Just Another Job (26 page)

“I’m not going. Like you said this isn’t
real. Alan can’t tell me what to do.” Frank glared at Chris,
challenging him to continue.

Chris saw it and accepted. He grabbed Frank
with both hands around the collar. Chris’s fingers were clutched so
tight he thought they would rip through the cloth. For a split
second his mind said release/apologize, but his hands didn’t obey.
He made the decision and now all of him needed to support it.

“You didn’t tell me the truth,” said Chris.
“You kept us in when you knew it was fake.”

The proximity of their faces only inches
apart made Frank uncomfortable, but he wouldn’t show it to Chris
and bulled through the feeling to make his nose just a hair’s
difference from Chris’s Grecian nose as Frank voiced his loud
opinion, “I don’t make decisions for you. You should have fucking
seen this coming. You were the one that said it was fake when we
first saw the videos. I know you knew what was going on. Ever since
your date with Johnykin at the baseball game. How could you not
know? Were you too dumbstruck by puppy love to see it? I didn’t
fucking keep it from you. You lied to yourself.”

“That’s not true. No, I would’ve said
something. I don’t play those kinds of games. You should know that
about me or you just don’t give a shit anymore.” Chris eased his
grip and pushed Frank away to think more clearly. “Maybe I was
blind or just wanted it to be true. And it doesn’t matter if you
knew. None of that matters now. I am going to change this.”

“Bullshit.” Frank adjusted his collar and
made to walk away.

Chris moved instinctively and grabbed
Frank’s arm to stop him. “Watch me.”

“Watch what? You say all this shit and then
back down when everyone else pressures you. Just like the gun
thing; just like everything. Bullshit.”

“No. I’m going home to my family and you’re
coming back to your family too. We’re going to quit together. This
isn’t for you. Erik’s little puppet that will lie and do whatever
he says because you get to run around in a tight outfit.”

“I haven’t lied about anything.”

“You’re a walking lie. Pretending to be a
Super. Not even that; a Super’s sidekick. I call bullshit on
you.”

“I’m doing something I’m good at. Don’t take
you’re petty guilt trip on me because you suck at being a man.”

Chris shoved Frank’s shoulder. “A man? A
real man is there for his family and takes care of them.”

“I am taking care of them and watching out
for yours. That was me, remember. When we got fired, I found us
jobs.” Frank pointed at his chest to emphasize.

“Well now it’s my turn. I can’t die out here
or let you die out here. This is me being a man and standing up for
our families.”

Frank shoved back. “I’m a man that stands up
and fights. Who’s not afraid to sacrifice a little —“

“So the orders can be complete. That’s all
you want; orders to follow. You’re not even thinking of what you’re
doing. You’re someone’s robot.” Chris shoved Frank again.

Frank returned it one more time. “Stop
shoving me asshole. This isn’t a game where you can pretend to be
something or fix it with a joke. This isn’t going to end in us
kissing and making up like little boys.”

The thought did occur to Chris. He wanted an
ending so they could get on the helicopter and back to their lives.
“Stop pretending yourself. I’m getting on that helicopter and
you’re getting on it with me. And yeah I do wish it would end with
a hug, but I’m also ready to kick your ass and drag you on that
thing too.”

Frank scanned every inch of Chris’s face
twice for a line of humor. He couldn't find any but it didn't mean
anything. He turned away again as he said, “Prove it.”

Chris didn't hesitate. He leaped forward and
tackled Frank face first into the dirt. The impact knocked the wind
out of Frank and Chris took advantage by bending both of Frank's
arms behind him like a police officer. Chris then straddled Frank
and pulled him back to his feet but it was awkward. Frank could
breathe again and shrugged off the loose hold Chris had on his
arms.

