"I know," Del Castillo murmured. "The next words out of your mouth, if you felt up to speaking, would be: you can't get away with this."

And if his feet hadn't been tied together, Brennan Mulwray would have been kicking himself.

Brennan had taken Jesse's advice and gotten the hell out of Dodge, AKA Sanctuary. Jesse had been right; all the electronics and metal were causing Brennan's mutation to accelerate, sparks flying, and destroying valuable equipment, some of it Brennan's and most of it expensive. There was a sweet little DVD player in his room that now… He sighed. The only safe place to let off some steam was somewhere where there wasn't electrical devices or people with sensitive nervous systems that would suffer pseudo-heart attacks. For there was no doubt now that both Adam and Emma had nearly been killed simply by being next to Brennan at the wrong time. Let Brennan mutate any further and Shalimar and Jesse would be next.

An abandoned salt mine seemed to be the right place. It was a great cavernous bowl of a place, open to the blue sky abovewith at least half a dozen pockets in the side walls where the salt crystals had been scooped out with bulldozers. Most of the salt had been taken but enough remained to cause light to twinkle among the crystals. Brennan opted to keep his shades on. At least those were of high quality plastic and impervious to the miniature lightning bolts jumping from his fingers.

The tower where the supervisory types had stayed was rusting after years of abandonment. Brennan latched onto it as the perfect temporary solution. Some two dozen massive jolts later the tower was dented and leaning with the rust flaked off in several places leaving shiny metal exposed. The tower had been painted a drab green but the paint had left with the rust.

Brennan felt much better.

Or, he did until something heavy and blunt connected with the back of his head. He didn't remember falling to the ground, but the waking up period following reminded him of just how bad he had felt before coming here and releasing a generator's worth of energy. Only now his hands were thoroughly trussed up behind his back, and his ankles hobbled together. The only good part was that the sparks leaking from his fingertips had ceased, although given that Del Castillo was the enemy Brennan wouldn't have minded if he'd given the avian feral a pseudo-heart attack of his own. All in all the situation had, Brennan realized, deteriorated.

Del Castillo didn't need words to determine a substantial portion of what was going through the elemental's mind. The look of recognition was enough. He nodded consolingly. "Yes, my friend, you are to be the bait that will draw Adam Kane here."

Brennan tried to stay nonchalant. He cleared his throat. "Out of luck, pal. He doesn't know I'm here."

Even that didn't phase Del Castillo. "For someone as bright as Dr. Kane, that shouldn't be a problem. I'm sure he'll be looking for you shortly, and when Dr. Kane researches a problem, it gets solved. I know that from past experience. When did he expect you back?"

Sincerity oozed from every syllable emitted from the elemental's throat. "He didn't," Brennan lied. "I've got the week off. You're still out of luck."

Del Castillo shook his head. "No, my friend: you are. You'd best hope that he comes looking for you before the week is up. Dehydration and exposure to the elements is an unpleasant way to die." He finished driving a stout iron stake into the ground, fastening another rope to Brennan's wrists and pinning him fast. The avian feral held up a knotted rag. "Any last words?" he asked before forcing it into Brennan's mouth.

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Adam never tired of watching Shalimar at work. Shifting into her feral state, she seemed to become something more than human, a cat-like grace at her disposal to rival the most elegant of dancers. He could have sworn that she even sniffed the air, testing for the scent that her pack member had passed by this way not too long ago. One foot settled in front of the other, following the trail that Brennan had unwittingly left.

Without a vehicle, Brennan could not have gone far. His out of control mutation wouldn't allow him to use anything mechanical, not without shorting out the timing mechanism among other automotive delights, so hoofing it down the road turned out to be the elemental's best option. Shalimar's steps lengthened in proportion to the man's speed: Brennan had broken into a gentle jog after a mere quarter of a mile, working out the hijinks that were sprouting from his fingers. Shalimar didn't need to point out the crisped vegetation on the side of the road where he had passed.

But long legs had eaten up the distance. It had been a good four plus hours that Brennan had gone out in search of a place where he could release lightning bolts unobserved, and marathons had been run in less time. Adam and Emma had adamantly insisted on joining the search, so Jesse and Shalimar just as obstinately insisted on driving the pair in relative comfort in a Range Rover. Shalimar trotted on ahead, searching out the trail, while Jesse toyed with the transmission, seeing how far he could push the clutch in high gear at low speed before the engine would stall. Adam muttered under his breath at the abuse of a good engine, but Jesse just grinned. And rode the clutch.

