Thanks for the reviews you guys! Now, where were we? Oh yeah.
Adam, Emma, Jesse, and Shalimar met up with Jacob shortly after leaving Brennan. Jacob approached Adam, "Adam, I cannot find Samuel anywhere. No one has seen him. He does this sometimes where he takes off by himself and I can never find him."
Jacob was outwardly frustrated. "It's OK, Jacob. I really didn't want to take him out there. I do not want to risk anyone else's life. We have spoken to Brennan and told him that you are going to take care of him until we get back."
Jacob looked past Adam and down the tunnel in the direction of the lab. "Is he aware of me?" Jacob asked, a bit hesitant at what the young elemental might do if he woke up and actually was aware of his surroundings.
"Yes, Jacob, yes," Adam replied. "He knows what you are and that you are a friend. I really do not expect him to wake up, though, Emma used her powers of persuasion to and made him comfortable." Adam looked at Emma but she did not reveal anything. She did not indicate to Adam or to the others that she had left Brennan alone and awake. For some reason, she was receiving signals from all around her not to trust that information with anyone. For now, she would keep that between Brennan and herself.
"Come then, I will show you the way back to the entrance," Jacob said as he proceeded past them and took the lead up the tunnel. Adam filed in first, then Shal, then Jesse, who looked back at Emma, lingering by the lab. "Emma, you comin?" Jesse asked.
Emma responded to Jesse without words. Jesse immediately understood and ran back to her. He, too, took one final look at Brennan. "We are going to be back, Emma," Jesse whispered in a soft tone.
"I know," Emma said as she allowed Jesse to guide her into the tunnel. "I know that I agreed to this, it's just .," Emma stopped in mid sentence and finished it silently ... Something isn't right and I just hope it's not too late when we get back.
XXX
Samuel reached Draper's location without difficulty. He knew where he was. Draper had finished cycling energy and was now manipulating a computer, attempting to store his precious electricity. Samuel startled him. "Mr. Draper . Sir?" Samuel stated as he stalked into the room.
"Good God, Samuel, don't startle me like that!" Draper yelled back. "What do you mean by bothering me now?"
"Sir, I . I ."
"Speak up, Samuel, what, have you degenerated so far that you can no longer speak?" Draper laughed at Samuel, mocked him.
"No, sir, sir, I have news . news about Jacob and some others."
This last word caught Draper's attention and he ceased his laughter. He walked over to Samuel. His eyes danced with electricity and his mood was crazed. The animal in Samuel screamed at him to flee; but he didn't. He stood there, like a loyal domestic willing to receive the beating from his master in return for a moment of his time. Draper grabbed Samuel by his shirt and hauled him off his feet. Samuel received intense shocks from the contact and cried out in agony. "What others?" Draper spat directly into Samuel's face. Then, he dropped him to the floor.
Samuel crawled back to his feet but cowered. He did not meet Draper's demanding stare. "The others, sir. The one that I captured for you on the docks the other night. and, and others. Two males and two females, sir. One of the females is . is . well, sort of like us. Her eyes glow." Samuel waited for the kick that was sure to come, that always came, before he got his reward.
"The one you caught?" Draper was astounded. Instead of kicking Samuel, he grabbed him again and lifted him to his eye-level. "Is he large, with black hair and rather, well, rather ."
"Torn to shreds?" Samuel responded eagerly, as he remembered Brennan.
Draper laughed when he noticed the gleam in Samuel's eyes as he thought about the beaten elemental. "Yes. He goes by the name of Brennan?"
"Yes!" Samuel exclaimed. He nearly could not contain himself anymore. The master seemed happy with his information. He would ask for his reward soon. "Yes, and the others, their names are Adam, Emma, Shal-something, and Jesse."
"That would be the rest of Mutant X," Draper informed Samuel. "Samuel, this is very important. Where are they now? Does Jacob have them secured?"
"No, sir, he doesn't."
