Thank you guys so much for reviewing, even though I haven't updated in ages. Your too good to me.
I apologise for not updating sooner. I'm beginning to have trouble with my eyes, so my mam tries to keep me off the computer as much as she can, and I also have exams coming up so I need to study too. I hope you forgive me.
I'm sorry if I sounded snappy in the previous author's note. I didn't mean to be.
Here's the next chapter.
Chapter Fourteen: Operating Theatre
Leslie finally woke up after about half an hour, at least.
When she looked around her, she saw that Seth and Sara were still unconscious.
Slowly, Leslie recapped what happened before she was knocked out.
Suddenly, the van came to a halt, knocking her back.
The door to the van opened soundlessly. The light from outside shone in, blinding her. It also forced Seth and Sara to wake.
"Get out." the guy gruffly snapped at them.
"Get lost." Leslie hissed back, clenching her hands into fists.
"Leslie, it would be wise to follow Annie Workman's advice." Sara told her.
Leslie started laughing. "Dude, your name is Annie?"
"It's short for Anthony!" he defended. He reached into the van and grabbed her arm tightly. "Now get out of the van."
"Get your hands off her." Seth came from behind Leslie and tackled Annie away. Annie sprawled on his back on the ground, winded.
Seth was immediately on his feet afterward, and he cupped Leslies face in his hands. "Are you okay?" he asked, his eyes soft.
"Yeah." Leslie answered, her knees turning to jelly. "Thanks."
"What about you Sara?" Seth asked again, looking over Leslies shoulder.
"I am fine. We should try and get as far away from here as possible." She suggested, jumping out of the van.
Just as they were about to run down the cliff, the cocking of guns made them freeze.
"You three are really causing me a lot of trouble." Henry said, stepping out from behind them.
"Then let us go, and don't bother us anymore. That'll save both sides a whole lot of trouble." Leslie said. She felt Seth's hand on her wrist, so she took it. On her other side, she took Sara's hand and held it reassuringly.
"Come on you three. If you don't listen to what I say, I will have both Jack Bruno and Alex Friedman exterminated." Henry said, standing aside to let them walk ahead of him.
"I'll compromise with you." Leslie answered back brazenly. "You can take me in, but release Seth, Sara and the ship, and don't harm Alex or Jack."
"No Leslie." Seth hissed. "You are not taking the punishment for-" Leslie clamped her hand over his mouth, then thought at Sara, 'I think that they think I'm like you guys. I think we should play along. And could you pass it on to Seth please? His mouth is going to give us away.'
Sara nodded, and Leslie saw Seth's eyes widen as he received the information. He opened his mouth to protest again, but Leslie closed his mouth with her own.
"No deal. Now come along. I don't want to have to force you." Henry interrupted them. Leslie nodded, following Sara through.
Seth, Sara and Leslie were all in white uniforms, shackled to operating tables in a glass walled operating theatre. They were rendered unconscious with anaesthetic, while scientists in white protective overalls with head masks protecting them.
"How long until the subjects are prepped?" Burke asked his scientist through a microphone, as he was in his office overhead. He had a clear view into the theatre.
"They are heavily sedated. Minimal test proceeding between 48 and 72 hours." the scientist replied, turning back to his work.
"Unacceptable. Commence the procedure." Burke ordered, his tone not changing.
"We don't know enough about their systems. Any sudden change could terminate the subjects." the scientist informed.
"You can't just kill them." Burke's assistant said, who was also down in the theatre.
"Mr Pope. You would do well not to forget what our mission is. Our word has come from Washington, and Washington wants answers to very complex questions. It's up to us to provide those answers. Now if you are doubting your ability..."
"No...sir." Pope replied.
"Very good. Commence the test Mr Mattinson." Burke nodded to the scientist.
"Right away sir. Initiating test." he stated.
Jack took a grip if the rusted wheel on the trap door and tried to twist it, but it only started to move when Alex helped.
The door swung open, revealing a dark, narrow tunnel. It was wide enough that they could crawl through.
"After you." Jack offered, standing aside.
Alex looked into the tunnel's entrance, then back at Jack.
"I'm right behind you." she told him.
"Thanks." Jack said sarcastically, then took the lead into the tunnel.
They crawled in and went further down the tunnel, Jack looking around. They reached an end with a cross-hatched cover over the hole.
"Back up." Jack called over his shoulder to Alex, he manoeuvred himself around so his legs were in front of him, and kicked the cover off, sending it falling down into darkness.
Jack climbed onto the ladder below on the side of the huge vertical tunnel.
"I'll be right here the whole time." he reassured a scared looking Alex.
She nervously climbed down the ladder, when the tunnel begin shaking.
She looked down, and saw a flame rising up through the tunnel.
"Exhaust burners." she gasped. She made to climb up the ladder again, but Jack called her back down.
"Look. There's another tunnel here." They quickly climbed in and slid down the narrow chute.
"You ok?" Jack asked, catching her by the waist before she hit the floor.
"Yeah." Alex panted.
"Let's go."
They climbed out the end of the tunnel into the main part of the hidden base.
There was people everywhere from the government, as they would have expected.
"What now?" Alex whispered, peering around the corner at the amount of government officials around the place. Sneaking around would be difficult.
"Find the kids. Don't get caught." Jack answered, also whispering.
"Good plan."
"We're very close to determining the source of their powers." Burke spoke across the phone. "Yes sir, containments at 100 percent. They've recovered the two targets, plus another, who we are also examining. And the spacecraft. Yes, I understand. Thank you sir. And thank you for sticking by me on the project. I know it took us a long time to get here but I think we both agree it's been better than previous failures."
I hope you enjoyed. What do you think of very protective Seth/Jack? Please review.