Chapter 7
Legal Disclaimer-The characters all belong to Marvel, Alliance Atlantis, Fireworks and Tribune Entertainment. The situations were created by them, the actual locations…well, they're mine. That's why it's fanfic.
Author's Note: First off, real life decided that I needed a touch of writer's block, then work decided I needed to just sleep and save my creativity for them. Then, my health got in the way and I spent a few weeks working, eating then sleeping. So, what I am saying is, SORRY. Now, in turn, I am giving you a hugely long chapter to make up for it. Am I forgiven? God, I hope so. Also, as I review this myself, I have noticed that I am jumping from character to character an awful lot, please don't hurt me. Thanks. Now, read then do something I admit I need-Review!
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"If you open your mind to me, you won't have to rely on open eyes to see…" Silent Lucidity-Queensyrche
Pierce Kilmartin was asleep in a cell that was across from his mothers. He had woken for a short while then fallen back asleep, a condition which concerned his captors enough to have them to put monitors on the child, but not to wonder exactly what he was doing while he slept. His face was serene, his position that of a child in the deepest form of sleep, but if they had taken a moment to realize it, Pierce knew everything that was going on around him. The little boy had grown to let his size confuse people. By a simple, childlike way of speaking, he could manipulate the situation till it worked for him. The voices in his head though, were a whole other story. He could feel the fear radiating off of Lexa. It fed an anger growing in him that made him want to scream. The years he had spent in the pod were catching up with his mutantcy. He was going to get even with those who hurt his family.
He opened an eye in the darkness. Finally they had turned the lights off that surrounded Lexa, giving her some mercy from the overload they were working on. What they didn't know was that Pierce was awake, ready and would protect her. He was beginning to figure out how and knew that if he tried, he could contact Jesse. Hopefully Jesse would hear him.
Jesse Kilmartin had opened his eyes to a world of voices he knew that he could filter out. His wife had given him the logic he needed so badly, showing him that there was a time when you simply just did what you had to. He knew that now as the walls he had built around his mind had solidified. He could handle all of this now. He knew it.
He looked over at his sleeping wife, kissed her lovingly then turned to look up at Adam Kane. His mentor and friend stared back at him.
"How you feeling?" Adam asked.
"Much better," Jesse's face broke into a slight smile, "I know now that I can handle it."
Lexa Pierce awoke again to the world of unfiltered bright light. She knew before she opened her eyes that the light had not shut off, but if she opened her eyes, she knew that it was only to try and figure out her situation once again. Her thought was of her son's survival more than her own, and she knew that he had to be alive, because if they had taken them both, they had an idea of using him to torture her. She could handle it to a point, but if they wanted her to see them hurting him, they would have to turn the lights off.
She breathed in and opened her eyes. The light shut off as she did it. The show was about to begin. Damn.
She secretly hoped that Jesse had used his energy to get to Pierce. She had felt him try to read her thoughts, like a television screen turning on. She wanted him to go for Pierce. He had the bigger connection to their son, and she knew that he would go for it. She felt his frustration when she closed herself off to him, but she had to. They needed to help Pierce, he was the important one.
Her eyes started to adjust to the lack of light. Pierce was asleep in a cell across from her. At least she hoped he was asleep.
As the blue eyes lightened and returned to reality, Jesse Kilmartin knew that he would be okay. This time, the voices didn't hurt. He knew as he looked at his quickly arriving friends, he was ready. Jesse looked at his friends, including the newcomer, Henry, and knew that he could hear their worry and concern, but much like when he was massed, the voices didn't touch him. He had the one thing he had begged for, complete control and he knew that this time, it wouldn't fail.
"Hi guys," he said, finding the strongest voice he could, "Henry, I think they called you in a little late."
"I'm here to help, Kilmartin," Henry smiled at him, a real genuine smile, the first Jesse could remember even seeing off the psionic, "You seem to need a little of it, but, from what the others have told me, you're much stronger now."
Jesse looked at him then let his gaze shift to his friends. Brennan was strong as ever, the friend he knew had his back in any situation, ready for anything. Emma, who had opened her eyes, now looked back at him with more love shining in her eyes than he ever remembered. Shalimar gave him a grin that he longed for while Adam, standing behind the group gave him the one look he knew he needed, a look that simply said 'I'm Proud'.
He slowly moved his legs over the side of the bed and began to pull off all the monitors that Emma and Adam had placed on him. He could do this, there was no weakness like before and he knew that he was in control.
"Thanks Henry," Jesse replied, "You have any ideas on how to get to Pierce and Lexa? She pushed me out when I tried to contact her."
"You have something of hers?" The older psionic asked, sitting on the edge of a chair, "Since I haven't met her in person, it would help to have something of hers."
Jesse reached for the comm. ring on his finger. She had held onto it when they were separated, and that was the only thing he knew still held her essence. He handed it to Henry, their fingers touching. He instantly got the image of Henry helping them to prevent any harm coming to his own children, and the image of him very proudly watching his own son play the violin. Henry's other motives were overwhelming. They ran his passion and Jesse knew it, felt it and was struck by it. The man who had caused many of his fears to come back in Technicolor was a father. They both had the same goal, saving their sons and the future.
