Disclaimer—See Chapter One
A/N: Wow, what a crazy week! I haven't had much time lately, but finally managed to finish chapter ten after staring at it for two weeks, so am slowly getting this story done. THANK YOU all so much for your encouragement, I can't tell you how much I needed it and how much I appreciate you all. Thank you Kerry, Mxfan214, Rain (not much in the next few chapters, but I'll try to add more for you!), Mayra (you got it!), blackpanther (I'll try to add that for you as well!), Saphire Ravven8 (It's coming!), Fiery Feral, FireFeral, hi, EverLastingDynasty (Thank you!), CatJerica (Oh...eventually!) Redhead2, it's so good to hear from you! Thank you so much for all the amazing reviews, you made my week! Thank you everyone so much! Here's a long chapter for you, and a little more is revealed. I hope you enjoy!
Traveling Souls—Chapter Eight
Dust, cloying and thick, billowed up with every step, and occasional coughs could be heard in the darkness. A small bead of light bounced around the length of the hallway, revealing cobwebs clinging to broken lights and dingy walls. Brennan grimaced in the darkness, swearing he could see tiny eyes glinting back at him from one particularly oversized web. Faint water could be heard dripping from somewhere. Behind him, there was a hiss, and then fire flared as Alex held out his hands in front of him, lighting up the room. Brennan sensed more than felt Shalimar's sudden nervousness as she involuntarily stepped closer to him, away from the fire. Not for the first time, Brennan wondered how Shalimar could ever have been close to a fire mutant. He frowned, not wanting to think of her being close to anyone else.
"Sorry, Shal," Alex called apologetically as he closed his hands, darkness washing over them again save for Adam's small flashlight. "I just wanted to see where we were."
"It's ok," Shalimar quickly reassured, embarrassed her fear was so obvious.
"Brings back old times, huh?" Alex chuckled softly.
"Yeah," The smile could be heard in her voice.
Wordlessly, Brennan pushed past her, moving next to Adam at the front of the group. He could feel the others watching him, but he didn't care. He cleared his throat, and it was loud in the darkness.
Adam glanced at him sideways, but didn't say anything as they continued walking.
"EWW!" Jesse's strangled shout pierced the darkness. He sputtered, brushing frantically at his face. "Disgusting!" He spit again, wiping a hand across mouth. "I think I swallowed a spider."
"You ok?" Emma asked in amusement.
"Yeah," Jesse grumbled. "Adam, we really need to find the lights in this place."
I believe we'll find the main fuse box around this corner," Adam was distracted, shining the light around an intersecting hallway. He hesitated for only a moment before turning to the left.
"How do you know where to go?" Brennan trailed behind Adam. He glanced back at the others, but it was too dark to see their expressions.
"Adam?" Emma spoke up hesitantly, "Have you..."
"There were maps on the disk." Adam smoothly interrupted Emma, not looking back at any of them. "There it is," he called a moment later, flashlight falling on a dusty electrical box high on the wall.
"Ok," Jesse briskly rubbed his hands together before opening the fuse box, "Let's get some light in this place."
"Let me," Brennan stepped up, sparks dancing on his fingertips. A well-aimed blast later, overhead lights flickered. Bright light blasted the darkness, dimmed, then brightened again.
Emma looked around, wrinkling her nose. "It looked better in the dark."
"I have to agree," Alex brushed thick dust off his shirt, sneezing as it wafted into the air. "Hard to believe Dr. Shaw or anyone worked here. I couldn't imagine spending years underground like this."
"It feels like home eventually," Adam smiled cryptically. "After a while, you can't imagine living any other way."
The others smiled, thinking of their own home under a mountain.
"It's cold in here," Emma wrapped her arms around herself. "Wonder if we can find some temperature controls around here as well."
"Not a bad idea," Shalimar agreed. "It is cold and kind of creepy in here."
