Same day
Ilejay Towers

Major Thom Ilejay stood at the large window gazing out on the street below. Behind him the Creed’s Commander was making himself comfortable on the settee. The quiet that hung between them stretched interminably until Jason Berry cleared his throat and spoke, his tone dark.

“The General said you were an old friend of his, sir.”

Thom didn’t turn his head when he answered. “Indeed. Eskino and I go back a long way.” He shifted ever so little on his feet. A barely perceptible motion to the untrained eye; but, Jason picked it straight away. “We trained together.”

“He mentioned that,” Jason spread out the morning paper that he purchased earlier, the rustling of the pages catching the Major’s attention. He turned and tilted his head as Jason went on. “He wanted me to meet you.”

Thom’s lips tightened in a thin line. “I can hardly think why, Commander?”

Jason shook his head. “I don’t really know why, either, sir. The General didn’t give any real indication.”

Thom chuckled softly. “Typical of him. Always so…circumspect.”

The younger man nodded as he glanced down at the pages in front of him. “Though, you apparently have a lot of power here in Long Beach.” His gaze lifted back to the Majors who was expressionless. “You’d possibly know a lot about what goes on here.”

Thom lifted an eyebrow, noting the article Jason was fixated on. “More riots in New Huntington?”

Jason’s words were cautious as he responded, “Avenged Sevenfold has become a symbol of resistance at home and there is still no trace of their whereabouts.” He sighed, thrusting the paper at the Major. “But, the rioters don’t seem to care either way.”

“But, The Creed does?” Thom frowned and sat opposite the younger male.

Jason gave a curt nod. “Yes. We want to know where they are. And Intel we have gleaned suggest they may be here in Long Beach.” He lifted an inquiring eyebrow at the Major.

Thom sighed crossing his arms over his chest. “And, you think I might have heard something?”

“Yes, sir.” Jason nodded his head slowly, watching the Major carefully. The elder male frowned at him.

“Where’d the intel come from?”

Jason shook his head. “Anonymous tip. But…” he paused and met the Major’s gaze directly. “To be entirely honest with you, sir, we’ve had this intel for a while. A few years…”

Thom raised his eyebrows. “That long?”

“Yes. I came to Long Beach…not long after James Sullivan’s execution. But, you weren’t in town.” Jason leaned forward. “General Eskino wanted me to meet you back then. And then, things got crazy back home, so it wasn’t until now that I remembered his request.”

Thom shook his head. “It’s been almost four years, though.”

“I know. But, The Creed’s been kept busy with riots in Huntington.” Jason sighed. “The worse ones were at the Astor…” He grimaced. “Same organisation who caused the riots back in the early noughties.”

Thom nodded. “Because of young Sullivan’s execution I would assume.”

Jason rubbed at his face. “Yes, sir. And then life just got in the way.” He chuckled slightly. “That sounds pretty lame doesn’t it, sir?”

Thom lifted his shoulders, smiling. “Heard you got married.”

Jason laughed, nodding. “Yes. The wife keeps me busy… So, have you heard anything?”

The Major was silent for a moment as he walked back over to the window and looked out across the traffic. He was troubled. On the one hand he couldn’t be seen to be hiding things, not from The Creed. Even though they had no jurisdiction in Long Beach they could still make recommendations to the governing body about what was happening in the city. But, on the other hand, he didn’t feel right revealing what he knew. Considering what he knew could blow his own cover.

He remained calm as he sorted through his thoughts before turning to face the younger male.

“Look, the only thing I’ve heard is what you have. They’re here in Long Beach, and if you think you’re the only person looking for them…”

Jason’s brows lifted. “So, you’re looking for them as well, sir?”

Thom grimaced, expression dark. “You think I want fugitives in my town, Commander? It doesn’t look good for our clean image.”

The Commander nodded. “Of course. That’s a fair point.” He stood and walked over to the photos on the wall. “This your family?”

