A/N- All hell breaks loose when Ashlocke's powers finally fully manifest
themselves in Adam. Sorry this is slow, me been sick. BTW, I was
absolutely shocked and DELIGHTED with Lest He Become. Yes, Ace- Eckhart's
new look completely freaked me out. RAD!!! Inspiring!!! So somewhere in
this chapter is a little bit of Eckhart dressing.. Hope you like
(personally, I'll always love him in white hair).
Stepping out
It was 2am in the morning. Adam worked alone in the lab It was the place where he was most content, working out his thoughts in tune with Sanctuary's mainframe. He still wondered about his mixed feelings about Emma. It had been a few months and somehow he felt tied to her. Did she do something to his mind? No, not Emma, she had too much integrity. Yet there was an inexplicable sense of danger tied in to his feelings for her, as if somehow, life had just become far more complicated than he could put into words. He couldn't put a finger on it, but lately, the expression in Emma's eyes was furtive, secretive, and yes, gloating. She was surely hiding something but what?
Adam felt obsessed with the need to perfect a serum to stabilize the growth of New Mutant powers, something he had failed to do for Gabriel Ashlocke. Why was he so obsessed with this? Adam wondered. Ever since Ashlocke blew himself up in Sanctuary, things just hadn't been the same. Did he somehow contaminate their home? Emma seemed a little off, she was questioning their ideals, and not totally with the group. Shalimar was uneasy at the thought that Ashlocke was still around. Jesse and Brennan reported strange manifestations going on within Sanctuary- little things like objects moving by themselves, the sense that someone was around, the computer acting up. All these things had potential explanations; and what about Michelle Eckhart? The young lady with the awesome potential of Gabriel Ashlocke engineered into her DNA had spent the last few months alone in Genomex guarding her father and caring for him. Who did this to her, Adam wondered. Adam also wondered if Gabriel Ashlocke may have already accessed her mind and turned her into a walking time bomb.
Now Adam felt a tremendous surge of aggressive energy. He stretched and suddenly all his senses became heightened. He could sense the presence of each of the MX team and his hearing, vision and sense of smell suddenly went off scale. Everything was vibrantly alive, too much so. Adam felt strange, exhilarated, and aroused. His dark eyes flashed and he suddenly could see as if into a different spectrum of light. Puzzled, he forced himself to relax and the world returned to normal. Adam wondered what could have brought on that experience. But he could feel Shalimar's presence most closely for some reason as if they shared some link. Adam snorted ruefully to himself. First Emma, now Shalimar. Attack of the raging hormones, he thought. If this keeps up, I'll be no different from Gabriel Ashlocke with his harem. Shaking his head, he headed to the Dojo. He was hot and needed to clear his mind. The best way to do that would be to kick some ass.
Before he reached the Dojo, the computer signaled an incoming message. Adam clenched his fist in a rare fit of impatience. He needed to let out his aggressions. Upon acknowledging that sentiment, Adam paused. He rarely felt like this. This is not like himself. Perhaps the problem was him. The computer beeped again. The transmission message was on the private account, the one that he had at Genomex.
"Adam," the white-haired man on the other side addressed him. "It is imperative that we speak. I've been informed by sources that you've been set up to become a biological time bomb." Adam could see Michelle standing behind her father slightly off to the side.
"Mason, I don't have time for games." Adam replied. "I know you've been under the stress of many changes in your life and that perhaps you are not seeing things clearly. I can adjust that for you."
Mason Eckhart frowned. Ashlocke did get to him. Adam was under the impression that he was a delusional psychotic. Raising an eyebrow, Eckhart added, "No Adam. It is you that is not seeing things clearly. You are under Ashlocke's influence."
"Ashlocke is dead," Adam snapped, ignoring the fact of the appearance of the apparition.
"Listen carefully, Adam." Eckhart said slowly and deliberately. "Sparky told me that your mind has been tampered with." Eckhart paused and stared meaningfully at Adam.
Adam paused. "What do you know of Sparky?" He demanded. Suddenly another rush of energy swept through Adam's body. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He could hear Michelle telling Eckhart,
"Father, he's mutating." He opened his eyes and saw that Michelle had suddenly stepped forward and was studying him with intense, almost hungry interest.
"Adam?" Eckhart's image called.
Adam motioned with his hand and the computer monitor flew backwards and crashed onto the floor. Eckhart frowned as Adam's image suddenly went blank on his screen. He buried his face in his hands and his eyes turned silver as he channeled his mind into the network. "Aari, I need your help to get Adam's attention." Then he straightened. Something felt wrong.
"Michelle, I need to meet someone at the hospital," he said.
His golden-haired daughter stared at him, obviously struggling for control. Finally she said, "Old man, you're not going anywhere."
