PART TWO: THE RESURRECTION
The room was dim, a single lightbulb from the ceiling casting the only illumination. Nervously, Dominic Santiago paced, while staring at the young man who lay in front of him. "You must survive Derek. You must fulfill your destiny."
Dirk stirred quietly, and struggled against the ropes which bound his wrists and ankles to the bed. Unsure of where he was, he looked at Dominic for answers. "Where am I, and who are you?"
"My name is Dominic Santiago. I'm a friend of your father."
"My father is dead."
"Derek, I don't expect you to understand, and unfortunately, I don't have time to explain it now." Lowering a bottle of whiskey to Dirk's lips, he encouraged him to drink from it. "Here it'll go faster this way."
Refusing, Dirk turned away. "What will?"
Dominic laughed. "You're as stubborn as ever Derek. Now drink up. You'll thank me for it later."
He took a mouthful, then spit it out defiantly. "Just what exactly do you plan on doing to me?"
"Derek, please."
From the foot of the bed another man grumbled irritably. "It can't wait any longer. You're just going to have to held him down Dominic."
Doing as he was told, Dominic pressed down hard on Dirk's shoulders and spoke calmly. "Keep still ok? This is gonna hurt. He has to take the bullet out and stop the bleeding."
"What?!" Panicking, Dirk looked down at his feet and saw the man held a scalpel. His breathing became rapid as his muscles clenched in fear. "Oh my God. Don't..."
The words were cut short by a sharp intense pain, which blurred his vision and took his breath away. In the distance, he could hear Dominic talking softly. "It's ok Derek. We've got morphine when it's done."
He concentrated on the voice, and as it began to fade into the darkness, he called out Ace's name.
************
Ace knelt by the gravestone and placed his single white flower at its base. Since he'd returned three days ago, he gave no explanation as to what had happened, and simply stated that Dirk had died heroically. Though the others pressed him to elaborate further, he refused to comment. "It doesn't matter how. All that matters is that he's gone."
Feeling his emotions twisting inside, he stared blankly at the words engraved on the headstone.
DEREK (DIRK) GIOVANNI
SEPT 1978 - OCT 1997
The visions returned, and though he managed to block most of them out, the guilt still remained. "It's all my fault. I'm sorry."
Feeling weary and sick, he lowered his head to the ground and cried.
************
As Dirk regained full consciousness, he glanced nervously around the room. Dominic was sitting beside the bed, and when he saw the movement, he sighed. "You've been in and out of it for three days. We thought we lost you Derek."
"Dirk."
Puzzled, Dominic furrowed his brow. "What?"
"The name's Dirk, not Derek."
"That's not what I remember your father calling you."
"I already told you once. My father is dead."
"And so is Dirk Daring." Picking up a newspaper he began reading the article. "Hundreds of people joined today at Alameda Island to mourn the loss of Dirk Daring, second in command of the G-Force team. The nineteen year old gave his life heroically to stop..."
Dirk interrupted. "I'm not dead, you idiot! I've got to tell the others."
He tried to rise, but a firm hand pushed him back down. "You can't."
"Who are you to tell me what to do? Nobody does that!"
"Derek, let me explain."
"My name's not Derek!" The anger was beginning to build, and with it came pain. As he felt a sharp stab and inhaled sharply, Dominic smiled and asked. "Need another shot of morphine?"
Dirk swallowed hard and nodded. "If I'm supposed to be dead, can you tell me why I'm not?"
"Depends on whether or not you really want to hear it." Based on the glare he received, he assumed the answer was yes. "You were told that your father was killed because he betrayed the Galactor organization, but that's not entirely true. Your father WAS the organization, and if he was still alive, he would be where Galactor stands right now."
"What!?"
"It's not what you think Derek. Your father's means were of peace, not war, but after Galactor came, the vision was destroyed. He used his newly acquired power to restructure the organization, making its main goal the conquest for earth."
"So why didn't father fight back?"
"He did, by trying to defect. As the previous leader, he knew the inner structure of the organization, and figured if he gave this information to the right people, it was possible the organization would collapse. Unfortunately, it never got that far. With the death of the Giovanni family, the threat was gone forever, or so we thought."
Getting the subtle innuendo, Dirk put up his hands, asking Dominic to stop. "I'm no vigilante. My work is with G-Force."
"Your work WAS with G-Force. Now that they think you're dead, you can start over again." .
"Doing what? What do you want from me?"
"In all your years with G-Force, have you ever really been able to avenge your parents? Have you ever really been satisfied, or do you still long for vengeance?"
"I'll never be satisfied until the Galactor organization is destroyed."
"Exactly! And you can't do that with G-Force. I don't want to tear them down, but sometimes you have to work alone in order to succeed. The information Antonio Giovanni died with needs to be rediscovered. I can't think of anyone better for the job than his son."
"Me?" He snapped his fingers. "Just like that you want me to sacrifice my life, my friends, and my family?"
Dominic sighed. "Sometimes sacrifices have to be made for the better of everyone. I can understand your loyalty to G-Force, but the information you obtain will eventually help them to succeed. You can't deny that."
As the words flashed in his mind, he thought about his father, and of Ace's. "Sometimes sacrifices have to be made for the better of everyone." For a few minutes he was silent, then he looked towards Dominic and asked, "You really think this information father had would've taken down the Galactor?"
"I do."
"Then I guess someone has to go in and get it back."
************
Upon first sight, Dirk was leery of Dominic Santiago, but as the weeks progressed, he grew fond of the man. Through old photographs and letters, Dominic showed his close-knit ties to the Giovanni family. He had been there for Dirk's birth and baptism, and was even named his godfather. It took some time, but eventually the past came into focus.
"I called you Uncle Dommi didn't I?"
"That was me. You couldn't say my name so we made it easy on you."
"You always took care of me when father was away." He paused, suddenly feeling bitter. "So why'd I end up with Doctor Brighthead and G-Force?"
"Because if you would've stayed with me, Galactor would have found out you were still alive."
"He found out anyhow. What's the difference?"
"The difference is now you're a grown man, and able to take care of yourself."
Though they had only been together for a month, Dominic sparked something inside that Dirk hadn't felt in years, the love of a father. As he boarded the plane for Monte Cristo, the man's parting words surprised him. For once, he hadn't used the name Derek. Instead he said, "Take care, my son".
************
"Ace, are we going to lose you too?"
He was taken back by the question, and didn't know how to respond. It was true he had become reclusive, staying away from the Snack Bar and not wanting to see anyone, but he had thought it was just a normal way of dealing with the pain. Apparently, Pee Wee thought otherwise. "It's been over a month you still spend all your time at the cemetery. What about us? We're not dead too you know."
For an instant he shuddered, angered by the comment, then grew apologetic. "I guess I have been pretty self-centered, and I'm sorry. I'm just not dealing with this as well as I thought."
