Four of a Kind

Surprising Gimmick

There wasn’t much time… I had to get everyone out of the car or it might explode….

I may have played too many violent games for me to have this logic. But nevertheless it was still dangerous to be upside down in a car. Who knows what the effects of gravity will do to you in the long run?

I dragged myself out of the car. Other than the bleeding on my forehead I was fine. Red was angry and…Red again. He blasted open the walls of the car entrapping him as jumped out. Hurting Maq and Andy in the process. Maq was jammed between his passenger seat and the dashboard of the car. I shouted at Red to use his freakish strength to get him out. I proceeded  to helping Andy. I had to cut through the car with my spear to make a big enough space for his leg room to claw his way out on his own. Red turned back normal and was wearing a large oversized pair of pants which he had to hold his hands with to prevent showing his genitals to us. Andy and Maq were unconscious and Red followed suite shortly after.

I dragged them to a safe corner and kept them huddled together. It was not easy carry Red seeing I had to do everything I can to stop looking at his junk. I took off my jacket and covered Red.

Now that nothing was occupying my mind, I can go smash the car of the person who hit us. I didn’t care whether this might turn up on the news or whatever. This moron’s piss poor job of driving nearly killed us. I enlarged my spear ready to go full ham.

He was wearing a plain black suit. Everything was black except the dress shirt. He kind of reminded me of the transporter. Which shook me. But when he got closer I had a better reason to get shook.

It was my dad. And he had a gun.

A million thoughts ran through my head. I didn’t know what to do or say.

He started running towards me. I had to move. But my knees weren’t going anyway. They were shaking. He got closer to me. He wouldn’t hit his own son right?

“SMACK”

I fell down to the ground. It was hot and burning. I hated the hot sensation. But being uncomfortable and my mind being fuzzy from seeing my own father. I didn’t resist.

My dad came over to me and aimed the gun at my neck.

“Always had the balls didn’t you?” He said before pulling the trigger. Out came a dart and not a bullet. I had it with these blackouts. Someone always had to save my ass and take one for the team. I turned my head sideways to see my fellow companions being dragged. I saw the same darts injected into their necks.

I guess I could take it easy. And I shut my eyelids. I decided to play it easy and let him take over. If he wanted to kill me he could’ve done so a long time ago. On my sixth birthday, or my twelfth birthday. The times when he would’ve actually stayed home the whole day. I wasn’t surprised he’d pay attention only when it was a emergency. This was definitely a emergency. Even for a normal dad.

He lifted each of us and put us in his truck which he used to run us over. I wondered why he wouldn’t just stop in front of us to force us into stopping.

“Bluffing you to stop wouldn’t work anyway, you’re too proud to actually give in to something stupid. I know after slaughtering those people you’d have no problem running over your own father.”

After replaying that epic moment of “I am your father.” That Darth Vader said in my head. I finally slept.

And it was a good sleep. Despite the concussion we all suffered from the crash it was a sleep that we deserved a lot.

A moment later I woke to the sound of a door slamming. I looked up to see a man holding two cups of coffee. He was wearing a suit and had a badge. I was in a police station. I guess the gig was up and we’re going to have to pay for our crimes. But I didn’t think that my own dad would be the reason why we were caught.

“How you feeling? Reeves…Nato?” he asked offering me a cup and sitting down across me. He opened a file and was tutting while looking at whatever was in it. I closed my eyes ready to hear the words “serial murders” spew from his mouth and filing charges for it.

“A hit and run huh? With witnesses claiming that after seeing the gruesome murder you guys took off running and hit a car.”

I blinked.

“It just so happens that the driver of car you crashed into was part of the gang war that took place in Blueside strip mall. Now we’re not pressing charges against you or anything. It was perfectly normal for four teenagers to get spooked after seeing such a horrible slaughter. We just want to know the exact details on how you got there and why you were there. If possible tell me a bit about yourself.” He said slowly and calmly like he’s done this sort of witness interrogation thing before.

I knew that trying to force my way out wasn’t an option. I didn’t have my spear. My dad probably took it before giving custody over to the cops. I just had so many questions I needed answered before I could wing myself out of this current mess.

“Can I know some other crucial issues first? My minds been a little hazy and I think a refresher on the circumstances on how you found me might help.” I told him with a firm voice.

The interrogator didn’t seem surprise like as if he’s seen people try to play the cocky role before.

He leaned back. “Sure, what do you wanna know?”

“How did I get here?” I asked him on the spot.

“A guy in a truck drove you and your friends here. He’s already given his statement and left. Saying he’s got a urgent work call.”

