Sorry it took so long to update. Anyway, hold onto your hats, folks, cuz these next two chapters are doosies! Enjoy!
Chapter 6: Wicked grins and pistols
"Crap," Brennan sighed. This was not good.
"What?" Jesse asked wearily. He felt so tired, and he knew it was from the loss of blood.
"Engine's dead."
"Crap," Jesse echoed. Both men were silent for a moment, wondering how in the world they'd get out of this mess. "I can probably fix it," Jesse said quietly. Brennan looked at him doubtfully, but because he knew he couldn't fix it, Jesse was their only hope.
"Well, you are sanctuary's handiman. Just don't kill yourself, okay?" Brennan said, knowing that Jesse was in no shape to do anything but lay in hospital bed. He helped the molecular over to the front of the snowmobile, where he got to work immediately.
And the snow kept falling.
"Wait!" Emma cried just before Shalimar opened the door to the lab. "We can't go in this way…it doesn't feel right."
"Adam's in there!" Shalimar hissed. Her she was, all ready to kick butt, and now all of a sudden they couldn't get in?
"It won't help him any if we get caught, too," Emma said desperately. "I can find another way in, just give me a minute." Then she pressed her hands and forehead against the cold wall next to the door and closed her eyes. In her mind, she could see the entire laboratory. She saw Adam, his head down, tied to a chair in the center of the room. She yearned to go to him and make sure he was okay, but time was of essence, and she had other things to do. She mentally mapped the walls of the room, and found that the only other door leading into the lab was from the inside. She 'walked' through it and down the hall, then kept walking until she made it back to where she and Shalimar were standing. Slowly, she came back to herself, and opened her eyes. "Follow me," she ordered, and both girls sprinted off into the whirling snow.
Fifteen minutes later, Jesse was still trying to fix the snowmobile. Brennan stood behind him, trying to control his impatience. Jesse's hands were shaking so bad he could barely hold the two pieces of wire he was trying to tie together. At one point the mental exertion became almost too much, and he closed his eyes, certain that he was going to pass out. Brennan noticed his anguish, and knelt down beside him.
"Here, you tell me what to do, and I'll fix it," he said gently, taking the wires from the molecular's ice cold fingers.
"Okay, you just need to tie those wires together," Jesse instructed. Brennan did as he was told. "Good, now see if she'll start." Brennan turned the key to the ignition, once…twice… then the engine roared to life.
"Alright! Way to go, Jess!" he shouted over the noise. But Jesse did not share in his jubilance.
"Uh…Brennan? I don't feel so good…" Then he flopped back into the snow, unconscious.
"Jesse!" Brennan cried, running toward his fallen friend lay, his heart in his throat. He checked for a pulse. "Thank God," he whispered when he found one, steady and slow. "Come on buddy, don't give up on me." Grunting as he lifted the molecular into his arms, Brennan carried him over to the snowmobile and placed him so his head was resting against the handlebars. Then he sped off in the direction he hoped would lead them back to the resort.
"I hope you know where you're going," said Shalimar breathlessly as they jogged through the back halls of the ski resort.
"Trust me," Emma assured. Within minutes, they had reached the inside door leading to the lab. Just as Shalimar reached for the door handle, it flew open, startling both girls.
"I knew this was too easy," Shalimar said, getting into her fighting stance. In the doorway stood two large men, sporting wicked grins and pistols.
"Um, we were looking for Dr. Jules," Emma said, playing innocent. "Is he here?" Right then the man himself stepped out from behind the two gunmen.
"Ah, Emma and Shalimar. I see you have found my laboratory. Well done. Please…come inside. I'll show you around."
"What have you done with Adam?" Shalimar demanded, not moving from where she stood. Jules' grin faded.
