A/N: thanks to everyone who has reviewed. If you have a favourite character you'd like me to concentrate on more, let me know.

Chapter Four: The Facility

Once more we stood atop the small hill next to the village, and tried to come up with some plan or idea that might see us out of this mess.

"To be honest, I can't see any way we can do this," said Chris, kicking at a loose rock and watching it roll down the hillside. "We can't stay in hiding forever, either."

"We've got to find out who it is that's searching for us, and what they want us for," Jacqueline restated. "I can think of one possible plan – though it's not an attractive one."

"Let's hear it."

"We could allow ourselves to be captured. Presumably we'd be taken to whoever it is that wants us, and hopefully we could make our escape once we get there, and start trying to clear our names."

"We've already escaped from them once," I pointed out. "Would they be careless enough to let it happen again?"

"Here's a plan," said Chris. "You three allow yourselves to be captured. I'll change myself into liquid form and sneak on board whatever mode of transport they use. Once we get there, I'll change back to solid and set you free."

"How long can you stay in liquid form?"

"Dunno. I've never needed to do it for more than, oh, twenty minutes at a time."

"In that case, it's risky," said Jacqueline. "It could take ages to get there, though I'm assuming it's in this country somewhere, since we were being driven there earlier. If you can't stay in liquid form for long enough, you'll be captured too."

"And they might not take us back to – wherever – until they've caught all four of us," Chloe said.

"I suppose," said Chris reluctantly. "It's still a good plan, though. We just need to vary it slightly."

"How about I stay behind while you three get captured?" I said. "I can watch and see where they take you, then I'll come and get you out."

"I dunno, you'll be on foot. It could be miles away."

"True…"

There came the sound of a twig snapping from behind us. I whirled round to see who was there. A large Alsatian dog, eyeing us speculatively, stood a few yards away.

"Oh, no. That's a hunting dog," Jacqueline hissed. "They're tracking us down already!"

"Run for it!" Chris yelled.

"No, it's OK!" said Chloe hurriedly. "Just keep an eye out for its handler."

Of course. We'd forgotten about her power over animals. Chloe crouched down to make herself appear less threatening, and inched forward towards the dog, holding out her hand for it to sniff. The dog looked at her curiously, turning its head on one side.

"Hello," she said. "Are you hunting us?"

The dog grunted a response.

"Please leave us alone. Please let us go."

The Alsatian sniffed at her hand, and its tail began to wag. It gave a joyful bark, and Chloe quickly patted it on the neck to calm it down, "You've got to be quiet, we don't want to be found. Forget you saw us, OK?"

The dog licked her hand, and nuzzled against her arm.

"I think it's in love," Chris whispered.

Suddenly the dog began sniffing the air. It nudged Chloe with its snout and whined.

"What's the matter? Do you smell something?" she asked.

The dog gave a few short barks, and Chloe turned to us, "Somebody's coming. Get under cover."

Turning back to the dog, she said quickly, "I've got to go now. Thank you for your help."

The dog barked happily, and hurried away down the hillside. Chloe joined the rest of us as we ran to find somewhere to hide. I ducked behind the cover of a huge oak tree; Chris and Chloe joined me. Jacqueline was crouching behind a big rock a few yards away, and waved her hand to get my attention. When she knew I was looking her way, she tapped her eyes, then pointed ahead of her. I shrugged to indicate I didn't understand.

Use your X-ray vision to look through the tree and see who's there! I could hear her voice in my head, and I almost replied to her, realising just in time that she was using her telepathy. I nodded to her, and faced the tree to begin using my power. We could hear the sound of somebody's footsteps, and knew they had to be just feet away.

"Boris? Boris?" a man's voice said impatiently. "Where are you, you stupid dog?!"

I focused my eyes beyond the tree, and it melted out of my vision to be replaced by an image of what lay behind. A man, wearing black clothes, was looking in all directions, whistling for the dog. All of a sudden there came a strange sensation in my head. It felt like – actually, I'd never felt anything like it before. I began to panic.

Relax, came Jacqueline's telepathic voice, it's just me. I'm reading your mind and sending your vision to Chris. Chris, I want you to change into liquid and get out there. I'll distract the guy and you hit him from behind. Any time you're ready.

