Note: Well, I'm rather proud of my self. This update has come much sooner than, well, many of my previous posts. Thanks for the reviews everyone, really I'm just happy to know that people are still reading this despite my long absence. I hope that I'll be able to keep this up.
Disclaimer: They're still not mine. After all this time, all is for not.
"What the hell is this!" An outraged Orin bellowed as he stormed through Reese's office doors waving a piece of paper.
Casually, Reese looked up. "If you would stop waving it wildly at me and instead let me take a look at it, then maybe I could tell you." He reached his hand outward waiting, and the paper was promptly deposited on his desk instead. Orin stood with his arms crossed looking irate. Reese merely raised an eyebrow at him before quickly reading over the paper. "Oh this. It's a release form. Was the information not clear?"
"I know what it is." Orin stated impatiently.
"Then why are you here?" Reese shot back.
"You know why I'm here. What the hell do you think you're doing? Releasing those mutts into the wild. What's wrong with you?" Orin berated.
Reese's eyes flashed angrily. "I would watch your tone if I were you." Clenching his teeth and fists Orin looked away like a scolded child. "It was a part of your old orders under Ms. Baxter to capture them, I on the other hand, have no interest in rounding up the non-metas and trying to integrate them back into Phoenix Inc. I think that it's much more fun to release them and leave them up to their own devices."
"And what if they turn against you, as they most likely will? You just expect me and my comrades to take care of it?" Orin sneered.
"Of course I do. I pay you quite handsomely to do what I want. As for them turning against me, well, I'm quite aware of that possibility, and am actually looking forward to it."
Letting out a snort of disbelief Orin said to Reese, "You're quite possibly more insane than I actually imagined you were."
"Insane? Really it's more like bored. In a short amount of time I've destroyed the birds of prey, brought down revenge upon my enemy, gained myself the sexy Helena Kyle, and I now own a large multi-million if not billion corporation. In a matter of months I have obtained power that some only dream of, and now it's like I have nothing left to do. So, I think that you'll forgive me for wanting some possibly revenge bound 'mutts' as you called them, running around."
"This is foolish, and I can almost guarantee you that this decision," He nodded towards the sheet of paper, "will come back to bite you in the ass."
"I sincerely doubt that. The resources I control are nearly endless, and your paycheck ensures that you and your friends will remain my friends for the time being. Then there is also the fact that I am a cut above you, one of me is worth four of you put together. I think I'll be fine in the end." Reese stated condescendingly.
"You're right, my companions and I will remain at your side for the time being, however, your ego seems to grow greater as the day pass, and that will be your undoing." Orin turned to leave, and just as he reached the threshold of the door he turned and said to Reese, "Remember that money only goes so far with the equally powerful."
"What are you trying to say?" Reese inquired dangerously.
"Just giving you a friendly warning…friend." Then with a grin he turned and left leaving Reese frowning deeply.
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When Dinah saw whom it was that emerged from the elevator, she was especially surprised. Here she had expected that if anyone were to pay her a visit, it would be Reese, and him only to gloat and bolster his own ego even further as he ripped her's to shreds. But no, instead it was Helena with, as an added shock; bags of groceries in each hand, and a few more sitting inside the elevator. Dinah found herself unable to do anything mostly from the surprise she felt, but also because of the headache still pounding behind her eyes.
"You going to help me with these?" Helena asked hefting the bags to emphasize what she meant.
"Sure…I guess. I mean yeah, course." Dinah fudged, and walked towards the elevator rubbing lightly at her temples with one hand.
"Hold on." Helena stopped Dinah before she could enter into the elevator. "You're not allowed to go in there. Here," Dumping her bags into Dinah's arms, "take these." And Helena turned around to grab the rest.
"Right then." Dinah said sadly as she walked, arms laden with bags, back to the kitchen.
A glance was sent at her retreating form filled with compassion and sorrow for the young woman, but Helena quickly shook those thoughts from her mind. Reese was right about what she had done to them, although, she found herself having more and more trouble lately remembering exactly what she had done. Snapping out of her brief reverie, she noticed Dinah taking items out of the bags and placing them on the counters, and Helena decided that it was probably time to join her.
They worked in silence for several moments before Dinah pulled a certain box out of a bag. "Pop-tarts." She said surprised and confused.
"They're strawberry flavored. That's still your favorite, right?" Helena asked blushing a little. 'What are you doing? Why did you buy those?' She questioned herself internally.
"Yeah, but I figured that pop-tarts would be an amenity you would let me do without." After a pause. "Thank you… for being so thoughtful."
"Um… yeah. Whatever, okay? I didn't do it to be nice or anything." Helena snapped. 'Why did I do it? I shouldn't have if she's the enemy. But, sometimes I wonder…'
"Right. Of course you didn't." Dinah smiled sadly studying the box for a while longer before placing it almost reverently in a bare cupboard. A sudden bout of nausea hit her so strong that she sank down to her knees back to the counter, and head between her knees. Her breaths came in sharp gasps as she tried to keep herself from retching all over the floor. She could feel Helena leave the room, and suddenly cared less if she threw up or not as a wave of depression then hit her as well.
