The Serum

Part 12

AN: I quick continuation because I think otherwise goldstranger will have a heart attack, not that this chapter is really going to help... Forgive me any attacks on your character, mate, but she has to take as good as any of the others!

Eliza had no time to react as she was dragged into the apartment by her shirt collar and thrown to the floor. Nikki looked about ready to pounce on her and tear her apart, but she stopped.

"You know, this is annoying." She observed, standing with her hands on her hips in the doorway and looking down on Eliza where she lay on the floor. "I always wanted to have a chance to really fight it out with you. Adam always stopped us really going far enough to find out which of us was better, we were too well matched. I wanted a chance to try and kill you. This," She waved her arms around to take into account Eliza, Jesse and the rest of the world. "Is just not satisfying." Nikki began pacing and Eliza took the opportunity to meet Jaylynn's gaze from the doorway. She managed to get the message across to check on Jesse as soon as she was able and turned her attention back to Nikki. She had stopped pacing and was stood staring at a point on the far wall. "You know what. I've made a decision. I'll give you a twenty-minute start. Run." Watching calmly as Nikki wandered into the kitchen and stuck Eliza's music on high volume, Eliza made her way over to where Jesse was sat on the sofa, glad to see that Jaylynn joined her almost immediately.

"Who is she?" She asked in a soft whisper as she reached her side. Eliza relaxed a little as she found Jesse's pulse, frowning at the blood that muddied his scalp.

"An old friend." She replied wryly.

"Is she feral? Like June?"

"Yes she is feral, and by the looks of it I'd say she's like June too." She sighed and scrubbed at her face.

"I don't hear much running. I do hate to be disappointed." Nikki called through from the kitchen.

"Not all ferals are like this, you know." Eliza enforced. "I'd hate for you to stereotype us."

"Us?" Eliza jumped as Jesse opened his eyes groggily to look up at her.

"Jesse! Are you OK?"

"Where's Nikki?"

"She's in the kitchen."

"Shal, you have to run, she's not sane!"

"Yeah, Jesse, I know. We have another couple of minutes. Can you contact Adam? I could really do with some backup about now, and Jaylynn, the phone is in that room if you can get hold of Granger; we could do with some firepower too. Warn them about what they're coming to face. Both of you keep out of the way. I need your backup, I don't want to have to protect you."

"What are you going to do?" Asked Jesse, activating his comm. ring.

"I'm going to see how feral I am." Eliza answered with a grin. Moving to the centre of the room she faced the kitchen door. As the music suddenly went quiet she watched as Jaylynn helped a staggering Jesse move into the adjoining room and turned back to see Nikki prowling out of the room.

"Oh, how disappointing. I was hoping for a hunt." She mused as she looked Eliza up and down sneeringly. "Never mind, I will skip to the kill for you Shalimar." Nikki circled slowly and Eliza remained still, tracking her with her other senses so that she didn't have to twist to keep her in view. Nikki launched herself as Eliza's back was turned, but Eliza had predicted the attack, leaping into a kick to Nikki's head that caused her to take a couple of steps back. Perhaps it hadn't been feral quality, but it had done the job. Nikki roared her anger to the room. "Maybe this will be more interesting than I had anticipated." She grinned, wiping at her bloody nose and beginning her circling again. Eliza found herself suddenly on the defensive, blow after blow throwing her further and further back. She blocked as many hits as she could, hoping to draw the fight out long enough to wait for the cavalry to arrive.

"Come on guys, hurry." Jaylynn told the air, willing the team to jump through the door firing as she saw Eliza edged closer and closer to the big glass sliding door that lead onto her balcony. Jesse jumped up, running to catch them in time as Nikki launched herself at Eliza, throwing her through the glass and onto the balcony behind it. One solid blow sent Eliza flying over the edge, seeming to float for a minute, face full of surprise before plummeting down.

"NO!" Jesse cried, looking set to jump after her, but Nikki pulled him back.

"No, Jesse. You're set for a very different ending." Nikki grinned, dragging him back indoors. "Hey, you. The one in the other room. Come out, now." Seeing no other choice, Jaylynn headed back out into the main room, her heart heavy as she mourned her friend and hoping she would be the only loss this night.