Aggie's voice was reassuring. "You and Dirk grew up together, and we know how hard it must be. I'd just be nice if we could see you trying to get better, instead of being so down. We're here for you. Stop being so distant!"
Hootie agreed. "Yea Ace. Dirk would be mad if he saw you acting this way."
"I know." He nodded and forced a smile. "And I'll work on it ok? I just need a little more time, and more support from friends like you. Thanks for being there for me."
************
As Dominic had stated, the contact was waiting in the park by the fountain. After verifying each other's identity through coded messages, they got down to business. "The new recruits were brought along this time, so you'll blend right in. You've already got a uniform, correct?"
Dirk nodded. "And I know just how to act. Believe me, this won't be the first time I've been a Galactor."
"Dominic has told me many good things about you. He looks upon you highly, like his own son. It's very hard to get in that close with him, so I know you must be special."
"He's also told me a lot about you, and how you helped support my father's cause. I respect you for what you're doing."
"Those of us who are left do what we can to preserve your father's vision. Unfortunately, we are few, and don't have much authority in the organization. This is why we're depending on you. As a new recruit you will be tested, but show your courage, and you will prevail." He paused to look down at his watch. "I must go now. The meeting has begun."
"Thank you Jonsey. I hope to repay the favor someday."
"Thank you young Giovanni. Be brave, and survive."
************
The governor of Monte Cristo was furious. "Mighty Galactor, how can expect me to tax the people more when they have nothing left now?"
"That's not my problem is it governor? We need more support for our cause, and if you can't give it to us, then we'll find it elsewhere. Of course, if this happens you will face a penalty."
"A penalty?"
Galactor smiled wickedly. "Yes. I'm afraid so. My master doesn't allow any insubordinate actions to go unpunished."
"Are you trying to threaten me? If you are, it won't work."
"Just stating the facts. You have two choices. One, honor my wishes, or two, die. What's it going to be governor?"
************
Ace pulled the postcard out of the mail pile and flipped it over curiously. "Who'd send me a postcard from Monte Cristo?" Reading the back, he furrowed his brow in further confusion. "What the�?" The sloppily scribbled note on the back just didn't make sense.
Monte Cristo
Murder
Galactor
It all became clear about an hour later, as he watched the news broadcast's top story. "Monte Cristo's governor, Mr. Otto Freeman, was found dead in his office early this morning, the result of an apparent suicide." Ace looked down at the postcard, then back up again at the television. At a loss for words, he reached for the phone and called Doctor Brighthead. "Are you watching the news?"
"Yes, it's a shame isn't it?"
"It's wasn't a suicide. It was Galactor."
"Ace, you don't know that for certain."
"I do, and the proof's right here in front of me. I can't explain it, but once you see it you'll believe me."
************
Doctor Brighthead's reaction to the postcard was very similar to Ace's. "Where did you say you got this?"
"It came in the mail this morning. Are you going to send us out to investigate?"
"No I'm not. I'm letting Red Impulse handle it, because I don't think you're ready to return to duty yet."
"You what? Why?"
"The others are concerned about you, and quite frankly, so am I. You still act as though Dirk's death just happened, and you won't talk about it. Seems to me you're trying to hide something."
He didn't like the Doctor's insinuating tone, or the determined look in his eyes. "There's nothing to hide. I just don't want to relive it that's all."
"Shutting it out won't make it go away Ace. Why don't you tell me about it?"
There was a moment's pause before he began explaining. "We were ambushed and he got shot. It was a bad wound, and he was going to die from it. He asked me to leave him behind because he said he'd only hold me up, so I did. End of story."
Not satisfied with the response, Doctor Brighthead continued to prod. "He had a fatal gunshot wound and you didn't bother to mention it?"
"He's dead ok? Who cares how it happened?"
"All I want to know is why you couldn't say earlier that Dirk died from a gunshot wound."
Ace was beginning to fidget, and it was obvious he was growing nervous. "Because I didn't think it mattered ok?"
"Why would you think it didn't matter?"
"Because of how it happened." Knowing he'd just backed himself into a corner, he lowered his head, dreading the next question.
"How did it happen?" He wanted to scream it out, but instead remained quiet. Doctor Brighthead repeated the question, this time more forcefully. "Ace, how did it happen?"
The memories flashed before him, and overcome by guilt, he called out Dirk's name. "I didn't know. I didn't know. I'm sorry." As the Doctor came to his side to comfort him, he finally confessed. "I did it. I killed Dirk."
************
Working on the production of the newest mecha, a job that he despised, Dirk kept himself sane with thoughts of the future. He longed to return to his friends and family, to the life he once knew, but in order to do so he had to survive. With each passing day, that seemed to grow increasingly harder.
In the three weeks he'd been a Galactor he gained a notable reputation among the guards. Considered to be cocky and arrogant, and in definite need of an attitude adjustment, he was often the target for attack. He'd already been in his share of fights, and though he'd continually take down the best of them, there were always others awaiting the challenge.
Becker stood at the base of the mecha and looked up, never taking his eyes off the young recruit. For ten years he'd been in the organization, and now that he was finally achieving success, his rank was being threatened. "You think you're gonna take my job away boy, think again. You'll die first!" Pulling his gun, the man began firing into the crowd of working guards.
Acting on instinct, Dirk grabbed the wrench he was working with and threw it at his assailant, aiming for the gun and succeeding to dislodge it. Cursing the boy's luck, Becker screamed, "You're dead!"
"Apparently not. But you are." Startled by the words, Becker turned only to realize Dirk had jumped down and taken possession of the gun. "Take a look around, you fool. How many others did you kill just to get to me?"
"Who cares? They're all pathetic, just like you."
"Me? I'm not the one who's been in the organization for ten years and gotten nowhere."
Angered by the comment, the man tried rising to his feet for one final challenge. "Go ahead and kill me, if you have the guts."
Without hesitation, two shots were fired, and then there was silence.
************
Moments later Galactor applauded the kill. "Bravo young man. He got what was coming to him."
Dirk bowed in respect, something that he always found difficult to do. "Thank you master. I'm happy to have pleased you."
"Hmmm�perhaps your promotion will come sooner than expected."
"My promotion?"
"You've got spirit and the desire to kill. With you beside me as my personal guard, there's no way those G-Force brats will ever succeed."
"It would be an honor sir, and my greatest privilege to personally serve you." Trying hard to stifle his laughter, Dirk thought of the opportunities that lay before him. Finally, he'd be able to obtain information on the whereabouts of the Galactor headquarters, destroy it, and get his life back. In the meantime, with the help of G-Force, he was going to enjoy thwarting every one of Galactor's plans.
************
"Doctor Brighthead! I got another one today!" Almost three months after Ace had received the first postcard, the second one arrived at his doorstep. "Galactor's going to attack Coral Peninsula!"
