Blood Price- Chapter Two
Pulling the car to a stop outside a quaint little house in the suburbs Emma got out and hurried up to the door, ringing the doorbell as she stepped up the steps. Anxious moments later the door opened and an older man peered out. "What do you want?"
"Mr. Kinsey? My name is Emma DeLauro."
Immediately the door swung open and she was ushered inside the little house. Walking down the hallway to the living room she saw a woman sitting on the couch, tears in her eyes, a shredded handkerchief in her hands. On the wall she saw pictures of the happy family and Emma's heart twisted.
"Will?" the woman asked with a hint of fear in her voice.
"This is Emma DeLauro, Gina,"
"Oh!" the woman cried. Jumping up from her seat she crossed the room and pulled Emma into her arms. "I'm so glad to finally meet you," she whispered.
"Please, Mr. and Mrs. Kinsey... what happened?"
Sitting down on the couch the couple faced Emma as she sat in the chair opposite them, ready and waiting to hear the story that was about to unfold. Her imagination had been working overtime as she had made the trip from the Sanctuary, every mile passing more slowly than the one before it.
"We didn't know what was going on until it was already over. She was staying late at school that day for a project in her Science class. We didn't think anything of it until it was almost dinnertime. I was heading over to the school when a man knocked on our door. He delivered the message for us to contact you and said that he wouldn't tell us anything until we did so."
"Have you heard from him again?"
"No," Gina Kinsey cried. "We don't know a thing! I'm so worried!"
"He told us to have you call this number when you arrived," handing her a slip of paper, "...and that we would hear something then. Please, you have to help us! She's our only child, we can't bear to lose her."
"Neither can I," Emma replied as she picked up the phone, dialing the number she read on the paper.
After a few rings the line picked up and Emma's heart froze when she heard the voice on the other end of the line. "I knew it wouldn't take you too long to respond, Miss DeLauro."
"Eckhart..."
"Yes," he replied in a calm tone. "I believe I have something you want."
"If you've hurt her I swear I'll..."
"Don't be so dramatic, Miss DeLauro. I have something you want and you are something I want. I'm proposing a trade, you for her."
Closing her eyes Emma wanted to cry. "You'll never keep your end of the bargain."
"She's no New Mutant, what use could I possibly have for her."
"You tell me."
Her voice was calm but inside her heart was breaking. Emma would do anything to get her back. He knew it as well as she did. "Do you agree to the proposal or shall we keep her for a few more years? I'm sure my people have a number of experiments they'd be eager to try. The choice is yours, Miss DeLauro."
Biting her lip, her choice was no choice at all, Emma closed her eyes in defeat as she gave her answer. "I agree."
"Excellent. Meet us in one hour in the abandoned warehouse district. Come alone Miss DeLauro, no tricks."
"You too," she replied before hanging up.
"What is it? What's going on?"
Turning to Gina and William Kinsey Emma tried to smile. "It will be okay. I'll get her back safely to you I promise. Stay here, I'll make sure she gets here safely. Please," she said as she walked to the front door. "Don't do anything for now."
With a goodbye she walked out of their house and into the street. Standing by the car she turned on her ring. "Adam?"
"Emma? Where are you? What's going on?"
"Adam, I..." Emma's voice cut off, her throat closing. Clearing her throat she opened it again with a toss of her head. "I need you to meet in the abandoned warehouse district. Please hurry Adam, it's important."
"We'll be right there."
Turning from the desk he was standing at Adam strode out of the lab to the main room, calling out for the team to meet him in the hangar. In moments the Double Helix was flying out of the hangar and through the air to meet their friend.
"Everyone be alert," Adam warned as they landed. "I'm not sure what we'll find so pay attention and be ready for anything."
Senses on full alert the four team members went to find the fifth. In only a few moments they found her sitting on an abandoned light post in the middle of an empty parking lot. Rushing to her side, fearing the worst, Adam put his hand to her shoulder. Startled, pulled from her thoughts, Emma looked up and saw her friends standing there, each one wearing a look of concern in their eyes.
"Emma, what's going on?"
Getting to her feet she never got the chance to explain when three cars pulled to a halt a little ways away. From the middle car Mason Eckhart emerged, his face as calm as ever as he walked toward the group, his guards trailing close behind while three of the agents stayed behind at the cars. The pale man came to a stop next to Mutant X and looked over each one before turning his gaze to rest on Emma.
