WARNING: There's some bad language up ahead, some scenes of violence and a near rape is hinted at. This is as dark as the fic gets.
Chapter 22
Hobbes looked at Tom as he checked the clip in his gun, "Ready?"
"Let's go," replied Tom as he tucked the thermal glasses in the pocket on his fatigue style uniform.
Darcy and Mark gave the two men hopeful glances. "Be careful," Darcy remarked in a serious but nervous tone.
Hobbes and Tom nodded and exited the van. Darcy and Mark turned to monitor Darien's movements and the situation inside the underground compound.
The Official and Walter stood behind Eberts and glanced over his shoulders. "Agents Hobbes and Daniels are entering the building now." Walter glanced at the Official who didn't look away from the monitor but merely let out a deep throated sigh.
Darien met Tara in the hallway leading to Ed's room. The emergency lights were their lighthouse in the dark, but instead of warning of danger, it led them straight to it. When they turned the corner, they both stopped. Tara bumped into Darien and let out a startled grunt, "Umphh…Hey, remember I can't see you."
"Sorry," the disembodied voice replied. "I seem to do that from time to time." Darien paused, "I think we have a problem."
"Yeah, I don't sense him."
Darien approached the room cautiously even though he sensed no presence, human or dominant. The door to Ed's room was open. "This isn't right, the door closes on its own," Tara replied.
Darien looked down, "Not if it's propped open. Look down at the floor."
"Oh no," Tara said as she spotted the bloody hand. Darien pushed the door open to reveal a body of a guard. The other one he spotted towards the mattress where Ed slept. "This one is dead, I guess he tried to get out and find help."
"Well, I think this one is dead too or he's gonna wish he was when he wakes up," Darien's voice sounded solemn. Ed was apparently lose and taking care of business. Darien shook his head, "They made their bed and now they're lying in it."
Tara checked the second guard and recognized him, "He is dead and this one pretty much was a thorn in Ed's side. He called him GI Joe."
"Ed's getting revenge on the people who tortured him. Who else would he go after?" Darien said as he let the quicksilver flake off.
Tara thought for a moment, "There are a number of people he would go after but I would say Dr. Alvarez and Ms. Welsh would be on the top of his list."
"Hobbes?" Darien spoke into the microphone.
"We're in, Fawkes."
"Heads up, man, the big Kahuna is on the loose and he's full blown psycho. I've got two dead bodies here. I think I know who he's after next, I'm gonna see if I can stop him."
"Copy that. Be careful." Hobbes turned to Tom, "Put the thermals on." Hobbes walked in front of Tom and mumbled, "Fat Man better give me a raise for this one. I gotta catch a wacko in the land of wackos."
Dr. Alvarez was busy in the main pharmacology room getting what he needed to transport Ed out. He had called for a guard to come and help him sedate Ed. When the door opened and then closed he didn't bother to look up, "Glad you're here…"
"I'm not so sure about that."
Dr. Alvarez turned around and gasped at the sight before him. "How?"
Ed approached him slowly, "Well, I really don't think GI Joe will be coming to your rescue or that poor hack outside." Ed knocked a tray off the counter and smiled vindictively, "You know, they say you reap what you sow."
Dr. Alvarez looked around for something to use as a weapon. He picked up a glass jar and smashed it. Ed laughed, "You're gonna use that against me, that's really pathetic." Ed let the quicksilver flow and disappeared, "How the hell are you supposed to use that if you can't see me? Not so tough are you with the lab rat loose are you. Oh it was one thing having me strapped down, but what you gonna do now, doc?" Ed cornered Dr. Alvarez, "It's harvest time, doc, time for you to reap the fruits of your labor." He rushed at Dr. Alvarez and knocked the broken jar from his hand.
Ed landed a few solid punches before he let the quicksilver burst from his body. He leered down at his wounded prey as he stood with his feet on either side of the frightened man. Ed rested his hands on bent knees. "This is like letting the hunter in the cage with the animal."
"Please, don't do this…you're…you're a doctor…"
Ed laughed, "Yeah, and so are you but you weren't exactly exhibiting great bed side manner and neither will I." Ed grabbed the quivering man by his shirt and hauled him to his feet.
Dr. Alvarez stood a good five inches shorter than Ed. He valiantly punched Ed in the face but it had no effect. Ed sneered and roughly turned him around and proceeded to smash his head into the glass cabinet doors. Blood spurted out of the man's head splattering on the counter and what was left of the cabinets. Glass cut into the man's skin and tore away parts of his flesh as Ed continued to use his head as a battering ram. By the time Ed was done, all the doors had been smashed in the tiny room. He let the blood soaked body fall to the floor in a mangled heap at his feet. He looked down upon his victim with satisfaction as his expression, "Two down, one to go," Ed quicksilvered and walked confidently out of the room.
Claire and Sloan walked into the silent Keep. Claire had wanted to come in for a moment to give a report to the Official. Plus she knew that she would have to come in eventually and get back to work. She knew that Ed would want her to. It seemed like ages ago when Darien came in with the news that changed that her life. She looked at the counteragent chair where just last week, Ed was laying as she implanted the monitor. She went to a table and opened the drawer to put her things away when an odd expression changed her appearance from sorrow to confusion.
"What is it, Claire?" Sloan asked as she walked towards Claire.
"This is odd, very odd," Claire held up a device that resembled a tricorder from Star Trek. There was a noticeable red blinking light on it.
"What is that?"
"It's a tracking device and a mobile monitor actually. I designed it for Ed."
"I don't understand."
Claire put her left hand on her hip as she continued to hold the device. "There were times when Darien went quicksilver mad and we had to track him down or rush to get him counteragent. This would prevent that if Ed was on a mission. I could monitor him from anywhere. It works like a GPS so it does have a long range. But it also keeps track of the build up of toxin. When Ed is invisible he can't see in color so it would be hard for him to see his tattoo clearly. This was supposed to aid us in making sure Ed didn't go into quicksilver madness so we could get counteragent to him in time."
"That's the coolest thing I've seen, and I've seen a lot. Did Ed know about this?"
"No, I never got a chance to tell him. In fact, I didn't know how to tell him. I'm the only who knew about it. I didn't want the Official or the Keeper spying on Ed. I was afraid that they would misuse it for their own personal agenda. I was only going to tell Darien and Bobby about it."
"So, why is the light blinking?"
"That's what is intriguing, this is telling me that the toxin in Ed's blood is at a dangerous level, like as if he was in stage five," Claire scratched her head. This was odd and she had no explanation for the reading.
"Maybe a short circuit or something?"
"I suppose, but it should only come on when the toxin levels reach a critical point. It's the monitor I implanted in Ed that activated this," Claire held up the monitor in her hand, "It's like his monitor is sending a signal." Claire gave Sloan a curious look.
"That's impossible, his Keeper would have removed it before the cremation," Sloan said.
Claire thought for a moment until the realization hit, "Sloan, he never gave it back to me."
Both ladies paused for a moment and stared at the device in Claire's hand. "So, where is the monitor that was in Ed?" Sloan asked.
"That is a very good question."
Darien discovered the slumped body of a guard near a door. They stared at each other and then gazed at the door. "I don't sense anybody," Tara said as Darien slowly opened the door. Tara peeked inside, her hand quickly went up to her mouth, "Oh no, not again!"
