Unleashed
The duck groaned as he envisioned hell; it was his first time in jail which was not unusual considering that he was an agent, however Miles Longworth was not your average agent. Miles Longworth used his Agent status to help thieves avoid harsh punishments of the law. He always believed in this ideology because a long time ago his father was saved by Lanna Darion, the Late Lady Smuggler. In gratitude, Miles was determined to help as much as possible... until he was caught that is.
He tugged at the collar of the bright orange suit knowing that he wouldn't be getting out of prison anytime soon. The cell was very small and barren containing only a toilet, no sink, a broken mirror, and a bunk bed... with someone in the bottom bunk. Miled stepped back in suprise; he did not have any notion that he would have a roommate.
"Don't be frightened," the voice was small and broken up by fits of coughing. "I wont hurt you." The duck was extremely thin and pale with long, limp, blond hair. Miles was suprised that he did not have a moustache considering how long the boy's hair was.
"Can I ask you a question then?"
"Certainly," the duck replied propping his elbows so that he could sit upright.
"What are you in here for?"
"Bullshit," he answered casually.
"Might I ask another question?" Miles hesitated as he wavered on his feet. "How long ago was this?" The duck sighed and shook his head as he pulled the blankets around him. "Please tell me," Miles persisted, this time more urgently.
"Three and change," the duck hesitantly replied.
"Months? That's not so bad..."
"I meant years," the duck interrupted. Miles stared blankly at the duck. He didn't seem to notice the bells chiming in the background. The duck pulled himself out of the bunk and hobbled slowly toward the barred door, which now swung open. "Listen Longworth, we'd better hit the showers before the soap gets too disgusting."
"Hey, how'd you know my-" Miles called but he was already gone. "-name?" Reluctantly giving up, he followed the duck's tracks.
Miles shook his head as he shampooed his hair. After years at military camp, he wasn't affected by the uni-shower room. It was a fairly large room with 70 shower heads, and one person per shower. Feeling the soap slip out of his hand, he quickly hummed and bent over to pick it up.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you." Miles stood up and turned around to see his roommate.
"I beg your pardon?"
"I really wouldn't do that; there are some sick fucks in here." Miles looked at him confused.
"I don't follow-" Simultaneously, a loud scream was heard from across the room. Miles felt his knees shaking. The duck let out a sly smile beneath the wet, blond hair in his face.
"Have a nice day," he laughed sadistically as he limped across the locker room to the towel room.
Miles got shoved through the food line, barely having enough time to snatch enough stuff to eat. Nervously, he looked around for a table to sit at. Spotting the boy he saw earlier he walked toward his table. Much to his surprise the duck sat alone, eating in silence.
"Mind if I join you?" The duck looked up at him and motioned toward a chair across from him. Miles sat down and observed his food. "Well, this certainly beats coach," he tried to joke taking a bite of the burned food. The duck didn't respond; he was too consumed in his meal. To Miles' surprise, the duck barely touched anything but was placing the food up in napkins then putting the napkins under the table. "What are you doing?"
"What does it look like I'm doing?"
"As far as I can see, you’re wrapping food up in napkins and putting them under the table."
"So why'd you ask me what I'm doing if you knew what I was doing?"
"But why-" The duck held up a hand stopping Miles mid sentence.
"You're learning. Good." The duck said, only taking a small portion of food to eat.
Miles paced back and forth across the cell wondering how his roommate could stand being contained for so long; Miles couldn't even stand thirteen hours and two minutes!
"Relax," the roommate said quietly.
"Relax? I can't relax... how on earth can you stand it?"
"I cant... I just know that I'm only temporarily grounded." The duck picked up a notebook and started sketching something. Miles shook his head fiercely.
"I'm doomed forever aren't I?" The duck stopped sketching. He inched toward Miles.
"Not necessarily," he said in a hushed voice.
"There's no way out!" Miles cried exasperated.
"Like I said," the duck's voice became even more hushed, "not necessarily." Miles raised an eyebrow wondering who this duck actually was.
"I'm listening."
"I could show you the way out... and ensure you safety, and a salary."
"Why would you share this with me?" Miles asked suspiciously. The duck smiled and his eyes were gleaming.
"I need a good pair of legs... and a strong back."
"But this place is under the highest surveillance system?"
"Things aren't always what they seem," the duck's voice trailed off as with two strained movements he moved the bunk bed over two feet. An hole two feet in diameter was there. Miles looked back toward the duck, who was now extending his hand to Miles. "Do we have a deal?"
"SHIT!" Miles had sweat on every ounce of his body as he ran with the duck through woods. They had made it out alright, but Miles accidentally set off an alarm. The duck, with slight difficulty, kept up with Miles' pace until his leg gave out. Miles spun around to see dogs jumping him and three officers run up
"Looky here, DeCharmante has tried once again unsuccessfully to leave... how quaint," one of the officers said. Jake spat in his face as a reply, only to get kneed in the ribs. Miles shook his head in disbelief; he had been roommates with one of Puckworld's greatest thieves who was the only one apprenticed to Duke L'Orange.
