Writer: Aaron
Characters: Gus, Jendie, Jack
When: Day 2, Afternoon
Location: Casino/The Strip/Jack's Bar and Grill
The man behind the counter counted up Gus's chips and ran his card through the meter, adding on a little credit. A small amount was deducted for conversion fees, but Gus felt strange and a little excited about winning. And Enoch was right. What Gus wanted, needed right now, more than even a cube, was for things to go the right way.
And having one of the most powerful demons on the street helping you out couldn't hurt. Gus would just have to find a way to make up the lost Karma. Gus impulsively grabbed one of his remaining chips from the counter and tossed it to someone looking very sorry for themselves. It wasn't much, but perhaps it would do some good. Gus turned away as the man made a beeline for the slots.
Perhaps not. Gus frowned and took his card. Now that he was cashed out the Casino just seemed loud and hot and busy. There was really nothing more to do than leave.
The strip was warm with traffic, noise, and activity. Somewhere down the strip someone was screaming. Gus turned to see cordons a few blocks down, and two men in boxing gear duking it out infront of a new shop, the name on the front proclaiming it to be IMPACT. Shops, clubs, businesses were always popping up on the strip, owners hoping to strike it big and get an in with Luci. Trying to beat the system and be so good at pulling others down that they could gain entrance into the elite of Hell. Gus had known a guy like that once, a number of lifetimes ago, who'd been obsessed with getting into Luci's graces. He'd been short, shorter than Gus, even, but he had a grin as wide as a dinner plate and the energy of three squirrels. Gus couldn't, for the life of him, remember the guy's name. Or what happened to him. When Gus got the job with Purgatory Central he'd been too busy to keep up a lot of friendships.
Hopefully that wouldn't happen this time.
Gus wandered up the strip. So now he had a reason to join the Agency, and to work for Luci. He could even play coy for a little while, and let Luci look for the reason if she wanted to. Having two covert reasons to work for her made it easier to hide one, he reasoned. Then Gus saw a familiar face.
Jendie was going to work.
Gus automatically crossed the street, and intercepted her.
"Oh, Gus! I didn't expect to see you here." Smiling she switched topics. "How are you holding up?"
"Huh?" Gus looked down, half expecting to see something out of the ordinary. When that didn't lend any clarity to her question he thought about it for a second. He'd half forgotton that everyone knew he'd been 'canned'. "Oh, the job..." Gus shrugged. "I'm doing okay. I've been looking around..." And then Gus stopped. It had seemed so natural, to just talk with her about what was going on.
But she'd never understand. And telling Jendie would be as bad as telling Luci, not because Jendie couldn't keep a secret, but because Gus was half afraid that Luci could hear anything that was ever said.
"What?" Jendie asked, even more concerned. "Something wrong?"
"Uh, no... Nothing wrong. I'm just hopeful, you know. I'd like to make a clean break. Try to do something different." Gus smiled as he avoided the major lie, and slid into ommission. He didn't want to lie to her.
"I'm glad," Jendie said, squeezing his arm in support. "Let me know when you find something. Maybe I can have something whipped up special just to celebrate."
Jendie had always been nice to him. Gus couldn't for the life of him know why. Other nicer guys must have come through Purgatory often, and most other people didn't look half so ridiculous. How did someone end up having their true selves look as dumpy as Gus?
Jendie smiled again. "Look, I'm going to be late if I don't go inside now..."
"Say," Gus heard himself interrupt, "how would you like to go for a walk around the Arboretum after work?"
Jendie paused, totally surprised by the question. "Oh, Gus..."
Gus was crushed. She hated the idea and now what little friendship they had would be lost forever.
Jendie fidgetted. "That would be really nice, but I'm going to be getting off late..."
Gus waved a hand, looking away to hide his shame. "Oh, don't worry about it then..."
Jendie finished her statement, "But if you don't mind going late, I'd like that very much."
