Long Beach, CA
2nd March 2013

Tape 1
1st December 2010

Being on the run is a scary thing. I wouldn't recommend it but, I guess if you have to, try and do it with a crew you trust. I've got that in spades. There's Syn, always with his poetry and argumentative bent. Then there's Christ. Hard nut alcoholic yet loyal to a tee. And then, there's Shads. M Shadows our fearless fucking leader. Yep that's my crew.

Oh, then there's me, Zacky Vengeance. But, I'm just a tag-a-long... well, not quite. Though it feels that way a lot of the time.

Oh, and Johnny's just told me he's not an alcoholic, but it's not like I blame him. He got kinda screwed, being in jail and all. I mean it's been ages now...but.

We're in the middle of nowhere in some bomb shelter that Elijah hired...yeah, I know. Exciting...

Oh, and you know the strangest thing? The General….Eskino….Peter… He is totally on board with what we’re doing. I mean…fuck, who would’ve thought? But, you know…he was devastated about what happened with Jimmy. Said it was like Matthew Pasan all over again. Anyway, he’s helping to fund this whole exercise. And uh…he’s going to resign as General. Well, officially…I mean, once a General, always a General, right? Still, he told us he couldn’t envision staying where he was. Though he is worried where that will leave The Creed.

I hate to think who will take his place…probably Jason. That’ll piss Shads off…

~~~~~~

“Zack? What’re you doing?”

Zacky hit the pause button, glancing up as Matthew was looming over his left shoulder. “What? Nothing.”

“You don’t have to lie to me.” Matthew chuckled. “Documenting everything is a good idea. Just in case, y’know?” Leaning against the back of his friend’s chair, he scanned the equipment laid out in front of them. They’d accumulated the assorted recording gear over the past three years or so, most of it coming from black market sources. Dangerous, but necessary.

Zacky’s brow furrowed as he replayed the tape, muttering distractedly, “Did you need something?”

“I’m bringing Melissa in.” Matthew’s tone was flat, revealing nothing. His friend’s head shot up, his work momentarily forgotten.

“What? Why?” Zacky’s throat went tight, a churning sensation starting up in his stomach. It was a while since Eli’s assistant had spoken to them. And she was always so…reluctant to open up. Especially around Matthew. Not that Zacky had any luck with her either. She was a closed book and that was somewhat of an irritation.

Matthew answered, slowly, “She has information we need.”

“Why you telling me?” Zacky was nonplussed. Matthew Sanders wasn’t one for confiding in others. Especially when it came to managing things. Though he did defer to the mechanic a lot more than he used to.

“You're the technological whiz here.” Matthew lifted a hand, stalling the protest that was on the tip of Zacky’s tongue. “It's true.”

Zacky wondered at that, shaking his head. “Still doesn't explain why I need to know.”

Matthew’s sigh sounded exasperated. “You work the media for us, Zack, and what she knows needs to be filtered through the underground channels.”

“Underground media networks?” Zacky’s tone changed, becoming wary. He wasn’t sure how his friend had come across his connections but it worried him. After all it had taken considerable time for the mechanic to work his way into the network and to gain the trust of key people within. And for Matthew to be able to find out so easily…then again he had his own connections, didn’t he?

“Yes.” Matthew said then changed the subject abruptly, nodding to the desk. “So…what were you working on?”

Zacky waved a hand toward his gear. “Some old files. I haven’t…recorded anything in ages.” Sighing, he rocked back on his chair, propping his feet up on the desk.

“You going to share them with us?” Matthew popped an eyebrow genuine curiosity in his eyes.

For a moment, Zacky didn’t respond choosing instead to just gaze thoughtfully at his shoes. The seams were beginning to fray and he absently pondered the wisdom of buying new shoes. Then he lifted his gaze to his friend who was waiting patiently for him to answer.

He sucked at his bottom lip before he said, “Going to share with the world hopefully.”

“Hah.” Matthew grinned. “Through your connections?”

Zacky rolled his eyes. “You’re not funny, Shads…” He shifted so he was leaning over his work again, effectively ignoring his friend.

Matthew sighed. “Well, whenever you’re ready, V.”

“Thanks.” Zacky didn’t look up as he turned a dial carefully. “I’m just trying to get them into the right format.” There was a pause before a soft click reached his ears and he gave a satisfied smile.