SANCTUARY ***
Somewhere in the network of Sanctuary's computer, a concerned Aarariah watched Adam run up the stairs to the Dojo. He was preoccupied with controlling the incredible surge of impulses and powers, yet still appeared to be in total denial. His powers seemed to be cascading, now that Ashlocke's infused cells made a harbor in his body's DNA and progressed steadily into his brain. She formed Ashlocke's image and sent it out through the Dojo program.
Adam paused. He did not program the computer to use Ashlocke's image. What was going on? In his moment of hesitation, Ashlocke drop kicked Adam against the wall. Adam instinctively came back with a spiraling twist over the man and pulled him down. Ashlocke's image sprang back. Adam mentally nodded, realizing that this image was set to the highest combat level. He also marveled that his own body's enhanced reactions were comparable to that of Shalimar. Another orgasmic blast of energy filled his body and left it, leaving Adam nearly breathless. A part of his mind was trying to understand what was happening to him, but the onslaught of sensations was powerful, threatening to pull him into a mindless orgy of energy. Ashlocke's image silently aimed a blast of energy at Adam. Adam instinctively pushed back with his hands and blocked the energy blast. Adam stared in consternation. What is going on with him and the computer? Dojo was not programmed to use mutant powers, this was a martial arts program! And he was using mutant powers, indeed, he was immersed in them. Had he been drugged, or was he under Psionic mind control? Suddenly alarmed, Adam glanced about furtively for intruders. The image of Ashlocke suddenly vanished. A woman appeared, beautiful creature. All of Adam's senses went into high arousal at the sight of her. He wanted nothing more than to dominate her and pull her into bed with him. As he started to approach her, he projected a telepathic ray at her head, but it went right through her.
"Adam," a well modulated, female voice called him. "Fight it, Adam. I know you can."
"You know me?" Adam asked, blinking.
The dark-haired woman gazed at him regally. Adam stepped nearer, every sense alert. There was such silence about her. He tentatively extended his hand toward her to touch her. His hand passed through her image.
"You're not part of the holographic program," Adam stated, trying to reason out the disparity as his body continued to flood him with sensations of power, threatening to override his mind. His bodily sensations alarmed him to the point of panic. He felt his mind and reasoning powers caving in to the appetites of his evolving body.
"Who are you?" he asked, shuddering as he fought to control wave after wave of lust.
A hurt expression passed over the woman's face but she answered, "I am Sparky. You must try to remember."
"I'm sure I'd remember you," Adam replied softly, angling himself around the image, trying to touch her again. Another surge of energy filled Adam's body. He screamed.
IN THE MATRIX
"I can't access his mind," Aarariah said with intense concern to her companions.
"Our resident telepaths have been contaminated," Eckhart added in disgust, thinking of Emma and Michelle. Natalia stared at him speculatively. "Michelle has been compromised and is holding me captive."
"You have telepathic capabilities, Mason and you are her father," she answered. "You must get to the hospital with or without her."
The white-haired man shook his head. "My powers work only in the network," he replied. "What about you, Natalia?"
He caught a shadow of sadness that passed quickly in her eyes. "I have to handle Ashlocke, once he is freed and break all the links he has formed between you, Emma and Michelle. You have the strength to wall him off and to operate without his influence, you must do that for Adam."
Eckhart looked at her in surprise. "I am to act as a firewall for Adam?"
Natalia's grey eyes were determined. "So that I can be free to eliminate Ashlocke. If Ashlocke accesses Adam's mind, he will possess him and complete his quest for power. He knows that Adam is ready. We must move quickly."
"And what of Adam?" Eckhart asked. "He is a free agent right now."
"In his current state, he is somewhat predictable. Let us pray that his operatives will succeed in what we were unable to accomplish." Aari said.
IN SANCTUARY
The wave of energy ebbed a little. Thoroughly alarmed, Adam ran back to his lab. Laying in the Med-chair, he closed his eyes and inhaled deeply, focusing his mind on stillness. Suddenly his mind was bombarded with thoughts and voices not his own. The din in his mind was incredible. Opening his eyes, Adam sat up and gazed around wild-eyed. There was no one in this room. Why then, did it sound like conversation in a convention hall? Uneasy, he leapt off the chair and restlessly padded around the lab. His senses felt over amplified again. Surely he had to be on some kind of drug. He felt as if there were people in the room with him as well. Yes, this had to be some kind of drug-induced hallucination. There were clearly no one in the room, yet he sensed presences, could hear voices as if he were in the middle of a crowd.
