Chapter 9
Tom came into the Keep and saw Claire busy at work, "How's it going?"
Claire glanced at him, "Ah, not very well, we failed on our first attempt. Actually, I would have been surprised if we got it to work. How's Ed?"
"Not good, I think he's at the peek that you were talking about," Tom sat down and put his hands on his lap, "Walter talked to us."
Claire stopped what she was doing and put her hands on her hips, "What did say?"
"He's going to be giving the injections to Ed at midnight. He gave us a window of fifteen minutes. We can't move Ed until 11:45 tonight."
"He must be planning something then, if we take Ed too soon it might fail." She smiled gratefully, "He's risking a lot by doing this."
"According to him, the conversation never happened. We're on our own." Tom stood up, "I'm going to look for a place to take him. We won't be able to stay there long, so I'll need to find another place. Can you do your research on the run?"
Claire shook her head, "Yeah, I'm preparing a mobile lab. I'm packing sedatives too. I have a feeling that we're going to need them."
Tom smiled and headed for the door, Claire stopped him, "Tom!" He turned to face her.
"Thanks, I mean not just for me, but for Ed."
"He's a friend, Claire, and this is what friends do for each other." Tom smiled and walked out.
Sloan ran into the observation room. She saw Ray, "Oh, Ray, I need your help."
"If it means leaving the room, I can't, Tom went to find a place for us to take Ed to. I promised I would stay to keep my eye on him," Ray said.
Sloan looked sullen all of a sudden, but she understood, "It's okay, I rather have someone watching him," she turned to look at Ed. She walked towards the window, "Why didn't you take the medication?" Ed had moved to the far end of the room and had propped himself up against the wall. He still rocked and back and forth with his knees pulled up to his chest.
"He's been like that for about ten minutes now. Walter was in there with him, but he left five minutes ago." Ray announced softly as he put his hand on Sloan's shoulder.
Sloan looked up at him, "Claire doesn't know how long this part will last." She shook herself from staring at Ed and walked to the door, "Thanks for keeping an eye on him."
Ray merely nodded and Sloan left. Ray sat down and rested his elbow on the window ledge. He let out a big sigh. He had turned off the microphone earlier; he didn't want to hear Ed's moans anymore.
~*~
Darien and Hobbes traveled east on Lyons Valley Road. Darien suddenly sat up in the seat, "Whoa…whoa…Hobbes, stop…stop…pull over, right here…right here."
"Okay, okay, don't get your hair in a tousle," Hobbes pulled the van over and Darien opened the door. "What'd you see?"
"I don't know, let me check," Darien got out of the van and went to a group of small bushes. Hobbes followed him. Darien leaned down and picked up what looked like a jacket. He shook it and it opened up, bits of broken glass fell from the long white coat.
Hobbes looked at it, "A lab coat."
"Ed might have been wearing it. He must have taken it off when he broke the window. There were no bruises or cuts on either arm. My guess is he wrapped his arm in it or used something else to break the window and used the coat to cover the glass." Darien folded it back up and tucked it under his arm. He watched Hobbes check the ground.
"Hel-lo…Fawkes, take a look," Hobbes was pointing to the ground were footprints and tire tracks were visible. "Who ever was here wore hiking boots," Hobbes stood up and followed the tire tracks. "He came in this way to hide the car, he got out of the car and that's when lab coat must have fallen out. Then he came to the side of road to see where he was at."
"And how do you that all that?"
"Haven't I taught you anything? Obviously if he went inside the gas station and asked directions, he didn't know where he was. Plus the shoe tracks go to the side of the road. See how they go around in circles, he was trying to figure out where he was."
"Oh yeah, the ol' 'men don't ask for directions' thing was just blown."
"He was on the run from Arnaud and almost quicksilver nutso, he didn't have time to go sight seeing. I'd say we continue east since I doubt he came down that road over there. The tire tracks come in this way," Hobbes followed the tracks to the bushes. "Then he backed up and went out this way," Hobbes pointed to the ground, "The tracks are here where he pulled back out onto the road."
"You're a regular tracker aren't you?"
"Training, my friend."
Darien looked at Hobbes, then he looked around, "Okay, Ed, anymore clues for us." They got back in the van and drove east.
~*~
Sloan came back in the Keep with a monkey, "Well, I know it's not a rat, but will he do?"
"Oh, yeah, this is Jonesy right?" Claire said as the monkey jumped on her shoulder.
"Yes, I thought maybe he'd bring us some luck." Sloan put his cage down on the counter. Claire had picked up a syringe of quicksilver. Sloan took Jonesy and held him while Claire injected him with the quicksilver. Sloan quickly put the monkey back in the cage. They watched Jonesy for a minute and he started to show signs of quicksilver madness. Sloan drew some blood from Jonesy and put the vial in the carrier. She and Claire went about preparing another dose of counteragent.
"Did you check on Ed?" Claire asked as they waited.
"Yeah, Ray was in there so he couldn't help me bring the other monkeys. Ed didn't look good, Claire. He was huddled at the far end of the room."
Claire let out a deep sigh, "I was afraid of that." She checked the vial's temperature, "Okay, this one is ready." Claire filled a syringe and they both approached a very angry monkey.
"You know, maybe a monkey wasn't such a good idea after all," Sloan said.
