Summary: If they hadn't escaped in '09 would Ben still have been crazy. I think so. The blue lady still has plans for him and for Max…whether she's willing or not.
Warning: Mature themes and character death.
No Escape
Chapter 7: The Plan
In the next several weeks, Ben used every minute of his free time to implement his plan. The bomb shelter being the most integral part, he'd cleaned the inside and did his best to make the outside even less visible. At first it became a place much like the rock where the nomalie had been killed; a place where he could think or talk to the blue lady. He even kept his journal here instead of in his chest back at the barracks. But now Ben knew he was meant to find this place. It was part of his destiny. This was where it would all happen.
Ben had to get Max away from Zack.
He began stocking the place up with items he'd thought he'd need. Throughout the weeks he managed to get extra blankets and towels. Those were the most difficult items to get. The syringes, IV bags, sedatives, and other various medical effects were easy. His presence in the labs was not surprising and even welcomed by Dr. Shorn. It wasn't difficult for an X5 to pinch a few items when the doctor's back was turned. He'd also been swapping Max's birth control pills with some baby asprin he'd gotten a hold of especially since prophylactics were introduced once the mechanics of copulation studies were mastered.
Ben pulled on the hook by the cot with all his might. It didn't budge. Satisfied he took a step back and surveyed his work. Between gathering the materials and finding the time to make pilgrimages to his secret place, it had taken him an extremely long time to get this latest project done. Now that it was everything was all set.
Ben patted the needle in his pants pocket as he surveyed the area. Far off to the right some X7s were doing maneuvers, to the left he could make out a few X6 doing target practice. Everyone was preoccupied. No one even noticed he was there.
It was a semi secluded spot. The woods were on one side, a wall on the other, and an overpass kept it out of view from someone on the roof. They often saw norms taking cigarette breaks here. The butts that littered the ground confirmed that. Max knew exactly what he was talking about when Ben had asked her to meet him here. He had to subdue her outside of the compound or else he would be caught on camera. She had made it easy. Two weeks ago she had asked him why he was being extra distant lately and why he had attacked Zane. He shrugged her off knowing it would hurt her feelings and make her all the more curious to find out what was bothering him. On their way to lunch today, he whispered in her ear to meet him at the 'smoke break spot' as soon as she finished eating if she still wanted to talk. She'd agreed immediately. He knew she would.
Ben slung her unconscious body over his shoulder and blurred through the trees. He stopped behind a clump of bushes, quickly scanned the entire surrounding area before blurring off deeper into the woods. Three times he did this. Always ensuring his path up ahead was clear. Always ensuring he wasn't being followed. He reached the hidden bomb shelter in six minutes. Amazing considering the extra load he was carrying, the amount of times he had to stop, and the fact that it was three miles from where he started.
Max stirred briefly when he laid her on the cot. He promptly took out a syringe and filled it with a powerful sedative. After injecting it into her, he proceeded to bind her arms and legs to hooks he fashioned around the wall the cot was against. Finally he set up an IV. He knew it would probably be days before he could return to her. The sedative would keep her unconscious for at least another twelve hours. And she would still be weak for days after. The contents of the slowly dripping IV bag being her only source of nourishment would also contribute to a weakened state. He didn't want to but as an extra precaution he gagged her.
Ben made it back to the compound with three minutes to spare. After scrubbing his hands and face, he looked up and caught sight of a wide eyed boy staring back at him. Ben took a deep breath and forced himself to relax. He'd done it. He'd actually done it. He had no need to worry. The blue lady would protect him from here on out. Both Ben and his reflection smiled.