Adam concentrated on keeping his wits about him and not panicking. Someone was out to get him and he wasn't about to let that happen. Grabbing a syringe, he stabbed it into his arm and drew 2 vials of blood. He was fluctuating between paranoia and feelings of incredible arousal. As he had the blood samples analyzed for drugs and hormone levels, he paced back and forth restlessly trying to remember where he might have been where someone could poison him-unless it was one of his own people! Adam felt his heart race. Sweat poured from him as he fought to control his sudden rage at feelings of betrayal. His hearing suddenly went off scale again and he could sense everyone- Shalimar, Emma, Brennan, and Jesse. Jesse, Shalimar and Brennan were talking about Emma..What! a subdermal governor? Emma was walking in a sweet paradise of quiet beauty-with him- or with someone like himself. How did he know that? Adam stopped in front of a mirror. He blinked and a pair of golden Feral eyes blinked back at him.
"I'm not a New Mutant." Adam stated simply to the image. "This is some kind of drug-induced hallucination, and I intend to find out who drugged me." Pain racked his body as another wave of cascading development of New Mutant Powers overtook him. He stumbled onto the floor and curled into fetal position, trying to weather the pain until he could move and speak again.
Shalimar strolled into the lab. She paused only a moment at the sight of Adam hunched down on the floor hugging himself, eyes tightly shut. The lab was in shambles. She smelled fear and arousal.
"Adam?" her voice rising with concern. Brennan and Jesse were nearby. "Brennan, Jesse-I think Adam is hurt, come to the lab" she said urgently.
The golden haired Feral crouched next to Adam. "Help is on the way, Adam. Adam, look at me." The dark haired man kept his head down, eyes tightly shut, tears streaming down his face. Shalimar touched his shoulders, frustrated that she couldn't help him. A wave of arousal swept over Adam at her touch. Sensing the change in his state, Shalimar backed away cautiously.
"Leave me," Adam rasped. "I don't want to hurt you and if you stay, I won't be able to help myself." He rolled over, panting as waves of pleasure and desire engulfed him.
"NO!" he forced himself to concentrate on the anomaly in the Dojo, and found himself fantasizing about the dark haired woman there. Adam shook his head and moved his thoughts to the formula that he had been trying to finish for the past few months. The overwhelming flood of pleasure suddenly turned into fear.
Brennan and Jesse raced in.
Adam, can you stand? Brennan asked.
Adam shook his head mutely, trying to keep down a scream of panic.
Brennan, Shal, and Jesse lifted their leader carefully onto the Med-chair where Adam remained curled in fetal position on his side.
Where's Em? Jesse asked Shal.
She shrugged, her eyes betraying the sadness in them.
No. no Emma" Adam barked at them
He's so cold, Shalimar exclaimed, touching his forhead. Jesse pulled his jacket off and laid it over Adam.
Help me, Adam gasped, shuddering, his eyes suddenly open, staring sightlessly ahead, hugging himself, trying to keep himself from lashing out explosively with his new Mutant powers..
Brennan, Sahl and Jesse gasped. Adam's eyes were glowing golden, like a Feral. But his expression was vacant, as if he was elsewhere. Suddenly he covered his face and screamed. Too much! He cried. He lashed out aimlessly with his hands and bands of energy flew out and blew holes into the walls. Shalimar firmly put her arms around Adam's shoulders in an effort to comfort and to keep his arms contained but Adam was too strong. He lashed out and Shalimar went flying across the room. She struck the wall with incredible force and collapsed. Brennan and Jesse tried to pin Adam's arms down.
"Adam, it's us. We're trying to help you." Brennan yelled.
"You've got Mutant powers, Adam. You have the ability to control them, just like you taught us," Jesse shouted, as Adam continued to struggle.
"You can hear me, Adam," Jesse continued, as he massed in order to deflect another energy bolt. "You can control it."
Adam grimaced in pain and covered his ears with his hands. He could vaguely hear Jesse and Brennan's voices as if in the middle of a whirlwind. All of his life force felt like it was poured out and expanding. He could hear and feel everything. Thoughts not his own. He could feel the concern from these individuals, feel the hatred nearby as well.
Emma had walked in and was leaning at the doorway. She was smiling as if she was enjoying this immensely. Gently shaking her head, Emma said under her breath, "Now you know what my life has been like, Adam. Enjoy it." Aloud, she said, "I'm concerned that Adam may also have Ashlocke's Psionic abilities. He may be affecting our minds." She started to walk away then spotted Shalimar lying senseless on the floor. Emma gazed at her for a long time.
"C'mon Emma," Brennan called out. "Can't you give Adam one of your Psionic boosters and calm him down?"
Emma turned and stared at the men. Raking her hair back with her right hand, she replied, "With THIS on?" She pulled the hair off the back of her neck to show off the subdermal governor. Adam, this is what my coworkers think of me. You've got to do something about this. They're jealous of me and of you." Emma stood there, waiting for Adam to react. Adam kept his eyes closed. He could hear their thoughts.
