James had wanted to stay on the pizza party. He knew what was going on. That this was most likely the last night they spent in sector 45. Maybe for forever. But Adam had told him sleep was important, so as soon as he had had his share of pizza Adam had tucked into bed.
He slept better nowadays. He felt safe at base. There was always someone awake. Someone with superpowers.
And yet, despite having laid in bed for the better half on an hour, he felt something was off. He opened his eyes and looked around his dark room. He didn't know how he knew, but something was wrong.
Perhaps it was that the strange semi yelling that had drifted all the way to his and Adam's room had suddenly stopped. He hadn't been surprised that there had been arguing. He had wanted to get up and join in to see what the problem was, but he knew Adam would be annoyed with him.
Now though he was going to follow his intuition rather than his bed time.
Pushing away the covers he got out of bed and headed out. He had to blink at the ceiling lights that seemed to blare harder than usual. At this time of day they were usually dimmed in the hallway. But not now...
Straight away he could hear that there was a whole lot of tumbling and commotion going on in the main room, and as he rounded the corner the boy realized that there were at least twice the amount of people in the room as there were before.
And that half of the Omega Pointers were slipping towards the floor for some reason.
He looked up to see a man being assisted up by a soldier from underneath a large pile of chairs. The boy and man locked eyes.
"Grab the boy."
He didn't have time to run far. Because suddenly there was a grip around his waist and suddenly he was in the air, carried back. He screamed. He kicked and flailed. Kenji had taught him. Tried to teach him, at least, before Adam told him not to.
You're never completely powerless, kid. Kenji had told him. You just have to go a bit primal.
He bit down as soon as he felt fabric touch his lips. But he was too small. Too weak. The soldier barely flinched at the bite and he was dropped by a wall. Hands tied together behind his back. The taste of metal in his mouth.
He looked around to try and understand what was going on. Everyone was on the floor now. Except for the soldiers, obviously, who were walking around making sure everyone was unconscious.
"Adam!", he yelled when he spotted his brother across the room, in the same spot where they had had pizza an hour earlier.
Adam didn't respond. He just laid there.
"Adam…!", he tried again, louder this time.
Suddenly someone had walked up to him and his head was tilted back with a knuckle on his chin.
It was the first time James had ever seen him, but he immediately knew it was him. On top of that his name was written on the lapel. It wasn't hard to read despite it being slightly wrinkled from being buried underneath a bunch of chairs. Supreme commander Anderson. Warner's dad.
Anderson was smiling.
"Don't touch me!", James growled and kicked towards him.
"You're supposed to be dead you zombie! You stupid zombie dicta-"
He managed to land a hit on his wrist, and as he did pain bloomed in his toes, bare from having already gone to bed.
"Ow!"
"Ow ow ow ow!", he whimpered and slumped against the wall, tears gathering in his eyes.
"That's what happens when you try to kick metal, young man", the Supreme Commander tutted and stood up straight again. He didn't seem to have even noticed the kick, and James had hoped it would at least throw him off balance a little.
Jame blinked away the tears in his eyes and glared up at the man. He then turned his gaze to see a pair of soldiers starting to drag Castle and Kenji out the door.
"Leave them alone, you cyborg! You zombie robot cyborg!", James yelled.
Anderson glanced at him, almost looking shocked but mostly looking like he was thinking it was kind of funny. Then he raised his arm. With the other he grabbed the collar of James' pyjamas.
James knew what was coming, and shut his eyes hard.
"Leave him alone!"
Anderson turned, and James opened his eyes again.
It was Adam. He looked like he was about to pass out. Fighting whatever drug they had injected into his system.
"Aah, you're still awake, son?", Anderson wondered. The soldier restraining Adam raised a dart gun, awaiting an order to sedate him properly.
Yet, Anderson did not give the order. Instead he let go of James and walked up to Adam.
"Were you saying something?"
Adam, who had managed to raise himself up on his knees, looked up at the man. Adam's apple moving in his throat as he gulped.
"Dad, leave him alone."
"Dad?", James echoed. His mouth slightly agape in shock.
"Adam what-?"
"Oh, you haven't told him?", Anderson interrupted. He laughed as Adam just stared at him.
"He doesn't know!"
He glanced at James. Chuckled again.
"Not that it makes much of a difference. What's important is that you're here. Or, more precisely, in my dungeon."
He motioned to a guard, and suddenly someone grabbed James, lifting him up into the air again. He immediately began to struggle, but nothing had changed in the bare five minutes and he didn't get anywhere.
"NO!", Adam yelled.
"I said leave him alone!"
Suddenly there was a thud and Adam groaned in pain. James managed to look over and see his brother kneeling against the floor. The soldier next to him still had his fist raised in the air. Ready to deliver more.