"Why not? That doesn't make any sense, Samuel! You know that Jacob and his minions secure anything they catch. Especially so many and a feral female, I can't imagine Jacob would give that up easily. And, they haven't eaten the elemental yet? How have they controlled themselves with so much blood?" Jacob was surprised. He had set Jacob and the others up in their lair to stalk and kill. They were his army. They were his pride and joy. and now they were failing against Mutant X? That was not acceptable.
"No, sir. It seems that Jacob is a friend of this, Adam-person. He won't touch him. In fact, he is helping him to try and escape." Samuel was nervous again. He didn't like it that Draper was angry with Jacob. That could be bad for everyone. Jacob and the others like him had been living well lately with the test subjects that Draper continued to bring in. When Draper was through with them, he turned them loose into the dome and it wasn't long before Jacob and the others caught them. Then, they all would feast. But this time, Draper didn't seem happy with what Jacob was doing. That must be why he told him to watch Jacob. Now Samuel understood. Draper must have suspected that Jacob would betray him to this group.
"Sir, I have other news on where they are right now. They are currently split up and vulnerable. But, I have a request. In return for such valuable information, I would like to have the elemental all to myself. Not dead this time, either. I never was one of the hunters in the pack and I am not allowed to be. Just this once I want to hear its last scream as I dig my fangs into its flesh. Please, let me have the elemental before the others. They can have this Adam and the rest of his pack." There, Samuel had made his move. He felt strangely confident with it. He actually thought Draper might agree with the request.
Draper was furious with Samuel. How dare this little nothing-freak try and hone in on his domain. These were matters for his decision and Samuel served him. But Draper also knew that it was best to keep Samuel on his side. So, he complied. "Of course, Samuel. I was finished with him anyway. But, I want you to bring him - still alive - if possible, to me, here in the lab. Can you do that first? I also want to hear his last scream."
Samuel couldn't believe it! He was so surprised and happy. "Yes sir, yes sir!"
"Samuel," Draper asked, "Aren't you forgetting your end of the bargain?" Draper wanted to know about Adam and the others and Jacob.
Samuel was so elated he had forgotten. He chuckled to himself "Grruf, of course, grrrruf. I forgot. I will show you on the cameras now that you are able to view them." Samuel and Draper disappeared down a small passage to the video room where Draper spent the majority of his time. He had hidden cameras all over Jacob's lair and many more out in the forest. They would find the group and bring them in. He decided, however, that he also had to do away with Jacob. Then, it would be time to call Mason. Oh, how happy Mason would be to finally have Mutant X. That would lure the actual Mason Eckhart here, to his domain. However, he would have to let Samuel have the elemental. He would record the episode on tape for Mason to see. Then, as for Mason . well . that would depend on Mason.
XXX
Brennan was incredibly forelorn. He could not believe that he had killed his step-father. He couldn't believe his mother was doing this. He couldn't believe he had destroyed what little, pathetic life he had ever had. He was begging his mother not to do this. He saw Genomex approaching through the back window of the car. His mother was not speaking to him but she was crying. She was shaking, too. "Mom, please!" Brennan pleaded. "Please don't do this! I'm sorry. He would have killed me, mom, and you too!" She wasn't listening. The car stopped and agents came up to the car. It was Shalimar who ripped him from the car. Jesse and Emma were holding guns on him and Adam was talking to his mother. They all proceeded into Genomex. Brennan started to plead with Adam not to let his mother do this. All of sudden his mother was Adam and Adam was Eckhart, no, he was Draper. He was screaming at Adam to stop. "Adam, please don't leave me! Please don't leave me with him!" Draper grabbed Brennan and as he turned to look at Adam, he saw that he was laughing. Brennan began to cry as Draper pressed a needle into his arm. He started to suffocate. He began to tell himself that this was just as dream. "not real, not real, only a dream, not real.." On and on he repeated the mantra to himself. Then .
"Not real!" Brennan screamed as he pulled away from Jacob with a start. He fell off the gurney and crashed onto the floor. Jacob was startled so much, he broke the needle off in Brennan's arm.