"Damned governor...How are we going to stabilize Adam? I'm afraid he'll die...will a subdermal governor work for him like it's working for Emma? ..Damned Ashlocke. If he wasn't residing in Emma, I'd kill him myself..Hahahaha I'll convince Adam to remove the governor and then I can proceed with my plan...Adam, poor Adam. I wish I could help him. ..Poor bastard, all those powers multiplying and evolving like Ashlocke did in the end..is this the end?.....oh, god, what if Adam can't control the cascade of powers-but he's Adam, he has the mind to control it all..
Emma stared angrily at the group then looked down at Shalimar again. "Here, let me help you to your room," she said gently.
"No," Brennan said. Emma stopped and looked at him.
"I'm fine now, Brennan. I think the sub-dermal governor drove Ashlocke out of my mind. At least let me be of some help, even if you don't trust me." Emma cajoled.
"What if she's right about Adam. What if Adam did something to our minds?" Jesse wondered.
Brennan countered. "Maybe Emma has something to do with Adam's condition. They've been working together an awful lot lately."
Adam suddenly roared and threw Brennen off with motion of his arm.
"Sorry, Adam." Jesse said. He massed his right arm and struck Adam's head. Adam fell into a deep sleep even as his body continued to twitch and convulse on the table.-----------------------------
** BREAK **
Adam dreamed. He walked into the nearby electronics store, looking for a high capacity memory chip. The darkly tanned, blond fellow with the closely cropped hair behind the counter seemed familiar, but the three beautiful women who were gathered around him discussing computer networks obstructed his view. The four were intently studying and discussing a spec sheet. Adam waited patiently. Adam was tempted to add his opinion to the mix, but refrained. Still arguing over which components to use, the women moved aside for Adam. The woman with light brown hair tinted with gold looked at the counter guy and touched his hand gently as she moved on. The man's face lit up as he stared after her. He then looked up at Adam and smiled at the look of astonishment on Adam's face.
"Mason! What are you doing here?"
"It's a job, Adam." Mason Eckhart answered carelessly, stealing a glance at the gold-streaked raven-haired woman.
"But you look so different!" Adam exclaimed, eyeing the healthy looking tan on his old adversary.
"It's amazing what a new hairstyle can do. Did you know that exo-skin can be manufactured in different shades now? I decided to try a more, you know, approachable skin tone." Eckhart replied straight faced.
Adam nodded approvingly. "It becomes you. You lost the glasses too."
"Can I help you?" Mason interrupted.
Adam shook his head still in disbelief. "I can't believe you're working in this type of environment."
"Oh, I own the store," Mason explained. "What I own, I operate. The benefits are unique here. Now, as I have other customers waiting, what can I do for you Adam?" Eckhart asked more pointedly, studying him with that age-old infuriating superior gaze of his. One of the other women, the green-eyed woman with hair like onyx watched Adam intently, almost longingly.
"Yeah. I just wanted to purchase this." Adam tossed a small cardboard package onto the counter.
Mason stared at him gravely. Without taking his eyes away, he said, "That will be 18.239GigaHerz."
Adam started as if he had been slapped in the face. "But, I can't pay that kind of currency, Mason," he protested. Mason raised an eyebrow.
"Why don't you ask SPARKY for a loan, Adam." Mason suggested. His eyes somehow seemed glazed, almost silvery.
Adam shook his head. "Something wrong you're your eyes? They're glazed as if you have a fever." Mason stared at him without responding. Profoundly shaken Adam drifted off into a dreamless sleep.
INSIDE THE COMPUTER MATRIX, Aari and Marlina stared in disbelief. "He didn't recognize the key."
IN THE LAB
Brennan and Jesse stared at each other, alarmed and worn from the struggle. The lab's monitor was on. In the silence, they heard a voice addressing them.
"You must get Adam to the Memorial Hospital immediately if you hope to save yourselves and him." A dark-haired woman's face was staring at them. "Emma has already made her escape. Time is of the essence."
Jesse checked his com-link and Emma's location on the global tracking device. "She's right. Emma is headed toward the city."
"She is at intersection of Route 89 and Washington street. Given her trajectory and previous destinations, it is believed that she is headed for Michelle's house."
"Eckhart is there," Shalimar sighed standing up, "she'll kill him."
"What?" Jesse asked. "What makes you say that?"
Shalimar frowned and shook her head. "It's Ashlocke. I'm somehow linked to his mind and he's guiding Emma to track him down to kill him."
Brennan addressed the woman in the monitor. "Who are you?" Brennan asked. "Why should we believe you?"
"I am Sanctuary." She replied, her dark eyes fixed on them. Lights began to flicker then shut down. "Follow the light to Double Helix. I will guide him to your destination. At the hospital, there will be instructions as to where to proceed- we will see to it."
