“Thanks, Aaron.” Justin was grateful for his friend's concern. “My knees are so shaky, I might need a hand getting back.”
Aaron grinned and they walked on in silence.
The Court was empty and the two friends walked through to the hallway leading to Mr. Fitzgerald's office. Once there, Aaron leaned back against the wall and watched as Justin pushed the button beside the door. They heard the chime go off inside the room.
There was a moment of silence and then they heard Mr. Fitzgerald's voice telling them to come in. Justin glanced at Aaron who nodded and winked. Then the door opened and Justin walked slowly inside.
Mr. Fitzgerald was sitting behind his desk. His usual pile of papers was in front of him and, for the first time, Justin thought that the man looked very tired. However, Mr. Fitzgerald smiled as Justin approached his desk and waved toward a chair.
“Justin. Good to see you,” he said as Justin sat down carefully. “Is there something wrong? You look a bit too frail to be walking any distance.”
Justin felt a twinge of annoyance. Why did everyone think he was an invalid? But he kept his irritation out of his voice.
“Well sir, I don't want to be a bother.”
The man shook his head with a smile. “You are far from a bother, Justin.”
“Thank you, sir. But, well...” Justin hesitated then hurried on before he could change his mind. “I wanted to know what you were doing about getting Wilson back. Not the details or anything but just, you know, when you might be going after him. I'm really worried about him.”
Mr. Fitzgerald looked grave. He sat back, folded his arms and looked across the room for a long moment.
“Wilson. Yes. I can understand why you'd be worried, after what we saw earlier.” Then he sighed and looked at Justin again. “Justin. I won't lie to you. After what you've done for us here, you deserve the truth.” He leaned forward and rested his forearms on the desk. “We won't be going after Wilson.”
Justin stared at the man in shock. He didn't know what to say. It took him a minute to speak up.
“You won't be going after him?” he asked faintly.
“No, I'm afraid not.”
“But why? He's one of you, isn't he? A Guardian. You can't just leave him with those people. Who knows what they will do to him. What they've already done to him!” Justin's voice was getting louder but he couldn't seem to control it. “They could be torturing him or worse!”
“Justin, I know. I do. But the odds of him being alive after all this time are slim at best. We don't even know where he is or where to start looking for him.” He looked at Justin intently. “It is possible that the ones who invaded got their information on our location from Wilson. If that is true, his use to them would be at an end.
“No way! There's no way that Wilson would tell them anything,” Justin said. “I know him, Mr. Fitzgerald. He would never betray us.”
The man nodded slightly. “I agree, Justin. Some others do not though, and mine is not the only vote that counts,
Justin was caught off-guard. “What?” he asked. “But I thought you were the leader of the Guardians.”
Mr. Fitzgerald sat back. He looked away from Justin for a moment and then looked back. “I am their leader, yes. But the fate of the Titans, the final decisions are not made by me. They are made by...others.”
“Others?” Justin was stunned. He had thought that Mr. Fitzgerald was the supreme leader of Sanctuary. If he wasn't, then who was?
“Justin, Sanctuary is made up of a hierarchy. I am the leader of the Guardians. But the overall control of this refuge is in the hands of a Council. And it is they who have decided, against my urging, not to attempt a rescue.”
“But who are they?”
“I'm not at liberty to say at the moment.” Mr. Fitzgerald sighed heavily. “You will learn in time, I'm sure. But for now, all I can say is that the Council are just and wise. And if they believe that going after your friend is a bad idea, then I have to believe them. And so should you.”
Justin felt the anger welling up again inside him but the look of finality on Mr. Fitzgerald's face kept him from saying anything.
“I know that this isn't what you wanted to hear, Justin. But I thought you deserved the truth.”
Justin stood up. “Yes sir,” he said and walked to the door. As he opened it, he turned back. “Thank you, sir. For your honesty.”
Mr. Fitzgerald nodded. “You're welcome. Good night.”
“Night,” Justin said and walked out, closing the door behind him.
