Chapter 26

(Thank you to everyone who left a review. Enjoy!)

Athena ran towards where she had placed the invisible box and tore at the cover, making the inside visible. She looked at the contents and a smile broke across her face.

Mark had packed it with just about every gadget she had field-tested – some more successfully than others. Her hand shoved into the box and grabbed the same gun that had led to her the predicament she now found herself in. The gun came to life in his hand, recognising her handprint and she couldn't help release a small laugh – more in relief than anything else. This was the gun that had shot female pheromones into critters when she had first encountered Creed. The same pheromones she had shot into Creed's and Logan's clothes. The same gun that was armed with a laser – the laser that had cut off Creed's finger.

She held the gun in her right hand, selecting the very same laser now. This time she would finish the job. She had the opportunity and she would take it.

Her eyes looked into the box and they lit up. She pulled out what looked like a floppy piece of circular gelatine and she unconsciously nodded at it. This she had field-tested a few years ago and it had nearly got her killed. She hoped that Mark had made the necessary modifications that it needed because she did not want to end up lost briefly in a twilight world – as she had before. This was one of the areas of super-science that blew her mind - science that had tried to keep up with mutant abilities. There were many out there who believed humans had to expand technologically to match the expansion of mutant-kind across the planet. Athena had to agree to a point. Hadn't advanced technology benefitted her profession? Athena's mind turned to Creed. – he had taunted her that she was nothing without technology. Maybe he was right…to a degree… but in the end…did it matter?

Last man standing wins.

Athena looked over at the door, pointing her gun at it as she backed up towards the bathroom wall on the furthest side of the room. She threw the gelatine substance against the wall where it stuck firmly. Athena shoved her hand hard in the substance and it started to shine – snapping into life.

Eyes still locked on the door, Athena walked back to the box and glanced inside it. Her mind boggled for a moment at how much the contents were worth. She grabbed the box and shoved it under her arm as she backed up to the wall.

Her friend, Mark, had just handed millions of dollars of breakthrough science over to her – to help her escape. He had given her a selection governments and shadow governments would invade countries for and all to help her make a decision she knew she had to make.

She must kill Creed and she must do it now.

There was no choice.

She had assessed her situation and her findings had proven to her that his death had to be secured. It was the only way she would be free of his relentless pursuit and eventual execution of her. Kill or be killed.

It was simple.

She had all she needed for her getaway. Her gun would be enough – the gelatine was just icing on the cake. It was now about four feet in circumference and appeared to be shining brightly and swirling.

He'll be back any second to get you. To threaten you. To punish you.

Enough!

He would come in and she would decapitate him - easy. Swift, quick and it would the end of it. Athena would be free to pursue those responsible for the mutant experimentation and she would, hopefully, try and negotiate with them – unlike Creed.

Creed was an intelligent creature but he was obsessed with killing his enemies and anyone that got in his way – anyone that betrayed him or…had humiliated him. Athena had humiliated him on their first meeting as a means to force him to return to the Agency to work with them.

Athena closed her eyes and shook her head. Epic fail, Agent…big time.. Pregnant either by the same creature she had gone to manipulate into returning to the Agency or by his brother. Pregnant, held prisoner and constantly threatened with torture and death. It was the fact that she was merely a vessel to carry his offspring that had kept her and was keeping her alive.

She knew he would be a formidable creature – she knew the risks and she took them - but she did not know the extent of his mutant abilities – nor his extremely high intelligence nor his merciless pursuit of her. She had not known about his telepathic abilities. That had cost her dear.

She had to shut down all her operations and go radio silent from the Agency to protect other Agents she knew Creed would kill until they handed her over to him.

But now…all she had to do was just wait…wait and then…decapitate.

Athena walked to the swirling circle on the wall and stood with her back to it.

She pointed the gun and the door and stood perfectly still.

She heard footsteps coming along the corridor – unmistakable footsteps. She closed her eyes, inhaled and held her breath. She didn't dare breathe out. So much for ten minutes. More like ten seconds.

The door slowly opened and Creed stood in the doorway. Athena pointed the gun to the side of his neck. Their eyes locked.

