Chapter 9
Ida Olsen sat in the privacy of her office tense, with a furrowed brow as she studied the latest reports. She had received an urgent message that Hunter had gone rogue. Her sources confirmed he had withdrawn a large sum of money and stocked up on supplies before fleeing his last-known whereabouts.
It didn't take a genius to figure out the identity of the woman he'd been spotted with. Ida's irritation deepened when she realized that Tasha Pines must have had Esben's medicine formula memorized or written safely down somewhere. Surely Hunter wouldn't bite the hand that fed him.
The entire situation had gotten stickier, and it was in danger of slipping out of her control. Lance and Henry were dead, but at least Goliath was still in place, and he had his usefulness. Henry was just a cheap pawn in a poorly conceived plot to get Tasha. The Wolfgangers still had their fingers in many pots and held substantial influence countrywide and amongst other gang leaders.
If Dylan and Tasha wanted to run off together and form an alliance to help each other stave away pursuers … so be it. For the time-being, Ida wouldn't bother with them, but she instructed a few spies to keep an eye on them. Her number one priority was still to get a hold of Subject Seven. If Banner was yet with her, and he and his giant Hulk got in the way, she would have him killed.
Of course, she still had one potential ace in the hole, as Americans might say …
Esben had been a complete lunatic, but he had been competent. He'd possessed his own delusions of grandeur and did many indirect experiments that she had never ordered or approved of. But unlike Hunter, Esben had followed every direction that she'd given him.
There was a slim chance that she had another backup plan, the thing which Esben had explicitly been instructed to make in case anything had ever happened to Seven. But would it still be in the lab? There was a strong possibility it had been destroyed in the explosion. It raised her ire that Esben had made that decision without consulting her first. She would have preferred it if her people had been able to gather what they deemed useful before the bombing.
Ida had underestimated Esben. She had been aware of the explosive devices he'd rigged to destroy the facility whenever he chose. It was how Ida knew to order her people to be prepared and escape if the countdown was ever initiated. What she should have done was order her spies to sabotage the devices so they would begin the countdown, but wouldn't go off after Esben vacated the premises. That would have allowed them to gain control after he escaped.
However, that probably wouldn't have ended well. Forever paranoid, Esben had been on guard for sabotage. He'd had his own loyal assistants. He had free reign in how he used the werewolves and whom he chose to sic them on. In some cases, incompetent spies or infiltrators became test subjects. Ida had lost one of her best informants that way.
Everything had been a dangerous game of chess … if dice and several unseen card-hands were also dealt. Ida had underestimated Esben, Dylan, Tasha … everyone. Ida knew she wasn't the best person to play such 4-D chess. If she had a more in-depth insight into all these players, her plans wouldn't have been delayed or thwarted, and she would already have Subject Seven.
A large part was because of her own bias. Ida had been born with a metaphorical silver spoon in her mouth. She was used to having everyone at her beck and call, merely snapping her fingers and getting whatever she wanted without question. If someone didn't follow through, she'd always had the power to fire them and enough influence to tarnish their reputations. As her wealth and power grew, and tragedies struck her family, her heart hardened. In some instances, she got rid of problems permanently.
Her late husband had sometimes called her a spoiled princess. Anyone who was born into old money couldn't help but have that tendency. Ida was a distant relation to the Norwegian Royal House of Glücksburgof. At this point in her life, she had little interest in gaining more power. Her wealth and mansion were enough. However, Ida desperately wanted her bloodline preserved.
This game had bathed her hands in blood. Firing people and destroying reputations was no longer enough. Eventually, more people would need to be eliminated. Tasha and Dylan had to die. Subject Seven and David Banner subsequently, too. Who would even care or remember them?
Ida recalled the last news on Esben's lab. Despite the bomb, the mad Doctor had apparently planned to go back at some point. He'd possibly rigged a chamber or two with protection from the primary blast and built it to withstand damage.
If that was the case, the reserve in the event Subject Seven was lost might still be there. Esben probably had a hidden tunnel that would have provided him with a safe escape and a passage back inside once the dust settled.
Ida needed to contact Goliath again. She had to immediately send him and his gang to extract the prize from the wreckage.
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0
When they arrived at D.W.'s house, David could already tell that something had happened due to how Helen stormed about the kitchen. Sarah kept quiet and helped put away the groceries and rearrange the pantry.