Startled, Brennan looked up at her words, a strange feeling of déjà vu striking his gut. He looked around, noticing the same eerie mist that had hovered around the entrance now lingering along the edges of the ceiling. He shifted his feet uneasily, unnerved. Something vaguely familiar haunted his memory, a nightmare he couldn't quite recall.
"Brennan?" Emma was watching him intently. "Are you ok?"
"Yeah," He nodded after a moment, feeling foolish when he realized everyone had turned to look at him. "I'm fine." He shrugged dismissively, looking around the hallway. "What do you say we go explore?"
"Sounds good to me," Jesse wrinkled his brow, seeing several closed doors running the length of various hallways. "Adam, did the disk give any indication of where this research might be?"
"Unfortunately, no." Adam followed Jesse's gaze. "I think we better get started. Brennan, Shalimar, you two come with me. We'll check out this direction. Jesse, Emma, you and Alex go that direction." He pointed down an opposite hall, glancing at his watch. "Do a quick perusal, and meet back here in twenty minutes."
Alex opened his mouth, about to protest before closing his jaw with a snap, nodding as he glanced at Shalimar.
Brennan couldn't help but feel smug that Shalimar would be with him instead of Alex. The other man's eyes narrowed on him knowingly, but Brennan didn't care. Even though tension was evident between Shalimar and him, he didn't want to leave her alone. Not with Alex, and not in this place. He shivered again as he looked around, taking a step closer to her. She glanced up at him in question, and he held out his hand, offering support as they turned to follow Adam. Her injured foot had swollen severely, and though she denied it, had to be extremely painful. She shouldn't be walking on it; he frowned as she tried to disguise her limp, reluctantly taking his hand. It goes both ways. He remembered his last words to her, tightening his hold on her hand. She glanced up at him, suddenly stumbling as Adam halted in front of them. He caught her around the waist, aware she could have easily righted herself, but wanting the excuse to hold her. He couldn't seem to stay angry when she was near.
"What is it, Adam?" Shalimar leaned into Brennan's hold, hiding her grimace as shooting darts of pain rushed up and down her leg. Adam didn't answer, and she looked back up as he slowly pushed a door open, staring into the room beyond. "Adam?"
"A lab?" Brennan peered over Adam's shoulder, surprised when he didn't budge. "Looks like it hasn't been used for a long time."
Adam stared into the room, at the thick dust filming the counters and the musty sheets covering old equipment and beds. Time rolled back as he stared, grime and dusty covers giving way to clean sterilization, equipment beaming with newness.
"We're not trained for this," he protested under his breath, glancing nervously over his shoulder at the lab bed. "We need more time."
"Too late," His partner flashed him a quick smile. "Hope you remember your OB rotation."
Screams broke them apart, and they turned back to the woman writhing on the bed.
"It's almost time, Ma'am." He smiled reassuringly as he crossed over to her, quickly covering her with sterile drapes and painting her with antiseptic. "Everything's going to be fine."
"You don't look old enough to be a doctor," The woman snapped irritably back, sweating and trembling. Groaning, she bore down, her hands tightening, eyes turning pleadingly onto him for help.
"Evan!" He turned towards his mentor in panic.
"Relax, Adam, I'm ready." The older man moved efficiently, snapping on gloves and tilting the table slightly. He looked up at the woman as she gnashed her teeth, groaning in pain. "You can finally push now."
Her scream built again, face draining, then turning bright red with effort as she pushed, over and over to his counting. It seemed never-ending, and he lost track of time.
"The baby's crowning," He rambled as he assisted, trying to reassure himself as much as the laboring woman. "Don't clench your teeth, Ma'am. Do your breathing. That's it, gentle now. Let your body do the work. Easy, easy."
The woman groaned mindlessly, eyes sunk deep and dark as she panted.
"That's it, keep breathing. The head's coming..."
He stared down in awe as he heard the mewling cry, helping the woman as she strained to reach down and touch her baby. Tears burned her eyes as she looked back at him, and he swallowed tightly.
