Chapter 4; Webs and Control:
Warning; Rated M for swearing, violence, eventual lemony things, and lots of icky germs. You have been warned…
Disclaimer: I do not own 'Osmosis Jones' or any of its characters, I am only using them to fulfill my own disillusioned dreams and fan-girl wishes. : P
Heya guys! You know how in the last chapter I gave you all a list of songs that go with the story nicely? Well, if you could give the song 'Poison' by Groove Coverage a listen to, you would be helping yourselves since I have a character dance to this song later in this chapter. I also changed the lyrics to the first line to fit more with Thrax, hope you like.
Once again, thank you all reviews for your lovely comments, hope you like this chapter as well, will be giving the preview for chapter 5 soon...
Well, another long chapter folks, I think I'm just gonna give up on having a chapter length maximum, I just can't control myself. Enjoy!
~o0o~
Secret deals and schemes, they're like spider webs, invisible and harmless to most, but to the innocent fly they catch, deadly
Three days. Seventy-two hours. Four thousand three hundred and twenty minutes. That's how long Thrax had been living in the abandoned hospital now; his infectious powers restrained, Jones as his personal babysitter, and himself nearly bored to death. Every painfully tedious and aggravating second seemed to crawl past the virus, made longer still by the company he had no choice but to keep.
"Drix, what do ya think you're doing? Competing for house wife of the year?" Asked Jones as he sat himself on a stool by the island counter in the kitchen section of the so named 'scrounge lounge'.
"What are you talking about Jones?" Questioned the cold pill as he flipped another pancake before he moved on to stir the scramble eggs, moving about the kitchen in an expertly manner.
"What I'm talking about is your just one apron away from being Martha Stewart's ugly sister. Ease up on the spread man!" Thrax cringed at the crescendo of the cops' argument as the cold pill huffed over how he was at least making use of his morning rather than wasting it away in bed like he was. Three days of this, it was enough to make anyone want to kill, let alone a mass murder who had no problem with homicide in the first place. If Thrax thought it took him expert power of control to curb his violent tendencies before he moved in dumb and dumber, it had grown exponentially. Certainly the luxury of having twenty four access to the gym on the third floor as well as steaming sauna that had been recently installed helped ease the tension the virus felt, but then again so would spilling Jones' cytoplasm all over the floor…
Thrax shook his head. No, patience, you lasted this far and just imagine how much sweeter killing the cell and every last living thing in this body is going to be once it is all over, thought the virus as he tried to ignore the increasing volume of Jones' voice. Taking another swig of his coffee, Thrax leaned back further on the leather couch he had come to claim as his own, absent mindedly wishing for something to at least allow him to enjoy his boring morning quietly.
Never had the phrase 'be careful what you wish for cause you just might get it' been more aptly appropriate.
Slippers shuffling, sweat pants billowing, arms crossed over chest and face twisted into a squinting glare came Rachel, Zane following after her as she made her way down the stairs. The three men hardly noticed her presence until she had made her way into the kitchen section of the scrounge lounge, surprising both Jones and Drix.
"Yikes Ray! What happened to you? You look like one of your corpses got a hold of you and recruited you as a fellow member of the walkin dead!" Exclaimed Jones as he wondered if the sapphire blue immunity cell could even see what with her hair a virtual torrent of tangled locks that fell over her face, covering her sleep deprived eyes.
"Morning Miss Rachel, I assume the autopsies had taken you longer than expected to complete last night? Well, you know what they say, people can't always be dropping like-"
"If either of you two say another word, I will personally bash this cup of coffee into your brains" Growled out Ray as she took a huge swig from said mug of coffee, downing it all in one gulp. To say that she had a splitting headache from staying up all night squinting at microscopes and body parts would be putting it gently, and hearing the two cops chatter was not helping it or her regular morning temper by any means.
"Well now, somebody woke up on the wrong side of the bed this morning, and you have yet to even get your daily intake of bitch flakes in-"
From the other side of the floor, Thrax grinned slightly as he listened to Jones exclaim in surprise as he barely dodged a well-aimed piece of glassware and strain to catch it before it shattered against the wall. If there was one remotely entertaining thing about the morning routine of Jones and Drix arguing like an old married couple, it was Ray coming down to violently break them up before heading over to work on the others side of the hospital. Hearing slippers shuffling near to where he was seated, Thrax turned to watch Ray make her way over to a lounge chair and slump herself into it.
"I…I take it last night was rough?" Timidly asked Drix as he followed Zane over to where Ray was sitting, a frying pan by his side in case she was hiding another mug on her person. Rachel couldn't even manage an exasperated roll of her eyes she was so put out, but she decided to answer the cold pill none the less.
"Yeah, you could say that. You remember the double germicide that happened the morning the mayor met with us? Well, the murderer got a lot better at killing. A lot better" Around six pm yesterday she got a call from Andrew Aspleen that there had been a mass slaughter in the left pinkie toe district and that she should come over and clean up. After getting over the disturbing shock that Andrew was going to be the liaison for the team to the FPD and Colonic, she resentfully complied, secretly grateful to the ass of a cell for giving her the chance to get out of the hospital. But that minute amount of gratefulness was instantly washed away when she arrived at the crime scene. Five bodies, five germ and bacterial bodies were strewn together in a half-hazardous pile of dismembered anatomy, and Ray had to bag, clean, move, and examine them all with no assistance whatsoever. And on top of that, Andrew stayed for the whole initial investigation, taunting and teasing her from beyond the police tape with his presence. Frank, how she hated that man.
