Chapter 19
Tom laid in the darkness of the hotel room, grateful to be in bed after such a long day. To any other dominant, the funeral would have seemed unnecessary. Why go through all that for someone who's dead? But to him, he understood. It's more than that, it's about closure, it's about the love humans have for one another and the value of family and friendship.
Sloan came out of the bathroom and got in bed. She pulled the covers over her and cuddled next to Tom. It was hard for her to believe that Ed was gone, that she won't see his smile or hear his voice. Claire was right though, it would be hard to look at Darien for awhile.
Irene had nearly broken down several times when Darien had asked her if she needed anything. Towards the end of the day, Irene had adopted Darien as her son, not to replace Ed, but so that they both could have someone. Darien gained a mother and Irene gained another son.
Sloan felt Tom take in a deep breath and then let it out slowly as he sighed. "What you thinking about?"
"About Ed," Tom answered.
"I miss him, Tom," Sloan's voice cracked.
Tom held Sloan closer to him, "I do too."
She remembered how he had mentioned after returning to the Agency that he wanted to go out and surf Cortes Bank off the coast of San Diego. He was so excited about the prospect of surfing those huge waves. It saddened her that now he wouldn't be doing that. She also remembered how many times he had apologized to both her and Tom for his actions while under the influence of quicksilver madness. She smiled as she thought back to the friendship they finally were able to share and for that she was pleased, "I'm so glad that you two were finally able to work through the trust," Sloan said.
"It was mainly Ed who needed to work that out. We weren't exactly forth coming with him from the beginning. I couldn't really blame him," Tom said as his thoughts drifted back to that night they were in the forest. "Since Ed's death, I keep remembering about that night of the plane crash."
"Tell me the story, Tom," Sloan said.
"You've heard it before," Tom said wondering why Sloan would want to hear it again.
"I know, but it helps keep Ed alive in our memories, besides, I need a good bedtime story," Sloan moved a bit to get comfortable.
"Okay, well, I had remembered up to the part where Ed slept to regain his strength and I kept watch. I had tried to mask us both, I wasn't sure if it would work or not, I've never really tried to mask myself and someone else at the same time. Morning came and Ed woke up 'cranky as a mongoose' was how he put it." Tom smiled at the memory. The look on Ed's face as his eyes opened was like someone eating sour grapes or biting into a lemon and the way his hair was all messed up. He saw a whole new side of Ed that morning.
Sloan smiled, "Well, can you blame him?"
Tom smiled as well, "No, not really. We were able to find some water and were able to get on the move again. We were hungry, but couldn't risk cooking any food. I knew that Lewis was still on our trail and I didn't want to risk him seeing the smoke from our fire. So we pressed on. The water that we found was a stream and we followed it hopeful that it would cover our tracks. Ed looked across the stream and saw a small cliff. I remember the grin he got on his face. He turned and asked me if I could climb and I told him no, I've never done that. He frowned and thought for a minute, then said to me something like, well there's a first time for everything. I followed him across the stream and that cliff just kept getting higher and higher."
Sloan laughed, "That happens doesn't it?"
"We finally reached it and he looked around, our tracks led straight to the cliff, he told me to stay there and walked back to the water then traced his steps back towards the cliff. He told me to do the same. I figured out what he was doing, he wanted to give the illusion that we decided not to climb and headed back to the stream. He told me to follow him and to put my hands and feet exactly where he puts his. He started the slow climb up the rocky cliff. I was impressed with the ease he moved up. I knew he was hurting, I could sense it, but his determination erased all that. He would pause and look down at me to make sure I was okay. He made it to the top and looked over the side at me. He reached his hand out and kept saying, 'Come on, Tom, you can do it.' I was high enough were I reached for his hand and he helped pull me up. He was panting and he rolled over onto his back. I could see that he was tired and the climb had taken a lot of his strength. I helped him up and half carried him through the bushes to find another safe spot for him to rest." Tom paused, "You still with me?"
"Oh yeah, keep going," Sloan closed her eyes trying to picture in her mind the story that Tom was telling her.
"Ed had passed out on me shortly after I had him settled on the ground. I knew that what he needed most of all was water. But at the same time I didn't want to leave him there by himself. So I picked him up and carried him as I searched for water. Shortly after that's when Walter found us. I remember saying to Ed that the next time I get lost in the woods I hope that he's with me," Tom smiled, "He replied, 'Well, I hope there isn't a next time, but if there is, I hope you're with me too.'"
"I'm sorry it took something like that for Ed to learn to trust you," Sloan said sadly.
"Maybe that's what needed to happen. Ed knew that I could have easily turned him over to Lewis at any time, but I didn't. I think that's when he realized he could trust me." Tom hugged Sloan and he stared up at the ceiling. "Sloan?"
"Yes."
"Do you think Ed is with us now?"
"Tom? I didn't know that dominants believe in life after death," Sloan said as she sat up partially.
"No we don't actually, but after living and spending time with you humans, I'm beginning to question our beliefs." Tom brushed a stray strand of hair from her face.
Sloan half smiled and with watery eyes replied, "Yes, I do believe he's with us."
~*~
Asante tried to get a message out but to no avail. He tried different methods but neither of them worked. He grunted in frustration. He leaned back in his chair thinking of another way to get word out to Darien. All the lines were blocked and any phone calls going out could only be made from certain phones. Cell phones could not be used because they were deep underground and all the metal used in the construction of the facility. Even the computer in his room was not hooked up to the internet. If any outside research needed to be done, it had to be authorized and done under guard. Any communication to the outside world was cut off. He would have to tell Tara and the two of them would have try to get Ed out themselves. But he knew he had to act fast. At last check, Ed was forced into stage three madness by Dr. Alvarez who didn't want to wait a couple of days to study the effects of stage five. Ed wasn't strapped to a table this time, but left ranting in his room at least until he went into stage four. Then Dr. Alvarez would do more testing.
Asante knew that Ed was trying to tell them something before stage three kicked in. Something about the Limbic System, but then he stopped talking. Not sure if he didn't want them to know or if it was the madness that stopped him from explaining. He wondered if Ed had discovered something about the gland. He tried to explain that to Dr. Alvarez, but he wouldn't listen. They had all thought that Asante's heart was no longer in the project and that he had become soft. After all, he had argued in defense of Ed's health.