"I'm going to rotate the baby...shoulder's coming now. Gentle pushes..."
She let out an overwhelmed breath as the baby slipped out in a wet rush.
"It's a girl," Evan announced, looking intently at Adam.
He nodded jerkily back at the other man, spinning around as the woman's teeth clenched again, and she rocked on the bed, sweat pouring from her temples as she panted. He pushed back to her side as her eyes glassed over and blood drained from her cheeks, legs shaking uncontrollably.
"Here comes the second one," Evan's bottom lip was scissored between his white teeth. "It's tightening, I can feel it..."
The woman screamed, arching up, eyes unseeing, mindless with pain. He caught her, pulling her back down, smiling in relief as he heard the faint cry of another baby.
"Twins," he whispered to her, "They're finally here."
"It's a boy." Evan announced again without looking up. "And a rather big one at that."
"A boy." The woman stirred, too weary, too sore to even open her eyes.
He stroked her face for a moment, smelling her sweat and pain and blood. "Forgive me," He whispered, swallowing tightly, backing away after a moment. He walked over to the babies and stared down at them, overwhelmed by feelings of fright and awe. He hesitated, clasping the stretching fingers of the younger baby, gasping in amazement as tiny, moist baby fingers closed tightly around his own. They were so tiny, so helpless...
"Hard to believe they could be killers," Evan's grim voice sounded behind him, and he looked up, startled, wondering not for the first time if they were doing the right thing. He grasped the edge of the table as his knees buckled. "Adam? Adam…"
"Adam?"
Adam blinked, startled when the thick dust and musty air returned, equipment suddenly aged and grimy once more. He stirred restlessly. "Yeah," He glanced over his shoulder at Brennan and Shalimar as they stood impatiently behind him, walking through the door and into the lab without another word.
Brennan frowned after him, leaning down toward Shalimar. "Look at him, Shal," He gestured at the older man as he absentmindedly ran two fingers along a counter, leaving a clear trail through the dust. "I still have to wonder if he's been here before."
"That's ridiculous," Shalimar quickly shook her head, immediately dismissing the idea. "Adam would tell us if he had."
"Would he?" Brennan raised his eyebrows. "I'm not so sure."
They stopped whispering as Adam came back toward them.
"Adam?" Shalimar looked at him in concern. Lines were etched deeply into his face, as if he had aged ten years in the past ten minutes.
"Let's go," Adam brushed past them, back down the hallway. "There's nothing of importance here."
Brennan watched him walk away, apprehensive as unknown dread filled him. He grasped Shalimar by her waist, keeping her close as they stepped forward, half carrying her as she could no longer hide her pain. Mists seeped out of the floor, curling around their feet, and for a moment, it looked like hands trying to grab hold. Startled, Brennan blinked, but it was already gone.
"This place is huge," Jesse's voice could be heard from around the corner as they met back at their meeting place.
"Hey," Alex's brows creased when he saw Shalimar leaning heavily into Brennan. "What happened?" His eyes narrowed on Brennan.
"It's fine," Shalimar quickly cut Brennan off as he opened his mouth. "I just need to rest my foot a while, and I'll be fine."
"We found some old offices," Emma volunteered after a moment. "One of them has Dr. Shaw's name on it." She studied Adam for a moment, watching his expression. "What do you think?"
"I think we should go take a look." Adam started down the hallway.
"Let me help you, Shal." Alex offered her a hand.
Oh, I don't think so. Brennan snorted, eyes determined. "I've got her." He looked down at Shalimar, eyes softening. "Let's go, Shal." He walked them past Alex, ignoring the look the other man threw at him.
"Right here," Jesse led them to the office, hinges protesting noisily as he opened the door. "We looked around quickly, but didn't see anything. It looks like any computers that might have been here were removed." He gestured to the empty desk, draped with a dust cover.
"I didn't find anything in the bookshelves either," Alex ran a finger across one of the musty volumes, blowing the thick dust from his finger. "This place hasn't been touched in years."