"I see, and what else do you make of it so far?" Inquired Drix as he scooted further away from where Thrax was seated, not liking how close he had accidentally gotten to the virus. Rachel was just about to shout at the cold pill for asking such a mundane question, but then stopped herself when she remembered he had not been there. Since Thrax could not be without at least Drix or Jones by his side at all times, and on top of that was not allowed to be seen in public yet, the two cops were not allowed to come onto an active crime scene, even one involved in the case they were assigned, and instead have to wait until it was already searched and void of FPD employees before they could do their own investigation. This was by order of that rapidly becoming unpopular mayor of theirs recently when Jones called to ask him just when exactly they would be fulfilling their purpose as 'Frank's Finest', to which he only replied it would be soon.
"The unsub is defiantly a male, that much is certain now. The upper body strength needed to reduce the bodies to the state they were in points to that. He's also got more careless as well, not as in his work is any more sloppy, but this time he not only took down five germs and bacteria by himself, but allowed them a chance to fight against him, which of course, they obviously lost" Ray finally replied to Drix, the corner of her eye detecting Jones coming up alongside him, listening intently. Zane, who scooted up to her side, also seemed to be listening in, but his eyes were focused on the virus that had grown used to ignoring his hungry glares.
"And even though the unsub killed them and mutilated their bodies in the same way as he did before, this time he…took, a couple of things" Jones and Drix shared a concerned glance with each other, not liking the tone Ray's voice turned.
"By a couple of things you mean…"
"Organs? Yeah" Ray finished for the cold pill who was reluctant to say the rest of the sentence aloud. Ray noticed an eye brow of Thrax's raise up in interest as he turned to fully look at the small group that had gathered at his right. This somewhat surprised Ray, normally the virus ignored whatever chatter was around him and would just continue to stare out a window or close his eyes. But then again, if she nearly jumped up at the opportunity to get out of this hospital even if it meant doing so under the command of Andrew, she could imagine a virus used to roaming freely would be somewhat interested in the goings on of the outside world, especially if it involved murder.
"I told you this guy was a sick psycho" Said Jones as he leaned a casual hand against the back of the chair Ray was slumping in, but removed it quickly when she glared at him.
"So, why do you think he took the organs anyway Ray?" Asked Jones after a moment. Rachel thought over the question for a minute when something struck her. Ozzy shouldn't be asking her this question, nor should she be the one to answer it. With a grin, she turned her eyes to meet those belonging to the virus, momentarily surprised to see them already looking in her direction.
"First off Jones, need I remind you that I am not a cop? Second, why don't you ask Red here? That is the reason Colonic wanted him around, to give us insight into the criminally inclined mind and all its twisted habits" The two cops stiffened at the logic of Ray's statement as the virus' usually permanent sneer he had when they were around turned into a smirk, obviously happy at the prospect of Jones asking him for anything. Ray personally couldn't care less about either reaction, she just wanted someone besides her pulling their own weight, plus her headache had reached a painfully new height what with all this chatter.
"Uh, well…I guess that's…true. Yo, tall, dark, red and ugly! Whatca got to say?" Jones finally asked Thrax once he had steeled his pride. The virus' smirk flickered for a bit into a fuming sneer, but then he corrected himself.
"You ever hear of transduction or transformation Jones?" Thrax almost growled out, his tone condescending. The slight bewildered look on the immunity cell's face told the virus the answer was a defiant no.
"It's when bacteria, fungi, or virus' gain new DNA by either being infected by each other, transformation, or just picking up stray pieces of DNA from the environment, transduction. They then assimilate the DNA within themselves by ingesting it and it becomes a part of them, giving them traits that belonged previous owner" Ray answered for Thrax, hoping her translation was simple enough for Jones.
"So this guy, he's stealing the organs of other germs and bacteria to gain their DNA forcefully, to get tougher?" Ray nodded her head while Thrax rolled his eyes and turned back to face the window he was looking out before everyone came over, becoming uninterested in watching the wheels in Jones head slowly start to turn. While he liked to see the immunity cell at a loss, the tension of having his hated enemy near him but untouchable thanks to the antibodies was almost too much for the virus to bear.
"So then, that means he's…eating their organs?" There was another nod from Ray, who secretly smiled sympathetically at the shared disturbed reaction of Jones and Drix. Though the two harden cops where knowledgeable and brave in their own way, there were many dark things they had yet to learn about the viral world that only a few cells, like Ray, were cursed to know. Steeling his troubled expression into a look of command, as if he made up his mind about something, Jones turned towards Thrax.
