Neo's Stay on the Isle of Perdition: The Beginning

Neo's Stay on the Isle of Perdition: The Beginning (Isle of Perdition)
(combined threads from the original site)

NEO SPELLMAN


Neo had been pacing the room for a while. Franco had left that morning. He knew several hours had passed because the angle of the shadows of the trees outside the window had changed and he had been fed. It had to be early afternoon. The elves had changed and Kimtu sat in the corner on one of his air-chairs, which meant he was sitting in mid-air, just watching him. "Where was Cole? Why hadn't he come yet? He knew he was going to talk with Marco first, but that should not have taken this amount of time." Neo thought aloud. Something must have happened since last night.

Neo could not believe he had been so stupid. He had been determined to show Marco he would help him, by trying to get his brother off the island. When Artkee, the elf who had been with him the night before, left the room for some unknown reason, Neo had decided it was his chance to get to his brother. He should have known when he was allowed to drop to the ground outside his window, without being challenged it was just too easy, but his mind had been on helping his brother not thinking about why the scenario was wrong. He knew his brother was farther down the hall from him, so he had worked his way along the wall until he found the window to his brother's room. Looking in he saw Marco sitting at the table reading. Quietly he had made his presence known and then signaled his brother to follow him. Marco did not want to come at first but eventually Neo told him he needed to get him to safety, and his brother agreed. They had made it to the base of the mountain, when the whole area they were in was flooded by lights. It had lite up as bright as noon.

Neo had gotten on one good punch, which had been returned by a man he did not see, before they had been ordered to their knees, hand tied behind them and drug away to separate locations. Neo had been allowed to say good-by to his brother, but Marco was not there. Franco had seen his black eye and would have said something if Hope had not held him back. Now Neo was stuck in his room, trying to not pay attention to the pain around his eye. He was worried about his brother. Cole could and would take the attempt out on his brother.

Now all he could do was wait for Fixer decided to show.

(OOC: This is a combined post by Barbie and Jane. We hope you enjoy it

FRANK COLE
Cole looked at this watch as he turned on the view screen outside Neo's room…. 2:10. He wanted to be back at Marco's room for the mind-dive by 4:00 pm. He rubbed the back of his neck as he watched Neo pace the room, stopping only occasionally to look at the door, as if he was willing Cole to enter. Kimtu had gotten up and was standing near the door. This alone, if Neo was starting to think again, should have told the Cooler that Cole was close.

Opening the door, Cole made his way to the table. He didn't take his seat right away, but just stood, with his arms across his chest watching to see what Neo would do.

Neo stood at attention but said, "This is only because of our deal. I will not allow myself to ever fully trust you again. Let Marco go or I will free him!"

Cole walked up and got in Neo's face. "The only reason you, Spellman are having a problem at the moment, is because you decided to act on your own and try and save your brother. What were you trying to save him from, Spellman? And did you give any consideration to the fact that what you tried, could have cost Franco his freedom?" Cole watched Neo's eyes to see if he was getting the point. He added, "Your brother is in the med unit at the moment, because of a reaction he had to what you did… you brought back memories he was not ready for, by causing him to try and protect you against yourself. Franco has gone, but is being watched in case he also tries to through yours and Marco's lives away, by trying to help you both. "

Cole walked over and straddled his normal chair. "Sit down Spellman and let's see if we can get you started on your time with me. Try something and Marco could get worse before he gets better and I have no problem bringing Franco back, in a moment's notice." Cole sent visual daggers at the man, daring him to try something.

Neo said as he went and sat down, "Leave Frankie out of this Fixer! Marco is supposed to be your friend but the first time he questions your judgment, you treat him as if he is your prisoner. I won't allow anybody to hurt my brothers, especially you. Release Marco and leave my other brothers alone and just maybe I won't be a thorn in your side. We were blood brothers once and I was praying that you could show your true side. All I have seen though is you as somebody that I want to bring in. We have a deal concerning that though."

Cole folded his arms on the table and leaned forward. "Neo we were not blood brothers once , we still are blood brothers. I just need you to understand that there are things happening in this world at the moment, and things happening to those you love at the moment that you can not stop, but you can help with. Your brother witnessed, or was made to think he witnessed, ten men tortured to death. When you had him escape, you threw him back into that time, because he was now worried about you being captured." Cole softened his voice continuing, "I have reasons for what I do Neo, reasons I cannot discuss with anyone. I know you do not trust me Cooler, but I am doing what I know has to be done. Marco is my friend, he is actually my best friend, but he knows when he needs to pull back and we need to become CO and subordinate."

Neo sat back as he said, "There was a time I would have just believed you but that time died long ago. I now can't afford to chance being wrong." When Fixer at twelve years old had saved Neo's life, Cooler had come to idolize Frank Cole. If Cole had said this back then, Neo would have just trusted that Cole knew what was needed. Now, Cooler had very little trust left and instead of going with his instincts, Neo usually took the seeing is believing approach.

He shook his head as he said, "What I awoke to was not a CO dressing down a subordinate...It sounded more like what Marsden would have said to Adarian Ackland if the leader had ever found out that Adarian had not really killed Jake Green. Marco had decided to go against something that you wanted him to either do or not do. I want Marco freed and I plan on finding out just how conditioned my older brother is. Whatever you have ordered him to do...It sounds like Marco does not want to...so I will insure he won't have to." Neo was already thinking about ways to free Marco and insure that Frankie stayed out of Fixer's hands. He was worried though as he no longer had his linking gift as a guide and so had no clue into what Marco was truly feeling. The link with Marco had been gone five years and Cooler still believed that if it had not broken five years ago, Marco and his team would have been found a lot sooner.

Cole leaned back and grabbed the back of the straight back chair with his hands. "I am afraid Neo for the next four months you have no choice but to follow orders. You see you are going to become part of a team. The way I work my trainee teams is, if one person messes up then everyone on the team gets punished. Of course to be fair, when the team does well, then everyone enjoys the perks they earn. Tomorrow morning you will join your team at 7:00 am at the training ground, to start your learning process. Your brother will be treated for his problems. If you work hard I may let you see and talk with him tomorrow evening. Until then, think hard Cooler about what problems you want to solve and how you want to solve them."

Neo gave a sly grin as he said, "Fixer, I might have to train with your men. Believe me when I say, your men will wish we had never made that arrangement. Let Marco go and just maybe you will have enough men left to call a team. Don't and well, I never said how I would train...now did I?"

Cole just shook his head saying, "You are going in as a trainee, Neo. It will be a while before you can advance to even a regular. If you are lucky you might make Specialist by the end of your four months, but with your attitude, I very much doubt it. Oh and by the way, Specialist Saunders is your team leader. She's fair, but she takes no guff. The other nine people on your team, are new to my system, but most are not new to the streets . Remember everyone in the team gets punished if someone messes up." Cole had tried to set up the teams so eventually they would start to help each other. He was having his doubts, Neo could learn that fact, but he had his hopes.

Neo said still shaking his head, "Fixer, Release my brother. I will honor my agreement but how depends on how I feel about your methods. At the moment, your methods concerning my brother has me wanting to show my disapproval. Now, as I said how I train with your men is up to you." He was upset that his blood brother was forcing Marco to obey.

"Your brother is honor bound to accomplish a few things for me also, Neo. You wouldn't want him to go back on his honor, would you?" Cole watched Neo for a reaction. There is was, an almost imperceptible cringe. "When your brother completes his task list and is medically and physically debriefed, then he will be returned to Hogwarts. I figure three days at the most. Since you will be here longer so I think you better start concentrating on what you have to accomplish."

Cooler was worried about his brother and said, "And if I refused to just take your word that what you are going to my brother is because he has considered breaking his word? I wish to speak with Neomando. He would have heard things even when I was asleep. So if you are correct in why Marco is being treated as he is, then Neomando will confirm it. If he does not, then I want my brother released. Agreed?"