The Doctor glanced dubiously at the postcard in Ace's hand. He knew the team was anxious for a confrontation with Galactor, but the handwritten note seemed too simplistic, and too inviting. "Let's not jump to conclusions Ace. How do you know this isn't a trap?"
"Are you trying to tell me you're not going to send us out again? I'm more than ready this time!" Since Ace had confided in Doctor Brighthead about what happened at the Galactor base, his personality had changed drastically. Instead of being overcome with self-pity and sympathy, he was filled with and uncontrollable desire for revenge. "I want them to pay for what they did to Dirk."
"I will send you out, but only when I can verify that this information is accurate."
"By then it could be too late! I can't explain why, but I believe the person sending these postcards wants our help. If you aren't going to order us out, I'll do it myself!"
Doctor Brighthead's cheeks flushed in anger. "You will do nothing until I say so, and that's an order. Do I make myself clear?" He grew even more furious when he didn't receive a response. "Do I make myself clear?"
The hard stare and icy words from Ace sent chills down his spine. It was obvious G-Force's first in command was not happy with the orders. "Yes Doctor, I understand."
************
Ace was not one to disobey orders, so he was surprised when he found himself contemplating the thought. "I just have a feeling this message is genuine, and that's why I have to go."
Hootie was also surprised. "If you're going to disobey orders based on a feeling, it must be a pretty strong one."
"I want you to know that as your leader I'll accept full responsibility for your actions. That is, if you plan on going with me."
As usual, Aggie was reluctant. "If Doctor Brighthead thinks we should wait, maybe we should. Are you sure you're not letting revenge cloud your better judgement Ace?"
"If you want the death of hundreds to be on your conscience, be my guest. I don't! Go ahead and stay behind, I really don't care. I'm still going with or without you." Seeing the pained expression on her face, he apologized almost immediately. "Aggie, I'm sorry for being so harsh. I just want you to know how important this is to me."
"I do understand, and if it's that important for you to go that you feel you need to disobey orders, then we're with you all the way. We're a team Ace, and no matter what, we always work together."
Excited with the upcoming challenge, Pee Wee blurted out, "Let's do it for Dirk!"
Ace nodded his head in approval. "Couldn't have said it better myself. Now let's move out!"
A few minutes passed before Doctor Brighthead found out the Phoenix had left the docking bay. Though extremely irritated, he couldn't stop the smile from creeping across his lips. He'd never admit it, but somewhere deep inside, he was proud of Ace's decision.
************
As the ground forces approached Coral Peninsula, Dirk's nerves were on edge. Because of his superior fighting abilities, Galactor had unexpectedly asked him to lead the fleet into battle, something his conscience considered unthinkable. Pretending he wanted to attack innocent people was next to impossible, and to make matters worse, he was G-Force's opposition.
He hadn't wanted to think of the confrontation, but it was inevitable. "Sir, its G-Force! How'd they know we were coming?" At first he ignored the guards frantic words, then snapped his mind into focus when the man repeated himself. "Its G-Force! What do we do?"
They were separated into their individual vehicles; Hootie and Ace doing an air assault and Aggie and Pee Wee working from the ground. "Don't let the troops reach that city! Hootie, ready to start the action?"
"My pleasure Ace. Here we go!"
Dirk saw the first shot come from the Phoenix, and for some reason, it irritated him. "Oh, that's just great! I die, and THEN they make it so you can fire the missiles without all the vehicles being on board?"
Longing to be any place other than where he was, he envisioned himself behind the wheel of the G-2. The stupidity of Galactor's guards was really beginning to test his patience, and it was beginning to feel as though he was in charge of a daycare instead of an army. "Sir, they're firing on us! What do you want us to do now?"
"Die!" The single word was muttered under his breath before he answered sarcastically, "What do you think? Fight back!"
"But sir, we didn't start it!"
With that comment, giving up his identity and killing the guards himself came to mind. "What?! Just get out there and attack!"
Though Dirk was amused by the inevitable mass suicide, he was also troubled by the actions of his former first in command. Ace was usually in the forefront during a battle, but today he seemed reluctant, as if he was trying to be non-existent. Knowing the frequency of the G-Force transpower band, he homed in on the signal, hoping to get some answers.
************
Ace began to sweat, and he felt the anxiety in his chest growing stronger. It was a panic attack unlike one he'd ever had before, and in the back of his mind he knew what was causing it. He had come prepared to fight, but now, as he looked down at the men in green, he couldn't bring himself to kill any of them. They all brought back images of Dirk's death.
Hootie was the first to question his commander. "Ace, what's up with you? You ok?"
"Uh�yea, just having some mechanical trouble with the G-1. I think I'm going to have to take her down."
"You can't take her down Ace! We've got missile launchers over here and need some help!" The strain in Pee Wee's voice was not comforting. "Hurry!"
Because of his own dilemma he hadn't been paying attention to what was happening around him, and it proved to be costly. He saw the explosions in the distance, then over his transpower band heard Pee Wee screaming. "Ace! Hootie! Aggie's cycle's been hit, and I think she's hurt!"
"I'm coming! Hootie�." The transmission ended suddenly as another blast erupted near the G-1's left side, sending the plane into a downward spiral. "Looks like they got me too! Give it all you've got guys. Don't let that army reach the city!"
Hootie and PeeWee watched in horror as the G-1 crashed hard to the ground and burst into flames. "Ace! "
"I'm here, for now." Hazy vision and darkness were already beginning to set in, and he knew there wasn't much time. "Pee Wee, You're in charge now."
"Me? Why me?"
"Because there's no G-2 or G-3, and I'm about to lose it too. You're next in line."
"Ace? You still there?" There was no reply, and feeling helpless, Pee Wee said to his last remaining teammate. "Hootie, I think we're gonna lose this one."
************
Dirk watched in disbelief as everything around him began to fall apart. The plan had been simple, and now, with two members of G-Force down, it appeared the Galactor army really was going to take the city. He didn't doubt Pee Wee's abilities as a fighter, but being a commander was a whole different story. It was obvious the twelve-year-old kid didn't have a clue what to do, and something needed to be done, fast.
Without thinking of the consequences, he picked up the hand held radio. "Fire on the army, and make them retreat."
"What? Who is this?"
"Does it matter? Neither of us want to see Coral Peninsula fall into the hands of Galactor, and that's exactly what's going to happen if you don't do what I say."
"If you're with the Galactor, why would you want to help us?"
He took no time getting to the point. "Because I need a good reason to retreat, that's why!"
"Huh?" It was Pee Wee this time, equally confused with the conversation. "Are we supposed to believe that?"
There was a frustrated scream, a few curse words, then a response, which sounded more like an order. "JUST DO IT!"
"Pee Wee, you're the one in charge. What do you want me to do?"
Though it was intended to be a command, the comment came out like a question. "Uh�do what the guy says?''