The door swung open and GI Joe stood behind the Lady, "I'm disappointed in you Dr. Rhodes, I had thought that you would be a valuable member of this team. But I see I was wrong." She stepped aside and let GI Joe stand in the doorway with his gun raised.
"What are you doing?" Asante asked nervously.
"I can't allow you to send a message about Dr. Tate nor do I have any use for you on this team," she said to him as she eyed him with disdain.
"Well, if death is the only way I have a chance of getting out of this mess, than I'll gladly accept it." Asante stood with his shoulders straight as he looked her straight in the eyes.
"Any last words, Dr. Rhodes?" GI Joe asked.
"Yeah, I do, this is wrong and I'm totally against it. If I had known what your plans were from the beginning I would not have volunteered."
"Thank you, Dr. Rhodes, your objection is noted," the Lady said and patted GI Joe on his back.
Asante closed his eyes, "I'm sorry I failed, Dr. Tate. I hope you get…"
The Lady watched as Asante was shot and his body fell to the floor. She smiled and walked away.
In the lab, Ed didn't even notice the gunshot. He was in the withdrawal stage of quicksilver madness and right now his world was filled with pain.
Tara jumped when she heard the gunshot. She looked around and didn't see Asante. She gazed at the monitor in front of her, 'They found him.' She looked over at Ed who struggled during the beginning of stage four, 'I'm on my own now.'
~*~
The trip back early in the morning was a quiet one. Claire was taken home and went straight to bed. Darcy and Mark decided to stay with Claire for awhile. Hobbes and Darien decided to go to the office to continue their investigation. Darien was determined more than ever to find out who really killed Ed. With the Senator's bill and Ed's death happening at the same time, he was sure it wasn't a mere coincidence.
Darien looked up and didn't need to read Hobbes senses that he was troubled, "What's up, Hobbes? You seem tense."
"Fawkes, somethin' bothering me about this whole thing with Ed's death," Hobbes said as he sat down at his desk across from Darien.
"I know what you mean. I was up all night thinking about it." Darien leaned forward.
"Who did the complete autopsy on Ed's body?"
"Ed's Keeper," Darien stated.
Hobbes shook his head, "Okay, look, do you know where the broad was these past few days?"
"No," Darien thought about it, "In fact, I don't remember her calling. We should ask Walter."
"I did already; she didn't call him until the following day. She doesn't even attend his funeral, but Senator Allen is there for the photo op. Fawkes, I think it's time for you to do a little recon."
"I'm beginning to think you're right."
"And I think I know just the person who can help us also…" Hobbes was cut off by Walter walking in.
Darien sat up straight, "Oh hey, Walter, I didn't…" he noticed the solemn look on Walter's face, "What's wrong?"
"Darien, I'm afraid I'm going to have to ask you for your badge," Walter said.
Darien and Hobbes stood up as they stared at each other in shock. "What?" they said in unison.
Walter looked down at the floor and let out a long sigh, "There was an emergency meeting of the House, the bill passed. The President is expected to sign it into the law very soon."
Darien shot Hobbes a quick glance of worry, "What? How? I mean, so soon?"
"I was afraid of this. Remember our discussion yesterday at Irene's home about the high emotion that may run after the funeral?" Walter watched as Darien shook his head. "Well, it happened. With all the media coverage and pressure from constituents, the House held an emergency vote early this morning. The bill passed overwhelmingly."
"But why do I have turn my badge in?" Darien asked.
"Because of a clause in the bill, it states that all known dominants that are dangerous are to be rounded up." Walter looked sadly at Darien, "I'm sorry, but I've been ordered to take you and Tom into custody."
"Wait, we're not dangerous besides it isn't a law yet until the President signs it," Darien protested.
"Yes, I know, but they don't want you getting away. There's an army transport vehicle on its way here now to take you into custody," Walter looked at his watch, "You have five minutes to get out."
Darien looked at Walter, "You weren't supposed to tell me yet were you?"
"I wish I could give you more time, but I just got the call. They originally went to your place but no one was home and my superior called here asking where you were. I'm supposed to make sure that you don't leave. The Official received the phone call as well. He's on the phone now pleading to the President, but I doubt he'll have an effect. I've called Tom already and he's on his way to meet with Darcy and Mark at Claire's," he handed Darien a piece of paper, "Here's the rendezvous point. Where you can go from there, I don't know. I'm sorry, I wish I could do more."
"Here," Walter handed Darien a phone, "Take this, it's a walkie talkie that can go long distances without being traced. I figured that you two would want to keep in touch for as long as you can. Let me know if you need anything, Hobbes." Walter walked away.
Hobbes looked at Darien sadly, "Look, Fawkes, we'll think of something okay."
Darien felt like his world had been pulled out from under him. He looked at his long time friend, "Thanks, Hobbes, for everything." They hugged.
"You better leave, army mooks will be here any moment. I'll continue to investigate and let you know what I find."
"Thanks, man, I appreciate it…" Darien was about to leave when the Official appeared at the door, alone. Darien stared at him for a moment waiting for him to bark out an order to halt. But he didn't.
"I tried everything I could, I'm sorry. Good luck, Darien, I mean that," the Official stated.
Darien shook his head and proceeded to use a chair to break the window. He took one last look at his friend and jumped from the second floor window.
Hobbes ran to the window and looked out, he didn't see Darien anywhere. "Did he have to break the window? The Official asked.
"He had to make it look like he escaped, Chief," Hobbes said as he continued to survey the alley.
"Well, it's coming out of his pay," the Official retorted.
Hobbes turned around and noted the smile on his face, Hobbes smiled back. The Official turned and walked away. Hobbes looked at the vacant desk now, "When did things go wrong, Fawkes?" Hobbes walked out; he needed to talk to Eberts.
A couple of minutes later, soldiers stormed the agency. The Official greeted them and told them where they could find Darien. He watched as the soldier ran up the stairs and some took the elevator. Army putzes."
~*~
A nurse stood next to Ed as she tried to make him comfortable during stage four. He had been out of it for awhile now and the bite block had been removed a long time ago. His body shook from the withdrawal pain he was experiencing. She placed the soft cloth in the cool water and rung it out. She patted his forehead when a soft mumble came from his lips. She looked around and then bent down closer to his mouth to hear him better, "Dr. Tate?"
"Nnnooo...moorrr....no..." Ed whispered as he winced from the pain. His eyes squeezed shut from the torture his body was enduring.
