Pg 2 of Those Who Started It All
“I would love to. I’ll see you then.” Trudy said smiling and then walked toward exam six.
As Danni walked out of the room with Ebony, Amber cut in front of her.
“You’re not leaving here till you tell me who you are.” Amber said standing in there way.
“Didn’t we already just go through this?” Ebony said.
“Danni?” Jack exclaimed as he came around the corner.
“Hello, Jack. It’s good to see you. I was just on my way out.” Danni said
“Wait! Danni? You’re her?” Amber said incomplete shock.
Danni just left with out another word said. The walk to the hotel wasn’t that far but it seemed farther because of the silence.
“Danni are you okay?” Ebony finally asked
“Oh course why wouldn’t I be? Just because the only person that kept me and Bray from being happy is alive and at the mall. I am on top of the world.” Danni said as she rolled her eyes.
Ebony dropped of Danni’s boxes to her room then left Danni alone. Danni started to unpack the boxes. She found a necklace that Bray had given to her. She laid down on her bed and started to cry.
~Downstairs at the hotel~
“Ebony.” Jay called out as he came down the stairs.
“You are suppose to be resting.” Ebony said giving him a stern look.
“I will rest later. Everything okay I heard you went to the mall.” Jay said
“I’m fine but I don’t know about Danni that brought back a lot of memories. A lot of them bad.” Ebony said
“Is she up in her room?” Jay asked
“Yeah why?” Ebony asked
“I am going to go talk to her.” Jay said as he head back up the steps before Ebony could object.
Gel walked to the door that she had seen her sister Ruby lock. She found this very odd because Ruby never locked any of the doors in their home. Gel looked around making sure that Ruby or Slade weren’t anywhere around, and then she started to pick the lock. After a couple of minutes Gel finally was able to open the door. She slowly opened the door and looked into the room.
“What the hell?” Gel said confused and surprised to see who was lying in the room.
Gel was about to enter the room to take a closer look at the person, when she was pulled away from the door and it was closed and locked once again by Ruby.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing the door was locked that means that you don’t go into it. That means no picking the lock Gel.” Ruby said turning her sister so she was facing her.
“Do you know who’s in there?” Gel paused. “That’s Ram the leader of the Technos. What is he doing here?”
“Slade found him in the streets and brought him here.” Ruby answered with out changing her tone.
“What do you guys expect to do with him?” Gel asked very confused about what was going on.
“Slade is taking care of that right now.” Ruby said with a sly smile
“Which means what?”
“You’ll just have to wait little sis.” Ruby said starting to walk away. She then turned back to Gel. “Oh and sis stay out of the room.” Ruby said and then walked away leaving Gel standing at the locked door very confused about what Ruby and Slade were planning.
*knock knock*
Danni got up from her bed she quickly wiped the tears away from her face. As took a deep breath and opened the door.
“May I come in?” Jay asked.
“Sure.” Danni said as she closed the door behind Jay.
“So I heard you went to the Mall today. How did that go?” Jay asked
“It was okay. Brought up a lot of old memories. A lot of my friends weren’t there.” Danni said as she sat down.
Jay kneeled in front of her.
“You’ve been crying.” Jay said not really sure what to say next.
“It’s no big deal, I just miss the way things were. I had a great boyfriend I was co-leader with him. I was making a difference.” Danni said as she stood up and took on of the boxes off of her bed so Jay could sit.
“Here let me help you with that.” Jay said as he took the box from her.
“Please don’t. Your being nicer to me than you should be.” Danni said
“What have you done that is so terrible that you can’t forgive yourself.” Jay asked
“You don’t know do you?” Danni asked truly shocked.
“No I don’t or I would be asking now would I?” Jay said with a smile in an attempt to get Danni to smile.
“Well, I might as well tell you I’m sure you would eventually hear about it.” Danni said she took a deep breath.
“My father is the man who created the virus.” Danni said with her eyes tightly closed she was half expecting to get zapped or just hear the door open.
“Danni there was nothing you could have done right?” Jay said after a few seconds.
“I guess not.” Danni said her eyes still closed
“Then you have nothing to be ashamed of.” Jay said
“Thanks” Danni said as she gave Jay a hug.
“No what do you say we get some of this stuff unpacked and make this a home for you.” Jay said.
Danni nodded, and Jay began to help her unpack her things.
Java crossed her arms over her chest as she paced around a small deserted park. She had received a note earlier that day telling her to come to the deserted park if she wanted to know about the whereabouts of Ram. Java had to admit that she was curious about who had sent the note that was one of the reasons she had gone to check it out personally instead of sending a group of technos out to the park to get the person and bring him back to the base.
“I didn’t think that the famous Java would come her herself, but I must say that I’m glad.” Java heard a male voice say.
Java turned around and faced the man who was smiling. “Well I thought I would get more information out of you if I came myself. So where is he?”
“Now sweetheart if I told you that I wouldn’t have any leverage would I.” Slade said with a sly smile.
“Look here if you don’t tell me where Ram is I will get a group of technos over here so fast you won’t know what happened. And I won’t be responsible for what they do when they get their hands on you.”
“Java, Java now how will that help you? The technos are nothing with out Ram and since Jay is no longer with you how long do you think that your tribe will last?”
Java looked at Slade with a solid face showing no emotion. “Fine what do you want?”
“I want in.”
“What do you mean you want in?” Java asked
“I want in on the locos and the technos.” Slade answered
“What are you talking about the locos….”
“Don’t give me that bull.” Slade said interrupting Java. “It’s all over the city. People have spotted Zoot all over the city mainly at the Hotel where the technos have been staying. So am I in or not? And remember I’m the one that has your precious Ram.”
“I have to talk to…to Zoot about it. Meet me back here at noon tomorrow.” Java said
“Good.” Slade started to walk away but then turned back to Java. “And Java if I don’t hear what I like you can kiss your dear Ram away.”
Ebony stood outside Danni’s room; Jay had been in there for quiet sometime. Ebony knew that there was nothing between Danni and Jay but that didn’t stop her from being worried about it.