"I thought we had agreed to come alone, Miss DeLauro?"
"You're as alone as I am, Eckhart."
"Point taken," he nodded. "Shall we proceed or did you intend to fight your way out of our little deal?"
Emma could feel the shock emanating from her friends at Mason's words. "No fight. You keep your end and I'll keep mine."
Nodding to her in one small motion he lifted his hand and the back door of the third car opened.
"Emma! You made a deal with Eckhart?" Jesse cried, unable to believe what he had heard and seen just now. The rest of the team agreed silently, each one staring at the young woman in disbelief.
Emma ignored them, her eyes glued to the door that had been opened. She watched as a young girl, no older than twelve, emerged from the vehicle timidly. The moment her eyes met Emma's the girl broke into a run, hair flying out behind her as she ran into Emma's waiting arms. "Emma!" she cried; her joy and relief at seeing her was evident to even the hardest hearted of the GSA.
Tears stung at her eyes as Emma held the young girl in her arms. "Julie," she whispered. Head bent over the young girl Emma hugged her tightly, wishing she didn't have to let go, every cell, every instinct in her heart crying out to her to run. But Emma knew she couldn't take the chance that Julie would get hurt in the crossfire. No, the only way to ensure her safety was to stick to her deal with the devil. Lifting her head Emma placed a gentle hand to her sister's cheek before turning her around to face the men and woman standing behind her.
"Julie, I want you to meet someone." Taking a step closer to Adam Emma raised her eyes to meet his. "This is Adam. He's going to take you home to the Kinsey's. He'll take good care of you."
"No, Emma!" the girl cried, turning back around to face her older sister. "I want you to take me home!"
Forcing a smile onto her face Emma kissed her cheek and whispered, "I love you."
Taking the ring off her finger Emma gave it to Julie before turning her around once more and pushing her towards Adam. Meeting his eyes, calling forth her gift of telempathy, Emma made her point clear in Adam's mind for him to take care of Julie, to get her home safely. Still in the trance of Emma's power Adam ordered Jesse to take Julie back to the double Helix. Once they were on their way, Julie protesting the whole way, Emma shifted the subject of her link with Adam's mind. In his minds-eye Adam watched Emma close the distance between them. Placing on of her tapered hands on his neck she pulled him close, kissing his lips with a passion.
Suddenly Emma was ripped from his mind and Adam's attention was caught by her cry of pain. He saw the gun taken from the back of her neck, the look of pain on her face, and he knew that they had put a subdermal governor on the base of her neck. Seemingly as one Mutant X took a step forward to help Emma but stopped when she cried out, "No!"
"I'm sorry, Adam," she called as the agents pulled her away.
In disbelief they watched as she climbed into the car and was whisked away with Eckhart's men.
Emma was gone.
X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X
Sitting in the living room of the Kinsey's household, the tearful reunion already passed, Adam's mind was a jumble as he tried to sort everything out. From the story Julie had told them, Mason had his men take her from school a few days ago and used the girl as bait to trap Emma. Adam knew, as well as Mason had, that there was no way Emma would have risked Julie's life and safety by not complying with his demands.
Mutant X was subdued as the reality of what had happened sank in. Emma had traded herself willingly to the GSA to keep her little sister free. The price of her sister's freedom was Emma's own blood.
"I don't know what to say to all of you. We had no idea what she was doing, only that she was going to take care of everything." William Kinsey shook his head. "We should have gone to the police."
"They wouldn't have been able to do anything," Adam sighed. "We'll figure something out. Somehow we'll get her back."
"Adam..." Julie whispered as she moved to stand next to the man who Emma had entrusted her to. Looking up at her Adam tried to smile for the young girl's sake. "When you get Emma back would you give her this? This means a lot to her."
Looking down as Julie opened his hand Adam saw her place Emma's Comm Ring in his hand. In his chest, hidden from view of everyone else, his heart wept. The chances of getting Emma back, safe and sound, were minimal; they'd have a better chance of convincing Eckhart to close the GSA. Closing his fist around the ring Adam swore to himself that he would get her back no matter what. He had to.
"You love my sister," Julie said softly, her hand on Adam's closed fist. Silence fell as everyone stared at the two people who were staring at each other. "I can feel it; you do, don't you?"
