Post by citizenmike on Jun 10, 2010 12:19:26 GMT -5
Somewhere In The State of Texas...
In the desert outside of Paris, Texas a portal appeared, and from this portal, rose a car. The portal quickly closed as the car pulled into stretch of highway. Veronica sat in the driver's seat as Sara sat on the passenger's seat across her.
Veronica flipped through the radio and found R.E.M's "Radio Free Europe".
"Oh, my God.", Veronica spoke.
"Mommy, what is it?".
"This song... I haven't heard it a long time.".
"Its nice.".
"Isn't it?", Veronica smiled as she slipped on sunglasses.
"How do we find Daddy?".
"I've got that covered, baby.".
<***>
Its two in the afternoon at a McDonald's outside the suburbs of Paris, Texas. Veronica decided to take Sara here for two reasons: first, any child had to experience the joy of a happy meal, and second, they had a playground.
Veronica ordered a Filet'o'Fish for herself and a McNugget Happy Meal for Sara. While it wasn't the best thing in the world it was refreshing to actually eat something that was actually cooked. Something she hadn't had since her arrival in Animus City. As for Sara, she found the toy amusing and she seemed to like the food. Veronica couldn't help but tear. That crappy Happy Meal was the first toy she ever gave Sara.
After their meal, Veronica took Sara to the playground. Shrugging as she sipped her diet coke, Veronica found a silver lining to Myzrael's assault... It allowed her to whisk Sara to place she was sure she could never return to and for one afternoon, she got to be a kid among kids.
It was twenty minutes past two, when Veronica turned her head to find a man standing in line at the counter... He was never late. He was always cordial. A large build all stuffed into a suit.
"Sara!", Veronica called out as her child approached her. "Stay here, I'm just gonna talk to someone for a bit, ok? Try to have some fun." Leaning in, Veronica kissed her and said, "I love you.".
Sara ran towards the slide as Veronica walked to the counter towards the man.
"Johnny...", Veronica sighed as she slipped on her glasses.
Tapping Johnny's shoulder, she said, "Mr. Tavalera?".
Paying for his food, he turned to her and asked, "Veronica Roth?".
"You're early."
"I try to be.", Johnny replied as he waited for his order.
"Would you mind if we spoke outside?", Veronica asked.
"I would prefer that.".
<***>
Johnny and Veronica sat outside. Veronica picked a point where she could keep her eye on Sara. She gave Johnny time to ear as she had a smoke.
"You know?", Johnny spoke.
"Yes?".
"A woman like you. I never would have reckoned be a smoker.".
Veronica took a drag, smiled, and asked, "What makes you say that?".
"I don't know.", Johnny said as he took a bit off his Big Mac. Johnny chewed for a moment and swalllowed before continuing. "You just don't seem to fit the profile that's all.".
"And what kind of profile would that be?".
"Well educated, well spoken, probably well read, versed in another language. Your clothes, considerably simple, show's a woman with taste. With money. You have your own set ways, you're probably a democrat... The kind of well educated, sophisticated woman, who doesn't go out much and looks down on smoking.".
Veronica smiled and said, "That sounds like you know me.".
"Does it?".
"Yeah it does. Why?".
"I don't know.", Johnny said as he sipped his drink. "I reckon its the feeling I get from talking to you, Roth.".
Veronica dropped her head as she blushed... Maybe he does remember.
"So, lets get down to business?", Veronica asked.
"It's what I'm here for.", Johnny said as he lit a cigarette.
"Do you know who I am?".
Exhaling, Johnny replied. "I just met you today. Why? Am I supposed to know?".
"I'm going to sound crazy right now. I'm warning you.".
"That's good.", Johnny smirked as the brought the cigarette back to his lips. "It's a sign that you aren't. So, Ms. Roth, what can I do for you?".
"Around a year ago, I woke up beside you in a motel room. We both had no recollection of how we got there, let alone of any thing about either of us. All we knew was our names. And when we stepped outside, we found ourselves in a deserted city.".
"Animus.", Johnny murmured as he worriedly straightened himself out.
"Yes!".
"How do you know about Animus?".
"Weren't you just listening? I was right there with you. We woke up together.".
"I have half the mind right now to destroy you.", Johnny said leaning in close. "Do you know that?"
"Trust me, I do.".
"Oh, really?".
"Yes, really. The reason we wound up there was because you killed me. My connection to Animus was predestined. Yours however, was on account that I was supposed to be your last target.".
"Then why this? Why are were here? Why don't I remember killing you?".
"We left Animus, but in doing so, I kept a part of myself in the city. And we both took the risk that somehow we were going to find each other.".