************
Unlike the first plan, Plan B worked out much more smoothly. Acting as if the retaliation from the Phoenix was a surprise, Dirk ordered his troops into a tactical retreat. Most of his remaining men died from the decision, but they went down fighting, and to Galactor, his attempts appeared valiant. That was all that mattered; it saved him from being killed himself.
In Computor's chambers, Galactor paced nervously back and forth. "Master, I don't understand how G-Force knew we were coming."
"One of your men is an informant! That's how it happened."
"That's impossible! I'd know if there was a leak."
"Apparently you don't!" Galactor wanted to reply but was silenced. "You will have to find this traitor by calling their bluff."
"And how shall I do that Master?"
"Start by going to your personal guard staff and telling them where the next strike will be. Make each destination different for each guard, and wherever G-Force shows up, that's our leak. Leave now! I want this informant found out and disposed of immediately!"
************
"Ace, do you realize what you've done?"
For the last fifteen minutes he'd listened to Doctor Brighthead's reprimanding, and had quickly grown tired of it. "Yes I know, and I'm sorry. The mission didn't turn out quite as I'd hoped."
"You're sorry? You disobeyed a direct order from me, the Phoenix took a pummeling, two vehicles were lost, one of your teammates had to be hospitalized, and you put a twelve year old in charge, who eventually took orders from a Galactor captain! You're not an incompetent leader, and I expected better from you!"
"So it wasn't one of our most successful missions, but we did get the job done."
"You wouldn't have if that captain hadn't been on our side. What happened out there?"
Ace shrugged his shoulders. "I don't know. We underestimated the attack force. For once their plans were well laid out."
"I meant, what happened with you?"
"There's no real excuse, and I know it was my fault. It was our first battle without Dirk and it felt like something was missing."
"Hootie's report said you were having engine trouble, and PeeWee stated the same. Your report, however, doesn't mention anything about the G-1. Sort of an obvious oversight on your part, wasn't it?"
"Ok, ok. I didn't want to tell the others I was having trouble fighting. All those Galactors in green made me panic. I kept thinking one of them might be our informant, and I didn't want to be responsible for another innocent death. I know I was wrong and it's over now, ok?"
"It had better me Ace. Director Anderson is not pleased, and he wants a very good explanation. For your sake, and just this one time, I'll tell him you had mechanical trouble with the G-1. If it happens again, you're on your own. Understand."
"Yes sir." He paused a moment before finishing. "Being on the same level as a Galactor is not something I enjoy, nor something I want to continue dealing with. Believe me, it won't happen again."
************
"That was so sweet of you Ace." Almost unexpectedly, Aggie pulled him close to her in a strong embrace and kissed him. "The flowers you sent me today are so beautiful!"
As he looked at the expression in her eyes, then at the dozen red roses that sat beside her hospital bed, he debated whether or not to tell the truth. The last thing he wanted to do was ruin the mood by admitting he hadn't even considered the idea, but the better half of his conscious was screaming for a confession. "Uh, thanks, but�"
The awkward hesitation had already defined the obvious. "They didn't come from you right?" Her cheeks reddened with embarrassment and she laughed. "I should've known. You're the farthest thing from a romantic." It she hadn't been smiling the response might have been taken seriously.
Feeling the attack on his naivete, Ace tried steering the conversation away from himself. "Didn't this sender leave his name or anything?"
"No, they just enclosed this." She pulled a small card from the bouquet and handed it over. "From what it said, I thought for sure it was from you."
"Why?" He read the words aloud, not bothering to conceal his anger. "'I'm sorry?' The guy actually had the gall to tell you he's sorry? What a jerk!"
"Who? You know who sent it?"
"Yea I know! I recognize the handwriting. It's from our mystery man."
"You mean the one who�." Sensing the growing irritation, she paused, but it was already too late.
"Go ahead and finish! The one who saved our butts because I wasn't doing my job. The informant everyone is raving about, and the one person I'm getting real tired of!"
"Oh stop it Ace! He's on our side you know."
"Is he? Seems to me all he's trying to do is make me look stupid!"
Aggie wanted to resist, but she couldn't. "No, you're looking stupid all on your own! Maybe if you'd open your eyes and see this person is trying to help us, you wouldn't be so vulnerable!"
"Why is it everyone keeps knocking me down, while putting him high on a pedestal? I'm not the bad guy here. You don't see me working for Galactor!"
Ace�"
He didn't let her finish. "I know what you all think of me. You think I can't do my job anymore because of what happened with Dirk. Well you're all wrong! I won't lose my respect as a leader because of some Galactor who thinks he knows it all!"
Stunned by the sudden defensiveness, Aggie watched silently as Ace stormed from the room, slamming the door behind him.
************
In the beginning, Ace had appreciated the postcards in the mail, but now as they came more frequently, he was starting to resent them. Each time they became more and more personal, and this particular one was meant to cut deep.
Stop being a coward
The lives of your teammates depend on it
See you in St. Augustine
Offended by the words, which he knew to be true, he slammed his fist into the wall and screamed. "Who the hell do you think you are? You got my team thinking I need your help to succeed and I don't!"
After calming himself, he read the postcard again, this time allowing the words to take on a whole new meaning. Instead of coming across as a threat, they proposed a unique challenge. "You want to see me in St. Augustine? Fine, I'll be there! We'll settle this little dilemma once and for all!"
************
He awoke to the sound of footsteps and loud voices outside the doorway. "Explain yourself commander! Each one of my men was given a city to target for the next attack, and G-Force showed up at the location given to you. Convenient isn't it?"
"I�I can't, but I can assure you, I didn't give them any information!"
Commander Crane was a decent man, but one who tended to be loose lipped. Though he wasn't supposed to divulge Galactor's war strategies to anyone, he frequently blurted out in casual conversation any private information he'd obtain. Knowing this, Dirk bought the man a few drinks, then learned the next targeted attack was going to be on the city of St. Augustine.
"Mighty Galactor, please, I don't know why their commander was at St. Augustine! After all my years of loyalty, how can you suspect me of being a spy?"
"My master does not allow acts of insubordination to go unpunished! Do you not know the penalty for treason?"
The information would've seemed believable, had Dirk not been told earlier that the supposed target was the coastal city of Marcos Point. Suspicious of the contradictions, he decided to forward the commander's coordinates to Ace instead of the ones he'd been given, a decision that proved to be lifesaving.
"I do, sir, and I beg you not to kill me! It wasn't me. I swear it wasn't me!"
For months, Dirk's mind had endured the torture of knowing he'd given up his life, friends, and family to become an informant. Now, as he was caught in the middle of the needless death and destruction, there was an incessant fear that he was losing more than he'd bargained for: a part of his soul and his sanity.