"Wait, son, it's me, Jacob, the friend Adam told you about. I am here to help you," Jacob tried to use the calmest voice he had. Brennan was attempting to get up. Jacob didn't dare call anyone else other than Samuel. He couldn't risk them around Brennan in such a fragile state. He had risked it once to pick Brennan up and bring him here. He knew he dared not press his luck.
"Get away from me!" Brennan gurgled. Barely able to breathe. His chest hurt terribly as did the gunshot wound. His head was spinning and he was so cold his bones actually ached. He tried to form an electrical arc to protect himself but was too weak and wet with sweat from his fever. He simply could not get it together.
"I am not going to hurt you," Jacob tried again. This time he came around to the other side of the gurney. He placed a furry hand on Brennan's arm and Brennan looked into his eyes. He noticed that they were not red this time. He decided not to fight until he had to.
"What," Brennan breathed, "What were you giving me?" more quick, raspy breaths in between his words, "Don't, don't inject me with anything. Leave me alone."
"Son, it was just more antibiotic. Your veins have collapsed where the IV was and I can't find anymore that are stable enough to start another one. Your blood pressure is too low. I have to give it to you as an injection." Jacob was being honest here. He really did want to please his old friend, Adam. He couldn't figure out why. He was all ready for the new test subjects to be released and for the thrill of the hunt and the kill. But, when the storm began and he saw Adam again, something changed in him. He hated having to lie to Adam about how they had escaped from Draper. But, there was no way he could have told Adam the truth - that he was part of Draper's army - that the young molecular had been right - that it had been a plan. Adam never would have trusted him and they certainly would have been dead. He truly felt sorry for Brennan and Adam and the others, but did not know why.
"I have to stay awake until they get back," more breathing from Brennan.
Jacob helped Brennan back up and into bed. Brennan bit his lip so hard it actually began to bleed. He was stifling his scream. Once he was covered back up, Brennan watched as Jacob injected him again, with a different needle. Jacob tried to get the other one out but didn't want to cause Brennan anymore pain. He would wait until he was asleep again to fish it out. He marked with a pen where it was and left the lab to check on the others. He still couldn't find Samuel and that really worried him.
XXX
Adam was leading the group through the forest. They were only a few hundred feet from the cave entrance when the next crack of lightening hit. It struck a tree not 10 meters from their location. Shalimar jumped in panic as she saw the fire. They began to run. All of them locked hands and put their heads down into the driving wind and rain. They were in a serious storm and knew that the danger was very real. Fear would become their enemy as it caused them to quicken their pace. Adam hoped that they wouldn't run into anything - like lightening, a tree, or some of Draper's minions. He had no idea that he was being watched.
"I see the Helix!" Shalimar yelled after about 5 minutes. It was not far from the cave entrance and they had been running like wild to get there. She estimated that they had run about ¾ mile. They all veered off towards it. It was like a mini-Sanctuary.
Thank God, Adam thought as they jumped into it. Another bolt of lightening just missed Jesse as they rolled aboard. Their bodies were soaked and they were breathing heavy, but they made it. Everyone smiled at each other as they set out to work.
XXX
Someone else was smiling as he approached the cave entrance. Draper and two minions proceeded to move a stone away from a tunnel entrance. They noticed a lot of blood on the floor of the cave. It excited the beasts. "Samuel, you come with me and get your prey. The rest of you Draper pointed at the remaining 10 beasts go out there and find this Helix and bring back your prisoners. You must bring them to me, however. I want them alive."
The beasts looked out at the storm with fear and resistance. "Don't worry," Draper said, "the storm may be raging out there, but it is nothing that will rage in here if you fail me. Get out there and do as you are told!"
With that, the beasts cautiously left the cave and disappeared into the raging storm and Draper proceeded down the tunnel towards Brennan and Jacob. Samuel wiped the cave floor where Brennan's blood lay thick and caked. He tasted it off of his claws and smiled - his fangs gleaming with the electricity the filtered into the cave from the lightening outside. His eyes were feral red and glowing with anticipation, greed and madness. He literally leapt through the opening to join Draper in Jacob's lair.
