, at least on that front.

Zacky shot him a hard look. “No offence, Matt, but he’s right to do this to you. You need to get your priorities straight.”

Matthew glowered at his friend before turning to a door to their left. He placed a big palm on it, leaning against the solid wood, but not opening it. It became evident after a moment that he was trying to compose himself, taking deep breaths and murmuring in a low voice.

Zacky took the time during the small pause to look at the door and noted the plaque at the top: Main Office.

“Matt...”

“Don’t.” Matthew shook his head, before pushing the door open and stepping into the room.

* * * * *

The office was quite small. That was the first thing Johnny noticed as he walked in behind Zacky and Matthew. The space was enclosed, almost claustrophobic. Considering the room was the hub of the Locker, it was a little surprising. The second thing he noticed was the guitar that lay half-wrapped on the bench that took up most of the central space of the room. The stark black and white stripes were hard to miss.

Matt Berry caught him looking, and quickly reached over to whip the blanket over it, before turning to Matthew and engaging him in discussion about some item he had requested. Johnny hadn’t really been paying any attention when Matthew was talking to Zacky on the way over from the Council chambers, so had no idea what was going on. And, honestly he wasn’t really interested...

“...Seward’s bass? Are you crazy?”

Johnny’s ears pricked and all his muscles froze up.

He still remembered when he’d first got the instrument. It was his thirteenth birthday and Luke had bought it for him with all his savings. He’d been so excited to unwrap it, and plug it into the old rickety amp he and Luke had found in the dump. The subterfuge had been exhilarating as well, playing with his brother’s band in the padded shed out the back. They’d come so close to getting caught, several times, managing to escape detection by the skin of their nose. Afterwards they would laugh and joke that they were invincible...

But then, that date six years ago...

Johnny clenched his jaw, turning his head toward the others. Their conversation had continued while he’d been thinking on the past.

“You’d better hope you don’t get found with it. What the hell do you want it for anyway?” Matt Berry looked suitably anxious. Johnny could understand that. But, he couldn’t figure out what was going on. Even though they were speaking plainly. His mind was just a mess. Shaking his head to himself, he turned his gaze to the other Matt, the one who had brought him here.

Matthew ran his fingers along the edge of the bench, flicking the blanket back from the guitar, gazing at it before answering.

“You see Johnny?” He didn’t turn to indicate the younger male, but Matt could see. Johnny stiffened a little as Matt Berry glanced over at him.

“Uhuh?” Berry tilted his head to one side.

“It’s been six years since...the bust.” Matthew traced his thumb along the straight lines of the bodywork. He didn’t go further with his statement, just started circling the bench, examining the firm lines of the instrument. Then he said, “So...this is the one Elliott asked for, right?”

Matt blinked; Johnny frowned at the abrupt change of topic.

Zacky spoke up, “Uh...Shads, we were talking about Johnny’s-”

Matthew talked right over him, “Right, Berry?”

“Um, yes. Right.”

“Wrong.” Matthew’s lips twitched a vague hint if amusement passing across his features.

“Pardon?”

That got everyone’s attention. Matt Berry started blinking rapidly, not sure he’d heard the other male correctly. Zacky coughed, smearing a hand over his face and shaking his head in bemusement. Johnny just listened, his brow creasing in thought.

“What do you mean ‘wrong’?” Matt asked his tone sharp.

Matthew looked up from the guitar. “Perks of being TaskerOne, I get direct access to the Mayor’s purchase order account.”

“You...what?”

“I logged into the Mayor’s email account and sent through the request for this instrument. I need to get it back to the person who originally had it commissioned.”

Matt Berry stared at him; Zacky scowled. “You’re supposed to take this stuff away, not give it back.”

Matthew rolled his eyes, slapping his palm against the bench. “I have to uphold the law. But I also have to do what’s right.” He glared at them both, then looked over at Johnny who was staring at him as if he’d grown a second head.

“Isn’t that the same thing?” Zacky asked.

“What?”

“Upholding the law and doing the right thing?”

