18. The Tattoo
"Don't let the pain destroy you, you can grow stronger from it"
---
Pogo lit up a cigarette before he let out a puff of smoke "Hello Miss Jane" he said "Hey, Pogo" Jane said "How are you a teenager again?" he asked and Five looked at her "Long story short, two years ago an accident happen and I almost died, to save my life Reginald experimented on me that made me end up in my 14-year-old body" she said and Pogo nodded before he looked at Five.
"You're her boyfriend?" Pogo asked.
"Yes"
"No"
Five and Jane looked at each other "No. I barely know you" Jane said "You used to, we used to be partners in crime, but then you got amnesia" he said "So you are someone from her past?" Pogo asked "Oh Yeah" Five answered as he looked back at Pogo "So maybe you can get her memories back" Pogo said "Trust me, I'm trying" he said and Jane rolled her eyes.
"Well, anyway, I don't tattoo children" Pogo said "Swell, we're not here for the ink. We're here because we have a mutual friend. Sir Reginald Hargreeves" Five said and Pogo sighed "Whatever he wants, I'm not interested and sending you wouldn't changed my mind" he said as he looked at Jane "Trust me, I'm not here because of him. I have left the Sparrows and I'm done with Reginald" she said "Good, but I'm still not interested" Pogo said before he turned back to the tattoo chair.
"I don't think you understand, I'm one of his children. From another timeline" Five said and a few bikers starting taking some steps closer to Jane and Five while the sound chains rattling was heard.
Pogo turned around to look at them again "Another timeline?" he asked before he chuckled and the two took a quick glance around to see that the birkers started to surround them.
"As crazy as it sounds, you and I have met before. Back in 1963 when you were a diaper-wearing chimp in dire need of a manicure. I don't know if you remember, but I have a scar to prove it" Five said and pulled down his collar a little bit to reveal the three scratch marks.
As Jane looked at the three scratch marks, another vision appeared in her head, it showed that she was right next to Five when he got that scar and the vision then changed to her cleaning the cut.
"If you keep staring at me like that, I will pour this peroxide down your damn eyes"
"I can't do this" "Do what?" "Pretend that we are just friends. I think about you all the time. Do you ever think about me?" "All the time"
Jane snapped back to reality when she heard the sound of chains rattling was heard.
"If what you're saying is true, I'd be talking to a man well into his sixties. Now, if you two excuse me, I've had a very long day" Pogo said and turned around to leave.
"Pogo, you need to listen to me" Five said and the two was about to walk after him but the birker blocked their way as they surrounded them.
"I think is time for you to go home to Mommy, little guy" a guy said as Pogo left.
"You too, little girl" another guy said and was about to grab Jane's shoulder, but she grabbed his wrist tight "I will take her seriously if I were you, those you didn't, came to regret it" Five said and Jane squeezed the guy's waist causing the sound of bons cracking to be heard and she then swung a kick at his face causing to let out a grunt as he felled to the floor.
"You two need to leave now" a guy said and the two looked at him "Or what?" they asked before they both blinked away.
The sound of chopper engine revving was heard as they appeared outside and they saw Pogo driving away on a motorcycle.
"Shit" Five said before the two turned their head to see two bikers who was starting their engine.
"Hey, we need your bikes. It's an emergency" Five said to them "Think you two have us confused with someone who gives a shit" the guy said while the other nodded "Give us the bikes or else..." Jane said but the two drove away.
"Okay" Five said before he looked at Jane "Can you drive a bike?" he asked and she gave him a look "Can you be annoying sometimes?" she asked and he rolled his eyes.
Jane appeared behind one of the bikers as he was driving down the road causing him to gasp "Hello" she said before she pushed him off "And goodbye" she said as he felled off the bike with a scream.
Five had also blinked behind the guy that was driving next to the other guy before he pushed him off "Woah" he said as he felled off with a grunt before Five drove up next to Jane and the two drove down the road together.
Jane turned her head to look at Five and it was like young Five changed into an adult Five for a few seconds before changing back, like this brought some memories back and Jane blinked with her eyes a little bit before she looked forward again.