Anderson stood watching with his hands in his pockets.
"And why would I do that?"
Adam wheezed out something reminiscent of a whimper, and turned his head to look up. The bruise was already starting to bloom. The soldier had knocked him straight in the left eye.
He hesitated. Glanced at James who was still up in the soldier's arms. Back at Anderson.
"I… I'll give myself up to you", Adam said.
Anderson actually looked shocked for a moment, then he laughed. Laughed out loud. As if the proposal was hilarious.
"Well isn't that adorable...", he mused.
"Give myself to you", he mimicked. Chuckled again.
"You already belong to me!", he then yelled. And in a swift move he has grabbed Adam by the hair, pulled him upright in a kneeling position and tilted his head back.
"I own you. All of you. Always have. I'm only here to collect you, because-", he paused to huff and roll his eyes. "As much as I would love to deny it seems like Aaron is entertaining the idea of having younger siblings. And I'm sure he'd love for you both of you to stay alive."
"And yes, I know you both know. You're so sweet by the way", he said and ran his thumb along Adam's face, suddenly tender.
"Crying over me..."
"I have something that could be useful to you", Adam interrupted. And by the way he said it through his clenched jaw it was clear that Anderson was speaking the truth. Which would explain why his brother had seemed so… tangled up lately, James thought. And why he and Warner were behaving so weird around each other.
Anderson quirked an eyebrow. Took a step back.
"And what would that be?"
"I need your word first. You need to promise that James remains unharmed."
"Adam...", James started, but was interrupted by a look from Adam.
"He's hasn't done anything wrong", Adam continued.
Anderson pursed his lips, took a moment to look at the ceiling. Pretending to be considerate. He sighed.
"You know what, why not? I gave your brother a favor, might as well be fair and run it even now that we're about to have the entire family together. If whatever it is you have to offer is useful, that is…", he adds.
Adam nodded. Glanced at James again. Moistened his lips.
Now, James thought, Adam is going to tell them that he's able to turn off machines, just like Castle had suggested back in Omega Point.
"The reason I could touch Juliette-"
"Adam don't-!"
"-is because I can cancel out abilities...!"
This time Anderson actually looked interested. James watched as the gears turned in his head.
"Cancel out?", he asked.
"Turn off. Render unusable, whatever you want to call it. I found out at Omega Point", Adam told him.
"Can you project any?", Anderson wondered.
"Y-yeah a little", Adam replied, surprised that Anderson was familiar with the terminology.
It was obvious Anderson wasn't completely convinced.
"Prove it", he said. He turned and gestured for a soldier, the same one who had been dragging an unconscious Castle out the room. The soldier walked up and stood at attention. At the same time the soldier who had been carrying James returned him to the wall.
"You know what to do. Target the child", Anderson said.
James didn't let that scare him. He barely even glanced at the soldier positioning himself to shoot him, or whatever he was about to do. He kept his eyes glued at his older brother. He really wanted to yell at him for telling the bad guy about his secret ability, but he knew Adam needed all the support he could get.
Adam managed to spare him a look before aiming his attention at the soldier.
"Now", Anderson said.
And nothing happened.
James looked over to see the soldier looking shocked, and Anderson observing him.
"Are you doing it?", Anderson asked.
"I am attempting to, sir." The soldier glanced at Adam.
"But it seems like they're… gone… I can't feel them."
Andersons eyes widened. He quickly walked up to his son, Adam, and placed a hand on his head.
"Do it on me", he ordered. Then he reached for his pocket, bringing out a blade with a flick of his hand. James watched as the man pricked himself in the finger. A sphere of blood emerged, then overflowed to pour down towards Adam's forehead. And it continued. More and more droplets of blood.
Anderson brought up his hand. Looked at it. Fascinated. His blue eyes, that James realized were quite an odd shade of light blue, seemingly alight. He laughed again, but this time genuinely surprised and amused. A strange sight as the wound on his hand just kept dripping blood. Coloring the sleeve of his shirt with red.
His other hand reach out to pat Adam on the head. As if he was some kind of dog.
"And here I thought you're only use was being a heater...", he mused.
As Adam slumped to the floor, fully sedated now, Anderson kept his attention on the wound. Last thing James saw was Anderson wiping his hands with a handkerchief.
Then everything went dark.
A/N
I'm so surprised no one has written this scene yet. Or does no one care about Adam anymore? Could that be it?
I considered writing this in first person, like the rest of the books, but I just couldn't get James' inner voice right ._.
Anyone who would like me to continue this? I have some ideas for a canon divergence including James spending time with Anderson and finding out more about his mother.
If you don't want more but still liked it feel free to tell me.
If you thought something was wrong with it: Concrit feedback is greatly appreciated. I want to grow as a writer.
