This story is translated from a French fanfiction. Without the help of
Loveconquers and Viviana, I would never have succeeded in translating it.
Thank you again.
Chapter Four--State of feelings
They didn't have very far to go. They didn't have any more problems, and soon found themselves close to the building. They stopped on the outskirts, lying down in the thick bushes surrounding the area, trying to see if they could get a glimpse of any of the mutants that were supposed to be there. The building was large, but they were still able to get close enough to notice little details.
The area felt sinister. The foundation of the building was nothing but crumbled ruins, and much of the walls were collapsed. Lights blazed through the partially ruined roof; evidence that it was not completely abandoned. Faint murmurs of people could be heard coming from inside and as they watched, ten mutants could be seen as they carried boxes between the building and nearby parked cars.
Brennan raised his eyebrows, "Well, this proves it's not deserted."
Shalimar nodded, keeping her eyes on the movement in front of them, "Yeah, and they seem very organized."
"Hey, Jesse," Brennan lifted his comlink to his mouth. "Are you there?"
"Always!" Jesse's voice rang back. "Where are you guys?"
"The information from the file was accurate."
He briefly updated him, "We're checking out the building now, and there are a lot of people around. They're carrying something around with them, so we'll try to get closer."
"Ok," Jesse spoke back, "But be careful. Call if you need any help."
"We'll be in touch," Brennan cut the connection, turning to Shalimar. She was staring intently at the complex, looking very uneasy. "Shal," He prompted, "You can go back to Sanctuary if you want. You don't have to get closer."
"What?" She turned towards him in confusion.
"You can go back if you want."
"And leave you alone?" Shalimar snorted. "Are you crazy? Do you honestly believe I'd leave you here alone? That I could go back and not worry I'm leaving you in danger?" She shook her head. "I'm staying."
"Why?" Brennan spoke frankly, "You don't seem to want to."
She glared at him. "I would have just liked to change your mind about doing this mission, that's all."
"Why?"
"I told you, I just have this feeling."
"Shal," Brennan interrupted her, "You know I trust your instincts, but I think this time you are letting your feelings take over. Stop thinking that our lives are in danger. We're not in any more danger now than we usually are, alright. Now I'm going to get closer and see if I can figure out what's really happening here."
Shalimar didn't reply, staring at him with narrowed eyes.
"What is going on with you, Shal?" Brennan tried to get through to her. "You used to love going up against the bad guys. I don't know why, but you've changed lately. Not that I'm complaining or anything, but I'm worried about you. You're just not the same person anymore." He turned to face her more directly. "It's like you've lost your desire for action. Whenever we go on a mission, you complain."
Shalimar hesitated, breaking eye contact. "It's just that I've become painfully aware of death lately. I've lost too much, Brennan. I don't want to mourn anyone else I care about. I hate watching members of my family risk their lives in these stupid missions." She dug her fingers into the ground. "I'm tired, ok. I don't have the energy for this life anymore."
"You're scaring me, Shal." Brennan stared at her. "You're not thinking about leaving Sanctuary are you?"
"I think about it more and more every day." Her voice was quiet.
"What about me?" Brennan pleaded desperately, "And us? What would happen to us, Shal? Tell me that. Sometimes I wish..." His voice trailed away as he realized he wasn't getting through to her. Shalimar averted her eyes, feigning sudden interest in the cars parked nearby. Brennan recognized her attempt to avoid answering him. Frustrated, he blew out a loud breath and turned his own eyes back to the building in front of them.
There seemed to be more mutants around now. More men and women were carrying boxes in and out of the building. They moved quickly, making it difficult to tell how many there were. Maybe fifteen or twenty, he mused to himself.
"We should get closer and see what's in those boxes," Brennan spoke coolly to Shalimar, still angry at her.
She shrugged, "If you say so. Since you seem so eager to jump in there and get killed, why not?"
Brennan eyes flared. "I give up!" He hissed between clenched teeth, "I don't understand what you want anymore. You don't want to be here, but you won't leave either. You won't talk to me, and now you act like I don't even exist." He forced himself to pause, speaking more calmly. "Do whatever you want, ok, but I am going to find a way into this building. And since you're obviously not paying any attention, just go back to the helix. Or better yet, go back to Sanctuary." He pushed himself to his feet, chest heaving in anger, "Pack your things and leave. I don't care anymore." He stalked off, quickly disappearing in the thick overgrowth.
Shalimar didn't move. Confused, she lay frozen on the ground, unable to think or react beyond the one repeating thought in her mind. After tonight, she may not have to make a choice after all.
....TBC
SHado-Fox, garfieldlady, MariShal, loveconquers, brennan mulwray, Dolly, Canadian-chic14, blackpanther2288 Thank you so much for your reviews !!!!