Gus stopped. "Oh..." Then he smiled. "Just let me know what time, and I'll meet you here."
"Come on," Jendie slid her arm into his own, much to his surprise and took him inside. They walked up to Jack like that. "Hi, Jack." Jendie said, finally letting go of Gus and leaning against the bar. "What time am I getting off tonight."
Jack wiped a stray spill on the countertop. "You need to get off early?" Jack asked, not really paying attention, although both Jendie and Gus felt thoroughly examined.
"No, I'll work my whole shift. I would just like to know when I'm off." Jendie waved to a waitress who was coming out of the kitchen. The waitress was obviously happy to see Jendie had arrived.
"I don't know, probably around 1 a.m. or so. Business isn't so busy, but we're short hands tonight." Jack left that hanging in midair.
"Who did we lose?" Jendie asked, concern etched in her face.
"Traci's gone. Reincarnated last night on the way home."
"Good for her!" Jendie was nearly glowing with happiness. "And to think we were worried about her." Jendie turned and included Gus in her next statement. "I'm heading into the back. If you're up for a late night..."
Gus nodded. Time didn't really matter much in Purgatory, and the Arboretum was particularly unique in that aspect. "I'll be here at 1 a.m., if not earlier. Don't worry if you're running late. I'm good at waiting." Then, not knowing what else to do, Gus offered Jendie his hand. After laughing, Jendie took it and gave him a quick hug, then dashed into the back.
Jack smiled, and finished his wiping.
Nodding to Jack, Gus turned and left, to walk the Strip and the Street, to look at the sights, maybe return to the Manor and experiment with his home... It didn't really matter, for now.
Writers: Aaron, Barb
Characters: Gus, Kel
When: Day 2, late afternoon
Location: The Street, Molly's
"Angel, I need help," Kel said when he'd returned to his office from his
meeting with Grace and the Council.
"Help is here," the voice came back.
"Identify Kel Merelyan."
A pause. "Identified."
"Request location, Gus, soul number..." he checked his Guidewatch and then
gave a long series of numbers and letters.
A longer pause. "The soul 'Gus' is currently at 104 Street. 105 Street.
106 Street..."
"Thank you, Angel," Kel interrupted, and the counting ceased. He grabbed
his coat from the back of his chair and shrugged into it, then called out to
his secretary. "Maddie, I'm going out. I'll be on the Watch if you need
me."
He stepped out of the Guide's Council a minute later and looked down the
Street. He could see Gus a block down, nearing the North 200 intersection.
He started walking toward him.
Gus, for his part, meandered down the Street, taking in the sights and
generally feeling smug. It looked like everyone was going to get what they
wanted out of this situation. Enoch would be funneling Gus a little extra
help, thinking he was helping to corrupt him, Luci would have him there to
'help' her organization, and J.T. would be happy enough with Gus's getting
inside without suspicion, and Gus could finally mess with Luci's operation
from the inside. It was a little complicated, sure, and it meant he might
have to lie a little to keep things quiet, but...
Gus looked up to see Kel approaching him.
"Gus," Kel said when he'd reached him, "I need to talk to you. It's
important. Do you have a minute?"
Gus smiled, "Um, sure. Sounds good. Do you want to talk here, or do you
want to go someplace?"
He looked around, then sheparded Gus up 200 North. There was a small park
halfway up at 49. "Let's step in here," he said, turning onto the path that
led through some trees. "There's been a slight change in plans."
Gus paused. What could Kel mean? He meandered a little, ringing his hands
somewhat. "I... I don't think I understand. What plans exactly are you
talking about?"
Kel looked like he didn't know where to start. Finally he said, "Grace
removed J.T. from Purgatory Central. It seems his vendetta against you was
a little too personal."
"Huh?" Gus said, shocked and confused. "But, what... Why? I..." Gus tried
struggled to find a reason J.T. would be that... that... "So, what are they
going to do now?"