*POP*
The monkey fell to the bottom of the cage. Sloan stared at it wide eyed and then turned around to see Claire put the tranq gun down. Sloan smiled in half shock half amusement. "I don't have time to fight with a monkey today nor do I have the patience," Claire said as she opened the cage. Claire injected the monkey with the counteragent. "Go ahead and draw some blood, it should act pretty fast," Claire said as she prepared a slide to compare it with the new blood sample.
They crossed their fingers and studied the two slides. Claire smiled. Sloan looked at her, "Did it work?"
"Almost," Claire enlarged the samples on the screen, "I just need to modify it some more. It's still not enough, but I think we got it. It won't be able to pull him completely out of quicksilver madness, but it might be enough to buy Ed some time."
"Well, why are we talking, lets do some cooking," Sloan said as she patted Claire on the back.
~*~
The Official walked into Walter's office alone. Walter looked up from his desk, "Hello, Charlie, what can I do for you?"
"What are your intentions with Dr. Tate?"
Walter leaned back in his chair and tapped his pen on the desk, "Why, he's no concern of yours."
"He has a quicksilver gland in his head and that makes him my concern."
"And why is that?"
"It's a matter of national security and the secrecy of this project."
"If Darien does not return with the counteragent by midnight, the gland will be harvested. Is that what you want to hear? That I can be just as cold hearted as you?"
The Official looked at Walter with furry, "How I treat Darien is my business. This project is not about him. I follow orders, whether I like it or not."
"And I do the same." Walter stood up, "The difference between you and I, Charlie, is that I listen to my feelings and not always my superiors. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to spend some time with Ed. If I'm going to kill him tonight, I'm going to at least look him in the eye."
"Arnaud can now manufacture his own quicksilver gland and Dr. Tate helped him," The Official said before Walter left.
"We don't know the extent that Ed helped or if he did at all. But think about this one, Charlie, Ed might have gotten close enough to figure out a way to fix the gland in Darien, now, that knowledge might die with him. That should make you happy; you still may have a leash on Darien after all." Walter turned and left his office leaving the Official standing there.
~*~
Hobbes drove down another street. "Sense anything yet with those supper peepers of yours?"
"I don't have x-ray vision, Hobbes."
"No, but that mind of yours does."
"I don't see visions, I only read thoughts…" Darien looked at Hobbes, "…kinda like you when you hear voices, only they're from real people outside of my head."
"You makin' fun of me?"
"No, that wouldn't be nice to make fun of other people."
"Oh, I see where you're taking this…"
"And where would that be?"
"You're trying to teach me a lesson about making fun of Mr. Ed…well let me tell you something Wilbur…"
"Okay, see, there you go again, this aggression that you have towards Ed…whoa…wait, Hobbes. Pull over." Darien sat straight up in the seat.
"What?"
"That's the place right down there?"
"You sure?"
Darien shot Hobbes a glare, "Oh so now you're questioning me…sure I'm sure." Darien opened the door. He met Hobbes on the other side of the van.
Hobbes handed Darien a gun, "Get yourself a clear shot and put Arnaud's lights out for good."
"I love this plan." Darien put his hand on Hobbes shoulder. The quicksilver flowed and covered them both. "Eww…this is just too weird, Fawkes," Hobbes retorted.
"Just keep quiet, okay."
They approached the house and Darien sensed some humans coming fast. "We've got company, Hobbes and it's not Avon." They rushed to the house just as Arnaud's men came out wearing thermals. "Oh crap!" The two men said in unison. Arnaud came out and smiled, "I was wondering when you were going get here."
Darien let the quicksilver stop and he looked behind him, "You've got company, Arnie, anyone you know?"
"Perhaps, but I believe they want us both dead or else they wouldn't have waited until you showed up," He said smugly. "Come inside, I have something you want." Arnaud turned and went back inside the house. Darien and Hobbes stared at each other in disbelief. They shrugged their shoulders and followed Arnaud.
"What'd you sense from him?" Hobbes asked under his breath.
"He wants to give us counteragent and the weird thing is, he's sincere," Darien replied back.
"Does he know about you?"
"He knows I'm a dominant," Darien stated as he cautiously kept an eye on his surroundings. He still didn't trust Arnaud.
"If you're wondering if I know about you, Fawkes, I do. Tell me how does it feel to be part of an evolved species? Arnaud asked.
"Not all that different actually, but at least I know I belong to a higher life form than you," Darien retorted.
Arnaud turned around and chuckled, "I see that you didn't lose your uncanny wit."
Darien heard gunshots outside. He looked at Hobbes and then turned his gaze back to Arnaud, "Why'd you do it? Why Ed?"
"Do you want the counteragent or to chit chat?"
Darien grabbed Arnaud and lifted him off the floor, "You bastard, you just had to go and ruin another life didn't you?" Darien threw Arnaud across the room. He approached him and lifted him off the floor again, "Where is it? Where's the counteragent and it had better be the right one."
Arnaud pointed a drawer, "It's in there, in a black box."
Hobbes looked through the drawer and found the box and opened it up. He held up the vial, "It's yellow."
"Yes, it's different counteragent. How is Dr. Tate doing by the way?"
Darien pushed him up against the wall, "Your mutation is working just fine."
"Then I would suggest you get him the counteragent before it's too late."