"Dr. Tate, can you hear me?" The nurse asked softly, but Ed didn't answer. She motioned to the lab tech standing by, "Get Dr. Alvarez, I think he's coming out of it."
Ed pulled on his restraints, "...No more..." he moaned.
"Dr. Tate...Dr. Tate…" The nurse tried to check his eyes but he began to shake more violently as if the room temperature dropped dramatically to freezing levels.
The nurse checked his forehead, he felt clammy. An orderly came to help her as she tried to hold his head and get him to open his eyes, but he continued to shake. She felt a strong pulse on his neck. She looked down at his wrists, small trickles of blood were beginning to form around his wrists and ankles. "I have to loosen these up he's shaking so violently." The orderly tried to keep him still. The nurse released one of the straps to check his wrist when Ed grabbed her throat suddenly in flash of speed. The nurse tried to scream but Ed was holding her throat so tight that it came out as a gasp.
Ed opened his eyes. The nurse looked at them with horror. The red eyes were still there but now where his eyes were once brown were now silver. The eyes of Dr. Tate had anger in them like she had never seen before. They were the eyes of the demon that had finally been released from its entrapment deep inside of Ed.
Ed pulled her closer to him, "No more tests..." he hissed with a fiery tone. The orderly moved behind the nurse and tried to get her away from Ed, but his strength was more than he could handle. Ed continued to speak and became louder with each statement, "...no more tests...no more needles...NO MORE!!!!"
Ed pushed her back and knocked her into the orderly. They fell on the ground in a heap. Ed removed his restraints and hopped off the table as he pulled off all the electrodes from his chest and head. Alarms sounded from the various medical equipment that he had been hooked up to. He turned over the table sending the annoying machines crashing to the floor. Scientists and other lab techs had stopped in their tracks when they saw Ed and the strength he possessed even after all he had been through. With lightning speed he had released himself and smashed equipment before they could even get near him.
Ed glared at them and let the quicksilver flow. The scientists looked around frantically. "Lock the doors, don't let him out!" someone yelled out. One of the scientists went flying through the air and landed on another group of frightened scientists. They all crashed to the floor as a wicked disembodied laugh echoed in the room. Computer monitors were tossed in the air and tables overturned. Ed had picked up a chair and started smashing other things in the room.
The doors opened and soldiers ran into the room wearing thermal goggles. They quickly spotted Ed and one fired his weapon. Ed felt the sting in his rear. He dropped the chair and turned to look at the soldier who shot him, it was GI Joe. "It figures," Ed said before he fell to the floor.
Dr. Alvarez followed the soldiers and gazed around the room. He looked down at Ed and then at GI Joe, "Lock him up for now until we can get this place cleaned up." He looked at the other scientists, "Now, will someone please explain to me how he got free."
The nurse stepped up and explained what had happened. Dr. Alvarez wasn't pleased, but now at least everyone understood how dangerous Ed was now and they would be extra careful next time.
~*~
"So, Eberts, you gonna help or what?" Hobbes asked.
"Yes, I believe I can help," Eberts announced as he sat down at his computer. "Now, the first thing I can do is check the phone calls coming in and going out of the Agency on the day of Dr. Tate's accident and the one the one Dr. Attwood received today." Eberts punched some keys on his keyboards and waited. He shook his head, "I don't see anything here on the Agency phones, but I can check the cell phone records."
"You can do that?" Hobbes asked.
"Yes, we monitor all phones here, to make sure agency phones are not used for excessive personal use." Eberts said.
Hobbes rolled his eyes, "Penny pinchin' Fat Man."
"There, look, it seems that the Keeper received a call on the morning of Dr. Tate's accident."
"Do you know who called him?" Hobbes asked.
"No, it's not an Agency number. It was another cell phone so it's impossible for me to tell where the call came from." Eberts pursed his lips, "Let me try something. I might be able to get into the account and see exactly who made the call."
After a few minutes of trying, Eberts couldn't get through. "The account for this phone is blocked; it must be a Government issued number, someone with top level security."
Hobbes straightened up, "Okay, so who would have a government issued phone number that would want it blocked? What's Walter's cell phone number?" Hobbes asked.
Ebert's typed in Walter's name and the number came up, "It's not blocked."
"I think I know who," Hobbes paused and looked down at Eberts, "The broad."
"Robert, I think you need to see this," Eberts said. Hobbes bent down to look at the monitor. "It seems that someone with a blocked account called the Keeper later on in the evening," Eberts looked up, "the same day Dr. Tate died."
"Now, that's interesting. When did he leave?" Hobbes asked.
"Some time that night," Eberts said sadly.
"Looks like we're getting more pieces to this puzzle," Hobbes said. He put his hands on hips, "You know something, Eberts, I'm beginning to think that Ed might be alive." He looked at Eberts, "Is there anyway that you can triangulate the calls coming in?"
"Only calls going out and the phones on our system…wait, let me try something." Eberts began to try his trick.
~*~
Ed woke up on the mattress. At first he thought the lights were dimmed because everything was dark, but he quickly realized that there was something covering his eyes. He tried to move his hands but couldn't. He looked down and saw cuffs around his wrists that were attached to a chain going around his waist. From that there was another chain going down to his ankles and that was attached to cuffs as well. Ed leaned his head back and started to laugh.
Apart from feeling sore and hungry, Ed felt great, in fact, he hadn't felt better. He tried to quicksilver the cuffs and alarms went off. "Oh turn those damn things off!" He yelled out in his room or it was more like a cell now. He heard the door unlock and then open, he turned his head to see who came in. He smiled maliciously when Dr. Alvarez walked in with two guards and one of them was GI Joe with his trusty cattle prod. 'One of these days, that damn thing is going where you don't want it,' Ed mused to himself. The thought allowed a soft chuckle to escape his lips. Ed sat up on the mattress and used the wall for support. Another nurse came in carrying a tray of food.
"Hey baby, what you got for me?" Ed said as she approached him with caution. He smiled at the sudden power he seemed to have. He gazed at the nurse as she put the tray down, "Got some food for me, huh?" He made a sudden move and the nurse jumped back. Ed laughed, "Don't worry, sweetheart, I don't bite…hard."
"Leave the nurse alone, Dr. Tate," Dr. Alvarez said.