Cole looked over to the elf Kimtu, before agreeing. Neomando was another name for Neo's subconscious and that subconscious had been walled off from Neo for a while now. If Cole agreed then Kimtu would help with a mind-dive and Neo would be allowed to talk with this subconscious self. The danger here was Neomando might tell Neo what his brother's real job was, to eventually infiltrate the Dark Sect. Cole was going to have to have a talk with Neomando first then allow the conscious Neo to talk with him. Receiving a nod from Kimtu, Cole nodded to Neo and said, "I will agree."

Cole motioned Kimtu forward, so he could stand behind Neo. The elf raised his hands and put two fingers onto each of Neo's temples. "Relax Neo, this could take a few moments." Neo would be held at about level two until Cole signaled he should descend to the lower part of the sixth level where he was going first. Cole closed his eyes and immediately felt the dive. As he came out into what appeared to be the library of Hogwarts, he found the boy representation sitting at one of the tables reading a book. "I have come to talk, Neomundo."

Neomundo cringed at the sight of his captor, asking, "You promised to return me to my duties. I have done as you have wanted. Why have you not freed me from here? I have duties to perform, why do you still hold me?" He was scared of this man as the man had been able to hurt him. He looked behind the Fixer as he said, "Where is Neo?"

Cole slowly walked over and sat in a chair next the boy. Facing him he said, "I have come to let you perform some of your duties. Neo is determined to free his brother Marco from my grasp. Marco is sick at the moment, reliving some of his past. Trickster has agreed to stay and let me do a mind dive in order to help him get better. As you have heard while doing your duties Marco needs to stay undercover as a bad wizard even though it hirts him to let his family think he is getting ready to turn. Neo cannot know this because it would put him and others in danger from the Dark Sect." Cole leaned a little closer. "When you and he are allowed to join for a very short time, I want you to tell him that Marco is honor bound to help me and to stay on the island for at least three days. Do this and I will have one of the elves open up the dungeon part of this castle for you to explore. Mess up and I will take away the library area, so you cannot enter it."

Neomundo cringed as the man got closer. He listened but shook his head saying, "I want full access again. When do I get that? I have done as you have requested. I did it even knowing that you were using me to brainwash Neo." Neomundo got a sly smile as he said, "Why should Neo not know that Marco is still very much honoring the family code?" He was risking punishment but was pretty sure Fixer would not send the pain.

"Do you remember when the now grown Neo, was younger, and the Dark Sect decided he would make a good slave to their cause? Do you remember the things the things they made him do? That group is still alive and well organized. Marco and I and seveal others are trying to get into their organization and find out where their weak links are. To do this Marco has chosen to play the part of someone who might be willing to add their expertise to the group, for a price. If Neo or any of his family knows he is acting, then the Dark Sect will be able to pick up the information and you might not have a job anymore Neomundo, because Neo will be dead mentally and possibly physically. Now do we have an agreement, or do I go back and tell Neo you refused to talk with him?"

Neomundo smiled as he said, "I will speak with Neo but I have not decided whether to hide Marco's true heart. If I choose to refuse to lie anymore to Neo?" He was starting to get bolder as he was sure now that Fixer was not going to remind him of the pain that Fixer could cause to both him and the body. Neomundo got up and took the book he had been reading. He planned on returning the book to it's spot.

Cole got up and followed the boy. He did not want to cause him pain, so he would try at least one more argument before administering the worse part of the coercion process. As the boy put the book back on the shelf Cole said, "I could always let you think about it some more. But I do not think the library would be a good place to think." Cole rubbed his chin as if thinking, trying to hide the smile on his face. "The first time we talked you were sitting on a bench in the garden. That garden looked very big and would have too many distraction. I could make the space around the bench smaller, say four foot by four foot and leave it that way, while you were thinking of what I have asked." Cole leaned up against one of the book stacks and added, "There is also a very large dragon who I know would love your company while you think."

Neomundo inwardly cringed as he remembered what the body had went through. He put the book away on the shelf as he said, "No, here will be fine to think." There was no way that Neomundo was going out the door of the library, not with Fixer threatening him with the cage. He started to walk away from Fixer as he said, "Maybe I should tell Neo what you are using me to do to him..."

Cole waited until they were just about back at the table, grabbed the boy's upper arm using a tight grip and manhandled him out of the doors of the library, right into a very large cage cut into the side of a mountain. He threw the boy on the rock and then leaned against the wall near the door. The dragon grunted, then leaned down to get a sniff of the boy sitting on the rock. Silently chuckling Cole quietly said, "Maybe I should let you sit here, with my pet, until you see things my way. I will accept your word of honor, that you understand and will do it only my way, Neomundo." Cole just stood with his arms across his chest, as he watched the large dragon, lean closer to the boy, letting slobber just miss the boy lap. "Make your decision to be good and obedient or I will leave. You will of course stay here."

Neomundo froze as the man grabbed him and dragged him from the library. He said with a shaky voice, "W--h--at are y-ou pl--anning to do to me this time?" When he saw where he was being taken, the Key tried to fight but in vain. Neomundo was scared but refused to show it. He instead stood tall as he said, "Why should I? I did want you requested before and have you given me free rein? No, instead you want me to lie to Neo about his brother. What is to prevent me from telling Neo everything? I won't stay in this cage and you cannot make me!" The dragon had dropped slobber all over his robes and was breathing on his neck. Neomundo inwardly shook as he asked, "For how long are you going to keep me in here with that big bully of a pet of yours?"

Cole uncrossed his arms and stood up. "How long you stay in here depends on you. For the safety of Marco, Neo, Franco and the rest of their family, Neo needs to believe that Marco and Franco are under my control. Deep within yourself you know I would not willingly hurt the family. This is one of those times that you are going to have to give me some trust." Cole walked a little closer, not paying any attention to the dragon. Grabbing the child by the upper arm he pulled him out of the cage and into the garden area. "Neomundo, do you want to exist? Because if your conscious self dies so do you. Do this and I will let you join with your conscious self permanently."

Neomundo shrugged as he said, "You said that before and I am still locked away. I don't like lying. I can but it always makes me feel like I am making Neo into what he was before. She saved him and now it feels like I am betraying the trust her son-in-law has in me. I don't want the Dark thoughts that comes with that old job Neo had." The Key wanted to do his duty and clear all the bad thoughts out of the mind. He looked at Fixer asked, "If I don't agree or after I am back with Cooler fully, decide to tell Neo everything? What then?"

Cole rubbed his face with both his hands. Looking at the boy for several long heartbeats he said, "I guess I am going to have to take the chance that you will know what will cause problems for his family. I do not want him back in that life Neomundo and I am and will continue to do anything which will keep him out of it. All I am going to ask is that you help him stay out of it also. I am going to have to trust in our blood-brother relationship." Cole stuck his hand out hoping Neomundo would shake it instead of batting it away. "I am asking your help, Neomundo."

Neomundo sat down as he asked leery, "Then why the bullying and having me make him believe bad things? You were starting to sound like the Dark Thoughts that are still trying to..."Neomundo had been able to keep the dark key, as Neomundo liked to call it, away. The problem was he was unsure just what that key was up to while Neomundo had been held. Then there was that older one. Neomundo had not seen him in a while and that had Neomundo scared as that one seemed friendly enough and had helped where he could. Now with him gone, only the youngest Key was left to fight for the body. Shaking as he said quietly, "And I have been held, so the only one with full access is that Dark Key and I don't have a clue to what he was made to do. How can I..."

Cole and Neomundo had taken a seat on the bench in the garden. Cole knew the young Neomundo was having problems understanding what needed to be done. Neomundo was a young representation of Neo's subconscious, the one Neo seemed to use and need most, because he was before the Dark Sect had taken an interest in him. Neo felt safe using Neomundo, but Cole needed an older mind set for Neo, so he looked at Neomundo and said, "Neomundo, I am glad you have taken the time to talk with me, everything is going to be fine you will see. Now I need to talk with Sir Neo." Sir Neo was an older subconscious representation of Neo. He stood straight and tall and had a few mussels Neo did not even possess. He was also represented as about 10 years younger than Neo. Sir Neo was what Neo felt like when he was feeling fit and happy.

