Chapter 17:
"Disposable"

August 4, 1915
Red Star Chemicals
Research Laboratory Headquarters

Alek kept his gun trained on Elliot, but his hands were shaking. He could not disguise his astonishment and outrage. "He was your partner in this vile scheme! What reason did you have to kill him?"

Dr. Barlow's entrance interrupted whatever response Elliot might have given.

"Honestly, Sullivan," she quipped to the other boffin, who was struggling to rise after being knocked to the floor. "I leave you alone for one minute and you allow the situation to spiral completely out of control. How incompetent."

Alek had no idea how Dr. Barlow could remain so unfazed after witnessing the scene before her. A gruesome body lay on the ground before her, and their dangerous adversary was brandishing a smoking revolver.

"Shrewd as ever, Dr. Barlow." Sullivan sighed. "I must admit I allowed my partner to get the better of me in more ways than one." Sullivan climbed to his feet with an effortful grunt. "However, of this I am sure: that gun in my partner's hand is as useless as a paperweight now. It held six shots, and, counting the two bullets that Elliot just spent, they have all been fired."

"Hmph." The lady boffin replied. "I shall chalk that up to sheer dumb luck."

At hearing this news, Elliot's blank expression turned dark. With a vicious snarl he turned to aim the gun straight at Sullivan and pulled the trigger.

There was only a hollow click.

Alek breathed a sigh of relief. He didn't realize until now just how tensely he had been holding his own weapon. Still keeping it trained on Elliot with both hands, he relaxed his grip on the gun.

"Worthless!" Elliot rumbled, and with all his strength, he threw the useless weapon at Sullivan. It hit the boffin in the gut and dropped harmlessly to the floor.

"You really do hate me, don't you?" Sullivan remarked casually. He bent to pick up the revolver and handed it to Dr. Barlow. "Why don't you keep that in your coat, just for safekeeping? It might be useless now, but knowing Elliot, he always has a trick up his sleeve."

"Very well." She agreed, taking the gun and placing it carefully in her coat as Sullivan had advised. "I must return to Deryn now. It would be wise of you both to restrain Mr. Vost to avoid future… complications. Heaven knows you should be able to manage that at least." She turned and strode back out into the hall.

"Dr. Sullivan, find something to tie him up with," said Alek, never taking his eyes off the infuriated Elliot. "And make it quick."

"This should do." Sullivan retrieved a coil of nylon cord from a peg on the wall.

"Yes," Alek agreed. "Mr. Vost, I have absolutely no reservations about shooting you," He lied. Put your hands behind your back and stay still while the doctor ties you up."

Although Elliot Vost's eyes were blazing with resentment, he followed Alek's orders and allowed Sullivan to fasten the nylon cord tightly around his wrists.

"You never answered me," Alek finally stated, after Sullivan had finished the job and Elliot's hands were bound fast. "Why did you kill your brother?"

Before Vost had a moment to answer, a boy burst into the laboratory and shoved Alek aside in his haste. At the sight of Damian's bloody corpse, he let loose an earsplitting howl. He reached a hand out towards the body, but stood frozen, as if he was too afraid to come closer.

"What…who are you?" Alek asked with uncertainty. He kept his weapon pointed at Elliot, but could not help but stare at the intruder, who wore nothing but his underclothes.

"Edward," Sullivan said gently, "don't look."

The boy whipped around to face Alek. Tears were brimming in his eyes, but his expression was ferocious. "You murderer!" He accused, lurching forward. Alek instinctively stepped back.

"This wasn't…I did not kill this man." Alek fumbled to explain. "It was him…" he gestured towards Elliot, who loomed over them all imposingly. Even with his hands bound, he was still menacing.

"It's true, Edward." Sullivan confirmed. "Your father's partner, your uncle, did this."

"His uncle?" Alek gaped, completely confused.

"Why should I believe you?" Edward snapped at Dr. Sullivan. "You've done nothing but lie since we've met."

Sullivan shrugged. "You can believe what you like. But Alek here is an honest fellow, and he's the one pointing a weapon at your father's murderer."

An honest fellow,Alek thought. His actions had proved to be the complete opposite. He'd constructed lie after lie to deceive Elliot Vost. Even though the man was the culprit, that did not mean that Alek wasn't a liar.

"You..." Edward turned to Elliot Vost. His anger seemed to have faded. He looked more incredulous than furious. "I don't understand. Why? You orchestrated this all, and he was your brother. He helpedyou. It doesn't make sense!"

"No," Elliot Vost sneered, his voice filled with venom. "What doesn't make sense is how a fool like your father could possibly share my blood. Or, for that matter, how a spineless mutt like you could, either."

If Elliot had expected some response from Edward, he was disappointed. The boy only stared at him with solemn eyes, waiting for him to continue.

"Your father was a lunatic. Obsessed with his hatred for fabrications and Darwinism. His extremism made him an outcast. When the crown finally realized that his beloved Brigade was nothing but a group of fanatical Monkey Luddites, they quickly destroyed his credibility and disbanded the group. His wife, your mother, left him when his mania only grew stronger. That idiot woman should have taken her with you when she left. With a father like that, you never had a chance to lead a normal life. I killed him because I had no more use for him. He had served his purpose. You should be thankful that I freed you from that tyrant."

"My father was a cruel man," Edward conceded, "and his hatred for fabrications consumed him. But he also cared about those poor animals whose lives were sacrificed in the name of science. He spoke up for the creatures- the natural creatures of this world- that were killed so that Darwinist boffins could make rugs that never frayed or clothing that only the wealthy could afford. He taught me just how cruel your so-called science could be. I may not hate all fabrications like he does, but I hate how Darwinists use animals like they are disposable."