Matthew gave his friend a hard look. “No. The law is the law. It’s not always the right thing. Take Hitler. He decided it was illegal for Jews to do certain things. That didn’t make what he did to them right.”

“Okay...” Zacky folded his arms across his chest, expression just as stern as his friend’s. “You’re not making any sense.”

“How am I not making sense? Hitler killed all those Jews...”

“I’m not talking about Hitler.”

“Oh, right. The whole doing the right thing versus doing what the law says is right.”

“Yes. What’s up with that? Seriously? You definitely need a vacation.”

Matthew snorted. “And, now we’re back to that. I’m perfectly fine.” He turned his back nodding to the guitar. “Berry, wrap that up. Then you can take us to the Cellar.”

The Cellar was the lowest level of the Locker where the instruments of those who had either been executed or imprisoned, were kept. It was rare that anyone ever went down there, in fact usually only Matt did, being the one responsible for the centre.

“Um, yes, of course.” Matt picked up on the edge in Matthew’s tone and decided it would be best not to question him. He set to the task, keeping one ear on the ongoing conversation while prepping the instrument.

Zacky wasn’t so cautious. “I don’t get it. You get all fucking pissed at Jimmy for even suggesting anything vaguely to do with forming a band. And now you’re trying to get this guitar back to whoever had it made, and you want Johnny’s bass.”

There was several beats of silence where the three men all gave Matthew weird looks. Matt Berry was on the outer, considering he wasn’t essentially part of his inner circle of friends. Johnny was as well, just completely confused and wondering how this would affect him. Zacky just didn’t know what was going on with his friend. It was a mystery and was beginning to do his head in.

Matthew sighed, shaking his head. “There’s nothing to get. I’m doing this because I think it’s right.”

“It’s illegal.”

“Actually, only forming a band is. Unless Johnny’s going to form a one-man band, I don’t see the issue,” Matthew murmured.

Zacky, leaning against the bench, hissed through his teeth, “You’re still not making any sense.”

“You know what, Baker? Get over it. It’ll make sense soon enough. Can we just do this, and get out of here?” Matthew had had enough; his friend’s statements were beginning to get under his skin and he knew if he let it go any further he’d lose his temper.

Johnny was of the same mind, because he interrupted the conversation in an unexpected manner.

“Could someone tell me I’m fucking dreaming? My bass is here and I’m going to get it back?” His exclamation was clearly a question, but the tone in his voice caught all their attentions forcing them to look over to where he was standing by the door, glaring at them. The fact that he’d actually said anything was also a shock. Not that Johnny cared about that.

Matthew dug his hands into the pockets of his jeans, the leather of his jacket creaking at the motion. He didn’t answer, though. Matt Berry just shrugged.

After regaining his composure from the surprise of Johnny actually saying something, again, Zacky snapped, his tone cold, “I wouldn’t bother asking, Christ. You’re not gonna get a fucking answer.”

Johnny snorted, and said his tone just as scathing, “Yeah, that’s no surprise.”

Matthew pushed his shades up above his eyes, rubbing at them. “Ugh...you guys...just quit it, okay? I’ll explain everything...just not right now.”

Zacky shot a glare his way. “You’d better, Sanders. I don’t like not understanding shit.” He jabbed a finger in the air as he added, “And since you asked me to come with as a favour, I sure as shit think you owe me an explanation.”

Sighing, the bigger man looked down at the bench, shaking his head slowly, “Just wait, okay...I’ll explain once we’re done here...”

“Yeah? Well, I’m holding you to that,” Zacky said, his expression guarded, eyes narrowed in irritation.

Matthew acknowledged his friend with a nod of his head, knowing he’d have to front sooner or later, anyway. Then he turned to Berry. “Matt? Johnny’s bass?”

Matt had finished packing the Schechter, which was now in its own case, leaning up against the wall. He nodded to Matthew, walking to the door. Johnny stepped aside, letting him open it.

“This way...” Matt beckoned to them, walking out into the long corridor outside.

Johnny followed him out first, Zacky next.

Matthew brought up the rear, shutting the door and making sure it was locked tight behind him.