The Secret's Out

"What's he doing?" Lift Ticket gasped as they watched Lifeline heal his father.

"He healed him…" People gasped as they saw the Reverend recover and sit up. "He's a healer! It's a miracle! He's a freak!"

"You have healing abilities?" Spirit asked.

"Yes but I'm not a mutant," Lifeline couldn't look them in the face.

"Your abilities were given to you by God," Reverend Steen looked at his body. "Has he forgiven me for my mistake?"

"Mistake? Father what have you done?" Stephanie asked.

"They were after you," Reverend Steen told Lifeline. "They heard of your powers and wanted them for their own selfish reasons."

"You mean…that trap was set for me?" Lifeline blinked. "But…how did Cobra know about my abilities in the first place?"

"I told them," Reverend Steen said quietly.

"What?" All the blood drained from Lifeline's face. "Why?"

"I thought it would bring you back to me," Reverend Steen said softly. "They said they would bring you back where you belonged."

"What exactly was your plan for me Father?" Lifeline snarled. "To make me into some kind of sideshow faith healer?"

"I only wanted…" Reverend Steen began.

"YOU WANTED ME TO BE YOUR PUPPET! JUST LIKE YOU ALWAYS HAVE!" Lifeline screamed. "MY POWERS, MY LIFE, MY CHOICE! AND YOU TRIED TO TAKE THAT AWAY FROM ME JUST LIKE YOU DID BEFORE! I NEVER SHOULD HAVE HEALED YOU! I SHOULD HAVE LET YOU DIE!"

"Edwin you don't mean that!" Stephanie said. "What Father did was wrong but you're not that kind of person."

"Well I wish I was…" Lifeline choked.

"Edwin please…" Reverend Steen spoke.

"I can't talk to you now!" Lifeline snapped as he walked away.

"But you are gonna talk to us!" Beach Head snapped as he grabbed his shoulder.

"Leave him alone Beach Head," Lift Ticket defended.

"How dare you not tell us about this!" Beach Head got into Lifeline's face.

"It was my decision," Lifeline said.

"The hell it is!" Beach Head snapped. "We had a right to know if Cobra considered you a target or not! Because of your little secret our security was compromised!"

"Oh that's a load of bull!" Bree snapped.

"Is it? Low Light's a prisoner now and it's all his fault!" Beach Head snapped.

"No…" Lifeline turned pale. "No I didn't mean…I didn't…"

"If they kill Low Light it'll be your fault!" Beach Head snapped.

Lifeline staggered backward and ran off. "Lifeline wait up!" Bree called out. "Somebody do me a favor and punch out Beach Head!" She ran after him.

"Beach Head you can be such a jerk sometimes!" Lift Ticket snarled as he got into Beach Head's face.

"Me? I just told the truth, which is what he should have done ages ago!" Beach Head snapped.

"ENOUGH!" Spirit snapped. "Right now finding Low Light should be our first priority! We can bicker about this later! I only hope we can find him in time."

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

"Oh my head…" Low Light stirred. He found himself strapped down to the bed in a helicopter. "Where…YOU!"

"Hello Low Light," Dr. Sable grinned. "It is Low Light isn't it? My you've had a long nap."

"Where am I?" Low Light struggled against his restraints.

"You're in the company of Cobra being taken to your new home," Sable grinned. "And to think we were after that pathetic medic when we found a bigger prize."

"What do you mean?" Low Light asked.

"We heard about the medic's paranormal healing abilities," Sable explained. "We were supposed to catch him, but we got you instead. Oh well a Joe's a Joe. Waste not want not!"

"Well I don't have any powers slimeball," Low Light hissed. "Except for making your worse nightmares come true!"

"Oh I wouldn't say that. It seems you have an X-Gene," Dr. Sable told him. "In case you don't know it's a mutation in human DNA usually only found in active mutants. It's dormant and we don't know what it does yet. But I am very anxious to find out." He removed Low Light's hat and goggles. "My what lovely hair and eyes you have."

"Eat dirt creep!" Low Light snapped angrily.

"Ooh and so forceful," Sable smirked. "I love a challenge. Usually when I get a test subject they're already broken or volunteer. Not really much fun at all to play with. But you…Well. You're young, strong willed…and very handsome," He trailed his finger down Low Light's cheek.

"Hands off psycho unless you want to lose them!" Low Light snarled.

"My, my what a temper you have. I am going to break you my golden haired Joe," Dr. Sable laughed. "And I am going to enjoy it much more than I did my other subjects."

He pulled out a syringe and stabbed Low Light in the neck. "Much more," Sable laughed before Low Light fell into darkness.