Author's Note: Thanks to everyone for the great reviews. They really mean a
lot to me. For all those of you reading that are expecting more Adam/Emma
action, it will come, I promise, but for the moment, the action is more
important. Put it this way, the rest of Mutant X have yet to find out that
they're in a relationship, so that should be fun to look forward to!
Megan, Jess and Emma0211 - I promise to torture Jesse as much as you like, and he won't die. Well, not for the moment!
Doublekidz - I hope the trip to Genomex is up to your expectations.
Megara - more Adam/Emma soon, I promise! As soon as it's appropriate, Ill carry on with their relationship.
Brigitta - you scared me there with that first line! I thought I had received my first flame! ;o)
K.A.T.E. - You read my mind! That's exactly what I'm trying to do, bring Jesse into the forefront a little and give him some tough situations to cope with.
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Chapter 14
Jesse shivered violently, unable to stop the shaking in his body. He felt cold and sticky from his blood-soaked clothes, and now he was drenched in sweat. He had been drifting in and out of consciousness for a while now, only fleetingly aware of various shadowy figures coming in and out of the room.
One such figure approached him, a woman - he could just about make out long hair lying loose down her back. She lowered her head, trying to take a closer look at Jesse's face, and then left as quickly as she had appeared, leaving him alone again.
A spasm of pain shot through his body, tightening his chest and making him gasp for breath. He struggled, trying to expand his lungs in order to take in some air, wondering whether he was going to die of suffocation. Images raced through his mind, mouths wide open in a silent scream, deep red splatters . . . yellow eyes.
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
"What's happening to him?" Eckhart asked the doctor. It wasn't often he came down to the labs himself, but he felt this was an exceptional situation.
"Typical. Should have seen in coming," the doctor muttered to himself as he scribbled in his notebook.
"What?" he insisted. The doctor raised his head, looking at him with a startled expression, as if he had just seen him for the first time.
"He's changing."
Eckhart sighed, rapidly losing his patience. "Changing into what?"
"She bit him, he's changing into one of her kind," he told him impatiently.
"Is there anything you can do to stop the transformation?"
"I haven't looked into it."
"Well, do it," he barked. "I want to know everything there is to know about this transformation process." He turned on his heel and walked towards the door. "In the meantime, make sure he stays alive."
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
Rhian stood a short distance away from Jesse, watching him closely. The first spasm of pain had passed, and he was beginning to breathe more normally again. He was still shaking violently, but anything was an improvement on the way he struggled to take a breath earlier. His face was a deathly shade of blue, even now when he was breathing more normally, and his sweat-drenched hair was plastered to his head.
She was trying not to feel sorry for the man who looked so much like a defenceless boy at the moment. He deserved no pity. She wished Mr Eckhart would let her have her way and kill him as he deserved, but he kept on insisting she would have ample opportunity later on.
If she looked at him, she would feel her resolve drifting away. She had to turn away in order to hate him, and when she did, she could feel the claws and teeth extending and the hair on the back of her neck bristling. He deserved everything he received. She turned back to face him, encouraged to find that she was starting to get stronger. She no longer felt the tug at her heartstrings when she looked upon him. She could deal with him like this.
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
Shalimar dropped down behind a Genomex guard silently, delivering a perfect kick to his head and knocking him unconscious to the floor. Brennan and Emma followed her in, as she made her way single-mindedly to Jesse's location.
Emma was worried about her friend. Shal was angry, afraid, nervous, frustrated. All the emotions that would hinder rather than aid her in her confrontations with GS agents. She was a loose cannon when she was in this mood, and there was nothing anyone could say to her to calm her down. As a last resort, Emma had spent most of the journey in the Double Helix sending her calming thoughts in an attempt to clear her head.
As they made their way further into the bowels of Genomex, Emma could sense that there were more guards around than there had been at their point of entry. They flattened themselves against the wall, preparing to confront the guards around the corner if necessary. Brennan prepared a ball of electricity as Emma concentrated on their minds. A sound of running feet was heard, and as Shal peered round the corner, she caught a glimpse of the guards as they turned another corner.
"Good one, Emma," Brennan grinned as he dispersed the electricity and tapped her on the back.
"Just down this corridor," Shal whispered as she ran lightly onwards. She came to a large solid door, and stood, listening at the crack. "In here," she whispered excitedly. Brennan summoned the electricity and blasted the door open. As they looked through the dust and smoke, they could make out the image of a man lying on a raised platform. Shal ran through the smoke toward him, knowing it was Jesse. He looked a mess. His hair was bloody and sticking to his head and face, his face was bruised and scratched, and his clothes were ripped and also stained with blood.