Darien stared at the blood stained counters and cabinets, he turned to look at Tara, "Who was that guy?"
"That was Dr. Alvarez. Ed did this, I'm sure of it," she said as turned her gaze away from the violent scene. Darien knelt down and ran his hand across the floor. He lifted his hand to reveal shimmering flakes on it. "What's that?" Tara asked as she tried not to stare at the bloody remains of Dr. Alvarez.
"Quicksilver flakes, they take 24 hours to dissolve. You're right, Ed was here," Darien stood up as he dusted his hands to remove the flakes.
Darcy shook her head, "My God." It was hard for her to believe that Ed could be responsible for such a violent attack on a human being.
"I would never have thought that Ed could do something like this," Mark replied as he was just as shocked, "I expect this from a dominant or a psychotic killer, but not Ed."
Darcy turned to Mark, "It's the gland, Mark, Ed would never do this."
"Will he remember any of this?"
"From what Darien told me, yes he will."
"Hobbes," Darien said as they exited the room.
"Yeah, Fawkes."
"We found two more bodies, Ed is getting his revenge and is killing anyone who gets in his way," Darien said despondently as he followed Tara towards the Lady's room.
"We've got our thermals on and a dart gun ready. We'll catch him."
"Hobbes, Ed is dangerous…" Darien paused thinking back to the first conversation he and Ed had. What he was about to tell Hobbes to do was hard and he found himself choking on the words, but he had promised Ed. "…Do what you need to do to stop him…"
"No, Fawkes I won't go that far," Hobbes stared at Tom. "I helped you and we can help Ed too."
"Look, he might be permanent by now. We both know it's the only way…just make sure the gland gets destroyed and Ed doesn't suffer." Darien couldn't believe that he may have been so close to saving Ed and bringing him home alive, but only to lose him in the end.
"Understand, Fawkes." Hobbes held up his tranq gun, "I'll use this first. Then I'll check his tattoo and if it's all silver…"
Tom stopped him, "Let me do it. He's my friend and I think he would want it this way."
Hobbes patted Tom his back and gave him a half hearted smile. Hobbes understood about the friendship between Ed and Tom. His friendship with Darien didn't exactly start off in the right direction either. Like Ed and Tom, he and Darien had to work through the trust part of their partnership. "Let's go find him before he goes permanent wacko," Hobbes stated.
Tom nodded. He wanted more than anything to find Ed before it was too late. Through the past five years he and Ed had become like brothers and it took a lot of hard work. These past few days was hard to imagine life in the lab without Ed. When he walked in, Ed was either going over a file with his feet up on his desk, peering into a microscope, doing an autopsy or some other lab experiment with such tenacity he's ever seen in a human. He knew that death was inevitable for everyone sooner or later, but if it was possible to have Ed around for a little while longer, then he was going to find him to bring him back safe and sound.
Claire and Sloan entered the Official's office and were just as surprised as they were. Eberts had just announced, "Dr. Tate has killed two more people," when the ladies walked in on them. Eberts leapt from his computer and tried in vain to hide the monitor. "What is going on here?" Claire asked.
"I uh…we uh…" Eberts looked down at the floor in defeat. Claire placed her hands on her hips and tilted her head to one side, "What is this about Dr. Tate? There was only one that I know of that you two would be interested in." Anger was Claire's expression as she glared at the Official and then at Walter.
"Maybe you two should sit down," Walter motioned for the ladies to have a seat. He straightened his posture as he let out a sigh. "Agents Fawkes, Hobbes and Daniels are on a mission and they're accompanied by Mark and Darcy. They're in Las Vegas more specifically, Area 51."
"Area 51?" Sloan asked in a half comical tone.
"What are they doing at Area 51?" Claire asked more seriously.
Walter looked at the Official and then to Eberts. He returned his gaze to the two ladies who now sat with their arms folded across their chests. "They're looking for Ed," Walter just came out with it.
Sloan and Claire looked at each other in shock. "Did you say they're looking for…Ed?" Claire asked as she stood up.
"Yes…Claire, Sloan, Ed's alive." Walter announced.
Claire didn't know what to think, "Is this some sort of joke?" She walked up to the Official, "This had better not be one of your great plans."
"Walter, this isn't one of yours is it?" Sloan asked.
"No, it's not. Believe me, I would never put you or Ed's family through something like this. Like you, we thought Ed was dead…until awhile ago. Darien did find Ed…"
"I sense a 'but' here," Sloan said as she rose to her feet.
"Ed's gone into stage five madness and they're trying to track him down," Walter said as he motioned for the ladies to join them. Eberts sat back down at his computer.
Claire put her hands to her face, "Okay, will someone please explain to me what is going on here."
"I'll fill you in later, but for now, we need to pray that Ed can be found before he goes permanent."
Claire looked at Walter, "You're telling me the truth aren't you?"
"Yes."
"Claire, what about that device you were showing me?" Sloan whispered in her ear.
"Bloody hell! That's why it was activated," Claire exclaimed and then rushed from the room.
"What is she talking about?" The Official asked.
"Something that might help them find Ed," Sloan replied.
The door opened and then closed. The Lady didn't even look up as she hurriedly tried to pack her things, "I'm almost done." She looked up when no one answered. She looked around the room and there was no one there. Suddenly a chair slid across the floor. She backed up to the wall and looked at her desk frantically. She tried to reach for the phone but it was ripped from her hand and flew across the room. Next, she tried for her desk to pull out a gun, but the drawer was slammed shut on her hand, "AUGGGHHH!!!" She cried out and then her head was violently pulled back by her hair.
"Did you know that fear has a smell?" The disembodied voice said softly in her ear.
"Dr. Tate…" Her head was quickly forced down and slammed onto the top of her desk. Blood oozed from the wound and her head was forced back again, "Please…" she pleaded.
Ed appeared in burst of silver flakes, he glared at her, "Please? Now this is an interesting twist isn't it? My pleas went unanswered, so why should I answer yours?"
She never really saw how Ed's eyes appeared in stage five madness, until now. The sight of his eyes caused her to gasp in horror, "Oh my God!"
Ed's lips curved in a malevolent smile, "God? You? I don't buy that. Just thought before I kill you that you see what you helped create."
"You won't get out of here alive," she said hoping to change his mind. She gazed into the madman's face. There was no longer a hint of the man Ed Tate used to be. It was still his face but it was also the face of an uncontrolled killer. His hands, face and clothes spotted and smeared in blood that obviously belonged to an earlier prey or more. She was filled with fear knowing full well that Ed had no sense of remorse.
Ed laughed, "Now that's the funniest thing you've said since I'm already dead. But since you mention it, I guess I'll just have to take you with me." Ed pulled on her hair harder causing her to cry out in pain. He held her hands firmly behind her back with his other hand. "You've been a thorn in our side for years, time to end this." He had tasted blood and now he craved more of it, especially hers.
"Dr. Tate, I can get you out of here," she pleaded.
"Dr. Ed Tate is dead. You might as well call me Edward Hyde." Ed positioned her so he could snap her neck. He leaned down with his mouth next to her ear and whispered with a voice that sounded more like a deep growl, "I wish I had time to play like a cat would with a mouse," his hand moved up her thigh to give her a hint of what he had in mind.