“Jay in Danni’s room huh Ebony I would be worried. Then again you haven’t seen the looks they give each other.” Ebony turned around and saw Zabby and Bryce.
“What do you want Zabby?” Ebony said with hatred.
“Oh nothing Ebony I was just looking for Zoey, but this is better. Poor Ebony loosing another lover. It seems that you can’t keep a guy at all.”
“Why don’t you just leave Zabby, no one wants you here.”
“Now, now Ebony the hotel is my home as much as it is yours. But I do find it very boring, so I think that Bryce and I will go and see if we can find something that actually is fun.”
Bryce and Zabby started to walk away when it hit Ebony to tell Zabby where her little sister was. Ebony knew how much Zabby would hate to find Zoey at the mall.
“Hey Zabby.”
Zabby turned around and looked at Ebony. “What?”
“I thought that you would like to know that Zoey is hanging out at the mall with Lex.”
Zabby’s face went from shocked and to angry. She and Bryce then stormed out of the hotel; leaving Ebony smiling.
~Back at the Mall~
“Jack wait. That girl…” Amber started
“Her name is Danni.” Jack said cutting Amber off a bit.
“Danni is she the one… I mean did her and Bray get together while I was gone.” Amber asked
“Yes they both needed someone it just so happened they were able to find each other at during their time of need… Even though both knew it wouldn’t last they enjoyed each other more like friends than anything. Now if you don’t mind I would like to try to find either Lynda or Ellie. I wonder what could be taking her so long to get back.” Jack said then walked off.
Amber headed for the Café where Salene and Pride were.
“We need to tell him that she gone.” Amber said as she walked into the café
“I know but he’ll be heart broken.” Salene said.
“I don’t think he will be him and Lynda seem to be getting on quite well together. Maybe Jack is over Ellie and just wants to make it final.” Pride said
Both Amber and Salene rolled their eyes.
”What?” Pride said not knowing why he just got that look.
“Leave it to a guy to make relationships that deep seem so simple. Ellie was the first girl Jack ever fell in with, it’s not going to be that easy to let go of all they have been through together.” Salene said as she got up from the table.
“I think I am going to ask Jack to go for a walk and we’ll talk.” Amber said as she too got up from the table and headed out of the café to go find Jack.
Amber walked around the mall for a while she checked almost every room and still no sign of Jack or Lynda. Amber started down the stairs for a second time maybe they had gone out for a while and just got back. As Amber entered Jacks old shop she was shocked and embarrassed on what she had just walked in on.
“Uh Hi Amber.” Jack said as he quickly scrambled to his feet.
”I can see you’re busy… I mean I’ll talk to you later Jack.” Amber said as she went to leave
“We can talk now its okay really.” Jack said as he tried to get his arm back through his shirt he wasn’t sure how they had managed to only get one arm out of it.
“Okay could we go for a walk?” Amber asked
“Yeah just give me a minute?” Jack asked
“Okay I’ll be by the fountain.” Amber quickly left still feeling embarrassed.
Trudy stood in front of the waiting room holding a clipboard with a list of names of patients. There were so many people waiting to get help, some worse then others. The whole thing made Trudy feel somewhat depressed, however Patch had come to the hospital to help out and with some good news. Jack had escaped from the technos camp and was now at the mall. But the one thing that bothered Trudy somewhat was that Ellie wasn’t with him, this worried her because that could mean that Ellie could be anywhere.
Shaking the thought out of her mind Trudy looked down at the clipboard and read the first name on the paper. “Josie Marie.” Trudy read as she looked around at the people sitting in front of her. She noticed a young girl standing up and walking towards her. The girl had chin length choppy medium brown hair with fire engine red streaks all through out her hair. Her dark brown eyes stood out from her somewhat tanned skin. She wore bright red lipstick that matched her red leather pants that had a short black skirt over it. On her eyelids she had different shades of purple eye shadow. In the middle of her forehead that girl had an upside down green triangle with a blue rhinestone in the middle. The girl also wore a long dark green sleeve shirt with holes for her thumbs with a blue corset over it with out any straps. Over her shirt she wore a long purple leather jacket.
“Are you Josie Marie?” Trudy asked
“Yes I am.”
“Alright then come with me Josie Marie.” Trudy said as she walked toward exam room five.
Trudy and Josie Marie walked into the room and Josie Marie sat down on the bed that had been put in there.
“So what seems to be the problem?” Trudy asked as she took out a chart and a pen.
“Actually I didn’t get hurt.”
Trudy put the clipboard down and looked at Josie Marie oddly. “Then why are you Josie Marie?”
“First of all please call me Josie. And I’m here because I heard that this place was run by the mallrats and I have some information that you might want to know.”
“Alright Josie, what is it?”
“Well you’ve heard the rumors about the new tribe the people being taken away.”
“Yeah what about it?”
“That tribe isn’t a new one to the city.” Josie said.
Trudy looked at Josie; she had no idea what Josie was talking about. But Josie seemed to be somewhat worried about this tribe that was now in the city.
“Then who are they?”
“You’ve heard of them before, you know them personally.” Josie paused and looked at Trudy. “It’s the Locos and they’re back for good.”
“Ready” Jack said as he walked out of his room.
Amber stood up from where she was sitting and followed Jack out of the mall. They entered the woods near the mall. It was a beautiful day the sun was shining down on them the birds were singing. It was absolutely amazing, normally Amber would enjoy a day like this but there was too much on her mind. Like how was she going to tell Jack that Ellie was taken and what she did.
“So you wanted to talk.” Jack finally broke the silence.
“Yeah I did but it’s kinda hard to say.” Amber said.
“Well maybe you should just come right out and say instead of tiptoeing around it.” Jack said.
“Well you see I... I need to tell someone something, but I’m afraid of how they might take it. I don’t want to hurt them but they have the right to now.” Amber started.
“So why don’t you just tell this person. If their upset just I don’t know be there for them.” Jack said not really see how this involved him.
“I wish it was that easy.” Amber said
“You’re the only one that’s making it hard.” Jack said as he looked up at the trees his thought a few other places than where he was.
“Your right.” Amber took a deep breath.