"Boris?!" came the man's voice again.

Chris was behind me, so I couldn't see him, but I assumed he had given her a thumbs-up or some other affirmative signal. I heard the vague gurgling sound that I had heard the last time he had changed form, and the next thing I knew, a clear liquid was flowing past my feet. I looked down.

Keep your attention on the man, Jacqueline said, I need to read your vision.

I returned my eyes to the tree, and forced them to focus beyond once more. I could see the man again. He was still looking for his dog. He was downhill from us, which made it easy for Chris to move towards him as a liquid. I watched as the clear puddle, almost invisible on the rocky ground, moved over behind the man then stopped. I wasn't sure if Jacqueline was still reading my mind, so I raised my left hand to give her a thumbs-up.

OK, Chris, get ready. Here goes.

She stepped out from behind the rock. The man saw her instantly, "Hey! Stop!"

She stopped. He looked her over. From behind him I could see Chris, re-coalescing into his normal solid shape.

"You're one of the ones we're looking for," the man said triumphantly. "All right, hands behind your head and come this way. Don't try any tricks. I know what you freaks are like. Come on, move!"

With a smirk on his face, Chris struck the man in the back of the head with the flat of his hand. The man was knocked out instantly, and fell forward on to his face. Chloe clapped her hands excitedly, and the two of us came out from beside the tree to stand over the man's unmoving form.

"He is alive, isn't he?" I asked.

"He's alive," Chris nodded, kneeling down to search the man's body. "I'd have to hit him harder than that to kill him."

"Was that your power as well?" Chloe asked. "I didn't know you could knock somebody out that easily."

"No, that was just a bit of martial arts. I used to belong to a class. My mutant power's the solid-to-liquid thing, if you hadn't noticed," he finished sarcastically

"Well, you might have had more than one power for all I knew."

"What's he got on him?" Jacqueline asked.

Chris unzipped the man's jacket and felt through the inside pockets, "Here's something."

He pulled out a map, "Perfect, it's a map of the area."

Handing it to Jacqueline, he continued looking through the man's pockets. Pulling out a wallet, he opened it and looked inside, "Hey, some money. We can buy more food now."

Taking out a handful of five and ten pound notes, he stuffed them into his jeans pocket and looked through the rest of the wallet.

"Ah," said Jacqueline, consulting the map. "This is interesting."

"What is?"

"Remember when I read those guys' minds, back when we escaped from their van? They were taking us to a place called 'Site Alpha'. There's something called 'Site Alpha' marked here on the map."

I looked at the map over her shoulder, "Right. That must be where they were taking us. Any idea how to get there?"

"Is that where we'll find the person who's trying to capture us?" Chloe asked.

"Maybe. I'm trying to figure out where we are just now," said Jacqueline.

"Well, there's the river. And that must be the village we just left," I said, pointing to a spot on the map.

"Yeah, so we must be about here. Hey, we're not from this 'Site Alpha', whatever it is. It's only about five miles away."

"Are we going there?" asked Chloe.

"I think we have to. It's the only way we'll find out what's going on."

"Nothing else on this guy," said Chris. "Neil, give me a hand to carry him, and we'll dump him in some bushes so nobody sees him. By the time he wakes up we should be long gone."

We manhandled the unconscious figure into some nearby undergrowth, and returned to find the girls looking at the map once more.

"I think this is our best route," said Jacqueline, tracing a path from our current position to the spot marked 'Site Alpha'.

"We'll need to watch out for more patrols," said Chris. "We might not be lucky enough to find the man and dog separated next time."

Jacqueline indicated the direction we had to travel, and we set out on our way. It was still hard going, hiking across the rocky, uneven ground, through the deep undergrowth, but this time we had a supply of food to keep ourselves going, and the walk didn't feel quite so bad. We estimated we'd travelled about half of the distance to the facility when we found a small spring running through the forest, and Jacqueline allowed us to rest and drink for a few minutes. I knelt beside the stream and took my shades off, keeping my eyes closed while dipping my hands in the water and splashing the refreshing cold liquid over my face. I heard the sound of somebody sitting down beside me, and Chloe's voice saying, "Neil? Can I see your eyes?"

