1279 Words, this Chapter.

Chapter Eleven, Controlled

They ran into medical, Becker carrying Connor, Matt carrying Megan. Abby, Emily, Jess, Lester, and Bilson followed.

"Medea! Goddess!" cried the head medic, the one who'd been ordered to worship her with furious devotion, like a goddess.

"Easy," said Abby, pointing an EMD at them.

"We are unarmed," said another medic, quickly.

"Good," said Emily. "We do not wish to harm you."

The medic looked at her. "We've been ordered to resist you."

"My goddess!" wailed the head medic, out of his head with grief.

The team exchanged looks.

Matt moved forward. "Listen, your goddess is hurt. She's dying. So is her head scientist. You want to help them?"

"Of course," said the medic, "We must save her!"

"And Connor," said another medic. "We'll do all we can. Just don't make us fight you."

Matt nodded, and they took the two unconscious bodies to examination rooms.

"Don't worry," said Matt to Abby. "They'll work tirelessly to save their beloved 'goddess' and Connor."

Abby nodded.

Becker moved to Matt, pulling him slightly away from the others. "I'd feel better if they were free."

Matt nodded. "Abby, do you have more of the antidote?"

"Not ready. I have a small sample in my lab," she said.

"Right. Becker, stay here and guard."

Becker chuckled. "You really didn't need to tell me."

Matt laughed, looking at some of the people Becker cared the most about: Abby, Connor, Emily, and of course, Jess. He nodded. "Yeah. Sorry."

"You going to Abby's lab?" asked the soldier.

Matt nodded.

"I shall come and assist you," said Emily. "I am not leaving your side."

Matt smiled, and took her hand. "Good," he said. They left.

"I should check the monitors," said Jess. "See just where everyone is."

Becker grabbed her. "Good idea, but first," he said, pulling her to him. "I just want to hold you."

Jess chuckled, happy to be in his arms.

Slowly, he released her. "Bilson stays with you, agreed?"

She nodded.

Bilson did too. "I'll protect her."

Becker nodded, and watched the two leave.

The medics were the first to return. "Relax. Everything is fine. My goddess shall recover."

Becker rolled his eyes. Abby jumped up. "Connor?"

"He'll be fine too."

Abby laughed, and collapsed into the chair.

"He became ill because he was never directly exposed to the creature's pheromones, so he had too much antidote, overdosing, but we've stabilized him."

"Thank you," said Abby. She quickly passed that information to Matt, through comms. They didn't want to shoot any of the remaining men with too much antidote.

The medic didn't seem to hear Abby's gratitude. "Thankfully, our Medea is stabilized as well. She had the antidote in her system, but it did not seem to be attacking her like it was Connor."

"Probably because she had so much of the pheromones in her," said Abby.

"Hang on," said Becker. "How come this medic is still prattling on about 'Medea?'

Abby shook her head. "Lester, how do you feel about 'Medea?"

"Oh, I want our Captain here to throw that pompous false goddess out of the ARC, on her divine arse."

Abby and Becker laughed.

"Maybe the antidote must be administered to each follower."

"I didn't get any antidote," said Lester.

"You were in the immediate area when the bottle broke," Abby reminded him.

"Plus we aren't definitely sure you're completely free," said Becker. He smirked. "We'll have to wait til she orders you to paint her toe nails or something."

Lester stared at him. "Don't be cheeky. I'm in a very bad mood."

Becker laughed.

"However, the cheeky Captain has a point. How do we know if the antidote works?" asked Lester.

"I have an idea," said Matt, walking in. Emily behind him. They carried large spray canisters. "Don't worry. It's been significantly diluted."

They sprayed the medics.

"Well?" asked Abby.

"Well what?" asked the lead medic.

Becker brandished a large EMD. "I'm going to zap your goddess. A lot."

The head medic stared. Then said, "Thank you. Yes, please. Obnoxious woman."

The other medic laughed. "It's gone," he said. "I don't hear her voice. I'm me."

Becker smiled. "Matt, better spray Lester," he said with a wink. "Just to be sure."

Lester rolled his eyes, and held out his hands, as if he surrendered.

Matt sprayed, drenching Lester.

Emily smiled at the saturated director. "I believe you may have over-drenched him."

Matt smirked.

"Thank you. Matt. I'm charging you for this suit. Actually, never mind. I'll get compensation from the government when I ask them to reimburse my recent credit charges, as well. Don't just stand there you lot, take back my facility!"

They all chuckled.

"He's right. We aren't done, yet," said Matt. "The rest of the men in the ARC are still in Megan's control. They can still do some damage."

"Yes, they can!" yelled Jess, in her comm. "They're trying to break through their individual sections!"

"Is Ops secure?"

"Yes, Captain," said Bilson.

"I'd say they know something's up," said Lester, wringing out his tie.

"They haven't had contact with her for a while, and they're agitated," said Matt.

"Right, let's start spraying," said Becker. "Got any more canisters?"

Matt shook his head. "There has to be a better way."

"There is," said Jess. "Let's spread it through the sprinklers."

Matt smiled. "Brilliant."

"Yes, she is," said Becker.

"Aww," said Jess.

"We'll all get on that," said Matt. "Abby, stay here."

"I...can go with you," she said, unenthusiastically.

Matt smiled. "We don't need you. You've done your part."

"Come and sit with Mr. Temple, Miss Maitland," said the head medic, kindly. "He'll be glad to see you when he awakes."

She nodded.

"Good," said Lester. "I'm going to sit here and try very hard to convince myself this is all a nightmare and I am in bed. Or in a hot tub."

Matt and the others rigged the antidote into the sprinkler system, and Jess sent it through the ARC.

"I wonder if it worked," said Becker.

Bilson shrugged. "Let's find out. Shall we try the boys locked in the armory?"

Becker nodded. "I'm coming with you."

With Becker covering her, Bilson cautiously walked into the armory.

And was ambushed.

"Thank the lord!" Vale cried, hugging her tightly. "I am so sick of seeing the same woman over and over! The soul craves variety!" He let her go slightly, and asked in a sexy voice, "Did you miss me?"

Becker laughed. "Same old crazy Vale, so I guess the antidote works."

Bilson laughed. "Actually, Vale, I did miss you."

"Knew it."

"Ugh," cried a voice. "Captain?"

"Carly? What happened?" asked Becker, running over to the weapons expert, lying on the floor. Private Thompson was beside him.

"I think Miss Merchant and Miss Maitland way-laid me sir."

"They did," said Thompson, holding his head. "I don't know what they hit us with, but man, it's a whopper."

Becker laughed. "It was an unfortunate part of taking back the ARC."

"Oh, good," said Carlson. "I don't mind having a ten alarm headache then."

"I do," said Thompson.

"Vale, that's enough!" yelled Bilson, dealing with an overly friendly lieutenant. "Back down, or I'll flatten you."

"You are such a flirt."

Becker laughed again, and said into Comms, "I think we're getting the ARC back to normal, Jess."

"Glad to hear it," she said. "Now get back up here. I want to do to you what Vale's failing to do with Nicole.'

He chuckled. "Understood. On my way. Quickly."

Jess giggled.

Becker left the armory, hearing the sound of a body smacking against the floor.

"I warned you, Vale!"

"It was worth it, Bilson."

End of Chapter Eleven