Disclaimer: I don't own Mutant X

Autor's Note: VERY IMPORTANT!!! I want to make it crystal clear that this story is in NO WAY related to my Adam's Eve series. This is strictly an idea I had after they so rudely left us hanging at the end of last season. I have already taken heat for removing Evie from Adam's life. The two worlds are worlds apart. For those of you who follow my stories, more will come. This was a one time shot. I wanted to do something with the clone development and it wouldn't fit into my world so I had to go back to canon. Don't shoot the writer for the other woman.

Clone or Man?

personal thought

Chapter 1 - Taken Prisoner

"Get the Creator and Kane to safety," the leader said to the guards with him. He turned and looked at the four members of Mutant X. He had been trying to find a way to get rid of them for almost a year. He used them when they served his purposes but they repeatedly proved to be more trouble to him than they were worth. Now was his chance to finally get rid of them. This order was more than a pleasure. "Kill them."

He turned and saw Adam struggling to free himself from the hold of the guard. Hearing Kilmartin's name and the explosion that soon rocked the building, the leader turned and watched as the team grouped closer together on the other side of the force field and solidified to a large mass. Knowing he had to get out, he turned to leave as he vowed to kill them yet.

With the building exploding and burning around them, everyone in Dominion headquarters ran for their lives. There was of course an escape plan in the event of any emergency. The core members each had their own way out.

The man in the wheelchair was already far from the building when he heard the explosion and saw the fire in his rearview mirror. He smiled, knowing that the right thing had been done. He knew there was trouble brewing among the members but was careful to stay as neutral as possible for his own safety and the safety of the employees loyal to him. His thoughts moved to Lexa and he prayed that she had gotten out. A small smile crossed his face as he pictured her with her hands on her hips silently telling him there was never any doubt. He would go to his private base and contact her as soon as he thought it was safe to do so. He was sure he would be able to find her.

The leader also had a private base from which to work in case of emergency. Since he began his redirection of the Dominion's objectives, he had been building that place with the intentions of moving his operations there. On his way out of the burning building, he joined Dominique, waiting patiently for him by his transport. Silently gesturing for her to go, he smiled and entered the car after her, feeling certain of his imminent success.

The guards led the aged Creator to his transport and he smiled when he saw a familiar face waiting for him inside. "Do you have everything we need, My Dear?" he asked in his raspy voice.

"Yes, Sir," was her only response as she helped him settle into the seat next to her.

Other guards were finding it much harder to deal with Adam as he began fighting to make his own way out. The one guard that had grabbed him after he had detonated the Helix was soon thrown to the ground and knocked unconscious in Adam's first effort at release. Two more had moved in and were now trying desperately to restrain him. Still working on the original orders from the Creator that absolutely no harm was to come to him, they were trying to comply with their present order to get him to the safety of the transport. Adam was determined to not make it easy. He continued to struggle until he felt the sharp pain of the handle of a rifle quickly jabbed into the back of his neck. He froze in shock and pain for only a moment before he fell to the ground, shrouded in darkness.

When they arrived at their destination 2 hours later, the leader gave orders that the Creator be shown to the new quarters that had been set up for him. His nurse was to be shown her station and not harmed. The leader knew that in order to control the Dominion he had to control the Creator. Killing him would undermine his purposes. Adam was sedated on the journey to prevent further attempts of escape. He was taken to a secured antechamber.

After a short time the leader went to check on his guest. He walked into the Creator's quarters and found he was being attended to by his nurse. He silently walked closer then waited patiently.

After receiving the treatment that was being administered the Creator smiled and spoke. "Thank you, Natasha. You may go back to your room and rest now. Do not be afraid."

She smiled at him and stood to leave. As she turned she saw that the leader was staring at her in a way that made her most uncomfortable. Gathering her things, she left quickly and only had to endure the gaze of one guard on the way to her room.

Once he was sure she was out of hearing range the Creator spoke as he stood on his shaky legs. "What is the meaning of this? I left specific orders that Adam and his friends were not to be harmed. Because you did not follow my orders everything was destroyed. I heard you order the mutants killed. He will not willingly join me."