Darien squeezed Arnaud's neck, "What have you done?"
"Stage 4 madness is not like it was for you," Arnaud gasped for air, "I'm sure he's in that now, waiting for counteragent to take him out of his misery. So you can either spend time killing me, or do what you failed to do the last time…save your brother."
Darien smiled malevolently, "Arnie, it won't take me but a second to kill you." Darien tossed Arnaud to the floor and grabbed him from behind, "You want to learn about dominants? Here's lesson one. How do dominants kill?" Darien slowly started to twist Arnaud's neck, "We snap heads off."
Hobbes put the syringe and the vials in his pocket, "He bent down to look in Arnaud's eyes, "Before he does that, where's the information on counteragent?"
Arnaud gasped, "Dr. Tate's laptop, I put it in there."
Hobbes looked around and saw it sitting on the desk. Just as Hobbes reached for it, an explosion rocked the house. The impact knocked Darien and Hobbes across the room. Arnaud lay on the ground covered in debris and bleeding profusely. Arnaud had taken the brunt of the impact. Darien got up slowly and checked on Hobbes, he was still alive. He sensed that Arnaud was still alive but barely.
"Hobbes, come on man, we've got to get out of here." He helped Hobbes to his feet and they ran from the room. The house was falling down around them as it was rocked with one explosion after another. They reached the outside and ran to the row of trees. They stopped to see men in combat gear surround the house. It was on fire and the exit that Darien and Hobbes came from collapsed.
"Over there, stop them!"
"Are they talking about us?" Darien asked.
"Yeah, I think so," Hobbes said as he held on to Ed's laptop.
"Do you suppose they want autographs?"
"Not my first guess."
Darien and Hobbes took off running. They hid behind a car and Darien coated Hobbes with quicksilver. "We're gonna make another run for it, ready?" Darien asked.
"Yeah, let's do it."
Darien and Hobbes got to their feet and took off running. The car they were hiding behind suddenly blew up in an explosion that sent the two men sailing through the air. They landed on the grass behind some bushes. The quicksilver flaked off and Darien checked Hobbes, he was banged up but still breathing.
"I'm really starting to hate being blown up," Darien said sarcastically.
Hobbes moaned his agreement, "That makes two of us." Darien took a peek and saw the men coming over to the car; they had taken off their thermals from the blinding light of the explosion. Darien saw the opportunity; he touched Hobbes again and covered them. He grabbed Hobbes, "Come on."
Hobbes grunted his disapproval, but forced himself to his feet and they ran off without being seen again. They made it to the van and noticed the flat tire. "Damn, they knew," Darien said as he hit the side the van.
"Do we find another mode of transportation or do we change the tire?" Hobbes asked as he looked around. "They may even be watching us," Hobbes said.
"Somebody doesn't want us to get the counteragent to Ed," Darien said as he glanced up and down the street.
"Or they wanted you dead or maybe both, you dead and Ed permanently whacko."
"But why?"
"Don't know, my friend." Hobbes said as he got the things needed to change the tire. "You stand guard with those supper ears of yours," Hobbes started to jack up the van.
"Whoa, Hobbes, someone's coming." Darien helped Hobbes grab the tools and they hid in the dense vegetation next to the van.
The men came up to the van and looked around. "They didn't come back this way," one of the men said as he looked around.
Hobbes and Darien looked at each other and then turned their attention back to the men. "Why don't you tell them that we left and they won't find us," Hobbes said quietly.
Darien furrowed his brow in disbelief at his partner's request, "I'm not a Jedi Knight, Hobbes, I can only disrupt brain waves, not put suggestions in their minds."
"Oh, well, now would be a good time to learn the ways of the force," Hobbes said in reply.
"It doesn't work that way, Hobbes…wait, they're leaving." Darien slowly got up and stepped out from behind the bushes, he signaled for Hobbes to come out too. "Okay, let's get this tire changed and get the heck out of here."
~*~
Walter patted Ed's forehead and face with cold compresses trying to keep him as comfortable as possible. Ed was getting worse. His body trembled, his breathing heavy and he moaned constantly in agony. Walter was sure that Ed wasn't even aware that someone was there. He spoke softly to Ed telling him stories of when they first met and the things that happened during the past five years.
Sloan came in to check up on Ed and saw Walter sitting there. She smiled. "Thanks, Walter," she said as she sat down next to him.
"I better take that now because soon, you won't be thanking me at all," Walter said sadly.
"Well, that's why I'm saying it. You're risking a lot and I appreciate that," Sloan said as she looked sadly at Ed.
"Sloan, I have no idea what you're talking about," Walter eyed her cautiously.
"What I meant was, that you're risking your friendship with us by following orders," Sloan said as she winked at him. "But we know that if anybody has to do this, at least it'll be you."
Walter wiped Ed's forehead, "I don't want to, Sloan, this is the hardest thing I've ever had to do. How is Claire doing?"
"She's making headway, actually, I just came in here to check on Ed so I can tell her how he's doing," she looked sadly at Walter.
"Sloan, I hope she can come up something or that Darien and Hobbes can get back in time with the counteragent. I've tried everything I could, but these orders are coming down from the top."