"Red is the head of PC now. She was against this double agent scheme from
the beginning, never agreed with J.T.'s trying to involve the Guide's
Council."
"Well, that's good, at least. Red was always nice to me. So then things
are all fixed up?" Gus fiddled with his buttons a little. What did it mean
for him? Did it mean that everything was off? And how would that play out?
"I've just met with the Council, and with Grace," Kel said. "The good news
is you don't have to work for Luci unless you want to. You know how Grace
is - it's completely up to you."
"Oh..." Gus grew noticeably reserved. Sh*t.
"The bad news is that Channel 7 had it right last night. You really are on
your own now." He looked closely at Gus. "I want you to know I'm here for
you, Gus, if you ever need to talk. Or I can suggest someone else if my
being a Guide makes you uncomfortable."
"Oh, no, that won't be necessary," Gus gave Kel a brave smile. "It's just...
I've already taken steps. Luci is expecting to see me in the morning, and
one of her demons..." Gus looked around. "I... It just gives me a lot to
think about. Do you think Luci knew? Do you think she was aware of what
was going on with J.T.?"
Kel looked pained. "I don't know if she knew before, but she probably knows
now. Grace *gave* him to her."
"So she'll be watching me like a hawk..." The Gus realized he'd already
made the mental leap to consider working for her anyway. "If I go to work
for her, that is." Gus sighed. "I don't know... It just seems too
confusing. What if they decide they want me, even if I tell them I'm not
playing?"
"I'm going to talk to my sister, Theresa, about it. I can't help you, but
she can, if you need it. She's a Hunter, not yet Ascended, so she's got a
lot more freedom than me or Lily. If nothing else, she can at least make
sure they play fair, no matter what you decide to do."
But what could she do? Gus wondered. "I'd be grateful for anything you can
do." But the damage was done. Once more he felt as if he were teetering
over the abyss.
"I'm really sorry it worked out this way, Gus."
"Yeah, me too," Gus murmured. "I have a lot to think about now..."
"You know where to find me if you need anything." Knowing there was nothing
more he could say or do, Kel laid a hand on Gus's shoulder, then turned and
walked out of the park.
Somehow it had all come apart. He'd been pounding the nails into his own
coffin all afternoon. As he looked around the garden an immeasurable
sadness descended upon his heart.
You're treating yourself like a victim, a little voice inside himself said.
You make your own choices. You pick your path, and choose your battles.
Even if there's no place for you in Purgatory Central... Even if you have to
work for Luci at the Agency, nothing says that you have no control over your
own actions. Luci may be able to watch what you do, but she can't control
your thoughts.
Maybe there's merit in doing it anyway, Gus considered. It still burned in
his heart, and excited him, the thought of being so far inside Luci's
organizations and yet somehow making things better. He continued walking
the paths of the park alone, his mind buzzing with options.
Writers: Aaron
Characters: Gus, Jendie
When: Day 3, 1:00 AM
Location: Outside Jack's Bar and Grill, Arboretum
Jack saw him loitering in the entrance, but other than making the briefest eye contact did not give Gus's location away. Jendie, operating with inhuman energy, was still bussing tables, joking, smiling, and generally earning her credits for the evening. She seemed to convey genuine interest in the person she was interacting with, and Gus marveled at her capacity to laugh after a full shift of work. A stain graced her work clothes, obviously dabbed at but standing out none-the-less. Apparently she'd had a busy day.
But when Jendie looked up, she didn't see him. He was obviously standing to far outside, and the light inside must have made the doorway opaque. But then how did Jack spot him? Gus wondered.
Eventually Jendie disappeared. Gus waited. Time passed. After a while he began to grow nervous. It struck him that it would be strange for an employee to leave by the front entrance, like a customer. He began to look around.
He felt a tap on his shoulder, and nearly leapt out of his skin.
"There you are," Jendie said. "I expected you to come in." She smiled at him.