Five looked at Jane that was driving right next him, even so Jane don't remember it, this felt like old times. They were back again, him and Jane, partners in crime, Bonnie and Clyde, just like old time, just like it was supposed to be.
---
Allison have taking Harlan away from the hotel and to a drive-in bio that was empty to wait on Viktor.
Allison was sitting on the car's trunk while Harlan was sitting down leaned against a building's wall with his eyes closed, listening to music.
"What are you listening to?" Allison asked him but Harlan didn't answer.
"Harlan!" Allison said out loud and Harlan opened his eyes "Headphones" she said before she pointed on her ear and he took his headphones.
"What's playing?" Allison asked "You. Everyone has their own vibration. Like a sonic fingerprint" Harlan said "Oh, yeah? What's mine sound like?" Allison asked "Wrong" Harlan said "You're unpleasant to be around, you know that" Allison said.
Then a car arrived at the drive-in bio before it stopped and Viktor stepped out of the car.
"Hey" he said as he stepped out of the car "You two getting alone?" he asked "Oh, yeah. Two peas in a pod" Allison said with a nod "How'd the others take you going AWOL?" she asked "Wouldn't say I'm their favorite sibling right now" Viktor said before he walked closer to Harlan.
"You okay, Harlan?" he asked but he didn't answer and he rubbed his knees as he glanced over at his briefcase next to him.
Allison jumped off the car and walked over to Viktor "Mr. Conversation" she said and she dropped her cigarette on the ground before she stomped on it with her foot.
"Doing all right?" she asked as she looked at Viktor "Yeah, I'm fine" he said with a nod "Things are getting really bad out there. There's not much time until everything falls apart" he said and Allison looked towards the city which some places was in flames.
"Okay, so what's the plan?" she asked as she looked back at Viktor "Harlan helps me figure out how to take his powers back" he said "And if that doesn't work?" she asked "Uh..." Viktor said not knowing what to answer.
"Look Viktor, I got your back, okay, but there's a limit. The others are right. We have to face this Kugelblitz" Allison said "Yeah, I know, I know..." Viktor said "You have till tonight. Otherwise, I swear, I'm gonna rumor your ass to come back with me, okay?" Allison said before she tilted her head "Yes, yeah. Sibling swear" Viktor said "I'm serious. Don't mess with me, tiny" Allison said before she walked over to the car.
Viktor then walked over to Harlan "Let's go this" he said as he helped him up.
---
Sloane was walking towards her bedroom, holding some food with her powers.
She opened the door before entering and Luther who was sitting on her bed let out a gasp "Oh, good. You remember the nut butter" he quietly as she closed the door with her powers before they put the things on the bed.
"All right" Luther said and exhales as he took a bite of the bread while Sloane sat down on the bed "Anybody see you?" he asked "No, but I don't think I can keep you hidden up here forever. Not without Jane being here to cover for me" she said as she eat some cereal "How is she by the way?" she asked "Well, she is fine I think. Last time I saw her, she was with Five and he looked like he is not going to let anything happen to her even so she is a better fighter than him" Luther said "Have she regain her memories?" she asked "No, but if anyone can get her to remember, is Five. For those two are partners in crime and soulmates" he said and she nodded "Good" she said with a smile.
"I'm so happy to be here" he said "I'm happy too, but I can't keep you hidden in here forever" she said "Well, I can't go back to the hotel" he said "Why not?" she asked "I don't know" he answered before he began to eat the nut butter with a spoon.
"Luther" she said "Mm-hmm?" he said "You're stress eating like you do" she said "No, I'm not" he said and was about to eat another huge spoon filled with nut butter "All right, what..." she said and lowered the spoon from his mouth "What's really going on?" she asked and he let out a sigh.