"I know, Walter, we don't blame you, this is just as hard on you as it is on us," she bent down and kissed Ed's cheek. She was shocked at how hot he was. "I love you, Ed, hang in there for us," she got up and left the room. She met Tom in the hallway and hugged him, "He's getting worse, Tom."
"I know." Tom walked with Sloan back to the Keep. He had some good news to tell Claire. He had found a couple of dominant safe houses that Mark had provided. Mark had also offered help in removing Ed from the Agency.
They entered the Keep and Claire was ecstatic. Tom and Sloan both glanced at each other. "You did it? You discovered counteragent that will work on Ed?" Sloan asked with hope in her tone.
"No, but I've got better news than that. I just got off the phone with Hobbes, they found Arnaud and they're on their way back with the counteragent."
Sloan covered her mouth and sat down, she couldn't believe what she just heard, "How long before they get here?"
"Hobbes said in about twenty minutes, he wanted to wait to call me to make sure they weren't being followed. But I'm still going to continue my research, just in case."
"Should we tell Walter?" Sloan asked.
Tom raised a brow, "No, I don't think we should at least not yet."
"Why? I think he should know," Sloan said in a questionable tone.
"Sloan, just trust me on this. The less people know that Darien and Hobbes are on their way back the better."
"You think he would tell someone so they would try to stop them?" Claire asked. She put her hands on her hips and stared at Tom.
"That wouldn't be Walter's intention, but maybe someone else's." Tom didn't trust anybody outside of their little circle and unfortunately that meant Walter. Not that Walter would willingly betray Ed, but that he would tell someone who had no second thoughts about it.
~*~
The Lady stood by the remains of Arnaud's house. A soldier came up to her to give her a report.
"We didn't find Arnaud's body or Agent Fawkes. Some men did check the van parked down the street and they didn't see anybody, but shortly after it was discovered gone. Would you like for us to search by air?"
The Lady became enraged, "No, if they're traveling on a public highway that would bring too much attention to ourselves. It's bad enough we destroyed this house." She paused and then continued after she glanced at the house for a few seconds, "I still have options open." She turned and walked towards her car. She pulled out her cell phone and called Walter.
Walter's phone rang and he picked it up, "Yes."
"There's been a change in orders. My superiors don't want to wait any longer. There's a team on their way, Walter. Your orders are to give Dr. Tate the injections right now and prepare to extract the gland."
Walter looked at Ed and then his watch, "But it's not time yet, you must give Darien and Claire a chance to save him."
"I'm sorry, Walter, but you can't let your personal feelings get in the way of what is the greater good. I've told you before, Walter, we're all expendable." She hung up the phone and she headed for San Diego.
Walter turned off his phone and starred at Ed for a moment. He got up, left the room and headed for the Keep.
Claire and Sloan were busy with another trial counteragent when Walter came in. Tom saw the look on his face and read his emotion, he shot Sloan a quick glance. Sloan looked at him and Claire glanced up from the microscope.
"What is it, Walter, is it Ed?" Sloan asked.
"Yes, I'm afraid it is, I've been ordered to proceed with the retrieval of the gland ASAP. If you're going to get him out of here, I suggest you do it now," Walter started to leave when Claire spoke up.
"But Darien and Hobbes have the counteragent and they're on their way back now. You have to give them time," Claire pleaded.
Walter turned to look at her, "I can stall for time, but they had better hurry." Walter turned and as the door opened, the Official walked in followed by some guards.
"Charlie, what's going on here?" Walter asked as he eyed the men.
"These men are here to make sure that you carry out your orders."
Claire looked shocked, "NO! The counteragent is on its way!"
"Doctor, I've told you before, it's not about…"
"Don't give me that! Ed isn't a receptacle…"
"Orders are orders, doctor, and we will not have this conversation again." The Official glanced back at the guards, "Escort Dr. Attwood back to his office so he can get what he needs and then make sure he carries out his orders."
Claire glared at him, "Don't do this," she said emphatically.
The Official glared at Claire, "Don't make me lock all of you up." He walked out in a huff. Claire grabbed her phone and dialed Hobbes' number. "I won't give Ed up so easily, not without a fight."
Sloan looked at Tom. "What do you want us to do?"
"First, let me tell Hobbes and Darien what's happening and then I'll tell you what's on my mind. In the mean time, Sloan, prepare a hypo gun for me and some sedatives to knock out a human for days; it's in the top drawer. Tom, grab the tranq gun and the extra darts." Claire waited for Hobbes to pick up the phone.
Hobbes phone rang, he looked at it in puzzlement, "It's Claire." He answered, "What is it, Claire? …whoa, Claire slow down, what was that?" Hobbes listened and looked at Darien with a look of dismay on his face, "Okay, we'll move as fast as we can." He slowly put the phone down.
Darien glanced at Hobbes, he didn't have to wait for him to explain. He knew already, "That fat bastard!" Darien gripped the wheel and pushed the pedal to the floor, "Come on, baby," he muttered as he pushed the old van to its limits.
Hobbes took out the vial filled with counteragent and the syringe. He filled it and held it up in his hand. "When we get there, you take this and do your stuff, confuse them or whatever it is you do. I'll provide backup. Anyone goes near Ed and I'll put a cap in them."
Darien glanced back at Hobbes, his eyes black again. "Oh, I'll do better than that."
"Oh crap," Hobbes said as he took in the sight of his very angry partner.