With a sudden sadness I recalled all too vividly the last time a girl had asked me that question. Four years ago now, that fateful day when I'd discovered who – or more precisely what – I truly was.

"I can't. The sun hurts my eyes too much," I said, echoing my own words of four years ago.

And now comes the point where she's supposed to ask 'Neil, do you love me?', I told myself bitterly. I ran my hands under the cold water again, and dipped my head down to drink a mouthful.

"Neil?" said Chloe, sounding uncertain and nervous.

"Yes?"

"This will sound silly, but do you – um – like me at all? Even a little bit? I don't mean as a friend, I mean – um, well, you know…do you like me as a girl?"

I nearly laughed. She'd asked the question, just as Claire had done. History was repeating itself. I didn't hesitate in answering, "Yes, I do."

Now she's got to say 'if you really do love me, let me see your eyes', I thought. Just like Claire had. Would I open my eyes and endure the agony if Chloe asked me to? Just as I done for Claire? Yes, I decided, for Chloe I would.

"Oh," she was saying, sounding surprised. "Well, um…thanks. I kinda like you too, as a guy, I mean. I know you're a year older than me, but…I still like you. I just wish we could have got to know each other under different circumstances. Here."

She pressed my sun-glasses into my hands, and I heard her get up and walk off. Putting my shades back on, I opened my eyes to see her approaching Jacqueline, who was still poring over the map. She hadn't done as I had expected. She hadn't used my feelings for her to blackmail me into doing something I didn't want to do. She'd respected my wishes and my pain. Something Claire had never done. I found myself thinking about Chloe, and how much I'd got to know her in the short time since I'd first met her yesterday – gosh, had it only been yesterday? Having spent most of my adolescent years being the target of hatred and revulsion from nearly everybody I knew, it was a welcome change to meet somebody who was so considerate, so kind, who didn't put her own feelings ahead of others'. Chloe was already a rare person because of her gift, but her personality made her rarer still. I got to my feet and walked over towards her and Jacqueline. Was I falling in love with Chloe? Yes, I decided I was.

We set out again a few minutes later. Jacqueline and Chris were leading the way as usual, and I walked behind with Chloe. I quickly noticed that her nervousness, or some of it at least, was gone. She seemed so much more at ease, chatting away to me, blushing and smiling at me when her hand not too accidentally brushed against mine for more than a moment or two. I was almost able to forget thoughts of our plight, and the desperate mission we were on to clear our names of murder.

But not for long. When we got close to the point on the map that was marked at 'Site Alpha', Jacqueline had us move much more cautiously, and constantly asked me to scour the land ahead, looking through trees and other obstacles when necessary, to ensure we weren't walking into a trap. When we were almost on top of the marked area on the map, I could begin to hear the sounds of machinery from somewhere ahead.

"Anybody else hear that?" I asked. "There's definitely something here."

"Let's find a vantage point where you can spy on them," said Jacqueline. "There's a small hill over there, let's go that way."

We climbed the small yet steep incline, and I found a breach in the tree-line where I could see down on to site Alpha. Below us stood a single, multi-storey building that looked like something out of a science-fiction film. It had a small dock which sat on the edge of the lazily flowing river, a helicopter pad on the roof, and a small airstrip at the back. The front entrance was on the opposite side from the dock, and was well-guarded by men, dogs, turrets and security cameras.

"Wow," was all I said.

"This looks like something out of Star Wars," said Chris. "It's a hidden facility, way up in the wilds of Scotland, where nobody could find it. I wonder who owns it."

"The person who's after us, most likely," said Jacqueline. "We've got to get in there."

"How? Have you seen how well guarded that entrance is?"

"There's a back entrance," I said. "Over there, look. It comes out on the dock."

"And it isn't guarded," Chris grinned. "That's our way in."

Chloe frowned, "It looks dangerous."

"Who ever said safety was fun?" Chris asked. "All right, Jacqueline, how are we going to handle this?"

Jacqueline licked her lips and surveyed the facility, trying to make a decision, "Well, the back entrance is unguarded. But I don't see how you can get there without walking past the guards at the front entrance. The only other way to the back door is a sheer drop from up here."

I looked down, "That's at least two hundred feet. There's no way we can climb down. Jacqueline, can you use your power to lower somebody down slowly?"