She squirmed in his grip, "Please, don't…"
His hand shot back quickly back up to her head, "Maybe I won't kill you just yet. You've screwed with me for years, it's time you learn what it's like to be screwed with and I promise, I'll be anything but gentle," Ed hissed in her ear as he pressed up against her.
As Tara and Darien neared the Lady's office, they sensed the presence behind the door of two humans. "Two humans and one of them is Ed," Darien said. The overwhelming anger and desire was too strong and could only come from Ed.
"I sense that too." Tara asked.
Darien burst through the door just in time to see Ed standing behind the Lady. Ed looked up and rolled his eyes, "Damn! Just when things were about to get exciting, at least for me anyway."
Darien saw his eyes, "Oh crap." He approached Ed cautiously with his hands on his hips. He noticed the gun belt wrapped around Ed's waist, "Ed, you don't want to do this."
Ed sneered at Darien, "Why the hell not? She's f*cked with me for years, she deserves this."
"Not like this, come on, let her go and we'll do this right." Darien inched closer. He noticed the fear on the Lady's face and for a moment it excited his dominant senses.
The Lady saw Darien approach and a pain filled plea escaped her lips, "Help me." She noticed his eyes and her fear level rose.
Ed squared his shoulders and shook his head in agreement. He crossed one arm around her neck and pulled her head to one side, "You're right, Darien, we do need to do this right."
"Ed, NO!!!" Darien yelled.
The sounds of bone cracking filled the room as Ed snapped her neck just as Darien was about to rush towards him. Both Darien and Tara stood there staring at Ed as he let the Lady's body fall to the floor. "You won't be tormenting me anymore," Ed said coldly.
"Oh God, Ed, what did you do?" Darien said as he stared down at the body resting at Ed's blood stained sock covered feet. He looked into Ed's face, it wasn't the same Ed that he knew. He had gone on a stage five killing spree and if he didn't stop him, Ed would certainly kill more people. His thoughts immediately went to Hobbes and Tom. Ed would certainly go after them. He and Tara had to put an end to Ed's so called fun.
"I killed the wicked witch!" Ed started to sing,
"Ding Dong! The witch is dead. Which old Witch? The Wicked Witch!
Ding Dong! The Wicked Witch is dead.
Wake up, you sleepy head, rub your eyes, get out of bed.
Wake up, the Wicked Witch is dead. She's gone where the goblins go,
Below, below, below. Yo-ho, let's open up and sing and ring the bells out.
Ding Dong! The merry-oh, sing it high, sing it low.
Let them know
The Wicked Witch is dead!"
Darien and Tara watched him. "He's really enjoying himself isn't he?" Tara said.
"Yeah, we need to stop him before he sings another chorus." Darien glanced at Tara quickly, "I'll catch him and you give him the counteragent."
Darien went around the other side of the desk as Tara moved slowly in the opposite direction. Ed caught sight of their movements. "I don't think so, I'm not going back," Ed said as he moved away from Darien.
"What about Claire?" Darien asked.
"I'm dead, it's best if she thinks of me that way. I don't think she'll like the person I've become."
"But you're alive," Darien said trying to keep Ed distracted.
"I'm no longer Ed Tate…" He approached Darien, "Darien, come with me…" an explosion was heard in the background. Ed didn't flinch, he continued as if nothing happened, "The world is our playground, man, we can do whatever we want. With your skills and my brains, we'll have it made."
"I can't leave Darcy."
Ed rolled his eyes, "Alright, so we take her with us." He glanced at Tara, "She can come with us too and she can be my mate. They won't find us. The world will be too busy with their petty issues."
"Ed, listen to yourself, this isn't you," Darien said. "Claire won't like this new Ed, you're not the one she fell in love with, not the one she wanted to marry," from the corner of his eye he saw Tara getting closer.
"Ah…she told you that, huh?" Ed saw Tara move in and he quicksilvered. He moved out of her way and she fell to the floor. "Tsk, tsk, that wasn't very nice, guess I'll have to punish you," Ed said as he kicked her.
Darien quicksilvered and lunged for Ed. His arms wrapped around Ed and the forward momentum sent the two men crashing up against the wall. Ed moaned in pain, but quickly punched Darien in the face sending him to the ground.
Tara got up and looked around the room, "Great. Darien, where are you?"
Ed reached down and grabbed Darien by his shirt. "Nice punch," Darien remarked.
"I'm not going back!" Ed yelled as he pushed Darien back to the floor. He started for the door but Darien stuck his hand out and tripped Ed. His arms whirled in the air to keep balance but to no avail. He fell forward and landed on the hard concrete floor. Tara heard the audible sound of something hitting the ground and then a groan. Her attention was taken away to just outside the doors were gunshots and shouts were heard. A human and a dominant approached quickly.
"Darien, we need to get out of here," Tara said with anxiety in her voice. Tom and Hobbes ran into the room with guns drawn, they pointed them at Tara. She put her hands up, "I'm a…" she paused as she recognized Tom, "…friend…I know you. You're Tom Daniels."
"Hey! Do you guys mind, introductions can wait, I need the counteragent here!" Darien's disembodied voice called out.
"Let me go!" Ed's disembodied rang out.
"What the…Fawkes? Tate?" Hobbes said as he gazed at the floor with his thermals on. He spotted the two green figures on the floor. "Whoa, this is freaky…which one are you Fawkes? You both look the same at the moment." Hobbes raised the dart gun.
"I'm the one on top!" Darien called out as Ed struggled to get free.
Hobbes eyes widened as the two green figures looked like one large massive lump on the floor, "Now I've got a mental image."
"Hobbes! I need the counteragent!"
Tara still held the syringe in her hand and she looked around. "Darien! I need to see a vein!"
"Oh crap, I forgot. Damn it, Ed, will you stop!"
"NO!!" Ed flicked his head back and hit Darien on his chin. Ed took the opportunity and rolled them over. Darien took an elbow to his kidney area and grunted in pain.
"Who got hurt?" Tara asked.
Ed stood up. His passage blocked by Hobbes and Tom. "Well, well, look who decided to join the party," Ed started to approach Hobbes, "Thermals huh, well I guess the whole invisible thing is mute." The quicksilver flaked off. Hobbes raised the dart gun and took aim.
Claire rushed back into the Keep. She found the control and held it in her hand. With a glance at a picture of Ed on her desk, she spoke out loud in the dark lab, "Sorry, Ed, but I've got to do this." She pressed a button.
Like a lightning bolt in his arm, pain shot up his arm and straight to his head. Ed cradled his head in his hands as he yelped in pain. He fell to his knees and slumped to the floor, barely conscious. Darien let the quicksilver flake off and he stood up clutching his side, "What the hell just happened?"
Tara was Ed's side immediately and checked his vitals, "He's fine from what I can tell." She glanced up at Hobbes, "What did you do?"
"Nothing," Hobbes said as he looked at his still loaded dart gun.
"Give him the shot," Darien said to Tara.
Ed opened his eyes to see the needle go into his arm and Tara push down on the plunger, "Damn," Ed said as he felt the counteragent go in. Darien watched as the scientist convulsed for a few moments and then passed out. He glanced at Ed's tattoo and looked up at Hobbes, "Eight are silver." Darien didn't need to say anymore, the tone of his voice was ominous enough. They had barely made it in time to keep Ed from going permanent.
