Here it is, Chapter 9, the chapter from hell. I must have written and rewritten this at least four times. I found myself contradicting previous chapters, going in directions I didn't want, and just about any other problem. But now it's fixed (I think). PHEW!>


"Well, no surprises there." Brennan said. "Do you think they're using that so the Dominion will abort all research on the virus?"

Lexa shook her head. "When I was spying on the Dominion Panel, they said they weren't being blackmailed. According to my contact, the stolen disc belonged to the leader because it's a good idea to have an employee/contact list. He saw the drawer where he kept it had been forced open, and the disc was gone. The four prime suspects were found and sent to us by means of a method that he would not share with me."

"Of course they want to keep their secrets." Brennan remarked.

Jesse sat down and thought for a moment. "So we've completed our mission from the Dominion to retrieve the disc, and it's been decided that we would see why there were problems there. We found that out, so I assume that now we're going to have to stop the virus from being deployed."

Shalimar nodded. "Of course, they've come up with a way to wipe out mutants. If we look at the GPS history of Lexa's comm-link, then we can find the Dominion headquarters."

"Yeah, but we can't just waltz in there." Lexa objected. "They have security guards posted all the time. Every major section is heavily guarded. We'll have to sneak in."

"Should we try to get one of us in?" Jesse asked. "The disc includes access codes. We can change the employee file to include a few more people without anyone noticing. If one of us posed as a scientist or a security guard, we could destroy the virus right under their noses. Of course, it would take a little disguising, all of our faces are known by most of the Dominion, I'm sure."

"The guards wear heavy suits." Lexa said. "The suits include helmets that conceal faces. One of us could pose as a guard while another one of us poses as a scientist. It's pretty obvious that I can't be the scientist since everyone in the Dominion knows me, even if I had some sort of disguise. I'd suggest that Brennan be a guard, since most of the guards are about your size so you wouldn't really stand out. Jesse would probably make a better scientist, mostly because he knows a lot about science and stuff. And if you are discovered, you can make yourself bullet proof." Lexa did her best, but she was afraid her true motive would be obvious, that she didn't want Shalimar alone with Brennan.

"Yeah, that works." Jesse said. "Lex, you could come too, as long as you stay invisible. Shalimar, you can stay in the helix just in case we need to make a fast getaway."

Within an hour, Jesse had the Dominion files altered to include an extra security guard and an extra scientist. Everybody got into the helix, and, in stealth mode, it left to go to the Dominion's headquarters.

The helix landed near the building, and Lexa exited it with Jesse and Brennan holding on to her as she kept them invisible. After they were away, Shalimar piloted the helix and landed it on the flat roof of the building, so it would be nearby in case they needed her. She shut everything down with the exception of the stealth generator and sat as patiently as she could be.

Lexa had enough experience with Dominion laboratories to know how the scientists dressed, so Jesse was wearing a face mask and black wig and dressed like a Dominion scientist. Brennan also wore a face mask and wig just in case he would have to take his helmet off. He did not have a Dominion guard suit, so he had to steal one from a guard, who fortunately was about his size, who had been scouting the parking lot. Lexa released Brennan and Jesse from her grip, and they came into plain sight.

"Remember, I'm James Martin, and you're Brandon Murray." Jesse had chosen names that were similar to their real names but still different enough to not be suspicious. He opened the door and the three stepped through as James Martin and Brandon Murray began their first days as Dominion employees.