"Congratulations on Joshua," Jesse said softly, "And do what you can."
Henry met his eyes. He found himself walking down the long hallways of what seemed like a warehouse, and he was following a track of light that only he could see. Since he usually could find someone by touching them, with results being instantaneous, he didn't know if it would work. Turning a corner that he felt was the right one, he opened a door, entering a dark room. A body hung from a grated cell. As his eyes adjusted to the light he slowly found himself staring at the handcuffed Lexa Pierce.
He knew instantly that this wasn't a dreamscape of his creation, this was her nightmare. She was cuffed to a wall, her body spread eagled and covered in bright lights. From her breathing, he could feel that her power was building up. Her eyes were shut, she seemed asleep so he knew he was in her dreamscape. He tread lightly. While this was a place of joy and of nightmares, he was hoping to keep her in a happier state. He knew that she was in trouble and this was her only escape. He didn't want to interfere with it, but needed the information to help find them.
"Lexa Pierce," he asked quietly, trying not to scare her as he woke her.
She didn't move, just moaned when he mentioned her name. Henry started toward her, wanting to touch her to solidify her connection with him. One touch and he would be in control. A control that he knew he could use. His fingertips were just about to touch her forehead when he felt a presence behind him.
"She's not going to wake up mister," a voice said behind him, "You might want to stop that assault."
Voight turned to stare into the honey colored eyes of the person he could only imagine was Pierce Kilmartin. The boy stared back at him, the child's bravado backed with an extreme amount of power.
"You must be Pierce," he said, kneeling to meet the boys eyes, "I'm here on behalf of Jesse."
"Yeah, right," Pierce replied, "How do I know that? People have us, mister, and I'm not letting anyone hurt Lexa."
Henry stopped for a moment. Pierce's terror was an easy yet fascinating read. The child had been through so much already, he wasn't just giving him a line, Henry knew there was a truth to what the kid said. He had to tread lightly, but he needed the big guns.
Outside of Lexa's dreamscape, Henry was sitting in a chair in the new medlab next to Jesse and Emma. They had wanted to put monitors on Henry, knowing it had been a while since he had gone into a dreamscape, they wanted to make sure that he didn't burn himself out in the process. Henry protested and got his way, knowing that they cared was a bonus though. They still were connected to him, but through age, their help in getting Brianna back to him and extreme self control he wouldn't hurt them or control them unless he had to. He was aware of them nearby though, Jesse's fear of losing control coming to the forefront. He knew that the younger man wouldn't lose it this time, there was too much power behind him, and that power was drawn from the love of those around him. He was unstoppable.
He reached out to where Jesse sat and grabbed his forearm. In seconds, Jesse passed out. In heartbeats, Jesse was standing next to him in Lexa's dreamscape. Jesse blinked, his eyes adjusting to the light. He knew at once he was in a cell, he could feel Lexa's fear coming over him in waves, but he knew she was out cold, and he knew that waking her was not the right idea. He realized instantly the other fear, more of a rage running over him. Pierce was in front of him. The look of anger on Pierce's face was very real. He didn't trust Henry.
"Impressive trick," Pierce said, "I don't know if he's real or not. I don't trust anyone in my head but me. Or Aunt Emma."
Jesse took a moment and breathed in. It was a shock to be dragged into someone else's dreamscape like that, but for Henry to do it was amazing, and also a power drain. He could 'hear' it the second the man had touched him. He silently thanked him and looked toward the small child that was bravely between them and Lexa. Pierce's voice was something he wasn't expecting and he was overjoyed to hear it.
"It's not a trick Pierce," Jesse said, "Henry's one of us, and he's here to help get you and your mom out of here."
"Mom?" Pierce asked, his voice a bit shocked, "I know you're not Jesse then, you haven't called her my mother. Ever."
"It's about time I did," Jesse knelt to meet the young boy's eyes as well, "I'm your father, but I think you already knew that. I'm here to get you and Lexa out of here."
"But how can you, you're in my head," Pierce pouted," Last thing I remember is that you couldn't talk to me anymore with your head. That was after you took the memories of my friends, Jesse. You also told me that I can't talk to you with my head anymore, I'm supposed to actually talk."
The kid was right. He had been idiot parent, telling the child that what he did naturally wasn't what was needed. After he kicked himself he knew that he would have to have a long talk with him when they got both of them back.
"This is one of those times where you can talk in your head, Pierce, I have no problems with that, let me when I try it, okay?" Jesse put his hand out to the boy who looked at him with anger, "I'm not going to hurt you. Not like the last time. I hurt you and I can't forgive myself for it until you forgive me."
The angry looked softened. The child couldn't argue the logic. He took Jesse's outstretched hand and let Jesse pull him into a bear hug. Jesse felt himself tearing up and knew it was okay to cry, this was his child. He took another deep breath and pulled back.
"Whatever happens, Pierce, your mom and I love you, as does Aunt Emma, Uncle Brennan, Uncle Adam and Aunt Shalimar, you know, right?" Jesse said, "We're waiting for you back home, and we're coming to get you. I just need to know where you are. Do you have any idea?"
