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10-03-2007, 03:58 PM
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| Gunzfactorian Guardian  Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: The Fan Fiction Section
Posts: 1,006
  |  Progress- Chapter 6 Progress-Chapter 1 Progress- Chapter 2 Progress- Chapter 3 Progress- Chapter 4 Progress- Chapter 5 Progress Chapter 6: Turnabout Progress The day seemed to last longer than normal to Ted. He’d been waiting for nightfall for what seemed to be years but, in fact, were mere hours. He was pacing through the hallways, deep in thoughts, when he suddenly bumped into someone. He muttered sorry and moved on, but felt himself held back by a hand on his shoulder. Ted looked around and found himself face-to-face with a familiar woman. ‘Hi, mister Ted.’ Juta said, smiling sweetly. ‘Hi, Juta. How do you know my name?’ Ted said, grabbing a question from the “Obvious” box. ‘Every member of Progress knows the chairmen of our organization. Besides which, you’re one of the youngest members of Progress who’s ever made it to such a position.’ ‘So… why did you stop me? If it was just to say hello, I’m afraid I don’t have time to-‘ ‘Please, Sir. We must talk.’ Juta interrupted, her voice suddenly solemn. ‘Eh, sure. Just tell me what’s on your mind.’ ‘I can’t, Sir. Can’t we go somewhere… private?’ Juta asked, a light blush rushing to her face. Ted realized just how cute she was, watching the young girl’s face. ‘Sure, Juta. I think I spotted an empty office back around hall E. Let’s go, shall we?’ The walk to the office was a short one. Ted had been wondering whose office it was, since there was no name tag on the door. Still, the keys were in the lock, so it would be unlikely to be used any time soon. Ted led Juta into the room, where she sat down on a chair. After locking the door, Ted sat down on the chair opposite that of Juta’s. A moment of awkward silence filled the room. Ted broke it, as though shattering a glass panel. ‘So, what was it you needed to see me about?’ Ted asked. ‘I… I know about the meeting. About tonight. Miss Alice told me. She said she’d tip off Hawke, in order to get a promotion.’ Juta confessed. ‘Why would she tell you that?’ ‘Well… I overheard her. In her office. I was to come in for detention, again. I heard her laughing.’ ‘Are you sure she meant tonight? And how did she know? I mean, it’s not as if there’s been a note passed around or anything.’ Ted said. ‘She… She said something about a letter. Someone had sent her a letter.’ Ted stood up to help get his blood flowing. He was starting to get puzzled by the whole affair. Certainly, Juta wouldn’t be lying. Not after the treatment she’d gotten from Alice. And if someone, say, Maury, would have overheard Turan, then it’s be obvious who the letter was from. But wait, that couldn’t be it. If Maury had gathered such information, then he’d have told Hawke personally. Anything to get on Hawke’s good side… ‘Uhm, Sir ted?’ But what if it was a fake, staged to make it look like someone knew about the meeting? But that wouldn’t be possible, unless Turan was in it somehow… ‘Sir Ted, SIR!?’ But why would they do that? It wasn’t as if he’d been a threat to Progress so far… ‘MISTER TED?!’ Juta screamed, dragging Ted over the table, pulling him face to face. Ted snapped out of his thoughts and stared into Juta’s emerald-green eyes. ‘What is it, Juta?’ Ted asked. ‘I already told Mr. Howardsen about this. He told me to tell you that the meeting’s been moved. It’s now 5 o’clock in the great library of Dumen Tyr. He’ll be at the fiction section, where all the bibles are at.’ Juta replied. ‘What?! How do you know about the meeting? I thought you said that-‘ Ted began. ‘Mr. Howardsen contacted me personally. He knows me. He knows I dislike Hawke and the way he’s running everything. He knows I’m trustworthy. He hoped you could find the same trust in me. That’s why he told me not to say anything about the meeting at first.’ Juta looked down, the blush returning to her face. ”Dear gods, this girl is really cute. I wonder why she’s so rebellious if she could simply be a photo model.” Ted spoke in the privacy of his own mind. Ted took a look at the clock on the wall. He blinked, and looked again. ‘A quarter to Five? We have to hurry! Juta, you stay here, I’ll be at the meeting!’ He said, standing up and moving towards the door. ‘No, Sir! I want to be there, too! Mr. Howardsen said it was alright!’ Juta said, jumping up and following behind Ted. Reaching the library was no problem. It was near the Institute, since students often needed books, or a place where no one would look for them. It was finding the right place to be inside the library. Since it was the largest library known to men, it was possible to get lost looking for the library’s map desk. Finding the fiction section was the hardest, however. Since Progress had long since disbanded the need for creative writing, they’d stuffed all fiction into a basement attic*. Ted looked along the halls filled with books. Though there were signs that gave directions, it had been a tradition for students to switch the sign’s directions. One of the giveaways was the fact that one of the signs marked “Get the hell out” was pointing at the roof. No one knew what kind of books were kept in the “Get the hell out**” section, but that was beside the point right now. Sprinting along dusty bookcases and avoiding avalanches of paperwork, Ted wrestled himself up a pair of stairs into an attic. From there on, he kicked down near a bible and opened a hole. He jumped down and found himself in a lit room, where several figures were already seated. Juta jumped down after him, landing on his neck, causing them both to topple backwards. ‘Ted? Juta? Are you alright?’ Mr. Howardsen’s voice spoke from among the shadows. ‘I think so. My neck seems right, but I can’t feel my leg.’ Ted said. ‘That’s because it’s my leg you’re holding. Would you kindly not do that?’ Juta said, pulling her leg free. Ted and Juta stood up and tried to see who else was there. Mr. Howardsen appeared to be seated in some sort of armchair. However, he seemed to be the only one there. ‘Excuse me, Mr. Howardsen. Are we the only ones here so far?’ Juta asked. ‘I beg your pardon? I’ve been standing here the whole time.’ a deep voice said. Turan stepped into the light, revealing himself. He’d blend in perfectly with the darkness around him. ‘And I’ve been waiting all day for you kiddies. Especially you, Juta.’ Alice’s voice cut through the dusty air, causing Ted to grab his revolver and try to make out figures in the darkness. ‘Why is she here? Wasn’t she the one planning to betray us?’ Ted said, pointing at what might have been Alice. ‘Indeed, that is what Hawke currently thinks. With the information he’s been given, he’ll be too busy to try and figure out where we are. He’ll focus on tonight, giving us all the time we need.’ Mr. Howardsen said calmly. ‘Are you saying… That she pretended to rat us out? For what?’ Juta asked. ‘Two reasons. One: getting closer to Hawke. Two: making clear to Hawke that he’s no longer in control. Alice has been flirting with him for months, in order to gain his trust. I’m sorry I lied to you, Ted. But Hawke has to be stopped.’ ‘That’s right, Teddy. And Juta, sweetie? You can drop that sword now. All the disciplinary actions I took against you were to get close to Hawke. I never intended to truly harm you.’ Alice said, her voice sweeter than normal. Mr. Howardsen clapped his hands, causing the arrival of another known face. Maury shuffled into the light, looking strangely uncomfortable. Before Howardsen could explain, Ted was already speaking. ‘Are you going to tell me that Maury is in this, as well? That’s laughable! He’s been sucking up to Hawke for years!’ Ted said, almost laughing. ‘And all for a good cause. Maury knows more about the crimes Hawke committed than anyone else. He’s read confidential papers and he had to clean up “Accidents” more than once. He’s the ultimate asset against Hawke.’ Turan said, placing an arm on Maury’s shoulder. ‘Well then. Now that we are all here, I think we need to set up a plan. Obviously, we have little time, since Hawke will be searching for us soon enough. Ted, I want you to listen closely. You’ll play a major part in this.’ Mr. Howardsen said, looking at Ted sternly. A map of the Institute was placed on a makeshift table. One room was circled. Mr. Howardsen started explaining the plan, and Ted listened. The plan was detailed and would be effective. Everyone needed to play a part, and play it well. As the final details were explained, Ted nodded solemnly. ‘Does everyone know his or her part?’ Mr. Howardsen asked to the room in general. There was a chorus of agreement. ‘Very well. Now then, if someone would be so kind as to get me out of this chair and help me back up? It appears Ted broke my ladder with his fall. As well as the door into this place. You need to stop that door-kicking thing, Ted.’ This time around it was Ted’s turn to blush. He helped Mr. Howardsen out and ran off to take his position… *Don’t ask how. They just did.* **Later research discovered a religious cult believing that, if you died and went to hell, you could get back by keeping that sign with you. The entire cult eventually committed suicide and were never seen again. Which probably says a lot about them.** |
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