When Justin stomped into their room, Aaron stared at him with wide eyes. “What's up, Just?” he asked.
Justin paused for a minute, looked at Aaron and just shook his head. “Tell you in the morning, bud. I need to sleep. I have a lot to digest but I'm too tired to think at the moment.” He gave a brief wave to Aaron and headed into the bedroom.
“Okay, Just. Sleep well,” Aaron called back. He stared after his friend for a moment, then shrugged at went back to playing Arena.
The next morning, after a quiet breakfast, Justin left for the baths. When he returned. Aaron was quietly reading one of the newer newspapers. He looked up as Justin walked in and waited for him to speak.
Justin headed back to the bedroom first and emerged dressed a few minutes later. Then he sat down heavily on the couch across from Aaron and glared at him. “They're not going to do anything. They're not even going to try to save him.” He slammed his fist into the cushion beside him. “All because of some mysterious Council that calls the shots around here.” He sat there and seethed.
Aaron looked confused. “Council?” he asked. “What Council?”
“That's just it, Aaron; I don't know! All Mr. Fitzgerald would say is that 'the Council' wouldn't approve of him trying to rescue Wilson. Apparently they make all the final decisions, not him. So they're just going to leave Wilson to rot.”
Hesitantly, Aaron spoke up. “Just, I hate to even say this but, well, it's possible your friend is, um...”
“Dead? Yeah Aaron, I know.” Justin sat back, sighed and rubbed his hands over his face. “But I have to know, don't I? He's only in their hands because of me. How could I live with myself if I didn't at least try to find out?”
Aaron nodded reluctantly. “I guess you really can't,” he said quietly.
They both sat quietly for a while, lost in thought. Aaron glanced at Justin several times but his friend's face was devoid of expression. Finally though, Aaron saw a look of determination come over Justin.
“I have to go,” Justin said. He stood up and turned toward the door.
“What?” Aaron stared at him for a moment. Then he stood up and followed Justin to the door. “Go? You can't just go!”
“I have to, Aaron. If Wilson is alive, I have to try to save him.”
Aaron grabbed him by the arm as the door slid open. “Justin, wait a minute! Think about this, man! Seriously. Don't you realize that going out into the world is just what they want us to do? Both sides, the government and the rebels want to get a hold of us. And you're just going to leave and give them the chance to do it?” Aaron shook his head. “Even if Wilson is alive, which is a long shot, you have no idea where he is! How are you going to find him?”
Justin didn't try to shake off Aaron's arm. He just looked at his friend intently.
“Simple, Aaron. I'm going to let them catch me.”
There was a long moment of silence. Then Aaron exploded. “Are you out of your mind?” he yelled. “Justin, they will kill you! They want us all dead! What makes you think for a second that they won't just destroy you on the spot?”
Justin smiled gently at Aaron and held up his hand. “This,” he said as he opened his hand and held up his palm. The rune glowed silver.
“You actually think that mark will keep you alive?” Aaron stared at him incredulously.
“Yes, I do. At least for a while. Think about it. If I'm supposed to be the descendant of Cronus, then the rebels will definitely w
ant me alive, if only to try to discover the location of Sanctuary. As for the government guys, we already know they want us alive, for experiments. So either way, I should be safe enough.”
Justin walked into the hallway and started towards the courtyard. Aaron followed, speaking rapidly.
“But they don't know you, Justin! They're just as likely to attack first and ask questions after!”
“They do know me, Aaron. The rebel that got away saw me and the mark. And she would have told them all about me, including my description.” He kept talking as he walked and they soon entered the courtyard. It was empty except for the patrolling Sentinels.
“But you don't even know if the Ocular pool is an exit. And if it is, how do you know where it's going to send you?” Aaron was sounding desperate now. “You could end up in mid-air, or at the bottom of the ocean!”
Justin shook his head. “No, I don't think so, Aaron. I think it works just like it did when we contacted our families. We think of where we need to go and we go. I really believe that it's that simple.” Then he smiled at Aaron. “And if I'm wrong, I won't get very far.”