Shalimar halted, and Jesse stalled the Rover just behind her, rolling to a stop. "I meant to do that," was his unrepentant grin to a growling Adam.

Shalimar sniffed at the air. "He's nearby. I smell ozone."

"That would be Brennan," Adam confirmed. "He must have released a great deal of excess energy. Where is he?"

But Shalimar wouldn't let them progress any further. "There's something wrong here."

"What?" Jesse's humor vanished.

Shalimar shook her head, ringlets flying. "I'm not sure. I'm just getting an uneasy feeling."

"Shalimar's right." Emma came to the feral's rescue. "I feel it, too. I can feel tension in the air. I can't pinpoint it, but there's a general feeling of wrongness here. And Brennan is involved." She frowned. "I wish my powers were working better."

"Don't push," Adam commanded sharply. "Emma, you too were subjected to Brennan's out of control electrical fields. You need to take it easy."

"Good advice," Jesse said. "I trust you'll take it yourself and wait here?" Without waiting for an answer, he hopped out of the car, handing the keys over to Adam.

Adam wasn't to be deterred so easily, following them out of the car and handing the keys behind him back to Emma. "I've got the serum for Brennan," he rationalized, holding up the container with a syringe inside. "He needs it as soon as possible. We've got to find him."

Jesse cocked his head. "And how do you think you're going to get it to him?"

"What?"

"How do you think you're going to administer the serum?" Jesse asked reasonably. "I mean, look what happened the last time you got close to ole Sparky. Adam, you don't need to do that to your heart again."

"Brennan needs this serum," Adam tried to say, but Jesse interrupted him.

"And all of us need you alive and kicking. Adam, I'm not kidding. You're so not going close to Brennan while he's in this state."

"Then just how do you expect to get it into him?" Adam folded his arms across his chest. "Going to shoot him across the distance with a dart gun? We seem to have forgotten to bring one along, Jesse."

"Simple. Me."

"Hah. You're just as much at risk as the rest of us, Jesse. I won't let you take that chance."

"Not." Jesse waggled his finger at his mentor. "Me. Old Brick Wall himself in the not so dent-able flesh. Brennan can't hurt me when I'm massed."

"You don't know that for certain," Adam challenged.

"That may be true," Jesse admitted, "but we do know that he can do plenty of damage to you. And Emma. And probably Shalimar, for that matter. And he didn't hurt me the last time I got close to him en masse. Got a better option?"

Adam didn't, but that didn't mean the scientist was happy about the situation. He gave in with poor grace. "All right. But I want you and Shalimar to scope out the area, look around thoroughly before moving in. I don't trust this situation."

"Happy to oblige," Jesse grinned.

His was the only mirthful expression. Adam settled himself back into the Rover along with an unhappy Emma who was still trying to persuade her over-taxed mind to do a better job of scanning the immediate area. She moved into the front seat and crossed her legs, closing her eyes to concentrate.

Shalimar and Jesse trotted off down the road, Shalimar in the lead. Tall trees lined both sides with the underbrush going back as far as they could see. There was minimal bird life in the branches, and Shalimar chose to believe that it was due to Brennan's recent electrical outbursts. That was the most logical explanation.

But she couldn't shake the feeling that she was being watched, although she couldn't see anyone around. The pair came up around the last bend to be presented with a large pit at least a mile across: an abandoned salt mine.

"Brennan was here," Shalimar murmured to Jesse, pointing out the crazily leaning tower. "Where is he now?"

"Good question." The molecular surveyed the terrain, not liking it. The area was huge and open, with left behind pockets of salt crystals glittering hungrily in the sunlight. There were at least six or seven outcroppings too large to be bulldozed over where anyone could be hiding, not to mention the dark pockets carved into the sides of the bowls, areas where miners had tunneled after the salt, stopping only when the thick veins petered out. In addition to the leaning towers, there were two other towers where someone could relax, out of the sun. The place appeared eerily empty. But—"There."

"I see him."

There was a dark lump, half hidden behind one of the salt outcroppings. The figure wasn't moving, was lying immobile on the ground, with no one else around. By the size and length of the man, by the black leather jacket that encased his upper body, it could be no other than Brennan.