“Jack? I need to tell you something.” Amber said as she stopped walking and put her hands on Jack’s shoulders so he too would stop walking.
“Yeah?” Jack was now getting nervous.
“After you were taken... El... I kissed Jay and he is with Ebony.” Amber said.
She couldn’t do it; she couldn’t break his heart like that. She cared for him too much he reminded her so much of Dal she just could bring herself to tell him the truth. Jack just stood there in shock for a moment.
“So you and Bray are over?” Jack finally asked still in shock and somewhat confused.
“I don’t know.” Amber said as she turned to walk back to the mall.
“Well if he’s gone you should move on.” Jack said as he started to walk with her again.
“I guess but it just seems every time I move on Bray comes back and then things are complicated then one of us disappears.” Amber said
“Well the Technos are kinda permitted people. I don’t think many of the taken are going to be coming back.” Jack said
As Jack said that Amber could feel her heart sink. They spent the rest of the walk in silence. When they finally got back to the mall Amber broke the silence.
“Your right Jack I should move on and so should everyone else that lost someone.” Amber said as she hugged Jack.
“Glad I could help.” Jack said then left before Amber could say another word. He wanted to figure out what had just happened.
“Do you think that we’ll be in the city soon?” Emma asked as she sat down next to Ellie on the fallen log she was sitting on.
“Yeah, cause I would love to get off my feet.” Adam said as a stretched out on his sleeping bag.
“Adam, you’re off you’re feet right now and we haven’t been traveling that far of a distance. So stop complaining.” Emma said. Adam responded by giving Emma an annoyed look and turned his back to her. “So Ellie do you think that we’ll be in the city soon?”
“We should be in the city probably around nightfall tomorrow; it’s not that far from here.” Ellie said smiling.
“You really want to get back to the mall don’t you?” Emma asked noticing that Ellie had a huge smile on her face.
“Of course I do Emma, it’s my home.” Ellie answered
“That’s not what I meant Ellie. I meant that you want to get back to the mall to see if Jack is there.”
“Of course I do Emma. Jack has always been there for me even during the times that I wasn’t proud of myself. He stuck by me and cared about me, which is more then I can ask from anyone. I never realized how much I cared for him until he was gone, and then things got worse; but knowing that I might see Jack again is what has kept me going. I will do anything to see him again, even if I have to travel to the most dangerous places, if it means that I will see Jack again I will then. Wouldn’t you do the same thing Emma if you might see Ethan again?” Ellie pause and looked at Emma realizing that she had just said something that wasn’t supposed to be talked about. “Oh god, Emma I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that.”
“No Ellie its ok. It’s actually good to hear his name again no one ever talks about Ethan anymore. Everyone seems to think that if he is ever mentioned that I will burst into tears. Adam never mentions him, even though they were best friends. I miss Ethan and everything but I can’t live in the past, Ethan wouldn’t want me to so why should I. Life has to go on. But you’re right I would do anything if that meant I would see Ethan again.” Emma said smiling.
“Thank you Emma.” Ellie said lying down.
Emma looked at Ellie and smiled. She was so lucky; she might be able to see the man see loves again, unlike Emma who will never see Ethan again more than likely.
Zoey entered the hotel that she had been living at with many of the other technos; well at least she had been before many of her friends were taken by the mysterious group of people. Zoey looked around and noticed that the technos seemed to be moving boxes around like they were leaving or something. Zoey walked over to a tall male techno will bleach blonde spiky hair with a few blue streaks, that she new as Scan.
“Scan, what’s going on here?” Zoey asked the techno as he picked up a box.
“Well, since Ram is missing Java thinks that it would be best to move out of here but I think something else is going on. She’s been acting strange lately.” Scan said as he and Zoey walked outside to a truck and he put the box in the back of the truck.
“What do you mean she’s been acting strange lately?” Zoey asked, she had known Java for sometime now and she was never known as someone to act strange.
Scan looked around at the other technos with his gray eyes and then pulled Zoey behind a wall making sure that no one could hear them or see them.
“A couple days ago Java got letter from someone, she wouldn’t let anyone else see it. She acted really weird about it and then the other day she just left the hotel alone like she had someone important to see.” Scan paused as his eyes searched the area making sure that no one was around. “I followed her to where she went.”
“Where did she go?”
“To this old park, she waited there and this guy showed up. I had never seen him before and I don’t think that Java knew him either. I couldn’t hear what they were saying but I could tell that something was going on. I’m just not sure what.” Scan said.
“That’s fine, Scan.”
Scan smiled at Zoey. “You know, Zoey for being two technos we sure don’t trust them very much do we.”
“Well I trust you and that’s what matters.” Zoey said smiling. Zoey lowered her head avoiding eye contact with Scan. “Look I’ve got to go find Zabby she probably has been looking for me but I’ll see ya later right?”
“Of course you will.” Scan said as Zoey walked back into the hotel.
Ebony softly knocked on the door. Then entered
“Hey, everything okay?” She asked looking at Danni.
Danni looked at Jay who was holding up a dress that he pulled out of the box.
“I don’t know, I don’t think it’s him.” Danni said jokingly.
Both Danni and Ebony started to laugh. Finally Jay looked at what he was hold and quickly put it back in the box he had pulled it out of.
“So what’s going on here?” Ebony asked
“We are moving Danni in and making this a home for her.” Jay said
“Anything I can do to help?” Ebony asked
“Yeah you can help me unpack my cloths. Jay might stretch them all out before we get them all hung up.” Danni laughed.
Just then there was a knock at the door.
“Come in” Ebony called out.
“Hey, Danni good to see you heard. Do you need anymore boxes to pack up your stuff?” Scan asked as he came into the room.
“What she isn’t moving out we are moving her in.” Ebony said
“No, Java has ordered everyone is to be packed up and ready to leave for a new location as soon as possible.” Scan said
“Who gave her the authority. I’m the leader of the Technos now.” Jay said
“Or at least what’s left of them” Ebony said under her breathe.
“Where is she we need to talk.” Jay said
Jay and Scan left the room to go find Java.