"O-" Gus cleared his throat to drop his voice to a normal tone, rather than the higher octave it started at. "Oh. I'm sorry. I guess I didn't think to come in."
"Jack said he saw you out front," Jendie said casually.
Gus nodded sagely, trying to take it all in stride. "Do you need to change?" Gus asked.
"Huh, why?" Jendie asked, seeming confused.
"The stain," Gus indicated.
"Oh, that. Does it bother you?" Jendie asked, archly.
"Not at all," Gus responded quickly, realizing that he didn't care.
"Then I don't need to change. We're going to the Arboretum, right?"
"Yes..."
Jendie took Gus by the arm. "Then let's got. My feet are killing me, so standing around here isn't pleasant."
Gus had sudden sympathy for her. "If you want to reschedule..."
Jendie scowled at him. "Look, don't push your luck. I'll just need to sit down a little when we get there."
The pair made their way to the Turnkeys.
"Arboretum" Gus requested.
* * *
The first area of the nature center was a huge free-standing dome, set on columns and overlooking a pond through a wooded canopy from at least 3 arches. A light breeze wafted through the vaulted structure, and Gus had the vague impression that here and there other people were wandering through, although he did not immediately see them.
"It's the Palace of Fine Arts!" Jendie declared.
"Huh?" Gus questioned, looking to see where she saw such a building.
"No, silly. This place. In my last life I was an artist in San Francisco. I used to come here... Well actually not here here, but the building like this in San Francisco... and I painted pictures of tourists and kids and stuff. This building is called the Palace of the Fine Arts, and I think it's supposed to be a recreation of a building from Europe or something.' Jendie smiled, looking around with familiar curiosity.
"Oh..." It had never occurred to Gus that this building might be a mock up of an actual building. "Wow..." Walking quietly beside Jendie towards where a path seemed to lead away from the area, he heard his footsteps echo above his head, and marveled at the sound of leaves in the wind. The quiet susurration of leaf upon leaf was something Gus hadn't realized he missed, since there was no wind in Purgatory.
"So..." Jendie asked, as they neared the path. "Where are we going?" She seemed to ask it out of polite interest, but Gus noted pain in here face.
"Your feet?" He asked.
"Yeah..." Jendie said, sorrow knitting her brows.
"I..." Looking around Gus glanced at the water, a swan lazily paddling, its wake drawing lines on the its surface. "I know just where we're going. We're going to take a long trip, so I hope you're ready."
As he passed through the exit arch, Gus pictured his destination in his mind.
It was dark. They walked along a dirt path fringed by dry gray-green bushes and scrub trees. They were in something of a forest, and the air was cool, but laden with moisture. The moon flickered through the branches of wide, squat trees. Jendie looked uncertain. "Um... Where are we?"
Gus quietly ignored her question, took her hand with only a moment's hesitation, and pushed ahead.
The path twisted and turned for a short while, and moss began to cover the ground, here and there passing underfoot, a springy purchase that hinted at less than solid ground. Crickets and frogs plied the air with mating calls, and somewhere far off some kind of night bird called. Wherever they were, it was alive.
Finally they rounded the last bend, and a small wooden dock lay a few feet ahead. Warmly lit by a lantern hanging from a high post, it jetted out into an unexpected body of water. A boat was tied to the dock, and oars were left inside. Probably in the real world no one would leave the boat this way, but it was inviting. The dark water beneath it, which seemed to spread out and away in the moonlight, dotted with trees, seemed almost pregnant with mystery.
"You wanted some place to sit down, perhaps?" Gus asked, smiling.
"Oh, Gus, this is so sweet..." Jendie smiled, and, after Gus's prompting, stepped onto the dock and then made her way into the boat. Gus followed, rocking it briefly as he tried to gracefully step in. Fortunately, the boat seemed to be well made, and Gus's failure to enter gracefully did not put them at risk. Taking oars in hand, and untying the boat, Gus cast them off.