Meeting her eyes Adam saw Emma staring back at him. This young girl was the child Emma once was. Had she been the same? Able to tell what other people were feeling, knowing the things they kept hidden from the rest of the world? Staring at her, seeing Emma in Julie's big brown eyes, Adam didn't even realize he spoke. "Yes."
Julie nodded. "She loves you too," Julie smiled. "I could feel it when I touched her ring."
Frowning Adam's mind began to shift into gear. "You are a New Mutant, aren't you?" Julie nodded. "How did Mason not recognize it?"
Julie shrugged. "They never did anything to me. They just kept me in this room with no windows until we went to see Emma."
"What can you do, Julie?"
"Not much," she sighed. "Nothing like Emma can! I just know what someone is feeling. If they're happy or sad I can feel it. You're really sad right now." Tightening her grip on Adam's hand Julie pleaded, "Please Adam... please bring Emma home."
Wrapping the young girl in a hug Adam held her for a moment. "I promise, I'll get her back somehow."
X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X
Sitting in the chair, strapped in, Emma kept her eyes closed as they ran the various physical examinations on her body. Some were painful but her body's pain was no match for the pain in her heart. Julie was safe, that was what mattered, but at what cost? She'd signed her soul over to the devil himself.
Her eyes closed Emma could still see the shock on everyone's faces as she had driven away in the GSA's transports. Shalimar had flashed her eyes, ready to take on every agent between them and Emma had seen the electricity snapping at the end of Brennan's fingertips. But Adam had simply stood there, arms hanging limply by his side as he watched her leaving. It was his face that held her memories though. The look of pain that had crossed his face was forever burned into her memory. Emma only hoped that he didn't think she was a traitor. She'd had no choice.
"We're all done, Mr. Eckhart. She's in perfect physical health."
"Good. Bring in Ms. Sheridan to evaluate her psyche."
Keeping her eyes closed she listened as the door opened and feet walked away. Though one man had left another was still in the room, silent, watching her. She could hear him breathing. A few moments later the door hissed open again and two people, one man and one woman, walked into the room. Emma listened as the three people conferred with each other.
"Mr. Eckhart," the woman greeted her boss.
"Ms Sheridan. I want you to evaluate the mental condition of Ms DeLauro. I need to know if she would be better suited for office work or for fieldwork. Or whether it would be better to place her in stasis."
"Yes sir, Mr. Eckhart."
The doors slid open again and the two men left, leaving Emma alone with Marla Sheridan. "Open your eyes Emma," she commanded. When Emma didn't do as she had been ordered Marla pressed a button on the device she held in her hand and instantaneous pain exploded in Emma's head, spots dancing before her now open eyes.
"That's more like it. You and I are going to be spending a few moments together, Emma, I like to see my patients eyes when I enter their minds."
With that said Emma's mind was invaded by the reaching grasp of Marla Sheridan's mutancy. Fighting the urge to scream out against the pain, Emma tensed her entire body, head to toe, until the woman finally released her hold on Emma's mind. Tears streaming down her cheeks from the pain Emma bent her head over as Ms. Sheridan made notes on her pad.
"You have quite an interesting mind, Emma. I'd love to spend some more time in but for now I must get my report to Mr. Eckhart. Another time perhaps."
The woman left the room, leaving the exhausted Emma to hang her head and weep.
X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X
Sitting at the table, each one silent, they waited for a sign that the man was finished. No sooner had they left the Kinsey's house than Adam called in a favor with an old friend. Jack was known for his ability to read people, even across very great distances. Sitting at the table he concentrated on finding and reading Emma. Finally, after almost an hour, he opened his eyes.
"Jack?"
"I was able to read her, but just barely. I have no idea where she is Adam, but the fact that I could barely read her means she's pretty far away."
"What did you see?"
Jack sighed. "A chair. She was strapped into a chair. That was basically all I got."
"You're lying Jack," Adam glared. "Your lip is twitching, that means you lying. What aren't you telling me?"
"Adam, it's not something you need to know, really."
Opening his mind Adam forced his thoughts and feeling onto Jack. Everything he felt about Emma flowed between the two men until Jack became overloaded. Putting his head in his hands he cried out for Adam to stop. The flow ceased and Jack tried to process everything Adam had just relayed. This was no mere teammate or just another young woman to Adam; he loved her with everything he had. Jack winced; he could feel a headache forming.