"How often does a bacteria and funi-funga, whatever, do this? Why does he do it?" Sensing the questions were been directed to him, Thrax turned to face Jones, momentarily considering not answering him this time. No, if he wanted Jones and Golden-Boy to grow comfortable enough around him to possibly let some information he would be needing slip out, he better humor the immunity cell, as much as it pained him. And it pained him, a lot.
"Not often, in fact, this might be the first time I have personally heard about it happening. As to why, it's because this guy is weak, or thinks he is"
"But he was able to take down seven germs and bacteria by himself, how can he think he was weak?" Asked Drix. Thrax took one last sip from his now cold cup of coffee before setting it down on the coffee table in front of him, once more turning to face who addressed him, his voice betraying his annoyance over the barrage of questions. This was the most the cops had spoken to him since their imprisonment in the hospital, and Thrax was not thrilled at the change of habit.
"How the hell should I know? All I know is, the few times I have heard germs doing this, it's usually because they were nothing but common colds or mild fevers that wanted to be taken seriously, but still ended up falling flat because they didn't know how to handle the abilities they stole" Jones was taken aback by Thrax choice of the word 'stole' for a moment. His tone of voice gave the impression that he was not fond of the idea, as if it was something that he would never be caught doing. If Thrax thought it below himself to steal powers from fellow germs and basically use the viral world's equivalent of steroids, then maybe there was some sort of…honor…to be found inside the virus? Shaking the disturbing notion out of his head, Jones concentrated on what to do next. Straightening himself, Jones reined in the attention of the others.
"Alright, I think it's time we finally got our lazy butts moving and into the game. I'm sick and tired of waiting for the mayor to give us an order; we're going to visit the crime scene. Drix, give that Andrew guy a call and tell him what we're up to so he can meet us there, I want to talk to him. Thrax, grab your coat and something to hide that ugly mug of yours, you're coming with. Ray, could you go over the bodies once more? I feel that there's more than meets the eye about this unsub that can be linked to the way he attacks" Rachel was slightly shocked by the authority and certainty Jones' tone of voice took as he spoke. But then she reminded herself that he was the, for lack of a better term, savior of Frank and a good cop to boot, so it was only natural he would have some leadership qualities to him. Though she would never to admit it to the immunity cell, hell, admitting this to herself was painfully embarrassing enough.
"On it Jones. Should I have him arrange transportation for us?" Asked Drix as he took out a cell phone from Frank knows where. Jones shook his head, a cocky grin spreading across his face.
"Nah. I prefer to arrive in style"
o0o
It didn't take long for Drix to call Andrew Aspleen and explain that with or without the mayor's orders, they were going to the crime scene he invited Ray to. By the way Drix reported what Andrew told him, the brain cell seemed to find it comical that they decided to defy the mayor's orders to stay put, but complied none the less. It seemed to Jones that they had almost been expecting this of him, but then again, his trouble with authority was no secret to anyone.
The ambulance Jones found conveniently lounging about in the hospital's private garage took a sharp turn, causing the virus who occupied the back to grip tighter to the handle at his right, muttering curses meant for the damned cop. Though he was glad to get out of the abandoned hospital he had been literally trapped in for the past three days, it twisted his insides that it was under Jones' orders. Or maybe his insides were twisting because the same immunity cell didn't know how to drive under sixty.
Finally, after the many twists and turns it took to get from the lower gut where the hospital was to the left pinkie toe, they arrived. Stopping the outdated ambulance abruptly on the edge of the police tape that still bordered the large storage house the murder took place, Jones leapt out, his shades shielding his eyes from the late morning light.
"Jones, how…pleasant it is to see you again, though I did not think it would be so soon, seeing as how your orders where to wait" Andrew greeted as he dusted off the small debris Jones' half-hazardous parking had kicked up. Upon seeing Drix get out of the passenger's seat of the ambulance and Thrax the back, Jones noticed the brain cell take Thrax's presence in his stride. In fact, the cell looked almost intrigued to be seeing the almost successful slayer of Frank.
"Pleasant? Huh, I can't say the same about you Drew, but I'm just so gosh darn flattered that you are!" Jones replied sardonically as he pushed his way past the suit and onto the crime scene, sensing the others following him, even Thrax. Jones really had to hand it to the mayor, he really knew how to make the virus perform his end of the deal, mainly that he would not try to run away or slaughter anyone mercilessly on pain of antibiotic ensued death, and so far, so good. Now, to try to make a better offer to the virus…but first, other matters.
"I think I will have a talk with the mayor about procuring a more suitable, not to mention more subtle, vehicle for you all to use" Andrew said as if he didn't hear Jones speak at all as he walked beside him. Jones let a small victory grin spread on his face for a second before he wiped it off. The others, especially Ray, might not know it, but Jones actually had something along the line of a plan going through his head. First, was to get a vehicle for them all to use, since obviously he wasn't letting the virus get near enough to touch his precious baby. Next, well, next was to get some cases solved, to do what the crazy mayor wanted them to do but for some reason ordered them to wait. But in between that, he needed to a have a little chat with a couple of annoyances.