"Jess, what have they done to you?" she cried, biting back a sob as she stroked his face gently. Almost instantly, her face turned stony as realisation hit, and she whispered venomously, "This is the work of a feral."
"Come on, Shal, let's get him out of here," Brennan told her quickly. He picked him up as gently as he could, noticing his friend moan as he was moved, and turned to the door where Emma had been standing watch.
"They're coming," she whispered. "She's coming." Brennan looked round, trying to find an alternative way out.
"No good, we're going to have to fight our way out of this one," he answered, putting Jesse back down gently. Shalimar crouched, eyes flashing, teeth bared, ready for whatever came towards them.
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
Rhian strode down the corridors of Genomex. She had just been told that there were intruders, and that they were members of Mutant X. She had been warned by Eckhart that they were likely to make an appearance in order to take Jesse back, so she knew this was a possibility, but still she felt the nervous twinges inside her. How would she react when faced with these evil people? Would she be able to hold her feral side in check? Would she cower with terror at the images of mutilated mutants running through her head?
She turned the corner, steeling herself and ready to face whatever they could throw at her. The first thing she saw was a tall, dark man handling the flickering blue streams of electricity, and a dark haired woman standing just behind him. She stopped dead as she suddenly realised who they were. Were these people also involved with Adam? She felt a rush of anger surge through her as a new thought struck her. They were fighting her that night. They had nearly taken her in, and she had tried to save them by running away when she felt her transformation. They didn't deserve to be saved. She should have killed them there and then.
The woman shot a ball of translucent blue towards her, and she dodged out of its way. She felt her feral side creep over her as she swiped her hand across the woman's face, hitting her jaw and flooring her. As the man aimed at her, she kicked out, thumping his stomach, making him double over gasping for breath. She swung round and kicked him again, following it with a sharp strike to the back of his head.
Behind her, she saw the woman rise, wiping a trickle of blood from the side of her mouth, and glare at her. The bubble formed on her forehead again, zooming towards her. She felt it connect, felt her head whip back, but she refused to let it affect her. She steadied herself for a moment, then opened her eyes and lunged herself at the woman. A split second before she reached her, a blonde figure appeared between them, also snarling. Rhian stumbled back, recognising the woman. Her eyes were blazing yellow as she shielded her teammate. This was the woman with whom she had felt a connection. What was she doing defending these traitorous mutants? Rhian felt confusion take the place of fear and anger, as she backed down. She didn't understand this.
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
Shalimar pounced in front of Emma, shielding her with her body, and hissed at the feral in front of her. There was no way she was going to let another one of her friends get hurt. She watched as the girl stumbled backwards, almost tripping herself up. Her eyes had abruptly turned back from yellow to green, as a look of confusion spread on her face. Brennan got up off the floor, placing a hand on Shal's shoulder as he calmed her down.
"Rhian," he began, knowing he had to seize this moment as Rhian backed down. "We have to take Jesse back with us, otherwise he might not survive." Shal could see the uncertainty flickering in her eyes as she looked from Shalimar to Brennan.
"You don't have to be afraid of us," Emma added as she steadied herself against the wall. "I know it's a strange situation, but Eckhart will have told you many lies about us. You can't believe everything he says."
"He's the only person who's bothered to help me," Rhian began, trying to assert herself, but failing miserably. Shalimar let out a disbelieving snort.
"How do you justify the governor that he slapped on you?" Brennan asked, aware that time was ticking away and more GS agents must be about to appear. Shal saw Rhian's fingers fly up to her neck as she fingered the contraption.
"To help me control the urge," she whispered, uncertainly.
"Don't tell me the bastard hasn't used it to hurt you," Shal spat angrily.
Rhian felt time freeze as the feral made her point. Mr Eckhart had in fact activated it numerous times, with the excuse of needing to train her. It had not been activated so much to stop her transformation, as to jolt her with pain.
Her thoughts, so clear a moment ago about her position within the mutant community, were muddled and confused. She looked over towards the blond mutant's prone body. She still couldn't help but feel sorry for all he had been put through. Now, as new information was coming to light about Adam's true cause, her remorse swept over her like a tidal wave. He was simply a pawn caught between two powerful men.
She looked up at the feral once again with a renewed determination.
"You have to take him away. He needs help." The man nodded in satisfaction as the blonde flew towards her teammate.
"Are you coming?" he asked her. She could see a flicker of hope in his eyes as he stared at her. Uncertainty clouded her thoughts. After all, what did she have to lose?
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
Not the best place to stop, I know. I wanted to carry on, really I did, but I need a break. I have to stop and catch my breath a little! In the meantime I thought I might as well update with what I have already whilst the rest is being written. So remember, R&R people!