As he sat and watched Neomundo turned into Sir Neo. "Greetings Sir Neo. I am happy to have you here."

Sir Neo smiled as he said, "And you Captain. Best place to hide don't you think? I figured out that the Dark Key's creator would believe the younger Key might be able to be controlled. Knowing that I released that the Dark Key would not destroy it but instead try to bully Neomundo. In doing so, it unknowingly gave me the prefect hiding spot."

Cole smiled. "Neomundo is a good kid, but Neo has used him long enough to hide from reality. Do you need me to fill you in on what is happening, or have you been able to keep up from your hiding place?"

Sir Neo grinned as he asked, "What is Neomundo having trouble with?"

"Neomundo does not have the ability to understand that I need Neo to believe that I am not going to kill Marco or turn Neo over to the Dark Sect. What I am attempting to do is make the Dark Sect think, that Franco, Marco and Neo are under my control, so they will stop trying to take Neo hostage again." Sir Neo would be able to think clearly and would understand the problem. Cole waited to see what ideas the man would have.

He smiled as he said, "Fixer, do you remember what Neo was like back then? When you first rescued him?"

Cole looked off until the distance remembering the past. Chuckling he said, "He was a scared kid, but he was trying so hard to be brave. He sure could get himself into trouble. Over the years when I have checked on him, I found he had gotten into a lot of trouble. I even had to send Arianna Sadaki to get him away from the Dark Sect. She had to pretend to be one of his victims in order to get him to stop when he was 14-years-old. I would have stopped it earlier, but I didn't find out until he was deeply involved. Now I am trying to save him again, but I cannot get him past being so mad at me and he has lost the trust we had between us once. I want to put you back in touch with each other. Any suggestions, Sir Neo?" By asking Sir Neo for advice, Cole was actually asking Neo's subconscious for advice. Cole just sat and waited.

Sir Neo smiled as he said, "Captain, do you remember how he was as far as trusting adults? The only one he has never really lost trust in is that twelve year old that saved him. How do you think Neomundo sees you? As he sees other adults, as a person to be feared? Or do you come as that twelve year old that he idolized and still does? Captain, there is other issue you must also figure out how to handle."

Cole nodded, thinking Sir Neo might have an excellent idea. Smiling he looked at the man and said, "I think you have a very good idea, and I will give it a lot of thought. At the moment though I would like to know what other issues you think exist."

Sir Neo shook his head as he replied, "There is another way that your plan could work. Especially since, you want the Dark Sect to believe what we are. When Neo was about fifteen or sixteen, he tried unsuccessfully to leave. When he was caught, steps were taking to insure that even if he left, Neo would forever belong to them. We can use that to aid the plan?" Sir Neo inwardly cringed as he hated the idea of giving that thing that much freedom.

He knew though using the Dark Sect's own Key to help convince The Dark Sect of what they were doing was indeed an excellent of completing this portion of Fixer's assignment. He said quietly, "That is as long as we find all those implanted instructions and tweak them while making the one Neomundo calls the Dark Key, think that Fixer was hired by Khalid to insure that Neo never left his employment again?"

Cole tried to think back to the times he had checked on Neo when he was that age. He remembered sending Arianna Sadaki, to try and derail the boy from following the Dark Sect. It had worked, but apparently, he had missed some mind-traps, which had been established. "You are going to have to fill me in on the traps set, Sir Neo. When Neo was that age, although I tried to monitor him, I was in the armed services and had not established any power at the time. How can I help you with Neo?"

Sir Neo relaxed as he tried to bring his commander up to speed, "It started about the same time as the Cloaked Man started Neo on the drug. Neomundo was actually already a part of Neo, most likely he was actually Neo's way of coping with what had happened to him at ten? At least that is what my creator Martin Kildare believes. You know about my creation, which took place after Arianna got Neo freed at seventeen? She requested her son-in-law to do a mind dive on him. Martin found something besides Neomundo that got him extremely worried. This something, Neomundo will only refer to as the Dark Thoughts or Dark Key. Martin created me to help Neomundo keep it at bay until Martin could figure out how to safely destroy it without destroying Neo's mind in the process. Captain, do you remember when you gave Neo the drug? The darkness that weakened Neomundo?"

Cole listened and tried to set his mind to the time period Sir Neo was talking about. Neo had originally been started on the very powerful adictive drug by the Cloaked Man when he was about 15-years-old. He had actually been given the first several shots against his will. After that the teenage Neo was hooked and the only way he could get the pain to stop was to give in and get another shot, which the Cloaked Man was more than willing to supply after Neo did what he wanted. Neo was forced to act as a decoy and lure people into situations where the Cloaked Man's men could deal with the person, mostly by killing him. Cole had been 17 at the time and had just started to get his own adult life started. At the age of 18 he located Neo again, and when he found out what was happening, it had taken him almost another year to find out who he needed to send.

"If Neomundo was already in place when Martin Kildare, a wizard renown Blocker, created Sir neo to help the younger version, then who created Neomundo." Cole thought for a moment and realized it could only have been one person. Tal'mac the elf who the Quints mother had brought into the household to protect the children and handle their special talents, would have been the only one powerful enough in the young Neo's family circle to have accomplished the deed. Cole whistled through his teeth and shook his head, with a smile still on his face. To Sir Neo, he said, "It had to be Tal'mac who created the young Neomundo. You were created to help Neomundo and maybe see what can be done about the Dark Key, right? I need you out now, to help me get Neo through the next four months. I have to make sure he acts like he is being brainwashed, so that my men, especially if I still have some plants I have not found yet, believe it and anyone else who may need to think I have Marco, Franco and Neo under my control. It is the only way to save them. Maybe we can confuse the Dark Key a little also. Maybe if we get him frustrated enough he will reveal a weakness."

Sir Neo shook his head as he tried to explain how he worked, "I can't Captain, it is not how I work. You are right about why I was created though. The thing is Martin had to make it so if the Dark Key was ordered to joined with me and in a sense take me over, it would fail. I can never be in control of the body. Neomundo advises Neo, while I protect and sometimes advise Neomundo. Both Tal'mac and Martin wanted Neo to fulfill his destiny without controlling him to do it. That Dark Key only purpose is to gain control of Neo by any means necessary. The traps are just one way that Thing is using. Another is attacking and weakling Neomundo. You asked for ideas, I gave you two but either way the Dark Key and his traps must be dealt with or at the very least..." Sir Neo hated having to refuse Fixer's request but his creator Martin had assured Tal'mac that Neomundo would be the only one to advise Neo. It had seemed important to the old elf. Sir Neo wondered just why it was.

Cole nodded, but he did not like the idea of depending on the youth representation of Neo to advise Neo what to do. "Can Neomundo ever get older with experience. The child has spunk, but he is still a child. I need Neo to comply with what I want him to do, and the only way it seems to get Neomundo to tell Neo to go ahead and work with me, is to threaten him somehow. I do not like threatening anyone, although at times it does become necessary. Any suggestions on handling the child part of Neo?"

Sir Neo nodded as he said, "There is a way as he still idolizes your twelve year old self. He felt protected back then. Tal'mac must have a reason for having it be Neomundo? I just wish I knew what that reason was?"

It had been years since Cole had regressed his subconsous back to the level where he was 12 years old. He thought for a moment, asking Tarka, in his mind, if he could present himself as 12 but still retain his present attitude about life and retain his experiences. He received a message back, almost instantly that it was possible, but would drain him. Cole shook his head, more to himself than to Sir Neo. "Alright I think we can accomplish that. I won't be able to do it for a long period of time, but long enough to talk with Neomundo. Are you going to be able to keep up your protection against the Dark Key? Do you need me to do anything to help you?"

Sir Neo cringed as he thought about the damage that Dark Key had possibly done. He had to find out and deal with the after-effects. Sir Neo said as calmly as he could, "Captain, since Neomundo has been detained here and I have been hidden away..."He stopped unsure of how to say what he had let happen.