"That would be great Drewey, try to get something in blue, would ya? Oh, and also, you better talk to your boss about us. I am getting kinda of sick of being out of the loop and uninformed, not to mention bored from just sitting around doing nothin" Finally walking through the huge loading doors of the storage building that was open, Jones and the others that were following him arrived at another taped off section, where the area that the bodies that Ray had been talking about had been found the day before. She was right, it had been a mess, the pool of long dried blood and odd bits of flesh were almost the size of a half a tennis court, turning the dirt floor a disturbing shade of green. It still took him by surprise that anyone, even someone like Ray, could ever want to have the job of being the one to examine such revulsion up close.
"Is that all you wanted? I think I can manage all that, so there was no need for us to meet essentially" Andrew complained as he became somewhat uncomfortable of his proximity towards the bloodied area he had followed Jones to.
"Yeah, you do that. But one last thing before you go Drew" The brain cell looked at the light blue immunity cell, their eyes locking "I would like you not to bother Ray anymore; it seems to put her in a bad mood for some reason. And, oh, if you think that you have any rank over us, you can forget it. I'll gonna be the one callin' the shots, and that includes when we visit a crime scene, got it?" The right hand man of the mayor smiled, obviously amused by the cop's notion that he really had any control over what was being done here. Oh well, would did it matter if he did let the immunity cell think he had the tiniest bit of influence? It would only serve to fuel the team's purpose in the end.
"Very well Jones, if that is all you want, I'll see that it gets done. As for Ray, can I help it if I just happen to make her skin crawl?" With a mockingly polite grin, the brain cell left the little party of misfits to their own devices, leaving the scene in the chauffeured limo he had arrived in. Jones in that moment admired Rachel, the fact the she had so far managed not to kill the brain cell even he was also starting to harbor a lot of resent for, made her eligible for saint hood in his book.
"Mmh, it does appear that Ray was right, the unsub did allow the victims to fight back, there's bullet casings everywhere" Mused Drix aloud from behind Jones. Turning to fall back to where his friend and the virus had stopped, Jones decided it was time to check off the last item on his to do list for the day.
"It would help if we knew for certain the germs were fighting just the unsub and not each other, that way we can for sure rule out gang violence. How about you go around and do what you do best Drix?" Asked Jones, obviously inferring about the pill's greater skills in collecting evidence and analyzing crime scenes in comparison to his. Nodding when he saw that Ozzy had taken a stand near Thrax, taking over 'virus sitting' to give his buddy a break, Drix wandered off closer to the scene of death to see what he could dig up.
Now alone, the immunity cell and red virus looked at one another. This was probably closest they had been to each other in the three days they had been living under the same roof, occupying the same rooms. Both knew they were completely disgusted with the other, and so pretty much had avoided every opportunity of speaking directly to each other, except of course when an opportunity to mock or threaten presented itself. There was also the tension they felt being around each other, being close enough to finish their hated enemy off, yet knowing that if they did, what mattered most to them would be taken away forever.
"What is it you want Jones?" Thrax finally asked out loud, removing his shades to look the immunity cell straight in the eyes. From the way the cell kept glaring at him, he could tell that Jones' had something on his mind, and whether Thrax wanted to hear it or not, he was going to say it.
"How long you gonna play Mr. Disinterested Psychopath?" The questions took the virus, admittedly, by surprise. But it was not long before a smirk grew on the Thrax's face. He should have known the cell would have been watching him just as he was, and obviously Jones had clued into a couple of things. Thrax had to give him credit this round and actually for once felt like telling the truth, if just to tease.
"As long as it takes to get what I want"
"And what you want is your chain, right?" Thrax didn't answer, merely folded his arms across his chest, still smirking down at the immunity cell. Jones took that as a definite yes.
"And then you plan on somehow getting over the antibody problem, and killing us all" Thrax noticed this last bit from Jones was not a question, but a statement.
"So whatca you gonna do about it, Jones?" Thrax asked, giving Jones the not too subtle hint that his inclinations were right. The two enemies sized themselves up in front of one another, their glares clashing. Then Jones himself smirked as he removed his own sunglasses.
"I want to make a deal with you" Again, the virus was taken by surprise, and this time, he didn't even try to hide it as he laughed, the amusement of this scenario too much for Thrax to take.
"What? You must be joking Jones"
"I'm not" Jones replied, his smirk turning down into a disgusted sneer, though it was not directed at Thrax. He imagined this sickening feeling that was turning his stomach sour might have been what the mayor felt when he was making a deal with Thrax not four days ago, that is, if the mayor still had any feeling within him. He knew that what he was doing was against everything he believed in, but he needed to do this. If his inclinations were correct, than everything that mattered to him was in danger, but in the end, between being faithful to his beliefs or keeping his loved ones safe, he would choose the latter every time, even if it meant dragging himself further into the web of lies and secrets the mayor had already started to weave for them. The virus studied the cell standing in front of him, reading into his troubled, but still sincere expression.
"Alright, I'm game. What do you got up your sleeve that you think I want?" He finally asked. With a sigh, Jones began to reveal to his hated foe all that he had been planning right under his friends for past couple of days.
"I'll help you get your chain back, in exchange for your corporation in solving crimes and help in finding out the mayor's motive" The phrase 'third times the charm' went through the virus' mind as he managed to contain his surprise, and just kept on smirking, his mind already coming up with questions.
