Chapter 17

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Authors Note-My reviewers, I love you all. Warren, I am glad you're loving it, welcome to the club. Aniki, I went long on this one just for you. Animiga-thank you. Kat-It's gonna get even cooler, I promise. Gelf-Yep. Son. Guys, please, let me know what you think. Forbes, if you're out there reading this, I hope you like it too!

While sitting in his darkened office, The Creator knew that something wasn't right in his compound. He could feel it. It didn't take a mutated gift to know, but something wasn't quite right. He knew that Kilmartin was becoming a stronger mutant, he saw the opportunity and went for it. The chance to fix his wounded shoulder allowed him to study his blood and make the appropriate changes to him so that he would be stronger and even more gifted. The night would be the test and he had monitors on the pod he was in to check on him. He checked them from the main house, making sure that the heart rate was fine and his oxygen level was good. He didn't want to hurt Adam's experiment. He wanted Adam to return.

He watched the monitors that lined the walls. Jesse Kilmartin was sleeping with medication's help. The DNA grafts he had used to save the man's life were taking hold, the hope being that his repairs would enhance his abilities and trigger new ones. The files on the man said he was able to withstand a tremendous amount, hopefully this would help him. That's what the Creator wanted to do. He watched somewhat shocked as a version of himself crossed the monitors in front of him. He blinked for a moment then realized what was happening. Adam had come home and was removing his latest experiment. This would not do.

Shalimar heard the alarms before they sounded. She had used the keycard to open the warehouse that ran alongside the one they found Jesse and Lexa in. Lexa stood beside her, light from her fingers illuminating the way in. Adam had disabled the governor the second he saw her and told her to keep Shalimar company if she was up to it. To be up and able to do something thrilled the elemental. To be out of light for so long had drained her, but she needed to be in the action. Brennan fell in behind them with Adam, who was now loaded with discs.

"We don't have long," Shalimar said, turning toward Brennan, "How's Jesse?"

"It's odd, we'll talk later, he said something about getting 'Pierce' out of here," Brennan said as they walked down the warehouse hallway, "I wouldn't know where to start."

They walked into the main part of the pitch black warehouse. Lexa lit her fingers, causing a bright yet workable light for the group. That helped cull the sound of regulated breathing.

"Adam, can you get the main lights on?" Shalimar asked, "I have a bad feeling about this."

Adam reached around the black wall and the lights flickered on. They were in a room filled with stasis pods. To Brennan's estimation, there had to be hundreds in the room, and all of them were full of children. The impact was staggering.

"Oh my god," Adam breathed, "This is not what they were meant for."

Brennan, Lexa and Shalimar had to take a moment to breathe. While they all had seen the effects of pods in Genomax, they were shocked and saddened to see children in this state. Brennan calmed his fury that he knew was building and began to search the pods. Something told him he had to do it, and he didn't know why. He just did what his gut was screaming at him to do.

"I need to find Pierce, Adam," he said, walking from pod to pod reading the names scribbled on the intake sheets, "Help me guys, we need to find Pierce."

Lexa looked at Brennan as Shalimar began looking at the names connected to the pods.

"They're all by last names," Adam said, "Pierce is the first name?"

"All Jesse said was Pierce, he didn't say if it was first or last," Brennan replied, working quickly, "I'm getting the child out though."

"Brennan," Lexa said, as she stopped in front of the pod she dared not look at, "This is it."

Adam, Shalimar and Brennan ran to her. Lexa was shaking because the face that was sleeping was the face of the child in her nightmare. Adam worked the controls and Shalimar stood with Lexa who was now silent. Brennan quickly took all the monitors off the child, pushing the hair back off of his face. He lightly rubbed the center of the child's chest, trying to get him to wake up. The child reacted to the touch and Brennan found himself blinking. The child was in his mind, much like Emma was in her early days.

"You know Jesse, mister?" the child asked.

"Sure do," he said aloud, "You must be Pierce."

The child opened his eyes. They were the color of honey. Lexa gasped in shock.

"Help me," Pierce said, his voice raspy, "Get me out of here before Grandpa comes back."

Brennan scooped up the child and ran, Adam, Lexa and Shalimar following close behind. Brennan got them outside, while Shalimar fought off guards who had started to follow them. Lexa took the child from Brennan, who had formed a large size tesla coil to back Shalimar up. He let loose and Shalimar turned to follow the rest of the group who were heading for the aircraft.

Brennan followed behind, watching Lexa carry Pierce to the craft which was now slightly visible in the rising sun. Shalimar was ahead of her, ready to beat anyone who stopped them senseless. Adam had stopped and looked at the main house. His aged reflection stood staring at him. Part of him wanted to go to the older man, the other part of him wanted to get as far away from there as possible.

