Tape 4 2013

Shads opened up to me. In a big way the other day. I’d badgered him constantly over his sitch with Melissa. I guess he was fed up with holding stuff in. Maybe. Matthew can be a closed bastard when he wants to be.

To say what he revealed to me was easy to stomach? That’d be letting him off lightly. I think I found some new respect for what he’d gone through in the early days. It’s one thing to go through killing someone we all knew and loved… But, what passed between Matt and Melissa? Could be categorically worse. Perhaps?

Anyway. I now understand why their relationship is such a difficult one. If you could call it a relationship. No. That’s the wrong word.

Affiliation. Acquaintance. It’s a wonder Matt was even willing to speak of it.

Ahem…I’m not being vague. I guess even I’m reluctant to put voice to what he explained to me. Once you hear it for yourself, you will understand why.

Better just get it over with, after all I did want him to tell me so everyone else would have the knowledge.
It started with the riots in 2004…

~ ~ ~ ~

New Huntington
Town Hall
2004

“Jimmy! Jimmy! Seriously…”

Melissa peered over the top of the barrier, trying to find the tall figure of her compatriot amongst the growing crowd. It was not her intention to lose sight of him. That wasn’t part of the plan, at all. And at any rate, how could anyone lose sight of someone so…obvious. If the purple kimono wasn’t a dead give-away, the shock of orange hair that reminded one of some crazy scientist should’ve been like some kind of beacon. But, there was no sign of the irrepressible James Sullivan.

“Damn it,” Melissa hissed as someone behind her shoved her into the barrier. Glancing back, she blinked twice then groaned. “Jimmy…?”

Jimmy flashed his teeth at her before holding up two things that made her gut twist. Security cards and a set of keys.

"How...?" Melissa halted the words before they finished, knowing she didn't want to know. Jimmy sensed her reticence and didn't answer the question that hung between them. Instead he pointed back over his shoulder toward the steps of the Town Hall and mouthed a name.

Matthew.

Melissa felt a chill down her spine as she followed his pointing finger. The Creed were out in force. And Matthew Sanders, Jimmy’s high school friend, newly appointed TaskerOne stood at command. That couldn’t bode well for the members of PeaceLine who were scattered through the crowd. But, it was too late now for any of them to back out. Melissa was as committed to the cause as ever and James, well, he obviously was ready to do whatever it took to get his voice heard.

Jimmy spoke up then, his voice at her ear, hushed, low. “Take these…I’ll create a diversion.” He pressed his loot into her hands.

“What’re you thinking?” she whispered back.

The evil smirk that played across his lips should have worried her, and it did, but not enough to push him for an actual answer. Jimmy held a finger up to his lips and winked at her, before disappearing from her side once more.

Melissa groaned, muttering under her breath, “Wish you’d quit that, Sullivan.”

She took a moment to take stock of the situation; in her hands Melissa held the key to infiltrating the Town Hall. What she needed to do was get to the Communication Centre so that the message that PeaceLine recorded could be broadcast citywide. There were too many eyes focused around the entrance that she had to get to, though. That was where Jimmy came in.

* * * * *

“Shadows…Shadows!”

Matthew turned his head as Jason jerked his head down toward the growing crowd.

“What?”

“We have a problem…”

Matthew followed the other soldier’s gaze, scowling when he recognised the kimono-wearing whirlwind which was Jimmy Sullivan.

“Fuck…he doesn’t know when to quit.”

Jason rolled his eyes. “Want to deal with him?”

“No…you head him off.” Matthew glanced back up toward the Town Hall. “I need to check something.”

Jason frowned. “You think they'd dare try and sneak in?”

The T-One gave a little snort. “I’d like to see them try and get passed me.”

Jason’s lips twitched for he knew that if Matthew got his hands on a dissenter that would not end well. For anyone involved. “Right. Well, I’ll go head Jimmy off…”

Matthew nodded before he swung around and headed into the building.

~ ~ ~ ~
Tape 4 – continued

Zacky and Shads’ conversation.

ZV: So, what happened after you went into the Town Hall?

Shads (There’s a pause after the question, then he exhales in a rough sound): I found her snooping around the media centre. I never gave her a chance… (Another rough breath)

ZV: She didn’t hear you?

Shads: No. I grabbed her from behind, shoving her up against the wall. She didn’t fight me…which was a good thing ‘cos I’m not sure what I would’ve done if she had.

ZV: You’ve never hit a woman in your life.

Shads: Not that it mattered…what I did after I got her was a lot worse. (Teeth grinding together.) You sure you want me to go on, V?

ZV: Please. We need to document everything.

Shads: We should both talk to Doc James after this.

ZV: Just talk, Matthew.

Shads (a sigh): Not sure if you know, but there’s interrogation rooms in Town Hall. They’re still there, even now. The Creed use them if we can’t get perps back to the barracks. Anyway…I took Melissa down there.

ZV: I’d heard…could you describe the room?

Shads: A box, really…a single wooden chair with shackles attached to it. A wooden table. A dim light overhead. I cuffed Melissa to the chair…

ZV: Did you know who she was back then?