"Adam," Shalimar's brow wrinkled as she pulled away from Brennan to limp around the office. "Do you think whatever he hid here was found already?"
"Not very likely." Adam shook his head after a moment. "If Eckhart already had the information, he wouldn't be after us now."
"Unless it's personal." Brennan's voice was hard.
"What do you mean?" Adam turned to face him.
"Alex." Brennan's lips tightened as he stared at the dark-haired man. "Maybe it's not something, but someone he's after."
"Brennan—" Shalimar's eyes closed in frustration. "Stop it."
"No, he's right."
Shalimar's eyes flew open in surprise as Alex spoke mildly. "What?"
He crossed over to her, tipping her chin up with one finger. "There's something I never told you, Shal."
"What?" The tremble in her voice betrayed the assurance on her face.
He smiled softly, finger tracing her cheek for a moment, aware the others were watching. "I was raised by Eckhart."
"What?" Shocked, Shalimar pulled away from his touch, but he reached for her, grasping her hands.
"Don't be afraid, Shal."
"I'm not." She raised her chin.
He chuckled in appreciation. "You always were so strong." His jaw clenched, face twisting slightly. "It wasn't a pleasant childhood, Shal. I wouldn't…accept Eckhart's plans for me and eventually escaped."
"Is that when—"
"When I found you." He pulled her into a hug, resting his head on her chin, meeting Brennan's eyes across the room. "When I finally understood the meaning of family."
She pulled away, eyes soft. "I thought I had too, but then you dieddisappeared. I shut down until Adam saved me." She smiled at Adam as he approached.
"I was dead," Alex looked away, voice flat. "Until Dr. Shaw released me from that pod."
"Adam?" Emma spoke up for the first time, "Did you know about any of this?"
The others turned to look at him, but he didn't answer.
Drip. Drip. Water could be heard in the background.
"Adam?"
Adam was staring at a bronzed statue of a wizened tree, massive branches spread royally high. "Hiding in plain sight." He shook his head in amazement.
"Adam," Brennan impatiently walked up to him, clamping a hand on his shoulder. "What are you talking about?"
Adam didn't answer, instead pulling the disk out of his pocket, turning the statue around. Deep creases were carved in the rugged bark, showing the tree to be old, but strong. Two of the creases criss-crossed into a diamond pattern in the bark before disappearing under a bronzed branch, blending remarkably well.
Brennan exclaimed under his breath as Adam turned the disk sideways, setting it into the pattern. "How did you"
"It's the tree of life," Adam shrugged as if it was obvious, "Dr. Shaw claims to have perfected the process of selective mutation. If he did, he basically held the key to life itself."
They waited breathlessly, but nothing happened.
"Adam?" Jesse prompted him after a moment.
Drip. Drip. Brennan looked up in annoyance as a few drops of water fell from the ceiling, landing on his head. He sidestepped closer to Adam.
Adam stared at the statue, not responding, fingers lingering on the disk, lost in thought.
"Well, it's done." He sighed wearily, plopping into a chair.
His mentor looked at him from across his desk, hands calmly folded. "Mr. Eckhart took the deal?"
"Yes, the twins will be separated tonight."
"You've done well, Adam. The prophecy will not come true."
"Adam?"
Adam blinked as Jesse called his name again. His fingers pressed against the disk and with a slight click, it popped into place. They gasped as a small hologram of an elderly man appeared. Jesse stepped forward, poking at the hologram with a finger as it started to speak.
"If this message is being played, it means I am dead. I can only pray this has made it into the right hands and my efforts have not failed. My name is Dr. Evan Shaw. I am a doctor and a scientist of Genomex. For years, I've secretly worked on a research project, one that Mason Eckhart both feared and revered, believing it would either be his ultimate victory or his ultimate doom."
The hologram flickered and disappeared.
"That's it?" Jesse stared at the bronzed tree. "I don't get it."
