Chapter 4
Claire sat her desk; she kept looking at her watch every now and then. She frowned when only a minute had passed by. Darien came in and sat on the counteragent chair staring at nothing in particular. Hobbes walked in a few moments later and noticed his two friends, he stared at them for a moment, "This is going to be a long couple of months with you two, look at you...you're like bubbling with excitement."
Darien glared at Hobbes as did Claire.
"Tell me that you two are not going to mope around for months? I may have to ask to be reassigned until Ed and Darcy get back." Hobbes pulled up a chair, "You guys have it bad and it's pathetic. Even Tom is more entertaining than you two right now."
Claire turned to look at Darien, "Darcy? Where did she go?"
Darien frowned, "She had to go with Mark as part of a delegation to some co-existence thing at the U.N."
"When did she leave?" Claire asked.
"Early, she got the call last night." Darien sounded lonely.
Hobbes got up and walked over to Darien, "Come on, partner, we've got a case." He patted Darien on his back, "She'll be back before you know it."
"How long is she going to be gone?" Claire asked.
"A week and then she has to go with Mark with another delegation to Washington, D.C. She may be gone for at least a couple of weeks," Darien said as he half smiled at Claire and walked out of the Keep.
Claire checked her watch again, "Ed should be up in the air by now." She let out a big sigh and stared at a picture of Ed. He was kneeling on his board, his right knee was almost touching the board, he was holding on one side with his right hand and his left arm was extended outward. There was a glassy wall of water around him as he glided effortlessly through the 'tube' of the wave. She loved this particular picture of him taken nearly six months ago as he vacationed in Hawaii. His posture on the board as he glided or almost flew over the water showed his oneness with his board and the wave. It showed a man under total control and focused. To ride a wave like that, you would have to be or else the wave controlled you.
Claire remembered the story that Ed had recounted not too long ago. It had been a long time since any of them at the University had taken a vacation and Ed was at the point of near cabin fever. He had to get out of the lab and it showed. He was moody, extremely moody and as Tom had sensed, sexually frustrated. Long nights at the lab, working with the government on research projects had all but taken him out of the dating circuit and much to his dismay, off the beach as well. Until Walter came by and told him to take a week off. Ed hadn't hesitated and was out the door quicker than you can say 'cowabunga'.
Ed had told Claire that he had no idea his picture was being taken by a photographer on a surfboard. Claire had smiled when Ed talked about the young Hawaiian beauty that had been attracted to the 'mainlander'. Ed didn't like telling her about his past escapades, not that he many to begin with. For the most part, Ed led a solitary life. He had become very uncomfortable when Claire asked him if he slept with her. Ed had refused to answer and stormed off, which was a big 'yes' in her book.
Later he had come back and asked her why she wanted to know. "You know about me and Kevin. It really won't bother me, you weren't committed to me or anybody at the time," Claire paused looking at Ed, "I don't expect you to have been completely celibate, I certainly didn't expect it of Darien. A man has needs, Ed, I'm well aware of that. But..."
Ed held her close, "It was a one night stand. When I woke up she was gone and the picture was on the side of the bed where she slept. I was just another notch in her belt for 'mainlander' I guess."
Claire looked at Ed with fascination, "Interesting, usually it's the guys getting the 'notches'."
"Well, she knew I was only in Hawaii for a short time anyway, no sense in getting into a deep relationship and I certainly wasn't looking for any," Ed said. "She came up to me after I was done surfing and invited me to a luau. I went obviously and we ended up back at my room. She was a novice photographer and decided to shoot pictures of surfers that day. She saw me and well, the rest you know," Ed rolled his eyes in embarrassment.
"Well, at least tell me you used protection," Claire asked.
"Of course, I'm well aware of diseases and the last thing I need is a little Ed running around, at least at the moment, but maybe later..." Ed held Claire tight in his arms.
"Kids? You want kids?" Claire asked as she smiled.
"Sure, eventually," Ed kissed her softly on the lips. "You're the only girl in my life now, Claire. I've committed myself to you. I don't want to risk losing you because I did something stupid."
"I know that, Ed, you're not the type. Thank you for being honest with me," Claire looked at the picture, "Can I have it?"
"What that? You sure?" Ed asked confused.
"Yeah, I can look at it everyday and see what she let go and I caught."
Ed smiled, "You sure did."
A voice rang out loud from the intercom in the Keep and snapped Claire out of her trip down memory lane, "Sorry, doctor, but the Official wants to see you right away."
"Oh, okay, Eberts, I'll be there in a minute," She said into the speaker. Claire took a quick glance at the picture and half smiled, "Bobby is right, I do have it bad for him." She walked out of the Keep.
~*~
Walter walked into the lab and saw Sloan as she worked at her computer, "Hi, Sloan." He glanced over at Ed's empty desk, "Sure is quiet around here."
Sloan smiled, "Yeah, a little too quiet."
Walter glanced down at the floor, "Well, looks like my superior is sending us on a mission."
Sloan's eyes widened, "Really!" She stood up excited. Unlike Ed, Sloan really enjoyed field work.
"You and Tom are going to Canada and I'm going to Hong Kong," Walter said as he handed Sloan a plane ticket.
"Canada. Hong Kong," She looked up at Walter, "Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome?"
"Yes, my boss wants us to investigate to see whether this is dominant related or not. After we discovered their plan in Alaska, we can't be too careful."
"What about Ed? Shouldn't he be called back? We could sure use his help."
"I thought the same thing, but my boss wants to keep him at Emory and we can't disturb him with this." Walter said.
"So, what are we looking for?" Sloan asked.
"We're going to first check the DNA of those that have contracted the new virus to see if they're human or not. Then, we go from there," Walter answered. "Let Tom know for me and do be careful out there."
"Oh uhmm...what about Ray?"
"Ray is on assignment with Alex. This may also be connected to Chrysalis. They will check that angle out while Darien and Hobbes investigate the dominants."
"Nice to see our two groups working on something together again," Sloan said with a smile.
"We certainly can cover more ground this way," Walter smiled and left the lab.
Sloan picked up her phone and called Tom.
~*~
The lady sat at the oval shaped table with her colleagues.
"What is the status of Project Gemini?" The first man asked.
"Dr. Tate should be with the subject now. Attwood will be leaving for Hong Kong and Parker and Daniels will be going to Canada. Peterson and an ex-Agency agent will be investigating the Chrysalis organization. Fawkes and his partner will be checking the dominants. Of course we will provide them with a lead that will take them out of San Diego." She paused and looked around the room before continuing, "All the agents will be either out of the country or out of the city, that will leave only Dr. Keeply around, but she will be too busy with her research to realize anything is going on."
"I don't like the idea of collaborating with a known bio-terrorist, especially in these times," a second man responded.
"We can't back out now. We all agreed on this plan after our experiments with Agent Fawkes. Dr. Tate can get close enough to the gland that de Fohn has reproduced. When he comes back, we can get the information from him and produce our own glands. We can have a weapon to use against the dominant threat," the lady reiterated. "The gland cost this government way too much money for it to be wasted in an ex-thief's head working for an agency that is at the bottom of the barrel. We should be utilizing the full potential of Dr. Kevin Fawkes' hard work."