At the top of the staircase leading down to the Ocular room, the Sentinel watched them approach. As Justin got closer, it silently took a step to the side and became immobile again.
Aaron looked up at the Sentinel with his mouth open. “Why did it do that?” he asked breathlessly.
Justin held out his palm again silently and walked past the Sentinel. Aaron nervously looked at the huge figure then hurried to catch up to Justin.
They walked down the stairs and up the hallway to the Ocular room in silence. Aaron had apparently given up trying to talk Justin out of leaving and he just followed quietly.
Justin was aware that his friend was watching him anxiously and he wished he had some words of comfort for him, but he knew if he spoke up, Aaron would realize just how unsure he was himself. So he didn't say anything at all.
The door to the Ocular room opened at Justin's touch and as they entered, the eerie lights inside the walls began to glow and dance, creating weird shadows. Justin looked around but he and Aaron were alone. The pool was quiet and flat. It looked like a dull sheet of black glass. It was only when they got closer that it started to roil and burble. Justin stopped at the edge of the pool and stared down into it.
He still could not see beneath the surface and he wondered again if something alive was in there, just waiting for someone foolish like him to jump in.
Aaron stood beside Justin, staring not into the pool, but at his friend. “Are you absolutely sure about this, Justin? You're my friend.” He hesitated then hurried on. “I don't want to lose you. What if you never come back?”
Justin turned and looked intently at Aaron. “I don't have a death wish, Aaron. I want to come back. But how can I continue staying here, living my life and not knowing if Wilson is alive or dead? I can't go on without knowing. I won't.” He reached out and clasped his friend's shoulder. “Don't give up on me, bud. I'll be back.”
Aaron just nodded. He didn't seem able to speak. He just watched as Justin turned back to look at the pool.
Justin thought of home. He tried to picture his room as vividly as he could. My computer is over here and the picture of Dad is on my dresser over there. My bed is in this corner and my aquarium is against the wall right there.
When he had the room as firmly in his mind as it could be and he had almost blocked out the Ocular room around him, Justin took a deep breath, bent his knees and jumped.
As his feet touched the pool, he felt something slam into his back and push him deep into the pool. He tried to see what had hit him, but he was surrounded by black liquid and piercing cold and he couldn't even tell if he was hurt. I guess something did live in the pool after all, he thought wildly and he sunk deeper and deeper into blackness.
Chapter 20
This time, the water portal wasn't as scary to Justin as it had been when he had ported out of his home ahead of the attack. This time he was more prepared. It helped that he knew he could hold his breath longer than he had once believed. Still, as the seconds passed, he became more and more nervous. And he was afraid to know what had hit him as he had entered the pool.
Finally, after an eternity, the liquid around him began to lighten and glow, and he knew he was almost through. His lungs were burning and he was aching to just breathe! Then there was a loud splash of water around him and he had arrived.
Justin took a deep breath and quickly looked around him. The rug was soaked and water had splashed on to the computer, but he was definitely in his own room. It looked like he had just left. Nothing seemed to have been moved and nothing was missing.
A low groan made him turned around with a jerk. Aaron was sitting on the floor, both hands on his head. He looked slightly green.
“I hate that!” he muttered. “I will never get used to traveling that way! I'd even prefer the bus to a water port.”
Justin stared at his friend, feeling both amused and angry. “What the hell are you doing here, Aaron?” he whispered quietly. “You know how dangerous this could be?”
Aaron stood up slowly and breathed deeply. Then he looked around the room. “Your bedroom? Nice. A lot bigger than mine at home.” He fixed Justin with a piercing gaze. “Yeah, I know how dangerous this could be. Why do you think I'm here?” He grinned slightly. “You know what they say: two Titans are better than one!”