Thom stiffened ever so slightly but inclined his head in affirmation. “Yes. My son Arin…and my wife. Heather.” He smiled as he joined Jason in front of the photos. “They’re my life.”

Jason rubbed at his chin then looked at the Major. Thom glanced at him from the corners of his eyes. The younger man smiled softly, and turned to look around the whole office. The Major observed him in silence, wondering what was going through his mind. After all, he knew that Jason used to be friends with the members of Avenged. Best friends in fact. And it worried the Major that he had turned on them so easily…

“Well, I will be staying in Long Beach for some time,” Jason finally said. “The General told me to take another break. Something about being good for my health.” He frowned adding almost as an afterthought, “He thought the same about Shads…”

Thom’s brow furrowed a spike of anxiety causing him to tense up at his words. “So…will you still be looking for?” He halted his words knowing he couldn’t let on that it bothered him.

Jason nodded. “And, I would like to pick your brain a bit as well if you don’t mind, sir.”

Thom chuckled softly, getting his emotions in check. “Of course. Heather would love to cook a young soldier a big dinner.”

Jason smiled. “A dinner invite?”

“That’s my family’s way.” Thom nodded, thinking if he could keep his eyes on the TaskerOne there would be less chance of him poking his nose where he shouldn’t. And, give him time to warn Matthew and the others.

Jason smiled. “Would you know of anywhere I could stay?”

The Major hesitated for a moment before responding cautiously, “I may know of some place.” He picked up keys off his desk. “Will have to ask Heather first, though.”

Jason rubbed at the nape of his neck. “Are we going then?”

Thom glanced at his family photos and nodded slowly. “I can answer any questions you have on the way.”

* * * * *

“So, you going to tell me what Melissa had to say?”

Zacky glanced up from the transcript of his latest tape. Matthew was standing over him with an expectant look on his face. The mechanic just gave him a blank look then sighed, pushing back from the desk and standing.

“Zack…” Matthew’s voice was tight, he was on edge but Zacky couldn’t bring himself to tell him what the woman had told him. But his friend had other ideas. “You have to tell me.” Matthew blocked his path.

Zacky looked hard at him. “No. I don’t. Not yet.”

Matthew frowned, eyes narrowing. “What do you mean, not yet?”

Zacky shook his head as the others wandered over at that moment. Brian was taking a break from his writing to talk with Arin and Johnny was in the middle of drinking what was probably his fifth bottle of Jack for the day.

“Hey,” Brian said, “Arin says he wants to show us something.” He grinned and motioned to the drum kit that was set up in one corner of the room. Matthew smiled and Zacky grinned glad for the distraction. Hopefully it would put off Matthew’s questions at least for a while longer.

His friend must have read his mind, because Matthew looked pointedly at Zack and murmured, “You will tell me what Melissa said.”

Zacky rolled his eyes. “Later.”

“I’ll hold you to that, Zachary.”

“You do that.”

Zacky let him go hanging back to watch as his friend’s gathered around Arin and the drum kit. Even Matthew looked excited. Sure was a welcome change from his usual dour mood. His mood was effecting everyone, hence Johnny’s alcoholic buffet and the graphite stains on Brian’s fingers. And, Zacky’s own fixation on his tapes.

He smiled slightly thinking about the tape he was transcribing. The first time Arin played for them…

~~~~~~~

I’m actually shocked. Arin is good. Like…really fucking good. That kid. It’s a wonder I hadn’t heard of him on the underground. It’s so…weird, really. Then again he is the son of a public official. So, I guess he’s gotta be cautious. But, seriously. He’s an amazing drummer for the amount of experience he has.

He played some of his stuff from his little band and then Shads asked him to play a little something that Jimmy gave us.

I think that sold me.

Definitely. Any kid who can play something Jimmy created…that’s rock solid. Rock solid.

I can’t even begin to tell you my feelings about all this. I mean…Jimmy should be here. He should be here with us. Fighting. Making this all happen.

He should be here…

Fuck…

Notes

Thank you :)