Disclaimer: I don't own Mutant X.

Chapter 10 – Time's Up

In her room she sat on her bed and opened the link. "Jesse," she whispered.

"Yes, Tasha."

"Jesse, Adam's back."

"Is he ok?" Shalimar asked quickly.

"I healed the flesh wounds with a dermal regenerator. He's physically ok but they injected him with a sedative then implanted a device. It picks up his speech and has a tracker."

"Nice. You have a matching set." Brennan replied.

"Ignore him." Jesse smiled. "Don't worry. I'll just talk to you from now on. You just write notes back and forth. Everything will be fine. Don't worry. We were just contacted. Your grandmother's house is being surveyed by the 6 operatives you warned us about. We have a group of 12 watching them. As soon as they begin to move, we'll get them. When the situation is secure, the plan is to move in to get you. We'll be there soon and you won't have to worry about the device."

"Jesse, please hurry. I don't know what else might happen if they take Adam again." She pleaded with him.

"We won't give them the chance," Shalimar vowed.

Tasha wrote her note and went back to Adam. When she walked into the lab he was furiously pushing buttons and didn't hear her enter. She called to him gently to get his attention.

When Adam saw her in the room he began to shake his head. He wrote a note quickly and stepped away as soon as she took it from him.

Frowning, she met his eyes. She saw him point to the note. When she read it, she froze with fear. Tears came quickly as she put her note to him on the computer. Seeing him motion her away she slowly stepped back.

"I'm getting hungry. Maybe you could get us something to eat," he said desperate to get her out of the room. Seeing her shake her head in refusal he took the note pad and wrote again.

When he held it out to her she stepped closer and took it. 'Go to your room and wait for Jesse,' she read. Again refusing she stepped closer to him only to see him step away. She wrote on the paper and held it out to him. When he stepped closer to take it she lunged into his arms and held him tight. Refusing to let him push her away she silently cried on his shoulder.

Heartbroken, Adam gave up and held her tightly. When she looked up at him, he kissed her deeply. When he moved again he wrote and held her as she read. Kissing her again he smiled when she moved away and followed his instructions. Almost out the door, he saw her stop abruptly. When her hand went to her hair he knew it must be Jesse.

Tasha turned quickly to see Adam waiting. She cupped her hands to her mouth and whispered, "Just a minute, Jess." She mouthed a short 'I love you,' to Adam then turned and quickly left the lab. As soon as the door closed behind her she answered Jesse, willing to take the gamble that the guards were really her protection. "Jesse, move quickly, please," she pleaded. "The device in Adam's neck is booby trapped. He thinks the leader has a remote that causes a spring loaded knife to cut into his spinal cord." She watched as the guards didn't move.

"Tasha, we're only about 3 minutes to move in time. Hide so they can't use you against us. We'll get to Adam, I promise. When it's all clear we'll find you."

"All right, Jesse, but hurry, please." Instead of going to her room she turned in the hall and went to another door a few feet away.

The operatives began to move in on the small house. Expecting to deal with the 4 guards who were in the yard, they were surprised by the dozen that quickly converged on them from behind.

Seeing the battle begin, 3 of the men on the yard moved to stand before their commander at the front door. With only a nod of his head they all entered the house and locked the door behind them. Quickly passing through the house they found the Creator and his female companion seated at the kitchen table. "My apologies, Creator. It has begun."

"Gabriela, My Dear, for your safety we must leave."

"Your visits get shorter each time. Perhaps next time I'll only have to make you coffee." She smiled at him but he knew she was worried.

"I will not leave you this time." He stood and took her hand as she, too, stood. "I'm afraid you will not be rid of me so easily." He led her into the living room where the rest of his guard was waiting. "Do not be afraid. I will let no harm come to you." He pulled her into his embrace as he nodded to the commander.

Gabriela held him tightly as she saw the 4 guards encircle them and clasp hands. She closed her eyes and buried her face into his shoulder. When again she heard him speak she lifted her head and opened her eyes.

"Gabriela, My Dear, it's ok. Look around you."

She saw that she was in the middle of a lab surrounded by many men and women. Some looked to be doctors, others guards like the ones in her home; still others in suits and one man in a wheelchair.

This man approached slowly. "Creator, welcome." He lifted a hand of instruction.

"Thank you." The Creator sat as a wheelchair was brought for him and another for the woman at his side. "Please, sit, My Dear." He took her hand then turned back to the man. "This is the Lady Gabriela. She is to be given every respect and courtesy."

The man in the wheelchair bowed his head. "It is an honor, ma'am. We will make every effort to see to your comfort."

"Thank you," she said.

"Is the altercation at the house over?" the Creator asked.

"Not yet. However, objectives 3 and 4 were taken with minimal resistance."

"Very good. What of Mutant X?"

"They made entrance a few moments ago."

"Do they have the back up they need?"

"Yes, they had a small army of operatives at their command. There will be no problems."

"Very good. Then let's proceed with the scans. I wish to rest." He turned when Gabriela reached out to touch his arm. "Don't worry. We were teleported here by my guards. The doctors will just check and make sure there are no adverse affects of our travel."

Gabriela sat quietly as the doctors worked. When they were satisfied with the results, the Creator and the Lady were escorted to their suite. Once inside with the door locked she turned to him. He sat on a couch and saw the look in her eyes. "Please tell me what's going on."

"There have been some changes in my organization. Some of the men I had on the board decided they wanted to run things their way instead of mine. We are in the process of firing them."