The dirt kicked up in the air as Frank spun
around and dug his fist deep into Chris's abdomen with the intent
of returning the feeling of breathlessness. Frank didn’t get the
same results; instead Chris only staggered back a little before
taking a wide swing into Frank’s face. It turned into a full on
fight. Frank hit back and the two bobbed and weaved like boxers.
None of them were trained for this style of fighting and things
switched into grapples and knees to the thighs. It took longer than
they both expected for the fighting to reach the ground. First
Frank pinned Chris and it looked just about over. But while
watching the sweat drip into the dry dirt, Chris knew he wasn’t
ready to quit; he squirmed a leg free and rolled Frank and himself
to the side. The movement gave him leverage enough for a forearm to
Frank’s chest, which itself gave Chris the opportunity to move on
top of Frank. Chris pulled his fist back for a final blow, but
Frank threw his arms up to protect his head. The hit was hard
enough to move Frank’s arms away long enough for another attempt
that rang true. Black and specks of blinking white lights crossed
Frank’s vision and then another hit brought more darkness, another
almost pitch black, finally Chris put everything behind it, and
wiped all vision and consciousness from Frank.

Chris waited for Frank to move again,
possibly playing possum, but he didn’t. How long were they
fighting, thought Chris? He was still sitting on Frank’s
unconscious body and looked around for a sign of time passing. No
one was around, but then again the SUV blocked them off from the
inside of the camp circle. Chris finally stood up and felt dizzy
and then sick. He looked down at his friend, turned away, and
puked.

He did it. He kicked Frank's ass like he
said he would. Chris's hands shook a little. Adrenaline, he
thought. But the influx of energy continued and the rest of him
wanted to move too. His body didn't want to waste the opportunity.
Chris's mind seemed to be working on a different level as well.
Ideas popped like fireworks but left a lasting image that pushed
him forward to act.

Chris picked Frank up from underneath his
armpits and dragged him around the SUV and towards the helicopter.
The sight of another limp body to the others was more shocking than
Chris could have forethought.

Johnykin saw them first. “Oh my God, Chris.
What happened?”

Another firework went off in Chris's head
that kept him moving forward. “He’s fine. Just needed some help
getting over here.”

“What?!” said Johnykin. She stared into
Chris’s hazel eyes.

“We’re going to be late,” said Chris without
blinking, and pulled Frank into the helicopter.

Jane was already inside and didn’t say
anything. Johnykin followed behind Frank’s dangling feet. Chris
checked Frank’s breathing and it was regular, so Chris propped a
bag underneath Frank’s head and let him continue to slumber. Then
Chris settled into a seat and buckled in with a satisfied smile on
his face.

Johnykin sat next to Chris before she
realized it and started in on him. “What the hell do you think
you’re doing? You can’t just beat up Frank. Why did you do
that?”

“He wasn’t going to come. I couldn’t leave
him behind. This is what it came to and I’m okay with it because…
it’s right. I can’t explain it better than that.”

“How is that ever the right thing?”

“How is it right that you lied about all of
this? No. I’m not going to bother. It’s done. I was stupid enough
to believe and follow along.” Chris turned his head towards the
cockpit to look in on the pilot. “We’re ready. Get this thing
flying.”

The pilot gave him a quizzical look, but
started up the engine anyway. Alan came up to the open door to make
one last check. He saw Frank first and then looked up at the now
bruised and puffy face of Chris. Alan started to say something, but
Frank stirred and everyone watched.

“Wha...t...uck...hris?” said Frank with his
eyes blinking in and out worse than his speech. Then a last ditch
effort led to, “Stayin'!”

Alan saw enough and walked to the front of
the helicopter to signal a faster takeoff. He turned his back as
the dust kicked up viciously from the push of the spinning
blades.

Frank continued to shove words out and force
his eyes open until he realized where he was. His hands went
tenderly to his face, touching the bruises and two open cuts then
just as gently touched the steel floor. Chris watched his friend
move into a seated position and spit black and red saliva until
there was nothing left to get out.

Like many of the car rides, no one spoke for
a long time. The pilot helped and reinforced the silence when he
spoke over the intercom, “Short flight to Gaziantep Airport, right
on the border of Turkey. 'Nother twenty minutes or so.”

Chapter
Twenty-One

The jet out of Turkey only took them to New York.
From there they were separated. Jane gave a short goodbye to Frank
and Chris and a long hug to Johnykin. They were told Jean and Hal's
bodies would be sent over to their families. Klaus would go with
them back to San Francisco and receive a burial fit for a soldier.
There was no family to take him home.