"I can see you are as stubborn as he is. It's a pity. Everyone has to do it the hard way." He made a motion with his hand, and his henchmen aimed and fired their weapons. But it were darts, not bullets, that shot from the guns, and one hit Emma square in the shoulder. Immediately she fell to floor, unconscious. The other dart missed Shalimar, though, who leapt out of the way with catlike reflexes. She knocked the weapons out of each gunman's hand in one swift kick. Then she bolted down the hall. "After her!" Jules shouted. As the two gunmen chased after the blonde feral, Dr. Jules dragged Emma inside the room and shut the door.
Just then Brennan pulled up out front. He parked the snowmobile and sprinted over to the front door. It was locked. Shivering from the frigid temperature, he swore silently, then spoke through his com link: "Shal, it's Brennan. I'm out front with Jesse—the door's locked, can you let us in?"
"I'm kinda busy right now," was her terse reply. Brennan sighed and walked back to where Jesse was slumped over the snowmobile.
"Hey, buddy, you still with me?" He rechecked the bandages and grimaced. It looked like Jesse had lost a lot of blood. With a grunt Brennan picked him up and carried him over to a window. He smashed the glass with his elbow, then took off his sweater and laid it across the window sill. "Jesse. Jess, come on, you're gonna have to help me here." Jesse groaned and slowly opened his eyes. "That's it," Brennan encouraged. "I need you to try and pull yourself through this window, okay? Then we'll be out of the cold."
"You're talking like I'm a…baby or something," Jesse rasped, irritated. Brennan just grinned. He let the elemental hoist him up to the window, then weakly pulled himself across the ledge, whence he fell in heap onto the floor. Brennan came right behind him. Just then, Shalimar came racing down the hall. She skidded to stop when she saw them. "Where are your clothes?" She asked incredulously of Brennan, who was now clad only in his white tank top.
"Long story," he said, as the two gunmen came running down the hall. Brennan took them both out with an energy ball, then turned to Shalimar. "Where's Emma?"
"Jules got her…Brennan we have to find out the heck is going on here!" Their conversation was interuppted by a moan from Jesse, who still lay on the floor by the window. "Oh my God, Jess!" Shalimar cried when she saw the bandages, the blood.
"s'okay…go get Emma," he pleaded, knowing that he was only a hinderance.
"Brennan, we can't just leave him here," she cried passionately.
"You need to stop this guy, Shal…go. I'll be fine," Jesse said, his voice stronger. Shalimar grabbed Jesse's hands and pressed them against his wound.
"Put pressure on it," she ordered, then kissed his forehead before standing.
"We'll be back," Brennan promised as they sprinted down the hall back to the lab. Jesse silently prayed for their safety.
Emma awoke with a start, only to find herself tied to a chair, sitting next to…Adam.
"Adam!" she cried, mentally sending him comforting thoughts and images.
"I'm okay, Emma," he assured her. "How are the others?"
"I don't know," she admitted quietly. Then Dr. Jules walked over.
"Well, well, well. The carrot top's awake," he said. "Oh, and don't try to use any of your mind powers on me. You'll find that my head is locked up tight." Emma tried not to show her surprise. How did he know about her abilities? "Yes, I know you're a psionic. I could tell the moment you walked in here. I have a nose for these things." He paused and looked over at Adam. "In a short while, all your questions will be answered."
"How about now?" Brennan shouted, bursting through the lab door. Shalimar was right behind him, eyes flashing feral. He through an energy ball at Dr. Jules, but to everyone's surprise, the man created a force field around himself and deflected it.
"I can play the game," he said, laughing at their shocked expressions. Next Shalimar tried running up and aiming a kick at Jules' head. He barely managed to dodge it. "I tire of this," he said, and with a flick of his hand, sent both Brennan and Shalimar flying backward, where they hit the wall violently and slid to the floor. "Get in here!" he shouted into a walkie-talkie, and all four of his henchman shuffled into the room. "Now, if you will all just calm down, maybe no one else has to get hurt." The members of Mutant X looked around nervously. They were outnumbered, outwitted, and dealing with a man seemingly out of their league. It did not look good.
I know, I know, what is Dr. Jules up to? The answers will come in the next chapter, I promise, I just needed to get this one up. Please don't be mad...review!