Chapter Two: Warm Welcome

After everything, I think it feels good to be home again. To be truly home. The limousine ride was quiet as Error stared off into space probably surfing the holo-net with his cybernetic eye, Ronin looked out of the limousine’s window with a distant look, and our guard sat across from us on the other side with his rifle primed and ready to shoot at any moment.

Stupid Safe Haven guys are no fun. Always so stoic and uptight.

Pitcher: Are we there yet?

Guard: Not yet.

Pitcher: How much longer?

Guard: That information is not open to disclosure.

Pitcher: Of course it is. What’s your name?

Guard: That information is not open to disclosure.

Pitcher: Uh huh. How old are you?

Guard: That information-

Pitcher: Is not open to blah bla blah! I get it! Geez. Zams, how are you doing?

Ronin must’ve been really deep in her mindspace, because it’s as if she didn’t even hear me. I move to tap her on the shoulder, but she catches my hand and glares at me.

Pitcher: You okay?

Ronin: Yes. Just...have a lot on my mind tonight.

Pitcher: Like?

Ronin: Like...like Yua.

Pitcher: Your ex? What about her?

Ronin: She was invited to the party. And, she’s not my ex. We never officially split ways.

Pitcher: But, you two stopped talking. It’s been years, who knows, maybe she’s got a new girl.

Ronin’s eyes widened at that and I could see the heartbreak in her eyes.

Pitcher: Or~ she’s been waiting for you all these years.

Ronin: You think so?

Pitcher: Yea! I’m not the best with these monogamous relationships, but I’m pretty sure that, if Yua wanted to be with only one other woman, that one other woman would be you.

Ronin: Thank you, Joanne.

Error: Hmph. Hopeless.

Pitcher: What now, Error?

Error: Nothing. You two aren’t worthy of my opinions.

Ronin: Your opinions are not worthy of our ears, Error.

Error glared at Ronin before scoffing and going back to staring into space.

Pitcher: Dick.

Ronin: Ignore him. We’re almost there, aren’t we?

Guard: That information is- We have arrived.

Pitcher: Wow. He was gonna lie to us at any distance.

The guard reached into his armor’s side pouch and fished out three bracelets.

Guard: These bracelets will ensure that we know where you three are at all times. You’re still in Murkum’s custody, after all. Try to take them off, and you’ll receive a shock. Move more than sixty meters away from the main building and you will receive a much more painful shock until you return to the bounds. Fight back, and you will receive a very painful shock.

Error: Who has the remote to these bracelets?

Guard: That information is not open to disclosure.

Error scoffed at him before the guard threw us one bracelet each and watched as we put them on tight.

Guard: I will exit the vehicle first. Then, after your door has been opened, you are allowed to exit and follow me to the room you have been instructed to enter through.

The guard got out of the limousine and closed the door behind him. We waited there for a moment and heard nothing outside.

Ronin: Hurry, you useless guard, I must see Yua again.

Pitcher: I need to see my little brother again.

Error: I have no meaningless humanoid to waste my time on. You two should follow my example.

The two of us glared at Error as the door was opened and the guard motioned for us to exit. The cool night air without gunfire was something I hadn’t felt in a long time. Seeing the stars again was nice. But, I didn’t get to savor that moment for long as the guard came forward and motioned us to follow him.

We walked and I noticed that we had come to the back of the building. The guard was leading us to a backdoor that had two other guards stationed on it.

Pitcher: Dang. Dad’s got Safe Haven surrounding the whole building.

Ronin: If you have as many enemies as I assume someone of his status has, then it makes sense.

Error: Safe Haven isn’t nearly as impressive as you think they are. I nearly killed their leader. A pathetic and unremarkable woman she was.

Ronin: What stopped you from finishing it?

Error glared at Ronin and I noticed that the look on his face wasn’t just anger, it was shame.

Guard: Walk through this door and continue through the hallway until you get to the end of it. There, you will meet Mr. Marks and he will advise you as to what you will be doing for the remainder of the night.

Pitcher: Alright. Thanks for the ride, by the way.

The guard didn’t show any sign that he appreciated what I just said.

I sigh and walk through the backdoor with Ronin and Error following me closely. We walked through the hallway and it was surprisingly dark. The glow of my robotic legs and Error’s cybernetic eye were the only sources of light we had.

Pitcher: You’d think they’d put some lights down here. Geez, it’s dark.

Ronin: Yes...do you hear that?

Pitcher: Hear what?

Error: That clanking. It’s above our heads.

I listened closely to our surroundings, but I could hear nothing. I guess that shows how alert these two are.