"I had a...fight with my sibling" he said "Which one?" she asked "A couple of 'em, actually" he said and sighed "Okay" he said as he put down the nut butter "Remember when I told you that my family is all that I have?" he asked and she nodded "Yeah" she said "I'm starting to wonder if I even have that" he said and she put her hand on his cheek "I'm so sorry" she said "It's fine" he said and she lowered her hand "I'm just so tired of fighting it. The only thing we really have in common is childhood trauma" he said and chuckled "I just...I'm not sure if that's enough to keep us together anymore, you know?" he said "Actually, I do" she said "Yeah" he said and they smiled to each other.
"You know, there is one thing I'm 1,000% sure about" he said as he put his hand on her knee "Your math isn't great but we can work with that" she said and they smiled to each other.
But then there was knock on the door "Shit" Luther said before they both jumped out of bed and Luther press his back against the wall before Sloane opened the door to see Fei "Hey. Hi" Sloane said almost out of breath.
"Ben needs a world" Fei said "Great. I'll be down in...in ten" Sloane said "Not with you" Fei said before she put her hand on the door, pushing it more opened to see Luther with his back pressed up against the wall.
"Him" she said as she pointed at him and Luther let out a chuckled "Oh! Hey, Fei. How's it going?" he said "How did you know?" Sloane asked "Jane is not the only one you share a wall with. And your bed squeaks. Kept me up all night" Fei said before she looked at Luther "Phew" she said with a smile before she chuckled and walked away.
Sloane and Luther looked at each other "I told you!" she said as she closed the door.
---
"How do we start?" Viktor asked Harlan as the two was standing in front of each other "I don't know. Maybe start with what you did in the barn back in 1963" Harlan said "But that didn't work" Viktor said "I'm not a kid anymore. I can help you" Harlan said "Okay, how?" Viktor asked "Let me show you" Harlan said and the sound of energy resonating was heard as Harlan powered a little bit up.
Viktor looked around as the sound of win howling was heard and Harlan powered down again "Can you hear it?" he asked "I hear the wind" Viktor said "No. Deeper than that. Beneath the wind. Every living thing has an energy wave. A sound of its own" Harlan said and Viktor closed his eyes before the sound of energy resonating was heard again as Harlan powered up again.
"I...I...No, I...I can't" Viktor said "Concentrate. I want you to hear it" Harlan said and Viktor closed his eyes powers his skin turned icy blue and the sound of energy resonating was heard as Viktor powered up a little bit.
Allison was sitting in the car before she looked over her shoulder when she heard a familiar sound of Viktor's energy as both Harlan and Viktor powered up.
Harlan surrounded him and Viktor with an orange force field and Viktor let out a groan as he put his hands to his head while he hunched over "It's...It's hurting!" he said "You need to relax. Let it in" Harlan said and Allison looked out of the car to look at them.
Viktor had his eyes closed and he grits his teeth and Harlan hit him with small blasts of energy causing Viktor to let our a groan.
"Viktor" Allison called out as she stepped out of the car, walking over to them "Viktor?" she called out again as Viktor started gasping.
"Harlan, stop!" Allison said "I can take it" Viktor said before he let out a groan.
"Harlan, that's enough!" Allison shouted "I heard a rumour you let him go" she said as her voice echoing and a energy wave travled out of her mouth and around the force field.
"Listen harder, Viktor! You have to listen!" Harlan said as Viktor kept groaning while his body shook violently "I can...hear...it" he said, his voice straining while he kept groaning.
"Focus on it. Let it flow through your body!" Harlan shouted.
When Viktor focused on the sound the force field grew and it pulled Allison into it causing her to start screaming as she covered her eyes to block out the high pitched whistles.
Allison let out a groan as she opened her eyes and they were glowing orange as the light was absorbed into her skin.
Viktor started panting while his body was shaking more "Harlan! Harlan, stop! It's too much!" Allison shouted, her voice echoing and an energy sound wave left her mouth before it travled into Harlan's ears, making him stop causing the force field to disappear and Viktor fell forwards as Harlan stopping glowing.
Allison was panting as she stumbled on her feet while looking at her hands as she have realised that she had rumored Harlan to stop without saying 'I heard a rumor' first.
"How the hell did I just do that?" she asked.
"You had no right! We were making progress" Harlan shouted at Allison "Progress? You were killing him!" she shouted back before she walked over to Viktor and help him to his feet.