There was another explosion right outside the room. Darien covered Ed's body with his own. Parts of the ceiling came down on them, but no one was seriously injured.
Hobbes looked at Darien as he moved his hand in the air to sweep the dust away, "How many of those things did you plant?"
"It's the self-destruct actually. Remember, in case of an attack or raid, no information gets out," Tara said.
"Frickin' nutso around here," Hobbes retorted as he stood up and shook the debris from his clothing.
"Ahh...damn," Ed grunted as he came around. He glared at Darien spitefully and then at Tara, "That wasn't very nice."
"His eyes are just too freaky," Hobbes retorted. Then he glanced at Darien's, "Yours aren't any better, my friend."
Tara looked at Darien in shock as did Tom. Ed's eyes were still red and silver. "I know I had the right counteragent," Tara said as she pulled out the vial from her pocket.
Darien sighed, "Don't worry, it takes awhile to kick in. Trust me, I know."
"Uhmm…hate to break up this party, but we need to get moving." Hobbes said as he stood guard at the door. Tom was checking on the body lying on the floor. He stood up and went over to Hobbes.
"She's dead," he announced with no emotion at all. "Her neck is broken," Tom said with a raised brow.
Hobbes glanced over at Darien and watched as he shook his head. "It was Ed," Darien replied.
Darien stood up and helped Ed to his feet, "Come on, bro, lets get you out of here before this whole place comes crashing down on us." Darien swung Ed's arm over his shoulder and helped him from the room. Ed was still feeling the effects of the electrical shock that had rendered him nearly unconscious. They moved down the hall towards the stairs as fast as they could. There were other people trying to get out so no one tried to stop them. They wanted to get out alive and didn't care about orders to stop anyone.
Half way down the hall, Ed convulsed again and Darien helped him to the floor so he could ride it out. Ed panted heavily and he opened his eyes, "Darien?"
Darien looked into the red eyes, "It's okay, Ed, I'm getting you outta here."
Tara checked Ed's tattoo, it was all red now, "You're right, it did take awhile for it to kick in."
Darien helped Ed back to his feet and half carried him down the hall. Tom had radioed to Darcy and Mark that they were on their way out.
"Well, you guys better hurry cause everyone is going nuts out here," Darcy replied as Mark started up the van to get closer.
"Darien, you might want to quicksilver you and Ed once you get outside. There's bound to be guards around," Tom said as they ran into the stairwell. They knew that the elevators were not working and they decided it was best to just run out to mingle in with the group trying to get out.
They made it to the top and just as Darien was about to let the quicksilver flow, Ed slumped in his arms. If it wasn't for his arm draped over Darien's shoulder, he would have fallen to the floor. Now he hung like a puppet on one unbroken string. "Oh crap, not now, Ed." Darien lifted him up and carried him in his arms.
"No more, it hurts too much," Ed moaned.
"I got ya, bro," Darien said as the quicksilver flowed. He had a chance to look at Ed's eyes and they were only streaked with red now. Ed moaned again and then he slipped into unconsciousness. "Great, now you pass out, just couldn't wait 'til I got you to the van," Darien complained as he tried to run with Ed in his arms.
Tom, Hobbes and Tara were well ahead of them when the building exploded. The three fell to the ground. Darcy and Mark had stepped out of the van and she screamed.
Hobbes looked around, "Come on, Fawkes, we didn't go through all this for you and Ed to die for real."
Tara yelled out and pointed as she spotted Darien and Ed reappearing. Hobbes and Tom ran towards them. Darien rolled off of Ed and moaned as he laid on his back. He opened his eyes and they were brown again.
"Oh, Fawkes, don't go loopy on me now," Hobbes said as he helped his tall partner to his feet. Tom picked up Ed and carried him to the van.
They raced to the van and no one noticed. They were all too busy trying to put out the fire. Darcy and Mark opened the doors as they reached the van. Ed was put in the back and Darien sat with him. Tara joined Mark in the back and he looked at her oddly. Tom jumped in the front as Hobbes stepped on the gas.
Darcy looked at Darien, "What happened?" She looked at Darien, "Are you okay?"
"Yeah, I'm tired and starvin'. Think we can pick up a few bacon cheeseburgers on the way?"
"Oh, Darien, you didn't?" Darcy asked with concern.
"I couldn't help it," he replied as he laid down next to Ed.
Tara looked at Darien oddly, "What's wrong with him? I mean, why did his eyes look like that? Is it the gland?"
"It's a long story," Darcy said and then she looked at Tara oddly, "So you're Lewis' daughter?"
Mark glared at her, "What are you doing here?"
"Don't worry, I'm a friend, honest. I maybe one of Lewis' daughters, but that doesn't mean I share his beliefs, at least not anymore."
"What does that mean?" Darcy asked suspiciously.
"I'm a Chameleon…or at least I was…I'd like to learn more about co-existence. I think it's time we have more of an open mind." She glanced back at Ed, "War is not the answer, I see that now. Neither species will win."
"Well, you might be too late on that," Mark said.
"What? Why?" Tara asked.
Mark and Darcy proceeded to tell her what had happened during the last week. Being underground and having no access to the outside world, Tara missed everything. As Mark and Darcy filled her in, Hobbes had no trouble exiting through the gates. He figured that Walter had something to do with that.
Claire looked at Walter, "Where are they going now?"
"Washington, D.C. to meet with the President, they just don't know it yet," Walter said.
"Well, I'm going too." Claire squared her shoulders and her body language showed that no one better not oppose her. No one did.
"Me too," Sloan announced and was out of the room before Walter could tell her otherwise.
Hobbes decided to stop and pick up some food for everyone. From there they headed to the next rendezvous point to get another car and change clothes. Eberts had informed him that they were all going to Washington, D.C. and that a plane was waiting for them.
Ed stirred and grabbed his head, "Ahh man," He looked around and saw Mark and Darien looking at him. He looked confused, "Where am I?"
Tara checked Ed's tattoo, "All green."
"What happened to me?" Ed looked at her oddly, "Do I know you?"
"You don't remember?" Mark asked.
"He was in stage five madness, sometimes it takes longer for the memories to come back," Darien said to Mark.
Ed still looked as if he was in a fog. "Did I get beat up?" He asked.
"Uhmm…yeah, I guess you could say that," Darien answered. "Look, Ed, the Lady faked your death. She brought you to a military base to run tests on you and try to clone the gland. You've been gone for almost a week. Hobbes figured out the scam and well, here we are."
Ed looked as if he was about to be sick. He thought for a moment, "Wait, I remember something about that, but it seems so distant I can't put my finger on it. God, my head hurts." He leaned back and his face creased with pain.
Darien rested his hand on Ed's shoulder, "Don't worry, trust me, the memories will come back. Just give it some time."
Ed had a perplexed expression on his face. "What's the matter, Ed?" Tom asked.
"You know when you hear a song and you just can't get it out of your head?" Ed asked.
"Yeah," Darien answered. Tom just nodded.
"Well, for some strange reason I can't get the song from the 'Wizard of Oz' out of my head, you know, 'Ding dong the witch is dead'."