“So what do we do unpack or pack?” Danni said
“I don’t know.” Ebony said
“You can always move back to the mall.” Amber said as she walked in.
“What are you doing here?” Ebony asked as she crossed her arms and took a few steps towards Amber.
“I came to talk to Danni.” Amber said.
“It’s okay Ebony. I want to hear what she has to say.” Danni said
“But...” Ebony started
“Don’t worry Ebony I’m not going any where. I may not be a Techno in my heart, but I’m not a mall rat either.” Danni said
Ebony nodded and left to let Amber and Danni to talk.
“What do you mean the locos are back?” Trudy said almost yelling from shock and fear. “They can’t be back, that tribe broke up and they have no leader, they can’t be back.”
“I’m sorry to say but they are.” Josie paused and looked around noticing that some people were looking at her and Trudy. “Look Trudy I think that we should go some where else to talk, this isn’t the bet place to discuss what’s going on.”
“Of of course, we should go to the mall, the others should know about this.” Trudy said as she left the room with Josie close behind her.
The two girls left the hospital without speaking. Trudy didn’t want to think about the thought in the back of her mind, it was something that was impossible something that could never happen, something that was connected to the locos. Trudy knew that if the locos were back then that could mean that the Chosen could be back too. A thought that gave Trudy chills, the Chosen had taken so many peoples lives and if they were back as well then that would mean that they would want Brady. Trudy could not bear to loose Brady again it was just too hard of a thing to handle.
Josie looked over at Trudy, she knew that Trudy was going to respond this way about the locos, but she knew that Trudy was the one that needed to know first she had to be protected from the Locos or what ever they were calling themselves. Josie wanted to stop them but she knew that she couldn’t do it on her own; she needed the mallrats the people that had destroyed the Chosen and Ram’s reign of terror. Josie looked up and saw that they had reached the mall, she had never meant any of the mallrats before but she knew that they could be trusted and would help fight against anyone that could endanger others.
Trudy and Josie walked into the mall and up to the café. Then Trudy finally spoke.
“I’ll go get the others you can wait here.” Trudy said trying to be calm about things.
Josie nodded and took a seat at one of the tables and waited for Trudy to come back with the others. Josie tried to prepare herself for the questions that would be thrown at her as soon as she told the mallrats about the locos. The sound of footsteps pulled Josie out her thoughts of the locos.
“Are you Josie?” Josie looked up and saw that young man with dreadlocks was standing in front of her. Josie nodded not wanting to speak yet. “I’m Pride; this is Salene, Lex, Patch, Dee, and Jack.” Pride said as he pointed everyone out. “Trudy told us that you said that the locos were back, is that true?”
“Yes it is.” Josie answered as she nodded. “But they’re not calling themselves the locos anymore, they call themselves the Zootist.”
“Why are they calling themselves that?” Dee asked as she sat down across for Josie.
“It’s because they’re not just locos they are also what was left of the chosen.” Josie said looking at Dee and then to Pride. “After the chosen fell the Guardian tried to start them up again but he was unable till he found some former locos that still believed in Power and Chaos, that’s where they got the name the Zootist.”
“How do you know all this, you’re part of the Zootist aren’t you?” Lex said with a harsh tone.
“No, of course not,” Josie said quickly “if I was part of the Zootist then why would I be here telling you about them.”
“Why are you telling us this?” Jack asked
“Because I don’t want to see the past come back, I don’t want Power and Chaos again.”
Everyone paused trying to absorb what Josie had told them. Just as things seemed to be getting better, something came around and threw them off balance.
“We need a plan then.” Salene finally said breaking the silence. “If we want to have a life of freedom and happiness then we have to make a plan to get of these Zootist.”
Everyone nodded in agreement, but they all knew that it wasn’t going to be that easy. Things would get much worse before they got any better.
Zoey ran into the hotel and headed straight to her room, she had to find out what was going on with Java. And the first place to start was the departure enters, Ram had made it when he started to become suspicious that something was going on. Zoey knew that if Java had left the building there should be a enter saying where she went, what time, and when she would be back. Zoey came to the door of her room and heard voices coming from behind the door. Zoey lead in trying to hear the voices clearly. She knew exactly who the voices belonged to; they were Zabby and Bryce’s voices.
“Zabby calm down, we don’t know for sure if Zoey was at the mall or not Ebony might just have said it to get to you. We don’t know for sure.” Zoey heard Bryce say trying to obviously to calm Zabby down.
“Of course she was there!” Zabby yelled. “Where else could she have been?”
“Any where, we have no proof that she was there.”
“Ebony said she was then she was there. I might not like Ebony but if I know that if she found out something that I wouldn’t like I know that she would tell me.”
Zoey heard Bryce sigh. “So what are you going to do?”
“I’m going to make sure that Zoey never betrays me get. No one betrays me and gets away with it.”
Zoey backed away from the door; she had to get out of the hotel quickly. She knew what Zabby was capable of and it wasn’t good. Zoey ran down the stairs and out the hotel and continued to run. Zoey didn’t know where she was going to go but she knew she had to get away from Zabby; it was a matter of safety for her life.
Salene paced back and forth in her and Pride’s room, she had acting calm after Josie had told them about the Zootist, but she was really a mess. All she could think about was the chosen, and what had happened when they were in power; she knew that things were different but still she felt scared that these Zootist could bring back everything that the Chosen had done but only worse. Salene had thought that after the technos defeat that she would be able to have a life with out chaos, but it seemed that there wasn’t going to be a chance of that. Josie had made it clear to them that the Zootist were dangerous people and that they would do anything to spread the word of Zoot.
“Salene are you ok?” Salene turned around to see Pride standing in the doorway.
“I’m….I’m fine.” Salene said with a fake smile.
“Are you sure, I mean you walked off pretty quickly.” Pride said as he stepped into the room.
“I….I guess that I’m just a little worried about everything.”
Pride walked over to Salene and wrapped his arms around her. “Everything will be fine, we’re strong group of people, and the Zootist will be no match to us as long as we have each other.”
Salene smiled and nodded her head. “You’re right we’ll make it through it we have come this far nothing can stop us now.”
“WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING HERE?!” Salene and Pride heard a male voice scream.
“The both recognized the voice right away. “Lex.” The couple said together.
Salene and Pride walked down to the entrance of the mall to find Lex standing face to face with Zoey. The two looked as if they were about to rip each others’ heads off.
“I’m not here to see you so why don’t you just move out of my way.” Zoey said slowly but loudly.
“I’m not moving anywhere until you answer my question techno.” Lex yelled back.
Salene walked over to the two and pushed them apart. “Will you to stop it; we have more important things to do then to listen to you two fight.” Salene said slightly angry. Salene turned to Zoey and noticed that she seemed to be a little unnerved. “Zoey what are doing here, is something wrong?”
“I need to talk to you.” Zoey said and then looked over at Lex. “Alone.”
“Sure we can talk in my room follow me.” Salene said as she led Zoey upstairs.
“I don’t trust her.” Lex said out loud.
“Why because she’s techno? If I remember correctly Lex you were the one that was involved with the technos.” Pride said and then walked away.
“Is everything going to plan?” Angel asked the girl that stood in front of her.
“Of course they have accepted me and I think they trust me.” The girl answered giving a sly smile
“Good then everything is perfect. Zoot has made a special appearance to Ebony to rattle her nerves. Java has everything under control with the technos. So soon we will be ruling over this city once again.” Angel said laughing evilly. “You should get back before anyone notices that you are gone, but don’t forget to keep me updated.”
“Of course I will.” The girl said and then left heading out into the city.
“Look Zoey I don’t mean to be rude or sound mean or anything but why are you here? When you were here before it seemed as if the mall was the last place you wanted to be. So why are you here now?” Salene asked as she sat down in a chair across from the bed that Zoey was sitting on.
“I needed a place to go that is safe and I thought that this might be the safest place for me at this time.” Zoey said with no flinch of emotion on her face.
“Still why did you come here instead of the hotel or the techno headquarters?”
“Because those places are not safe, at least for me.”
“What do you mean?” Salene asked interested in why this techno felt unsafe.
“You really want know, fine. My sister wants to get rid of me because I was here and let’s just say Zabby is the nicest person.”
“Can’t you just explain to Zabby that Lex brought you here?” Salene asked shocked that someone would want to get rid of their own sister over such a simple thing.
“Zabby’s not exactly someone that you can explain things to; when she gets an idea in her head it stays there and there is nothing that I or anyone can do to stop her. And Zabby thinks that I’m going against her, so she thinks that I’m going to tell people about what she’s involved in; and that means that she has to get rid of me by anyway possible.”
“Look Zoey I feel bad for you but I don’t think that it’s safe for you here; I don’t even think that it’s safe for any of the people here.” Salene said lowering her head.
“You found out about the Zootist.”
Salene’s head shot up at the mention of the Zootist. “How…how do you know about the Zootist?”
“Some of the technos are involved with them, mainly my sister. Look Salene I know that I might seem a little rough at times but I do have principals. And the things that some technos have been involved with go against my principals.” Zoey paused and looked at Salene. “Salene I want to help you guys in any way possible. I tired of doing everything that my sister does I want for once to be on the right side.”
Salene looked at Zoey before speaking. “You’ll really help us? You’re not going to spy on us or anything?”
“I’m not that kind or person, spying on people that can help me isn’t exactly my cup of tea.”
Salene looked at Zoey she didn’t exactly seem like the perfect to let stay there but she also seemed to be telling the truth about her sister and everything. After a minute of thinking about it Salene finally spoke,
“If you stay here you’ll help us against the Zootist?”
“Of course I will.”
“Fine you can stay here Zoey, but if you step out of line and turn against us, you’ll be out of here before you can count to three.”
“Ebony is very freaked out because of your little visit to her.” Angel said to Zoot who stood in front of her pacing back and forth.
“We needed to get her on our side, I needed her.” Zoot said stopping in front of Angel.
“What? Why do we need her? You have me Zoot; there is no need for Ebony.” Angel said jumping up from where she was sitting.
“I know I have you my dear,” Zoot said as he touched Angel’s cheek with his hand, “but with Ebony we will be able to take over this city faster then the technos. I want you and Java to convince her to join us, you have been close to Ebony and the other technos is there anything that might make her transition to our side easy. Anything that might make her turn back to her old ways again?’
“She has a relationship with a techno named Jay, but as usual she is easily made jealous especially by Amber another mallrat. I think that maybe if we make it seem like that Jay has been with Amber and if you make another appearance to her I think that we could win her over.” Angel said avoiding her lover’s eyes.
“You are worried that Ebony will take your place as my woman, but you don’t have to worry Angel. Ebony is no more then a pawn in my game.” Zoot said as he tilted Angel’s head up so their eyes were locked. “Now, my dear I want you and Java to start working on Ebony and make sure that everyone is doing what they were told to do.”
“I will.” Angel said smiling and then leaving to head back to the mall.
“What do you mean she’s going to stay here?!” Lex yelled as he jumped up from where he sat on the steps of the staircase in the mall. “She’s a techno she’s can’t stay here.”
“Why not, Siva was techno and you had her stay here.” Dee said turning her head up to where Lex still stood.
“That was different Siva was kicked out, Zoey’s still a techno.” Lex said as he glared at Zoey who stood with Salene in front of the staircase.
“So what if I am a techno that didn’t stop you from shaking up with Siva when she was still a techno.” Zoey said returning Lex’s glare.
“Look will you both stop it.” Salene said loudly. “You two will have to stop fighting so much because you’ll both will be living here together.”
“Fine but I’m not happy about it.” Lex said as he sat back down.
“Since that’s settled on to the next matter. As some of you know earlier today a girl named Josie came to us and informed us about a new tribe in town. Although Josie did leave she said she would be back, but she did tell us some important things. This new tribe is called the Zootist and a mix of former Locos, chosen, and from what Zoey has told me about them technos too.”
“Great we defeated one nut job and now we got a whole tribe of them.” Dee said throwing her arms in the air.
“Is there any thing else we know about them that might help?” Pride asked who stood next to Salene.
