Voltron Fan Fiction ❯ Desert Rain ❯ Drifter ( Chapter 3 )

"Dominique?!! What the hell are you doing here?!" Hunk yelled out loud, glaring angrily at the dark twisted face before him, her eyes veiled by the small strands of
hair hanging over her face. She did not reply to his words, she only sat on the floor of the back seat, staring at him quietly. It seems like she had escaped from her
room at the hospital and snuck into Keith's car to make a getaway, possibly trying to hitchhike her way to someplace and sneak out when they would make a
pit stop... oh well, too late now.

Keith glanced at Hunk, then back to the woman and muttered softly, "Get out of the car... NOW!"

The woman slowly reached her left hand and grasped the door handle, opening it slowly and quietly creeping out of the car. The icy wind blew inside the vehicle
giving Hunk a chill, but not as cold as her eyes were glaring at him. Keith kept an eye on Dominique, holding the gun point blank in case she tries something, after
they walked out; Keith without turning his head uttered coldly, "Hunk, can you please get out of the car."

Hunk sighed, grabbed the door handle to the passengers' seat, opened the door, crawled out of the car, walked around the front and finally stops beside Keith.
Keith, still staring at Dominique, asked, "Do you know this woman?"

"Yes. Her name's Dominique LaCroix. She's on old fr-" Hunk started.
"I know no one." Dominique hissed angrily, cutting him off.

"You. Shut up." Keith growled back, waving his black pistol straight at her face to make his point. After she kept herself quiet, he turns to Hunk and mutters softly
to him "So she's an old friend of yours? I am surprised that you didn't tell us about her... but then again I can't seem to blame you. She doesn't seem to be the
mentally stable type."

"Fuck off!!" Dominique spat "Don't make any judgments of things you don't know!"
"Well you are not exactly helping me out here are you?" Keith snapped back.

"Will you two shut up!!" Hunk barked loudly, silencing Dominique and Keith. After they both shut themselves up, he sighs out loud and starts to walk around in a
small circle making footprints in the snow, trying to think about what he was going to say. He then glances back at Dominique standing at the side of the road with
her hands up, wearing nothing but her medical clothes, old ragged boots, a worn out leather jacket, no gloves or hat with the wind blasting through her clothes,
making her shiver violently. He muttered in a calmer tone of voice "You are in no condition to be out here Dominique. We should get you back to the hospital before
anything else happens to you."

"I can't go back there." Dominique murmured softly "Bad things will happen to those people if I stay."
"What do you mean 'bad things'?" Hunk asked feeling quite confused
"I cannot say." Dominique replied.
"How can I help you then?" Hunk asked

"I don't need help Christopher, I don't need anyone's help. Even if you bring me back to the hospital, they won't take me back." Dominique smirked with a sudden
shiver. Hunk just blankly looked at him and asks "What! Why won't they take you back? You're in their custody!"

"Not anymore." Dominique replied.
"What?" Keith and Hunk says at the same time.

Dominique slowly reached into her right pocket and dug out a small flat plastic shape. Hunk was surprised to find that it was his pocket computer in her hands,
then remembered when he was struck by her in the hospital and concluded that the PC must have fallen out of his pocket and was picked up by her before she beat
the crap out of the security guards. She placed the pocket computer into his hands and goes on to explain how she hacked into the hospital database through the
wiring in the walls in her cell, connected it to his PC and used it to create a phony release form saying that she is now in custody of no other than Christopher Jarreth. Otherwise known as Hunk.

"So you're meaning to tell me that I am now your caretaker?" Hunk says with a strained sound in his voice.

"No not really. I just used that to get myself out of there." Dominique replied as she slowly placed her arms down and zipped up her jacket. Keith noticing that she doesn't have any weapons on her, relaxed and tucked away his handgun into his coat. She glances back up at Hunk and says "I am not going to bother you with such a thing. I just needed to get out. Now if you'll excuse me gentlemen, I'll be leaving now."

She pivoted on her heel and started walking in the opposite direction towards the highway. As she walked on, Hunk cried out from behind "But. Where are you
gonna go? It's dangerous being out alone!"

"I told you I can take care of myself." Dominique called back, "I don't need anyone. Especially you!"

She walked farther into the distance, her shape starting to fade away due to the strong winter winds. Keith shrugged and started heading back towards his car,
Hunk on the other hands stayed where he was. He didn't know whether to leave her or to go and get her. A few seconds later, he sighed and thought to himself "I
am going to regret this later... I just know it." and with that sentence he picked up speed and ran on the snowy pavement heading towards her.

