Back Step

Legal disclaimer: The following characters are owned by others. They haven't done much with them so, I thought I might.

Authors Note: Yes, I apologize for the delays. I have been ill, they're still trying to figure out what is wrong with me, so, I have been doing a lot of sleeping and working, lucky me. One major thrill though, Forbes is back on tv, on a soap opera called "One Life to Live." His hair is long and I get to see him regularly! Whoo hoo! I do dedicate this one to Gelf, who I am worried about. I hope you missed Katrina sweetie.

Chapter 15

Jesse Kilmartin sat in the back of the Strand knowing that the decisions the group made in the next few minutes were going to determine the fate of his life in ways he didn't want to think about. He closed his eyes and leaned against the back of the seat, knowing they would get his input when they asked for it. It felt good to close his eyes, the sub-dermal governor that they hadn't removed still impairing his senses. For the first time in a very long while, he felt like he could let his guard down since it simply was down.

"You know, you could ask Brennan to take the governor off for you," Emma suggested, settling into the bench seat next to him, "Or are you preferring the silence?"

Jesse wrapped his arms around her. She felt quite whole to his lost state of mind.

"It shows huh?" he asked, a smile growing on his face, "It is kind of peaceful in its own sick way."

"Yes, I can see why you're thinking that," Emma said, settling into the crook of his arm, "You okay?"

"That's the same question I was going to ask you," Jesse's reply was a bit mocking; "You read minds or something?"

"Or something," Emma replied, laughing, "You want it off?"

"Yeah, I guess so, Brennan?" Jesse asked.

His friend turned and looked at him, a grin growing on his face for the first time in days.

"Yeah?"

"You mind doing the honors?" Jesse said, getting up to meet him, "I think it's about time my limits got disabled."

"Sure," Brennan put a hand up to Jesse's neck and with a fingertip, shot a bolt directly into the governor.

Jesse turned around to head back to Emma and realized instantly that something was very, very wrong. He couldn't see.

"Brennan, how long till we're home?" he asked quickly trying to hide the panic that ran into his voice.

"Five minutes, why?" Brennan turned to look at him.

Jesse's eyes had gone completely blank, the irises going a cloudy white. The molecular stumbled and hit the floor of the craft. Shalimar and Emma were at his side in moments.

"What the," Brennan asked, "You okay, Jesse?"

"Brennan," Emma said calmly, "If there's any way to get us home faster, do it."

Brennan turned and put the craft into overdrive. Shalimar and Emma turned Jesse over so that he was laying on his back, his eyes closed and his face a silent echo of extreme pain.

"Jesse, talk to me," Emma said, "What happened?"

"Emma, his eyes were just like Lexa's," Shalimar said, "Jesse, what did you feel when Brennan deactivated the governor."

"Nothing.at.all," Jesse spoke softly, enunciating each word, "God, what is wrong with me."

"Brennan, get us home now," Emma said quickly, "Adam are you copying this?"

"I'm waiting for you," Adam's voice rang out, "Jesse, hang in there, we'll figure it out."

Figuring it out was going to be the hardest part. Since the destruction of Sanctuary, the medical supplies that Adam Kane could get a hold of easily were short in number. He knew that something had been done to Kilmartin, but trying to figure it out completely was nearly impossible. What he needed was a good neural scan of Jesse's brain and neck, but that was not possible. He didn't have the equipment.

He looked at the young man who was finally sleeping. He was like a son to him, and one of his first rescues from Genomax. It had been nice to hear that he had finally gotten himself a life away from his mutancy, and he had been even more impressed at the man he had become.

Kane walked outside to where the rest of the team awaited his verdict. He took a moment to find the words to explain that there was no way he could help Jesse right now. He took a moment to find the right words, then had revelation hit him. Jesse couldn't see when they deactivated the governor, if it was activated it might at least reverse the process. It was also logical that the device that looked so much like the dermal governor that he created had been redesigned with a much more sinister outcome. He truly hoped that it would work.

Emma stared at the door as Adam entered the room. She had put Pierce to bed, hoping that the little boy wouldn't ask too many questions, her concern and worry over Jesse broadcasting over her nerves. Pierce had said nothing, making her a little calmer.

"What's going on Adam?" Brennan asked, handing the older man a cup of coffee, "Is he alright or what?"

"I had to reactivate the governor," Adam began, "That at least put what I think is a neural spike at bay."

Shalimar gasped. She remembered fighting Lexa when she was being controlled by one. There was very little chance of getting her back then, it had taken the miracle of Adam returning to the fold then to get her back to where they where. He was without his equipment though and he was lost. Shalimar could see in his eyes.

"Think is?" Brennan asked, his words echoing the thoughts running through the group's mind, "What is it that she put on him then, Adam, a neural spike wouldn't act like a governor would it?"

"In this case, yes," Adam sighed, "It's the first time I have seen something like this, and I admit, in rebuilding a base for you guys, I am not the most up to date on this, please understand guys. I am at a loss. I went with logic, and was able to at least bring his sight back and work on his pain. I won't even attempt to get it out of him unless I can have a computer to monitor my progress. That was the only thing that saved Lexa, skill and machinery."

"Okay, so what do you need to make this work?" Brennan began to make the list he knew that they would need.

"I need to get us to Storm King mountain," Adam began, "If there's anything left of Sanctuary, the computers there would help. Other than that, if there's any way that we could get Jesse a complete scan, that would help as well."

"Do you have any medical connections still Adam that could be used to help find this out?" Shalimar asked, "I don't want to spilt up our forces, but if we could get Jesse into a hospital…"

"We need the cover," Jesse interrupted from the doorway to Adam's makeshift medical lab, "I know the way, but you guys have to remember that we still have to stop Lexa. What has she done to me, Adam?"

Kane turned around. Jesse's eyes were back to the blue he remembered, but there was anger was clouding them. Jesse was leaning against the doorframe, one hand in a fist, covering his mouth.

"Until I can do a full scan, I think it's a neural spike," Adam said, his eyes meeting Jesse's.

Kilmartin closed his eyes and breathed deeply. The emotions and fears he had when Lexa's went haywire ate at his emotions, but he knew that this time was different. They couldn't even begin to control this.

He opened his eyes to a fearful look from Emma. She had been projecting calmness to the room, he had felt it the moment he had come up upon them, but his anger was hard to keep under wraps.

"Adam, do what you have to do, we need to get Lexa and we need to protect the president," Jesse said, "My suggestion is that we get me into a government hospital while Brennan, you guys go to Storm King and see what you can salvage."

"Jesse, I don't think that's the best idea," Brennan began, "How sure are you that you can trust the government guys? Remember, they don't like us. You having that inside of you means that they can and will neutralize you right?"

Jesse nodded. Brennan was right. He was now a target as well.

"Okay then, we all go to Storm King and see what's left of Sanctuary."