The obvious answer was that the elemental, having discharged the excess energy that his mutation had created, had collapsed to the ground unconscious, helpless to resist the ravages of his mutating DNA. There was no evidence to the contrary, and everything to say that that was the case: no sign of another living soul, no footprints in the dusty soil beside the unconscious man. Anyone in the near vicinity of those elemental lightning bolts had run the risk of being toasted. But Jesse Kilmartin was well aware of the mutant abilities of the woman beside him. If Shalimar said that they were being watched, then Jesse was prepared to believe her.

He watched the feral test the air, eyes searching for signs of life. A line settled grimly across her lips, and she shook her head.

"He's there, but I don't know where."

"Then Brennan is bait."

Shalimar nodded. "He'll expect one or more of us to go after him, draw Adam out into the open where he can pick him off."

"Surprise for him." There was no amusement in Jesse's voice. He activated his comm. link. "Adam? We've found him."

"Good. Don't approach him; let me examine the situation first—"

"No go," Jesse interrupted. "We've got a situation. Brennan's down, but Shalimar says that Del Castillo is using him as bait. Stay where you are. We're going to pull Brennan out. Then we can deal with Del Castillo."

They could both hear the frustration coming back over the link. "All right. But Jesse, you have to get that serum into him as quickly as possible. All those energy flows are burning him out. There's no time to waste."

Jesse switched his comm. link and turned to Shalimar. "You heard the man. Let's go rescue Brennan."

But Shalimar held him back, biting her lip. "No, wait a minute, Jesse. Let's think this through. Del Castillo is trying to kill Adam, not one of us. Which means that he's arranged this little set-up to suit himself, to draw Adam out into the open."

"And to keep us off guard until he has a chance to get at Adam." Jesse nodded. "Well, Shal, if he wants Adam, let's give him Adam. It's time for a little payback."

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Moments later a man could be seen picking his way down the crystal-laden slopes toward the bowl of the salt mine. Dark hair could be seen from the distance, an open coat flapping in the breeze as the man scuttled from rock to boulder, trying to stay out of line of sight of any potential sniper.

He crouched behind a massive outcropping. He shielded his eyes; the salt wedged into the crevice of the stone glittered balefully in the sunlight. "Getting closer," he reported, bringing the comm. ring up to his lips to speak quietly. "Brennan's about twenty yards away. He's not moving, but he is breathing. That's a good sign, I hope."

"Be careful," Shalimar hissed. "Don't take chances."

"I'm staying massed as long as I can," Jesse returned somewhat testily. "This isn't easy, you know." For the man making his way toward Brennan was indeed the molecular, posing as Adam. He would move a few yards, scanning the large bowl for signs of the sniper, and mass as he took advantage of the meager cover afforded by the large boulders. "You just be ready to pounce as soon as Del Castillo shoots and gives his location away." There was a pause, and a chuckle that was a magnificent denial of nervousness. "And just remember that if he turns out to be hiding on that far bluff instead of in the tower, you owe me a drink at Bartolo's downtown."

"Don't go getting yourself killed," Shalimar advised, just as nervous. "'Cause I'm winning this bet, and it'll be tough to collect if you're dead." She scanned the area, searching for signs of where Del Castillo had hidden himself. Right now Shalimar was less interested in the bet than taking down the avian feral and putting an end to this little romp. The stakes were a bit too high for her tastes.

"Get ready." Jesse was almost in position. "There's about ten yards of open ground to cross. If Birdman over there is going to shoot, that's where it'll happen. And Brennan doesn't look good, Shal. Adam was right to say hurry. When I say go, I'm going to move to Brennan and that's when Del Castillo will make his move. I don't intend to make it easy for him, and I don't intend to get hit even if I am massed. You all set?"

"Any time you are." Shalimar held her breath.

"Go." Exhaling, Jesse massed, and started forward. His movements were ponderous, slower than his usual quick-footed actions, the density weighing him down but not stopping him entirely.

A shot rang out, then two more in quick succession, bouncing off his solid form.

"Got him!" Shalimar leaped for the tower that Brennan had nearly toppled over just a few hours earlier. "I win! Go, Jesse!"

One more bound, and she clawed at the open wall to the tower twenty feet above the ground. Another twist, and she was inside the rickety structure. Del Castillo whipped around, gun in hand.