"I'm just playin', come on, where's your sense of humor?" Ed said as he leaned back up against the wall.
"These men will release one wrist so you can eat. There are temperature sensors in this room and are set to detect even the smallest hint of temperature change around you. If you quicksilver, you'll set off the alarms, like you just did." Dr. Alvarez turned and spoke as he walked out, "Don't give these gentlemen a hard time." The door closed.
Ed looked at the two soldiers and smiled. GI Joe stood guard as the other soldier released Ed's right wrist. Ed broke the silence, "So, what's with the prison style bling-bling and the Mark Spitz eye wear?"
"Just eat," GI Joe replied.
"Ahh…I get it, my eyes right? Darien's were silver in stage five, is that what my eyes look like? They must be pretty scary if they're covered up," Ed said as he picked up his fork and took a mouth full of food. He was hungry and this time he would not throw his meal against the glass. If he was going to escape, he would need his strength. Ed looked up and saw the two guards staring at him, "You know it's really rude to stare at someone while they're eating."
The two guards stood with there arms folded. "Shut up and eat," GI Joe commented.
Ed laughed as he spoke, "You're some bad ass aren't ya, GI Joe?"
GI Joe didn't flinch and stood watch as the man in the dark blue scrubs ate. Ed managed to finish the rest of his meal without saying anything else. No sense in getting beaten up if he wanted to stay relatively healthy. Besides with his ankles and left wrist still cuffed, there wasn't anyway for him to fight back.
~*~
"Eberts, I take back all the bad things I've said about you," Hobbes said as he read the appointment book. "It seems our Lady of agony was out of town the day Ed died and she was even the one who suggested Dr. Asante Rhodes to be Ed's Keeper, who just so happened to have been the one to perform Ed's autopsy."
"It appears that she was gone for a couple of days," Eberts commented. With Walter's help he was able to hack into the Lady's computer. All Eberts needed was a location and Walter was more than happy to give up that information.
"Not kosher, that's for sure. Okay, let's look at a couple of days before Ed died," Hobbes said.
Eberts scrolled down the appointment book, "She had meetings but it doesn't say where or with whom." Eberts pursed his lips together as he looked at the monitor.
"Check the day that Ed was supposed to leave on his trip."
"Why?"
"A feeling," Hobbes said.
There was nothing. Eberts typed in different dates prior to Ed's trip and something caught his eye. "The same thing, more meetings and they were top level."
"This is starting to make some sense, Eberts. She only had these top level meetings before something happened to Ed." Hobbes put his hands on his hips and was in deep thought for a minute when Eberts broke his concentration.
"Robert, I think I found something. Take a look," Eberts pointed to a name with numbers, *Operation: Gemini 115š47'30"W 37š16'30"N*
"Hel-lo those are longitude and latitude directions. Let's check those numbers. Can you bring up a map?" Hobbes asked.
Eberts pulled up his program for geological site surveys, "Okay, let me just put in the coordinates here and see what we get." Eberts waited and shook his head when he saw the result, "Wait, this can't be right."
"That's smack dab in the middle of ET land, my friend," Hobbes said.
"Area 51," Eberts announced. "The coordinates are right in the middle of a lake bed, more specifically Groom Lake. It makes sense actually, it's highly classified, and you can't get near it because it's heavily guarded. It's the perfect place to take an invisible man," Eberts paused, "Robert, do you think that Dr. Tate could be at Area 51?"
"ET also stands for Ed Tate," Hobbes looked at Eberts, "The more evidence we uncover the more I think the good doc is still among the living. Ed was set up from the very beginning. Arnaud double-crossed the Lady and put the gland in Ed," Hobbes remarked. He paced around the room while his hand gently massaged his chin. Eberts sat staring at the monitor. "Okay, take this scenario," Hobbes broke the silence, "The Lady wants a gland of her own and knows that Arnaud contacted Ed. She sets up a deal with Arnaud with Ed as the centerpiece. But Ed is only supposed to get close to the gland because of his background. What she promised Arnaud, we don't know, but say that Arnie was supposed to let Ed go. She fakes Ed's death by making it look like an accident, she takes Ed to a top secret base to get the information from him. They create their own glands and bam, instant invisible army to help with the government's round up of dominants. The only problem is that Arnie double crossed her by putting the gland in his head. So, to make it look like Arnie killed Ed, she has the fake Ed appear to have a hole in his head just in case someone happens to take a peek. Fake Ed's body is cremated so that if we get suspicious, we can't run a DNA test. Looks like they stole a plan right out of the pages of the Agency play book."
"Then the name Gemini is correct," Eberts added, "Whether Dr. Tate was supposed to have a gland implanted or not, the name is now apropos to the situation."
"We need to get to Area 51, we'll have to drive. How far is it?" Hobbes asked.
"Take a plane supplied by me," Walter announced as he walked into the room.
Hobbes and Eberts both straightened up. "Look, sir, we…" Hobbes was trying to come up with an excuse.
Walter put his hands up, "It's okay, I did some checking of my own and found that Senator Allen had received a number of phone calls from my superior. Some of them from area code 702…Las Vegas."
Hobbes turned his gaze to Eberts who was already pulling up another map. "Nellis Air Force Range…ah…Area 51 is 90 miles north of Las Vegas."
"That's it, we got 'im," Hobbes said.
"I'll have the plane waiting and when you land at the airport, I'll have a van with all the equipment you need. Just let me know." Walter said.
Hobbes looked at Walter, "You're going to help me?"
"Why wouldn't I? Ed is a friend and if he's out there, I want him back. You have the walkie talkie to contact Darien. I'll make the arrangements with sympathizers to get you, Darien and Tom to the airfield."
Hobbes walked up to Walter and shook his hand, "Thanks."
"You can thank me by bringing Ed back safe and sound, if he's still alive." Walter turned and left the office.
Hobbes looked at Eberts with determination, "Okay, Eberts, pull up anything you can find on this base, security, checkpoints, when they take a piss, layouts…everything. I want as much information as I can get."
Eberts, with a stern look on face answered, "You got it." He turned back to his computer and went to work.
"I'm gonna put that list together for Walter," Hobbes said as he picked up the walkie talkie. "Eberts, thanks for your help."
"Anytime, Robert," Eberts smiled.
TBC…
A/N: If you want to see a graphic of Ed in stage five quicksilver madness, email me and I'll send it to you.