Henry strained under the link. He had used his abilities regularly since the team had put him underground, but he knew that he couldn't hold his own link to the dreamscape for much longer.
"No, it's just a bright room, but Le..I mean Mom knows the guy who is holding us," Pierce continued, "You might know him."
"Jesse," Henry interrupted, "I can't hold this much longer."
"Pierce," Jesse said, giving Henry a look that begged for another minute, "I'll be back for you. Just remember to let me in, and let your mom know, okay?"
Pierce nodded and grabbed Jesse for another hug.
"I will, Dad," he said, as his image faded from Jesse's vision.
Henry gasped as he came back to the reality of the med lab. Jesse was wide-eyed, staring at him, determination mixed with gratitude. The others had seen the scene happen in heartbeats, Emma not saying anything, but her anxiety making it hard to not figure out what was going on.
"Thank you," Jesse breathed, "You don't know how much this means to me."
"I do," Henry said, "Now, let's get them out of there. You go to work, you get to Pierce, son. You can do it."
"But how," Jesse said, "The last time I tried to reach him, he wouldn't let me in."
"Think about it, the time before that you ripped memories from his mind," Henry's reply was firm, yet softened by his own witnessing of the memories, "He was hurt by that, but he's young enough to heal from it quickly. He'll let you in this time."
Jesse sat in a nearby chair, smiled and closed his eyes. As he felt himself pulling to center, the roomful of people raised eyebrows and questioned what was going on.
Henry noted the anxiety then spoke to them.
"I reached Lexa to be greeted by a most powerful young man," Henry began, sitting on the medical bed, "Jesse here has quite a son. He didn't believe that I was a good guy…"
"Imagine that," Brennan interrupted sarcastically, the grin in his eyes letting Henry know it was all right.
"So, I brought Jesse into the link," Henry smiled back at Brennan, "Jesse's going to contact Pierce now, and I am going to take a nap, that took a whole lot of out me."
Adam found a pillow and a blanket almost immediately. Henry took them with gratitude then curled up on the bed. He was out in seconds while Jesse closed his eyes and let his mind go.
He stood once again in the dank cell that he knew was home to Lexa and Pierce. He noted the smell, still waters mixed with fear. Instinct took over when he realized that Shalimar could get her out, while Brennan would probably electrocute himself thanks to the water involved. He noted the kind of lights that were illuminating her body, knowing if he was able to find the supplier, he might be able to track their location that way. He let himself in fully, hearing the thoughts of the guards outside and knew that she was awake now. He could hear her thoughts as she came to.
"Jesse?" she asked softly, knowing that if he answered, she wouldn't be insane.
'In your head, Lex,' he replied, 'We're coming to get you and Pierce, don't worry about it. Just fight the overload they're planning.'
Lexa shuddered. The lights on and off were messing with her own deep control. She knew she could bend the light, make her self hide in other spectrums, but the lights on then off, which had been happening for hours now was messing with her control. The headache this usually caused was vibrant and painful. Jesse did what he could to send her calm thoughts, but he knew she was in trouble. She would blow soon, her control overloaded.
'I'm going to Pierce now, we'll get you out,' he put a hand on her shoulder then turned to meet the child he knew had come to meet him.
'Hi there,' he said, blue eyes meeting honey ones, 'Sorry to keep you waiting.'
The blond child ran up to him and hugged his waist. Jesse felt the fear behind the hug instantly. Pierce was projecting everything that he could to keep Jesse there, with him. It would work, but he needed everything he could think of to put a name to the place that he stood in.
'Hi there and thank you for letting me in here, Pierce,' Jesse said, kneeling down so that he could face the child at eye level, 'You were very brave with Henry.'
'He's very powerful,' Pierce replied, 'You didn't think you could reach me did you.'
Jesse tried not to sigh. Pierce had read him like a book.
'Yeah, I didn't think I could,' Jesse admittal was freeing, he knew he could now, as a matter of fact the effort this time wasn't taxing at all, 'I'm here now though and I need you to take me around what you know, Pierce. Like when we first met. Is there anyone here like…us?'
He had wanted to say "like you" but he knew that this time, that meant both of them. He had spent years being just Jesse, the passive mutant, but this time, he was armed.
Pierce nodded no and pulled on Jesse's hand. The duo walked around the rest of the cell, Pierce pointing out what he could about Lexa's situation, and his own situation at the doorway. There were cameras everywhere. They were set in a secure zone, no windows to speak of. Jesse could only 'hear' the security outside of the cell, but he felt someone coming up the hallway toward them. Pierce felt it as well and disappeared.
"We're not alone," Jesse said aloud, making Emma jump. She had stood there staring at him, knowing that she would jump in if he started looking like he did before.
Jesse phased into the cell that Pierce appeared to be sleeping in. He looked at Pierce and touched his forearm. Pierce opened his eyes as the door opened, revealing the "Director". Jesse tried not to gasp then opened his eyes, returning to the reality of the medical lab.