“From what I heard Zabby talking about they’re just starting out but they already have a large following. Zabby said something about making sure that everyone stayed at the techno work camps. So I think that most of the technos are involved and that they’re planning on continuing what Ram started only things will probably worse.” Zoey looked around at the mallrats and stopped at Jack. “Salene told me that you were at one of the camps but that you and another got out and came back, how did you get out?’”
“I’m not really sure Lynda was the one that really got us out, but I did notice that a lot of the guards seemed to be acting strangely like something big was happing.” Jack answered.
Salene looked around at the people sitting on the steps. “Jack where is Lynda?”
“She said she wanted to have a look around the place.” Jack answered Salene
“Salene I think that there is a way I can find out if anyone has been moved or anything.” Zoey said
“How?” Salene asked surprise.
“With the technos I was in charge of transportation and I was the one that decided were to send people when we….I mean when the technos took them. If I can get my computer I can see if any updates have been made to the list of people.”
“But you computer is at the hotel how are you going to get it?”
“I can talk to my friend Scan he can get my computer and bring it to me. Scan can be trusted to he doesn’t agree with what the technos; he doesn’t even trust them.”
“Alright but I want some one to go with you.” Salene turned to the others. “How bout Lex.”
“What?” both Lex and Zoey said
“I think that this would be a great opportunity for you two to learn to work together.” Salene said with a sly smile on her face and then walked away with Pride.
Amber stood there for a moment in shock. She couldn’t believe Danni was back and alive. In a way it gave her new hope that Bray and the others that were still missing could be alive. Amber turned to leave.
“You know you really have a talent for getting under people’s skin.” Ebony said from the corner she was stand in.
“And you know that none of this is really your business, yet it is all your fault.” Amber retorted
She continued to walk out of the hotel.
“Amber what are you doing here?” Jay asked as he saw her coming down the steps.
“I wanted to talk to Danni.” Amber said as she continued to walk.
“Hey, are you okay?” Jay asked as he grabbed Amber’s arm to get her to stop walking away.
“Why don’t you ask your girlfriend.” The venom clear in her voice as she spoke.
“Don’t talk about Ebony that way she is just trying to protect her friend.” Jay said.
“Ebony doesn’t have any friends, just puppets that she uses till she is done with them.” Amber said and then left the hotel.
Jay walked up the stairs and headed for Danni’s room. As he got closer he heard a shriek come from the room. He ran to the door way and stopped dead in his tracks. There was Danni and Ebony attacking each other with various objects. Jay was pulled out of his thoughts when a stuffed bear hit him in the head.
“Hey.” He yelled.
Both girls stopped and looked at him.
“What have we regressed to the age of five?” Jay asked trying to sound serious.
Ebony and Danni looked at each other both trying to hold back their laughter. Finally Ebony walked up to Jay. She put one hand behind his head and kissed him. When Jay finally pulled away Ebony hit him with the pillow she was holding in her other hand.
Jack walked towards his workshop expecting no one to be in it instead he found Zoey at his computer. She was no longer wearing her techno uniform. Instead Zoey wore a pair of black bell-bottoms, a black tube top that showed her stomach and over this she wore a long sleeve see through shirt that had holes for her thumbs and that came down pass her hips. Instead of the techno design on her forehead Zoey had to white V’s that pointed to the middle of her face.
“What do you think you’re doing?” Jack said coming up to Zoey at his computer.
“Sorry just thought I take look around that’s all, and computer and I remembered it from that time.” Zoey asked as she pushed her chair away from the computer desk.
“What time?” Jack asked confused.
“When the technos brought it over to the hotel, Ram had me and a couple others work on it.”
“Why? Why was my computer with the technos?”
“Cause of that blonde girl that tried to wipe out Ebony. She almost did to; to bad that she got caught things might have been a little better without Ebony around.”
“This blonde girl do you know what her name was?” Jack asked even though in his heart he already knew the answer.
“Umm it started with an E.” Zoey paused and scratched the back of her neck as she though. Damn I can’t remember it.”
“Was the name Ellie?”
“Yeah that was the chick’s name, Ellie.” Zoey paused and looked at Jack. “And to think of it I remember you’re face. Right after Ellie was caught Jay had me look your file up for him for something, he wouldn’t tell me why but he said he needed to know what camp you were at.”
Jack looked down at his feet shocked; Ellie had tried to kill Ebony. She had been taken away to somewhere and maybe even killed. Jack wondered why the others had told him. He needed to find Ellie; he needed to find out if she was alive. Jack looked at Zoey and then it hit him; Zoey could help him. She has told them that on her computer at the hotel she had the files of where every person that was taken had been sent.
“Zoey we need to get your computer from the hotel now.”
“Why?” Zoey asked standing up.
“I need to find out where Ellie was sent, I need to find her now.” Jack said as he walked to the doorway.
“Ok but...” Zoey started.
“Look Zoey you either help me or not.” Jack said cutting Zoey off.
“Alright I will but this isn’t going to be easy. We actually have to get into the hotel.”
“I need to find her and that’s all that matters.” Jack said holding back his emotions.
“Alright then let’s go.” Zoey said leading Jack out of the mall.
The Hotel:
Angel walked into the hotel and spotted Java standing around ordering some lonely technos around. Angel walked right up to Java.
“Java we need to talk.” Angel said not giving anything away
“Not now Angel can’t you see I’m busy.” Java said turning back to ordering around people.
“Java we need to talk now, it concerns” Angel paused and looked around “your sister and our boss.”
“Fine let’s talk.” Java said realizing what Angel was talking about. Java pulled Angel over to a corner away from everyone. “What is it?”
“Zoot wants to get Ebony on our side; he says if we get her our take over will be easier.” Angel whispered.
“I guess he’s right, so what’s the plan?”
“I was thinking that we could make her a little jealous about Amber and Jay and show her that with Zoot and us she can have everything.”
“Ram tried that remember it didn’t work.”
“Ram didn’t do it right he showed Ebony an image on a computer now if Ebony saw in person she might change her mind and join us.” Angel said with a sly smile on her face.