Tom laid in the darkness of the hotel room, grateful to be in bed after such a long day. To any other dominant, the funeral would have seemed unnecessary. Why go through all that for someone who's dead? But to him, he understood. It's more than that, it's about closure, it's about the love humans have for one another and the value of family and friendship.
Sloan came out of the bathroom and got in bed. She pulled the covers over her and cuddled next to Tom. It was hard for her to believe that Ed was gone, that she won't see his smile or hear his voice. Claire was right though, it would be hard to look at Darien for awhile.
Irene had nearly broken down several times when Darien had asked her if she needed anything. Towards the end of the day, Irene had adopted Darien as her son, not to replace Ed, but so that they both could have someone. Darien gained a mother and Irene gained another son.
Sloan felt Tom take in a deep breath and then let it out slowly as he sighed. "What you thinking about?"
"About Ed," Tom answered.
"I miss him, Tom," Sloan's voice cracked.
Tom held Sloan closer to him, "I do too."
She remembered how he had mentioned after returning to the Agency that he wanted to go out and surf Cortes Bank off the coast of San Diego. He was so excited about the prospect of surfing those huge waves. It saddened her that now he wouldn't be doing that. She also remembered how many times he had apologized to both her and Tom for his actions while under the influence of quicksilver madness. She smiled as she thought back to the friendship they finally were able to share and for that she was pleased, "I'm so glad that you two were finally able to work through the trust," Sloan said.
"It was mainly Ed who needed to work that out. We weren't exactly forth coming with him from the beginning. I couldn't really blame him," Tom said as his thoughts drifted back to that night they were in the forest. "Since Ed's death, I keep remembering about that night of the plane crash."
"Tell me the story, Tom," Sloan said.
"You've heard it before," Tom said wondering why Sloan would want to hear it again.
"I know, but it helps keep Ed alive in our memories, besides, I need a good bedtime story," Sloan moved a bit to get comfortable.
"Okay, well, I had remembered up to the part where Ed slept to regain his strength and I kept watch. I had tried to mask us both, I wasn't sure if it would work or not, I've never really tried to mask myself and someone else at the same time. Morning came and Ed woke up 'cranky as a mongoose' was how he put it." Tom smiled at the memory. The look on Ed's face as his eyes opened was like someone eating sour grapes or biting into a lemon and the way his hair was all messed up. He saw a whole new side of Ed that morning.
Sloan smiled, "Well, can you blame him?"
Tom smiled as well, "No, not really. We were able to find some water and were able to get on the move again. We were hungry, but couldn't risk cooking any food. I knew that Lewis was still on our trail and I didn't want to risk him seeing the smoke from our fire. So we pressed on. The water that we found was a stream and we followed it hopeful that it would cover our tracks. Ed looked across the stream and saw a small cliff. I remember the grin he got on his face. He turned and asked me if I could climb and I told him no, I've never done that. He frowned and thought for a minute, then said to me something like, well there's a first time for everything. I followed him across the stream and that cliff just kept getting higher and higher."
Sloan laughed, "That happens doesn't it?"
"We finally reached it and he looked around, our tracks led straight to the cliff, he told me to stay there and walked back to the water then traced his steps back towards the cliff. He told me to do the same. I figured out what he was doing, he wanted to give the illusion that we decided not to climb and headed back to the stream. He told me to follow him and to put my hands and feet exactly where he puts his. He started the slow climb up the rocky cliff. I was impressed with the ease he moved up. I knew he was hurting, I could sense it, but his determination erased all that. He would pause and look down at me to make sure I was okay. He made it to the top and looked over the side at me. He reached his hand out and kept saying, 'Come on, Tom, you can do it.' I was high enough were I reached for his hand and he helped pull me up. He was panting and he rolled over onto his back. I could see that he was tired and the climb had taken a lot of his strength. I helped him up and half carried him through the bushes to find another safe spot for him to rest." Tom paused, "You still with me?"
"Oh yeah, keep going," Sloan closed her eyes trying to picture in her mind the story that Tom was telling her.
"Ed had passed out on me shortly after I had him settled on the ground. I knew that what he needed most of all was water. But at the same time I didn't want to leave him there by himself. So I picked him up and carried him as I searched for water. Shortly after that's when Walter found us. I remember saying to Ed that the next time I get lost in the woods I hope that he's with me," Tom smiled, "He replied, 'Well, I hope there isn't a next time, but if there is, I hope you're with me too.'"
"I'm sorry it took something like that for Ed to learn to trust you," Sloan said sadly.
"Maybe that's what needed to happen. Ed knew that I could have easily turned him over to Lewis at any time, but I didn't. I think that's when he realized he could trust me." Tom hugged Sloan and he stared up at the ceiling. "Sloan?"
"Yes."
"Do you think Ed is with us now?"
"Tom? I didn't know that dominants believe in life after death," Sloan said as she sat up partially.
"No we don't actually, but after living and spending time with you humans, I'm beginning to question our beliefs." Tom brushed a stray strand of hair from her face.
Sloan half smiled and with watery eyes replied, "Yes, I do believe he's with us."
~*~
Asante tried to get a message out but to no avail. He tried different methods but neither of them worked. He grunted in frustration. He leaned back in his chair thinking of another way to get word out to Darien. All the lines were blocked and any phone calls going out could only be made from certain phones. Cell phones could not be used because they were deep underground and all the metal used in the construction of the facility. Even the computer in his room was not hooked up to the internet. If any outside research needed to be done, it had to be authorized and done under guard. Any communication to the outside world was cut off. He would have to tell Tara and the two of them would have try to get Ed out themselves. But he knew he had to act fast. At last check, Ed was forced into stage three madness by Dr. Alvarez who didn't want to wait a couple of days to study the effects of stage five. Ed wasn't strapped to a table this time, but left ranting in his room at least until he went into stage four. Then Dr. Alvarez would do more testing.
Asante knew that Ed was trying to tell them something before stage three kicked in. Something about the Limbic System, but then he stopped talking. Not sure if he didn't want them to know or if it was the madness that stopped him from explaining. He wondered if Ed had discovered something about the gland. He tried to explain that to Dr. Alvarez, but he wouldn't listen. They had all thought that Asante's heart was no longer in the project and that he had become soft. After all, he had argued in defense of Ed's health.