It took Gus a short while to remember his rowing skills. A number of his past lives had spent time on the water, and the skills they had made his hands steady. There were few things as enjoyable, he found, as the gentle slap of water against oar.
Gus maneuvered them away from the dock, and soon they found themselves adrift among great gnarled trees, whose thick roots held them up above the water's surface and created strange and wonderful grottos which sheltered an abundance of life. Jendie let her breath go with a sigh of disbelief. "I've never seen anything like this in real life, Gus. This is incredible."
Gus shrugged, smiling. "I had to go on a business conference once in New Orleans. One of the many attractions was a bayou tour. It was pretty funny to see eight accountants crammed into a tinny, listening to a heavy-set bearded fellow yell at them with his thick Cajun accent, as they were constantly wiping away the sweat. It was horrible during the day, but I always thought it would be beautiful at night."
Jendie laughed in amusement. "So you were an accountant in your past life?" she asked.
Gus nodded. "Bob. His incarnation was probably the closest looking to mine, although he had a little less hair. Spent a lot of time trying to justify his failures to himself..." Gus paused, remembering a little.
"Wow, that's deep," Jendie said, relaxing some and putting her feet up on the center bench. "Mind if I take my shoes off?" She asked.
"Not at all," Gus said. He'd never really felt comfortable removing his shoes in front of others, but didn't care about the shoelessness of others.
"Thanks," Jendie said, gratefully kicking her shoes off into the bottom of the boat. She stripped her socks off, and then leaned back in the prow, wriggling her pale toes in luxury. "Oh, that feels good!"
Gus smiled.
They drifted along in silence for a while, until Jendie broke the quiet. "So... You wanted to talk?"
Gus, who had been trying to think of something to say, lurched with surprise. "Uh, oh, yes. I had. I was just going to thank you for being so supportive after hearing about my being turned away at Purgatory Central. It's been what I do for a while now, and it's so strange not to be going back there..."
"Have you decided what you'll do?" Jendie asked.
"I... I haven't," Gus paused and debated internally again before adding, "Luci approached me..."
"Oh," Jendie said, her expression guarded.
"She was responsible, in part, for my being drummed out of PC." Jendie's look became one of outrage, and Gus hastily added, "And my own actions were responsible for the other part of it."
"Oh," Jendie said again, confused.
"I... I'd been working in PC for a while. The numbers had stopped being interesting to me. So when someone approached me with an offer, in exchange for some of those numbers, I made a bad decision."
Jendie's face became unreadable.
"I got into the habit of giving numbers over to her agent, but after a while I realized that I kept handing over the same people's numbers again and again. And certain indexes were dropping. So I started tracking those people, on the side, and when I figured out what Luci was doing, I realized I had to do something." Gus leaned forward. "Luci was playing the numbers, using them to manipulate people into destroying themselves. And I was an accomplice."
Jendie nodded.
"So I started to doctor Luci's numbers. I knew eventually someone on our side would figure it out, but I also hoped they might do the work to figure out why. I was doing something very dangerous, because it was entirely possible that Luci had some other way of confirming my numbers, but it felt good to be working against her."
Jendie listened intently.
"I don't know how many people I helped. When I finally confronted Luci with evidence that I had been misleading her, I reincarnated. When I got back here, all the parties knew what was going on. PC fired me because they felt they couldn't trust me. Luci wants me because, when I was working for her, I was highly productive. I..." Gus paused.
"What?" Jendie asked, concerned.
"I don't know what to do. Part of me just wants to find some other kind of work, somewhere else, and spend a quiet stay here in Purgatory, until I can go back. But another part of me remembers what I did, there at the end. It was exciting, all that cloak and dagger stuff. It really made me feel alive..."
Jendie smiled, "Danger can do that, I guess. It reminds me a little of my Vacation to the Revolutionary War. But wouldn't this be a big risk, going to work for her, when she knows you've tricked her before? I would imagine Luci would watch you like a hawk."