"All right..." he sighed. Looking up at Adam Jack frowned as he remembered what he had felt. "She's in pain."
"How? What are they doing to her?"
"I don't know, but it was pretty extensive. An exam maybe, a test or experiment of some sort, I'm not sure. All I can tell you is that she was in pain. I swear Adam, that's all I could read."
Frustrated Adam sat back in his chair. "All right," he said at long last. "Thanks Jack."
"Don't mention it. I owed you big."
"Adam!" Shalimar cried from the computer console. "The GSA is on the move again. They're heading towards the city again."
"Dammit!" he growled. How was he supposed to find Emma when he had to deal with the GSA's hunting for other New Mutants as well? "Brennan, Jesse... go! Shalimar, keep an eye on them from the console and make sure they know where to go. And everyone keep your comm links open!" he yelled, making sure the two men could hear him as they ran out of the room.
Needing a moment alone to collect himself Adam stood from the table and strode out to the hallway, pacing it back and forth. Eckhart had Emma and Emma was in pain. In Adam's book Eckhart was a dead man. Why hadn't Emma talked to him about it? They could have figured something out together, some way to get Julie away from the GSA safely. But in the same moment Adam knew that Emma couldn't have taken that risk; not with Julie's life on the line.
Adam's thoughts drifted back to the last moment he had spent with Emma, when she had kissed him in his mind. His lips, though they had nothing to do with it, tingled at the memory. He had been shocked to say the least when she had done so, but he had responded with equal fervor, knowing that she was saying goodbye, he didn't understand why, but he knew it all the same.
Feeling a hand on his shoulder Adam turned to see Jack standing behind him.
"You'll figure something out Adam, I know you will. There's always a chance so long as she stays alive. I took the chance to read Eckhart as well. He doesn't want to kill her. He wants to use her to gain access to the Sanctuary, to use her codes and her DNA to bring Mutant X to its knees. But she's fighting him. She may have gone with him of her own free will, but she'll never give him what he wants by choice."
"I know. It's what he'll do to get the information that has me worried."
X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X
Pulling the car to a stop outside a quaint little house in the suburbs Emma got out and hurried up to the door, ringing the doorbell as she stepped up the steps. Anxious moments later the door opened and an older man peered out. "What do you want?"
"Mr. Kinsey? My name is Emma DeLauro."
Immediately the door swung open and she was ushered inside the little house. Walking down the hallway to the living room she saw a woman sitting on the couch, tears in her eyes, a shredded handkerchief in her hands. On the wall she saw pictures of the happy family and Emma's heart twisted.
"Will?" the woman asked with a hint of fear in her voice.
"This is Emma DeLauro, Gina,"
"Oh!" the woman cried. Jumping up from her seat she crossed the room and pulled Emma into her arms. "I'm so glad to finally meet you," she whispered.
"Please, Mr. and Mrs. Kinsey... what happened?"
Sitting down on the couch the couple faced Emma as she sat in the chair opposite them, ready and waiting to hear the story that was about to unfold. Her imagination had been working overtime as she had made the trip from the Sanctuary, every mile passing more slowly than the one before it.
"We didn't know what was going on until it was already over. She was staying late at school that day for a project in her Science class. We didn't think anything of it until it was almost dinnertime. I was heading over to the school when a man knocked on our door. He delivered the message for us to contact you and said that he wouldn't tell us anything until we did so."
"Have you heard from him again?"
"No," Gina Kinsey cried. "We don't know a thing! I'm so worried!"
"He told us to have you call this number when you arrived," handing her a slip of paper, "...and that we would hear something then. Please, you have to help us! She's our only child, we can't bear to lose her."
"Neither can I," Emma replied as she picked up the phone, dialing the number she read on the paper.
After a few rings the line picked up and Emma's heart froze when she heard the voice on the other end of the line. "I knew it wouldn't take you too long to respond, Miss DeLauro."
"Eckhart..."
"Yes," he replied in a calm tone. "I believe I have something you want."
"If you've hurt her I swear I'll..."
"Don't be so dramatic, Miss DeLauro. I have something you want and you are something I want. I'm proposing a trade, you for her."
