Darminiam:
Renegade looked at the report that was on his desk. He read it again and then placed it on his desk and leaned back in his chair. A huge sigh left his lips as he looked at the ceiling, then he turned around in his chair to look outside of the window.
Jamie Sanderson looked at Renegade waiting for a response. She had been quiet for a while waiting for a response to the situation. She didn't know what to think. Recon had dismissed it, then referred her to Renegade. Now he hasn't said a word since she handed him to report.
She looked around the office and noticed no personal effects in the room. No pictures, no trophies, nothing that would prove that this man had a life outside of this room. It would seem that he just used this room as a waiting room for something. But what could be anyones guess. She turned back toward the chair waiting patiently for him to say something.
Finally he spoke, "What is the condition of Jason Sharp?"
It didn't really sound like a question. Almost like a statement. "He is okay. His nose is broken and he is shook up. Almost scared. He thought that Rook was going to kill him, sir."
"No. Rook was teaching him a lesson. Sharp tried to kill him. According to his record, it seems that this wasn't the first time that he had frozen an opponents head and left him to suffocate. As a matter of fact, two previous incidents had occurred. And then we have the two today."
Renegade turned around and looked at Jamie. "This seems to me like this is a discipline issue. Talk to those over at Training, tell them that my recommendation is that Sharp should be placed on a two week probationary period. That is all."
"Sir, what about Rook?"
"What about him."
"Don't you think that what he did to the trainee was uncalled for? After all he is only a trainee. He is still being taught what it is to be in this line of work."
"Tell me something Ms. Sanderson, have you been in the military?" He pauses only for a second. "What we do here is not a game. We do not hold people's hand and help them along in their walk through life. In the military, they train you to save lives and defeat your enemy. They don't expect any BS from their trainees, their recruits. If you are cocky, or think that you are the greatest thing they ever saw, they will bring you down a notch. They will rub it in your face and they will discipline you for it. All because they want you to know a few things, first, youre in a team. Each one of you is important. Second orders are to be followed. With out a chain of command, everything would be lost in a battlefield. And third, this is not a game. These are people's lives. You cannot underestimate opponents, you cannot assume the win, you cannot disobey orders. Sharp had to learn that, Rook taught him that the best way possible. Quickly and effectively. Anything else, Ms. Sanderson?"
"I . . . uh . . . sorry sir. No sir."
"Thank you." He hands her back the file and waits till she leaves the room before he stands up and walks towards the window of his office. "What is going on with you lately Rook? What is bothering you?" He pulled out his communicator and pressed the button calling Rook.
The communicator in Rook's Corvette began to beep, its owner only a stone's throw away.
Rook:
A mess...
Rising slowly from behind the bar, the bartender peeked over the counter with his shotgun still in hand and eyes wide open. McGilly's was destroyed...all due to the fact that two 'heroes' had to go at it for some reason.
Sitting on the floor with his knees up and arms placed on them, Rook wiped the blood from his face, but was hardly successful. The blood matted into his hair, and his clothes were all torn and ruined. The young woman laid still next to him, passed out from the fight. Rook spat blood on the floor as he tried to rise to his feet.
All of the patrons of McGilly's stood in amazement of what had just happened, none knowing what to say or think. Rook glanced around slowly at them, knowing full well what would happen next/
The bartender patted him on his shoulder.
"I told ye befoor Rook...if this ever happined agin, I would hev te kick ye oot...fer good.."
A look of sadness, betrayal, anger and heartbreak seemed to all encompass his visage as the words were spoken.
Mc'Gilly's was the only place in Paragon City where Rook had felt somewhat at home. It was the only place he would go where he could rest his mind and body. Now, he would never be allowed to venture inside again. He wouldn't even be able to help rebuild it...Mc'Gilly's would have nothing to do with him anymore...
Anger rushed through Rook's body as he cursed the young girl. Grabbing her by the back of her shirt, Rook drug her across the beer and blood soaked floor and out the door. She wasn't as heavy as she was before, thankfully, and she seemed completely silent.
Drops of blood trailed behind Rook and painted the snow a bright hue of red.
Dragging the young girl still, Rook made his way over to his black classic corvette convertible. He dropped the girl onto the snow filled ground, opened the passenger door, and launched her body into the back seat. Her head hit the panel on the side of the door, but Rook really didn't care too much anymore.
He wondered why things were going so wrong for him...He had been having nightmares consistently for the past three months, his teammate and old friend Recon probably thinks he's a psycho now, he nearly killed a trainee, alcohol seems to be the only way out of his troubles and worst of all, he was nearly killed by an Irish school girl...What else could possibly happen to me??, he thought to himself as he turned the ignition. It took three tries, but finally the engine roared.
Rook pumped up the heat, then turned to make sure the girl was still zonked out. He was distracted though, as his Team1 communicator was lit up. Someone had called for him around 10 minutes ago from Team1 HQ. Rook smirked, as he realized that it could only be one of two people. Equinox or Renegade. Two of the hardest working employees of Team1.
Turning the wheel and slamming on the gas, Rook peeled out to the sound of a loud screech, and tore down the streets of Paragon City straight towards Team1 HQ.
Someone had to know who this girl was and why she was so bent on killing Rook...
Rook:
Henry and Oliver were the two guards who had to work the overnight shift at Team1 HQ. They were in the middle of a drawn out conversation about the recent news with Jason Sharp just as Rook entered through the sliding glass doors. They stopped their conversation quickly as Rook showed them his identification card. They glanced at him in bewilderment as to why he was all bloody and why he was dragging a bloody teenage girls body.