Chapter Four--State of feelings
They didn't have very far to go. They didn't have any more problems, and soon found themselves close to the building. They stopped on the outskirts, lying down in the thick bushes surrounding the area, trying to see if they could get a glimpse of any of the mutants that were supposed to be there. The building was large, but they were still able to get close enough to notice little details.
The area felt sinister. The foundation of the building was nothing but crumbled ruins, and much of the walls were collapsed. Lights blazed through the partially ruined roof; evidence that it was not completely abandoned. Faint murmurs of people could be heard coming from inside and as they watched, ten mutants could be seen as they carried boxes between the building and nearby parked cars.
Brennan raised his eyebrows, "Well, this proves it's not deserted."
Shalimar nodded, keeping her eyes on the movement in front of them, "Yeah, and they seem very organized."
"Hey, Jesse," Brennan lifted his comlink to his mouth. "Are you there?"
"Always!" Jesse's voice rang back. "Where are you guys?"
"The information from the file was accurate."
He briefly updated him, "We're checking out the building now, and there are a lot of people around. They're carrying something around with them, so we'll try to get closer."
"Ok," Jesse spoke back, "But be careful. Call if you need any help."
"We'll be in touch," Brennan cut the connection, turning to Shalimar. She was staring intently at the complex, looking very uneasy. "Shal," He prompted, "You can go back to Sanctuary if you want. You don't have to get closer."
"What?" She turned towards him in confusion.
"You can go back if you want."
"And leave you alone?" Shalimar snorted. "Are you crazy? Do you honestly believe I'd leave you here alone? That I could go back and not worry I'm leaving you in danger?" She shook her head. "I'm staying."
"Why?" Brennan spoke frankly, "You don't seem to want to."
She glared at him. "I would have just liked to change your mind about doing this mission, that's all."
"Why?"
"I told you, I just have this feeling."
"Shal," Brennan interrupted her, "You know I trust your instincts, but I think this time you are letting your feelings take over. Stop thinking that our lives are in danger. We're not in any more danger now than we usually are, alright. Now I'm going to get closer and see if I can figure out what's really happening here."
Shalimar didn't reply, staring at him with narrowed eyes.
"What is going on with you, Shal?" Brennan tried to get through to her. "You used to love going up against the bad guys. I don't know why, but you've changed lately. Not that I'm complaining or anything, but I'm worried about you. You're just not the same person anymore." He turned to face her more directly. "It's like you've lost your desire for action. Whenever we go on a mission, you complain."
Shalimar hesitated, breaking eye contact. "It's just that I've become painfully aware of death lately. I've lost too much, Brennan. I don't want to mourn anyone else I care about. I hate watching members of my family risk their lives in these stupid missions." She dug her fingers into the ground. "I'm tired, ok. I don't have the energy for this life anymore."
"You're scaring me, Shal." Brennan stared at her. "You're not thinking about leaving Sanctuary are you?"
"I think about it more and more every day." Her voice was quiet.
"What about me?" Brennan pleaded desperately, "And us? What would happen to us, Shal? Tell me that. Sometimes I wish..." His voice trailed away as he realized he wasn't getting through to her. Shalimar averted her eyes, feigning sudden interest in the cars parked nearby. Brennan recognized her attempt to avoid answering him. Frustrated, he blew out a loud breath and turned his own eyes back to the building in front of them.
There seemed to be more mutants around now. More men and women were carrying boxes in and out of the building. They moved quickly, making it difficult to tell how many there were. Maybe fifteen or twenty, he mused to himself.
"We should get closer and see what's in those boxes," Brennan spoke coolly to Shalimar, still angry at her.
She shrugged, "If you say so. Since you seem so eager to jump in there and get killed, why not?"
Brennan eyes flared. "I give up!" He hissed between clenched teeth, "I don't understand what you want anymore. You don't want to be here, but you won't leave either. You won't talk to me, and now you act like I don't even exist." He forced himself to pause, speaking more calmly. "Do whatever you want, ok, but I am going to find a way into this building. And since you're obviously not paying any attention, just go back to the helix. Or better yet, go back to Sanctuary." He pushed himself to his feet, chest heaving in anger, "Pack your things and leave. I don't care anymore." He stalked off, quickly disappearing in the thick overgrowth.
Shalimar didn't move. Confused, she lay frozen on the ground, unable to think or react beyond the one repeating thought in her mind. After tonight, she may not have to make a choice after all.
....TBC
SHado-Fox, garfieldlady, MariShal, loveconquers, brennan mulwray, Dolly, Canadian-chic14, blackpanther2288 Thank you so much for your reviews !!!!