"How do we know that de Fohn won't kill Dr. Tate?" Another man asked.
"I have that covered." The lady partly smiled.
~*~
Darien and Hobbes sat in The Official's office. "We're working this SARS case together. Right now, Walter is sending Sloan and Tom to Canada while he will be going to Hong Kong. Alex will be joining us and she is teamed with Ray to investigate Chrysalis."
"So, what are we going to do?" Darien asked.
"You will be investigating the dominants." Eberts stated calmly.
"Great," Hobbes looked at Darien, "Just don't go dominant nutso on me, okay?"
"I won't," Darien turned the Official, "So, I take it this whole flu thing might be the work of dominants or Chrysalis?"
"That's the thinking from Walter's superior. They've asked us to help them and this would be a perfect opportunity to show them what we can do." The Official turned to Eberts, "Give them their mission."
"Yes, sir," Eberts handed Hobbes and Darien the folders detailing their mission. They thumbed through it as Eberts explained.
~*~
Ed woke up in a room and looked around, his vision still slightly blurred, "This is eerily familiar."
The door opened.
"This is the part where I'm given an ultimatum. 'Work for me or die'." Ed mused as he watched Arnaud come into the room. Ed partly smiled, "Okay, so when do we start?"
"Nice, glad to see that you're going to be cooperative."
"Like I have a choice," Ed said sarcastically. He stood up and walked over to Arnaud. "I've seen how you handle incompetence and those who don't do what you want. I'm not in the mood to die today," Ed sneered.
"Fast learner."
"Very fast."
"I'll remember that."
"You should."
"I will."
"Good."
Arnaud looked at Ed, "You have been hanging around Fawkes' partner haven't you?"
"What does Hobbes have to do with anything?" Ed asked confused.
"Nothing, you just reminded me of a conversation I once had with Agent Hobbes." Arnaud walked out with Ed trailing behind him.
Ed gave Arnaud a peculiar glare. "So, what exactly do you need my help on?" Ed asked as he looked around the lab. "Nice, set up. Guess bio-terrorism has been good to you."
"I have only the best equipment," Arnaud said with a smile.
"I'm sure you do," Ed studied the state of the art microscope. "Hmm, nice."
Arnaud motioned for Ed to sit down, "Have a seat." He watched as Ed sat down, "Tell me, Dr. Tate, what do you know about the gland?"
"Well, let me see, apart from the mutation pretty much what you know," Ed smiled.
Arnaud pulled out his gun, "I really don't have time for games, Dr. Tate. Please don't make me shoot you, it would be a waste of intelligence and that is hard to find these days."
Ed looked down the barrel of the gun, "Okay." Ed proceeded to tell Arnaud everything he new about the implantation process, the molecular make up of the quicksilver, how it's produced and even how Arnaud "fixed" the gland with the new stabilizing compound.
Arnaud was impressed, "Very good, you've done your homework. That makes my job easier."
Ed folded his arms, "Alright, I've done most of the talking here. Now it's your turn."
"I need for you to genetically modify the gland I have to be compatible with human DNA and fix it so that it will shut off. I need it to work like the one in Fawkes' head."
Ed thought for a moment, "Okay, easy enough, you have a blood sample I'm assuming of the guinea pig?"
Arnaud smiled, "Yes, I do."
"How are we going to test the gland to make sure it shuts off?" Ed asked as he crossed his arms.
"I have a prototype of the one you'll be working on. When you get that one ready, my team will implant it in a monkey."
Ed smiled, "What, no rats this time?"
"Only for you?"
"I'm honored." Ed said mockingly. "Okay, next question, has the test monkey been prepped for the gland? I mean, have you given it the necessary peptide injections?"
"Yes, that has already been done."
Ed looked at Arnaud quizzically, "Okay ... uhmm ... when did you want me to get started?"
"Right now, time is of the importance and the sooner you start the sooner you'll finish." Arnaud motioned for the gland to be brought in. Ed got up and walked over to have a better a look.
"Incredible, so which one is the primary macro ganglion and which one is the secondary?" Ed asked as he studied the gland in the clear liquid.
"This one is laser sutured to the blood vessels."
"Uhmm, so that would be the secondary," Ed said still looking at the gland. "So, this one must be the primary that's connected to the brain stem?"
"Correct," Arnaud stood up and looked down at Ed, "Now, shall we get started?"
Ed straightened up, "Let's get the show on the road."
~*~
Darien and Hobbes sat in the van. Darien watched the scenery go by completely lost in his thoughts.
"A penny for your thoughts," Hobbes quipped.
"I really miss Darcy," Darien said depressed.
Hobbes glanced over at his partner, "You're really in love with her aren't you?"
"Yeah, I am." Darien paused and thought for a moment. His life had taken such a sudden turn in the past two years and it scared him.
"But?"
Hobbes interrupted his train of thought. "Huh?" Darien asked.
"But... there's something else going in that hairball head of yours."
"It's just that, I loved Casey and I blew it with her with my lies. I loved Kate, but I let her go. Then there was Allianora. I don't want to lose Darcy too. The people I love tend to get hurt or killed because of this gland. I don't want to go through all that again. I mean, look at Ed, Arnaud almost killed him because of it and I didn't even know Ed yet."
Hobbes thought for a moment, "Look, if you let that kind of thinking control you, you'll never take chances, my friend. Trust Bobby Hobbes on this one kid, don't let anything get in the way of love." Hobbes frowned at his own comment. He had lost Claire because he didn't fish off the company pier.
Darien smiled at Hobbes, "Darcy and I are getting married, or joined, or connected..." Darien waved his hand in the air, "I don't know what dominants call it."
Hobbes did a double take, "What? Married? Already? You? When?"
"Whoa, that was impressive, Hobbes, five one word questions." Darien smirked. "They teach you that in Interrogation 101? Cause if that's meant to confuse someone, it works."
"No, I happen to be an expert at interrogation, my wise ass friend. No one, and I mean no one, can outlast Bobby Hobbes." Hobbes shook his finger at Darien.
"Uh-huh, yeah, you mean like, ohhh, let's say, Allianora," Darien said with a smile. He glanced at Hobbes as he raised both brows.
Hobbes gripped the steering wheel. He stared at the road to avoid looking at Darien's face. Hobbes knew he would have that smug look on his face he gets when he's right. "You would bring her up." Hobbes was silent for a moment, "Okay, but let me tell you, she's the only one that didn't crack under the supreme interrogation techniques of Bobby Hobbes."
"You know if they ever make a movie about secret agents and they wanted to do one on you, it would be called 'Bobby Hobbes in Wonderland'."
"Ahh ... is that insult?"
"No, Hobbes, in your case, it's a compliment."
"Sounded like an insult to me."
"Hobbes, I want to ask you a question," Darien said in a serious tone.
"Sure, shoot partner, what'd ya need to know?"
Darien smirked at Hobbes reply, "Uhmm ... would you be my best man?"
"Your what? Best man? Me?" Hobbes pointed to himself and Darien nodded. "What about Ed, I thought you would pick him."