"But, him?" Brennan began. Everything went dark, including the monitor. One light shone on Adam's form. Looking around suspiciously, Brennan and Jesse lifted Adam's unconscious form over their shoulders. Shalimar led the way, following the lead of the mysterious woman as one light at a time turned on ahead of them to light the way to the Double Helix.
Stepping out
It was 2am in the morning. Adam worked alone in the lab It was the place where he was most content, working out his thoughts in tune with Sanctuary's mainframe. He still wondered about his mixed feelings about Emma. It had been a few months and somehow he felt tied to her. Did she do something to his mind? No, not Emma, she had too much integrity. Yet there was an inexplicable sense of danger tied in to his feelings for her, as if somehow, life had just become far more complicated than he could put into words. He couldn't put a finger on it, but lately, the expression in Emma's eyes was furtive, secretive, and yes, gloating. She was surely hiding something but what?
Adam felt obsessed with the need to perfect a serum to stabilize the growth of New Mutant powers, something he had failed to do for Gabriel Ashlocke. Why was he so obsessed with this? Adam wondered. Ever since Ashlocke blew himself up in Sanctuary, things just hadn't been the same. Did he somehow contaminate their home? Emma seemed a little off, she was questioning their ideals, and not totally with the group. Shalimar was uneasy at the thought that Ashlocke was still around. Jesse and Brennan reported strange manifestations going on within Sanctuary- little things like objects moving by themselves, the sense that someone was around, the computer acting up. All these things had potential explanations; and what about Michelle Eckhart? The young lady with the awesome potential of Gabriel Ashlocke engineered into her DNA had spent the last few months alone in Genomex guarding her father and caring for him. Who did this to her, Adam wondered. Adam also wondered if Gabriel Ashlocke may have already accessed her mind and turned her into a walking time bomb.
Now Adam felt a tremendous surge of aggressive energy. He stretched and suddenly all his senses became heightened. He could sense the presence of each of the MX team and his hearing, vision and sense of smell suddenly went off scale. Everything was vibrantly alive, too much so. Adam felt strange, exhilarated, and aroused. His dark eyes flashed and he suddenly could see as if into a different spectrum of light. Puzzled, he forced himself to relax and the world returned to normal. Adam wondered what could have brought on that experience. But he could feel Shalimar's presence most closely for some reason as if they shared some link. Adam snorted ruefully to himself. First Emma, now Shalimar. Attack of the raging hormones, he thought. If this keeps up, I'll be no different from Gabriel Ashlocke with his harem. Shaking his head, he headed to the Dojo. He was hot and needed to clear his mind. The best way to do that would be to kick some ass.
Before he reached the Dojo, the computer signaled an incoming message. Adam clenched his fist in a rare fit of impatience. He needed to let out his aggressions. Upon acknowledging that sentiment, Adam paused. He rarely felt like this. This is not like himself. Perhaps the problem was him. The computer beeped again. The transmission message was on the private account, the one that he had at Genomex.
"Adam," the white-haired man on the other side addressed him. "It is imperative that we speak. I've been informed by sources that you've been set up to become a biological time bomb." Adam could see Michelle standing behind her father slightly off to the side.
"Mason, I don't have time for games." Adam replied. "I know you've been under the stress of many changes in your life and that perhaps you are not seeing things clearly. I can adjust that for you."
Mason Eckhart frowned. Ashlocke did get to him. Adam was under the impression that he was a delusional psychotic. Raising an eyebrow, Eckhart added, "No Adam. It is you that is not seeing things clearly. You are under Ashlocke's influence."
"Ashlocke is dead," Adam snapped, ignoring the fact of the appearance of the apparition.
"Listen carefully, Adam." Eckhart said slowly and deliberately. "Sparky told me that your mind has been tampered with." Eckhart paused and stared meaningfully at Adam.
Adam paused. "What do you know of Sparky?" He demanded. Suddenly another rush of energy swept through Adam's body. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He could hear Michelle telling Eckhart,
"Father, he's mutating." He opened his eyes and saw that Michelle had suddenly stepped forward and was studying him with intense, almost hungry interest.
"Adam?" Eckhart's image called.
Adam motioned with his hand and the computer monitor flew backwards and crashed onto the floor. Eckhart frowned as Adam's image suddenly went blank on his screen. He buried his face in his hands and his eyes turned silver as he channeled his mind into the network. "Aari, I need your help to get Adam's attention." Then he straightened. Something felt wrong.
"Michelle, I need to meet someone at the hospital," he said.
His golden-haired daughter stared at him, obviously struggling for control. Finally she said, "Old man, you're not going anywhere."
SANCTUARY ***
Somewhere in the network of Sanctuary's computer, a concerned Aarariah watched Adam run up the stairs to the Dojo. He was preoccupied with controlling the incredible surge of impulses and powers, yet still appeared to be in total denial. His powers seemed to be cascading, now that Ashlocke's infused cells made a harbor in his body's DNA and progressed steadily into his brain. She formed Ashlocke's image and sent it out through the Dojo program.