"Mayor's motive? I think his motive was pretty clear back at his office. Did you not get the subtle hint that he wants Frank cleaned up? Or do you need to have it shoved down your throat some more?"
"That's not it" Jones told the virus, his patience with the infection in his life nearing its end "It can't be it. I just got this…this feeling that there is more to this whole thing than what meets the eye, besides wanting to get Frank healthy. The black mail for instance, he never seemed like the kind of cell that would do that…"
"But he did. Are you really willing to trade my chain for just my help on cases? I am already doing that as a part of the mayor's deal with me" Said Thrax, moving on to the next question he had. If Jones wanted to sell out to him for such low terms, who was he to stop him? However, Thrax would be damned if he didn't question the cell's reasoning. Pulled out of his thoughts, Jones looked back up at the much taller virus, matching his sneer.
"What deal? The mayor has you by the balls Thrax, you got no choice but to do as he says, or else bye-bye cruel world" The virus' eyes widen in anger over not only Jones' words, but at how regrettably true they were. However, Thrax tactfully calmed himself down.
"In my deal, you help, really help, with cases until we find out what's behind this whole thing, and in exchange, I will get your chain back" Jones added.
"So then you know where it is?"
"No, but I know that I can find out where it is faster than you can" Thrax considered all that the cell had just put before him. True, as a cop, Jones had better connections to the cells that would know where his chain was, and in exchange for only helping find out why the mayor made a bargain with him, that would be easy. Too easy.
"What makes you think I would trust you enough to go through with your end of this bargain? Besides, the mayor has promised me my chain in exchange for a few tricks, why is your deal so special?" Jones face went serious, and he took a deep breath to steady himself; this was it, the deal breaker.
"The mayor, he did promise that he would give the chain back, but, only on the term that you leave the body, and not harm single cell. Me, you help me find his reason for doing all this, and I will not only get your chain back faster for you, but I will fight you" Thrax's eyebrows rose in disbelief, unsure of his meaning.
"I will fight you to the death, I will give you a chance to kill me before you leave this body for good" Jones clarified, his voice certain and determined.
"You really think that killing you matters enough to me to back stab the cell who's offering me a sure thing?" Thrax questioned, but Jones could see a disturbingly delighted grin spreading across his face already.
"I don't think, I know it" The grin was now splitting the virus' face, now this was a deal he could sink his teeth into. However, it was not yet tempting enough to actually bit down on.
"Add you and pill getting off my back every couple of hours, and then you got a deal" Said Thrax, who calmed down his grin to a smirk. Jones considered this addition to the bargain, and then too smirked.
"Done; so long as you stay out of trouble, otherwise this whole thing is off" Standing in front of each other, eyes locked, smirks shared, the pair of enemies hesitantly shook on it, blue clashing against red.
"Deal"
"Deal"
"Looking forward to you fulfilling your end of the bargain Jones, especially the part where you die" Thrax said tauntingly before he turned away from the immunity cell to reflect on all that had just happened. Wiping his right hand on his jacket, Jones to turned away to go join Drix.
"Don't count on it Thrax; you will, after all, be fighting me. And I refuse to lose…"
o0o
"B-but Jones! Our orders were to keep a constant eye on the virus, we can't just let him-"
"Our orders were to make sure that he stays out of trouble, and so far he has, so what's the harm in letting him wander about the hospital for a bit? Besides, if he does cause trouble, I can just shoot him"
"But Jones-"
"Look, I don't know about you Drix, but I am sick and tired of having to babysit Thrax all the time. I want a little break, and I know you do to! You haven't even cracked open a book since we've been here and-"
Thrax didn't stay for the rest of the conversation Jones and his friend were having over allowing him to wander about the hospital, leaving the two alone by exiting through the arch way that led to the middle section of the building. The instant they had arrived back at the hospital after spending over two hours searching and investigating the storage house, Thrax decided to take advantage of Jones' bargain, prompted to leave not only because he wanted to be alone, but also because of a certain rabid 'Darling' sleeping on a couch, unattended by owner. But of course, Jones' misinformed friend protested.
It took a few moments, but soon the voices of the cops died down, and the only thing to be heard by the virus was his own footsteps.
Utter silence, how he missed it.
Jones would make good on his end of the bargain, and would manage to convince his friend that would be fine to let Thrax wander alone every once in a while, for their sanity as well as his own. Thrax was certain of that part, however, the part about his chain, was uncertain. But, for only the price of having to help Jones figure out the mystery only he saw, and with the bonus of having an 'honorable final duel' with the cell before he left was too tempting to not take.
Too tempting to let the cell think he wouldn't stab him in the back like he was planning on their mayor already. Let the cop think that once I got my chain, whether with his help or not, that I'll be satisfied with only killing him, thought Thrax. I will have my chance at finishing off this body, once I have my chain, once I kill Jones and his friends, once I overcome the antibod-
Thrax stopped in his tracks. The antibodies. So far, everything from getting a sucker to do the heavy lifting when it came to finding his chain to getting private time arranged had gone better than the virus thought it would thanks to Jones. But the progress of getting over the antibodies, was not. Every opportunity he got, Thrax tried to summon his infectious powers, and every time he couldn't last long enough to even feel his hand become warm. Seems that after the first trial, the antibodies responded faster and faster to Thrax's powers, and his resistance to the cold he felt inside himself grew shorter and shorter. It frustrated the virus to no end, to be denied the part of him that made him all he was, he felt like a dog muzzled, humiliated with the indignity of being thought tamed by those who placed it on him.