As they headed on to another small jet,
Johnykin spoke the first real words since they left Syria, “What
are you going to do?”

Chris didn't wait to see if it was directed
at him or Frank. “I'm quitting. I'm going in to Erik's office or
wherever the hell he may be and tell him I'm done. You guys should
too.”

Frank shook his head. He wasn't ready to
talk to Chris yet even if it was to argue.

“It's not that easy,” said Johnykin.

“Why not?” asked Chris.

Johnykin bit her lip hard and took her time
to settle into her seat before responding. “It's a secret and there
was a contract. I don't really know what happens if I break
it.”

Chris sat opposite from her and Frank took
the seat to the side of Johnykin so as to hear but also ignore if
he chose.

“That doesn't matter. Contracts are always
broken. This is going to come out eventually. There's no way they
can keep things a secret after three dead Supers,” said Chris.

Frank couldn't ignore this line of thought.
“You're so ridiculous. You think you know, but that's bullshit.
They can cover up whatever they want. You should be afraid about
breaking your contract Johnykin. Erik's not going to let us just
leave. I've seen it before.”

Chris focused in on Frank's last comment.
“You’ve seen it before? What in the movies with real
superheroes?”

“Erik's not the type to let things go,” said
Johnykin. She turned to look out the window.

“This isn't over,” said Chris. “You can't
just say that about Erik and turn away. I know this is different.
I'm acting different. Come on let's get past this.” Chris looked at
the back of both their heads. He wasn't going to move them with his
words. He never was one to do that.

Chris leaned back in his seat and moved his
hands over his short, dark brown hair. In his head, he ran through
the different scenarios Erik would pose to him after quitting. Then
he imagined life after working at the labs. What the hell was he
going to do? They saved money, but what did he want to do? Sadie’s
face appeared in his mind, ‘You like to write,’ she said. What
was…

The laptop in their bags. Chris pulled it
out from underneath his seat, but as he unzipped it realized the
battery had to be dead. Sure enough it was. It wouldn't have been a
good idea anyways. How would he get the document off the computer
for himself to keep? His mind ran through the usual ways learned
back at X-Tech. Too much bother. Pushing the computer back in the
bag, he rummaged some more, only half thinking about what he
wanted. Soon in his hands were a notepad and pen. Chris thought
again about the past. That old notepad would be helpful about now.
All the early stages of the lie were already written down.

“Oh well,” Chris said to himself aloud.
Johnykin and Frank both turned around believing it was directed at
them. Chris used an old goofy smile and tapped the pen against his
forehead. Frank and Johnykin turned away.

Chris told himself, silently this time, to
start at the beginning. He might be able to find the old notes, but
it didn't help to imagine that small success. For the five and a
half hour flight that's all Chris did. Some parts were more
detailed than others, but he didn't stop. All the great things that
they tell you that comes from writing down your experiences were
practically true. Chris saw the bigger picture and came to the
comfortable feeling of seeing how he fit in it. It was all so much
more concrete especially when seeing the end goal that Erik or the
government, whoever was really in charge, had in mind.

But how did they fake it so well? It was
obvious the videos were doctored with special effects techniques.
That was an easy enough assumption.

“Johnykin,” said Chris. She didn't respond.
He got up and put his hand on her shoulder. The touch shocked her
awake.

“Shit! You scared me,” said Johnykin. “What
is it? Are we back?”

“Just about, but – hey – how did you guys
pull off the helicopter crash at the hospital and the others that
were live.”

“What? It was just special effects.”

“I know on the videos, but what about in
real life. How did you do it?”

“It was special effects. The scientists at
the lab. They all worked in movies as set designers or effects
people. What do they call them?”

“Practical effects?”

“Yeah, yeah. Something like that. It was all
set up beforehand like a movie.”

Chris laughed. “That's pretty smart of
Erik.”

“Sure,” said Johnykin, and sat there trying
not to fall back asleep.