“What did he say when you asked him about us?”

“He said he was driving by Blueside strip mall for supplies around the time of the aftermath of the gang war. He saw your car crashed into one of the gang’s car.”

So I guess that was the story we were going with. It wasn’t our choice but to cover up for something far worse, this was a far better explanation.

“Oh, yeah that’s right. So what happened to the motel?”

“It’s closed off. There were ten of them. I think five from each side. None of them had any distinguishing features that pointed to a specific gang. We have a heavy load of police force out on the field today investigating as we speak. Now, some witnesses who were in the motel said you were surrounded by those thugs right before it went down.”

“That’s true. We left shortly after. They surrounded us and we thought they were targeting us. Turns out it was just a fight between themselves.” I backed him up.

I chose my words very carefully. Now according to the police and eye witnesses we were in the crossfire of a unknown gang war and left the motel shortly after it ended. But we were shaken by it and crashed into one of the fleeting members of a gang. I winged my way by backing him up and watching what I say. Somehow I didn’t even have to think. When he asked me a specific point which he didn’t understand I was stumped but before I even realized it I was giving him a pretty reasonable explanation on that certain point.

I just hoped it coincided with the other three’s explanation. Knowing them, Red would start playing dumb speaking in Russia while Maqius would be trying to stall time and frustrate the interrogator while Andy would be red in the eyes bawling and pinning it all on me. I was really worried about that last thought.

My interrogator got up and tidied his papers. “Well, your story matches perfectly well with what your other three friends said so… you’re free to go.” He said.

And left the interrogation room with the door open.

Red, Andy and Maqius were all waiting for me in front of the room. they were sitting on a bench. I walked towards them and motioned to them we could leave. We were all very timid from the shock according to the police was because of the horrifying killings we’ve seen. But in reality it’s just because we were crossing fingers hoping that no one would find out it was us doing the killings.

“So we’re free to go?” I asked the lady behind a desk.

“Well we’ve called your parents and I think it’s best we wait for them don’t you think?” she said smiling.

“I guess that’d be swell. Right mates?” Maqius cut in when the rest of us were too stunned to speak. “We’ll sit over there at the table and wait for them.” He said pointing to a desk.

“Listen to me all three of you.” He said once we took a seat that was out of earshot from the police.

“The reason why our statements were airtight was because of the enhancement I took with biotic Synedrate. I’ve told you all this before. Just like how Red can turn into a Red monster I can tap into your minds and relay info to each of you…and you can relay info to me…which I can then in turn-“

“Ok ok jeez can you stop!?” Andy said. His eyes were red. He definitely cried. He probably had a headache after the crash.

“I don’t feel so good either.” Red said. I couldn’t blame him. He’d been forced to consume really dangerous vials that weren’t accept by modern science and is now probably feeling the side-effects which was probably dizziness and nausea.

Maqius looked like he was about to pass out himself. Despite just taking a shower a few hours ago. I guess the car crash took a toll on our mental state this time. Not our physical.

That’s when four…queer people came in the police station. They were all similar. But If you were asked what was it that you found similar… you can’t really say. They just looked like feathers of the same bird but from different parts of the bird’s body.

And they each called our names one by one.

Maqius reacted. He got up and hugged one of them. Who was a big hairy old man with glasses to put the resemblance in him. he looked at me and I got his telepathic message saying I should hug the man who looked a lot like my father but wore glasses to further make himself different from him. I knew this was wrong but I just did it. Red and Andy did the same. In their cases it was a light skinned man with blonde hair and a African American lady respectively.

They held onto us in different ways and walked with us out the police station. The further we got from the station the more callous their demeanor got. That warm grip my “Dad” had on me slowly got looser and looser. They were taking us to the parking lot. Once we got near the end of the driveway the man pulled out a car key and hit the button.

So many things happened at once. First the man that pretended to be my dad appeared to be a digital mask powered by You-know-it. And it was Heylian underneath. The other three were some of the housemaids that took care of the house.

“Get in the car.” Heylian said with gritted teeth. She opened the door to a quite classy looking car. It was the house car. I got in along with the other three. The maids didn’t join us. Only Heylian got in the passenger seat up front. And the driver was… Bryan? That guy who hustled us into going to the Akai bar was driving the car.

“Stop.” I said with strained eyes. “Where’s my usual driver?”

“He didn’t come. That’s all.” Heylian answered curtly.

“How you doing kiddos?” Bryan asked looking at the rear-view mirror.

“What are you doing here?”

“Long story kiddo… we’ll explain when we get home.”

“No, we’re not going home.” I told him.

