Phelan's Grunts

Rating: PG-13

Disclaimer: I do not own the Marvel Universe or any characters that originated there, I just own the Grunts

Notes: Same as in chapter 1

The Team Forms - chapter-7

Stuart Ryszard sat quietly at the large conference table while people talked around him. Of the ten people at the table only he was not a doctor, scientists, or researcher of some kind. His job was to make sure these people never forgot what they were here for and that was to learn as much as they could about the two alien types so they would be ready if they ever came back as an invasion force. So, he didn't care what they said or how they tried to do things. Things would be done his way no matter what.

He looked over at Allan Sheppard. Sheppard was becoming more and more like Bran Toryn had been, caring more for the welfare of the test subjects that for what they were being used for. Well he had gotten rid of Toryn, now if necessary he would just get rid of Sheppard.

"Dr. Sheppard." All heads turned toward Ryszard, "this new cloning you've been talking about for several weeks now. Will it eliminate the human part of the creatures we create?"

"Yes, for the most part. You must still realize that the subjects will still be grown from human tissue. So, there is no way to completely eliminate the human factor, but it will be greatly reduced."

"And how long will it be till I have a viable test subject?"

"Well, judging from our hybrid subjects the alien growth rate appears to be about the same as humans."

"You mean if one was born today I'll have to wait an additional ten to fifteen years before we can reasonably have a test subject?"

"That is correct."

"Is there any way to speed up the process?"

"Not that I am aware of. This is not a horror movie were they grow creatures in less that an hour Mr. Ryszard."

"I am fully aware of what we are doing here doctor, I'm beginning to wonder if you do? Have you thought about what we discussed yesterday?"

"You weren't serious."

"Of course I was serious."

"You want me to terminate Eve?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

"Because she is of no more use to us."

"She's a human being."

"Only half Doctor. The other half is why we're here."

"But what about her ability to teleport?"

"What good is she to us. She can only teleport to a place she can physically see, that is of little use to us. Can we learn any more from her physically?"

"No she is more human than alien, we will learn more from the others."

"Very well, then I want her terminated at once. You can do it a nice way or I'll get someone to do it the hard way."

Unknown to Ryszard or anyone else standing in the back of the room in his astral form is Adam. He has been attending these weekly meetings ever since he found out about them over a year ago. It helped keep him up what was going on at the lab. Now, as he moved quickly away he was glad he did attend them even though they were usually very boring.

He moved into Eve's room to find her sitting on her bed listening to music "Eve!"

"Adam! You scared me."

"Sorry love, but you must listen to me, it's very important."

"Okay, what's the matter?"

"I don't have time to tell you everything right now. I want to you to get dressed in you combat clothes."

"Adam, you know I hate those clothes."

"Eve, listen!"

"Okay, okay. You don't have to yell."

"Get dressed in your combat clothes, I'll be coming for you in a few minutes, you must be ready to go."

"Go? You mean leave the lab; I thought that was months away. I'm not sure I'm ready to face the outside."

"We don't have a choice. We're going now. Take nothing with you, just the clothes you'll be wearing."

"Then why those horrible combat clothes?"

"Eve. They are not just going to let us leave. We are going to have to fight our way out and you will need their protection. I had planned to do this night when there would be fewer guards, but now we don't have a choice. Get dressed, Ill be back in a few minutes."

She watched him slip down through the floor, "Adam. Wait. I don't understand what's going on." But he was gone without answering. She waited a second then moved to the lone dresser in her room. She pulled out the heavy weight black military style clothes, then pulled the black boots out from under her bed, and began to dress as fast as she could. She had never heard Adam talk the way he just did. He was usually so calm, something must be very wrong.

* * * * * *

Adam dropped into his body and rose. He wished he had time to contact Doctor Strange, but he had to protect Eve. How could they even think about killing her? He was already in his combat clothes though he had others he never knew when Ryszard might pull one of his surprise attacks, so he basically lived in his combat gear. He goes to his bed and reaches under the mattress and pulls out a black western style duster and a long black cloak with a hood that Doctor Toryn had brought him. With Doctor Strange's help he had imbued the duster and cloak with mystic energy. He pulls the duster on and fastens it at the collar. The mystic energy of the duster and cloak would protect his and Eve's bodies.