Next chapter will be a good one. There's going to be major issues with Jesse and what he has endured whilst at Genomex, so stay tuned!
Megan, Jess and Emma0211 - I promise to torture Jesse as much as you like, and he won't die. Well, not for the moment!
Doublekidz - I hope the trip to Genomex is up to your expectations.
Megara - more Adam/Emma soon, I promise! As soon as it's appropriate, Ill carry on with their relationship.
Brigitta - you scared me there with that first line! I thought I had received my first flame! ;o)
K.A.T.E. - You read my mind! That's exactly what I'm trying to do, bring Jesse into the forefront a little and give him some tough situations to cope with.
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
Chapter 14
Jesse shivered violently, unable to stop the shaking in his body. He felt cold and sticky from his blood-soaked clothes, and now he was drenched in sweat. He had been drifting in and out of consciousness for a while now, only fleetingly aware of various shadowy figures coming in and out of the room.
One such figure approached him, a woman - he could just about make out long hair lying loose down her back. She lowered her head, trying to take a closer look at Jesse's face, and then left as quickly as she had appeared, leaving him alone again.
A spasm of pain shot through his body, tightening his chest and making him gasp for breath. He struggled, trying to expand his lungs in order to take in some air, wondering whether he was going to die of suffocation. Images raced through his mind, mouths wide open in a silent scream, deep red splatters . . . yellow eyes.
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
"What's happening to him?" Eckhart asked the doctor. It wasn't often he came down to the labs himself, but he felt this was an exceptional situation.
"Typical. Should have seen in coming," the doctor muttered to himself as he scribbled in his notebook.
"What?" he insisted. The doctor raised his head, looking at him with a startled expression, as if he had just seen him for the first time.
"He's changing."
Eckhart sighed, rapidly losing his patience. "Changing into what?"
"She bit him, he's changing into one of her kind," he told him impatiently.
"Is there anything you can do to stop the transformation?"
"I haven't looked into it."
"Well, do it," he barked. "I want to know everything there is to know about this transformation process." He turned on his heel and walked towards the door. "In the meantime, make sure he stays alive."
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
Rhian stood a short distance away from Jesse, watching him closely. The first spasm of pain had passed, and he was beginning to breathe more normally again. He was still shaking violently, but anything was an improvement on the way he struggled to take a breath earlier. His face was a deathly shade of blue, even now when he was breathing more normally, and his sweat-drenched hair was plastered to his head.
She was trying not to feel sorry for the man who looked so much like a defenceless boy at the moment. He deserved no pity. She wished Mr Eckhart would let her have her way and kill him as he deserved, but he kept on insisting she would have ample opportunity later on.
If she looked at him, she would feel her resolve drifting away. She had to turn away in order to hate him, and when she did, she could feel the claws and teeth extending and the hair on the back of her neck bristling. He deserved everything he received. She turned back to face him, encouraged to find that she was starting to get stronger. She no longer felt the tug at her heartstrings when she looked upon him. She could deal with him like this.
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
Shalimar dropped down behind a Genomex guard silently, delivering a perfect kick to his head and knocking him unconscious to the floor. Brennan and Emma followed her in, as she made her way single-mindedly to Jesse's location.
Emma was worried about her friend. Shal was angry, afraid, nervous, frustrated. All the emotions that would hinder rather than aid her in her confrontations with GS agents. She was a loose cannon when she was in this mood, and there was nothing anyone could say to her to calm her down. As a last resort, Emma had spent most of the journey in the Double Helix sending her calming thoughts in an attempt to clear her head.
As they made their way further into the bowels of Genomex, Emma could sense that there were more guards around than there had been at their point of entry. They flattened themselves against the wall, preparing to confront the guards around the corner if necessary. Brennan prepared a ball of electricity as Emma concentrated on their minds. A sound of running feet was heard, and as Shal peered round the corner, she caught a glimpse of the guards as they turned another corner.
"Good one, Emma," Brennan grinned as he dispersed the electricity and tapped her on the back.
"Just down this corridor," Shal whispered as she ran lightly onwards. She came to a large solid door, and stood, listening at the crack. "In here," she whispered excitedly. Brennan summoned the electricity and blasted the door open. As they looked through the dust and smoke, they could make out the image of a man lying on a raised platform. Shal ran through the smoke toward him, knowing it was Jesse. He looked a mess. His hair was bloody and sticking to his head and face, his face was bruised and scratched, and his clothes were ripped and also stained with blood.
"Jess, what have they done to you?" she cried, biting back a sob as she stroked his face gently. Almost instantly, her face turned stony as realisation hit, and she whispered venomously, "This is the work of a feral."