Helena found herself in the bathroom wetting a washcloth with warm water. Merely reacting on instinct to Dinah's obvious discomfort (withdrawals already no doubt), Helena didn't even question why she wanted to ease the girl's pain. Hurrying back she could see Dinah's form now curled up lying on the floor.
With a look of pity in her eyes, Helena walked over to the girl, sat down, and pulled her head into her lap. Gently she dabbed at the sweat that was appearing on Dinah's forehead, and whispered soothing words to the distressed girl. It was hard to see her go through this, especially since she knew she could stop it. But at this point it was difficult to tell whether or not the stipulations of the cure would be worse than the symptoms.
Dinah, on the other hand, was enjoying the feeling of Helena so close to her, comforting her. Had she not been feeling so terribly at the same time, she might have questioned why, but she was far too grateful for the small amount of pleasure she was receiving.
Deciding that the floor was far too uncomfortable, Helena decided that she needed to move Dinah to the bed. "Hey, I'm going to pick you up now. Okay?" Helena warned quietly and received an almost apprehensive nod from Dinah, most likely afraid to puking her guts out everywhere. It was something that Helena feared as well, but she trusted Dinah's approval.
Slowly Helena rose upward with the figure of Dinah nestled snuggly in her arms looking small, and feeling even smaller. The trip to the bed was made cautiously with Helena watching Dinah's face for any signs that she wouldn't be able to make the trip. They made it though with stomachs still intact, and Dinah was deposited on the bed. Helena then covered her with the blankets and stroked her hair as Dinah curled up close to her.
It was frustrating to see Dinah like this and to know that the pain would be so easy to end. "Dinah, do you want me to help you?" Helena asked, and Dinah nodded weakly in return. "Then I think you know what you need to do." At Dinah's questioning eyes, Helena sighed. "You know, agree to Reese's conditions."
"No. No, I won't do that. I won't be turned into his puppet." Dinah managed slowly still feeling quite sick.
"This is stupid. Its only going to get worse you know, and you'll cave in eventually, so you may as well just spare yourself some pain." Helena argued.
"I can't do that Hel. I'd rather suffer through this than do anything to help him." Dinah seemed adamant in her refusal.
Helena was fuming now though she didn't really know why. "You know what? Fine then. Just torture yourself to your heart's content, but I'll be damned if I just sit here and watch you do it." Getting up roughly she said, "Don't forget to put away your groceries when you're done." Then, Helena left.
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Helena leaned her back against the doors of the elevator, feeling the cold metal sink through her shirt and onto her skin. Here she contemplated her anger in relative silence and privacy. It had been sudden and irrational coming from an all-consuming feeling of complete frustration. And perhaps that was the key, her frustration. She wanted to lie to herself and believe that it was born of Dinah not submitting to Reese, to be his play assassin, but she just couldn't find it in her to do so. The truth was far too powerful. It was because Dinah refused to end her own suffering, and Helena could not bear to watch even one more second.
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Dinah simply lay on her bed sobbing for some time at Helena's abrupt departure, and her uncaring parting words. She had shown such kindness earlier that Dinah thought that she could have convinced Helena to help her, to escape with her. But then she had to go and get sick. Fuck. 'Try for next time, Dinah, don't allow yourself to become frustrated.' She tried to tell herself. But she was frustrated. She was frustrated, scared, angry, lonely, and heartbroken. She had to force herself to believe that things could and would get better, otherwise she might breakdown crying again, and her eyes were already so sore.
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"Freedom." He breathed deeply, "You can smell it in the air my friends." His smile sinister yet playful in nature. "Now, let's make this city ours." A glorious cheer erupted from behind him as the non-meta's celebrated their release. Even Pock himself couldn't help but to join in his follower's enthusiasm.
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Barbara was exhausted. Hacking into Phoenix Inc. had been the easy part, but now she was spending the better part of her time just trying to find some pertinent information. And that meant searching through report after report searching for something, anything that would confirm her suspicions of the second tank.
There was, however, one very interesting little tidbit that she had uncovered accidentally. Reese was now the head CEO of Phoenix Inc. and Barbara was very curious as to how that had come about. Not many people would simply hand over a multi-billion dollar corporation to an ex cop, and this helped enforce her suspicions of Reese. Still, there was no solid proof, and that was what Barbara craved.
During this time she also searched for answers pertaining to the whereabouts or condition of Dinah. Barbara was terribly worried about the young girl, and could only hope that wherever she was, she was all right. A small part of her hoped that Helena was looking out for her, but the surveillance tapes she had seen, made that scenario seem very unlikely.
Rubbing her eyes, Barbara leaned back in the large and cushy chair needing to give her eyes a rest before she continued her tireless search. Alfred entered at that moment. "A moment of your time Ms. Barbara?" He requested.
With a yawn she stretched her body much like a cat before answering. "Of course. What is it?"
"A rather large group of people at the door to see you." Was his answer, and he gestured for her to exit before him.
Barbara was caught in a state of confused shock, stuck in the middle of her stretch with her mouth still wide open though she had finished yawning. "Huh?"
Note: Not too shabby I hope. Let me know what you guys thought. Your reviews are always encouraging and helpful. 'Till next time.