Burying his head under the pillows, he tried to block out the dying man's screams by repeating Dominic's words over and over, praying that they would bring comfort. "Sometimes sacrifices have to be made for the better of everyone."
************
Ace was fuming from having wasted two days at St Augustine, and the suspicious glares he received from his teammates only managed to increase his antagonism. "Don't any of you even THINK of asking where I've been!"
Doctor Brighthead's rebuke took him completely off guard. "It doesn't matter where you've been. What does matters is where you haven't been! While you were AWOL, we received a priority one-distress call from San Marino, and I had to dispatch the team without you. Fortunately, for your sake, they wasn't a phenomenal number of casualties, and we were able to defeat the Galactor army before they took full control of the city."
"WHAT?!" The sudden outburst made PeeWee cower behind Aggie. "He told me to go to St. Augustine! The jerk lied to me!"
"Who told you to go to St. Augustine?"
Ace pulled the wrinkled postcard from his pocket and threw it on the Doctor's desk. "Your beloved informant! This guy's got something against me, and I don't like it!"
"Maybe it's you who has something against him." It was the first and only time Hootie opened his mouth.
"Shut up Hootie!" He turned his attention to Aggie, who interjected with sarcasm. "Uh oh. Our leader is making himself look�"
"Don't say it Aggie!"
She smiled, then finished the sentence. "�stupid again."
"Look, I've had it with all of you! You want this Galactor mystery man to be your commander?" Removing his transpower band, he tossed it at his teammates. "Fine! I resign. Now you can all take orders from him!"
As Ace turned to leave the office, Doctor Brighthead grabbed him by the shoulders and pushed him roughly against the wall. "You will NOT resign unless I ask for it, young man. Stop acting like a child and pull yourself together!" It was rare to see the Doctor use force, and the action stunned everyone into silence. "I brought you all here because I have very important information regarding Galactor's newest weapon. Apparently though, you'd rather fight amongst yourselves than listen to what I have to say."
PeeWee, the only one who hadn't spoken prior, decided to finally voice his opinion. "I want to hear what you have to say Doctor! We can't let Galactor destroy the team like this! Whatever happened to 'all for one and one for all?'"
They all remained silent, except for Ace. "Galactor isn't destroying the team, I am. I've been so caught up in trying to outsmart this informant I forgot all about the rest of you. I'm sorry." His eyes moved towards Doctor Brighthead's. "Thank you for pushing me into realizing how I've been acting. It's something I needed. It's something that�that Dirk would've done. "
The Doctor nodded in understanding, then thought it best to change the subject. "Well, now that we are all on the same page again, care to hear this information I've obtained? A warning in advance though; it came from our informant."
The sighs of relief were evident as Ace cracked a grin. "Figures. Let's hear what he has to say this time."
************
Galactor was ecstatic, and allowed his unsuppressed laughter to echo throughout the chamber. "Computor, the final mecha is near completion. Soon we will launch the first two from our secret bases in Mount Madrid and Cedarsburg, then launch the final one here from Headquarters. Very soon this planet will be ours to rule as we please!"
"Don't jump to conclusions Galactor! We still have not eliminated G-Force! And what of this informant? Has he really been terminated?"
With the insinuation, the smile on Galactor's face dropped. "Why of course! Why do you always have to question my actions?"
"Because you always assume too much! Since you've arrived here, I've sensed an unwanted and threatening presence. I haven't been able to pinpoint which individual is causing this disruption, but I've narrowed it narrowed down to one of your personal guards."
"One of my guards? But I only brought three to Headquarters with me!"
"It only takes one Galactor, and for your sake, I hope he doesn't work for G-Force!"
Galactor gulped, knowing that in order to clear himself of any wrongdoing, the three remaining guards would have to be killed. It was no matter though, as he could always find replacements. "Computor, I will bring my guards to you personally, and you can do to them what you please."
************
Though he had read the letter numerous times, Doctor Brighthead was still surprised by its contents:
When linked together, these three large spheres will generate a chain reaction of nuclear explosions, which will span worldwide and destroy the planet. G-Force must stop the main sphere from reaching the others. You will find it at Galactor Headquarters, which is located at the following coordinates.
"He states that the Headquarters is here�" Moving to the giant wall map, the Doctor pointed to where the longitude and latitude intersected, "�in an unexplored part of the Himalayan Mountains. Makes sense now why we were never able to find it."
The others were equally astonished. "We've been waiting years for this!"
"This could very well be our last mission! Earth will finally be at peace!"
"Don't go jumping the gun yet team. We haven't verified the accuracy of the information yet, and as Ace stated, this guy might be trying to deceive us."
All eyes turned towards Ace and waited for him to respond. From their direct stares he could tell what they were asking, and despite his own doubts, he answered from their standpoint. "Doctor, can we really afford to wait this one out? What if it's true? We'd be too late to do anything about it, and the Earth will be destroyed. There is no choice in the matter. Send us out!"
Receiving the reaction he'd hoped to obtain, Doctor Brighthead smiled inwardly. "It's all yours team. Hopefully, when it's all over, we'll be celebrating the end of the Galactor organization."
************
Dirk was very apprehensive as he and the others followed Galactor into the dimly lit room. Though he knew he'd never been there before, there was something about it that seemed strangely familiar. "Today you will meet my master, the one who will help build the new Earth!"
A bright red light began flickering in the center of the room, symbolizing the great entity's presence. The other guards looked confused, but Dirk, from his experience with G-Force, knew exactly whom they were dealing with. "Computor! I wonder if he knows I'm here?"
"I do know you're here, young Giovanni."
He felt his mind racing as the panic of being revealed came to the surface. "How? He can't possibly know it's me!"
"I know everything about you Derek." Without warning the unexplainable happened, as the bodies of the two guards on either side of him were jerked backwards and crushed by some unseen force. "There Galactor, I've weeded out your informant! He's only the most prominent member of G-Force, and you lead him right to our headquarters!"
Fearing for his life, Galactor started pleading. "You must be mistaken! Derek Giovanni was killed over eight months ago! Master, please, give me one more chance to�"
"You've failed me for the last time!" The powerful crushing blow was immeasurable, and only death could bring silence to his agonizing screams.
************
The Galactor Headquarters was located in the farthest peak of the Himalayas, and from the air, the rocklike camouflage blended it perfectly with its surroundings. Had it not been for the precise coordinates given by the informant, the team would have passed right over it, considering it to be just another part of the landscape.
Hootie landed the Phoenix in a nearby clearing, then turned to Aggie and asked for what seemed like the hundredth time, "Are you still sure you want to stay behind?"
"Yes I'm sure! The leg still hurts, and I'm technically not even supposed to be walking on it yet. More than likely I'd end up being a liability. You guys don't need that this time."
Excited for his friend, PeeWee chimed in. "You know you want to go Hootie, so stop acting like you don't!"