His friend laughed. “I still don’t know why you used cassette tapes.”

“Well, since you and Christ have gone back to the eighties with your hairstyles…” Zacky waved a hand at Matthew’s decidedly long mane. The bigger male grimaced.

“That was a dare.”

Zacky cast him a long look of disbelief. “Really? Why’d you keep it then?”

“Guess I’m lazy.” Matthew shrugged as he a clapped a hand to the shorter male. “I’ll leave you to it.”

Zacky started to nod but then frowned, remembering something else. “Oh, before you go…there was something else I found.”

“What was that?” Matthew turned back, an eyebrow raised.

“This.” The mechanic lifted a thick wad of papers that was tied with a leather ribbon. “A record of the final show Rebel Assassin played before it all started going downhill. The…catalyst, if you will.” He handed it to Matthew who held it gingerly in his big hands.

“How’d you get a hold of this?”

Zacky rocked back on his chair again. “You wouldn’t believe it if I told you.”

“Vengeance…” Matthew’s voice was a low growl.

Zacky smiled slightly. “It was in Jimmy’s stash.”

Matthew blinked a misty-eyed look coming to his expression. “That fucker…”

“He never ceases to amaze me, too,” Zacky dragged his fingers through his hair that at the moment was flat on his head. “Anyway, I haven’t fully read it, yet. But, it was written by Eli.” He crossed his arms over his chest. “How’s that for an interesting development?”

Matthew set the document down on the desk, nodding. “Intriguing. Well, let me know when you get around to looking at it. I’d like to know what it says.”

The mechanic smiled grimly as he set it aside and turned back to his prior task. His friend left him to it, pulling his cell phone from his back pocket as he headed for a different part of the bunker.

* * * * *

Brian glanced up from the lyrics he was writing as he heard Matthew’s footsteps approaching. The bigger male looked beyond frustrated.

“What is it?”

Matthew grunted as he flung himself in the seat next to the poet. “Melissa won’t pick up. I need to get a hold of her.” He tossed his phone on the coffee table that was covered with scrunched up balls of paper. Brian had been busy, writing, writing and more writing. Along with the litter there were numerous bottles of Jack and mugs of coffee clustered to one end of the table. Not all Brian’s.

Matthew lifted one of the mugs and drained the dregs at the bottom. His friend raised his eyebrows at him. He shook his head his hair moving with the motion.

“How’s Zack doing?” Brian asked.

Matthew smiled for the first time that day. “He’s right into those tapes of his. I’m hoping to hear some of it soon. And he found something interesting in Jimmy’s collection.”

“Oh?” Brian stretched his arms out in front of him, glancing at the fresh ink on his forearms. “What would that be?”

Matthew cracked his knuckles. “Something about Assassin…”

“Ah, now that’s funny. Why would The Rev…?”

“No idea, man.” Matthew set the mug back on the table. “But, I guess we’ll find out soon.” He looked at the bottles of Jack, brow furrowing. “Where’d Christ go?”

Brian paused in his scribbling. “Outside for some fresh air. He’ll probably have passed out on the grass.”

“That kid,” Matthew grumbled. “He’ll kill himself one of these days.”

“The Astor fucked him up,” Brian pointed out, needlessly.

“He refuses to see the good doc…”

“No offence to Doc Jones, but who wants to be shrinked?”

Matthew glanced at his friend. “It’s James.”

“What?”

“Doc James. Not Jones.”

“Oh. Right. I was thinking of that song by that band…Aqua.”

Matthew blinked, nonplussed. “What?”

“You know. Doctor Jones.” He started singing, “Doctor Jones, Jones…calling Doctor Jones…”

“Could you not…” Matthew made a face. Brian chuckled as he stuck his pen in his mouth.

After a moment he commented, “Hope he took a jacket. It’s still cool out nights.”

Matthew raised his eyebrows, nodding to the leather jacket that hung over the back of his friend’s seat. “You don’t happen to mean that jacket?”

Brian snorted in response and shook his head. “Short shit doesn’t feel the cold anyway…” He returned his focus to the numerous scraps of paper spread out in front of him. Matthew observed him in silence then he lifted his phone, standing to leave.

Brian glanced up at him, questioning light in his eyes.

“Going to try Melissa again,” he said in way of explanation as he made for the stairs. “Better reception outside.” He didn’t see Brian’s nod as he stepped out into the cool night air that filtered down the stairs. He frowned then sighed heavily.

Johnny had left the outer door open, again.
‹ Chapter 1

Notes

Please let me know what you think :D thank you for joining the journey!