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-9

Bran Toryn is completely surprised when his doorbell rang. To start with the front gates were closed and the alarms were on. The alarm system he had installed was suppose to the best, so how did this person end up on his steps ringing his doorbell? He looks out the door window to see a tall man standing there dressed in black, the man is looking away when Bran first looks out then he turns toward the door and then Bran is really surprised.

Bran jerks the door open, "Adam? Is it really you?"

"Yes, Dr. Toryn it's me."

"What are you doing here? Please come in." Bran stepped aside to let Adam in.

"A moment Dr. Toryn." He turns back toward the edge of the house and extends his arm. A body moves out of the dark toward Him. As the person takes Adam's hand Bran recognizes the person.

"Eve, you too? I don't understand?"

Adam enters with Eve and turns back to Bran, "Dr. Toryn, Eve and I have broken out of Interlard Biotech."

"Well, I can see that." He waves an arm toward his kitchen table, "The questions young man are why and why come see me? Can I get you something to drink?"

Adam and Eve sit at the table, "No thank you Dr. Toryn. The reason we broke out is that three days ago I overheard Mr. Ryszard tell Dr. Sheppard to terminate Eve."

"He what?"

"He told Dr. Sheppard to terminate Eve."

"Was he going to do it?"

"We were not about to stay and see."

"Yes, of course I quite understand that. Now, why have you come to see me?"

"You are the closest thing we have to a friend in the outside world and there is this." He extends a hand holding the DVD disk in it to Bran.

Bran takes the disk, "What is this?"

"It is all the information in the central computer data base on the hybrid project."

"How did you get this?"

"That is unimportant. Eve and I would like you to look at the information to see if we have any family in the outside world."

"Adam, Eve, you both know that there is no chance of that, your fathers."

"Dr. Toryn, we know about our fathers, Mr. Ryszard told us at every opportunity. We want to know about our mothers."

"Yes, your mothers. That is a possibility." He stood up and started out of the room, "Let's go see what we can find out."

* * * * * *

Sam sits across a table from Brian. The conference room door opens and in walks the man they are waiting on. Stefano looks at them as he takes his seat. "I assume you introduced yourselves?"

Brain smiles a tight smile at this brother, "You should never assume anything."

"Well in that case. Samuel Franklin, Brian McCall. Brian, Sam. Now, I sent you both copies of each of your abilities and brief backgrounds. So, do you two think you will be able to work together?"

"Well the only sticking point I see is about who is going to lead the team." Brian looks at his brother.

"I figured you would be the field leader Brian."

"Well, I think you should refigure. This guy is an experienced fighter pilot, was a marine officer, went to the navel academy and was an astronaut. Me, I'm a third rate fireman with two years experience. How can you even think I should lead this or any team over Sam?"

Sam leans back in his chair and smiles easily for the first time he was thinking that this was going to work out and that Brian definitely needed to be the team field leader. He just demonstrated the first requirement of leadership, putting the team first.

* * * * * *

"This is very interesting."

Adam moves to look over Bran's shoulder at the computer screen, "What did you find?"

"That back in the seventy's the NSA began to catalog individual's DNA."

"Does it say why?"

"Oh yeah. They were looking for people with the active x-gene."

"X-gene?"

"The x-gene is what causes mutants with super powers."

"Does that have anything to do with Eve or me?"

"With Eve, yes; with you, no. Eve?"

"Yes Dr. Toryn."

"Your mother was a Mary McCall and she had the active x-gene. That is probability where your ability to teleport came from."

"You said was my mother."

"Yes. I'm afraid that your mother is dead. She was killed shortly after she gave birth to you."

"Was it my birth that killed her?"

"No, Eve I'm Sorry to say that it looks as if it was the NSA that killed her. They made it look like a car accident."

Adam voice is hard, "They killed her?"

