Johnny couldn’t decide whether Matthew was the craziest man he had ever met, or the bravest. The revelation that the commander of The Creed was not as picture perfect as some would think came as a big surprise to the younger man. Considering Matt’s apparent position on the law, and his hard line attitude when it came to dealing with those who broke it, it was almost difficult to associate that man with the one being revealed now.

Matthew was leaning over his computer, Brian Snr seated next to him. The two men were chatting about some of the elder man’s new music, and the election campaign he was putting together. Johnny thought it was odd to see the popular entertainer running for Mayor. He didn’t seem the type to even be interested in politics, at least in any serious way. Of course, he could see the positives to Brian Snr becoming Mayor. He was capable of changing people’s ideas about the social situation of the time. He polarised opinions even through his music. Johnny knew he walked a fine line, though.

Music that was too anti-government was also banned from airplay, not that it prevented it one hundred percent. There was a song doing the rounds by an underground band, the name of which Johnny couldn’t remember – the song or the band - which was very derogative of the American Republic.

“Christ?”

Johnny blinked, realising that Matt had been talking to him and he wasn’t even listening. “Uh, sorry, what?”

Matthew rolled his eyes then pointed to the bass where it was propped against the wall. Johnny followed his finger and frowned.

“You want my bass?”

“No. Just grab it, okay?”

“Why?”

Matt sighed, “Because, I want to get some bass tracks for something…just grab it, okay?”

Johnny scowled at the bigger man. “What for?”

“Just do it, Jonathan. I’ll explain once you’re set.”

The younger male rolled his eyes at the use of his full name, but did as he was asked. He reached out to grab the instrument and slung the strap over his shoulder getting it settled. Then he looked at Matthew who was unravelling some cords, an expression of deep concentration on his face. His brow was furrowed, jaw clenched, anxious thoughts passing across his eyes.

“Um, Matt?” Johnny pressed. Matthew lifted his head to him then smiled faintly, as he held out one end of the cord.

“Here, plug yourself in.”

Johnny took the cord and plugged it into the socket at the base of his bass. Then he leaned over it and ran his thumb over the strings, sucking at his bottom lip.

“Right,” Matt said, “give me a sec.” Before he could do anything though, the doorbell chimed the ringing coming through an intercom panel on the wall. “Dammit.” He got up and went over to the intercom pressing the button. “Who is it?” He released the button and waited for the response.

“Dude, it’s me. Zack, you gonna let me in?” the mechanic’s voice sounded tinny through the small speakers.

Matt cursed under his breath before he pressed the button to respond, “Be right there.” When he released it again, he swore some more, before he made his way to the door.

Brian Snr frowned and said as the younger male opened the door, “What’re you going to tell him?”

Matthew looked back, acknowledging the worry on the elder’s face. “The truth. I can’t front, not with Zack. I owe him at any rate.”

“Oh?”

He didn’t elaborate, just turned and ascended the stairs. Before he got too far, though, he reappeared in the doorway and added to Brian Snr, “Fill Johnny in, could you? I’ll be right back.”

Brian Snr nodded; Matthew ducked out, his footsteps fading as he went back up the stairs.

* * * * *

Zachary grimaced as he surveyed the set-up in the basement. This was not what he had suspected when Matthew had greeted him in grim silence at the front door. Of course, he’d come because he was so damned sick of his friend’s lack of explanation, but he had not expected any of what was in front of him.

Barely ten minutes had passed since Matthew lead him through the house, to the gym and down into the concealed basement. There had been no preliminaries between them, the fact that the mechanic had come for a reason was obvious. They knew each other too well, in some regards at least, to bother wasting time on small talk.

“What the hell is this?” Zacky finally found the nerve to ask, his voice strained. His eyes were bright, filled with uncertainty.

Matthew leaned back against the desk where Brian Snr was seated watching the screen. Johnny was standing to one side, bass slung over his shoulder as he concentrated on playing. Deep bass tones filled the room, an ominous soundtrack that added to the tension in the atmosphere.

Zacky scowled at his friend’s silence. “Shads?”

“What’s it look like?” the bigger male murmured in an almost defensive tone.

“I don’t know. Something you shouldn’t be doing.”

Matthew sighed as he pushed away from the wall and wandered along to stand beneath the biggest poster in the room. He glanced up at it, an indecipherable expression ghosting across his face. Then he returned his gaze to his friend.

“I owe you an explanation.”

Zacky snorted but made no other reply. He shoved his hands into the pockets of his pants and raised his eyebrows, an expectant look in his eyes.

Matthew took a deep breath, rubbing his hands over his biceps; he squeezed them before he spoke in a low voice, “Papa Gates and I have been collaborating on a piece of work for the past year.” He paused to gauge his friend’s reaction. Zacky just stared back at him, expression unchanged. He continued, “It’s an opinion piece…and…it’s well, it’s not something that would ingratiate us with the authorities if it ever got out.”

Zacky blinked. “That’s it?”

“What?”

“That’s what all this secrecy is about? A fucking song?”

Matthew grimaced. “An illegal song.”

Zacky dragged a hand through his hair then pointed his finger at him. “Yeah, but this is what all this has been about? A song? I can’t believe it.”

