Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters from Mutant X or Wolf Lake, and I can prove it, I AM BROKE!!lol. I do however own, Miranda, Max, and Aaron Michaels(aka, Michael Aaron Ashlocke).
I have decided Jesse's fate, and no I am not telling. But I promise you won't be disappointed, at least I hope not. But until then, here is something to keep you happy and coming back for more, I hope.
thoughts
Chapter 8: A Pod Life.
Brennan was lying in bed, staring up at the ceiling. He had spent the last 3 hours punching the stupid punching bag, and all he had to show for it was some bruised knuckles. All his muscles where aching, but nothing compared to the ache he felt in his heart. Jesse had been more than his friend, he had been his brother, in every sense of the word. Brennan wanted to go to Emma and comfort her, but knew he would do more harm than good right now, cause she would feel everything he was feeling, on top of what she was feeling.
Brennan thought he heard Shalimar go out about an hour ago, he knew that she was hurting more than any of them. Giving up sleep, he got up and went over to his dresser. He pulled out a pair of black jeans, and a black shirt, he immediately recognized the shirt as the one Jesse gave him last year for his birthday. It was black with lighting on the front. Brennan finally gave into what he had held in all night, as he sat down on his bed, tears fell from his eyes for his fallen brother.
Emma walked into the kitchen, she had managed to sleep for about an hour. Even chamomile tea couldn't calm her down tonight. She looked over at the coffee pot, and decided against making coffee, cause the last thing anyone here needed was caffeine. She thought of making a pot of tea instead, so she took 6 chamomile tea bags and put it in the coffeemaker, put water in and turn the coffeemaker on. She decided to surf the Internet while she was waiting for the tea to get done.
As she walked over closer to the computers, she could see Adam sleeping by one of them. What she felt coming from him, almost took her breathe away.
Why does he feel that way? It wasn't his fault...
Emma's thoughts were interrupted when she noticed what he was looking at on the computer.
Why is he looking at that? Poor Adam, he has to know everything about how Jesse died. But looking up the guy who caused the accident, what for? Wait a minute, why is trying to find a safe house for him?
Emma's head was racing, her anger rising higher than she knew possible.
I need Bren and Shal, together we can find out what Adam is up to.
As Emma knocked on Brennan's door, she could hear him shuffling around in his room.
"Brennan, you awake?"
"Yeah, give me a minute though, I'm not dressed yet."
Emma knew he was lying, but didn't push it.
"Brennan, we have a problem." Emma said, as she entered the room, and immediately wish she hadn't.
"Emma, did it take you all night to figure that out. Emma you don't have to be psionic to realize we have a problem. You know what I am too mad to deal with you right now, so if you don't mind, get out!" and as he seen the tears well up in her eyes, he pulled her close, "I'm sorry Em."
"Brennan I'm sorry I didn't mean it the way it came out." she said as she pulled away from Brennan's embrace. "It's Adam .... he is trying to find a safe house for the driver of the car."
"No, he isn't, cause I am going to kill him first!"
Emma tried in vain to catch Brennan as he walked out of his room and headed straight for Adam.
Adam was now awake in front of the computer, talking on his cell phone. Brennan slowed down and pushed Emma who was behind him against the wall, so Adam wouldn't know they were there listening
Adam on cell phone...
"Did you get him?... Good, I need for you to take him to the safe house we talked about earlier... Yeah, OK, I will send the info to you GPS tracker. You will have no problem finding this place." Adam pauses in mid conversation looking a bit confused. "No, I didn't send anyone, she did what? Where is she now?"
"OK, no you did right thing, your assignment was to get Aaron to safety. I will find her using her com ring. Thanks for all your help. As soon as I get a hit on Leo, I will be sure to let you know." Adam said as he closed his cell phone. He took off his glasses and rubbed between his eyes. He had a headache that just wouldn't go away. His head snapped up just as he heard a scream from Emma.