TBC…
Tom came into the Keep and saw Claire busy at work, "How's it going?"
Claire glanced at him, "Ah, not very well, we failed on our first attempt. Actually, I would have been surprised if we got it to work. How's Ed?"
"Not good, I think he's at the peek that you were talking about," Tom sat down and put his hands on his lap, "Walter talked to us."
Claire stopped what she was doing and put her hands on her hips, "What did say?"
"He's going to be giving the injections to Ed at midnight. He gave us a window of fifteen minutes. We can't move Ed until 11:45 tonight."
"He must be planning something then, if we take Ed too soon it might fail." She smiled gratefully, "He's risking a lot by doing this."
"According to him, the conversation never happened. We're on our own." Tom stood up, "I'm going to look for a place to take him. We won't be able to stay there long, so I'll need to find another place. Can you do your research on the run?"
Claire shook her head, "Yeah, I'm preparing a mobile lab. I'm packing sedatives too. I have a feeling that we're going to need them."
Tom smiled and headed for the door, Claire stopped him, "Tom!" He turned to face her.
"Thanks, I mean not just for me, but for Ed."
"He's a friend, Claire, and this is what friends do for each other." Tom smiled and walked out.
Sloan ran into the observation room. She saw Ray, "Oh, Ray, I need your help."
"If it means leaving the room, I can't, Tom went to find a place for us to take Ed to. I promised I would stay to keep my eye on him," Ray said.
Sloan looked sullen all of a sudden, but she understood, "It's okay, I rather have someone watching him," she turned to look at Ed. She walked towards the window, "Why didn't you take the medication?" Ed had moved to the far end of the room and had propped himself up against the wall. He still rocked and back and forth with his knees pulled up to his chest.
"He's been like that for about ten minutes now. Walter was in there with him, but he left five minutes ago." Ray announced softly as he put his hand on Sloan's shoulder.
Sloan looked up at him, "Claire doesn't know how long this part will last." She shook herself from staring at Ed and walked to the door, "Thanks for keeping an eye on him."
Ray merely nodded and Sloan left. Ray sat down and rested his elbow on the window ledge. He let out a big sigh. He had turned off the microphone earlier; he didn't want to hear Ed's moans anymore.
~*~
Darien and Hobbes traveled east on Lyons Valley Road. Darien suddenly sat up in the seat, "Whoa…whoa…Hobbes, stop…stop…pull over, right here…right here."
"Okay, okay, don't get your hair in a tousle," Hobbes pulled the van over and Darien opened the door. "What'd you see?"
"I don't know, let me check," Darien got out of the van and went to a group of small bushes. Hobbes followed him. Darien leaned down and picked up what looked like a jacket. He shook it and it opened up, bits of broken glass fell from the long white coat.
Hobbes looked at it, "A lab coat."
"Ed might have been wearing it. He must have taken it off when he broke the window. There were no bruises or cuts on either arm. My guess is he wrapped his arm in it or used something else to break the window and used the coat to cover the glass." Darien folded it back up and tucked it under his arm. He watched Hobbes check the ground.
"Hel-lo…Fawkes, take a look," Hobbes was pointing to the ground were footprints and tire tracks were visible. "Who ever was here wore hiking boots," Hobbes stood up and followed the tire tracks. "He came in this way to hide the car, he got out of the car and that's when lab coat must have fallen out. Then he came to the side of road to see where he was at."
"And how do you that all that?"
"Haven't I taught you anything? Obviously if he went inside the gas station and asked directions, he didn't know where he was. Plus the shoe tracks go to the side of the road. See how they go around in circles, he was trying to figure out where he was."
"Oh yeah, the ol' 'men don't ask for directions' thing was just blown."
"He was on the run from Arnaud and almost quicksilver nutso, he didn't have time to go sight seeing. I'd say we continue east since I doubt he came down that road over there. The tire tracks come in this way," Hobbes followed the tracks to the bushes. "Then he backed up and went out this way," Hobbes pointed to the ground, "The tracks are here where he pulled back out onto the road."
"You're a regular tracker aren't you?"
"Training, my friend."
Darien looked at Hobbes, then he looked around, "Okay, Ed, anymore clues for us." They got back in the van and drove east.
~*~
Sloan came back in the Keep with a monkey, "Well, I know it's not a rat, but will he do?"
"Oh, yeah, this is Jonesy right?" Claire said as the monkey jumped on her shoulder.
"Yes, I thought maybe he'd bring us some luck." Sloan put his cage down on the counter. Claire had picked up a syringe of quicksilver. Sloan took Jonesy and held him while Claire injected him with the quicksilver. Sloan quickly put the monkey back in the cage. They watched Jonesy for a minute and he started to show signs of quicksilver madness. Sloan drew some blood from Jonesy and put the vial in the carrier. She and Claire went about preparing another dose of counteragent.
"Did you check on Ed?" Claire asked as they waited.
"Yeah, Ray was in there so he couldn't help me bring the other monkeys. Ed didn't look good, Claire. He was huddled at the far end of the room."
Claire let out a deep sigh, "I was afraid of that." She checked the vial's temperature, "Okay, this one is ready." Claire filled a syringe and they both approached a very angry monkey.
"You know, maybe a monkey wasn't such a good idea after all," Sloan said.