The door swung open and GI Joe stood behind the Lady, "I'm disappointed in you Dr. Rhodes, I had thought that you would be a valuable member of this team. But I see I was wrong." She stepped aside and let GI Joe stand in the doorway with his gun raised.
"What are you doing?" Asante asked nervously.
"I can't allow you to send a message about Dr. Tate nor do I have any use for you on this team," she said to him as she eyed him with disdain.
"Well, if death is the only way I have a chance of getting out of this mess, than I'll gladly accept it." Asante stood with his shoulders straight as he looked her straight in the eyes.
"Any last words, Dr. Rhodes?" GI Joe asked.
"Yeah, I do, this is wrong and I'm totally against it. If I had known what your plans were from the beginning I would not have volunteered."
"Thank you, Dr. Rhodes, your objection is noted," the Lady said and patted GI Joe on his back.
Asante closed his eyes, "I'm sorry I failed, Dr. Tate. I hope you get…"
The Lady watched as Asante was shot and his body fell to the floor. She smiled and walked away.
In the lab, Ed didn't even notice the gunshot. He was in the withdrawal stage of quicksilver madness and right now his world was filled with pain.
Tara jumped when she heard the gunshot. She looked around and didn't see Asante. She gazed at the monitor in front of her, 'They found him.' She looked over at Ed who struggled during the beginning of stage four, 'I'm on my own now.'
~*~
The trip back early in the morning was a quiet one. Claire was taken home and went straight to bed. Darcy and Mark decided to stay with Claire for awhile. Hobbes and Darien decided to go to the office to continue their investigation. Darien was determined more than ever to find out who really killed Ed. With the Senator's bill and Ed's death happening at the same time, he was sure it wasn't a mere coincidence.
Darien looked up and didn't need to read Hobbes senses that he was troubled, "What's up, Hobbes? You seem tense."
"Fawkes, somethin' bothering me about this whole thing with Ed's death," Hobbes said as he sat down at his desk across from Darien.
"I know what you mean. I was up all night thinking about it." Darien leaned forward.
"Who did the complete autopsy on Ed's body?"
"Ed's Keeper," Darien stated.
Hobbes shook his head, "Okay, look, do you know where the broad was these past few days?"
"No," Darien thought about it, "In fact, I don't remember her calling. We should ask Walter."
"I did already; she didn't call him until the following day. She doesn't even attend his funeral, but Senator Allen is there for the photo op. Fawkes, I think it's time for you to do a little recon."
"I'm beginning to think you're right."
"And I think I know just the person who can help us also…" Hobbes was cut off by Walter walking in.
Darien sat up straight, "Oh hey, Walter, I didn't…" he noticed the solemn look on Walter's face, "What's wrong?"
"Darien, I'm afraid I'm going to have to ask you for your badge," Walter said.
Darien and Hobbes stood up as they stared at each other in shock. "What?" they said in unison.
Walter looked down at the floor and let out a long sigh, "There was an emergency meeting of the House, the bill passed. The President is expected to sign it into the law very soon."
Darien shot Hobbes a quick glance of worry, "What? How? I mean, so soon?"
"I was afraid of this. Remember our discussion yesterday at Irene's home about the high emotion that may run after the funeral?" Walter watched as Darien shook his head. "Well, it happened. With all the media coverage and pressure from constituents, the House held an emergency vote early this morning. The bill passed overwhelmingly."
"But why do I have turn my badge in?" Darien asked.
"Because of a clause in the bill, it states that all known dominants that are dangerous are to be rounded up." Walter looked sadly at Darien, "I'm sorry, but I've been ordered to take you and Tom into custody."
"Wait, we're not dangerous besides it isn't a law yet until the President signs it," Darien protested.
"Yes, I know, but they don't want you getting away. There's an army transport vehicle on its way here now to take you into custody," Walter looked at his watch, "You have five minutes to get out."
Darien looked at Walter, "You weren't supposed to tell me yet were you?"
"I wish I could give you more time, but I just got the call. They originally went to your place but no one was home and my superior called here asking where you were. I'm supposed to make sure that you don't leave. The Official received the phone call as well. He's on the phone now pleading to the President, but I doubt he'll have an effect. I've called Tom already and he's on his way to meet with Darcy and Mark at Claire's," he handed Darien a piece of paper, "Here's the rendezvous point. Where you can go from there, I don't know. I'm sorry, I wish I could do more."
"Here," Walter handed Darien a phone, "Take this, it's a walkie talkie that can go long distances without being traced. I figured that you two would want to keep in touch for as long as you can. Let me know if you need anything, Hobbes." Walter walked away.
Hobbes looked at Darien sadly, "Look, Fawkes, we'll think of something okay."
Darien felt like his world had been pulled out from under him. He looked at his long time friend, "Thanks, Hobbes, for everything." They hugged.
"You better leave, army mooks will be here any moment. I'll continue to investigate and let you know what I find."
"Thanks, man, I appreciate it…" Darien was about to leave when the Official appeared at the door, alone. Darien stared at him for a moment waiting for him to bark out an order to halt. But he didn't.
"I tried everything I could, I'm sorry. Good luck, Darien, I mean that," the Official stated.
Darien shook his head and proceeded to use a chair to break the window. He took one last look at his friend and jumped from the second floor window.
Hobbes ran to the window and looked out, he didn't see Darien anywhere. "Did he have to break the window? The Official asked.
"He had to make it look like he escaped, Chief," Hobbes said as he continued to survey the alley.
"Well, it's coming out of his pay," the Official retorted.
Hobbes turned around and noted the smile on his face, Hobbes smiled back. The Official turned and walked away. Hobbes looked at the vacant desk now, "When did things go wrong, Fawkes?" Hobbes walked out; he needed to talk to Eberts.
A couple of minutes later, soldiers stormed the agency. The Official greeted them and told them where they could find Darien. He watched as the soldier ran up the stairs and some took the elevator. Army putzes."
~*~
A nurse stood next to Ed as she tried to make him comfortable during stage four. He had been out of it for awhile now and the bite block had been removed a long time ago. His body shook from the withdrawal pain he was experiencing. She placed the soft cloth in the cool water and rung it out. She patted his forehead when a soft mumble came from his lips. She looked around and then bent down closer to his mouth to hear him better, "Dr. Tate?"
"Nnnooo...moorrr....no..." Ed whispered as he winced from the pain. His eyes squeezed shut from the torture his body was enduring.