Darien half smiled, "Like I said, you'll remember and you'll wish you didn't."
TBC…
Chapter 22
Hobbes looked at Tom as he checked the clip in his gun, "Ready?"
"Let's go," replied Tom as he tucked the thermal glasses in the pocket on his fatigue style uniform.
Darcy and Mark gave the two men hopeful glances. "Be careful," Darcy remarked in a serious but nervous tone.
Hobbes and Tom nodded and exited the van. Darcy and Mark turned to monitor Darien's movements and the situation inside the underground compound.
The Official and Walter stood behind Eberts and glanced over his shoulders. "Agents Hobbes and Daniels are entering the building now." Walter glanced at the Official who didn't look away from the monitor but merely let out a deep throated sigh.
Darien met Tara in the hallway leading to Ed's room. The emergency lights were their lighthouse in the dark, but instead of warning of danger, it led them straight to it. When they turned the corner, they both stopped. Tara bumped into Darien and let out a startled grunt, "Umphh…Hey, remember I can't see you."
"Sorry," the disembodied voice replied. "I seem to do that from time to time." Darien paused, "I think we have a problem."
"Yeah, I don't sense him."
Darien approached the room cautiously even though he sensed no presence, human or dominant. The door to Ed's room was open. "This isn't right, the door closes on its own," Tara replied.
Darien looked down, "Not if it's propped open. Look down at the floor."
"Oh no," Tara said as she spotted the bloody hand. Darien pushed the door open to reveal a body of a guard. The other one he spotted towards the mattress where Ed slept. "This one is dead, I guess he tried to get out and find help."
"Well, I think this one is dead too or he's gonna wish he was when he wakes up," Darien's voice sounded solemn. Ed was apparently lose and taking care of business. Darien shook his head, "They made their bed and now they're lying in it."
Tara checked the second guard and recognized him, "He is dead and this one pretty much was a thorn in Ed's side. He called him GI Joe."
"Ed's getting revenge on the people who tortured him. Who else would he go after?" Darien said as he let the quicksilver flake off.
Tara thought for a moment, "There are a number of people he would go after but I would say Dr. Alvarez and Ms. Welsh would be on the top of his list."
"Hobbes?" Darien spoke into the microphone.
"We're in, Fawkes."
"Heads up, man, the big Kahuna is on the loose and he's full blown psycho. I've got two dead bodies here. I think I know who he's after next, I'm gonna see if I can stop him."
"Copy that. Be careful." Hobbes turned to Tom, "Put the thermals on." Hobbes walked in front of Tom and mumbled, "Fat Man better give me a raise for this one. I gotta catch a wacko in the land of wackos."
Dr. Alvarez was busy in the main pharmacology room getting what he needed to transport Ed out. He had called for a guard to come and help him sedate Ed. When the door opened and then closed he didn't bother to look up, "Glad you're here…"
"I'm not so sure about that."
Dr. Alvarez turned around and gasped at the sight before him. "How?"
Ed approached him slowly, "Well, I really don't think GI Joe will be coming to your rescue or that poor hack outside." Ed knocked a tray off the counter and smiled vindictively, "You know, they say you reap what you sow."
Dr. Alvarez looked around for something to use as a weapon. He picked up a glass jar and smashed it. Ed laughed, "You're gonna use that against me, that's really pathetic." Ed let the quicksilver flow and disappeared, "How the hell are you supposed to use that if you can't see me? Not so tough are you with the lab rat loose are you. Oh it was one thing having me strapped down, but what you gonna do now, doc?" Ed cornered Dr. Alvarez, "It's harvest time, doc, time for you to reap the fruits of your labor." He rushed at Dr. Alvarez and knocked the broken jar from his hand.
Ed landed a few solid punches before he let the quicksilver burst from his body. He leered down at his wounded prey as he stood with his feet on either side of the frightened man. Ed rested his hands on bent knees. "This is like letting the hunter in the cage with the animal."
"Please, don't do this…you're…you're a doctor…"
Ed laughed, "Yeah, and so are you but you weren't exactly exhibiting great bed side manner and neither will I." Ed grabbed the quivering man by his shirt and hauled him to his feet.
Dr. Alvarez stood a good five inches shorter than Ed. He valiantly punched Ed in the face but it had no effect. Ed sneered and roughly turned him around and proceeded to smash his head into the glass cabinet doors. Blood spurted out of the man's head splattering on the counter and what was left of the cabinets. Glass cut into the man's skin and tore away parts of his flesh as Ed continued to use his head as a battering ram. By the time Ed was done, all the doors had been smashed in the tiny room. He let the blood soaked body fall to the floor in a mangled heap at his feet. He looked down upon his victim with satisfaction as his expression, "Two down, one to go," Ed quicksilvered and walked confidently out of the room.
Claire and Sloan walked into the silent Keep. Claire had wanted to come in for a moment to give a report to the Official. Plus she knew that she would have to come in eventually and get back to work. She knew that Ed would want her to. It seemed like ages ago when Darien came in with the news that changed that her life. She looked at the counteragent chair where just last week, Ed was laying as she implanted the monitor. She went to a table and opened the drawer to put her things away when an odd expression changed her appearance from sorrow to confusion.
"What is it, Claire?" Sloan asked as she walked towards Claire.
"This is odd, very odd," Claire held up a device that resembled a tricorder from Star Trek. There was a noticeable red blinking light on it.
"What is that?"
"It's a tracking device and a mobile monitor actually. I designed it for Ed."
"I don't understand."
Claire put her left hand on her hip as she continued to hold the device. "There were times when Darien went quicksilver mad and we had to track him down or rush to get him counteragent. This would prevent that if Ed was on a mission. I could monitor him from anywhere. It works like a GPS so it does have a long range. But it also keeps track of the build up of toxin. When Ed is invisible he can't see in color so it would be hard for him to see his tattoo clearly. This was supposed to aid us in making sure Ed didn't go into quicksilver madness so we could get counteragent to him in time."
"That's the coolest thing I've seen, and I've seen a lot. Did Ed know about this?"
"No, I never got a chance to tell him. In fact, I didn't know how to tell him. I'm the only who knew about it. I didn't want the Official or the Keeper spying on Ed. I was afraid that they would misuse it for their own personal agenda. I was only going to tell Darien and Bobby about it."
"So, why is the light blinking?"
"That's what is intriguing, this is telling me that the toxin in Ed's blood is at a dangerous level, like as if he was in stage five," Claire scratched her head. This was odd and she had no explanation for the reading.
"Maybe a short circuit or something?"
"I suppose, but it should only come on when the toxin levels reach a critical point. It's the monitor I implanted in Ed that activated this," Claire held up the monitor in her hand, "It's like his monitor is sending a signal." Claire gave Sloan a curious look.
"That's impossible, his Keeper would have removed it before the cremation," Sloan said.
Claire thought for a moment until the realization hit, "Sloan, he never gave it back to me."
Both ladies paused for a moment and stared at the device in Claire's hand. "So, where is the monitor that was in Ed?" Sloan asked.
"That is a very good question."
Darien discovered the slumped body of a guard near a door. They stared at each other and then gazed at the door. "I don't sense anybody," Tara said as Darien slowly opened the door. Tara peeked inside, her hand quickly went up to her mouth, "Oh no, not again!"