Adam paused. He did not program the computer to use Ashlocke's image. What was going on? In his moment of hesitation, Ashlocke drop kicked Adam against the wall. Adam instinctively came back with a spiraling twist over the man and pulled him down. Ashlocke's image sprang back. Adam mentally nodded, realizing that this image was set to the highest combat level. He also marveled that his own body's enhanced reactions were comparable to that of Shalimar. Another orgasmic blast of energy filled his body and left it, leaving Adam nearly breathless. A part of his mind was trying to understand what was happening to him, but the onslaught of sensations was powerful, threatening to pull him into a mindless orgy of energy. Ashlocke's image silently aimed a blast of energy at Adam. Adam instinctively pushed back with his hands and blocked the energy blast. Adam stared in consternation. What is going on with him and the computer? Dojo was not programmed to use mutant powers, this was a martial arts program! And he was using mutant powers, indeed, he was immersed in them. Had he been drugged, or was he under Psionic mind control? Suddenly alarmed, Adam glanced about furtively for intruders. The image of Ashlocke suddenly vanished. A woman appeared, beautiful creature. All of Adam's senses went into high arousal at the sight of her. He wanted nothing more than to dominate her and pull her into bed with him. As he started to approach her, he projected a telepathic ray at her head, but it went right through her.
"Adam," a well modulated, female voice called him. "Fight it, Adam. I know you can."
"You know me?" Adam asked, blinking.
The dark-haired woman gazed at him regally. Adam stepped nearer, every sense alert. There was such silence about her. He tentatively extended his hand toward her to touch her. His hand passed through her image.
"You're not part of the holographic program," Adam stated, trying to reason out the disparity as his body continued to flood him with sensations of power, threatening to override his mind. His bodily sensations alarmed him to the point of panic. He felt his mind and reasoning powers caving in to the appetites of his evolving body.
"Who are you?" he asked, shuddering as he fought to control wave after wave of lust.
A hurt expression passed over the woman's face but she answered, "I am Sparky. You must try to remember."
"I'm sure I'd remember you," Adam replied softly, angling himself around the image, trying to touch her again. Another surge of energy filled Adam's body. He screamed.
IN THE MATRIX
"I can't access his mind," Aarariah said with intense concern to her companions.
"Our resident telepaths have been contaminated," Eckhart added in disgust, thinking of Emma and Michelle. Natalia stared at him speculatively. "Michelle has been compromised and is holding me captive."
"You have telepathic capabilities, Mason and you are her father," she answered. "You must get to the hospital with or without her."
The white-haired man shook his head. "My powers work only in the network," he replied. "What about you, Natalia?"
He caught a shadow of sadness that passed quickly in her eyes. "I have to handle Ashlocke, once he is freed and break all the links he has formed between you, Emma and Michelle. You have the strength to wall him off and to operate without his influence, you must do that for Adam."
Eckhart looked at her in surprise. "I am to act as a firewall for Adam?"
Natalia's grey eyes were determined. "So that I can be free to eliminate Ashlocke. If Ashlocke accesses Adam's mind, he will possess him and complete his quest for power. He knows that Adam is ready. We must move quickly."
"And what of Adam?" Eckhart asked. "He is a free agent right now."
"In his current state, he is somewhat predictable. Let us pray that his operatives will succeed in what we were unable to accomplish." Aari said.
IN SANCTUARY
The wave of energy ebbed a little. Thoroughly alarmed, Adam ran back to his lab. Laying in the Med-chair, he closed his eyes and inhaled deeply, focusing his mind on stillness. Suddenly his mind was bombarded with thoughts and voices not his own. The din in his mind was incredible. Opening his eyes, Adam sat up and gazed around wild-eyed. There was no one in this room. Why then, did it sound like conversation in a convention hall? Uneasy, he leapt off the chair and restlessly padded around the lab. His senses felt over amplified again. Surely he had to be on some kind of drug. He felt as if there were people in the room with him as well. Yes, this had to be some kind of drug-induced hallucination. There were clearly no one in the room, yet he sensed presences, could hear voices as if he were in the middle of a crowd.
Adam concentrated on keeping his wits about him and not panicking. Someone was out to get him and he wasn't about to let that happen. Grabbing a syringe, he stabbed it into his arm and drew 2 vials of blood. He was fluctuating between paranoia and feelings of incredible arousal. As he had the blood samples analyzed for drugs and hormone levels, he paced back and forth restlessly trying to remember where he might have been where someone could poison him-unless it was one of his own people! Adam felt his heart race. Sweat poured from him as he fought to control his sudden rage at feelings of betrayal. His hearing suddenly went off scale again and he could sense everyone- Shalimar, Emma, Brennan, and Jesse. Jesse, Shalimar and Brennan were talking about Emma..What! a subdermal governor? Emma was walking in a sweet paradise of quiet beauty-with him- or with someone like himself. How did he know that? Adam stopped in front of a mirror. He blinked and a pair of golden Feral eyes blinked back at him.