"Why, because he looks like me? No, Hobbes, I've known you longer; you had to deal with my selfishness, the madness, my impulses ... " Darien looked at Hobbes. "You can stop me anytime, Hobbes." Darien sneered.
Hobbes shook his head in agreement, "No please, continue, you're on a roll."
"Ha-ha, very funny. But seriously, would you be my best man?"
Hobbes smiled, "Fawkes, I'm honored; of course I'll be your best man."
Darien smiled, "Cool."
Hobbes turned the corner and pulled over, "Okay, hot shot, you're on."
"You got my back?" Darien shot Hobbes a worried look.
"Always, my friend."
Darien smiled and let the quicksilver flow. He exited the van and walked down the row of warehouses, careful so he didn't bump into anybody like that time in the hospital when Hobbes had hit his head. He put his shield up so he wouldn't be sensed. Darien was getting accustomed to his new role in life. He actually was starting to enjoy it. It sure made things easier for him and he found himself getting his butt kicked less often.
The Agency had received a tip that someone was about to release the SARS virus in Southern California. They had received a location as to where the dominants responsible could be found. Pasadena.
He found the building and quietly opened the door. He had sensed three dominants in the building and they were in the back. Darien made his way towards them, he felt like the fox in the hen house. It was all too easy now. He quickly incapacitated two of them. But something had happened to Darien. He gazed down at the two men and smiled, he had snapped their necks like they were twigs and the thing was, he enjoyed it.
The third looked at his comrades lying on the floor, he scanned the room. He couldn't sense anything. He had started to run for it when he felt something pull him to the floor. He watched as a tall man suddenly appeared looming over him. Coal black eyes burned into him.
"Now where do you think you're going?" Darien asked putting his foot down on the man's chest.
"I know who you are," the man said trying to get air into his lungs.
Darien swayed his head back and forth, "Yeah, I'm sure you do. Lewis and the Council really love me. Yeah, their big fans of mine." Darien bent down and hauled the injured man off the floor and tossed him onto a chair. "Now you're going to answer a few questions for me."
"I won't," the man stated sternly.
Darien chuckled, "Oh now you see, I disagree." Darien leaned down to get closer to the man's face, he gazed at him with a look of desire to do bodily harm, "I think you will."
About twenty minutes after Darien left Hobbes waiting in the van, the door opened up again. Hobbes saw the indent suddenly appear on the seat.
"Drive."
Hobbes heard the disembodied voice. He didn't like the way Darien sounded. With caution he asked, "You okay there, Fawkes?"
"Drive."
Hobbes mentally did a check on his gun.
"You won't need that."
Hobbes heard Darien breathe heavily. "So, how did it go, get anything?" Hobbes asked carefully.
"Lewis, I'm going to see Lewis." Darien reappeared in a burst of silver rain. He turned to look at Hobbes.
Hobbes nearly jumped out of his seat. "Fawkes, your eyes?"
"What about them?" Darien asked coldly. He had no emotion at all and only one person was on his mind at the moment, Lewis. Darien pulled the rear view mirror towards him and stared into his cold dark black eyes. He turned back to look at Hobbes and smiled.
Hobbes didn't like the new look to his eyes. There was something about them. He couldn't put his finger on it, but the black eyes reminded him of something. This looked different then when Fawkes quicksilvers his eyes. No, this time the look of death was there and it was very cold. Hobbes felt like he looked into the abyss, a bottomless pit of no emotion. As is, he would have bet his pay that his partner was under the influence of quicksilver madness.
"Okay, so where do I go?" Hobbes asked as he started up the van.
Darien gave Hobbes directions to Lewis' new training house. For the entire trip, Darien kept quiet, still keeping his game face on. Hobbes knew enough to not break Darien's concentration. He knew that Darien was fighting internally for control and now is not a good time to upset him.
Hobbes had driven them out to the rural area of the city. Darien looked around, "Stop here." Hobbes stopped the van. He watched as Darien's body was coated with the metallic blanket. The door opened and then closed.
"I'll just wait here then," Hobbes announced quietly. He let out a sigh. "I hope he gets his act together, he's not a great conversationalist in dominant mode or whatever mode he's in now. I would rather deal with QSM then this."
Darien walked right up to the front door. He pushed on the door and it opened easily. "Cocky son of a..." Darien stated as he started up the spiraling stair case in the mansion. He shook his head as he took a glance around the spacious house. As usual, there was no furniture or any other sign that showed that someone was living in the huge house. "Lewis, you're too stuck on yourself," Darien quipped.
He walked down the hall on the second floor. Darien shed the quicksilver and walked into one of the large rooms. Lewis had his back to the door as he worked on his computer.
"You know for someone who trains assassins, you should know never sit with your back to the door."
"Hello, Darien. I've been expecting you." Lewis said smugly. He turned around and faced Darien.
Darien walked around the room so his back wasn't towards the door. "You were, I'm surprised there wasn't a surprise party waiting for me."
"Against you? They wouldn't have a chance. We both know that. But as for your man outside."
Darien stopped and glared at Lewis, "Anything happens to him and I'll snap your neck."
Lewis caught sight of Darien's eyes when he turned. Darien approached him, "Like what you see, Lewis? Look at what you created."
Lewis couldn't help but be hypnotized by the black eyes. "What happened to you?"
Darien smiled, "Don't know that yet. Pretty scary huh? Now, about Hobbes," Darien grabbed Lewis and pushed him up against the wall and held him there, "Nothing better happen to him," Darien hissed through gritted teeth.
"As long as we continue to talk, he'll be fine. I heard what you did to my men at the warehouse. Your skills have improved. Tom must be a doing a good job, after all I did train him."
"Why don't you just go ahead and nominate yourself for dominant of the year? You're so damn high on yourself, Lewis." Darien let Lewis go.
"Let me help you, Darien. I can find out what's going on with you," Lewis said.
"I don't think so. You've done enough already."
"Darien, you can't fight it, you're turning into the perfect killing machine and you know it. The humans can't help you."
"One can."
"I'm sure he can." Lewis paused and then continued, "Darien, I'm afraid that someone has sent you on a wild goose chase as the humans say. As much as I would love for us to take credit for the SARS virus, we didn't have anything to do with it. And you know I'm telling the truth."
Darien looked down at the floor and then back up at Lewis, "Okay, you are telling the truth. I'll be watching you, Lewis." Darien started to head for the door when Lewis called out to him.
"Darien, how is Darcy?"
Darien stopped and turned around to face Lewis, "She's fine, doing much better now."
"I'm sure she is," Lewis said a smile on his face. "Oh and tell Dr. Tate 'bravo' for me. That man has more lives than any human I've known."
"Yeah, not bad for a human, he's outsmarted you on just about every curve ball you've thrown at him hasn't he?" Darien winked at Lewis, and disappeared from sight.
Lewis groaned, "I'll have you, and Dr. Tate soon enough. His luck can't last forever and you can't fight the instincts within you for long." Lewis smiled and he picked up his phone and called his men to tell them to let Fawkes and his partner go. There'll be another day.
Darien made it back to the van, but before he could open the door he stumbled, "Hobbes."