“And how do think you’re going to do that, Jay and Amber aren’t on our side so how exactly are we going to get them do something to make Ebony jealous?”
“Easy we use virtual reality on her while she’s sleeping. We make a program of Jay and Amber coming into Ebony’s room a night and they tell poor Ebony that they’re together now and Jay doesn’t want her. And poor Ebony will be so heart broken that it will be so easy to get her on to our side.”
Java smiled evilly “That is the best idea I’ve heard in a long time.”
Amber left the hotel furious.
“How could she turn me away?” Amber said to herself as she walked to the mall.
As she continued to walk she remembered how it all began. It all began with them the Loco’s.
“The Loco’s. Those who started it all.” She once again said to herself.
She remembered running from them that fateful day, when she and Dal took shelter from the Loco’s behind some garbage. Then there was Cloe so young and innocent she just could stand there and watch them take her away to only god know what kind of fate. The mall was a lucky find for all of those concerned. Then there was Bray, God how she loves him. She stopped dead in her tracks as she saw a boy who reminded her of Bray. She couldn’t help but wonder if that is what Bray Jr. would look like when he grew up.
She quickly wiped a few tears away as she remember her love and her best friend Dal. How she wished they could both be here with her. She wonders if she has the strength to continue on without them.
“Jay.” The name played on her lips before coming out in a soft whisper.
She thought maybe she could regain what she had lost in Jay. She thought as she started to walk again, Jay still on her mind. How could he love Ebony? Ebony was incapable of love or at least the love Jay deserved the Love she could give him. Ebony always got what she wanted she wanted Bray she got him for a while. She want her gone she got it for a while. She wanted power she always got power for a while but would always find it again. Hope fully she would only have Jay for a while. Then he could be with Amber the way she wanted it.
Amber saw the mall in the near distance; she quickly decided not to go in right away. She decided to walk in the woods that were behind the mall. She wasn’t ready to handle the chaos that was known as everyday life in the mall.
She continued to think about everything and everyone. Jack was there he had Lynda, Salene had Pride, Lex had Siva and Tai-san even though she was missing he had her too. Then there was Trudy she had Hawk, she was happy for them. She was happy for all of them but she couldn’t help but feel jaded. After all what did she have? Granted she had baby Bray, who she would have to raise on her own, she couldn’t ask the others to help her with him. He was her responsibility and hers alone. She sat on the set of swings in the back of the Mall she stayed there looking up at the sky.
“I wonder if things could have been different.” She asked herself as she stared up at the crystal blue sky.
“Here we are the city.” Ellie said with a smile on her face as she and Emma and Adam entered the city.
“This is it?” Adam said with raised eyebrows.
“It’s very nice.” Emma said as she elbowed Adam in the stomach. Emma looked around from where she stood. The city seemed to be a nice place to live, people were walking around freely, and no one was controlling them like the Chosen or the Technos. “Well let’s get to the mall, so you can get home and introduce us to everyone.”
As the three walked further into the city, Emma noticed that Adam pull out something from his bag that hug at his side. Emma looked closer at it out of her corner of her eye and realized that it was one of the techno zappers that Adam had taken from the technos they had attacked.
“What are you doing with that?” Emma said as she reached for the zapper.
“I thought that we could use some sort of protection.” Adam said raising the zapper above his head. “We don’t know what the VR kids are going to be like here, they could be going through withdraw, and they could be dangerous.”
“So what are you going to do Adam zap them all. These kids have been through enough, right Ellie.” Emma said turning to Ellie to see that she had turned around.
“Umm, Emma I think that we should let Adam use that thing, especially right now.” Ellie said sounding a little nervous.
Emma and Adam turned around to where Ellie was looking and noticed that a small group of kids were coming right toward them.
“What do you want?” a tall blue haired boy asked.
“To find my friends.” Ellie said but it sounded almost like a question.
“Wrong.” The boy said coming closer towards them.
Adam looked around and saw that the group had started to close them into an alley way. “Ok so what do you want?” Adam said as he turned the zapper on very slowly.
“POWER AND CHAOS.” The boy said and then came towards them.
Adam did the first thing that came to his mind and fired the zapper directly at the boy’s chest. This caused the boy to fall to the ground and the rest of the group to come right at them. Adam zapped kids as quickly as he could, while Emma and Ellie tried to fight them off. It didn’t take Adam long to zap most of the kids, and Adam knew that Emma was doing just fine as she was taken care of knocking down the last of the kids she had been fighting. However Adam couldn’t see Ellie anywhere, but then Adam saw one of the kids leaning over top of something with his fist raised. Adam raised the zapper at shot it at the kid, knocking the kid to the ground, out cold.
Adam ran over to the person and saw that it was Ellie. He kneeled down and noticed that she seemed to have been hit in the head by something.
“Is she alright?’ Emma asked as she ran over to Adam and Ellie
“She’s alive but I think that she’s hurt pretty bad. We need to get her some help. Quickly.” Adam said as she carefully picked Ellie up and held her in his arms.
“The mall, they could help, they’re Ellie’s family they’ll have to help.” Emma said as put the zapper on her wrist in case of another group of kids thought that they would have a go at them.
Adam nodded his head and started off to the mall with Emma as fast as he could. All He could think about was and Ellie, and that he hoped that they would find help at the mall. Ellie had come this far and Adam wasn’t going to let anything happen to her now.
Zoey looked around the corner of the wall that she and Jack were standing behind. Zoey saw that Bryce her once close friend was standing outside the hotel. Zoey knew that she would have to wait until after Bryce was gone to get any closer to the hotel. If Bryce saw her, Zoey knew that he would go straight to Zabby and tell her that she was there, and that would mean there would be some trouble; and Zoey didn’t want that.
“Zoey why are we hiding like this behind a wall, you were a techno can’t you just….” Jack started but Zoey broke him off.
“I can’t just anything anymore; I’m not a techno at least not anymore. And if I go in there, there’s a big chance that I’m not coming out again. And if I don’t come out you’re not going to find your girl.
“Ellie’s not my girl.” Jack said quickly.