Adam, Emma, Jesse, and Shalimar met up with Jacob shortly after leaving Brennan. Jacob approached Adam, "Adam, I cannot find Samuel anywhere. No one has seen him. He does this sometimes where he takes off by himself and I can never find him."
Jacob was outwardly frustrated. "It's OK, Jacob. I really didn't want to take him out there. I do not want to risk anyone else's life. We have spoken to Brennan and told him that you are going to take care of him until we get back."
Jacob looked past Adam and down the tunnel in the direction of the lab. "Is he aware of me?" Jacob asked, a bit hesitant at what the young elemental might do if he woke up and actually was aware of his surroundings.
"Yes, Jacob, yes," Adam replied. "He knows what you are and that you are a friend. I really do not expect him to wake up, though, Emma used her powers of persuasion to and made him comfortable." Adam looked at Emma but she did not reveal anything. She did not indicate to Adam or to the others that she had left Brennan alone and awake. For some reason, she was receiving signals from all around her not to trust that information with anyone. For now, she would keep that between Brennan and herself.
"Come then, I will show you the way back to the entrance," Jacob said as he proceeded past them and took the lead up the tunnel. Adam filed in first, then Shal, then Jesse, who looked back at Emma, lingering by the lab. "Emma, you comin?" Jesse asked.
Emma responded to Jesse without words. Jesse immediately understood and ran back to her. He, too, took one final look at Brennan. "We are going to be back, Emma," Jesse whispered in a soft tone.
"I know," Emma said as she allowed Jesse to guide her into the tunnel. "I know that I agreed to this, it's just .," Emma stopped in mid sentence and finished it silently ... Something isn't right and I just hope it's not too late when we get back.
XXX
Samuel reached Draper's location without difficulty. He knew where he was. Draper had finished cycling energy and was now manipulating a computer, attempting to store his precious electricity. Samuel startled him. "Mr. Draper . Sir?" Samuel stated as he stalked into the room.
"Good God, Samuel, don't startle me like that!" Draper yelled back. "What do you mean by bothering me now?"
"Sir, I . I ."
"Speak up, Samuel, what, have you degenerated so far that you can no longer speak?" Draper laughed at Samuel, mocked him.
"No, sir, sir, I have news . news about Jacob and some others."
This last word caught Draper's attention and he ceased his laughter. He walked over to Samuel. His eyes danced with electricity and his mood was crazed. The animal in Samuel screamed at him to flee; but he didn't. He stood there, like a loyal domestic willing to receive the beating from his master in return for a moment of his time. Draper grabbed Samuel by his shirt and hauled him off his feet. Samuel received intense shocks from the contact and cried out in agony. "What others?" Draper spat directly into Samuel's face. Then, he dropped him to the floor.
Samuel crawled back to his feet but cowered. He did not meet Draper's demanding stare. "The others, sir. The one that I captured for you on the docks the other night. and, and others. Two males and two females, sir. One of the females is . is . well, sort of like us. Her eyes glow." Samuel waited for the kick that was sure to come, that always came, before he got his reward.
"The one you caught?" Draper was astounded. Instead of kicking Samuel, he grabbed him again and lifted him to his eye-level. "Is he large, with black hair and rather, well, rather ."
"Torn to shreds?" Samuel responded eagerly, as he remembered Brennan.
Draper laughed when he noticed the gleam in Samuel's eyes as he thought about the beaten elemental. "Yes. He goes by the name of Brennan?"
"Yes!" Samuel exclaimed. He nearly could not contain himself anymore. The master seemed happy with his information. He would ask for his reward soon. "Yes, and the others, their names are Adam, Emma, Shal-something, and Jesse."
"That would be the rest of Mutant X," Draper informed Samuel. "Samuel, this is very important. Where are they now? Does Jacob have them secured?"
"No, sir, he doesn't."