Jake was pulled to his feet and the three cops took turns beating him while the two others held his arms out. In that position he hung limp, almost as if he was crucified. Miles pondered running into Jake's rescue, but the temptation of his freedom was at stake. Seeing Jake yank his arms in and kick two guards square in the face made his decision for him. Miles ferociously attacked the guards until he realized that they were unconscious. Jake by now was hunched over in pain and quivering. Red blood was stained on his orange, prison suit.
"Please don't hurt me," Jake whimpered almost inaudibly.
"I won't hurt you," Miles replied full of pity. He wondered what it was like to have been such a good thief then pulled down to your knees. Without thinking, Miles picked Jake up and carried him to a nearby alley. Jake didn't make any move to stop him as Miles undressed and bandaged Jake's wounds.
"I owe you, Miles."
"You owe me nothing... you got me out of that hole." Miles smiled at Jake, who in turn sighed. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing."
"You're lying."
"Well, I was just thinking that it's a shame I don't have enough money to keep you as a sidekick," Jake said picking his words very carefully. Miles felt his eyes widening.
"You want me to be your sidekick?"
"You're loyal... A little slow... but still loyal and you have incredible strength. I cant ignore this."
"Deal." Jake smiled at Miles.
"That a boy, Longworth. It may be low income for now, but if we do this right... we could make a living." The two settled down in the alley, using a piece of cardboard as a wind shield. Jake was certainly interesting and had an uncanny memory of every past event. "You see this?" he asked Miles, showing him a picture of a girl.
"You're daughter?"
"What? No, my girlfriend!" Miles looked at Jake very suprised.
"Aren't you a little old for her?"
"This picture was taken four years ago when she was 12, maybe 13."
"Oh, I see... does she know you're alive?" Miles asked curiously.
"I don't know... but I've been loyal in the past and I still am loyal now. This chain," he pointed to a silver chain hanging on his neck, "is my reminder of her. I never take it off even though I know that she must have... moved on." Jake wiped his eyes. Miles looked toward the ground unsure of what to say.
"Well, you don't know that for a fact..."
"She was in love with Master Riviero even when she was with me... what the hell do you think she'd do as soon as I was gone? Go to him."
“Master Riviero? The infamous Riviero? You knew him?” Miles asked leaning closer to Jake. Jake sighed and looked toward the sky.
"We'd better get some rest, we have a long ways to go tommarow."
Miles opened his eyes groggily and smelled meat cooking. "Jake?" he asked sitting upright. Jake was kneeling with a lighter up to some strips of bacon.
"Just in time, eat up!" Miles ran fingers through his hair before sitting on the ground next to Jake and taking his portion. After he ate he noticed Jake was no longer in a bloody, orange suit but instead in jeans and a tee shirt with a backwards cap. "Get dressed." Jake said heatedly throwing a bundle of clothes at Miles.
"Where did you get these?"
"Around."
After two hours on foot Jake stopped. In front of them was a shattered remanaint of a building.
"What is this place?" Miles asked kicking a piece of metal out of the way. Jake didn't reply. They both walked toward the building. "Hey Jake, there's some sort of doorway here and-" the door opened and a duck stood there, hands crossed in front of his chest.
"No Trespassing."
"Oh I'm sorry sir, we might be a little lost. You see we-"
"What’s he doing?" the duck jerked his head toward the left. Jake was kneeling next to a plaque with one hand to his face. "He's not allowed to do that! Stop it!" the duck yelled rushing toward Jake. "What are you doing?!" he yelled two feet away from Jake.
"That... that's me." he whispered, pointing to the name engraved. "Jake C. DeCharmante M.I.A., The Best Prodigy in the Galaxy."
"Get away from that plaque!" the duck screamed, yanking Jake to his feet. Jake turned to face the duck who, in turn, turned pale.
"No, It cant be," he whispered.
"Heck?"
"It's Hector," he said while shaking. Jake looked at him confused.
"What happened to you, Heck?"
"I should be asking you the same question. Look at yourself!" Hector said harshly. "All this time you've been dead and only now decide to resurrect!" Jake glared at Hector and clenched a fist.
"If I knew you'd be an asshole maybe I never would have resurrected. For your information, I was in prison and basically flogged to near-death until Agent Longworth was in my cell and helped me escape." Hector took a step back in recoil before lashing out again.
"I thought DeCharmante worked alone," he sneered.
"I don't need to take this shit from you, Heck. It took me years but I finally got home, and I figure that with some rehabilitation I'll be back in work with Duke in no time then can become a master." Hector's face paled and he looked to the ground ashamed.
"We'd better let the other's know you're here, Jake."
Once inside the building, Miles whistled. Although ruined, it was apparent that the Brotherhood must have been amazing before the wars.
Damn...
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