There was no time for words, only action. Del Castillo swung the sniper's special at her, using the gun as a club. Shalimar ducked and went for the avian feral's throat, fingers outstretched. Del Castillo got the first blow in, but Shalimar retaliated by sweeping the avian's feet out from under him. He lashed his own foot at her and caught her just above the waist. Shalimar flew back, crashing against the corner. The tower shook.

Shalimar leaped back onto her feet. Time for fun was over. This man was trying to kill Adam, and putting the rest of her pack in the path of danger. She leaped.

Del Castillo ducked but Shalimar was expecting the move. She turned, cat-quick in the air, raking him along the ribs. Del Castillo screeched. Again he swung the gun, and this time he connected. Shalimar was knocked into the wall.

The tower not only shook but it groaned. It tilted. One support leg gave under the pressure.

Del Castillo didn't wait. Snatching at his sniper's special, he leaped out of the open air tower and glided to the bluff that Jesse had pointed out just five minutes earlier, too far for Shalimar to reach in a single jump. His coat billowed out in the air, and she could almost see the flexible structure he'd built into the fabric to support such maneuvers. Flight wasn't something that anyone else could do and it gave him an unfair advantage. Shalimar hissed in frustration.

Jesse wasn't paying attention. Seeing Del Castillo's preoccupation with Shalimar, he unmassed and hustled over to Brennan, noting with dismay how tightly the ropes were bound around the man's wrists. But at his touch, sparks began to jump out from Brennan's fingertips. Brennan groaned—he had no control over what was happening. The man's eyes flew open, and he grunted again through the gag, trying to communicate.

"Hang in there, buddy," Jesse reassured him, concentrating on trying to untie the ropes. No use; they were too tight. Time for better measures. Exhaling, Jesse phased to insubstantial, taking the ropes with him and pulling them not off but through Brennan's tortured flesh. A moment later solid ropes, still tied, dropped to the dusty salt-laden dirt. The gag followed.

Brennan spat, trying to get the taste out of his mouth and some moisture back in. He rubbed his wrists, holding the spots where the rope had chafed the skin away. Another spark of electricity buried itself in the dirt. "Jesse—"

"Not now, man. Let's get you out of here and someplace where I can give you Adam's serum without collecting a bullet that has Adam's name on it." Jesse moved on to pull the ropes from around Brennan's ankles, wincing at the flesh rubbed raw. Specks of blood oozed forth.

"Jesse," Brennan tried again. A larger bolt escaped his control.

Jesse yelped. "Hey!"

"Sorry," Brennan muttered. He tried to inch away, to keep the unwanted sparks from darting over at his teammate.

"Not your fault. Guess we're not going anywhere fast." With a quick glance over his shoulder—Shalimar was pursuing Del Castillo up the bluff. The avian feral had his rifle tossed over his shoulders, gliding to a high spot—Jesse pulled the syringe out of its container, working the plunger to expel any air. "You need this now. Ow!" he yelped again as another miniature bolt of lightning stabbed at him. "Okay, time for sterner measures."

Jesse massed, the action slowing him down but making him impervious to Brennan's mutation. He advanced on Brennan, taking the mutant's arm to expose the vein to the syringe.

The comm. ring crackled. Emma's terrified voice rang out. "Jesse, Shalimar, help! It's Genomex!"

It took both mutants by surprise. Jesse jerked up, automatically looking around. Brennan sat up, but the shock set his mutation off again. A massive bolt of ball lightning erupted from his chest, blasting Jesse off his feet and spinning into the air. The heavy density was no match for the sheer power of the elemental: Jesse was blown away to knock heavily against one of the salt crystal outcroppings. He dropped to the ground, stunned, massing released in favor of hanging onto a single thread of consciousness.

Not for long. Jesse jumped back to his feet, preparing to charge back to Brennan who by now was quivering on the ground, helpless in a post-electrocution seizure. More sparks erupted from the elemental. Jesse started forward, syringe in hand. No time for massing. No time for anything except getting the serum into Brennan's bloodstream. Jesse could handle the shocks for long enough to do that.

A sharp report split the air: gunshot! Jesse halted, shocked, staring down at his own torso, watching as a blossom of red flowered there. He dropped to suddenly weak knees, and from there plunged to the salty ground.