*POP*
The monkey fell to the bottom of the cage. Sloan stared at it wide eyed and then turned around to see Claire put the tranq gun down. Sloan smiled in half shock half amusement. "I don't have time to fight with a monkey today nor do I have the patience," Claire said as she opened the cage. Claire injected the monkey with the counteragent. "Go ahead and draw some blood, it should act pretty fast," Claire said as she prepared a slide to compare it with the new blood sample.
They crossed their fingers and studied the two slides. Claire smiled. Sloan looked at her, "Did it work?"
"Almost," Claire enlarged the samples on the screen, "I just need to modify it some more. It's still not enough, but I think we got it. It won't be able to pull him completely out of quicksilver madness, but it might be enough to buy Ed some time."
"Well, why are we talking, lets do some cooking," Sloan said as she patted Claire on the back.
~*~
The Official walked into Walter's office alone. Walter looked up from his desk, "Hello, Charlie, what can I do for you?"
"What are your intentions with Dr. Tate?"
Walter leaned back in his chair and tapped his pen on the desk, "Why, he's no concern of yours."
"He has a quicksilver gland in his head and that makes him my concern."
"And why is that?"
"It's a matter of national security and the secrecy of this project."
"If Darien does not return with the counteragent by midnight, the gland will be harvested. Is that what you want to hear? That I can be just as cold hearted as you?"
The Official looked at Walter with furry, "How I treat Darien is my business. This project is not about him. I follow orders, whether I like it or not."
"And I do the same." Walter stood up, "The difference between you and I, Charlie, is that I listen to my feelings and not always my superiors. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to spend some time with Ed. If I'm going to kill him tonight, I'm going to at least look him in the eye."
"Arnaud can now manufacture his own quicksilver gland and Dr. Tate helped him," The Official said before Walter left.
"We don't know the extent that Ed helped or if he did at all. But think about this one, Charlie, Ed might have gotten close enough to figure out a way to fix the gland in Darien, now, that knowledge might die with him. That should make you happy; you still may have a leash on Darien after all." Walter turned and left his office leaving the Official standing there.
~*~
Hobbes drove down another street. "Sense anything yet with those supper peepers of yours?"
"I don't have x-ray vision, Hobbes."
"No, but that mind of yours does."
"I don't see visions, I only read thoughts…" Darien looked at Hobbes, "…kinda like you when you hear voices, only they're from real people outside of my head."
"You makin' fun of me?"
"No, that wouldn't be nice to make fun of other people."
"Oh, I see where you're taking this…"
"And where would that be?"
"You're trying to teach me a lesson about making fun of Mr. Ed…well let me tell you something Wilbur…"
"Okay, see, there you go again, this aggression that you have towards Ed…whoa…wait, Hobbes. Pull over." Darien sat straight up in the seat.
"What?"
"That's the place right down there?"
"You sure?"
Darien shot Hobbes a glare, "Oh so now you're questioning me…sure I'm sure." Darien opened the door. He met Hobbes on the other side of the van.
Hobbes handed Darien a gun, "Get yourself a clear shot and put Arnaud's lights out for good."
"I love this plan." Darien put his hand on Hobbes shoulder. The quicksilver flowed and covered them both. "Eww…this is just too weird, Fawkes," Hobbes retorted.
"Just keep quiet, okay."
They approached the house and Darien sensed some humans coming fast. "We've got company, Hobbes and it's not Avon." They rushed to the house just as Arnaud's men came out wearing thermals. "Oh crap!" The two men said in unison. Arnaud came out and smiled, "I was wondering when you were going get here."
Darien let the quicksilver stop and he looked behind him, "You've got company, Arnie, anyone you know?"
"Perhaps, but I believe they want us both dead or else they wouldn't have waited until you showed up," He said smugly. "Come inside, I have something you want." Arnaud turned and went back inside the house. Darien and Hobbes stared at each other in disbelief. They shrugged their shoulders and followed Arnaud.
"What'd you sense from him?" Hobbes asked under his breath.
"He wants to give us counteragent and the weird thing is, he's sincere," Darien replied back.
"Does he know about you?"
"He knows I'm a dominant," Darien stated as he cautiously kept an eye on his surroundings. He still didn't trust Arnaud.
"If you're wondering if I know about you, Fawkes, I do. Tell me how does it feel to be part of an evolved species? Arnaud asked.
"Not all that different actually, but at least I know I belong to a higher life form than you," Darien retorted.
Arnaud turned around and chuckled, "I see that you didn't lose your uncanny wit."
Darien heard gunshots outside. He looked at Hobbes and then turned his gaze back to Arnaud, "Why'd you do it? Why Ed?"
"Do you want the counteragent or to chit chat?"
Darien grabbed Arnaud and lifted him off the floor, "You bastard, you just had to go and ruin another life didn't you?" Darien threw Arnaud across the room. He approached him and lifted him off the floor again, "Where is it? Where's the counteragent and it had better be the right one."
Arnaud pointed a drawer, "It's in there, in a black box."
Hobbes looked through the drawer and found the box and opened it up. He held up the vial, "It's yellow."
"Yes, it's different counteragent. How is Dr. Tate doing by the way?"
Darien pushed him up against the wall, "Your mutation is working just fine."
"Then I would suggest you get him the counteragent before it's too late."
