CHAPTER FOURTEEN

"Looking for something?" Brennan said from the entrance of the safe-house at the four renegades who were busy searching the interior.

Startled, the men drew into position ready for a fight.

Brennan saw one thug draw a weapon from the corner of his eye and immediately let loose a coil of electricity instantly knocking the gun away before swiftly jumping down over the top railing landing on the renegade who fell heavily to the floor.

Shalimar, without missing a beat executed a graceful somersault, landing softly behind a thug. Tapping his shoulders lightly she gave a charming smile as he turned around confused only to have a dazzling turning kick send him crashing against the side wall.

Emma sent a psionic blast at the other two renegades before they could even reach for their weapons, knocking them senseless.

Pulling his opponent to his feet, Brennan slammed the guy against the wall as he held the collar of his shirt. "Who do you work for and what did you do with our friend?" He asked menacingly, slamming the renegade against the wall once again knocking the wind out of him as he refused to answer.

"Let me handle this". Shalimar said as she pushed Brennan aside and with a feral gleam of her eye grabbed the man by the shoulders and backhanded him across the jaw drawing blood. "What did you do to Jesse???" she asked ready to pounce again if no answer was forthcoming.

"Shalimar look out" she heard and barely had time to turn around as a bullet suddenly whizzed past her head missing it by inches. More array of bullets followed as the 3 mutants leapt behind furniture and walls to take cover.

"Brennan, do something! They're getting away." Shalimar exclaimed as she saw the renegades get up groggily and headed for the exit where their fellow renegades stood firing their weapons mercilessly to keep the mutants at bay.

Brennan lighted up a tesla coil and peeked from behind the pillar he was taking cover from to find an opportune moment to throw it at the soldiers. He cursed loudly as immediately, a slew of bullets hit the pillar forcing him back to take cover.

Just as suddenly, the attack ceased and he saw Shalimar with amazing speed come out from behind her hiding place and running up the stairs leading to the entrance determined to catch the renegades before they got away. Immediately, he took after her only to see two cars drive off with their tires screeching.

"Come on. We can still catch them." Shalimar said urgently as she ran to the beamer.

"Shalimar." Brennan said trying to calm her down. "They're gone."

"We got to catch them." She said almost frantic. "They have Jesse!"

"Shalimar" Emma said from behind them. "Brennan's right. They're gone." Seeing Shalimar about to voice a protest, she continued, "But don't worry. Adam gave me a tracking device that I planted on one of the men. We better get back to Sanctuary now so we can track where they're headed to." She said entering the beamer as the others followed quickly behind.

Jesse allowed the two soldiers who grabbed him to push him along without putting up any resistance. He looked around biding his time waiting for the right opportunity. Feeling the hands holding him lax due to his cooperation, he decided it was now or never.

Mustering up his energy, he pulled his knee up and with as much force as he could gather, brought his foot down hard on the foot of the man holding him on his left, following it immediately with a sharp head slam to the man on his right. As both man doubled over in pain, Jesse got out of their grasp and let out a swift side kick to the solar plexus of the man with the injured foot sending him stumbling backwards falling hard on his back. Without wasting time he brought his other leg up to deliver a hard axe kick to the head of the other guy slamming him to the floor.

Taking a deep breath, he executed a swift jump through his bound hands bringing them in front of him and immediately followed it with a gymnast roll as he reached over for the gun of one of the man he had downed.

Getting to his feet, he pointed the gun in front of him only to see a dozen or so soldiers surrounding him with their guns trained directly at him. He turned around, his eyes darting across the warehouse, his heart sinking as he saw that he was surrounded.

"Stay back!!" he yelled not willing to give up without a fight. He turned abruptly, with every movement he saw from the corner of his eye, retraining his aim. He could hear his heartbeat pounding in his ear and he held on tighter to the gun in his hands as he felt his palms beginning to sweat.

"Now, now, Mr Kilmartin. Don't do anything stupid. There's a whole lot of us and only one of you." Xavier said shaking his head as he appeared from behind the circle of soldiers. "We don't want anyone to get hurt do we? Now put the gun down."

"Not a chance. You're not getting anything more from me!" Jesse yelled back as the soldier's inch closer.

"Face it Mr. Kilmartin, there's no escape. You have about what, six bullets in that gun of yours? Look around you, we're triple that number. Don't make this any harder on all of us." Xavier said motioning for his man to get closer.

"Stay back!! Jesse yelled as he turned around frantically, waving his gun at the circle of soldiers as they inched closer. He looked around him with a gut wrenching realization that Xavier was right. There was no escape.

He shook his head at the futility of the situation. No!! He was not going to give in that easily. There was no way he was going to be used to get more information. There was just no way. He couldn't let Xavier succeed with his plans and he knew Xavier couldn't succeed without him.

With a sudden clarity, he knew what he had to do...

With eerie calmness, he released the safety of the gun and closed his eyes as he brought it under his chin and slowly pulled the trigger...