"Hunk! Where the hell are you going?!" Keith called out
"I'll be right back," replied the Yellow Pilot

He then turned his gaze back to the road and ran onwards until he can see the dark figure in the middle of the snowy gales. Eventually he caught up to her,
wheezing and feeling out of breath. She glared back at him and growled, "What the hell do you want?"

"Please... just let me speak for a moment." Hunk says red-faced and heaving
"I think you already had enough to say." Dominique hissed back

"Seriously. Just give me a minute will you?" Hunk replied pulled himself upwards, his eyes fluttering due to the cold wind on his face, his cheeks growing pale from
the cold and shivering from the icy air. He takes a deep breath and says, "Listen. I know we have not been in the best terms the last time we've seen each other but
it's been a while since I've last seen you and I thought it would be nice if you would come and stay with me and the others at the Castle."

"Why should I go with you?" Dominique answered coldly
"Maybe because I want to... repair the damages between us." Hunk says sheepishly

Dominique scoffed and started to walk on again scowling "This is not a broken machine Christopher and I doubt even you or I can fix this problem! So do me a
favor and get the fuck away from me." As she kept on walking Hunk ran after her stuttering loudly "N-no no! I didn't meant in that sense! Please Dominique, I just
want... to be your friend again."

She looked up at him, deep into his dark eyes piercing it with her icy glare muttering, "I am going to tell you something and it's going to be told once. No matter
what happens between us from now until I leave the Castle of Lions, we will not be as close as we were before. I have changed over the years and so have you, so the term 'us' will not exist again. Do you understand?"

"Yes." Hunk murmurs sadly, then looks up and says "You can stay with me and the others until you are ready to leave."
"I am always prepared to leave. This is just another easy way to get food and lodging for a while." replied Dominique

Hunk moans softly, placing his palm upon his forehead, so much for tying up loose ends. Oh well, maybe things will get better along the way. She can't be like this all of the time. At least he hoped so.

Never less he better not let it bother him for now, so he relaxes and walks back on the road towards the car with Dominique following closely behind. Hopefully Allura, Pidge and Lance won't mind the their new guest, as long as she doesn't act like she did at the hospital but then again, he'd better not count on that.

The clouded sunset falls over the horizon to the west, and is warm glowing light dissipates into the darkness of the evening, as the winds died down and the snow ceased to fall. The moon awakened from its daytime slumber and rises to greet the planet in its cold winter night, its glow creeps along the snow covered ground, coating everything it touches with its glorious color until it comes up to an old building at the edge of the city, shining in between cracks and broken windows, climbing up the outside wall until it reaches the top window. The curiosity of the moonlight lead it to creep through the blinds in pieces and onto the floor where it embraces a dark figure lying back on a reclining chair, smoking a cigarette in front a dimly lit computer.

The person's dark ambient eyes scanned along the computer screen, reading all of the information given about his next mission. Apparently someone had destroyed the Comet Corp. laboratories and stole something very valuable to the company. And quite obviously it is a secret since they have not announced the warrant for the criminal at all, and sent their own men to find the person, including him. Comet doesn't want to have their hands dirty, so they send other people to do the work for them. Oh well, he'll get a hefty reward for returning the stolen files and get the thief at the same time.. dead or alive.. they don't really care!

Suddenly his work was interrupted by a window popping up on the screen and a distorted static face of an elderly man showed up. The younger man looked at the messenger and says with a grin "Well! Good day to you Sir!"

"Good evening Baskerville." The older man says through the monitor.
"Please, call me Leon!" Leon smiles devilishly, taking another puff of his cigarette.

"I'd rather not Mr. Baskerville." The older man replied contentedly, he pushes his glasses up the bridge of his nose and says "I am here to give you your supplies and instructions for your mission. Any questions about this dangerous task, please ask me now for I will not answer to you anymore after this conversation. Do I make myself clear Mr. Baskerville?"

"Yes Sir." Leon groaned, annoyed by being called by his last name.
"Good." says the older man "Do you anything to ask before we begin?"

"Only one." says Leon, "Where is the criminal now?"

"The last time we were able to track her was heading towards the Diamond Star System in the Azure Quadrant, afterwards we have lost track due to being so far away. You will be dropped off at planet Amphrose. Afterwards, you are on your own." The older man says as he places a few satellite images upon the screen, showing the path of the spaceship before it disappeared. He takes another deep breath and says "And here are your weapons and other supplies you'll be needing for this mission."