"Fawkes!" Hobbes jumped out of the van and ran to the other side. He found Darien sitting on the ground leaning up against the van to support him. "You okay?"
Darien looked up at Hobbes, his eyes were brown again, "What's happening to me?"
"Don't know pal, but we better get back to San Diego so the Keep can have a look at ya." Hobbes helped Darien to his feet and into the van.
"I'm tired," Darien said as he leaned back on the seat.
"Take a nap."
"And I'm hungry, can we stop for two double bacon cheeseburgers with fries and a coke ... oh and Hobbes, biggie size it for me," Darien said and then promptly fell asleep.
Hobbes shook his head, "You're like the lean mean eating machine. Ed was right, your appetite did pick up." He started up the van and headed back to San Diego. He looked over at Darien slumped in the chair sleeping. He pulled out his phone and called Claire.
~*~
Ed had no idea how long he worked on the gland. It seemed like a day had gone by. He was on a roll and it was non-stop for him. A couple of scientists had asked him to take a break and he refused. He was close and he felt it. Ed was a blur in a white lab coat as he went from one end of the table to the other. His chair propelled by his feet as he slid back and forth. Clear safety glasses adorned his face and his hands covered with the latex gloves.
Arnaud watched him with fascination as he dipped a dropper in a solution and then gently squeezed it out into several different vials. He saw Kevin and Darien combined in one man. Ed was just as determined and focused as Kevin was when a problem needed to be solved. But he was also like Darien in more than just his looks; they both had that carefree swagger when they walked. Arnaud figured it was the self confidence they both possesed.
Ed had gotten up and went over to the gavitron, to Ed it was similar to the one that Walter had taken from Dr. Copeland's lab. Ed didn't even wonder how Arnaud got a hold of one; he was so wrapped up in what he was doing to even think to ask. He took out a vial and held it up to look at it in the light. He mumbled something and sat back down. Ed pulled out another dropper and removed some of the liquid from the vial he took from the gavitron. He put some on a slide and slipped it under the lens of the microscope. He looked through the eye piece and mumbled again to himself.
Arnaud hadn't seen anyone so consumed in their work in a long time. Ed got up from his chair and took the eye dropper with him. He was now hovering over the gland. He placed the eye dropper into a vial and squeezed out its contents. Next he picked up a syringe and placed the needle into the liquid. He pulled back on the plunger and filled the syringe a quarter of the way. Ed said something to the scientist that was helping him and he nodded. The gland was taken out of the jar and Ed with steady hands gently inserted the needle and pressed on the plunger. The gland was replaced back in the jar.
Ed looked over at Arnaud, "Now we wait."
"Splendid, Dr. Tate. I'll have some food brought to you." Arnaud turned and walked out.
Ed looked at the others and took off his glasses and gloves. Some of the scientists patted him on the back. Ed gave them half hearted smiles. He turned and looked at the gland, "How come I feel like Dr. Frankenstein?"
~*~
Claire was there when Hobbes pulled up. She didn't see Darien. "Where is he?"
"In the back, we stopped for the cheeseburgers and after he finished eating, he crawled to the back and fell asleep." Hobbes stated as he opened the back of the van.
"I'll get a gurney," Claire said as she started to leave.
"I carried him one time before, I can do it again." Hobbes bent down and shook Darien, "Hey kid, wake up. Come on, I'll carry you."
"Oh okay," Darien was groggy. It actually felt like he had one too many beers.
With Hobbes help, Darien was taken to the Keep for tests. For the next couple of hours, Claire ran every test she could think of. If there was ever a time she needed Ed it was now. Even Hobbes had started to feel the same way.
The Official strolled in a couple of hours later as Claire looked over CT scans, MRI's, EEG's and she was still no closer to finding an answer. Nothing was showing up. She had even run a DNA check using Ed's program and it showed that he was still at 1.6% differential.
"Report, doctor," the Official asked.
Claire scratched her head, "I don't know. I don't see anything. I've ran test after test and I just can't find the answer. I really could Ed's help on this."
"How's the gland?"
"It's fine," Claire looked over at Darien who was still sleeping. "Hobbes said that he ate two double cheeseburgers, a large fry and drank a large coke. I know he can eat, but even that is a lot. Ed did say that dominants have a higher metabolism because of the energy their brains put out. But I've never seen Darien eat like that even after his conversion. The only thing I can think of is Darien was in a high emotional state and it zapped the energy out him. But it doesn't explain why his eyes were completely black. I may have to have him repeat what happened so I can run more tests."
The Official grunted. He wasn't sure if that was a good idea without Tom around. He decided to play it safe and wait. As long as the gland was not affected, he could wait before putting Darien through that situation again. "As soon as you can, contact Dr. Tate and see what he says," he turned around and walked out.
Claire let out a sigh and went back to reviewing the test results.
~*~
Ed looked up from the microscope, "Okay, I think we're ready."
"So soon? How did you fix it?" Arnaud asked.
Ed turned around on the seat to face Arnaud, "Simple, I remember reading what happened with Simon Cole. His body was unable to release the inhibitor catalyst to turn off the gland because of something in his mitochrondial DNA that was a recessive genetic marker. His DNA was not compatible with the new beta reagent in the gland. It wasn't that the gland wouldn't shut off, Cole's body couldn't shut it off."
Arnaud thought for a moment, "That's when I was brought on the project. I changed the stabilizing compound."
"Yes and the gland's inhibitor reagent was modified by ... " Ed waited for Arnaud to answer.
"Retroviral DNA splicing ... yes of course," Arnaud ran his hand through his hair.
"You must have the same recessive genetic marker in your DNA like Simon Cole. All I needed to do was to match the inhibitor reagent to the host's DNA and do the retroviral DNA splicing on the gland." Ed said as he looked at Arnaud. "Another words, gene therapy." Ed shrugged his shoulders. "This prototype is ready for the test subject." Ed turned and looked at the gland.
Arnaud smiled, he turned to the other scientists and the guards in the room, "You heard him, let's get the test subject ready."
Ed watched as some guards came near him. Ed stood up, "Whoa ... hey, what's going on here?"
Arnaud turned around with a syringe in his hand, "Just like you said, I'm getting the test subject ready."
The guards grabbed Ed. He looked at them and realization hit, "No! That gland is marked for the monkey."
"Now that you told us how to do it, I think we can manage," Arnaud nodded his head and Ed was held down on the table. Arnaud looked into the man's frightened face, "Don't worry, Dr. Tate, it'll all be over before you know it."
"Arnaud, we had a deal!" Ed struggled but the position he was in he found it hard to get the leverage he needed. He tried to kick out but his legs were being held down. The guards had placed one of their legs in front of Ed's legs. He was completely immobilized.
"Yes, and I'm changing it," Arnaud injected Ed with the sedative.
The guards let Ed go and he fell to the floor on his knees. He looked up and Arnaud knelt down next to him, "You betrayed me."
Arnaud smiled, "Sleep well, and I'll see you in about three weeks."
Ed lost the battle with the sedative. He rolled onto his back and into a deep sleep. Arnaud stood up and looked at the guards, "Get him on the table." He turned to the scientists, "Lets get started shall we?"