"Agatha Blackwell literally bumped into us at the grocery store and knocked the milk out of Sarah's hands. Before that, she nearly ran us off the road, trying to get me to stop my car." Helen finally retorted after David's second attempt to ask what happened.
David nodded with a sigh.
"I don't get it," Sarah finally dared to speak. "What's this Agatha person's problem? I mean, she told me –"
David held up a finger to dissuade her from speaking when Helen closed the fridge door with a startling bang. Very quietly, David matter-of-factly picked up the fire extinguisher from its storage spot and held it out toward his sister with grave amusement.
Helen stared at him, perplexed. "What is that for?"
"For the smoke coming out of your ears."
Despite herself, Helen chuckled. She slapped David lightly on the shoulder, and her eyes twinkled. Neither of them noticed that Sarah had moved a discreet distance into the other room. Still, she continued to eavesdrop with her delicate hearing.
"Oh, David, I just can't believe that woman. Every time I get anywhere near her, I try to remind myself that getting riled up will do no good. But this time, she really takes the cake."
"Hmm. I remember when we were children. Agatha spread all sorts of nasty rumors that our Dad killed our mom. She was very … convincing." The memory still raised significant ire in David and reminded him of why he disliked her. Yet David also remembered how he secretly agreed with the woman in ways. Elizabeth Banner had practically died in his arms. He'd intensely disliked and avoided his father for years believing D.W. had let Elizabeth die by not taking her to a doctor. To this day, he still didn't understand the man's decision.
Helen knew what her brother was thinking and patted his arm. She wasn't fully aware of what went on when their mother died, but she carried her own traumatic scars. Young David had run out of the house to find their father and left her alone in her bedroom. Helen had heard the commotion and hurried downstairs, her favorite porcelain doll in hand. She saw her mother in the bed, her arm hanging limply over the edge. Young Helen had trembled, and her doll smashed to the floor. She tried everything to wake her beloved mother up. But Elizabeth had laid cold and still, her eyes rolled back, her mouth agape as if taking her last gasp. It was only years later that Helen revealed to David what she'd seen and how it haunted her dreams. As Helen grew up and went to Medical school, she'd seen all manner of death, and it helped her childish fears subside.
"What Agatha said led to a lot of bullying and teasing from the other kids at school and on the playground. A few of the parents didn't want to let their kids play with the children of a supposed murderer, either," Helen said ruefully.
"Let's not forget when the Police Captain's son and daughter instigated a playground mob to have my trousers strung up the flagpole … with me still in them," David pointed out.
Helen's gaze flared angrily. "If only you had the Hulk in you then. I sure gave it to the daughter, though, right in the kisser. Then I secretly spread to everyone in school that she still sucked her thumb, and her brother wet the bed. Because I'd seen her doing it one day while passing their home on my bike, and I went around back and saw the stained sheets their mom hung in the yard. They were humiliated for months."
David chuckled and shook his head. "Helen, I always knew you were a great bodyguard. So what did Agatha say that has made you so angry?"
"Are you sure you can handle it? I mean, no offense, but I don't want you getting angry and changing into the Hulk in my kitchen."
David blinked. "Was it that bad? Helen, nothing surprises me anymore."
"Yes. To me, it was, and I don't want to dwell on it; otherwise, I may pay old Agatha a visit."
David contemplated her feelings. He noted how hot and steamed Helen had been upon entry, knowing how much it took to get his usually level-headed sister that worked up. David respected her feelings. What he did not know wouldn't hurt him.
"You can tell me after I find a cure for the Hulk," he finally said. "In the meantime," David made a sideways glance toward the doorway, "let's take our nosy gumshoe to the new and improved lab and get on with the exam."
A series of low, intelligible grumbles escaped Sarah, half in response to being caught eavesdropping, half to express displeasure at the prospect of going to the lab. But at least she didn't seem quite as panicky or aloof about it.
"Any idea where Lucan might be?" David asked as he glanced around the kitchen and looked into the living room. "He said he would let me examine him too."
"I'll find him," Sarah said. "Remember, I've got the nose for tracking," she winked and slipped out the back door.
David watched her go, then he and Helen exchanged a knowing glance. "She looks remarkable, stunning. I almost didn't recognize her," he commented on Sarah's makeover, even if he hadn't really said anything aloud before. "I didn't want to embarrass her."