Creed did not move, nor blink nor make a sound. His eyes bore into Athena. There was a compelling intensity she had not experienced before. Athena found herself staring into his eyes – as if for eternity – as if she were pulled deep into them. She felt her lips part and her breathing begin to quicken.

All she had to do was trigger the laser and swipe to the right.

Kill him, Agent! Her mind screamed at her. Kill him now! But her hand would not obey the command.

Athena licked her lips as her mind and hand went to war with one another.

"I am leaving now, Creed," Athena said.

Creed started to walk very slowly towards her.

"I mean it, Victor," Athena quietly threatened. "Stay where you are."

"Victor?" He growled softly. "Usually you scream that when I'm balls deep in your wet cunt."

The image of him on top of her shot through Athena's mind and she felt her nipples harden.

Creed inhaled and smirked as took a step closer - his eyes never leaving hers. "Take your chance, Lydia. Kill me. I would."

"It doesn't have to be like this," Athena said, inhaling his scent and feeling her mind get lighter.

"Do it," Creed challenged, his eyes darkening.

Athena slowly breathed out. She could feel her pulse racing as her own eyes darkened.

"Do it now...," Creed said in dark voice. The tone of it shot straight to Athena's groin.

"What's the matter, Lydia?" Creed huskily asked, getting slowly closer to her.

Creed released a deep and guttural low growl that made Athena close her eyes for a moment and release a small gasp. Creed continued coming forward.

"Why not just end it," he said darkly and seductively. He began to chuckle.

"I will kill you, Creed," Athena warned, her breathing quickening.

Creed outstretched his arms to each side of him and closed his eyes. "I'll make it easy for you. I won't even look."

Christ's sake do it! Athena screamed at herself as she felt her hand on the gun begin to shake slightly.

Fuck!

Creed chuckled huskily, which sent a lightning bolt straight to her pussy. He started to make a low, growling noise. Athena leaned her head back for a moment, feeling herself becoming lost in the sound.

Move it, Agent…now! Her mind screamed to her.

Athena shook her head, turned towards the swirling portal on the wall and jumped through it.

Creed opened his eyes and smirked.

The swirling portal on the wall disappeared.

Creed walked over to it, put his huge hand against it, closed his eyes and gave a smile of deep, deep satisfaction.

Athena landed lightly on the other side of the portal.

Her survival instinct kicked in and she rapidly checked her body over – breaking the spell Creed seemed to have woven over her.

Athena spun around to see where she was. She saw Mark sitting in what seemed like an ultra-modern lab that had been set up in some futuristic playboy mansion.

"Please tell me we're in a hollowed- out volcano," Athena said, giving a small smile as she tried to regain her senses.

"Glad you made it, sweetie," he said with a smile before his face became more serious.

"Did you do it?" he asked.

Athena lowered her head and bit her lip. She thought about Creed standing in front of her in the bathroom. He had an almost hypnotic effect on her. No-one in her life had ever had that kind of effect on her. She resented being so out of control and there it was again...an image of him on top of her…pounding her, growling in her ear – making her scream.

She slowly turned to face her friend.

"No," she said and raised a hand to stop Mark berating her. "Don't. There's nothing you can say that is as bad as I'm thinking."

Mark stood up from his chair.

"You don't want to kill him, do you?" Mark said in a gentle tone. Athena shot him a fierce look.

"Yes..I do…!"Athena walked over and sat down at a long table, examining the gun in her hand and putting the box of gadgets on the table.

"It's not strange that you would feel some kind of bond to him," Mark said. His voice had a sympathetic tone to it.

"What? I do not feel a bond.." Athena protested.

It was his turn to raise a hand to stop his friend.

"We're have to talk, Lydia," Mark said. "A serious talk."

Athena nodded her head. "I know," she said.

Mark sat down next Athena and put a hand on her shoulder.

"I want you to listen to me. Whatever happens, whatever decision you make, I will back you but I need to know you are thinking straight." He said seriously.

"I am going to say some things and, if possible, I want you to try and stay calm…ok? And by calm I mean be quiet." he said and added. "Ready?" he asked. Athena nodded.