He reaches under the duster as if reaching into a pocket, when in reality he is reaching into the mystic energy of the duster and pulls out a black bandanna. He ties it around his neck then pulls it up over his nose. The mystic energy in the bandanna will protect him from any chemical weapons they might use against him. He then pulls out black gloves to protect his hands and black glasses to protect his eyes.

He turns and faces the locked door of his room. He reaches under the duster and pulls out what appeared to be a gold colored gun. When he and Doctor Strange had been training Adam found it easier to manifest the mystical energies into weapons he was familiar with. They never could figure out why the objects he created, the swords, the guns, and other weapons were gold colored He points it at the room surveillance camera and fires a bolt of energy at the camera smashing it to bits. Well the die is cast there's no turning back. He let the gun fade out and reaches in pulling out a samurai sword. He jams it into the door above the doorknob then using his great strength he runs it around the knob. Then with a kick the door flies open as an alarm sounded.

With Eve's cloak draped over his shoulder he races out into the chaos his escape is causing. He lets the sword fade and reaches under the duster with both hands, out comes each with a gun. Two guards round the corner ahead of him they slide to a halt when they see him. Adam can see the surprise on their faces and their eyes widen as he fires. The guns fire bolts of mystic energy that Adam can control; he can control their speed and density. The bolts hit the guards' heads with the force of a right cross from a heavyweight boxer. They both go down and are out. Adam runs by them without so much as a glance he can't afford to think about anything but getting to Eve.

* * * * * *

Eve is worried and getting more so by the minute. The alarm had been sounding for ten minutes she can barely make herself stay in her room. It would have been so much easier for her to go to Adam, except that she didn't know were his room was. A noise has her turning toward her door. Suddenly what looks like a gold knife blade pops through the door, it circles the knob and then the door crashes open. Standing in the door way is a man dressed in black wearing a mask. Eve is about to teleport to another place in the building when a familiar voice stops her.

"Eve."

"Adam, is that you?"

The man enters the room and pulls down his mask.

"Adam!" Eve yells and rushes forward to jump into his arms. In all the years they have known each other this was the first time they had ever physically touched. It felt wonderful to feel his strong arms around her. She pulls back and looks at him "What's with the mask?"

"I have one for you too. They will protect us from any chemical weapons, like tear gas and knockout gas. I have this cloak for you, gloves and glasses to protect you too."

Eve steps back, suddenly mad "Protect me or hide me?"

"What are you talking about?" He looks back at the door; they really didn't have time for this.

"I know how I look. With my gross head and eyes."

Adam steps forward now he is mad. He grabs her by the shoulders and shakes her. "First, I love you. You don't have anything wrong as far as I am concern. I can't do anything about how other small-minded people see you. Second, all I care about is keeping you safe, so you will put on this cloak, these gloves and glasses so we can get the hell out of here. And third we really do not have time for this."

Eve grabs the cloak and swirls it around her shoulders "Okay but we will talk again."

"Yes, love we will. Now, its time to go." Adam moves to the door and quick look around the door jam shows a hall full of armed guards. "Damn this is going to get messy."

"What?"

He looks back at Eve and smiles, she has the gloves, bandanna and glasses on. "You look great."

"Flatter."

"We have got to get down to the third level."

"Down? I thought we were leaving?"

"We are, but I'm going to raid their computer database first. I want all the information they have on us. Okay you ready?"

"Wait."

"Honey we have very little time."

"I can port us there."

"How, you can only port to places you can see."

"Only to new places I can see."

"I don't understand."

"I can port to anyplace I've been to before no matter what the distance and Dr. Sheppard took me to a third level lab before."

"How come nobody knows about you being about to port to anyplace you've been before?"

"Well, you told me yourself to hold things back and not let everybody everything I can do, especially not Ryszard."

"Then let's go."

"Okay, get ready because every time I've ported with someone it left them sick and disoriented."

"I'll take the chance."

"Okay" She grabs Adam by the hand and closes her eyes.

"What are you doing?"

"With my mind I can look at anyplace I've ever been, its like a safety factor to make sure I don't port into a solid object that may have been moved to where I'm about to port to. It's clear, here we go."

BLINK