Darien stared at the blood stained counters and cabinets, he turned to look at Tara, "Who was that guy?"
"That was Dr. Alvarez. Ed did this, I'm sure of it," she said as turned her gaze away from the violent scene. Darien knelt down and ran his hand across the floor. He lifted his hand to reveal shimmering flakes on it. "What's that?" Tara asked as she tried not to stare at the bloody remains of Dr. Alvarez.
"Quicksilver flakes, they take 24 hours to dissolve. You're right, Ed was here," Darien stood up as he dusted his hands to remove the flakes.
Darcy shook her head, "My God." It was hard for her to believe that Ed could be responsible for such a violent attack on a human being.
"I would never have thought that Ed could do something like this," Mark replied as he was just as shocked, "I expect this from a dominant or a psychotic killer, but not Ed."
Darcy turned to Mark, "It's the gland, Mark, Ed would never do this."
"Will he remember any of this?"
"From what Darien told me, yes he will."
"Hobbes," Darien said as they exited the room.
"Yeah, Fawkes."
"We found two more bodies, Ed is getting his revenge and is killing anyone who gets in his way," Darien said despondently as he followed Tara towards the Lady's room.
"We've got our thermals on and a dart gun ready. We'll catch him."
"Hobbes, Ed is dangerous…" Darien paused thinking back to the first conversation he and Ed had. What he was about to tell Hobbes to do was hard and he found himself choking on the words, but he had promised Ed. "…Do what you need to do to stop him…"
"No, Fawkes I won't go that far," Hobbes stared at Tom. "I helped you and we can help Ed too."
"Look, he might be permanent by now. We both know it's the only way…just make sure the gland gets destroyed and Ed doesn't suffer." Darien couldn't believe that he may have been so close to saving Ed and bringing him home alive, but only to lose him in the end.
"Understand, Fawkes." Hobbes held up his tranq gun, "I'll use this first. Then I'll check his tattoo and if it's all silver…"
Tom stopped him, "Let me do it. He's my friend and I think he would want it this way."
Hobbes patted Tom his back and gave him a half hearted smile. Hobbes understood about the friendship between Ed and Tom. His friendship with Darien didn't exactly start off in the right direction either. Like Ed and Tom, he and Darien had to work through the trust part of their partnership. "Let's go find him before he goes permanent wacko," Hobbes stated.
Tom nodded. He wanted more than anything to find Ed before it was too late. Through the past five years he and Ed had become like brothers and it took a lot of hard work. These past few days was hard to imagine life in the lab without Ed. When he walked in, Ed was either going over a file with his feet up on his desk, peering into a microscope, doing an autopsy or some other lab experiment with such tenacity he's ever seen in a human. He knew that death was inevitable for everyone sooner or later, but if it was possible to have Ed around for a little while longer, then he was going to find him to bring him back safe and sound.
Claire and Sloan entered the Official's office and were just as surprised as they were. Eberts had just announced, "Dr. Tate has killed two more people," when the ladies walked in on them. Eberts leapt from his computer and tried in vain to hide the monitor. "What is going on here?" Claire asked.
"I uh…we uh…" Eberts looked down at the floor in defeat. Claire placed her hands on her hips and tilted her head to one side, "What is this about Dr. Tate? There was only one that I know of that you two would be interested in." Anger was Claire's expression as she glared at the Official and then at Walter.
"Maybe you two should sit down," Walter motioned for the ladies to have a seat. He straightened his posture as he let out a sigh. "Agents Fawkes, Hobbes and Daniels are on a mission and they're accompanied by Mark and Darcy. They're in Las Vegas more specifically, Area 51."
"Area 51?" Sloan asked in a half comical tone.
"What are they doing at Area 51?" Claire asked more seriously.
Walter looked at the Official and then to Eberts. He returned his gaze to the two ladies who now sat with their arms folded across their chests. "They're looking for Ed," Walter just came out with it.
Sloan and Claire looked at each other in shock. "Did you say they're looking for…Ed?" Claire asked as she stood up.
"Yes…Claire, Sloan, Ed's alive." Walter announced.
Claire didn't know what to think, "Is this some sort of joke?" She walked up to the Official, "This had better not be one of your great plans."
"Walter, this isn't one of yours is it?" Sloan asked.
"No, it's not. Believe me, I would never put you or Ed's family through something like this. Like you, we thought Ed was dead…until awhile ago. Darien did find Ed…"
"I sense a 'but' here," Sloan said as she rose to her feet.
"Ed's gone into stage five madness and they're trying to track him down," Walter said as he motioned for the ladies to join them. Eberts sat back down at his computer.
Claire put her hands to her face, "Okay, will someone please explain to me what is going on here."
"I'll fill you in later, but for now, we need to pray that Ed can be found before he goes permanent."
Claire looked at Walter, "You're telling me the truth aren't you?"
"Yes."
"Claire, what about that device you were showing me?" Sloan whispered in her ear.
"Bloody hell! That's why it was activated," Claire exclaimed and then rushed from the room.
"What is she talking about?" The Official asked.
"Something that might help them find Ed," Sloan replied.
The door opened and then closed. The Lady didn't even look up as she hurriedly tried to pack her things, "I'm almost done." She looked up when no one answered. She looked around the room and there was no one there. Suddenly a chair slid across the floor. She backed up to the wall and looked at her desk frantically. She tried to reach for the phone but it was ripped from her hand and flew across the room. Next, she tried for her desk to pull out a gun, but the drawer was slammed shut on her hand, "AUGGGHHH!!!" She cried out and then her head was violently pulled back by her hair.
"Did you know that fear has a smell?" The disembodied voice said softly in her ear.
"Dr. Tate…" Her head was quickly forced down and slammed onto the top of her desk. Blood oozed from the wound and her head was forced back again, "Please…" she pleaded.
Ed appeared in burst of silver flakes, he glared at her, "Please? Now this is an interesting twist isn't it? My pleas went unanswered, so why should I answer yours?"
She never really saw how Ed's eyes appeared in stage five madness, until now. The sight of his eyes caused her to gasp in horror, "Oh my God!"
Ed's lips curved in a malevolent smile, "God? You? I don't buy that. Just thought before I kill you that you see what you helped create."
"You won't get out of here alive," she said hoping to change his mind. She gazed into the madman's face. There was no longer a hint of the man Ed Tate used to be. It was still his face but it was also the face of an uncontrolled killer. His hands, face and clothes spotted and smeared in blood that obviously belonged to an earlier prey or more. She was filled with fear knowing full well that Ed had no sense of remorse.
Ed laughed, "Now that's the funniest thing you've said since I'm already dead. But since you mention it, I guess I'll just have to take you with me." Ed pulled on her hair harder causing her to cry out in pain. He held her hands firmly behind her back with his other hand. "You've been a thorn in our side for years, time to end this." He had tasted blood and now he craved more of it, especially hers.
"Dr. Tate, I can get you out of here," she pleaded.
"Dr. Ed Tate is dead. You might as well call me Edward Hyde." Ed positioned her so he could snap her neck. He leaned down with his mouth next to her ear and whispered with a voice that sounded more like a deep growl, "I wish I had time to play like a cat would with a mouse," his hand moved up her thigh to give her a hint of what he had in mind.