Another window pops up with the following list: medical supplies sniper rifle submachine gun duel barrettas 30 casings of bullets for all guns shown above GPS (global positioning system) 5 flasks of A-Elixir "Unfortunately, you cannot contact us to get more. So use your supplies wisely." He says as he shuts down the window with the list. Leon stares quietly as his guide, Dr. Verne explains the rest of the instructions, "Your mission is simple, track, hunt and run down this criminal. Retrieve the files and bring them back to Comet Corporation. Whatever you do to her is up to you since she is no longer needed to us."

"Understandable." says Leon "And my reward?"
"Five hundred Thousand dollars, endless supply of A-elixir, and immunity from the law." says Dr. Verne

"Sounds good." Leon says, taking his last drag before he buts out the cigarette in his ash filled tray. "I'll meet you over at the spaceport tomorrow morning, get my supplies and then I will be on my way. Easy enough. But one thing does bother me Doc!"

"What's that Mr. Baskerville?" replied Verne
"You have a long list of eligible candidates for this hunt. Why did you pick me?"

"Quite simple really. You were the only one of the group in the best shape to do so. Everyone else is dead or in critical condition because of that bitch. If someone else was awake I would have that person instead of you. It's just like that." Dr. Verne says in a mild manner of tone, "You're basically our last resort Mr. Baskerville, and I hope you'll succeed in this mission or else I'll make you into another laboratory rat. Do you understand?"

"Yes sir." Leon replies with a cold glare "I understand."
"Wonderful." Dr. Verne replies happily, "I will await your results. Goodnight Mr. Baskerville."

The window of the screen turns off, leaving Leon with his thoughts. He didn't know whether to say anything or throw something at the computer. But never the less, he has something else to relieve himself of his anger. He grabs his package of cigarettes and walks into the next room, empty except for a small bed in the corner, on which held a figure tied down to the posts. He walks closer and sits at the foot of the bed looking down at his guest. A young blonde woman was tied down, naked except for a gag around her mouth and the ropes on her wrists and ankles. He smiles at her and says "How are you today my dear?"

The woman did not answer. Just whimpered in pain when he leaned against her lower abdomen where her roughly made stitches were. He does a faint gasp and mutters sympathetically, "Oh my darling! I am so sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you."

Again she did not answer, only tears of pain ran along her cheeks.

"My apologies really sweetie. I have been having a really bad day. You know those days were people treat you poorly? Those types of days where you feel like you're heart is being ripped to shreds by cold hands? Have you ever had those days?" Once again she didn't answer, only this time, her eyes were wide open, almost as if she knew what was going to happen next. Leon smiled and whispers sweetly, "You haven't felt that kind of pain have you? Well soon you will feeling a bit of that in a second!"

And with that sentence, he revealed his left hand which held a shiny scalpel, glimmering in the moonlight. He chuckles softly and says to the squirming body, "What the matter hun? I am just taking some generous donations from you, besides, I have to bring your other organs as well to Dr. Verne tomorrow. Now hold still... this won't hurt... much."

A couple of days has passed since Dominique came to the Castle of Lions. Quite obviously Nanny was all up in an uproar about having the scoundrel living with them, but in the end Allura gave permission for her to stay for awhile. Dominique on the other hand didn't seem to care too much, all she does really is eat, sleep, go to the gymnasium and more sleep. Every other time she's out for most of the day which makes Hunk worry a bit but he shouldn't really intrude, after all she is an adult. Then again, he can't help but feel there was some great weight upon her, something that she won't let anyone get into...

"Hey Domo!" Lance calls from the other end of the table "Could you please pass the salt?"
"The name's Dominique. Not Domo!" Dominique scowled passing the salt shaker to Pidge which in turn passed it to Lance.

"Ah lighten up Domi! This is probably the first full meal you've had in a while!" Hunk grinned as he places large scoops of mashed potatoes into his plate. His smile was then immediately wiped off his face when he realized that she was giving him the cold snake eyes again. Realizing that she did not liked being called by her nickname, he coughed nervously and muttered "Er... sorry Dominique. Forget I said that."

"Thank you." Dominique mutters softly, going back to her dinner. Without looking up from her plate she says monotonously "I give compliments to the cooks your Majesty. I haven't had dinner this good in a long time. I thank you for having me here in your establishment."

"Why.. You're welcome!" Allura replies astonished at her politeness, despite the giantess' crude attitude.
"Nanny told you to say that didn't she?" Pidge smirked, taking another bite of chicken.
"Pidge!" Hunk spat angrily

"No. I did meant that, but Nanny told me to be superpolite in the princess' presence." Dominique replies, taking a rather large portion of mash potatoes and gravy into her mouth. Hunk just watched from where he sat. Dominique hung over her plate eating with large portions at a time, almost as if she hasn't eaten in days. Never the less, she looked a lot better than she did a couple of days back. She was nicely washed up from leftover grim and sweat upon her body, her once wild hair was washed, cut and layered, fingernails cleaned and clipped, then she was given some of his clothes to wear rather than that old hospital outfit.