Cole crossed his legs and leaned his arm on his knee. "Go on Sir Neo, ask your question?"

Sir Neo cringed as he finished, "The Dark Key has had full access. I seem to have lost track of him sir..."

Cole held his temper. He had not talked with this part of Neo's subconsious, except for a very short time. Trying to stay relaxed, he asked, "What is it going to take for you to get back on track. I am about to put Neo through a tough training process and I need you standing guard for Neomundo. The boy in Neo, is not going to be happy and I do not know if he is strong enough to handle what is about to happen."

Sir Neo hung his head as he said, "I have no idea where that thing is or what damage he has caused, sir. I am sorry but after what he had done to Neomundo last time, I was more concerned about getting Neomundo to a place of safety. I thought I could keep a tab on the Dark Key and at the same time help protect Neomundo here in this hidden area. I was wrong as I too am now trapped. We need to locate that thing and then con him into reveal what exactly he has done. I can't deal with what he has done unless I am fully aware of what it all entails. The only one though sir, that thing likes to brag to is Neomundo."

Upon hearing that something was going to happen that Neomundo was not going to like, Sir Neo asked worried, "Sir, what exactly is about to happen? More importantly, why are you sure Neomundo is not going to be happy about it or even be able to handle it?"

Cole looked at the ground for a second then turned back to Sir Neo, "First things first. How can we find the Dark Key and get it to come out and talk with Neomundo, hopefully when I am present?"

Sir Neo shook as he said, "His need to torment Neomundo is our best chance sir."

Cole nodded. "All right, after Neomundo talks with Neo, I will see if I can entice, the Dark Key out…. But not for a while. I need to return to the outside world after they talk. I will wait until Neo is asleep later, to come back and see what we can do about the Dark Key." Cole reached his hand out and shook Sir Neo's hand, "Hang in there Blood brother. You will just have to wait to see what happens, to find any other answers you need. I have waited too long to bring Neo down." Cole stood up and said, "Neomundo I need to talk with you." He knew this would bring the child back.

Sir Neo nodded and then felt himself once again get buried deep within. Neomundo shook as he feared the worst. He had been stalling and now The Fixer would be mad.

Cole noticed the boy did not even realize his older self had been talking with him. Cole sat back down on the bench and quietly said, "It is alright, I have decided to let you and Neo talk here, with each other. Neo needs your support. If all goes well I will allow you to stay connected for the next 24 hours. Fight me and I will break the connection. Do you understand?"

Neomundo shook his head as he said, "No I don't understand. You have requested that I lie to him about his brother Marco. Why do you want him to hate what he believes his brother has become? The truth would bring the brothers closer like they once were. I cannot understand how lying about Marco will help Neo stay on his chosen path." Neomundo was confused and just wanted the man to go away.

Cole leaned forward a little. "I know you do not understand Neomundo, but I told you a long time ago when I was your age that, sometimes what adults do, makes no sense but it just has to be done. Neo will be in extreme danger if he knows the truth about his brother. I am trying to keep him and the others safe. I do not have the time to explain now, but I will give you my blood-brother promise that I will return very soon and explain it too you." Cole was just going to have to trust the young one would believe him for a while. When he returned, he would return as his younger self and he an Neomundo, could talk like they used to. Cole thought he might even arrange for them to go fishing. They always enjoyed that.

Neomundo thought about what this man was asking and then said, "I don't like lying. What if I just don't say anything about Marco? I won't tell Neo what I heard. Will that be okay?"

Cole nodded. "That will be fine. I only hope he does not ask. Now are you ready?"

Neomundo smiled as he asked, "Why do you hope he doesn't ask?" The man was weird in his statements.

Cole just smiled and shook his head. He sent a message to Kimtu to allow Neo to join them in the mind dive.

Kimtu nodded to himself and pushed gently on Master Neo's temples with his fingers. He could feel the dissension. Master Neo also seemed very nervous. "I am here, Master Neo and will not leave you. Nothing can hurt you where we are going." , Kimtu thought sending a message from his mind to Master Neo.

(OOC: This is a combined post by Barbie and Jane. We hope you are enjoying the series)

NEO SPELLMAN
Neo tensed as he felt them finally descending to level six in the mind dive. He had waited a long time to be able to go back and talk with his younger self. If Cole held to his promise, Neomundo and him would finally get to connect again for at least 24 hours. Neo needed his subconscious to help him work out the problems. He never had been one for following blindly. The closest he had ever come, had required the Dark Sect to get him so hooked on drugs that he had no control over his body and Neomundo had not been strong enough to fight the effects. It had taken Arianna Sadaki, to coral him enough for Martin Kildare to be able to add a block for him to fight the drugs enough to be able to be weaned off them.

Neo finally stepped out of the fog and found Neomundo and Cole sitting on a bench in the garden area of Neomando's representation of Hogwarts.

Neomundo started to rise, but as pulled back down my Cole who shook his head. All he could do was smile as he saw Neo. His conscious self looked strained, tired and tense but seemed otherwise okay.

Cole pointed to a spot on the grass about a foot from where Neomundo sat and a straight back chair, like those in the interrogation room appeared in the spot. "Have a seat Neo." He watched at the Cooler tentively took the seat, his eyes flickering back and forth between Cole and Neomundo. "You two may talk and if I think it is advisable I will let you join back up for a period of 24 hours. After that I will re-evaluate the circumstances and we will see if it can continue." Looking pointedly at Neo he said, "This will all depend on your willingness to join in my little island games, of course." Cole smiled and pointed to Neo and then to Neomundo.

Neo shook his head as he said, "I will honor my word Fixer but how I honor it will depend on what I learn from Neomundo." The key listened and understood Neo's underlying threat. He looked worried because he still did not like lying. Neomundo prayed that he could avoid discussing Marco.

Neo noticed that Neomundo seemed leery and on edge. Glaring at Fixer as he spoke to his younger self, "Neomundo, it is okay. I just need information about Marco."

Neomundo shook his head and seemed to the Cooler to become even more on edge. Neo had the feeling that Marco was the one person that his younger self most certainly had no interest in discussing.

Neo glared at Fixer as he tried to ease Neomundo, "He won't hurt you, Neomundo. I just need a yes or no. Is Fixer brainwashing Marco?"
Neomundo cringed and turned away. He refused to answer the Cooler as it meant he would have to lie and that Neomundo was not wanting to do.

Cole looked at Neomundo and said, "Neomundo, Neo asked you a question. I want you to look him in the eyes and answer the question truthfully. Am I brainwashing Marco?"

Neomundo folded his arms as he said, "I am not discussing Marco! And if that is all this meeting was about then you will excuse me as I have work to do." Neo sadly shook his head as he said angrily at Fixer, "I guess I have my answer and you have yours." He watched as Neomundo got up and started to head towards the school.

"Neomundo, you return here now." Cole stood and used a voice, which would not allow Neomundo to disobey. When the child returned he held his shoulders gently but firmly and looked into the boy's eyes. "You have no work to do, if I make it so you cannot go back into the school." Turning the boy toward Neo he said, "Answer the question. Am I brainwashing Marco? And young man tell the truth so that Neo knows you are telling the truth." Cole let go of Neomundo's shoulders and crossed his arms across his chest, waiting.

Neomundo cringed as he shook his head. Then said, "If I answer this question, Neo will just ask another until he knows everything. You said it would endanger all of them for Neo to know. I will not endanger Neo so I will answer this one question but then I will say no more in regards to Marco." Neomundo watched as Neo glared at Fixer. But when Neo turned a smile on him he added, "Your answer is No, Neo. Marco is not being brainwashed. Now do me a favor and leave it be."

Cole stepped in between the two, facing Neo. "He has answered your question Neo. What Marco is doing he is doing of his own free will, in order to get where he wants to be in the Wizarding world. Now if you have no other questions I will allow you two to stay connected for a period of 24 hours. Then I will re-evaluate the situation. You need him Neo and he needs you. Your questions will all be answered in the long run. So it is up to you… return to the top without Neomundo or with him." Cole stepped out from between Neomundo and Neo and waited.