"How do I know that isn't a crock of shit, huh?".
Veronica pointed towards the playground inside and said, "Do you see that little girl there? Running up the tunnel, with long dark hair? That's our daughter!".
"So, what's all this then? Do you need money?".
"No, I don't. I need your help and I need you to remember... Just the fact that you said the word 'Animus' tells me that there's something you know. I'm leaving and there's a good chance that you might never see me again, so with that in mind, open yourself Johnny.".
"Johnny leaned back and took a deep drag off his cigarette. "I've got these dreams. About this place... About this woman... And about these things... Angels, monsters, demons, a psychotic clown and joker who pulls shit from his pants. I can't escape them... I dont even know why I have them.".
Veronica rose and took Johnny's hand and led him to the window. "Look at that little girl again, and tell me what you see.".
Johnny looked at the girl... He remembered his dreams and in those dreams, he held a bond with a woman and a child who was either there or wasn't... It was strange. It was something he never could place. But there was a strong connection. And here's this woman and it might be here... What the hell was this? The girl his dreams. Couldn't be. It was bullshit... All bullshit... And then the little girl turned towards him and he saw her eyes. Familiar eyes he had seen before.
"Sara.", Johnny murmured.
Veronica removed her shades and in that moment, Johnny turned to her and saw her and those tearful eyes struck him. "Roth...", Johnny murmured.
"Do you remember now?".
"I don't know.".
Veronica walked up to Johnny and placed her hand over his eyes and in that instant, everything came rushing back... The memories... The emotions... Everything.
"Roth.", Johnny sighed.
Veronica wrapped her arms around him, as Johnny locked his around hers. Digging his head against hers... "Roth... What happened?".
"Myzrael came back.".
"We have to get Sara, now.", Johnny spoke.
<***>
Veronica held Sara by the hand as she took her outside. Standing infront of Johnny, Veronica smiled and said, "Johnny, this is Sara.". Veronica took a moment as she cried. "Sara, this is Johnny... You're father.".
Johnny dropped to his knees as Sara rushed into his arms. Johnny picked her up and held her tight. Reaching out to Veronica, Johnny pulled her in next to Sara and closed his eyes as he held them tightly.
"Myzrael's after you...", Past Veronica's voice spoke inside of Veronica.
"What?"
"He left. He's headed to heaven"
"He can't get in."
"We both know that isn't going to stop him.".
In the desert outside of Paris, Texas a portal appeared, and from this portal, rose a car. The portal quickly closed as the car pulled into stretch of highway. Veronica sat in the driver's seat as Sara sat on the passenger's seat across her.
Veronica flipped through the radio and found R.E.M's "Radio Free Europe".
"Oh, my God.", Veronica spoke.
"Mommy, what is it?".
"This song... I haven't heard it a long time.".
"Its nice.".
"Isn't it?", Veronica smiled as she slipped on sunglasses.
"How do we find Daddy?".
"I've got that covered, baby.".
<***>
Its two in the afternoon at a McDonald's outside the suburbs of Paris, Texas. Veronica decided to take Sara here for two reasons: first, any child had to experience the joy of a happy meal, and second, they had a playground.
Veronica ordered a Filet'o'Fish for herself and a McNugget Happy Meal for Sara. While it wasn't the best thing in the world it was refreshing to actually eat something that was actually cooked. Something she hadn't had since her arrival in Animus City. As for Sara, she found the toy amusing and she seemed to like the food. Veronica couldn't help but tear. That crappy Happy Meal was the first toy she ever gave Sara.
After their meal, Veronica took Sara to the playground. Shrugging as she sipped her diet coke, Veronica found a silver lining to Myzrael's assault... It allowed her to whisk Sara to place she was sure she could never return to and for one afternoon, she got to be a kid among kids.
It was twenty minutes past two, when Veronica turned her head to find a man standing in line at the counter... He was never late. He was always cordial. A large build all stuffed into a suit.
"Sara!", Veronica called out as her child approached her. "Stay here, I'm just gonna talk to someone for a bit, ok? Try to have some fun." Leaning in, Veronica kissed her and said, "I love you.".
Sara ran towards the slide as Veronica walked to the counter towards the man.
"Johnny...", Veronica sighed as she slipped on her glasses.
Tapping Johnny's shoulder, she said, "Mr. Tavalera?".
Paying for his food, he turned to her and asked, "Veronica Roth?".
"You're early."
"I try to be.", Johnny replied as he waited for his order.
"Would you mind if we spoke outside?", Veronica asked.
"I would prefer that.".
<***>
Johnny and Veronica sat outside. Veronica picked a point where she could keep her eye on Sara. She gave Johnny time to ear as she had a smoke.
