1081 Words, this Chapter

Chapter Ten, Controlled

Abby found Connor working on his anomaly creating device.

"Connor?" she asked.

He looked up, and smiled. "Abs. You're here to stop me, right?" he asked. "Please, please stop me. She's crazy."

"I know, Conn," she said. "We're going to stop her. I promise."

He breathed a sigh of relief. "Thank goodness," he said.

Abby smiled and opened the container. "Connor, this is untested."

"What is it? An antidote?"

She nodded. "I hope."

"Give it to me, Abby. Hurry, before she comes in."

She frowned. "It could hurt you."

"Abby, if she orders me to hurt you, I'm afraid I will. Plus, she's got this crazy plan."

"What plan?"

"She wants to..." he stopped talking. "I think I hear her. Give me the antidote. Now! You may miss the chance if you don't!"

Abby nodded, and threw some of the antidote onto him. Connor stood for a moment, looking at her. Then he screamed.

"Oh, God!" cried Abby. "No!"

Connor collapsed, writhing in pain. "I'm so sorry," she said, kneeling by him, trying to help.

She heard a soft tsk tsk, sound, and swishing of fabric, and saw golden shoes walking into the lab.

"Abby, what have you done?" asked Megan, in eerie calm. She was still dressed in her 'goddess' getup, and holding a small EMD.

Behind her, holding a bowl of caviar, was her personal servant, Lester.

Connor continued wriggling in agony. Abby held onto him, trying to offer comfort.

"You surprise me, Abby. Such a sacrifice. Isn't Connor your fiance? How can you hurt him so much?"

"Isn't...her fault," gasped Connor.

At the sight of Connor, Lester broke slightly. "What happened? Are you alright, Connor?"

Megan looked annoyed, but soon ignored him again.

She pointed the EMD at Abby, gesturing her back, and away from Connor. Abby, obeyed, but never took her eyes off him.

Megan looked at Abby as she knelt beside Connor, never lowering the gun. She smiled sickly as she stroked his hair.

"Poor Connor. I told you I was all you needed. Why couldn't you be happy serving me? Now see what Abby has done," said Megan.

Connor groaned. "Love...Abby," he said.

Abby cried softly, and whispered, "I love you."

Megan scoffed. "Your love. The love of an ordinary woman is nothing compared to mine. Abby, you have turned out to be the greatest threat to my plan. Ironic, you were so kind to me when we first met."

"You were different then. I hope you will be decent again, once we fix you."

Megan boomed, "Fix me! How dare you! You, an ordinary woman is going to fix me!"

She took a deep breath. "There are too many ordinary women here. That is why I had Connor working on a special mission, to find a place for me and my subjects."

"What?" asked Abby.

"The anomaly creating...argh... device," said Connor through the pain. "She wants me...ah!"

"Sh. Hush, now, Connor," said Megan. " You have done well. You found me a lovely time and place, and even showed me how to work the device. I shall open the anomaly myself."

"That's against regulations," said Lester.

"Why?" asked Abby, ignoring the director.

"I cannot live here, in this time. There are too many women. I refuse to share. I will open an anomaly. I will make a great empire, me and my subjects."

"You're taking the men with you?" asked Abby, in horror.

"Of course, I am a goddess, and as one, I need an army of male slaves to satisfy my every whim and desire."

Connor, still in pain, and gasping, croaked out, "I don't want to satisfy her, Abby."

"Me either, Connor." said Lester. "I refuse to live in a place without tailors, spas, and liquor stores," he quipped. Then he shook his head. "Med...Meg...Woman, Connor looks ill. We should help him."

Abby smiled. Was Megan losing control?

"You, be quiet," commanded Megan to Lester.

She turned back to Connor, and continued stroking his hair. "Poor Connor. We shall remember you, and your brilliance. I shall command my subjects to honor your work, after all it's your genius that is going to make my empire possible."

Despite the silence command, Lester said, "Charming. Another catastrophe we owe to you, Connor."

"Not fair...Lester," said Connor.

Megan ignored him, and kissed Connor's cheek. "I shall always love you, Connor, more than Abby, more than anyone."

Abby stared at her. She was insane.

"And you love me," Megan said, "completely and more than Abby. Say it."

Connor coughed. "Medea," he said, gasping for air. "Come closer."

Abby frowned.

Megan smiled. "Yes, Connor, darling?"

Connor reached up, as Megan leaned down toward him, perhaps for a last kiss.

The he screamed, "I love Abby! You're crazy! Stop her Abby!"

Megan recoiled in disbelief, shock, and anger.

Abby grabbed the antidote splashing it toward Megan, but she ducked, and, blasted the bottle with the EMD, shattering it.

Abby and Connor both stared helplessly at the remains.

Megan laughed viciously, still holding onto Connor. "It's a shame I can't kill you with this gun, Abby," she said. "I outfitted all my security officers with the real guns. Still, I'll think of a way to dispose of you, later."

She raised the EMD to fire at Abby, but Connor grabbed her arm and bit her, grabbing the EMD too. She screamed, and Connor crawled to Abby, giving her the gun.

Abby aimed it at Megan, who stared angrily at them.

Then, she began to cough, and shudder. "What's...wrong...with me?" she asked. She began to feel pain.

"Connor," said Abby, "you infected her."

"With the antidote?" he asked.

Abby nodded. She laughed. "She got it on her when she was 'comforting' you."

"No!" screamed Megan, trying to wipe off the antidote. She began to feel dizzy, she was slowly losing her vision, and finally, collapsed. She lay on the floor, too weak to move.

"Thank the..." said Connor, before losing consciousness.

"No! Connor!" cried Abby. She felt around, finding his comm. I hope Jess is patched in, she thought. "Jess, do you copy?"

"I do, Abby."

She sighed. "Thank God. Jess, listen. Connor's hurt. I think he's bad. So's Megan. I need a medic."

"Medical is cut off," said Jess. "The men there are still under control."

"We have no choice, Jess!"

"OK, I'm lifting lock-out."

"Abby," said Becker, "We're on our way."

Abby nodded, and stroked Connor's face. "Hang on, Conn. Hang on."

End of Chapter Ten