“If she isn’t then why do you care so much?” Zoey said and then looked around the corner of the wall again.
Jack’s mouth hung open a little, Zoey was right; why did he care so much? He had Lynda now, he shouldn’t care so much about Ellie, but for some reason he did. Jack was supposed to care Lynda not Ellie, Ellie was the past. But every time Jack heard or even thought of Ellie all the feelings he had ever had for came flooding back.
“Alright, here he comes.” Zoey said turning away from the corner again. “When he gets closer I’m going to pull him over.”
“Who?” Jack asked confused
“Scan, he’s techno but he ain’t really with them. He can help us get my computer.” Zoey answered.
Jack nodded and then watched as a tall techno with blonde and blue hair walked by them and Zoey grabbed him by the shoulders and pulled him over to where Jack was.
“What the hell, Zoey.” Scan said looking at Zoey shocked. “Why you do that, and why aren’t you in your uniform anymore?”
“I’m not a techno anymore, I guess.” Zoey said looking at Scan.
“I’m not surprised; you’re not exactly a welcomed person in the hotel any longer.” Scan said leaning against the wall.
“What do you mean?” Zoey asked
“Well Zabby has been spreading the word that you have left us and were in on the techno fall, almost everyone is against ya. And plus something is going down, something involving Java and your sister.” Scan then looked over at Jack. “And who is he?’ Scan asked jerking his thumb at Jack.
“That’s Jack, he’s mallrat. Look Scan I know something is going down and I need your help on two things. Will you help us?”
“Of course I’ll help you Zoey, but what is it?”
“I need you to back up my computer and bring it down to us, as if you are taking back to the old headquarters. And, now this is very big, when my computer is taken out of the hotel I’m going to lose connection to all the other computers, and I want you to when ever something new is added to the data base to copy it to a disk and give it to me. Can you do that?” Zoey said as quickly as she could.
“Of course, but why?”
“Because like you said something is going down and I’m going to help the mallrats keep a head of it, I’m not going to go along like I did before anymore.”
“Alright,” Scan said nodding. “But I can’t get the computer until later; Java’s got me working at the headquarters. How bout this, I’ll bring you computer to the mall, I’ll make sure I’m not seen.”
“Alright, but be careful.” Zoey said as the two grabbed each other’s arms (think of how they do it in the show when they are about to go off and do something important).
“Nice meeting you Jack.” Scan said turning to Jack
“Yeah you to.” Jack said as he and Zoey walked off back to the hotel. “Are you sure he can be trusted Zoey, he’s a techno and he seems to be on good terms with Java.”
“What Jack you don’t trust technos?” Zoey said with a little laugh. “Scan can be trusted; he ain’t a normal techno he’s like Jay or even me.”
“I’ll trust him as long as I find out where Ellie is.” Jack said and then he and Zoey continued to walk back to the mall in silence.
Amber continued to sit on the swing set remembering the past and how much things have changed.
“Dal why did you have to leave me all alone here.” Amber whispered to herself.
“He didn’t leave you Amber he will always be with you in your heart.” Trudy said as she sat down on the swing next to Amber.
“Trudy I didn’t see you out here.” Amber said quietly
“Amber are you okay?” Trudy asked her long time friend.
“Yeah I was just thinking how everything has changed. I mean just look at our Tribe there are very few of the original members left. Pretty soon we’ll be all gone. I don’t even know if we can still consider ourselves the Mall Rats anymore.” Amber said as she started to push herself back and forth on the swing.
“I was telling Hawk the same thing the other day. Do you know what he said?” Trudy asked
“No.” was all Amber could say as she half heartedly pushed herself
“Well he said as long as at least one of us is there to raise the children in our tribes ways. Our tribe will live forever in our child, and in there child then so on and so forth.” Trudy replied as she to started to swing.
“Trudy?” Amber asked.
“Yeah Amber?”
“Do you realize we our the oldest members of the tribe?” Amber questioned.
“Yeah I guess that makes us the adults.” Trudy answered
“Can I resign from being an adult and go back to being Brady’s age?”
“Sure, but you’re going to have to put up with Lex being your uncle.” Trudy laughed.
“Okay resignation withdrawn.” Amber laughed.
“So how was your date with Hawk?” Amber asked after a few moments of silence.
“It was really nice.” Trudy started. “But I don’t think we could even consider it a date. I think it was more like two friends having dinner.”
“Yeah right.” Amber said as she rolled her eyes.
“Really Amber I don’t think he likes me that way.” Trudy replied.
“Trudy can I ask you one last question?” Amber asked
“Isn’t that what you just did?” Trudy smugly said
“Smart butt.” Amber began. “Any way what I was going to ask was. Can I be a bridesmaid?” Amber laugh as she got up of the swing.
“Amber? One date and you already have us getting married.” Trudy said as her swing came to a stop.
“No, but I got you to admit it was a date.” Amber said as she headed back into the mall.
Dee, Salene, Pride, Amber, Lex, and Patch sat in the café in silence. Everyone was thinking about the Zootist but no one seemed to be able to talk about it out loud, because this meant admitting that the Locos and the Chosen were back and that everything was falling to pieces once again. They knew that there was going to be trouble but they didn’t know when everything would become Chaos. So far the only thing that had happened that showed that Zootist were around was that people were being taken away, but no one knew where to. The only thing that the mallrats knew for sure was that some kind of action needed to take place, they needed to do something, but what?
Amber looked at her friends who sat in front of her; she could tell that they were all tired. The day seemed to have been longer then usually which probably had to do with the Zootist.
“I think that we all should get some sleep it’s been a long day.” Amber finally said as she stood up.
“Amber’s right we need some sleep,” Pride said as he stood up as well “we need to….”
“Did you hear that?” Dee said interrupting Pride as she stood up.
“Hear what?” Salene asked
“It was sounded like people talking and walking down stairs. It was probably nothing, maybe one of the kids or someone.” Dee said
“Well Trudy’s putting the kids, and Lynda is sleeping, Jack and Zoey are talking in his room, Hawk’s still at the hospital, and we’re here.” Amber said
“Maybe we should go check it out.” Patch said a little nervously.
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