Neo smiled as he said, "With him. though Fixer, this does not change things between us. I will honor my word but I will never truly be one of your men. You have changed Frank Cole and I am still unsure about how I feel concerning the new you. I guess I am hoping in the next 4 months, I can see that my blood brother is still in there somewhere?"

(OOC: This is a combined post by Barbie and Jane. We hope you have enjoyed it)

FRANK COLE
Cole had nodded to Kimtu letting him know he was going to allow Neomundo and Neo to stay connected. Then he willed himself to return to the top level and out of the mind-dive. He was able to get his bearings before Kimtu bought Neo back out. Cole watched as the man's head sagged forward and then slowly rose to look him in the eyes. "The joining will hold for the next 24 hours, Neo. At that point I will decide if you have put in enough effort in my little games, for you to be allowed to let Neomundo do his job." Cole looked at his watch as Kimtu got both drinks for him and Neo. "It is 3:30, and I promised Marco I would be back around 4:30. You have until around 6:00 to entertain yourself, before dinner is served. I will allow you to exercise outside in the yard if you wish, or I can have you escorted to the library where you can get something to read. If you go outside, feel free to talk with or even interact with any of the troops."

Cole looked Neo in the eyes and asked, "First do you have any questions?"

Neo gave a sly grin as he said, "My Brother Marco, I want to see him now, Sir! I am doing nothing until I talk to my brother about him making vows and not thinking them through." He felt for the connection with Neomundo and found it to be extremely weak. This worried and angered Cooler.

Cole leaned forward on his arms as they rested, folded on the table in front of him. He just watched Neo for several very long moments. {i] "It would be interesting to see what Marco would do if confronted by his brother." [/i] he thought to himself. When they had been separated after the botched rescue and escape attempt the night before, the brothers had been kept totally separated. Cole sat up straight and smiled. "I will allow a 20 minute visit. It will take place in my office." Cole got up out of his chair and walked toward the door. Before exiting he turned and said, "I will have Kimtu bring you as soon as Marco has arrived." With that Cole turned and left the room, headed for his office down the hall.

(OOC: This is a combined post by Barbie and Jane. We hope you enjoyed it)

NEO SPELLMAN
Neo was not sure what questions he was going to ask his brother. He was not sure what he was going to say to him, but he was scared for his brother. As Kimtu led him the short distance down the hall to Cole's office, he tried to form some type of plan, but nothing came to mind. Kimtu stopped in front of a door, stood there for a moment and the door opened. The elf motioned for Neo to enter.

Cole was sitting at his desk shuffling through some papers. Punta was standing behind the desk, off to Cole's right and about a step back. The elves hands were at his side, but his fingers were extended toward the floor. Neo knew he was prepared for trouble, by that stance. Neo found his brother Marco sitting in one of the comfortable padded office chairs in front of the desk. His brother would not even look at him. Cole motioned for him to take the other chair, in front of the desk, about three feet away from his brother. The elves took up their positions; Tarka behind Marco and Kimtu behind him. Neo looked from Cole to his brother and then back to Cole again.

Cole put down the papers, stacked them neatly and placed them off to the side. Looking at Neo he said, "You have 20 minutes Neo, starting now. I have brought your brother here, but it is up to him what he says to you." Cole motioned toward Marco and then sat back in his chair, steepling his fingers in front of him, and watching.

Marco waited as he could see that something was bugging his brother. Neo shook his head as if he had forgot what had brought him to Fixer's office. He looked at Cole and said, "Never mind Sir, my brother made his bed now he can lie in it. I would like permission to go back to my room?"

Marco was taken back by Neo's attitude. He look at Fixer to see if his Captain had picked up on it as well. Trickster had not seen his brother like this since he was fifteen and that made Marco scared for his brother.

Cole gave a nod which Marco would have picked up on, because of their past service together, but Neo would not have been able to notice. Leaning forward on his desk he looked at Marco and said, "Marco tell your brother how you feel about what you are doing here. He doesn't believe you are not being pressured to play on my island and join me in a little outside fun." Cole had to get Marco to play this as if he was still in character as wishing to join the Dark Sect. fixer had a funny feeling, a trigger had just gone off in Neo, and the Dark Key might be listening.

With deliberate movements, Marco rose out of his chair and took the two steps to Neo's chair. He inwardly cringed and his stomach rolled as he grabbed his brother's hair and jerked his head back saying with venom, "I am in charge of our family not you! If I say we are going to talk then I order, you obey! You are being trained to be useful."

He turned to Kimtu and ordered, "Spread Eagle on the Wall, bare his back...My brother is going to learn his place or I might find that a certain brother is no longer useful!" After only a quick glance at Cole, Kimtu followed the orders immediately. Neo sat frozen and for the first few heart beats he did not even resist as the elves lifted him out of his chair and drug him to the shot wall in Cole's office. Neo finally broke through the disbelief, but by then his hands were shackled and the feet shackles were clicked into place.

Marco had to turn his back on his brothers position. Neo's looks of disbelief over his shoulder, were going to break Marco's resolve if he watched. Instead he turned to Fixer as he said, "What do you think Captain?"

Cole walked over to the wall where Neo hung. He pushed a hidden panel and a door slid open, showing a shallow cabinet behind it. In the cabinet was an assorment of whips, canes, and other equipment which could cause great pain. Cole took a side long glance at Neo, who was watching him, and reached into the cabinet retrieving a three foot long bamboo cane. Closing the door he walked back to Marco and handed him the rod, whispering, "No more than a count of ten. Make it a show Marco. I will explain later." Cole walked back and sat in his chair, leaning back and lacing his fingers in front of him.

Marco inwardly cringed as he held the cane whispering back, "It better be a good one. I just hope you can handle the aftermath?" Aloud he asked, "A Cane? You know how I despise Muggle weapons."

Seeing the look that Cole gave him, Marco gave a sly grin as he once again grabbed Neo's hair. He had already picked his ten spots. He jerked the head back as he hit his first spot saying, "I will just have to take my hatred for this Muggle weapon on you brother. Believe me when I done you will be begging Fixer. Neo, you need to realize that your infraction has just cost Frankie."

Neo felt every hit and tried to breathe through the pain, but it was too much. After ten, Cooler screamed as the last one caught him up side his head, knocking him out.

When Neo had passed out, Marco dropped the cane where he was standing and rushed to the wall. He was glad his brother had fainted because he was unable to hold back the tears at what he had done. Cole also moved forward quickly and helped Marco remove his brother from the wall. Gently laying him on the floor, Marco knelt beside his brother as Punta checked him out. "He will be all right Master Marco. We will administer an anesthetic." When Punta saw the look on Master Marco's face, he quickly added, "There will be no drugs involved, Master Marco."

Marco could only nod, because the lump in his throat would let no sound pass. Carefully he helped to pick up his brother and gently carry him back to his room. Laying him on the bed he watched as the elves administered mental pain relief. When his brother was resting comfortably, Marco walked back to Cole's office to have a talk with his Captain.

(OOC: This is a combined post by Barbie and Jane. We hope you enjoyed it)

FRANK COLE
Cole stood beside Neo's bed. The side railings were up, encase he rolled over. He had the elves keep Neo asleep for a little bit. It would be the only time he would be able to check on Neomundo. Pulling up a chair close to the bed, Cole straddled it and rested his arms on the straight back. Closing his eyes, he allowed Punta, who had come with him, to lower him through the mind-dive. They had to find Neomundo and make sure he was alright after what Marco had been forced to do. The boy would not understand, and Cole was afraid the Dark Key may have used the experience to get to the boy.

Neomundo was cringing at the darkness that surrounded him. The Dark Key had been waiting for him to come out of hiding. It had been so quick that the young key had no chance at warning the body. He had been yanked down to what seemed to be the ninth level and locked in this box. Neomundo cried as the Dark Key set off a trap inside the box. The young key shook as he remembered the Dark Key's words. The Dark Key had said, "The trap was set and Neomundo was the trigger. For now He was in control of both the Key and the body." He had then proven his point by having Neo talk like he used to. The result was Marco had nearly killed Neo.