Closing her eyes Emma wanted to cry. "You'll never keep your end of the bargain."
"She's no New Mutant, what use could I possibly have for her."
"You tell me."
Her voice was calm but inside her heart was breaking. Emma would do anything to get her back. He knew it as well as she did. "Do you agree to the proposal or shall we keep her for a few more years? I'm sure my people have a number of experiments they'd be eager to try. The choice is yours, Miss DeLauro."
Biting her lip, her choice was no choice at all, Emma closed her eyes in defeat as she gave her answer. "I agree."
"Excellent. Meet us in one hour in the abandoned warehouse district. Come alone Miss DeLauro, no tricks."
"You too," she replied before hanging up.
"What is it? What's going on?"
Turning to Gina and William Kinsey Emma tried to smile. "It will be okay. I'll get her back safely to you I promise. Stay here, I'll make sure she gets here safely. Please," she said as she walked to the front door. "Don't do anything for now."
With a goodbye she walked out of their house and into the street. Standing by the car she turned on her ring. "Adam?"
"Emma? Where are you? What's going on?"
"Adam, I..." Emma's voice cut off, her throat closing. Clearing her throat she opened it again with a toss of her head. "I need you to meet in the abandoned warehouse district. Please hurry Adam, it's important."
"We'll be right there."
Turning from the desk he was standing at Adam strode out of the lab to the main room, calling out for the team to meet him in the hangar. In moments the Double Helix was flying out of the hangar and through the air to meet their friend.
"Everyone be alert," Adam warned as they landed. "I'm not sure what we'll find so pay attention and be ready for anything."
Senses on full alert the four team members went to find the fifth. In only a few moments they found her sitting on an abandoned light post in the middle of an empty parking lot. Rushing to her side, fearing the worst, Adam put his hand to her shoulder. Startled, pulled from her thoughts, Emma looked up and saw her friends standing there, each one wearing a look of concern in their eyes.
"Emma, what's going on?"
Getting to her feet she never got the chance to explain when three cars pulled to a halt a little ways away. From the middle car Mason Eckhart emerged, his face as calm as ever as he walked toward the group, his guards trailing close behind while three of the agents stayed behind at the cars. The pale man came to a stop next to Mutant X and looked over each one before turning his gaze to rest on Emma.
"I thought we had agreed to come alone, Miss DeLauro?"
"You're as alone as I am, Eckhart."
"Point taken," he nodded. "Shall we proceed or did you intend to fight your way out of our little deal?"
Emma could feel the shock emanating from her friends at Mason's words. "No fight. You keep your end and I'll keep mine."
Nodding to her in one small motion he lifted his hand and the back door of the third car opened.
"Emma! You made a deal with Eckhart?" Jesse cried, unable to believe what he had heard and seen just now. The rest of the team agreed silently, each one staring at the young woman in disbelief.
Emma ignored them, her eyes glued to the door that had been opened. She watched as a young girl, no older than twelve, emerged from the vehicle timidly. The moment her eyes met Emma's the girl broke into a run, hair flying out behind her as she ran into Emma's waiting arms. "Emma!" she cried; her joy and relief at seeing her was evident to even the hardest hearted of the GSA.
Tears stung at her eyes as Emma held the young girl in her arms. "Julie," she whispered. Head bent over the young girl Emma hugged her tightly, wishing she didn't have to let go, every cell, every instinct in her heart crying out to her to run. But Emma knew she couldn't take the chance that Julie would get hurt in the crossfire. No, the only way to ensure her safety was to stick to her deal with the devil. Lifting her head Emma placed a gentle hand to her sister's cheek before turning her around to face the men and woman standing behind her.
"Julie, I want you to meet someone." Taking a step closer to Adam Emma raised her eyes to meet his. "This is Adam. He's going to take you home to the Kinsey's. He'll take good care of you."
"No, Emma!" the girl cried, turning back around to face her older sister. "I want you to take me home!"
Forcing a smile onto her face Emma kissed her cheek and whispered, "I love you."
Taking the ring off her finger Emma gave it to Julie before turning her around once more and pushing her towards Adam. Meeting his eyes, calling forth her gift of telempathy, Emma made her point clear in Adam's mind for him to take care of Julie, to get her home safely. Still in the trance of Emma's power Adam ordered Jesse to take Julie back to the double Helix. Once they were on their way, Julie protesting the whole way, Emma shifted the subject of her link with Adam's mind. In his minds-eye Adam watched Emma close the distance between them. Placing on of her tapered hands on his neck she pulled him close, kissing his lips with a passion.