"You said we could try till tonight. There's still time. You promised" Viktor said and Allison looked at Harlan "No. No, there's something else going on here" she said before she looked back at Viktor "You wouldn't be risking your life like this" she said before she took a step closer to Viktor "Look, whatever it is, you can tell me" she said as Viktor was panting.
"You don't have to be here" Viktor told her "Well, I don't have anywhere else to go. But I'm not gonna stand here and watch you try to kill yourself" she said before she walked away.
---
Luther and Sloane was sitting on the couch in the living room "How much longer do we have to wait?" he asked "Are you in a rush to be somewhere else?" she asked "No, it's just...I'm not supposed to be here. For all I know, Ben and Fei can jump up from behind that couch and stab me to death" Luther said, worried "I'd never let them lay a finger on you" Sloane said before she kissed him.
"Okay"
Then Ben enter the room "Give us a minute" he said and Sloane got up "You. Be nice" she said as she looked at Ben "By the way, tell Jane that I need to talk to her" Ben said to her "She is out" Sloane said "Jesus again, what is with her, why is she always out when I want to talk to her" he said as Sloane left.
"Listen, I'm sorry, man. I didn't mean to creep into your house. Don't blame Sloane--" Luther said "What's your game?" Ben asked "Big fan of Yahtzee" Luther said and Ben rolled his eyes "You know, old Ben would have laughed at that joke" Luther said "Okay, Gigantor, out with it" Ben said as he sat down on the coffee table in front of Luther.
"What's with your family's weird brother Ben fetish?" he asked "He...you...were the best of us, and you died too soon" Luther said and let out a sigh "The Jennifer incident--" "The what?" Ben asked, cutting him off "It doesn't matter. Just know that we were never the same without you. So, I'll take every second of whatever version of you we've got" Luther said "I'm not him, you moron" Ben said "Yes, I know" Luther said with a nod "He cared about people. He was selfless and...and kind--" "Don't forget funny" Ben said, cutting Luther off and they both chuckled.
"You know, maybe...maybe there's a little bit of him inside of you" Luther said "Nope. Not at all" Ben said "Well, genetically you are the same person just raised in a different environment" Luther said "Oh, here we go" Ben said as he got up "The old nature versus nurture argument" he said and Luther got up before he walked closer to him "Deny it, but he's in there...somewhere" Luther said with his finger on Ben's chest.
"Okay" Ben said as he removed the finger "I've already had one big dumb brother telling me what to do. I don't need another. But the team might" Ben said and Luther looked confused at him "Grace!" Ben said out loud and Grace entered the room, holding a black box "Mom?" Luther asked, looking at her confused as he saw that she was missing an eye.
"Are you all right?" he asked "Of course. Why do you ask?" Grace said as she gave him a box.
"Open it" Ben said and Luther opened it to see a Sparrow suit causing his eyes to widen while Fei entered the room.
"I can't take this" Luther said "Oh my God" Sloane said as she entered the room with Chris "Are you serious?" she asked as she looked at Ben.
"I'd rather have him with us than against us" Ben said as he looked at Sloane before he looked back at Luther "Aren't you gonna try it on? You're about Marcus's size" Ben said "Hey. What's wrong?" Sloane asked "I'm honored. Really, I am. I just...I'm still an Umbrella" Luther said "Are you?" Sloane asked as she looked at him.
"You can stay as long as you like" Ben said before he left.
"What the hell was that?" Fei asked Ben "Wouldn't you like to know" Ben said before he walked away.
---
Jane and Five was driving down the road that was in the middle of the forest "Nine o'clock!" Jane shouted when she spotted an RV in the forest and the two turned to the left before driving closer to it.
The two stopped their bikes as they saw Pogo's bike and they stopped the engines before they both got off.
A woman was sitting on her bench reading while smoking "Can I help you two?" she asked "Need a word with Pogo" Five said "Ain't no Pogo here, pumpkin" the woman said "Then you must be a really big fan of him, sense you have him riding on a bike with you, sprayed on the RV" Jane said as she pointed on RV.