"Where is Natasha? Is she safe?" Fear and worry were in her eyes.

"Don't worry. I left 2 more of my guards with specific orders to keep her safe. I expect we will be seeing her soon."

"You mentioned Mutant X. Is Adam with her as well?"

"Yes. When I left this morning they were both in my lab. Now put your head down and rest with me. I am very tired." He put his arm around her and drew her close as he rested his head back.

Mutant X split up, each taking with them a contingent of Dominion operatives. Each group had a different objective as they worked their way through the building and to Adam. Shalimar was to take out the guards stationed at various points in the building. Brennan was to secure the doctors and civilian workers. Lexa's job was sweetest to her. She was to apprehend, if possible, the rebel members in league with the leader. Jesse was to find the main control center and the leader.

Brennan found his detail well able to handle the workers once they were confronted. He left them and went in search of Adam.

Shalimar also found that with the number of men they were given, this base didn't stand a chance. She also went hunting for her friends.

Lexa ordered the capture of the man who refused to give up. He was determined to beat the odds and get out but was only met with odds that left him dead.

Dominique was in her study when Lexa kicked the door in. "What's the meaning of this?"

"Oh, just one of your little experiments wanted to say 'Hi'." Lexa watched as Dominique drew a gun and began to aim. Shooting a laser, Lexa hit the woman in the chest just as she pulled the trigger. The gun jerked when the woman was hit and the bullet went over Lexa's head. Walking over to ensure she wasn't going to get up again, Lexa shook her head. "Goodbye." She left the men to the clean up protocol and went to join her team.

As Shalimar and Brennan walked down a hall, the elevators signaled. They each stood to one side as they waited for the doors to open and reveal its occupant. When Lexa walked through they all were startled then relaxed their defenses. "My, my, aren't we all jumpy these days?" Lexa smirked as she began to walk down the hall ahead of them.

Tasha was in a storage closet and tried to keep as still as possible in the cramped area. She began to hear gunfire in the building and heard the alarms blare before they were turned off. She prayed that Adam was still alright. She kept pushing away visions of herself walking back into the lab and finding Adam dead on the floor. She began hearing doors open and close and froze when she heard her name being called.

"Dr. Stanos, come out. Please, Doctor. We are to take you to your grandmother and the Creator."

The guards in the hall didn't attack when they heard her talking to Jesse, but they could have just been biding their time. They knew there was no way for her to get off the level. Now with all the panic, she didn't know who to trust.

"Jesse, where are you, Man?" Brennan called out.

"Brennan, I'm still in the control center. The leader isn't here. I just finished setting up a link to our computers. All this info should feed right there."

"Good, we're on the way to find Adam. The leader may already be there."

"Are both girls with you?"

"Relax, Jesse," Lexa said. "You really have to get over this 'protect the women' thing."

"I thought my being old fashioned was one of the things you loved about me." He smiled as he made his way down the hall. He began to think about another woman and decided to check on her too. "Tasha, are you still safe?"

Tasha jumped when she heard his voice. "Jesse? Oh Jesse, they're trying to find me. I'm hiding but they're close."

The guards heard the murmuring and narrowed in on the closet. Trying the door they found it was locked. "Dr. Stanos, please. We have to get you out of here. I know you're scared but you have to trust us."

Jesse could hear the conversation through the link. "Tasha, I don't know if they are who they say they are. Stay put. We'll be there in a minute." He began to run. "Brennan,"

"We heard. Meet you there." They all raced to get to her before anything could happen.

Tasha sat scared, thinking about Adam as the guards on the outside tried to break in the closet door.

After a few good pushes with their shoulders the door opened and revealed the frightened girl in a corner. "Dr. Stanos, please. We don't want you to be afraid of us."

"No, get away," she screamed.

"Tasha!" Brennan yelled as they turned the corner and saw the men pulling her to her feet.

"Get away from her," Jesse ordered.

"Stay back," a guard warned. Instantaneously they began to shimmer and fade from view.

Mutant X rushed their position but was too late. They were gone. "Tasha?" Jesse tried. He heard nothing.

"They were teleporters," Lexa offered. "They could have taken her anywhere."

"Tasha?" Jesse tried again feeling more desperate.

"Jesse?" Tasha turned and whispered. "I'm sorry. It seems I'm ok. These must have been the Creator's guards. I'm on a base with one of the other board members. He said the Creator and Grandmother are here as well."

"Which board member?" Lexa asked. "He might be lying."

"It's the man in the wheelchair," she whispered.

Relief played on their faces. "Ok, I think you're safe," Jesse conceded.

"Jesse, find Adam. Please let me know as soon as you do. I left him in the main lab."

"We're on it." They all turned and began checking doors. When they found the lab, they entered slowly. They knew the leader was still not accounted for.

Adam was standing in the middle of the lab. He met their eyes as they walked in but didn't say anything.

"Adam..." relief was clear in Shalimar's voice. She began to move toward him when she saw him hold up his hand to stop her. "Adam...what is it? What's wrong?"

"It seems that I underestimated you." The leader walked in through a door at the other side of the lab. He held a gun which he had trained on their position. "I'm not sure how you were able to get enough information to infiltrate this base but I suspect you had a little inside help." He glanced to Adam then back to the others. "No matter. I will just initiate cleanup and move on from here." He remained calm as he spoke.

"You'll never make it out of here alive if you hurt Adam." Shalimar vowed.

TBC