Adam moved slowly down the hall. The screaming was better then a trial of bread chromes, but it made Adam sick. The last time Jesse has screamed like that was during Harrison's tests.
"Harrison, I swear to god I'm going to kill you…" Adam said softly.
"But not if I get to him first," came a feminine growl from behind him. Adam spun, gun at the ready, to face the speaker.
"Wow, Adam, relax, we're on your side," Shalimar said, the ghost of a smile on her face. She was standing next to Emma who had a far away look about her, that Adam found a little worrisome. Behind them stood a man carrying another woman who Adam didn't recognize.
"Where did you guys come from? Are you alright?" Adam said looking at each of the four mutants in front of him.
"Yeah Adam, we're ok. This is Jessica and Witson, they're on our side," Emma said distractedly, pointing behind her. " We'll explain everything latter, but we got to get to the boys….they're this way…" she added, moving to take the lead.
"Yeah, like the screaming didn't give that away…" Shal grumbled.
Adam gave her a warning look, and moved behind Emma. The group made their way down the hall as quickly as they could.
Brennan was losing his nerve. He couldn't stand knowing that they were torturing Jesse practically right in front and there was nothing he could do. To top that, that damn Panasonic agent was still playing tricks with Brennan's head. While he knew that he was in a lab with Jesse and that it was the GSA hurting him, the only thing he could see was Jesse and he in a lake, soaking wet, and himself losing control, electrocuting his best friend. The worse part was that there was no end in sight….
"Alright! That's enough for now!" Eckhart yelled, and the 'test' was ended. Brennan hared the generator cutting of, Jesse's labored breathing and a couple of grumbles. The images in his head cut off, leaving him staring at a cold cinder block wall.
"There's no use killing him yet. Or ourselves for that matter, I say we take a break for a while," there was no argument, no one wanted to piss off the boss. As they all started to leave Brennan hared Eckhart say, "You two stand outside, let no one in until we get back." And then the two were a lone.
"Jess…Jess, you there?"
"I'm here…" Jesse said, his voice so distant and weak that it sent shivers down Brennan's spine.
"How you holding up?"
"Just peachy…thi…think I could…paint the town…."
Brennan chuckled, "Yeah, trying getting past Adam, hell forget Adam…Shalimar…."
Silence.
"Jesse?"
Silence.
"Jesse, you there bro? Hey Jesse?" Brennan said, just short of frantic.
"Yeah…still here…just dozing…." Jesse said weakly.
"Yeah, well don't do that, scare the crap out of me…I swear Jesse…" Brennan mumbled.
"Hey Bren…I've been thinking…."
"Don't hurt yourself."
That got a laugh out of Jesse, "Don't do that…make jokes…hurt's enough…talking…."
"Sorry."
"I was thinking…how long can you hang in there?"
"They're not doing anything to me…" Brennan heard Jesse mumble something that sounded like bullshit. "What you say?"
"I'm not doing to well…big surprise…think you can hang in there 'til I die?"
"What! What the hell are you talking about Jess! Have you lost your mind!" Brennan snapped.
"No…feeling…"
"What?"
"No feeling anymore…."
"Jess…" fear filled Brennan as he started to understand what Jesse was saying. "Jess…Jess…if I tell them then they'll…."
"Kill me. Harrison wants…wants to cut my…head open…just hold out…"
"Oh yeah, and what do you think's going to happen to me when your…it'll be my turn…."
"But you're stronger Brennan…you can hold out 'til Adam gets here…."
There was a silence as Brennan thought about what Jesse was saying, weighing it against common sense and what his instincts were telling him. His instincts won.
"We're going to be fine Jess…They'll get us out of here…don't you go anywhere you hear me? Everything's going to be fine, you hear me?"
"I hear you…" Jesse said as he started to cough.
Emma stopped suddenly, halfway down the hall, her eyes scanning around, like a nerves dear.
"Emma…" Adam said, after almost walking into her.
"Hide," was her only reply.
Without question the others separated, looking for anywhere to hide. Emma chose to stay out in the open, projecting an image of herself as the wall. Shalimar and Adam found an empty room to hide in close by, and Jessica used her powers to left herself and Witson of the ground.
Seconds passed before Eckhart, Harrison, Laura and two agents exited a room about twenty feet from the group. Eckhart turned to the two agents and told them, "You two stand outside, let no one in until we get back." Then the group started heading down the hall in silence, never noticing the others.
Emma, Sal, Adam, Jessica, and Witson held their breath as the smaller group passed. They waited a minuet before they moved from their hiding spots.
Shal was the first to move, giving everyone a signal to stay put. She walked bluntly towards the two agents who were just standing around talking.
"Hey fellows," she purred, distracting them from their conversation. "Can you tell me where my friends are?" For a moment it seemed that Shal had hypnotized the two men with her looks alone, but they both quickly snapped out of it and charged at her.
Shal's eyes flashed gold and she gave a wicked smile, crouching down in a defensive position. In seconds the fight was over, Shal flipped the first man over, using the momentum to do a back flip, catching the second man under the chine. He slumped to the floor lifeless. She landed on top of the first man, and with a kick to his head he was out as well.
"Very nice, a thirty second win without even using your hands," Emma said as she emerged from the wall and the others came out of hiding as well.
"Was it really thirty seconds? I was going for twenty five," Shal whined.
"Yes, well, you can work on it later. Let's just get Jesse and Brennan," Adam said as he headed for the room the two men had been guarding.
Upon entering, none of the rescuers were prepared for what they saw.
Well, that's all for now kiddies. I think I'll be done with this one in another chapter or two, then i can start on a whole new story. Wouldn't that be nice? Anyway, enjoy this chap and the next one(s). Thank's to everyone who reviwed and keep 'em coming.