Mark inhaled.

"You didn't kill him because…Lydia…it's probably more than likely that you subconsciously…regard him as your…mate," Mark said and slammed his hand over her mouth. Athena pulled his hand off but he shoved the other one over. Her eyes conveyed the message – you're so lucky you're my friend…

"No..let me talk…you need to hear this," Mark protested.

"We are in unchartered waters, here, "he said. "But listen to me…you have changed and we don't know the extent of your changes yet to come."

Athena inhaled and closed her eyes.

"It is highly probable that you are now a female with the same mutant strain as Victor Creed – and that is a very rare strain. We know very little about it. A human, sterile female, became pregnant by, as we know it, one of two feral males who seem to have great difficulty in breeding."

Mark took his hand away from Athena's mouth. "That in itself is worthy of research…but… the pregnancy has mutated you from human to feral mutant. I know nothing about how ferals interact – or anything about male and female mating rituals…or how they bond. I can only speculate."

"He is a predator who will kill me and you. I should've killed him," Athena said. "I failed. I put you at risk. I am so sorry."

"Don't be. You didn't kill him because deep down inside your feral instincts are probably driving you towards him. If so, it is likely there will be a point you will go to him."

Athena leapt to her feet and pointed at her friend. "No…I want to kill him."

Mark stood up and gently grabbed her hand and squeezed it affectionately.

"You've proven you can't," he said quietly.

Athena pulled her hand away and sat back down – her eyes fixed on Mark.

"Yes, he is a predator but look at it this way – in his eyes he is trying to protect his female and his offspring from outside threats. It is normal within the animal kingdom for males to protect their genetic line."

Athena stood up and began to walk around the lab.

"He isolated you to protect you and has hunted down those that would harm you."

"He imprisoned me against my will and has threatened to kill me once I give birth."

"This is not a latte drinking new age man we are talking about here. He is an alpha male predator who destroys all who challenge him. These feral males, as far as we can tell, if they have bred children, they must be dead or in hiding somewhere because there aren't any around. Imagine living all that time, having as many female as you want and yet no offspring?"

Athena folded her arms.

"And then… you. Pregnant with his seed. After all that time. Of course he is going to guard what is his! It's perfectly in keeping with his animalistic nature. I'm not saying it's right by our standards but he is not the same."

"I am not his property, Mark," Athena protested.

"To him you are his," Mark said emphatically. "And he is intelligent. I doubt he will kill you after you give birth."

"Hah!" Athena exclaimed, thumping her hand on the table.

"Why would he? Look at this logically. He has found a female he can breed with. Why wouldn't he want to breed even more children with you? Why would he risk losing the one female that can actually reproduce?"

"So…what? I'm going to be chained up and bred with whether I like it or not?" Athena demanded, pacing up and down.

"From his perspective, yes…if that's what it takes. He is NOT singing from the same hymn sheet as you. You are his female. And he is your mate." Mark said, pointing at Athena, who stopped pacing and stared at him.

"Are you high?"

"If only."

The two of them stared at each other for a moment before Mark continued.

"You two are now, more likely than not, the same species. You will be genetically, if not anything else, drawn to him."

"I am human in here," Athena said pulling a fist to her chest. "And here," she added, touching her head.

"That is highly debatable," said Mark quietly.

"I am still me," insisted Athena.

"You are a pregnant, feral mutant who could not kill her mate. You have changed. Accept this."

Athena stared down at the floor for a moment and let out a small sigh.

"So I get someone else to kill him – simple. And then, whatever is going on, we'll figure it out."

"You are an outstanding agent. You are brave – sometimes crazy brave – and clever but this is not a spying assignment. You have mutated into a feral female physically. It is entirely possible you will completely emotionally and psychologically mutate too. What if you fully change into a feral female and you have killed your mate? Grief may drive you mad."

"You're so dramatic, Mark. That will never happen. He is a monster!"

"That's how you see it at this moment. A full mutation could change your point of view in the very near future."

Athena contemplated this.