"C'mon Adam," Brennan said, grabbing the older man's arm, "You don't live in this life."

Adam snapped out of it and followed Brennan to the craft.

They quickly took off, heading for the base that Adam now called home. Jesse was nearly catatonic, Emma explaining that she had to put him in that state to keep him sane. Her suspicions were her own, she knew that when she could she would tell Adam what she thought was wrong with Jesse. This disturbed Adam. Seeing the younger man staring at him with a blank expression rocked him to his core. The Creator had taken something from him, it looked like his fire was gone. He had his own suspicions and he knew that if it was what he thought, the best person to help him was Emma.

In the seat across from Jesse, Lexa rocked Pierce, trying to keep the child calm. Shalimar found that the time for talking was not now, while Adam tried to put the pieces together.

They landed only minutes later. Brennan helped Lexa take Pierce out of the craft, while Shalimar knelt with Emma next to Jesse. Adam had been silent on their return, heading for the medical lab with Brennan, Lexa and Pierce. Pierce hadn't said a word to anyone since he spoke with Brennan. Adam wanted to run medical tests, look at Pierce and make sure that he was okay.

Emma knew that Adam wanted to have Jesse follow them, it was just going to take time to get him there. She needed to pull him out of the meadow. He needed to deal with the voices and he needed to deal with them now. She looked into his blank stare as Shalimar watched. Jesse was a shell of the younger brother she knew and loved. She would do anything to bring his spark back.

The meadow was lovely and Jesse napped. He slept shoeless on the edge of the blanket.

"You okay?" Emma asked, kissing his forehead to wake him up.

He yawned. It was the first time in a long time he felt like he could sleep. Emma could see how tired he was when she wandered in before and left him with the overwhelming urge to sleep.

"Yeah, I'm fine after you made me sleep," Jesse met her gaze, "We're back at Adam's aren't we?"

"Yeah, you're going to have to leave this place, Lexa, Brennan, Shalimar and I are waiting for you, can you do it?" Emma asked, "You remember what I showed you about building a wall? You think you can do it?"

"I hope so," Jesse looked at her, "Did they get Pierce out?"

"Yes, they did," Emma said, putting her hand out to him, "How about you meet him in person?"

Jesse jumped as he returned to reality. The voices of the children had grown silent. He blinked, his focus falling into Emma's loving gaze. He breathed in, the simple action of breathing a good control for him and imagined a large wall surrounding him. He was finally under control. For how long, he didn't know, but it was some form of control.

"Hi there," he said softly, testing his voice, "How did I do?"

Shalimar met his gaze and smiled for the first time since she saw Jesse shaking. He seemed much calmer and less insane. He was still pale though. She put a hand on his bare knee and felt him react. He was back.

"Fantastic," Emma said, her hands warming his, "Think you can get up?"

"I can try," Jesse muttered, knowing that getting up was going to hurt.

He gathered the blanket around him and stood up slowly, using the seat as support. Shalimar jumped up to help him and he waved her off. It didn't hurt to walk. He was steady on his feet, but his head still hurt. Emma took his hand, putting an arm around his shoulders. Shalimar took the other side, and together, the three headed down the exit ramp and onto Adam's medical lab.

Lexa and Brennan watched from afar as Adam ran tests on the quiet Pierce. Lexa hadn't said a word since taking the child from Brennan, her shock at his facial features had her silent. Brennan had sensed it and put a hand on her shoulder.

"You know Jesse named him," Brennan said, breaking the silence, "Thought Pierce would be a good name for him. I guess it's from the tag on the pod. It said Pierce Kilmartin."

"He is our son then," Lexa said softly, "I almost don't believe it."

"He's a smart kid," Brennan continued, "Knew I was there to help him."

Lexa turned back to look at Brennan through tear filled eyes. She had been through the emotional wringer. They weren't alone for long as Emma, Shalimar and Jesse joined them. Adam motioned for them to put Jesse on the other table. Jesse slowly walked over to the table and sat on it, knowing that Adam would be with him soon. Pierce looked at him, a smile growing on his face.

"Hi Jesse," his voice was a mere whisper in his mind.

"You can use your voice here, Pierce," Jesse said softly, "It's okay."

"Hi Jesse," Pierce said again, his voice soft, "Are you hurt too?"

Jesse looked at him. There was no way this child could realize what had just happened.

"Yeah, and Uncle Adam here is going to try and fix me up," Jesse replied, choosing his words carefully, "How's he doing Adam?"

