Chapter 21: Friend or Foe?

We were closing in on Samuel Wes' location from the air. By studying his moves it appeared that we both had a common agenda, which was to take out Gabriel Ashlocke. At first it was a strange concept, Shalimar and Jesse both agreed that we just let him take Ashlocke out, he had the ability to do it. Adam and the others made a good point too, that an alliance might be made against us, in other words our plan backfiring on us. Since Samuel knew little about our abilities we went after him, also an easier target to track. Adam had given us a list of Samuel's known abilities and each of us had a plan of how to counter those attacks, lots of training had gone into this mission unlike before.

"I've locked in on him…he's moving South on State Ave. Appears to be traveling alone also," Jesse said while flying the Helix.

"Can you bring her down low enough for me to tag a ride?" I asked him, tapping my foot in nervousness and excitement.

"Um…yeah but I don't think that's such a good idea Val…" Jesse had the bird in stealth form as we flew over his convertible.

"Come on he's asking for it with the top down…Please Jess…"

Something made him change his mind and let me go, but I didn't ask what it was. "What? You're joking right? You're not letting her jump right into car!" Jeremy fought back but I was already at the back of the Helix ready to slip out.

"Sorry Jer," I said to him before slipping out and into the backseat of Wes' car.

I grabbed him by the neck with my arms holding him against the seat, "Keep driving..." I instructed after Jesse told me over the comlink that there was a place for them to land ahead. Samuel had other plans though, he was strong too…being a feral feline tiger, he was a lot more powerful than my feralness even through training.

"Get out of my car," he growled to me but still kept driving.

I hopped into the front seat, "why should I? This spot doesn't seem to be taken…and we'll be stopping soon."

He looked over at me; I thought for sure he was going to give me a telempathic blast…but he only flashed his golden eyes at me and looked back to the road.

"You could of blasted me…why didn't you?"

Sam looked a little shocked and troubled at the same time, "who are you? You must be working for him aren't you?"

"No…I don't work for Ashlocke..."

He stopped the car; "you're lying to me feral!" his growl was deeper and grabbed my neck this time and something strange happened.

Looking past him I could see the others standing there ready, but they weren't moving. "Stasis suspension…you froze us?" I choked.

"Gabriel sent you to kill me? I thought he'd be smarter than that…I could kill you in less than a second."

My eyes narrowed at the threat, "well then I guess it's a good thing Gabriel didn't send me…but no he's not stupid and would never send someone else to do his own job. Geeze…can you let go?"

I couldn't believe I was actually talking to this guy; I was supposed to kill him or at least set him up. Something inside wanted to know more about him and wanted to keep talking to him. Sam's grip loosened, "then why the hell did you jump into my car? And I take it these guys are your friends?" he pointed to Shalimar, Brennan, Jeremy, Lexa, and Jesse all in a row ready to attack.

"Yeah…they are." When I looked back at him I could see pain in his face, "you're sick aren't you? That's why you didn't blast me."

Samuel looked around, "come with me," he ordered me to follow him as he jumped out of the car and into a building.

As I was about to protest I knew that the team would kick my ass if I just let him get away. "Fine..." Once we both got into the building time had unfroze and he stumbled up the stairs. "Look, why don't you tell me what's going on? Is this how come you haven't killed Ashlocke yet?"

Wes sat down at the top of a stairway, "my abilities…are disappearing and I don't know why. Just all of a sudden they aren't there anymore and when I use the ones that I do have, I feel like crap afterwards. And yeah…that's why I haven't killed him."

'Val? Where are you? Can you hear me?' Shalimar's voice came in over my comlink in confusion; it must have looked as if we both disappeared in split second to them.

For now I decided not to say anything until I got more information from Samuel. "Why are you after him anyway? If I had your abilities I'd be rich woman retired on a beach somewhere."

He gave a short laugh in pain, "Nah, I know what he's about and I don't like it…I'm going to find out who did this to me so he can fix this, then I kill Gabriel, and then I kill the other to stop this from ever happening again. One man shouldn't have this much power."

Sighing, I sat down by him, my only hope was that once he met Adam he'd change his mind, that always worked didn't it? "My friends can help you; there is a guy that helps mutants like us. Maybe he can help you out. His location is top secret though since guys like Ashlocke are always after him, we'll have to put a cloaking device on you." At first he appeared hesitant, probably still thought I was an enemy to him or curious as to why I would want to help him. "We all want Ashlocke dead too and we believe you're the only one that can stop him."

He nodded agreeing to the help, "I don't know what your angle is, but if you're true to your word then I'd be stupid to pass up that offer."