Darien squeezed Arnaud's neck, "What have you done?"
"Stage 4 madness is not like it was for you," Arnaud gasped for air, "I'm sure he's in that now, waiting for counteragent to take him out of his misery. So you can either spend time killing me, or do what you failed to do the last time…save your brother."
Darien smiled malevolently, "Arnie, it won't take me but a second to kill you." Darien tossed Arnaud to the floor and grabbed him from behind, "You want to learn about dominants? Here's lesson one. How do dominants kill?" Darien slowly started to twist Arnaud's neck, "We snap heads off."
Hobbes put the syringe and the vials in his pocket, "He bent down to look in Arnaud's eyes, "Before he does that, where's the information on counteragent?"
Arnaud gasped, "Dr. Tate's laptop, I put it in there."
Hobbes looked around and saw it sitting on the desk. Just as Hobbes reached for it, an explosion rocked the house. The impact knocked Darien and Hobbes across the room. Arnaud lay on the ground covered in debris and bleeding profusely. Arnaud had taken the brunt of the impact. Darien got up slowly and checked on Hobbes, he was still alive. He sensed that Arnaud was still alive but barely.
"Hobbes, come on man, we've got to get out of here." He helped Hobbes to his feet and they ran from the room. The house was falling down around them as it was rocked with one explosion after another. They reached the outside and ran to the row of trees. They stopped to see men in combat gear surround the house. It was on fire and the exit that Darien and Hobbes came from collapsed.
"Over there, stop them!"
"Are they talking about us?" Darien asked.
"Yeah, I think so," Hobbes said as he held on to Ed's laptop.
"Do you suppose they want autographs?"
"Not my first guess."
Darien and Hobbes took off running. They hid behind a car and Darien coated Hobbes with quicksilver. "We're gonna make another run for it, ready?" Darien asked.
"Yeah, let's do it."
Darien and Hobbes got to their feet and took off running. The car they were hiding behind suddenly blew up in an explosion that sent the two men sailing through the air. They landed on the grass behind some bushes. The quicksilver flaked off and Darien checked Hobbes, he was banged up but still breathing.
"I'm really starting to hate being blown up," Darien said sarcastically.
Hobbes moaned his agreement, "That makes two of us." Darien took a peek and saw the men coming over to the car; they had taken off their thermals from the blinding light of the explosion. Darien saw the opportunity; he touched Hobbes again and covered them. He grabbed Hobbes, "Come on."
Hobbes grunted his disapproval, but forced himself to his feet and they ran off without being seen again. They made it to the van and noticed the flat tire. "Damn, they knew," Darien said as he hit the side the van.
"Do we find another mode of transportation or do we change the tire?" Hobbes asked as he looked around. "They may even be watching us," Hobbes said.
"Somebody doesn't want us to get the counteragent to Ed," Darien said as he glanced up and down the street.
"Or they wanted you dead or maybe both, you dead and Ed permanently whacko."
"But why?"
"Don't know, my friend." Hobbes said as he got the things needed to change the tire. "You stand guard with those supper ears of yours," Hobbes started to jack up the van.
"Whoa, Hobbes, someone's coming." Darien helped Hobbes grab the tools and they hid in the dense vegetation next to the van.
The men came up to the van and looked around. "They didn't come back this way," one of the men said as he looked around.
Hobbes and Darien looked at each other and then turned their attention back to the men. "Why don't you tell them that we left and they won't find us," Hobbes said quietly.
Darien furrowed his brow in disbelief at his partner's request, "I'm not a Jedi Knight, Hobbes, I can only disrupt brain waves, not put suggestions in their minds."
"Oh, well, now would be a good time to learn the ways of the force," Hobbes said in reply.
"It doesn't work that way, Hobbes…wait, they're leaving." Darien slowly got up and stepped out from behind the bushes, he signaled for Hobbes to come out too. "Okay, let's get this tire changed and get the heck out of here."
~*~
Walter patted Ed's forehead and face with cold compresses trying to keep him as comfortable as possible. Ed was getting worse. His body trembled, his breathing heavy and he moaned constantly in agony. Walter was sure that Ed wasn't even aware that someone was there. He spoke softly to Ed telling him stories of when they first met and the things that happened during the past five years.
Sloan came in to check up on Ed and saw Walter sitting there. She smiled. "Thanks, Walter," she said as she sat down next to him.
"I better take that now because soon, you won't be thanking me at all," Walter said sadly.
"Well, that's why I'm saying it. You're risking a lot and I appreciate that," Sloan said as she looked sadly at Ed.
"Sloan, I have no idea what you're talking about," Walter eyed her cautiously.
"What I meant was, that you're risking your friendship with us by following orders," Sloan said as she winked at him. "But we know that if anybody has to do this, at least it'll be you."
Walter wiped Ed's forehead, "I don't want to, Sloan, this is the hardest thing I've ever had to do. How is Claire doing?"
"She's making headway, actually, I just came in here to check on Ed so I can tell her how he's doing," she looked sadly at Walter.
"Sloan, I hope she can come up something or that Darien and Hobbes can get back in time with the counteragent. I've tried everything I could, but these orders are coming down from the top."