"I think she secretly enjoys the newfound attention. You can mention it later. And I think she's hoping Lucan will notice, too," Helen added, amused, echoing what David was thinking.
"Which reminds me," her tone sobered, "I talked with Sarah about her unique biology. There are a few features that she shared with me." She lowered her voice and moved a little closer to David's ear. "She was very embarrassed to discuss them, and I had to gently nudge it out of her… to be fair, if I were in her shoes, I'd probably be embarrassed too."
"Alright, let's go in here," David said, stepping into one of the back rooms with Helen. He closed the door, and both of them made it a point to keep their voices down.
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0
"Hey, Lucan," Sarah found him as he returned from a walk around the property with a toolbox. "Where've you been?"
Lucan stared at Sarah as if not believing his own eyes at her very human transformation. He smiled widely. "I was helping a couple of the farmhands fix one of the chicken coops. Part of the roof came off in a wind storm that swept through last night. It is good as new now."
"Oh, okay. I must've slept through the whole thing. Well, um…" Sarah gulped. "David wants us to go down to Helen's lab for an exam."
Lucan nodded. "Okay, we can go now." He tilted his head. "But I'm not sure how much longer I can stay," he told her. "Lt. Prentiss is still sniffing around. He's not dumb and will probably assume I'm holed up on a farm because that's happened before. If he comes here, I will have to leave fast."
Sarah gave him a meaningful look. That certainly sounded familiar. In some ways, he reminded her of David, a kind and charming do-gooder on the run with a dark secret. She thought fast.
"Hey um… before we go back to the house, can we just talk for a bit?"
Lucan observed Sarah bashfully stroke her neck. She continually drew attention to her face, and he admired the light makeup she wore. He shrugged slightly and gulped.
"It sounds like David needs us. We shouldn't keep him waiting too long."
"We'll go in a couple of minutes. I just … wanted to ask you something." She averted her gaze, blushing slightly.
"Okay, let me put this back." Lucan agreed and chucked the toolbox onto a work table in the barn.
They walked around the property for a full minute before Lucan finally broke the silence. "What did you want to ask?"
Sarah stopped, though she didn't look at him. "Well…" Her voice caught in her throat, and, for a moment, she felt like a silly schoolgirl. It took a moment for Sarah to muster the courage to look him in the eye. "L- Lucan, I've been thinking about you sometimes ever since I first met you in the woods, and I … I … I …"
"Yes?" Lucan asked when she kept stammering. "Sarah, what are you trying to say?" He asked gently.
She was not really sure what she was doing. She ended up positioning herself against a maple tree in the middle of the property, standing in full view in front of Lucan. She raised one arm above her head, resting it against the trunk and sort of ran her other hand through her short, styled hair.
"Do you think I'm pretty?"
Lucan took in her whole petite form and smiled kindly. "Sure, I think you're very pretty, Sarah." Lucan noticed her shoulders droop, and he quickly added, "That's a nice haircut. It suits your face."
She glanced at him, shyly for a long moment. Hearing those words from him wasn't as exciting as she thought it would be. A considerable part of it was because he'd said it in such a casual, my-sister-is-a-cutie kind of way.
What had she really been expecting from him, anyway? A declaration of love? A kiss? They barely knew each other. Lucan's honesty stemmed from a pure, innocent heart. Hed spent his early life raised among wolves. Then another ten years hitched to the University that adopted him like some sort of unique pet. He had only spent the last five years out on his own. Sarah should have realized by now that nothing in this life was going to be like it was in the movies or anything like whatever daydream promises her parents had once made.
Had a part of her that expected Lucan to fall head over heels over her just because she had dolled up? At this moment, she probably looked the closest to a princess or a model she ever had, but that didn't make her either. This wasn't a Disney movie. Lucan was sweet, charming, and they had something in common due to his wolf blood … but that didn't mean they would get shot by Cupid's Arrow.
Foolishness crept over her. She felt less like a young woman and more like a schoolgirl who'd colored her face with markers to imitate attractive girls so the boy she liked would notice. Her cheeks heated up, embarrassed as she turned away.
"Um, thanks. David's waiting, and Helen," she said stiffly, and couldn't bear to look at him as she marched back toward the Greenhouse with Lucan following.