“Yes, you are Reeves. Now shut up like your good friends and sleep. That Sync and Relay telepathy took a serious toll on your mental state. Sleep and get some rest.

And I slept once more. it was a good sleep. We woke up when we got to my house. They told us to take a shower. It was nearing night. And that we should get ready for dinner. I took a quick shower. As well did the other four and wore a new set of clothes that fit us all. It was light and cool. I felt bad for wasting money and a whole set of four new clothes for it to burn. The maids were burning them. I guess it was to cover up links or evidence for whatever crime they wanted to charge us with.

I went down to dinner ready to ask my dad who had already started on his dinner what the hell this was all about. I knew he knew a lot that he wasn’t telling me. Plus, looking at Maqius, I knew that this was the perfect time to ask him more about his past life. We were in for a lot of talking. I had stuff to explain to Dad as well. Starting with Red to how he found me leaving a murder scene on the other side of the country.

I sat down. So did Red and the others. There was a lot I need to know.

“I’ll start from the top so that you don’t have to waste time sweating the small stuff.” My dad said chewing on a potato.

“My name is Jack Nato. I’m the father of your friend…Reeves. I work in the mining industry. But of course we both know that’s not all there is to it. The reason for my wealth comes from my dealings with Synedrate.”

“So you’re one of the bad guys?” Andy asked after downing a cup of lime soda.

“No, not necessarily. I make use of this Synedrate to help construct near-impossible buildings. You ever wonder how we make tall buildings in windy places withstand the long term effects of wind and sand?”

“Synedrate?” Red offered.

“That’s right. I work in such but my involvement in Synedrate alone made me aware of this…dangerous world I placed my family in.” He said looking at me. “But Reeves’s mother was prepared. She was calmed and took things in one at a time. Unlike a certain individual family member.” He said again looking at me. “So I had to pull strings, get my people to cover up your tracks, track you, wipe evidence and erase all suspicion placed on you by the cops. I had my people use digital illusions to make more eyewitnesses to convince cops and all. That’s all I think you might ask me. What else?”

“So… let me get this straight.” I said sitting upright completely ignoring my dinner. “You knew about all this and mom was okay with it?”

“If it makes money it makes sense.” He said without a hint of hesitation. “Why do you think I have this many trained body guards placed here?”

I looked over my chair at Heylian and the other maids expecting them to pull guns from under their dresses or something.

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

“I thought you were still young.”

The perfect excuse. But this wasn’t the time to talk about such petty stuff. “So you know about the…corpses?”

He nodded curtly. “In my line of work this is normal. Not as normal as others but I still see them. They told me it wasn’t that much…yet.”

“It hasn’t reached double figures if that’s what you’re wondering.” Maqius said clearing his throat

“Oh and I forgot to tell you that I hired your newfound friend Maqius      to keep an eye on you.” My dad said motioning to him.

I raised my eyebrows. “So you knew?”

“After Heylian tattle tailed on you to me.” My dad replied.

Maqius was smiling and looking at me in a smug look. “So all that spy s**t was a lie huh?” I asked him.

“No, I told you I was in a regular orphanage until eleven. Your dad adopted 6 other boys and girls. He hired some tutors. Taught us basic education, had trainers train us hard twice a week. Then we were given our choice of weapon. I chose the daggers after realizing it’s unique feature of letting the wielder disappear and reappear where it was was thrown. Then I began to hone my skills. I had a surgery to enhance my telepathic sync with Biotic Synedrate. That biotic enhancement isn’t meant for fighting or greatly enhancing the tide of battle. If it were then I’d have to undertake a operation that included illegal human experimentation like Red here. I didn’t have much of a assignment until your father gave me this job. He told me to keep an eye on you the moment one of his men saw you at the Akai.” Maqius concluded.

“So you don’t have any plans to take down this illegal organization within this illegal society called Redhood anytime soon?” Andy asked between huge bites of steak.

“Not really. I was just hired to watch over…make sure nothing happened to you.” He said looking at me.

That pissed me off. So the idea was I get to be the kid that has this pure heart to save the world and my dad thought it was cute. But since he thought that when it came down to it I might realize that I wouldn’t be able to do s**t in the long run and that might devastate me. So he hired this guy to be my insurance so that my “Dreams” won’t be crushed. How insulting.

“Guess you didn’t have to do a lot huh? it was more like these guys needed the help.” I shot back.

Andy and Red were silent like they were most of the time throughout our little adventure. Especially Red. I needed to know more about why. But before I could even start trying to  get them to open up, Dad interrupted me.

“Reeves. I want you and your team to help me do a dirty job.” He said.