Creating the beast

AN: Soz this took so long to get to you! 'Fraid there's not going to be that much angst for a while due to rather a lot happening in the a/a department. Plus it was all getting a bit tedious and out of hand. Sorry, I can't satisfy everyone all the time. Thanks for your comments. All have been taken into account as far as is possible. On with the show

Dus stood at the bottom of the watchtower counting the people as they emerged. His team, though the second from last to leave, had been the first to arrive at their destination. The Bastet clan, although seemingly very delicate, had travelled quickly in the undergrowth and he had almost been left behind more than once. There were now eighteen ferals, including the young man who was still unconscious in Chad's arms, waiting for a signal from Mutant X, who had yet to arrive. But the last group of five, including their rescuer, was still missing.

He smiled softly at his wife, Brice, who was sat on the riverbank. He hoped he would find the rest of his family safe when he got back to them in the city. He silently thanked the Gods that his young daughter had been spared when their leader had unknowing given them over to their captors. The sight of those of his pack, dead, had shocked him, as had that of their rescuer's unknown friend. Their captors had offered them little violence during their stay, wanting to keep them in 'top condition' for sale. He wondered what they had done to deserve such treatment.

Looking back to the trees he was disappointed to neither see nor hear any sign of the missing group. Their absence was beginning to worry him. He looked up with a start as Pan called out from the other side of the perimeter he had set up. Two people were emerging from the tree line. Dus immediately recognised Onca from his pack and Cane, who had been leading the fifth group. Onca panted heavily as she skidded to a stop in front of Dus. Cane sank to his knees just out of the trees with his head in his hands.

"Shalimar has been captured." Onca informed him. "The others are dead. We thought it best to inform you rather than try to retrieve her ourselves."

"A sensible decision. But not yours, I suspect." Dus could see the anger and frustration in the green eyes of his friend.

"No, I wished to follow them. But Cane led the group. I was honour bound to follow him. To save his hide if nothing else." The last was muttered under her breath and Dus chose to ignore it.

"Pan, Fel." The ferals who had lead the first two groups stood to attention. "You will come with Onca and I. We will return and attempt to rescue our rescuer. Everyone else, you will wait here and inform Mutant X of our whereabouts. We will return with their friend."

Turning to leave Dus was surprised to come face to face with Cane. "I will accompany you."

"You have done enough tonight, Cane." The words held no blame, there was no place for blame here. People were dead.

"Those that died. Those that followed me today and died. They were my family. My wife and son. I would go with you." Dus' heart quailed with the though of his daughter in such a situation. Understanding what Cane wanted to do, Dus nodded sharply. Casting a long glance at his wife he prayed he was doing the right thing.

The world was fuzzy as Shalimar regained consciousness. As things began to crystallise and clear she realised she was back inside the building, facing three metal walls. Shifting to attempt to ease her aching muscles she found herself strapped into a laid back chair, leather straps cutting into her arms, legs and across her chest.

She calmed herself, focusing all of her energy into one arm and pulling upwards violently. The leather held firm, rubbing and welting her skin. She moaned softly and fell back into the chair. She closed her eyes and focused on the parts room that she could not see, letting other senses show her what was hiding behind her. There was a doorway, a slight draft told her that. And behind her somewhere was an object that smelt very metallic, and others that smelt of old blood. She did not want to be here.

She heard the person walking towards the room, before he entered and shuddered as he walked through the door. He smelt of sweat and old leather, but beneath it she could detect the familiar tang of blood. He moved to stand beside the chair, far enough back that he wasn't in her line of sight, even if she twisted all the way around in her restraints.

"You've caused me a lot of trouble, Ms. Fox." The voice was low and rough, the voice of someone who'd smoked to much and drunk too much in their life. "I had buyers all lined up for the merchandise you released today and I've had a buyer for you lined up from the start. I've invested a lot in you and your feral friends."

"So sorry to spoil your plans." Shalimar retorted, trying to hide her fear behind false bravado and sarcasm.

"It's OK, you see, now I have a new plan." The speaker stepped forward and any details about the man that Shalimar may have seen were lost in a cloud of fear as she saw what he held in his hands. He was slowly draining the contents of a vial of red liquid, not unlike the one Shalimar had been handling earlier, into a syringe. Finishing the task he placed the empty vial back onto the metal tray behind the chair that clattered slightly. Shalimar fought the urge to scream as he tapped the filled syringe on the palm of his hand, as though contemplating something. "You know Mr. Eckheart never specified how he wanted you. It would be a shame if - in your uncontrollable feral state - something were to happen to you. Don't you think?" He grinned at her, but she didn't notice. Her whole being focused on the syringe that he was waving around almost carelessly.

"You wouldn't re-infect me. It would spread again and your 'merchandise' would be useless to you." She tried desperately to hide the tremor in her voice, but knew it was there despite her best efforts.

"Ah, you're right, the unfortunate side-affects of the antivirus. That's why I've had the virus re-engineered, you see. It's no longer infectious, and so I can administer it to whoever I like. Whenever I like. Unfortunately several of the stock were lost before we found that the second dose was fatal. But it could not be helped. Now hold still, I do not want any of this wasted." Desperately Shalimar struggled with her bonds. She had wanted to use the virus again to return to her previous peace, but she needed to know He was safe first, as well as the other ferals she had rescued today. She wanted to lose control in the sanctuary, with her friends watching over her. She wanted to apologise to Emma, for the weakness of her soul as she slipped away.

Not like this.

She winced as the needle pierced her skin.

Not like this.

Dun, Dun Duuuuunnnn!! OK, Sorry about the cliff-hanger well maybe I'm not. But still. There you go. Was that any better? Feedback!