A cold, cruel sneer crossed Thrax's face as he forced himself to keep on walking, encouraged by the thought that he would, no matter what, overcome this. He was after all, El Muerte Rojo, the Red Death.
Lost in his thoughts of revenge and schemes to get his chain back, Thrax soon found himself in a part of the hospital he had never been to before. Walking down the empty hall way whose only source of light was the few and far between windows, Thrax spotted an archway in front of him, thinking it most likely lead to the garage Jones found the tin bucket they used to visit the crime scene. Curiosity and boredom getting the best of him, Thrax stepped through the large archway, following the hall as it turned him down to the right. Once more the virus allowed himself to become lost in his thoughts he had not been able to be alone with for a long time now.
Your cruel desire, your blood like fire
One look could kill my pain, your thrill
Thrax was pulled out of the labyrinth that was his thoughts, suddenly aware that somewhere in front of him, music was playing. Soon a fast, techno beat with a pulsating pound to it started after the woman sang the first two lines of a song that sounded familiar to Thrax; maybe he heard it at a club one time. Tempted to find out where the music was coming from exactly, the virus followed the sound.
I wanna love you but I better not touch
I wanna hold you but my senses tell me to stop
I wanna kiss you but I want it too much
I wanna taste you but your lips are venomous poison
You're poison running through my veins, you're poison
I don't wanna break these chains
The music slowed as Thrax stepped through yet another archway, finding himself in a large, spacious room with linoleum flooring, small, silver, square pull out cabinets lining every part of the walls, parted by the occasional door or window. In the middle of the room were a couple of empty autopsy tables, both stationary and movable, a few wheeled swivel chairs, and Ray dancing with a mop. That last detail especially held the virus's interest as he watched her, she completely unaware of his presence.
Your mouth, so hot, your web, I'm caught
Your skin, so wet, black lace on sweat
Singing along with the lyrics with a confident voice, Ray continued to twirl around, using the mop in place of a partner. As the music once more picked up in tempo, so did the sapphire colored cell's movements, her long, white lab coat billowing after her.
I hear you calling and it's needles and pins
I wanna hurt you just to hear you screaming my name
Don't wanna touch you but you're under my skin
I wanna kiss you but your lips are venomous poison
You're poison running through my veins, you're poison
I don't wanna break these chains
Once more, the music slowed, and so did Ray's dance, her body slowly swinging and bending with graceful lithe, obviously well-practiced. Her singing voice too was skilled, reminding the virus of the female jazz singers of decades past with the deep, smooth, smoky voices. Thrax had to admit, as he stood back and continued to watch Ray in her private world, this was defiantly a side, not to mention skill set, he would have never expected the no-nonsense immunity cell to have. And what a delightful surprise it was to have himself proven wrong for once.
Running deep inside my veins
Poison burning deep inside my veins
One look could kill my pain, your thrill
Tempo pulsating once more with heavy beats, Ray picked up her pace, a rare, bright smile on her face as she spun herself and the mop around. This had always been her favorite part of closing up shop for the day, killing to birds, the birds being clean up duty and her inability to stay still for too long, with one stone. The singing came as a side effect over the years this habit developed, and by now she knew all the words to her favorite songs by heart, as well as the dances she set to them. Like how the mop scrubbed away the day's dirt and grim, dancing washed away everything from headaches to troubles for Ray, giving her, even for just a rare moment, a feeling of serenity.
I wanna love you but I better not touch
I wanna hold you but my senses tell me to stop
I wanna kiss you but I want it too much
I wanna taste you but your lips are venomous poison
You're poison running through my veins, you're poison
I don't wanna break these chains
Poison!
Her black boot clad feet twisting her into twirl, Ray let her hips continue to control where the rest of her body would follow. Closing her eyes, she let herself completely go to the music, her body knowing what to do even without the guidance of her eyes as she sang the last verse.
I wanna love you but I better not touch
I wanna hold you but my senses tell me to stop
I wanna kiss you but I want it too much
I wanna taste you but your lips are venomous poison
You're poison running through my veins, you're poison
I don't wanna break these chains, poison…
Ending with a popped hip pose , mop landed in its bucket, and floor clean, Ray stood still for a moment, trying to catch the breath she didn't realize she was missing until the music stopped. With a small, rejuvenated chuckle, she let go of the mop to turn around, her hands busy fixing the messy bun her hair was trying to escape from and straightening her glasses.
"You know, you dance and sing pretty good, for a white blood cell" Said a smooth, husky voice from the corner. Ray froze in mid step, sickening dread gripping her stomach. She slowly lifted her gaze up to where the voice spoke from, praying it was anyone, anyone except for…
"Ah, crap" She said defeatedly as her eyes met those of a smirking virus. Quickly wiping away the shocked and horrified expression that fell on her face at this realization, Ray sneered at Thrax as she continued to walk over towards her desk that was pushed into a corner.