"Okay" Five huffed before the two stepped closer and the woman stood up "So I suggest you two get your ass of my property before I call a truant officer" she said "I'm so so scared" Jane said sarcastic.
Both Five and Jane stared at the woman "It's okay, Tammy. Let them in" Pogo said from inside the RV.
Five gave the woman a small smirk and raised his eyebrows before the two walked towards the RV.
Jane and Five entered the RV to see Pogo sitting by a table and the partner in crime walked over before taking a seat in front of him while Tammy closed the door before she sat on the other side of the RV, continuing to read her book.
As soon as Jane and Five sat down they heard a pistol cocking but they remain calm.
"Put that gun away Pogo, we both know that you are not gonna shoot me, you care too much about me to do that" Jane said with a raise eyebrow.
"Not you" Pogo said, looking at Jane "But him" he said before looking at Five "Your boyfriend" Pogo said "Not my boyfriend, I barely know him" Jane said "But I sense a connection between the two of you" Pogo said which cause Five to glanced at Jane with a smirked.
"Wipe that smile off your face Jumpy Guy, or I might do it with a knife" Jane said and Five let out another smirked before he turned to Pogo again.
"You're either dumb or desperate" Pogo said and Five moved his hand into his inner pocket "Which is it?" Pogo asked "Don't bring me into this, Pogo, I just came along with him which I actually don't know why" Jane said.
"You tell me" Five said and he took out the piece of skin with the tattoo before he put it on the table.
Pogo put down his glass before he picked up the tattoo "That looks like my work, but I never did that tattoo" he said "Not yet, you haven't. I cut it off my 100-year-old self" Five said "Ah, so desperate it is" Pogo said "You would be too if you knew the entire universe were at stake" Five said and and Pogo inhale sharply "So it's happened" he said before the sound of a pistol de-cocks was heard.
Pogo opened a small box next to him before he took out a journal "Ah, here it is" he said as he opened it on a page, before he lay it on the table to show it to Jane and Five "Look familiar?" he asked as Five grabbed the journal before he lay the skin down next to the journal to compare the tattoo with the sigil on in journal.
"It match" Jane said as she saw the tattoo matched with the symbols on the page.
"Reggie was obsessed with these symbols. It's a sigil. A symbol thought to have magical powers" Pogo said "Reginald believed in science, facts" Jane said "I didn't respect much about the old man, but I respected that" Five said "Hoo-ha was not his thing. It's gotta have a rational meaning" Jane said as Five was looking at the symbols.
"I don't know, but he referred to it as Project Oblivion" Pogo said and Five looked at him as he remember that his old self said the same.
"This project. We need to know more" Five said and Pogo poured Five and Jane a drink before he started telling them more about it.
---
"It was a kamikaze mission. He was preparing you" Pogo said as he looked at Jane "And the rest of your family,...with the expectation they might never turn" Pogo said "He wanted to kill us" Jane said "Not you, he always keep saying that he can use you" Pogo said.
"Keep Jane away from Reginald" Five remember his old self said to him.
"To what?" she asked "He never mention" Pogo said "That's why I was targeted....That bastard" Jane said aggressive.
"That's why I gave you and the others those pills, to keep you safe from him" Pogo said as he looked at Jane "Well, my druggie brother just got him sober. Go figure" Five said "Then Project Oblivion is starting again, and you are all in danger" Pogo said as he pointed at the two.
Five let out a sigh as he took a sip of his glass before he put it down "Then I should probably get that ink. Complete the loop" he said before he got up and began removing his blazer.
"Are you sure?" Pogo asked "Oh, I don't think destiny cares whether I am or not" Five said "Bitch is cruel, ain't she?" Tammy said as she got up before she grabbed Pogo's things while Five sat down on the couch.
"Where are you gonna get it?" Jane asked "The chest" Five answered as he took off his necktie.
"I'm just gonna look away" Jane said as she turned around so her back was facing Five "You can look if you want" Five said "Gross, I rather stab myself in the eyes" she said "Aren't you coming over here and holding my hand?" he asked, hoping that them holding hands would help with her memories.