Shads: No. All I knew was that she was one of the people who instigated the riots. We didn’t have much intel on her or PeaceLine at the time.

ZV: They were a charity that raised funds for sick kids.

Shads (a snort): That was all we knew at the time too. Though in hindsight it made no sense they would cause a riot…unless they thought the state was subverting their right to do so. There had to be more to it than that.

ZV: Which is why you took the opportunity to interrogate Melissa?

Shads: Had to get her to tell me who she was, first.

ZV: Yes…of course. (A pause) Before you tell me about that…what happened with Jimmy?

Shads (laughs low): He took off, apparently. You know the Rev.

ZV: He didn’t stick around to make sure she was okay?

Shads: No. JB wasn’t able to catch him. That pissed him off. But, he never let on. And Jimmy was gone. Guess he wanted to create enough of a diversion to let Melissa get inside.

ZV: He must’ve seen you head in after her and decided to get the fuck outta there?

Shads: Too right. Things might’ve been different if it’d happened today…

ZV: Yeah…I still can’t believe he…

Shads: Neither. But, it is what it is. Anyway, Melissa.

ZV: Yes. What happened next?

Shads: Are you still sure you want to hear this?

ZV: Please.

Shads: Right. Well, I took her down to the interrogation rooms…

~ ~ ~ ~

Melissa gritted her teeth as she glared at Matthew through the curtain of her hair. He lifted an eyebrow at her, setting the key on the table between them.

“What is on this?”

Melissa fixed her gaze on the pitted surface of the table. She traced the stains, imprints of past interrogations.

“Tell me.” His voice was low, calm, controlled.

Curling her fingers into her palms, sweat trickling down her spine, Melissa knew she couldn't give him the answer to his question. She didn't even know. James told her nothing about what was actually on the drive. However, she didn't want to drop him in it…

“Answer my question.”

The hint of a growl in his tone made her look up at him. She still didn't speak, though. His brow furrowed at her as he placed his hands flat on the table and leaned in.

“You need to answer my question, or this is going to get a lot tougher for you.”

Melissa gave a little snort, shaking her head a little. “You can't do shit to me…”

Matthew was on her before she knew what hit her. A shriek tore from deep inside as he wrenched her head back by her hair, putting strain on her neck. With her wrists cuffed to the chair there was no way to stop him.

“Tell me.” Winding her hair around his fist, he tugged harder.

Melissa felt the burn as her spine protested. “I…can't…”

Matthew's nostrils flared, and then he twisted her hair tighter in his fist as he slid his other hand over her shoulder.

Melissa stiffened. “Shadows…” she swallowed hard, as his fingers began tugging at the buttons on her blouse.

He paused. “All you need to do is tell me what's on the key drive.”

Melissa clenched her jaw and shook her head again.

Matthew’s breath escaped in a heavy sigh. “This is on you then…”

~~~~~

ZV: Fuck…Shads…

Shads: You said you wanted to hear it.

ZV: But, you didn't actually?

Shads: I did. Doc James had to shrink me for weeks afterwards.

ZV: What about Melissa?

Shads: She didn't talk. The General ordered us to release her. It was a wasted exercise. It wasn't until much later that we found out she didn't know what was on the key. Jimmy…was too careful. Obviously. Not that we knew what he had to do with it. I still thought he was just the means for her to get inside.

ZV: You had no idea he was the mastermind?

Shads (snorts): You know that I didn't know. None of us knew until he came with me to get Val back.

ZV: True…still…fuck…now I understand. Somewhat.

Shads: Yeah. Not something I'm expecting her to ever forgive me for.

ZV: No, I suppose not…

~~~~~~~~

Zacky sat back, staring fixedly at the roll of tape as he finished listening to the playback. He wasn't sure what to do now that he knew the truth. What was he meant to do with an admission of…assault…

Matthew was sitting close by, a bottle of Jack pressed against his lips. The two friends looked at each other.

Zacky cleared his throat, speaking first. “The rally. We should take Melissa with us.”

“Why?”

Zacky sucked at his bottom lip. “A show of faith…that we trust her.”

Matthew took a long pull of the drink before setting it down on the floor. “Even after what I've just told you?”

“You need to prove to her that what happened in the past is exactly that. In the past.” Zacky pointed at the tape. “That's as much a confession of what you did, than anything. Maybe it's time you both moved on.”

Matthew scowled. “You want me to play her the tape?”

Zacky lifted his shoulders. “Maybe she needs you to acknowledge what you did to her.”

Matthew sighed. “Fine. You call her.”

Zacky pulled his phone from his pocket, pausing as he glanced sideways at his friend.

Matthew met his gaze. “I'll stay when she arrives. If she comes…”

“Only if she wants you to.”

“That goes without saying, V.”

Zacky scrolled through to find her number, but paused again. “You never said what was on the key drive?”

Matthew laughed in a burst. “It was one of Jimmy’s compositions…”

Notes

Wow. Just wow. An update. Finally. Please do enjoy, this one has been a long time coming.