Ficlet: Out of the Suit

[amedia]

Story Title: Out of the Suit
Author: Amedia
Rating: G
Warning: Kinda dark.
Characters/Ship: Jeb Cain, Zero (offscreen). Gen.
Disclaimer: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by Imagiquest Entertainment. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.
Summary: Jeb returns from getting Zero out of the suit.
Word Count: 345
Author's Note: Response to moony_blues's drabble request at http://amedia.livejournal.com/153143.html?thread=798519#t798519: Tin Man, of course. [...] A secondary character, like Zero and/or Adora, would be nice.
Thanks again to TODS for helping me with a story idea - he pretty much came up with this one when I was going blank.


The sentries at the gates of the town reported that Jeb Cain was on his way to the palace.

Wyatt Cain, who had been in a conference with the royal family, relaxed visibly when the news was brought.

"Sounds like things went okay, then," said DG. "He should be here any minute."

"What was his mission?" asked the Queen. So many things were happening in the first few days of transition that she had delegated the oversight of a number of minor missions to trustworthy advisors.

Cain answered. "He went to get Zero out of the iron suit and bring him back here for trial."

"You put Zero in the suit?" Azkadellia asked.

"It seemed the right thing to do at the time," said Cain. "We couldn't let him go, didn't have facilities to keep a prisoner. Couldn't kill him in cold blood." Even if we'd wanted to.

"I'm not criticizing," she said quickly. "I was just thinking ... Zero had a strange fascination with the suit. He was so claustrophobic he wouldn't even take an elevator. So he thought the iron suit was the worst punishment ever devised. That's why he used it as often as he did."

A servant opened the door. "Jeb Cain to see you, Your Majesty."

"Show him in immediately," said the Queen. "And bring refreshments."

Jeb entered alone, looking travel-weary, satisfied, but troubled. He bowed to the Queen. "Mission accomplished, your Majesty," he said. "I dropped the prisoner off with the proper authorities."

"Thank you, Mr. Cain," she said. "Please sit down."

"It's good to see you, son," said Wyatt Cain, stepping forward.

Jeb accepted the proffered hug, grateful for the simple comfort of normal human contact. "It's good to see you too, Dad," he responded.

"So you kept your word," his father said. "You went back and set Zero free."

Jeb remembered the creature that came out of the iron suit, incoherent, alternately raging and weeping, hitting out one moment, clinging the next, and always, always, the eyes utterly empty.

"No," said Jeb slowly. "He'll never be free."

Comments

[bulleteyes.livejournal.com]

Well done! It was the comment about Zero's eyes that was the sealer on this tale of unintended horror. Those are always the tales that grab me with the fiercest hold. Intended horror is upfront. It is the stories where any character is unintentionally placed in a circumstance that shreds their spirit that are the most horrific in my opinion.

I'd like to read a companion piece to this written from Zero's perspective *wink*

[amedia.livejournal.com]

Thank you for the kind comments! Hm, if the Zero-version bubbles up I will certainly write it, but I don't think I can make it come, if you know what I mean.

[bulleteyes.livejournal.com]

I do know what you mean. I do like to plant a notion for a good authour to let them know their work had me thinking.

[oddsbobs.livejournal.com]

niiice... creepy, but nice! I love how Cain is so matter-of-fact when he explains why they put Zero in the suit - it's all very logical and sensible, but there was an entirely different reason and they all know it.

[amedia.livejournal.com]

I love how Cain is so matter-of-fact when he explains why they put Zero in the suit - it's all very logical and sensible, but there was an entirely different reason and they all know it.

True, true!!! Thanks for the comment - I appreciate your insight!