Well, this is it. The end. I hope you've all enjoyed reading this story. I enjoyed writing it but don't expect a sequel anytime soon.
Thanks for all the reviews. They have been greatly appreciated and if you would just take the time to review this chapter...it is the last one...
Have a nice day.
***
Jesse shook his head trying to get rid of the fuzz that surrounded his brain. He had no idea how hard he had hit the ground but as he looked around any thoughts he had previously had of his pain disappeared from his mind. He looked straight ahead of him at the burning carnage that littered the ground. He could just make out the shell of the warehouse, the only things left standing were the jousts that held the walls up, but they were burning like beacons and looked ready to collapse.
He looked at the remaining people. Brennan was holding Shalimar in his arms, the blow had proved to be too much for her. Adam was staring on in shock with Emma standing at his side, silent tears streaming down her face. Maia and Alex were standing off to one side, holding a silent reverie for their lost friend, both pale as ghosts, wide eyes staring at nothing in particular.
The building, what was left of it continued to burn quietly, small flames licking at the ground surrounding the site. Shalimar stirred in Brennan's arms and she opened her eyes slowly, allowing them to adjust to the bright light of day. She looked around at the wreck of a warehouse. She looked across at the people surrounding her and saw all of them except one. The corners of her mouth lifted slightly as a mixture of pride and relief filled her. Mac had done what Shalimar had always been so afraid to do; she had given up her life in the search for vengeance, for justice. And as ashamed as Shalimar was that she was feeling relief in the wake of Mac's death she couldn't push it down deep inside of her. Gabriel was dead, she had nothing more to worry about as far as that was concerned. She leant her head into Brennan's shoulder and breathed a deep sigh as she drifted off once more into the world of the unconscious.
***
Maia pulled her mum closer and buried her head deep into her shoulder. It felt so good to be getting back to the normal everyday things. Her and Alex were going home, back to their families, not quite back to their normal lives but that was normal for her. Atleast she could properly get into the grieving process. She missed her friend. She knew it would get improve, eventually one day would be better than the one that preceded it.
Brennan and Shalimar watched on from the cockpit of the Helix. Some part of them wanted that. They had both been deprived of proper families. Shalimar had gotten an abusive father who had placed her in a mental institution because he though that would help cure her and Brennan had lived on the streets so long he didn't even remember his family. And some part of them would always want that; a mum and dad that cared about them no matter what their genetic make-up was, parents that would love unconditionally.
'Don't you wish you had that?' Brennan asked quietly.
'I do,' Shalimar replied smiling. 'I got my dad and my brother and my sister,' she said motioning at the three members of Mutant X.
'And where do I fit in?' Brennan asked after a moments pause.
Shalimar turned the chair to face him. 'Take a wild guess,' she said, a mischievous grin spreading across her face.
'As fun as guessing would be right now, I think we should probably go say bye to Maia and Alex.'
They walked out of the Helix into the sunshine and walked the short distance between the ship and the group of people.
'Are they in any danger now?' asked Alex's father, looking at Adam.
'They shouldn't be. Chances are that the Strand will fall apart without Gabriel to lead it. If you still don't feel secure I can relocate all of you.'
'We just thought that maybe there had been enough upheaval over the past few days. And atleast you guys are in new schools.' Emma finished.
The two sets of families looked reassured and Maia and Alex separated from them to say goodbye to their extended family.
'Thank you for looking out for us,' Maia said. She was sad to be leaving Mutant X, they had been the one group of people she knew would understand what she was going through. And now they were going to be in different continents and she would probably never see any of them again. Alex was gonna miss them but also the excitement. He got a certain rush from fighting and giving in to his feral desires. But after all the heartache that both he and Maia had received he wasn't gonna miss any of it that much.
'If you ever need any of us, we are only at the other end of a computer,' Jesse encouraged them.
Hugs and smiles were passed around and then they were gone. The team looked at each other and as one began the walk back to the Helix. The door closed behind them and within seconds they also were gone.
She watched from the safety of a roof across the street, her cheeks wet with the few tears she had allowed herself to shed. She wasn't sad to be leaving her old life behind. It was exactly what she needed to do. She would start again, make new friends, achieve new things, dream new dreams.
She turned around and looked into the distance, wondering if that would finally make her happy. She thought it would. She had gained her closure, now all that was left was for her to move on. One day she would come back.