She squirmed in his grip, "Please, don't…"
His hand shot back quickly back up to her head, "Maybe I won't kill you just yet. You've screwed with me for years, it's time you learn what it's like to be screwed with and I promise, I'll be anything but gentle," Ed hissed in her ear as he pressed up against her.
As Tara and Darien neared the Lady's office, they sensed the presence behind the door of two humans. "Two humans and one of them is Ed," Darien said. The overwhelming anger and desire was too strong and could only come from Ed.
"I sense that too." Tara asked.
Darien burst through the door just in time to see Ed standing behind the Lady. Ed looked up and rolled his eyes, "Damn! Just when things were about to get exciting, at least for me anyway."
Darien saw his eyes, "Oh crap." He approached Ed cautiously with his hands on his hips. He noticed the gun belt wrapped around Ed's waist, "Ed, you don't want to do this."
Ed sneered at Darien, "Why the hell not? She's f*cked with me for years, she deserves this."
"Not like this, come on, let her go and we'll do this right." Darien inched closer. He noticed the fear on the Lady's face and for a moment it excited his dominant senses.
The Lady saw Darien approach and a pain filled plea escaped her lips, "Help me." She noticed his eyes and her fear level rose.
Ed squared his shoulders and shook his head in agreement. He crossed one arm around her neck and pulled her head to one side, "You're right, Darien, we do need to do this right."
"Ed, NO!!!" Darien yelled.
The sounds of bone cracking filled the room as Ed snapped her neck just as Darien was about to rush towards him. Both Darien and Tara stood there staring at Ed as he let the Lady's body fall to the floor. "You won't be tormenting me anymore," Ed said coldly.
"Oh God, Ed, what did you do?" Darien said as he stared down at the body resting at Ed's blood stained sock covered feet. He looked into Ed's face, it wasn't the same Ed that he knew. He had gone on a stage five killing spree and if he didn't stop him, Ed would certainly kill more people. His thoughts immediately went to Hobbes and Tom. Ed would certainly go after them. He and Tara had to put an end to Ed's so called fun.
"I killed the wicked witch!" Ed started to sing,
"Ding Dong! The witch is dead. Which old Witch? The Wicked Witch!
Ding Dong! The Wicked Witch is dead.
Wake up, you sleepy head, rub your eyes, get out of bed.
Wake up, the Wicked Witch is dead. She's gone where the goblins go,
Below, below, below. Yo-ho, let's open up and sing and ring the bells out.
Ding Dong! The merry-oh, sing it high, sing it low.
Let them know
The Wicked Witch is dead!"
Darien and Tara watched him. "He's really enjoying himself isn't he?" Tara said.
"Yeah, we need to stop him before he sings another chorus." Darien glanced at Tara quickly, "I'll catch him and you give him the counteragent."
Darien went around the other side of the desk as Tara moved slowly in the opposite direction. Ed caught sight of their movements. "I don't think so, I'm not going back," Ed said as he moved away from Darien.
"What about Claire?" Darien asked.
"I'm dead, it's best if she thinks of me that way. I don't think she'll like the person I've become."
"But you're alive," Darien said trying to keep Ed distracted.
"I'm no longer Ed Tate…" He approached Darien, "Darien, come with me…" an explosion was heard in the background. Ed didn't flinch, he continued as if nothing happened, "The world is our playground, man, we can do whatever we want. With your skills and my brains, we'll have it made."
"I can't leave Darcy."
Ed rolled his eyes, "Alright, so we take her with us." He glanced at Tara, "She can come with us too and she can be my mate. They won't find us. The world will be too busy with their petty issues."
"Ed, listen to yourself, this isn't you," Darien said. "Claire won't like this new Ed, you're not the one she fell in love with, not the one she wanted to marry," from the corner of his eye he saw Tara getting closer.
"Ah…she told you that, huh?" Ed saw Tara move in and he quicksilvered. He moved out of her way and she fell to the floor. "Tsk, tsk, that wasn't very nice, guess I'll have to punish you," Ed said as he kicked her.
Darien quicksilvered and lunged for Ed. His arms wrapped around Ed and the forward momentum sent the two men crashing up against the wall. Ed moaned in pain, but quickly punched Darien in the face sending him to the ground.
Tara got up and looked around the room, "Great. Darien, where are you?"
Ed reached down and grabbed Darien by his shirt. "Nice punch," Darien remarked.
"I'm not going back!" Ed yelled as he pushed Darien back to the floor. He started for the door but Darien stuck his hand out and tripped Ed. His arms whirled in the air to keep balance but to no avail. He fell forward and landed on the hard concrete floor. Tara heard the audible sound of something hitting the ground and then a groan. Her attention was taken away to just outside the doors were gunshots and shouts were heard. A human and a dominant approached quickly.
"Darien, we need to get out of here," Tara said with anxiety in her voice. Tom and Hobbes ran into the room with guns drawn, they pointed them at Tara. She put her hands up, "I'm a…" she paused as she recognized Tom, "…friend…I know you. You're Tom Daniels."
"Hey! Do you guys mind, introductions can wait, I need the counteragent here!" Darien's disembodied voice called out.
"Let me go!" Ed's disembodied rang out.
"What the…Fawkes? Tate?" Hobbes said as he gazed at the floor with his thermals on. He spotted the two green figures on the floor. "Whoa, this is freaky…which one are you Fawkes? You both look the same at the moment." Hobbes raised the dart gun.
"I'm the one on top!" Darien called out as Ed struggled to get free.
Hobbes eyes widened as the two green figures looked like one large massive lump on the floor, "Now I've got a mental image."
"Hobbes! I need the counteragent!"
Tara still held the syringe in her hand and she looked around. "Darien! I need to see a vein!"
"Oh crap, I forgot. Damn it, Ed, will you stop!"
"NO!!" Ed flicked his head back and hit Darien on his chin. Ed took the opportunity and rolled them over. Darien took an elbow to his kidney area and grunted in pain.
"Who got hurt?" Tara asked.
Ed stood up. His passage blocked by Hobbes and Tom. "Well, well, look who decided to join the party," Ed started to approach Hobbes, "Thermals huh, well I guess the whole invisible thing is mute." The quicksilver flaked off. Hobbes raised the dart gun and took aim.
Claire rushed back into the Keep. She found the control and held it in her hand. With a glance at a picture of Ed on her desk, she spoke out loud in the dark lab, "Sorry, Ed, but I've got to do this." She pressed a button.
Like a lightning bolt in his arm, pain shot up his arm and straight to his head. Ed cradled his head in his hands as he yelped in pain. He fell to his knees and slumped to the floor, barely conscious. Darien let the quicksilver flake off and he stood up clutching his side, "What the hell just happened?"
Tara was Ed's side immediately and checked his vitals, "He's fine from what I can tell." She glanced up at Hobbes, "What did you do?"
"Nothing," Hobbes said as he looked at his still loaded dart gun.
"Give him the shot," Darien said to Tara.
Ed opened his eyes to see the needle go into his arm and Tara push down on the plunger, "Damn," Ed said as he felt the counteragent go in. Darien watched as the scientist convulsed for a few moments and then passed out. He glanced at Ed's tattoo and looked up at Hobbes, "Eight are silver." Darien didn't need to say anymore, the tone of his voice was ominous enough. They had barely made it in time to keep Ed from going permanent.