"Brennan don't!!" But it was too late. All the anger Brennan had built up, had finally found a target, unfortunately it was Adam. Brennan stormed over to Adam and punched him, knocking Adam to the floor. "Traitor!" he screamed raising his fist to hit him once more.
"BRENNAN!!! STOP!" said Emma as she grabbed Brennan trying to prevent him from doing anything else he would regret later. "At least let him answer Brennan."
"OK, Adam why are you helping the guy who killed Jesse! Come on, give me a reason, no you know what you can't!" He yelled. As he drew back his hand to throw some voltage Adam's way, Emma step in front of him, and imagined him calming down, and pushed the thought out, and to Brennan.
"Adam are you OK?" she said as she knelt down next to Adam, keeping an eye on Brennan, who was leaning against the computer desk, rubbing his head like he was trying to fight the emotion Emma planted in his head.
"Yeah, I'll be OK. What got into him?"
"I noticed earlier when I came through that you were trying to find a safe house for the driver of the car. I told Brennan, I could've talked to you first, so I could hear you side, but I guess I was mad as well."
"It's understandable Emma. I didn't want to involve you or the others in this, precisely for this reason," he said as he walked over to the kitchen- counter and picked up a dishcloth and walked over to the refrigerator- freezer and got some ice to place on his eye.
"Adam, you are going to have to tell us, everything if you expect us to understand."
"Can he hear and understand everything I am saying in that state?"
"Hold on," as she walked over to Brennan and teleblasted him again. This time releasing him from the calm feeling. And put him back to the way he was, but less angry.
"Emma, if you ever do that to me again, I swear..."
"OK, promise I will never do that again, Adam was just about to tell us why he is helping the driver."
"Well, it better be good, or you might have to break your promise," he said with an attempt to smile. "OK, Adam, let's hear it."
"The driver, Aaron Michael, is a mutant, I met him years back when I was still with Genomex. He was one of the first kids I worked on. Actually the only reason I was working on him, was to help save his brother. Aaron was 13 at the time, good kid. His parents begged me not to mess him up the way I had their first son. And I didn't, but by the time I figured out how to fix his brother, it was too late."
"You mean his brother died?" asked Emma. She was sensing a deep regret in Adam, guilt even.
"No. The boy lived. But he became so uncontrollable than after he had done the unthinkable, he ran away. Aaron lured him back. We ended up having to put him in a pod. It was only supposed to be till we found a cure though, but days turned in weeks and weeks to months, and months to years, 25 years to be exact."
"25 years! When you screw up, you really screw up don't you Adam." said Brennan. "Did he ever get out of that pod, or did he die there?"
"Well I found the cure to heal him, so yeah I let him out. But before I could give him the cure, he ran away again. This time with revenge on his mind. Revenge against me, Eckhart, and his brother, Michael."
"You mean Aaron?" asked Brennan.
"No, Aaron is the name I changed his too to protect him from his brother."
"OK, So what happened then?"
"That was when I rushed to find Aaron and place him in a safe house. He disappeared 3 weeks after I placed him in a new life. Up till now I thought his brother had found him."
"OK, you said his brother did the unthinkable. What did he do, Adam?" asked Emma.
"His brother killed their parents."
"How long ago was it that you let his brother out of the pod? I mean how dangerous is this guy?" asked Brennan.
"Well, it was about 6 months ago, Brennan, I just told you that he killed his parents, that should tell you how dangerous and uncaring he is," said Adam, still slightly miffed at the incident earlier with Brennan.
"What a minute, 6 months ago....Ashlocke!"
"Yeah, Ashlocke."
While Adam and Brennan continued to talk Adam, took a look at the computer to see what she could find out about Aaron/Michael. As she looked at the screen that Adam was looking at before Brennan attacked him, she was shocked to by what she saw.
"Adam? Is this right?"
"What Emma?" asked Adam, as he and Brennan moved over to where Emma was.