"I know, Walter, we don't blame you, this is just as hard on you as it is on us," she bent down and kissed Ed's cheek. She was shocked at how hot he was. "I love you, Ed, hang in there for us," she got up and left the room. She met Tom in the hallway and hugged him, "He's getting worse, Tom."
"I know." Tom walked with Sloan back to the Keep. He had some good news to tell Claire. He had found a couple of dominant safe houses that Mark had provided. Mark had also offered help in removing Ed from the Agency.
They entered the Keep and Claire was ecstatic. Tom and Sloan both glanced at each other. "You did it? You discovered counteragent that will work on Ed?" Sloan asked with hope in her tone.
"No, but I've got better news than that. I just got off the phone with Hobbes, they found Arnaud and they're on their way back with the counteragent."
Sloan covered her mouth and sat down, she couldn't believe what she just heard, "How long before they get here?"
"Hobbes said in about twenty minutes, he wanted to wait to call me to make sure they weren't being followed. But I'm still going to continue my research, just in case."
"Should we tell Walter?" Sloan asked.
Tom raised a brow, "No, I don't think we should at least not yet."
"Why? I think he should know," Sloan said in a questionable tone.
"Sloan, just trust me on this. The less people know that Darien and Hobbes are on their way back the better."
"You think he would tell someone so they would try to stop them?" Claire asked. She put her hands on her hips and stared at Tom.
"That wouldn't be Walter's intention, but maybe someone else's." Tom didn't trust anybody outside of their little circle and unfortunately that meant Walter. Not that Walter would willingly betray Ed, but that he would tell someone who had no second thoughts about it.
~*~
The Lady stood by the remains of Arnaud's house. A soldier came up to her to give her a report.
"We didn't find Arnaud's body or Agent Fawkes. Some men did check the van parked down the street and they didn't see anybody, but shortly after it was discovered gone. Would you like for us to search by air?"
The Lady became enraged, "No, if they're traveling on a public highway that would bring too much attention to ourselves. It's bad enough we destroyed this house." She paused and then continued after she glanced at the house for a few seconds, "I still have options open." She turned and walked towards her car. She pulled out her cell phone and called Walter.
Walter's phone rang and he picked it up, "Yes."
"There's been a change in orders. My superiors don't want to wait any longer. There's a team on their way, Walter. Your orders are to give Dr. Tate the injections right now and prepare to extract the gland."
Walter looked at Ed and then his watch, "But it's not time yet, you must give Darien and Claire a chance to save him."
"I'm sorry, Walter, but you can't let your personal feelings get in the way of what is the greater good. I've told you before, Walter, we're all expendable." She hung up the phone and she headed for San Diego.
Walter turned off his phone and starred at Ed for a moment. He got up, left the room and headed for the Keep.
Claire and Sloan were busy with another trial counteragent when Walter came in. Tom saw the look on his face and read his emotion, he shot Sloan a quick glance. Sloan looked at him and Claire glanced up from the microscope.
"What is it, Walter, is it Ed?" Sloan asked.
"Yes, I'm afraid it is, I've been ordered to proceed with the retrieval of the gland ASAP. If you're going to get him out of here, I suggest you do it now," Walter started to leave when Claire spoke up.
"But Darien and Hobbes have the counteragent and they're on their way back now. You have to give them time," Claire pleaded.
Walter turned to look at her, "I can stall for time, but they had better hurry." Walter turned and as the door opened, the Official walked in followed by some guards.
"Charlie, what's going on here?" Walter asked as he eyed the men.
"These men are here to make sure that you carry out your orders."
Claire looked shocked, "NO! The counteragent is on its way!"
"Doctor, I've told you before, it's not about…"
"Don't give me that! Ed isn't a receptacle…"
"Orders are orders, doctor, and we will not have this conversation again." The Official glanced back at the guards, "Escort Dr. Attwood back to his office so he can get what he needs and then make sure he carries out his orders."
Claire glared at him, "Don't do this," she said emphatically.
The Official glared at Claire, "Don't make me lock all of you up." He walked out in a huff. Claire grabbed her phone and dialed Hobbes' number. "I won't give Ed up so easily, not without a fight."
Sloan looked at Tom. "What do you want us to do?"
"First, let me tell Hobbes and Darien what's happening and then I'll tell you what's on my mind. In the mean time, Sloan, prepare a hypo gun for me and some sedatives to knock out a human for days; it's in the top drawer. Tom, grab the tranq gun and the extra darts." Claire waited for Hobbes to pick up the phone.
Hobbes phone rang, he looked at it in puzzlement, "It's Claire." He answered, "What is it, Claire? …whoa, Claire slow down, what was that?" Hobbes listened and looked at Darien with a look of dismay on his face, "Okay, we'll move as fast as we can." He slowly put the phone down.
Darien glanced at Hobbes, he didn't have to wait for him to explain. He knew already, "That fat bastard!" Darien gripped the wheel and pushed the pedal to the floor, "Come on, baby," he muttered as he pushed the old van to its limits.
Hobbes took out the vial filled with counteragent and the syringe. He filled it and held it up in his hand. "When we get there, you take this and do your stuff, confuse them or whatever it is you do. I'll provide backup. Anyone goes near Ed and I'll put a cap in them."
Darien glanced back at Hobbes, his eyes black again. "Oh, I'll do better than that."
"Oh crap," Hobbes said as he took in the sight of his very angry partner.
TBC…