Episode 087

                “Let me preface any further conversation on my part with this; I’ve been all over the world. I’ve been all over Crossworld. I’ve seen stuff that would make your eyes bug out and I’ve seen things that most people, even enlightened, awakened people, wouldn’t believe. But the sh!t I saw Vincent pull against Pihc, I have never seen.”

                                Chip Masters, Crossworld

                "Wow." Kim said, staring wide-eyed at Marilyn. In the small dorm room, the World Alliance sat around their founder, in shock of the tale that had just been painted for them. Malcolm leaned back up against the wall, his head bumping the plaster hard. Ruwani just stared off out into the darkness of the nighttime through the window.

                "I'm glad you're okay." Victor said to Marilyn, snaking his arm around her waist. "Let's just make sure this doesn't happen again."

                "Yeah." Marilyn nodded to him. She turned back to the Alliance as a whole. "Next time, we're going to be a lot more careful." Everyone turned to Marilyn when she said that. "We have to take this more seriously. We have to be ready for stuff like this. It was stupid of me to think that we could handle this so haphazardly."

                "Why am I getting scared of where this is going?" Brian whispered to Alan. Alan just nodded, pretending to be unbothered by Marilyn's declaration.

                "We have an enemy." Marilyn said decisively. "We have an enemy and that enemy has tried to kill us. They have tried to kill what we stand for and what we believe in. They have taken advantage of us, but they have underestimated us. And from here on out, we will stand before them as a force to be reckoned with."

                No one said anything.

                "I can understand your hesitation." Marilyn went on, looking at the group. "But your fear should prove to you that now, more than ever, we have got to stop these guys."

                "Why don't we call the police or something, Marilyn?" Ruwani said, piping up from the bed. "Come on. We're not superheroes or soldiers or anything. We're college students. We can't take on some secret underground society, especially not one this big."

                "And how do you expect US to take them down?" Malcolm asked. "Kill them?" He said, his words chilling everyone. "Think about this, Marilyn."

                "I have." She said clearly. She looked at the group, appraising everyone. "We need to be more serious." She said with finality. "We need to get serious."

                "Congratulations." Ledger said, chuckling a bit. "You're a dick."

                "Yes the hell I am." Morgan said, sitting back on his couch. Roland sat in the chair by the television while Ledger sat on the opposite end of the couch. "And let me tell you, there are times when that's really the way to go."

                "I believe it." Roland nodded in a 'Godfather'-esque manner. He laughed and looked at the former knight. "I wish I could be a complete jerk to girls."

                "You can." Morgan said. "In fact, you often are."

                "Yes, but you have acheived a whole new level of jerkdom, Morgan." Roland continued. "You're jerkdom is so high, that clouds have to look up at your huge jerkdom. Why, I bet when you're really tired, your jerkdom is such a burdon that every now and then, you just have to take the jerk off."

                "I saw that one coming a mile a way." Ledger said, shaking his head.

                "So, you guys broke into the Solaritec," Morgan recounted after a moment of recovery. "Rescued Victor, the guy who's boinking Everett's heart-throb, and then just left?"

                "I'm not sure if Victor's boinking Marilyn." Ledger pondered.

                "It's a crime if he isn't." Roland tossed in as a casual after-thought.

                "No it's a crime if Ev isn't." Ledger clarified.

                "He's got a point." Morgan chuckled as he rubbed his eyes at the late hour.

                "It's a crime if no one is." Roland said. "A girl with a body like that? No man, it needs to be any one, just as long as it's someone."

                "Your standards are too low." Ledger said, shaking his head.

                "This is news to you?" Morgan asked, laughing. Ledger just shrugged in acquiescence. "Anyway," He said, getting back onto track. "The point is, all things being equal, why didn't you take care of this problem while you guys were in there?"

                "Take care of what problem?" Roland repeated curiously.

                "The Brotherhood of the Sun." Morgan yawned. "You know, the guys that sent that sniper out to kill everyone." Ledger and Roland both blinked at him. "Guys, that sniper was just the beginning of something bigger."

                "What makes you say that?" The black knight asked.

                "What?" Morgan said. "Did you think they were just going to pop some caps into some peoples' heads and call it a day?" Morgan asked. "No, guys. They've got something planned. And yeah, you really messed up their plans by stopping Eli, or Tim, or whatever the hell his name was. But I promise you, there's more where that came from."