Sarah's sensitive hearing picked up D.W.'s soft snores from the house and some quiet conversation coming from one of the back rooms as she neared. The talking ceased with a light shushing from David.
"Ah, I see Sarah found you, Lucan," David smiled conversationally as he stepped out of the back room with Helen. "Are you both ready to head in?"
"What were you two doing back there?" Sarah wanted to know, folding her arms. "Were you talking about something?"
"Yes, we were," Helen admitted readily, "we didn't want to disturb Dad's nap talking in the house."
Sarah looked like she didn't buy that entirely, but Lucan stepped in. "Why wouldn't they talk, Sarah? They're siblings who haven't seen each other in years, and they are working on finding you a cure."
Sarah felt foolish again and lowered her arms but didn't reply.
"Um, if it's all the same to you, I'd like to get on with the lab test. Prentiss may be close, and if he comes here … well, I don't want any trouble for either of you." Lucan said.
David nodded. He could understand that feeling all-too-well with Jack McGee.
"And," Helen held up a stern finger as she looked Sarah in the eye, "don't touch anything or poke around that lab. Please keep still while David examines you. You should know by now he won't hurt you."
Sarah nodded meekly. "I won't touch anything," she promised.
David gently took Sarah's shoulder and guided her toward the door when she hesitated.
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0
Sarah took a long moment to survey her surroundings in the restored lab, feeling moderate pangs of guilt over the recent destruction. It would seem that the others had done an excellent repair job, even if some spots looked like they had merely been patched for the time being.
David wanted to take samples from Lucan to learn about a half-werewolf's uniqueness and find similarities between him and Sarah. Although Lucan wasn't exactly eager, he didn't mind the needles. To help Sarah feel more at ease, David chose to proceed with Lucan first, only taking a blood sample, skin sample, and checking the young man's vitals.
"Seems like your core body temperature is 103 or 104 Fahrenheit. Yet you're not feverish, and your skin is cool to the touch." David marveled.
"Yeah. The doctors never understand it. But it's similar to a real wolf. A Doctor once suggested I should see a Veterinarian."
Sarah rolled her eyes. People could be so rude, making corny jokes to soften their intended insults.
"I've also gotten very used to the poking and prodding. I came of age in a lab setting." Lucan remarked.
David examined Lucan's mouth. He already knew that Lucan had never transformed, but he was curious if he grew fangs or had small venom sacs lining his gums. There were none, and his teeth were regular, not sharp. There was nothing like that present in Sarah's human form either. David wanted to ascertain whether Lucan's condition was any different for a hybrid.
"How are your sleeping and eating habits on a typical day, Lucan?" David asked.
Lucan buttoned up his shirt after David had checked his heart and lungs. "The early morning farm life isn't suitable for me. I tend to sleep through the morning, and I'm more active at night. I get pretty restless. This helped me dodge Prentiss since he usually searched during the day. But he caught on to my habits after subpoenaing all my files from the University. He was right on my tail when I met Sarah in the woods. I basically eat when I'm hungry. You might've guessed it, but I'm not a vegetarian."
"Is it like a feast or famine diet? Similar to the natural wolves?" Helen asked.
"Something like that. I've gone up to three days without eating, and it didn't bother me too much." Lucan answered. "But I sure did chow down later."
David grinned. "And how do you sleep?"
"On the floor." Lucan said directly, causing everyone to chuckle. "It's true. Sometimes I'll even climb a tree and get comfortable. And I do it soundly. But my senses are too sharp. It can be irritating when I'm in unfamiliar territory. It keeps me half awake."
"Are there any physical changes that occur because of your heredity? Like a werewolf?" David wondered.
"David, there is something … when my senses are riled, or I suspect danger, my eyes will turn to amber or orange-red color. And I've been known to growl and mimic animal sounds."
David smiled, thinking of the pale green eyes and growls that signaled his Hulk-out. He marked all of the findings on a small chart he'd created for Lucan.
"That's very interesting. And do you grow claws or fangs or fur at that time?"
"My hair is pretty thick, but, No, not really." Lucan shrugged.
David was about done with Lucan's basic check-up. While the girls were away earlier, they'd discussed the more sensitive topics, just as Helen did with Sarah. Lucan had developed attractions to women before, but there was nothing out of the ordinary, and he didn't turn into a lustful beast under the full moon. However, Lucan firmly believed that he would remain loyal forever when he found "the one" like his brother wolves and their mates.
