Chapter Fourteen: Clockwork

Polonium disposed of Crompton's body. She was still covered in blood. She sat down in the control room. She tapped her boot angrily on the ground. She could feel desperation growing in her chest. Crompton threw everything for a loop. There was no way she could kill everyone in PontyPandy now. She thought long and hard for a moment. She slammed her fist against the console when she couldn't think of a solution. She let out an annoyed sigh. "Let's see I've got a bomb that I can't use with a child anymore. The police force is probably getting ready to raid me at any given moment. Hmm. Well there's only one thing for it."

A wicked smirk appeared on her face. "I'm going to have to give the townspeople what they want. I mean I do have a way of dealing with dogs that won't shut up."

She picked up her phone. She dialed the number for the Police Station in PontyPandy. Rose picked up. "Sergent Rose. It is is, I, Professor Polonium. I'm calling you to make an offer you can't refuse."

Rose narrowed her eyes. "Go on."

"I'm ready to turn myself in. I'm awfully tired of the pathetic games I've been playing. I'll even confess to whatever charges you wish to place on me."

"Why do I have a feeling you want something in return?"

"Oh no. I don't want anything. I just want to do the right thing. How about I meet you guys personally in let's say an hour?"

"Alright but pull anything funny and I've got somebody who is eagerly wanting to put a bullet through you." growled Rose as she hung up.

Polonium set her phone down. "Fools." She grabbed the bomb. She headed out to Crompton's jeep. She drove away from her lab.

Rose decided to call Malcolm after she got done with Polonium. Malcolm met up with Rose at the Police Station. The three of them waited for Polonium to arrive. Winter shifted nervously in his chair. "I have a bad feeling about this." he muttered.

"So do I." commented Rose. "but we need to keep our wits about us."

The doors to the police station opened about an hour later. Polonium stood in the doorway. Rose got up out of her chair. "Polonium..."

"Sergent..." Greeted Polonium.

She tossed them a box. "I've got something that will be worth your while. Consider it an easier way of collecting whatever evidence you want on me."

Malcolm took the box. He began examining it. He heard a faint "click". Polonium quickly high tailed it out of the Police Station. The box exploded sending it up into a bright green fireball. She grinned slightly to herself.

Ellie saw a bright flash outside. She gasped quietly. "that came from the Police Station!" she shouted.

Arnold look out the window. "What do you mean?"

"I think Malcolm and the others are in danger." said Ellie.

Ellie quickly ran into the office. Station Officer Steele glanced up at her. "Is everything okay, Firefighter Phillips?"

"Sir, I think something happened at the Police Station. There was this bright green flash."

The alarms suddenly started to go off in the fire station. Steele stood up. "Sounds like somebody thought the same thing." He pressed the logo on the tablet.

An explosion has broken out at the Police Station. came an electronic voice through the speakers.

"You, Penny, and Arnold better go on this one. I'll man the station." Instructed Steele.

"Rodger that, sir!"

Steele sat back down in his chair again. I hope Malcolm and the other are okay.

Malcolm's ears rang painfully. His vision blurred in and out of focus. He coughed softly. He looked around to see the station in flames. He had been blown against a wall. He weakly tried to stand up. Blood fell onto the ground. "Rose? Winter?" he called.

No answer. He stumbled forward. He spotted Rose and Winter laying on the ground. They were both badly burned. Winter suffered the worse of it. He ran over to them. "Rose! Winter!" He dove down next to them.

He felt each of them for pulses. Rose' was much stronger than Winter's. "Hang in there. Please." he begged. He coughed as he reached for his radio. "Malcolm to Station Officer Steele."

Static came through his radio. He looked to see that his radio had gotten damaged in the blast. Bright blue lights shined in the growing smoke. He held Winter and Rose close to him to shield them from the flames.

Ellie clipped both hoses onto Jupiter's outlets. She handed one to Arnold before handing Penny her oxygen tag. She raced into the burning Police Station. She began spraying the area with water. She spotted someone sitting in the smoke. She turned off her hose. She put it down before running over to them. "Penny, I've spotted somebody in the fire. We need Nurse Flood."