Suddenly Emma was ripped from his mind and Adam's attention was caught by her cry of pain. He saw the gun taken from the back of her neck, the look of pain on her face, and he knew that they had put a subdermal governor on the base of her neck. Seemingly as one Mutant X took a step forward to help Emma but stopped when she cried out, "No!"
"I'm sorry, Adam," she called as the agents pulled her away.
In disbelief they watched as she climbed into the car and was whisked away with Eckhart's men.
Emma was gone.
X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X
Sitting in the living room of the Kinsey's household, the tearful reunion already passed, Adam's mind was a jumble as he tried to sort everything out. From the story Julie had told them, Mason had his men take her from school a few days ago and used the girl as bait to trap Emma. Adam knew, as well as Mason had, that there was no way Emma would have risked Julie's life and safety by not complying with his demands.
Mutant X was subdued as the reality of what had happened sank in. Emma had traded herself willingly to the GSA to keep her little sister free. The price of her sister's freedom was Emma's own blood.
"I don't know what to say to all of you. We had no idea what she was doing, only that she was going to take care of everything." William Kinsey shook his head. "We should have gone to the police."
"They wouldn't have been able to do anything," Adam sighed. "We'll figure something out. Somehow we'll get her back."
"Adam..." Julie whispered as she moved to stand next to the man who Emma had entrusted her to. Looking up at her Adam tried to smile for the young girl's sake. "When you get Emma back would you give her this? This means a lot to her."
Looking down as Julie opened his hand Adam saw her place Emma's Comm Ring in his hand. In his chest, hidden from view of everyone else, his heart wept. The chances of getting Emma back, safe and sound, were minimal; they'd have a better chance of convincing Eckhart to close the GSA. Closing his fist around the ring Adam swore to himself that he would get her back no matter what. He had to.
"You love my sister," Julie said softly, her hand on Adam's closed fist. Silence fell as everyone stared at the two people who were staring at each other. "I can feel it; you do, don't you?"
Meeting her eyes Adam saw Emma staring back at him. This young girl was the child Emma once was. Had she been the same? Able to tell what other people were feeling, knowing the things they kept hidden from the rest of the world? Staring at her, seeing Emma in Julie's big brown eyes, Adam didn't even realize he spoke. "Yes."
Julie nodded. "She loves you too," Julie smiled. "I could feel it when I touched her ring."
Frowning Adam's mind began to shift into gear. "You are a New Mutant, aren't you?" Julie nodded. "How did Mason not recognize it?"
Julie shrugged. "They never did anything to me. They just kept me in this room with no windows until we went to see Emma."
"What can you do, Julie?"
"Not much," she sighed. "Nothing like Emma can! I just know what someone is feeling. If they're happy or sad I can feel it. You're really sad right now." Tightening her grip on Adam's hand Julie pleaded, "Please Adam... please bring Emma home."
Wrapping the young girl in a hug Adam held her for a moment. "I promise, I'll get her back somehow."
X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X
Sitting in the chair, strapped in, Emma kept her eyes closed as they ran the various physical examinations on her body. Some were painful but her body's pain was no match for the pain in her heart. Julie was safe, that was what mattered, but at what cost? She'd signed her soul over to the devil himself.
Her eyes closed Emma could still see the shock on everyone's faces as she had driven away in the GSA's transports. Shalimar had flashed her eyes, ready to take on every agent between them and Emma had seen the electricity snapping at the end of Brennan's fingertips. But Adam had simply stood there, arms hanging limply by his side as he watched her leaving. It was his face that held her memories though. The look of pain that had crossed his face was forever burned into her memory. Emma only hoped that he didn't think she was a traitor. She'd had no choice.
"We're all done, Mr. Eckhart. She's in perfect physical health."
"Good. Bring in Ms. Sheridan to evaluate her psyche."
Keeping her eyes closed she listened as the door opened and feet walked away. Though one man had left another was still in the room, silent, watching her. She could hear him breathing. A few moments later the door hissed open again and two people, one man and one woman, walked into the room. Emma listened as the three people conferred with each other.