"Disposable," Elliot chuckled. "Just like your father was."

"You are a filthy man," Edward spat, "who cares more for money than life."

Alek hesitated, but decided it was for the best to speak up. "We still have a chance to save lives," he began, "both animal and human. Beneath our feet there are animals being confined and used in Vost's experiments. We can set them free. And, somewhere in this facility, is the secret of Black Star, a weapon that could kill thousands of humans and turn the tide of the war. We have the upper hand now. We can stop Black Star from ever being used in this war. No one else has to die today."

Edward nodded. "I can accept this."

Alek turned to face Sullivan. "I'm going to make sure that every canister of Black Star you've ever made is destroyed, along with the formula. I hope that you do not plan on stopping me."

Sullivan nodded. "I have no intention of stopping you. Allow me to help you clean up this mess I've made."

"All right," Alek declared. "We've come to an agreement. Elliot Vost, you are going to lead us to level 7."

…

Deryn Sharp might have had a gunshot wound, but if she was dying from anything, it was boredom.

"Blisters!" She swore, craning her neck to try and peek inside the laboratory. "What's going on in there? Is Alek all right?"

"Young Aleksander is quite all right." Dr. Barlow answered. Honestly, Deryn, you ought to be a bit more concerned about yourself," she said with exasperation, continuing to examine Deryn's shoulder.

Deryn hated this. Lying helplessly on the ground while the lady boffin fussed over her wounds, driveling on about 'keeping still' and 'breathing slowly.' It was maddening! There was something going on in there, and Alek was in the thick of it. Deryn should be at his side, protecting him. Instead, she was flat on her back like a ninny.

"I feel much better, honest," Deryn promised. "Now let me up, would you?"

Dr. Barlow raised an eyebrow. "If you're feeling as well as you say, then this should not hurt a bit." She dabbed at the wound with a cloth doused in antiseptic.

Deryn bit her lip to keep from yowling. That had a mean sting.

"Well?" The lady boffin asked. "Did it hurt?"

"Not even a wee bit." Deryn lied. "I feel fit as a ferret."

"You know, for a girl who is so talented at pretending to be someone else, you make quite a bad liar." Dr. Barlow smirked.

Deryn had nothing to say to that.

"Well, while you are far from being fit as a ferret," Dr. Barlow remarked, "I do not believe your life is in any immediate danger. You should be well enough to move quite soon, and I instructed Count Volger to arrive here an hour after we did. He should be here quite soon, and then I can leave him with Alek and take you to a physician."

"I don't want to leave Alek!" Deryn protested. "At least let me stay."

"Not a chance," the lady boffin declared. "You simply do not have a choice in the matter."

"That seems daft, seeing as how I'm the one who got shot," Deryn complained. She was about to object some more when she felt something warm move at her side. "What's that?"

"Ah, you've finally realized. That would be a kitten that Aleksander rescued from the facilities below." Dr. Barlow informed her. "Quite the bleeding heart, the young man seems to be."

Deryn smiled. "That's Alek, all right. Dumkopf."

Dr. Barlow took one last look at Deryn's shoulder and nodded. "I should bandage this now, which means I need you to sit up."

"I get to move?" Deryn grinned. "Finally!"

"It will hurt," the lady boffin warned her. She positioned her hand on Deryn's back. "Let me help you." Deryn gritted her teeth and stifled a moan as Dr. Barlow helped her into a sitting position. The tiny kitten leapt into Deryn's lap as soon as she was upright.

"What a little fuzzball you are," Deryn smiled, petting it with one hand while Dr. Barlow bandaged her shoulder. "Have you got a name?"

"Aleksander never quite got around to that." Dr. Barlow replied nonchalantly.

"He's got a bit of pudge," Deryn thought for a moment. "I think I'll call him Sullivan."

"What is it?" Dr. Sullivan replied. The doctor, as well as Alek, Edward, and an enourmous fair-haired man emerged into the hall. Deryn was a squick surprised to see that Alek was pointing a gun at him.

"Not you. The kitten." Deryn smiled, petting the tiny creature. "I named it Sullivan."

"What a ridiculous name for a cat," came Count Volger's voice from the opposite end of the hall.

"Volger?" Deryn watched as Alek's head swung back in the direction of the Count's voice. "What are you doing here?"

"Now, now, Alek, keep your eyes on the criminal," Dr. Sullivan advised. Alek nodded and turned to face Elliot again.

"Dr. Barlow and I already had arrangements, and the guards let me in once they realized I was with the Society," the Count replied, eyeing Deryn with curiosity. "And I see that things went better than expected."

"I wouldn't say that," Deryn mumbled beneath her breath.

"Excellent timing, Count Volger," Dr. Barlow affirmed. "I was about to escort Deryn out to a physician. Why don't you accompany Aleksander. Where, exactly are you headed?"

Alek's voice was firm when he replied. "We're going down to Mr. Vost's secret laboratory, and getting rid of Black Star once and for all."

Deryn couldn't help but think that he sounded strangely grave. It made her heart lurch in her chest. Stay safe, Alek,
 she wanted to say, but she couldn't bring herself to speak the words. With a gun in his hand and steel in his eyes, he looked almost nothing like the boy she was in love with.

Sorry, I'm totally the worst...it's been like a year since I've updated this story. My bad! Don't worry, I'm actually going to finish it. Thanks to Clevingrr for calling me out and reminding me to write, and everyone else who has stuck with me!