"I'm not a New Mutant." Adam stated simply to the image. "This is some kind of drug-induced hallucination, and I intend to find out who drugged me." Pain racked his body as another wave of cascading development of New Mutant Powers overtook him. He stumbled onto the floor and curled into fetal position, trying to weather the pain until he could move and speak again.
Shalimar strolled into the lab. She paused only a moment at the sight of Adam hunched down on the floor hugging himself, eyes tightly shut. The lab was in shambles. She smelled fear and arousal.
"Adam?" her voice rising with concern. Brennan and Jesse were nearby. "Brennan, Jesse-I think Adam is hurt, come to the lab" she said urgently.
The golden haired Feral crouched next to Adam. "Help is on the way, Adam. Adam, look at me." The dark haired man kept his head down, eyes tightly shut, tears streaming down his face. Shalimar touched his shoulders, frustrated that she couldn't help him. A wave of arousal swept over Adam at her touch. Sensing the change in his state, Shalimar backed away cautiously.
"Leave me," Adam rasped. "I don't want to hurt you and if you stay, I won't be able to help myself." He rolled over, panting as waves of pleasure and desire engulfed him.
"NO!" he forced himself to concentrate on the anomaly in the Dojo, and found himself fantasizing about the dark haired woman there. Adam shook his head and moved his thoughts to the formula that he had been trying to finish for the past few months. The overwhelming flood of pleasure suddenly turned into fear.
Brennan and Jesse raced in.
Adam, can you stand? Brennan asked.
Adam shook his head mutely, trying to keep down a scream of panic.
Brennan, Shal, and Jesse lifted their leader carefully onto the Med-chair where Adam remained curled in fetal position on his side.
Where's Em? Jesse asked Shal.
She shrugged, her eyes betraying the sadness in them.
No. no Emma" Adam barked at them
He's so cold, Shalimar exclaimed, touching his forhead. Jesse pulled his jacket off and laid it over Adam.
Help me, Adam gasped, shuddering, his eyes suddenly open, staring sightlessly ahead, hugging himself, trying to keep himself from lashing out explosively with his new Mutant powers..
Brennan, Sahl and Jesse gasped. Adam's eyes were glowing golden, like a Feral. But his expression was vacant, as if he was elsewhere. Suddenly he covered his face and screamed. Too much! He cried. He lashed out aimlessly with his hands and bands of energy flew out and blew holes into the walls. Shalimar firmly put her arms around Adam's shoulders in an effort to comfort and to keep his arms contained but Adam was too strong. He lashed out and Shalimar went flying across the room. She struck the wall with incredible force and collapsed. Brennan and Jesse tried to pin Adam's arms down.
"Adam, it's us. We're trying to help you." Brennan yelled.
"You've got Mutant powers, Adam. You have the ability to control them, just like you taught us," Jesse shouted, as Adam continued to struggle.
"You can hear me, Adam," Jesse continued, as he massed in order to deflect another energy bolt. "You can control it."
Adam grimaced in pain and covered his ears with his hands. He could vaguely hear Jesse and Brennan's voices as if in the middle of a whirlwind. All of his life force felt like it was poured out and expanding. He could hear and feel everything. Thoughts not his own. He could feel the concern from these individuals, feel the hatred nearby as well.
Emma had walked in and was leaning at the doorway. She was smiling as if she was enjoying this immensely. Gently shaking her head, Emma said under her breath, "Now you know what my life has been like, Adam. Enjoy it." Aloud, she said, "I'm concerned that Adam may also have Ashlocke's Psionic abilities. He may be affecting our minds." She started to walk away then spotted Shalimar lying senseless on the floor. Emma gazed at her for a long time.
"C'mon Emma," Brennan called out. "Can't you give Adam one of your Psionic boosters and calm him down?"
Emma turned and stared at the men. Raking her hair back with her right hand, she replied, "With THIS on?" She pulled the hair off the back of her neck to show off the subdermal governor. Adam, this is what my coworkers think of me. You've got to do something about this. They're jealous of me and of you." Emma stood there, waiting for Adam to react. Adam kept his eyes closed. He could hear their thoughts.
"Damned governor...How are we going to stabilize Adam? I'm afraid he'll die...will a subdermal governor work for him like it's working for Emma? ..Damned Ashlocke. If he wasn't residing in Emma, I'd kill him myself..Hahahaha I'll convince Adam to remove the governor and then I can proceed with my plan...Adam, poor Adam. I wish I could help him. ..Poor bastard, all those powers multiplying and evolving like Ashlocke did in the end..is this the end?.....oh, god, what if Adam can't control the cascade of powers-but he's Adam, he has the mind to control it all..