Hootie mumbled something under his breath, then looked towards Ace for the final approval. He was off in another world, too busy weighing the uncertainties, and wasn't even listening to the conversation going on around him. It wasn't until he heard his name for the third time that he finally snapped back into reality. "Huh? What do you want?" The tone of his voice reflected minor irritation.
"Haven't you been listening? Aggie wants to stay here on the Phoenix. She thinks�"
"Fine! She stays behind. You come with us. There, it's settled."
"That's it? Why couldn't you have told them that ten minutes ago, before they showed up?"
Ace cocked an eyebrow in confusion. "Who?"
"Them!" He followed PeeWee's extended finger to where he pointed, to where at least one hundred Galactor guards were standing. "Oh�them. Looks like we're about to receive one heck of a welcome."
************
Dirk stared in amazement, not wanting to believe what he had just witnessed. His worst enemy, the one he vowed to destroy, was finally gone, and an even more threatening enemy stood in his place. "So tell me Derek, or do you prefer Dirk? Why do you still seek vengeance when Galactor is dead? Is it because you finally see who really killed your parents?"
The comment was meant to provoke him into acting before thinking, and that's exactly what he did. He pulled his gun, but before he could fire off a shot it was easily stripped away. "Come now Derek. You had the gun in your hand. Why didn't you pull the trigger?" Immense pressure began to escalate up his arms, then inexplicable terror gripped him as he felt the bones in his wrist and hand snap.
Though he tried to remain unfazed, Computor sensed the mixed emotions of fear, anger and pain. "Good! Even though you've seen what I'm capable of doing, you still won't give in to your fear. You're strong willed, just like your father was. So sad he had to die�wasn't it?"
The emotional turmoil continued as the darkness that surrounded Dirk's trembling body faded into the glow of a beautiful sunrise. Images of his father and mother appeared, along with the terror their assassin left behind. "Derek, run! You must survive Derek!" With his father's gun in hand, he relived the nightmare that proposed the unanswerable question, the same one that had been plaguing him since the age of eight. "Why didn't I pull the trigger? Why?"
He felt violated, unnerved by the fact that Computor could read his thoughts. "Oh, how emotions make you humans weak. You're so filled with anger, yet it's sorrow that will kill you. Had you acted on instinct instead of self-pity, you wouldn't have placed upon yourself the burden of vengeance. Can you not admit you created your own destiny?"
"This is all just an illusion! You won't break me that easily!"
The assassin's eyes began to glow and a wicked grin creeped across her lips, "You do not believe what you cannot accept. This is very real Derek." Without a moment's hesitation, she raised a gun from her side and shot him twice: The first bullet shattering his kneecap and the second embedding itself in the front of his pelvic bone. "Hurts, doesn't it? Still think what you see is an illusion?"
"Go to hell!"
"You really don't know when to quit, do you?" Another powerful blow was delivered to his chest, this time crushing most of his ribs and puncturing his left lung. His breathing grew slow and labored, and every movement, no matter how slight, made him cringe. "Submit to me and end your torment. All you have to do is beg me to kill you."
************
Hootie's mouth dropped open in surprise. "Look at them all Ace! What are we going to do?"
"Come on guys. There's only about 100 of them!"
"ONLY a hundred?"
Before another argument could start, Aggie interrupted. "We've got more bad news. Two unidentified aircraft just came up on radar."
"Oh sh�"
Ace's curse was cut short by a familiar voice over the radio. "G-Force, this is Red Impulse. We received your distress call and got here as fast as we could."
"My what?" He turned to PeeWee in disbelief. "When did we supposedly send out a distress call?"
Scanning the Phoenix's computerized ship logs only succeeded in causing more frustration. "Ace, I hate to say this but� the record says we never sent one."
"Well how then did�?" Knowing the answer, he gritted his teeth. " Oh no, its HIM again!"
As they watched Red Impulse dispose of most of the guards, Aggie couldn't help but smile. "Well, you can't say his timing wasn't perfect. Those fighter jets are taking out half the infantry!"
"Good! So that means we can leave now and get this over with. Come on!" Grabbing both PeeWee and Hootie by the arm, Ace led them to the Phoenix's exit hatch.
************
The sudden loss of blood caused Dirk's vision to fluctuate, and beads of perspiration began to form on his brow. His pain threshold was at a maximum, but despite the obvious signs of trauma, he refused to give up. "In the end, you�will�lose."
"The only one you fool is yourself, Giovanni. You know the truth."
His voice was too weak for a rebuttal, and though he prayed for unconsciousness to bring him peace, it would not come. Computor's unexplainable power was keeping him alive, and was forcing him to endure the suffering. "I'm afraid there'll be no peaceful sleep for you this time. Are you still certain that I can't break you?"
************
Walking along the dimly lit corridors, Ace tried to ease his worried mind by talking to himself. "Ok, so the guy called in Red Impulse on our emergency channel. Who cares? It worked didn't it? We pretty much walked right in here without a problem. So why am I upset?
"Because this mission seems too easy, and you're tired of our informant always being one step ahead of you."
The sarcasm was well noted. "Ok smart ass, if this is Headquarters, then you tell me why we've only seen a few guards!"
Surprised by the strong choice of words, PeeWee thought it best to keep quiet. He didn't speak again until they were outside the base's power station, and even then, he was a little hesitant. "Um�I'm ready for your orders now."
"You know the drill. Set the charges for ten minutes and get back out here. I'll notify Hootie and tell him what's going on." From the reiteration, it was apparent Ace was still edgy. "Ten minutes PeeWee. That means no fooling around, understand?"
"Lighten up, will you? With the way you're acting, I wish I'd gone with Hootie!" Before a rebuke could be given, the boy slipped away into the darkness.
************
The mocking, incessant laughter echoed within Dirk's mind. "Look, your G-Force friends have come to save you. Too bad it'll all be in vain. You could've gone back to your normal life, and saved yourself all the pain and guilt. Instead, you lost everything, and for what? Tell me Derek, now that you know your father's secret, was it really worth getting?"
It really didn't matter what he thought or felt; the evil was already in his head. "Why ask? You know."
"Do I sense resentment in your voice? Must be a common human emotion; I sense the same in your friend Ace. Like you, he also regrets his actions. I'm sure you remember which one I'm referring to."
The past once again began to materialize itself around him, but this time the illusions were not his own. As he lay dying from the gunshot wound to his stomach, he could hear Ace talking softly. "I didn't know. All I saw was the green, and I fired. I didn't know it was you. I'm sorry." An explosion flashed before his eyes, then Ace was kneeling beside a gravestone crying. "It was my duty to protect you, and I failed. I could have saved you. Why didn't you let me try?"
With his sanity gone, and not really caring what happened, he turned on Computor. "Stop!"
"What's the matter? Can't bear to face the true extent of your destruction? It goes way beyond what you imagined, doesn't it?"