"Come on, Shal, let's get him out of here," Brennan told her quickly. He picked him up as gently as he could, noticing his friend moan as he was moved, and turned to the door where Emma had been standing watch.
"They're coming," she whispered. "She's coming." Brennan looked round, trying to find an alternative way out.
"No good, we're going to have to fight our way out of this one," he answered, putting Jesse back down gently. Shalimar crouched, eyes flashing, teeth bared, ready for whatever came towards them.
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
Rhian strode down the corridors of Genomex. She had just been told that there were intruders, and that they were members of Mutant X. She had been warned by Eckhart that they were likely to make an appearance in order to take Jesse back, so she knew this was a possibility, but still she felt the nervous twinges inside her. How would she react when faced with these evil people? Would she be able to hold her feral side in check? Would she cower with terror at the images of mutilated mutants running through her head?
She turned the corner, steeling herself and ready to face whatever they could throw at her. The first thing she saw was a tall, dark man handling the flickering blue streams of electricity, and a dark haired woman standing just behind him. She stopped dead as she suddenly realised who they were. Were these people also involved with Adam? She felt a rush of anger surge through her as a new thought struck her. They were fighting her that night. They had nearly taken her in, and she had tried to save them by running away when she felt her transformation. They didn't deserve to be saved. She should have killed them there and then.
The woman shot a ball of translucent blue towards her, and she dodged out of its way. She felt her feral side creep over her as she swiped her hand across the woman's face, hitting her jaw and flooring her. As the man aimed at her, she kicked out, thumping his stomach, making him double over gasping for breath. She swung round and kicked him again, following it with a sharp strike to the back of his head.
Behind her, she saw the woman rise, wiping a trickle of blood from the side of her mouth, and glare at her. The bubble formed on her forehead again, zooming towards her. She felt it connect, felt her head whip back, but she refused to let it affect her. She steadied herself for a moment, then opened her eyes and lunged herself at the woman. A split second before she reached her, a blonde figure appeared between them, also snarling. Rhian stumbled back, recognising the woman. Her eyes were blazing yellow as she shielded her teammate. This was the woman with whom she had felt a connection. What was she doing defending these traitorous mutants? Rhian felt confusion take the place of fear and anger, as she backed down. She didn't understand this.
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
Shalimar pounced in front of Emma, shielding her with her body, and hissed at the feral in front of her. There was no way she was going to let another one of her friends get hurt. She watched as the girl stumbled backwards, almost tripping herself up. Her eyes had abruptly turned back from yellow to green, as a look of confusion spread on her face. Brennan got up off the floor, placing a hand on Shal's shoulder as he calmed her down.
"Rhian," he began, knowing he had to seize this moment as Rhian backed down. "We have to take Jesse back with us, otherwise he might not survive." Shal could see the uncertainty flickering in her eyes as she looked from Shalimar to Brennan.
"You don't have to be afraid of us," Emma added as she steadied herself against the wall. "I know it's a strange situation, but Eckhart will have told you many lies about us. You can't believe everything he says."
"He's the only person who's bothered to help me," Rhian began, trying to assert herself, but failing miserably. Shalimar let out a disbelieving snort.
"How do you justify the governor that he slapped on you?" Brennan asked, aware that time was ticking away and more GS agents must be about to appear. Shal saw Rhian's fingers fly up to her neck as she fingered the contraption.
"To help me control the urge," she whispered, uncertainly.
"Don't tell me the bastard hasn't used it to hurt you," Shal spat angrily.
Rhian felt time freeze as the feral made her point. Mr Eckhart had in fact activated it numerous times, with the excuse of needing to train her. It had not been activated so much to stop her transformation, as to jolt her with pain.
Her thoughts, so clear a moment ago about her position within the mutant community, were muddled and confused. She looked over towards the blond mutant's prone body. She still couldn't help but feel sorry for all he had been put through. Now, as new information was coming to light about Adam's true cause, her remorse swept over her like a tidal wave. He was simply a pawn caught between two powerful men.
She looked up at the feral once again with a renewed determination.
"You have to take him away. He needs help." The man nodded in satisfaction as the blonde flew towards her teammate.
"Are you coming?" he asked her. She could see a flicker of hope in his eyes as he stared at her. Uncertainty clouded her thoughts. After all, what did she have to lose?
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
Not the best place to stop, I know. I wanted to carry on, really I did, but I need a break. I have to stop and catch my breath a little! In the meantime I thought I might as well update with what I have already whilst the rest is being written. So remember, R&R people!
Next chapter will be a good one. There's going to be major issues with Jesse and what he has endured whilst at Genomex, so stay tuned!