"Oh no baby, don't stop. I was just starting to enjoy the show" Said Thrax as his eyes followed her form as she moved past him. Right on cue, annoyed twitch.
"What are you doing without your keepers Red? What are you doing over in my side of the building?"
"Always the questions with you, isn't it Doc? Well, to tell you the truth, I've been rewarded time away from them for good behavior. I just was wandering around when I found myself here, and what a find…" He answered as he walked over to join Ray, whose was leaning over her desk, feigning concentration over some medical documents that were scattered over the desk top. She continued to ignore him even as he leaned up casually against the wall besides the desk, staring down amused at the immunity cell.
"Ah, come on, don't be acting shy now just cause I caught you in the act. If you wanted you could continue, but I don't think the mop was a worthy partner. Me on the other hand-"
"You know, most men would take my bitter insults and cold glares as a cue to leave me the hell alone" Ray bit out as she glanced up from her paper work, her face betraying her annoyance and the slight embarrassment she still felt over being spied on by the perverted virus "But not you, cause you're not like most men, are you?"
Straightening herself, Ray looked over the rim of her glasses as she met the smirk of the virus with a glare, grabbing an open bottle of water to take a couple of sips, her throat parched from her little work out. Watching her casually lean her back against the desk, Thrax looked her calm and close stance over. After the first day at the hospital, Ray had come to be completely relaxed around him, with or without her loyal pet or friends around her. Like so many things of late, this took him slightly by surprise. Not even Jones and Drix, who have worked with killers before, though not of Thrax's magnitude, still had yet to even unwind in front of him, whereas Ray smirked, taunted, and laughed at him as if he was just another cell that annoyed her instead of a virus. It was rather intriguing, and he wondered why she was able to do what no other cell could do once they knew who, and what, he was.
"The same could be said of you about baby" Thrax said, his voice dropping down to a smooth purr "You seem like the type of girl whose needs can't be met by most men. But I'm not most men…"
Oh Frank, nervously thought Ray as she recognized the hazardous tone and smirk of the virus, why does this psychopath always read my taunts as an invitation to flirt? Does he need me to spell it out for him to take the hint about how much I hate him? Hmm…maybe I should.
Game on then.
"You think you know what my needs are then? You think you could…satisfy them?" Asked Ray in a tone she hoped was seductive enough. When it came to forensics, she was a certified genius, dancing, decent enough, flirting, horribly inexperienced. Thankfully though, the virus took the bait, not noticing the slight uncertainty and discomfiture that underlined her voice and expression. Placing a clawed hand behind the desk space she was leaning against, Thrax came in closer, his towering stature causing Ray to look up at his leering face.
"You know I could baby" Thrax knew that there was something highly suspicious about the unnaturally cold woman's sudden warming up to his flirts, but he was enjoying this too much to not resist giving her the opportunity to show him what she had planned. His attempt of trying to make her twitch with annoyance once more for the sake of entertainment had taken an interesting turn, and he wanted to see where it led.
Turning herself over so her body was facing his, inadvertently shorting the already too close for comfort distance, Ray locked her obsidian blue eyes with the golden-yellow one that belonged to Thrax.
"I need you…" She whispered low, causing Thrax to lean in closer to hear.
"I want you..." Ray's lips curled up into a smile that should have served as a warning to the virus that kept closing the distance. But it was too late.
"To get the hell out of my face!" With that, she dumped the contents of the water bottle in her hand over Thrax's head, her shouting and sudden action catching him completely off guard. Frozen with an expression that amusingly resembled wide-eyed shock, Rachel smirked and chuckled freely at the virus beside her, who had taken a couple of steps backwards from her in surprise.
Game over.
"Hoped that cooled you down enough hot stuff to realize I'm not interested in playing around with you. Now get out of here before I call Zane over to chew your face off!" She had come a long way since her first meeting with the virus, and even as she saw his look of disbelief grow into one of burning anger, she didn't feel anything close to a shiver of the spine. Then again, this shouldn't surprise to her, she was always quick to adjust, not to mention she already had plenty of experience in dealing with deadly viruses before she even came to work for FPD…
To her surprise, what met her ears wasn't another flirt, a threat, or even a warning over what she had just done to the most deadly virus Frank had ever come across. It was laughter. Rich, husky, deep laughter coming from the virus, and for some reason, the sound of it made Ray prefer a threat or even an unabashed flirt from the virus, anything but that sound.
"Oh baby! There's just never a dull moment with you, is there?" Thrax finally said once he had recovered, though his tone and expression seemed a little too…feral to match his playful words. Before she could even retort to his comment, Thrax left the desk side to walk back over to the wide door way he had entered.
"I'll be looking forward to the next round of our little game baby" With that, he left, leaving Ray alone, bothered, fuming, and frankly, creeped out.