"You know?", Johnny spoke.
"Yes?".
"A woman like you. I never would have reckoned be a smoker.".
Veronica took a drag, smiled, and asked, "What makes you say that?".
"I don't know.", Johnny said as he took a bit off his Big Mac. Johnny chewed for a moment and swalllowed before continuing. "You just don't seem to fit the profile that's all.".
"And what kind of profile would that be?".
"Well educated, well spoken, probably well read, versed in another language. Your clothes, considerably simple, show's a woman with taste. With money. You have your own set ways, you're probably a democrat... The kind of well educated, sophisticated woman, who doesn't go out much and looks down on smoking.".
Veronica smiled and said, "That sounds like you know me.".
"Does it?".
"Yeah it does. Why?".
"I don't know.", Johnny said as he sipped his drink. "I reckon its the feeling I get from talking to you, Roth.".
Veronica dropped her head as she blushed... Maybe he does remember.
"So, lets get down to business?", Veronica asked.
"It's what I'm here for.", Johnny said as he lit a cigarette.
"Do you know who I am?".
Exhaling, Johnny replied. "I just met you today. Why? Am I supposed to know?".
"I'm going to sound crazy right now. I'm warning you.".
"That's good.", Johnny smirked as the brought the cigarette back to his lips. "It's a sign that you aren't. So, Ms. Roth, what can I do for you?".
"Around a year ago, I woke up beside you in a motel room. We both had no recollection of how we got there, let alone of any thing about either of us. All we knew was our names. And when we stepped outside, we found ourselves in a deserted city.".
"Animus.", Johnny murmured as he worriedly straightened himself out.
"Yes!".
"How do you know about Animus?".
"Weren't you just listening? I was right there with you. We woke up together.".
"I have half the mind right now to destroy you.", Johnny said leaning in close. "Do you know that?"
"Trust me, I do.".
"Oh, really?".
"Yes, really. The reason we wound up there was because you killed me. My connection to Animus was predestined. Yours however, was on account that I was supposed to be your last target.".
"Then why this? Why are were here? Why don't I remember killing you?".
"We left Animus, but in doing so, I kept a part of myself in the city. And we both took the risk that somehow we were going to find each other.".
"How do I know that isn't a crock of shit, huh?".
Veronica pointed towards the playground inside and said, "Do you see that little girl there? Running up the tunnel, with long dark hair? That's our daughter!".
"So, what's all this then? Do you need money?".
"No, I don't. I need your help and I need you to remember... Just the fact that you said the word 'Animus' tells me that there's something you know. I'm leaving and there's a good chance that you might never see me again, so with that in mind, open yourself Johnny.".
"Johnny leaned back and took a deep drag off his cigarette. "I've got these dreams. About this place... About this woman... And about these things... Angels, monsters, demons, a psychotic clown and joker who pulls shit from his pants. I can't escape them... I dont even know why I have them.".
Veronica rose and took Johnny's hand and led him to the window. "Look at that little girl again, and tell me what you see.".
Johnny looked at the girl... He remembered his dreams and in those dreams, he held a bond with a woman and a child who was either there or wasn't... It was strange. It was something he never could place. But there was a strong connection. And here's this woman and it might be here... What the hell was this? The girl his dreams. Couldn't be. It was bullshit... All bullshit... And then the little girl turned towards him and he saw her eyes. Familiar eyes he had seen before.
"Sara.", Johnny murmured.
Veronica removed her shades and in that moment, Johnny turned to her and saw her and those tearful eyes struck him. "Roth...", Johnny murmured.
"Do you remember now?".
"I don't know.".
Veronica walked up to Johnny and placed her hand over his eyes and in that instant, everything came rushing back... The memories... The emotions... Everything.
"Roth.", Johnny sighed.
Veronica wrapped her arms around him, as Johnny locked his around hers. Digging his head against hers... "Roth... What happened?".
"Myzrael came back.".
"We have to get Sara, now.", Johnny spoke.
<***>
Veronica held Sara by the hand as she took her outside. Standing infront of Johnny, Veronica smiled and said, "Johnny, this is Sara.". Veronica took a moment as she cried. "Sara, this is Johnny... You're father.".
Johnny dropped to his knees as Sara rushed into his arms. Johnny picked her up and held her tight. Reaching out to Veronica, Johnny pulled her in next to Sara and closed his eyes as he held them tightly.
"Myzrael's after you...", Past Veronica's voice spoke inside of Veronica.
"What?"
"He left. He's headed to heaven"
"He can't get in."
"We both know that isn't going to stop him.".