Rodger that. I'll have her on standby. Out.

Malcolm looked up at her. "Please help them. Don't worry about me. I've got scratches."

She nodded. She carried Winter out first. Rose woke up in Malcolm's arms. She didn't say a word. Her hand gripped Malcolm's vest weakly. "It'll be alright, Rose." comforted Malcolm. "Just stay calm."

Ellie came back for Rose. Malcolm stood up. He limped out of the building. Malcolm felt hollow and numb. Somebody had attacked his family on their turf. He noticed Penny was staring at her phone in confusion. "Helen's not picking up." she muttered.

Malcolm paled. "Polonium!" shouted Malcolm. He dropped the blanket on the ground. "I need to get to my sister's, now."

"Malcolm, your in no condition to move. Just let me contact Newtown Hospital first."

"Penny, we were bombed by Polonium. My sister could be in danger."

Penny lowered her phone. "What? Polonium's loose in PontyPandy?"

He nodded. "Looks like she had a change of plans. I need you to hurry."

"Okay. Just sit tight." Penny got on the phone with Newtown Hospital.

Malcolm went over to where his comrades were laying. Winter groaned quietly. "Malcolm?"

Malcolm knelt by his side. "I'm right here, love."

Winter looked up at him weakly. Blood streamed down the side of his head. He had blood leaking out of his lips. Malcolm touched his cheek. "I'm going after her. I'm going to finally put an end to this."

"Malcolm...I'm so glad I can feel you...I can't see very well...am I going to die?"

"No. The both of you are going to be fine. The EMTs are coming. Just hang in there."

Winter leaned into his mate's touch. "How bad is Rose?"

"She's a tough cookie but she got banged up pretty good. I'm sure she'll be okay."

"That lady was really mean. She tricked us."

"I know she did. I expected nothing less from her." He laid Winter back down again. "Just rest."

Winter closed his eyes. "I'm cold."

Malcolm slid off his ruined vest. He draped it over Winter's body. Winter sighed happily. Malcolm saw bright orange and blue lights off in the distance. He gave Winter a kiss on the cheek. "They're here. I'll be back to check on you later."

Malcolm stood up. He looked at Penny. "I need a ride."

Helen woke up in the back of a vehicle she didn't recognize. She noticed that Renee wasn't by her side anymore. She bolted upright. She couldn't sit up fully because of the zip ties she had around her wrists. She struggled to try and get out of them.

Polonium looked at her from the rearview mirror. "Don't try to struggle just yet."

"Are we really doing this same dance?" snarked Helen. "Sam isn't going to fall for your tricks this time."

Polonium rolled her eyes. "I've stepped up my game this time. You've got precious hours of your short lifespan to enjoy before I take great pleasure in watching the light fade from your eyes. A bit like I did Crompton."

"You killed your own friend?!"

"Friend?! Pah! More like loose end. I would get comfortable back there. Oh! And don't worry about that crying brat. I've got something even more special planned for her."

Helen tugged against her restraints. "Your mad. I'm not letting you harm that child."

"Oh please. Why do you care? Is it because you owe some favor to that weak firefighter you have eating from the palm of your hand?"

"No. It's because she's family. That's why I care."

"Care all you want. None of it will matter in an hour or two."

Polonium fell silent. She pulled off onto a dirt road. Helen continued to try and free herself. She could feel the zip ties rub painfully against her wrists. She gave them one last tug. The zip ties snapped. Helen managed to find a crowbar in the back of the van. She reached over the back of the front seat before striking Polonium with it. Polonium howled. Helen then kicked the van doors open. She jumped out. She tucked and rolled. She grunted as her body slammed into the dirt a bit too harshly. She stood up.

Polonium parked the van. She reached for a knife she kept hidden in her glove box. She got out. She noticed Helen was standing there. Polonium grinned. "You know, I never thought I would have to fight a medical health professional."

Helen's eyes narrowed. "I'm doing it because I'm tired of you trying to hurt us. I'm also doing it to free Renee. Now we can either do this the hard way or the easy way. You pick."

"Stubborn. I'll give you that much. Shame what happened to your brother. Be sure to say hello to him in the void for me." sneered Polonium as she lunged at Helen.