"Why not? That doesn't make any sense, Samuel! You know that Jacob and his minions secure anything they catch. Especially so many and a feral female, I can't imagine Jacob would give that up easily. And, they haven't eaten the elemental yet? How have they controlled themselves with so much blood?" Jacob was surprised. He had set Jacob and the others up in their lair to stalk and kill. They were his army. They were his pride and joy. and now they were failing against Mutant X? That was not acceptable.
"No, sir. It seems that Jacob is a friend of this, Adam-person. He won't touch him. In fact, he is helping him to try and escape." Samuel was nervous again. He didn't like it that Draper was angry with Jacob. That could be bad for everyone. Jacob and the others like him had been living well lately with the test subjects that Draper continued to bring in. When Draper was through with them, he turned them loose into the dome and it wasn't long before Jacob and the others caught them. Then, they all would feast. But this time, Draper didn't seem happy with what Jacob was doing. That must be why he told him to watch Jacob. Now Samuel understood. Draper must have suspected that Jacob would betray him to this group.
"Sir, I have other news on where they are right now. They are currently split up and vulnerable. But, I have a request. In return for such valuable information, I would like to have the elemental all to myself. Not dead this time, either. I never was one of the hunters in the pack and I am not allowed to be. Just this once I want to hear its last scream as I dig my fangs into its flesh. Please, let me have the elemental before the others. They can have this Adam and the rest of his pack." There, Samuel had made his move. He felt strangely confident with it. He actually thought Draper might agree with the request.
Draper was furious with Samuel. How dare this little nothing-freak try and hone in on his domain. These were matters for his decision and Samuel served him. But Draper also knew that it was best to keep Samuel on his side. So, he complied. "Of course, Samuel. I was finished with him anyway. But, I want you to bring him - still alive - if possible, to me, here in the lab. Can you do that first? I also want to hear his last scream."
Samuel couldn't believe it! He was so surprised and happy. "Yes sir, yes sir!"
"Samuel," Draper asked, "Aren't you forgetting your end of the bargain?" Draper wanted to know about Adam and the others and Jacob.
Samuel was so elated he had forgotten. He chuckled to himself "Grruf, of course, grrrruf. I forgot. I will show you on the cameras now that you are able to view them." Samuel and Draper disappeared down a small passage to the video room where Draper spent the majority of his time. He had hidden cameras all over Jacob's lair and many more out in the forest. They would find the group and bring them in. He decided, however, that he also had to do away with Jacob. Then, it would be time to call Mason. Oh, how happy Mason would be to finally have Mutant X. That would lure the actual Mason Eckhart here, to his domain. However, he would have to let Samuel have the elemental. He would record the episode on tape for Mason to see. Then, as for Mason . well . that would depend on Mason.
XXX
Brennan was incredibly forelorn. He could not believe that he had killed his step-father. He couldn't believe his mother was doing this. He couldn't believe he had destroyed what little, pathetic life he had ever had. He was begging his mother not to do this. He saw Genomex approaching through the back window of the car. His mother was not speaking to him but she was crying. She was shaking, too. "Mom, please!" Brennan pleaded. "Please don't do this! I'm sorry. He would have killed me, mom, and you too!" She wasn't listening. The car stopped and agents came up to the car. It was Shalimar who ripped him from the car. Jesse and Emma were holding guns on him and Adam was talking to his mother. They all proceeded into Genomex. Brennan started to plead with Adam not to let his mother do this. All of sudden his mother was Adam and Adam was Eckhart, no, he was Draper. He was screaming at Adam to stop. "Adam, please don't leave me! Please don't leave me with him!" Draper grabbed Brennan and as he turned to look at Adam, he saw that he was laughing. Brennan began to cry as Draper pressed a needle into his arm. He started to suffocate. He began to tell himself that this was just as dream. "not real, not real, only a dream, not real.." On and on he repeated the mantra to himself. Then .
"Not real!" Brennan screamed as he pulled away from Jacob with a start. He fell off the gurney and crashed onto the floor. Jacob was startled so much, he broke the needle off in Brennan's arm.
