Resolution

Jimmy was going crazy. He wasn’t the kind of guy who did well in small enclosed spaces. Currently, he was laying on his back on the floor, turning lazy circles whilst singing loudly. An attempt to drown out the silence of the cell. And to drown out all the shit that was going on his head.

There was a sudden click and he stopped, looking over as the door to his cell swung open. Two grim-faced guards strode in. One held his gun in hand, pointed at him; the other approached him, motioning impatiently.

“Get up.”

Jimmy felt a chill. “What?” The usually laconic male didn’t feel that it was appropriate to make jokes at this time so he just stared up at the guard from his position on the floor.

The guard, grimacing, aimed a kick at his leg. “I said, get. Up.”

Jimmy pouted. “No need to kick me…I’m up…I’m up…” He scrambled to his feet, keeping his distance.

“Turn around. Hands behind your back.”

He turned, steeling himself as he felt cold metal encircling his wrists then clicking shut. He took a deep breath but didn’t get to finish it as the guard roughly jerked him out of the cell.

“What the Hell?” Now he felt that he needed to speak up. The other guard, prodding him with the gun, gave him a warning look.

“Walk.”

Jimmy glowered at the two guards. “Where are we going?”

“The Commander wants to talk.”

The colour went from Jimmy’s face. He shook his head but made no comment. What could he even say? Jason knew more than anyone when it came to James Sullivan, and wasn’t that a cracker? Not even Matthew…

“Move.” The guards unceremoniously marched the tall male out of the cell block and to the Commander’s quarters.

Jason looked up from his bootlaces when they approached. Jimmy was no longer protesting, his expression schooled into one of sheer boredom as if the whole situation was beneath him.

The commander frowned and shot a look at the two guards. “Leave us.”

They saluted and left Jimmy standing before Jason, silent as the grave.

“Jimmy…” Jason’s voice was tired. Jimmy just looked at him, not giving him anything. “You’re an idiot, y’know? This isn’t going to do the others any good.”

Jimmy’s lip curled. But he still said nothing. The commander wrung his hands together.

“I didn’t want it to come to this.”

Death. That’s what he meant. Jimmy knew this. His lips twitched into a smile, laughter bubbling from deep within him. Jason’s brow furrowed as he sensed the change in his old friend’s demeanour. He cast him a long hard look.

Jimmy chuckled. “It’s all the same to you soldier types. You think an execution is going to solve everything. It won’t. Y’know?”

“It will serve its purpose,” Jason growled, not liking that the other male was laughing at him. “Your friends will think twice before going on with this foolhardy exercise.”

Jimmy stared unblinkingly at the commander. He knew that would never happen. Matthew and the others were too far into it to ever pull back. At any rate, it wasn’t in Matthew’s nature to surrender. And for all that Zacky was the reluctant party…once he was set on a task there was no going back. Brian, Syn…he was always determined to finish something, and Johnny? His grief and anger at the system drove him as much as it drove Jimmy.

Jason sighed and called his men back. “I have no other choice, James.” He nodded to the guards. “Take him back to his cell.”

Jimmy said nothing as they lead him away. He would not give the other male the satisfaction of knowing his feelings. Knowing that he was afraid, but at the same time filled with hope that it would not be all in vain. He felt that the right thing was done. To let Matthew and Val get away…especially his friend…it needed to be done.

Once back in his cell, he set about preparing for what was to come.

* * * * *

Major Thom Ilejay stood in the middle of an almost empty parking garage, watching as three vehicles approached him. The first was an old white van and his lips twitched on recognising his old friend at the wheel. Eli was out first, the woman, his personal assistant, was close behind him.

“Major…my old friend…”

Thom grasped his hand, pulling him in for a hug and a back slap. “Eli, you old fool. It’s good to see you.”

Elijah’s smile was warm but filled with an anxiety that the Major didn’t miss. Instead of commenting, though he turned to Melissa and smiled.

“Melissa, it is a pleasure to finally meet you in the flesh.”

She held her hand out to shake his, but he took it and bowed over it, placing a chaste kiss on it. She actually blushed, her smile disarming as her eyes lit up in surprised delight.

“Same back…” she fumbled on her words. Thom chuckled gently then turned to watch the other two vehicles.

The Bentley purred as it came to a halt in front of them. Doors swinging open the five young men inside climbed out, varying expressions of weariness and wariness covering their faces. Matt Berry saluted the Major as they organised themselves in a line, shifting their gaze to the third vehicle. An old Ford truck that had seen better days came to a shuddering halt next to the Bentley. And Matthew Sanders jumped out of the driver’s side.