Emma stared angrily at the group then looked down at Shalimar again. "Here, let me help you to your room," she said gently.
"No," Brennan said. Emma stopped and looked at him.
"I'm fine now, Brennan. I think the sub-dermal governor drove Ashlocke out of my mind. At least let me be of some help, even if you don't trust me." Emma cajoled.
"What if she's right about Adam. What if Adam did something to our minds?" Jesse wondered.
Brennan countered. "Maybe Emma has something to do with Adam's condition. They've been working together an awful lot lately."
Adam suddenly roared and threw Brennen off with motion of his arm.
"Sorry, Adam." Jesse said. He massed his right arm and struck Adam's head. Adam fell into a deep sleep even as his body continued to twitch and convulse on the table.-----------------------------
** BREAK **
Adam dreamed. He walked into the nearby electronics store, looking for a high capacity memory chip. The darkly tanned, blond fellow with the closely cropped hair behind the counter seemed familiar, but the three beautiful women who were gathered around him discussing computer networks obstructed his view. The four were intently studying and discussing a spec sheet. Adam waited patiently. Adam was tempted to add his opinion to the mix, but refrained. Still arguing over which components to use, the women moved aside for Adam. The woman with light brown hair tinted with gold looked at the counter guy and touched his hand gently as she moved on. The man's face lit up as he stared after her. He then looked up at Adam and smiled at the look of astonishment on Adam's face.
"Mason! What are you doing here?"
"It's a job, Adam." Mason Eckhart answered carelessly, stealing a glance at the gold-streaked raven-haired woman.
"But you look so different!" Adam exclaimed, eyeing the healthy looking tan on his old adversary.
"It's amazing what a new hairstyle can do. Did you know that exo-skin can be manufactured in different shades now? I decided to try a more, you know, approachable skin tone." Eckhart replied straight faced.
Adam nodded approvingly. "It becomes you. You lost the glasses too."
"Can I help you?" Mason interrupted.
Adam shook his head still in disbelief. "I can't believe you're working in this type of environment."
"Oh, I own the store," Mason explained. "What I own, I operate. The benefits are unique here. Now, as I have other customers waiting, what can I do for you Adam?" Eckhart asked more pointedly, studying him with that age-old infuriating superior gaze of his. One of the other women, the green-eyed woman with hair like onyx watched Adam intently, almost longingly.
"Yeah. I just wanted to purchase this." Adam tossed a small cardboard package onto the counter.
Mason stared at him gravely. Without taking his eyes away, he said, "That will be 18.239GigaHerz."
Adam started as if he had been slapped in the face. "But, I can't pay that kind of currency, Mason," he protested. Mason raised an eyebrow.
"Why don't you ask SPARKY for a loan, Adam." Mason suggested. His eyes somehow seemed glazed, almost silvery.
Adam shook his head. "Something wrong you're your eyes? They're glazed as if you have a fever." Mason stared at him without responding. Profoundly shaken Adam drifted off into a dreamless sleep.
INSIDE THE COMPUTER MATRIX, Aari and Marlina stared in disbelief. "He didn't recognize the key."
IN THE LAB
Brennan and Jesse stared at each other, alarmed and worn from the struggle. The lab's monitor was on. In the silence, they heard a voice addressing them.
"You must get Adam to the Memorial Hospital immediately if you hope to save yourselves and him." A dark-haired woman's face was staring at them. "Emma has already made her escape. Time is of the essence."
Jesse checked his com-link and Emma's location on the global tracking device. "She's right. Emma is headed toward the city."
"She is at intersection of Route 89 and Washington street. Given her trajectory and previous destinations, it is believed that she is headed for Michelle's house."
"Eckhart is there," Shalimar sighed standing up, "she'll kill him."
"What?" Jesse asked. "What makes you say that?"
Shalimar frowned and shook her head. "It's Ashlocke. I'm somehow linked to his mind and he's guiding Emma to track him down to kill him."
Brennan addressed the woman in the monitor. "Who are you?" Brennan asked. "Why should we believe you?"
"I am Sanctuary." She replied, her dark eyes fixed on them. Lights began to flicker then shut down. "Follow the light to Double Helix. I will guide him to your destination. At the hospital, there will be instructions as to where to proceed- we will see to it."
"But, him?" Brennan began. Everything went dark, including the monitor. One light shone on Adam's form. Looking around suspiciously, Brennan and Jesse lifted Adam's unconscious form over their shoulders. Shalimar led the way, following the lead of the mysterious woman as one light at a time turned on ahead of them to light the way to the Double Helix.