************
"Hootie?" There was static, as if something was interfering with his transpower band's signal. "Hootie, can you hear me?" There was no response. "Hootie? Where are you?" In the distance he heard an explosion, and with his worst fears confirmed, Ace turned in PeeWee's direction. "I knew it! I knew this was too easy! PeeWee, we've got to get out of here!"
The boy emerged from the room quickly; panic etched his features. "What's happening Ace? I didn't even get the charges set yet!"
"You didn't have to. Someone else did it for us!" As he tried to regain control of the situation, Aggie broke in, equally exasperated. "Ace! You have to get back here right away! The mecha's been launched!"
"What?!" There was another explosion, this time so close it's concussion knocked both to the ground. "We need to go. Now!"
"But what about Hootie? We can't leave him!"
Ace closed his eyes and shuddered at his own response. For eight months he'd sworn to himself that he'd never desert another teammate behind, but now, in the wake of another disaster, he was once again left without a choice. "I don't want to leave him behind PeeWee, but we have to. The mecha's launched, and if we don't stop it, none of us will survive. Please try to understand."
************
Hootie thought about doubling back, but something seemed to draw his attention to the voices down the hallway. Over the conversation he kept hearing a name, and for some reason, it seemed vaguely familiar. He couldn't seem to get it from his mind. "Derek Giovanni? Where have I heard that name before?"
He cautiously approached the room at the end, and when he peeked in, his eyes widened in shock and surprise. On the floor, in the haze of red illumination, he could clearly see the mangled corpse of Galactor. Beside him lay the bodies of three other guards, one of who was still alive, yet in obvious trauma. In the center a holographic image glowed; it's voice taunting. "Oh look Dirk, Hootie's here to save you."
Hootie looked down at the guard on the floor, then took a step forward into the room. "Dirk? Is it really you? How? I thought you were�"
He was quickly cut off. "Get out now!" Knowing the extent of Computor's power, Dirk found the strength to stagger to his feet and lunge at Hootie. "Move it!" As he pushed his friend out of harm's way, he saw a blinding white light emanate from the center room, then felt it's powerful currents of electricity surge throughout his body. The pain was excruciating, and before he succumbed to it, he managed to stammer out a few words. "Help me Hootie. Shoot�it."
Computor was amused by the worthless plea. "What fools! Your weapons cannot stop me. Nothing can!"
"Oh yea?" Pulling his gun, Hootie challenged the remark. "Let's see you stop me!"
The onslaught of bullets exploded the holographic image, the concussion from the blast hurling Dirk backward through the air. He crashed hard against the back wall, and with nothing to stop the darkness from coming, he welcomed it with openly.
************
As the Phoenix took off to pursue the mecha, Ace looked down at the smoldering wreckage below and seethed. "I told myself it would never happen again, and that jerk had to�"
"You don't know if Hootie didn't make it out, and you don't know if it was the informant who set the explosives." Aggie put a comforting hand on his shoulder, but he brushed it off, not wanting the coddling. "When are you going to stop defending him! He knew we were coming, and like idiots, we walked right into his trap. I swear to it Aggie. He's gonna pay this time for what he's done!"
************
Visions from the past and present flashed before him, each bringing incoherent thoughts of death, terror, and endless suffering. "Derek, run. You must survive." "Mother, Father, no!" He heard the shots and flinched, then felt strong arms around him and a familiar voice. "Dirk, don't worry. I'm gonna get you out of here, and then we can get you some help. You'll be ok. I promise."
For a moment he struggled against the hold, but with all of his energy exhausted, he was forced to give in. "Hootie, get out. He'll kill you." The panic in his voice was a testament to his state of mind. "Get out now. Just go."
"Dirk, he's gone. It's all over now."
"It's not. It's never going to be over."
His body began to tremble as his thoughts moved elsewhere. "Ace, you didn't know it was me. It wasn't your fault. Dominic, why didn't you tell me what all I'd lose? All I am, all I was is gone. Everything..." The words faded into a slurred murmur. "Did it blow yet?"
Thinking Dirk meant the base, Hootie turned and looked down the corridor. "No, but we'd better move out." Carefully, he scooped his friend up into his arms and started searching for the exit.
The blast of a nearby explosion resounded down the hallway, and as the walls began to crumble around him he quickened his pace. Panic stricken, he rushed to the end of the hall he'd originally come from, only to find it blocked by debris. "Oh great, now what?" It was hard enough to breathe through the smoke and dust, but it grew even more stifling with the realization that he was no longer in control of the situation. "How are we supposed to get out of here?"
He hadn't expected an answer, and was shocked when he received one. "Back down hall...to the left...near the chamber. Escape craft."
************
Though both the Phoenix and Red Impulse had fired numerous times on the mecha, nothing seemed to penetrate it's outer structure. Frustrated with the lack of damage they were creating, Ace slammed his fist into the console panel and cursed. "Damnit! Nothing is working!"
"Uh Ace..." Aggie paused to look again at the blip on her radar screen. "We've got company."
"Who now?" His question was answered immediately when the Galactor escape vessel passed in front of the ship. "No! He's not getting away this time!" Before anyone could even think of stopping him, Ace fired upon it.
************
The missiles exploded near the tail section, engulfing it in flames and sending the craft in a downward spiral. As the fire began to spread to the cockpit, Hootie once again found himself in a situation which was growing vastly out of hand. Knowing he had but one solution left, he wrapped his arms tightly around Dirk's body and jumped from the burning wreckage.
After landing safely on the ground, he took a deep breath before signaling to Ace. He hoped that, unlike every other incident so far, this one would have no repercussions. "Ace? This is Hootie. Thanks for shooting me down."
There was silence, then Ace's startled reply. "Hootie? That was you in the Galactor ship? What were you...? Oh never mind. Relay your coordinates to Aggie and we'll come pick you up. First though, we've got to find a way to destroy this mecha. Any suggestions on how we might do that?"
Dirk's eyes fluttered open when he heard the question, and he replied adamantly, "Tell them to get away."
If his tone of voice hadn't been so serious, Hootie might have thought he was having another moment of disillusion. "Why? I can't..."
"Tell them!"
"Ok." He turned back to his transpower band. "Uh, Ace, I don't have time to explain, but Dirk says you need to get away from the mecha."
"Dirk? What?" The surprise and confusion was evident.
"You heard me right Ace. Dirk says you need to get away, and if I were you, I'd do it."
"Alright, tell Dirk he wins. And Hootie, I hope you have a real good explanation for all of this."
The Phoenix pulled away, and as he watched it turn and come towards him, Hootie couldn't help but question. "You sure you're right about this Dirk?"
"Yea. Watch."
************
The Galactor captain laughed at the sudden retreat of the Phoenix. "Ha! Those G-Force fools are running scared!"
"Should we follow them sir?"