Once more in the hall way and alone with his thoughts, Thrax let out the breath he had been holding in. That had been a close one. That woman had no idea how close she had been to him showing her how he usually dealt with those who insulted him, man or woman besides. It was rather strange that, even though he had wanted to do the same to Jones and the cold pill many times before this, it was an insignificant woman who nearly pushed him over the edge. With a couple longer, deep breaths, he felt the threat of his infectious power that rose with his hidden anger diminish. If there was one, one, good thing to come out of all this, it was that his control over summoning his power had increased exponentially. Before, it would rise with his anger just like a tide would for a full moon, and he thought it just as natural. But now, it seems that everything, even his temper, could be controlled.
Without warning, Thrax punched at the concrete wall to his right, creating a noticeable hole in the innocent barrier without so as much a scrape on his part. Control, he hated that word, more specifically, he hated when it was applicable to him. He was El Muerte Rojo, no one could control death, and he should not have to control himself. But, he must, if he was to live and take revenge, he must control everything within himself.
Once again having to reign in his temper, as much as it infuriated him to do so, Thrax forced himself to walk on. Soon he found himself at the archway that he had followed before, but just before he went through it, he noticed a pair of double doors set only a little ways in front of him. Curious about the door way he missed his first time passing by, Thrax went up to it. With a minimal amount of strength, the rusted doors opened, allowing the virus to pass through.
The room was completely dark, though Thrax could see his breath come out in white puffs in front of his face, caused by the dramatic drop of temperature, chilling the slightly soaked virus. With a clawed hand, he felt the walls nearby for a light switch, and was soon rewarded. The lights flickered for a few moments before a cavernously large room became bathed in white light. Old fashioned ambulances, cars, trucks, and even motorcycles crowded the concrete floored space, tool chests half-hazardously left open, gizmos and gears strewn about carelessly. This was obviously the garage that Jones had procured the ambulance from Thrax deduced in an instant. Walking through the tight space left in between the vehicles, the virus recalled Rachel once mentioning that when the demolition crew left their job incomplete after loss of pay all those years ago, the previous mayor tried to put the building to use as a storage house for the junk he wanted to hide. While most of the stuff had been removed when the forensics department had moved in, a few things remained apparently.
Coming to a couple of bulky shapes hidden underneath a dusty white cloth, Thrax grabbed at the sheet to reveal what was underneath.
"Well, well, well. Who would have thought I would find such a beauty in here of all places?" Crooned the virus as his yellow eyes racked over the machine in front of him. It was a street racer, its vivid red and black paint rotting away from years of mistreatment and neglect. With an expert eye, Thrax came closer to the motorcycle, touching it here and there as he inspected its condition. Satisfied that besides a couple of rusting parts and chipped paint, it was still in good condition, Thrax stood up.
Since the good doctor was not quite willing to provided entertainment anymore, the virus considered it might be time for a change in hobbies, one that wouldn't make him come close to losing himself to his ever present rage, and thus, his life. A smirk once more graced Thrax's face as he placed the white sheet he had casted aside almost lovingly back onto the motorcycle, his mind made up. He would busy himself with other hobbies now that he had access to quiet, but he would never leave the doctor alone. She was just too entertaining.
Just like the thought of what he would do to her and then everyone else in this damned body once he gained control over everything, including himself.
~o0o~
The LaLaBlue Post:
Hey, just wanted to say a few things, first off, I fully realize that transduction or transformation are ways in which only bacterial cells can gain new DNA. But since this story is about cells in a man's body wearing clothes and solving crimes, I think I can bend the rules of basic biology a little. I will be doing similar things like this in the future, and I will try to be sure to point them out, but if any of you see anything I miss, feel free to point it out and correct me, respectfully please.
Anywho, I hope you liked that this was more from Thrax and Jones' point of view rather than Rachel's. Even though Thrax and Ray are the 'main characters' I must admit that I am looking forward to playing around with Ozzy's character in the future, especially since I kinda assigned him the role of leadership over the small team of misfits. I always got the feeling from the movie that he was more perspective than he seemed, and if nothing he was very street smart. Sure, he is cocky, overconfident, and at times rather annoying, but I personally kinda like that he is. Please tell me what you guys think about this, and whether you like or don't like the way I am portraying Jones.
I also like to have wonderfully teasing moments between Ray and Thrax, so you will be seeing more of those. They (mainly Thrax) just love their little games of cat and mouse, don't they? Right now I think the score is Ray: 2, Thrax: 1, so we'll be seeing if Thrax can even the score in the next chapter, that is, if Ray will be willing to play anymore…
BTW, unsub is a term from 'Criminal Minds' that I use. I am not 100% certain that it's used in real life, but I am tired of typing murderer/suspect/psychopath all the time. The term is just sort for unknown suspect.
Last thing on this chapter post I swear! I am wondering if I am still keeping true to the characters personalities here. I am especially worried that I got Thrax wrong (Jones I am twisting around just a little bit, but he should still be pretty close to what he was in the movie). So if you guys could just drop a comment about it, I would appreciate it.
Well then, same time hopefully, defiantly same place. Till then…
( •_•)
( •_•)⌐■-■
(⌐■_■)
Live long and prosper (Haha! Bet you all weren't expecting that!)