Adam frowned, hesitating for a moment before turning the disk until another corner pointed up. "I think he may have recorded separate messages." He again pressed the disk and the hologram reappeared.
"Alex," The doctor was sitting this time, fingers folded tightly. "There was a reason I chose you to deliver this disk, my friend. I have told you many things over the years, but what I never revealed was that I had met you before, that I delivered you as a baby, that you were one of two babies born."
Alex started at the words, face paling.
"There was a prophecy given shortly after your birth that Eckhart believed involved you, in part foretelling of twins, new mutants, who when together would be the most powerful ever seen. This is the reason you were podded, and this is the reason you must not fall into his hands again. He believes your blood is needed to solve the gene sequence. But what he doesn't know, and what he must never know, is that I already solved it."
Again, the hologram disappeared, leaving the room silent.
Stunned, Alex sank against the desk, sitting on the edge. "I never knew."
"Well, it explains all his powers," Brennan mumbled under his breath, ignoring the glare Shalimar shot at him as she laid a hand on Alex's shoulder. He frowned, stepping back as more drops of water splashed down on him.
"Adam," Jesse spoke up after a moment. "Who is this man? How is it he was able to get the tools to solve what no one else could?"
"It's hard to say what went on at Genomex after I went underground." Adam spoke cryptically, not making eye contact.
"There are two more points on the disk," Brennan noted, reaching for it. "Maybe there are two more messages."
"By all means, play them."
They froze at the sound of the familiar voice, slowly turning around. They had been so engrossed; they didn't even hear him enter.
Shalimar growled, starting forward, but Alex grabbed her arm.
"You're supposed to be dead." Brennan stepped in front of them, crossing his arms.
"Sorry to disappoint you," The geological mutant smiled, leaning against the doorway. Three more men stood flanked behind him.
Brennan smiled back, hands opening on either side of him, sparks flickering dangerously.
Drip. Drip. The water sounded again, ceiling creaking.
Oh crap. Brennan looked up as with a rushing roar, water poured down upon him. He immediately screamed in pain as water and electricity clashed across his body.
"Brennan!" Shalimar screamed his name, launching herself at him.
"No, Shal!" Alex reached for her, but was too late.
Shalimar slammed into Brennan, knocking him back out of the rushing water. Drenched, she tumbled back with him, landing on his chest, his hands pinned between them. She heard a piercing scream through a loud roar in her ears, realizing after a painful heartbeat it was coming from her as her body convulsed, back arching with terror as electricity struck her uncontrollably again and again.
Brennan could hear screaming above him, and from somewhere deep within, recognized it was Shalimar. I'm hurting her. He released a strangled sob, fighting the overwhelming pain, the mad blackness that tortured him with false comfort, and with a last gasp, managed to close his fists from beneath her before giving in to the blackness.
But the relief wouldn't come.
His body jerked spasmodically until he groaned in agony. His head rolled to the side, meeting Shalimar's sunken eyes as she lay beside him, not looking away even as hands fluttered above them, voices calling for them desperately. There was a thud, and then the worried voice disappeared. It was just the two of them, unable to look away from the other as sounds of fighting broke out around them.
Drip. Drip.
Great drops of water fell from above, landing on Shalimar's temple, collecting in a small puddle before running down her nose. But still her eyes stayed open, latched desperately onto his.
Brennan watched with abject fascination as the tiny puddle of water on Shalimar's temple seemed to vibrate. Shalimar's eyes widened, and then he realized with horror that the ground beneath them was shaking.
He tensed, struggling to move, swearing as numb limbs only sluggishly responded. He turned his head, panting at the effort, looking for help. Shalimar whimpered behind him, and he turned back, freezing with horror.
The wall behind Shalimar was buckling in upon itself, groaning as chunks of rock formed from massive cracks. Crumbling bits landed on her, and she whimpered again, eyes finding his.
Move. He pleaded with her desperately.