TBC...
Claire sat her desk; she kept looking at her watch every now and then. She frowned when only a minute had passed by. Darien came in and sat on the counteragent chair staring at nothing in particular. Hobbes walked in a few moments later and noticed his two friends, he stared at them for a moment, "This is going to be a long couple of months with you two, look at you...you're like bubbling with excitement."
Darien glared at Hobbes as did Claire.
"Tell me that you two are not going to mope around for months? I may have to ask to be reassigned until Ed and Darcy get back." Hobbes pulled up a chair, "You guys have it bad and it's pathetic. Even Tom is more entertaining than you two right now."
Claire turned to look at Darien, "Darcy? Where did she go?"
Darien frowned, "She had to go with Mark as part of a delegation to some co-existence thing at the U.N."
"When did she leave?" Claire asked.
"Early, she got the call last night." Darien sounded lonely.
Hobbes got up and walked over to Darien, "Come on, partner, we've got a case." He patted Darien on his back, "She'll be back before you know it."
"How long is she going to be gone?" Claire asked.
"A week and then she has to go with Mark with another delegation to Washington, D.C. She may be gone for at least a couple of weeks," Darien said as he half smiled at Claire and walked out of the Keep.
Claire checked her watch again, "Ed should be up in the air by now." She let out a big sigh and stared at a picture of Ed. He was kneeling on his board, his right knee was almost touching the board, he was holding on one side with his right hand and his left arm was extended outward. There was a glassy wall of water around him as he glided effortlessly through the 'tube' of the wave. She loved this particular picture of him taken nearly six months ago as he vacationed in Hawaii. His posture on the board as he glided or almost flew over the water showed his oneness with his board and the wave. It showed a man under total control and focused. To ride a wave like that, you would have to be or else the wave controlled you.
Claire remembered the story that Ed had recounted not too long ago. It had been a long time since any of them at the University had taken a vacation and Ed was at the point of near cabin fever. He had to get out of the lab and it showed. He was moody, extremely moody and as Tom had sensed, sexually frustrated. Long nights at the lab, working with the government on research projects had all but taken him out of the dating circuit and much to his dismay, off the beach as well. Until Walter came by and told him to take a week off. Ed hadn't hesitated and was out the door quicker than you can say 'cowabunga'.
Ed had told Claire that he had no idea his picture was being taken by a photographer on a surfboard. Claire had smiled when Ed talked about the young Hawaiian beauty that had been attracted to the 'mainlander'. Ed didn't like telling her about his past escapades, not that he many to begin with. For the most part, Ed led a solitary life. He had become very uncomfortable when Claire asked him if he slept with her. Ed had refused to answer and stormed off, which was a big 'yes' in her book.
Later he had come back and asked her why she wanted to know. "You know about me and Kevin. It really won't bother me, you weren't committed to me or anybody at the time," Claire paused looking at Ed, "I don't expect you to have been completely celibate, I certainly didn't expect it of Darien. A man has needs, Ed, I'm well aware of that. But..."
Ed held her close, "It was a one night stand. When I woke up she was gone and the picture was on the side of the bed where she slept. I was just another notch in her belt for 'mainlander' I guess."
Claire looked at Ed with fascination, "Interesting, usually it's the guys getting the 'notches'."
"Well, she knew I was only in Hawaii for a short time anyway, no sense in getting into a deep relationship and I certainly wasn't looking for any," Ed said. "She came up to me after I was done surfing and invited me to a luau. I went obviously and we ended up back at my room. She was a novice photographer and decided to shoot pictures of surfers that day. She saw me and well, the rest you know," Ed rolled his eyes in embarrassment.
"Well, at least tell me you used protection," Claire asked.
"Of course, I'm well aware of diseases and the last thing I need is a little Ed running around, at least at the moment, but maybe later..." Ed held Claire tight in his arms.
"Kids? You want kids?" Claire asked as she smiled.
"Sure, eventually," Ed kissed her softly on the lips. "You're the only girl in my life now, Claire. I've committed myself to you. I don't want to risk losing you because I did something stupid."
"I know that, Ed, you're not the type. Thank you for being honest with me," Claire looked at the picture, "Can I have it?"
"What that? You sure?" Ed asked confused.
"Yeah, I can look at it everyday and see what she let go and I caught."
Ed smiled, "You sure did."
A voice rang out loud from the intercom in the Keep and snapped Claire out of her trip down memory lane, "Sorry, doctor, but the Official wants to see you right away."
"Oh, okay, Eberts, I'll be there in a minute," She said into the speaker. Claire took a quick glance at the picture and half smiled, "Bobby is right, I do have it bad for him." She walked out of the Keep.
~*~
Walter walked into the lab and saw Sloan as she worked at her computer, "Hi, Sloan." He glanced over at Ed's empty desk, "Sure is quiet around here."
Sloan smiled, "Yeah, a little too quiet."
Walter glanced down at the floor, "Well, looks like my superior is sending us on a mission."
Sloan's eyes widened, "Really!" She stood up excited. Unlike Ed, Sloan really enjoyed field work.
"You and Tom are going to Canada and I'm going to Hong Kong," Walter said as he handed Sloan a plane ticket.
"Canada. Hong Kong," She looked up at Walter, "Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome?"
"Yes, my boss wants us to investigate to see whether this is dominant related or not. After we discovered their plan in Alaska, we can't be too careful."
"What about Ed? Shouldn't he be called back? We could sure use his help."
"I thought the same thing, but my boss wants to keep him at Emory and we can't disturb him with this." Walter said.
"So, what are we looking for?" Sloan asked.
"We're going to first check the DNA of those that have contracted the new virus to see if they're human or not. Then, we go from there," Walter answered. "Let Tom know for me and do be careful out there."
"Oh uhmm...what about Ray?"
"Ray is on assignment with Alex. This may also be connected to Chrysalis. They will check that angle out while Darien and Hobbes investigate the dominants."
"Nice to see our two groups working on something together again," Sloan said with a smile.
"We certainly can cover more ground this way," Walter smiled and left the lab.
Sloan picked up her phone and called Tom.
~*~
The lady sat at the oval shaped table with her colleagues.
"What is the status of Project Gemini?" The first man asked.
"Dr. Tate should be with the subject now. Attwood will be leaving for Hong Kong and Parker and Daniels will be going to Canada. Peterson and an ex-Agency agent will be investigating the Chrysalis organization. Fawkes and his partner will be checking the dominants. Of course we will provide them with a lead that will take them out of San Diego." She paused and looked around the room before continuing, "All the agents will be either out of the country or out of the city, that will leave only Dr. Keeply around, but she will be too busy with her research to realize anything is going on."
"I don't like the idea of collaborating with a known bio-terrorist, especially in these times," a second man responded.
"We can't back out now. We all agreed on this plan after our experiments with Agent Fawkes. Dr. Tate can get close enough to the gland that de Fohn has reproduced. When he comes back, we can get the information from him and produce our own glands. We can have a weapon to use against the dominant threat," the lady reiterated. "The gland cost this government way too much money for it to be wasted in an ex-thief's head working for an agency that is at the bottom of the barrel. We should be utilizing the full potential of Dr. Kevin Fawkes' hard work."