"No," she said. "Well, in theory, yes. But I can't promise my power would last long enough to get them all the way down. It's too risky."

"Don't worry, I can get down," said Chris.

"How?" asked Chloe.

He gave her a devilish grin, "You know I never like to tell you these things outright. Watch and you shall discover."

"You're sure you can make it down there?" Jacqueline asked.

He sighed impatiently, "Yes. I wouldn't be volunteering if I wasn't sure. It's not an issue, so don't worry. Start thinking about what you want me to do once I get inside."

"Stage some kind of distraction," she said. "Get those guards away from the front of the facility. That way the rest of us can sneak past and get in the back door."

"Chloe could do that," he said. "The distraction, I mean. Just get a few animals to cause a disturbance. While she's doing that, I'll get to work on disabling the security cameras and turrets."

"You can do that?" I asked.

"I have a friend who's a computer hacker. He's taught me a few tricks."

Jacqueline nodded, "All right, we'll go with that. Chloe, are you all right with your part?"

"I think so. I don't want any animals to get hurt, though, so I can't ask them to attack the guards or anything."

"Just distract them."

"OK, I think I can manage that. What are you and Neil going to do?"

"We're going to stay here," she decided. "Neil can look through the walls and guide Chris through the facility until he reaches the security controls, wherever they are. I'll use my telepathy and act as a communications relay. Anything you want to say to each other, just think it to me, and I'll pass it on."

"How does that work? We're not telepathic," said a confused Chris. "We can't think a message to you."

"You won't have to. Just think of the message, and I'll read your mind to receive it. This will need all my concentration, so I'll be totally vulnerable when it's happening. Neil, I also need you to keep an eye out for anyone who might find us."

"Can do."

"All right. Let's move. Chloe, you're first."

Chloe turned and disappeared into the forest. I felt an aching urge to go after her, to protect her from danger, but I knew I couldn't. We all had to play our part for this to succeed, and I knew she would have to look after herself.

"What if she can't do it? What if she can't find any animals? What if she screws up?" Chris said cynically. "I mean, she's only – "

"Only what?" I interrupted angrily "Only a girl?"

"No. I was going to say she's only a kid. Can we rely on her?"

"We have to," said Jacqueline. "Stop worrying about it and concentrate on your own part. You'd better get ready."
"Damn it, woman, I am ready. I'm always ready."

"Then do it."

Chris flashed us his confident, almost arrogant grin, and walked towards the edge of the precipice that overlooked the facility. I watched as he looked down at the building for a moment or two, then took a deep breath –

and stepped off the edge.

"What the hell's he doing?" I gasped.

Jacqueline and I hurried to the edge and looked down. Chris, in free-fall, called upon his gift, and changed from solid to liquid in mid-air. As a liquid, he splashed unhurt on to the rocks at the bottom of the cliff. If the guards had heard anything, they would assume it was merely the river. I peered down as Chris changed back to solid, and flashed the grin up at me again, knowing I would be able to see it.

"Well, you can't fault his confidence," Jacqueline said.

"Yeah…not so sure about his sanity."

We watched as Chris approached the back door, and tried to open it. It wouldn't open. Focusing on the door, I couldn't see any handles or bars that might facilitate its opening. Ah, there was a keypad beside the door. Obviously a security code was needed to open it.

"OK, this is a problem," I said. "How's he going to get in? Can you read someone's mind and get the code?"

"He's fine. Look."

Chris was changing again, his body liquefying into a puddle in front of the door. As I watched, he slowly seeped underneath the door and into the facility.

"Right. This is where you need your X-ray vision, and I need to start acting as communications relay," said Jacqueline, closing her eyes. "Don't try talking to me normally, I won't hear it. Think it to me."

"Think it to you," I repeated. "OK…"

A moment's silence, then I heard her voice in my head, Can you all hear me?

Yes, I heard Chris responding. Weird. It was almost as if he was right there talking to me, but I knew it was really Jacqueline reading the message from his mind and forwarding it to all of us.

Me too! added Chloe.

And me, I thought.

All right. Chloe, what's your status?

Nearly ready. Where's Chris?

He's inside. Neil, where is he exactly?

He's going the wrong way, actually. Chris, go back to that fork and turn left.