He knew he should be angrier, but Justin also felt a sense of relief. He sighed and shook his head, trying not to smile too broadly. “Well, I don't know who they are, but I'm guessing they meant two adult Titans. Not a couple of runts like us.” Then he really did smile. “You're nuts, Aaron. And if something happens to you, I'm going to blame myself. But...I can't pretend I'm not happy to have someone along, just in case.”
“Good. Now, let's stop talking and look around.” Aaron walked quietly to the door and listened for a moment. “I can't hear anything. You better take the lead, Just. It's your house and you'll know better than me if something's not right.”
“Okay.” Justin joined Aaron at the door and opened it slowly. His friend was right. There was no noise. That worried Justin a lot. His mother always had the television on during the day. If it was off, he could only assume that she wasn't home. He told Aaron this under his breath and they slowly entered the hall and walked quietly toward the living room.
The hall carpet looked freshly vacuumed and Justin could smell a hint of lemon in the air. Both were signs that Mrs. Petropoulos had cleaned the apartment recently. Justin took this as a good omen but he still remained cautious as he peeked around the edge of the archway leading into the living room.
The place was empty. The couch looked almost lonely without his Mom lying there watching her soaps. Justin swallowed a lump in his throat and walked into the room. Aaron followed more slowly.
The room had definitely been cleaned recently. There were no cups or newspapers on the coffee table. The water jug was clean and empty. The place felt cold and foreign to him. He walked more quickly back into the hallway and through to his Mother's bedroom.
The bed was neatly made, all of his Mom's clothes were neatly hung in her closet and her shoes were arranged in rows underneath the clothes hangers. This was definitely not right.
Justin searched the rest of his home. It was clean, neat and empty. No notes were left behind, no signs that anyone had even lived here recently. Justin finally sat down on a kitchen chair with a thud and stared at the table in front of him.
Aaron opened the fridge and the cupboards. “No milk, Just. No bread. A few bottles of water. Nothing in here that could go bad in a hurry.” He looked at his friend. “It's almost like she was leaving for a trip and made sure it was all arranged before she left.”
Justin nodded and continued to stare at the table top, thinking this through. “The few times we've traveled, this is exactly how Mom would leave things, Aaron. I mean, if someone had just taken her, they wouldn't have cleaned
up the place, would they?”
“Exactly my point, Just. I'm guessing your Mom left of her own accord. The question is...”
“Where did she go?” Justin finished Aaron's sentence. “And I honestly have no idea.”
Aaron sat down across from his friend and looked at him with surprise. “You don't? Doesn't she have any friends or relatives she might want to visit if she was lonely or upset?”
“Nope. Mom's folks are long gone and so are my Dad's. And neither of them had any brothers or sisters. There are a few distant relatives but we never see them.” Justin went over the people he knew in his mind but he couldn't think of anyone that his Mother would want to stay with.
“This is home, Aaron.” He ran his fingers through his hair, trying to think. “This is where she's most comfortable. She wouldn't just leave.”
He stared at Aaron who was watching him closely. Justin had a feeling that they were thinking the same thing. And then Aaron confirmed it.
“She wouldn't just leave, Justin,” he said slowly.
Justin turned away and stared out of the window. “I know,” he said.
Both of them suddenly jumped in their seats. The telephone on the wall by the fridge was ringing.
Justin jumped up and then stood and stared at the phone, suddenly reluctant to answer it.
“Pick it up, Just. It could be your Mom!” Aaron urged him.
“Why would she call here? As far as she knows, there's no one home.”
Aaron stared at him. “You're right,” he said. “Then it must be a friend.”
Justin shook his head. “She really doesn't have any, except for Mrs. Petropoulos. And she just walks in, she never calls. And there was Wilson,” he added with a wince. “But that's it.”
The telephone continued to ring. “Well, just answer it then, Justin. We can't stand here all day guessing.”
After another moments hesitation, Justin reached over and picked up the receiver.
“Hello?” he said quietly.
“Good afternoon, Justin,” came a man's voice on the phone. “Welcome home.”
The Return of the Titans Page 23