Neomundo was still in extreme pain from what the box was doing to him. The young key knew that Neo was most likely feeling it as well. He was terrified of what this trap was going to do and knew it was weakening him as he fought to keep the darkness in the box. He heard the Dark Key laugh and say something about triggering more traps.

Cole stepped out of the fog and looked around. He was standing in what would be a representation of the dungeon area of Hogwarts Castle. He was on the other side of the area from the where the Slytherin House would be. This was an area not visited very often, even in the above world. Cole had been told, that the professors at the school, insisted that an adult had to be along if any of the children wanted to venture into the area. If Cole was here then Neomundo was somewhere close. Thinking so Punta could hear his thoughts he asked, "Which way?" . A small light came on a little ways down the corridor, and then another as Cole got close to the first.

He had traveled several hundreds of feet before the lights did not come on any farther. Cole looked around and found a large wooden door, held together by iron bars. Hoping whoever closed the door, would not be expecting anyone to come, he tried the lever which would open it. At first it stuck fast but soon the door slid open. The leather hinges, were well oiled so it made no sound as it opened to a large room with a wooden box in one corner. Slowly he made his way across the dirt floor, checking the corners as he went. "Punta can you give me some light here please." he thought as several small oil lamps came on near the chest.

Cole reached down and lifted the heavy lid to the box. Inside he found……

Neomundo screamed, "No!" as the box that entombed him opened. It was all he could say as he collapsed. He had failed and now was too hurt and weak to fight what was about to happen.

Cole reached into the box and picked up the unconscious boy. Holding him in his arms he headed out of the room and down the hall. "Punta, we need a way out quickly." Cole thought. Lights came on and soon there were steps leading up. When he made it to the top. He walked out the front door of the school, and gently put Neomundo down on the front steps. "Neomundo, wake up. You are safe my little friend. I have you." Cole waited until he saw the boys eyes flutter open, then let out the breath, he had not realize he was holding.

Neomundo said weakly, "I failed. The Darkness..." He felt the body and realized that the beating Neo had took from his brother Marco was only for one purpose to have Neo so weak that the Dark Key had gotten full control. That meant the Dark Key had won. Neomundo cried terrified about what would happen now as he dared not attack Neo's body.
=============================
Cole again stood beside the bed. Walking over the other side of the small table he straddled the chair. Signaling to Punta to wake Neo up, Cole rested his arms on the table

The Dark Key had little to worry about as the true Key was not going to interfere. The body was weakened by the beating it had received.

Upon opening his eyes, it saw the cabinet. The thing it needed was in there. It has been too long. His assignment was carried out and now it was time to be rewarded. He felt the body fight the idea. He thought to his mental captive, "Settle down and accept what is going to be your life. I could always let your Key Neomundo feel what the body is going to feel?"
Neo shook at the thought as he heard this voice talk to him. His cravings were back.

"Neo please come over here and sit at the table," Cole had seen Neo's eyes go to the cabinet. "We will discuss what it is you are required to do and what you will get out of it." Cole was trying to give the Dark Key a reason to get the body up and moving.

The Dark Key got up pleased with himself. As he went and sat at the table, he said to Neo, "Who knows, this Fixer might be a better Master than the Cloaked Man? You will stay quiet or I will insure you regret crossing me!"His need for the drug insured he held no true loyalty to the Cloaked Man.

He looked at the man across from him and waited.

Cole steepled his fingers in front of him. After a couple of moments he said, "I think your brother has taught you a good lesson Neo. You are going to join my army and you are going to follow directions. Seems to me when you were waking up, you may have thought of a little incentive I can help you with, which will make you want to follow orders. Can you tell me what would do that?"

Neo was shaking his head from his prison. His body had received one of the worse beating Marco had been ever able to give him. By the time he had woken up his addiction was back. He wonder who the voice was as he listened to it and Cole talk.

The Dark Key said, "The cravings are back. I will even admit to you that I am not the one you call Neo. Don't worry though as he as well as that Key Neomundo will obey or they will learn what it means to cross me, Sir..." He hoped this Fixer would not be too hard to pleased. The Cloaked Man rarely seemed pleased.

Cole chuckled. "I think we might be able to come to an understanding. I have the drug you were given before, but I also have a better one. I think you will enjoy it more." Nodding to Punta who had a questionable look on his face, Cole pointed toward the cabinet and mentally told the elf to bring him the green bottle and a syringe. While the elf was bringing it, Cole said, "Stand at attention, trainee." Neo stood at attention with a snap, knocking over the chair he was sitting in. Cole moved the table out of the way and walked up to the man. Getting close to his face he said, "You mess up just one time, trainee and I will introduce you to a dragon friend of mine, who loves it when he has play toys. Am I making my self clear? Now hold out your arm?"

The Dark Key held out his arm as he said, "Yes Sir! I will keep them in line." Meanwhile inside Neo was terrified.

Neo tried to get freed but to no avail. Cooler heard the voice laugh at his reaction saying, "Don't worry, both you and the Key Neomundo will get to liking it again. You give me any problems and I will insure That weakling of a Key faces that dragon instead of me. Behave and I might even let you off that wall." He wondered what this new drug would last and how long before he felt it.

Cole took the bottle from Punta and the syringe. Slowly filling it he tested it to make sure it was completely full. "On your knees." Cole motioned Punta behind Neo and nodded giving him very specific instructions. The elf nodded and put two fingers up beside of Neo's head, and closed his eyes. Cole looked at the kneeling man and said, "Now hold very still." Cole brought the needle slowly closer to Neo's arm. When the point scratched the skin, Cole said, "Now Punta." The elf pushed a little harder on Neo's temple and Neo's head fell forward. Cole took the needle away and looked at Punta, who smiled and nodded. "Good," Cole said, more to himself than to anyone else. He knew as the Dark Key was concentrating on watching the needle come closer and on what it would do, his hold on Neo would be weaker. Punta had just extablished a wall between the Dark Key and Neo's true self. The Dark Key had actually exchanged mental states with Neo. Cole got down on one knee and looked at the Cooler, quietly saying, "Neo, look at me. Come on Cooler, show me you are there."

Cole got a little closer to Neo but stayed on his knee so he was eye level. He had to get Cooler to understand, that the only way for him to learn how to control the Dark Key, was to interact with it. "Neo you have t listen to me because we don't have much time. The elves are blocking the connection between you and the entity. I know where you feel you have been. A dark entity was added to your mind by the Cloak man, when you were 15 years old. The entity has taken over your mind as if you are at the Level 7 in a mind dive. We need to stop him and the only way is to let him stay in charge. This is going to put you back where you were. I think I can take care of some of the pain but not all. I can't put Neomundo back with you because the child would not survive. But I will tell you he is safe."

Neo was barely understanding what happened. He listened and then started freaking out. Fixer was going to allow the voice to control his body. "No....." He would fight it. There was no way he was ever being that thing's prisoner again. "I am not going back to that...He already has Neomundo...If he didn't He never would of been able to put me there. I have to.....", Neo said furious.

"He does not have Neomundo," Cole said slowly, as he grabbed Neo's shoulders. "The boy is safe. I am also going to need to give him some drugs to make him think I am on his side." Cole could feel Neo shaking in his grasp, but he had to keep going. He couldn't leave the Dark Key in the prison he had imagined for Neo, for very long. "The drugs I have are not the same as you were given before. It is not as addictive physically, but mentally it creates a craving. When you return and Neomundo takes over it should break the craving but if not I will get you back from its power, this I promise you. I will send elves to visit with you. Do what they say, Cooler. You will be able to listen to what is going on but will not be able to change anything. The elves will be able to communicate with you privately so tell them anything you think or observe that will help us stop the entity"

"I can't go back there Cole don’t you understand. I will never get out. The thing is too strong for me to fight in the mental condition I am in. Please Sir, do not let him hold me there. If you give my body any drugs I will be lost forever. The Cloak man told me if I ever took any again I would be his forever." Neo's shaking was from his very core. In his mind's eye he could see the man standing in front of him, waving his finger in a come to me motion.