"Wait, son, it's me, Jacob, the friend Adam told you about. I am here to help you," Jacob tried to use the calmest voice he had. Brennan was attempting to get up. Jacob didn't dare call anyone else other than Samuel. He couldn't risk them around Brennan in such a fragile state. He had risked it once to pick Brennan up and bring him here. He knew he dared not press his luck.
"Get away from me!" Brennan gurgled. Barely able to breathe. His chest hurt terribly as did the gunshot wound. His head was spinning and he was so cold his bones actually ached. He tried to form an electrical arc to protect himself but was too weak and wet with sweat from his fever. He simply could not get it together.
"I am not going to hurt you," Jacob tried again. This time he came around to the other side of the gurney. He placed a furry hand on Brennan's arm and Brennan looked into his eyes. He noticed that they were not red this time. He decided not to fight until he had to.
"What," Brennan breathed, "What were you giving me?" more quick, raspy breaths in between his words, "Don't, don't inject me with anything. Leave me alone."
"Son, it was just more antibiotic. Your veins have collapsed where the IV was and I can't find anymore that are stable enough to start another one. Your blood pressure is too low. I have to give it to you as an injection." Jacob was being honest here. He really did want to please his old friend, Adam. He couldn't figure out why. He was all ready for the new test subjects to be released and for the thrill of the hunt and the kill. But, when the storm began and he saw Adam again, something changed in him. He hated having to lie to Adam about how they had escaped from Draper. But, there was no way he could have told Adam the truth - that he was part of Draper's army - that the young molecular had been right - that it had been a plan. Adam never would have trusted him and they certainly would have been dead. He truly felt sorry for Brennan and Adam and the others, but did not know why.
"I have to stay awake until they get back," more breathing from Brennan.
Jacob helped Brennan back up and into bed. Brennan bit his lip so hard it actually began to bleed. He was stifling his scream. Once he was covered back up, Brennan watched as Jacob injected him again, with a different needle. Jacob tried to get the other one out but didn't want to cause Brennan anymore pain. He would wait until he was asleep again to fish it out. He marked with a pen where it was and left the lab to check on the others. He still couldn't find Samuel and that really worried him.
XXX
Adam was leading the group through the forest. They were only a few hundred feet from the cave entrance when the next crack of lightening hit. It struck a tree not 10 meters from their location. Shalimar jumped in panic as she saw the fire. They began to run. All of them locked hands and put their heads down into the driving wind and rain. They were in a serious storm and knew that the danger was very real. Fear would become their enemy as it caused them to quicken their pace. Adam hoped that they wouldn't run into anything - like lightening, a tree, or some of Draper's minions. He had no idea that he was being watched.
"I see the Helix!" Shalimar yelled after about 5 minutes. It was not far from the cave entrance and they had been running like wild to get there. She estimated that they had run about ¾ mile. They all veered off towards it. It was like a mini-Sanctuary.
Thank God, Adam thought as they jumped into it. Another bolt of lightening just missed Jesse as they rolled aboard. Their bodies were soaked and they were breathing heavy, but they made it. Everyone smiled at each other as they set out to work.
XXX
Someone else was smiling as he approached the cave entrance. Draper and two minions proceeded to move a stone away from a tunnel entrance. They noticed a lot of blood on the floor of the cave. It excited the beasts. "Samuel, you come with me and get your prey. The rest of you Draper pointed at the remaining 10 beasts go out there and find this Helix and bring back your prisoners. You must bring them to me, however. I want them alive."
The beasts looked out at the storm with fear and resistance. "Don't worry," Draper said, "the storm may be raging out there, but it is nothing that will rage in here if you fail me. Get out there and do as you are told!"
With that, the beasts cautiously left the cave and disappeared into the raging storm and Draper proceeded down the tunnel towards Brennan and Jacob. Samuel wiped the cave floor where Brennan's blood lay thick and caked. He tasted it off of his claws and smiled - his fangs gleaming with the electricity the filtered into the cave from the lightening outside. His eyes were feral red and glowing with anticipation, greed and madness. He literally leapt through the opening to join Draper in Jacob's lair.