"Dr. Tate, can you hear me?" The nurse asked softly, but Ed didn't answer. She motioned to the lab tech standing by, "Get Dr. Alvarez, I think he's coming out of it."
Ed pulled on his restraints, "...No more..." he moaned.
"Dr. Tate...Dr. Tate…" The nurse tried to check his eyes but he began to shake more violently as if the room temperature dropped dramatically to freezing levels.
The nurse checked his forehead, he felt clammy. An orderly came to help her as she tried to hold his head and get him to open his eyes, but he continued to shake. She felt a strong pulse on his neck. She looked down at his wrists, small trickles of blood were beginning to form around his wrists and ankles. "I have to loosen these up he's shaking so violently." The orderly tried to keep him still. The nurse released one of the straps to check his wrist when Ed grabbed her throat suddenly in flash of speed. The nurse tried to scream but Ed was holding her throat so tight that it came out as a gasp.
Ed opened his eyes. The nurse looked at them with horror. The red eyes were still there but now where his eyes were once brown were now silver. The eyes of Dr. Tate had anger in them like she had never seen before. They were the eyes of the demon that had finally been released from its entrapment deep inside of Ed.
Ed pulled her closer to him, "No more tests..." he hissed with a fiery tone. The orderly moved behind the nurse and tried to get her away from Ed, but his strength was more than he could handle. Ed continued to speak and became louder with each statement, "...no more tests...no more needles...NO MORE!!!!"
Ed pushed her back and knocked her into the orderly. They fell on the ground in a heap. Ed removed his restraints and hopped off the table as he pulled off all the electrodes from his chest and head. Alarms sounded from the various medical equipment that he had been hooked up to. He turned over the table sending the annoying machines crashing to the floor. Scientists and other lab techs had stopped in their tracks when they saw Ed and the strength he possessed even after all he had been through. With lightning speed he had released himself and smashed equipment before they could even get near him.
Ed glared at them and let the quicksilver flow. The scientists looked around frantically. "Lock the doors, don't let him out!" someone yelled out. One of the scientists went flying through the air and landed on another group of frightened scientists. They all crashed to the floor as a wicked disembodied laugh echoed in the room. Computer monitors were tossed in the air and tables overturned. Ed had picked up a chair and started smashing other things in the room.
The doors opened and soldiers ran into the room wearing thermal goggles. They quickly spotted Ed and one fired his weapon. Ed felt the sting in his rear. He dropped the chair and turned to look at the soldier who shot him, it was GI Joe. "It figures," Ed said before he fell to the floor.
Dr. Alvarez followed the soldiers and gazed around the room. He looked down at Ed and then at GI Joe, "Lock him up for now until we can get this place cleaned up." He looked at the other scientists, "Now, will someone please explain to me how he got free."
The nurse stepped up and explained what had happened. Dr. Alvarez wasn't pleased, but now at least everyone understood how dangerous Ed was now and they would be extra careful next time.
~*~
"So, Eberts, you gonna help or what?" Hobbes asked.
"Yes, I believe I can help," Eberts announced as he sat down at his computer. "Now, the first thing I can do is check the phone calls coming in and going out of the Agency on the day of Dr. Tate's accident and the one the one Dr. Attwood received today." Eberts punched some keys on his keyboards and waited. He shook his head, "I don't see anything here on the Agency phones, but I can check the cell phone records."
"You can do that?" Hobbes asked.
"Yes, we monitor all phones here, to make sure agency phones are not used for excessive personal use." Eberts said.
Hobbes rolled his eyes, "Penny pinchin' Fat Man."
"There, look, it seems that the Keeper received a call on the morning of Dr. Tate's accident."
"Do you know who called him?" Hobbes asked.
"No, it's not an Agency number. It was another cell phone so it's impossible for me to tell where the call came from." Eberts pursed his lips, "Let me try something. I might be able to get into the account and see exactly who made the call."
After a few minutes of trying, Eberts couldn't get through. "The account for this phone is blocked; it must be a Government issued number, someone with top level security."
Hobbes straightened up, "Okay, so who would have a government issued phone number that would want it blocked? What's Walter's cell phone number?" Hobbes asked.
Ebert's typed in Walter's name and the number came up, "It's not blocked."
"I think I know who," Hobbes paused and looked down at Eberts, "The broad."
"Robert, I think you need to see this," Eberts said. Hobbes bent down to look at the monitor. "It seems that someone with a blocked account called the Keeper later on in the evening," Eberts looked up, "the same day Dr. Tate died."
"Now, that's interesting. When did he leave?" Hobbes asked.
"Some time that night," Eberts said sadly.
"Looks like we're getting more pieces to this puzzle," Hobbes said. He put his hands on hips, "You know something, Eberts, I'm beginning to think that Ed might be alive." He looked at Eberts, "Is there anyway that you can triangulate the calls coming in?"
"Only calls going out and the phones on our system…wait, let me try something." Eberts began to try his trick.
~*~
Ed woke up on the mattress. At first he thought the lights were dimmed because everything was dark, but he quickly realized that there was something covering his eyes. He tried to move his hands but couldn't. He looked down and saw cuffs around his wrists that were attached to a chain going around his waist. From that there was another chain going down to his ankles and that was attached to cuffs as well. Ed leaned his head back and started to laugh.
Apart from feeling sore and hungry, Ed felt great, in fact, he hadn't felt better. He tried to quicksilver the cuffs and alarms went off. "Oh turn those damn things off!" He yelled out in his room or it was more like a cell now. He heard the door unlock and then open, he turned his head to see who came in. He smiled maliciously when Dr. Alvarez walked in with two guards and one of them was GI Joe with his trusty cattle prod. 'One of these days, that damn thing is going where you don't want it,' Ed mused to himself. The thought allowed a soft chuckle to escape his lips. Ed sat up on the mattress and used the wall for support. Another nurse came in carrying a tray of food.
"Hey baby, what you got for me?" Ed said as she approached him with caution. He smiled at the sudden power he seemed to have. He gazed at the nurse as she put the tray down, "Got some food for me, huh?" He made a sudden move and the nurse jumped back. Ed laughed, "Don't worry, sweetheart, I don't bite…hard."
"Leave the nurse alone, Dr. Tate," Dr. Alvarez said.