Now, Matthew Thom knew about. Everyone in Long Beach knew the former TaskerOne of the Creed. He was a formidable man for someone so young. Not one to mess with that was for sure. Even if he was no longer a member of the Creed. It was good to know that someone so ruthless was on their side.

“Major Ilejay,” the name rolled off the tip of Matthew’s tongue as if it were natural. Though they both knew the truth behind the name.

Thom bridged the gap, holding out his hand to shake the younger man’s. There was strength in Matthew’s grip.

“Matthew. You made it.”

Matthew’s lips twitched. “We did.”

Thom noticed the hint of sadness in the younger male’s too bright eyes, but he mentioned it not. Waving his hand to them he indicated they should follow.

“Come. I’ll take you to my office.”

* * * * *

There weren’t very many high-rise buildings in Long Beach, but Ilejay Towers was one of the few. It housed many small businesses that wouldn’t have got off the ground except for the generous support of the Major. His office was on the seventh floor, which wasn’t even anywhere near the top. That was a reflection of what type of man the Major was.

“You don’t live here, do you?” Zacky asked as he examined a large photo that hung on the wall.

Thom chuckled. “No. These are all businesses. My family and I live in a Bungalow on the coast.” He sat at a small Oakwood desk, resting his hands on the polished surface. “You will meet them, but…business first.”

Matthew, standing near the window, turned his head slightly. “Berry says you have a place we can hide out.”

Thom nodded. “It’s on the outskirts. No one really knows about it except a select few.” His eyes met Eli’s for a moment. His old friend smiled in response.

“That’s good,” Zacky murmured. “Will you take us there?”

Thom picked up his phone. “I’ll make a few calls to check security.” He blinked as his phone started to ring in his hand. He answered it, gruffly, “Yes?” He paled and shot a look toward Matt Berry who was lounging near the television in the corner. “The news…” He hung up and pointed to the remote.

Reaching forward, Matt hit the power button and they all turned to watch as the latest news bulletin flashed across the screen.

“At five o’clock this evening The Creed issued forth a statement pertaining to the prisoner James Owen Sullivan. The T-One said that his execution is set for later this night-”

“No!” Zacky lunged for the remote, hitting the buttons. The screen went black as he slumped to the floor an awful keening sound coming from the mechanic.

“Shads?” Brian, who was hovering near the door, spoke up, urgency in his voice. Dragging his fingers through his hair, Matthew turned his head to look at the Major.

“There is nothing to be done for your friend, Matthew. By the time you got back to NH…” Thom’s expression was bleak. He understood what the young men were going through. It was exactly how things went down for him and Eli…not that anyone knew that about him.

Matthew nodded, expression equally grim. “I agree. There’s no time.” His lashes flickered as he shot Zacky a hard look. The mechanic was opening his mouth to protest. “V. We can’t do anything for Jimmy.”

The sound of Zacky grinding his molars set the others on edge; he snapped, “You should never have let him go with you.”

Matthew rolled his eyes. “There was no way he’d listen to that. Anyway, you didn’t want me to go alone.”

“If I’d known Jimmy would be an idiot and do that-”

“You would’ve come instead,” Matthew murmured. Zacky grimaced, averting his gaze. “And you would’ve done the same thing.”

“There is no way-”

“You would have.” Matthew’s tone was hard. “You may have gone about it differently, but you would’ve done it.” He cast a serious look at his friend. The mechanic wouldn’t meet his gaze, choosing to stare fixedly out the window at the street below.

“Zack…”

“No. This was not meant to happen. We…were all meant to get out of there, safe. And staysafe.” Zacky’s tone was brittle, breaking. Johnny, who stood close by mumbled in agreement. Brian shook his head, slapping his notebook against his thigh. Matt Berry’s eyes shifted from the photo he was staring at on the wall. Melissa, leaning next to him, looked grim.

Elijah spoke up then. “James has never been predictable. Your friend did what he thought was right.”

“I wouldn’t have gotten Val back safe if he hadn’t,” Matthew added.

Zacky rolled his eyes but said nothing else. There wasn’t anything he really could say. The choices they made from now on were all fraught with danger. But, for the sake of their fallen friends, he knew they were all willing to make those choices if it meant that it would make society that much better.

To make it safe for everyone.