Cole looked at Cooler and making sure he caught the man's eyes said, "Who am I Cooler. Use the name we choose when I took you from the cell of the dragon and we became blood-brothers. I have not changed from that time. I have grown and found out there are a lot of things we must do in this world in order to help more than ourselves."

Neo looked at Cole and still shaking thought back to the day he was delivered from death. "You are N- Neteru the Guardian. You promised to never have me say that name unless you were being truthful from your heart." Neo was still having a major problem with believing Cole, but that word was sacred between them.

"Yes Kael, I am Neteru and will always be. You do not understand now, but it will be all right, I promise you. Now I must send you back. I know you don't trust me my blood brother and someday I will earn that trust back."

Neo studied Cole's eyes. After a few heart beats he sighed as he said, "I might not trust Fixer but Neteru I will always trust with my life. Just don't let that thing off this island and warn Marco. Promise me!"

"I promise, Kael". Cole did not let go of Neo's shoulders as he nodded at Punta, telling him to allow the Dark Key to take over the body again. When the change was complete, Cole stood up and crossed his arms across his chest. "Welcome back. Did you enjoy my little demonstration?" Cole chuckled.

The Dark Key looked up at the man called Fixer. He held out his arm again, silently asking for the drugs. The man had somehow put him where he had put Neo's conciousness, on the wall of the dirty and dank dungeon cell. He had tried to fight the chains, but since he had fashioned them he knew they would not break. He could hear nothing but whispers, which formed no words. He had yelled, but had received no answer. After what seemed like forever, he was back in the room with the man staring down at him. "I do not know how you did that, Sir, but I understand the meaning." He bowed his head, while keeping his arm extended. He would have to listen and obey this man, until he could find something to use against him.

Cole took the filled syringe and fed it into the vain of the Dark Key's arm. "Stand Neo. I think you will like this drug more than the other will. It will add strength to your body and your mind. I will allow one shot every 48 hours if you do as I say. Disobey or anger me and the shots time table will be the least of your worries. Now sit down at the table because we have some things to talk about."

Cole watched as the Dark Key walked Neo's body over to the table. He could feel the way the thing was feeling. It felt strong and powerful. Cole knew the Dark Key thought his brain felt clear and had to fight the chuckle with was building in his chest. The drug was actually killing brain cells like a lot of the drugs did. It was setting the man up to want to follow orders. The Dark Key was feeling good, like the world was his. The only thing holding joy at what he was doing to the thing back, was the fact he was doing it to a friend's body. Neo would be feeling the same illation and Cole knew the higher the feeling the farther the fall. His friend was going to be on a roller coaster ride into the dark caverns of drug addiction. The elves would be able to block Neo's thoughts from the Dark Key, Neo's consciousness was still connected to his body, so they could not disconnect the feelings. Cole inwardly cringed, because he knew a time was coming when the Dark Key would do something he could say he did not like, and withhold the drug for an indefinate amount of time. This would cause pain to his blood brother. He wished there was another way to find out about the Dark Key, but there was not.

Cole rested his arms on the table and decided, to keep the meeting moving. "You are smart enough to realize you cannot leave the island without my permission. Communication to the outside world is actually blocked. What I would like you to do is help me gather information about the people in my troops. I think I can make it worth your while. Let me know who I can trust and maybe give some rank to and who I need to watch." Cole knew the people Neo recommended under the Dark Keys control would have to be the people he would need to watch closely. Those he said needed watching were going to be harder to decipher. It could be because they are true to their word and honor or he might just not like them.

"You are going to have to make friends Neo," Cole said trying to look as relaxed as he could. "Eventually when you feel more comfortable in the body and you are more comfortable working for me you might help me with ways to control Neo. When you are made to return to the Cloaked Man I would not like to lose any progress you have made in preparing the man so he can be used in the future." The look of shock that Cole knew about the Cloaked man, was priceless. The thing tried to hide the knowledge but it hit his eyes for too long.

"Now for some basic rules. You are not allowed to kill anyone, even by accident. Someone dies and you take the Coolers place. You are also not allowed to cause injury, which will be permanent. Friends are not made that way. It will close down your information line."

"I will take care of punishing Neo. You will not be able to communicate with him. The drugs will react to create the craving on him worse than it does with you. I require that all my men have a certain amount of training so you will go through the total progaram and I know you will move up in rank quickly. You will also keep the body in tip top physical condition." Cole wanted to make sure the Dark Key took care of Neo's body.

"Oh and the boy is off limit, because when you leave I will need him to control Neo. Your stay here is not permanent, we both know that. Your job is to learn what is being taught, keep the body strong, and gather information about my troops. Any questions so far?"

Dark Key thought it would be safe to ask about seeing Marco. He thought about how to word it before asking, "Can I speak with Marco? It might calm Cooler down."

Cole stared at he man for a few very long moments then nodded. "I think that can be arranged. Remember though he still sees you as Neo, if you act up you will get punished and I don't want this body damaged too bad. Am I understood?" Cole received a nod and said, "Ok, come on. We will hold this meeting in my office. I will have Marco bought there." Cole led Neo to the door and headed back to his office across the hall. Mentally he told Kimtu to tell Tarka to bring Marco to the office.

(OOC: This thread is happening the same time as Elsewhere, Neo's Stay on the Isle of Perdition: Week One, so some of what is happening will be copied in both threads just from different points of view. This thread is a joint thread between Barbie and Jane, We hope you enjoy it)

NEO SPELLMAN
The Dark Key, kept Neo's body sitting quietly in one of the two chairs in front of Cole's desk. He had to stay in character and that was not going to be easy, because the child had turned Neo into a wimp as far as he was concerned. It was going to take a bit to show everyone, that Neo was strong. Cole had been right about the drugs, he felt fantastic… full of energy and strong. Cole had said he could have a shot in forty-eight hours, which seemed like a long time, but he would make it.

Cole had taken up a position sitting on the front edge of his desk, arms crossed across his chest. The Dark Key inwardly snickered, because he could read body language well enough to know, Cole was anything but relaxed as he tried to make himself appear. The Dark Key realized his playing this to the hilt as he watched him step in front of Cole's desk at attention.




"At ease, Marco. Take a seat. Your brother would like to talk with you and you will listen. Feel free though to let him know how you feel." Cole knew he had just opened the door for Marco to say or do anything because of what Neo said or did.

The real Neo still could not believe he was back chained in semi-dark room of his mind. He wished the link with Marco was still connected. He listened and then screamed in his head, "Marco, it is not me brother. Fixer is playing you. Please brother, stop them both..." The Cooler felt the darkness surround him. He realized as the Dark Key spoke to him that the Dark Key indeed to insure Cooler paid dearly for his words. Within seconds, Cooler was screaming in extreme agony. He was in so much pain that he barely heard what the Dark Key said to his brother. All he knew was the darkness surrounding him was insuring that he would suffer for leaving the Cloaked Man.

Cole stood up and walked over to stand in front of the Dark Key. In barely a whisper he said, "I told you I create the pain, not you. Keep it up and you will feel everything he is feeling plus some." Giving him a knowing stare, Cole returned to the same position on his desk.

The Dark Key straightened up in his chair, and glared at the Fixer. To himself he said, "I will show you someday what pain is." Aloud he turned toward Marco and said, "I did not enjoy the caining you gave me brother . And by the way who said you are still in charge?" The Dark Key snickered to himself because he was going to plan on trying to get Marco to do as much damage as he could to this body. When Neo was allowed back, he wanted it to be well abused. When he finally got out into the field operation training, he was definitely going to see how roughed up he could make the body.

The Dark Key had been looking off past Cole, savoring the feelings of strength. When Marco hit him, it had come as a total surprise. He had not realized his brother could move that fast. The Dark Key stood and went into a fighting stance. Glancing at Cole he saw the Fixer was not going to get involved at least at the moment. "I think since you want both of us on the same side brother, then we are going to have an equal say." With that the Dark Key swung on his brother and connected solidly with Marco's jaw, then took a fighting stance. "How bad do you really think you are?" Nothing like poking the bear to have a little fun.