Helen used the crowbar to block her attack. She heard the blade scrape against it harshly. Polonium put weight on the bar. She pulled away. She went for Helen again. Helen dodged her attack. She kept her back towards the van. Polonium took another swing at her. She managed to stab Helen in the arm. Helen called out. She dropped the bar. Polonium ripped her blade out of her arm.

Helen moved away from her. She went to grab the bar off the ground. She grabbed it just in enough time to block another attack from Polonium. "C'mon bitch! You were talking shit earlier! Fight me!" challenged Polonium.

"It would be against my code of ethnics to hurt you. You should try it some time." taunted Helen.

Polonium's eyes narrowed. She broke out of her hold. She went for Helen again. She managed to clip Helen's side this time. Helen gritted her teeth against the pain. She swung at Polonium with her crowbar. She gave her a rather harsh blow to the head. Polonium wobbled from side to side. She groaned quietly. Helen then went to knock her knees out from under her. The tip of her crowbar caught Polonium by the knees, she yanked them out from under her. Polonium fell face first onto the ground.

Helen then dropped her crowbar. She ran over to the van. She began searching for Renee. Renee was in her basket up front. Helen picked her up. She fled towards the trees.

Polonium got back up again. She growled. She gave chase. "Come back here, coward!"

Helen kept going. She didn't look back. She had to find a place to hide. Polonium took out her knife. She cocked her hand back. She aimed for the back of Helen's leg. She threw it only for it to barely get her. The knife bounced off somewhere on the ground. Polonium picked up the pace. She grabbed her knife on the way.

Helen reached the bushes near the cliffs. She panted looking around. Renee began crying. Helen rocked her back and forth. "Shh baby it's okay."

She jumped hearing a twig snap. She began backing up. Polonium came out of her hiding spot. "It's the end of the line, Nurse. You've got nowhere to run."

Helen kept her calm. She looked for the best escape route. She held Renee close to her. Polonium began circling her like a predatory animal. "I've waited for days to do this. To get back at you for taking them away from me. Since Sammy isn't here to protect you, I can finally rid myself of you."

"When Sam returns, he'll show no mercy." warned Helen. "Now let us go. We don't have to shed anymore blood."

"The time for peace is over. You know that." Polonium readied her knife. "Your just trying to stall for time."

Helen showed no fear. If this is how she died, at least she went down keeping the ones she loved safe. "Go on. Your so eager to kill me. Do it already." taunted Helen.

Polonium grinned. She lunged at Helen. She had an excited look on her face. Helen put Renee behind her. As soon as Polonium got close, she grabbed hold of her arm. Polonium growled. "You little bitch!" she spat.

"I'm not going to go down this easily. I'm not as weak as you think me to be." Helen kept hold of her arm. Helen then flipped Polonium onto her backside. She stood over her.

Polonium swung her knife. She tried to thrust it into Helen's leg. Her blade just barely misses. She manages to get it stuck. Helen stepped away from her. She grabbed Renee in her arms again. Her arm and side throbbed. She knew she wasn't going to be able to fight off Polonium forever.

Polonium yanked her knife out of the ground. She weakly stood up. She went after Helen again. She plunged her blade deep into Helen's backside. Helen froze where she stood. She turned to see Polonium behind her. Polonium cut down. Helen winced. She dropped onto her knees. She clutched Renee close to her. Polonium went for the killing blow only to be dragged off Helen.

Helen's vision blurred in and out. She spotted Sam sparring with Polonium. The two were going at it voilently, trading blows with each other. Helen weakly stood up. She had to end this. She laid Renee down. She kissed her forehead one last time.

Polonium kicked Sam away from her. He fell backwards over the cliff. He grabbed onto the ledge quickly. "It's over, hero." panted Polonium. She raised her boot. She brought it down on his left hand. Sam called out. He was dangling from the cliff by a hand.

"I've won this time. There's no one left to save you now." sneered Polonium. She was just about ready to stomp on Sam's hand again when she felt something soft push into her. She screamed as she fell over the cliff.

Sam's eyes widened. "Helen!" he shouted.