"With all do respect, Sir," the leader began, "all your files have been continuously transferred to this place in the event we would have to come here. Nothing is lost. As for Adam, he will join us. He has no choice. I'm sure you will be able to keep his interest in your work. Escape will not be an option." The leader tried to persuade the old man that the move was in fact beneficial and not a set back.

The Creator eyed him warily but said nothing as he turned his back. "I will tolerate no other disruptions of my work. Is that understood?" His voice was old but firm.

"Yes, Creator," the leader granted and turned to go.

"Just a moment," the Creator stopped him. Slowly the Creator turned and glared at him with all the fire in the eyes of a man much younger and in his prime. When he spoke again it was steady and full of warning. "Natasha is NEVER to be harmed. You and all of your guards will stay away from her. That decree will not change. Is that clear?"

"Yes, Creator," the leader agreed with a slight bow of his head. Lowering his eyes to the floor, he turned and stepped out the door. Once the door was secured his face took on a scowl and his hands fisted at his side.

After a while, Natasha went to the antechamber. She knew Adam would awaken soon and was to tend to any wounds that he might have gotten in his attempted escape. She was allowed to move from room to room as she preformed her duties but was always uncomfortable. This time like many others she had to endure the vulgar whispers of the guard as she passed him in the hall. Once she closed the door behind her, she took a deep, cleansing breath to clear her mind. When she looked around she saw Adam lying on a bed at the opposite end of the small Spartan room. He was not yet awake and for a moment she feared the worst. She crossed the short distance and held her hand just above his mouth. When she felt the soft breath being exhaled her fears vanished. Wetting a wash cloth for his face she sat beside him on the bed. As she wiped the warm cloth over his face she noticed his features. Her eyes widened when she saw that which was very familiar to her. The Creator had told her about Adam but she found she was still unprepared to actually see him. She had known the Creator all her life and cared for him deeply. There had been no other man who was granted a second look even when she was in school and in her training. She now found herself wondering about this man. What was he really like? She watched as her hand gently wiped his handsome face. She was startled from her thoughts as he began to move.

Adam woke up with a groan. He felt a warm cloth move over his forehead and reached up quickly, grabbing the hand that held it. His eyes shot opened and he tried to sit up. Feeling the room suddenly spin he squeezed his eyes shut and put his head back down but instead of releasing his captor he unintentionally tightened his grip. He instantly released his hand when he heard a small whimper. Opening his eyes again he saw someone by his side. As he was able to focus, he saw a beautiful young woman with very exotic, dark and frightened eyes looking back at him as she moved quickly off the bed and rubbed her wrist. "I'm sorry," he said quickly. Sitting up much more carefully this time he turned and stood from the bed but didn't move toward her as he saw her stiffen with fear. "Please, don't be afraid. I won't hurt you." Adam put his hand to his head and sat back down holding his head in his hands.

Natasha was by his side in a moment as her fear was instantly gone. "You're hurt. Please lay back and let me check you." Her voice was soft and full of concern.

Adam did as he was told. "Where am I?"

"Does your head hurt?" she seemed to not hear his question. "You have a bruise where they hit to knock you out." She picked up the wash cloth and again began to clean his face. "Do you feel any other injuries?"

With great gentleness this time, Adam stilled her hand and sat up as she moved away. He watched as she brought him two aspirin and a glass of water. "Thank you," he took her offerings then put the glass on the nightstand. "What's your name?" His voice was kind.

"Natasha Stanos," she answered as she turned to gather her things.

"Thank you, Miss Stanos." He smiled when she turned slightly.

"You're welcome. Will you please come with me? The Creator would like to speak with you." She turned toward the door but stopped before she opened it. Turning back she said, "There are guards all around the complex. They have explicit orders not to harm you in anyway. You are to be given the same respect as the Creator. They also have orders to stop any attempt at escape. Please, just walk with me. The Creator will explain everything."