"Yes, that is what it looks like, I imagine it was to make sure she didn't pass on the x-gene to another child. Oh, I have found out one more thing. Eve you have an older brother."

"A brother! I have a brother."

"Yes a Brian McCall. It appears that the NSA has been keeping tabs on him as well. According to this report Brian McCall is a fireman and is running an apartment house for his half brother Stefano Phelan."

"I have two brothers?"

"No dear, this Stefano Phelan is Brian's half brother but no relation to you. He and Brian have the same father but different mothers, while you and Brian have the same mother but different fathers. But, there is a home address for Brian McCall."

"Anything on me Dr. Toryn?"

Yes, Adam quite a lot. It appears that the NSA has been keeping tabs on your mother for a very long time, in fact from her birth."

"Why?"

"It seems that your mother is a direct descendant from the ancient druids of old England. They were suppose to be masters of the mystic arts."

Adam straightens up and smiles "Where is she?"

"I don't know, shortly after your birth the NSA lost track of her. It appears that it was a big deal, several high up key agents in the NSA lost their jobs and some their lives when she went missing. Her name was Michele Gulann. Well, children that makes you Adam Gulann and Eve McCall."

"Dr. Toryn, thank you for your help, but we can not stay here. Ryszard knows that you are the only person on the outside that we know. He will show up here sooner or later."

"You're right." Bran pulls the disk from his computer and hands it back to Adam, "Go to see Brian McCall he may help you."

"Why would you think so?"

"NSA surveillance shows he spent three years at Charles Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters. I know Xavier he is the world's leading expert on mutants. If Brian spent three years there with Xavier then there is a very good chance he will help you."

* * * * * *

Adam and Eve enter the apartment building Saturday afternoon. They had been missing from Interlard Biotech for ten days now. They look for NSA agents everywhere. Adam enters with his head bare and his duster carried over his arm, Eve keeps her head covered with the cloak's hood. Though her looks did not bother Adam they knew they would shock regular people seeing her for the first time.

Adam forces the locked front door, he walks over to the lobby guard and asks for Brian McCall. He is told that Brian lives on the tenth floor, when asked which room the guard laughs and said he lives on the whole floor they then walk quickly to the elevator.

The elevator's door opens as they get to it and three girls walk out of it. Adam tries to hide Eve with his body. They rush into the elevator after the girls leave it. They both feel relief when the doors close.

Becca, Flo, and Janna are on their way to the movies when they pass the two strangers waiting on the elevator. Becca glances back and catches sight of the girl or she thinks she is a girl until she sees her. She is very pale and her head is huge and bald.

Becca waves at the lobby guard, "Hey Henry."

"Hey Becca, where are you guys headed?"

"The movies."

"Not taking Brian along."

"No he's been seeing a lot of his Brother lately, he did promise to make it up to me though."

"You mean Brian's not home?"

"No, why?"

"Those two people that just got on the elevator. They're on their way up to see Brian. Since they got in on their own, I figured Brian gave them a key and we were fixing to get some new tenants."

"Hmmm, thanks Henry. Flo Janna wait." They are at the front door opening it.

"What's up girl friend?" Flo asked as she walks back toward Becca. Janna starts to follow but then she notices the door has been forced open.

"You saw those two people that got on the elevator?"

"I'll say, weirdoes if you ask me."

"I got a look at the girl or I think she is a girl. She looked strange, anyway they're on their way up to see Brian."

Janna reaches Flo and Becca, "Hey Henry the front door's been forced open."

"What?" The older man goes to the door and looks at it, "Well, I be a monkey's uncle. I better call the police."

"Wait Henry," Becca stops him, " just get the door fixed okay, I'll square it with Brian."

"Becca you think those two are after Brian?" Janna asks.

"I don't know, but we're not taking any chances. Flo I want you to beat them up stairs and delay them till Janna and I can get there. Then we're going to find out what they want and if they want to hurt Brian." She held up a hand and electrical sparks jumped between her fingers.