                The light from the doorway scattered the shadows that waited in the hall of the college dorm. The closed doors blocked the light, letting it remain isolated in the dark, empty hall.

                Victor stepped out through the light, crossing the hallway. He leaned back against the wall, crossing his arms over his chest as he waited.

                In a moment, Marilyn followed him out, shutting the door behind her. She turned from the closed doors, wrapping her arms over her chest as if imitating Victor and stood before him. "What is it, Victor?" She offered coldly, staring across the empty hallway at him.

                "I think this is getting way, way out of hand, Mar." Victor warned sentimentally, shaking his head. "I really don't think you're up to this."

                "I'll learn." She said curtly.

                "Marilyn, why are you fighting with me on this?" Victor asked. "I'm looking out for you. I'm trying to take care of you, like I promised you I would. And haven't I always?"

                "I don't know, Victor." Marilyn said with a shake of her head. "You tell me. You did a great job in the warehouse, when I got captured and you and Malcolm got beat up by that Phillip guy."

                "He got in my way." Victor nearly yelled. "I was going to take that guy apart but Malcolom kept trying to jump and and kept getting in my way."

                "That's not what he said." Marilyn answered, her eyes not even blinking.

                "You're going to believe Malcolm over me?" Victor nearly yelled.

                "Who said I was talking about Malcolm?" Marilyn answered.

                Silence.

                "Okay. That's how it's going to be." Victor said, nodding his head slowly. "You're going to trust some psychopath that nearly killed me, nearly killed us, rather than your own boyfriend. Okay. Fine." He turned his head.

                "No, Victor." She said, her resolution failing. "It's not that. It's just . . ." She trailed off, looking down. "I can't believe that it all went this badly."

                "Well, I'll tell you who's to blame." Victor said. "Malcolm and those faggot knights."

                "What?!" Marilyn gasped, shocked.

                "Those guys had it in for all of us." Victor said. "Mar, they're trying to take advantage of you, and of the Alliance. I wouldn't even be surprised if they're members of this brotherhood of the sky thing."

                "I can't believe you'd say . . ."

                "Marilyn, I've just got the balls to say what everyone else is thinking." Victor said, jamming his hand back in towards her room where the World Alliance waited. "I'm standing up because no one else will and I'm telling you, the knights are to blame." Marilyn looked away, shocked beyond thought. "If you don't have the strength to get rid of them, I'll understand." Victor went on. "But I want you to at least do something for me." He looked strongly at Marilyn. "You see these bruises?" He said, pointing over his face and slender shoulders. "I got these from your friends in the knights."

                "Really?" Marilyn said in polite disbelief.

                "What?" He asked. "What? You don't believe me?" He said, stepping towards her. "Your friends came in, busted up my attempts to find you, and dragged me out of there before I could try and clean up the mess they made."

                "What do you want me to do, Victor?" Marilyn asked, glaring at her boyfriend.

                "I want you to make that weirdo Everett promise that he's not going to lay a hand on me." Victor said. "I want them to promise that they aren't going to come after me again." Victor shook his head, looking at the floor. "Those guys hate me, Marilyn. And they'll try and get at me any chance they can. I don't want to have to deal with fighting them every time they try. I was afraid of hurting them tonight and look what happened."

                "Afraid of hurting them?" Marilyn almost laughed. "If they did give you those bruises, Victor, then you're lucky to be alive."

                "That's my point!" Victor shouted. "These guys are trying to get me out of the picture so they can use you."

                Marilyn stared at Victor for a moment, not saying anything. Her arms crossed over her chest, she simply stared in thought in the dark hallway. "And you need me to make Everett promise not to hurt you?" She finally said stingingly. "Is that it, Victor? Is that going to make you feel better?"

                "Forget it, Marilyn." Victor said, turning from her and storming away from her. "If you want to keep prentending like you're doing good rather than the real thing, just keep at it." He threw open the door to the elevators beyond the hallway, then stopped. He looked back at Marilyn. "I've been by you through all of this, since high school, Mar." Victor said with a furious voice. "I wished that counted for something, but I guess it doesn't."

                Victor turned and stormed out of the dorm hallway. Marilyn was left leaning against the wall next to her door. She looked away, her cheeks turning to silver.