The bass tones had quit in the background, both Johnny and Brian Snr had turned their attentions from what they were doing, and now watched the two friends in a nervous quiet. Matthew propped his back against the wall and folded his arms over his chest. Tension was evident in the lines of his body, in the tightness of the skin at his eyes.

“Well. Not exactly,” Matt finally conceded. “There’s more than that.”

“Oh, there is, is there?” Zacky rolled his eyes, disdain obvious in his tone.

Matthew glared at him. “I can’t cut a break with you, can I?”

“And what the fuck does that mean, Shads?” Zacky met his friend’s hard gaze with an equally stern look.

Matt worked his jaw then growled, “Whatever I say you’ll get shitty over, so why should I bother?”

Zacky averted his gaze; the bigger male’s accusation rang uncomfortably around the room. Both Brian Snr and Johnny shrugged at him, neither of them willing to get drawn into the argument. He closed his eyes then rubbed at them while inhaling in a rough gesture.

“I just want to understand,” he eventually muttered. He glanced at Matt. “You’re such a hard-ass, this is not you.”

Matthew cocked his eyebrows at that statement. “Really? I’d like to think this is just an extension of all the shit I used to get up to as a kid.”

Zacky stared at him, disbelieving. Then he laughed harshly, shaking his head. “You’re twenty-eight, Matt. It’s been helluva long time since we left kidhood.”

“Kidhood? Really?” Matthew chuckled and added in a wry tone, “All men are just grown up children; we just trade Tonka trucks for much bigger things.”

“Yeah, well,” an edge crept into the mechanic’s voice, as his brow furrowed, all trace of humour gone, “this isn’t a game you should be playing. Fuck. You’re the T-One. You-”

Matthew growled, cutting off his friend mid rant, “I should what? Sit around on my ass and let the government screw people over just because they want something that’s actually good for them?” Zacky opened his mouth to reply, but Matt ran over his words, not letting him get an edge in. “Anyhow, I thought you were pissed at me for not wanting to change things? What was it you said ‘you need to get your priorities straight’?” Matt lifted his eyebrows at his friend then his shoulders. “Well, I’ve got my priorities sorted, so what’s the big deal?”

Zacky sighed, looking down at the floor as if he could find what he wanted to say on the pale lino. He crossed his arms, and shook his head slowly.

“Sure, I was mad. But, I don’t want you to get into trouble. I mean,” he glanced up, frowning deeply, “it’d be harder on you if you got caught.”

Matthew nodded. That was something he had realised, a long time ago. But he had come to terms with the consequences he could face if he was found out. There was no need for him to voice that fact, though. It was enough that he let his friend know, he knew.

“Zack…”

His friend held up a hand, stopping him. ‘What exactly are you doing?”

Matt stared hard at Zacky for a long time, obviously sifting through the many possible responses he could give. He looked beyond the other male to Brian Snr and Johnny who were both looking on, the former with a world-weary expectancy, the latter curiosity and fear.

He struggled with his thoughts for a moment wondering how he should state them, before he heaved a sigh and answered, bluntly, “Starting a revolution.”

Zacky blinked slowly at him then allowed a bark of laughter to drop from his lips. “You gotta be fucking kidding me, Shads.”

Matthew cocked his head to the side. “No, I’m not.”

“A revolution? You for real?”

“Well, maybe not exactly a revolution…I don’t think one person, or even two can start a revolution…”

“They can start one,” Brian Snr pointed out. “Every little bit helps.”

Zacky groaned as he slid down onto the floor, sitting so he could try to pull together his own thoughts. None of this was like anything he had ever suspected. He’d had ideas, certainly – Matt giving the bass and guitar to Johnny…and Brian, maybe…but never what he’d just pronounced – it boggled his mind.

“I could imagine Jimmy doing this,” he finally muttered.

Matthew rolled his eyes. “Really? I couldn’t.”

“What? Why? He’s always been the craziest out of all of us.”

“Yes, but he doesn’t have a death wish.”

“Oh, and you do?” Zacky gave his friend a sharp look.

Matthew snorted as he echoed something their friend had said earlier, “It’s not like I’m starting a band, or anything.”

The mechanic frowned, “No?”

Matt chuckled, a hidden gleam in his eyes, and then he turned back toward Johnny, motioning him to continue with his playing. As he turned though, he muttered half under his breath so Zacky had to strain to hear what he said.

“Not yet, that is…”

“Excuse me?” Zacky said in a loud voice. Matthew looked back over his shoulder at his friend.

“Yes?”

“What do you mean?”

“What do I mean?” he smirked at the mechanic, but didn’t answer the question, instead his focus shifted back to Johnny once again. Zacky glared at him, but he took no notice. “Try a more syncopated rhythm, Johnny. I think it’d fit that passage better.”

Zacky sighed and leaned back against the wall, resigned to the fact that he still didn’t know what was going on. But hoping that Matt would reveal all, soon. At least before he went mad with hypothesising things that probably weren’t even close to the truth. Shaking his head, he settled back and attempted to let his mind relax as Johnny’s bass tones once again filled the basement.