OK, Shades.

And don't call me Shades.

Sorry, Shades.

Chris! I responded.

Shut up, both of you. I won't telepath frivolous messages.

Aw, you're no fun…

Chris!! all three of us thought at once.

A few minutes later:

Chris? You there?

Yeah, Neil, go ahead.

I think I've spotted the security room. We're in luck, it's empty. Make a left turn at the end of the corridor and it's the second – no, third! – door on your right.

Confirm, third on right.

Confirmed, third on right.

OK. Let me know if I'm about to run into anyone.

Will do.

Chloe? Jacqueline asked. What's happening?

I'm ready. Here goes.

I couldn't take my eyes off my view of the inside of the facility, but from the front entrance I heard the sound of animals squabbling, and loud yelps and screeches.

I can't see, I thought, is it working?

Better than I thought it would, Chloe replied, the guards are leaving their posts to try and find out what's happening. I'll get the animals to lead them into the forest.

Good work, Jacqueline responded, Chris, how's it going with the security?

I've reached the security room. Unless their computers have a beast of a security protocol, it should be a breeze.

You might also want to deactivate the lock on that back door, I suggested.

Good catch, will do.

Ten minutes passed, then I heard Chris' voice in my head once more. The translation of his voice to a thought wave didn't dull the triumphant, self-satisfied tone that was beginning to get on my nerves.

Done! he exclaimed, security cameras down, turrets down, electronic locks deactivated. Come on in.

On our way, said Jacqueline, I'm going to stop relaying now, so you won't be able to talk to us again till we meet you in the security room. If anyone comes in, change to liquid and think a message to me. I'll read your mind periodically, just in case.

She exhaled deeply and opened her eyes, "Let's go."

We started on our way down the hill to meet Chloe.

"That felt weird," I said. "I'm glad to have my mind to myself again."

She grinned, "Yeah. I really don't like having to venture too far into the depths of an adolescent male mind. Incidentally, you are one of the most single-minded people I've ever met."

"Pardon?"

"I was trying to read your mind to get your messages, but all you were thinking about was Chloe."

"I like her."

"Yes, and she likes you. I hope it works out for you."

"Thanks."

"And Neil?"

"Yes?"

"There's something strange. I've read both Chris and Chloe's minds, and neither of them have been able to feel when I'm doing it. Both times I've been inside your mind, you've said it feels weird."

"That's right, it does."

"That's what's strange. You're not a telepath, so you shouldn't be able to detect when a telepath is in your mind. Added to that, when I dive into your mind there's this weird sort of resistance I've never encountered before."

"What are you saying?"

"I'm saying you might be a telepath yourself."

"How can I be? My mutation is in my eyes."

"It's possible that isn't your only mutation. I don't want to scare you, but – well, since I found out I was a telepath, I've been in and out of a lot of people's minds. They've all felt different, of course, but they've all felt perfectly human. Except Chris and Chloe, obviously, who are mutants. But you don't even feel like another mutant. You feel like…like something else."

"A mutant mutant?"

She laughed, "Possibly. Some day when we have a lot of free time – if we ever do – I'd like to sit down and try some exercises with you, and find out if you really are a telepath."

"Sure."

"There's Chloe. Let's go."

Chloe waved when she saw us, and pointed to the trees bordering the northern side of the facility, "The guards have all gone off to follow the animals. They'll be back soon, I think."

We hurried round the side of the building, past the deactivated cameras and turrets. I had a quick look through the wall to see if Chris was all right. He was sitting in the security room, keeping a careful eye on the door, ready to liquefy at any moment should a person enter the room. Suddenly –

"What the hell?" I exclaimed.

"What?" asked Chloe.

"I was looking through the wall to check Chris was OK. As I was pulling my focus back, I saw somebody else."

"Who?"

"I dunno. I've never seen him before. But he was looking at me."

"Looking at you? So what?"

"Don't you get it? He was looking at me through the wall. He didn't just happen to be looking in my direction, either. He was definitely looking right at me."

"Oh no," Jacqueline said.

"Yes. If he could look through walls like me, he was a mutant too."

"Damn it, then they know we're here!" Chloe cried.

"We've got to get inside, and warn Chris," Jacqueline decided. "Hurry! Now!"