"No" she answered as she shook her head before she took a sip of her glass and Five let out a smile.
"Well then, let's get started" Pogo said as Five took off his tie.
"Is he your boyfriend?" Tammy asked "No, I barely know him" Jane said "Then why are you with him?" Tammy asked "I actually don't know, it just like I feel drawn to him, like we have a strong connection" Jane said "Yeah, that's love" Tammy mumbled under her breath as the sound of a tattoo machine buzzing was heard.
"She likes you" Pogo whispered to Five "I don't think so, every time I try anything, she always threated to cut one of my limps off or kill me" Five said "That means she likes you" Pogo said "We have just started dating when it happened and I thought I have lost her" Five said "And I have really tried a lot of things to get her to remember me" he sighed "Well, maybe to unlock her memories, she need to open up the door that is blocking them out" Pogo said "How?" Five asked "If you really were that close to her as you say you were, then maybe you are the only person who have the key that can unlock her memories" Pogo said "How do I do that?" Five asked "Get her to close her eyes, and then guide her through her memories. Like, a stairwell. The steps take she down through one year of her life to the next. That's how you can regress her back and it will help more if you have something of hers or she have something of yours. Used that" Pogo said and that got Five to think about the bracelet and the things Jane gave him.
"But she need to trust you and do it voluntary. Otherwise it wouldn't work" Pogo said.
---
Viktor had succeeded taking back his powers from Harlan.
Allison was standing outside the building when Harlan walked outside "How's Viktor?" she asked "Sleeping. He is exhausted. Thank you for before, letting us finish what we needed to do" Harlan said "He's my brother. I'd do anything for him" Allison said "What happens to me now?" Harlan asked "You go home. We clean up your mess" Allison said "With the Sparrows" Harlan said and Allison nodded "Yeah" she said.
"It's okay. I know why you don't like me" Harlan said and Allison turned around to look at him "I don't like the hold you have on him" she said "It's because of what I did. To all of you" Harlan said "And what is that exactly?" Allison asked "I...I...thought Viktor told you. About the mothers" Harlan said "It was you. You're the reason they're all dead" she said "It was an accident. I didn't meant to hurt them" he said "You're the reason Claire's dead" Allison said angry "My powers spilled over. Got in my head" he said "And the reason the whole world is ending!" she said more aggressive "I...I couldn't stop myself" he said "Viktor knew" she said "I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I didn't want..." he said, shaking with the sound of sadness and pain in his voice "Sorry is what you say when you spill a glass of milk, not obliterate somebody's child!" she said before she took a deep breath and looked down on the ground "What are you gonna do?" he asked and she looked at him.
---
Allison stopped her car in front of the Academy where Fei and Ben was standing.
Allison walked over to the trunk of the car before opened it and Ben and Fei walked over to see what was in the trunk "You got what you wanted. This is done" Allison said as they looked into the trunk to see Harlan's dead body.
Ben looked at Reginald with a nod and Reginald smiled before he walked back into the Academy.
Allison walked over to the front door to see Luther wearing the Sparrow suit. She scoffed before she walked into the Academy.
---
When Pogo was done with the tattoo symbol on Five's chest. Five put his suit back on before him and Jane walked out and got up on their bikes.
"So what's your plan now?" Jane asked "Find that symbol" Five answered before he looked at her "Wanna help me?" he asked "Well, I don't want to go back to The Academy right now and I don't have anywhere else to go to" she said before she looked at him.
"So why not" she said before she looked down "Beside I have like this weird feeling when I'm around you and it's like--" she said but stopped herself when she saw Five stared at her with a smile.
"It's nothing. Let's just go" Jane said before she started the engine on her bike and Five nodded before he also started the engine.
As the two were driving down the road Five who sometimes glance at Jane.
One thing was for sure and that was Five was going to keep Jane away from Reginald, no matter what, he was no doubt that Jane could protect herself, but he was still going to protect her.
"Sometimes all you need, is a second chance.
A/N: Hope you like this chapter. Vote or comment if you did.
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