"According to this, for the last 4 months, Aaron was a Link."
"What?? For someone who tried to so-called hide from Ashlocke, sure sounds he finally embraced his brother's evil." said Brennan.
"Quite the opposite actually," said Adam, " as he brought up a picture of Aaron, and a picture of Michael from when he was 13. The two people were nothing like he other." The picture on the right is Michael when he was 13, and the picture on the left, was Michael 6 months ago, just before he went into hiding. Because of his mutant DNA, he is able to change his appearance at will. He is Molecular, with DNA very similar to Jesse's, which is why he survived the crash." he stopped at that moment, but it was too late , he had already inflicted the pain. With tears in her eyes, Emma left the room. Adam makes a move to go after her, Brennan stops him.
"Adam, haven't you already done enough? I'll go after her, you keep trying to right your wrongs."
Meanwhile somewhere in Seattle...
For the last 3 hours,Shalimar had in vain tried to get free from the chains that bound her hands and feet to the wall. She was shackled to the wall. She looked around, all she could see was brick walls, and a dirt floor. It was about 20 ft by 30 ft room. It was cold, and damp. It had a smell, one knew all to well ...blood. Old blood, she could only guess she was in an old dungeon.
She had tried with all her strength to pull herself free. Jesse could've broke these chains with no problem...
But Jesse isn't coming to save me this time. OK, get those thoughts out of your head. What is going on? Why am I here? Why is Tyler doing this to me, I just met the jerk today. Could this get any worse? Her train of thought broken by the sound of the door opening.
"Well, what do we have here?" a man's voice said. Shal would know that voice anywhere.
"Ashlocke!"
"Ah. You remembered me, I'm touched."
"Cut the bull, what are you going to do with me?"
"You will find out soon enough. But I promise, you won't be disappointed. But before I get to the fun part, I thought you might be hungry."
"I would rather starve, than eat anything you gave to me."
"Well that is your choice, but if you change your mind." Gabe said as a woman entered the room, carrying a covered metal tray. She was followed by a man carrying a folding table and chair. The man put the table and chair up, and the woman stood glaring at Shalimar. Ashlocke walked over to Shalimar and whispered to her, "When I leave, your chains will be released from the wall. But don't bother trying to escape, cause we both know Jesse isn't coming to help you this time."
"You miserable excuse for a man. I will get free, and when I do ....wait how do you know about Jesse?" she asked, but the look in his eyes told her everything. But before she could say anything more, Miranda interrupted her.
"Gabriel we have everything set up," said Miranda. "Will there be anything else?"
"Cute, looks you have a new puppet, Ashlocke," said Shalimar.
Shalimar immediately braced herself the wall in fear as Miranda formed a fireball in her hands and threw it all Shalimar. Ashlocke quickly stepped between the fireball, and Shalimar, and put up a blue wall between the two, and pushed the fireball back at Miranda, causing her to fly backwards hitting the wall behind her hard.
"Pick her up, and take her the other room." Ashlocke told the guy, who without question did as he was told. He picked up Miranda and carried her unconscious
"I'll be back later, Shalimar. I suggest you eat, it might be your last for awhile." he said as he left the room.
As soon as the door shut, Shalimar chains opened, dropping her to the ground. She picked herself up, feeling kind of dizzy. The fall hadn't helped her headache at all. She picked up the lid of the covered tray, she was shocked to realize that Ashlocke had remembered all her favorites. She was hungry, she realized that she hadn't eaten since lunch the day before. At least she thought it was the day before. She sat down, and couldn't help but wonder why he had went to all this trouble for her. She took a sip of the milk, and realized it was still warm. She tentatively started to eat.
It was very dim in the room, so she turned to feral-mode to look around. It was then that she realized she wasn't alone in the room. She could see another body hanging from the wall with shackles. The man was covered in blood and bruises. Shal walked over to him.
"Hey, wake up."
"Uh, please no more."
