18th and 19th Sept 2003

Phalanx

Set the day after "Freak Nation"

Ames' thoughts on the Jam Pony fiasco. And how he got out of his bind.

Chapter 5

Clemente and his men enter Jam Pony, guns drawn. They see the remaining people sitting on a bench, waiting. "Anyone hurt?" Clemente asked

"No, we're okay. But you better go look upstairs." He was told.

Upstairs, Clemente and his men find Ames and the Phalanx.

"Special Agent in Charge White." Clemente laughingly said.

Ames tries to yell at Clemente, but his words are muffled and unintelligible, thanks to the tape. Get me out of here you moron and quit laughing at me!

Clemente pretends to understand him. "What? The transgenics taped you up and took your uniform?" Clemente asked intent on winding Ames up.

Ames tries to say something. I'm going to kill you too!

"No way." Clemente said.

Ames tries to say something. If you don't get me outta here by the count ......

"And you want me to go after them? That's a good idea." To his men "Let's go." Clemente says interrupting Ames unintelligible rant.

Ames keeps trying to yell at Clemente as he walks away. Get back here you bastard and unbind me! I promise I won't hurt you! Your death will be painless! Get back here! Get me......

Almost five minutes passed before Otto entered the room. He glanced at the scene, taking in the heavily bound and seething forms of his boss and the outside agents he had called in. Those facing him were glaring death! Another one of Ames' team enters.

Ames glared at them. Not bothering to try and speak verbally, he let his eyes communicate for him.

Otto and the other agent, Dobbs, rushed over, to their boss, sharp, odd looking, knives in their hands. Otto started working on the tape bound around Ames' lower face. Dobbs worked on freeing Ames' right arm.

"It's designed for opening packages" Otto hastily explained to his furious boss, as he carefully cut away the tape that bound Ames' mouth.

"Strip!" Ames ordered the second, the tape was removed!

"Sir?" Otto replied in an incredibly startled voice.

"Strip!" Ames repeated even more forcefully, as he continued to glare at his second, in between looking down at what the other agent was laboriously hacking at with his knife. "I need clothes!" He was exceptionally peeved at having to state the obvious to his idiot second. Should have killed the idiot in the alley! Could have blamed the freaks! Ames thought, disgusted at himself for his earlier leniency.

The Phalanx, were complaining bitterly through their gags. Ames and Otto completely ignored their enraged mumbles! Dobbs glanced at them, but quickly returned to his task. He manged to free Ames' arm.

Ames' grabbed the man's knife and started to furiously cut at his remaining bonds. Idiot's to slow! To worried about cutting, stabbing me!

"Sir..." Otto began hesitantly. As he automatically, unthinkingly, handed Dobbs his knife.

Dobbs greatfully took it and started to work on the tape binding those on the other side of the column, to be away from the boss' wrath!

"What!" Ames snapped. Shifting his enraged stare, from his task, to glare at the human. He had almost freed himself from the tape, though his skin was unpleasantly covered in incredibly sticky gum.

"Uh... the clothes.. y..your uh..." Otto stuttered. Trying hopelessly to phrase, diplomatically, the difference in height, without being yelled at, or stabbed. He'd never seen his boss this angry! The man was usually irritable, but controlled! Sure he'd berate you with deadly sarcasm and glare at you. But nothing like what he was now witnessing! This new side to his boss was downright frightening! He was acting mentally unbalanced.

"Spit it out!" Ames yelled, past caring about hiding his emotions. Not caring about anything, but making 452 and her friends pay for this new indignity!

Otto moved back a few paces, then gathering his courage. "The height difference Sir". He said finally, and tensed expecting a blow, as Ames stood up after having removed the final piece of tape!

"Immaterial" Ames replied, having caught Otto's subliminal gesture of tensing for a perceived attack. This made Ames feel more benevolently inclined towards the man. My height doesn't bother me, hell 5'9" isn't short! That's what he was worried about? Humans! "I'll tape the legs and arms up. They'll fit fine" Ames, having pretty much regained his mental equilibrium now he was free, assured him. "Now strip!" Ames gave his knife to Anna who was half free from his release.

Otto hurriedly obeyed and was quickly left in his underwear. Ames quickly donned the shirt and suit, deftly taping them to make a better fit. Anna, was now free and working on freeing Thula. Dobbs had freed John, who was still unconscious, from his fight with the lizard, and was working on Ruben's bonds.

"I'll follow 452. She'll most likely head for Terminal city!" Ames said retrieving his shoes from where the lizard man had thrown them, after he had destroyed Ames shirt and suit. His socks were not in the vicinity and he couldn't waste time hunting for them so he put on Otto's relinquished pair, then slipped on his own shoes. The government better pay for those clothes, they were expensive! He thought sourly glancing at the shredded items before leaving the building via the side door by which he had entered.

This suit feels awful. Ames thought idly as he walked to his car. Otto really should buy better! It's definitely not the tape gum, quality will out! That's why the humans and freaks are doomed! Ames reached his car. Keys! Damn it! That lizard kept my keys! My wallet and my cell! He's boots! Shoes! Belts! Luggage! Ames fumed as he searched the pockets of Otto's suit for the spare keys. Got 'em!

Ames got into his car and picking up the radio, flipped through to the Seattle Police Departments' band, that Clemente was using.

"......ated to Terminal City!" Clemente's voice came over the radio. "We entered but were massively outnumbered, outgunned, 452 allowed us to leave! Repeat the trasgenic leader allowed us to leave!

Ames angrily shut off the radio. Damn! I was right! They are congregating there! She's gone to ground in Terminal City! Her and her freaks and freak loving human friends! Maybe now the government will let me order an air strike on that toxic waste dump! Get rid of 452 and the others in one fell swoop! Then take out the remnants of the Sandeman's creations! Senile old fool....! Ames paused his tirade against he father. RAY! Damn it! I need 452 to live long enough to tell me where Ray is! Hell!

Back in the present, Ames thumps a pillow, it flies across the bedroom and smashes into a lamp. What a total fiasco! A complete debacle! Ames fumed. Damn the Conclave! They were so sure their precious Phalanx could capture 452! They ignored all my warnings! Well they believe me now! Ames suddenly grinned evilly thinking of the video conference with the Conclave after he and the Phalanx had returned to the Phalanx's temporary quarters. I didn't come out the worst from that arduous debriefing! The Concalve finally did something right! They blamed Thula! They were furious that she allowed 452 to cuff her around that column! With her own cuffs! Ames laughed outloud, then groaned as the movement hurt both his cracked ribs and damaged back. Ames eased himself into a comfortable sleeping position and shut his eyes, relaxing. Sleeps a great healer! He thought, then stifled another laugh as he recalled the look on Thula's arrogant face when the Conclave announced it's verdict on that day's events! I was cleared of error! I gave Thula and her team all the requisite data! They failed to heed it! Thula failed to heed it! She's been demoted! Her team disbanded! They're to redo basic Phalanx training! They'll have a tough time getting into other teams! Most especially Thula! I'm not the only Familiar who can't stand her! She even antagonised other Phalanx! Ames drifted into sleep, a smile on his handsome, bruised face.

The End

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