'But not today,' Mac whispered to herself before taking a step off the building to the floor below. And with a smile she walked on into her new world.
Thanks for all the reviews. They have been greatly appreciated and if you would just take the time to review this chapter...it is the last one...
Have a nice day.
***
Jesse shook his head trying to get rid of the fuzz that surrounded his brain. He had no idea how hard he had hit the ground but as he looked around any thoughts he had previously had of his pain disappeared from his mind. He looked straight ahead of him at the burning carnage that littered the ground. He could just make out the shell of the warehouse, the only things left standing were the jousts that held the walls up, but they were burning like beacons and looked ready to collapse.
He looked at the remaining people. Brennan was holding Shalimar in his arms, the blow had proved to be too much for her. Adam was staring on in shock with Emma standing at his side, silent tears streaming down her face. Maia and Alex were standing off to one side, holding a silent reverie for their lost friend, both pale as ghosts, wide eyes staring at nothing in particular.
The building, what was left of it continued to burn quietly, small flames licking at the ground surrounding the site. Shalimar stirred in Brennan's arms and she opened her eyes slowly, allowing them to adjust to the bright light of day. She looked around at the wreck of a warehouse. She looked across at the people surrounding her and saw all of them except one. The corners of her mouth lifted slightly as a mixture of pride and relief filled her. Mac had done what Shalimar had always been so afraid to do; she had given up her life in the search for vengeance, for justice. And as ashamed as Shalimar was that she was feeling relief in the wake of Mac's death she couldn't push it down deep inside of her. Gabriel was dead, she had nothing more to worry about as far as that was concerned. She leant her head into Brennan's shoulder and breathed a deep sigh as she drifted off once more into the world of the unconscious.
***
Maia pulled her mum closer and buried her head deep into her shoulder. It felt so good to be getting back to the normal everyday things. Her and Alex were going home, back to their families, not quite back to their normal lives but that was normal for her. Atleast she could properly get into the grieving process. She missed her friend. She knew it would get improve, eventually one day would be better than the one that preceded it.
Brennan and Shalimar watched on from the cockpit of the Helix. Some part of them wanted that. They had both been deprived of proper families. Shalimar had gotten an abusive father who had placed her in a mental institution because he though that would help cure her and Brennan had lived on the streets so long he didn't even remember his family. And some part of them would always want that; a mum and dad that cared about them no matter what their genetic make-up was, parents that would love unconditionally.
'Don't you wish you had that?' Brennan asked quietly.
'I do,' Shalimar replied smiling. 'I got my dad and my brother and my sister,' she said motioning at the three members of Mutant X.
'And where do I fit in?' Brennan asked after a moments pause.
Shalimar turned the chair to face him. 'Take a wild guess,' she said, a mischievous grin spreading across her face.
'As fun as guessing would be right now, I think we should probably go say bye to Maia and Alex.'
They walked out of the Helix into the sunshine and walked the short distance between the ship and the group of people.
'Are they in any danger now?' asked Alex's father, looking at Adam.
'They shouldn't be. Chances are that the Strand will fall apart without Gabriel to lead it. If you still don't feel secure I can relocate all of you.'
'We just thought that maybe there had been enough upheaval over the past few days. And atleast you guys are in new schools.' Emma finished.
The two sets of families looked reassured and Maia and Alex separated from them to say goodbye to their extended family.
'Thank you for looking out for us,' Maia said. She was sad to be leaving Mutant X, they had been the one group of people she knew would understand what she was going through. And now they were going to be in different continents and she would probably never see any of them again. Alex was gonna miss them but also the excitement. He got a certain rush from fighting and giving in to his feral desires. But after all the heartache that both he and Maia had received he wasn't gonna miss any of it that much.
'If you ever need any of us, we are only at the other end of a computer,' Jesse encouraged them.
Hugs and smiles were passed around and then they were gone. The team looked at each other and as one began the walk back to the Helix. The door closed behind them and within seconds they also were gone.
She watched from the safety of a roof across the street, her cheeks wet with the few tears she had allowed herself to shed. She wasn't sad to be leaving her old life behind. It was exactly what she needed to do. She would start again, make new friends, achieve new things, dream new dreams.
She turned around and looked into the distance, wondering if that would finally make her happy. She thought it would. She had gained her closure, now all that was left was for her to move on. One day she would come back.
'But not today,' Mac whispered to herself before taking a step off the building to the floor below. And with a smile she walked on into her new world.