"I'm just playin', come on, where's your sense of humor?" Ed said as he leaned back up against the wall.
"These men will release one wrist so you can eat. There are temperature sensors in this room and are set to detect even the smallest hint of temperature change around you. If you quicksilver, you'll set off the alarms, like you just did." Dr. Alvarez turned and spoke as he walked out, "Don't give these gentlemen a hard time." The door closed.
Ed looked at the two soldiers and smiled. GI Joe stood guard as the other soldier released Ed's right wrist. Ed broke the silence, "So, what's with the prison style bling-bling and the Mark Spitz eye wear?"
"Just eat," GI Joe replied.
"Ahh…I get it, my eyes right? Darien's were silver in stage five, is that what my eyes look like? They must be pretty scary if they're covered up," Ed said as he picked up his fork and took a mouth full of food. He was hungry and this time he would not throw his meal against the glass. If he was going to escape, he would need his strength. Ed looked up and saw the two guards staring at him, "You know it's really rude to stare at someone while they're eating."
The two guards stood with there arms folded. "Shut up and eat," GI Joe commented.
Ed laughed as he spoke, "You're some bad ass aren't ya, GI Joe?"
GI Joe didn't flinch and stood watch as the man in the dark blue scrubs ate. Ed managed to finish the rest of his meal without saying anything else. No sense in getting beaten up if he wanted to stay relatively healthy. Besides with his ankles and left wrist still cuffed, there wasn't anyway for him to fight back.
~*~
"Eberts, I take back all the bad things I've said about you," Hobbes said as he read the appointment book. "It seems our Lady of agony was out of town the day Ed died and she was even the one who suggested Dr. Asante Rhodes to be Ed's Keeper, who just so happened to have been the one to perform Ed's autopsy."
"It appears that she was gone for a couple of days," Eberts commented. With Walter's help he was able to hack into the Lady's computer. All Eberts needed was a location and Walter was more than happy to give up that information.
"Not kosher, that's for sure. Okay, let's look at a couple of days before Ed died," Hobbes said.
Eberts scrolled down the appointment book, "She had meetings but it doesn't say where or with whom." Eberts pursed his lips together as he looked at the monitor.
"Check the day that Ed was supposed to leave on his trip."
"Why?"
"A feeling," Hobbes said.
There was nothing. Eberts typed in different dates prior to Ed's trip and something caught his eye. "The same thing, more meetings and they were top level."
"This is starting to make some sense, Eberts. She only had these top level meetings before something happened to Ed." Hobbes put his hands on his hips and was in deep thought for a minute when Eberts broke his concentration.
"Robert, I think I found something. Take a look," Eberts pointed to a name with numbers, *Operation: Gemini 115š47'30"W 37š16'30"N*
"Hel-lo those are longitude and latitude directions. Let's check those numbers. Can you bring up a map?" Hobbes asked.
Eberts pulled up his program for geological site surveys, "Okay, let me just put in the coordinates here and see what we get." Eberts waited and shook his head when he saw the result, "Wait, this can't be right."
"That's smack dab in the middle of ET land, my friend," Hobbes said.
"Area 51," Eberts announced. "The coordinates are right in the middle of a lake bed, more specifically Groom Lake. It makes sense actually, it's highly classified, and you can't get near it because it's heavily guarded. It's the perfect place to take an invisible man," Eberts paused, "Robert, do you think that Dr. Tate could be at Area 51?"
"ET also stands for Ed Tate," Hobbes looked at Eberts, "The more evidence we uncover the more I think the good doc is still among the living. Ed was set up from the very beginning. Arnaud double-crossed the Lady and put the gland in Ed," Hobbes remarked. He paced around the room while his hand gently massaged his chin. Eberts sat staring at the monitor. "Okay, take this scenario," Hobbes broke the silence, "The Lady wants a gland of her own and knows that Arnaud contacted Ed. She sets up a deal with Arnaud with Ed as the centerpiece. But Ed is only supposed to get close to the gland because of his background. What she promised Arnaud, we don't know, but say that Arnie was supposed to let Ed go. She fakes Ed's death by making it look like an accident, she takes Ed to a top secret base to get the information from him. They create their own glands and bam, instant invisible army to help with the government's round up of dominants. The only problem is that Arnie double crossed her by putting the gland in his head. So, to make it look like Arnie killed Ed, she has the fake Ed appear to have a hole in his head just in case someone happens to take a peek. Fake Ed's body is cremated so that if we get suspicious, we can't run a DNA test. Looks like they stole a plan right out of the pages of the Agency play book."
"Then the name Gemini is correct," Eberts added, "Whether Dr. Tate was supposed to have a gland implanted or not, the name is now apropos to the situation."
"We need to get to Area 51, we'll have to drive. How far is it?" Hobbes asked.
"Take a plane supplied by me," Walter announced as he walked into the room.
Hobbes and Eberts both straightened up. "Look, sir, we…" Hobbes was trying to come up with an excuse.
Walter put his hands up, "It's okay, I did some checking of my own and found that Senator Allen had received a number of phone calls from my superior. Some of them from area code 702…Las Vegas."
Hobbes turned his gaze to Eberts who was already pulling up another map. "Nellis Air Force Range…ah…Area 51 is 90 miles north of Las Vegas."
"That's it, we got 'im," Hobbes said.
"I'll have the plane waiting and when you land at the airport, I'll have a van with all the equipment you need. Just let me know." Walter said.
Hobbes looked at Walter, "You're going to help me?"
"Why wouldn't I? Ed is a friend and if he's out there, I want him back. You have the walkie talkie to contact Darien. I'll make the arrangements with sympathizers to get you, Darien and Tom to the airfield."
Hobbes walked up to Walter and shook his hand, "Thanks."
"You can thank me by bringing Ed back safe and sound, if he's still alive." Walter turned and left the office.
Hobbes looked at Eberts with determination, "Okay, Eberts, pull up anything you can find on this base, security, checkpoints, when they take a piss, layouts…everything. I want as much information as I can get."
Eberts, with a stern look on face answered, "You got it." He turned back to his computer and went to work.
"I'm gonna put that list together for Walter," Hobbes said as he picked up the walkie talkie. "Eberts, thanks for your help."
"Anytime, Robert," Eberts smiled.
TBC…
A/N: If you want to see a graphic of Ed in stage five quicksilver madness, email me and I'll send it to you.