"Anyone still ere?"
"Yes sir,", said Oliver quietly,"I believe Renegade was looking for you earlier. He said for you to visit him in his office if you got here before 1:00am."
Rook peered down at his watch. It read 12:15.
As he approached the elevator and entered his code, Rook threw the young woman over his shoulder and entered the elevator.
The elevator quickly whisked them to Renegades office. Jamie Sanderson, Renegade's secretary looked at him in disgust, sitting behind her desk. Jamie had never liked Rook, and it only made it worse when Rook slept with her best friend. It wasn't a wonder though why she would look at him like that though. He was nearly covered in blood, reeked of alcohol and almost all of his clothes were torn to pieces.
"Sir, I think Rook is here to see you., Jamie said as she pressed her intercom button.
Nearly just as she said that, Renegade came busting out of his office door. He was dressed in a very expensive business suit and looked very professional. Jamie giggled softly as she noticed the contrast between the two mens' appearance.
Rook gave her a dirty look and looked back towards his friend Renegade. Renegade was one of his best friends in Team1, if not his best. If Rook needed to talk to anyone, it would be Renegade.
"Ello Renegade, I need yer help...., Rook said with a sigh as if he could fall over.
Renegade gave him a concerned look and spoke, "Of course Rook. Please, come into my office."
Darminiam:
Renegade walked over and took the girl from Rook's shoulder. He held her in her arms and looked at Rook to see if he was alright to walk in. Rook just looked at him in a bewildered fashion until Renegade noticed that it wasn't him he was looking at, but the suit. Renegade smiled, "Hey, this was on the expense account. If you would use it sometimes, then maybe people wouldn't pick fights with you . . . as often." Rook just smiled at the remark then walked into the room. Well at least I gotta smile. I have a feeling that there is more to this than meets the eye.
Renegade started to walk into the office when he noticed Jamie still staring at him. "Ms. Sanderson, not a word of this to anyone until I've had a chance to assess the situation understood?"
"Yes sir," she replied reluctantly. Who was that girl? she wondered. She didn't like Rook, but she knew she had a job to do and they were all on the same team. Oh well, I've got other things to worry about. With that, she returned to her paperwork.
________________________
Renegade walked into the room and placed the girl on the couch. He then went over to a panel and pressed a button on the wall. The wall swiveled and a small refrigerator and bar was revealed. He went through looking at the different drinks then pulled out an age old whisky. Just what my dad used to drink.
He poured a small cup for himself and one for Rook. He was about to put it backed, then decided to keep it out. Renegade hardly ever drank. Matter of fact he hated the taste but he did it in the memory of his father. The only connection he thought that he could have with him.
Rook sat in the chair by the desk not saying a word. He just sat there looking outside the window. He didn't seem to notice anything until Renegade walked up to him and handed him the cup. He looked up then at the cup, and he grabbed it. Renegade stood there looking at the girl, then looking at him. He decided to open up the conversation.
"What's going on Rook? You've grown distant lately, like you have a lot on your mind. Is there something going on that we should know about? That I should know about?"
As Renegade was saying this, he walked to the side of the desk and looked at the different papers on the desk. He noticed the memo in front of his desk. "First, Edwards sent me a memo a little while ago asking me to check up on you. Then I got a report stating that you beat a kid senseless. Well, actually it seemed to me that he had it coming. Then you come in looking like you where dragged through the sewers of Paragon City and bringing an unconscious girl with you like you won her as a prize."
He sat at the corner of his desk and looked at Rook with a look of concern. "What's going on, man. How can I help? And who is that girl you rescued from being attacked? You didn't take her to the med bay, so is she important to you in some way?"
Rook:
Rook sat silent as Renegade fired off questions at him, still staring out the window.
"Things hev been toof fer me lately laddie...seems as if me life is spiraling downwards.."
Renegade remained silent with a look of concern on his face. He was a good listener, a quality which many people take for granted. Rook genuinely appreciated it, although he would never tell Renegade that.
"I was sittin in Mc'Gilly's, when this lil bowsie came strollin in, lookin te kill me'. I tell ye Renegade...I've taken a couple clatters (slaps) from some grand mot's (girlfriends) befoor, but this lass nearly did me' oot...I defended myself...neva hittin er' mind you..then she became shattered (fatigued) and fell te the groond.", said Rook, retracing what happened.
Renegade glanced over at the girl on the couch and then back at the bloodied Rook and spoke, "Looks as if she put a really bad beating on you friend. My guess is thats all of your blood, right?"
Rook rolled his eyes slowly. Renegade knew that it was then.
"She came in screamin and hollerin aboot me' bein' a terrorist, murderer and all the likes...as if she knew all aboot me' past...I haven't been that freaked in yonks (a long time)...", he said as he placed his favorite, now torn, leather jacket on Renegade's coat holder on his wall.
"So what do you suggest we do Rook?", Renegade said softly as he took a sip of his drink.
"Git me those power cuffs from yer desk...I need te find out exactly who this puss face (bad tempered person) is and why she was milling (fighting) me' in the first place..."
Renegade grabbed the cuffs from his desk, then moved over to the girl and placed them on her hands. The cuffs neutralized a mutants powers while they were on, but were known to malfunction sometimes. They powered up as they locked around her hands and forearms.
Just as the cuffs were placed on, the young girl began to slowly wake from her slumber...
Might want to consider that no matter what the "reality" should be the purpose of the message may dictate a certain channel being used. I guess if the teleporter in question wanted to tell everyone nearby that a new person was about to pop in... but then the wording didn't make much sense.