THICKER THAN WATER

Chapter 4: The Plan

            Mason Eckhart sat behind his desk.  He was in his office, where he could always be found.  Before him stood Gary Brooks, one of many of his GSA scientists.  Brooks was delivering an account of the girl's escape—the girl who was Adam's sister.  And the girl who would lead him straight to his former associate and his band of miscreant new mutants.

            Eckhart smiled at how easy this had turned out to be.

            Brooks was smiling also, as he said, "The beacon I etched into the bone of Dylan's shoulder blade is working perfectly, just as you requested."

            "Good.  How long before we have their location?"

            "Should be no more than a few hours, Mister Eckhart."

            "Excellent work, Dr. Brooks.  Keep me posted.  I want to know the instant we have confirmation."

            "Absolutely," the man agreed heartily.

            "You are dismissed, then."

            Brooks nodded, then departed.  Eckhart swiveled his chair around to look out over the room that sheltered the already captured new mutants in their glass tubes.  Truth be told, he almost missed the spunky Dylan.  Strangely, she was one of the few people who could make Eckhart laugh in those odd hours when he would check up on her after one of their experiments.

            No matter, he would have her back soon enough.

                                                                                                *

            Adam scowled into the microscope.  If he didn't know any better, he would say that Dylan was infected with some form of virus, but this was like no virus he had ever seen.

            Adam's watch beeped, telling him it was nine a.m.  He rose from the stool and stretched his aching muscles.  Sleep had not come to him that night, but now, as he moved away from his work, he felt tired and drained.  The door slid open.  Adam ventured down the hall to check on his sister before going back to his own room.

            He peeked inside, but found Dylan's room empty.  He opened the door wider, panic replacing fatigue.  "Dylan?"  Adam raced down the hall, calling her name frantically.  Where could she have gone?  The day had not yet begun and already she was missing.  "Dylan!"

            On the couch something stirred.  Adam skidded to a stop as she sat up, a puzzled expression on her face.  "Yeah?" she yawned.

            Adam almost fell over; he was so relieved.  "What are you doing out here?" he asked worriedly.

            Dylan blinked at her brother, trying to shake off sleep while at the same time wondering what he was so worked up about.  "I couldn't sleep in that room.  It felt like—" she stopped abruptly, realizing what she was about to say.  It felt like another cell.  Yeah, Dyl, tell him that.  "It was too quiet, that's all," she covered, hoping he would let the unfinished statement slide.  Sadness clouded Adam's eyes.  She knew she didn't have to finish the comment; he knew what she would have said.  "Oh, God, Adam, I didn't mean—"

            He held up his hand to stop her.  "We've both got a lot of adjusting to do."

            Dylan went over and hugged him.

            Emma watched the two siblings from the doorway, a smile upon her face.  In the short span of time she had known Adam she had always sensed a deep pain that he always fought to hide.  Now that pain was gone, despite that he felt responsible for the six years Dylan was in Eckhart's 'care'.

            "Adding spy to your list of qualifications, I see."  Brennan grinned.

            "I'm not spying," she returned.  "I'm observing."

            "My mistake."

            "Do you have any brothers or sisters, Bren?"

            "Naw,"

            "Me, neither,"

            Brennan glanced at Adam and Dylan.  They were talking quietly; he couldn't hear what was said.  "Come on, Shalimar was looking for you."

            Emma smirked.  "She's teaching me how to throw opponents over my shoulder today.  You'd better watch out."

            "I can't wait."  Energy danced across his hand.

            The two went their separate ways:  Emma to the training room to meet Shalimar, Brennan back to his bedroom.

            Dylan sat down on the couch.  She wrapped the blanket around her shoulders, as Adam sat beside her.  "Something else is bothering you.  What's up?"

            Adam hesitated.  Sure something was bothering him, but how do you tell your sister that she has been infected by some kind of virus that you've never seen before?  Just like that, I suppose . . .  "I've been trying to figure out what that injection was." 

            "You weren't up all night, were you?"  He half-smiled guiltily.  "Stupid question."  She shook her head.  "You didn't have to do that."

            "Of course I did," he responded without thinking.  "I think it's some kind of virus, however it isn't affecting you.  Not at all.  It's like you're just the carrier.

            "The carrier?  It's not contagious--?"  A knot tightened in her stomach.

            Adam shook his head.  "No, it's not contagious."

            "Then what the hell is it?"

            He shrugged.  "I'm still working on that, unfortunately.  And I have a bad feeling that the only person who does know is Mason Eckhart."  He met her gaze.

            Dylan's expression was a stony mask, but Adam could see the mix of fear and hatred in her eyes.  "That doesn't help me."

            Adam patted her knee.  "I know," he sighed.  "We'll figure this out, Dyl."

            "Adam, if the virus is dormant, how do you explain the dizzy spells and insomnia?"

            Her brother shrugged.  "I think they're side effects of the initial injection of the virus into your system, not the virus itself.  I don't know how else to explain it."

            "I think I get it."

            Adam nodded.  "Well I'm gonna have some breakfast.  You interested?"

            Dylan smiled.  "Chocolate chip pancakes?" she asked hopefully.

            "Just the way you like 'em."