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[right][h2][color=7ea7d8]The Blue Beetle stars in...The Runaway: Issue #3[/color][/h2][url=https://www.roleplayerguild.com/posts/4717380]Previous Issue[/url][/right]
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[b]Unknown SHIELD Facility[/b]

The klaxons blaring in the distance were a grim reminder of where Jaime was, if the bleak steel walls weren't enough. He was trapped in the center of a labyrinth of nearly identical hallways and rooms, being pursued by men who sought to end his life for a crime he didn't commit. The only thing that gave him even the slightest chance at getting out alive was the alien that had forcibly bound itself to Reyes's body. He didn't know what the creature was or what purpose it came to earth for: part of him wondered if it was best he never knew.

Right now, as he pressed the barrel of a cannon against the back of a agent of the federal government, the only thing Jaime was worried about was getting out alive.

[color=7ea7d8]"Hurry up, [i]ese![/i] Which direction? Which way?!"[/color] He snarled, trying to mask his anxiety with aggression.

Jasper Sitwell came to a screeching halt at the intersection of hallways, his gaze slipping over to the signs drilled into the walls, though Jasper didn't need the reminder. He knew this place like the back of his hand. "I'm...I'm thinking, damn it." The man hissed back, his dull hair slipping down his face as he heaved in another, tired breath. "Give me a moment."

Something searing and slimy touched the small of his back, shoving Jasper hard enough to make him stumble forward. [color=7ea7d8]"I don't [i]have[/i] a moment!"[/color] Jaime reminded. [color=7ea7d8]"Your soldiers are gonna show up and blow me full of holes any second now if we don't get moving."[/color]

With a weary nod of his head, the agent pointed down the left most hallway, beginning down it at a jog. Reyes pushed him forward, upping the pace. He didn't have time to waste with Sitwell dragging his feet.

"Listen, kid..." He started, his jaw quivering as he tried to find the right words. He had to find a way to convince Jaime to stop. "Nobody wants to hurt you, okay? You're just a kid, but that [i]thing[/i] you're wearing-"

[color=7ea7d8]"Do you think I want this?!"[/color] The teen snapped back. [color=7ea7d8]"What, do you think I woke up this morning all 'Do you know what I wanna do today, I wanna go have an alien crawl down my throat and force me to murder a much of people! That sounds like a [i]fucking blast!'[/i]"[/color]

"Then let us help you!" Jasper turned, his gaze soft and his heart pleading. "SHIELD can get it off of you, but we need you to cooperate with us."

[b][color=0072bc]'He is lying, Jaime Reyes.'[/color][/b] Khaji Da interrupted, his inhuman voice blaring like the alarms screeching overhead. [b][color=0072bc]'These men wish you harm. I sensed it- that is why I activated.'[/color][/b]

It felt like somebody had set a jackhammer off inside Jaime's skull. He grit his teeth, his brow furrowing as he tried to make sense of it all. Could he actually trust these SHIELD guys to help him? Why the hell would he want to listen to the alien robot trying to control him? Then again, why would Reyes trust the guy who ordered him to be [i]shot[/i]?

[color=7ea7d8]"Just- just shut up!"[/color] Reyes finally screamed, slamming a palm against the side of his head. [color=7ea7d8]"Both of you, shut up!"[/color] He needed time. Time to think, time to reason, time to come to a good decision. But that was the trick: there was no time. Every moment he spent in indecision was a moment where men with guns got closer and closer.

They rounded another corner, coming up to an end in the twisting halls of uncaring steel. Several elevators were positioned along the walls, and there appeared to be no one nearby. Sitwell came to a stop, turning to face Reyes.

The boy looked inhuman. It was difficult to reconcile the black, chitinous figure with the lanky young man he'd apprehended hours earlier. His shoulders were broader, arms more defined- like the armor had weaved musculature for the boy that he hadn't had before. Long tendrils with sharpened, razorish points gleamed in the artificial light; Sitwell was sure those could puncture him like a grapefruit if Reyes were so inclined.