"I'm not going to hurt you." she said quietly as she walked back over to the table and picked up her plate and brought it over to the man, and picked up a piece of the steak, and held it out where he could eat it. "Here, eat this."
"Food!" he said as he gratefully took the piece of steak in his mouth. "Thank you, I haven't eaten in days." he said as she fed him another piece.
"Wait I have some milk too."
"Milk, what do I look like a cat? Oh never mind, I'll take it!"
Shalimar stopped in her tracks, "What did you say?"
"What?"
"Something about not being a cat."
"I'm sorry, it was a joke. I joke when I am frustrated."
"No, it's OK. It's just that a friend of mine used to say the same thing."
"Sounds like I would like the guy."
"Yeah, you would."
"So where is he now?"
"He died yesterday."
"Oh, I ..I'm sorry."
"So, what did you do to piss off Ashlocke?"
"Ashlocke? So that's his name. I don't know really, all I remember is waking up shackled to this wall. Everything before that I don't remember. The girl calls it amnesia."
"Sorry, how long have you been here?"
"Well, I can't be sure exactly, a day or two."
"Well, we won't be here much longer, I have friends who will find me, and when they do, I will take you with me, I promise." she said as she lifted up another piece of steak, and put it in his mouth.
"Thanks."
The woman laying on the bed was just coming to. She sat up, and closed her eyes, willing the room to stop spinning. " So nice of you to finally wake up."
"Gabe, is that you?" as she opened her eyes and focused on a shadowy figure against the wall.
"Yes, just calming waiting for you to wake up, so I could asked you a question. What were you thinking back there!"
"What do mean what was I thinking, what were you thinking, feeding her all that food, and being all nice to her and stuff."
"You don't question me!! Do you understand?"
"No, I don't understand. Why did you let her call me a puppet?"
"Because you are." as he waved his arm, and in came Tyler. "Take her away!"
"No problem, and Gabe you will be happy to know, that I have found Aaron, and as soon as I finish with her, I will go retrieve him."
"Very good Tyler, now this is how a loyal friend should act Miranda. Oh, before you go, is everything ready for my new friends, Tyler ?"
"Everything."
"Good."
Shal and her new friend had finished eating. "So what do I call you anyway?"
"Well, I can't remember my name so, you make up one."
"How about Chris?"
"OK, and your name is?"
"Shal."
Just then the door opened again. A man stepped through the door and before Shalimar could do anything, he hit her with a psionic blast. Shalimar fell to the ground. When she regained consciousness, she was laying on her back in a very bright room. Something like glass was hanging over her head, and as she looked around, she realized it was ....a pod!
"Ashlocke! Get me out of here!"
"Not until you experience what I went through."
"You can't be serious."
"Hey look at the bright side, at least you won't be alone."
At that, Shal looked around and saw 5 more pods. 1 had another person in it. She recognized the clothes as those that Chris was wearing before.
"Chris, what did he do to you, you monster."
"I am not a monster, and why did you call him Chris?"
"Cause he can't remember his name, so I gave him one. Why?"
"Oh, I get it. It was to dark down there, you weren't able to see his face. You might want to look, cause it will be awhile before you see it again."
Shalimar lifted up her head, looking at the blue jeans and white T- Shirt, both covered in dry blood. She shifted a little so she could his face.
"It can't be ......JESSE!"
"Oh, what a nice family reunion, see you in 25 years Shalimar." said Ashlocke as he walked toward the door, turning off the light. A gas started filling the pod, slowly putting her to sleep.
"DON'T!! You ..can't ...leave him ..in there............."
Oh, I am so evil, leaving you all hanging like this. But at least you know if Jesse is alive or dead. Thanks to Aniki19 and Feline-Feral for your votes. They were the only votes, so if you don't like Jesse being alive, next time I ask for a vote, Vote! Lol.
I am very lucky right now, cause I see the end of my story nearing, and I promise, you aren't expecting it.