"How do we know that de Fohn won't kill Dr. Tate?" Another man asked.
"I have that covered." The lady partly smiled.
~*~
Darien and Hobbes sat in The Official's office. "We're working this SARS case together. Right now, Walter is sending Sloan and Tom to Canada while he will be going to Hong Kong. Alex will be joining us and she is teamed with Ray to investigate Chrysalis."
"So, what are we going to do?" Darien asked.
"You will be investigating the dominants." Eberts stated calmly.
"Great," Hobbes looked at Darien, "Just don't go dominant nutso on me, okay?"
"I won't," Darien turned the Official, "So, I take it this whole flu thing might be the work of dominants or Chrysalis?"
"That's the thinking from Walter's superior. They've asked us to help them and this would be a perfect opportunity to show them what we can do." The Official turned to Eberts, "Give them their mission."
"Yes, sir," Eberts handed Hobbes and Darien the folders detailing their mission. They thumbed through it as Eberts explained.
~*~
Ed woke up in a room and looked around, his vision still slightly blurred, "This is eerily familiar."
The door opened.
"This is the part where I'm given an ultimatum. 'Work for me or die'." Ed mused as he watched Arnaud come into the room. Ed partly smiled, "Okay, so when do we start?"
"Nice, glad to see that you're going to be cooperative."
"Like I have a choice," Ed said sarcastically. He stood up and walked over to Arnaud. "I've seen how you handle incompetence and those who don't do what you want. I'm not in the mood to die today," Ed sneered.
"Fast learner."
"Very fast."
"I'll remember that."
"You should."
"I will."
"Good."
Arnaud looked at Ed, "You have been hanging around Fawkes' partner haven't you?"
"What does Hobbes have to do with anything?" Ed asked confused.
"Nothing, you just reminded me of a conversation I once had with Agent Hobbes." Arnaud walked out with Ed trailing behind him.
Ed gave Arnaud a peculiar glare. "So, what exactly do you need my help on?" Ed asked as he looked around the lab. "Nice, set up. Guess bio-terrorism has been good to you."
"I have only the best equipment," Arnaud said with a smile.
"I'm sure you do," Ed studied the state of the art microscope. "Hmm, nice."
Arnaud motioned for Ed to sit down, "Have a seat." He watched as Ed sat down, "Tell me, Dr. Tate, what do you know about the gland?"
"Well, let me see, apart from the mutation pretty much what you know," Ed smiled.
Arnaud pulled out his gun, "I really don't have time for games, Dr. Tate. Please don't make me shoot you, it would be a waste of intelligence and that is hard to find these days."
Ed looked down the barrel of the gun, "Okay." Ed proceeded to tell Arnaud everything he new about the implantation process, the molecular make up of the quicksilver, how it's produced and even how Arnaud "fixed" the gland with the new stabilizing compound.
Arnaud was impressed, "Very good, you've done your homework. That makes my job easier."
Ed folded his arms, "Alright, I've done most of the talking here. Now it's your turn."
"I need for you to genetically modify the gland I have to be compatible with human DNA and fix it so that it will shut off. I need it to work like the one in Fawkes' head."
Ed thought for a moment, "Okay, easy enough, you have a blood sample I'm assuming of the guinea pig?"
Arnaud smiled, "Yes, I do."
"How are we going to test the gland to make sure it shuts off?" Ed asked as he crossed his arms.
"I have a prototype of the one you'll be working on. When you get that one ready, my team will implant it in a monkey."
Ed smiled, "What, no rats this time?"
"Only for you?"
"I'm honored." Ed said mockingly. "Okay, next question, has the test monkey been prepped for the gland? I mean, have you given it the necessary peptide injections?"
"Yes, that has already been done."
Ed looked at Arnaud quizzically, "Okay ... uhmm ... when did you want me to get started?"
"Right now, time is of the importance and the sooner you start the sooner you'll finish." Arnaud motioned for the gland to be brought in. Ed got up and walked over to have a better a look.
"Incredible, so which one is the primary macro ganglion and which one is the secondary?" Ed asked as he studied the gland in the clear liquid.
"This one is laser sutured to the blood vessels."
"Uhmm, so that would be the secondary," Ed said still looking at the gland. "So, this one must be the primary that's connected to the brain stem?"
"Correct," Arnaud stood up and looked down at Ed, "Now, shall we get started?"
Ed straightened up, "Let's get the show on the road."
~*~
Darien and Hobbes sat in the van. Darien watched the scenery go by completely lost in his thoughts.
"A penny for your thoughts," Hobbes quipped.
"I really miss Darcy," Darien said depressed.
Hobbes glanced over at his partner, "You're really in love with her aren't you?"
"Yeah, I am." Darien paused and thought for a moment. His life had taken such a sudden turn in the past two years and it scared him.
"But?"
Hobbes interrupted his train of thought. "Huh?" Darien asked.
"But... there's something else going in that hairball head of yours."
"It's just that, I loved Casey and I blew it with her with my lies. I loved Kate, but I let her go. Then there was Allianora. I don't want to lose Darcy too. The people I love tend to get hurt or killed because of this gland. I don't want to go through all that again. I mean, look at Ed, Arnaud almost killed him because of it and I didn't even know Ed yet."
Hobbes thought for a moment, "Look, if you let that kind of thinking control you, you'll never take chances, my friend. Trust Bobby Hobbes on this one kid, don't let anything get in the way of love." Hobbes frowned at his own comment. He had lost Claire because he didn't fish off the company pier.
Darien smiled at Hobbes, "Darcy and I are getting married, or joined, or connected..." Darien waved his hand in the air, "I don't know what dominants call it."
Hobbes did a double take, "What? Married? Already? You? When?"
"Whoa, that was impressive, Hobbes, five one word questions." Darien smirked. "They teach you that in Interrogation 101? Cause if that's meant to confuse someone, it works."
"No, I happen to be an expert at interrogation, my wise ass friend. No one, and I mean no one, can outlast Bobby Hobbes." Hobbes shook his finger at Darien.
"Uh-huh, yeah, you mean like, ohhh, let's say, Allianora," Darien said with a smile. He glanced at Hobbes as he raised both brows.
Hobbes gripped the steering wheel. He stared at the road to avoid looking at Darien's face. Hobbes knew he would have that smug look on his face he gets when he's right. "You would bring her up." Hobbes was silent for a moment, "Okay, but let me tell you, she's the only one that didn't crack under the supreme interrogation techniques of Bobby Hobbes."
"You know if they ever make a movie about secret agents and they wanted to do one on you, it would be called 'Bobby Hobbes in Wonderland'."
"Ahh ... is that insult?"
"No, Hobbes, in your case, it's a compliment."
"Sounded like an insult to me."
"Hobbes, I want to ask you a question," Darien said in a serious tone.
"Sure, shoot partner, what'd ya need to know?"
Darien smirked at Hobbes reply, "Uhmm ... would you be my best man?"
"Your what? Best man? Me?" Hobbes pointed to himself and Darien nodded. "What about Ed, I thought you would pick him."