Pitcher: Whatever it is, it’s not what we’re here for.

The Ronin looked at me wearily, while Error looked to the ceiling as we kept moving forward. Not long after that, we see a light at the end of the hallway. We walk towards it and it’s blinding for a moment, but our eyes adjust and I see...him.

Gerald: Joanne. My daughter. It’s been...so long.

He moves in to hug me, but I back away and he stops.

Gerald: I see. Well, tonight is about Jaxson. Not about me.

Pitcher: Obviously.

Dad had a guilty look in his eye, but I don’t care. He’s the reason I ran away all those years ago. He tried to send me away to some boot camp, and, after what happened with Levi’s sister, he tried harder. He’s probably the one who snitched on me and got me thrown in Murkum. Sounds like him.

Gerald: Well, follow me, Tributes.

Dad leads the way and we maneuver through different rooms and halls, all of them very fancy and radiating a sort of snobbish aura that pissed me off. I ran away from this life and here it was suffocating me. At least I get to see my little brother after all these years.

Gerald: So, Joanne, how have you been these past few years?

Joanne: I was doing so good. I had my own crew and friends. I had freedom. That is, until someone snitched on me and had Safe Haven lock me up.

Gerald: Well...that life sounds nice. I bet it suited your lifestyle.

Joanne: Yea. It did.

The tension as we walked thickened and no words were spoken until we reached where we were going. It was this giant room with a golden chandelier hanging in the center. A giant staircase that ran up the sides of the walls made a semi-circle. And, I saw the only reason I’m here tonight standing there with my best friend.

Jaxson, Levi, and some Safe Haven guard stood there having a conversation that I couldn’t quite make out. But, I don’t care about what they’re talking about! My little brother is standing right there!

Pitcher: Jaxson!

All three of them turned towards me as I sprinted towards my little brother. His eyes were wide with surprise as I picked him up into a hug and squeezed as tight as I could.

I stood there hugging the crap out of my brother as a handful of people watched me. I could hear Ronin snickering and Error groaning at my show of affection.

Jaxson tapped my back and said something breathlessly that I couldn’t quite understand, but I got the gist: “Air.”

I put him down and a big smile spreads across my face. I look at how big he’s grown. The last time I saw him he was a two-year-old. Now, he’s turning fifteen. I missed a lot, but I’m here now.

Pitcher: Hey, Jaxso-

Jaxson: What’s she doing here?!

Pitcher: What?

Jaxson: I specifically said on the guest list for her not to be here! Even on the list you made me send, dad, I said for her not to be here! Why is sh-? Dad?!

Gerald: We can’t exclude her from your birthday, Jaxson!

Jaxson: I would’ve only had Ms. Ela and Levi here, but you decided that I needed this big extravagant party!

Gerald: You’re turning fifteen! You’re practically a man now, you need to get out and meet more people! I never had this problem with Joanne, I could barely get the girl to sit down!

Jaxson: I’m not Joanne!

Pitcher: Woah! Hold on, Jax, you didn’t want me here?

Jaxson: No! I didn’t want any tributes here except for Ms. Ela and Levi, but dad said I had to invite entire families!

Pitcher: Jax, I’m your big sis! And, I’m Levi’s best friend. How could you not want me here?

Jaxson looked over to Levi and I could see the hatred in his eyes.

Jaxson: Levi!

Mr. T: Jaxson, listen-

Jaxson: I thought you said she knew.

Pitcher: Knew what?

Jaxson: Knew that we hated you!

Pitcher: T, you hate me?

Mr. T: Joanne, I- yes.

Stanley: Wow. You really are two faced.

Pitcher: Who is he?

Jaxson: See! That was so easy, almost as easy as you getting out, Joanne!

Pitcher: Jax, come on, I know you don’t mean that.

Jaxson: Yes, I do. It wouldn’t be the first time you did that.

Gerald: Jaxson!

Jaxson: You shut it! You never listen to me, and you have the nerve to invite the woman that abandoned us.

Gerald: It’s a lot more complicated than that and you know that!

Jaxson: I don’t care!

Safe Haven guard: Mr. Marks.

Everyone turns to the Safe Haven guard that entered the room.

Safe Haven guard: The welcoming ceremony needs to begin.

Gerald: Right. Let’s go, and no more arguing.

Pitcher: But, dad-

Gerald: That’s enough, Joanne. We can talk about this all later.

Dad started to follow the Safe Haven guard to where the ceremony was being held, and he motioned for everyone to follow. Levi, Ronin, Error, and Stanley all follow. But, me and Jaxson stand there and look at each other.

Jaxson: Welcome home, Joanne.