Though the idea of destroying the world-renowned G-Force team seemed amusing, he pushed the feelings to the back of his mind. The mission was of critical importance, and it had to take first priority; there'd be time enough again to confront the enemy. "No lieutenant. I'm afraid we don't have time for those cowardly children. Continue north as instructed."
As the mecha moved farther and farther away from what remained of the Galactor Headquarters, Ace felt a knot form in his chest. "Hootie, what's supposed to happen now?"
"Dirk says to shut up and watch."
"Watch what? The mecha escape? This is crazy!"
A few moments later there was the roar of an explosion, then red, yellow, and orange flames streaked across the sky. Ace's mouth dropped open and he stammered out, "The mecha! How'd he know Hootie?"
"Well�" He paused, not really understanding the answer himself, "He said he built it. That's how."
************
It was the first time Hootie could sit down and relax, and also the first time he could really access the severity of Dirk's condition. "Hey, you ok?" Not receiving a response, he grew concerned. "Dirk, talk to me. You've got to stay awake. Ace will be here any minute. Hold on, ok?"
Though he was trying to remain strong, for Hootie's sake, the fight was gone, and he just wanted to give in to the shock. "Hootie, I�" He paused to cough; blood was present. "I wish you hadn't told Ace about me."
"Come on Dirk. Don't give up on us. We can't lose you now. Not when we just got you back."
His thoughts grew jumbled; words from the past and present intertwining. "Hootie, I failed them. Mother, Father, I'm sorry. I could've avenged you. I could have pulled the trigger, but I didn't. I didn't. I was afraid, and hurt, oh God, why didn't I?�"
"Your parents are proud of you, just like we are."
"Hootie, I...I wanted to thank you for being there for me. Where's Ace? Got to tell him I'm sorry, before..."
From the corner of his eye, Hootie saw the others approaching, and he motioned for Ace to come quickly. "Hold on Dirk. Ace is coming."
"I'm right here." He knelt down beside his friend and placed a hand on his shoulder. "I'm right here, ok?"
"I'm sorry Ace. So sorry." Tears began to flow down his cheeks as his body began to shudder. "I'm not dead. I wanted to tell you, but Dominic, he said I couldn't. He told me Dirk Daring was dead, but he was wrong. I'm not dead. Derek Giovanni is."
"It's ok Dirk. We know now. It's ok." Turning to Hootie he then said, "Let's get him to the Phoenix ok? It's time for him to come home."
************
The surgeon approached the waiting room with caution, dreading what he was about to do. As a doctor, he was always faced with breaking difficult news, and though he'd done it numerous times, it never got easier. "Doctor Brighthead, can I please speak with you alone?"
The solemn tone was enough to indicate that the news was bad. Ace looked at the Doctor; His eyes pleaded. "Doctor, we're all family. Don't keep it a secret. It's not good is it?"
"No, it's not. His internal injuries caused massive bleeding, and the damage is very severe. Based on his critical condition, he has but a 10% chance of survival at best. Right now we've got him on a respirator, but I'm afraid that's only going to put off the inevitable for a short while. I'm sorry."
Ace felt his knees go weak, and he collapsed to the ground; His fists pounded the floor in frustration. "Why? We just got him back! Doctor Brighthead, isn't there any technology that can save him? We can't just let him die, not after what he sacrificed!"
The surgeon interjected. "We proposed to Dirk the possibility of cybernetic enhancements, but he was adamantly against it. He said he'd rather die first, and I'm afraid without his permission, there is nothing we can do. It's unfortunate, as he would have been a fine candidate."
"What? You mean you can save him, but you won't?"
"Ace," Doctor Brighthead's words were somber, "it's Dirk's decision, not ours. He's the one who will have to live with it. Can you understand that?"
PeeWee didn't. "I don't want to lose my big brother again! I'm gonna go talk to him right now!"
Hootie reached out and grabbed his arm. "Stop! I care about Dirk too, but hasn't he suffered enough? If he's not going to be happy with his decision..."
"No! I won't let him die! Do something Ace! He'll listen to you."
He started crying, and Aggie put her arms around him. "It's ok PeeWee. I love Dirk too. We all do. Maybe Ace will be able to..." She looked up and paused, surprised to see that he had left the room, "change his mind." In her heart she hoped he could. "Please Ace. Don't let him give up."
************
Ace sat by the bedside, unsure of where to begin. He felt so many different emotions: Anger, sadness pain; Yet none seemed to outweigh the other. They were all just a heavy burden he'd been holding on to for too long; One that he desperately needed to rid himself of. "Dirk, I need to make a confession. The last nine months have been the hardest of my life. Not a day went by that I didn't think of you, and of how I...I killed you. I couldn't deal with it; I didn't want to. Somewhere in the back of my mind I kept telling myself I could've saved you, that I could've pulled you out. But I didn't. I just walked away, and every damn day..."
Tears began to form in the corners of his eyes. "...every day I was reminded of how I let you down. What kind of brother am I that I could just let you die like that? I didn't even try. I didn't do anything! Why didn't I?" Taking Dirk's hand he squeezed hard. "Dirk, I don't know what to do. I can't forgive myself for what I've done. No matter how hard I've tried, I just can't do it. I need you Dirk, I need you to help me. I'm tired of fighting; Tired of feeling this way. Help me, please. No one else understands, but I know you do."
He heard the shuffling of footsteps; It was Doctor Brighthead. "Ace, I'm sorry to intrude, but Doctor Hall said your time is up." He put a hand on his shoulder and squeezed for reassurance. "You ok?"
Ace nodded wordlessly; He was too choked up to speak. As he went to pull his hand away, he felt Dirk's tighten, not wanting him to let go. The doctor noticed the response. "Dirk? You want Ace to stay with you?" Because of the respirator he was not able to talk; He motioned for the Doctor to hand him the pad of paper and pencil that lay beside the bed. After scribbling a few words, he handed the paper to Ace, who read it aloud.
The message was heartfelt; The writing familiar. It was from the same one who had sent the postcards; the Galactor informant:
Doctor
Ace needs me
Save my life
PART THREE: EPILOGUE:
Dirk bent down a placed a bouquet of flowers by his parents' gravestone. It had been over a year since he'd been there, and unlike the previous times, there was no remorse. It was time to start anew. "Mother, Father, I now know the truth; Computor still exists, but Galactor is gone. Your vision has been restored, and my vengeance has been fulfilled. You can rest easy now. It's over."
To the left of where he stood, there was a smaller gravestone; It read:
DEREK (DIRK) GIOVANNI
SEPT 1978 - OCT 1997
For this he also had a flower: A pink rose, to symbolize the end. At age eight, it had been the flower that destroyed his life; At age twenty, it would destroy the past. Pulling it from his pocket, he threw it at the headstone.
"Goodbye Derek Giovanni. May you finally be at peace."