Adam had raised an eyebrow at the "Uncle Adam" remark turned and looked back at him. The look simply said Pierce was fine, but Jesse picked up the thought that followed it. Jesse looked like holy hell.

"He's fit as a fiddle," Adam replied, "Aren't you Pierce?"

"Yes sir," Pierce replied, "You take care of Jesse?"

"If he'll let me," Adam said, approaching him with caution, "You okay with me doing this?"

"Only if you take Pierce out of here," Jesse looked at Shalimar, who was watching the scene with interest, "Aunt Shal? Can you find this young guy some clothes?"

Shalimar smiled. Aunt Shalimar. What a concept. She looked at Lexa who was hurt that Jesse didn't include her.

"I'll work on it, as will Lexa," Shalimar touched Jesse's good shoulder, "Come on, Pierce, we'll let Adam work on Jesse, okay?"

The tow headed child who reminded her of the childhood picture of Jesse at the beach smiled back at Jesse then followed her. Lexa met Jesse's gaze then turned her eyes away as Pierce came toward them. She knelt to meet his eyes.

"I don't think we've met, I'm Lexa," she said, "And let's get you something other than those shorts, okay?"

"Thank you," Pierce said, "And I met you in your dream. That's how I met Jesse. He gave me my name."

Jesse was shocked. He thought that he had been delirious when he had dreamed of Pierce, but the child had kept appearing. Pierce was a strong kid. Lexa had the dream too. They would have to talk about it later, he knew, and she knew he was theirs, her reaction was obvious. His son at least now, was safe. He just felt rather weak. He watched Pierce go with Shalimar and Lexa out of the lab and into the glass covered hallway.

"Jesse?" Adam touched him on his good shoulder, "Let me see how you're doing."

"Yeah," Jesse muttered, turning and lying back down, "Just don't say the word pod and we'll be good."

Adam replayed the horror of seeing the pods in the warehouse back in his mind. The emotion of seeing something he created for a good use being used for something he didn't agree with angered him. He walked toward Jesse who backed away from him, the same fear he saw before reading into his eyes. Emma grabbed Jesse by his shoulders and looked into his eyes.

"Control it Jesse, it's the only way, focus on the wall," she said, her voice a near mantra, "Adam doesn't mean to hurt you. You have to let him work."

Jesse nodded. The anger and anguish coming toward him had been overwhelming and the image in his mind of the pods was an instant overload. The thought of it sent him back into a land of fear and pain. The wall he had built was crumbling. Emma's words were steadying it.

"Emma," Adam asked softly, "Jesse's psionic?"

Brennan glared at Emma, the reasons for her secrecy becoming crystal clear. The implications of Jesse having another power were staggering. It had taken him years to get a handle on the one he had, another power could send him over the edge.

"Yeah, he is," Emma replied, her ministrations calming Jesse, "He's pretty powerful as well. Best I can figure, he heard every single one of the children in there."

"I'm right here you know," Jesse said, a bit of frustration rising in his voice, "I can hear you."

Adam smiled. At least it wasn't as bad as when they first got him out of the pod.

"Sorry," Emma said, "You just have to remember that people do speak. The emotions are theirs to deal with, not yours. I know it's hard, honey, but it's what you got dealt."

"It's not the emotions, it's the thoughts Em," Jesse continued, his eyes going wide, "I know that you guys mean well, Brennan, I'm going to be okay, stop it. Shalimar doesn't know what to say around me, Lexa is stunned that Pierce is alive and dammit, my head won't stop hurting. Adam, I know you're as freaked as I am. Run the tests already. Let's see what we're dealing with."

Adam turned his head. Jesse was right, but this was unusual. He was reading the thoughts people had and he had no control over it. It was amazing that he was even able to talk. Jesse leaned back, closed his eyes and quietly let Adam run all the tests he needed to.

Emma left him while Adam worked. She went into the other room and sat with the stunned Brennan who watched over the scene like a hawk. She didn't have to use her powers to know that the admission of Jesse being psionic was a startling shock to him, and the anger over his brother being experimented on was an easy read.

"So, this is why the children freaked him out," Brennan began, looking at her with more concern and worry than she was used to seeing, "He heard every single one of them?"

"From what he told me, yes," Emma replied, "The voices started soon after he woke up from surgery. They were screaming at him by the time we found him. He and I had worked a way to contact each other if needed, but, his ability has grown leaps and bounds, Brennan, I don't know how he's controlling it. I just told him what I know to do, and that's simply it."

"He seems to be doing okay with it," Brennan said quietly, his eyes not leaving Jesse's form, "What did the Creator do to him? Gene experimentation?"

"Adam will probably have an answer soon," Emma said, putting her arm through Brennan's, "I think he's a little freaked as well."