She looked a lot nicer than she did before and not to mention that Hunk thought that she looked much prettier that her younger lanky self. But it was quite obvious that her beauty clashed with her poisonous personality. Luckily she kept herself in check, preventing herself from being thrown out of the castle by Nanny. It's bad enough that the governess considers her a bad influence upon the princess but she blames him for having such trampy company! Sheesh! That woman needs to get laid once in a while.

"So.. Dominique." Ryana, Pidge's girlfriend starts off, "I've heard you and Hunk were best friend as kids, am I right?"
"Yeah. So?" Dominique replied, glaring at Hunk from the corner from her eye
"It's kinda neat to hear about that." Pidge says grinning "Hunk never really talks much about back at home. We never knew you existed."

"Oh really?" Dominique responded giving Hunk an even colder look straight in the eyes. She then turns her head and went back to her meal muttering, "Yeah... so what is it to you two?"

"Just curiousity mostly." Pidge wondered as he shyly poked around at the creamed corn and sweet peas, "Is there anything you'd like to talk about? Like how you two met, how long you've known each other and why haven't you seen each other until now?"

"So many questions. So little need for answering." Dominique murmurs swirling her fork in the mashed potatoes.
"What does that supposed to mean?" Pidge asked.
"It means we don't want to talk about it." Hunk says in a threatening tone "Simple as that."

Seeing that Hunk was not in the mood for talking about his childhood, Pidge and Ryana kept quiet and continued eating their meal. Keith was surprised to see that Dominique seems to bring out the more brooding side of Hunk, almost like her anger was a slowly growing infection planted inside of him. He'll have to keep on eye on this woman, for Keith feels like she is more than she represents. He fears that Dominique may have some harming effect on Hunk but he didn't want to play the blame game, so he kept his opinions to himself and wait until he knows a bit more about this mysterious character rather than jumping on the bandwagon.

After a few minutes of silence, Lance piped up "So Keith, what did you think of the disaster at Comet Corp. Laboratories a few days ago?"
"Why do you ask? It's not really our problem, it may have been just an accident." Keith replied taking in the last droplets of wine.

"I dunno. I have a strange feeling that it was no accident, like someone did it intentionally." Lance spoke, shrugging slightly. "I mean, I have heard some weird stuff going on in there over the years, and maybe this was one of their things that backfired horribly."

"I've heard that Comet Corp. actually intended for the explosion to happen." Pidge added in, taking another roll from the breadbasket.

"And kill over two hundred people as well as injuring thousands?" Allura retorted raising an eyebrow, "No that doesn't seem like them. Why would they do that? What could they possibly have in there that they want destroyed? It just doesn't sound right."

Hunk sat quietly, listening to their conversation, absorbing all of the information but during the discussion he looked over at Dominique, whom had stopped eating entirely. Her eyes took on a blank lifeless stare, her skin grew a couple of shades paler, something seem to be bothering her. He looked over and muttered softly, "Dominique? Dominique, are you okay?"

A second later, her eyes flickered and gazed up at him. She shook her head and says "Er... Yeah I'm fine. Really, I just overate that's all. I think I may need to lay down for a moment.", She then pushed herself from the table, gets up and walks out of the room.

"Is there something wrong?" Ryana asked as Dominique disappeared through the door and into the shadows.
"She says s-she wasn't feeling well. She went to lay down for a bit.. I guess." Hunk muttered, as he sat back onto the chair, as confused as everyone else was.

I'm tempted to tell her off myself. It's not my fuckin' fault for all of this shit to happen, I didn't ask for us to suddenly meet on the crossroads of destiny, to be perfectly honest, I didn't want to see her damn face ever again! But then again.... Am I really being honest with myself? Personally I am not very sure what to feel right now. The person who I claim to be one of my best friends I had years ago has been replaced by this callous, sharp-tongued draconic woman. I knew her life was fucked up, which changed everything I knew about her... hell so am I in some cases! But she was never like this... even when he was alive.

Frankly I dunno what to do. She's hiding something from the rest of the world. And yet again we all have secrets that we don't want anyone else to know... if I wanna figure out what's going on with Dominique and her inner demons. I must first deal with mine.

for now I shall say Goodnight to all (...hopefully!)
~Chris Jarreth alias: Hunk