Gus nodded. "She would. Which would mean I'd have to be a lot more subtle. But think about it, Jendie. If someone inside her own Intelligence Agency were to sabotage her, how many souls could that save? How many people would she lose because she couldn't manipulate them as well?"
"I can see that you have already made your decision..." Jendie said, quietly.
Gus paused, surprised. Then he realized he really already had. "Yeah, I guess I have." He shivered a little.
"Why are you doing it, Gus?" Jendie asked.
"Because I think what Luci is doing is unfair. She doesn't give people a chance to choose one way or the other. She's constantly putting obstacles and false rewards in front of people, and with her intelligence information she knows what the best obstacles and rewards are for each soul..."
Jendie interrupted. "Then how come all souls don't go to her?"
Gus paused, "Probably because some souls have more self discipline. They have learned to resist temptations, even in weakness."
"So you admit that we still have free will," Jendie asserted.
Gus nodded, "Sure."
"Then Grace's gift is all anyone really needs. Free will is what gives us the choice between Good and Evil," Jendie stated. Her expression was concern, mixed with conviction.
"I guess..."
"Then why are you doing it, Gus?" Jendie asked.
"Because I want to help. I want to save people. This is the only chance I have where I see I could make a difference for someone I may never otherwise meet." Gus said, surprised at the depth of emotion in his own words.
"So this is your nobility?" Jendie mused.
"Huh?"
"I believe each person has a secret nobility, something private that unites their passion with their best qualities." Jendie smiled playfully, and poked Gus in the chest. "You have a little knight hiding in there, Gus."
Gus laughed despite himself.
"But you need to be careful, Gus. Because your little knight has the best of intentions, and will drive you to do anything you can to fulfill his cause. But his passion can blind him, and when you go into a den of vipers like the CIA, you're going to need your eyes wide open. Remember that Luci has had eons to prepare for underlings like you, and there were probably a number that wanted to foil her like you do." Jendie sat forward, hugging her knees to her chest. "How come you chose to tell me this?"
Gus took a deep breath. "Because you've always been kind to me. Because you are probably the nicest person you know. Because I like you, and I think, if I'm going to do this, that I would really want someone outside of all this who I can share with and who can help me maintain perspective." Gus smiled. "I know it's not going to be easy, and I'm probably going to have to do some things I don't like to make sure Luci doesn't suspect me. But I don't want to lose touch with reality on the way."
"I need a friend," Gus added, after a short silence. "And I was really hoping you'd be that friend."
Jendie leaned forward suddenly, sending the boat rocking in the murky waters, and gave Gus a tight hug. "Thank you," she said quietly, in his ear, before she let go of him.
"Um... why?" Gus asked, surprised at the hug and very unsure of himself.
"Because it means a lot. Because I like you too, and it would be an honor to be your friend." Jendie smiled. "Because it would be nice to have a friend like you, someone I can talk with, who knows how to keep a secret." She grinned.
Gus grinned back. "Thank you, then."
"Hey, it'll give me something to chat about with the other girls at work," She said, nonchalantly. Then she broke into giggles at his immediate start. "Just kidding... I wouldn't tell a soul. You can trust me." Jendie paused, and added, in a more thoughtful tone. "And you can trust Jack, too. I know he works on the Strip, but he's ascended, and as long as I've known him he's never betrayed a confidence. He's probably one of the oldest entities in Purgatory, for that matter, so that's saying something."
"Really?" Gus asked. Jack's Bar and Grill had been a fixture for quite a while in Gus's memory, but he'd never considered Jack's age. No one ever aged in Purgatory.
"Really." Jendie let a hand idle in the water for a while, and then looked at Gus, "So, are we done with the big revelations, or is there something else you want to drop on me?"
"All done," Gus answered.
"Good," Jendie said. Then she splashed a little water at Gus. "I thought you were going to show me this place. Get rowing, Mister!"
Gus laughed, and began to row, leading them into the beautiful, alien world that surrounded them.