Lucan slid off the chair and walked beside Sarah. "See, it was easy. You'll be fine."
David patted the seat. "Remember, Sarah, there's nothing here that can hurt you," he reminded her gently.
Despite the reassurances, Sarah involuntarily trembled when David came near her with a syringe. David drew back, not wanting to risk putting a needle into her while she was under stress. When his attempt to calm her failed, Lucan stepped closer and took Sarah's hand. He gazed directly into her eyes. "It's okay, Sarah, this isn't the lab you came from. David is only here to help you. We all are." Lucan spoke, emanating a strong and pacifying vibe. His eyes manifested a warm, reddish glow. "The needle has nothing in it that will cause you pain. It might sting a little, but it will be over before you know it ."
David watched mildly amazed as Sarah not only ceased shaking but calmed right down. Lucan kept hold of her hands. Sarah felt the wolf inside of her again respond to Lucan's voice and, this time, his touch. She barely noticed when David extracted two blood samples from her arm, nor did she pay attention when he took a skin sample. Her reflexes also tested fine.
"Alright, Sarah, I would like to take a few more samples," David said very carefully, "but this time … I need to take them from the wolf."
"You want me to transform?" Sarah asked. "I don't think Helen is gonna like that much."
"That's why we're gonna go outside for that."
Sarah growled and snarled under her breath even after she stepped behind a sheet that David put up to give her some privacy as she removed her clothing. David and Lucan kept their backs turned respectfully.
Sarah stepped from behind the sheet and went outside. She kneeled down, and her muscles and skin rippled and sprouted hair. Once the transformation and Sarah's mental recalibration were complete, the men joined her outside. Despite how familiar he'd grown with Sarah's wolf body, David couldn't help but feel nervous, especially considering this was the first time he needed to get close for medical samples. The research was vital to possibly develop a cure for the unnatural werewolfism.
Lucan sensed David's unease, along with Sarah's discomfort as she tilted her large head down and pawed at the dirt. Lucan simply sat cross-legged in front of the massive, silvery-white wolf and scratched behind her ear, marveling at how well it had regenerated.
"There, good girl, Sarah. I know you can understand me. I know how troubling this all is for you. Whatever happens in the future, you can control the transformation and choose to consider your wolfism a gift."
Sarah enjoyed Lucan's soothing talk and permitted his strokes and pats as David got to work.
David took three sets of blood samples from the wolf, carefully took some wolf hair and skin samples, then gulped as he prepared to do the one thing he'd feared the most. He needed to take venom samples. He was definitely glad that Helen and their father were nowhere close by for this, mainly since he still wasn't sure how potent the venom was.
Knowing that he was immune did not bring David much comfort. Suppose it was only because of his metamorphosis? If one of her teeth broke his skin and some of the venoms entered his bloodstream when he was human, could it still alter his biology? What kind of monstrosity would the Hulk turn into if he were also a werewolf?
Lucan again proved helpful by putting his arms around the wolf's massive neck, murmuring to her to stay relaxed. The werewolf preened. Due to how peaceful Lucan kept her, it seemed more like he was hugging an oversized puppy than a monster that could chew their arms off in a single bite.
"Open your mouth … that's a girl. Now just hold still." Lucan smiled and lay her head against his shoulder and chest as he repositioned his other arm and hand.
David's eyes widened when he realized Lucan was putting his hand inside the wolf's mouth, but the young man seemed to know what he was doing. Lucan was helping to prop her mouth to stay open, and Sarah seemed nonplussed… even if she did drool a bit.
"Lucan, be very careful. There may be venom mixed with her saliva. If you're not immune, it could bring a full wolf out in you."
"Don't worry, Dr. Banner, I got this. I have her full trust now."
David quickly put on two sets of rubber gloves. One pair rose tight up to his elbows. It proved to be tricky to extract a venom sample into a vial, especially when Sarah writhed anxiously and gnarled while having another flashback of Esben's lab. Her wolf nose detected the scent of the gloves and antiseptic. Lucan succeeded in holding her down and reminded her that David wasn't going to hurt her.
When David was finished collecting the samples, he locked himself in the lab to begin his testing.