Marco gave a sly grin as he saw that this Dark Key was nowhere near his brother's level in skill. In two moves he had his brother's body in a vice grip as he said, "I think you deserve time on the wall weakling! Be Good and maybe I won't be paying Frankie a visit." He needed to find out what they knew about Frankie and if this Key's creator had any plans where his baby brother was concerned.

The Dark Key just chuckled. "You going to try and put me on the wall brother. I think not. Although I guess you could get the elves to do it, but that would not be big and mean like you keep trying to pretend you are." The Dark Key just stood with his hands on his hips waiting.

Marco chuckled as he grabbed Neo by the throat and pinned him to the wall using his body weight until he had him secured. As he went to stand by Fixer he said, "You are weak and you probably get that from Frankie. Maybe I should remove that infection from our sight...put the weakling out of his misery."

The Dark Key tried the straps holding his arms. He found out his legs were also fastened to the wall. Looking at Marco he said with a growl in his voice, "Our brother can fend for himself. He has the newspaper to keep him busy, and Cole already has a firm hold on his life. You can control him if you want too. I am going to take the training from the Fixer and I am going to become better than you ever were, brother." Trying the chains again he added, "Now let me down and you can get on with your training and I can get on with mine."

Marco just smiled and then looked at Fixer as he said with a sly grin, "I am only keeping that weakling alive because Commander is willing to use his position to further our cause. But we can always find another way. I could make him just a memory, can't I Fixer?"

"Of course we can, Marco." Cole walked over to where Neo was hanging on the wall and said quietly to the man. "I do need to start your training, Neo. It is already after dinner time, and I get very grumpy when I am hungry." Cole reached out and not so gently hit Neo in the ribs. "If you think just maybe you could follow orders, I will have Marco take you down from where you find yourself." Cole pulled back on Neo's hair and turned his head toward him. "What's it going to be, Cooler?"

The Dark Key whispered to Fixer, "What would Marco think of his best friend if I was to let it slip what "you" allowed to happen to his brother's true self? Get me down from here and punish Marco or see just where Marco true loyalty lies? " He was unsure if threaten Frank Cole with exposure was the best solution.

Cole smiled. "You really want to play that game, Neo?" he asked in a whisper. Cole closed his eyes and turned on his mind link, saying to Neo, "I am in total control here, Dark Key. If you don't believe me then try this on for size." Still using his mind only, Cole welded an imaginary whip and struck Neo's on his back in his mind, three times. The body flinched and tried to get away from the wall. "So you will start calling me Sir and aloud you will beg me to get you down, or I will give you some more. And Dark Key, my mind is very creative." Cole pulled the man's head back further and stared into his eyes.

The Dark Key smiled as he whispered, "Did you forget, what I feel so does Neo? How long do you think he can hold out especially with that present I left in there with him? You saw how the boy was when you found him. My master's gifts are unique, don't you think?"
,
Marco watched and saw Neo flinch three times as if something had hit him. The noticed the Captain's eyes were closed, so he dare not speak and break Cole's concentration. He had learned a long time ago when the Captain seemed to go into himself, you did not talk, you barely moved.

The gift had been dark energy, or dark chi, which when present where Neo was, would make him feel both physical and mental pain. The elves would be able to block the mental pain, without the Dark Key knowing but they would not be able to block the physical pain. The Dark Key was still bodily connected to Neo's psyche. Artkee, the elf that had been sent was good, so the mental pain would not be felt. To the part that was truly Neo, the pain would feel uncomfortable but not bad. To the part that was the Dark Key, the physical and mental pain would be all too real. Cole was going to have to play this carefully. Closing his eyes again, he said in his mind, "I have a job to do, Dark Key. What makes you think a little pain to any of my men would faze me. The job comes first my men come second. Now do I hear a yes sir and any begging coming from you, or do I use my active imagination again?" Cole's men always came first, but he could not give into the Thing.

The Dark Key had pushed as much as he dared. He was craving the medicine again and had been hiding the craving. The pain was becoming unbearable and so with tears in his eyes he pleaded, "Sir, please I meant no disrespect. It is the cravings sir, they make me act rash, sir?"

Cole let go of Neo's hair and stepped back two steps. "Since you still have at least 45 hours before you are scheduled for more medicine I think you should work hard on lessening any pain to your body, don't you, Cooler. Now I do believe you have explained in some respect your disrespectful attitude, but I do not believe I have heard any request to be able to be released. Would you like to try again, Cooler?"

The Dark Key cringed as he pleaded, "Yes, sir. Please the pain is unbearable. I need another shot...I will do as you want...please..."

Marco was snapped out of his thoughts as he heard the pleading. This was the exact way his brother was speaking the day, Marco had learned what he had talked Neo into. "This Key must have been made after I confronted Neo and that Cloaked man? Why did the Cloaked Man see me as a threat to his hold over my brother? Captain? Is this a clue?" Marco wondered if the Cloaked Man he had confronted at fifteen was somehow linked to the traitor that had betrayed the PACT five years ago.

Cole sent a mental message back to Marco, saying, "Yes the timing is what makes it a clue. The wording came from after Cloak Man thought you were going to be able to get your brother out of his clutches. Now settle down and pay attention. You are about to have a little more control over this thing, if I can play this right." . Turning his attention back to Neo he said aloud, "I will let you down, but you will have more respect for me and my people, including your brother, or we will go at this again. I do not make idol threats, Neo, as you well know." Cole motioned for Tarka to undo the straps on Neo's legs and arms. When the man was loose, and had just turned with his head down, waiting for orders, Cole nodded. "Go and sit in that chair Neo. Your brother will now decide if you are going to do anything else to night, even if you are going to be able to eat and where you are to sleep." The Dark Key walked Neo's body to the chair and sat down, sitting very straight, tall and stiff. Cole looked at Marco, grinned and pointed toward Neo, as he took his seat behind his desk.

Neo watched out of the corner of his eye as Marco walked toward him, stopping just a few inches from where he hung on the wall. "You have not earned another shot. Maybe after your training session tomorrow with your new team...at the moment I think your dinner will be whatever your team ate. As for your room, I doubt trainees get a hospital bed to sleep on."

He turned to Fixer, "Captain, I believe he has earned no special treatment though we can still have him confined to solitary confinement."

Nodding Cole said to Neo, "Attention, trainee." When Neo slowly stood at attention looking back and forth between himself and Marco, Cole continued. "You will be taken to the training grounds where there is a nice, if not comfortable, room where you will be guarded. You may sometime in the future earn the privilege of sleeping with your team. Your meal will be brought to you there. Since you are not on guard duty tonight, lights out will be at 9:00 pm, which is…" Cole looked at his watch, "… about an hour and a half from now. Wakeup call is at 6:00 am and at that time you will eat with your team, who are stationed in tents not far from the training grounds. When you have finished with your day tomorrow, your brother will decide whatever comforts, including your medicine you might receive. Now you are dismissed." Cole waved toward the door. Tarka stepped forward to follow Neo out the door.

The Dark Key walked slowly looking over his shoulder a couple of times to see how close the elf was following. He shook his head as he realized the elf was not going to let him more than a few steps out of his reach. The elves were also the only ones on the island who could do magic, so even if he got a good head start he knew he was not going to get far. As he got into the jeep to be taken to the training grounds, he started to think of what was going to be needed for the next day. It galled him to think he was going to have to make friends with the weaklings in the man's small army. At least he was going to be able to gather information for his maker that should get him some time to use this body for some real fun.


(OOC: This thread is happening the same time as Isle of Perdition, Marco Re-learns the Future: The Beginning" so some of what is happening will be copied in both threads just from different points of view. This thread is a joint thread between Barbie and Jane, We hope you enjoy it)

(OOC: This thread is continued in Elsewhere, Neo's First Week in the Service of Perdition)

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