I can't. A tear formed in the crease of her eye, trickling down her cheek.
Inexplicit anger struck Brennan at the sight, and his own eyes flared. Damn it, Shalimar, move!
With a mighty heave, she rolled, smacking into him.
Pain exploded behind Brennan's eyes, blinding him as the earth seemed to come alive once more beneath him. Blackness again tormented him, and he swore profusely. Not now! Not now! He fought against the overwhelming pull of darkness, but lost the battle.
He awoke again with a great gasp.
"Shh, take it easy, you're ok."
He immediately recognized Emma's soft voice, knew the feel of her fingers as she ran them soothingly through his damp hair. His eyes dropped shut in relief, flying open a moment later when he realized he was moving.
"What...?"
"It's ok, Jesse's got you."
Emma's voice again calmed him, and he roused enough to realize he was flung over Jesse's shoulder, fireman style, Emma next to them. He felt Jesse stagger slightly under him, and he faintly wondered how the younger man was able to carry his dead weight. He easily outweighed the molecular by thirty pounds. Jesse grunted, staggering again.
"Stop moving so much or I'll leave you behind," Jesse's relieved tone belayed his gruff words.
"How long was I out?" Brennan tried to look around, recognizing the hallway.
"Just a few seconds," Emma's hand stroked his back as he stiffened in remembrance.
"Let me go, Jess."
"Fine," Jesse unceremoniously lowered him to the ground, rotating his shoulder with a grimace. "You weigh too much anyway."
Brennan huffed, squinting up at the other man. "Thanks, man."
"No problem." Jesse turned as Adam and Alex came to a stop beside him.
Despite his pounding head, Brennan frowned in annoyance when he noticed Alex was carrying Shalimar. "Shalimar!"
"She's alright," Alex hoisted her higher in his arms. "She's just unconscious; a chunk of wall hit her." He shook his head, looking down at her. "Electrocuted and smashed; she's one tough lady."
"We finally agree on something," Brennan struggled to his feet, noticing that Emma was leaning heavily against Jesse, hand holding her side. "What happened?"
"The office starting coming down around us, so we escaped into the hallway." Jesse looked over his shoulder as he spoke. "Eckhart's goons ran off the other way."
"They took the statue," Adam grimly pressed his lips together. "We have to go after them."
"They won't get far," Brennan pushed off the wall, unable to hide the gasp of pain that escaped him at the movement.
"Brennan," Adam sternly admonished, "You're hurt. I want you to stay here, let the rest of us go after them."
"No, Adam," Brennan immediately protested, struggling to stand upright. "I can help."
"Brennan," Jesse interrupted softly, "You're soaking wet."
"No," Brennan stubbornly took a shaking step.
"You'll only slow us down." Alex flatly stated, pushing forward.
"Get out of my way!"
"No." His eyes showed understanding as he faced off with the angry Elemental, easily blocking his weak attempt to sidestep him, Shalimar's unconscious legs swinging heavily between them. "Think reasonably for once."
Brennan's shoulders slumped.
Adam's eyes watched them both appraisingly, waiting.
"Besides, there's Shalimar."
Brennan looked up sharply as Alex eased Shalimar's head off his shoulder, arms automatically lifting as she was handed over to him. He was silent; watching as Alex's fingers gently traced her cheek. "She needs you."
His eyes searched the other man's, nodding tightly, knowing what the gesture must have cost him. He tightened his hold on her, staring after the others as they disappeared back down the hallway, slumping against the wall and sinking to the floor once they were gone from sight.
"You were right Shal," He whispered to her as she lay limply in his arms. "He is a good man." She moaned, and he pressed a kiss into her hair. "That's it, wake up, Shal." He shook her gently, trying to rouse her. Her eyes fluttered, and he pushed her hair off her temple, pressing his lips against her brow with a husky admission. "I need you too."
The walls rumbled ominously in reply.
Brennan glanced back up in time to see the slab of solid slate coming down on top of them.
