Brennan took advantage of the beasts' preoccupation with his power and Samuel's preoccupation with the beasts to check on Jesse. He had lost his link with Emma for some reason but couldn't worry about that now. He had to figure out a way to get them out of this. The rain was coming down hard and he shivered as it penetrated his clothing yet again.

"Well, my powers are worthless now," Brennan thought. He shifted himself again to get a better vantage on Jesse. They were positioned against the drop off of the cliff with the beasts separating them from the woods and any hope of escape. Brennan looked down at Jesse and tried to revive him.

"Jess, come on Jess," Brennan begged. Rain was dripping off of his hair and onto Jesse's face. Lightening startled Brennan and he looked up. He noticed that it also startled the beasts out of their current conversation and they all cowered from it – all except for Samuel, who turned his attention back to Brennan.

"You!" he half growled half spoke. Brennan thought about how the weather seemed to change his voice. "Are you going to lay there all day or are you going to get up and fight?" Samuel drug out the last word as if trying to edge Brennan into it – to make him seem insignificant and cowardly if he turned him down. Brennan could not believe Samuel was challenging him.

"Jess, if you can wake up, now would be a really good time," Brennan said as he struggled to his feet. He would put on one last stand. He knew he couldn't hold his own against Samuel even if he weren't injured. This was going to be quick. "Bring it on," Brennan said in the loudest voice he could muster.

Samuel smiled a fanged smile and came at Brennan one all four, as a wolf would attack its prey. Brennan braced for the impact.

XXXXXX

"Dr. Draper," Emma called in a sweet voice. "You can come out now. I won't hurt you. I promise just as you promised Brennan and the other kids you tortured at Genomex. I know who you are and I know what you are. But I don't think you know what I am. I am stronger than you think – than any of you think and I am going to fuck you up." Emma was speaking telepathically as she searched for Draper's conscious. She was close to him. She knew that he would eventually find her. He would not be able to resist her when she was like this. He was like a vampire for psionic energy. She noticed that the last time she linked with him. "Hell, he was like a vampire to everyone," she thought as she searched for him. She wanted to have the upper hand by calling him out for a change.

"Emma" a voice sneered in her head. Emma suddenly felt very cold. She was fearful but not afraid. She was going to take care of this bastard once and for all. One of them would not walk away this time. Emma felt Draper's mental power shroud her own. He was so dark and hateful. Emma cried out as he touched her conscious. It was such the opposite of her own and yet so very attractive. She knew that he wanted to pull her into him the last time he touched her mind. This time, he was forcing it. Emma fought back with everything she had. She was full of her own rage for what this monster had done to Brennan, to all of them. He would not live to see the culmination of his plans. Emma was going to see to that one way or another. Their minds fought. Light vs. dark. Just as Emma thought she might be gaining on him, something changed. Her mind began to tingle. She couldn't understand what was happening but it caused her confusion and that was the in Draper needed. He slammed into her mind with everything he had and then let her feel the power of the electricity that flowed through his veins as he channeled energy to the shields.

Shalimar awoke to Emma lying on the wet ground in the rain in convulsions. Her eyes were rolled back in her head but completely black from what Shalimar could see. She looked around at her surroundings for some type of shelter to which she could bring Emma. The lightening was everywhere and she couldn't understand what the strange glow was just above her position about 50 feet up on another ledge maybe. Shalimar continued to look at Emma. She held her down as best she could so she wouldn't fall over the side. "Emma!" she continued to beg. "Emma, please, please stop. Emma!"

XXXXXX

Brennan reached out to block Samuel. But just as he expected the impact of Samuel hitting him, he felt something on his leg. Brennan looked down and at the same time felt the strange sensation of weightlessness. Then he heard a howl. Brennan collapsed to the ground as Samuel went over the cliff. He saw that Jesse had grabbed his leg and phased him just in time for Samuel to pass through him and over the cliff.

"What took you so long?" Brennan asked in a relieved and exhausted voice.

"What happened?" Jesse asked as he rubbed his head with his hand.

But before Brennan could answer, a crack of lightening exploded a nearby tree sending the beasts in several directions. Some were blown by the force of the blast, others fled. Brennan and Jesse covered each other. Brennan's eyes were alight with electricity for just an instant and then it dissipated. He looked at Jesse who was staring back at him in awe.

"Brennan, dude, what's going on? You OK?" Jesse was nervous. He had never seen Brennan's eyes do that. It was as if he had absorbed the electricity. Brennan rose to his feet with ease and looked at his hands. He kept turning them over and over again.

"I – I don't know," he replied. "I feel strange."

Jesse managed to get up off of the ground and steadied himself on Brennan. "Brennan, are you feeling better?" Jesse asked, puzzled at Brennan's ability to steady even himself let alone him.

Another blast of lightening came dangerously close to Jesse but seemed to gravitate towards Brennan. Jesse backed away from Brennan and yelled, as Brennan's entire body seemed to glow. His eyes were blue with electricity. A strange hum began to emanate from his body and Jesse couldn't look at him anymore. It was blinding.

"What's happening!" Jesse yelled as he watched Brennan glow stronger as more and more electricity seemed to come from the sky and polarize on him. "Brennan!" Jesse screamed.

XXXXX

Adam and Mason continued to watch everything play out on the screens that were before them. Adam watched as the beast attacked Brennan.

"Oh, Adam," Mason said, "Here we go. Looks like the end of your precious Brennan." Mason smiled a crooked smile as he anticipated Brennan's demise.

Adam looked at Mason with disgust. "You aren't worth it," was all Adam could say. Tears rolled down his face as he waited for the end. But then he saw Jesse move and Brennan phase and the beast go right through him. He was proud when he realized what had just happened.

"Yes!" Adam said as he smiled. "Good work, Jesse, good work."

Mason looked at Adam and rolled his eyes. "It's only a matter of time, Adam. They cannot hold on fore…"

Mason was cut short by the blast of light that came on the screen. Then, everything went dark.