"Why, because he looks like me? No, Hobbes, I've known you longer; you had to deal with my selfishness, the madness, my impulses ... " Darien looked at Hobbes. "You can stop me anytime, Hobbes." Darien sneered.
Hobbes shook his head in agreement, "No please, continue, you're on a roll."
"Ha-ha, very funny. But seriously, would you be my best man?"
Hobbes smiled, "Fawkes, I'm honored; of course I'll be your best man."
Darien smiled, "Cool."
Hobbes turned the corner and pulled over, "Okay, hot shot, you're on."
"You got my back?" Darien shot Hobbes a worried look.
"Always, my friend."
Darien smiled and let the quicksilver flow. He exited the van and walked down the row of warehouses, careful so he didn't bump into anybody like that time in the hospital when Hobbes had hit his head. He put his shield up so he wouldn't be sensed. Darien was getting accustomed to his new role in life. He actually was starting to enjoy it. It sure made things easier for him and he found himself getting his butt kicked less often.
The Agency had received a tip that someone was about to release the SARS virus in Southern California. They had received a location as to where the dominants responsible could be found. Pasadena.
He found the building and quietly opened the door. He had sensed three dominants in the building and they were in the back. Darien made his way towards them, he felt like the fox in the hen house. It was all too easy now. He quickly incapacitated two of them. But something had happened to Darien. He gazed down at the two men and smiled, he had snapped their necks like they were twigs and the thing was, he enjoyed it.
The third looked at his comrades lying on the floor, he scanned the room. He couldn't sense anything. He had started to run for it when he felt something pull him to the floor. He watched as a tall man suddenly appeared looming over him. Coal black eyes burned into him.
"Now where do you think you're going?" Darien asked putting his foot down on the man's chest.
"I know who you are," the man said trying to get air into his lungs.
Darien swayed his head back and forth, "Yeah, I'm sure you do. Lewis and the Council really love me. Yeah, their big fans of mine." Darien bent down and hauled the injured man off the floor and tossed him onto a chair. "Now you're going to answer a few questions for me."
"I won't," the man stated sternly.
Darien chuckled, "Oh now you see, I disagree." Darien leaned down to get closer to the man's face, he gazed at him with a look of desire to do bodily harm, "I think you will."
About twenty minutes after Darien left Hobbes waiting in the van, the door opened up again. Hobbes saw the indent suddenly appear on the seat.
"Drive."
Hobbes heard the disembodied voice. He didn't like the way Darien sounded. With caution he asked, "You okay there, Fawkes?"
"Drive."
Hobbes mentally did a check on his gun.
"You won't need that."
Hobbes heard Darien breathe heavily. "So, how did it go, get anything?" Hobbes asked carefully.
"Lewis, I'm going to see Lewis." Darien reappeared in a burst of silver rain. He turned to look at Hobbes.
Hobbes nearly jumped out of his seat. "Fawkes, your eyes?"
"What about them?" Darien asked coldly. He had no emotion at all and only one person was on his mind at the moment, Lewis. Darien pulled the rear view mirror towards him and stared into his cold dark black eyes. He turned back to look at Hobbes and smiled.
Hobbes didn't like the new look to his eyes. There was something about them. He couldn't put his finger on it, but the black eyes reminded him of something. This looked different then when Fawkes quicksilvers his eyes. No, this time the look of death was there and it was very cold. Hobbes felt like he looked into the abyss, a bottomless pit of no emotion. As is, he would have bet his pay that his partner was under the influence of quicksilver madness.
"Okay, so where do I go?" Hobbes asked as he started up the van.
Darien gave Hobbes directions to Lewis' new training house. For the entire trip, Darien kept quiet, still keeping his game face on. Hobbes knew enough to not break Darien's concentration. He knew that Darien was fighting internally for control and now is not a good time to upset him.
Hobbes had driven them out to the rural area of the city. Darien looked around, "Stop here." Hobbes stopped the van. He watched as Darien's body was coated with the metallic blanket. The door opened and then closed.
"I'll just wait here then," Hobbes announced quietly. He let out a sigh. "I hope he gets his act together, he's not a great conversationalist in dominant mode or whatever mode he's in now. I would rather deal with QSM then this."
Darien walked right up to the front door. He pushed on the door and it opened easily. "Cocky son of a..." Darien stated as he started up the spiraling stair case in the mansion. He shook his head as he took a glance around the spacious house. As usual, there was no furniture or any other sign that showed that someone was living in the huge house. "Lewis, you're too stuck on yourself," Darien quipped.
He walked down the hall on the second floor. Darien shed the quicksilver and walked into one of the large rooms. Lewis had his back to the door as he worked on his computer.
"You know for someone who trains assassins, you should know never sit with your back to the door."
"Hello, Darien. I've been expecting you." Lewis said smugly. He turned around and faced Darien.
Darien walked around the room so his back wasn't towards the door. "You were, I'm surprised there wasn't a surprise party waiting for me."
"Against you? They wouldn't have a chance. We both know that. But as for your man outside."
Darien stopped and glared at Lewis, "Anything happens to him and I'll snap your neck."
Lewis caught sight of Darien's eyes when he turned. Darien approached him, "Like what you see, Lewis? Look at what you created."
Lewis couldn't help but be hypnotized by the black eyes. "What happened to you?"
Darien smiled, "Don't know that yet. Pretty scary huh? Now, about Hobbes," Darien grabbed Lewis and pushed him up against the wall and held him there, "Nothing better happen to him," Darien hissed through gritted teeth.
"As long as we continue to talk, he'll be fine. I heard what you did to my men at the warehouse. Your skills have improved. Tom must be a doing a good job, after all I did train him."
"Why don't you just go ahead and nominate yourself for dominant of the year? You're so damn high on yourself, Lewis." Darien let Lewis go.
"Let me help you, Darien. I can find out what's going on with you," Lewis said.
"I don't think so. You've done enough already."
"Darien, you can't fight it, you're turning into the perfect killing machine and you know it. The humans can't help you."
"One can."
"I'm sure he can." Lewis paused and then continued, "Darien, I'm afraid that someone has sent you on a wild goose chase as the humans say. As much as I would love for us to take credit for the SARS virus, we didn't have anything to do with it. And you know I'm telling the truth."
Darien looked down at the floor and then back up at Lewis, "Okay, you are telling the truth. I'll be watching you, Lewis." Darien started to head for the door when Lewis called out to him.
"Darien, how is Darcy?"
Darien stopped and turned around to face Lewis, "She's fine, doing much better now."
"I'm sure she is," Lewis said a smile on his face. "Oh and tell Dr. Tate 'bravo' for me. That man has more lives than any human I've known."
"Yeah, not bad for a human, he's outsmarted you on just about every curve ball you've thrown at him hasn't he?" Darien winked at Lewis, and disappeared from sight.
Lewis groaned, "I'll have you, and Dr. Tate soon enough. His luck can't last forever and you can't fight the instincts within you for long." Lewis smiled and he picked up his phone and called his men to tell them to let Fawkes and his partner go. There'll be another day.
Darien made it back to the van, but before he could open the door he stumbled, "Hobbes."