"Can you help? Got any potions in your cauldron? Something to lessen the changes?" Athena asked. Mark walked over to her and placed his hand on her back gently.

"Lydia, because of your healing mutation, there is nothing I can give you that will suppress your hormones or pheromones or anything. This is not like before. This is it. Do you understand? You may go over that edge and never come back. You could be a mutant forever. If that is to be your future, then I don't want it to be a lonely one for you. I would rather you be bonded to Creed then live for centuries alone."

Would she mutate and never return to human? Would she live for centuries? Cursed to watch everyone she loved die around her as she walked the earth alone. She suddenly felt a pang of compassion for Creed and Logan.

"So, what do I do?" Athena asked softly.

"I suggest you make this your base until you give birth. If you return to human then you can reconsider terminating your big horny cat man. In the meantime, I will try and work on some physical devices that may help but there is nothing you can take."

Athena rested her head on her friend's shoulder.

"Does this playboy mansion have a pool?" She asked looking up at Mark,

"Heated and regular," Mark smiled down to Athena.

"However, If you do have the urge to pop out from my volcano lair, I've adapted the chameleon suit so you can wear it over your clothes and they will remain visible. It means you can go for a cappuccino and not leave a scent trail. Also, in that box," Mark said, pointing to the box he had left for Athena at Creed's, "Is a telepathic inhibitor, which you just attach to the back of your neck. It creates a field. Nothing gets in or out of it. He won't be able to track you telepathically."

"I don't deserve you, Mark." Athena said, grinning.

"You're damn right you don't," he smiled back.

"Let's get you scanned and see how your pregnancy is progressing," Mark said.

Athena nodded and followed Mark into another room. Her thoughts on Creed. She thought about his eyes, his scent, his arms…

"Stand there," Mark said and began to tap on a screen.

"Soo…twins," Mark said.

"Yes, I haven't had time to tell you that. I have two Creeds, or two Logans, or one Creed and one Logan," Athena said.

"Hmm," said Mark. "Two men fathering one twin each is not unheard of."

"I know. I have characteristics of both Creed and Logan," Athena said, referring to her nails that extend into claws and also the long bones that push through her knuckles.

"However, you could receive both traits from just one of them. They are both from the same mutant gene pool."

"I know," Athena said.

"Do you want to know what sex they are?" Mark asked.

"If they're wearing long black coats and have cropped hair, I can guess." Athena said. "No..don't tell me." Athena did not need to know. All she cared about was their health and a healing mutation guaranteed that. She knew that as far as Creed was concerned they were male. Maybe he knew something she didn't. Male or female made no difference to her. They were hers and she would love them.

"As you wish," he said. "I will do some further testing. We simply have no idea if a feral pregnancy is shorter or longer than a human one. I will do your blood work and see if there is anything else I can find out."

Athena walked over to him.

"Thank you, Mark." She said.

"My pleasure, sweetie. So, going to have a swim?" Mark asked but he knew his friend too well and he knew that fixed, determined look on her face.

"No, I'm going to put on the suit and track down the bastards who are experimenting on mutants. I also need to find out who sent that big, giant bug after me. The one that killed me."

"Excuse me…what?"

"Oh yes..I was killed."

"Right."

"But I came back to life," she said. "Creed even gave me a bracelet to remember the moment."

"Uh-huh" Mark said. "How…romantic…"

Athena walked over to the box with all of Mark's gadgets in it.

"I'm going to pick up the leads I was working on before that…creature…abducted me. I know you think I have changed but I am still an Agent and I need to know who sent that bug to attack me. I can't sit around for months doing nothing but hide and wait."

She couldn't sit around with thoughts of Creed in her mind. She felt her groin pulsate when she thought about his chest, his legs, his voice. Athena shook her head. The growling noise he made echoed in her head and she felt her breathing begin to quicken.

"I have to do this," Athena said. "I can't just do nothing. And you know I will be careful."

Mark sighed and wasn't sure he had expected anything else.

Athena knew where she would start. She would need Logan and the last time she saw him she had electrocuted him.

She hoped he wouldn't be angry.

Who was she kidding?

He would be nuclear.