5th Column Comics: Peacekeeper #23
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“Pardon?” I ask, my nerves burning as panic fights to take control of my body. “What do you mean looking for me?”
“Oh this is going to be good.” Terra states as she sits on the bar behind me, her hand reaching for a glass of wine left on the bar by a patron scared off by Stallion’s treatment of Suicidal Tendencies. “What now Cassie?”
“It’s like it sounds, I’ve watched your change of career with great interest.” Stallion states, as he cracks an almost friendly smile. “I hope I had nothing to do with it.”
“No you didn’t.” I answer, although by now I know that my voice is not convincing no-one. I would fight, but alas I brought nothing to defend myself, and I feel like that the white blouse and blue jeans will do little to defend myself against any physical onslaught Stallion throws at me.
“Good.” Stallion answers. “You seem nervous, what are you worrying about?”
“Just post suicide attempt jitters.” I reply, the answer at least being partially correct. “And you know the aftermath with Bronson and the Raider from earlier today.” I add, as I see Stallion’s eyes narrow, almost like he can smell the depict on my voice.
“I would assume that it would have been about the last time we met, how I found you with undesirable company.” Stallion announces, obviously referencing my brief partnership with Alexander Eisenhardt.
“It was just business.” I answer quietly, getting ready to run in the hope I can get away from my former employee before he can grab me.
“If that’s what you want to call that, I know that it ended in betrayal, such things always do.” Stallion states, as he places one of his hands on my shoulder. “At least it wasn’t too serious right?”
“I came out alive if that’s what you mean.” I reply, bitterness wrestling with the fear in my voice.
“You’ve always been the drama-queen, right from the moment we first met you were always creating a commotion and chaos. It’s one of the things I loved and hated about you, mostly the former you understand. And it’s because I know about you that I don’t understand what you were doing back then, not to mention this Peacekeeper façade.” Stallion tells me, as he sits down on the bar stool next to me.
“It’s not a façade, not all of it.” I whisper.
“Oh here it comes.” Terra cackles gleefully, as she downs her wine before leaning in to listen intently at my destruction.
“Which bits, playing the hero or when I caught you making out with Leona in the back of my Mustang?” Stallion asks, the last few words causing me to blink once and twice. I want to cheer, I want to shout but something tells me I’m not out of the proverbial woods yet. Instead all I say is, “Oh…” The words drowned out by something cruder coming from Terra’s lips.
“Is that all you can muster, you f*****g the base commander’s daughter right in-front of him, not to mention a bunch of GIs, got me discharged. But even that is insignificant when compared to finding out your little sister is a lesbian.” Stallion spits, his voice mirroring the bitterness in mine earlier.
“Oh this is interesting.” Terra purrs, as she hops off the bar. “Go on, tell him you killed his sister that would be hilarious.”
“I’m sorry.” I answer meekly, as Cassie’s memories run through my head. Honestly I’m embarrassed just watching, so I can only imagine how Stallion not to mention his CO felt witnessing it in person. “I honestly am…” I stop, I need a name, an actual name, “…Clay, I’m so sorry.” I gasp, before silently giving myself a pat on the back.
“That was five years ago, since then I didn’t hear a word from you. I only knew you existed because you went out grandstanding on television! I know I have no right to be concerned about you, but you are my little sister, I don’t want you risking your life by playing dress-up the vigilante games!” Stallion states, the sheer volume of his concerns crushing that celebratory feeling I was having only moments before. “I worried about you before…but now….”
“It’s okay, I’ve survived this long and I have my friends.” I state, before waving at the table I had just come from.
“Doesn’t matter, I’ve been in combat based jobs my entire adult life, one day you either bite the bullet or realise that you will sooner or later.” Stallion sighs. “I don’t want either of those things to happen, I want you to go back to university and study…I think it was law right?”
“Actually it was 19th Century English Literature with a minor in the geo-political structure of Latin America.” I state, finally getting something I actually revised in Cassie 101. “And it seemed pointless, at least after the Impacts and the wars, and everything else. I mean who cares that Byron swam across the Hellespont when hordes of zombie creatures and super powered assholes like Wind Duster are running around ruining people’s lives. I’m not going to waste my life when….” I stop as I see Stallion crack a smile. “What?”
“I see that, and while I don’t agree that you should be going out there fighting, I can see how passionate you are about this. And that makes me proud of you. I want to be you brother again, if you want me to be.” He states, a worried grin now spread across his face.
“I want that…” I state, the actual intent showing though the words as old feelings raise from the core of my being. Stallion, Clay whatever still had that…effect on me…even if I was masquerading as his sister there was some old spark of desire deep down.
“Uh oh love triangle.” Terra states, as she walks over to where Torres is sitting before licking her on the neck. “What about the senorita? I thought she was the one not for us.” She asks, her words mirroring the confusion in my head, as I walk half way between the bar and the table, Stallion a few steps behind me.
“Uh guys this is my brother Clay.” I state nervously, before watching Clive, Mayday and Torres all turn to stare at Stallion. “Clay these are my friends.” I reply, before sitting down at the table. Right now I can only imagine what everyone’s thinking, and who’s going to react first. The silence doesn’t last long however, as a van comes crashing through the front of the pub, and three figures crash through the debris, their eyes focused on Clay/Stallion. Almost immediately the majority of the public is running and screaming, although the girl with the posters and a few others have hidden behind the bar.
“Me and the boys,” I hear the gravelly tones of Suicidal Tendencies announce, as he joins the three other figures, “well we got fed up with waiting for you Stallion, I hope you and yours enjoyed those drinks, because they’ll be your last.”
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