"Fawkes!" Hobbes jumped out of the van and ran to the other side. He found Darien sitting on the ground leaning up against the van to support him. "You okay?"
Darien looked up at Hobbes, his eyes were brown again, "What's happening to me?"
"Don't know pal, but we better get back to San Diego so the Keep can have a look at ya." Hobbes helped Darien to his feet and into the van.
"I'm tired," Darien said as he leaned back on the seat.
"Take a nap."
"And I'm hungry, can we stop for two double bacon cheeseburgers with fries and a coke ... oh and Hobbes, biggie size it for me," Darien said and then promptly fell asleep.
Hobbes shook his head, "You're like the lean mean eating machine. Ed was right, your appetite did pick up." He started up the van and headed back to San Diego. He looked over at Darien slumped in the chair sleeping. He pulled out his phone and called Claire.
~*~
Ed had no idea how long he worked on the gland. It seemed like a day had gone by. He was on a roll and it was non-stop for him. A couple of scientists had asked him to take a break and he refused. He was close and he felt it. Ed was a blur in a white lab coat as he went from one end of the table to the other. His chair propelled by his feet as he slid back and forth. Clear safety glasses adorned his face and his hands covered with the latex gloves.
Arnaud watched him with fascination as he dipped a dropper in a solution and then gently squeezed it out into several different vials. He saw Kevin and Darien combined in one man. Ed was just as determined and focused as Kevin was when a problem needed to be solved. But he was also like Darien in more than just his looks; they both had that carefree swagger when they walked. Arnaud figured it was the self confidence they both possesed.
Ed had gotten up and went over to the gavitron, to Ed it was similar to the one that Walter had taken from Dr. Copeland's lab. Ed didn't even wonder how Arnaud got a hold of one; he was so wrapped up in what he was doing to even think to ask. He took out a vial and held it up to look at it in the light. He mumbled something and sat back down. Ed pulled out another dropper and removed some of the liquid from the vial he took from the gavitron. He put some on a slide and slipped it under the lens of the microscope. He looked through the eye piece and mumbled again to himself.
Arnaud hadn't seen anyone so consumed in their work in a long time. Ed got up from his chair and took the eye dropper with him. He was now hovering over the gland. He placed the eye dropper into a vial and squeezed out its contents. Next he picked up a syringe and placed the needle into the liquid. He pulled back on the plunger and filled the syringe a quarter of the way. Ed said something to the scientist that was helping him and he nodded. The gland was taken out of the jar and Ed with steady hands gently inserted the needle and pressed on the plunger. The gland was replaced back in the jar.
Ed looked over at Arnaud, "Now we wait."
"Splendid, Dr. Tate. I'll have some food brought to you." Arnaud turned and walked out.
Ed looked at the others and took off his glasses and gloves. Some of the scientists patted him on the back. Ed gave them half hearted smiles. He turned and looked at the gland, "How come I feel like Dr. Frankenstein?"
~*~
Claire was there when Hobbes pulled up. She didn't see Darien. "Where is he?"
"In the back, we stopped for the cheeseburgers and after he finished eating, he crawled to the back and fell asleep." Hobbes stated as he opened the back of the van.
"I'll get a gurney," Claire said as she started to leave.
"I carried him one time before, I can do it again." Hobbes bent down and shook Darien, "Hey kid, wake up. Come on, I'll carry you."
"Oh okay," Darien was groggy. It actually felt like he had one too many beers.
With Hobbes help, Darien was taken to the Keep for tests. For the next couple of hours, Claire ran every test she could think of. If there was ever a time she needed Ed it was now. Even Hobbes had started to feel the same way.
The Official strolled in a couple of hours later as Claire looked over CT scans, MRI's, EEG's and she was still no closer to finding an answer. Nothing was showing up. She had even run a DNA check using Ed's program and it showed that he was still at 1.6% differential.
"Report, doctor," the Official asked.
Claire scratched her head, "I don't know. I don't see anything. I've ran test after test and I just can't find the answer. I really could Ed's help on this."
"How's the gland?"
"It's fine," Claire looked over at Darien who was still sleeping. "Hobbes said that he ate two double cheeseburgers, a large fry and drank a large coke. I know he can eat, but even that is a lot. Ed did say that dominants have a higher metabolism because of the energy their brains put out. But I've never seen Darien eat like that even after his conversion. The only thing I can think of is Darien was in a high emotional state and it zapped the energy out him. But it doesn't explain why his eyes were completely black. I may have to have him repeat what happened so I can run more tests."
The Official grunted. He wasn't sure if that was a good idea without Tom around. He decided to play it safe and wait. As long as the gland was not affected, he could wait before putting Darien through that situation again. "As soon as you can, contact Dr. Tate and see what he says," he turned around and walked out.
Claire let out a sigh and went back to reviewing the test results.
~*~
Ed looked up from the microscope, "Okay, I think we're ready."
"So soon? How did you fix it?" Arnaud asked.
Ed turned around on the seat to face Arnaud, "Simple, I remember reading what happened with Simon Cole. His body was unable to release the inhibitor catalyst to turn off the gland because of something in his mitochrondial DNA that was a recessive genetic marker. His DNA was not compatible with the new beta reagent in the gland. It wasn't that the gland wouldn't shut off, Cole's body couldn't shut it off."
Arnaud thought for a moment, "That's when I was brought on the project. I changed the stabilizing compound."
"Yes and the gland's inhibitor reagent was modified by ... " Ed waited for Arnaud to answer.
"Retroviral DNA splicing ... yes of course," Arnaud ran his hand through his hair.
"You must have the same recessive genetic marker in your DNA like Simon Cole. All I needed to do was to match the inhibitor reagent to the host's DNA and do the retroviral DNA splicing on the gland." Ed said as he looked at Arnaud. "Another words, gene therapy." Ed shrugged his shoulders. "This prototype is ready for the test subject." Ed turned and looked at the gland.
Arnaud smiled, he turned to the other scientists and the guards in the room, "You heard him, let's get the test subject ready."
Ed watched as some guards came near him. Ed stood up, "Whoa ... hey, what's going on here?"
Arnaud turned around with a syringe in his hand, "Just like you said, I'm getting the test subject ready."
The guards grabbed Ed. He looked at them and realization hit, "No! That gland is marked for the monkey."
"Now that you told us how to do it, I think we can manage," Arnaud nodded his head and Ed was held down on the table. Arnaud looked into the man's frightened face, "Don't worry, Dr. Tate, it'll all be over before you know it."
"Arnaud, we had a deal!" Ed struggled but the position he was in he found it hard to get the leverage he needed. He tried to kick out but his legs were being held down. The guards had placed one of their legs in front of Ed's legs. He was completely immobilized.
"Yes, and I'm changing it," Arnaud injected Ed with the sedative.
The guards let Ed go and he fell to the floor on his knees. He looked up and Arnaud knelt down next to him, "You betrayed me."
Arnaud smiled, "Sleep well, and I'll see you in about three weeks."
Ed lost the battle with the sedative. He rolled onto his back and into a deep sleep. Arnaud stood up and looked at the guards, "Get him on the table." He turned to the scientists, "Lets get started shall we?"
TBC...