Of course, Jasper was much more worried about the plasma cannon hanging limb at the teenager's side.

"I...could've taken you wherever I wanted." He started, his throat dry and rasped. One wrong word could mean his body imploding in on itself in a shower of slag and gore. "I could've- could've run us around in circles until backup arrived. Or I could've taken you to containment. It...it would've been easy, honestly." Sitwell locked eyes with the creature. Those unblinking, yellow slits. Impossible to read. "But I didn't do that, did I? No, I brought you here-"

Motioning back to the set of elevators behind him, Jasper continued more confidently, finding his stride. "This is the only way out. Up to level one. I did what you asked me to."

He could see Jaime was already jerking forward to head toward one of the elevators. [i]'Kids these days,'[/i] Sitwell mused. [i]'Always in such a rush.'[/i]

With a sigh, he held up a palm. Sitwell was surprised when Reyes actually stopped and looked at him instead of continuing on. It gave him a little bit of hope that this could be handled peacefully.

"I did it to show you that you can [i]trust[/i] me. You have a choice to make. You can just walk out of here, yes. You can leave right now- but we're going to follow you. We're going to follow you and, eventually, we're going to catch you. Because that's what SHIELD does. And...if you leave, you'll be giving up any chance at being absolved of this. Do you understand what I'm saying?"

From the ever-blank look on the inhuman faceplate, it was hard to get a read on the kid. And he wasn't offering any words to help Sitwell along.

"I'm saying that you'll be blamed for what happened. You'll be sent to a very...very bad place that no one gets out of."

Reyes finally spoke up. He turned away, his voice but little more than a broken whisper. The kid was terrified to his core. [color=7ea7d8]"But I didn't...I didn't do anything wrong. It wasn't me."[/color]

Sitwell just sighed. "No one's going to believe you if you run away. So stay. Tell us what [i]really[/i] happened. We can get that thing outta ya, and we can make sure that you go back to your family soon. You have my word on that."

The two locked eyes again, and Sitwell swore he saw the mask soften, as impossible as that'd be.

[color=7ea7d8]"I..."[/color]

[b][color=0072bc]'I committed no wrong, Jaime Reyes. You know that. If you let them take me-'[/color][/b]

[color=7ea7d8]"You're a [b]LIAR[/b]!"[/color] Reyes suddenly roared, sending Sitwell stumbling away with a start. Jaime ignored him, focusing his full attention on the voice inside of his head. [color=7ea7d8]"You're the whole reason this happened- you killed those people, not me. Not me. It wasn't..."[/color]

Another pause, as if Khaji Da was weighing his response. [b][color=0072bc]'You know I am telling the truth. Our minds are as bonded as our bodies. You would know if I was lying. But I'm not- and you know that. These people will never believe me. I will be punished for crimes I did not commit.'[/color][/b]

[color=7ea7d8]"What...are you asking me to do?"[/color]

[b][color=0072bc]'Help me find out what really happened while we were offline. We cannot do that if SHIELD parts us.'[/color][/b]

"Kid...I don't know what that thing is saying to you, but don't listen to it, alright? Listen to me. You can't trust it."

[b][color=0072bc]'I can do things these people cannot. You've seen that. We will find the truth where they will fail. Help me, Jaime Reyes.'[/color][/b]

"Kid. Are you listening to me? Kid!"

[b][color=0072bc]'Help me find justice for those that died.'[/color][/b]

The sound of rapid footfalls and growing voices spurred Jaime to action. No time to think. He had to make his choice- right then and there.

And he started for the elevator at a sprint, casting one last look at Jasper Sitwell as he passed him by. Jaime expected to see betrayal, or disappointment, upon the agent's face. But all that was there was hardened resolve. This would not be the last time the two saw each other- Reyes was sure of that.