"Mr. Eckhart," the woman greeted her boss.
"Ms Sheridan. I want you to evaluate the mental condition of Ms DeLauro. I need to know if she would be better suited for office work or for fieldwork. Or whether it would be better to place her in stasis."
"Yes sir, Mr. Eckhart."
The doors slid open again and the two men left, leaving Emma alone with Marla Sheridan. "Open your eyes Emma," she commanded. When Emma didn't do as she had been ordered Marla pressed a button on the device she held in her hand and instantaneous pain exploded in Emma's head, spots dancing before her now open eyes.
"That's more like it. You and I are going to be spending a few moments together, Emma, I like to see my patients eyes when I enter their minds."
With that said Emma's mind was invaded by the reaching grasp of Marla Sheridan's mutancy. Fighting the urge to scream out against the pain, Emma tensed her entire body, head to toe, until the woman finally released her hold on Emma's mind. Tears streaming down her cheeks from the pain Emma bent her head over as Ms. Sheridan made notes on her pad.
"You have quite an interesting mind, Emma. I'd love to spend some more time in but for now I must get my report to Mr. Eckhart. Another time perhaps."
The woman left the room, leaving the exhausted Emma to hang her head and weep.
X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X*X
Sitting at the table, each one silent, they waited for a sign that the man was finished. No sooner had they left the Kinsey's house than Adam called in a favor with an old friend. Jack was known for his ability to read people, even across very great distances. Sitting at the table he concentrated on finding and reading Emma. Finally, after almost an hour, he opened his eyes.
"Jack?"
"I was able to read her, but just barely. I have no idea where she is Adam, but the fact that I could barely read her means she's pretty far away."
"What did you see?"
Jack sighed. "A chair. She was strapped into a chair. That was basically all I got."
"You're lying Jack," Adam glared. "Your lip is twitching, that means you lying. What aren't you telling me?"
"Adam, it's not something you need to know, really."
Opening his mind Adam forced his thoughts and feeling onto Jack. Everything he felt about Emma flowed between the two men until Jack became overloaded. Putting his head in his hands he cried out for Adam to stop. The flow ceased and Jack tried to process everything Adam had just relayed. This was no mere teammate or just another young woman to Adam; he loved her with everything he had. Jack winced; he could feel a headache forming.
"All right..." he sighed. Looking up at Adam Jack frowned as he remembered what he had felt. "She's in pain."
"How? What are they doing to her?"
"I don't know, but it was pretty extensive. An exam maybe, a test or experiment of some sort, I'm not sure. All I can tell you is that she was in pain. I swear Adam, that's all I could read."
Frustrated Adam sat back in his chair. "All right," he said at long last. "Thanks Jack."
"Don't mention it. I owed you big."
"Adam!" Shalimar cried from the computer console. "The GSA is on the move again. They're heading towards the city again."
"Dammit!" he growled. How was he supposed to find Emma when he had to deal with the GSA's hunting for other New Mutants as well? "Brennan, Jesse... go! Shalimar, keep an eye on them from the console and make sure they know where to go. And everyone keep your comm links open!" he yelled, making sure the two men could hear him as they ran out of the room.
Needing a moment alone to collect himself Adam stood from the table and strode out to the hallway, pacing it back and forth. Eckhart had Emma and Emma was in pain. In Adam's book Eckhart was a dead man. Why hadn't Emma talked to him about it? They could have figured something out together, some way to get Julie away from the GSA safely. But in the same moment Adam knew that Emma couldn't have taken that risk; not with Julie's life on the line.
Adam's thoughts drifted back to the last moment he had spent with Emma, when she had kissed him in his mind. His lips, though they had nothing to do with it, tingled at the memory. He had been shocked to say the least when she had done so, but he had responded with equal fervor, knowing that she was saying goodbye, he didn't understand why, but he knew it all the same.
Feeling a hand on his shoulder Adam turned to see Jack standing behind him.
"You'll figure something out Adam, I know you will. There's always a chance so long as she stays alive. I took the chance to read Eckhart as well. He doesn't want to kill her. He wants to use her to gain access to the Sanctuary, to use her codes and her DNA to bring Mutant X to its knees. But she's fighting him. She may have gone with him of her own free will, but she'll never give him what he wants by choice."
"I know. It's what he'll do to get the information that has me worried."
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