He looked at her. Something in her eyes moved him when she spoke. He nodded and opened the door for her. As they entered the hall he noticed the guard move his hand to his weapon. When they passed him, Adam heard him whisper something to Natasha and saw her quicken her step.

Arriving at the door to the Creator's quarters, Natasha took a breath but tried to conceal it from Adam.

He noticed and reached for the door before she could. He smiled and indicated that she should pass through before him.

Adam looked around the room and followed as Natasha led him through another doorway.

"Ah, there you are." The Creator stood and extended his arm as Natasha moved to his side. Smiling at her, he folded his arm around her back. "How is he, My Dear?"

She turned and smiled at Adam and he noticed she seemed much more relaxed. Her voice was light as she answered. "He wasn't injured."

"Thank you. You have not been properly introduced. Adam this is Dr. Natasha Stanos. She is my caretaker. Natasha, Dear, this is Dr. Adam Kane."

Natasha smiled and inclined her head as Adam greeted, "It's a pleasure to meet you."

"My Dear, will you please give us some time? Come back with a meal for the three of us in one hour." He leaned in and kissed her forehead as she smiled and agreed. Both men stood silently as she left the room.

"I am sorry the situation turned out as it did. I had explicit orders that you and your team were not to be harmed. The leader was reprimanded and assured me that there would be no further altercations."

"Did my team make it out?" Adam's concern was clear.

"I do not know."

"You can't keep me here. I have to get back and find them."

"If they survived, I am sure we will find them. You must stay with me and continue our work. There is nothing more important than taking the next step. I can only do so much alone. That is why you are here. I made sure that when the time was right you would be ready and able to help me. That time is now and you have far surpassed my expectations."

"I'm a...clone." Adam once again tried to get his mind around the fact. When he was told the first time, it was a shock but then everything happened so fast that there wasn't time to think.

The creator saw that he was having difficulty grasping the idea. "I perfected the process over 100 years ago. I didn't do anything with it until it became apparent that I would need help."

The Creator spoke for almost the entire time. He explained his vision and reasoning for controlling scientific development for the betterment of mankind. He explained the atrocities he had seen in his day and assured Adam that he wasn't a controlling monster out to manipulate evolution. When he showed Adam his work, he smiled as Adam seemed to focus completely on it and leave his doubts aside. He knew they would accomplish great things together.

But as Adam tried to explain his concerns about the Dominion members, the Creator seemed to be unconcerned with the business end of the organization.

At the appropriate time, a knock was heard at the door and Natasha entered with a rolling table set with candles and three dinners. "Ah, yes. I am famished. Come and let us eat and we will begin our work in the morning."

Adam didn't speak during dinner. He ate little as his mind was being overwhelmed with his situation, his work, his team and his...creation. After dinner the Creator spoke to Natasha about what his new routine should be in this new facility and with Adam here to work with him. He turned to Adam and watched him for a moment as he could see the turmoil in the man's face. "Don't worry. It's not as bad as it seems to you, tonight. Go and rest. Until the guards are used to you being here, Natasha will escort you wherever you need to go. Please do not leave your room without her for a while. I do not want anything to happen to you because these idiots can't follow orders."

He smiled and took Natasha's hand. "Take him back now. Then you go to sleep. You have also had a hard day. I will be fine and will see you in the morning."

Adam watched curiously as the Creator tenderly kissed her forehead then turned to go into his room. He saw Natasha turn to him and shyly meet his eyes as she walked toward him. Stepping forward he opened the door for her and followed her silently back to his room. As they passed the guard on duty, Adam noticed a different face. Must have been a duty shift. I'll have to watch those. He noticed Natasha seem to stiffen again when this guard leaned closer and whispered to her as she passed. Adam glared at him as the guard turned his eyes from the girl to her follower.

Once they arrived at his door he turned to thank her. "I guess I'll wait here for you in the morning. This is a little unusual for me. I'm not used to having an escort." He smiled when she looked up at him. She was a lovely girl but there was something in her eyes; something that disturbed him.

"Goodnight, Dr. Kane." She smiled and turned to go.

TBC