There was another explosion right outside the room. Darien covered Ed's body with his own. Parts of the ceiling came down on them, but no one was seriously injured.
Hobbes looked at Darien as he moved his hand in the air to sweep the dust away, "How many of those things did you plant?"
"It's the self-destruct actually. Remember, in case of an attack or raid, no information gets out," Tara said.
"Frickin' nutso around here," Hobbes retorted as he stood up and shook the debris from his clothing.
"Ahh...damn," Ed grunted as he came around. He glared at Darien spitefully and then at Tara, "That wasn't very nice."
"His eyes are just too freaky," Hobbes retorted. Then he glanced at Darien's, "Yours aren't any better, my friend."
Tara looked at Darien in shock as did Tom. Ed's eyes were still red and silver. "I know I had the right counteragent," Tara said as she pulled out the vial from her pocket.
Darien sighed, "Don't worry, it takes awhile to kick in. Trust me, I know."
"Uhmm…hate to break up this party, but we need to get moving." Hobbes said as he stood guard at the door. Tom was checking on the body lying on the floor. He stood up and went over to Hobbes.
"She's dead," he announced with no emotion at all. "Her neck is broken," Tom said with a raised brow.
Hobbes glanced over at Darien and watched as he shook his head. "It was Ed," Darien replied.
Darien stood up and helped Ed to his feet, "Come on, bro, lets get you out of here before this whole place comes crashing down on us." Darien swung Ed's arm over his shoulder and helped him from the room. Ed was still feeling the effects of the electrical shock that had rendered him nearly unconscious. They moved down the hall towards the stairs as fast as they could. There were other people trying to get out so no one tried to stop them. They wanted to get out alive and didn't care about orders to stop anyone.
Half way down the hall, Ed convulsed again and Darien helped him to the floor so he could ride it out. Ed panted heavily and he opened his eyes, "Darien?"
Darien looked into the red eyes, "It's okay, Ed, I'm getting you outta here."
Tara checked Ed's tattoo, it was all red now, "You're right, it did take awhile for it to kick in."
Darien helped Ed back to his feet and half carried him down the hall. Tom had radioed to Darcy and Mark that they were on their way out.
"Well, you guys better hurry cause everyone is going nuts out here," Darcy replied as Mark started up the van to get closer.
"Darien, you might want to quicksilver you and Ed once you get outside. There's bound to be guards around," Tom said as they ran into the stairwell. They knew that the elevators were not working and they decided it was best to just run out to mingle in with the group trying to get out.
They made it to the top and just as Darien was about to let the quicksilver flow, Ed slumped in his arms. If it wasn't for his arm draped over Darien's shoulder, he would have fallen to the floor. Now he hung like a puppet on one unbroken string. "Oh crap, not now, Ed." Darien lifted him up and carried him in his arms.
"No more, it hurts too much," Ed moaned.
"I got ya, bro," Darien said as the quicksilver flowed. He had a chance to look at Ed's eyes and they were only streaked with red now. Ed moaned again and then he slipped into unconsciousness. "Great, now you pass out, just couldn't wait 'til I got you to the van," Darien complained as he tried to run with Ed in his arms.
Tom, Hobbes and Tara were well ahead of them when the building exploded. The three fell to the ground. Darcy and Mark had stepped out of the van and she screamed.
Hobbes looked around, "Come on, Fawkes, we didn't go through all this for you and Ed to die for real."
Tara yelled out and pointed as she spotted Darien and Ed reappearing. Hobbes and Tom ran towards them. Darien rolled off of Ed and moaned as he laid on his back. He opened his eyes and they were brown again.
"Oh, Fawkes, don't go loopy on me now," Hobbes said as he helped his tall partner to his feet. Tom picked up Ed and carried him to the van.
They raced to the van and no one noticed. They were all too busy trying to put out the fire. Darcy and Mark opened the doors as they reached the van. Ed was put in the back and Darien sat with him. Tara joined Mark in the back and he looked at her oddly. Tom jumped in the front as Hobbes stepped on the gas.
Darcy looked at Darien, "What happened?" She looked at Darien, "Are you okay?"
"Yeah, I'm tired and starvin'. Think we can pick up a few bacon cheeseburgers on the way?"
"Oh, Darien, you didn't?" Darcy asked with concern.
"I couldn't help it," he replied as he laid down next to Ed.
Tara looked at Darien oddly, "What's wrong with him? I mean, why did his eyes look like that? Is it the gland?"
"It's a long story," Darcy said and then she looked at Tara oddly, "So you're Lewis' daughter?"
Mark glared at her, "What are you doing here?"
"Don't worry, I'm a friend, honest. I maybe one of Lewis' daughters, but that doesn't mean I share his beliefs, at least not anymore."
"What does that mean?" Darcy asked suspiciously.
"I'm a Chameleon…or at least I was…I'd like to learn more about co-existence. I think it's time we have more of an open mind." She glanced back at Ed, "War is not the answer, I see that now. Neither species will win."
"Well, you might be too late on that," Mark said.
"What? Why?" Tara asked.
Mark and Darcy proceeded to tell her what had happened during the last week. Being underground and having no access to the outside world, Tara missed everything. As Mark and Darcy filled her in, Hobbes had no trouble exiting through the gates. He figured that Walter had something to do with that.
Claire looked at Walter, "Where are they going now?"
"Washington, D.C. to meet with the President, they just don't know it yet," Walter said.
"Well, I'm going too." Claire squared her shoulders and her body language showed that no one better not oppose her. No one did.
"Me too," Sloan announced and was out of the room before Walter could tell her otherwise.
Hobbes decided to stop and pick up some food for everyone. From there they headed to the next rendezvous point to get another car and change clothes. Eberts had informed him that they were all going to Washington, D.C. and that a plane was waiting for them.
Ed stirred and grabbed his head, "Ahh man," He looked around and saw Mark and Darien looking at him. He looked confused, "Where am I?"
Tara checked Ed's tattoo, "All green."
"What happened to me?" Ed looked at her oddly, "Do I know you?"
"You don't remember?" Mark asked.
"He was in stage five madness, sometimes it takes longer for the memories to come back," Darien said to Mark.
Ed still looked as if he was in a fog. "Did I get beat up?" He asked.
"Uhmm…yeah, I guess you could say that," Darien answered. "Look, Ed, the Lady faked your death. She brought you to a military base to run tests on you and try to clone the gland. You've been gone for almost a week. Hobbes figured out the scam and well, here we are."
Ed looked as if he was about to be sick. He thought for a moment, "Wait, I remember something about that, but it seems so distant I can't put my finger on it. God, my head hurts." He leaned back and his face creased with pain.
Darien rested his hand on Ed's shoulder, "Don't worry, trust me, the memories will come back. Just give it some time."
Ed had a perplexed expression on his face. "What's the matter, Ed?" Tom asked.
"You know when you hear a song and you just can't get it out of your head?" Ed asked.
"Yeah," Darien answered. Tom just nodded.
"Well, for some strange reason I can't get the song from the 'Wizard of Oz' out of my head, you know, 'Ding dong the witch is dead'."
Darien half smiled, "Like I said, you'll remember and you'll wish you didn't."
TBC…